[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney Jones PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Gomez ROLL CALL: Mayor Gomez Mayor Pro Tem Nigsarian Councilmember Espinoza Councilmember Medrano Councilmember Simonian]
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I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF LA HARBOR CITY COUNCIL OF APRIL 3RD, 2023.
LET THE RECORD REFLECTED AT 6:30 PM AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE MADRANO, WHO DOES HAVE AN EXCUSE ABSENCE.
WE ALL PLEASE, UH, STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, LED BY COUNTS, MAYOR PROTE, DARREN DERIAN, FOLLOWED BY OUR INVOCATION, BY ATTORNEY RICHARD D. JONES.
EVERYBODY, PLEASE FACE THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEDGE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD IS LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
FOR I ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND AND BOW YOUR HEADS.
UH, DEAR HEAVEN, FATHER OF WHICH WE GATHER THIS EVENING, WE'RE FULL OF MUCH GRATITUDE, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE CAN SPECIAL CELEBRATE SPECIAL TIMES IN OUR LIVES.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THEY WILL DO SO WITH SAFETY AND DUE DILIGENCE AND EFFORT TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF LAHABRA.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE WISDOM AND INSIGHT THEY OFFER MAY THE ACT FOR ALL THE BEST INTERESTS OF LAHABRA.
WE SAY THESE THINGS IN THY NAME.
THANK YOU, UH, RICHARD D. JONES.
AND WE HAD NO, NO CLOSED SESSION AND WITH A CLERK.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT AGAIN EXCEPT FOR JOSE MADRANO, WHO DOES HAVE AN EXCUSE ABSENCE.
OKAY, I AM GONNA GO DOWN TO THE WELL HERE.
AND BY THE WAY, WE ALL ARE WEARING OUR FAVORITE JERSEYS TODAY IN HONOR OF, UH, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WEEK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL IN OUR DODGER GEAR AND, UH, LAJA BEAT GEAR AND SOMETHING RED OVER THERE THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE OVER THERE.
OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FIRST ONE UP, UH, MARIE LAGA TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE, IF YOU CAN COME ON UP.
MARIA LAGA, UH, SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION FOR SIX YEARS, FROM APRIL 3RD, 2017 TO MARCH 8TH, 2023.
UH, SO IT'S WITH MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS.
MARIA, YOU'D LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND HERE'S JUST A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.
OKAY, UH, PROCLAIM APRIL 9TH TO THE 15TH AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
CAN I HAVE ALL OUR DISPATCHERS THAT COME UP? UH, AGAIN, YOU FOLKS ARE FIRST LINE OF COMMUNICATION, ACHIEVING.
FIRST LINE OF COMMUNICATION, UH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND FIRST OF ALL, IF ANYBODY HAS WANTS TO INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN DISPATCH, WE DO NEED DISPATCHERS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE, PLEASE APPLY FOR THE POSITION.
YOU FOLKS ARE THE FIRST LINE, UH, THAT PEOPLE REACH TO, AND IN MANY CASES HAVE BEEN THERE TO BE THE CALMING VOICE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
WE SINCERELY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, WE PRESENT YOU WITH OUR PROCLAMATION.
WE ALL LOOK AT JENNIFER RIGHT HERE.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO PROCLAIM MARCH, APRIL 9TH, AND THE 15TH IS NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK.
IF WE CAN HAVE DENNIS COYLE, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT, PLEASE.
CHIEF, I'LL LET YOU SAY A FEW WORDS FOR THIS ONE IF YOU CAN.
UH, ANIMAL CONTROL, NOT AN EASY JOB.
UH, AT LEAST 50 ANIMALS ARE TAKEN TO INLAND VALLEY EACH YEAR, AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REUNITE WITH THEIR HOMES.
THEY DO A JOB THAT MANY DON'T WANT TO DO.
UH, CRAWLING UNDER HOUSES, UH, GOING IN PLACES TO GET LOST AND SCARED ANIMALS WHO SOMETIMES DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO WILLINGLY
SO WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE.
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DENNIS.WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CAPTAIN.
WE NOW PROCLAIM APRIL, 2023 AS DONATE FOR LIFE MONTH.
UH, DONATE FOR NI MONA CASTRO.
IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU COME ON UP.
UH, WE ARE HERE RECOGNIZING THE DONATE FOR LIFE MONTH.
YOU HAVE A BIG EVENT EVERY YEAR AT CAL STATE FULLERTON.
I KNOW ROSE HAS PARTICIPATING IN THAT EVENT.
I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT EVERY YEAR.
AND HERE, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THAT PROCLAMATION.
I THINK IT'S LIKE YOU JUST WANNA SAY JUST A COUPLE SHORT WORDS? YES.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, UM, FOR ACTUALLY INVITING US BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR AND, UM, UM, RECOGNIZING APRIL AS DONATE LIFE MONTH.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN A NUTSHELL IS, UH, WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT REGISTERING, ABOUT BECOMING ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS.
AND IT'S NOT YOUR FAVORITE TOPIC OF CONVERSATIONS.
PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW, UM, TO REGISTER TO BECOME AN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR.
AND YOU CAN DO IT VERY SIMPLY BY YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE YES.
WITH A LITTLE PINK DOT THAT YOU CAN PUT ON IT TO RECOGNIZE THAT YES.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE DMV ANYMORE TO DO THAT.
YOU CAN DO THAT IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE.
AND I SEE A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE HERE.
YOU WANNA SHARE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT ONE? I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, UM, MY CONNECTION TO DONATION, AND THAT WOULD BE THESE TWO IN THIS PICTURE RIGHT HERE.
UM, THIS IS MY DAUGHTER SARAH, AND SHE WAS BORN WITH SEVERE CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND NOT EXPECTED TO LIVE, BUT BECAUSE THE FAMILY SAID YES TO DONATION, MY DAUGHTER BECAME THE 85TH BABY AT LOMA LINDA TO RECEIVE A HEART TRANSPLANT UNDER SIX MONTHS OF AGE THIS JANUARY.
SO THAT'S A HUGE MILESTONE FOR DONATION.
AND THEN THIS LITTLE GUY IN THE PICTURE IS MY NEPHEW LUCAS.
AND LUCAS WAS BORN WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES, MAINLY JERRY.
AND SO, UM, HE GOT SICK ONE DAY, THE WEEKEND OF HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY, AND HE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND SADLY, LUCAS PASSED AWAY ON HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY.
HE SAVED THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE, BOTH HIS KIDNEYS AND HIS LIVER.
AND THAT'S, UH, THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO ON MARCH 5TH.
AND, UH, FULL CIRCLE, HE SAVED HIS BIG COUSIN, MY DAUGHTER.
SHE HAS HER BABY COUSIN'S KIDNEY.
AND SO THE, THE STORY NORMALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY WHEN YOUR OWN LOVED ONE BECOMES YOUR OWN SUPERHERO.
WELL, I, I COMMEND YOU AND WHAT A WAY TO LEAVE A LEGACY BY DONATING YOUR, UH, ORGANS AND A AROSE.
I KNOW WITH YOUR NIECE, AND ROSE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY ACTIVE WITH, WITH DONATE FOR LIFE AND HAS BEEN AT THE WALKS.
SO WE ALSO COMMEND HER FOR, FOR ALL YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO GET THAT WORD OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND, UH, BRIANNA, IF WE COULD JUST TAKE A PICTURE SO WE CAN GET THAT OUT.
I'LL STAY AT FULLERTON AND WE'LL BE IS CAL STATE? IT'S, IT'S A ZOO SAID THIS YEAR.
YES, BECAUSE OUR, UH, CORPORATE OFFICE HAS, UH, CHANGED TOO.
APRIL, 2023 HAS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH IN THE CITY OF LAJA.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP KELLY FU JOE TO THE PODIUM PLEASE.
AND SHE WORKS HER WAY DOWN HERE.
UM, INCIDENTALLY, KELLY IS A DODGER FAN.
AND YOU ARE IN THE FRONT LINE WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT WORD OUT THERE TO VOLUNTEER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A, I MEAN, EVERYTHING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DOES HAS THEIR HAND VIRTUALLY ON EVERY EVENT.
AND I WANNA ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PROUD LION AS WELL.
SO I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT BRIEFLY ABOUT VOLUNTEERISM.
UM, SO APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER, UM, UH, VOLUNTEER MONTH
AND SO WE ARE HAVING OUR VOLUNTEER
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RECOGNITION, UH, BANQUET ON, UH, APRIL 20TH.KIM ELIAN IS RUNNING THAT EVENT.
UM, AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T RSVP, IF YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS, THEN PLEASE CALL US.
UM, THE EVENT WILL BE A, UM, A HEAVY APPETIZER DINNER, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A BIG EASTER EGG HUNT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, SO WE'LL BE USING PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS FOR THAT.
I JUST LEFT, UH, OUR VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION, VOLUNTEER AND DONOR RECOGNITION AT OUR MUSEUM.
AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN, KELLY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL YOU DO AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS OUR DIRECTOR.
AND HERE'S A PROCLAMATION HEREBY PROCLAIMING, UH, NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PROCLAMATION FOR APRIL 22 AS EARTH DAY ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
UH, ART, YOU'RE GONNA COME IN AND FILL IN FOR ELIAS.
SO WE HAVE A COUPLE BIG EVENTS COMING UP.
WHAT ARE THOSE EVENTS? IT'S RIGHT, UH, EARTH DAY, APRIL 22ND, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE HOLDING AT OUR CITY YARD, CORPORATE YARD AND PEOPLE CAN GET SIBLINGS AND MULCH AND MULCH AND COMPOST.
AND THAT'S PROVIDED BY C AND R SPONSOR, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WHAT DAY IS THAT? APRIL 22ND.
AND THEN GET THEIR COUPON WHERE, UH, THEY'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THE, UH, MAIL, I BELIEVE, OR THROUGH IN THE WATER BILL.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG EVENT.
UH, ARE WE, YEAH, WE HAVE COMING UP, UH, OUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT COMING UP.
AND OUR HOUSEHOLD WASTE EVENT.
YOU'RE A DODGER FAN, RIGHT? I AM.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA AS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WHEN ADDRESSING THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COMPLETE A SPEAKER'S CARD BEFORE LEAVING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
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 OR CHAIR SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
I WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL PLEASE? COMING UP WITH THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME.
ANYBODY? DO WE HAVE SPEAKER CARDS FOR THAT? WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD.
THAT'S FOR ANOTHER, ANOTHER ISSUE.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO COME UP AND ADDRESS THE LITTLE HARBOR CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS
[ CONSENT CALENDAR: All matters on Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless a Councilmember, City staff member, or member of the audience requests separate action or removal of an item. Removed items will be considered following the Consent Calendar portion of this agenda. Public comment shall be limited to three (3) minutes per individual, with a total time limit of 30 minutes per item that has been removed for separate discussion, unless otherwise modified by the Mayor. Speaking time may not be granted and/or loaned to another individual for purposes of extending available speaking time, and comments must be kept brief, non-repetitive, and professional in nature. ]
NOW WE NOW GO TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.ALL MATTERS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, OR EXCUSE ME, OR MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUEST SEPARATE ACTION OR REMOVAL OF AN ITEM REMOVED ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOLLOWING THE CONSENT CALENDAR PORTION OF THIS AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES PER ITEM THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR.
SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 12.
IS THERE ANY ITEMS OF STAFF LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED FOR SEVERAL SEPARATE, UH, ACTION? NO.
MR. MAYOR, ANYBODY ON THE CITY COUNCIL? NO.
ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
MR. MR. MAYOR, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT AND PROVE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ONE THROUGH 12.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
THAT'S A MOTION BY STEVE SIMONEAN.
SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM DARREN ERIAN.
ANY NOS, ANY ABSTENTIONS THAT ARE THAT IS PASSED FOUR ZERO WITH, UH, OF COURSE, JOSE MADRANO BEING ABSENT TODAY.
[1. FIRE SERVICES CONTRACT REVIEW AND DIRECTION That the City Council direct staff to enter into negotiations with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) to renew the expiring agreement for fire protection services and return to Council with the results of negotiations, at which time, Council may elect to approve terms and conditions of a renewed agreement, or direct staff to pursue alternative options for fire protection services.]
ABSENCE.NEXT ITEM WE GO TO, RIGHT, UH, CONSIDERATION ITEMS. ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE MAY REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL ON ANY CONSIDERATION ITEM PRIOR TO THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL TAKING A FINAL VOTE ON THE ITEM.
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COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES PER CONSIDERATION ITEM, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR CHAIR.SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE CONSIDERATION ITEM IS TITLED FIRE SERVICES CONTRACT REVIEW AND DIRECTION.
ACTUALLY, UH, MR. MAYOR, I'LL PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT ON THIS ITEM.
SO, UH, BACK IN, UH, 2000 FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS OUR CITY MANAGER.
NO, NO, THEY'RE THE LEGENDARY JIM SATRE AND ANGELS FAN.
OH, OH, FOR THE RECORD, I'M SORRY.
SO, UH, BACK IN 2005, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO REPLACE THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AT THE TIME, UH, STAFF WORKED WITH COUNCIL AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A 10 YEAR INITIAL CONTRACT TERM FOR THE LA COUNTY FIRE CONTRACT, UH, IN 2015, UM, AT THE DIRECTION OF CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME, STAFF WAS PRIOR TO 2015 DIRECTED TO, UH, WORK OUT AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENSION TO THE ORIGINAL TERM.
UM, THAT EXTENSION WAS APPROVED IN 2015 AND TOOK EFFECT.
UM, AND THAT RUNS THROUGH, UH, FEBRUARY OF 2025.
SO WE'RE APPROACHING COUNCIL TONIGHT WITH AN ITEM TO, UM, GET DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL AS TO HOW YOU'D LIKE US TO PROCEED AS STAFF.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO DIRECT STAFF TO, UH, BEGIN DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE TO, UH, ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE ANOTHER LONG-TERM EXTENSION TO THIS AGREEMENT.
UM, UH, A FEW POINTS ABOUT OUR NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UH, NEW, UH, FEW POINTS ABOUT OUR CONTRACT.
UM, THE COST HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, OBVIOUSLY, OVER 18 YEAR PERIOD.
IT'S UP ABOUT 88% FROM WHEN WE FIRST, UM, CONTRACTED WITH, UM, COUNTY FIRE.
THAT SAID, OUR COST OF FIRE PER CAPITA OR PER HOUSEHOLD IS STILL THE SECOND LOWEST.
RIGHT NOW IN ORANGE COUNTY, WE HAVE FIRE FOUR FIRE STATIONS IN LAHABRA, AND, UH, WE HAVE A COST SHARING ARRANGEMENT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE FOR THOSE, UH, FIRE STATIONS.
UH, NEXT YEAR, LA COUNTY FIRE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2324 HAS INDICATED THAT OUR CONTRACT COSTS WILL AGAIN GO UP BY ROUGHLY $600,000.
UM, THAT'S, UM, BEEN THE CASE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
COSTS HAVE ESCALATED AND ARE ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO, TO GROW.
SO THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF SO, DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO HERE IS A REPRESENTATION OF KIND OF WHERE OUR COSTS HAVE GONE SINCE FISCAL YEAR OH 5 0 6 WHEN THE CONTRACT FIRST STARTED, ABOUT FIVE, JUST OVER 5 MILLION A YEAR.
NOW WE'RE SITTING AT JUST ABOUT 10 MILLION A YEAR, UH, JUST, UH, UNDER 11 ACTUALLY BY NEXT YEAR.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, A AS I INDICATED, OUR COST OF FIRE.
AND THIS IS FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES.
AND THE REASON THAT WE COMBINE TO, SO, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE PROVIDES FIRE AND PARAMEDIC SERVICES TO THE CITY.
UM, BUT WE SEPARATELY CONTRACT WITH CARE AMBULANCE TO PROVIDE OPERATORS FOR CITY OWNED AMBULANCES.
SO WE OWN OUR OWN AMBULANCES, CARE AMBULANCE PROVIDES THE OPERATORS.
UM, THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE AMBULANCE SERVICES.
SO WE COMBINE IN THIS BUDGET NUMBER, YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE OF 11.4 MILLION, THE COST OF, UH, BOTH LA COUNTY FIRE CONTRACT AND CARE, UH, AMBULANCE CONTRACT BECAUSE MANY AGENCIES, IF NOT MOST AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR FIRE SERVICES BUDGET, IT COMBINES BOTH FIRE AND AMBULANCE.
SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW, UH, COMPARABLE INFORMATION BASED ON THE DATA WE WERE ABLE TO PULL FROM BUDGETS ACROSS THE COUNTY, INCLUDING O C FFA, WHO PROVIDES FIRE SERVICES FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY.
UM, OUR COST, AT LEAST AS OF TODAY, UH, IS SECOND LOWEST IN IN THE COUNTY FOR WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR FIRE SERVICES IN THE CITY.
AND OUR HOPE WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENSION WITH THE COUNTY THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE CITY.
UM, HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME DATA OVER THE LAST, UH, 18 YEARS, UH, ONE YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE, UH, UPDATED, UPDATED INFORMATION FOR 2014.
BUT, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE, UH, CALL VOLUME HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND FROM RIGHT COLUMN OF TOTAL CALLS, THIS IS FIRE AND EXPLOSIONS, AND THEN MAINLY RESCUE EMS. RESCUE EMS MAKES UP THE, THE VAST MAJORITY, PROBABLY OVER 85% OF THE CALLS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO IS PARAMEDIC AND, AND, UH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS.
AND, UM, THE CALL VOLUMES, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE AVERAGING IN THE 3,500 PER YEAR RANGE BACK IN THE, UM, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS.
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UH, WE JUST PUSHED OVER 5,000 CALLS, UH, THAT WERE RESPONDED TO, UM, IN THIS LAST, UH, CALENDAR YEAR, 2022.UM, AND YOU KNOW, THAT CALL VOLUME'S ALSO INCREASING RESPONSE TIME.
SO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S VERY BUSY, UM, AND, UH, ALL FOUR FIRE STATIONS ARE, ARE, ARE VERY ENGAGED EVERY DAY WITH CALLS.
SO, UH, COUNCIL HAS A FEW OPTIONS IN FRONT OF IT.
UH, WE CAN, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS STAFF IS TO, TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENSION WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
UM, THE TWO OTHER PRIMARY OPTIONS THE CITY HAS AVAILABLE TO IT ARE TO DIRECT STAFF TO, UM, DEVELOP AN ISSUE, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AND SEE IF THERE'S OTHER FIRE AGENCIES IN THE REGION THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED AND WILLING TO PROVIDE A, UH, PROPOSAL FOR FIRE SERVICE PROTE, UH, PROVISION TO THE CITY.
UM, BACK IN 2005, I BELIEVE O C FFA, UH, PUT A PROPOSAL IN AS WELL AS THE CITY OF BREA, UM, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO WHEN THE CITY DID ITS FIRST RFP.
UM, THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT STAFF TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF REFORMING ITS OWN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY'S FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF, UH, ISSUES RELATED TO THAT WITH, UH, RECRUITMENT AND, AND COST OF EQUIPMENT AND, AND STAGING UP A, A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND IT WOULD TAKE QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO, UM, TO EVALUATE THAT.
UH, THAT SAID, THOSE TWO OPTIONS, WHILE THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY, WE BELIEVE AS STAFF IS, UH, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENSION TO THIS AGREEMENT WOULD BE THE BEST APPROACH, AT LEAST FOR NOW.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK WITH THE RESULT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND PROVIDE COUNSEL WITH AN UPDATE HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING, AND THEN GET FINAL DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL AT THAT POINT.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S THE END OF MY STAFF REPORT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES? NO, NO, NO.
CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? OKAY, I WILL NOW OPEN UP AND INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME AND TESTIFY.
JEFF, I BELIEVE YOU HAD A CARD SUBMITTED FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS REALLY QUICK.
WE HAVE HISTORY WITH LA HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT THROUGH MY HUSBAND AND, UH, MANY YEARS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY I WANTED TO SEE MORE NUMBERS.
I WANTED TO SEE MORE NUMBERS FOR THE LA HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEIR BUDGET AND COSTS WERE BEFORE.
UH, WE KNOW THAT FOLK JUST ACQUIRED CARE AND CARE.
FALK IS A HUGE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, SO I THINK THE AMBULANCE SERVICE WILL CHANGE AND, YOU KNOW, BE GOOD TO SEE HOW THAT CHANGES OVER TIME IN THE NEXT LIKE YEAR OR SO TO SEE IF THERE'S LIKE DELAYS OR IS THERE OTHER COSTS WE'RE NOT SEEN FORWARD, THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, I, I THINK IT WOULDN'T BE FEASIBLE TO JUST ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION.
I'M NOT FOR, I'M NOT AGAINST AT ALL.
I'M JUST SAYING MORE INFORMATION.
I, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF SA STUFF.
SO THANK YOU AND I'LL, I'LL GIVE THIS TO YOU RHONDA, WHEN I'M DONE.
THAT WAS, UH, MICHELLE BEIER FOR THE RECORD, UH, CITY CLERK AND NOW IT'S JEFF BEIER.
B E R N I E R, UH, 2 41 WEST, UH, EXCUSE ME.
UM, SO YEAH, I WAS PART OF THE HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT BACK IN, UH, THE MID NINETIES WHEN, UM, EVERYTHING GOT STARTED MOVING TO LA COUNTY.
AND THIS IS NOT AN OPPOSITION OF LA COUNTY.
THEIR SERVICE, THEY PROVIDE, THEY PRO THEY PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT SERVICE.
UM, IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THAT THIS IS UP FOR NEGOTIATION AND I'M JUST HOPING THAT THE PUBLIC THEMSELVES COULD BE LED IN ON, ON THIS SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THIS MOVES FORWARD.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK THEY PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING SERVICE, UM, BUT THE COST IS SOMETHING TO UNDERSTAND AND NEED TO BE AWARE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO WEIGH IN A LITTLE BIT AND EXPLAIN WHAT THEY FEEL.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO TESTIFY? PLEASE COME UP AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
DISCUSSION OR ACTION, PLEASE, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, UNLESS, UH, STEVE HAS SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY AROSE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS L A C F D, TO RENEW THE EXPIRING AGREEMENT FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES AND THEN RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE RESULTS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.
OKAY, THAT'S A MOTION BY OUR MAYOR PRO TE, I HEAR SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFIED BY SAINT AYE.
ANY OPPOSITION? ANYBODY ABSTAIN? THAT PASSES FOUR ZERO RHONDA, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OF MADRANO, ABSENT, EXCUSED, ABSENT.
[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]
OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR AND OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC.[00:25:01]
WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU INFORMED AND UPDATED AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS ON INFORMATION.IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE EASTER IS ALMOST HERE THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH, 2023 IS OUR ANNUAL EGG NIGHT, LATE NIGHT EASTER EGG, ONLY $10.
YOU DO HAVE TO PRE-REGISTER TOBIN FROM KI FOR KIDS SEVEN TO 13 YEARS OLD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 5 6 2 3 3 4 2 0 0.
AGAIN, IT'S ONLY $10 FOR THAT.
OUR ANNUAL EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA PRE-SALE WRISTBANDS ARE ONLY $8.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS EVENT HELD AT LA BONITA PARK FROM 8:00 AM TO 12 NOON.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE THIS SATURDAY.
THERE IS ALSO GOING TO BE A PANCAKE BREAKFAST THERE.
WE WANNA THANK OUR SPONSORS, UH, C AND R V C C, THE HARBOR HOST LIONS CLUB, AND ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT, PLEASE COME OUT.
UH, DON'T FORGET, KIDS' NIGHT OUT IS COMING UP ON APRIL 21ST AT 6:00 PM TO 10 30 FOR ONLY $20.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PANCAKES AND PLEASE WEAR YOUR PJS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ARTS AND CRAFTS AND A GREAT NUMBER OF FUN ACTIVITIES THERE.
FIVE SIX TWO THREE THREE FORTY TWO HUNDRED LOT GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
JURASSIC PARK MOVIES IN THE PARK WILL RETURN ON APRIL 21ST, 2023.
GRAB A BLANKET IN YOUR LAWN CHAIR, COME ON OUT FOR JURASSIC WORLD ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT 6:00 PM AND AT DUSK THE MOVIE BEGINS AND THE FIRST MOVIE WILL BE AT PORTOLA PARK.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 5 6 2 3 3 4200 AND IT MAKES IT AS FITTING BECAUSE THE DINOSAUR THAT STEVE SIMONIAN DONATED IS RIGHT THERE.
SO THAT'S FITTING FOR THIS MOVIE.
ELIAS AND ALLAH'S CREW OVER THERE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THERE.
AND THAT'S COMING UP ON APRIL 22ND AT THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD.
WE'RE GONNA BE DISTRIBUTING FREE COMP HOUSE AND SEEDLINGS ON APRIL 22ND.
YOU HAVE TO BRING YOUR COUPON, UH, WHICH IS IN YOUR WATER BILL.
AND PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS REQUIRED THAT THE LAJA RESIDENTS ONLY AND IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, UH, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4 1 7 0 SENIOR DANCE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY DARREN AND I WENT OUT TO THE SENIOR DANCE, WE COULDN'T HOLD BACK.
WE EVEN GOT INVOLVED IN DANCED OUT THERE AT THE LAST DANCE.
THE NEXT ONE IS COMING UP ON APRIL 23RD.
SO DARREN SHINE UP YOUR DANCING SHOES CUZ WE'RE GONNA BE THERE AGAIN ON APRIL 23RD, SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
LIVE MUSIC DANCING, DINNER FROM TWO UNTIL 4:30 PM AT THE LA HARBOR COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND THANK YOU TO LA HARBOR HOST LIONS CLUB, THAT'S A HUGE SPONSOR FOR THIS EVENT.
HEY, IF YOU WANNA CATCH OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, THEY MAY BE MORE EXCITING.
THIS, THESE MEETINGS COME, LA HARBOR PLANNING COMMISSION MEANS ARE HELD THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 100 EAST LA HARBOR BOULEVARD.
AND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES MEETING ARE HE HELD HERE ON A SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH HERE AT 6:30 PM ALSO HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 100 EAST LA HARBOR BOULEVARD.
PLEASE GET INVOLVED BY ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS.
LIKE I SAID, WE REALLY NEED DISPATCHERS RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE.
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE@WWW.LAHABRACA.GOV.
JOIN THE GREAT TEAM HERE AT LAHABRA.
A LOT OF LOT OF OPENINGS, I HEAR PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS.
PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL THE LISTINGS, SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
AND DON'T FORGET, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN, JUST BE SMART AND JUST BE SURE TO CONSERVE WATER, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO OUR WEBSITE ON WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER@WWW.LAHABRACA.GOV.
AND JUST REMEMBER WE'VE HAD ALL THAT WATER AS WELL.
BE SURE TO TIP AND TOSS AND DUMP THAT STILL WATER AROUND YOUR, AROUND YOUR HOME, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A BREEDING GROUND FOR, FOR MOSQUITOES.
ROSE, YOU GET TO GO FIRST TODAY.
[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]
COMMENT.DARREN, NO COMMENT AS YOU'RE SAYING.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE SUN HAS BEEN OUT THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AND SO THE CITY OF LA HARBOR'S BEEN BLOOMING WITH ALL THE STUFF GOING ON, DARREN.
IT'S ALWAYS A SUNSHINE DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE.
WELL, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY LA HARBOR, RIGHT? RIGHT.
[00:30:01]
MENTION A YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF KATHLEEN PINEDA HERNANDEZ BECAUSE THIS YOUNG LADY WAS HONORED BY, UH, OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN BLANCA PACHECO AT HER WOMAN OF THE YEAR EVENT THAT THEY HAD AT THE CLARK ESTATE IN SANTA FE SPRINGS.UH, SHE PICKED ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE YOUNG WOMEN FROM AROUND HER DISTRICT TO HONOR WITH THIS WOMAN OF THE YEAR TITLE.
AND, UH, THIS YOUNG LADY, AGAIN, IS A LAHABRA.
SHE DID AN ENORMOUS JOB DURING THE PANDEMIC HELPING, UH, SENIOR CITIZENS AND SUCH DEAL WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES IMPOSED, UH, UPON THEM DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO KATHLEEN PINEDA HERNANDEZ.
I ALSO WANNA WELCOME TIKA ART AND FOLKLORE DANCE STUDIO TO LAHABRA.
THEY ARE AT 2331 WEST WHITTIER BOULEVARD.
WE WERE THERE AT THE RIBBON CUTTING ALL OF US IN THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN FINALLY, CONGRATULATIONS, LIONS ON A GREAT LIONS EASTER PANCAKE BREAKFAST.
UH, THE WEATHER WAS JUST PICTURE PERFECT.
CONGRATS TO, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF, KELLY AND EVERYBODY FOR, FOR MAKING THAT A GREAT SUCCESS.
UM, AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR ALLIANCES.
THIS IS A BENEFIT FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LAHABRA AND OF COURSE, UH, B AND G AND LIONS WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
AND AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, I CANNOT TELL THE LIONS, AND I WAS A FORMER LION MANY YEARS AGO, HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THEIR ENORMOUS ASSISTANCE TO OUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT THERE DOING OUR BEST FOR AT-RISK KIDS AND THE LIONS ARE BEHIND US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, HELPING US ENORMOUSLY.
SO THANK YOU LIONS AGAIN, SO MUCH FOR THAT.
ALSO, ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS IS NONE OTHER THAN STEVE SIMONIAN, AND THAT'S THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU'RE UP NOW FOR, FOR COMMENT.
UM, I TOO ATTENDED, UH, THOSE EVENTS THAT DARREN OUTLINED AND WAS PROUD TO HELP REPRESENT THE CITY DOING SUCH, UH, THE DANCE STUDIO, UH, WHICH IS PRECIOUS.
UH, BEAUTIFUL, UH, FOLKS HAVING A GREAT TIME, UM, MENTORING THEIR CHILDREN.
AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT THEY WERE BEING TAUGHT INDIGENOUS DANCES AS WELL AS THEIR HISTORY AND, UM, WHO THE COMPOSERS WERE OF THE MUSIC.
I MEAN, IT WAS MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN JUST, UH, DANCING.
SO, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HOPE THAT THEY STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
COMMENTS FROM STAFF? I FORGOT THAT STEVE.
UH, JUST, UM, I, I DO WANT ADJOURN IN MEMORY.
WE HAD A, A VERY, UM, VERY TRAGIC SITUATION.
WE HAD ONE OF OUR GENTLEMEN, YOUNG MAN FROM CARE, OUR AMBULANCE PROVIDER, NOAH RODRIGUEZ, UH, WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE ON WHITTIER BOULEVARD AND WAS TRAGICALLY INVOLVED IN A, UM, TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
HE WAS, UH, A, A VERY ACTIVIST STATION 1 91 AND 1 92, AND NOAH TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY.
HE WAS IN HIS TWENTIES, UH, RESIDENT OF PICO RIVERA AND HAD SERVED HERE IN LAHABRA SINCE THE AGE OF 16 YEARS OLD AS A EXPLORER.
AND THIS HAS HIT NOT ONLY OUR FIREFIGHTERS VERY HARD, BUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
HE WAS VERY WELL LOVED AND APPRECIATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I'VE, UH, HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY.
I GOT TO GO TO BOTH FIRE STATIONS AND MEET WITH OUR, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO WORK WITH IN CONJUNCTION WITH CALVARY CHAPEL.
SO HIS FUNERAL WILL BE ON APRIL 20TH AT 10:00 AM BUT CALVARY LAHABRA, SO I WILL BE ADJOURNING IN HIS MEMORY TODAY.
UM, HE WAS JUST WELL LOVED AND MADE FOR SUCH A YOUNG AGE, UH, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WISDOM THAT EE EXCEEDED HIS AGE.
SO WE WILL BE ADJOURNING IN HIS MEMORY AND MEMORY OF NOAH RODRIGUEZ.
UH, WITH THAT, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO 17 APRIL 17TH, 2023 AT 5:30 PM IN THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL.
CLOSED SESSION ROOM ONE 12 C AT 100 EAST LAHABRA BOULEVARD, FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
WHO ARE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE AND OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND ALL OF YOU WATCHING ON TELEVISION FOR MEETING WITH US.