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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
I WOULD LIKE.BEFORE WE PROCEED, I REQUEST THE INTERPRETER TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THIS EVENING'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
DO WE HAVE THEM ON BOARD? YES, WE DO.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
AS A REMINDER, IF WE COULD PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES OR ANY OTHER DEVICES IN THE CHAMBER, APPRECIATE THAT.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND, UH, A LIVE WEBCAST OF THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
AND 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, A NUMBER OF WAYS.
ONE IN PERSON IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, UH, BY SUBMITTING ONE OF THESE SALMON CUDDLED SLIPS THAT YOU CAN GET AT THE, THE BACK OF THE CHAMBER AND GET 'EM OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK'S DESK, UH, 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 WEBSITE IF RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
WITH THAT, CAN WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? YES, SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA PRESENT, VICE MAYOR BUSH.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
AND, UH, MEMBER BUSH, WOULD YOU LEAVE US PLEASE? RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
READY? BEGIN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN THE OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF STATES OF AMERICA AND GENERAL REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE BRA.
ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GATHERING.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE THIS EVENING TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF A NATIONAL CITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S HERE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES FOR ALL GENERATIONS.
BLESS WHAT'S DONE HERE THIS EVENING.
AND WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN THE NAME THAT'S ABOVE EVERY NAME IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]
ALRIGHT.AT THIS POINT WE ARE GONNA GO INTO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT OUR LIST HERE.
AND, UH, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE, THAT ARE ON ZOOM.
WE GOT, SO LET'S, UH, LET'S TAKE THEM FIRST TWO MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
NATIONAL CITY, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR MORRISON.
THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU VIRTUALLY AS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WITH OUR YOUTH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. 6:00 PM COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU'RE THE PARENT TO TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS AND WORK ON THEIR BEHALF.
I FEEL LIKE OUR OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE CITY'S DECISIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM ARE IMPORTANT.
HOW A SOCIETY TREATS ITS MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS REVEALS ITS TRUE NATURE, OR IT CAN BE STATED.
AND I QUOTE, THE WAY SOCIETY CARES FOR AND PROTECTS ITS CHILDREN IS A STRONG INDICATOR OF ITS OVERALL MORALITY, VALUES, AND LEVEL OF CIVILIZATION.
SO, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR A PARENT AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER LIKE ME TO SPEAK TO YOU AND I'M FINE WITH A TWO MINUTE LIMIT.
RECENTLY, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WROTE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE YOUTH THAT SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF
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DEATH AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.AGE 15 TO 24, TEEN AND YOUNG ADULTS.
MENTAL HEALTH IS A COMPLEX SITUATION, HOWEVER, THE RISKS OF TODAY'S HIGH POTENCY, THC, MARIJUANA PRODUCTS MUST NEVER BE OVERLOOKED.
HOPEFULLY, OUR CITY COUNCIL CAN BE COUNTED ON AMONG THE TRUSTED ADULTS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ITS SALES AND CAN CONSUMPTION AND CAN KEEP AS MANY GUARDRAILS IN PLACE TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS THIS EVENING.
THANK THANK YOU BARBARA GORDON.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK ON ITEM 10.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME ON THERE? YES.
ARE WE SPEAKING ON ITEMS RIGHT NOW OR JUST THE NON-AG AGENDA? PUBLIC COMMENT, NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND ARE WE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT END AS WELL AS AN ITEM? YES.
OKAY, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.
GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT OPENING CANNABIS BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A WORKPLACE THAT'S FREE OF DANGEROUS SECONDHAND SMOKE.
IN 1995, CALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO BAN SMOKING IN NEARLY EVERY WORKPLACE, INCLUDING IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INDOOR SPACES, AND RESTAURANTS.
AND NOW OVER 80% OF ADULTS IN CALIFORNIA BELIEVE SMOKING SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ALLOWED IN OUTDOOR DINING AREAS.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW BACKWARDS THINGS ARE HEADING FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS IF WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE RISKS FACED BY CANNABIS BUSINESS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND CANNABIS SMOKE.
CANNABIS SMOKE LIKE TOBACCO SMOKE CONTAINS HARMFUL CHEMICALS SUCH AS TAR CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARCINOGENS.
WORKERS IN DISPENSARIES OR CANNABIS CULTIVATION FACILITIES WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THESE AIRBORNE TOXINS FOR LONG PERIODS MAY EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED RISK OF RESPIRATORY ISSUES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES, AND EVEN CANCER FOR EMPLOYEES WHO SPEND HOURS IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS.
THE RISK IS SIMILAR TO THOSE WORKING IN INDUSTRIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION.
MANY OF THESE EMPLOYEES WORK IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO CANNABIS WHILE IT IS BEING SMOKED, TESTED, OR PROCESSED AND FORCED TO INHALE SMOKE WITHOUT CONSENT.
THE RIGHT TO CLEAN SMOKE-FREE AIR SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR EMPLOYEES IN NATIONAL CITY.
IF WE ALLOW MORE CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO OPEN, THE IMPACT OF CANNABIS EXPOSURE WILL CONTINUE TO HARM NOT JUST THE CONSUMERS, BUT THOSE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING, NATIONAL CITY AND MAYOR MORRISON.
I CAME TO SHARE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE YOUR STAFF SOME INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED THIS MORNING.
THE COUNTY'S TOBACCO FREE COALITION AND AMERICANS FOR NON-SMOKERS, RIGHT, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER HAVE RELEASED A WEBINAR AVAILABILITY AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO HELP US DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF MARIJUANA LOUNGES AS THEY ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHANGES TO SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE LAWS THAT SUCH A POSSIBILITY BRINGS TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND TO NATIONAL CITY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN ON THE TOBACCO SCENE FOR SEVERAL DECADES, AS HAS BEEN MY SITUATION, THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE TURN OF EVENTS WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO REMOVE FOR CITIZENS, THE PROSPECT OF SMOKING AIR ALL AROUND THEM, AND THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES DUE TO THAT EXPOSURE.
AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW ARRIVAL ON THE SCENE TO UNDERMINE THAT WORK.
AND THOSE ARE MARIJUANA LOUNGES.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU GOOGLED THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER OR AMERICANS FOR NON-SMOKERS RIGHTS, YOU COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS WEBINAR THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH AT 1230.
THAT'S GOING TO DIS DISCUSS MARIJUANA LOUNGES AND THE, UH, THE SITUATION REGARDING HOW IT AFFECTS SMOKE-FREE PLACES AND AIR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO WORK THERE.
AFTERNOON, UH, DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR AND CITY STAFF.
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I'M A SENIOR PREVENTION SPECIALIST WITH, UH, SPECIALIST WITH SAY, SANDY AND COORDINATOR FOR THE NATIONAL CITY COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH.I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR MEETING WITH THE COALITION TO TALK ABOUT OUR ADVOCACY WORK TO HELP STOP ILLEGAL TOBACCO CELLS TO YOUTH BY IMPLEMENTING A TOBACCO RENTAL LICENSE PROGRAM IN NATIONAL CITY.
THIS MEETING WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE HA THE HARD WORK THE STAFF IS GOING TO IMPLEMENT AN IMPORTANT COMPONENTS TO ADAPT TO THIS CITY.
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND YOUTH FROM THE
UM, THEY LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF DATA POINTS FOR, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC SURVEY DONE IN NATIONAL FEEDING 2023 THAT WE DID WITH 213 PEOPLE, UM, AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE SURVEY RESULTS SHOW THAT 79% OF UH, PEOPLE AGREE THAT TOBACCO PRODUCTS OFTEN APPEAL, UH, TO YOUTH AND WILL SUPPORT THE LAW THAT ENDS THE SALE OF, UH, ANY FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCT.
88% AGREE THAT STORE OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE A LICENSE TO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS THE SAME WAY THE LI UH, THEY LICENSE SELL ALCOHOL PRODUCT.
86% AGREE THAT TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE WILL REDUCE THE SELL TO MINORS IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND 93% AGREE THAT LICENSE TOBACCO RETAILS WHO REPEATEDLY VIOLATE THE LAW, SHOULD HAVE THEIR LICENSE REVOKED.
UM, THE COALITION PARTNERS AND THE COMMUNITIES ADVOCATING FOR ALL COMPONENTS THAT WILL YOUTH AND STRONG PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO SELL TO MINORS AND DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW.
I WILL ALSO LIKE TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT NATIONAL CITIES, ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES THAT ALLOWS PUBLIC COMMENT OVER ZOOM, TAKING AWAY THIS FEATURE, WILL, UH, BRING BURDEN TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIKE SENIORS THAT WE WORK WITH, UM, THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO, UM, THERE'S ALSO FAMILIES, UH, WITH CHILDREN THAT THEY CANNOT ATTEND BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ATTEND, UH, THEIR DINNER AND ALL, ALL, ALL THAT.
SO THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH FOR KEEPING THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS OPEN TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS ON ZOOM.
WITH THAT, WE'LL GO TO AUDIENCE COMMENTS AND I WILL CALL UP THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME, SO THAT WAY WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE GO OUT INTO THE CENTER AISLE.
THAT WAY YOU CAN COME RIGHT UP AS SOON AS SOON AS YOUR YOUR TURN.
UM, MATTHEW CASTANON, I HOPE I'M NOT MESSING THAT UP, UH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, AIDEN, UH, ABUNDEZ AND THEN ALICIA MORRISON.
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF.
I'M A CRISIS TEAM VOLUNTEER WITH TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAMS OF SAN DIEGO, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS TIP.
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT REPRESENTING EVERYONE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TIP WITHIN NATIONAL CITY.
UPON BEING DISPATCHED BY FIRST RESPONDERS, TIP VOLUNTEERS ARE ON SCENE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES.
THEY PROVIDE PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING THE CRITICAL FIRST FEW HOURS OF A TRAUMATIC EVENT HAPPENING IN THE LIFE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL OR MANY BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT OF FIRST RESPONDERS.
IN 2024 T VOLUNTEERS RESPONDED TO 369 CALLS FOR SERVICE AND ASSISTED 1,246 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITHIN EAST COUNTY.
AND ADDITIONALLY TIP VOLUNTEERS WERE CALLED TO OVER 50 SCENES IN NATIONAL CITY ALONE, ALLOWING FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET BACK TO SERVICE SOONER, WHILE ALSO BEING ASSURED THAT THE FAMILIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEY LEAVE BEHIND ARE BEING CARED FOR.
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF TIP AND MYSELF, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
NEXT WE GO WITH EDEN, AND THEN ALICIA MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY DOLE MORRISON.
HEY GUYS, YOU GUYS SEE ME ALL THE TIME? OKAY.
MY NAME IS ADANA BUNES, UH, AND I'M STUDYING BEFORE YOU AS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE POSES VARIOUS BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AS IT IS A SELF-SUSTAINING PROGRAM, A RIGOROUS PROGRAM, AND A PROGRAM THAT WILL SOLVE THE ADOLESCENT TOBACCO CRISIS IN THIS CI CITY.
UH, SO TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSES OR TRLS ARE SELF-SUSTAINING THROUGH A PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSES.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR SUCH A, SUCH A BUSINESS TO PAY FOR A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE IS INSANELY RIGOROUS, WHICH AVOIDS GIVING THESE LICENSES TO QUESTIONABLE PEOPLE.
RIGHT? AND THE COMPLIANCE CHECKS THAT COMES WITH THE LI COMES WITH THESE LICENSES ARE EQUALLY RIGOROUS.
AND WITH BUSINESSES RIDDLED WITH THE MAIN ISSUE OF SELLING ILLEGAL FLAVORED TOBACCO TO MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, I FEEL THAT THIS LICENSE SOLVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR THEM.
AS SAID, IN PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC COMMENTS, I AND MANY OTHERS FROM THE AMERICAN LUG ASSOCIATION HAVE SAID THAT HALTING TOBACCO USE INCREASES LIFE EXPECTANCY PARTICIPATION IN THE CLASSROOM AND OVERALL WELLBEING IN LIFE.
UH, THEN THE TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE MAKES THIS POSSIBLE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BUSINESSES WILL NOT STOP SELLING TOBACCO TO KIDS UNTIL THERE IS AN ENTIRE
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LICENSE PROCESS ESTABLISHED.SO PUT HUMANITY OVER PROFITS BY ESTABLISHING THIS LICENSE PROGRAM.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CAP TOBACCO RETAILERS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTANCE TOBACCO RETAILERS FROM SCHOOLS, AND IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THESE BUSINESSES TO CHECK IDS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER BENEFITS OF ESTABLISHING A TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE, LIKE THE SUSTAINABILITY OR HAPPINESS.
IT MAY BRING, UH, OR PRODUCE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AS A STUDENT, THIS WOULD REDUCE TOBACCO EXPOSURE IN SCHOOLS TODAY.
ALICIA MORRISON BE FOLLOWED BY DOYLE MORRISON TO BE FOLLOWED BY TED GODSHAW.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
GLAD THE REMOVAL OF THE VEGETATION OVERGROWTH ON THE SIDEWALK ALONG SWEETWATER ROAD NEAR MTS STOP.
HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
MAYBE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO INCREASE NATIONAL CITY'S POLICE FORCE TO PATROL SOME AREA ON SWEETWATER ROAD AND STOCKMAN STREET AT PLAZA BONITA ROAD IN INCREASED PATROL OF YOUR POLICE FORCE WILL AID IN DISCOURAGING CRIMES AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS, DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS SUCH AS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS IN A CAR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON SWEETWATER ROAD AND STOCKMAN STREET, WHO CHOSE TO SHINE A LASER BLUE LASER FROM THEIR CAR INTO THE EYES OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS OUT FOR A MORNING JOG AROUND THE MALL.
I THINK THAT WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT THIS ACT BE DEEMED UNACCEPTABLE, BUT MORE SO DANGEROUS AND PERHAPS UNLAWFUL AFTER ALL, SHINING A LASER AT A, AT A AIRCRAFT IS A FEDERAL CRIME.
THANK YOU DOYLE MORRISON TO BE FOLLOWED BY TED GOTCH TO BE FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY SCHROCK.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO COMMENT, UH, ON A FEW THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, I SPOKE ABOUT UNDERGROUND TANK AND THE PRO AT THE PROPERTY AT ORANGE STREET, UM, AND SWEETWATER.
AND IT WAS SAID BY THE CITY THAT THE CITY WENT BACK TO 1955 WITH AERIAL VIEWS AND DIDN'T SEE A GAS STATION BUSINESS ON THE PROPERTY.
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT LAST MONTH I FOUND OUT ABOUT SDU SU'S BROWNFIELD GRANT AND THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON TO ID POSSIBLE HAZMAT SITES, BUT NOT ONCE DID THE CITY STAFF MENTIONED TO ME SO THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GET THE SITE TESTED.
NUMBER TWO, I ENJOYED COMING TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THIS WEEKEND TO SUPPORT A CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT ONE, COUNTY SUPERVISOR C THAT'S VACANT.
I ESPECIALLY LIKE WHEN, UH, THE MAYOR COMMENTED AND SAID NATIONAL CITY IS NOT INTERESTED IN ANNEXING LINCOLN ACRES.
AND HE TOLD ME I COULD QUOTE HIM ON THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THAT.
EARLIER IN THE, UH, THE EARLIER MEETING I HAD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONES AND I, I, I REALIZE THAT I DON'T TAKE NOTES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT IF YOU GUYS ARE DOING BUSINESS, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT COMMENT BECAUSE I JUST REALIZED IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE TAKING NOTES TO HELP RECTIFY THINGS THAT PEOPLE BRING UP.
AND I STILL, TWO DAYS AFTER OUR LAST MEETING, I SPOKE ON, UH, TRAFFIC LIKE NEED AT ORANGE STREET AND NIK, I MEAN ORANGE AND SWEETWATER.
UM, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE BROKEN HAWK LIGHT WAS TRYING TO DO ITS JOB WHILE SOMEONE CROSSED THE STREET.
PEOPLE WERE STOPPED, SOMEBODY WAS DISTRACTED DRIVING, THEY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES.
THE BACK OF THEIR, THEY LOST CONTROL WENT INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC.
AND A POOR INDIVIDUAL WITH A BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH THE PAPER PLATE STILL ON IT TOTALED THE TRUCK GOT TOTALED.
THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR A LIGHT AT SWEETWATER AND ORANGE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
PLEASE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THAT SITUATION.
TED GOTCH SHOCK FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY SCHROCK, FOLLOWED BY TRUTH.
MR. MAYOR, UM, NIETO HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK.
CAN HE SWITCH PLACES? I HAVE HIM ON HERE.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE A SLIP FOR HIM UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
OH,
PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE CLOSED SESSION.
UH, IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY DOES NOT BECOME NOTORIOUS KNOWN FOR, I'M SORRY, IT'S CANNABIS LOUNGE, THE WEED DISPENSARY AND BARR THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS ALLOWED TO GO IN AT 24TH STREET WAS VOTED ON BY ONLY TWO CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THE FORMER MAYOR, MR. BUSH, HAS TOLD US THAT HE USES MARIJUANA AND BELIEVES IT IS LESS HARMFUL THAN ALCOHOL TO HIM MAYBE.
AND WITH MR. RODRIGUEZ AND THE FORMER MAYOR, THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN LED IN.
I'VE SUBMITTED COMMENTS FOR FOUR ITEMS
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TONIGHT.THAT 8.1 IS UNDER THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND THE REST ARE, UM, OPEN HEARINGS TO CONTINUE.
LAST TIME WE HEARD THE TRUTH ABOUT INCREASED POTENCY IN AN UNPROVEN HEALTH CLAIMS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.
ST'S CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE JAMES KIM SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HEAVY USERS IN SEARCH OF A GOOD DEAL.
SOMETHING HE HAD SOUGHT AS A, BROKE HIS WORDS, POTHEAD IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES.
THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE WE'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL, HE SAID.
BUT IN A $32 BILLION INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN VOLATILE, ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF BUSINESSES TURNED TO PROFIT LAST YEAR, ONE SURVEY FOUND THIS COMPANIES SAY THEY ALSO FACE PRESSURES TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO SURVIVE BECAUSE MARIJUANA REMAINS ILLEGAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING, BANK LOANS ARE BARRED FROM ROUTINE TAX BREAKS.
PRICES HAVE DROPPED AMID AN OVERSUPPLY AND PERSISTENT RIVALRY WITH THE ILLEGAL CANNABIS TRADE.
AND THE INDUSTRY FACES A GROWING THREAT FROM INTOXICATING HEMP DERIVED COMPOUNDS SUCH AS DELTA EIGHT, WHICH CAN BE SOLD MORE WIDELY AND WITH FEWER RESTRICTIONS AS COMPANIES TRANSFORM CANNABIS AND HOW IT IS USED AND PERCEIVED.
PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS ARE INCREASINGLY ALARMED.
THE LADIES TELL YOU THIS, EVERY, EVERY MEETING WHEN COMPANIES ARE, WHEN COMPANIES MAKE UNPROVEN HEALTH CLAIMS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS, IT CAN PUT CONSUMERS AT RISK.
I WILL STOP THERE FOR TONIGHT.
JEFFREY SCHROCK, FOLLOWED BY TRUTH, FOLLOWED BY ED NETTO.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL STAFF AND NATIONAL RESIDENT.
JEFFREY SCHROCK, LOCAL COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
UM, LEMME START BY SAYING, MAYOR MORRISON, I WAS TOLD BY A CITY OFFICIAL THAT YOU FIND ME TO BE ANNOYING.
I, UH, FOR A MAN MY AGE AT 54 YEARS OLD, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU'RE KIND OF TONE DEAF TO THE REALITY ABOUT HOW MUCH, NUMBER ONE, HOW MUCH WORK I DO FOR YOUR CITY AND THE AREAS I DO THE WORK IN.
I GET MY HANDS DIRTY FOR YOUR CITY AND I DON'T ASK FOR A PENNY.
SO FOR YOU TO REFER TO ANY CITY OFFICIAL TO ME AS ANNOYING, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I WORKED WITH YOU IN 2008 TO SAVE OUR DISTRICT SALES TAX, I FIND THAT TO BE JUST DOWNRIGHT INSULTING.
IT'S TIME YOU LEARN TO TREAT ME LIKE SUCH.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LITTLE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE LAST FOURTH JULY CARNIVAL AND THAT TOLD ME WHERE I STAND WITH YOU.
SO TONIGHT I PUBLICLY ENDORSE VICE MAYOR MARCUS BUSH TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF 2026 OF NATIONAL CITY.
WE DON'T NEED STATUS QUO IN WAR.
YOU'RE NOT THE SAME MAN I MET BACK IN 2008.
YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T HAVE THE PASSION NO MORE.
THIS IS A PART-TIME RETIREMENT GIG FOR YOU.
YOU JUST WANT TO INSULT WHOEVER YOU WANT, WANT INSULT AND GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'RE NOT MR. NATIONAL CITY ANYMORE.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M HERE ALSO GONNA, UH, RECOMMEND THAT WE CREATE OUR OWN NATIONAL CITY DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THREE, THREE LOCAL OFFICIALS, THREE VOLUNTEERS.
AND LET'S FIND A WAY TO CUT COSTS JUST LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DOING.
THAT'S THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.
MARCUS, YOU'RE A FRIEND OF MINE.
I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU LAST YEAR ON THE CAMPAIGN AND YES, YOU ARE OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
AND ANYBODY THAT SAYS OTHERWISE, LET 'EM COME TALK TO ME.
'CAUSE YOU ARE THE MAN, YOU'RE VERY SMART, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PASSION.
AND ALSO, WE HAVE A 25% HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE AND THOSE STUDENTS ARE DROPPING INTO GANGS AND DRUGS.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE A LONG LOOK AT THAT.
ALRIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE TRUTH FOLLOWED.
UM, YEAH, TRUTH FOLLOWED BY ED NETTO, FOLLOWED BY GLORIA SAAS.
I LOT TO THINK ABOUT ON THAT ONE.
FIRST, I WANNA GIVE A, I WANNA GIVE A PUBLIC THANK YOU TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME HERE AND EXPOSED JOSE'S, CONTINUED MISBEHAVIORS AND OR MISCONDUCT, AS WELL AS FEARMONGERING AND MISINFORMATION PROMOTING OR TAKING PART IN, OR ENCOURAGING AN OUTSIDE WELL-FUNDED PROTEST COULD HAVE LED TO INJURY OR DEATH OF RESIDENTS.
AND RON, YOU SAID THE POLICE TOOK A HANDS-OFF APPROACH TO THE PROTEST SLASH RIOT EVENT.
WHY, WHY WHEN THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF RIOTS AT THAT PLAZA, WHY WHEN SOME OF THE TYPES THAT HAVE ORGANIZED CHAOS HAVE INCLUDED COMMUNIST GROUPS SUCH AS UNION DEL BARRIO? AND WHY DID JOSE GO ON NBC SEVEN AND CLAIM WHAT TURNED INTO A RIOT WAS SOMETHING PEACEFUL? THAT RIOT THAT INCLUDED FIST FIGHTS WAS ACTUALLY THE MAIN REASON I DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
IT'S SAD THAT PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES ARE INTENTIONALLY BEING RILED UP AND GASLIT TO BELIEVE AND DO STUPID STUFF PUPPETS DANCE.
BUT THE FACTS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO
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NOT CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR SAYS OR BELIEVES.AND HERE'S WHAT SHERIFF KELLY MARTINEZ HAS STATED.
SO A LOT OF IT, I THINK IS JUST MISINFORMED.
BORDER PATROL'S NOT SITTING IN FRONT OF SCHOOLS WAITING TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION.
THEY'RE NOT WALKING AROUND HOSPITAL CORRIDORS, THE MISINFORMATION.
SO TO BE CLEAR, THEY'RE NOT GOING INTO SCHOOLS, THEY'RE NOT GOING INTO CHURCHES, RIGHT? IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, I WON'T BE PARTICIPATING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ENFORCING IMMIGRATION, UNDERSTATE LAW WITH A QUALIFYING CONVICTION.
THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE RAPE, ROBBERY, MURDER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG TRAFFICKING, THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES.
SO WE DON'T TIP OFF BORDER PATROL.
WE DON'T PROVIDE BORDER PATROL.
ANY INFORMATION RELATED TO SOMEONE'S IMMIGRATION STATUS.
SEE, NOT A THING TO FREAK OUT ABOUT.
AND ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY'S OWN STATS, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF DANGEROUS, VIOLENT, CONVICTED CRIMINALS, DEPORTED THAT INCLUDED PEDOPHILES, RAPIST AND MURDERS.
EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE SAFE.
AND THAT DEFINITELY INCLUDES OUR LAWFUL IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE EVEN MORE VULNERABLE TO THOSE CRIMES.
AND I'M GLAD, UH, SHERRY'S GOTTEN HER PROBLEMS RESOLVED, AND I'M HAPPY IF SHE CONTINUES TO SHOW UP TO THE MEETINGS.
ALRIGHT, ED NETTO TO BE FOLLOWED BY GLORIA SALAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS REICH.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME POSTINGS I'VE MADE ON FACEBOOK.
AND THE TITLE OF THE POSTING HAS TO DO WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, ASKING, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY OVER OUR EXPENDITURES, SLUSH FUND EXPENDITURES, AND ALL EXPENDITURES.
AND I, I, I'M, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF ALL THESE ISSUES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSIES AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THE UNDERLYING THING IS HERE IS THAT WE CAN'T DEFINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE'RE AN OUTPUT AND OUTCOME.
YOU KNOW, WE SPENT MONEY AND WE'RE HAVING MEETINGS, WE PUT FLYERS UP, WE WE HAVE GATHERINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY DEFINING WHAT'S THE EXPECTED OUTCOME OF ALL THESE EFFORTS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO REDUCE CRIME, INCREASED BUSINESS, UM, UM, MAKING THE CITY SAFE, INCREASED REVENUE.
THERE'S NO PURPOSE IN SOME OF THESE MEETINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S JUST FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLICITY, IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS MAYBE THE METHODOLOGY AND HOW WE SPENT CITY MONIES CAN DEFINE AN, UH, UH, AN EFFICIENCY, A COST EFFICIENT EFFICIENCY, UH, UH, COMMENT SAYING, WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF OUR MONEY? WHAT DO WE, WHAT'S THE OUTCOME? WHAT'S THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF, OF SPENDING THESE MONIES? BECAUSE SOMETIMES I HEAR YOU GUYS TALK AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS IT TO FIND? LIKE WE'VE HAD, FOR INSTANCE, THE PROPERTY TAX RENT ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS, AND I GUESS WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE TODAY, BUT WHAT IS THE INTENDED OUTCOME? WHAT CAN THE CITY DO? HOW MUCH RESOURCES DO WE HAVE TO PUT IN HERE? YOU KNOW, THERE'S DUPLICATE SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES.
HOW'S THAT FOLD INTO THE, INTO THE, UM, INTO THE, INTO WHAT THE CITY'S DOING? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT KNOCKING THE UNDERLYING EMPATHY FOR THE ISSUES THEMSELVES.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE METHODOLOGY OF HOW IT'S BEING EXPLAINED TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, WHERE'S, WHERE'S THE RESOURCES? WHAT'S THE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
WHAT'S, WHAT WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY? THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
GLORIA SALAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THOMAS WRIGHT TO BE FOLLOWED BY EDDIE PEREZ.
NATIONAL CITY TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE,
[00:30:22]
NATIONAL COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH.EXCUSE ME, I CAN, CARLOS, YES.
MAKING SURE YOU COULD HEAR ME.
AND I AM A CO-CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL CITY COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH.
I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OF NATIONAL CITY FOR 12 YEARS.
I AM ALSO A SOCIAL ACT ACTIVIST THAT ADVOCATES FOR BETTER HEALTH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR OUR YOUTH.
I WORK ON ISSUES SUCH AS CANCER PREVENTION AND ON PREVENTING TOBACCO USE.
AND THE REASON THAT I AM HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE AS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WE WORK ON EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO PREVENT ALL KINDS OF DISEASES AMONG THEM BECOMING ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCES SUCH AS TOBACCO.
AND WE CAN COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE AMONGST OUR USE.
UM, THEY ARE ACCESSING VAPES AND OTHER FLAVORED TOVA TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
AND WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR, UH, TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO BETTER CONTROL ILLEGAL SALES OF TOBACCO RELATED PRODUCTS TO MINORS.
TOBACCO CONTINUES TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PREVENTABLE COST OF DEATH IN THE US.
OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE DIE EVERY YEAR DUE TO ILLNESSES RELATED TO TOBACCO CONSUMPTION.
MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO VAPES AND TO OTHER, UH, TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THIS, UH, TOBACCO IS ALSO, UH, GATEWAY DRUG THAT LEADS TO, UH, CONSUMING UM, THINGS LIKE CHEST MARIJUANA AND ALCOHOL.
AGAIN, OUR COALITION IS THE NATIONAL CITY COALITION FOR BETTER HEALTH.
AND, UH, WE, UH, CAME HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE AGAINST, UM, ACCESS TO, UH, VAPE, VAPES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS AS IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS FOR THE BRAIN AND FOR OUR YOUTH.
THOMAS REICH, ARE YOU FOLLOWED BY EDDIE PEREZ? GOOD EVENING.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I'VE SEEN THE HIRES AND MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN LATIN, LATIN LATINOS, AND I THINK THEY COULD HIRE MORE BLACKS AND FILIPINOS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A NATIONAL CITY, ARABS AND ARABS AND ASIANS.
THE, AND THE, THE ONE MINORITY THAT THEY, THAT WE SHOULD HIRE? NO, WE DO, WE DON'T HAVE, WE SHOULD LOOK INTO IS A WIDE ANGLO, BUT WHATEVER YOU DECIDE IS ALL RIGHT.
WELL, MY BROTHER BACK, UH, THEY CALLED ME MR. N CITY TWO.
UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, STAFF.
UH, MY NAME IS EDDIE PEREZ AND, UH, A COUPLE PEOPLE FORGOT THEIR MAGA HATS TONIGHT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I SUPPORTED THAT PROTEST.
I SUPPORTED PEACEFUL PEOPLE COMING OUT TO PROTEST BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY FEARFUL FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE SOUTH, WELL MAYBE DOWN SOUTH EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT THIS IS THEIR HOME AND THEY LOVE YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND A SMALL PERCENT GOT OUTTA HAND.
SO NOW EVERYBODY'S BAD, RIGHT? SO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO GET THEIR FACTS STRAIGHT, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT ENCOURAGING YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY STARTED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED, THE PARENTS, THE MOTHERS, THE GRANDPARENTS ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH COULD BE DRACONIAN.
[00:35:01]
BEGIN A DISCUSSION ABOUT, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE FEARFUL AND DON'T KNOW WHO TO CALL, WHAT CAN THEY DO? WHERE CAN YOU DIRECT 'EM TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CALL THE CITY OFFICE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GONNA GO INTO MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND PULL HER OUT? UH, WE DO HAVE RESIDENTS HERE.MANY OF THEM ARE LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND WE DO HAVE SOME HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE THAT UNFORTUNATELY ARE HERE IN THAT SITUATION.
BUT THEIR CHILDREN, THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BE FRIGHTENED.
NO ONE DESERVES TO BE FRIGHTENED.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY WILL BEGIN A DISCUSSION, AND, AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE, AND I THINK THE RESIDENTS DESERVE IT.
UH, THEIR TAX PAYING RESIDENTS, AND I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED LEGAL RESIDENTS.
MY MOTHER WAS BORN HERE IN 1930.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR ME.
AND SO I'M CONCERNED, THIS IS MY CITY AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
AND SO I'M ENCOURAGING OUR LEADERS TO BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THOSE FILIPINO, ASIAN AND WHITES THAT ARE HERE AND UNDOCUMENTED.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
SO WHAT CAN THEY DO? AND I EVEN AS FAR AS GOING TO SAY THAT, IF WE NEED TO SUPPORT IT FINANCIALLY TO GET SOMETHING GOING, AND I'D BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THAT IS ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, AND AT
[5.1 A Reason To Survive (ARTS) Annual Report]
THIS POINT WE WILL GO INTO PRESENTATION AND WE DO HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION UNDER A REASON TO SURVIVE.AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE INTRODUCING ON THAT.
UH, MY NAME IS JOSE LOPEZ AND I AM THE ADVANCEMENT COORDINATOR AT A REASON TO SURVIVE.
AND HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, UM, I'M SURE LIKE MOST OF YOU ALL HAVE, UH, WE'VE GROWN UP IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT RIGHT FROM DISTRICT 1, 3, 4, EVERY DISTRICT IN BETWEEN.
UM, I AM A PROUD NATIONAL CITY RESIDENT.
UH, I AM TRULY HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE A PASSIONATE TEAM AT ARTS WHERE WE LOOK TO UPLIFT YOUTH TO BECOME CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE, AND COURAGEOUS COMMUNITY BUILDERS THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CREATIVITY.
UM, AND OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREDIBLE GROWTH JOURNEY OVER AT A REASON TO SURVIVE, AND MOST NOTABLY WELCOMING LUCY EAGLESON AS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UM, AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU.
UH, SHE BRINGS WITH HER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A NONPROFIT LEADER, UH, AND AS A CREATIVE, A CREATIVE HERSELF THAT CREATED VISION THAT WE, THAT WE LEAVE TO LEAD US INTO THE FUTURE.
WELL, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
I'M HONORED, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.
UM, SO I'M A BUSINESS UPFRONT PARTY IN THE BACK KIND OF GIRLS.
SO LET'S TACKLE THE NUMBERS, UM, AND THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.
SO WITH OUR PROJECTS AND EVENTS, SO THESE ARE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT IN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR EVENTS HELD MOSTLY AT THE CENTER AND IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THIS TEAM HAS BEEN VERY BUSY, AS JOSE MENTIONED.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR WITH JUST OVER A THOUSAND NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS THROUGH THIS WORK ALONE.
UM, AND THEN A BIG CHUNK OF OUR WORK ARE PROGRAMS. UM, WE HAVE 21 PROGRAMS AND COUNTING.
THERE IS A MUCH HIGHER DEMAND FOR OUR WORK THAN WE HAVE CAPACITY FOR, AND THAT'S THE REALITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, OUR PARENTS, UM, AUNTS, UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS, NEIGHBORS, PEERS, WE'RE SEEING IT, WE'RE HEARING IT TONIGHT, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, ALL THE THINGS.
UM, ART IS A PATH TO HOPE AND TO HEALING AND TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND SO JUST TO TAKE A QUICK SNAPSHOT, THIS WAS WHERE WE ENDED THIS LAST JUNE, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR FINANCIAL IMPACT, UH, FOR THE YEAR.
UM, BUT LET'S GET INTO THE FUN STUFF.
JOSE, YOU WANNA TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE EVENTS? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I AM A FAN OF THE FUN STUFF.
UM, YES,
UM, AGAIN, IN THIS LAST YEAR, MOST NOTABLY OUR THE LOS MUTOS CELEBRATION, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR MOST RECOGNIZABLE EVENTS.
UM, THIS PAST YEAR, IT INCLUDED FOUR WORKSHOPS, UH, AND ONE, UH, CULMINATING COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, UH, WHERE WE WELCOMED, UH, CIVIC PARTNERS, WHERE WE WELCOMED, UH, UH, LOCAL NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, UH, OF WHICH, UH, WE HAD 150 ATTENDEES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM, NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS, UH, IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT CELEBRATION.
WE ALSO HAD STITCHING GENERATIONS, WHICH IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE SAW YOUTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE FABS 50 AND BETTER COME
[00:40:01]
TOGETHER AND YARN BOMB THE FRONT OF THE ART CENTER.AND HONESTLY, AFTER SEEING THE ART PIECES THAT THEY CREATED, I CAN'T WAIT TO BE 50 AND BETTER MYSELF.
AND AT THE END OF EVERY SESSION, WE CELEBRATE THE CREATIVE INGENUITY OF YOUTH, UH, IN OUR PROGRAMS DURING YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL, WHERE WE, UH, ARE HONORED TO WELCOME OVER 250, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I THINK THIS LAST ONE SAW ALMOST 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME THROUGH OUR SPACE, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVATIONS AND WORKSHOPS.
UH, THIS YEAR WE ALSO SAW A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES IN THE COLLECTIVE, IN A COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION, UH, THAT UPLIFTED THE WIDER, UH, CREATIVE COMMUNITY HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AND BEYOND.
AND THIS IS ALL TO SAY THAT CULTURAL EVENTS HERE IN THE CITY ARE NOT JUST CULTURAL EVENTS.
THEY ARE MUCH MORE THAN THAT PER THE ARTS AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY SIX SURVEY, UH, THAT WAS CONDUCTED I BELIEVE IN 2022 AND 23.
UM, NON-PROFIT ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE CITY, UH, ARE ECONOMIC DRIVERS FOR THE CITY WHERE THEY GENERATE NEARLY 5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC, UH, ACTIVITY JUST IN THE CITY ALONE.
AND ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH, UH, PROGRAMS THAT ARE YOUTH LED HERE IN THE CITY.
AND SO, JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE MENTIONED.
UM, PUBLIC ART, NATIONAL CITY APARTMENTS WHERE SO MANY, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE, UH, BEEN BORN AND RAISED.
UH, WE WILL BE DOING SOME MURAL WORK THERE.
UPCOMING, THE FAMOUS SWEETWATER SPIGOT.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE KICKING OFF NEXT WEEK, PAID YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS, UH, TO CREATE, UH, THROUGH METAL AND OTHER PUBLIC ART SCULPTURE.
UH, A WAY TO REALLY ELEVATE THAT STORY AND TELL THAT STORY TO THE WIDER PUBLIC 19TH STREET UNDERPASS.
ALSO, UH, IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND THEN OUR FAMOUS BUTTERFLIES, WE HAVE A PHASE PLAN TO RENOVATE ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE A YEAR, UM, AND JUST BRING THEM BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITION AND HONOR THE WORK OF THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOING, UH, THIS SPRING, A NATURE MURAL ON THE ARTS BUILDING, UM, CELEBRATING OUR SPRING THEME OF IN BLOOM AND OUR PROGRAMS THAT JOSE MENTIONED.
THIS IS REALLY OUR TREASURE AND, AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE HONORED TO DO.
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF OUR PROJECTS, COMMUNITY ARTS, UM, THAT ONE AGAIN, WAITING LIST OF 20 PLUS, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE ARTS CENTER AFTER SCHOOL, UH, AND ALSO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK, ARTS FOR JUSTICE.
WE HAVE TWO JUVENILE COURT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS HERE NEXT DOOR TO SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.
UM, SO WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE AND OTHER SYSTEMS. UM, AND THEN ARTS AT WORK.
UM, WE HAVE A MAKER'S WORKSHOP WITH WOOD AND METAL, AND WE WORK WITH SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL, UH, TO CO-CREATE REALLY MEANINGFUL PROJECTS.
BIG HIGHLIGHT FOR US, BIG GROWTH AREA.
WE'RE AT ALL 10 NATIONAL CITY SCHOOLS, UH, WORKING WITH OVER 600 YOUTH AND REALLY, REALLY EXCITING THIS YEAR WE PILOTED, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND, UH, PROGRAMMING AT L TWO OWN AND CENTRAL AS WELL AS PARENT WORKSHOPS.
UM, SO WE HAVE PARENTS FROM NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WILL BE COMING TO THE ART CENTER AFTER HOURS, UH, TO CO-CREATE PROJECTS WITH THEIR KIDS, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.
THIS PERSONAL FAVORITE KURT GEIGER KINDNESS FOUNDATION.
UH, WE PUT NATIONAL CITY ON THE INTERNATIONAL MAP, UH, IN THE FASHION WORLD.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE IMAGES THAT WERE SHOT RIGHT AT EIGHT EIGHTH STREET TROLLEY STATION.
UM, OUR JUVENILE COURT KIDS DESIGNED THIS CAMPAIGN, UH, THAT WAS ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, REACHING OVER A MILLION FOLLOWERS.
UH, I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT ON THE FAMOUS OXFORD STREET IN LONDON, THESE IMAGES IN OUR VIDEO WORK WAS FEATURED.
SO, UM, SUPER EXCITED TO PUT ARTS IN NATIONAL CITY ON A GLOBAL STAGE.
IF ANYONE'S, UH, GONE FOR POKEY LATELY, YOU'LL SEE ON EIGHTH AND B SOME TABLES THAT OUR TEAM FABRICATED IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD A PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY TO PAINT THOSE LEGS.
SO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.
AND OUR BRIGHT LIGHTS EVENT, WHICH WE LAUNCHED, UH, LAST SPRING.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE THERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING WHERE WE HONORED SIX YOUTH INTERNS, ARTISTS WHO ARE PART OF THE WORK WE DO.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT, JOSE, WHAT DO WE HAVE COMING UP? WE'RE DOING IT ALL AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL, BUT I'M THE FUN GUY AROUND HERE,
UM, BUT THIS YEAR, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE DOING IT ALL AGAIN.
UH, ARTS AND BLOOM IS OUR YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL THAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN ON SATURDAY, MAY 3RD FROM 12 TO THREE.
UH, WE ARE ALSO HOSTING OUR BRIGHT LIGHTS EVENT ON THURSDAY, MAY 15TH FROM FIVE TO SEVEN.
SO, LIKE I SAID, MARK, MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
UM, AND BRIGHT LIGHTS REALLY IS A CELEBRATION.
UM, WE'RE HONORING SIX CHANGE MAKERS, UH, FROM THE WIDER ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND SO YEAH, YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO TO COME AND CELEBRATE ALONG WITH US.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WORK ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CHANGE MAKERS,
[00:45:01]
UH, AND THE FUTURE BUILDERS OF NATIONAL CITY.REN, WHO WAS ONE OF OUR BRIGHT LIGHTS LAST SEASON, IS NOW CURRENTLY PURSUING A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AT UCSD.
UM, AND ATTRIBUTES, SO MUCH OF THEIR LEARNING AND GROWTH, UH, TO WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THE MAKER'S WORKSHOP AT ARTS.
A FEW OTHER STUDENTS WHO ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM ALSO, UM, THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS WITH US.
UH, YOU'LL SEE MARKY THERE FACE PAINTING AT OUR DIA DE LOS MUERTO CELEBRATION.
THESE ARE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE TO WATCH OUT FOR IN THE FUTURE, LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN LOOKING AHEAD, THESE ARE SOME OF OUR SENIORS WHO'VE BEEN PART OF OUR PROGRAMMING GRADUATING THIS YEAR.
AND AS JOSE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE FROM NATIONAL CITY LIVE AND WORK AND CONTINUE TO BLOOM IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE EXIST AND ARE INCREDIBLY DEDICATED TO THIS WORK.
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE HOPE THAT ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE ONES GIVING THIS PRESENTATION TO Y'ALL.
BUT WE MAY NOT BE DONE WITH YOU QUITE YET.
OH, OH, WE THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE YOU JUST DROPPED THE MIC.
YEAH, I, YEAH, WE, WE DON'T DO THE DROP THE MIC THING.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA START OVER HERE WITH THE I MEMBER MOLINA.
UM, I GUESS WE WERE DUE FOR A ARTS PRESENTATION, A REASON TO SURVIVE PRESENTATION.
THERE IS SO MUCH NEW STUFF I WASN'T AWARE OF.
I LOVE HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE SUCCESSES SO FAR AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR YOUTH, UH, FOR THE COMING YEAR.
UH, THANK YOU MISS, UH, LUCY AND JOSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SHOWING US ALL OF THIS HERE IN OUR CITY, IN NATIONAL CITY.
UH, THE GROUP THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, WAS GRADUATING, ARE THEY, UM, SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL? UH, A MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS IN THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THAT'S COMMUNITY ARTS.
SO THAT'S OUR AFTERSCHOOL KIND OF FLAGSHIP PROGRAM.
I WOULD SAY A MAJORITY ARE, UM, PROBABLY, IF I WERE TO GUESS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, ABOUT 80%, BUT I CAN RUN A FULL REPORT FOR YOU ON THAT.
OH, NOT, I'M JUST HAPPY TO HEAR YEAH.
THAT IT IS TRULY, THIS IS HOMEGROWN.
UH, AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS PREFERENCE FOR NATIONAL CITY YOUTH FOR THESE PROGRAMS, BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IT IS FOCUSED FOR NATIONAL CITY.
WELL, I JUST, UH, WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH.
UM, GREAT PRESENTATION AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK IN NATIONAL CITY FOR THE LAST, GOD, WAS IT LIKE 10 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO, AND COUNTING.
SO IT'S, SO IT'S BEEN AWESOME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET ONE ON ONE, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO DOING THAT IN THE NEXT, UH, FEW WEEKS OR MONTH.
UH, ITS AWESOME TO HAVE SOMEONE LOCAL AND SOMEONE WHO'S FROM THE COMMUNITY IN YOUR POSITION AND WITH YOUR PASSION, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB WITH LAST YEAR'S EVENTS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
AND ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, CHAT WITH YOU BOTH, UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH OUR, UH, CITY MANAGER AND OUR, UH, GRAFFITI TECHS ON, UH, UM, ON RESPONDING TO GR GRAFFITI AND ADDRESSING THAT IN THE FORM OF ART OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE'VE BEEN, UH, PARTNERING A LOT WITH, UH, I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON THE PUBLIC ART OR PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE, RIGHT? THAT'S MM-HMM
SO THE VISION CULTURE FOUNDATION, WE HAVE SOME GREAT CONCEPTS FOR, FOR MURALS.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST AN ART PROJECT THAT INVOLVES A COMMUNITY AND JUST, IT'S NOT JUST ART THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ENJOY FROM AN AESTHETICS STANDPOINT, BUT IT'S ALSO ECONOMICS.
UH, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN, WE'VE SEEN THAT, UH, WHEN WE REPLACE BLANK FACADES AND WALLS THAT ARE OFTEN TAGGED, UM, WHEN WE REPLACE THAT WITH MURALS AND INVOLVE THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF COMMUNITY, THE, UH, RATE OF THAT GETTING TAGGED, IT, IT DIMINISHES, UH, VASTLY.
UM, A LOT OF THE ATTACKERS DO RESPECT, UH, THAT ART.
AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL IF THAT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE, UH, A LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN YOUR GUYS' CAPACITY AND PLANS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING AND IT WILL SAVE US A LOT OF MATERIALS AND STAFF TIME.
UH, ESPECIALLY, WE'RE STARTING WITH 24TH STREET TROLLEY STATION, WHICH IS IN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA'S DISTRICT, UM, UH, AND IN THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, WE'LL IN, FOLKS CAN SEE IT FROM THE TROLLEY, IT GETS, YOU KNOW, TAGGED UP.
UM, WE'LL SPEND PUBLIC RESOURCES PAINTING OVER IT, AND SOMETIMES WE, WITHIN TWO DAYS, IT'S BACK UP AGAIN.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TAKING A NEW LOOK AT AND WE WOULD LOVE YOUR GUYS' INVOLVEMENT IN, AND WE'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
I MEAN, ROSEA OVER AT NATIONAL CITY APARTMENTS, THAT'S A BIG IMPETUS FOR THAT PROJECT, RIGHT? IS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.
AND SO SHE HAS A PHASED PLAN OF DIFFERENT SPACES, UM, WHERE TAGGING HAS BEEN PREVALENT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S HER PLAN TO MITIGATE THAT.
[00:50:02]
ALRIGHT.[7. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS ]
GO INTO OUR, UH, REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.AND SO I'LL START OVER HERE ON MY LEFT.
UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, NOTHING REPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR P THE REPORT.
UM, SWEETWATER AUTHORITY, UM, WE'RE STILL HAVING OUR WORKSHOP ON PFAS, UM, FEBRUARY 19TH.
THAT'S TOMORROW 5 45 TO 7:45 PM AT THE BEITA SUNNYDALE LIBRARY.
43 75 BEITA ROAD, BENITA, CALIFORNIA.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, SWEETWATER ORG.
UM, FOR, UM, FOR EO COMMUNITY POWER, MR. MAYOR, UH, THERE WAS A, UH, UH, PRESS RELEASE THAT, UM, WENT OUT LAST WEEK, UM, THAT THE LARGEST CA IN SAN DIEGO AREA LOWERS ELECTRICITY GENERATION RATES AN AVERAGE OF 2.8% TO OUR RATE PAYERS.
UM, IT'S A GOOD NEWS FROM, UH, SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF WERE ABLE TO, UH, PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, UM, WE CATER TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR RATE PAYERS, UM, AFFORD, UM, THEIR ELECTRICITY, UM, FOR, UH, SUNNE COMMUNITY POWER.
I WAS INVITED MR. MAYOR TO GO TO A METROPOLITAN WATER TOUR.
I LEAVE ON THURS, I LEAVE ON ON FRIDAY, UM, TO HAVE MORE, UM, EDUCATION WITH REGARDS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THIS DESAL, DESALINATION, UH, PROGRAMS OF, UM, OF THE WATER INDUSTRY FOR, UM, METRO WASTE WATER.
UM, THERE IS NOTHING TO REPORT THERE, MR. MAYOR.
UH, THE SANDECK BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET ON, UM, FRIDAY, THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY.
UH, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD CONCERNING THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DETAIL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT SANDAG IS PREDICTING USING THEIR CRYSTAL BALL FOR, UH, THE ECONOMY COMING FORWARD.
THE RECORDINGS ARE ON YOUTUBE.
I WILL JUST QUICKLY MENTION THAT.
UM, THEY ARE EXPECTING A, UM, UH, THEY CALLED IT, OR THE SPEAKER SAID, CAUTION, BUT NOT GLOOM.
UM, UH, IT'S A WEAK CONSUMER SPENDING.
UM, IS EXPECTED SLOWER ECONOMIC GROWTH.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
THE CHALLENGE IS, OF COURSE, WE ARE ALL AWARE OF, UH, TRADE RELATIONS AND STRAINED FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGETS ARE GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH.
UH, THIS WILL BE A SECOND YEAR OF NEGATIVE GROWTH IN SALES TAX REVENUE FOR 2025 DUE TO CAUTIOUS HOUSEHOLD SPENDING.
THERE IS A PREDICTED GREATER UNCERTAINTY AND VOLATILITY IN PRICES STEMMING FROM THE FEDERAL POLICIES ON ENERGY AND TRADE.
UH, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, FOR THE TRANSNET, UH, REVENUES THAT ARE EXPECTED THERE, THEY ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE A SHORTFALL, UH, NEW PROJECTIONS FOR TRANSNET REVENUES FOR 2025.
UH, IN TOTAL, THERE WILL BE A DECREASE FROM 434 MILLION TO 420 MILLION.
THIS TRANSLATES TO PROGRAM ALLOCATIONS OF, UH, TWO TO 5% LESS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION.
THERE WILL BE NO PAUSES ON THE CURRENTLY ONGOING PROJECTS.
UM, JUST TO WRAP UP HERE, UH, SAND A'S DEBT PORTFOLIO IS, UM, IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
SANDAG MAINTAINS ITS AAA RATING, UM, BY THE, UM, RATING AGENCIES.
AND THE, THE FINAL PROGRAM BUDGET IN OVERALL FOR 2025 IS 1.3 BILLION.
THIS IS, UH, 52% OF WHICH IS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND, UH, WE ARE EXPECTED THE DRAFT BUDGET FOR 20, FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, UH, TO BE PRESENTED, UH, MARCH 14TH.
UM, AND YEP, THAT'S ALL THE EXCITING NEWS FROM SANDAG.
SO FOR MTS FOR METROPOLITAN, UH, TRANSIT SYSTEM, UH, BIG ITEMS WE HAD ON THAT, WE APPROVED THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS, FAIR STUDY, AND POTENTIAL, UH, BALLOT MEASURES.
[00:55:01]
SO WHAT THAT IS, IS REALLY, UM, UH, FOCUSING ON THE BUDGET, FOCUSING ON OPERATIONS.THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS IS HIRING A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND LOOK AT OUR RIDERSHIP AND SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE IT IN THE LONG RUN.
SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT STUDY TO SEE, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE, UM, OUR TRANSIT EXPERIENCE AND HOW WE CAN, UM, RECOUP, UH, FARES.
UH, I WILL, UM, SAY THAT OUR, OUR BUDGET SITUATION IN, IN MANY PUBLIC AGENCIES, IT'S, UH, IT'S DIRE FOR, FOR TRANSIT ESPECIALLY.
SO WE HAVEN'T INCREASED FARES SINCE 2009.
THAT IS DEFINITELY UNDER DISCUSSION, FAIR CUT OR, UH, SERVICE CUTS.
SO LOOKING AT WHAT DIFFERENT BUS ROUTES ARE POTENTIALLY GONNA BE CUT, THAT IS GONNA BE EXPLORED, UM, UH, HIKES IN THE, UM, IN THE FAIR BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HIKED SINCE 2009.
THAT HAS TO BE, UH, ON THE TABLE AND EVEN A POTENTIAL BALLOT MEASURE IN 2026 FOR INCREASING THE SALES TAX THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED.
UH, IT'S NOT APPROVED YET, IT'S JUST CONSIDERED AS AN OPTION.
SO IS A, UH, POTENTIAL $10 A YEAR, UH, VEHICLE FEE, AND LOOKING AT ANY OTHER WAYS WE CAN GET REVENUE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE CREATIVE ON, ON, ON THAT.
UH, AND FOR BUDGET, WE ALSO HAD A, UM, A SEPARATE BUT CONNECTED ITEM ON OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT, UH, PLANNING, UM, FOR SCENARIOS.
IF WE CAN'T GET, UH, SUSTAINED FEDERAL FUNDING, WHICH IS A POSSIBILITY WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A FISCAL CLIFF.
SO WE HAVE, UH, MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.
I, I DID, UH, UH, VOTE AGAINST, UH, MOVING FORWARD ON THIS BECAUSE I FELT STAFF COULD HAVE GIVEN US MORE INFORMATION.
WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, WITH POSTPONING THE BUS ELECTRIFICATION.
UH, SO, WHICH THE BUSES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT I, I HAD CONCERNS THAT WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT OTHER, UH, OPTIONS AND IT DELAYS OUR, OUR TRANSITION, UM, AND THAT THAT AFFECTS OUR AIR QUALITY AND ALL THAT.
BUT THAT, BUT THAT, UM, UH, BUT THAT THE BUDGET WAS A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT.
WE HAD A MEETING, UM, UH, LAST WEEK, UH, AND WE GOT, UH, UPDATES ON THE, THE SEWAGE RIVER CRISIS, UH, RESPONSE.
THE AIR FILTERS FOR RESIDENTS IN THAT REGION ARE GOING OUT.
SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE, UH, FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE HYDROGEN SULFIDE IN THE ODORS, UM, THEN, UH, FOLKS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT, UM, THROUGH A PCD AND APPLY FOR THE AIR FILTRATION SYS, UM, UH, FILTERS.
UH, GOT ANOTHER UPDATE ON BUDGET, UM, AND SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR BUDGET.
UH, AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, I, I WAS, UH, HONORED TO BE SELECTED, UH, BY OUR, UH, OUR FULL BOARD AS, UH, AS CHAIR OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT.
ANNE-MARIE BECK GARCIA, WHO'S ACTUALLY FROM NATIONAL CITY, SHE'S, UM, A PEDIATRICIAN FOCUSING ON PULMONARY HEALTH ISSUES.
UH, SHE'S, UH, GONNA BE OUR, OUR VICE CHAIR.
UM, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH INDUSTRY GROUPS.
I WAS, I WAS HONORED TO GET THEIR, THEIR SUPPORT AND SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.
SO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND TRYING TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES.
UH, JUST REAL QUICKLY, A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ONE, BEING ON SWEETWATER AUTHORITY WAS ALREADY MENTIONED THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THE WORKSHOPS ON WHAT THEY CALL PFAS OR THE FOREVER CHEMICALS THAT ARE, HAVE BEEN DETECTED AT IN SWEETWATER RESERVOIR.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME ARTICLES HAVE COME OUT ON IT, AND IT'S CAUSED A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERN.
UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS THAT SWEETWATER WE RECEIVE OUR WATER FROM.
ONE IS SWEETWATER RESERVOIR, OF COURSE.
THERE'S ALSO LOVELAND RESERVOIR, WHICH IS FARTHER UPSTREAM.
THERE'S ALSO THE WELLS AT EL TOON, THE FRESHWATER WELLS.
AND THEN THERE IS THE BRINE WELLS THAT, THAT FURNISH INTO OUR DESAL PLANT, WHICH IS RIGHT BEHIND THE FOOD FOR LESS.
AND, UH, THE DEAL IS THE, THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE PFAS HAS BEEN DETECTED, AND IT'S ONLY DETECTED AT A LEVEL AT THIS POINT.
IT'S WHAT THEY CALL A REPORTABLE LEVEL.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CONCEDED AS HAZARDOUS, OR YOU GOTTA MAKE SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION JUST THAT YOU HAVE TO REPORT IT.
AND THAT IS AT SWEETWATER RESERVOIR, NOT AT LOVELAND, NOT AT THE WELLS, NOT AT THE, THE DESAL PLANT.
NATIONAL CITY RECEIVES, UM, IN JUST ABOUT EVERY AREA OF NATIONAL CITY RECEIVES JUST ABOUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ITS WATER FROM THE DESAL PLANT AND THE, UH, EL TOON WELLS.
UH, THE WATER THAT COMES FROM THE TREATMENT PLANT AT SWEETWATER RESERVOIR, UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF CHULA VISTA AND BONITA ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE AT.
[01:00:01]
LEAST 50% OF THEIR WATER, UH, COMES FROM SWEETWATER RESERVOIR.SO THERE YOU HAVE MORE OF THE EFFECT ON THIS.
NOT NATIONAL CITY LINCOLN ACRES.
OUR AREA IS NOT, UH, AFFECTED BY THIS RIGHT NOW AT ALL.
BUT IT WILL AFFECT US WHEN AS A DISTRICT, WE HAVE TO, IF WE HAVE TO MOVE INTO SOME KIND OF TREATMENT IN THE FUTURE FOR SWEETWATER RESERVOIR, IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR RATES ACROSS THE BOARD.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
SO, BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, 'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE GETTING SCARED BY SOME OF THE NEWS ARTICLES AND REALIZING, YEAH, WE'RE PART OF SWEETWATER AUTHORITY AND SWEET.
THIS IS, THIS IS IN SWEETWATER RESERVOIR.
NATIONAL CITY DOES NOT GET OUR WATER FROM SWEETWATER RESERVOIR.
AND, UH, SO AS LONG AS, UH, REALIZE THAT, AND OUR SOURCES DO NOT HAVE THE PFAS AND, AND PEOPLE GO, WELL, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WELL, PFAS COULD BE A TERRIBLE THING.
AND WHY IS IT IN THE WATER? UH, EVERY ONE OF YOU RIGHT NOW IS WEARING SOMETHING THAT HAS PFAS IN IT.
ALMOST ALL OF OUR CLOTHING HAS, IT COMES WITH PFAS IN IT.
UH, IF ANY OF YOU COOK AN EGG IN TEFLON, IN A TEFLON COOKWARE, YOU'RE EATING PFAS.
IF HAVE ANYONE HERE EVER, UM, DONE POPCORN IN YOUR MICROWAVE, THE PAPER THAT COMES WITH THE POPCORN HAS PFAS IN IT.
SO WHEN YOU EAT THE POPCORN, YOU'RE EATING PFAS.
IT'S IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR, IT'S MANMADE CHEMICALS AND IT'S JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE.
AND, UH, BUT THE WATER, THERE IS NOTHING UNSAFE ABOUT THE WATER HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, EVEN IF YOU'RE SCARED OF BFAS.
SO JUST WANT TO KIND OF REASSURE EVERYONE ON THAT.
UH, ONE OTHER THING, THIS LAST WEEK I DID SPEND MOST OF THE WEEK IN, UH, WASHINGTON, DC I WAS BACK THERE FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS.
I WAS REPRESENTING SANDAG, AND I'LL BE MAKING MY 1234 REPORT TO THEM.
BUT I WILL JUST, JUST QUICKLY FOR, UH, BECAUSE IT DEALT WITH A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES, JUST TELL YOU, IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING TIME IN THAT, UH, PEOPLE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, REALLY DON'T WANT TO TALK, UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BASICALLY TALKING TO SOMEONE AT MID-LEVEL OR LOWER LEVEL AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, AND THEY DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE 'CAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW'S GONNA BRING.
THINGS ARE CHANGING SO RAPIDLY.
SO IT WAS, UH, IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THAT STANDPOINT GET TO GET, DID GET TO TALK TO A LOT OF AGENCIES, GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON, UH, LOCAL ISSUES AND, AND HOW, UH, DIFFERENT THINGS ARE GONNA AFFECT US AND ALSO DEALING WITH ALL OF OUR, UH, OUR LEGISLATORS ALSO.
AND SO A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH THEM, BUT I WILL BE MAKING MY 1234 REPORT, UH, TO SANDAG SINCE THEY'RE THE ONES PAYING FOR THAT ONE.
[8. CONSENT CALENDAR]
WITH THAT WE GO INTO CONSENT CALENDARS.THIS IS EIGHT ONE THROUGH EIGHT 11, AND I DO HAVE SPEAKERS ON 8 3, 6, 10, AND 11.
IT LOOKS LIKE 3, 6, 10, AND 11.
IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF CONSENT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND NOT SHOWING UP THEIR MOTIONS IN SECOND RIGHT, MAYOR? HUH? OKAY.
[8.3 Amendment to the Lease Agreement with New Cingular Wireless Extending the Term to December 14, 2025.]
TO EIGHT THREE.THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH NEW, UH, SINGULAR WIRELESS EXTENDING THE TERM TO DECEMBER 14TH, 2025.
AND, UH, THOMAS REICH, UH, I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING THE NATIONAL CITY'S RECEIVING $84,658 A YEAR, AND THAT'S BEEN FOR FIVE YEARS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN ALL THE SAME.
SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL.
I MEAN, INFLATION, WHAT IS THEIR, WHAT IS THEIR BILL SCHEDULE? WHAT ARE THEY CHARGING THE PEOPLE? WE SHOULD GET A, WE SHOULD GET THE, WE SHOULD GET A RAISE.
WHAT THEY'VE WITH, WITH, SAME WITH, WE SHOULD GET THE SAME RAISE THAT THEY RAISED THAT.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT.
THIS EXTENSION IS ONLY JUST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR, JUST THROUGH DECEMBER THE 14TH.
[01:05:01]
IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM EXTENSION.SO WITH THAT, WHAT IS PLEASURE? MOVE TO APPROVE.
AND SEEING NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[8.6 Semi-Annual Report — Boards, Commissions, and Committees Attendance Report — Includes Third and Fourth Quarters of Calendar Year 2024]
EIGHT SIX IS A SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT BOARDS, COMMISSIONERS, AND COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT.THIS IS FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS OF THE CALENDAR, YEAR 24.
IT WASN'T BEFORE THE ONE HOUR, BUT I'VE BEEN HERE.
SO WE HAVE ATTENDANCE REPORT CARDS FOR EVERYBODY.
SO THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD IS PRETTY GOOD.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD IS EVEN BETTER.
I'M GLAD TO SEE WELLINGTON JOINED AFTER ALL.
AND THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE RELATIONS COMMITTEE'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD LOOKS LIKE A HOT MESS THAT NEEDS FIXING BECAUSE WE HAVE MIA VICE CHAIR, DANIEL, MARISA, AND ROSEMARY.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK A VICE CHAIR SHOULD BE ABSENT VERY MUCH.
UH, THE HOUSING ADVISOR COMMITTEE'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD GETS AN A, BUT BARRELL NEEDS TO HURRY UP ON THAT OVERDUE MANDATORY TRAINING AND THE PARK RECREATION AND SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE'S.
ATTENDANCE RECORD IS NOT BAD, BUT NORA, DANIEL, AND JESUS ARE OVERDUE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD IS DECENT.
THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD PASSES AND THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE'S ATTENDANCE REPORT CARD COULD USE SOME SHAPING UP.
UM, SO OVERALL, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR ATTENDANCE BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO INSPIRE SOME FUTURE COMMENTS AT THE NEXT SANDAG MEETING.
WHAT IS THE, UH, PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE GOT A YAMANI FOR A MOTION AND WE'LL LEAVE IT FOR A SECOND.
CAN WE GO, IS IT OKAY THAT WAY? YEAH.
UH, SO NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[8.10 Warrant Register #24 for the Period of 12/06/24 through 12/12/24 in the Amount of $1,351,770,.87]
GO TO EIGHT 10.THIS IS WARRANT REGISTRY NUMBER 24.
AND FOR THAT WE HAVE THOMAS REICH.
I'M JUST POINTING OUT SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT I SAW ON WARRANT REGISTER.
THERE WAS IN ANSON AND ADVISORY MANAGEMENT, INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION FOR 29,000 AND 18,040 6,000 AND WOODRUFF'S SMART WHERE TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY, FORTY SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY IN FOR ALLSTATE FIREFIGHTING, TURNOUT, BOOTS AND HOODS, $40,000.
AND THE DEAN GAZO ROAST RESTI 1600 AND 12,247.
I'D LAST ALL, UH, LIKE TO NOTE THAT TED GOTCHU SUBMITTED AN SCRIBE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
WITH THAT, WHAT IS THE, UH, COUNCIL'S PLEASURE, MOVE TO APPROVE? AND SECOND CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE SECOND MOTION AND SECOND.
ALRIGHT, SO NO DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[8.11 Warrant Register #25 for the Period of 12/13/24 through 12/19/24 in the Amount of $4,331,727.38]
GO ON TO EIGHT 11.AND THIS IS WARRANT REGISTRY NUMBER, UH, 25.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S START WITH THE SERIOUS ONE FIRST.
I BELIEVE, AND I DID WANNA SAY ABOUT THAT CASE, IT INVOLVED A GUY ARMED WITH A MACHETE AND IT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2021, THE YEAR THE MEDIA STIRRED THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE JUST EVIL.
THAT BEING SAID, BETTER TRAINING IS NEEDED EVERYWHERE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE PEOPLE SERVING IN THE ROLE AS POLICE OFFICERS TO BE TAUGHT THAT THEIR FELLOW, FELLOW PEOPLE SLASH RESIDENTS ARE NOT ENEMIES.
UM, BECAUSE NO ONE'S LIFE IS MORE WORTH MORE THAN ANOTHER'S, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND LAST MINUTE SPLIT
[01:10:01]
DECISIONS ARE CRITICAL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT ALWAYS OR EVEN OFTEN BE SHOOT TO KILL.AND SOMETHING THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT, UH, THAT SETTLEMENT IS IT SAID IN THERE THAT IT WAS VERSUS NATIONAL CITY, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.
UM, BUT THEN IT SAID NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AN UNKNOWN ENTITY.
AND THAT'S THE FIRST I'VE EVER SEEN THAT.
'CAUSE CITIES ARE DEFINITELY CORPORATIONS, BUT HOW DID A POLICE DEPARTMENT BECOME AN UNKNOWN ENTITY IN LAW? THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.
NOW LET'S GET TO MAYBE, MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT $8,213 FOR YES.
A BANNER FOR DEES D THREE BANNER.
SO AS LONG AS EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE IN A TEMPORARY SEAT, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE OTHER HALF OF THE TOTAL $16,000 BANNER, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
SO IS THIS GONNA CROSS OVER HIGHLAND FOR THE, FOR THAT PRICE? IS IT GONNA COVER THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE AVENUE? MAYBE.
MAYBE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.
WILL IT COME WITH A PLAYGROUND? THREE STREETS,
AND EVEN IF I JUST JACKED IT UP FOR INFLATION, I MIGHT SPEND 3000, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT 16,000.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 10,000 FOR A BANNER, BUT MAYBE IF IT HAS YOUR FACE, MAYBE IF IT HAS TURKEYS ON IT, I COULD SUPPORT IT.
YOU KNOW, I'LL THINK ABOUT IT.
WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE ON 11 ONE OR EIGHT 11? THIS
SECOND
ALRIGHT, THAT IS THROUGH THE CHAIR.
UM, YOU KNOW, MEAN, I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND OUR STAFF, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, MOST ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, THE OFFICE OF, UH, SIT, UH, ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS REALLY, IF YOU WILL LOOK AT IT, DID A LOT OF WORK.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ARE, UM, IN, IN, UH, PROPER ORDER, UM, DURING THE RAIN, UM, I HAVE, UM, REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS THAT THERE ARE NO, UM, YOU MEAN DAMAGE OR, OR, OR, UM, NOT ANY OF OUR RESIDENTS WERE PUT IN DANGER.
UM, I HAD DRIVEN WITH, UM, SERGEANT ANTHONY SABALA THAT MORNING, UH, WENT AROUND, UH, MY DISTRICT THREE, MISS TRUTH AND, UM, OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND, UH, MOST ESPECIALLY THOSE PLACES, UM, THAT WERE IMPACTED THEN.
AND, UM, IT WAS CLEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT, IT'S, IT WASN'T RAINING.
I'M GLAD THAT RAIN STOPPED THAT NIGHT.
UM, BUT, UM, JUST BECAUSE WE WERE READY, UM, STEVE MANGANELLO, OUR CITY ENGINEER AND, UM, MARTHA JUAREZ, OUR, UM, ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THROUGH THIS LEADERSHIP, OF COURSE THAT WAS OUR DIRECTION, UM, THAT WAS, UM, DIRECTED TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY LISTENED AND, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY IS IN TIP TOP SHAPE WHEN THAT RAIN CAME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AT THIS POINT WE GO ON INTO, UH, CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
[9.1 Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending National City Municipal Code Chapter 2.75 Adjusting Campaign Contribution Limits.]
AND NINE ONE.THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.75, ADJUSTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.
UH, MAYOR MORRISON, VICE MAYOR, BUSH COUNCIL MEMBER, STAFF, AND PUBLIC.
UH, THE ITEM 9.1 IS ADJUSTING THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALIGN WITH THE CPI.
AND, AND THIS IS THE SECOND RATING.
UH, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL REPORT.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE GONNA ADOPT THIS CITY CLERK.
THIS WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE, AT THIS POINT, THIS WOULD BE THE, YEAH.
THE SECOND READING THEN TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
AND THE ORDINANCE IS A PERFUNCTIONARY ORDINANCE THAT BY STATE LAW, IT SAYS IT HAS TO GO BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
AND THAT'S WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE AND WITHIN STATE.
AND SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, OR DO WE NO MORE OPEN HERE.
WELL, WE NEED TO, WE NEED, NEED TO OPEN, WE NEED TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO AT THIS POINT WE'RE GONNA REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY SPEAKERS SAID
[01:15:01]
IT ALREADY, MR. CHAIRMAN? NO, WE DO.UH, WITH THAT, CAN WE CLOSE? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MOVE TO CLOSE MR. CHAIR.
WITH THAT, THIS IS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, NEXT IF WE COULD, UH, HAVE A MOTION IF THERE'S A SO INCLINED FOR, DO I ADOPT MR. CHAIR? SECOND.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT YOU.
PLEASE PUSH BUTTONS IN ON THE MOTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE 'EM IN THERE? HMM.
OKAY, SO THIS IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO FOR ADOPTION OR THE ORDINANCE.
[9.2 Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of National City, California, Establishing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.]
WE GO TO NINE TWO.THIS IS SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, UH, ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND READING OF THE ADOPTION, UM, FOR THE, UH, ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OR WAIT A MINUTE, I, I'M OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I DON'T NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.
WE'LL OPEN THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
SORRY I MISSED THE FIRST READING.
UM, BUT I GUESS RIGHT ON THE 10% HIGHER INCREASE, DIDN'T I? HOW, HOW DID I KNOW THAT? I MEAN, MAYBE.
'CAUSE THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN EVERY CITY.
UM, I WANNA THANK RON FOR THE HISTORY OF COMPENSATION FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
GOING BACK, I THINK TO THE 18 HUNDREDS
I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT MARCUS IS ALSO CONSISTENT ON ISSUES LIKE COMPENSATION.
I THINK WE HAVE THAT IN COMMON.
AND, UH, YOUR ARGUMENTS WERE VERY FAIR, UH, INCLUDING JOSE'S ARGUMENTS WERE ALSO VERY FAIR.
I LIKE THAT YOU'RE CONSISTENT ON YOUR VOTE ON THAT.
AND I AGREE THAT GOOD PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM MAKING PUBLIC SERVICE WORK.
UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE SAN MARCOS MARIS COMPENSATION IN THE CHART THAT I FOUND SHOCKINGLY LOW.
I WOULD ACTUALLY ADVOCATE TO INCREASE THAT ONE IF I WAS GOING TO SAN MARCOS, MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE DISTANT FUTURE.
IT'S FUNNY HOW EASY IT IS TO MAKE THE PRO MORE MONEY ARGUMENT FROM THE COUNCIL SIDE AND THEN ALSO TO MAKE THE ANTI MORE MONEY ARGUMENT FROM THIS SIDE OF THINGS.
UM, ALTHOUGH I COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT FROM ME TO GET SOME MONEY TOO, I COULD DO THAT
I DO WANNA SEE AUTO, UH, AUTOMOBILE AND PHONE ALLOWANCES WITH A CAP FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, 'CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN HIGH COMPENSATION FOR VOLUNTEER JOBS OR USING TAX DOLLARS FOR QUESTIONABLE SPENDING OR UNETHICAL SPENDING OR FRIVOLOUS SPENDING OF ANY KIND.
UH, BUT I DO BELIEVE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO UNNECESSARILY FOOT PRIVATE, UH, SORRY, PRIVATELY FOOT, UH, BILLS THAT ARE RELATED SPECIFICALLY FOR CITY BUSINESS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S DEFINITELY A COMPROMISE I CAN, I CAN WORK WITH.
ALRIGHT MAYOR, WE DID HAVE ONE SCRIBE COMMENT FROM MR. KACHA AT WAS MR. GOCHA.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, COUNSEL, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? THIS IS FOR ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND A SECOND BE NO DISCUSSION.
UH, MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ VOTING NO.
[10.1 Amending City Council Policy No. 104 Rules of Procedure and Order for City Council Meetings]
OKAY.THAT TAKES US INTO, UH, STAFF REPORTS.
THIS IS AMENDING CITY COUNCIL POLICY 1 0 4, RULES AND PROCEDURES AND ORDER FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND CITY CLERK.
I THINK THIS IS COMING FROM YOU.
THIS IS THE CITY CLERK NIGHT TONIGHT.
UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, STAFF AND PUBLIC ITEM 10.1, AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY NUMBER 1 0 4 RULES OF P PROCEDURE AND ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AS PER CITY COUNCIL, POLICY NUMBER 1 0 1, THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHICH THE CITY
[01:20:01]
CLERK AND CITY STAFF COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER.THE POLICY ALSO ALLOWS FOR POLICIES TO BE UPDATED AS NECESSARY.
THE CITY CLERK HAS REVIEWED AND IS PRESENTING FOR CONSIDERATION AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
POLICY NUMBER 1 0 4, RULES OF PROCEDURES AND ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, SPECIFICALLY SECTION SIX, WHICH IS PUBLIC MEETING COMMUNICATIONS SECTION EIGHT, UH, AGENDA PROCESS.
AND SECTION 14, PROCEDURAL MANNERS MATTERS.
UH, SECTION SIX, THAT'S THE PUBLIC MEETING COMMUNICATION.
UM, AND REALLY IT FOCUSES ON THE OPTION TO USE ZOOM, UM, AS, UH, THAT WAS PROVIDED DURING COVID FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO PARTIC, UH, THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH AT THE TIME WERE HELD EXCLUSIVELY REMOTE AND AVAILABLE ON ZOOM.
FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY CHOSE TO CONTINUE THE PRACTICE TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT VIA ZOOM AS AN OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETINGS.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN HOLDING IN-PERSON MEETINGS, UH, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION HAS RETURNED TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
ALL CITIES WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAVE REMOVED THE OPTION TO CALL IN OR ZOOM INTO PUBLIC MEETINGS TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AS THE BEST PRACTICE AND TO PROVIDE GREATER EFFICIENCIES DURING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE OPTION TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT VIA ZOOM BE REMOVED FROM THE POLICY AND PRACTICE DURING ALL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, INCLUDING BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
ZOOM WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTANTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON FOR HER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF TO USE THE OPTION TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS REMOTELY AS PER THE BROWN ACT.
THE NEXT SECTION IS THE TRANSLATION SERVICES.
UH, THE, UM, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO AMEND THIS PARAGRAPH TO ALIGN THE POLICY WITH CURRENT PRACTICE, WHICH IS LIVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES IN SPANISH, INCLUDING THE LIVE VIDEO.
UM, THOSE ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM DURING OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE CHAMBER, UH, INCLUDING, UM, THEY CAN ALSO USE HEADSETS IF, UH, IF NECESSARY.
UM, THE NEXT SECTION IS WI IS WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, THIS WOULD AMEND THE SECTION TO REFLECT CURRENT PRACTICES.
ONE HOUR INSTEAD OF FOUR HOURS, WHICH THE, UH, COUNCIL CHANGE MADE THAT CHANGE LAST YEAR.
THIS WOULD JUST BE, UH, CAUGHT UP, UH, INCLUDING IT INTO THE POLICY.
AND THEN, UM, SECTION EIGHT IS THE AGENDA PROCESS.
AND THAT'S JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE CITY CLERK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE AGENDA PACK AND ITS POSTINGS.
IT WAS, UM, LISTED IN THE POLICY AS THE CITY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THEN, UM, WE HAVE THE COPIES OF RECORDINGS, WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO ELIMINATE THIS, UH, PARAGRAPH.
WE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT ANYMORE AS FAR AS LIKE CDS AND DVDS, THAT'S KIND, KIND OF AN OUTDATED PRACTICE.
EVERYTHING'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE LIVE.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE VIDEO RECORDINGS AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
SO THOSE ARE ARCHIVED AND THEY'RE THERE FOR, UH, YEARS.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY, UM, REPORT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE.
ANYONE CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS? WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ONE.
SO ARE THEY ALL ON ZOOM?
UH, SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GO TO SPEAKERS AND LET'S GO TO THE ZOOM SPEAKERS FIRST.
UM, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE VALUE OF ALLOWING VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH ENHANCES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY.
FIRST, IT PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR RESIDENTS WHO MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY ATTENDING MEETINGS DUE TO HEALTH, MOBILITY OR SCHEDULING ISSUES.
VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION FOSTERS INCLUSIVENESS, ENCOURAGE DIVERSE VOICES, WHICH CAN BE HEARD, PARTICULARLY FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
MOREOVER, ZOOM ENABLES REAL-TIME INTERACTION, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH CITY COUNCILS MEMBERS.
THIS IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK CAN LOOP TO LEAD FROM MORE RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND CONCERNS.
[01:25:01]
COMMENT VIA, UM, ZOOM CAN ALSO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AS IT ALLOWS FOR MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF TIME AND RESOURCES.ADDITIONALLY, IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID 1919 PANDEMIC, MANY CITIZENS HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
MAINTAINING THIS OPTION REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO MODERN GOVERNANCE LE UM, AND IT'S LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT ENCOURAGES MORE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A BETTER INFORMED DECISION MAKING.
IN SUMMARY, ALLOWING VIRTUAL COMMENTS IS A VITAL STEP FORWARD, FOSTERING A MORE ENGAGED, INCLUSIVE, AND RESPONSIVE CITY COUNCIL, ENSURING THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL GOVERNANCE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AT CITY COUNCIL THAT MY HUSBAND GREW UP IN NATIONAL CITY.
AND SO WE TALK OFTEN ABOUT THOSE VERY HAPPY MEMORIES.
AND WE TALK TOGETHER ABOUT SHARING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S HAD AN INJURY WHICH MAKES COMING TO NATIONAL CITY IN PERSON IMPOSSIBLE.
AND ACTUALLY HE'S ASLEEP RIGHT NOW DUE TO THAT.
AND, UH, WE WERE TALK, UH, TALKING ABOUT IT THIS MORNING AND JUST KIND OF COMMISERATING ABOUT THAT LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BACK AND FORTH.
AND FOR ME TO SHARE IN YOUR, IN HIS BE HAPPY THINGS THAT HE CARES ABOUT.
AND I SUSPECT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE OLDER AND COMING INTO CITY COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE JUST VERY DIFFICULT.
I KNOW YOU HAD KIND OF A, A SENSE OF THE CITIES ARE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION I HEARD FROM A FRIEND OF MINE THAT THE SMALLEST CITY HERE IN THE COUNTY, UH, DELMAR CITY COUNCIL, STILL LETS PEOPLE ZOOM ON IN.
IT'S MORE OF A COMMITMENT TO HOW MUCH HEARING FROM YOUR CITIZENS MATTER.
SO I LEND MY SUPPORT TO STAYING WITH ZOOM.
I JUST WANNA QUICKLY MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MEETINGS.
VIRTUALLY, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE IF YOU CHOOSE TO ELIMINATE THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THE WORLD IS SO MUCH MORE DIGITAL NOW, AND IT WAS NICE LEAP INTO MODERN TIMES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ZOOM IN FOR PARTICIPATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE POINT OF ADDING THAT WAS DURING COVID WHEN EVERYTHING WAS DONE VIRTUALLY.
BUT IT WAS SMART TO KEEP IT OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE MORE EASILY.
EVEN ONCE MEETINGS WERE BACK IN PERSON.
LIMITING ACCESS TO THOSE WHO ARE ONLY ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON WOULD BE A BLOW TO EQUITY AMONG THOSE WHO WANNA BE INVOLVED.
IT WOULD BE QUITE PROHIBITIVE FOR PEOPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN LIKE MYSELF TO RAISE OUR VOICES OF CONCERN IF IT WERE REQUIRED TO BE IN PERSON.
I WANT MY VOICE, THE VOICE OF A YOUNG MOTHER TO BE HEARD.
I HAVE TWO LITTLE BOYS, AGES SEVEN AND FOUR, AND A 1-YEAR-OLD BABY GIRL.
AND THIS TIME OF NIGHT IS RIGHT DURING THEIR BEDTIME BATHS, ALL THAT.
IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO JUMP ON ZOOM AND BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN BETWEEN ALL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN TO DRIVE IN AND SIT THERE FOR A WHILE WAITING FOR MY TURN TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
SO I DON'T HAVE A TON OF FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY PARENT OR THE ONLY WORKING PARENT WHO WOULD BE LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION IF VIRTUAL COMMENTS ARE NOT TAKEN.
AND I DON'T PERSONALLY WANT OR NEED TO SPEAK ON EVERY SINGLE AGENDA ITEM.
BUT WHEN ISSUES COME UP THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY, IF I WANNA SPEAK OUT, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT I CAN PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY.
OTHERWISE, MY VOICE WOULD BE LOST.
AND HOW MANY OTHERS WILL ALSO BE LOST? WHO WILL YOU BE HEARING FROM? I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE MY VALUES AND CONTRIBUTE MY VOICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LITTLE PEOPLE AT HOME WHO DEPEND ON US FULL TIME AND DO NOT CHOOSE TO REMOVE OUR ACCESS TO VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO REEVALUATE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR REMOVAL OF USING ZOOM AS MEANS FOR DELIVERING PUBLIC COMMENT.
IRONICALLY, I'M USING ZOOM OUT OF NECESSITY.
I WORK OFF THE COAST OF, UH, SAN DIEGO ON THE NAVY OWNED ISLANDS OF SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, UH, WHERE I'M REQUIRED TO STAY ON THE ISLAND DURING MY WORK WEEK.
IT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR ME TO JUST FLY BACK AND FORTH ANYTIME I WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CIVIC PROCESS.
[01:30:02]
NATIONAL CITY HAS A STRONG PRESENCE OF ENLISTED RESIDENTS DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO NAVAL BASED SAN DIEGO.AND IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO REMOVE THIS OPTION FOR DEPLOYED INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY WISH TO COMMENT ON CONCERNS IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE THEY'RE AWAY ON DUTY.
UH, YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PERMITTED TO TELECONFERENCE INTO MEETINGS WITH JUST CAUSE.
WHAT ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ALSO HAVE, JUST CAUSE WE TOO HAVE CHILDREN AND ELDERLY TO CARE FOR.
WE TOO CAN HAVE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY NEEDS.
AND WE TOO SOMETIMES TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS LIKE MYSELF.
WHILE THE PANDEMIC SPURRED THE WIDESPREAD USE OF ZOOM.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE SOLE REASON TO OFFER TO OFFER IT AS A SERVICE.
UM, WHILE OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY REMOVED THE OPTION, WE DON'T NEED TO JOIN THAT STATUS QUO.
I DON'T SEE THE POINT GIVEN THE DIGITAL AGE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN NOW.
UM, THE COMMENT JUST MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR WIDESPREAD FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE IN-PERSON NUMBERS ARE TO PRE COVID LEVELS, LOOK AT THE ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT COMMUNITY PART PARTICIPATION THAT VIRTUAL COMMENT ACCOMMODATES, PLEASE MAINTAIN THIS VALUABLE ACCESS SO THAT ALL VIEWS CAN BE HEARD.
IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD FOR MANY OF US TO APPEAR IN PERSON FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD A VARIETY OF, OF REASONS.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO ASK YOU, PLEASE DON'T DENY US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS AND PLEASE MAINTAIN VIRTUAL COMMENT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR ZOOM COMMENTS.
UH, WE DID HAVE TWO SCRIBE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
ONE FROM, UM, MANUEL ANDRETTI AND ONE FROM TED GOT SHOT.
UH, WE DO HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
UM, UH, DOYLE MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY TRUTH HEREBY, UH, DOYLE MORRISON, FOLLOWED BY TRUTH.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME, SORRY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BEING TOO TALL.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
I JUST HEARD MY DAUGHTER HAD SOME COMPELLING, UM, INFORMATION, UM, AND REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T, UH, ABOLISH THIS.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M SPEAKING ON RULES OF THE, UH, UH, PROCEDURES AND ORDER AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
POLICY 1 0 4 SPECIFYING LIMIT SPECIFICALLY LIMITING THE ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE ENGAGEMENT BY PREVENTING ONLINE COMMENTS.
SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY WORK FAR AWAY, HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES, OR HAVE LIMITED TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE IT TO, TO THE MEETING IN PERSON.
ALTHOUGH I FEEL THE ART PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.
AND, UM, THE PRESENTATION SEEMS TO ALWAYS GO OVER THE TIME LIMIT ALLOWED.
YET THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE TIMED WITH PRECISION.
THIS APPEARS THAT THE PUB, UH, TO THE PUBLIC, THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO LIMIT THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
EVEN THOUGH THE COUNCIL CAN ZOOM IN, PLEASE VOTE AGAINST REMOVING ONLINE COMMENTS FOR MANY OF THE REASONS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
TRUTH FOLLOWED BY THOMAS REICH.
BOTH AUDIO AND VISUAL APPEARANCE VIA REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLARIFIED A LONG TIME AGO.
NOW, AS FAR AS ELIMINATING, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA ZOOM, THAT'S JUST NOT COOL.
UH, THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, DIFFERENT DIFFERENT SIDE.
UM, BECAUSE SPEAKING OF, UH, WHAT IS THAT? WHAT DID I WRITE? WHAT DID I, OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY.
UH, MY PREDICTION OF THE FUTURE IS THAT WHERE WE'RE INEVITABLY GONNA GO IS MORE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATION.
SO MAYBE ALL OF YOU DISAGREE, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE IN THE FUTURE, FUTURE COUNCILS ARE GONNA SEE THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FROM ANYWHERE.
AND YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY NEGATIVE THINGS.
BUT I DON'T SEE IT GOING THAT WAY IN, IN THE LONG RUN.
AND I KNOW, I KNOW SOME TYRES DISAGREE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.
AND, UH, IT'S NOT TRUE THAT OF THE CLAIM THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY.
UH, CITY OF SAN DIEGO, AS FAR AS I KNOW.
'CAUSE I QUIT THOSE MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE HORRIBLE.
YOU CAN STILL CALL IN, UH, MTS, YOU CAN CALL IN WHEN THEY GET THE WEBINAR ID CORRECT.
[01:35:01]
YOU CAN ZOOM IN, YOU CAN CALL IN.UH, NOT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT THE OTHER COMMITTEE.
SOMETIMES I'LL CALL IN AND THE COUNTY STILL LET YOU CALL IN.
NOW, YOU CAN ALSO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT SOME MEETINGS ARE VERY NECESSARY TO HAVE THAT OPTION.
BUT WHEN YOUR MEETING STARTS AT 6:00 PM AND IT GOES TO 10 30, 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, NOBODY WANTS TO STAY HERE THAT LONG.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, YEAH, JUST CAUSE FOR THE PUBLIC, EVERYBODY ELSE, LIFE, CHILDREN, WORK DISABILITIES, INJURIES, UH, I'VE HAD THE MOMENTS WHERE I'VE BEEN INJURED AND I COULD NOT GO TO A MEETING THAT HAPPENED.
AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT AT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
I SAID, I CAN'T EVEN COME TODAY IF I WANTED TO.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING UP FOR ZOOM.
IT'S ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN CERTAIN VOICES.
THOMAS REICH BE FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA MU GAN.
I AM FOR ZOOM CONFERENCING FOR THE, FOR THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC, FOR THE, FOR THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, FOR THE, UH, WHAT IS WHAT I WANT CONSENT.
NOT CONSENT, BUT THE PUBLIC PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND THEY WANNA, THESE I READ THAT.
THEY, I READ THAT THEY, THE OTHER COUNCILS HAVE DONE AWAY WITH IT.
WANT TO DO, DONE, DONE, DONE AWAY WITH THE ZOOM, BECAUSE THE COVID IS OVER.
SO, BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THE ZOOM.
PATRICIA MONAN FROM, UH, ALLIANCE SAN DIEGO, REGIONAL POLICY MANAGER.
I DIDN'T REALIZE I SHOULD HAVE GONE OUTSIDE AND CALLED IN.
BUT
WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION IN THE CIVIC PROCESS, NOT LIMIT IT.
WHILE THE COVID PANDEMIC FORCED US TO FIND NEW WAYS TO CONNECT AND PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS VIRTUALLY THE EXPANSION OF ACCESSIBILITY TO THE CIVIC PROCESS WAS WELCOMED BY THE PUBLIC.
THE NEED FOR VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION HAS NOT ENDED WITH THE PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE GROUPS OF CONSTITUENTS SUCH AS PARENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND MANY MORE THAT WERE LISTED ALREADY THIS EVENING.
UM, ALL THESE CONSTITUENTS ARE WELL SERVED BY VIRTUAL AND REMOTE ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
THE CITY STAFF HAS INDICATED THAT ALL CITIES WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAVE REMOVED THE OPTION TO CALL IN OR ZOOM INTO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, AS TRUTH MENTIONED, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, THE LARGEST CITY IN THE, THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE CONTINUED VIRTUAL AND REMOTE OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO OFFER VIRTUAL AND CALL IN OPTIONS AND TO ALLOW FOR EXPANDED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE CIVIC PROCESS.
AND, UH, SO FROM THERE WE CAN DO DELIBERATIONS ON THIS.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, AND I ASKED OUR CITY ATTORNEY ALREADY ON YOUR, UH, YOUR ITEM THREE, WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT THE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THAT CURRENTLY, OUR, OUR, UH, WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN DOWN IS IT'S FOUR HOURS AND WE HAVE VOTED TO DO TO ONE HOUR.
BUT I ASKED HIM, I SAID, OKAY, IF THAT BRINGS UP THE SUBJECT, CAN WE STILL DEAL WITH THAT TONIGHT WITH CHANGING HOURS? AND I WAS TOLD WE CAN, HERE'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE.
SO WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE, THEY HAVE THE AGENDA ALL WEEKEND.
YOU CAN PUT IN A WRITTEN COMMENT ANYTIME.
BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING, BEFORE WE GET THOSE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING WE'RE IN CLOSE SESSION.
SO LIKE TONIGHT, THE ONLY TIME I HAD TO READ ALL THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO USE TO HELP MAKE OUR DECISION WAS WHEN PEOPLE WERE MAKING THE NON-AG AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND I HAD TO BE, AND OF COURSE, I WANNA GET ONTO YOU.
WELL, I WAS LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN SEE 'EM IS WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE AND THEN NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
SO I REALLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT ONE HOUR, THAT ONE HOUR SITUATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ALL WEEKEND TO PUT IN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND SO TO WAIT TILL THE VERY LAST SECOND TO PUT IN A PUBLIC COMMENT IS GREAT FOR PROCRASTINATORS, WHICH I'M ONE, BUT, BUT IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE GOOD GOOD GOVERNANCE.
AS, AS FAR AS HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TIME? YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM GOING BACK
[01:40:01]
TO WHAT THEY HAD BEFORE, WHICH WAS FOUR HOURS, WHICH IS NORMALLY BE TWO O'CLOCK.AND SO YOU'VE GOT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE WHOLE WEEKEND AND, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE PUT THIS THING OUT ON THURSDAY, WHICH IS LONGER THAN WE HAVE TO, BUT SINCE WE'RE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, YOU GET AN EXTRA DAY OUT OF THE WHOLE THING.
SO YOU'RE SAYING, UM, UH, YOU WOULD RATHER SEE INSTEAD OF ONE HOUR BEFORE HOURS? YEAH.
LEAVE IT, WE'LL LEAVE IT WHAT IT WAS BEFORE ON THE WRITTEN COMMENT.
BECAUSE AS I SAY, 'CAUSE OTHERWISE WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE THESE THINGS, OR WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT 'EM BLINDLY WHILE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION IN THE MEETING.
AND THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS, THAT WAS JUST A THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE ON THAT ONE.
UH, BUT, UH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON, ON THE OVERALL CONCEPT.
I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY GOOD, GOOD POINT.
AND I THINK I WOULD BE OPEN TO, UH, THAT DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE.
UM, ALTHOUGH I DO FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION THAT COMES TO US HAS A LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT.
MY BIGGEST ONE IS, YOU KNOW, NOT ALLOWING FOR, UM, PARTICIPATION OVER ZOOM, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
UM, EE EVEN IF WE MAYBE ADJUST IT INSTEAD OF THREE MINUTES TO TWO MINUTES OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
SOMETIMES WE ARE HERE TILL, YOU KNOW, 10, 11 O'CLOCK AND WE'RE PROBABLY NOT MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS WHEN WE START A CLOSED SESSION AT FOUR MM-HMM
SO, UM, SO I DO THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOME ROOM FOR DISCUSSION THERE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO BE, UM, UM, UH, AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TO THEM.
SO I, I, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY I DISAGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.
ALSO, UM, IN THE RECOMMENDATION ITSELF, LET ME TRY TO FIND THE ACTUAL, UM, THE ACTUAL LOCATION.
UH, IT'S ON, UM, AMENDMENT C ONE, UH, THE AMENDMENT C ONE STATES THAT TRANSLATION SERVICES, SIMULTANEOUS SPANISH INTERPRETING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THROUGH THE USE OF HEADSETS.
THAT'S CURRENTLY THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING AS A COUNCIL.
AND, UH, WE HAD BEEN FOLLOWING IT PRE COVID.
I DO REMEMBER COMING INTO MEETINGS AND THERE WAS A LIVE TRANSLATOR HERE WITH, UH, HEADSETS, BUT COVID HAPPENED POST COVID.
WE JUST DIDN'T GET BACK TO THAT.
AND I THINK, UM, THERE'S BEEN INSTANCES WHERE SPANISH SPEAKERS HAVE COME IN TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND THEY'VE HAD TO GO TO THE NEXT ROOM.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR ME RUSHING TO GO TO THE RESTROOM AND PASSING BY THERE, NONE OF US WOULD KNOW THAT THEY WERE THERE.
AND I DO THINK IT'S, AGAIN, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGAGEMENT.
IF THERE'S INDIVIDUALS THAT SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND WE ARE PROVIDING TRANSLATION SERVICES, THEY SHOULD BE IN THE ROOM LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND, AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S A ISSUE OF, OF EQUITY.
UM, SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I, I WOULD BE, UH, I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS RECOMMENDATION, UH, BUT I AM OPEN TO IN THE FUTURE, BRINGING IT UP WITH SPECIFIC DETAILS.
I MENTIONED ONE OF 'EM BEING THE, UM, UH, OH, WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, MAYOR? AGAIN? IT WAS THE ON THE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
YEAH, ON THE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
I MEAN, WE, WE CAN'T READ 'EM UNLESS WE'RE ON OUR PHONES.
SO I DO THINK THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET EARLY ENOUGH.
BUT OVERALL, I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, ALLOW FOR MORE PARTICIPATION AND BE MORE, UH, OPEN TO THAT.
UH, I THINK CITY CLERK HAD LOOKED LIKE AS IF SHE WAS WANTING TO BUST OUT WITH SOME COMMENT.
SO, UH, REGARDING THE IN-PERSON TRANSLATOR THAT WE USED TO HAVE HERE, SHE WOULD ACTUALLY SIT IN ONE OF THE SMALLER CONS CONFERENCE ROOMS AND RELAY THE INFORMATION VIA THE HEADSETS.
UM, THAT PERSON IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TRY AND FIND, UH, A TRANSLATOR.
WE DO HAVE THE TRANSLATOR THAT IS ONLINE NOW.
IF SOMEONE WANTED TO SIT IN THE CHAMBER WITH THEIR OWN, LIKE EARBUDS ON AND THEIR PHONE, THEY COULD DO THAT AT ANY TIME.
SO, AND THEY DO GET THE LIVE TRANSLATION AT THAT TIME, AND THEY'RE HERE IN THE ROOM.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HERE HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF THAT, BUT, UM, SORRY.
MADE AWARE OF WHAT THOUGH? THE, THE TRANSLATION SERVICES HAPPENING LIVE ONLINE.
THAT'S WHAT CARLOS AND LOUISA ARE DOING FOR US.
I DIDN'T, HONESTLY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT EITHER.
UM, ALTHOUGH I WOULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME REGARD, CHALLENGE THAT, 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN FOLKS HERE THAT ARE 70 YEARS OLD AND, YOU KNOW MM-HMM
MAYBE IT WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
UH, MONOLINGUAL SPANISH SPEAKERS GETTING ON THE PHONE FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES WHILE AT THE MEETING, SO MM-HMM
BUT THANK YOU SHELLY FOR THAT INSIGHT.
UM, THOUGHT THAT I, THAT I HAD IS THE TWO THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THAT ARE STILL DOING THE ZOOM CALLS IS CITY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY GO? WELL, THEY'RE THE TWO BIGGEST ONES.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SO WE SHOULD ALL KIND OF BE DOING, HERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
AND I HEARD SOMEONE BACK THERE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
[01:45:01]
WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE TILL 10 30, 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.UH, THEIR MEETINGS ARE DURING THE DAYTIME, THEY'RE DAY LONG MEETINGS DURING THE DAYTIME, AND OURS ARE IN THE EVENING.
MOST ALL, ALL THE SMALL CITIES HAVE THEIRS IN THE EVENINGS.
SO THEREFORE, IF THEIR MEETING, YOU KNOW, GOES PAST THE LUNCHTIME AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE THEIR LUNCH BREAK, THEY COME BACK TO THEIR AFTERNOON SESSION, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT, THEY GOT A DAY LONG TIME TO DEAL WITH.
WE CAN'T GO THAT LONG BECAUSE OUR BRAINS AS HUMANS DON'T WORK PAST ABOUT 10 30 AFTER YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES.
UM, SO IT, IT'S NOT A FAIR COMPARISON WITH WHAT CITY OF SAN DIEGO OR THE COUNTY DOES, BECAUSE I SAY THEY ARE DAYTIME MEETINGS START NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
THEY, THEY GO ON THROUGH THE DAY, OUR START AT SIX O'CLOCK.
BASICALLY ALL CITY COUNCILS DO AFTER.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD PRE OUR PRE-MEETINGS BEFORE, BEFORE THAT.
AND THEN SOME OF US HAVE BEEN AT OUR DAY JOBS DURING THE DAY GETTING TO THIS POINT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LONG A TIME PERIOD TO DEAL WITH.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS, I LOOK OUT HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND I'M SEEING, LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTING THEIR TIME TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I SAY, I, I HATE TO GENERALIZE, BUT I KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT DO CALL IN DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON THEY NEED TO, UH, NEED TO BE DOING ONLINE.
EVERYONE WHO'S SITTING HERE TONIGHT BECAME INCONVENIENT TO BE HERE.
AND THAT I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, IS A BIG PART OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
AND WHEN YOU ACTUALLY INVEST YOURSELF, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH YOUR TIME AND TO BE HERE STILL AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK WHEN WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU COULD BE WATCHING AT HOME ON TV, UH, BUT YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE HERE WATCHING US AND LISTENING TO US, WHETHER IT'S BENEFICIAL OR NOT.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I, I I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO LOOK AT AT THIS.
AND SO, AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE THE, THE CALLINS, A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T GET STARTED BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE CALL INS.
WE DON'T GET STARTED ON OUR SIX O'CLOCK MEETING BASICALLY TILL SEVEN O'CLOCK TO GET PAST THAT PART.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY CUTS DOWN ON, CUTS DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE TIME TO DO THE BUSINESS THAT EVERYONE COMES, COMES HERE TO TAKE PART IN.
SO IT'S, UH, UH, AND SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT THIS THING.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO, TO LOOK AT ALL SIDES AND TO SEE WHAT'S, WHAT'S BEST AND HOW WE, WE DEAL WITH IT.
AND, AND THE ZOOM DEAL WAS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE OF COVID, BECAUSE OF THE DEAL OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE SAID AT THAT TIME, EVERYONE SAID, TIMES HAVE CHANGED, COVID HAS CHANGED THINGS, AND WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT.
WE RESPONDED TO IT, BUT NOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED AGAIN.
AND SO, UH, DO WE NEED TO RESPOND? I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT'S BEFORE US.
UH, REMEMBER, IMANI, I THINK YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
UM, MR. MAYOR, UM, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ACCESS TO CAPITAL, THERE'S ALSO ACCESS FOR INFORMATION.
UM, I AM, UM, THINKING ABOUT THE, THE, UM, THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THIS, UM, RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR CITY CLERK.
UM, AND I HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, THE, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, ZOOM, UM, YOU KNOW, WILL, WILL EXERCISE THEIR 1234 AS WELL.
I THINK IF YOU, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, MY RECOMMENDATION IS GIVE THEM THE ACCESS, PROVIDE THEM THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN RIGHT TO SPEAK.
AND THEN REARRANGE THE AGENDA TO PUT THEM AT THE END.
SO THEN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE ARE NOT LIMITING THEM OR PREVENTING THEM FROM SPEAKING, BUT WE TAKE UPON FIRST THE ITEMS OF THE AGENDA THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN TO THE OPERATIONS OF OUR CITY.
MAYOR, IF I COULD, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS? YES.
AND, AND CITY COUNCIL BACK AT ONE TIME, EVEN HERE IN THIS COUNCIL, UH, THE NON AGENDA ITEMS WERE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO I, I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION OVERALL.
UM, I AGREE WITH, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI IS MAKING THIS POINT, IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY.
BUT I, I DO THINK WE SHOULD HAVE, WE SHOULD ALLOW MORE, UH, ACCESS, UH, NOT LESS.
[01:50:01]
ZOOM OFFERS THAT.AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER CITIES, YOU KNOW, SOME DO, SOME, SOME DON'T, UM, CHOOSE TO DO IT.
AND FOR ME, THAT'S, THAT'S ON THEM.
BECAUSE AT, I KNOW AT AP CD AT MTS, WE ALLOW, UM, ONLINE COMMENTS.
AND I, I ESPECIALLY LIKE, I THINK IT WAS, UH, MS. MORRISON ON THE, ON THE PHONE THAT SAID THAT IF COUNCIL CAN PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, WHY SHOULDN'T THE PUBLIC? AND THAT GOT TO ME.
I WAS LIKE, AH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT IN PRINCIPLE.
SO I'M GOOD WITH THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, PUSHING THAT BACK TO, TO REQUIRING FOUR, FOUR HOURS.
I THINK, I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE.
UM, I THINK THE, THE, THE TRANSLATION ON THE, ON THE LIVE, UM, I'M, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH IT.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ'S POINT, AND I, I THINK, UM, SHELLY OR CITY CLERK HAD A GOOD POINT ABOUT, I, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT THAT, UH, THAT THAT TRANSLATION WAS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
SO I DO THINK THAT WAS A GOOD, UH, COMPROMISE.
BUT IF IT DOESN'T WORK OR IF THERE'S, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT, THAT CAN'T ACCESS IT THAT COME HERE, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE THE HEADPHONES, UM, AS, AS A OPTION.
SO, UH, SO I DON'T, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, UH, CHANGES THERE.
I WOULD ASK, UM, THAT WE CONSIDER ADDING, UH, FOR UNDER THE TRANSLATION SECTION THAT WE OFFER THE AGENDA, THE WRITTEN SUMMARY IN SPANISH.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
I THINK I, I KNOW THAT OUR CITY MANAGER, BEN, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I WAS WORKING WITH, UH, MY COUNCIL REP, DANIEL ON THIS.
UM, SO I, I THINK WE DID IT FOR AT LEAST ONE MEETING.
ARE WE STILL CONTINUING TO, UM, TRANSLATE JUST THE SUMMARY AGENDAS IN SPANISH? I THINK WE FOUND OUT THAT THE AGENDA CAN BE TRANSLATED ONLINE, RIGHT, RYAN? AND SO WE CAN, WE CAN PRINT OUT COPIES OF THAT AGENDA IF WE NEED TO.
YOU CAN GO TO THE CALENDAR, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH HAS THE COUNCIL MEETING AND WHICH HAS THE AGENDA PACKET, CLICK ON HTML, AND THEN WITH A SERIES OF C CL, UH, CLICKS THERE, YOU COULD TRANSLATE THE, THE, THE WHOLE ENTIRE AGENDA PACKET INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES IF YOU CHOOSE.
SO IT'S, IT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO SPANISH, BUT DO WE, AND DO WE KNOW IF IT'S ACTUALLY, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T CHECK THIS.
SO WE DO HAVE TO HAVE, SO IT'S OFF.
YEAH, THAT'S, YEAH, IT CAN BE, IT'S NOT PERFECT.
WELL THAT'S, I I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST OFFER THE A AGENDAS, UH, IN, IN SPANISH.
BUT, UM, IT IS JUST A THOUGHT.
UM, SO, UM, YEAH, I, UH, WITH THIS I'LL, AND FOR DISCUSSION, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM, UM, AND AMEND IT TO ALLOW WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR FOUR HOURS.
'CAUSE I DO HEAR STAFF AND, UM, THAT MY COLLEAGUE, UH, MAYOR MORRISON'S POINT ABOUT THE EFFICIENCY OF THE MEETINGS.
SO I THINK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI WHO, WHO BROUGHT THIS UP.
SO PUBLIC COMMENT, ELIMINATING THE, UH, ZOOM FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
'CAUSE THAT'S JUST A GENERAL COMMENT.
SO I DO FEEL LIKE IF YOU HAVE GENERAL STATEMENT OR BUSINESS, THEN YOU SHOULD COME IN PERSON.
BUT FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS, I WANT TO ALLOW THAT, UM, UM, ALLOW THAT ACCESS FOR THE SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.
SO I, I WOULD STILL WANT TO KEEP THAT.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EX TO AMEND THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, UH, TO FOUR HOURS.
AND THEN, UM, ELIMINATING THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, ZOOM, BUT THE, NOT THE, EXCUSE ME, THE THANK YOU, THE NON AGENDA, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IN ZOOM, BUT THE REST OF IT, THE REST OF THE AGENDA, UH, UH, VICE MAYOR.
UM, I BELIEVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI, WHEN SHE WAS MENTIONING THE ZOOM COMMENT, IT WOULD BE THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD BE MOVED TO THE END OF THE AGENDA.
IT WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED, BUT IT WOULD BE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA.
BECAUSE THEY'RE NON AGENDA ITEMS ANYWAY.
PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WOULD BE BOTH FOR THE ZOOM AND, UH, ALL, ALL NON AGENDA ITEMS, ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, NON AGENDA ITEMS, ALL NON AGENDA WOULD GO TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
THAT'S NOT AGENDAS ITEMS. YES.
SO THEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
CAN I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT? SO IN OUR, IN YOUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, NOW ON PAGE 2 0 5, UM, IT DOES SAY THAT THE CITY CLERK WILL REVIEW THE SPEAKER SLIPS AND INFORM THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE NUMBER OF SLIPS THAT THE NUMBER OF SLIPS AT THREE MINUTES EACH EXCEEDS 30 MINUTES.
[01:55:01]
REDUCE TIME, WHICH WE DO MM-HMMUM, EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT TIME, WHICH WE'VE DONE OR CONTINUE REMAINING SPEAKERS TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO UNDER THE EXISTING POLICY, WE SET ASIDE 30 MINUTES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND IF WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS THAN THAT, THAT EXCEED THE 30 MINUTES, YOU COULD MOVE THE REMAINING ONES TO THE END OF, OF THE, OF THE AGENDA.
BUT THAT'S ALREADY, BUT WE CAN ALREADY DO THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S ALREADY, I'M JUST RAISING IT BECAUSE THAT'S MM-HMM
AND IF WE WAS TO DO THAT, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD TAKE THE IN-HOUSE COMMENTS FIRST AND ONCE WE HIT THE HIT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE THE ZOOM COMMENTS UNTIL WE HIT THE 30 MINUTES.
ANY REMAINING ONES WOULD GO, UH, WOULD GO AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO DO YOU ALL WANT TO, JUST FOR, SO WE CAN MOVE, KEEP MOVING THIS FORWARD.
SO DO YOU ALL WANT TO KEEP THE, UM, ZOOM COMMENTS FOR THE NON-AG AGENDA? UH, SO ALLOW ZOOM FOR NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS? IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? YEAH.
I I, I THINK SINCE IT'S ALREADY ALLOWED, THE, THE CURRENT POLICY HAS ALREADY ALLOW US TO BE FLEXIBLE MM-HMM
UM, AND GIVES THE CHAIR, WHICH IS THE MAYOR, THE ABILITY TO MOVE THINGS AROUND AND MODIFY THE TIME IF THERE'S SO MANY SPEAKERS THAT, THAT'S WHY I THINK I WOULD JUST VOTE AGAINST IT AND JUST LEAVE IT AS IS.
AND MAYOR, I WOULD TAKE YOUR JUDGMENT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE TOO MANY SPEAKERS MM-HMM
TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME YEAH.
SO WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE IN A, IN A TIMELY FASHION.
WELL, I'LL, BUT I'LL STILL MAKE THE MOTION TO THEN JUST AMEND IT FOR THE WRITTEN, UH, FOR THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, EXTENDING THAT TO FOUR HOURS.
THAT IS A MOTION FOR THAT SECTION SIX C3.
AND THAT WOULD LEAVE IT AS IT ACTUALLY EXISTS WITHIN OUR POLICY.
AND MY INTENT, KEEPING THE ZOOM COMMENTS, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
SO KEEPING THE ZOOM RIGHT AND JUST EXTENDING THE WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM ONE HOUR TO FOUR HOURS.
'CAUSE CURRENTLY IT'S IN THERE AS FOUR HOURS, BUT WE HAD VOTED TO CHANGE IT TO ONE TO ONE HOUR, BUT WE WOULD GO BACK TO WHAT IS IN THE CURRENT POLICY NOW, UM, WOULD THAT INCLUDE THE REGISTRATION FOR ZOOM? BECAUSE AT ONE TIME WE HAD ALL OF IT AT FOUR HOURS BECAUSE IT'S EASIER.
SO IT IS EASIER FOR US IF IT'S FOUR HOURS BEFORE, BUT IT'S, IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
SO FOR ME, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THE ZOOM, UH, REGISTRATION ON THE PARTICIPATION.
I WAS JUST, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, BUT YEAH.
BUT I'M OPEN IF COLLEAGUES THINK OTHERWISE.
SO CAN YOU JUST RESTATE THE MOTION, EXTENDING THE WRITTEN COMMENT, ACCEPTING PERIOD FROM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING TO FOUR HOURS AND LEAVING, UH, THE ZOOM COMMENTS, UH, AS IS SO ALLOWING ZOOM FOR PUBLIC, UH, NON AGENDA AND, UH, AND REGULAR AGENDA.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE IN-PERSON LEAVING ALSO THE IN-PERSON TRANSLATION AS THE CURRENT POLICY STATES? THAT PART OF THE MOTION? NO, I DIDN'T, I I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING TO CHANGE THERE BECAUSE THE, THE HEADSETS, UM, SINCE WHAT SHELLY EXPLAINED IS REALLY, IT'S STILL AN OPTION THAT THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND LISTEN TO IT THAT WAY.
I, I, I THINK IT'D BE BEST TO HAVE A, A, I BELIEVE IT'D BE BEST TO HAVE A TRANSLATOR HERE IN PERSON TO ACTUALLY TRANSLATE, UM, TRANSLATOR.
YOU HAVE TO HIRE AN ONLINE ONE IN PERSON.
THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL COST INVOLVED IN THAT.
BECAUSE WE DO RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, TWO TRANSLATORS VIA ZOOM, PLEASE.
AND WE HAVE HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR OUR WHOLE MEETING UNLESS FOR SOME REASON WE SEE THAT THERE'S NOT ANY, UH, ITEMS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LATER THAN EIGHT.
AND THEN THE MAYOR HAS RELEASED THE TRANSLATORS BEFORE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST TO HAVE ONE MM-HMM
HERE ON SITE IN ADDITION TO THE ONES AVAILABLE ON ZOOM.
NO, I, I THINK IT'D BE WORTHWHILE, UM, LOOKING AT THE COST, BECAUSE AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S BEEN FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE OTHER ROOM DURING THE TRANSLATION, AND I, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF TRANSLATION WOULD TAKE PLACE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MONOLINGUAL ABOVE 60 THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAVE HEADPHONES WHILE THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE, TO THE ACTUAL MEETING AND BEING HERE IN PERSON.
SO I DO THINK THE IN PERSON IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UM, ACTUALLY FOLLOW SINCE WE HADN'T, WE HADN'T BEEN DOING IT.
I THINK BECAUSE OF THE COST, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE IT AS IS WITH THE TWO, UH, TRANSLATORS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER ONE.
I MEAN, I'M OPEN TO STAFF COMING BACK AND GIVING US THE DATA ON THAT.
UM, AND I'M OPEN TO CHANGING IT BACK TO THIS, IF WE GET COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD LIKE IT.
UM, ANOTHER TRANSLATOR, I'M, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST THOUGH, SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO JUST LEAVE IT AS IS THROUGH THE CHAIR.
[02:00:01]
PLEASE? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BIFURCATE? WELL, YOU KNOW, LET'S, ON THE WRITTEN COMMENTS, DO YOU WANT ME TO YES.SO I'LL THEM JUST THE WRITTEN COMMENT.
SO I, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, UH, APPROVE THE ITEM, EXTENDING THE WRITTEN COMMENT PERIOD FROM ONE HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING IN FOUR HOURS.
COULD, COULD I, 'CAUSE I'M BIFURCATING, RIGHT? SO JUST THAT PIECE.
I JUST ASKED YOU ON THAT ITEM, UH, ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ON THE, UM, FOR THE ZOOM DEAL BEING LIKE A TWO HOUR, THAT WOULD, THE REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION FOR IT.
THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THAT MATERIAL BEFORE WE GET INTO CLOSED SESSION.
IT HELPS A LOT TO HAVE THAT STUFF ALREADY LINED UP.
SO I'LL AMEND IT FROM ONE HOUR TO TWO HOUR GUESTS.
YOU GONNA SECOND THAT? I, I'M
OH, THAT WAS A MOTION BY BUSH.
DID WE HAVE A SECOND TO THAT? I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU.
ANYWAY, UH, PLEASE VOTE TO MOTION PASSIONS.
THE OTHER PORTION WAS ON TRANSLATION.
UM, AND, AND AS, AS I HEARD THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS TO CONTINUE WITH OUR CURRENT, UH, OUR CURRENT PRACTICE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR, UH, THE TRANSLATOR OF COURSE, THAT WE, WE HAVE THE ONLINE TRANSLATOR AND THEN PEOPLE CAN USE THEIR PHONES AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EARPLUGS.
THEY CAN HEADSET WHATEVER, WHATEVER THEY WANNA, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO USE.
UH, AND CAN LISTEN TO TRANSLATION THAT WAY.
IF THEY WANT TO BE SITTING IN THE, IN THE CHAMBER ALSO MM-HMM
AND THAT WAY THEY'D BE HEARING THE SAME TRANSLATION AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TWO TRANSLATORS THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
IS ANOTHER THING THAT IS TRUE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT WAS THAT? WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING? YES.
AND, UM, AND SO, WELL, I GUESS SINCE WE BIFURCATED, WE DIDN'T HAVE A SECOND BEFORE, SO WE STILL HAVE TO GO A MOTION A SECOND.
SO IF YOU WOULD, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
SO, UH, AND SO AM I JUST MAKING A MOTION FOR THE REST OF THE ITEMS THEN? IS THAT PROCEDURALLY JUST A TRANSLATION? JUST A TRANSLATION.
I MAKE A MOTION TO LEAVE THE TRANSLATION, UM, SECTION AS AS CURRENT PRACTICE.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S IN OUR WRITTEN DEAL.
WELL, AT, JUST TO CLARIFY AS IS MEANS THERE HAD TO BE AN IN-PERSON TRANSLATOR.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THAT SINCE POST COVID.
THAT'S WHY WE SAY CURRENT PRACTICE AS OPPOSED.
SO MY, MY INTENT WAS, UH, FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, SO HAVING THE ONLINE, UH, UH, TRANSLATION, WOULD, WOULD, UM, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO HAVING, UH, MAYBE OUR CLERK CHECK WITH THE CURRENT TRANSLATORS? MAYBE THEY OFFER THAT SERVICE AND THEY COULD DO, DO BOTH SERVICES AT ONCE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE MORE.
UM, CAN I, CAN I, WELL, CAN WE, YEAH.
I MEAN, CAN WE MAKE A MOTION THAT STAFF, YOU KNOW, COME BACK WITH LOOKING AT THAT THEN? SO WHAT, WHAT ABOUT APPROVING LANGUAGE AS IS AND THEN STAFF COMES BACK AND LOOKS AT WHAT THE, WHAT THE CLASSES ARE.
IF THEY EXPLORE THAT AS AN OPTION? WELL, THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND READING ANYWAY, RIGHT? NO, THIS IS NOT AN ORDINANCE.
THESE ARE JUST YOUR COUNCIL POLICIES.
SO I CAN BRING 'EM BACK AT ANY TIME.
THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REVIEW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
CAN YOU PROVIDE A DATE FOR THIS TO COME BACK? SURE, I CAN ON ON THE TRANSLATION? ON THE TRANSLATION PART.
ON THE TRANSLATION SPECIFICALLY.
AND THAT WOULD JUST BE IF I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOU.
SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE ONLINE ZOOM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THEN ALSO HAVE AN IN-PERSON IN THE CHAMBER EXPLORING THE, BECAUSE YOU WANTED, WELL, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE IN THE CHAMBER.
IT'S INTERRUPTING IN THE, YOU'D HAVE SOMEBODY EXCUSE GOOD FOR IS THE TECHNOLOGY SUCH SO THAT THE ONLINE PERSON, IF WE WERE TO HAVE THE HEADSETS, COULD THAT ALSO GO THROUGH THE HEADSETS? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE, IS THAT BE THAT WAY? WE'RE GETTING ONE TRANSLATOR, ONE TRANSLATION.
I THINK, I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE STAFF TO, UM, THAT'S GOOD.
LOOK AT OPTIONS AND MAYBE ASK OUR CURRENT TRANSLATORS TO SEE IF THEY OFFER THAT SERVICE.
UM, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE CHECKED AND IF SO, IF THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST AND HOW MUCH THAT WOULD BE.
UM, BUT I THINK, I THINK WITH THE GOAL OF TRYING TO PROVIDE HEADSET, HEADSETS, TRANSLATIONS FOR, UH, MONOLINGUAL SPANISH SPEAKERS HERE.
[02:05:01]
I CAN DO THAT.THAT'LL GIMME TIME TO GET AHOLD OF EVERYONE.
SO WE WOULD HOLD OFF ON THAT, ON THE TRANSLATION PORTION TILL WE, TILL THAT COMES BACK.
AND, UH, DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT, SHELLY? NO, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER THE OTHER, UM, THE CORRECTIONS THAT WE HAD MADE FOR THE OTHER, UH, THE AGENDA PROCESS AND THEN THE COPY OF THE RECORDINGS AND THE, UH, I, YES, I CAN, I'LL WE CAN IMPLEMENT THOSE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, PERFECT.
THE ZOOM, UH, THE ZOOM, THE ZOOMING IN, UH, MAINTAINING THE, ALLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OVER ZOOM JUST TO OUR REGISTRATION.
COULD YOU PUSH YOUR BUTTON ON THAT ONE? MARK? THERE YOU GO.
SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THE PORTIONS OF THAT, AND WE'LL BE, BRING BACK THE TRANSLATION.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS, UH, 10.1.
WE NOW GO TO 11 ONE OH A MINUTE.
LET ME, SHOULD I SHOULD ASK, IS THERE ANY OTHER STAFF REPORTS? UM, MAYOR, UM, I'LL MAKE, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'LL MAKE A QUICK, UH, STAFF REPORT BEFORE WE GET TO THE ONE OH FIVES.
UM, I JUST DID WANNA MENTION THAT WE'LL BE HOLDING OUR MIDYEAR BUDGET, UH, SESSION, UH, MARCH 4TH AT 4:00 PM SO WE CAN GET INTO THE MEAT OF THAT BEFORE THE, UM, THE, UH, REGULAR, UH, CITY COUNCIL SESSION AT SIX.
AND, UH, THEN WE'RE ALSO PLANNING A STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION IN APRIL.
WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND YOUR CALENDARS TO SCHEDULE THAT.
[11.1 POLICY 105 REQUEST - Legal Defense Fund in Support of Undocumented Individuals - Requested by Councilmember Rodriguez]
INTO A, UH,WE GO INTO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT NOW, AND THIS IS 1 0 5.
BUT THAT'S UNDER CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
UM, SO THIS IS THE, UH, ONE, UH, 11.1.
UM, AND THIS IS A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND IN SUPPORT OF UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS.
THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
AND ONCE AGAIN, AS FOR THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS A 1 0 5 REQUEST, 1 0 5 REQUEST TO BE PUT ON BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S A REQUEST FOR TO SEE IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PUT THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA SO WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT IN DETAIL AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME.
THAT WOULD BE FOR A DISCUSSION IF WE WAS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT'S THE WAY ALL ONE OH FIVES ARE DONE.
SO JUST SO WE KIND OF HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING ON THAT.
UH, COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ? WELL, I WAS EXPECTING PUBLIC, I WAS EXPECTING PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. MAYOR.
I JUST, OR IF, IF YOU COULD GIVE A REAL QUICK SYNOPSIS OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING SO BEFORE, SO WE, THE PUBLIC KIND OF KNOWS WHAT TO COMMENT ON 'CAUSE ABSOLUTELY.
SO I PUT IN A POLICY 1 0 5 REQUEST IN ORDER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT CREATING A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND IN SUPPORT OF UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, UH, FROM NATIONAL CITY WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED AND HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS, UH, RIGHTS TO DEFENSE.
UM, THIS IS AS A RESULT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY AND IN NATIONAL CITY AS WELL, WITH FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, I PERSONALLY FEEL IT'S OUR JOB AS A CITY TO LOOK OUT AFTER, UM, EVERY ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, I LEFT IT VAGUE INTENTIONALLY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE US THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE COMMUNITY, THE FLEXIBILITY TO DISCUSS ON HOW THAT WOULD OPERATE.
UH, KNOWING THAT THERE IS A COUNTY DEFENSE FUND ALREADY, UH, THERE IS A $25 MILLION APPROPRIATION BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SPECIFICALLY FOR LEGAL DEFENSE.
IT'S A TOTAL OF A $50 MILLION APPROPRIATION, BUT 25 FOR LEGAL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SO, UH, WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS COUNCIL, HOW WE CAN SUPPORT NATIONAL CITY FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING THROUGH THIS TERROR AT THE MOMENT.
UH, WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS AND, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME ZOOM, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
UM, THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING ON MY PHONE BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THE LIST.
WE HAVE ONE AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK, SO THAT'S, I HAVE TO LOOK ON HERE TO SEE WHAT THE LIST IS AND, UH, UM, OKAY.
[02:10:01]
OKAY, WE ON, ON THIS ONE.WE ONLY HAVE ONE, BUT IT'S AN ESCRIBE.
IT'S A, IT'S A COMMENT MADE MM-HMM
SO WE DON'T, DON'T HAVE A, A ZOOM ITSELF.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO INTO THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, CLINT CO UH, UH, CARNEY, UH, CRYSTAL FELIX, AND THEN PATRICIA RE AND TRUTH.
MEETING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ON THE AGENDA.
I WORK AT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SURVIVORS OF TORTURE INTERNATIONAL, A STANDALONE NON-PROFIT IN, IN SAN DIEGO.
WE ONLY REPRESENT ONE TYPE OF CLIENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TORTURE AT THE HANDS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR GANGS IN LOCATIONS WHERE THERE'S NO GOVERNMENT ABILITY TO STOP THE, THE TORTURE AND TRAUMA THAT HAPPENS.
BUT I, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, CONSIDERING THIS ITEM AND LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER.
NATIONAL CITY'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
UM, SUPPORTING NEW RESIDENTS HERE AT NATIONAL CITY IS A PROPOSAL THAT WILL MORE THAN PAY FOR ITSELF.
UM, THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, AS YOU KNOW, IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND PEOPLE CANNOT NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM ALONE.
THE ATTORNEYS WILL SAVE THEIR LIVES.
UM, FORCED MIGRATION HAPPENS FOR MANY REASONS.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY REASONS AROUND THE WORLD.
120 MILLION PEOPLE ARE ON THE RUN FROM THEIR HOMES, NOT JUST FOR LIKE FIRES THAT WE SEE IN LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT ALSO FOR EXTREME TRAUMA LIKE, UH, TORTURE THAT IS CARRIED OUT.
UM, TORTURE HAPPENS IN A, IS CARRIED OUT IN 141 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, THAT 75% OF THE WORLD, UM, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOMMEND REC RECOGNIZES A STUDY THAT FOUND THAT 44% OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS THAT MAKE IT TO THE UNITED STATES ARE SURVIVORS OF PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE.
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WE HAVE 38,000 TORTURE SURVIVORS THAT WE SERVE, THAT WE TRY TO SERVE.
UM, AND THAT'S JUST ONE TYPE OF NEW RESIDENT.
BUT THESE ARE THE MOST HUMBLE, THE KINDEST, THE MOST HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT YOU WILL EVER MEET, AND THE STRONGEST PEOPLE YOU WILL EVER MEET.
AND IF THEY HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE AND WORK IN NATIONAL CITY, ANY INVESTMENT YOU WOULD MAKE IN THEM COMING HERE WOULD MORE THAN PAY FOR ITSELF.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
I'M CRYSTAL FELIX, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF NATIONAL CITY AND A PRO BONO IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IF REQUESTED, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A LEGAL DEFENSE FUND FOR NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS THIS GREAT IDEA BECOMES MORE DEVELOPED, IT DOES SO IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS TO DETERMINE THE NEED AND DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE LEGAL FUND.
THE IMMIGRATION LAW FIELD IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, AND IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING TO HAVE A CHANCE AT SUCCESS.
UM, A COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL IS NECESSARY.
CURRENTLY INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE REAL, THE REALITY IS THAT I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT ICE IS NOT ONLY ARRESTING IMMIGRANTS WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY, BUT PEOPLE WITHOUT CRIMINAL HISTORY AS WELL.
SO THIS FEAR IS INCREDIBLY UNDERSTANDABLE, AND THE REALITY IS WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRIMARY BREADWINNER IS DETAINED, THE FAMILY IS IMPACTED GREATLY, NOT ONLY EMOTIONALLY, BUT FINANCIALLY.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD AN ATTORNEY NATIONALLY.
ONLY 23% OF ALL IMMIGRANTS SECURE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN THEIR REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.
AND HAVING A COMPETENT AND ATTORNEY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
SO THIS IS JUST A GREAT IDEA THAT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED FURTHER.
THANK YOU, UH, PATRICIA TO BE FOLLOWED BY TRUTH.
PATRICIA RAGAN, REGIONAL POLICY MANAGER FOR ALLIANCE SAN DIEGO.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RODRIGUEZ BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
UM, AND THAT THE COUNCIL LOOKING AT WAYS TO PROTECT RESIDENTS IN THIS TIME OF FEAR.
AND WE WELCOME A DISCUSSION ON HOW TO BETTER SERVE NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
CURRENTLY THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO HAS A WELL FUNDED AND ESTABLISHED IMMIGRANT RIGHTS LEGAL DEFENSE PROGRAM.
THE COUNTY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021 WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF $5 MILLION.
THE I-R-L-D-P HAS REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS IN NEARLY 1300 CASES WITH 40 ATTORNEYS PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THE PROGRAM.
WHILE THE PROGRAM'S INFRASTRUCTURE HAS EVOLVED TO ADJUST FOR THE CHALLENGES IN IMMIGRATION DEFENSE, IT TOOK MORE THAN A YEAR TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM ONCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED.
[02:15:01]
COUNCIL TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY IN MAXIMIZING DOLLARS AND MINIMIZE ADMINISTRATIVE DUPLICATION.WE BELIEVE THE DISCUSSIONS SHOULD START THERE TO DETERMINE HOW THE CITY, NATIONAL CITY CAN ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY PROGRAM TO BEST SERVE NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
TRUTH TO BE FOLLOWED BY, AND I'M TRYING TO READ THE WRITING AND MINA ALL RIGHT.
I NOTICED THIS POLICY REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED THIS SAME DAY.
OUTGOING CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION TO COOPERATE WITH ICE.
SO KIND OF SEEMS LIKE IT'S EMOTIONALLY REACTIVE AND THIS FORM CLAIMS THE ITEM WOULD SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM NATIONAL CITY.
BUT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IF THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED? DOESN'T THAT MEAN THEY'RE NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS? THEY'RE ACTUALLY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE BY DEFAULT.
UM, SEEMS LIKE MISINFORMATION, BUT JOSE, YOU SAID THE STATE'S SPENDING $25 MILLION AND YES, THE COUNTY HAS A FUND THAT'S 5 MILLION YEARS, SO THAT'S AT LEAST $50 MILLION SPENT ON ONE ONE ASPECT OF THIS CONCERN.
UM, AND THAT'S ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE FACING DEPORTATION.
I DON'T GET A LAWYER IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, I GET NOTHING.
UM, AND HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD WE HAVE HOUSED WITH THAT MONEY? LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE FLOODED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD WE HOUSE WITH THAT MONEY? AND I KNOW THE LAWYERS ARE FULL SUPPORT 'CAUSE THEY WANT THEIR CUT.
AND ALSO, THE ORGANIZA ORGANIZATIONS THAT CLAIM TO AID ILLEGAL MIGRANTS HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR FREE AID, AND THAT'S GREAT IF THEY DO A PRO BONO.
BUT ACCORDING TO THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 43 MILLION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED TAX DOLLARS WENT TO SAN DIEGO BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
AND GUESS WHAT? THOSE TAX DOLLARS THEY DID NOT PAY FOR THEMSELVES, THAT'S STRAIGHT OUTTA YOUR POCKET.
SO WHAT THIS POLICY REQUEST REALLY IS, IS A POLITICAL THEATER SETUP.
WHICHEVER COUNCIL MEMBER OPPOSES IT, THEY'RE GONNA BE LABELED ANTI-IMMIGRANT.
AND WHICHEVER COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTS IT WILL BE DIVERTING NEEDED CITY RESOURCES FROM ACTUAL LAWFUL RESIDENTS.
BUT QUESTION, HOW MANY FREE TURKEYS ARE GUARANTEED TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT THIS REQUEST? UM, HOW MUCH YOU HAVE YOU, JOSE, PERSONALLY BLOWN ON THOSE FOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE YOU YOURSELF COULD HAVE DONATED THAT VALUE TO THIS PET PROJECT? IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE GASLIGHT THEATER, ALMOST LIKE IT'S AN ATTACK UPON YOUR PERSONAL OPPOSITION.
I DO NOT APPROVE OF WASTING CITY RESOURCES IN THAT FASHION.
YOU CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE HERE AT HOME.
YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THE UNKNOWN.
UH, LAST ONE, AND I SAY PROBABLY, I'M PROBABLY BUTCHERING THE NAME BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO READ THE SPELLING.
SORRY, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE READING THE SMALL PRINT.
WELL, MY NAME IS ADRIANA ERTA AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF NATIONAL CITY FOR OVER 16 YEARS.
AND BESIDES MY LENGTH OF RESIDENCY HERE AND BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THE CITY, I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE AND ACTIVIST FOR IMMIGRANTS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND I ALSO COLLABORATE WITH A WELL-KNOWN, UM, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY IN CALIFORNIA HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
SO TO ME IT'S VERY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT THAT OUR CITY INVEST OUR TAX MONEY IN THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHO'S A STRONG CORE OF THE ECONOMY OF OUR CITY.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE VERY DIVERSE, BUT THE PREDOMINANT, PREDOMINANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE PHILIPPINES ALSO, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE TEND TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, THEY ALWAYS THINK ABOUT MEXICO.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY, BUT HAS IMMIGRANTS HERE.
SO I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS, UM, I AGENDA ITEM.
AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT OUR MONEY GOES TO THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
AND ALSO SO THEY DON'T GET SCAMMED BY, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC NORRIS OR TAR PREPARES WHO DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO THEY HAVE AN APPROPRIATE COUNSEL, LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT THEIR SITUATION AND INSTEAD OF HAVING MORE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE WITHOUT BEING REPRESENTED, JUST TO BE ON THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO WE DO DEFINITELY NEED TO INVEST AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY FOR VALUABLE AND APPROPRIATE, UM, LEGAL COUNSEL FOR COMPETENT ATTORNEYS.
THAT IS, THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS ITEM.
UH, SO I'M, I, MY ONLY QUESTION IS I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT THE ITEM IS YET.
UH, SO I, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU SAID YOU DELIBERATELY PUT VAGUE, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE PROBLEM HERE.
[02:20:01]
NOT KNOWING WHAT, WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.WHETHER, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE CITY ACTUALLY PUTTING MONEY INTO A FUND, UH, OR, AND, YOU KNOW, AND OR IF IT IS A SITUATION TO WHERE WE BECOME A REFERRAL SERVICE, UH, OR IF WE, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO DIRECT PEOPLE TOWARD LIKE THE, UH, UH, 2, 1 1 AND, AND TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UM, THAT ARE BEING FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
I MEAN, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THIS CAN GO.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT TOO SURE WHAT'S BEING, WHAT'S BEING ASKED HERE THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THERE'S A 1 0 5.
SO THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT LATER.
WE CAN GET A STUDY FROM STAFF ON AND FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WHAT'S THE GOAL HERE? SO THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND THEN WE CAN, UM, DELIBERATE HERE AND SEE IF IT'S, UH, GOOD FOR THE CITY OR NOT.
SO, UM, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, IF I CANNOT MAKE A MOTION, IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT MOTION TO INCLUDE IT IN THE, IN THE AGENDA SO WE DON'T DISCUSS ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM 11.1, ADOPT OR INCLUDE, UH, SORRY.
INCLUDE ITEM 0.1 AND PLACE IT ON A, UH, FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.
IS THERE A TIME SENSITIVE? UH, YES.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE QUITE A BIT ON OUR SCHEDULES LOOKING AT YOU THEN OR BARRY, BUT, UM, BE IN APRIL.
SO LET ME JUST, JUST, UM, UNDER OUR 1 0 5 REQUEST, UH, IN ADDITION TO DETERMINING THAT YOU WANNA PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, WE ALSO NEED TO DETERMINE WHO'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THE STAFF REPORT AND BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD.
SO, UM, I I I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF WILL TAKE THE LEAD ON TO BRING IT UP IN THE NEXT TIME.
AND THEN WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER IN DETERMINING, UH, THE DATE IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OPEN TO THAT.
I THINK, UH, MYSELF AND MY COUNCIL STAFF WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY AND SEE HOW WE CAN FLUSH THIS OUT.
I WOULD BE MORE THAN OPEN, ALSO BE A PART OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO SERVE ON THAT.
UH, BUT, UM, WITH THE INTENT OF BRINGING SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO THE BROADER COUNCIL.
WITH THAT SAID, I'LL SECOND IT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND THEN THAT WOULD ALSO INVOLVE A, A LEGAL REVIEW OR WHATEVER AS FAR AS MATERIAL COMING FORWARD? UM, YEAH.
I MEAN, IF AFTER THEY WORK ON IT AND THEY HAVE A PROGRAM, IF THERE'S A NEED FOR A LEGAL REVIEW, SO IN ORDER TO, TO HELP THE COUNSEL DECIDE, WE'D HAPPY TO DO THAT AT THAT POINT.
SO THE MOTION IS JUST TO KIND OF FERRET THIS OUT A BIT TO FIND MORE DETAIL, HAVE IT BROUGHT FORWARD SO WE COULD EVEN HAVE A A POINT OF DISCUSSION, RIGHT? CORRECT.
UM, MY OFFICE WILL BE WORKING, UM, UH, WITH COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS AND BRINGING SOMETHING TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR REVIEW AND BRING IT TO COUNSEL YEAH.
AND IF, IF I COULD JUST SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SO WE ALSO FIND OUT WHAT IF, WHAT ALL IS THE COUNTY PROGRAM, THAT TYPE OF STUFF, AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE THAT'S EVEN AT AND, AND WHAT THEIR PROGRAM IS.
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS COULD ALL BE INCLUDED.
IT'D BE GOOD TO PROVIDE ALL THAT INFORMATION BACK TO COUNCIL.
UM, ASK, THIS WOULD BE FLUSHED OUT ON, ON A PROGRAM THAT WOULD WORK FOR NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
SO WE'RE NOT APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING ANYTHING NIGHT.
WE'RE JUST, IF THIS MOTION PASSES, WE'RE JUST SAYING WE NEED MORE INFORMATION, BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION.
IS ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL, UM, UM, WILLING TO WORK ON THIS TOGETHER? I WOULD BE MORE THAN OPEN TO IT, BY THE WAY.
YOU'LL WORK
UH, WHO, LET'S SEE YOU, DID YOU MAKE THE MOTION? MOTION SECOND? YES, MAYOR AND A SECOND.
COULD YOU, WE'RE STILL NOT GETTING, THERE IT IS.
SO I, I THINK I COULD SUPPORT, UH, THIS MOTION.
IT, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED OUT.
THERE'S NOTHING TO APPROVE HERE.
THERE'S NO DETAILS, THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW.
UM, AND, UH, LEMME JUST SAY, I, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROTECT, UH, DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR, OUR UNDOCUMENTED, UH, FAMILIES, UH, HERE IN, IN NATIONAL CITY, BECAUSE THIS IS A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS.
THIS IS A COUNCIL MADE UP OF MAJORITY IMMIGRANTS, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY REFLECTIVE OF WHO WE ARE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT, WHAT I DON'T, JUST TO BE UPFRONT THOUGH, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS CALL UNNECESSARY ATTENTION TO US FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO I ASK THAT THE, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, RODRIGUEZ AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ALSO CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE, UM, OR I DON'T
[02:25:01]
WANT US TO, UH, GO INTO THE DIRECTION OF, IS KIND OF THIS REPEAT OF 2017, WHERE WE'RE KIND OF, WE'RE DOING THESE PROCLAMATIONS, WE'RE DOING, UM, THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE SANCTUARY CITY AND I, I WASN'T, I HAVEN'T BEEN CLEAR THAT THAT ACTUALLY DID PROTECT, UM, OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.I FELT LIKE THAT IT WAS, THAT SOME OF THAT IS KIND OF PERFORMATIVE AND DOESN'T ACTUALLY HELP THE COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING PERFORMATIVE.
THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO, THAT ACTUALLY DOES HELP THE RESIDENTS.
MEANWHILE, NOT MAKING THEM OVERLY, UH, VULNERABLE, PUTTING A TARGET ON NATIONAL CITIES BACK.
LIKE, I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, A A TARGET ON US FROM THE FEDERAL, UH, GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP, UH, KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UH, AND SOME OTHER THINGS I WOULD JUST ASK, UH, LIKE YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO, UM, WHO, WHAT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATE? LIKE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THIS WOULD BE, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO EVEN WHO HAS, UH, WHO'S, UH, WHO'S LOOKED INTO THIS AND WHO'S REQUESTING THE REQUESTING, HOW MANY FAMILIES, UH, ARE WE LOOKING AT? I, I WOULD ALSO LIKE OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO, UH, WORK WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ ON, ON WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LEGAL, UH, QUESTIONS AND LEGAL LIABILITIES AND RISKS WITH THIS.
DOES THIS PUT US IN JEOPARDY OF ANY FEDERAL FUNDING? YES.
THIS IS WHAT WE'LL DISCUSS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS, I'M DIRECTING STAFF TO BRING BACK, LIKE, THE OPTIONS ON, ON DIFFERENT OPTIONS, LIKE COLLABORATING.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THIS OUT THERE, LIKE, ON THE RECORD, THAT, THAT ALL, ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT I, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, CONSIDER.
'CAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER MELINA BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA BE OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO ALSO BE LIKE, JUST CLEAR ON, ON FLEXIBILITY AND, AND BEING OPEN TO, TO THIS, SO THE BUDGET AND, AND WHO THIS WOULD, UH, IMPACT AND, UM, TO WHAT EXTENT THIS IS A CONSTITUENT, YOU KNOW, SERVICE AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR, OUR OWN BUDGETS ON THIS.
SO JUST IF WE, IF WE CAN EXPLORE THOSE ITEMS, UH, I CAN, I CAN SUPPORT THIS.
I WOULD BE, UM, MORE THAN OPEN, UM, TO ALL OF THOSE REQUESTS.
ALTHOUGH I WOULD SAY, UH, WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE CURRENTLY SAYS OR DOES.
SO WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEIR RESPONSE WOULD BE EVEN TO TRYING TO HELP ANYBODY.
RIGHT? SO, UM, UH, BUT I THINK IT IS THE INTENT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT SPOKE IN SUPPORT TO TRY TO HELP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY IN GREAT NEED.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE POINTS.
WITH THAT, I YOU, NO OTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
[11.2 POLICY 105 REQUEST - Updating Cannabis Ordinance to Change Opening and Closing Times to Match the State - Requested by Vice Mayor Bush]
NEXT WE GO TO 11.2.THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, 1 0 5 REQUEST.
THIS IS UPDATING, UH, REQUEST TO BRING BACK FOR DISCUSSION, UPDATING CANNABIS ORDINANCE TO CHANGE OPENING AND CLOSING TIMES TO MATCH AND MATCH THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
AND THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY, UH, VICE MAYOR BUSH.
AND YOU WANT TO SHORTLY ELABORATE ON THAT? YEP.
SO WHAT THIS CAME ABOUT, I WAS ABLE TO, UH, UH, DO A TOUR AND, AND INSPECTION OF THE NEW, UH, SESSIONS BY THE BAY, THE NEW CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LOUNGE, WHICH IS, UH, TENTATIVELY SLATED TO OPEN UP ON MARCH 28TH.
IT'S, UH, FINISHING UP CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.
SO THE, UH, OWNER HAD REQUESTED THAT HIS HOURS MATCH THE STATE AND, UH, CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW, RIGHT NOW IT'S NINE TO NINE.
HE'S REQUESTING FROM SIX TO 10, WHICH MATCHES THE STATE LAW, UH, AND THE JUSTIFICATION BEING ALSO FOR REVENUE.
WHAT, WHAT THAT WOULD BE IS, UM, MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY.
WE'RE IN A BUDGET DEFICIT, SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL AREAS FOR REVENUE, UM, AND, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD RESULT IN CHANGE OF ORDINANCE.
BUT I, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, BRING THIS BACK AND, AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO, TO HAVING THIS COME, COME BACK.
NOW YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT THE CANNABIS LOUNGE, BUT THIS WOULD AFFECT ALL CANNABIS SALES.
A AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT WOULD AFFECT ALL, ALL SALES.
SO WE CAN'T PICK BECAUSE WE CAN'T PICK ANY, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD'VE TO BECAUSE WE CAN'T PICK ANY CHOOSE SOON.
UH, YES, WE MIGHT HAVE, WE MIGHT HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TOO.
HUH? ARE YOU DONE VICE MAYOR? YES, THAT'S MY SUMMARY.
IT HASN'T OPENED YET AND WE'RE ALREADY MAKING CHANGES.
THIS IS, WELL, IT'S A, SO IT'S A PROPOSED, UH, CHANGE AND IT'S ON REQUEST FROM THE OWNER.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A REQUEST YOU MADE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
AND GIVEN THE OPENING, UH, COMING UP, I, I DO THINK IT, IT MAKES SENSE.
I DON'T WANT THE, IT'S CALLED ECONOMIC LEAKAGE, RIGHT.
UH, RIGHT NEXT TO US IS CHULA VISTA, AND THEY'RE OPEN DURING THOSE HOURS.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE, UH, PROMOTING AS A, AS A NEW BUSINESS TO, UH, THAT I THINK HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL GIVEN THE TOUR TO, TO LOSE THAT IN THE SALES TAX REVENUE.
SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
UM, VICE MAYOR, CAN WE ALLOW THEM TO OPEN FIRST? THEN WE
[02:30:01]
MAKE CHANGES.I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSIDERATION BECAUSE IT WOULD, IT IS GONNA TAKE 30 DAYS ANYWAY, SO I'D LIKE US TO, THAT WOULD ALL BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
YOU BRING, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S VOTING IT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA.
AND I AM, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, UNDERSTANDING THIS, THAT, UH, A BUSINESS IN CANNABIS THAT WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW IS GONNA OPEN AND THEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR A CHANGE.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO OPEN FIRST AND THEN LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BRING INTO THE CITY.
BUT FOR NOW, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS.
WE DO HAVE A, UH, NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE, UH, ON THIS ONE.
WE HAVE, UH, THOMAS REICH, WE GET INTO OUR INFAMOUS NEWS.
UH, I'M AGAINST CANNABIS AND, BUT I WOULD LIKE MR. THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. SCHULTZ TO SAY IF IT'S, IF IT'S, IF WE, IF IT'S LEGAL FOR, TO SELL CANNABIS IN NATIONAL CITY, I ON THE IT IS.
AND CC, THE PASSED AN OR WAS IT AN ORDINANCE OR IS IT A, IS IT A NATIONAL LAW? STATE LAW.
AND IT'S A LAW, STATE LAW AND OR AN ORDINANCE HERE AND OR DID YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE? YEAH, BUT IT'S ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
UM, NEXT WE GO TO OUR ZOOM AND WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
DID YOU WANNA DO TRUTH? HUH? DID TRUTH LEAVE? UH, I DIDN'T HAVE TRUTH.
MY NAME IS BECKY RA AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO INCREASING THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE CONSUMPTION LOUNGE.
UH, THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN AND VOTED UPON AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE HONORED.
I'M MOST CONCERNED REGARDING THOSE WHO WILL BE CONSUMING AND THEN DRIVING HIGH.
EXTENDING HOURS WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THIS SITUATION.
DEATHS FROM CRASHES INVOLVING IMPAIRED DRIVING HAVE SURGED THIS PAST YEAR IN THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES, UM, IS THE LARGEST IN DECADES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS HAVE STATED, WHEN IT COMES TO CONSUMING DRUGS AND OR ALCOHOL AND DRIVING, THERE IS A RIGHT AND A WRONG CHOICE.
ACCORDING TO THE AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY, PEOPLE WHO USE BOTH, UM, ALCOHOL AND OR MARIJUANA ARE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.
THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO SPEED TEXTS, INTENTIONALLY RED RUN LIGHTS AND DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY THAN THOSE WHO DON'T.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AAA OPPOSES THE PERMITTING OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BECAUSE IT'S INHERENT TRAFFIC SAFETY RISKS.
THE RESEARCH RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT USERS WHO DRIVE HIGH ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH AS MARIJUANA CRASH AS MARIJUANA HAS BEEN PROVEN TO PROHIBIT, UM, CONCENTRATION, SLOW REACTION TIMES, AND CLOUDED JUDGMENT, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN DRINK AND NOT GET DRUNK, BUT YOU CANNOT USE MARIJUANA AND NOT GET HIGH.
ANY CUSTOMERS LEAVING A CONSUMPTION LOUNGE WILL POTENTIALLY BE HIGH.
THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING REGULATIONS ON BUD TENDING AND THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE WHO IS NOT HIGH AND SAFE TO DRIVE HOME.
AND THERE'S NO LEEWAY IN MAKING THE WRONG DECISION.
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO STOP, ACCELERATE, PASS, AND, AND PRESS THE BRAKE.
AND RESIDENTS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER CONSUMING MARIJUANA.
THERE'S NO REASON TO EXTEND THE HOURS FOR SESSIONS BY THE SEAT.
AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY PUT PUBLIC SAFETY ABOVE PROFITS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO MODIFY THIS ORDINANCE, AND IT SEEMS ABSURD THAT THIS UNTRIED CONTROVERSIAL BUSINESS IS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL HOURS EVEN BEFORE OPENING.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE SALE AND PUBLIC USE OF MARIJUANA IN NATIONAL CITY IS NOT SOMETHING THE PUBLIC VOTED FOR.
IT WAS FORCED BY A PREMIER MAYOR WHO LEFT SHORTLY AFTER THE VOTE.
ECONOMIC LEAKAGE DOESN'T FLY, NOT WHEN HIGH POTENCY IS PERVASIVE.
TAX REVENUE IS FAILING TO MATERIALIZE, AND THE CITY MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COMPENSATE FOR INADEQUATE STATE OVERSIGHT OR TO GUARANTEE PRODUCT OR TRAFFIC SAFETY OR APPROPRIATE HAZARD WA HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
[02:35:01]
INFORMATION UNFOLDS DAILY ATTESTING TO THE MOUNTING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS OF PUBLIC MARIJUANA USE AND NORMALIZATION.JUST RECENTLY, MAJOR MEDIA REPORTING TALKS ABOUT ALARMING INDUSTRY SCANDALS FROM ILLEGAL PESTICIDE USE TO FALSIFIED TESTING WHILE STATE REGULATORS TURN A BLI A BLIND EYE AND TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE PASSED INTO PRODUCTS UNBEKNOWNST TO CONSUMERS.
THIS KIND OF FRAUD THREATENS CONSUMER HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND PRESENTS COSTLY TOXIC WASTE ISSUES.
WE JUST DON'T NEED TO EXPAND THESE POTENTIAL THREATS WITH EXTRA HOURS AT A CONSUMPTION LOUNGE.
JUST GETTING THIS FAR HAS BEEN COSTLY AND STAFF TIME COMPOUNDED BY PENDING LAWSUITS OVER MARIJUANA PERMITS.
PLEASE PUT THE WELLBEING OF RESIDENTS AND THE CITY'S FIRST AND VOTE NO.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS MEGAN STEWART, AND I AM ALSO HERE TO STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY EXPANSION OF OPERATING HOURS FOR THIS MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION LOUNGE, ESPECIALLY AS IT HAS NOT YET OPENED AND DEMONSTRATED ITS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
SESSIONS BY THE BAY IS REQUESTING LONGER HOURS, CLAIMING IT'S ONLY FAIR TO MATCH NEARBY BUSINESSES IN CHULA VISTA.
BUT FAIRNESS SHOULD NOT COME BEFORE PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE YET TO SEE HOW THIS BUSINESS WILL AFFECT OUR CITY AND TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS BEFORE IT EVEN OPENS IS A BIT PREMATURE.
NATIONAL CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO SET ITS OWN STANDARDS.
ADDITIONALLY, MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION LOUNGES POSE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS, NOT ONLY TO EMPLOYEES WHO WORK THERE, BUT ALSO TO THOSE IN NEARBY BUSINESSES.
SECONDHAND SMOKE CONTAINS HARMFUL CHEMICALS THAT CAN IMPACT RESPIRATORY HEALTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION.
AND NO AMOUNT OF VENTILATION ELIMINATES THESE RISKS ENTIRELY.
WORKERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR JOBS AND THEIR HEALTH.
EXTENDING BUSINESS HOURS ALSO MEANS EXTENDING THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING PUBLIC INTOXICATION AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
NATIONAL CITY HAS THE POWER TO SET ITS OWN STANDARDS AND CAN DO SO BY MAKING DECISIONS THAT PROTECT ALL ITS RESIDENTS AND WORKERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
I TOO, UH, SUPPORT, UH, NOT GOING FORWARD WITH THE STAFF PROPOSAL.
AND I HAVE TWO THOUGHTS ON IT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
ONE, WE RECENTLY IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORLD GOT SOME RESEARCH OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO REGARDING MARIJUANA USES CHANGING SHORT-TERM MEMORY.
AND THEY GAVE AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT FUNCTIONS DRIVING.
AND OF COURSE, A LONGER SPAN OF TIME TO GET DRUG IMPAIRED AT A LOUNGE WOULD ONLY INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND I THINK IT'S SORT OF STARTLING THAT OF ALL THE EXAMPLES THEY COULD GIVE RE REGARDING SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS AND ITS IMPACT, THE ONE THEY PICKED TO GIVE WAS ABOUT DRIVING.
AND THE EXAMPLE THEY GIVE, I'M LOOKING AT IT NOW, IS THAT IF YOU TURN YOUR HEAD TO LOOK BEHIND YOU AT THE TRAFFIC AND TURN BACK TO LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC, YOU WOULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAW TO MAKE JUDGEMENTS ABOUT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE DON'T NEED MORE OF THAT IN NATIONAL CITY ON OUR ROADS.
MY SECOND THOUGHT WAS THAT THE REASON WHY IT WAS BEING ASKED FOR, REMEMBER THIS BUSINESS ISN'T EVEN OPEN, IS BECAUSE IT'S MIGHT PUT ITSELF MORE IN LINE WITH THE STATE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT EVER BEING IN LINE WITH THE STATE IS REALLY ANYBODY'S IDEA OF A CRITERIA THAT NEEDS TO BE MET.
AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN NATIONAL CITY, UH, THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT THAT IT OFFERS TO US HERE IN OUR CITIES.
AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL THE LABOR INTENSIVE EXPENSE, UH, AND EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVING.
SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO NOW.
AON, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, MY NAME IS ALEX AON AND I'M REPRESENTING SESSIONS BY THE BAY, THE LICENSED CANNABIS BUSINESS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
I APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING THIS ITEM.
UH, NATIONAL CITY ACTUALLY HAS THE MOST RESTRICTED HOURS OF ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT REGULATE CANNABIS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORING CITIES, SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL BEACH.
AND CHULA VISTA, WHICH ALIGN WITH THE STATE HOURS, RESTRICTED HOURS, ACTUALLY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT HURTS THE COMMUNITY, THE LEGAL INDUSTRY, AND THE CITY'S ECONOMIC POTENTIAL.
UH, SO WHY THIS CHANGE IS URGENT AND NECESSARY, CUSTOMERS ARE BEING PUSHED TO COMPETITORS.
[02:40:01]
MANY PREFER TO SHOP BEFORE WORK OR AFTER DINNER OR HOUSEHOLD DUTIES, BUT OUR RESTRICTED HOURS FORCE THEM TO TAKE THEIR BUS BUSINESS ELSEWHERE, WHICH BENEFITS COMPETITORS IN CHULA VISTA IN SAN DIEGO, AND REDIRECTS VALUABLE TAX REVENUE AWAY FROM NATIONAL CITY.UM, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALSO THE VERY REAL RISK AND WORSE THAN LOSING A CUSTOMER TO A COMPETITOR IS LOSING THEM TO THE BLACK MARKET.
RESTRICTIVE HOURS FUEL THE ILLICIT MARKET WHERE PRODUCTS ARE UNREGULATED, UNSAFE, AND SOLD WITHOUT ID CHECKS OR REGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE MORE THE BLACK MARKET THRIVES, THE GREATER THE RISK OF YOUTH ACCESS AND ILLICIT ACTIVITY.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO LICENSED HIGHLY REGULATED RETAILERS THAT THE CITY HAS VETTED, STRENGTHENS CONSUMER SAFETY, PROTECTS YOUTH AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE INDUSTRY.
AND THERE IS ALSO A VERY DRAMATIC ECONOMIC IMPACT.
BY OPERATING 25% FEWER HOURS THAN PERMITTED BY THE STATE, WE ESTIMATE AN APPROXIMATE 15% DAILY LOSS IN REVENUE.
AND THAT TRANSLATES TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LOST TAX REVENUE FUNDS THAT WITHOUT QUESTION WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
THIS OF COURSE, IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF THE BUSINESS AS WELL, AND OUR ABILITY TO OFFER COMPETITIVE PRICES AND WAGES TO OUR WORKFORCE.
NASHVILLE CITY INVESTED TREMENDOUS EFFORT IN CREATING THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND STATE REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
ALIGNING OUR HOURS WITH STATE REGULATIONS IS A SIMPLE YET IMPACTFUL CHANGE THAT WILL HELP LICENSED BUSINESSES THRIVE, PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND GENERATE MORE TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ALREADY MADE THIS ADJUSTMENT, AND WE'RE ASKING NATIONAL CITY TO SIMPLY DO THE SAME.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS CHANGE NOW, NOT LATER, BECAUSE WHEN THE BUSINESS START STRUGGLES FROM THE START, RECOVERY BECOMES THAT MUCH HARDER.
JEOPARDIZING THE INTEGRITY OF THE, OF THE FRAMEWORK HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE CONSIDERATION.
AND MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS.
AND WE DID HAVE ONE, UH, SCRIBED COMMENT FROM TED ACH MOLINA.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR THE PURPOSES OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS FULL DISCUSSION.
UH, AS AN AGENDIZED ITEM, I WILL SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER OR VICE MAYOR BUSH'S MOTION.
UM, THIS BUSINESS HAS AN EXISTING DE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, MR. UM, COUNCIL.
AND SO THERE IS AN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT HASN'T BEEN REALIZED YET.
CORRECT? THE BUSINESS ISN'T OPERATING CORRECT.
DID THE BUSINESS COME TO YOU OR CITY MANAGER COUNCIL? I, I THINK DURING THE PROCESS THEY, THEY'VE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE MADE REQUESTS OF VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE, THIS ISSUE OF EXTENDING THE HOURS, BUT NOT TO YOU OR CITY MANAGER.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE THAT THEY'VE DISCUSSED WITH ME BRIEFLY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, THEY, THEY WANTED TO PURSUE THIS REQUEST FOR I THINK MONTHS NOW.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MEMBER RODRIGUEZ? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I, UM, I, I WAS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE AND WORKED VERY HARD TO GET IT THROUGH.
AND, UH, HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, ADVOCATING FOR THIS BUSINESS, THESE BUSINESSES TO OPEN UP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I DO HAVE, UH, HESITATION.
UM, I AM, UH, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF THE, OF THE BUSINESS ITSELF, BUT I DO HAVE HESITATION BECAUSE, UM, UH, WE DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS ITEMS, THIS PRE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, WE DISCUSSED THAT THROUGH THE LAWSUITS THAT HAD BEEN THROUGH AGAINST US.
UH, THROUGH THE LAWSUITS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST US, UH, WE HAD AGREED TO ALLOW THIS TO PLAY OUT, LET THE BUSINESSES OPEN, AND THEN MODIFY THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, WHICH I'VE BEEN A FAN OF, TO DO AS, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO REVISIT THE ORDINANCE AND, AND, UM, LOOK AT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT.
SO I WANT TO PROVIDE, UM, I WANNA BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT KIND OF LINE OF THINKING THAT, UH, AT LEAST I HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SAYING PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY OVER THE LAST, UH, SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS.
UM, BUT, BUT, UH, UH, I BELIEVE THAT SESSIONS, BY THE WAY, AS WELL AS EVERY OTHER I OPERATOR, UM, THAT HAS APPLIED FOR A LICENSE AND RECEIVED IT HERE IN THE CITY, HAS HAD GOOD INTENT.
AND I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO TRY TO OPEN UP IN OUR CITY, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT 'EM THROUGH THE CHAIR.
UM, THIS WAS A, UH, A, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN AN ITEM THAT YOU, PRIOR TO ME BEING ON
[02:45:01]
THE DS, UM, WORK SO HARD TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN TO PUT THROUGH.UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE ARE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, UM, WHICH IS, I'M EXCITED.
THEY, THEY HAVE A, UH, A MARKETING FLYER THAT SAYS THEY'RE GONNA OPEN, AND I HAVE A INVITE FROM THE CHAMBER IF THEY'RE GONNA OPEN MARCH 28TH.
I'M EXCITED FOR THEM TO COME THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO REALIZE, UM, THAT PART OF THE BUSINESS OR THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND, UM, SESSIONS BY THE BAY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOW WOULD THAT PAN OUT FIRST BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE, UM, ADDRESSING RIGHT NOW WITH REGARDS TO THIS BUSINESS? SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THREAD ON THIS SLIGHTLY, UM, BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T WANNA MAKE THE, THE OVERSIGHT THAT WERE, THAT HAPPENED BEFORE.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, BEING MORE DILIGENT IN HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS BUSINESS INTO OUR CITY.
AND HECK, WE, WE MAY GET REALLY, UH, UH, A LOT OF ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM IT, BUT RIGHT NOW LET'S JUST HELP THEM OPEN, UM, HELP THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, SUCCEED.
AND THEN WHEN WE SEE THOSE CHANGES AND WE SEE THOSE NEED, THEN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
I HEAR MY COLLEAGUES AND YOUR CONCERNS, AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT WOULD COME BACK FOR A DISCUSSION.
AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT, BUT THIS, YOU KNOW, THE HOURS WEREN'T AT ALL THE, A PART OF THE LEGAL CHALLENGE, SO THAT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE ITEM.
SO I WOULD ASK, WE'D BE FLEXIBLE THAT WE THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A REVENUE CHALLENGE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL, BE CREATIVE AND LOOK AT ALL THE ITEMS FOR, FOR REVENUE.
AND SO, UM, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THIS, I, I DEFINITELY WANNA ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, UH, PORTION OF IT.
AND, AND ALEX HAS, UH, FOR ME, AND I THINK IT COMING BACK, WOULD GIVE AN UP ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR, TO SWITCH THOSE CONCERNS TOO, THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I JUST DON'T WANT US TO HAVE ANOTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, TO OPEN US UP WITH, UM, ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, I MEAN ANOTHER, UM, PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, UM, ANY CHANGES THAT THEY MAKE WITH THE TDA RIGHT NOW HAS TO COME BACK TO US ANYWAY.
SO, UM, WHY CAN'T WE JUST SUPPORT WHAT YOU HAVE AGREED AND APPROVED THEN, UM, AND, UH, TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING.
LET'S OPEN THIS AND LET'S HAVE FUN.
ANYTHING ELSE? UH, OKAY, NOW I WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR THIS, SO I WAS KIND DID IT.
HUH? YOU DID IT THERE, RIGHT? YEAH.
UM, THE, UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I SEE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND, UH, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND SO, I MEAN, IT'S A BUSINESS AND, AND RIGHT NOW IT IS, IT IS OUR LAW, IT IS OUR ORDINANCE.
UM, THIS, YOU KNOW, IS THERE, I AGREE WITH YOU, THEY'RE ASKING FOR CHANGES BEFORE THEY OPEN UP.
AND I THINK THAT'S A, THAT IS DEFINITELY A QUESTION.
UM, BUT TO ME, I STILL NEED TO BE CONVINCED AND, BUT I, TO BE CONVINCED, I HAVE TO HEAR WHAT THE RATIONALE IS, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA HEAR THAT WITHOUT HAVING A DISCUSSION.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE MOTION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH ANYTHING, BUT AT LEAST HAVE THE DISCUSSION, LET 'EM CONVINCE US THAT THERE'S A RATIONALE ON THIS.
BUT THAT, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
AND, AND JUST TO, UH, CLARIFY THE MOTION TOO.
SO I'LL, I WOULD WORK WITH, UH, WITH STAFF, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO, TO BRING THAT BACK.
SO I ALREADY RAN THIS BY HIM FROM A OVER LIKE, HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF THE FAIRLY MINOR, UH, CHANGES.
UM, AND SO, YEAH, SO WE CAN BRING THIS BACK FOR DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT PHASE AT THE NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.
IN THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN MARCH.
THE, THE MOTION IS JUST TO BRING THIS BACK FOR DISCUSSION ON A FUTURE AGENDA AND, UH, UH, EXCUSE ME, MR. MAYOR.
JUST, JUST THAT PLEASE CONSIDER THE, UM, UH, UH, LAWSUITS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE ORDINANCE.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ASK OUR LEGAL TEAM TO REVIEW THAT ABSOLUTELY.
AS THEY BRING THE RECOMMENDATION BACK TO COUNCIL.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, PLEASE VOTE.
[12. ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT]
ALRIGHT.NEXT WE GO ON TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE'LL START DOWN HERE ON MY LEFT.
UM, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, THANK YOU.
STAFF EDCO, UH, COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT FOR
[02:50:01]
THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP AT ALTOON PARK, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO.HAD A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, UH, DROP OFF.
UM, ANYTHING FROM COUCHES TO, UM, YEAH, JUST A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THANK YOU ALL STAFF FOR BEING THERE.
UM, I DID NOTICE A LOT OF PUBLIC WORK STAFF THERE, UH, AND BEN SHOWED UP AS WELL.
NO, UM, AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A VERY TUMULTUOUS TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I REALLY WANNA THANK COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR BEING OPEN TO DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, HELPING, UH, PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR OUR UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION THAT IS LIVING IN TERROR AT THE MOMENT.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO ALL THE FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, EMPLOYEES OR STAFF FOR THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
UM, I SEE SOME OF YOU HERE, OUR CITY ENGINEER BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTORS FOR STAYING WITH US.
WHEN WE SEE YOU, YOU INSPIRE US BECAUSE WE GET OUR KNOWLEDGE FROM ALL OF YOU.
ALRIGHT, MEMBER MOLINA, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STICKING AROUND.
UH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA BE AN EARLIER MEETING, UH, BUT WE ARE ALREADY PAST NINE, SO THANK YOU.
UM, I WANNA INVITE THE COMMUNITY THIS SATURDAY.
THERE WILL BE A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER WORKSHOP.
THIS IS BEING PUT IN PLACE, UH, THROUGH ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAVID ALVAREZ'S OFFICE.
IT'S HERE IN NATIONAL CITY AT MLK, UM, FROM 10:00 AM TO 12 NOON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND.
PLEASE COME AND LEARN, UH, ABOUT, UM, FIRST TIME HOME BUYER WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I ALSO WANT TO, UH, NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY THAT I WILL BE RESUMING DISTRICT ONE TOWN HALLS.
UM, WE TALK ABOUT TOPICS RELATED TO DISTRICT ONE, BUT THIS IS OPEN TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS, IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING.
THE LOCATION IS CHANGING FOR, UM, ALL OF THIS YEAR, 2025.
UM, PREVIOUSLY WE WERE HOLDING THEM AT CASA DE SAUD, BUT THANKS TO A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT IS HAPPENING FOR, UM, THE YOUTH IN NATIONAL CITY AT CASA DE SAUD.
UH, THE CENTER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SPACE TO HOLD THE, UH, THE TOWN HALLS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND HOLD THEM HERE AT CITY HALL IN THE EVENINGS ON TUESDAYS.
UH, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE FEBRUARY 25TH, UH, FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM IN THE LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
AND I INVITE, UH, ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED IN, UH, DISTRICT ONE TOPICS TO COME AND, UH, DISCUSS.
UM, SPEAKING OF BIRTHDAYS AT COUNCIL MEMBER IMANI BROUGHT UP, UH, OUR OFFICE STARTED A PROGRAM AND I THINK ALL THE EMPLOYEE, THIS IS EMPLOYEE RELATED, A BIRTHDAY PAR CARD PROGRAM WHERE IT STARTED IT ACTUALLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
I TALKED TO EMILY ABOUT THIS, JUST REVAMPING THE CARDS BECAUSE THEY'RE PRETTY GENERIC.
THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED SINCE I WAS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER LIKE 10 YEARS AGO.
AND IT JUST FELT VERY, IT JUST FELT VERY LIKE A MACHINE, JUST VERY LOST ITS SOUL KIND OF.
SO WE, IT, IT WAS JUST OUR ATTEMPT TO JUST SHOW YOU ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO CARE THAT WE LIKE, GENUINELY FROM OUR HEARTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE CREATIVE WITH IT, AND WE WANT ALL OF YOUR GUYS' INPUT.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR, HIS ASSISTANT JOSIE, DANIEL, DANIEL DID A TON OF WORK ON THIS.
SO I REALLY GOTTA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DANIEL GONZALEZ.
MY, MY COUNCIL REP, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI HAD SOME DESIGN IDEAS.
SO IT WAS REALLY A TEAM EFFORT, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS I REALLY LIKE IS, UM, IS GOING TO LOCAL, NATIONAL CITY, SMALL BUSINESSES AND REQUESTING COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS.
SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT JUST, UM, UH, NOT JUST A GIFT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING OUR DOLLARS LIKE IN, IN THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO, UM, OH, AND BEN, BEN, SORRY BEN.
AND BEN TOO, BEN WAS A, A, A STRONG SUPPORTER AND LIKE, WOULDN'T HAVE, WOULDN'T HAVE.
WE EVEN GOT THIS FAR WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT.
SO IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST SHOWING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT, THAT WE CARE AND WE, WE WANT TO, UH, WE WANT TO HONOR YOU ALL AND THE, THE EMPLOYEES AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.
AND THEN TO DO WANNA RESPOND TO, TO THE, THE MORRISONS ABOUT THE LINCOLN ANCHORS ANNEXATION.
SO IT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL PROPOSAL, UM, BUT I WILL SAY AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I HAVE STARTED THE CONVERSATION.
AND SO THE REASON I WANTED TO START THIS CONVERSATION, IT'S GONNA TAKE MANY YEARS, UH, TO, TO EVEN GET TO THAT POINT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING, UH, IMMINENT.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I WANT US TO CONSIDER ANNEXATION OF LINCOLN ACRES.
AND, AND THE REASON WHY IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME, I GREW UP IN LINCOLN ACRES, UM, WENT TO
[02:55:01]
LINCOLN ACRES ELEMENTARY AND THEN IN GRANGER.UM, I GREW UP ON FENTON PLACE, SO THE BOUNDARIES ZIGZAG.
AND WHAT I NOTICED GROWING UP IN LINCOLN ACRES IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME SERVICES THE NATIONAL CITY DOES.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO GRAFFITI RESPONSE, WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONSE FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF SURFACE AS, UM, AS SERVICE.
AND SO, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A WHOLE ANALYSIS AND STUDY.
SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS I WOULD HAVE IS, WOULD TAXES GO, LIKE, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT, UH, TAXES? HOW WOULD IT IT IMPACT, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, A ZONING? SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE USES WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN.
SO IT'S, IT'S, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S A LONG PROCESS.
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME IS, UH, MAINTAINING THE COMMUNITY IDENTITY.
LINCOLN ACRES, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, SUBURBS OF, UH, SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY.
I DON'T THINK, I THINK THE COUNTY HAS FAILED IN HONORING, UH, THAT HISTORY.
WE'VE SEEN THE TEARING DOWN OF LANDMARKS AND THE, THE CHANGE OF THE, THE MARK, THE REMOVAL OF THE MARQUEE, WHICH I THINK WAS A HISTORICAL, UH, IT'S A THEATER.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK.
UM, AND SO I THINK NATIONAL CITY COULD DO A BETTER JOB.
SO, BUT I'M OPEN TO, UH, ALL OPTIONS.
UM, MAYBE IT'S JUST BOUNDARY CHANGES.
MAYBE IT'S LINCOLN, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS COULD BE LINCOLN ACRES INCORPORATING INTO ITS OWN CITY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE, HONESTLY, BUT I'M OPEN TO THAT CONSIDERATION AND ASK THAT, THAT EVERYONE'S OPEN TO THAT TOO.
I THINK THERE IS A, A MEETING ON THURSDAY, A COMMUNITY MEETING, A WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY.
SO I'M DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT, UH, COMMUNITY CONCERNS ARE THERE.
AND, UM, I THINK, UH, THAT'S IT.
ONE THING I WAS ALSO GONNA MENTION ABOUT, UH, ASSEMBLYMAN ALVAREZ'S, UH, WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY MORNING, AND THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING REALLY LARGE RESPONSES, UH, PEOPLE ALREADY CALLING IN AND RSVPING ON THAT, LIKE WELL OVER A HUNDRED ALREADY.
SO, UM, SO I WOULD REALLY SUGGEST PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
UH, ANOTHER THING IS, IS THAT, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA BROUGHT UP A ISSUE TO ME AND A REQUEST, AND, UH, AND THAT WAS TO HAVE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE.
AND THIS BASICALLY DEALING WITH OUR, OUR DISTRICT POLICIES, OUR UNIFIED DISTRICT POLICIES, AND DEALING WITH CONSISTENCY AND PRACTICES BETWEEN OUR, OUR, OUR, UH, DISTRICTS.
'CAUSE DISTRICTS WERE SET UP FOR AS A BOATING SITUATION, BUT NOW WE GOTTA SEE HOW WE FUNCTION TOGETHER AS A CITY AS A WHOLE.
UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING CLEAR COMMUNICATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU KNOW, EQUITY AND FAIRNESS, DEALING WITH ALL OF THESE.
AND THEN ALSO HAVING, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF GUIDELINES AS WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WITHIN, UH, WITHIN THE DISTRICTS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND BRING AND HAVE THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE BRING THAT, UH, INFORMATION BACK TO THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT AND HEAR IT.
AND SO I WILL BE APPOINTING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF, UH, MEMBER MOLINA AND ALSO, UH, MEMBER YAMANI, THANK YOU.
AND, UH, UH, TO WORK ON THAT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A, A TIME RUSH OR WHATEVER, BUT, UH, BUT I SAY, UM, THE VERY PRINCIPLES OF AN AD HOC YOU CAN NORMALLY HAVE, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ONLY, YOU CAN'T DRAG IT OUT TOO LONG.
SO, UH, UH, SO ANYWAY, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT TO THE, THE TWO OF YOU AND THEN JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT, WHATEVER YOUR, WHENEVER YOUR PROGRESS HAS MOVED ON TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE NEXT STAGE.
NOW, ONE OTHER THING THAT I'M GONNA BRING UP, AND IT'S SIMPLY, AND THIS IS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU SIT HERE, UH, A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF STUFF.
AND PEOPLE REALIZE THAT FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL YOU CAN SAY JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ABOUT 'EM, AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT CAN GET CRAZY.
AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON AN IMAGINED PERSONAL VENDETTA THAT ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO JUST TRY TO CAUSE AS MUCH HAVOC AS POSSIBLE.
AND WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS, THERE WAS COMMENTS EARLIER THIS EVENING, UH, AND THE, UH, DURING THE, UH, CLOSED SESSION, UH, UH, OR, OR YEAH, OUR CLOSED SESSION, UH, MEETING BEFORE THIS, THERE WAS CO MEETING, THERE WAS COMMENTS MADE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF, UH, UH, UH, MEETINGS HERE AND BY THEM AND BY SOME OF THEIR SUPPORTERS.
UM, AND THEY ARE JUST MAKING ALL KIND OF CRAZY CLAIMS ABOUT BOTH MYSELF AND MY STAFF.
AND THE DEAL IS THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT WE PROVE THAT WE PROVE THAT WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF THEM PROVING WE DID SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHERE THE IDEA YOU'RE INNOCENT UNTIL YOU'RE PROVEN GUILTY, BUT INSTEAD THEIR DEAL IS YOU'RE GUILTY UNTIL YOU PROVE YOU'RE INNOCENT.
AND WE CAN JUST MAKE WHATEVER CLAIMS WE WANT TO OUT.
[03:00:01]
NO, NO MATTER HOW OUTLANDISH THEY ARE.AND YOU KNOW, AND SO, AND SO, A LOT OF TIMES I HAVE TO SIT HERE AND KIND OF TAKE IT WHEN THEY SAY THESE THINGS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU DON'T SAY SOMETHING BACK, PEOPLE THINK, WELL, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING TO IT.
AND ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS IT'S A BUNCH OF LIES AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO PLAY THIS GAME AND CONTINUING TO SNOWBALL THIS THING AND SAYING THINGS THAT ARE VERY RECKLESS AND THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER, AS MUCH AS THEY WANNA DO LEGAL STUFF, THEY MAYBE HAVE TO HAVE TO GO LEGAL THE OTHER DIRECTION.
AND BECAUSE YOU, YOU GOTTA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR, YOUR WORDS AND WHAT YOU PUT OUT TO PEOPLE.
AND YOU CAN SAY THINGS TO A CERTAIN POINT AND YOU CAN HAVE VIEWPOINTS AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY, EVERYONE'S ENTITLED TO THEIR VIEWPOINTS.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALITIES WITHOUT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE AND JUST MAKING IT UP OUTTA THIN EAR, THAT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO THEREFORE, I DID WANNA PUT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT, UH, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, SURE THEY CAN SAY IT DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU NONE OF THE STUFF THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE.
AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT WITH THAT.
AND AS SAY I'VE BEEN IN THIS OFFICE FOR TOO LONG, 33RD YEAR, AND MY INTEGRITY AND MY HONESTY, UH, AND THAT OF MY OFFICE IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I'VE WORKED TOO HARD TO GET IT TO THE POINT TO ALLOW PEOPLE JUST TO MAKE UP STUFF AND UH, AND GO AROUND AND GLOAT ABOUT IT.
[13. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
OF OUR DEAL.I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR ANY REPORT OUT A CLOSED SESSION.
WE HAD ONE ITEM FOR CLOSED SESSION.
IT WAS THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THAT EVALUATION HAS BEEN INITIATED AND WILL BE CONTINUED AT A FUTURE CLOSED SESSION.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED TO OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL BE ON MARCH 4TH.