Apr 01, 2024 City Council

[00:00:04]

ALL RIGHT, I'LL NOW CALL

[ 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]

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS NOW 6:30 PM AND THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

THE INVOCATION TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY ATTORNEY JONES, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG S**T, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN.

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

UH, DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE HUMBLY COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING AS WE PREPARE TO SAY GOODBYE TO STEVE SIMONIAN.

AS HE LEAVES THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS HE, HIS FAMILY WITH, UH, HEALTH, UH, JOY AND HAPPINESS, AND A SENSE OF GRATITUDE FROM THE CITY OF LAHABRA FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE HE'S PROVIDED TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THE CITY COUNCIL WITH WISDOM AND INSIGHT THIS EVENING.

WE SAY THESE THINGS IN THY NAME, AMEN.

AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN SALUTING THE GREATEST FLAG OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

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

THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY JONES, AND THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOMEZ.

HERE.

MAYOR PRO TEM ESPINOZA.

HERE.

MAYOR NICK.

IAN HERE.

THANK YOU.

SO THERE IS NO CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO NOW I'D LIKE TO MOVE

[ CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT: PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS: 1. Recognition of City Councilmember Simonian for his service on City Council.]

SO I'D CALL UPON MY COLLEAGUES AND THE, UH, EMINENCE GREECE TO JOIN US HERE DOWN ON THE FLOOR BY THE PODIUM.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE, UH, THE EASIEST MEETING OR EVENING ACTUALLY TO GET THROUGH FOR ALL OF US, I THINK.

BUT NONETHELESS, HERE WE ARE.

IT IS TRULY A, UH, HISTORIC MOMENT.

AND I HAVE, UH, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

NO.

YES, PLEASE.

WE'RE HERE FOR EDDIE JAMES OLMO, RIGHT? OH, YES, OF COURSE.

ISN'T THAT WHAT I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING AN AUTOGRAPH SIGNING.

I THOUGHT THAT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS CLEAR.

THIS IS JUST A SIDES SHOW, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS CLEAR THAT WE'RE HERE, .

I'M EXCITED.

ARE WE DOING THE LEGACY AWARDS? , THE LEGACY AWARDS? WELL, EDWARD JAMES OLMOS IS HERE AS WELL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO I HAVE SOME COMMENTS HERE.

I'D LIKE TO READ ABOUT STEVE SIMONIAN, AND HE'LL JUST HAVE TO STAND HERE AND TAKE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN IS NO STRANGER TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

IN FACT, HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE BEGAN ALMOST 58 YEARS AGO IN THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO.

WHEN STEVE WAS HIRED AS A POLICE OFFICER, HE WORKED AS AN UNDERCOVER COP AND SPENT 18 YEARS IN THE UNIT ADVANCING TO SERGEANT IN CHARGE, AS WELL AS OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT'S INTELLIGENCE UNIT BEFORE HE WAS NAMED CHIEF OF POLICE IN 1987.

STEVE'S OUTSTANDING CAREER IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR DID NOT STOP THERE.

HE WENT ON TO SERVE AS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND INTERIM POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS.

AND AS THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEFORE RETURNING TO THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS TO SERVE AS ITS CITY MANAGER UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2011.

AND AS CHIEF OF THE DA'S OFFICE, HE ONLY MADE ONE MISTAKE, I THINK, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT .

HE HIRED HIM, BUT HE DID.

HE HIRED HIM.

BUT IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH ALREADY, STEVE INVESTED HIS TIME TO SERVE THE CITY OF LAHARA AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM 1998 TO 2010, WHERE HE SERVED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES AS MAYOR OF LAHABRA.

WHEN STEVE BEGAN HIS FIRST STINT ON THE CITY COUNCIL, HE APPLIED FOR THE VACANT SEAT LEFT BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER DAVE SHEVERTON.

HE WAS AMONG 15 CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION, BUT HIS IDEA IS TO HELP SHAPE THE ECONOMIC MAKEUP OF LAHABRA BY BRINGING IN LARGE NATIONAL RETAILERS TO ADD JOBS, IMPROVE PROPERTY CONDITIONS, AND PROVIDE A LARGE RETAIL TAX BASE TO HELP FUND SERVICES AND PROGRAMS SEEMED TO PLEASE CITY LEADERS.

AND STEVE WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE CITY COUNCIL JUST LIKE THAT.

NOT LONG AFTER STEVE HELPED DRAW HOME DEPOT TO LAHARA AS THE FIRST AND A LONG LINE OF LARGE RETAILERS WANTING TO PLANT ROOTS IN LA HABRA ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A PODIUM.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, STEVE WAS ONCE AGAIN ELECTED BY THE RESIDENTS OF LA HABRA TO SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO HELP TACKLE THE CITY'S ISSUES WITH CON WITH CONTINUING TO REFORM THE PENSION SYSTEM AND REDUCE COSTS TO THE TAXPAYERS.

NOT LONG DO HIS NEW TERM.

THOSE OF US ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAD THE CHALLENGE OF THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND UNEXPECTED AND DIFFICULT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO WORK

[00:05:01]

BUT COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY BEGAN TO SEE RECORD CROWDS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND CONTINUED ITS WORK WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, INCLUDING PARKS, STREETS, ALLEYS, SIDEWALKS, AND WATER AND SEWER MAIN PROJECTS.

STEVE, ALONG WITH HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL, CONTINUED TO SUPPORT A STRONG, VIBRANT AND DIVERSE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

NOT TO MENTION THE CITY SAW A VARIETY OF NEW COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OR REACH COMPLETION OVER HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

STEVE WAS A, WAS THE RECIPIENT OF MANY PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADES.

SO MANY IN FACT, THAT IF I WERE TO LIST EVERY SINGLE HONOR, WE WOULD NOT MAKE IT OUT OF HERE AT A DECENT HOUR THIS EVENING.

THAT'S A GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD LINE, RO, THAT'S, I LIKE THAT AND NO DOUBT TRUE.

I WROTE IT.

YEAH.

, DID YOU HAVE TO COP TO THAT? I GUESS YOU DID.

SO I WILL END WITH THANKING YOU, STEVE, FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND DEDICATED SERVICE, NOT ONLY TO THE CITY OF LAHABRA, BUT FOR YOUR LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND GAVEL TO COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE SIMONIAN.

SET THIS DOWN.

CONFIRMATION, SIR.

AND YOUR IF YOU CAN DO THAT TOO.

ALRIGHT.

WE'VE GOT ALSO GOT A NUMBER OF FOLKS.

DO YOU WANNA DO PICTURES FIRST AND THEN HAVE THOSE FOLKS COME UP? OKAY.

LET DO ONE WITH JUST THE COUNCIL FIRST.

OKAY.

YOU GET GOOD SIGHT .

IT'S ALL GOOD.

ALRIGHT.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN.

SO AS YOU WILL PLEASE COME FORWARD.

UH, IT ACTUALLY SAYS HERE, I'LL CALL YOUR NAME.

WE HAVE, UH, WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ORANGE COUNTY, MR. DOUG CHAFFEE, FOURTH DISTRICT, MR. CHAFFEE.

THANK MR. OH, WOW.

WELL, YOU HAVE SO MANY AWARDS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'LL FIND A PLACE FOR THIS ONE, BUT IT'S TRULY THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR YOU.

AND WHEN I READ THROUGH IT, IT'S NOT ONLY YOUR SERVICE AS A POLICE OFFICER AND YOUR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL, BUT THE MANY NONPROFITS THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, TRULY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.

SO I WISH YOU WELL IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU MAY DO IN THE FUTURE AND GOOD HEALTH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

1, 2, 3.

OKAY.

YOU'D LIKE THIS BACK PROBABLY? YES, I SUPPOSE SO.

NOT REALLY, BUT YES.

THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE FIDEL VASQUEZ, REPRESENTATIVE FROM SENATOR TOM BERG'S OFFICE? YES, WE DO.

YES, WE DO.

SAY A FEW WORDS.

OKAY.

RECORD.

THANK THERE.

ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS FI DUN.

I'M FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE SENATOR TOM BERG.

AND JUST WANTED TO COME OUT HERE TONIGHT, UH, AND JUST GIVE MY HEARTFELT MOST THINGS AND SHOW A SHOW OF GRATITUDE IN THIS SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN FOR YOUR ENTIRE DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF LA HABRA AND JUST YOUR ENTIRE CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

IT'S TRULY A WONDER, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, KIND OF VENTURING OFF INTO PUBLIC SERVICE MYSELF NOT TOO LONG AGO.

I KIND OF SEE THAT NOWADAYS IT'S VERY HARD TO COME ACROSS AS SOMEONE WHO'S VERY GENUINELY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND EVER SINCE DAY ONE, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'VE DONE THAT.

UM, AND SO WITH THAT, I'D JUST LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS JOINT RESOLUTION WITH ON BEHALF OF, OF STATE SENATOR TOM BERG.

AND, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, STATE SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN.

IF YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS, CHRIS, YES.

WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST WITH YOUR FUTURE SUCCESSES.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

UNLESS THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO SNUCK IN AT THE LAST MINUTE WITH A PROCLAMATION.

UH, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD FOR NOW.

I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE.

WE HAVE ONE MORE.

ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD.

UH, STEVE AND

[00:10:01]

SO IF WE CAN, UM, GO AHEAD AND AGENDIZE THAT.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD YOUR THOUGHTS UNTIL LATER? UH, THIS IS NOT EASY.

UM, I TRULY LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S, UH, IT HELP RAISE MY CHILDREN.

MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER BOTH GRADUATED FROM SONORA AND THEIR SPOUSES ALSO GRADUATED FROM SONORA.

UH, MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

MELISSA WAS A BEES VERY FAMOUS FAMILY IN LAHA BROTHER.

HER BROTHER WAS A LOS ANGELES DODGER, SO, UH, VERY LOCAL FAMILY.

AND THEN MY DAUGHTER MARRIED A CRUISE, TOM CRUISE, IN FACT, , IF IT WAS ONLY THE REAL ONE, .

BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A REAL GREAT MAN WHO DOES A GREAT JOB BEING A GREAT TEACHER FOR GREAT KIDS.

HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HE'S JUST A GREAT GUY AND WE LOVE HIM A WHOLE BUNCH.

AND IN FACT, THE WHOLE FAMILY, THERE'S FIVE GRANDKIDS ALL CALL HIM UNCLE FUN.

SO MUST BE TRUE.

BUT, UH, THIS COMMUNITY, AS I WAS WORKING UNDERCOVER AND TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, UM, THIS COMMUNITY TRULY DID RAISE MY CHILDREN.

MY LATE WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN PTA AND, UM, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, EVERYTHING THAT SHE COULD DO, A YS OH SOCCER.

AND, UH, I JUST TRAVELED AND, UH, TRIED TO BE AS A GOOD OF A ACTOR AS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

EDWARD JAMES ALMOST WAS HERE TONIGHT, AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT HE'S HERE.

AND THE THREE OF US, JAY NOMURA, THE OWNER OF M'S.

FLOWERS IN MONTEBELLO, AND THE TRULY THE LEADER OF HIS FAMILY, UM, ALL THREE OF US, UM, HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW GROUNDED MR. ALMOS IS AND HOW MUCH WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND LOVE BEING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND WE'RE WITH EACH OTHER AN AWFUL LOT.

SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.

IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME.

THANK YOU.

UM, I, UH, WANNA THANK THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CAME HERE THIS EVENING.

UH, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GENEROUS THEY ARE WITH THEIR TIME AND THEIR MONEY.

AMAZINGLY GENEROUS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT IN MY YEARS OF DOING THIS JOB.

UH, LAST WEEK, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AND I WENT, UH, INTO PICO RIVERA AND PICKED UP A CHECK FOR A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A PARK.

UH, JUST CONSTANTLY HAPPENING.

UH, SUPERVISOR HAS BEEN EXTREMELY GENEROUS TO US.

UH, SENATOR BERG, UH, EVERYBODY.

IT'S JUST AMAZING, UH, HOW GENEROUS YOU FOLKS ARE AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE CAN USE THE MONEY.

PEOPLE HERE, UH, CAN USE THE AMENITIES.

AND, UH, RESERVOIR PARK IS, UH, A FUNNY STORY.

MY DAUGHTER, WHO, UH, HER BEST FRIEND WAS MY SON'S WIFE.

AND, UH, THEY PLAYED TOGETHER AS CHILDREN IN THE OLD RESERVOIR.

AND THERE ACTUALLY WAS A WOODEN COVERED RESERVOIR THERE.

AND WHEN THE CITY CAME TO COVER THE STRUCTURE AND TO REMOVE IT, THEY'RE GONNA PUT A PARK THERE.

ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS IN A SUIT ASKED MY DAUGHTER, WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS PLACE? AND SHE SAYS, WE CALL IT THE OLD RESERVOIR PARK.

THERE IS NO NAME.

THAT WAS JUST WHAT SHE GAVE IT.

SO IT IS KIND OF FITTING.

NOW SHE CAN SAY IT'S MY PARK.

BUT ALONG COMES THE EXPENSES OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT PARK.

, IF I DON'T HAVE TO BUY YOU LUNCH AND DINNER, I'LL HAVE THE MONEY.

I'LL

[00:15:01]

ANYWAY, I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY DESERVE THE VERY BEST.

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A CHALLENGE COMING UP FINANCIALLY, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PICK, UH, ADDING SOME TAX TAXES TO THEIR BASE.

AND I HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THEY PICK, UH, ADDING THOSE TAXES SO THEY CAN GET THE SERVICES, THEY CAN GET THE THINGS THAT THEY SOW, UH, WELL DESERVE.

UM, WE HAVE GREAT SERVICES HERE.

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM.

SO I'M HOPING THEY'LL DO THE RIGHT THING.

UM, BUT TRULY, I WAS BLESSED THAT YOU ALLOWED ME, UH, TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME.

AND, UH, I WILL ALWAYS LOOK BACK FOR WHATEVER YEARS I HAVE LEFT AND SAY IT WAS GOD'S WORK.

AND I WAS PLEASED TO BE A PART OF IT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHO'S IRENE ? HE'S GETTING TO IT.

I WILL.

AND, UH, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT, UH, MY LATE WIFE MARY WAS A PART OF, OF THIS WHOLE DREAM, THIS WHOLE PLAN, THIS WHOLE THING.

BUT SHE LEFT US, UH, IN 2006 AND, UM, MY LIFE WAS OVER WITH.

AND, UH, TWO YEARS LATER, I MET THIS REMARKABLE YOUNG LADY AND SHE SAVED MY LIFE.

SHE'S GIVEN ME A SECOND CHANCE AND DON'T THINK I DON'T APPRECIATE IT.

SO SHE'S GOT HER OWN LIVES.

SHE'S QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN HER OWN WAY.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SAW THE SHHE TANI MURAL IN LITTLE TOKYO, IT'S PAINTED RIGHT ABOVE MY WIFE'S STORE.

UH, THEY USED HER ROOF FOR THE SCAFFOLDING AND PAINTED THAT PAINTING.

SO SHE GETS TO SEE IT EVERY DAY ON THE WAY TO WORK.

UM, SHE LOVES WHAT SHE DOES.

SHE LOVES, UH, BEING THERE AND BEING WITH THOSE FOLKS AND HELPING THEM.

BUT MORE THAN THAT, SHE LOVES ME AND MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN, HER GRANDCHILDREN.

AND AGAIN, SHE'S MADE A PRETTY DAMN GOOD LIFE FOR ME.

SO I'M GONNA STICK AROUND AS MUCH AS I CAN TO HELP THEM TO STAY WITH HIM AND TO HAUNT HIM .

SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

MAYBE PLEASE HAVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR STEVE SIMONIAN TO BE IN FRONT OF THE TALL.

WHAT'S UP JIM? JIM, I, SORRY.

RIGHT HERE, .

[00:20:03]

EXCEPT THERE'S ONE MORE THING JUST CAME IN BEFORE, BEFORE WE BREAK UP HERE COMPLETELY.

I DO HAVE ONE MORE, UH, CERTIFICATE THAT JUST CAME IN OVER THE TRANSOM.

STEVE.

YEAH.

DON'T, DON'T LEAVE QUITE YET.

'CAUSE I JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE THIS.

IT'S FROM THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND IT'S A CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO STEVE SIMONIAN ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA'S 38TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, LINDA SANCHEZ, REPRESENTATIVE SANCHEZ SENT THIS CERTIFICATE, AND I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE TO SAY AT THE END OF THIS MEETING INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THIS, BUT WE WILL RETURN UP TO THE DEUS AND, AND FINISH THE BUSINESS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS

[ 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.]

WHEN ADDRESSING THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COMPLETE A SPEAKER'S CARD BEFORE LEAVING THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING AND LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH 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 THIS MEETING.

AND MAYOR, I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS.

VERY GOOD.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW FOR THREE MINUTES? ANYBODY? I DO.

MS. LIMON, COMMISSIONER LIMON? SURE.

STEP ON UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ANNETTE LI MO IN TWO 10 EAST FRANCIS AVENUE.

UH, HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THIS IS FOR MR. SIMONIAN.

I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1979 AND WHEN YOU CAME ALONG, YOU BROUGHT SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY EVENT THAT YOU ATTENDED, YOU WALKED, YOU, UM, ENGAGE YOURSELF WITH ALL THE CHILDREN, UM, OF LA HABRA.

THEY LOVED YOU AS WE LOVE YOU.

UH, YOU'VE BEEN SO MANY THINGS TO MANY OF US, ESPECIALLY A MENTOR.

AND FOR ME, YOU ARE MY MENTOR.

UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR EVERYBODY AND, AND FOR ME, UH, ASKING ME TO RUN FOR COMMISSIONER COMMUNITY SERVICES.

UH, AND I DID.

AND I, I EARNED IT.

AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE PUT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH.

ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WONDERFUL LIFE WITH YOUR WIFE AND KNOW THAT WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU, ANNETTE.

ANYBODY ELSE AT THIS TIME? CARRIE SEARCH.

COME ON UP.

KERRY SEGE, THE HABER RESIDENT, 2000 ELM CROFT CIRCLE.

UM, COUNCILMAN SIMONIAN, YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING MEN.

UM, WE AS RESIDENTS OF LAHABRA AND A PART OF THE COMMISSIONS HERE IN LAHABRA, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE, ALL YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE HARBOR, ALL THE YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE, UM, YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.

IT, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING.

AND WE JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

AND, UM, WHEN WE'RE IN HAWAII, WE'LL COME AND SEE YOU.

ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE'LL MOVE FORWARD

[ 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. ]

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ALL MATTERS ON THE 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

[00:25:01]

ITEM FIVE HAS BEEN PROVIDED AT THE DIOCESE FOR ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH COPIES AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

THANK, THANK YOU, RHONDA.

WOULD STAFF LIKE ANY CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM REMOVED? NONE MR. MAYOR, WOULD MY COLLEAGUES LIKE ANY ITEM REMOVED? MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

YOU ABSTAIN ON ITEM FOUR.

DULY NOTED.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER, THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO HAVE A ITEM, UH, REMOVED? SEEING NONE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? HANG ON.

I TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR.

IS THERE A SECOND EXTENSION OF DOCUMENT? SORRY, SEC.

I'M SORRY, WHO SECONDED? COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN.

YES, HE DID.

THANK YOU.

PLEASE VOTE NOW.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

NOW I'M LOOKING

[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]

AM I CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

THERE WAS A, UH, VERY THICK STACK OF PAPERS UP HERE, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY NOW I'M NOT SEEING IT.

MAYBE I SHOULD, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, I, YEAH.

LET'S JUST TAB TAKE NOTE OF ALL THESE SLIDES, UM, JUST DIRECTLY BY LOOKING AT THE SCREEN.

UH, FOLKS, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE CPR AND FIRST AID CLASS.

COMING UP MEETING ONCE A MONTH ON SELECT SATURDAYS.

UH, FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS WONDERFUL, UH, PROGRAM.

5 6 2 3 8 3 4200.

AND THEN KIDS NIGHT OUTS COMING UP FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH, 6:00 PM TO 10 30 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

MORE INFORMATION ON THIS.

UH, PLEASE CALL 5 6 2 3 8 3 4 2 0 0.

SENIOR DANCES ARE ON FULL SWING.

NEXT ONE IS SUNDAY, APRIL 21ST, TWO TO 4:00 PM LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER.

UH, $8, UH, PER PERSON PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

MAKE A RESERVATION BY VISITING THE COMMUNITY CENTER, OR CALLING 5 6 2 3 8 3 4200 PLAN AND COMMISSION MEETS, UH, ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETS THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

REMEMBER FOLKS, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN, UH, ABSOLUTELY DELUGED, WATER STILL REMAINS A PRECIOUS AND IMPORTANT RESOURCE.

SO DO YOUR BEST TO CONSERVE.

THANK YOU.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT LA HABER'S FIRE 9 1 1 AND QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES CITY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE PUBLIC AS WE CONSIDER A 24 BUDGET WHERE FUNDING CUTS COULD WELL TAKE PLACE.

PLEASE TELL US WHAT'S IMPORTANT BY COMPLETING A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY.

AND THAT IS AVAILABLE BY SCANNING THIS QR CODE OR BY VISITING LAHABRA CO.GOV.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

WAS THAT IT? THAT'S IT, MAYOR.

OH, GOOD.

I'M GLAD, MAYOR.

WELL, NOW IT'S TIME FOR

[ COMMENTS FROM STAFF:]

UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SIMONIAN, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE TEAM AND STAFF, UH, I WANNA COMMEND YOU ON A REMARKABLE CAREER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LAHABRA.

WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE'LL MISS YOU.

WELL, I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I JUST FOUND THE SCRIPT FOR THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR, .

ALRIGHT, SO NOW IT'S TIME

[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]

COMMENTS.

COMMENTS, JOSE? NO, NO, NO.

HE WANTS TO GO AS YOU WANNA GO FIRST.

I'LL DO FIRST BECAUSE MAYOR PROTE, ESPINO GOES FIRST.

I KNOW THESE GUYS ARE GONNA CRY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA TALK A LOT.

BUT I, STEVE, I JUST HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WORKING WITH YOU ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, YOU WERE LIKE A BIG BROTHER TO ME.

YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME THAT ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW ME.

HE INVITED ME TO HIS HOME.

HE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ME BECAUSE I HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR THREE TIMES, I THINK IT WAS.

AND SO HE FINALLY CAME.

HE SAYS, CAN YOU COME OVER TO MY HOUSE? HE GOES, I WANNA MEET THE PERSON THAT HAS GREEN EYES AND SPITS FIRE.

AND I GO, WHAT IS THAT? WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS? BUT HE SUPPORTED ME ALL THE WAY, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL SINCE, AND HE'S LIKE A BIG BROTHER TO ME.

I ONLY HOPE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE SOME KIND OF SINGING LESSONS TO ALL THREE OR ONE SO HE CAN SING ME, UH, ROSIE OIO SWEET ROSIE.

WHAT IS THAT? RO YEAH.

THAT ONE SONG THAT HE ALWAYS SINGS TO ME EVERY TIME I COME INTO THE COUNCIL.

SO I HOPE HE HAS GIVEN, UH, SINGING LESSONS TO ONE OF YOU GUYS.

'CAUSE I EXPECT THAT TO KEEP GOING FOR ME.

BUT, UH, I WISH YOU WELL, STEVE, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO MEET EACH OTHER.

WE'RE GONNA BE CONTINUALLY IN CONTACT WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA DISAPPEAR FROM US AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE HANGING OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE OR DOING SOMETHING, BUT WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU ALL THE TIME.

SO, UM, THANK YOU

[00:30:01]

THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY SHARING HIM WITH US.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, IRENE, FOR EVERYONE, WE'VE JUST HAD A WONDERFUL TIME SINCE HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNCIL WITH US.

SO THANK YOU WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MADANO.

THANKS, STEVE.

.

NICE.

KIDDING, KIDDING.

UH, THIS IS, THIS IS LITERALLY BITTERSWEET.

UM, UH, STEVE IS, UH, IS SOMEBODY I CALL CHIEF.

I CALL HIM HEA IN SPANISH.

UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, IN THE YEAR 2004, ALMOST, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, IT'LL BE NOVEMBER, HE, UH, HE HIRED ME AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I WAS A POLICE LATERAL FROM THE CITY OF PASADENA.

I HAD SPENT NINE YEARS IN THE CITY OF PASADENA.

AND I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS.

HE MAY NOT, UH, GOING IN FOR MY CHIEF'S INTERVIEW BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FINAL PART OF YOUR INTERVIEW PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, I HAD PASSED BACKGROUND, WHATEVER ELSE.

AND, UH, I WENT IN AND, UH, AND SAT IN FRONT OF HIM, AND HE WAS LOOKING AT MY, MY FILE.

I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW THICK IT WAS, BUT YOU DON'T RE YOU DON'T REMEMBER THIS, BUT YOU, YOU ASKED ME, MAN, MY CHIEF AT PASADENA WAS, UH, WAS BARNEY MIAN.

HE LOOKS AT ME, HE LOOKS UP AND HE GOES, WHAT DID YOU DO TO P**S BARNEY OFF EXACTLY WHAT HE ASKED ME? AND, AND I TOLD HIM NOTHING.

I GO, BARNEY'S JUST UPSET BECAUSE I'M, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WANNA LEAVE.

UH, AND, UH, AND I WANTED TO COME TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND, UH, I, UH, IT WAS A PLACE, IT WAS A PLACE FOR ME WHERE I COULD RAISE MY KIDS AND STILL DO POLICE WORK, UM, WHERE I COULD DO DETECTIVE WORK AS I SAW IT.

I WAS A DETECTIVE IN PASADENA FOR A GOOD TIME.

UH, WORKED, UH, WORKED UNDERCOVER FOR, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, NOT LIKE HIM.

UH, BUT, UH, BUT I DID.

AND AT THE TIME, MY, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, ISSA, I THINK WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT, UH, A YEAR AND A HALF.

AND I HAD JUST HAD A NEWBORN.

MY, UH, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, ELISE, UH, WAS, UH, WAS BORN, UH, I THINK, UH, TWO WEEKS BEFORE I WAS OFFICIALLY HIRED, IF THAT, IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY.

SO I GET HIRED AND, UH, A FEW MONTHS LATER, I'M ASSIGNED TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

I GET A PHONE CALL, UH, FROM OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, GARY SCHRAM, AND I'VE TOLD HIM THIS STORY, BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.

UH, GARY SCHRAM CALLS ME AND ASKED ME, HE GOES, HEY.

HE GOES, UH, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN BEING THE CHIEF'S DRIVER? YOU KNOW, AND SEEING THAT YOU LIVE IN LA HABRA? AND, UH, I, YOU KNOW, I, I, I GO CHIEF, I GO, I, I DIDN'T KNOW.

I, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T SAY NO, BUT I, BUT I COULD.

I KNEW I COULDN'T SAY YES BECAUSE WE HAD THREE YOUNG KIDS AT HOME ALL UNDER THE AGE OF THREE, THREE AND A HALF.

MY WIFE IS A US ATTORNEY.

SHE WAS VERY BUSY AT THE TIME AS WELL.

STILL IS.

SHE'S STILL A US ATTORNEY.

AND, UH, AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS JUST, I, I CAME TO THE DA'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, TO CATCH SOME RELIEF FROM HAVING TO WORK WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND I, I TOLD HIM, I GO, CHIEF, I, I CAN'T, I MEAN, I JUST CAN'T.

I, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

AND, UH, HE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD ABOUT IT.

AND HE GOES, DON'T WORRY.

HE GOES, THIS CONVERSATION IS BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.

DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, WHO COULD, UH, WHO COULD DRIVE HIM AROUND? I SAID, WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DO.

IT WAS THE OTHER JOSE CISNEROS WHO LIVED RIGHT OVER THE HILL HERE IN HACIENDA HEIGHTS.

AND I GO, HE'LL DO IT.

HE'S GOT NO KIDS.

HE'S RECENTLY MARRIED, HE'S GOOD.

AND, UH, SURE, AS YOU KNOW, SURE AS HECK HE DID.

AND, UH, HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T KNOW THE STORY.

UM, UH, FAST FORWARD TO WHEN I RAN FIRST, RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2018, UM, I PUT IN MY PAPERS AND, UH, I, YOU KNOW, HE, HE PUT THE WORD OUT.

AND STEVE AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER THAT WELL, OTHER THAN HE HAD HIRED ME.

AND IT HAD BEEN YEARS SINCE I'D SEEN HIM, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, HE HAD LEFT THE DA'S OFFICE IN 2006.

AND, UH, I GET A PHONE CALL FROM A MUTUAL FRIEND, MATT, UH, MONTEZ, WHO CALLED ME AND SAYS, HEY, UH, YOU PUT IN FOR CITY COUNCIL? I GO, YEAH.

HE GOES, UH, THE CHIEF WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

AND I GO, CHIEF.

HE GOES, YEAH, SIMONIAN.

I'M LIKE, WHY DOES HE WANNA TALK TO ME? HE GOES, WELL, BECAUSE HE WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE RUNNING.

HE WANTS TO KNOW.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING OR ANYTHING.

I SAID, OKAY, WELL, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SO IT HAD BEEN YEARS, PROBABLY WELL OVER A DECADE SINCE I'D SPOKEN TO HIM.

I'D SEEN HIM AROUND TOWN AND WHAT HAVE YOU CALL HIM UP.

AND, UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE ROSE DESCRIBES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, UH, THE, THE MOST, THE MOST SWEETEST MAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW, INVITED ME OVER, UH, MET I RING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY HAD ME IN THEIR HOME AND, UH, WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS, GAVE ME THE ADVICE THAT I NEEDED, UH, TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU PICK UP ON WHEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING OVER HIS RESUME IS, UH, YOU KNOW, HE WORKED UNDERCOVER.

UM, AND, UH, HE DEALT WITH, UH, WITH A LOT OF SEWAGE PROJECTS.

TWO THINGS THAT, UH, HE, HE NEVER COULD LET GO OF THE DIRT OF THIS WORLD, REALLY, OR THE SEWAGE OF THIS WORLD BECAUSE, UH, HE'S SEEN A LOT AS A, UH, AS A, AS A POLICE OFFICER.

AND OF COURSE HERE ON CITY COUNCIL.

UH, SO, UH, CHIEF AND, UH, NO DISRESPECT TO OUR CURRENT POLICE CHIEF, BUT, UH, THERE'S ONLY GONNA, THE, THE, THE FIRST CHIEF THERE, THERE IS IN MY LIFE IS THIS MAN HERE.

AND

[00:35:01]

SO THANK YOU, CHIEF GONNA MISS YOU.

AND I'LL, UH, WE, WE HAVE LUNCH EVERY MONDAY, SO I'M GONNA, I'M, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE 'EM.

BUT CHIEF, IF THERE'S ONE THING, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF, THE LEGACY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT, UH, REALLY IS YOUR FAMILY RIGHT THERE.

THE BIG BOX STORES THAT YOU BROUGHT TO LA HABRA, NOTHING COMPARED TO YOUR FAMILY.

SO YOU GUYS ARE QUITE LUCKY TO HAVE, UH, UH, STEVE SIMONIAN AS YOUR, YOUR DAD AND YOUR, AND YOUR GRANDDAD.

SO, UH, ENJOY HIM.

AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK SOON.

CHIEF JOSE CALLED HIM HEFE, BUT WE ALSO CALL HIM CONSIGLIERE.

WE CALL HIM SENSEI.

WE CALL HIM OBIWAN SIMONIAN BECAUSE, UH, HE REALLY IS THE ORACLE OF HABRA.

AT LEAST HE BECAME THAT FOR ME WHEN WE, UH, WE MET OVER 25 YEARS AGO.

AND, UH, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, HE WAS A FATHER FIGURE TO ME, TRULY A MENTOR, AND SOMEBODY WHO JUST ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHED ME.

BECAUSE WHAT HE HAD GONE THROUGH IN HIS SERVICE UNDERCOVER AND THROUGHOUT DECADES OF SERVICE GENERALLY, IS THAT UNLIKE SO MANY PUBLIC SERVANTS, HE NEVER BECAME JADED.

HE NEVER BECAME CYNICAL.

HE WAS NEVER THE MEANS JUSTIFIES THE ENDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I HAVE NEVER MET A MORE MORAL MAN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE SENSE OF ETHICS AND INTEGRITY.

AND IF YOU EVEN LOOK SLIGHTLY CROSS-EYED AT ANY ISSUE THAT COULD PUT YOU IN A GRAY AREA, HE WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING? AND HE WILL TELL YOU AND STRAIGHTEN YOU OUT SO FAST.

IT'LL MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN JUST THE OPPOSITE.

I MEAN, HIS EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE HIM SUCH A BETTER MAN, AND HIS INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND HIS KNOWLEDGE HAS BENEFITED THIS COMMUNITY TO SUCH EXTENT THAT WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT BRAIN DRAIN, THAT'S A TREMENDOUS, UH, UNDERSTATEMENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO STEVE SIMONIAN, THE ONLY GOOD THING IS I PRAY HE'LL STILL REMAIN ABOUT MAYBE THREE OR FOUR CELL PHONE RINGS AWAY.

AND SO WE'LL STILL HAVE BENEFIT, UH, TO HIS, UH, VAST EXPERIENCE AND HIS CHARACTER, HIS ESSENTIAL CHARACTER, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAS GUIDED HIS EVERY ACTION ON THIS CITY COUNCIL.

AND EVERYTHING HE UNDERTOOK FOR THIS COMMUNITY WAS BASED UPON THIS FUNDAMENTAL LOVE FOR LA HABRA MOTIVATED HIM A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND HOW TO GET THERE WAS ALWAYS THE STRAIGHT PATH WITHOUT ANY DIVERSION.

SO THAT, UH, THAT INSTRUCTED ME ENORMOUSLY.

IT GUIDED ME.

AND I, I, WHO KNOWS, WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND I WAS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOUNGER, 25 YEARS AGO, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN MOLDED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BY SOMEBODY WHO SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO? YOU GOTTA GO IN THE BACK ROOM WHERE THE REAL SAUSAGE IS MADE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS IN THE REAL WORLD.

HE'LL TELL YOU WHAT THE REAL WORLD IS, THAT REAL WORLD IS OF YOUR OWN MAKING.

AND HE MADE IT SOMETHING FAR BETTER FOR EVERYBODY THAN BEFORE HE STARTED.

SO, YES, MY DEAR FRIEND, SOMEBODY WHO WILL ALWAYS IDOLIZE, TRULY, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOODBYE.

AND, UH, I WILL BE SEEING HIM IN HAWAII.

UH, HE DOESN'T KNOW IT YET, BUT I WILL BE SEEING HIM IN HAWAII.

AND SO WITH, UH, LOVE STEVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

I WILL BE SEEING YOU IN HAWAII.

, ALRIGHT.

OR IRENE.

YEAH, STEVE.

STEVE.

UH, THEY'VE CALLED YOU A BIG BROTHER, A SECOND FATHER.

WELL, YOU'VE BEEN LIKE A MOTHER TO ME SOMETIMES, .

UH, I WANNA WISH YOU THE BEST, BUT YOU HAVE THE BEST.

YOU HAVE A REMARKABLE FAMILY.

AND IRENE, CHRIS AND KELLY AND, UH, THEIR WIVES AND HUSBANDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO ME FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS I'VE KNOWN YOU.

YOU PUT ME ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND YOU KNOW, ALSO RAN MY FIRST CAMPAIGN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S BEEN VERY SPECIAL TO ME DURING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES OF MY LIFE.

YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, ALWAYS A PHONE CALL AWAY.

WE'VE CRIED TOGETHER, WE LAUGHED TOGETHER.

IT WAS VERY SPECIAL.

SOMETIMES IT WASN'T ALWAYS A STRAIGHT PATH.

WE'D DIVERT AND GO TO KRISPY KREME OR HIKO SUSHI OR SOME OF THOSE PLACES, .

BUT YOU GOT A BRILLIANT SENSE OF HUMOR.

WORDS ARE JUST INADEQUATE TO SAY WHAT YOU'VE MEANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY, AND I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT.

WELL ELSE SENSE.

ANY FINAL WORDS AFTER THAT? HAPPY AND UPLIFTING PARANG.

ROSIE, YOU ARE MY POSEY.

YOU ARE MY HEART'S BOUQUET.

COME OUT HERE IN THE MOONLIGHT, ROSY ROSY MINE.

THAT'S MY GIRL.

[00:40:04]

THESE ARE NOT MY COLLEAGUES, THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, AND I LOVE THEM ALL DEARLY AS I LOVE YOU.

UM, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SAY GOODBYE.

YOU'VE GOT THE GREATEST MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT YOU COULD EVER HAVE.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND AND, UH, JIM IS SPECIAL AND HE'S PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT'S SPECIAL.

AND, UM, EVERYBODY HERE IS GROUNDED IN THE RIGHT THINGS.

UH, JIM TAKES A LOT OF HEAT FOR FREE FOOD.

HE'S MADE IT HIS BYLINE, THE OTHER GYM, RIGHT? , NOT THIS GYM.

JUST BE CLEAR, THIS GYM REALLY GETS FREE FOOD.

.

THIS ONE JUST MAKES FUN ABOUT IT.

BUT THESE ARE GOOD FOLKS, UH, DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

AND THAT'S THE MOTTO THAT I'VE LIVED BY, UH, MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND, UH, I KNOW THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS.

UH, AGAIN, ALL OF YOU STARTING THE JOURNEY, UM, PICK SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND DO A GREAT JOB.

WE GOT A GREAT CHIEF, UH, ADAM, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN.

UH, I CAN TEACH ANYBODY TO BE A TEACH ANYBODY TO BE A GREAT POLICE CHIEF OR A GOOD POLICE CHIEF, BUT IT TAKES SOMEBODY WITH A, A TRUE HEART, SOMEBODY THAT'S HONEST AND CARES, AND YOU GOT ALL OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THAT TIME.

UM, I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOU TREAT YOUR FRIENDS RIGHT, TREAT YOURSELF RIGHT, TREAT YOUR FAMILY RIGHT, YOU CAN STAY TOGETHER A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND, UH, TO MY TWO DEAR FRIENDS THAT SHOWED UP HERE TONIGHT, JAY EDDIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF MY LIFE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL.

UH, JAY HAS BOUGHT A HOUSE, GREAT BIG HOUSE WITH MANY, MANY BEDROOMS, AND WE ALL HAVE ONE IN HIS HOUSE.

SO WHEN WE GET TOO OLD TO, TO MANIPULATE THE HOUSES THAT WE'RE IN, WE'RE GONNA ALL MOVE TO JAY'S HOUSE AND WE'LL ALL BE TOGETHER.

WE'LL ALL BE FEEBLE AND WE WON'T KNOW WHO EACH OTHER ARE, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE TOGETHER AT THE END.

SO THAT'S THE PLAN.

POOR DOROTHY.

POOR POOR DOROTHY, JAY'S WIFE HAS AGREED TO HOST THIS WHOLE THING.

BUT, UH, ANYWAY, I LOVE YOU ALL MY GRANDKIDS.

THIS IS, UH, MY TWINS.

UH, THEY'RE, UH, TWO OF FIVE.

UH, THE OTHERS ARE ALL IN SCHOOL.

THESE TWO ARE PLAYING HOOKY.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S OKAY.

I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY, AND, UM, I'LL COME BY AND SEE YOU.

I, I MISS YOU.

AND I'LL SEE THE MEDRANO FAMILY TILL THE DAY I DIE.

I, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU REFUSED TO BE MY DRIVER.

YOU ROTTEN SON OF OATH, GARY HELD TRUE TO HIS WORD.

HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING.

YEAH, HE DIDN'T.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHY I PICK YOU UP ON SATURDAYS WHEN WE GO TO CITY EVENTS.

, YOU FEEL GUILTY? NO, NO, NO.

I JUST, I'M DOING MY DUTY.

YOU KNOW, I, I'M STILL WORKING AT THE DA'S OFFICE.

SO THERE, THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION THAT LIVED IN LA HABRA THAT I THOUGHT COULD BE DRIVERS.

AND ONE OF THEM LIVES ABOUT FOUR DOORS DOWN FROM ME.

AND SHE IS A FEMALE, UM, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

AND SO I SUGGESTED TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF THAT SHE MIGHT BE MY DRIVER.

AND HE LAUGHED SO HARD.

HE HAD TO GO HOME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT, BUT I DID GET THIS OTHER JOSE, WHO'S NOT PRETTY TO LOOK AT.

AND, UH, BUT HE WAS A GREAT, GREAT DRIVER.

UH, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS AN ENTERTAINER.

AND, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER HE WAS WORKING AS MY DRIVER, UH, WE WENT TO SEE A, UH, PERFORMANCE OF MARIACHI, DIVAS AND .

WE WE'RE SITTING AT THE FRONT TABLE IN THIS CONCERT, AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY CALLED HIM UP AND INTRODUCE HIM.

AND HE'S A MARIACHI SINGER.

WOW.

SO I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

AND HE, UH, DUMBFOUNDED ME AND VERY TALENTED CAR AFTER THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SINGING GOING ON.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU, LAHABRA.

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU.

UM, YOU'VE MADE MY LIFE FULL AND HAPPY AND HOPEFULLY WE'VE ALL MADE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER AND I THINK WE HAVE.

THANK YOU.

[00:45:16]

IT IS WITH SOME REGRET, BUT ALSO WITH ENORMOUS HOPE, BOTH FOR STEVE SIMONIA AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT I NOW SAY THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED TO.

MONDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2024 AT 5:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

CLOSED SESSION, ROOM ONE 12 C 100 EAST LAW HARBOR BOULEVARD, FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.

STAND ADJOURNED.