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[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney Jones PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilmember Medrano ROLL CALL: Mayor Gomez Mayor Pro Tem Nigsarian Councilmember Espinoza Councilmember Medrano Councilmember Simonian]
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HARBOR OF AUGUST 21ST, 2023.LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 6:30 PM AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS STEVE SIMONIAN, WHO WILL PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY DUE TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT PREVENTS HIM FROM ATTENDING IN PERSON.
THE INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY RICHARD D. JONES, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BY COUNCIL MEMBER, THE LEGENDARY JOSE MADANO.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE, UH, STAND AND BOW YOUR HEADS.
UH, DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER THIS EVENING.
WE'RE FULL OF PRIDE ABOUT THE CITY OF LA HARBOR AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE, UH, GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE, THOSE WHO REACHED OUT THIS LAST DAY OR TWO WITH REGARD TO THE FIRE AND WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, RAIN AND TAKING CARE OF ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS NEEDS OF THE CITY.
WE ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING THIS EVENING AND REMEMBRANCE OF ROSE ESPINOZA'S SISTER WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
OUR HEARTS MOVE, MOVE TO HER, FILL HER FEEL HER FIRST, OUR SYMPATHY TOWARDS HER.
WE ALSO ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING ON STEVE SIMONE THIS EVENING, WHO'S RECOVERING FROM SURGERY.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS HIM AND HEAL HIM, AND LET WE COME BACK TO MEET US REGULARLY IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THESE BLESSINGS.
WE SAY THESE THINGS HUMBLY, SON JESUS CHRIST.
MAY OUR NATION'S FLAG REPEAT AFTER ME.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WIDGET STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE SPRO JUSTICE.
UM, WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYONE IS PRESENT AGAIN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF STEVE SIMONON, WHO'S PARTICIPATING VIA THE TELEPHONE.
WE HAD NO CLOSED SESSION TODAY.
[1. RECOGNITION OF THE CANDELARIA FAMILY AS THE 2023 RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD RECIPIENT]
TO INVITE UP THE CON FAMILY.UH, IF THEY CAN JOIN US UP FRONT ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE COME TO FRONT.
HOW ARE YOU? LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY HERE.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE HERE FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
ELIZABETH, WE'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS.
UH, MR. KARIA, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE LA HABER CITY COUNCIL AND THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, IF YOU WANNA TURN AROUND THIS WAY SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY AND FOR ALSO TAKING PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE PUT THAT SIGN UP WITH PRIDE AND, UH, PUT THAT CERTIFICATE IN A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO YOUR HOME.
LIKE WE'D LIKE TO, UH, POSE FOR A PUT PICTURE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO YOUR HOME? WELL, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS, BUT I'VE TRIED TO DO LITTLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH MY INCOME, AND I FINALLY REALIZED THAT, HEY, MY HOUSE IS BEAUTIFUL.
AND, AND IT'S, AND IT'S TOOKEN A LONG TIME, BUT, UH, HEY, IT'S PAID OFF.
WE LIKE TO INVITE UP FROM THE SECOND
[2. PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2023 AS "HUNGER ACTION MONTH" IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA]
HARVEST, C E O.CLAUDIA KELLER, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? CLAUDIA KELLER RIGHT UP HERE.
WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH AND HUNGER AND POVERTY ARE AT ISSUES THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE 10% OF CALIFORNIANS FACE HUNGER INSECURITIES.
SO, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING TO, UH, ATTACK IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
UM, TO HELP THE HUNGER INSECURITIES.
WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YES, PLEASE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT HUNGER ACTION MONTH HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.
LAHABRA IS OFFICIALLY THE FIRST CITY TO RECOGNIZE HUNGER ACTION MONTH.
YOU GUYS ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
UH, THE TWO FOOD BANKS HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY, UM, HAVE DISTRIBUTED CLOSE TO 34 MILLION POUNDS, UH, OF FOOD TO HUNGRY PEOPLE IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE COUNTY.
SO IT'S STILL AN ISSUE, BUT CALLING ATTENTION TO IT LIKE YOU ARE TODAY HELPS A LOT.
AS THEY'LL TELL YOU ON FACEBOOK, I'M A BIG ADVOCATE AGAINST GOING HUNGRY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO POSE FOR A PHOTO HERE.
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THANK YOU.THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
WE CANNOT GO WITHOUT RECOGNIZING SOMEBODY.
UM, ELVY IS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS IS ON, I DON'T HEAR THIS ON, IS IT ON? OKAY.
AND WE LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR EIGHT YEARS HERE IN OUR, COME ON, RIGHT OVER HERE.
ELVY ELVY DIS DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
SHE IS A TRUE TREASURE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU CAN GO INTO HUMAN RESOURCES.
SHE ALWAYS HAS A SMILING FACE, UH, ON HER, EVEN DURING TOUGH LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.
SHE HANDLES IT JUST LIKE A PRO, ALWAYS WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE.
NEVER TAKES ANYTHING PERSONAL.
AND YOU HAVE JUST DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
AND I'M GONNA LET A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES ALSO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST SPECIAL, SPECIAL.
OH, YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? YEAH.
WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY I SAW HER IN CLO.
I SAW HER IN THE BACK CHAMBERS, AND WHEN I SAW HER, I THOUGHT, OH, WE'RE HAVING A CLOSED SESSION.
THAT'S ALL I EVER THINK ABOUT WHEN I SEE HER, BECAUSE I KNOW WE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO TAKE, BUT I SAID, I'M SORRY, I HAVE A MINT IN MY MOUTH, BUT I SAID A WHILE BACK, AND EVERY TIME I'D HAVE STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY, I ALWAYS SAY THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND OUR MOTTO WAS 50 50 BY 2020 THAT 50% OF PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WOMEN BY 2020.
AND I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN FILLING THIS POSITION.
AND I WAS ELATED TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM OF ALL THIS SITU, ALL THE NEGOTIATION AND EVERYTHING.
SO I AM, I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH YOU.
SO I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT WITH YOUR NEW GRANDSON, AND I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE FUN WITH THAT.
I'M STILL KIND OF THE NEW GUY, ACTUALLY, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH TIME TOGETHER, BUT RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I COULD TELL THAT L V U ARE JUST THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES ARE JUST BEYOND COMPARE.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, YOU'RE JUST BELOVED IN THIS CITY.
YOU'RE JUST EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONG ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS WITH YOU.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY HOW SORELY YOU'LL BE MISSED.
AND I WANNA WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND HAPPIEST TO RETIREMENTS, AND I HOPE THAT WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOMEDAY.
BUT TAKE CARE, BE WELL, STAY HEALTHY, AND ABOVE ALL, ENJOY.
WELL, THE, MY TIME HERE, ALMOST FIVE YEARS, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, I'VE ONLY KNOWN ONE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, AND THAT'S BEEN YOU AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.
AND WHOMEVER COMES AFTER YOU IS GONNA HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
WE KNOW THAT THAT SHOULD GO UNSAID.
I WILL TELL YOU, HEARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR HISTORY IN THE BACK ROOM THERE, YOU STARTED OUT WITH THE CITY OF EL MONTE FOR 18 YEARS, I THINK YOU SAID QUITE A LONG TIME.
YOU CAME HERE TO LAHABRA AT SOME POINT AND LEFT, I THINK IN 2006, OR STARTED HERE IN 2006, YOU LEFT, WENT TO SOME OTHER CITIES AND CAME BACK.
IT'S TRUE WHAT OUR MAYOR SAYS, ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO LA HABRA.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING MY FIRST FIVE YEARS HERE THE BEST.
UH, I APPRECIATE NOT ONLY YOUR CARING ATTITUDE, BUT YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
AND LIKE MY, UH, MY COLLEAGUE OVER HERE, ROSE ESPINOZA, SAID, YEAH, THE 50 50 WOMAN THING, I'M ALL FOR IT.
WE ARE VERY MUCH GONNA MISS YOU.
WELL, I'M GONNA MISS MY MORNING VISITS WHEN I COME UP AND SEE YOU AT BEHE RESOURCES, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LOVE IS YOU'RE A DODGER FAN.
WHAT ELSE IS IT BETTER? SO, UH, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR COMMUNITY, THANK YOU.
ARE, CAN YOU HEAR US, STEVE? I CAN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
STEVE, UH, LV, UH, YOU ARE, UH, GOING TO BE TRULY MISSED.
UH, I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF HR DIRECTORS AND YOU HAVE THIS PERFECT BALANCE OF PASSION AND COMPASSION, WHICH MAKES YOU VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
UH, EVEN AFTER A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.
I THINK OUR EMPLOYEES FEEL THAT YOU RESPECT THEM, THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WORK THEY DO IS QUALITY AND NOT, NOT EASY TO DO.
AND THAT MAKES THEM FEEL BETTER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SEEM TO ALWAYS GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH YOU AT THE HELM.
AND FOR THAT, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND ENJOY YOUR WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT.
I JUST WANNA THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND TRUST.
UM, YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I CAME BACK TO LAHABRA.
THE OTHER REASON, OF COURSE, WAS JIM SADRO AND APPRECIATE IT.
AND FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HAVING FAITH IN ME AND BEING MY MENTOR ALL THE YEARS BEFORE THAT LED ME TO HAVE MY SUCCESS, AND ESPECIALLY AGAIN, THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SIMONIAN.
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BILL, CHIEF BRUCE.THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[ PUBLIC COMMENTS: When addressing the La Habra 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 (3) minutes per individual, with a 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. The general Public Comment portion of the meeting allows the public to address any item of City business not appearing on the scheduled agenda. Per Government Code Section 54954.3(a), such comments shall not be responded to by the governing body during the meeting.]
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, UNLIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A 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.
THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM OF CITY BUSINESS NOT APPEARING ON THE SCHEDULED AGENDA.
PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 4 0.3 A SUCH COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING.
UH, ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THE HARBOR CITY COUNCIL? PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE CLOSED NEXT TIME I'M ON THE AGENDAS CONSENT CALENDAR.
[ 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. ]
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 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 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.
THE CONSENT AND CALENDAR INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN.
IS THERE ANY ITEMS THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED? NONE.
STEVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE ANY ITEMS REMOVED? NO.
UH, THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY ITEMS TO BE REMOVED? AUDIENCE LIKE TO HAVE ANYTHING REMOVED? OKAY.
WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
MAYOR, I HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL.
VOTE BECAUSE STEVE IS NOT IN THE, UH, COUNCIL CHAMBER AT THE MOMENT.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? YES.
[ PUBLIC HEARINGS: Public comments shall be limited to five (5) minutes per individual, with a total time limit of 60 minutes for all public comments, for each individual Public Hearing item on the agenda, unless otherwise modified by the Mayor or Chair. Comments must be kept brief, non-repetitive, and professional in nature.]
HEARINGS? YES.PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 60 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR CHAIR, COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
[1. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2019-2020 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID-19 (CDBG-CV) ACTION PLAN That the City Council approve a Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) 2019-2020 Action Plan.]
A PROPOSED SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 20 19 20 20 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT C OVID 19 C D B G C V.GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR.
MS. IF I COULD, UM, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS ITEM AS THAT, UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS WITHIN THIS, UM, AMENDMENT IS, UH, TO MOVE MONEY, UH, TO, UH, IMPROVE RESERVOIR PARK, WHICH IS, UH, FAIRLY CLOSE TO MY PERSONAL RESIDENCE.
AND I HAVE NOT MEASURED IT, NOR HAS ANYONE FROM THE CITY MEASURED IT, BUT I THINK IT'S REASONABLY CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF.
YOU WANT ME TO DO THAT? FAIR ENOUGH.
WE NOTE THAT STEVE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FINAL COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 20 19 20 20 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COVID, KNOWN AS C D B G C V ALLOCATION.
IN 2020, THE CITY OF LA HARBOR BECAME ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE $969,448 OF C D B G CV FUNDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
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THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL CANCEL THE FOLLOWING, THE MICRO BUSINESS STABILIZATION PROGRAM, THE HABRA COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, AND THE BUSINESS PARKLET PROGRAM TOTALING $160,000.THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL INCREASE FUNDING TO SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR AT RISK PERSONS FOR A TOTAL OF $311,888.
THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WILL REDUCE THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION FROM $153,852 TO $116,000.
THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM $455,596 TO $160,066.
WITH THIS SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT, IT WILL ADD A NEW ACTIVITY, THE OLD RESERVOIR PARK IMPROVEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $381,494 THOUSAND DOLLARS, 380, EXCUSE ME, $381,494.
THE CITY'S INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE A NATURAL HABITAT AREA FOR RESIDENTS TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND PROVIDE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT MAY HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF C OVID 19 VIRUS WHILE PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND RECREATIONAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TOWARD THE INSTALLATION OF AN EXERCISE, EQUIPMENT AND SHADE STRUCTURE, DRINKING FOUNTAIN ELECTRICAL FOR PARK LIGHTING, AND A DECOMPOSED GRANITE WALKING TRAIL.
IF APPROVED TONIGHT, STAFF ANTICIPATES EXPANDING ALL OF C D B G C V.
BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2324, THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT FOR FIVE DAYS AS REQUIRED.
TODAY, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO COMMENTS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND AFTER CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 20 19 20 20 AC ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK, GRANT COVID TO 19 C D B G C V ALLOCATION.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
QUESTIONS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE? OKAY.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN FAVOR OR OPPOSITION? PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, UNLESS THERE'S COMMENTS, I WOULD SIMPLY, UH, MOVE THIS SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK.
IS THERE A MOTION? I WILL SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THAT ARE HERE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSITION? SO IT PASSES A FOUR ZERO UNANIMOUSLY, AND I JUST TEXT STEVE SIMONIAN TO COME BACK.
GIMME, GIVE, GIVE HIM A SECOND TO COME BACK.
[ CONSIDERATION ITEMS: Any member of the audience may request to address the La Habra City Council on any Consideration Item, prior to the La Habra City Council taking a final vote on the item. Public comment shall be limited to three (3) 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.]
ITEMS. THANK YOU.THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS 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, PUBLIC COMMENTS 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 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.
CONSIDERATION ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TITLED APPROVE
[1. APPROVE AMENDMENTS #3 AND #4 TO THE FIRE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA HABRA AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT That the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute Amendments #3 and #4 to the Agreement for Services between the City of La Habra and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.]
AMENDMENTS NUMBER THREE AND FOUR TO THE FIRE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT, I BELIEVE IS JIM.UH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THE CULMINATION OF APPROXIMATELY, UH, EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE CITY'S EXISTING, UH, FIRE SERVICES AGREEMENT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S CURRENT AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS EXPIRES IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, UH, I'M SORRY, 2025.
AND SO STAFF AT THE END OF, UH, DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR STARTED DISCUSSIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE ABOUT AN EXTENSION OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AS WE DISCUSSED IN AT THE JUNE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING, WHEN WE PROVIDED COUNCIL WITH AN UPDATE ON NEGOTIATIONS, UM, WHAT THE CITY HAS HAD IN PLACE WITH THE, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN A, IN A CONTRACT, UM, FEE SHARING ARRANGEMENT SINCE 2000.
AND, UM, FIVE IS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED BY THE COUNTY.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACTS
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OF WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO THE CITY.UM, LA COUNTY FIRES INDICATED THAT WHILE THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ROUGHLY A 50 50 SHARE OF FIRE RESOURCES COSTS AT FOUR FIRE STATIONS IN THE CITY, ALL FOUR OF WHICH THE CITY OWNS, UM, THOSE, THE FINANCIAL SITUATION THEY HAVE TODAY, UH, COMPARED TO WHEN THIS CONTRACT WAS, UH, FIRST PUT IN PLACE 20 YEARS AGO, UH, DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE OFFERING THAT SPLIT.
AND SO, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH FIRE, UH, DEPARTMENT STAFF EARLY ON, IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT, UH, IF THE COUNCIL, IF THE CITY WOULD WANT TO RENEW THIS CONTRACT FOR ANOTHER 10 YEAR PERIOD, IT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE, UH, COST FOR ALL FIRE RESOURCES AT ALL FIRE STATIONS.
UM, LAST FISCAL YEAR, OUR CONTRACT FOR LA COUNTY FIRE WAS ROUGHLY $10 MILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2223.
HAD WE APPLIED THAT FORMULA ON THE STATIONS AT THAT TIME, IT WOULD'VE RAISED OUR ANNUAL COST TO JUST OVER $20 MILLION, ROUGHLY DOUBLING OUR ANNUAL COSTS.
SO OBVIOUSLY THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO TAKE THAT KIND OF IMPACT ON FIRE SERVICES.
SO THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED A DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH WITH LA COUNTY FIRE TO DETERMINE WHAT MODEL COULD BE PUT IN PLACE THAT WE COULD BRING TO COUNCIL THAT MIGHT BE MORE FINANCIAL, FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE, YET BE ABLE TO CONTINUE, UM, HAVING LA COUNTY FIRE PROVIDE US, UH, FIRE SERVICES.
UM, WE WENT BACK AND FORTH A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER, UH, SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS WITH DIFFERENT PROPOSALS IT CULMINATED, UM, IN, UH, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WITH A PROPOSAL FROM LA COUNTY FIRE THAT BASICALLY LAID OUT AN OPTION.
UM, THEY DID, UH, AGREE TO PAY, UH, FOR A 50% COST SHARE ON STATION 1 94.
UH, WHEREAS INITIALLY THEY WERE ASKING THE CITY TO PAY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST OF THAT STATION.
AND THEY ALSO, UM, AGREED NOT TO TERMINATE THE CITY'S AGREEMENT IMMEDIATELY TO BRING IN NEW COSTS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DELAYING THAT IMPACT OF THIS NEW CONTRACT UNTIL JULY 1ST OF NEXT FISCAL, UH, OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
UM, WE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO COUNCIL IN JUNE, AND COUNCIL, UM, EVALUATED THE, THE NATURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS UP TO THAT POINT.
GAVE STAFF DIRECTION TO GO BACK, CONTINUING A DIALOGUE WITH LA COUNTY FIRE ON, UH, OTHER POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS MEASURES, UM, SPECIFICALLY WAYS TO POTENTIALLY NOT HAVE THE CITY CLOSE STATION 1 93, UH, UP ON IDAHO.
AND, UH, WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
IN FACT, UH, AT ONE POINT THE CITY'S PROPOSAL WAS THAT WE WOULD PAY 100% OF STATION 1 91 ON LA HABER BOULEVARD, 100% OF STATION 1 92 ON HARBOR AND PAY, UM, FOR, UM, STATION 1 93 ON, ON IDAHO, BUT NOT, AND THEN WE WOULD CLOSE STATION 1 94 AND LA COUNTY REJECTED THAT OFFER.
LA COUNTY UTILIZES STATION 1 94, WHICH IS ON THE VERY EDGE OF THE CITY.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA, IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE CITY OF LATA, JUST ACROSS THE CITY OF LINE.
UH, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A CITY FIRE STATION THAT WAS THE FIRE STATION, THAT LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, CONDITIONED THE CITY TO HELP PURCHASE AND BUILD THAT STATION.
20 YEARS AGO, THAT STATION'S UTILIZED BY LA COUNTY FIRE TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE SERVICE TO LAHABRA, BUT ALSO, UH, SIGNIFICANT COVERAGE AREA IN UNINCORPORATED LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THE CITY OF MORADA, AND OCCASIONALLY PROBABLY INTO, UH, AREAS OF WHITTIER AND UN UNINCORPORATED WHITTIER.
SO THAT STATION WAS IMPORTANT TO THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEY WEREN'T WILLING TO CLOSE THAT STATION.
UH, WHEN STAFF ASKED IF YOU WERE TO TERMINATE, IF LA COUNTY FIRE WERE TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, WHAT WOULD THEIR INTENTION BE WITH STATION 1 94? LA COUNTY FIRE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE OPERATING OUTTA STATION 1 94 AS THE CURRENT AGREEMENT ALLOWS THEM TO, UM, FOR, UH, ABOUT 11 AND A HALF YEAR PERIOD.
AF YOU KNOW, UH, FIRST FIVE YEARS, UM, IS, THERE'S NO COST TO THAT TO THE LA COUNTY FIRE.
IT'S A $1 A YEAR LEASE, AFTER WHICH THE NEXT, UH, PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S, IT'S A LEASE PAYMENT TO THE CITY.
BUT THEIR INTENTION, THEY SAID WOULD BE TO CONTINUE OPERATING THAT STATION AS IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEIR SYSTEM.
SO, REALIZING THE COSTS INVOLVED, UH, WITH, UM, OPERATING, UH, FOR FIRE STATIONS, AND ESPECIALLY EARLY ON IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, UM, FIRE, UH, DEPARTMENT INDICATED TO US THAT BASED ON OUR SIZE CITY AND OUR, UM, NUMBER OF CALLS PER STATION, WE WERE MORE APPROPRIATELY SIZED FOR A THREE STATION FORMAT.
IN FACT, BEFORE LA COUNTY FIRE TOOK OVER, UH, SERVICES FOR CITY OF LAHABRA, THE CITY OPERATED A THREE STATION FORMAT, STATIONS ONE 90, UH, STATION ONE, TWO, AND THREE, UM, ON, UH, LAHABRA BOULEVARD HARBOR IN IDAHO.
AND WE ONLY ADDED STATION, THE FOURTH STATION WHEN LA COUNTY FIRE TOOK OVER.
UM, IN FACT, THE AVERAGE DAILY CALL VOLUME
[00:25:01]
OUTTA STATION ONE NINETY THREE AND 1 94, UM, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HAS BEEN ON AVERAGE ABOUT TWO CALLS PER DAY.SO THEY'RE LIGHTLY UTILIZED STATIONS, UM, NOT FAR LESS CALLS PER DAY ON AVERAGE THAN LET'S SAY 1 91, WHICH IS OUR BUSIEST STATION BY FAR, BECAUSE IT'S GOT A FULL PARAMEDIC SQUAD PLUS FIRE APPARATUS, AND THEN EVEN 1 92 IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BUSY.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THE CULMINATION OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, LA COUNTY FIRE.
THERE ARE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, UM, AND, AND THEY'RE, THEY OPERATE IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE IS REALLY TO MODIFY THE CITY'S CURRENT 10 YEAR CONTRACT.
WE'RE IN OUR CURRENT 10 YEAR CONTRACT RUNS THROUGH FEBRUARY OF 2025, IF APPROVED BY COUNCIL AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE WILL CHANGE THAT TERMINATION DATE FROM FEBRUARY OF 25 TO JUNE 30TH OF NEXT YEAR TO COINCIDE WITH THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN THE NEW 10 YEAR CONTRACT, WHICH AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR DEALS WITH WOULD START JULY 1ST, 2024.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE.
UM, INITIALLY, UH, THE LA COUNTY FIRE, UM, DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO TERMINATE THE EXISTING CONTRACT EARLY SO THAT THE HIGHER FEE STRUCTURE COULD TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, UH, THAT THE CITY WOULD PAY LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, MORE RIGHT AWAY.
UH, AND WE PUSHED BACK, UH, ON LA COUNTY FIRE INDICATING THAT OUR FIN OUR BUDGET WAS ALREADY BASICALLY ADOPTED.
NOT ONLY THAT, UM, WE ALREADY, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS.
SO THEY AGREED TO MAKE THE NEW, UM, COST SHARE ARRANGEMENT UNDER AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR, TAKE EFFECT JULY 1ST, 2024.
UM, IN THIS AGREEMENT, UH, IF COUNCIL APPROVES IT, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE INTENDS TO, UM, PULL THEIR FIRE RESOURCES OUT OF STATION 1 93 ON IDAHO PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR, AND ACTUALLY ARE TARGETING OCTOBER 1ST IN ABOUT A MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF TO PULL THEIR RESOURCES OUT.
SO IT WILL HAPPEN FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UM, OUR INTENTION OR OUR RECOMMENDATION TO, TO COUNSEL IF THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, IS TO HAVE OUR AMBULANCE OPERATOR CARE AMBULANCE OPERATE AN AMBULANCE OUT OF THAT BUILDING, CONTINUE OPERATING AMBULANCE OUTTA THAT BUILDING.
UH, MEDICAL PARAMEDIC CALLS ARE BY FAR THE LARGEST VOLUME OF CALLS WE GET IN THE CITY, OVER 80% OF OUR ANNUAL CALLS.
SO HAVING, UH, MEDICAL, UH, APPARATUS UP THERE, AN AMBULANCE THAT GETS DISPATCHED REGULARLY OUTTA THAT LOCATION, WE FEEL IS A GOOD UTILIZATION AT THAT FACILITY.
SO WE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING IT, IT WILL FALL BACK TO THE CITY'S OPERATION.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A MEETING WITH CARE AMBULANCE, UH, MANAGEMENT STAFF AND SUPERVISION, AND IT'S A MODEL THAT THEY'RE VERY MUCH COMFORTABLE UTILIZING.
THEY UTILIZE IT IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE THEY HAVE AN AMBULANCE ON A STANDALONE BASIS THAT GETS DISPATCHED BY LA COUNTY FIRE TO MEET THE PARAMEDICS OR FIRE ENGINES THAT WHEREVER THE CALL IS.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER POTENTIAL USES FOR THAT SAFETY, OTHER, OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY USES OUTTA THAT LOCATION, UH, THAT WE WILL EVALUATE IN THE COMING MONTHS IF THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, AND I, I DON'T KNOW THE REASON FOR IT, BUT FOR YEARS, UM, WE'VE RUN, UH, THREE PERSON UNITS OUT OF STATIONS, UH, FOR FIRE, UH, OUT OF STATIONS, 1 91, 1 92, AND 1 93.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE HAS A FOUR PERSON, UH, DEPLOYMENT PLAN FOR STATION 1 94.
AND AS A COST SAVINGS MEASURE, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO REDUCE THAT TO A THREE PERSON, UM, UH, UNIT INSTEAD OF A FOUR.
AND, AND STAFF, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT.
IT WOULD MATCH WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR OTHER FIRE STATION LOCATIONS, AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE MAY IMPLEMENT QUICKLY.
IF THIS AMENDMENT'S APPROVED, THAT'S AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, AND THAT BASICALLY MODIFIES OUR EXISTING CONTRACT AMENDMENT.
NUMBER FOUR, THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE JULY 1ST, 2024 TO COINCIDE WITH OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR.
IT WILL BE A 10 YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.
UM, THE CITY, UH, IF APPROVED, WE'LL AGREE TO FUND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF FIRE RESOURCES COST AT STATION 1 91.
SO WE PICK UP 30% OF THOSE COSTS, UH, TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UH, WE WOULD CONTINUE FUNDING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF FIRE RESOURCES COSTS AT STATION 1 92.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THIS CONTRACT WAS ITS INCEPTION 20 YEARS AGO.
WE'VE ALWAYS PAID A HUNDRED PERCENT OF STATION 1 92, AND WE WOULD THEN AGREE, UM, TO PAY HALF OF THE COST OF STATION 1 94, UH, WHICH IS THE, UM, STATION THAT LA COUNTY HAS PAID FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, SINCE, UH, THE INCEPTION OF THIS CONTRACT.
UM, WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, STATION 1 92 CURRENTLY HAS A PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT ENGINE.
UM, AND IT HAS GOT PARAMEDIC SERVICES ON IT, BUT BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO ST.
JUDE HOSPITAL, THIS ENGINE COULD BE UPGRADED TO A FULL PARAMEDIC ENGINE.
AND THERE'S A MODEST COST TO THAT.
[00:30:01]
THE NATURE OF THE CALLS WE GO ON REGULARLY, UH, THAT ARE DISPATCHED, WE FELT THAT WAS A GOOD UPGRADE AND A COST WELL WORTH PAYING.SO WE NEGOTIATED WITH LA COUNTY FIRE TO UPGRADE THAT PARAMEDIC ASSESSMENT ENGINE TO A FULL PARAMEDIC ENGINE FOR BETTER SERVICE IN THAT AREA.
UM, TWO OTHER, UM, IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR 20 YEARS ALLOWS LA COUNTY FIRE TO CANCEL OUR CONTRACT ON ONE YEAR.
WRITTEN NOTICE IS NOT A, UH, UH, PROVISION WE'VE EVER REALLY BEEN TOO CONCERNED ABOUT UNTIL WE FOUND OUT THAT LA COUNTY FIRE WAS WILLING TO, TO TERMINATE US ON A ONE YEAR WRITTEN NOTICE THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT SHOCKING TO STAFF BECAUSE IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITY 12 MONTHS TO EVALUATE AND TRY TO SECURE EITHER A NEW SERVICE PROVIDER, WHICH WE HAVE A FEW OPTIONS TO POTENTIALLY, UH, LOOK INTO, OR TO STAND UP OUR OWN MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN.
AND IN LOOKING AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THAT, IT DIDN'T SEEM REASONABLE THAT ONE YEAR IS ENOUGH TIME TO DO AN ADEQUATE JOB IN PROVIDING EITHER OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO, LA COUNTY FIRE IN THIS AMENDMENT HAS AGREED TO CHANGE THEIR TERMINATION NOTICING TO TWO YEARS.
AND SO IF, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON IN THE FUTURE, LA COUNTY FIRE DECIDES THEY, THEY NO LONGER WANNA SERVICE THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND THEY WANNA TERMINATE OUR CONTRACT, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE US A TWO YEAR TERMINATION CLAUSE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE RIGHTS TO TERMINATE THIS CONTRACT AT ANY TIME WITH ONE YEAR WRITTEN NOTICE TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS AS MUCH AS LA COUNTY FIRE PROVIDES EXEMPLARY FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE CITY AND IS A PREMIER AGENCY, IT, THERE'S A REAL RISK THAT AT SOME POINT, IF THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE PAYING FOR, UH, FUTURE COST INCREASES FOR THIS CONTRACT, THE COUNCIL MAY BE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LOOK TO OTHER OPTIONS.
AND BY GIVING THE CITY THE ABILITY TO TERMINATE THIS CONTRACT ON A ONE YEAR NOTICE, GIVES THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF CONTROL OVER EVALUATING DIFFERENT OPTIONS, DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TERMINATION IS, IS NECESSARY, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO BRING IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FIRE, UH, OPTION TO THE CITY FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE FELT THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT, UH, PROVISION TO SECURE, UM, STAFFS NOT CONTEMPLATING HAVING TO DO THAT TODAY.
I THINK THE, THE RELATIONSHIP THE STAFF HAS HAD WITH LA COUNTY FIRE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS IN THE CITY, UH, HAS BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD.
UH, GREAT SERVICE PROVISION, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE AND FIRE SERVICES, GENERALLY, WHEN WE DO OUR SATISFACTION SURVEYS TO THE COMMUNITY, IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AS A, AS A CITY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, TO US TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A MODEL THAT WORKS.
THE NET RESULTS OF THESE TWO AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE WILL NOT HAVE ANY, UM, MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE CITY'S BUDGET THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, IT'LL REQUIRE SOME CHANGES IN OUR AGREEMENT AND IT WILL CHANGE SOME SERVICE LEVELS, BUT IT WON'T CHANGE OUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
HOWEVER, AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE CITY'S BUDGET STARTING JULY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.
UM, RIGHT NOW, BASED ON PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES, LOOKING AT, UH, WHAT THESE COSTS MIGHT BE, UM, I MENTIONED LAST YEAR OUR, OUR BUDGET WAS $10 MILLION FOR FIRE SERVICES.
THIS YEAR WE BUDGETED 11 MILLION.
AND THIS FISCAL YEAR, IF THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, WE EXPECT OUR, UH, FIRE SERVICE CONTRACT TO GO FROM 11 MILLION TO 14.3 MILLION.
UM, SO THAT'S ABOUT A $4.3 MILLION INCREASE INSIDE OF TWO YEARS.
UH, I CAN SAY THAT THAT'S FAR BEYOND OUR ABILITY FOR OUR EXISTING REVENUE BASE TO KEEP UP WITH AND WILL LIKELY REQUIRE CUTS IN OTHER OPERATING AREAS OF THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
SO, UM, IN JUST LOOKING BACK, UH, COMBINED FIRE AND AMBULANCE 'CAUSE AMBULANCE IS A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH CARE AMBULANCE.
UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 21, 22, OUR COMBINED BUDGETS FOR FIRE AND AMBULANCE WAS $11.4 MILLION ROUGHLY.
UM, OUR BUDGET FOR 2223 WAS ROUGHLY STILL ABOUT 11.4, 11.5 MILLION.
UH, 2324 BUDGET, WHICH WE'RE IN THIS YEAR, UH, WAS ABOUT 12.7 MILLION.
AND OUR BUDGET ESTIMATE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, STARTING JULY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR, IS GONNA BE $15.8 MILLION FOR BOTH AMBULANCE AND FIRE.
UM, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON, ON OUR BUDGET.
UM, TO PUT IT DIFFERENTLY, UM, OUR FISCAL YEAR, 2324 BUDGET WE'RE IN NOW, WE HAVE FOUR FIRE STATIONS.
OUR PERC FIRE STATION COSTS FOR FIRE RESOURCES ABOUT 2.8 MILLION AFTER THIS AMENDMENT IS APPROVED.
IF THIS AMENDMENT'S APPROVED, OUR FISCAL YEAR, 24 25 COSTS FOR THREE FIRE STATIONS, SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE REDUCING TO THREE, IS GONNA BE APPROXIMATELY 4.8 MILLION.
SO, UH, ALMOST $2 MILLION MORE PER FIRE STATION AND AVERAGE ANNUAL COST.
SO IT'S, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
UM, IN LOOKING AT, UH, FISCAL IMPACTS, UM, WE, LA COUNTY FIRE DID MENTION THAT IF STATION 1 93
[00:35:01]
IS CLOSED, UM, THERE ARE GRANTS AVAILABLE POTENTIALLY THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REOPEN A FIRE STATION.A COST OF A FIRE STATION IS ROUGHLY $4.4 MILLION.
AND IF THOSE GRANTS OPERATE THE WAY THAT SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE GRANTS OPERATE, UH, THE FED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO REOPEN A STATION FOR, FOR TWO YEARS.
I THINK IT'S TWO OR THREE YEARS, UH, AFTER WHICH THAT COST THEN SHIFTS BACK TO THE CITY.
SO UNLESS THERE IS SOME SORT OF NEW REVENUE STREAM OR ENHANCED REVENUE OR REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURES TO ACCOMMODATE THAT 4.4 OR MORE DOLLAR, MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR HIT, WHEN THAT GRANT EXPIRES, THAT COST WILL ALL COME BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T SEE THE REVENUE BASE BEING ABLE TO, TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AS A FIRE RESOURCES, BUT DEFINITELY WE CAN OPERATE THAT FACILITY FOR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY USES IN THE TIME BEING.
UH, THAT ENDS MY REPORT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE, UH, REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS OR THE TWO CONTRACT AMENDMENTS.
UH, STEVE, I'LL LET YOU OPEN UP FIRST WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
LOOK ONE, UH, JIM, YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT, UH, THE, THE OPTION SPELLED OUT IS THAT, UH, WE CREATE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I PRESUME THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADOPT THESE AMENDMENTS.
SO THAT MEANS, AT LEAST THAT TELLS ME YOU'VE DONE THE COLD HARD MATH.
AND OUT OF ALL THE OPTIONS, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE CITY AT THIS TIME.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WERE CONSIDERED, HOWEVER, BRIEFLY BY STAFF BEFORE NOW? SO REALISTICALLY, THERE ARE ONLY THREE OPTIONS FOR, FOR THE CITY.
SO OPTION NUMBER ONE IS TO RENEW WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, WHICH IS WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AT THIS TIME, IS TO RE TO ADOPT THOSE, APPROVE THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS.
OPTION NUMBER TWO WOULD BE TO TRY TO CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER FIRE SERVICE AGENCY, WHETHER THAT BE A MUNICIPALITY LIKE A CITY OF FULLERTON OR A CITY OF BREA WHO RUN THEIR OWN POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, I SHOULD SAY, OR ORANGE COUNTY FIRE, UH, IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY TO EVALUATE.
BUT THERE'S A EXTENSIVE PROCESS INVOLVED WITH EVALUATING.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE WILLING PARTNERS THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON A CITY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DO AN EVALUATION, WHICH IS PRETTY IN DEPTH TO SEE WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE, BOTH TRANSITION COSTS AND OPERATING COSTS.
THEN THE THIRD OPTION IS THEN TO STAND UP YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT IS NOT CONTRACT WITH ANYONE, GO OUT AND HIRE STAFF, EITHER, UH, EXISTING STAFF FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OR MORE LIKELY TO PUT RECRUITMENT CLASSES THROUGH A FIRE ACADEMY AND HAVE NEW STAFF START, UM, NEW.
AND IT'D PROBABLY BE A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
UM, I AM, I'VE NEVER STOOD UP A, A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I, I THINK STAFF WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY CAPABLE OF, UH, COMING UP WITH A GAME PLAN TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE IF IT, IF IT CAME TO THAT.
UM, AT THIS POINT, BASED ON OUR EVALUATION AND WHAT THE AVERAGE FIRE COSTS PER STATION ARE AT OTHER CITIES AND JURISDICTIONS IN ORANGE COUNTY, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT EITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS NECESSARILY WOULD BE ANY MUCH DIFFERENCE IN COST TO US THAN WHAT LA COUNTY FIRE IS OFFERING.
IN FACT, IN SOME CASES IT COULD BE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH LA COUNTY FIRE TODAY, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT PICTURE, BUT WE CAN'T TELL WHAT THAT WOULD BE THEN.
ROSE CITIES THAT ARE TYPICALLY OUR SIZE POPULATION, UM, AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA, DO THEY HAVE, UH, FOUR FIRE STATIONS LIKE WE DO? YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER.
I DON'T KNOW IF LA COUNTY FIRE PERSONNEL HAVE INFORMATION LIKE THAT OR, UM, DO WE, DID WE SEE ANY DATA? WE CAN FIND THAT DATA OUT FOR YOU.
NOT AS MUCH ON SIZE, BUT ON GEOGRAPHY AND, AND, UH, RESPONSE TIMES.
SO YOU MAY HAVE A CITY THAT HAS FAR FEWER PEOPLE BUT IS SPREAD OUT THAT MAY REQUIRE BETTER COVERAGE TO GET QUICKER RESPONSE TIMES.
ONE BENEFIT AND ADVANTAGE FOR LAHABRA IS WE'RE SEVEN SQUARE MILES AND PRETTY COMPACT.
SO FIRE STATIONS DISTANCES FROM EACH OTHER ARE NOT VERY FAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? JIM? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
SO WHAT WOULD THIS CHANGE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'LL DO TO RESPONSE TIMES? SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, SO OBVIOUSLY THE RESPONSE TIMES THAT WOULD BE THE MOST CONCERNING WOULD BE IN THE AREA THAT STATION 1 93 IS CURRENTLY SERVING.
AND WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, THEY PROVIDED US WITH SOME, UM, RESPONSE TIME REPORTS THAT SHOWED THAT THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BE LONGER RESPONSE TIMES, BUT STILL WITHIN WHAT THEY FELT WERE THEIR THRESHOLDS FOR RESPONSE IN THAT AREA.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS STATION 1 94 IS NOT VERY FAR FROM WHERE STATION 1 93 IS AND NEITHER IS STATION 1 92 ON HARBOR.
SO THEY FELT THAT THOSE COVERAGES WOULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT, UH, RESPONSE TIMES IN THAT AREA.
UM, HAD WE DECIDED TO CLOSE 1 94, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN A D DEAL KILLER FROM LA COUNTY FIRE? ABSOLUTELY.
THEY SAID IF WE WERE TO PROPOSE SHUTTING DOWN 1 94, THEY WOULD NOT RENEW OUR CONTRACT.
SO WE THOROUGHLY OBSERVE OR, OR, OR WENT THROUGH EVERY OPTION POSSIBLE.
[00:40:01]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME I WILL INVITE THE PUBLIC TO TESTIFY.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY? STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
HI, MICHELLE BEIER, UM, RESIDENT OF LAW HARBOR.
SO I HAVE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS FOR CLARITY IS ALL.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, UM, FOR THE AMBULANCE, THE AMBULANCE, WE HAVE HOW MANY IN THE CITY? WE HAVE TWO AMBULANCES THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT CARE OP, UH, CARE AMBULANCE OPERATE FOR US.
SO THAT MONEY FROM THOSE AMBULANCE GOES WHERE THE COST FOR THOSE AMBULANCES COME OUT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.
ANY REVENUES THAT ARE GENERATED ARE USED TO OFFSET THAT COST.
AND THE, THE MONEY THAT WE MAKE FROM THE AMBULANCE GOES INTO WHAT? THE GENERAL FUND.
BECAUSE THE AMBULANCE IS A GENERAL FUND EXPENSE.
AND THEN, UM, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR COST FOR THE CITY? LIKE, WHAT IS OUR PERCENTAGE AT HOLD THAT WE PAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? I CAN'T REMEMBER.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S, LEMME SEE IF I CAN HAVE THAT.
SO, UH, FIRE, SO RIGHT NOW, FIRE AND AMBULANCE COMBINED, I DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THEM.
MAKES UP 26% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
SO JUST GONNA ASK YOU FOR POLICE.
AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND HELPS FUND BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, RIGHT? EVERYTHING GENERALLY IN, IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT, THE MONEY GOES FROM THE TWO AMBULANCE GOES IN THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THAT'S, IT GOES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEN, UM, LAST QUESTION IS YOU, I UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAD TAUGHT THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ORANGE COUNTY AND DO ANOTHER, DID YOU TALK TO ORANGE COUNTY AT ALL TO RUN SOME GENERAL NUMBERS OR NO, NO CONVERSATION AT ALL? YEAH, WE, WE DID NOT BECAUSE OF THE TIMEFRAME WE WERE UNDER, UM, WITH THE, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT THEY WANTED TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WANTED TO RENEW OR NOT.
WE WERE UNDER, BASICALLY, I DON'T WANNA USE THE WORD THREAT, BUT WE WERE UNDER THE POSITION OF LA COUNTY FIRE WILLING TO CON TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
AND THEN HOW, HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN? A FEW MONTHS.
COUPLE MONTHS SINCE WE'VE TALKED, BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE WHAT, JUNE, BUT WAS IT BEFORE? WE STARTED DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM IN DECEMBER, WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO, UH, POTENTIALLY TERMINATE THE CITY'S AGREEMENT EARLY, PROBABLY IN SPRING.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE CAME TO COUNCIL IN JUNE AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, UH, HAVE YOU LOOKED EXACTLY AT THE FULLERTON AND BREA PROGRAMS? AND THEN, UM, ON, ON THAT NOTE, HAVE YOU, UM, SEARCHED THE PLACENTA FIRE DEPARTMENT? HAVE YOU GUYS LOOKED AT ANY OF THAT? RIGHT.
WE, WE HAVE, UM, LOOKED AT THE BREA AND FULLERTON OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR A FORMAL PROPOSAL FROM EITHER.
UM, WE DID LOOK AT WHAT THEIR AVERAGE COST PER STATION WAS TO SEE HOW IT WOULD BE COMPARABLE.
UM, AND IT WAS PRETTY EVIDENT THAT THEIR COST PER STATION IN BREA, FOR INSTANCE, WOULD BE AT OR AROUND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
SO, UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS THE PLACENTAL MODEL, I'M A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH THE PLACENTAL MODEL.
UH, THEY OPERATE ON THEIR A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MODEL BECAUSE IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, AND DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE, THEY HAVE A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN.
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF MODEL.
SO, UM, WE DON'T HAVE OPTIONS TO THAT MODEL BECAUSE WE USED TO BE IN CALPERS OF, LET'S SAY THE CITY WERE TO REESTABLISH ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S, AND YOUR YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED WHILE WELL OVER A MINUTE NOW.
NO, YOU ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO TESTIFY? HI THERE.
UH, JEFF BARNIER, UH, 2 4 1 WEST PAT WOOD, UH, IN LA.
UM, SO ON THE SUBJECT, I FIRST OF ALL DON'T ENVY WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO GO THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE I, I WAS THERE IN, I WAS THERE WITH THE LA HABER FIRE DEPARTMENT LATE NINETIES, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS WHEN ALL THIS WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
AND IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO KIND OF BREAK IT ALL DOWN AND UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO.
UM, I REMEMBER AS WE WERE, AS SHE WAS JUST DISCUSSING, UM, OPTIONS WERE ON THE TABLE.
WERE ORANGE COUNTY, LA COUNTY, TRI-CITIES, BREA AND FULLERTON, AND, UM, THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS WE HAD.
NOW I KNOW THAT LA COUNTY PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT SERVICE.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A STELLAR DEPARTMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT I THINK ALSO WITH A STELLAR DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE, IT'S
[00:45:01]
GONNA COST US IN THE LONG RUN.AND SO WHILE THE COST IS GONNA GO UP, YOU KNOW, A A BIT AT THE BEGINNING, THE CONCERN IS DOWN THE ROAD, HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST US? IS IT GONNA DIVEST US AT SOME POINT? UM, I THINK THE OTHER OPTIONS, WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE AGREE TO THIS NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY AN OPTION OF, YOU KNOW, CREATING OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OR MOVING TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE COULD AT LEAST START DISCUSSIONS OR TALK WITH PEOPLE TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME OPTIONS.
PLACENTIA UH, PLACENTIA ITSELF, UH, IS SOMETHING I ACTUALLY WAS LOOKING INTO RECENTLY.
THEY DID START THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT.
THEY LEFT ORANGE COUNTY BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH.
UM, THEY ARE A TWO DEPARTMENT STATION, WHICH WE WERE AT ONE POINT AS WELL, TWO DEPARTMENT STATION.
AND THE PENSION IS THE BIG KICKER FOR THEM.
THAT DEFINITELY HELPS THEM OUT.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO UTILIZING THE AMBULANCE IN A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT FASHION.
AND THEY'RE USING SQUADS INSTEAD OF FULL TRUCKS RESPONDING TO ENGINE, UH, TO MEDICAL AID CALLS.
THEY'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS THEY'RE DOING THAT ARE UNIQUE.
AND THIS IS JUST QUICK RESEARCH LOOKING INTO STUFF.
I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW ALL OF IT, BUT I JUST THINK THE COST WHILE WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING FOR WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR, I BELIEVE THEY PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE TO US, BUT I'M CONCERNED WITH THE OVERALL COST IN THE FUTURE, AND I THINK THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE.
CAN WE DO SOMETHING ELSE? THANK YOU, JEFF.
AND, AND WE DO SHARE, SHARE YOUR SAME SENTIMENTS AS YOU ARTICULATED THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO TESTIFY? AND I'LL JUST RECOGNIZE LARRY ROMAINE, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THIS CONTRACT, MANY FIREFIGHTER WITH US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, LARRY.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY, I WILL CLOSE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME AND JUST, UH, TO TAKE US BACK 20 YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING AT ALL THE OPTIONS, UM, ORANGE COUNTY WASN'T EVEN INTERESTED IN PRESENTING US WITH A CONTRACT OR A PROPOSAL.
20 YEARS AGO, NOT UNTIL THE 11TH HOUR, UH, AFTER LA COUNTY CAME UP TO BAT AND PRO PROVIDED US WITH A PROPOSAL, IT WAS AT THE 11TH HOUR, VERY LATE IN THE NEGOTIATION PERIOD, DID THEY PROVIDE, UH, AN OFFER TO US.
AND IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN, UH, THAN WHAT LA COUNTY HAS PROVIDED.
UM, WITH THAT, I WILL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I, UH, MY, MYSELF AND ROSE AND STEVE SIMONIAN WERE, I'M PART OF THE INITIAL, UH, GROUP THAT NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT, AND IT WAS A VERY LUCRATIVE DEAL FOR LAHABRA.
SO CLEARLY WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, AT THE POINT NOW WHERE THE HONEYMOON'S OVER, I GUESS, AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T REALLY MUCH OF A NEGOTIATIONS, IT WAS PRETTY CUT AND DRY.
AND FOR THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED.
I WOULD, UM, WISH THAT THEY'D HAVE A LITTLE MORE OPEN MIND BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR CALLS THAT COME OUT OF 1 94 AND 1 93 DO GO OUT OF THE AREA AND JUST WISH THAT THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE MORE OPEN-MINDED, UH, FOR THAT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE SUBSIDY FOR THAT.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL OPEN UP FOR ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I, UH, I WAS NOT THERE FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF FEEL, UH, I FEEL KIND OF HEARTBROKEN TOO.
I, I FEEL LIKE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP WAS SO, UH, MEANINGFUL ALL THESE PAST 18 YEARS.
AND I, AND I, BECAUSE WE VALUED THEM AND I FELT THEY VALUED US BECAUSE OF ALL THESE, UH, ENGINES THAT WOULD GO OUTTA THE LA HABRA AREA AND SERVICE LATA AND INCORPORATED LA COUNTY AND ALL THAT.
AND, UM, IT WAS VERY SYMBIOTIC.
IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL TO BOTH PARTIES.
AND I, I DO GET THE FEELING EMOTIONALLY, THEY JUST DON'T VALUE THAT LIKE THEY DID.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS KICKER OF THE EXTRA 4 MILLION, $5 MILLION THIS HIT TO OUR BUDGET, WHICH IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE.
I UNDERSTAND LA COUNTY FIRE IS THE PREEMINENT PREMIER FIRE SERVICE AGENCY PROBABLY IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY WORTH EVERY SINGLE THING THEY'RE GONNA BE CHARGING US.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE BRASS TACKS OF HOW THIS IS GONNA AFFECT THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S GONNA BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL.
IT'S GONNA BE DESTRUCTIVE, UH, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, THE CARING COMMUNITY, HAVING THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS AND DOING SO MUCH, BUT THIS IS GONNA BE A HIT THAT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT TO COME BACK FROM AS IF OUR TOP PRIORITY, OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS POLICE AND FIRE.
BUT THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SOME CONCESSIONS AND SOME READJUSTMENTS MADE AS A RESULT OF THIS.
SO ANYWAY, THAT, THAT'S MY COMMENT.
AND I SAID MY, MY, MY TRUST IN NELLY COUNTY FIRE HAS NEVER GONE INTO QUESTION.
THEY ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST.
THE CADILLAC OF FIRE SERVICES OUT THERE SINCE THE FIRST WEEK WHEN WE DID THIS CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO, WE HAD A APARTMENT FIRE ON THE EAST PART OF TOWN.
AND TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES GOING OUT THERE, UH, IT'S HARD TO GO TO ANOTHER AGENCY ONCE YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE BEST ROSE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO, NO, NO.
UH, I, AND I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT, UH, AS MY COLLEAGUES, UH, IN, UH, IN WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
UH, AS FAR AS OUR, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR OUR FIRE
[00:50:01]
SERVICES, UH, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.UH, WHEN YOU'RE, UH, WHEN YOU'RE LOSING A, UH, A FIRE STATION UP TOP AND, UH, PERSONNEL TO GO WITH IT, THAT IS TOUGH.
UH, I TRY TO LOOK AT THE SILVER LINING IN THIS, IF THERE'S ANY AT ALL THAT I'M HOPING THAT YES, THAT ONE DAY WE CAN GET THAT FIRE STATION BACK.
IF THERE IS A WAY, UH, FOR, UH, FOR A GRANT OF SOME SORT, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WOULD COME BACK FOR NOT JUST TWO YEARS, BUT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS, UH, MORE, UH, MORE PALATABLE FOR THE CITY, UH, UH, FISCALLY, UH, REALLY IS, IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
UH, AND I'LL TELL YOU, UH, HAVING BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 27 YEARS AND STILL SERVING, UH, IN LA COUNTY MYSELF, UH, I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE THAT, UH, THAT LA COUNTY FIRE HAS BEEN AND HAS RESPONDED, UH, TO, AND, UH, HAVING WORKED OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY BY WAY OF MY PROFESSION THROUGHOUT MY 27 YEARS PLUS, I'VE SEEN WHAT'S OUT THERE BY FAR, LA COUNTY PROVIDES THE BEST FIRE SERVICE THERE IS.
I MEAN, THEY ARE, UH, IF PROBABLY THE, UH, THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, UH, THAT, THAT THERE IS.
UH, AND THAT DOES GO A LONG WAY.
MY, UH, MY, MY TREPIDATION, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, IS THAT, UH, THAT, YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS, UH, THE STATE OF WHERE WE ARE.
COSTS ARE GOING UP EVERYWHERE.
AND THIS IS, UH, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF LA HABRA HAS, UH, HAS FUMBLED IN ANY WAY.
UH, THESE ARE JUST, THIS IS COST DRIVEN AND THIS IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS NEED TO NEED TO LISTEN TO AND NEED TO HEAR.
UH, THAT, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOTHING YOUR CITY COUNCIL OR YOUR CITY STAFF HAS DONE.
THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE, WITH THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX YEARLY RIGHT NOW.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, UH, REVENUES ARE WHAT THEY ARE HERE WITH THE CITY.
SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW.
I HOPE WE CAN, UH, REOPEN 1 93 AT SOME POINT.
I AM CERTAINLY VERY OPEN TO THAT, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WE DO GET THAT, UH, BACK UP AND RUNNING AT SOME POINT.
THE SILVER LINING AGAIN, IS THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, WE HAVE A PLAN TO HAVE, UH, AMBULANCES RUN OUT OF THERE FOR, UH, FOR MEDICAL CALLS.
UH, I WILL SAY THIS AS WELL, AND, AND MAYBE OUR, OUR LA COUNTY FIRE CAN, UH, CAN ATTEST TO THIS, THAT, UH, IF, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY INCIDENTS, UH, OF, UH, OF WILDFIRES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT, UH, THAT TOUCH UP ON OUR HILLS, WHETHER IT BE THE NORTH OR THE SOUTH, UH, PAST PRACTICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, THEY'VE ALWAYS RESPONDED WITH, UH, WITH ALL OF THEIR APPARATUS.
AND THAT THEY HAVE, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, WHAT WE CALL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOME OF THE, UH, SOME OF THE TOYS, UH, AIRPLANES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, WATER DROPPING PLANES, HELICOPTERS, UH, TO TACKLE THOSE THINGS.
AND I AM, UH, IN, AGAIN, REESTABLISHING, UH, THE, UH, THE CONNECTION HERE WITH LA FIRE IS THAT NONE OF THAT WILL BE LOST, UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND, UH, THAT, UH, THAT IS WHAT, UH, WHAT THE SILVER LINING IS FOR ME.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, SIR? I DO.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE, UH, TWO PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT, UH, OFFERED TESTIMONY.
UH, THIS WAS A SURPRISE, UH, TO MANY, BUT NOT, NOT TO ME SO MUCH IN THAT WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SAT DOWN TO CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, MAYOR GOMEZ'S, RIGHT? ORANGE COUNTY FIRE WAS NOT INTERESTED, UH, IN EVEN GIVING US A, A BID.
AND THAT WAS BECAUSE AS THEY EXPLAINED TO US, THEY HAD NO, UM, CITY THAT WAS CONTIGUOUS TO LAHABRA.
SO IN ORDER TO SERVICE LAHABRA, WE WOULD BE AN ISLAND, AND THEY'D HAVE TO JUMP OVER CITIES TO GET TO US, WHICH MADE THEIR RESPONSE TIMES, UH, UNMANAGEABLE SO THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED AND TO DO A SERIOUS BID.
UH, ALL CITIES, ALL FIRE, UH, DEPARTMENTS, UH, WANT A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY UP FRONT TO PAY FOR THE STUDY OF BIDDING ON THAT CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T RUSH OUT TO, UH, BREA OR FULLERTON OR PLACENTIA OR ANYBODY ELSE, BECAUSE IT DOES COST MONEY TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT BID WOULD BE.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WAS FIND OUT THAT THE COSTS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.
AND WHAT WE HAD JUST DONE WAS, UH, PULLED OFF 20 YEARS OF ONE HELL OF A BARGAIN.
AND, UH, BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, LA COUNTY, FIRES NOT RUN LIKE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
UH, THEY DON'T TAKE THEIR REVENUE AND KEEP THEM.
IT'S ALL GENERAL FUND MONEY AS WELL.
UH, THEY'RE FUNDED DIFFERENTLY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SOME CITIES PAY DIRECTLY THROUGH TAXES, UH, OTHERS DON'T.
[00:55:01]
IT'S DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEIR, THEIR BIDS FOR CONTRACT CITIES ARE SUBSIDIZING THOSE CITIES, OR IF THEY'RE MAKING MONEY OFF THOSE CITIES.BUT THEY DID A FAIRLY EXHAUSTING STUDY THIS LAST COUPLE YEARS AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE SUBSIDIZING MOST OF THE CONTRACT CITIES, THE HABER BEING ONE OF THOSE.
AND THIS IS A RESULT OF THAT STUDY AND THOSE FINDINGS, UH, HAVING BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF LA COUNTY FIRE IN MY HOME, UH, WITH MY, UH, DEATH OF MY LATE WIFE AND, UM, MY OWN STRUGGLES WITH HEALTH.
UH, I HAVE HAD THEM IN MY HOME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, I'M WILLING TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO KEEP THAT TYPE OF SERVICE THAT ONLY THEY PROVIDE.
THEY ARE THE TOP QUALITY PREMIER FIRE SERVICE IN THE NATION.
ON THE, THE, UH, NEWS, UH, PALMDALE LOST A ABOUT 150 FOOT OF RETAINING WALL ALONG THE, UH, FREEWAY AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS, AND A BIG BERM OF DIRT.
AND WHAT IT RESULTED IN WAS THE FLOODING OF AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING, UH, THE, UM, MUDSLIDE THAT WENT INTO HOMES AND KNOCKED OUT WINDOWS AND WENT INTO HOMES.
30 LA COUNTY FIREMEN SHOWED UP AND ARE HELPING TO SHOVEL THIS MUD OUT OF GARAGES AND HOUSES.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THINGS THAT THEY DO ROUTINELY.
UH, I DON'T WANT, UH, AS A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A SECOND OR THIRD RATE SERVICE.
I'M JUST PLEASED AS PUNCH THAT LA COUNTY FIRE AGREED 20 YEARS AGO TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE AT PRESENT.
THE SERVICE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WE'RE GONNA LOSE MEASURE T IN, UH, 2025, AND WE'VE GOT AT LEAST A RENEW MEASURE T AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE IT, UH, BY VOTING FOR, UH, SOME MORE SALES TAX.
AND, UH, THAT DOESN'T KILL US, UH, IN TERMS OF THE PENNIES THAT WE PAY AT THE COUNTER.
BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS ALLOW US TO PAY FOR THE FIRE SERVICE AND THE RESPONSE TIME AND THE QUALITY RESPONSE THAT EVERY LAHABRA FAMILY SO MUCH DESERVES.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED WITH THIS THING, IS I WANT TO, I WANT TO PAY FOR THE TOP QUALITY SERVICE.
AND IF IT TAKES, UH, VOTING A FEW MORE PENNIES DOWN THE ROAD, I'M WILLING TO DO THAT.
'CAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT, SOME OTHER STATE OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL COME IN HERE, LIKE THE AIR QUALITY CONTROL DISTRICT AND ENACT THAT SALES TAX RAISE AND IT'LL BE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN STAYING IN LA HABRA.
SO I AM, UM, GRATEFUL THAT THEY'RE THERE.
THE LA COUNTY FIRE, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE FOR A WHILE LONGER.
AND I CHALLENGE EVERY ONE OF MY, UH, NEIGHBORS IN LAHABRA TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SERVICE THEY WANT FOR THEIR FAMILY, THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR WIVES, THEIR DAUGHTERS.
AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY, I KNOW THAT YOUR, UM, YOU ARE THE KIND OF FOLKS THAT DESERVE THE BEST QUALITY, SO WHY DON'T WE TRY TO PAY FOR THE BEST QUALITY? AND THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
UH, FOR A GUY UNDER THE WEATHER, YOU CERTAINLY EXPRESSED YOUR COMMENTS VERY ELOQUENTLY.
UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE TO BE SAID.
IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT THAT'S BEEN SAID, I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS NUMBER THREE AND NUMBER FOUR TO THE FIRE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MOTION BY DARREN ERIAN, MAYOR PROAM, DARREN ERIAN.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE MEDRANO.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? YES.
WE NOW GO TO THE SECOND CONSIDERATION ITEM YES.
[2. CONSIDER RESOLUTION TO APPROVE FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES - AGREEMENT NUMBER 46000XXXXX, AND APPROVE A SUB-GRANTEE AGREEMENT WITH THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE COYOTE CREEK AND IMPERIAL CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT That the City Council: A. Approve and adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Funding Agreement Number 46000xxxxx between the City of La Habra, as grantee, and the California Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) to receive $8.5 million in state funding to repair the damaged private underground storm channel located at the Coyote Village Homeowners Association; and, B. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between the City of La Habra and the Coyote Village Homeowners Association, as sub-grantee, that authorizes the City to apply State grant funding to pay for authorized contractors, selected by the HOA, to design, construct and oversee repairs to the damaged private underground storm channel owned by the HOA.]
IS TITLED, CONSIDER RESOLUTION TO APPROVE FUNDING[01:00:01]
AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AGREEMENT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 X X X X X.AND APPROVE A SUB-GRANTEE AGREEMENT WITH THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE COYOTE CREEK AND IMPERIAL CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY ENGINEER.
TONIGHT, STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT CITY COUNCIL APPRO APPRO AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA HABRA AS GRANTEE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES TO RECEIVE EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION IN STATE FUNDING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED PRIVATE UNDERGROUND STORM CHANNEL.
LOCATED AT 9 0 1 THROUGH 9 9 7 WEST IMPERIAL HIGHWAY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
AND ALSO A PROVEN AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA HABO AND THE COYOTE HOME COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AS SUBGRANTEE THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO, UH, TO APPLY STATE GRANT FUNDING TO PAY FOR AUTHORIZED CONTRACTORS SELECTED BY THE H O A TO DESIGN CONSTRUCT AND OVERSEE REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED PRIVATE UNDERGROUND STORM CHANNEL OWNED BY THE H O A, THE COYOTE VILLAGE CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT WAS BUILT IN 1979, AND IT INCLUDED A PRIVATE COVER STORM CHANNEL THAT RUNS THROUGH THE COMMON AREAS OF THE PROPERTY.
SIGNIF SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE CONCRETE ROOF OF THIS UNDERGROUND STORM CHANNEL HAD FAILED TWICE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED IN JANUARY 23RD, 2019, AND THE SECOND ONE ON MARCH 15TH, 2023.
AFTER THE FIRST COLLAPSE, THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION REPS INDICATED TO THE CITY THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY MONETARY RESOURCES TO CLEAR THE DEBRIS AND STA STABILIZE THE CHANNEL.
THEREFORE, THEY REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY OF ORANGE IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGE CHANNEL.
DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS IN HEAVY STORM ACTIVITY THAT WAS OCCURRING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST COLLAPSE.
THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HIRED A CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM EMERGENCY DEBRIS REMOVAL AND BRACING TO THE CHANNEL WALLS TO KEEP IT FROM FURTHER COLLAPSING AND ALLOWING STORM WATER TO FLOW THROUGH THE CHANNEL.
WHEN THE SECOND CHANNEL ROOF FAILURE OCCURRED, CITY STAFF AND EMERGENCY PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPONDED TO THE LOCATION AT THE REQUEST AT THE H O A.
THE H O A H O A, AGAIN, REQUESTED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY TO CLEAR, CLEAR AWAY THE DEBRIS, TO PREVENT FLOODING AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE SURROUND SURROUNDING COMMON AREAS AND NEARBY CONDOMINIUMS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TO OF THE PUBLIC.
AND WITH THE RAIN CONSENT OF THE H O A, THE CITY HIRED A CONTRACTOR WHO IMMEDIATELY CLEARED THE CHANNEL SO THAT THE STORM WATER COULD FLOW FREELY.
CONTRACTOR ALSO MADE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO HELP STABILIZE THE CHANNEL AND REDUCE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE COLLAPSES.
THE COST OF THE CITY FOR THIS EMERGENCY WORK WAS APPROXIMATELY $375,686.
SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST COLLAPSE, CITY STAFF BEGAN EFFORTS TO HELP THE H O A SECURE EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS SO THAT THEY COULD MAKE PERMANENT REPAIRS TO THEIR DAMAGED CHANNEL.
CITY STAFF REACHED OUT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LOCAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, KNOWN AS FEMA, CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THE COUNTY OF ORANGE FOR ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE.
ADDITIONALLY, STAFF ENGAGED WITH STATE AND LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND THE HO A'S EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THEIR REPAIRS.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2019, CITY STAFF GUIDED FE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON A TOUR OF A DAMAGED FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL AT THE COYOTE VILLAGE PROPERTY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO HAVE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SEE AND ASSESS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE CHANNEL, PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE CHANNEL, AND PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES.
THE GOAL OF THESE MEETINGS WAS TO HELP SECURE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFY IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL FUNDING RESOURCES THAT COULD BE USED TO HELP THE H O A FUND PERMANENTLY, UH, TO FUND PERMITTED REPAIRS TO THE CHANNEL.
IN MARCH, 2020, STATE LE STATE SENATOR LINGLING CHANG SENT A BUDGET REQUEST LETTER TO THE SENATE BUDGET FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REQUESTING CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSAL TO APPROPRIATE 4.5 MILLION FROM THE STATE GENERAL FUND IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET TO, FOR REPAIRS TO THE CHANNEL.
HOWEVER, THIS REQUEST WAS NOT APPROVED AT THE TIME.
SOON AFTER BEING ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE SEAT, SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN TOURED THE SITE AND WITH SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY, HE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED STATE BUDGET APPROVAL OF EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION FOR THE COYOTE CREEK AND IMPERIAL CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
IN JUNE OF 2022, THE CITY WAS CONTACTED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN JANUARY, 2023, WHO ADVISED
[01:05:01]
THAT THE STATE FUNDING HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR THE PROJECT.AND THE D W R REPRESENTATIVES WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND TO DRAFT THE NECESSARY FUNDING AGREEMENTS IF APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES WILL ALLOCATE STATE GRANT FUNDS TO THE CITY ACTING AS THE GRANTEE FOR THIS PROJECT.
SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CITY WILL THEN ENTER INTO A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THE H O A ACTING AS THE SUB-GRANTEE, SO THEY CAN RETAIN A QUALIFIED ENGINEERING FIRM AND CONTRACTOR OR DESIGN BUILD FIRM, ALONG WITH A SEPARATE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT WHO COLLECTIVELY WILL BE QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE OF DESIGNING AND CONS AND CONSTRUCTING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE SUB-GRANTEE AGREEMENT WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE H O A TO IDENTIFY THE CITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE STORM DRAIN, AND WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO BE REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE FUNDING FOR THE COST THE CITY INCURRED TO MAKE THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS EARLIER THIS YEAR.
ALTHOUGH THIS PROJECT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE H O A TO UNDERTAKE, THE CITY WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THAT THE WORK IS BEING DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN SPECIFICATIONS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AND WILL ASSIST THE H O A WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO HELP THE H O A SELECT QUALIFIED CAPABLE FIRMS FOR UNDERTAKING A PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE.
IN THIS MAGNITUDE, THE CITY WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE TO DIS DISTRIBUTE GRANT FUNDS TO THE FIRMS RETAINED BY THE H O A FOR WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND APPROVE.
THE CITY IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE SEVERAL, UH, SEVERAL NAMED DEFENDANTS IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY THE H O A, STEMMING FROM THE FIRST CHANNEL FAILURE IN 2019.
LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A POTENTIAL TOLLING AGREEMENT AND DISMISSAL OF THE CITY IN THAT LAWSUIT, IF APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, THE PROJECT WILL BE FUNDING USING STATE GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION.
THE CITY HAS INCURRED APPROXIMATELY $375,686 FOR THE HIRING OF A CONTRACTOR FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE SOIL AND OTHER MATERIAL, ALONG WITH NUISANCE ABATEMENT, COSTS, FEES, AND LEGAL FEES, REMEDIATION, INC.
SITE STABILIZATION EFFORTS THAT WERE UNDERTAKEN AS A RESEARCH, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE DRAINAGE CHANNEL ROOF THAT OCCURRED ON OR ABOUT MARCH 15TH, 2023.
THE CITY HAS INCURRED THESE CALLS AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE APPROVED STATE GRANT FUNDING.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES? ANYBODY? ANYBODY? OKAY.
I'LL NOW OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO TESTIFY.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY? OKAY.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
STEVE, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I APOLOGIZE.
UH, MAY I MAKE A MOTION? UH, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AND ADOPT THE RES, EXCUSE ME, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE FUNDING AGREEMENT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 X X X X BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAHABRA AS GRANTEE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES D W R TO RECEIVE EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION IN STATE FUNDING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE PRIVATE UNDERGROUND.
YOU KNOW WHAT, MR. MAYOR? ACTUALLY I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.
UH, AND I KNOW IT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, GAVE, UH, UH, PROPERLY GAVE, UH, UH, PROPS YEAH.
TO SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN, UH, FOR, UH, FOR BEING ABLE TO, UH, TO FURNISH THE GRANTING OF THIS MONEY.
UH, AND, UH, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, HE, UH, HE SOUGHT AND HE UNDERSTANDS, UH, HE UNDERSTANDS PUBLIC SERVICE FOR ONE.
UH, BUT, UH, HE, UH, HE WENT BEYOND AND, UH, MADE SURE THAT, UH, THAT THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION HERE WAS ABLE TO BE LOOKED AFTER, ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT A CITY ISSUE, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS MADE CLEAR BEFORE HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US.
AND, UH, I, I WOULD, I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
THANK YOU KNOW, I WILL MAKE THAT, UH, THAT MOTION AS WELL BEFORE WE GO FURTHER.
UH, IF I CAN FINISH, UH, AS THE GRANTEE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT, COULD YOU READ IT OVER? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, MAKE THE MOTION THAT THE, UM, CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE FUNDING AGREEMENT NUMBER 4 6 0 0 0 X X X X BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA HABRA AS GRANTEE AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES D W R TO RECEIVE EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION IN STATE FUNDING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED PRIVATE UNDERGROUND STORM CHANNEL, LOCATED AT THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION.
AND, UH, TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA HABER AND THE COYOTE VILLAGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AS SUB-GRANTEE THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO APPLY STATE GRANT FUNDING TO PAY FOR AUTHORIZED CONTRACTORS SELECTED BY THE H O A TO DESIGN
[01:10:01]
CONSTRUCT AND OVERSEE REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED PRIVATE UNDERGROUND STORM CHANNEL OWNED BY THE H O A.DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THE ITEM PASSES THE UNANIMOUSLY FIVE ZERO.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN.
[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]
THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR, AND I HAVE LOST MY SCRIPT, SO I HOPE IT COMES UP ON HERE.KIDS NIGHT OUT WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 25TH AT LAHABRA COMMUNITY CENTER FROM SIX TO 10:00 PM PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
IT'S ONLY $20 A PERSON, AND THAT, AGAIN, WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST THE 25TH.
JOIN US FOR MOVIES IN THE PARK MINIONS, THE RISE OF THE GURU.
UH, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US AT, UH, THAT EVENT ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH.
BRING YOUR, BRING YOUR BLANKET AND, UH, ENJOY A GREAT MOVIE.
NEXT ITEM THERE, GIVE BACK, UH, TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND BE PART OF THE LOVE LAHABRA ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, A DAY OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE WHERE EACH OF US CAN DEMONSTRATE HOW AND WHY LAHABRA IS KNOWN AS A CARING COMMUNITY.
WE WILL ALL MEET AT PORTOLA PARK AT EIGHT 8:00 AM THEN BREAK OFF INTO INDIVIDUAL WORK GROUPS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT TOWN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4 2 0 0 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE@WWW.LOVE LAHABRA.COM.
JOIN US ON THE SAME DAY FOR THE 2023 INTERCOASTAL, UH, CLEANUP DAY SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD FROM EIGHT UNTIL 12 NOON, VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO HELP REMOVE TRASH DEBRIS, UH, FROM A PORTION OF COYOTE CREEK CHANNEL.
AS PART OF KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN.
UM, WE WILL BE MEETING AT COYOTE CREEK BIKEWAY AT 2000 WEST IMPERIAL HIGHWAY, NEXT TO A AT T STORE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL LYDIA RAMIREZ AT, UH, FIVE SIX TWO THREE THREE FORTY ONE FIFTY ONE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS, UH, ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS OF EACH MONTH, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETS ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM HERE IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, NUMBER OF, UH, POSITIONS AVAILABLE.
GIVE ELVIA A CALL BEFORE SHE HEADS OUT THE DOOR.
UH, CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4 0 7 9 OR GO TO WWW LA HABRA CA DO GOV.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON, UM, OPENINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UH, BE SURE TO CONSERVE WATER.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN THIS WEEKEND, PLEASE NOTE THAT LAWN IRRIGATION IS PROHIBITED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 AM AND 4:00 PM AS WE, UH, AS IS WASHING HARD SURFACES SUCH AS SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO YOUR PART TO HELP US CONSERVE OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET, WHICH IS WATER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN HELP CONSERVE WATER AND DURING THIS DROUGHT, PLEASE CONTACT ELIAS AT PUBLIC WORKS AT 5 6 2 3 3 4 1 7 0.
[ COMMENTS FROM STAFF:]
STAFF? YES, MR. MAYOR.UH, FIRST OFF, UH, IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY, I'VE, UH, GONE THROUGH WITH STAFF HERE, EARTHQUAKES, WILDFIRES, PANDEMICS, GREAT RECESSIONS.
NEVER THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A TROPICAL STORM, BLOW THROUGH SOUTHERN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND IN THE MIDST OF IT, ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE.
SO IT WAS INTERESTING DAY YESTERDAY.
UH, I DID WANT TO COMMENT, UH, AND REALLY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF DID YESTERDAY, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WERE PHENOMENAL.
YESTERDAY, WE HAD TREE BRANCHES AND TREES DOWN ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD WIND DAMAGE, AND WE HAD A, A FAIRLY MAJOR INCIDENT AT A STORM CHANNEL, UH, NOT AT THE COYOTE VILLAGE STORM CHANNEL, ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT STORM CHANNEL.
UH, AND IT WAS THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO WERE ON DUTY, I THINK 24 HOURS AT THIS SITE, KEEPING RESIDENTIAL, UH, HOMES SAFE, UM, ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS THAT WE ROUTINELY WORK WITH.
LA COUNTY FIRE SHOWED UP, UH, WAS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE, AND THE CITY OF BUENA PARK
[01:15:01]
ACTUALLY, UH, SENT STAFF TO ASSIST US.AND IT WAS THAT COLLECTIVE EFFORT THAT REALLY WENT A, UH, LONG WAY YESTERDAY, KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE.
VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY DID YESTERDAY.
UM, I WILL SAY TO ELVIE, UH, YOU'LL BE MISSED.
UH, ELVIS'S BEEN A, A, A, A GOOD, UH, PART OF OUR CITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IN TWO DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN SHE FIRST KIND OF WAS REALLY GETTING INTO THE, UH, HR ANALYST, UH, WORK THAT SHE DID WHEN SHE FIRST HIRED ON.
SHE LEFT US FOR SOME CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND CAME BACK A SEASONED, UH, HR DIRECTOR AND HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL FOR US AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, REALLY BUILDING UP THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, BRINGING ON NEW TECHNOLOGY, DEVELOPING HER STAFF.
UM, PROUD TO SAY THAT LUCY IS NOW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HR AND TO A LARGE DEGREE, BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT LV AND LUCY HAVE BEEN DOING TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME AND RUNNING THAT DEPARTMENT.
VERY PROUD OF OUR STAFF THERE.
AND IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT RETIREMENT, DON'T WORRY, WE CAN RESEND THAT PAPERWORK VERY EASILY FOR YOU.
SO, UH, I KNOW PEOPLE, BUT, UH, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR RETIREMENT.
YOU DESERVE IT, UH, TONIGHT, AND I'M GONNA GET OTHER COMMENTS, AND I'M GONNA PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.
I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL ROSE, WE'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF YOUR SISTER ELVINA HERNANDEZ.
JUST A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LADY.
I REMEMBER HER, PARTICULARLY AT ALL, THE CONSCIOUS IN THE PARK WHEN SHE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO ATTEND HER.
AND I'D ALWAYS SEE HER THERE WITH MRS. GRADS.
THEY'D ATTEND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY.
ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HER FACE.
IN ADDITION, UH, TO THAT SHE WAS, SOMEBODY WAS VERY STRONG IN HER FAITH.
ALWAYS REMEMBER SEEING HER AT O L G.
SO, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
WE WILL BE ADJOURNING, UH, IN MEMORY OF ELVINA HERNANDEZ.
[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]
YOU, MR. MAYOR.UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, CLOSE IN MEMORY OF, UH, MICKEY MCGUIRE, UH, FATHER TO, UH, PAUL MCGUIRE AND FATHER-IN-LAW TO YVONNE MCGUIRE.
UH, THE MCGUIRES HAVE, UH, LONG BEEN, UH, VOLUNTEERS IN THE, UH, LAHABRA COMMUNITY, BOTH, UH, THROUGH MY TIME AT, UH, LAHABRA GIRLS SOFTBALL AT A Y S O AND OTHER SPORTING ENDEAVORS.
UH, HE, UH, MICKEY PASSED AWAY, UH, LAST MONTH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, WE, UH, WE PROPERLY, UH, HONOR HIM AS WELL.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, ELVY GONNA MISS YOU, AS I SAID BEFORE, CAN'T SAY IT AGAIN.
UM, PLEASE STOP BY LAHABRA, SAY HI TO US, AND, UH, ENJOY RETIREMENT.
JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT, CHILL, ENJOY.
YEAH, THANK YOU, DARREN TWO TO, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE BACK THERE.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL WITH US.
I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR BECAUSE, UH, AGAIN, THE PREMIER PREEMINENT FIRE SERVICE IN THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE OF LAHABRA DESERVE YOU, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WORKED OUT, AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
SO I THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN FOR BEING HERE.
UH, QUICK COMMENT TOO, ABOUT, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE CAN BE CONFLICTING INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.
AND OF WHAT I SPEAK OF HERE IS THE DONUT WARS.
AND IT'S INTERESTING THING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S CONTROVERSY OVER THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT, UH, I, I THINK IT'S, IT DUNKING DONUTS GOING IN CLOSE TO BOSTON DONUTS, WHICH IS A LONGSTANDING MOM AND POP DONUT SHOP.
AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THREAD SAYING, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? AND BY THAT, ASKING THE CITY WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY, UH, WHO'S LISTENING AND EVERYBODY OUT THERE, THAT THE BUSINESSES CHOOSE THE CITY.
THE CITIES DON'T CHOOSE THE BUSINESSES.
WE COULD NEVER GO TO A TO A GUY WHO WANTS TO OPEN A SHOE STORE A BLOCK AWAY FROM ANOTHER SHOE STORE AND SAY, OH, THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE A COMPETITOR OF THIS OLDER SHOE STORE.
THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE WAY THE MARKET WORKS.
YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS GOT CONTROL OVER THINGS LIKE PARKING SPACES SET BACK, BASIC FACADE DESIGN, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.
BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO OPEN UP A DONUT SHOP, OR, OR EVEN A, ANOTHER WATER STORE OR A DOLLAR STORE, UH, IF WE SAY NO TO THESE KINDS OF APPLICANTS, THAT'S WHAT GETS CITY SUED.
AND IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT THE, THE CAPITALIST WAY.
SO FOR THOSE WHO SAY, OH, THAT'S A CHEAP SHOT, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HURT BOSTON DONUTS? BELIEVE YOU ME, WE WISH ALL THE BEST FOR BOSTON DONUTS, AND WE WANT THE BEST FOR DUNKING TOO, AS WELL AS THE BEST FOR KRISPY KREME.
BUT JUST TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, UH, THAT'S EXACTLY IT.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BUSINESSES.
WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
PROPERTY RIGHTS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
AND SPEAKING OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THE NARRATIVES ON THIS ARE INTERESTING TOO, BECAUSE SOME FOLKS ARE SAYING, WELL, THE CITY DIDN'T GET INFORMATION OUT ENOUGH ABOUT HURRICANE HILLARY, TROPICAL STORM.
HILLARY AND OTHERS WERE SAYING THINGS LIKE, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? IT WAS JUST A LITTLE, A LITTLE SPRINKLE
SO YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY, RIGHT? BUT TO THOSE WHO SAY
[01:20:01]
IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL, I'LL TELL YOU WHY.IT'S BECAUSE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
LA HABER WAS VERY FORTUNATE YESTERDAY.
WE, WE FARED THIS STORM VERY, VERY WELL.
AND THANKS TO ELIAS AND PUBLIC WORKS AND TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING WAS, WAS AKAY.
NOW, THE PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA SAY THE SAME THING IN CASTAIC OR IN PALM DESERT OR IN CRESTLINE.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE OUT THERE, UH, A LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE.
AND WE WERE JUST VERY FORTUNATE WE WERE SPARED.
AND YES, WE DID GET THE WORD OUT.
THERE'S THREE OF US, ESPECIALLY WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE WERE, AND HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW INFORMATION GOT OUT THERE.
OUR MAYOR WAS EVERYWHERE, AND THEN SOME YESTERDAY, LITERALLY REPORTING FROM THE FIELD ALL DAY LONG.
A GREAT SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
SO ANYWAY, THANK GOODNESS THAT WE, THAT WE DID WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN TO ELIAS AND YOUR TEAM, AND TO EVERYBODY WHO MADE THAT HAPPEN.
SO, AND LET'S HOPE IT'LL BE ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.
AND OF COURSE, THE CITY MANAGER KEEPING US ABREAST ON ALL THE HAPPENINGS THAT WE'RE TAKING ALONG IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS, AND EVERYONE, UH, EVEN KELLY THAT WAS HELPING US AS WELL.
I MEAN, EVERYONE, EVERYONE, I REALLY, REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
AND I THINK, UH, WE HAD ONE BARBECUE DAY RECOGNIZING THEM.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN END OF THE SUMMER BARBECUE RECOGNIZING THEM AGAIN FOR ALL THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.
AND AS YOU SAID, WE WERE LUCKY THAT FROGS DID NOT FALL FROM THE SKY AS WELL.
BUT, UH, THANK GOD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FARE WELL.
UH, WE WERE REALLY ELATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS SAFE.
UM, SO I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, ETER, ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU.
ALVI, UH, YOU, I'VE GOTTA KNOW YOUR INSTAGRAM SO I CAN HOOK UP WITH YOU THERE AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR GRANDCHILD CHILD.
AND, UH, PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH.
UH, WE HATE TO SEE AN EMPLOYEE LEAVE.
I'VE BEEN HERE 23 YEARS, THE LONGEST ONE.
AND, UH, I THINK I SEE MORE EMPLOYEES MYSELF.
I THINK I'VE SEEN EMPLOYEES LEAVE BEFORE I HAVE.
BUT I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO, UH, THANK LV AGAIN FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE, BUT NOT JUST SERVICE, QUALITY SERVICE.
AND, UH, IT WAS A PLEASURE, ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WATCHING YOU WORK AND, UM, WORKING WITH YOU.
AND I HOPE YOU AGAIN, HAVE A GREAT TIME IN RETIREMENT.
DONE RIGHT, IT'S, UH, IT'S FUN.
UM, WITH, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, CONTRACT NOW BEHIND US, UH, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE TWO PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT GOT UP AND TESTIFIED.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED.
THE QUESTIONS WERE, UM, THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE MEANT TO HELP US IN MAKING THE DECISION.
AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE WHEN, UH, YOUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO BE HELPFUL RATHER THAN ATTACK, UH, FOR THE FAKE, UH, SAKE OF POLITICS.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW THIS EVENING.
AND I WISH TO THANK THEM PERSONALLY, UH, FOR THEIR, UH, COMPASSION, THEIR UNDERSTANDING.
I HOPE THAT OUR COMMUNITY DOES UNDERSTAND WHAT OCCURRED TONIGHT IN TERMS OF FINANCING.
I HOPE THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THEY ARE, UM, THE RECIPIENTS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, NOT JUST IN FIRE, BUT POLICE AS WELL.
AND, UH, IF WE'VE GOTTA PAY FOR THAT, WE DESERVE IT.
SO, THANK YOU, UH, AGAIN, ROSE, I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR SISTER.
UM, IT'S JUST A TOUGH, TOUGH THING TO, TO GO THROUGH.
SO MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS WILL BE WITH YOU IN YOUR HEALING PROCESS.
AND, UM, THANKS AGAIN FOR, UH, INDULGING ME TONIGHT.
AND AGAIN, WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
WE WANNA SEE YOU BACK UP HERE ON THE SADDLE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEVE.
UH, ELVY, YOU JUST HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
AND AGAIN, I ALWAYS LOVE VISITING YOU IN YOUR OFFICE.
YOU JUST HAVE BEEN A STEADY SHIP THE WHOLE, EVERY TIME YOU'VE BEEN HERE, AND YOU'RE JUST A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND A TRUE TREASURE.
SO WITH THAT, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION SO YOU'LL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER.
I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WILL HAVE A CITY TOWEL DEDICATED TO ELVIE.
HEREBY YOU'LL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER IN OUR CITY TILE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, COMMUNITY SERVICES.
MAN, YOU GUYS, YOUR GUYS WERE OUT THERE.
[01:25:02]
YESTERDAY AND OUT VERY, VERY LATE.AND THESE GUYS, I SWEAR TO GOD, SOME OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
THEY WERE GOING, GOING, GOING.
I MEAN, HE WAS OFFERING TREMENDOUS PUBLIC, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICE TO PEOPLE HELPING 'EM FILL SANDBAGS, THE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WAS OFFERED.
UH, THE CARING OUT THERE TO PEOPLE, GOING OUT THERE AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, PICKING UP TREES, UH, OPENING UP LITTLE, UH, AREAS WHERE THE GUTTERS WERE PLUGGED UP.
AND I ALSO SAW YOU OUT THERE AND, AND SADRO OUT THERE AT, AT ONE OF THE SITES YESTERDAY.
SO TO THAT, AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE MAYOR WHEN I SEE THIS.
MAKES ME PROUD, UH, UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU GUYS JUST DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
UM, I'D LIKE TO AGAIN RECOGNIZE LARRY ROMA.
LARRY ROMAINE, UH, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? LARRY? LARRY IS REALLY OUR, UH, HISTORIAN FROM THE OLD DAYS OF OUR LAHABRA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
HE SAVED A LOT OF THE MEMORABILIA FROM BACK IN THE DAY.
UH, YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT ANYTHING IS GOING ON WITH OUR FORMER EMPLOYEES WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
HE TREMENDOUSLY LOVED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE SERVED ALONGSIDE WITH MY UNCLE, MANY, MANY YEARS, WHO WAS A CAPTAIN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE REALIZED BACK THEN THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FIRE SERVICES, UH, MY UNCLE AND, AND LARRY AND ALL THAT GROUP MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
SO, LARRY, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE HERE, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU SHOW UP HERE.
UH, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MICKEY MCGUIRE AND ALSO ELVINA HERNANDEZ.