[00:00:08]
[ CALL TO ORDER: Council Chamber INVOCATION: City Attorney Collins PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Gomez ROLL CALL: Mayor Medrano Mayor Pro Tem Gomez Councilmember Espinoza Councilmember Nigsarian Councilmember Lampkin]
THE ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA, OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026.LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 6:30 PM AND THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER ESPINOZA, UH, WHO SENDS A REGRETS AND HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.
SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL THIS EVENING.
UH, AND ALSO TO NOTE THAT THE INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY COLLINS, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG SALUTE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ, AND A HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING WILL BE FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ADJOURNMENT OF THIS MEETING.
SO, UH, KEITH, WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE? DEAR GOD, WE HUMBLY PRAY THAT YOU WILL GRANT WISDOM TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AS IT CONSIDERS CITY BUSINESS SET FORTH IN THE MEETING AGENDA TONIGHT.
WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH INSIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES CONFRONTING OUR COUNCIL, STAFF, AND CITIZENS, SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN STRIVE TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES WITH COMMUNITY, SPIRIT AND PARTNERSHIP IN MIND.
PLEASE BLESS THE COUNCIL IN ITS DECISION MAKING TONIGHT SO THAT WE MAY ACT PRUDENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE HABER COMMUNITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND CIF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.
READY BEGIN FLAG ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL? ROLL? YES.
UH, IF, UH, MY, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
[1. RECOGNITION OF THE LA HABRA HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM ON ITS CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION (CIF) CHAMPIONSHIP]
WILL JOIN ME DOWN IN THE, WELL, WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE LA HABER HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM ON ITS CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP.IF I CAN, UH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA BE CALLING EACH ONE OF YOU UP ONE BY ONE.
IF YOU CAN JOIN US UP HERE, AND THEN I'M GONNA CALL COACH MAZZOTTA, UH, TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
UH, LET ME START WITH, UH, NOAH BARAS.
YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO TRIP ME UP.
SPANISH WAS MY FIRST LANGUAGE.
THERE'S NOT AN R THAT I CAN'T ROLL.
[00:05:12]
CONGRATULATIONS.ARE THEY GONNA COME RIGHT THERE? JOSEPH DEL.
THIS ONE SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE STAR RIGHT HERE.
ANOTHER ONE OF THESE MOVIE STAR NAMES BOSTON GREEN.
WHAT'S HIS FIRST NAME? CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU CAN GET BACK THERE AS WELL.
WELL, HE'S WELCOME TO COME UP WHEN HE COMES BACK.
KIKA MARTINEZ CHRISTIAN MAYOR.
[00:10:04]
XAVIER CATCHER.CONGRATULATIONS JACOB MORALES.
YOU HAD TO BE DIFFERENT, HUH? PRESTON.
I, I THINK I REMEMBER PRESSING WHEN IT WAS ABOUT THIS SMALL.
U HEY GUYS, IF SOME OF YOU GUYS WANT TO GO IN THE BACK, YOU GUYS CAN GO BACK THERE AND BY THE COUNCIL
THERE'S AN ENTRANCE OVER THERE.
I THINK I'VE KNOWN HIM WHEN HE WAS, WHEN HE WAS JUST BORN.
HE'S PRACTICALLY FAMILY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
HIS GRANDMOTHER AND MY MOM WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS IN MEXICO.
[00:15:01]
TRUJILLO, ANOTHER ONE.HE'S GROWN ANOTHER ONE WHO I KNEW WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S JULIAN VERDUSCO.
JONATHAN, WHERE? CONGRATULATIONS.
LOGAN WORKMAN AND NICHOLAS ZOV.
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US NOT ONLY AS THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR, PRO TEM, AND THE COUNCILMAN AND OUR COUNCILWOMAN ROSE ESP ESPINOZA, THAT WE CALLED EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY 'CAUSE YOU'RE ON TV FOR ONE.
AND THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY SHOULD KNOW WHO YOU ARE, NOT ONLY COLLECTIVELY, BUT INDIVIDUALLY.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, BRING UP YOUR COACH.
BUT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HONORING THE FOOTBALL TEAM.
UH, SO MUCH GOES INTO THE FOOTBALL SEASON.
IT'S NOT JUST A COLLECTION OF, UH, 15 GAMES.
THESE KIDS STARTED WORKING LAST JANUARY, AND IT'S FOUR DAYS A WEEK IN THE OFF SEASON, UH, FIVE DAYS A WEEK THROUGHOUT, WELL, SIX DAYS A WEEK THROUGHOUT THE FALL.
UH, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME THEY COMMIT TO THEIR SPORT.
THEY, THEY GO TO CLASS, THEY, THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON CAMPUS.
AND THEN WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS GOING HOME, THEY'RE HEADED TO THE WEIGHT ROOM, THEY'RE HEADED TO THE PRACTICE FIELD.
THEIR COMMITMENT SHOWS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS.
AND THE REWARD IS TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S A REASON WHY IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT.
AND THESE KIDS DID AN AMAZING JOB WORKING.
WE BEAT SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD TEAMS, SOME VERY HIGHLY RATED TEAMS, HIGHLY TALENTED TEAMS, WELL-COACHED TEAMS. AND, UH, EVERY WEEK THE KIDS JUST CAME BACK AND GOT BETTER AND BETTER.
I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THEM.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION REALLY DID A GREAT JOB SUPPORTING THE KIDS.
UH, THE TEACHERS SUPPORT THE SPORTS AND ATHLETICS.
OUR PRINCIPAL, THE REST OF OUR ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THE KIDS IN, IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.
OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HAS DONE A GREAT JOB SUPPORTING THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, GOT US A COUPLE GIFTS BEFORE THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND, UH, WAS REALLY SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE PARENTS WHO REALLY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
WE HAD SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
WE HAD SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS.
UH, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT'S FAMILIAR, YOU KNOW, A BOOSTER ORGANIZATION IS JUST THE MOST THANKLESS JOB IN THE WORLD.
UH, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST A FULL-TIME JOB AND YOU DO IT FOR FREE.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH TIME EVERY YEAR THAT WE START OFF.
ALL THE PARENTS IN THE ROOM KNOW MY FIRST TALK, WHEN WE HAVE OUR PARENT MEETING IN THE SUMMER AT THE START OF SUMMER, IS WHEN WE GET ALL THREE THINGS TO GO TOGETHER.
I ALREADY KNOW THE COACHES ARE GONNA DO A GREAT JOB.
I GOT A GREAT GROUP OF COACHES.
THEY'RE ALL STANDING OVER THERE.
I GOT A GREAT GROUP OF COACHES AND YEP.
YEAH, WITH US, WITH US HERE THIS EVENING, WE'VE GOT JESSE STANDFORD, WHO'S BEEN COACHING WITH ME FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
JESSE'S BEEN WITH ME OVER 20 YEARS.
WE GOT COACH MIKE IBARRA OVER THERE.
[00:20:01]
MARK.YEAH, WE GOT COACH TI RIGHT THERE.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WHO'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
HE GETS THESE YOUNG KIDS WHEN THEY FIRST GET TO LA HIGH, OUR HEAD FRESHMAN COACH JASON WALLACE.
OBVIOUSLY THEY COULD NOT MAKE IT THIS EVENING, BUT, UH, WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND WHAT I WAS SAYING THOUGH, WHEN WE HAVE THE THREE GROUPS THAT COME TOGETHER, I ALREADY KNOW THE COACHES ARE GONNA WORK THEIR BUTTS OFF.
THEY, THEY ARE, THEY ARE THERE EVERY DAY WITH THESE BOYS.
I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA WORK THEIR BUTTS OFF.
THAT THIRD PIECE IS THE PARENTS AND THE BOOSTER CLUB JUST COMING TOGETHER.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE THREE, THOSE THREE THINGS AND THEY ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER, THEN YOU GOT A REAL CHANCE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP LIKE WE DID THIS YEAR.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THESE BOYS.
THEY DESERVE ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT COME WITH YES, BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD.
THEY DESERVE ALL THE RECOGNITION.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE I, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, BEFORE I, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES REAL QUICK, THEY WANNA SAY SOMETHING.
I WANNA INVITE, UH, PRINCIPAL GARCIA UP HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL, SIR.
I KNOW HE WASN'T EXPECTING IT, BUT GOT GOTTA HAVE THE LEADER OF THE BUNCH OUT.
THANKS FOR PUTTING ME ON THE SPOT.
LOOK, I, I, I LEARNED REALLY EARLY TO STEP OUT OF PEOPLE'S WAY WHEN THEY DO JUST AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
AND THE CITY ITSELF, WHEN I SHOWED UP HERE FOUR YEARS AGO, UH, A BIG PART OF IT WAS THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND THE FAMILIES THAT IT BRINGS TOGETHER.
I THINK I GOT THE MOST, UH, INCREDIBLE AD AND CAFFERY.
UH, BUT IT'S THE FAMILIES, RIGHT? TO BE ABLE TO WALK INTO, UH, OUR STADIUM, TO BE ABLE DRIVE INTO THE CITY, UH, TO BE STOPPED AND SAYING, HEY, WHAT DO YOU DO? UH, THIS IS A LEGACY SCHOOL, AND IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT? THAT I COULDN'T HELP, AT LEAST IN MY END, SELFISHLY NOT BRING MY OWN CHILD TO LAHABRA.
AND I'M NOT EVEN FROM LAHABRA, BUT NOW WITH THE CHILD, I AM LAHABRA.
SO WITH COACH MO AND, AND THIS COMMUNITY, I LOVE IT.
UH, AND I'M THANKFUL, REALLY, FOR ALL THE FAMILIES.
SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE OF YOU.
UH, AND THESE KIDS GOT TO BENEFIT FROM JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS ALL YOU GUYS TOGETHER.
AS YOU GUYS GO INTO THE MARKETS, UH, IN THE CITY, UH, IT BINDS YOU GUYS AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS A MEMORY FOR A LIFETIME, UH, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE ALL GOT TO EXPERIENCE IT.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND GOMEZ.
IT'S TIME FOR ALL YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
ACTUALLY, UH, UH, SOMEBODY WHO CAME ON MY DAUGHTERS LAST YEAR AT LA HABRA HIGH SCHOOL, ABOUT THREE AND A THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO, UH, OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, PAUL CAFFERY, PLEASE COME UP HERE BECAUSE YEAH, YEAH.
BECAUSE ANYTIME MY DAUGHTER IS HOME AND NEEDS A SOCCER FIELD, YOU ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST OUT THERE READY TO OPEN UP A GATE.
SO PLEASE, WHAT? YOU JUST GOT ME IN TROUBLE.
NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT, MR. GARCIA.
I DON'T OPEN THE GATES FOR ANYBODY.
I JUST, UH, I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS.
UH, EITHER WAS MR. GARCIA, BUT NO, I, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THIS CITY MEANS A LOT TO ME AS WELL.
AND SO, UH, JUST BEING A PART OF THIS, I THINK, UH, NOW MY 17TH OR 18TH YEAR AT, UH, LAHABRA, UH, JUST SEEING WHAT COACH MAZZOTTA HASS DONE, HE'S MY NEIGHBOR AS WELL, UH, ON COACHES ROW HERE.
BUT, UH, THE EIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS, UH, I THINK WE DON'T REALIZE HOW SPECIAL AND, AND HOW SPOILED WE ARE IN LA HABRA TO HAVE THIS.
AND, UH, HE AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.
I ASK HIM OFTEN, BUT, UH, I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT AND, UH, AND TO REALLY, UH, UH, BLESS, UH, UH, I'M BLESSED WITH ALL YOU PARENTS AND THE SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL IN AMERICA.
AND, UH, I SAY THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT, UH, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL 40 YEARS AGO.
I GRADUATED AND MY FATHER WENT THERE, GRADUATED FROM LAHAM HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, MY SON 20 YEARS AGO WAS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
AND COACH MO AND ALL YOUR COACHING STAFF, YOU GUYS ARE OVER THE TOP.
AND, UH, EIGHT YEAR, EIGHT, EIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW.
NOT IN A ROW, BUT OVER THE YEARS.
AND, AND LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, COACH MO, HE'S GOTTEN OFFERS FROM
[00:25:01]
COLLEGES, THEY CALL, UH, OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS TO TRY TO BRING HIM ONTO THEIR PROGRAM.AND HE'S HERE BECAUSE HE LOVES LAHABRA.
ONE OTHER INTERESTING THING, HE'S A LEGACY AWARD WINNER.
WE CELEBRATE OUR CENTENNIAL, UH, THIS LAST YEAR, AND HE'S OUTTA THE ONE OF 100 PEOPLE THAT WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LIBRA.
SO COACH, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH RESPECT ADMIRATION I HAVE FOR YOU, HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT YOU.
ALL THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND PARENTS, THANK YOU GUYS DESERVE THIS AND A LOT MORE.
I'LL JUST SAY VERY BRIEFLY, CHAMPIONS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS FANTASTIC THAT THE CHAMPIONS, BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE EXCITING IS WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE? IS IT POOL BALL? IS IT GOING TO BE STARTING A NEW COMPANY LIKE APPLE? ARE YOU GONNA BE BILLIONAIRES? THIS IS THE THING YOU'VE LEARNED, THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK, WHERE YOU SACRIFICED YOURSELF, YOU LIFT UP YOUR TEAMMATES, YOU LEARN HOW TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY, COOPERATIVELY.
I WON'T TAKE LONG BECAUSE TODAY IS TRULY NOT ABOUT US.
THE CITY COUNCIL IS ABOUT THESE CHAMPIONS RIGHT HERE.
UH, COACH MO MENTIONED THAT THESE WINS DON'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY WILL HAPPEN AT THE RIGHT TIME.
IT ALWAYS HAPPENS AT THE RIGHT TIME.
IT'S THAT MOMENT WHERE WE START TO SYNERGIZE AS A TEAM.
AND THAT TEAM ISN'T JUST THESE FOLKS SITTING UP HERE, BUT IT'S THE PARENTS.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE FAMILIES, IT'S THE THE BOOSTERS CLUB, IT'S THE COACHES.
AND YOU START TO LEARN HOW TO NOT ONLY PERFORM AS A GROUP, BUT AS A TEAM.
AND IN THAT TEAM YOU LEARN HOW TO SYNERGIZE, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ONE OF YOURSELVES, AND YOU PUT IT ALL INTO ONE BIG INGREDIENT TO GET THAT CHAMPIONSHIP AND TO GET THAT WIN.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE THE LAST ONE.
THIS IS GONNA BE MANY MORE TO COME, BUT IT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA SPREAD YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM AND YOU'RE GONNA IMPART YOUR SKILLS AND YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR ABILITY TO THE FUTURE OF LAHABRA HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THAT CHAMPION FOR EACH OTHER, SYNERGIZING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FOR REPRESENTING LAHABRA.
ALRIGHT, PARENTS, ONE LAST TIME.
THESE ARE YOUR 20 25, 26 LAHABRA HIGH SCHOOL CIF CHAMPIONS.
AND I'D INVITE YOU ALL TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ABOUT ANOTHER 15 MINUTES, UH, OF A MEETING, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU MORE THAT.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE QUICK PICTURE.
IF WE CAN GET ALL THE BOYS KIND OF COMPRESS HIM A BIT.
SOME OF YOU GENTLEMEN, YOU GUYS CAN GO TO THE BACK AS WELL.
PAUL, YOU TELL US WHERE YOU WANT 'EM, JUST IN THE BACK.
YOU GUYS SEE BACK THERE? YEAH.
ARE YOU GUYS IN THE BACK ROW UP HIGH? COME AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN OVER THE TABLE.
EVERYBODY SEE ME? READY? 1, 2, 3.
OKAY, DON'T LEAVE GUYS, DON'T LEAVE.
THIS IS THE HIGH SCHOOL'S BIGGEST FAN.
YOU RIGHT OVER OFFICIAL WHAT AM AMBASSADOR? OFFICIAL.
THIS IS OUR OFFICIAL AMBASSADOR.
[00:30:03]
YEAH.[00:35:10]
MY NAME.SAME TIME NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE HERE.
ALRIGHT, UH, MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[ PUBLIC COMMENTS: When addressing the La Habra City Council, please complete a Speaker’s Card before leaving the Council Chamber. General Public Comments shall be received at the beginning of the governing body meeting and limited to three (3) minutes per individual, with a total time limit of 30 minutes for all public comments, unless otherwise modified by the Mayor or Chair. Speaking time may not be granted and/or loaned to another individual for purposes of extending available speaking time, and comments must be kept brief, non-repetitive, and professional in nature. The general Public Comment portion of the meeting allows the public to address any item of City business not appearing on the scheduled agenda. Per Government Code Section 54954.3(a), such comments shall not be responded to by the governing body during the meeting.]
THANK YOU, MAYOR.WHEN ADDRESSING THE LAW, HABER 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 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 MAYOR, WE DO HAVE ONE CARD FOR VALERIA KING.
YES, YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU GUYS? GOOD EVENING.
HAVE A, A MESSAGE FOR YOU GUYS.
YOU HAVE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW IT.
IT REALLY IS
GO THERE AND HAVE GONE THERE AND HAVE GRANDKIDS THERE.
UM, BEFORE I START, I'M GOING TO NOT UTILIZE THE ENTIRE THREE MINUTES, BUT BEFORE I START, MY PRIMARY REASON FOR BEING HERE, I WANT TO JUST COMMEND, UH, THE STUDENTS FROM THE HARBOR AND SONORA FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING, ASTOUNDING CIVIC PARTICIPATION LAST FRIDAY.
THEIR DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR CORE BELIEFS FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL COMMUNITIES MUST BE APPLAUDED.
UM, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS, WHETHER YOU'RE A PRESIDENT OR ONLINE.
AND, UH, YES, BUT I'M STILL 21.
MY PURPOSE OF BEING HERE IS TO REQUEST THE COUNCIL'S ASSISTANCE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY.
T MYSELF AND SOME OF MY COM, MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUBMITTED A REQUEST ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, AND IT WAS ABOUT CLEANING UP OUR COMMUNITY AT THE TIME.
THE CITY WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAZARD ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LAHABRA, NO SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MONTE VISTA AND HEATHER.
I CONTACTED THE CITY AND I WAITED TWO WEEKS AND CONTACTED THEM AGAIN.
UM, SINCE THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, UH, I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU, I HAVE SOME PICTURES AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PERUSE, BUT A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
IF YOU JUST TAKE THE TIME TO DRIVE BY TOMORROW, IN THE EVENING, IT IS FINE.
BUT DURING THE DAYLIGHT, IT'S MUCH EASIER AFTER YOU VISIT AND YOU SEE WHAT'S ON THAT CORNER.
I THINK THE ADD WELL, I KNOW THE ADDRESS IS TWO 50 NORTH MONTE VISTA.
IT'S DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM GOOD SHEPHERD'S CHURCH.
SO I'M STANDING HERE BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THE PICTURES, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE WITH THE CITY CLERK, AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS WILL TAKE A MINUTE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THEM IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO VISIT, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME.
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT AS I WAS JUST WRITING THIS LITTLE NOTE, I THOUGHT IF YOU ASK YOURSELF, WOULD YOU ACCEPT THOSE CONDITIONS WHERE EACH ONE OF YOU LIVE? I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1997.
GENERALLY, THE CITY, UM, IS VERY HELPFUL IN SOLVING ISSUES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU'LL NOTICE, YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU GET THERE AND AFTER YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T ACCEPT THOSE IN YOUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T THINK, AND I DON'T BELIEVE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD ACCEPT THOSE AS WHAT.
[00:40:03]
AFTER LOOKING OVER THE CITY CHARTER AND LOOKING THROUGH THINGS, FINALLY I HAD TO ASK, I, I THOUGHT I SAID, WELL, LET'S ASK THE CITY COUNCIL, DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE AND TRULY STAND BY THE MOTTO THAT YOU CARE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? IF YOU DO, THEN YOU WOULDN'T ALLOW THIS HAZARD, UH, TO BE THERE.THE SCHOOL BUS STOPS DIRECTLY ACROSS STREET.
UH, I, UH, FORGIVE ME, UM, MY, I'M SORRY IF, HAVE I USED UP MY THREE MINUTES? YOU HAVE, YES, THAT'S FINE.
UH, ANY, UH, ANY PICTURES AND, UH, THINGS? JEFF, CAN YOU PLEASE LEAVE THEM WITH OUR CITY CLERK? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT A CARD AFTER I'M DONE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS ARLENE BUCK AND I LIVE ON SOUTH MONTE VISTA.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN LA HABRA SINCE 1978.
I'VE MOVED IN AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ON GRACE STREET, AND I'M A GRADUATE OF LA HABRA HIGH SCHOOL.
MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE GONE TO LAHABRA IN LA HABRA SCHOOLS.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE LA HARA POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SAVIORS OF MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE SEVERAL TIMES.
THEY'VE BEEN FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN SHE'S NEEDED TO BE RESUSCITATED A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THE LA HARA FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT.
UM, THANK GOD WE'VE ONLY HAD TO USE THEM SPARINGLY LATELY.
BUT IT CAME TO A POINT WHERE WE WENT TO A GRAND OPENING OF THE GROCERY OUTLET ONE DAY AND THERE WAS A GROUP OF FIREMEN THERE, AND THEY SAW MY DAUGHTER AND ME, AND THEY LOOKED AT US AND THEY GO, HMM, TO IT, ONE SOUTH MONTE VISTA.
AND THAT WAS KIND OF EMBARRASSING BECAUSE WHEN THEY KNOW YOU BY YOUR ADDRESS, THEN THAT'S KIND OF LIKE, OH GOSH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FREQUENT FLYERS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, DARREN AZARIAN, JOSE, AND MOST OF ALL, UM, OUR GOOD OLD BUDDY HERE, JAMES, FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR US.
WE'RE ALWAYS PRAYING FOR US AND FOR BEING BY MY DAUGHTER'S SIDE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE ACTUALLY DIED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND GOT BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE.
AND WHEN SHE WAS IN A COMA AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, MY DAUGHTER FELL IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND SHE FRACTURED HER FEMUR.
THE HABER FIRE WAS THERE TO PICK HER UP.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, NOW I'M A CARETAKER.
UM, I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF HER FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
WHAT BRINGS ME HERE NOW IS THAT JUST RECENTLY ON MONTE VISTA, THERE WAS, UM, AN UPGRADE DONE TO A POWER UNIT, AND THEY INSTALLED TWO POWER POLES RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS THAT LIVE ON MONTE VISTA.
IT'S VERY INACCESSIBLE FOR THOSE FIRE, FOR THOSE SENIOR CITIZENS OR FOR ANYBODY THAT IS DISABLED, FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE WALKING.
IF YOU'VE GOT, HEAVEN FORBID, YOU KNOW, AN OVERWEIGHT PERSON THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND WALK ON THE STREET TO GET AROUND THAT.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW LA HARBOR'S CARING COMMUNITY.
I KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, THAT ADDRESS.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE HER TO CALL CODE ENFORCEMENT, FIRST OF ALL.
BUT I, I, I KNOW THAT IF SOMEBODY APPROVED THAT PLAN TO GO THROUGH FOR THOSE TELEPHONE POLES TO GO, I'M SORRY.
BUT WHY WOULD THAT HAPPEN? WHY, WHY ARE WE NOT THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS? ARE WE NOT THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN WALKERS? ARE WE NOT THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE HANDICAPPED? PLEASE LOOK AT EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE THAT WALK THOSE STREETS.
AND THEN MY FINAL THING, YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT SPEED BUMPS.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD, OH, IT'S COMING IN THREE YEARS.
IT'S COMING IN ANOTHER THREE YEARS.
I THINK I'M GONNA END UP MOVING OUTTA THE CITY IN ANOTHER 10 YEARS AND WE'RE STILL NOT GONNA SEE SPEED BUMPS.
OH, AND DELL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CONVERSATION YET.
I KNOW YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I HAVEN'T MET.
ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
[00:45:02]
ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE,[ 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, CONSENT CALENDAR.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 REQUEST SEPARATE ACTION OR REMOVAL OF AN ITEM REMOVED, ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOLLOWING THE CONSENT CALENDAR PORTION OF THIS AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES PER ITEM THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION.
UNLESS OTHERWISE, MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR.
SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN.
ALRIGHT, CALL UH, FOR REMOVAL OF ITEMS BY STAFF.
UH, CAN I, UH, GET A, I'D MOVE TO, OH YEAH, I HAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WAS THAT MAYOR OR PROAM GOMEZ? WHO SECONDED? THANK YOU.
[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]
THE, UH, MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR.LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2026.
CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE HORSE THIS ENTIRE MONTH AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.
THERE WILL BE SPECIAL STORY TIMES CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT COMMEMORATE THE OCCASION.
THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS HOSTING A BUILD A BESTIE WORKSHOP ON VALENTINE'S DAY'S SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A STUFFED TEDDY BEAR AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A HEART CEREMONY, CREATE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, AND DECORATE A CUB CONDO FOR THEIR CUDDLY COMPANION.
COST US $30 FOR MUSEUM MEMBERS AND $40 FOR NON-MEMBERS SENIOR DANCE.
THE VALENTINE'S, THE VALENTINE'S PARTY SENIOR DANCE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH FROM 2:00 PM UNTIL 4:00 PM AT THE LAHABRA COMMUNITY CENTER.
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, DINNER, RAFFLES, AND DESSERT 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.
COMMISSION RECRUITMENT, INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
APPLY FOR A VACANCY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION, OR BOTH APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEBSITE OR FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 6:00 PM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH.
CELEBRATE READ ACROSS AMERICA AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH FROM 10:00 AM UNTIL 3:00 PM THERE WILL BE SPECIAL GUEST READERS FUN CRAFTS AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES INCLUDED WITH PAID MUSEUM ADMISSION.
THE LA HABA RACES FAMILY FUN RUN.
DON'T MISS THE CITY'S ANNUAL LA HABA 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 EVENT FEATURES, A 5K WALK RUN, A ONE K KITTY RUN, AND 50 YARD TODDLER TROT KIDS NIGHT OUT.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE UPCOMING KIDS.
NIGHT OUT SPRING FLING NIGHT 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.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETS ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.
WATER CONSERVATION, WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE STILL ENFORCED AND CALIFORNIANS ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSERVE WATER.
ALRIGHT, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE HAVE NO, UH, WE'RE AT THE, ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF? NONE.
[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]
CITY COUNCIL? WE'LL START OVER HERE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN ERIAN.UH, A GOOD COUPLE WEEKS FOR BUSINESS.
'CAUSE I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF FUN FOR THOSE OF US THAT WERE THERE FOR THE, I THINK IT WAS THE 10 YEAR, UH, UH, ANNIVERSARY OF WINCHELL'S, RIGHT? JIM? 10 YEARS.
THAT'S THE WINCHELL'S ON, UH, HARBOR BOULEVARD.
IT'S A MAINSTAY OF ALL DONUT AFICIONADOS.
THERE'S THREE OF US UP HERE RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY.
WE WISH THEM THE BEST GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
UH, A NEW BUSINESS PROTEIN VIBES 2 26 WESTLAW HARBOR BOULEVARD.
WE DID A RIBBON CUTTING THERE.
IT'S, I THINK IT WAS THERE BEFORE, BUT IT'S A NEW PARTNERSHIP NOW, AND THEY'RE GETTING OFF TO A, TO A GREAT FAST START.
[00:50:01]
STUFF THERE.THE ONLY COMMENT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT I WANNA, I WANNA THANK, UH, CHIEF FOSTER AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE HAD, WE HAD TWO PROTESTS, ESSENTIALLY ANTI-ICE PROTESTS IN THE HARBOR OVER THE LAST, UH, WITHIN THE LAST WEEK.
THERE WAS ONE AT THE CORNER OF BEACH AND IMPERIAL.
IT WAS VERY LARGELY ATTENDED, BUT PEACEFUL, ENTIRELY PEACEFUL.
AND THEN THERE WAS KIDS FROM SONORA AND LE HABER HIGH THAT WENT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY CLOSE TO 200 KIDS.
AND YOU COULD IMAGINE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CHAOTIC OR BE PROBLEMATIC, UH, BUT IT WAS MANAGED VERY WELL.
I WANNA GIVE, UH, KUDOS TO THE, UH, FOLLOWING OFFICERS WHO, UH, COLLABORATED AND COOPERATED WITH THE ORGANIZERS OF THAT EVENT.
AND THAT'S OFFICER, DID I SAY THIS CORRECTLY? ADAM M ZO.
ZO ZO OFFICER, KLING FU, OFFICER BETTENCOURT, OFFICER MARIN AND SERGEANT CASTANON, WHO DID A FANTASTIC JOB AS, AS A LIAISON WITH THE KIDS AND THE ORGANIZERS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND IT RESULTED IN A COMPLETELY, PERFECTLY SAFE, UH, ALMOST, UH, FESTIVE ENVIRONMENT, REALLY.
I THINK THE KIDS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND, UH, THEY WERE TUNED IN TO THE ISSUES, UH, OF THE DAY IN A WAY THAT, UH, FAR EXCEEDED JUST THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, IT WAS AGAIN, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST.
AND THEY DID IT JUST RIGHT WHERE THE JOB GOT DONE.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, EVERYBODY WAS SAFE.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO YOU CHIEF FOR THAT.
AND, UH, ASIDE FROM THAT, ALL I'LL SAY IS THAT, UH, BOY, VINCE SCULLY CENTENNIAL PARK IS REALLY INCREDIBLE.
WENT THERE AGAIN A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
JAM PACKED DOG PARK IS JUST ROARING ALONG.
UH, WHAT A JEWEL THIS IS BECOMING FOR THE CITY OF LA HARBOR.
UM, I WILL FIRST, UH, TALK ABOUT JANUARY 22ND.
WENT OVER TO COUNTRY HILLS WEST COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, GOT TO HEAR ONCE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR.
UM, THE COMMUNITY GATHERED TOGETHER TO, UM, EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND, UM, HAVE A, UH, WHAT WAS A VERY ORGANIZED, UM, FACILITATION BY THE CITY.
SO I WANNA THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT ON AND, UH, FACILITATING THAT.
UM, AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IAN MENTIONED THERE WERE A LOT OF MILESTONES FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.
AND, UH, WHILE I ATTENDED BOTH OF THOSE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES, I ALSO ATTENDED SEVERAL MORE, UH, A FEW OF THEM BEING TOBY FLORES'S, UM, SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY, UH, WITH STATE FARM.
AND, UH, WHAT WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THAT WAS, UH, TOBY FLORES, WHO IS A, UH, ONE OF OUR KEY PILLARS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STARTED HIS BUSINESS JUST BEFORE COVID HAPPENED.
AND SO, UM, HIS, HIS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WAS DELAYED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BE ABLE TO PEOPLE TO GATHER DURING, UH, DURING A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, WHAT WAS, UH, THE, THE, THE MOTTO OF LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR STATE FARM IS THERE QUICKLY TURNED INTO LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR STAY OVER THERE.
AND SO IT CAUSED THAT SEPARATION.
AND SO NOW WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO DO THAT RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
UM, I ALSO WENT, UH, THIS WEEKEND TO IGNITE PHYSIO'S GRAND OPENING, UH, WHERE, UH, YES, THEY HAD A GRAND OPENING, UH, ON THE, ON THE EAST END OF OUR CITY, BUT THEY'VE BEEN AROUND OUR CITY FOR SOME TIME.
I BELIEVE IT'S NINE YEARS OR SO, FIRST STARTING AT NEXT LEVEL FITNESS.
UM, AND SO WITH ALL THESE BUSINESSES, UH, HAVING THEIR MILESTONES, IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCY IN OUR CITY.
UH, I ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A COUPLE OF CHURCHES, UH, JOINING SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WORSHIP.
UM, I VISITED LADY GUADALUPE CHURCH, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN ALSO THE, UH, THE CAUSE CHURCH, WHICH IS ACTUALLY LOCATED IN BREA.
HOWEVER, A LOT OF OUR, UM, BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE BORDER, MANY OF OUR, UH, RESIDENTS DO, UH, GO THERE.
AND SO IT WAS A PRETTY BUSY WEEK.
UM, AND SO, UM, WITH THAT, I ALSO WANNA WISH EVERYONE A, UM, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND, UH, BEFORE I GIVE MY, UM, THOUGHTS ON THAT, UH, I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, AND IT'S KIND OF A BIT DELAYED BECAUSE LAST YEAR IT, IT, I SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY GIVEN, GIVEN THANKS LAST YEAR, UH, BEING THAT, UM, EVERY SINGLE WEEK THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ACTUALLY, UM, HIGHLIGHTED AN ENTREPRENEUR, A BLACK ENTREPRENEUR, OR SOMEONE WHO, UM, UH, UH, MADE A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES, UM, AND, AND, AND WITH EVEN WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO I WANNA THANK THEM FOR THAT.
AND, UH, IN HONOR OF, OF THAT, I WANT TO, UH, TONIGHT AS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, I WANNA HONOR THE WILLIAMS FAMILY, UH, RECOGNIZING 'EM AS THE FIRST KNOWN.
UH, AND I'M SURE THERE WAS MAYBE A COUPLE OF OTHERS, BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE 'EM AS THE FIRST KNOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY TO SETTLE IN LA HABRA.
UH, DURING THE 1940S, UH, AT A TIME AT, UH, WHEN HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES, THE WILLIAMS FAMILY BUILT THEIR HOME IN THE ALTA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD AND NAVIGATED A COMMUNITY THAT WAS NOT YET WELCOMING TO FAMILIES WHO LOOK LIKE THEM.
UH, THEIR CHILDREN ATTENDED SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, UM, JUST LIKE A LOT OF OUR HISPANIC FAMILIES IN THE HA DURING THAT
[00:55:01]
TIME PERIOD.AND THE FAMILY FACED BARRIERS THAT MANY TODAY MAY FIND DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE.
YET THEY, UH, PERSEVERED, UH, THROUGH QUITE, UH, QUIET STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND DIGNITY.
THE WILLIAMS FAMILY BECAME PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.
UH, THEY RAISED, UH, THEY RAISED THEIR CHILDREN HERE, BUILT RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CULTURES, AND REMAINED LA HABRA FOR DECADES, LEAVING A LEGACY, NOT THROUGH HEADLINES, BUT THROUGH PRESENCE SHOWING, UH, SHOWING US THAT PROGRESS OFTEN BEGINS WITH A SINGLE FAMILY WILLING TO STAND FIRM.
UH, THEIR STORY REMINDS US THAT BLACK HISTORY IS NOT JUST THE, UH, IS NOT JUST NATIONAL, BUT IT IS ALSO LOCAL.
UH, IT LIVES ON, ON OUR STREETS AND IN OUR, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IN THE COURAGE OF FAMILIES LIKE THE WILLIAMS FAMILY, WHO HELPED OPEN DOORS FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF AS BEING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY COUNCILMAN TO BE ON CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF LA HABRA.
AND, UH, FOR MANY MORE TO FOLLOW IN OUR CITY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, DEDICATE TONIGHT'S MEETING TO THE WILLIAMS FAMILY MAYOR PRO TIM.
YEAH, UH, GEORGE WILLIAMS. HE WAS, HE WAS A FANTASTIC MAN.
HE WAS, UH, GOOD FRIENDS WITH MY GRANDFATHER, WITH MY GRANDFATHER, I SHOULD SAY.
AND HE OWNED AN AUTO BODY SHOP RIGHT NEXT TO CANNINGS HARDWARE.
IN FACT, THAT GEORGE O GEORGE O. WILLIAMS, UH, RODE IN THE CORN FESTIVAL, PRAYED BACK IN 19, UH, 81, UH, WITH ME AS JUST A CHILD.
UH, ED ARNOLD WAS IN THERE, AND AS WELL AS MY DAD.
AND, UH, THE WILLIAMS FAMILY, UH, IS CERTAINLY A TREMENDOUS FAMILY.
THEY PAVED THE WAY FOR MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF THE GOMEZ FAMILY.
UH, JUST A, A GEORGE WAS A PARTICULARLY DEAR FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY, AND I MISS HIM, UH, A LOT.
UH, WANNA MENTION, JUST, UH, WE LOST, SADLY, JUAN CARLOS HERNANDEZ.
I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN HIS MEMORY.
UM, HE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF SMOKING FIRE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
HE, HIS BROTHER ISAIAH AND TWO OF HIS BUSINESS PARTNERS CAME TO ME AND WE'RE INTERESTED IN OPENING UP A, A STORE CALLED SMOKE AND FIRE.
WE SAT DOWN, WE BROKE BREAD TOGETHER, WE PRAYED ABOUT THAT CONCEPT AND BECAME A VERY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR.
SADLY, HE PASSED AWAY AND, UH, HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON, UH, FOREVER.
A LOT OF ENERGY, TRUE VISIONARY HAD APPEARED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE, UH, FOOD NEWS NETWORK, EXCUSE ME, MY GOODNESS.
FOOD NEWS NETWORK AND JUST A, A, A GREAT INDIVIDUAL.
ALSO ONE OF MENTIONED, I DID ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTRY HILLS, UH, ASSOCIATION, UM, UM, MEETING.
I DID IT, I'VE DONE IT FOR 22 YEARS.
THAT STARTED BACK, UH, 22 YEARS AGO WITH MYSELF AND OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER, BRAD BRIDEN BECKER.
AND WE'VE COME A LONG WAY BACK IN THAT DAY, THEY WOULD COME AND THEY WOULD SHOW UP WITH CONCRETE BECAUSE THEIR STREETS WERE BROKEN UP.
UH, THEY WERE NOT HAPPY IN THE, THE, THE, THE CONDITION OF THE CITY BACK THEN.
BUT NOW, UM, RATHER THAN COMPLAINING, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ACCOLADES FROM THAT GROUP.
WISH WE HAD MORE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE AS COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND CARED ABOUT.
LIKE, UH, LIKE THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COUNTRY, HILLS WEST ASSOCIATION.
I WANNA CONGRATULATE JOHN CAMPOS.
YESTERDAY WE HAD A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, OF COURSE, HE IS THE FOUNDER OF SENIOR CAMPOS.
AND YESTERDAY WE HAD A PARTY HONORING HIM, HIM, HIS LATE, UH, WIFE TILLY STARTED SENIOR CAMPOS.
HE'S STILL GOING STRONG, ALTHOUGH HE DID SELL THE RESTAURANT.
HE STILL SHOWS UP REGULARLY, UH, GIVES THEM ADVICE AND JUST, UH, DOING, DOING VERY WELL FOR 95 YEARS OLD.
I HOPE I CAN LIVE TO 95 YEARS OLD.
AND ANOTHER THING IS TO HAVE THAT KINDA STRENGTH THAT HE HAS ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE LAHABRA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ON THEIR 48TH ANNIVERSARY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THEIR 48TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND 48 YEARS AGO, I WAS THERE WHEN THEY OPENED, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO ME.
ACTUALLY DANCED ON OPENING DAY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
UH, AND VIRGINIA WYKOFF, WHO'S A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER, SHE WAS, I WAS IN HER CLASS AND SHE BROUGHT US TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
UH, WHERE'S BRIANNA? BRIANNA HERE.
WHERE'S BRIANNA? UH, UH, BRIANNA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, LAHABRA LIFE, JUST OUT, UH, IN PEOPLE'S HOMES.
YOU DID A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH LIFE IN LAHABRA.
AND OF COURSE, YOU, WHEN I, UH, GOT MY, MY, UH, DAD HAD A KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AND I WALKED IN TO, TO GO CHECK ON HIM IN HIS HOUSE, AND HE HAD THAT, UH, THAT, UH, NEWSPAPER THING OUT, SITTING ON HIS EASY BOY, UH, LAZY BOY READING THAT.
AND IT WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS, SO, YOU ABSOLUTELY MAKE ME PROUD.
I ALSO WANNA MENTION IMPERIAL BURGER, OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
[01:00:01]
JOSE AND I, UH, OUR MAYOR WAS OUT THAT ONE 50 YEARS.UH, JOANNE, UH, AND HER HUSBAND STARTED THAT.
AND, UH, THEY ARE STILL GOING STRONG.
OF COURSE, WE WENT TO THE WINDSHIELDS OPENING, AND I THINK, DARREN, YOU'RE GONNA MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT, PROBABLY ABOUT WARCRAFT, MAYBE.
I, I ALSO WANNA, UH, ADJOURN A MEMORY OF WAR AND CRAFT.
LONGTIME SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HABER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, VERY BIG PHILANTHROPIST IN, UH, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
HE WAS, STARTED OFF AS A TEACHER, UH, AT WASHINGTON SCHOOL, THEN WENT ON TO BECOME A PRINCIPAL AND WORK HIS WAY UP TO MAKE, TO BECOME THE SUPERINTENDENT.
WHEN WE STARTED THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THEY SAID, GO DOWN THERE, AND WE DID A PILOT, AND I DID THE PILOT INTERVIEW WITH WARREN KRAFT.
I WISH I WOULD'VE GONE BACK AND DONE IT BECAUSE I, I, I WAS PRETTY GREEN WHEN WE DID THE FIRST ONE.
BUT I POSTED THAT ONLINE, WARREN KRAFT, WHAT A TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL.
AND, UH, HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER.
IN FACT, UH, AT ONE TIME HE WAS A TEACHER OF MY DAD'S AS WELL.
AS HE SAID IN THE VIDEO, HE SAYS, LAHABRA IS LIKE A TREE AND HAS DEEP ROOTS.
AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS PART OF THOSE DEEP ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WARREN CRAFT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MISSED.
WANT TO THANK THE LAHABRA POLICE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I WENT DOWN THERE FOR THE SPRAY, SPRAY AND NEUTERING, UH, UH, PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD OUT THERE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CHILDREN'S, I'M SORRY, PARKING LOT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY HAD RESERVATIONS, I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE OUT THERE.
UM, IT WAS GREAT, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE CONTROL THE PEP, PEP PET POPULATION AS BOB BARKER USED TO SAY.
UH, KIM, YOU'RE INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT AS WELL.
UH, MAYOR I, AND, UH, DARREN ALSO ATTENDED THE CARBON HEALTH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
AND, UH, WANNA MENTION, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA MENTION THIS LATER ON, BUT I WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT ROBERT NEVILLE.
ROBERT NEVILLE WAS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER.
HE SERVED FROM 1964 TO 1976, WAS MAYOR TWICE.
HE SERVED ON THE SANITATION DISTRICT, AND HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING FASHION SQUARE TO LAHABRA.
HE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED A RETAIL TO LAHABRA.
SO BACK, UH, IN 1968, WE OPENED THE FASHION SQUARE BITS.
HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL, BIG PROPONENT OF BRINGING, UH, THOSE STORES LIKE HAMS AND, AND BULLOCKS TO LAHABRA.
AND, UH, THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM WAS BACK IN 2011 WHEN I DID A COUNCIL MEMBER REUNION AT THE OLD CITY HALL.
GOT A NICE PICTURE WITH HIM AND A LOT OF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CAME AND JOINED THE CURRENT COUNCIL BACK IN 2011.
SO ROBERT NEVILLE WILL BE, UH, VERY MUCH MISSED.
HE WAS, UH, AN INSURANCE AGENT HERE IN TOWN, AND, UH, HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
JUST A TREMENDOUS NICE GUY, AND I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO MISS THE MOST SAID TO HEAR THE, UH, THE NEWS THAT HE HAD PASSED AWAY.
AND OF COURSE, PROTEIN VIBES WAS FANTASTIC.
AND ON A FINAL NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I HOPE I CAN GET A SECOND.
I RECENTLY, UH, UH, HAVE VISITED A NUMBER OF FARMER'S MARKETS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I CAN GET A SECOND, IF WE CAN POTENTIALLY LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF, I'LL, I'LL SECOND PERHAPS BRINGING A FARMER'S MARKET TO LA HABRA.
THAT'S A LOT I HAD TO TALK ABOUT, BUT, UH, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
I'M GONNA MAKE MINE LITTLE SHORT, UH, ATTENDED, UH, MANY OF THE, UH, EVENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAD ATTENDED.
I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR, UH, FOR THOSE TIMES THAT I CAN'T ATTEND OR THAT ANY ONE OF US CAN ATTEND.
WE SAY THIS OVER AND OVER, ONE SHOWS UP REPRESENTS US.
ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU, DELL.
THANK YOU, UH, DARREN AND THANK YOU ROSE OUT THERE IN TV LAND TONIGHT.
UH, BUT, UH, WE, UH, WE DO WORK AS A TEAM AND, UH, WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP TO THOSE EVENTS.
I TOO SHOWED UP TO A FEW AND, UH, PASSED OUT SOME, UH, CERTIFICATES.
UH, WANTED TO THANK, UH, WANTED TO THANK AND SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, THE HABER HIGH SCHOOL AND SONORA HIGH SCHOOL THIS PAST FRIDAY.
UH, THEY HAD A, UH, A WALKOUT AND A DEMONSTRATION.
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY WERE, UH, DEMONSTRATING OR, OR, UH, PROTESTING ABOUT.
UH, BUT, UH, THE FACT WAS, IS THAT THEY, UH, THEY BEHAVED WITH SUCH GREAT DECORUM, UH, WITH SUCH RESPECT.
THAT WAS UP HERE AT CITY HALL UP IN OUR OFFICES OBSERVING.
AND YOU COULD HEAR ONE OF THE MODERATORS OUT ON THE LOUDSPEAKER, UH, TELLING THE, UH, THE GROUP OF STUDENTS, UH, TO BE CIVIL AND TO BE RESPECTFUL.
AND THEY WERE, UH, FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT, UH, THAT I
[01:05:01]
WAS UP IN OUR OFFICES WATCHING.AND, UH, THEY LATER GATHERED ACROSS THE STREET OVER BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO TAKE A PICTURE.
I COULD, I COULD SEE FROM ACROSS THE STREET, I WANTED TO SAY HOW PROUD OF THEM OF OUR STUDENTS AND WHAT A MODEL THEY COULD BE FOR MANY CITIES AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.
UH, HOW THEY, UH, HOW THEY BEHAVED IN A LAWFUL MANNER, RESPECTING NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT THE CITY AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WANTED TO ALSO THANK OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND I SHOULDN'T EVEN SAY BEHAVIOR.
IT'S, UH, FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, UH, SORRY CHIEF FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
AND IT'S WHAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY.
AND I MEAN, GUYS, COLLECTIVELY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, WHAT THEY BRING TO LAHABRA AND WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THOSE STUDENTS, AND THE MUTUAL RESPECT THAT WAS LEFT THAT DAY ON, UH, ON FRIDAY BETWEEN THOSE STUDENTS OF THE LAHABRA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
SO I WANTED TO THANK THOSE STUDENTS.
AND, UH, I DID THANK, UH, UH, PRINCIPAL GARCIA FROM LA HABER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, AND I CONVEYED TO HIM HOW PROUD I WAS OF THOSE STUDENTS.
UH, LIKE I SAID, UH, THEY WERE PROTESTING, UH, IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT, UH, THAT THEY EXERCISED THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
I SUPPORT THEM AND, UH, THANK THEM FOR THE, UH, PROFESSIONALISM THAT THEY SHOWED.
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS WELCOME, UH, TO, UH, TO EXERCISE THAT FIRST AMENDMENT HERE IN LAHABRA IN A LAWFUL MANNER.
UH, I WILL, UH, ADJOURN THE MEETING, UH, IN MEMORY OF, UH, JUAN CARLOS HERNANDEZ.
UH, ROBERT NEVILLE, OUR FORMER COUNSEL PERSON, AND, UH, IN MEMORY OF THE, UH, WILLIAMS FAMILY AND IN MEMORY OF WARREN CRAFT AS WELL.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 AT 5:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
CLOSED SESSION ROOM ONE 12 C 100 EAST LA HABER BOULEVARD, FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.
I WILL NOW CHAIR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF LA HABER HOUSING AUTHORITY OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 7:37 PM WILL THE SECRETARY POLICE CALL ROLL.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WHEN ADDRESSING THE CITY OF LAHABRA HOUSING AUTHORITY, 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 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 GENERAL PUBLIC ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM OF CITY BUSINESS NOT APPEARING ON THE SCHEDULE.
AGENDA PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 5 4 5 4 9 5 4 0.3 A SUCH COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING.
AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SPEAKER CARDS.
ALRIGHT, UH, OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANYBODY OUT IN THE, UH, SCENE? NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ALL MATTERS ON CONSENT CALENDAR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A DIRECTOR OR CITY STAFF MEMBER REQUEST SEPARATE ACTION OR REMOVAL OF AN ITEM REMOVED.
ITEMS WILL BE CON WILL BE CONSIDERED FOLLOWING THE CONSENT CALENDAR PORTION OF THIS AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENTS 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 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 CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE.
CALL FOR REMOVAL OF ITEMS, UH, BY STAFF.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS WRITTEN.
WILL YOU PLEASE VOTE? MOTION CARRIED.
ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
NONE CONSIDERATION ITEMS. NONE.
ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF? NONE.
COMMENTS FROM DIRECTORS? NO SIR.