[ 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]
[00:00:06]
I WILL NOW CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR, THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA OF APRIL 6TH, 2026.LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT IS 6:30 PM AND THAT ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
THE INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY CITY ATTORNEY COLLINS, FOLLOWED BY THE FLAG FLAGS FIELD, LED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GOMEZ.
DEAR GOD, WE HUMBLY PRAY THAT YOU'LL 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 AND ITS DECISION MAKING TONIGHT SO THAT WE MAY ACT PRUDENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE LAHABRA COMMUNITY.
I'M GONNA INVITE UP FRONT, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, ALEJANDRO FROM SENATOR BERG'S OFFICE IS GONNA LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
JUST COME RIGHT UP HERE TO THE MICROPHONE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND SENATOR BERG FOR, UH, ALWAYS, UH, BEING HERE FOR LAHABRA.
PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND READY TO BEGIN PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE REPUBLIC FOR WISHES STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE PERAL.
ALRIGHT, WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLL? YES.
MOVING ON TO, UH, PROCLAMATIONS AND, OH, ONE MORE.
[ CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT: PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:]
ARE THERE ANY CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, WITH REGARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION HELD ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026, UH, MOTION WAS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TIMM GOMEZ, SECONDED BY MAYOR MADANO AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE A SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $515,000 REGARDING HICH LIU.UM, WHICH SETTLEMENT HAS SINCE BECOME FINAL CITY STAFF WILL BEGIN PAYING OUT ON THIS SETTLEMENT.
[1. PROCLAIM APRIL 2026 AS DONATE LIFE MONTH IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA]
ON TO, UH, PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.WE WILL, UH, OH, YEAH, WE WILL GET STARTED.
MY, UH, COLLEAGUES WANNA MEET ME DOWN ON THE WELL, AND IF I CAN INVITE, UH, ONE LEGACY AMBASSADOR MONA CASTRO TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
YES, MONA, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? DOING WELL, THANK YOU.
UH, MONA, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE FOR DMV DONATE LIFE MONTH.
UH, THE PROCLAMATION AND I, I'LL, I WON'T READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE, UH, THE POINTS HERE.
ORIGIN, UH, WHEREAS THE ORIGIN, EYE, TISSUE MARROW AND BLOOD DONATION ARE THE LIFE GIVING ACTS RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE AS EXPRESSIONS OF COMPASSION TO THOSE IN NEED.
AND CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP WITH DONATE LIFE CALIFORNIA DONOR REGISTRY ONLINE AT ANY TIME BY VISITING WWW.DONATELIFECALIFORNIA.ORG, OR FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS WWW.DUNVIDACALIFORNIA.ORG.
AND WHEREAS CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO BE AN OREGON EYE AND TISSUE DONOR WHEN APPLYING FOR RENEWING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ID CARDS AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND NOW THEREFORE WILL BE PROCLAIMED THAT IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH, THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2026 IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED DMV DONATE LIFE MONTH IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA.
AND IN DOING SO, WE ENCOURAGE ALL CALIFORNIANS TO CHECK YES WHEN APPLYING FOR RENEWING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ID CARD AT THE DMV DATED THIS DAY, THE 6TH OF APRIL, 2026.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR MADANO AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ONCE AGAIN, UH, RECOGNIZING ONE LEGACY, UH, IN APRIL AS DONATE LIFE MONTH.
I JUST WANNA SHARE A QUICK, UM, CONNECTION TO DONATION, AND IT WOULD BE IN THIS PICTURE RIGHT HERE.
UM, THIS IS MY DAUGHTER SARAH.
AND SARAH WAS BORN WITH SEVERE CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE WITHOUT A LIFE-SAVING HEART TRANSPLANT.
AND SO AS A FAMILY, WE WERE GIVEN THREE OPTIONS.
TAKE HER HOME, LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE, UH, PUT HER THROUGH, UH, THE NORWOOD PROCEDURE, UH, OPEN HEART SURGERY, OR A THIRD WAS PUT HER ON A NATIONAL DONOR WAITING LIST TO RECEIVE A LIFE-SAVING HEART TRANSPLANT.
[00:05:01]
CELEBRATED 35 YEARS AS A HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT.SO, AND THEN REAL QUICK, THE LITTLE GUY IN THE PICTURE NEXT TO HER IS MY NEPHEW, LUCAS.
LUCAS, WE FOUND OUT EARLY ON HAD, UM, UH, SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES AND THEY WERE MAINLY DAIRY PRODUCTS, SO WE HAD TO LEARN WHAT HE COULD, COULDN'T HAVE, BUT HE WAS A HAPPY GUY NO MATTER WHAT.
AND, UM, THIS, UH, ON HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY, THE FAMILY TOOK HIM OUT TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY, AND HE ATE SOMETHING THAT MADE HIM REALLY ILL.
THE FAMILY DECIDED TO GET HIM OUT OF THE RESTAURANT, TAKE HIM HOME, BUT HE WAS IN DISTRESS.
AND SO THEY CALLED THE PARAMEDICS.
AND MEANWHILE, UNTIL THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVED, MY BROTHER TRIED THE EPIPEN, IT DIDN'T WORK.
UM, HE WAS DOING, UH, A BREATHING TREATMENT THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER.
AND NOW HE WAS DOING LIFESAVING MEASURES OF CPR ON HIS LITTLE GUT UNTIL THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVED.
THEY GOT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND, UH, THEY GOT HIM, UH, SITUATED.
BUT SADLY, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, LUCAS PASSED AWAY.
HE PASSED AWAY ON HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY OF A SEVERE ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION.
AND SO MY BROTHER WANTED TO SEE IF HIS LITTLE GUY COULD BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR.
SINCE MY FAMILY WAS ALREADY, UH, ADVOCATES FOR DONATION, LUCAS SAVED THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE, BOTH HIS KIDNEYS AND HIS LIVER.
AND FULL CIRCLE, I DIDN'T TELL YOU, BUT MY DAUGHTER WAS IN FAILURE AT THE TIME OF HER BABY COUSIN'S PASSING.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY WERE A PERFECT MATCH.
AND NOW MY DAUGHTER HAS HER BABY COUSIN'S KIDNEY.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING AN ORGAN DONOR, YOU KNOW, SPEAK TO YOUR FAMILY.
IT IS A, A LEGAL BINDING DOCUMENT, SO SPEAK TO YOUR FAMILY, WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE.
I TAKE A QUICK PHOTO AND THIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[2. PROCLAIM MAY 7, 2026, AS A DAY SET APART FOR THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST IN RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER]
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT ONE IS, UH, PROCLAIM MAY 7TH.AS A DAY SET APART FOR THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S PRAYER, BREAKFAST, AND RECOGNITION OF A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, WE CAN INVITE BRIAN BURGESS TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
WHAT'S UP, SIR? GOOD TO SEE YOU, BRIAN.
GIVE THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION AND AGAIN, I'LL, UH, I'LL DO THE SAME.
UH, WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL EVENTS THAT PROMOTE PRIDE, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND A TIME FOR REFLECTION IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
AND THE THEME, THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL DAY, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IS GLORIFIED GOD AMONG THE NATIONS, SEEKING HIM IN ALL GENERATIONS, AND IS BASED ON THE VERSE ONE CHRONICLES 1624.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THURSDAY, MAY 7TH, 2026 AS A DAY SET APART FOR THE ANNUAL MAYOR'S PRAYER, BREAKFAST, AND RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, AND ENCOURAGES LAJAN TO PRAY FOR THE COMMUNITY, ITS RESIDENTS AND ITS LEADERS DATED THIS DAY, 6TH OF APRIL, 2026.
THIS IS FOR YOU, SIR, AND A FEW WORDS.
I WANNA INVITE YOU TO BREAKFAST ON MAY 7TH AT SIX 15.
IS THAT IN THE, THE MORNING? I THAT'S WHEN BREAKFAST IS SERVED.
SO THIS YEAR, UM, THE PURPOSE OF GATHERING TOGETHER IS TO PRAY FOR OUR CITY, JUST AS IT SAYS IN JEREMIAH.
JEREMIAH SAYS, UH, THAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR OUR CITY FOR ITS PROSPERITY AND THE SAFETY OF ITS PEOPLE.
AND THIS YEAR OUR SPEAKER IS A FELLOW NAMED JACK KROGER.
HE IS A CAPTAIN OF THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT IN, UH, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT HE'S ALSO THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE LA ANGELS AND THE ANAHEIM DUCKS.
SO ON A GIVEN SUNDAY, HE'S, HE'S HAVING A, A BIBLE STUDY WITH ABOUT 25 ANGELS
SO, UH, YOU'LL BE SPEAKING TO US.
AND IF YOU NEED A FLYER, I CAN GET ONE OR, UH, UH, JUST LOOK ON THE, UH, CITY CALENDAR.
SOUNDS LIKE JACK CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THE ANGELS, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
BRIAN, YOU WANNA PUT THIS, PUT THE PROCLAMATION UP PRO UP.
[00:10:04]
ANGELS DO NEED A LOT OF PRAYER.[3. PROCLAIM APRIL 12-18, 2026, AS NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA PROCLAIM APRIL 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH AS NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.I'D LIKE TO INVITE CHIEF ADAM FOSTER TO THE PODIUM PLEASE.
SO THE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK, UH, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION HAS DESIGNATED THE SECOND FULL WEEK OF APRIL EACH YEAR IS ANNUAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK.
AND WHEREAS THE LAHABRA CITY COUNCIL WISHES TO COMMEND EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION FOR THEIR SERVICE, WHICH IS IN KEEPING WITH THE LONG AND DISTINGUISHED TRADITION OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL PROFESSION.
NOW THEREFORE, LET IT BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA DOES HEREBY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE THE WEEK OF APRIL 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH, 2020 SIXTH AS NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK AND RESPECTFULLY ASKS ALL CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICE PERSONNEL ALIKE TO JOIN IN EXPRESSING THEIR SINCERE THANKS, GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MANY LONG HOURS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND QUALITY PERFORMANCE THESE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ASSURE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ALL DATED THIS SIXTH DAY OF APRIL, 2026.
WHO WILL, UH, WANNA GIVE A FEW WORDS HERE, SIR? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL UNIT.
I HAVE OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, CHRISTIE HERNANDEZ HERE WITH ME.
UM, AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID IN 2025, THEY RESPONDED TO OVER 1600 CALLS FOR SERVICE 1600.
UM, AND FOR ALL THE STRAY ANIMALS THAT THEY PICK UP, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT 80% REUNIFICATION, UM, RATE.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY EITHER GET REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY OR THEY GET RE-HOMED OR THEY GET ADOPTED.
SO ONLY ABOUT 20% ACTUALLY GET SENT TO THE SHELTER.
AND A PARTICULAR CASE THAT WE DEALT WITH LAST YEAR WAS A LOCAL RESIDENT WHO FOUND HIMSELF IN A SITUATION WITH 24 CHIHUAHUAS AND OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THREE DIFFERENT RESCUES TO REHOME 22 OF THEM AND HELP HIM FIX THE TWO THAT HE KEPT.
SO IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS AND, UM, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE UNIT.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHIEF FOSTER FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE UNIT AND ALSO THE MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR THIS RECOGNITION TODAY.
[4. PROCLAIM APRIL 12-18, 2026, NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA]
ALL NEXT UP.PROCLAIM, UH, APRIL 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH IS 2026 NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
CHIEF, UH, FOSTER IS ALREADY HERE AND WE'VE GOT THE REST OF THE CREW HERE AS WELL.
PROCLAMATION, NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK.
WHEREAS EMERGENCIES CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME THAT REQUIRE POLICE, FIRE, OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, THE PROMPT RESPONSE OF POLICE OFFICERS IS CRITICAL TO THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY.
WHEREAS EACH DISPATCHER HAS EXHIBITED COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER JOB IN THE PAST YEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, PEOPLE PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE HOBERT RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF APRIL 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH.
2026 IS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE DILIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM KEEP OUR CITY AND CITIZENS SAFE.
AND LET ME ADD PERSONALLY THAT OVER THE COURSE OF 30 YEARS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROFESSION, YOU ARE THE LIFELINE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, BECAUSE WHAT MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE WHEN YOU SEE THEM, YOU REALLY DON'T SEE THEM.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ANSWERING THE PHONE.
THEY ARE THEIR, THEY ARE YOUR PHONE CALL NINE ONE ONE AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
THEY ANSWER THE CALL, THEY COORDINATE OFFICERS, THEY COORDINATE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, AND PEOPLE GET THEIR ASAP ALL THE WHILE MAINTAINING A VERY HEIGHTENED SENSE OF CALM, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
UM, DISPATCH IS ALSO ONE OF THE UNITS, AND LAUREN WISE HERE IS THE COMMUNICATION SUPERVISOR.
SHE OVERSEES A COMMUNICATION CENTER THAT'S 24 7.
IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW, LAHABRA IS VERY LUCKY.
WE HAVE OUR PRIMARY PSAP HERE LOCATED IN THE CITY.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND YOU CALL, YOU GET SOMEBODY THAT IS ACTUALLY IN LAHABRA.
[00:15:01]
UM, THEY KNOW THE STREETS, SO THEY SEND HELP VERY PROMPTLY.THEY ARE LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, THE CALM VOICE BEHIND THE HEADSET.
THEY WORK 24 7 TO HELP SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR THEY ANSWERED OVER 4,000 PHONE CALLS.
UM, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE HAVE ARE PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.
AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, UM, THANK YOU CHIEF FOSTER FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE UNIT AND ALSO MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING OUR UNIT AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION TONIGHT.
4,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN ONE YEAR.
JUST THINK ABOUT THAT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.
HOW MANY IN A DAY? AND THAT'S A 24 7 OPERATION.
[5. PROCLAIM APRIL 25, 2026, AS EARTH DAY/ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF LA HABRA]
ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ONE.WE'LL PROCLAIM APRIL 25TH, 2026 AS EARTH ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
INVITE DIRECTOR, UH, ELIAS ALI TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
SO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER 24 7 OPERATION.
UM, WE'LL, UH, PROCLAIM, UH, EARTH DAY ARBOR DAY, WHEREAS IN 1872, UH, I DON'T THINK MANY OF US WERE AROUND BACK THEN.
ALLIANCE WAS, UH, I WAS, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CITY MANAGER, BUT, ALRIGHT.
UM, BUT, UH, IN 1872, STERLING MORTON PROPOSED TO THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE THAT A SPECIAL DAY BE SET ASIDE FOR THE PLANNING OF TREES.
AND THIS HOLIDAY CALLED ARBOR DAY WAS FIRST OBSERVED WITH THE PLANNING OF MORE THAN 1 MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA.
AND IN 2026, IT'S THE HUNDRED AND 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLIDAY.
ARBOR DAY IS NOW OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD AND EARTH DAY CELEBRATED IN APRIL.
EACH YEAR WILL BE THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLIDAY AND DEMONSTRATES THE FIGHT FOR A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND CAMPAIGNS.
NOW THEREFORE, BE A PROCLAIM THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAHABRA DOES HERE, BRIDE PROCLAIM APRIL 25TH, 2026 AS EARTH DAY ARBOR DAY IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY OF SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING TREES AND WOODLANDS.
DATED THIS SIXTH DAY OF APRIL, 2026.
A FEW WORDS, WELL, JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS.
WE ARE CELEBRATING, UH, ARBOR DAY AND EARTH DAY ON APRIL 25TH.
WE GIVE AWAY A COMPOST MULCH AT THE YARD FROM EIGHT TO 12.
YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A, UH, A NOTE ON, UH, AT HOME WITH A LITTLE TICKET THAT YOU, YOU NEED TO BRING THE TICKET WITH YOU.
UM, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE SERVICE.
AND, UH, AS FAR AS THE TREE A, UH, ARBOR, UH, DAY, WE ARE THE TREE CITY USA FOR 28 YEARS STRAIGHT.
YOU GONNA DO A STANDUP ROUTINE TODAY OR NO? WHAT? ARE YOU GONNA DO A STANDUP ROUTINE TODAY? OR NO? COMEDY
FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
I NEED TO TAKE THIS AWAY FROM YOU, DON'T I? IT'S
[ 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.]
ALL RIGHT.NOW, UH, WE HAVE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS WHEN ADDRESSING THE 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 LOAN AND OR GRANTED 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 TWO SPEAKER CARDS.
UH, WE CAN HAVE, UH, THE, UH, TWO PEOPLE THAT DID.
[00:20:01]
AGAIN WITH A SCOTTISH ACCENT.YOU ALL REMEMBER ME, SIR? I WAS HERE A MONTH AGO IN REGARDS TO RV PARKING AND ON THE DRIVEWAYS AND MY STREET, THERE'S STILL FOUR PA RVS SITTING THERE.
I GAVE THIS LADY HERE THE PICTURES OF MY HALL AND THE HOME BESIDE ME.
THE GUY BESIDE ME HAS BEEN THERE FOR FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS.
THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS, NEVER MOVED.
THE GUY WITH THE FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS HAS BEEN THERE FOR FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS.
HAS IT MOVED AN INCH THOUGH? THE ORDINANCE, IT SAYS HE HAD 72 HOURS FOR REPAIRS AND WHATEVER ELSE THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
CAN BE BROUGHT BACK AFTER 48 HOURS.
IS ANYBODY ANYTHING TO TELL ME? I I GAVE A, THIS LADY HERE A PICTURE OF MY HOUSE AND THE GUY BESIDE ME.
HAVE ANY OF THESE LOOKED AT THEM? YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU.
WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO YOUR COMMENTS WHILE YOU'RE, YOU FEEL FREE TO SPEAK.
YOU GOT A MINUTE AND 54 SECONDS.
WELL I KNOW THAT'S WHERE, THIS IS WHERE I'M AT AND NOBODY SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I GOT INSPECTOR TO COME OUT AND HE TELLS ME I HAVE TO CUT THE HEDGE DOWN, WHICH DOESN'T BELONG TO ME AS FAR AS I KNOW.
IT'S NOW BEEN IN THE HOUSE FOR 49 YEARS AND YOU JUST DON'T CARE.
IF DISGRACEFUL WORK GOES ON IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, I'M A LEGAL IMMIGRANT HERE.
I CAME HERE 62 YEARS AGO, PROBABLY BEFORE THE INTERVIEWS WERE BORN WITH MY WIFE.
YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.
REALLY? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
REALLY? 'CAUSE I'M GETTING TIRED OF THIS GUY'S MOTOR HOME SITTING THERE.
I CAN'T GET, I CAN'T BACK OUT THE DRIVEWAY.
I HAVE TO DRIVE OUT THE DRIVEWAY SO YOU DON'T CARE.
AND I'LL BE BACK AND I'LL KEEP COMING BACK FOR SOMETHING'S DONE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC SPEAKER.
MY NAME'S ANNETTE MUL AND MY ADDRESS IS TWO TEDDY FRANCIS AVENUE AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO COMMENCE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR CHIEF ADAMS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD AN EMERGENCY, AN EMERGENCY LAST WEEK OF A DEER FRIEND, AND ESTHER WAS WITH ME AND WE CALLED 9 1 1.
THEY WERE THERE IN TWO MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT THEY WERE THERE.
THEY WERE SO KIND AND LOVING AND SO UNDERSTANDING AND GAVE US SO MUCH LOVE AND EVEN PRAYED WITH US.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 9 1 1.
THE PERSON THAT ANSWERED THAT PHONE THAT WAS SO GRATEFUL AND KEPT ESTHER ON THE PHONE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY STOOD WITH US ALL THROUGH THE TIME THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THEM TO BE THERE.
AND I JUST COMMENCE OUR CITY AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
[00:25:19]
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, UM, SHE IS, UH, HERE ON PART OF, UH, KEEPING LAHABRA VAPE FREE AND THERE'S BEEN 41,000 DEATHS OF, OF ADULTS THAT ARE USING THIS VAPING SYSTEM.AND SHE'S HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
UH, SHE'S ALREADY ASKED, UH, TO PUT A MORATORIUM AND I GUESS THE LAST TIME SHE WAS HERE, IT WAS GONNA BE DONE OR INVESTIGATED.
AND NOW SHE'S SAYING THAT THERE'S A NEW STORE OPENING.
SO SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE SHE STANDS WITH MORATORIUM OF TO NOT PUT ANY MORE VAPE STORES.
IF, IF YOU CAN, ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION OR CAN ANSWER ANYTHING FOR HER.
YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE NOT, UH, WE'RE NOT ENGAGING.
THIS IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, SO, UH, GRA THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
[ 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.]
ALRIGHT, SCENE NONE.MOVING ON TO THE, 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 REQUESTS SEPARATE ACTION OR REMOVAL OF AN ITEM REMOVED, ITEMS 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 MAYOR.
SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AND OR LOANED TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10.
CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR.
UH, CALL FOR REMOVAL OF ITEMS BY STAFF.
NONE, MR. MAYOR, ANY BY CITY COUNCIL? NONE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS LISTED.
WILL THE COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
[1. DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 5.40 ("TOWING SERVICES") OF TITLE 5 ("BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS") OF THE LA HABRA MUNICIPAL CODE That the City Council conduct a public hearing and APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. CC 2026-__ ENTITLED: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.40 ("TOWING SERVICES") OF TITLE 5 ("BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS") OF THE LA HABRA MUNICIPAL CODE AND MAKING A DETERMINATION THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)". ]
MOVING ON TO, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 60 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE MAYOR OR CHAIR, COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE.
THE ONLY PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS ENTITLED DUALLY NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 5.40 TOWING SERVICES OF TITLE V BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES, AND REGULATIONS OF THE LAHABRA MUNICIPAL CODE.
CAN WE GET A STAFF REPORT? GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CHAPTER 5.40 TOW SERVICES OF TITLE V BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSE AND REGULATIONS OF THE LAHA MUNICIPAL CODE AS ADOPTED IN 1983.
IT REQUIRES ALL COMPANIES WHO PROVIDE TOWING SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY TO OBTAIN A LICENSE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PAY A FEE AND COMPLY WITH A SERIES OF REGULATIONS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE TOWING SERVICES AND PRO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
IT SETS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF RATES THAT A TOW COMPANY CAN CHARGE A VEHICLE OWNER AT THE RATES THAT THE CITY PAYS FOR POLICE.
REQUESTED TOW SERVICES REQUIRES BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVERS AND REQUIRES TOW VEHICLES TO BE STORED IN AN APPROVED STORAGE YARD.
CHAPTER 5.40 HAS NOT UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT REVISION SINCE ITS ADOPTION.
IN 1983, CHANGES IN STATE LAW PROHIBITS CITIES FROM REQUIRING A BUSINESS LICENSE AND REGULATING TOW COMPANIES WHOSE PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE GENERALLY LIMITS THE SCOPE OF CHAPTER 5.40 TO ONLY THOSE TOW COMPANIES, WHICH PRINCIPAL PLACE A BUSINESS IS WITHIN THE CITY OF LAHABRA.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ALSO MAKES THE FOLLOWING CHANGES REQUIRED.
THE LICENSE TOW COMPANIES TO STORE VEHICLES IN A STORAGE YARD WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE
[00:30:01]
CITY LIMITS CLARIFIES THE APPLICATION REVIEW, DENIAL REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION PROCEDURE FOR TOW SERVICE LICENSES, REMOVES OUTDATED AND UNNECESSARY LANGUAGE.ADOPTING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE RESPONSIBLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE TOWING SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY UNDER REGULATIONS THAT COMPLY WITH CURRENT STATE LAW.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE O THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, UH, OR I'M SORRY.
YEAH, THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE WAS, UH, REQUIRES THAT THE BUSINESS RESIDE IN OUR CITY.
UH, HOW MANY TOW COMPANIES DO WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN OUR CITY? SO FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, WHAT WE MENTIONED WAS IN THE PREVIOUS WAS, UH, THAT THERE WAS LANGUAGE IF THE TOW COMPANY WAS IN OUR CITY, IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN REGULATE.
UM, I AM NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE OF HOW MANY ARE SPECIFICALLY IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN, UH, SECOND QUESTION IS, UH, YOU MENTIONED APPROVED STORAGE, UH, UH, AN APPROVED STORAGE YARD.
CAN YOU GIVE MORE DETAILS AS TO WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE APPROVED STORAGE YARD? AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE VEHICLES THAT MAY BE TOWED FOR MAYBE EVIDENCE KEEPING OR FOR OTHER, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT REASONS, COULD YOU KIND OF GIVE SOME INSIGHT TO THAT? YEAH.
SO THERE'S TWO MAIN PURPOSES OF WHY AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT WE CARE ABOUT WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE STORED.
UM, SOMETIMES CARS WHEN WE'RE INVOLVED IN A CRIME AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE KEPT INSIDE OUT OF THE WEATHER, UM, SO THAT THEY MAINTAIN THEIR, UH, THEIR INTEGRITY FOR EVIDENCE.
BUT ANOTHER BIG IMPORTANT PART FOR US IS THERE'S A LOT OF CARS THAT ARE TOWED, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR, FOR A MERE ACCIDENT.
AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS GONNA COME OUT AND THEY'RE GONNA REVIEW, UH, THE DAMAGE AND DO OTHER THINGS.
WELL, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CARS ARE SECURED APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO YOU STILL AND YOU MAY HAVE PROPERTY INSIDE.
AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS TAKEN FROM THEM AND THEY ARE SECURED APPROPRIATELY.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN REASON WHY WE FOCUS ON THE STORAGE LOTS.
UH, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYONE YOU WISHING TO SPEAK, UH, GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, AND WE'LL START OFF WITH THOSE, UH, IN SUPPORT THAT WISH TO SPEAK ANYONE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, UH, THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO THE MATTER.
UH, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING CALL FOR COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION INTERACTION.
MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, UNLESS I'M JUMPING SOMEBODY'S GUN HERE, I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER CC 2026 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABER, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.40 TOWING SERVICES OF TITLE V BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSE AND REGULATIONS OF THE LA HABER MUNICIPAL CODE, AND MAKING A DETERMINATION THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
I'LL SECOND AND WILL THE COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE? MOTION? EXCUSE ME.
[1. CONSIDER CITY OF LA HABRA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 That the City Council consider and approve the proposed City of La Habra Goals and Objectives for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and provide direction to staff on any specific goals and/or objectives City Council would wish to add, modify or delete.]
OKAY.MOVING ON TO THE, UH, CONSIDERATION ITEMS. YES.
ALL, UH, 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.
CONSIDERATION ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TITLED, CONSIDER CITY OF LAHABRA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27.
AND IF WE CAN GET A STAFF REPORT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS AND ADOPTS A SERIES OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES SERVE AS AN INITIAL STEP IN THE PREPARATION OF THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND ACTION IN JUNE.
THE PROPOSED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES BEFORE THIS EVENING FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27 ARE GENERAL IN NATURE AND IS PARTIALLY ACHIEVED THROUGH THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SEVERAL RECOMMENDED OBJECTIVES, WHICH IN TURN HELP THE CITY TO REALIZE ITS CORE MISSION OF IMPROVING LIFE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.
ACHIEVING SOME OBJECTIVES MAY OCCUR OVER A SHORT OR LONG-TERM PERIOD OF TIME, BUT MOST TEND TO OCCUR ON A RECURRING OR ONGOING BASIS.
UH, LA THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 25 26 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ON MAY 19TH, 2025.
SINCE JULY 1ST, 2025, MARKING THE START OF THE
[00:35:01]
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, TWO OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WHICH INCLUDED ESTABLISHING A RESIDENT CIVICS ACADEMY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF VISTA GRANDE PARK.LAST YEAR, VISTA GRANDE PARK WAS RENAMED TO VIN SCULLY CENTENNIAL PARK AND OPENED IN NOVEMBER THE RESIDENT CIVICS ACADEMY, NOW KNOWN AS LAHABRA 1 0 1, WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL LAST YEAR AND WILL HAVE ITS FIRST SESSION STARTING NEXT THURSDAY.
THERE ARE NO NEW GOALS OR OBJECTIVES PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27, UH, WHILE APPROVAL.
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THIS EVENING HAS NO DIRECT FISCAL IMPACT.
THEY DO ASSIST STAFF AND DEVELOPMENT, UM, OF SPENDING PRIORITIES DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION IN JUNE.
THEREFORE, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE PROPOSALS AND OBJECTIVES, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, BUT I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? NO, SIR.
UH, SEEING THAT I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE, UH, PUBLIC TO TESTIFY.
PLEASE GIVE THEIR NAME, UH, FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
ANYBODY WISHING TO TESTIFY? GOING ONCE COINED TWICE.
ALRIGHT, UH, CALL FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND OR ACTION.
ANYBODY WISHING TO COMMENT OR OTHERWISE? MR. MAYOR, I HAVE MAKE A MOTION TO GO IF I CAN.
I, I'M SORRY, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I WANTED TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE GO FIRST, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, I'VE, UH, I'VE SEEN IN OUR, UH, OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, NOT ONLY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT FOR PAST FISCAL YEARS AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, IS, UH, IS ONE OF 'EM.
AND ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, I'M GONNA POST THESE ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE, SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH 'EM.
THERE'S A SERIES OF EIGHT AND, UH, AND I WILL POST, UH, THE, UH, UH, THE GOALS, A LINK FOR THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, BUT FOR OUR GENERAL PUBLIC, THOSE PEOPLE THAT I SAY OUT THERE ON TV LAND, UH, OR WATCHING ON THE INTERNET THAT, UH, WISH TO LOOK AT THESE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THESE SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS ARE, WHAT ARE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC REVENUES AND, UH, AND FISCAL ASSETS.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE TRANSPARENCY COMES IN BECAUSE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I GET QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS, UH, FROM PEOPLE.
UH, WHY DO WE SPEND MONEY HERE? WHY DO WE SPEND MONEY THERE? THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE AND THAT HIGHLIGHT TRANSPARENCY AND SOME OF THE GOALS WE HAVE TO WHERE WE WANT THIS MONEY TO GO.
UH, SO, UH, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE.
UH, WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY.
MAYOR TI UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION IF ANYBODY ELSE.
OKAY, MR. MAYOR, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED CITY OF THE HARBOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IN 2027.
SECOND, WILL THE COUNCIL PLEASE VOTE? THAT WAS A LITTLE EASIER TO READ THAN THE ONE I HAD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
[2. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AND ALTERNATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION That the City Council: A. Consider and appoint one individual to the Planning Commission to fill one 4-year term that will expire on March 31, 2030, and up to two individuals to serve as alternates; and, B. Consider and appoint one individual to the Community Services Commission to fill one 3-year term that will expire on March 31, 2029, and up to two individuals to serve as alternates.]
NEXT ITEM UP.ITEM NUMBER TWO ON CONSIDERATION IS CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AND ALTERNATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND MAYOR, I WILL BE GIVING A BRIEF REPORT ON THAT.
THIS ITEM WAS CONTINUED FROM THE LAST REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 16TH, AS DIRECTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
STAFF INITIATED THE ANNUAL COMMISSION RECRUITMENT TO FILL ONE VACANCY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ONE VACANCY ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION DEADLINE, 24 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED, HOWEVER, DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS, THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS INTERVIEWED BY CITY COUNCIL ON MARCH 2ND AND MARCH 16TH GRADUALLY DECREASED TO 13.
AT THIS TIME, CITY COUNCIL IS ASKED TO CONSIDER AND APPOINT ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FILL A VACANCY WITH A FOUR YEAR TERM THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST, 2030, AND ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION TO FILL A VACANCY WITH THE THREE YEAR TERM THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST, 2029.
STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COUNCIL APPOINT AT LEAST ONE ALTERNATE ON EACH COMMISSION AS COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER VERONICA HANNA IS RESIGNING FROM THAT COMMISSION.
EFFECTIVE MAY 31ST, 2026 ALTERNATES COULD THEN BE APPOINTED SHOULD UNSCHEDULED VACANCIES OCCUR PRIOR TO THE 2027 COMMISSION RECRUITMENT.
AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ROLL CALL VOTES WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND, UH, ANY, UH, COUNSEL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR RHONDA FOR OUR CITY CLERK? EXCUSE ME.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE, UH, PUBLIC TO TESTIFY AND PLEASE GIVE THEIR NAME FOR THE RECORD IF ANYBODY WISHES TO
[00:40:01]
TESTIFY.UH, CALL FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION INTERACTION.
WE WILL, UH, START WITH, UH, APPOINTMENT OF ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FILL ONE FOUR YEAR TERM THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST, 2030.
MAYOR PLANNING COMMISSION OR WHAT? PLANNING COMMISSION? YES.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE ROY RAMSON.
MR. MAYOR, I WILL SECOND THAT.
UH, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO DO KIND OF A COMPETING NOMINATION TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS.
I HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY CLERK, IF IT'S ACCEPTABLE, ROY RAMSON, UH, TO AS THE APPOINTEE, BUT ALSO, UH, THOMAS LUDWINSKI AS THE SECOND ALTERNATE.
AND, UH, NATALIE SAS AS THE THIRD ALTERNATE.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, LET ME CLARIFY.
YES, WE NEED A FIRST ALTERNATE AND A SECOND ALTERNATE.
I'M SORRY, I SAID THIRD, BUT I MEANT THAT YES, THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND.
SHANE'S WOULD BE THE SECOND ALTERNATE, YES.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IAN'S MOTION WOULD QUALIFY AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? IT WOULD NEED A SECOND.
I WILL, UH, I WILL SECOND THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY? NO, I I I'M ON THE SAME LINES.
I JUST WANTED TO, MY CONCERN WAS HAVING TWO ALTERNATES INSTEAD OF ONE.
SO YEAH, WE ARE, WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT.
ARE ALL, IS EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT WITH THOSE? SO, SO THEN THE MOTION ON THE TABLE NOW IS COUNCIL MEMBER NICK IAN'S MOTION FOR ONE COMMISSIONER AND TWO ALTERNATES.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A MOTION TO APPOINT INCUMBENT ROY RAMS LYNN, AND FIRST ALTERNATE NATALIE SAS? NO, NO.
THAT SECOND ALTERNATE NATALIE SAS.
SO AT FIRST, ALTERNATE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE THOMAS LUDWINSKI AND SECOND ALTERNATE WOULD BE NATALIE SAS.
AND THIS IS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION? YES.
SO JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. CITY, UH, ATTORNEY, WHICH OF THE TWO MOTIONS GETS VOTED ON FIRST? COUNCIL MEMBER, NICK, IAN.
AND IT WOULD REPLACE THE SEC, THE PRIOR MOTION.
AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER NICK IAN'S MOTION INCLUDES ALL THREE ACTIONS, CORRECT? RIGHT.
SO WE WILL BE TAKING A VOTE ON THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ROY RAMSON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND FIRST ALTERNATE THOMAS LEWINSKY.
AND SECOND ALTERNATE NATALIE SAS.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN, HOW DO YOU VOTE? I VOTE YES.
SO THERE'S NO FURTHER ACTION NEEDED FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
UH, THE NEXT IS, UH, TO APPOINT ONE INDIVIDUAL OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION TO FILL ONE THREE YEAR TERM THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31ST, 2029.
WELL, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO GO, GO AHEAD, MAYOR PROAM, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, REAPPOINT, UH, ANNETTE LI.
AND AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, NOMINATE, UH, CANDACE GUTIERREZ.
POSITIONS, DON'T WE? WELL, WE CAN DO THAT AFTER, CAN'T WE? I WOULD THOSE TWO.
I WOULD LIKE IF, IF I MAKE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE SECOND NOMINATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE.
FOR THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE, UH, GELLE VELLA AS A SECOND ALTERNATIVE.
WELL, SO THAT'S A POINT OF ORDER BECAUSE I HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE IN MIND FOR THE SECOND ALTERNATE.
I SUPPORT, UH, ANNETTE AND, UH, CANDACE.
BUT I HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE, UH, THE SECOND ALTERNATE.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? I'M GONNA, WE JUST DO ONE FIRST.
FOR THE POSITION, THE FIRST POSITION TO REAPPOINT, UH, ANNETTE LIMO WOULD BE MY NOMINATION.
AND MAYOR MEDRANO'S SECONDED THAT.
VOTE FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER ANNETTE LIMON.
AND THAT'S A UNANIMOUS MOTION FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSIONER ANNETTE LIMON.
AND FOR THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, CANDACE GUTIERREZ.
I WILL SECOND, I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND TO THAT MOTION.
PARDON ME? WAS THAT MAYOR MADANO? YES.
VOTE FOR CANDACE GUTIERREZ TO BE APPOINTED AS THE FIRST ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
[00:45:01]
TEM GOMEZ? YES.MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF CANDACE GUTIERREZ AS FIRST ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
JUST AS A CLARIFICATION, WE HAVE ANOTHER COMMISSIONER, UM, VERONICA, WHO'S GONNA BE RESIGNING YES.
MAY 31ST OF THIS YEAR, NEXT MONTH.
SO OUR FIRST ALTERNATE WILL TAKE OVER.
SO CANDACE WOULD VERY LIKELY TAKE THAT.
SO MAYBE WE SHOULD POINT MORE.
I WOULD THINK I SUPPORT DOING TWO MORE ALTERNATES.
AND IN FACT, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE NOHEMI VENEZUELA AS THE SECOND ALTERNATE.
ARE WE DOING SECOND AND THIRD AT THIS TIME, OR ARE WE'RE JUST DOING JUST A SECOND.
SO I WOULD, OR, SO I WOULD LIKE TO DO A SECOND NOMINATION OF GISELLE VELA.
SO THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF IT'S SECONDED AND IT WOULD'VE REPLACED THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO GISELLE VELA? UH, YEAH, I'LL SECOND THAT.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE FOR GISELLE TO, UH, GISELLE TO SERVE AS SECOND ALTERNATE ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? YES.
ASSUMING THAT WE'RE NOT PICKING A THIRD ALTERNATE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD SAY YES.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOW IS FOR THE SECOND ALTERNATE.
FOR THE SECOND ALTERNATE IS FOR GISELLE VELA TO BE ALTERNATE.
THE SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN.
SECONDED BY MAYOR PROM GOMEZ, HOW DO YOU VOTE? COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN? YES.
I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, UH, FOR OUR SECOND ALTERNATE TO BE NOEMI VALENZUELA.
AND THAT MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR NAOMI VALENZUELA, UH, PARDON ME.
TO SERVE AS THE SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TIMM GOMEZ.
HOW DO YOU VOTE? COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN? NO, NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER NICK SIAN? YES.
FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF NAOMI VALENZUELA TO SERVE AS THE SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
WELL, WE DO ANOTHER ALTERNATE.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT? ALTERNATE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO RE ALTERNATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESUBMIT THE NAME OF GISELLE VELA FOR THE THIRD ALTERNATE.
SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO PLACE AN NOMINATION, UH, MR. KEITH ACKER.
UH, I WILL, UH, I WILL SECOND, UH, MR. ACKER.
SO NOW THERE'S THIS, THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR KEITH ACKER TO SERVE AS THE THIRD ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER NICK SERIAN, SECONDED BY MAYOR MEDRANO.
HOW DO YOU VOTE ON THAT MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER LAMPKIN? NO.
MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS FOR KEITH ACKER TO SERVE AS THE THIRD ALTERNATE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND I'M SORRY, YOU'RE VOTING YES ON THAT? YES.
THREE ZERO OR PARDON ME? 3, 2, 3.
VOTES TO NO VOTES FOR KEITH ACKER TO SERVE AS THE THIRD ALTERNATE ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION.
[00:50:01]
JUST A QUICK COMMENT, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY.THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISION WE WE HAVE EVER HAD TO MAKE.
UH, THEY ARE ALL, NOBODY SHOULD FEEL, UH, HURT BY IF THEY DID NOT GET, UH, PICKED, I WOULD ENCOURAGE 'EM TO CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION TO CONTINUE TO GET INVOLVED.
BUT IT COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY WITH, THIS IS JUST SO DIFFICULT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MODE THE LAST MINUTE, JUST SO WE GET THROUGH IT.
WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD CANDIDATES AND THAT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.
UH, AND, AND IT HAS BEEN IN IN RECENT YEARS.
BUT WE HAD A LOT OF CANDIDATES AND WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO, UH, VOLUNTEER.
I'LL ADD TO VERY QUICKLY THE, ALL THESE CANDIDATES WERE SO CLOSE, THEY WERE ALL REALLY GREAT.
AND SO I DO SO MUCH SIEGE ALL OF THE APPLICANTS TO PLEASE APPLY AGAIN, STAY INVOLVED, STAY INTEGRATED WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL, WE'LL SEE YOU BACK SOON.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT A AGAIN, EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION AS I'VE DONE THIS, UH, FOR ABOUT A MONTH, UM, OF THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THAT WE'VE HAD, MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD, THAT I, THAT I'VE, I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE OF.
UM, THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND AGAIN, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE SHOWING YOUR, UH, YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, AND STAYING, UM, UM, MINDFUL OF THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THAT CONCLUDES THE ACTION NECESSARY FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND MY OFFICE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH ALL APPLICANTS.
ROSE HAD A QUICK COMMENT TOO, AND I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE THAT DID GET THE POSITION.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU.
[ MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR:]
MOVING ON TO THE, UH, MAYOR'S COMMUNITY CALENDAR, NATIONAL PET DAY CELEBRATION DUE TO THE RAIN FORECAST THIS WEEKEND.THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO NEXT SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH FROM 10:00 AM UNTIL 2:00 PM AT VIN SCULLY CENTENNIAL PARK, FAMILIES CAN EXPLORE A VARIETY OF LOCAL VENDORS, LEARN ABOUT ANIMAL CARE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND MEET ADORABLE ANIMALS LOOKING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES.
DURING THE PET ADOPTION EVENT, HOSTED BY THE INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY FROM 10:00 AM UNTIL NOON, CATERPILLAR ADOPTION JOINED THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AT LA HABER FOR THE ANNUAL CATERPILLAR ADOPTION AND EARTH DAY FESTIVAL.
THE EVENT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18TH, WITH TIME SESSIONS AT 10:30 AM 11:30 AM AND 12:30 PM TICKETS ARE $20 FOR MEMBERS AND $25 FOR NON-MEMBERS.
THE SENIOR DANCE, THE SPRING FLING SENIOR DANCE, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH FROM 2:00 PM UNTIL 4:00 PM AT THE LA HABER COMMUNITY CENTER.
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC, DANCING, DINNER, RAFFLES, AND DESSERT.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND SHRED EVENT.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CRNR, THE CITY WILL HOST A HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND SHRED EVENT FOR LAHABRA RESIDENTS ON SATURDAY, MAY 16TH FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL 12:00 PM AT THE LAHABRA PUBLIC WORKS YARD, 5 2 1 WEST MOUNTAIN VIEW AVENUE TRIPS AND TOURS.
JOIN THE CITY OF LAHARA FOR SIP, SAVER AND STROLL THE JULIAN TEA EXPERIENCE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL 5:00 PM PICK UP AND DROP OFF AT LA BONITA PARK AND COST US $149 PER PERSON 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 AND WATER CONSERVATION, WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE STILL ENFORCED AND CALIFORNIANS ARE BEING ASKED TO CONTINUE TO CONSERVE WATER.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.
WE'LL START WITH OUR MAYOR PRO TEM JAMES GOMEZ.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MAYOR, I'M SORRY, COMMENTS FROM STAFF.
[ COMMENTS FROM STAFF:]
COMMENTS FROM STAFF? MY APOLOGIES.UH, JUST REAL QUICK, I WANTED TO, UH, COMMEND, UM, ACTING DIRECTOR KIM BERIAN AND HER STAFF FOR A WONDERFUL WEEKEND OF, UH, EXTRAVAGANZA EVENTS AT LAINA PARK.
UH, IT WAS VERY, VERY WELL ATTENDED.
YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER'S NOT GONNA PLAY AS NICE AS NEXT WEEKEND FOR THE PET, UM, OR THE DOG, UM, PET EVENT.
BUT, UH, WE WILL GET THAT RESCHEDULED, BUT GREAT JOB.
[ COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS:]
OKAY, I'M BACK UP.FIRST OF ALL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'D LIKE EVERYBODY HERE TO GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR MAYOR.
NONE OTHER THAN JOSE MADANO 30 YEARS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AND RETIRE NOW.
ENJOY THE RETIREMENT, BUT WE'RE GONNA KEEP YOU BUSY HERE.
UH, THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY, UH, FEAT TO BE THERE 30 YEARS.
UH, JUST A STELLAR, UH, CAREER.
KEEPING OUR STRAIGHT SAFE FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY YOU BEING IN, IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND I JUST HAVE TO COMMEND YOU AND WE ARE SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.
AND, UH, THE GOOD THING IS WE GOT YOU NOW FULL TIME.
UH, ALSO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF, UM, BUFFY SWO DECK.
UH, AND MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO, TO MIKE AND SHARON, HER PARENTS, AND REALLY
[00:55:01]
HER BEST FRIEND, ANNETTE LIMON.BUFFY WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL WHO HELPED THE COMMUNITY.
ALTHOUGH SHE WAS NOT A OFFICIAL ALLIANCE CLUB MEMBER, SHE WAS KIND OF LIKE AN HONORARY, UH, ALLIANCE CLUB MEMBER JUST WENT TO EVERY EVENT IMAGINABLE.
WHEN I POSTED ABOUT HER DEATH, I RECEIVED FIVE MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH HER AT, AT BURLINGTON AND JUST SAID HOW SHE WOULD ALWAYS STEP UP AND HELP.
AND I TELL YOU, BUFFY WAS JUST A JUST A FANTASTIC INDIVIDUAL.
I KNEW HER FAMILY SINCE I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.
AND I WOULD ALWAYS TELL BUFFY THE STORY, THE REASON WHY THEY CALL ME JIM GOMEZ IS BECAUSE OF YOUR BROTHER.
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN, THERE WERE TWO JAMESES.
AND THE TEACHER SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T HAVE TWO JAMESES.
AND, UH, JAMES WO STAYED AS JAMES WODA, BUT BUFFY WAS JUST SUCH A LIGHT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND SHE ATTENDED SO MANY EVENTS AND SHE JUST HAD A KIND HEART.
WE WERE AT ROSE'S EVENT SHORTLY BEFORE HER DEATH.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE MUST HAVE COME UP TO ME, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE TIMES, HEY, ARE YOU OKAY? YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO DRINK? CAN I GET YOU SOME MORE FOOD? SHE JUST HAD THAT GIFT OF HOSPITALITY, JUST THAT LOVING SPIRIT.
AND BOY DID SHE LIKE HER, MR. ALBERT'S BURRITOS AS WELL.
I TELL YOU SHE LOVED THAT AS WELL.
BUT ONE OF THE, THE FUNNY STORIES I'LL TELL ABOUT, I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T TELL IT, BUT I'M GONNA SAY THIS ANYWAY, WE, WE HAVE ALL MADE THE MISTAKE WHERE WE THINK A SELTZER IS A SODA.
AND SHE GOT THIS SELTZER AND SHE TOOK A DRINK OUTTA THE STEAK
AND I ALWAYS MAKES FUN OF A NET LEE MODE.
I SAID, LOOK AT, YOU GOT HER DRUNK.
BUT SHE JUST KIND OF FELT KIND OF, UH, LIGHTHEADED AND STUFF.
BUT IT WAS SUCH A FUNNIEST THING WITH HER.
SHE WAS SUCH A LIFE, AND I'M GONNA MISS HER TREMENDOUSLY.
AND MY CONDOLENCES, AGAIN, OUT TO HER PARENTS, MIKE AND SHARON, I GOT TO TO TALK TO 'EM ON THE PHONE AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY.
ANNETTE, THANK YOU FOR, FOR GIVING HER ANOTHER SIDE OF LIFE THAT SHE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN.
UH, BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIVITY, YOU BROUGHT HER EVERYWHERE AND SHE WAS KNOWN EVERYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANNA MENTION REAL QUICKLY.
I GOT TO ATTEND THE, UH, TUNE SQUAD FUNDRAISER AND, UH, THANK YOU MR. TOMORROW FOR THE HOSPITALITY.
YOU BAKED ME COOKIES AND THAT WAS WORTH GOING OUT TO THAT FUNDRAISER.
THIS, UH, THIS, UH, TUNE STARS, UH, BASKETBALL TEAM, UH, GOT TO ATTEND THAT.
UH, UH, LAST WEEK I GOT TO ATTEND, UH, THE WHITTIER MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST.
AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC AS WELL.
AND, UH, I ALSO, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE 68TH ANNUAL LIONS CLUB BREAKFAST.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEW OWNERS TO, UH, OF IMPERIAL BURGERS.
THEY JUST TOOK OVER AND WE GOT A RIBBON CUTTING PLAN FOR THAT COMING UP.
I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION OUT, UH, SHORTLY.
AND, UH, MANY OF US ATTENDED THE DEL RIO RECORDS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.
AND, UH, UM, ALSO ON A FINAL NOTE, WANT TO THANK THE, UM, SENIOR DANCE THAT WE HAD FOR ST.
UH, I HAD A LOT OF FUN OUT THERE AND STAFF MEMBERS JUST TERRIFIC.
AND I, UH, THIS WEEKEND GOT TO ATTEND THE SUNRISE SERVICE AT CALVARY CHAPEL.
JUST A GREAT TURNOUT THERE, AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST FOLLOWING THAT.
AND I GOT TO VISIT VINCE SCULLY PARK OVER EASTER.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT IS THE MOST POPULAR PARK IN ORANGE COUNTY.
PEOPLE CAME OUT THERE AS EARLY AS FOUR IN THE MORNING TO, TO GET THEIR SPOT.
I WENT BACK AFTER DINNER, I HAD DINNER WITH MY FAMILY, WENT BACK IN THE EVENING TIME.
PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE WITH EASTER EGG HUNTS, BARBECUING.
AND THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING, THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE PROJECTS I'M ONE OF THE MOST PROUD OF TO TAKE PART IN.
IT IS A FANTASTIC PARK, AND IT IS GETTING UTILIZED NOT ONLY BY PEOPLE OF LA HABRA, BUT ALL OVER THIS, THIS AREA.
IT'S LIKE A REGIONAL PARK ALMOST.
YEAH, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL I GOT, MR. MAYOR.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, COUNCILMAN LAKIN.
UH, SO I WANT TO FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HARDEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE WORKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS, UM, ALLOWING THE PROFESSION TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE.
AND, UH, IN A TIME THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU, YOU HAVE DEFINITELY TRULY, UM, SHOWN THAT THE PROFESSION DOES NOT DEFINE THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE TO OTHERS.
AND SO, WITH THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU'VE PROVIDED SERVICE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU'RE ALREADY WELL INTO YOUR, ON YOUR WAY INTO YOUR SECOND LIFE, UH, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDED TO LA COUNTY, BUT THE SERVICE YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES, EVEN OUTSIDE OF LA COUNTY.
I DUNNO IF YOU GOT, ARE YOU SETTING AN ALARM CLOCK ANYMORE OR
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, I TOO ATTENDED SEVERAL EVENTS, BUT I'M GONNA FOREGO IN TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF, UM, UH, MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS WEEK.
AND THE FIRST ONE WAS I ATTENDED A, UM,
[01:00:01]
SUNRISE HIKE LAST FRIDAY WITH, UH, THE CAUSE CHURCH IN BREA.AND I, AND I MENTIONED THIS CHURCH BEFORE BECAUSE I, I, IT DIDN'T DAWN ON ME THAT HOW MANY RESIDENTS OF LA HABRA ACTUALLY ATTEND THAT CHURCH.
UM, I, WE, WE GET TO THE TOP OF THE, UM, OF THE, OF THE, OF THE HIKE WHERE WE WERE MET BY SEVERAL OTHER CHURCH GOERS.
AND, UH, THE PASTOR, PASTOR JOHN DECIDED TO KIND OF THROW AN AUDIBLE AND ASK THAT RESIDENTS OF EACH CITY GET TOGETHER AND JOIN IN PRAYER.
AND SO, UH, ONE OF OUR KEY PILLARS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TOBY FLORES, UM, UH, HE JOINED, HE ACTUALLY, UM, HELD PRAYER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LAHABRA.
TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WERE ABOUT 50 TO 60 RESIDENTS OF LAHABRA THAT WERE THERE THAT JOINED IN PRAYER.
AND, UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS SO AMAZING.
AND, UH, WHAT WAS EVEN MORE AMAZING ABOUT IT WAS, UM, I THINK EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.
I HAPPEN TO, UM, COME ACROSS, UM, A, A, A FAMILY IN LA HABRA, THE ADDING, UH, EDINGTON FAMILY.
AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, I MET THIS LITTLE GIRL NAMED KINSLEY WHO HAPPENS TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO I'M SO HAPPY YOU JOINED US TODAY.
AND, UM, KINSLEY IS A STUDENT, LADERA PALMA DUAL IMMERSION SCHOOL.
AND, UH, SHE IS ON HER WAY TO BEING PROBABLY THE ONE OF THE YOUNGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS, UH, IN OUR CITY.
UH, SHE ACTUALLY IS ON AN INITIATIVE TO END HOMELESSNESS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND IN, IN THE HOPES OF ALSO HAVING, UH, WHERE EVERY FOSTER CHILD, UM, HAS A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN.
AND I THINK ABOUT HER MISSION AND, AND IN THAT SHE'S RAISED FUNDS, SHE'S RAISED RESOURCES TO HELP THE HOMELESS.
AND I'M LIKE, MAN, HERE IT IS.
WE HAVE THIS YOUNG CHILD THAT'S TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF US, EVEN ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ARE HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO SOLVE.
YOU KNOW, EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S HARD TO SOLVE.
AND HERE SHE IS, SHE'S TAKING ON THAT INITIATIVE.
YOU KEEP WORKING AT IT, WORKING HARD AT IT, AND GREAT THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH, NOT JUST IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, BUT IN THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
UM, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, I, I, UNFORTUNATELY, WE END ON A SAD NOTE AS, UM, AS, AS, UM, UM, JIM MENTIONED, UM, EXPRESSING MY CONDOLENCES FOR BUFFY ECK.
UH, I, I, I ONLY KNEW BUFFY FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS OR SO.
UM, I MET BUFFY AT THE LIONS CLUB, AND WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW WAS, UM, BUFFY WASN'T A MEMBER OF THE LION'S CLUB OF MAN.
SHE SURE WAS THERE FAR MORE THAN A LOT OF, SOME OF THE OTHER LIONS CLUB MEMBERS, MAN,
AND I MEAN, YOU, YOU CAN CONSIDER HER LIKE A CHEERLEADER OF OUR, OF OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST THE LIONS CLUB, BUT OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, BUFFY PERSONIFIED, WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE, BE A PART OF A CARING COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE WHEN I MET BUFFY, IT WAS LIKE KIND OF MEETING SOMEONE YOU HADN'T SEEN IN YEARS.
SHE WAS ALWAYS FRIENDLY, ALWAYS KIND, SMILING, TELLING A JOKE HERE AND THERE.
AND, UH, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE HER AT AN EVENT WEARING SOME TYPE OF COSTUME, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU SAW, SAW HER REMIND YOU, OH, THERE WAS A THEME AT THIS EVENT, AND SHE ALWAYS MET THAT THEME.
I'M TELLING YOU, SHE ALWAYS MET IT.
UM, BUT PART OF PERSON PERSONIFYING A, A CARING COMMUNITY, A LOT OF TIMES, I, SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S THE FEELING THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A CARING COMMUNITY.
IT'S CONDITIONAL WHERE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, I, WE ARE A CARING COMMUNITY IF, OR WE ARE CARING COMMUNITY, DOT, DOT, DOT.
AND BUFFY WAS NEVER THAT BUFFY DIDN'T CARE WHO YOU WERE.
SHE ALWAYS PUT A SMILE ON EVERYONE'S FACE.
HER LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND HER PERSONIFYING A CARING COMMUNITY WAS UNCONDITIONAL.
AND, UM, SO I JUST, UH, I, I EXPRESSED MY CONDOLENCES AND I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE GONNA ADJOURN IN HER MIN, UH, IN ADJOURN THE MEETING IN, IN HER, IN HER HONOR.
SO I DON'T WANNA TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ANYONE, BUT I KNOW BUFFY WILL BE MISSED.
AND, UM, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, UM, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CLOSE FRIEND ANNETTE, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE, SHE ACTS THAT I, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER THE OTHER NIGHT AND SHE ASKED ME TO, SHE, SHE SAID, HEY, DO YOU KNOW BY CHANCE THAT BUFFY HAD SPECIAL NEEDS? AND, AND I SAID, NO, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
OR, UM, THAT SHE WAS ONE WITH SOMEONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND, AND, AND WHAT WAS SPEAKING FROM MY HEART WAS, WAS THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, YEAH, SHE DID HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS MAYBE, BUT THAT'S 'CAUSE SHE WAS A SPECIAL PERSON FOR ANYONE THAT WAS IN NEED.
IT'S TRULY HEARTBREAKING TO MISS HER.
BUT, UM, I THINK WE CAN ALL LIVE TO LIVE UP TO HER PERSONIFICATION OF A CARING COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN ESPINOZA.
UM, FIRST AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE APPLICANTS THAT ARE NOW COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL, AND
[01:05:01]
I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THOSE THAT APPLIED.IT WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GROUP THAT WAS, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE.
I, UM, HEARD ABOUT THE EXTRAVAGANZA I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
I HAD SOME OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS, UH, FOR THAT AFTERNOON.
BUT, UH, I ALSO, UM, WENT, I DID NOT GO TO THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST, BUT BECAUSE I WAS A PANELIST FOR THE LA HARRA CAMPS AND, UH, AND THE SOFTBALL AND THE BASEBALL.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK THE STAFF FROM THE CITY OF LA HARRA FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS HELP IN HELPING US WITH, ARRANGE ALL THE PHOTOS, GET EVERYTHING READY.
UH, THE, UH, GROUP THAT CANDACE GUTIERREZ, I THINK IT WAS A PTA THAT WAS SERVING, UH, SNACKS AS WELL.
I MEAN, IT ALL CAME TOGETHER INCREDIBLY WELL.
I WAS REALLY HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE PART OF THE PANELISTS GROUP.
WE EVEN HAD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT CAME ALL THE WAY FROM LAS VEGAS.
UH, AND HE RECORDED AND FILMED EVERYTHING BECAUSE, UH, ONE OF, I THINK IT WAS HIS GRANDMOTHER OR MOTHER THAT WAS IN, ACTUALLY IN THE SOFTBALL TEAM.
AND SO HE WAS RECORDING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.
THERE WAS A GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES THAT WERE SITTING IN THE FRONT PART AS WELL, WHOSE MOM WAS ALSO ON THE SOFTBALL TEAM, AND THEY CAME UP BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THEIR MOM'S EXPERIENCE IN SOFTBALL AND ALL.
I WAS, IT WRAPPED UP THE WHOLE SESSION TOGETHER.
I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD ANOTHER SECOND SESSION OF THIS.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DISPLAY AT THE OLD SETTLERS MUSEUM WHEN THEY FINALLY GET IT ALL ESTABLISHED.
BUT THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR ALL THE TREMENDOUS HELP, AND THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVING THE, THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CITY STAFF BE THERE AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH I DID NOT GO TO THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST, I DID BUY A TICKET, AND MY SON DID BRING ME, BECAUSE I LOVE THE PANCAKES FROM THE LIONS CLUB.
IF YOU'VE EVER HAD THE PANCAKES FROM THE LION CLUB, THEY ARE DELICIOUS.
UM, I THINK THEY, THEY'RE BETTER THAN IHOP, REALLY,
BUT, UH, YEAH, HE BROUGHT ME MY PLATE HOME AND IT TASTES JUST AS GOOD AS IF, IF I HAD EATEN IT THAT MORNING.
SO I'M, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND TO GET BACK TO, UH, BUFFY, OH MY GOD, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS THE EVERREADY BUNNY WHEN I FIRST MET HER.
SHE WAS JUST GOING HERE AND HERE SHE WAS LIKE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL JUST WHIPPING AROUND, GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE, MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE, MAKING A DIFFERENCE THERE.
AND I GO, OH MY GOD, BUFFY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE EVERREADY BUNNY.
AND SHE HAD ALL THIS BOUNDLESS ENERGY THAT SHE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND, AND SHE, IF YOU, IF YOU WERE HAVING A BAD DAY, UH, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS JUST BE WITH HER FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
AND YOUR DAY HAD CHANGED COMPLETELY BECAUSE SHE NEVER, NEVER, I NEVER SAW HER, UH, WORRYING ABOUT ANYTHING.
SHE WAS PROBABLY, IF ANYTHING, WORRYING ABOUT US AS INDIVIDUALS.
AND I ALWAYS TELL ANNETTE, I GO, ANNETTE, IF YOU, IF I GO, THE ONLY REASON I KNOW BUFFY IS BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS WITH ANNETTE.
AND, UH, I WOULD HANG AROUND WITH ANNETTE AND THE OTHER LADIES, THE LAS LOS AMIGA, YOU KNOW, AND IT WOULD JUST BECAME SUCH A GROUP OF WOMEN THAT WERE DYNAMIC AND, AND SHE WAS JUST THERE HEADING EVERYTHING AND HELPING IN ANY WAY SHE COULD.
UM, YEAH, SHE, SHE IS, UH, I THINK SHE'S STILL GONNA BE THE PERSON THAT'S GONNA OVERSEE THE CITY OF LA HARBOR WHERE SHE'S AT
SHE'S GONNA BE WATCHING ALL OVER US.
AND I'M SO BLESSED, SO BLESSED TO HAVE MET THIS YOUNG LADY.
SHE WAS YOUNG, YOU KNOW, AND ENERGETIC.
AND I JUST, UH, FEEL BLESSED THAT WE, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER.
AND, AND I THINK IT BROUGHT ALL OF US, UH, THAT HUNG AROUND TOGETHER JUST TO A STRONGER BOND BETWEEN US, UH, BECAUSE WE REALLY FELT COMMUNITY.
WE REALLY FELT LIKE WE WERE IN THE BEST CITY EVER, YOU KNOW, AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL FOR HER, AND I'M, I'M JUST WISH HER PARENTS, UM, HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES AND WE PRAY FOR HER FOR, AND JUST, UH, IN FACT, I AM GOING TO PURCHASE A TILE, UH, FOR, FOR HER HERE.
AND I TOLD ANNETTE, I NEED YOU TO, TO WRITE SOMETHING ON THERE BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON WE WANT HERE.
AS YOU ENTER THE CITY HALL, HER NAME THERE SAYING, WELCOME TO, TO MY CITY HALL.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TWO INCUMBENT COMMISSIONERS, ROY RAMSON AND ANNETTE LEE MON ON BEING GIVEN ANOTHER TOUR OF DUTY.
AND ALSO TO OUR NEW ALTERNATES.
I KNOW THE CANDACE IS HERE TONIGHT, AND SHE'S GONNA BE STEPPING INTO HER ROLE, UH, AT THE END OF MAY, DIDN'T WE SAY? I BELIEVE SO.
SO THAT'S, YOU GOT THAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO TIME, TO BONE UP, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
LIKE YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CITY.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND ALSO TO KEITH ACKER AND AMI VALENZUELA AND TO, UM, NATALIE SAINTS AS WELL.
UM, THE FUNNY, WHAT I FOUND VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT, ABOUT BUFFY IS THAT CAROL AND I WENT TO, UH, BLANCA PACHECOS WOMAN OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION, WHERE ANNETTE LIMON WAS CHOSEN WOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR THE 64TH DISTRICT.
[01:10:01]
AND WE WANTED TO SHOW UP TO, UM, TO SUPPORT THAT.SO FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 64TH DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR, ANNETTE LI MOAN.
AND HERE'S THE EMOTIONAL THING.
WE WALK IN, AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT CAROL AND I FOUND OUT THAT BUFFY ECK HAD PASSED AWAY, AND I'D KNOWN BUFFY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE WERE JUST SHOCKED BEYOND BELIEF THAT THIS HAPPENED.
UH, ANNETTE, OF COURSE, WAS NOT THERE, UH, NATURALLY, I MEAN, THESE WERE BFFS FOR YEARS.
BUT WHAT I FOUND TELLING IS THAT WHEN THE TIME CAME, WHEN ANNETTE'S NAME WAS CALLED, ABOUT SEVEN OF US WENT UP THERE TO THE PODIUM, AND WE ALL CAME AS A GROUP.
YOU KNOW, WE CIRCLED THE WAGONS AROUND THERE FOR ANNETTE.
AND ROSE GAVE A REALLY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SPEECH ABOUT HOW, FOLKS, THIS IS HOW WE ROLL IN LAHABRA.
THIS IS THE, THE TRUE, THE TRUE KORO, MELANIE, YOU GUYS WERE THERE.
THE TRUE DEFINITION OF A CARING COMMUNITY IS WHEN EVERYONE COMES TOGETHER AND STANDS AS ONE, BOTH HONORING ANNETTE AND ALSO STANDING THERE FOR BUFFY AS WELL.
AND I JUST, I FOUND THAT VERY, VERY MOVING.
SO, BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, ANNETTE, UH, BEYOND THAT MLB OPENING BARBECUE DAY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
UH, I SWEAR THAT, UH, JIM SADRA HAD SO MUCH SAUCE ON HIS SMOCK, BUT HE DID ONE HECK OF A JOB WITH ALL THOSE BURGERS.
THAT WAS, IT'S ALWAYS A, A FUN DAY, AND IT'S A HARDWORKING DAY FOR STAFF.
I ALSO HAD THE JOY OF CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF TAO MIN K, WHO LIVES AT THE, UH, LA HABER REGENCY RETIREMENT CENTER, ESSENTIALLY, UH, VERY SHARP, VERY WITH IT.
I LOVE CELEBRATING CENTENARIANS IN LA HABRA BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR WATER THAT KEEPS PRODUCING SO MANY OF THEM,
ED KNIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA WAS FANTASTIC.
THE HELICOPTER WAS VERY DRAMATIC.
I THINK THE MAYOR USED THE TERM JUST LIKE APOCALYPSE NOW, WHEN THOSE EGGS CAME RAINING DOWN FROM THE HELICOPTER, AND FORTUNATELY, NOT TOO MUCH DUST.
'CAUSE NOW WE LEARNED OUR LESSON TO WET DOWN THOSE FIELDS.
IT WAS LIKE A SAHARA SANDSTORM, I GUESS THAT WAS JUST BRUTAL.
BUT WE, WE, WE GOT THAT DIALED IN NOW.
AND THEN THE VERY FINAL THING IS I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE MY OLD BUDDY, JOSE MADANO, ON 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I RETIRED, IT'S GONNA BE 12 YEARS COMING UP AFTER 30 YEARS.
BUT HIS CAREER WAS INCREDIBLY WIDE RANGING, UH, VERY DISTINGUISHED, VERY EFFECTIVE.
UM, YOU COULD WRITE A BOOK, I'M SURE, AND I'M, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, AND 60 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE HERE.
BUT, UM, IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE FOR YOU TO ESTABLISH YOUR IDENTITY AGAIN.
I MEAN, IT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WEARING THE UNIFORM ANYMORE AND ALL THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU'LL GET THERE.
SO, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MAYOR JOSE MADANO ON 30 GREAT YEARS.
WELL, YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN THE HONEY DO LIST.
UH, NO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, UH, WANTED TO, UH, YEAH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST FOR THE LIONS.
WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THE, UH, THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I KNOW, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM WAS THERE A LITTLE BEFORE.
I WAS, HE HAD, UH, HE HAD DONE HIS, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA LIVE.
AND, UH, I HAD INTENDED, OF COURSE, ON GOING TO SEE THE, UH, THE LIFE IN THE CAMPS EVENT, UH, OVER AT THE LABER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I ALSO INTENDED TO GO TO THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST.
BUT, UH, I HAD MY, UH, DAYS CONFUSED.
I THOUGHT THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST WAS THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.
AND WHEN I SAW HIS, UH, HIS LIVE, AND I DIDN'T TELL HIM, OH MY GOSH, I GOTTA GO TO THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST, WENT TO THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST, AND BOY, I HAD TWO PANCAKES.
THEY WERE DELICIOUS, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
HAD MY CUP OF COFFEE WITH ME, THANK YOU TO THE LIONS FOR PUTTING THAT EVENT ON.
UH, THERE WAS A NICE, UH, LINE OR TWO BY THE TIME I LEFT, THERE WAS A LINE AGAIN.
UH, SO THEY WERE COMING IN, UH, IN DROVES, UH, FOR THAT, UH, THE, UH, LIFE IN THE CAMPS, UH, ROSE, YOU LIVED IT.
UH, YOU, UH, YOU WERE BORN THERE.
IT WAS INTERESTING AND VERY, UH, VERY HEARTENING TO HEAR THE, UH, THE DIFFERENT STORIES FROM, NOT ONLY FROM THE PANELISTS, BUT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, ATTENDED IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ALSO GREW UP IN THE CAMPS, AND THAT HAD, UH, QUESTIONS OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE EVENT ITSELF.
SOME OF THE THINGS I DID NOT KNOW OF, I DID NOT GROW UP IN LA HABRA.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE, UH, 27 AND 27 PLUS YEARS.
UH, THIS, UH, THIS COMMUNITY, UH, IS, UH, I, I WOULD SAY THE BACKBONE OF THIS COMMUNITY STARTED IN THOSE CAMPS, UH, BECAUSE THEY, UH, THEY WERE THE TRUE PIONEERS, IF YOU ASK ME, UH, THAT, UH, NOT ONLY WORKED IN THE FIELDS AND WORKED THE VARIOUS JOBS AND, UH, AND REALLY, UH, SAW THE CITY DEVELOP.
UH, SO IT WAS, UH, QUITE ENLIGHTENING.
AND, UH, MY HAT'S OFF TO THE, UH, UH, TO, TO ALL THE FAMILIES, UH, THAT, UH, THAT GREW UP THERE.
THE ESP ESPINOZA, THE GOMEZ'S.
AND, UH, INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UH, THE GOMEZ FAMILY AND THE, UH, THE STORES THAT THEY HAD.
AND, UH, UH, I GUESS IT WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER AND HIS BROTHERS, MY GRANDFATHER, YEAH.
UM, AND THEY WERE ORPHANED, CORRECT? YES.
UH, SO ANY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
[01:15:01]
UM, THOSE WERE ALL, UH, SOME OF THE INTERESTING THINGS AND, UH, AND, UH, THAT BRINGS ME AROUND TO THE, UH, THE CARING COMMUNITY ASPECT.AND, UH, AND I'M GONNA MENTION BUFFY HERE AS WELL.
UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING LIVED HERE FOR AS LONG AS LITTLE AS I HAVE, BUT AS LONG AS I HAVE, UH, THAT, UH, THAT GO ON IN THE COMMUNITY LIFE, IN THE CAMPS AND, UH, AND THE CARING COMMUNITY THAT WE DO HAVE.
UH, DARREN HAD MENTIONED, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, THE WOMAN OF THE YEAR EVENT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS UNABLE TO BE THERE.
I WAS, UH, I WAS IN SAN DIEGO FOR MY DAUGHTER'S, UH, UH, SOCCER GAME THAT MORNING, SO I COULDN'T MAKE IT.
BUT, UH, HEARTBREAKING WHEN I GOT THE TEXT FROM ANNETTE AND, UH, UM, I, UH, MY, MY WIFE ASKED ME, SHE GOES, WHAT'S WRONG? AND I, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST, I WAS BESIDE MYSELF FOR A GOOD HOUR.
'CAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE NEWS I HAD HEARD, AND I STILL CAN'T, UH, BECAUSE, UH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, ROSE, YOU, YOU SAID IT RIGHT? SHE'S LIKE A TASMANIAN DEVIL, UM, A FORCE OF NATURE.
UM, ANYWHERE, UH, ANYWHERE THAT BUFFY WENT, SHE'D LIGHT UP A ROOM.
UM, AND JUST THINKING ABOUT HER PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DID NOT KNOW HER.
LIKE, LIKE ANNETTE, ANNETTE, UH, ANNETTE HAS LOST LIKE A SISTER.
UH, BUT, UH, SHE BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE, UH, BECAUSE SHE WAS JUST ONE FUNNY INDIVIDUAL MAN.
SHE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR AS WELL, IF YOU, UH, IF YOU GOT THE TALKING TO HER.
AND I MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY,
UM, SHE WAS, UH, THAT, THAT'S THE TASMANIAN DEVIL SIDE OF HER.
UM, SO, UH, YEAH, AND, UH, AND THANK YOU ROSE FOR, UH, FOR TAKING THAT ON AS FAR AS GETTING HER, UH, A, A TILE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN LAKIN HAD CALLED ME ABOUT, ABOUT, UH, ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE, SO I'M SURE YOU GUYS WILL TALK.
UH, BUT, UH, HE HAD CALLED ME OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
AND, AND, UH, AND HIM AND I SPOKE, I SAID, HEY, ROSE IS DOING SOMETHING AS WELL.
SO JUST KNOW THAT THE, UH, THE, THE FEELING THERE AND THE THOUGHT, UH, WAS, UH, WAS MUTUAL.
SO, UH, ANNETTE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS, UH, AND, AND NOT TO MAKE LIGHT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I'M A, I'M A BIT OF A STAR WARS FAN, NOT AN AFICIONADO.
UH, WHEN BEN OBIE ONE PASSED AWAY, HE WAS WITH LUKE SKYWALKER.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
NOW THAT, UH, THAT SHE'S GONNA BE WITH YOU FOREVER AND, UH, WITH US FOR THAT MATTER AS WELL.
SO, UH, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN IN, UH, IN BUFFY'S MEMORY AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPUTY LEVI VARGAS, UH, WHO, UH, PASSED AWAY AT THE, UH, BAKER TO VEGAS, UH, UH, UH, RUN, UH, A WEEK AGO.
UH, IT'S, UH, IT WAS THE 40TH YEAR OF THE, UH, THE BAKER TO VEGAS RUN.
HE HAD HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
UH, HE HAS, UH, SOME FAMILY MEMBERS HERE IN LA HABRA.
UH, HE HAS ANOTHER COUSIN WHO I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THAT LIVES IN WHITTIER, NEAR, NEAR MY HOME.
UH, BUT, UH, UH, WHAT A, WHAT A TRAGIC LOSS, UH, TENURE DEPUTY IN HIS, IN HIS EARLY THIRTIES.
AND, UH, AND HE PASSED AWAY, UH, DURING THIS EVENT.
UH, AN EVENT THAT I PARTICIPATED IN IN 19, IN MY 30 YEARS, UH, IN ONE WAY, OR I KNOW I RAN THE EVENT NUMEROUS TIMES.
I THINK, UH, UH, NUMEROUS, UH, UH, OFFICERS HERE IN LAHABRA, AND YOU DON'T EXPECT THAT.
UH, BUT, UH, OUR, UH, HEARTS AND CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS EXTENDED FAMILY AT THE, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
SO, UH, WE'LL, UH, CONVENE IN, UH, EXCUSE ME, WE'LL ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF, UH, LEVI VARGAS AND IF, UH, BUFFY SWO AS WELL.
AND I'D LIKE TO DO ONE LAST THING.
IS IT KENZIE? KENZIE KENS LEE KENLEY.
WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR? IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF IT'S OKAY, BECAUSE, UH, COUNCILMAN LAKIN AND I TALKED ABOUT YOU, AND HE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT YOU, WOULD YOU MIND ADJOURNING OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING BY COMING UP HERE AND KNOCKING THIS THING ON THE, ON THE GAVEL? WOULD YOU MIND? COME ON.
SO ALL YOU'RE GONNA DO IS HIT THIS, AND THEN I'LL SAY, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
AND NOW HOLD ON ONE SECOND SO I CAN, ALL RIGHT.
THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED TO MONDAY, APRIL 20TH, 2026 AT 5:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
CLOSED SESSION ROOM ONE 12 C 100 EAST LA HARBOR BOULEVARD, FOLLOWED BY THE REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.