[00:00:03]
YEAH.[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney Jones PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilmember Simonian ROLL CALL: Mayor Nigsarian Mayor Pro Tem Espinoza Councilmember Gomez Councilmember Medrano Councilmember Simonian]
EVENING.I'LL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA OF MARCH 18TH, 2024.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS NOW 6:30 PM AND THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN, WHO WILL PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY DUE TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT PREVENTS HIM FROM ATTENDING IN PERSON.
BECAUSE OF THIS ROLL CALL, VOTES WILL BE TAKEN BY THE CITY CLERK.
THE INVOCATION THIS EVENING WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY ATTORNEY DICK JONES, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG SALUTE, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO.
PLEASE STAND, ASK YOU TO PLEASE, UH, BOW YOUR HEADS.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHERS, WE GATHER THIS EVENING TO DO THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS FOR THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
WE DO SO WITH GRATITUDE IN OUR HEARTS.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE BLESSED AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK A SPECIALIST BLESSING THIS EVENING ON, UH, STEVE SIMONON AND MAY, MAY HE RECOVER FROM HIS ILLNESS TO BE ABLE TO RETURN BACK TO US AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
BLESS THE CITY COUNCIL WITH WISDOM AND INSIGHT, AND THAT THEY WILL DO THAT, WHICH IS BEST FOR ALL HABRA, WHO SAY THESE THINGS IN THY NAME.
REPEAT ME AND, UH, FACE THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION.
DEAR GOD, INVISIBLE, LIBERTY, JUSTICE.
THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, JONES AND COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO.
WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, PRESENT BY PHONE.
THIS EVENING WE BEGIN WITH PROCLAMATIONS
[1. RECOGNITION OF THE MUSSER FAMILY AS THE 2024 RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD RECIPIENT]
AND PRESENTATIONS OF WHICH WE HAVE A COUPLE.SO I WOULD, UH, WELCOME AND INVITE MY COLLEAGUES UP AT THE DEUS TO JOIN US DOWN ON THE FLOOR FIRST FOR BEAUTIFICATION AWARD RECIPIENTS.
FIRST, WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF THE MUSTER FAMILY AS THE 2024 RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD RECIPIENT FOR THIS MONTH.
MAY WE PLEASE HAVE THE MU STEP UP.
THE MUSTERS HAVE A PHENOMENAL HOUSE.
I WENT TO THEIR FRONT DOOR NOT TOO LONG AGO.
THEY WORKED ON IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU ARE EXTREMELY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD, AND I HOPE YOU'LL DISPLAY YOUR SIGN WITH SOME PRIDE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ENDEAVOR? HE DOES, PLEASE.
UM, IT'S BEEN A 10 YEAR PROJECT.
UH, WE MOVED IN IN LATE 2014, AND THEN, UH, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT EVER SINCE.
THE YARDS ARE PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE BY NOW, SO WE'RE GOOD.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING AND CREATING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE CAROL ERIAN FROM BEAUTIFICATION HERE, UH, TONIGHT.
YOU, MR. MAYOR
DID HE DO HAVE THE WORK NOW HERE? DOES HE, WHAT DID HE DO? ALL HE DID? I THINK A LOT OF IT.
[2. RECOGNITION OF THE SONG FAMILY AS THE 2024 RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD RECIPIENT]
IS RECOGNITION OF THE SONG FAMILY AS A 2024 RESIDENTIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD.ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH LOTS OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
WE SO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT OUR RESIDENTS PUT INTO BEAUTIFYING THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE HARD WORK THAT INVOLVES A RENOVATION LIKE THIS.
SO MY WIFE, IS IT TOTALLY YOUR WIFE'S
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT IT? UH, SINCE WE MOVED TO THIS HOUSE, IT WAS THE UGLIEST HOUSE IN THIS
[00:05:01]
CUL-DE-SACSO INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY THE OUTSIDE, I LOVE ROSES, SO I PUT WHITE ROSES.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT WORKS.
FOLKS, WOULD YOU, UH, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE TO MOVE OVER HERE, MOVE THAT WAY.
UH, COME RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE BETWEEN US.
I'M GONNA GO RIGHT HERE LIKE THIS, JUST SO IT MAKES IT EASIER RIGHT HERE.
I'M SURE EVERY IDEA THAT YOU HAD, YOU SAID YES DEAR.
IS THAT IT? PLEASE? NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE.
FINALLY TONIGHT WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL
[3. RECOGNITION OF EDUARDO NAVARRO, LA HABRA AUTOMOTIVE]
THAT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT I FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.THIS IS A RECOGNITION OF MR. EDWARD NAVARRO FROM LAHABRA AUTOMOTIVE.
SO, UM, MR. NAVARRO AND MS. FELICIA LEMON, IF YOU PLEASE STEP UP, I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
THIS CAME TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS, MR. NAVARRO, FOR A LONG TIME HAS OWNED LA HABER AUTOMOTIVE THERE OFF OF WHITTIER BOULEVARD.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS HE BEFRIENDED MRS. LEMON HERE AND MRS. LEMON'S ONLY REAL POSSESSION WAS HER AUTOMOBILE, WHICH HAD ALL OF HER WORLDLY BELONGINGS AND ALL THAT.
AND THE CAR WAS OLD AND DECREPIT AND KEPT SUFFERING FROM MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS.
IT JUST WAS JUST ON ITS WAY OUT.
AND EDDIE, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF HIS HEART, KEPT PREPARING THE VEHICLE AND KEPT HER UP AND RUNNING UNTIL FINALLY, AFTER SO MANY SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS, THE CAR JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY LIFE LEFT IN IT.
SO AT THAT POINT, EDWARD REALIZED THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE.
AND IN NO SMALL GESTURE OF ENORMOUS GENEROSITY AND, AND AND WONDERFUL NATURE, HE ACTUALLY GAVE MS. LEMON A 2008 ACURA.
MDX GAVE HER THE CAR FREE AND CLEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT OURSELVES AS THE CARING COMMUNITY, AND WE ALWAYS WANNA PRAISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE SMALL GESTURES OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY.
THIS IS A MASSIVE, EXTRAORDINARY GESTURE, THE GIVING OF A CAR TO THIS LADY IN NEED.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I CONSIDER EDDIE A TRUE PILLAR OF THIS COMMUNITY AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A CARING COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT.
SO AGAIN, A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MR. EDWARD NAVARRO OF LA HABER AUTOMOTIVE.
AND FELICIA, I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE SO MUCH.
SO THE CERTIFICATE READS, IN HONOR OF HIS GENEROUS DONATION OF AN AUTOMOBILE TO FELICIA LEMON, AND FOR DEMONSTRATING THE CITY'S MOTTO OF A CARING COMMUNITY.
WE THEREFORE RECOGNIZE EDUARDO EDDIE NAVARRO.
YOU'RE WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY TRULY SPECIAL.
WE ARE ENORMOUSLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU IN, IN THIS CITY.
ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
[ 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.]
AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.WHEN ADDRESSING THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COMPLETE A SPEAKER'S CARD BEFORE LEAVING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE, THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING AND LIMITED 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 LOAN 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.
AND WE HAVE TWO SPEAKER CARDS.
UH, FIRST SPEAKER AND I'D LIKE TO COME UP AND ADDRESS, UH, THE COUNCIL.
HEY, HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? WELCOME.
BEEN BUSY AT PORTS AND UP IN THE FOREST WORKING ON SOME NUCLEAR STUFF.
I'M GONNA BE PROBABLY BRINGING YOU GUYS' WAY EVENTUALLY,
[00:10:01]
BUT INTRODUCING THE GEICO COUNTER.UH, I'D LIKE TO START OUT WITH, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S EVER REMEMBER THE, THE ALBUM SUPER TRAMP FROM, UH, THE SEVENTIES.
THE GUY'S HANDS ON A, ON A, ON A SET OF PRISON BARS AND THE STARS.
I THINK THOSE STARS, UH, GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A SECRET TO THEM AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, SOMETIMES ON A CLOUDY DAY, THERE IS A RUSTY BALL, BIG ROUND, PERFECT RUSTY BALL BEHIND THAT SUN.
YOU CAN SEE IT PLAYING AS DAY.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, IS A TRACKING SOLAR DUNGEON OF SORTS.
AND THEN I'M GONNA INTRODUCE THE ATOMS APPLE, UM, AS A SLAVE CALLER AND LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO ANYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS ENSLAVING IS, UH, CAPITAL CRIME.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE FBI, UH, TWO, THREE TIMES A WEEK, EMAILING HIM, UH, I CALL HIM CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT OFFENDING ANYBODY AND GOING ABOUT IN SPEECH.
IT'S A CAPITAL CRIME IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF MANIFESTING, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR ENSLAVING.
UM, AND IT'S GOING ON QUITE A BIT.
UM, AND CHIEF, I'LL GET THIS ALL EMAILED TO YOU SOON, SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, I GOT THE DIAMOND RING HERE WITH THE WEDLOCK, THE DIAMOND PLATE.
THAT WOULD BE, UH, THIS, UH, UH, DUNGEON LOOKING THING.
I THINK THOSE SPIKES ARE WHAT TRACKS THROUGH THE GLASS THAT WE'RE UNDER.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT CAT URINE WOULD NOT BE HUMAN.
AND THEN AS WELL ON THESE, ON THIS DUNGEON, THERE'S CATWALK AND WE KNOW WHERE THERE'S CATWALKS, COUNTY LOCKUP AND STATE PRISONS OR CATWALKS GOT A BLOOD CHART FOR THE PREDATORS THAT HAVE BEEN SELLING DRUGS TO KIDS KILLING THEM.
RIGHT NOW, THE DEATH TOLL IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.
IT'S THE SAME TWO PREDATORS, UH, IN HUMAN FORM.
THEY, THEY'RE ALTERED AND ONE'S A LIZARD AND ONE IS CAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING UP THE CAT.
NORMAL BLOOD WOULD BE RED, AND THEN THE BLOOD TYPE TO THESE PREDATORS WOULD BE IN BURGUNDY COLOR AND PROBABLY SOME KIND OF TOXIC FUEL.
I DON'T, I DON'T, I'M NOT QUITE SURE A TF FLUID SOMETHING, BUT I GOT MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER.
MY SISTER, UH, SHE DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE A CAT.
THERE'S, SHE'S WITH TWO OF HER FREDS.
I SENT IT TO ALL YOU GUYS TODAY.
THEN MY MOTHER BELOW NOW I DID COCAINE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT YOU JUST WENT OVER THE THREE MINUTE MARK.
I'LL RETURN WITH, UH, MY SISTER AND MY MOM ON, ON, UH, SOME DRUG DEALERS THAT DIDN'T PAY THEIR TAXES.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA WORK OUT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. SHEETS.
IS ANYBODY ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? NO.
YES, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER CARD.
WE HAVE YOUR NAMES, YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UH, DO WE REALLY SPEAK IT OUT? DO YOU NEED OUR NAME? WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON THEIR SPEAKER.
YEAH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO IF YOU DON'T WANT.
I MEAN, UM, MY, UH, DOES THAT COUNT IN MY THREE MINUTES? NO, GO AHEAD.
UM, UH, MY NAME IS AMANDA PEREZ AND, UM, I LIVE AT 100 GRACE AVENUE IN LAHABRA.
AND, UM, I, UH, DO BUSINESS AT 1 0 3 9 WEST WHITTIER BOULEVARD, SUITE B IN LAHABRA.
UH, WE'VE BOTH LIVED IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THE CITY TRANSFORM AND GROW OVER THAT TIME TOGETHER.
WE OWN A BUSINESS CALLED FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS.
WE ARE BOTH CERTIFIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSTS AND PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES AS WELL AS BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR DIAGNOSES, INCLUDING AUTISM.
WE PROUDLY SERVE OUR HOME CITY OF LAHABRA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
OUR SERVICES HAVE GROWN TO INCLUDE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY.
WE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FOR THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY MEDI-CAL, CAL OPTIMA, AS WELL AS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE.
HISTORICALLY, PARENTS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTY TO CITIES SUCH AS ANAHEIM, HUNTINGTON BEACH, AND IRVINE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILD WHO MAY NOT YET BE TALKING, WALKING, OR PLAYING PEEKABOO.
WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO HAVE BUILT OUR BUSINESS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THESE SPECIALTIES INTO THE LIVING ROOMS AND HOMES OF LA HABRA.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE BRINGING THIS CRITICAL SERVICE TO FAMILIES INSTEAD OF REQUIRING THEM TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES.
UM, WE, WE JUST FOUND OUT LAST WEEK, WE'VE BEEN AWARDED A GRANT AT THIS TIME IN ORDER TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES,
[00:15:01]
UH, TO PROVIDE CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS TO CHILDREN THREE AND UNDER IN OUR HOME CITY OF LAHABRA.OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF LAHABRA.
YOU CAN SEE OUR COMPANY LISTED ON THE WALL OF DONORS AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.
WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC BUILDING AT TWO 11 SOUTH EUCLID STREET, EAST EAST TWO 11 EAST EUCLID STREET IS VACANT AND HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY THE CITY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THE CITY'S HELP IN CONSIDERING OUR AGENCY TO LEASE OR PURCHASE THE BUILDING SO WE MAY INCREASE ACCESS TO THESE CRITICAL SERVICES TO OUR FELLOW LAHABRA.
WE FEEL THAT BY PLACING THIS EVALUATION CLINIC NEAR THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT LAHABRA, WE WILL BE OFFERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN WHAT CAN BE A VERY STRESSFUL DAY INTO A DAY THAT CAN HAVE SOME ENJOYMENT.
WHAT WE WOULD BE PROPOSING WOULD BE TO OFFER FAMILIES THAT SHOW UP FOR THEIR FIRST, UH, SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, A FREE FAMILY PASS TO THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT LA HABRA, AND OUR COMPANY WOULD PURCHASE THESE PASSES.
MEDI-CAL CALOPTIMA AND THE REGIONAL CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY PROVIDE AMAZING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR SPECIAL NEEDS.
WE ARE PROUD TO NOT ONLY BE LAHABRA RESIDENTS, BUT THE ONLY AGENCY IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA THAT PROVIDES THESE TYPES OF SERVICES.
OUR, OUR VISION FOR THIS AREA THAT WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE, UM, WOULD BE TO, UH, INCREASE PRESENCE THERE AND TO SET UP A CHILD FRIENDLY AREA, UM, GROWING IN A WAY THAT OFFERS A CHANCE AT TRUE INCLUSION.
UM, I FEEL LIKE AS SILLY AS PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK WORDS ARE, UM, AND I HATE TO CURTAIL YOU MS. PEREZ, BUT WE ARE IN THE RED RIGHT NOW, JUST SO YOU, UH OH, PLEASE.
I FEEL AS SILLY AS PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK WORDS ARE, REP, SEMANTICS AND REPRESENTATION ARE IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN WE PUT A CLINIC FOR EVALUATIONS RIGHT NEXT TO A PARK AND A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND OFFER EQUAL ACCESS TO THOSE AREAS, WE OFFER TRUE INCLUSION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH INCLUSION COMES UNDERSTANDING, AND WITH UNDERSTANDINGS COMES TRUE COMMUNITY.
WELL BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PODIUM TOO, LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING WONDERFUL WORK.
IT'S AN INTRIGUING IDEA, BUT YOU DO UNDERSTAND TOO, THIS IS NOT AN AGENDIZED ITEM, RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT OR DELIBERATE ON THIS CONCEPT.
IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, MAYBE MAKE YOUR PROPOSAL IN A MORE FORMAL FASHION AND IT CAN WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT WON'T BE DISCOUNTED.
IT'LL BE DEFINITELY, UH, CONSIDERED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST CAN'T COMMENT ON IT TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA AND THE ITEM WAS NOT NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE.
SO, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, BUT WE WISH YOU THE BEST AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING.
AND WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL AS WELL.
WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE THROUGH EMAIL.
WELL, I'M SURE THAT CAN BE ARRANGED.
WHAT DO YOU SAY? JUST, UH, UH, YEAH, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CONTACT THE CITY TOMORROW AND THEY CAN PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH OUR OFFICE.
ANYBODY ELSE WILLING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL? WISHING TO.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
AND WE WILL PROCEED TO THE 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. ]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONSENT CALENDAR.ALL MATTERS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE 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 CALENDAR INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 12, UM, PARDON ME, ONE THROUGH 13.
WOULD STAFF LIKE ANY OF THESE ITEMS REMOVED? NONE.
MR. MAYOR, WOULD ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKE AN ITEM REMOVED? ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE LIKING A CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM REMOVED? SEEING NONE, NO ONE ASKS YET.
YEAH, IF YOU DIDN'T, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, DID YOU WANT AN ITEM REMOVED? IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, UH, I DO NOT, BUT I AM WILLING TO MAKE A, UH, MOTION THAT, UH, ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13 BE, UH, APPROVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES.
UH, MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO TO APPROVE OR TO APPROVE ALL CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13.
[00:20:01]
YES.WE MOVE ON TO CONSIDERATION ITEMS TONIGHT.
THERE'S NO PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AT THIS TIME.
[1. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AND ALTERNATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, AND CONSIDER DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND ASSIGNING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION That the City Council: A. Consider and appoint two individuals to the Planning Commission to fill two 4-year terms that will expire on March 31, 2028, and two individuals to serve as alternates; B. Consider and appoint two individuals to the Community Services Commission to fill two 3-year terms that will expire on March 31, 2027, and two individuals to serve as alternates; and, C. Consider the dissolution of the Beautification Committee and assign its responsibilities to the Community Services Commission.]
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 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.
CONSIDERATION ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TITLED, CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AND ALTERNATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND CONSIDER DISILLUSION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND ASSIGNING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
TWO VACANCIES ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND ONE VACANCY ON THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE BY THE FILING DEADLINE OF THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND AT 6:00 PM A TOTAL OF 14 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION VACANCIES.
THERE WERE NO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE VIC, UH, VACANCY PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEWS.
ONE, APPLICANT WITHDREW FROM THE SELECTION PROCESS DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS AND TWO, APPLICANTS WERE NON-RESPONSIVE TO MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY STAFF TO CONTACT THEM TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW.
THE REMAINING 11 APPLICANTS WERE THEN SCHEDULED TO BE INTERVIEWED BY CITY COUNCIL AT HIS SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 4TH.
ON THE DAY OF INTERVIEWS, ONE APPLICANT WITHDREW THEIR APPLICATION AND ONE APPLICANT DID NOT SHOW UP FOR THEIR SCHEDULE INTERVIEW LEAVING NINE REMAINING APPLICANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
CITY COUNCIL ALSO EXPRESSED INTEREST AT ITS REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 16TH TO CONSIDER POSSIBLE DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND REASSIGN ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
AT THIS TIME, CITY COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER AND MAKE TWO FOUR YEAR APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TWO, THREE YEAR APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO APPOINT TWO ALTERNATES ON EACH COMMISSION, SHOULD AN UNSCHEDULED VACANCY OCCUR PRIOR TO NEXT MARCH.
CITY COUNCIL MAY ALSO WISH TO CONSIDER DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
AT THIS TIME, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MOVE RHONDA.
STEVE, WOULD YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF RHONDA? I DO NOT.
UH, AT THIS TIME I WOULD INVITE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME UP AND, UH, TESTIFY ON THIS CONSIDERATION ITEM IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
ANYBODY? ANYBODY SEEING NONE? WE'LL CLOSE THAT.
AND, UH, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE, UH, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR ACTION.
MR. MAYOR? MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, REAPPOINT, UH, MARIA MECHA TO A FOUR YEAR TERM ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IS THERE A MOTION ALSO TO, UH, IF I'M DOING THIS CORRECTLY CORRECT.
OR A CLOSE NOMINATION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE NOMINATION AND CAST THE UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR THAT POSITION.
AND THAT IS A MOTION TO REAPPOINT MARIA MECHA TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FILL ONE FOUR YEAR TERM EXPIRING.
FIVE ZERO TO REAPPOINT MARIA MECHA.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A, UH, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, FOR THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, MS. ZA CARDENA.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION ALSO TO, UH, CLOSE ALL NOMINATIONS.
WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT NORTHERN NOMINATIONS NATIONS, THERE ARE NO, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS OR IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE? I, I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS.
AND THE MOTION IS TO NOMINATE DANZA CARDENAS
[00:25:01]
TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SERVE ONE FOUR YEAR TERM EXPIRING.I THINK WE MOVE DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION UNLESS WE ALTERNATE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I ACTUALLY, UH, I HAVE AN IDEA AS FAR AS, UH, ALTERNATES, IF IT PLEASE THE COUNCIL, UH, IF, IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ASSOCIATE IT AS WELL, I'D LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON ALTERNATES AND, UH, MAYBE UNTIL AFTER WE, UH, INTERVIEW, UH, CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES, UH, WITH THE POTENTIAL, UH, FOR, UH, UH, FOR EXPANDING THE, UH, THE, THE CANDIDATE, UH, POOL THEREAFTER.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION THEN WE'RE, WE'RE DONE.
COMMISSION, IF THAT WOULD BE GOOD WITH YOU.
I SUPPORT THAT FOR BOTH, UH, PLANNING AND, UH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AND FOR CLARIFICATION, COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO, ARE YOU WANTING US TO COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR SELECTION OF THOSE ALTERNATES? NOT AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE, AFTER YOU MAKE THE DECISION ON THE CITY COUNCIL CONVICTED VACANCY, WE CAN WE IZE YEAH, WE CAN ANIZE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT WAS SECONDED BY MAYOR NICK RIO WAS YEAH.
THAT COURSE OF ACTION WILL BE DETERMINED TO, TO BE DETERMINED.
AND IS THIS, I DON'T DUNNO IF I CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT'S OKAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ESPOSA AND COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? YES.
WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THAT ROLL CALL.
AND THAT IS ALTERNATES FOR BOTH PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, CORRECT? YES.
SO, MOTION ALTERNATES MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MANANO, SECONDED BY MAYOR NIAN, THAT NO ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE APPOINTED AT THIS TIME.
UM, BEFORE I PLACE MY VOTE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S BEING HELD OFF UNTIL AFTER, UH, THE, UM, VACANCY OR COUNCIL INTERVIEWS ARE TAKEN.
THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE THE INTENT.
THAT, THAT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY
5 0 2 DEFER ALTERNATE APPOINTMENTS FOR BOTH OF THE COMMISSION UNTIL FOLLOWING.
THE EXPECTED VACANCY ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS RESOLVED.
SO THE NEXT MATTER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPOINT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION VACANCIES.
MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE, UH, INCUMBENT RICHARD ROJAS TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, SECOND THAT AND MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND CAST A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
SO THE MOTION IS TO REAPPOINT INCUMBENT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER RICHARD ROJAS TO FILL ONE THREE YEAR TERM EXPIRING ON MARCH 31ST, 2027.
THERE'S ONE MORE VACANCY ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
MR. MAYOR? I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE VERONICA HANNAH TO COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
OR, AND MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS AND CASTING UNANIM HIS VOTE.
THE MOTION IS TO APPOINT VERONICA HANNA AS COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER TO FILL ONE THREE YEAR TERM EXPIRING ON MARCH 31ST, 2027.
THE AGENDIZED ITEM OF DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION.
AND YES, I DON'T HAVE, HAVE MY TEXT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE CONCEPT THERE IS THAT THOSE DUTIES ARE ABSORBED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
TO REASSIGN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE IS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, APON APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL ACTION.
[00:30:01]
THERE'S NO REFLECTION IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE.WE DON'T NEED TO DO AN ORDINANCE.
IF YOU WISH TO DO THAT, I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO DO SO.
I WILL SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE? OKAY.
THE MOTION MADE BY MAYOR NICK AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO IS FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND ASSIGN ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
MAY AND WE NEED TO BE SURE THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT.
SHOULD WE HAVE, UH, OPENED THAT UP IN ADVANCE? YES.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ALL THE SAME CONSIDERATION ITEM OH, IS ALL PART OF YOUR IT IS.
AND THE MOTION, A SECOND HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND ASSIGN ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
BUT AGAIN, UH, I FEEL LIKE I WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT.
UH, THE REASON THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS INSTITUTED IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS NOT ONLY TO RECOGNIZE FOLKS THAT HAD DONE A GREAT JOB ON THEIR HOMES OR THEIR BUSINESSES AND BEAUTIFYING THEM AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITY MORE BEAUTIFUL AND PLEASANT TO LOOK AT AND LIVE IN AND DO BUSINESS, BUT ALSO TO INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT OVER THE SEVERAL YEARS THAT IT'S BEEN IN PLACE, UM, IT'S BEEN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER.
AND THOSE THAT VOLUNTEER, IT'S INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO PARTICIPATE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO COLLAPSE IT, BUT I, IT GOES WITH, UH, SOME DIFFICULTY TO VOTE, UH, THAT I AGREE THAT IT SHOULD BE COLLAPSED, BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE STRUGGLED SO LONG TO KEEP IT AFLOAT.
AND I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A STRUGGLE FOR SO LONG.
LACK OF PARTICIPATION, LACK OF APPLICANTS FOR THOSE COMMITTEE SLOTS.
SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THIS IS, THIS BETTER SERVES THE COMMUNITY, I FEEL.
[2. RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 (FY 23/24) MID-YEAR BUDGET AND APPROVE MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENTS That the City Council: A. Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (FY 23/24) Mid-Year Budget Update; B. Approve an appropriation in the amount of $464,000 from Risk Management Fund Balance to Workers’ Compensation Account 164151 for Legal Fees, Medical Claims, and Temporary Disability Claims; C. Approve the reclassification of a Permit Technician I position to Permit Technician II position; and, D. Approve the reclassification of a Housing Specialist position to an Economic Development Project Manager position.]
TWO UNDER CONSIDERATION IS RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL YEAR 20 23, 20 24 FY 2324 MIDYEAR BUDGET AND APPROVE MIDYEAR ADJUSTMENTS.UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO WALK, UH, COUNSEL THROUGH A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON WHERE WE'RE AT AT MIDYEAR AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN PREPARATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25 BUDGET.
UM, STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PULLING TOGETHER INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER ON OUR FISCAL PERFORMANCE.
UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS, AND IT'S WITH, UH, KIND OF A TWO-EDGED SWORD.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO END THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH ENDS JUNE 30 OF 24 WITH ABOUT A $1.2 MILLION YEAR END CARRYOVER.
UM, THAT IS, UH, IN LARGE PART DUE TO FREEZING A NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET THIS LAST YEAR, IN ANTICIPATION OF SOME SIZABLE BUDGET CUTS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CONSIDER IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE 24 25 BUDGET.
IN ADDITION, REVENUES HAVE, HAVE, UH, FOR THE MOST PART BEEN PERFORMING, UH, AS EXPECTED WITH, UH, MOST, UH, NOTABLY DIFFERENCES ON SALES TAX AND TRANSACTION TAXES ARE DOWN, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.
UM, SO THAT IS SOMEWHAT, UH, OFFSETTING SOME OF THE GROWTH IN SOME OTHER TAX, UH, REVENUES AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES.
UH, NON-GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS ARE TRACKING TO THEIR BUDGETS FOR IN LARGE PART, UM, UH, BOTH ON EXPENSES AND REVENUES.
THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE INTERNAL RISK MANAGEMENT FUND.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, WORKERS' COMPENSATION ISSUES, LITIGATION AND LIABILITY CLAIMS THAT WE'RE, UH, WORKING TO RESOLVE.
AND WE'RE GONNA REQUEST A MIDYEAR BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR THAT.
SO, REVENUES, SO WHERE DO WE GET OUR MONEY? UM, AS WITH MOST, UH, IF NOT ALL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, WE GET OUR, THE VAST BULK OF OUR RESOURCES TO SPEND ON CITY CORE SERVICES THROUGH TAXES.
UM, PROPERTY TAX, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IS OUR LARGEST SINGLE REVENUE SOURCE AT 40% OF THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, IT'S DOING WELL AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE'RE PROJECTING TO END THE YEAR ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BETTER THAN WE BUDGETED.
THAT'S IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE, UM, RUNUP IN THE PROPERTY VALUES IN LA HABRA.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WE'VE BEEN
[00:35:01]
BUOYED WITH THE REST OF CITIES ACROSS THE REGION IN A GROWING, UH, PROPERTY VALUATION MARKET.UM, WHAT IS OFFSETTING THAT A LITTLE BIT IS SALES ACTIVITY HAS DROPPED A LOT, UM, AND THE INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP, WHICH I THINK HAS DAMPENED THE MARKET.
SO WE ARE CAREFULLY WATCHING HOW THAT'S GONNA AFFECT SALES ACTIVITY AND VALUATION MOVING FORWARD.
THEN YOU SEE SALES TAX AND TRANSACTION TAX.
SO SALES TAX, WE GET A 1% BRADLEY BURNS TAX, WHICH PRETTY MUCH ALL CITIES IN CALIFORNIA GET A, THE 1% SALES TAX RATE.
AND THEN LAHABRA, UM, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, THE VOTERS APPROVED MEASURE T MEASURE T IS A LOCAL ONE HALF CENT TRANSACTION AND USE TAX.
IT OPERATES ALMOST IDENTICALLY TO A SALES TAX.
A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCES I WON'T BORE YOU WITH, BUT EFFECTIVELY IT'S A LOCAL SALES TAX.
AND SO BETWEEN THE SALES TAX AND TRANSACTION TAX, THAT MAKES UP ANOTHER 37% OF OUR OF OUR BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN TELL THAT BETWEEN PROPERTY AND SALES TAX, THAT MAKES UP 77% OF THE REVENUES WE BRING IN TO PAY FOR SERVICES.
UH, SALES TAX AND TRANSACTION TAX ARE DOWN, UH, PREDOMINANTLY FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, THERE'S SOME, UH, ALLOCATION ISSUES THAT THE STATE'S WORKING THROUGH WITH, UH, RETAILERS THAT, UH, UH, SELL ONLINE.
AND THOSE ALLOCATIONS US USUALLY COME TO CITIES THROUGH THE COUNTY POOL SYSTEM.
AND, UH, A LOT OF THOSE RETAILERS EVIDENTLY NOW ARE POSTING THOSE SALES TRANSACTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE, UM, UH, WHAT'S IT CALLED, FULFILLMENT CENTERS OR WAREHOUSE ACTIVITY.
AND THOSE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY COMING TO CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE ANYMORE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO STILL UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S GONNA, UH, SHAKE OUT AS FAR AS HOW THAT IMPACTS CITIES LIKE LAHABRA WHO DON'T HAVE BIG WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS.
UM, AS IT, AS IT, UH, PERTAINS TO ONLINE SALES.
THERE'S ALSO A, A LARGE BUSINESS IN TOWN THAT RECENTLY CHANGED HANDS AND IT'S AFFECTED, UH, THE SALES TAX REPORTING FOR THAT BUSINESS MIGHT BE A SHORT TERM ABERRATION AS THAT SWITCHES OVER TO THE NEW COMPANY.
WE'RE STILL NOT SURE WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT COMPANY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
BUT IT'S A SIZABLE IMPACT IN THAT $900,000, UH, DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE EXPECTED TO GET THIS YEAR IN SALES TAX.
FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYTHING ELSE IS TRENDING TO WHERE WE EXPECTED IT TO BE.
UM, OUR BUSINESS, OUR BUILDING AND OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY BUSY.
THEY'VE BEEN PROCESSING FAR MORE, UH, PER, UH, PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION THAN THEY HAD ANTICIPATED.
AND THAT'S CREATED, UM, THAT VARIANCE YOU SEE OF ABOUT $173,000 COMING IN, IN LICENSE AND PERMIT REVENUES HIGHER THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED.
UH, AND THEN THE BIG ONE AT THE BOTTOM, CONTRACTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS, UH, OUT OF THE BLUE.
FOR SOME REASON, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DECIDED TO FUND PART OF THEIR UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THEY OWE CITY OF LAHABRA FROM PROBABLY CLOSE TO A DECADE AGO.
AND LITERALLY, WHEN I SAY OUT OF THE BLUE, WE GOT A CHECK ONE DAY FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR OVER $200,000 OR $160,000.
THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER IS HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED.
ALRIGHT, SO WE TALK ABOUT SALES TAX.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WE GET ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE SAY PAY PAY SALES TAX IN LA HABRA, WHERE DOES IT GO? 'CAUSE THE CITY MUST GET ALL THIS SALES TAX REVENUE, AND WE DO GET QUITE A BIT OF SALES TAX REVENUE AS A PRIOR SLIDE SHOWED THE SALES TAX RATE IN LA HABRA IS EIGHT AND A QUARTER PERCENT OF THAT EIGHT AND QUARTER PERCENT, WE GET THE 1% BRADLEY BURN SALES TAX RATE, AND WE GET A HALF PERCENT MEASURE T THAT MEANS OF THE EIGHT AND A QUARTER PERCENT SALES TAX YOU PAY AT A STORE OR AT A RESTAURANT OR BUYING GOODS, 6.75% OF THAT GOES TO OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF LAW HARBOR, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OTHER TAXING ENTITIES.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, THE COUNTY OCTA GETS MEASURE M FUNDING THROUGH THIS.
IT GOES EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT US DIRECTLY TO LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY IS FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF SALES TAX YOU ACTUALLY PAY IN LAHABRA.
OKAY? LAHABRA GETS 6 CENTS FROM MEASURE T, IT GETS 12 CENTS FROM THE BRADLEY BURNS 1% TAX, AND THE 82 CENTS REMAINING OF THAT DOLLAR THAT YOU PAY GOES TO THESE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BREAKDOWN OF TAXATION WORKS.
AND THIS IS A WAY THAT WE TRY TO EXPLAIN IT WHEN WE'RE ASKED.
UM, SO WE GET ABOUT 18 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR YOU PAY, UH, IN SALES TAX IN IN LAHABRA.
SO THE OTHER BIG SOURCE FOR LAHABRA IS PROPERTY TAXES.
AND PEOPLE ASSUME THAT WITH PROPERTY VALUATIONS SHOOTING THROUGH THE ROOF, THE CITY'S, YOU KNOW, IS GETTING ALL THAT PROPERTY TAX.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
AGAIN, FOR EVERY DOLLAR IN PROPERTY TAX PAID IN LAHABRA BY PROPERTY OWNERS, LESS THAN 18 CENTS COMES TO THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
UM, ABOUT 82 CENTS OF THAT DOLLAR GOES MAINLY TO EDUCATION.
THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY ACTUALLY GOES TO EDUCATION.
UH, LAHABRA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT GETS THE LARGEST SHARE.
FULLERTON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
YOU'VE GOT, UH, EDUCATION, REVENUE AND AUGMENTATION FUND.
YOU'VE GOT NORTH COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT.
ALL THOSE OTHER ENTITIES ARE GETTING IN TOTAL THE BULK OF THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE PAID IN LA HABRA.
[00:40:01]
GETS ABOUT 18 CENTS JUST UNDER 18 CENTS ON EVERY DOLLAR.SO NOW WE KNOW WHERE WE GET OUR MONEY FROM.
WHERE DO WE SPEND OUR MONEY? WELL, LIKE A FULL SERVICE, MATURE CITY AND CITY OF LAW IS GONNA BE CELEBRATING US A HUNDRED YEAR BIRTHDAY SOON.
WE ARE MOST CERTAINLY A MATURE CITY NOW.
UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHAT WE SPEND OUR MONEY ON IS PUBLIC SAFETY BY FAR.
UH, POLICE, FIRE AND AMBULANCE EAT UP ALMOST 70 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR OF WHAT WE BRING IN, UH, EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT MEANS WE USE THE REMAINING 30 OR 32 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR TO FUND EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU SEE, THE GENERAL FUND DO PUBLIC WORKS, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ALL THOSE GREAT EVENTS YOU SEE AT OUR PARKS, ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES, YOU SEE ALL THE SUMMER PROGRAMS YOU SEE GETS PAID FOR OUT OF, OF COMMUNITY SERVICES OUTTA THAT REMAINING 32 CENTS.
UH, THE ADMIN AND SUPPORT FUNCTION, PAYROLL, HUMAN RESOURCES, IT GETS PAID FOR OUTTA THAT 32 CENTS.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR ALL THE PLANNING AND PERMITTING AND BUILDING SAFETY WORK THEY DO.
CODE ENFORCEMENT IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE, COMES OUTTA THAT 32 CENTS.
SO WE TRY TO REALLY STRETCH THAT 32 CENTS AS FAR AS WE CAN TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE PULL THE COMMUNITY, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT PULLS EVERY SINGLE TIME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STAR RESIDENTS IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE COUNCIL HAS, HAS TRADITIONALLY AND REPEATEDLY FOCUSED ITS RESOURCES.
YOU KNOW, JUSTIFIABLY THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO TO SEE IT IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.
ON THE LEFT HAND, UH, PIE GRAPH, YOU SEE KIND OF HOW WE BREAK DOWN OUR, OUR FUNDING AND THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SPEND MONEY ON AND YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THE CITY ALLOCATE ITS RESOURCES IN THE OPERATIONS? WHAT WE DON'T BUILD WIDGETS, WE DON'T BUILD CARS, WE DON'T, UM, YOU KNOW, CREATE COMPUTER PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE SERVICES AND WITH SERVICES AS BODIES, WE HAVE PEOPLE DOING THE JOB EVERY DAY.
SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS OUR GRAFFITI HOTLINE, IT'S TWO INDIVIDUALS, JUST TWO THAT GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THEY PAINT OVER THAT GRAFFITI WHEN THEY CALL 9 1 1.
IT IS A POLICE OFFICER THAT SHOWS UP AT YOUR HOUSE WITHIN THREE TO FIVE MINUTES, USUALLY ON THE SHORTER END OF THAT TO COME HELP YOU.
IT'S A POLICE AS A FIREFIGHTER, AS A PARAMEDIC.
IT'S, UH, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE YOU SEE OUT AT YOUR PARKS MAINTAINING YOUR PARKS.
SO THE VAST MAJORITY, ALMOST 80% OF WHAT WE SPEND IS ON, ON LABOR.
IT'S ON PEOPLE DOING A JOB FOR THE FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE DEDICATE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR, OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
LOOKING AT IT DIFFERENTLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHEN I SAY THAT WE PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AS WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY, THAT'S THE ALLOCATION.
SO THE BLUE IS POLICE, THE RED IS FIRE AND AMBULANCE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT MAKES UP 68 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND GOES TO THOSE TWO OPERATIONS.
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO IS THAT GREEN SLICE.
32 CENTS GOES INTO NON-PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M NOT GONNA, UH, REHASH THIS SLIDE.
UH, O OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENTS COME IN AND PRESENT TO COUNCIL BEFORE, AT THE BEGINNING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS, A LOT OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, A LOT OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU JUST A REALLY S UH, UH, SMALL SNIPPET OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND DOING WELL FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE CITY, FOR COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.
UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN TASKED WITH TAKING ON SOME NEW SPENDING THAT WE DIDN'T EVER REALLY BANK ON IN IN THE PAST, UH, YEARS AGO, UM, HOMELESS SERVICES WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
COUNTY OF ORANGE PROVIDED HOMELESS SERVICES ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
THEY RAN SHELTERS, THEY HAD, UH, OUTREACH STAFF AND CITIES WOULD GENERALLY, UH, WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM.
WELL, FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO THAT SHIFTED, THAT SHIFTED FROM THE COUNTY AND PUSHED DOWN INTO THE CITIES.
THAT'S THE WHOLE SERVICE PROVISION AREAS.
NOW, THE NORTH SPA YOU HEAR US TALK ABOUT A LOT, AND WE'RE ONE OF THE 13 CITIES IN THE NORTH SPA.
WELL, WE NOW ARE PROVIDING HOMELESS OUTREACH.
NOW WE HAVE HIRED PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES.
IT USED TO BE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE REALIZE IS IT REALLY A GOOD USE OF POLICE STAFF TO MAKE THEM HAVE TO, UM, FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE ON HOMELESS OUTREACH? OR IS IT BETTER TO BE A CIVILIAN NON-POLICE POSITION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES? SO WE CREATED THOSE POSITIONS AND THOSE POSITIONS RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE DEDICATED TO HOMELESS SERVICES.
BUT THAT FUNDING IS STARTING TO GET CONSTRAINED.
UH, WE HAVE SEEN THAT MONEY START TO DRY UP.
WE USE THAT SAME MONEY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE STATE IN THE PAST TO FUND THE TWO HOMELESS SHELTERS THAT THE LAHA CITY OF LAHABRA HELPED FINANCE.
WE HELP FINANCE AND WE HELP OPERATE TWO SHELTERS, ONE IN PLACENTIA AND ONE IN ONE IN PARK.
AND WE REGULARLY USE THOSE SHELTERS TO TAKE THOSE HOMELESS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVICES AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE SERVICE.
WE WILL TAKE THEM TO THOSE SHELTERS AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET.
AND THE CITY OF LAHABRA YEARS AGO, AS YOU RECALL, WAS ONE OF THE FEW FIRST CITIES THAT
[00:45:01]
HELPED, UH, FUND THE UM, UH, FACILITY IN ANAHEIM, UH, IS ALLUDING ME RIGHT NOW.WHAT IS IT CALLED? UM, KRAMER.
YEAH, BRIDGE IS A KRAMER FACILITY.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FACILITIES THAT THE COUNTY BROUGHT ONLINE AND WE HELPED FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT FACILITY.
SO WE'VE TAKEN ON THAT NEW RESPONSIBILITY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND NOW IT'S A COST BURDEN TO THE CITY.
AND THE OTHER THING, AND THIS IS A PERSONAL GRIPE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A FAIRLY LARGE PROPERTY OWNER IN TOWN THAT CHOOSES NOT TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY PRETTY ROUTINELY.
AND WE END UP END UP TAKING A LEAD ROLE IN THAT.
AND THAT'S UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.
THEY CUT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH A RAILROAD TRACK.
AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WE GET ON A WEEKLY, MONTHLY, YEARLY BASIS, EITHER THROUGH COUNCIL BECAUSE YOU HEAR IT OR DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE JUST DROPPED TRASH OFF ON THE SIDE OF, OF THE TRACKS.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UM, UM, OR WEEDS THAT HAVE GROWN OUT OF CONTROL.
AND TRUST ME, WE CALL UNION PACIFIC EVERY SINGLE TIME SAYING, HEY, YOU NEED TO COME MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY.
AND THEY SAY, YEAH, GO AHEAD AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LET YOU ON.
LET THE PROBLEM CONTINUE TO GROW OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WELL, THIS CITY DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND WE GO OUT THERE REGULARLY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH OUR HOMELESS LIAISON TEAMS, WITH OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF, AND WE CLEAN THOSE AREAS UP AND WE TRY TO GET THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HELP OUT OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE HELP TRY TO CLEAR TRASH AND DEBRIS.
WE HAVE SOME BUSINESS OWNERS VERY UPSET WITH THE CONDITION OF THOSE SPURS AND RAIL LINES NEXT TO THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEY COMPLAIN, BUT THEY HAVE ONLY ONE PLACE TO COMPLAIN TO.
AND THAT'S THE CITY, NOT NECESSARILY UNION PACIFIC, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE UNION PACIFIC RETURNS THEIR CALLS.
UH, THE OTHER AREA THAT WE'RE TREMENDOUSLY PROUD OF, AND I HAVE TO SAY JIM, I'M SORRY AND I, I APOLOGIZE.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE? SURE.
UH, JUST TO POINT OUT, UH, THE, UH, THE TWO PICTURES THERE, ONE WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TENT, A CANOPY BELOW THAT, THE BEFORE AND AFTER, THAT'S, UH, I THINK THAT WAS, THAT'S ALSO A-U-P-R-R, UH, UH, RAILROAD SPUR RAILROADS, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
SO I, I JUST TO ILLUSTRATE NOT ONLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE, UH, IN THE, UH, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, BUT FOR ANYBODY WATCHING AT HOME AS WELL, UH, THIS IS THE EXPENSE YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE ON.
IN FACT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN NEGOTIATION WITH UNION PACIFIC RIGHT NOW TO DO THE, UH, THE TRAIL SYSTEM ALONG THEIR RIGHT OF WAY.
AND ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY'RE HOLDING OUT FOR IS TO FORCE THE CITY TO TAKE ON A PERMANENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING THEIR RIGHT OF WAY.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S GONNA COST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY PROUD OF, AND I HAVE TO SAY, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, HIS STAFF DO A PHENOMENAL JOB AND HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY BUSY THIS LAST COUPLE YEARS AS WE CAME OUT OF COD WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS.
IN FACT, I WILL TELL YOU, WE PROBABLY TOOK ON MORE PROJECTS THAN WE HAD THE STAFFING TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING POTENTIALLY IN THIS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO SCALE SOME OF THAT WORK BACK.
UM, WHAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT TO YOU ON THIS SLIDE, UM, THINGS SOME REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT WE COMPLETED THIS LAST YEAR WERE, UM, BRAND NEW SCOREBOARDS AT OUR YOUTH SPORTS FIELDS.
UH, THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF TRACTION WITH THE YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES.
THEY, UH, THE OLD BOARDS ARE REALLY, REALLY IN BAD SHAPE.
AND WE HAVE SO MANY TEAMS THAT COME TO OUR CITY FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY.
WE ALWAYS TRY TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.
AND THOSE SCOREBOARDS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN THE STANDS AND LOOKING OUT, OUT ACROSS THAT FIELD.
WE DID THE MONTWOOD PARK, UH, LIGHTING PROJECT, WHICH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TOOK IN-HOUSE, DECIDING THAT THE BIDS WERE TOO HIGH AND FIGURED OUT A BETTER WAY OF DOING THAT PROJECT AND GOT THAT PROJECT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THAT COMMUNITY DONE.
AND WE'VE DONE RESIDENTIAL STREET REHAB ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE MORE PROJECTS COMING UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT THAT'S ALMOST DONE IS THE HELI HYDRANT.
HELI HYDRANT IS A PICTURE A BIG ABOVE GROUND HOT TUB OR SWIMMING POOL.
AND THE SWIMMING POOL IS GONNA HAVE A, UH, PUMP ON IT THAT'S GONNA BE TRIGGERED BY A HELICOPTER PILOT FROM A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S LA COUNTY FIRE, OCFA, ANAHEIM FIRE, WHOEVER THAT HAS THAT SYSTEM.
AS THEY'RE FLYING IN AND THEY NEED TO FIGHT A WILDFIRE IN THE AREA, THEY CAN PUSH THAT BUTTON IN THEIR HELICOPTER AND THAT TANK WILL FILL UP IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AND THEY CAN THEN DROP THEIR SNORKEL INTO THAT TANK AND PULL ALL THE WATER THEY NEED AND THEN IMMEDIATELY BE ABLE TO FLY TO ADDRESS THE FIRE THAT MIGHT BE IN THAT REGION.
AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS PROJECT A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WEATHER.
WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SUMMERTIME WITH THE HEAT.
AND THE LAST COUPLE MAJOR FIRE INCIDENTS WE HAD WAS ON THAT KIND OF SOUTH PART OF TOWN WHERE THIS HELLA HYDRANT IS LOCATED.
AND SO, UH, VERY PROUD OF THAT PROJECT.
OUR, OUR STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE VERY, VERY BIG PROJECTS UNDERWAY AT PARKS.
WE'VE GOT OLD RESERVOIR PARK THAT'S GETTING ABOUT, UM, HOPEFULLY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF BEING COMPLETED.
UM, WE'VE GOT VISTA GRANDE PARK THAT'S BROKEN GROUND AND WE'RE UP THERE WORKING RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT'S GONNA BE AT THE, UH, FORMER WOMEN'S CLUB SITE THAT'S GONNA BE BID OUT.
I THINK IT DID GET BID OUT AND
[00:50:01]
IT'S GONNA COME TO COUNCIL FOR AN AWARD SOON AND GET THAT PROJECT DONE.AND THEN AS COUNCIL KNOWS, AND AS I FEEL VERY, UH, BAD FOR THE, UH, FOLKS THAT LIVE ON BISHOP, WE'VE HAD THAT BISHOP STORM DRAIN PROJECT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR YEAR OR SO, AND WE'RE LOOKING VERY MUCH, UH, FORWARD TO GETTING THAT WRAPPED UP SOON AND GETTING OUT OF THEIR HAIR AND GETTING OFF THEIR STREET COMING SOON.
THE BIG ONES, UH, I THINK COUNCIL ARE INTERESTED IN IS MONTE VISTA STREET REHABILITATION.
THAT PROJECT'S GONNA BE STARTING, UH, AND GETTING BIT OUT HERE IN THE COMING MONTHS.
AND MACY STREET REHAB, WE HAD TO PUSH THAT PROJECT OFF LAST YEAR AND THAT PROJECT'S COMING BACK.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU, UH, WHAT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE AND SOMETHING OF GREAT CONCERN TO, UH, ELIAS AND I MYSELF, THE LAST TWO YEARS OF BACK TO BACK HEAVY RAINS HAVE REALLY EXPOSED OUR STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.
WE HAVE HAD MORE STORM DRAIN FAILURES IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS THAN I CAN REMEMBER IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
AND, UH, THEY'VE CREATED SINKHOLE, THEY'VE AFFECTED PRIVATE PROPERTIES.
WE'VE, UM, HAD ISSUES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, AND WE HAVE SPENT PROBABLY WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS THIS LAST YEAR ON FIXING THESE UNPLANNED SINK, UM, STORM DRAIN PROJECTS.
WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE SOURCE FOR STORM DRAINS GENERALLY, NORMALLY SPEAKING EXCEPT FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
AND SO WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER REVENUE SOURCE OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND, AND THIS LAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE SOME ARPA MONEY, THAT'S ALWAYS A GENERAL FUND EXPENSE IN THIS CITY.
UM, WE HAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEFERRED STORM TRAIN DRAIN PROJECTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO, TO FUND.
AND THAT IS AN AREA WHERE ELIAS AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
WE CONTINUALLY CHASE AFTER GRANTS, BUT THERE AREN'T, THERE ARE MORE WA UH, GRANTS FOR CLEAN WATER SYSTEMS AND, AND SEWER SYSTEMS THAN THERE ARE STORM GRAINS.
SO FINDING THE GRANT MONIES FOR THOSE PROJECTS IS VERY CHALLENGING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
ANOTHER AREA THAT WE, AS COUNCIL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGED WITH FOR THE, AT LAST ALMOST 20 YEARS, 15 YEARS IS PENSION OBLIGATIONS.
AND WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT CONTINUALLY STRUGGLES WITH THIS.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY HERE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS REALLY GETTING A HANDLE ON LOWERING OUR CITY'S PENSION COSTS.
WE STARTED A MULTI-YEAR, UH, PROCESS TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PENSION FORMULAS WITH OUR STAFF, UH, HAD OUR EMPLOYEES AGREE TO PAYING MORE TOWARD THEIR OWN PENSION COSTS, AND IN SOME CASES PAYING PART OF THE CITY'S PENSION OBLIGATION COSTS ON TOP OF THE EMPLOYEE SHARE.
UM, UH, BACK IN 2018, WE DID A PENSION RATE STABILIZATION FUND, WHICH BASICALLY IS A RESERVE.
SO THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A RESERVE ACCOUNT SO THAT WE COULD SET ASIDE MONEY WHEN WE HAD IT AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR FUTURE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES THAT CROP UP.
MOST RECENTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ISSUING A PENSION OBLIGATION BOND IN 2021.
IT WAS IN THE MID $70 MILLION RANGE, WHICH IS WHAT WE OWED CALPERS AT THE TIME.
AND EFFECTIVELY THIS WAS REFINANCING YOUR MORTGAGE, SO TO SPEAK.
WE OWED CALPERS 75, 70 $6 MILLION THAT YEAR AT, AND THEY WERE CHARGING US JUST AROUND 7% ON THAT MONEY OVER A 20 YEAR AMORTIZATION.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE INTEREST RATES HAD BOTTOMED OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE DEBT AT ALMOST JUST AROUND 3%.
SO WE ENDED UP ISSUING 3% DEBT TO TAKE OUT 7% DEBT, AND THAT SAVED $22 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.
UM, AND THAT WAS A HUGE, UH, UH, TOOL FOR US TO LEVEL OFF OUR PENSION COSTS.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PENSION FUNDING POLICY.
AND WHAT THAT SAID WAS HALF THE SAVINGS COMING FROM THAT PENSION OBLIGATION BOND HAD TO GET SET ASIDE EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO PUT INTO THE RESERVE.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE FISCAL YEAR 22, 23, ABOUT 1,000,003 THE FIRST YEAR.
I THINK WE'RE UP TO ALMOST 1,000,005 NOW A YEAR THAT WE DO THAT.
AND THAT SETS MONEY ASIDE AND IF AND WHEN, AND WE DO HAVE NOW A NEW UNFETTERED LIABILITY THAT CALPERS HAS REPORTED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HIT THEIR EARNINGS TARGETS THAT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO FUND.
BUT THESE ARE THE KIND OF TOOLS THAT WE'VE ALREADY USED OUT OF OUR TOOL CHEST TO ADDRESS THIS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JIM, I GOT A QUESTION REAL QUICK.
ON THE, UH, THE PENSION OBLIGATIONS FOR, FOR THOSE HERE, NOT ONLY THAT ARE IN THE CHAMBER, BUT AS I SAY OUT IN, UH, THAT ARE WATCHING ON ON TV, THE PENSION OBLIGATION DIDN'T JUST SUDDENLY SHOW UP IN 2018 OR IN 2010.
NO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER TWO, THREE DECADES IF THAT, THAT'S JUST CONTINUALLY, I CAN TELL YOU WHEN EXACTLY WHEN IT STARTED.
SO WHEN THE GREAT RECESSION HIT IN 2008, CALPERS TOOK MASSIVE LOSSES, RIGHT? NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT EARN WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD, THEY TOOK DOUBLE DIGIT LOSSES ON THEIR PORTFOLIO, WHICH IS COVERS CITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
AND I, SO THAT THAT'S THE COST.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, UH, THAT OF COURSE LA HABER'S NOT THE ONLY CITY.
UH, BUT, UH, THAT IN THE PAST, AND I WILL, I WILL REHASH THIS TO A DEGREE, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAD, UH, UH, STATED THAT, UH, THAT WE WERE IN DIRE STRAITS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WHILE HE WAS ON CITY COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
[00:55:01]
SO I WILL SAY THAT, UH, THIS COUNCIL, UH, HAS, UH, HAS CONTINUED TO FIND, UH, AVENUES, UH, TO PURSUE AND, UH, AND TO SAVE MONEY.AND AS YOU SEE HERE, WE HAVE SAVED APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT.
UH, AND, UH, UH, OF COURSE, THANKS FOR THANKS TO THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY SITTING UP HERE.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE, UH, WE KNEW THAT, UH, THAT THIS IS GOING ON FOR NOW.
WELL OVER 16, THE 18 YEARS, UH, PENSION OBLIGATIONS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST MAGICALLY OCCURRED OVER THE LAST, UH, FIVE TO SIX YEARS.
UH, THE OTHER, THE MORE PRESSING CONCERN AND THE ONE THAT I THINK CAUGHT US THE MOST BY SURPRISE.
SO WE ON STAFF, WE TRY TO CREATE CAPACITY IN THE BUDGET CAPACITY IN OUR RESERVES TO PREPARE FOR WHAT WE KNOW HAPPENS REGULARLY, LIKE A RECESSION HITS OR A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY, RIGHT? UH, AND WE HAVE RESERVES FOR THAT.
I MEAN, IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD A RECESSION, YOU HAVE TOOLS TO ADDRESS THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH LA COUNTY FIRE WAS VERY DIFFERENT.
UM, WE HAD A 20 YEAR ARRANGEMENT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE THAT PROVIDED US WITH HIGH QUALITY FIRE AND PARAMEDIC SERVICES AT A COST SHARE THAT WAS BASICALLY 50 50.
SO WE HAD FOUR FIRE STATIONS AND THE COST OF THOSE FOUR FIRE STATIONS WERE SPLIT VIRTUALLY EQUALLY BETWEEN US AND LA COUNTY FIRE.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REASON FOR THAT 20 YEARS AGO WAS LA COUNTY FIRE WANTED TO GET ESTABLISHED IN LAHABRA AND OFFERED LAHABRA A VERY GOOD DEAL TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY SAW THE BENEFIT OF HAVING ESTABLISHED FIRE STATIONS THAT THE CITY ALREADY OWNED RIGHT ADJACENT TO A LOT OF THEIR LA COUNTY JURISDICTIONS.
AND SO THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO EXPAND THEIR LA COUNTY SYSTEM INTO LA HABRA AND PROVIDE COVERAGE TO WHITTIER, UNINCORPORATED WHITTIER LA MARADA TO MAKE RUNS UP INTO LAHABRA HEIGHTS IF THEY HAD TO HACIENDA AND, AND ROLAND HEIGHTS.
WE ACTED AS A REALLY EFFECTIVE BASE CAMP FOR THEM WHILE PROVIDING THE CITY OF LAHABRA WITH GREAT SERVICE AND WHEN IT'S A 50 50 SHARE THAT WORKED FOR EVERYBODY.
WELL, FAST FORWARD 20 YEARS, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST 10 YEAR CONTRACT, NO PROBLEM.
WE RENEWED FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
10 YEARS AGO, ALMOST, NO PROBLEM.
SO HERE WE START CONVERSA, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE FOR ANOTHER 10 YEAR RENEWAL, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
AND IT, IT WAS, I KNEW WE WERE IN TROUBLE WHEN THE FIRE CHIEF HIMSELF SHOWED UP TO THE MEETING AND HAD A LAWYER IN TOW AND SAT DOWN AND BASICALLY SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE LAHABRA.
WE WANT TO KEEP WORKING HERE, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE DEAL WE HAD ANYMORE.
THAT DEAL'S GONE AND WE NEED YOU TO PAY A HUNDRED PERCENT COST OF, OF THIS COST TO PROVIDE SERVICE.
WELL, THAT YEAR WE WERE PAYING ABOUT $10 MILLION, AND THAT MEANT WE'D HAVE TO GO FROM ABOUT $10 MILLION TO $20 MILLION.
AND THERE ARE FEW CITIES OUT THERE THAT CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST FIND $10 MILLION TO PUT TOWARDS A RECURRING OPERATING COST.
IN FACT, COUNCIL WILL RECALL, WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL A COUPLE TIMES WITH STATUS UPDATES ON NEGOTIATIONS.
LONG AND SHORT OF IT, WE SPENT BETTER PART OF A YEAR GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THEM, DELAYING THEIR COST INCREASES TO US TILL JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR WHEN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS.
UM, AND, UM, ENHANCED SOME SERVICES.
BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE DEMANDING THAT WE PAID, WE WERE FORCED TO HAVE TO CLOSE A FIRE STATION.
AND THAT WAS FOR FIRE STATION 1 93 WASN'T WHAT WE WANTED TO RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL TO DO BY ANY STRETCH.
IN FACT, WE TRIED CLOSING 1 94 INSTEAD.
AND LA COUNTY BASICALLY SAID THEY WOULD TERMINATE US INSTEAD OF CLOSING STATION 1 94 BECAUSE STATION 1 94 SERVICES LATA.
AND SO IT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT'S COMING AT A IMMENSE COST.
WE'RE EXPECTING OUR COSTS NEXT YEAR, AND WE HAVEN'T GOT OUR COST ESTIMATES YET, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING.
BUT, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING OUR COSTS NEXT YEAR TO BE ALMOST 50% HIGHER THAN WE PAID A YEAR AGO, AND PROBABLY ALMOST $4 MILLION HIGHER THAN WE BUDGETED THIS YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF OUR CONCERNS WITH WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT IN THE BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THIS RECURRING ONGOING OPERATING COST.
JIM, A QUESTION AS WELL, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT FOR THOSE AGAIN THAT ARE, UH, WATCHING AND THAT ARE HERE IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, WHAT DOES IT COST MORE OR LESS TO RUN A FIRE STATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? ONE FIRE STATION, NOT JUST HERE, RIGHT? NOT JUST FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS THEY SERVICE US, BUT FOR OCFA AND UH, SURROUNDING CITIES.
WHAT DOES IT COST? YEAH, WE LOOKED AT THAT.
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF SERVICES OUT OF ANY GIVEN STATION.
BUT ON AVERAGE, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR A FIRE STATION TO COST ANYWHERE FROM FOUR AND A HALF TO $6 MILLION A YEAR PER FIRE STATION.
AND WE HAD BEEN PAYING ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
I MEAN, IT WAS A, A REALLY, A VERY
[01:00:01]
WELL CONSTRUCTED, UM, CONTRACT 20 YEARS AGO, BUT IT WENT FROM TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A FIRE STATION TO FIVE.AND THAT'S A, A BIG, BIG INCREASE FOR, UH, AGAIN, A KIND OF A MATURE ESTABLISHED BUDGET TO ALL OF A SUDDEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME TO COUNCIL WITH BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND OTHER POTENTIAL, UH, SOLUTIONS TO, TO FACTOR THAT IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO WHERE ARE WE AT? UM, THIS GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A, UH, OF A IDEA OF KIND OF THE, THE, THE PICTURE WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ON THE CHART.
THE BLUE LINE INDICATES OUR EXPECTED REVENUES OVER TIME FROM, UM, KIND OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS OF ACTUALS, OUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, AND WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING OUT, UH, TO 29 30 FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN THE RED LINE IS OUR POTENTIAL EXPENDITURE LINE.
AND I SAY POTENTIAL BECAUSE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE CUTS TO BRING THAT LINE DOWN.
REVENUES, WE ASSUME 2% GROWTH IS CONSERVATIVE, BUT I'D RATHER US BE CONSERVATIVE ON OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS THAN SAY, HEY, REVENUES ARE GONNA GROW 10% A YEAR WHEN THAT'S JUST NOT LIKELY OR POSSIBLE.
UH, OUR EXPENSES, ASSUME FIRE SERVICES GO UP BY 4% A YEAR.
THAT'S A BIG ASSUMPTION RIGHT NOW.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE HAD A, AN ARRANGEMENT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE THAT WOULD CAP OUR COSTS TO NO MORE THAN 4% IN A YEAR.
AND IF THE COST WENT OVER THAT IT WOULD GET CARRIED OVER TO FUTURE YEARS AND GIVE US A CHANCE TO BUDGET FOR THAT.
LA COUNTY FIRE RIGHT NOW IS CONSIDERING ELIMINATING THAT PRICE CAP.
SO THAT MEANS IF THEIR COSTS GO UP 7%, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA PASS ON TO THE CITY.
A 5% INCREASE ON A $15 MILLION CONTRACT IS $750,000 A YEAR.
AND SO WE HAVE, UH, GONNA HAVE A LOT LESS CONTROL OVER THOSE COST INCREASES IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE BUILT IN 4% FOR THIS MODEL.
WE'RE ASSUMING OUR NEW UNFUNDED LIABILITY PAYMENTS TO PERS AGAIN, WE HAVE A $10 MILLION SET ASIDE ALREADY, AND THAT'S GONNA GROW NEXT YEAR WITH THE NEXT ALLOCATION, UH, FROM THE, OUR FUNDING POLICY.
BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA START GETTING ERODED AS WE START MAKING, UH, THESE UNFUNDED, UH, PENSION OBLIGATION PAYMENTS.
AND THEN OUR, WE ASSUME JUST A 3% CPI ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR, OUR COSTS, UH, FOR ELECTRICITY, LABOR, UH, OPERATIONS GOING UP BY 3% A YEAR.
SO BASED ON THAT, WE'RE EXPECTING BUDGET DEFICITS STARTING JULY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA COME TO COUNCIL WITH A FISCAL YEAR 24, 25 PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S GONNA ASSUME CERTAIN OR PROPOSE CERTAIN CUTS AND GET COUNCIL, UH, POLICY DIRECTION ON THOSE CUTS.
THAT'S THE LEAST OF OUR PROBLEMS. THE BIG PROBLEMS START IN FISCAL YEAR 28 29 WHEN MEASURE T OUR HALF CENT SALES TAX, TRANSACTION TAX.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SUNSETS, THAT SUNSETS DECEMBER OF 2028, WE'LL LOSE ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION THAT FISCAL YEAR 'CAUSE IT'S HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR.
WHEN IT SUNSETS THE YEAR AFTER THAT, WE'LL BE LOSING AT LEAST $7 MILLION A YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S THE BIG GAP YOU SEE BETWEEN WHAT OUR NEW REVENUE PICTURE WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHERE OUR EXPENSES COULD POTENTIALLY BE.
AND THAT'S THE GAP WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLOSE.
SO ON THIS CHART, THAT GAP IN FISCAL YEAR 29 30 LOOKS TO BE ABOUT $15 MILLION.
AND SO THAT'S THE DILEMMA FOR US TO START COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND, AND SOME PROPOSALS TO COUNCIL.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE ANTICIPATING CUTS TO PROGRAM SERVICES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
JIM, THERE'S THIS, UH, PERCEPTION THAT WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF STAFF MEMBERS AND WE'RE RUNNING LIKE FAT CATS.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? WE ARE NOT, UM, OUR STAFFING LEVELS IN THIS CITY HAVE REMAINED VIRTUALLY PROBABLY UNCHANGED IN THE 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.
I THINK IT MIGHT FLUCTUATE A FEW IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.
UM, WE'RE SITTING ON 16 RIGHT NOW, EITHER FROZEN OR UNFILLED POSITIONS ACROSS EVERY DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING POLICE, UM, THAT WE ARE EITHER WORKING ON TRYING TO FILL FOR THOSE THAT ARE CRITICAL OR ONES THAT WE HAVE, UH, ACTIVELY FROZEN, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE CUTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY PREFERENCE IS WE TRY TO, UH, MAKE CUTS IN A WAY THAT MINIMIZES IMPACT TO OPERATIONS.
UM, GOING BACK TO OUR NON-GENERAL FUND BUDGETS, AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING, UH, VERY, UH, CONSERVATIVE BUDGETS.
WE ARE OPERATING OUR UTILITY AUTHORITY WATER, SEWER HOUSING WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERSPENDING ANY OF THOSE.
IN FACT, ALL OF THOSE ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE SAVINGS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
UM, OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS LIKE REFUSE AND CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND MOBILE HOME FUNDS ARE ALL, THEY'RE EITHER TRACKING TWO BUDGET OR IN THE MOBILE HOME FUND, UH, IS ACTUALLY TRACKING BELOW BUDGET.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE FOR THE MOBILE HOME FUND.
WE HAD SOME SOIL ISSUES OCCUR WITH, UH, SOME OF THIS HILLSIDE SURROUNDING ONE OF THE PARKS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME WORK ON COULD BE A QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.
AND SO THAT WILL END UP EATING INTO THAT AT SOME POINT.
AND THEN INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY TO REPLACE OUR VEHICLES
[01:05:01]
OR REPLACE OR DO MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES OR, UM, OUR RISK MANAGEMENT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, UH, OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.THOSE ARE ALL GENERALLY DOING WELL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RISK MANAGEMENT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO PULL FUNDS OUT OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT RESERVE TO FUND SOME COSTS THIS YEAR.
SO I'VE ALREADY TALKED A ABOUT A LOT ABOUT THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAVE A VERY CONSERVATIVE, UH, BUDGETING PRACTICE HERE, AND COUNCIL'S EXPECTATION IS THAT WE STRETCH EVERY PENNY AS FAR AS WE CAN TAKE IT.
UH, AND WE REALLY DO A GOOD JOB, I THINK PROVIDING A LOT OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WITH THE REVENUES THAT WE ARE HAVE MADE AVAILABLE TO US BY OUR COMMUNITY.
WE OPERATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE TRY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING.
I MEAN, IT'S A TRIPLE WHAMMY RIGHT NOW BETWEEN, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE CONTRACT, UH, CALPERS WITH A NEW UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT THEY'RE, UH, UM, SHOWING ALL CITIES RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE, THE STATE.
AND THEN MEASURE T IS KIND OF UNIQUE TO US AS FAR AS LOSING THAT TAX MEASURE IN A FEW YEARS.
UH, AS FAR AS, UH, MEASURE T IS CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS A, A, A SALES TAX.
AND, AND IT SUNSETS IN, UH, IN THE YEAR 2028, AGAIN, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE NOT ONLY HERE, BUT THAT ARE WATCHING ON TV.
IT'S NOT JUST LAHABRA RESIDENTS, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE PAYING THAT, THAT MEASURE TAX WHEN THEY GO TO SHOP IN LAHABRA.
CORRECT? IT'S, UH, YEAH, ANYBODY THAT COMES INTO LAHABRA, RIGHT? UH, HE'S PAYING THAT AT OUR, AT OUR COSTCO, AT OUR LOWE'S, AT OUR HOME DEPOT.
UH, THE BIG, UH, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR STORES ARE EVEN IN OUR SMALLER BUSINESSES AS WELL, WHICH THE CITY COUNCIL WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTS.
UH, SO I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT IT'S NOT, UH, SOMETHING THAT JUST OUR RESIDENTS ARE PAYING FOR, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S, UH, SURROUNDING CITIES AND, UH, RESIDENTS THAT, UH, THAT COME INTO SHOP IN OUR CITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, RIGHT? SO EVERY CITY HAS SOME SORT OF LOCAL TAXATION FOR THE MOST PART.
UM, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE A BEACH COMMUNITY WITH RESORT HOTELS ALONG THE, THE COASTLINE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HOTEL TAX.
CITY OF HARBOR DOESN'T HAVE A HOTEL TAX, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HOTEL TAX THERE BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING ALL THESE TOURISTS AND EVERYBODY WHO'S STAYING AT THESE HOTELS, THAT'S A REVENUE GENERATION FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.
IF YOU'RE A CITY LIKE ANAHEIM OR BUENA PARK WITH BIG AMUSEMENT PARKS IN YOUR CITIES, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF HOTEL SUPPORTING THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HOTEL TAX AND IT'S GONNA GENERATE REVENUE.
UM, SOME CITIES, UM, HAVE, UH, ESPECIALLY ONES ALONG THE FREEWAYS, WHICH WERE NOT HAVE LARGE AUTO COMPLEXES OF FOR NEW CAR SALES.
AND THAT IS A HUGE REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THOSE CITIES.
YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE VERY WELL HERE SINCE THE LATE NINETIES IS IT RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE BY A BEACH, BUT IT'S CALLED BEACH BOULEVARD AND YOU CANNOT QUITE SEE THE WATER.
SO WE DON'T HAVE RESORT HOTELS, WE DON'T HAVE AMUSEMENT PARKS, WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THOSE OTHER, UH, AMENITIES.
WE DON'T HAVE $20 MILLION BLUFF SIDE HOMES THAT GENERATE HUGE AMOUNTS OF PROPERTY TAXES, RIGHT? SO THE CITY COUNCIL WAY BACK WHEN INVESTED IN THE ONE THING IT DID HAVE, WHICH WAS A VERY NICE NICHE IN NORTH ORANGE COUNTY THAT COULD SUPPORT RETAIL.
AND THEY BUILT OUT THE HARBOR, I'M SORRY, THE BEACH BOULEVARD, IMPERIAL CORRIDOR, AND PUT IN SHOPPING CENTERS, RENOVATED OLD SHOPPING CENTERS.
THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH COSTCO TO BRING COSTCO TO TOWN.
LA HARBOR'S SEVEN SQUARE MILES.
WE HAVE A HOME DEPOT, WE HAVE A LOWE'S, WE HAVE A SAM'S CLUB, WE HAVE A COSTCO, WE HAVE ALL THESE SHOPPING AMENITIES.
WE HAVE NEW RE RETAILERS COMING TO TOWN ALL THE TIME.
TRADER JOE'S, YOU'VE GOT SPROUTS, YOU HAVE ALL THESE GREAT AMENITIES.
WELL, THAT HAS EFFECTIVELY BECOME OUR RESOURCE HOTELS THAT HAS EFFECTIVELY BECOME OUR AMUSEMENT PARKS, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND LAHABRA NOW COME TO SHOP IN LAHABRA.
THEY COME FROM LATA, WHITTIER, LAHABRA HEIGHTS, BUENA PARK, BREA, FULLERTON, YOU NAME IT.
AND SO, YEAH, SO THAT TAX IS SOMETHING THAT IF YOU LIVE HERE, YOU MIGHT PAY IF YOU SHOP LOCALLY, BUT IF YOU DON'T LIVE HERE, YOU'RE ALSO PAYING WHEN YOU COME SHOP LOCALLY.
AND THOSE TAX PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR OUR RESIDENTS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
SO I KNOW 20 YEARS AGO WHEN MEASURE T WAS CONSIDERED BY THE, THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS REPLACING A VERY UNPOPULAR TAX.
BACK THEN IT WAS A UTILITY USER TAX.
NO ONE LIKED THAT I LIVED IN LAHABRA.
I DIDN'T LIKE IT, RIGHT? THAT TAX WENT AWAY.
AND, BUT WHEN THIS TAX WAS PROPOSED, WHICH IS A LOCAL TRANSACTION AND, AND USE TAX, I THINK THAT WAS A TAX THAT PEOPLE SAID, WELL, IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GONNA PAY IT THAT DON'T LIVE HERE, THEY'RE PAYING FOR OUR SERVICES.
AND, AND JIM, THERE WERE, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT SAID, UH, THAT TAX WOULD SCARE PEOPLE AWAY.
PEOPLE WOULD NOT SHOP LAHABRA.
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT I EARLIER TODAY, I, I, UH, SPOKE WITH THE, UH, DEVELOPER WHO, WHO DEVELOPED A WESTFORD SHOPPING CENTER AND ALL OUR LOWE'S IS DOING VERY WELL OVER SAM'S CLUB'S DOING VERY WELL, ALL THE SHOPPING PLACES AT WEST.
THERE'S ONLY TWO VACANCIES RIGHT NOW IN THE WHOLE SHOPPING CENTER COMPLEX AT WESTRIDGE.
SO DOING VERY WELL IN THRIVING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TO A LARGE DEGREE,
[01:10:01]
AGAIN, THE HARD WORK THAT CITY COUNCIL HAD DONE OVER DECADES AND MULTIPLE CITY COUNCILS.BUT IT'S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT PUTS ON SPECIFIC SHOPPING CENTER PATROLS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE SHOPPING HERE, ARE VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES A GREAT JOB PROVIDING SERVICE TO THOSE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND SO PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO COME SHOP HERE.
I MEAN, WE WANT PEOPLE TO SHOP AHA CHAMBER FOR YEARS, SHOP AHA WAS A BIG PUSH, RIGHT? THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY WE PARTNERED WITH THE CHAMBER FOR SO MANY YEARS, IS MAKING SURE THAT MESSAGING GOT OUT.
'CAUSE WE WANT TO SEE A ROBUST, HEALTHY, UH, RETAIL COMMERCIAL CENTER, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE TO SPEND TAX MONEY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES SERVICES, BUT WE WANT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE JOBS.
AND WE ALSO WANT PE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY OR ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING HERE TO SAY, HEY, THERE'S PLACES I CAN GO SHOP WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE 20 MINUTES TO GO TO THE STORES I WANT TO GO TO.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT IN THIS CITY, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, ATTEST TO, UH, UH, JOSE MADANO AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WE'RE ALWAYS DOING OUR BEST TO PROMOTE OUR BUSINESSES COMMUNITY OUT THERE, BUSINESS OF THE WEEK AND RIBBON CUTTINGS AND DOING OUR PART TO GET OUT THERE.
I ALSO LIKE WHEN I SEE, UM, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, SHARON CORK CUT THE HOME DEPOT
THERE'S NO OTHER SAM'S OVER HERE IN LATA.
SO I GO A LOT TO, UH, TO LA HARBO TO DO MY SHOPPING, YOU KNOW, AND I SEE, UH, FRIENDS THAT I KNOW LIVE IN LATA, I SEE HIM AT TRADER JOE'S.
I'LL SEE HIM AT SPROUT, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S GOOD.
AND IT'S, AS YOU SAID, THERE'S PEOPLE COMING FROM, UM, ALL AROUND THE CITY OF LA HARBOR WHO COME AND GENERATE FUNDS FOR US AND REVENUES AS WELL.
SO, AND WE TRY TO BE, WE TRY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT WE GET AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE, TO SPEND IN THE CITY.
THE ONE THING THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY DOING OVER THE LAST DECADE IS WE PURSUE GRANTS LEFT AND RIGHT EVERY CHANCE WE CAN TO WRITE A GRANT FOR A PROGRAM OR A PROJECT OR A SERVICE.
IF WE CAN JUSTIFY THAT TO THE COUNCIL, OR IT MEETS ONE OF THE COUNCIL'S GOALS FOR US, IF WE CAN GET A GRANT THAT WE CAN THEN USE OUR MONIES TO LEVERAGE, THAT STRETCHES THOSE DOLLARS A LOT.
THAT STRETCHES THE LOCAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTEN GRANTS.
I REMEMBER A COUNCIL MEMBER ESP ESPINOZA YEARS AGO SAYING, WHY DON'T WE HAVE SPLASH PADS? WHY DO CITIES ALL AROUND US HAVE SPLASH PADS? BUT LA HABER DOESN'T? AND SHE PLANTED THAT SEED AND IT GREW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A ONE OFF CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN THE FIRST TIME AROUND WHEN HE WAS SENATOR REPRESENTING US, AND WE MENTIONED IT TO HIM, AND HE WROTE A PIECE OF PAPER DOWN AND SAID, OKAY, MONEY FOR A SPLASH PAD.
AND SURE ENOUGH, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER OUT OF THE BLUE, WE GOT, WAS IT, HOW MUCH WAS IT? TWO AND A HALF MILLION.
YEAH, $1.2 MILLION TO PUT INTO SPLASH PADS.
AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE SPLASH PADS TODAY IF IT WASN'T COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
THAT GAVE US SOME DIRECTION TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING, AND THEN US GETTING A GRANT TO DO IT.
BUT HERE'S THE REALITY, WE GET THOSE TWO SPLASH PADS, WHICH ARE GREAT, AND YOU SHOULD SEE HOW BUSY THEY GET USED EVERY SUMMER.
THEY'RE COSTING US NOW TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR TO MAINTAIN POWER.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE RECYCLED WATER, BUT THE SYSTEMS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, EVERYTHING IS FILTERS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
WHEN WE FINISH BUILDING VISTA GRANDE PARK, IT'S GONNA LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S GONNA COST PROBABLY CLOSE TO $300,000 A YEAR TO MAINTAIN.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE A GENERAL FUND EXPENSE OR COMBINATION OF FUNDING.
AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
NO, I, I WAS JUST GONNA MENTION, SINCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPLASH PADS, I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE TO REPAIR BRIO PARK TO MAKE SURE THAT SPLASH PAD IS, THAT'S AN UNDER, YOU KNOW, AREA THAT REALLY NEEDS IT.
THERE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMICS OF, THEY DON'T HAVE SWIMMING POOLS IN THAT PART OF TOWN, AND WE REALLY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SET SOME MONEY ASIDE TO GET THAT UP AND OPERATING.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET HUNDRED PERCENT REDONE.
ELIA HAS PROMISES YOU THAT YOU CAN GO ANYTIME YOU WANT THIS YEAR, AND IT'S GONNA BE WORKING
UH, SO OUR RECOMMENDATION, UH, RECEIVE AND FILE THE METEOR BUDGET UPDATE.
UH, WE'RE REQUESTING AN APPROVE, UH, AN APPROPRIATION OF $464,000 FROM THE RISK MANAGEMENT FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS A RESERVE FOR RISK MANAGEMENT FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COSTS, AND TWO POSITION RE CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND ONE'S A PERMIT TECH POSITION THAT'S TAKEN ON MORE THAN A PERMIT TECH ONE LEVEL.
AND THE OTHER ENDS WITHIN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS TO UPGRADE A HOUSING SPECIALIST, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY, UH, REPRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
JUST ONE MORE TAKEAWAY ON THE SALES TAX
[01:15:01]
ISSUE WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, AND THAT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S MY PERCEPTION THAT ALMOST NOBODY GOES SALES TAX SHOPPING IN THE SENSE THAT NOBODY SAYS, OH, I CAN SAVE EXACTLY ONE QUARTER OF A CENT BY BUYING SOMETHING ANYWHERE IN PARTICULAR.AND IN POINT OF FACT, I THINK PETE RIVERA'S GOT ONE OF THE HIGHEST SALES TAXES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WHITTIER IS A 10%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IT'S KIND OF A MOOT POINT BECAUSE LARA RIGHT NOW HAS A DISTINCTLY LOWER SALES TAX AT ANY RATE.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT, I THINK, UNLESS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BIG TICKET ITEM LIKE A CAR, VERY FEW PEOPLE REALLY TARGET A PARTICULAR LOCATION BASED UPON THE SALES TAX.
WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS COMFORTABLE, ATTRACTIVE, SAFE, PLACE TO SHOP, AND THAT'S THEIR PARAMOUNT CONCERN.
SO I JUST MAKE THAT COMMENT AND THEN I'D ASK IF, UH, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER.
ONE, UH, AGAIN, WITH, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, MEASURE T AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY HERE AND EVERYBODY WATCHING AT HOME, UH, WHAT I, UH, WHAT I HEAR AT SOME OF THESE, UH, CONFERENCES THAT WE'VE ATTENDED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MOST RECENTLY, UH, A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FROM, UH, FROM VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND, UH, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THEIR, THEIR CITY SALES TAX AND HOW THEY'RE TAPPED OUT AS FAR AS, UH, WHAT THEY CAN, UH, WHAT THEIR RESIDENTS CAN VOTE FOR, UH, WHAT IS IT? UH, 10, 10 AND A QUARTER.
IS THAT THE, UH, THE STATE, UH, 10 AND A HALF THE STATE LIMIT, OR IS A 10 AND A HALF? YEAH.
I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE, THE STATE LIMIT IS.
UM, MY, IT, IT, I THINK IT'S LIKE 10 AND A QUARTER.
WHAT IS SOMEWHERE IN NEAR THERE? MY FEAR IS THIS AND, AND I AM NOT, UH, PROPOSING, UH, UPPING IT.
BUT, UH, WHAT MY FEAR IS THIS IS, IS IT TRUE, JIM THAT, UH, UH, A COUNTY ENTITY OR A STATE ENTITY CAN COME IN AND TAKE UP THE REMAINING ROOM? DID I SAY ROOM FOR SALES TAX PER SE IN LA HABRA? THAT'S AN EIGHT AND A QUARTER RIGHT NOW, COME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN TAKE UP THE REST OF THAT SALES TAX AND DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH IT.
IS THAT TRUE? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION DIFFERENTLY AND, OKAY.
AND FINANCE FOLKS, YOU CAN KIND OF GIMME THE, THE EVIL EYE, IF I'M WRONG.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOCAL TRANSACTION TAX CAPACITY OR LIMIT OF 2% IN ANY GIVEN COUNTY.
I, THERE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT LIMITS IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES.
I'M PRETTY SURE THOSE STATEWIDE IS 2%.
IN LAHABRA, WE HAVE A HALF CENT OF THAT.
2% IS MEASURE T ALREADY HALF A CENT OF THAT 2% IS ALSO BEEN TAKEN UP BY OCTA FOR MEASURE M, WHICH IS THE COUNTYWIDE TRANSACTION TAX.
SO THAT 2% IS ELIGIBLE TO ANY COUNTYWIDE AGENCY.
LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS, UM, LA ISSUED A A COUNTYWIDE HOMELESS TAX, RIGHT? IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE BY ANY STRETCH FOR THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE WERE TO GO DO A, LET'S SAY, PER SE, A HOME, A HOMELESS TAX, HALF CENT HOMELESS TAX, THAT COMES OUTTA THAT 2%.
SO ONCE THE 2% IS GONE, DOESN'T MATTER WHO GETS IT, THAT'S THE CAPACITY AND IT'S FINISHED.
A QMB COULD PUT A QUARTER CENT, UH, AIR QUALITY TAX ON COUNTYWIDE.
AND, AND THE KICKER IS, LET'S SAY EVERYBODY IN A GIVEN CITY VOTES, NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT TAX, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE REST OF THE COUNTY SAYS, YES, THAT TAX GETS IMPLEMENTED IN THAT CITY REGARDLESS, AND IT TAKES AWAY THAT CAPACITY.
AND I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE OVERALL STATEWIDE LIMITS ARE OR, OR YOU KNOW, WHERE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ALL OPERATE UNDER THAT 2% MAXIMUM.
ANYTHING ELSE? YEP, THAT ANSWERED IT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER? UH, YES.
UH, KINDA STATEMENT AND, AND QUESTION.
UH, YOU KNOW, IN, IN NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS WITH FOLKS, UH, AROUND MY HOME AND, UH, PEOPLE THAT I BUMPED INTO WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT KIND OF POPS UP AFTER THEIR EYES GLAZE OVER WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT REVENUE AND TAXES IS, WHAT DOES EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND US DO? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE OTHER CITIES? UH, WHAT, WHAT IS THEIR TAX RATE? SO AT SOME POINT, I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL FOR US IF WE SURVEYED THE OTHER CITIES WITHIN ORANGE COUNTY AND AROUND US, EVEN IN LA COUNTY, AND DETERMINE WHAT THEY'RE TAXING THEIR FOLKS FOR SALES TAX.
UH, I THINK EVERYBODY SEES THE WISDOM IN US TAXING OURSELVES AND KEEPING THE MONEY WITHIN THE HARBOR TO, TO SPEND ON OURSELVES, BUT RATHER THAN HAVE A QMD OR, OR, UH, THE COUNTY OF ORANGE OR SOMEONE ELSE COMING IN AND TAKING THAT MONEY AND REACHING OUR CAP, AND THEN IT JUST GETS TAKEN OUT AND WE DON'T GET TO UTILIZE IT.
SO, UH, IF WE COULD HAVE YOU, UM, BREAK IT DOWN INTO WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, WHAT THEIR TAP
[01:20:01]
RATES ARE AND WHERE THEY'RE AT, I THINK IT'LL BETTER HELP US, UH, DOWN THE ROAD.IS THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN? UH, YES.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYTHING? WOULD ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO TESTIFY ON THIS CONSIDERATION ITEM? ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND OR A MOTION? MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL YEAR 20 23 24 MID-YEAR BUDGET, UPDATE AND APPROVE, UH, APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 464,000 FOR RISK MANAGEMENT FUND BALANCE, WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION ACCOUNT, 1 6 4 1 5 1 FOR LEGAL FEES, MEDICAL CLAIMS, AND TEMPORARY DISABILITY CLAIMS. I'D FURTHER LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND RECLASSIFY A PERMIT TECHNICIAN, ONE POSITION TO A PERMIT TWO POSITION, AND FURTHERMORE, APPROVE THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE HOUSING SPECIALIST POSITION TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER POSITION.
MOTION IS SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[3. CONSIDER CITY OF LA HABRA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 That the City Council consider and approve the proposed City of La Habra Goals and Objectives for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, and provide direction to staff on any specific goals and/or objectives City Council would wish to add, modify or delete.]
ON THE CONSIDERATION AGENDA IS CONSIDER CITY OF LAHARA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS AND ADOPTS A SERIES OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, WHICH ARE ATTACHED FOR YOUR REVIEW, SERVE AS AN INITIAL STEP IN THE PREPARATION OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND ACTION IN JUNE.
THE PROPOSED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25 ARE GENERAL, GENERAL IN NATURE AND ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING, PROTECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC REVENUES AND FISCAL, FISCAL ASSETS, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, RECRUITMENT SELECTION, AND TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES, DEVELOPMENT, ACTIVITY AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN CITY SERVICES.
IN ADDITION TO THESE PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED GOALS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING GOAL, ENHANCEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH ARTS, PARK, RECREATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND OPEN SPACE.
EACH GOAL IS PARTIALLY ACHIEVED THROUGH THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SEVERAL RECOMMENDED OBJECTIVES, WHICH IN TURN HELP THE CITY TO REALIZE ITS CORE MISSION OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.
ACHIEVING SOME OBJECTIVES MAY OCCUR OVER A SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM PERIOD OF TIME, BUT MOST TEND TO OCCUR ON A RECURRING OR ONGOING BASIS.
OF THE 88 RECOMMENDED OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, 25, 63 R CONSIDERED TO BE ONGOING, FIVE ARE CONSIDERED SHORT TERM, 10 ARE CONSIDERED LONG TERM, AND FIVE ARE CONSIDERED ONGOING OR LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES.
LASTLY, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN MARCH OF 2023.
SINCE THAT JULY 1ST, 2023, MARKING THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR FOR 23 24 5 OBJECTIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED WHILE APPROVAL OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THIS EVENING HAS NO DIRECT FISCAL IMPACT.
THEY DO ASSIST STAFF IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND RECOMMENDATION OF SPENDING PRIORITIES DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25 BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, IN JUNE.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25, AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON ANY GOALS AND OR OBJECTIVES THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD WISH TO ADD, MODIFY, OR DELETE.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, BUT STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? UH, I'D LIKE TO ADD JUST A COUPLE THINGS CONSIDERING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES COME UP AND, AND, AND IT'S REALLY ALREADY BEING DONE, BUT JUST TAKE EXTRA LOOK AT EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COST SAVINGS IN THIS BUDGET.
UH, SHOULD BE A DEFINITELY A GOAL, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY DOING, AND ALSO LOOK FOR ANY NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE SOURCES, UH, PARTICULARLY, UH, WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND WHETHER WE HAVE TO BE MORE CREATIVE
[01:25:01]
WITH OUR CUP PROCESS TO DETRACT THEM OR WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO, UH, TO, UM, TO ATTRACT AND MAKE US, UH, EVEN GREATER DESTINATION POINT FOR BUSINESSES.I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE THAT TIE, TIE ON THAT, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY FOCUS THEN, UH, OUR PRIORITIES ON THAT, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL SO CHOOSES.
ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO COME UP AND TESTIFY ON THIS? ANYBODY? ALRIGHT.
SEEING NONE DISCUSSION AND A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED CITY OF LAHABRA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25, UH, AND THE DIRECTION I PROVIDED AND WHAT WAS ALSO COVERED BY, UH, BRIANNA HURT.
I WILL SECOND MOTION AND SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
THAT'S THE END OF CONSIDERATION ITEMS FOR TONIGHT.
[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]
THE MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR.IT'S KIDS NIGHT OUT TOY STORY.
PARENTS DROP OFF YOUR KIDS FOR A FUN-FILLED EATING AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER FOR KIDS.
NIGHT OUT THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 10:30 PM KIDS AGES FOUR THROUGH 12 WILL ENJOY DINNER, SNACKS, GAMES, CRAFTS, AND A MOVIE COST IS $20 PER PERSON.
REGISTER ONLINE IN PERSON AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OR BY PHONE BY CALLING (562) 383-4200 NEXT 2024.
SUMMER JOB FAIR, INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING A HIRING FAIR TO RECRUIT PART-TIME, SUMMER RECREATION STAFF THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD FROM 9:00 AM UNTIL 12:30 PM AT CITY HALL.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ONLINE TODAY OR TOMORROW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
PLEASE CONTACT COMMUNITY SERVICES AT 5 6 2 3 8 3 4 2 0 0.
THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL EGG NIGHT WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH FROM 7:00 PM UNTIL 8:00 PM AT LAB BONITA PARK.
THE EVENT IS OPEN TO YOUTH AGES SEVEN TO 13 YEARS.
COST IS $10 PER CHILD AND PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4200 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE@WWWLAHABRACOD.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION.
AND THEN THERE'S THE FAMOUS EXTRAVAGANZA.
THE 2024 SPRING FAMILY EXTRAVAGANZA WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH AT LA BONITA PARK FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL NOON.
EVENT WILL INCLUDE HELICOPTER, EGG DROP, EGG HUNTS, GAMES, CRAFTS, AND KIDS ACTIVITIES.
EGG HUNT WRISTBAND IS $5 PER PERSON PRESALE UNTIL 5:00 PM ON MARCH 29TH AND WILL BE $6 PER PERSON ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
PURCHASE WRISTBANDS AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER, OR CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4200 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
CPR AND FIRST AID CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED ON SELECT SATURDAYS FROM 9:00 AM UNTIL 12:00 PM AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER.
WITH THE NEXT CLASS SCHEDULED ON SATURDAY APRIL 13TH.
COST IS $32 PER PERSON FOR AGES 12 AND UP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4200, AND OUR SENIOR DANCES ARE OFF AND RUNNING.
JOIN US ON SUNDAY, APRIL 21ST FROM 2:00 PM UNTIL 4:00 PM AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A SUNDAY AFTERNOON OF LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, AND DINNER.
COST IS $8 PER PERSON AND PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN PERSON AT THE LABBER COMMUNITY CENTER OR BY PHONE BY CALLING (562) 383-4200 COMMISSION MEETINGS.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETS ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.
I'LL REMIND FOLKS NOW JUST TO GLANCE AT THIS SLIDE AND BEAR IN MIND THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS THAT WILL REMAIN ONGOING DESPITE THE DELUGE WE EXPERIENCE THIS WINTER DROUGHT WILL RETURN SOMEDAY MOVING FORWARD.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT LA HABER'S FIRE 9 1 1 AND QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES.
THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE PUBLIC AS WE CONSIDER A 2024 BUDGET WHERE FUNDING CUTS ARE ANTICIPATED.
PLEASE TELL US WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU BY COMPLETING A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY BY SCANNING THE QR CODE OR VISITING LA HABER CO.GOV/JOIN THE CONVERSATION.
SO THAT'S IT FOR THE CALENDAR.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF THIS EVENING? DONE, MS. MAYOR.
[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS WITH COUNCILMAN MADANO.UH, WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE THAT, UH, ON, UH, MARCH 5TH, WHICH WAS, UH, ELECTION NIGHT, UH, PRIMARIES THAT HAPPENED ALL OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER AS WELL, UH, ATTENDED, UH, THE,
[01:30:01]
UH, LA HABER HIGH SCHOOL ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY.UH, MS. VERNA HERNANDEZ, UH, IS GOVERNMENT CLASS.
SHE, UH, SHE PUTS ON THIS, UH, THIS GREAT EVENT FOR HER GOVERNMENT CLASS, UH, EVERY, UH, EVERY ELECTION CYCLE AND, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
NOW, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND, UH, REPRESENT OUR CITY COUNCIL.
I JUST WANNA SAY WHAT A GREAT EVENT IT WAS.
UH, STUDENTS IN THERE THAT, UH, ARE ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS AND ARE ACTUALLY, UH, WHICH IS, UH, ENLIGHTENING AND, UH, AND HEARTENING TO SEE THAT THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S, UH, HAPPENING NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY.
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS REALLY, UH, NOTHING OF A LOCAL SENSE FOR THIS, UH, THIS PRIMARY ELECTION, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT, UH, THAT OUR FUTURE LEADERS ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION.
SO IT WAS NICE AND, UH, WANTED TO THANK MS. HERNANDEZ FROM LAHABRA HIGH SCHOOL, UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, LAHABRA RACES, UH, WEEK AND A HALF AGO AS WELL.
THAT WAS, UH, A GREAT EVENT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
UH, UH, OVER 720, UH, PARTICIPANTS, RUNNERS, AND I THINK THAT WAS UP FROM OVER 500, UH, THE YEAR BEFORE.
SO GREAT JOB, UH, UH, TO YOU KELLY AND, UH, YOUR, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT AND TO ALL OUR CITY STAFF, UH, ELIAS, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS, PEOPLE BEING OUT THERE, AND OF COURSE OUR, UH, POLICE CHIEF, UH, KEEPING US SAFE OUT THERE.
AND, UH, THIS, UH, THIS MORNING I AND, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF AND A FEW OF THE, UH, UH, THE POLICE CAPTAINS AND THE POLICE LIEUTENANT HAD, UH, MADE A, A A TREK OUT TO BEVERLY HILLS THIS MORNING, MY DAY OFF FROM MY DAY JOB.
UH, AND, UH, UH, GOT A, UH, A FIRSTHAND VIEW THANKS TO, UH, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, GABBY YAP FOR, UH, FOR, UH, MAKING THAT HAPPEN FOR US.
GOT A TOUR OF THEIR WATCH CENTER, UH, WHICH WAS, UH, QUITE, UH, QUITE THE TREAT.
YOU COULD SEE, UH, WHAT THEY DO.
UH, UH, BEVERLY HILLS IS NOT LAHABRA AND LAHABRA IS NOT BEVERLY HILLS, BUT, UH, THEY, UH, THEY DO DIFFERENT THINGS THERE WITH, UH, WITH CAMERA TECHNOLOGY AND, UH, SURVEILLANCE, UH, DRONES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE, UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY IS, UH, AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE AND OUT WATCHING ON TV, IS THAT, UH, YOU NEED TO KNOW OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE INNOVATIVE.
NOT JUST FINDING IDEAS WITHIN THE CITY, BUT FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
THIS IS THE COMMITMENT OUR POLICE CHIEF GIVES US AND OUR OFFICERS GIVE US, UH, IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS WHAT, UH, THIS IS HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SEE HOW OTHER CITIES, UH, USE TECHNOLOGIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO IT WAS, UH, IT WAS NICE TO SEE.
THANK YOU GABBY FOR, UH, FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UH, AND, UH, THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE ESPOSA, THANK YOU.
I ALSO ATTENDED WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, THE LA HARBOR 5K WALK RUN.
UM, IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN THIS TIME.
I, I, THE AWARDS THAT THEY GAVE THE BEST COSTUMES, THE BEST THEMES.
IT WAS EVERYTHING AND EVERY, EVERYTHING EVERYONE WANTED.
AND I WOULD, I DID, I DID NOT TAKE THE ENTIRE 5K 'CAUSE I WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN BACK IN TIME FOR THE WHOLE AWARD PRESENTATION.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
SO THIS TIME I JUST CUT IT SHORT, BUT I DIDN'T CLOCK MYSELF IN, SO I WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, CUT IT SHORT AND COME IN.
THE 71-YEAR-OLD LADY BROKE RECORD TIME FROM THESE TWO, THESE 22-YEAR-OLD KIDS.
SO, BUT, UH, I ENJOYED THE WALK THAT I DID.
UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THE STAFF DOES TO HAVE THE, THESE EVENTS.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST CONGRATULATE ALL THE WOMEN THAT WERE RECOGNIZED WITH THE WOMEN A DISTINCTION AWARD, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE IN SANTA ANA COLLEGE.
UH, SENATOR BERG RECOGNIZED, UH, CARRIE SIG AND, UM, MARIA LAGA.
AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE FROM THE CITY OF LA HARBOR, LA HARBOR SCHOOL DISTRICT, I BELIEVE.
UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
WELL DESERVED, AND I WAS EXCITED TO BE THERE AND TO SEE, UH, YOU ALL GET RECOGNIZED AND IT WAS WELL DESERVED.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE, UH, SPRING DECORATIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CITY HALL.
I, I, I QUITE OFTEN FORGET TO MENTION THEM, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S NICE BECAUSE, UH, YOU SEE THE RESIDENT MEMBERS COME IN TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL OR COME AND DO SOME KIND OF BUSINESS, AND YOU SEE THEM TAKE A PICTURE OF THEMSELVES WITH THEIR CHILDREN OR WHOEVER THEY ARE WITH, JUST TO SEE WHAT, UM, WHAT KIND OF DECORATIONS ARE THERE.
AND I MEAN, YOU GUYS GO IN THE EXTRA MILE WITH ALL THESE DECORATIONS, EVEN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING IN AND SEEING WHAT ALL YOU GUYS HAVE DONE WITH THE DECORATION AND THE FESTIVITY AND THE CELEBRATION.
SO, THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF WHO GOES OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DO ALL OF THIS.
I, IT JUST EXCITES ME TO SEE THE FAMILIES AND THE RESIDENT MEMBERS COME AND SMILE.
AND THEY MENTIONED TO ME THAT THEY LIKE THESE, UH, THESE THEMES THAT THE CITY HALL HAS AND THE PRESIDENT.
SO OUR, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MEL SHANNON, IS LARGELY THE BLAME FOR ALL OF THAT
UH, I, WE THINK THAT HE HAS, UH, SOME FORMER LIFE AS A PARTY PLANNER,
BUT THE THING I'LL NOTE IS THAT EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN CITY HALL IS PURCHASED BY OUR STAFF.
THAT IS BY BOUGHT BY THE CITY.
IT'S A LOT OF, IT'S PURCHASED BY OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
[01:35:01]
AND, UH, HE, UH, OFTEN GOES THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH FINANCE.THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A PROLIFERATION ACROSS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF HIM.
WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION SOMETIMES.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK AND, AND JUST SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR THE MID-YEAR BUDGET.
I MEAN, IT'S ABOUT, UH, THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND CLEARLY YOU SEE THAT THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE AND THE GOAL OF ALL THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS PUT INTO IT.
THE GRANT WRITINGS, FINDING THE FUNDING WHEREVER YOU CAN.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH MEASURE T BECAUSE IT'S A BIG SOURCE FOR US AT HALF SENSE TAX.
SO, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL REPORT AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM MOVING FORWARD FOR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, ROSE COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ROSE ESPINOZA AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND, UH, MARIACHI GIRL THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND IT WAS FABULOUS.
THE LAST DAY WAS ON SUNDAY AND THEY JUST DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
IT WAS A PLAY THAT MADE YOU LAUGH, MADE YOU CRY, MADE YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND DANCE IN THE AISLES.
DEPOT THEATER IS JUST DOING WONDERFUL.
UH, 5K RUN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES YET.
UH, WANT TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME AND SPOKE TODAY.
UM, THE ONE WHO WANTS TO POSSIBLY USE THE OLD CHIROPRACTIC BUILDING.
AND THE CONCERN I HAVE IS I DON'T WANT TO GIVE HER ANY FALSE SENSE OF OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY, AND YOU KNOW, LET HER DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
UH, AS WAS ALLUDED IN OUR GOALS SESSION, DO WE PLAN ON MAKING THIS AN ARTS DISTRICT AND THE, UH, HISTORICAL MUSEUM IS SCHEDULED TO, TO GO IN THAT AREA THERE.
UM, SO, UM, I'D HATE HER TO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, FALSE SENSE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR THAT BUILDING RIGHT NOW.
UH, A LOT OF WORK AND PLANNING HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY KELLY AND HER STAFF FOR THE WHOLE CORRIDOR DOWN HERE, UH, FOR CITY HALL AND THAT, THOSE BUILDINGS AND ALSO ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, SO JUST WANNA MAKE, MAKE MENTION OF THAT.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, MARIA MACHA ON YOUR REAPPOINTMENT.
IT'S ALWAYS, YES, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO, UH, COME OUT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SEE YOU THERE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO A NEW BUSINESS, CAJUN CRAB THAT HAD A NICE RIBBON CUTTING, UH, THIS WEEKEND.
FABULOUS BUSY BUSINESS OUT THERE.
WERE OUT THERE AND MARIA AND, UH, CAROL AND MANY OF OUR COMMISSIONERS, UH, THAT CAME OUT TO, TO THAT EVENT.
UM, ALSO TO ADDRESS ANOTHER RESIDENT, YOU KNOW, UH, I HAD A CONCERN ABOUT CATS.
I JUST, UH, WANT YOU TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE HAD THE, THE CAT LADY OUT IN THAT AREA DURING HALLOWEEN.
SO MAKE SURE WE, WE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, UH, THAT, THAT JUST TONGUE, TONGUE IN CHEEK.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, WORDS OF WISDOM, PLEASE JUST, UH, THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
UH, STAFF CONTINUES TO DO A GREAT JOB, MAKES THE CITY SHINE.
UM, IT WAS FUN GOING TO THE, UM, SENATORS, WOMEN OF DISTINCTION, SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED.
AND, UM, ALSO THE, UM, RACES WERE ALWAYS AND CONTINUE TO BE GREAT FUN.
I BELIEVE THE, UH, WAS RECORD ATTENDANCE AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW.
AND I KNOW THE CITY STAFF IS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AND WANTING TO GROW THIS EVENT AND CERTAINLY SHOWS.
SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, PUTTING UP WITH MY PHONE, UM, ADDITION HERE TO THE MEETING.
UH, BUT I APPRECIATE CONTINUING TO BE A PART OF SUCH A GREAT GROUP, UH, FOR A GREAT COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, PLEASE GET BETTER SOON.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ HAS GOT ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK.
I WANNA MAKE A, I SAID YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE THING.
I WANNA, UH, CONGRATULATE KAYA LES.
UH, JOSE WANNA MENTION, MENTION THAT BETTER.
ANYWAY, THIS SATURDAY SHE'S GONNA BE PLAYING IN THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AT 11:30 AM CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.
UH, SHE'S WITH CHATTANOOGA AND WE'RE PLANNING A WATCH PARTY ON SATURDAY.
I WILL BLAST THAT OUT AND JOSE WILL BLAST THAT OUT IN THE COUNCIL AS TO WHERE THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE.
SUPPOSED SHE'S SUPPOSED TO PLAY SATURDAY, 1130 NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.
UH, LO LOCAL GROWN WENT TO OUR SCHOOLS HERE LOCALLY.
CONGRATULATIONS, UH, WENT TO MACI ELEMENTARY AND, UH, RANCHO STARBUCK, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ATTENDED MODERN DAY HIGH SCHOOL.
[01:40:01]
ALRIGHT.FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS TO RETURNING COMMISSIONERS RICHARD ROJAS AND MARIA MECHA.
WE VALUE YOUR SERVICE TREMENDOUSLY.
CONGRATS ON, ON STAYING ON AND ALSO CONGRATS TO NEW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS OF VERONICA HANNA AND DANITZA CARDENAS.
WELCOME TO THE COMMISSIONS AND WE KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB.
AND AS I SAY, BUSY COUPLE WEEKS, THERE WAS THE 5K RUN, 725 PEOPLE.
I DID TWO READ ACROSS AMERICA EVENTS AT TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THERE WAS ALSO A GREAT RUN OF THE JUNGLE BOOK, WHICH WAS A SCHOOL PRODUCTION AT LAS LOMAS, WHICH CLOSED ON MARCH 9TH.
AND I ATTENDED THE FINAL SHOW AND PRESENTED THEM WITH A PROCLAMATION.
TOOK ME RIGHT BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD, SEEING MOLEY AND BALU AND ALL THOSE CHARACTERS.
IT WAS A GREAT, LIKE 45 MINUTE CONDENSED VERSION OF THE MOVIE WE ALL GREW UP WITH.
UH, MY FINAL THING IS KIND OF SOME BIG NEWS.
I WAS ADVISED OF THIS JUST TODAY, AND THIS COMES FROM THE, UH, THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I'M ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE AND AS IT TURNS OUT, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE, UH, FOR $1,509,000 WITH A MATCHING GRANT OF $755,000 TO THE LAHABRA LIBRARY.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS 'CAUSE THIS INCLUDES UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT ALL VARIOUS AREAS.
FIRE AND SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, A D UPGRADES, RESTROOM IMPROVEMENTS, UPDATES TO STAFF AND COMMUNITY ROOMS, CARPETING, PAINTING, SHELVING, ROOFING, HVAC, EVERYTHING.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY HERE, IT'S A COUNTY LIBRARY, BUT IT'S, IT'S A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
IT HAS BEEN NEED OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOW THE MONEY IS THERE AND CONSTRUCTION IS SET TO BEGIN EARLY 2025.
SO IN DUE TIME, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LOOKING LIBRARY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR KIDS.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
SO WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO MONDAY, APRIL 1ST AT 5:30 PM AND THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION, ROOM ONE 12 C 100 EAST LA HARBOR BOULEVARD, FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.