Dec 18, 2023 City Council

[00:00:01]

YEAH, I'M JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO, OKAY.

OKAY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WILL NOW

[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney/Legal Counsel Jones PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor/Director Gomez ROLL CALL: Mayor/Director Gomez Mayor Pro Tem/Director Nigsarian Councilmember/Director Espinoza Councilmember/Director Medrano Councilmember/Director Simonian]

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 6:30 PM THE INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, CITY ATTORNEY RICHARD D. JONES, AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND LEAD US IN THE FLAG SALUTE.

WILL EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND, ASK YOU TO PLEASE, UH, BOW YOUR HEADS.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WITH GRATITUDE IN OUR HEARTS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS WE RECEIVE IN OUR, THESE, OUR LIVES AND THE MANY BLESSINGS WE GET BY BEING RESIDENTS AND LIVING WITHIN THE LAHABRA AREA.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR CHURCHES AND THROUGH OUR SERVICE CLUBS AND ALL THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF LAHABRA.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR LOVE THIS A THIS EVENING AND THROUGHOUT THESE HOLIDAYS, AND WE SAY THESE THINGS WITH THY NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU DICK.

WILL EVERYBODY PLEASE FACE THE FLAG AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

WE GOT A FULL CROWD HERE TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY.

UM, WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS ARE PRESENT TODAY? WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.

OKAY.

THERE, THERE WAS NO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS HELD.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE UP FRONT

[1. RECOGNITION OF THE 2023 HOLIDAY HOME DECORATING "LIGHT UP THE SEASON" AWARD RECIPIENTS]

OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION WILL BE ACTUALLY FOR THE 2023 HOLIDAY HOME DECORATING LIGHT UP THE SEASON AWARDS RECIPIENTS OF KELLY FUJI WILL JOIN US UP FRONT, PLEASE AND THE COUNCIL PLEASE JOIN ME.

YEP.

UP FRONT YOUR TRANSCRIPT.

KELLY, COME ON DOWN.

KIM'S GONNA HANDLE IT.

KIM, I'LL TAKE PICTURES.

YEP, OUR CHAIR.

OKAY.

WHO'S DECIDING TO DO THIS? MY, MY, OUR CHAIR IS GONNA BE OKAY.

COME ON.

LAVINA.

HERE YOU GO.

WHO ARE THE, HELLO, MY NAME IS LEVINE.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS FIRST AWARD TO THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY.

EVERY YEAR WE HOLD OUR DECORATING CONTEST FOR THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND GO BY 7 3 1 WEDGWOOD LANE.

AND I DO WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THEM UP HERE? DO WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THEIR LIGHTS? COME ON UP.

COME ON UP FOLKS.

A PICTURE.

HERE YOU GO.

AND JUST STAND RIGHT HERE AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE ALL TOGETHER RIGHT HERE.

COME RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

COME, I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE OF OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS COMING UP.

THANK YOU, CAROL.

ONE, TWO.

THANK YOU.

AND THERE'S OUR BEAUTIFUL HOME RIGHT THERE.

7 3 1 WEDGEWOOD LANE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

LET'S GET THE OTHER ONE HERE.

OKAY.

WE LIKE TO WELCOME UP THE BONO FAMILY AT 1000 BRIGHTON STREET.

COME ON UP.

THE BONO FAMILY HERE.

WERE YOU EVER RELATED TO SUNNY? UH, ACTUALLY FOURTH FUZZY.

REALLY? OH WOW.

OKAY.

WELL HERE YOU GO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THERE'S THEIR HOME UP THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

COME ON UP FRONT.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET ALL THOSE LIGHTS UP? UM, SEVERAL DAYS.

THAT'S HIS QUESTION.

WHAT, WHAT? UH, I DID IT WITH MY DAD AND I WOULD SAY HE DID MORE THAN ME, BUT HE WASN'T ABLE TO SHOW UP TODAY, SO, OKAY.

HE'S, HE'S IN LONDON FOR WORK, SO SORRY HE'S NOT HERE.

[00:05:01]

BONO FAMILY.

THOSE LOOK GREAT.

THANK YOU.

OR EZ FAMILY.

1000 NORTH FONDEST STREET.

YES.

I'M SO SORRY.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WOW.

LOOK AT THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

HERE, YOU GET TO HOLD THAT.

COME A LITTLE CLOSER HERE.

1, 2, 3.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ADRIAN.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? UH, I DON'T KNOW.

LIGHTS .

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IS LOCATED AT, UH, 1611 EL RANCHO DRIVE.

VERA MONTE FAMILY.

COME ON DOWN.

BS FAMILY.

ARE YOU HERE? WE'RE THE OKAY.

THERE IT IS.

ARE THEY HERE? OH, WE'RE THE TON FAMILY.

NEVERMIND.

OKAY.

IS NO, YOU WANT MIRA MONTES FAMILY.

THAT'S GOTTA BE YOU, RIGHT? COME ON DOWN.

, THEIR HOME IS LOCATED 1 5 5 0 VIA ALTOS.

CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL HOME.

CONGRATULATIONS SIR.

AND MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY.

HI.

HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY HERE, RIGHT? LET'S LOOK OVER THERE.

1, 2, 3.

SO WHO PUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE DECORATIONS UP? ME.

.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.

I GUESS TO THIS TIME I HAND THE MIC OVER TO DARREN.

OH, YEAH.

[ RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING MAYOR GOMEZ FOR HIS SERVICES FROM DECEMBER 2022 THROUGH DECEMBER 2023 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.]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AS, UH, YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW, THIS IS JIM'S LAST, UH, FINAL MEETING AS MAYOR.

SO I'D LIKE, AT THIS POINT, WE, WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

THERE'S ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY, BUT FOR NOW, I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP JIM'S FOLKS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, EVERYBODY COME ON UP HERE.

PLEASE IF YOU CAN.

BEN, MARY, PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE.

AM I GOOD? YEAH, OF COURSE.

THIS IS YOUR LIFE.

I KNOW, RIGHT? OUR WONDERFUL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, BRIANNA, WAS, UH, KIND ENOUGH TO CONSTRUCT THIS BIOGRAPHY OF JIM, WHICH I WILL NOW READ FOR EVERYBODY AFTER WE GET FOLKS UP HERE.

ALL RIGHT, IF WE'RE READY.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ IS NO STRANGER TO BEING THE MAYOR IN LAHABRA.

IN FACT, IN 20 23, 20 23 WAS JIM'S FIFTH TIME AS MAYOR OF OUR CITY, AS A LIFELONG LAHABRA.

AND HE HAS OFTEN HEARD SAYING THAT ALL ROADS IN LAHABRA LEAD TO MY HEART AND HE DEMONSTRATES THIS LOVE OF LAHABRA EVERY DAY.

IN 2023, MAYOR GOMEZ WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH HIS FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY ADOPTED A STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUDGET THAT PROVIDED THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE WELL-DEVELOPED PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND SERVICES FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REFLECT BACK ON EVERYTHING THE CITY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS PAST YEAR WHILE JIM WAS MAYOR, WITHOUT MENTIONING HOW WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL NONPROFIT GROUPS SUCH AS MEALS ON WHEELS, VCC, THE GARY CENTER, THE LA HABER COLLABORATIVE.

AND IF I CAN MANAGE TO TURN THE PAGE QUICKLY ENOUGH, THERE'S MORE HILLCREST HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER WHO WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAD ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS.

JIM, YOUR WORK WITH MEALS ON WHEELS TO ADDRESS HUNGER ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ESPECIALLY COMMENDABLE AND YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE MEALS AND SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, JIM WAS SEEN AT JUST ABOUT EVERY EVENT WE HELD IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING THOSE PUT ON BY LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS.

JIM WAS CENTER STAGE AS WE CELEBRATED SEVERAL LARGE CITY EVENTS IN 2023, INCLUDING THE SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA, THE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORK SHOW, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE CITY'S 10TH ANNUAL TAMALE FESTIVAL.

OF COURSE, THE HIGHLIGHT OF HIS YEAR AS MAYOR WAS THE 2023 STATE OF THE CITY, THREE OVER 300 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND GUESTS.

SEE, I NEED A PODIUM, DON'T I? THAT'S OKAY, I GOT IT.

300 GUESTS ATTENDED THIS THREE EVENT MADE POSSIBLE BY SPONSORSHIPS JIM PERSONALLY HELPED SECURE.

IN ADDITION TO THE FUN EVENTS WE DID, THE CITY WAS BUSY WORKING OVER THE PAST YEAR.

DURING JIM'S TENURE AS MAYOR, THE CITY ISSUED MORE THAN 985 PERMITS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[00:10:01]

CITY STAFF WORKED DILIGENTLY ON A LARGE NUMBER OF KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, INCLUDING PARKS, STREETS, ALLEYS, SIDEWALKS, AND WATER AND SEWER MAIN PROJECTS.

IN 2023, IT IS ESTIMATED THE CITY HAS FILLED OVER 2000 POTHOLES, NOT TO MENTION MAJOR STREET PAVING PROJECTS SUCH AS PALM STREET, PALM STREET, EUCLID STREET, VARIOUS RESIDENTIAL STREET REPAIRS AND ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS.

A PARTICULARLY REWARDING PROJECT THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE COMPLETION OF THE MONTWOOD PARK LIGHTING PROJECT.

AND UNDER JIM'S WATCH IS MAYOR, WAIT FOR IT.

WAIT FOR IT.

.

WE START A CONSTRUCTION ON THE RENOVATION OF OLD RESERVOIR PARK AND WILL SOON BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE PARK AT THE FORMER WOMEN'S CLUBHOUSE SITE, ALONG WITH VISTA GRANDE PARK, WHICH IS GONNA BE SPECTACULAR.

JIM WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH THIS PAST YEAR.

HE AND COUNSEL PARTICIPATED IN THE SECOND ANNUAL COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THE CITIZENS ACADEMY CERT CLASSES AND MORE.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS HOW JIM KEEPS THIS COMMUNITY INFORMED THROUGH HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

.

WHILE COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE OFTEN THE MOST NOTICEABLE ACTIVITIES WE DO, JIM AND THE COUNCIL HAVE ALSO BEEN FOCUSED ON HELPING SUPPORT A STRONG, VIBRANT AND DIVERSE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

JIM AS MAYOR, WAS A MAJOR DRIVER IN REACHING OUT TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS.

IN FACT, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS YEAR, JIM, THE CITY'S ECONOMIC WAIT FOR IT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION HOSTED ITS SECOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM, LAUNCHED AN E-NEWSLETTER AND HOSTED ITS TOP 25 BUSINESS LUNCHEON.

DURING JIM'S TENURE AS MAYOR, THE CITY SAW A VARIETY OF NEW COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS BEING BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OR REACH COMPLETION.

SOME OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE LA QUINTE IN HOTEL JOYCE, HALLMARK, JOANNE FABRIC AND CRAFT STORE, THE VALERA TOWN HOMES, AND VISTA WALK, JUST TO NAME A FEW NEW AND EXCITING COMMERCIAL PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW INCLUDE DUNKING DONUTS, AMERICA'S TIRE COMPANY, THE RETURN OF KRISPY KREME.

AND, AND EVERYONE'S WAITING FOR THIS.

ORANGE COUNTY'S FIRST DUTCH BROTHERS, BUT NOT ALL PROJECTS GO AS PLANNED.

AND JIM AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAD TO ALSO TACKLE SOME CHALLENGES THIS YEAR, THE BIGGEST OF WHICH WAS AS A RESULT OF UNEXPECTED AND DIFFICULT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE CITY COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO A SOLUTION THAT WOULD BEST SERVE THE LA HABER COMMUNITY NOW AND HOPEFULLY INTO THE FUTURE.

ALMOST THERE LAST .

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, 2023 WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR, AND YOU DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AS MAYOR JIM.

YOUR EXAMPLE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS GAVEL TO MAJOR TO MAYOR GOMEZ.

I THANK HIM AND COMMEND HIM FOR HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF LAHABRA AND ALSO FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP.

THERE YOU GO.

1, 2, 3, .

ONE MORE.

GOT IT.

ANOTHER ONE.

ANYBODY ELSE? THERE YOU GO.

PUT THAT BACK THERE.

WE DONE.

WELL, WE ARE, WE'RE DONE.

BUT WHAT WE, WHAT WE GOT NOW, SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR, SO I GUESS THE FAMILY COULD BE SEATED IF THEY LIKE.

AND THEN WE CAN RETURN TO THE DEAS AND I CAN INTRODUCE THE FIRST PERSON WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

AND THAT IS OUR ESTEEMED FOURTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, DOUG CHAFFEE, SUPERVISOR CHAFFEE, PLEASE COME UP WELL AFTER HAVING BEEN MAYOR FOR PREVIOUS TIMES, YOU DIDN'T DO IT ALL BEFORE.

YOU CERTAINLY DID THIS TIME.

, GREAT JOB.

AND I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR HOW YOU PERSONALLY REACH OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND MARVELOUS THINGS YOU'VE DONE.

I MIGHT SUM UP IN A SHORT SENTENCE, YOU'VE MADE YOUR COMMUNITY HEALTHIER, HEALTHIER, AND SAFER.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO BENCH YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FROM THE CITY.

I'M SORRY, .

YOU ALREADY GOT ONE THERE FROM THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S, AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP MEANT A LOT AS WELL.

I WANNA THANK YOU AND PAULETTE FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

AND, UH, I KNOW EARLY ON IN THE ELECTION WE HAD SOMEBODY RUN FROM LAHABRA, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT HAPPENED, YOU NEVER FORGOT ABOUT LAHABRA.

WE WERE ALWAYS

[00:15:01]

AND FOR THAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND ALWAYS BEING THERE.

JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY.

THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

THANK YOU PAULETTE AS WELL.

THANK YOU PAULETTE.

THANK PERSON.

NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE FIDEL VASQUEZ, WHO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SENATOR TOM BERG'S OFFICE.

FIDEL, IF YOU'RE HERE, HERE WE GO.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, MY NAME IS FIDEL VASQUEZ AND I WORK FOR, I'M HERE REPRESENTING, UH, STATE SENATOR TOM BERG.

AND, UM, I WOULD, I WAS KIND OF HAD, I KIND OF HAD, DID HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED, UH, FOR THE MAYOR, BUT YOU KNOW, NOW NEW MAYOR, UH, DARREN ERIAN HAD A BEAUTIFUL ENCOMPASSING SPEECH THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE PRODUCTIVE, THE PRODUCTIVITY YOU HAD HERE, UM, DURING YOUR TENURE ON AS MAYOR DURING THIS YEAR.

BUT WITH THAT, I THINK I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ANOTHER ASPECT OF JUST MY, MY, MY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MAYOR, RIGHT? UM, WHEN I STARTED OFF THIS, THIS ROLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A HUGE LEARNING CURVE THAT I HAVE.

AND, UH, DEFINITELY'S VERY SCARY, YOU KNOW, IMMERSING MYSELF INTO THESE CITIES THAT HAVE, ARE, ARE VERY NUANCED AND HAVE A LOT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT DETAILS AND, AND VERY METICULOUS AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE THINGS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY USED DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

AND SO IT WAS VERY DAUNTING, YOU KNOW, TO JUST BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH DIFFERENT CITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE EYES AND EARS FOR THE SENATOR IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AND COME TO THINK OF IT, WHEN I COME TO LA HABRA, I'M JUST EMBRACED AND I FEEL WELCOMED BY MAYOR JAMES GOMEZ AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, RIGHT? AND I, WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE MAYOR FOR YOUR SERVICE THIS YEAR.

AND JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND MAKE ME FEEL WELCOME.

I'M, I'M CERTAIN, AND I SEE RIGHT, JUST IN THE HUGE OUTPOURING OF THE COMMUNITY HERE, THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO CARRY THAT ON IN YOUR SERVICE, UM, WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP RIGHT THROUGH YOUR ROLE.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE AND SENATOR TOM BERG.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MAYOR FIDEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE CENTER, MOST RECENTLY YOU PROVIDED 50 TURKEYS, SO IT'S FREE OF COST.

AND THE CENTER CAME OUTTA CALVARY LA HARA AND WE DELIVERED THOSE MEALS TO A LOT OF SHUT-INS, UH, IN LA HARA.

WE DELIVERED OVER A HUNDRED MEALS TO INDIVIDUALS AND YOU GUYS WERE A BIG PART OF THAT.

THE SENATOR PERSONALLY CAME OUT AND DELIVERED MEALS.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING THROUGH WITH ALL THOSE TURKEYS FOR US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT UP WE HAVE SCOTT DOE, REPRESENTATIVE FROM SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN'S OFFICE.

HEY SCOTT.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

NOW THAT'S SOMETHING THERE.

YEAH, YOU CAN HOLD THIS .

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SCOTT DOE.

I'M THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, FROM SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN'S OFFICE.

IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE, A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR JAMES GOMEZ FOR HIS ONE YEAR OF SERVICE AS THE MAYOR OF THE GREAT LAHABRA.

UH, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, EVER SINCE I CAME TO THE CITY AND STARTED WORKING WITH YOU, I'VE NEVER HAD A GREATER ALLY HERE IN LAHABRA.

UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY, ALL THE LOVE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE EVER DONE, SO THAT YOU CAN SERVE YOUR CONSTITUENTS THE BEST THAT YOU CAN.

AND SO, IN MY EYES, YOU ARE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND SO WITH THAT, ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, AND YOU KNOW, WE HOPE TO SEE MORE, MANY MORE YEARS FROM YOU AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR, YOUR LIFE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.

THANK YOU.

SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, SCOTT AND SENATOR NEWMAN HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

I WAS ADDING UP JUST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THEY'VE PROVIDED NEARLY $10 MILLION TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE SPLASH PAD.

SENATOR NEWMAN WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF THAT, THAT BIG SINKHOLE OVER THERE, THE STORM TRAIN CHANNELS OVER THERE, JUST FANTASTIC.

AND, UH, EVERY TIME I CALLED IN THE CENTER, HE'D COME DOWN AND MEET WITH ME.

IN FACT, THIS MORNING, UM, MY LAST DAY AS MAYOR HERE, HE CAME ON DOWN AND MET WITH ME THIS MORNING AT WORK AND YOU CAME DOWN AS WELL.

AND WE HAD A GREAT MEETING THIS MORNING.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS A BIG CHAMPION FOR LAHABRA.

SO PLEASE EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION, UH, FOR JOSH NEWMAN FOR ALL THAT HE'S DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

ALSO.

YOU, YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NEXT WE HAVE KYLA TERRAZA, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER OF BLANCA PACHECOS OFFICE.

HI KYLA.

HI

[00:20:02]

HELLO EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS KAYLA TERRAZAS.

I AM THE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE CITY OF LAHABRA FROM, UM, THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN BLANCA PACHECO.

AND IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE.

I RECENTLY WAS REASSIGNED TO LAHABRA AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS ONE OF MY GREATEST BLESSINGS WORKING UNDER THIS OFFICE BECAUSE I GOT TO KNOW ALL OF YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND I ALSO GOT TO KNOW JAMES GOMEZ.

AND LIKE WAS SAID BEFORE, HE IS REALLY THE GOLDEN STANDARD OF WHAT A MAYOR IS AND WHAT A CITY ALLY IS.

AND FROM THESE FEW MONTHS OF ME WORKING HERE AND GETTING TO WORK WITH YOU, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING.

AND SO I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE AND TO PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO YOU.

AND IT READS ON BEHALF OF THE 64TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, I COMMEND YOU FOR SERVING AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF THE HABRA.

AS MAYOR, YOU HAVE BEEN AN EXCELLENT AMBASSADOR OF THE CITY AND HAVE SHOWN EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP.

I WISH YOU MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN PURSUIT OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JAMES.

GOTCHA.

UH, AGAIN, UH, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, UM, UH, BLANCA PACHECO HAS JUST BEEN FABULOUS.

IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME.

I GOT TO PART, PARTICIPATE IN HER SWEARING IN CEREMONY, AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

JUST, I RECENTLY, WE HOSTED A, MARIE AND I HOSTED A TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT, UH, NORTHGATE MARKET.

AND SHE WAS THERE, THERE AT OUR TAMALI FESTIVAL.

SHE'S ALWAYS VERY, VERY VISIBLE, ALWAYS IN AN OPEN DOOR POLICY, AND WE ARE TRULY HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE YOU REPRESENT US AS WELL AS OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN PACHECO.

SO PLEASE EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION.

I KNOW SHE GOT A LOT SUBMITTED CALL AND SHE WANTED TO BE HERE.

SHE HAD TO GO UP TO SACRAMENTO, SO THANK YOU KAYLA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THEN WE HAVE LAURA YOUNG, DISTRICT MANAGER, ORANGE COUNTY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT.

GOOD EVENING, LAURA.

SO, UM, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR GOMEZ FOR NOT ONLY BEING THE MAYOR OF CITY OF LAHABRA AND REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS HERE, BUT WEARING ANOTHER HAT AS OUR BOARD MEMBER.

AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE NOT JUST THIS YEAR'S WORK YOU'VE DONE IN SPREADING AWARENESS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE RESIDENTS, BUT EVERY YEAR, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, CONTINUED ON OUR BOARD.

SO THANK YOU.

DID WE, LET'S GET A PHOTO.

DID I WANNA SAY, UH, LAURA, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.

I'M THE LONGEST TENURED PERSON ON THE VECTOR CONTROL.

I HAVE 19 YEARS ON THE VECTOR CONTROL.

I'M KIND OF THE OLD GUY THERE IN THE ROOM NOW.

UM, AND IT'S BEEN TRULY AN HONOR.

UH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MOSQUITOES AND FIRE ANTS, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION TO SERVE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

LAURA.

WE'RE NOT DONE.

WE'RE NO, WE'RE NOT DONE.

WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING WELL, WE'RE CLOSE TO BEING DONE.

NEXT STEP IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, LAFONDA RIGGINS.

UH, YES.

HI, LAFONDA.

HELLO.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LAFONDA RIGGINS AND I WORK FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I AM THE, THE COMMUNITY SERVICE, UH, LIAISON.

YOU USUALLY SEE ME WITH LIKE A CHIEF OR A BATTALION CHIEF, BUT THIS EVENING I'M GONNA PRESENT TO YOU BECAUSE YOUR ASSISTANT CHIEF IS SICK AND THEN THE BATTALION CHIEF IS ON A STRUCTURE FIRE.

SO NOW YOU HAVE ME.

THAT'S GREAT, .

SO I WANNA DO YOU, UH, DO YOU GOTTA CHECK FOR $5 MILLION THERE? YES, I DO.

.

SO I WANTED TO ONE PRESENT YOU WITH OUR CHALLENGE COIN BECAUSE WE ARE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF BEING IN THE FIRE SERVICE.

AND WHENEVER I COME TO LA HABRA, I ALWAYS FEEL WELCOME.

EVERYONE, EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER HERE I'VE WORKED WITH, I'VE ENJOYED A MEAL WITH, AND I'M ALWAYS THE PERSON WHO'S BEHIND THE SCENE.

BUT YOU ALWAYS WANTED ME TO COME TO THE FOREGROUND.

YOU WOULD GO, COME SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, COME DO.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT.

'CAUSE MOST PEOPLE WANT ME, OR MOST OF THE TIME, I AM BEHIND THE FIREFIGHTERS.

SO I GOT YOU A LITTLE CUP FULL OF SOME LITTLE GOODIES.

OKAY? AND THEN JUST A LITTLE PROCLAMATION THAT JUST READS, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LA HARBOR.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY HAS LEFT A POSITIVE LEGACY, WHICH WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY ASSISTANT

[00:25:02]

SO, ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF TONY MARONEY, WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING A FABULOUS YEAR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

OKAY.

LET ME SAY A COUPLE THINGS.

OH, YOU KNOW, UH, MYSELF, STEVEN ROSE, WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL COUNCIL THAT APPROVED BRINGING LA COUNTY INTO THE CITY, AND IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL BACK THEN, BUT IT'S THE BEST THING WE EVER DID.

IT'S THE CADILLAC, CADILLAC OF, UH, FIRE SERVICES.

AND, UH, YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS, UH, COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED YOU TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY TIME I CALL ON YOU, YOU DO IT.

AND CHANCES ARE IF YOU SHARED A FREE MEAL, IT WAS WITH ME.

.

THANK YOU.

LAFONDA.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, GIMME THAT.

AND NEXT LET'S HAVE THE HONORABLE JOHN LEWIS, COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE CITY OF LATA.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD, GOOD EVENING.

SORRY.

STILL AFTERNOON FOR ME.

UH, JOHN LEWIS LAMARA CITY COUNCIL.

I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS GUY.

YOU KNOW, UH, BEING THE CLOSEST CITY ON THE WEST OF, UH, LAHABRA, WE HAVE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THAT KNOWS HIM, I THINK BETTER THAN THEY KNOW ME.

UH, HE SHOWS UP MORE OFTEN THAN I DO.

HE IS A, A CHEERLEADER FOR OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SO, AND, UH, I KNOW TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS SOMETHING THAT I TRY TO DO, BUT HE HAS ME BEAT THIS GUY KEEPS YOU INFORMED OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN LAHABRA.

I MODEL MY SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER HIM.

SO, UH, HE DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY CALL HIM MR. LAHABRA.

SO WE WANTED TO COME BY HERE AND GIVE HIM A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED BY THE LAMADA CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF LA MARTA JAMES GOMEZ, AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE REGION AND COMMUNITY.

AS LA HABER'S MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, STEVE DEUS, AND PRESENTED BY ME, JOHN LEWIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

WAIT, WAIT.

I HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA TOO, SO , I GOTTA KEEP UP WITH THAT GUY.

NICE.

I CHARGE EXTRA FOR OTHERS.

DENISE .

GREAT.

PEOPLE WONDER WHY I VISIT OTHER CITIES AND BECAUSE ALL ROADS LEAD TO LAHABRA AND WE NETWORK OUTSIDE THE CITY.

AND AS DOES COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE MEDRANO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OTERO OVER THERE.

UH, YOU HAVE ALWAYS, YOU AND YOUR CHAMBER HAVE ALWAYS WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THE BREAKFASTS.

MARIE AND I HAVE ATTENDED WITH YOU FOLKS AND JUST A CLASS ACT ORGANIZATION OVER THERE.

AND JOHN, YOU'VE BEEN A DEAR, DEAR FRIEND, AND I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, BUDDY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CARMEN MILLER LAHABRA, MEALS ON WHEELS, STEP ON UP.

.

MY NAME IS CARMEN MILLER AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAHABRA MEALS ON WILLS.

THIS IS CARRIE CRICH, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT, AND GIL SIGNS, WHO'S ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS.

UH, WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF JAMES.

JAMES, WE WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US.

I'M GONNA HAVE CARRIE RE THIS, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, BESIDES DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AS MAYOR, HE'S A PHENOMENAL BOARD MEMBER.

AND HE, UM, HE SUPPORTS US IN FUNDRAISING ON, UH, GETTING THANKSGIVING MEALS DELIVERED TO ALL OUR SHUT-INS.

AND HE'S GOTTEN FOOD FOR OUR VOLUNTEER LUNCHEONS.

I DON'T KNOW, HE'S JUST DOES EVERYTHING HE CAN.

SO HE IS A VERY VALUABLE MEMBER OF OUR BOARD, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, JIM, THAT GOES DOUBLE AND, UH, TRIPLE FOR US AS BOARD MEMBERS FOR LA HABRA, MEALS ON WHEELS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR, UM, AMAZING CONTEXT THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT INTO MEALS ON WHEELS

[00:30:01]

UM, AND TO LIVE, TO DELIVER THESE MEALS TO THEM.

IT'S JUST, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.

BUT, UM, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND STEADFAST DEDICATION DURING YOUR IMPACTFUL TENURE AS MAYOR THIS PAST YEAR.

IN ADDITION, THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON OUR BOARD AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR SENIORS, AS WELL AS ALL THE RESIDENTS OF LA HARBOR.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, JIM.

I JUST WENT VERY QUICKLY JUST WANNA SAY A NUMBER OF YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT JIM AND MARIE HAVE GONE OUT AND THEY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DELIVERING MEALS.

SO THE MAYOR'S, UH, IN ADDITION TO DOING ALL THESE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES HE HAS, HE'S OUT HERE DELIVERING MEALS TO PEOPLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR US.

JAMES, OVER THERE REAL QUICK.

OKAY.

WHO'S GOT THE MIC? AS YOU KNOW, THE MEALS ON WHEELS VERY SPECIAL AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT THROUGH ACTUALLY MY COUSIN, UH, DANIEL MEJIA, WHO WAS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC I WAS DELIVERING EVERY DAY WITH MARIE OUT THERE, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

AND WHAT I'VE DONE, COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THOSE CONTACTS.

I HAVE ALBERTO'S HERE AND PEOPLE FROM CALVARY CHAPEL ARE HERE, UH, WHO HAVE STEPPED UP IN MANY OCCASIONS.

WHEN I CALL AND KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND ASK FOR SOME MONEY, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WE'RE DONE.

THIS OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION HAS FINALLY COME TO A CONCLUSION TONIGHT.

SO LET'S GIVE ONE MORE BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MAYOR JIM.

GO IN THERE.

OKAY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SENATOR NEWMAN WITH SCOTT HERE WITH SENATOR NEWMAN'S OFFICE.

CAN WE BORROW SOME MONEY SO I CAN OPEN A, A WING TO PUT ALL THESE ON ? UH, IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT I'VE LOST OF WORDS, BUT I SINCERELY, SINCERELY APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

I, UH, WOULD WANNA RECOGNIZE MY FAMILY.

UH, MY MOM AND DAD ARE HERE IN THE FRONT ROW.

MOM, WAVE YOUR HAND.

DAD.

MY BROTHER JEFF IS HERE.

AND THE GUY THAT I KNOW, IT'S NOT EASY TO HAVE A DAD IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

MY SON JAMES, SO MANY TIMES HE'S HAD A SACRIFICE WHEN I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM THE HOME AND OUT DOING OTHER THINGS, AND HE'S SACRIFICING.

HE'S NOT ONE TO BE IN THE LIMELIGHT.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR HIM SOMETIMES.

AND I, UH, I SINCERELY APPRECIATE HIM ALWAYS BEING SUPPORTIVE OF ME.

AND I HAVE NUMEROUS COUSINS AND GOD KIDS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES HERE, AND PEOPLE FROM MY CHURCH AND MY BUDDY FROM THE DODGERS ARE HERE.

WE GOT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY.

SO I, I DON'T WANT TO START NAMING OUT PEOPLE 'CAUSE THEN I WILL, UH, I'LL FORGET SOMEBODY.

UM, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR MAYOR THE LAST YEAR.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO GET ALL THESE ACCOLADES, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, NO, NO PERSON STANDS ALONE.

I HAVE FOUR GREAT COLLEAGUES THAT I GET TO WORK WITH UP HERE, UH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WHO'VE ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF, UM, THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY AND THEY'VE JUST BEEN OUTSTANDING, OUTSTANDING, UH, TO BE THERE AND, AND BE SUPPORTIVE.

SO TO THE FOUR OF YOU, ROSE, DARREN, JOSE, AND STEVE, AND, UH, JIM SADAR, OUR CITY MANAGER, TO YOU GUYS, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.

YOU MADE MY JOB EASY AND I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, ALL YOU CONTINUE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SHOW THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT THAT YOU'VE SHOWN ME TO ALSO OUR VERY LIKELY OUR NEW MAYOR, MAYOR DARREN, UH, IN THE YEARS TO COME, IT HAS AGAIN BEEN A TRUE HONOR AND PLEASURE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

AND TO THAT, I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL.

I, I LOVE LAHABRA, AS HE SAID.

ALL ROADS IN LAHABRA LEAD

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CAN WE JUST ADJOURN THE MEETING? I NEED A BREAK NOW.

ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

YOU GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING AND LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UNLESS OTHERWISE, MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR CHAIR SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED OR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS, IT MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON REPETITIVE, 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 AGENDA.

PER GOVERNMENT SECTION CODE 5 4 9 5 4 0.3 A SUCH COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING.

AND I HAVE ONE SPEAKER'S CARD HERE FROM CARMEN.

I THINK YOU ALREADY CAME UP.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANNA ADDRESS US WITH? NO.

OKAY.

AT THIS TIME I WILL LET YOU SPEAK.

ANYBODY WANNA COME FORWARD TO SPEAK? LET 'EM SPEAK.

.

ANYBODY WANNA COME FORWARD? ANYBODY IN THE FRONT ROW? SECOND ROW, THIRD ROW, FOURTH ROW.

ANYBODY? JOSE, IS IT GOOD AT CLOSE? I THINK SO.

OKAY.

YOU'RE GOOD.

WE'RE CLOSING PUBLIC COMM.

OKAY.

OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, THE CITY CLERK WILL NOW, UH, HANDLE THE REORGANIZATION, UH, PART OF THE MEETING.

YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, PLEASE NOTE THAT CONSIDERATION ITEMS WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

CONSIDERATION ITEMS, ANY MEMBER OF THE ITEMS 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 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 LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.

FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.

[1. CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION AND APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AUTHORITIES, AND OUTSIDE BOARDS That the City Council consider and elect/appoint: A. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem for one-year terms (December 2023-December 2024); B. Chair and Vice Chair for the Successor Agency to the La Habra Redevelopment Agency for one-year terms (December 2023-December 2024); C. Chair and Vice Chair for the Civic Improvement Authority for one-year terms (December 2023-December 2024); D. Delegate and Alternate representatives to the Orange County Sanitation District for one-year terms (December 2023-December 2024); E. Delegate and Alternate representatives to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) for the purposes of voting at SCAG General Assembly meetings held in 2024; F. Two Councilmembers to serve on the City's Internal Audit Committee for one-year terms (December 2023-December 2024); and, G. Appointment by the Mayor of one Councilmember to serve on the City's Emergency Preparedness Council as Vice Chair for a one-year term (December 2023-December 2024).]

ITEM NUMBER ONE IS CITY COUNCIL, AGENCY AND AUTHORITIES.

ITEM TITLED, CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION AND APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AUTHORITIES, AND OUTSIDE BOARDS.

I WILL ACT AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER FOR THIS ITEM AND WILL BE TAKING A ROLL CALL, VOTE FOR EACH ITEM.

FIRST ITEM UNDER THAT ITEM IS CONSIDER AND ELECT MAYOR FOR A ONE YEAR TERM FROM DECEMBER.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

DECEMBER, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 20, 24.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE POSITION OF MAYOR FOR A ONE YEAR TERM.

RHONDA, IT'S WITH GREAT HONOR THAT I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE DARREN ERIAN.

I WILL SECOND THAT.

ARE THERE ANY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND CLASS THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.

I WILL SECOND.

OKAY.

LET ME TAKE THE ROLL CALL.

VOTE FOR THAT.

UM, TO NOMINATE DARREN ERIAN AS MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIAN? UH, YES.

? ABSOLUTELY.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN.

OKAY.

.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBER DARREN ERIAN AS MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR NICK ARIAN.

GENTLEMEN AND LADY, THANK YOU VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED AND I HOPE I CAN LIVE UP TO THAT, UH, FAITH THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN ME.

AND THANKS TO ALL YOU TOO FOR THE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, NOW FOR THE REST OF THIS, RHONDA AND, UH, MR. CITY MANAGER AND EVEN CITY ATTORNEY, MAYBE SOME HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A NOTION THAT I HAVE THAT I THINK MAY BE SHARED THAT A LOT OF THESE, UH, NOMINATIONS TO OTHERS.

MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM OUTSIDE.

OH, I'M SORRY, I'M JUMPING THE GUN ALREADY.

YES, I DO.

MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR NICK SIAN.

WE NEED TO OPEN NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR PROTI.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ROSE ESPINOZA.

I WILL SECOND THAT.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINA NOMINATIONS AND CAST THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.

I WILL SECOND THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

LET ME TAKE A ROLL CALL.

A ROLL CALL.

VOTE PLEASE FOR THE NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA FOR MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO? YES.

[00:40:01]

YES.

MAYOR NICK SIAN? YES.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ELECT ESP.

MAYOR PROTON? I DO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I FORGOT TO READ A NOTE FOLLOWING OUR MEETING.

WE DO HAVE A RECEPTION, SO PLEASE NOBODY LEAVE.

WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING EIGHT BM.

I FORGOT TO READ THE NOTE.

SORRY.

GO AHEAD.

I'LL MENTION IT TO YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

NICK SIAN.

IS THIS THE TIME? YEAH, IT IS.

I'M SORRY.

I JUMPED THE GUN WITH THAT.

AND THE IDEA IS TO SAVE SOME TIME BECAUSE I THINK, I SUSPECT THERE'S A FEELING THAT WE'D ALL LIKE TO KEEP THINGS ROUGHLY.

THEY, WE EITHER WERE LAST YEAR.

SO I THINK THE HELP THAT ALL NEED IS IN CRAFTING THE VERBIAGE FOR EMOTION THAT ESSENTIALLY ACCOMPLISHES THAT PURPOSE.

WHERE WE, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE'S TWO BOARDS THAT IS ALWAYS THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND THERE'S TWO THAT IT'S NOT.

SO THE MOTION WOULD BE, WOULD REQUIRE THAT WE SIMPLY KEEP ALL POSITIONS AS THEY EXISTED THIS PAST YEAR.

SO WHY DON'T I READ WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING ON EACH OF THOSE BOARDS FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION? OKAY.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO THAT, MAYOR? YES, PLEASE.

OKAY.

CURRENTLY SUCCESSOR AGENCY CHAIR IS SIMONIAN AND VICE CHAIR IS GOMEZ CIVIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY CHAIR, NIAN AND VICE CHAIR ESPINOZA, ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT, DELEGATE ESPINOZA ALTERNATE MEDRANO, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS DELEGATE ESPINOZA, ALTERNATE NIAN CITY INTERNAL AUDIT COMMITTEE.

GOMEZ AND NIAN PAST PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO APPOINT THE MAYOR AND MAYOR POTTI AND THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL IS GOMEZ AND MEDRANO.

TYPICALLY, THE MAYOR SERVES AS CHAIR MAYOR APPOINTS THE VICE CHAIR FOR THAT.

SO MY, MY SUGGESTION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU MAKE A MOTION TO KEEP ALL OF THE EXISTING MEMBERS, UH, EITHER CHAIRS OR VICE CHAIRS OR DELEGATES AS IS FOR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY, CIVIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY, ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT, AND SCAG.

MM-HMM.

.

AND THEN VOTE SEPARATELY ON THE INTERNAL AUDIT COMMITTEE.

AND THEN MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT AS MAYOR FOR THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL.

UH, ALTERNATE.

THAT SOUNDED LIKE WELL CRAFT, DID I MAKE THAT MOTION? I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

I LIKE IT.

WE HAVE A WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

UH, YES.

CALL PLEASE.

AND THAT'S FOR THE APPOINTMENTS TO SUCCESSOR AGENCY, CIVIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY, ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT, AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.

FOR ALL OF THOSE APPOINTEES TO REMAIN AS IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIOD, CORRECT? CORRECT.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

I'M GOING TO CONDUCT A ROLL CALL.

VOTE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ? YES.

AND I APOLOGIZE.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPINOZA.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO.

YEAH.

GREAT JOB, MR. MAYOR.

I LIKE THAT.

YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN.

YES.

MAYOR NICK IAN? YES.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

FIVE ZERO.

NOW FOR THE INTERNAL AUDIT COMMITTEE, UH, THE MAYOR IS ALREADY AUTOMATICALLY THE, UM, THE, THE, UH, CHAIR ESSENTIALLY OF THAT, UH, COMMITTEE.

AND IN THE PAST, UM, THE, UH, MAYOR ON MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD SERVE AS THAT, IF THAT WOULD BE WHAT YOUR DIRECTION WOULD BE.

I JUST NEED A, A MOTION TO DO THAT.

FOR IT TO BE REMAIN THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE EXACTLY AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

SORRY.

SO MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM AS THE INTERNAL AUDIT COMMITTEE.

CORRECT.

I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

OKAY.

MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATION CAST THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.

OKAY.

I SECOND.

THANK YOU.

LET ME CONDUCT A ROLL CALL.

VOTE FOR THE, UH, MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM TO SERVE ON THE CITY AUDIT COMMITTEE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? YES.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPINOZA? YES.

MAYOR NICK ERIAN? YES.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THEN THE FINAL SELECTION WOULD BE, UM, MR. MAYOR, YOU'D NEED TO SELECT SOMEONE TO BE THE VICE CHAIR OF THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL.

IT COULD BE ANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO APPOINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO TO CONTINUE AS VICE CHAIR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? I, IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER ACCEPTS, THAT'S FINE.

OH, OKAY.

YES.

I'LL SECOND THAT AND MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS CAST THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.

SECOND, LET ME TAKE THE ROLL CALL VOTE TO SELECT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MEDRANO AS THE VICE CHAIR ON THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL.

AND FOR THE, THE CHAIR TO BE NEWLY ELECTED.

MAYOR NIAN.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MANANO? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? YES.

MAYOR PRO TEMES SPINOZA? YES.

MAYOR NIAN? YES.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU RHONDA.

SO I THINK WE SKIPPED ABOUT, UH, 11 PAGES THERE AND I THINK THE CITY IS WELL SERVED BY THAT CHOICE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN, RHONDA.

WE ARE MOVING ON

[ 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. CITY COUNCIL:]

[00:45:01]

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THAT OUT? THANK YOU.

PAGE 19 OF THE GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

WORKING AGENDA, 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 REQUEST 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 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 10, SUCCESSOR AGENCY ITEM ONE, CIVIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY ITEM ONE, HOUSING AUTHORITY, ITEM ONE, AND CITY COUNCIL AGENCY AND AUTHORITY, AND A AUTHORITIES ITEM ONE.

THANK YOU.

DO WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS AT THIS POINT? OR SIMPLY GO DIRECT TO THE, UH, POTENTIAL REMOVAL? PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW.

ALRIGHT.