* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO, UH, AT THIS POINT, [1. CALL TO ORDER] UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE THEIR ROLL CALLS. I MEAN, THE ROLL CALLS THEIR CELL PHONES AND DEVICES IN THE CHAMBER AND CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, UH, LIVE WEBCAST OF 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 COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE IS IN PERSON FILLING OUT ONE OF THESE SALMON COLORED SLIPS THAT ARE AT THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER AND GETTING THOSE IMMEDIATELY OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK DESK VIA ZOOM BY PRE-REGISTERING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, NO LATER THAN ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING OR EMAILING NO LATER THAN ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING. ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IF, UH, RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE. WITH THAT, IF WE COULD HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA PRESENT. VICE MAYOR BUSH HERE. MAYOR MORRISON, UH, PRESENT AND MAYOR MORRISON. I DO HAVE OUR INTERPRETER BACK. OKAY, WELL, LET'S, LET'S GET HIM IN RIGHT NOW. BEFORE WE GO ANY FARTHER THEN. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, CARLOS. YEP. YEAH. TO USE INTERPRETATION FEATURE, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, CLICK ON THE INTERPRETATION ICON AND SELECT ENGLISH AS YOUR LANGUAGE. IF YOU ARE JOINING THROUGH ZOOM, MOBILE APP, CELL PHONE, TABLETS, ET CETERA, PLEASE PRESS THE ELLIPSES, THEN INTERPRETATION, THEN CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE. FINALLY, CLICK MUTE ORIGINAL AUDIO TO NOT HEAR THE ORIGINAL SPANISH LAW IN THE BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT, IF WE COULD PLEASE, UH, STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION. AND, UH, REMEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WOULD YOU LEAD US? PLEASE RAISE THE RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY, BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND HERE HE IS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY WHERE WE COULD COME HERE AND DISCUSS THE THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IS HERE THAT CARES ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN ABOUT NATIONAL CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE MAYOR, FOR THE VICE MAYOR. WE THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONCERN FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THINGS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE HERE WITH US, THAT YOU LOVE US, THAT YOU, LORD GOD, HAVE A GOOD AND PERFECT WILL FOR NATIONAL CITY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS COMMUNITY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BRING UNITY. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT US FROM EVIL. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WOULD HONOR YOU AND THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON, JESUS. THANK YOU FOR LOVING US. WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AND YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YES. MY NAME IS ERIC MARTIN. I AM THE PASTOR AT HORIZON SOUTH BAY CHURCH IN NATIONAL CITY BY PLAZA BONITA. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE [5. PUBLIC COMMENT] GONNA HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. AND, UH, WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE. [00:05:03] AND SO I'M GONNA GO WITH TWO MINUTES AND, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE THAT ARE IN, IN THE, UH, THE WAITING ROOM. HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY, YES. HELLO. YES, SHELL, SHELLY, YOU'RE MUTED. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY, GREAT. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR MORRISON. MY NAME IS TERRY ANN SKELLY. I'M A PARENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH VOLUNTEER IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. THOSE OF US WHO SERVE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE NEW US SURGEON GENERAL REPORT TITLED, ELIMINATING TOBACCO RELATED DISEASE AND DEATH ADDRESSING DISPARITIES, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE CHILDREN OF LESS ADVANTAGED PEOPLE. THE SURGEON GENERAL RECOGNIZED THE HUGE HEALTH COSTS THAT SMOKING AND VAPING CREATES AS FIRSTHAND SMOKE AND VAPOR ARE INHALED AND AS SECONDHAND SMOKE AND VAPOR BLOWS AND SEEPS INTO OUR PERSONAL AND PUBLIC PLACES. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RECENTLY RELEASED A DOCUMENT ENTITLED TOBACCO IS POISONING OUR WORLD. AND IT STATED THAT, UM, AND I QUOTE, PROTECTING ALL RESIDENTS FROM EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND TOBACCO SMOKE AND CANNABIS SMOKE IN ALL INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SETTINGS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REMINDS US THAT TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA PRODUCTS ALSO IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT AS IT CREATES AIR POLLUTANTS AND TOXIC WASTE, WHICH POISON OUR STREAMS, OUR OCEANS, AND OUR MARINE LIFE, AND CONTAMINATES OUR BEACHES AND OUR WATERWAYS. 2025 WOULD BE THE BEST TIME FOR OUR CITY TO CONSIDER AN EMERGENCY BAN ON MARIJUANA AND TOBACCO, SMOKING AND VAPING IN PUBLIC SPACES. EVERY RESIDENT BENEFITS AND LESS ADVANTAGED RESIDENTS BENEFITS, BENEFITS THE MOST FROM CLEANER AIR AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENTS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. MADISON WRAP. HELLO, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MADISON AND I AM A CONCERNED PARENT. I AM HERE TO BRING YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW INDUSTRIES JUMPING INTO THE DISTRIBUTION OF INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES LIKE MARIJUANA DOOR DASH'S. RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO DELIVER THC AND CBD PRODUCTS DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS MARKS A WORRYING, EXPANSION AND ACCESSIBILITY WHILE THE COMPANY CLAIMS TO IMPLEMENT AGE VERIFICATION. THIS DEVELOPMENT CREATES NEW PATHWAYS FOR YOUTH EXPOSURE TO THC PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY INFORMS APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE GUMMIES AND FLAVORED DRINKS. ACCORDING TO JACOB MORELO, DIRECTOR OF ALCOHOL AND EMERGING CATEGORIES AT DOORDASH, WITH THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HEMP DERIVED THC AND CBD PRODUCTS, WE ARE EXCITED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO A WIDE SELECTION OF PRODUCTS CONSUMERS CRAVE. OF COURSE, DELIVERY INDUSTRIES LIKE DOORDASH ARE EXCITED TO PROFIT IN ANY WAY THEY CAN, BUT HAVING EASIER ACCESS TO THESE CANNABIS PRODUCTS OPENS THE DOOR FOR YOUTH TO BUY THC AND CBD THROUGH AN APP AND HAVE IT DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THEIR DOOR. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING TREND AND ONE THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO. ACCESS TO ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA, IS RAPIDLY INCREASING AND BECOMING NORMALIZED THROUGH STOREFRONTS, BILLBOARDS, AND NOW POPULAR FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES. LIMITING THAT ACCESS WOULD BE A GREAT STEP IN PROTECTING YOUTH FROM THE HARMS OF ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. ONE OF THE MANY REASONS TO STEER YOUTH AWAY FROM CANNABIS IS BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND COGNITION. NEW RESEARCH FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY TRACKING NEARLY 10,000 ADOLESCENTS, SHOWS ALARMING DIFFERENCES IN BRAIN STRUCTURE BETWEEN EARLY SUBSTANCE USERS AND NON-USERS. THE STUDY REVEALED THINNER PREFRONTAL CORTEX DEVELOPMENT CRUCIAL FOR EMOTION REGULATION AMONG THOSE WHO ENGAGED IN EARLY MARIJUANA USE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE USE OUR CITY'S RESOURCES TO PROTECT AGAINST YOUTH DRUG USE. THE MENTAL HEALTH FOR THOSE MOST VULNERABLE IS ON THE LINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. MEGAN STEWART. HI. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEGAN STEWART AND I'M HERE TO URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ITS STANCE ON MARIJUANA. DUE TO ITS SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS, A GROWING BODY OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT MARIJUANA USE IS FAR FROM HARMLESS. RECENTLY, THE WALL [00:10:01] STREET JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTED THAT DOC INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY ON THE SCIENCE AND IMPACT OF CANNABIS WORN THAT MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH HAZARDS, INCLUDING PSYCHOSIS, ADDICTION, IMPAIRED BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND EVEN CANCER. WE ARE OFTEN TOLD AND LED TO BELIEVE THROUGH MARKETING AND ADVERTISEMENTS THAT MARIJUANA IS SAFE AND EVEN BENEFICIAL. BUT THIS IGNORES THE CONTRARY MOUNTING EVIDENCE. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND TRAFFIC FATALITIES HAVE ALL INCREASED AS MARIJUANA BECOMES MORE ACCESSIBLE. HIGH POTENCY PRODUCTS ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS, LEADING TO ADDICTION, UNCONTROLLED VOMITING, AND LONG-TERM PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT REPEAT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST MADE REGARDING THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO INDUSTRIES. ALONG WITH THAT, DECADES AGO, THE OPIOID INDUSTRY MARKETED ITS PRODUCTS AS SAFE AND NON-ADDICTIVE, AND YET WE ARE STILL PAYING THE PRICE FOR THE HARMS THAT IT HAS INFLICTED ON USERS. PUBLIC HEALTH, NOT PROFIT SHOULD GUIDE OUR DECISIONS. I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN REGULATIONS, REDUCE MARIJUANA AVAILABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND PRIORITIZE EVIDENCE-BASED POLICIES THAT PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, INCLUDING CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ROBERT PARK. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ROBERT PARK. I'M THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK. ON BEHALF OF A CS, CAN WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM? YOUTH ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO NICOTINE ADDICTION AS THEY DEVELOPING BRAINS MAKE THEM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. DESPITE THE LEGAL AGE BEING 21, WE FIND THAT 20% OF RETAILERS STILL SELL TOBACCO TO UNDERAGE BUYERS, AND MANY CONTINUE SELLING PROHIBITIVE FLAVORED TOBACCO. THESE ALARMING PRACTICES CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO RISING VAPING AND ADDICTION AMONG LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADOPTING A TRL WILL EDUCATE RETAILERS, ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND HOLD VIOLATORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREACHING COMMUNITY TRUST. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN HUNDREDS OF JURISDICTIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. WE'RE PARTNER, WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL CITY COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH AND LOCAL LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PRIORITIZING THIS HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR, OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR, UH, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY. ON THE ZOOM? YES. OKAY. YES. NOW, UH, ON AUDIENCE MEMBERS FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, UH, WE START OFF WITH, UH, TED GOTCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRUTH BE FOLLOWED, OUR BY ED NIETO. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. TED GOTCH HERE. BUT LET'S PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH ACCENTURE OF MR. RODRIGUEZ. BUT AT THE FIRST MEETING LAST YEAR, ONE YEAR AGO, I SUGGESTED THAT I WAS STUDYING THE IDEA WHAT IS NATIONAL CITY KNOWN FOR? YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT. AND I BROUGHT UP SOME THINGS AND I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN, I THINK AS I'VE STUDIED IT THIS YEAR, AND STUDIED YOUR ACTIONS AND STUDY WHAT THE CITY LOOKS LIKE AND HOW IT BEHAVES. AND I, I THINK I'LL WATCH AGAIN TONIGHT TO VERIFY MY FINDINGS. THE NATIONAL CITY IS NOT ALONE IN ITS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THE NEWSPAPER SAN DIEGO UNION, BUT YOU SHOULD BE READING THE LOS ANGELES TIME AND THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR YOUR INFORMATION. THIS ARTICLE FROM SUNDAY HAS SANT K'S STEEP HIKES AND DEVELOPER FEES. TROUBLED ARTS CENTER GETS ONLY ONE PROPOSAL. AND ESCONDIDO, THESE THINGS ARE COMMON. YOUR PROBLEMS ARE SOME MADE BY YOU AND YOUR BEHAVIORS AND YOUR VOTES. I'VE SUBMITTED THREE SCRIBES TONIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THE AGENDA IS ON HTML VERSION. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT AT THEIR COMPUTER AND THEY CAN READ OUR COMMENTS THROUGH SCRIBE. I'VE SUBMITTED THAT I BELIEVE THAT BILLBOARDS ARE A BAD IDEA ON OUR, ON OUR FREEWAYS, THAT THE CITY MANAGER DOES NOT NEED A, UH, A CONSULTANT. AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO HAVE A CONSULTANT TELL YOU WHERE TO PUT UP A SIGN THAT WILL LIKELY ADVERTISE CANNABIS. OKAY. YOU'RE GETTING GETTING AN AGENDA ITEM AM BUT WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS ACTUALLY A SUMMARY OF THE, OF THE SCRIBES SO THAT YOU'LL READ THEM. UH, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THOSE DETAILS, BUT THE PUBLIC WILL HEAR 'EM. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CITY MANAGERS SPENDING $6,000 FOR A HOLIDAY FOOD PARTY. IT'S IN WARRANT WHAT? REGISTER 22 AND ALSO $6,300 FOR THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT. DEPUTY CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FURNITURE. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. AND AS YOU LOOK AT YOUR RAISE, 2% IS ALL YOU CAN TAKE. NEXT, WE HAVE TRUTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY ED NIETO TO [00:15:01] BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY GOGI. HI. I AM PRETTY SURE YOU GUYS PLAYED MUSICAL CHAIRS SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. AND I HEARD IN GROVE THAT RON LIKES TO GO TO EVERY MEETING. AND I CAN CONFIRM THAT HE'S JUST AS MUCH EVERYWHERE AS I AM. RON, YOU ARE A PIECE OF CIVILITY. I APPRECIATE YOU. MY VERY HESITANT REQUEST, THOUGH, WOULD BE FOR YOU TO EITHER IMPLEMENT A 10 MINUTE SPEAKING TIME LIMIT FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, OR TO AT LEAST KEEP THE BAD ONES FROM GOING OFF TRACK AND TAKE UP HOURS OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND RELATED. I MOSTLY CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE MY BANNER DESIGN IDEA. I DID CREATE THIS MYSELF. THIS IS FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CAMERA'S AT. THERE YOU GO. . OKAY, JOSE, WHAT AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE FROM THE KING OF DEFLECTION. MORE POLITICAL THEATER THAN SUPERVISOR TARA LAWSON REAMER, A FRIEND SAID, JOSE SHOULD BE WORKING AT THE MILE OF CARS. THAT DECEMBER 4TH MEETING WAS A VERY ORCHESTRATED SHOW THEY HAD. AND I SAY THEY SINCE, APPARENTLY IT'S, WE, WE, WE, UH, WATCHING JOSE FOR TWO HOURS STRAIGHT AT 1130 AT NIGHT, PLAYING BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE SAVIOR FOR POLITICAL MANIPULATION WAS ALMOST LIKE WATCHING TRUMP IN PERSON DITAS JOSE. NO MORE LEADING QUESTIONS WITH PREPLANNED ANSWERS WAITING IN THE WINGS. 'CAUSE NONE OF IT'S FOOLING ANYBODY. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO EITHER QUIT OR TO COME UP WITH BETTER MATERIAL. IT'S LIKE WATCHING A COMEDY DO FROM THE 1980S. IT'S CHEESY. UM, SO THIS POEM IS CALLED A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC BY SHELL SILVERSTEIN AND CAN BE FOUND OF THE TIJUANA ESTU VISITOR CENTER. IN IMPERIAL BEACH. QUOTE, GOD SAYS TO ME WITH KIND OF A SMILE, HEY, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE GOD WILD AND STEER THE WORLD? OKAY. SAYS, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY. WHERE DO I SIT? HOW MUCH DO I GET? WHEN CAN I QUIT? GIMME BACK THE WILL SAYS, GOD, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE QUITE READY YET. END QUOTE. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS KEEP YOUR EGOS IN CHECK. AND LASTLY, FOR ANYONE, UH, WHO DID NOT FALL INTO BELIEVING YESTERDAY WAS DOOMSDAY OR SAVE YOUR DAY, NEXT WEEK IS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. SO CH NAMO, THAT'S VIETNAMESE FOR HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. PERFECTLY ON TIME. OKAY THERE. ED NIETO BE FOLLOWED BY SHERRY GOGI TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGARET GODSHAW. HAPPY NEW YEAR'S. UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE COUPLE OF POINTS, UH, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL TYPE OF GUY. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IN THE LAST, UH, UH, MEETING WE HAD, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CAME OUT LATE, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATE. AND I DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT, THAT THAT'S UNTIMELY INFORMATION. THAT A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE ARE BASED ON UNTIMELY INFORMATION. THESE THINGS COULD CHANGE, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL CONFINE CHANGES OR, UH, APPROPRIATION CHANGES. SO TO GO BACK AND RELY ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY'RE UNTIMELY. THAT'S JUST NOT WISE. UM, LET'S SAY THE, LET'S SAY THE, OH, AND THAT LEADS ME AS AN EXAMPLE. I TALKED, YOU KNOW, RODRIGUEZ HAS TALKED ABOUT THE 40% RESERVE. YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS 40% RESERVE. IT'S MYSTERIOUS. YOU KNOW, I, I HEARD HIM TALK TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGER AND THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. BUT THEN HE, THAT WAS VERY LIMITED DESCRIPTION THAT THAT 40% AS FAR AS I CAN TELL WAS BASED ON INFORMATION. THAT WAS A 6 30, 23. HE ASKED THIS LIKE IN, UH, WITH, UH, MAY OF FIRST TIME 25. AND THEN THE LAST MEETING HE ASKED IT ABOUT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING THAT INFORMATION'S TIMELY. HOW CAN YOU TELL YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH IF YOU DON'T HAVE FINE, TIMELY FINANCIAL INFORMATION? YOU KNOW, SURE, YOU SUSPECT YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. SO IT'S TIME. YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF WASTING OUR TIME AND IT'S A CITY MANAGER'S PRIORITY, YOU SHOULD GET, YOU GUYS SHOULD GET PAID BASED ON WHETHER WE HAVE A RESERVE OR NOT AS A PERCENTAGE. THAT'S A PERFORMANCE MEASURE, OR SAVING MONEY OR COST AVOIDANCE OR MAKING MONEY. AND THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT YOU'RE SO BUSY WITH RODRIGUEZ'S DISTRACTIONS NOT DOING WHAT CITY SHOULD BE DOING. HIS JOB IS NOT TO GIVE AWAY MONEY WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. NEXT, WE HAVE SHERRY GOGI TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARGARET GODSHAW TO BE FOLLOWED BY LOUISA MCCARTHY. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE TONIGHT I'M THANKING EVERYBODY. TOMORROW MARKS THE DAY. WE LOST EVERYTHING WE OWNED ONE YEAR AGO. WE ARE IN A HOME AND WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM NATIONAL CITY THREE WEEKS AGO THAT THEY ARE GONNA REMOVE THE GRATE THAT CAUSED OUR FLOOD. I'VE ASKED FOR [00:20:01] THIS FOR TWO YEARS. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TIRED OF SEEING ME ALMOST EVERY TWO WEEKS. HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T DO IT. YOU WON'T SEE ME EVERY TWO WEEKS. BUT TRUST ME, , YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SEE ME BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THINGS IN THE CITY THAT WE ALL HAVE TO ADDRESS. BUT RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO THANK NATIONAL CITY FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE'VE ASKED FOR THIS. MY NEIGHBOR'S ASKED FOR THIS, AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING. ALL NATIONAL CITY. I'M ASKING YOU. I'M TELLING YOU ALL FROM ALL OF US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. ALRIGHT, MARGARET OCK, BE FOLLOWED BY LOUISA MCCARTHY, BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MACKEL, UH, POLANCO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF AND PUBLIC. I'M HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS, UH, A PLAN THAT WAS FORMULATED BY A CITY LIBRARIAN AND CHIEF HERNANDEZ TO REPLACE THE SECURITY AT THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY. I AM VERY STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS, AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THREE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY. ONE, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ANTITHETICAL. TWO, WHAT A LIBRARY STANDS FOR. UH, OPEN DOORS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, A VERY INCLUSIVE AREA FOR IT TO BE POLICED BY AN ARMED PRESENCE. I DON'T THINK THAT EQUALS A SAFE LIBRARY. SECONDLY, THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WOULD BE DOING THIS WOULD BE RECEIVING OVERTIME AND THE LIBRARY WOULD BE PAYING FOR IT. SO THE POLICE OVERTIME WOULD BE COMING FROM THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET. I DON'T THINK THAT'S CORRECT. WE WOULD BE PAYING MORE MONEY, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE PAYING FOR SECURITY NOW, AND THE HOURS OF SECURITY WOULD BE REDUCED TO 20 HOURS FOUR DAYS A WEEK. THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. THIRDLY, THE MONEY THAT WILL NOW BE COMING OUT OF THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET WOULD BE IMPACTING THE PROGRAMMING AND THE STAFFING OF THE LIBRARY. AND I THINK THAT ALSO IS A HUGE MISTAKE. THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND PATRONS IS IMPERATIVE. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE. HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS IS TO HAVE SOMEONE CARRYING ARMS IN THE LIBRARY. CERTAINLY WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THE STAFF IS, IS FACING DAY TO DAY, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND ARE SAFE, BUT NOT IN THIS MANNER. I THINK THIS IS A VERY ILL-CONCEIVED PLAN. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN AWARE OF IT, YOU'VE ALL BEEN IN MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU RECONSIDER THIS. THE KEY IS DEESCALATION NOT ARMED PRESENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, LOUISA MCCARTHY, BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MIKA BLANCO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UH, ACTUALLY MINE WAS ON 10.1, SO DO I STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OR DO YOU, I'M SORRY, WHAT? NOW? AT 10.1? YEAH, YOU SPEAK AT THAT, ON THAT SUBJECT. THAT TIME. OKAY. SO THEN MAYBE LET'S JUST WAIT FOR THAT ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, MIKA BLANCO, HAPPY NEW YEAR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MM-HMM . I AM HERE TODAY, UH, BECAUSE I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, UH, TO START 2025 WITH A HEALTHIER NATIONAL CITY. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING HERE TODAY. I HEAR A LOT OF OUR, UH, FAMILIES THAT COME TO LA VISTA. I WALK AROUND IN A LOT OF THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES AROUND NATIONAL CITY. AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESS ALCOHOL STORES, LESS GAS STATIONS, LESS VAPE STORES, UH, LESS POLLUTION GENERATED BUSINESSES AND LESS FAST FOODS FOR THE GENERATIONS OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN AND OUR EXISTING CITIZENS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE, AND THIS IS ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL CITY, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR ORGANIC FOOD, GROCERY STORES, HEALTHIER RESTAURANTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FARM TO TABLE, UM, HEALTHIER SPORTS CENTERS, PLAY ZONES, NATIONAL CITIES. DATA SHOWS THAT WE ARE IN THE TOP PERCENTAGE OF OBESITY FOR OUR CHILDREN. TOP POLLUTION, TOP ASTHMA. AND ALSO, AT ONE POINT WE WERE KNOWN FOR THE MILE OF BARS, THANK GOD THAT WE'RE NOW KNOWN FOR THE MILE OF CARS. UH, [00:25:01] BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO GO BACK TO THAT. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT, UM, CONCERNS ME IS LACK OF POLICING. UH, I WAS TALKING TO THE OWNERS OF SUPER EIGHT HOTEL RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM, UM, LA VISTA, AND THEY JUST GIVEN UP ON CALLING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T SHOW UP. THEY'RE JUST, HE SAYS, I JUST GAVE UP. THEY JUST DON'T COME. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE UP TO THREE HOURS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BUSY. SO WE EITHER NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO OUR POLICING, UH, TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR, UH, BUSINESSES. UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE CONCERNS, UH, BEING ADDRESSED. UM, I KNOW THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I EMPATHIZE WITH YOU. I TOTALLY GET YOU. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. UM, HOWEVER I WE'RE, I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THAT IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. NOW WE GO INTO, [6.1 Introduction of New City Employees] UH, PROCLAMATIONS, REG, UH, RECOGNITION. OUR FIRST ONE IS A, UH, INTRODUCTIONS ON NEW CITY EMPLOYEES. AND THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE AS IF WE GOT A START HERE WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS AND COUNSEL. TODAY, I'M GOING TO TRY TO NOT TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME AND TRY TO INTRODUCE THE MAJORITY OF THE POLICE INDIVIDUALS HERE, AS WELL AS THE PROMOTED INDIVIDUALS. I KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU ATTENDED THE PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THAT. BUT TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK TO ABOUT IVAN. SO, UM, IVAN IS SOMEBODY I'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE. HE GREW UP IN THE SOUTH BAY AND HE ALSO GREW UP SOUTH OF BORDER. HE'S OBVIOUSLY BILINGUAL. HE CAME TO US FROM MTS, WHERE EVERY SINGLE DAY HE HAD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD SOME TYPE OF A CRISIS. AND HE DID THIS ALL WITHOUT A FIREARM. SO IT TALKS ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO DO A LOT OF DEESCALATION AND A LOT OF, UH, THE TRAINING THAT HE'S RECEIVED. CURRENTLY, HE'S IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM. HE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE POLICE ACADEMY, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR HIM TO GO THROUGH THE POLICE ACADEMY. AND THIS TRAINING OFFICER IS RIGHT IN THE BACK, UH, CORPORAL POWELL. UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM. HE'S A HARD WORKER AND HE ALWAYS PUTS HIS BEST EFFORT. HE IS BEEN TRAINING IN MARTIAL ARTS SINCE HE WAS 5 4, 4, 4, SORRY, FOUR. SO HE, HE REALLY ENJOYS THAT. AND NOW HE'S GIVEN BACK, HE'S BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR WITH THAT. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM. HE'S, UH, HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND HE'S WORKING ON HIS MASTER'S DEGREE HOPEFULLY AFTER HE COMPLETES TRAINING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE'S SUPER, SUPER BUSY. UH, WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO IVAN IF HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. UH, I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, LEARNING A LOT EVERY DAY. OH, SORRY. NO WORRIES. I JUST WANNA APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UM, LEARNING A LOT EVERY DAY. UM, AND I WANNA THANK THE CHIEF FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE. UM, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I'M GONNA DO MY BEST OUT IN THE FIELD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THE, YES, THE OTHER TWO PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE UP THERE ARE POLICE RECRUITS AND, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR TIME IS TIED UP. UM, IF YOU GUYS WERE A PART OF THE ACTUAL ORIENTATION THAT WE HAD ACROSS THE STREET, WE, WE DID A, A QUICK INTRODUCTION AND THEY'RE BUSY AND THE ACADEMY. SO THE INDIVIDUALS BELOW THAT ARE THE PROMOTIONS. THESE ARE NOT, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE REPLACING PEOPLE THAT HAVE SINCE RETIRED FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. JUST REAL QUICKLY, UH, LIEUTENANT KEN SPRINGER. FOR THE SERGEANTS, WE HAVE REUBEN LOPEZ, UH, SERGEANT ANTHONY SALLA, JASON TAYLOR. AND FOR THE CORPORALS WE HAVE ANTHONY, CARLA MONGO, WHICH HE CAME IN HERE AND, AND, UH, I INTRODUCED HIM. DAN LONG, FREDDIE TECH, VINCENT SCHAFER. AND FOR OUR CRIME SCENE SPECIALIST, WE HAVE HAN UGU AND ALSO THE TRAFFIC OFFICE COORDINATOR, WHICH IS VANESSA CASTRO. SO PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REPLACE, UH, SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. SO THAT, [00:30:06] OKAY, SO THAT COVERED YOUR NEW HIRES AND YOUR PROMOTIONS. BOTH, HUH? I GOT HIT IT ALL THERE ONE TIME. OKAY. UH, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, WE GOT A NEW COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR. YES. THANK YOU. UH, MR. MAYOR, PLEASE COME UP. TRAVIS, I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR NEW COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR, TRAVIS CARLOS CARLIN. TRAVIS CARLIN JOINS THE CITY AND NATIONAL CITY WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. BEFORE COMING TO NATIONAL CITY, HE SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN BRUNO, OVERSEEING PARKS, RECREATION, SENIOR SERVICES, LIBRARY AND ADMINISTRATION. HE HAS A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS AND MUSIC AND SOCIOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. AND HE HAS HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH THE CITY OF ENCINITAS, IRVINE, AND OTHER CITIES WHERE HE SUCCESSFULLY MANAGED LARGE BUDGETS, CIPS AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMS. HE'S KNOWN FOR SECUR, SECURING GRANT FUNDING, LEADING STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TRAVIS IS DEDICATED TO MAKING A LASTING IMPACT FOR NATIONAL CITY. WELCOME TRAVIS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? THANK YOU. UM, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AND HAPPY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. UM, I, I WAS DOWN HERE IN THE CITY IN ENCINITAS AND HAD MY FIRST DIRECTOR GIG THERE AND, UH, ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN THAT CITY. UM, AND THEN I DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GONNA TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND GO TO THE BAY AREA. AND I HATED THE WEATHER. I HAD TO COME BACK TO SAN DIEGO. SO HERE I AM BACK IN NATIONAL CITY AND EXCI. I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND WITH CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE TEAM, UM, IN COMMUNITY SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. THANK YOU. WELL, YOU HATED THE BAY AREA 'CAUSE YOU WERE IN THE WRONG BAY. THIS IS SAN DIEGO BAY. YES. . OKAY. YES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU TRAVIS. ALRIGHT, NEXT, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, ASK JOSIE FLORES CLARK, UM, SHE'S BEEN PROMOTED TO MANAGEMENT ANALYST THREE. COME ON UP. JOSIE. I THINK WE ALL KNOW JOSIE, BUT WE'LL STILL ASK HER TO COME UP. UM, JOSIE, UH, IS AN ACCOMPLISHED, UH, PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ADVOCATE, CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR. UM, IN, IN THIS PIVOTAL ROLE, SHE PROVIDES HIGH LEVEL ADMINIS ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, OVERSEEING THE MAYOR'S DAILY FUNCTIONS AND FACILITATING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN C CITY LEADERSHIP AND A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS. UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES ARE MET AND THAT THE OFFICE RUNS SMOOTHLY WITH EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM. UM, JOSIE HAS ALSO, UH, ON THE SIDE OF ALL THIS IS SERVES AS A PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE LATINA BUSINESS WOMAN ASSOCIATION, SAN OF SAN DIEGO, AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, JOSIE'S RECEIVED A TON OF ACCOLADES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THEM, BUT THE BIGGEST ONE THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS A BULLDOG. SHE'S FROM KLEO, SHE'S FROM KLEO. SO YOU PROBABLY WENT TO CLECO HIGH. MY PARENTS AND ALL MY AUNTS AND UNCLES, MY WHOLE FAMILY, UH, RAISA FAMILY LIVED, UH, WERE UP IN CALEXICO, SO I NEVER KNEW THAT ABOUT YOU. THAT, I MEAN, TO ME THAT SAYS A LOT. 'CAUSE EVERYONE I KNOW, UH, FROM CLECO ARE GREAT PEOPLE. HARDWORKING AND, AND WANT TO IMPROVE THINGS. SO THAT EXPLAINS A LOT TO ME ABOUT YOU, JOSIE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT YOU. IN HER EARLY LIFE, WORKING IN THE FIELDS WITH HER FAMILY AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS HAS THIS HAS DEEPLY SHAPED HER RESILIENCE AND STRONG WORK ETHIC. THESE EXPERIENCES FUEL HER DEDICATION TO SERVING HER COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. THANKS JOSIE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL STAFF. THANK YOU. UH, ONCE AGAIN, I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, I HAVE WORN THE HATS OF MULTIPLE POSITIONS. MANAGING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FOUR DIFFERENT ROLES HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE THAT I HAVE EMBRACED. MY ROLE AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR GOES BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. I HAVE ALWAYS VIEWED MY POSITION AS A CHANCE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY, DEDICATION, AND A COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES ARE MET WITH EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONALISM. IN ADDITION TO MY DAILY DUTIES, I'VE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF MENTORING MY COLLEAGUES. I TAKE PRIDE IN ASSISTING THEM IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, GUIDING THEM TO APPLY FOR HIGHER POSITIONS [00:35:01] AND SUPPORTING THEIR SUCCESS AS THEY GROW IN THEIR CAREERS. SEEING MY COWORKERS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ADVANCE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY REWARDING AND REINFORCES MY BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFTING OTHERS UP ALONG THE WAY. THIS RECLASSIFICATION REFLECTS NOT JUST THE INVOLVING SCOPE OF MY ROLE, BUT ALSO MY UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY AND THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, OUR CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY DE DEPUTY, UH, MANAGER, AND OUR HR DIRECTOR FOR RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR SUPPORTING ME AS I CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU IN OUR SHARED MISSION TO MAKE NATIONAL CITY A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE A RECREATION SUPERVISOR, I BELIEVE. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT THIS EVENING I INTRODUCED TO YOU ADE JUDO, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. AND SHE HAS BEEN SERVING AS A SENIOR SERVICES SUPERVISOR. UH, SHE'LL BE HELPING US OPEN THE NEW FACILITY COMING UP HERE VERY SHORTLY. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ZY DAY IS THAT SHE COMES TO US WITH A PLETHORA OF EXPERIENCE IN PARKS AND RECREATION FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. SHE HAS OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AND INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER HERE WITH US. HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS RALO. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE AND AYA. UM, I HAVE WORKED WITH OUR FABS AS I CALL THEM, 50 AND BETTER POPULATION. UM, AND I'M VERY EXCITED AND EAGER TO CONTINUE, ESPECIALLY OPEN THAT NEW OPENING, THAT NEW SENIOR CENTER. SO I'M JUST EXCITED FOR WHAT'S TO COME AND HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SHE'LL ALSO BE SPEARHEADING THE KIMBALL HOLIDAY THIS YEAR WITH HER PEERS. THERE YOU GO. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO ON TO OUR, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER, I JUST GOTTA SAY IT WITH, UH, JOSIE BEING UP HERE A MOMENT AGO. SHE, I, SHE FIRST CAME INTO MY OFFICE 18 YEARS AGO AND SHE WAS NERVOUS. SHE WAS AS SHY AS ALL GET OUT. UM, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID, WE IMMEDIATELY THREW HER INTO DOING A STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, WHICH IF, YOU KNOW, MY STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESSES AND THAT WAS GONNA BE OUR FIRST ONE. AND THEY'RE CRAZY AND WE THREW HER INTO IT. AND, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID, WE HAD A LITTLE DEAL WHERE WE WENT AROUND TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND JUST HAD A QUICK DEAL. ALL THEY SAID WAS, I LOVE NATIONAL CITY. THAT WAS ALL THEY HAD TO SAY WAS, I LOVE NATIONAL CITY. AND THAT WAS THE YEAR WE STARTED THE, I LOVE NATIONAL CITY BUTTONS. WE COULDN'T GET HER TO AGREE TO DO IT. SHE WOULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE SHE WAS SCARED OF THE CAMERA. WE FINALLY TWISTED HER ARM ENOUGH. BUT EVERYBODY HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM EXCEPT FOR JUST HER AND THE CAMERA PERSON FOR HER EVEN DO IT. NOW SHE SPEAKS IN FRONT OF LARGE GROUPS, SHE'S PRESIDENT OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. SHE TAKES ON ANY AND EVERYTHING AND UH, HAS JUST GROWN LIKE CRAZY. AND SO JUST, I'VE GOTTA SAY HOW FIERCELY PROUD I AM OF HER AND, UH, WELL DESERVED PROMOTION. WITH THAT, WE GO TO SOMETHING ELSE VERY WELL DESERVED. AND SORRY MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE ONE MORE NEW STAFF MEMBER TO INTRODUCE FROM OUR LIBRARY. OKAY. OH, OKAY. YES. I'M GONNA INVITE UP MICKEY VAMA, OUR LITERACY MANAGER TO INTRODUCE HIS NEW STAFF. STAFF. OH, THAT WAS UNDER THE NEW HIRE. YES. YOU GET THERE NOW. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ANNA BIANA. UM, SHE IS OUR NEW ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS COORDINATOR WHO FIRST JOINED US IN 2019, UH, AT THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A TUTOR THROUGH SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE'S WORK STUDY PROGRAM. SHE LATER BECAME A LITERACY ASSISTANT SERVING BOTH ROLES UNTIL 2020. ANA THEN CONTINUED TO VOLUNTEER AS A TUTOR AND REJOINED OUR STAFF VIA AMERICORPS [00:40:01] IN 2022 WITH HER DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES IN VARIOUS ROLES. WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME HER BACK, WELCOME HER, UH, BACK AS OUR NEW COORDINATOR. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, JUST HAVING WORKED WITH HER FOR THE ALMOST LIKE SIX YEARS, I KNOW THAT SHE'S GONNA DO NATIONAL CITY. FANTASTIC. SO, . THANK YOU MICKEY. HI COUNCIL. HI STAFF. HI MAYOR. UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE BACK AT THE LIBRARY. IT FEELS LIKE I'M COMING BACK HOME. UM, I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF PLANS FOR THIS YEAR AND I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GONNA COME OUT OF OUR DEPARTMENT. SO I'M EXCITED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT WE [6.2 Employee of the Quarter - Daniel McGuire, Fire Engineer] GO WITH OUR, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MY NAME IS BRIAN KRESS. I'M A BATTALION CHIEF WITH THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND RECOGNIZE FIRE ENGINEER DAN MCGUIRE. AS NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER, DAN MCGUIRE HAS BEEN A FIREFIGHTER WITH THE CITY, UH, NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS AND PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF FIRE ENGINEER TWO YEARS AGO. DURING THIS TIME WITH THE UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT, DAN HAS FORGED A REPUTATION OF PROFESSIONALISM, LEADERSHIP, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. IN 2023, DAN WAS THE LEAD INSTRUCTOR FOR OUR 12 WEEK NATIONAL CITY FIRE ACADEMY, WHERE HE PROVIDED EXPERT TRAINING AND GUIDANCE TO OUR NEW FIRE RECRUITS AND EQUIPPED THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES TO EXCEL AS A NATIONAL CITY. FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER. MCGUIRE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF OUR FIRE APPARATUS COMMITTEE. IN THIS ROLE, HE WORKED WITH HIS FELLOW COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION AND DELIVERY OF OUR NEWEST FIRE ENGINE. MOREOVER, DAN DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENTING AND ADDRESSING MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH OUR FIRE APPARATUS. THIS SYSTEM IMPROVED EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCED DEPARTMENT'S READINESS, ENSURING THAT CRITICAL EQUIPMENT IS ALWAYS IN TOP CONDITION. THAT IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT TAKES ON A PROJECT, NEEDS LITTLE DIRECTION AND SEES A PROJECT THROUGH TO COMPLETION. FOR INSTANCE, HE IS CURRENTLY WORK AT ONE OF OUR CABINETRY, REMODEL THE, UH, MAINTENANCE SHOP AT OUR FIRE STATION 34. HE LITERALLY TOOK AN OLD WORKBENCH, DISMANTLED IT, TOOK THEIR DRAWERS, AND BUILT A BRAND NEW ONE. IT WAS AMAZING ON ONE DAY. UM, AND THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MANY PROJECTS HE HAS TAKEN ON TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT BETTER AND THERE REALLY ARE TOO MANY TO LIST OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS HE'S BEEN HERE. IN CLOSING, DAN'S COMBINATION OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND SOLUTIONS BASED APPROACH TO TASKS AND PROJECTS MAKES HIM A VALUABLE ASSET TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. AND IS OUR PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THAT IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA AND YOU CAN CLEARLY ARTICULATE HOW IT'S GONNA MAKE THE DEPARTMENT BETTER, YOU GET FULL SUPPORT. UH, AND SO I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT SUPPORT IN MY ENDEAVORS HERE. UM, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, I WAS NOT THE ONLY INSTRUCTOR FOR A 12 WEEK FIRE ACADEMY. I THINK THAT MY, UH, SEAN DEVINE DESERVES ATTENTION AS WELL. 'CAUSE UH, WE'RE THE, I WAS THE FIRST ENGINEER AND HE WAS THE FIRST FIREMAN TO EVER, UH, TAKE ON LEADING THE ACADEMY, NOT BEING AT THE CAPTAIN RANK. UH, SO HE DEFINITELY HAD A MAJOR PART IN THAT. UH, AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HIM. THANK YOU. OH, UH, YOU CAN'T SEE HER RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE SHE'S COVERED WITH CHILDREN. BUT, UH, MY WIFE AMBER IN THE BACK, MY DAUGHTER BRIELLE AND MY THREE SONS. THANK YOU. WELL DESERVED. THANKS SIR. TODAY. YEP. HERE COMES PICTURE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. WITH THAT WE [7.1 Board of Library Trustees Annual Report to City Council] NOW GET INTO, UH, OUR PRESENTATION AND WE HAVE A, UH, BOARD OF LIBRARY [00:45:01] TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND THAT'S MARGARET GODSHAW. I DO BELIEVE. THERE SHE IS. DID I BELIEVE EVENING? ONCE AGAIN, THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS EXPERIENCED A REMARKABLE YEAR IN 2024, MARKING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITH A COLLECTION EXCEEDING 200,000 BOOKS, 25,000 AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS AND ACCESS TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PERIODICALS AND ELECTRONIC DATABASES. THE LIBRARY IS WELL EQUIPPED TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND INFORMATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, THE LIBRARY HAS ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL MILESTONES THAT REFLECT ITS INCREASING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC. NOTABLY, TOTAL CIRCULATION IS MORE THAN DOUBLED, EXCEEDING 100,000 CHECKOUTS. LIBRARY VISITS HAVE SURGED BY OVER 30,000, AND THE LIBRARY HAS WELCOMED SEVERAL THOUSAND NEW ACTIVE CARDHOLDERS. IN ADDITION, STAFF HANDLE NEARLY 30,000 REFERENCE INQUIRIES AND FACILITATED 12,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS UNDERSCORING THE LIBRARY'S VITAL ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATIONS, THE LIBRARY SECURED OVER $150,000 IN FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY AND THE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR VARIOUS INITIATIVES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE ESL ADULT AND FAMILY LITERACY LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY, UTILIZE AND STAY IN PLAY SHOWCASING THE LIBRARY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THE STANDOUT DEVELOPMENTS THIS YEAR WAS THE LAUNCH UTILIZE THE FIRST TOOL LENDING LIBRARY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, SUPPORTED BY A STATE FUNDED SUSTAINABILITY GRANT. THIS INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BY PROVIDING FREE ACCESS TO TOOLS, PARTICULARLY FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS FOSTERING FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND RESOURCE REUSE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE LIBRARY HAS ALSO EXPANDED ITS RESOURCE OFFERINGS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LINK PLUS, ALLOWING PATRONS TO BORROW BOOKS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES AND DISCOVERING GO PROGRAMS, ALLOWING PATRONS FREE ACCESS. UH, FOR PASSES TO MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THIS COLLABORATION ENRICHES A LIBRARY EXPERIENCE FOR PATRONS AND REINFORCES THE CONCEPT OF SHARED RESOURCES AMONG LIBRARY SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM SIGNIFIES A STRATEGIC FOCUS ON SUPPORTING BOTH YOUTH AND PARENTS IN THEIR LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO ENGAGE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY OFFERING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, THUS ENHANCING EARLY LITERACY FOR FAMILIES, COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE AND PIMA MEDICAL INSTITUTE. THE LIBRARY PROVIDED WORK STUDY OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO LITERACY INITIATIVES, FURTHER ENHANCING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. THE LIBRARY ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE FUNDED LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY PROGRAM, PROVIDING OVER 500 LUNCHES TO CHILDREN AGE 18 AND UNDER DURING THE SUMMER. THIS INITIATIVE TACKLES FOOD INSECURITY AND ENSURES ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES DURING THE SCHOOL BREAK. HIGHLIGHTING THE LIBRARY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LIBRARY JOINED THE ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO PROGRAM, JOINING FORCES WITH KPBS AND OVER 80 PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SHARED READING EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, THE LIBRARY HOSTED SEVERAL BELOVED COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS, TACULAR, AND THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS NEW INITIATIVES LIKE THE STEAM FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FLEET SCIENCE CENTER FILM MAM CREATOR, CALM AND WHOVILLE. THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN MET WITH ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSCORING THE LIBRARY'S ROLE AS A HUB FOR CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS TAKEN IMPRESSIVE STRIDES IN ENHANCING ITS OFFERINGS AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY, REFLECTING DYNAMIC COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING LITERACY, INCLUSION AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR ALL RESIDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? OR? OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? YES. ANY QUESTIONS? I SHALL GIVE THOSE TO DANIELLE. OH, COME ON, . NOT, I, I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY, UH, QUESTIONS. I DON'T THINK. I DON'T THINK, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU MS. GODSHAW, FOR, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS. SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE LIBRARY DID THAT I WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT TOO, THAT WASN'T MENTIONED WAS THE LOW RIDER HISTORY EXHIBIT. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT OFTEN AT TIMES AREN'T ENGAGED AND IT GOT REALLY GOOD RECEPTION. AND, UM, AND SO I HOPE THAT THAT RETURNS THIS YEAR. AND TO SEE THAT GROWTH, I WANTED TO [00:50:01] THANK, UH, STAFF FOR THAT. UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO TOUCH ON A TOPIC THAT IS RELEVANT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT DOES DEAL WITH OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU MEN MENTIONED, UH, MARGARET AND IT'S ON THE POLICE AND SECURITY ISSUES. I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO, YOU KNOW, DETAIL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT. BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU GIVING YOUR CONCERNS. UH, I, I DO AT, AT THIS POINT SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO REPLACE OUR PRIVATE SECURITY THAT FROM MY ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE AND, UH, HAVE HAVEN'T, UM, REALLY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT A LOT OF THE PATRONS HAVE HAD. AND WE ALL, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE GONE TO THE LIBRARY, WE SEE 'EM WHEN THERE'S, UM, FOLKS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEY APPEAR TO BE HOMELESS. UM, AND, AND JUST INCIDENTS AT THE LIBRARY THAT OUR SECURITY HASN'T BEEN EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING. AND SO, UM, I, I DO HEAR YOUR CONCERNS AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO TALK MORE, UM, ABOUT, ABOUT THEM BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE A POLICE PRESENCE. I, I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE INTIMIDATION. I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENCE IF, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVING OUR OFFICERS, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THEIR KIND OF LOOKING ANGRY AND THAT APPROACH, LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FEELING I I, I GUESS AGGRESSIVE THERE. THERE'S DIFFERENCE TO THAT. AND THEN OFFICER JUST BEING PRESENT AND, AND WALKING AND, AND TALKING TO THE PATRONS AND ENGAGING, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT I WAS THINKING. SO, YOU KNOW, I I STILL WANT TO HEAR, UM, MORE OF YOUR, UH, CONCERNS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WE DO NEED TO MAKE OUR PEOPLE FEEL SAFE THAT ARE USING LIBRARY AND DON'T WANT TO, UH, LOSE THAT. SO I DEFINITELY WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT CONCERN. I AGREE THAT WE NEED SAFETY FOR SURE. YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT I DISAGREE WITH. ALSO. UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE IF THIS HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP TO THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES. THIS WAS NOT, SO THIS DECISION WAS MADE. EVIDENTLY IT'S GONNA BEGIN IN FEBRUARY. SO, UH, WELL IT'S A DISCUSSION AND MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED AT THE, YOUR NEXT MEETING. SO I WOULD, THAT'S FOR SURE. YOU KNOW, SUPPORT SHOULD ON THE AGENDA. AGENDA, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY THERE TO, TO DISCUSS THAT. I KNOW THAT SOME LIBRARIES, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS TOLD THE NA, THE SAN DIEGO CITY LIBRARY, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE CITY AND IS WHAT NINE STORIES HAVE POLICEMEN. BUT I ALSO BROUGHT IT UP WITH A YOUNG LADY WHO SPENT MANY, MANY DAYS OF HER YOUTH IN THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY VOLUNTEERING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER HIROSHIMA. SHE NOW IS HERSELF A LIBRARIAN IN SAN FRANCISCO. AND WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH HER, SHE WAS HORRIFIED AT THAT. AND THIS IS IN SAN FRANCISCO, NOT AN EASY PLACE. HER, HER MAIN WORD WAS DEESCALATION. YOU'VE GOTTA DEESCALATE. UH, AND THAT'S, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A QUICK QUESTION, AND THIS IS JUST A REALLY GENERAL QUESTION. I KNOW OVER 20 YEARS AGO, WE WERE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND WE WERE GONNA BUILD A NEW ONE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND OF COURSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, LIBRARIES ARE OUT OF FASHION, RIGHT? , UH, PEOPLE DON'T READ BOOKS ANYMORE. AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, AND SO WHY SPEND ALL THIS MONEY, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO GET, MATTER OF FACT, THAT WAS THE FIRST, FIRST MONEY THAT CAME OUTTA THE CALIFORNIA GRANT, UH, FOR LIBRARY, UH, BUILDINGS. WE GOT THE VERY FIRST ONE IN THE STATE TO, TO HELP BUILD THAT. BUT AT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT AT THAT TIME WAS, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, OUR LIBRARY HAD THE LARGEST USE PER CAPITA OF ANY LIBRARY IN CALIFORNIA IS OUR NUMBERS. AND THAT WAS WITH THE OLD LIBRARY? YES. . HOW ANY IDEA HOW WE'RE DOING, UH, THESE DAYS IN RANKING? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW. I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE. YEAH, THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING. 'CAUSE AS I SAY, AT THAT TIME WE WERE THE, WE WERE THE NUMBER ONE PER CAPITA OF ANY LIBRARY IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH WAS HUGE. 'CAUSE IT REALLY DISPELLED A LOT THOSE PEOPLE THAT SAID, WE DON'T NEED A LIBRARY. AND, UH, AND THEY'RE STILL POURING IN AND I KNOW WHENEVER I GO OVER THERE, THERE'S PEOPLE ALL IN THERE. YEAH, YEAH. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, USE USING THAT, THAT PLACE LIKE CRAZY. AND SO EXCELLENT ASSET FOR OUR CITY. YES. AND UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND UH, YOU KNOW, I I I WILL SAY, UH, THE ONE LIBRARY I LIKE BETTER ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS TITLE IS IN BOISE, IDAHO. THEIR LIBRARY IS, HAS A NAME, IT'S CALLED THE LIBRARY EXCLAMATION POINT. , THAT'S IT. AND, UH, SO, AND, AND THAT, THAT IS THEIR OFFICIAL NAME. SO, ALRIGHT. UH, WITH THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER QUESTIONS. [8. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORT] WE GO ON TO REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS. AND I WILL START DOWN HERE ON MY LEFT. NOTHING TO REPORT, MS. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, WE HAD SOME, UH, UH, REORGANIZATION FOR, UM, AGENCIES THAT I, YOU APPOINTED ME TO REPRESENT, UH, SWEETWATER AUTHORITY. UM, I AM APPOINTED AS VICE CHAIR, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, SIT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AS [00:55:01] CHAIR LEGISLATION AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE. AS A MEMBER FOR THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. I, UM, UH, APPOINTED AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR AND LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMITTEE AS A MEMBER FOR METRO WASTE WATER JOINT, UH, JPAI WAS APPOINTED AS A FINANCE AS A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER. I, UH, WAS APPOINTED AS A, A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. UM, THAT'S MY REPORT, MR. CHAIR. UM, THIS, UH, THIRD WEEK IS ALWAYS THE MEETING FOR THE WATER AGENCIES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OVER HERE. THE FAR RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, I DO HAVE A REPORT ON SANDAG. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET, UH, JANUARY 10TH, AND NEW OFFICERS WERE, UH, NOMINATED AND, AND VOTED IN. THEY ARE, UH, SANDAG CHAIR IS LISA EBNER FROM SOLANO BEACH. FIRST VICE CHAIR JOE LAVA FROM CITY OF SAN DIEGO. AND SECOND VICE CHAIR IS JOE MINTO FROM SANTI. AND I, UM, ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY GIVE SOME UPDATED CORRECT INFORMATION ON THE NEW PORT OF ENTRY. I KNOW IN THE PAST I HAVE FUMBLED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE DATE WHEN IT IS GOING TO BE OPEN. UM, THE, THAT SAME EVENING OR THAT SAME MEETING WE RECEIVED, UM, ROBUST INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE NEW PORT OF ENTRY. THIS IS A $1.3 BILLION PROJECT. IT IS BEING FUNDED, UH, HALF OF IT FROM, UH, FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES. THE OTHER HALF, UH, MAYBE I DON'T HAVE THE, THE, THE PERCENTAGES CORRECTLY, BUT IT'S FUNDED FROM ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS. THE OPENING WILL BE LATE 2027. AND THEN JUST VERY QUICKLY, I DO WANT TO, UH, READ FROM THAT STATEMENT. UH, WE ARE ADVANCING THE STATE ROUTE 11 OTAI MESA EAST PORT OF ENTRY PROJECT. THIS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANDAG CALTRANS, THE UNITED STATES GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UH, AGENCY. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, SANDAG AND CALTRANS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF MANY OF THE AGREEMENTS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE AGREED TO AND PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS, UH, PORT OF ENTRY. UM, LASTLY, UH, THE STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY, UH, IT WILL COME WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY. THE OTAI MESA EAST PORT OF ENTRY WILL PROVIDE A NEW ACCESS POINT IN THE CALI BAJA REGION FOR PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. THE NEW PORT OF ENTRY WILL INCLUDE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ELEMENTS, DYNAMIC TOWING, SHORTER BORDER WAIT TIMES, REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, UM, ENHANCE REGIONAL MOBILITY, FUEL ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND STRENGTHEN BORDER SECURITY. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, ALLEVIATING A LOT OF THE GREENHOUSE GASES THAT ARE, UH, PRODUCED BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC CURRENTLY ON THE 8 0 5. ONCE THIS PROJECT IS OPEN AND AVAILABLE, THERE IS HOPE THAT, UM, A LOT OF THAT, UH, WILL BE MITIGATED. AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, PROJECT. DESPITE THE EXPENSE, DESPITE THE, UM, GRAND EFFORT THAT, UH, IS UNDERWAY. I THINK THIS WILL BE A VERY GOOD THING FOR OUR REGION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GREAT. YES. FOR MTS, WE RECEIVED BUDGET UPDATES. I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THAT, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'S CHALLENGED BECAUSE OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING. SO WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT. WE ALSO RECEIVED A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON A PROJECT, UH, PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MANY YEARS. UH, TROLLEY TO THE AIRPORT OR OVERALL A TRANSIT CONNECTION. UH, SO THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, STARTS AND STOPS INCLUDING WITH, UH, WITH SANDAG AND THIS GRAND CENTRAL, UH, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN AT THE NIR FACILITY, I THINK IT'S, IT'S CALLED. SO THAT'S NO LONGER, UM, A PROPOSAL. SO THERE, THE TWO CONCEPTS THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS EXTENDING THE TROLLEY, UH, A A ADDITIONAL SPUR TO THE AIRPORT, WHICH PERSONALLY I, I THINK MAKES THE MOST SENSE. AND THE OTHER IS, UH, HAVING A, A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE SEEN AT AIRPORTS THAT IS, UM, AUTOMATED. UM, AND, UH, HAVING THAT FROM, UH, ONE AMERICA, UH, PLAZA, THE, UM, OUR MAIN TRANSIT HUB THERE. SO THERE'S DISCUSSION, UH, ON THAT. AND THEN FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT, THAT WAS REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD. AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I KNOW YOU WERE ON THE PANEL, UM, OF, UH, REGIONAL APPOINTEES. SO APPRECIATE THAT. UM, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE, UH, AND GIVE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN, UM, NOT JUST NATIONAL CITY, BUT THE SOUTH BAY, BUT NATIONAL CITY IN PARTICULAR. AS OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, WE SUFFER FROM THE HIGHEST RATES OF ASTHMA AND CANCER, UM, ISSUES THAT ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO AIR POLLUTION IN OUR INDUSTRY. [01:00:01] THE PORT, UM, FREEWAYS, ALL, ALL OF THAT. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AND WE'LL HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THAT. AND THE NEXT MEETING REGULARLY SCHEDULED IS FEBRUARY, THUR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY EIGHT 13TH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, UM, REMEMBER YAMANI DID GIVE THE REPORT ON SWEETWATER AUTHORITY AND WE WILL BE MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY. WE HAVE A, UH, UH, MEETING THAT'S TOMORROW. I KEEP THINKING TODAY'S MONDAY. UH, BUT, UH, UH, SO WE DO HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW EVENING. GO OVER A NUMBER OF, UH, AREAS, UH, REGIONAL SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY. WE MET THIS LAST WEEK. IT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING SINCE THE ELECTION AND OR NEW, UH, NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS CAME IN INTO POSITIONS. AND SO IT'S A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD. WE HAD FOUR BRAND NEW MEMBERS OUT OF THE SEVEN. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BOARD THAT'S GOT A, UH, WHAT IS IT, OVER A 30 YEAR HISTORY. AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO DEALS WITH ALL THE STUFF COMBINES FOR THOSE 30 YEARS. YOU KNOW, WE GOT FOUR BRAND NEW PEOPLE. SO WE BASICALLY DID TRASH 1 0 1 FOR OUR THAT FIRST MEETING. AND WE, SO WE REALLY DIDN'T GO INTO A LOT OF NEW STUFF. UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID DO IS WORK IT WITH, UH, UH, SALON AND RECYCLING. UH, THERE IS A, THERE IS A BILL THAT DEALS WITH FOOD REWA, UH, UH, REUSE AND FOOD WASTE AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. AND THAT'S DEALING WITH ALL OF OUR RESTAURANTS THAT'S DEALING WITH ALL OF OUR, UH, STORES, EVERYTHING ELSE. AND IT IS A HUGE BURDEN ON CITIES. AND SO THE REGIONAL SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY, WHAT WE DID, WE TOOK A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF OUR RESERVES AND WE DID THE WORK FOR THE CITIES WHERE INSTEAD OF CITY STAFFS HAVING TO INDIVIDUALLY DO IT, THERE WAS AN ECONOMY OF SCALE. WE COULD DO IT FOR ALL THE CITIES AT ONE TIME THAT ARE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTIONS AT A MUCH LOWER COST AND TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF OF OUR, OFF OF OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. UH, SO THAT PART IS DONE, THAT INITIAL PART IS DONE NOW. SO NOW IT COMES DOWN TO ENFORCEMENT, A NUMBER OF THINGS ALONG THIS LINE. SO WE'RE WORKING, UH, WITH, UH, SALON AND RECYCLING. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM TO HELP THE CITIES ON A NUMBER OF THINGS ON TRAINING AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTIONS, ALL ALONG THAT LINE. SO WE KEEP EVERYBODY IN, IN, YOU KNOW, UM, IN COMPLIANCE, UH, CITIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE. A LOT OF 'EM HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED AND WE'RE ALREADY WELL INTO COMPLIANCE AND, UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR CITIES. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CUT DOWN A LOT OF THAT COST BY USING THE REGIONAL SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY TO, TO, UH, TO DO THAT FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL CITIES. AND, UH, THE OTHER NICE THING, WE ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY. SO WE USE THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO THE, BACK TO THE CITIES AND, AND, UH, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. WE'RE AN UNUSUAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY. SO WE DEALT, WE DID DEAL WITH THAT, BUT THE REST OF IT WAS DEALING WITH, UH, BASICALLY A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD BEING ALL BRAND NEW, WHICH IS NOT, NOT NECESSARILY AN EASY THING. ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, UM, [9. CONSENT CALENDAR] WE GO TO CON CONSENT CALENDAR AND A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE THING IS THAT, UH, ITEM 9.3, NO, I'M SORRY, 9.4. 9.4, WE'RE GONNA BE PULLING FROM THE AGENDA, TRAILING IT, IT'S GONNA BE COMING BACK AT, AT THE MEETING, UH, AT OUR NEXT MEETING. SO WE WILL NOT BE ADDRESSING THAT ONE TONIGHT. 9.4. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 9.5 PLEASE. OKAY. I WAS GONNA ASK IF, IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL THINGS. THANK YOU. UM, UH, AND WE DO HAVE, UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A REQUEST IN THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SPEAKERS ON THAT ONE. SO FAR WE HAVE REQUESTS FOR 9.3, 9.5 6, 7 11, AND 14. AND SO THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYBODY HAS, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE AGENDA. YES. MOVE TO APPROVE. I SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE, UH, CONSENT, UH, AGENDA. UM, WE HAVE, SO IF WE PUSH YOUR, PUSH IN ON THOSE, THERE WE GO THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES. QUESTION FOR 9.4, WHY IS IT PULLED, UH, TO BRING, BRING BACK SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED AND THE STAFF AGREES THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN BRING THAT BACK AND IT'S, UH, IT IS, UH, WITHIN THE, IT'S NOT SO TIMELY THAT IT HURTS TO HOLD IT OFF FOR TWO WEEKS. SO THERE'S NO DELAY IN THE PROJECTS THAT, NO. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR. THERE'LL BE NO DELAYS. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, OKAY, WE GOT THE MOTION. A SECOND. UH, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION TO APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. ALRIGHT, NEXT WE GO TO, [9.3 Second Amendment to the Agreement with Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC for On-Call consulting services for the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP)] UH, 9.3. NOW I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND CORRECT MYSELF. WE DID HAVE ONE, SO I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED 9.3. UM, UH, 9.3 [01:05:01] IS THE SECOND AMENDMENT, THE AGREEMENT WITH ATLAS TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANTS ON-CALL SERVICES ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROGRAM MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, DID YOU WANT THAT ONE? I MENTIONED 9.5. 9.5. OKAY. I'M SORRY, 9.3. I THINK YOU HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, I THOUGHT I DID, BUT NO, I DIDN'T. I WE DID HAVE SOMEONE THAT MADE RE UH, COMMENTS TO THAT IN A WRITTEN ONE. YES. WE HAD TODD GODSHAW PROVIDED A WRITTEN COMMENT ON NINE ONE. YEAH. WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THAT ONE. YES. SO, SO WHEN, YEAH. SO WE'LL STILL NEED TO DO AN APPROVAL ON THAT ONE. OKAY. SO CAN WE HAVE A MOTION ON 9.3? MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COUNCIL MEMBER, YAMANI. THANK YOU. UH, PLEASE VOTE COUNCIL. WONDERFUL. 9.4. WE WILL NOT BE ADDRESSING MOTION APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. ALRIGHT, [9.5 Agreement with KMA for a Full Cycle RFQ/P Process for City-Owned Parcels to Create For-Sale Homeownership Opportunities.] 9.5. THIS IS AGREEMENT WITH KMA FULL CYCLE R-F-Q-R-F-P PROCESS FROM CITY OWNED PARCELS TO CREATE FOR SALE OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. AND, UH, WITH THAT WE HAVE, UH, ED . THERE HE IS. BACK THERE. YOU THREW ME OFF 9.4. I WAS EXPECTING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. YEAH. UH, UH, 9.5. UM, LET'S SEE HERE. UM, WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE HAVE R-F-Q-R-F-P PROCESS FOR, UM, FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY. YOU HAVE A WHOLE STAFF. WHAT EXPERTISE DO THEY NEED TO DO THIS? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE POINT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IS THIS BRAIN SURGERY OR WHAT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S, HOW ABOUT MANAGING SOME RESOURCES HERE? OKAY. ALRIGHT. IS THAT YOUR, IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? WELL, THAT'S MY QUESTION. OKAY. I, I, I THINK HIGHLY OF, OF THE HHCD STAFF, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. I'M, I WILL, I WILL CALL ON STAFF. OKAY. UH, MR. GEARY, MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, IT IS EVEN MORE THAN BRAIN SURGERY AT TIMES. TRUST ME. IT'S, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS. AND, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE TAKEN THIS, THIS PROCESS, UH, THIS HAS BEEN A CULMINATION, UH, IN MY CAREER BECAUSE I STARTED IN HOME OWNERSHIP. UM, AND WE REALLY WANTED TO, UM, STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING AT THE RESOURCES WE HAD HERE IN NATIONAL CITY TO DO HOME OWNERSHIP, RIGHT? SO WE APPLIED FOR A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GRANT WITH SANDAG, AND WE'VE PUBLISHED, UH, A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON OUR WEBSITE WHEN WE'LL CONTINUE PUBLISHING THE INFORMATION. SO, SO YOU SEE HOW COMPLICATED IS IT IS WE'VE CONGLOMERATED THESE PARCELS, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKED AT FOR YEARS. SO THEY'VE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR MANY REASONS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS, IS THAT THE, UH, STATE OF CALIFORNIA KIND OF THREW US A CURVE BALL IN 2011 AND STOPPED EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE DOING AT THAT TIME. AND SO WE REALLY HAD NO RESOURCES TO DO ANYTHING. IT'S TAKEN US 10 YEARS TO BUILD UP THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND BE ABLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RISKS INVOLVED IN REALLY STUDYING THESE PARCELS AND LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT ON THEM. SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF LEAD WORK. WE WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF STUDYING THEM ENVIRONMENTALLY, LOOKING AT THE ZONING, LOOKING AT OPTIMIZATION NOT ONLY IN THE FINANCING, BUT ALSO IN THE CHARACTER AND HOW THEY CONNECT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. A LOT OF PLANNING GOES INTO THAT. UH, AND WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON AN RFP. WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO INFORM IT, AND THE THE LEAST WE WANT IS QUESTIONS OF CARLOS. HE COULD HAVE BUILT A BETTER MOUSETRAP WITH DOING A COMMUNAL LAND TRUST INSTEAD OF A, UH, OF DOING A DEED RESTRICTED PROPERTY. WE WANNA INFORM THIS, RIGHT, SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES TO REACH HOME OWNERSHIP MODEL, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MODEL THAT ACTUALLY WILL ADDRESS HOME OWNERSHIP HERE IN NATIONAL CITY HOLISTICALLY. SO, UM, WE, WE, WE WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT QUICKLY, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT DOTTING I'S AND CROSSING OUR T'S. WE NEED SOMEONE LIKE KMA IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, UM, DO EVERY PIECE OF THE PROCESS. IT'S HARD FOR US BECAUSE WE GET INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS AND WE NEED A THIRD PARTY THAT CAN KEEP THAT, THAT SENSE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN US AND THE PROJECT, AND GIVE US A PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS [01:10:01] TO WHAT, WHAT CATEGORIZES EACH PROPOSAL AND WHICH ONE IS FROM A VERY, UH, UM, FROM A VERY, UH, OR AT, AT, AT, AT MOST, THE MOST OBJECTIVE POSITION POSSIBLE. THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBER CRUNCHING, A LOT OF COMPARISONS, A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO PROCESS INTERNALLY IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. BUT I THINK FROM A LEVERAGE STANDPOINT, THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED, UH, ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF, UH, NON-CITY MONEY INTO THIS PROCESS, AND WE'RE ONLY GONNA GO INTO IT WITH ABOUT 90,000, AND HOPEFULLY PRODUCE ANYWHERE FROM A HUNDRED TO 200 UNITS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE CURRENTLY. I, I, I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. UH, IF I COULD ASK A QUICK QUESTION TO YOU. UH, I KNOW THE WAY THIS IS STATED, BUT IN YOUR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE COUNCIL BEFORE ON THIS, UH, I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING BOTH FOR SALE AND ALSO THE CONCEPT OF, UH, RENTAL EQUITY, BUT TO HELP PEOPLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO BUY, UH, BUY INTO PROPERTY. YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. AND HOPEFULLY WE, WE, WE COME TO A MODEL THAT REALLY ANSWERS THE NEED OF, OF, OF A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT POPULATION HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE THAT ARE CHALLENGED. THERE'S A CERTAIN POPULATION THAT'S CHALLENGED BY THE RENTAL MARKET, BUT THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE KIND OF CAPPED AT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY CAN, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE OF HOW INTENSE THE, THE PRICES ARE IN OUR MARKETS. MM-HMM . SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION HERE IN NATIONAL CITY THAT REALLY CAN'T MOVE FORWARD, BUT COULD POSSIBLY DO THAT THROUGH THESE MECHANISMS. SO YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT, AT THOSE MODELS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ, IF YOU WANT TO, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU, CARLOS, FOR THAT ELABORATE, UH, ANSWER. UH, WE, WE UNDERSTAND HOUSING IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN WHAT IT SEEMS. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A, A QUICK QUESTION REGARDING THE, UM, CONTRACT ITSELF. SO HOW MANY, UH, PLOTS OF LAND DO WE HAVE STILL AVAILABLE, UH, TO, TO BUILD ON, UH, THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO INFILL, UH, HOME OWNERSHIP HOUSING, WE'RE CONSIDERING SIX. UH, THEY, THEY'RE JUST NOT FLAT LAND THAT WE COULD JUST BUILD ON. THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE MODELING THEM AS BEST AS WE CAN TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS. AND GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF LAND, HOW MANY UNITS APPROXIMATELY COULD BE BUILT ON THOSE PARCELS? YEAH, WE INITIALLY TARGETED AT AROUND 200. UM, SO THE NUMBER, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 100 AND 200 UNITS, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN, THAT WE CAN PRODUCE THROUGH THIS RFE PROCESS. AND CAN YOU PROVIDE A, A BRIEF TIMELINE? UM, I KNOW THAT WE PASSED THIS ORDINANCE ABOUT A YEAR AND CHANGE AGO, AND, UH, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES HOUSING RELATED IN OUR, IN OUR CITY, BUT, UM, UH, TIMELINE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? YEAH, SO WE'RE KIND OF WRAPPING UP THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD BEHIND THE PARCELS. UH, WE'RE DOING SOME ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL WORK AND SOME, UH, STUDIES WITH REGARDS TO ZONING AND, AND JUST UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE, UM, THE CAPACITIES OF EACH OF THE LOTS AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED THROUGH. BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COME BACK WITH A DRAFT RFP FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FEEDBACK. UH, IN, UH, THE SECOND MEETING OF MARCH, UH, WE WILL RELEASE THE RFP. WE, WE WANT TO CAST OUT WIDE NET TO, UH, GET AS MUCH TALENT DEVELOPMENT TALENT, UH, TO LOOK AT THIS AS POSSIBLE, COME BACK IN, IN THE SUMMER TO EVALUATE AND THEN INTO THE FALL TO, TO AWARD. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SINGLE DEVELOPER. IF THERE'S SEVERAL DEVELOPERS THAT ARE ANSWERING TO THIS, IT'S, UH, THEY CAN DO THAT. AND WE'LL JUST KIND OF WORK THROUGH THE, THE RESPONSES AND SEE HOW THAT FITS. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. NOW, UH, THIS IS VERY EXCITING. I KNOW IT'S INNOVATIVE FOR US AS A CITY, BUT ALSO AS A REGION TO UTILIZE PUBLIC LANDS AND LEFTOVER REDEVELOPMENT, EMPTY LAND TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS HOME OWNERSHIP. UM, THROUGH YOUR STUDIES, UH, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE BUILT ABOUT A THOUSAND UNITS IN THE CITY, BUT ONLY 18 OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOR SALE. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOME OWNERSHIP, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAFF. THANK YOU CARLOS AND, AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN OUR CITY. WE NEED TO DESPERATELY BUILD THESE UNITS AND HOPEFULLY DO MUCH MORE OF THAT A NATIONAL CITY. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. NEXT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR AGUIRE, I KNOW THAT, UH, SOME TIME AGO YOU WERE GIVEN THIS TASK, YOU KNOW, HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY CAN INVEST IN HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. AND, UH, TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE, UH, GOTTEN TO THIS POINT IS REALLY, [01:15:01] UH, EXHILARATING. I WANT TO, I, I WASN'T, UM, I HAD SOME DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING SORT OF WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED. WAS THIS GOING TO BE A FEASIBILITY STUDY? BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, A PORTION OF THE REPORT, UH, UH, RELATED TO AN RFP FOR, YOU KNOW, FINDING DEVELOPERS. SO DOES THAT MEAN ONCE THE DEVELOPERS ARE, THERE'S AN RFQ FOR DEVELOPERS OR RFP FOR DEVELOPERS TO, UM, TO, UH, REPLY TO, DOES THAT MEAN BOOM, HOMES ARE GOING TO BE BUILT? SO I'M HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING, IS IT FEASIBILITY? ARE WE CONTINUING THAT THROUGH THIS $89,000 SCOPE OF WORK? YEAH, SO IN SOME INSTANCES, OR ON SOME PLOTS OF LAND, THAT MAY BE THE CASE. BUT IN, IN ANY REGARD, WE'RE COMING BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN WE RELEASE THE, UH, BEFORE WE RELEASE THE RFP TO INTRODUCE YOU, HOW WE'RE GONNA GO ABOUT THE PROCESS AND FULLY INFORM YOU OF THE STUDIES AND FEASIBILITIES THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGHOUT. AND THEN, UH, WHEN WE GET THE RESPONSES WE'RE WE PLAN TO INCORPORATE ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL IN THAT PROCESS, SO YOU UNDERSTAND, UH, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN GO FROM THERE. UH, REALLY KIND OF AS A PHASE TWO OF THIS IS, UH, GOING BEYOND IF, IF THIS IS TRULY FEASIBLE, GOING BEYOND, UM, UH, THE PLOTS WE OWN AND THEN LOOKING AT A, UH, POTENTIALLY A, A A, A TRUST OF SORTS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CAN SPONSOR, WHERE WE BUY INFILL PROP PROPERTIES THAT ARE VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED AND BLIGHTED, AND THEN DO HOME OWNERSHIP ON A, ON A, ON, ON AN ONGOING BASIS ON THOSE AS WELL. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU. UH, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I, I WAS STILL UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS. SO WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO CONSTRUCT 200 HOMES AND THEN PUT THEM UP FOR SALE FOR AN AFFORDABLE FOR SALE OR HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY. RIGHT. THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO EVEN UNDERSTAND WHETHER THAT'S FEASIBLE. IS THAT CORRECT? AND, AND THAT, THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO THERE'S KIND OF A FIRST LINE OF FEASIBILITY WHERE WE'RE TESTING THE MODELS TO, TO THE CORRESPONDING MARKET AND BRING YOU THAT INFORMATION. BUT THEN THERE'S A SECOND LINE FEASIBILITY WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY PUTTING OUT THE RP AND SEEING WHAT RESPONSES WE GET, RIGHT? SO IF WE GET NONE AND OR WE GET RESPONSES THAT FROM DEVELOPERS TELLING US, YOU'RE CRAZY, THIS WILL NEVER WORK, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA REPORT TO COUNCIL. THAT GREAT. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TONIGHT. RIGHT? IT IS WONDERFUL TO SAY, OH, THERE WILL BE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT THE SPECULATORS FOR NOT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT HAVE A TON OF MONEY, BUT IN FACT, FOR FOLKS THAT DESERVE, YOU KNOW, TO GAIN ON A GENERATIONAL, UH, TYPE OF WEALTH, UM, AND HELP BRING PEOPLE UP, RIGHT? UM, SO, SO I WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL THAT THIS IS VERY, VERY EARLY ON, RIGHT? AND, AND HOMES, A FOR SALE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP IN NATIONAL CITY IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED, RIGHT? WE DON'T WANNA GO OUT AND TELL THE PUBLIC, OH, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND, TO BUY A HOUSE IN NATIONAL CITY IN UNDER SOME AFFORDABLE METHOD. YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK. SO I WANNA BE CLEAR ON THAT MESSAGE. YEAH. AND, AND, AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC. YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING IS WE DO HAVE THE LAND, UH, AND IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ADAPTING OF EACH MODEL TO THE COMPLEXITY OF DEVELOPMENT AND THEN THE GAP THAT'S NEEDED TO, TO DEVELOP IT, RIGHT? SO IT'S ALL, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AS, AS WAS SAID, IT'S, IT'S CLOSE TO BRAIN SUR SURGERY IN THAT MANNER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY WITH THE, YOU KNOW, HAVING KMA ON BOARD, THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, NATIONWIDE EXPERIENCE AND DOING THESE TYPES OF MODELS AND, AND REALLY FIGURING THINGS OUT. WE HAVE THE BEST TEAM ON BOARD TO, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. GOOD. WELL, I, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR. UH, THE LAST POINT I WILL MAKE IS, I'M SURE THIS IS PART OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PLAN THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH IS ENSURING THAT, UH, WHATEVER HOMES DO BECOME AVAILABLE, THEY ARE FOR NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS. UM, UH, THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT IS TO FURTHER DISPLACE PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE BETTER BIDDERS OR THERE ARE SPECULATORS THAT ARE SAVVY. UM, IN FACT, IF WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THIS, I WOULD INSIST THAT EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY IS MEANT FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT TRULY DO DESERVE, UH, A LEG UP IN THIS ECONOMY, IN THIS, UM, GENERATION, YOU KNOW, IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY. WHICHEVER. OKAY. YEAH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CARLOS. THAT'S GREAT WORK. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION, UM, OF, UH, WHERE, UH, KIND OF THE JUSTIFICATION AND I WOULD JUST [01:20:01] ASK FOR, UM, FOR THE CITY MANAGER AS WELL ON, ON SOME OF THESE, UH, CONSULTANT ITEMS, WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT IN OUR, IN OUR BRIEFING, UM, THESE CONSULTANT CONTRACTS. I THINK WE JUST WANT TO BE MORE, UM, BUDGET CONSCIOUS AND, AND SCRUTINIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO I, I THINK YOUR EXPLANATION WAS GREAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. I UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT MORE BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS IN, IN-HOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, AND IS IT BECAUSE OF THE WORKLOAD? AND IF IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORKLOAD, OKAY, THEN LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT PRIORITIES AND WHATNOT. SO, UH, AND SO I DO, I DO APPRECIATE THAT, AND A, AFTER THE EXPLANATION, I DO THINK THIS IS WORTH IT. UH, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA, UM, THAT THIS, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST A STEP, BUT I DO THINK IT IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP, AND I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE BOLD AND TRY REALLY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. AND TO THAT POINT, IF THE DEVELOPERS COME BACK AND SAY, THIS ISN'T FEASIBLE, I HOPE THEY HAVE AN EXPLANATION OF WHY IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, FEASIBLE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR STATE'S INSURANCE, UH, CONSTRUCTION DEFECT INSURANCE, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT AND ALSO KNOW, OKAY, WELL THEN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE STATE LAW, AND THEN THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD MOVE IN. SO, SO IF WE COULD JUST HAVE, HAVE THAT, UM, THEN, THEN I THINK IT, IT, IT'D BE WORTH IT. BUT I, YEAH, I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, AT 70% BEING RENTERS, LIKE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO, TO, TO DO MORE, TO INCREASE OUR HOME OWNERSHIP RATE. GREAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WAS VERY WELL BRIEFED BY DIRECTOR GIRE. UM, THE METHODOLOGY THAT, AND THE STRATEGIC THAT, UM, HIS FOLLOWING IS VERY PRECISE. UM, I LIKE YOUR, UM, YOUR FORESIGHT OF LET'S GIVE THEM HOPE BECAUSE WHEN WE, WHEN WE PRESENT IT TO THEM, THOSE DEVELOPERS WILL COME, OR THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, BANKING INSTITUTION WILL COME TO, TO MAYBE SUPPORT US AND HELP US BUILD THIS, UM, THIS, UH, PROPERTIES THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED, SIX OF THEM. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR, YOUR, UM, PATIENCE. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK, JUST THE STUDY ALONE AND, UM, AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. UM, DIRECTOR GERE, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MORE BRIEFINGS ON THIS. AND, UM, YOU HAVE ME TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE SAID WE ARE GONNA DO HERE AT THE DAS, IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE, UH, CITY PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET'S LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM 9.5. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION TO APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. WE GO TO 9.6 [9.6 Agreement with SuperC AI Inc. to Provide a Cloud-Based Software Program to Streamline the Management and Operation of Community Events and Activities.] AGREEMENT WITH, UH, SUPER C AI INCORPORATED AND, UH, TO PROVIDE CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO STREAMLINE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PRESENTATION, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. UM, AND, UH, WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK TONIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION. UM, I AM NOT THE BEST PERSON TO TALK ABOUT THIS TYPE OF SOFTWARE AND SO FORTH. I, THE, THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY, UM, WITH CALENDAR ARE, ARE, I BELIEVE THEY'RE ON SHELLY, THEY SHOULD BE ON, UM, UH, AVAILABLE BY ZOOM, AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED THIS, UH, ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION. UM, SO WE CAN MAYBE HAVE THEM QUICKLY GO THROUGH THAT. BUT FROM MY STANDPOINT, THIS ITEM IS SOMETHING THAT WAS INTRIGUING TO ME WHEN I WENT TO THE CITY MANAGERS CONFERENCE, UH, EARLY LAST YEAR. I MET WITH THIS COMPANY, HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM THROUGHOUT ALL OF LAST YEAR. AND THE IDEA OF THIS, UM, IS TO REPLACE, UM, OUR CITY CALENDAR, NOT OUR ENTIRE WEBSITE, BUT JUST OUR CITY CALENDAR. IN ADDITION TO THE WAY THEY APPROACH THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PRO PROVISION OF, OF CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ON THE CALENDAR. THEY, THEY, IT'S A VERY INTRICATE, UH, TYPE OF SOFTWARE THAT ALSO STUDIES AND ANALYZES THE PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR PROGRAMS AND LOOK AT PROGRAMS. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BACKDOOR MODEL. AND WITH THIS INFORMATION, WE CAN STUDY AND UNDERSTAND BETTER OUR, OUR POPULATION AND HOW THEY PERCEIVE THE SERVICES TO, TO PUT IT PLAINLY, I, IF, IF SOMEONE WERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS, UH, PROGRAM THROUGH OUR CITY WEBSITE, WE COULD, UH, BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF CATEGORY THEY FALL INTO. SO, LIKE BEN MARTINEZ MIGHT LIKE, UH, PADDLE BALL AND, UH, SWIMMING PROGRAMS AND [01:25:01] CLAY MAKING, I DON'T KNOW, UM, TYPE OF THING. SO, UH, IT, IT WAS REALLY INTRIGUING. SO THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THE PROGRAM, THAT WHAT WAS ALSO INTRIGUING ABOUT IT WAS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW C CITY, A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, OR COMING TO OUR CITY OPENING NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND I USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW SKATEBOARD SHOP AT NINTH. AND B, A YOUNG MAN OPENED UP A SKATEBOARD SHOP CALLED STACKS, AND INSTEAD OF HIM HAVING TO DO HIS OWN, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT CALLED, MARKETING AND ADVERTISING, WHICH I'M SURE ALL BUSINESS PEOPLE HAVE TO DO, OF COURSE. UM, EVENTUALLY THIS SUCH A PROGRAM AS THIS COULD ASSIST HIM AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR CITY TO BE, UM, TO, TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM. AND DO, YOU KNOW, VIDEOS OR COMMERCIALS TO PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESSES. SO AGAIN, I'M NOT THE BEST PERSON TO, TO TALK ABOUT IT. THEY ARE HERE. MAYBE THEY CAN JUST ADD ON TO THE COMMENTS, UM, THAT I MADE. UM, WHO'S HERE? IS IT, UH, MAYAN OR ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE? OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. WHY DON'T YOU JUST CLOSE OUT MY PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WELL, UH, HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MAYAN. UH, WE MET A FEW MONTHS AGO. UH, SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. UH, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SHARE MY SCREEN, UH, SHELLY, YES OR YES. ALL RIGHT. UM, LET ME TRY HERE. I DON'T SEE AN OPTION NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO, UM, CHANGE SOMETHING THERE. ONE MOMENT. WE'RE GONNA GET THAT DONE IN THE CHAMBER THERE. YOU CAN JUST PUT THE PRESENTATION BACK ON AND I CAN CONTROL IT FROM HERE. DAMON, CAN YOU BRING UP THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE? SURE. SORRY, I WAS WAITING TO SEE IF YOU COULD TO GET IT TO SHARE. OH, I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE GOT THEIR SHARE TO WORK. OKAY. I'M SHARING MAYAN. I CAN, I CAN HELP YOU. OKAY, PERFECT. BY THE WAY, THIS IS A DR. CEO. ALSO JOINING US IS IN, UH, BOSTON. RIGHT NOW AT D YOU CAN JUST, UH, MAYBE GO TO THE NEXT SCREEN. UM, THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US. UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH A HUNDRED CITIES AND GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE. UH, YOU CAN SEE A FEW CITIES, A FEW STATES THAT WE'RE ALREADY AT, UH, 12, WE'RE ALSO IN, UH, CANADA. AND WHAT WE ARE REALLY SEEING IN ALL OF THEM, IN ALL THE CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SIZE, IS THAT NEED TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN COMMUNITY LIFE. AND THAT DIFFICULTY OF FINDING THOSE THINGS TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY, THINGS TODAY ARE POSTED ON TOO MANY CHANNELS. YOU REALLY HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO GO TO FIND THEM. I NEED TO GO TO A VERY SPECIFIC FACEBOOK PAGE, UH, OR I NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS SPECIFIC EVENT IS HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY OR THE CHAMBER, OR THE PARKS AND RECS. AND NORMALLY RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW WHO IS THE EVENT HOST AND THEY'RE NATURAL WHERE TO GO. SO WHAT WE'VE CREATED IS A REALLY ONE CENTRALIZED PLACE, RIGHT? ONE PLACE THE RESIDENTS CAN GO TO AND FIND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, MAKING SURE THEY DON'T MISS OUT ON ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND PROGRAM. MAKE SURE THEY STAY ENGAGED, THEY LEAVE THEIR HOUSE, THEY MEET THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY DO THE THINGS THAT THIS CITY HAS TO OFFER. AND AS I HEARD FROM THEM, THE CITY HAS A LOT TO OFFER. SO, UH, BASICALLY WHAT WE, UH, THE WAY WE DO THIS, IF YOU CAN, UH, GO TO THE NEXT TWO SCREENS. ONE MORE. PERFECT. PERFECT. THANK YOU. SO AS, UH, BEN MENTIONED, WE CAN ALSO HELP YOU START UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE. RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE WANT IT CONNECTED AND WE WANT IT ALL TO BE, UH, ENGAGED. BUT IN THE RE REALITY IS, IS THAT YOUR COMMUNITIES BASED OFF A WHOLE LOT OF MICRO COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? YOU HAVE YOUR PEOPLE THAT JUST MOVED TO THE CITY. YOU HAVE BUSINESS OWNERS, NEW LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOUNG PARENTS. YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT THEY WANNA DO IN THE CITY. SO YOU DON'T SEND THEM MASS COMMUNICATION AND SOMETHING THAT IS VERY KIND OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL. I HEARD YOU HAVE A NEW, UM, COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR AND POSSIBLY A NEW PIO COMING BACK. SO THESE ARE REALLY THE GREAT RESOURCES FOR YOUR STAFF TO USE TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN REALLY JUST FOCUS ON MORE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES TO LET ALL THE RESIDENTS KNOW ABOUT ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY. [01:30:01] UM, BUT YEAH, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I'D LOVE TO ANSWER. YES. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU CITY, UM, MANAGER FOR, UM, THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UM, I ACTUALLY DON'T RECALL THIS ITEM FROM THE, THE TIME IT WAS PRESENTED, I GUESS, IN DECEMBER. SO I'M GLAD THAT IT IS COMING BACK BECAUSE I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. UM, FIRST, BASED ON THE PRESENTATION, UH, I WANTED TO ASK, UM, UH, THE FOLKS WITH, UH, ONE CALENDAR, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT THIS IS CALLED WITH CALENDAR? WITH CALENDAR? UM, HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY THE RESIDENTS INTO THESE MICRO COMMUNITIES? ABSOLUTELY. SO, UH, THERE'S A FEW WAYS. ONE OF THEM IS REALLY JUST BY SEEING WHAT ARE YOU REGISTERING TO, RIGHT? IF I HAVE JUST NOW REGISTERED TO, UH, FIVE EVENTS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, NEW MOMS, OR IF I JUST REGISTER TO FIVE GOLFING EVENTS, I AM PROBABLY INTO GOLF, RIGHT? OR IF MY DAD JUST REGISTERED TO A WHOLE LOT OF VETERANS ACTIVITIES, UH, OR WORKSHOPS OR VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES, HE'S PROBABLY A VETERAN. SO THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT. UH, THE OTHER WAY IS SIMPLY BY, UH, UPON REGISTRATION TO AN ACTIVITY OR WHEN NEW RSVP TO AN ACTIVITY, UH, THE CITY HAS THE OPTION TO ASK ME A QUICK QUESTION MAYBE THAT YOU WANNA ASK ME, HEY, WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE PART IN? MAYBE YOU WANNA ASK ME, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING IN THE CITY? MAYBE YOU WANNA ASK ME ABOUT, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS, OR MAYBE YOU WANNA ASK ME ABOUT SAFETY. SO IT REALLY ALLOWS YOU NOT ONLY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR RESIDENTS AND START, UH, HELPING YOU SEGMENTING IT, SEGMENT THE RESIDENTS A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO THE, YOUR COMMUNICATION CAN BE MORE TARGETED. IT CAN ALSO ALLOW THE CITY TO START GETTING REALLY VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT MATTERS THAT IT'S NORMALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND TO, TO GET SUCH AS SAFETY, UH, IF A SPECIFIC PARK IS SHADED ENOUGH. REALLY THOSE QUESTIONS THAT NORMALLY IF YOU SENT OUT A SURVEY OF 40 QUESTIONS, PEOPLE NORMALLY DON'T LIKE TO TAKE ALL THAT TIME TO ANSWER THOSE, RIGHT? SO UPON REGISTRATION FOR ACTIVITIES, YOU HAVE THAT OPTION OF ASKING IF ONE OR TWO MORE QUESTIONS. OKAY. AND, AND SO THEN, UH, THIS WOULD REQUIRE THEN THE USERS TO PARTICIPATE WITHIN THIS CALENDAR AND THIS CALENDAR. UM, IS IT GOING TO LIVE IN OUR CITY WEBSITE OR IS IT AN APP THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A COMPLETELY BRAND NEW PLATFORM FOR THEM? NO, NO ONE NEEDS TO DOWNLOAD AN APP. WE DO HAVE AN APP IF YOU WANT TO IN THE FUTURE, BUT THERE'S REALLY NO NEED. UH, WE BASICALLY IN EMBEDDED THE CALENDAR INTO THE EXISTING CITIES WEBSITE. UH, IF IN THE FUTURE, UH, YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A NEW WEBSITE, WE EMBED IT INTO YOUR NEW WEBSITE, TO THE NEW WEBSITE. AND ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT OUR PLATFORM IS FULLY MOBILE FRIENDLY. UH, FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, 89% OF OUR USERS ARE USING THE PLATFORM ON THEIR MOBILES, RIGHT? THEY DO IT WHILE THEY'RE WAITING TO THE DOCTOR OR WHILE THEY HAVE A FEW SPARE MINUTES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, UH, TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND. SO THE, THE CALENDAR IS FULLY MOBILE FRIENDLY, SO THEY CAN DO IT BOTH FROM THEIR COMPUTERS OR FROM THEIR MOBILES. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I DO, UM, WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS SPREAD, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CHANNELS. UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS WOULDN'T CREATE YET ANOTHER SORT OF PLATFORM OR CHANNEL OR APP OR SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IN ORDER TO GET THE INFORMATION. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WITHIN OUR CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH IS HOPEFULLY RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AND THEY CAN SEEK IT OUT THERE. UM, I, I DO KNOW THOUGH, THAT WE DO ALSO AS A CITY HAVE, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISEMENTS ON LIKE INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE GREATER AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC GOES. SO, UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT, YEAH, THE INFORMATION IS SPREAD IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DEPENDENT OR ALREADY EXPECTED IN THESE OTHER CHANNELS, RIGHT? AND MAY NOT NECESSARILY SEEK IT OUT ON OUR WEBSITE. SO THIS PROBABLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE MAYBE SOME TRAFFIC TO OUR WEBSITE. THE OTHER THING, UH, REGARDING REGISTERING FOR EVENTS, UM, I, SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS IS REPLACING CITY MANAGER. YOU MENTIONED THIS IS REPLACING OR IMPROVING UPON THE CALENDAR THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE. UM, AS FAR AS THE REGISTRATION FOR EVENTS, AND, AND I GATHER, YOU KNOW, THESE MICRO COMMUNITIES OR ALL OF THIS, YOU KNOW, METADATA THAT, UM, EVENTUALLY WILL FEED INTO GROUPING FOLKS IN SOME CERTAIN KIND OF WAY, UM, WILL ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IF, IF WE GET FOLKS THAT ARE [01:35:01] PARTICIPATING IN THIS WAY, RIGHT? SO IF THEY'RE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS WAY, THEN THAT, UM, SORT OF, UH, ISN'T ACTUALLY A, A VERY USEFUL TOOL. UM, WHAT I DO WANNA ASK THOUGH IS THE REGISTRATION PIECE OF THESE THINGS. WE DO HAVE A PLATFORM RIGHT NOW FOR REGISTERING FOR, UM, UH, CITY TYPE, UH, SPONSORED EVENTS. UH, I KNOW LIKE THROUGH, UH, THE RECREATION CENTERS AND CASA DE SALU, ALL OF THIS, ALL THAT, IS THAT ALSO GOING TO BE REPLACED BY THIS, UH, PLATFORM OR, OR THIS CALENDAR OF SORTS? WELL, I, I LET THE, I'LL LET THE APPLICANT'S, UH, UH, COMPANY RESPOND FURTHER, BUT, UM, I KNOW, AND I, I, THEY SHOWED US IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, UM, THE REGISTRATION IS A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS, LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING ANYONE CAN DO, SENIOR CITIZEN, YOUNG PERSON. UM, BUT I'D NEVER ASKED THEM THAT QUESTION. WHAT ABOUT, UH, OUR CURRENTLY, UH, REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR LIKE EXAMPLE, LIKE THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID COMMUNITY SERVICES. COULD WE UTILIZE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY. IF THERE'S ALREADY, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A LIST OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPANTS FOR PREVIOUS EVENTS OR IF YOU HAVE A LIST OF RESIDENTS IN ANY EXISTING, UH, PLATFORM, WE CAN DEFINITELY UTILIZE THAT. WE DON'T NEED TO START FROM SCRATCH HERE, RIGHT? UM, ALSO IN REGARDS TO THAT, WE ARE ALREADY, ALL WE DO IS WORK WITH CITIES AND COUNTIES. WE'RE IN OVER A HUNDRED CITIES AND COUNTIES, AND THIS IS OUR ONLY FOCUS. SO WE REALLY HAVE THE BEST PRACTICES IN PLACE, UH, TO PROMOTE THIS CALENDAR IN THE CITY TO, AND TO HELP RESIDENTS, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THOSE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AND REGISTER TO DIFFERENT, UH, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. UH, PARTICIPATION IS ALSO NOT MANDATORY, RIGHT? SO IF YOU CHOOSE AT FIRST TO REALLY JUST GIVE A PLACE TO YOUR RESIDENTS TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, YOU CAN START THERE AND YOU CAN OPEN IT TO REGISTRATION IN THE FUTURE TOO. YOU CAN BE, UH, IF YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE USING THE SAME PLATFORM YOU'RE USING FOR REGISTRATION, YOU CAN ALSO BE JUST REDIRECTED FOR REGISTRATION TO A THIRD PARTY. THERE IS NO PROBLEM THERE TOO. OKAY. UM, ALSO BACK TO YOUR, UM, KIND OF FIRST POINT WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR PLATFORM, EVERYTHING THAT IS POSTED THERE CAN BE QUICKLY IN ONE, ONE PUSH OF A BUTTON, BE, UM, POSTED ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL. WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS THAT YOU ACTUALLY NOT ONLY PROMOTING NOW EACH EVENT INDIVIDUALLY, WHICH THIS IS HOW SOCIAL MEDIA NORMALLY WORKS, NOW, YOU CAN PROMOTE THE ENTIRE CALENDAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SO DIFFERENT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE ACTUALLY GETTING MUCH MORE EYE TRAFFIC THAT OTHERWISE THEY COULD HAVE NOT GET. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, YEAH, THIS IS, UH, INTRIGUING. UM, I DO KNOW SOME OF THOSE, UM, ACTIVITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT FOLKS RIGHT NOW ARE, UM, ACCUSTOMED TO REGISTERING FOR ON THE OTHER PLACES THAT WE HAVE FOLKS REGISTER. THERE'S ALSO LIKE A FORM OF PAYMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED. SO IF THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SUBMIT PAYMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, DOING A YOGA CLASS OR WHATEVER, UM, IF IT ISN'T ONE THAT IS OFFERED FREE OF COST, UM, I GUESS WE'D HAVE TO IRON OUT HOW THAT WOULD WORK AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE TWO DIFFERENT PLACES TO REGISTER. SO, SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON HERE, WHICH IS WHY I'M GOING TO PROPOSE, UM, TAKING A CLOSER LOOK. I DO APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON THIS TONIGHT. CERTAINLY THE PRESENTATION, I KNOW THIS WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT, SO PERHAPS YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION, BUT, UM, THIS IS A COST OF, UM, NEARLY $24,000. AND I'M NOT CLEAR, IS THAT JUST FOR ONE YEAR OR, OR ONE YEAR. OKAY, SO, SO I, I DO WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS. UM, WE JUST HIRED A, A NEW DIRECTOR, RIGHT? UM, MR. TRAVIS CARLIN, I THINK HE, HE LEFT, BUT, SO HE IS NOW A COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR. I IMAGINE THIS WOULD FALL WITHIN HIS PURVIEW. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE, WE DO HAVE AN OPEN POSITION FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WHICH I IMAGINE THAT, UM, PERSON'S SCOPE OF WORK WOULD ALSO ENTAIL SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE COMMUNICATING THINGS TO THE PUBLIC. SO, SO IT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE FOR, UM, FOR THIS SERVICE TO BE EVALUATED BY NOW OUR, UM, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. AND IF THE CASE MAY BE THAT WE DO HAVE A PIO OFFICER SOON, HAVE THAT PERSON ALSO BUY IN INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY. SO I WOULD PROPOSE MAYOR, UM, TO WITHHOLD A DECISION ON THIS UNTIL WE GET SOME EVALUATION FROM AT LEAST THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. IS THAT A FORWARD MOTION? I MAKE THAT AS A MOTION. I SECOND AND I ALSO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON IT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. I, I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY, WHICH IS COMMUNICATION. OFTENTIMES I HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, SAY THINGS LIKE, OH, I SAW THIS [01:40:01] WONDERFUL EVENT, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. OR I HEARD ABOUT IT LATE, OR, I SAW IT ON FACEBOOK AFTER THE FACT. AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UH, LOOK AT THIS MORE HOLISTICALLY AND TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS VERY REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS COMMUNICATION WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE WAY OUR CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT TO US. UM, A LOT OF THE REQUESTS I PERSONALLY GET TO DO BASIC THINGS, UM, UH, ARE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AND THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO COMMUNICATE SO THAT FOLKS CAN APPLY THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE MEANS SO WE CAN GET THEM FIXED THROUGH THE CITY AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION, EVEN IF IT MAY MEAN A, UM, UH, RFP FOR OTHER COMPANIES OR, OR HAVING SOMETHING SPECIFIC, UM, UH, SPECIFIC ASKS OF COMPANIES TO PROVIDE US, UH, BETTER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. BUT I DO THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPERATIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY. YES. YES. I, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I SUPPORT, UH, THIS MOTION. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS TECHNOLOGY. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS, BUT FOR ME, HAVING THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A PRESENTATION IN DECEMBER, BUT THEN THERE WAS THE HOLIDAYS. SO THERE'S, THERE IS STILL SOME MORE INFORMATION I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, AND I AGREE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TAKING A LOOK AT THIS AS WELL. AND I THINK HE JUST STARTED YESTERDAY OR TODAY, SO, UH, YEAH, TODAY. SO, UM, YEAH, SO I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, UH, THE, THE COMPANY, UH, COMING AND, AND SPEAKING FOR US NOW, NOW TWICE. SO I, I, I JUST, UM, AND, AND STILL WANT TO HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL. UH, BUT I, BUT I SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT BRINGING THIS BACK MAYBE IN FEBRUARY. OKAY. UM, LET ME, UH, ASK ON THE, UH, PRESENTATION. I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE DEALING, LIKE WITH FACEBOOK AND SHALL WE SAY YOU, YOU HIT ON SOMETHING, SHALL WE SAY TENNIS, THERE'S SOMETHING, AN ARTICLE, SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT ADVERTISING OR TALKING ABOUT TENNIS, AND THEN YOU HIT IT AGAIN. NEXT THING YOU KNOW ABOUT HALF THE STUFF YOU'RE COMING UP SHOWS TENNIS. 'CAUSE THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S READING THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN TENNIS. I'M JUST USING THAT AS A, AS AN EXAMPLE. WOULD THIS DO SOMEWHAT SIMILAR THAT WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE CITIZENS START HITTING ON SOMETHING THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE YEAH, IT WOULD CAPTURE THAT AND START, YOU KNOW, UM, MORE GETTING INDIVIDUALIZED, UH, TO THEM. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT HAPPENS IN, IN FEW WAYS, RIGHT? ONE OF THEM IS THAT WE BASICALLY KIND OF, UH, TAG YOU AS SOMEONE THAT'S INTERESTED, AS YOU SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, IN GOLFING. BUT ALSO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT SPECIFIC GOLFING ACTIVITY, IT'LL SHOW YOU CHECK OUT THESE OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU. RIGHT? SO IT'LL GIVE YOU SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES, UH, IN THE CITY ACCORDING TO THAT SPECIFIC EVENT OR ACTIVITY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. OKAY, GOOD. I, I KNOW WITH FACEBOOK, I'M, I'M BECOMING MORE AND MORE CAREFUL ON WHAT I DO, UH, LOOK AT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I GO, THAT LOOKS KIND OF WEIRD. WHAT IS THAT? AND, BUT THEN I FIND OUT I GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF THAT STUFF. SO, YEAH. YOU KNOW, GET AWAY FROM DOING THAT. IF I CAN ADD ONE THING IS THAT, UM, IF NOW YOU'RE REALLY UTILIZING, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT MEANS ALL THAT DATA IS STAYS WITHIN THE SOCIAL MEDIA HEADS. UH, OUR PLATFORM, EVERYTHING IS OWNED BY THE CITY. SO THIS IS ALL YOURS AND NOT FACEBOOK AND META AND INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER. THIS IS THE CITY'S DATA, AND THE CITY'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN UTILIZE AND VIEW THAT DATA. OKAY. AND, AND IF WE ARE TAKING ANYTHING FROM OTHER PROGRAMS, LIKE I KNOW SHE HAD LIKE NEXTDOOR UP THERE, DIFFERENT STUFF ON THAT LINE, THOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED AT OUR LEVEL BEFORE IT WOULD GO ON OUR SITE, CORRECT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. EVERYTHING THIS IS WILL BE THE CITY'S CALENDAR. MM-HMM . SO THE CITY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DECIDES WHAT IS POSTED AND NOT POSTED ON THE CALENDAR. OKAY. YEAH. I, I, I THINK THE CONCEPT IS GREAT, BUT I DO AGREE. I THINK ESPECIALLY WITH JUST, I MEAN LITERALLY JUST BRINGING ON TRAVIS THINGS ALONG THIS LINE, I THINK WE DO NEED SOME OF THAT INPUT. SO WE MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, LAST THING I WANT IS BRINGING IN SOMEONE AND THEN IT'S ALREADY A, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD'VE RATHER DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY OR HAD DIFFERENT KIND OF INPUT INTO. SO I THINK A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT OF PUSHING THIS ONE OFF, I THINK DOES MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. SO ANYWAY, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND OH, I'M SORRY, DID WE, THIS IS ON, I'M SORRY, THIS IS ON NINE SIX. UH, WE HAVE EDWARD NETTO. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FROM YOU, RIGHT? I, I, I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYTHING FROM YOU ON ANYTHING. I HAVE IT THERE JULY O OKAY, WELL, WE'LL HAVE EDWARD NETTO THEN I'LL HAVE YOU COME UP. OKAY. I LIKE YOUR DISCUSSIONS. I LIKE THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS. UM, [01:45:01] I LIKE THE EXPLANATION, CARLOS' EXPLANATION. I THINK YOU GUYS ARE TALKING AND ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS. UM, UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE CASE ALWAYS, BUT YOU'RE DOING IT NOW. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU IN THIS CASE, UM, JOSE'S CORRECT, THERE'S BEEN MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVITED, BUT YOU KNOW, AS A STANDPOINT, I'VE ALWAYS ASKED, WHAT VALUE ARE WE GETTING OUT OF THIS? SO I HOPE THIS SOFTWARE, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE REGISTERED THAT WOULD HAVE A FOLLOW UP AND ASK PEOPLE IF YOU'RE HAVING MEETINGS AND IF PEOPLE ARE GETTING VALUED OUT OF THESE MEETINGS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING. AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD THING TO GET FEEDBACK, BUT ALSO BECAUSE POTENTIALLY IT COULD BE A REVENUE GENERATING SERVICE. IF YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, YOU'RE DEVOTING TO HAVING MEETINGS THAT'S NOT BEING ALLOCATED TO THE FUNDING SOURCE BECAUSE OF THE ALLOCATION BASIS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALLOWABLE. BUT IF YOU'RE HAVING A MEETING FOR OUTREACH FOR, UM, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, MAYBE THAT COST COULD BE RECOVERED. YOU GUYS GOT IDEAS. IT'S A GOOD, YOU KNOW, ASK, IS THERE A WAY TO CAPTURE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTENDING THIS MEETINGS AND GETTING FEEDBACK AND MAYBE DISTRIBUTING YOUR, ALL YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE COST TO FUNDING SOURCES THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO USE OUR GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES HERE. ALRIGHT, PLEASE COME BOARD. HERE'S MY THING. IT'S $23,000. AND ANYTHING THAT'S AI IS, AI IS NEW INVENTION AND YOU'RE BUYING A NEW INVENTION THAT REALLY ISN'T THE SAME. LIKE, HERE'S WHAT I SEE. IT SAYS 3.3 0.4% PLUS SIX 30 CENTS SERVICE CHARGE. IT'S NOT THE THREE FOUR POINTS PERCENT THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE 3 CENT SERVICE CHART BECAUSE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF HITS ON THAT. BUT SO I, THAT'S, THAT'S MY, I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. YEAH. AND MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, WE HAD A WRITTEN COMMENT FROM TED GOTCH ON THE SIDE. YES. UM, YEAH. AND JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING EVENTS AND NOT PEOPLE SHOWING UP. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS, AS A LOT OF TIMES WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY GREAT EVENTS, BUT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT. AND HARDLY ANYBODY, ANYBODY SHOWS UP FOR IT. AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THE EVENT WOULDN'T BE APPRECIATED, BUT THE COMMUNICATION HAD BEEN THERE WHERE A CITY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH BEING A METROPOLITAN CITY LIKE THIS. I KNOW SOME LITTLE CITIES HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THERE, OUR SIZE ARE SMALLER. AND THEY GOT ALL KIND OF GREAT COMMUNICATION. GOT, THEY GOT THEIR OWN LITTLE NEWSPAPER, THEY GOT THEIR OWN LITTLE RADIO STATION, EVERYTHING ELSE. 'CAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. WE'RE SWALLOWED UP HERE BETWEEN THESE TWO BIG CITIES NEXT TO US, PARTICULARLY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A NEWSPAPER, WE DON'T HAVE A RADIO STATION. WE DON'T HAVE ALL THAT DIFFERENT FORMS OF COMMUNICATION THAT LOCALS WOULD BE LISTENING TO OR BE READING. SO IT'S, UH, UH, SO WE DO HAVE TO BECOME CREATIVE AND, UH, BEST WAY TO GET, GET STUFF OUT. AND I KNOW SOMETIMES WE, UH, WE MAIL STUFF OUT AND PEOPLE SAY THAT, WELL, THAT DID, I DON'T GET THAT DEAL OF MAIL. OR, YOU KNOW, WE SAY, WELL, WE PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE AND WELL, I DON'T GET INTERNET. AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, WE EVEN HAD THE ONES WHERE WE ACTUALLY KNOCKED ON DOORS. THEY SAID, WELL, I WASN'T HOME THAT DAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S, IT IS LIKE, AS IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOW, HOW DO WE GET THE COMMUNICATION? SO IT'S, UH, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT. AND SO I, I THINK THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GOT IT COORDINATED WITH OUR, WITH OUR STAFFING, OUR NEEDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO I THINK, I THINK HOLDING OFF ON THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. UM, AND IT'S NOT TO REJECT THE PROGRAM AT ALL, WE THINK, I THINK IT'S, IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE WELL COORDINATED. BUT WITH THAT, WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. CAN THE SECOND PUSH THE BUTTON PLEASE? THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. AND PLEASE VOTE. MOTION APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. AND THIS IS BASICALLY TO HOLD OFF UNTIL STAFF FEELS IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY CAN BRING IT BACK WITH, WITH MORE INPUT. ALRIGHT, NOW WE GO [9.7 Agreement with Terra Realty Advisors to Provide Advice and Represent the City, in Connection with Various Real Estate Needs Including Outdoor Advertising Billboard Sign(s).] ON TO ITEM NINE SEVEN. THIS IS AGREEMENT WITH TARA REALTOR ADVISORS. UH, THIS TO PROVIDE ADVICE, REPRESENT THE CITY IN CONNECTION WITH, UH, SOME REAL ESTATE DEAL DEALS, BASICALLY INVOLVING OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, BILLBOARD SIGNS, AND [01:50:01] ANYTHING FROM STAFF ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. UM, IN MY TRAVELS, UH, AFTER I LEFT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY BACK IN 2006, I WORKED FOR A NUMBER OF CITIES UP IN LOS ANGELES AREA. A LOT OF THEM THE SAME SIZE GENERALLY AS NATIONAL CITY ALONG FREEWAYS A LOT OF THE SAME MM-HMM . SAME THINGS, UH, ETHNIC MAKEUP, SO, SO ON AND SO FORTH. I RAN ACROSS THIS COMPANY AND, AND ACTUALLY ENDED UP WORKING WITH THEM ON, IN TWO CITIES, A CITY OF EL MONTE AND, AND BALDWIN PARK. AND THE PERSON, UM, THAT'S SPECIFICALLY INVOLVED WITH OUTDOOR BILLBOARD ADVERTISING IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA. SO I WAS SPEAKING TO HIM ABOUT THIS AND WANTED TO PUT THIS ON CONSIDERATION ON THE COUNCIL OF JENNIFER CONSIDERATION. THE IDEA WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE, AND THAT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS, I GOTTA SAY JUST FOR DOING THIS, IT'S, IT'S IT'S REVENUE GENERATION. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES, UH, AND LATELY THE BILLBOARDS ARE GETTING MORE ATTRACTIVE MM-HMM . UM, THEY'RE LIGHTING UP NICELY AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN INCORPORATE, UH, CITY AND NATIONAL CITY DESIGN, LOGO, ET CETERA. AND THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE. WE DO HAVE ONE SIGN, BY THE WAY, JUST SOUTH OF IN AND OUT BURGER, ALONG THE I FIVE, WHICH WE ARE, UH, RECEIVING REVENUE ON THIS. I THINK THIS PROJECT WAS DONE ABOUT, ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN YOU GUESS MAYOR, MAYBE A LITTLE LONGER. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE RECEIVING UPWARDS OF AT LEAST 140,000 A YEAR ON THAT SIGN. A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT. UM, SO, SO THIS, UH, PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO LOOK AT VARIOUS SITES. THERE'S, THERE'S ONLY THREE SITES THAT ARE REALLY PROBABLY WORTH THE TIME, AND THEY'RE OUTLINED IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, UM, ALONG THE I FIVE. SO, UM, THERE'S NO COMMITMENT HERE, UM, EXCEPT FOR SOME, UM, UPFRONT, UPFRONT EXPENSE. I THINK THIS CONTRACT IS FOR ABOUT NINE OR $10,000. UM, IF WE DO, UH, FIND THAT A SITE IS VIABLE, THE, THERE WOULD BE A TYPE OF RFP PROCESS ONCE, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE HOUSING, UM, BILLBOARD DEVELOPERS, THE COMPANIES WOULD RESPOND A LOT OF TIMES ACTUALLY, UH, AT LEAST IN THE OTHER CITIES I WORK FOR, WE'D ASK FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THESE COSTS. SO WE'D GET THIS MONEY BACK. AND ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A REVENUE GENERATION FOR THE CITY. UM, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT REVENUE GENERATION IS OF IMPORTANCE. UM, AND, UH, I THINK WE GOTTA LOOK AT EVERY, ANY AND ALL WAYS TO, TO BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY. UM, IF WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A DEAL LIKE THIS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FAIRLY SIMPLE, ALTHOUGH I'M GONNA ADMIT NOT EVERYONE LIKES BILLBOARDS. UM, AND I MUST SAY IN ALL THE CITIES I WORK FOR, I WORK FOR CITIES THAT ABSOLUTELY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF EVERY POSSIBLE BILLBOARD LEGALLY THROUGH CALTRANS, ET CETERA. MM-HMM . UM, AND THEN THERE'S SOME CITIES THAT WOULD ONLY DO A FEW OF 'EM, AND THERE'S SOME CITIES THAT DON'T WANNA DO THEM AT ALL. SO THAT'S, THAT'S A, THAT'S A POLICY DEC DECISION FOR THE COUNCIL. BUT I WANTED TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE I FIVE. ALRIGHT. WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER, UH, ED NETTA. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOOD AND IT'S REVENUE GENERATING, BUT MY INPUT IS THIS, IS THAT, UM, BILLBOARDS IN NASHVILLE CITY, WHILE WE HAVE THIS HOMELESS ISSUE LIKE AN 8 0 5, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. YOU KNOW? UH, I, I CAN'T, WHEN I HEARD THIS, I, I STARTED THINKING YOU WOULD HAVE A BILLBOARD ADVERTISING IN AN OUT, BURGER DONUTS OR WHATEVER, AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN CABINET UNDERNEATH THE BILL, UNDERNEATH THE BILLBOARD, YOU KNOW, UM, IF IT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, IF ME, IT JUST DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GREAT IDEA. IT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM ABOUT HOW NATIONAL CITY HIGHWAYS LOOK, THE, AND THE ON RAMPS AND THE OFF RAMPS OF THE FREEWAYS, AND TO BUILD A BILLBOARD IN THERE, PUT A BILLBOARD IN THERE. IT JUST MAKES, LOOK, I THINK IT MAKES, LOOK, MAKE NATIONAL CITY LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE TRASHIER. THAT'S MY, MY OPINION. GREAT. THANK YOU. UH, MEMBER AMIAH, I THINK YOUR VERSION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT FIRST BEFORE I APPROVE THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU. I WAS GONNA ASK, UH, A SIMILAR QUESTION OF, UH, BEN, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THESE ARE REVENUE GENERATING. I, IS THAT BECAUSE THE ADVERTISERS PAY A FEE AND THEN THAT FEE COMES TO NATIONAL CITY? YES, THE, THE YES. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE, THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE [01:55:01] THESE SIGNS ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY ALONG THE FREEWAY. SO, UH, THE BILLBOARD COMPANY, WE WOULD NEGOTIATE A, A DEAL WITH THEM ESSENTIALLY, LIKE WE DID WITH THE, THE SIGN, I DON'T REMEMBER THE COMPANY, OH, IT WAS AMERICAN DIGITAL OUTDOOR, I GUESS, UH, SOUTH OF INN OUT BURGER ON I FIVE. AND SO YOU NEGOTIATE ESSENTIALLY A, A RENT. OKAY. SO THEY WOULD PAY RENT. OKAY. AND THEY OF COURSE SELL TIME ON THE, ON THE SIGN, AND THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY. UM, THERE'S ALSO COMMUNITY SERVICE TIME THAT WE USUALLY GET FOR FREE, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, DICTATE THAT IF WE DON'T WANT TO SEE CERTAIN THINGS. UM, OKAY. AND, AND THIS CONSULTANT WOULD BE THE, I MEAN, THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS ASK IS TO HAVE THIS CONSULTANT DO THAT NEGOTIATION. YES. TO STUDY THESE VERY, UH, I'VE GOT OUT, I GOT EVERYTHING AS I MUCH AS I COULD OUT OF THEM FOR FREE TO GET TO THIS POINT, WHICH I'M KIND OF AN EXPERT AT THAT, UH, BEING A FORMER CONSULTANT. BUT AT THIS POINT WE, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA PAY 'EM A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REALLY ANALYZE THESE THREE SITES. UH, AND, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA SAY, OKAY, WE CAN, I RECOMMEND THAT WE DO AN RFP ON, ON, YOU KNOW, ONE OR ALL THREE OF THEM. UH, THE RFP DOESN'T COMMIT US TO, AGAIN, DOING A PROJECT. WE WOULD ANALYZE THE RESPONSES AND, AND GO FROM THERE. WE COULD REJECT ALL BIDS. OKAY. SO, UM, THE, THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT, JUST ROUGHLY IF WE'RE GETTING $140,000 ON THIS SIGN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU COULD SEE IF ALL THREE SITES WERE DEVELOPED, YOU COULD SEE UPWARDS OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE TO THE CITY. OKAY. UH, AND TO GET TO THE POINT OF DEVELOPING IT, THIS, THIS IS ON CITY PROPERTY. SO THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, FIT THE, OR BRING FORWARD THE COST OF ACTUALLY BUILDING THE STRUCTURE FOR THE BILLBOARD THAT THE, THE BILLBOARD COMPANY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT. SO IT'D BE AT NO COST TO THE CITY. MM-HMM . OKAY. WE WOULD ALSO GET, UH, APPROVAL OF THE SIGN, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL BEFORE. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY THREE NEW BILLBOARDS IN, IN NATIONAL CITY. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT DOING. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, I APPRECIATE THIS EXTRA DISCUSSION ON THIS. UM, THE, THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED THAT, YOU KNOW, FURTHER ADVERTISING, UM, IS NOT DESIRABLE . I DO TEND TO AGREE WITH THAT, NOTING THAT, UM, A LOT OF THE BILLBOARDS THAT I DO SEE, UH, ARE ADVERTISING, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE, UM, DRINKS, YOU KNOW, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR, UH, CANNABIS OR SMOKE PRODUCTS. UM, SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO SAY WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE, THOSE BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ADVERTISING, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M JUST SAYING, UM, DESPITE THE PLUS FOR US, WHICH WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, GENERATING REVENUE, UM, I, I WONDER IF, IF THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR NATIONAL CITY AESTHETICALLY, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD PREFER THAT WE DIDN'T DO THIS. SO I I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MOTION. THANK YOU FOR THE CHAIR. YES, THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE BILLBOARDS. I KNOW WHEN I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER AND MS. ME SITTING THERE, WE LOOKED INTO THIS CONTRACT AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TIMES, UM, THAT WE CAN HAVE ADVERTISING INTO THOSE FOUR BILLBOARDS. I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO REVISIT THAT AND SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OF WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE THERE ALREADY. UM, UH, I, UH, NOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS FEASIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT IN PAPER WITH THE NUMBERS. THANK YOU. UM, COUPLE OF THINGS. THE, UH, THE ONES THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE, THE ONES WE HAVE HERE IS THE ONE DOWN ON, ON THE FIVE, UH, NEAR EIGHTH STREET. UH, WE HAVE THE ONE AT THE 54 AND WE HAVE THE ONE ON THE, OVER ON THE 8 0 5, THOSE ARE ON CITY PROPERTY EXCEPT FOR THE ONE ON THE FIVE. ONE LEG IS IN CITY PROPERTY, ONE LEG IS IN NAVY PROPERTY. THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON ON THAT ONE. YOU SEE A LOT OF ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE NAVY ON THAT ONE. UH, FOR THAT REASON. THE, UH, UM, AND SO WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS SITUATION, THE HOMELESS ARE ON CALTRANS PROPERTY AND JUST BECAUSE CALTRANS WON'T DO THEIR JOB AND AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY SHOULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WE DO WITH OUR PROPERTY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANNA LOOK AT A THOUGHT ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE SIGNS WERE UP THERE BEFORE AND THEY WERE VERY, THEY WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITION AND THEY WERE THE OLD LIGHT BULB DESIGN AND LIGHT BULBS KEPT GOING OUT. AND YOU'D HAD HALF THE SIGN WAS WORKING HALF TIME SOMETIME THE WHOLE SIGN WASN'T WORKING. AND SO WE WORKED TO HAVE THOSE THINGS. ALL THE THREE [02:00:01] OF THEM REPLACED. AND SO WE HAD TO GO WITH THE SAME SIZE, BUT NOW WE WENT WITH THE FULL ELECTRONICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THE SAME TIME CHULA VISTA WAS PUTTING UP THEIR BIG SIGN DOWN AT, UM, MAIN STREET. SO WE PUT UP THOSE, THOSE THREE AND ONE OF THE, UH, AND WE GOT IT ALL THROUGH CALTRANS. IT'S A BIG, IT'S A PROBLEM GOING THROUGH CALTRANS ON THESE THINGS, GETTING THEIR APPROVAL. BUT ONCE THEY GOT UP AND WE PUT LIMITATIONS ON THEM ON WHAT COULD BE DONE, THEN THERE'S THE ONE PRIVATE ONE DOWN BY THE MILE OF CARS ON THE FIVE. AND WE PUT LIMITATIONS ON THAT. ALSO, COULD NOT HAVE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, ALCOHOL, I DON'T THINK ANYONE AT THE TIME CONSIDERED CANNABIS, BUT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD BE LIMITED ON THERE. AND THEN THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO NATIONAL CITY. SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU COULD NOT HAVE OUTSIDE CAR DEALERSHIPS OR CAR PARKS. YOU COULD NOT HAVE OUTSIDE, UH, SHOPPING MALLS. UH, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIFIC, UH, YOU KNOW, LARGE GENERATORS IN NATIONAL CITY, YOU DON'T WANNA BE SENDING PEOPLE OTHER PLACES. AND SO THOSE RESTRICTIONS WERE PUT ON THAT ONE. AND EVEN SO, IT STILL BRINGS IN THE REVENUE TO THE CITY OF ABOUT $140,000, UH, ON, ON THAT ONE ALONE WITHOUT GOING TO ANY OF THOSE OTHER, OTHER TYPE OF, UH, UM, BILLS. AND SO WE WOULD HAVE CONTROL OVER A LOT OF THAT. AND UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND TO SEE WHAT IS THERE. YOU DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF THE, THE OLD TYPE BILLBOARDS AND YOU GOT A NUMBER OF THEM OUT THERE NOW STILL ON THE 94 AND SOME DIFFERENT AREAS. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, PARTICULARLY DOWN, UH, DOWN THERE BY S THE, UH, UH, THEY'RE AT 30TH AND HIGHLAND. AND THEN ALSO, UH, NEXT TO THE, UH, OH, UH, THE ELECTRONICS PLACE THERE, UH, ABOUT 29TH AND HIGHLAND. YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE RIGHT THERE. AND THERE'S I THINK ONE OR TWO OTHERS IN THE CITY. THE OLD ONES, WHICH ARE STILL GRANDFATHERED, BUT THOSE ARE THE OLD STYLE. UM, I FORGET HOW THE COMPANY THAT DOES THOSE THINGS, IT'S PART OF CBS AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT DOES THOSE. BUT THESE ARE THE ELECTRONIC SIGNS. VERY NEAT. VERY THING. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WHEN WE, WHEN WE REDID THE THREE SIGNS, CALTRANS ASKED US TO TURN THE LIGHTS DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUSING, PEOPLE WERE LITERALLY SLOWING DOWN TO READ THE SIGNS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO BRIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THEN I COMPARED THEM TO THE CHULA VISTA SIGN DOWN ON, UM, DOWN AT MAIN STREET. AND I TALKED WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT, YEAH, WE GET UP ON THE 8 0 5 THERE AND THAT THING, YEAH, WE CAN SEE IT THERE. AND BOY, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY BRIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND WE CAN SEE ALL THE STUFF ON IT REALLY WELL. AND I SAID, WELL, YOU MEAN LIKE THE ONE ON MAIN STREET? AND THEY GO, THERE'S NO SIGN ON MAIN STREET. I SAID, YEAH, THERE IS. HE GOES, NO, THERE'S NOT. I DRIVE IT EVERY DAY. THERE'S NOT ONE THERE. YOU THEY SPENT, I FORGET NOW HOW MANY TIMES FOR THAT SIGN WHAT WE SPENT FOR ALL THREE SIGNS. AND NOBODY CAN SEE THE THING. NOBODY READS IT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S STATIC AND IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. SO IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL ABOUT IF YOU HAVE SIGNS OR NOT, BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH THEM AND DO THEY BECOME SOMETHING POSITIVE AS FAR AS JUST OTHERWISE JUST BEING A SIGN. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I THINK THIS IS A, A MINIMAL INVESTMENT JUST TO FIND OUT, THEN GET THE INFORMATION AND THEN WE CAN, UH, I THINK, MAKE, MAKE A DECISION, UH, OFF OF THAT. SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, UH, I WOULD BE MUCH MORE RETICENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT SO THAT WE COULD GET SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO US. THEY MAY LOOK AT THESE, THESE THREE SITES AND SAY, CALTRANS WILL NEVER GO FOR THIS. IT'S GONNA BE AGAINST ALL THEIR SETBACK RULES AND ALL THEIR DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY'RE NEVER GONNA GO FOR IT. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT. AND, UH, OTHERWISE WITH THREE OF THEM, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSE TO PROBABLY A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN REVENUE. WE COULD HAVE, AND WE STILL COULD GET TO CONTROL THE ADVERTISING. UH, REMEMBER RODRIGUEZ? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I ACTUALLY, UM, UH, DO AGREE WITH TRUTH. I'M GONNA HAVE MY ONE MINUTE TIMER START NOW. SO REALLY QUICK, TO THE POINT. UM, I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE, UH, OWN THE LAND AND WE WOULD HAVE, UH, THESE SIGNS IF WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WE WOULD NOT WANT SOME OF THE, UH, LESS DESIRABLE ITEMS TO BE PROMOTED ON THERE. MM-HMM . RIGHT. UM, WE'RE DISCUSSING, UH, A LITTLE LATER MAYBE A, A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE. WE, WE DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ON CITY PROPERTY. RIGHT. AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT US AS A CITY BEING OWNERS OF THE LAND, WE WOULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT. YEP. UM, AND I AGAIN APPRECIATE STAFF FOR YOUR, UH, WILLINGNESS TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS AND LOOK FOR, UH, REVENUE GENERATING MEASURES THAT, UH, MAY NOT IMPACT THE CITY AS MUCH. I THINK THAT WAS UNDER A MINUTE, BY THE WAY. SO, UH, I DUNNO WHAT ITEM IS ON THE, UH, OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UM, MOTION IS ON THERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE, UH, A LITTLE MORE STUDY ON THIS AND, UM, UH, UH, BUT I DO, I WOULD LIKE IT TO MOVE FORWARD. THERE IS [02:05:01] NO MOTION YET. NO MOTION THERE. THERE IS NO MOTION. DO. ALRIGHT. SO, UM, YEAH, YEAH. FOR ME, SO YEAH, THANK YOU BEN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I, I APPRECIATE, UM, LOOKING, BEING INNOVATIVE AND LOOKING AT REVENUE AND FROM WHAT YOU WERE TELLING ME FROM THESE THREE SITES, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE LIKE 150,000. SO I, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. SO I DO SUPPORT THAT. I THINK, UH, THIS IS, UM, UNDER JUST UNDER 10,000. SO IT'S A FAIRLY, IT'S, I MEAN, SMALL COMPARED TO THE REST OF OUR BUDGET. UH, I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT, UH, HAVE, UH, SOME, SOME, SOME MORE QUESTIONS. SO I THINK, UM, I'M, I'M OPEN, I'M OPEN TO MOVING THIS FORWARD. UH, ALSO OPEN TO, UH, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION AND BRING THIS BACK ON CONSENT, UH, IN THE, IN THE FEBRUARY MEETING SO WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. 'CAUSE AGAIN, WE JUST HAD THE FURLOUGH, SO, UM, IN THE HOLIDAYS, SO I KNOW THERE'S, UH, THERE WAS LIMITED TIME TO, TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR ME AS, AS, AS FAR AS THE AESTHETICS OF THE, OF THE BILLBOARDS, UM, I, I, I, I, I HEAR, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THAT. UM, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S A BALANCE OF, OF REVENUE GENERATION. AND I'D BE CURIOUS TOO, UH, AT WHAT POINT DOES TOO MANY BILLBOARDS, DO YOU GET MARKET SATURATION WHERE THE VALUE OF EACH ONE DIMINISHES? RIGHT. SO I, I'D BE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT AND THINK THAT I'M OPEN TO HAVING THAT BROUGHT BACK IN THE STUDY. SO I AM, I'M OPEN TO, TO BOTH BRINGING IT BACK. I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, UH, BRING IT BACK ON CONSENT IN, UH, IN FEBRUARY. UM, MY ONLY QUESTION TO THE MOTION IS WHAT EX EXTRA INFORMATION DO YOU THINK THEY COULD BRING BACK IN FEBRUARY WITHOUT DOING, WITHOUT THIS COMPANY DOING THE STUFF? SURE. I THINK WELL, OH, TRUE. THAT'S TRUE. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS, SO DO YOU WANNA APPROVE IT? I MEAN, I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO WHAT I, YEAH. I DON'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE HAD FOR, FOR THIS AS SAY IT'S A, UH, WHAT ABOUT A $9,000 INVESTMENT FOR WHAT COULD BE A, A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, YEARLY, UH, UM, UM, INCOME. OKAY. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. I WILL SECOND. OKAY. AND MAYOR, JUST A COMMENT. UM, I'LL WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPEND ONLY, UH, A, A SMALLER PORTION OF THAT 9,500. COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH THE INITIAL FINDINGS OF THE SITES AND DISCUSS THEM. AND THAT WAY IT'LL BE A VERY MINIMAL INVESTMENT. TAKING A LOOK AT THE THREE SITES. AND THEN, THEN IF THERE'S INTEREST, THEN, THEN WE CAN MOVE FROM THERE. OKAY. THROUGH THE CHAIR? YES. WORK IT. BEN. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? WORK IT. OH, WORK IT. OKAY. . ALRIGHT. DO YOU WANT ME TO DANCE? ? OKAY. WE, IF WE'RE PUSHING THE BUTTONS FOR THE MOTION AND THE SECOND, PLEASE. YES, PLEASE. THERE'S ONE. THERE IT IS. THERE THEY GO. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THE CURRENT MOTION IS TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE WITH THIS. THIS IS FOR THE UP TO 9,000, SO MANY DOLLARS. AND, UH, AND THEN BRING BACK WITH INITIAL STUDY, UH, IF WE CAN DO THAT. SO GET MORE INFORMATION AND THEN SEE IF WE WANNA MOVE TO THE, UH, FULL DEAL OR NOT. OKAY. A AND A WRITTEN COMMENT WAS RECEIVED BY TED AL ON THIS ITEM. UH, A WRITTEN COMMENT WAS RECEIVED BY TED KACH ON THIS SIDE. YEP. UH, ALL IN FAVOR? UH, UH, WELL GO AHEAD. VOTE. SORRY. MOTION APPROVED BY FOUR TO ONE VOTE. EXCUSE ME, MR. MAYOR, CAN WE TAKE A QUICK, UH, BREAK? WE CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS WE DO TAKE IT QUICK. I'M GONNA SAY SIX MINUTES. TAKE US DOWN THERE. 25. USUALLY SAY EIGHT O'CLOCK. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP. WE USUALLY SAY EIGHT O'CLOCK. TAKING A BREAK. OKAY. OKAY. WE CAN DO THAT. OKAY. I THINK THE REST OF THE MEETING SHOULD GO FAIRLY QUICKLY NOW. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA TAKE JUST A QUICK RECESS AND GET RIGHT BACK. OKAY? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. MEETING BACK TO ORDER. AND I'M GOING TO, UH, BRING IT BACK TO ORDER WITH A, UH, SILENT ROLL CALL ALL MEMBERS, UH, PRESENT AT THE DAAS. WE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE MORE ITEMS HERE UNDER CONSENT, AND THEN WE WILL DEAL WITH NOT CONSENT, RIGHT? HUH? ARE, ARE WE DOUBLE WITH CONSENT? NO, WE GOT TWO WARRANTS THAT WE GOTTA PULL UP. OKAY. SO ITEM, [Items 9.11 & 9.14] UH, NINE 11. AND I HAVE, UH, A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON THAT ONE. AND THEY ARE, UH, TRUTH. ALL RIGHT, NINE POINT 11, WE'RE STILL ON CONSENT 'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TALK TOO LONG. $118 [02:10:01] FOR JOSE TO GO TO SACRAMENTO DURING ELECTION SEASON. BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW LONG WAS THE SPEECH THAT HE GAVE? HOPEFULLY LESS THAN 60 SECONDS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T WANNA HEAR 'EM. JUST MEANS WE HAVE TO BE EFFICIENT. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOVERNMENT MEETINGS ARE ABOUT. IT'S NOT ABOUT INPUT, IT'S ABOUT EFFICIENCY. THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD AT OTHER MEETINGS. UH, $36,263 FOR AN ANNUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY MANUAL. AND T I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT'S TRAINING, BUT IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. UH, BUT THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAD AN ISSUE WITH IS THERE WAS A ENTRY ABOUT SOME RECEIPTS LOST A TAP, UH, FOR MARK SIEGEL. SO DOES THAT MEAN THE $351 ENTRY IS ACCURATE OR NOT? THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, MR. MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT TRIP WAS IN THE SUMMER. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S SO LATE, BUT I I BELIEVE IT WAS AUGUST . ALRIGHT, UH, THOMAS RANK HAVE SOME THINGS ON THE WARRANT. REGISTER NUMBER NINE 11. UH, LET'S SEE IF THE WARRANT, WARRANT IS REGISTER 19. UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE PORT AUTHORITY RECEIVED THE LEGAL FEES OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. NOW , NOW THE PORT AUTHORITY TREATED US PRETTY BAD. I THINK THEY TREAT US PRETTY BAD AND THAT WE CAN'T EVEN GET A HARBOR POLICE HERE. I MEAN, THEY HAVE HARBOR POLICE FOR ALL OVER THE HARBOR, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE IT FOR, THEY DON'T HAVE IT FOR SANDY FOR NATIONAL CITY. AND I SEE ONE EX, I SEE THE EXPENSE FOR 21, 20 $1,750 AND 26 7 6 7 FOR EGIL ON-CALL PLAN REMOVER AND THE DELANEY AND MYERS IS GETTING 16, THOU GETTING $16,000. ACE ROOFING IS GETTING 47,000 NORTH COUNTY FIRE ALARMS IS GETTING 26,000 AND DOCUMENTS SIGNED GETS 70, 7200. NOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A SIGNATURE 7,200 TO GET A, TO GET A T PROMPTED SIGNATURE IS AWFULLY EXPENSIVE. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S MY OPINION. AND ANOTHER LEGAL EXPENSES FOR 36,000 AND THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M GONNA, UH, THERE'S NO QUESTION. I'M GONNA TAKE US ON TO THE, THERE'S GOT ONE MORE WARRANT DEAL. I'M GONNA DO IT SEPARATELY. UM, DO IT TOGETHER WITH THIS ONE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, FOR VOTING PURPOSES. SO WE GO TO, UH, NINE 14. AND, UH, TRUTH, ONCE AGAIN, I WAITED A LONG TIME TO HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO SPEAK, $60 FOR A JACKET FOR A DITAS. AND WITHOUT THAT, NOBODY WOULD KNOW WHAT HER SIDE GIG IS. THAT'S ALL I GOT ON THAT ONE. ONE MORE THING, UH, AS IT WAS KIND OF BRIEFLY REFERENCED, ILLEGALLY, $6,000 IN FOOD FOR AN EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY PARTY. SO FIRST, WHAT KIND OF HOLIDAY? AND THEN SECOND, WHAT KIND OF PARTY FOR THAT PRICE? THAT, THAT BETTER HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD. AND THAT SHOULD HAVE SOME PUBLIC, UH, MEMBERS INVITED, BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, THOMAS RECH. OKAY. UH, THIS IS FOR, THIS IS FOR NINE 14, CORRECT. BILINGUAL DICTIONARIES. $3,000. NOW A WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY ONLY COSTS ABOUT, I DON'T THINK IT COSTS $3,000, BUT A BILINGUAL DICTIONARY. THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY GOT $5,000 AND THE, AND FOR 40 TON FOR 10 TONS OF ICE FOR SNOW. 10 THOU, NO. 40 TONS OF ICE. FOR SNOW FOR KIMBALL PARK, $10,314. AND THE PARADISE CREEK WATER QUALITY 146,276,000. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THAT'S THE ONLY SPEAKERS WE HAVE. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ITEMS NINE 11 AND NINE 14? SO THE SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND, UH, SEE NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. ALRIGHT. [10.1 Compensation of Mayor and City Council.] NEXT WE GET INTO STAFF REPORTS HERE. AND FIRST ONE IS ON COMPENSATION [02:15:01] FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UH, WE WANT TO HANDLE START OFF ON THIS ONE, OR, OR, OR, OR SHELLY. YEAH, I CAN TAKE CARE, CARE OF IT. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT SHOWING UP ON THE SCREEN, SO I'M JUST GONNA CLOSE THAT OUT. . OKAY. UM, DUE TO THE ELECTION, UM, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BEGINNING NEW TERMS OF OFFICE, IT IS, UH, LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE FOR THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE CHANGES TO THEIR COMPENSATION, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT CODE. CHANGES TO THE COMPENSATION MUST COINCIDE WITH ELECTIONS AT WHICH MEMBERS BEGIN A NEW TERM IN OFFICE. CHANGES TO THE COMPENSATION OUTSIDE THIS WINDOW ARE NOT EFFECTIVE, UM, UNLESS, UH, THEY FOLLOW A TERM. SO, UM, THAT DOESN'T APPLY HERE. UH, THE, THE COMPENSATION, UM, HAS BEEN SET BY ORDINANCE ENACT BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THE LAST SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OCCURRED APRIL 18TH, 2023. AND THAT, UM, AT THAT TIME, THE SALARY ADJUSTED BASE SALARY OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS $1,546 AND 71 CENTS PER MONTH. THE BASE SALARY OF THE MAYOR WAS $5,211 AND 95 CENTS PER MONTH. COMPENSATION INCREASES CANNOT EXCEED 5% PER CALENDAR YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE LAST INCREASE IN COMPENSATION. UM, AN ELECTED MAYOR MAY, UH, BE PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO THAT WHICH HE OR SHE RECEIVES AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. OURS IS A LITTLE, OURS DOESN'T SEPARATED OUT LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON THE AMOUNT OF THE, OF THE MAYOR'S COMPENSATION. IN THE PAST, CITY COUNCIL HAS USED A VARIETY OF METHODS TO SET THEIR COMPENSATION, INCLUDING MATCHING ELECTED OFFICIAL COMPENSATION, INCREASES TO PERCENTAGE INCREASES, UH, PROVIDED BY THE MEA STAFF, OR USING REGIONAL BENCHMARKING TO INFORM THE DECISION. UH, EXHIBIT A TO YOUR REPORT, UH, IS A SURVEY THAT WAS, UH, CONDUCTED BY MYSELF, UM, WITH THE OTHER, UH, CITIES HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. UH, COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. BASED ON THE 5% PER CALENDAR YEAR LIMIT, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO 10%. AT THIS TIME. THE 10% INCREASE WOULD INCREASE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPENSATION TO $1,701 AND 38 CENTS PER MONTH. AND THE MAYOR'S COMPENSATION WOULD BE $5,733 AND 15 CENTS PER MONTH. UH, SHOULD THE COUNCIL AGREE TO INCREASE IN COMPENSATION, STAFF WILL RETURN AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING WITH A PROPOSED ORDINANCE, INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, UH, WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED A BUDGET, UH, APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. QUESTIONS ON THAT? IF NOT, WE GOT A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS. AND ON THIS ITEM, WE WILL GO THROUGH THOSE, UH, EDWARD NIETO TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRUTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY LUISA MCCARTHY. OKAY. UM, WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HERE IS THE, UM, UNDERLYING REASON TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE AFTER, UH, THE LAST ONE AS I, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, WAS TO JUSTIFY YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOUR EFFORTS THAT HAVE YOU DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR. NOW, THE TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE. I'VE GONE TO RODRIGUEZ'S MEETINGS. VERY LITTLE PEOPLE SHOW UP. THERE'S NOT MUCH COME OUT OF IT. AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANY EFFORT IN MY ESTIMATE OF WHAT HE DOES. SO HE'S CENSORED, YET HE WANTS TO GET AN INCREASE. YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, I SEE OTHER PEOPLE MAKING EFFORTS THAT ARE GENERATING REVENUE. SO THE COMPARISON IS NOT EQUITABLE AMONGST YOURSELVES. I THINK RODRIGUEZ JUST WEIGHS YOU DOWN, AND I DON'T THINK HE'S ENTITLED TO INCREASE. CAN I SAY IT ANY MORE CLEARER? OKAY. HE DOESN'T, THE OTHER HAND, WHAT I LIKE TO SAY HERE IS THAT, UM, THAT, UM, YOU [02:20:01] KNOW, YOU GAVE YOURSELF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INCREASE IN THE JUSTIFICATION WAS TO, BECAUSE YOU PUT TIME IN. BUT, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THE HELP. I DON'T SEE ANY CHANGE OF WHAT THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DID TO INCREASE YOUR EFFICIENCY, YOUR EFFECTIVENESS. I SEE MEETINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY. I SEE FLYERS ON THE STREET THAT AREN'T NECESSARY. I DON'T THINK YOU'VE DONE A LOT IN THOSE AREAS. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE DONE, LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. JOSE'S MEETINGS HAVE GOOD SPEAKERS AND ARE FOR GOOD PURPOSES. THEY'RE JUST NOT EFFECTIVE. OKAY, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU. UM, YOU HAVE TRUTH FOLLOWED BY LOUISA MCCARTHY. ALL RIGHT. WITH ELECTION SEASON OVER, IT'S NOW LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE TO HEAR THIS ITEM. AS IN WE'RE GONNA GIVE OURSELVES RAISES. NOW, IS EVERYONE ELIGIBLE FOR A SELF-DETERMINED RAISE? EVEN THOSE WHO'VE BEEN CD? 'CAUSE THERE ACTUALLY IS A WAY TO SAY IT MORE CLEARLY. AND THAT'S AFTER YOU GIVE A REALLY LONG SPEECH IN ENGLISH WITH A LOT OF GASLIGHTING. THEN YOU SAY IT AGAIN IN SPANISH, YOU SAY IT IN TWO LANGUAGES, OR MAYBE EVEN THREE, EXCEPT WHEN YOU'RE LIKE ME. YOU UNDERSTOOD IT IN ANY LANGUAGE. POLITICAL THEATER. UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. WHY ARE THERE NO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON THE AMOUNT OF THE MAYORS COMPENSATION? I DON'T REALLY LIKE THAT. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE LIMITATIONS. AND THE LAST SALARY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS 1,546. THE MAYORS WAS 5,211 PER MONTH. AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PROBABLY HAVE A 10% INCREASE. AND YOU'RE GONNA JACK THAT UP TO STILL ALMO ALMOST GETTING TO THE $6,000 RANGE FOR MAYOR. THAT'S QUITE A LOT OF MONEY. UH, SO I ASK, ARE YOU GUYS DOING A BETTER JOB THAN LAST YEAR? OR DO YOU JUST BELIEVE INFLATION ALWAYS JUSTIFIES RAISES FOR EVERYONE? UH, IF SO, DID THE COST OF THE CITY DOING BUSINESS GO DOWN IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE RAISES? BECAUSE IRONICALLY, THE WORD FINANCIAL IS ACTUALLY MISSPELLED ON PAGE 2 25 OF THE AGENDA PACKET. THERE'S ALSO AN EXTRA NUMBER MISSING UNDER SANTIS MAYOR'S COMPENSATION ON PAGE 2 26. IT'S GONNA COST MORE MONEY IF YOU KEEP HAVING ERRORS. I DO WANNA THANK STAFF INCLUDING THE COUNTYWIDE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION CHART, SO I KNOW WHERE TO GIVE THEM A HARD TIME ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY'RE RAKING IN FOR A VOLUNTEER POSITION. 'CAUSE I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING AT EL CAJON AND ESCONDIDO. I DO, UH, PLAN ON GOING TO EL CAJON AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK AGAINST HIGHER AND HIGHER SALARIES AND PUBLIC SERVICE EVERYWHERE I GO. NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THE AVERAGE PERSON NEVER SEES A 5% OR A 10% ANNUAL RAISE. AND TWO, BECAUSE MONEY SHOULD NEVER BE THE REASON WHY ANYONE GETS INTO THIS BUSINESS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A VERY HARD JOB. FEW WANNA STAY IN, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER GET RICH DOING IT. WHEN WE SEE SCU BUYING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR MANSIONS, WE KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. THAT'S THE TYPE OF CORRUPTION TO HELP DETER VIA LOW COMPENSATION AT EVERY OFFICE. THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE LOUISA MCCARTHY. BACK AGAIN, , MISS, UH, DITA COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU LOOK FABULOUS BRINGING STYLE . SO MY POINT IS, I'M IN FAVOR OF GIVING COUNCIL A RACE. WHY? BECAUSE I AM BUSINESS SAVVY. I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. AND AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE IN-HOUSE BEFORE YOU OUTSOURCE. I MEAN, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND A LOT OF EDUCATION UNDER THEIR BELT THAT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE AND, UH, SAVE MONEY. BUT ON THE MONEY, UH, SCENE, YOU HAVE RECENTLY APPROVED A SIGNIFICANT PAY RAISE TO YOUR SECRETARY, MAYOR, NOW MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT WHO HAS ZERO EMPLOYEES TO MANAGE. MR. MARTINEZ MENTIONED THAT SHE'S A PRESIDENT OF TWO VERY LARGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IS TRUE. AND SHE'S ALSO AN OWNER OF USA CONSULTING FIRM. AND MY QUESTION IS, WHERE DOES SHE FIND THE TIME TO WORK FOR THE CITY? I HAVE SEEN PAST COUNSEL LIKE LUIS NAIDA AND OTHERS WHO MEET WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO BE OF SERVICE. AND I'VE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE HERE ON THE PANEL THAT USE THEIR BUSINESS, THEIR EDUCATION RESOURCES TO HELP OTHERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR YOU. UH, WHEN YOU'RE GENUINELY ARE OF [02:25:01] SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE, THEN I SEE MERIT IN BEING COMPENSATED. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE ITEM. THERE'S ONE MORE. OKAY. I DIDN'T HAVE HER SLIP FOR YOU, BUT COME ON IN. YEAH, YEAH. YOU PUT IN FOR TEN TWO. I'M NOT A I'M NOT, YOU CAN, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE RAISES, BUT I ALSO THINK YOU SHOULD GET A COST OF LIVING, UH, COST OF LIVING INDEX. A COST OF LIVING INDEX WITH THAT. NOT ONCE A YEAR, BUT NOT, I WOULD SAY QUARTERLY. I WOULD LIKE, BUT TWICE A YEAR, BECAUSE ONCE A YEAR IT TAKES THE, THE PRICES GO UP TOO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST CLARIFICATION. UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT ACCORDING TO CITY POLICY OR ACCORDING TO COUNCIL POLICY. THIS IS STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO GO BY. AND SO IT, IT DOES ALLOW FOR, UH, AS FAR AS THE COUN, UH, FOR COUNCIL, A MAXIMUM 5% PER YEAR. AND IT CAN ONLY BE DONE AFTER AN ELECTION. THAT'S THE WAY THE STATE, UH, STATE RULES READ. SO WE DON'T GET TO DO IT ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR. WE DON'T GET TO DO IT FOR, FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. SO THAT'S ONE THING. UH, THE OTHER THING IS, YEAH, FOR, UM, MAYORS THAT ARE ELECTED SEPARATELY, IT HAS NO LIMIT. BUT WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE HERE IN THIS CITY, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON HERE AS FAR BACK AS BEFORE, THAT AS OUR REMEMBER, IS THAT WE'VE TIED THE MAYOR WITH THE COUNCIL, THE SAME PERCENTAGE. AND, UH, EXCEPT I THINK THE LAST TIME WE DID IT, DID IT LESS, BUT THE, UH, UH, BUT THE, UH, UH, SO THIS IS ALL BY STATE LAW. SO IT'S NOTHING WE GET TO CHANGE. SO WE CAN'T DEAL WITH SUCH STUFF AS, UH, YOU KNOW, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, ANY OF THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. AND SO THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE DO IT. AND WE HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, UH, AFTER, AFTER EACH ELECTION. AND, UH, UH, AND SO WE HAVE A, A SHORT TIME PERIOD, OUR ONLY MEETING THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE THIS, WHEN WE HAD A MEETING THAT DID NOTHING BUT BASICALLY SWORE IN THE, UH, UH, NEWLY, UH, ELECTED, OR IN THIS CASE, REELECTED, UH, OFFICIALS. SO THIS BECAME THE FIRST MEETING THAT WE, WE HAD THIS AVAILABLE TO DO THIS AFTER THAT. AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN A, IN A TIMELY FASHION. AND IF WE DO IT TONIGHT, WHATEVER WE COME UP WITH TONIGHT, IT HAS TO COME BACK IN THE FORM OF RESOLUTION AT THE NEXT MEETING. AND SO, UH, ORDINANCE. HUH? ORDINANCE, YEAH. AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE IN THE PAST DID THIS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS. SOMETIMES. I MEAN, WHEN WE WERE IN SOME REALLY ROUGH TIMES, UH, AND WE WERE AT THE POINT OF ASKING THE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES TO TAKE NO INCREASES. I MEAN, IT WAS THAT, AND THE, WE ALSO, THE COUNCIL LED THE WAY AND FIRST OF ALL, VOTED THEMSELF NO INCREASE. AND, UH, DID THAT FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS. AND, UH, UM, AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS BACK IN THE EARLY, UH, THE MID NINETIES IN PARTICULAR. THE, UH, UH, SO WE'VE DONE IT THAT WAY. WE'VE ALSO TIED IT, AS WAS MENTIONED, TIED IT WITH THE, UH, MEA. AND SO ANY INCREASES, 'CAUSE THIS WOULD BE FROM DECEMBER, WHAT WAS THE DATE? DECEMBER 10TH, WASN'T IT? DECEMBER 10TH WHEN IT SWORE IT IN. SO IT'LL BE FROM DECEMBER 10TH, 2023 PERIOD TO THE, UM, MEETING IN DECEMBER OF 2026, WHERE A NEW COUNSEL WOULD BE SWORN IN. SO IT'D BE ANYTHING IN THAT TIME PERIOD. UM, AND SO WE TIED IT WITH THE, UH, WHAT THE MEA WOULD RECEIVE UP TO THE 10%. WE, NO MATTER WHAT THEY GET, YOU CAN'T GO BEYOND, YOU CANNOT GO BEYOND 10% BY STATE LAW AND FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE REALITY IS, WE KNOW THAT IT, IF INFLATION WAS GOING, AND SHALL WE SAY IT LIKE IT WAS THERE FOR A CRAZY PERIOD OF TIME, 22%. EVERYONE'S GETTING 22% RAISES, WHATEVER. IF ELECTED OFFICIALS SAY, WE'LL TAKE A 1% INCREASE, YOU'RE GONNA GET FLACK FOR IT. WE KNOW THAT THAT JUST, THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. AND, UH, SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE, UM, DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THIS. UH, MY PREFERENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE IDEA OF, OF TYING IT TO THE, UM, TO THE EMPLOYEES. AND, UH, BUT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES. UM, THE STATE LAW SAYS BASED ON THE 5% PER CALENDAR YEAR LIMIT, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN INCREASE COMPENSATION UP TO 10% AT THIS POINT IN TIME. CORRECT. QUESTION TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR. WHERE DID HE GO? . OH, BRUCE. SORRY. BRUCE . YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S ABOUT $155 ADDITIONAL FOR 10%. WHAT'S THE TAX, WHAT'S THE TAX FOR THAT? UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LABOR TAX. LABOR TAX. SO BASICALLY WE'RE GONNA GET [02:30:01] ABOUT 89 BUCKS. YEAH. ROUGH. YEAH. ESTIMATE. SO WE'RE GONNA BE TAXED AGAIN. PLUS THE PURSE IS GONNA GO UP. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE CAN, WE CAN, UM, PUT VALUE INTO THIS POSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUT VALUE, MR. MAYOR, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE ALL THE TIME. THERE'S GONNA BE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE TO COME, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO, TO LEAD THE CITY WITH EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WITH, UH, KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO HELP STAFF RUN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, AND THIS VALUE IS IMPORTANT. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, I MEAN, FOR US, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HERE LEADING THE, THE, UM, THE CITY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S JUST COST OF LIVING. IT'S WAY OF LIFE. IT'S LIFE, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW THE, THE, UM, THE, UM, DIRECTION OF THE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, OF THIS PROPO OR, OR THIS, UH, STATE LAW THAT, UM, THAT IS ALLOWING US TO DO IT. UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WILL LOOK AT IT, MR. MAYOR, THAT'S $155, RIGHT? AND THEN WE HAVE 350 EXPENSE ALLOWANCE. YOU ALSO HAVE, AND THEN A 750 CAR ALLOWANCE THAT YOU HAVE THAT WE DON'T, WE ALL GO OUT AND DRIVE TO OUR DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOMETIMES I, I BORROW A CITY CAR FROM MISS MARTHA OVER THERE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY DISTRICT ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND HE CAN LOG THOSE CAR VEHICLES THAT I, THAT ROMAN AND I USES. SO LET US BALANCE THIS AND BE FAIR, UM, IN, IN BEING ABLE TO LIVE, RIGHT? MM-HMM . THAT WE'RE NOT HERE TO GET RICH. I, I LISTEN TO, I HEAR A LOT OF YOU, BUT WE GOTTA PUT VALUE TO THE, TO THE, UH, EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE HERE AS LEADERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION. UM, AND SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE GOTTA FOLLOW WHAT, UM, WHAT THE STATE IS ALLOWING US TO EVERY TWO YEARS, 155 BUCKS. I'M EMBARRASSED, . YEAH. BUT THAT'S THE LIMIT THE STATE PUTS ON US. RIGHT? OKAY. UH, A QUESTION TO CITY STAFF, BECAUSE, SO THAT POINT, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER, IMANI, AND LET ME SAY THIS TO THE PUBLIC, UM, IT HONESTLY, YES, IT IS. UH, UM, YOU ALWAYS HEAR, UH, FOLKS THAT THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T GET A RAISE, RIGHT? OR, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MEMBERS SAID THAT, UM, WE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SERVANTS AND WE, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T BE PAID, UM, HARDLY ANYTHING. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, TRUTH, YOU SAID THAT, AND AT LEAST YOU'RE CONSISTENT. SO I, I DISAGREE, BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE CONSISTENT. UM, AND MY COUNTER TO THAT IS I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT TO HAVE REALLY LOW PAID EMPLOYEES, AND PARTICULARLY NOT YOUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY HUN, UM, YOU KNOW, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT RESTRICTS OUR ABILITY TO REALLY DELVE INTO THINGS AND TO GIVE SCRUTINY TO OUR PROJECTS, OUR POLICIES, OUR PROGRAMS. UH, I, I WILL SAY THIS, I MAY HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I COULD SAY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I AGREE OR DISAGREE, EACH OF MY COLLEAGUES WORKS THEIR BUTT OFF FOR THE CITY AND FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. IN A WAY, I HAVE NOT SEEN PREVIOUS COUNCILS BE INVOLVED. AND I KNOW FROM, I'M NOT GONNA LIKE, YOU KNOW, EX EXPOSE THEM, BUT IT'S, IT'S THEIR BUSINESS TO TELL. BUT I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE STRUGGLING. MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL IN PARTICULAR ARE STRUGGLING WITH HAVING TO BALANCE THE TIME THAT WE PUT AND DEDICATE INTO THE CITY THAT WE'RE NOT COMPENSATED FOR. AND YET WE STILL HAVE TO FEED OUR FAMILIES. AND THAT'S DIFFICULT. SO WE'RE LEFT WITH A CHOICE. EITHER WE DEDICATE LESS TIME TO YOU ALL TO SERVE YOU ALL, OR WE, YOU KNOW, UM, OR WE, UH, AND, AND FEED OUR FAMILIES. OR LIKE MY SITUATION, I'M ON FOOD STAMPS BECAUSE I MADE A DECISION LAST YEAR TO QUIT MY, MY FULL-TIME JOB SO THAT I COULD FOCUS ON, ON THIS CITY. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A STRUGGLE, RIGHT? UM, SO I, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO BE COMPENSATING ANY EMPLOYEE SOLO, AND I DON'T THINK THAT I SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENT AS A LEADER BECAUSE OF THAT. I HEAR, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, MR. NIETOS COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY, YOU KNOW, PROVING OUR WORK. AND I CAN DO THAT. I COULD TELL YOU WHAT I'M DOING, THE OUTREACH, THE NEWSLETTERS, SOME OF THE MEETINGS I'VE BEEN GOING TO LKO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL RESULT IN UL UH, ULTIMATELY MILLIONS [02:35:01] OF DOLLARS BACK TO NATIONAL CITY FROM THE PORT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OWED. AND THAT'S WHAT EVEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE ANALYSIS FOR THAT. SO ALL OF THAT DOES BRING VALUE. AND WE NEED TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER IMAN'S POINT, WE NEED TO VALUE OUR WORK. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE A VEHICLE ALLOWANCE THAT WOULD BE HUGELY HELPFUL FOR ME PERSONALLY, THAT HAS AN UNRELIABLE VAN AND TRY TO RENT AN EEV, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH LYFT. AND THAT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE. THAT'S $300 A WEEK. THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE, LIKE ANYMORE. SO I'M GONNA RETURN THAT CARD TOMORROW. SO VEHICLE ALLOWANCE, UH, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT, IF NOT THIS MEETING, A FUTURE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT. UM, BUT I, I JUST SAY ALL THIS TO SAY THERE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE BRING UP THE PERCENTAGES. THE PERCENTAGES ARE NOT, WE, WE DO NOT, WE CANNOT GO BY PERCENTAGES BECAUSE IN EMPLOYEES 60,000, LIKE, SO RON, YOUR 10% IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR 10%, YOU KNOW? TOTALLY. SO, UH, SO IT'S SO 150 FOR US, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MAX, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND THAT'S, IT, IT, ANYTHING FOR ME IS APPRECIATED. AND I, AND I THINK IT'S DESERVING OF NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT ALL OF US, UM, BECAUSE THE BASE IS SO LOW, BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BASE. SO I, I DEFINITELY, UM, SUPPORT THIS. OKAY, LET ME JUST SAY THAT I KNOW IN THROUGH THE YEARS, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME, AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, JUST REGULAR JOBS, SOMETIMES BUSINESS PEOPLE, WHATEVER, WILL APPROACH ME EITHER ABOUT THE IDEA OF RUNNING, LIKE FOR COUNCIL, AND THEY, WHAT ALL IS INVOLVED, AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS INVOLVED. AND AT THAT TIME, OF COURSE, IT WAS, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DISTRICTS. WE HAD, YOU KNOW, CITYWIDE. AND SO YOU HAVE TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. AND, AND THEN THEY WOULD ASK ABOUT THE COMPENSATION, AND I WOULD TELL 'EM, AND THEY'D GO, I CAN'T GET AWAY FROM MY JOB, OR FROM, I CANNOT, YOU KNOW, UH, GIVE UP MY BUSINESS TO LIVE ON THAT. AND THEY GO, WELL, WHAT ABOUT IF I RUN FOR MAYOR? AND THEN I TELL 'EM THAT, AND THEY LAUGH AT THAT TOO. THEY GO, THAT'S FULL-TIME, AND THAT'S CONSIDERED A FULL-TIME POSITION. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD WE COULD CAN LIVE ON THAT. UH, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT DOES DENY A LOT OF, UH, OF INDIVIDUALS REALIZING YOU DO NEED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S DONE IN ON THESE JOBS, WHETHER IF IT'S A PART-TIME OR IT'S A FULL-TIME. AND, UH, AND AS I SAY, ELECTED OFFICIALS SHY AWAY BIG TIME FROM DEALING WITH ANY PAY INCREASES, BECAUSE I SAY IF THEY SAY 1% MM-HMM . THEY'RE GONNA GET, THEY'RE GONNA GET CRUCIFIED FOR DOING 1%. AND WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS, YOU KNOW, HITTING UP MUCH, MUCH HIGHER. AND THESE NUMBERS ARE, YOU KNOW, LOW. AND ANOTHER THING THAT I'LL SAY IS THAT WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE COUNCIL, WAS IT 30 SOME ODD YEARS AGO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, MY PAY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WAS HIGHER THAN THE COUNCIL'S GETTING. NOW, THE PAY FOR THE MAYOR IS ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT I'M GETTING NOW AS MAYOR. FULL-TIME MAYOR. AND THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE WE, WE TRIED TO BE REALLY FRUGAL WITH CITY'S MONEY. SO HALF OF THE HALF OF THE SALARY CAME FROM, UH, THE CITY, AND HALF OF IT CAME FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. WELL, WE'RE STILL DOING THE REDEVELOPMENT WORK, BUT THE GOVERNOR KILLED REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. AND HE SAID, YOU CAN'T TRANSFER THE STUFF OVER. YOU GOTTA STICK WITH IT. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, COUNCIL WAS MAKING LITERALLY HALF OF WHAT IT WAS MAKING BEFORE. AND A BIG CHUNK OF THE MAYOR'S DEAL CAME OUT TOO. SO WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH 30 YEARS AGO. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S A REALITY. UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE KICK AND SCREAM AND EVERYTHING WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, ELECTORATES DO TALK, BUT NO, NOBODY UP HERE IS GETTING RICH, I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THAT. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE NOT AT THE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT AT THE VERY LOWEST AREA ON THE COUNCIL, AND WE'RE NOT, CERTAINLY NOT AT THE HIGHEST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE, LOW MIDDLE, UH, THE FULL-TIME MAYOR SALARY. WE HAVE FOUR FULL-TIME MAYORS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. YOU KNOW, OUR, THE MAYOR'S POSITION HERE IS THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR. UH, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, WE, WE, WE, WE TOOK THESE JOBS KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WERE GONNA BE, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME KIND OF ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION. AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT, THAT THE STATE REALLY ALLOWS. OH, PUT, WE HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY. SO THEN WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK. COUNCIL COMING BACK. COUNCIL. YES. UH, WHAT'S YOUR, UM, COUNCIL VICE MAYOR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 10% RAISE FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL ABOUT THE CAR ALLOWANCE. I, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THIS IS STATE LAW. SO I, I, BUT I, TO THAT POINT, I WOULD RECOMMEND US, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BODY. IT'S A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, SO I'M LIKE, MAYBE WE, YOU [02:40:01] KNOW, ASK THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS THIS. SO THE, IT IS, I THINK JUST THE 10% ACROSS THE BOARD. I SECOND THAT. AND, UM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER TO LOOK INTO THAT, UM, CLASSIFICATION, PLEASE. THANK YOU. OKAY, MAYOR RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, EVERY SPEAKER. I ALSO AGREE WITH, UH, EVERY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES. UM, THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. IT DEFINITELY TAKES A LOT MORE TIME THAN FOLKS THINK. UM, BUT I DID, UH, LAST TIME, UH, WE DISCUSSED A, UH, INCREASE. UH, I SUPPORTED IT, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A 30% INCREASE FOR COUNCIL AND 15% FOR MAYOR. MM-HMM . BUT THE 15% FOR MAYOR WAS A LOT MORE FINANCIALLY, UM, THAN THE 30. UM, BUT I DID SO BECAUSE WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RAISE, AND WE HAD ACTUALLY DEFERRED IT FOR SIX YEARS, UH, AT THAT TIME. AND WE HAD COVID FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH INCREASING WAGES FOR THE CITY WORKERS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, UH, CATCHING UP ON SOME OF THOSE DEFERRED COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR COUNCIL AND MAYOR. UM, EVERY ONE OF US HERE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS. UH, I DO BELIEVE EVERYBODY WORKS HARD IN THEIR OWN WAY. UM, UH, I, MYSELF, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST ONE REELECTION, SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT EARLIER, UH, WITH OVER 70% OF THE VOTE, CLEARLY FOLKS WANT US HERE, RIGHT? TO REPRESENT THEM AND TO WORK HARD ON THEIR BEHALF. UM, I, I AM ALSO VERY CONSCIOUS OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. AND, UH, IT'S THE REASON WHY I VOTED NOT LONG AGO AGAINST THE 23%, $23,000 INCREASE FOR THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT. I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS A PRUDENT DECISION, WHICH IS MUCH MORE THAN ALL OF OUR INCREASED DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW COMBINED. UM, I DON'T AGREE THAT DURING THIS BUDGET CRISIS, WE SHOULD BE, UM, CURRENTLY RECEIVING A RAISE. AND I SAY THAT, UM, AND NOT BEING INSENSITIVE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, AND I SYMPATHIZE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE DIFFICULTY OF OUR POSITION, UH, BUT WE ARE FACING, UH, PRETTY SIZEABLE ODDS IN THE COMING YEARS. AND SO THE, I I ALSO LAST TWO WANNA REMIND FOLKS LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES, WHICH I ENDED UP SUPPORTING AND WORKING HARD. WE WORKED TO EXPAND CITY RESOURCES, UM, INTO OUR BUILDING AND PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, INTO OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. UH, SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING ALL THAT. SO, I, I SYMPATHIZE WITH EVERYBODY. I, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, BUT, UM, I ALSO, UH, CONSIDERING THE ODDS THAT WE'RE FACING, UH, UH, FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE PRUDENT, CALL THE QUESTION. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THIS WOULD BE TO BRING THIS BACK FOR AN ORDINANCE AND PLEASE VOTE. MOTION APPROVE BY FOUR TO ONE VOTE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. [10.2 Establish an Investment Account with Neighborhood National Bank] NEXT WE GO ON TO TEN TWO. THIS IS TO ESTABLISH AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK IF THEY PLEASE, UH, COME UP TO THE DIOCESE AS WE, AS I, UH, BEGIN OPENING COMMENTS. AND IF WE COULD PLEASE SHOW THE, UH, THANK YOU DAMON SHOW THE, UH, THE, UH, DESIGN OF THE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK BRANCH. YEAH, IF YOU GO COMING BACK TO NATIONAL CITY AT EIGHTH AND D IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, I CAN RE REMEMBER, AND I THINK MOST, SOME OF YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK USED TO BE LOCATED ON SWEETWATER, UM, ROAD IN FRONT OF, UH, KIND OF THE MOORE FURNITURE BUILDING, AND THEN WENT AWAY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO THIS IS A RETURN TO NATIONAL CITY. SO I GOT, I GOTTA PUSH THIS RIGHT, DAMON, TO SHOW THE, THERE'S A PRETTY PICTURE THERE. GO BACK. THAT'S KIND OF THE PRETTIEST. WOW. SO THIS, THIS BANK, UH, THIS BUILDING IS LAID FALLOW AND QUITE DELIGHTED, UH, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UM, SO IT'S REALLY HAPPY TO SEE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL, UM, UM, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, LEASING THE PROPERTY. UM, THEY'VE ALREADY SECURED THEIR LEASE. THEY'VE SECURED THEIR BUILDING PERMITS, AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE NECESSARY DEMOLITION INTERIOR. AND THEN IT'LL BE A FULL, UH, UH, TENANT IMPROVEMENT RETROFIT. UH, SO IT'S, IT'S A BIG DEAL. UH, YOU KNOW, JUST ON THE ONSET, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND WELCOME NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK TO OUR CITY. UH, THIS IS QUITE AN INVESTMENT. YOU'RE WELCOME, UM, TO BE HERE. UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU NO MATTER WHAT THAT MEANS. UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH [02:45:01] AN INSTITUTION THAT'S WILLING TO COME TO OUR CITY, UH, A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION LENDER THAT IS GONNA BE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TONIGHT'S ITEM, UM, IS REGARDING THE INVESTMENT OF, UH, UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING $2 MILLION OUT OF OUR INVESTMENT, UH, UH, FUNDS, UM, UM, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK THROUGH THE CEDARS PROGRAM, THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT ACCOUNT, REGISTRY SERVICE PROGRAM. UM, MORE THAN PROVIDING A RETURN, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS AS STRONG AS OTHER, UH, WAYS WE RE WE INVEST OUR MONIES THROUGH, THROUGH, THROUGH THE OTHER MEASURES THAT WE, WHERE WE INVEST OUR FUNDS. AND, AND I'LL HAVE BRUCE, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, TALK ABOUT THAT. THE, THE THING THAT'S REALLY, THE, THE THING THAT'S REALLY GREAT ABOUT THIS IDEA IS THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING A LOCAL LENDER THAT'S WILLING TO INVEST AND GROW WITH US IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEY, AS THEY ARE FORMED, UM, AS A-C-D-F-I BANK, THEY MUST MAKE THEIR LOANS TO A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND, AND, AND BUSINESSES SERVING, SERVING THAT KIND OF A COMMUNITY. SO THE FUNDING THAT THE CITY, THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY WOULD MAKE IN THE BANK WOULD RESULT IN RETURN. BUT EQUALLY, AND I THINK EVEN POTENTIALLY MORE IS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED TO INVEST IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, WHEN, WHEN I, UH, MET WITH SCOTT, YOU KNOW, WELL, WELL OVER A YEAR AGO ABOUT THIS, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA AND, UM, IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET HERE. THANKS, SCOTT, FOR YOUR PATIENCE. 'CAUSE BEING A NEW CITY MANAGER TAKES, TAKES TIME TO, TO GET THINGS GOING, , BUT YOU'RE HERE. UM, THIS IS LIVE. AND, UH, BEFORE WE ASK SCOTT TO PROVIDE HIS COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED BRUCE TO QUICKLY TALK ABOUT, UM, OUR INVESTMENT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE DO OUR INVESTMENTS, BRUCE, AT THE CITY, GENERALLY FROM A HIGH LEVEL, AND HOW, UH, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK WOULD, UH, POTENTIALLY FIT INTO THIS. SURE. GOOD EVENING. UM, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR, UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR INVESTMENTS DIVIDED UP INTO REALLY THREE CATEGORIES. WE HAVE MONEY INVESTED WITH THE LOCAL INVESTMENT AGENCY AND THE LA LAFE, THAT'S THE STATE POOL. AND THEN WE HAVE FUNDS, ABOUT ONE THIRD OF OUR INVESTMENTS IS WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT, SAN DIEGO COUNTY INVESTMENT POOL. AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT ONE THIRD INVESTED WITH ASSET, UM, CHANDLER ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP. SO THIS WOULD BE ONE ADDITIONAL PRODUCT IN OUR PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS. AND SO IT'S, UM, UM, IT HAS MORE OF A RESIDUAL EFFECT, UM, BEYOND INVESTMENTS, UH, PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE INVESTING OUR LOCAL DOLLARS BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. UH, AND AT THIS POINT, MAYBE MAYOR COMING TO NATIONAL CITY AND THE VISION, UH, OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER MARTINEZ. I'M SCOTT ANDREWS, PRESIDENCY OF NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK. YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE REESTABLISHING A BANKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY. WE'VE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY, UH, UH, A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS TIMES. UH, THE BANK ITSELF IS A-C-D-F-I, AS CITY MANAGER MARTINEZ MENTIONED, WHICH INDICATES THAT WE'RE A MISSION-DRIVEN INSTITUTION THAT WE ARE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE LOW, MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TO LOAN, 60% OR MORE OF OUR LOANS ARE MADE IN THESE LOW, MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN FACT, JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT YEARS AGO, WE DID OVER 90% OF OUR LOANS IN LOW MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO OUR, UH, INTENTION WITH, WITH SEEKING THESE DEPOSITS FROM THE CITY IS TO TURN AROUND AND DEPLOY THESE FUNDS BACK IN THE, INTO THE CITY IN THE FORM OF LOANS, GRANTS, CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, TO REALLY HELP WITH THE OVERALL ECONOMIC ECONOMIC GROWTH AND VITALITY OF THE CITY. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. WE'RE GONNA BE RIGHT THERE AS, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED AT EIGHTH AND C, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO, TO MOVE OUR HEADQUARTERS. WE'RE GOING TO RE DESIGNATE OUR HEADQUARTERS AS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. SO I'LL BE ABLE TO PROUDLY SAY THAT OUR BANK IS HEADQUARTERED IN NATIONAL CITY, AND YOU ALL CAN BRAG THAT YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY BANK HEADQUARTERED HERE. SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, UH, FROM, UH, [02:50:01] THE COUNCIL. UM, BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED, VERY PLEASED TO RECEIVE THIS DEPOSIT. WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE YIELD, AND AGAIN, I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, TURN THAT MONEY AROUND AND DO GOOD THINGS WITH IT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. UM, NOW GET TO THE MICROPHONE HERE. UM, YOU BASICALLY ARE A SMALL BUSINESS BANK, CORRECT? WE ARE. RIGHT. WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE ONE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. RIGHT. UM, AND THE, UH, THE OTHER THINGS I KNOW BEFORE WHEN YOU WERE DOWN ON 30TH STREET, UH, HAD THE LOCATION THERE, UH, WE DID THE SAME THING. WE INVESTED IN THE CEDARS PROGRAM AT THAT POINT, RIGHT? AND, UH, WORKED OUT EXTREMELY WELL. WE'VE GOT GOOD RETURN ON OUR MONEY, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, I MEAN, WE CAN TAKE THE MONEY IN THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN RESERVES OR WHATEVER, AND WE CAN PUT IT WITH A BANKING INSTITUTION. AND SO THAT I DON'T HIT ON ONE, I'LL SAY THE BANK OF TOKYO, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THEM AROUND HERE. UH, AND THEY'RE GONNA, IT'S GONNA GET INVESTED OVER HERE OR HERE, WHEREVER. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS, IT STAYS WITHIN OUR, BASICALLY OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THOSE INVESTMENTS. AND, UH, YEAH, IT STILL GIVES US, IT STILL GIVES US A GOOD RETURN ON, ON THE INVESTMENT, BUT PUTS IT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH ONCE AGAIN IS, BECOMES VERY CYCLIC. AND, UH, UM, AS I SAY, PROGRAM WORKED OUT VERY WELL. WE WORKED WITH YOUR BANK BEFORE AND, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY NOT IN THIS CASE NOW, CONCERNING YOUR, I I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING READY TO ACTUALLY START CONSTRUCTION THERE. YES. AND EVERYTHING, UM, NOW THE PROPERTY, DID YOU, DID YOU BUY THE PROPERTY OR ARE YOU LEASING? NO, WE'RE, WE'RE LEASING THE PROPERTY SING. OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. YES, WE ARE. AND, BUT WE'RE SHARING, WE'RE ACTUALLY SPLITTING THE COST OF THE TENANT IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE BUILDING OWNERS. SO WE'RE INVESTING IN THE BUILDING OURSELF. OKAY. ALRIGHT. YOU THINK? YEAH, I, I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WHITE ELEPHANT GOING TO BE REDEVELOP LIKE THAT. AND I CAN ALREADY, YOU KNOW, I'M ENVISION, YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE MINDS OF BEN AND CARLOS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CREATING THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH A COMMUNITY BANKING, UM, INSTITUTION THAT YOU ARE BRINGING FORTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M VERY EXCITED. UM, I'M GLAD THAT, UM, OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, YOU IS, IS, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS. UM, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CUTTING THAT RIBBON WHEN YOU DO YOUR YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. WHEN YOU DO YOUR BE, UH, OPENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE MY ASSOCIATE MELON ACACIA, WHO'S HERE. MELLON'S A FORMER, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE, OF THE, UH, NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER. MM-HMM . UH, HAS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF NATIONAL CITY, I THINK BORN AND RAISED HERE AS A MATTER OF FACT. SO, UM, WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY HERE. OKAY. WHAT IS, WHAT'S IT, THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS, UM, MORE LIKE COMMENTS. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR YOUR ESTABLISHMENT BEING WILLING TO INVEST IN NATIONAL CITY. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT SOME ELECTEDS HAVE DONE ON THIS MATTER. I KNOW THAT, UM, UH, I WAS GONNA SAY COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, HAS BROUGHT THIS UP MULTIPLE TIMES. THE NEED FOR US TO UTILIZE OUR RESERVES TO REINVEST IT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND NOT SOME BANK IN NEW YORK. THAT JUST MAKES SENSE. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THE WORK IN, IN GETTING IT HERE. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO INVEST HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR, WHAT DO WE DO HERE? WE APPROVE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF. THAT'S MY MOTION. MR. CHAIRMAN, WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO? YES. IS THAT YOUR MOTION? YES. VERY GOOD. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF THOUGH. OKAY. YEAH, GO AHEAD. OKAY. UH, BUT, UH, SO FOR, UM, FOR BRUCE, ONE OF THE, UH, IN THE STAFF REPORT IT SAYS IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THESE FUNDS MAY NOT EARN A YIELD AS HIGH AS THE CURRENT INVESTMENT POOL OPTIONS, UH, THESE FUNDS SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK'S EFFORTS TO MAKE LOANS TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE NATIONAL STATE COMMUNITY. UM, SO DO WE HAVE A COMPARISON OF WHAT THAT DIFFERENTIAL WOULD BE? SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WITH OUR INVESTMENT POLICY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT IN THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DO SUPPORT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK COMING IN, HEADQUARTERING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN, THE REVITALIZATION, THE LOANS, I SUPPORT ALL THAT. UH, I AM, I'M JUST NOT SEEING ANY QUANTIFICATION OF, OF THAT. SO DO WE HAVE SOMETHING TO, TO QUANTIFY THAT SPECIFICALLY? I'M LOOKING AT THE YIELD. SO IT SAYS IT MAY NOT EARN AS HIGH A YIELD AS OTHER INVESTMENT POOLS, SO I'M, WHAT'S THE POTENTIAL THERE? WHERE'S THE INFO THERE? WELL, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THE CDOS IS A, A VIABLE PRODUCT WITHIN OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, WITHIN OUR INVESTMENT, UM, POLICY. SO THAT IS, UM, AN ELIGIBLE PRODUCT THAT WE CAN [02:55:01] PURCHASE. IT'S, UM, DOESN'T YIELD AS HIGH AS WHAT WE HAVE WITH OTHER INVESTMENTS WITH LEIF OR WITH, UM, CHANDLER ASSET MANAGEMENT. 'CAUSE THEY, THEY INVEST IN DIFFERENT PRODUCTS. THIS IS BASICALLY BUYING CDS. AND SO CDS DO NOT EARN QUITE AS MUCH AS OTHER PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET THAT WE INVEST IN. BUT THE RESIDUAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY KIND OF OUTWEIGHS, AND WE'RE NOT INVESTING A LOT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE INVESTING 2 MILLION. WE HAVE, UM, CERTAINLY MORE INVESTED WITH OTHER PRODUCTS WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY, UM, INVESTMENT POOL. SO AS, AS TIME PROGRESS, WE CAN, UM, KIND OF SEE HOW CDE RATES ARE, ARE, ARE TRENDING, AND IF THEY TEND TO TREND UP HIGHER, WE CAN INVEST MORE INTO THOSE PRODUCTS. GOT IT. SO, BUT DO WE, DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS? DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY FIGURES THERE? ANY POTENTIAL COMPARISONS? WELL, THE LATEST CDS, I BELIEVE THEY'RE RUNNING, UM, IN MID, UM, AND AMID, UM, THREE, 3% AND ON OUR LAST INVESTMENT, UM, QUARTERLY INVESTMENT RE RETURN, WE ARE YIELDING, UM, ALMOST 4% MM-HMM . ON SOME OF OUR OTHER INVESTMENTS. SO WHAT IS THE, THE DIFFERENCE? BECAUSE IF THIS, IF WE'RE GETTING A LOWER RETURN FOR THIS, BUT WE'RE GAINING, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY BASED, UH, BENEFITS, WHICH I, I SUPPORT THAT. BUT, BUT WHAT IS, BUT I, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE, AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT, WHAT KIND OF NUMBER ARE, ARE, ARE WE LOOKING AT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? WELL, DO WE HAVE THAT? NO, I DON'T HAVE THAT. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, OUR PORTFOLIO IS ABOUT 116 MILLION INVESTED AND WE'RE GETTING OUR RETURN OF ALMOST 4%. AND SO WE'RE INVESTING 2 MILLION AT THREE AND A HALF OR SO. ALL DEPENDS. SO THE MARGIN'S PRETTY SMALL, SO IT'S A 0.5% DIFFERENCE. BUT DIFFERENCE, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LARGE DIFFERENCE IN QUANTITY OF DOLLARS. SURE, SURE. YEAH. IN THE, IN THE 2 MILLION. OKAY. AT COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THE, THE, THE SCHEDULE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL BANK PROVIDED, IT ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CHOICES WHETHER WE GO 12, 12 MONTHS, 36 MONTHS, THAT TAKES US IN THE, YOU KNOW, 3.77 RANGE UP TO ALMOST 3.87, UH, AND POSSIBLY HIGHER. SO IT'S, IT'S A VERY SMALL MARGIN. AND LIKE, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, UH, BRUCE SAYS, UH, IT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF OUR PORTFOLIO. SO IT'S A, IT'S A VERY MINOR DIFFERENCE AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD START, UH, TO, TO TRY. AND BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY OTHER BIGGER NUMBERS, MAY I RESPOND, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? UM, THE, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY, UM, MR. FOLTZ INDICATES THE COUNTY POOLS, UH, YIELDING 3.94, WE OFFERING AN INVESTMENT THAT WOULD YIELD 3.98 A PY SHOULD THE CITY CHOOSE THAT DURATION. SO TO, TO MR. FO'S POINT, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A SMALL MARGIN ON A RELATIVELY SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNT COMPARED TO YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT POOL. THANK YOU. I I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. AND THEN JUST READING OUR, OUR POLICY, 'CAUSE HONESTLY THIS ISN'T AN AREA ON, UH, OUR INVESTMENT POLICY THAT I HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH. AND I DO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER, IMANI, FOR ENCOURAGING AND PUSHING ME TO, TO LEARN MORE AND ASK THESE QUESTIONS, DELVE MORE INTO THIS. SO ON SECTION, UH, C, IT, IT'S, UH, ETHICS, UM, AND OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES INVOLVE INVESTMENT PROCESS WILL FRAME FROM PERSONAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. SO A QUESTION OF STAFF. SO, SO HAVE WE VERIFIED THIS PART? THE, HAS THERE BEEN, UH, UH, DOUBLE CHECKING THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE, IN THE PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S, UH, US ON COUNCIL OR, OR ANY STAFF? 'CAUSE I SEE THAT AS PART OF THE POLICY SECTION C, SO IT'S FOUR UNDER FOUR. UM, PRUDENCE, INDEMNIFICATIONS AND ETHICS, AND THEN SECTION C. SO YOU'RE ASKING IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE YEAH, IT DOESN'T, UM, YEAH, IT SAYS, YEAH, I GUESS IT DOESN'T SAY CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IT SAYS COULD CONFLICT. SO YES, YES. UM, OR WHICH COULD IMPAIR THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE IMPARTIAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS. I'M, SO I'M JUST ASKING IF WE'VE FOLLOWED THIS, IF WE'VE DONE THE ANALYSIS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS LEGAL'S PART OR, OR FINANCE, BUT HAVE WE, YOU KNOW, DONE THIS CHECK? HAVE WE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS SECTION OF THE, OF OUR POLICY? WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICTS AT THIS POINT, BUT DID YOU LOOK OR DID YOU, DID YOU DO THE RESEARCH? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. WELL, I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE HAVING INVESTMENT STOCKS WITH THIS BANK THAT WOULD HAVE A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD OF THIS BANK. SO, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, WE COULD, WE, AS WE PROCEED, WE WOULD MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THE POLICY JUST LIKE WE DO WITH ANY OTHER INVESTMENTS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'D MAKE SURE, UM, WE DO. GOT IT. THANK YOU. [03:00:14] I MET AND TALKED TO THE BANK FOLKS, REALLY NICE FOLKS. UM, BUT, UH, I LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS, MARCUS. THOSE WERE THE QUESTIONS I WAS GONNA THINK, I WAS THINKING, UH, I LIKE THE OPENNESS OF THOSE QUESTIONS. WHAT WERE GETTING RETURNED, IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? THOSE ARE QUESTIONS WE SHOULDN'T BE ASHAMED TO ASK AND WE SHOULD ASK EVERY TIME. WE, AND WE SHOULD GET RESPONSES FROM STAFF TELLING US TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE WITH SUCH BIG AMOUNTS OF MONEY. THANK YOU. REICH, THOMAS REICH. OH, OKAY. WE DID. OH, OKAY. GOT THAT ONE IN. ALRIGHT. AND THEN, UH, UH, JOAN MCCONE I'LL, WHAT, I'LL SAY SOMETHING IF I, I, I CHANGED MY MIND TWO, $2 MILLION A YEAR. SO YOU FIGURE THE BANK MAKES 3% ON THAT $60,000 A YEAR. SO YOU'RE DEALING WITH 60,000, YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE BANKS AT LEAST 60,000 PLUS THE INTEREST THAT THEY MAKE FROM THE LOANS THAT THEY MAKE. SO I'M JUST POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. BUT WE GET ABOUT 60,000 BACK. WHAT? WE GET AN ADDITIONAL 60,000 BACK IN INTEREST. WE GET INTEREST PAID ON THIS. YOU GET REALLY, REALLY? YEAH. YEAH. THAT'S OKAY. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT BANK YOU'RE DEALING WITH, UH, MR. WRIGHT. BUT, UH, ANYWAY, YOU CAN COME TO ME WITH IT. , UH, JOAN RACON , I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT THEN THE MANURE GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO DEEP ON THIS ITEM. SO I'M GONNA USE THE NAME JOEL TO BOW BECAUSE IN JULY OF 2021, JOEL TABBA BOUGHT THIS BUILDING THAT THESE FOLKS ARE GONNA USE FROM DR. GRAHAM. HOW DO I KNOW? 'CAUSE HE TOLD ME AND THEY, THE FAMILY TRUST CONTINUES TO OWN IT ACCORDING TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE BANK WHO I JUST ASKED. SO THE TABBA FAMILY CONTINUES TO OWN THE BUILDING. AT ONE POINT, GERMANY, TABBA HAD, UM, FILED LODGED FEES WITH THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITIES ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HE WAS GONNA DO A BIG DEVELOPMENT OVER THERE. HE LODGED OVER $6,500 IN FEES, BUT THEN HE APPARENTLY DECIDED THAT WASN'T WORKING OUT. SO HE REQUESTED HIS FEES BACK AND THE CITY REFUNDED THEM. AT ONE POINT GERMANY ANO HAD THIS PROPERTY IN A CONTRACT AND IT WAS IN THE ESCROW, AND THEN THE ESCROW FELL APART. WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE NOW FOUND A GOOD USE FOR THE BUILDING OWNED BY THE TABBA FAMILY THAT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO UNLOAD. AND I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION AT THE COUNCIL WITH THE PEOPLE NAMED JOSE RODRIGUEZ AND DEIDA ANI, WHO HAVE ACCEPTED DONATIONS FROM THE TABBA FAMILY FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME TO HAVE SAID THAT. AND DON'T LOOK AT ME AND SHAKE YOUR HEAD BECAUSE YOU HAD FUNDRAISERS AT MARKET ON EIGHT THAT WERE NEVER EVEN REPORTED ON YOUR FORMS. FTPC. SO DON'T EVEN START WITH ME. AND SO YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCLOSED THAT WHETHER IT WAS MANDATORY TO RECUSE OR NOT UNDER AB 1439. BUT IT'S A CONFLICT. AND BY GOSH, I'M GONNA PUT IT ON THE RECORD. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BANK'S MOTIVES ARE HERE, PER SE, BUT THE POINT IS THE MOTIVE FOR THE CITY, AND THAT INCLUDES MR. MARTINEZ GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS, IS TO FIND A WAY TO USE THE AL BUILDING. ANYBODY WHO THINKS OTHERWISE, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS ONE. MR. MAYOR. WHAT? YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THAT ALS HAVE NOT, UM, UH, DONATED TO MY CAMPAIGNS. SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT. AND I ALSO DON'T FIND AN ISSUE WITH, UH, I WAS THERE WHEN OKAY. OKAY. HOLD IT. THEY HAVE NOT DONATED TO MY CAMPAIGNS. UM, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG WITH ACTUALLY SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR LOCAL OWNERS. AND THAT AREA IS A BLIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN. SO I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO BE BROUGHT UP, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. AND WHEN WE HAVE A EMPTY BUILDING THAT'S BEEN EMPTY FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT. AND IF WE HAVE A BANK THAT IS WILLING TO INVEST HERE IN THE CITY, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. IN, IN THIS CASE, THE BANK IS GOING IN, WHETHER IF WE PASS THIS TONIGHT OR NOT. SO [03:05:01] THIS IS A SEPARATE ITEM FROM THE BANK OR OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. BUT, UH, UH, BUT IN THIS CASE, WHAT IS BEFORE IS DO WE WANT TO DO AN A, AN INVESTMENT, A PART OF THE CITY'S PORTFOLIO, UH, INTO A LOCAL BUSINESS BANK, UH, AND UNDER BASICALLY THE CEDARS PROGRAM, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS IT'S BASICALLY REINVESTED BACK INTO, INTO THE COMMUNITY. UH, AND WE DID ALREADY HAVE OUR MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ONE, DID WE NOT? OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, UH, THAT PLEASE VOTE. MOTION APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. YEP. UM, NEXT WE GO INTO CITY'S MANAGER'S REPORT. I HAVE, UH, NONE, MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. [12. ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT] NEXT WE GO INTO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS. THESE ARE UNDER POLICY 1 0 5. LET ME JUST STATE BEFORE WE GET INTO BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, WE WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING THESE ITEMS TONIGHT. THE ONLY THING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS DO WE WANT TO PUT THESE ITEMS ON A FUTURE AGENDA TO DISCUSS SO THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT? SO THERE WOULD BE THE ONLY VOTE THERE WOULD BE TONIGHT ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. SO JUST UNDERSTAND THE 1 0 5 PROCESS IS TO WHETHER, IF NOT TO PUT, DO WE FIND MERIT TO PUT THESE ON A FUTURE AGENDA? AND NORMALLY, UNLESS THERE IS A NEED FOR EXTRA WORK, UH, TO PUT TOGETHER REPORTS, EVERYTHING ELSE, NORMALLY THEY COME ON THE NEXT AGENDA. OTHERWISE WE CAN GO OUT, UH, 30 DAYS OR MORE IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S TOO MUCH WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO 'EM AND CAN'T TURN 'EM AROUND RIGHT AWAY. UH, SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO, UH, FIRST ONE IS 12 ONE. THIS IS A, UH, 1 0 5 REQUEST ON AN URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, FOR A PRESENTATION ON THAT. UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, THE REQUEST IS A PRESENTATION FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ON UPDATES PERTAINING TO THE NATIONAL CITY URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, WITH A HIGHLIGHT OF WHERE THE CITY IS IN REACHING THE OUTLINED GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS. AND CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE, UH, HIGHEST ASTHMA RATES, UH, POOR AIR QUALITY, HIGH CANCER RATES, AS WERE BROUGHT UP EARLIER, UM, THIS PAST YEAR WE EXPANDED FUNDING FOR TREE TRIMMING. SO I THINK IT'S, WE'VE, WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT WE PLANT MORE TREES AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. SO THIS IS INTENDED JUST AS A PRESENTATION FROM, UM, UH, STAFF TO THE COUNCIL TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AND SEE WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPROVE. LET ME JUST ASK A CLARIFICATION QUESTION OF PUBLIC WORKS. UH, SINCE THIS WOULD BE A PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE, HAVE SOME TIME TO WORK ON? THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, UM, WE WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO WORK ON THIS. UM, WE DO HAVE OUR URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH WAS PREPARED IN ABOUT 2017, ADOPTED OFFICIALLY, I BELIEVE IN 2019. UM, AND IT SPANS A 40 YEAR, UM, SET OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. UM, WE ARE JUST ABOUT AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK, AT WHICH POINT WE WOULD DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO HOW WE'RE PERFORMING AGAINST THE VERY LONG LIST OF OBJECTIVES AND GOALS THAT WERE LAID OUT. UM, SO WE'VE BEEN MANAGING AND PERFORMING, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THAT, BUT IN ORDER TO DO AN EVALUATION OF WHERE WE ARE AGAINST THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, I WOULD SAY WE WOULD NEED SOME TIME. UM, AND I CERTAINLY, I WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS IT WITH THE DIRECTOR OF OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FAR AS RESOURCING. OKAY. SO IF WE ARE GETTING BACK A REPORT THAT WE CAN REALLY WORK WITH, WE WOULD NEED TO GET A, GET SOMETHING BACK FROM STAFF AFTER THEY DO SOME EVALUATION ON THIS, ON HOW SOON THEY COULD BRING THAT BACK TO US, IF THAT, IF WE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THIS. CORRECT. OKAY, THANK YOU. CAN WE CLARIFY ON THE TIME MAYOR, HOW MUCH TIME, UM, MS. JUAREZ, I, I'M UNABLE TO GIVE YOU A TIMELINE AT THIS TIME. UM, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN PERFORMING ALONG WITH THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY TRACKED IT. SO I'D HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE OR IF WE WE'RE GONNA NEED, UM, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM A CONSULTANT. THE MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS PREPARED BY A CONSULTANT. IT WAS A HUGE EFFORT. SO I, AT THIS POINT DON'T KNOW IF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DO IN HOUSE OR NOT, OBVIOUSLY, UM, GETTING A TEAM ON BOARD WOULD, WOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO DO THAT, THAT THAT WAS DONE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND WE WOULDN'T WANNA BE DEALING WITH DATA THAT'S EIGHT YEARS OLD. JUST, SO, JUST TO MOVE THIS ALONG, I SUPPORT [03:10:01] THIS ITEM AND I, I JUST, FOR NOW, I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, UH, UH, BRING IT BACK. I MAY MAYBE BY THE, THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY AT LEAST. SO THERE'S A DATE, AND THEN IF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HAS ISSUES, LIKE THAT'S TOO SOON, THEN MAYBE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. SO, I DON'T KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? THE, THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY TO, TO BRING THIS BACK? UH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD. TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND SEE WHERE YOU ARE AS A GOAL AND HOW MUCH MORE TIME WE NEED. UM, AND I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF UNDERSTANDS THE PREMISE OF THIS, BUT IT'S TO PLANT MORE TREES AROUND THE CITY MM-HMM . AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, AND MAINTAIN PLACES THAT, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TREES HAVE PASSED, HAVE, HAVE DIED, UH, AND WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM, OR WE'VE PLANTED A LOT OF NEW ONES AND WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER MAINTENANCE FOR THEM. UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF WORK. AND IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, UM, TREE SAN DIEGO AND HAVE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS. THERE ARE TREES AVAILABLE, THERE ARE GRANTS AVAILABLE, BUT, UH, THIS IS DONE. SO WITH THE INTENT TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES AS WELL, IF THEY WISH TO PROVIDE THEM FOR THEIR OWN DISTRICT. AND SO I DO WANNA, YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WE, WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, MR. MAN AS WELL. YES. THANK YOU. AND, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, THE OFFICIAL REQUEST SAYS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE, UM, UPDATES PERTAINING TO THE OUTLINE GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS. SO WE, WE CAN FOLLOW UP, UM, TO, TO GET SOME FURTHER CLARITY AS TO THE EXTENT OF, OF THE UPDATE AND THE PRESENTATION. I THINK THAT WOULD DEFINE BETTER, HELP US DEFINE WHAT THE LEVEL OF EFFORT WILL BE WITH CURRENT RESOURCING. SO, SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION, BUT DID MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM, UH, WHAT IS IT, 12.1. OKAY. AND, AND THIS IS BRING IT BACK AND BRING IT BACK. SECOND MEETING. JUST TO BRING, I'LL SECOND AN UPDATE OF WHERE STAFF'S AT AND GIVE AN ESTIMATION OF WHEN, WHEN WE CAN BRING THE FULL DEAL BACK. THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY, RIGHT? I SECOND. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. CAN YOU USE YOUR BUTTONS? THANK YOU. YEAH, THERE WE GO. MOTION AND A SECOND. ALRIGHT. UH, WITH THAT, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. UH, NEXT ONE IS ALSO A 5 0 1 REQUEST. THIS IS, UH, AMENDING TITLE IX OF THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE. AND, UH, THIS IS ALSO, UH, MEMBER, UH, RODRIGUEZ, WE DO HAVE SOME, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO THIS NOW. UH, I WILL SAY THAT THE, THE DEAL IS HERE. I SHOULD READ THE REST OF IT. UM, IT'S AMENDING THE, UH, 9.38 PERTAINING TO TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE AND RESTRICTING THE SALE, DISPLAY AND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH. SO THIS IS PARTICULARLY, THIS SEEMS TO BE, UH, THE WORDING IS PARTICULARLY, THIS IS TOWARD YOUTH. WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS. AND FIRST ONE, IRMA HERNANDEZ, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY GRACE NAIMI, UM, HIGH SCHOOL. [03:15:15] OKAY. THE INTERPRETER COULD, UH, GIVE US AN, UH, AN ENGLISH, PLEASE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES. OKAY. OKAY. MY NAME, UM, AND I FORGOT HER NAME. I'M SO SORRY. I AM A PART OF THE COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH, AND I'VE BEEN A PART OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH OUR YOUNGER, UH, GENERATIONS. UM, VAPING PARENTS AT DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS FROM DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE APPROACHED ME EXPRESSING HOW WORRIED THEY'RE, THEY ARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AND I ASK YOU NOT TO, UM, DENY LICENSES TO THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT SELL TOBACCO, BUT RATHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE BUSINESS ARE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WHO WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND WILL NOT SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS FOR OUR TEENAGERS. UM, I'VE KNOWN YOU, UM, MR. MORRISON FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I REMEMBER THAT LONG TIME AGO WE WERE ADDRESSING, ADDRESSING A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT BACK THEN HAD TO DO WITH ALCOHOL. NOW, UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO PLEASE PREVENT THESE BUSINESSES FOR SELLING THESE TYPE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO OUR TEENAGERS TO PROTECT THEM FOR, FROM THE, UM, DANGERS THAT THESE REPRESENT FOR THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, YES. AND THAT WAS IRMA HERNANDEZ. UH, AND SO NEXT WE HAVE GRACE NAIMI TO BE FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA KNAPP. CYNTHIA'S NOT HERE ANYMORE. OKAY. SO THEN HOW ABOUT MANUEL ANDRATI? OKAY. ALRIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GRACE NAKASHIMA. I SERVE AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, AND OTHER DRUGS PROGRAM AT SAY, SAN DIEGO. IT IS AN HONOR TO ADDRESS YOU ALL THIS EVENING. I WANNA SHARE MY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WORKING ON TOBACCO PREVENTION AND EDUCATION IN NATIONAL CITY. SO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY TEAM CONDUCTED THE YOUNG ADULT TOBACCO PURCHASE SURVEYS, WHICH MEASURES TOBACCO RETAILERS COMPLIANCE, AND WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING SALES TO MINORS. OUR FINDINGS WERE CONCERNING, BUT NOT SURPRISING. IN NATIONAL CITY, 20% OF STORES SOLD PRODUCTS TO UNDERAGE INVESTIGATORS. SHOCKINGLY, 26% OF STORES FAILED TO ASK FOR IDENTIFICATION. THAT IS ONE IN FOUR STORES NOT ASKING THESE YOUNG LOOKING INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR IDS. SO IT IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER TO EDUCATE OUR BUSINESSES ON THESE LAWS AND PROTECT OUR YOUTH FROM TOBACCO, THE ONLY PRODUCT THAT WHEN USED AS DIRECTED KILLS. THANK YOU MANUEL R ANDRETTI TO BE FOLLOWED BY, I'M NOT TOO SURE ON THE FIRST NAME. LAST NAME IS SALA. YES. OKAY. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD, ACTUALLY, GOOD NIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR MORRISON, VICE SAMIR. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I, UH, WANNA THANK YOU 'CAUSE I, I'VE MET WITH ALL OF YOU. UH, WE BROUGHT STUDENTS, UH, WE MET ACTUALLY FRIDAYS. I MET YOU AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. YOU ARE REALLY, REALLY INVESTED. UM, AND WE LOVE TO SEE THIS IN LEADERSHIP WHEN TALKING ABOUT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE. UM, SOME OF YOU REQUESTED TO TALK TO STUDENTS, UM, TITA, YOU ALSO HAVE A STUDENT COME IN TO TALK TO YOU THAT SEND YOU AN EMAIL, UH, AS YOU KNOW, ACCESS. UH, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. UM, LAST MONTH, I, UM, SHARED WITH YOU GUYS AN EMAIL WITH TWO SCHOOL RESOLUTIONS FROM THE UBA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, SUPPORTING THE TOBACCO LICENSE PROGRAM. SAME WITH THE NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. I SENT EIGHT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM IPS AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, UH, CLINIC, ABSENT HERE LOCALLY, BA THAT IS, UH, PARENTS AGAINST VAPING, [03:20:02] AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANOTHER FOUR LETTERS THAT I RECEIVE. UH, ONE IS FROM THE, UH, NATIONAL CITY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A HEALTH ISSUE, BUT ALSO A BUSINESS ISSUE. THERE IS CURRENTLY SEVERAL LAWSUITS BECAUSE UNFAIR PRACTICES. SO, UM, I WANNA SHARE THAT, UM, THERE IS SUPPORT FROM THEM. UM, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT, UH, THESE WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE. NOT ONLY, UH, WE'RE PROTECTING CHILDREN, BUT ALSO THOSE, UH, RETAILERS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY FOLLOWING THE LAW. THEY'RE RESPECTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, I'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE CITY CLERK. AND AGAIN, THERE'S SEVERAL BENEFITS IN ADOPTING THESE, THIS POLICY. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. YOUR TIME EXPIRED. THANK. OKAY. ZALES TO BE FOLLOWED BY RITA LOMBARDO. HI. IT'S OKAY. OKAY. NATIONAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. CAN WE GET A TRANSLATION, PLEASE? OKAY, HERE WE GO. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. MY NAME IS GLORIA SALAS. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH AND NATIONAL CITY. I AM A SOCIAL ACTIVIST. I HAVE WORKED IN DIFFERENT AREAS, UM, ESPECIALLY TO PREVENT CANCER AND TOBACCO ABUSE AMONG OUR YOUNGER GENERATIONS. UM, I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL OBLIGATED TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT OUR TEENAGERS FROM, UM, THE USE OF TOBACCO. AND I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS BY CREATING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO PREVENT OUR YOUNG, UH, OUR YOUTH FROM, UM, THE YOUTH OF TOBACCO. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR, UM, TEENAGERS CONSUME TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS AT KIMBALL PARK. I HAVE BEEN A WITNESS OF THIS, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT OVER 500,000 PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE, BY THESE, UH, YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO I [03:25:01] THINK THAT, UM, CREATING A PROGRAM, UM, A LICENSING PROGRAM FOR THE TOBACCO BUSINESSES LOCALLY IS A WAY TO PREVENT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM CONSUMING THESE PRODUCTS. AND IT IS OUR OBLIGATION AND YOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, LUPITA HERE. SHE LEFT. OKAY. UH, IS IT EDEN? EDEN AES? WE'LL SEE HOW CLOSE I WAS. OKAY. UM, GOOD EVENING. ALL. UM, IT'S PRONOUNCED I BUNES, BUT IT'S OKAY. I DON'T CARE. OKAY. . UM, , UH, MY NAME IS IANA BUNES AND I'M A 12TH GRADE STUDENT AT MY HIGH SCHOOL. UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, SAY SAN DIEGO. UH, SOCIAL ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH. UM, I WANT TO GIVE OUT MY FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF WHAT I'VE SEEN AT MY HIGH SCHOOL. UM, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING AMOUNTS OF TOBACCO IN GENERAL VAPE USAGE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO, LIKE, WHENEVER I WALK INTO, LIKE ANY OF THE SCHOOL BATHROOMS, I'D BE HIT WITH PLUMES OF SMOKE AND A WALL OF SMOKE. UM, SOME STUDENTS VAPE IN THE BATHROOMS, OTHER VAPE, OTHERS VAPE, UH, ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL. UM, DESPITE THE RISKS OF TOBACCO HINDERING THEIR ACADEMIC MOBILITY OR THEIR EMOTIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS. THESE PRODUCTS OFTEN LIKE TRAP THEM IN A CYCLE OF ADDICTION. UM, AND IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE OF THESE FLAVORS LIKE WATERMELON OR STRAWBERRY GOING UNNOTICED OR UN UNFOR IN MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS. UM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE CDC, IN FACT, THEY STATE THAT, UM, IT DISRUPTS MEMORY CONCENTRATION AND MOOD REGULATION. AND THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT THERE'S A CORRELATION BETWEEN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND NICOTINE ADDICTION. UM, IN ADDITION, THEY ALSO SHOW THAT, UH, VAPE USAGE, UH, INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD TO TRANSITIONING TO TRADITIONAL CIGARETTES. AND SINCE THERE IS A REPORTED ONE THIRD OF YOUTH IN NATIONAL CITY THAT HAVE REPORTED TRYING, UH, VAPING AND HAVE THE STORES SELLING IT, THERE'S ONLY ONE SMOKE SHOP THAT'S ACTUALLY POSTED 21 PLUS SIGNAGE. UM, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UM, NOW, UM, I'VE SEEN FRIENDS PRIORITIZING VAPING OVER SCHOOLS, UH, SPORTS, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, FRIEND RELATIONSHIPS, EVEN FRIENDS OF FRIENDS BEING SENT TO JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS. UM, IT'S DEFINITELY HEART WRENCHING TO SEE HOW THIS ADDICTION CHANGES THEIR BEHAVIOR AND CREATES CONFLICT BOTH AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT TO, UH, PEOPLE LIKE ME, LIKE THEIR FRIEND. UM, SO I DO THINK THAT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE, IT'LL ALLOW YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT, UH, STANDS WITHIN OUR CITY TODAY. AND I BELIEVE THAT PROTECTING OUR AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, INCLUDING INTERSECTIONAL MINORITY COMMUNITIES FROM NICOTINE ADDICTION SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE. UM, SO MAYOR, WE DO HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS ON ON ZOOM. ZOOM. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. THANK YOU. UM, SORRY. READY? YES. LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM HER. OKAY. BECKY WRAP. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR MORRISON AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BECKY WRAP, AND I APPRECIATE AND STRONGLY SUPPORT ITEM 12.2, AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE RESTRICTING THE SALE, DISPLAY AND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH. THIS CHANGE SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS, TOBACCO RETAILERS, AND BIG TOBACCO COMPANIES WHO ACTIVELY MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF ADDICTING THEM YOUNG TO BECOME LIFELONG USERS. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE STATE'S BAN ON ALL FLAVORED TOBACCO AS FLAVORS ARE MARKETED DIRECTLY TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. A TOBACCO SHOP OPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, PROMISING SENSITIVITY AND RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY ABIDING BY ALL THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. SADLY, THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE OUTCOME. THIS RETAILER IS SELLING A WIDE VARIETY OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, INCLUDING SWEET AND FRUITY FLAVORS. WHEN APPROACHED AT THE COUNTER, THE SALESMAN WAS NOT SHY ABOUT UPSELLING THEIR PRODUCTS. THIS NEGLIGENCE REGARDING FLAVOR BANS, UM, AND CODIFIED POLICY BECOMES MISLEADING TO RESIDENTS OPENING THE DOOR FOR THEM TO SECOND GUESS WHAT IS REALLY LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE TO SELL IN OUR CITY RESIDENTS, BOTH, UM, YOUNG AND OLD WHO MAY NOT BE EDUCATED UNDERSTANDABLY TRUST RETAILERS THAT THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL ARE FIRST LEGAL AND SECOND SAFE TO CONSUME NEARLY ALL FIRST USE OF TOBACCO OCCURS BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. TOBACCO WAS OFTEN THE FIRST DRUG USED BY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ALSO USE ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, AND OTHER DRUGS. I APPRECIATE ALL EFFORTS TAKEN TO BAN THE SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO AS THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY TASK. BUT I ASK THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO PUBLICLY EDUCATE, PUSH BACK, AND CONDUCT ROBUST ENFORCEMENT. ALL RETAILERS, CONSUMERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND [03:30:01] AND BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT WHEN THE POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED, IT IS ENFORCED. RETAILERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THEIR DOORS AND HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED WHEN CHOOSING TO ABUSE THE LAW, SPECIFICALLY BY ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND SELLING FLAVORED TOBACCO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PEGGY WALKER. THANK YOU. AND YES, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. FOR MANY YEARS, I DEVELOPED TOBACCO USE PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS. AND I CAME TO KNOW, WELL THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF TOBACCO USE, ESPECIALLY ON CHILDREN. ALSO, THE DECEITFUL TACTICS. TOBACCO COMPANIES EMPLOY TO TARGET YOUTH AT A TIME. THEY ARE UNDEVELOPED BRAINS ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADDICTION. ONE REASON WE NEED THIS IS BECAUSE FLAVORED TOBACCO AND VAPE PRODUCTS, THE FIRST CHOICE OF YOUTH, EVEN THOUGH BANNED BY THE STATE TO CONTROL ACCESS BY KIDS, CONTINUED TO BE SOLD IN ALARMING AMOUNTS. AS WAS POINTED OUT EARLIER, THIS UNFORTUNATELY CONTRIBUTES TO THE TWO AND ONE QUARTER MILLION MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTING TOBACCO USE. AND LAST YEAR'S NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY AND DATA SHOWS THAT IF A CHILD IS USING BY SEVENTH GRADE, THAT USE WILL GO UP BY NINTH AND 11TH GRADES. WE ALSO KNOW FROM A SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT THAT DISPARITIES IN SECONDHAND SMOKE EXPOSURE BY RACE, POVERTY STATUS, AND EDUCATION LEVEL HAVE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY AMONG AND IMPACTING HISPANIC BLACK AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS. SO KIDS IN THESE POPULATIONS HAVE A DOUBLE WHAMMY. TO PROTECT YOUTH, I URGE A COMPREHENSIVE TRL PROGRAM WITH BEST PRACTICES THAT INCLUDES PROPER SIGNAGE ID CHECKS, NO DISCOUNTS, OR COUPON REDEMPTION, A GRADUATED PENALTY STRUCTURE AND LICENSE FEES SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE, MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY. THANK YOU, MEGAN STEWART. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEGAN STEWART. AND AS SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK AND WITH WORKING WITH YOUTH, I AM ALSO HERE TO VOICE MY STRONG SUPPORT OF, TO AMEND TITLE IX OF THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO RESTRICT THE SALE, DISPLAY AND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH. OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH ARE UNDER ATTACK, AS MENTIONED BY MANY SPEAKERS BEFORE E-CIGARETTES WITH FLAVORS LIKE CANDY, MINT, AND FRUIT HAVE BECOME A DANGEROUS GATEWAY TO NICOTINE ADDICTION. DESPITE CALIFORNIA'S BAN ON FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OUR TEENS ARE STILL GAINING ACCESS OFTEN THROUGH ILLEGAL SALES OR ONLINE RETAILERS. BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023, E-CIGARETTE SALES NATIONWIDE INCREASED BY 47%. WITH MORE THAN 80% OF THESE PRODUCTS, TARGETING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH ENTICING FLAVORS AND SLEEK PACKAGING. THE NICOTINE LEVELS IN THESE PRODUCTS ARE ALARMINGLY HIGH, SOMETIMES EQUAL TO SEVERAL CARTONS OF CIGARETTES IN JUST ONE DEVICE. THE 2024 NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY REVEALS THAT NEARLY 40% OF YOUNG E-CIGARETTE USERS VAPE FREQUENTLY PUTTING MILLIONS AT RISK OF LONG-TERM ADDICTION AND HEALTH ISSUES. NATIONAL CITY HAS A DUTY TO PROTECT ITS YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. WHILE STATEWIDE POLICIES LIKE CALIFORNIA'S FLAVOR BAN ARE CRUCIAL, THEY MUST BE PAIRED WITH LOCAL ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS. BY RESTRICTING THE SALE, DISPLAY AND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO TO YOUTH, WE CAN CLOSE THE GAPS THAT ALLOW THESE HARMFUL PRODUCTS TO REACH OUR YOUTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU KEA. BRUCE. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT. MY NAME IS KEA BRUCE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IN CALIFORNIA, THE LEADING PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATION FIGHTING TO REDUCE AND PREVENT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TOBACCO USE. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR REDUCING YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS THROUGH THE NATIONAL CITY COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO RETAILERS LICENSE PROGRAM. AS A MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE WITH THE MISSION OF SAVING LIVES AND IMPROVING LUNG HEALTH, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION STRONGLY SUPPORTS MEASURES TO PROTECT THE NEXT GENERATION FROM THE HARMS OF TOBACCO ADDICTION. EACH YEAR IN CALIFORNIA, NEARLY 40,000 ADULTS DIE FROM SMOKING RELATED CAUSES, AND OVER 9,000 KIDS BECOME NEW DAILY SMOKERS. AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO LIMIT YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO AND DECREASE THESE NUMBERS [03:35:01] IS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF A STRONG TOBACCO RETAILER'S LICENSE. DESPITE HAVING A PROHIBITION ON FLAVOR PRODUCTS, WE KNOW THAT RETAILERS CONTINUE TO SELL THESE PRODUCTS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO YOUTH. UH, SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO RETAILER'S LICENSE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, BARBARA GORDON. UM, THANK YOU. UM, GOOD EVENING. I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR, AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT, EGER RETS REMAIN A CONCERN AMONG OUR YOUTH. IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO PUT THIS ON, UM, A FUTURE AGENDA, A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE AS IT CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN REDUCING, REDUCING TEEN TOBACCO YOUTH THROUGH SEVERAL MECHANISMS. DATA SHOWS THAT 60% OF OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRE THEIR CIGARETTES THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE, UH, FOLLOWED BY 43%, ACQUIRE THEIR E-CIGARETTES BY RETAIL SOURCES. IMPLEMENTING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM CAN REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS THROUGH LIMITING DENSITY OR NEARNESS TO SCHOOLS OR OTHER YOUTH SENSITIVE AREAS. A STRONG REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WILL HELP ENSURE RETAILERS COMPLY WITH ALL THE LAWS PROHIBITING THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO MINORS. I THINK SETTING STANDARDS AND ENFORCING RULES THROUGH A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE CAN EFFECTIVELY CURB THE ILLEGAL SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS. AGAIN, I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PUTTING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE, UM, IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, VERBAL COMMENTS ON ZOOM. WE HAVE NINE SCRIBE AND WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED ON THIS ITEM AS WELL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, AS WE SAID BEFORE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE DISCUSSING THIS ITEM TONIGHT. THIS IS JUST ABOUT PUTTING ON A FUTURE AGENDA. LET ME ASK A QUESTION SINCE THIS WOULD GO THROUGH MEGAN, AND THIS WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. UH, SO WE WOULD NOT BE BRINGING AN ORDINANCE BACK ONTO THE AGENDA AT THIS POINT. WE'D ONLY HAVE DISCUSSION OF AN ORDINANCE IN WHAT WOULD BE, WHAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE INCLUDED IN ONE. CORRECT? UH, YES. HOWEVER, UM, MY OFFICE WAS PRESENTED WITH A DRAFT ORDINANCE MM-HMM . UM, THAT WE, WE TOOK A PRELIMINARY LOOK AT. UH, IT'S VERY DETAILED. IT, IT CREATES A LICENSING PROGRAM AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POLICY ISSUES THROUGHOUT WHICH WOULD BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL. SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD COME BACK, WE WOULD AGENDIZE IT AND, AND MAINLY HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THAT PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND POINT OUT THOSE POLICY DECISIONS AND GET YOUR GUIDANCE. AND THEN WE WOULD WORK ON AN ACTUAL ORDINANCE AND BRING IT BACK. OKAY. WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME DO YOU NEED TO DO, DO THAT, TO BRING THAT BACK SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON IT? YEAH. I THINK, UM, MR. AGUIRRE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AM I WRONG? WERE WE GONNA WORK TOGETHER ON, ON THIS? OKAY. SO AND YOU WERE GONNA DO MOST OF THE WORK IS WHAT I RECALL. I'M DOING BRAIN SURGERY MOST OF THE DAY. SO , YOU GOTTA PICK UP SOME OF THE SLACK. UH, UH, SO I'M GONNA, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT WE COULD COME BACK IN THE SECOND MEETING OF FEBRUARY OKAY. FOR THE WORKSHOP. UM, SHOOT, SHOOT FOR THAT AS A GOAL. YEAH. YEP. OKAY. AND LET ME SAY THERE, THERE WAS A EMERSON LINCOLN PALMER, UH, ALBUM THAT PROBABLY FITS WITH THAT. IT WAS CALLED BRAIN SALAD SURGERY. SO THAT MAY BE, UH, MAYBE WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. OKAY. UM, OKAY. SO IT'S OKAY THAT WE BE LOOKING AT IF, IF WE VOTE ON THIS, THE SEC. UH, RIGHT NOW THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO BRING THIS BACK BY THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION. AND SO THEREFORE THEN WE COULD KIND OF DIGEST IT, SEE WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T, WHAT WHAT'S RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF DIFFERENT DECISIONS AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD, UH, MIGHT BE INVOLVED. UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM, UH, 12.2 WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, PRESENTATION WOULD COME TO COUNCIL IN A FORM OF A WORKSHOP. MM-HMM . UH, FOR THE, THE SECOND MEETING OF FEBRUARY. I SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AND I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE ORGANIZATION, SAY SAN DIEGO, UH, FOR HELPING COORDINATE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS FOR STAYING HERE VERY LATE, AND YOUR PERSISTENCE IN CONTINUING TO MAKE OUR CITY A SAFER, MORE HEALTHIER PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES. I TO COMMAND MR. UM, MANUEL ANDRADE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP WITH THOSE YOUTH THAT YOU, UH, [03:40:01] YOU EDUCATE WITH REGARDS TO THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF THIS. THANK YOU. WELL, AND, AND I'LL TELL YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M AROUND THE KIDS A LOT AND I SEE, SEE SOME OF THE VAPING AND DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO ON. AND I THINK IT'S BAD. AND THEN I WENT, I WAS UP IN LA AND OH MY GOSH, IT'S EPIDEMIC UP THERE. I WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT BEFORE IT GETS TO LIKE LA THAT'S FOR SURE. AND, UH, THEY, THEY GOT AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL UP THERE. UM, ALRIGHT, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, WITH THAT PLEASE VOTE. MOTION TO APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. THOSE BOTH GO THROUGH. LET'S GO WITH THE REST OF, UH, UH, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT. WE'LL START DOWN HERE ON THE LEFT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU ALL AGAINST FOR FINDING YOUR MIKE. VERY MUCH APPRECIATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR COMING AND STAYING HERE THIS LONG. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. I DO WANT TO GIVE A, UH, THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL CITY FIREFIGHTERS, SIX OF WHICH ATTENDED THE LA FIRES, UH, OVER, THEY, THEY WERE THERE FOR OVER A WEEK. UM, AND I BELIEVE MOST OF 'EM ARE COMING TONIGHT. IS THAT RIGHT? ON THE WAY BACK. ON THE WAY BACK. SO, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I BELIEVE THE, UM, UH, UH, FOUR OF THEM LEFT AT THREE IN THE MORNING, UH, THE DAY OF THE FIRE. SO REALLY WANNA COMMEND THEIR EFFORTS WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING TO, TO HELP OUR, UM, UH, SISTER, ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES IN NEED. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL AS WE SEE A LOT OF THE NATIONAL, UM, UH, UH, ACTIONS AND NARRATIVE. THEY ALL HAVE LOCAL IMPLICATIONS. SO I DO WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING. LAST WEEK, UM, THERE WAS A VIDEO THAT WAS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF A BORDER PATROL AGENT ARREST HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. AND I WAS ON THE CORNER OF PLAZA AND HIGHLAND. TURNS OUT THE BORDER PATROL, UH, WAS FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FROM IMPERIAL VALLEY AND, UH, FOLLOWED THEM ALL THE WAY HERE AND ARRESTED, UM, UH, A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY. UM, MIND YOU, THIS CREATED A LOT OF FEAR AND PANIC AMONG THE COMMUNITY. IT IN A, IN A MATTER OF, UH, THIS VIDEO IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE OF DAYS, HAD OVER 60,000 VIEWS. IT WAS SHARED WIDELY. SO, UM, UH, ALTHOUGH MANY OF US ARE PRIVILEGED TO, UH, BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE CITIZENSHIP, MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY DO NOT AND HAVE VERY SERIOUS FEAR OF WHAT IS ABOUT TO COME. UM, I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE EFFORTS OF, UM, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION, NONPROFIT CALLED APOLLO ASIAN, PACIFIC AMERICAN ALLIANCE, LABOR ALLIANCE, WHICH LAST WEEK HOSTED A NATURALIZATION WORKSHOP IN NATIONAL CITY, HELPING FOLKS THAT ARE, UM, UH, HAVE THEIR GREEN CARDS ABLE TO BECOME CITIZENS, HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS ABSOLUTELY FREE. WE HAD 10 INDIVIDUALS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND, UM, UH, WE ARE HOPING TO DO ANOTHER ONE IN MARCH. HOPEFULLY WE AS A CITY ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME CITIZENS TO DO SO. AND, UH, I DO, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE NOTION OF ALL POLITICS BEING, UH, LOCAL. AND THERE WE DO HAVE LOCAL IMPLICATIONS TO THIS. UM, YESTERDAY THERE WAS A SWEARING IN OF A NEW PRESIDENT AND, UH, UM, SOME OF US WERE VERY HAPPY. SOME OF US WERE VERY UPSET AND VERY SAD. AND, UH, UM, IN A MATTER OF A DAY WE SAW INSURRECTIONISTS BEING PARDONED, WHICH, UH, DID A TRAVESTY TO, UM, WASHINGTON, DC FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HAD A FOOLISH BILLIONAIRE DOING A NAZI SALUTE. THE FIRST DAY, UM, WE SAW AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED, WHICH WOULD END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, UM, WHICH 22 STATES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA, ARE SUING NOW TO PROTECT THE 14TH AMENDMENT. BY THE WAY, FOR SOME OF US THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP IS, IF SOMEBODY, UM, IS, UH, NOT A, UM, UH, ELIGIBLE RESIDENT OR CITIZEN AND HAVE A CHILD HERE, UH, THAT IS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. UH, SO IT IS CHALLENGING THAT PREMISE. AND, UM, UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, UM, ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLING THAT I THINK WILL HAVE NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND, AND WORLDWIDE IMPLICATIONS IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A $500 BILLION PRIVATE, UM, AI INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN TEXAS. UH, THIS PROJECT IS CALLED STARGATE. AND, UM, THE PROJECT, ACCORDING TO, UM, UH, SOME REPORTS HERE ON, UH, REUTERS, THE PROJECT COULD POWER AI THAT ANALYZES ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS AND HELPS DOCTORS CARE FOR THEIR PATIENTS. BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, OF THIS IS ROLLING BACK, FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S, EXECUTIVE ORDER ON AI THAT WAS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE RISKS THAT AI POSES TO CONSUMERS, WORKERS, AND NATIONAL SECURITY. ULTIMATELY THIS WAS A PRIORITY FOR FOLKS THAT WERE BILLIONAIRES SUPPORTING THIS PARTICULAR PRESIDENT. ALL OF WHICH, UH, UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THEY HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I THINK IT'S, UM, UH, UH, AI IS A VERY SERIOUS THREAT [03:45:01] TO MANY DIFFERENT JOBS IN A PRIVATE SECTOR. AND, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ON A LOCAL LEVEL TO FIGHT BACK. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT, . THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, WANNA THANK WHO? SIERRA DIRECTORS? UM, YOU KNOW, I'M IN OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE HERE. THANK YOU FOR COMING. BRAIN DEAD. NO COMMENT. ALRIGHT. VERY FAR. RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU FOR STICKING AROUND. I'M VERY HAPPY OUR, OUR SPEAKERS HAVE, UH, DEPARTED. BUT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT OUR, THAT WE HAD A VERY ROBUST SUPPORT FOR, UH, THE LAST ITEM. AND, UM, I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED AND I INVITE ALL OF COMMUNITY, ALWAYS, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. UM, WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY AND A GOOD NIGHT, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. OKAY. NOTHING. OKAY. UH, YEAH. UH, GOOD MEETING. A NUMBER OF GOOD THINGS DONE AND APPRECIATE EVERYONE DOING, SHOWING UP. UH, NEXT WEEK A MATTER OF FACT, THE COUNCIL WILL AS A GROUP BE GOING UP FOR THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND, UH, IT'S IN GARDEN GROVE. SO JUST SHORTLY UP, UP THE, UP THE ROAD AND, UH, UH, SO GET TO SPEND SOME TIME DEALING WITH WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT CITIES DEAL WITH. AND AT THE SAME TIME, UH, YOU DO SOME GOOD, I THINK INTERACTION AS WE DEAL WITH THOSE, THOSE ISSUES, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANY BUSINESS THERE THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DO THAT. BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POLICY IDEAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT ARE ON A STATE LEVEL AND THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED AND, AND OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IDEAS ON THAT LINE. SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TIME AS WE WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. WITH THAT, UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYBODY, AND [13. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT] WE DO HAVE SOMETHING, WE DO HAVE SOMETHING FROM OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY. PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF THREE SECONDS, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF NOTHING. THAT'S OKAY. I GOT A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. NO. SO WE HAD THREE ITEMS FOR CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT. TWO OF THEM WERE EX EXISTING LITIGATION THAT WAS UMANA VERSUS CITY OF NATIONAL CITY IN CUMMINS VERSUS CITY OF NATIONAL CITY. NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS ON THOSE. AND WE HAD ONE ANTICIPATED LITIGATION AND NO REPORTABLE ACTION ON THAT. WE, WE, WE PAY HIM BY IT, BY THE WORD, AND ALL HE COMES OUT WITH IS NOTHING TO REPORT. OKAY. ANYWAY, WITH THAT, WE ARE DISMISSED. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.