[00:00:02]
ALRIGHT, IF WE GET EVERYBODY ON INTO THEIR SEATS, WE GOT A HAPPY CROWD UP THERE AND UP FRONT.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
AND, UH, ALRIGHT.OH, THERE, THERE'S, IT'S ALRIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, I HAVE A QUICK EXPLANATION HERE BEFORE WE PROCEED.
I REQUEST THE INTERPRETER TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED FOR THIS EVENING'S, UH, MEETING.
AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, WE DO HAVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES INTO SPANISH.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKERS.
WE WANNA START THIS AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AS A REMINDER, WE CAN PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES OR OTHER DEVICES IN THE CHAMBER, AND OTHERWISE WE HAVE PEOPLE STARTING TO BREAK OUT IN HAPPY DANCES AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THE RINGTONES.
ALRIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND A LIVE WEBCAST.
THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
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, OR, I'M SORRY, YEAH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.
ONE THING IS IN PERSON, AND THAT'S BY SUBMITTING ONE OF THESE SLIPS, WHICH ARE AT THE BACK OF THE, UH, CHAMBER.
AND SUBMITTING THAT OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK.
UH, BY PRE-REGISTERING VIA ZOOM, YOU CAN, UH, PRE-REGISTER ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING OR EMAILING NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING.
AND ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY WEBSITE IF THEY'RE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
WITH THAT, I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY CLERK IF WE COULD HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA PRESENT.
MAYOR MORRISON, UH, PRESENT AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.
CAN WE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
AND, UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WOULD YOU LEAD US? PLEASE, PLEASE PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
READY? BEGIN I ALLEGIANCE TO APPLY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND JURY AUDIT FOR WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
ALL GRACIOUS LORD, WE'RE THANKFUL.
ONE MORE TIME TO COME TOGETHER.
AND WE ASK THE BLESSING UPON THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE PRESENT, REMINDING THEM THAT THEY WERE ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS, THE RESIDENTS THAT, UH, HAD PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEM TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THIS CITY.
AND WE WOULD ASK A BLESSING UPON THAT CITY.
WE WOULD ASK THAT BE HUMILITY AND COHESION AND ONENESS.
WE PRAY, LORD, THAT ALL THAT IS BROUGHT FORTH TODAY WOULD JUST BE SPOKEN OF AND DEALT WITH.
WE'RE THANKFUL LORD, FOR THE 9 1 9 5 OH, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE, ALEX HERNANDEZ, THE FIRE CAPTAIN SERGIO MORA.
AND WATCH OUT OVER ALL THOSE WHO ARE PROTECTING US EVEN AS WE SLEEP AT NIGHT COMFORTABLY AND THEY'RE OUT PROTECTING US AND ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY TONIGHT.
MAY JUST EVERYTHING COME TOGETHER AS ONE BEING RESOLVED.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR LIFE AND THE LIFE YOU GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
A COUPLE QUICK AREAS OF HOUSEKEEPING.
UH, ITEM 11.4, WHICH IS THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT ON THE, UH, FOCUS, GENERAL PLAN UPDATE IS BEING PULLED FROM THE AGENDA AND IT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK AT A FUTURE AGENDA.
UM, ALSO THEN AFTER WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THEN WE DO THE PROCLAMATIONS RECOGNITIONS, AND THEN ALSO THE, UH, UH, WE HAVE THE INTERVIEWS, APPOINTMENTS, AND THE REGIONAL BOARD, UH, REPORTS.
SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, THE BUSINESS CALENDAR, WE'RE GONNA BE PULLING UP ITEM 12.4 AT THAT POINT.
[00:05:02]
SO A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING THERE.WITH THAT, UH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW AND FOR THIS EVENING, WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF SPEAKERS
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
AND A GOOD NUMBER OF CATEGORIES.UH, SO WE'RE GONNA BE LIMIT EVERYONE TO TWO MINUTES ON YOUR, ON YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
AND, UH, SO FIRST OF ALL, WE'LL START OFF AND I'M GONNA BE NAMING OFF THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME.
PLEASE, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, FIRST PERSON COME UP, THE OTHER TWO GET INTO THE AISLE.
THAT WAY YOU CAN COME RIGHT ON UP AND SAVES A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN SPEAKERS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE JACK SHU TO BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN MEYER TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDDIE PEREZ.
I NEED TO PUSH A BUTTON ALREADY ON.
UM, ARE YOU FROM THE CITY? CO? WELL, THIS, THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL, UH, HELLO FROM THE CITY OF, UH, UH, LA MESA, BUT, UH, HELLO FROM THE CITY OF LA MESA AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
UH, IT'S GREAT TO SEE HOW YOU GUYS DO IT
SO, UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M HERE TODAY ON A QUICK, UH, GENERAL COMMENT WITH REGARDS TO AB 27 83.
I MADE A COMMENT TO THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, UH, UM, AUTHORED BY, UM, A, A MEMBER, UM, DAVID, UH, ALVAREZ.
IT INVOLVES SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, WHICH IS THE IMPROVING THE GOVERNANCE OF THE PORT COMMISSION AND PURSUING, UH, RURAL JUSTICE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
AND I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, UH, ON ONE PARTICULAR ELEMENT OF THAT, UH, LEGISLATION THAT I ADVOCATED FOR OR WANTED TO CHANGE.
AND THAT IS FOR THE PORT COMMISSION TO DEDICATE AT LEAST 5% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THE GENERAL BUDGET TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE M-C-A-S-M-C-A-S IS THE MARITIME AIR CLEAN AIR STRATEGY THAT WAS WORKED ON BY YOUR COMMUNITY, OTHER COMMUNITIES, PORT SIDE COMMUNITIES, AND, UM, THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT.
I KNOW OF THIS BECAUSE I NOW CHAIR THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT, UH, BOARD.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PORT DISTRICT DEDICATES AND PURSUES THE COMPLETION OF THE GOALS BY 2030.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AIR POLLUTION, CONTROL DISTRICT, AND THE PORT DISTRICT ITSELF.
IF IT DOES NOT DO THAT, THEY NEED TO DOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS.
I IMPLORE ALL OF YOU TO ASK DAVID ALVAREZ TO AMEND THIS LEGISLATION IN THAT DIRECTION.
I'M GONNA BE ASKING OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN THE CITIES OF, UH, SAN DIEGO, CHULA VISTA AND IMPERIAL, UH, UH, IMPERIAL BEACH TO DO THE SAME.
SO, THE PORT DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I HOPE WE, WE CONTINUE THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT YOUR CITY HAS ALREADY LED WITH YOUR CURRENT, UH, MEMBER ON THE SERVING ON THE PORT DISTRICT.
EDDIE PEREZ BE FOLLOWED BY VANESSA.
UM, I AM A PROPERTY OWNER HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
UM, I BRING TO YOU A HOT TOPIC, WHICH IS HOMELESSNESS HERE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SAN DIEGO.
UM, BUT MY MAIN CONCERN HERE IS THAT, UM, WHERE MY PROPERTY LANDS, THE OTHER SIDE IS STATE PROPERTY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND ENCAMPMENTS GOING THROUGH.
UM, I'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY WITH CALTRANS.
UM, THEY BREAK OUR FENCE CONSTANTLY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT HOMELESSNESS IS GROWING, FAMILIES DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
UM, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE VETERANS, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT I, AS A PROPERTY OWNER DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I'VE CONSIDERED SELLING MY PROPERTY BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
HOWEVER, MY HEART AND SOUL IS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AND I WANT TO GIVE TIME FOR THIS TO WORK OUT.
UM, RECENTLY, YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE, UM, HOMELESS TEAM, UM, THE NATIONAL CITY HOMELESS TEAM CAME OUT AND WORKED ON FIXING THE FENCE.
UM, THEY LOCKED THE OTHER SIDE THAT THEY WERE ENTER, SORRY, ENTERING THROUGH.
UM, AND LONG STORY SHORT, HOMELESS CAME IN.
THEY CREATED A FIRE LAST NIGHT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME OUT.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST ONGOING ISSUES.
[00:10:01]
AND JUST ULTIMATELY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.UM, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M 25 YEARS OLD, I AM ABOUT TO BE A MOTHER.
I'M A WIFE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT THE VERY BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, EDDIE PEREZ, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, JUST A FEW COMMENTS IF, IF I COULD.
UM, UH, I WAS HERE AT THE, UH, LAST MEETING, UM, WHERE I BELIEVE IT WAS, SAY SAN DIEGO PRESENTED ON THE, UH, SOME SORT OF A STUDY THEY DID WHEN GOING TO LIQUOR STORES AND STORES ABOUT YOUTH HAVING ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS THAT THEY WEREN'T IDED.
AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THE CITY WOULD, UM, FOLLOW UP.
I BELIEVE THEY MAY BE MEETING WITH THEM TO LOOK AT WAYS TO, UH, HOLD, UH, LIQUOR STORES AND, AND OTHER STORES ACCOUNTABLE.
I WAS ACTUALLY AT A PRESENTATION, IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE WHERE, UM, CAJON AND, UH, NATIONAL CITY WAS SECOND IN, IN THAT PROBLEM AREA.
AND SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOT IMPROVED SINCE THEN.
UH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT SOMETHING IS DONE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA THAT WAS PRESENTED, IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS FOR OUR YOUTH TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING WORKED FOR, UH, TOBACCO HOTLINE, I KNOW HOW SERIOUS IT CAN BE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS, UH, PRETTY DISAPPOINTED THAT, UM, THERE WAS A, A LACK OF INTEREST BY ENOUGH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UH, UNDER AN ITEM THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARCUS BUSH WAS TRYING TO PRESENT TO YOU, TO BRING IN A, AN, AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION, UH, TO COME IN AND, AND KIND OF DISCUSS, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND, AND, UH, HE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE, TO YOU AND TO OUR CITY.
AND I WAS JUST SURPRISED IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY.
I COULDN'T SEE HOW YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GET INVOLVED IN THAT.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.
UH, AND THEN LASTLY TO THOSE THAT MAY BE LISTENING, UH, OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, UH, THE CARPET BAGGERS THAT CALLED IN AND WERE AGAINST AB 36 32, THEY'RE NOT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY COME, THEY, THEY, THEY GIVE THESE PRESENTATIONS.
I KNOW IT'S POLITICAL, WE, MOST OF US DO, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA TELL 'EM, STAY OUT OF OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, I, I THINK YOU NEED TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS AND NOT BE PERSUADED BY OTHERS, UH, TO DO THINGS THAT THEY REALLY WANT YOU TO DO FOR THEM.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE VANESSA, ADA.
I'M PROBABLY MESS UP THAT NAME.
AFTER THAT, WE HAVE, UH, JOANNE FIELDS TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NETTO.
MY NAME IS VANESSA CASADA, AND I AM A JUNIOR AT SDSU, AS WELL AS AN INTERN AT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK.
I LOVE NATIONAL CITY AS MY GROUP OF FRIENDS OFTEN HANG OUT HERE AND HANG OUT AT PLAZAS AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANTS.
SO, AS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT, INTERNING AT A CS CAN, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT TACKLING THE TOBACCO EPIDEMIC IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER AS YOUNG ADULTS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, OR STUDY, WHERE THERE IS A VAST ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN EVERY CITY.
FOR STUDENTS LIKE ME, THE FIGHT AGAINST TOBACCO USE IS PERSONAL.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE A PASSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT BECAUSE TWO OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS LIVING IN NATIONAL CITY WHO I ATTENDED SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE WITH, ARE ADDICTED TO FLAVOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
IN ADDITION, I'VE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
LET'S NOT FORGET THAT TOBACCO USAGE IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE FOR CANCER AND CONTINUES TO KILL MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.
IN OUR COUNTRY, OUR GENERATION IS HIGHLY INFLUENCED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.
AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC IN MANY COMMUNITIES.
IN MY ROLE AT A CS CAN, I'VE LEARNED THAT LIMITING TOBACCO SALES THROUGH STRICTER LICENSEE PROGRAMS CAN LEAD TO A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN ACCESS AND YOUTH TOBACCO USE RATES.
MORE THAN 200 CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF ITS PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS, SUCH AS REGULAR EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND LIMITS ON THE DENSITY OF TOBACCO RETAILERS.
MOREOVER, THE TRL PROGRAM IS A CRITICAL TOOL IN PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY AS MARGINALIZED GROUPS OFTEN HAVE HIGHER RATES OF SMOKING AND HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS. AS A PUBLIC ADVOCATE, I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO WORK WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH, WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE POLICY THAT STOPS ILLEGAL SALES TO YOUTH AND UNDERAGE STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A MAPPING FROM THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH ASSESSMENT TOOL FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT MORE THAN 80% OF TOBACCO RETAILERS ARE WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS IN NATIONAL CITY.
UH, JOANNE FIELDS, WE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NETTO TO BE FOLLOWED BY TED GOTCH.
MY NAME IS JOANNE FIELDS, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER INITIATIVE.
UM, I'M HERE IN THE BREADTH OF OUR CELEBRATION OF ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, AND I'LL BE HERE FOR THAT PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION.
[00:15:01]
BUT I WANNA EXTEND A PERSONAL INVITATION TO OUR FOURTH ANNUAL FILIPINO AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP DAY THAT IS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, JULY 13TH AT NTC PARK AT LIBERTY STATION.IT IS OUTSIDE THE CITY, BUT AS WE KNOW, MANY OF OUR FILIPINOS CAME BY WAY OF THE NAVY AND GRADUATED BOOTCAMP AT NTC.
SO THAT IS A FITTING, UH, VENUE FOR THIS CELEBRATION.
AND I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION.
OUR HOME, UM, WHEN WE MEET IS AT THE NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU TO THE CHIEF AND, UM, NATIONAL CITY PD FOR ALLOWING US SPACE TO MEET IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE OUR 30TH ANNUAL PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL.
THE LARGEST PACIFIC ISLANDER FESTIVAL ON THE MAINLAND IS AT SKI BEACH N UM, IN SAN DIEGO.
AND, UH, THAT'S TAKING PLACE SEPTEMBER 21 AND 22.
I KNOW YOUR CALENDARS FILL UP FAIRLY QUICKLY, SO I WANTED TO COME, UM, EARLY AND TRY TO GET ON YOUR CALENDAR.
AND, UM, I WILL CLOSE OUT, UM, IN SUPPORT OF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CHOOSE, UM, PLEA, UM, FOR SUPPORT FOR, UM, AB 27 83 FOR THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A COUNCIL, UM, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, UM, BRIAN, UM, IN LA THAT, UH, INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WE ARE ALL SHOULD BE ALL ENTITLED TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND I THINK THIS, UM, A AB 26 OR 27 83 WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT WE ALL HAVE, UH, A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
EDWARD NETTO BE FOLLOWED BY TED GODSHAW TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUAN ANTONIO VASQUEZ.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME HERE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT WE HAVE A $6.8 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME PRETTY PRODUCTIVE, UH, DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO SOLVE THAT UP.
BUT I'M MERELY HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SPLIT CONTRACT ISSUE.
I DON'T THINK, UH, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT SPLIT CONTRACT CONDITION.
UH, THE SPLIT CONTRACT WAS WHEN JOSE RODRIGUEZ, UM, INITIATED A CONTRACT FOR $47,000 AND THEN ADDED ANOTHER $15,000 FOR THE SAME CONTRACT AND TRIPPED THE $50,000 MARK THAT, UH, REQUIRES, UH, UH, THE CONTRACT TO COME FOR A CITY DISCUSSION.
BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THIS, IS THAT WHEN YOU START SCREWING AROUND WITH CITY CONTROLS AND CIRCUMVENTING THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, GET AWAY WITH IT.
YOU THINK YOU GOT AWAY WITH IT.
BUT HERE WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE AUDITORS CATCH, CATCH THIS, THEY WRITE IT UP IN A REPORT THAT REPORT IF IT'S HITTING CERTAIN FUNDS.
NOT ALL FUNDS ARE ARE TESTED, BUT SOME OF THE GENERAL FUNDS ARE TESTED.
MOSTLY IT'S THE FEDERAL FUNDS, BUT GENERAL FUNDS ARE TESTED WITH THIS PUBLICATION.
THEY, THEY'RE PROBABLY WILL TEST IT AND THEY'LL PUT IT ON THAT REPORT AND THEY'LL PUBLICIZE IT.
IT'S A REPORT THAT GOES TO EVERY FUNDING SOURCE, EVERY GRANT.
IT'S A, IT'S A CLEARINGHOUSE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN LOOK UP YOUR REPORT FOR A CITY, YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT.
AND THE FIRST THING THESE PEOPLES DO IN THESE GRANT TOUR, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT PEOPLE, THEY LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ADVERSE CONDITIONS FROM CITY MANAGEMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR PROCUREMENT PROCESSES.
AND THEY SAY, WELL, IS THIS, IS THIS CITY WORTHY OF A MANAGEMENT AND PROCURING CONTRACTS? AND IN THIS CASE, UH, IT DOESN'T, IT'LL, IT'LL SET A BIG FLAG.
IT'LL PUT PEOPLE'S JOBS, CITY JOBS IN JEOPARDY.
IT'LL PUT FUNDING SOURCES FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN JEOPARDY.
AND I, I JUST WANNA LET YOU TO KNOW THAT SO YOU CAN ALERT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU, UH, ALL, UH, UH, CONSIDER THAT THAT WAS A BONEHEADED MOVE.
NEXT WE HAVE TED GODSHAW BE FOLLOWED BY JUAN ANTONIO VAZQUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED IN BY ERIC VARGAS.
TONIGHT I WANT TO ADDRESS YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTED LAST FRIDAY.
FOUR PROJECTS ARE ON MY LIST TO DISCUSS, BUT FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT I FOUND THE PRESENTATION LACKING THE DETAIL THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR, AND THAT IS TROUBLING.
THERE WERE FEWER COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER BUDGET YEARS.
THE FORECAST LOOKS VERY SIMPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY STAFF.
DO YOU KNOW THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR YOUR AREA? FOR OUR AREA, THE AVERAGE RENT, THE MORTGAGE, CREDIT CARD, INTEREST RATE, CAR LOANS, OR CAR PRICES.
TODAY, I'VE LONG SAID THAT THE ISSUES REPORTED ON CCL, FIX BY THE RESIDENTS SHOW YOU CLEARLY THE PRIORITIES FOR BUDGETING.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE HIGH LEVELS OF POTHOLES, GRAFFITI WEEDS IN THE PUBLIC SPACE, ABANDONED CARS.
[00:20:02]
TOO MUCH WORK FOR YOUR STAFF TO KEEP UP WITH, BUT THEY SAY THEY DO.MY FIRST IMPRESSION AFTER THE FLOODING THAT WE SAW IN OUR CITY IS THAT THAT ISSUE SHOULD INFORM YOUR BUDGET DECISIONS.
THIS YEAR, THE TWO CIP PROJECTS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE ARE STARTING WITH THE INVESTMENT OF THE GAS TAXES FOR STREET REPAIRS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
OUR STREETS ARE VERY UNSAFE AND THEY'RE FALLING APART FASTER THAN YOU CAN KEEP UP.
THE OTHER TWO CIP ONE IS THE 19TH STREET UNDERPASS, AND WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT, YOU'VE DISAGREED WITH IT, AND YOU COULD CUT THE GENERAL FUNDING FOR IT.
NOW YOU COULD CUT THE LOSS OF THE GRANT, THE EXPENDITURES ALREADY.
IT WAS DESIGNED BY MR. YANO WITH POOR PUBLIC INPUT.
AND LASTLY, I MUST INSIST THAT UNLIKE THE BIKE PATH PROJECT, IF YOU ALLOCATE $500,000 TO PARADISE CREEK THAT YOU REQUIRE STAFF WORKS WITH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MADE UP OF AN ENGINEERING STAFF MEMBER.
MYSELF, MS. MOLINA, MY DI OUR DISTRICT COUNSELOR, AND, AND JANICE RENOSO FROM MUNDO GARDENS.
AND BY REQUIRING THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU CAN AVOID THE MISTAKES OF THE 19TH STREET UNDERPASS.
ONE, ONE PARAGRAPH TO ENDORSE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO WISELY ALLOCATE THAT $500,000 AND TO SAVE MONEY, WE CAN DO IT FOR LESS.
AND WE CAN SPEND MORE MONEY TO FIX THE SMALLER ISSUES AT PARADISE CREEK.
JUAN ANTONIO VAZQUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC VARGAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY RA DEL TOTO.
MY APOLOGIES, UH, INTERPRETATION WAS BEING ENDED.
UM, WE WANNA START THIS, UH, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, I KNOW THAT YOU, BY NOW YOU PROBABLY KNOW, KNOW MY FACE.
I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU, UH, UH, I THINK THREE TIMES NOW.
UH, I WANTED TO START BY THANKING THE COUNTY OR THE, UH, EXTENSION OF THE HOTEL VOUCHERS, UH, DUE TO THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
UH, THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
BUT SECOND, UH, THE OTHER REASON THAT I'M HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THE EXACT DATE THAT WILL BE ALLOWED BACK INTO OUR APARTMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN VAGUE INFORMATION AND IT SEEMS TO BE BASELESS AND IT KEEPS CHANGING, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW AN EXACT DATE WHEN WE WILL BE ALLOWED BACK IN.
AND WE ARE TIRED OF THE SITUATION.
BELIEVE ME, I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU.
IT IS A HASSLE FOR ME TO HAVE TO COME TO DEMAND THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING I ENJOY DOING.
AND I'M SURE THAT YOU DON'T ENJOY ME HAVING TO COME OVER AND OVER.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO ACTUALLY BE GIVEN AN EXACT DATE WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME.
WE NOW HAVE ERIC VARGAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY RAUL DELTORO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC AND I'M THE NATIONAL CITY ORGANIZER FOR ACE.
[00:25:01]
IS ENJOYING THE WARM WEATHER WE ARE HAVING ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.IT'S CRAZY TO ME TO THINK THAT IT'S ALREADY ALMOST SUMMER, YET WE ARE STILL HAVING TO COME HERE TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO THE FLOOD THAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ONCE AGAIN URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO BRING A RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE DISCUSSION TO THE NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA THAT INCLUDES PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS, SO THAT IF ANOTHER FLOODING DISASTER HAPPENS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY OR ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THEN YOUR RESIDENTS AREN'T LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE COUNTY'S ACTIONS AND EXTENDING THE HOTEL VOUCHERS ONE MORE TIME, YOUR RESIDENTS WOULD'VE BEEN HOMELESS AFTER THIS FRIDAY.
IT'S IRONIC TO THINK CONSIDERING THIS CITY'S MAYOR TRIED TO CONVENIENTLY BAN HOMELESSNESS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WITHOUT HAVING A DIS A MEETING TO DISCUSS HAVING IT BROUGHT TO THE AGENDA, DECIDING IT TO, UH, TO BRING IT TO THE AGENDA ON HIS OWN WILL, SOMETHING THAT HE REFUSED TO DO WHEN THE FLOODING INITIALLY HAPPENED.
LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE NUMBER ONE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FLOODED RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF ACTION AND CARE HOW LONG UNTIL YOU DO SOMETHING TO KEEP YOUR PEOPLE HERE.
AND NEXT WE HAVE RAUL DELTORO
CARLOS, CAN WE HAVE THE INTERPRETATION? YES.
I I HAVE TO SWITCH LIKE SEVERAL SCREENS.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL OF YOU.
I HAD NEVER HAD THE HONOR OF COMING BEFORE SUCH HONORABLE REPRESENTATIVES OF, UH, NATIONAL CITY.
ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 30 YEARS.
UH, MY CHILDREN GREW UP HERE AND WE LOVE THE CITY.
HOWEVER, WE'RE A BIT DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO RENT CONTROL.
RENTS ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
AND THAT MAKES US A LITTLE SAD BECAUSE REGRETTABLY, WE MIGHT HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY BECAUSE OF THIS SITUATION.
SO I THINK THAT MORE ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE PAID BY THOSE IN POWER SO THAT THEY CAN HELP THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY IF IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT SAD US HAVING TO LEAVE, LEAVE ALL OUR THINGS BEHIND AND MOVE TO A SMALLER PLACE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE.
MIND YOU, WE LOVE NATIONAL CITY.
OF COURSE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE BAD.
BUT WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF ALL OF US COULD WORK TOGETHER AND PICK STREETS AND HAVE BETTER STREET LIGHTING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A SAFER COMMUNITY? THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR CITY.
THAT IS ALL OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[00:30:01]
OKAY.I'M A MOTHER OF THREE ADULT SONS.
I VOLUNTEER ON MANY YOUTH PROJECTS HERE IN OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY PROJECTS INVOLVING THE PROMOTION OF GOOD HEALTH CHOICES.
MANY OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS IN GENERAL.
WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ROLE OF MARIJUANA USE BY YOUNG ADULTS AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
REGARDING THE CITY'S PROPOSED MARIJUANA LOUNGE, I AM REMINDED OF THE TREATISE FROM AMERICANS FOR NON-SMOKERS RIGHTS, WHICH IS TITLED SMOKE FREE.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BREATHE SECONDHAND MARIJUANA, SMOKE OR VAPOR AT WORK IN PUBLIC OR WHERE THEY LIVE.
TO ME, TODAY'S COMMERCIALIZED MARIJUANA INDUSTRY LOOKS AND SOUNDS A LOT LIKE BIG TOBACCO.
TOGETHER THEY'RE WORKING TO CIRCUMVENT PROGRESS ON SMOKE-FREE AIR IN OUR STATE AND CITY, DAMAGING THE HEALTH OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THE YOUNG, THE OLD, AND THOSE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS. AND THAT INCLUDES SECONDHAND MARIJUANA SMOKE, MARIJUANA LOUNGES, NORMALIZES MARIJUANA USE AND SMOKING TO YOUNG ADULTS AND SOME AS SOME SORT OF DEFAULT FOR RELIEVING STRESS AND ANXIETY.
AND THE COST TO SOCIETY IN PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH IS STAGGERING TO THEM AND SOCIETY, AND ESPECIALLY TO FAMILIES THAT LOVE THEM SO DEARLY.
ONCE ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE GREATLY BEHIND THE CURVE AND RECOGNIZING THE HARM OF OPIOID USE LIKE OXYCONTIN, WHICH WAS CONSIDERED THE NO HARM MIRACLE PAIN DRUG, NOW WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE HARM OF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED TAC MARIJUANA PRODUCT CONSUMED IN MARIJUANA BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS THIS EVENING.
MY NAME IS BECKY RAPP, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
OUR CITY IS NO STRANGER TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY STEM FROM DRUG USE LEADING TO DRUG ADDICTION.
AS OUR HOMELESS CRISIS WORSENS, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO WITNESS INDIVIDUALS INCAPACITATED AND OR EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH BREAK OR PSYCHOTIC EPISODE AS WE TRAVEL AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.
I RECENTLY PULLED UP TO A LOCAL LIBRARY AND WAS UPSET BY WHAT I WITNESSED.
A YOUNG MAN WAS LYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AS THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, NOT MOVING, AND DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE BREATHING.
I TURNED MY CAR AROUND, CALLED 9 1 1.
AN AMBULANCE FIRETRUCK AND POLICE CAR CAME TO THE SCENE.
I'M SURE SOMEONE ELSE HAD CALLED QUICKER, QUICKER, UM, THAN I, AS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THEY LOADED UP THE BODY AND DROVE AWAY.
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON DURING LUNCH HOUR IN A VERY BUSY SHOPPING CENTER.
THE REALITY OF THIS SITUATION HIT ME HARD IS WE'RE BECOMING DESENSITIZED TO THE HORRIBLE DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT'S TAKING PLACE RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF THE UNDENIABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT PROVES MARIJUANA BEING SOLD IN OUR CITY IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY ADDICTIVE AND HABIT FORMING MARIJUANA IN THE MARKET TODAY IS TESTED WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THC WITH SOME FORMS, FORMS OF MEASURING AT 95%.
THOSE WHO CONSUME ARE GOING TO HAVE THE HIGHEST RISKS OF BECOMING PSYCHOTIC, DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA OR CHRONIC PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, INCLUDING SYMPTOMS LIKE DELUSIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS.
EDUCATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
AS AS WE PREPARE FOR THE FIRST MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION LOUNGE.
ALL RESIDENTS MUST BE EDUCATED ON THE HARMS OF THESE PRODUCTS.
THE CITY CANNOT BE CARELESS ABOUT THE DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF CONSUMING THESE PRODUCTS AND HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUSH BACK ON THE FALSE NARRATIVE THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE.
UM, GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT NEXT WEEK, MAY 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH, IS NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK.
SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AFFECT ALL COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.
ACCORDING TO THE 2022 NATIONAL SURVEY ON DRUG USE AND HEALTH, AND ESTIMATE THAT 70 MILLION AMERICANS AGES 12 AND OLDER USE, ILL HAVE USED ILLICIT DRUGS.
IN THE PAST YEAR, 6 MILLION, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12
[00:35:01]
TO 20 REPORTED DRINKING ALCOHOL.IN THE PAST MONTH, 64 MILLION PEOPLE, AGES 12 AND OLDER USED TOBACCO PRODUCTS EITHER AN E-CIGARETTE OR VAPE, OR THEY VAPE NICOTINE.
IN THE PAST MONTH, MARIJUANA IS THE MOST COMMON DRUG USED, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
COMMUNITIES NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT AS MARIJUANA AND OTHER SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN BE PREVENTED.
THE FOCUS OF NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK IS TO BECOME A, TO BECOME MORE AWARE AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
WE HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE THE PREVENTION LANDSCAPE BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICIES, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS TO CHANGE LIVES.
I URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF PREVENTION ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JACQUELINE MARQUEZ.
I AM A MEMBER OF MOTHERS OUT FRONT.
WE'RE A UNITED ORGANIZATION WITH A DRIVE TO PROTECT ALL CHILDREN FROM THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT IMPACTS THEIR HEALTH TODAY AND A LIVABLE CLIMATE FOR THEM.
TOMORROW, THE PORT MANAGES PUBLIC LANDS, YET FUNCTIONS LIKE A PRIVATE ENTITY WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES IN MEMBER CITIES, THEIR $300 MILLION BUDGET COMES ENTIRELY FROM REVENUE BUILT ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS THAT PERPETUATES ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.
NATIONAL CITY, A PREDOMINANTLY A LATINO AND ECONOMICALLY SUPPRESSED MEMBER OF THE PORT DISTRICT, HAS BEEN POISONED WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE POLLUTION BURDEN DUE TO PORT ACTIVITIES FOR DECADES.
NATIONAL CITY HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO THE BAY BY THE PORT, AND WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY SHOULD FIGHT ITS FOR ITS CONSTITUENTS AND RESIST THE COURT'S PRESSURE AND THREATS.
IT'S IN SUCH TO MAINTAIN A VOICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WITHIN THE COURT.
WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS.
WE DEMAND FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENTAL PLANS FOR CRITICAL FOR NATIONAL CITY'S GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
WE URGE THE CITY TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE NEED A DISCERNING VOICE FOR CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ON THE PORT OF COMMISSIONERS.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[6.1 Proclamation - Professional Municipal Clerks Week - May 5-11, 2024]
WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS.OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION IS FOR PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK.
AND OUR CITY HAS WENT A LONG WAYS FOR OUR FIRST, BASICALLY ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS.
UH, WE HAD AN ELECTED CITY CLERK, WHICH MEANT WHOEVER GOT THE MOST VOTES WAS THE CITY CLERK.
UH, IT DID NOT HAVE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR ANY PROFESSIONALISM, UM, OR EVEN LITERACY OR EVEN KNOW IF YOU COULD READ OR WRITE.
BUT AS LONG AS YOU WERE A REGISTERED VOTER, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE MAIN REQUIREMENT.
UH, THINGS HAVE CHANGED DRASTICALLY, UH, THROUGH THE YEARS, HAVE THEY NOT MS. MOLINA.
I I, I THOUGHT I'D GET A AGREEMENT FROM YOU THERE.
OUR FORMER CITY CLERK, UH,
I KNOW IN THE CERTAINTY YEARS, I KNOW THAT WE DID END UP WITH SOME VERY WELL QUALIFIED, VERY TALENTED PEOPLE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, MADE SURE THAT THE JOB WAS DONE AND WAS DONE CORRECTLY.
BUT, UH, IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, IT HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY.
UH, FOR A CITY CLERK'S POSITION IS ONE WHICH IS, UH, HAS INVOLVES A LOT MORE TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE THE PERSON UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MUCH, UM, LEGAL PAPERWORKS, EVERYTHING ELSE AND DOCUMENTATION THAT GOES THROUGH THE CITY'S CLERK'S POSITION.
SO WE DO, UH, WANNA PROCLAIM THIS WEEK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH AS PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CITY CLERKS WEEK.
AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE OUR CITY CLERK HERE IN, IN WITH US HERE.
YOU GET TO GET UP BEHIND THE CHAIR THERE.
I'M, I'M GONNA INVITE TANYA, THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK UP WITH ME.
SHE'S MY PARTNER IN CRIME OVER HERE.
SO, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND THE RECOGNITION FOR THE CITY CLERKS.
UM, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SERVING THE PUBLIC STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS IN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MANNER.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY
[00:40:01]
TO, UM, BY AUTOMATING AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT.UH, WE APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT AND OUR OFFER OFFICE, AND OUR ENDEAVORS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AND WE HAVE SOMETHING HERE FOR BOTH OF YOU.
YOU COULD STAND IN FRONT RIGHT THERE.
HIDE IT WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
MAYOR, MAY I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT? ABSOLUTELY.
I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE, UH, OUR VERY, VERY WELL EXPERIENCED AND VERY INTELLIGENT GROUP OF CITY CLERKS.
WE HAVE MS. TANYA AND MS. SHELLY AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE DEDICATION THAT YOU HAVE PUT TO MAKE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, MORE MODERN AND MORE UP TO DATE AND, UH, CERTAINLY, UM, UP TO PAR WITH OTHER CITIES.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
[6.2 Proclamation - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - May 2024]
IS FOR OUR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HERE FOR MAY.WE'VE GOT JOANNE FIELDS COMING BACK UP.
AND OF COURSE, THE, UH, ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF NASHVILLE CITY AND A LARGE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT, BELIEVE ME, I'LL TELL YOU, JUST, UH, YOU CAN'T GO A WEEK WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING, AT LEAST HAVING SOME LOOM BEER, SOME PON, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO, YOU GOT TO, YOU KNOW, STOP.
WHAT, WHAT? YOU MUST NOT HAD DINNER.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD DINNER YET, HUH? OKAY.
AND, UH, BUT ANYWAY, WE, WE DO WANT TO HONOR THIS, THIS MONTH AND FOR THE RICH HERITAGE THAT YOU BRING INTO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE SAY THANK YOU SO MAY WELL THANK YOU FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING THE ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER, UM, HERITAGE AND CULTURE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY BECAUSE I, IT IS A HUGE UMBRELLA.
AND I WANNA USE THIS AS A TEACHABLE MOMENT BECAUSE WHEN I ASK YOU, WHO'S ASIAN OUT HERE? JAPANESE, CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, SAMOAN, CHIMO, AND RARELY FILIPINO.
BUT ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, FILIPINOS ARE THE LARGEST SEGMENT.
AND WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF FILIPINO FIRST HERE.
WE HAVE THE FIRST SEAFOOD CITY IN THE COUNTY IS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, THE FIRST, I BELIEVE LBC SHIPPING, BUT HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND THEN IS IT ALSO JOLLY BEE
SO SECOND ONE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO I CAN RATTLE OFF A LONG LIST OF NAMES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UM, NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY THAT CONGREGATES, UM, HERE.
SO TO CELEBRATE THAT WITH THE PROCLAMATION IS FANTASTIC.
BUT WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMERCE, WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HISTORY.
UM, AND OUR MILITARY, AGAIN, WE CAME BY WAY OF THE NAVY.
THE MAJORITY OF, UM, THE, IT'S ACTUALLY THE FILIPINO AND, UH, PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY COME BY WAY OF THE, THE MILITARY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE RECOGNITION AND UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE YES.
WITH THE FOOD, BUT ALSO WITH, UM, OUR OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN NASHVILLE CITY.
FORGOT TO INTRODUCE, THIS IS MARK ORO.
HE IS A RESIDENT OF NASHVILLE CITY.
[6.3 Proclamation - National Law Enforcement Appreciation Month - May 2024]
ALSO ANOTHER, ANOTHER ONE FOR ME IS THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION MONTH.AND OF COURSE HERE WITH OUR, UH, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE A CITY THAT HAS OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
NOTHING AGAINST THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE COUNTY
BUT US HAVING OUR OWN IS BETTER.
OH, HERE'S SOME OF THEM COMING.
[00:45:05]
THEY KEEP COMING.MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNSEL, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED.
UH, MAY 1ST WE HAD THE, UH, MEMORIAL THAT HAPPENED AT, UH, DOWNTOWN.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING TODAY.
AND THEY STOPPED BY JUST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, REC RECOGNIZING US.
SAFEST PLACE IN TOWN, OR YOU GUYS ARE NOT BASHFUL AT ALL ABOUT TALKING, BUT ANYWAY.
WELL, WE DO WANNA PRESENT AND HONOR YOU DURING THIS MONTH.
NOT THAT WE DON'T EVERY OTHER MONTH, BUT IN PARTICULAR, WE SET THIS ONE ASIDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF CORPORAL.
[6.4 Proclamation - South West Lodge No. 283 Day]
WE HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.NOW, THEY INDIVIDUALLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THEIR ORGANIZATION HERE IN NATIONAL CITY CERTAINLY HAS BEEN, UH, NATIONAL CITY WAS INCORPORATED IN 1887.
AND WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT THIS GROUP MET TO FORM HERE IN NATIONAL CITY? YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YEAR? YEAR? SAME YEAR.
AND, UH, SO WE HAVE OUR, UH, SOUTHWEST LODGE, WHICH MEETS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET HERE ON 12TH STREET.
HAS A FANTASTIC ASSEMBLY THERE.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS CITY SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR CITY.
AND THEY CONTINUE TO GROW, CONTINUE TO SERVE HERE IN OUR CITY.
AND SO WE WANT TO HONOR THEM WITH THE SOUTHWEST LODGE NUMBER 2 83 WEEK.
AND SO, GENTLEMEN, COME ON UP.
UH, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, RON MORRISON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF, NATIONAL CITY, RESIDENTS, GUESTS, AND FAMILIES.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, JUVAN JUVAN, THE, UH, CURRENT MASTER OF SOUTHWEST LODGE NUMBER 283 HERE AT NASHVILLE CITY.
IT IS AN HONOR AND, UH, PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND GRATEFUL TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF THIS PROCLAMATION DURING THE ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE OFFICERS MEMBERS AND PAST MASTERS OF SOUTHWEST LODGE 2 83, WHOSE LEADERSHIP AND VISION GUIDED THE BRETHREN OF FREE MASONRY TO BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, IN MARCH, WE CONCLUDED OUR THIRD YEAR COLLABORATION WITH, UH, SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT 93 UNITS FOR US, NON-MEDICAL PERSONNEL, A HOSPITAL CARRY ABOUT 30 UNITS.
SO THAT DAY WE WERE ABLE TO HELP, UH, THREE HOSPITALS.
[00:50:01]
YOU WERE THERE, MAYOR.UH, OUR ADVOCACY TO OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY IS NOT FROM UBER.
WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE PROJECTS TO CONTINUE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NASHVILLE CITY.
THANK, IF YOU GUYS WANNA DO, JUST DO AN IMMEDIATE KIND OF TURNAROUND FOR PICTURE WISE.
OH, YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD HEAD, YOU SHOULD.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEEK, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE BOTH OUR,
[6.5 Introduction of New City Employees ]
UH, POLICE CHIEF AND OUR FIRE CHIEF WHO'S GONNA INTRODUCE OUR NEW EMPLOYEES.AND, UH, YOU GUYS WANNA FIGHT FOR WHO GOES FIRST? OH, UH OH.
I'M MAYOR VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND CITY STAFF.
I'M THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, ASK CHIEF STYLES TO COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST MEMBER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, VICE MAYOR.
AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS JAY STYLES.
I'M A BATTALION CHIEF WITH NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE, IRVING CARILLO HERNANDEZ.
UH, HE WAS, UH, HIRED OVER BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM JOIN OUR TEAM AS HE BRINGS A VERY DIRECT CONNECTION TO THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, IRVIN WAS BORN HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AND RAISED IN BARRIO LOGAN.
UH, HE'S FLUENT IN SPANISH AND HE IS, UH, VERY EAGER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER CARILLO ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AT HIGH TECH HIGH, UH, IN POINT LOMA, AND THEN HE MOVED UP TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE HE KIND OF BEGAN HIS, UH, JOURNEY IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
HE EARNED HIS ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE AS EMT AND AS FIREFIGHTER ONE.
AFTER GRADUATING, UH, IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A SEASONAL FIREFIGHTER WITH CAL FIRE.
UH, AND THEN WHEN HE CAME TO US, HE HAD RELOCATED BACK TO SAN DIEGO, AND HE WAS ACTUALLY WORKING FOR THE PORT OF, OR FOR NASCO IN THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO AS AN INDUSTRIAL FIREFIGHTER.
ALSO HAS A STRONG CONNECTION, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY.
HE WAS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE COUNTY, UH, SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY.
UM, IRVIN STARTED WITH US, UH, IN AN OPEN ENROLLEE POSITION.
SO HE, UH, STARTED AS A NON-PAID VOLUNTEER IN OUR FIRE ACADEMY.
HE WAS, UH, RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF ALL OF OUR OTHER RECRUITS.
UH, AND HE WAS EXCELLING IN THAT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF TO OFFER HIM EMPLOYMENT, IT WAS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING HIM ON AS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.
AND WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE IRVIN JOIN OUR TEAM.
UM, HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS FIRST YEAR OF PROBATION WHERE HE IS GONNA GAIN, UH, KNOWLEDGE, UH, BUILD ON HIS FIRE SERVICE CAREER THAT HE'S ALREADY STARTED.
UH, HIS FUTURE CAREER GOALS INCLUDE PARAMEDIC SCHOOL, UH, AND ALSO EARNING HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
UH, HE WANTED TO RELAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO HIS GIRLFRIEND, MERCED OF SEVEN YEARS.
UH, THEY LIVED TOGETHER HERE IN SAN DIEGO, UH, AND HE IS ALSO HAS A MENTOR.
OUR, UH, ARMANDO MARTINEZ, OUR OTHER, UH, OPEN ENROLLEE NATIONAL CITY RESIDENT THAT, UH, GOT HIRED LAST YEAR.
SO ARMANDO WAS ABLE TO MENTOR, UH, IRVING, UH, AND, UH, WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM JOIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO WITH THAT, I'D INTRODUCE, UH, IRVING CARILLO HERNANDEZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
IN ATTENDANCE, UH, LIKE CHIEF STYLES MENTIONED.
MY NAME IS IRVING CARILLO HERNANDEZ.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY I'M EXCITED
[00:55:01]
TO BE A PART OF THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY.UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M EXCITED TO, UH, SERVE, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF NATIONAL CITY RIO HERNANDEZ, UM, THE NATIONAL CITY.
THE NATIONAL CITY, UH, AND THANK YOU.
SO CAN I CALL UP ERICA AND RUDY TO COME UP HERE? SO, UM, EARLIER, UH, MAYOR, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, CITY CLERK POSITION.
SO THESE ARE TWO OF OUR POLICE CLERKS, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM BECAUSE BOTH ARE NASHVILLE, LONGTIME NASHVILLE CITY RESIDENTS.
UH, ERIC, I'LL START WITH ERICA.
SHE GREW UP HERE IN NASHVILLE CITY.
SHE'S A SWEETWATER GRAD, AND SHE WAS WORKING AT OTHER PLACES.
BUT WHAT I WANNA TOUCH ON IS SOMETHING THAT SHE WROTE ON ONE OF HER BIOS.
SHE SAID, WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NASHVILLE CITY, ATTENDED WOOD ELEMENTARY, NASHVILLE CITY MIDDLE, AND GRADUATED FROM SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL.
I'LL LEAVE THE CLASS OUT SO THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT YOUR AGE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER, SHE WAS VERY CONNECTED TO OUR CITY.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT CYNTHIA, THE SUPERVISOR TOLD ME IS, THESE ARE EXCELLENT PEOPLE FOR OUR CITY.
AND I'M VERY PROUD TO, TO HAVE THEM HERE TODAY.
THE SECOND PERSON HERE TODAY IS RUDY SANDOVAL.
AND RUDY LIVES IN NASHVILLE CITY.
HE WAS REALLY INTO THE, UH, HOSPITALITY, UH, DEPARTMENT.
SO HE CAME IN WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE.
BOTH ARE BILINGUAL AND BOTH SHOW A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO ON HIS OFF TIME, I'M SURE HE'S PROBABLY PLAYING MUSIC IN, IN, UH, IN THE OFFICE THERE.
SO THESE ARE OUR TWO NEWEST CLERKS.
THE THREE POLICE OFFICERS THAT YOU HAVE UP HERE, AYA TAN, NICO DOIG, AND ERIC TECH ARE IN THE ACADEMY.
UH, THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETING THE ACADEMY ON JUNE 1ST, WHICH IS GONNA BE A SATURDAY.
SO RIGHT NOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE DOING 20 HOURS HERE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TAKING CARE OF A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF.
AND IN THE EVENINGS THEY'RE IN THE ACADEMY, SO THEY'RE REALLY CLOSE TO FINISHING.
SO RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE PROBABLY DOING PUSHUPS OR RUNNING AROUND DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY NEED TO DO.
BUT, SO OUR THREE POLICE OFFICERS ARE STILL IN CLASS, BUT THESE ARE OUR TWO NEWEST EMPLOYEES.
SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU GUYS.
YOU WANNA SAY, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE I SERVE YOU WELL.
UM, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT.
UM, WHEN SAY THAT IT'S FEELS GREAT TO BE HERE, GETTING INVOLVED IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEW FOR ME, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FULL OF PRIDE TO, UH, HELP THEM IN BOTH ENGLISH AND ESPANOL.
THAT'S, UH, WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SET THREE OF THOSE.
[8.1 Appointments: City Boards, Commissions and Committees – Mayoral Appointment for the Traffic Safety Committee.]
WE HAVE INTERVIEWS, APPOINTMENTS.WE HAVE ONE, UH, ONE OPENING ON THE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COMMISSION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, LIKE TO APPOINT ALITO ZUM LOOKING FOR A MOTION? HUH? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MOTION? THAT IS A MOTION, YEAH, I DO.
SECOND, THE APPOINTMENT IS A MOTION.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE
AND WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
DO YOU WANNA DO ROLL CALL OR DO YOU WANNA DO REGULAR VOTE? WELL, YOU HAD DOWN HERE THE ROLL CALLS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, MALTO.
WE'LL HAVE TO GET WORD TO HIM AND
[01:00:01]
GET HIM SWORN IN FOR THE, UH, TRAFFIC AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.UH, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT.
[9. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.AND I WILL START DOWN HERE ON OUR, ON OUR LEFT.
JUST A REPORT THAT WE HAVE A, UM, SANDAG WORKING MOBILITY GROUP MEETING THIS THURSDAY, UM, AT 9:30 AM AT SAND'S, UM, OFFICE.
UH, THIS PAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE, UM, AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION, UH, ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN PORTLAND.
SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF ISSUES.
I WON'T GO OVER 'EM ALL A LOT ON EV AND OUR, UH, TRANSITION FROM OUR, UH, C AND G BUSES, UH, TO, UH, ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ALL THE, UM, THE, THE BENEFITS, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE DRAW DRAWBACKS, SOME OF THE LONG RANGES, SOME OF THE LACKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, PORTLAND ACTUALLY, UH, IT'S TRIM THERE.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LARGER TRANSPORTATION, UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM THAN US.
UM, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A MUCH BIGGER CITY.
SO IT'S GOOD TO BE THERE, UH, TO BE, TO BE BACK.
I GOT MY MASTER'S THERE AND LIVED THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AND JUST SEEING HOW, UH, JUST INNOVATIVE THINGS DIFFERENT CITIES ARE DOING AND HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM BETTER.
UH, AND PUBLIC SAFETY WAS A BIG TOPIC AND DIFFERENT STRATEGIES ON HOW, UM, TO REDUCE, UH, DRIVER ASSAULTS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS.
MAYOR SANDAG HAS APPOINTED, UH, ITS NEW CEO.
HE COMES TO US FROM, UH, CALTRANS.
HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE CAREER AND HE IS VERY WELL EXPERIENCED IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR.
UM, HE, UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM, UH, HIT THE ROAD RUNNING.
UM, ONE OF THE PRIORITY PROJECTS I'M HOPING THAT, UM, HIS EXPERTISE WILL BENEFIT FROM IS THE OTAI MESA EAST, UH, BORDER CROSSING, WHICH IS, UH, WELL UNDERWAY AND WE JUST NEED TO GET IT, UM, THROUGH THE CROSS, UH, THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.
I ALSO WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO BIKE ANYWHERE DAY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THURSDAY, MAY 18TH.
AND, UM, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN, UH, ADVERTISEMENTS OR COMMERCIALS HOPEFULLY FOR BIKE ANYWHERE.
YOU, UH, WE ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
UH, AND IF YOU DON'T, UM, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE, UH, BIKE OR WALK SOMEWHERE, UH, DITCH THE CAR FOR A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING DRIVE, UH, TAKING THE TROLLEY TO, UH, MANY OTHER PLACES AND IT'S ACTUALLY VERY CONVENIENT.
UM, SO I DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BE OPEN TO THAT.
AND SO, UM, YES, THAT'S MY UPDATE FOR SANDAG MAYOR.
UM, IT'S ALL, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP ON, UH, BUDGET STUDY.
SO THOSE ARE, UM, THOSE ARE MY REPORT.
AND, UH, SAME WE HAD THERE SATURDAY, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, MEETING ON THIS LAST SATURDAY, BUT THAT WAS HER SWEETWATER AUTHORITY AND, UH, MOVING AHEAD WITH THAT ONE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS? GOOD.
WE DID HAVE SOMEONE TURN IN A SLIP FOR 11.4.
JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT ONE HAS BEEN PULLED.
WE ANNOUNCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THAT WILL BE HEARD AT A FUTURE ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UH, WE NEXT, WE'RE PULLING
[12.4 Discussion and Consideration of the Status of Port Commissioner Sandy Naranjo Pursuant to City Council Policy 107.]
UP ITEM 12.4, AND THIS IS UNDER THE, UH, STAFF REPORTS, CITY MANAGER.TONIGHT'S AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 12.4 WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY MY OFFICE.
FOLLOWING SEVERAL PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS OF THE PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT OF COMMISSIONER NARANJO.
ADDITIONAL PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER NARANJO, MAYOR MORRISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA AND MYSELF WERE HELD RELATED TO HER EFFECTIVENESS IN REPRESENTING NATIONAL CITY AT THE PORT DISTRICT.
THESE MEETINGS GO BACK TO THE LATTER PART OF 2023.
NATIONAL CITY IS AT A PIVOTAL POINT IN ITS HISTORY IN DEVELOPING ITS WATERFRONT.
AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT A SUBSTANTIAL AND SUSTAINED EFFORT IS REQUIRED BY NATIONAL CITY TO WORK WITH THE PORT IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER, TO FORWARD THE CITY'S PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND INITIATIVES LOCATED ALONG THE PORT.
THAILANDS, INCLUDING THE BALANCE PLAN, PARTICIPATION OF THE, UH, PORT MARITIME INDUSTRIAL IMPACT, AND MUNICIPAL SERVICE AGREEMENT FUNDS AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE MUTUAL SUCCESS
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OF THE PORT DISTRICT AS A WHOLE AND THE NATIONAL CITY COMMUNITY.IT IS ONLY AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DISCUSSION AND INQUIRIES REGARDING THIS MATTER FROM SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, DID I FEEL IT TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE, UH, THAT THIS MATTER BE PLACED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, AND JUST A REMINDER, ANY COMMISSIONER, UH, SITTING ON A BOARD COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION MAY BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AT ANY TIME BY SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED, UH, COUNCIL MEETING WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
UH, SHOULD THE COUNCIL VOTE TO REMOVE THE COMMISSIONER STAFF SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO POST A SPECIAL VACANCY NOTICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION C ONE OF POLICY 1 0 7.
WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
I WILL SAY ON ONE THING, WE HAD A COUPLE REQUESTS TO DONATE TIME.
OUR CITY POLICY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR DONATION OF TIME.
AND, UH, SO WITH THAT, EACH PERSON WILL NEED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELF.
UM, SO WE'LL START OFF HERE WITH, UH, SANDY RAJO TO BE FOLLOWED WITH KELSEY.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, UH, BERTHA RODRIGUEZ.
GREETINGS, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS BOTH HERE AND JOINING VIA ZOOM.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M STANDING AROUND ON YOUR REPORT.
PR COMMISSIONER DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING, PRESERVING OUR THREE, FOUR MILES OF PUBLIC THAILANDS.
I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE MY GRATITUDE FOR HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD.
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR FROM THE INCEPTION WHEN I WAS SWORN IN INTO MY ROLE AS PORT COMMISSIONER, THAT I'M NOT JUST A REPRESENTATIVE OF NATIONAL CITY'S INTEREST AT THE PORT.
MY PRIMARY ROLE IS TO BE A REGULATOR.
MY JOB IS NOT TO RUBBER STAND OR FIGURE OUT MORE WAYS TO PERSONALLY MAKE MORE MONEY.
MY JOB IS TO ENGAGE IN REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF $300 MILLION AGENCY.
THE PORK MINISTER'S JOB IS TO BE QUASI-JUDICIAL TO ETHICALLY AND RELIABLY VOTE TO ADDRESS ALL CONCERNS.
WE CANNOT LET THE PORT DEVOLVE INTO PETTY INTERESTS OR SELF-REGULATE.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT AT ALL TIMES, PORK COMMISSIONERS MUST BE EMPOWERED TO ASK QUESTIONS.
THERE'S A REASON WHY REFEREES SHOULD NOT BE OUTRIGHT ATTACKED AND WHY THEY WEAR BLACK AND WHITE STRIPED SHIRTS.
IT'S AN ANCIENT TRADITION MEANT TO PREVENT THE JUDGE FROM BEING VICTIMIZED.
WHEN THE JUDGE IS VICTIMIZED, WHEN REFEREES ARE NOT TREATED RESPECTFULLY, THE SYSTEM BREAKS.
THEY HAVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE ATTACK.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE TODAY IS THAT AN IMPARTIAL REFEREE IS BEING ATTACKED AND REMOVED FOR POLITICAL GAIN.
AND TO AVOID REGULATORY OVERSIGHT ATTACKING A REFEREE NEVER WON A GANG.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH MY START AT THE PORT, WHAT I EXPERIENCED AND THE ACTIONS THAT LED TO TODAY.
I JOINED THE PORT AS A COMMISSIONER, OPEN TO FORMING PRODUCTIVE WORK RELATIONSHIPS WITH PORT STAFF AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, AND DEVOTED MY FOCUS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
MY CLEAR AGENDA WAS TO WORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, EQUITY AND LAND USE, COMPATIBILITY AND DISADVANTAGED PORT SIDE COMMUNITIES LIKE NATIONAL CITY AND BARRIO LOGAN.
BUT VERY QUICKLY I WAS ATTACKED AND FALSELY ACCUSED OF ALLEGED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
THAT WAS THE FIRST POLITICAL HIT JOB.
AND IT WAS FALSE BECAUSE THE CON THE BUSINESS I CREATED NEVER DID A SINGLE PROJECT INVOLVING POOR INTEREST.
AND IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY NEVER DID ANY BUSINESS AT ALL.
IT NEVER COLLECTED A SINGLE DOLLAR.
SO THIS WAS THE FIRST FALSE POLITICAL ATTACK, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.
OF COURSE, SINCE THE CON THE CON THE CONSULTING BUSINESS NEVER EVEN HAPPENED.
I WAS COMPLETELY CLEARED OF THAT ACCUSATION, WHICH I HAVE A COPY OF GARY WARNOCK'S LETTER I'LL GIVE TO THE CLERK FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I ALSO WANNA ADD TO LEMON.
SANDY, SANDY, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE.
I ALSO WANNA, OH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT TOM LEMON AT LISA AN EXTRA MINUTE.
AND I'M, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU SLOW DOWN A LITTLE? A LITTLE BIT? JUST SO HARD TO YEAH, I'M SORRY.
AND ALSO, IF WE CAN GIVE REPORT COMMISSIONER A LITTLE BIT LONGER THOUGH.
AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS, PLEASE, IF WE CAN JUST FOCUS OUR ATTENTION AND JUST BE QUIET PLEASE.
AND I DO WANNA PAUSE THE TIME JUST BECAUSE FOR THE RECORD, I DO HAVE A NINE PAGE STATEMENT.
I'M GONNA GIVE TO THE CLERK FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE A COPY OF EXACTLY WHAT I'M READING.
UM, AND I, YES, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED TO HAVE MORE TIME SINCE I AM THE SUBJECT OF THESE AGENDA ITEM.
SO, UM, I ALSO WANNA ADD THAT TOM LEMON, FORMER HEAD OF THE SAN DIEGO BUILDING TRADES COUNSEL, WHO MADE THE CALL TO THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO, UH, ATTORNEY TOM RUSSELL TO ACCUSE ME OF PAY TO PLAY.
HE ACTUALLY CALLED ME DAVID MALCOLM, UH, NOT DAN MALCOLM, BUT DAN MALCOLM'S COUSIN, WHO ACTUALLY SERVED TIME FOR A PLAY, UH, PAY TO PLAY.
HE, TOM LEMON ACTUALLY APOLOGIZED TO ME IN JULY OF 22 FOR ACTUALLY DOING THAT AND SAID THAT THAT WAS NOT THE RIGHT APPROACH, EVEN IF THE ALLEGATION WAS FALSE.
I'M GLAD IT WAS INVESTIGATED AND CLEARED FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, BUT THE ATTEMPT TO POLITICALLY ATTACK ME REMAIN ALIVE AND WELL IN MAY, 2022 AS A SITTING COMMISSIONER, WHEN THE PORT ISSUED AN RFP FOR A BOND TO CAM, AN ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION BUSINESS OWNED BY FORMER LA PORT COMMISSION CHAIR NICK SAGE, I RELIED ON PORT STAFF NOTICE NOTICEABLY THE PORT'S OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL AND OTHER STAFF TO PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE ON CAM AND MR. TAGE TO IDENTIFY WHO WE DO BUSINESS WITH AND TO ENSURE IT WAS VALID AND WOULD SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD WITH INTEGRITY.
I VOTED ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO PROVE THE CIM PROJECT AS IT WAS
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ENDORSED BY THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL AND WAS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.I WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAM OR MR. SAGE.
I TRUSTED PORT STAFF, FORMER CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER AND CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR JO LIU.
AFTERWARDS REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT CONCERNS OF LACK OF RESPONSE TO PRAS ON THE BIDS FOR THE MISSION CAPTURED CONTROL SYSTEM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BONNET.
THIS SYSTEM WAS PURCHASED BY THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TRADE CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, TEP, WHICH COMES FROM SB ONE, THE GAS TAX.
I TOLD JOE LI I WOULD HELP AS AT THIS POINT, I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH HOW CAM TO CONTRACT WAS AWARDED.
AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NOTHING TO RETALIATE AGAINST.
MY FALSE CLAIM WAS TOTALLY CLEAR AND I VOTED WITH STAFF OGC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR, UH, CAM TO DEAL.
MR. LIU CONNECTED ME WITH JOE DEAN ISAACS FROM THE ROSE FOUNDATION, WHO HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE PRA ON THE BIDS AND WAS SURPRISED THAT HER REPORT PRA WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED.
SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT LOOKING FOR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, BUT FOR BASIC INFORMATION THAT IS USUALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
WHY WAS SUPPORT RELUCTANT TO SHARE A CI MAGE BID AND COMP COMPETITIVE BID INFORMATION? THERE IS A THEME.
THEY ACT GUILTY WHEN QUESTIONED.
THEN WHILE I WAS AT THE LOS ANGELES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE, I WAS APPROACHED BY SOMEONE WHO KNEW ABOUT THE CAM RIDGE PORT DALE, AND THEN ASKED ME IF I KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT NICK SAGE REPUTATION AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TOM RUSSELL AND ASKED IF I WAS AWARE OF A PATIENT LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST TONS CAM.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PORT WAS ACCEPTING RFPS AND ELECTING TO PROCEED WITH CAM AND THAT PUBLIC RECORD LAWSUIT, CAM TONS, WAS ACCUSED OF FRAUD, BRIBERY, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND ABUSING TECHNOLOGY.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THAT WHEN I VOTED FOR THE CAM TONS COURT DEAL, EVEN IF THOSE LITIGATION CLAIMS WERE UNTRUE, AND I ALWAYS ASSUMED THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.
THE MERE FACT THOSE ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE, UH, CON CONSTITUENT IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PORT COMMISSIONERS AND THE PORT TO WAY BEFORE ENGAGING IN A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PORT DEAL THAT INVOLVED STATE FUNDS.
I FELT THAT THE MOST PROFESSIONAL WAY TO HANDLE THESE SURPRISE QUESTIONS WAS TO RAISE THESE QUESTIONS AT A CLOSED, CONFIDENTIAL JOB.
TOM RUSSELL, A REVIEW, PAY RAISE SESSION NOTICE FOR DECEMBER 13TH, 2022.
I DIDN'T PREUSS THESE ISSUES WITH MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE THIS COULD VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT.
I ASKED FORMER CHAIR MAL DAN MALCOLM IF IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO BRING UP SOME QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT MR. RUSSELL AND HE SAID, YES, YOU CAN BRING UP ANYTHING YOU WANT.
I THEN ASKED MR. RUSSELL SOME VERY BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN A NON-AGGRESSIVE AND RESPECTFUL MANNER, SUCH AS DID YOU HAVE A PRIOR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. TOTOS? DID THE RELATIONSHIP REQUIRE YOU TO NOTIFY THAT COURT IN WRITING AND DID YOU NEED US TO WAIVE ANY POSSIBLE OR ACTUAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN WRITING? WERE YOU, WERE YOU AWARE OF THE PEISHA SAGE CAM LAWSUIT? WAS THERE ANY HISTORY WITH MR. SAGE'S ETHICAL ISSUES OR BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH THE PORT OF LA OR ANY REPORTS OF HOW HE WAS PROHIBITED FROM ENGAGING IN CERTAIN BUSINESS ACTIVITIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED? FIRST, IF MR. TAGE ALLEGEDLY CHEATS THE PORT IN THE SAME WAY PEISHA FELT CHEATED, CAN YOU MR. RUSSELL ETHICALLY REPRESENT THE PORT'S INTEREST IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST MR. TO AND CAM? MR. RUSSELL CALMLY ANSWERED ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND ASSURED ME AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT EVERYTHING WAS AN ORDER.
HE ADMITTED HE HAD HEARD ABOUT PE TO CAM LAWSUIT.
HE STATED THAT IF MR. TOCH DEFRAUDS THE PORT, HE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM SUING MR. TOIC.
I RELIED ON MR. RUSSELL'S ASSURANCES AND THE APPARENT COMFORT LEVEL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING LICENSED ATTORNEYS WHO ARE COMMISSIONERS AND FULLY ACCEPTED THOSE ASSURANCES.
I NOW BELIEVE THAT IF THE PORT COMMISSIONERS RECEIVED A FULL ACCOUNTING OF WHAT MR. RUSSELL KNEW ABOUT MR. TOI, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT MR. TOCH WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CAM CONTRACT, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA IF PORT STAFF KNEW ALL ABOUT THIS ISSUES OR NOT.
WHEN MR. RUSSELL ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS TO ASSURE ME EVERYTHING WAS APPROPRIATE, MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES DID NOT INDICATE THAT ANY OF THIS WAS PROBLEMATIC, AND ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONERS WHO OUR ATTORNEY BECAME AGITATED THAT I ASKED THE QUESTIONS BUT MADE INSURANCES THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER.
I STOPPED ASKING QUESTIONS AND LATER JOINED MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ON THE BASIS IN VOTING TO RENEW MR. RUSSELL'S CONTRACT AND VOTED FOR HIS PAY RAISE FOR ME.
THAT WAS THE END OF THE ISSUE.
APPARENTLY FOR OTHERS IT WAS NOT.
THE MERE ASKING OF THOSE QUESTIONS WAS A PROBLEM.
WHY? AGAIN, THE ONGOING THEME.
WHEN QUESTIONED ACTING GUILTY ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2022, I WAS OPENLY THANKED FOR ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND ASSURED THAT IT WOULD ALL BE CHECKED OUT AND CONFIRMED.
SO WHAT CHANGE IF THE ASSURANCES WERE TRUE AND ACCURATE, WHY WASN'T THE END THAT THE END OF THE MATTER? AFTER THE CLOSED SESSION, WE HAD AN OPEN SESSION ELECTION OF OFFICERS ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2022.
IT THEN BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR ASKING QUESTIONS REGARDING MR. RUSSELL AND MR. RIDGE NCAM WITH MICHAEL ETTE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO NOMINATE RAPHAEL CASTANOS, ME AND DANIELLE MOORE FOR OFFICER ROLL WITHOUT A SECOND, AND I
[01:15:01]
MADE THE MOTION WITH MICHAEL ETTE, SECONDING IT WITH RAFAEL ABSTAINING.MY COMMISSIONERS AND THE PORT WERE PERHAPS LESS THAN CANDID.
WHEN THEY THANKED ME TO ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS, APPARENTLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
I THEN REACHED OUT TO RAFAEL CASTANO'S, THEN THE PORT COMMISSION CHAIR, AND FINALLY ON DECEMBER 19, HE TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES FOR MY ACTIONS AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT IT BECAME NO.
RAFAEL WAS SPEAKING TO CITY STAFF AND SAID THAT SANDY WILL NEVER BECOME CHAIR.
SO THAT BECAME THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING MY REMOVAL AND THE IMMENSE LOBBYING FOR MY REMOVAL.
WHY? WHY ARE THEY ACTING GUILTY? OF WHAT? ON JANUARY 31ST, 2023, TOM RUSSELL HIRED JA, JANICE BROWN AS THE ATTORNEY TO INVESTIGATE HIS CLAIM AGAINST ME, AND THERE WAS SUCH A CLAIM IN THE CONTRACT, WHICH I HAVE A COPY HERE I'LL GIVE TO THE CLERK UNDER THE, IN THE CONTRACT, UNDER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, IT SAID, ONE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS IDENTIFIED AND IS WAIVED BY TOM.
IS TOM DEPORT OR ARE THE COMMISSIONER'S DEPORT? WOULDN'T COMMISSIONERS WAIVE THE CONFLICT? CONFLICT? TOM DOESN'T DISCLOSE WHAT THE CONFLICT WAS, AND IT IS QUESTIONABLE THAT HE CAN WAIVE IT AND NOT THE BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS THE PORT'S REFUSAL TO ADHERE TO OVERSIGHT AND REGULATORY GUIDANCE AND ITS DESIRE TO ACT ON HIS OWN.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF TOM BELIEVES HE CAN WAIVE CONFLICTS ON HIS OWN, WHY THE NEGATIVE OVERREACTION TO MY CONFLICTS QUESTIONS? CAN HE ALSO WAIVE THEM HIMSELF AS SUPPORT? WHY THEY'RE ACTING GUILTY? ON FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM JANICE BROWN THAT I WAS SUBJECT TO AN IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION BASED ON THIRD PARTIES ON INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE DECEMBER 13TH, 2022 SESSION AND INTO LEGAL AND ETHICS ADVICE PROVIDED TO ME ON THE DISTRICT PROJECT IN 2021.
I WAS IN DISBELIEF THAT THE PORT WAS ENGAGING IN THIS CONDUCT, BUT IT WAS ALSO SADLY CONSISTENT WITH HOW I WAS INITIALLY MISTREATED.
WHEN I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION FROM JANICE BROWN, I WAS IMMEDIATELY RELUCTANT TO RESPOND WITHOUT REPRESENTATION BECAUSE JANICE BROWN SERVED ON THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, EDC BOARD WITH RAPHAEL AND HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH DANIELLE MOORE.
I WANTED TO BE INTERVIEWED BY AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY.
CONFLICTS OF OF INTEREST ARE A REAL PROBLEM AND LED TO A LACK OF SOUND INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT.
THE ENTIRE MISADVENTURE IS A PROOF OF THIS.
ON TUESDAY, JULY 11, THERE WAS A CLOSED SESSION IN REGARDS TO THE CEO.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MEETING, I CALLED THE PORT'S OUTSIDE COUNSEL ELLEN GROSS, TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST RAFAEL CASTELLANOS AND TOM RUSSELL FOR RETALIATIONS AGAINST ME FOR ASKING QUESTIONS.
ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2022, IT WAS BECOMING CLEAR THAT THE REGULATOR WAS GOING TO BE REGULATED, THAT THE REFEREE WAS GOING TO GET ATTACKED.
ATTORNEY ELLEN GROSS, ASSURED ME THAT MY STORY WOULD BE HEARD ONLY IF I PARTICIPATE IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT TOM RUSSELL INITIATED.
I AGREED ONLY IF THEY HIRE AN ATTORNEY WHO IS NON-CONFLICTED.
SHE AGREED TO FIND AN ATTORNEY OUTSIDE THE SAN DIEGO LOS ANGELES REGION.
I DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MR. RUSSELL COULD BE A CLAIMANT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY REPRESENT THE PORT ON HIS CLAIM.
I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE PORT WOULD EXPEND PUBLIC RESOURCES DEFENDING QUESTIONS THAT WERE ALREADY ANSWERED WITH RETENTION AND THE PAY RAISE.
WHAT WAS THE RETALIATION AND WHAT WERE THE ALLEGATIONS OR QUESTIONS? ALSO ALLEGATIONS AT THIS TIME, THE PORT ASSISTANTS GENERAL COUNSEL, REBECCA HARRINGTON AND ELLEN GROSS, THE OUTSIDE ATTORNEY, ARE IN CHARGE OF SELECTING THE NEW OUTSIDE ATTORNEY JANE CAL.
THEY HELP ARRANGE THE DATES AND LEMME MAKE THIS CLEAR.
HERE'S THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF THE INTERVIEWS.
GENERAL COUNSEL TOM RUSSELL GETS INTERVIEWED ON AUGUST 9TH AND SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2020 THIRD, COMMISSIONER A GETS INTERVIEWED AUGUST 9TH, COMMISSIONER B, AUGUST 9TH, COMMISSIONER C, AUGUST 10, COMMISSIONER D, AUGUST 11, UH, COMMISSIONER E AUGUST 11, AND THE LAST COMMISSIONER AUGUST 22ND, ME COMMISSIONER VICE.
THE BO SANDY ANO IS INTERVIEWED AUGUST 24TH AND SEPTEMBER 1ST.
I WAS THE LAST COMMISSIONER TO BE INTERVIEWED.
IN HINDSIGHT, THE INVESTIGATION WAS NEITHER NEUTRAL NOR NOR OPEN.
INVESTIGATIONS STARTED AND ENDED WITH A SPECIFIC OUTCOME INTENDED ANOTHER POLITICAL ATTACK TO UNDERMINE MY ABILITY TO CALL BALLS AND STRIKES UNDERMINE MY REGULATORY ROLE.
ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND TOM RUSSELL WERE INTERVIEWED FIRST BECAUSE THIS WAS THEIR PROCESS THAT FOUGHT AND PAID FOR WITH MORE PUBLIC FUNDS TO ENGAGE IN A POLITICAL HIT, JOB LACKING LEGAL OR FACTUAL MERIT.
THIS INVESTIGATOR HIRED AND PAID BY THE PORT REACHED IN CONCLUSION OF TOM'S DESIRE BEFORE SHE SPOKE TO ME.
AS NOTHING I DISCLOSED IN THOSE INTERVIEWS INDICATED ANYTHING OTHER THAN RAISING MY ISSUES.
A THIRD PARTY ASKED OF ME TO CLEAR THE QUESTIONS RAISED.
WHY WERE THEY STILL ACTING GUILTY? WHY WERE THEY DECIDING TO MAKE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE THAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY BROADCAST MY QUESTIONS WITHOUT ACTUALLY SOUND ANSWERS? IT'S LIKE THEY GRABBED THE WHISTLE FROM ME AND BLEW IT THEMSELVES.
THEY'RE CALLING ATTENTION TO THEIR OWN MISCONDUCT.
DURING THIS PROCESS, REBECCA HARRINGTON, THE PORT ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL TO TAMMRA SOKO.
SO A VACATION HOME IN GRASS VALLEY, OWNED BY MY EX-HUSBAND'S BROTHER AT THIS VACATION HOME, REBECCA HARRINGTON BROUGHT UP, BROUGHT ME UP TO MY EX-HUSBAND, HIS FIANCE AND OTHERS NON NON PORT RELATED, AND VIOLATED THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THIS INVESTIGATION BY DISCLOSING THAT
[01:20:01]
SHE HATED ME.THE PORT COMMISSION HATED ME, THE PORT STAFF HATE ME, AND THAT I'M GOING DOWN AND I HAVE A COPY THAT I'LL GIVE TO THE DISTRICT CLERK.
THIS WAS HARDLY PROFESSIONAL OR OBJECTIVE AND IT'S ACTUALLY UNTRUE THAT MANY OF THE PORT STAFF RESPECT ME.
THIS IS A BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND SHOWS BIAS AND ANIMUS, AND APPARENTLY THERE WERE NO CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIALITY PROVIDED TO ME, AND THEY APPARENTLY DISINTERESTED IN MY INSURANCES OR EXPLANATIONS.
THE HI JOB HAD ONLY ONE INNOVATIVE CONCLUSION THAT I COULD ONLY ASSUME WAS PREUSS AMONG THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, AND AGREED UPON WHEN MR. RUSSELL AND HIS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LEGAL TEAM.
I WRAPPED UP MY INTERVIEW WITH JANE CAL AND I KNEW THAT THIS INTERVIEW WAS NOT IMPARTIAL AND THIS IS GOING TO TWIST MY WORDS.
I HAD MADE A DECISION ON MY OWN TO WRITE MY STORY SO SHE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS SAYING AND FOR HER TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUES I RAISED.
I THEREFORE SUBMITTED A WRITING, A CLEAR SUMMARY OF MY PERCEPTIONS AND RECOLLECT RECOLLECTIONS.
IT REMAINS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD AND I BROUGHT A COPY OF IT.
I'M NOT SURE ANYONE WANTS TO ACTUALLY READ IT, AND CERTAINLY IT WASN'T EVEN CONSIDERED BY THE PORT.
IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SUBMIT IN WRITING TO HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHY IS MR. TOM RUSSELL AND THE POOR ACTING SO DEFENSIVE AND GUILTY, ESPECIALLY AFTER I SUBMITTED MY DISCOVERY THAT MR. RUSSELL SIGNED A VERIFIED STATEMENT THAT HE'S THE SOLE INVENTOR OF MARITIME PROPELLER TECHNOLOGY.
THESE ARE HIGHLY TECHNICAL WHAT IS, WHICH IS SURPRISING FOR A FULL-TIME GENERAL COUNSEL TO HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE AND THE TIME TO EVENT ON HIS OWN TIME.
IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL, ANOTHER CONFLICT INTEREST SINCE, SINCE HE IS FULLY ENGAGED AS A PORTS ATTORNEY AND A MARITIME PROPELLER'S INCOME WOULD IN THEORY COME FROM A MARITIME BUSINESS OR ENTERPRISE.
I ALSO DISCOVERED HE FORMED A WYOMING LLC UNDER HIS NAME AND ASSIGNED HIS MARITIME PROPELLER PATENT RIGHTS TO THE LLCY WYOMING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BUSINESS ADDRESS SEEMS TO BE HIS NEWPORT BEACH HOME.
MY STATEMENT TO THE PORT ASKED THESE ISSUES TO BE CHECKED AND CLEARED.
IF THE PORT IS GOING TO HAVE A MELTDOWN OVER MY NON-OPERATIONAL CONSULTING BUSINESS THAT NEVER DID BUSINESS, AREN'T THEY EVEN REMOTELY CURIOUS ABOUT A MARITIME PROPELLER SIDE BUSINESS? APPARENTLY THESE QUESTIONS ARE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS THAT DON'T WARRANT ANSWERS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO ACT VERY GUILTY OF SOMETHING.
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT MR. RUSSELL'S PATTERN OF PATENT OWNERSHIP MATCHES MR. CHE'S PATTERN AND MR. CHE WAS A PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS TECHNOLOGY OR SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND EITHER.
WHY DO THESE ATTORNEYS HAVE MARITIME TECH PATENTS? I FIND THIS CURIOUS.
ARE THEY REALLY THE SOLE MENTORS AS THEIR PATENT APPLICATIONS CLAIM UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY? JANE COUNT WRAPS UP HER ONE-SIDED REPORT AND REBECCA HARRINGTON ARRANGES A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE REPORT.
MY COLLEAGUES, SHE CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THAT I CAN'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE I HAVE A CONFLICT.
I ASKED HER IF I CAN HAVE A COPY OF THE REPORT AND SHE SAID NO.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFIDENTIALITY, UH, CONFIDENTIALITY DISCUSS AND CLEAR MY QUESTIONS.
SO MR. RUSSELL IS NOT EQUALLY PROVIDED TO ME.
INSTEAD, I AM BARRED FROM THE DISCUSSION OR DISCLOSURE OF THAT DISCUSSION ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, A SPECIAL COOL SESSION WAS HELD TO DISCUSS REPORT.
I DON'T PARTICIPATE BASED ON LEGAL ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME BY MS. HARRINGTON.
SHE STATED I WOULD FACE LEGAL RISK IF I ATTENDED.
CLEARLY THE STRATEGY WAS TO SCARE ME FROM PARTICIPATING SO THEY COULD BAKE UP THE FALSE CENSURE WITHOUT ME AS A WITNESS OR TO OPPOSE IT AT THE CLOSED SESSION.
MIND YOU, NO MINUTES HAVE BEEN SHARED OF WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN THAT HAS STILL NOT BEEN APPROVED.
WHY ARE THEY ACTING GUILTY? THE COMMISSION HAD MADE A DECISION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CENTER ME.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, WE HAD A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING.
THAT MEANS THAT COURT STAFF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DOCKET THIS ON THE REGULAR PACKET ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH.
BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE NO ONE REGULATES THE PORT, THE PORT WORKS IN SECRECY.
THEY HELD ONTO THIS UNTIL DATE DIRECTOR, THE OUTSIDE COUNSELOR, SONYA CARO OF BBK TO CALL ME ON MONDAY MORNING TO NOTIFY ME THAT THERE WOULD BE A SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH BY THE WAY ONLY REQUIRES 24 HOUR NOTICE TO CENTER ME.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 8:00 AM WHEN THIS GOT OUT, MANY STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS WERE ANGRY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T ALIGN WITH THE BROWN ACT.
THEY PUSHED IT TO 3:00 PM SO THAT IT WAS MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
WHY THE THEATRICS? WHY THE CIRCUS OCTOBER 10TH COMES AROUND AND THERE WAS A HUGE TURNOUT DEMANDING TRANS TRANSPARENCY, NO PUBLIC VOICE IN FAVOR OF C.
NOT ONE SINGLE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SPOKE IN FAVOR OF CENSURE AND MANY ARGUED THAT THE CENSURE WAS ILLEGAL, LACKED DUE PROCESS AND WAS HEAVY HANDED AGAINST NATIONAL CITY INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE VIGOROUS PRESSURE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF THE CENSURE AND CLAIMS OF VIOLATION OF THE BROWN ACT.
THE COMMISSION WHILE VOTING TO CENSURE THEN DECIDED TO WAIVE CONFIDENTIALITY AND RELEASED A REPORT.
THE COMMISSIONERS ACTED AND SPOKE AS IF THE REPORT WOULD REVEAL TERRIBLE MISCONDUCT.
THE REPORT, WHICH BY THE WAY, TOTALED ABOUT $150,000, WAS LABELED A NOTHING BERG REPORT THAT CLAIMED WITHOUT ANY ACTUAL BASIS THAT I HAVE BEEN RETALIATORY OR NON-COOPERATIVE.
THERE ARE NO FACTS TO SUPPORT EITHER ALLEGATION.
THE EXHIBITS ACTUALLY PROVE I COOPERATED
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AND THAT I DIDN'T RETALIATE.WHY ARE THE FACTS AND LAW BEING TWISTED IN THIS WEIRD HALL OF MIRRORS APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY FAR MORE BROADLY PUBLISHED MY CONCERNS THAN MY OWN CONFIDENTIAL CLOSED SESSION QUESTIONS.
WHO IS ADVISING THE COURT ON ALL OF THIS? AND BY THE WAY, MR. RUSO MADE SOME OPEN COMMENTS AT THE CENTER HEARING.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MARITIME PROPELLER PATENTS WAS A SIDE HOBBY AND THAT HE HIRED AN ENGINEER TO DO THE WORK FOR HIM.
I'M NOT SURE THAT CLEARED UP THE POTENTIAL ISSUE.
HE ALSO ADMITTED TO A SIDE MARITIME LAW PRACTICE, UH, BUT CLAIMED IT DIDN'T DO MUCH WORK.
HIS FORM 700 INDICATES IT HAS A POSITIVE VALUE.
SO HIS MARITIME LAW PRACTICES IS BILLING SELMA.
AND ARE THOSE ISSUES INVESTIGATING? CHECKED? OF COURSE.
MR. RUSSELL AND NOT THE PORT COMMISSIONERS ARE IN CHARGE OF MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND CONVENIENTLY, HE APPARENTLY CLEARS HIMSELF AFTER NATIONAL CITY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THE HEAT FROM THE PORT.
THE CITY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WERE GOING TO STAND WITH THE COMMISSIONER, BUT THE RESPONSE WAS PURELY, WAS PRETTY MUTED.
THE CITY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NEVER WEIGHED MAKING ILLEGAL DEMAND TO REVERSE A CSU OR FILING A MANUS ACTIONS TO CHALLENGE CENSURE AS A NON LAWFUL AND LACKING ANY REASONABLE BASIS IN LAW OF FACT.
WHY COULD PART OF THE ANSWER LIE ON THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE POOR COMMISSIONERS WHO VOTED FOR MY CENSURE HAS HER DAUGHTER PLACED IN OUR NATIONAL CITY GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE? CAN NATIONAL CITY CONFIDENTIALLY WEIGH LEGAL ACTION OF ANY KIND AGAINST SUPPORT? AGAIN, THERE ARE THEMES TO STORY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ERODE SOUND JUDGMENT AND CAUSE MISTAKES.
FOR LACK OF INDEPENDENT NEUTRAL EVALUATION, THE CENTER WAS A MISTAKE ON EVERY LEVEL.
THIS SITUATION IS A MISTAKE THE POOR, AND NOW THE CITY IS GRABBING AND BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON THEMSELVES.
AGENCIES ARE ACTING GUILTY AND ENGAGED IN VERY POORLY GUIDED, ADVISED CONDUCT WITH SEVERE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSION TO THOSE AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY LACK INDEPENDENT WISE GUIDANCE.
THE LEGAL GUIDANCE APPEARS SELF-INTERESTED.
IN NOVEMBER, THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AGAIN AND I HAVE A COPY AND DEMANDED THAT THE PORT RESCIND OR CER AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THE CAM CONTRACT.
THE PORT REFUSED AND DOWNPLAYED IT.
AGAIN, NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE OBVIOUSLY BAD FAITH CENSURE.
LATER THAT WEEK, THE SAN DIEGO READER PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE REVEALING THAT POOR COMMISSIONER CHAIR RAPHAEL SA VICE LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 25TH ABOUT GETTING THE CEO UH, THE PORT CEO ROLE A WEEK BEFORE THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THEIR RESPONSES TO THE REPORT THAT THEY DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO SEE.
ANY ACTION TO THE CEO ROLE BY RAFAEL WAPO, COMMISSIONER BARSON SEEKING THAT OFFICE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO HELP GUIDE THE PROCESS.
IN DECEMBER, ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALVAREZ, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AT THE STATE, REQUESTED AN EXTERNAL AUDIT, AGAIN WITH NO POSTED DISCUSSION FROM THE PORT COMMISSION, THE PORT LOBBIED USING PUBLIC MONEY TO KILL THE AUDIT REQUESTS.
WHY KILL THE AUDIT? WOULDN'T IT ANSWER QUESTIONS AND MAKE THE PORT LOOK BETTER? OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE HIDDEN? AGAIN, POOR JUDGMENT.
IN JANUARY, RAFAEL RESIGNS WITH THE PORT AND THE UNION TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY.
RAFAEL CLAIMS HE'S NOT SEEKING THE PORT CO JOB AND IS FOCUSED ON HIS LEGAL CAREER.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE ACTUALLY BELIEVES THAT INSURANCES.
WHY IS HE ATTENDING A PORT CONFERENCE IN PORTUGAL? AFTERWARDS, IN FEBRUARY, MY ATTORNEY CORY BRIGGS RECEIVES NOTICE FROM THE COURT THAT HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR READING A SWORN STATEMENT BY MY EX-HUSBAND, ACCUSING HIM OF RETALIATION FOR READING MY EX-HUSBAND'S LETTER.
IN LEGISLATIVE HEARING, PROMPTING CORY TO FILE A FEDERAL COURT LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE COURT WAS TRYING TO BULLY AND INTIMIDATE CO BASED ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
WHY WOULD THE PORT'S LEGAL TIME RECOMMEND INVESTIGATING AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY? POOR AND CONFLICTED JUDGMENT MIRRORED WITH SELF-INTEREST.
ABOUT HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE HERE, SANDY? ONE MORE PAGE AND I'LL BE DONE.
ALSO, IN FEBRUARY, THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL REQUESTED $450,000 FOR UNSPECIFIED LEGAL FEES.
WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MONEY AND WHERE IT WAS, WHERE IT WAS GOING, TOM RUSSELL PUBLICLY ATTACKED ME AND ACCUSED ME OF BEING BIASED AGAINST THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL.
WHY NOT DISCLOSE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT? POOR JUDGMENT.
SELF-INTERESTED AND LOOKS GUILTY.
ALVAREZ UNVEILS AB 27 83, THE POOR OF SAN DIEGO REFORM ACT BILL, AND IN MARCH LKO UNANIMOUSLY VOTES ON OVERSIGHT OF THE PORT.
WHY? BECAUSE THE PORT IS BLOWING THE WHISTLE LONG AND HARD BASED ON POOR CONFLICTED GUIDANCE CAUSING RISK TO THE AGENCY AND COMMISSIONERS.
IN MARCH, WE AGENDIZED THE ZERO MISSION TRUCK STOP AND STAFF HAD MADE A STRONG RECOMMENDATION TO GO WITH SKY CHARGER, WHICH I'D AGREED AND I MADE THE EARLY MOTION COMMISSIONER DANIEL MOORE BECAME SUPER ANTAGONISTIC, MAINLY BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION AFTER A LONG DEBATE THAT WAS DRAGGED OUT BY HER ANTAGONISTIC BEHAVIOR.
FRANK TSIN ASKED ME TO MAKE THE MOTION, WHICH I DID AGAIN, BUT IT FAILS FOR LACK OF SECOND, AND DANIELLE MOORE CHANGED HER SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO THE MOTION I JUST MADE, WHICH GETS A SECOND.
I ASKED THE QUESTION ON THE DAAS IF THAT WAS THE SAME MOTION, AND FRANK SAYS, YES.
SURELY THAT WAS PREUSS AS A STRATEGY.
I ASKED FRANK WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT? HE SAID IT WAS INTENDED TO PUBLICLY EMBARRASS ME
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FOR AB 27 83 AND LAFCO.I WAS LOBBYING AB 2073 BECAUSE I HELD MEETINGS WITH LABOR.
I LAUGHED BECAUSE I SAID, WHICH UNION ARE YOU REFERRING TO? MY CONVERSATION I HAD WITH BRIDGET BROWNIE WHEN I RAN INTO HER AT A PARTY TO CELEBRATE THE NEWLY ELECTED CHULA VISTA CITY ATTORNEY MARCO VERDUGO.
I JUST ASKED HER A QUESTION ABOUT HER THOUGHTS ON THE BILL.
ALSO, I ASKED HIM WHY WOULD I LOBBY SPECIFICALLY LABOR LEADERS WHO HAD BEEN ANTAGONISTIC TO ME AND WERE ORCHESTRATING MY REMOVAL BASED ON A PAY TO PLACE SCHEME.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT BECAME KNOWN THAT BROWNING CALLED MAYOR MORRISON DEMANDED MY REMOVAL.
THE SAME BRIDGER BROWNIE, THE HEAD OF THE LABOR COUNCIL, WHO IS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR INSULTING THE FIRST LATINA CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS CALLING FOR MY REMOVAL.
ALL THIS BACKROOM STRATEGIZING AND ORGANIZING BY APPOINTED AND ELECTED OFFICIALS RAISES BROWN ACT ISSUES AND THE LACK OF POOR COMMISSIONER INDEPENDENT GOVERNANCE LOOKS LIKE A POOR ACT VIOLATION AND THE ALLOCATIONS OF PUBLIC MONIES TO ADVANCE THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF SOME AGENCY MEMBERS LOOKS LIKE A MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
LATER IN THE MONTH OF MARCH, THE PORT WAS CONTACTED BY THE UNION TRIBUNE ABOUT DOING AN OP-ED.
AS THEY MENTIONED, A COMMUNITY MEMBER WAS GOING TO DO ONE ABOUT TRANSPARENCY OVERSIGHT AS RELATES TO THE OUTVERSE BILL, THE PORTS DRAFT.
THE PORT STAFF DRAFTED AN OP-ED SIGNED BY DANIELLE MOORE AND FRANK TSIN AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DRAFTING FROM VARIOUS STAFF AGAIN USING PUBLIC RESOURCES, THAT ATTACKED ME WITHOUT NAMING ME BECAUSE CLEARLY WHEN THERE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS RAISED ON THE REPORT, THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANSWER IS TO ATTACK THE NATIONAL CITY COMMISSIONER AND NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT LOOKS GUILTY AND IS PROBABLY STILL BASED ON SELF-INTERESTED GUIDANCE.
IN APRIL, A AB 2073 PASSES AT A COMMITTEE, WHICH IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IS THAT THE PORT HAS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE WHICH CONSISTS OF MICHAEL ETTE, DAN MALCOLM FRANKFORT JOHNSON TO DISCUSS THE ALVAR BILL, BUT SENDS DANIEL MOORE TO OPPOSE THE BILL.
IT IS KNOWN THAT THE PORT HAD NOT DOCKETED DISCUSSION OF THE BILL, ALTHOUGH MY COLLEAGUES AND I DISCUSSED THE BILL BACK IN JANUARY IN A VAN WHEN WE'RE GOING TO THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY.
AND BY THE WAY, ALVAREZ HAD ACTUALLY INTRODUCED A PORT BILL THE YEAR BEFORE.
AFTER THE CALL OUTS, THE PORT DECIDED TO HOST A SPECIAL MEETING AGAIN, NOT AT A REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BILL.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO HEAR HOW MY COLLEAGUES DOWNPLAYED THE ABUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES WITHOUT HAVING A FULL DISCOURSE NOTICE MEETING AND THAT THE RESOURCES WILL BE USED TO OPPOSE A BILL THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.
SO WHO EXACTLY DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE ME INSTEAD OF MR. RUSSELL WHO DECIDED TO STRATEGICALLY DEPLOY A CENTRAL APPROACH TO MY QUESTIONS? WHO DECIDED TO OPPOSE THE ALVAREZ BILL? WHO DECIDED TO OPPOSE LCO? IF THERE ARE NO DOCKETED COMMISSIONER SESSIONS, LET'S REACH THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION.
PORT COMMISSIONERS DON'T REGULATE OR GUIDE OR SUPERVISE THE PORT.
THE PORT SUPERVISES AND GUIDES AND IF NECESSARY, PUNISHES COMMISSIONERS.
HOW IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH THE PORT ACT AND THE BROWN ACT? THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEED INDEPENDENT LEGAL ANALYSIS, NOT INFECTED WERE PERSONAL MOTIVES.
I PROUDLY SAID ON THE RECORD, I SUPPORT THE ALVARS BILL BECAUSE THE PORT DESPERATELY NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION AND THAT COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE DISCLOSING LAW REPORTS.
WHAT IS INSULTING IS THAT THE PORT STAFF, INCLUDING IN THEIR AMENDMENTS, WANTS, SUPPORTS ATTORNEY TO RUN THE ETHICS COMMISSION.
THAT IS THE FOX WATCHING THE HENHOUSE.
WHO EXACTLY DECIDED TO MARK UP THE ALPHAS BILL TO RESTRICT ETHICAL OVERSIGHT TO JUST COMMISSIONERS? WILL THE POOR GENERAL COUNSEL SOLELY IN CHARGE OF THAT OVERSIGHT? WELL, IF WE LOOK FOR COMMISSIONER AGENCY WITH OVER $300 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE, NOT MUCH HAVE A DISCERNIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE PERSON IN CHARGE.
HOW IS THAT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FUNDS? HOW IS ETHICAL AGENCY CONDUCT A JOB KILLER? IS THE POOR COMMISSION CHAIR INFERRING? WE NEED BACKGROUND DEALS TO KEEP JOBS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS.
NOW, WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THIS, I'M, I'M ASKED TO RESIGN ON THE BASIS THAT NATIONAL CITY DOESN'T HAVE REPRESENTATION, MEANING THE PORT IS REFUSING TO LISTEN TO NATIONAL CITY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DETERMINE WHO THEIR COMMISSIONER IS.
MY JOB WAS NEVER REPRESENTATION.
IT WAS REGULATION, BUT APPARENTLY IN THE HALL OF MIRROR'S APPROACH TO PROPER GOVERNMENT CONDUCT QUESTIONS OR FALSE ALLEGATIONS, REGULATION KILLS JOBS AND DREAMS. LEGAL WORK CAN AND SHOULD INVOLVE PERSONAL INTEREST AND GAIN, AND MY DEPARTURE WILL FIX EVERYTHING.
IN THE REAL WORLD, NASHVILLE CITY HAS BEEN CONTROLLED AND MISTREATED LONGER THAN I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.
AND INSTALLING A NEW COMMISSIONER DOES NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE PORTS AND NOW THE CITY'S CONDUCT.
HERE WE ARE AT A VOTE TO REMOVE A COMMISSIONER FOR ACTUALLY DOING THE HARD WORK OF ASKING QUESTIONS AND ENSURING TRANSPARENCY.
YOU CAN BLAME THE REF, ATTACK THE REF, OR YOU CAN SAID ASK IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR ELECTED JOBS TO EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT NATIONAL CITY WITH THE PORT THAILANDS.
IF YOU THINK HANDING THE BULLY, YOUR LUNCH MONEY WILL STOP 60 YEARS OF UNFAIR BULLYING.
GO AHEAD, HAND OVER YOUR LUNCH MONEY.
I'M CHOOSING TO FIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD WITH NO OBVIOUS PERSONAL BENEFIT WITH NO MARITIME SIDE BUSINESS OR HOBBY.
AND I'LL LET THE VOTERS EVENTUALLY DECIDE WHETHER WE DESERVE GOOD AND FAIR GOVERNANCE OR BACKROOM SIDE DEALS
[01:35:01]
THAT LOOK GUILTY AND APPEAR INFECTED WITH SELF-INTERESTED POOR JUDGMENT.ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO OUR, UM, TWO MINUTES AND, UH, KELSEY, UH, BE FOLLOWED BY.
I'M JUST GONNA GET MY GLASSES ON HERE.
UH, BERTHA RODRIGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDDIE PEREZ.
UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS KELSEY NESSI AND I'M THE NATIONAL CITY POLICY ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION.
THE NATIONAL CITY PORT COMMISSIONER POSITION IS A VITAL ROLE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY.
WEST SIDE RESIDENTS SUFFER DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM POLLUTION THAT IN A LARGE PART COMES FROM MARITIME OPERATIONS.
THE IMPACT OF THESE OPERATIONS ARE ASTHMA, HOSPITALIZATION RATES THAT ARE TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHTS AND OTHER PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS.
AND OVERALL, A COMMUNITY THAT IS BURDENED WITH MORE THAN MORE POLLUTION THAN 97% OF CALIFORNIA.
THESE IMPACTS MAKE THE NATIONAL CITY PORT COMMISSIONER CRUCIAL IN ADVANCING CLEAN AIR GOALS AND RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS AN UNDENIABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN NATIONAL CITY, THE PORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
OUR MEMBERS RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAT COMMISSIONER NARANJO HAS PLAYED ON THE PORT COMMISSION AS A STRONG CHAMPION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
THEY, ALONG WITH EHC, VOICE, OUR GRATITUDE FOR HER WORK.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT NATIONAL CITY NEEDS A COMMISSIONER WHO CAN BE EFFECTIVE AND ADVANCE EJ ISSUES IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
COMMISSIONER NARANJO HAS SET A CLEAR PRECEDENT BY ADVOCATING FOR CLEANER AIR, MORE GREEN SPACE, AND HAS MADE SURE THAT NATIONAL CITY IS NO LONGER OVERLOOKED AND IS EQUITABLY INVESTED IN BY THE PORT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT NATIONAL CITY NEEDS A PORT COMMISSIONER THAT BRINGS THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY TO ALL PORT CONVERSATIONS, IS PREPARED TO REPRESENT A CITY THAT SUFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM PORT OPERATIONS AND FEARLESSLY ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
THANK YOU BERTHA RODRIGUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDDIE PEREZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOSEPHINE ANTE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MORRISON, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BERTHA RODRIGUEZ, THE CLEAN PORTS POLICY ADVOCATE FOR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION.
I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 12.4 TODAY.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, CHILDREN'S ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATION RATES IN NATIONAL CITY ARE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE, THE COUNTY AVERAGE AND THE PERCENTAGE OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT IS HIGHER THAN MOST OF CALIFORNIA.
RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT FINE PARTICULATE MATTER FROM ONROAD VEHICLES DIS DISTRIBUTES FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTING IN LOWER BIRTH RATES AND, AND FETAL AND INFINITE MORTALITY.
FURTHERMORE, MIXED USE SONY THAT PRIORITIZE INDUSTRY COMBINED WITH HOSTING A PORT MARINE TERMINAL HAS DEPRIVED NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS OF CLEAN AIR AND RESIDENTS HAVE LESS BAYFRONT A ACCESS AND OTHER PORT SITE CITY PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND GREENERY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCES AND IMPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN TO MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, SOCIAL COHESION AND FEWER DEATHS BY REDUCING EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS, NOISE AND EXCESSIVE HEAT.
AS PORT COMMISSIONER SANDY ARANCO HAS CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATED FOR HER COMMUNITY FOR MORE GREEN SPACE AND CLEAN AIR, AND HAS FOUGHT TO REPAIR THEIR GENERATIONS OF DISINVESTMENT AND HARM THAT HAS RESULT IN FARM PORT INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.
THE CURRENT COMMISSIONER FOR NATIONAL CITY REPRESENTS THE WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS.
WELL, EEC CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON OUR PRIORITIES OF ELECTRIFICATION TO CLEAN UP THE AIR.
REGARDLESS OF WHOEVER THE CITY COUNCIL CHOOSES TO SERVE THE PORT COMMISSION, YOU ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEY WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECTS AT THE PORT THAT CAN MAKE CLEAN AIR GOALS A REALITY AND WORK CLOSELY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES.
WE URGE YOU TO COMMIT TO AN OUTCOME THAT WILL NOT LEAVE WEST SIDE NATIONAL CITY'S RESIDENTS WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CHAMPION AT THE PORT WHO CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN WORKING WITH OTHER PARK COMMISSIONERS WHO, WHO ALSO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN GETTING THINGS DONE.
SO RESIDENTS HERE IN WEST NATIONAL CITY CAN BREATHE EASIER.
EDDIE PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPHINE ALIANTE, FOLLOWED BY MELLY MORALES.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO CAUSED THIS, I'D HAVE TO SAY THE THE CITY MANAGER DID BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT THIS CRAP BEFORE US AND WE DIDN'T NEED IT BECAUSE LIKE SANDY SAID, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A DONE DEAL AND SHE WAS GONNA MOVE ON.
SO THE FEW OF YOU UP THERE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WENT AND KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR AND SAID, WE WANNA GET THIS ON THE AGENDA.
AND YOU PROBABLY GOT A FEW CALLS, OKAY? SO, YOU KNOW, THAT AIN'T RIGHT.
AGAIN, YOU'RE PANDERING TO OUTSIDERS WHEN YOU GOT SOMEONE HERE THAT CARES FOR NATIONAL CITY.
I ASK TO SPEAK ON THIS, UH, ITEM TO GIVE MY SUPPORT TO OUR PORT COMMISSIONER SAN AND UNCLE, OUR FIRST FEMALE PORT COMMISSIONER, A LATINA WITH AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILIES OF
[01:40:01]
NATIONAL CITY AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE PORT.A PORT COMMISSIONER WHO'S A TEAM PLAYER, BUT HAS THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN IF EVERY OTHER TEAM PLAYER IS IGNORING THE TRUTH.
IT'S ALSO CALLED SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.
SO I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE, WE CANNOT BE INTIMIDATED BY OUTSIDERS, BY OTHERS THAT HAVE, UH, UH, NOT REVENGE, BUT UH, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA GET BACK AT HER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE CALLED TO THE CARPET.
SO I ASKED, PLEASE, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVE SOME T YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND, AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE THIS COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY LOVES HER.
THIS, THIS, SHE CAN MOVE FORWARD 'CAUSE SHE'S GOT THAT IN HER.
YOU GUYS HAVE HAD SOME SQUABBLES UP HERE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, COUPLE, YOU SHOULD BE GONE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CREATED SOME, SOME CHAOS HERE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
ALRIGHT? AND YOU'RE STILL HERE BECAUSE WE COULD MOVE ON AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB MOVING ON.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE LIKE A FAMILY, YOU KNOW.
UH, BUT I, I THINK WE CAN GET PAST THIS.
LET'S SUPPORT OUR PORK COMMISSIONER.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND LET'S NATIONAL CITY DO WHAT, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND THAT SUPPORT OUR PORK COMMISSIONER.
UH, IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MELLY MORALES.
WE FOLLOWED BY ALICIA NI, UH, NICHOLS GONZALEZ.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE ES.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE AB SIX 17 PORTSIDE COMMISSION COMMITTEE AND I SUPPORT SANDY RAJO.
I'VE SEEN HER IN ACTION WITH THE BOARD THAT HAS NO REGULATIONS AND OVERSIGHT, AND SHE CONSISTENTLY ASKED THE PROPER QUESTIONS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND THE BULLYING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE BACK STREET ALLEYS AND CONVERSATIONS, YOU ALL ARE IN EFFECT OF IT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S TAKING THE BRUNT.
I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS ISSUE WITH THE PORT SINCE IT BEGAN BACK IN 2022.
AND IT'S REALLY AN UNFAIR SITUATION.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, NATIONAL CITY NEEDS TO, UH, SUPPORT AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND YOUR CONSISTENT, YOUR CONSTITUENTS REALLY RELY ON HER BECAUSE SHE TELLS THE TRUTH.
AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO SUPPORT HER.
WE NEED A COMMISSIONER WHO REGULATES THE PORT, NOT NOT A RUBBER STAMP THAT GOES WITH EVERY DECISION THEY WANT TO BE MADE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FIGHTING SO HARD AGAINST AB 27 83, THAT MONEY, THEY'RE PUTTING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR ADVOCACY AGAINST THAT BILL, AGAINST THAT BILL.
THAT MONEY SHOULD BE COMING TO US IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE PORT SIDE COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S REALLY UNFAIR THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING SO HARD TO AVOID REGULATIONS SO THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANNA DO.
SANDY NARANJO HAS SUPPORTED THIS COMMUNITY, THIS, THIS COMMUNITY, AND ALL OF THE PORT SIDE COMMUNITIES.
SHE DEALS WITH SOCIAL AND POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM STRAIGHT ON, AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT.
AND THAT'S JUST TOO BAD BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SPEAK UP FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, WHO'S GONNA SPEAK UP FOR US? AND WHEN HAVE WE EVER HAD A LATINA ON THE PORT COMMISSION? WHEN HAVE WE EVER HAD, BESIDES RAPHAEL A LATINO ON THE PORT SIDE COMMISSION ON THE PORT FOR ALL THESE YEARS? AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND DON'T FALL INTO THE HOLE AND JUST BE PRESSURED INTO WHATEVER THEY WANT YOU TO VOTE ON.
MELLY MORALES BE FOLLOWED BY ALICIA NICHOLS.
UH, GONZALEZ BE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NETTO.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MELLY MORALES AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH MOTHERS OUT FRONT, AN ORGANIZATION WITH THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS NATIONWIDE AND HUNDREDS RESIDING IN NATIONAL CITY AND PORTSIDE COMMUNITIES.
PRIOR, I WORKED IN NATIONAL CITY AS THE CLEAN PORTS ADVOCATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION.
IN MY MEETINGS WITH THE BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS AND THE COURSE OF PORT BUSINESS, IT WAS MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT NATIONAL CITY WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT WITH DIRE NEEDS, CONTINUALLY OVERLOOKED IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, MORE BENEFICIAL TO PRIVATE INTERESTS, FAVORING OTHER MEMBER CITIES.
I HAVE SEEN HOW THE PORT HAS JUMPED INTO ACTION TO DEDICATE VAST RESOURCES TO THE SWIFT REDEVELOPMENT OF ANTHONY'S FISH GROTTO OR THE RADI SHELL.
WHILE NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR A DECADE TO FUND AND FINISH THE PEPPER PARK EXPANSION TO MAKE THE ONLY GREEN SPACE AVAILABLE IN THEIR CITY.
MORE ACCESSIBLE CHICKEN STRIPS AND BEER ON THE WATERFRONT IN SAN DIEGO HAS TAKEN PRECEDENCE OVER MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES, COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND LUNG HEALTH IN
[01:45:01]
NATIONAL CITY, WHICH COULD BE ADDRESSED AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE.FOR AN ENTITY THAT CLAIMED $9 BILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT, IT SURELY CAN'T BE FELT BY THE AVERAGE NATIONAL CITY RESIDENT, LEAST OF ALL THOSE LIVING CLOSEST TO THE MARINE TERMINAL AND BEARING A DISPROPORTIONATE POLLUTION BURDEN.
RETAINING COMMISSIONER NARANJO, WHO FIGHTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES ACROSS MULTIPLE MEMBER CITIES, BUILDS THE COLLECTIVE POWER NECESSARY TO AFFECT NEEDED REFORMS AND ENSURE THAT ITS PROFITS FROM ECOSIDE ARE NOT HOARDED AT YOUR CONTINUAL EXPENSE.
NATIONAL CITY AND ALL COMMUNITIES DESERVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT DETRIMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS THEY TAKE ON FROM LAND USES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY WILLING TO CAVE TO THE DEMANDS OF BUSINESS AS USUAL, WHEN THEIR BUDGET IS ON THE LINE, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO BUY-IN AND WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE A PRINCIPLED STAND IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE HAVE SEEN SANDY REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS FOR DECADES NOW.
HER PRESENCE ON THE PORT BOARD IS WHAT KEEPS A BROADER RANGE OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED TO REMOVE HER, WILL EARN NATIONAL CITY THE SAME NEGLECT FROM THE PORT AS EVER, BUT WITHOUT THE RESPECT OF THOSE WHOSE RIGHTS AND WELLBEING SANDY HAS CHAMPIONED IN THE PAST.
I WAS STILL AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION PRIOR TO SANDY CEN, WHEN CHAIR CASTANOS BEGAN TAKING OPEN DIGS AT HER, IMPLYING THAT SHE WAS UNPROFESSIONAL.
THIS IS A MAN WHO WORE SKATE SHOES ON THE TODAY SHOW.
EVENTUALLY DITECH VIAN, MY THEN SUPERVISOR AND STRATEGIC ADVISOR INSTRUCTED MYSELF AND OTHER ADVOCACY.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SUMMARIZE AND ORGANIZING STAFF TO DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM NARANJO.
THERE WAS NO DEMOCRATIC OR COLLECTIVE DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO DETERMINE THAT POSITION.
AND WHEN I ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION, I WAS ONLY GIVEN VAGUE REFERENCES TO UNPROFESSIONALISM AGAIN.
USE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS WHEN CONSIDERING THEIR COMMENTS OUTSIDE OF SANDY.
THE PORT HAS NEVER MADE, TRAINED THE TRUST OF PORTSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT IT USES AS HUMAN.
ALICIA NICOLES, UH, GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY ED RANO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY SCHROCK.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ALICIA NICHOLAS GONZALEZ.
I'M THE CALIFORNIA STATE MANAGER OF MOTHERS OUT FRONT.
WE'RE A CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING MOMS AND CHILDREN IN NATIONAL CITY AND PORTSIDE COMMUNITIES.
THE PORT OPERATES WITH A $300 MILLION BUDGET ON PUBLIC LANDS, YET FUNCTIONS LIKE A PRIVATE ENTITY, UNACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WHILE MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
NATIONAL CITY, A MEMBER CITY OF THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO, A PREDOMINANTLY BIPOC AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY HAS BEEN POISONED BY POLLUTION DUE TO THE PORT'S ACTIVITIES FOR DECADES.
DEMONSTRATING A CLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.
THE CITY SHOULD FIGHT FOR ITS CONSTITUENTS AND RESIST THE PORT'S PRESSURE AND THREATS.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY, OPENNESS AND DULY APPOINTED.
WE URGE THE CITY TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND NOT THE PORT'S DESIRES AND RETAIN COMMISSIONER NARANJO TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
MOMS AND CHILDREN NEED A STRONG VOICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ON THE COMMISSION.
LIKE SOMEONE ELSE SAID, WE NEED A COMMISSIONER WHO REGULATES THE PORT, NOT ONE WHO RUBBER STAMPS THEIR DECISIONS.
THANK YOU EDWARD GTO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY SCHROCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICARDO POTO.
WELL, UM, I WAS GONNA SAY A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT ALL THESE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, THEY WERE VERY GOOD IN EXPLAINING WHAT MY THOUGHTS WERE, BUT I THINK WHAT HAPPENS HERE, I THOUGHT, I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE BASIS OF WHAT BEN SAID.
HE SAID HE'S QUESTIONING SANDY'S EFFECTIVENESS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WE SHOULD REALLY BE QUESTIONING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PORT DISTRICT.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIGGER QUESTION HERE.
AND IN THE CONVERSATIONS I SEE, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT OF HOPEFULLY SUPPORTIVE DETAIL INSTEAD OF YOU JUST TAKING THIS WORD, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME TO, I ACTUALLY WENT TO A PORT DISTRICT MEETING, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I WENT, I SPOKE FOR TWO MINUTES AND I FELT LIKE I JUST SAID, LOOK, I DON'T THINK NATIONAL CITY'S GETTING THIS FAIR SHARE OF BENEFITS.
AND PLEASE EXPLAIN WHERE IT'S GONNA GET IT FROM THE FUTURE RENT REVENUE.
WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT, UM, I SPOKE FOR TWO MINUTES AND AFTER I SPOKE THERE WAS, UH, A COMMISSIONER, UM, MALCOLM, I BELIEVE HE GAVE SEVERAL MINUTES EXPLANATION OF WHY NATIONAL CITY GOT WHAT, UH, WHAT IT'S, IT, IT'S DONE A LOT.
HE FELT THAT THE, THE COURT COMMISSION HAS DONE A LOT AND THAT HE FOUND IT OFFENSIVE THAT SOMEBODY FROM NATIONAL CITY
AND I THINK THAT SANDY'S DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE.
SHE'S PUTTING THOSE QUESTIONS, AND THIS IS THE FLAT SHE'S GETTING BACK.
AND I SEE THAT DURING THAT MEETING, YOU HAVE THE BIG WIG UNION PERSON COME THERE AND SHE GAVE HER ELEGANT SPEECH.
YOU HAD THE, UH, LOBBYISTS, YOU HAD THE LAWYERS, YOU HAD THE DEVELOPERS COME AND THEY GAVE THEIR BIG
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SPEECH.AND YOU JUST SEEN THOSE PORT COMMISSIONERS.
THEY JUMPED, THEY JUMPED IN LINE.
THAT'S WHAT GAVE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE GAME THAT'S BEING PLAYED.
I HOPE THERE'S A, WHEN BEN SAYS EFFECTIVENESS, I HOPE HE EXPLAINS AND DEFINES WHAT EFFECTIVENESS IS.
JEFFREY SCHROCK TO BE FOLLOWED BY RICARDO POLITO TO BE FOLLOWED BY JESSE MARQUEZ.
I'M JEFFREY SCHROCK, VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR NATIONAL CITY.
UM, I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF RETAINING SANDY ANO.
I HAVE ATTENDED TWO PORT COMMISSION MEETINGS AND, UH, THE HEAD, UH, COMMISSIONER FRANK SEN, I BELIEVE IS HIS NAME.
UH, AT THE END OF THE LAST BUDGET MEETING, UH, I WENT TO TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO HIM AND TRY TO BEFRIEND HIM.
THE FIR THE FIRST THING HE TOLD ME WAS THAT HE DISAGREED WITH ME ABOUT NATIONAL CITY BEING AN UNDERSERVED PORT CITY.
I TOLD HIM, SIR, I FIRMLY DISAGREE WITH YOU.
THEN HE WENT ON TO TELL ME, WELL, RON MORRISON CAN'T HELP YOU NOW.
SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE THAT THINK YOU, YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE YOUR FRIENDS, THEY'RE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THE NATIONAL CITY IS AN UNDERSERVED PORT DISTRICT.
HELL, THEY DIDN'T DO NOTHING UNTIL THEY PUT PEPPER PARK IN.
CAN I GET AN AMEN ON THAT? YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE PROBLEM.
THOSE PEOPLE, FRANK TSIN AND, UH, WHAT'S HIS NAME, DAN MALCOLM.
THEY'RE BULLIES, THEY'RE SEXIST BULLIES.
I'LL GO AS FAR AS TO SAY THEY'RE RACIST PIECES OF CRAP.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE.
THEIR EXPERIENCE IS BAD EXPERIENCE FOR NATIONAL CITY.
THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT US.
WE, WE MAKE MONEY FOR THEM AND THEY SHOVE IT IN THEIR POCKETS AND DICTATE US AND GO CRY TO THE, TO THE, TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION WHEN THEY CAN'T GET THEIR WAY WITH NATIONAL CITY.
WE SIGNED ON TO A HISTORIC BAD DEAL.
AND WHEN I ASKED THEM ON THE PHONE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HOW WOULD THEY FEEL IF NATIONAL CITY LEFT THE PORT COMPLETELY AND SAID, WE WANT OUT.
THAT SHOULD TELL YOU RIGHT THERE, THERE ARE MORALLY BANKRUPT AGENCY.
THEY BRAG ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ENTRENCHED IN GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN'T GET RID OF 'EM 'CAUSE OF THEIR SO MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
AND THEY FOUND A WAY TO CHEAT AROUND TERM LIMITS AND THEY'LL ADVOCATE STRONGLY AGAINST TERM LIMITS.
'CAUSE IT MEANS THAT AT SOME POINT THEY HAVE TO GO.
THESE PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT NATIONAL CITY.
STANDING AROUND DOES THANK RICARDO.
SHE'S A PART OF OUR FAMILY AND WE LOVE HER.
OKAY, RICARDO
JESSE MARQUEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANICE LUNO.
A GOOD, A GOOD EVENING, UH, HONORABLE COUNCIL AND, UH, TO THE BEAUTIFUL NASHVILLE CITY COMMUNITY HERE.
RICARDO POLITO, UH, COALITION FOR SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT NOT ONLY OUR, OUR GREAT CHAMPION OF, UH, THE PORT, UH, CITIES, UH, SPECIFICALLY NASHVILLE CITY HERE OF, UH, COMMISSIONER SANDY, BUT FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES, FOR ALL THE GRASSROOTS, FOR ALL THE HETE, FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN, AND ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE.
I SAY THIS BECAUSE WE ARE A NATIONAL, UH, STATEWIDE, AND WE'RE HERE AS A SUPPORT FOR OUR SISTER.
YOU'LL HEAR MY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TECH SPEAK NEXT, BUT REAL QUICKLY, YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF YOUR DUE PROCESS FOR, UH, COMMISSIONER UH, NARANJO.
YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
YOU GUYS HAVE DENIED HER AND CENSORED WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE DUE CAUSE.
THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE TWO CROOKS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOME BACK BACKDOOR AND SOME UNDER, YOU KNOW, THE TABLE.
UH, BUSINESSES AND PROCUREMENTS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THAT KIND OF A LEADERSHIP.
YOU'RE BEING USED AND SHAME ON YOU.
YOU, YOU GUYS ARE SMARTER THAN THAT.
THE STATE BAR OF OF STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS BEING NOTICED ON THIS FOR THE WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
IF THIS IS, YOU SEE, THE CAMERAS ARE HERE TODAY TO SHOW THE PUBLIC, TO SHOW AMERICA THAT DEMOCRACY STILL LIVES ALLOW ALLOWED AND ALIVE.
AND, UM, OUR COMMISSIONER, UM, SANDY, SHOULD NOT BE TREATED THE WAY SHE'S BEING TREATED.
UNPROFESSIONALLY, MISTREATED, NOT DUE HER DUE PROCESS AND THE AT, UH, ATTENTION OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ELENI FOR THE STATE LAND COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT, SHE WILL BE REVIEWING YOUR GUYS' DECISION.
SO THIS ALL GOES ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
YOU'RE THE ELECTEDS, YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
WE HIRE YOU, WE FIRE YOU, YOU ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
NOW POSTPONED THIS, INVESTIGATE IT THOROUGHLY, REVIEW IT.
AND THEN PERHAPS I'M ALMOST FINISHED.
THEN PERHAPS YOUR TIME, YOUR TIME IS UP.
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BUT, BUT YOU DIDN CUT OFF OTHER PEOPLE.I'M, SO THERE'S VERY UNETHICAL PRACTICES AND THE FRAUD PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE OKAY.
SORRY, RICARDO, YOUR TIME IS UP.
I KNOW MR. MAYOR, BUT YOU GAVE OTHER PEOPLE FOR 15 SECONDS NOW.
SO DON'T DO THAT TO ME BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING.
OKAY, WELL, I JUST WANNA SAY LAST THAT JESSE MARQUEZ, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
VOTE THIS DOWN AND POSTPONE IT UNTIL WE GET DONE.
I AM THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE A 23-YEAR-OLD ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION.
I FOUNDED OUR ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY OF WILMINGTON.
THAT IS WHERE THE LARGEST PORT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES IS HOME TO.
AND OUR NEIGHBOR IS THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.
WE DID NOT KNOW, AND I NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SANJO UNTIL I WAS CONTACTED BY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, RESIDENTS ASKING US TO INTERVENE.
'CAUSE WE ARE EXPERTS ON PORTS, PORT OPERATIONS, PORT LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SO WE DID OUR OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
WE FOUND THAT COMMISSIONER NJO DID NOT VIOLATE HER FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE REPRESENTING THE CITY, NATIONAL CITY IN ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER.
SHE FULFILLED ALL RESPONSIBILITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION, PUBLIC TRUST DOC DOCTRINE.
THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO HAS NO VALIDATED EVIDENCE OF ANY WRONGDOING OF COMMISSIONER NJO.
THE PORT HARBOR COMMISSION HAS NO VALIDATED EVIDENCE OF ANY WRONGDOING OF COMMISSIONER NARANJO.
YOU NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL HAVE NO VALID EVIDENCE OF ANY WRONGDOING BY COMMISSIONER NARANJO.
IT IS ALSO A FACT OF LAW THAT THE PORT COMMISSION HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO CENSOR A FELLOW COMMISSIONER, ONLY THE CITY THAT NOMINATED HER AND APPOINTED HER IN ELECTED DEPOSITION.
HAS THAT AUTHORITY YOU REFERENCING YOUR CITY POLICY 1 0 7 AS YOUR AUTHORITY FOR THE DECISION MAKING TONIGHT? I LOOKED AT SEVERAL LAWS REGARDING DUE DILIGENCE, AND WHAT I DISCOVERED IS THAT NO, NO POLICY CAN VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S DUE DILIGENCE AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE WERE PREPARED WITH OTHERS TO FILE A REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF TOM RUSSELL AT THE PORT OF BALLET.
BUT HE TOOK YOUR, PLEASE SUMMARIZE JOB OVER HERE.
SO WE ARE PREPARED TO FILE A REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION TO THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION, THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
AND WE ARE PREPARED TO EXERCISE ALL LEGAL RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT HER INTERESTS.
AND WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU REPLACE YOUR CITY ATTORNEY AND GET AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.
THANK YOU VERY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FOLKS, THE FOLKS, PLEASE TRY TO RESPECT TIME HERE.
I I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S PASSIONATE, BUT PLEASE TRY TO RESPECT TIME HERE.
MAYOR, CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGER.
I ALSO SIT ON THE AB 617 PORTSIDE STEERING COMMITTEE REPRESENTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
UM, COMMISSIONER SANCO IS ALWAYS THERE.
UH, EVEN IF I CAN'T MAKE IT, UM, THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY ISN'T ALWAYS THERE.
SOMETIMES WE CAN'T BE THERE, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
BECAUSE SANDY NCO HAS NATIONAL CITY'S HEALTH WELLNESS, ECONOMIC VITALITY AS WELL IN MIND.
SHE CONSTANTLY PROMOTES HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING SEPARATE.
THAT, THAT THE ENVIRONMENT, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTING PEOPLE'S HEALTH, LUNGS, PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ASTHMA DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
THAT THERE IS A WAY TO WORK TOWARDS THAT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE LATER ON WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE THAT PROBLEM FOR OUR CHILDREN TO SAY, HEY, WE HAVE THIS, THESE JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT WHAT WE DIDN'T CONSIDER YOUR HOUSE.
SO NOW OUR AIR, OUR LAND, OUR WATER HAS BEEN POLLUTED.
THE PORT MANAGES PUBLIC LANDS JUST YET FUNCTIONS LIKE A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT DOESN'T WANT THE OVERSIGHT.
WHY ARE WE BEING PUNITIVE TO FOLKS, TOWARDS PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING UP FOR ACCOUNTABILITY? IF SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT THEY'RE EVADING QUESTIONS OR THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO BE TRANSPARENT, THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE AGENCIES OR THE PEOPLE OR THE, THOSE IN POWER THAT ARE MOST NEED TO BE REGULATED AND THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL.
AND LOOK AT THEIR 3,000 MILLION DOLLARS BUDGET COMES ENTIRELY FROM REVENUE BUILT ON OUR PUBLIC LANDS.
AND WE STILL SEE THAT THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM PERPETUATED
[02:00:01]
IN OUR COMMUNITIES.WE REALLY WANNA BE MINDFUL TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND NOT TO BE PUNITIVE.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE SPEAKING UP, WE'RE IN TIMES RIGHT NOW WHEN THOSE THAT SPEAK UP FOR JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE, FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED ARE BEING PUNISHED OPENLY.
AND THOSE THAT SPEAK UP FOR THINGS THAT ARE UNJUST, ARE BEING REWARDED.
WE'RE SEEING THAT IN REAL TIME.
PLEASE CHOOSE TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MORRISON CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SAN DIEGO, UH, WITH DEEP ROOTS AT OTNC.
UM, I VERY MUCH, UM, HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE'S WORK TO SOCIAL EQUITY, TO HEALING PAST HARMS. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO DO THAT IS THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STEP OF THIS PROCESS IS AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO INCREASE THE BELIEF THAT, UM, COMMUNITY HAS IN YOUR DECISIONS, RIGHT? IN THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE BY THE PORT.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY, IS BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THAT TRANSPARENCY.
I DON'T SEE AN EASY, UM, INDICATOR THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS APPROPRIATE.
I SEE MORE INDICATORS THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE SILENCING OF BROWN AND BLACK WOMEN ESPECIALLY.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT EQUITY AND HEALING, THIS LOOKS HARMFUL.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT BE PART OF THAT HARM.
THAT IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS, UH, STAFF.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL? N? NOTHING, MAYOR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, UH, MARCUS, I MEMBER BUSH.
UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UM, NOTICE NOT A SINGLE PERSON OUT HERE SPOKE AGAINST SANDY.
ALL OF THE BACKDOOR CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING NEED TO STOP.
AND IF THEY CONTINUE, IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE BULLIED, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? UM, IT'S, IT'S CLEAR THERE'S A LOT OF, IF, IF ANYONE HAS ISSUES WITH OUR POOR COMMISSIONER, THIS WAS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK ON IT.
NOTICE THAT THE, THE FOLKS THAT THAT, THAT HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, THEY'RE NOT HERE AND THEY'RE NOT PRESENT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS, AND, AND BY THE WAY, IT WAS THE MAYOR, MAYOR, IT WAS YOU THAT PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IT WASN'T BEN, IT WASN'T OUR CITY MANAGER NECESSARILY.
AND I DON'T WANT US TO THROW OUR CITY STAFF UNDER THE BUS ON THIS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A COUNCIL DECISION.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS OUR PORT COMMISSIONER.
AND IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT ABOUT SANDY.
IT'S REALLY NOT THIS, THIS IS NATIONAL CITY.
NATIONAL CITY SINCE 1962, SINCE THE PORT WAS FOUNDED, WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR FAIR SHARE.
WE ARE THE ONLY CITY WITHOUT A BEACH.
CORONADO, IMPERIAL BEACH, SAN DIEGO.
WE, WE DON'T, WE GENERATE MORE REVENUE PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY.
AND THERE'S SO MANY OUTSIDE FORCES THAT THEY REALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT US.
WE, WE'VE HAD DECADES OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF ASTHMA AND CANCER.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT SANDY, IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE PORT COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE SANDY'S PREDECESSOR WAS DUKEY VALDERRAMA, WHO'S FROM OTNC, WHO LET'S BE REAL.
HE WAS VERY FRIENDLY TO THE PORT.
HE SERVED 16 YEARS AND THE PORT STILL, HE STILL WASN'T ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED AS HARD AS HE WORKED.
AND AS MUCH AS HE SACRIFICED AND AS FRIENDLY AS HE WAS, AS MUCH AS HE OPERATED IN GOOD FAITH, HE SHARED STORIES THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO WANNA SHARE 'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE HIS TO SHARE PUBLICLY.
BUT HE SHARED STORIES OF HANDSHAKES HE'S DONE OF GOOD FAITH BARGAINING, AND HE WAS LIED TO.
THIS IS HOW THE PORT OPERATES.
[02:05:01]
IS BEING RETALIATED AGAINST AND HOW RETALIATION WORKS.GROUPS AREN'T GONNA TELL US WHY THEY'RE RETALIATING AGAINST US.
THEY'RE GOING TO, THEY'RE GONNA GIVE A, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER EXCUSE.
SO IF MY FELLOW CO UH, COLLEAGUES HERE, IF THIS IS A BAD LOOK TO REMOVE OUR COMMISSIONER, ESPECIALLY AFTER CHULA VISTA, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE PRECIADO, HE BASHES OUR, OUR COMMISSIONER A FEW WEEKS AGO.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE JUST GONNA FOLLOW WHAT HE SAYS, WHAT HE DOES, WHAT OTHERS SAY.
WE, I ASK MY COLLEAGUES THAT IF, IF YOU ALL HAVE JUSTIFICATION, IF SANDY DID SOMETHING WRONG, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND I'M WILLING TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE TOO IF, IF SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG.
UM, BUT LET'S BE OPEN, LET'S BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
LET'S, LET'S DISCUSS IT BECAUSE THIS SETS A REALLY HORRIBLE PRECEDENT IF WE, IF WE DON'T REALLY VET THROUGH.
I MEAN, SHE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT CONCERNS.
BY THE WAY, THE PORT SENT TWO BULLYING, THREATENING LETTERS TO US IN OCTOBER, AND I THINK IT WAS NOVEMBER THREATENING US IF SANDY CAME OUT AND SPOKE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE REAL.
UM, MY TIME, I WAS, I WAS TELLING MY COLLEAGUES, NO, I THINK WE SHOULD FIGHT THIS.
AND SO WE WANTED TO GO ALONG TO GET ALONG.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR MONTHS.
I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO MATTER WHAT, WE DO NEED TO ALL UNITE AS A CITY BECAUSE THEY, THIS IS AN ACT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THEM PLAYING DIVIDE AND CONQUER AGAINST US IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
AND SO IF, IF, IF, IF MY COLLEAGUES LU DITAS, RON JOSE, IF, IF WE, IF YOU GUYS REALLY DO WANNA REMOVE SANDY, PLEASE GIVE A, A REALLY GOOD JUSTIFICATION FOR IT.
AND WHY AT THE NEXT TIME THAT WE APPOINT A PORT COMMISSIONER HOW IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
ARE WE GONNA THROW THEM OFF WHEN THEY ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AND THE PORT DOESN'T LIKE IT.
THESE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS.
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE UNITED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS, THIS IS PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE DYING OF ANS AND ASTHMA AN ANSWER, ASTHMA AND CANCER.
IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A, A LONG TIME.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WE HAVE A, A, A THOROUGH REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE JUST REMOVE COMMISSIONER NA NAUNG.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBER MOLINA.
UH, I HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, OR COUNCIL MEMBER YA, BEFORE I DO MY STATEMENT, YOU WANNA SPEAK? SPEAK.
I THINK WE ALL SHOULD HAVE COMMENTS ON THIS.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ITEM.
IS THERE A REASON YOU WOULD WANT US TO SPEAK FIRST? I MEAN, IT, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME, BUT GO AHEAD.
LOOK, UM, FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.
UH, I DEFINITELY FEEL THE PASSION IN THE ROOM.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY, UH, FOR MANY YEARS, UH, PROBABLY NO MORE THAN I KNOW SANDY.
UM, FOR 14, 15 YEARS, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE STARTED WORKING TOGETHER IN LABOR, COUNTLESS CAMPAIGNS, WORKING TILL GOD KNOWS WHAT HOUR, MIDNIGHT, TWO, THREE IN THE MORNING.
AND, YOU KNOW, I TRY TO INTERVENE EARLY ON, UM, TO HELP THE SITUATION.
AND THOSE ATTEMPTS WERE FUTILE AND WERE, I THINK, UM, MISPERCEIVED.
AND I THINK I TRIED AS BEST AS I COULD TO INTERVENE AS SOON AS I COULD.
AND, AND SO I, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE AT THE MOMENT.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD LOOK FOR OUR CITY.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD LOOK FOR OUR COMMISSIONER.
I THINK THIS IS A BAD LOOK FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE IT'S A REFLECTION OF US.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD.
SO I'LL SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THIS DECISION, I'LL ASK WHY.
WHY ARE WE HERE? WHY ARE WE HERE? WHY ARE WE, WHY DO WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE PORT? WHY ARE WE ADVOCATING FOR THE PORT? AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE.
WE, WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
THAT'S OUR JOB, RIGHT? AND WE HAVE MANY NEEDS.
UM, WE DON'T RECEIVE REVENUES FROM PORT BUSINESSES IN NATIONAL CITY JURISDICTION ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE BAYFRONT.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE HISTORICALLY IMPACTING NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN A BAD SHAKE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES.
UM, SO OUR JOB, I THINK, IS TO PUSH OUR AGENDA, PUSH OUR COMMUNITY'S AGENDA.
AND I MENTIONED AT LAST MEETING THAT
[02:10:01]
WE REALLY NEED TO GET TOGETHER, CREATE A TEAM, A SOLID TEAM AROUND ADVOCATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT THE PORT.AND WE, FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY GET THERE.
AND, AND SO I THINK THAT'S A DISTRACTION.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE'RE PLAYING DEFENSE, CONSTANTLY PLAYING DEFENSE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO US AND OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS.
AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM SO WE CAN BE BETTER CREATE, UH, ADVOCACY FOR OURSELVES AT AN AGENCY THAT WE HAVE A SEAT ON, WHAT DO WE DO? WE TRY TO BRING ANOTHER AGENCY TO OVERSEE THAT AGENCY.
WE TRY TO FOCUS ON A STATE BILL THAT WON'T GET US THESE ISSUES.
SO LOOK, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY GET TOGETHER.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO DIVERT OUR ATTENTION AND BECOME BETTER ADVOCATES FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.
AND SO, UM, MANY RESIDENTS ARE FRIENDS, WE'RE NEIGHBORS.
I DEEPLY RESPECT YOU AND YOUR POSITIONS.
UM, I JUST HAPPEN TO DISAGREE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW AND HOW WE GET TO THE ULTIMATE SOLUTIONS THAT I THINK ALL OF US WANNA GET TO.
'CAUSE WE DESERVE ALL THOSE THINGS AND WE JUST ARE NOT GETTING A FAIR SHAKE.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT OUR PORT COMMISSIONER HAS LOST TRUST IN OUR COLLEAGUES.
UM, UH, AND SO AS A RESULT, UH, OUR VOICE IN NATIONAL CITY IS NOT BEING HEARD AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD AT THE PORT.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, THAT WE GET A FAIR SHAKE FOR OUR CITY.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR, UM, COMMISSIONER SERVICE, BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE THIS PAST US AND GIVE OUR COMMUNITY THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY A FRESH START, AND TO BECOME BETTER ADVOCATES FOR OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITY AT OUR PORT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NEIGHBORS WITH MANY, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OURSELVES.
LIKE WE NEED TO PUT OUR TEAMS TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO BECOME BETTER ADVOCATES AT OUR PORT.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO INSIST EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE PODIUM.
I KNOW YOU'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN, BUT YOU CAN STOP.
LOOK, LOOK, I DON'T TAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY, AND THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AS A RESIDENT TO DO THAT.
SO LOOK, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO BACK AND FORTH WITH SOMEBODY HERE AT THE MOMENT, BUT I'M SAYING WE NEED TO BECOME OKAY.
YOU EITHER HAVE TO STOP OR WE START CLEARING.
JEFFREY, YOU ALSO, THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS ISSUES.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THERE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE CURRENT TRAJECTORY IS NOT GETTING US THERE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE AT THE MOMENT, BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.
AND SO IT, IT'S THE REASON WHY I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON AND WE CAN ACTUALLY BECOME BETTER ADVOCATES FOR OURSELVES AT THE BOARD.
ARE YOU GONNA MAKE A COMMENT? UH, I'M GONNA TRY TO MAINTAIN MY COMPOSURE, UH, HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.
I, UM, I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE HEARD YOU, AND IT IS LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THIS, UH, THIS SITUATION IS, IS QUESTIONABLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.
IT WAS THE BELIEF OF THIS COUNCIL THAT THE PORT PERPETUATED LONGSTANDING PATTERNS OF DISENFRANCHISING NATIONAL CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
UH, UH, THIS WAS A, IN THE FORM OF A LETTER THAT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY AGREED UNANIMOUSLY AND PRESENTED TO THE PORT.
WHEN THE CENSURE HAPPENED OF OUR COMMISSIONER AS A CITY, WE PUBLICLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR COMMISSIONER NARANJO.
SINCE THAT TIME, SHE HAS BEEN TARGETED BOTH PUBLICLY AND IN PRIVATE WITH MICROAGGRESSIONS AND MACROAGGRESSIONS THAT RANGE FROM THE PETTY TO THE NOT SO PETTY.
THE ATTACKS HAVE BEEN PERSISTENT AND PERPETRATED IN AN ORGANIZED MANNER BY COMMISSIONERS FROM OTHER CITIES, PORT LEADERSHIP
[02:15:01]
AND OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO GET RID OF COMMISSIONER NARANJO.LET ME GIVE YOU THREE EXAMPLES.
IGNORING A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER NARANJO DURING A MEETING, ONLY TO VOTE FOR THE EXACT SAME MOTION WHEN A DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER PRESENTED IT PUBLICLY CHASTISING OUR MAYOR DURING A PUBLIC MEETING WHERE HE WAS PRESENT AND PROVIDING COMMENT AND HE WAS PUBLICLY CHASTISED PORT OFFICIALS, CANCELING MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE LAST MINUTE AND USING THE EXCUSE AND BLAMING COMMISSIONER NARANJO.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE WERE NOT JUST SLIGHTS AGAINST ONE PERSON.
THEY WERE ATTACKED AGAINST OUR CITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PRECIPITATED TODAY'S VOTE.
MAYBE IT'S THE FACT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH AND I HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SUPPORTING A STATE BILL TO TRY TO FIX THE PORT'S SYSTEMIC ATTEMPTS TO CONTINUE TO KEEP NATIONAL CITY DOWN.
IN MY VIEW, WE ARE TAKING THE WRONG APPROACH.
WE ARE GIVING INTO THE BULLIES AND TO THE NARRATIVE THAT OUR VOICES AND WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE OF NATIONAL CITY DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT'S UP AGAINST THE STATUS QUO AND THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, THE CENSURE.
AND NOW THE LIKELY EXPULSION OF COMMISSIONER NARANJO IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE PORT EXERTING ITS INFLUENCE OVER NATIONAL CITY, SANDY, SANDY, YOU ARE NOT GRACE UNDER FIRE, BUT YOU ARE FIRE UNDER FIRE, WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN PEOPLE EXPECT GRACE TO QUIETLY DISAPPEAR.
SANDY, YOU ARE EXACTLY THE TYPE OF COMMISSIONER THAT NATIONAL CITY DESERVES.
IT'S A SHAME WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON OUR PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO YOU.
REMEMBER YAMANI? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UM, I WORKED SO HARD TO BE IN THIS DIOCESE, RIDICULED THAT I WILL NOT WIN, BUT I PURSUED AND NOT LISTEN TO ANYONE BECAUSE I SAID I WILL SERVE MY PEOPLE.
MY PLEDGE TO BE HERE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT THREE IS TO SERVE MY PEOPLE.
AND IN GENERAL, THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
IT IS VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT OUR COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, UM, HAS RECEIVED AN ALL CONFIDENCE FROM A HUGE AGENCY THAT WE WORK WITH.
IT IS NOT PERSONAL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY CONSTITUENTS, IT IS NOT, IT IS BUSINESS WHEN WE ARE NOT AT THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WE PUT THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE FOR THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY.
WE HAVE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS UNDERLYING SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE CONFIDENTIAL THAT WE CAN PUT OUT THERE.
BUT BECAUSE OF LEGALESE, WE HAVE TO BE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW IN A BOARDROOM.
WHEN ONE IS NOT RESPECTED AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND A MANAGEMENT, I ASK MY COLLEAGUE, WHOEVER THAT IS, TO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU REPRESENT.
IT IS ABOUT THE CITY THAT WE ALL SERVE.
YOU CANNOT BE TALKING OUTTA THE AUDIENCE.
YOU TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
[02:20:02]
WE TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.AND IF THERE IS A A, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS LOST CONFIDENCE TO THE PERSON TAKING CARE OF OUR BUSINESS, WE TAKE CARE OF IT.
WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BUSINESS.
AND THAT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, OF NATIONAL CITY TO THE PEOPLE OF NATIONAL CITY.
IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOURSELF, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER.
YOU HAD YOUR TIME TO SPEAK NOW, RESPECT OTHERS.
EVERY THAT WE DO HERE IS THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, OF NATIONAL CITY IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY.
NO FOLKS IN THE NO, NO, DON'T.
FOLKS, PLEASE, FOLKS, PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PLEASE.
IF IT'S A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, OKAY.
IT'S NOT PERSONAL THEN I SAID IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR ORDER AND I'M GONNA DEMAND IT.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE CHAMBERS AND TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE MEETING ONLINE.
OH, JEFFREY, ENOUGH LAST WARNING.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I WILL ADDRESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UM, I KNOW IT WAS SAID THAT THE CITY MANAGER DIDN'T PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
UH, THAT WAS A FALSE STATEMENT.
UH, THIS WAS PUT ON BY THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, HE'S THE ONE THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD REQUESTS, UH, SEVERAL TO DO WHAT WE CALL ONE OH FIVES TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
AND I'VE HAD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS UPSET AT ME BECAUSE I KEPT PUTTING 'EM OFF.
AND, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, AND THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME UP, UH, AND BEEN HAVING MEETINGS, UH, WITH OUR COMMISSIONER AND TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE IS, UH, A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.
WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING THE PORT DOES.
WE ONLY CONTROL THINGS FROM OUR END.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS DILIGENTLY.
WE'RE WE'RE DEALING WITH A PERSON.
THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST SANDY MM-HMM,
NOW THEN THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST SANDY.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THESE THINGS DIFFICULT IN SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, UH, DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THAT.
THE, UH, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST CAME UP.
AND AS I SAY, THERE'S BEEN REQUESTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
AND IT'S BEEN HELD OFF AND HELD OFF TRYING TO GET SOME KIND, A POSITIVE RESOLUTION.
AND AS SHE MENTIONED, WHAT I STATED TO HER IN A MEETING A WEEK AGO THAT WE HAD, AND THESE WERE ALL PRIVATE, WE WERE NOT TRYING TO DRESS PEOPLE DOWN OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND I AGREE WITH, UH, MEMBER MOLINA.
THERE WAS, AT ONE OF THE PORT MEETINGS, WE HAD ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS DRESS ME DOWN.
AND, UH, NEXT MORNING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, HE CALLED WITH AN HOUR AND A HALF CONVERSATION FOR HIS FIRST TIME TO TALK TO ME, APOLOGIZING.
'CAUSE HE REALIZED HOW UNPROFESSIONAL HE HAD BEEN.
AND, BUT I ANSWERED HIM WITH PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE MEETING.
AND WE ALSO GOT TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON WHAT NEEDS TO GO AHEAD FOR THE CITY.
THE, IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT THAT I HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM BRIDGET BROWNING.
I'VE HAD THREE CONVERSATIONS WITH BRIDGETTE BROWNING IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE PROBABLY BEEN WITHIN THE LAST, PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.
AND THEY WERE ALL INVOLVING THE PLA, WHICH WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT FOR EL TO Y.
NOW, THE, UH, AND SHE BROUGHT IT UP TO ME ABOUT THE CONCERNS THEY HAD.
I TOLD 'EM WE WOULD WORK ON IT.
WE GOT, HAD ANOTHER CONVERSATION.
AND THEN I DID CALL HER BACK THIS LAST WEEK TO LET HER KNOW IT WAS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA.
BUT THERE WAS THINGS THEY NEEDED TO DO TO, AND IT WASN'T OUR STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN THE, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SECOND CONVERSATION.
SHE DID BRING UP CONCERNS THAT SHE HAD ABOUT SANDY.
AND WHAT I TOLD HER WAS, WE'RE AWARE AND WE
[02:25:01]
ARE DEALING WITH IT.SO FOR THOSE THAT THINK OF THAT AS BEING COLLUSION OR BEING PERSUADED, THEY DON'T KNOW ME VERY WELL.
I LISTENED TO PEOPLE, I LISTENED TO THEIR VIEWPOINTS.
I LISTENED TO YOU TONIGHT AND I WAS POLITE TO YOU, AND I LISTENED TO PEOPLE, AND THEN I MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS.
AND THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD DO IT.
MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE.
THE, UH, AND WHAT I EXPRESSED IN THE MEETING LAST WEEK WAS THAT CURRENTLY, AND THIS IS NOT AGAINST SANDY, I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS SANDY'S FAULT.
THERE'S PLENTY OF FAULT GOING AROUND.
AND JUST IN THE SAME WAY THAT I'VE DISAGREED WITH HER ON SOME THINGS THAT WERE, THAT HAD BEEN DONE, I ALSO, WITH THE PORT, I WENT TO THEM AFTER SOME OF THEIR STAFF DID SOME THINGS, AND I HAD DISCUSSION WITH THEM, TOLD 'EM IT WAS TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.
BUT WE ARE AT A POINT TO WHERE, AND AS I SAY, THIS IS NOT DIRECTLY A FAULT OF SANDY.
THIS IS WHERE THE SITUATION IS AT.
AND THIS IS WHAT I SAID WAS, WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, BUT EFFECTIVELY WE DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION.
THERE'S WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS.
NOW, SHE MAY BE, UH, SOME, AND AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS AND FROM THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT OUR RESIDENTS, AND YOU KNOW, THEY MAY BE REPRESENTING SOME OF YOU, BUT OUR COMMISSIONER IS TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, AND I WILL DISAGREE.
ONE THING, OUR REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT TO BE A REGULATOR.
UM, AND SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE AMOUNT OF VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING US YEARS TO GET HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE REPUTATION WITH THE PORT OF, I HAVE BEEN CUSSED OUT IN, IN, UH, PORT COMMISSION MEETINGS CALLED, CALLED NAMES BY THE COMMISSIONERS.
IT WASN'T BY AUDIENCE MEMBERS, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, WE EVEN, WE EVEN PLAYED A RECORDING OF THAT ONE NIGHT.
UM, AND BECAUSE I HAVE CONSTANTLY FOUGHT WITH THEM, BUT WE KEPT IT PROFESSIONAL AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
AND WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE GOING BEFORE THE COASTAL COMMISSION ON THE BALANCE PLAN AFTER 10 YEARS.
WE ARE NEGOTIATING THE MSA, THE, UH, OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICE AGREEMENT.
ALSO THE MI, UH, IF WHICH IS OUR MARITIME INDUSTRIAL IMPACT FUND.
WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS EVEN ON THE ELECTRIFICATION STATION THAT THEY'RE PUTTING HERE IN NASHVILLE CITY.
WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP.
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WILL RESPECT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH THEM.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IS SANDY'S FAULT, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S THE PORT'S FAULT.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH MISSTEPS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, BUT IT HAS, BUT IT HAS CAUSED US TO BE IN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE HAVE BEEN, EXCUSE ME, SIR.
THIS IS A NATIONAL CITY MEETING.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE ARE AT A POINT TO WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WHILE WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE PORT AND WE FIGHT WITH THEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT THE THING THAT WE CAN'T BE HAVING IS THIS CONSTANT DISTRACTION, WHICH WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW, IS TAKING UP A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND IS KEEPING US FROM GETTING THE DIALOGUE THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND TO SEE THOSE THINGS, NOT ONLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THE AIR ISSUES, BUT ALSO THE ECONOMIC ISSUES, THE PEOPLE ISSUES, ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UH, SO THAT IS WHAT WHERE WE'RE AT, I FEEL AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND WHETHER IF ANYONE AGREES OR DISAGREE WITH THIS, THIS IS NOT PERSONAL.
BUT WE ARE ASKED TO DO THE WORK OF THE CITY, WHETHER IF IT IS OUR BEST FRIEND, IF IT'S OUR MOTHER OR WHATEVER, THAT'S NOT, THAT SHOULDN'T REFLECT INTO OUR DEAL, INTO OUR DECISIONS.
AND NO AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TALKING TO ME MAKES UP MY DECISION OR MAKES UP MY VIEWPOINTS.
AND, UH, BUT AS I SAY, AND I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR VIEWPOINTS, I'VE LISTENED TO YOUR DISCUSSIONS, I'VE LISTENED TO THE ONES THAT YOU MADE DOWN AT THE PORT.
I'VE WATCHED ALL THOSE TAPES, EVERYTHING ELSE WATCHED THEM LIVE MOST OF THE TIME.
AND SO I HAVE HEARD ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND
[02:30:01]
I TAKE ALL THAT INTO ACCOUNT.AND THAT'S WHAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO DO.
AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LET AND SET OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE CITY AND HOW WE MOVE, UH, WE MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
AND SO IT'S BASED ON THAT IS ANY DECISION THAT I WOULD MAKE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
MAYOR, I I HAVE A QUESTION ACTUALLY FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
SO IN MY, UH, FIRST STATEMENT, I, I, I HEARD YOU ALL AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR SPEAKING.
SO I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THOSE WHO ARE INDICATING THAT THEY WANT TO GET RID OF SANDY OR BLAMING OUR POOR COMMISSIONER FOR, UM, FOR EVERYTHING.
I'M NOT, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT EXACTLY SHE DID WRONG OR WHERE EXACTLY SHE DIDN'T REPRESENT US.
PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT TO ME SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS, IF YOU WILL REMOVE IF YOU ARE GONNA REMOVE HER.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR NEXT COMMISSIONER? OKAY.
AND I'M NOT, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A TRIAL, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH AND I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO, YOU KNOW, BLAME INDIVIDUALS OR BLAME THE PORT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
BUT WHAT I AM GONNA SAY, IF SOME OF YOU'LL BE QUIET AND ACT YOUR AGE, WHAT AUDIENCE MEMBERS, PLEASE LET, LET, I WANT TO HEAR THE MAYOR SPEAK, PLEASE.
WHAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEN QUIT ACTING LIKE YOU'RE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SIR.
NOW THEN THE, UH, WHAT, WHAT HAS, WHAT DID SHE DO? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT SHE DID WRONG, WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AND WHETHER SHE DID IT OR NOT.
BUT THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IS THAT SHE HAS LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF THE OTHER SIX MEMBERS.
AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WORK AS A GROUP, WHY DID SHE LOSE THE, WHY DID THE COMMISSION, SO IT P****S ME OFF THAT THEY'RE NOT HERE TO SPEAK AND THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR THEM.
OKAY? WHAT, WHY DID THEY, OKAY, JUST PLEASE TELL ME, MAYOR, JUST TO BE SHORT AND CLEAR.
WHAT DID THEY SAY SHE DID WRONG? EXACTLY.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR THEM ALL.
I CAN SAY THAT THE EVIDENCE IS THERE.
THAT THERE IS NO LONGER, OKAY.
THAT THERE IS NO LONGER THE CONFIDENCE.
AND IT'S OBVIOUS, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS ADMITTED THE SAME THING.
YOU KNOW, THAT THEY, THEY ARE NOT RESPECTING HER.
OKAY? AND SO THAT THEY DON'T LIKE HER, THEY DON'T RESPECT HER.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY LIKE OR NOT, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S A LACK OF RESPECT AND THAT, THAT IS OBVIOUS.
AND THEN THEREFORE, THEREFORE, THAT REFLECTS UPON OUR CITY MOVING THINGS FORWARD.
AND THERE'S WHERE THERE'S BEEN A BREAKDOWN.
NOW, THIS IS NOT, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT TO BLAME SANDY.
THIS IS NOT, AND I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS AT COMMISSIONERS OR WHATEVER ELSE HER STAFF.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHAT THE REALITY IS.
BUT WE'RE KICKING OFF OUR COMMISSIONER BECAUSE, UH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HER.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE NOT BEING EXPLAINED TO WHAT EXACTLY SHE DID WRONG OR HOW NOT.
SO ARE WE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT SHE BROUGHT UP WITH TOM RUSSELL? WHY HASN'T ANYONE ON THIS DAIS BROUGHT THAT UP? WHY HAVEN'T WE INVESTIGATED THAT? WE'RE BLAMING IT ALL ON OUR REPORT, COMMISSIONER, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE ANY INVESTIGATION.
DIDN'T FILE, DIDN'T WHEN THEY VIOLATED THE BROWN ACT, THEY DIDN'T LET US JUST SO THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS KNOW, WHEN THEY C SANDY, THEY DIDN'T TELL US AND WE'RE THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
THEY DID IT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
AND SO WE NEED TO DEFEND OUR CITY AND DEFEND OURSELVES.
SO I, SO WHERE, WHERE ARE WE? WHEN ARE WE GONNA HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? IS IS THAT A CONCERN? ANY, ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT SHE BROUGHT UP? A WHOLE LITANY OF CONCERNS? ARE WE GONNA INVESTIGATE THAT? OKAY.
BUT AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT THIS PERSONALITY WAR GOING ON, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET DOWN TO THE FACTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR SITUATION.
AND WE ARE NOT TO BE REGULATING THE PORT.
THAT'S NOT OUR JOB OR TO BE INVESTIGATING THEM.
BUT IF THERE ARE, THEY DO WRONG TO NATIONAL CITY.
BUT IF THERE ARE LEGITIMACY TO THESE THINGS, THEY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND WE'LL PUT IT UP TO THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD, HOW ABOUT WE INVESTIGATE THEM? THEN HOW ABOUT WE INVEST? NO, THAT'S NOT, WE ARE, WE'RE NOT INVESTIGATORS.
THERE IS, THERE IS THE ATTORNEY YOU HAVE, OKAY, SIR.
BUT NOT THAT YOU, BUT WE CAN, BUT WE CAN CALL.
WE'RE NO, BUT MAYOR, WE ARE NOT INVESTIGATORS.
BUT WE HAVE THE POWER TO HIRE CONSULTANT AND, AND REQUEST AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ STATED ABOUT LKO AGENCY.
WE HAVE, THAT'S THE OVERSIGHT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
SO WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THE THINGS THAT THE PORT IS DOING.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR A CALL IS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THE, THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO PERPETUATE WITH, WITH AN, WITH THE NEXT COMMISSIONER.
WHAT, WHAT WE CAN DO IS, AND THIS IS SEPARATE FROM OUR ISSUE TONIGHT, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS IF THERE ARE THESE LEGITIMATE, YOU KNOW,
[02:35:01]
THERE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, WE CAN TAKE THOSE, TAKE 'EM TO OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TAKE 'EM TO STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHOEVER'S GONNA DO DO THAT, THEY ARE THE INVESTIGATORS AND THEY SHOULD BE UNBIASED.THAT, YOU KNOW, AND SO, BUT THAT'S A SIDE ISSUE.
NOW THEN, UH, ANYWAY, OTHER DISCUSSION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO KEEP SANDY AS OUR PORK COMMISSIONER.
AND SECOND, I'M GONNA COURAGE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, OKAY.
MEMBER ANI, I WOULD, UM, PUT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, MR. MAYOR.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE MOTION ON THE TABLE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, MR. CHAPMAN.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND, UM, UM, AND, UM, WHAT'S THAT WORD THAT I'M USING?
NO, THAT WOULD GOOD TO, TO, UM, WHAT'S THAT WORD, MAYOR? NOT REMOVE, BUT REPLACE.
UH, SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO REMOVE SANDY ARAN AS A COMMISSIONER OF BOY.
WE HAVE, LET ME ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR A FRIEND FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
LET ME ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT HERE.
I WANT US TO TRY TO AT LEAST STAY AS MUCH UNITED AS POSSIBLE OR WHATNOT.
SO WOULD YOU AT LEAST CONSIDER, LIKE, LIKE I, UM, THE, UM, COMMISSIONER NARANJO BROUGHT, BROUGHT A PROPOSAL TO AGREE TO RESIGN IF THE PORT FULLY FUNDS A BALANCE PLAN, UH, IF THEY RENEGOTIATE THE, THE MSA AND ISSUE AN A APOLOGY LETTER.
WHAT MY COLLEAGUES CONSIDER THAT, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF ASKING FOR THE, THE RESIGNATION.
SO AT LEAST, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO SELL OUT OUR, OUR COMMISSIONER, THEN WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE SHOWING THAT WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR IT WHO INVESTIGATION.
I I WILL SAY THAT THEY, I, THERE WAS A LETTER, A DEMAND LETTER WITH FIVE ITEMS, THREE OF 'EM INVOLVED, NATIONAL CITY, AND THE OTHER TWO INVOLVED AN APOLOGY TO, UH, FROM THE PORT TO SAN RAJO AND A RESCINDING OF THE CENSURE.
THE PORT DID AGREE, OR I WENT THROUGH THE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A MEETING, SO IT WAS JUST ONLY THE CHAIR, UH, SAID THAT HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, TENTATIVELY AGREE ON BEHALF OF THE PORT TO THOSE LAST THREE ITEMS, THE NATIONAL CITY ITEMS, BUT NOT TO THE FIRST TWO.
SO THE PORT, SO THE PORT AGREED TO FULLY FUND THE BALANCE PLAN.
SO THEY, THE, THE PORT DID AGREE IF WE REMOVE SANDY TO FULLY FUND THE BALANCE PLAN.
AND THEY WERE ALREADY, THAT WAS ALREADY IN THE WORKS ANYWAY.
SO THAT WAS ALREADY THERE, YOU KNOW, SO THOSE THREE ITEMS WERE BASICALLY ALREADY BEING CUR TAKEN CARE.
WE CANNOT TALK UP HERE IF YOU'RE TALKING THANK YOU.
I THINK WE ARE OVERREACHING HERE.
SO, UH, THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION DISCUSSION.
AND, UM, I DON'T THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THERE IS A NEED TO DISCUSS THIS 'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE DISCUSSED IT.
OKAY? UM, AND, UM, I, I AM NOT PRIVY TO YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PORT.
BUT IF THERE ARE TERMS OF THIS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAD SPOKEN TO OUR COMMISSIONER, NARANJO, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, AS A CITY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN WE REALLY, WE REALLY CANNOT, UM, AND ADDRESS THEM.
SO THE, THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW IS TO RELIEVE, UM, OUR PORT COMMISSIONER WITH THE POSITION MM-HMM,
SO WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY LAW.
WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.
IF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION PASSES, THEN IT TAKES
[02:40:01]
EFFECT.IF IT FAILS, THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
AND, UH, SO WITH THAT, THERE IS A, UH, SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
SO AT THIS POINT THEN WE WOULD NEED TO INSTRUCT STAFF TO BE PUTTING OUT, UH, NOTICE, UH, FOR APPLICATIONS AND, UH, UH, THROUGH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND THEN WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT DATES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE.
LEMME, LEMME SAY THIS TO CLOSE OUT, SANDY, YOU HAVE DONE MORE.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING HONORABLY FOR BEING SUCH A PHENOMENAL LEADER TO, FOR NATIONAL SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE.
YOU'VE DONE MORE TO TRANSFORM THE PORT THAN ANYBODY HAS BEFORE YOU.
AND I KNOW THIS IS HARD, BUT THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THIS IS NECESSARY.
I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
YOU'VE SET THE STAGE FOR JUST SO MANY CHANGES THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING, AND IT'S GONNA CHANGE.
AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR SACRIFICING ALL YOUR TIME.
YOU WEREN'T GETTING PAID FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO, ALL THE DILIGENCE YOU HAD, COMING TO THE MEETINGS, FIGHTING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD WITH LOVE.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, SANDY, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH AND KNOW THAT NONE OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND NOTHING, NOTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IS IN VAIN.
AND WE'RE GONNA, NO MATTER WHAT, WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOU PROUD.
I THINK, I THINK THIS, OKAY, THE MEETING IS STILL ONGOING.
UM, THIS PROBABLY WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE JUST, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS AND MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY HAD IN A LONG, LONG, LONG TIME.
AND YOU DO DESERVE THOSE FLOWERS, BELIEVE ME.
WITH THAT, I'M GONNA CALL FOR A RECESS AND GIVE EVERYONE A QUICK BREAK.
YOUR MICROPHONE MAYOR STILL OFF? THERE IT IS.
[10. CONSENT CALENDAR]
WE HAVE ITEMS 10, ONE THROUGH 10, 11.IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS OR WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNSEL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT CONSENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TEN EIGHT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TEN EIGHT.
YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PLEASE PUT IN YOUR, HIT YOUR BUTTONS FOR MOTION.
ALRIGHT, SEE NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[10.8 Consent for the Housing Authority of the County of San Diego to Administer 24 HUD-VASH Project Based Vouchers for the Union Tower Affordable Housing Development]
THIS IS THE CONSENT FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO ADMINISTER 24 HUD, UH, PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS FOR THE UNION TOWER.AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE, UH, THOMAS REICH, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, WELL, LET ME, I UNDERSTAND.
THIS PROJECT IS 75 MILLION, 80 75,000,094 UNITS, AND, UH, 30 TO 60 29, 94 UNITS.
30 TO 60% OF THE UNITS WILL BE MEETING, WILL WILL BE RENT CONTROLLER SECTION EIGHT.
AND THE, THE ONLY THING THAT I WANNA SAY IS I HOPE FOR $78 MILLION, THAT'S THE ASSESSED VALUE THAT NATIONAL CITY GETS A GOOD PROPERTY EVALUATION.
YOU DON'T NOT, YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING ON, ON, ON THE, THE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
WE DON'T, YOU DON'T RECEIVE ANYTHING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE IS THEY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE REALITIES.
BUT THIS ALSO SHOWS YOU HOW EXPENSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN BE AND, UH, AND PEOPLE WHO PAY THE RENT AREN'T COVERING THE COST.
SO THEY HAVE, THAT'S WHERE THE SUBSIDIES COME IN.
WELL, WAKEFIELD IS MAKING A PRETTY GOOD PENNY ON
[02:45:02]
YEAH.THAT'S THE OI GUESS THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT WE HAVE.
UH, WHAT'S YOUR GUYS, UH, FEELING ON 10.8? MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT 10.8 SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE HIT YOUR BUTTONS FOR MOTIONS.
UH, REMEMBER MOLINA DID IT NOT DO IT? NO, LET'S RESTART IT.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[11.1 Adoption of an Ordinance amending Section 9.07 (Food Caterers and Catering Equipment Rentals) of the National City Municipal Code.]
UM, OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS AN ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING, UH, SECTION 9.07, FOOD CATERERS, CATERING, EQUIPMENT RENTALS OF THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE.
AND THIS IS AN ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION, UH, STAFF.
ANY REPORT STAFF HAS NO REPORT ON THIS ITEM.
UM, THIS IS THE SECOND READING, UH, SO A PRESENTATION WAS MADE AT THE, THE LAST, UH, HEARING.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ONE.
I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, UH, LEAH, UH, GUTES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LEAH GUTIERREZ.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY MOM AND ALL OF THE STREET VENDORS.
AS A DAUGHTER OF A MOM THAT JUST STARTED HER OWN BUSINESS, I THINK THE PROCESS TO GET ALL THE PERMITS SHOULDN'T BE SO HARD.
THE LITTLE BUSINESS THAT MY MOM HAS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR MY MOM, FOR, FOR MY FAMILY, BECAUSE WITH ALL THAT MONEY, WE COULD BUY FOOD, PAY THE RENT, AND GO AND GO BUY FUN ACTIVITIES AND GO AND GO AND GO TO FUN PLACES.
AND, AND FYI, OUR MINI PANCAKES ARE THE BEST.
UH, WE STILL HAVE CARLOS ONLINE.
BUT LET ME JUST STATE WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THEM, IS THAT YEAH.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, UH, WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
THE PERMITS FOR THE, FROM THE CITY STANDPOINT, ALL THERE IS IS JUST A VERY BASIC BUSINESS PERMIT.
THAT'S THE EASIEST ONE YOU GOT.
THE OTHER PART IS WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT PART.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE YOU GOTTA JUMP THROUGH THE HOOPS FOR.
AND, UH, BUT ONCE YOU DO THAT, LET LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT.
I WANNA, IF YOU'RE A SALESPERSON THERE, I MEAN, JUST, UH, CONVINCE ME.
I THINK WE SCARED 'EM OFF FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING.
UM, THEY'RE HERE, BUT I CAN'T HEAR THEM NOT COMING BACK ON THE PC.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO FIRST, BUT, UM, I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, UM, AS MY DAUGHTER SAID, THAT PERMIT GETTING PERMITS IS DIFFICULT AND I WANT TO COMPLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE MY BUSINESS SUCCESSFUL.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE TIME TO,
[02:50:02]
UH, LISTEN TO MY COMMENT.UH, WITH THAT, COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MAKE SURE WE HIT OUR MOTION BUTTONS THERE.
AND NEXT WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE FOR FOOD CATERERS AND CATERING EQUIPMENT RENTALS FOR THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE.
AND I SAY ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THIS DOES, IT ALLOWS BUSINESSES THAT HAVE KITCHENS HAVE THAT CAN NOW CAN, CAN SELL OUTSIDE, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF OUR DEALS THAT HAD TO BE INSIDE A BUILDING.
AND THAT'S, THAT IS DOES ALLOW THAT FOR NOW, BUT THEY STILL GOTTA GET THEIR, SO AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIR PERMITS AND THEN THEY CAN, THEY CAN GO FOR THAT.
MR. MAYOR, SO WE HAVE, JUST WANNA STATE A FEW COMMENTS.
UM, JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK THEM FOR COMING, FOR STAYING HERE.
UM, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING UP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH WE HAVE FOR SPEAKING UP FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FAMILY BUSINESS.
AND, UH, I, I, I HAVEN'T TASTED THE PANCAKES YET, BUT THE RA IS FANTASTIC, SO THANK YOU.
UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT MORE SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR CITY.
AND I DO LOVE CHOMP, BUT ANYWAY, EVEN A TO WHATEVER, BUT, OKAY.
ANYWAY, LET'S, UH, UH, LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
[11.2 Ordinance for Adoption – Discharge of Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) to the Municipal Sewer System.]
UH, 11.2.THIS IS AN ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION.
IT'S DISCHARGE OF FATS, OILS, AND GREASE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS FOG TO THE MUNICIPAL, UH, SEWER SYSTEM.
AND ANY REPORT ON THAT FROM STAFF? YES.
MARTA JUAREZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
UM, WE BROUGHT THIS ITEM TO YOU ON APRIL 16TH FOR A FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF THIS ORDINANCE AS THERE WERE NO COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, OR INPUT PROVIDED THAT CHANGED ANY OF THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE.
UH, WE HAVE NO PRESENTATION TODAY.
WE DO HAVE, UH, ONE SPEAKER, THOMAS REICH.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THERE YOU GO, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE YOU DISCHARGE THE, UH, THE HEATING, THE COOKING OIL AND THE, AND THE PORTA POTTY.
WHERE, WHERE IS IT IN NATIONAL CITY THAT THEY DISCHARGE IT? IS THERE A PLACE OR DO THEY JUST DUMP IT IN THE SEWER? OKAY, WELL, I DON'T THINK THE PORTA POTTY SHOULDN'T HAVE GREASE IN IT, BUT ANYWAY, UH, BUT
SO WHEN PEOPLE, NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NON-RESTAURANT RESTAURANTS AND THOSE HAVE TO HAVE, HAVE TO HAVE A DISCHARGE POINT.
UH, AND, BUT AS FAR AS INDIVIDUALS, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THEIR GREASE? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
IT ALLOWS ME TO DO A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, WELL, SO THE DISCHARGE OF FAT SOILS IN GREECE FROM RESIDENTIAL, UH, HOMES AS WELL AS, UH, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE CITY IS NOT ALLOWED.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT A LARGE GENERATOR, RIGHT, THAT YOU HAVE A SERVICE THAT PICKS UP THE, THE USED OIL IN GREASE, UM, IF YOU'RE JUST A HOME OR A SMALL BUSINESS, THAT YOU ARE COLLECTING THOSE, UH, FATS, OILS IN GREASE SEPARATELY AND, AND PUTTING THEM ACTUALLY IN THE WASTE BINS, NOT DOWN THE DRAIN.
UM, AND CERTAINLY NOT, UM, IN ANY OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, RECYCLING OR ORGANIC BINS, THEYRE SUPPOSED TO GO IN THE WASTE BIN.
SO WHAT'S THE NATIONAL CITY IN, IN YOUR REGULAR TRASH WASTE BIN IN
[02:55:01]
A CONTAINER? SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU CAPTURE IT IF YOU HAVE GREASE FROM, YOU KNOW, COOKING, DEEP FRYING SOMETHING, YOU CAPTURE IT IN A CONTAINER IN A BOTTLE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN THE REGULAR TRASH.
NOW THESE RESTAURANTS, HOW DO THEY, HOW DO THEY DO IT? THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A SERVICE AND THEY HAVE TO SERVICE, THEY HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE COUNTY AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES AND PICKS PICKS IT UP, YOU KNOW, PERIODICALLY THEY PICKS IT UP AND IT'S NOT, THEY DON'T DEPOSIT IT HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TO BE HONEST WITH THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD WITH SOME OF THE, UH, STREET VENDORS THAT WE'RE SETTING UP IN, IN LIKE PARKING LOTS, UH, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE SET UP OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEN WHEN YOU GO BY THERE ON MONDAY MORNING AND YOU HAD THE BIG GREEN TRASH CANS THAT, THAT SIT OUT ON THE, OUT ON THE STREET, THE ONES THAT, THAT THE, UH, UH, EDCO PICKS UP, THEY WOULD HAVE A HUGE PLASTIC BAG.
I MEAN WITH THIS REAL THICK PLASTIC FILLED WITH GREASE AND EVERYTHING SITTING RIGHT ON THE TOP OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO THAT WAS THE DEAL THAT WHEN YOU ARE EVEN IN STREET VENDORS AND THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING THAT, THEY, THEY'VE GOTTA SHOW THAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, LEGALLY DISPOSING OF ALL THAT GREASE AND EVERYTHING, HOW THEY ORDER.
SO WHAT'S SOMEPLACE IN SAN DIEGO OR IN THE SAN DIEGO? WELL, THEY, WELL THEY, THEY NORMALLY, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE THESE COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY COME AND PICK IT UP AT THE RESTAURANTS.
THEY, THEY'RE NONE OF THEM, NONE OF 'EM ARE HERE IN SAN, IN NATIONAL CITY.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY THAT ARE DISPOSALS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
SO THEY, YEAH, THERE MAY BE, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
UH, THAT'S THE ONLY SPEAKER WE HAVE.
COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THE LIGHTS WENT ON.
LET'S GET RID OF THE FOG, PLEASE VOTE.
ALRIGHT, UM, SO NEXT WE HAVE, UH, 11.3.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO OF TWO AND ADOPTION OF THE HUD 20 24 25 ACTION PLAN.
PARDON ME, MAYOR, I'M SORRY THAT JUST TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
I, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE ARGUMENT.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME STRAIGHT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND END THE SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION.
THIS IS FOR ADOPTION AND PLEASE VOTE.
[11.3 Public Hearing No. 2 of 2 and Adoption of HUD 2024-2025 Action Plan and Allocation of Funds to CDBG and HOME Activities.]
GO TO 11.3, UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO OF TWO AND ADOPTION OF THE HUD 24 25 ACTION PLAN AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO CDBG AND HOME ACTIVITIES.AND UM, AND WE DID HAVE A REVISED, UH, SHEET THAT CAME OUT ALSO, AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE WOULD BE, UH, BE GOING WITH IN THE AGENDA.
UH, I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS AND THAT BEING ANY STAFF REPORT? NO STAFF REPORT.
UH, I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THE UPDATED NUMBERS.
OH, UM, ARE WE READY FOR COUNCIL QUESTIONS? WELL, NO, WE, WE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
LET'S, WELL STAFF, HE DID A STAFF PRESENTATION SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN ASK A CLARIFICATION ON THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
HOW'S THAT? YEAH, I JUST WANTED CLARITY ON, ON WHAT DID CHANGE, WHAT IS THE REVISED PIECE OF THE YES.
UH, CARLOS AGUIRE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, JUST TODAY WE RECEIVED, UH, NOTICE FROM HUD OF THE ACTUAL ENTITLEMENT AMOUNTS.
WE HAD ESTIMATED $700,000 FOR CDBG AND 400,000 FOR, UH, FOR HOME.
UH, FOR CDBG, THE AMOUNT IS $712,730.
AND THE, FOR THE HOME PROGRAM, IT'S $349,195.
UM, THIS WILL, UH, THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT TO CDBG WILL PROPORTIONALLY BE ADDED TO EVERY CDBG ACTIVITY AND THEN, UH, WILL BE DISCOUNTED OFF OF THE PROPORTIONALLY FOR EVERY HOME ACTIVITY THAT'S, UH, RECOMMENDED.
AND THIS IS BASED OFF OF A FORMULA.
IT WE CAN'T REQUEST MORE MONEY
IT IS ABSOLUTELY BASED ON A FORMULA.
AND THEY DETERMINE THE FORMULA.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SINCE WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS.
I MAKE A MOTION MOVE TO MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
JUST TRYING TO HIT THE MOTION BY I WILL SECOND.
THIS IS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND NOW, SO NOW THIS IS FOR, THIS IS FOR ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION,
[03:00:02]
SO MOVE SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN.WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE VOTE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT WE GO TO 11 FOUR.
IT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA AND WE'LL COME BACK AT A FUTURE MEETING.
[12.1 Summary Vacation of an Unused and Undeveloped Section of Paradise Avenue East of Plaza Blvd.]
STAFF REPORTS 12 ONE, WHICH IS A SUMMARY ON THE VACATION OF AN UNUSED AND UNDEVELOPED SECTION OF PARADISE AVENUE EAST OF PLAZA BOULEVARD AND STAFF.ANYTHING ON THIS ONE? MARTHA, YOU WANNA GIVE A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.
MARTHA JUAREZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, SO WE HAVE THIS ITEM THAT I AM PRESENTING TODAY, ALTHOUGH YOU, IT IS A PLANNING ITEM AND TYPICALLY YOU WOULD SEE THAT BROUGHT BY PLANNING STAFF, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY ON WITH PLANNING.
AND, UM, THIS EVENING WE, WE TOOK THIS ON TO BRING IT TO YOU.
UM, THIS IS A LAND VACATION AND IT'S RELATED TO ONE OF OUR CIP PROJECTS.
SO THAT'S ALSO THE REASON WHY I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOU.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS, OH, LET ME MAKE SURE.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO VACATE THE LAND THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DEDICATED AS CITY RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IT'S NO LONGER NECESSARY.
SO TODAY WE SEEK DIRECTION AND AUTHORIZATION FROM CITY COUNCIL TO INITIATE THIS PROCESS SPECIFICALLY.
UM, IF DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THEN THE ITEM WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BY OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT COLLEAGUES, AND IT WOULD HOLD A HEARING TO CONSIDER THE CONFORMITY OF THE PROPOSED VACATION WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.
UH, AFTER THAT, ASSUMING THAT IT DOES CONFORM, IT WOULD COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO SUMMARILY VACATE THE STREET.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS.
SO THIS IS EFFECTIVELY WHAT WE CALL A PAPER STREET, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WAS DRAWN ON A MAP A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, BUT IT WAS NEVER ACTUALLY UTILIZED AS SUCH.
SO IT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO BE THE CONTINUATION OF PARADISE ROAD IN THIS AREA THAT IS JUST, UH, NORTH OF PARADISE VALLEY ROAD AND EAST OF PLAZA BOULEVARD.
UH, THE CALIFORNIA STREETS AND HIGHWAY CODE ALLOWS THE CITY TO SUMMARILY VACATE RIGHT OF WAY THAT MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN THIS CASE, UH, THAT IT HASN'T BEEN A PASSABLE ROAD AND NO MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ON MAINTENANCE AMONG OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO, UM, LET'S SEE, THAT'S A BETTER MAP.
UM, AND SO TO THE SOUTH OF THE LAND HERE IN QUESTION, THERE'S A PRIVATE PARCEL, A SECTION OF WHICH, UH, CONTAINS A PORTION OF THE PARADISE CREEK DRAINAGE CHANNEL THAT IS A CITY, UM, UH, FACILITY REALLY.
UH, AND SO IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE PARADISE CREEK WATER QUALITY AND COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PHASE TWO PROJECT THAT WE IDENTIFIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO VACATE THIS LAND.
UH, THE TOTAL AREA THAT YOU SEE THERE SHADED IN RED IS, UH, JUST UNDER 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
IT WILL BE SPLIT UP AMONG, UM, THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS IF THIS MOVES FORWARD FOR VACATION.
AND, UH, THE OTHER, UH, THING THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT, UM, WE WILL HAVE AN EASEMENT OR WE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN EASEMENT ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IT ADJOINS, UM, FOR THAT DRAINAGE CHANNEL.
AND SO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF VACATING, WE ARE ALSO NEGOTIATING WITH THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IN ORDER TO, UM, WIDEN THE EASEMENT SO THAT WE CAN WIDEN THE CHANNEL AND OUR ACCESS FOR PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I SEEK YOUR DIRECTION AND REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER ONE OF THE TWO FOLLOWING OPTIONS.
ONE IS TO INITIATE THE STREET VACATION REQUEST OR TO REQUEST THAT WE FILE THE REPORT AND DENY THE REQUEST.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US THEN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT THEN TO BE ABLE TO WIND, UH, WIDEN THAT DRAINAGE AND, UH, AND HAVE ACCESS AS FAR AS FOR SERVICING INTO IT THEN RIGHT.
AS, AS PART OF VACATING THIS, WE ARE TALKING TO THE PROPERTY OWNER ABOUT GRANTING US ADDITIONAL EASEMENT RIGHTS ON THAT SOUTHERN PORTION SO THAT THE CHANNEL CAN HAVE A MORE STABLE
[03:05:01]
SLOPE, UM, AS WELL AS AN ACCESS ROAD FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE CHANNEL REMOVAL OF DEBRIS AND, AND VEGETATION AND SO ON, ON A REGULAR BASIS.IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, MAYOR I, UM, PROPOSE OR, OR I MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, ADOPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO INITIATE THE STREET VACATION AND THIS WOULD SEND IT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO IT STILL GOT A, CAN I ASK QUESTION? STILL HAS MORE WORK? UH, ACTUALLY, WELL, IT HASN'T BEEN SECONDED.
DO WE HAVE SECOND? DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? I, I'LL SECOND THAT.
UM, AND MY QUESTION, UH, I MEAN I'M, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT'S, UM, PRETTY FASCINATING TO ME.
DO WE HAVE OTHER, ARE YOU AWARE IF WE HAVE OTHER PAPER STREETS IN NATIONAL CITY
AND SO I THINK EVEN IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO, YOU'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF THINGS COME UP WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SMALL PARCEL OF LAND THAT AT SOME POINT WAS MEANT TO BE EITHER RIGHT OF WAY OR ADDITIONAL ACCESS OR SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SAFETY, UM, FOR THE CITY.
AND WE, WE NO LONGER NEED IT DEPENDING ON HOW THAT LAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE LAND WAS DEVELOPED AROUND IT.
AND SO AS WE COME ACROSS IT WHERE IT MAKES SENSE AND SOMETIMES IT'S AT THE REQUEST OF, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY OWNER AND SOMETIMES IT'S, WE SEE IT AND WE, WE WE WORK WITH THEM AND SAY, WE NEED TO JUST GIVE THIS BACK TO YOU.
SO, AND THIS ONE, THIS SPECIFIC, UH, EXAMPLE OR THIS THIS ITEM IS, UM, WAS THIS INITIATED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER OR BY THE CITY? IT WAS INITIATED BY US BECAUSE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED A WIDER EASEMENT AND WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE PARCEL MAPS MORE CLOSELY, UH, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY AS IT COMES DOWN, UH, PARADISE VALLEY ROAD AT PLAZA THERE, THERE'S, UM, AN ENTRY POINT AND WE, WE LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID, WHY, WHY DO WE, WE DON'T NEED THAT ANYMORE.
WE WORKED WITH OUR OPERATIONS TEAM AND WE HAVE NO REASON TO MAINTAIN THAT OR, OR KEEP THAT AS, AS RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE CITY.
AND I KNOW, UM, DURING MY BRIEFING I DID ASK, UM, THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS BEEN ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION, RIGHT.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE CITY'S JUST MAKING THIS DECISION AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROPERTY OWNER'S GONNA GO.
WE'VE BEEN IN, IN CONVERSATION.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL THROUGH, WE'RE ALREADY IN CONSTRUCTION IN THE AREA THAT'S AN EASEMENT ON THEIR PROPERTY ALREADY, SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM CLOSELY.
ALRIGHT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.
[12.2 Update on El Toyon Park Improvements Bid Process (CIP No. 22-26)]
COME UP, UH, THIS IS 12.2.THIS IS A UPDATE ON THE EL TOON PARK IMPROVEMENT BID PROCESS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ME AND IT IT'S YOUR SHOW.
FOR THE RECORD, MARTA, WHAT IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, SO WE'RE BRINGING BACK THIS ITEM, UH, REQUESTING THAT YOU PROVIDE DIRECTION ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH REGARDS TO REBIDDING THIS PROJECT.
AS A REMINDER, WE RECEIVED A PROP 68 GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.
WE MOVED THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS.
UH, THIS PROJECT SCOPE WILL INCLUDE RENOVATION OF THE ATHLETIC FIELD ALONG WITH TURF LIGHTING AND BLEACHERS, AS WELL AS REPLACEMENT OF, UH, PLAY STRUCTURE RESURFACING BASKETBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, ADDING PICKLEBALL, COURTS, ET CETERA, SEVERAL OTHER AMENITIES AT EL TOON PARK.
UM, AND SO AS YOU CAN TELL, THIS IS A SIZABLE AND IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE CITY AS ITS CONSTRUCTION WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL SKILLED TRADES.
UM, IN NOVEMBER, 2023, COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL AND A NUMBER OF ITS SIGNATORY TRADE UNIONS.
AND THE PLA BECAME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS LATER.
WE ADVERTISED THIS PROJECT FOR BID ON FEBRUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR AND ALLOWED FOR A BIDDING WINDOW OF APPROXIMATELY SEVEN WEEKS.
ON THE DEADLINE OF MARCH 21ST, ONLY ONE BID WAS RECEIVED WITH A PROPOSED, UH, COST OF SEVEN, ALMOST 7.8 MILLION, WHICH EXCEEDED THE ENGINEER'S COST ESTIMATE OF 3.7.
UM, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY ENGINEER, STEVE MANGAN, DID PROVIDE A REPORT TO COUNCIL ON APRIL 17TH, UH, RE WITH THE FULL DETAILS ON THE OUTREACH AND OUTCOMES OF THE BIDDING PROCESS.
[03:10:01]
THROUGH THAT, UM, AT THIS TIME.UH, BUT HE DID GO OVER THE, UM, EXCLUSIONS OF THE PLA, UM, SUCH THAT THIS PROJECT COULD NOW BE REBID OUTSIDE OF IT.
UH, SINCE THEN WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF INPUT AND REQUESTS FOR US TO RECONSIDER RE-ADVERTISING THE PROJECT UNDER COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLA.
SO AS THIS IS OUR FIRST PROJECT, UH, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CONFORMING OR COMPLYING WITH THE PLA, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN A PERIOD OF GROWTH AND LEARNING AND, UM, WE REALLY, UH, WANT TO ESTABLISH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS WITH THE BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL AND FINDING WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR COLLABORATION.
SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO BETTER AND, AND, UM, THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AS WELL.
UH, THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROJECT, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT GOES PLA OR NON PLA WILL BE TO RE ADVERTISE THE PROJECT FOR BID AT THE, TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH.
UH, ALLOW APPROXIMATELY A FOUR WEEK BID WINDOW AND THEN BRING THE CONTRACT FOR AWARD TO THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING AFTER RECESS IN AUGUST.
SO CONSTRUCTION WOULD BEGIN IN LATE 2024 AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2025, WHICH IS STILL, UH, UNDER THE, UH, THE ULTIMATE DEADLINE OF THE GRANT, WHICH IS NOW JUNE, 2028.
SO AFTER THIS QUICK RECAP IN THE CONTEXT FOR THIS ITEM, I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU PROVIDE DIRECTION WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS, IF I MAY, WHICH WOULD BE TO ADVERTISE THE PROJECT FOR BID UNDER THE PLA OR TO ADVERTISE IT AS A NON PLA PROJECT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND WE DID GET AN EXTENSION ON THAT GRANT, WHICH DOES GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I KNOW WE WERE UNDER A TIME CRUNCH BEFORE CORRECT.
INITIALLY THE GRANT AWARD, UH, REQUIRED US TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION BY JUNE OF 2025, AND THE STATE ISSUED A BLANKET EXTENSION FOR THIS, THIS GRANT, UH, THAT NOW GIVES US UNTIL JUNE, 2028.
WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
UH, MATTHEW LABRA GONZALEZ BE FOLLOWED BY EJ.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND HARDWORKING STAFF
MY NAME IS MATTHEW LEBA GONZALEZ.
I'M THE BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE SAN DIEGO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
WE'RE THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR OVER 35,000 VERY HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I SPEND MORE TIME IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL CITY THAN I DO IN THE CITY THAT I REPRESENT.
I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLA PROCESS.
UM, LIKE SHE HAD STATED, THE, THE GROWING PAINS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON, AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AND BE MORE DILIGENT IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
RIGHT? AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING STAGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
REAL QUICKLY, IF I CAN, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD HAD, UH, 27 DIFFERENT SPOTS FOR SIGNATORIES, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WE, THE DOCUMENT THAT GOT SENT OVER ONLY HAD 15 SI UH, SIGNATURES ON IT.
WE'RE STILL MA MIXING ONE, WHICH, WHICH, UH, AND, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 12, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO WE WILL WORK ON THAT TOMORROW.
DANIELLE AND I WILL WORK ON THAT TOMORROW.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS TO, THERE YOU GO.
TO COMPLETE THE, THE, THE PLA.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, UH, COUNSEL, UH, A J ESTRADA AND S JAKE ESDA WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA ECHO A LOT OF, UH, THE COMMENTS MADE BY MY COLLEAGUE, MATTHEW, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE TRADES, UM, HARDENED TO HEAR THAT, UH, THIS ITEM IS BEFORE YOU WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING IT, UH, GO OUT REPACKED AS A PLA.
WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO WORK WITH STAFF, WORK WITH STEVE, WORK WITH, UH, MARTHA, TO ENSURE THAT OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS ARE, ARE THERE.
WE HAVE CONTRACTORS, WE HAVE BUSINESS MANAGERS, UH, REPRESENTATIVES THAT HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CONTRACTORS AND THEY CAN GET THEM ON THESE PROJECTS.
JUST NEED A HEADS UP REGARDING, UH, THE POINT EARLIER.
THERE IS ONE SIGNATURE MISSING, BUT THE REST OF 'EM ARE THERE NOW.
SO, UH, APOLOGIES THAT WASN'T SENT OVER SOONER, BUT WE'RE GLAD THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE NOW, SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU SEND THIS OUT, UH,
[03:15:01]
AS A PLA AS A PA BID, SO WE CAN GET CONTRACTORS BIDDING ON THIS AND GET THIS PROJECT BUILT FOR BOTH OF THE, UH, DISTRICTS THAT THIS, THAT THIS PROJECT TOUCHES.OH, IS IT SEAN? UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.
YEAH, IT'S SEAN MILLER'S BROTHER.
I'M THE, UH, POLITICAL ORGANIZER AND ORGANIZER FOR THE UNITED ASSOCIATION DISTRICT COUNCIL.
I REPRESENT WELL OVER ABOUT 30,000 MEMBERS, UH, HERE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION.
SAN DIEGO, A COUPLE THOUSAND WITH 200 LIVING IN YOUR CITY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO URGE AND SUPPORT THE BUILDING TRADES.
UM, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS PLA GOING, UM, AND KEEPING THIS PROJECT WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.
I MET WITH 15 PLUMBERS FROM A COMPANY CALLED 2020 PLUMBING, A NON-UNION SHOP HERE IN TOWN WHERE THE HIGHEST WORKER ON THAT JOB SITE IS PAID APPROXIMATELY $32 AN HOUR UNDER A PLA, UNDER A SKILLED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE.
AND THE LANGUAGE THAT MY GREAT SISTER, UH, OUR BUSINESS MANAGER AT THE BUILDING TRADES, UM, UH, SISTER KIM HAS PUT IN, UM, THOSE WORKERS WILL NOW BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A LIVING WAGE.
RIGHT? I GOT TO SIT HERE AND SEE, UH, EARLIER IN THE MEETING AND SEEING SUCH A MOTIVATED COMMUNITY ABOUT EQUITY, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SHARE WEALTH, ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND A PARK IS GONNA BE THE EASY ONE.
ONE DAY WE'RE GONNA BUILD SOME, SOME SKYSCRAPERS HERE.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD, UM, ENERGY PLANTS.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD SOLAR, WE'RE GONNA BUILD WIND.
WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE NATIONAL CITY A COMPETITOR IN THIS REGION.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, UNITED ASSOCIATION LOCAL TWO 30, DISTRICT COUNCIL 16, URGES YOU GUYS TO KEEP THIS PROCESS, UM, WITH THE PLA SO WE CAN HELP ORGANIZE YOUR CITY, HELP THEM, UM, REACH THAT MIDDLE CLASS GOAL.
I WAS, I WAS WITH THE CARPENTERS FOR 25 YEARS.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE HERE, UH, UH, COREY SCHUMACHER, BUT I, OH, THERE SHE IS.
YOU, YOU CAN'T BE HIDING BEHIND THE BIG GUY
THAT'S HARD NOT TO DO IN LABOR.
LET ME JUST SAY WITH THE UNION TRADE, SECOND BUNCH OF, UH, SOLID BROTHERS OVER THERE.
UM, MY NAME IS CORY SCHUMACHER.
UM, I AM THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF, UM, IBEW 5 6 9, WHICH IS THE ELECTRICIANS UNION.
UH, REPRESENTING 3,700 UNION ELECTRICIANS, UH, THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES.
UM, I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT OF, UH, PRIVILEGE HERE AND JUST SAY NIGHTS LIKE TONIGHT.
UM, REMIND ME OF HOW MUCH I ADMIRE FOLKS LIKE YOU WHO DO WHAT YOU DO.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS THAT, UH, HARD WORK AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY SHINES THROUGH.
UM, AND NOT TO BE LABEL THE BELABOR THE POINTS OF, UH, MY BROTHERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, BUT, UM, THE, UH, ONE BID THAT YOU DID GET WITH THE GC, WE DID HAVE, UM, ONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS BID ON THAT.
THE ELECTRICIANS DID HAVE A SIGNATORY CONTRACTOR ON THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REAFFIRM THAT WE HAVE, UM, SIGNATORY CONTRACTORS THAT ARE HERE OUR BIDDING AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BID ON SIMILAR PROJECTS.
UM, AND TO THAT END, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU DIRECT STAFF TO RE ADVERTISE THE, UH, PROJECT UNDER THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GOOD STRONG WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN YOUR CITY.
I WAS LOOKING AROUND AND I SAW YOUR NAME DOWN AND I COULDN'T SEE YOU ANYWHERE I GO.
UH, SO WE HAVE THE STAFF IS JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO AND ONE IS TO ISSUE IT, REISSUE IT UNDER A PLA AND THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE OTHER SIGNATORIES IN THERE, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN BE INFORMED OF IT, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A MUCH BETTER RESPONSE AND, UH, OR THE IDEA OF AS NON PLA AND, UH, I WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE.
UH, WE, WE WILL TRY TO WORK WITH EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDER KINDA UNDERSTANDS WHERE WE'RE AT AND, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT, UH, I'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM AT ALL MAKING A MOTION THAT WE REISSUE THIS AS A PLA SECOND OF A SECOND DISCUSSION.
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU CAN'T SEE HER AND SHE'S HIDING.
AND I LOOKED UP AND IT WAS MISS JOSIE
SO, ANYWAY, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK STAFF, MR. MAYOR.
UM, WHAT'S THE STANDARD, UM, RFP TIME FOR THIS?
[03:20:02]
WE TYPICALLY, WE ADVERTISE PROJECTS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY FOR THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.AND SO FOR THIS ONE, WE INTEND TO ADVERTISE IT FOR FOUR WEEKS AND HAVE A, A STANDARD, UH, PRE-BID MEETING THAT IS, GOES OUT WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND IF THEY SO WISH.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME TIME, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY PARK IN THE EAST THAT I REPRESENT.
AND SO I DON'T WANT ANY MORE DELAYS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MEMBER BUSH? UH, YES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UM, FOLKS FROM THE BUILDING TRADES AND FROM IBW CAME OUT.
UM, AND, AND STAFF WERE WORKING ON THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS SOME DELAYS AND I ASK US ALL TO BE PATIENT WITH THIS.
AND SO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME KEYING TO SOME, YOU KNOW, MISCOMMUNICATIONS TO THINGS HERE AND THERE.
UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF BRINGING THIS BACK.
AND, UM, JUST ENCOURAGE THE, THE, THE COMMUNICATION AND THE COLLABORATION.
UH, 'CAUSE WE DO WANNA TRY TO, UH, MAKE THIS WORK AND, YOU KNOW, STAFF FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WORKING.
IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE BIDS, YOU KNOW, STILL ENCOURAGE US TO, YOU KNOW, JUST COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE ABOUT IT AND, AND FIGURE IT OUT.
SO, AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THAT OPTION WHERE IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH BIDS, THEN, THEN WE CAN GO TO NON-UNION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT AT THAT PLACE YET.
AND SO LET'S, LET'S TRY TO WORK THIS OUT AS MUCH AS, UM, OR NON PLAI SHOULD SAY.
SO LET'S TRY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WORK THIS OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, 'CAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS NEW FOR US, AND THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, YEARS IN THE MAKING.
UH, SO IT'S A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT.
BUT REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
AND LET'S, UM, YEAH, LET'S KEEP THE, UH, THE PROGRESS ON THIS.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION.
UH, WE ARE ITEMS 12 5, 12 6, AND 12 SEVEN.
WE ARE GOING TO, UH, BE HOLDING THOSE OVER TO THE, TO, UH, UH, FOR TWO WEEKS TO THE NEXT MEETING.
HUH? THE NEXT ITEM IS 12 THREE.
SEE, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT ONE.
[12.3 Discussion and Possible Adoption of Revised Proposed City Councilmember Budget Policy.]
IS A DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ADOPTION REVISED, PROPOSED CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BUDGET POLICY STAFF.UM, SO DURING, UH, YOUR APRIL 2ND, UH, COUNCIL MEETING, UM, YOU CONSIDERED THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED, UH, BUDGET POLICY.
UH, AND YOU ESTABLISHED A AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF, UH, MAYOR MORRISON AND VICE MAYOR YAMANI, UH, TO REVIEW THE ORIGINAL POLICY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MODIFICATIONS.
UM, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE DID MEET AN, UH, ATTACHMENT, I'M SORRY, EXHIBIT A, UH, TO YOUR AGENDA REPORT IS A RED LINE VERSION OF THE POLICY REFLECTING THE CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING THAT MEETING.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES THAT, UM, WARRANT FURTHER, UH, DISCUSSION.
UH, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS, UM, ATTACHED TO THE PROPOSED POLICY IS A LIST OF, UM, CONFERENCES.
SO UNDER THE POLICY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN ATTEND VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND USE THEIR COUNCIL BUDGET TO, UH, TO SUPPORT ATTENDANCE OF THOSE CONFERENCES.
UH, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE HAS, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT WE IDENTIFY PRE-APPROVED CONFERENCES.
UM, THESE WOULD BE THE CONFERENCES THAT ARE NORMALLY ATTENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, AND IF THERE ARE, UH, FUTURE CONFERENCES THAT AREN'T PART OF THAT PRE-APPROVED LIST, THEN THAT WOULD BE COME TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
UH, SO TONIGHT, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL CONFERENCES THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT LIST, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT.
UH, SIMILARLY, UM, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, UH, EVENT SPONSORSHIP AND TABLE SPONSORSHIPS.
AND AGAIN, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO HAVE PRE-APPROVED, UH, A PRE-APPROVED LIST.
UH, AND WHAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IS THAT EACH YEAR THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD, UH, IDENTIFY THOSE, UM, EVENTS AND OR TABLE SPONSORSHIPS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND THAT WOULD BE APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
[03:25:01]
THE SECOND ISSUE, UH, IS, UM, CLARIFICATION OR REALLY CONFIRMATION THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF YOUR COUNCIL BUDGET, THAT, UH, GRANTS TO, UH, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.UH, AND I WOULD, UH, PUT THAT, UH, PROHIBITION, UH, IN THE POLICY.
IT'S NOT THERE CURRENTLY, BUT I THINK WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE AN ACTION ON THAT, SO WE WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
UM, THIRD IS, UH, WITH RESPECT TO REIMBURSEMENTS.
UH, SO CURRENTLY THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURE PROVIDES THAT THE MAYOR WOULD, UH, REVIEW REBER REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS.
UH, HE WOULD DO SO, HE OR SHE WOULD DO SO, UM, AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND THEN WOULD SUBMIT, UH, THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
IF THERE WAS A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER AND THE, THE MAYOR WITH RESPECT TO A, A REIMBURSEMENT, THEN THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER SUGGESTION, UM, AND THAT IS THAT THIS POLICY SHOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY.
UM, AND THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
UM, AS WE LEARN MORE, THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE POLICY.
SO I WILL ADD THAT, UH, REQUIREMENT FOR, UH, REVIEW ANNUALLY.
AND THEN I THINK THE LAST ISSUE IS, UM, REGARDING EXPENDITURES RELATED TO TEMPORARY POSITIONS.
AND I'LL LET THE, THE VICE MAYOR AND THE THE MAYOR DISCUSS THAT ONE.
AND THEN WE WILL GET THOSE THINGS RESOLVED.
SO, UM, OUR HOPE IS THAT TONIGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, UH, REACH, UH, RESOLUTION ON THIS POLICY SO THAT WE CAN IN, UM, IMPLEMENT IT AS PART OF THIS CURRENT BUDGET PROCESS.
YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT LAST ONE YOU THREW OUT THERE? AND I MIGHT AS WELL HIT IT.
LET ME JUST SAY, I, I, I THINK I IN SOME WAY STARTED A MONSTER.
UH, WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED AS MAYOR, WHICH WAS BACK IN 2006, AT THAT POINT, WE, UH, DID NOT, COUNSEL DID NOT HAVE LIKE, ANY KIND OF IDENTIFICATION, NO SHIRTS, NO NOTHING STAFFED THE SAME WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU WOULD GO WITH OTHER, UH, AROUND OTHER CITY, UH, OFFICIALS, THEY BOLDLY, YOU KNOW, WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A SHIRT OR SOMETHING IDENTIFIED THEMSELF, IDENTIFIED THEIR CITY, THINGS ALONG THAT LINE.
SAME THING WITH STAFF WOULD DO, DO THE SAME THING.
SO WE PUT OUT SAID, YOU KNOW, WHY SHOULD WE, YOU KNOW, UH, WHY SHOULD WE NOT SHOW OUR PRIDE IN OUR CITY, WHO WE ARE, WHO, WHAT WE STAND FOR? EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO WE STARTED DOING, UM, UH, WE STARTED DOING SOME SHIRTS, THINGS ALONG THAT LINE, AND SO THAT EVERYONE COULD, COULD DO THAT.
AND WE LET 'EM PICK OUT WHAT THEY WANTED, BUT IT WAS FOR THEIR ELECTED POSITIONS.
AND THE SAME THING WITH STAFF, WITH THEIR, UH, WHAT WAS THEIR ACTUAL POSITION IN THERE.
UM, SO THE QUESTION COMES UP AND THE ONLY ONE THAT IT REALLY FALLS UPON IS FOR MOST OF US, THE ONLY TEMPORARY POSITION THAT WE HAVE UP HERE IS THE VICE MAYOR POSITION.
AND WHAT WE DID WAS, YOU KNOW, SINCE IT WAS NORMALLY JUST FOR A YEAR, UM, AND SO TO GO OUT AND SHIRTS AND THEY WERE EXPENSIVE ENOUGH, THEN THAT MUCH MORE SO NOW JACKETS OR WHATEVER ELSE, UH, IS THAT THINGS LIKE BUSINESS CARDS.
YOU GO THROUGH A LOT OF BUSINESS CARDS.
SO BUSINESS CARDS, THAT WAS FINE.
THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE AND YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, VICE MAYOR FOR THAT, THAT'S FINE.
UM, BUT IT WAS FOR OTHER THINGS BEYOND THAT POINT.
AND LIKE LETTERHEAD, 'CAUSE LETTERHEAD, YOU DON'T PUT OUT THAT MANY LETTERS AND LETTERHEADS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THEM MADE UP INDIVIDUALLY.
AND SO THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, WHATEVER ALONG THAT LINE.
AND THE, UH, UH, AS SAY THE ELECTED POSITION.
SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN KIND OF THE QUESTION.
AND THE, THE BIG PROBLEM CAME UP IS THAT WE DID HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WHEN IT WAS THEIR TURN TO BECOME, UH, VICE MAYOR, THEY, AND THIS WAS QUITE SOME TIME AGO, UH, THEY WANTED BASICALLY TO DO A WHOLE WARDROBE.
AND NOW I HAVE IT ALL STENCIL, VICE MAYOR.
AND, AND I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE OVER AT THAT POINT IT WAS LIKE, OVER $500.
I'D HATE TO SEE WHAT THAT PRICE WOULD BE TODAY.
UM, AND SO, UH, THAT WAS WHERE WE KIND OF, WE KIND OF SAID, NO, THAT'S, THAT'S TOO MUCH.
YOU KNOW? AND, UH, SO I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY CONCERN IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ELECTED POSITION AND WE ALL HAVE OUR ELECTED POSITION.
SO THAT WAS KIND, THAT'S THE POLICY THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE WENT ON TO THIS POINT.
BUT SA THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL.
[03:30:01]
POSITION RIGHT NOW? MAYOR? SAY WHAT, WHAT'S MY POSITION RIGHT NOW? WHAT'S YOUR POSITION? YOU'RE ELECTED POSITION AS COUNCILMAN AS DISTRICT, UH, DISTRICT COURT AS MY TURN RIGHT NOW FOR THIS, FOR THIS, UH, FOR THIS YEAR.WHO, WHAT IS MY POSITION? YOU HAVE AN APPOINTED POSITION OF VICE.
SO I WANT, I WANT ME TO REPRESENT MYSELF AS VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY.
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? I WANTED A WARDROBE MAYOR, AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR WARDROBE, BUT I WANT A WARDROBE MAYOR, I'M NOT.
AND, UH, ONCE AGAIN, AS AS I'M SAYING, IT'S JUST THE IDEA OF A TEMPORARY POSITION AND SPENDING MONEY ON THAT TEMPORARY POSITION.
AND, UH, BUT IT'S A REPRESENTATION MAYOR, AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT.
BUT, BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO, THAT'S FINE.
BUT AS I SAY, IT'S, I, I, I DO, I I AGREE.
I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR HERE.
AND SO IF IT BECAME AN ISSUE WHERE, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, VICE MAYOR RODRIGUEZ AND SHE'S STILL WEARING HER VICE MAYOR YAMANI SHIRT, THEN WE, YOU KNOW, THEN WE MAY HAVE AN ISSUE.
BUT, UM, OTHERWISE, I, I AGREE WITH HER.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WE MAY HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS IN THE PAST AT, AT TIME THAT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS, BUT, UM, UH, THE VICE MAYOR POSITION IS S ONE THAT IS PROVIDED BY STATE STATUTE.
AND SO I THINK THAT, UM, AS A POSITION WITHIN THE CITY, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE, UM, UH, SOMEBODY THAT HAS THAT POSITION MM-HMM.
WANTS TO PURCHASE A SHIRT OR JACKETS, I, I THINK THAT'S VERY REASONABLE.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY POINT IN THE PART OF THE PROPOSAL.
UH, I DON'T, I HOPE THAT WE DON'T GET TO A POINT WHERE THINGS LIKE SHIRTS AND JACKETS ARE WEAPONIZED.
AND, AND THIS IS WHY I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MAYORAL APPROVAL FOR ITEMS, BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET AND, AND THEN WE SHOULD GO OFF OF THAT BUDGET AND NOT, 'CAUSE THIS FEELS WEAPONIZING, JUST LIKE OTHER ISSUES.
IT IT, LIKE, IF, IF SHE HAS TO GO TO YOU FOR APPROVAL FOR JACKET, I MEAN, COME ON, WHAT ARE WE DOING? RIGHT? THIS IS SO KIND OF TRIVIAL AND LIKE REALLY SMALL SORT OF PETTINESS THAT, YOU KNOW, AMIDST THE MANY ISSUES THAT WE FIGHT.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT PART OF THE, I I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT, UM, EXACTLY IT WAS, I WAS GONNA USE THE WORD PETTY, BUT I DIDN'T, I WITHHELD A, I WAS, I WAS THINKING MARK GONNA WHOLE TIME, BY THE WAY,
ONLY THING I WAS SAYING, THIS IS THE KIND OF THE TRADITION THAT GOT GOING.
'CAUSE THE COUNCIL OF THE TIME SAID, NO, LET'S NOT DO THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE FOLLOWED.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO CHANGE IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I'M JUST, JUST SAYING SO THAT, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE POLICY IS.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM.
AND THOSE TWO POINTS, CLARIFICATION GRANTS, UM, WORKING WITH THE NONPROFIT, UH, I ALSO HAVE A CLARIFICATION THERE.
AND I DISCUSSED THIS WITH, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND ALSO THE REIMBURSEMENT THAT IS, UH, UM, GOING TO BE APPROVED BY THE MAYOR.
THAT WAS ALSO A CLARIFICATION THAT I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, BECAUSE WHAT IF IT'S YOUR PURCHASE, YOU WANNA COME BACK TO US AND WE APPROVE IT BECAUSE THIS ONE, THE PROCESS IS, IT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND THEN IF THE CITY MANAGER CANNOT APPROVE IT, THEN IT GOES, GOES BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THESE TWO POINTS HERE, I DO NOT AGREE, AND I'M, I'M IN THE, I'M IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ABOUT HAVING THE VI I DO SEE YOUR POINT THAT, UM, JUST FOR THE A, SO IF IT'S THE MAYOR'S ITEM AS A POSITION, IT'S NOT FAIR THAT LIKE, WELL, HE GETS TO APPROVE HIS OWN.
SO THEN WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO GO TO THE VICE MAYOR THEN FOR THAT REVIEW? NO.
IT, WHY WON'T WE CHANGE THE PROCESS? IT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THE CITY MANAGER HAVE A, HAVE A, UH, UM, A DISCRETION.
IF HE CANNOT MAKE THAT DECISION, HE COMES BACK TO US.
THAT IS THE, THAT'S THE, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S THE PROCESS.
SO WHY WE MAKE IT DIFFICULT, WHY DO WE POLITICIZE THIS FREAKING THING? IT'S NOT BEEN, IT'S NEVER BEEN POLITICIZED.
IT'S ONLY, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE DENIAL.
AND ALL THESE YEARS, AS I CAN REMEMBER, IT'S A SYSTEM THAT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE ANY OF YOU WERE ACTUALLY EVEN BORN HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW,
NO, BUT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT A WEAPONIZING EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT IT'S A SYSTEM THAT IN ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS HERE, THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OVER, YOU KNOW, DOES THE APPROVAL, MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE VOTE.
CAN WE JUST, UH, FINISH THIS THING? OKAY.
WELL, I, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANNA CHANGE IT, THAT'S FINE.
WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS IT ONE MORE TIME.
[03:35:01]
THIS IS IN THE AGENDA ALREADY.WHAT THIS ONE, THIS DISCUSSION.
WE, WE HAVE TO MEET ONE MORE TIME WITH AS A SUBCOMMITTEE BEFORE IT GOES TO, TO THE, TO THE, TO THE AGENDA.
WELL, MAYBE, MAYBE WE CAN HOLD, HOLD IT OVER THOUGH.
BUT I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA, YES.
UH, I THINK, UM, IT IS NECESSARY FOR US FIVE TO DISCUSS THIS POLICY BECAUSE IT AFFECTS US.
FIVE, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS PART OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR TO PROVIDE THIS DRAFT.
BUT DON'T, I MEAN, WOULDN'T YOU CARE TO SEE, ONCE WE HAVE THE COMPLETE REP, UH, UH, PROPOSITION, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU.
SO NOT LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT DONE.
WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING THIS, THE SUGGESTIONS WE'RE BRINGING UP RIGHT NOW, SO THAT WHEN YOU DO GO BACK TO FINISH IT, YOU AT LEAST HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT, WHERE WE'RE LEANING.
I THINK THAT, THAT I WOULD FIND VALUE WITH THAT.
UM, I GUESS SINCE I HAVE THE FLOOR, I WILL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
I AM, UM, IT'S, IT'S SO SILLY TO ME TO, TO FIGHT ABOUT A WARDROBE OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T THINK I EVEN UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT, UM, JOSE RODRIGUEZ STILL WEARS HIS VICE MAYOR SHIRT.
I'VE SEEN HIM WEAR IT AND HE'S NOW NO LONGER VICE MAYOR.
WHAT DO YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M SORRY.
MAYBE I'M THINKING OF A, SOME LABEL SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I WILL APOLOGIZE FOR THAT CALL.
I, I DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE, BUT, UM, IF YOU SEE ME WITH ONE, LET ME KNOW.
NO,
I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS IF VITAS WANTS A VICE MAYOR SHIRT, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND ALLOW IT, BUT KEEP MAYBE, UM, UH, ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM FOR LIKE, CLOTHING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PAID BY THE CITY.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOTHING THAT WE WEAR THAT THE CITY HAS PAID FOR.
I'M INTERESTED IN A MAXIMUM HERE, LET'S SAY $300 WITH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
AND I DON'T THINK I PURCHASED $300 WORTH OF SHIRTS,
LIKE, I DON'T, I THINK WE ARE WAY KIND OF OVER EMPHASIZING SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY NOT THAT IMPORTANT.
LIKE, WE'RE REALLY TRIVIAL TRIVIALIZING SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE.
I THINK, I THINK, WELL, THIS WHOLE THING CAME UP 'CAUSE STAFF ASKED ME WHAT WAS THE POLICY ON THIS? AND I SAID, WE NEVER HAD A WRITTEN POLICY, BUT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME AGREED, THIS IS WHAT THEY AGREED.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S BROUGHT THIS UP IS NOT, HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH ME OR WHATEVER.
UH, BUT THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT CAME UP.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S NOT AN ARGUMENT AT, AT ALL.
AND, UH, UH, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, OKAY, SO IF I CAN FINISH MY COMMENT.
SO, SO THAT WOULD BE MY OPINION IS, UM, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CLOTHING THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR USING TAXPAYER MONEY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MAXIMUM.
AND I SUGGESTED 300, BUT THEN I LOWERED IT TO 200.
I MEAN, I GUESS THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER OPTION ABOUT, UM, APPROVALS, I THINK IT IS, IT, IT FITS THE, UM, MODEL I THINK THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS TO REVIEW THE REQUEST FOR WHATEVER IS BEING PURCHASED AND THEN APPROVE IT.
AND, UM, I'M OKAY WITH THAT BEING THE MAYOR.
AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS POLITICAL, IT'S JUST THAT IT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY SOMEONE.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE GIVEN OURSELVES, UH, A BUDGET TO WORK OFF OF, BUT THE, THERE'S GOTTA BE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, IS CHECKS AND BALANCES ON, ON THE APPROVAL PART OF IT.
I'M, I, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ SAID THE WEAPONIZING IT, BUT I ALSO HEAR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA IS CONCERNED, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, UM, JUST THE MAYOR, THE POSITION OF MAYOR IS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, SO THERE'S A PRACTICALITY TO IT.
IT'S, BUT THERE'S ALSO A, A WORRY ABOUT IT BEING WEAPONIZED.
SO, UM, UH, BUT I, BUT IT'S, I MEAN, I'M OPEN STILL TO MORE, UH, DISCUSSION FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THERE WAS, THERE WAS A CLAUSE HERE ABOUT A 24 HOUR NOTICE IF IT'S DENIED.
[03:40:01]
UM, OFFER THAT.BUT, UM, ANOTHER OPTION IS THAT MAYBE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEMS WE DO AGREE ON.
AND THEN, UM, THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETS, LIKE, SO IF, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SUBCOMMITTEE WASN'T FINISHED MEETING, BUT IT IS, THIS IS BROUGHT BACK, AT LEAST THAT'S A CLAIM THAT THE VICE MAYOR MADE.
SO I, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATION IF, IF I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT WE GAVE INPUT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY PUT THAT INPUT IN WRITING, BUT YOU DIDN'T SEE THE FINISHED WRITING.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? UH, COUNCIL, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T PROVIDED THE LIST THOUGH.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAD EMAILED SOMETHING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I, I DIDN'T, BUT I HAVE ANY SUGGESTION FOR ONE EVENT, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE EVENT THAT I HAVE.
SO EMAIL IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY SO THEN WE CAN FINISH IT.
AND THEN THE CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE GRANT, UH, WORKING WITH A NON-PROFIT.
SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE, AND THAT, THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE THERE ARE NONPROFIT ENTITIES THAT WE WORK WITH RIGHT NOW AS, AS A MUNICIPALITY THAT GIVES SERVICES WITH OUR CITY.
SO IF WE, MAYBE WE, WHAT WE CAN DO IS CLARIFY ALSO THOSE NONPROFIT ENTITIES THAT REALLY HAVE RELATIVE AND VERY MEANINGFUL SERVICES THAT COLLABORATES WITH THE CITY.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'RE THINKING OF, THERE'S A LOT OF NONPROFITS YES.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO NONPROFIT ENTITIES THAT OUR CITY WORKS WITH.
AND SO WHEN YOU SAY, OH, WE'RE NOT GONNA WORK WITH THE NONPROFIT, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
NO, I DIDN'T SAY, DON'T YOU WORK WITH 'EM? JUST SAID YOU COULDN'T GO.
ARE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IT'S NOT ALLOWED, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MANY GRANTS TO NONPROFITS SIMILAR TO WHAT, UM, I KNOW OUR, UM, THAT WAS DISCUSSED, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE STILL HAVE TO DISCUSS THOSE.
BUT IS THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NONPROFITS, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE, MINI GRANTS IS JUST LIKE, SO ALLOCATING 5,000 TO X NONPROFIT AND EXPECTING THEM TO PERFORM A PARTICULAR SERVICE? OR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, I, I THINK, I THINK AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A FEELING THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD BECAUSE THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF, OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND, AND YOU'RE RAISING THAT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT'S, IF IT, IF I WANT TO GIVE 5,000 TO A NONPROFIT, DO I JUST GET TO GIVE IT TO THEM TO SAY, I WANT TO SUPPORT MY OFFICE SUPPORTING YOUR GENERAL MISSION.
OR DO I GIVE YOU $5,000 AND IN RETURN WE EXPECT CERTAIN SERVICES OR CERTAIN OUTCOMES.
UM, SO I, I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS A VISION.
THE COUNTY HAS A, A FUND, IT'S BEEN CALLED A SLUSH FUND THAT MANY NONPROFITS GOT MONEY FROM, AND IT WAS CRITICIZED.
AND I THINK, I THINK THERE'S A SENSE THAT WE DON'T WANNA FIND OURSELVES IN A MINI FOR ME PERSON, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I KIND OF, HAVING GONE THROUGH WHAT WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH, WHICH I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT
UM, SO I JUST, I, I JUST DON'T LIKE THIS.
UM, THESE, THESE BUDGETS I FEEL LIKE HAVE BEEN ALREADY POLITICIZED ENOUGH, AND I, I JUST THINK THAT IS OPENING THE DOOR TO MORE WORSE THINGS AND MORE DIVISION AND ALL THAT.
SO I, I JUST, I WOULD LEAN, UM, AGAINST THAT.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, UM, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VICE MAYOR STILL WANTS TO FLUSH OUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE, SO IT DOESN'T EXCLUDE, UM, WHAT THE PROPOSAL SHE HAD.
CAN, DO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE AGREEING TO SOME OF THIS AND THEN TABLING THE OTHER ITEMS? OR WHAT, WHAT DOES MY COLLEAGUES THINK IT'S 10 O'CLOCK? OR IF THERE, LET ME ASK YOU.
SINCE THE VICE MAYOR BROUGHT, BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE, I MEAN, IS THERE A NEED TO LOOK OVER ALL THESE COMMENTS? NO.
AND, AND TO DISCUSS 'EM, OR NO, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE IS, UH, UH, A LIST THAT OUR CITY MAN, OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAD, UH, PUT ALREADY.
UM, I THINK THERE'S JUST THIS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE CLARIFICATION OF THESE GRANTS TO NONPROFIT, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
I NEED TO PUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I NEED TO, FOR US TO HAVE A LIST OF EVENTS.
SO THEN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S NO CONFUSION THERE.
[03:45:01]
THE, UH, REIMBURSEMENT, UM, REVIEW AND, AND ALL THAT STUFF.TH THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, UH, ADDRESS, GO BACK AND, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT IF YOU HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, HEY, WE'RE HERE NOW.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUES.
UM, UH, I'M OPEN IF THE, IF THE WORKING COMMITTEE IS GONNA MEET AGAIN ON THIS AND MAYBE HAVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES FLUSHED OUT AS THEY PRESENT IT BACK TO US.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WEAPONIZE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS OR ANY ISSUE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE.
AND, UM, WE'RE ALSO NOT IN A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
UH, IF, IF WE WANT TO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT I, I, I DON'T THINK WE LIVE UNDER THAT SYSTEM WITHIN OUR LOCAL JURISDICTION, BUT WE'RE IN THE DEPARTMENT HEAD FORM OF GOVERNMENT, SO, RIGHT.
SO, SO IT'S A, IT'S A COUNCIL MAYOR, UH, SORRY, A COUNCIL MAYOR AND A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SO I DO THINK THERE'S DIFFERENCES THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, I JUST WANTED A LITTLE CLARITY ON ITEM, UH, GOD, WHAT IS IT? B THE LAST RED PART B, ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
UM, SECOND OF THE END, DISCLOSURE OF ECONOMIC INTEREST AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE CONSULTANTS.
I DO THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR CLARITY.
I DO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE LIKE, SOME TIME CONSTRAINT TO THAT, WHETHER IT'S, UM, UH, SIX MONTHS, A YEAR, TWO YEARS, 20 YEARS, A HUNDRED YEARS, I MEAN SOMETHING, RIGHT? SO WHAT ARE WE ASKING ANY PARTICULAR CONSULTANTS THAT WE ARE, UM, CONSIDER, THAT'D BE A GOOD POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
SO LIKE, JUST THE TIME DISCUSSION, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, OH, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH SOMEONE 30 YEARS AGO.
YOU JUST GO ANYWHERE AND IT COULD BE WEAPONIZED AND THAT'S JUST NOT POINT BULLET TWO, DID YOU SAY PROOF NUMBER BULLET? BULLET NUMBER TWO? I MEAN, UH, IT'S THE FIRST BULLET POINT ON THE, UM, PAGE 2 83.
OH, I, I CAN'T SEE THE PAGE 39.
DISCLOSURE OF ECONOMIC INTEREST AND RELATIONSHIP.
SO JUST COME BACK WITH LIKE A OKAY.
UM, IT, IT COULD REALLY, I THINK, GO ANYWHERE TO COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH'S POINT.
WELL, IT, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE AS IF THAT THIS NEEDS TO GO BACK TO COMMITTEE TO TAKE A LOOK OVER THE NOTES, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION COMMENTS MADE THIS EVENING.
AND, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST INSTEAD OF SAYING THE NEXT MEETING SINCE THE TURNAROUND ON THAT ONE, GET IT BACK ON THE AGENDA SO QUICK THAT WE DO IT FOR THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE.
JUST TOO QUICK A TURNAROUND TO TRY TO GET A MEETING TOGETHER AND THEN THAT'S FINE.
AND I THINK WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ON THE ITEMS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET PROCESS.
AND I THINK THE GOAL IS TO HAVE YOU OPERATE UNDER THIS POLICY AS PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
SO IF, IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA WORK TOGETHER, START SUBMITTING THAT INFORMATION TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE CAN WORK OUT THE FINE DETAILS, THEN I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S FINE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THAT, THAT'S JUST OUR ONLY CONCERN ON THE TIME.
AND, UM, I WAS GONNA MAKE THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UM, BUT I THINK CITY ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY CLEARED IT UP, IS, UM, MAKE IT A PART OF THE MOTION THAT WE DO REACH OUT AND WE, WE SUBMIT, NOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS DRAFT, WE SUBMIT THE CHANGES WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, OR THE SUGGESTIONS FOR SURE FOR ADDITIONS.
AND I'LL ADD, I WANT ALBUQUERQUE THE TRIP OUT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING, SO THAT'S, AND I, UM, I DID HAVE A DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION WITH THE, UM, CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT, UM, EVENTS LIKE THE ONE I JUST WENT TO IN MTS.
AND, AND I THINK, UH, DID YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THAT? THAT IT'S, THAT THAT WOULDN'T REALLY COUNT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES, RIGHT? SO IS THAT WHAT WE SAID? SO, SO THERE, SO ALL OF YOU ARE MEMBERS OF OTHER AGENCIES.
AND YOU MAY GO TO VARIOUS CONFERENCES RIGHT.
THIS POLICY WOULD NOT APPLY TO THOSE TRIPS.
IT'S THOSE TRIPS THAT YOU'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY CITY THE CITY IS PAYING FOR.
UM, I, I JUST HAVE A, A QUESTION ABOUT PROCEDURE HERE.
SO, UH, WE WILL BE SUBMITTING OUR SUGGESTIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY MANAGER, AND THEN THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THESE THINGS,
[03:50:01]
AND SUBCOMMITTEE WILL DECIDE IF YES OR NO.SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RETURN TO THE FIVE OF US? ARE WE GOING TO DEBATE THE SUBCOMMITTEE'S DECISION CAN YES.
IF WE WANT, ONLY THING WE COULD DO WOULD BE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO FIND, SO IF THEY SAY, THEY SAY, WELL, WE WANT, UM, MINI GRANTS, UM, THEN WE COULD STILL, IF YOU, IF WE DISAGREE WITH THAT, WE COULD STILL SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT MINI GRANTS IN THE VOTE ON IT AS A BODY.
AND, AND I, I, I, BUT I AM INTERESTED IN WHAT, UH, CITY ATTORNEYS SAID IS THAT THIS PROCE THIS POLICY NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BUDGET BEGINNING JULY.
I MEAN, WELL, AND A YEAR COMING.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WAS BEING MENTIONED WAS PART OF THIS WAS THAT TO, TO SUBMIT INDIVIDUALLY OUR BUDGET WITHIN THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THEY NEED THAT INFORMATION NOW AT PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO WITH THIS OVERALL POLICY, THEY'RE SAYING THAT PORTION OF THIS, WHICH SAYS YOU NEED TO SUBMIT IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU NEED TO DO THAT NOW TO SAY, OKAY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S SHOWING FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, IT SHOWS SO MUCH MONEY FOR TRAVEL, SO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS, SO MUCH MONEY FOR THAT, THAT MAY NOT BE YOUR DESIGNATION.
YOU NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OVER TO THE, UH, TO THE STAFF SO THAT THAT CAN BE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT HERE IN JUST THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
UH, SINCE THE SLATE, CAN I, MAY I THROW ANOTHER WRINKLE IN THE CITY MANAGER JUST BROUGHT UP TO ME.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, I DO WANT TO HOST A, UH, A WORK, A WORKSHOP, UM, WITH, UM, A JOINT WORKSHOP WITH ACE.
MY INTENT WASN'T TO GIVE MONEY TO ACE A NONPROFIT TO TURN AROUND AND THEN GET BACK TO CITY.
IT WAS JUST TO COME OUT OF MY BUDGET.
BUT THAT'S COMING UP ON THE 16TH.
SO THE CITY MANAGER JUST BROUGHT THAT UP TO ME FOR DIRECTION.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING LIKE, I WANT TO AT LEAST HAVE US TALK NOW, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS APPROPRIATE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKSHOPS AND, AND EVENTS.
SO USING OUR FACILITIES FOR, FOR A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP AND EVENT, I THINK THAT BECOMES A QUESTION, BECAUSE IF IT'S, OKAY, I, I, A COUPLE WAYS TO LOOK AT THAT.
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE HAVING, SHALL WE SAY A WORKSHOP AND IT'S ON HOUSING OR SOMETHING, AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFERENT SPEAKERS FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES OR WHATEVER, THAT WOULD, I THINK BE PART OF A WORKSHOP.
UH, BUT IF YOU WAS TO HAVE, SHALL WE SAY YOU DO A WORKSHOP AND YOU'RE GONNA DO IT UNDER THE CITY AUSPICES, AND YOU DO IT UNDER, WITH CITY MONEY, AND IT ENDS UP JUST BEING A PRESENTATION BY ONE ORGANIZATION, THEN THAT'S REALLY THEIR PRESENTATION, NOT, NOT YOURS.
I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
SO THE DECISION NEED TO BE, WHICH, WHICH WAY DOES THAT WORK? WELL, AND THEN IT HAS TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? OH, YEAH.
UM, I THINK I AGREE WITH THAT.
JUST, I ALSO, I ALSO DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WEAPONIZE THAT.
SO IF, LIKE, IT'S NOT WEAPONIZING, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE SOME DEFINITION.
WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE SHOULD BE A LITTLE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH MIGHT WANNA WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED PEACE, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
AND THEY'RE A NONPROFIT, UM, IN OUR CITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PSAR, WHICH IS ADVOCATING FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
SO HOW, AND, AND UTILIZING I THINK PUBLIC SPACES IS AN IDEAL THING TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO, RIGHT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT MEANS HAVING A BUDGET FOR THAT, UM, WITHIN OUR OWN DISTRICT BUDGETS OR CHANGING THE POLICY FOR CITY BUILDINGS.
SO WE CAN BE MORE ACCOMMODATING FOR OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR CITY.
BUT IT, IT'S JUST ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TO OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
BUT I WOULD JUST BRING THAT UP AS YOU KNOW, SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT IT, IS THE ONLY THING.
AND SO, UH, AND SO JUST REALIZING HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THESE THINGS? AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT IS NOT THAT EVERY, EVERY TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOOK AT SAYING, OKAY, WHAT KIND OF RULES THAT'S NOT WEAPONIZING, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT'S A GREAT TERM TO THROW OUT THERE TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UH, GET US, GET US SIDETRACKED INTO ONE AREA.
UM, UH, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE WEAPONIZING.
WHAT I WANNA SEE IS CHECKS AND BALANCES, RIGHT? RIGHT.
I MEAN, WE ARE, WE'RE NOT, I SURELY HOPE, WE'RE NOT HOPE, YOU KNOW, ASKING TO SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, HOWEVER, WAIT, WE WANT.
RIGHT? UH, NO, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
AND IF YOU WANNA CALL IT WEAPONIZING, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.
THIS IS HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS NATIONALLY OR IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS, AS FAR AS, UM, LIKE USING CITY FACILITIES TO, UM, TO, UH,
[03:55:01]
HAVE A MEETING, YOU KNOW, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A NONPROFIT, UM, ISN'T THE LIBRARY AVAILABLE FOR THAT MM-HMM.WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST INTERJECT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THIS DISCUSSION HAS TO BE WITHIN THE CONTEXT THAT WE DO HAVE A CURRENT POLICY ON THE USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
THE ISSUE THAT WAS, THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH REGARDS TO COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH, IS THAT IF WE, WE ARE ASSUMING AFTER CHECKING THE, THE, THE POLICY THAT YES, THIS NONPROFIT COULD USE THIS CITY FACILITY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WANT TO DO.
AND, AND THERE IS, THERE IS LIKE A RE THE OTHER THING, JUST THE END, IT IS THAT, THAT MAYBE, MAYBE THE ISSUE IS YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE, THE, THE POLICY OR THE USE OF PUBLIC FACILITIES OR THE CHARGING OF NONPROFITS FOR THAT FEE.
YOU COULD, YOU COULD CHANGE THAT AS PART OF THAT OTHER POLICY AS OPPOSED TO DOING WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TONIGHT.
'CAUSE THERE IS, THERE IS, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE, UH, WHEN YOU SAID IT RIGHT NOW, JUST ON ME, LIKE THE REDUNDANCY OF THE CITY, PAYING THE CITY, LIKE THERE'S THIS, UM, BUT THE OTHER EXAMPLE WAS, UM, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA AND I, UH, JOINTLY HOSTED A COMMUNITY FORUM WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAVID ALVAREZ ON 2073.
IT WAS AT SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL, THE THEATER, BUT THEY DIDN'T CHARGE US ANY FEES.
BUT I WAS, UM, I HAD STARTED THE CONVERSATION, WELL, TELL ME WHAT THE FEE IS SO THEN I CAN USE THAT IN THE BUDGET.
BUT IT WAS A MOOT POINT, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN I WOULD EXP YOU KNOW, EXPECT THAT FOR USING THAT FACILITY THAT BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY PUBLIC EVENT THAT I COULD USE THE MONEY FOR THAT.
LIKE, I THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE EXPENDITURE.
BUT I'M OPEN TO MY COLLEAGUES WHAT THEY TOOK ON THAT TOO.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE AS IF THE COMMITTEE'S GOT SOME WORK AND STAFF, AND THEN WE'LL BRING SOMETHING BACK FOR THE, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE FIRST MEETING IN, IN JUNE.
AND, UH, UH, IN THE MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT POINT, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF ON WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO PROJECT WITHIN THEIR BUDGET THAT WE HAVE TO BE, UH, ADOPTING HERE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S TURNING AROUND VERY QUICKLY.
SO, UM, AND THEN THIS, BASICALLY ALL THE INDIVIDUAL POINTS OF THIS, THEN BY THAT TIME, WILL BASICALLY BE TAKEN EFFECT FOR JULY 1ST FOR ALL, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES.
AND AS I SAID, WE CAN COME BACK IN THAT FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, HOPEFULLY, COMMITTEE STAFF.
WE LISTEN, WE LISTEN TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
TAKE SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, BRING THEM BACK, KIND OF MULL 'EM OVER AND SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WITH THEM AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE NOT THINKING OF? OR WHAT ARE WE ARE, WHAT ARE WE THINKING OF? AND HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE IT MAKE SENSE? ALRIGHT.
IS THAT, IS THAT OKAY? I'M LOOKING DOWN THROUGH THE DEAL, SEEING NODS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND LET'S JUST GO WITH THAT FOR THE TIME BEING.
AND WE WILL HOLD THIS, HOLD THIS OVER TO THE FIRST MEETING I MADE.
I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION THOUGH.
AND SO THAT WAS WELL TO TABLE IT, BUT, OR DO WE NOT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO PROCEDURALLY BRING BACK, BRING IT BACK, BRING THIS BACK.
THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE AND AFTER, AND WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.
SO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MOTION.
WHAT WAS THE MOTION? THE, THE ONLY THING A MOTION YOU SAID WAS NEXT MEETING THE TABLE WAS THE ONLY, THE ONLY.
SO WE'RE NOT SO WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
WE ARE, WE ARE TAKING THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD.
WE'LL GO BACK TO THE AD HOC AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
[Items 12.5, 12.6 and 12.7]
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ITEMS 12 5, 12 6, AND 12 SEVEN TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL BE OUR SECOND MEETING IN, IN MAY.UH, NEXT WE COME UP WITH OUR CITY MANAGERS.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MAYOR? I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR TABLING THIS FOR, FOR THE THREE ITEMS?
[04:00:01]
UH, THERE WAS A REQUEST, UH, TO DO IF WE COULD TABLE IT FOR ONE MEETING AND WE DID CONFER.THAT WAS FOR WHAT WE HAD OUR LITTLE CONFERENCE UP HERE EARLIER, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY TO SEE IF THAT WOULD CAUSE ANY, ANY KIND OF A RIPPLE EFFECT OR WHATEVER.
AND IT, IF WE DO IT WITHIN THE TWO WEEKS, WE SHOULD BE OKAY.
THAT'S, I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WELL, THAT'S FINE.
I, I, BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR, I MEAN, I, I SAW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE MINI CONFERENCE RIGHT.
AND I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
YOUR ANSWER IS NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION, SO, OKAY.
SPECIFICALLY, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ REQUESTED, AND IT WAS BASED ON THE, UH, WHAT WAS IT, 12.5? AND HE WANTED TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION WITH THAT, WITH, WITH STAFF AND FOR GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
AND THE DEAL IS THE THREE OF 'EM HAVE TO GO TOGETHER.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE HOLDING ALL THREE OF THEM.
WELL, YEAH, THAT ONE HAS TO GO FIRST, RIGHT? SO, YEAH.
I HAVE TO HAVE THAT ONE FIRST.
SO WE HAVE TO CONSOLIDATE THE, THE, UH, THE ELECTION FIRST, AND THEN I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO WITH THE OTHER TWO.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL BE, UM, WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK.
THOSE WILL CONTINUE TO NEXT, UH, TO OUR NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.
NOW WE GO TO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
GEE, WHY NOT? NOW, NOW WE GO TO THIS ONE.
[14. ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT]
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT, WE HAVE, UH, UH, I'LL START DOWN HERE WITH MR. RODRIGUEZ.UM, THE, UH, POLICY 1 0 5 REQUEST.
SO, UH, I PUT THIS REQUEST FORWARD TO, UM, SUPPORT CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL, UM, NINE 15 WITH, UM, SPONSORED BY DAVE, UM, CORTESI.
UH, SO THIS BILL IS, UH, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY A BILL THAT WILL, UH, PROVIDE, UH, INDEPENDENCE TO JURISDICTIONS ON AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SERVICES, DEPLOYMENTS, UM, AND TRANSPARENCY ACT, PRIORITIZING LOCAL CONTROL.
AND SO, UH, IT IS A INITIATIVE, UM, A BILL THAT IS VERY FORWARD LOOKING AND LOOKING AT, UM, WELL, I GUESS WE CAN'T DISCUSS THE MERITS OF THE BILL, BUT
WE WOULD JUST LOVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT AND A LITTLE CONTEXT.
IT IS, UM, CURRENTLY IN APPROPRIATIONS.
IT WAS PASSED THROUGH TRANSPORTATION, UH, I BELIEVE YESTERDAY.
AND IT'S IN, UH, HEADING INTO APPROPRIATIONS RIGHT NOW.
MOVE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT.
HUH? I'D LIKE TO HEAR THIS ONE.
UH, YEAH, I, I'LL JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I, I LOOKED AT IT, I'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS WITH IT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED WHEN WE, WHEN WE BRING IT, BRING IT UP IF, IF IT PASSES AT THIS POINT.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PLEASE VOTE.
UM, WOULD WE LIKE TO PUT A DATE ON THAT WHEN YOU WANT IT TO COME BACK? COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
DO, DO YOU HAVE A DATE WHEN YOU WANT THAT TO COME BACK? APPROPRIATION.
I, THAT'S WHAT I, I SHOULD HAVE SAID ON THE MOTION.
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT IN THE NEXT MEETING.
WELL, ONLY THING IS I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET A, LIKE A STAFF REPORT WITH IT OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE FAST TURNAROUND TO GET, UH, FOR STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND INVESTIGATE THIS THING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, AND, AND ALSO I THINK ON ANY KIND OF A BILL OR THESE ISSUES, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE IF THERE'S DIFFERENT SIDES, YOU KNOW, EVEN, EVEN, UH, THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY.
I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THEIR HEARINGS 'CAUSE THEY'RE, BUT, BUT AT LEAST THEY LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES.
AT LEAST THEY MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT ALSO.
BUT IT'S AN ASSEMBLY BILL, SO I ALSO, UM, I MEAN SENATE BILL OR A SENATE BILL.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT, UM, AND MAYBE I, I THINK, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ COULD ALSO HELP WITH PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT, BUT IT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THERE THERE THAT REQUIRES THAT A WHOLE, LIKE A LOT OF THE MATERIALS ARE THERE.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T SEE IT AS THIS HUGE WORKLOAD THING, BUT YEAH.
WELL, I'M JUST, I'M JUST LOOKING AT STAFF AND SAYING, OKAY, REALIZING FOR A TURNAROUND, THAT MEANS YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS, YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME KIND OF REPORT AND EVERYTHING, UH, HERE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, BY WELL, HAS TO BE COMPLETELY COMPLETED BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
AND, UH, SO I'M LOOKING OVER CITY MANAGER SINCE HE'S THE ONE WHO MAYOR HAS TO OVERSEE THESE FUN THINGS.
[04:05:01]
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUDGET NEXT WEEK THAT CITY MANAGER SAID, RIGHT.
NO OTHER AGENDA ITEM, RIGHT? JUST THE BUDGET.
AND THEN THE 21ST, WE HAVE ALL THESE I AGREE.
I'M, I'M OKAY WITH THE FOURTH MAYOR.
IT'LL BE IN APPROPRIATIONS I THINK FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
DO WE NEED TO RE VOTE FOR JUNE? FIR? FOURTH.
JUNE, I'LL JUST PUT IT IN THE MINUTES.
ANYTHING ELSE MR. RODRIGUEZ? UNDER COUNCIL REPORTS.
THIS IS, OH, UM, THIS IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORT.
UM, ALL MOTHER'S HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
AND, UH, TO MY BEAUTIFUL YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, ALIYAH.
UH, NOTHING THE REPORT, JUST THAT I KNOW WE HAD UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSIONS AND I'M GLAD WE DID.
AND SO IT JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T SHY AWAY FROM THEM AND THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND EVERYONE HERE.
WE ARE NOT GONNA ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE'RE ALL DOING WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSIONS AND, UM, YEAH.
I AM, I JUST WANNA EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO OUR CITY, NATIONAL CITY.
I, I FEEL THAT, UM, THE TURNOUT TODAY FOR, UH, IN SUPPORT OF SOMEBODY THAT STANDS UP FOR OUR CITY WAS PHENOMENAL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS, AND I KNOW I GOT A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL.
UM, I'M A CANCER, THAT'S MY, I THINK CANCERS TEND TO BE EMOTIONAL, BUT, UM, SO PLEASE PARDON THAT.
UM, I, I DO AGREE WITH MEMBER YAMANI.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE PERSONAL AND MY EMOTION WAS NOT OF A PERSONAL NATURE.
UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, I WANT THE BEST FOR NATIONAL CITY AND, AND THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
SO I WANNA THANK THE CITY AND I WANNA INVITE MORE SPEAKERS TO COME.
I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO YEAH, TONIGHT JUST GRATITUDE TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT AND STICK IT OUT WITH US AND, UM, HELP US UNDERSTAND NOT JUST WHAT WE WANNA SEE FOR THE CITY, BUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE FOR THE CITY.
I THINK WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO, UM, I WILL EXTEND THIS TO PASTOR EDDIE THAT, UM, IT'S NOT CAPTAIN GIO MORA, BUT IT'S CHIEF SERGIO MORA.
AND, UM, AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN DIRECT THIS, UM, GUIDANCE TO OUR, THE MANAGER WITH REGARDS TO THE STREET VENDOR, UH, PERMITS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LET'S REVISIT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT TOO ONES FOR THESE VENDORS.
UM, SO THEN THEY CAN REALLY, UH, THRIVE ALSO IN THE BUSINESSES THAT, THAT THEY HAVE.
UM, NOT, NOT, UM, UM, OVERLOOKING THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, THE AND HEALTH, UH, ISSUE OF, OF THAT PROCESS.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE JUST TO, UM, REQUEST, UM, OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO LOOK INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE.
I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK, BRING, BRING A PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE THAT WILL STRENGTHEN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
UM, IT'S, I I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE STILL STUDYING.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THIS IS NOT ENCAMPMENT BAN OR WHATEVER THAT IS.
THIS IS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE FOR OUR PUBLIC.
OUR SECRETARY HAS BEEN MUGGED IN OUR OWN CITY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BECAUSE IF OUR SECRETARY IS BEING MUGGED IN OUR OWN CITY, WHAT ARE OUR RESIDENTS HAPPENING TO OUR RESIDENTS? SO I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, CITY ATTORNEY, TO BE STRONG, TO, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GONNA MAKE THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WITH THE HELP OF, OF COURSE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS.
UM, UM, JUST JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ORDINANCE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, IS THAT THE ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE? NO.
IT'S THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN.
IT'S, IT'S NOT THE ENCAMPMENT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL STUDYING THAT.
YOU SAID THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NO, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, OF OUR GUESTS, OUR RESIDENTS,
[04:10:01]
US.SO, UM, WE NEED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE NEED TO RELOOK THAT CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, I, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, WE DO SOME UNCOMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, I'M IN SITUATIONS HERE AND, UM, AGAIN, MY PLEDGE IS TO THE PEOPLE, AND SO I WILL NOT STOP, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT PLEDGE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT PERSONAL, IT'S BUSINESS.
IT'S HARD, IT'S PAINFUL, UH, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.
UM, BUT, UM, AGAIN, THE THING IS, THE, THE SITUATION IS WE TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY FIRST.
AND, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAUGHTER TOMORROW, MAY 8TH.
SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR 30, MARK.
AND, UH, UH, ANYWAY, YEAH, IT WAS, UH, EARLIER PART OF THIS MEETING WAS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN A LONG WHILE.
AND, UM, AS I SAY, IT IS THAT WAY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
AND, UM, BUT AS I SAY, SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S HARD TO MAKE, HARD TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS.
UM, AND I SAY I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CANDOR AND, UH, EVERYONE'S WORKING TOGETHER ON TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UH, AND I SAY WE WILL MOVE ON WITH THE PROCESS NOW AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME.
WITH THAT, UH, THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.
[15. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
OVER TO CITY ATTORNEY.SO WE HAD, UH, ONE MATTER ENC CLOSED SESSION INVOLVING CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY, UH, NEGOTIATIONS.
UH, AND THERE'S NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.