[00:00:04]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYBODY.WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, RON MORRISON IS GOING TO JOIN US VIA ZOOM.
UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE DO HAVE AN AB 24 49 REQUEST TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY BY, UH, OUR MAYORS.
UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM MAYOR MORRISON.
FOLLOWING THE REQUIREMENTS OF AB 24 49, WE MUST FIRST CONFIRM THERE IS A QUORUM PRESENT IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER.
VISUAL CONFIRMATION, UH, MAKES IT SO MAYOR MORRISON IS PRESENT VIA ZOOM.
MAYOR MORRISON, PLEASE ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIRST CONFIRM THAT YOU CAN BE HEARD AND BE SEEN, AND THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND SEE THE DAIS.
I CAN CERTAINLY SEE AND HEAR YOU.
PROVIDE A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO THE NEED TO APP APPEAR REMOTELY.
I AM CURRENTLY IN WASHINGTON DC REPRESENTING SANDAG AT THE, UH, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS, OF WHICH I AM THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND I'M ON THE, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IS THERE ANOTHER, IS THERE ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 PRESENT AT THE REMOTE LOCATION WITH YOU? YOU'RE ALL BY MYSELF.
PLEASE CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF TIMES, UH, MAYOR MORRISON HAS APPEARED REMOTELY WITHIN THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MAYOR HAS, UH, APPEARED REMOTELY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, CITY CLERK CHAPEL WILL TAKE, UH, A ROLL CALL, VOTE, UH, OR, UH, ASSISTANT CITY OR DEPUTY CITY CLERK.
I'M NOT SURE I'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, SO WE NEED TO TAKE ROLL CALL.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE USING OUR, UH, BUTTONS TONIGHT.
UH, THIS IS A, A VOTE TO ACCEPT THE VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE DUE TO JUST CAUSE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
BEFORE WE PROCEED, I REQUEST THE INTERPRETER TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED THIS EVENINGS AT THIS EVENING.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING INTERPRETER, PLEASE PROCEED GLADLY.
UH, UH, AS THE VICE MAYOR JUST INDICATED, WE HAVE INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPANISH FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS.
AS A REMINDER, PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND DEVICES IN THE CHAMBER.
AND IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE INTO THE LOBBY AREA.
A LIVE WEBCAST OF THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT NATIONAL CITY CA DOT GV GOV PUBLIC.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE VIA ZOOM, VIEWING THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE MEETING, INTERPRETER INSTRUCTIONS WILL APPEAR IN THE CHAT BOX AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO SIT IN THE CHAMBER, HEADSETS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE LIVE SPANISH TRANSLATION, PLEASE SEE THE CITY CLERK AT CHECKOUT TO CHECKOUT A HEADSET.
THE NOTICE AGENDA AND INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF NATIONAL 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.
ONE, IN PERSON IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS BY SUBMITTING A SALMON COLORED SPEAKER, SLIP TWO VIA ZOOM BY PRE-REGISTERING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, NO LATER THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND THREE VIA EMAIL AT PUBLIC.
NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING, ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
[00:05:01]
NOW WE CAN PROCEED TO ROLL CALL MS. CHAPEL.UH, MAYOR MORRISON PRESENT AND VICE MAYOR MOLINA.
AND NOW WE WILL DO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I ASK, UH, MEMBER YAMANI TO PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE THE AGENTS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THE PRAYER.
OH, DO WE HAVE A, UH, INVOCATION SPEAKER? MR. DO PLEASE.
WE THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR FREEDOM.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS MEETING AND THAT YOU BLESS THE LEADERS OF THIS CITY, THAT YOU BLESS EVERYBODY HERE.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE.
WE THANK YOU FOR FREEDOM, AND WE THANK YOU LORD FOR FREE EXPRESSION.
WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US WISDOM, DIVINE GUIDANCE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE FUTURE, THAT AFFECT THE PRESENT, THAT AFFECT HUMAN BEINGS.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS FAIR CITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS, FOR YOUR MERCY, AND FOR YOUR LOVE.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH US HERE THIS EVENING, AND WE THANK YOU.
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN JESUS' NAME.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
NOW HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS OR MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA PER CITY COUNCIL.POLICY 1 0 4 CITY CLERK CHAPEL WILL REPORT THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AT THREE MINUTES EACH EXCEEDS THE 30 MINUTES ALLOTTED TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, CITY COUNCIL POLICY 1 0 4 PERMITS THE CHAIR TO ONE, REDUCE THE TIME ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER.
TWO, EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT TIME OR THREE, CONTINUE REMAINING SPEAKERS TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
UH, I HAVE RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT SLIPS FROM FOUR INDIVIDUALS, CITY CLERK.
I WILL ALLOW THE THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS IN THE CHAMBER.
FIRST, UH, CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS ARE ON IN ZOOM? WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE.
UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THREE REGISTERED FOR COMMENT.
SO WE WILL BEGIN, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT AND, UH, AT THE 30 MINUTE MARK.
IF IT DOES EXCEED 30 MINUTES, UH, LET ME KNOW AND WE CAN PROCEED WITH COMMENTS.
UH, THE REMAINING COMMENTS AT THE END.
UH, FIRST WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. PAUL WAKOWSKI IN THE CHAMBER, FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NIETO AND LILIANA ARMENTA.
MAYOR COUNCIL, OTHER HUMANS HERE.
UM, I FEEL COMPELLED TO SHARE MY OWN, UH, YEAR IN REVIEW SOLELY AS AN NC RESIDENT INDEPENDENT FROM ALL OTHER ROLES THAT I PLAY.
AND WE'VE HAD TO ENDURE A CALENDAR YEAR.
AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, EVERYBODY IN THE SPACE KNOWS OF LAWSUITS BY THE LA VISTA GROUP.
NOW, INITIALLY, THEY PUT FORWARD THE CHARADE OF A CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION, AND THEN AT SOME POINT THEY HAD TO ABANDON THAT FICTION.
WHEN THEY RE REVEALED THAT THEY, THEY REALLY JUST WANTED TO EXPAND THEIR PROPERTY COLLECTION.
OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS WITH A PARTNER ON THE DAIS, THE ANYTHING GOES IN POLITICS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE RODRIGUEZ.
AND NOT ONLY DID HE DO A PRESSER WITH THIS GROUP, THE LA VISTA FOLKS, WHEN ALL OF THIS BEGAN, UM, BUT HE ALSO USED THE DAIS AND HAS TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO ECHO SUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS OF CORRUPTION.
BUT OF COURSE, THIS IS A CAREFULLY CRAFTED POLITICAL PROJECT.
THE FOR SHOW RECALL EFFORT AGAINST MARCUS BUSH, LED BY THAT LA VISTA GROUP.
THEY FILED THAT COMMITTEE PAPERWORK.
RIGHT? WHERE ARE THOSE SIGNATURES? OH, MAN, I DON'T KNOW.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PRA BARRAGE ARBITRARILY TARGETING SEVERAL RESIDENTS, BY THE WAY, NOT JUST ME.
AND THEN IN SPECIFICALLY, EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THIS, SPECIFIC IN
[00:10:01]
THE LANGUAGE OF THE PRA REQUEST.THEY WANTED RECORDS OF CONVERSATIONS HAD ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE RODRIGUEZ.
AND WEIRD THAT THIS FINE PUBLIC SERVANT WAS ROLLED UP INTO THIS LAWSUIT CON, OF COURSE, THEN CAME THE BLOWBACK FROM MY SOCIAL MEDIA POST IN DECEMBER.
AND FROM THAT SPAWNED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH MY EMPLOYER, A POLICE REPORT AND A RESTRAINING ORDER PETITION.
JOSE RODRIGUEZ TRIED TO HELP THIS GROUP.
EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THIS, TRIED TO HELP THEM WIN A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ME BY HANDING THEM A VIDEO FROM MY DISRUPTION OF HIS DEM CLUB MEETING FROM ONE YEAR AGO.
AND GUESS WHAT THE JUDGE SAID? NO, THANK YOU.
LITTLE PREMATURE ON SHOOTING YOUR SHOT THERE PROBABLY NO MORE EVIDENCE IS NEEDED TO CLUE YOU IN THAT.
JOSE RODRIGUEZ HAS BROKEN HIS OATH TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM DOMESTIC ENEMIES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS, ED NIETO, I'M HERE, HAVE TWO ISSUES I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
UH, THE ONE ABOUT HEARING BRUCE FOLTZ STATEMENT LAST DECEMBER ABOUT THE, UH, CITY'S PAST PRACTICES OF OVERSTATING THE BUDGET EXPENDITURES BY RECOGNIZING MULTIPLE YEAR ENCUMBRANCES IN ONE SINGLE YEAR.
UH, I WAS STRUCK BY THE COUNCIL'S REACTION TO THAT NEWS IN DECEMBER.
YOU DIDN'T ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVER ENCUMBERING FUNDS AND UNDERSTATING OUR FUND BALANCE.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS, WHAT MAKES ME THINK THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SAID THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WELL, EVERY YEAR THE BUDGET'S WRONG.
WE OVER, WE OVER, WE GET MORE MONEY THAN WE EXPECT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE MONEY AWAY LATER.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T ASK IS HOW LONG HAS THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN AND WHY IS THAT A MISTAKE? IS THAT A PRACTICE? IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S CREATIVE ACCOUNTING? YOU KNOW, CYNICAL PEOPLE MIGHT EVEN SAY THAT'S A STASH.
THAT'S BEEN A PART OF A PRACTICE.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND YOU LOOK INTO THE UNDERLYING REASONS.
NOW, THE SECOND REASON I WANT TO TALK TO IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT PAUL SAID.
UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA LET RECOGNIZE I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS TARGETED IN THE P UH, PRAS THAT ACTUALLY ASKED, YOU KNOW, UM, IF THEY WOULD LOOK INTO, UM, CO UH, CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ME AND JOSIE, AND ANY COMMENTS I MIGHT HAVE MADE ABOUT JOSE RODRIGUEZ.
YOU KNOW, SO I WAS A TARGETED PERSON.
SO I I I WANT THAT TO BE RECOGNIZED AGAIN.
UM, OKAY, THAT'S TWO THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
THE THIRD THING IS RECENT ROLLOUT OF THIS PUB, OF THIS, UM, THE, THE UNION PROJECT.
I NOTICED THAT, UH, IN THE UNION PROJECT, THAT, UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE CONFUSION ON HOW THIS UNION PROJECT OR APARTMENTS ARE BEING ROLLED OUT.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT, IT SEEMS CONFUSING THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC, UH, INFORMATION OFFICER.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD'VE COME THROUGH HIM TO THAT PERSON TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CONSISTENT, YET IT, BUT ON THE, ON THE OTHER HAND, I HEARD THE HOUSING PERSON ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL PEOPLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, PLEASE COMMUNICATE THIS.
BUT IT SORT OF MADE ME THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION OF HOW THIS SUPPOSED TO BE ROLLED OUT.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS? AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT I THINK CITIZENS REALLY NEED TO, UH, YOU ALL NEED TO IMPROVE ON AND HOW TO DO THAT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT USED TO, UH, TALKING THREE MINUTES
SO I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WANNA TELL YOU THAT, UM, I REALLY FIND IT CONCERNING WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PAST WEEK AS FAR AS, UM, PAUL BEING TARGETED.
I THINK YOU ALSO NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
I THINK THE ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS.
THANK YOU, MS. LILIANA ARMA IS NEXT, FOLLOWED BY DELISE VAN, FOLLOWED BY LARRY EMERSON.
THREE MINUTES, LET ME SEE IF I CAN FILL THIS UP.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR DC VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO KEEP THIS, UH, GOING WITH THE POSITIVITY AND TR I'M GONNA TRY TO STAY GROUNDED AND FOCUSED ON UNITY.
THIS PAST WEEK, I WAS REMINDED THAT TRUTH AND BELIEF IN OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY IS POWER.
I ATTENDED A RESTRAINING ORDER HEARING WHERE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND INTERPRETATIONS
[00:15:01]
OF ACTIONS WERE PRESENTED.IN THE END, THE TRUTH PREVAILED.
JUSTICE WORKED THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED TO.
THAT EXPERIENCE REINFORCED SOMETHING IMPORTANT, THAT WE SHOULD NOT FEAR THE LAW WHEN USED PROPERLY, IT EXISTS TO PROTECT, NOT TO DIVIDE.
AT THE SAME TIME, OVER THE PAST WEEK, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH LANGUAGE ROOTED IN ANGER AND FEAR LANGUAGE THAT DANGEROUSLY EDGES TOWARDS INCITING HOSTILITY.
WHEN A SITTING COUNCIL MEMBER PROCLAIMS THAT GOVERNMENT IS OUR ENEMY, THAT MESSAGE DOES REAL HARM.
LET ME BE CLEAR, LET ME BE CLEAR.
YOU ALL UP ON THE DAAS ARE OUR GOVERNMENT.
YOU ARE ALL ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT THE ENEMY.
AND I WANT TO SAY THIS VERY PLAIN AND CLEAR.
I SPEAK SPANISH, I HAVE AN ACCENT, AND I STAND HERE WITH PRIDE SPEAKING UP AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE TRAITS ARE NOT A THREAT.
THEY ARE NOT A PROBLEM, AND THEY ARE NOT SOMETHING TO FEAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE STOP USING SKIN COLOR AND LANGUAGE AS A FEAR TACTIC.
THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AND SHAME ON YOU FOR DOING IT.
IF WE DON'T AGREE WITH LEADERSHIP OR DECISIONS, THE ANSWER IS NOT FEAR OR HATE.
THE ANSWER IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC DIALOGUE, AND ULTIMATELY THE BALLOT BOX.
THAT IS WHAT REAL DEMOCRACY IS.
I WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE LIONS CLUB FOR HOSTING A STUDENT SPEECH CONTEST.
FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH THAT MATTERS BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE WATCHING US.
THEY ARE LISTENING, AND THEY NEED TO SEE THAT ADULTS CAN WORK TOGETHER EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A FUTURE SHAPED BY COOPERATION, NOT CONFLICT BY COMMUNITY, NOT CHAOS, BY COURAGE AND NOT FEAR.
DELISE VAN IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
OH, I SEE DELISE, FOLLOWED BY LARRY EMERSON.
MY NAME IS DELISE VAN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK THAT WE STARTED WITH MINDY EGAN.
UH, SO FAR WE'VE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT.
UH, MORE CHILDREN HAVE SHOWED UP WITH THEIR PARENTS, UH, BUT AT THE, UH, REASON TO SURVIVE CENTER, WE HAVE, UH, CAPACITY LIMITATIONS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE LE REACHING THOSE LIMITATIONS.
WE'VE REACHED MAX CAPACITY, UH, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ROOM, UH, SPACE AVAILABLE IN NATIONAL CITY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER, UH, IN LARGER QUANTITIES.
UH, WE'LL ALSO BE HOSTING A SIP AND PAY FUNDRAISING AT THE CHAMBER THIS FRIDAY.
SO FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO MAKE IT AND WANT TO MAKE IT AND ARE ABLE TO FUNDRAISE WITH US, PLEASE, WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU.
UM, I'M A LONGTIME MEMBER OF NATIONAL CITY, UM, MAYOR, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GETTING TOO COLD OVER THERE IN WASHINGTON, DC AND GREETINGS TO ALL THE VICE, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK I HAVE, UH, THREE PIECES OF GOOD NEWS TONIGHT TO SHARE.
UH, I THINK SOME OF YOU KNOW, I'M A MEMBER OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE ASSOCIATION, AND WE DON'T SELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT WE EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE.
AND, UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IF WE COMPARE IT TO 2019, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT HAD MORE THAN 10% OF THEIR VEHICLES.
NEWLY REGISTERED VEHICLES WERE PLUGIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES LAST YEAR.
CAN YOU GUESS HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAD MORE THAN 10%? 39 THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD? SO EVS ARE GROWING ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND I'M GONNA LEAVE THIS WITH THE STAFF HERE.
THIS IS JUST A EXAMPLE OF THE MOST COMMON AND POPULAR EVS.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SELLING JUST SHARING INFORMATION.
I'M GONNA SHARE THIS OVER HERE.
AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 20 OR 25% OF A GALLON OF GASOLINE GOES INTO PUSHING THE VEHICLES.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER 80%?
[00:20:02]
IT GOES UP IN HEAT AND EMISSIONS AND POLLUTIONS.SO THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM GASOLINE TO ELECTRIC.
UH, I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TWO PIECES OF GOOD NEWS.
UM, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PAST MEETINGS, THE SOLAR BATTERY SAVINGS PROGRAM IS ACTIVE, AND ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT.
AND IT IS GROWING AND WE REALLY WANT, UH, IF THE CITY HAS A NEWSLETTER, WE REALLY WANT YOU GUYS TO SEND THAT OUT.
SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM 'CAUSE THEY CAN SAVE ENERGY COST IF THEY IMPLEMENT THIS SOLAR AND BATTERY SAVINGS.
SO WHEN THEY STORE THE ENERGY INTO THE BATTERY AND THEY PUT IT BACK IN THE GRID DURING THE PEAK TIME, THEY CAN GET 10 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.
AND THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS FOR THE THIRD YEAR, UH, SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER HAS THESE GRANT PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION AND CLEAN ENERGY RELATED.
SO THE THIRD YEAR IS JUST STARTED THIS WEEK.
AND NON-PROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS AND PUT THE BENEFITS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, OUR, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF THESE BENEFITS IN THE PAST.
OLIVE WOOD GARDEN GOT A BRAND NEW SOLAR SYSTEM AND ENERGY STORAGE, AND IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY PEOPLE WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
SO WE'RE GROWING THE EMPLOYMENT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH GOOD PAYING JOBS.
I'M SHARING THAT GOOD INFORMATION, AND PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT FOR THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER GRANTS AND SOLAR BATTERY SAVINGS PROGRAM.
MS. CHAPPEL, CAN WE PROCEED TO OUR COMMENTERS ON ZOOM? THANK YOU.
WE HAVE JUST ENDED NATIONAL ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH.
AND SPEAKING TO THIS, THE MEDICAL TREATMENT COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUBSTANCE USE ADDICTION IS AN ENORMOUS PLAGUE ON COMMUNITIES.
IT RESULTS IN HIGH SOCIAL AND TREATMENT COSTS, AND CONTRIBUTES TO HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, AND MEDICAL ISSUES THAT TAX CITY BUDGETS.
TO ADDRESS THIS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY, ROBERT KENNEDY, HAS JUST ANNOUNCED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTION AND EXPAND ADDICTION TREATMENT.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO ENGAGE WITH THIS PLAN CALLED THE GREAT AMERICAN RECOVERY INITIATIVE.
DATA SHOWS OVER 48 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFER ADDICTION.
HOWEVER, 96% OF THOSE WITH ADDICTION IN 2024 OR 38.1 MILLION PEOPLE DID NOT PERCEIVE THEY NEEDED TREATMENT NOR RECEIVED IT.
THIS FAILURE TO PERCEIVE NEED FOR TREATMENT AND TO PROVIDE IT HAS BEEN A DEVASTATING FAILURE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC RIPPLE, INCREASED HEALTHCARE COSTS, HOMELESSNESS LIVES LOST, AND FAMILY INSTABILITY, COSTING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR.
THE NEW FEDERAL RECOVERY INITIATIVE WILL INVEST A HUNDRED MILLION TO ADDRESS ADDICTION RELATED ISSUES AND EXPAND RECOVERY TREATMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED.
IF OUR CITY IS GOING TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO HIGHLY ADDICTIVE THC PRODUCTS, THEN WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE ADDICTION THAT FOLLOWS AND LOOK TO SCIENCE AND DATABASE SOLUTIONS EMBEDDED IN PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AMERICAN RECOVERY IN INITIATIVE.
MY NAME IS BECKY RAP, AND TONIGHT, I, UM, I IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR AND OUT OF GREAT CONCERN FOR A GROWING PUBLIC SAFETY RISK, UM, FOR THE UNACCOUNTED COSTS TO THE CITY RESOURCES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MARIJUANA SALES.
LAST WEEK, A MARIJUANA DELIVERY DRIVER WAS SHOT IN THE NET IN THE NEARBY CITY DURING A ROBBERY.
AND THAT INCIDENT INVOLVED MULTIPLE SUSPECTS, FIREARM, HELICOPTERS, AND MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.
THANKFULLY, THE VICTIM SURVIVED, BUT WE KNOW THAT CASH BASED MARIJUANA DELIVERY CREATES TARGETS FOR VIOLENT CRIME.
[00:25:01]
MARIJUANA DELIVERY DRIVERS ARE KNOWN TARGETS TO MAKE CARRY PRODUCT AND CASH, AND THEY OFTEN WORK ALONE AND MOVE THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.AND THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF ARMED ROBBERY, GUN VIOLENCE, AND DANGER, NOT ONLY TO WORKERS, BUT TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEARBY.
UH, THE SAFETY THREAT COMES WITH REAL PUBLIC.
LONG-TERM IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THESE ARE TAXPAYER FUNDED EXPENSES.
RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE A DETAILED UPDATE ON THE MARIJUANA DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST THE REVENUE, BUT THE TRUE BURDEN ON PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENC CODE ENFORCEMENT, SHOWING THE TRUE CLASS THAT THE CITY HAS OCCURRED.
UH, VICE MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS ON ZOOM.
I DO WANT TO ADD TO THE RECORD THAT WE DO HAVE ONE WRITTEN COMMENT FROM DAVID GARCIA ZA.
AND THAT COMPLETES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM, EXCUSE ME, VICE MAYOR? YES.
CAN I JUST SAY A COUPLE COMMENTS, PLEASE? I WILL KEEP IT VERY BRIEF.
I WILL REMIND FOLKS WHAT'S OCCURRING IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I'LL MAKE IT VERY BRIEF.
$170 BILLION OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BEING USED TO RACIALLY TARGET INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO MURDERING PEOPLE EVEN BEING RECORDED.
THEY ARE HUMANS, AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OTHERS.
AND TO THOSE THAT SAY SKIN TONE DOES NOT MATTER, IT DOES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN SEPTEMBER, 2025, THIS PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS THE SUPREME COURT, SAID THAT ICE AGENTS ARE ALLOWED TO USE RACE, ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE AS A FACTOR FOR PROFILING AND STOPPING PEOPLE AND ASKING THEM FOR THEIR PAPERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN AN OVERWHELMINGLY COMMUNITY OF COLOR, THAT COULD MEAN YOUR MOM, YOUR DAD, YOUR GRANDMA, THAT COULD BE STOPPED AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED LAST FRIDAY, OR A PROTEST, OR PEOPLE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING, THEN WHAT'S ACTUALLY OCCURRING IN THE TERRIFIED COMMUNITY IS RIDICULOUS.
AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE LOOK AT OURSELVES.
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DEEP PAIN AND FRUSTRATION AT THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE THEY INCLUDE STUDENTS, THEY INCLUDE PARENTS, THEY INCLUDE NEIGHBORS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT TO KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S AFFECTED.
WE JUST HAVE TO CARE AND LISTEN.
AND SO I'M DEEPLY FRUSTRATED AT THIS MOMENT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I'M DEEPLY FRUSTRATED BY A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES', APPARENT LACK OF REMORSE OR INTEREST IN WHAT'S OCCURRING.
I HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT WE REALLY LOOK BACK, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND HISTORY WILL JUDGE US IN THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, WHAT WE DID OR DIDN'T DO.
UH, I WILL, I I OFFERED THE COURTESY OF THIS MINUTE, BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE DO HAVE AN ALLOTTED TIME AT THE END OF THE MEETING TO OFFER CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS.
SO I ENCOURAGE THE MEMBERS TO PLEASE REFRAIN AND HOLD YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
[6.1 Introduction of New Hires and Promotions of City Employees]
WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS 6.1, INTRODUCTION OF NEW HIRES AND PROMOTION OF CITY EMPLOYEES.UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL FOLKS, UH, AND I IN, UH, FOR, UM, OUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? I INVITE OUR, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE SLASH ACTING CITY MANAGER, ALEX HERNANDEZ.
AND ALEX, YOU CAN PASS THE MIC TO ANOTHER PERSON, UM, IN YOUR DUAL ROLE IF YOU'D LIKE, OR TAKE THE, TAKE THE STAGE.
I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO CAPTAIN DEREK
UM, YEAH, WE, UH, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE SEVERAL NEW HIRES RECENTLY.
UH, THE TWO NAMES AT THE TOP, MR. GUZMAN AND MR. CASTILLO.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN THE REGIONAL POLICE ACADEMY.
THEY'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE HOME SHINING THEIR BOOTS AND PRESSING THEIR UNIFORMS AND GETTING READY FOR TOMORROW.
BUT WE'RE VERY, UM, THANKFUL TO HAVE THEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO THEM GRADUATING IN A FEW MONTHS AND JOINING OUR FORCE.
AND THEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU SEE SOME PROMOTIONS THERE, MS. SOSA, MR. URBANA AND MR. SOTELLO.
THEY RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE REGIONAL ACADEMY AND ARE CURRENTLY IN FIELD TRAINING.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM.
UH, PASSING FIELD TRAINING AND GOING, UH, IN SERVICE, UM, AS SOLO BEAT OFFICERS SOON.
NEXT, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY ENGINEERING.
[00:30:01]
DIRECTOR, UH, SLASHUH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UM, MS. MARTHA JUAREZ, PLEASE.
UM, MAYOR ON THE SCREEN, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, MEMBERS OF STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
YES, MARTHA JUAREZ, ALSO WEARING TWO HATS.
UH, RIGHT NOW I'M SPEAKING WITH THE HAT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE, UM, ONE NEW EMPLOYEE AND ALSO ANNOUNCE A PROMOTION THIS EVENING.
FIRST WE HAVE, UH, RUBEN MENDOZA.
YOU SEE HIM THERE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND SIDE.
UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE REUBEN RETURN TO OUR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.
HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE SAME ROLE AS ONE OF OUR BUILDING TRADE SPECIALISTS WITHIN OUR FACILITIES DIVISION FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS BEFORE HE LEFT TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, HE, IT WAS, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME AND I THINK HE, HE SAW A LIGHT AND HE WANTED TO COME BACK AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, SO HE'S, HE'S REALLY PROVEN HIMSELF IN THE PAST.
AND SINCE HE'S RETURNED, UM, AS A VERY HARD WORKER, SKILLED WORKER WITH A STRONG BACKGROUND IN CONSTRUCTION, WE WELCOME HIM BACK WITH OPEN ARMS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CONTINUED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTION AS A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, MEMBER OF OUR TEAM HERE ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE, THERE IS CARLOS PERDOMO.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE A PROMOTION IN OUR ENGINEERING DIVISION TEAM.
CARLOS JOINED US IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 AS AN ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN WITH HIS EXTENSIVE, UH, BACKGROUND AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE IN BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR WORK, UH, AND HIS PROGRESSIVE GROWTH HERE WITHIN THE CITY.
HE HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF MANY PROJECTS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR PERMITTING PROCESS FOR BOTH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND UTILITIES.
SO HE HAS RECENTLY SELECTED TO FILL THE SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN POSITION AFTER A, A RECENT RETIREMENT.
AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS SERVICE, AND HE IS ALSO EXCITED FOR HIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THIS TIME.
AND OUR, UM, ACTING ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, I CAN'T READ IT FROM BACK HERE.
ARE YOU HERE TO PRESENT OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EMPLOYEE? ACTUALLY, I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE THAT WE HAD ANY, I'M, I'M SORRY.
MY LIST HERE SAYS MARTIN REER.
I THINK IT MIGHT MIGHT BE FIRE.
OH, ACTUALLY IT'S A FIRE INSPECTOR.
I, I'M, I'M STILL, YOU KNOW, I TRYING MY BEST HERE.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TWO NEW FIRE INSPECTORS WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT.
FIRST IS, UH, JUSTIN CANT, WELL, JUSTIN IS HIRED AS A FIRE INSPECTOR, ONE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, HE HAS TAKEN FIRE INSPECTOR AND FIRE INVESTIGATOR COURSES AT MIRAMAR COLLEGE AND HAS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE FROM SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.
JUSTIN GREW UP IN THE SOUTH BAY AREA AND HIS FAMILY IS ROOTED HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
HIS MOTHER AND FATHER BOTH GRADUATED SIOUX HIGH.
JUSTIN SAID HE CAN REMEMBER AS A YOUNGER KID WALKING TO SCHOOL DOWN THE MILE OF CARS, I'M SORRY, NOT SCHOOL, TO KIMBALL PARK DOWN THE MILE OF CARS WITH HIS GRANDFATHER SO HE COULD PLAY WITH HIS FRIENDS AT THE PARK.
HIS INTEREST IN FIRE, UH, PREVENTION BEGAN WHILE TAKING CLASSES AT SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.
JUSTIN STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER IN FIRE PREVENTION WITH THE SAN MARCOS FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND LATER ON TOOK A PART-TIME ROLE WITH THE OCEANSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT, GAINING EXPERIENCE BEFORE ULTIMATELY COMING TO WHAT HE CALLS THE BEST CITY, NATIONAL CITY AS ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND THIS TIME OFF, HE ENJOYS HIS DOG, HIS FAMILY, AND WATCHING FOOTBALL.
MY SECOND ONE IS MICHAEL RENDON.
MICHAEL HAS BEEN HIRED ALSO AS A FIRE INSPECTOR ONE.
HE HAS COMPLETED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN FIRE PREVENTION AT MIRAMAR COLLEGE.
HE GREW UP IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA AS A YOUTH.
HE ENJOYED TIME AROUND JOYOUS PARK, AND NOW HE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN NORTH COUNTY.
WHEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, MICHAEL TOOK A CLASS INTRO TO FIRE SERVICE, WHICH IS WHERE HIS JOURNEY BEGAN.
MICHAEL WORKED AS A FIRE TECHNICIANS FOR SIEMENS FIRE PROTECTION, AND HE INSPECTED
[00:35:01]
FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, HE LATER STARTED AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE VISTA FIRE DEPARTMENT, GAINING EXPERIENCE IN FIRE PREVENTION BEFORE COMING TO US HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
IN HIS TIME OFF, HE ENJOYS HELPING WITH HIS CHURCH, PLAYING BASKETBALL, BOWLING, AND HE HAS TWO 20-YEAR-OLD TORTOISES MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.
I FORGOT TO MENTION TO MY CHIEF, BUT, UM, MY FIRST EVER RIDEALONG EVER IN FIRE PREVENTION WAS RIGHT HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
I FEEL LIKE GOD HAS A PLAY, HAS A WAY OF PUTTING US ALL WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M JUST SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO, UM, ENSURE YOUR GUYS' SAFETY AND, AND JUST WORK FOR THE BEST CITY OF THE CAS ONE FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN CALIFORNIA.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND HAVE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF NATIONAL CITY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE TEAM, AND, UH, I'M THANKFUL TO GOD TO PUT ME IN THIS PLACE.
AND I'M READY FOR ANY DAY, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY.
BEFORE WE LEAVE, CAN WE GET A PICTURE? YES, OF COURSE.
SHOULD WE ALL STAND? THANK YOU.
[7.1 ARTS Annual Report]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PRESENTATIONS.ITEM 7.1 IS, UH, PRESENTATION ARTS ANNUAL REPORT.
TO INTRODUCE, UM, THIS ITEM, WE HAVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, MR. MIKE PACHECO.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ARTS, A REASON TO SURVIVE.
JUST A HEADS UP, I DON'T DO WELL WITH TIME, SO I'LL MAKE THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND JUST A SIDE NOTE, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR TEAM, TJ SANTA ANA, THAT WILL BE TAKING PICTURES IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL.
UM, BUT GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR MORRISON, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EVERYONE THAT'S HERE.
MY NAME IS JOSE LOPEZ AND I AM PART OF THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM AT A REASON TO SURVIVE OR ARTS.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE PAST YEAR AT ARTS, OUR MISSION IS TO UPLIFT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH COUNTY REGION OF SAN DIEGO TO BECOME CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE, AND COURAGEOUS COMMUNITY BUILDERS THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CREATIVITY IN PRACTICE THAT MEANS SUPPORTING YOUTH IN DEFINING SUCCESS ON THEIR OWN TERMS THROUGH ART, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY.
AS PATHWAYS FORWARD, UH, YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ME OR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAMS IN JUST, IN JUST A SEC.
BUT I HAVE TO SHARE THE MIC WITH LUCY, WHO WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR TEAM.
HEY, Y'ALL JUST WANNA SHARE, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD OVER 106 DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS COME AND DO THIS AMAZING WORK.
MANY OF US ARE PRACTICING ARTISTS OURSELVES, BRINGING OUR PASSION, CREATIVITY, AND SO MANY DIVERSE FORMS OF ARTISTIC CREATION TO NATIONAL CITY.
SCAN THAT QR CODE AND YOU CAN PUT NAMES TO FACES TO SEE THE AMAZING FOLKS BEHIND THE WORK.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO MUCH MORE PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM, UM, AND TO SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UH, BUT EACH YEAR WE COLLABORATE WITH OVER, UH, 3000 YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, ACROSS ALL OF OUR PROGRAM LINES.
OUR PROGRAM LINES ARE ARTS ON CAMPUS, UH, WHICH IS OUR MOST EXPANSIVE PROGRAM, ACTUALLY.
IT'S ACROSS ALL 10 NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SITES.
AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY OVER 30 CREATIVES AND INTERNS, WHICH IS, I THINK MORE THAN HALF OF OUR TEAM AT THIS POINT.
UM, IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO EXPLORE
[00:40:01]
ART PRACTICES AND ART MATERIALS IN WAYS THAT ARE HEALING, SELF-AFFIRMING AND EXPRESSIVE.ARTS AT WORK IS OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, UH, CONNECTING YOUTH WITH MEANINGFUL REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES IN THE CREATIVE SECTOR.
UH, IT ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO GET PAID, AND WE ALL LIKE A PAYCHECK, SO THEY GET PAID FOR THEIR WORK.
UH, ARTS FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, UM, TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS IMPACTED YOUTH THROUGH CREATIVITY, UH, CENTERING THEIR VOICE WHILE SUPPORTING ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND ARTISTIC GROWTH.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE COMMUNITY ARTS, WHICH IS OUR MEDIA ART AND DESIGN PROGRAM FOR TEENS THAT CENTERS YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND VOICE.
UM, IN, IN THIS PROGRAM, WE PRIORITIZE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH ARE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, NATIONAL CITY, MIDDLE GRANGER JUNIOR HIGH, AND SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND AS A PROUD GRANGER GRIFFIN AND RED DEVIL, MYSELF, I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO WELCOME SO MANY NATIONAL CITY YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE ART CENTER.
EVERY SESSION, BUT BEYOND PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH ARTS ALSO CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AND ACROSS THE SOUTH BAY TO CONNECT WITH ARTS, CULTURE AND CREATIVITY THROUGH YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING, UH, OR COMMUNITY EVENTS AS WELL.
THIS PAST FALL, WE CELEBRATED TWO IMPORTANT CULTURAL TRADITIONS, WHICH IS Y LOS MUTOS AND UNES, WHICH HONORS BOTH LATINX AND FILIPINO COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CITY.
THIS EVENT WELCOMED OVER 500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, BROUGHT OVER 10 REGIONAL PARTNERS TO THE ART CENTER.
FEATURED MORE THAN 10 WORKSHOPS, UH, INCLUDED CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AND HIGHLIGHTED THE BEST OF LOCAL FOOD AND SMALL BUSINESS.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I'LL ACTUALLY TURN IT OVER TO LUCY TO SHARE ANOTHER BRIGHT SPOT OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, WE WERE HONORED TO HOST AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR CATALYST OF SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES, UH, WELCOMING OVER 250 PHILANTHROPISTS FROM OUR REGION HERE TO NATIONAL CITY.
HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF CO-OPING THE CEREMONY AT THE MLK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LUZ MOLINA, AND THEN FOLKS HEADED OVER TO THE ART CENTER, UH, FOR BREAKOUT SESSIONS.
AND JOSE LOPEZ ALSO HOSTED A TOUR OF OUR CIVIC HUB HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, WHICH WAS A REALLY SPECIAL DAY.
AND WITH THAT, I'D LOVE TO PASS IT TO ONE OF OUR YOUTH, CIARA, TO HEAR DIRECTLY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN OUR PROGRAM.
I AM A 12TH GRADER AT SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, MY TIME AT ARTS HAS BEEN AMAZING.
I'VE GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE SO MANY THINGS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
MY MURAL AT THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA IS SOMETHING THAT I FIND SO MEANINGFUL.
IT'S SO BIZARRE TO HAVE AN ART PIECE IN A COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP IN.
SIMILARLY, MY PROJECT AT THE SPIGOT, AT THE ELON PARK AT ELON PARK WAS ALSO AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D EVER BEEN PAID TO CREATE AN ART PIECE AS WELL AS WORKING WITH METAL.
SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT IT TURNED OUT SO WELL.
THE ARTS CENTER HAS HELPED ME IN MY PLANS TO PURSUE CO A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND FUTURE AS THEY'VE GIVEN ME EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AS JOB EXPERIENCE.
I WOULD LOVE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, ARTS CONTINUES TO GROW.
WE WELCOMED OVER A RECORD NUMBER OF 3,200 YOUTH INTO OUR PROGRAMS, WHO CREATED OVER 12,000 PIECES OF ART, NEVER ENOUGH WALL SPACE FOR ALL OF THAT.
WE HOSTED OVER 120 EVENTS AT THIS CENTER WITH MORE THAN 25,000 VISITORS COMING THROUGH OUR DOOR.
I WELCOME, WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO POP BY FOR A VISIT AND SEE SOME OF THE RECENT UPDATES WE'VE DONE TO THIS SPACE AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
AND SO THIS IS JUST FROM A BIRD'S EYE VIEW, A LITTLE BIT OF A SNAPSHOT OF ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US IN THIS WORK.
FROM SCHOOL PARTNERS TO CIVIC AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO PRIVATE FUNDERS AND FOUNDATIONS.
UH, THIS IS A GROWING LIST OF OTHERS WHO BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC THAT IS ARTS AND ARE HELPING US CO-CREATE, UH, IMPACT TOGETHER.
AND WITH THAT, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT I WILL BE, UH, DEPARTING FROM THE ORGANIZATION AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
BUT I WILL BE CONTINUING MY WORK IN COMMUNITY WITH PRICE PHILANTHROPIES AS THE DIRECTOR OF ARTS AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
AND SO I'M VERY HONORED TO PASS THE TORCH, UH, TO OUR INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OLYMPIA VASQUEZ ODA, WHO WILL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ARTS.
I FEEL HONORED TO BE HERE SPEAKING AS ARTS NEW INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UM, I KNOW SOME OF YOU, I, I AM SO GLAD.
I'M EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST WANNA SHARE THAT ARTS IS IN A REALLY STRONG SPACE.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR FIVE
[00:45:01]
YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY SOLID WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE.WE FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPACE THAT YOU ALL SO KINDLY LEND US TO CONTINUE TO DO MEANINGFUL PROGRAMMING.
AND AS YOU SAW, WE'VE BEEN GROWING AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO.
SO I JUST WANNA WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT ARTS ISN'T SAVE HANDS AND THAT I'LL BE HERE AND TO TAKE OUT YOUR CALENDARS AND MARK THE DATE OF, UM, SATURDAY MAY 16TH, WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL.
THAT IS OUR BIG COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WE HANDLE, UM, AT THE END OF EVERY SEASON, WHERE ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT JOSE TALKED ABOUT AND THAT SIERRA MENTIONED, GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW AFTER WORK.
IT'S A TIME TO COME TOGETHER AND SHARE A JOYFUL MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG ARTISTS IN OUR PROGRAM.
SO PLEASE SEE US THERE, BUT I'LL BE AROUND.
SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ALLALL, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
CAN WE GET A PICTURE WITH Y'ALL? UH, OF COURSE.
DO YOU WANNA STAND IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM? IS THAT HOW IT WORKS? YEAH,
BEFORE, BEFORE YOU, YOU HEAD OUT.
UM, WE HAVE MEMBERS UP HERE AT THE DIOCESE THAT DO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.
I ALSO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS TO MAKE.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, BUSH.
SO JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
THE ARTS FOR ALL OF YOUR YEARS.
GOD, HAS IT BEEN OVER A DECADE ALREADY OF CONTRIBUTION HERE IN NATIONAL CITIES SINCE YOU GUYS MOVED AND RELOCATED FROM, UH, POINT LOMA.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE JUST CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOU ON PROJECTS, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH POMEGRANATE CENTER AND, UM, BUTTERFLY PARK.
AND, UM, SO DONE INCREDIBLE WORK.
UM, AND I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T GET THE NAME.
SO, UM, SO THANK, CONGRATULATIONS.
AND, UM, IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE A YOUTH AND SOMEONE THAT DOES MURALS BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING A LOT ON, UH, MURALS PARTNERING, UM, WITH VISION, CULTURE FOUNDATION.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS DO LIKE A WHOLE TON OF DIFFERENT, UH, MEDIUMS AND, AND FORMS OF ARTWORK.
UM, AND SO WORKING WITH OUR GRAFFITI TECH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, LET'S, LET'S EXCHANGE, UH, CONTACT INFO BECAUSE OUR GRAFFITI TECH, UH, JAMES KIM, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR, UM, REPLACING GRAFFITI WITH, UH, MURALS.
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE OUR LOCAL ARTISTS AND FRANKLY, UH, UH, WOMEN, UM, ARTISTS.
WE NEED A LOT MORE, UH, WOMEN THAT ARE DOING, UH, MURAL WORK AND ESPECIALLY LOCAL WOMEN.
AND SO, AND JUST LIKE, SO PROUD OF YOU AND SO EXCITED FOR YOU THIS YEAR.
SO THANK YOU, UH, JOSE, ALSO, UH, FELLOW, UH, GRIFFIN AND, AND RED DEVIL, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION AND WORK AND JUST YOUR ENTHUSIASM, YOUR ENERGY, AND GETTING OUT THERE.
UM, OLYMPIA VERY EXCITED, UH, FOR, UH, YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SO, UM, WE HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU, YOU, YOU GOT THIS.
AND THEN, UH, FINALLY TO, UM, UH, TO, TO LUCY.
REALLY SAD TO, TO SEE YOU GO, BUT IT'S LIKE, IT'S A BITTERSWEET THING.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION.
UM, SO, BUT, UM, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR YOUR YEARS OF WORK HERE FOR COLLABORATING WITH US.
AND, UM, I KNOW, UH, WE, AT THE CITY, THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN SOME BUMPS ON THE ROAD SOMETIMES WITH THE LEASE AND SOME OTHER THINGS, THINGS I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, JUST ASKING QUESTIONS AND DELAY ENDED UP LIKE REALLY PUSHING THINGS BACK, WHICH I DIDN'T INTEND FOR, BUT IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE THROUGH EVERYTHING AND STILL BEING A PARTNER AND WORKING WITH US.
SO I'M, I'M JUST, UH, UH, JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR WHAT YOU GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND WANT TO CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP.
ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE THOUGH, JUST, UH, BUSINESS WISE, DID WE GET YOUR LEASE STRAIGHTENED OUT? HAS ALL OF THAT BEEN CLEAR? BECAUSE IT NEVER, I DON'T REALLY THINK IT CAME BACK TO US
SO HAS IT ALL BEEN WORKED OUT? YEAH, SO, UH, WE'RE IN OUR SECOND OF THREE, TWO YEAR PERIODS, UH, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY END AT THE END OF 2026.
UM, SO FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD.
AND THEN AT THE END OF, UM, 2026, WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE RE RENEW RERE RENEWING, EXCUSE ME, FOR THE THIRD TERM.
UM, AND REALLY JUST EXCITED TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, AND OLYMPIA'S BEEN BRIEFED, UH, AS WELL AND AS WELL AS OUR BOARD.
SO EXCITED FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AS WE, UH, FIGURE THAT OUT TOGETHER.
IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES LIKE THAT, PLEASE JUST BE PROACTIVE AND, AND REACH OUT TO US.
UH, I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF ARTS AS AN ORGANIZATION, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S MADE UP OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL LIKE YOURSELF.
AND SO, UM, HOW MANY KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM THIS PAST YEAR? AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN AN EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAM INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS, WHICH IS FANTASTIC, BUT JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, WE COUNT MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
[00:50:01]
WE COUNTED 3,200 STUDENTS, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR, UM, STUDENTS IN THE 10 NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE STUDENTS FROM SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL, UM, STUDENTS WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, AND THEN SOME WORK THAT WE'VE ALSO STARTED TO DO WITH THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.SO REALLY WANT TO COMMEND YOUR HARD EFFORT AND MAKING ARTS A STAPLE IN THE CITY.
YOU ALL KNOW THIS BETTER THAN WE DO, AND CHILDREN REALLY ENJOY BEING PART OF THE, OF THE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERSCHOOL SYSTEM, AT SCHOOLS, AT OUR, AT OUR NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY FOR YOURS TO COME.
UH, MR. MORRISON OR MR. ARMANI, ANY COMMENTS? IF NOT, I WILL.
I, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO WHEN WE WENT OUT AND INSPECTED THEIR, THEIR SITE OUT THERE AT, UH, POINT LOMA.
AND WHEN THEY WERE HAVING TO MOVE FROM THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND NOT TOO SURE HOW IT WAS ALL GONNA WORK OUT, UH, MOVING HIM ON INTO NATIONAL CITY.
THEN I ALSO REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, A FORMER MAYOR OF CHULA VISTA.
WE WERE HAVING A MAYOR'S, UH, MANAGERS MEETING, AND WE HAD IT THERE AT ARTS.
AND HER COMMENT AFTER WHAT, LOOKING AT WHAT ARTS HAD BEEN DOING, SHE, SHE WENT AND WITH DEAD SERIOUSNESS, UH, LOOKED AND SAID, HOW DO WE GET YOU TO MOVE TO CHULA VISTA? AND IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE ANSWER.
I JUST TOLD HER OVER MY DEAD BODY,
SO, AND, UH, SO I SAY ARTS HAS BEEN A, BEEN A, A PHENOMENAL ADDITION TO OUR CITY, AND, UH, CREATED SOME GREAT THINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ONE THAT WOULD, IS SO EASILY POINTED TO IS THAT, UH, THAT STONE WALL BEHIND CITY HALL IS ONE THAT WAS JUST A, UH, UM, A MASTERPIECE THAT, THAT PEOPLE JUST CANNOT BELIEVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS DONE ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS LIKE THAT AND ON, AND A GROUP OF ADULTS AND A BUNCH OF KIDS PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
BUT JUST, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT, THAT'S BEEN THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
AND, AND I'LL CONCLUDE WITH, UM, OH, I'M SORRY, MS. ARMANI.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU FOR ARCH FOR, UM, EMPOWERING AND SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH.
UM, I WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN FOR THE NEW INTERIM, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO WORK WITH OUR DIRECTOR PACHECO TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF ARTS.
AND JUST TO CONCLUDE, I, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS HAS BEEN VERY DYNAMIC PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I DO MS. JAMES, BUT HIS PRESENTATIONS WERE NOT THIS FUN.
MISS SIERRA, THIS IS FANTASTIC.
I LOVE KNOWING THAT YOU ARE A RED DEVIL.
YOU'LL BE GRADUATING THIS JUNE, I PRESUME.
SO IT'S FANTASTIC TO HEAR YOUR STORY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE US HERE AT CITY COUNCIL.
I HOPE IT'S NOT YOUR ONLY TIME COMING HERE TO CITY COUNCIL AND REPRESENTING YOUR CITY.
UM, MISS, UH, LUCY, I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, IT IS BITTERSWEET, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE SWEET.
I, I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU IN MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
UH, IT IS SO EVIDENT TO ME THAT YOU'RE LEAVING.
I MEAN, YOU CAME HERE WITH YOUR HEART AND YOU ARE LEAVING A PIECE OF YOUR HEART.
AND TO SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I'M LOOKING AT THE PARTNERS PAGE, UM, AND, AND, AND THE FACT THAT OLYMPIA MENTIONED GROWTH AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S MORE GROWTH THAT IS EXPECTED, IT JUST, THIS IS WHY IT'S NOT AS BITTER AS IT IS SWEET.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH, LUCY, YOU ARE MOVING ON AND, AND YOU ARE GONNA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, ONTO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE, UM, I, I DO FEEL THAT ARTS IS IN SAFE, HANDS, SAFE, UH, COMPETENT HANDS.
SO OLYMPIA, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AS WELL.
AND, UH, JOSE, ALSO, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT YOUR HARD WORK IS GOING TO CONTINUE AND I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT MORE.
AND LUCY, I KNOW HOPEFULLY YOU WILL COME BACK AROUND.
UH, I'M NOT GOING TO, UM, SAY GOODBYE.
I'LL JUST SAY SEE YOU LATER,
SO THAT WAS WAY PAST FIVE MINUTES.
[7.2 Union Tower Apartments]
MOVE ON TO, UH, OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, ITEM 7.2 FOR UNION TOWER APARTMENTS.AND I WILL PASS IT OVER TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UH, ANGELITA PALMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, UH, HOUSING AUTHORITY TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND STAFF, UH, ANGEL DE PALMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THIS EVENING I HAVE WITH ME REBECCA LOUIE FROM WAKELAND HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT
[00:55:01]
CORPORATION.UH, SHE'LL BE PRESENTING ON THE UNION TOWER DEVELOPMENT APARTMENTS, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS, WHERE WE'RE AT AND THE LEASE UP PROCESS.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL HAND OVER THE MICROPHONE TO HER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WAKELAND.
SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND A VERY LONG TIME.
WE BUILT OVER 9,000 HOMES, MOSTLY HERE IN SA, SAN DIEGO AND THE REST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UM, THE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TIMELINE THAT NOT MANY, NO, EXCEPT MAYBE MAYOR MORRISON, WHO WAS PROBABLY THERE, MAYOR MORRISON WAS PROBABLY AT THE OPENING, OUR VERY FIRST NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, VERY FIRST NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OPENED IN 2002 RIGHT HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
SO THAT IS, YOU ARE PART OF WAKE WAYLAND'S HISTORY, UH, TOWN SQUARE ROW HOMES.
WE DO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE DO SENIOR HOUSING, WE DO BIG MISUSE PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
MY PRIDE AND JOY IN RIVERSIDE THAT HAS A CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE BUILT INTO THE GROUND FLOOR.
UM, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT UNION TOWER.
SO JUST A LITTLE REMINDER, UH, 94 UNITS, ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS. 24 OF THOSE ARE FOR VETERANS COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
FIVE ARE FOR VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES, UM, ONSITE SERVICES.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S NOT 94 UNITS.
WE'VE GOT THE OFFICE SPACE FOR THE BUILDING TRADES, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, ALL KINDS OF AMENITIES.
IT IS GONNA BE A FANTASTIC PLACE TO LIVE.
YOU CAN SEE WE ARE 91.45% COMPLETE TODAY.
SO HERE'S SOME INACTION PICTURES OF THE SITE OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS COMING ALONG STRONG.
UM, AND WE ARE NOW OPENED, WE HAVE OPENED OUR INTEREST LIST.
SO THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN HERE EARLIER SAYING HE WASN'T SURE HOW THE PROCESS WORKED.
I THINK WE'VE GIVEN YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY THE WORD WILL BE OUT.
BUT JUST A LITTLE REMINDER, THE INCOME IS FOR RESIDENTS EARNING ABOUT 30 TO 60% A MI HAVE A CHART.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
'CAUSE PEOPLE NEVER REALLY KNOW.
SO FOR SOME A ONE PERSON, IT'S ABOUT $35,000 GOING UP TO AT THE HIGH FOR A FOUR PERSON, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS LIKE 99,000.
OOPS, SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GO BACKWARDS.
AH, UNSUCCESSFULLY TO GO BACKWARDS.
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO GO BACKWARDS?
GOT IT, GOT IT, GOT IT, GOT IT, GOT IT.
UM, RENTS WILL BE, UM, IN THESE RANGES THAT YOU SEE THERE.
UM, SO OUR INTEREST LIST IS OPEN, THE LOTTERY WILL BE HELD IN MID-MARCH.
I HATE THE WORD LOTTERY BECAUSE IT REALLY JUST HIGHLIGHTS THE AWFULNESS OF THIS PROJECT, UH, THIS PROCESS WHERE THERE'S SUCH A HUGE DEMAND, BUT THERE'S KIND OF THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.
SO BASICALLY EVERYONE CALLS IN, THEY PUT REALLY SIMPLE INFORMATION INTO THE INTEREST LIST.
WE THEN PUT THEM INTO A, A COMPUTER THAT JUST RANDOMIZES THE NAMES AND THAT'S THE ORDER IN WHICH WE START PROCESSING PEOPLE BASICALLY.
SO THAT'S THE ORDER WE BRING THEM IN BECAUSE THEN THERE'S A, A LOT OF STEPS AHEAD TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY.
IT'S A, UM, CONVOLUTED PROCESS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS, ALL THE FUNDING SOURCES INVOLVED.
BUT WE GET THEM THROUGH IT AND, UH, WE'LL GET THEM THROUGH IT WITH A REMINDER THAT THERE'S A LOCAL PREFERENCE POLICY.
SO, UH, NATIONAL FACILITY RESIDENTS WILL BE, UH, PROCESSED FIRST, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF THEM BECAUSE AS OF NOW THERE ARE 1,145 PEOPLE ON THE INTEREST LIST.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THE EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND FOR THESE, WITH THE GOAL OF PEOPLE MOVING IN IN MID-JUNE.
AGAIN, THESE KEY DATES, WE'VE GOT THE INTEREST LIST OPEN UNTIL MARCH 13TH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE LOTTERY SOON AFTER, UM, BEGIN LEASE SET PROCESS, BRINGING PEOPLE IN AFTER THAT, HOPING TO MOVE PEOPLE IN MID JUNE TO GO GET ON THE INTEREST LIST.
THIS IS ALL YOU, WHERE YOU NEED TO DO TO SEND PEOPLE TO IS WWW.UNIONTOWERAPTS.COM, AND IT'S PRETTY EASY FROM THERE.
'CAUSE I HATE WHEN PEOPLE GET DIRECTED TO WEBSITES THAT ARE REALLY COMPLICATED.
JUST GO JOIN INTEREST LIST, PUT IN YOUR NAME AND YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN YOU'LL GET SOMETHING BACK FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY SAYING THAT THEY GOT IT.
UM, REALLY BIG THANK YOUS TO THE CITY FOR GETTING US THIS FAR.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ENORMOUS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTORS.
UM, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANNA POINT OUT IS THIS, THAT YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN AWESOME.
THEY REALLY HAVE, LIKE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
AND I WORK IN A LOT OF CITIES ALL THROUGH, AND THERE'S CITIES THAT ARE THERE TO HELP YOU GET THINGS DONE, EVEN AMONGST THEIR OWN BUREAUCRACIES THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK WITHIN.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH, BUT YOU'RE ALL PUSHING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL AND OVERCOMING HURDLES TOGETHER.
AND NATIONAL CITY HAS REALLY BEEN A MODEL OF THAT.
AND THAT IS NOT, UM, EVERYWHERE.
AND AGAIN, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF
[01:00:01]
YOUR STAFF.THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT COME UP DURING CONSTRUCTION WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE LIKE, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
EVERYTHING'S AN EMERGENCY, EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING.
AND THIS IS AN UNOCCUPIED, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.
AND AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A CITY OF CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT HOUSING NEEDS TO GET BUILT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. LOUIE.
I HIGHLY APPRECIATE YOUR PROPS TO OUR STAFF.
I FEEL THE SAME CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
WE HAVE SUCH A TIGHT, TIGHT, UM, RESOURCES AND, AND ESPECIALLY OUR STAFF MEMBERS, SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THERE.
UM, DO ANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR MAYOR ONLINE? UH, MR. BUSH? YES.
UH, REALLY WANNA THANK WAKELAND, UH, REBECCA, THE BUILDING TRADES, UH, MS. LOUISIE, UH, UH, JUST EVERYONE AND, AND THE CITY FOR ALL YOUR, UM, THE COLLECTIVE WORK ON THIS.
AND I'LL SAY THAT I HAD TO RECUSE MYSELF AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS AT MAC, I WAS A PROJECT MANAGER AT MAC, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMPETING PROJECT, UH,
AND I HAVE TO SAY, IN ALL HONESTY, IN HINDSIGHT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK, HINDSIGHT'S ALWAYS 2020.
AND I AM REALLY GLAD THAT THE CITY, UM, AT THE TIME, AND I THINK, UH, FROM THE DIOCESE, IT WAS JOSE AND RON THAT, THAT WERE, UH, THAT VOTED ON THIS.
BUT I, I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD DECISION FOR OF THAT 10 MILLION, FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS, UH, THE 8 MILLION TO GO TO WAKELAND BECAUSE IT WAS MORE SHOVEL READY.
SO BOTH WERE GOOD PROJECTS, US WAS 400 UNITS, AND YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, 400 UNITS, THAT'S MORE, BUT UM, IT WASN'T AS THERE AS CLOSE WITH THE FUNDING.
AND SO, UM, HAD WE SPLIT UP THE FUNDING MORE, UM, LIKE 5 MILLION, 5 MILLION OR 10 MILLION I THINK WAS AN AN INITIALLY.
UM, I, I DON'T THINK THAT IN, IN HINDSIGHT, LOOKING BACK, THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP FOR ASARI, WHICH MIGHT HAVE JEOPARDIZED THIS PROJECT.
SO, UM, SO I, I JUST THINK, UH, CARLOS AND I THINK ANGELITA WAS A PART, PART OF THAT ANALYSIS AND THAT TEAM.
SO YOU GUYS MADE A REALLY SOLID DECISION HERE.
AND THERE'S SOMETIMES TOUGH, TOUGH CHOICES WE HAVE TO MAKE.
IT'S STILL GREAT PROJECT, AND I HOPE THAT IT'S, IT IS BUILT, BUT REALLY GLAD TO SEE WHERE IT'S AT.
AND IT'S ABOUT TO OPEN NOW, AND IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME BECAUSE I SPENT SOME TIME, MY, MY, UM, UM, MY, MY KIDS, UH, ARE, ARE STILL LIVING THERE IN, IN THAT, UH, PROPERTY IN THE, IN THE, WELL WE USED TO CALL IT THE BLUES, BUT, UH, IT'S, UM, NOT BLUE ANYMORE.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT I HOPE TO SEE THIS, THE, THIS KIND OF REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS LAND CONTINUE.
AND I THINK THERE'S FUTURE PHASES, HOPEFULLY FUTURE PHASES IN THE WORK, SOMETHING SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO KIND OF MAXIMIZE THE USE AND, AND DENSIFY, IF YOU WILL, BUT STILL HAVE A BALANCE OF DIFFERENT, UM, D DIFFERENT, UH, UNIT TYPES AND, UM, AND KIND OF THE, THE HOMELESS AND THE HOMELESS VET YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO.
SO REALLY AWESOME THAT WE'RE, UH, AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND FOR BEING WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UM, HOW FIRM IS THE TIMELINE FOR JUNE? UM, I MEAN, I WILL NEVER SAY A TIMELINE IS FIRM
WHEN THERE'S CONSTRUCTION AND WHATNOT UNDER IT.
SO I, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S, IT, IT'S, IT, IT SHOULD NOT BE FAR FROM THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD COME UP THAT DOES, BUT I'VE CERTAINLY UTTERED THOSE FAMOUS LAST WORDS BEFORE AND HAD THINGS BE DELAYED BEYOND OUR CIRCUMSTANCE, CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE PUSHING FOR IT AND IT'S USUALLY JUST GETTING FINAL APPROVALS AND STUFF.
SO AGAIN, IN A COOPERATIVE CITY THAT WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN.
I CAN'T IMAGINE I'D BE UNDULY DELAYED IN GETTING MY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
AND, UM, I THINK, AS MY COLLEAGUE ALLUDED, UH, THIS, THIS WAS A VERY BIG DISCUSSION AND A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE CITY, EVERY TIME I ENGAGE FOLKS, IT'S THE HIGH PRICE OF RENT.
AND IT'S JUST THE DIFFICULTY TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND RENT IS THE, UH, BIGGEST EXPENSE FOR, FOR FAMILIES.
AND SO PROVIDING AFFORDABILITY FOR RENT, AFFORDABILITY, UH, IN, IN OWNERSHIP, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON AS WELL, IS CRITICAL FOR US.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THIS PROJECT, UM, TO THIS POINT.
AND THE WAIT LIST, UH, OR FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP, 1100 YOU MENTIONED? YEAH, 1,145 AS OF TODAY.
AND, AND ARE MO MOST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE OR YOU'RE GOING TO SCREEN THEM THERE? WELL, SO WE DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS JUST PURELY PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SEEN THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE ME AND GOT THEIR NAME ON THE LIST.
SO I REALLY DO, I MEAN, I, I REALLY RECOMMEND, AND YOU, WHEN YOU'RE OUTREACHING AROUND, IT'S ALWAYS WORTH SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, CHECKING AND BEING SURE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SURPRISED BY THE INCOME LIMITS, HOW HIGH THEY ACTUALLY ARE, UM, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY KNOW THAT QUALIFY.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO JUST REALLY DO RECOMMEND PEOPLE KIND
[01:05:01]
OF GET THEIR NAMES ON THE LIST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ANYWAYS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN YOUR FUTURE.AND IT'S SUCH A RESOURCE AND IT'S VERY SCARCE.
AND ALSO, UM, THERE'S A PAGE ON HERE THAT MENTIONS THE RENT PRICES.
THERE'S, UM, IN THE PRESENTATION, I DUNNO WHAT SLIDE NUMBER IT IS, BUT IT SAYS, NOW LEASING, THERE'S A FORM ONLINE, UM, THAT HAD THE, UM, RENTS BASED ON INCOME IN THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT WERE PER RENT.
IS THAT NUMBER DIFFERENT THAN THOSE, OR ARE THEY I PROBABLY ROUNDED THEM.
I'M NOT, I'M IT, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT IT'S, I PROBABLY ROUNDED UP OR ROUNDED AROUND.
SO THESE, THESE ARE ESTIMATES, AND AGAIN, IT ALSO DEPENDS, IT'S ALL KIND OF WITH A, DEPENDS BECAUSE THERE'S INCOME, RIGHT? EACH ARE RESERVED AT DIFFERENT INCOMES AS WELL.
AND THEN ALSO FOR THE VETERANS, THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS RENT.
SO IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.
SO DON'T, DON'T WRITE THE, DON'T, DON'T LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT THE WEBSITE.
BUT, BUT WITH THAT, I MEAN, IT'S STILL INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE, RIGHT? TO HAVE UNDER A THOUSAND DOLLARS, TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY, SO OH YEAH.
UM, WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UM, WAKELAND FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, HOWEVER, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ANGELITA FOR MAKING SURE THAT, UM, ALL THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE HAD GIVEN TO OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER AND OUR, UM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ARE REALLY, UM, BEING FOLLOWED.
IT'LL BE A VERY DIFFICULT, UH, TASK FOR YOU FOR 94 UNITS VERSUS 1145.
BUT I REALLY, UM, POINTING ON THE, UH, PREFERENCE FOR NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
UM, I THINK WE ARE GLAD THAT IT'S NOW, UM, AVAILABLE OR WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND I'M SURE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ARE WATCHING FOR YOUR COO.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD FOR THE DATA THAT WILL COME BACK, AND I'M SURE THAT IT WILL NEVER PASS THE ICE OF, UM, OUR, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ANGELITA.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS OR FOR OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, REGIONAL MAYOR MORRISON, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I DIDN'T SEE, UM, IT WAS HARD TO SEE IF YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP OR NOT.
UH, THE PROBLEM WAS THE, THE MAC PROJECT HADN'T EVEN WAS AT THE VERY, VERY INITIAL PHASES AND HADN'T REALLY GOT ANY FUNDING AT THAT POINT.
AND, UH, AND SO THIS PROJECT WAS MUCH CLOSER TO, TO, UH, BEING READY AND TO DO THE 8 MILLION ACTUALLY WOULD HELP FILL THAT GAP TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT A REALITY.
UM, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT WE INSTRUCTED STAFF TO GO AND TO MAKE THAT EIGHT, UM, 8 MILLION AND $2 MILLION SPLIT WITHOUT DOING THAT, MOST LIKELY, NEITHER ONE OF THESE PROJECTS WOULD BE OFF THE GROUND.
AND AT LEAST ONE NOW WE'VE GOT THAT IS, THAT IS ABOUT READY TO OPEN, WHICH IS, UH, I, I THINK IS, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, TRYING, TRYING TO BE THE NICE GUYS AND LET'S JUST SAY, LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST SPLIT IT UP EVENLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NOTHING AGAINST THE OTHER PROJECT, BUT IT'S JUST THE THING THAT MADE GOOD, UH, GOOD BUSINESS SENSE AND, UH, THAT'S PAYING OFF.
AND, AND I THINK OUR, UH, OUR RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. LOUISIE.
THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING BEFORE US.
[8. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.MR. ARMANI? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
UM, METRO WASTE, GPA, I THINK, UH, WE HAVE GOOD NEWS TODAY.
I SEE OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, UM, FORMER MAYOR JARED JONES.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A NO REPORTABLE ITEM FOR SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER AND FOR SWEETWATER AUTHORITY.
UM, WE JUST RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT, UH, FROM THE OFFICE OF, UH, CONGRESSMAN JUAN VARGAS, UM, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN TO, UH, FUND A PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, UH, TRYING TO COMPLETE.
AND SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR, UM, THIS, UM, UH, APPROPRIATION THAT OUR, UM, REPRESENTATIVE HAD PROVIDED TO SWEETWATER AUTHORITY AND FOR THE PEOPLE NATIONAL CITY IN THE SOUTH BAY AS, UH, WATERS LIFE.
[01:10:02]
I HAVE, UH, AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT MEETING, UH, THIS THURSDAY.UM, ONE OF THE BIG ITEMS, UH, COMING UP IS INDIRECT SOURCE, UH, RULE, UH, AND THEN MTS IS, UH, NEXT WEEK.
AND AT THIS POINT, UH, NOTHING ELSE TO REPORT.
THANK YOU, UH, MR. UH, MAYOR MORRISON.
UH, JUST THAT, UH, UH, SANDAG PLANNING, UH, THE, UH, UM, PLANNING COMMITTEE, UH, WE HAD A, UH, UH, MEETING THIS LAST WEEK.
UH, LET ME JUST JUST SAY THAT I DID HEAR A NUMBER OF GOOD COMPLIMENTS FROM STAFF ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WENT TO FIGHT FOR NATIONAL CITY, UH, BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN, THERE HAD BEEN SOME DECISIONS GOT MADE, AND, UH, TO DO, UH, WHAT I CALL PEANUT BUTTER EFFECT AND SPREAD MONEY OUT WHEN IT SHOULD BE GOING TO THE THINGS THAT ARE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO THE THINGS THAT ARE THE BEST, UH, BEST QUALIFIED.
UH, SO, UH, MADAM VICE, UH, MAYOR, UM, WE, UH, WE NEED TO THANK YOU.
'CAUSE I HEARD YOUR NAME COME UP QUITE A BIT THAT, UH, THEY, THEY THOUGHT WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A TIGER ON OUR TEAM.
AND THEN, UH, THEN OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW, I'M, I AM BACK IN DC FOR, FOR SAND EGG AND, UM, UH, MEETING WITH NARC, UM, NO, THAT'S NOT A POLICE THING.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS AND WITH A, WITH A WEIRD NAME.
UH, THE, UH, UM, AND AS I SAY, UH, EVEN WITH THE SHUTDOWN, WHICH HAS CLOSED A LOT OF THINGS HERE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE STILL WERE ABLE TO GET A GOOD NUMBER OF THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, AND, UH, AND PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT HAVE BEEN COMING AND, UH, DEALING WITH US ON DIFFERENT ISSUES.
AND TOMORROW MORNING, I'LL BE BACK UP IN, UP AT THE CAPITOL FOR, UH, BRIEFING AND, UH, WE'LL, UH, BRIGHT AND EARLY.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE UP THERE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, 5:00 AM YOUR TIME BEFORE I CAN FLY BACK.
BUT, UH, UH, BUT I SAY, UH, TALKING ABOUT A GOOD, GOOD NUMBER OF ISSUES AND A LOT OF, A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES.
UH, I'LL TAKE THAT TIGER COMMENT AS A COMPLIMENT.
AND, AND YEAH, I WAS VERY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, UM, REGARDING, UH, YOU KNOW, HANGING ON TO SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT, THAT, UH, RIGHTFULLY, UH, DID QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL CITIES PROJECTS.
UM, OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, UH, MR. MANGANELLO AND THE FULL TEAM.
AND I KNOW, UH, YOU BEING ON I TALK, MAYOR MORRISON, UH, BROUGHT TO OUR, TO MY ATTENTION AS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, THE NEED TO, TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION THAT THIS, THIS FUNDING, UH, RIGHTFULLY WAS DESERVED FOR NATIONAL CITY.
AND SO WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.
UM, I DO HAVE A REPORT FOR SANDAG.
I DID ATTEND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, FEB, NO, NOT FEBRUARY 3RD.
UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THERE THAT, UM, DID, UH, GO THROUGH QUITE A DISCUSSION.
ONE WAS THE, UM, TRANSNET BOND ISSUANCE.
THERE WAS A REFUNDING OF, UM, $400 MILLION.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND THAT I UNDERSTOOD ALL OF IT, BUT IT WAS A VERY GOOD THING.
UM, IT DID ALLOW FOR A REFUND OF CERTAIN, UH, OUTSTANDING BONDS AND EXECUTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF, UH, TRANSACTIONS THAT, UH, RESULTS IN A NET POSITIVE FOR SANDAG.
WE WENT THROUGH THE INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE AUDITOR'S ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, WHICH WAS ALSO WAS A POSITIVE.
AND THEN WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT ARGIS, WHICH IS THE AUTOMATED REGIONAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS. UM, IT, IT IS, UM, IT WAS CONSIDERED A 1 0 1, SO AN INTRODUCTORY SORT OF DISCUSSION ON ARGIS AND GIVEN THE CLIMATE TODAY REGARDING, UH, HOW THE SHARING OF INFORMATION, UH, GOES TO, UM, THE, UM, FEDERAL, UM, ICE, NOT JUST ICE, BUT ALL, UH, ENTITIES THAT DO THAT ARE ABLE TO ACCESS CRIME DATA ON OURS.
A LOT OF COMMENTS, A LOT OF QUESTIONS CAME UP.
THIS WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
ANYBODY INTERESTED? I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO THROUGH THE RECORDING.
ALL OF THE SANDAG MEETINGS ARE RECORDED, AND, UM, THE RECORDINGS ARE ON YOUTUBE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE MANY MORE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE OF THE OUTCOME OF THE, OF, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONING AND, AND ON THIS.
SO, AGAIN, GIVEN THE, THE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN, UH, THIS IS SUDDENLY A HOT TOPIC.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY COMMENTS BACK AS WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS AT SANDAG.
UH, AND THERE'S MORE TO DISCUSS.
MY NEXT MEETING AT SANDAG IS, UM, UH, NOT THIS FRIDAY, BUT THE NEXT FRIDAY, UM, FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENT FOR SANDAG.
[9. CONSENT CALENDAR]
MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.UM, ANY ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR? YES.
ANYTHING ELSE? CAN I GET A MOTION
[01:15:01]
TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR, THE BALANCE MOVE TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE ITEMS ON CONSENT? THANK YOU.CAN I GET A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
[9.2 Approval of an Agreement Amendment with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore for Legal Services in the Specialized Area of Labor Negotiations by Extending the Agreement to February 28, 2026.]
THIS IS APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT AMENDMENT WITH, UH, LIBERT CASSIDY WITH MORE FOR LEGAL SERVICES SPECIALIZING IN THE AREA OF LABOR NEGOTIATIONS BY EXTENDING THE AGREEMENT TO FEBRUARY, UH, 28, 20 26.COULD, UH, STAFF, UH, INFORM US ON, UH, WHY THIS EXTENSION IS NEEDED? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH, UH, NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, SO WHAT'S LEFT? AND THEN IF YOU COULD, UH, LET US KNOW WHAT THE COST OF THIS EXTENSION WILL BE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
RICHARD ROMERO, ACTING CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, WE ARE, WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED AGREEMENTS WITH TWO OF THE THREE BARGAINING GROUPS.
WE ARE FINALIZING THE FINAL MOU WE, THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
SO THIS EXTENSION WILL BE TO COVER THE FINAL LANGUAGE NEGOTIATIONS, ANY BACK AND FORTH WITH THE UNION ON THAT LANGUAGE.
AND THIS IS JUST A TIME EXTENSION.
THE RATES ARE AS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CONTRACT.
SO ANY COST WOULD JUST BE WHATEVER TIME IS NEEDED TO FINALIZE THOSE ITEMS TO BRING BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL OF THE FINAL MOU BY THE COUNCIL UNDER.
SO, UM, AT, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AND I JUST WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEM IN DISCUSSION WITH THE MEETING TONIGHT.
BUT I'M GONNA BE OPPOSING THIS ITEM SIMILAR TO WHAT I DID IN THE LAST TIME, THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WORK HERE.
UM, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS IS, UM, KIND OF DRAGGED OUT, UM, A A LOT.
AND, UM, AND I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT THE CONCERNS OF SPEEDING THIS UP, UH, HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE CONSULTANT.
AND I REALLY RECOMMEND FOR ALL OF US MOVING FORWARD, I DON'T THINK WE NEED, UM, A THIRD PARTY TO NEGOTIATE, UH, FOR US.
AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE'VE HAD A CONSULTANT NEGOTIATOR.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC, UM, THE THEORY THAT, UH, HAVING A THIRD PARTY MAKES IT LESS, UM, UH, CONTENTIOUS AMONG, UH, MANAGEMENT AND US ON COUNCIL AND THE EMPLOYEES.
BUT I THINK ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE UNION MEMBERS.
UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER, UH, IF THERE'S A THIRD PARTY OR NOT, ALL OF US HAVE OUR ROLES, UM, TO PROTECT THE CITY, TO MANAGE BUDGET, ALSO PROTECT THE WORKERS, AND GIVE THEM AS, UM, MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND I'VE JUST EXPERIENCED, UM, NOW THIS IS, UH, UH, TWO OR THREE, I THINK IT'S TWO NEGOTIATIONS, AND I THINK A LOT GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION.
AND I THINK WE COULD JUST DO IT IN HOUSE, UH, OURSELVES, AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE A FULLY STAFFED HR MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA, UH, OPPOSE THIS AND JUST MOVING FORWARD, RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST KEEP MORE OF THIS STUFF IN-HOUSE TO SAVE COSTS.
AND ALSO I THINK IT HELPS STREAMLINE COMMUNICATION, UNDERSTAND WHERE EACH OTHER, UM, ALL SIDES OF, UH, BARGAINING AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE.
I, UH, AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE HERE.
UM, JUST WANTED TO ASK TIME SENSITIVITY OF THIS, UM, EXTENSION, PLEASE.
SO, THE AGREEMENT TECHNICALLY EXPIRED AS OF THE END OF JANUARY, SO THIS IS TO GET US THROUGH THIS MONTH OF FINAL MONTH OF NEGOTIATIONS.
OKAY? SO, UM, I I, IT'S JUST NOT, UM, A, A GOOD FEELING TO HAVE OUR NCPD NOT HAVE THAT MORALE.
SO, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AGAIN, I, I, UH, I, I CONCUR TO, UM, WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH IS SAYING THAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE NEED TO EXPEDITE THIS AS, AS SOON AS WE CAN IN, IN ORDER FOR OUR STAFF, OUR, OUR WORKFORCE, OUR NCPD, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHO'S TAKING CARE OF THE PUBLIC PIECE OF OUR CITY HAS NO CONTRACT.
AND REAL QUICK, I I WILL SAY TOO, FOR US, BECAUSE AGAIN, A LOT GETS, UH, LOSS IN TRANSLATION AND IT'S THE POA SO AND SO, WE'VE HAD OUR UNDERSTANDING AND OUTLINE OF AN AGREEMENT SINCE I THINK LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER.
SO IT'S JUST, THIS HAS DRAGGED OUT A LOT TOO MUCH FOR ME, UH, MR. MORRISON.
YEAH, I, I REALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH WHAT, UH, MEMBER BUSH IS SAYING.
I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN, BEEN KIND OF AN AGGRAVATION FOR ALL OF US HERE THIS LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
[01:20:01]
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE, THE BALL HAS BEEN IN THE COURT OF THE, THE LABOR GROUP, AND WE'RE BASICALLY WAITING ON THEM.UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
AND, AND TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE HAD A NEGOTIATOR WHO HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THEM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THEY HAND OVER THAT IT IS THE EXACT THING THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED.
AND SO THERE'S, NOW MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS DOES NOT INCREASE THE CONTRACT IN ANY WAY.
WE'RE STILL WORKING WITHIN THE SAME EXISTING CONTRACT.
THE ONLY THING WILL BE JUST WHAT HOURS HE HAS TO SPEND.
UH, AND I'M ASSUMING IF EVERYTHING WE'RE HEARING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MUCH HERE, UH, BUT I, I AGREE.
I, I THINK IN THE FUTURE, I THINK WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO RE-LOOK SOME OF THESE THINGS AND TO PUT SOME LIMITS ON THIS STUFF.
'CAUSE THIS IS JUST, THIS HAS DRAGGED ON TOO FAR.
YOU'RE CORRECT, MAYOR, THIS IS, UM, THERE'S NO CHANGES TO THE COMPENSATION.
IT'S JUST GETTING US TO THE FINISH LINE ON THE FINAL MOU LANGUAGE AND ENSURING THAT IT, THE MOU MATCHES WHAT WAS AGREED TO DURING NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, BUT WE DO NEED A MOTION TO GET THIS FOR THE CHAIR, PLEASE.
UM, JUST TO, UH, GET THIS GOING.
UH, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER COMMENT, I CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ORDER ONE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH VOTING NOW.
THAT GETS US THROUGH CONSENT CALENDAR.
OH, LET ME GET BACK TO MY SCREEN.
[10.1 Interim City Attorney Employment Agreement]
WE GET TO, UH, ITEM 10, STAFF REPORTS.UH, ITEM 10.1, THIS ITEM IS INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.
UM, THIS, UH, FOR THIS, DO I PASS THIS ON TO ALICIA HICKS? OKAY, THANK YOU, MR. UM, ASSISTANT, UH, CITY ATTORNEY RICHARD ROMERO.
UM, YEAH, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ALICIA HICKS WAS PULLED AWAY ON AN URGENT MATTER.
SO I'LL JUST PRESENT ON THIS ITEM BRIEFLY.
UM, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE CONTRACT WITH CITY FORMER CITY ATTORNEY BARRY SCHULTZ, EXPIRED ON THE 31ST OF DECEMBER.
AND TO HELP, UM, CONTINUE WITH OPERATIONS AND FILL THE, THE GAP, UH, DURING A RECRUITMENT FOR A PERMANENT CITY ATTORNEY, WE HAVE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, ENGAGE A SEASONED ATTORNEY, HEIDI SKINNER.
HEIDI COMES WITH 25 YEARS OF PUBLIC ENTITY EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL, CALTRANS CITY OF OCEANSIDE, AND CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
UM, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS, UH, INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY AGREEMENT.
AND, UM, PRIOR TO ANY ACTION, I WOULD READ OUT AN ORAL REPORT OF THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT, UM, BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY VOTE.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL, MR. BUSH? YES.
I'M, UH, IN SUPPORT OR BRADY JUST FOR GENERAL COMMENTS.
UM, WELL, SO I'M, UH, STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS, UH, THIS CONTRACT.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY TO, UH, MS. SKINNER, TO HEIDI, I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR YOU TO JOIN US.
YOU'RE THE MOST QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED CITY ATTORNEY THAT, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD IN, IN DECADES.
UM, SO IT'S AN HONOR FOR YOU TO HAVE JOINED US.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED IN YOUR INTERVIEWS BY YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR CONFIDENCE.
UM, I THINK THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT, MAINTAIN THAT, AND TO NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE POLITICS GET IN THE WAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A JOB.
AND YOUR JOB ULTIMATELY IS TOLD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ACCOUNTABLE AND THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND A LACK OF CONSISTENCY.
UH, A LOT OF, UNFORTUNATELY, MISHANDLED INVESTIGATIONS AND, UM, JUST THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN APPLIED PROPERLY.
AND I THINK THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
UM, BUT YOU BEING, YOU KNOW, THAT KEY PERSON AT THE TOP IS DEFINITELY, UH, GOING TO HELP US.
AND YOU HAVE A STRONG STAFF THAT IS SUPPORTING, YOU HAVE A STRONG LEGAL TEAM THAT WILL BE SUPPORTING YOU, UM, AS WELL AS JUST A FULL OVERALL STAFF OF, OF COURSE, IT'S GONNA, UH, BE, YOU KNOW, SOME LEARNING.
AND TECHNICALLY THIS IS INTERIM, UH, BUT, UM, BUT EVEN IN THIS INTERIM POSITION, UM, IT, IT REALLY CAME
[01:25:01]
AT A, AT A PERFECT TIME.UH, WE NEED THIS AND REALLY EXCITED, UH, FOR YOU TO BRING YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR YOUR, YOUR CONFIDENCE, UH, TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
SO I'M IN, UH, I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT AND, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, PROVE THE CONTRACT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, MR. RODRIGUEZ, FOLLOWED BY MS. ARMANI.
UM, UH, ATTORNEY SKINNER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BY THE WAY? I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, CAN YOU COME UP AT LEAST SAY THAT THEN? JUST SO FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD SO WE CAN HEAR.
VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS ACTING CITY MANAGER, CHIEF.
UM, I JUST WANNA KNOW, I, I, I REALLY INTERVIEWED, I ENJOYED THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GREAT THINGS AHEAD OF YOU AS A CITY AND AS, UH, THE COUNCIL.
AND I WANNA HELP DRIVE THE POLICIES, THE INITIATIVES, THE DIRECTIVES THAT YOU HAVE FORWARD.
SHOULD I BE HERE?
UM, YOU ARE VERY QUALIFIED AND YOU'VE WORKED IN, UM, MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES WITH, WITH GOVERNMENTS.
AND SO I THINK YOUR ADDITION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED WITH OUR VERY SMALL, UH, TEAM OF ATTORNEYS.
WE HAVE A PLATOON
THEY DO SMALL BUT MIGHTY ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL CITY COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE MANY.
AND SO OUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE IS CRITICAL, UH, WITH SUCH SMALL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
AND SO DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING, UH, TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM.
UH, MR. MORRISON? NOTHING MORE.
UM, YES, JUST THAT I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, GOING IN FOR AN INTERIM POSITION HERE.
AND, UH, THE, THE WHOLE SITUATION IS WITH LOSING A, THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY HIMSELF.
AND YOU'VE GOT TWO ASSISTANTS.
THEIR RESOURCES HAVE BEEN REALLY DRAWN OUT THEN, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY, UH, TO, TO CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB OF THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE A, A FANTASTIC JOB AND I APPRECIATE WHAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE DONE TO, UH, TO PICK UP THE SLACK.
BUT AFTER A WHILE, SOMETHING HAS TO START SUFFERING.
IF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, THAT THIRD PERSON, ESPECIALLY THE PERSON AT THE TOP.
SO, UM, AND SO THEN OUR, UH, OUR, UH, ACTING ATTORNEY, UH, MR. ROMERO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND, UH, WE WE'RE, WE'RE BRINGING IN THE RESERVES NOW,
YOU GOTTA GET BACK TO WORK AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PUT ANY OF THOSE STUFF OFF, OFF THE TABLE.
UM, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, MS. SHELLY? WE DO NOT.
SO I THINK WE'RE READY FOR, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION.
LET ME, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO FORGET THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, LEMME JUST SAY PLEASE FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
AN ORAL SUMMARY UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE 5 4 9 5 3D THREE OF THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY POSITION.
SORRY, ALICIA, I BEAT YOU TO IT.
UM, THE FOLLOWING, THE SUMMARY OF THE SALARY AND OTHER COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT TO BE RECEIVED BY THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXECUTIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE.
THE INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY CONTRACT WILL BE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, 2026 FOR A MINIMUM OF 120 DAYS PER END, FOUR MONTHS, OR UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS A PERMANENT CITY ATTORNEY, WHICHEVER IS SOONER, UNLESS SOONER TERMINATED BY THE EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYEE, THE ANNUAL SALARY WILL BE $263,000 OR BE A MONTHLY VEHICLE ALLOWANCE OF SIX $750.
THE EMPLOYEE SHALL ACCRUE SICK VACATION LEAVE AND OTHER PAID LEAVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AT THE RATE PROVIDED TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEE LIFE INSURANCE SHALL BE PROVIDED EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEE'S ANNUAL GROSS SALARY UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $150,000.
AND THAT IS A REPORT OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. UH, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY RICHARD ROMERO.
SO WHAT'LL BE YOUR TITLE AS OF AFTER THIS? I WILL BE BACK TO JUST ONE TITLE? NO, NO.
SLASH JUST ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
SO NOW WE'RE READY FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
[01:30:01]
MEMBER IMANI AYE.AND WELCOME, UH, INTERIM CITY ATTORNEY HEIDI SKINNER.
[10.2 Second Amended and Restated Regional Wastewater Disposal Agreement (SARA) and Metropolitan Sewerage System Administrative Agreement No. 1.]
NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM 10.2.THIS IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND RESTATED REGIONAL WASTEWATER DISPOSAL AGREEMENT.
SARAH AND METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM, ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE.
UH, LET'S SEE, OUR CITY ENGINEER, STEVE MANGANELLO, I DON'T SEE HIM, SO I WILL PASS IT OVER TO, UH, OUR ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER, MS. MARTA JUAREZ, TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, LOOKING FOR THE VERY SPECIAL DEVICE THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
OKAY, UM, AGAIN, MARTA JUAREZ, UM, ACTING DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND RIGHT NOW REALLY REPRESENTING MORE OUR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE HAVE THIS VERY EXCITING BUT BRIEF PRESENTATION TO BRING TO YOU A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MANY MONTHS.
UH, I AM NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT TO RESTATE THAT.
WE'LL JUST CALL IT THE SARAH, THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR SHORT.
UM, AND IT IS MY PLEASURE AGAIN TO INTRODUCE OUR EXTENSION OF STAFF EXPERT IN ALL SEWER MATTERS.
UH, CARMEN KASNER WITH OUR DURA, YOU'VE SEEN HER MANY TIMES ON MOST OF OUR SEWER ITEMS HERE, SO SHE'S HERE AS WELL TO HELP US PRESENT THE MORE TECHNICAL SIDES OF THIS AGREEMENT.
SO, UM, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF PUBLIC STAFF, UM, IT IS MY PLEASURE.
I DO ASSIST THE CITY WITH MANY WASTEWATER ISSUES AND YOUR TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION ON THE METROPOLITAN TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TAC OF THE METRO JPA, THE METROPOLITAN JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CHAIR JERRY JONES, WHO IS A METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER, JPA AND JPA COMMISSION CHAIR.
IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'M GONNA DO JUST A REALLY BRIEF, HIGH LEVEL, UH, REMINDER ABOUT WHY WE ARE EVEN PART OF THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY DOES OPERATE A MUNICIPAL SEWER SYSTEM, BUT WE ONLY HAVE ALL OF THE PIPES AND A COUPLE OF PUMP STATIONS.
UM, BUT REALLY, ALL OF OUR SEWAGE GOES TO THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
IT CONNECTS, UM, AT A CO AT A COUPLE OR A FEW POINTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND THEN OUR, OUR SEWAGE GOES OUT TO BE TREATED BY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AT THE POINT LOMA TREATMENT PLANT.
AND SO, AS, AS A RESULT OF THAT SITUATION, WE BELONG TO, UH, SAN DIEGO METRO JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY, OR THE JPA, UH, ALONG WITH 12 OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES.
SO, JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF THAT, THAT HIGH LEVEL, UM, UH, POSITION WE HAVE WITH METRO JPA.
AND THIS IS JUST A REPRESENTATION OF THEIR OVERALL CONVEYANCE SYSTEM.
I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO CARMEN TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SARAH.
SO, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO FOR TREATING WASTEWATER WAS APPROVED BY MEMBER AGENCIES IN 1998.
AN AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED BY ALL MEMBER AGENCIES IN 2021 OH IN ADVANCE OF THE PURE WATER PROGRAM TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE COLOR TO THE AGREEMENTS AND THEIR PARTS.
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 1998.
IT REQUIRES SIGNATURE APPROVAL OF EVERY MEMBER AGENCY.
THEY'RE CALLED PAS, PARTICIPATING AGENCIES FOR EVEN MINOR CHANGES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE 2021, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN THE 2021 AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT.
SPECIFICALLY, THE DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON THE BILLING SYSTEM THAT DID NOT REFLECT THE APPROPRIATE ALLOCATIONS OF COST WHEN THE PURE WATER PROGRAM IS ONLINE, AND WHEN THE EAST COUNTY J P'S ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION COMES ONLINE.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE C THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT.
THE F THERE WAS AN FAQ ATTACHED TO THE REPORT THAT I HOPEFULLY EXPLAINED SOME OF THE KEY POINTS.
THE FOUR THAT I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT ARE, IT INCLUDES AN APPROPRIATE COST SHARING APPROACH FOR PHASES ONE AND TWO OF THE PURE WATER PROGRAM.
THERE'S A NEW BILLING METHODOLOGY TO ALLOCATE THE METRO SYSTEM'S COST MORE ACCURATELY AND APPROPRIATELY.
[01:35:01]
HOW FUTURE REUSE PROJECTS MAY BE INCLUDED AS CAPITAL COST CALCS, AND PROVIDES A FORMULA FOR CALCULATING REVENUE FOR THE PURE WATER PROGRAM.THE CITY MAY ULTIMATELY BE GETTING MONEY BACK BECAUSE OF THE PURE WATER PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S TAKING WATER THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THEIR WATER CUSTOMERS IS A REALLY GOOD WIN FOR EVERYONE.
AS THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE JPA DUG INTO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, THEY IDENTIFIED SOME REALLY NEEDED STRUCTURAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, CLARIFYING HOUSE FINES AND REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ARE ALLOCATED.
SAY IF THERE'S A SPILL IN THE METRO SYSTEM.
IT WE CREATED, THEY CREATED A PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENTS TO BE DEVELOPED RATHER THAN RENEGOTIATING THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT.
AND THEY ESTABLISHED FOUR PATHS TO UPDATE SARAH IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT 100% OF THE AGENCIES APPROVING IT, ALLOWING FOR MORE TAILORED AND EFFICIENT DECISION MAKING.
THE SECOND PART OF THE ACTION TONIGHT IS TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT.
NUMBER ONE, REGARDING INDUSTRIAL PRE-TREATMENT.
THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO WILL BE TAKING A LARGER ROLE AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM AS IT AFFECTS THE POTABLE REUSE SYSTEM MORE.
WHILE THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY'S ORDINANCES HAVE REFERENCE TO THE CITY'S INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGE PROGRAM, UPDATES TO THE CITY ORDINANCES ARE NEEDED, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THEM BACK AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET THIS AGREEMENT APPROVED AND IN PLACE BEFORE WE DEAL WITH THE ORDINANCES.
SO WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE NEW METRO BILLING SYSTEM? THE NEW BILLING SYSTEM CHANGES FROM HAVING ALL OF THE COSTS FOR TREATMENT BASED ON FLOW AND STRENGTH OF FLOW TO HAVING COSTS BASED ON THE FUNCTIONS AND USAGE OF THE FACILITIES.
WE'RE CALLING OUT A FAB, IT'S FAB.
THE BILLING METHODOLOGY HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 1998.
THERE'S A BASE COST THAT NATIONAL CITY WILL PAY BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF TREATMENT RESERVED IN THE SYSTEM FOR NATIONAL CITY AND ACTUAL FLOWS.
THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE A PEAK COST TO RECOVER THE COSTS AT PUMP STATION TWO AND POINT LOMA THAT HANDLE THE SYSTEM PEAK FLOWS.
THIS ASSURES THAT MEMBERS OF THE EAST COUNTY JPA SHARE AND PAY THEIR SHARE OF THE PEAKS THAT THEY MAY STILL NEED TO SEND TO THE METRO SYSTEM.
THE 2027 BILLS FROM SAN DIEGO ARE ANTICIPATED TO UTILIZE THESE NEW RATES DEPENDING ON THE TIME AND OF THE SARAH AGREEMENT.
THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEVEN AGENCIES THAT HAVE APPROVED THE SARAH, THE REST REMAIN ALL BUT ONE OF THEM BEEN CALENDAR.
THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS CONCURRENTLY MOVING THE AGREEMENT THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.
SO WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO NATIONAL CITY? IT BETTER PROTECTS THE JPA AND MEMBER AGENCIES BY ACTING, GIVING THE ORGANIZATION LEGAL, STANDING AND BETTER CLARITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FINES AND REGULATORY JUDGEMENTS.
THE CHANGES TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRE-TREATMENT PROGRAM WILL ALSO CLEAN UP AND REDUCE THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS.
THE CITY'S SHARE OF WASTEWATER WILL GO UP WITH THE EAST COUNTY JPA COMING ONLINE.
BUT THE FAB WILL REDUCE THAT SHARE SLIGHTLY.
YES, WE'RE PLAYING MORE, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ANYWAY.
BUT THE FAB DOES NOT INCREASE OUR RATES.
THERE MAY O OTHER REASONS THAT RATES GO UP, BUT NOT DUE TO THE SARAH.
FOLKS PROMISED A SHORT AND EXCITING PRESENTATION TODAY.
SO THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ARE UP ON THE SCREEN AND IN YOUR PACKET, WE NEED, UM, YOUR SUPPORT IN ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS.
UH, AND THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS, THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CAL CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND RESTATED REGIONAL WASTEWATER DISPOSAL AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA APPROVING METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT, NUMBER ONE FOR UNIFIED MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE, DISCHARGE, PRETREATMENT AND ENHANCED SOURCE CONTROL PROGRAMS, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
UM, I HAVE ON MY NOTES THAT YOU NEED TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS, TWO SEPARATE, UM, VOTES.
SO FIRST, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAIR? YES, MS. YAMANI MOVE TO ADOPT, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
UM, IN 2022 WHEN I GOT ON BOARD THE METRO JPA, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SARAH.
I LOOK AT MY CHAIR AND I SAID, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHERE IS SARAH
[01:40:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE EDUCATION.UM, AND THE TENACITY OF OUR, UM, DIRECTOR, UM, MARTHA JUAREZ AT METROTECH.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, UM, ARDUOUS WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME, I KNOW SARAH NOW VERY FOND OF SARAH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, EDUCATING ME WITH THAT.
AND THANK YOU THAT I NOW MET SARAH AND I LOVE SARAH, UM,
SO, UH, THANK YOU CARMEN AND, UM, MADAM CHAIR.
IT WAS A FUNNY EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU LEARN FROM ALL THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN EXPERIENCES THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE WHO SIT THERE BEFORE US EDUCATE US ON WHAT'S GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ANY MORE COMMENTS? UH, SO THIS IS, UH, YES, VERY INFORMATIVE.
UM, UH, THIS IS THE FIRST I HEAR OF SARAH, SO I, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE, I HAVEN'T MET HER YET,
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S A NICE INTRODUCTION.
UM, I DO WANNA THANK, UM, OUR JPA CHAIR JERRY JONES FOR, UH, ACCOMPANYING US TONIGHT AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW VERY WELL, UM, WHAT ALL OF THIS MEANS.
UM, ONE QUESTION, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, CARMEN, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE AND THAT HAVING TO COME UP LATER.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S ORDINANCES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED ONCE WE HAVE THIS AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE FORWARD IN PROBABLY THE APRIL TIME, APRIL MAY TIMEFRAME.
JUST, WE WANT IT IN PLACE FOR JULY ONE IF THE SUR GETS APPROVED BY ALL THE OTHER MEMBER AGENCIES BY THAT TIME.
AND YOU EXPECT, UH, THE OTHER MEMBER AGENCIES TO APPROVE IT BY JULY, THAT THIS WOULD BE CITY'S ORDINANCES A WEEK? OH.
AS FAR AS THE OTHER MEMBER AGENCIES AS APPROVING THE SARAH, UM,
AND, UM, I KNOW THERE'S OTHER DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON WITH THEM.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL BE, WE'LL GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE CONCURRENTLY.
IF THERE IS ONE HOLDOUT, DOES THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE THING? YES, THAT'S A PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT AGREEMENT IS THAT EVERY MEMBER AGENCY HAS TO APPROVE IT BEFORE IT GETS ENACTED.
THE NEW AGREEMENT IS MUCH MORE STANDARD FOR AGREEMENTS THAT IT ISN'T ALWAYS 100%, BUT IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THE GREATER WHOLE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING EVERY TIME, BUT YOU LOOK, YOU GO THE GREATER WHOLE.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE WAY IT'S SET UP RIGHT NOW, NO ONE AGENCY CAN HOLD UP THE WHOLE AGREEMENT.
UM, AND ACTUALLY HELD UP THE LAST ONE FOR TWO YEARS, I THINK BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY MUCH APPROVED BY EVERYONE ELSE IN 18, AND THEN IT WAS 21 BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETELY SIGNED BY EVERYONE, SO, WOW.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
UM, YEAH, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ANY OTHER COMMENTS YEAH, RELATED TO THAT? I JUST, I DID WANNA CLARIFY BECAUSE MAYBE THE QUESTION COMES FROM THE SENSE THAT IF, IF ANY CHANGES RESULT IN THE DOCUMENT AS A RESULT OF THE, THE AGENCIES THAT WILL STILL BE REVIEWING AND VOTING ON THIS, RIGHT? YEAH.
UM, WE, WE DO HAVE, IN OUR RESOLUTION, UM, I I I I'M GONNA ASK THE AUTHORITY, THE ACTING CITY ATTORNEY TO EXPLAIN HOW, HOW WE'VE WRITTEN THAT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT GIVES US AUTHORITY FOR SOME MINIMAL MINOR REVISIONS.
WELL, I AM STILL ACTING FOR A FEW MORE HOURS.
SO, UM, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION AS, AS MARTA MENTIONED, THAT ALLOWS, UM, NON SUBSTANTIVE MODIFICATIONS TO HAPPEN AFTERWARDS IF THERE'S ANY CLEANUPS OR MINOR TWEAKS THAT WE CAN APPROVE AND BE SIGNED BY THE MAYOR WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
WELL, I DO, UM, WISH FOR YOU ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, MAY ALL OF THE STARS ALIGN SO THAT ALL, UH, AGENCIES DO AGREE AND, AND EVERYTHING DOES COME TOGETHER FOR, FOR THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR THE, FOR THE WHOLE.
SO, UM, IF THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR THE VOTE.
WE HAVE A, A MOTION FOR THE FIRST OF THE TWO RECOMMENDED ACTIONS.
UM, I HEARD A MOTION FROM MS. YAMANI, SECOND BY MR. BUSH.
UH, AND I WOULD CALL FOR THE VOTE MS. CITY CLERK.
[01:45:01]
MEMBER BUSH? YES.SORRY, MR. MORRISON, YOU WERE MUTED.
AND CAN I GET A, UH, MOTION FOR THE SECOND PIECE OF THE ACTION? MADAM CHAIR, MOVE TO APPROVE, UH, AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
DO YOU NEED ME TO READ THAT MOTION OUT, MS. SHELLY? I CAN IF YOU'D LIKE.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA APPROVING ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES IN THE METROPOLITAN SEWER SEWAGE SYSTEM FOR THE UNIFIED MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGE, PRETREATMENT AND ENHANCED SOURCE CONTROL PROGRAMS. AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
IF NO COMMENTS ARE REQUESTED, I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CARMEN AND, UH, CHAIR JONES.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INFORMATIVE INFORMATION.
I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM SARAH VERY SOON.
I DON'T THINK, THINK WE HAVE ANY REMAINING COMMENTS.
[11. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT]
REPORT.THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS STAYING WITH THE ACTING ROLES.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK RICHARD FOR ALL THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT HE'S BEEN DOING, WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UH, BOTH MARTHA AND I.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER ACTING ROLE IN OUR CROWD HERE.
SO, RACHEL MARRA, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, RACHEL.
SHE IS TAKING OVER THE FINANCE TEAM AND SHE'S DOING A A BANG UP JOB.
WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY CLOSE, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THIS LEADERSHIP ROLE.
AND I'M SORRY, ACTING CITY MANAGER.
UM, IT, IT'S RACHEL OR ROCHELLE? UH, IT'S RACHEL.
BUT COULD, COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF? I MEAN, I THINK, UH, OUR OUR CHIEF CITY MANAGER, UH, SAID THAT YOU'RE, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND JUST YOUR EXPERIENCE.
SO DO YOU MIND LIKE ABSOLUTELY.
TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BIOGRAPHY? YEAH, NO.
UM, SO BORN AND RAISED IN NATIONAL CITY.
UH, BORN AT PARADISE VALLEY HOSPITAL.
WENT TO GRANGER, UH, WENT TO SWEETWATER.
UH, SO I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, I DID RELOCATE MY FAMILY TO CHULA VISTA.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE FAMILY THAT STILL LIVES HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR, UM, ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW.
UM, PRIOR TO MY, UM, EXPERIENCE HERE, I WAS WORKING AT CITY OF CHULA VISTA FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
SO I HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS, UM, THE SUPPORTING OUR TEAM, SUPPORTING OUR DEPARTMENT, AND SUPPORTING OUR CITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. BARRERA.
I, I KNOW THERE'S A THOUSAND EMAILS THAT GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT I ACTUALLY GET TO SEE YOU YES.
I LOVE THAT YOU USED THE WORD SUPPORT, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
OUR CITY, OUR BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL CITY IS IN A SUPPORT NEED RIGHT NOW.
AND EVERYBODY THAT IS LENDING A HAND AND SUPPORTING IS, IS JUST, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE? CITY ATTORNEY.
[12. ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT]
OFFICIALS REPORT.JUST A, A QUESTION REGARDING, UH, AN ITEM THAT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA LAST COUNCIL MEETING, A POLICY 1 0 5 REQUEST FOR A, A CREATION OF A HOME OWNERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE.
UH, IT'S NOT, IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
DO WE HAVE A EXPECTED TIME FOR IT TO COME BACK TO A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING? I DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT.
UM, MAYOR MORRISON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THERE? I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS A SET TIME ON THAT.
IT WAS THE COMMITTEE TO MEET AND THEN, THEN LET US, LET US KNOW.
I THINK A POLICY 1 0 5 IS INTENDED TO BRING BACK THE ITEM FOR DISCUSSION TO CREATE A COMMITTEE OR NOT.
SO, SO, UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT, NEXT
[01:50:01]
MEETING.I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IS ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING AN ITEM LIKE THAT ON THE AGENDA, BUT THAT SOUND REASONABLE.
IF IT'S JUST TO ACT ON THE 1 0 5, WE CAN GET THAT ON THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE, UM, QUESTIONS FROM, UM, OUR RESIDENTS EARLIER THAT WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE MAY NOT ASK SOME OF THE HARD QUESTIONS HERE, BUT BELIEVE YOU, ME, DURING OUR ONE-ON-ONES WITH OUR DIRECTORS, OUR CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND OUR COUNCIL, WE RIDDLED THEM WITH QUESTIONS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER AT THAT MOMENT, BELIEVE ME, THEY FIND THE ANSWERS AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY ADDRESS IT.
SO WHEN WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST QUIET BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HAVE ASKED OUR QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO OUR CITY MANAGER THAT IS ALWAYS READY TO MAKE SURE AND OUR CITY, UM, COUNCIL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE READY TO BE ANSWERED OR WE LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS, UM, THAT WE NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE READY TO MAKE A DECISION HERE, THAT WE ARE READY TO, UM, TO MAKE, TO GIVE DIRECTION.
SO WE DO, WE DO ASK QUESTIONS AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR, UM, ALSO, UM, WITH OUR ONE-ON-ONES, UM, ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
WE MAY, IT MAY NOT BE THE SAME ITEM, BUT FROM THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, EVERY QUESTIONS ARE, ARE BEING ADDRESSED.
SO, SO YES, WE DO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DO ADDRESS THOSE, UM, WITH REGARDS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAMS, UM, THAT MR. LARRY EMERSON HAD HAD STATED, UM, WE HAVE THOSE, UM, AVAIL AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AND, UM, I HAVE, UH, SENT THOSE PRESS RELEASES THAT I GET FROM THE AGENCIES THAT I REPRESENT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR DCM, ALWAYS THE THREE, UM, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL ANSWER TO ME AS THE POSITION CALLS FOR.
UM, AND THEN THEY DISSEMINATED TO THE PROPER DIRECTORS THAT HANDLES THOSE, UM, DISSEMINATION.
UM, I AM, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATEFUL FOR RACHEL FOR STEPPING UP.
UM, I KNOW I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS EARLIER, BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, CITY MANAGER HERE, COUNCIL AND RDCM AND YOU, UM, WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THOSE.
UM, SO, UM, WHAT OTHER, UH, THINGS WE ARE HERE, UM, WE MAY NOT AGREE ALL THE TIME, BUT OUR GOAL IS THE SAME FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY.
UM, AND THE PASSION AND THE COMMITMENT IS THERE.
SO SOMETIMES YOU SEE US HERE, THE FIVE OF US, MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY FIRST.
UH, AND I DO AGREE THAT 1 0 5 REQUESTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THIS AGENDA.
SO I JUST ASK STAFF IF THAT PLEASE BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
I THINK THAT'S GETTING, UH, TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, I ALSO AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI ABOUT, UH, UH, QUESTIONS.
I THINK IT WAS EDTA THAT MADE THAT REMARK.
UM, AND, UH, SO, UM, AND I THINK WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WAS THE ENCUMBERED FUNDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROJECTS, WHICH HONESTLY, I DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.
SO I HAD TO GO BACK AND EVEN HE HELPED EXPLAIN SOME OF WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TO ME.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATED HIM, UH, DOING THAT.
BUT, UM, UH, I ALSO, HE ALSO ASKED ABOUT SOME, UH, AND HE LEFT BEFORE I COULD LET HIM KNOW, BUT, UH, HE ALSO ASKED FOR SOME BUDGET INFORMATION ON THE, UM, THE GRAFFITI MURAL PROJECT AND COSTS.
AS, AS I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS HERE, ED, ED ASKS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION TO GIVE OUT, BUT I WANT TO THANK, UM, UH, RONNIE SORIANO FOR PROVIDING THAT, UH, UH, BUDGET IN INFO, UH, TO ME SO THAT I COULD FORWARD TO HIM.
SO IF HE HAS FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF US, TRY TO ANSWER, UH, QUESTIONS AS, AS BEST POSSIBLE.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, PAUL WOLSKI FOR THE COURT RULING IN HIS FAVOR IN TOSSING OUT THE COMPLETELY FABRICATED, UH, RESTRAINING ORDER REQUEST MADE BY LUISA MCCARTHY WITH WITNESS TESTIMONY FROM HER EMPLOYEES.
UM, ONE OF WHOM WHO I LEARNED, UH, IN ATTENDING THAT HEARING, WHO'S ACTUALLY A FAMILY MEMBER, UH, WHICH WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US ON CITY COUNCIL, UM, WHEN THEY'VE COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAYING IT'S JUST AN EMPLOYEE, UM, UH, FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
SO, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST, UM, PART OF A LONG PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR FROM LUISA AND MIKA OF TARGETING, OF BULLYING, OF RETALIATION, OF COUNSEL, OF STAFF, OF RESIDENTS, UM, AND THEIR, AND THEIR SUPPORTERS
[01:55:01]
NOT ONLY JUST FILED THIS, UH, BOGUS RESTRAINING ORDER, BUT THEY ACTUALLY WENT TO PAUL'S, UH, PLACE OF WORK TO TRY TO GET HIM FIRED.AND THAT'S JUST REALLY LOW AND HYPOCRITICAL, UH, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THAT SAME BEHAVIOR THAT THEY ARE ACCUSING, UH, PAUL HAVE IS BEHAVIOR THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN FOR THE, UH, PAST YEAR.
AND THE, AND THE JUDGE DID RULE THAT A LOT OF THAT, EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID IS PROTECTED WITHIN FIRST AMENDMENT, UH, FOR SPEECH RIGHTS, SO CLASSIC GASLIGHTING.
UM, BUT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO, UH, SIT THERE AND WATCH LUISA HOLD UP HER HAND AND, AND ACTUALLY LIE UNDER OATH TO A, A SITTING JUDGE, JUDGE CAMARENA, AND HAVING, INCLUDING HAVING HER EMPLOYEE MAKE UP A STORY ABOUT SEEING PAUL AT THE LA VISTA, UM, MEMORIAL CEMETERY, WHICH JUDGE ENA DIDN'T EVEN ALLOW TO BE INCLUDED, UM, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EVIDENCE.
AND HE, HE SAID, QUOTE, HE'S WORD HEARSAY, UH, IN HIS, IN HIS WORDS.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE STATED AS WE LOOK ON SOME OF THESE.
UM, UH, I MEAN, PAUL WENT UP AGAINST TWO ATTORNEYS, UH, BY HIMSELF, UM, AND, AND REPRESENTED HIMSELF.
SO I WAS, UH, REALLY APPRECIATIVE, UH, AND SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
UH, FINALLY, I DO WANT TO, UM, COMMENT ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ'S EARLIER COMMENTS ON, UM, IMMIGRATION AND, AND JOSE, I ABSOLUTELY SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL, UM, GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
AND IT IS A FACT THAT THEY, UH, ARE TARGETING OR ALLOWING, UM, TO PROFILE BASED ON ETHNICITY.
LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PUBLIC.
LIKE THERE'S NO DISPUTING, UH, THAT, SO, SO MY, JUST, MY ONLY DISAGREEMENT IS JUST ON THE, UM, YOUR, UH, APPROACH AND THE ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I SAW ONE OF YOUR COMMENTS, JOSE, UM, JUST BEGINNING BACK AND FORTH, AND IT WAS REFERRING TO SOMEONE'S THIS SKIN COLOR, THEY'RE BEING BROWN.
UM, AND I, AND I UNDERSTOOD WHERE THE CONTEXT OF WHAT, WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I, I JUST, UM, JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S THE MOST HELPFUL APPROACH IF WE'RE TRYING TO WIN THOSE PEOPLE OVER.
SO, BUT I DO STILL, I, I KNOW YOUR CONCERNS ARE, ARE GENUINE AND, AND VALID ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, BUT IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE, UH, UM, AND REALLY PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT, UH, TO OUR CHIEF, UM, AND I, I DO REQUEST THAT, UM, THIS BE A DISCUSSION, UH, IN IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE, UH, CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE, UH, I'M CONCERNED, AND I THINK WHAT I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR YOU, JOSE, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE, UH, UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND SOME OF THE RECENT INCIDENTS WE'VE BEEN GETTING SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT, UM, LIKE WE'VE SEEN VIDEOS OF WALMART AND, UM, OF, UH, UM, PLAZA BOULEVARD OUTSIDE OF, UH, ROYAL MANDARIN PEOPLE BEING TAKEN.
AND, AND WE'RE NOT CLEAR OF IF THOSE WERE LAWFUL DETENTIONS.
AND WE, I, I, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT OUR, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR POLICE, THAT ALL OF US HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENT RESIDENTS AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
SO IF SOMEONE, UH, THAT WE DON'T KNOW IS COMING HERE IN A MASK AND TAKING SOMEONE LIKE WE, I THINK HAVE A DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S AN ACTUAL LAWFUL, UH, DETENTION.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE, LIKE WHETHER THEY'RE CRIMINALS AND WHAT, UH, ALL, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
SO THERE'S A, A TON OF SENSITIVE NUANCE AND STUFF THAT I THINK WE, UH, WE SHOULD DISCUSS.
BUT I, I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THAT IN CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE IT'S BECOME A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND, UH, JOSE'S RIGHT, THAT A LOT OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS ARE, ARE TERRIFIED AND IT'S AFFECTING THEIR, THEIR, THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
SO I, I WOULD REQUEST THAT THAT COME UP IN, UH, CLOSED SESSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CAN I, CAN I JUST RESPOND TO THAT REALLY QUICK? IT ISN'T MUCH OF A RESPONSE.
IT'S SIMPLY AN ASK, UM, TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN OPEN SESSION.
UH, I WILL ASK FOR STAFF'S INPUT, UM, TO CITY MANAGER AND, UM, OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS THIS AND, AND, UH, HELP US ARRIVE AT A DECISION FOR BEST PRACTICE.
WELL, IF WE'RE DISCUSSING PUBLIC RESPONSE TO A, UH, A SERIES OF EMERGENCIES OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OR OPEN.
I WOULD JUST SAY I'M OPEN TO THAT, BUT I WOULD REQUEST A CLOSED SESSION FIRST AND THEN OPEN SESSION SO WE HAVE A UNIFIED MESSAGE, BECAUSE SOME OF WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, UH, WHETHER THOSE, UH, DETENTIONS ARE LAWFUL OR NOT, I THINK IT'S SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT THE, OUR POLICE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DISCLOSE, WHICH I WANNA KNOW THE DETAILS ABOUT THAT, AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DISCLOSE THAT IN OPEN SESSION OR AT LEAST TALK ABOUT IT IN ENOUGH DETAIL.
SO I'M OPEN TO THE OPEN SESSION, LIKE I WANT TO HAVE AN OPEN SESSION DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.
AND I DO THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A UNIFIED, UH, MESSAGE COMING FROM OUR CITY AS AN ORGANIZATION ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE DISCUSS IT FIRST IN CLOSED SESSIONS, SO WE UNDERSTAND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE PROTOCOLS OF THE BALANCE.
AND, AND FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT TO BE A TARGET OF THIS ADMINISTRATION EITHER, SO I JUST, THERE'S A LOT
[02:00:01]
TO BALANCE TRUE.THE CHAIR, UH, PLEASE, UH, LET'S WRAP UP ON THIS CONVERSATION.
THANK, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I THINK I WOULD, UH, DEFER TO OUR INCOMING CITY ATTORNEY.
I WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M MEAN TO, TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
WE PUT HER TO WORK, RIGHT? MIGHT HAVE.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET HER GOING.
UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, YOUR COMMENTS? YEAH.
SOME, SOME WEIGHTY DISCUSSION THERE AND, UH, AND WE PROBABLY DO NEED TO HAVE IT IN, IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.
I ALMOST THOUGHT I WAS GOING HAVE TO, UH, ASK FOR A MOTION FOR TO EXTEND THE MEETING PAST THE 10 30 MARK SINCE IT'S 11 HERE,
I THINK IT IS YOUR TIME OVER THERE AND, BUT, UH, BUT ANYWAY, UH, GOOD, UH, UH, GOOD MEETING AND, UH, I APPRECIATE, UH, VICE MAYOR STEPPING IN.
AND I, IN MY ALMOST 34 YEARS, I, THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME I'VE MISSED A MEETING, AND THE FIRST TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE ZOOM, SO I ACTUALLY MISSED THAT ONE
SO, UH, SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN, BUT I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING IN AND, UH, UM, AND I TOO DO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, UM, PAUL KOWSKI FOR, YOU KNOW, GOING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, USING, USING THE COURT SYSTEM THE WAY IT SHOULD BE AND USING THE LAW THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, AND PRESENTING HIS CASE, LET THE OTHER SIDE PRESENT THEIR CASE.
AND THEN JUSTICE REALLY DID COME OUT, SO IT JUST DOESN'T BECOME A, UM, A BUNCH OF, YOU KNOW, PUBLICITY OUT IN THE, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING TO THE PRESS AND MAKING A BUNCH OF WILD CLAIMS AND JUST DOING A BUNCH OF GASLIGHTING, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS INSTEAD DONE VERY THOUGHTFULLY.
AND, UH, AND JUSTICE PREVAILED.
AND I, UH, UH, APPRECIATE AND, AND HATE TO SEE HIS FAMILY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
UM, WITH THAT, UH, I'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NINTH, AND I'LL SEE Y'ALL THEN.
UH, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS NERVOUS.
UM, I, IT FEELS LIKE I STEPPED INTO THE ROLE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY COMMENTS.
I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO DID RELEASE THEIR DRAFT EIR FOR THE TRUCK, UH, ELECTRIFICATION STATION THAT IS COMING TO NATIONAL CITY.
UM, THE REPORT DID HAVE, UH, FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
I DO ENCOURAGE, UH, DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANYBODY INTERESTED, PLEASE ACCESS THE REPORT.
IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ALSO AT, UH, THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, LOGAN HEIGHTS LIBRARY.
UH, IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE PORTS ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING ON PACIFIC HIGHWAY.
UM, AND ANY COMMENTS CAN BE EMAILED TO PETER EKER, UM, AT, UH, HE'S ON STAFF AT THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO.
AND, UM, THE PO THE COMMENT PERIOD RUNS, UH, FROM JANUARY 29TH THROUGH MARCH 16TH.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, ANYTHING TECHNICAL, THOUGH, OF COURSE, I WOULD REFER TO THE, UH, PROFESSIONALS.
WE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION AT MY LAST TOWN HALL.
UM, UH, WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM SKY CHARGER, WHO IS THE OPERATOR WHO WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE, THE FOLKS THAT BUILD THE STATION, UH, ONCE EVERYTHING IS, IS SET.
UM, BUT, UH, THAT'S GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS THAT THE EIR IS FINALLY OUT AND, UH, AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR DISTRICT ONE NEWS.
OH, WE HA WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
WE HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.
[13. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
I'M SORRY.I MEAN, SINCE IT'S EARLY, I THOUGHT I'D TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE 45 PAGE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL STAFF, EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE DURING THIS, THIS TRANSITION PERIOD.
I, I REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, AND, UH, YES, MOTION TO ADJOURN.
DO WE NEED A VOTE TO ADJOURN? NO, JUST GIVING.
OH,
AND, UH, BEFORE HEIDI LEAVES, IF WE CAN GET A QUICK PICTURE.