Jan 20, 2026 City Council

WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ERIAN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA.

CLOSED SESSION WAS NOT HELD.

UH,

[ 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.]

GUYS, SIR, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

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

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING, UNLIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UNLESS OTHERWISE, MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR CHAIR.

SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM OF CITY BUSINESS NOT APPEARING ON THE SCHEDULED AGENDA.

PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 4 0.3 A.

SUCH COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING.

AND WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER CARD.

EXCELLENT.

WE CAN HAVE, UH, OR WHITNEY ANDERSON.

WELCOME.

HI, I'M WHITNEY ANDERSON.

I AM A RESIDENT HERE IN THE HABRA.

I'M A FIRST GRADE TEACHER, BUT WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT IS I'M A MOM AND A VERY BRAND NEW, UH, POST SCOUT TRIP LEADER.

SO I'M HERE WITH MY DAUGHTER AND, UH, AND SOME OF HER GIRL SCOUT FRIENDS, AND WE HEARD THE BOY SCOUTS WERE COMING, SO WE THOUGHT WE ALSO WANTED TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE IN THE HARBOR TOO.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, EIGHT KINDERGARTNERS HERE IN, UH, LAHABRA THAT ALL MET AT DIFFERENT LAHABRA CITY, LIKE ACTIVITIES, BALLET CLASSES THROUGH THE PARKS AND REC.

AND WE REALIZED THAT THEY WERE ALL GONNA GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, AND WE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO LIKE KEEP THEM AS A COMMUNITY HERE THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL.

SO WE WENT TO AN EVENT AND WE HEARD ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS AT, UH, THE, UM, AN EVENT THEY HAD OVER HERE.

AND WE WERE LIKE, OH, LET'S JOIN A COMMUNITY GIRL SCOUT TROOP.

AND THERE WASN'T ONE FOR US TO JOIN.

THEY SUGGESTED WE STARTED OUR OWN.

SO WE DID.

I WAS NOT A GIRL SCOUT, BUT , WE ARE STARTING OUR OWN TROOP.

AND WE WENT BACK AND WE SAID, HEY, CAN WE MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY? AND WE WERE TOLD NO.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN TO HAVE THE GIRL SCOUTS MEETING HERE IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA.

THERE'S NOWHERE FOR US TO MEET, WHETHER IT WAS A, UH, SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY OR SOMEWHERE AT A PARK.

UM, SO FORTUNATELY THE CITY OF BREA HAS BEEN, UM, ACCOMMODATING US AT THE BRAA SCOUT HOUSE.

SO WE'VE HAD FOUR, UM, MONTHS OF GIRL SCOUTS AND SO FAR OUR GIRLS HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, THEY'VE RAISED, UM, THEY'VE GATHERED FOOD FOR THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES FOR KIDS HERE IN THE HABRA.

THEY GATHERED, UM, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BACKPACKS, WATER BOTTLES, PENCIL BOXES THEY'VE GATHERED.

UM, THEY SPONSORED A FAMILY WITH HOUSING INSECURITY HERE IN THE HARA AND GOT THEM EVERYTHING ON THEIR CHRISTMAS LIST.

UM, THEY'VE DONE A TON AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF THEM, AND I WOULD REALLY LOVE ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO.

THEY'RE IN KINDERGARTEN, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'LL DO IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS AS KIDS HERE IN THE HARA.

AND WE WILL, CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THESE GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR CITY BEHIND THEM.

THEY WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CITY ACTIVITIES.

WE HAVE SO MUCH HERE IN THE HABRA, SO, UM, JUST LIKE THE BOY SCOUTS, WE'RE HOPING, UH, THE GIRL SCOUTS CAN, UH, GET SOME CITY SUPPORT.

AND WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE HERE AND WE WANNA SUPPORT THE CITY.

THANKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE, WE DO HAVE YOUR INFORMATION HERE, CORRECT? YEAH.

[00:05:01]

LET'S SEE IF I CAN NOT DROP THIS TODAY.

UH, DOUG MOND, TWO 10 NORTH MARION STREET HERE IN LA OPERA.

UM, THIS IS ON THE VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL.

DEDICATED TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND DEFENDED OUR FREEDOM.

WE'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES, UM, WITH VETERANS BEING ABLE TO USE VETERANS HALL 2025, THE CITY OF LAHABRA USED VETERANS OF MEMORIAL HALL FOR NON-VETERANS FUNCTIONS OVER 130 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1100 HOURS.

VETERANS HALL IS USED FOR SUMMER DAY CAMP OVER A HUNDRED TIMES.

UH, THE SUMMER DAY CAMP COMPLETELY TAKES UP THE HALL, LEAVING ALL OF THEIR STUFF OUT FOR THE ENTIRE A HUNDRED DAYS.

AND THE VETERANS FOR OUR THREE MEETINGS IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST ARE RELEGATED TO A LITTLE CORNER OF THE ROOM.

UH, IN 2025, LAHABRA LIONS CLUB USED VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL FOR NON-VETERAN FUNCTIONS OVER 60 TIMES.

IN 2025, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 2 67 LAHABRA WAS ALLOWED TO USE VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL 13 TIMES FOR USE OF LESS THAN 25 HOURS.

WE ASKED TO USE VETERANS MEMORIAL MEMORIAL HALL ON SIX OTHER OCCASIONS, AND WE WERE DENIED ACCESS BY THE CITY OF LAHABRA.

WE HAD A LOCAL LAHABRA FAMILY CONTACT US AND ASKED US IF THEY COULD HOLD A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR THEIR DAD, WHO IS A RETIRED ARMY VETERAN.

WE WERE TOLD BY A CITY EMPLOYEE THAT THAT WAS CONSIDERED A HALL RENTAL AND VETERANS HALL IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE RENTED OUT ANY LONGER.

UH, AMERICAN LEGION POST 2 67 IS TURNING A HUNDRED YEARS OLD IN 226, AND WE'RE HOSTING A PARTY TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT IS TOO LARGE FOR VETERANS HALL, AND WE ASK THE CITY TO USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND WE'RE GETTING CHARGED $770 TO HOST OUR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT ON APRIL 11TH, WHICH YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO, BY THE WAY.

UM, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE UNIFORM SCOUTS HERE TONIGHT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER ORGANIZATION THAT PREPARES OUR YOUTH TO BECOME THE BEST SERVANT CITIZENS THAT THEY CAN BE.

UM, THE SCOUT OATH AND THE SCOUT LAW ARE AMAZING.

AND, UM, LAHABRA, UH, POST 2 67, UH, CHARTERED THE PACK HERE IN LAHABRA 8 1 7.

UH, THE LIONS CLUB HAD SPONSORED THEM FOR A COUPLE YEARS, BUT THEY DECIDED THAT IT WASN'T WORTH THEIR TIME TO DO IT.

SO NOW THE LEGION IS SPONSORING THEM.

UH, I BELIEVE THE SCOUTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CARRYING COMMUNITY.

UH, THE PACK AND THE TROOP HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 60 YEARS, AND THEY NEED SOME HELP FROM THE CITY.

UH, THEY NEED SPACE TO MEET, THEY NEED SPACE TO STORE THEIR EQUIPMENT.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF SCOUT HUTS.

I KNOW THERE'S ONE IN LAB, BONNI PARK.

UM, THERE'S ONE AT, UM, IMPERIAL AND I OR LAMBERT, IDAHO.

UM, WE JUST NEED TO HELP THE SCOUTS OUT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.

IT'S AN AMAZING, AMAZING PROGRAM, SO HELP THE RINS HELP THE SCOUTS.

MY NAME IS ERIC SIMOFF.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR, UM, COMMUNITY.

WELCOME.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU.

MY NAME IS ERIC SIMINOFF.

I'M THE CUB MASTER FOR THE LOCAL, UH, CUB SCOUT PACK PAC EIGHT 17.

OUR, UH, HERE IN LAHABRA.

I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT AS OUR PACK PLAYS A POSITIVE ROLE ON THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

CUB SCOUTING HAS BEEN A PART OF LA HABRA FOR GENERATIONS, AND PAC EIGHT 17 CONTINUES THAT TRADITION BY TEACHING YOUTH, UH, THE VALUES OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP.

OUR SCOUTS ARE ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS IN THE CITY.

THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN GIVING BACK.

EACH YEAR, OUR PAC PARTICIPATES IN SCOUTING FOR FOOD, ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVES IN THE NATION.

UH, OUR SCOUTS COLLECT DONATIONS FROM FAMILIES ACROSS LA HABRA, HELPING STOCK LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS WHO NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.

THIS TEACHES COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING OUT FOR ONE OF ANOTHER.

PAC EIGHT 17.

ALSO COMPLETE SERVICE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM PARK CLEANUPS TO ASSISTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH EVENTS AND COMMUNITY NEEDS, SUCH AS CLEANING UP THE VETERANS' MEMORIAL PARK.

UH, THIS TEACHES COMPASSION, OR SORRY, THESE, UH, PROJECTS ARE MORE THAN JUST A TASK.

THEY ARE HANDS-ON LESSONS OF TEAMWORK, RESPECT, AND CIVIC DUTY.

WE ARE PART, WE ARE PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN VETERANS DAY CEREMONY, WHERE THE SCOUTS HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

STANDING ALONGSIDE OF THESE VETERANS TEACHES OUR YOUTH GRATITUDE, HUMILITY, AND DEEP RESPECT FOR THOSE, UH, WHO PROTECT US.

I ALSO BRIEFLY WANT TO MENTION, UH, ABOUT THE BUILDING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT A SCOUT HUT.

UH, FACILITIES

[00:10:01]

LIKE THE SCOUT HUT HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

THERE'S SIGNS, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOW IT AND, YOU KNOW, WE, IT WAS A PROUD BUILDING WHERE WE HOSTED MANY EVENTS SUCH AS BLUE AND GOLDS, PINEWOOD DERBY, SCOUT MEETINGS, UH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, CREATING LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE.

UH, I'D REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE, UH, DISCUSSION OF, UH, OF, UH, MAYBE SEEING WHAT MAY BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE IF, UH, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCES, BUT MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND, UH, PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY BEYOND THESE CONTRIBUTIONS, CUB SCOUTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING OF LA HABER'S YOUTH.

OUR PROGRAM.

OUR PROGRAMS HELP CHILDREN BUILD CONFIDENCE, LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND DEVELOP STRONG CHARACTER.

THEY LEARN TO SET GOALS, WORK HARD, AND SUPPORT OTHERS QUALITIES THAT SHAPE RESPONSIBLE YOUNG CITIZENS AND FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELF.

UH, MR. SE SIMOFF.

YES, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE OUTTA TIME.

I UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MEMBERS OF LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SEAN ARLO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LAHABRA.

I'M ALSO CURRENTLY THE SCOUT MASTER OF LA HARE'S, LAST AND ONLY SCOUTS, BSA FORMERLY BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA TROOP IN THE CITY.

WHEN OUR SON DIEGO, WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD, HE SAW A DISPLAY THAT WAS UP AT BY A BOY SCOUT TROOP AT THE CORN FESTIVAL.

THE DISPLAY HAD ALL KINDS OF COOL THINGS THAT A SCOUT USES, PATROL BOXES, CAMPING STOVES, AND A COOL BRIDGE MADE OF ROPE.

FROM THAT DAY ON, HE WANTED TO BE A SCOUT, EVEN THOUGH OUR FAMILY ACTIVELY TENT CAMPED AND USED MOST OF THE STUFF HE SAW.

DIEGO WANTED TO BE A SCOUT.

DIEGO HAD TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO JOIN A PACK.

HE WOULD CONTINUE AS IF, UM, ASKING IF IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO BE A SCOUT.

WHEN WE JOINED SCOUTING COMMUNITY, WE JOINED CUB SCOUT PAC 3, 3 7, CHARTERED BY THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS OUTTA OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE FOUR CUB SCOUT PACS AND THREE BOY SCOUT TROOPS IN THE CITY.

WHILE A WHILE A CUB SCOUT DIEGO WAS ON A TOUR OF THE OLD CITY HALL CHAMBERS, WHERE HE SAW A PLAQUE THAT HAD THE NAMES OF EAGLE SCOUTS IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA, WHICH I DON'T SEE HERE ANYMORE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND HE WAS MOTIVATED TO WORK HARD AND EARN HIS EAGLE SCOUT.

AND ONE DAY BEYOND THAT PLAQUE, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT LAST YEAR DIEGO EARNED HIS EAGLE SCOUT.

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO ONE CUB SCOUT PACK AND ONE SCOUTS BSA TROOP.

FOR YEARS, SCOUTS HAVE WORKED, WORKED THE LAHABRA CORN FESTIVAL AND THE CITRUS FAIR, SETTING UP TRASH CANS AND CLEANING UP TRASH AND EMPTYING TRASH CANS WITH THE ORDER OF THE ARROW, WHICH IS A SCOUTING, UH, AMERICA'S NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

SADLY, THE ORDER OF THE ARROW CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT, SUPPORT THAT IT'S NO SECRET THAT JUST LIKE OTHER COMMUN UH, OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCOUTING HAS FACED A DECLINE IN MEMBERSHIP.

THE SCOUTING AMERICA PROGRAM GIVES A YOUTH TO THE COMMUNITY ALL THE SKILLS TO BE GOOD, SUCCESSFUL, AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

LEARNING HOW TO WELD, TO LEARNING FROM HOW TO WELD, TO HOW OUR CIVIC GOVERNMENT WORKS, AS WELL AS LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS TIME MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL LITER LITERACY, AND SELF SUSTAINABILITY.

SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE SUBJECTS THAT ARE TAUGHT IN SCOUTING ARE THINGS THAT ARE EITHER NO LONGER TAUGHT OR UNABLE TO BE TAUGHT AT SCHOOLS FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

SCOUTING HELPS THE YOUTH OF TODAY BECOME SUCCESSFUL FOR TOMORROW.

OUR SON DIEGO, IS A DIRECT BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM.

HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ATTENDING CAL POLY HUMBOLDT, AND USES THE SKILLS THAT HE HAS RECEIVED IN SCOUTING FROM MONEY MANAGEMENT TO SAFE HIKING IN BACK COUNTRY.

WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS THAT THE CITY OF LAHABRA REDEDICATED ITSELF TO THE SCOUTING AND SCOUT AND SUPPORT SCOUTING BY OPENING UP THE LAHABRA SCOUT HUT FOR USE BY ALL SCOUTING ORGANIZATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. JARBO.

ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE'LL,

[ CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Bill 1439 ("SB 1439") amended Government Code Section 84308 to expand the regulation of campaign contributions in excess of $500 from donors involved in certain matters before the legislative body. If the donor has a matter pending before the agency, and the official received a campaign contribution from the donor in excess of $500 in the prior 12 months, the official must publicly disclose the contribution and cannot in any way participate in the decision of the matter. The donor also has a duty to disclose the contribution on the record. In the 12 months following the decision, a local official cannot receive campaign contributions in excess of $500 from a donor with an economic interest in the governmental decision. Public officials are encouraged to closely track all campaign contributions which collectively exceed $500 in any 12-month period from any single source. All matters on Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless a Councilmember or City staff member 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.]

UH, MOVE ON TO THE, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR.

OTHERWISE, MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR.

ALL MATTERS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR CITY STAFF MEMBER 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

[00:15:01]

SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR 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 FIVE.

ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL FOR REMOVAL OF ITEMS, UH, BY STAFF.

NO, MR. MAYOR.

ANYBODY FROM CITY COUNCIL? NO, SIR.

NO, MR. MAYOR, CAN, UH, I HAVE A CALL FOR ACTION.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS LISTED SECOND.

UH, MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

WILL WE PLEASE VOTE? I AM SORRY.

THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ISSUE.

THE MOTION CARRIED.

FIVE ZERO.

SO WE'RE STILL GOOD, RHONDA? CORRECT.

SHOULD WE DO A VOICE VOTE PIECE? OH, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO THAT? UH, WE, WE DON'T NEED TO, BUT WE COULD.

FOR CLARITY IN THE RECORD, I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

MOTION MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ TO APPROVE ALL FIVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAMBKIN.

I WILL TAKE A ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAMBKIN? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIAN? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA? YES.

MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ? YES.

MAYOR MADANO? YES.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE HAVE, UH, CONSIDERATION ITEMS. YES.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE NO, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[1. CONSIDER EXPIRING TERMS AND VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF That the City Council: A. Reappoint eligible and interested Planning Commissioners and/or Community Services Commissioners who have expiring terms; or, B. Direct staff to advertise vacancies on the Planning Commission and Community Services Commission that will occur due to expiring terms or resignations, and schedule interviews with eligible candidates.]

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

THE ONLY CONSIDERATION ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS TITLED CONSIDER EXPIRING TERMS AND VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF AND MAYOR, I WILL BE PRESENTING THAT REPORT IF YOU WANNA PRESENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AS DONE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, CITY COUNCIL IS ASKED TO PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION ON EXPIRING TERMS AND VACANCIES FOR BOTH CITY COMMISSIONS.

AS ALL COMMISSIONER TERMS EXPIRE EACH MARCH 31ST THIS YEAR, THERE IS ONE VACANCY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ONE VACANCY ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.

BOTH INCUMBENTS, ROY RAMSON AND ANNETTE LIMON ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AND EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN REAPPOINTMENT.

ROY RAMSON FILLED AN UNSCHEDULED VACANCY AND HAS SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION SINCE SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2024.

ANNETTE LIMON HAS SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION SINCE MARCH 20TH, 2023.

AS INDICATED IN THE AGENDA REPORT PLANNING COMMISSIONERS MAY SERVE TWO, FOUR YEAR CONSECUTIVE TERMS OR A MAXIMUM OF 10 YEARS.

AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONERS MAY SERVE THREE, THREE YEAR CONSECUTIVE TERMS OR A MAXIMUM OF 10 YEARS.

SHOULD CITY COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO INITIATE A RECRUITMENT PROCESS, APPLICATIONS WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE THROUGH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, AT 6:00 PM CITY COUNCIL INTERVIEWS WOULD THEN BE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED PRIOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF MONDAY, MARCH 2ND AND MONDAY MARCH 16TH AS NEEDED WITH COMMISSIONED APPOINTMENTS CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL AT ITS REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 6TH.

IF CITY COUNCIL DIRECTS STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPOINT NO MORE THAN TWO ALTERNATE COMMISSIONERS ON EACH COMMISSION.

THIS WOULD ALLOW UNSCHEDULED VACANCIES TO BE FILLED.

PRIOR TO THE 2027 RECRUITMENT AS COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER VERONICA HANNA SUBMITTED HER RESIGNATION, EFFECTIVE MAY 31ST DUE TO MOVING OUT OF THE CITY.

THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT I DON'T WANNA JUMP OVER SOMEBODY ELSE WITH A COMMENT FIRST.

ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

NO QUESTIONS.

UH, IF I CAN INVITE THE, UH, PUBLIC TO TESTIFY, PLEASE GIVE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.

SEE NO ONE.

LADIES, YOUNG LADIES, ANYBODY? NO.

UH, CALL FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

ERECTION.

UH, MR. MAYOR, I'M PREPARED

[00:20:01]

ANYBODY? I, MY ONLY COMMENT IS I, I, I, I HOPE IN MAKING A MOTION THAT WE, YOU KNOW, SEEK MORE, UM, COMMISSIONERS, IS THAT WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED.

UM, I KNOW THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LOW IN NUMBER, UM, BUT THIS IS A CALL FOR RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY, GET TO LEARN NOT JUST MORE ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT, BUT HOW THEY CAN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

SO, I'M HOPING THAT WE GET A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS, ASSUMING THAT WE MAKE THAT MOTION TO CARRY FORWARD.

THAT'S ANYONE ELSE? I, I'M OF THE SAME MINDSET.

I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT FROM DAY ONE.

TRANSPARENCY IS KEY AND, UH, IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED, THEY SHOULD STEP FORWARD JUST AS WELL.

AND, UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, UH, PLANNING AND, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

UH, I KNOW THAT THE, THE TWO THAT ARE UP FOR, UH, UH, FOR, UH, FOR REAPPOINTMENT, UH, WOULD, UH, WOULD PROBABLY DO SO AGAIN, THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS WELL.

UH, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE GIVE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO OTHER PEOPLE, AT LEAST TO INTERVIEW IS MY THOUGHT.

ON THAT BASIS, I'D MOVE TO DIRECT STAFF TO ADVERTISE VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION THAT WILL OCCUR DUE TO EXPIRING TERMS OF RESIGNATIONS AND SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS WITH ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, WE CAN VOTE.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]

ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO THE, UH, MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR.

MAKE SURE I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.

COMMENTS FROM, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, LEMME SEE.

FAMILY SNOW GLOW, DANCE LIGHT UP THE NIGHT AT THE FAMILY SNOW GLOW DANCE.

JOIN US THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 23RD FROM 6:00 PM TILL 9:00 PM AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER.

TICKETS ARE $20 AND INCLUDE DINNER, DESSERT, DANCING ACTIVITIES, AND A PHOTO BOOTH.

SAY THAT FAST.

THREE TIMES DINNER, DESSERT, AND DANCING.

SENIOR DANCE.

THE VALENTINE'S SENIOR DANCE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH FROM 2:00 PM UNTIL 4:00 PM AT THE LAHABRA COMMUNITY CENTER.

ENJOY LIFE MUSIC, RAFFLES DANCING, AND DINNER TRIPS AND TOURS.

JOIN THE CITY OF LAHABRA FOR A DAY TRIP TO BALBOA PARK IN SAN DIEGO ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH FROM 7:00 AM UNTIL 9:00 PM PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT LA BONITA PARK.

AND COST IS $70 PER PERSON.

AND I WAS JUST THERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND IT'S A GREAT PARK.

I WENT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DON'T MISS THE CITY'S ANNUAL LAHABRA RACES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, STARTING AT 7:30 AM THIS YEAR'S THEME IS RACE TO THE GOALS IN HONOR OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP.

THE EVENT FEATURES A 5K WALK RUN, A ONE K KITTY RUN, AND A 50 YARD TODDLER TROT KIDS NIGHT OUT.

NIGHT OUT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH FROM 6:00 PM UNTIL 10:30 PM AT THE LA HABRA COMMUNITY CENTER.

KIDS AGES FOUR TO 12 YEARS WILL ENJOY AN EVENING PACKED WITH GAMES CRAFTS, A MOVIE, AND PLENTY OF TASTY SNACKS AND DINNER COMMISSION MEETINGS.

THE 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.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WATER CONSERVATION.

WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE STILL ENFORCED AND CALIFORNIANS ARE BEING ASKED TO CONTINUALLY CONSERVE WATER.

ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF? NONE.

MR. MAYOR,

[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]

WE'LL START HERE TO OUR RIGHT, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DID COMMENT, I'D SAY, ALONG THE LINES OF HUNDREDS.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH, UH, THE OBVIOUS HAPPIEST OF NEW YEAR'S TO EVERYBODY.

THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2026.

UH, THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT I POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, THIS IS MAYBE ABOUT EXACTLY ONE WEEK AGO.

AND I JUST WANTED TO REPORT OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT I DID AND WHAT THE RESULT WAS.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, WE POST ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, ALL OF US AT VARIOUS TIMES, SOME STUFF, WHICH IS NICE STUFF GENERALLY.

BUT WHAT I DID IS I MADE A POST ASKING LA HAINS AND OUTTA GENUINE CURIOSITY, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WAY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ICE HAS BEEN CONDUCTING OPERATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAHABRA? AND I WANTED TO PROMPT PEOPLE BY SAYING, FOR EXAMPLE, DO YOU SUPPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING A HUNDRED PERCENT AND THINK THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, MISSION SPECIFIC DOING THEIR JOB, OR DO YOU THINK THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEAVY HANDED OR DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT AT ALL? AND I SAID, JUST PLEASE RESPOND IN A CIVIL WAY AND, UH, AND SPEAK OUT.

SO PREDICTABLY,

[00:25:01]

AND IT WAS VERY REVEALING AND VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK, TO GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE NOT ONLY TO BE HEARD, BUT TO READ WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY, KNOW HOW YOUR NEIGHBORS THINK AND FEEL.

AND WITH THIS UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO CONTROL OVER WHAT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES IN THE CITY OF LA HARA.

BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PLATFORM AND A VOICE WHERE THEY CAN AT LEAST ISSUE THEIR FEELINGS OF SUPPORT OR ISSUE THEIR FEELINGS OF OBJECTION.

SO, AND THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT IS INTERESTING.

IT KIND OF FOLLOWS, I THINK PROBABLY NATIONAL POLLS WHERE I WOULD SAY 60 TO 70% OF THE FOLKS THAT RESPONDED WERE GENERALLY DISAPPROVING OF, UH, OF THE TACTICS.

AND THIS IS THE VERY FINE LINE THAT I WANNA DRAW, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY SUPPORTED THE NOTION THAT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW SHOULD BE ENFORCED AND THAT THE LAWS ARE THERE FOR A REASON.

AND ALL THAT.

WHERE THE OBJECTIONS CAME FROM WAS ABOUT TACTICS.

AND THEY, AND A LOT OF FOLKS MENTIONED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, AND THEY FELT THAT SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF THESE AMENDMENTS, PRIMARILY THE FIRST FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE FOURTH, WHICH IS SEARCH AND SEIZURE, THE FIFTH, WHICH IS, UH, THE ELEMENTS OF DUE PROCESS.

THOSE WERE NOT BEING RESPECTED AND OBSERVED BY THE ICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY CONDUCTED THEIR RAIDS IN SWEEPS IN LA HABRA.

SO THAT WAS THE ABSOLUTE OVERLYING OBJECTION WAS NOT TO THE MISSION, BUT TO THE TACTICS.

AND OUTTA THAT, MAYBE 30% SAID, HEY, LEAVE 'EM ALONE.

STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY.

AND I SUPPORT 'EM A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND AGAIN, NATIONALLY, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.

SO OBVIOUSLY LA HOPPERS HAVE THEIR CONCERNS AND A LOT OF FOLKS WISH THEY WEREN'T DOING IT OR WISH THEY WERE DOING IT DIFFERENTLY.

I MADE CLEAR IN MY POST TOO, THAT THE HABER POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ASSIST WITH THESE OPERATIONS.

RIGHT.

AND IT'S A REALLY SLIPPERY SLOPE WITH THAT TOO, I GOTTA SAY.

BECAUSE WE, WE WANNA PRESERVE THE STERLING REPUTATION OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE LAST THING WE WANNA DO IS BE TARRED AND FEATHERED WITH OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY TECHNICALLY LEGAL OR COULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BECAUSE THEN THAT REFLECTS POORLY ON OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

BECAUSE I PERSONALLY, I'VE SEEN SOME THINGS, UH, ON VIDEOS AND SUCH THAT I, BECAUSE I WAS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 30 YEARS, LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND I SAW SOME THINGS HAPPENING THAT I KNOW I WOULD'VE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR OR MAYBE TERMINATED FOR.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY CONCERN.

SO I JUST WANT FOLKS TO KNOW WHY I DID IT.

AND I'M GLAD I DID IT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE, YEAH, PEOPLE WENT BACK AND FORTH QUITE A BIT BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GENERALLY CIVIL, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD GET A LITTLE SNARKY.

BUT AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, IF SOMEBODY SAID, I'M OPPOSED TO THE WAY THEY'RE DOING IT, YOU GET 40 OR 50 LIKES AND YOU GET SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT, THAT WOULD BE FIVE OR SIX LIKES.

SO THAT'S JUST THE, THE COLD HARD MATH.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M REPORTING OUT TO MY COMMUNITY.

IT'S FUZZY MATH.

'CAUSE I DIDN'T COUNT EVERY SINGLE THING.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

SO MY FINAL WORDS ON THAT IS IF THEY'RE GONNA OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY OF LA HABRA, IT, IT'S MY WISH THAT THEY DO SO WITH CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, WHICH IS SOMETHING OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING HISTORICALLY SINCE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, AND OBSERVE THE PROPER TACTICS AND WITH DO REVERENCE AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE, DIGNITY, PROPERTY SAFETY, AND FREEDOM.

SO THAT'S MY FINAL WORD ON THAT.

AND AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HERE ISN'T UNDER THE CONTROL OF THIS BO OF THIS DELIBERATIVE BODY.

BUT THAT'S MY HOPE AND THAT'S MY COMMENT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER NIAN, JUST TO CLARIFY TWO ISSUES.

ONE, WHEN YOU ALLUDED TO SEEING POLICE CONDUCT THAT YOU HAD CONCERNS WITH, IT WAS NOT THE LAHABRA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OH, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

OKAY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL ICE OFFICERS HERE.

OKAY.

AND THEN SECONDLY, THERE ARE LAWS IN CALIFORNIA THAT PROHIBIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM, UH, ENFORCING OR WORKING WITH, UH, FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHICH ALL, ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER.

RIGHT? AND I WISH THAT WAS PUBLICIZED MORE 'CAUSE I HAD FOLKS SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT, WELL, THEY SHOULD BE ASSISTING.

AND, UH, WHAT I DIDN'T DO, JIM, IS I DIDN'T RESPOND ALL THESE COMMENTS INDIVIDUALLY.

'CAUSE THAT'S A RABBIT HOLE FOR WHICH I NEVER WOULD'VE EMERGED.

BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN ALL GET THAT WORD OUT THERE, IS THAT YEAH, THERE'S A PROHIBITION AGAINST THAT LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE LOCALS AND THE FEDS.

THAT'S AN, A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO GET OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ESPINOZA.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

I DID NOTHING AFTER, AFTER CHRISTMAS, THE HOLIDAY.

I JUST RELAXED AND ENJOYED THE PEACE AND QUIET OF, UH, TRYING TO GET TO SOME KIND OF NORMALCY.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE BUSY WITH ALL THAT MM-HMM .

AND YOU GOT THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GOT.

I WISH EVERYBODY HAD A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AND HAD A CHRISTMAS.

AND, UH, WE'RE READY TO GET INTO 2026 AND SEE HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE AND WORK AS A COMMUNITY TO, UH, MAKE EVERY, MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN THE CITY OF LA HARBA IS TOP-NOTCH.

SO, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

COUNCILMAN LINCOLN.

UM, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.

AND, UH, I THINK, UH, FOR ME IT WAS A BIT OF A COMBINATION OF

[00:30:01]

MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

I I DID A LITTLE BIT OF NOTHING AS WELL.

AND I THINK WE AT TIMES NEED THAT BREAK, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO GET THAT RESET BUTTON AND THAT REFRESH TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, I I, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF, I, I, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY.

I HAVE MY INSTAGRAM ONE, BUT THAT'S KIND OF EVEN UP IN THE AIR FROM TIME TO TIME.

SO MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN MISSING MY CONTENT, CONTENT.

I'VE HEARD IT FROM THE RESIDENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY ENJOY THE CONTENT THAT I PUT OUT THERE.

AND, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUT MUCH CONTENT OUT THERE SINCE AROUND, UH, THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

SO, WITH THAT, I AM MISSING OUT ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS.

ALTHOUGH, UM, I I DIDN'T PUT OUT THE QUESTION.

I I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE THOUGHTS ARE OF THE COMMUNITY.

ASIDE FROM THE PRIVATE COMPETITIONS I'VE HAD, UM, DURING THE, THE, THE BREAK, I, I DID HAPPEN TO GO TO A FEW EVENTS, NOT MANY, UM, BUT ONE OF THE ONES I DEFINITELY WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS 100% CHIROPRACTIC, UH, HELD THEIR BLOOD DRIVE BY, UH, LIVESTREAM, UH, ON, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, SATURDAY, THE, IT WAS, UH, SATURDAY THE 10TH, I BELIEVE.

AND, UM, WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THAT EVENT WAS IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT 100% CHIROPRACTIC ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GIVE BLOOD, BUT IT WAS A HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH DIFFERENT BUSINESSES COMING IN AND PUTTING UP KIOSK AND, AND ALSO SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA THAT WERE GIVING OUT DISCOUNTS FOR THEIR, UH, ITEMS, UH, YOU KNOW, OR FOR THEIR, THEIR FOOD ITEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHILE PEOPLE WERE COMING AND GIVE BLOOD.

SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GAVE, NOT JUST GAVE BLOOD, BUT THEY GAVE LIFE AND THEY GAVE THEIR TIME.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I DID THE SAME THING AS WELL.

I DID THE PLASMA POOL WHERE I ENDED UP GIVING BLOOD AND THEN GIVING UP THE PLASMA, AND THEN THEY SHOT THE BLOOD BACK INTO ME.

IT'S, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE.

SO, UM, BUT I THINK THOSE WHO, WHO WERE ABLE TO GIVE BLOOD TO, UM, PHILIP SOME OF OUR, UH, UH, BLOOD BANKS, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE CLOSE OUT TODAY'S MEETING, UM, NOT FORGETTING ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

AND IN SAYING THAT WE CLOSE OUT IN HIS LEGACY, REMEMBERING, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS LEGACY OF, UH, SERVICE, TRUST AND UNITY.

UH, PART OF THAT IS THANKING OUR BOY SCOUT TROOPS, OUR VETERANS, UH, LOCAL VETERANS AND OUR GIRL SCOUT, UH, TROOPS FOR COMING IN AND BEING A PART OF THIS CIVIL, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

UM, I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING, OF COURSE, I'LL BE ASKING SOME SOCRATIC QUESTIONS TO BETTER TO SEE HOW, UM, WE CAN BETTER SERVE YOU, UH, AS A COUNCIL.

UM, PART OF THAT IN THE MEANTIME IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FROM OUR COUNCIL, IF I MAY, AGENDIZE, UH, PROPOSING, UH, UH, IZING A COST REDUCTION, UH, TO, UM, UH, THE VETERANS, UH, TWO 60 SEVEN'S, UH, UPCOMING 100TH, UH, ANNIVERSARY, UH, TO SEE IF WE CAN JUST DO EXPLORE A, UH, A COST REDUCTION, UH, TO THE COST THAT THEY WILL BE INCURRING, UH, TO USE OUR CENTER.

SO IF I CAN, UH, POSSIBLY GET A SECOND MOTION, I'LL SECOND.

CAN I SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK? UM, FIRST OF ALL, CAN I JUST HAVE THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THEY MAY BE HARD COSTS, WHERE THEY'RE USED TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS STAFFING LEVELS, WHAT IT COST US.

AND THEN THEY MAY BE GETTING THE, THE DISCOUNTED RATE ALREADY, IF I'M MAY, IF I MAY BE RIGHT, I MAY BE WRONG.

BUT HAVE 'EM AT LEAST EXPLORE THAT AND SEE WHAT OUR HARD COSTS ARE INTO THAT, AND IF THEY'RE AT LEAST GETTING THAT ROCK BOTTOM PRICE, SO TO SPEAK, AS A NONPROFIT.

THE, THE, UH, ENTERTAINMENT WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

SO, SO MY, UH, PURPOSE OF ME AGENDA, THIS IS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

AND AS I SAID, IF WE CAN EXPLORE A, A POTENTIAL COST REDUCTION IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A REPORT BACK JUST TO OUTLINE WHAT THE COSTS ARE, UH, AND IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S RIGHT WITH THAT COST REDUCTION, SOME DISCOUNTS HERE AND THERE, THEN SATISFIED.

BUT, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO GET A REPORT BACK, IF POSSIBLE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT THAT OR, YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

I WANNA LOOK THAT, YOU KNOW, YEAH.

I'LL SUPPORT IT AS WELL.

AND, UH, AND SO WITH THAT, YEAH, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL I GOT.

UM, THANK YOU FOR, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS OF LAHABRA FOR ENTRUSTING US AND, UH, ENTRUSTING ME AS ONE OF YOUR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR, UH, UH, AGAIN, A PART OF LISTENING AND LEARNING AND GETTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MY CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

APPRECIATE BEING HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE CITY OF LA HABA, TODAY'S 101 YEARS OLD.

WE JUST CAME OUT OF OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, AND NOW, TODAY, ON THIS VERY DAY, WE ARE 101 YEARS OLD.

AND THE CITY STARTED RIGHT OUT HERE WHERE THAT BELL IS WHERE THE, THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THIS THE CITY OF LAHABRA.

SO, I, I JUST, I LOVE THE CITY OF LAHABRA, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY.

AND, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAHABRA.

WE LOOK BETTER THAN EVER.

UH, NEXT THING I, I, I DO WANNA MENTION IS, UH, DANCE THIS LAST, UH, SUNDAY.

WANNA THANK KIM ALBERRY, AND ESPECIALLY HANNAH, UH, FOR PUTTING ON ANOTHER TREMENDOUS, UH, DANCE OUT THERE.

SENIORS HAD A LOT OF FUN.

I HAD A LOT OF FUN JUST LOOKING AT THEM, HAVING ALL THE FUN.

THEY SERVE A TREMENDOUS MEAL.

[00:35:01]

SO, CONGRATULATIONS, KIM, ESPECIALLY GIVE MY THANKS TO, TO HANNAH.

SHE'S GOT JUST A SPECIAL KNACK FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS OVER THERE.

SHE JUST DOES A GREAT JOB.

I ALSO LISTEN TO KIM, I I HAVE YOU THERE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL BLOOD DRIVE I DROPPED BY THERE THIS LAST WEDNESDAY, UH, LAST WEEK.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT PARTICIPATED IN IT.

AND IT WAS FANTASTIC, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT CONTRIBUTED, CONTRIBUTED BLOOD HERE AT THE LAHABRA COMMUNITY CENTER WAS ANOTHER FANTASTIC EVENT.

UM, OVER THE HOLIDAYS, I, I JUST WANT TO THANK SO MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, EVEN LIKE NORTHGATE MARKET AND, AND A LOT OF OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

IT DID SO MANY, UH, RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

EVEN SCOTT MILLER, WHERE THEY DID, GAVE TOYS AWAY.

UH, THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED A HAND UP DURING THIS TIME, I KNOW SCOTT MILLER WAS OUT THERE, UH, DELIVERING A LOT OF FOOD AND PROVIDED THE FOOD AVAILABLE.

BUT THERE, I MEAN, THERE WERE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS.

I I, I, I WON'T EVEN WANNA MENTION 'EM ALL BECAUSE I'LL, I'LL FORGET ONE OR TWO, AND I DON'T WANNA HURT ANYBODY'S FEELINGS.

UH, BUT THEY TRULY EXEMPLIFIED OUR MOTTO OF A CARING COMMUNITY.

AND THAT MADE ME SO PROUD, ESPECIALLY, UH, DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

UH, A LOT OF GOOD STUFF, UH, GOING OUT THERE.

UH, AGAIN, BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.

AND AGAIN, WHEN THEY DO THIS REPORT, IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ALSO SPEND SOME TIME, SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING CREATIVE.

MAYBE WE HAVE A ROOM HERE AT CITY HALL THAT THEY CAN POSSIBLY MEET AT, OR JUST BE CREATIVE AND KEEP THEM IN MIND, UH, GOING FORWARD.

AND LAST THING, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE PRAYER STATE.

MY DAD HAD KNEE SURGERY AND, AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA MAKE IT.

HE WAS THE LAST, UH, SURGERY SCHEDULE AT, AT, UM, UH, THE ST.

JUDE HOSPITAL TODAY.

SO THANKFULLY IT WENT REALLY WELL.

SO I PROMISED HIM, I SAID, HEY, YOU COME OUTTA THERE.

WELL, I'M GONNA YELL ONE THING AND SAY, THIS IS RAMS HOUSE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

LOS ANGELES RAMS. HE'S A BIG RAMS FAN.

AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD YELL OUT WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS? THIS IS A RAMS HOUSE.

SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RAMS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE GAME ON SUNDAY.

AND IF ANYBODY WANTS SOME REALLY GREAT GOODIES, CENTRAL BAKERY HAS SOME CONCHAS MADE OUT LIKE THE, WITH THE RAMS COLORS AND SOME SPECIAL THINGS, FOOTBALLS AND STUFF FOR SUNDAY'S GAME.

THAT'S IT.

VERY COOL.

YOU NEED GET ME A CONCHA.

I'LL GET YOU A CON.

AH, NOTHING LIKE LITTLE MEXICAN BREAD, ESPECIALLY.

IT'S SUNDAY, RIGHT? UH, SUNDAY, SUNDAY'S BIG GAME.

IT, THE SEATTLE, UH, SEAHAWKS.

IT'S CHEAT DAY, SO I CAN EAT THE .

UH, GIRLS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

WE'RE, UH, I, IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT YOU HAVE NOWHERE HERE IN LA HABRA.

I CAN'T PROMISE YOU A THING, BUT, UH, LIKE THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND YOU SOMETHING, UM, WORK ON SOMETHING.

UH, IF IT'S, IF IT'S WITH THE, UH, THE CITY OR MAYBE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR SOMETHING, LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.

UH, IT IS, UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS THAT, UH, THAT I'LL PLAY SPORTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND ONE MY YOUNGEST STILL PLAYS COLLEGE, UH, SOCCER, UH, GOING INTO HER FINAL YEAR, NEXT YEAR.

AND, UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UH, YOU, UH, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING, WHITNEY IS, WHERE ARE THESE GIRLS GONNA BE HERE 10 YEARS FROM NOW? AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

HOPEFULLY DOING SOMETHING, ANYTHING.

SO, YEAH.

AND, UH, AND, UH, DO THE BOY SCOUTS THE SAME? IT IS CONCERNING.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

I, I MAKE NO PROMISES.

UH, BUT MR. ARLO, MR. SIMONOV, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU RELATED TO MARTY? YEAH.

OH, OKAY.

YOU KINDA LOOK LIKE HIM, BUT I JUST TELL HIM WE SAID HI.

UNTIL I BECAME A CITIZEN AT THE AGE OF 15, RIGHT AROUND THERE.

UH, BUT JUST THE SAME.

UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, UH, AND LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, LAMBKIN SOMETIMES SAYS, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE IN HERE IS HARD ENOUGH.

BUT, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU NOT ONLY COMING IN SPEAKING AT PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT STAYING FOR THE, UH, THE ENTIRETY OF THE MEETING.

ALTHOUGH THIS ONE IS RATHER SHORT, UH, FOR, UH, FOR A NORM FOR A NORMAL, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

SO, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

IT'S, IT'S NOT FORGOTTEN.

AND, UH, AND JUST THE SAME, ALTHOUGH THE, UH, THE VETERANS ARE NO LONGER HERE, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL.

COLLECTIVELY, EACH ONE OF US, WE DO SUPPORT WHAT YOU DO.

UH, I KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, IN A, IN A CHILD'S LIFE, A YOUNG LADY'S LIFE, AND A YOUNG MAN'S LIFE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

SO, UH, THAT ALSO, UH, COMMENTING ON YOUR, UH, ON YOUR POST, UH, I DID SEE THE POST.

AND, UH, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND IT, UH, IT STRUCK ME ON THREE LEVELS.

I'M A POLICE OFFICER STILL, AND I'M, I'M ON THE VERGE OF RETIREMENT A FEW MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN AT IT FOR JUST UNDER 30 YEARS.

AND, UH, UH, AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON AND AS A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT MYSELF, UH, A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT THAT, UH, THAT WAS, UH, UH, MADE A CITIZEN BACK IN 1985, UH, 15 YEARS, UH, INTO MY TIME HERE.

I HAD A GREEN CARD, UH, FOR THE LONGEST TIME

[00:40:01]

SO, UH, I, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK AT IT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, LIKE I SAID, AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON, AS A POLICE OFFICER, AND IT BREAKS MY HEART ON A LOT OF LEVELS FOR WHAT I SEE.

UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN EACH AND EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND I CAN'T REALLY GIVE IT JUSTIFICATION OR A PROPER COMMENT BECAUSE I WASN'T THERE, OR BECAUSE CERTAIN THINGS ARE HAPPENING ON VIDEO OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN FRONT OF ME.

AND I KNOW AS A POLICE OFFICER, BECAUSE I'M A USE OF FORCE EXPERT COURT RECOGNIZED, I TEACH DEFENSIVE TACTICS AT MY AGENCY.

UH, SO I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS, AND YOU SEE THESE THINGS AND YOU SEE THESE USE OF FORCE AND IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.

AND I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE TACTICS JUST FROM WHAT I SEE ON VIDEO, OUR LA HABER POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULDN'T DO.

UH, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR LA HABER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE GOOD POLICE OFFICERS, UH, OF NOT ONLY OF, UH, OF THESE CITIES, THESE STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, REPRESENTING DIFFERENT CITIES, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT LUMPED IN WITH SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE DROPPING GUNS, OFFICERS DROPPING GUNS.

WELL, THERE'S A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR THAT.

WE'RE A RETENTION HOLSTER OF SOME SORT, YOU KNOW, HOLD ONTO YOUR WEAPON.

IT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME.

I'M SURE IT'S HAPPENED TO POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING WITH THEIR WEAPONS IN THEIR HANDS.

IT'S A BIT EMBARRASSING, UH, QUITE FRANKLY.

BUT THINGS HAPPEN.

AND, UH, AND I'M NOT EXCUSING THEM AT ALL.

UH, BUT, UH, I HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND, UH, AND BE THE, UH, THE COUNCIL PERSON AS WELL, UH, TO, TO TAKE THAT STEP BACK AND, UH, TO LOOK AT IT AND GO, OKAY.

UH, BUT THEN AS A, UH, AS A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT ALSO WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY, UH, TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND, UH, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

UH, BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ANY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FOR THAT MATTER.

SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S A TOUGH STANCE.

UH, BUT, UH, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE UPHELD, UH, EXCUSE ME, WE ARE SWORN TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT WAS AN OATH I TOOK WHEN I BECAME A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT WAS AN OATH THAT I TOOK WHEN I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.

AND I HOLD THAT OATH TRUE TO MY HEART.

UH, AND, UH, I, I CONTINUE TO HOPE DAY IN, DAY OUT THAT, UH, OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO THE SAME, UH, WHETHER IT BE, UH, STATE, CITY, FEDERAL, WHATEVER IT IS.

SO, UH, BUT, UH, THANKS FOR, UH, THANKS FOR POSTING THAT.

UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT HOLIDAYS, UH, HOLIDAYS WERE FUN.

UH, NOW IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK.

I CAN'T SAY THAT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT, UH, YEAH.

UH, WHEN, UH, TIME PERMITTED, UH, I WAS ABLE TO RELAX AND ENJOY MY FAMILY AND THAT THEY WERE ALL HOME.

HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY, UH, EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAMILIES, UH, UH, WERE HOME.

AND, UH, YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE, UH, THE HOLIDAYS.

AND WE WILL, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT, UH, WHAT THIS YEAR, UH, WHAT THIS YEAR BRINGS.

I'M, UH, VERY GRATEFUL TO BE YOUR MAYOR, THE HUNDRED AND FIRST YEAR OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA.

AND WE'RE ALSO CELEBRATING THE, UH, 250TH YEAR OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY.

UM, AND I, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AS A, UH, AS A, AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.

SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.

AND, UH, LET'S MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

LET'S KEEP BEING LAHABRA THE WAY WE ARE, AND, UH, WE'LL LOOK OUT FOR YOU AND, UH, JUST LOOK OUT FOR US AS WELL.

AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'RE, END THIS THING TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.

UH, WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL CARRY ON IN, UH, THE MEMORY OF DR. KING AS YOU HAD REQUESTED.

UH, WE'LL END THE MEETING WITH THAT.

UH, AND, UH, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026 AT 5:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL.

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

I WILL NOW CHAIR THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING.