[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT, IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.IT'S TIME TO QUIT THE CONVERSATIONS.
WE GOT A VERY, UH, VERY VOCAL GROUP TONIGHT.
[Additional Item]
I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO GET MY DEAL HERE REAL QUICK.WHERE DID I LOSE IT AT? HERE A MOMENT AGO.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE PROCEED, UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, REQUEST THAT THE INTERPRETER TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THIS EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, IF WE COULD PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES AND ANY OTHER DEVICES IN THE, UH, IN THE CHAMBER SO WE DON'T HAVE THEM GOING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THINGS.
UM, LIKE THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER A LIVE WEBCAST OF THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU'RE, AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING VIA THE ZOOM, UM, VIEWING THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE MEETING, INTERPRETING INSTRUCTIONS WILL APPEAR IN THE CHAT BOX AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO SIT IN THE CHAMBER OR LARGE, UH, CHAMBER ROOM HEADSETS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE LIVE SPANISH TRANSLATIONS.
POLICE, THE CITY CLERK TO CHECK OUT THE, UH, ON THE HEADSET.
THE NOTICE AGENDA AND INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF NASHVILLE CITY'S WEBSITE INFORMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY MAY SUBMIT A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
EITHER IN PERSON ON ONE OF THESE SALMON COLORED SLIPS, THEY WERE AT THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER, AND YOU'D WANT TO GET THOSE OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK, UH, DESK AS JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OR VIA ZOOM BY PRE-REGISTERING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, NO LATER THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING OR EMAILING NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS OF THE MEETING.
ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IF RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
SO, BEFORE WE GO INTO ROLL CALL, I HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST TO ATTEND, UH, VIRTUALLY BY A COUNCIL MEMBER ACCORDING TO ASSEMBLY BILL 24 49.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ OF A NEED TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY FOLLOWING THE REQUIREMENTS OF AB 24 49, WE MUST FIRST CONFIRM THAT THERE IS A QUORUM PRESENT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHICH OUR FOUR MEMBERS ARE AT THE DAAS COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ IS PRESENT VIA ZOOM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE ADDRESS THE, THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIRST CONFIRM THAT YOU CAN BE HEARD AND SEEN AND THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND SEE THE DAIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE RODRIGUEZ HERE.
AND, UH, COULD YOU, UH, PLEASE PROVIDE A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THE NEED TO APPEAR REMOTELY, CORRECT? YEAH.
I, I RATHER SICK, UM, THIS AFTERNOON.
SO I WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON.
UH, ARE YOU CLAIMING YOUR ABSENCE UNDER JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES? AND YOU NEED TO, UH, JUST CAUSE LET US KNOW WHICH ONE TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION JUST CAUSE.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, UM, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ, IS THERE ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS OF AGE PRESENT AT THE REMOTE LOCATION WITH YOU? NO.
[00:05:01]
UM, I COULD ASK THE CITY CLERK CHAPEL TO PLEASE CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS COUNCIL MEMBER HAS APPEARED REMOTELY WITHIN THE CALENDAR YEAR.THAT WOULD BE ONE, UH, THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE CLOSED SESSION.
UM, THAT THEN COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, UH, TO CONFIRM ALLOWING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ TO BE REMOTE? MOVE TO CONFIRM SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UM, AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE YES.
ALL, ALL, ALL THE VOTES TONIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE DOING REMOTE WILL BE BY ROLL CALL VOTES.
THERE WILL BE NO ELECTRONIC VOTES TONIGHT.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
WE HAVE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.AND AT THIS POINT WE WOULD HAVE ROLL CALL.
WITH THAT, COULD WE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? REMIND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
AND, UH, BUSH WOULD JULIUS PLEASE HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
BEGIN PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, NATION, NATION UNDER GOD IN LIBERTY.
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FAROH, PRESIDENT DE REVEREND CILLA, NATIONAL CITY, UH, CDO CHURCH.
GOD, CREATOR OF EVERYTHING WE COME BEFORE YOU.
I COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK THAT YOU MAY ALLOW YOUR GRACE TO FALL UPON THIS MEETING AS THE ISSUES BEING DISCUSSED FOR THE BETTERMENT AND THE WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC.
I PRAY THAT YOU GUIDE AND THEN THERE MAY BE ALWAYS THE RIGHT HEART TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THAT I PRAY.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT ]
WE GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UH, OUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING WILL BE LIMITED TO, UH, TWO MINUTES.AND, UH, WE WILL, UH, A NAME OFF THREE PEOPLE AT A AT A TIME.
WHEN YOUR NAMES ARE CALLED, PLEASE COME UP INTO THE MIDDLE AREA SO THAT WAY THE MOMENT THE THE SPEAKER IN FRONT OF YOU FINISHES, YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY STEP RIGHT UP AND START SPEAKING.
SO IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T TAKE QUITE SO LONG.
UH, PAUL WADOWSKI TO BE FOLLOWED BY YARE CRUZ.
I MIGHT PROBABLY MESSED UP THAT NAME TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, JOHN ALVA.
I HAVE PASSING LETTERS FOR IF YOU JUST OVER THERE.
PAUL WADOWSKI, SUE, HIGH TEACHER CIVIL SERVICE CHAIR.
UM, OUR WELDING ACADEMY AT SWEETWATER, I, I TEACH ENGLISH WITHIN THE WELDING ACADEMY, UM, IS IN DIRE STRAITS.
UM, LEGITIMATELY, UM, THE LETTER THAT, THAT I'VE GIVEN, AND BY THE WAY THAT I'VE SENT TO EVERYONE, UM, OUTLINES THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN GREAT DETAIL.
SO I'M NOT GONNA READ THE LETTER, I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF DO A QUICK, LIKE, OVERVIEW OF THINGS.
UM, SO OUR STUDENTS CAN'T WELD IN THE WELDING ACADEMY, UM, WHICH IS JUST ABSURD, QUITE FRANKLY.
UM, AND, AND SO THAT WE ARE LIMITED, THE STUDENTS IN WITHIN THE ACADEMY ARE, ARE LIMITED TO WELDING FROM ONLY ONE POSITION.
AND SO I THINK PRIMARILY THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, UH, IS THAT, THAT, THAT THE FACILITY NEEDS A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN WORK TO, TO CHANGE THE VENTILATION, UH, SYSTEM SO THAT THE STUDENTS CAN ACTUALLY DO THE WORK THAT THAT GETS THEM CERTIFIED, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE ON AND THEN OF COURSE GET EMPLOYED AND, AND MAKE AND EARN.
YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF HEADING ON THE, ON THAT ACADEMIC TRACK.
UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH POWER IN THE FACILITY MM-HMM
UH, POWER CAPACITY, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THIS.
[00:10:01]
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO GIVE YOU ON THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, THAT, THAT'S SEPARATELY IS A PROBLEM.LIKE, WE'RE NOT TIED INTO THE, TO THE SOLAR PANEL POWER, UM, THAT EXISTS.
AND, AND I KNOW, AND BY THE WAY, ALL THE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS.
DISTRICT CT PEOPLE THEY KNOW, UM, AND, UH, WELDING COORDINATOR, SHE KNOWS.
SO NOW IT'S A MATTER OF HOW CAN WE DO THIS? AND THE DI I DON'T THINK THE DISTRICT HAS THE MONEY.
SO WE NEED PEOPLE, WE NEED PARTNERSHIP TO COME IN AND MAKE THIS FACILITY WORKABLE FOR THE STUDENTS OF NATIONAL CITY TO DO THE WORK IN THE WELDING ACADEMY.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S GONNA TURN INTO AN ELECTIVE WHERE THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY WE'RE PROGRESSING THROUGH IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SKILLS WORK.
SORRY, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YALI.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS NATSUMI CRUZ AND I'VE BEEN PART OF THE WELDING PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS.
THIS LAST YEAR, ISSUES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE SCHOOL'S ATTENTION REGARDING VENTILATION AND NOW LACK OF ANOTHER CERTIFIED ADULT, WHICH MEANS WE CAN NO LONGER WELD.
DURING MY PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, I WAS TOLD THAT BEING IN THE WELDING PROGRAM WOULD BE THE BEST PATH IF I WANTED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE.
WITH THIS IN MIND, I MADE IT A POINT TO CHALLENGE MYSELF TO NOT JUST LEARN EVERYTHING WITHIN THE PROGRAM, BUT TO REALLY PUSH MYSELF TO MY ABSOLUTE BEST.
HOWEVER, WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PROGRAM, IT HAS FELT LIKE THAT FUTURE HAS PRACTICALLY SHATTERED.
NOW, OUR PREVIOUS INDUSTRY PARTNERS HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN A STEP BACK FROM SWEETWATER LEADING MY PEERS AND I TO WORRY ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY WE NOW ALL FACE WITH LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS PROGRAM'S PRIMARY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SET SHAI STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS, BUT IT ALSO HAS HAD A REAL IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.
WELDING IS NOT ONLY JUST A CLASS, BUT TO SOME, INCLUDING MYSELF, IT HAS GOTTEN US THROUGH TIMES WHERE THERE SIMPLY WAS NO MOTIVATION FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT GAVE STUDENTS MOTIVATION TO GRADUATE, PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL EVENTS, AND ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO LIFE AFTER SCHOOL.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH WELDING POSITIVELY AFFECTS STUDENTS.
IT GIVES STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PLAN ON ATTENDING COLLEGE A PATH FOR SUCCESS.
WE CONSTANTLY SEE OUR PEERS THAT PLAN ON PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE OURS IS SEEMINGLY IN THE BEGINNING STEPS OF SHUTTING DOWN.
WE HAVE COME TO YOU TODAY IN HOPES THAT WE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING.
WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE SWEET WATER SCHOOL BOARD, BUT NOT, BUT ARE NOT OPTIMISTIC THAT FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE VENTILATION TO PROPERLY BE FIXED.
WE ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE WATCHED OUR CLASS GO FROM A FULLY FUNCTIONING WORKSHOP TO ONE WHERE THE EQUIPMENT HAS COLLECTED DUST.
WE WE'RE COMING HOPING TO FIND A WAY TO GET FUNDING THROUGH OTHER MEANS, SPREAD AWARENESS FOR OUR PROGRAM, AND HELP THE STUDENTS DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU HAVE TAKEN TO LISTEN TO US AND OUR CONCERNS.
AND, UH, PAUL, DID YOU SAY YOU WERE TEACHING IN THE, YOU WERE TEACHING A CLASS, YOUR CLASS IN THE WELDING SHOP IN THE ONE I TEACH ENGLISH WITHIN THE ACADEMY, SO I HAVE FIRST YEARS IN ENGLISH.
THEY ALL TRAVEL IN THE CORE CONTENT AREAS TOGETHER.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE ACTUALLY IN THE, IN THE ACADEMY BUILDING THAT YOU WERE TEACHING.
I KNOW SPARKS FLY DURING YOUR CLASS, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT YOU'RE NOT WRONG.
UH, JOHN ALVA, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN CLAPPER TO BE FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE.
UH, LARRY EMERSON, HOW YOU DOING, MR. MAYOR? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
HELLO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, UH, WE CAME TO, MY WIFE AND I CAME TO NASHVILLE CITY OVER 40 YEARS AGO.
UM, AFTER 20 YEARS WE LEFT, BUT WE ARE NOW BACK IN NATIONAL CITY.
UH, WE OWN THE PROPERTY THAT IS ADJACENT TO ION'S FOOTBALL FIELD.
UM, THAT WAS OUR, THAT WAS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WAS THAT HOUSE.
UM, THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE HAD WITH THAT HOUSE I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION ORIGINALLY TO CITY ENGINEERING AND BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH.
UH, ULTIMATELY I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE EASEMENT BETWEEN MY HOUSE THAT ABUTS THE SCHOOL, OKAY.
UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY CITY SCHOOL'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLEARING.
AND WHY I WASN'T GIVEN THAT INFORMATION ORIGINALLY.
WE'RE HERE TODAY, UM, MARIA AND I, WE, WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES.
GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THAT AREA OUT.
UM, AND OF WORKING WITH, UH, CITY SCHOOLS TO, TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT.
THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THE, THAT SAME EASEMENT, IF YOU WILL, THAT GOES THROUGH THE FOOTBALL FIELD AREA.
UP, UP AGAINST THE FENCE OF THE, THE TWO SCHOOLS NOW.
[00:15:01]
A CORRIDOR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE AREAS MM-HMMOF PLACES THAT WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE AT.
UM, THE PROBLEM FOR ME IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY TRAVEL FROM THAT ENCAMPMENT ALL UP THROUGH THAT EASEMENT AND ACTUALLY EXIT UP ONTO DIVISION STREET.
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME ATTENTION, UM, ON THAT AREA.
I'VE, I'VE ACTUALLY, IF YOU REMEMBER MR. MAYOR, I WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE, UH, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
THANK YOUR, UM, AND I REMEMBERED THAT THERE WAS A PARKS COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU'RE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE, YOU'RE QUITE A WAYS OVER TIME.
UH, LET US GET YOU LINKED UP WITH CITY STAFF AND LET'S JUST FIND OUT WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY THAT AREA IS, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHETHER IT'S CITY OR WHATEVER, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE.
GIVE INFORMATION THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE, UH, I'VE NOT BEEN GETTING CONTACT BACK.
I, I, WE'VE GOT YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND EVERYTHING HERE.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET 'EM IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
UH, BRIAN CLAPPER, FOLLOWED BY, UH, LARRY EMERSON.
MAYOR MORRISON, CITY COUNCIL, UH, STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
I'M JUST HERE FOR A COUPLE OF REAL NICE POSITIVE THINGS.
I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE EARLIER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A, A SYNOPSIS ON THE, UH, 4TH OF JULY CARNIVAL.
IT WAS, UH, DOWN ABOUT 35%, BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN.
UM, WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT GETTING READY AND, UH, FOR THE, THE UPCOMING ONE.
AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE FIREWORKS ON THE 4TH OF JULY THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY TURNING THINGS AROUND AND WORKING WITH THE CITY AND, AND, UM, MAKE IT A GREAT EVENT LIKE IT ALWAYS IS.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY VERY MUCH FOR ALL THEIR COOPERATION AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO WITH ALLIANCES TO MAKE THAT A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
THE NEXT EVENT IS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE GRANGER HALL, UH, THE EVENT ON SEPTEMBER THE 27TH.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RODRIGUEZ COOKED AND BARBECUED AND DID HIS TIME AND, AND, UH, SUPPORTED IT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO, TO WORK WITH THIS CITY AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE NEED YOUR INPUT.
I WOULD BE GLAD TO MEET WITH YOU ANYTIME AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO AND HOW WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER, DO IT CORRECTLY AND THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU'RE DOING.
LARRY EMERSON, FOLLOWED BY TED GODSHAW TO BE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL KIM.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I ALSO CAME TO SAY A THANKS FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE CITY STAFF DO.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, ON PLAZA BOULEVARD AND EUCLID, WHERE THEY PUT IN THAT NEW BEAUTIFIED AREA.
AND UNFORTUNATELY AFTER THE, THE, THE WEEDS GREW AND THROUGH THE FENCE AND THEY WERE COLLECTING A BUNCH OF TRASH.
WELL, WE PUT IN A REQUEST, PLEASE, COULD YOU GET, CUT THAT DOWN.
SO THE PUBLIC WORKS OR PARK AND RECS.
WHEN YOU SEND IN THAT CONNECT NATIONAL CITY CONNECT, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO SOLVED THEIR PROBLEM.
BUT IF YOU COULD TELL THEM WHERE IT'S A THANK YOU FROM THE, UH, THE CITY MEMBERS WHENEVER THEY DO SOMETHING, IT'D BE NICE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THERE THAT SAID WHO DID IT.
SO WE CAN SAY SPECIFICALLY THANK YOU TO THAT DEPARTMENT.
UM, SEPARATELY, UM, I DO A LOT OF BIKING NOWADAYS AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE BIKE PASS.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME NEW PROJECTS COMING UP WHEN THEY HAVE THE BIKE, THE BAY AS OUR GROUP HELPS KEEP CERTAIN SECTIONS CLEAN AND HELP PEOPLE CROSS ON HARBOR FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE EAST SIDE.
AND I WENT THERE EARLY LAST, THIS LAST AUGUST, AND I CLEANED UP THE ROCKS THAT WERE ON THE PATH AND I WAS CLEANING UP TRASH AND I WAS NOTICING THESE GREEN AND YELLOW BAGS ALL ALONG THE PATH.
AND I SAID, WHERE ARE THESE COMING FROM? AND I WENT BACK THERE TODAY AND I PICKED, OR YESTERDAY, AND I PICKED THOSE UP WITHIN ONE MINUTE, TWO MINUTES FROM THIS COMPANY THAT SELLS MARIJUANA AND THEIR NAME IS BUZZ SOMETHING.
SO ALL OF THESE BAGS CAME FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS.
AND I HAD GONE BACK TO THEM THAT FIRST DAY AND SAID, COULD YOU PLEASE YOUR PARKING LOT'S CLEAN, BUT COULD YOU PLEASE CLEAN UP A LITTLE BIT MORE? THEY DIDN'T LISTEN.
THEY'RE STILL LETTING THEIR CUSTOMERS LITTER ALONG HARBOR DRIVE.
MAYBE THEY CAN DO BETTER IF THEY'RE GONNA SELL MARIJUANA IN, IN OUR TOWN.
UH, TED GODSHAW, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL KIM,
[00:20:01]
FOLLOWED BY MPV COUNSELORS.THE LAST MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL STRIKES AS A NEW LOW IN THIS ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY.
THE USD FUELS ITEM STARTED AT 8:15 PM AND WENT ON UNTIL 12:30 AM.
COMMENTERS INCLUDED HEALTH SPECIALISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPERT IN THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.
DURING FOUR HOURS OF TESTIMONY, IT IS NATURAL TO BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT AN ISSUE LIKE TOXICS.
IT IS NORMAL TO BE FRUSTRATED WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO TRIES TO NEGOTIATE A WAY TO APPROVE THE PROJECT.
AFTER YEARS OF WORK IN THE BACKGROUND, AFTER FOUR HOURS, A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE MAY MOAN AND GROAN OR COMMENT OUT LOUD ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALL SAY.
BUT MAYOR MORRISON AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING, YOU NEED TO CONTROL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND INSIST THAT THEY DO NOT SHOUT DOWN OR SCOLD THE PUBLIC.
BOTH MS. YAMANI AND MR. BUSH SHOUTED DOWN MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO SPOKE FROM THE BACK.
MS. YAMANI ACTUALLY ADDED TO A NATIONAL CITY POLICE OFFICER AND AND WA ON WATCH.
SHE SAID, OFFICER, CAN YOU PLEASE LET THAT PERSON OUT? IT IS NOT HER POSITION TO RUN THE MEETING LIKE THAT.
OR ASK A POLICE OFFICER TO OBJECT A PERSON FROM THE MEETING.
MR. BUSH, LIKEWISE, YOU ARE NOT THE CHAIRMAN AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE TAKING OVER THAT ROLE AND LEAN IN TO SHOUT AT THE PUBLIC TO BE QUIET OR TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE THAT HE OR SHE IS OUT OF LINE.
THIS BEHAVIOR IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I'VE SEEN YOU DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR.
APPARENTLY THE CEMETERY LADIES REALLY GOT YOUR BACKUP.
SOME OF THESE COMMENTS FROM THE DIOCESE CAME AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THIS SOUNDED TO ME LIKE MANA, SOME MALE MANAGER SOUND OR SOME DAD SOUND TALKING DOWN TO THE PUBLIC TREES.
AIR FILTERS PHASING A LACK OF CLARITY AND NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE FACT THAT YOU SAID THEY MET WITH ME A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT YOU COULDN'T GET DEALS MADE IN THE BACK ROOM.
YOU ALSO, MR. BUSH, NEED TO STOP DECIDING WHAT TO PUT IN OUR DISTRICT.
THIS NEW INTENSIFICATION OF TRUCK TRAFFIC IN OUR COMMUNITY GOES ALONG WITH THE WAY YOU BROUGHT IN CANNABIS STORES AND WEED BARS.
AND NOW YOU ALSO WANT TO BRING IN ADVERTISING SIGNS.
TRY BUILDING COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF BUILDING YOUR RESUME.
DANIEL KIM, TO BE FOLLOWED BY MPV TO BE FOLLOWED BY.
UH, GREETINGS, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF.
UM, I'M HERE WITH MICHAELA POLANCO, THE SO-CALLED CEMETERY LADY.
UM, YOU'VE SEEN HER AND HER COLLEAGUES A NUMBER OF TIMES AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OFFERING PUBLIC COMMENT.
MOST OF THESE INTERACTIONS HAVE BEEN CONTENTIOUS, WHICH WHILE UNFORTUNATE IS WHAT OUR, UH, DEMOCRACY ALLOWS, BUT ONLY TO A POINT.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE WAY THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE USED THE POWERS OF THE DAIS.
THE BROWN ACT STATES, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT ONLY TO BRIEFLY RESPOND.
IT THEREFORE FOLLOWS THAT IF COUNCIL MEMBERS GO, CANNOT GO ON FOR THREE OR FOUR OR EVEN FIVE MINUTE LONG RESPONSES ABOUT HOW UNFAIR IT IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTERS TO OFFER CRITICISM.
A COUNCIL MEMBER'S FIVE MINUTE LONG SOLILOQUY IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A BRIEF RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC COMMENT, NOR IS IT FAIR TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTER WHO SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A DAIS OR A PUBLIC PEDESTAL WITH WHICH TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES.
SO IT'S UNFAIR FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO USE THEIR POSITION TO SPEAK AT LENGTH WHILE INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS CANNOT.
WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DONE, NOT ONCE, BUT 11 TIMES THIS YEAR, IS TO USE THEIR POWERS TO IMPOSE THEIR VIEWS ON THE PUBLIC WITHOUT A DEBATE THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
SO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NOTICES THAT MS. POLANCO IS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU.
AND BY, UH, EMAIL TO THE CITY CLERK, YOU'LL SEE EXACTLY WHAT THESE 11 OCCASIONS ARE.
AND IN SOME OF THEM THEY LAST FOR SEVERAL PAGES.
SINGLE SPACED MS. BLANCO AND HER COLLEAGUES WILL NOW EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO, UH, OFFER CRITICISM OF AND TO COMMENT ON THESE 11 OCCASIONS.
MPV BE FOLLOWED BY MCM OR MLMI CAN'T TELL WHICH ONE THAT IS.
AND THEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALICIA MORRISON.
GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
UH, THE RULE OF LAW NO LONGER EXISTS HERE AT NATIONAL CITY AND AS THEY CALLED ME EARLIER, WE ARE THE CEMETERY LADIES.
AND WE ARE HERE, UH, TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A NOTICE OF VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54 9 5 4 2.
[00:25:01]
BECAUSE OF ALL THE VIOLATIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AT THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE ARE PROVIDING YOU THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLES OF HOW YOU ARE SYSTEMATICALLY VIOLATING THE LAW THAT PROHIBITS YOU FROM MAKING LENGTHY COMMENTS.YES, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPOND BRIEFLY, NOT UP TO 10 MINUTES, BUT WE RUN THE CITY LIKE THE OLD WILD WEST.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ENFORCE THE POLICY TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NO LONGER VIOLATE THE LAW, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUE YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL YOU RESPECT THE LAW.
NOW, THE, UM, LEGISLATIVE, LET, HERE'S, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE, IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS AND IT IS CHILDISH.
THIS IS ABOUT AS JUNIOR HIGH AN ACTIVITY AS I HAVE SEEN, AND A LOT OF IT HAS GOTTEN JUST PEOPLE THAT WENT WAY OVER, STEPPED WAY ON BEYOND BOUNDARIES, WHAT THEY SHOULD BE STEPPING AND SOME OF THE PERSONAL THINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN DONE.
AND SO, I DON'T CARE HOW WELL YOU CAN ORGANIZE, YOU CAN ORGANIZE ALL YOU WANT TO.
YOU CAN CALL UP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
BELIEVE ME, I GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE TELLING ME THEY'RE BEING CALLED.
UM, AND YOU JUST GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON WITH YOUR RANTS.
AND SO BECOMING OF A MAYOR, ANY OTHER MAYOR IN ANY OTHER CITY, DOESN'T, UH, BEHAVE THE THE WAY YOU DO.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, MLM TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALICIA MORRISON TO BE FOLLOWED BY, LOOKS LIKE KARINA, OR I'M SORRY, UH, ALICIA MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY DOYLE MORRISON.
MIKA JUST MENTIONED, UH, ONE OF THE VIDEOS, ONE OF THE MANY VIDEOS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HERE, MOSTLY MARCUS AND RON ON FEBRUARY 18TH, ONE OF YOUR MANY RAMBLING SESSIONS.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, UH, WERE TELLING YOU THINGS.
WELL, YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS 33 YEARS, TOO MANY.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU'VE CALLED INDIVIDUALS AN IMAGINARY VENDETTA.
WE ARE RIGHT HERE, REAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HIGHLY INVESTED IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY THAT SEEK THE TRUTH TO YOUR CORRUPTION.
I DIG FOR A LIVING AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DIG DEEPER INTO YOUR WRONGDOINGS AND BRING YOU AND THOSE THAT COLLUDE TO HURT THE CITY, THE RESIDENTS AND HONEST BUSINESSES TO JUSTICE HERE.
I HAD COME BEFORE YOU THIS DIOCESE SOME MONTHS AGO, TELLING THAT YOU, RON, WERE DISCRIMINATORY AND DEROGATORY AND EXPRESSED YOURSELF WHEN A RESIDENT OF NATIONAL CITY ASKED YOU TO BRING HEALTHY EATING PLACES AND NON-POLLUTING DEVELOPMENTS TO NATIONAL CITY.
WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOUR MEXICAN, YOU LIKE GREASY FOODS? AND YOU SAID, OH, I NEVER SAID THAT.
BUT GUESS WHAT? HERE I HAVE MS. MARGARITA, YOU'RE A HYPOCRITE.
NOW THEN NEXT WE GO TO DOYLE MORRISON, OR I'M SORRY, IT WAS ALICIA MORRISON, WHICH ASKED YOU TO BE OUT HERE.
WOULD YOU BE READY TO COME UP NEXT? FOLLOWED BY CARINA.
SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A BROWN ACT VIOLATION.
YEAH, I CAN, I'M GOING OUT FOR 10 MINUTES AT THIS POINT.
WE, BECAUSE I YOU MAKING ALL YOUR ACCUSATIONS.
I HAVEN'T MAKING ANY ACCUSATIONS.
YOU MADE A LOT OF ACCUSATIONS, JOSE, A LOT.
BUT AS I'M LOOKING AT THE CROWD AND HALF THE PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP, EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO AND PART AND PART OF THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS POLITICAL CIRCUS, JOSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN 2026 AND YOU'RE DESPERATE AND YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS OF YOU THE FLOOR.
[00:30:01]
I HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE WITH IT.SOMEHOW ALL THIS IS MY FAULT SOMEHOW.
NEITHER ONE OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
OKAY, LET'S JUST, SO I HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW AND PLEASE.
SO AS WAS STATED AT THAT, AT THAT MEETING WHEN ALL THE, ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMENTS WERE BEING MADE, AND SOMEONE EVEN ASKED, SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, THE MAYOR IS STANDING RIGHT BACK THERE.
WHY DON'T WE ASK HIM? NOPE, NOPE.
WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING WE DON'T WANNA HEAR.
AND THE BIG THING WAS WE WANT TO KEEP NATIONAL CITY OUT OF LINCOLN ACRES.
WE WANT YOU GUYS TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OF IT, WHICH I'M ALL FOR, WHICH I AM ALL FOR.
BUT I COULDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING THAT NIGHT.
FINE, I RESPECTED THAT WAS YOUR MEETING.
AND, UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT SHOULD GO THE OTHER WAY TOO.
IF LINCOLN ACRES WANTS TO KIND OF GET INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN NATIONAL CITY, IT, IT, IT CAN'T BE A ONE DIRECTION ONLY.
AND, UH, SO THERE'S A, UH, AND AS I SAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A VERY ONE-SIDED DIRECTION.
WE WILL RESPECT AS A CITY, WE'LL RESPECT YOU.
I HAVE NO, I'VE NEVER HAD ANY THOUGHTS FOR IT.
ANNEX SECTION OF LINCOLN ACRES, NEVER AND DON'T WANT TO.
SO THAT MEETING WAS JUST A GROUP OF RESIDENTS THAT CAME TOGETHER, CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, DOYLE MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY KARINA, FOLLOWED BY MARIN OR MAUREEN.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU, I JUST HEARD ON THAT RECORDING, WHICH IS ONLINE.
JOSE RODRIGUEZ ASKING YOU GUYS TO JUST LIKE, COME ON, IT'S LATE.
WHY ARE WE DOING THESE RANTS? SO HERE'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THESE RANTS THAT HAPPENED HERE ON THE DIOCESE VIOLATES THE BROWN ACT.
WE DON'T MAKE COMMENTS ON DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT SINCE THIS HAS NOW BECOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME UP AND JUST SAY ANYTHING THEY WANT TO, AND THAT NOBODY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES, IS, I'VE GOTTA SAY SOMETHING.
UM, THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T TURNED IN.
WE HAVE SCOURED EVERYTHING, TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING.
THEY KEEP WANTING US TO PROVIDE RECORDS THAT WE CAN'T FIND THAT EXIST.
AND A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS, IS ON, UH, THE CITY COMPUTERS.
WE CAN'T DELETE IT IF WE WANTED TO.
UH, THAT IS ALL BEING SCOURED, EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THE, UH, THIS AND CELL PHONE STUFF HAS ALL BEEN TURNED IN.
EVERYTHING THAT I'M AWARE OF HAS BEEN TURNED IN.
IT'S JUST YOU GUYS KEEP ASKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
DO WE HELP DEVELOPERS? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HELP 'EM TO GET THROUGH A PROCESS.
WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION UNTIL IT COMES BEFORE US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
I REMEMBER ONE PROS, UH, ONE DEVELOPER THAT WAS WANTING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE WENT WITH THEM AND HELPED THEM ON A COUNTY PROJECT.
MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS A VISTA FOR THEIR CREMATORY.
BUT I GUESS THAT WAS, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS EVIL.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AND THE CHARGES THAT KEEP GETTING MADE AND INFERENCES THAT I'M TAKING MONEY WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER, UH, WITH BUCKETS OR SUITCASES, AND THAT MY, SO THIS IS JUST, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
AND IF YOU GUYS HEARD WHAT RON SAID, HE SAID THEY'RE ASKING FOR THINGS THAT EXIST, BUT THEY CAN'T FIND, I, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY WORK ON, UH, ADDRESSING HAVING PUBLIC, PUBLIC RECORDS, UM, MORE, UH, A MORE SECURE WAY SO THAT YOU CAN GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS, WHEN THEY PUT IN A PRA THANK YOU.
OKAY, CARINA, FOLLOWED BY MARIN, FOLLOWED BY GABRIELA.
THAT ITEM, I ASKED STAFF TO BRING IT UP IN RESPONSE TO ALL THE CHAOS, BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW WHY I BROUGHT IT UP.
AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU, YOU SAW HERE, YOU SAW WHAT IT WAS.
SO WE HAVE FOLKS TRYING TO BULLY US AND TRYING TO HARASS US, EVEN EMPLOYEES.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US ON THE DICE THAT DON'T DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR PROFIT.
AND YOU SEE WHAT THEY DO, THEY TRY TO THREATEN POLITICALLY.
AND, AND WE SEE THAT IT'S A WHOLE CAMPAIGN.
I'M ALWAYS GONNA TELL THE TRUTH TO FOLKS.
UM, AND I'M GONNA FIGHT FOR NATIONAL CITY.
AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING, ATTACKING OUR STAFF, NO, I ABSOLUTELY DON'T ACCEPT IT.
SO, UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, THAT THEY KEEP COMING BACK AND THIS PROJECT IS DEAD AND WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND, AND LISTEN TO IT.
[00:35:27]
WE HAVE TRANSLATION ON THAT.LUISA, ARE YOU ABLE TO TRANSLATE? I DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR TRANSLATION SERVICES ARE, LOUISA.
I DON'T HAVE TRANSLATION RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE TO GO WITHOUT IT FOR THE MOMENT.
I'M TRYING TO GET THE TRANSLATION.
WE, WE WILL AS SOON AS THEY GET THE TRANSLATOR BACK ON ONLINE.
DO WE HAVE MARIN? ABOUT GABRIELA? OKAY, NEXT WE GO TO, UM, ROSATA, I BELIEVE IT IS MARIN ROSE.
UH, JEFFREY SCHROCK, THE MAYOR, MY COUNCIL STAFF AND ASHLEY'S RESIDENCE.
UM, I DUNNO IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT, THE POWER WENT OUT IN THE CITY.
WE SEEN A LITTLE CRIME SPREE OVER BY PLAZA BOULEVARD AND, UH, GROVE, I THINK PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO BREAK INTO STORES AND CARS.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE ONCE THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, IT WAS GONNA BE MAYHEM AND CHAOS.
AND THAT'S A PROBLEM 'CAUSE IT WAS THE GANG MEMBERS THAT WERE DOING IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THE LIGHTS GO OUT, WE'RE VICTIMS TO JUST ENDLESS CRIME.
SO I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, IN TWO MEETINGS FROM NOW, I POLITELY REQUEST THAT WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE DONE ON THE 18TH STREET IN WILSON AVENUE ON AGRO PROJECT, WHICH WOULD GO FROM 18TH AND WILSON TO 18TH.
AND RACHEL, ALL I'M ASKING FOR MAYOR MORRISON IS AN ESTIMATE.
I THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE AN UNDERGROUND UNDER ANY UTILITY POLES AND OVER 10 YEARS.
NOW, THAT LAST ONE WAS THE EIGHTH STREET PROJECT.
SO POLITELY, RESPECTFULLY, WERE OVERDUE.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU AT LEAST GIVE IT A CHANCE.
UM, HOPE NO ONE WILL THINK THIS IS A ME OVERSTEPPING MY BOUNDARIES.
BUT, UH, WE DID HAVE A, UH, PLAN, UH, BLACKOUT OVER PART OF THE CITIES, UH, PART OF THE CITY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT.
BETWEEN 10 AND SIX, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED FOR PORTIONS OF NATIONAL CITY.
THIS IS ALWAYS SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC THIS FRIDAY NIGHT BETWEEN 10 AND SIX.
AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IT ON WEEKENDS.
SO, BUT THAT'S THE LAST ONE THAT THEY HAVE SCHEDULED.
SO JUST LET YOU KNOW ON THAT ONE.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M GONNA GO BACK ON, IS IT ROSATA? R-O-S-A-U-R-A, MARIN, ANYTHING ON THAT ONE? AND THEN WE ALSO HAD GABRIELA.
AND THEN DID WE GET OUR TRANSLATOR BACK ONLINE? NO, NOT BACK ONLINE.
IF WE DO, ANYTIME DURING THE MEETING, WE WILL GO BACK ON TO GET THAT TRANSLATOR FOR
LEMME MAKE, MAKE SURE WE GET THAT ON THE RECORD.
THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE UNDER, UH, PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATION.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ON ZOOM? WE DO.
LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE.
I, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY, I DUNNO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS THING.
IT'S NOT LETTING ME ACCESS THE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LOG OUT OF THE MEETING AND LOG BACK IN.
SO WE'LL SEE IF MAYBE THAT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM.
[00:40:55]
CONFIRM DOING.I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS MEETING.
MAYOR MORRISON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BECKY RAPP AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL FOR ITS OUTSTANDING WORK.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, ENFORCING THE STATE'S TEMPORARY BAN ON ILLEGAL HEMP PRODUCTS WITH THE PASSING OF AB EIGHT, THAT TEMPORARY BAN HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW REQUIRING ALL INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS TO BE REMOVED FROM SHELVES PERMANENTLY IN JUST 12 MONTHS.
THE A BC AGENTS VISITED NEARLY 15,000 LICENSED LOCATIONS AND REMOVED OVER 7,000 ILLEGAL HEMP PRODUCTS AND 99% COMPLIANCE STATEWIDE.
IT SHOWS WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN A STATE AGENCY TAKES SWIFT COORDINATED AND CONSISTENT ACTION.
AS WE RECOGNIZE THIS GREAT PRO PROGRESS, WE MUST ALSO ASK WHO WILL TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SAME ENFORCEMENT AMONG TOBACCO RETAILERS AND SMOKE SHOPS? THESE ARE THE STOREFRONTS WHERE ILLEGAL INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO BE SOLD.
OFTEN RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
SMOKE SHOPS SELL THESE PRODUCTS IGNORING THE TEMPORARY BAN, ALL WHILE THE A BC HAS TAKEN ACTION AND HELD VIOLATORS ACCOUNTABLE.
WITH THE PASSING OF AB EIGHT, THE LAW HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY IMPLEMENTED AND IT'S TIME OUR TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED STRONGER OVERSIGHT, CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND REAL ENFORCEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WE HAVE THE LAWS BECAUSE WE DO.
THE QUESTION IS, WHO WILL ENFORCE THEM AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE HARMING YOUTH AND UNDERMINING PUBLIC HEALTH? I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CALL FOR COORDINATED ENFORCEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO ENSURE THAT ALL RETAILERS, NOT JUST ALCOHOL LICENSEES, ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF COMPLIANCE.
GOOD EVENING, NATIONAL CITY, UH, MAYOR MORRISON.
I CAME TONIGHT TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT RED RIBBON WEEK, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK, AND OBSERVE NATIONALLY FROM OCTOBER 23RD TO THE 31ST.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE MANY TIMES THAT YOUR CITY COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED POLICIES THAT PRESENT TO THE YOUTH OF NATIONAL CITY THAT SMOKE FREE AND VAPE FREE CHOICES WILL ASSIST IN THEIR LONG TERM SUCCESS.
LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN ITEM 12, I'M SORRY, 10.2 RED RIBBON WEEK IS THE LARGEST AND LONGEST RUNNING DRUG PREVENTION CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE THEME FOR RED RIBBON WEEK 2025 IS LIFE IS A PUZZLE, SOLVE IT DRUG FREE.
THIS THEME WAS SELECTED TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY DRUGS FREE SO THEY CAN POSITIVELY PUT TOGETHER THE PIECES OF THEIR LIVES.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE STRUGGLES OF YOUNG ADULT MALES 18 TO 30 AS THEY TRY TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEMSELF IN A COMPLICATED WORLD.
AND I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THE VISIBILITY OF MARIJUANA STOREFRONTS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING BILLBOARDS UNDERMINE AND SABOTAGE AND DIVERT THE LIVES OF THESE PARTICULAR COHORT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
[00:45:01]
WHO MAY WELL DECIDE THAT IT'S ACCEPTABLE AS A FORM OF RELAXATION TO GET HIGH.GOOD MENTAL HEALTH IS PRECIOUS AND OUR CITY SHOULD ONLY INVOLVE THEMSELF IN THOSE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES THAT WILL IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH WOULD NOT INCLUDE MARIJUANA, STOREFRONTS AND THEIR BILLBOARDS.
AS WE CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WHEAT.
UM, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON HERE.
THAT'S ALL FOR THE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
MAYOR, ALL WE HAVE ON THOSE OKAY.
YEAH, THE OTHERS AREN'T ON THERE.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UM, STILL NOT CONNECTED WITH OUR TR OUR TRANS NO, I'M STILL TALKING TO THEM.
WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN.
I'LL, UM, WITH THAT THEN WE GET INTO, UH, FINISH OFF PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT'S NOT THE INTERPRETER, IT'S ONE OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
HI, NAME IS MADISON, AND AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE AND MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, I'M HERE TO SHARE SOME ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS OF MARIJUANA AND THE RAPID EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE CALIFORNIA HAS PERMITTED MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS, THE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET TODAY ARE FAR STRONGER AND MORE DIVERSE THAN THOSE WE SAW A DECADE AGO.
CONCENTRATES AND HIGH POTENCY VAPE OILS NOW CONTAIN THC LEVELS EXCEEDING 80 OR EVEN 90%, MANY TIMES HIGHER THAN THE LEVELS FOUND IN TRADITIONAL CANNABIS FLOUR.
THESE PRODUCTS RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR BOTH YOUTH ACCESS AND LONG-TERM HEALTH.
RECENT STUDIES, INCLUDING FINDINGS PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, SHOW THAT FREQUENT MARIJUANA USE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SMOKED OR VAPED, IS LINKED TO ELEVATED RISKS OF HEART ATTACK, STROKE, AND HEART RHYTHM DISORDERS.
THC CAN INCREASE HEART RATE, RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE, AND CONSTRICT BLOOD VESSELS, CREATING STRESS ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM THAT COMPOUNDS OVER TIME.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING A GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE CONNECTING HEAVY MARIJUANA USE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
DATA FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE INDICATE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN HIGH THC PRODUCTS AND INCREASED RISKS OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND PSYCHOSIS, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE NATIONAL CITY LEAD WITH THOUGHTFUL REGULATION, STRONGER RETAIL OVERSIGHT, POTENCY, LIMITS, AND CLEARER LABELING ON THC.
CONCENTRATION AND HEALTH RISKS COULD HELP PROTECT BOTH CONSUMERS AND YOUTH.
WE CAN ALSO EXPAND PREVENTION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT FOCUS ON THE REAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF TODAY'S HIGH POTENCY PRODUCTS.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONTINUE PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH AND CANNABIS POLICY, BALANCING ADULT USE RIGHTS WITH THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENSURE INFORMED DECISION MAKING.
THAT CONCLUDES THE ZOOM ON THAT ONE.
WE HAVE ONE MORE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, JUST HERE, UH, BECAUSE, UH, ON THURSDAY I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE ARE HAVING A, UH, SALUTE TO NAVY LUNCHEON AT NATIONAL CITY HARLEY DAVIDSON.
SO IF THERE'S ANY, UH, VETERANS OUT HERE IN THE, UH, IN THE PUBLIC, ANYBODY LISTENING, WATCHING, UH, PLEASE
WE, UH, HAVE A KIND OF A LITTLE TURNOUT WITH THIS CHANGE, LAST MINUTE CHANGE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE THE ACTIVE DUTY SAILORS, AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET VETERANS.
SO, UH, I BELIEVE WE DO NEED 150 SEATS AND WE HAVE NOT REACHED 50.
SO, UH, WE REALLY, REALLY NEED THE HELP OF EVERYBODY.
UM, YOU GUYS DID SEE, UM, KAREN MAKE MAINTENANCE AND I HOPEFULLY, AND KUSI, WE'VE BEEN, UH, PUSHING OUT EVERY, EVERYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA GOING TO VISIT, UH, VFW POST AND AMERICAN LEGION POST.
SO JUST, UH, JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY HERE IF THEY CAN, UH, ATTEND, LET US KNOW AND HOPEFULLY WE SEE YOU ALL THERE.
QUICK QUESTION, WHERE DO WE RSVP AT OR WHERE DO WE SEND THE RSVPS TO? UH, SO YOU CAN EITHER EMAIL, UH, CHAIR@NATIONALCITYCHAMBER.ORG
[00:50:01]
OR, UH, YOU CAN ALSO, UH, SEND ME A QUICK TEXT AND WE HAVE FLYERS OUT THERE.THAT DOES NOW CONCLUDE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
PUBLIC, NOT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, MAYOR, I MAYOR, I DO HAVE ONE OF THE INTERPRETERS, I'M SORRY.
WE ARE HAVING, WE'RE HAVING SOME GLITCHES WITH OUR ELECTRONICS TONIGHT.
AND I SEE THE INTERPRETER HAS THEIR HAND RAISED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, YES.
AND I HAVE THE, UM, INTERPRETATION FOR KARINA, THE PERSON WHO SPOKE IN SPANISH.
THE COMMENTS, THEY'RE TALKING AGAINST US, THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS A VERY UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR FROM, UM, THE LEADERS IN NATIONAL CITY.
GET SURE WE GOT THAT ON THE RECORD.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE THAT, IS THAT IT THEN? THAT'S IT.
[6.1 Proclamation - Filipino American History Month ]
INTO, UH, PROCLAMATION AND WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION.THIS MONTH IS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.
AND, UH, IT'S, OUR CITY IS, IS REALLY BLESSED AND THAT WE DO HAVE AN EXTREMELY LARGE FILIPINO AMERICAN POPULATION.
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR POPULATION AND AND NATIONAL CITY IS FILIPINO AMERICAN.
WELL, NOW THAT'S THE CENSUS POPULATION.
I THINK OUR DAYTIME POPULATION IS CLOSER TO 50% BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE FILIPINOS FROM ALL OVER SAN DIEGO COUNTY COME HERE EITHER TO SHOP OR TO WORK.
AND SO IT, I THINK THE PERCENTAGE, UH, DEFINITELY GOES UP DURING THE DAYTIME.
AND, UH, BUT WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, MANY FIRST AND SECONDS HERE.
UH, SEAFOOD CITY, WHICH WE ALL KIND OF TAKE FOR GRANTED.
SEAFOOD CITY IS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND THEN CANADA OR ELSE THE VERY FIRST SEAFOOD CITY WAS RIGHT HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
UH, THE, UH, ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UH, THINGS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK WITH PRIDE UPON, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED WAS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CORPORATE BUSINESSES AND THE NUMBER ONE CORPORATE BUSINESS IN EVERY, IN EVERY, UH, COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD THAT HAS FRANCHISES, THE NUMBER ONE CORPORATE BUSINESS IN BASICALLY EVERY COUNTRY IS MCDONALD'S.
RIGHT? IT'S THAT WAY IN EVERY COUNTRY EXCEPT ONE.
AND YOU GOT MCDONALD'S ON ALMOST EVERY CORNER, BUT FOR EVERY, ON THE OTHER FOUR, THREE OTHER CORNERS, YOU GOT A JOLLY BEE.
AND THERE JOLLY BEE IS LIKE THE NUMBER ONE, UH, FRANCHISE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
WE ONLY HAD ONE JOLLY BEE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND, UH, UH, I CALLED UP JOLLY D AND I AND THEY'RE CORPORATE PEOPLE.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOMETHING IN NATIONAL CITY? AND, UH, THEY CAME AND THEY LOOKED AND THEY WANTED TO BE ON PLAZA BOULEVARD.
AND THEY WERE GONNA GO DOWN ONTO SWEETWATER ROAD.
IT WAS A BANK BUILDING, AND THEY WERE GONNA CONVERT THE BANK BUILDING.
AND THEN WE FOUND OUT ONE MORNING THAT RALLY BURGER WAS GOING THROUGH, UH, THEY WERE GOING THROUGH, UH, OH, UH, UM, NOT FORECLOSURE, BUT THROUGH, UH, BANKRUPTCY.
AND THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE THAT, UH, THE ONE THERE ON, ON PLAZA.
I CALLED UP JOLLY B JOLLY BEE FLEW IN, THEY HAD THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FLY IN.
AND BY THAT AFTERNOON, THEY'D ALREADY SIGNED, UH, THE PAPERWORK FOR THAT, FOR THAT SPOT THERE.
AND THEY BECAME, WE BECAME THE SECOND JOLLY BEE IN UNITED STATES, AND THEY OPENED THERE.
AND FOR TWO MONTHS WE HAD TO HAVE TRAFFIC, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE ON TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR TWO MONTHS IN FRONT OF JOLLY BE 'CAUSE THERE WAS THAT MUCH TRAFFIC.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, IN THE AREA OF, OF FOOD AND IN COMMERCE.
BUT SO MUCH OF THE CULTURE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN NATIONAL CITY RIDES AROUND THE FILIPINO, UH, UH, PEOPLE, THE FILIPINO CULTURE.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR SISTER CITY IN THE LONGO.
AND, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A VIBRANT RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH THEM ALSO.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A SITUATION TO WHERE IT, IT'S, IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE A BAND, UH, IN ORCHESTRA.
[00:55:01]
CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS OUT AND YOU'LL NEVER, THE IN THE ORATE IS ORCHESTRA IS NEVER GONNA SOUND THE SAME.YOU GOTTA HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS IN THE SAME WAY.
OUR COMMUNITY, THE SOUND THAT WE PUT OUT, THE, THE CULTURE THAT WE PUT OUT IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN NATIONAL CITY.
SO IT'S EXCITING FOR US OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH, UH, IN PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF ALL THE TIES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY IS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE, DO WE HAVE, UH, FROM OCBC? I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME PEOPLE GONNA BE SHOWING UP HERE TONIGHT.
I'M NOT SEEING ONE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THOUGH, AND SO A LONG NIGHT OR WHATEVER.
BUT I THINK THAT IN HONOR THAT I THINK MAYBE WE CAN, IN THEIR ABSENCE, I THINK WE CAN PRESENT THIS ON TO OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN HERE ON, ON OUR, UH, DAAS, UH, TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ADIDA SHAIMA.
I AM A HONOR I MEMBER OF O-C-B-O-C-B-C LIKE YOU ARE.
BUT, UM, IT'S NOT JUST OCBC, BUT ALL THE FILIPINO AMERICANS IN OUR CITY, AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FILIPINO AMERICANS.
WE HONOR YOU ALL FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU GIVE TO OUR CITY SALA BOOK.
[7. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
WITH THAT WE GO ON TO REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS AND, UH, I'LL START OVER HERE.OR, UH, WHAT WE WE, WELL, I'LL, SINCE YOU WERE NORMALLY SITTING OUT THERE, I'LL START WITH YOU.
UH, LAST WEEK WE HAD A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING AT MTS AND WE ARE DISCUSSING, UH, A WAY TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM IS SAFER.
WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, UH, MAYBE BEING PROACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING ON, UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE FAIR EVASIONS AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE THE TICKETS THERE.
UM, INSTEAD OF PROVIDING THEM A TICKET THAT IS, UM, WAS PROPOSED TO BE $74, WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS VERY EXCESSIVE.
SO IT'LL BE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AT THE NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING IN DECEMBER.
ALRIGHT, MR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, OUR, UH, REGIONAL MEETINGS WILL BE NEXT WEEK AND TOMORROW, SO NO, UM, REPORT FOR THIS TIME, MAYOR.
UM, WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE A NATIONAL CITY PRESENCE AT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING THIS COMING FRIDAY.
UM, MYSELF AS THE PRIMARY, UH, MEMBER AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATES, WHICH ARE OUR MAYOR AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBER DI WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR A SPECIAL MEETING ACTUALLY FOR INTERVIEWS FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, UH, CANDIDATES.
AND SO WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, BUT I WILL WATCH THE RECORDING AND I WILL REPORT BACK.
WE HAD A MTS, UH, BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK.
UH, THE TWO MAJOR ITEMS, IT WAS A WORKSHOP ON OUR, UH, TRANSIT, UH, OPERATIONS PLAN.
SO WE DID A, A INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP, UH, ABOUT, UH, UH, THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE COULD TAKE MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.
THE, UH, ASSIGNING OF NEW ROUTES, UH, SERVICE CUTS, UH, FAIR INCREASES FOR YOUTH OPPORTUNITY PASS.
SO I'D ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LOOK BACK ON THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION AND THERE WILL BE FUTURE, UH, WORKSHOPS THAT THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO.
AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM WAS, UH, THE, LET'S SEE, THE 12TH AND IMPERIAL, UH, UH, AVENUE TERMINAL, THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
WE, UH, APPROVED 161, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS ON THAT PROPERTY.
UM, SO THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
THE DEVELOPER THERE IS THE CO-DEVELOPER IS, UH, THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION.
AND MOST OF OUR COMMENTS WERE DISAPPOINTMENT IN THAT, UH, THAT BEING DOWNTOWN, THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH DENSITY ON THE SITE.
SO THERE'S A UT ARTICLE, YOU ALL CAN LOOK, UH, AT IT, BUT GIVEN THAT, UH, DOWNTOWN IS, IS SUCH A, UH, REGIONAL HUB AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRANSIT STATION, WE WERE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT IT'S ONLY, UH, FIVE STORIES WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH RISE THERE.
BUT THE, THE CHALLENGE THERE WAS THE, UH, MARKET CONDITIONS AND, UH, JUST THE LACK OF, OF FINANCING.
SO THOSE WERE THE MAIN TWO ITEMS. OKAY.
UM, JUST A QUICK REPORT FROM, UH, REGIONAL SALT WASTE ASSOCIATION.
UH, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE, WE ROTATE AMONG THE, THE DIFFERENT CITIES, UM, SINCE WE KIND OF VOLUNTEER TO KEEP COSTS DOWN.
AND SO DIFFERENT CITIES DO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, TAKE CARE OF THE, THE FINANCES, TAKE CARE OF THE AUDITING, EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, THE CITY OF NASHVILLE CITY HAS DONE IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND SO WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO TRANSITION THAT OVER TO THE CITY IN SUNITA.
IT'S THEIR TURN, SO WE'RE PASSING THE BUCK ONTO THEM.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND TO GET THAT, GET THAT DONE.
[01:00:01]
UM, WITH THAT, UH, NOTHING ELSE TO REPORT.[8. CONSENT CALENDAR]
WE WILL GO ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS EIGHT ONE THROUGH EIGHT 12.I HAVE REQUESTS TO PULL 8 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, AND 12.
ANYTHING ELSE ON ANYBODY'S HEART? IF NOT, COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REMAINDER OF THE, UH, MOVE TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE AGENDA? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, SO UNLESS I DON'T SEE ANY DISCUSSION, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, EXCEPT FOR 8.6 I ON EVERYTHING.
UH, SO SHALL WE, I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION? YES, PLEASE.
YOU CAN CONFIRM IF WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON SEPARATELY, WE, WE NEED PULL THAT.
I COULD YOU JUST REGISTER HER OBJECTION TO 8.6 AS OPPOSED TO PULLING IT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL SHE WANTS TO DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER NO VOTE ON 8.6.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RODRIGUEZ.
[8.3 Authorize the Purchase of Two (2) Chevrolet Tahoe Vehicles for the National City Police Department ]
TO 8.3.THIS IS MR. THOMAS REICH, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE UP HERE FOR A BUNCH OF STUFF.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU'RE, FOR EVERY ONE OF THE ONES THAT ARE PULLED, UHHUH, I JUST WANT TO BRING OUT, I JUST THINK YOU SHOULD VOTE ON IT BECAUSE IT'S FOR TWO POLICE CARS, TWO POLICE INTERCEPTORS.
NOW YOU BOUGHT THE OTHER, THESE ARE FROM CHEVROLET FROM SACRAMENTO.
NOW WHY ARE YOU BUYING CHEVROLETS? WHY YOU, WHY YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT WITH THE, WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S POLICE CARS.
AND, UH, WELL, NORMALLY BECAUSE THEY, THIS IS CALLED PIGGYBACKING, SO THERE'S ALREADY A CONTRACT OUT FOR THE EXACT VEHICLE WE'RE LOOKING THAT WE'RE USING.
AND SO, SO YOU PIGGYBACK ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S CONTRACT AND YOU GET A LARGER NUMBER OF VEHICLES, YOU GET A BETTER PRICE.
BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING 'EM FROM SACRAMENTO.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BE DELIVERED HERE.
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BUY FORDS OR BUY CHEVROLETS? THAT'S THE THING.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[8.5 Increases to Salaries and Benefits for Executive, Management, and Confidential Groups. ]
UH, NOW WE GO TO, UH, THIS IS 8.5, INCREASE IN SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AND CONFIDENTIAL GROUPS.MR. REICH, UH, I THINK, I THINK YOU SHOULD VOTE ON THIS.
THIS IS A 5% INCREASE AND IT'S, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ALLOCATE A, AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED, 1 MILLION, $204,000.
NOW, I'VE GONE DOWN THE, TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE INCREASE IS GOING TO, WHAT THESE SALARIES WILL BE FOR 2026, THE CITY ENGINEER WILL GET 135 TO 209,000.
THE CITY ATTORNEY GETS 218,000.
THE CITY CLERKS GETS 142,000 TO 190,000.
THE CITY LIBRARIAN GETS A HUNDRED, 173,000 TO 231,000.
THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, THE DIRECTORS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING GETS A HUNDRED NINETY NINE, A HUNDRED EIGHTY 9,000 TO 253.
THE FIRE CHIEF GETS 196,000 TO 262,000.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES GETS 184,000 TO 245,000.
THE POLICE CHIEF GETS 236,000 TO TWO 95,000.
THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER GETS 196,000 TO 262,000.
SEE, THE POINT I'M MAKING IS THAT INCREASE COMES TO ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR FOR, FOR NO, THAT'S $10,000 A YEAR FOR THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S,
[01:05:01]
THAT'S 5% AND 5% OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IS FIVE AND 200,000 IS $10,000.AND THIS IS THE INCREASE IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENTS AND CONFIDENTIAL GROUPS.
UH, REMEMBER ANI, LOOKS LIKE YOU.
UH, MOVE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THE CONFIDENTIAL, UH, AND TABLE EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT.
AND TABLE FOR WHAT PURPOSE? FOR, FOR MORE INFORMATION THAT CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY WILL, UH, COME BEFORE US.
WITH THE HELP OF FINANCE AND HR.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS.
AND SO FOR CLARITY, WE'RE ACCEPTING, UH, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
WE'RE JUST HOLDING OVER TO THE NEXT, UH, BUT WE'RE HOLDING OFF ON BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION COMING FROM, COMING FROM STAFF.
AND LET ME JUST STATE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS, IS TRYING TO BRING OUR EMPLOYEES JUST TO THE MIDDLE OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE AND THEY'RE BEING PAID THE SAME AS THE EXACT SAME PERSON IN THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME JOB.
UH, AND IN SOME CASES IT'S, IT'S A, A SIZABLE BUMP.
OTHERS, ONES, IT'S NO BUMP AT ALL.
AND 'CAUSE SOME OF 'EM, THEY ARE AT THAT POINT.
BUT, BUT AS SAY SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY, UM, LET ME SAY, I'M GONNA BE VOTING FOR THIS, BUT JUST AS I STATED, WHEN WE DID THE, UH, FIREFIGHTERS, UH, I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE EMPLOYEES DESERVE IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
AND AT SOME POINT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A RECKONING BETWEEN WHAT ARE THE INCOME LEVELS THAT WE HAVE COMING IN AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE GOING OUT.
AND SO, UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE EMPLOYEES THAT SHOULD, SHOULD SUFFER AND BE ASKED TO TAKE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE EXACT SAME POSITION AT ANY OTHER CITY WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS, IS DOING.
SO, UM, SO FOR THAT REASON, I WILL BE VOTING FOR IT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, AS I SAID, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THIS VERY LONG WITHOUT MAKING SOME, SOME LARGE ADJUSTMENTS.
WITH THAT, NO MORE DISCUSSION.
[8.7 Regional Cooperative Care Partnership Dissolution]
NEXT WE GO TO, UH, EIGHT SEVEN REGIONAL COOPERATIVE CARE PARTNERSHIP DISSOLUTION.YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST STAY FOR THE PODIUM.
COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN IT? I MEAN OKAY.
COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN IT IN THAT YOU, IT'S, IS THIS THE ONE WHERE YOU'RE, UH, IS THIS THE ONE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO CANCEL IT? NO.
WHO I BELIEVE BELIEVE THAT IS GONNA BE OUR FIRE CHIEF THAT IS GONNA NO, NO, NOT THE FIRE CHIEF.
THERE'S ONE OF THESE, WELL, I THINK I GOT THE WRONG ONE.
WELL, WE'RE JUST GOT A QUICK EXPLANATION OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THIS MEANS.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND CITY STAFF.
THIS IS, UH, AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS CRAFTED IN 2012 BETWEEN SEVEN AGENCIES, AND THE PURPOSE WAS FOR US TO MANAGE, UH, PRE-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE.
OVER THE YEARS, UH, OUT OF THE SEVEN ENTITIES THEY'VE DROPPED OFF TO CURRENTLY THE, THE LAST THREE REMAINING.
THE CITY OF LA MESA, AND SAN MIGUEL WERE TWO OF THE THREE, UH, INCLUDING NATIONAL CITY.
THEY OPTED TO, UH, TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT TO PURSUE THEIR OWN, UH, PREHOSPITAL EMS DELIVERY.
AND AS SUCH, WE NEGOTIATED, UH, A TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
AND, UH, WITH, UH, OUR ATTORNEY'S ASSISTANCE, WE DID QUITE WELL IN THAT DISSOLUTION.
AND, UH, WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR A SEPARATE METHOD BY WHICH WE PROVIDE THE PRE-HOSPITAL CARE AND TRANSPORT OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR VISITORS, AND OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
[8.9 Vehicle Purchase for the Fire Department]
WE GO TO ITEM 8.9.VEHICLE PURCHASE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[01:10:01]
MR. REICH, PLEASE JUST COUNSEL, PLEASE JUST VOTE ON IT.I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR.
AND, UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO, FOR A, FOR A FORD TWO 50 HATCHBACK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THIS IS NOT, THIS COMES OUT OF THE LOWER SWEETWATER, UH, UH, FUND.
IT'S BASICALLY THE LINCOLN ACRES AREA THAT IS, THAT IS PAYING FOR THIS, UH, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE SERVICING THAT AREA.
AND, UH, BUT SINCE WE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES THAT AREA, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH OUR BOOKS.
SO IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, IT'S JUST BEING, IT'S, IT'S PASS THROUGH GOING THROUGH OUR BOOKS.
WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND, DID WE NOT? OKAY.
COULD WE HAVE ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, YAMANI AYE.
[Items 8.10 - 8.12]
WE HAVE OUR, UH, WARRANT REGISTRY, UH, ITEMS 10, 11, AND 12.MR. REICH, I'M GONNA LET YOU ADDRESS ALL THREE OF'EM AT ONCE.
HOW'S THAT OFF IF I GET TOO LONG? NO, I, WE, WE'LL GIVE YOU, WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THERE, OKAY? SINCE YOU'RE GONNA GROUP 'EM UP.
SEVEN WRIGHT CONSTRUCTION, PARADISE CREEK.
QUALITY 134,000 HRS CHARTER MEMBER AGENCY.
THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S INTERNET.
BURKE WILLIAMS LI LEGAL SERVICE, 64,000.
DICK MILLER AND COURT AND DICK MILLER AND INCORPORATED EAST SIDE OF 8 0 5.
105,000 FD WORK AND MUD CALF LEGAL SERVICES.
UH, HAMMOND REC HAMMOND RECORDS EVENS $9,000.
THE CITY MANAGER, LIEBERT CASSIDY.
LEGAL SERVICES FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.
33,000 EXUS WORTH WORKS PAYROLL STAFFING, 55,000 ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, C-S-A-C-S-A COUNTY FAIR HOUSING TENANT LANDLORD SERVICES.
9,400 KAISER MARSTON ASSOCIATIONS CONSULTING SERVICES FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
$12,000 S-B-C-A-T-B-R AGREEMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 50 3000.
HR HENDERSON COMPENSATION SURVEY.
IMPERIAL COUNTY CENIC LIBRARY.
OR POLICE, POLICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, ADVANCED EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, $15,000 A GRS FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 26 20 8,000.
ADULT VICTIM SU SUSPECT SEXUAL ASSAULT, $2,700.
UH, RAY ALLEN MAN MANUFACTURER CANINE UNIT EQUIPMENT REQUEST TIER $1,100.
ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORKS CHEN RYAN ASSOCIATES, $16,000 HR, UH, HUMAN RELATIONS, UH, ADMIN ADMINISTER VC CLAIMS ADMISSION, $8,862.
ANGEL, US WARRANT PROOFING 57,057,000 N NC LIBRARY TRAFFIC CODING NATIONAL AUTO FLEET, 57,000 SUPER DUTY.
OH, OH, THAT'S, THAT'S A FAR WEST COAST ARBOR
[01:15:01]
RAIL IS 112,000.95,000 STC TRAFFIC INCORPORATES SUPPORT DORM DRINK.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA PUT THE THREE OF TOGETHER ITEMS. 8, 10, 11, AND 12.
THESE ARE ALL OUR WARRANT REGISTRIES.
MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEMS 8, 10, 11, AND 12.
AND, UH, CAN WE PLEASE HAVE, UH, ROLL CALL? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ HAS STEPPED AWAY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA? YES.
[9.1 Public Hearing: Second Reading and Adoption of a General Plan Amendment and Zone Change from (RS-2) to (MXC-1) for Properties Located at 3040, 3042-3046, 3102-3104, & 3106-3108 E. 16th St. and 1540 S. Harbison Ave.]
INTO OUR CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS.WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT ZONE.
CHANGE FROM RS TWO TO RXC ONE, WHERE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 30 40, UH, 30 42 THROUGH 46, 31 0 2 THROUGH 31 0 4, 31 0 6 THROUGH 31 0 8 EAST 16TH AND 1540 SOUTH HARON AVENUE STAFF.
ANYTHING ON THIS? GOOD EVENING.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL STAFF, PUBLIC MARTIN READER ACTING, UH, DEVELOPMENT, ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT.
I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT MY TITLE IS ANYMORE.
COMMUNITY ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
LONG STORY SHORT, THAT'S JUST A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE.
IT WOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS IF YOU CHOOSE TO ADOPT THIS EVENING.
UM, WITH THAT, WE WILL, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I DO NOT, I DO HAVE ONE, UH, HERE.
UM, WHERE'S SIR AT? IS SHE, THERE'S, OH, SHE'S HIDING BACK THERE.
YOU HAVE SEEN ME HERE MANY, MANY TIMES ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, SO I'LL MAKE THIS BRIEF AND SHORT.
UH, YOU'RE GONNA BE VOTING HERE ON THE REZONE AND THE ADOPTION OF THIS REZONE TODAY.
LET ME EMPHASIZE, YOU'RE VOTING ON THE REZONE, NOT JUST THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
WE'RE GONNA BRING FOUR OTHER PROPERTIES INTO COMPLIANCE THAT WERE OVERLOOKED IN THE 2011 CITYWIDE REZONING.
UH, IT'S GONNA REALLY BENEFIT THOSE NEIGHBORS WHO INTENDED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING ALSO IN THIS AREA, BUT WHO ARE STOPPED BECAUSE THEY WERE ZONED INTO RS TWO.
IT'S GONNA BRING THE PRESCHOOL INTO THEIR CURRENT COMPLIANCE.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR A PRESCHOOL AND A LIQUOR STORE AND TWO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING BUILDINGS TO STAY RS TWO ON TOP OF THAT, OUR DEVELOPMENT IS A VERY SMALL FIVE UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS VERY MUCH.
UH, WE'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, SOME RESIDENT BEHAVIORS, ME AND MY FAMILY.
WERE HERE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE WILL BE LIVING ON THE PROPERTY OURSELVES, AND WE WILL BE SURE TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENT SELECTION IS OUR TOP PRIORITY AND WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING PARKING.
WE EVEN APPLIED FOR 8.6, WHICH IS OUR VARIANCE TO ALLOW A DRIVEWAY, UH, THAT WILL ALLOW ALL OF THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE ONE PARKING SPOT HERE, UM, ON OUR PROPERTY.
ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY DIWALI TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF, EVERYONE.
UM, AND THERE IS A DELICIOUS TRE LECHE CAKE OUTSIDE.
SO PLEASE, UH, HELP YOURSELVES AND ENJOY EVERYONE.
COULD, COULD WE ADJOURN THE MEETING? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON ZOOM FOR THIS ITEM? NO, WE DO NOT.
IN THAT DEAL, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST, UH, THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SECOND.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
I'M JUST REQUESTING WE, OH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS MO I MAKE THE MO MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS JUST TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
MOTION PASSES THAT CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW WHAT, WHAT IS THE COUNCIL'S PLEASURE MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE? SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION.
WELL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT WHEN WE VOTE, THEN ALSO, AND SEE NO OTHER DISCUSSION.
COULD WE HAVE THE, UH, ROLL CALL PLEASE? THANK YOU.
THAT IS THE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT IN WHAT, 30 DAYS.
[10.1 Public Hearing and Introduction of Multiple Ordinances Amending the National City Municipal Code Chapters 15.08, 15.14, 15.20, 15.24, 15.75, 15.78 and 15.79 related to California Codes for Electrical, Energy, Building, Plumbing, and Mechanical.]
UH, NEXT WE GO INTO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.[01:20:01]
IS, UH, UH, 10.1.AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME, A REQUEST ON THIS.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS TO BE MAYOR.
YEAH, WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS ONE TO BE CONTINUED.
UH, THE REASON BEING IS WE, WE WERE, UH, A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE GAME.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THIS THROUGH BY THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, NOT REALIZING THE BURDEN WE WERE PUTTING ON THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BY INCLUDING EIGHT SEPARATE ORDINANCES.
WE STILL DO HAVE TIME TO GO, UH, TO GET THIS IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IN THE NEW, IN THE NEW CALENDAR YEAR, WE'LL HAVE OUR NEW CODES APPLICABLE.
SO IF WE COULD, UH, RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A CONTINUOUS TO THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL HAVE THAT ALL SQUARED AWAY.
AND, AND IN FRONT OF YOU FOR, UH, HOPEFULLY INTRODUCTION.
THAT IS TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SO, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY TO THE SPECIFIC DATE OF NOVEMBER 3RD, PLEASE.
HUH? TO THE SPECIFIC DATE OF NOVEMBER 4TH.
YOU WANT, YOU WANT IT TO THE, TO THE NEXT MEETING? FOURTH.
I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION ALREADY.
UH, SO THIS WOULD BE, UH, HELD OVER TO THE NEXT MEETING OF, UM, NOVEMBER THE FOURTH.
AND COULD WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT ONE WOULD BE HELD.
[10.2 Public Hearing – Rescission of Ordinance 2025-2547 and Re-Introduction of an Amendment of NCMC 9.38 Establishing a Tobacco Retail License Program]
WE GO ON TO A, UH, 10.2.THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, RESCISSION OF AN ORDINANCE 20 20 25, 25, 47 AND REINTRODUCTION OF AMENDMENT.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO THIS AGENDA ITEM IS, UH, BEEN PLACED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS A RESULT OF A CURE AND CORRECT, UH, LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNCIL FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION.
UM, THEIR ALLEGATION WAS THAT AT OUR, UM, LAST ADOPTION MEETING, THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY NOTICED.
ACCORDING TO THE BROWN ACT, UM, IT WAS A TECHNICAL DEFECT.
IT INDICATED THAT THE COUNSEL WAS ACTUALLY INTRODUCING AN ORDINANCE INSTEAD OF ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE.
HOWEVER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATE DID RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE TO BE CONSIDERED.
THEY SHOWED UP IN FORCE, THEY MADE THEIR CONCERNS KNOWN TO THE COUNCIL.
ESSENTIALLY, THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND TO MAKE THEIR OBJECTIONS KNOWN.
IN FACT, THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY CONSIDERED THEIR OBJECTIONS AND MADE A MOTION, UM, TO SUPPORT THOSE OBJECTIONS.
SO, IN ESSENCE, OUR REVIEW OF IT IS THAT YES, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL NOTICE DEFECT, BUT THAT THERE IS NO PREJUDICE CAUSED BY THAT DEFECT AND THAT A DIFFERENT RESULT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY LITIGATION, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND ASK THE COUNCIL TO RESCIND THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED AND TO REINTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE, UM, FOR INTRODUCTION.
UH, BUT CITY ATTORNEY PROCEDURALLY, DO WE NEED TO RESEND THE, OR DO THOSE NEED TO BE SEPARATE? SO WE NEED TO RESEND RIGHT NOW.
UH, RESEND FIRST AND THEN HAVE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAKE A MOTION TO RESEND THE ORDINANCE.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THIS IS ONLY TO RESEND SO THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? SAY ANYTHING? UH, WITH THAT, COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
OKAY, SO NEXT WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE.
UH, SO ANY, THERE ARE NO CHANGES AT THIS STAGE? I WAS THERE.
THIS IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS INTRODUCED.
THAT WAS INTRODUCED BEFORE, CORRECT? SORRY.
WITH THAT I HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
BOY, DO I EVER HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS OKAY.
CAN WE READ THE, UH, THE, UH, THE ITEM PLEASE?
[01:25:02]
THE ITEM IS A REINTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE IX OF THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 9.38, UH, PERTAINING TO TOBACCO RETAILING LICENSE AND RESTRICTING THE SALE, DISPLAY AND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH.THAT IS, THAT IS THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE US.
AND SO WE HAVE, SO IT'S THE SET, THIS IS THE, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE OLD, UH, PUBLIC.
WHAT, WELL, WHAT, WHAT WE RESCINDED THIS EXACT SAME ORDINANCE, BUT NOW WE'RE INTRODUCING THAT SAME ORDINANCE.
AND SO, MR. GOOD, RIGHT? HUH? YES, MA'AM.
UM, UH, I, I WANNA BE CLEAR
SO WE'RE GOING TO REPEAT THE PROCESS, RIGHT? YEP.
SO THIS IS, WE'RE SAYING IT'S A REINTRODUCTION 'CAUSE IN ESSENCE WE HAVE INTRODUCED IT IN THE PAST, BUT THIS IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST READING.
AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING IS THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN OUR AGENDA PACKET, WHICH IS THE EXACT LANGUAGE THAT HAD PASSED THE PREVIOUS TIME.
BUT NOW, AS OF, UH, TWO MINUTES AGO HAS BEEN RESCINDED.
AND I WOULD LIKE SOME CLARITY, I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND RECEIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, BUT I AM INTERESTED, I KNOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US.
BUT GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, I AM INTERESTED IN PROPOSING CHANGES.
SO WHEN WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US? WE WOULD NEED TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST.
BEFORE THEN WE HAVE THE COUNCIL WILL, AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE COUNCIL WILL DELIBERATE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
SO, WITH THAT, SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE CALLING THREE AT A TIME.
PLEASE COME INTO THE MIDDLE AND BE READY TO COME UP.
SO THIS WILL GO A LOT FASTER 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.
I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYONE WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE SPEAKING ON THIS ONE.
UH, STARTING OFF WITH, UH, ROBIN, ER, UH, THEN WEAM ROBIN.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ROBIN, ER WITH SAN DIEGO LAND LAWYERS OFFICES AT 1620 FIFTH AVENUE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT, UH, REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION.
MANY OF THE BUSINESS OWNER MEMBERS ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT AND WILL WILL SPEAK, UH, TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
I WANNA THANK CITY ATTORNEY SCHULTZ FOR RECOGNIZING THE CURE AND CORRECT LETTER AND BRINGING THIS BACK, UH, AS QUICKLY AS AS YOU DID.
UM, SUBSTANTIVELY, WE ARE PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU AS OUTLINED IN THE HANDOUT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU THIS EVENING.
THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IS TO ELIMINATE THE DISTANCE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS SO THAT NEW OWNERS WHO BUY AN EXISTING RETAIL TOBACCO LOCATION OR BUSINESS IN AN ARM'S LENGTH TRANSACTION MAY APPLY FOR A NEW TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW AND LOCAL REGULATIONS, WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY TRANSFERABILITY OF AN EXISTING LICENSE.
NEW OWNERS WILL HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR A NEW TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT ANY REGARD TO THE PREVIOUS LICENSE.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT THIS DOES FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THIS ORDINANCE IS TO ALLOW THEM TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS LOCATION WITH THE ABILITY FOR A NEW OWNER TO OBTAIN A NEW LICENSE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE DISTANCE FROM ANY PARTICULAR
[01:30:01]
USE.THIS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF THEIR BUSINESS, WHICH THEY HAVE COUNTED ON AS PART OF THEIR RETIREMENT PLAN GOALS.
UH, LESSON AND TO BE FOLLOWED BY OU AND THEN AFTER THAT, I THINK THAT'S ROMY, IT STARTS, AND THEN THE LAST NAME STARTS WITH A Z, BUT I'M NOT.
UH, MY NAME IS BAN AND I BUILD MY BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH AND I SPEND DAY AND NIGHT WORKING AT THE FACILITY AT MY LIQUOR STORE.
AND, AND I WANT, WHEN I WANT TO RETIRE, I WANNA FULLY BENEFIT FROM MY BUSINESS, THE ONE I BUILT FROM SCRATCH.
WHEN I PASS IT OVER TO SOMEBODY, I WANT TO BENEFIT ALSO FROM WHAT I BUILT.
SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S FAIR FOR US TO PASS IT TO THE NEW OWNERS, WHATEVER, LIKE WHEN WE RETIRED, TO HAVE THE FULL, FULL CAPACITY OF THE LICENSE IN THE STORES.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE OU FOLLOWED BY, THEY SHOULD PUT DOCTOR IN FRONT OF THIS NAME 'CAUSE OF THE SIGNATURE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ROMY.
IT LOOKS LIKE AN RO HUH? THERE YOU GO.
AND THEN FOLLOWED BY RICK DEL.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EMILY MILLER AND I AM THE COMMUNITY IMPACT DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IN SAN DIEGO.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE, UM, THAT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT AND WE'RE HOLDING OUR COMMITMENT TO ADOPT A STRONG TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE AND NOT WEAKEN YOUR POLICY TONIGHT.
SO WE'LL REPLACE TO SEE ANNUAL COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS INCLUDED IN YOUR ORDINANCE.
WE ARE CONFIDENT IN YOUR ABILITY TO ROLL OUT THIS PO POLICY WITH ROBUST EDUCATION.
SO RETAILERS KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT SELL WELL AHEAD OF THE ANNUAL COMPLIANCE INSPECTION.
WITH THIS IN MIND, WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO ISSUE A PENALTY UPON FIRST VIOLATION.
ROUTINE INSPECTIONS ARE CRITICAL TO PREVENTING UNDERAGE ACCESS TO TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS WITH A MEANINGFUL PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.
DETER ILLEGAL SALES, HELP IDENTIFY BAD ACTORS, AND REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAILER ACCOUNTABILITY.
PENALTIES MUST BE MORE THAN A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
A CONSEQUENCE FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT PROTECT PROTECTING YOUTH IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE ROUTINE.
INSPECTIONS ARE CRITICAL TO PREVENTING UNDERAGE ACCESS TO TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS WITH MEANINGFUL PENALTY.
UM, DETER SALES, HELP IDENTIFY BAD ACTORS, AND YES, IDENT, UM, PROTECTING YOUTH.
OUR YOUTH ARE INCREASINGLY USING PRODUCTS LIKE E-CIGARETTES THAT CAN LEAD TO LIFELONG ADDICTION.
WE KNOW MOST ADULTS USERS ARE SERVED BEFORE THE AGE OF 18, AND THAT'S WHY A LOCAL LICENSING POLICY WITH ENFORCEMENT IS ESSENTIAL.
IT'S HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE TOBACCO DOESN'T FIND ITS WAY INTO KIDS' HANDS.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD DECISIVELY AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM THE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS OF NICOTINE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY.
AND YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME, YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME MY NAME.
OKAY, DOCTOR, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD.
I'M OWNER WILSON ELECTRIC MARKETING AND HP.
SO I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 17 YEARS.
I MEAN, I FIX EVERYTHING AND I TRY TO RETIRE OR SOMETHING.
SO I I I TRY TO GIVE MY BUSINESS TO, TO SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, WITH A FULL LICENSE.
SO IF IT'S NOT FULL LICENSE, THEN I GONNA PAY FULL PRICE.
SO MY BUSINESS IS GONNA BE DAMAGED, ALL OWNING LICENSE BECAUSE I WANNA, I WANNA SELL MY BUSINESS AND, AND GO HOME WHEN I BE 65 OR 60.
I CAN'T SELL MY BUSINESS NO MORE.
ALL THE LICENSE TOBACCO, THEY STATE MY UNDER MY NAME.
I WANNA SELL MY BUSINESS AND GO HOME.
I GIVE YOU LICENSE FOR LIQUOR, I GIVE YOU LICENSE FOR TOBACCO, AND I GIVE YOU LICENSE FOR EVERYTHING.
AND NOW THEY SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T.
HE SAYS, SOMEONE GIVE YOU OFFER.
I CAN'T BUY BUSINESS NO MORE, WHICH IS WHY OH, THE LICENSE TOBACCO, IT DOESN'T GO UNDER MY NAME.
IF YOU HAVE A CAR, YOU DRIVE CAR FOR SOMEBODY AND THEN OH, IT CAN'T SELL YOUR CAR NO MORE.
YOU SEE, I'M TAKING IN BUSINESS.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, RICK TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, LARRY EMERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY DYLAN.
I'M HERE REGARDING THE LAW THAT YOU GUYS PASSED LAST IN SEPTEMBER.
AND, UH, I'VE BEEN IN MY BUSINESS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND I'M NOT FAR AWAY FROM SCHOOL.
[01:35:01]
IN WITH THE MIC.AND I'M NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM A SCHOOL, AND THANK GOD FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. BUT NOW WHEN YOU GUYS COME UP WITH A LAW THAT I SUPPOSED TO NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER MY LICENSE, LIKE YOU BASICALLY PUT IN THE CHAT TO BE THERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, WHICH IS I DON'T THINK SO.
AFTER BUILDING A BUSINESS FOR SO LONG, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ABLE, IF I WANT TO SELL IT AND JUST RETIRE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FULLY TRANSFER IT TO SOMEONE.
AND FAMILY MARKET HAS BEEN CLOSE TO HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH NOBODY.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE KIDS, BUT THE TOBACCO LICENSE NOT TRANSFER, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NOT PROTECTING THE KIDS.
SO IF YOU CAN JUST PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT.
SO, SO RICK, YOU OWN, UH, FAMILY.
RIGHT? SO TECHNICALLY THAT'S LINCOLN ACRES, WHICH IS IN THE COUNTY.
SO I ACTUALLY THINK THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE.
SO THIS ORDINANCE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, DOESN'T IMPACT YOU.
I HAVE TWO LICENSE AT MY STORE.
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.
SO THAT'S WHY WHEN THEY TOLD ME AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I SHOULD, YEAH.
LARRY EMERSON TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, DYLAN YOUIF TO BE FOLLOWED BY, LOOKS LIKE LEAH MARTIN.
UM, I'M A NON-SMOKER, SO I'M NOT PRO AGAINST SMOKING.
IN FACT, MY DAD DIED FROM CANCER OF SMOKING.
HE GOT, IF YOU'RE GONNA SMOKE, PLEASE GO TO THE DENTIST, GET REGULAR CLEANUPS EVEN THREE TIMES A YEAR.
'CAUSE THAT CAN, IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUMS, IT CAN LEAD TO CANCER.
AND THAT'S WHAT TOOK CARE OF MY DAD.
BUT, UH, JUST LIKE I, I, I, I DON'T LIKE TOBACCO STUBS BEING THROWN IN THE, IN THE STREET.
SO ANY RESTAURANTS OR ANY BUSINESS THAT SELLS OR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SMOKE SHOULD HAVE CIGARETTE CONTAINERS.
SO, SO IT DOESN'T BECOME A LITTER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'M AGAINST, BUT I WANNA SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SELL TOBACCO.
THAT'S A SMALL PART OF THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY'VE WORKED HARD.
IF THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY, KEEPING IT CLEAN, THEN I WANNA SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY'RE READY TO SELL THE BUSINESS ON.
I DON'T WANT IT TO MAKE IT HARD FOR THEM, UM, AS LONG AS THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITIES SPEAK, WELLNESS AND, AND KEEPING IT CLEAN.
SO I THAT'S, UH, I, UH, SUPPORT WHAT THE EARLIER PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT MADE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE OR GET THE LICENSE AGAIN WHEN THEY DO THE, WHEN THEY DO SELL THE BUSINESS.
UH, NEXT WE GO WITH, UH, LAST NAME IS MARTIN.
TO BE FOLLOWED BY, LOOKS LIKE, UH, AIA DUNCAN BE FOLLOWED.
ETHAN, I'M JUST GONNA GO WITH THAT.
UM, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M LEE MARTIN HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA FUELS AND CONVENIENCE ALLIANCE REPRESENTING FUEL AND CONVENIENCE RETAILERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WE APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL WAS RECONSIDERING THIS ORDINANCE AND THE OPPORTUNITY CON TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
WE SUPPORT PROTECTING THE YOUTH FROM TOBACCO ACCESS, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PROVISIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY HARM LOCAL BUSINESSES WITHOUT ADVANCING THAT GOAL.
WE'RE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NON-TRANSFERABLE LICENSE PROVISION.
SINCE TOBACCO MAKES UP FOR ROUGHLY 30% OF SALES AT GAS STATIONS AND CONVENIENCE STORES, OWNERS LOSE THAT ENTIRE PORTION OF VALUE WHEN THEY CAN TRANSFER THEIR LICENSE.
COMBINED WITH DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS THAT LIMIT WHERE NEW RETAILERS CAN OPEN, THIS CREATES AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD.
WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO REASONABLE AMENDMENTS.
FIRST, ALLOW, UH, LICENSE TRANSFERS UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS SO BUSINESSES CAN MAINTAIN THEIR VALUE.
SECOND, REMOVE THE DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS TO YOUTH FACILITIES AND OTHER TOBACCO RETAILERS.
WE WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON A SOLUTION THAT PROTECTS YOUTH, UH, WHILE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES THAT SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
AND IT WAS, AND WE HAD, UH, LEAH MARTIN.
WAS THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS HER.
SO NEXT ONE, LAST NAME IS DUNCAN.
UM, SEE, A NUMBER OF THESE ARE NOT WANTING TO SPEAK.
THEN WE COME UP WITH, UH, JACK BOEY.
[01:40:02]
WELL, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANON, I BELIEVE IT IS.WELL, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE IT VERY, UH, FEW MINUTES.
YOU KNOW, JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT THE LAW WAS PASSED REGARDING THAT, UH, CIGARETTE LICENSE I THINK WAS NOT FAIR AND NOT RIGHT.
JUST PUNISHING THE WRONG PEOPLE.
AND THE LAW ABIDING PEOPLE SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE REWARDED THAN BE PUNISHED, YOU KNOW? AND SECOND, GONNA BE VERY HARD, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE SAYING IT'S VERY HARD TO SELL WHEN YOU HAVE 20% OF YOUR BUSINESS NOT INCLUDED.
YOU WAIT 47 YEARS LIKE ME TRYING TO RETIRE, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, JUST ASKING YOU FOR GOD'S SAKE, HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER JOKE ON THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER.
YOU KNOW, AND WE WERE IN OUR LIFE FOR THIS TO SELL.
ANNAN, WE PROBABLY CORRECT ME ON THAT ONE.
HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY LUISA MCCARTHY TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MCKAYLA POLANCO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JANAN MOIN AND I'M A SAN DIEGO COUNTY RESIDENT AND ADVOCATE FOR TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA CONTROL.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL.
I WAS A VICTIM OF THE VAPING INDUSTRY.
WHEN I WAS 16, I STARTED USING JUULS FLAVORED NICOTINE VAPES, MARKETED AS HARMLESS.
MY FRIENDS AND I COULD WALK INTO CORNER STORES IN NORTH PARK, EL CAJON, PACIFIC BEACH, AND THE SOUTH BAY AND BUY THEM WITHOUT QUESTION.
AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OF THE BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND I WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT.
THIS SHOWS THAT YOUTH NICOTINE ADDICTION IS NOT LIMITED TO LOW INCOME AND LOW EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS.
THOSE FACTORS ONLY AMPLIFY AN ALREADY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
OVER TIME, I BEGAN SUFFERING MORE SEVERE HEADACHES BECAUSE MY LUNGS COULDN'T DELIVER ENOUGH OXYGEN.
I STOPPED VAPING, NICOTINE, AND EVENTUALLY SWITCHED TO VAPING THC, BELIEVING THEY WERE SAFER.
WITHIN MONTHS, I HAD, I WAS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH A COLLAPSED RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND PLACED IN A COMA FOR NINE DAYS, AWAITING A POTENTIAL LUNG TRANSPLANT.
I SURVIVED, BUT I LIVED WITH THE CONSEQUENCES, EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, AND A LIFELONG RISK OF ASTHMA.
THAT EXPERIENCE SHOWED ME HOW WEAK OVERSIGHT AND PROFIT DRIVEN MARKETING PUT YOUTH LIKE ME DIRECTLY IN HARM'S WAY.
THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT.
ITEM 10.2, THE REINTRODUCTION OF TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE EXACTLY AS APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER WITH NO WEAKENING AMENDMENTS.
THIS ORDINANCE GIVES NATIONAL CITY THE POWER TO ENFORCE STATE LAW LOCALLY INSPECT STORES AND PENALIZED RATE RETAILERS WHO SELL TO MINORS OR VIOLATE THE FLAVORED TOBACCO BAN.
IT KEEPS BUFFERS AROUND SCHOOLS.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE LUISA MCCARTHY AND MC POLANCO.
I DON'T SEE THEM HERE AT THE MOMENT.
UM, AND NEXT WE GO TO, UH, JEREMY TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALMA.
AND AFTER THAT, UH, LAWRENCE LOOKS LIKE, GET IT LATER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE AT NATIONAL CITY WHO WOULD BE NEEDLESSLY HARMED BY THIS ORDINANCE IF IT'S NOT AMENDED, UH, TONIGHT TO REMOVE THE ARBITRARY 1000 FOOT BUFFER ZONES.
I'M THINKING OF FOLKS LIKE MR. JIM HANNA, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDI, EXCUSE ME, IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.
HE'S THE OWNER OF TEXAS LIQUOR NEAR THE CORNER OF PLAZA BOULEVARD AND HARVEST AND AVENUE.
MR. HANNA HAS BEEN OPERATING HIS BUSINESS FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.
TELL HIM AFTER DECOY OPERATIONS.
BUT BECAUSE MR. HANNA'S BUSINESS IS DOWN THE STREET FROM PALMER WAY ELEMENTARY, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD DECIMATE THE VALUE OF HIS BUSINESS BECAUSE THE BUYER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET A TOBACCO LICENSE IF THE ORDINANCE PASSES.
I'M THINKING OF FOLKS LIKE DYLAN YUSEF, THE OWNER OF BIG BEN MARKET NEAR THE CORNER OF EIGHTH STREET AND A AVENUE.
BIG BEN HAS BEEN THERE FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
MR. YUSEF JUST PURCHASED IT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
[01:45:01]
CAREFUL, UH, ABOUT PREVENTING TOBACCO SALES TO MINORS.AND YET, BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD, AGAIN, DESTROY THE VALUE OF MR. JOSEPH'S BUSINESS IF HE EVER DECIDED TO SELL IT.
IT'S NOT JUST THESE TWO FOLKS THAT I'VE MENTIONED.
I'VE HANDED OUT A MAP THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, UH, WHERE WE'VE DRAWN A THOUSAND FOOT CIRCLES AROUND EVERY SCHOOL PARK, PLAYGROUND, DAYCARE CENTER, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT COVERS ALMOST ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS IN THIS CITY.
IT'S EXTREME, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO DO, AND IT IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF NE UH, NEEDLESS ECONOMIC DAMAGE TO THIS CITY.
THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, AND THAT IS TO DELETE THE PROXIMITY LIMITS FROM THE ORDINANCE DRAFT.
KEEP THE TOBACCO LICENSING PROGRAM.
PASS AN ORDINANCE SO THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN DECOY OPERATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT CHECKS, BUT REMOVE THE DISTANCE LIMITS.
THESE ARE ARBITRARY 1000 FOOT BUFFER ZONES THAT HAVE NO EFFECT.
THEY DO NOTHING TO PREVENT ILLEGAL TOBACCO SALES.
PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 HAVE FEET.
THEY CAN WALK, THEY CAN RIDE BIKES.
UH, A THOUSAND FEET IS NOT GONNA STOP THEM.
WHAT DOES STOP ILLEGAL? SALES IS RESPONSIBLE LAW ABIDING BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CHECK ID, WHO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHO STUDY THE LAW, AND HAVING A CITY THAT CAN DO THEIR OWN ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.
LET'S SAY WE HAVE ALMA FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NADIA.
MR. MORRISON COUNSEL, VICE MAYOR.
UM, I JUST WANNA ECHO THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WERE JUST MADE BY THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN WITH REGARD TO THE DISTANCE AND FOR PURPOSES OF KEEPING AND MAINTAINING THE LICENSES AND THE TRANSFERABILITY FOR FOLKS THAT NEED TO SELL THEIR BUSINESSES PERSPECTIVELY.
UH, LAWRENCE FOLLOWED BY NADIA, FOLLOWED BY, IT LOOKS LIKE H-A-I-T-H-A-M.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LAWRENCE HERIZ AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED TOBACCO ORDINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS ORDINANCE AND IS TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH.
IT'S BEEN CLAIMED THAT THEY'RE GETTING ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS DESPITE BEING UNDERAGE.
THIS ISSUE CONCERNS EVERYONE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WILL THIS ORDINANCE ACTUALLY STOP THE CURRENT CLAIMED UNDERAGE DISTRIBUTION OF TOBACCO? I DON'T REALLY THINK SO.
I BELIEVE INSTEAD IT IS GOING TO HURT SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.
THEY'LL BE PUNISHED DESPITE FOLLOWING EXISTING TOBACCO LAWS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THEIR OWNERSHIP.
WE ALREADY HAVE DESIGNATED SYSTEMS THAT WILL FIND, SUSPEND OR INVOKE LICENSES TO ANYONE WHO BREAKS THESE RULES.
BUT THIS NEW BROAD POLICY WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT HONEST BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT GUARANTEEING ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROTECTIONS OF OUR YOUTH IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT WILL PUNISH THE ECONOMIC GROWTH, TAX REVENUES, AND OVERALL VALUE OF OUR CITY.
WITH NO GUARANTEES TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH.
SEEMS LIKE IT'S GONNA DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
WE SHOULD AIM TO BETTER PROVIDE UNDERSTANDING TO OUR YOUTH FOR TOBACCO HARM AND BUSINESS COMPLIANCES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND OVERALL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I BELIEVE OUR FIRST STEPS SHOULD BE COLLABORATIONS WITH BUSINESSES INSTEAD OF PUNISHING THEM.
ONLY THEN CAN WE FIND THE TRUE ROOT CAUSE OF WHERE THIS ALLEGED TOBACCO UNDERAGE DISTRIBUTION IS COMING FROM.
NADIA, FOLLOWED BY, I'LL LET YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME.
AND AFTER THAT IS LOOKS LIKE, I THINK IT'S RANI, RONNIE, OR THAT, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S AN N OR AN H.
SO, RA, IT'S LOOKS LIKE RAHI OR RANI.
SO ANYWAY, FIRST OF ALL, WE'LL GO WITH, WITH, UH, NADIA.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M HERE TODAY ASKING YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER THE ORDINANCE OF AT LEAST TRANSFERRING, REMOVING THE TRANSFER RESTRICTION AND THE, AND THE DISTANCE RESTRICTION BECAUSE I TRULY, TRULY DO NOT THINK THE YOUTH ARE GETTING THIS IS GONNA HELP OUR YOUTH BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, THE YOUTH ARE NOT GETTING THESE TOBACCOS FROM YOUR LIQUOR, LIQUOR FROM YOUR LOCAL LIQUOR STORES.
THEY'RE GETTING THEM FROM THE POT SHOPS AND ALL IN THE MARKET THROUGH THE INTERNET.
YOU, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE COMPLYING WITH EVERYDAY RULES THAT ARE BEING, THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CITY, ARE BEING PUNISHED.
NOW, LAST MEETING YOU REPRESENT, THERE WAS SOME DATA THAT WAS SHOWN TO JUSTIFY THIS.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT DATA.
THERE IS NO FLAVORED FIG UH, FLAVORED CIGARETTES OR VAPES OR ANYTHING IN THE NATIONAL CITY.
SO WHERE DID THAT DATA COME FROM? I CAN'T HELP BUT MAKE WONDER IF THE STUDIES WERE EVEN MEANT TO HELP THE CITY.
I HEARD SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT VAPING 10, 20
[01:50:01]
YEARS AGO, PERHAPS.YOU GO INTO THE LIQUOR STORE, YOU DON'T SEE ANY OF THAT STUFF.
NOW, JUST TO LOOK AROUND THIS, THIS AREA, LOOK AT ALL THESE BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR WORK FOR, UH, 12 HOUR SHIFTS AND THEY'RE HERE.
THEY CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
IF THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING ILLEGALLY, THEY WOULD NOT BE HERE.
THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO DO IT ILLEGALLY.
YET YOU ARE PUNISHING THESE BUSINESS OWNERS.
WHY? I RECOMMEND, PLEASE DON'T TURN YOUR BACKS ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THIS COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TO FIND A WAY TO HELP OUR YOUTH.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY, SO PLEASE RECONSIDER.
FOLLOWED BY, IS IT RONNIE? AND HI, MY NAME'S.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME'S HAY AND BEHALF OF NATIONAL CITY MARKET.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS SINCE 2001, AND WE WORK ALL THIS YEAR TO, TO GET OUR RIGHT RETIREMENT AND TO SAVE OUR KIDS.
SO I THINK IT'S NOT FAIR TO WORK ALL THIS YEAR.
THEN AFTER THIS, WE CAN SELL THE BUSINESS NO MORE.
AND AT, AT THE SAME TIME, SMOKER, THEY'RE OVER 21.
IF THEY CAN BUY IT LEGALLY FROM, FROM FROM THE STORES, IT WOULD BE BLACK MARKET.
THEY, THEY WILL BUY IT OUT OF THEY MARKET.
THAT WAY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE.
AND THE CITY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET THE TAXES.
SO IT'S NOT FAIR AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WORKED.
THEN SELL THE BUSINESS FOR PENNIES BECAUSE 20% AVERAGE OF THE SALE, IT'S TOBACCO.
SO IF WE LOSE 20% SELL TOBACCO, THERE'S ANOTHER 10, 15%.
BECAUSE CUSTOMER, THEY WANTED TO ONE STOP SHOP CUSTOMER.
THEY, THEY, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BUY CIGARETTES.
THEY GO TO OTHER STORE, BUY, SNAP.
SO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I THINK WE DESERVE TO, TO SAVE OUR RETIREMENT.
AND THEN, OKAY, LEMME GO BACK TO THAT ONE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, UH, CYNTHIA, UH, KNAPP WILL BE FOLLOWED BY IRMA.
I'VE BEEN SUPPLYING THESE STORE OWNERS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, AND I'M VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE EFFECT OF IT IN THE COUNTY.
AND THE COUNTY HAS A SIMILAR ORDINANCE.
AND, UM, THE PROS AND CONS ARE THERE, RIGHT? THE GOOD THING IS, OKAY, WE WANT TO HELP THE YOUTH, WHICH IS GREAT.
WE ALL WANNA MAKE SURE THESE STORE OWNERS ARE, ARE ABIDING AND, AND THEY'RE DOING ALL THE THINGS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
AND, AND, AND, AND CHECKING IDS AND BE ABLE TO GO VISIT THE STORE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE SELLING THE RIGHT THINGS.
WE'RE ALL ON BOARD, ALL WANNA DO THE RIGHT THING.
MANY STORES IN THE COUNTY TODAY, MANY OF THEM, I'LL GIVE YOU AN INSTANCE.
I HAVE A STORE CALLED SPRING CREEK LIQUOR.
HE CAME FROM MICHIGAN FIVE YEARS AGO, BOUGHT A BUSINESS, BOUGHT A BUSINESS, AND ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, HE DECIDED TO SELL IT.
THE OTHER ONE WANTED TO GO INTO REAL ESTATE.
AND THE FATHER'S 67 YEARS OLD.
SO HE SOLD THE STORE, IT WENT INTO ESCROW.
AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN THEY FINISHED THE ESCROW, HE WANTED TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE OF THE, UM, TOBACCO.
HE COULDN'T GET A NEW LICENSE.
SO THE, THE, UM, THE BUYER BACKED OUT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A LIQUOR STORE WITHOUT TOBACCO LICENSE.
YOU CAN'T, THEY GO, THEY, THEY'RE HAND IN HAND.
NO ONE IS GONNA BUY A BUSINESS WITHOUT TOBACCO LICENSE.
SO HE BACKED OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, DEVASTATED.
I PROMISE YOU HE COMES TO SHOP BY ME 'CAUSE I'M A SUPPLIER.
HE DOESN'T HAVE NO PASSION IN WORK.
SO HE'S GOING TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY KNOWING THAT HE'S IN JAIL.
WHO'S UP? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CYNTHIA KNAPP TO BE FOLLOWED BY IRMA HERNANDEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, OMO.
[01:55:01]
EVENING.COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, AND MR. READER.
I WITH STATE SAN DIEGO AND ALSO THE NATIONAL CITY COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY LED COMMUNITY DRIVEN COALITION WANTS REGULATIONS FOR TOBACCO SALES.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO DESTROY ANYONE'S LIVELIHOOD OR TO STRIP AWAY ANYBODY'S RETIREMENT, THE COALITION.
AND EVERYBODY WANTS A ROBUST BUSINESS LANDSCAPE IN NATIONAL CITY.
BUT WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING THE SALE OF SPORTING GOODS OR SHOES OR PRODUCE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE, HIGHLY TOXIC, EXTREMELY DEADLY PRODUCT.
TOBACCO IS LEGAL TODAY ONLY BECAUSE WHEN IT ENTERED THE COMMERCIAL MARKET, THE SCIENCE DIDN'T EXIST TO ADVISE OTHERWISE.
STRONG TLS ARE NOT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, NOR DO THEY RESULT IN BLACK MARKETS.
THEY ARE APPROPRIATE AND THEY ARE NECESSARY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON TWO TRL COMPONENTS, TRANSFERABILITY AND DENSITY.
IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TLS TRANSFERABLE, PLEASE CONSIDER THESE FOUR OPTIONS EITHER INDEPENDENTLY OR LAYERED.
ONE, LIMIT THE NUMBER OF LICENSE TRANSFERS TO ONE PER LICENSE.
THIS WILL APPEASE THE EXISTING RETAILERS WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR ATTRITION OVER TIME.
TWO, IF A RETAILER HAS A VIOLATION, THEIR LICENSE IS NON-TRANSFERABLE.
THREE, MAKE ALL INCURRED VIOLATIONS TRANSFER WITH THE LICENSE ALONG WITH THE LOOKBACK PERIOD, WHICH I ADVISE EXTENDING.
MAKE LICENSES WITH THE, OR, EXCUSE ME, MAKE LICENSES WITHIN THE PROXIMITY RESTRICTIONS AROUND SCHOOLS NON-TRANSFERABLE.
AND THIS WILL UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INTENTION BEHIND IMPLEMENTING THE PROXIMITY RESTRICTION REGARDING DENSITY.
YOUTH TOBACCO RATES ARE HIGHER IN CITIES WHERE MORE TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE LOCATED NEAR SCHOOLS.
GREATER DENSITY AND THEIR PROXIMITY TO YOUTH SENSITIVE SPACES HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER RATES OF YOUTH SMOKERS, HIGHER RATES OF CIGARETTES SMOKED PER DAY AND DECREASED SUCCESS IN QUITTING.
ALSO, HIGH DENSITY IS DISPROPORTIONATELY GREATER IN LOW INCOME CENSUS TRACKS AND THOSE WITH MORE BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS IN SHORT CAPS AND PROXIMITY RESTRICTIONS SAVE LIVES.
UH, IRMA HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY AR SOMO, FOLLOWED BY HADIL, THE NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
DO WE HAVE THE, UH, DO WE HAVE THE TRANSLATOR PLEASE? LUISA OR CARLOS, THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, BETTER HEALTH COALITION IN NATIONAL CITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, PROVING THE ORDINANCE, UH, LAST MONTH.
THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE THAT'S HERE APPARENTLY, UH, IS MR. MORRISON, WHO, UH, SUPPOSEDLY PROTECTS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
[02:00:01]
SCHOOLS, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND HIS RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE BUYING TOBACCO SHAMING BUSINESSES TO MAKE FUN OF THEM IN PUBLIC.YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT HERE TO REINFORCE LAWS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT IS AN INSULT WHEN THEY ASK US TO HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SHAME OUR BUSINESSES.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WROTE A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM OF TOBACCO LICENSES IN REPRESENTATION OF 2200 STUDENTS.
THE SAME THING WAS DONE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN, UH, FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS REPRESENTING OVER 4,000 STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHERE THOUSANDS OF FAMILY AND RESIDENTS AT NATIONAL CITY AND 40% OF SCHOOLS HAVE A STORE OF AT LEAST 500 FEET FROM SCHOOLS.
NOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT GIVE LICENSES TO THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SO CLOSE TO SCHOOLS.
OKAY, MAYOR, WE NEED TO, UM, WAIT UNTIL ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COME BACK.
UM, JOSE RODRIGUEZ IS OFFLINE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR A MOMENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SHORT PAUSE AND WAIT FOR ONE OF THE TWO TO GET BACK.
THEY, I THINK THEY'RE TAKING A, A EIGHT 20 RESTROOM BREAK.
SO LET'S TAKE A SHORT PAUSE HERE AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ON MORE, MORE SPEAKERS THAT WE'RE KNOCKING 'EM DOWN PRETTY GOOD.
THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER HERE THAT HAVE, HAVE, AND WE WILL MENTION THEM WHO HAVE PUT IN, EITHER THEY'RE IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED, BUT THEY DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE THOSE ALSO.
BUT, UH, THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS, IS DROPPING PRETTY, PRETTY QUICKLY HERE.
MY KEYS, Y'ALL GOT MY KEYS, MAYOR? YES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ IS BACK WITH US, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
UH, BUT THAT'S ONLY IF WE HAVE A QUORUM IN THE ROOM, RIGHT? YOU, YOU ARE CORRECT.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, OKAY, UH, ARKAN SOMO.
UH, IS IT HADDI? SHAMO? I'M HERE, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOBY SALEM AND THEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN MCMANUS.
IF A RESPONSIBLE RETAILER ARE UNABLE TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS WITH TOBACCO RETAILER, THEY WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS COMPLETELY.
AND WHEN THAT DAY CLOSE NATIONAL CITY WILL LOSE JOBS AND TAX REVENUE, CUSTOMERS AND REV REVENUES WILL GO TO CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND CHULA VISTA.
I'VE BEEN IN NATIONAL CITY SINCE 2001.
THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE BUSINESS, THE TOBACCO LICENSE WAS THERE ALREADY INCLUDED.
WHEN I WANT, I'M READY TO SELL THE BUSINESS, WHY I AM NOT ABLE TO TRANSFER.
AND IF THIS LAW PASSES, I WANT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY ME THE DIFFERENCE.
BECAUSE WHEN I BOUGHT THE BUSINESS, I PAY FOR THE TOBACCO LICENSE ALSO.
TOBY SALEM BE FOLLOWED BY KAREN MCMANUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY G-H-A-L-I.
I'LL LET YOU PRONOUNCE THAT ONE.
UH, MY NAME IS TOBY FROM CARNIVAL SUPERMARKET.
UH, WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY CONTINUALLY FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW.
UH, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE POLICY RATIONALE BEHIND THE 1000 FOOT TOBACCO PROXIMITY RESTRICTION, BUT IT IS OVERLY BROAD AND HARM SMALL BUSINESSES WITHOUT EFFECTIVELY REDUCING YOUTH.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN RETAILERS AND SCHOOLS DOESN'T DIRECTLY ADDRESS YOUTH TOBACCO USE IN DENSE AREAS.
AS MUCH OF NA AS MUCH OF NATIONAL CITY IS SUCH ZONES CAN COVER A VERY WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THIS WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WHO RELY ON TOBACCO SALES FOR SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR REVENUE.
[02:05:01]
COULD ACHIEVE ITS PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY THROUGH EDUCATION.STRICT ID ENFORCEMENT, AND LIMITS ON YOUTH TARGETED ADVERTISING RATHER THAN INEFFECTIVE, SWEEPING GEOGRAPHIC BANS.
UH, KAREN MCMANUS BE FOLLOWED BY LEMME GO THERE.
AND AFTER THAT'S GLORIA S. GOOD, GOOD EVENING.
THE NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS THE RESCISSION OF THE ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 25 47 AND REINTRODUCTION OF THE, OF AN AMENDED AMENDMENT OF NCMC 9.38 ESTABLISHING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER AND TO CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PROTECTION OF OUR YOUTH.
I OWN A SMALL, UH, MARKET IN NATIONAL CITY.
I WORK SO HARD TO DO THAT BUSINESS.
SO I JUST WANNA ASK YOU GUYS ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
AND WE WORK SO HARD TO BUILD OUR FUTURE AND TO BUILD OUR RETIRE.
AND NO ONE YOU WANNA DO, SELL OR RETIRE WITH MISSING BENEFIT.
NOW YOU GUYS NOT ASK, SO PLEASE LOOK TO THIS LAW.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SMOKE BECAUSE SMOKE LAW IS 21 AND UP.
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE HE SMOKE, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT WHAT THEY DOING BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE 21 AND UP AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DOING.
UH, GLORIA SALAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY BYRON LAMB TO BE FOLLOWED BY LANCE H LICENSE NATIONAL CITY LOS LOS.
CAN WE HAVE A TRANSLATION ON THAT PLEASE? YOU, YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR TIME.
OUR AGE AND POSSIBLY LOWER BECOME HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE USE OF TOBACCO.
WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST THE USE OF TOBACCO AND WE'RE TIRED OF PEOPLE MAKING TOBACCO THAT TO CHILDREN ARE AGE AND SOMETIMES YOUNGER.
AND PEOPLE THAT CURRENTLY SELL IT TO CHILDREN ARE ONLY INCREASING THE RISKS OF CHILDREN'S LIVES.
MANY RISKS COME WITH THE USE OF DEVICES INCLUDING TOBACCO, SUCH AS VAPES, MAL.
MANY OF THESE RISKS INCLUDE RESPIRATORY, HEALTH, DETERIORATION, CANCER, AND OTHER DISEASES.
ANOTHER MAJOR PART IN SCIENCE TOBACCO IS SECONDHAND SMOKE.
SELLING IT TO ONE CHILDREN CAN, ONE CHILD CAN SPREAD IT TO MANY OTHERS.
MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM TOBACCO USE AND WE DON'T WANT THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE.
CAN WE HAVE TRANSLATION PLEASE? LUISA.
I SUPPORT THE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN NATIONAL CITY FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND I HAVE BEEN A HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVIST FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
AND WITHIN HUMAN RIGHTS, YOU WILL FIND THE RIGHTS OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR SUPPORT.
LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, THE TLR PROGRAM WAS ACCEPTED.
NOW YOU'RE SAYING NOW, UH, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
WE COULD NOT, WE CANNOT ACCEPT IT BECAUSE WE'RE SEEKING FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW FOR THESE TWO, APPROVE THIS.
WE HAVE BYRON LA, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY LANCE H TO BE FOLLOWED BY TONY CONIA.
[02:10:01]
NAME IS BRIAN LAMB AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA FUELS INCONVENIENCE ALLIANCE.I WANT TO ADDRESS THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ORDINANCE.
OUR MEMBERS ARE ALREADY SOME OF THE MOST COMPLIANT RETAILERS IN NATIONAL CITY.
THEY CHECK IDS, FOLLOW STATE REGULATIONS, AND TAKE YOUTH ACCESS SERIOUSLY.
YET THE ORDINANCE TREATS THEM LIKE THEY'RE THE PROBLEM.
THE REALITY IS THAT COMPLIANT BUSINESSES AREN'T THE SOURCE OF YOUTH TOBACCO ACCESS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT VIOLATIONS PUT THEIR BUSINESS AT RISK, WHICH IS WHY THEY'VE BUILT COMPLIANCE INTO THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS.
NOW, I, I WANNA BE CLEAR THIS, THIS ORDINANCE WON'T STOP YOUTH ACCESS.
WHAT IT WILL DO IS DESTROY BUSINESS VALUE THROUGH NON-TRANSFERRABLE LICENSES AND CREATE AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD WHERE EXISTING BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED WHILE NEW ENTREPRENEURS CAN'T EVEN COMPETE.
EXISTING RETAILERS ARE PROTECTED.
WHILE NEW BUSINESSES FACE IMPOSSIBLE BARRIERS, LET'S FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T PUNISH BUSINESSES ALREADY DOING THE RIGHT THING.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, LANCE H UH, FOLLOWED BY TONY KJA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MANUEL ANDRATI.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS LANCE HERMES AND MY FAMILY AND I, WE OWN, UH, RANCH HOUSE S LIQUOR OVER THERE ON FOURTH AND, AND PALM.
IT'S OVER IN, UH, JOSE'S, UH, DISTRICT.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY WANT TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE.
UM, WHILE I SUPPORT PROTECTING THE YOUTH.
THIS ORDINANCE UNFAIRLY HARMS RESPONSIBLE SMALL BUSINESSES BY BANDING LICENSE TRANSFERS.
OWNERS LOSE THE ABILITY TO SELL THEIR VALUE.
THEY BILL OFTEN THEIR RETIREMENT PLAN.
SO MY FAMILY AND I, YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE KID WHEN THEY CAME HERE, BUT, UH, THEY GOT RENT THEY GOT AT THE STORE 20.
THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR LIKE 20, ALMOST 20 PLUS YEARS NOW.
AND SO, UM, MY DAD WORKS THERE FROM SOMETIMES SIX, SEVEN IN THE MORNING.
WE OPEN AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AND HE STAYS THERE TILL TILL 10:00 PM 11:00 PM WHY? BECAUSE HE'S A BUSINESS OWNER.
HE HAS TO RUN HIS BUSINESS THE RIGHT WAY.
SO THINGS LIKE SELLING TO UNDERAGE MINORS DON'T HAPPEN.
OKAY? SO WE GET, UH, DECOYS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN WITH THOSE DECOYS, WE PASSED 20 YEARS, WE PASSED EVERY, WE GET LETTERS IN THE MAIL SAYING, THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT THESE UNDERAGE MINORS GETTING THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT COMING FROM THE LIQUOR STORES.
WE HAVE EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT.
AND I KNOW SOMEONE CAME UP HERE AND TALKED ABOUT FLAVORED TOBACCO HAS BEEN BANNED FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW IN OUR STORES.
SO WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM? THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT FROM OTHER ACCESS PLACES.
WE'RE WE'RE GETTING RULED BY NUMBER, BY AI.
THEY'RE GETTING IT FROM OTHER PLACES.
SO TO END, I'M HERE JUST ASKING TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE FOLLOWING THE PROPOSED LETTER BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION.
WE NEXT, UH, TONY CONIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY MANUEL ANDREI TO BE FOLLOWED BY AR SOOMO.
I AM AND OUR FAMILY'S BEEN IN THIS TOWN SINCE 19 81, 43 YEARS.
WE'VE SERVED NATIONAL CITY AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, AND I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE PREVIOUS FOLKS HOW IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA HURT OUR, OUR KIDS.
WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIDS.
SO, UH, BY DOING THIS, I AGREE WITH WHAT HE JUST SAID.
IT, IT'S, IT'S PREVALENT OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THIS FROM BLACK MARKETS WHERE WE'RE VERY, VERY DILIGENT IN, IN DOING WHAT WE DO WITH, WITH NOT SELLING TO MINORS.
SO THAT PART'S REAL IMPORTANT.
LAST TIME AT THE LAST MEETING, UM, SOME OF C COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WE NEEDED A CHANCE TO COMMENT ABOUT THE VALUATION PIECE AND HOW YOU COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT WAS SUCH A SMALL PIECE CREATED SUCH A BIG VALUATION ISSUE.
AND AS A FORMER CPA CAN TELL YOU, THE VALUATION PIECE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT IT'S THE ENTIRE PIECE.
SOMEONE'S GONNA BUY JUST A PIECE OF A BUSINESS.
AND WHEN THEY CAN'T MAKE A ONE-STOP SHOP, IT REALLY AFFECTS IT.
BUT REALLY, THE, THE IMPORTANCE IS ISN'T THE VALUATION, IT'S IMPORTANCE IS THE KIDS ALRIGHT? AND, AND THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THEIR LICENSE.
SO I'LL PUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET HAT ON AS PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.
WE'VE HIRED THE SAN DIEGO LAND LAWYERS.
THEY, THEY PUT TOGETHER A VERY, VERY COMPREHENSIVE, UM, PLAN FOR YOU TO MOVE FORWARD.
I WOULD, I'M ASKING THAT YOU LOOK AT THOSE AND AMEND AND STRIKE THE, THE SECTIONS THAT THEY REFERRED TO SAVE US TIME.
I WON'T READ THOSE TO YOU, BUT THERE'S THAT.
YOU'VE BEEN HANDED THOSE AND WE ACTUALLY ADDED, UM, TO SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE ALL AS RETAILERS RESPONSIBLE, IF ANY, IF THERE'S ANY BAD ACTORS, THAT THE PUNISHMENT THAT WE ADDED ON HERE WAS A, A NICE FINANCIAL PUNISHMENT FOR ANYONE THAT WOULD, WOULD ACT, UH, IN THAT WAY
[02:15:01]
BY ADDING THOUSAND, 5,000, $10,000 FINES TO ANYONE THAT WOULD DO THAT.SO, IN SHORT, UM, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND CONSIDER IN THE END WHAT WHAT WE RECOMMENDED AS ASSOCIATION, AS A SOLUTION, UM, THAT WOULD HELP EVERYBODY, HELP OUR KIDS AND KEEP TOBACCO OFF OUT OF THE HANDS BECAUSE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE RETAILERS THAT CARE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL EMMANUEL ANDRATI, FOLLOWED BY ARCON SOMO, FOLLOWED BY VINCENT YEZ.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR, UH, NATIONAL CITY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM LAST MONTH HAS BEEN ONE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST ORDINANCE IN THE, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, TRULY PROTECTS YOUTH AND ENSURES THAT TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IN COMPLIANCE.
HOWEVER, THE CITY, IF THE CITY ACCEPTS THE INDUSTRY'S PROPOSED CHANGES, THIS WARRANTS WILL BECOME ONE OF THE WEAKEST IN THE STATE.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, AND, UH, WITH MY MEETING WITH CARLOS AGUIRE, MY RECOMMENDATION WAS CLEAR TO MIRROR THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY'S, UH, TR PARTLY THAT WAS NOT DONE.
MY SUGGESTION TODAY IS THE SAME, UH, THAT THOSE REGULATIONS WILL ENSURE PROPER ENFORCEMENT AND DISTANCE TO SCHOOLS, UH, ARE IN PLACE.
NATIONAL CITY CAN STILL ALIGN WITH THIS ORDINANCE, INCLUDE THE TRANSFER PROVISION THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH LIMITS TRANSFER TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND ONLY, UH, ON THEIR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
UH, THERE'S NO REALLY NEED TO, UH, REINVENT THE WHEEL.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO ME THAT THE MARKET ASSOCIATION APPEARED THE LAST MEETING ALONGSIDE WITH, UH, KEGAN BOTTLE TO CLAIM THAT PENALTIES ARE TOO HARSH AND THE TL WILL DESTROY BUSINESSES.
UH, WHEN KE AND BOTTLE IS FACING TWO, UH, LAWSUITS FOR SELLING UNCOUNTABLE TIMES TO, UH, THE POLICE CADETS.
AND, UH, FOR THE, FROM THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, WE HEARD THESE SAME TACTICS IN THE PAST, UH, JUST THREE, UH, YEAR, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE FLAVOR BAN PASSED.
NO BUSINESS HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED LIKE THAT.
THE FACT REMAINS THAT MANY TOBACCO RETAILERS CONTINUE TO SELL ILLEGAL FLAVOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS ILLEGALLY TO YOUTH AND MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THE INDUSTRY WANTS TO BLAME PARENTS IN SCHOOLS FOR THE KIDS' ADDICTION, NICOTINE, AND DISTRACT ON ITS OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
HAVE MANY PEOPLE, HAVE MANY PEOPLE A YEAR DIED FROM TOBACCO RETAILER DISEASES AND CAUSE MORE THAN 600 BILLION IN HEALTHCARE COSTS AND LOSS OF PRO PRODUCTIVITY.
THIS, THAT IS THE DESTRUCTION, THAT'S DEVASTATION.
UH, I WANT TO THANK TOBACCO RETAILERS.
NEXT WE HAVE AR SOMO TO BE FOLLOWED BY VINCENT EZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGARITA MORENO.
UM, GOOD EVENING, OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF.
I REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR YOU TONIGHT.
I'M GONNA REITERATE THE COMMENT THAT I MADE LAST, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A COUPLE MORE.
WE ARE NOT TOTALLY AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PROVISION WE ENDORSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PREPARATION OF CELL SAMPLING.
WE ALSO LIKE THE COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
I THINK WE ALL NEED CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THE MAJOR ISSUE WE HAVE, AND I LOOKED AT THE ORDINANCE EVEN CLOSELY, YOU HAVE SOME CONTRADICTION IN THE ORDINANCE.
THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT SAYS YOU COULD SUSPEND UP TO A YEAR, BUT THEN THE OTHER PROVISION AND THE ORDINANCE SAYS, YOU, YOU WILL BE LOSING YOUR LICENSE IF YOU'RE SUSPENDED 60 DAYS.
THERE IS CONTRADICTION WITH THE, THE ORDINANCE.
I KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE STAFF THAT TRIED TO FIX THESE THINGS.
WE ALSO HIRED THE SAN DIEGO LAND LAWYERS.
I THINK THEY SEND YOU A LETTER.
I DON'T WANNA GO OVER IT, BUT THEY SUGGESTED SOME PROVISION.
PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FEW YEARS AGO, UH, THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB TO TRY TO GOVERN ALL THE FLAVOR TOBACCOS, ALL THE LAWS.
I WANT TO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALL THE LAWS THAT'S COMING EVERY YEAR AT GOVERNING TOBACCO, THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DOING A GOOD JOB.
THIS IS A LICENSING ORDINANCE.
YOU CANNOT DEPRIVE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES FROM SELLING THEIR BUSINESS THAT INCLUDE THESE LICENSES IF IT'S A TOBACCO LICENSE OR ALCOHOL LICENSE.
LAST THOUGHT, IS THIS PREVENTING YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO OR ANY ADULT PRODUCT? IT'S NOT JUST A RETAILER RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY RETAILER JOB TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T SELL IT.
YOU AS THE LEADERS OF THE CITY, YOU ARE DOING YOUR JOB BY TRYING TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS HEALTHY AND SAFE.
I BELIEVE SCHOOL PLAYS A PART.
[02:20:01]
PLAY PART.WE LIKE TO URGE YOU TO LOOK AT THIS AS A COMMUNITY EFFORT, NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE THANK YOU.
WE FOLLOWED BY MARGARITA MORENO.
WE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS H FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE TODAY.
MY NAME IS VINCENT YEZ AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A TESTIMONY FROM WHEN I VOLUNTEERED WITH DOING THE YOUNG ADULT TOBACCO PURCHASE SURVEY WITH SAY, SAN DIEGO.
I WAS 18 YEARS OLD WHEN I VOLUNTEERED.
THEREFORE, IT WAS ILLEGAL FOR TOBACCO RESELLERS TO SELL ME THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
I VISITED 10 LOCAL RETAILERS ON HIGHLAND AVENUE AND EIGHTH AVENUE IN NATIONAL CITY.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT SEVEN OUTTA 10 STORES HAD SOLD ME TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND SOME OF THOSE ALSO BEING FLAVORED NICOTINE DEVICES.
ALTHOUGH I WAS UNDERAGE, THE ACCESSIBILITY TO THESE PRODUCTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE EVEN THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IN MY CASE, MY PEERS HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCTS AND WOULD FIND LOCATIONS WHERE RETAILERS WOULD NOT QUESTION THEIR AGE.
IN THE SURVEY, THESE PATTERNS WERE STILL EVIDENT.
SOME TOBACCO RETAILERS DID NOT ASK FOR MY ED, WHILE OTHERS DID, BUT THEY DID NOT ASK FOR MY AGE.
THEY WERE STILL COMPLETED THE SALE.
I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE VAPES CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS SO EASILY.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MANY TOBACCO RETAILERS DO FOLLOW THE LAW, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN EVERY CITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HAVE STRONG REGULATIONS TO PROTECT YOUTH AND ENSURE BAD TOBACCO RETAILERS DO NOT SELL TO THOSE NOT OF AGE.
I VOLUNTEERED TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE TRANSACTIONS OF THESE PRODUCTS CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY.
A GREAT NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS ARE ADDICTED TO VAPING, FLAVORED TOBACCO AND VAPES ARE STILL WIDELY AVAILABLE.
IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE PROHIBITION OF FLAVORED TOBACCO AND ADDICTION OF THESE VAPES IS NOT ONLY SEEN IN COMMUNITIES, BUT ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS WELL.
THESE DEVICES ARE DETRIMENTAL TO ONE'S HEALTH AND SIGHT OF MY PEERS STRUGGLING TO QUIT FROM THEIR ADDICTION.
TARNISHES MY HOPE OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
INDIVIDUALS OR STONE, OR MY APOLOGIES, OR STORE OWNERS WHO ENGAGE IN THIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL TOBACCO AT ALL.
MARGARET MORENO TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS H TO BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
DO WE HAVE, DO YOU HAVE THE TRANSLATION PLEASE? LUISA LUISA INTERPRETATION, PLEASE.
MARGARITA MORENO, THEY ALL TALK ABOUT OUT IN ENGLISH, ENGLISH KIDS.
I WORK AT A SCHOOL AND I SEE THAT KIDS GET ON PLAYGROUND ON OUR PLAYGROUND, SKATE ON THE SLIDES, AND I SEE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THERE.
WE GO THERE AND WE TAKE WHATEVER PRODUCT AWAY FROM THEM.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE, THAT SOUND VERY RIDICULOUS, UH, SAYING THAT THEIR BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE HARM AND ARE GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF THESE, UH, IS ILLOGICAL TO ME AS A COMMUNITY.
[02:25:01]
TO BENEFIT OUR KIDS AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY FOOD.CLEAN AIR FREE OF POLLUTION IS PART OF EVERYBODY'S RIGHT, AND CIGARETTES POLLUTE.
IT'S JUST A DRUG THAT IT IS ALLOWED TO BE SALE TO BE SOLD.
NEXT WE HAVE CHRIS H TO BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE RAPON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I KNOW YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO AND VAPE PRODUCTS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK THAT THE STORE BANG, THESE ARE THE STORES NEARBY IS THE SOLUTION.
I BELIEVE THAT IT STARTS WITH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, NOT MORE RESTRICTIONS OR BLAME.
KIDS NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SMOKING AND VAPING DOES TO THEM.
THE HEALTH RISKS, THE LONG-TERM EFFECT, AND HOW ADDICTIVE THESE PRODUCTS ARE.
WHEN YOU TEACH THEM, WHEN YOU TEACH 'EM EARLY, THE KNOWLEDGE STICKS WITH THEM AND CHANGES HOW THEY THINK.
TAKING AWAY ACCESS DOESN'T CHANGE BEHAVIOR UNDERSTANDING DOES, I USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.
GROWING UP, I USED TO WALK BY PLENTY OF LIQUOR STORES OR CONVENIENCE STORES ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
SOME EVEN HAD PEOPLE SMOKING THEM OUTSIDE, BUT I NEVER HAD THE URGE TO BUY ANY OF IT.
NOT BECAUSE OF THE STORES DIDN'T SELL THEM, BUT BECAUSE MY SCHOOL, PARENTS, FAMILY, THEY ALL EDUCATED ME.
I REMEMBER A TEACHER SHOWING ME WHAT SMOKING DOES TO OUR LUNGS AND EXPLAINED THE LONG-TERM EFFECT.
THOSE LESSONS STUCK WITH ME FOR LIFE.
EDUCATION MADE A DIFFERENCE, NOT STORE RESTRICTIONS.
FROM WHAT I SEE, THE STORES NEAR OUR SCHOOLS ARE CAREFUL AND RESPONSIBLE.
THEY FOLLOW THE RULES, CHECK IDS, AND DON'T WANNA RISK THEIR LICENSE.
THE TRUTH IS THAT KIDS ARE SMART AND VERY TECH SAVVY NOWADAYS.
IF THEY DON'T GET IT FROM THE STORES, PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE, THEY'LL GET 'EM FROM ONLINE, THEY'LL CRAWL ACROSS THE BORDER.
SOME GET 'EM FROM THEIR FRIENDS OR WHATEVER.
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE STORES AROUND OUR SCHOOLS ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY DESERVE FAIR TREATMENT.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE BLAMED OR TARGETED FOR SOMETHING THAT LIKELY ISN'T THEIR FAULT.
LET'S FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL MAKE A LONG-TERM DIFFERENCE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT THESE KIDS TO BE HEALTHY AND SAFE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, INFORMED.
AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY IS BY TEACHING THE YOUTH AND HELPING THEM MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
MIKE RAPON TO BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE.
I'VE GOT MICROPHONE AND I'VE GOT MIKE.
DO WE HAVE MICROPHONE HERE ALSO? MIKE RLE, I BELIEVE.
PLEASE COME ON FORWARD AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MIKE.
I, I, I FIGURED I WAS OVER PHONE, BUT, UH, GOOD EVENING.
UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE RECONSIDERING THE TOBACCO ORDINANCE.
UM, AS WE STAND BEYOND PROTECTING THE YOUTH AND THE CITY IN ANY MATTER, MY FAMILY'S OWNED HIGHLAND SERVICE STATIONS ON HIGHLAND IN 18, UH, PROBABLY SINCE I WAS 10.
I HAVE FOUR KIDS MYSELF, AND I'LL PROBABLY OWN IT FOR MANY, MANY MORE YEARS.
SO I'M NOT REALLY CONCERNED AS FAR AS SELLING MY BUSINESS, BUT YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW.
UM, SORRY, I'M GOING OFF TOPIC HERE A BIT.
UH, I COULD PROBABLY SAY WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY VIOLATIONS OF TOBACCO OR ANY SORT MM-HMM
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE WHOLE ALCOHOL.
I'VE NEVER HAD ANY VIOLATIONS.
I'VE ACTUALLY TORE DOWN AND RENOVATED THAT WHOLE CORNER OF MYSELF ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, AND I'VE WORKED WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS OVER HERE IN THE CITY, OF COURSE, TO GET THAT GOING.
UM, MY FAMILY'S OWNED AND, AND PASSED IT DOWN TO ME, AND I'M PROBABLY GONNA PASS IT DOWN WITH MY KIDS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE FUTURE, BUT I COULD SPEAK FOR TODAY.
UM, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FREELY SPEAK, SELL THAT BUSINESS JUST THE WAY YOU GUYS HAD ME, YOU KNOW, COMPLY, BRING UP THE WHOLE BUILDING TO, IT WAS BUILT AND I BELIEVE IN 1952.
UM, BUT WE BROUGHT IT UP TO CODE ALL IN, IN ACCORDANCE TO YOU GUYS.
BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK FREELY OR SELL IT OR MOVE FORWARD OR EVEN PASS IT DOWN IN ANY BUSINESSES WE'VE OWNED AND ESTABLISHED 37 BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, WHICH TOO HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
AND UNTIL TODAY, WE ARE STANDING IN BUSINESS AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHING THREE MORE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
UM, UP UNTIL A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I HAD NO IDEA OR WAS AWARE OF THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO ME.
AND OF COURSE I SHOWED UP TODAY, UM, JUST TO SPEAK AS, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS TO KINDLY RECONSIDER THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION ORDINANCE.
I'M NOT ASKING TO WIPE IT OUT.
[02:30:01]
A BAD IDEA.I WENT TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
AND I'M A FATHER OF FOUR, UH, WIPING THIS OUT, SETTING LIMITS TO IT, NOT BEING ABLE TO SELL IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THANK YOU.
AND WE'RE NOT PARENTS TO THESE KIDS GUYS.
OKAY, MIKE, YOU'RE UP NEXT, FOLLOWED BY, UH, JIM MC GAFFER.
I'M THE OWNER OF RANCH HOUSE STICKER HERE IN NATIONAL CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M THE MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER SINCE 2017, AND I HAVE SUPPORTED LOCAL EVENTS, HELPED FAMILY, AND STOOD BY OUR CITY WHENEVER IT NEEDED ME.
I RECEIVED RECENTLY THIS FROM NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS PLAQUE BECAUSE IT SHOWS HOW MUCH I CARE FOR THE CITY.
I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE LAWS, AND YOU CAN SEE I GIVE SOME PAPERS.
IF YOU CAN SHOW IT, PLEASE, IN MATTER TO THE COUNCIL.
I, I, SORRY, I I DIDN'T MAKE SOME COPIES.
MY STORE HAS RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO SUCCESSFUL DECOY LETTERS PROVE THAT MY STORE DOES NOT SELL TO MINORS.
WE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW AND CARE DEEPLY ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
I'M ASKING YOU FROM THE HEART.
PLEASE DON'T PUNISH THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD, WHO STOOD BY THE CITY FOR YEARS.
FIND ANOTHER WAY, A FAIR WAY THAT PROTECTS THE COMMUNITY AND THE WHOLE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD IT.
USE STRONG ENFORCEMENT, STOPS ILLEGAL CELLS, USE LICENSE FEES TO FUND INSPECTION.
AND ECOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
CAN I, CAN I FINISH PLEASE? UH, NO, YOU JUST, OKAY.
I, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I'M GONNA END FOR YOU BECAUSE JUST THIS ONE HERE, JUST PLEASE.
YOU DO HAVE TWO, TWO DEALS HERE THAT WENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THEY HAD USED DECOYS THERE AND THAT THEY SUCCESSFULLY PASSED AND PREVENTED THE ACTIVITY.
ONE SIGNED BY SERGEANT DENNIS LEACH.
AND ONE BY SERGEANT, UH, GRAHAM YOUNG.
SO KINDA LET YOU KNOW BACK ON THE DEAL.
NO, WE HAVE COME UP THE NEXT ONE.
HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JIM, ER HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION, THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT IS ARBITRARY AND RIDICULOUS.
IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, THIS BASICALLY COVERS THE ENTIRE CITY.
IF WE WERE TO DO WHAT'S PROPOSED IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S WRITTEN TONIGHT, WHAT PROVIDES PROTECTION IS ONE WORD, ENFORCEMENT.
YOU JUST HEARD IT FROM THE LAST SPEAKER.
DECOY CHECKS FOLLOWING UP ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, BAD ACTORS SHOULD BE PENALIZED FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.
BUSINESS OWNERS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT, ARE COMPLIANT AND FOLLOW THE RULES.
IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T BE IN BUSINESS TODAY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND I'D LIKE TO REDIRECT THE CONVERSATION TO THE LETTER THAT WE PROVIDED TONIGHT, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR, AND I'M GONNA READ INTO THE RECORD IF I CAN, AS FAST AS I CAN, IS THAT WE PROPOSE STRIKING THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU.
9 3 8 2 DD 9 3 8 0 D THROUGH I.
WE PROPOSE STRIKING A PORTION OF SECTION 9 3 8 A THAT READS LOCATED WITHIN 1000 OF ANY YOUTH ORIENTED FACILITY.
SECTION NINE, SECTION 9.3 8.090 B2.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM TONY CON, WE PROPOSE MAKE THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS, THE 9.3 8.160.
THE CURRENT WRITING IS A FIRST VIOLATIONS, A WARNING, PROPOSED WARNING, SECOND VIOLATION.
THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS A $300 FINE AND A 90 DAY SUSPENSION.
WE PROPOSE A THOUSAND DOLLARS FINE.
THIRD VIOLATION, THE CITY HAS A $600 FINE AND A 365
[02:35:01]
DAY SUSPENSION.WE PROPOSE A $5,000 FINE AND A 30 DAY SUSPENSION, FOURTH VIOLATION, CURRENT THOUSAND DOLLARS FINE AND REVOCATION.
WE PROPOSE A $10,000 FINE AND A 90 DAY SUSPENSION.
AND THE FIFTH VIOLATION IS REVOCATION.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN FRONT OF YOU IS OUR LETTER, AS WELL AS ATTACHED TO IT IS A STRIKEOUT UNDERLINE THAT I'M SURE YOUR VERY DUTIFUL CITY ATTORNEY, MR. BARRY SCHULTZ CAN GO THROUGH WITH YOU.
BUT IT VERY CLEARLY CONCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT FROM THE MARKET OWNERS.
AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, UH, FOLLOWING OUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ENDURING ALL THIS.
UH, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE FROM THE AUDIENCE.
WE DO, AND I WILL ALSO READ OFF THOSE THAT, THAT TURNED IN SLIPS, BUT DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK AND WILL, UH, HONOR THOSE ALSO.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS ALEX AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBACCO OUTLETS, REPRESENTING RESPONSIBLE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS LEGALLY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.
WE APPRECIATE THE CITY COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING YOUTH AND ENSURING RESPONSIBLE RETAIL PRACTICES.
HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT TWO PARTS OF THE PROPOSED TRL ORDINANCE, THE RETAIL CAP, AND THE NON-TRANSFERABLE LICENSE REQUIREMENT, COULD HAVE UNEXPECTED EFFECTS ON EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES UNDER THE PROPOSED CAP OF 54 LICENSES.
IF A RETAILER CHOOSES TO SELL THEIR STORE AND THE CITY HAS ALREADY REACHED THE CAP, THE NEW BUYER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A TOBACCO LICENSE.
SINCE LICENSES ARE ALSO NON-TRANSFERABLE, THE CURRENT OWNER COULD LOSE SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS VALUE, EVEN IF THEY HAVE OPERATED RESPONSIBLY FOR YEARS.
DISTANCE AT PUNISHING GOOD OPERATORS, NOT BAD ACTORS WHO FOLLOW THE RULES AND SIMPLY WANT THE OPTION TO SELL OR TRANSFER THE BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADDING SOME FLEXIBILITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWING LICENSE TRANSFER WHEN OWNERSHIP CHANGES HANDS AT THE SAME LOCATION OR CREATING AN ALLOWANCE FOR EXISTING RETAILERS AND GOOD STANDING.
THIS WILL KEEP THINGS FAIR FOR RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES WHILE STILL ALLOWING THE CITY TO ENFORCE YOUTH ACCESS AND LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.
NATO SUPPORTS BALANCE REGULATION THAT PROTECTS YOUTH WHILE ENSURING SMALL RETAILERS ARE TREATED FAIRLY.
WE HOPE TO WORK WITH THE STAFF AND COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A POLICY THAT ACHIEVES BOTH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
I'M PEGGY WALKER, YOUTH MENTOR AND PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE.
I URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE COMMITMENT TO ADAPT THE TRL ORDINANCE, AND IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE REGULATIONS REGARDING THE DISTANCES TO SENSITIVE USES.
UNFORTUNATELY, REPORTS OF SALES AND ATTRACTIONS TO MINORS AT RETAIL OUTLETS WITHIN OR CLOSE TO A THOUSAND FEET OF SCHOOLS DO SPEAK TO THE PROBLEMS OF PROXIMITY, AS IS NOTED BY TESTIMONY OF PLENTY OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS AROUND THE COUNTY.
ALSO, I URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN RESTRICTIONS FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING WITHIN YOUTH SENSITIVE AREAS.
SUPPORTERS OF THIS TRL ARE COUNTING ON THESE REGULATIONS, NOT JUST FOR YOUTH SAFETY, BUT TO HELP PREVENT THE NORMALIZATION OF ADDICTIVE TOBACCO SUBSTANCES.
THIRD, PLEASE ENSURE ADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL REGULATION, LACK OF WHICH A SERIOUSLY WEAKENED TRL, UH, REGULATIONS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
FINALLY, IF YOU DO DECIDE TO ALLOW A LICENSED TRANSFER, IT SHOULD BE TO A FAMILY MEMBER ONLY PROVIDING THERE HAVE BEEN NO VIOLATIONS ONE TIME ONLY, AND SHOULD MIRROR ALL THE COUNTY REGULATIONS AND PROCESSES.
I AM THE REGION SENIOR LEAD FOR COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO HOLD ONTO YOUR COMMITMENT TO ADOPT A STRONG TRL, INCLUDING ADDING A PENALTY FOR THE FIRST VIOLATION AND EXTENDING YOUR LOOK BACK PERIOD TO FIVE YEARS.
I ALSO URGE YOU NOT TO ROLL BACK YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOLLOW THE MODEL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER OR YOUR OWN COUNTY, WHICH ARE BOTH STRONG MODELS OF TLS.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR CURRENT SUSPENSION STRUCTURE IN PLACE AND DO NOT WEAKEN YOUR PENALTY STRUCTURE BY SHORTENING SUSPENSIONS.
[02:40:01]
ARE WHAT WORK.MONETARY PENALTIES ARE A DROP IN THE BUCKET IN RELATION TO THE VOLUME OF SALES CONDUCTED OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE CHANGES, PLEASE USE THEM.
PLEASE USE THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER AS A RESOURCE.
THEY ARE LAWYERS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THEY SERVED TO HELP CREATE REPLICATIONS OF THE MODEL POLICY.
AND I ASK YOU TO USE THEM OVER SUPPORT FROM THE TOBACCO RETAILERS.
I ASK THAT YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR POLICY BY INCLUDING A PENALTY UPON THE FIRST VIOLATION AND EXTEND YOUR LOOKBACK PERIOD TO FIVE YEARS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE POLICIES LIKE THESE FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.
I WANNA NOTE THAT IT'S VERY COMMON FOR THE OPPOSITION, LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TOBACCO OUTLETS TO SHOW UP AT THE NEAR FINALIZATION OF A POLICY AS THEY DID AT THE LAST MEETING AND SAY THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE CHAIN WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
IT'S ALSO COMMON TO SEE THE OPPOSITION THREATEN A JURISDICTION WITH A LAWSUIT TO STOP A POLICY FROM MOVING FORWARD, OR PRESSURE CITY COUNCILS TO WEAKEN THEIR STANDARDS.
YOU DISCUSSED PUBLICLY THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND RETAILER OUTREACH YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN, AND THIS POLICY HAS BEEN IN A PUBLIC FORUM FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS, PROVIDING STAKEHOLDERS AMPLE TIME TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS COMPREHENSIVE TLS THAT MITIGATE YOUTH ACCESS TO ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
I'M HERE AS A MOTHER TO VOICE STRONG SUPPORT FOR ADOPTING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING PROGRAM IN NATIONAL CITY.
YOU'VE HEARD CLAIMS TONIGHT THAT THIS POLICY WILL CAUSE ECONOMIC DAMAGE OR THAT ONLY THE BAD ACTORS SHOULD BE TARGETED, BUT WITHOUT A LOCAL LICENSE, THE CITY HAS NO CONSISTENT WAY TO IDENTIFY OR MONITOR RETAILERS, WHICH MEANS ENFORCEMENT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON COMPLAINTS.
A LICENSING SYSTEM PROTECTS THE HONEST OPERATORS BY HOLDING EVERYONE TO THE SAME STANDARD.
YOU'VE ALSO HEARD ARGUMENTS TO ALLOW LICENSE TRANSFERS, REMOVE DISTANCE LIMITS NEAR SCHOOLS, OR AVOID CAPS ON THE NUMBER OF STORES.
THOSE CHANGES WOULD WEAKEN THE VERY PROTECTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO CREATE PROXIMITY LIMITS AND REASONABLE CAPS ARE NOT ANTI-BUSINESS.
THEY'RE PRO YOUTH AND PRO COMMUNITY SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT NEARLY 90% OF ADULT SMOKERS STARTED BEFORE AGE 18, AND NICOTINE IS ONE OF THE MOST ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES KNOWN.
EARLY EXPOSURE REWIRES THE DEVELOPING BRAIN AND INCREASES LIFELONG RISKS OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER, AND LUNG DAMAGE.
MEANWHILE, FLAVORED VAPES AND HIGH NICOTINE DEVICES ARE BEING PACKAGED AND PROMOTED IN WAYS THAT CLEARLY ATTRACT YOUTH, NOT ADULTS.
A LOCAL LICENSING SYSTEM GIVES NATIONAL CITY THE TOOLS TO RESPOND TO SET CLEAR RULES AND FORCE THEM FAIRLY AND CLOSE LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW BAD PRACTICES TO CONTINUE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT PUNISHING BUSINESS OWNERS, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND PROTECTING COMMUNITY HEALTH.
MANY CALIFORNIA CITIES HAVE ADOPTED SIM SIMILAR PROGRAMS AND SEEN MEASURABLE DROPS IN YOUTH TOBACCO ACCESS AND ILLEGAL SALES.
NATIONAL CITY DESERVES THE SAME SUCCESS.
PLEASE STAND WITH FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND HEALTH ADVOCATES BY PASSING A STRONG ENFORCEABLE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING PROGRAM THAT PUTS THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN ABOVE INDUSTRY PROFITS.
UM, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR, UM, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT E-CIGARETTES REMAINS A CON, A VERY BIG CONCERN AMONG OUR YOUTH.
IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO PASS A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE AS IT CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN REDUCING TEEN TOBACCO USE THROUGH SEVERAL MECHANISMS. OVER 90% OF CURTAIN SMOKERS BEGAN BEFORE THE AGE 19.
A TRL IN NATIONAL CITY WILL PROTECT THE HELP OF THEIR RESIDENTS BY REGULATING TOBACCO CELLS IN THE CITY.
NATIONAL CITY OWN DATA SHOWS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRE THEIR E-CIGARETTES THROUGH SOCIAL SOURCES, FOLLOWED BY RETAIL SOURCES.
TOBACCO RETAIL PROGRAM WILL REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS THROUGH LIMITING DENSITY AND NEARNESS TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER YOUTH SENSITIVE AREAS.
IMPLEMENTING A STRONG TRL WILL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR THE CITY, AND I URGE YOU TO CAP THE 50 PLUS STORES THAT SELL TOBACCO, ALONG WITH NOT ALLOWING TRANSFERS OF LICENSES.
PRL POLICIES HAVE PROVEN TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO VAPES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS LIKE LITTLE CIGARETTES OR NICOTINE POUCHES.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD IN IMPLEMENTING A TOBACCO RETAIL ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
[02:45:03]
HI, GOOD EVENING.UH, GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHARE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR 10 YEARS.
I'M CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY UC, SAN DIEGO HEALTHS, MORRIS CANCER CENTER, AND THE MANAGER OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
I'M COMMENTING IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY TONIGHT, BUT WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT MY ROLE BRINGS, I'M COMMENTING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, REINTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE AND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAMMING, AND THAT WE HAVE LOCAL OVERSIGHT OVER TOBACCO RETAILING IN THE CITY.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, THAT A STRONG TRL REDUCES YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WHICH ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE US AND THEY REDUCED THE SALE OF ILLEGAL FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, INCLUDING FLAVORED VAPES, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF YOUTH NICOTINE ADDICTION.
I JUST WANNA TAKE ANOTHER MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
LAST YEAR IN 2024, IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE EXPECTED MORE THAN 2 MILLION NEW CASES OF CANCER TO BE DIAGNOSED ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
AND WHILE WE SAW LOWER OVERALL CANCER DEATH RATES, INCIDENTS THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE FOR MANY COMMON CANCERS.
AND WE ALARMINGLY SEE AN INCREASE IN CERTAIN CANCERS IN YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.
THIS YEAR IN 2025, ANOTHER 42,000 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE DIAGNOSED ON TOP OF THAT 2 MILLION.
SO I JUST COME FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CANCER CONTROL.
I THINK THERE IS A WAY FORWARD THAT DOES NOT COMPROMISE THE, UH, HARD WORK OF OUR BUSINESSES, BUT THAT PRIORITIZES THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH AND AS CLEAR-EYED ABOUT THE POLICY INSTITUTE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JENNIFER GILL AND I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR AND PARENT OF THREE TEENS BASED IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
I FELT COMPELLED TO ATTEND TONIGHT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING THIS IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING YOUTH BY CONSIDERING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE.
CITIES THAT IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE POLICIES CAN REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO NICOTINE PRODUCTS BECAUSE THERE'S MORE LOCAL CONTROL IN HOW THOSE REGULATIONS ARE ENFORCED.
WITHOUT A LOCAL LICENSE, WE'RE SIMPLY RELYING ON LIMITED STATE ENFORCEMENT THAT CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS OF ENSURING ALL TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE SELLING PRODUCTS LEGALLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT INCLUDE INSPECTIONS OF ALL RETAILERS, AT LEAST ANNUALLY, AS WELL AS YOUTH DECOY OPERATIONS TO ENSURE RETAILERS ARE VERIFYING AGE AND NOT SELLING TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21, ARE ESSENTIAL TO REDUCING THE CHANCES OUR KIDS HAVE TO BUY THESE PRODUCTS.
FURTHERMORE, MAKING SURE THESE STORES ARE NOT SELLING FLAVORED PRODUCTS OR ARE NOT NEAR SCHOOLS AND OTHER YOUTH FRIENDLY PLACES, AS WELL AS OTHER TOBACCO AND CANNABIS RETAILERS CAN HELP PREVENT THE NORMALIZATION OF THESE PRODUCTS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE KNOW THAT IN OVERSATURATION OF STORES IN A CITY CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOUTH INITIATION OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE.
WITH 90% OF ADULT TOBACCO USERS STARTING BEFORE THE AGE OF 18.
REDUCING ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCTS SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY.
THESE POLICIES ARE NOT DESIGNED TO HINDER BUSINESS, BUT TO PREVENT EXPOSING A NEW GENERATION TO POTENTIAL NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AND SUBSEQUENT DISEASE AND DEATH.
I APPLAUD NATIONAL CITY CITY COUNCIL FOR TAKING THIS STEP IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF OUR THEIR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THEIR YOUTH.
AND I HOPE OTHER CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TAKE THIS CUE FROM NATIONAL CITY TO ADD THESE REGULATIONS TO THEIR EXISTING TOBACCO POLICIES SO ALL OF OUR KIDS CAN LIVE AND THRIVE IN COMMUNITIES THAT PUT THEIR HEALTH FIRST.
THANK YOU, LEONA DELGADO FLORES.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LENA DELGADO FLORES AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IN CALIFORNIA TO EXPRESS HER STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE REINTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION OF THE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE BOARD.
THIS ORDINANCE REPRESENTS A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PROTECT YOU FROM THE HARMS OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE ADDICTION.
A TRL PROGRAM EMPOWERS THE CITY TO CONSISTENTLY ENFORCE TOBACCO LAWS AND SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE RETAILERS WHO FOLLOW THE RULES.
WITHOUT SUCH A PROGRAM, ENFORCEMENT IS LIMITED AND VIOLATIONS OFTEN GO UNCHECKED.
STRONG ENFORCEMENT IS KEY TO PUBLIC HEALTH UNFAIRNESS.
RETAILERS WHO SELL ILLEGAL, FLAVORED OR COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS ENDANGER YOUTH AND UNDERMINE COMPLIANT BUSINESSES.
THE TRL PROGRAM CREATES A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL RETAILERS,
[02:50:01]
ENSURING THAT EVERYONE COMPLIES WITH LOCAL AND STATE LAWS.RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM A SYSTEM THAT HOLDS ALL RETAILERS TO THE SAME STANDARDS.
NATIONAL CITY DESERVES THE SAME SAFEGUARDS THAT MANY OTHER CALIFORNIA CITIES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED.
NATIONAL CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE OTHER 11 CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WITH A TRL IN PLACE.
A LOCAL TRL WILL HELP REDUCE ILLEGAL SALES TO MINORS, LIMIT THE INFLUENCE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS THAT TARGET YO YOUNG PEOPLE, AND CREATE A FAIR SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO COMPLIANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENSURING A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT WEAKENING ITS PROVISIONS AND CONSIDER ADDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.
THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF NATIONAL CITY'S YOUTH DEPENDS ON YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR MORRISON AND HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A POLICY MANAGER AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOUTH FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
I WANTED TO START OFF START OFF BY SAYING THAT REGULATIONS ARE NOT AN ATTACK IN AN INDUSTRY.
REGULATIONS SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN ENSURING BUSINESSES ARE COMPLIANT AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY OPERATE IN.
A TRL IS SIMPLY PUT IN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND AN INJURY THAT HAS PREYED UPON AT RISK COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THEY PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY HEALTH.
I WORKED IN THE TOBACCO USE PREVENT, UH, I WORKED IN TOBACCO USE PREVENTION WITH YOUTH FOR MANY YEARS, AND I PROMISE YOU THAT NOT HAVING A LIMIT ON WHERE THESE TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE SOLD HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE TOBACCO USE IS WIDELY ACCEPTED AND PROMINENT LEADING TO YOUTHS TO COMING TO THIS DANGEROUS INDUSTRY.
I ASK THAT THE CITY TAKE A STANCE AND PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY HEALTH OVER INDUSTRY PROFIT AND TO ADOPT THE TRL.
OKAY, MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS.
WE ALSO HAD INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO REGISTER EITHER IN FAVOR OR OPPOSE, BUT DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
THERE WERE FOUR THAT REGISTERED SAYING THAT THEY WERE IN FAVOR.
UH, THERE WERE SIX THAT REGISTERED THAT THEY WERE OPPOSED.
THOSE WILL BE PART OF THE RECORD.
ANOTHER ONES THAT DIDN'T WANNA SPEAK BUT DIDN'T SAY WHICH WAY THEY WERE.
SO, UH, BUT WE WILL ENTER THOSE ALSO INTO THE RECORD WITH THAT.
UM, THAT BASICALLY CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION? SECOND.
I, I'M SORRY, WHAT? CAN I HAVE A CLARIFI NOTIFICATION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I HEARD? UH, I'M SORRY.
WE'LL, PROBABLY THEY'LL, THEY'LL PROBABLY GET COVERED WITHIN THE CONVERSATION.
IT'LL PROBABLY GET COVERED IN THE CONVERSATION.
YOU ALREADY HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK AND SO WE CAN'T LET YOU GO A SECOND TIME.
UM, WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
AYE, LET'S JUST CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.
WE CAN START DISCUSSING IT AND ASKING QUESTIONS, THINGS ALONG THAT LINE.
SO WE'LL SEE WHERE ALL THAT GOES.
MAYOR, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, IF WE DO, UH, BESIDES THE STAFF, ARE WE OPEN TO HAVING SOME REPRESENTATIVES IF, UH, WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS? SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WANTED TO ASK AN INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE A QUESTION OR IF I WANTED TO, UH, ONE OF THE ADVOCATES A QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR UNDERSTANDING.
'CAUSE I, HONESTLY, THERE'S SOME THINGS I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THERE.
IF WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, YES, WE CAN DO THAT.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, YES, MEMBER.
UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS COME BEFORE US, UH, SEVERAL TIMES NOW.
UM, I DO APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR THE CONFUSION HERE, HAVING TO REINTRODUCE THE MATTER BEFORE US.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, MAKE AN, A VERY NECESSARY CHANGE TO THE LANGUAGE.
UM, IF YOU WERE PRESENT TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
UM, I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE EXISTING LANGUAGE WAS PASSED.
[02:55:01]
UM, TWO WEEKS AGO.I HAD PROPOSED, UH, MAKING A CHANGE TO THE LANGUAGE THAT ADDRESSES THE COMMUNITIES, THE SMALL BUSINESS, UM, OR JUST THE BUSINESSES THAT CAME BEFORE US REQUESTING A TRANSFERABILITY OF THE LICENSE.
AND I WAS, UM, IN FAVOR OF THAT.
AND THAT IS A CHANGE THAT I HAD PROPOSED TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT MADE IT INTO THE, UM, LANGUAGE THAT, THAT IS BEFORE US.
WELL, NOW THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A STAB AT IT, I'M GONNA MAKE THE SAME REQUEST AND, AND, UM, EXPLAIN IT HOPEFULLY IN A WAY THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE, UH, CAN, CAN, UM, MAYBE HEAR MY RATIONALE AGAIN.
UM, AND, AND, AND THINK ABOUT IT IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.
I WANNA REALLY SINCERELY THANK EVERYBODY THAT IS, UM, IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING YOUTH, SAY SAN DIEGO AND EVERYBODY THAT IS, I MEAN, THAT IS PRIMARILY ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, UM, I AM, I I AM IN SUPPORT OF A TRL AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I AM IN SUPPORT OF A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
UM, THERE ARE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE THOUGH, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE PUNISHING OUR SMALL BUSINESS RETAILERS.
I KEEP SAYING SMALL BUSINESS, I REALIZE SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE NOT SMALL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, UM, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT FAIR.
UM, SO I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, THE SAN DIEGO LAND LAWYERS AND THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME BEFORE US TO EXPLAIN.
UM, AND THEN ALSO JUST PROVIDING, UM, VERY CLEARLY THE, THE, THE INFORMATION OR THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE SEEKING.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THE CHANGES REGARDING THE, UM, UH, DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN CHANGING ANY OF THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S RED LINES THAT YOU PROVIDED, BUT MOST OF THOSE REGARDING DISTANCE CHANGES, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF.
I DO WANT TO HAVE A STRONG TRL, OTHERWISE, WHAT'S THE POINT? UM, SO I'M, I'M NOT GONNA COVER THAT.
I DO APPRECIATE IN OUR ORDINANCE, AND IT IS SECTION 9.3, 8.040 LIMITS ON ELIGIBILITY FOR A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE.
THERE'S SEVERAL RED LINES, UM, THAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF.
ACTUALLY, NONE OF THOSE RED LINES I'M IN FAVOR OF.
SO I DO WANT TO REITERATE, UM, SECTION H MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSES.
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I DO HAVE FOR STAFF AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MR. READER.
UM, IF I ADDRESS THIS QUESTION TO YOU, IT SAYS ON HERE, MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSEES, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSES WITHIN THE CITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO 54.
UM, IS IS, UH, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WE HAD, UM, THE LAST TIME THAT WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE NUMBER SHOULD BE, UM, IS, I GUESS NOW IT'S IN HERE.
SO IS THERE LIKE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS THE ACCURATE NUMBER, UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR? YES, MA'AM.
THAT WAS THE LAST NUMBER WE, WE LANDED UPON.
THERE WAS A, A RATIO THAT WE USED, YOU KNOW, ONE LICENSE PER HOWEVER MANY, HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY AT THE TIME.
AND WE, WE DID GO BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I CAN LOOK AT MY NOTES WHILE WE'RE SPEAKING, BUT THAT WAS THE 54 WAS THE MOST RECENT ONE.
WHAT THE, THE POINT THAT I WANNA MAKE IS I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THE EXISTING RETAILERS IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY WILL BE LEFT OUT.
NO, I BELIEVE THAT THAT INCORPORATED ALL THE, ALL THE EXISTING ONES PLUS ADDED A LITTLE BIT OF A BUFFER.
IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT AMOUNT THAT EXISTS NOW.
SO THEN THE NEXT POINT, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MAYOR? NO, I, I, I WAIT TILL YOU'RE FINISHED.
'CAUSE I'M, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS.
WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY.
OKAY, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.
SO THE NEXT POINT I HAVE IS, UH, IN THAT SAME SECTION, SECTION I EXISTING RETAILERS, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SECTION THAT SPEAKS TO GRANDFATHERING IN THE, UM, ALL EXISTING RETAILERS IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY RIGHT NOW, REGARDLESS OF THEIR, OF THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE DETAILED DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE ORDINANCE REGARDING TO A THOUSAND FEET OF SENSITIVE AREAS.
HOWEVER, EXISTING RETAILERS THAT DON'T MEET THAT REQUIREMENT WILL STILL QUALIFY FOR THIS TRL IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY BECAUSE THEY ARE EXISTING RETAILERS AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO PUNISH, YOU KNOW, TO BE PUNITIVE.
[03:00:01]
IS, AM I GETTING THAT CORRECT, MARTIN? UH, YES.SO I THINK, I FEEL THAT THAT TAKES CARE OF, UM, THIS DISTANCE REQUIREMENT IN TWO WAYS.
ONE, EXISTING RETAILERS, WHETHER THEY MEET THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT OR NOT, UM, WILL QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE.
AND TWO, UM, THE CAB THERE IS A CAB WE'RE SAYING 54 LICENSES IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
SO, UM, THE DISTANCE, WHETHER THE DISTANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE 1000 FEET, YOU KNOW, UM, PER, UM, PERIMETERS, NOT PERIMETERS, BUT UH, CIRCLES ALL OVER THE CITY.
UM, WHETHER THAT SHRINKS, UM, IT'S, THERE'S STILL A CAP.
IT'S 54 AND THOSE ARE ALREADY EXISTING RETAILERS, RIGHT? UH, PLUS OR MINUS, MAYBE TWO.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY HERE IS I DON'T THINK CHANGING THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE ORDINANCE IS GOING TO AFFECT THIS, UM, GRANDFATHERING IN OF EXISTING RETAILERS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO ADDRESS, UM, THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
SO, SO ALL OF THAT IS JUST TO SAY I'M NOT IN INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
NOW WHAT I DO, WHAT I AM IN FAVOR OF, AND THIS IS THE CHANGE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, IS, UH, REGARDING TRANSFERABILITY, UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF A, UH, BEING ABLE TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE.
AND THIS WOULD BE SECTION 9.38110.
AND IT IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY SIMPLE CHANGE, UH, TO THE LANGUAGE IN SECTION A.
I WOULD, UM, THE FIRST SENTENCE LICENSE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE IS THE FIRST SENTENCE.
THEN THE NEXT ONE IS A TOBACCO RETAILER'S LICENSE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO STRIKE NOT SO THAT IT READS A TOBACCO RETAILER'S LICENSE MAY BE TRANSFERRED AND THEN STRIKE FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER SO THAT IT READS FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER.
THE SENTENCE IS, A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER IN THAT EXISTING LOCATION, UM, THAT EXISTING, UM, ADDRESS.
AND THEN THE SECOND CENT OR THE THIRD SENTENCE HERE, I WOULD STRIKE THAT ENTIRELY 'CAUSE IT WOULD NO LONGER APPLY.
A NEW TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE IS REQUIRED WHENEVER A TOBACCO RETAILER HAS A NEW TOBACCO RETAIL LOCATION OR A LOCATION HAS CHANGED IN PROPRIETORS THAT NO LONGER ENTERS THE EQUATION.
SO THAT'S THE CHANGE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
'CAUSE I DO WANT, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE LICENSE, THE GRANDFATHERED IN LICENSES SHOULD BE TRANSFERABLE SO THAT IT IS NOT PUNITIVE TO THE EXISTING PROPRIETORS IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, UM, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO SELL THEIR BUSINESSES.
UH, AND I MAKE THAT IN A FORM OF A MOTION.
MAYOR C, COULD I ASK A CLARIFICATION QUESTION? UM, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOTION IS TO SEE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THE 1000 FOOT, YOU WANT TO KEEP IT IN THERE, BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES THAT DON'T ALREADY EXIST.
I'M NOT CHANGING ANYTHING IN THE LANGUAGE RELATED TO DISTANCE.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT WHAT, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE GRANDFATHERING ONES THAT EXIST ALREADY AND THEY CAN TRANSFER EVEN IF THEY'RE WITHIN THE 1000 FOOT, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, THAT'S WHAT IT ALLOWS.
I KNOW, BUT SO WHEN, WHEN, LIKE IN, IN, UH, NINE DASH 38 DASH FOUR ZERO WHEN IT SAYS THAT, UH, UH, NO NEW ESTABLISHED, UH, BUSINESSES REQUESTING TO BE WITHIN THAT THOUSAND FEET.
SO YOU'RE SAYING IF IT'S A BRAND NEW BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOCATION THAT'S NOT SELLING NOW THAT'S WITHIN THE THOUSAND FEET, IT CAN'T GET A LICENSE, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET THE THOUSAND FEET REQUIREMENT.
BUT IF THERE'S ONE THAT EXISTS WITHIN THAT THOUSAND FEET AND THEY WANT TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE, THEY WANT TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE, OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A TRANSFER THE LICENSE OR GET A NEW LICENSE, UH, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO ELIGIBLE TO GET A NEW LICENSE, UH, THEY COULD DO THAT.
BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS IF WE TAKE THE THOUSAND FOOT AND YOU TAKE THE, THE DEFINITIONS THAT IT HAS THERE, IT'S NOT ONLY SCHOOLS, IT'S PLAYGROUNDS, IT'S PARKS, IT'S DAYCARE CENTERS, IT'S A BUILDING THAT COULD BE USED FOR YOUTH, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS.
BY THE TIME YOU PUT THOSE THOUSAND FEET RADIUSES AROUND THERE, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT IN THE CITY.
SO THIS IS WHY I DON'T WANNA OVERCOMPLICATE IT BECAUSE IT CAN BECOME SUPER OVER COMPLICATED.
WELL, SO I, I JUST THINK THAT WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A DISTINCTION THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS,
[03:05:01]
THAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A BUSINESS THAT THAT ALREADY EXISTS.THAT JUST, THAT THEY HAVE SELLING, THEY'RE SELLING THEIR BUSINESS THAT IT CAN CONTINUE.
I KNOW MARTIN WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I, I AM BEING VERY CAREFUL IN USING THE WORD TRANSFER OF A LICENSE BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA CREATE A NEW LICENSE.
AND THEN THIS IDEA THAT A NEW LICENSE NOW DOESN'T FIT INTO THIS GRANDFATHERING IN IT, IT, THE GRANDFATHERED IN LICENSES ARE GRANDFATHERED IN.
SO I JUST WANNA GET AWAY FROM THIS LINK.
I WANNA CAREFUL THE LANGUAGE WHERE HE SAYS NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS.
SO, MARTIN, WERE YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING? I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
SORRY, I HATE TO USE THAT WORD 'CAUSE IT GETS USED A LOT, BUT WE'RE, MOST OF THE DISCUSSION WAS ON PERSON TO PERSON TRANSFERS NOT LOCATION TO LOCATION TRANSFER.
SO I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE WELL, GENERALLY WITH LOCATION TO LOCATION, WE DON'T ALLOW THAT FOR RIGHT? NOT TO A NEW LOCATION.
SO JUST PERSON TO, I GUESS IT WOULD BE PERSON TO PERSON, SO PERSON TO PERSON TRANSFERS OR WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THAT? YES.
I THINK I MISSED, I I CONFUSED IT.
I I HAVE ANOTHER CLARIFICATION.
SO DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THAT AGAIN? SO GENERALLY, UH, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THINGS THAT ARE, UM, GONNA BE NON-CONFORMING BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING THE ORDINANCE, WE CALL THAT GRANT, WE'RE GONNA GRANDFATHER IN BUSINESSES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, ALL THE CURRENT BUSINESSES WE'RE LOOKING TO GRANDFATHER IN AND ALLOW THEM TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE FOR THAT BUSINESS LOCATION MM-HMM
THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND FOR BUSINESS LOCATION AND WHETHER THEY TRANSFER IT TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR NON-FAMILY MEMBER, THAT BUSINESS WE'RE SAYING CAN CONTINUE TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN MM-HMM
SO I JUST WANT TO, THAT'S TO ME IS VERY CLEAR.
YOUR BUSINESS LOCATION WE ARE SAYING IS GRANDFATHERED IN AND IT'S GRANDFATHERED IN INDEFINITELY.
THE PEOPLE, I KNOW THAT ORIGINALLY THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO COULD GET A LICENSE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UM, I THINK, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS AND SAYING THEY CAN TRANSFER IT, SELL IT.
SO I, I DO GET THAT MAKES IT PRETTY SIMPLE FOR US.
AND I WANNA KEEP THIS SIMPLE, RIGHT? IT'S SO EASY TO OVERCOMPLICATE ALL THIS.
UM, YOU JUST, ONE THING YOU SAID, SCOTT, UM, SOMETHING ABOUT TRANSFERRING THE LICENSE OR THE BUSINESS TO A FAMILY MEMBER.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING IN HERE ABOUT DEFINITION OF AN ARMS LENGTH TRANSACTION.
IT WOULD NEED TO A TRA A SELLING OF THE BUSINESS, THE NEW PROPRIETOR.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AN ARM'S LENGTH TRANSACTION, WHICH WOULD MEAN IT PROHIBITS SELLING THE BUSINESS TO A FAMILY MEMBER.
IS THAT CORRECT? I I WOULDN'T GO, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT, WITH THE BUSINESS.
I THINK WE JUST WANT TO SAY YOU CAN SELL YOUR BUSINESS TO WHOEVER.
IT'S A CONFORMING BUSINESS BECAUSE WE'RE GRANDFATHERING IT IN.
UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT DISTINCTION ONLY BECAUSE I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS PRETTY DIFFERENT FROM THE LANGUAGE IN THE COUNTY'S TRL WHERE THE COUNTY'S TRL ALLOWS YOU TO SELL YOUR LICENSE, OR I'M SORRY, SELL YOUR BUSINESS AND TRANSFER THE LICENSE SOLELY TO A FAMILY MEMBER.
WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S THAT WAY.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
LET'S NOT GET INTO THAT DISCUSSION THOUGH.
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT LANGUAGE HERE.
ALL THAT I'M SAYING IS CHANGE THE LANGUAGE ON THE TRANSFERABILITY IN SECTION 9.3810.
SO I, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, I THINK I, I WANT TO HEAR MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFF.
SO I THINK I AGREE WITH THAT IN CONCEPT.
BUT I, WHAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT I THINK THAT IF AN EXISTING GRANDFATHERED BUSINESS HAS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS, THEN I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSFER.
I THINK WE CAN ALSO EDIT AND ADD.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S IN THE DI I'M SORRY.
OH, DO YOU MIND TURNING ON YOUR MIC AND, SORRY, JUST FURTHER.
SO I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE SECOND LETTER WE RECEIVED FROM SAN DIEGO LAND LAWYERS DATED OCTOBER 21.
THEY'RE PROPOSING, UM, THE VIOLATIONS THAT WOULD APPLY.
AND THESE ARE DETAILED UNDER SECTION 9.3, 8.160 AND HOW THEY
[03:10:01]
PROPOSED TO CHANGE THEM, I THINK, IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE LICENSE REVOCATION AFTER THE FIFTH VIOLATION? MARK? WELL, ITEM B TALKS ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, BUSH IS TALKING ABOUT.AND FRANKLY, THAT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A MOTIVATOR THAN SOME FINES AND RIGHT NOTICES IS IF YOU HAVE A VIOLATION, IT'S GONNA AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO TRANSFER.
BECAUSE NOW IF YOU HAVE TWO, IT'S GONNA COUNT ON THE NEXT PERSON'S.
DON'T VIOLATE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
IT'S A GOOD, YOU KNOW, GOOD MOTIVATOR.
AND AGAIN, YOU'RE ALLOWING IT TO BE TRANSFERRED IN PERPETUITY.
WHICH IS REALLY ADDRESSES MOST OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD IN TERMS OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH THEIR BUSINESS.
SO THIS WOULDN'T BE THREE OR FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS FOR THE LIFE OF THE BUSINESS.
AND THAT'S A GREAT MOTIVATOR TO KEEP YOU IN COMPLIANCE.
THE, UH, STAFF, IF I COULD ASK YOU ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, WHAT IS THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR CANNABIS? UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S 250 FEET.
SO YEAH, IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.
FOR CANNABIS IT'S 250 FEET AND FOR TOBACCO IT'LL BE A THOUSAND FEET.
UH, KIND OF, KIND OF WONDER ON THAT ONE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
ON OTHER LICENSES, DO WE DO, DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT IF THEY DON'T, IN THIS CASE THE LICENSE IS ONE YEAR LICENSE AND YOU GOTTA APPLY FOR IT ON A YEARLY BASIS.
AND IF THEY DO NOT APPLY FOR IT AND PAY FOR IT, UH, 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF WHEN THEIR YEAR IS UP, THEY LOSE THEIR LICENSE.
DO WE HAVE THAT WITH ANYTHING ELSE OR, I MEAN, IS THAT OUR NORMAL FOR NO, NO.
WE, WE GENERALLY WOULD LOOK AT THE RULES FOR WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, FOR OPERATING WITHOUT A LICENSE.
UM, AND THEY WOULD HAVE UP TO 12 IF THEY WERE GRANDFATHERED IN, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR GRANDFATHERED OR THEIR NONCONFORMING STATUS, RATHER IF THAT USAGE DISCONTINUED FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 12 MONTHS.
SO, SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF, IF THEIR LICENSE WAS UP, SHALL WE SAY JUNE 30TH, AND THEY GO IN AND THEY APPLY FOR THEIR LICENSE ON JUNE THE SEVENTH, SHALL WE SAY, AND PAY FOR IT, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR LICENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT IN ADVANCE AND APPLYING FOR IT IN ADVANCE.
AND I DON'T THINK WE DO THAT WITH ANY OTHER BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S SOME THINGS THERE THAT JUST DON'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, ON THIS AND, AND SEE MY WHOLE, MY PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WAS WE DEFINITELY NEED LICENSING FOR TOBACCO.
WE NEED MORE, UH, SUPERVISION OF IT.
WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT OF IT AND TO KEEP IT.
AND SO THAT AS WE, I THINK THEY WAS USED THE BAD APPLES, WE DEAL WITH THE BAD APPLES AND YOU KNOW, AND WE HOPE THE GOOD APPLES WILL STAY GOOD.
I THINK WE ALL WANT THAT AND KEEP THAT AWAY FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.
WHAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS WHEN IT GOT INTO A WHOLE BUNCH OF PLANNING AND ZONING AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUTH, BUT START DEALING WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT WAS GETTING AWAY FROM YOUTH AND GETTING INTO JUST KIND OF OUTLAWING, OUTLAWING THESE BUSINESSES.
UM, AND THAT, THAT, THAT WAS WHEN, WHEN I, UH, YOU KNOW, HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT, OF COURSE THAT WAS A AUTOMATICALLY PORTRAYED THAT I WAS AGAINST YOUTH, WHICH IS KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EASY WAY OUT ON THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, BUT I THINK IT WAS, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THIS IS BEING TREATED, THIS IS BEING TREATED IN ANY OTH DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
AND, UM, AND SO YEAH, I, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS WITH A NUMBER OF THESE DIFFERENT PROVISIONS.
THERE'S ALSO AN AREA IN HERE THAT SAID THAT IF YOU, UH, IF YOU GO 60 DAYS SUSPEND IN ANY WAY THAT YOU'RE NOT USING YOUR LICENSE FOR 60 DAYS, YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE.
BUT THEN IN THE PROVISIONS THERE FOR THE, UH, FOR THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD, UH, VIOLATIONS, BY THE TIME YOU GET INTO THE SECOND, SECOND VIOLATION, YOU'VE LOST YOUR LICENSE.
EVEN THOUGH IT, YOU CLAIMS YOU STILL GOT A THIRD AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE FOURTH BEFORE YOU LOSE IT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CLEANUP I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON SOME OF THESE THINGS MAYBE.
UM, AND, AND I, I NEED BARRY TO CHIME IN.
YOU, YOU CAN STATE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND TELL US TO MAKE SURE THE WORDING REFLECTS THAT.
I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, YOU, WE CAN MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A, AS AN EXAMPLE,
[03:15:01]
UH, ONE CAN PAY FOR A LICENSE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS.YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WE'RE TRYING TO COLLECT A FEE TO IMPLEMENT, IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM.
AND SO IF THERE'S, UH, ABILITY FOR THEM TO PAY FOR MULTIPLE YEAR LICENSES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BE FLEXIBLE ON THAT.
UH, THE TIME PERIOD COULD BE FLEXIBLE FROM 30 TO 60, GENERALLY WANT IT TO BE FAIRLY SHORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE CREATING A PROCESS 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REACH OUT TO 'EM.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT INFORMS 'EM OF THE TIMING.
UM, SO FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, IF I CAN GET MULTI-YEAR LICENSING PAID FOR, THAT'S MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM, MAKES IT EASIER FOR US.
WE'RE NOT DOING A COLLECTIONS PROGRAM, UH, AROUND IT.
UM, BUT IN GENERAL, IF YOU TELL US YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND WE NEED TO GO BACK AND CORRECT THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT ALL THE SECTIONS MEET THAT, I GUESS I'M ASKING BARRY, IS THAT OKAY TO DO IT THAT WAY? OR DO WE, SHOULD WE JUST GO THROUGH IT TONIGHT AND JUST GET IT DONE? LET'S LOOK AT THE SECTIONS, CHANGE 'EM RIGHT NOW.
LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S, IT'S, IT WORKS GOOD.
SO IF THE GOAL IS TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE TONIGHT,
WHERE YOU WANNA MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
SO THAT'S A CHOICE FOR YOU, FOR THE CHAIR.
IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S NOT YOUR GOAL, THEN YOU CAN DO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SUGGESTED IS POINT US TO THESE PROVISIONS THAT YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS ON.
WE CAN WORK THROUGH THEM AND BRING THEM BACK AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR INTRODUCTION.
NOW THE OTHER THING I WOULD SUGGEST IS IF WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME TIME, AND THERE'S SOME AREAS WE MAY WANT TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TWO SIDES.
I'M GONNA SAY THE TWO SIDES TO GET THEIR INPUT SO THAT WHAT WE BRING BACK NEXT TIME EVERYBODY CAN AGREE TO, BECAUSE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, YOU'RE GONNA BE HERE EVERY COUNCIL MEETING.
LIKE WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER PEOPLE DOING, YOU KNOW, COMPLAINING.
SO, SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO OPTIONS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
A THIRD ONE WOULD BE GIVE US VERY SPECIFIC WAIT, YOU SPECIFIC? WAIT, YOU ASKED ME DIDN'T
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA COME UP WHEN WE START IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM IN JANUARY.
SO I'M, I, I'M, I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED IN TERMS OF OUR COMMITMENT TO SAY WE'RE TRYING TO ROLL THIS OUT IN JANUARY AND HAVING US STARTING AND STILL ADOPTING SOMETHING IN DECEMBER.
'CAUSE THEN I, I'M NOT 30 DAYS AWAY FROM EMPLOYING THE PROGRAM, SO I'M JUST, I OFFER THAT AS A, ANOTHER OPTION IS CORRECT.
A FEW OF THESE ITEMS AND OKAY, LET'S GET GOING AND WE CAN FINE TUNE IT LATER.
I THOUGHT, I KNOW ADIDAS WAS NEXT AND THEN WE GOT, UH, JOSE, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.
UM, THE CHANGE OR THE, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA, BECAUSE MOST OF THE RETAILERS THAT HAVE, UH, SPOKEN, THEIR CONCERN IS ABOUT TRANSFERABILITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT CHANGE YOU, I MEAN, CURED EVERYTHING.
EACH OF THOSE OWNERS CAN SELL IT TO ANYONE.
AS LONG AS THEY STAY THERE, THEY DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING AND THEY'RE GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE GONNA BE GRANDFATHERED.
THE WORD GRANDFATHER IS BEING RESPECTED HERE.
AND THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA.
AND SO ANYTHING HERE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME MINOR TWEAKINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, NMS AND UM, AND UM, SAY WOULD COME TOGETHER AND BUTT HEADS AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THOSE TWEAKINGS BUT THAT CHANGE FROM ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE HERE ABOUT TRANSFERABILITY CURED THAT BY THAT CHANGE.
UH, MEMBER, UH, UH, RODRIGUEZ.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING, UH, TODAY.
I APOLOGIZE I'M NOT THERE IN PERSON, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND I EMPATHIZE WITH A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, MY FAMILY AND I BEING BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL, REALIZING HOW DIFFICULT IT'S TO RUN AS BUSINESS, UM, AND, AND HOW DIFFICULT AND CUMBERSOME SOMETIMES OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN BE.
AND SO I, I CERTAINLY EMPATHIZE AND I ALSO EMPATHIZE WITH A LOT OF OUR YOUTH.
[03:20:01]
A REMINDER, WHY THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE, UH, PRINCIPALS AT SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL, NATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRANGER, ALONG WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF, REALIZED THAT THIS ISSUE OF VAPING IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FOR OUR YOUTH.AND IT'S NOT FAIR FOR OUR KIDS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR NEIGHBORS OF THE SOUTH CHULA VISTA, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SOMETHING AROUND ALONG THE LINES OF 60 LICENSES FOR THEIR ENTIRE CITY, WHICH IS FOUR TIMES LARGER THAN OURS.
AND HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, WE ARE COMPACTING THESE LICENSES, ESSENTIALLY URGING OUR YOUTH TO UTILIZE, UM, TOBACCO.
IT'S BAD FOR THEM, IT'S BAD FOR OUR KIDS.
I'VE HEARD THIS FROM SOME OF THE OWNERS AS WELL.
WE TELL OUR KIDS NOT TO SMOKE BECAUSE WE REALIZE IT'S BAD.
AND SO I EMPATHIZE WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
I AM, UH, AT THE SAME TIME REALIZING WHERE THE CONVERSATION IS GOING.
I WOULD BE OPEN TO, UM, MAKING SOME OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDATIONS WITH COUNCILOR MOLINA, UM, IF WE MODIFY THE THOUSAND FEET BARRIER DOWN TO 500 FEET.
UM, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE TO, TO QUOTE UNQUOTE TRANSFER THEIR BUSINESS.
I MEAN, UH, THEIR LICENSE ULTIMATELY, THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR A NEW LICENSE ITSELF.
BUT, UM, I THINK, I THINK, LOOK, THEY SHOULD NOT BE NECESS SCHOOLS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SELLING VAPING PRODUCTS NEXT TO SCHOOLS.
AND, AND THE, AND THE REASON WE ACTUALLY PUT THE, UM, NUMBER OF LICENSES SO HIGH IS BECAUSE WE REALIZE THOSE ARE THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES THAT CURRENTLY SELL LICENSES.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO IMPACT THEM RIGHT NOW.
BUT THE IDEA IS TO PHASE OUT THIS PRODUCTS, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO SCHOOLS.
AND SO I AM MUCH, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO BE TO, TO, TO, TO NEGOTIATE AND BE REASONABLE.
UM, REALIZING THIS WOULD IMPACT A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO REALIZING THAT I CARE ABOUT MY KIDS' YOUTH, UH, UH, MY KIDS' HEALTH.
I CARE ABOUT THEM SIGNIFICANTLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, LEVEL, MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
AND BY THE WAY, MANY OF US WERE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GAME LAST WEEK, AND TELL YOU WHAT, THOSE RESTROOMS WERE LEFT OPEN.
AND I ASK SECURITY WHY, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAID? KIDS ARE VAPING IN THERE.
IF WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE PROHIBIT THIS PRODUCTS BEING SOLD NEXT TO SCHOOLS.
UH, I HAVE A CLARIFICATION, MAYOR.
UH, FOR THE COMMENT THAT, UM, MR. RODRIGUEZ MADE, UH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENT REGARDING SHRINKING THE BUFFER ZONE FROM 1000 FEET TO 500 FEET.
I THINK THAT CONTRADICTS YOUR POINT ABOUT GETTING THESE BUSINESSES, UM, NOT CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, RIGHT? IT'S A BUFFER ZONE.
SO THE, THE BIGGER THE BUFFER ZONE, THE MORE PROTECTED THE SCHOOLS ARE.
YOU'RE SAYING, I COMPLETELY AGREE, BUT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY YOU WANNA SHRINK THE BUFFER ZONE TO 500 FEET.
I, I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE FOR THE, UH, ORIGINAL MOTION AND THE LAWS PROPOSED TO SIMPLY STAY, BUT REALIZING THAT THE VOTES MIGHT NOT BE THERE IN ORDER TO COMPROMISE WITH OTHERS TO MODIFY THE BUFFER ZONE FROM A THOUSAND FEET TO 500 FEET.
BUT I, I DID NOT PROPOSE ANY CHANGES TO THE DISTANCE, TO THE BUFFER ZONE IN MY MOTION.
NO, WE, NO, BUT AGAIN, I AM TRYING TO MEET YOU HALFWAY HERE BECAUSE WE, YOUR PROPOSAL STATES THAT YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER THAT LICENSE REGARDLESS IF IT IS WITHIN THE THOUSAND FEET OR NOT.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS LICENSES WOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSFER IF IT IS, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE 500 FEET.
SO I'M TRYING TO BE AS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK, UM, JUST, I THINK, UM, THERE IS TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES HERE.
I THINK WHAT, UH, LEWIS AND MY MYSELF, UH, ARE SAYING IS THAT, UH, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS GRANDFATHERING OR THE EXISTING BUSINESSES, AND PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT ARE THE GOOD ACTORS.
AND, UM, I, SO I THINK IT ADDRESSES THAT WITHOUT, BECAUSE YOU WANT THAT 1000 FEET, THE BIGGER BUFFER.
SO WE'RE SAYING THAT'S OKAY, BUT THEN AT LEAST WE'RE NOT PUNISHING THE GOOD ACTORS, THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE, UM, THE NUMBER OF, UH, VIOLATIONS, THAT THEY CAN STILL TRANSFER THEIR LICENSES, THE EXISTING ONES, AND THAT NEW BUSINESSES WOULD BE PROHIBITED OR NEW LOCATIONS WITHIN THAT 1000 FEET.
AND, AND I WOULD LIKE TO RE I HEAR YOU, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THAT UNDER THE CURTAIN ORDINANCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A, UM, FINITE NUMBER OF LICENSES THAT WE WOULD BE ALLOWING, THESE ARE THE SAME
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NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST, RIGHT? SO, SO, UM, I SUPPOSE SOMEBODY COULD TRY APPLYING, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO LICENSES TO GIVE OUT FROM THE CITY.SO, SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS TO COMPROMISE, MOVE THE THOUSAND TO 500.
I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THERE BEING BUSINESSES SELLING TOBACCO WITHIN 500 FEET, 400, 300, 250 FEET, WHICH IS WHAT THE PROPOSAL THAT MOLINA, UH, MENTIONED WOULD DO.
RIGHT? EVEN IF IT IS WITHIN 200, UM, AND 50 FEET, THAT LICENSE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED.
AND I WOULD LIKE A LARGER BUFFER.
ALRIGHT? A A A COUPLE OF THINGS IS, AND I AGREE THAT THE EXISTING BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
AND WHETHER IF THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP OR SUBSEQUENT OWNERSHIP, UM, THAT SHOULD BE A RIGHT OF A BUSINESS.
THE, UM, THE DEAL IS HERE IS THAT WE NEED, AS THE ENFORCEMENT, THAT IS THE WHOLE KEY ON THIS THING.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WE DON'T WANT 'EM VAPING.
WELL, GOOD, LET'S MAKE SURE NO ONE IS IN NATIONAL CITY IS VAPING.
NOW, THEY MAY GO TO PARADISE HILLS OR CHULA VISTA TO BUY IT, BUT NOT IN NATIONAL CITY.
LET'S SHUT DOWN, YOU KNOW, ON, ON ANYONE WHO'S SELLING, UH, FLAVOR DEALS.
LET'S SHUT DOWN ON ANYONE WHO'S SELLING LESS THAN A PACK OF CIGARETTES.
AND THAT INCLUDES STREET VENDORS THAT SELL AN INDIVIDUAL CIGARETTE FOR A DOLLAR A PIECE.
LET'S STOP ALL THAT STUFF THAT'S GETTING TO KIDS.
UM, THE, UH, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY WE DEAL WITH THIS THING, NOT BY GOING AFTER BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HAVE BEEN, HAD A LONG HISTORY OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.
UM, AND SO, SO AS I SAID, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS IN HERE THAT JUST MAKE NO SENSE.
UH, THE IDEA OF HAVING TO SUBMIT PAYMENT AND AN APPLICATION MORE THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE YOUR LICENSE IS DUE, WE DON'T DO THAT WITH ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
UM, AND OTHERWISE YOU'LL LOSE YOUR LICENSE.
MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I, I, I APOLOGIZE, BUT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO POINT TO THE EXISTING, UM, THE LANGUAGE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? OKAY.
THIS, SO THAT IF YOU HAVE A PROPOSED STRIKE THROUGH, THEN WE CAN KIND OF EVALUATE THAT.
NINE DASH FOR SPECIFICITY, 38 DASH 100.
IT'S UNDER LICENSE RENEWAL AND EXPIRATION.
AND IT SAYS EACH TOBACCO, A RETAILER WILL APPLY FOR THE RENEWAL OF THEIR TOBACCO LICENSE, UH, RETAILER'S LICENSE, SUBMIT THE LICENSE FEE NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE CURRENT LICENSE.
A RETAILER WHO THAT FAILS TO TIMELY SUBMIT A RENEWAL APPLICATION IF HE IS INELIGIBLE FOR LICENSE RENEWAL BECAUSE THEY SUBMITTED 29 DAYS AND GAVE THEIR MONEY 29 DAYS BEFORE THEIR LICENSE IS UP.
YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT AT THE DMV OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE THAT JUST DOESN'T, THAT'S JUST NOT GOOD BUSINESS SENSE.
AND YOU GOT SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, OR? YES.
I JUST, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE A SIMILAR PROVISION LIKE THAT FOR CANNABIS MM-HMM
SO THE CANNABIS BUSINESSES HAVE TO INDICATE THAT THEY WANNA RENEW THEIR LICENSE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A CERTAIN DATE.
AND IS THAT, UH, UH, A YEARLY LICENSE? YES.
AND THAT'S WITHIN 250 FEET, RIGHT? WHATEVER THE DISTANCE IS.
AND OUR IS WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET.
UM, YEAH, SO THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.
THE, THE OTHER THING IS THEN IT ALSO, IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THAT IF YOU, UH, SUSPEND OR, OR DON'T USE YOUR TOBACCO SALES FOR 60 DAYS, THEN YOU LOSE YOUR LICENSE.
BUT UNDER THE SITE, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE THE SECTION OR, YEAH.
CAN YOU FIND THAT ONE REAL QUICK? UH, THAT IS IN N THAT WOULD BE SECTION, IT'S, UH, 9 3 8 1 60.
AND IN SECTION I, AND IT SAYS TOBACCO RETAILER, THERE'S NOT CLOSED FOR BUSINESS OR OTHERWISE SUSPENDS TOBACCO RETAILING FOR MORE THAN 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
UH, AND YET, IF UNDER FIRST VIOLATION, YOU GET A WARNING, HUH? I THINK, I THINK RON, THAT'S VOLUNTARILY IF WE'RE FORCING SOMETHING, BUT IT