[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
LIKE TO, UH, CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WITH THAT, WE HAVE, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THE INTERPRETER TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THIS, UH, EVENING'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD, AS A REMINDER, ASK EVERYONE TO SILENCE ALL CELL PHONE OR ANY OTHER DEVICES WITHIN THE, UH, CHAMBER.
AND, UH, ALWAYS FUN IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISCUSSION AND BREAK, BREAK IN A LITTLE DANCE MUSIC THAT, UH, CELL PHONES.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
AND THERE'S A LIVE WEBCAST OF THE MEETING THAT MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
UH, NOTICE AGENDA AND INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S, UH, WEBSITE INFORMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY MAY SUBMIT A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, EITHER IN PERSON IN THE CHAMBER, BY SUBMITTING ONE OF THESE SALMON COLORED SLIPS, UH, OR BY 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 WEBSITE IF RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
WITH THAT, UH, LOOK TO OUR CITY CLERK.
CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA PRESENT, VICE MAYOR BUSH.
COULD WE PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION? AND I WOULD ASK, UM, MEMBER YAMANI IF SHE WOULD EITHER PLEASE, PLEASE STAND, STAND, READY, BEGIN ALLEGIANCE TO THE, TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES, STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDI WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE THROUGHOUT.
MY NAME IS PASTOR RUBEN RODRIGUEZ.
I'M WITH THE CHURCH FRUIT OF THE V CHURCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
LORD GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS EVERYONE THAT ARE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
LORD GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU PRAY, PRAY FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND AS WELL AS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, LORD GOD.
AND WE PRAY FOR THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS MEETING, LORD GOD, THAT WE APPLY WISDOM AND CARE FOR THIS CITY.
AND LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IN THIS TAM JESUS CHRIST.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
NEXT WE GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS.AND THESE ARE ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT, UH, CONTAINED ON THE AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS BOTH ON ZOOM AND IN THE, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO I'M GONNA LIMIT IT TO TWO MINUTES.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, LET'S TAKE THE, UH, ZOOM FIRST.
GOOD EVENING, NATIONAL CITY, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR MORRISON.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THIS CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF TO DRAFT A TOBACCO RETAILER'S LICENSE PROGRAM ORDINANCE.
AS A PARENT, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE TOBACCO PRODUCT SALES TO THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 AND TO REMOVE UNAUTHORIZED TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM THE SHELVES AND TO PROSECUTE THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SELL.
RECENTLY IN A SCHOOL CAMPUS NEWSLETTER, A TEEN REPORTER WROTE THIS AND I QUOTE, THE VAPE AND SMOKE SHOP IS EXPOSING STUDENTS TO VAPES ALONG WITH SEVERAL UNAPPROVED AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS DRUGS.
OPENING A SMOKE SHOP NEXT TO A SCHOOL IS UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY
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CONSIDERING THAT SCHOOLS ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH STUDENTS VAPING ON CAMPUS.I FEEL WE OWE IT TO THESE STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION FOR THESE STUDENTS TO SEE US TAKE ACTION AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'LL BE EASY FOR RESIDENTS, PARENTS, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
NATIONAL CITY'S TOBACCO RETAILERS LICENSING PROGRAM ORDINANCE WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT.
AS THE STUDENT REPORTER STATED, AND I QUOTE AGAIN, AS STUDENTS, WE ARE OWED THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION AND CAMPUS FREE FROM THE INTERFERENCE OF DRUGS.
AN INTERFERENCE FROM THE VAPE AND SMOKE SHOP SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISRESPECT OR CONTRIBUTE TO OBSTRUCTING OUR RIGHTS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS THIS EVENING.
UM, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BECKY RAPP AND I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR HERE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A NEWLY RELEASED STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS HEAVY MARIJUANA USE CAN HAVE AND HOW IT AFFECTS BRAIN FUNCTION.
THIS STUDY, THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE OF ITS KIND INVOLVED OVER 1000 PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 22 AND 36, BRAIN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY WAS USED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS MARIJUANA HAS ON BRAIN ACTIVITY.
THE STUDY PROVED THAT HEAVY LIFETIME MARIJUANA USERS OR THOSE WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CANNABIS DEPENDENCE WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REDUCED, WITH, WITH REDUCED BRAIN ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS INVOLVED IN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ATTENTION, MEMORY, DECISION MAKING, AND EMOTIONAL PROCESSING.
THE STUDY GOES ON TO PROVE THAT HEAVY MARIJUANA USERS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD RECENTLY USED MARIJUANA, SHOWED SIGNIFICANT DIMINISHED BRAIN ACTIVITY.
THE STUDY DOES NOT TEACH US ANYTHING WE DON'T ALREADY KNOW.
IT ONLY CONFIRMS WHAT HUNDREDS OF PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE ALREADY TAUGHT US.
REITERATING THE MYTH THAT MARIJUANA IS HARMLESS.
DR. JOSHUA COHEN, ONE OF THE STUDIES CO-AUTHORS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA USE.
HE STATES THAT THE RESEARCH UNDERSCORES THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND CALLS FOR MORE INFORMED DECISION MAKING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE THE DOCTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND BECOME MORE INFORMED.
AS POLICYMAKERS, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH.
WHAT BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO CALL ATTENTION TO ANY AND ALL NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR CITY.
AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE, HAVING WORKED IN YOUTH TOBACCO PREVENTION MANY YEARS, I ALSO THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING THE UPCOMING WORKSHOP TO FORMULATE A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSING ORDINANCE TO PROTECT YOUTH.
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, I WANNA CALL ATTENTION AGAIN TO THE SURGEON GENERAL'S NEW REPORT WITH ITS FOCUS ON ELIMINATING TOBACCO HEALTH DISPARITIES.
THIS HAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ADDRESSING KIDS IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT POINTS TO ADVERSE TOBACCO INDUSTRY STRATEGIES THAT CONCENTRATE ON MARKETING TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH GREATER PERCENTAGES OF BLACKS AND HISPANICS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND RESIDENTS WITH LOWER INCOMES WHO TEND TO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF SMOKING.
THE REPORT SAID THESE POPULATIONS ARE ALSO MORE AT RISK FOR EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE, WHICH CAUSES NEARLY A MILLION DEATHS A YEAR IN THE US.
I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT AS YOU WORK ON THE TRL AND TO CONSIDER BEST PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO PROTECT CHILDREN, INCLUDING REINFORCING FLAVORED TOBACCO BANS AND ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING MENTHOL PRODUCTS AND TOBACCO ADVERTISING, MARKETING DIRECTED TO CHILDREN, OR FOCUSED ON NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGHER PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGES OF ETHNIC POPULATIONS, AND INCREASED SMOKE-FREE AND MARIJUANA, VAPOR FREE AIR POLICIES AT PUBLIC PLACES, HOME AND WORKPLACES, INCLUDING SMOKE-FREE, VAPE FREE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING POLICY.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE STRATEGIES WITH KIDS SAFETY IN MIND.
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THANK YOU, BARBARA GORDON.AS A HEALTH ADVOCATE, CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL MARIJUANA SALES CONTINUE TO HARM PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THE RECENT LA TIMES REPORTED THAT NEARLY 60% OF PERMITTED MARIJUANA PRODUCTS IN CALIFORNIA HAD PESTICIDES LEVELS ABOVE EITHER STATE LIMITS OR FEDERAL TOBACCO STANDARDS.
THE LAB RESULTS REPORTED THAT 250,000 CONTAMINATED VAPES AND JOINTS WERE SOLD IN MARIJUANA OUTLETS.
SINCE THC DRUG SALES STARTED IN 2018, CALIFORNIA HAS SEEN, UH, THE INSTANCE OF SIGNIFICANT INSTANCE OF CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS BEING SOLD IN PERMITTED MARIJUANA OUTLETS.
THE ARTICLE SAID IN ONE STUDY THAT FIND ALMOST 72% OF THE SAMPLES CONTAIN FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS, INCLUDING ISOP, PENTANE, TAIN OR PROPANE.
ONE THIRD OF THOSE SAMPLES ALSO CONTAINED PESTICIDE RESIDUE.
THESE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE AGAIN THAT THE STATE CANNOT EFFECTIVELY REGULATE THIS INDUSTRY.
BIG MARIJUANA WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO HOOK A NEW GENERATION OF USERS ON INCREASINGLY POTENT AND CONTAMINATED CHP PRODUCTS.
SIGNIFICANT REFORMS ARE NEEDED, INCLUDING REQUIRING CLEAR WARNING LABELS THAT SPELL OUT THE HARMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE DANGEROUS PSYCHO-ACTIVE DRUGS.
LAWMAKERS HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY, REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DAMAGE THAT IS BEING DONE.
THEY HAVE RESISTED AD ADVANCING POLICIES THAT WILL SAFEGUARD THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC CLUTCHES OF THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY AND THEIR PREDATORY PRACTICES.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY GETTING THE UNMUTE BUTTON TO, TO WORK.
UH, JUDY STRANG HERE, PARENT ADVOCATE.
I WANTED TO, UH, SHARE WITH YOU THAT IN 2023, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.
THAT HAS NOW FINALLY COME TO FRUITION AND IT, AND IT, IT'S NOW IN WORKS.
IT WAS A BROCHURE THAT IS REQUIRED BY ANY MARIJUANA BUSINESS TO DISTRIBUTE TO CONSUMERS OR PATRONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT CHECK OUT THE MARIJUANA LOUNGE THAT'S ABOUT TO OPEN AND ANY MARIJUANA STOREFRONTS THAT YOU HAVE AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS BROCHURE IS BEING, UH, DISTRIBUTED.
IT MAKES VERY CLEAR THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS CONTROL AND YOU ALL, AND MYSELF AS A PARENT, ARE CONCERNED.
AND THAT IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT HIGH POTENCY THC PRODUCTS DO CAUSE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THAT PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING WOMEN ARE AT RISK.
OR AS THE BROCHURE SAYS, WHATEVER YOU CONSUME YOUR BABY CONCERNS, IT GOES ON TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OTHER EFFECTS FROM USING MARIJUANA.
SO I WOULD HOPE IN THE NAME OF SAFETY AND GOOD EDUCATION FOR YOUR CITIZENS THAT, UH, MAYBE YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT COULD MAKE SURE THAT THIS PAMPHLET IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AMONG CONSUMERS AND ANY PATRONS THAT ATTEND EITHER THE MARIJUANA LOUNGES OR SOME OF YOUR OTHER BUSINESS MARIJUANA BUSINESSES.
I AM THE OUTREACH STRATEGIST AT DEBT COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LIFE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO HELP US WITH PURCHASING A, UH, NEW $500 LED LIGHT SET FOR OUR VIDEO PRODUCTION EFFORT WHERE EVERYTHING WILL BE SPOKEN IN AMERICAN LANGUAGE OR BETTER KNOWN AS A SL.
UM, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR VIDEOS ARE FULLY IN A SL BECAUSE WE SERVE A POPULATION OF DEAF PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE THAT IS USED IN A SL COMPARED TO THE STRUCTURE THAT IS USED IN EVERYDAY SPOKEN ENGLISH.
SO WITH THAT DIVIDE, CREATING A TYPE OF LANGUAGE DE UM, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT OUR DEAF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT AFTER ABLE TO FULLY ACCESS INFORMATION FROM THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY NEWS AND STUDIO ALERTS.
SO, UM, AS A SOLUTION, WE'VE BEEN PRODUCING VIDEOS FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE
[00:15:01]
AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA USING A SL TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION.HOWEVER, WE DO NEED NEW LIGHTS TO ENHANCE THE VISIBILITY AND QUALITY OF OUR VIDEOS.
THAT IS WHY I AM I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TODAY FOR HELP WITH THIS, UM, WITH THESE NEW LIVES.
IT WILL REALLY HELP US ENHANCE OUR A SL VIDEOS AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF AND HAVING A SL AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE.
UM, WE ARE ALSO DIDN'T LOOK INTO USE THESE LIGHTS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO SHARE INFORMATION AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES THE ZOOM COMMENTS.
NOW WE WILL GO TO, UH, THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE FIRST START OUT AND I'LL NAME ALL THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME.
PLEASE STEP OUT INTO THE AISLE.
THAT WAY YOU CAN COME IMMEDIATELY UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND WE DON'T WASTE A LOT OF TIME THAT WAY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, PATRICIA, THE ARMON ARMAND, FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE RENOSO, FOLLOWED BY DOYLE MORRISON.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU GUYS, UH, KNOW WHO I AM, BUT MY BROTHER WAS KILLED BY SDPD.
WHILE OUR CASES ARE FROM DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS, UH, WE HAVE VERY MUCH IN COMMON, UH, WITH MINE AND ROBERTO'S CASES.
UM, AND THEY APPROACHED OUR LOVED ONES WITH FEAR TACTICS.
THEY LIE IN THEIR POLICE REPORTS.
THEY TRY TO HUSH UP THE FAMILY MEMBERS.
UM, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN EVER REPLACE THE LOSS OF OUR LOVED ONES.
THEIR KIDS HAVE TO RAISE, BE RAISED WITHOUT THEIR DADS.
WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT OUR BROTHERS, OUR PARENTS, WITHOUT THEIR CHILD.
AND YES, THIS SYSTEM SEES THEM A CERTAIN WAY, AND I KNOW THEY LIKE ONLY CERTAIN IM PROFILES OF PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU DON'T FIT THAT PROFILE, OR IF YOU'RE ACTING OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ANY REASON, THEY'RE QUICK TO SHOOT YOU DOWN.
JUST BECAUSE A WEAPON IS IN YOUR HAND, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH REASON TO SHOOT AT SOMEBODY AND END THEIR LIFE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COMMON SENSE OF POLICE OFFICERS APPROACHING OUR LOVED ONES LIKE HUMAN BEINGS? THEY LOST RESPECT.
THEY LOST COURAGE, AND THEY ARE COWARDS AND THEY SHOOT TO KILL.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO RENDER AID.
WHY IS THERE NO LAW STATING THAT THEY HAVE TO RENDER AID AFTER THEY SHOOT SOMEBODY? INSTEAD THEY LEAVE THEM THERE TO DIE.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS MISTREATMENT AND OUR FAMILIES WILL KEEP SHOWING UP AND OTHER FAMILIES TOO, BECAUSE WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR OUR LOVED ONES.
THERE HAS TO BE CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM.
NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'LL EVER REPAY A LOST LIFE.
AND A MILLION DOLLARS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE.
NEXT WE HAD, UH, JACQUELINE RENOSO, FOLLOWED BY DOYLE MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY ALICIA MORRISON.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE LUNA RENOSO, LOCAL MAJORITY OWNER OF CALI MOTA, LLC, AND A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF NATIONAL CITY.
I'M HERE AGAIN TO DEMAND AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CANNABIS PERMIT APPLICATIONS IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
AND TO REQUEST ONCE MORE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REMEDIATE THE FLAWED PROCESS THAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CANNABIS LICENSING PROCESS.
WE HAVE OFFERED A WIN-WIN SOLUTION TO THE CITY, DO THE RIGHT THING, EXPAND LICENSING TO ALL QUALIFIED LOCAL OWNERS, AND AVOID LITIGATION AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE USES FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS.
WE ATTEMPTED TO MEET WITH CITY MANAGER BEN MARTINEZ OVER THE COURSE OF MONTHS.
DURING THAT TIME, HE MET WITH ANOTHER CANNABIS APPLICANT THREE TIMES.
THIS CLEARLY SHOWS DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT AND BIAS AS A CITIZEN.
I FIND THIS VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
WE FINALLY SECURED A MEETING WITH MR. MARTINEZ, AT WHICH TIME HE DID NOT DISCLOSE MUCH ABOUT THE CANNABIS PROCESS.
THE CITY IS NOW FACING ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD AND VIOLATION OF CITIZEN PROTECTIONS BY NOT VALIDATING LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO OPERATE SUSTAINABLY.
THIS CAN EASILY BE DONE BY CHECKING OPERATING AGREEMENTS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS.
HOWEVER, THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
WE'VE BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THE SO-CALLED LOCAL OWNERS WERE MERELY FRONTS TO PROVIDE 150 POINT ADVANTAGE TO THE EXPERIENCED CANNABIS OPERATORS WHO OFTEN CON AND DEFRAUD THE
[00:20:01]
SYSTEM, KEEPING REAL LOCAL OWNERS OUT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.THE CITY MANAGED A FLAWED PROCESS, WHICH ULTIMATELY FAILED ITS LOCAL EQUITY PARTNERS, B, C, D, AND KTA IN A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS IN A BUDGET DEFICIT OF $5 MILLION FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
IT IS VITAL ACTUALLY TO IDENTIFY REVENUE GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY HAS A POTENTIAL TO GENERATE 3 MILLION ANNUALLY, BUT IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE CITY AWARDED THE TOP SIX APPLICANTS.
WE CAME HERE IN OCTOBER AND HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RESPONSES AND NOT ONE HAS OPENED THEIR DOORS, NOR HAS THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDED A REAL STATUS UPDATE.
TODAY'S PRIORITIES SHOULD BE THE LICENSING PROCESS BY ELIMINATING APPLICANTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED, COMMITTED FRAUD, OR HAVE NOT MET THEIR CONDITIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION, AND PRIORITIZE YOUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL EQUITY.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, DOYLE MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY ALICIA MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY LAURA WILKERSON, CENTER MAYOR COUNCIL STAFF.
I'M HERE TO, UH, TONIGHT WITH CONCERNS OF THE TRAFFIC CONDITION AT SWEETWATER IN ORANGE IN NATIONAL CITY.
DURING THE CYPRUS GLEN DEVELOPMENT YEARS AGO, I SPOKE ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHT NEED AT THAT SAME INTERSECTION, QUOTE UNQUOTE, IF YOU DON'T PUT A LIGHT IN, SOMEONE WILL DIE THERE.
THE HANK HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE THE SOLUTION.
NATIONAL CITY PLANNING ENDORSED A PROJECT, UH, REQUIRING A TRAFFIC LIGHT RECENTLY, BUT THE DEVELOPER PULLED THE APPLICATION.
THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR A LIGHT AT SWEETWATER IN ORANGE.
THAT SAFETY CONDITION IS, IS STILL PRESENT EVEN THOUGH THE DEVELOPER PULLED OUT.
IF YOU DON'T PUT A LIGHT IN THERE, SOMEONE ELSE WILL DIE.
I'M QUOTING THAT RIGHT NOW TO YOU.
UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THE CITY OF NAAU CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR SAFETY AND PREVENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS.
PLEASE PUT IN THE LIGHT AT SWEETWATER IN ORANGE.
YOU, UH, ALICIA MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY LAURA WILKERSON, SENT IN, FOLLOWED BY TED GOTCH.
I AM HERE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMMENT I SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK AND HOPE YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PHOTOS OF THE HAZARDOUS OVERGROWTH OR SHRUBBERY LOCATED ON SWEETWATER ROAD NEAR THE MTS BUS STOP.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST COUNSEL TO FOLLOW UP WITH ENGINEERING REGARDING A WORK ORDER FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.
LAURA ROKUS AND SENT, UH, TED GODSHAW AND THEN MOSES LENCIA.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY FOR MY COMPANY, CALI MOTA, COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED BY YOUR CANNABIS LICENSING PROCESS, WHICH IS APPARENTLY SECRETIVE.
NONE ARE OPEN AND YOU HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT.
AND WE HAVE READY CASH TO INVEST, AND WE ARE FRUSTRATED.
YOUR CITY MANAGER MET WITH US TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS AFTER MONTHS OF TRYING.
UH, BEN MARTINEZ WAS ALSO OUR APPEAL HEARING OFFICER, WHICH I FIND TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN HIM DECIDING OUR CASES.
MR. MARTINEZ TOLD US HE WAS UNAWARE OF WHERE ANY OF THE APPLICANTS WERE IN THE PROCESS AND PERMITTING.
AND THAT WAS OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AND PROMISED US AN UPDATE.
HE ALSO PROMISED YOU AT THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE PUBLICLY LAST OCTOBER, WE HAVE SEEN NO SUCH UPDATE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD, OF FLIPPING LICENSES, SELLING MAJORITY INTERESTS, AND SEVERAL APPLICANTS FALLING OUT DUE TO FALLING OUT OF MONEY OR FALLING OUT OF PARTNERS.
ALL OF THESE ARE TRUE, YET THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH THESE FACTS TO US AS OTHER APPLICANTS DOWN THAT LIST.
AND AFTER PROMISING THE COUNSEL TO REPORT IN AS WELL, THAT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS TROUBLING.
I DO WANNA READ FROM THE LOCAL OWNERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM FOR COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMIT APPLICATIONS THAT WAS SIGNED UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY BY EVERY SINGLE APPLICANT, INCLUDING CALI MODA AND SOME OF THESE WITH ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.
THIS IS INTENDED TO ENSURE TRUE OWNERSHIP BY THE LOCAL PREFERENCE INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS.
AND AS SUCH, PROHIBITS THE DIVESTMENT OR RELINQUISHMENT OF ANY PART OF THEIR OWNERSHIP UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
HAS THAT HAPPENED WITH ANY OF THESE LICENSES? HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO SELL THEIR MAJORITY INTERESTS ALREADY OR FLIP LICENSING AND OWNERSHIP? ALSO, THIS REQUIREMENT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO BEING AUDITED TO ASSESS COMPLIANCE BY THE CITY.
FOR THE LOCAL OWNER PREFERENCE, YOU CAN INITIATE LEGAL ACTION DUE TO A BREACH OF CONTRACT AGREEMENT AND THE CITY MAY SUSPEND AND OR REVOKE A LICENSE IF ANY PROVISION IN ANY OPERATING AGREEMENT VIOLATES ANY OF THE EQUITY SHARE OR LOCAL OWNER PREFERENCE REQUIREMENTS.
HAS ANYBODY CHECKED THESE OPERATING AGREEMENTS? YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO AND YOUR CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER HAVE NOT.
AND THAT IS A NEGLECTIVE DUTY.
UH, APPLICANTS APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO VERIFY UNDER THIS SECTION AS WELL.
SO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS.
UH, TED GODSHAW TO BE FOLLOWED BY MOSES, UH, VALENCIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY
[00:25:01]
SHERRY GOGI.UM, LISTEN, THE CONSENT CALENDAR POLICY THAT YOU HAVE REQUIRES YOU TO PULL AN ITEM IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTS IT OR A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
AND I HAVE DONE THAT THROUGH THE NORMAL WRITTEN MESSAGE SCRIBE.
AND SO I'M NOT GETTING ANSWERS THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT FIRMED UP.
YOU NEED TO ASK THE STAFF MEMBER TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHEN SOMETHING IS PULLED.
THANK YOU FOR PULLING SOME OF THEM YOURSELF.
I CANNOT STAY, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE IT TONIGHT.
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD DO IT EACH TIME.
I I ASK YOU FOR SOME INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE WOMEN ON ZOOM THAT HAVE ADDRESSED YOU EVERY SINGLE MEETING SINCE AT LEAST 2019, ALWAYS ABOUT CANNABIS.
I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THEIR COMMENT TONIGHT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.
THIS LAST SUNDAY, AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS, AT DIZZY, THE BESTSELLING CANNABIS BRAND IN AMERICA.
THE GOAL IS EXPLICIT PRODUCING POWERFUL AND CHEAP MARIJUANA INSIDE ITS LOS ANGELES HEADQUARTERS, CRUISE DUST JOINTS WITH CONCENTRATED THC AND INTOXICATING COMPONENT OF CANNABIS ON ITS WEBSITE.
THE COMPANY DECLARES THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER OR QUICKER TO GET SILLY HIGH FOR AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.
MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER THE STATES BEGAN LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES ARE ENTICING CUSTOMERS WITH UNPROVEN HEALTH CLAIMS WHILE LARGELY ESCAPING RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT.
A NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF 20 OF THE LARGEST BRANDS FOUND THAT MOST WERE SELLING PRODUCTS WITH SUCH CLAIMS, POTENTIALLY VIOLATING FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS AS A COMPANY.
AS THE COMPANY'S COMPETE, POTENCY HAS GONE UP AND SOME PRODUCTS ADVERTISED AS HAVING AS MUCH AS 99% THC AND PRICES HAVE GONE DOWN.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS REALLY A RACE TO THE BOTTOM SAID MATT ZENNER, A SENIOR ANALYST AT THE BRIGHTFIELD GROUP, WHICH TRACKS LEGAL, THE LEGAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY.
YOU SHOULD BE READING THESE ARTICLES.
YOU SHOULD BE EDUCATING YOURSELF ON THE PESTICIDES THE LADIES ARE TELLING YOU ABOUT.
WE'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
UH, MOSES IS VALENCIA, SHERRY GOGI, AND THEN EDWARD NETTO.
LAST WEEK, A VIRAL CAMPAIGN WAS SPREAD ONLINE BY AN UNKNOWN ORGANIZERS AND IMAGE WAS CIRCULATED TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY THAT SPECIFIED SOUTH BAY PLAZA AS A DESTINATION FOR A MASS ADMINISTRATION.
AND I STATE FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KNOWN THAT IT WOULD BECOME A STREET TAKEOVER IN LIGHT OF SIMILAR GATHERINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND AS THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 31ST CLEARLY SHOW THE CITY FAILED IN ITS DUTY TO SECURE THE PUBLIC PEACE ENDING IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF TEARGAS, THE EVENT WAS PROMOTED IN THE NATIONAL CITY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP, OF WHICH MY COUNCILMAN JOSE RODRIGUEZ WAS A MODERATOR.
AFTER LAST FRIDAY'S DISRUPTION, HE'S NO LONGER, I WENT TO THE RALLY HOPING TO FIND A PEACEFUL GATHERING UPON MY ARRIVAL.
MY WORST FEARS WERE CONFIRMED WITHIN AN HOUR OF ITS INCEPTION.
THE LONGNESS I WITNESSED LEFT ME DISMAYED.
FURTHERMORE, THE LACK OF ANY POLICE PRESENCE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE WAS AN ERROR ON THE PART OF CITY OFFICIALS.
TICK, KNOCK AND X BECAME FULL OF NEGATIVE REACTIONS TOWARDS THE DEMONSTRATION.
TO MY SHOCK, I WATCHED NBC SEVEN REPORT, WHICH QUOTE HIM, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.
THE COUNCILMAN CONFIRMED THAT THE REPORTER JEANETTE CASADA, THAT IT WAS A COMMUNITY LED PROTEST AND THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION BEHIND IT.
A CONTRADICTION CONSIDERING THE PRESENCE OF OUTSIDE ELEMENTS.
AND ZERO LEADERSHIP, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ WAS AT, WASN'T AT THE EVENT, BUT POSTED A VIDEO VIDEO TO INSTAGRAM CRUISING DOWN HIGHLAND DURING IT, TELLING PEOPLE TO BE SAFE WHILE FRAMING IT IN RACIALLY CHARGED LANGUAGE.
IRONIC, GIVEN THE APPARENT LACK OF PLANNING FOR THEIR SAFETY, THE CITY GOVERNMENT BEARS A RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT WAS FORESEEABLE STREET TAKEOVER.
IT IS THE SECOND SUCH TAKEOVER I HAVE WITNESSED IN THE SAME LOCATION.
IF I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU KNEW IT COULD HAPPEN.
NO ONE IN THIS BODY BEARS MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WHO PROMOTED THIS UNLAWFUL GATHERING IN BOTH THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE PRESS.
NATIONAL CITY WAS EMBARRASSED.
IN THE GLOBAL STAGE WHEN TAS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND DANGEROUS TO THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY ARE THE MOST SERIOUS.
IN DECADES, THE WORST POSSIBLE PR DISASTER WAS ALLOWED TO OCCUR AND WAS ENCOURAGED BY RODRIGUEZ.
AS A RESULT, THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY IS IRREPARABLE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
VIDEO CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN THE CALLS FOR OUR REMOVAL AT A FEES OF PITCH.
WE CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST, BUT IS MY HOPE THAT WE LEARN FROM THIS AS A COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS WON'T BE FOUND IN THE STREETS, BUT IN THE LAW.
EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL.
I KNOW TWO WEEKS AGO I SAID, I WON'T BE BACK.
ACTUALLY, I'M BACK TO GIVE YOU KUDOS.
DECEMBER 20TH IS THE DAY WE GOT THE LETTER SAYING, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE GRADE OUT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS CITY WORK THIS FAST.
HONESTLY, WE HAD A LITTLE ANXIETY COMING UP.
'CAUSE IF YOU JUST HEAR THE RAINS COMING, WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE CAN SLEEP TONIGHT AND FOR HOPEFULLY FOR THE FORESEEABLE
[00:30:01]
FUTURE.AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, THE CITY, THE ENGINEERS, EVERYBODY THAT WAS BEHIND THIS.
AND I ACTUALLY WENT OUT TODAY AND THANKED ALL THE WORKERS.
WERE OUT THERE BECAUSE I'M HAPPY.
ON ANOTHER NOTE REAL QUICK, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO THE GALA FOR THE NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER ON FRIDAY.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND SEEING THE DANCING AND, AND THE FOOD WAS GREAT.
AND JUST REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL THERE FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES TOO.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A ISSUE THAT I BROUGHT UP BEFORE ABOUT THE FOOTNOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ACTUALLY SAY THAT THERE'S A MONITORING OF THE BUDGET, UH, REGULAR MONITORING AND THE COUNCIL RECEIVES QUARTERLY UPDATES.
UM, AT LEAST IT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC.
MAYBE I'LL GET THOSE QUARTERLY UPDATES BEHIND SCENES.
I WISH YOU'D LET US KNOW, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE US BE AWARE THAT YOU'RE MONITORING THIS.
I, I HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE QUARTERLY UPDATES.
UH, THEY SET THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL, THERE'S ACTUAL BUDGET TO ACTUAL COMPARISON.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ONLY DONE ON THE LATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR MAYBE DURING, UH, YOU KNOW, BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, BUT, OR ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT WE, WE NEED, WE NEED TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, THE NEWSPAPER, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT SEE THESE MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUITS, SA SALARY INCREASES, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, UNPLANNED, UH, REVENUE INCREASES.
SO IT MAKES US LOOK LIKE THERE'S A CAR WITHOUT A REAL DRIVER IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE GOING IN TERMS OF EXPENDITURES AND, AND, AND REVENUE, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THESE THINGS WE COULD SAY, WELL, CAN WE ANTICIPATE THEM? YOU KNOW, ALL THESE THINGS THAT WERE NOT THERE.
TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE WE COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THEM AND INCLUDED THEM IN THE PROJECTED BUDGET.
WHY THE METHODOLOGY DOESN'T ALLOW THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN ACCOUNTING RULE.
IT'S, IT'S THE BEST ESTIMATE YOU CAN MAKE.
SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN START YOUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS EARLY AND ASK OURSELVES TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT YOUR REVENUE PROJECTS ARE.
YOU KNOW, BEN HAD A GREAT IDEA, YOU KNOW, WITH A, WITH A, WITH A, UH, BILLBOARDS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK, WHY WASN'T THAT PUT IN THE PROJECT PROJECTED BUDGET FROM THE BEGINNING? YOU KNOW? ARE THERE ANY OTHER IDEAS OUT THERE? I THREW ONE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVE COST, YOU KNOW, SO PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO THIS SO PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF YOU.
THINK ABOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET DEFICIT IN A NEGATIVE TONE.
YOU KNOW, TAKE SOME CONTROL OVER IT AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY IN TERMS OF A BUDGET DEFICIT WILL GO DOWN.
OR MAYBE YOU HAVE A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
MAYBE YOU HAVE A BIG GIANT GOOSE EGG THAT YOU HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON, UH, NON AGENDA ITEMS. WE NEXT
[6.1 Introduction of New City Employees ]
GO INTO, UH, RECOGNITION AND THAT IS UNDER, UH, OUR INTRODUCTION OF NEW, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES.AND FIRST OF ALL, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
MARY GUMS. RONNIE, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND COUNCIL.
RONNIE SERANO, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR NEW GRAFFITI REMOVAL ASSISTANT, DAVID ORTIZ.
DAVID GRADUATED FROM SAN YED HIGH SCHOOL.
HE BRINGS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.
HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE CITY OF IMPERIAL BEACH AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER.
DAVID JOINED OUR TEAM A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, AND IN THAT SHORT TIME, HE'S PROVEN TO BE A VALUABLE ASSET MAKING NOTICEABLE POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR CITY.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD RIGHT HERE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE, UH, AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THE GRAFFITI REMOVAL ASSISTANT ROLE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO CONTRIBUTING OUR COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE HAVE WITH, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE KRISTEN ABOR DIGGS.
UH, KRISTEN GREW UP IN NATIONAL CITY.
SHE ATTENDED OLIVE WOOD ELEMENTARY, NATIONAL CITY, MIDDLE, AND SWEETWATER HIGH.
UH, KRISTEN STARTED WORKING WITH THE CITY IN AUGUST OF 2002 AS A RECREATION AIDE.
UH, SHE'S MARRIED TO HER WONDERFUL HUSBAND, MICHAEL, WHO IS A RECENT RETIRED U-U-S-M-C
[00:35:01]
VETERAN.HER SON XAVIER, IS 12 AND LOVES PLAYING BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, AND OF COURSE PLAYING FORTNITE.
HER DAUGHTER, AVA MARIE, IS EIGHT AND IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCCER.
AND YES, TOO, SHE LIKES TO PLAY FORTNITE.
KRISTEN AND HER FAMILY LIVED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FOR THREE YEARS.
SHE WAS THERE TO SUPPORT HER HUSBAND DURING HIS MILITARY OVERSEAS SERVICE.
SHE RETURNED WITH HER FAMILY TO THE US AND WAS FORTUNATE TO COME BACK TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
KRISTEN ENJOYS BEING A SPORTS MOM AND IS A GREAT, IS A GREAT FULL-TIME ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UH, COUNCIL? NO, YOU HAVE OVER TO THE, THE MIC.
THAT'S, OH, NOW THE OTHER ONES TURNED ON.
UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY I AM THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FROM PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME.
IT ALLOWS ME TO WORK BETTER WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY A LOT MORE.
YOU, YOU HAD ME SOLD AT SWEETWATER GRAD.
SO, ANYWAY,
COME MAYOR MORRISON, VICE, UH, MAYOR BUSH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND PUBLIC.
I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE KEVIN REGE, OUR NEW RECORDS PROGRAM SPECIALIST IN THIS, IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
KEVIN JOINED THE TEAM IN JANUARY OF 2025 AND BRINGS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE RECORDS AND, UH, SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT.
A GRADUATE OF SDSU, KEVIN HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN STATISTICS.
ACTUARY SCIENCE, RIGHT?
UH, BEGINNING, UH, BEFORE JOINING US, HE WORKED FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO FOR FOUR YEARS IN VARIOUS ROLES, INCLUDING BOARD ASSISTANT FOR THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, HUMAN SERVICES SPECIALIST, AND OFFICE ASSISTANT.
IN ADDITION, KEVIN IS A CERTIFIED PASSPORT AGENT, ADDING FURTHER EXPERTISE TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
KEVIN IS A PROUD GRADUATE OF SWEETWATER HIGH AND A NATIONAL CITY RESIDENT.
IN HIS FREE TIME, HE ENJOYS WALKING IN NATURE, UNWINDING WITH SITCOMS, EXPLORING NEW RESTAURANTS, AND ADVOCATING FOR THE POWER OF NAPS TO RECHARGE.
PLEASE JOIN US IN GIVING KEVIN A WARM WELCOME TO THE TEAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE CITY, NATIONAL CITY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GLAD TO BE PART OF THE TEAM.
NOW, ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORKS.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
UM, REALLY EXCITED TO, UH, BRING ON THREE NEW HIRES TONIGHT.
UH, THEY COULDN'T BE HERE, DO DO THEIR WORK SCHEDULES, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND JUST, UH, READ OFF A, A QUICK BIO ON EACH ONE OF THEM.
SO FIRST WE'RE GONNA START WITH, UH, UH, PABLO LOPEZ.
SO, PABLO IS A PROUD FATHER AND HUSBAND.
HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE HIS MOTIVATION IN LIFE.
HE SPENT THE PAST 14 YEARS DEVELOPING HIS SKILLS AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE WHILE WORKING LOCALLY FOR BRIGHTVIEW LANDSCAPES.
WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING ON, UH, SOMEONE WITH PABLO'S EXPERIENCE WHO CAN TRULY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
AND HE'S ALSO WANTED TO SAY HE IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE NATIONAL CITY AS OUR NEW SENIOR PARK CARETAKER.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, JOSE SUE GONZALEZ.
JOSE GREW UP IN NATIONAL CITY.
HE SPENT THE PAST FOUR YEARS WORKING FOR MAINTENANCE PLUS, WHICH IS A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE COMPANY.
HE SERVED AS A SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING FOUR EMPLOYEES.
HIS DUTIES INCLUDED CREATING WORK ORDERS AND INSPECTING JOB SITES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
HE ALSO ACTIVELY WORKED IN THE FIELD PERFORMING ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, DRYWALL, FLOORING, LANDSCAPING, AND CARPENTRY.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE JOSE JOSE, UH, JOIN OUR TEAM AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER FOR PUBLIC WORK STREETS AND WASTEWATER DIVISION.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER, UM, UH, NEW HIRE FOR STREETS AND WASTEWATER.
UM, JUAN IS, UH, UM, BEEN WORKING IN VARIOUS ROLES AS A TECHNICIAN THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR COMPANIES SUCH AS BOEING, COBB, HAM, AND AT AND T.
HE SPENT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY PERFORMING A RANGE OF TASKS, INCLUDING CONDUCTING SURVEYS, SUBMITTING PLANS TO VARIOUS CITIES AND COUNTIES, PARTICIPATING IN INSTALLATIONS AND COORDINATING FINAL INSPECTIONS WITH BUILDING INSPECTORS, INCLUDING THOSE IN NATIONAL CITY.
HE'S VERY MOTIVATED TO JOIN OUR PUBLIC WORK STREETS AND WASTEWATER DIVISION, WHERE HE CAN DEVELOP A NEW SET OF SKILLS AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, WE, UH, ASK YOU TO
[00:40:01]
WELCOME OUR, UH, THREE NEW HIRES TO ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS.[7.1 SDSU National City Brownfields Project Update & Property Owner Outreach]
NEXT WE GO INTO, UH, PRESENTATION FOR SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE NATIONAL CITY BROWNSFIELD PROJECT UPDATE.HELLO, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF.
UM, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE ONCE AGAIN TO GIVE YOU, I'M HERE, WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR BROWNFIELDS PROJECT AND ALSO, UM, TO HELP YOU HA HA ASK THAT YOU HELP US WITH OUR, UM, PROPERTY OWNER OUTREACH.
OH, MAYBE I HAVE TO TURN THAT.
UM, SO I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND PRESENTED ON OUR BROWNFIELD PROJECT, BUT JUST FOR, UM, THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, WE JUST WANNA REMIND, UM, YOU ALL WHAT BROWNFIELD ARE.
SO, A BROWNFIELD IS A PARCEL OF LAND, UM, THAT IT, ITS USE OR REUSE MAY BE COMPLICATED BY, UM, PRESENCE OR POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF CONTAMINATION RELATED TO PAST USES.
UM, AND SO OFTEN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE IF THEY THESE PARCELS, UM, DO HAVE ANY CONTAMINATION.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, WE AT SDSU, THE CENTER FOR REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH NATIONAL CITY SINCE 2013 THROUGH PROJECT PART, UM, PARTNERSHIPS ON PROJECTS THAT ARE HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, THROUGH OUR SAGE PROJECT AND NOW THROUGH OUR BROWNFIELD PROJECT.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING THAT WORK, UM, WITH THESE TWO BROWNFIELD COMMUNITY-WIDE, UM, ASSESSMENT GRANTS.
SO WE HAVE ONE GRANT THAT'S THREE YEARS FROM THE U-S-E-P-A.
UM, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS A TWO YEAR GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL.
THAT SECOND GRANT ACTUALLY HAS, UM, CLOSED OUT AS OF JANUARY.
UM, WE ARE DOING OUR FINAL REPORTING FOR THAT, BUT THE WORK IS CONTINUING WITH THE EPA FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.
AND, UM, SO JUST TO TALK, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THESE GRANTS SUPPORT, UM, THEY ALLOW US TO CONDUCT WORK, UM, TO IDENTIFY BROWNFIELD SITES, PRIORITIZE THE SITES FOR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, DO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THOSE PRIORITIZED SITES, AND THEN DO PLANNING FOR REUSE OR PLANNING FOR CLEANUP OF THOSE SITES.
SO THESE FUNDS DO NOT SUPPORT ACTUAL CLEANUP OR RE REMEDIATION AND DO NOT, UM, SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OR DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO, UM, AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE HAVE FOUR MAIN ACTIVITIES, UM, UH, OR, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.
UM, I DO THE SITE IDENTIFICATION TO CREATE AN INVENTORY OF BROWNFIELDS IN NATIONAL CITY.
UM, THEN DEVELOP SITE PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA BASED ON, UM, CHARACTERISTICS OF, UM, THE SITE.
SO COMMU, UM, THEIR, THEIR PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS OR HOSPITALS OR THE SIZE OF THE, UM, PARCELS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
THEN CONDUCT ACTUAL ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS.
UM, WE CALL THESE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO SITE ASSESSMENTS.
THEY VARY IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL, UH, WHETHER THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, ACTUAL SAMPLES BEING TAKEN OR NOT.
AND THEN, UM, THE FOURTH PHASE IS, OR STAGE IS THE, UH, REUSE PLANNING.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, WE ARE IN THE PHASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS TELL YOU HOW WE GOT THERE.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MADDIE, WHO'S GONNA TALK ABOUT, UM, THE ACTIVITIES COMPLETED TO DATE.
AND I REALIZE I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MYSELF.
UM, JESSICA BARLOW, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, THIS IS MADDIE SWAIN
SWAIN, UH, I'M GONNA TALK YOU BRIEFLY THROUGH SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED TO DATE, SO, UH, THAT SOME OF THIS MIGHT LOOK FAMILIAR THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED SOME OF THESE PAST EVENTS.
BUT WE KICKED OFF THIS, UH, EFFORT WITH A COMMUNITY KICKOFF KICKOFF EVENT BACK IN MARCH OF 2023, WHERE WE INTRODUCED THE PROJECT, INTRODUCED WHAT WE WERE DOING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ASKED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP US DEVELOP AN INVENTORY OF BROWNFIELD SITES IN NATIONAL CITY.
UM, SO AT THAT MARCH, 2023 EVENT, FOLKS PUT STICKERS ON MAPS TO IDENTIFY THE BROWNFIELDS THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ALSO HAD AN ONLINE PROCESS FOR FOLKS TO CONTRIBUTE SITES TO THE INVENTORY.
UM, AND, AND FINALLY CONDUCTED WALKING TOURS OF THE CITY'S WEST SIDE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS GOING STREET BY STREET BLOCK BY BLOCK TO TRY TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE HIGH CONCERN SITES.
[00:45:02]
FROM THERE, UH, WE TOOK THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED BROWNFIELD'S LIST AND SUPPLEMENTED IT WITH ADDITIONAL DATA ON BROWNFIELD SITES IN NATIONAL CITY, TAKING DATA FROM THE US EPAS ACRES DATABASE, AS WELL AS SITES LISTED ON NATIONAL CITY SITE AMORTIZATION LIST.WE BROUGHT ALL THREE SOURCES OF DATA TOGETHER, DATA FROM EPA ACRES AMORTIZATION, AND THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED SITES IDENTIFYING ABOUT 120 BROWNFIELD SITES HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
THIS IS A MAP OF WHAT THOSE SITES LOOK LIKE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, CLUSTERED IN THE WEST SIDE, THOUGH, UH, THEY ARE PRESENT ACROSS THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY BOUNDARY.
FROM THERE, WE ASK COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGAIN AT A SECOND, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP IN AUGUST OF 2023 TO HELP US DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR HOW WE MIGHT PRIORITIZE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AT THESE IDENTIFIED BROWNFIELD SITES.
I'M GONNA QUICKLY GO THROUGH THERE.
UM, BASED ON THE COMMUNITY, UH, NOMINATED PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA, WE SORT OF MADE ALL THE DIFFERENT CALCULATIONS FOR EACH OF THE BROWNFIELD SITES TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY MIGHT, UH, LINE UP IN TERMS OF HIGH TO LOW PRIORITY.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY IN AUGUST, WE HAD ONE MORE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP WHERE WE PRESENTED BACK THE COMPLETE INVENTORY OF BROWNFIELD SITES, UM, AND ASKED PEOPLE TO SHARE, UH, THEIR, THEIR VISIONS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE VARIOUS BROWNFIELD SITES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
WHEN WE APPLIED FOR THESE GRANTS, WE ALSO HAD TO IDENTIFY FOUR PRESELECTED SITES.
THESE ARE ALL CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, UM, WHERE WE MADE PROMISES TO PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AT EACH OF THEM.
UM, SOME VERY GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT AT EACH OF THE PRESELECTED SITES, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO, UH, BEGIN WORK ON THE FINAL SET OF PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AT THE CITY OWNED SITES ON, UH, NATIONAL CITY BOULEVARD AND ON A AVENUE AS WELL.
SO, RESULTS OF THOSE PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS SHOULD BE COMING VERY SOON.
UM, AS PART OF OUR REUSE PLANNING EFFORTS, WE'VE ENGAGED WITH THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE.
WE DID A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL WITH THEM IN 2023.
WE PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THAT HERE IN COUNCIL, AND WE'RE GEARING UP TO BEGIN A SECOND TAP, UM, NEXT MONTH FOR THE GREEN CORRIDOR PROJECT, UM, NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY.
LASTLY, AND THIS IS OUR ASK TO YOU, IS THAT WE NOW HAVE THIS ROBUST DATA SET OF, UH, BROWNFIELD SITES IN NATIONAL CITY, AND WE HAVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS AT THESE PROPERTIES.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHOSE SITES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, UM, BUT WOULD LOVE YOUR SUPPORT IN DOING SOME OF THAT PROPERTY OWNER OUTREACH AS WELL, AND JUST SORT OF SPREADING THE WORD THAT THIS RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE, UH, FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HERE'S HOW TO GET AHOLD OF US, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION.
UM, UH, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO RECEIVE THE PRESENTATION BEFOREHAND, SO I'M LOOKING AT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BUT THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING IT TO US TONIGHT.
YOU MENTIONED, UH, THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR ONLINE PARTICIPATION.
DID YOU GET A GOOD AMOUNT OF FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING ONLINE? WE DO.
I COULDN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY ONLINE NOMINATIONS WE HAVE, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT DATA, I'D BE HAPPY TO PULL IT FOR YOU.
YEAH, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHETHER THAT WAS EFFECTIVE.
YOU KNOW, IS THAT A GOOD WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY? ARE THEY RESPONDING, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR MY OWN KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR PROGRAM AS WELL? YEAH, I THINK MY, MY IMP IMPRESS, SORRY, CUT YOU OFF.
MY IMPRESSION IS IT IS THAT FOLKS WHO WERE IN AT ATTENDED THE IN-PERSON EVENT CONTINUED TO MAKE SITE NOMINATIONS THROUGH THE ONLINE FORUM.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THAT ONLINE PLATFORM WHO HADN'T BEEN PRESENT AT THE IN-PERSON.
SO I THINK THAT THE ONLINE NOMINATION ACTIVITY WAS REALLY DOVETAILING OFF OF WHAT WE DID IN PERSON MM-HMM
SO HAD WE JUST DONE THE ONLINE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD'VE HAD AS MANY NOMINATIONS.
I AM AWARE OF ALL OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND IT'S BEEN IMPRESSIVE, AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE.
YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED SITES, BROWN SITE, BROWNFIELD SITES IN, UM, MOSTLY ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT ONE, WHICH IS THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT, IS VERY CONCERNING.
THIS M DIAGRAM IS VERY, UH, HELPFUL.
I LIKE THAT YOU HAVE ALSO USED EXISTING INFORMATION, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM OUR AMORTIZATION LIST TO, UM, TO ADD TO YOUR, UH, DATA AND YOUR, YOUR DATABASE.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTIONS, SO REGARDING THE PHASE TWO ASSESSMENTS, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PHASE TWO ASSESSMENT? IS THAT THE END OF SORT OF YOUR SCOPE OF WORK FOR US? THAT'S, UM, THAT TAKES US TO SORT OF THE END OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN SUPPORT WITH THESE CURRENT GRANTS.
[00:50:01]
OF A PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT ARE SUCH THAT, UH, REMEDIATION IS RECOMMENDED, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, UM, THROUGH THE U-S-E-P-A AND ALSO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL, UM, TO SUPPORT THOSE ACTUAL REMEDIATION EFFORTS.SO IF A PHASE TWO WAS UNDERTAKEN AND WE FOUND SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION, THAT SITE OR SET OF SITES WOULD THEN BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME FOLLOW ON FUNDING.
IT'S OF COURSE NOT GUARANTEED.
UM, BUT HAVING A SITE THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ASSESSED THROUGH THIS BROWNFIELDS FUNDING PIPELINE MM-HMM
I THINK WOULD MAKE IT VERY COMPETITIVE FOR THAT SORT OF THING.
IT PROBABLY JUST GETS US ONE STEP CLOSER RIGHT, EXACTLY.
AND I, I, UM, WANNA MAKE CLEAR, WE ARE, WE WERE HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN REFERRING TO OUR INVENTORY AS AN INVENTORY OF OPPORTUNITY SITES BECAUSE, UM, WE DON'T KNOW THE STATE, UM, OR THE SITUATION, UH, FOR EACH OF THESE SITES.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE CONTAMINATED OR NOT.
AND SO, UM, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT THAT BECAUSE SOME MAY NOT BE.
AND SO, UM, THAT IT'S THE PERCEPTION THAT THEY MAY BE CONTAMINATED IS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO WHY THEY MAY CONTINUE TO BE VACANT IF THEY'VE BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG TIME, SO.
SO THE LIST OF A HUNDRED IS THE LIST THAT THE COMMUNITY SORT OF, YOU AMASS THIS INFORMATION BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS SAYING AND DATABASE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN FACT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE, I KNOW THAT YOU SENT ME THESE BY EMAIL, THE FLYERS ON THE FREE, UH, FREE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS.
UM, ARE YOU SAYING THIS PERTAINS TO THE OTHER A HUNDRED ON THE LIST OR NEW SITES CAN BE SUGGESTED BY THE COMMUNITY? BOTH ARE POSSIBLE.
I MEAN, WE, WE CERTAINLY WOULD PRIORITIZE THE ONES THAT ARE ON OUR LIST THAT ALSO FIT THE PRIORITIZED CRITERIA THAT THE COMMUNITY HAVE, UM, UM, SHARED WITH US, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.
UM, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SPEND OUR, OUR, OUR FUNDS.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS REACHING OUT, UM, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHARE IT WITH OUR BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, ANY OF THE SITES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
SO WE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES MAKING THIS THE DECISION.
UM, SO THERE CERTAINLY COULD BE SITES THAT WE'VE MISSED AND THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SITE ASSESSMENTS, THIS AS LONG AS THEY FIT ALL THE CRITERIA.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS COLLABORATION.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
SO, QUESTION EITHER TO YOU GUYS OR CITY STAFF.
SO A COUPLE OF THESE SITES, THE FORMER EDUCATION CENTER AND THE STEAM BEAM, AREN'T WE IN NEGOTIATIONS? LIKE, SO HOW IS THIS PHASE TWO FROM THIS GRANT GOING TO BE USED FOR CITY STAFF ANALYSIS OR THAT POTENTIAL PROJECT? SO CAN, IF YOU GUYS CAN'T, CAN THE CITY STAFF PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THAT? SURE.
I, I, UH, WANTED TO THANK, UH, BOTH, UH, BOTH PRESENTERS FOR, UH, ALL THEIR WORK ON, ON THIS PROJECT.
REALLY, IT HAS BEEN AN IMPACTFUL PROJECT FOR US, SPECIFICALLY STARTING OFF WITH, UH, SOME OF THE CITY OWNED SITES.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THESE, THE STEAM BEING AND THE ADJACENT LOT.
WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOTS DON'T HAVE ISSUES, UH, WHEN THE DEVELOPER GOES OUT FOR PUB, OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC FINANCING, UH, TYPICALLY IT'S A CASE THAT, UH, A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THAT PUBLIC FINANCING TO BE RECEIVED.
AND SO IN ORDER TO, TO EXPEDITE AND GET THE PROJECT, CONTINUE THE PROJECT ON ITS TIMELINE, IT, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET THE ESAS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO WE APPLIED FOR THEM IMMEDIATELY.
THAT'S, THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE THAT'S CITY OWNED LAND AND THE WELDING SHOP, DIDN'T THAT JUST GET DEMOLISHED OR AM I LOOKING AT THE WRONG THING THAT, THAT PHOTO, UM, IS, IS NOW OLD
SO WHAT, UM, YEAH, JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON ON THAT.
YEAH, STEVE MANGENELLE, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORK.
SO THIS IS PHASE ONE OF TWO OF A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT.
SO PHASE ONE WAS TO DEMOLISH THE WELDING SHOP, WHICH AS YOU'RE AWARE, GOT COMPLETED OVER THE HOLIDAYS.
SO PHASE TWO IS, UM, WORKING THROUGH FINAL DESIGN AND TURNING THAT INTO, UH, WETLANDS EXPANSION, PEDESTRIAN PLAZA, NEW NEW RESTROOM FOR THE PARK, AND SOME OTHER AMENITIES.
THANK, UH, AND THEN FINALLY, TIMELINE ON THAT.
UM, WE SHOULD BE, UH, HOPEFULLY GOING OUT TO BID IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR.
ANYTHING, YES, JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS LONG EFFORT IN HELPING, UM, US CLEAN UP OUR, UH, CONTAMINATED SITES.
AND WE HOPE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, MAKE PROPER USE OF
[00:55:01]
THESE, OF THESE, UH, AREAS.UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR WORKING ON THE ISSUE.
I PARTICIPATED IN A COUPLE OF THE SESSIONS, VERY INFORMATIVE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.
I WAS AT TWO OF YOUR MEETING, TWO OUT OF THE THREE.
AND THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HAD WAS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT LABELING THINGS AS SITES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS, UM, AND HAVING WORKED WITH BROWNFIELD, I WAS FORMER, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA BROWNFIELD ASSOCIATION.
AND SO IN TAKING A LOOK AT BROWNSFIELD, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA OF BROWNSFIELD, AND SO THE PERCEPTION BECAME THE, THE, THE ISSUE.
AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOING IN AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOING AROUND A GROUP, AND THEY WERE KIND OF, OKAY, OUR GROUP IS, WE'RE ALL GONNA PUT ALL OUR ONES ON THIS ONE AND ON THIS SITE.
AND I ASKED THEM, I SAID, WELL, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE ISSUE AT THAT SITE? WELL, WE WANT TO PERCEIVE IT.
AND I SAID, WHAT'S THE PERCEIVING? WELL, WE'VE GOT A, WE, THERE'S OTHER USES WE'D LIKE TO USE FOR THAT SITE.
I SAID, WELL, YOU HAVE A PERCEIVING OF CONTAMINATION.
AND SO A LOT OF THINGS GOT ON, ON THE SITE THAT MAY GET, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST, I, I THINK A MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT PERCEIVING OF, YOU KNOW, MEANT.
AND, UH, SO, UH, SO I JUST SAY A LOT OF THESE SITES MIGHT JUST DROP OFF, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND YOU FIND OUT THERE REALLY HAD BEEN NO USE THERE THAT WOULD LEAD TO CONTAMINATION, BUT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED THEM ON, ON THE LIST.
AND SO, UM, SO I'M, BUT I'M GLAD THE ONES THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PICKING ON, UH, AS FAR AS, ESPECIALLY THE CITY OLD ONES, AND THEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THESE OTHER ONES, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN EITHER USES THERE OR POSSIBLE PLUMES FROM ADJACENT USES, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY CONCENTRATE ON THOSE.
[8. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
GO TO REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.AND I WOULD SUGGEST IN ANY REPORTS WE NEED TO DO ON, UH, UH, 1234 REPORTS ON THINGS, UH, ATTENDED, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, UM, CITY FUNCTIONS, WHICH I THINK WE ALL DID.
UM, SO I'LL START DOWN AT THIS END, WORK OUR WAY UP.
I'M SURE THIS WILL SOUND REPETITIVE, BUT I ATTENDED THE, UH, CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES, UH, TRAINING LAST WEEK, UM, UP IN THE, UH, GARDEN GROVE AREA FOR, UH, THREE DAYS WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
SOME OF THIS WAS REPETITIVE, BUT I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO ATTEND.
THERE ARE SOME, UH, ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP AND SOME NEW STATE LAWS THAT WERE, UH, REVISITED.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S ALL IMPORTANT FOR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO, UH, TO BE AWARE OF.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT WAS ALSO INTERESTING, UM, I MEAN, CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CITIES, A LOT OF SMALLER CITIES ARE A PART OF IT.
UM, UH, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MEND AND HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE, WHICH ARE FACING VERY, VERY SIMILAR ISSUES.
UM, A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
UM, ALSO ATTENDED THE CHAMBER'S EVENT.
UM, THAT WAS A GOOD, UM, PARTICIPATION FROM ALL THE BUSINESS, UM, MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ALSO, UM, WITH ALL OF US THERE AT THE, UH, WITH THE CITY MANAGER, CALIFORNIA LEGAL CITIES, UM, IT'S GOOD TO, UH, HAVE A REFRESHER COURSE ON ALL THOSE, UM, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO, TO DO AS A, UH, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL, UM, SWEETWATER AUTHORITY.
WE ARE DOING OUR EDUCATIONAL, UH, WORKSHOP FOR OUR PFAS, UM, WITHIN THE, UH, WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF SWEETWATER.
UM, THERE IS, UH, UM, A WEBSITE THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO WITH REGARDS TO THE PFAS INFORMATION.
WHILE THERE IS GROWING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO PFAS AND THEIR IMPACT ON WATER SUPPLIES, OUR AUTHORITY, SWEETWATER AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO ENSURE ITS CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, RELIABLE WATER THAT MEETS ALL STATE AND FEDERAL DRINKING, DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.
UM, AZURE WATER PROVIDER SINCE 1977.
WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE WATER SERVICE VERY SERIOUSLY.
YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PAS AND PREVENT IT FROM FURTHER CONTAMINATING OUR WA WATER SOURCES.
SO, PFAS, PLEASE GO TO, UH, SWEETWATER, UM, AUTHORITY WEBSITE, SWEETWATER.ORG/PFAS TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY, UH, PROVIDING, UM, AS AN EDUCATION TO OUR, UH, RATE PAYERS.
UM, SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.
OUR MEETING IS, UM, ON THURSDAY AND, UH, SAND DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER.
[01:00:01]
ON, UH, FRIDAY.UM, I ATTENDED THE SANDAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON, UH, WE HAD AN UPDATE ON THE OFFICE MOVE.
UM, I BELIEVE THE OFFICE FOR SANDAG RIGHT NOW, IT'S ON, UH, B AND FOURTH, UH, AT THE, UM, WELLS FARGO BUILDING.
IT WILL BE MOVING SAND AGGIE HEADQUARTERS WILL BE MOVING, BUT IT'LL STAY WITHIN DOWNTOWN.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT ADDRESS, ALTHOUGH IT IS KNOWN.
UM, WE COVERED THE GRAND JURY REPORT THAT, UH, UM, IDENTIFIED SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GRAND JURY.
A LOT OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH, UH, THE GENERAL COUNSEL REPORTING TO THE CEO, UM, THAT MAY PRESENT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THERE'S IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE, UH, GENERAL COUNSEL OFFICE A BIT MORE INDEPENDENT, THE WAY OUR, UM, OPA IS OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE AUDITOR.
UM, THEN, THEN WE ALSO DID GET A GOOD REPORT, A GOOD DISCUSSION ON STATE ROUTE 67.
UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN IS IN THE WORKS.
UM, STATE ROUTE 67 IS A, UM, HIGHWAY.
IT'S A HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
IT'S 16 MILES LONG IN NORTH COUNTY.
IT, UM, CROSSES POWAY IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
AND PRIMARILY THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY.
SO, UM, THUS THE IMPACT OR THE, UM, HIGHLIGHT ABOUT THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FIRES THAT WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY.
UM, I ALSO DID ATTEND THE CHAMBERS, UM, UH, NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, GALA OR GALA THIS LAST, UH, FRIDAY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM NATIONAL CITY THAT WERE RECOGNIZED, AND THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
UH, AND LASTLY, I DID ATTEND THE LEAGUE OF CITIES ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, ONE OF THE SESSIONS THERE THAT PIQUED MY INTEREST THE MOST WAS UPDATES ON BEST PRACTICES FOR THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OF MY PERSONAL CONCERNS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ADDRESS WITH THE SPEAKER WHO, UH, WAS ONE OF THE, UM, ATTORNEYS THAT WAS REPRESENTING, UH, HER FIRM AND, AND SPEAKING BEFORE US.
AND, AND I JUST GOT SOME CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT HOW TO PROPERLY USE, UH, VIDEOS THAT ARE PRODUCED, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, AND, UH, THE IMPROPER WAY TO USE THEM IF THEY ARE, UH, GARNERED VIA THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, UM, BUT THEN PROMOTED TO A, UH, EXCLUSIVE NETWORK, UM, THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE.
SO I WAS VERY HAPPY TO, UH, GAIN SOME INSIGHT THERE AND SHARE IT WITH STAFF, UH, WHICH I DID.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THERE THAT, THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR POLICY COMING UP.
NOTHING NEW TO REPORT OTHER THAN ATTENDING THE LEAGUE OF CITIES TRAINING, WHICH WAS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.
SO, AND I THINK WE WERE THE ONLY CITY, UH, AND THE ONLY CONTINGENT WHERE OUR ENTIRE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WENT, INCLUDING STAFF.
THE TRAINING'S IMPORTANT, THE REFRESHER ON THE ETHICS AND ALL OF THAT.
SO, AND THEN WENT TO THE CHAMBER EVENT.
UM, YEAH, AND I WILL RE REITERATE ON THOSE ITEMS. I WAS ALSO AT THE, UH, CHAMBER EVENT AND, UH, UM, AS I VERY WELL ATTENDED, UM, AND, UH, IT WAS HELD OUT AT THE, UH, UH, WAN AND AS THEY VERY WELL ATTENDED, VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT THE, WHAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING.
THE THING THAT THEY DID DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT BUSINESS.
GEE, THAT'S WHAT A CHAMBER, I THINK IS SUPPOSED TO ALL TO BE ABOUT.
THEY MADE IT ALL ABOUT BUSINESS AND, UH, SO GOOD, UH, GOOD PROGRAM.
THEN OF COURSE WE, UH, WE WENT ALSO UP TO, UH, GARDEN GROVE TO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND FOR THE, UH, TWO DAYS OF TRAINING UP THERE.
AND, UM, AS SAY A LOT OF GOOD STUFF, A LOT OF CONS, A LOT OF IT WAS REFRESHING OR REFRESH, UH, REFRESHING THE, UH, INFORMATION.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF NEW STUFF ALSO.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF LAWS THAT ARE CHANGING, A LOT OF PROCEDURES AND A LOT OF COURT RULINGS THAT ARE CHANGING.
AND IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR ALL THAT STUFF SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF KEEP UP WITH THOSE THINGS BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE CONSTANTLY GET LITTLE STREAMS OF STUFF AND IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THAT WHEN IT'S, IT'S THROWN OUT THERE AND IT'S, IT'S COVERING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO THEY GEARED THIS SPECIFICALLY TO THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND SO, UM, IT REALLY CONCENTRATED THAT AND I, I THINK GAVE US A, UM, SOME GOOD, UH, GOOD INPUT ON THAT.
SO, UH, THAT TRAINING I THINK IS EXCELLENT FOR, FOR ANY COUNCIL.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE GO ON TO, UH, UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, HEARING ANYTHING ELSE, WE'LL GO
[9. CONSENT CALENDAR]
ON TO, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, ITEM 9.2, UH, THAT AREA, THAT ITEM IS GONNA BE PULLED AND BROUGHT BACK ON A FUTURE AGENDA.WITH THAT, I DO HAVE FROM THE PUBLIC REQUEST FOR
[01:05:01]
THROUGH THE CHAIR.HUH? WHY IS 9.2 GONNA BE CONTINUED? UH, BASICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS, IT WAS ON THERE BEFORE IT WAS ASKED TO BE BROUGHT BACK, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WASN'T ADDED INTO THE AGENDA.
SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS ASKED LAST TIME, THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUTTA THE AGENDA.
UM, THEN, UH, WE DO HAVE REQUESTS FOR, UH, NINE THREE AND NINE FOUR.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FOR REMAIN.
MOTION FOR APPROVAL, MR. MAYOR.
UH, THAT IS FOR ALL ITEMS EXCEPT NINE THREE AND NINE.
FOUR PLUS NINE TWO HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA TO BE BROUGHT BACK ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
GETTING UP THERE, SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION.
[9.3 Application to Purchase Tax-Defaulted Property from the County of San Diego.]
SO NOW WE'LL PULL ITEM NINE THREE.THIS IS AN APPLICATION TO PURCHASE TAX DEFAULTED PROPERTY FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.
AND THAT IS, UH, THOMAS REICH.
UH, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, UH, I READ THE, THIS IS, THIS IS PURCHASING DEFAULT PROPERTY PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T PAY THEIR TAXES.
SO THEY'RE, SO THEY, THE, THE, THE CITY IS, THE CITY IS GONNA BUY IT FROM A DEFAULT, DEFAULT PROPERTY.
AND THERE ARE THREE LOTS IN NATIONAL CITY.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE 3 0 7 BELMONT, 6 3 2 SECOND STREET AND 28 28 EAST 11TH STREET.
I CAN VISUALIZE WHERE SECOND STREET IS, BUT I CAN'T VISUALIZE WHERE THE OTHER ONES ARE.
BUT, UH, THE THINGS, THE QUESTION I HAVE SINCE THE, SINCE THE COUNTY IS SELLING THIS, SINCE THE COUNTY IS SELLING IT FOR BACK TAXES AND THE CITY'S GOING TO BUY IT AND THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD LOW INCOME HOUSING, LOW INCOME HOUSING, WILL THAT INCOME HOUSING PAY TAXES, WILL THEY PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON THAT? OR WILL THE CITY WAIVE THE TAXES FOR, OKAY, LET ME, IF I CAN EXPLAIN, UH, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY'S GONNA BUY THESE OR NOT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL EVEN, THEY'LL EVEN BE AVAILABLE.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN STILL CURE IT AND PAY THEIR, THEIR BACK TAXES MOST LIKELY.
IN A LOT OF CASES THAT DOES HAPPEN.
IF THEN IT IS LEFT TO THE POINT TO WHERE THEN IT IS QUOTE UNQUOTE GOING TO GO OUT FOR BID, THE WAY THE CURRENT LAW IS, THE LOCAL AGENCY GETS FIRST.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID IF YOU JUST PAY THE TAXES THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN.
SO THIS MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL.
BUT THIS JUST GIVES US IT, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IF IT, IT DOES BECOME AVAILABLE, THEN THE CITY CAN BUY THOSE PROPERTIES.
MAYOR, I THINK I READ THAT THE, THAT THEY, THE THERE, THAT THE, THERE, THEY'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED YOUR BID.
I MEAN, THERE WERE NO OTHER, THEY'VE ALREADY ACCEPTED THE BID.
THAT'S IN THE, THAT'S IN THE, THAT'S IN THE, YEAH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAVE STAFF RESPOND.
CARLOS ATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THIS IS, UH, ONLY A REQUEST TO APPLY IN CASE, UH, THEY MOVE FORWARD AND WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID JUST THE, THE, THE PAYMENT OF, UH, FEES AND, UH, DELINQUENT TAXES TO THE COUNTY.
UH, JUST TO ANSWER TO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR QUESTION, SIR, WITH REGARDS TO, UH, THE PROPERTY TAX, UH, WE, OUR INTENTION IS TO FOLLOW THE, UH, CITY'S HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH, UH, ONE OF THE STATED GOALS IS TO DEVELOP A REHABILITATION PROGRAM, DEVELOP A RE REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
SO THESE PROPERTIES ARE, UH, SOME OF THEM MORE BLIGHTED THAN OTHERS, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN NEED OF ATTENTION.
AND, UM, IF WE'RE ABLE TO REHABILITATE THEM, WE CAN, UH, PAYING, UH, ONLY THE TAXES.
WE CAN THEN PROVIDE THESE AS FIRST TIME HOME BUYER OPPORTUNITIES.
[01:10:01]
THE PROPERTY WILL THEN GENERATE, UH, PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN.SO THEY, SO WE'LL BE GOING TO, IT WILL BE GOING TO THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL, THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS, THEN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT IS, THAT WOULD BE OUR INITIAL INTENT.
AND I MIGHT SAY ON THIS ITEM, THERE IS A CORRECTED VERSION AT YOUR DESK, AND ALL IT IS, THERE WAS BASICALLY A TYPO THAT, THAT PUT THE DATE AS JANUARY 21ST, 2024 INSTEAD OF 2025.
SO THAT, THAT IS AT YOUR DESK.
SO WE WOULD BE, UH, APPROVING THE AMENDED FORM.
OKAY, WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE, AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE MR. MAYOR.
SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[9.4 Approval of a Settlement Agreement between Estate of Brian Umana, by and through his Successor in Interest, B.U., by and through Her Guardian Ad Litem Roberto Umana, Individually and as Successor in Interest to Brian Umana, Margarita Cardenas and the City]
WE GO TO 9.4.THIS IS APPROVAL OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ESTATE OF BRIAN, UH, OANA AND, UH, THROUGH HIS SUCCESSOR AND INTEREST.
AND WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, ROBERTO UMANA.
SO I WANT TO ADDRESS THE HORRIBLE STATEMENT THAT WAS PUT OUT.
I FIND IT QUITE ASTONISHING THAT NO ONE IS EVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IS ALWAYS NOT IN ADMISSION OF GUILT.
THIS CASE IS NOT IN ADMISSION OF GUILT, YET IT SETTLED FOR A MILLION DOLLARS THAT JESUS FLORES WAS NOT IN MISSION OF GUILT, BUT IT SETTLED FOR 1.5 MILLION.
THE TONY WILSON CASE WAS IN ADMISSION OF GUILT, BUT IT SETTLED FOR 350,000.
THE EARL MCNEIL CASE WAS IN THE MISSION OF GUILT, BUT IT SETTLED FOR 300,000.
WHEN OFFICER NICK MATTHEWS MADE RACIST COMMENTS, HE WASN'T HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND HERE'S THE KICKER, HE WASN'T FIRED, HE RESIGNED, AND HE'S WORKING AS A POLICE OFFICER IN OKLAHOMA.
IN THE CURRENT CASE, ASHLEY CUMMINS WAS NATIONAL CITY, AN EX OFFICER OF NNC OF THE NCPD, WHO'S SUING FOR DISCRIMINATION HARASSMENT, RETALIATION IN A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
AND I THINK TODAY THERE WAS A JURY TRIAL, RIGHT? BARRY, DO YOU SEE THAT PATTERN? RONALD KIND OF CRAZY, RIGHT? UM, JUST, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE TRIAL IS SCHEDULED FOR TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
SO, LOU, MARCUS, JOSE, THE NCPD HAS KILLED PEOPLE THAT LOOK JUST LIKE YOU.
AND NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER SPOKEN UP ABOUT THIS.
BRIAN, ANA, ERROL MCNEIL, TONY WILSON WERE ALL MENTALLY ILL AND THEY WERE ALL KILLED BY THE NCPD.
SO, AT LEAST TO MY QUESTION, IS MENTAL ILLNESS A DEATH SENTENCE IN NATIONAL CITY? MY RESPONSE WOULD BE, SURE AS HELL SEEMS LIKE IT.
YOU GUYS TRYING TO SILENCE ME, TRY TO PUT A GAG WORD ON ME, CRYING AND COMPLAINING TO THE JUDGE ABOUT MY COMMENTS HERE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOUR BROTHER WASN'T SHOCKED TO DEATH BY AN AR 15.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT OR, BUT, UM, THE, THE ONLY COMMENT I WOULD HAVE IS WE DID, UH, PUT OUT A PRESS STATEMENT, UH, IN RESPONSE AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I KIND OF EMPHASIZE A COUPLE OF POINTS IN RESPONSE.
UM, THIS CASE WAS INVOLVED ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND EXCESSIVE USE BY THE POLICE OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE DEATH, BUT IT OCCURRED WHEN MR. ROMANA CONFRONTED POLICE WITH A MACHETE AT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING ON AUGUST 8TH, 2021.
AND DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS AND EFFORTS TO USE NON-LETHAL FORCE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE OFFICER'S WARNINGS AND WAS EVENTUALLY SHOT AND KILLED WHEN HE HAD, WHEN HE ATTACKED THE OFFICERS.
WE DO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE HUMANA FAMILY REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE RECOGNIZE THE PROFOUND LOSS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED IN OUR HEARTS, HEARTS GO OUT TO THEM DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
THE CITY ALSO RECOGNIZES THE CHALLENGES AND RISKS OUR OFFICERS FACE EACH AND EVERY DAY IN PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
EVERY INVOLVE FOR EVERY OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IS TRAUMATIC FOR ALL INVOLVED.
EACH INCIDENT IS UNIQUE AND COMPLEX INVOLVING SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS AFTER UNDER STRESSFUL AND UNPREDICTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
AS SUCH, THESE INCIDENTS GO THROUGH SEVERAL
[01:15:01]
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LAYERS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND ANALYSIS.THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ISSUED A DETAILED REPORT WHICH STATED THAT THE OFFICERS IN THIS CASE FACED A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION AND WERE JUSTIFIED IN THEIR ACTIONS.
THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AGREE THAT THE OFFICER'S ACTIONS WERE JUSTIFIED DURING THIS CRITICAL INCIDENT.
THE CITY ALSO WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC'S COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.
MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BUILDING TRUST AND EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SERVE THE INTERESTS OF ALL THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN FEEL SECURE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
ALRIGHT, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON 9.4? MOVE TO APPROVE MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND, AND, AND I WILL SAY TO THE, TO THE FAMILIES THAT I DO FROM MY HEART, UM, I WANNA SEND YOU GUYS MY LOVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS SEPARATELY TO AFTER, TO HEAR WHAT MORE OF YOUR CONCERNS ARE, UH, AFTER THIS.
SO WE'RE LIMITED WHAT WE CAN TALK TO BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL SITUATION.
SO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT EXTENDING FURTHER LIABILITY.
BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM, FROM YOU ALL.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE HAVE, DO YOU HAVE YOURS IN THERE? THERE WE GO.
[10.1 Introduction of Ordinance Amending National City Municipal Code Chapter 2.75 Adjusting Campaign Contribution Limits as Required Every Odd-Numbered Year to Reflect Changes in the Consumer Price Index.]
ALRIGHT, NEXT WE GO ON INTO ITEM 10, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.THIS IS INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER, UH, 2.75.
ADJUSTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AS, AS IS REQUIRED EVERY ODD NUMBER HERE TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY STAFF REPORT NECESSARY ON THIS? I DO HAVE ONE PREPARED IF YOU LIKE IT.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF AND PUBLIC.
ITEM 10.1 IS PUBLIC HEARING AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COUNCIL.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.75, ADJUSTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AS REQUIRED EVERY ODD NUMBERED YEAR TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
NATIONAL CITY, UH, MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.75030 L REQUIRES THE CITY CLERK TO ADJUST THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT EVERY ODD NUMBERED YEAR TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN THE CPI FOR THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREA FOR THE TWO YEAR PERIOD, ENDING ON DECEMBER 31ST OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND REQUIRES THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO BE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST $5 AS A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
THE ANNUAL, UM, CPI FOR SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREA ROSE BY 5.2% DURING 2023, AND BY ANOTHER 2.6% IN 2024, DEMONSTRATING AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 8.39% FOR THE TWO YEAR PERIOD.
THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS WERE PREVIOUSLY SET AT $1,135 IN THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR INDIVIDUALS, AND $2,265 IN A CALENDAR YEAR FOR POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES.
UM, AND POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES TO CANDIDATES OR CONTROLLED COMMITTEES.
APPLYING THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CHANGE TO THE CPI AND ROUNDING TO THE NEAREST $5, THE CITY CLERK HAS ADJUSTED THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS TO 12,000, EXCUSE ME, $1,230 FOR INDIVIDUALS AND $2,455 FOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES TO CANDIDATES OR CONTROLLED COMMITTEES.
IF THIS ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED AT THE NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 18TH, THE NEW FEE WILL GO INTO EFFECT 30 DAYS FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION, WHICH WOULD BE MARCH 20TH, 2025.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO THIS IS A REQUIREMENT, CORRECT? YES,
[01:20:01]
SIR.UH, ANY, UH, BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, ANY CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS ON THE OKAY.
UH, FOR OUR CITY CLERK, YOU CALLED THIS A, A FEE, BUT THESE ARE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO IN OUR, OUR ORDINANCE, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S STATED.
THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.
SO YEAH, IT IS, IT IS A CONTRIBUTION THOUGH.
AND, UH, YOU ARE PROPOSING THIS BASED ON THE MATH THAT IS A, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT MATH.
IT'S, IT'S THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREA, THE CPI, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
UH, WHEN DO THE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS THESE NEW ONES? IF THEY ARE VOTED IN, WHEN DO THEY TAKE EFFECT? IT WOULD BE 30 DAYS FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION, WHICH WOULD BE MARCH 20TH IF WE ADOPT IT AT THE FEBRUARY 18TH MEETING.
UM, JUST AS A CLARIFICATION, I KNOW THERE WAS, UM, UH, WE HAD DISCUSSED A, UH, PARTICULAR TERMINOLOGY FOR, UM, CANDIDATE CONTROLLED COMMITTEES AND WHAT, UM, UH, AMOUNT THAT WOULD FALL UNDER.
IS IT CLEAR IN THIS PARTICULAR, UM, UH, CLEANUP OF THE ORDINANCE? UM, HOW MUCH A CANDIDATE CONTROLLED COMMITTEE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A LOCAL CAMPAIGN? WELL, WE DO HAVE, IT SAYS POLITICAL ACTION.
THESE ARE BASED ON THE FPPC RULES AND THEIR REGULATIONS AND THEIR, THEIR LINGO.
SO IT'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES TO CANDIDATES OR CONTROLLED COMMITTEES.
SO IF WE'D LIKE TO CHANGE IT, I CAN, IF I COULD, ARE YOU ASKING IF A, A, UH, CANDIDATE CONTROL COMMITTEE WANTS TO DONATE TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? OR WHAT? CORRECT.
HOW MUCH CAN THEY DONATE? AND ARE THEY ALSO HELD BY THE SAME, IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN, IF THIS IS HOW MUCH WE CAN ACCEPT MM-HMM
SO THAT WOULD BE, IF IT CAME FROM ANOTHER, ANOTHER CANDIDATE, ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL MM-HMM
WOULDN'T IT BE THE SAME? 'CAUSE IT'S AS AN INDIVIDUAL, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OR AS A, OR AS A PAC, IT'S NOT A PAC.
SO IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.
SO IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY.
I BELIEVE IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
I KNOW THERE WAS A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT THAT IS THE UNDERSTANDING.
UM, AT THAT POINT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, THOMAS REICH.
I HEARD HER READING OF IT, SO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET UP FROM THE MICROPHONE TO TALK.
I HEARD, UH, THE CLERK'S READING OF IT.
AND HERE'S THE, HERE'S THE IMPORTANT THINGS.
THE NEW AMOUNT IS 1230 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION AN INDIVIDUAL CAN MAKE.
AND THE NEXT THING, THE CONTRIBUTIONS BY OUR POLITICAL PARTIES, POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES IS $2,455.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE, UH, THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN POINTS THAT I WANNA SAY.
WITH THAT, UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.
AND YOU GUYS CAN PUT IN YOUR NOT WANTING TO TALK TO YOU THERE.
LET ME CLEAR IT AND START IT AGAIN.
WE CAN DO A VOICE VOTE IF YOU'D LIKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
SO THAT CLOSES THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO NOW WE NEED TO, UH, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD.
CAN I GET THE FIRST AND SECOND SINCE IT WASN'T UP THERE?
THANK YOU IMANI AND RODRIGUEZ.
UM, SO NOW WE NEED TO INTRODUCE THE, UH, INTRODUCE THE, UH, ORDINANCE.
AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'LL COME BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING FOR POSSIBLE ADOPTION.
SO IF WE COULD HAVE AT THIS POINT, UH, UH, A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE
[01:25:01]
ORDINANCE.MOVE FOR INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE AGAIN.
[10.2 Public Hearing and Introduction of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of National City, California, Establishing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.]
10.2.THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE, UH, CITY OF NATIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORT ON THIS? YES, WE DO.
UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, STAFF AND PUBLIC.
ITEM 10.2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AN INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.7, ADJUSTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND, UH, REQUIRE, NOPE, THAT'S THE WRONG ONE.
WHERE'S MY REPORT? OH, AT THE, UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
AT THE JANUARY 21ST, 2025, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL IN A FOUR TO ONE VOTE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ VOTING NO DIRECTED THE STAFF TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THEIR COMPENSATION BY 10%.
THE 10% INCREASE WOULD INCREASE THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMPENSATION TO $1,701 AND 38 CENTS PER MONTH.
AND THE MAYOR'S COMPENSATION TO $5,733 AND 15 CENTS PER MONTH.
THE INCREASE TO THE COMPENSATION FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE MAXIMUM 10% ALLOWED BY LAW WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY $13,678 AND 55 CENTS OF NEW EXPENDITURES ANNUALLY TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, MR. THOMAS WRIGHT.
I DID, I LOOKED UP SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS.
THE MAYOR IS GONNA GO TO 52 52, 5200, AROUND $5,200 A MONTH.
AND THAT'S, UH, ANNUALLY, THAT'S $62,000.
THIS, THE COUNCILMAN IS ALSO GONNA BE REACHED, THAT'S SEVEN, IT'LL BE 1,717 $1,700.
AND, UH, WITH OTHER, COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES WITHIN SAN DIEGO FROM THE CHART THAT WAS IN THE PDF, FROM THE PDF, UH, THE OTHER MAYORS, THE MAYOR CHULA VISTA GETS SIX, GETS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH IS BASED ON TWO THIRDS.
TWO THIRDS THE SUPERIOR JUDGE SALARY.
AND THEIR COUNCIL, AND THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS GET 60% OF THE MAYORS.
AND SO THAT'S THE CHULA VISTA MAYOR GETS A HUNDRED THOUSAND, THE COUNCILMAN GETS 60,000.
NOW THE MAYOR OF THE, THERE'S 17 CITIES, I'LL SAY 16 OR 17 CITIES.
THE MAYOR OF MAYORS OF CHULA VISTA AND ESCONDIDO, UH, THE ESCONDIDO MAYOR GETS 62, 62 80 A MONTH.
AND SO IN THE, IN THE MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO, IT'S 52.
SO THAT'S THIRD OUT OF THE 17.
AND FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE ARE 10 HIGHER.
THERE ARE 10 HIGHER IN THE CITY OF THE 17 THAT GO.
YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MAKE BIG BUCKS.
UM, WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE LOOKING TO SPEAK.
SO WITH THAT, IF WE COULD HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, UH, THERE, OH, AND IT'S, IT'S LIGHTING UP THERE.
SO WE CAN USE OUR, THERE YOU GO WITH THAT.
[01:30:01]
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, AN INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.THAT WAS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT WAS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
BUT I'M SAYING NOW, UH, WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE AND IT WAS STILL COME BACK FOR AN ADOPTION MM-HMM
WE HAVE A MOTION NOW JUST TO INTRODUCE, UH, INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE.
PLEASE VOTE A MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
UH, NEXT WE GO INTO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
[12. ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT]
INTO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT, AND WE'LL START DOWN HERE.I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS REGARDING, UM, RALLIES AND PROTESTS HAPPENING AROUND OUR CITY, OUR COUNTY, OUR STATE, OUR COUNTRY, UM, IN SUPPORT OF UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS AND AGAINST MASS DEPORTATIONS.
UH, LAST FRIDAY, THERE WAS ONE HERE ON NATIONAL CITY ON, UH, ON HIGHLAND.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS SOME UNNECESSARY BURNING TIRES BY MOTORCYCLISTS AND, UH, VEHICLES THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR, AND, UH, MADE THE SITUATIONS FEEL UNSAFE AT TIMES.
AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THE ISSUE ITSELF, WHICH IS THE FACT THAT ICE AND BORDER PATROL ARE CURRENTLY TEARING OUR FAMILIES APART AGENCIES.
UH, THESE AGENCIES ARE NOW VERY OPEN THAT THEY WILL TAKE ANYBODY, ANYBODY THAT'S UNDOCUMENTED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE EVER COMMITTED A CRIME, UM, WE MUST HAVE EMPATHY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, UH, AND KIDS WHO NOW ARE TERRORIZED.
UM, IT IS A BELIEF THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL DESERVES LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
AND AS SUCH, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS COMMITTED UP TO $50 MILLION FOR LEGAL BATTLES TO HELP WITH GROUPS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, UM, UH, DEFEND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION.
ACCORDING TO A MOST RECENT POLITICAL ARTICLE, THERE ARE 1.8 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, OF WHICH THEY PAY $8.5 BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY HAS A RIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND AS SUCH, I LOOK FORWARD TO PUSHING LOCAL FUNDING MEASURES FOR LEGAL PROTECTION FOR NATIONAL CITY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND WILL INEVITABLY BE DETAINED.
IT GOOD, GOOD CANDY, MR. MAYOR
UM, WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YOU, I'M IN ALL THE FIRES GOING AROUND IN OUR STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE AND THANK OUR, UH, UH, OUR, UH, FIRE, UM, UM, CREW SERVICE MEMBERS THAT WANT TO HELP.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE ALL BACK SAFE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE CHIEF AND TO ALL THE OTHER FIREFIGHTERS THAT, UM, ARE NATIONAL CITY WEARING THE NATIONAL CITY LOGO, HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS, UM, IN THIS, UH, STATE.
THANK YOU, UM, MR. CITY MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE COMMENTS FROM OUR, UM, CONSTITUENTS WITH REGARDS TO, UM, MAYBE WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK SWEETWATER AND ORANGE, THAT INTERSECTION LIGHT THAT THEY WERE ASKING, UM, AS WELL AS THE, UH, CLEANUP THAT THEY WERE, UM, YOU, I MEAN, UM, ASKING AS WELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, PUT SOME, UH, TIME AND EFFORT TO DOUBLE CHECK THOSE.
UM, WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GET A WRITTEN REPORT WITH REGARDS TO, UM, THE, THE CONCERNS OF, UH, KALI MOTA TO GET A, UH, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE CANNABIS, UM, UM, PROGRAMS, PLEASE.
UM, ALSO IF THERE ARE, UM, UH, CITY MANAGER THROUGH YOU, IF THERE ARE ANY, UH, EMAIL THAT, UH, ARE PULLING ANY, UM, CONSENT ITEM FOR US TO BE INFORMED, PLEASE.
SO THEN AT LEAST WE CAN PULL IT FOR THEM IF THEY CANNOT BE HERE.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO THE PROTEST THAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY, THANK YOU CHIEF, UM, HERNANDEZ FOR AT LEAST KEEPING US AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND REPORTING OF WHAT'S UH, UH, TRANSPIRED DURING THAT, UM, TIME.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES ARE SAFE.
UM, I KNOW YOU MISS THAT GALA, BUT YOU WERE, UM, THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, BEING INFORMED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR CITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ALL OF US SAFE.
[01:35:01]
TO THE, UH, FINANCIAL POSITION, UH, CITY MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, JUST, UH, GET AN UPDATE ON, UM, OUR MEDIA REPORT.AND, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT VERY, VERY, UM, SERIOUSLY.
WE WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT UPDATE VERY, VERY SOON.
AND, UM, I THINK THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS.
AND THANK YOU MS. YAI FOR POINTING OUT THE MID-YEAR REVIEW.
I DO VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THAT REPORT, CITY MANAGER AND, UM, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
UM, THE, I I, I UNDERSTOOD EARLIER THE, IT'S COMING IN MARCH, THAT'S NOT A MID-YEAR REVIEW, THAT'S A THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET GOOD SOLID INFORMATION, UM, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE ARE DUE A MIDYEAR REVIEW ON OUR BUDGET.
UM, I ALSO DO WANT TO COMMEND OUR NATIONAL CITY PD.
UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OUR CITY.
UH, DURING THE LAST PROTEST, I WANNA LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT I DO SUPPORT, UH, A PEACEFUL PROTEST WHEN THE GATHERING CAUSES DISRUPTIONS, SUCH AS TAKING OVER A BUSY STREET, TAKING OVER HIGHLAND WITH, UH, PEOPLE OF OUT ON THE STREET THAT IS NOT, UM, LAWFUL BEHAVIOR.
AND SO, UM, I, I DO CALL FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND SOLUTIONS, UM, AND I WANT, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE.
SO, UM, I URGE OUR RESIDENTS TO REMAIN ENGAGED, STAY INFORMED, AND CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, BUT TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN DIVIDES IT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT KEEPS EVERYBODY SAFE.
UM, AND, UM, FINALLY, I WANNA GIVE A VERY SPECIAL SHOUT OUT.
I ATTENDED A, UM, SESSION AT SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL WHERE, UM, THE STUDENTS AT SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL AND THEIR SCIENCE TEACHERS, THEY WERE PRESENTING THEIR FINDINGS ON THEIR METAGENOMICS RESEARCH PROGRAM PROJECT.
AND IT WAS SO AMAZING TO HEAR THE, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY DID ALONGSIDE, UM, SWEETWATER UNIFIED DISTRICT AND THE BOSS INSTITUTE.
UH, THEY PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT, UH, RESEARCH DONE ON SAMPLES OF SOIL AND THE, UM, MICROORGANISMS THAT THEY FOUND WAS REALLY FASCINATING.
SO I JUST WANNA GIVE OUT A SHOUT OUT TO HALA RAYANN ALDRIN ALEXANDER, CHLOE CAMILLA, ADRIAN KHAN, LOUISE VALERIA, ALAN ISABELLA, LANCE, SERGIO MITCHELL, AND MEGAN.
THEY PRESENTED, UH, BEAUTIFULLY.
THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO BE SCIENTISTS, AND THAT IS VERY EXCITING TO ME.
UH, YES, JUST TO, UH, REITERATE WHAT MY, UM, UH, COLLEAGUES SAID ON, ON THE PROTEST.
UH, FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK CHIEF ALEX HERNANDEZ FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MATTER.
AND I DO, UH, COMMEND OUR POLICE.
I DO BELIEVE WE HANDLE THIS, UH, SITUATION VERY WELL.
UM, THE PROTESTS DID GET OUTTA HAND THERE, UM, BUT OVERALL, THERE WAS NO INJURIES, NO DEATHS, NO, NO, NO ARRESTS.
SO I, I DO THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S PROTESTS, THERE'S PEOPLE SCARED TO COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
AND, AND ALL MY MY COLLEAGUES POINT, POINT, WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT IN RECOGNIZING WHAT THE, WHAT COMMUNITY'S FEELING, THE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME LESSONS LEARNED.
AND SO I THINK THAT FOR THE NEXT, UH, PROTEST, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, STEP UP ON ENFORCEMENT IN WAYS AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IN ORDER SO THAT ATTENDEES CAN ACTUALLY, UH, FEEL SAFE.
SO I, I DO WANNA COMMEND YOU ALL.
UM, AND ALEX, JUST ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE BEEN AS, AS I'VE SEEN, VERY HEARTFELT, UM, WITH, UH, TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SCARED.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE POLICE'S, UH, STATEMENT, JUST CLARIFYING THAT OUR POLICE ARE NOT HERE TO, UH, TARGET OUR UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THEM HEARING THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES KNOW THAT THEY ARE SAFE, THAT THEY SHOULD REPORT CRIMES, THAT THEY SHOULD TRUST OUR POLICE.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
UM, AND SO ON THAT, ON THAT VIOLENCE, UM, ON BACK ON THE PROTEST NOTE, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, UM, OR CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE.
I MEAN, I, I HAVE A FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL THAT ATTENDED THAT, UM, SAW FIGHTS BREAKOUT.
SO THAT'S WHY I DO BELIEVE FOR THE NEXT TIME, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A POLICE PRESENCE.
BUT I APPRECIATE HOW YOU ALL HANDLED THIS SITUATION IN PARTICULAR BY KIND OF TAKING A STEP BACK SO THAT OUR POLICE DIDN'T GET MIXED IN WITH THE BLAME AND, UM, UH, PERCEIVED
[01:40:01]
AS BEING, UH, UM, PRO THIS, UH, APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION, RIGHT? AND, AND NOT PROTECTING OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILY.SO I, I, I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB, UM, ON, ON THAT, ON THAT PART OF IT.
SO I, UH, BUT I STILL WANT US TO, TO BE OPEN AND RESPECT THE, THE COMMUNITIES, UM, DESIRE WHEN THEY DO PROTEST.
IT JUST, THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE WITH SAFETY.
UM, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI ABOUT GETTING THE REPORT, UH, UH, UPDATE ON, ON CANNABIS.
SO IF WE CAN HAVE THAT, UH, THIS MONTH AN UPDATE THERE.
UM, ALSO WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION THAT'S IN, UH, MY DISTRICT.
AND, AND RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, RESIDENT COMPLAINTS, UM, ABOUT, UM, INCREASE THAT I'VE EVEN EXPERIENCED ON THE STREET WITH, UH, WITH TRASH AND WHATNOT.
UM, AND, UH, THE RESCUE MISSION HAS BEEN PROACTIVE AND ACTUALLY SENT STAFF OUT TO ACTUALLY HELP CLEAN THE STREETS.
SO THAT'S HELPING, UM, THAT'S REALLY HELPING KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN.
AND, AND JUST, UH, UH, FINALLY, UM, IN TERMS OF THE TRAINING THAT WE JUST, UH, WENT TO, ONE OF THE, UM, SESSIONS REALLY TALKED ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION, ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND WORK AS A TEAM, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INSIGHTFUL.
AND I JUST, UM, IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEES, UH, I DO WANT TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE HIERARCHIES AND BARRIERS.
UH, WE ALL SHOULD, LIKE PLEASE WHEN THERE'S ISSUES, ALL, ALL THE WORKERS, WHEN THERE'S ISSUES YOU HAVE, WHEN THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THINGS YOU SEE THAT COULD BE IMPROVED, WHETHER THERE'S SUFFICIENCIES OR THINGS TO BE, UH, DONE DIFFERENT, PLEASE DO, UH, REPORT IT TO OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER HE'S BEEN, BEEN, HAS BEEN VERY OPEN TO, TO, TO LISTENING AND ADJUSTING.
AND OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT HE COMMUNICATES THAT WITH US.
IF WE NEED TO CHANGE DIRECTION ON THINGS, WE CAN.
UH, AND SO THE DOOR IS OPEN THERE AND THE DOOR IS OPEN.
YOU ALL AS EMPLOYEES, HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO COME TO TALK TO US AND CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY.
SO WHETHER IT'S POLICE, WHETHER IT'S FIRE, THE LEADERS, DIRECTORS, SO WE ALL ARE A TEAM REGARDLESS OF OUR TITLES.
WE'RE ALL HERE, UH, TRYING TO PUSH THIS ORGANIZATION FORWARD.
SO LET'S OPEN THOSE, BREAK DOWN SOME OF THOSE COMMUNICATION BARRIERS TO TRY TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, TOOK A LOT OF OF HITS BECAUSE OF FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND, UH, THE WHOLE SITUATION, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE HOW OUR POLICE HANDLED IT.
UH, WE HAD TO KIND OF HAVE A HANDS OFF TYPE SITUATION TO SEE AND GIVE IT A CHANCE.
THE PROBLEM IS, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ORGANIZING THESE THINGS AND HIDING BEHIND THE ANONYMITY OF SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, TO DO IT, THEREFORE THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE IS NO QUOTE UNQUOTE ORGANIZATION AND, UH, UH, THINGS CAN GET OUTTA HAND.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
AND WE DID HAVE NOT ONLY THE BURNOUTS, BUT WE ALSO HAD, UH, NUMEROUS FIGHTS.
WE HAD, UH, LARGE FIREWORKS GOING OFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AND OF COURSE THE STREET TAKEN OVER AND, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE WAS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT KIND OF ELEMENTS THAT HAPPENED.
AND, AND STILL THE, THE POLICE WERE VERY RESPECTFUL.
THEY HELD OFF AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND FINALLY HAD TO GET TO THE POINT TO WHERE THE DANGER WAS ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY HAD TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.
THERE WAS NO QUESTION AT THAT POINT.
AND EVEN SO, BEFORE THEY ACTED UPON THAT, THEY STILL GAVE THEM ANOTHER 40, OH, I THINK IT WAS 45 MINUTES TO DISPERSE.
AND THEY, AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE STILL DID NOT WANNA DISPERSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY GAVE THEM PLENTY OF TIME AND JUST ONE WARNING AFTER ANOTHER.
UM, SO I, I, I APPRECIATE THE OFFICER'S RESTRAINT.
UM, AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AND AS I SAY, IT'S A, IT'S A DIFFICULT THING THAT WAS PROMOTED AS A SAN DIEGO, UH, PROTEST, BIG LETTER OF SAN DIEGO.
AND THE ONLY THING ABOUT NATIONAL CITY, IT GAVE A NATIONAL CITY ADDRESS.
AND, UH, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP WITH THE FULL INTENT OF HAVING AN HONEST, I THINK, YOU KNOW, NONVIOLENT AND NON-CONFRONTATIONAL PROTESTS AND LET THEIR VIEWS BE KNOWN.
AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND SAW IT AS AN EXCUSE JUST TO HAVE A, A STREET TAKEOVER AND, YOU KNOW, AND RUINED IT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I THINK THAT CAME THERE WITH HONEST INTENTIONS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S A SHAME OF THAT.
'CAUSE WE DO WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELF AND, UH, AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, UH, APPRECIATE THE, UH, UH, THE POLICE AND ALL THAT THEY DID ON THEIRS.
SO WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR, ONE MORE, HUH? ONE MORE.
WE FORGOT SOMETHING CLEAN UP ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY EIGHT.
EIGHT TO 10, I MEAN, EIGHT TO NOON.
[13. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
CITY ATTORNEY AND ANY REPORT COURTHOUSE.UH, THERE WAS ONE ITEM ON CLOSED
[01:45:01]
SESSION.IT WAS INVOLVING THE CASE OF POLANCO VERSUS THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
UH, THIS CASE INVOLVES THE ALLEGATION THAT THE CITY HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ITS LEGAL OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.
THE CITY HAS IN FACT, PRODUCED ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST, AND THE CITY WILL BE PREPARING A RESPONSE TO THE LAWSUIT.
UH, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL OUR NEXT, UH, NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.