[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney Jones PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Gomez ROLL CALL: Mayor Medrano Mayor Pro Tem Gomez (telephonically) Councilmember Espinoza Councilmember Simonian]
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I WILL NOW CALL THE ORDER, THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, A FEBRUARY 10TH, 2022.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 6:00 PM.
THE IMPLICATION WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY ATTORNEY RICHARD JONES FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOSA, ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND AND BOW YOUR HEADS, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY AND TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF BENEFITS OF A FREE DEMOCRACY.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE CA THE CANDIDATES THIS EVENING WITH INSIGHT AND COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT, UM, THAT, WHICH THEY DO WILL BE GOVERNED.
AND, AND PATTERED AFTER THE, THAT THE COUNCIL WILL DELIBERATE, FREELY AND FAIRLY DO SO IN AN UNBIASED MANNER.
AND YOU SAY THESE THINGS HUMBLY AND WITH MY SON, JESUS CHRIST.
PLEASE TURN AND FACE OUR NATION FLAG STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
INDIVISIBLE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL.
MAY I APPROACH HIM GOMEZ? I AM HERE NEAR MADRANO HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING AND LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH THE TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR.
SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND ARE LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE.
SPEAKING TIME, COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMON PORTION OF THE MEETING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM OF CITY BUSINESS, NOT APPEARING ON THE SCHEDULE, THE AGENDA FOR GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 49, 5 4 0.3, A SUCH COMMENTS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO.
OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSIDERATION ITEMS. ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE MAY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE LITTLE HOVER CITY COUNCIL ON ANY CONSIDERATION ITEM PRIOR TO THE HARBOR CITY COUNCIL, TAKING A FINAL VOTE ON THE ITEM.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH THE TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES PER CONSIDERATION ITEM, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR CHAIR SPEAKING TIME AND NOT BE GRANTED AND ARE LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE.
SPEAKING TIME, AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
[1. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR THE VACANT SEAT ON THE LA HABRA CITY COUNCIL That the City Council conduct interviews for the vacant seat on the La Habra City Council and give staff direction.]
UP, OR THE ONLY ITEM UPON THE CONSIDERATION ITEM CALENDAR IS CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR THE VACANCY ON THE LA HARBOR CITY COUNCIL CALL FOR A STANFORD REPORT.YES, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED TO FILL THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY BY APPOINTMENT AT THE JANUARY 10TH, 2022 CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH A 60 DAY DEADLINE TO A POINT OF SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2020 TO A TOTAL OF FIVE APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED BY THE 6:00 PM DEADLINE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 20TH, 2022 FROM CHRISTINE MICHELLE BERNAY THOMAS WENSKI, DARREN KNICKS, AIREON WESLEY PEREZ AND CARRIE SEARCH.
THE APPLICANT APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD THE SEAT UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2022.
WHEN THE CANDIDATE WHO WINS THE TWO YEAR SEAT THROUGH THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022 IS SWORN IN AFTER THE INTERVIEWS ARE HELD.
THIS EVENING, CITY COUNCIL HAS THE OPTION TO APPOINT A NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE, AFTER THE APPLICANT INTERVIEWS ARE COMPLETED OR DIRECT STAFF TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING PRIOR TO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2022 TO CONSIDER AN APPOINT A NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS A NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS EVENING, STAFF HAS PREPARED TO SWEAR THE APPOINTEE AND TONIGHT IF CITY COUNCIL SO CHOOSES THAT AS THE CONCLUSION OF THE REPORT STAFF IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNSELING? NO MAYOR PRO TEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? NO, BUT THE MAYOR, THEN I WILL WELCOME OUR, OUR INTERVIEWEES.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS AS A, AS, AS BEST AS POSSIBLE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
SO, UH, I'D ASK YOU TO JUST RELAX.
WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME INSTRUCTION, SO I'LL GO OVER THEM RIGHT NOW FOR YOU.
SO TONIGHT'S INTERVIEW PROCESS.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE CITY CLERK, DRAWING APPLICANT NAMES TO DETERMINE THE ORDER IN WHICH EACH OF YOU WILL BE INTERVIEWED TO KEEP THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FAIR.
WE'LL REQUEST THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN INTERVIEWED TO PLEASE WAIT IN THE ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM UNTIL YOU ARE ESCORTED BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER FOR YOUR INTERVIEW, STAFF WILL ESCORT YOU UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE
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ROOM.AFTER APPLICANT NAMES HAVE BEEN DRAWN.
THE FIRST APPLICANT WHOSE NAME IS DRAWN WILL REMAIN IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
AND WE'LL TAKE A SEAT AT THE INTERVIEW TABLE SET UP FACING THE DYESS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WILL INVOLVE EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ASKING QUESTIONS OF EACH APPLICANT.
THE APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.
THIS TIMER WILL INDICATE READ WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
AND AT THAT TIME YOU MAY WRAP UP YOUR ANSWERS.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL ASKS YOU FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, PLEASE KEEP THOSE ANSWERS TO THE THREE MINUTES OR LESS AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL MINUTES, JUST SO YOU KNOW, ONCE YOUR INTERVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED, YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAND.
WATCH THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING IN THE CITY HALL, ATRIUM BEHIND US WILL THE CITY CLERK, PLEASE DRAW THE APPLICANT NAMES TO DETERMINE THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WILL BE INTERVIEWED.
THE FIRST APPLICANT IS CARRY SEARCH.
THE SECOND IS THOMAS LEWINSKY.
THE THIRD IS CHRISTINE AND MICHELLE BRUNEI.
THE FOURTH IS DARREN NICK'S ARION, WHICH MAKES THE FIFTH WESLEY PRESS VERY WELL.
AND I'D LIKE TO ADD, UH, FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE AT THE TABLE, FEEL FREE TO REMOVE YOUR MASK IF YOU SO DO WISH YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO KEEP IT ON.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT ON BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE DO SO, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE FOR YOU AS POSSIBLE.
THERE, THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR DRINKING WATER.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, THAT RELAX ANSWERS THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
UH, CARRIE, WOULD YOU TAKE THE SEAT PLEASE? OKAY.
SO IF I CAN HAVE CARRIE SEARCH, TAKE A SEAT AT THE INTERVIEW TABLE LOCATED AT THE FRONT, I WILL REMOVE MY MESS, CARRIE, HOW ARE YOU? I AM GREAT.
SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, OF COURSE.
AND, UH, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL START OFF INTERVIEWS.
UH, DO MY COLLEAGUES, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR A QUESTION AND YOU'RE READY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN FOR THE POSITION.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S A, AS YOU KNOW, A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION FOR THE CITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WORKS A LOT BETTER WITH ALL FIVE OF US UP HERE.
AND SO YOU PUTTING IN FOR IT IS CERTAINLY A BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.
UM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WOULD BE THE TOP THREE ISSUES FACING OUR CITY TODAY? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE, UM, TAXES AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE, THE NEW BILL.
AND I JUST HAVE, MAY I LOOK IN FOR MY REFERENCE? SURE.
UM, THAT IS THE, THE BILL G 21 DASH 0 0 4 A ONE, WHICH WOULD REALLY, UM, BE A DETRIMENT TO THE CITY IF WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO, UM, CHARGE FOR THE TAXES, WHETHER IT'S CITY TAXES, UM, LOCAL TAXES, BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY THE REVENUE THAT BRINGS TO THE CITY TO HELP US GROW AND MAINTAIN AND REDEVELOP.
SO I THINK THAT IF THAT IS TAKEN AWAY, THEN WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY CONCENTRATE AND THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE BUDGET.
THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT SO MANY OTHER THINGS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE COUNCIL REALLY IS GOING TO NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT BILL SPECIFICALLY FOR RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD BE DOWN THE LINE IN THAT SAME, UM, ARENA? THAT'S ONE OF TWO OTHERS THAT I DO.
UM, I BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A BIG ISSUE, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH AS MANY, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY BREAK-INS AND, UM, FAMILIES BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN THEIR HOME UNDER THREAT.
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I THINK OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS READY TO BE THERE FOR US.THAT IS WELL STAFFED AND WELL-TRAINED, AND I THINK THAT IS A COMFORT TO SO MANY, WHETHER YOU'RE A MOM, WHETHER YOU'RE A, YOU KNOW, A BUSINESS OWNER, WHETHER YOU'RE A STUDENT, STUDENTS ARE BEING AFFECTED RIGHT NOW BY SO MANY DIFFERENT, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD REALLY HELP ALLEVIATE.
AND THAT IS MY SECOND ONE THAT I I'VE DECIDED IS ONE OF THE TOP ONES, MY OPINION.
UM, I'VE GOT SOME OTHERS HERE, BUT LET'S SEE.
I THINK THE HOMELESS SITUATION IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH LAHABRA.
THE FACT THAT CITY NET IS NO LONGER CONTRACTED WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT LEAVES THE CITY IN ITS OWN LURCH TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE THAT.
AND BY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY IS NOW GOING TO TAKE THAT UPON THEMSELVES TO GO OUT AND DO THOSE INTERVIEWS WITH THE HOMELESS TO FIND OUT, ARE THERE SERVICES THAT WE CAN HELP LOCALLY WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER YOU'RE A VETERAN, WHETHER YOU HAVE ILLNESSES, WHETHER YOU'RE A MAN, A WOMAN, A CHILD, BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T AFFECT JUST ONE PERSON.
IT AFFECTS EVERYONE, MALES, FEMALES, CHILDREN, HOUSEHOLDS, AND SOMETIMES HOMELESSNESS IS TEMPORARY.
SO I THINK WITH THE FACT THAT THE CITY IS CREATING THIS NEW SERVICE, I WOULD CALL IT A SURFACE FOR NOW YOUR TIME HAS RUN OUT.
WHAT HAS WONDER MAYOR PRO TEM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION? I WOULD CARRY, UH, UH, LIKEWISE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR HAT IN THE RING.
UH, YOU MENTIONED TAXES AND, UH, WE HAVE A MEASURE KEY, WHICH PROVIDES US WITH A HALF CENT SALES TAX.
UM, AND THAT PROVIDES US WITH ABOUT $7 MILLION A YEAR.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, CAN I HAVE YOUR OPINION ON WHAT YOU THINK OF MEASURE KEY AND SECOND, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THIS SITUATION WHEN THAT SUNSETS IN 2028? WELL, I FEEL THAT, UH, THANK YOU, JIM.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE, UH, THE QUESTION AND THE TIME.
UM, I FEEL THAT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE REVENUE, AS I SPOKE OF BEFORE THAT COMES TO THE CITY ON WHETHER IT'S A 1%, 2%, 7% TAX THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE, THAT JUST GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND SAY, HOW CAN THIS MONEY BE USED TO ITS BEST ABILITY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S STREETS, WHETHER IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE CITY NEEDS, AND IF WE USE THAT MONEY WISELY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SERVING OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THE PART TWO WAS HOW, HOW WOULD HE ADDRESS, UH, WHEN THE SUNSETS IN 2028, UH, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? UH, OR WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING ONCE THAT IS GONE? WELL, I GUESS WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DID WE USE THAT MONEY? DID WE USE IT FOR, UM, WAYS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, UM, CAPTURE REVENUE FROM WHAT WE USE THE MONEY FROM FOR, EXCUSE ME.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN REAL ESTATE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S EITHER FEAST OR FAMINE AND SO ON THOSE REALLY GREAT DAYS THAT YOU GET PAID AND YOU HAVE THIS GREAT COMMISSION, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IT TO USE FOR LONG-TERM.
SO LONG-TERM, IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING THAT MONEY IN THE RIGHT PLACE, WE COULD BE LEFT LIKE SO MANY RETIREES THAT ARE LEFT, NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? SO I THINK IT'S ALL PLANNING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COUNCILS HELP AND THE CITY STAFF, I THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, WHETHER IT'S NOW OR IN 28.
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OF VOLUNTEERS AND WORK AND I ALWAYS AM IMPRESSED BY WHEREVER YOU AT ALL THE TIME.AND, UH, I DUNNO HOW YOU MANAGE TO DO ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF AND STILL WORK.
BUT I THINK IT'S BECAUSE I ENJOY IT ROSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, IT'S KIND OF MY SECOND CALLING, I CALL IT.
SO IT'S, IT'S WHAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT GIVES TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, UM, IF YOU'VE F YOU REVIEWED, HAVE YOU EVER REVIEWED THE CITY'S BUDGET OR, UM, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR, AND THE GENERAL PLAN OR ANY CITY STAFF REPORTS ARE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL IN THIS RECENT PAST? AND I WANTED TO KNOW, UM, WHICH THREE SECTIONS ARE A PRIORITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE REPORTS.
WELL, BEING ON THE COMMISSION, WE DO GET TO SEE, UM, A LOT OF THE REPORTS THAT, UM, ARE BEING FILED.
AND, UM, I, I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE BUDGET IS PROBABLY I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE BUDGET, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY BUILDS YOUR, YOUR COMMUNITY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER AND PLANNING ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS.
SO I THINK THE BUDGET IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT, UM, IN MY OPINION, THANK YOU, CARRIE.
I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT QUESTION AS WELL.
UM, SO IT, AND IF YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE CITY'S BUDGET, UM, WHICH, UH, WHICH THREE SECTIONS WOULD YOU SAY OF THE CITY'S BUDGET ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE ORDER OF PRIORITY ONE, TWO, AND THREE, WHAT WOULD, WHAT WOULD YOUR OPINION BE OF HOW THEY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY LOOKING AT THE CITY BUDGET, WE WOULD HAVE TO, UM, LOOK AT HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND ON WHAT DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR.
UM, WE HAVE TO PLAN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MONEY IS, HOW IT'S GOING TO BE USED FIRST OF ALL.
AND THEN ONCE, ONCE WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE, AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE OTHER CATEGORIES, BUT I, I JUST, UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE OTHER TWO WOULD BE THAT ARE FOREMOST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL UH, I'LL, I'LL DO ONE MORE QUESTION AS WELL.
UM, HAVE YOU ATTENDED OR WATCHED A CITY COUNCIL OR A CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN THE RECENT PAST, AND IF YES, WAS THERE A PARTICULAR ITEM OF INTEREST TO YOU AND WHY DID IT INTEREST YOU? I ACTUALLY, UM, TRY TO WATCH ALL OF THEM AND I DO, UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY, THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE VIDEOS.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE SITTING HERE IN THE ACTUAL MEETING AND YOU'RE LISTENING TO WHAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT, UM, ITEMS THAT THEY'RE APPROVING, YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO LOOK UP WHAT, WHAT THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES ARE.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, LOOKING AT THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, MINUTES OR THE MEETING, IT JUST, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE HEARD.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THOSE SEEM TO REALLY HIT HOME.
AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A PARENT AND AS, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, THAT ANYTIME THAT WE COULD SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S TRAINING THEM, I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF RETIREES OVER THE YEARS, WHICH HAS REALLY AFFECTED.
I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY THAT HAVE RETIRED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT ALL HAD 30 YEARS AND 40 YEARS ON THE FORCE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW TRAINEES AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY STARTS SOMEWHERE.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE TRAINED WELL, AND THEY COME INTO THE CITY OF LA HABRA, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE BEST TRAINING THAT THEY CAN.
AND THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A SAFE HAVEN FOR ALL OF THE, ALL OF US MOMS OUT THERE.
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UM, ASKED IF WE HAD ANY AVAILABLE DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUND RESOURCES, UM, HOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT THE CITY, HOW WOULD THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD PRIORITIZE SPENDING THOSE FUNDS AND, AND, AND WHY? OKAY.UM, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY FOR OUR SENIORS AND OUR VETERANS AT THIS POINT, I THINK, UM, SO MANY OF US HAVE HIT THAT 65 AND OLDER, AND THE FUTURE OF OUR SENIORS ARE HOME BOUND.
UM, THEY NEED SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THEY NEED MAYBE NEED SPECIAL SERVICES.
THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEPLACE FOR THEM TO GO AND RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT, YOU KNOW, HOUSES, ALL THE DIFFERENT CLASSES THAT THEY CAN TAKE.
THE, UM, THE DRIVING CLASSES THAT ARE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 70 AND OLDER, BUT, UM, IT'S A LITTLE FRIGHTFUL SOMETIMES WHEN YOU SEE SENIORS OUT THERE THAT YOU THINK, SHOULD THEY BE OUT THERE ON THE STREET, DO THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, DO THEY REMEMBER ALL THOSE THINGS? SO I THINK GEARING IT TOWARDS FINDING SERVICES FOR OUR SENIORS.
CARRIE, IF YOU'RE SELECTED THIS EVENING TO FILL THIS POSITION, IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR REELECTION? GOOD QUESTION.
UM, AND I GOT TO SAY THAT THE REASON, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A, UH, A SHORT TERM SEAT FOR THE MOMENT, THE NINE OR 10 MONTHS OR WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT IT'S NOT MY INTENTION TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2022.
I THINK WHAT IT IS GOING TO GIVE ME IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SUCH A GREAT TEAM ON THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CITY RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GOING TO WARM THE SEAT UP FOR THE NEXT PERSON THAT IS GOING TO BE ELECTED ON THE 20, 22, UM, BALLOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
THIS IS, THIS IS A TEMPORARY, UM, SHORT TERM PHYSICIAN APPOINTMENT, RIGHT.
TIM, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I KNOW I'M A GOOD MR. MAYOR.
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND BEST OF LUCK.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND, UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF AN APPOINTMENT.
IT'LL JUST BE ONE MULLET, MR. MAYOR, THE NEXT CANDIDATE COMES OVER.
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YOU MEAN, THOMAS? HOW ARE YOU, SIR? ANDY? YOU SAID? GOOD.WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS AND AGAIN, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AS YOU SEE THE INDICATOR HERE, THE GREEN, YELLOW, AND RED LIGHT.
YOU CAN TAKE YOUR MASK OFF IF YOU WISH YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO IT'S, WHATEVER IS MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
I'LL KEEP IT JUST TO, FOR SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, WE'LL UH, START OFF THE QUESTIONING.
HE'LL MAKE ONE COMMENT THOUGH.
IF YOU COULD TRY TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE WHEN YOU ANSWER.
SINCE I'M FAR AWAY FROM YOU GUYS.
SO, UH, THOMAS, THERE'S A THERE'S VARIOUS SECTIONS WITHIN THE, UH, THE CITY'S BUDGET.
IF YOU HAD TIME TO REVIEW THE CITY'S BUDGET ITSELF, UM, CAN YOU TELL ME IN YOUR OPINION, HOW YOU WOULD PRIORITIZE THE, UH, THE CITY'S BUDGET, THE TOP THREE AREAS YOU WOULD IN, IN ORDER OF, UH, IN ORDER OF PRIORITY? SO I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE CITY'S BUDGET.
UM, UH, I WILL JUST QUICKLY MENTION IF YOU READ MY BIO BEING AT BOEING FOR 36 PLUS YEARS IN VARIOUS LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT, WE'VE MANAGED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS, AND SO FROM LITTLE ONES TO BIG ONES.
AND SO MANAGING THEM TO DECIDING WHAT TO DO IS JUST, IT'S A PROCESS YOU GO THROUGH WITH REGARD TO THE HARVEST, SINCE I DON'T KNOW, UH, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, UH, WHAT THE, HOW THE BUDGET IS DIVIDED UP.
UH, MY INITIAL, UM, COMMENTS WOULD BE WITH REGARD TO, UM, UH, MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL THINGS, STREET, MAINTENANCE, POTHOLES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, THERE'S CERTAIN AMOUNT OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT, BUT OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE BETWEEN GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH, AND, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PEOPLE.
SO YOU GOTTA BE VERY CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL VERSUS FUNCTIONAL THINGS.
AND SO, UH, I THINK WE DO NEED TO GROW, BUT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THE WAY WE DO THAT.
SO, UM, SO THAT WOULD BE TWO THINGS.
AND THEN I THINK MAYBE THE THIRD TALKING ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, RECREATION THAT MAY NOT BE A BIG ONE, BUT I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT DRAWS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE HOPPER, UH, THE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ MY COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN INTO AYSL FOR 27 PLUS YEARS, AND I KNOW MANY REDRAWN YOU WERE THERE AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD USE A REFEREE THIS SATURDAY, BY THE WAY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, BUT, UM, YEAH, SO WE NEED TO DO THAT, AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE'VE DONE WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, UP INTO THE PARK AND, UH, IT'S, UM, I WILL SAY A SUPER APPRECIATED THAT, UH, THE SOCCER HAS IN PERIOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE'RE KNOWN BY THE WAY THROUGHOUT THERE, THE AREA AND THE SECTION IS BEING ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO PLAY BECAUSE WE CAN ALL PLAY A LOT OF GAMES AT ONE PLACE.
SO I WOULD SAY MAYBE, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE MY ANSWER FOR YOUR QUESTION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, WOULD YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO, SIR.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR APPLYING.
AND I KNOW, UH, TOM BEAMISH SPOKE VERY HIGHLY ABOUT YOU.
UM, MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, WE HAVE THE HALF CENT SALES TAX MEASURE KEY, WHICH PROVIDES THE CITY WITH APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION A YEAR BY FIRST QUESTION, AND I HAVE A FOLLOW UP, IS THAT, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF MEASURE KEY? AND THE FOLLOWUP IS TO SUNSET IN 2028.
UH, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT SHORTFALL? WHEN IS SUNSET AND THE YEAR 2028? SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A VERY, UH, TOUCHY SUBJECT, VERY POLITICAL, UM, UH, I THINK THE, IF YOU LOOK ON AVERAGE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT COSTS A PERSON, UH, INCLUDING MYSELF, UM, IS I THINK VERY WELL SPENT, I THINK LAHABRA HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD ABOUT HOW THEY SPENT THEIR MONEY AND HAVING
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A LITTLE BIT EXTRA.YES, IT DOES COST SOME PEOPLE, SOME MONEY.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH AGAINST ANY TYPE OF NEW TAXES, BUT TO ME, MAYBE IT'S A SMALL ENOUGH ONE TO BE OKAY.
BUT I WOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE SLIPPERY SLOPE, YOU KNOW, TO GO FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY LEANING TOWARD SUPPORTING THAT IN WHEN IT COMES UP AGAIN.
YES, UM, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE TOP THREE ISSUES FACING THE CITY OF LA HABRA? AND ONCE YOU'VE IDENTIFIED THREE, HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH THEM AS A COUNCIL MEMBER? WOW.
TOP THREE ISSUES, CITY, LITTLE HOMBRE.
WELL, I THINK, UH, I WOULD GO BACK TO THE GENERAL ONE OF, OF GROWTH VERSUS, YOU KNOW, NON-GROWTH LIKE NOT IN MY BACKYARD AND THEN B KIND OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT BOTH OF THOSE.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, THE WAY I WOULD HANDLE THAT IS TO LOOK THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND LOOK AT THE DOWNSIDE FOR EACH ONE OF THEM.
WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE YOU LOSING WHEN YOU DO THAT? OKAY, YOU'RE LOSING SOME PROPERTY, YOU'RE DOING EMINENT DOMAIN.
I DON'T KNOW WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING IN THERE TO TAKE OVER PROPERTY DO, BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S BEST FOR THE HOPPER AND NOTHING IS A HUNDRED PERCENT GOOD OR A HUNDRED PERCENT BAD, FOR SURE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I DO WITH THAT ONE.
UM, SO, WELL, SO I'LL PUT IN THE TOP THREE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY AN ISSUE, SO I MAY GO BACK ON THIS, BUT IT'S SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY.
SO YEAH, I THINK, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE HARBOR DOES A VERY GOOD JOB AND I'M A STRONG SUPPORT OF THE POLICE.
UM, AND SO THO THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE EXTRA FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS, UM, MYSELF, I'M ACTUALLY NOT AWARE OF IT BASED ON WHERE I LIVE.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THOSE THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, BUT FOR SURE THERE'S ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE HANDLED THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, BE CAREFUL AND, AND I WOULD SAY ALSO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT BEING HEAVY HANDED.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY POLICING AND GETTING INVOLVED AND TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, AFFECTED.
SO, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT READ ONE.
AND, UM, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE LAST ONE ABOUT RECREATION BECAUSE I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE NOT HERE JUST TO SURVIVE.
SO, UM, CONTINUE WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD JOB THAT HAAS HARVARD HAS BEEN DOING WITH, UH, WITH LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, THE SOFTBALL, THE GIRLS, SOFTBALL, UH, THE SOCCER AND, UM, OTHER THINGS, UH, MY WIFE JUST SORT OF FORCED ME TO JOIN THE PICKLEBALL LEAGUE.
SO, SO I'VE DONE THAT AND THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN AND GOOD EXERCISE, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY IT'S NOT AS MUCH MOVEMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, OLDER FOLKS, YOUNGER FOLKS.
AND I THINK BY THE WAY, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AT THE TENNIS CENTER THERE WHERE THEY CHANGED A LOT OF COURTS AT PICKLEBALL.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU IF THE CITY HAD AN AVAILABLE DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUND RESOURCES, WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT CITY PRIORITIZE THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS? AND IF YOU COULD ASK ME IF I COULD ALSO ASK YOU WHY.
UM, SO THAT'S A VERY FAIR QUESTION.
UM, MY FIRST ANSWER WOULD BE SINCE I'M NEW TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS TO TALK TO YOU GUYS AND GET YOUR OPINIONS ON WHAT'S THERE.
CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I WOULD ALSO TALK TO STAFF AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, CITY ATTORNEY WAS LEGAL AND NOT LEGAL, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO.
UH, BUT IF I WERE TO, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEEN HOT ON THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY CONSOLE, UH, BECAUSE HONESTLY, WHEREAS I'VE LOOKED AT A FEW CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT A LOT IN THE LAST YEAR, SO I'M NOT AWARE OF SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S THERE, BUT, UM, UH, I WOULD THINK THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD BE ABLE TO SUGGEST WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GO BACK TO SORT OF MY MAIN THREE THINGS, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTS.
THERE'S SOME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WE COULD DO THAT MAKES SENSE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.
SO THAT WOULD BE ONE, LIKE, I MEAN THE EASY, THE EASY ONE OBVIOUSLY IS THE COSTCO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET ANOTHER COSTCO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD DO, YOU KNOW, 10 OF THOSE.
BUT, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, IS IT, UH, YOU KNOW, MORE BUSINESS, MORE BIG STORES
[00:35:01]
AND WE'RE SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, SO IN TERMS OF GROWTH, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE.UM, UH, SAME THING FOR THE, THE OTHER TWO AREAS, YOU KNOW, IN RECREATION.
IS THERE SOMETHING I KNOW WE MADE A BIG INVESTMENT IN LEBANON TO PARK, AND I THINK THAT WAS FANTASTIC AND IT'S GREAT FOR THE HOT BRAND.
AND WE'RE KNOWN IF SOMEONE SURE.
YOU KNOW, TO BRING A, UH, PERSON, YOU KNOW, FROM, UM, OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND TO SAY, WHAT WOULD YOU BRING THEM TO THE HOPPER? YOU KNOW, I'D BRING THEM TO THOSE TYPES OF PLACES, YOU KNOW, AND SAY, THIS IS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST ALL ABOUT BORING WORK.
WE'RE ABOUT RECREATION LIVING OUR LIVES AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AND DOING IT RIGHT.
SO HAVE YOU ATTENDED OR WATCHED A CITY COUNCIL OR A CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN RECENT PAST? AND IF YES, WAS THERE A PARTICULAR ITEM OF INTEREST TO YOU AND WHY DID IT INTEREST YOU? SO, UM, AS ALWAYS, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST HERE.
I HAVEN'T ATTENDED MANY, I'VE TENDED A COUPLE WITH PRESENTATIONS GIVEN TO PEOPLE FOR, UH, DIFFERENT AWARDS.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE COME TO, I ACTUALLY CAME HERE LAST WEEK AND SAT IN THE ATRIUM, LISTEN TO YOUR COUNCIL MEETING AND, UH, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, AND SO YOU HAD, UH, AN ITEM ON THERE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY.
UH, BUT OTHERWISE I HAVE NOT LISTENED TO A LOT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR, UM, IN MY TENURE AT BOEING AND MULTILEVEL MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MY LIFE, UH, SITTING IN MEETINGS AND NEGOTIATING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWER, LISTENING TO THE EXPERTS AND, YOU KNOW, GOING THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR THE BETTER PART OF 36 YEARS.
AND LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH THAT NIGHT.
YOU, UH, YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED, UH, PARTIALLY, BUT IF ANY OF THOSE DAYS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WAS THERE A, A SPECIFIC ITEM THAT EVER DID INTEREST YOU AT ALL, IF ANY, AT ALL THAT YOU RECALL? UH, NOT SPECIFICALLY, AS I SAID, IT WENT TO, FOR, TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GETTING THE AWARDS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THE LAST ONE I WENT WAS, YOU KNOW, PURELY SELF-INTEREST TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WHICH WAS JUST LAST MONDAY, WAS IT, UH, THIS MONDAY? SO I SAT IN THE ATRIUM AND LISTENED THERE WITH MY WIFE.
AND SO WE DID THAT, BUT, UM, UH, I HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY GONE TO A COUNCIL MEETING TO LISTEN TO A SPECIFIC ITEM.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. MAYOR.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A PREREQUISITE, UH, MANY OF US THAT HAVE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, I HAVE SERVED ON COMMISSIONS, UH, PRIOR TO, UH, UH, SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE THREE APPLICANTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHAT, UH, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, UH, WOULD SET YOU APART OR WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE THAT WOULD, UH, PREPARE YOU FOR SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL? SO LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS, 27 YEARS ON AYSL SELLING MULTIPLE POSITIONS.
YOU CAN FIND ME BY THE WAY, ON THE FIELD ON SATURDAY, VIRTUALLY EVERY SATURDAY, YOU'RE DOING REFEREEING, MENTORING, YOUTH, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, UH, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT TO THE HOMBRE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CUBMASTER FOR MY SON'S TROOP PACK EIGHT 17 THAT THE HOPPER, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED KIDS AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN A SCOUT MASTER FOR HIM LATER ON, AND THEN, UM, UH, FOR AYSL, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY KEEPING ME BUSY, I HAVE PROBABLY SIX DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, ROLES IN THERE THAT, THAT I'VE DONE.
SO, UM, UH, AND THEN THE OTHER THING I SAID BEFORE IS, UH, WITH REGARD TO HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND BE VALUABLE IN BOARD MEETINGS, THAT WAS MY LIFE AT BOEING FOR DECADES.
YOU KNOW, UH, I WAS A DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE SUPPORT AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS TOO.
SO YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT, UH, THERE'S VERY STRONG OPINIONS IS VERY, AS WELL AS VERY STRONG TECHNICAL OPINIONS THAT ARE SOMETIMES CONTRARY TO EACH OTHER.
SO IT TAKES A LOT TO GET THROUGH THEM, TO GET TO AN ANSWER.
AND, YOU KNOW, BEING A BUSINESS, YOU GOT TO GET TO AN ANSWER AND GO FORWARD RIGHT.
AND, UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, AGAIN, NOTHING'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO SOMETIMES YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF AN ARGUMENT.
YOU GOT TO GET IN LINE TO SUPPORT AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHATEVER THE ANSWER IS.
UH, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO BE APPOINTED THIS EVENING TO THE VACANT SEAT,
[00:40:01]
IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR ELECTION? SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES.UH, I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WILL HAVE INVESTED SOME TIME EFFORT, SWEAT, BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS, AND GETTING THIS PERSON, WHOEVER THEY ARE UP TO SPEED.
AND SO ASSUMING THEY'RE YOUR CANDIDATE, YOU KNOW, SO THE ANSWER WOULD BE A RESOUNDING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MAYOR PRO TEM? NO, SIR.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, UH, AND CONTINUE, UH, CONTINUE OUT THERE AT AYSL.
I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO OUT THERE.
I TAKE MY MASK OFF SO I COULD SEE YOU GUYS WITH MY GLASSES.
LIKEWISE, LIKEWISE, PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.
YOU HAVE WATER THERE IF YOU NEED IT.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MASK OFF IF NEEDED AS WELL.
UH, ALSO, UH, KEEP IN MIND, AS WE HAD GONE OVER EARLIER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.
YOU'LL SEE THE, UH, THE LIGHTS UP HERE AT GREENLIGHT CONTINUE TALKING.
WHEN IT GOES TO YELLOW, YOU HAVE, I THINK IT'S 10 SECONDS LEFT AT YELLOW.
SO IT'LL GO FROM GREEN TO RED AND YOU'LL KNOW, I WILL ASK YOU A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
UH I'LL UH, I'LL START WITH MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE TO START OFF THE INTERVIEW WITH ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR THROWING YOUR HAT IN THE RING, UH, WE WOULD SEE THE LETTER FROM, UH, MONICA, FAITH, JOY, UH, IT'S SUPPORTIVE, YOU, UH, BEING ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, SHE STATED IN HER LETTER, I REMIND YOU THAT YOU HAVE AN AGING CITY COUNCIL THAT IS IN NEED OF RIGHT NEW IDEAS.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BRIGHT NEW IDEAS? MY BRIGHT NEW IDEAS.
UM, UH, I BELIEVE I ADDED IT IN MY LETTER THAT I PUT, UM, UH, WE JUST PASSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK A REALLY GOOD IDEA WOULD BE TO STEER THAT TOWARDS OUR VETERANS, SOME OF OUR VETERANS, I DON'T WANT INTERRUPT YOU, COULD YOU SPEAK INTO THEM? UM, UH, I, I, WHAT I PUT IN MY LETTERS, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GUYS READ.
SO I BELIEVE THAT, UH, US DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY IS A GREAT IDEA, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD STEER SOME OF OUR, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO OUR VETERANS VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND VETERANS THAT WILL BE COMING HOME IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
ALL OF US HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS BE ABLE TO COME BACK
[00:45:01]
TO THEIR HOMETOWN AND BE A PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY AGAIN, WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR FUTURE.I'LL UH, I'LL TAKE UP THE NEXT QUESTION.
UH, SO IF YOU'VE, UH, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU'VE REVIEWED THE CITY'S BUDGET, UH, WHICH THREE SECTIONS IN YOUR OPINION OF THE BUDGET ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN WHAT YOU SEE AS A, AS A PRIORITY ONE, TWO AND THREE.
HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THE TOP THREE SECTIONS OF THE BUDGET? UH, THE BUDGET, I BELIEVE IS THE, UM, RETIREMENTS.
I BELIEVE YOU GUYS JUST DID THAT RECENTLY, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, RETIREMENT, SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIRING SOON.
UM, THE LAST TWO I BELIEVE IS, UM, I WANT TO SAY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE THREE BUDGET? WELL, JUST THE CITY'S BUDGET, IF YOU'VE REVIEWED IT, AND YOU'VE SEEN THE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE CITY, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WOULD BE THE TOP THREE, THE TOP THREE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET? I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE THE RETIREMENTS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, POLICE AND FIRE.
AND YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING LAHABRA TODAY? UM, I WANT TO SAY AFTER GOING THROUGH THE GENERAL PLAN THAT WE HAD DONE THIS PAST YEAR, I DO THINK THAT IT IS A BIG ISSUE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE YOUNGER FAMILIES COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE AN AGING COMMUNITY, SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES.
UM, HOW DO WE KEEP FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I BELIEVE THE VETERANS THING WOULD WORK OUT REALLY, REALLY WELL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS, UM, WE HAVE, UH, ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY WAY MORE ELDERLY THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
WE NEED TO THINK OF SERVICES GOING FORWARD FOR THOSE ELDERLY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SERVICES WE HAVE FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED, AND DISABLED COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I THINK THAT IS THE THREE BIG THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THESE NEXT FEW YEARS.
UM, UM, LET ME ASK YOU IF THE CITY HAD ANY AVAILABLE DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUND RESOURCES, WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT THE CITY PRIORITIZE THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS AND WHY? I BELIEVE IT SHOULD GO TO DISABLED FAMILIES AND RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE FAMILIES.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU DISABLED FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A REALLY HIGH, UH, UH, LEVEL OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE REALLY NOT SERVING.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE RESOURCES COME TO THEM, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL SERVICES.
I LIKE TO SEE AS WE'VE DONE SO MANY KABUNI, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S THOUGHT OF KIDS THAT ARE DISABLED IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE WANT TO PUT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN COME OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GET INVOLVED WITH.
I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ARE DISABLED ALSO.
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT THERE'S NO ART.
I MEAN, WELL, I DID THE ART, BUT THERE WAS NO AT THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO BE A PART OF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE A PART OF ANY KIND OF SPORTS AND SPORTS IS USUALLY PREDOMINANT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO WOULD BE TO HELP OUR DISABLED COMMUNITIES, FAMILIES, UM, AND, UH, GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND, WHICH WOULD BE LIKE ART OR, YOU KNOW, UH, PROGRAMS, MORE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, MORE ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PARKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? UH, I DO MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE.
WE HAVE A MEASURE KEY, WHICH HAS THE HALF CENT SALES TAX, WHICH PROVIDES THE CITY WITH APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION A YEAR.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE MEASURE T AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS THAT IS DUE TO SUNSET IN 2028, WHICH MEANS WE WILL LOSE APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION A YEAR.
UH, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING, UH, ONCE THAT SALES TAX GOES AWAY IN 2028? UM, WHAT WILL I DO IF IT GOES AWAY? I THINK WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT EXTENDING THAT AND ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT, GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND TELL THEM WHAT WE'VE USED MEASURE T BEFORE ON, IN THE, IN THE PAST AND HOW IT'S CHANGED, YOU KNOW, THE FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCUSSION TO, HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THAT.
[00:50:01]
PART OF THE QUESTION WAS, UH, YOUR OPINION AND MEASURE T WHAT IS MEASURE T I'M SORRY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF THAT? UH, YEAH.MEASURED KEYS THAT HAVE BEEN BAILED BACK, UH, THAT'S PROVIDED BY $7 MILLION SALES TAX.
WHAT IS MY OPINION? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT DONE WITH IT.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
UH, HAVE YOU ATTENDED OR WATCHED A CITY COUNCIL OR CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN THE RECENT PAST? AND IF YES, WAS THERE A PARTICULAR ITEM OF INTEREST AND WHY DID IT INTEREST YOU? YES.
AND I WATCHED THE, UM, BOND, UM, UH, COUNCIL APPROVING THE BOND FOR THE RETIREMENTS.
I WATCHED THAT TWO OR THREE TIMES.
I FOUND THAT VERY INTERESTING.
I LIKED YOUR EXPLANATION ON IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE REASON AND DIRECTION THAT THE COUNCIL TOOK.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, UH, THAT YOU, UH, THAT YOU MENTIONED RETIREMENT BONDS, YOU MENTIONED OUR CITY MANAGER.
WHAT, UH, WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU LIKE THAT OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER HAD AGREED WITH? OR WHAT, IF YOU CAN JUST EXPAND A LITTLE, I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS SAYING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'LL POSSIBLY EXTENT, COST MORE IN THE LONG RUN IN 20 YEARS.
THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS DID THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO GET DONE NOW.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FLUCTUATES, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO IT'S A GAMBLE THAT WE, THAT YOU GUYS ALL HAD TO TAKE.
AND I UNDERSTOOD, I UNDERSTOOD BOTH SIDES THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, BUT SOMETHING ALSO HAS TO BE CONSIDERED ALSO VERY GOOD.
I'M, I'M A BIT EMBARRASSED THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME.
I'VE HEARD IT PRONOUNCED BRING YEAR.
ONE'S WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, IF YOU ARE APPOINTED TONIGHT TO FILL THE VACANT POSITION, IS THAT YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR ELECTION? YES.
MAYOR PRO TEM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ.
UH, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU? NO, MR. MAYOR.
MR. MAYOR PRO TENNIS STEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS, MR. MAYOR.
IS THERE A BOTTLE OF WATER WE CAN.
YOU'RE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT, LAURIE.
I'VE TOLD THE OTHER, UH, INTERVIEWER INTERVIEWEES, EXCUSE ME, UH, IS, UH, RELAX, HAVE A SEAT.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE A BOTTLE OF WATER THERE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOUR MASK CAN REMAIN OFF IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ASK YOU IF THE CITY HAD ANY AVAILABLE DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUNDS RESOURCES, WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIZE
[00:55:01]
THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS AND WHY DISCRETIONARY INCOME? YOU LOOK AT THE MOST INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW.AND ONE OF THEM FORTUNATELY IS NOT COMMUNITY SERVICES THEY HAVE TO DO WITH IN TRAFFIC AND REDEVELOPMENT AND THIS SORT OF THING.
A COMMUNITY SERVICES IS AN IDEAL LOCATION TO SPEND MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THIS TO GRAND DAY IS LARGELY A GRANT FUNDED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THE CITY CAME IN AND DID THE INTO POSSESSION OF A PARCEL, PURCHASED A PARCEL JUST NORTH OF EUCLID.
I THINK THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, COULD BE OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR A CITY TO ACTUALLY EXPAND THAT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE UNDER PARKED.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT IF WE HAD THAT $600,000 OR SO THAT WE COULD INVEST IN, IN PARK INFRASTRUCTURE AT THAT LOT, THAT'D BE A LOVELY IDEA BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IS OPEN SPACE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING LAHABRA TODAY ARE ONE OF THEM IS SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE UNDER THE RADAR, AND IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH OUR FINANCES.
AS WE KNOW, UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY IS A HUGE ISSUE.
I THINK A ENORMOUS PROGRESS WAS MADE BY THE PENSION OBLIGATION BOND ISSUE.
I THINK THAT WAS A TERRIFIC IDEA, BUT NONETHELESS, THE LIABILITY WILL, WILL CONTINUE TO NOT ONLY EXIST, BUT INCREASE AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOOD NEWS IN THE SENSE THAT PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT IS EXPECTED TO GO UP ABOUT 4.6%.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SALES TAX, WHICH IS THE SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SUNSET OF MEASURE T AND PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT FAR AHEAD, THOSE SIX YEARS OUT IN 2028, BUT THAT'S GOING TO COST US UPWARDS OF $5.9 MILLION OR MORE.
PENSION LIABILITIES COMPOUNDED WITH THIS LOSS OF REVENUE IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL I IN MY ESTIMATION HAS TO THINK ABOUT NOW.
AND ULTIMATELY THE DECISION HAS TO BE MADE WHETHER TO REBALANCE MEASURE T OR COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATE SOURCE OF REVENUE.
SECONDLY, I'LL SAY VERY QUICKLY, WHAT FOLKS COMPLAINED THE MOST ABOUT IN LA HABRA IS TRAFFIC, UH, NOISE PARKING AND THESE SORTS OF ISSUES.
SO THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL OVER ZONING AND LAND USE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, I AM A DRIVER ON THE HARBOR STREETS, LIKE ALL OF US ARE, AND I NOTICED THE PROBLEMS AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY MY PHILOSOPHY OF LOCAL CONTROL IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT IF WE CAN MITIGATE A TRAFFIC ISSUE TO LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT, THEN POTENTIALLY THE PROJECT IS VIABLE.
BUT IF WE CAN'T AND WE HAVE LEVELS OF SERVICE ON THESE INTERSECTIONS THAT GO FROM A TO D OR F IN MY VIEW, THAT'S UNTENABLE, BUT OF COURSE THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY, YOU KNOW, ON THE COMMISSION AND ALSO ON COUNCIL.
I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT THE THIRD ISSUE WAS BECAUSE FOLKS ARE PRETTY WELL CONTENT WITH LAHABRA.
WHAT I HEAR THE MOST ABOUT IS A LACK OF QUALITY RETAIL.
YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE ONE REALLY GOOD RESTAURANT UNTIL KIND OF RECENTLY AND FOLKS A BELLYACHE ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.
AND THEY ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TYPES OF RETAIL THAT WE SEE POPPING UP.
A LOT OF WHICH COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER, BUT IT'S AMAZING WHAT SOMETIMES WORKING THE PHONES CAN DO.
LIKE IN THE CASE OF MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ, WORKING SO HARD FOR TJS FOR ALL THOSE YEARS AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT HAPPENED.
UM, UH, BUT IT TAKES, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOE-LEATHER, AND IT TAKES EFFORT AND IT TAKES, UH, COUNSEL TO INCENTIVIZE THE ATTRACTION OF QUALITY BUSINESS TO THE CITY.
AND ALSO I'LL JUST ADD QUICKLY.
IT'S ALSO JUST AS IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT EASY TO CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS IN LAHABRA.
WE HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR PERCEPTION OF BUREAUCRACY AND RED TAPE AND THE DIFFICULTY.
AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE BEST STAFF IN THE WORLD.
SO, UH, I JUST KNOW THAT PERCEPTION SOMETIMES MATTERS AND IT FOLKS THINK THAT IT'S HARD TO DO BUSINESS IN LAHABRA.
THEY MIGHT TRY IN ANOTHER CITY.
I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP ON A COUNCILMAN SIMONIAN'S QUESTION.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL? UH, IT'S PARAMOUNT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IS THIS COOKIE CUTTER IMPOSITION OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL FROM SACRAMENTO.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPETUS BEHIND THE IDEA BECAUSE THE STATE KNOWS WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
OF COURSE WE DO, BUT THIS IS A SEVEN SQUARE MILES CITY CALLED LAHABRA WITH ABOUT 62,000 RESIDENTS.
AND TO IMPOSE UPON US ALMOST ARBITRARY LIMITS AND NUMBERS IS GOING TO RUIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY.
I MEAN, THE, THE RENA NUMBERS, REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT INDICATES THEY WANT 800 HOUSES IN LAHABRA OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WE'RE DOING OUR BEST GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO TRY TO DO THAT.
BUT IF IT MEANS PUTTING IN SOME MEGA DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S GOING TO COMPLETELY HANDICAP THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THAT AREA AND WRECK THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FOLKS THAT LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.
[01:00:01]
BY GOING ALONG WITH THAT, IT'S UNREASONABLE TO SAY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BUILD ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL UNIT IN LAHABRA.WELL, SURE, BUT WE NEED TO PICK AND CHOOSE THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT AS I SAY, YOU CAN MITIGATE THE IMPACTS TO LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IN SMALLER POCKETS.
WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THE ROAD? I DON'T KNOW IF A BUNCH OF CITIES GET TOGETHER AND DECIDE TO PUSH BACK AGAINST SACRAMENTO FOR THIS IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL AT THAT POINT COLLABORATIVELY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO JOIN THAT GROUP, THAT'S PUSHING BACK OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR BEST DATA EFFORTS TO TRY TO BUILD THE HOUSING.
BUT, UH, WE ALSO WANT TO AVOID LITIGATION AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE PUNISHED.
THAT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO HAVE A HARBOR RESIDENTS IS NOT TO GET US IN MORE TROUBLE THAN WE HAVE TO GET OURSELVES INTO.
SO, UH, MY PHILOSOPHY DURING THE, UH, THE 13 HOUR WEST RIDGE RANCHO PROJECT WAS THE SAME, YOU KNOW, YOU BRING ME A PROJECT WHERE ALL THESE INTERSECTIONS, YOU CAN'T MITIGATE THE TRAFFIC THERE.
ALL YOU CAN DO IS THROW MONEY AT WHAT WE CALL CALTRANS AND HOPE THEY FIX THE PROBLEM.
WELL, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO, AND WE'RE GOING TO SUFFER.
SO GOING FORWARD I'M OPEN-MINDED ABOUT EVERYTHING.
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE DECISION IS MADE BY COUNCIL IS CONSENSUAL, AND IT'S THE COUNCIL WORKING TOGETHER AND COMING UP WITH THE RIGHT SOLUTION, NOT JUST ONE PERSON SAYING, OH, I THINK WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO BRING YOUR IDEAS TO THE TABLE, BUT YOU NEED TO WORK AS A TEAM.
AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO, MR. MAYOR, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DARREN, FOR THROWING YOUR HAT IN THE RING.
NOW, MY QUESTION IS, UM, WE HAD, UH, EACH ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS RECEIVED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF ANOTHER CANDIDATE, UH, IN THE LETTER THAT THIS PERSON STATED.
I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY ALREADY ON YOUR CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT A THIRD WOULD BE OVER-REPRESENTATION.
HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT LETTER? YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE, CAN BE AS ABOUT, AS DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER, AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE IN THE LARGER DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS CITY, TO THINK THAT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE LIKE-MINDED WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THE WAY THAT CITIES CONDUCT BUSINESS, I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY ERRONEOUS.
UH, THERE ARE SOME OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, IDEAS THAT ARE JUST A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE FROM, FROM THEIR BROTHER OFFICERS.
SO W I THINK THAT THE VALUE OF WHAT SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER A LONG TIME, IN MY CASE, 30 YEARS AS A LOS ANGELES COUNTY, DEPUTY SHERIFF, WHERE I RETIRED WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, UH, IT BRINGS VALUE TO DELIBERATIVE BODIES.
AND I THINK THAT BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS AND REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE I THINK IS VERY VALUABLE.
IF ANYBODY THINKS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A CURRENT POLICE OFFICER AND A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, OR EVEN TWO OF THEM THAT THEY'RE GONNA MARCH IN LOCKSTEP, OR THEY'RE GOING TO THINK THE SAME WAY, I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY FALLACIOUS.
SO MY ANSWER WOULD BE THAT THE BENEFIT OF THAT DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FAR OUTWEIGHS THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THESE GUYS ARE GONNA WORK TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO THE WRONG THING, WHICH THEY CERTAINLY WOULDN'T.
SO THAT THAT'D BE MY ANSWER, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO IF YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THE CITY'S BUDGET AND, UH, WHICH, UH, WHICH THREE SECTIONS OF THE BUDGET ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN A PRIORITY, HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE CITY'S BUDGET, THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE CITY'S BUDGET? HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THEM? I WOULD PRIORITIZE THEM EXACTLY.
AS YOU SEE IN THE PIE CHART THAT ANYBODY CAN SEE ON THE CITY WEBSITE, YOU LOOK AT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S GOING TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT TAKES UP 44% OF THE BUDGET AFTER THAT COMES OUR FIRE CONTRACT, WHICH BY THE WAY, I THINK WAS A TERRIFIC IDEA.
WHEN WE WENT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, AFTER THAT, AS PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN OLD SLOGAN ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THAT IT'S MAINLY ABOUT POLICE AND POTHOLES, AND IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
BUT IN ESSENCE, WHEN IT COMES TO FOLKS LIVING AND WORKING HERE, IT DOES COME DOWN TO THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY.
IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT WHETHER THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR SUSPENSION AND THEIR CARS GOING OUT IN A POTHOLE.
AND IN SO MANY RESPECTS, WE HAVE DONE JUSTICE TO ALL THOSE PRIMARY CONCERNS THROUGH THE PAYMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.
NOW, OUR STREETS ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT BETTER THAN FULLERTON.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FIRST RATE FIRST-CLASS.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TERRIFIC, OBVIOUSLY LA COUNTY FIRE.
UM, BUT YOU LOOK AT THE PIE CHART AND THAT REPRESENTS A MASSIVE EXPENDITURE OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
I MEAN, OUR MUNICIPAL BUDGET OVERALL IS 136 MILLION, UM, AND OUR REGULAR GENERAL FUND, OF COURSE, ALL THIS COMES OUT OF THAT.
SO THERE'S ENOUGH LEFT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT I GUESS IF YOU'RE ASKING
[01:05:01]
ME WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MAYBE DO WE SPEND IT ON THE RIGHT THINGS? MY ANSWER IS UNQUALIFIED.IF YOU WERE, UM, SELECTED THIS EVENING TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL, IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR ELECTION? ABSOLUTELY.
I WOULD OWE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY IF I WAS GIFTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
UM, I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION THAT THE ACCOUNT MAYOR PRO TEM GOMATH HAD, UH, UH, I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON IT, BUT HE DID NOT ASK YOU THAT QUESTION YET.
SO JIM I'VE TAKEN HIM, UM, IT'S A, IT'S ABOUT MEASURE T UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO SUNSET SOON AND WE WOULD LIKE YOUR OPINION ON IT AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT.
IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND I TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, WE TRIED TO CONVINCE THE VOTERS, THAT MEASURE G WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE WITH THE UTILITY TAX.
AND YET, UM, EXTENDED, UH, VOTERS DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT.
INTERESTINGLY, THEY DID AGREE THAT MEASURE T WAS A GREAT IDEA, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DICIER FOR US BECAUSE SALES TAX FLUCTUATES IN A WAY THAT A UTILITY UTILITY TAX DOESN'T OF COURSE, SO, AND IT PASSED BY A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.
SO IF YOU ASK THE QUESTION, CAN WE RENEW MEASURE T I THINK THE ANSWER IS AN UNQUALIFIED.
YES, BUT YOU HAVE TO LAY A GROUNDWORK FOR THAT.
WELL, IN ADVANCE, YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SIX MONTHS BEFORE NOVEMBER OF 20, 28, AND START WORKING ON THE CAMPAIGN AND START CREATING OUTREACH AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP TELLING PEOPLE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
SO YEARS IN ADVANCE, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE TO THE CITIZENS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND THAT $6 MILLION IS GOING TO ENTAIL, POTENTIALLY CUTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES.
AND EVEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU DON'T WANT TO SCARE FOLKS, BUT YOU JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TELL THEM THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
AND THEN YOU ASSEMBLE THE BEST CAMPAIGN TEAM YOU CAN, AND YOU, AND YOU SELL YOUR POSITION.
SO, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY IT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
MR. MAY I, I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
UH, DARREN, ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS THAT WE DO ON THE CITY COUNCILS WHEN IT COMES TO APPOINTMENT, WHETHER IT'S A PERMISSION OR, UH, LIKE A SPOTLIGHT FOR A CITY COUNCILS, YOU KNOW, LAST TIME WE DEADLOCKED ON, I WEREN'T ABLE TO DECIDE ON A CANDIDATE.
UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE, UH, IN ADDITION TO YOU THAT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WE HAVE TWO OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE APPLIED.
UH, WE HAVE A GENTLEMEN WHO WAS VERY ACTIVE IN YOUTH SPORTS AS WORKING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
AND, UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN, JUST A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AS WELL.
UH, WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
THEY ALL HAVE VERY GOOD QUALIFICATIONS.
I WOULD GO BACK TO HOW, IN MY VIEW, YOU SHOULD BEGIN THAT'S AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THAT'S ON YOUR STREET IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JOINED THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 25 YEARS AGO.
FOR SOME REASON THEY'VE KEPT ME AS PRESIDENT FOR 20 YEARS.
UH, DEALING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS VERY INSTRUCTIVE, VERY ILLUMINATING FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH THAT GROUP PICKED ME AS VICE CHAIR WAS TREMENDOUSLY EDUCATING BECAUSE I LEARNED THE CITY BUDGET INSIDE AND OUT.
I PRESENTED THE FINAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL IN 2004 IS ON THAT BASIS THAT FORMER MAYOR ANDERSON SELECTED ME TO CHAIR THE MEASURE G COMMITTEE, UH, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I ALSO WROTE A COLUMN IN THE, UH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER STAR PROGRESS CALLED THE HARBOR.
NOW WHERE I TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY, I SERVED, UH, AS A LOBBER HOSE LION.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, I WAS REAPPOINTED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAKING ME NOW SERVING 11 YEARS IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'VE CHAIRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES.
UH, I WAS APPOINTED BY THE LAHABRA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A, UH, PERSONNEL COMMISSIONER AND MADE CHAIRMAN OF THAT.
AND SO I LEARNED PERSONNEL AND HR ISSUES VERY THOROUGHLY.
UM, I, 30 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE, AND FINALLY I'M MOST PROUD OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN LA HABRA.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF THAT ORGANIZATION FOR 10 YEARS AND SERVE FAIRLY RECENTLY AS PRESIDENT.
AND DURING MY TIME AS PRESIDENT, I LED OUR GROUP TO DO THE MOST HISTORIC AND MASSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT I KNOW OF FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR KIDS BY INSTALLING BALLISTIC GLASS CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC ACCESS CONTROL, 29 CAMERAS, EVEN ORGANIZED LAHABRA PD TO DO ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING ONSITE IN SERVICE TRAINING.
SO, UH, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, ALL THESE THINGS, I THINK I, I, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION.
I THINK THAT, UH, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FOLKS OUT THERE THAT HAVE LEVELS OF EXPERTISE IN, IN CERTAIN AREAS.
UM, I WOULD SAY HUMBLY THAT I HAVE, MY EXPERIENCE IS VERY BROAD BASED AND IT'S VERY DEEP.
[01:10:01]
I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL ARE ASPECTS THAT I'VE HAD ENORMOUS EXPERIENCE WITH.SO AS, AS, AS, AND, AND THAT'S HOW I WOULD ANSWER, I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF MY EXPERIENCE, UM, I THINK IT BRINGS REAL VALUE TO A DELIBERATIVE BODY LIKE CITY COUNCIL.
AND MR. MAYOR, I HAVE NO MORE, VERY GOOD.
UM, SO, UH, HAVE YOU ATTENDED OR WATCHED A CITY COUNCIL OR A CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN THE RECENT PAST? IF SO, IF YES.
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR ITEM OF INTEREST AND WHY DID IT INTEREST YOU? I WATCHED THE LAST ONE, UH, THAT WAS, UH, I I'M TRYING TO THINK IT WAS A VERY SMALL AGENDA, THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
I WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION IN MORE BROAD TERMS TO SAY I WATCH THEM A LOT.
AND OF COURSE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING INTERESTING, INTERESTING, IF I SEE A CYST, A CONSENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT THERE'S NINE THINGS WHERE IT'S WARRANTS.
I PROBABLY WON'T, BUT ANYTIME THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT I KNOW IS IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, CAROL AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY WATCH, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS I'M THERE.
UM, BUT MY INTEREST HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY HIGH.
UH, AND SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
IS THERE A WA JUST ONE SPECIFIC ITEM THAT HAS INTERESTED YOU TO JUST NAME ONE OF THE MANY OR, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEETINGS YOU'VE SEEN OR ATTENDED? YEAH, SURE.
I WOULD SAY THE MOST RECENT LONDON THAT, THAT GALVANIZED ME, IT WAS A PENSION OBLIGATION BOND ISSUANCE.
UH, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT WAS GOING TO GO.
UH, I KNOW WHAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IT IS.
I WAS VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT, WHAT COMMENTS WERE GOING TO BE MADE AND ULTIMATELY WHAT VOTE WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN.
UM, AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I WONDERED DID THAT ENGENDERED A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR POSITIVE COMMENTS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A HOT BUTTON ISSUE, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC PENSION COSTS ARE A HUGE THING.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT WITH UNTIL THE FINAL VOTE WAS TAKEN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, VERY WELL, THANK YOU, DARREN.
AND I'LL SAY IF I CAN ASSUME, MAY MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT, JUST 10 SECONDS.
THE THING I'M MOST PROUD ABOUT ACTUALLY IS OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEMBER CAROL, BECAUSE THIS WOMAN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR 36 YEARS AND SHE HAS BEEN WALKING IN LOCKSTEP WITH ME THROUGHOUT ALL THESE PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCES AND ELEMENTS OF LEADERSHIP AND INCREDIBLY, UH, SHE'S HAD A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THINGS, BUT SHE'S STILL WITH ME.
AND IF I HAVE JUSTIFIED HER FAITH IN ME TO THIS EXTENT, I HOPE I CAN JUSTIFY YOURS.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY JUSTIFY THE FAITH OF ALL THE FOLKS IN THE HOPPER.
YOU DON'T WANT THE NEXT PERSON BRINGING .
YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO WAIT RIGHT THERE, I'LL LET YOU GOOD EVENING.
THERE'S A BOTTLE OF WATER THERE FOR YOU, IF YOU SO WISH.
UH, AND AGAIN, UH, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MASK OFF.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
OF COURSE, THE TIMER IS UP HERE.
IT'LL TURN GREEN ONCE YOU'VE, UH, ONCE YOU START AND IT'LL GO RED ONCE THE, UH, THE TIME HAS RUN OUT AND IT'S AT THREE MINUTES PER QUESTION.
AND ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WE ASK YOU, OF COURSE, UH, WE'LL PROMPT AN, UH, AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I WOULD, I WANT TO ASK YOU, IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE FACING LAHABRA THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY SHOULD ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IN A BROADER STATE? I THINK THAT THE CITY OF, UH, HAS GROWN, UH, INCREDIBLY, UH, THE ONE ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT THE CITY COULD DO MORE IS, UH, IN REGARDS TO VETERANS, UH, YOU KNOW, MY HEART'S WITH THE SERVICE OF VETERANS, AND I FEEL THAT THE CITY COULD DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, HONORING THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED, UH, ONE, TWO, UH, IN THE PAST, I WANNA SAY TWO TO THREE MONTHS, I'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN GRAFFITI, UH, AND, UH, KIND OF, UH, UPTAKE ON A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, VAGRANCY IN THE CITY.
UH, AND THE THIRD, UH, I WOULD WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES
[01:15:01]
IS, UH, THE HARBOR BOULEVARD, RIGHT? UH, KIND OF OUR MAIN AREA, MAIN CITY.AND, UH, I FEEL THAT THAT'S, UH, AN AREA THAT NEEDS ATTENTION, UH, WITH THOSE THREE, HOW WOULD I, UH, ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES? ONE VETERANS IS REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR VETERANS, GOING TO OUR VETERANS, NOT HAVING OUR VETERANS COME TO US, BUT THAT'S GOING TO OUR VETERANS TO, UH, IN REGARDS TO TAGGING.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A, UH, A PROGRAM TO COVER UP, UH, TAGGING AND, UH, GRAFFITI ON THE STREETS, UH, BUT FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE WE CAN, UH, ADDRESS IT MORE TO THOSE THAT MAYBE NOT FULLY AWARE OF THE PROGRAM.
AND THIRD, THE ISSUE IN REGARDS TO BRINGING A BETTER ATTENTION TO THE CITY OF LA BARBARA, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WORKING WITH, UH, THOSE THAT CAN BRING, UH, THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY OF LA HABRA NEEDS, MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, ASK A QUESTION, SIR? UH, YES.
UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR APPLYING, SIR.
UH, YOU BROUGHT UP THE, THE VETERAN SITUATION THAT WE MAY NOT BE REACHING OUT TO THEM ACCORDINGLY.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED A VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION AND THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS, UH, HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED, UH, UH, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 2 67, UH, FOR OUR VETERANS? UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
NUMBER ONE, HAVE I ATTENDED, UH, THE VETERANS DAY SERVICE? THE REASON WHY I HAVE NOT, I MYSELF AM A VETERAN MYSELF.
I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY FOR EIGHT YEARS AND, UH, ON VETERANS DAY, I USUALLY HAVE SOME KIND OF SERVICE.
UH, THIS PAST YEAR I WAS PART OF, I WAS A GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE CITY OF LA FUENTE.
UH, SO I WAS PART OF THEIR VETERANS DAY SERVICE.
SO, UH, FOR ME, UH, I'VE BEEN ABLE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND, UH, THE CITIES, HOWEVER, UH, BECAUSE OF, UH, BEING CALLED TO EITHER SPEAK OR BE SOME FORM OF PRESENTATION.
UH, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, AND, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE POST HERE IN THE CIVIL HOMBRE, UH, THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED US REACHING OUT TO OUR VETS, I, MYSELF, AS A VETERAN, UM, I FIND IT HARD TO REACH OUT MYSELF, RIGHT.
SO, UM, IT'S EASIER WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU, RIGHT.
AND ADDRESSES, ADDRESSES YOU COME, COMES TO YOU AND MAKES YOU FEEL WANTED RIGHT.
SO IT'S, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, NOT WANTING TO BE PART OF IT.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, THE SERVICE, SOMETHING ABOUT BEING, BEING A VETERAN, UH, AND HAVING, UH, LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE COME OUT TO YOU IS I THINK SOMETHING SPECIAL.
MR. PEREZ, UM, HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE CITY'S BUDGET OR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR THE GENERAL PLAN? NO, I HAVE NOT.
HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING OR A COMMISSION MEETING? I HAVE NOT.
AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR HEAD IN THE PROCESS.
SO I'LL ASK, UH, YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY MEETINGS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, WHAT EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS DO YOU POSSESS THAT YOU FEEL WOULD BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, I'VE BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 13 YEARS.
AND IN MY 13 YEARS, THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, I TEACH GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.
I TEACH US HISTORY, I'VE RAN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR MY SCHOOL.
I TEACH TRAIN STUDENTS TO RUN THE LOS ANGELES MARATHON.
I'VE COMMITTED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE CITIES THAT I WORK FOR, RIGHT.
FOR THE CITY OF LA FUENTE, UH, FOR THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE, UM, BUT NOT FOR MY OWN CITY.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MILITARY TAUGHT ME WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE, UH, NOT SO MUCH FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR THOSE AROUND YOU.
AND, UH, I'VE NOTICED, AND I'VE SEEN THAT, UH, I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN THAT ARE GROWING UP IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, AND I WANT THEM TO BE PART OF THE CITY.
UH, MY DAUGHTER PAYS PLAYS A SIX YEAR T-BALL, UH, HERE AT CEDAR LA.
MY SON GOES TO THE PRESCHOOL HERE.
WE CAME, MOVED TO THE CITY OF LA HARBOR BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL IS HERE AT THE CITY OF ALHAMBRA.
AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THE CITY OF LA HARBOR, NOT JUST LIVE HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO SERVE THE CITY.
AND SO, UH, THE DESIRE TO SERVE, I THINK, A SECOND TO NONE.
[01:20:02]
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, UM, IF THE CITY HAD AN AVAILABLE DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUND RESOURCES, UH, WHERE WOULD YOU SUGGEST THAT THE CITY PRIORITIZE THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS AND WHY COMMUNITY OUTREACH? I THINK THAT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO NOW IS REACH TO THOSE THAT ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO COME AND BE PART OF CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.SO THE YOUTH, I WORK WITH THE YOUTH EVERY SINGLE DAY, I SEE THE POTENTIAL, I SEE THEIR GROWTH AND THEY ARE THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF POTENTIAL THAT IS UNTAPPED.
UH, THESE KIDS, THESE YOUNG ADULTS ARE, ARE OUR FUTURE.
I SEE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY AND OUR ATTENTION WHILE THE CITY NEEDS IT, THEY NEEDED MORE THAN ANYTHING.
AND I THINK THAT AS A GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY, OUR ATTENTION SHOULD BE ALSO IN OUR YOUTH, NOT IN A DISCIPLINARY MANNER, BUT CELEBRATING THE BIG, SMALL THINGS THAT THEY DO.
I KNOW THAT I FOLLOW THE MAYOR AND I KNOW THAT, UH, MAYOR CELEBRATES WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SIGNING DAYS AND THEY GET ACCEPTANCE TO BIG UNIVERSITIES, UH, BUT SMALL ONES AS WELL.
UM, THERE ARE AMAZING STORIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT OUR YOUNG ADULTS ARE DOING AND THEY NEED TO BE CELEBRATED.
AND I THINK THAT THE MOMENT WE CELEBRATE THEM, IT JUST BRINGS THIS, THIS PASSION FOR OUR CITY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT JUST CAN INCREASE MORE MAYOR PRO TEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, I DO.
UH, MR. PRES, UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE YOUTH COMMITTEE? UH, THAT'S ESTABLISHED HERE, UH, WITHIN OUR CITY.
UH, IF YOU ARE SELECTED THIS EVENING TO FILL THE VACANCY ON OUR COUNCIL, IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR ELECTION? ABSOLUTELY.
WESLEY, ONE LAST QUESTION FOR ME.
UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH, UH, WITH MEASURE T AND IF SO, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF MEASURE T AND, UH, HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS MEASURE T WHEN IT SUNSETS IN THE YEAR 2028? NO, I AM NOT AWARE OF IT NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ, AND, UH, MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE, NOT ONLY TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT TO OUR COUNTRY.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ONE THING, OF COURSE, IN CLOSING, KIND OF MY CLOSING STATEMENT, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, THE REASON WHY I AM HERE TODAY, RIGHT? THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE, UH, I WANT TO BE PART OF THE FUTURE OF LAHABRA, RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THE LAHABRA HAS AN INCREDIBLE BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION, UH, AND WHAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE.
I'VE TALKED TO THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY IS SUPER IMPRESSIVE.
I'VE HEARD THEM AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE, AND I JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONTINUALLY BUILDING OF THE CITY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I PUT MY HAT IN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT, UH, I'VE HAD THAT ENERGY.
I HAVE THAT GRIT, UH, THAT OUR CITY, UH, IS BUILT ON.
SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PUT OUT A STATEMENT OF SORTS FOR THOSE OF THAT ARE WATCHING OUTSIDE OF HERE, UH, CITY COUNCIL.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, WE WENT DIRECTLY INTO QUESTIONS THIS EVENING OF OUR CANDIDATES.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS, OF COURSE, THE CANDIDATES HAD, UH, HAD SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS, WHICH WERE IN FRONT OF US AND WERE SUBMITTED TO US WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY HAD ORIGINALLY APPLIED ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
UH, IF YOU, IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, WAS A, AN ESSAY OF SORTS IN WHICH THEY TOLD US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEMSELVES, SOME OF THEIR IDEAS AND HOW THEY WOULD DO CERTAIN THINGS WITHIN THE CITY.
SO WE HAD, UH, WE HAD READ THOSE PRIOR TO THIS AND FELT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE COULD GO DIRECTLY AND DO, UH, IN THE QUESTIONS.
SO THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
AND WITH FAT, I THINK, UH, WE CAN, UH, IF ANY OF THE, UH, THE APPLICANTS WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK IN, THAT'S FINE.
WE'LL MOVE ON AND I'LL INVITE THE PUBLIC TO TESTIFY.
AND TO PLEASE GIVE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO TESTIFY.
MA'AM IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, THERE'S A MICROPHONE THERE, BACK THERE IN THE CORNER AT THE PODIUM, IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS
[01:25:08]
YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE, VERY GOOD.UM, CARRIE'S GRANDDAUGHTER, AND I JUST CAME ON THE BEHALF TO SPEAK FOR HER BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE I CAN LOOK UP TO SINCE I WAS BORN PRACTICALLY, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A HARDWORKING, DEDICATED PERSON, A LOVING PERSON, AND THERE'S BEEN, SHE'S ALWAYS DEDICATED HER TIME TO THE COMMUNITY, TO HER COMMUNITY, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE GREW UP IN THE HARBOR TOO.
SHE'S ALWAYS DEDICATED HER TIME, WHETHER IT WAS TO THE TROOPS, TO THE COMMUNITY, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY WAS THERE TOO.
IN 2007, WE, UM, DID CARE PACKAGES TO THE TROOPS.
AND ALSO JUST TWO YEARS AGO, WE, IT, AGAIN, SENDING CARE PACKAGES TO THE TROOP, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER TO THE VETERANS AND THE TROOPS.
SO I JUST SAW, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE I COULD BE STILL INSPIRED TO.
AND I KNOW SHE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ASPECT TO THE COMMUNITY, A GREAT ASSET, SORRY TO THE COMMUNITY AND IN CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ME AND OTHER PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY BANK.
THANK YOU A LOT OF GOOD EVENING.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING ME COME IN AND SPEAK FOR KERRY CIRRIC, UH, ISLAND.
I ADDRESS, I THINK YOU HAS FOR THEIR ADDRESSES.
IT'S I LIVE AT 2255 PAPAYA DRIVE A HOT BRUH.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON HER BEHALF.
I'M PROUD TO BE HERE, TO SPEAK FOR HER.
I'VE KNOWN CARRIE FOR 12 YEARS.
SHE SOLD ME MY FIRST HOME BACK IN 2011.
AND WE ESTABLISHED OUR FRIENDSHIP FROM THERE.
FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, SHE HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES AND OUR CHARMING PERSONALITY OR WHICH I WAS DRAWN TO WITHOUT FRITZ, MEANING SHE'S A HARD WORKER, ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP BY TAKING ON TOUGH JOBS AND PUTTING THE NECESSARY WORK IN TO THE JOB TO GET IT DONE PROPERLY.
SHE IS ETHICAL, PROFESSIONAL, POLITE, HIGHLY COMPETENT, DEPENDABLE, HONEST, AND COURTEOUS.
BUT WHAT I ADMIRE MOST ABOUT HER IS HER DETERMINATION.
I CAN SAY THAT SHE WAS A PERSON WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE.
SHE IS A DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL OVER IN HER PERSONAL AND HER PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
I AM HIGHLY INSPIRED BY HER COMMUNICATION SKILLS WITH BOTH YOUNGER AND OLDER PEOPLE, HAS, SHE IS ALWAYS FRIENDLY AND CHEERFUL.
I BELIEVE CAROL HELPED THE HARBOR CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE STRONG.
I ALSO FEEL TO HAVE HER ON YOUR COUNCIL WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE SHARES THE VISION THAT YOU WOULD WANT FOR THE CITY OF LA HABRA, ITS COMMUNITIES AND ITS PEOPLE.
MA'AM MR. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I LIVE AT 1001 IPSWICH STREET HERE IN LA BARBARA.
I'VE LIVED IN LA HARBOR FOR OVER AT 73 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF CARRIE, SIR.
I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW, CARRIE CARRIE IS WELL KNOWN AND LIKED AND LARGE BRO.
SHE'S A LONG TIME LAUDER RESIDENT.
I'VE KNOWN CARRIE FOR 18 YEARS.
THE FIRST TIME I MET HER, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO HOW FRIENDLY AND SINCERE SHE IS.
CARRIE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS A LONG TIME FRIEND.
CARRIE IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PERSONS.
I KNOW SHE WOULD BE A GREAT ASSETS TO THE CONSOLE.
[01:30:02]
CARRIE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE WHEN IT COMES TO PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.SHE'S BUSINESS-MINDED VOLUNTEERS WITH THE CITY OF ANTS CONDUCTS MEETINGS FOR THE VETERANS DAY PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS FOR THE LIONS CLUB CORP FESTIVAL, 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS MEALS ON WHEELS, C R C C CHAMBER MEMBER YOUTH COMMITTEE WOMAN'S CLUB.
CLAIRE WOULD BE A POSITIVE ADDITION AS A CONSOLE MEMBER CARRY SEARCH FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I'M A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE CITY OF ALHAMBRA AND LIONS CLUB.
AND I LIVE AT FIVE 11 PALERMO WAY IN LAHABRA.
AND THIS CITY IS AS REALLY ADDED A GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBER.
WHEN CARRIE SEARCH CAME TO THE COMMUNITY, CARRIE IS A HARD WORKER.
SHE'S ONE OF THE LEADING FEMALES IN THE COMMUNITY.
A PROBLEM SOLVER NEVER SAYS WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS WHY SHE ALWAYS SAYS WHY NOT SHE'S A HARD WORKER AND SHE WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PUT MY 2 CENTS IN.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DOUG DEMOND LIVE AT 3 2 3 NORTH HARBOR BOULEVARD HERE IN THE HOMBRE.
UM, YOU GOT SOME GREAT CANDIDATES.
YOU GOT A REALLY DIFFICULT DECISION.
I'M HERE TO PUT IN MY 2 CENTS FOR MRS. LAHABRA KERRY SEARCH HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
UH, THERE IS NO MORE SELFLESS PERSON IN LAHABRA THAN CARRIE.
UH, SHE GOES OUT AND GOES TO, UM, GOES TO VISIT WITH VETERANS IN THE HOMES.
UM, I'VE SEEN HER IN BED WITH HER WHEN IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AND SHE DOES EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO HELP OUT THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.
UM, SHE IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT THIS COMMUNITY STANDS FOR.
A CARING COMMUNITY COULD BASE ITS FOUNDATION ON CARRY SEARCH.
MR. MAYOR, MR. MAYOR, IN ADDITION TO THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT, UM, WE RECEIVED, UH, SEVEN LETTERS OF SUPPORT, UH, THAT YOU HAVE AT THE DIOCESE, UH, AND THE CITY CLERK IS PREPARED TO READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE, IF NOT, YOU HAVE THEM AT THE DIOCESE, FOUR LETTERS WERE WRITTEN IN SUPPORT OF, UH, APPLICANT VENEER AND THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR APPLICANT SEARCH.
IF YOU'D LIKE THEM READ INTO THE RECORD OR JUST PUT INTO THERE, THEY WILL BE POSTED AS PART OF THE RECORD AFTER THE MEETING AND AS LONG AS THERE'LL BE POSTED.
ANYONE ELSE FOR A PUBLIC COMMENTS? PRETTY WELL.
I'LL CALL FOR A COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ OFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS YOU HAVE TO MAKE WHEN WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
AND LAST TIME, UH, WE HAD A VACANCY ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ACTUALLY DEADLOCKED TO, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME IN TONIGHT AND, UH, SPEAKING, UM, IN SUPPORT OF CARRIE SEARCH AND SHE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS JOB IN OUR COMMUNITY, VERY ACTIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, SHE'S, UM, UH, SERVED.
I SERVED WITH HER ON MEALS ON WHEELS.
UH, SHE'S, UH, FOLLOWED IN MY FOOTSTEPS WITH THE, UH, VETERAN'S DAY, UH, UH, COMMITTEE.
SHE'S BEEN A FIXTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UH, AND MY HEART OF HEARTS, I, I REALLY WANT TO VOTE IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT I THINK THAT SHE COULD BENEFIT FROM SERVING A COUPLE OF YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE WERE FROM COMMUNITY SERVICES INTO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO RECEIVE A LITTLE MORE EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK AT THAT TIME WOULD BETTER PREPARE HER, UM, FOR,
[01:35:01]
UH, SERVING ON THE CITY COUNCIL.UH, I TOTALLY SEE HER SOMEDAY AS SERVING IN THAT ROLE.
UM, UM, AS WELL AS THE MICHELLE VENEER AS WELL.
UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CRITIC FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF, UH, UH, DARREN EXPERIAN, UM, AND HAVE VOTED AGAINST HIM SEVERAL TIMES.
I THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME, BUT I, I THINK, UH, AFTER LISTENING TO THE INTERVIEWS AND LOOKING AT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE, HE JUST SLIGHTLY OUT EDGES, ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND I WILL BE, UH, SUPPORTING, UH, DARREN, UH, IN THIS POSITION.
ANYTHING FURTHER MAYOR PRO TEM? UH, NO, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE, MR. MAYOR, IF I MIGHT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, LIKE TO SAY HOW PLEASANTLY SURPRISED I AM OF THE QUALITY OF ALL FIVE CANDIDATES.
IT LIFTS MY HEART THAT, UH, PEOPLE THAT QUALIFIED AND THAT DO SO MUCH ALREADY ARE WILLING TO DO MORE SO FOR, FROM MY LIPS TO YOUR EARS.
MY, MY SADNESS IS THAT ONLY ONE CAN BE SELECTED AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE OTHER FOUR WILL WANDER OFF IN DISAPPOINTMENT AND NOT CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE, NOT CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT, UM, DESIRE FROM WITHIN TO WANT TO BE PART OF THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT ALL OF YOU, I CAN SEE IT THIS DAY IS ALL OF YOU ARE THAT QUALIFIED.
ALL OF YOU DESERVE TO SIT UP HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE TALENT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR EAGERNESS TO WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOT FUN IS TO SELECT ONE LEAVE FOR BEHIND, BUT THAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE DO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SIGNED ON FOR, UM, EARLY ON IN MY TENURE AS A COUNCILMAN, THE SECOND TIME I SOUGHT CARRIE OUT, I WANTED TO MEET HER.
I WANTED TO GET TO KNOW HER AS A POTENTIAL CANCELED COUNCIL CANDIDATE AND HAD LUNCH WITH HER AND WAS JUST DELIGHTED AT WHAT A SPECIAL LADY SHE IS.
AND CARRIE, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL GET THAT OPPORTUNITY UP HERE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
AND SO I DON'T FEEL THAT WILL ONLY BE ONE VACANCY.
UM, NOW SOMEBODY KEPT TALKING ABOUT EARLY ON ABOUT THE WHOLE PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
NO, IT WASN'T ME, BUT, UM, AGAIN, JUST VERY, VERY PLEASED.
UH, THE, THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE DEEP.
EDUCATION'S GREAT, UH, FEELING FOR THE COMMUNITY IS THERE.
SO WHAT CAN YOU SAY? I JUST, THANK YOU.
I MEAN, UM, I'VE SEEN SO MANY OF YOU OUT THERE, UM, AND IT'S GOOD TO MEET SOME NEW PEOPLE THAT I HAVE NOT MET BEFORE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT ALWAYS MAKES ME PROUD TO SEE AND HEAR YOUR BACKGROUND AND, UH, THAT YOU LIVE IN LA HARBOR.
IT MAKES ME EVEN MORE PROUDER, UM, BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
I WANT THE CALIBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT MORE OF THEM TO BE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US ALL SUCCESSFUL IS THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THE LEAD BY EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO COME HERE AND PUT YOUR NAME ON THIS APPLICATION TO FILE FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
AND GOD KNOWS, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS.
I LOST THREE TIMES INSIDE APPOINTMENT TWICE, AND I NEVER WON ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS.
AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE FOURTH TIME THAT I FINALLY GOT INTO THE COUNCIL.
SO IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
UM, BUT, UH, ONCE I GOT IN HERE, I REALIZED HOW MUCH THERE WAS TO LEARN HOW MUCH THERE WAS TO RAMP UP.
UM, AND, UH, AS, AS COUNCILMAN MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ DID SAY THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE, UH, TO BE ON THERE AND LEARN, UM, WHAT IS
[01:40:01]
THE PULSE OF OUR CITY AND THE CONCERN THAT THE NEEDS AND, UH, MEASURE T AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP THE ROAD.UH, UM, SO I'M ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN I SEE SO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD POSSIBLY RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, OR IF THERE'S TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT RETIRES, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER VACANCY THERE FOR THAT POSITION AS WELL.
UM, SO I ASKED YOU THAT NOT TO LEAVE, NOT WITH THINKING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO, UH, PUT YOUR HAT INTO THE ARENA AGAIN, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE THE CALIBER OF INDIVIDUALS YOU ARE, WE NEED ON THE COUNCIL.
SO I JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, THROWING YOUR HAT INTO THE RING AS WELL.
I WILL ECHO MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENT ON THAT, UH, BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES AND OF COURSE THE MAYOR PRO TEM AS WELL, WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, CAN'T BE HERE WITH US, BUT HE'S WITH US TELEPHONICALLY, OF COURSE.
UH, AND I WILL SAY THAT, UH, THAT THERE IS SOME SADNESS TO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE FIVE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS IN FRONT OF US.
UH, THERE ARE SOME THAT STAND OUT MORE THAN OTHERS AND OVER THE COURSE OF, UH, OF MY TIME, MY SHORT TIME AS MAYOR, UH, AND MY, MY LIMITED TENURE HERE ON COUNCIL, JUST A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS.
UH, AND, UH, MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, WITH A FEW OF YOU COMING ON TO COUNCIL CARRY SEARCH BEYOND BELIEF.
UH, YOUR WORK WITH OUR VETERANS IS, IS PHENOMENAL.
I HAD YOU OUT HELPING ME ACTUALLY, UH, YOU ASSISTED ME OUT WITH A, WITH THE FAMILY IN NEED, UH, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO.
AND I ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS, UH, THAT, UH, THAT RANDY AND DOUG AND JIM HAD PUT FORTH.
AND OF COURSE YOUR, YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER AND, AND FRIEND, UH, MICHELLE BERNIER, OR BERNAY BERNIER.
AND I APOLOGIZE, WHICHEVER ONE, BUT, UH, I'VE, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU JUST A BIT THE LAST YEAR.
UH, WE'VE UH, WE'VE SPOKEN ENOUGH FROM TIME TO TIME, UH, VIA TELEPHONE AND READING YOUR APPLICATION AND YOUR, AND YOUR ESSAY.
YOU KNOW, IT SHOWS YOUR, UH, YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, YOUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT, UH, WITH NOT ONLY WITHIN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT ON THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT SHOWS, IT SHOWS THAT, UH, THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THIS, UH, IN THE, IN THE LONG RUN WITH YOUR FAMILY TIES HERE, DARREN, AND THE SAME THING YOU, UH, YOU BRING ABOUT, UH, UH, A WORLD OF, UH, OF A COMMUNITY SERVICE OF PUBLIC SERVICE AS WELL, GROWN TO KNOW YOU THE LAST THREE YEARS AS WELL, UH, YOU KNOW, IN HERE ON, UH, ON COUNCIL AND BY WAY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, THOMAS, OR IF I CAN CALL YOU TOM, I KNOW IT'S IN PARENTHESES ON YOUR APPLICATION.
WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER THAT WELL, BUT WE DO, UH, BY VIRTUE OF AYA IS SO, AND IN AYSL HOLDS A VERY GEARED NEAR AND DEAR PLACE TO MY HEART.
UH, PART OF WHAT YOU DO HAS GONE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MY OWN DAUGHTERS, SPECIFICALLY MY THIRD ONE, BY TAKING YOUR COACHING CLASS A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN SHE NEEDED SOME VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO, UH, REGARDLESS, UH, AND MR. UH, MR. BED IS WESLEY.
UH, WE HAVE NOT, WE HAVE NOT MET PRIOR TO TONIGHT, BUT, UH, BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND FOR YOUR PASSION, THAT PASSION, YOU SPOKE OF YOUR TIME SERVING THIS COUNTRY, MOST IMPORTANTLY TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT YOUR, UH, YOUR KIDS CONTINUE TO FLOURISH IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, YES, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS EVENING, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO CHOOSE ONE PERSON, UH, AND, UH, TO THAT PERSON, I SAY, UH, WHOMEVER THAT IS, UH, YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE WELCOMED UP, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A, UH, A TENURE OF, UH, WHAT IS IT, NINE TO 10 MONTHS.
AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO RUN FOR REELECTION, THEN SO BE IT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEN, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A STOP GAP AS I CALL IT BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEBODY TO SERVE ON COUNCIL FOR THESE NEXT 10 MONTHS THEREAFTER.
AND OF COURSE, THEREAFTER, REALLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, AT THAT POINT, IT'S UP TO THE RESIDENTS OF LA HABRA.
UH, THIS IS, UH, YOU CAN CALL THIS A TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT IF, UH, IF SO, AND IF THAT PERSON CHOOSES TO RUN IN WINDSOR, DOESN'T WIN, UH, I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION.
I MAY NOT WIN, UH, BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS, UH, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY INVOLVED.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL FOR, UH, FOR EMOTION.
ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR, UH, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE DARREN EXPERIAN VERY WELL.
[01:45:01]
A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND CASSIE NANA'S VOTES.AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ELSE.
AND IF YOU SO DESIRE, WE CAN SWEAR AT DARREN.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? YOU CAN SELECT A SWEAR AT HIM AND WE'LL SWEAR HIM IN MIKE AND SWEAR FIRST AND THEN FOLLOWED BY USER.
DARREN, DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY OR FRIENDS HERE YOU'D LIKE TO INVITE HIM TO, I'D LIKE TO BRING IN OUR, MY WIFE, CAROL.
WHY DON'T WE ARRANGE FOR THAT FIRST DARREN, THE TIME THAT WE HAVE WAITING FOR CAROL AND YOUR FAMILY? UM, MY GUIDANCE TO YOU IS AFTER HEARING COUNSEL TALK ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES IS I HOPE THAT YOU WILL REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY TO THESE FOLKS AND EMBRACE THEM AND GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, IF I MAY, AND JUST TO ADDRESS THOSE IN THE ROOM AS WELL, AND I COME FROM A UNIQUE POSITION, OBVIOUSLY AS A RESIDENT OF 23 YEARS, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I WAS IN AN UNINCORPORATED COUNTY ISLAND UP UNTIL ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
AND WHEN THEY ANNEXED OUR ISLAND, I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO RUN.
I NEVER SERVED ON A PLANNING COMMISSION ON A COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, BUT I DID DO A LOT OF MY WORK THROUGH, UH, THROUGH YOUTH ATHLETICS, A YSO AND LA HARBOR GIRLS SOFTBALL, AND GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THAT.
AND PEOPLE THAT, UH, THAT SAW TO IT, THAT I, THAT I RUN AT THE TIME, I WAS, YOU KNOW, KNOCKING MYSELF IN THE HEAD WHY ME, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
AND I PUT TWO FEET IN AND WENT AT IT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CERTAIN PATH, JUST ONE OF HAVING THAT PASSION AND, AND FOLLOW THROUGH.
SO WITH THAT, VERY NICE TO MEET YOU, LESLIE.
I HEARD THE SHOW, CARRIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I DARREN EXPERIAN, DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND? I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, BUT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY WITHOUT MENTAL RESERVATION, WITHOUT MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER UPON WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
[01:50:15]
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2022 AT 5:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION ROOM ONE 12 C 100 EAST LA HARBOR BOULEVARD FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.