Nov 02, 2020 City Council

[00:00:01]

AND WE ARE LIVE, MR. MAYOR.

LET'S GO AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT SIX THIRTY P.M.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

IF WE COULD ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.

READY? BEGIN.

OF ALLEGIANCE] ROLL CALL:.

THANK YOU.

[4. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]

I HAVE ONE. THERE'S AN ELECTION TOMORROW, PLEASE GO VOTE.

VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT WE--.

CAN YOU JUST CHECK WITH J.R.

AND SEE IF HE'S RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THE EMAIL.

SORRY, I THREW OUR MAYOR.

THAT'S OK. IT WAS A GOOD ONE, THOUGH.

IT WAS WORTH NOTE. GO TO VOTE.

NOTHING RECEIVED AS OF NOW, MR. MAYOR. THEN, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL ITEMS

[5. CONSENT CALENDAR]

IS THAT CORRECT, MR. RUSSI? THAT IS CORRECT. YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

ON BOTH OF THOSE. AND WE'LL GO AHEAD.

AND WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REMAINDER OF THOSE AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THOSE TWO ITEMS. IF I COULD ASK FOR A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

RAISE YOUR HAND, AYE:. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? NONE.

MOTION CARRIES. THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM RESOLUTION NUMBER TWENTY EIGHTY AND ORDINANCE

[5.d.2. Resolution No. 20-80 - Reaffirming Local Emergency]

MR. RUSSI, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THEY BOTH WERE REQUESTED TO BE PULLED BY THE SAME INDIVIDUAL AND I DO NOT KNOW IF J.R. HAS HIM ON THE PHONE AS OF YET.

BUT MR. SALINAS, YOU'RE LIVE.

HI. GOOD EVENING, MR. SALINAS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A THREE MINUTE ROLL TONIGHT.

SO IF YOU PLEASE KEEP WITHIN THOSE TIME RESTRAINTS, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I AM ASKING ALL THE COUNCIL TO GET RID OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY.

IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY ANYMORE.

WE JUST WANT A LAWSUIT TODAY AGAINST GAVIN NEWSOM FOR HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, FOR PETE'S SAKE. PLEASE, END THE LOCAL EMERGENCY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY ANYMORE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS. AND IF HE'S STILL ON THE LINE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ITEM OR WAIT UNTIL WE HEAR ON BOTH? COUNCIL.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO ONE AT A TIME.

YOU WANT TO DO ONE AT A TIME? OK, WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN GO BACK TO THIS ITEM ON ITEM NUMBER, RESOLUTION NUMBER TWENTY EIGHTY.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT FROM COUNCIL? I WOULD LIKE FOR BOB, WOULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU GET UPDATES FROM THE COUNTY, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THIS EMERGENCY IN PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC.

YOU GOING TO ANSWER, OR AM I? WHICH BOB? [LAUGHTER] YEAH, WHICH BOB? RUSSI, OR KRESS, WHOEVER KNOWS BEST.

YOU CAN BOTH TAKE IT, BUT ONE OF YOU SPEAK FIRST.

WELL, OK, WELL, THIS IS ON YOUR AGENDA AS A MATTER OF STATE LAW.

EVERY 60 DAYS, IF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY CONTINUES, YOU NEED TO EXTEND IT.

NOW, WHEN THIS ALL GOT STARTED MANY, MANY MONTHS AGO, GOVERNOR NEWSOME.

DECLARED THAT CITIES DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

A NUMBER OF MY CITY ATTORNEY COLLEAGUES SAID, WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL, BUT YOU KNOW WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR GET TO OVERRULE STATED STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THIS? SO THE MORE CONSERVATIVE POSITION AND THAT'S WHERE I USUALLY TRY TO BE IS LET'S JUST DO THIS AND DECLARE IT, EXTEND IT.

THE REASON FOR EXTENDING, THIS ALL STARTED MANY MONTHS AGO-- NICK, TURN OFF THE YOUTUBE. AND MUTE US, NICK, THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. OH, NO, YOU MUTED EVERYBODY.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH, OK, SO THE REASON TO DO THIS IS TO PROTECT THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE GOING

[00:05:04]

THAT'S THE REASON.

I RECOMMENDED IT MR. PAZ, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? NO, [INAUDIBLE] NEXT ONE. ASK MR. RUSSI IF HE WANTS TO ADD ANYMORE TO THAT.

MR. RUSSI? NO, CITY ATTORNEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.

ANY COMMENTS OR CONCERNS ON THIS, COUNCIL? THEN I WILL--YES, SIR, MR. DAVIS. I'LL JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT, WHICH IS I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN ENGAGED THROUGH THIS EMERGENCY DECLARATION BECAUSE IT HELPS TO FACILITATE COORDINATION, IDENTIFY OVER TIME IF NEEDED, AND PROVIDES THE AVENUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPENSATED UNDER THE EMERGENCY ORDER RATHER THAN POTENTIALLY SUSPENDING THAT AND BEING LEFT ON A FINANCIAL HOOK OF HAVING TO COVER EFFORT.

SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF ACCEPTING THIS MOTION.

I WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT IF AND WHEN IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR THAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEM RESOLUTION TWENTY EIGHTY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? SO MOVED.

SECOND? SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND, AYE:.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NO? MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE TO ORDINANCE TEN NINETY SEVEN.

[5.e. Staff recommends approval and passage of Ordinance (s) second reading Ordinance No. 1097 - Amending Title 9 of the La Verne Municipal Code Pertaining to the Regulation of Possession of Certain Items at Public Protests, Demonstrations, Picket Lines and Public Assemblies]

THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS. I JUST HAD, LIKE, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, LIKE, [INAUDIBLE] AND WEAPONS AND STUFF, LIKE, I'M AFRAID LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME LAWSUITS [INAUDIBLE] LIKE NOT HAVING GUNS ALLOWED [INAUDIBLE] TO BE LIKE A SECOND AMENDMENT PROBLEM.

I JUST WANT SOME EXPLANATION ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS. CHIEF PAS, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YES, I AM. DID YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT, SIR? SO I COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHAT HE SAID, BUT HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING GUNS AT THE DEMONSTRATIONS? CONCERNED IT'D VIOLATE THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

WELL, HAVING A GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT, IT'S AGAINST THE LAW, SO YOU CAN'T BRING A GUN.

IF YOU HAVE A CCW, YOU'RE WITHIN THE LAW TO CARRY A WEAPON.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE USING IT FOR.

AND THIS ORDINANCE, PROHIBITING IT AT A DEMONSTRATION OR WEAPONS OF ANY TYPE IS-- THAT'S NOT A THAT'S NOT A SECOND AMENDMENT VIOLATION.

OK. NICK, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY IT'S NOT A VIOLATION OF 2ND AMENDMENT FOR EVERYONE? WELL, RIGHT NOW THE LAW SAYS YOU CANNOT CARRY WEAPONS IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A PERMIT, CONCEALED OR UNCONCEALED.

SO IF YOU DO HAVE A WEAPON IN PUBLIC, IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

SECOND AMENDMENT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE WEAPONS IN YOUR RESIDENCE, ON YOUR PROPERTY, THAT IS NOT ILLEGAL UNLESS YOU GO OUT IN PUBLIC.

THANK YOU, CHIEF PAZ.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. PAZ? I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, WE ALL DID VOTE FOR THIS LAST TIME, WE THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO PROTECT OUR PERSONNEL AND PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS.

SO WE NIP THIS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AND PROTECT ALL OF US.

SO BEING THAT SAID, MAY WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS? I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND ON THIS? I'LL SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, AYE:.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ORDINANCE NUMBER TEN NINETY SEVEN CARRIES.

THANK YOU, CHIEF PAZ. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

MR. MAYOR. YES? CAN I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THE CONSENT ITEM? YES, PLEASE. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE DID APPROVE THE NEW PURCHASING POLICY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MUIR AND MAYOR HEPBURN FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO UPDATE THE PURCHASING POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CLEAR FOR US TO PROCEED.

AND IF FOLKS REMEMBER, THAT CAME OUT OF A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO WHEN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION. SO I WANTED TO APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS AND THE COOPERATIVENESS OF STAFF AND

[00:10:05]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

I TOO WANTED TO SIMPLY SAY THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS MAYOR.

AND I THINK THE POLICY IS BOTH STRONGER AND MORE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE OF OUR WORK AND THAT OF THE STAFF. THE STAFF DID A MARVELOUS JOB TO TEE THIS UP IN A WAY THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU ALL. I WILL MIRROR THAT ALSO LETTING STAFF KNOW THAT IT REALLY HELPS US TO HAVE THE BULLET POINTS TO SEPARATE THOSE ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN CLARIFY WHERE WHEN AND HOW WHEN WE NEED TO DO A CONTRACT.

AND HOW CAN CLARIFY IF THERE'S A CONTRACT THAT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED AND THE REASONS WHY.

AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU.

AND THANK YOU. MR. DAVIS WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU ALSO AND STAFF.

SO THANK YOU.

SO WE BLEW THROUGH THOSE.

[6. Fire Study Options for Delivery of Fire and EMS Services]

ITEM SIX, FIRE STUDY OPTIONS FOR [INAUDIBLE] FIRE AND EMS SERVICES.

BEFORE WE START AND GO TO OUR RESIDENTS, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF SEGURA OR OUR CITY MANAGER, BOB RUSSI ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE TO COMMENTS FROM THE RESIDENTS? MR. RUSSI, I THINK HAS A COMMENT, ALREADY FIRST.

I'D LIKE TO INTRO IT A LITTLE BIT FOR COUNCIL, AND I MAY TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS OR AT LEAST GET SOME OF THE WHERE WE NEED TO GO--.

DIDN'T SEE MOVING YOUR HANDS, SORRY.

AND YES, CHIEF SEGURA'S ON AS WELL TO BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THAT FALL INTO THAT PURVIEW IS PURVIEW AS WELL.

BUT THIS ITEM, AS COUNCIL KNOWS, IS BEING BROUGHT BACK A SECOND TIME.

THE COUNCIL HAD A STUDY SESSION IN AUGUST WHERE THEY RECEIVED A REPORT FROM MESSINA AND ASSOCIATES AND HAD A VERY LENGTHY DISCUSSION AND INPUT FROM THE PERSON WHO PUT IT TOGETHER, WHO IS TYLER--I'M FORGETTING HIS LAST NAME RIGHT NOW.

BUT AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL BY THE COUNTY AND GIVE AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT STATE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUGGESTED CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE ON ITS CURRENT CONDITION.

THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT CONDITION.

AS PART OF THAT OR THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION, THE COUNCIL ASKED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT THEY WANTED FURTHER EVALUATED AND THEN BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND BE BROUGHT BACK FOR CONSIDERATION AT A LATER TIME.

AND THOSE ITEMS WERE MEET WITH THE FIRE PERSONNEL, WHICH I KNOW TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK ON THAT TASK, MUIR DAVIS AND RICK CROSBY, LOOK AT AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL APPROACH THE COUNTY ON WHAT ALTERNATIVE MODELS COULD BE CONSIDERED, IF ANY, AND THEN ALLOW FOR A 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REGARDING THE STUDY TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS OR INPUT. THAT WORK HAS ALL BEEN COMPLETED AND THE DETAILS OF THOSE EFFORTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT THAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING INTO A LOT OF THE DETAILS UNLESS THERE ARE PARTICULAR QUESTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF PUBLIC COMMENT THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC DETAILS THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO GO INTO OR IF COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'VE GOT SOME MORE STUFF, BUT IF COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO GO INTO THEIR PARTICULAR SECTION, I WILL LEAVE THAT TO THEM.

BUT IT REALLY THIS IS BEING BROUGHT BACK FOR FURTHER DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL AT THIS POINT. AND THIS TIME WE'RE DOWN TO TWO PATHS TO CHOOSE FROM, HONESTLY, AND THAT IS DIRECT STAFF TO EITHER ENGAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY RELATED TO THE TERMS OF CONTRACTING WITH THEM FOR PROVIDING FIRE SERVICE OR INITIATE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STUDY TO BEGIN TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT, I'LL SAY ASSOCIATED TO THE PATH OF NEGOTIATIONS, THE CITY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE.

REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD PAY THE COUNTY FOR, AND PARALLEL TO THE NEGOTIATIONS, THEY'D CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CURRENT EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO DETERMINE IF THERE WILL BE ANY COSTS OR CREDITS THAT WILL BE NECESSARY IN ADAPTING OUR EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES TO THE COUNTY STANDARDS.

AND THE ESTIMATED COST THAT WE GOT FROM THE COUNTY TO DO THAT WORK IS ROUGHLY TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT'S NOT A COST FOR NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT, IT'S THE COST FOR DOING THAT LEVEL OF ANALYSIS THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DO.

ADDITIONALLY, STAFF HAS DISCUSSED WITH AGENCIES THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY DONE THAT IN THE RECENT PAST, GONE THROUGH THIS CONVERSION JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.

[00:15:03]

ESSENTIALLY, THE PROCESS WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 16 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT, SHOULD WE MOVE DOWN THIS ROAD.

IT WOULD BE EXPECTED THAT THE NEGOTIATION WOULD TAKE ROUGHLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS, AND THEN THAT WOULD BE THE TIME PERIOD THAT SOMETHING COULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL TO MOVE DOWN THAT ROAD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE THIS NEXT STEP, WHILE IT'S NEGOTIATING THE TERMS AND THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR FINAL DECISION, THIS SHOULDN'T JUST BE VIEWED, I FEEL, AS, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING AND SEEKING MORE INFORMATION. THIS IS ACTUALLY TAKING A SERIOUS AN ACTION OF SERIOUS CONSIDERATION OF PURSUING COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO BACK OUT BEFORE EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT. BUT CERTAINLY THE COUNTY LOOKS AT THIS AS BEING THAT SERIOUS LOOK AT CONSIDERING THOSE SERVICES.

SHOULD THE COUNCIL GIVE DIRECTION TO INITIATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STUDY? IT WOULD BE STAFF SUGGESTION THAT THERE BE TWO PIECES THAT BE UNDERTAKEN IMMEDIATELY.

AND THE FIRST OF THOSE IS TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OF A FIRE CHIEF. WE HAVE, FRANKLY, PUT THAT ON THE BACK BURNER.

GIVEN THIS ISSUE IS STILL OUT THERE, IT WASN'T REALISTIC FOR US TO PURSUE A TRUE RECRUITMENT, NOT KNOWING THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.

SO THAT'S BEEN PUT ON HOLD FOR THE TIME BEING.

AND THE SECOND THING IS TO PREPARE AN RFP FOR THE STANDARD OF COVERAGE ANALYSIS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED. THOSE TWO WOULD BE THE FIRST STEPS THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE AND THEN APPROPRIATE THE DOLLARS OF ROUGHLY FIFTY TO SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THAT STANDARD OF COVERAGE.

SO I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS.

I CAN ALSO ADD AS WELL AS CHIEF SEGURA, OR IF THERE ARE COMMENTS THAT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AND COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS MIGHT HAVE AS WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, PLEASE.

I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL.

MR. RUSSI, IF YOU CAN EXPAND ON IT TOO.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY THAT IS NOT ON HERE TONIGHT? I'M SORRY. YEAH, THANK YOU.

IN THE REPORT, SO WE TOOK THE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE WORKED THROUGH SUPERVISOR B.

STAFF TO COORDINATE A MEETING WITH THE UPPER LEVELS OF THEIR TEAM, AS WELL AS THEN THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE DISCUSSION WAS HAD AS TO IS THERE A POSSIBILITY FOR THE CITY TO RETAIN SOME AMOUNT OF THEIR EMS SERVICE WHILE CONTRACTING JUST THE FIRE PORTION OUT? AND THE COUNTY OUTLINED THAT THAT IS NOT A MODEL IN THEIR 60 PLUS AGENCIES.

THEY EVEN HAVE CONSIDERED.

AND IN THE REPORT, THEY OUTLINED SEVERAL REASONS WHY THEY DO NOT FEEL IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THEM OR PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE MODEL TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THEY WERE FRANKLY NOT INTERESTED IN AND VERY CLEAR IN THAT THAT IS NOT AN OPTION.

THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE MODEL THAT DOES EXIST IN THE COUNTY SYSTEM IS IN ONE CASE, AND THAT'S IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA.

AND FRANKLY, IT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR US IN LA VERNE, BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW US TO RETAIN OUR 201 OWN RIGHTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT WOULD ENABLE US TO STILL PROVIDE TRANSPORT, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE'D BE CONTRACTING WITH THAT THIRD PARTY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE AND THEN STILL COLLECTING THE REVENUE AS WE HAVE AND STILL PROVIDING IT FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW 201 RIGHTS.

I KNOW YOU JUST DID A LITTLE BIT, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS? 201 RIGHTS ARE THE RIGHTS THAT YOU AS A LOCAL AGENCY AND ONLY SELECT LOCAL AGENCIES STILL HAVE IT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY TRANSPORT OR PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THEIR MEDICAL PATIENTS. SO WE WERE DOING IT WITH OUR OWN PARAMEDICS TO THIS POINT.

BUT YOU RUN THE RISK THAT IF YOU EVER RELINQUISH THAT, THAT YOU WOULD LOSE THAT RIGHT IN THE FUTURE AND COULD NOT GET IT BACK BECAUSE YOU WOULD TRANSFER IT TO THE COUNTY.

SO THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO PRESERVE THAT, BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE NOT PROVIDING IT DIRECTLY, WE ARE CONTRACTING TO ENABLE THAT SERVICE TO BE PROVIDED.

AND OUR RESIDENTS HAVE PAID A FEE IN THE PAST FOR THAT, SO THEY'RE NOT CHARGED, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. AND THAT'LL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN IF WE GO EITHER MODEL?

[00:20:07]

ABSOLUTELY, YES.

THANK YOU, THAT'S IT. AND OTHER QUESTIONS FOR--.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

BOB, COULD YOU EXPAND ON LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

WE RECEIVED QUITE A FEW EMAILS OR I CAN SAY I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY MOVE FORWARD WITH IT SO WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ON KEEPING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WELL, THAT'S A CONTRADICTORY.

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IS? YEAH, SO THERE ARE THERE ARE TWO PARTS OF THIS NEXT STEP.

ONE IS NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF WHAT THE ENGAGEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS WHAT WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK.

THE SECOND PART IS THAT ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERSION OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR FACILITY.

SO THAT BECOMES THAT SECOND STAGE OF THE FEASIBILITY.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD EXECUTE A REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT FOR.

SO THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS GIVEN TO US KIND OF OUTLINED THE BROADER SCOPE OF HERE'S A SERVICE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOU.

HERE'S WHAT GENERALLY THE COST WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR STAFFING THE DIFFERENT STATIONS.

BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEEPER DIVE TAKEN IN ORDER FOR THEM TO, THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOOD, BUT THEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS IN OUR FACILITIES, AND THAT WOULD BE THAT NEXT LEVEL OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE TAKING ON.

CORRECT. OK.

SO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ROBIN, A FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD BE THE OPTION A, TO AUTHORIZE A REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE COUNTY TO BE EXECUTED? CORRECT? THAT WOULD BE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WE WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS COUNTY FIRE RATHER THAN JUST LOOKING AT IT AND KEEPING OUR OWN.

AND [INAUDIBLE] I WILL CONFIRM WITH CHIEF SEGURA THAT I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING IN THAT PART OF IT. DID I, CHIEF? I KNOW YOU'RE MUTED, BUT.

HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING, YES, FEASIBILITY STUDY, AGAIN, IT GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED WITH THE TERMINOLOGY; THE FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS ALREADY BEEN CONDUCTED. NOW WE'RE GOING TO ENTER INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ON THE TERMS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO CONVERT.

THEY'RE GOING TO SURVEY OUR FACILITIES, OUR EQUIPMENT, AND WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO CONVERT ALL THAT OVER, TO MATCH WHAT THEIR BACKS ARE.

AND THAT GOES FROM EVERYTHING IN THE FIREHOUSE TO THE APPARATUS AND THE EQUIPMENT.

SO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THAT A WHILE BACK.

THAT WAS PRIOR TO THE MESSINA STUDY.

AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING TO ENTER INTO A NEGOTIATION AGAIN WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL COST WOULD BE IF, IN FACT, WE AGREED OR YOU AGREED AS A COUNCIL TO CONTRACT WITH THE FIRE DISTRICT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF SEGURA? NO, I DON'T SEE ANY. THANK YOU, CHIEF SEGURA FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. RUSSI, ANY MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STUDY OR THE TWO OPTIONS? NOT AT PRESENT.

YOU'RE MUTED MS. LAU. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, SO IF WE'RE TO PROCEED WITH OPTION A., WHICH IS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THIS COUNCIL OR THE CITY, IF UPON FINDINGS RESULTING FROM THAT EVALUATION TO GO DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH? THAT IS CORRECT. BUT IT WOULD PROVIDE US GREATER DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING WITH RESPECT TO WHAT THE VALUE OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND OUR ASSETS AND WHATNOT WOULD BE AND WHAT THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO IN ANY SORT OF PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

AND WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCURATE WAY IN WHICH TO EVALUATE THE COSTS APPLES TO APPLES BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIONS.

IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE APPLES TO APPLES, BUT, YES, YOU WOULD YOU'RE MISSING THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUE COST TO MAKE THAT CONVERSION ARE, BECAUSE I THINK THE APPLES TO APPLES MIGHT MIGHT BE CONFUSING AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MATCH OUR SERVICE. THEY'RE PROVIDING WHAT SERVICES THEY RECOMMEND TO US.

THANK YOU.

[00:25:02]

AND IT DIDN'T OUTLINE THE DOLLARS THAT WOULD TRANSLATE WITH RESPECT TO THE RETIREMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE ONE PATH VERSUS THE OTHER, THERE'S THE ACCRUAL OF THE RETIREMENT REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT INTO CALCULATION IN THAT STUDY? NO. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR CHIEF SEGURA OR CITY MANAGER RUSSI? NOT AT THIS TIME.

THEN, I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE TO COMMENT.

JR, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE LINE? YES, MR. MAYOR, GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO PULL UP THE SCREEN.

AGAIN, I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE ON A THREE MINUTE TIME FRAME AND WE WILL HOLD TO THAT TONIGHT. SO I'D APPRECIATE, JUST, I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO THREE MINUTES, BUT PLEASE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO STICK TO TONIGHT.

AND MR. MAYOR SHOULD HAVE JACKSON SALINAS ON THE LINE.

MR. SALINAS, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I'M HERE.

HELLO AGAIN, I'M ONCE AGAIN ASKING ALL THE COUNCIL TO GO WITH OPTION B.

I DO NOT WANT [INAUDIBLE] TO GO TO THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO KEEP OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OUR WONDERFUL CITY.

THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE A GREAT JOB AT PROVIDING SERVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE, PLEASE GO WITH OPTION B..

I DO NOT WANT GO TO THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH [INAUDIBLE] LIKE FUNDING AND STUFF.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS. JR? MR. MAYOR, I SHOULD HAVE ANDY GLAZE ON THE LINE.

ANDY, ARE YOU THERE? YES, YES, I AM.

GOOD EVENING, MR. GLAZE. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU, I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAS STATED MY NAME IS ANDY GLAZE AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL 92 CITIZENS THAT WROTE IN AND REQUESTED THE PHASE TWO ASPECT OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FROM L.A.

COUNTY FIRE. THIS WAS AN OVERWHELMING SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR THE STUDY BY THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE AND YOUR LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE IN AND REQUEST IT.

YOUR LOVER. AND FIREFIGHTERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FUTURE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS DAVIS, CROSBY, AND LAU.

WE FELT THE CONVERSATIONS WERE PRODUCTIVE AND POSITIVE.

THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A MODEL THAT PROVIDES THE BEST SERVICE AND SAFETY FOR THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE IN THE PACKET THAT WAS RELEASED FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING. THERE IS AN ACCURATE AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THOSE MEETINGS.

WE AGREE WITH THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE PACKET.

WE RECEIVED MANY MESSAGES ASKING WHAT DO THE FIREFIGHTERS WANT? WELL, YOUR LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR THIS PHASE TWO FEASIBILITY STUDY OPTION A FROM L.A.

COUNTY FIRE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU, MR. GLAZE JR, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

MR. MAYOR, I HAVE BRUCE BECKER ON THE LINE, MR. BECKER, YOUR LIVE.

MR. BECKER, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. MY REMARKS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE REDUNDANT TO AN EMAIL I SENT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I SENT EACH OF YOU AN EMAIL ASKING THAT YOU TAKE AN INFORMAL POLL OF 26 CITIZENS, ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION.

DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR DO YOU WANT TO GO TO COUNTY? I ASK THAT YOU NOT PREJUDICE THIS POLL BY REFERRING TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

LET'S BE HONEST. THE ONLY REASON FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

IS TO JUSTIFY A PRE-DETERMINED OUTCOME.

LET ME GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, JOE BIDEN WENT TO FEASIBILITY STUDY AND ASKING IF WE WANT MORE JUSTICES SUPREME COURT.

WE ALREADY KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THAT, YOU DON'T NEED A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DO THAT.

SAME HERE. IF YOU VOTE TO GO COUNTY, IT'S A COPOUT.

IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAY I WANT TO KEEP THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT FEASIBILITIES, THEY CHANGE MY MIND.

THAT'S HOGWASH.

OK, ALL RIGHT.

[00:30:01]

I'VE TALKED TO 50 PEOPLE.

I'M [INAUDIBLE]RUNNING, WALKING, WALKING MY DOG.

I ASKED 50 CITIZENS THE SIMPLE QUESTION, DO YOU WANT TO RETAIN THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR GO COUNTY.

MY SURVEY RESULTS 42 LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIVE COUNTY, THREE DIDN'T CARE.

RHETORICALLY, WHAT WERE YOUR RESULTS? IF YOU DIDN'T PULL A SAMPLING OF LA VERNE RESIDENTS, I QUESTION YOUR COMMITMENT TO AN IMPARTIAL VOTE. OK, I HAVE THREE, FOUR QUESTIONS THAT I WANT TO ASK: WILL THE COUNTY FULLY COMMIT TO THREE FIRE STATIONS? I DOUBT THAT. WILL WE SAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY? I DOUBT THAT. WILL THE COUNTY BATTALION CHIEF REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE CITY MANAGER? I DOUBT THAT. I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO BE REPORTING TO THE CITY MANAGER.

WILL THE COUNTY RESPONSE TIME BE AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN WE HAD THREE STATIONS? I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE EITHER.

OUR CURRENT FIRE CHIEF REPORTS THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND HAS FOR YEARS OLD.

HOLD THE CITY MANAGER ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAINTAINING AND RETAINING FIREFIGHTERS, MAYBE START BY GIVING THE FIRE CHIEF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT SINCE THE STABILITY STARTS AT THE TOP.

THEN ASK THE CHIEF FOR A PLAN PROCESS TO HIRE AND RETAIN FIREFIGHTERS.

WITH REGARD TO COUNCIL MEMBER LAU'S QUESTION ABOUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR MIND LATER ON, LET'S NOT FOOL THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE.

IF YOU PASS THIS MEASURE, WE WILL BE GOING COUNTY, PERIOD.

OKAY, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU, MR. BECKER.

MR. MAYOR, I HAVE KATHY C.

ON THE LINE, KATHY, YOU'RE LIVE.

GOOD EVENING, MS. C.. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY CALL.

THANK YOU. SO AFTER I READ THROUGH THE PACKET FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, I BECAME VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I NOTICED THERE WERE A LOT OF EMAILS REQUESTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

BUT WHEN I READ OPTION A IT'S STATED ON PAGE 124.

AND AS YOU GO FURTHER TO 128, IT STATES VERY SPECIFICALLY.

AND AS MANAGER RUSSI SAID, THE NEXT STEP IS THAT THE CITY IS SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING TOWARDS COUNTY SERVICES AND THE WORK THAT'S BEING INITIATED IS BEING DONE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE COMMITMENT TO THAT OUTCOME.

AS I STATED IN THE EMAIL I HAD SENT AFTER THE FIRE STUDY, I FEEL THAT LOSING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COUNTY SERVICES WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE.

WE WOULD LOSE CONTROL.

THERE'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT COSTS WOULD ESCALATE WITHIN A FEW YEARS, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO RAISE TAXES AND OR CUT BACK ON SERVICES.

I THINK THIS ISSUE IS WAY TOO BIG TO BE DECIDED TONIGHT ON A ZOOM MEETING.

THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN OUR CITY JUST DON'T WATCH THE MEETINGS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I REALLY BELIEVE THIS ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY SHOULD GO TO COUNTY FOR FIRE SERVICE SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE NEXT BALLOT OR A VOTE BY ALL THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE.

SO OPTION B IS DEFINITELY WHAT I'M IN FAVOR FOR AND I APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY.

THANK YOU, C..

MR. MAYOR, I HAVE JIM MURPHY ON THE LINE, MR. MURPHY, YOU'RE LIVE. GOOD EVENING, MR. MURPHY. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, STAFF, APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

I ASK YOU TONIGHT, AS YOU REVIEW THIS ITEM THAT YOU READ CAREFULLY, LIKE MS. C. JUST SAID, WHAT IS STATED THERE.

AND I THINK MR. RUSSI DID A GREAT JOB OF HELPING EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT REALLY WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF MORE INFORMATION.

THIS IS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO L.A.

COUNTY. AND I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY WHEN YOU VOTE [INAUDIBLE].

THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION I THINK THE CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FOR AND THE RESPONSES THAT I'VE SEEN TO THE STUDY WILL BE FOUND IN THE MESSINA REPORT.

THEY JUST HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.

BUT THE INFORMATION IS THERE.

IN MARCH, WE VOTED AS A COMMUNITY TO ACCEPT AN EIGHT PERCENT SALES TAX INCREASE, TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFEY WITH A FOCUS ON FIRE AND POLICE.

ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THIS STUDY THAT WE'RE IN FAVOR OF GOING TO COUNTY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED

[00:35:06]

IT TALKED ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT OF A PERMANENT CHIEF, DESPERATELY NEEDED, FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT PLAN, EMPLOYEE RETENTION PROGRAM, AND A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO NEW LEADERSHIP IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH FRESH FIREFIGHTERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE HISTORY OF THE LAWSUIT PAYOUT THAT HAS CREATED SUCH A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TODAY.

YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, L.A.

COUNTY HAS ITS OWN ISSUES WITH OVER 400 OPENINGS AND WHAT WE SAW IN MARCH WAS A ONE POINT THREE DOLLARS BILLION SHORTFALL FOR EQUIPMENT UPGRADES THAT VOTERS REJECTED.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM? SOMETIMES THE GRASS IS GREENER, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR SO IN THIS CASE, ESPECIALLY EXCEPT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION.

TONIGHT, MR. GLAZE'S COMMENTS ABOUT VOTING FOR OPTION A SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES TO ALL OF YOU. HE HAS DONE NOTHING HIMSELF TO HELP US GAIN OPTION B IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE LAWSUIT. OUR RESIDENTS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY STATED THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW IN SEPTEMBER WAS TESTIMONY TO THAT . BACK IN 2013, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE DID A THIRD PARTY STUDY.

I THINK 400 RESIDENTS AND 77 RESPONDED, NO TO COUNTY FIRE, IN FACT, TIM HEPBURN COMMENTING DURING HIS MAYORAL CAMPAIGN THAT HIS POSITION ON COUNTY FIRE SERVICES WAS TO DO WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANTED.

SIMILARLY, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND CROSBY MADE THOSE SAME COMMENTS.

SO IN MARCH, WE VOTED ON A SALES TAX TO INCREASE BENEFITS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

YET WITH THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, THE VOTE RESTS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

I FEEL THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT AND TOO PERMANENT TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. PUT THIS ON A BALLOT, LET US VOTE FOR IT LIKE WE SAW IN MARCH AND LIKE WE'RE SEEING TOMORROW, LET US VOTE FOR WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

PAYING MORE FOR LONG TERM REDUCED SERVICES ISN'T LIKELY TO BE APPROVED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THAT'S ALL I GOT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [INAUDIBLE] MR. MAYOR, I HAVE ZACH GIBSON ON THE LINE.

MR. GIBSON, YOU'RE LIVE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS, THE FEASIBILITY STUDY GAVE US THE COUNTY'S ASSESSMENT OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S WORTH, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT AND WORTH MENTIONING IS OUR DEPARTMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF WHAT IS WORTH PURSUING.

AND NOW THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS--SHOUTOUT TO ANDY GLAZE, DAVE BONANO; YOU GUYS ARE BALLERS.

LOVE YOU GUYS.

LOVE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

TO THE COUNCIL. YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PREFERENCES, REQUESTS AND FEASIBLE NEEDS OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS VITAL FOR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF BOTH THE CITY, BUT ALSO THE VERY PROFESSIONALS THAT WE HAVE TRUSTED AND SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT A QUITE LONG STRUGGLE.

AND TO VOTE AGAINST THEIR INTERESTS PURELY FOR POLITICAL IMAGE WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. AND MR. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO CHECK WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR CALLING SPEAKERS AT THIS POINT. HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

MR. MAYOR, THAT IS ALL THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AT THIS TIME.

I WOULD SAY WE WOULD WAIT THIRTY SECONDS.

SO JUST TO MAKE SURE.

NOTHING ELSE, J.R.? WE HAVE NO ONE ELSE THAT'S REQUESTING.

NOTHING ELSE HAS COME THROUGH, SIR.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO COUNCIL.

BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL, FIRST OF ALL, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS BEFORE WE START WITH OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TENUOUS ROAD FOR ALL OF US, BETWEEN MESSINA ASSOCIATES, BETWEEN THE FIREFIGHTERS AND COUNCIL, MEETING WITH THEM, DISCUSSING THIS AT

[00:40:06]

AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US DON'T TAKE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE MODEL THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND SO BEING THAT SAID, WE'RE FACED WITH TWO OPTIONS: OPTION A, WHICH IS TO GIVE THE COUNTY FIRE, TO GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TO REVIEW OUR SYSTEM AND SEE WHAT WORKS FOR THEM AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND HOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPLY FIRE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY OR OPTION B, WHICH IS AND ACTUALLY A NOTE AND A AND I'D BE REMISS, WHICH GIVES US THE REGIONAL APPROACH OF FIRE SERVICE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE WILL HAVE SERVICE NO MATTER WHEN.

WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON MUTUAL AID, WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON, WE WILL HAVE THOSE SERVICES AT OUR HAND 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE REMINDED OF, AND THAT'S THE TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS OR SO THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SIX MONTHS TO PROCURE.

OPTION B., WHILE WE ALL KNOW THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST, BUT EVEN WITH OPTION B, IF WE GO THAT ROUTE AND SPEND THE MONEY FOR THE SLC AND DO THE DUE DILIGENCE, HIRE FIRE CHIEF, WE'RE STILL FACED WITH THE SAME SITUATION, WHICH IS THE MUTUAL AID PIECE OF THIS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OURSELVES. SO I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.

EXCUSE MY DOG, GUYS.

I'M SO SORRY. BUT SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT NONE OF US TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.

EVERYBODY'S PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THIS, A LOT OF TIME, EFFORT BY STAFF, BY THE FIRE CHIEFS, THE PREVIOUS AND DAVID SEGURA, OUR INTERIM FIRE CHIEF NOW AND A LOT OF DISCUSSION. SO I JUST NONE OF US ARE TAKING THIS LIGHTLY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE ON TONIGHT.

SO BEING THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? OK, I WROTE DOWN MY THOUGHTS, AS YOU SAID, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE AND I FEEL VERY STRONG ON THIS TOPIC, SO I'LL READ WHAT I WROTE.

OK, I STAND FIRMLY, AS I HAVE SAID FROM THE START, I WANT TO KEEP OUR OWN FIRE SERVICES IN LA VERNE.

I WANT TO SEE US SELL THE DEPARTMENT AND RECRUIT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS BY STARTING WITH THE HIRING OF A NEW FIRE CHIEF.

NORTHERN LA VERNE, ONCE FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE OPENED WITH WORKING PERSONNEL ON DUTY.

LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN AS ALL FIVE OF US HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT KEEPING OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TURN TO COUNTY SERVICES. THREE OF YOU JUST MADE THAT STATEMENT IN MARCH AT THE PUBLIC FORUM.

I AM AGAINST SPENDING TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS AND MORE TO LOOK FORWARD, LOOK TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE CONTRACT WITH COUNTY.

THIS IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY PLANS TO OPEN TO NOT OPEN FIRE STATION NUMBER THREE.

THAT'S RIGHT IN THE REPORT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NINE PARAMEDIC TRAINED PERSONNEL PER SHIFT, BUT THE COUNTY REPORT SAYS THAT THEY WILL ONLY PROVIDE EIGHT PERSONNEL PER SHIFT WITH ONLY TWO BEING REQUIRED PARAMEDICS, THE REST EMTS.

WHY WOULD WE SETTLE FOR THAT WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE ALL THE PARAMEDIC, ALL THE FIREMEN IN OUR CITY ARE TRAINED PARAMEDIC.

ONCE YOU JOIN COUNTY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO CITY SERVICES.

EVERYONE WILL TELL YOU THAT.

IT'S TOO COSTLY AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH AT THAT POINT.

AS A SMALL CITY, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE UP CONTROL OF OUR SERVICES.

WE WOULD BE SELLING OUR FIRE VEHICLES AND GIVING UP CONTROL OF THE STATIONS, TALKING WITH OTHER CITIES. THE COST CONTINUES TO RISE FOR CONTRACTED CITIES.

AND WE JUST PASSED A TAX MEASURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES.

THE COUNTY DID NOT PASS THEIR TAX MEASURE THIS PAST MARCH TO SUPPORT ONGOING COSTS FOR COUNTY FIRE. SO WHERE DO YOU THINK THE COST WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO? WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, EACH CITY THAT IS CONTRACTED WITH COUNTY FIRE WILL HAVE INCREASED COSTS.

UNDER NEXT STEP, IF YOU NOTICE ON OUR AGENDA.

IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, I THINK IT'S PAGE TWENTY FOUR, UNDER NEXT STEPS, IT SAYS WORD BY WORD IN QUOTATIONS, I PUT THIS, IT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED BY COUNTY STAFF THAT THIS NEXT STEP IS VIEWED, THAT THE CITY IS SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS COUNTY SERVICES AND THE WORK THAT IS BEING INITIATED IS BEING DONE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE COMMITMENT TO THAT OUTCOME. THEREFORE, IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO NOT CONSIDER THIS NEXT STEP AS SIMPLY

[00:45:02]

SO I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN, IT IS FINALIZING THE COST OF TRANSITIONING TO THE COUNTY MODEL. WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC, AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

IF YOU DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, I AM ASKING YOU ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITIZENS TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR TWENTY, TWENTY TWO FOR THEM TO VOTE RATHER THAN TO GO COUNTY AND KEEP OUR LOCAL AND TO KEEP OUR LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS SUCH A BIG COMMITMENT THAT IF YOU ARE DOING THIS, THERE'S SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT DO NOT WANT TO GO COUNTY.

MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN PUT OUT THERE AND UNDERSTANDING, AS I ASKED BOB THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, SOME BELIEVE, WELL, LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THAT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN KEEP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WELL, TALKING TO THEM, THEY WANT TO KEEP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY'RE THINKING THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY IS GOING TO DO IT.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS REPORT IS. AND SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

IF I MAY, YOU RAN ON THIS TWICE, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE.

I'D LIKE TO WAIT TO THE END, MR. DAVIS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. WELL, BUT YOU WERE SHOWING LEADERSHIP WHEN YOU SAID IF YOU WERE MAYOR, YOU COULD HAVE STOPPED THE LAWSUITS AND YOU RAN WITH THE BACKING OF THE FIREFIGHTERS. SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION FIRST.

AND I THINK WITH A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD JOIN ME.

AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TALK FIRST.

I WILL HOLD MINE TILL THE END.

I WILL SPEAK AFTER YOU THEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER'S COMMENTS.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION.

THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE VOTE.

AS MR. BECKER STATED.

IF YOU ASK JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION, I DON'T BELIEVE THE RIGHTFUL ANSWERS ALL COME TRUE BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION AND COMING THROUGH FROM ALL DIFFERENT SIDES.

BUT ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WENT AND SPOKE TO NOT ONLY THE FIREMEN, THE BATTALION CHIEFS. AND I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO PREVIOUS INTERIM FIRE FIRE CHIEFS AS WELL.

AND I BELIEVE MY VOTE TONIGHT IS GOING FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND IT IS, AGAIN, NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY, EASY VOTE.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IN GOING FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

SO, I'M GOING TO STATE THAT NOW. THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

THANK YOU.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY BROUGHT UP A REALLY GOOD POINT IN HIS COMMENTS AND I'D LIKE TO REDIRECT EVERYONE'S COMPASS TO THAT POINT.

AND THE POINT IS SAFETY.

WHEN WE MET WITH MESSINA AND ASSOCIATES, THE FIRST THING THEY ASKED US WAS IDENTIFY YOUR GOAL. AND I THINK I AM NOT MISSTATING IT WHEN I SAY THAT EVERY COUNCIL PERSON, THE FIREFIGHTERS, INTERIM CHIEF, THE CITY MANAGER, OUR STAFF HAVE ALL SAID OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS FIRST AND FOREMOST AND TO PROVIDE THE BEST FIRE SERVICES POSSIBLE SO THAT NONE OF US HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO GET THE HELP WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT.

SO THAT WAS THE GOAL WE HAD IN MIND.

AND I WILL ALSO ADDRESS COUNCILWOMAN CARTER'S COMMENT EARLIER ON REGARDING THE POINT ABOUT WHO WANTED TO GO COUNTY, WHO DIDN'T WANT TO GO COUNTY, ETC..

AND I WILL SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY'S COMMENT IS THAT WHEN YOU ASK AN OPEN QUESTION LIKE THAT, WITHOUT ALL THE INFORMATION OR WITH POTENTIAL MISINFORMATION, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER THAN YOU WILL WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE YOU.

SO I ANSWERED, I'D LOVE TO KEEP OUR OWN FIRE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKS THE MODEL THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME.

WHY NOT? BUT I'M OPEN TO HEARING WHAT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY SAYS.

I'M OPEN TO HEAR WHAT THE FACTS ARE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A REASONED DECISION ABOUT WHAT IS BEST AND SAFEST FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, INCLUDING ALL OF US THAT SIT HERE ON THIS COUNCIL. SO AS WE SAT THROUGH NOT ONLY MULTIPLE SESSIONS WITH THE CONSULTANTS, NOT ONLY DID MANY OF US SIT THROUGH MEETINGS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, WITH THE BATTALION CHIEFS, WITH THE INTERIM CHIEFS, WITH RESIDENTS, WITH RESIDENTS WHO USED TO BE LIVING IN FIRE,

[00:50:04]

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US TOOK THIS LIGHTLY.

AND WE SPENT MANY, MANY HOURS ASKING QUESTIONS AND DELVING INTO THE DATA AND THE ISSUES THAT CONCERN ME MOST WHEN THE REPORTS CAME OUT AND THE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM THE EXPERTS IS THAT THERE ARE SOME UNDENIABLE FACTS THAT EXIST IN OUR SITUATION.

THEY'RE NOT IDEAL. THEY'RE NOT WHAT I WOULD LIKE, BUT THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE.

ONE, WE ARE AN ISLAND.

WE ARE THE ONLY CITY FIRE FROM THE MUTUAL AID THAT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT, THE COMMENTS WE HAVE RECEIVED IS THAT IT'S NOT TRULY MUTUAL, THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING MORE HELP THAN WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, AND THAT'S PRESENTING AN ISSUE AND A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT WILL GO AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

THE OTHER ISSUE AND I WILL APPLAUD AND I WISH I HAVE THE NAME OF THE RESIDENT WHO WROTE IN, BUT IT WAS A RESIDENT WHO SPECIALIZES IN H.R.

AND WORKS IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT.

AND THE COMMENT THAT RESIDENT MADE WAS WITH RESPECT TO IDENTIFYING, RECRUITING AND RETAINING AN ABLE CHIEF WHO CAN TURN AROUND THE CULTURE OF AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT IN ITS BEST STATE.

AND FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER WORKED IN A COMPANY OR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS HAD TO GO THROUGH A RESTRUCTURE A REORG OR A CHANGE OF CULTURE, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

IT IS NOT INEXPENSIVE AND IT IS NOT WITHOUT ITS OWN ISSUES AND COSTS.

AND SO WHEN I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT WE CAN FIND A QUALIFIED CHIEF WITH THE APPROPRIATE LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO TURN THIS SHIP AROUND, THE ANSWER I RECEIVED WAS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT IT MAY NOT BE AT THE COST THAT YOU THINK YOU CAN PAY FOR.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THAT'S ASSUMING THAT THEY STAY THROUGH THE TERM THAT IS NEEDED TO EFFECTUATE THOSE CHANGES.

THIRD IS THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FIREFIGHTERS NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY OF LA VERNE, BUT WITHIN THE INDUSTRY ITSELF.

FOR THOSE CALLED INTO THE STUDY SESSION, THE MESSINA ASSOCIATES FOLKS TOLD US THAT THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT'S. SINGULAR TO LA VERNE.

IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, AND IF WE ARE COMPETING AGAINST AGENCIES THAT CAN PAY MORE, THAT CAN DO MORE, THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET TURNED AROUND UNLESS THEY'RE SIGNIFICANT FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

SO IF I GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS OUR GOAL AND THE GOAL IS THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR SERVICES AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, THAT I AM HARD PRESSED TO SEE HOW I AM DOING WHAT I SAID I WOULD DO WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE. AND THAT IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL THE RESIDENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MODEL THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY AND CONNECTIONS AND EMOTION WITH THIS.

I'M FEELING THOSE EMOTIONS, TOO.

BUT I WAS NOT ELECTED TO RUN ON EMOTIONS.

I WAS NOT ELECTED TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON EMOTION.

I WAS ELECTED TO LOOK AT THE FACTS AND TO MAKE A GOOD SOUND DECISION FOR ALL OF US.

I LIVE HERE, TOO, AND IT MATTERS TO ME WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE BEST SERVICES POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND AS IT STANDS SIMILAR TO COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR OPTION A. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

MR. DAVIS, I WILL GO NOW.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS SO FAR.

AND AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT I DID SUPPORT, YES, I DID SUPPORT FIRE SERVICES AND KEEPING OUR FIRE PRIVATE.

BUT I ALSO SAID AT THAT CONVERSATION WAS AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP OUR FIREFIGHTER PERSONNEL SAFE WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND THE RIGHT CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. AND NOW WE GO TO OUR REGIONAL AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU HAS STATED, WE'RE AN ISLAND OUT HERE. AND THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE USING MUTUAL AID ALL THE TIME.

THAT IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE? AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE PROTECTION OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF THE FIRE PERSONNEL.

WE HAD A FIRE AT DEL HYDRAULICS.

WE HAD SEVEN TRUCKS, SEVEN FIRE TRUCKS, SEVEN BATTALION CHIEFS HASMAT, THAT WAS ALL BY THE GRACE OF THE COUNTY.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT WE DO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO REQUIRE MUTUAL AID, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE THE ISSUE OF RESPONSE TIMES.

OUR RESPONSE TIMES ARE GOING TO GO UP AND THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO LOSE LIVES. I MEAN, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT'S WHEN.

AND WE'VE HAD THIS MODEL FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND WE ALL HATE TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT MODEL.

BUT AGAIN, I'LL ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY'S STATEMENTS THAT IT IS

[00:55:05]

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER'S COMMENTS.

BUT YOU CANNOT CONTINUALLY GO ON AND HAVE AN ISSUE LIKE THAT WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTING IT AND GOING TO AT LEAST SERVING THE COUNTY OPTION.

AGAIN, WE CONTINUALLY USE MUTUAL AID.

WE GO TO OPTION A.

IF WE DO GO TO COUNTY COMPLETELY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MUTUAL AID.

EVERY TIME WE NEED SOMETHING FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WHETHER TWO TRUCKS, FIVE TRUCKS, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE, WHETHER IT'S A BUILDING, WHETHER IT'S AN AMBULANCE CALL, WHETHER IT'S JUST PARAMEDIC, WE'LL HAVE WHAT WE NEED AND WE WILL PAY FOR THAT.

AND AS FAR AS STATION THREE, IF IT SO CHOOSES FOR STATION THREE.

WE JUST HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.

IT'S JUST STAFFING IT WITH FOUR CREW, A CAPTAIN, AN ENGINEER AND A COUPLE PARAMEDICS, WE CAN DO THAT. BUT IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE AREA OF COVERAGE.

IF WE'RE GETTING OUR THREE TO FIVE MINUTES OF COVERAGE, THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO TELL US WHERE WE'RE AT. SO.

AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OPTION A FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH LA COUNTY.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS DECISION, NEEDS TO BE MADE, AND IT'S ONE THAT I AM QUITE TORN OVER BECAUSE I HAVE GROWN UP HERE.

I STILL REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEN WE TRANSITION FROM VOLUNTEER TO PROFESSIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE MAY WE SURVIVE THAT TRANSITION AND WE THRIVED IN IT.

THIS INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I HAVE LOOKED AT IS VERY THOROUGH, VERY NUANCED. AND CHALLENGES A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT I HAD AS A RESIDENT.

THAT EDUCATION HASN'T BEEN EASY.

I'VE WANTED TO IGNORE OR DEFEND OR ARGUE SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE IN IT.

BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, IF I LOOK AT THE NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER PROTECTION ASSOCIATION'S GUIDELINES FOR SAFELY COMBATING FIRE STRUCTURES, THE MINIMUM RESPONSE IS 17. OUR CURRENT MODEL HAS EIGHT TO 11.

SO WE'RE SIX SHORT.

SO IF WE REALLY WANTED TO BE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'D NEED TO NEARLY NOT DOUBLE, BUT WE'D NEED TO GROW HALF AGAIN AS BIG AS WE ARE NOW, WHICH WOULD MORE THAN SURPASS THE THREE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE ASKED RESIDENTS TO RAISE BY VOTING YES ON MEASURE LV.

THE CHALLENGE IS THEN WHAT CAN WE CONTROL, BECAUSE GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHEN I THINK OF FIRE, I THINK OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE RARE INSTANCE WHEN WE NEED, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE DEL, WHERE THEY HAVE THE ACTUAL BUILDING ON FIRE.

SO THAT'S WHY I LOOK AT THE LA HABRA MODEL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US AND I'LL CHALLENGE OUR CITY MANAGER TO SAY THAT WE WON'T NECESSARILY IMMEDIATELY OUTSOURCE THE AMBULATORY SERVICES, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD RETAIN OR SIMPLY HAVE LOCAL CONTROL THROUGH CONTRACT.

BUT THAT'S STILL AN UNANSWERED QUESTION IN MY MIND.

I THINK WE CAN ALSO QUESTION OTHER THINGS WITH REGARD TO L.A.

COUNTY. L.A. COUNTY, BACK IN THE 80S, WHEN THEY WERE RECRUITING CITIES LIKE POMONA AND OTHERS, THEY SAID WE HAVE ONE OPTION AND ONE OPTION ONLY.

20 YEARS LATER, WHEN LA HABRA JOINED THEM IN 2005, THEY PROVIDED THEM ANOTHER OPTION TO ENTICE THEM TO JOIN.

I THINK THEY MAY BE OPEN TO OTHER OPTIONS, 15 LATER, 15 YEARS LATER.

AND I'D LIKE TO POTENTIALLY PURSUE THOSE POTENTIALLY WITH AN AUTO AID AGREEMENT LOOK LIKE. AND SEE WHETHER THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT QUITE OUR OWN EMS SYSTEM, BUT IT MAY BE MORE INTEGRATED.

SO I THINK THERE ARE ASPECTS, ELEMENTS, DIMENSIONS THAT WE CAN ENTERTAIN AND NEGOTIATE AND DISCUSS WITH L.A.

COUNTY AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION A WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

IS IT A SERIOUS MOVE TOWARDS THAT DIRECTION? ABSOLUTELY. AND IT NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER FOR EVERYBODY TO BE PLAYING WITH THE CARDS FACE UP SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING, NOT JUST A PIE IN THE SKY KIND OF THING.

[01:00:01]

WE SAVE MONEY. I'D RATHER SEE THE ESCALATION SCHEME BE CLOSER TO WHAT OURS IS, WHICH IS ABOUT THREE AND A QUARTER PERCENT.

IT MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE UP FRONT, BUT IT WON'T GROW AS FAST.

AND IT'S THAT HIGH RATE OF GROWTH THAT IN THE END GETS YOU.

SO I WOULD WANT TO A LOWER ESCALATING SCHEME SIMILAR TO WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE HAVE OUR OWN. I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A SOLUTION THAT WILL SUFFICE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT NECESSARILY, BUT IF WE DO WANT OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEN IT'S GOING TO COST US MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING.

AND WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING APPLES TO APPLES BECAUSE WE NEED 17 ON STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FIRE.

WE'D STILL HAVE TO CALL FOR MUTUAL AID OR AUTO AID FOR LARGER BUILDINGS, APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

THOSE REQUIRED. TWENTY FIVE OR MORE.

AND THOSE ARE REAL CONCERNS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SO HAVE BEEN REALLY CHALLENGING.

I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL WEARING MUD ON OUR FACE AND CAN'T ALL WALK AWAY FROM THIS NECESSARILY HAPPY, I'M UPSET WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR AND TAKING US TO COURT. I'M UPSET WITH OUR MAYOR, OUR CURRENT MAYOR, WHO WAS SIMPLY CLAIMING THAT HE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER HAD HE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT POSITION AND FAILING TO TO SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP AND INTERRUPTING THAT SO WE COULD HAVE SAT DOWN AND HAD THIS DISCUSSION THREE YEARS AGO. I'M UPSET WITH MY OWN SENSE OF MY NAIVETÉ COMING IN, THINKING, OH, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM BEFORE I REALLY SAT DOWN AND UNDERSTOOD AND TRIED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING ON, PUTTING 11 PEOPLE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU NEED 17 TO BE SAFE ENDANGERS NOT ONLY THE LIVES OF THE FIREMEN, BUT ALSO THE LIVES OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE FIRE AND NEED TO BE RESCUED OR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING AROUND WANTING TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP, BUT ONLY GETTING IN THE WAY AND MAKING SOMETHING WORSE POTENTIALLY.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S VERY OPEN, VERY CARING, THAT WANTS TO HELP.

I GET THAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY I AM.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DECISION THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IS VERY NUANCED AND IT'S VERY COMPLEX.

I DON'T THINK IT'S WELL SUITED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DECIDE.

I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE THAT THE COMMUNITY ELECTED, THE FIVE OF US TO MAKE THIS DECISION. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH ANY AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO UNDERSTAND MORE AND TO SHARE WITH YOU MY UNDERSTANDING.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION.

IT'S NOT ONE WITHOUT A HUGE SHAKE UP TO OUR CITY CULTURE.

IT'S NOT ONE THAT DOESN'T CAUSE ME SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

IT IS SERIOUS.

IT IS COMPLICATED.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT.

I WAS ELECTED TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO DO.

SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF OPTION A WITH HOPEFULLY THE EXTRA NUANCES AND THE DIMENSIONS THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO IN THIS NEGOTIATION SO THAT WE CAN GET NOT THE LA HABRA MODEL, BUT THE LA VERNE MODEL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE? COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY? TO ADD TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS' COMMENTS ABOUT I WANT TO PUT THE [INAUDIBLE] IF THIS MOVES FORWARD FOR OPTION AS WELL THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER STATED, THAT STATION THREE IS NOT IN THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COUNTY.

BUT I DO NOT WANT TO JUST GIVE THAT PROPERTY AWAY, THAT PROPERTY IS VALUABLE PROPERTY WITH A VALUABLE BUILDING ON THAT.

IF WE DO MOVE WITH OPTION A THAT I PUT THE TASK TO MR. RUSSI THAT WE KEEP ALL THAT PROPERTY FOR LA VERNE, FOR OUR USE, FOR WHAT USE WE WANT TO PUT IT FOR. IF IT'S REPURPOSED FOR FOR ANYTHING, THAT WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE USE IT WISELY. AND THEN ALSO, AGAIN, JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS SAID THAT I KNOW ONLY TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS A CITY BY THE BEACH THAT HAD THE SAME PROPOSAL OF THE FIVE PERCENT INCREASE WHICH THEY REDUCED.

SO I PUT IT TO MR. RUSSI AND HIS NEGOTIATING EXPERTISE AND NOT TO HAVE THAT FIVE PERCENT, BUT EVEN TO LOWER THAT FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR CITY SO THAT THAT COST DOESN'T GO ESCALATE BECAUSE THAT IS A FEAR OF MINE AS WELL, OF JUST THE COST THAT IT WOULD BE.

[01:05:03]

BOB, I WOULD HOPE GOING ALONG WITH WHAT RICK SAID, I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD NEGOTIATE NOT TO GIVE AWAY ANY OF OUR PROPERTY.

WE OWN THAT PROPERTY AND WE SHARE IT AND LEASE IT TO THEM.

SO SOMEHOW THERE'S A WAY YOU SHOULD MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF OUR OWN PROPERTY.

YES, I THINK THE STRUCTURE IS LEASED ANYWAYS.

BUT I THINK TO COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY'S POINT IS NOT EVEN LEASE STATION THREE IS IT'S NOT PART OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN AT THIS POINT.

SO. BUT UNDERSTAND AND YES, I UNDERSTAND MY DIRECTION.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU? YES, MY LAST COMMENT, IT'S ALONG THE SAME VEIN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AT OTHER MEETINGS, IS THAT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM OTHER CITIES AND OTHER PLACES LIKE WE HAVE, AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.

HOWEVER, WE ARE UNIQUE.

AND SO I DON'T WANT TO ROLL OVER ON ANYTHING.

I THINK THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF IT IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE UP IN THE AIR. BUT I THINK THAT WITH THE RIGHT NEGOTIATION TACTICS THAT WE CAN TRY TO FIND THE MODEL THAT IS GOING TO BE BEST SUITED FOR OUR CITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NO DOUBT I DON'T LIKE HEARING THAT. WE DO HAVE AN OUT. AND IF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED IS SO ANTITHETICAL TO PROVIDING SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS, THAT DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT, AGAIN, THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, THEN WE DO HAVE AN OUT.

AND SO YOU KNOW THIS, BUT WE CAN'T GO FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT OUR ASSETS ARE GOING TO BE VALUED AT, WHERE OUR LEVERAGE POINTS ARE AND WHAT THE STICKING POINTS MIGHT BE FOR THE COUNTY. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK PLEASE, IN THAT VEIN, THE INNOVATIVE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, FIGURE OUT HOW WE COME UP WITH THE LA VERNE MODEL, NOT THE LA HABRA MODEL, NOT ANYBODY ELSE'S MODEL, BUT OURS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST A FEW COMMENTS ON MY PART.

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU.

THIS IS A VERY TOUGH DECISION.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BRING UP THE PAST.

THERE WERE SOME CLOUDY TIMES THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE LAWSUIT.

WE'RE WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, THOUGH.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL GIVE US THAT OPTION AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HAVE A COMPLETE REGIONAL APPROACH TO OUR CITY.

AND ALSO GOOD POINTS TAKEN ON LOOKING AT THE COSTS AND LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF UPTICK. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER LAU FOR THOSE.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT MR. RUSSI NEGOTIATES FAIRLY.

ALSO, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR BUILDINGS.

I DO AGREE, IF WE CAN'T USE IT AS A FIRE STATION, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY. WE ALSO WANT TO KEEP OUR 201 OWN RIGHTS AND KEEP THE DOOR OPEN FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR AMBULANCE SERVICES, OUR TRANSPORT STUFF.

I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA.

BUT AGAIN, NONE OF US TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD AND IT'S BEEN A REAL LONG ROAD FOR SOME OF US.

AND LIKE I SAY, THE PAST IS THE PAST.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS TO PROTECT, PROTECT, PROTECT, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SERVICES A REGIONAL APPROACH [INAUDIBLE] OUR RESIDENTS THERE IS NEVER GOING TO BE ISSUE IF THERE'S A STRUCTURE FIRE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IF THERE'S AN AMBULANCE CALL AND IF WE HAVE MULTIPLE CALLS, WE GET THE SAME SERVICE EVERY TIME WITH MULTIPLE TRUCKS THAT COME AND PROTECT US.

SO, THANK YOU ALL.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB. THANK YOU, STAFF.

THANK YOU, BOB. THANK YOU ALL THE CHIEFS THAT WERE PASSED AND CHIEFS TOGETHER AND ALL THE STAFF THIS HAS BEEN, J.R., EVERYONE THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED.

THIS HAS BEEN A ROUGH ROAD.

YES, MR. CROSBY, YOU NEED TO VOTE ON IT FIRST.

[LAUGHTER] YEAH, YOU NEED A MOTION. I'M NOT DONE.

I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'VE GOT A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS DRAW BACK NOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER ASKED, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE DO WE WANT TO? SHE HAD AN ALTERNATE MOTION TO.

WAS THAT A MOTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER, THAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR? I DIDN'T ASK FOR A MOTION.

OK, THEN WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUR COMMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO , I GUESS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF OPTION A--.

YOU NEED A MOTION FIRST.

SORRY, GUYS. I NEED A MOTION FOR OPTION A.

I WILL MOVE THAT WE TAKE OPTION A, AUTHORIZE THE REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO BE EXECUTED AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND FIRE CHIEF TO BEGIN NECESSARY MEETINGS WITH COUNTY FIRE STAFF, TERMS FOR CONTRACT, THE EMS AND FIRE SERVICES TO THE COUNTY AND APPROPRIATE TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FUND THAT EFFORT.

DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU SECONDS THAT MOTION.

[01:10:03]

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER OPPOSES.

OPTION A CARRIES THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE OFF OF THIS TOPIC, THOUGH, A COUPLE OF THINGS, DIRECTIVE'S THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE ARE CLEARLY ARTICULATED BECAUSE THEY WERE EMBEDDED SOMEWHAT.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY REITERATED IT, REDUCED ESCALATION, SOMETHING CLOSER TO OUR THREE AND A QUARTER PERCENT.

I'D LIKE IN THEIR PROPOSAL, THEY TALKED ABOUT COMBINING STATIONS.

SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT STATION COMBINATIONS AND POTENTIALLY SUBSTITUTING STATION THREE FOR ONE OF THE OTHER STATIONS, BECAUSE IF I LOOK AT THE CONFIGURATIONS, STATION THREE IS ACTUALLY IN AN AREA THAT'S HARDEST TO REACH, NOT EASIEST TO REACH, WHEREAS SOME OF THE AREAS ARE EASIER TO REACH FROM EITHER PAMONA OR SAN DIMAS.

SO I'D LIKE SOME CREATIVITY THERE ON THE STATION COMBINATIONS THAT GO INTO THIS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE LEVEL OF FIRE INSPECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE FIRE MARSHAL SERVICES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT AND POTENTIALLY A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT TO ENSURE TIMELINESS.

AND THEN SOME OF THE OUT OF THE BOX THINKING THAT I'LL INTRODUCED NOW THAT SOME OF THIS MAY BE INTRODUCED LATER, AS I'D LIKE THEM TO CONSIDER AND SINCE WHAT WOULD THIS ARRANGEMENT LOOK LIKE IF IT WAS CAPTURED IN AN AUTO AID AGREEMENT VERSUS A CONTRACTING OUT FOR ENTIRE SERVICES? WHAT WOULD THAT CONTRACT LOOK LIKE IF WE JUST SIGNED UP AN AUTO AID AGREEMENT TO SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE US WITH HALF A STATION FROM SAN DIMAS AND HAVE THE STATION FROM PAMONA? THEY MAY NOT BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN 15 YEARS, SO WHO KNOWS? I'M OUT OF THE BOX THINKING MAY HELP.

THAT IT, MR. DAVIS? YEP, FOR NOW. MR. RUSSI, YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION? I THINK I HAVE MY MARCHING ORDERS, YES.

AND OK, THEN WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE, AND WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, DO WE HAVE ANY

[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]

I'LL BRING UP THE SCREEN AND THE SPEAKER THAT I HAVE.

MR. GIBSON, ARE YOU THERE? MR. GIBSON, ARE YOU THERE? YES, SORRY.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN. HELLO.

HI, EVERYONE. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK.

I WOULD LIKE TWO ITEMS. I'D REQUEST TWO ITEMS BE ADDED TO THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL OR AT LEAST DISCUSS THAT THE BUILDING SPACE THAT MAKES UP FIRE STATION ONE DOES NOT GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WAS PREVIOUSLY REQUESTED AND SPOKEN ABOUT BY CHIEF PAZ DURING THE MARCH ELECTIONS.

HE WANTS THAT SPACE ENTIRELY FOR THE POLICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER LAU MENTIONED THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNING WITHOUT EMOTION.

OF DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITY AND IF WE CAN'T SUPPORT A FIRE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY, HOW CAN WE ENLARGE OTHER HIGHLY FUNDED DEPARTMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER LAU, YOU WERE ENDORSED BY THE POLICE UNION DURING THE MARCH ELECTION.

SO I IMPLORE YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF OTHER VITAL DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY SERVICES, PUBLIC RECORDS, WHICH ARE IN A GARAGE OR THE LIKE, EVEN TO KEEP OR LEASE THE SPACE FOR COUNTY FIRE USAGE INSTEAD OF SUCCUMBING TO PRESSURE FROM SPECIAL INTEREST PARTIES.

AND SECOND. AND LASTLY.

I WOULD LIKE. THE COUNCIL TO PUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA, BEGIN DISCUSSING DISTRICT VOTING.

I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL RECEIVED COMMENTS ABOUT THIS AND IT'S BEING PUSHED ASIDE, BUT WE HAVE RESIDENT POPULATIONS THAT ARE HIGHLY UNDERREPRESENTED AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT ISSUE BEGINS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. AND, MR. MAYOR, THAT IS ALL THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.

[01:15:12]

[8. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

UNLESS, OF COURSE, MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO GO FIRST.

I'D BE HAPPY TO LEAD THE WAY THIS TIME.

[LAUGHTER] I'M GOOD, YOU JUST GO RIGHT AHEAD.

I WANT TO THANK AND I KNOW I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY WILL HOPEFULLY REPEAT THIS.

I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS, THE FIRE ASSOCIATION AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR COMING OUT AND HOSTING A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN EVENT.

WE HAD MANY, MANY CARS AND GOT TO SEE MANY, MANY KIDS WITH THEIR COSTUMES ON.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WERE ALL SEATED AND BUCKLED UP.

SO WE DIDN'T GET TO EXPERIENCE THE WHOLE THE WHOLE HALLOWEEN TREASURE TROVE OF COSTUMES.

BUT IT WAS TRULY A WONDERFUL EVENT.

AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT ACCOMMODATION FOR THE UNFORTUNATE PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YVONNE DURAN AND HER STAFF AND EVERYONE ELSE.

YOU JUST DID A MARVELOUS JOB.

AND THE PUBLIC WORKS GUYS WHO PUT THE [INAUDIBLE] UP OR THE LENSES UP AND THE LIGHTS TO GIVE IT SOME COLOR AND DECORATED.

IT WAS IT WAS ALL FABULOUS.

ON THE NEXT NOTE, I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT VOTING IN PERSON IS POSSIBLE.

EVEN IF YOU SENT IN YOUR MAIL BALLOT, IF YOU'RE TRACKING YOUR BALLOT AND LIKE ME, AFTER 15 PLUS DAYS, DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS ACCEPTED.

SO I PUT MY WIFE'S AND MY BALLOT IN THE SAME BOX.

HERS SHOWED UP THREE DAYS LATER IS BEING ACCEPTED.

I WAITED ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND IT STILL HADN'T BEEN ACCEPTED.

AND SO I JUST DECIDED I'M GOING TO GO IN AND VOTE.

SO I CANCELED MY MAIL IN BALLOT AND I VOTED.

AND JUST AS I GOT TO MY CAR, THAT TEXT MESSAGE CAME IN THAT SAID MY BALLOT WAS ACCEPTED.

SO I WAS SLEEP AT PEACE ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE.

PLEASE VOTE, PAMONA FAIRPLEX.

NO WAITING. THEY'VE GOT LOTS OF MACHINES UP AT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ST.

JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THERE'S A VOTING OPPORTUNITY THERE.

SOME IN SAN DIMAS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS GENERAL ELECTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.

YES, COMMUNITY SERVICES PLANNED THE EVENT, YVONNE, HER STAFF WORKED ON LIMITED HOURS PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, SO I THANK THEM.

THE FAMILIES THAT CAME THROUGH WERE WONDERFUL.

THEY WERE SO HAPPY, THEIR KIDS WERE EXCITED.

WE GAVE THEM A COUPLE OF EXTRA BAGS AT THE END AND THEY LOVED IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE POLICE PART OF IT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST A COMMUNITY EVENT.

AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH COVID.

THE PANDEMIC'S TAKEN AWAY SO MUCH.

BUT I APPLAUD THE STAFF FOR COMING UP WITH IDEAS OF WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS A DECORATING CONTEST.

THERE WERE OTHER EVENTS THAT OTHERS CAN TALK ABOUT, BUT IT WAS JUST A VERY WONDERFUL EVENT TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO SAY WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. YEAH, I ALSO WANT TO SAY PRESCHOOL WAS THERE AS WELL.

AND THEY HAD CANDY TOO, DR.

DOOLITTLE, BILL GARY WAS OUT THERE.

GREAT. BUT SO THAT HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DRIVE IN.

IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

OVER 80 CARS AND FAMILIES WATCHING COCO AT THE FAIRPLEX ON A FORTY FIVE FOOT DIAGONAL SCREEN, HUGE SCREEN.

AND IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD EVENT.

MY GIRLS AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

AND I PROPOSE THAT WE HAVE MORE EVENTS LIKE THAT.

OUR FAMILIES REALLY DO.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO GET A CHRISTMAS MOVIE OR SOMETHING COMING UP IN THE FUTURE. SO I ENCOURAGE ALL FAMILIES TO GO OUT TO THAT EVENT.

IT WAS IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY FUN EVENT.

GO OUT AND VOTE.

MY FAMILY, AND I GOT TO GO OUT TONIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING TODAY AND PUT IN OUR BALLOT.

SO GET OUT AND VOTE.

AND TONIGHT WAS DIFFICULT AT BEST.

AND JUST NOT TO REHASH EVERYTHING WE SAID.

IT'S NOT EASY SITTING HERE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.

[01:20:02]

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR THOUGHTS. I BELIEVE ALL OF THE THOUGHTS AND WAS EXPRESSED TONIGHT.

AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S OPINION.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU. BEEN DOING YOUR CIVIC DUTY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

MR. CROSBY. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

JUST TO REITERATE, HALLOWEEN NIGHT WAS AMAZING.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH EVERYTHING.

I THINK IT WAS AN AWESOME ALTERNATIVE GIVEN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT GIVES US SOME GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS THAT WE COULD DO IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR CITY.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TO YVONNE, THE STAFF, THE POLICE, THE FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, PRESCHOOL, EVERYBODY FOR FOR BEING OUT THERE.

I THINK IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY FUN TIME.

AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE GET DRESSED UP BECAUSE I LOVE HALLOWEEN.

SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY AMAZING.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS YOU MADE ABOUT TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY. BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT I COMMEND EACH AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING HERE THAT WE HAVE PROMISED TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO BETTER, TO REBUILD THE COMMUNITY AND TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES AND TO REALLY BRING BACK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND I THINK IT'S IT'S NOT AN EASY ROAD.

IT'S ON A DIFFICULT PATH.

I KNOW WE ALL SIGNED UP FOR IT.

SO WE'LL TAKE THE HITS AND, YOU KNOW, AND THE PRAISE.

BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DID TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW THE FIRE STUDY, TO COMMENT AND TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT.

WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR VIEWPOINTS AND INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN NEW FACTS WILL CHANGE SOMEONE'S MIND.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO NORMALIZE AGAIN THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS WHEN PRESENTED WITH NEW FACTS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MARK OF A LEADER AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MARK OF A HUMAN BEING THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO TAKE IN NEW INFORMATION AND MAKE YOUR DECISIONS ACCORDINGLY.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO PROVIDED THEIR INPUT, TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE IN, TO CALL, TO MEET WITH ME AND THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ENGAGED IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

AND LIKE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID, DON'T FORGET, STILL HAVE A DAY OF VOTING.

PLEASE DO VOTE. PLEASE DO BE SAFE.

BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

AND HAPPY MONDAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAID.

FIRST OF ALL, YVONNE DURAN, YOU ROCK.

YOU ROCK! BILL GARY, COMMUNITY SERVICES, POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, PRESCHOOL, YOU GUYS ALL ROCK. YOU TOOK YOUR TIME OUT AND ALSO OUR COUNCIL ROCKS.

I DID NOT DRESS UP LIKE MY COUNCIL.

I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF YOU.

ROBIN'S HUSBAND, I KNOW WE HAD SOME STAFF UP THERE DRESSED UP.

GO GET 'EM, GUYS. IT WAS FUN.

EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME. THANK YOU, MR. RUSSI. YOU GOT SOME GREAT DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY THREW IT TOGETHER IN THIS TIME, THIS TROUBLED TIME. AND IT MADE IT BETTER.

THE KIDS HAD A BALL. THEY JUST HAD A GREAT TIME.

AND ALSO TO REITERATE, THIS WASN'T AN EASY DECISION FOR ANY OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU STATED, AND ALL OF YOU, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU'RE FACED WITH SOMETHING UNTIL WE GET INFORMATION AND IT BASICALLY CHANGES THE WAY WE DO THINGS.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT ALL THE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHAT THEY ELECTED US TO.

AND IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE AT TIMES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ELECTED AND ANYBODY CAN BE ELECTED.

ANYBODY CAN RUN FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS ANY TIME THEY WANT.

AND DON'T THINK THIS IS EASY BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A DAUNTING TASK.

IT'S A PERSONAL THING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SERVICES THAT WE WANT TO KEEP THEM, BUT IT'S A DAUNTING TASK FOR ALL OF US. AND IT WASN'T EASY. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT GAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AND E-MAILS AND LETTERS.

BELIEVE ME, WE ALL TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE ALL TAKE IT TO HEART, BECAUSE YOUR CONCERNS AND COMMENTS ARE OUR CONCERNS AND COMMENTS AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND FIRE SERVICE AND POLICE SERVICE AND EVERYTHING YOU SEND US IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO READ THROUGH AND GET IT TO STAFF TO HELP YOU TO SOLVE THE SITUATION. BUT THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL, ALL OF YOU GUYS.

THIS WAS HARD. AND WE MOVE FORWARD AGAIN.

AND ALSO, I WOULD REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY YOU MUST VOTE AND TOMORROW'S IT, SO.

AND ALSO, PLEASE REMEMBER.

WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

REMEMBER, WHEN THE ELECTION'S OVER, WE'RE STILL BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND WE'RE STILL

[01:25:05]

IT'S A POLARIZING ELECTION.

WE MUST REMEMBER WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, WE MOVE FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY AND WE ALL STILL GO TO DINNER AND BREAK BREAD TOGETHER.

SO BEING THAT SAID, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE? WE'RE GOING TO RECESS TO CLOSE SESSION.

MR. RUSSI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPOUND ON THAT? I WILL DO THAT. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS FOR CLOSED SESSION.

ONE IS UNDER SECTION FIVE FOUR NINE FIVE, SIX, DOT EIGHT, WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR.

AND THE PROPERTY IS NINETEEN FORTY THREE [INAUDIBLE] AVENUE.

THE SECOND IS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE FOUR NINE FIVE SEVEN DOT SIX.

AND IT'S CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO MEET REGARDING ALL GROUPS, THERE'LL BE NOTHING TO REPORT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY OF LA VERNE RSV VOLUNTEER GEORGE L.

PROPOSAL, NEW KID ON THE BLOCK WHO PASSED AWAY ON OCTOBER 14TH, TWENTY TWENTY WHO WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY TWENTY NINE.

NINETEEN THIRTY SIX.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA. HE LIVED IN NINE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BEFORE ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES IN NINETEEN FORTY FOUR.

HE SPOKE NINE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, BUT NOT ENGLISH AT THE TIME.

HE ATTENDED COLGATE UNIVERSITY, AND RECEIVED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.

HE ATTENDED AN ALL BOYS MILITARY SCHOOL AT TEXAS A&M.

AFTER SCHOOL, HE JOINED THE ARMY.

HE WAS PART OF A COUNTERINTELLIGENCE UNIT.

AFTER THE ARMY, GEORGE WAS A SALESMAN SELLING COFFEE MACHINES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

HE OWNED A COMPANY THAT PITNEY BOWES ULTIMATELY BOUGHT.

GEORGE JOINED THE RSVP'S IN TWENTY SIXTEEN AND VOLUNTEERED SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX HOURS. HIS FAVORITE IN GENERAL WAS SPENDING TIME WITH [INAUDIBLE] PARTICIPANTS.

HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE AND A KIND WORD TO SAY.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, JEANNE, FIVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

WHAT A LIFE, IF ANYBODY READ, AND I WANT TO THANK, WAS IT YOLANDA THAT PUT THE BIO TOGETHER? BOB? THAT LONGER VERSION THAT WE-- YES, I WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR THAT.

IT WAS AN AMAZING LIFE THAT HE LIVED.

SO JUST, GEORGE, YOU WILL BE MISSED.

ANOTHER ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL MEMBERS.

SO AND THAT WE WILL--THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED, WE'LL BE MEETING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH AT 5:00 P.M. FOR A COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ON SHORT TERM RENTALS AND WE WILL BE OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS NOVEMBER 16TH AT SIX THIRTY PM.

WE ARE IN RECESS, WE'RE ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION.

[9. CLOSED SESSION:]

I WAS GOING GOOD.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.