[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY BY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER UNDER AB UH, 24 49, AND WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI, UH, FOR A NEED TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY FOLLOWING THE REQUIREMENTS OF AB 24 49, WE MUST FIRST CONFIRM THAT THERE IS A QUORUM PRESENT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND THERE IS WITH FOUR MEMBERS AT THE DAAS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IMANI IS PRESENT VIA, VIA ZOOM.
COUNCIL MEMBER IMANI, PLEASE ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL TO A FIRST CONFIRM THAT YOU CAN BE HEARD AND SEEN AND THAT YOU CAN HEAR AND SEE THE DAAS.
I CAN HEAR AND I CAN SEE THE DAAS.
AND WE CAN HEAR AND SEE YOU, UH, WITH THAT, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THE NEED TO APPEAR REMOTELY.
I AM OUT OF TOWN IN A CONFERENCE TO ATTEND, UM, SWEETWATER AUTHORITIES OBLIGATION AS, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
AND THEN ALSO YOUR THERE IS, SORRY, GO AHEAD, MAYOR.
ARE YOU CLAIMING YOUR ABSENCE UNDER JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES? JUST COST MR. MAYOR.
UH, WITH THAT THEN, UH, IS THERE ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 18 OF YEARS OF YEARS OF AGE PRESENT AT THE REMOTE LOCATION WITH YOU? NO.
AND THEN IF WE COULD HAVE THE CLERK TO CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF TIMES COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI HAS APPEARED, APPEARED REMOTELY WITHIN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
MAYOR, THIS WOULD MAKE THE FOURTH APPEARANCE.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, WE WILL TAKE A, UH, ROLL CALL VOTE ON, UH, HAVING HER RE, UH, APPEAR REMOTELY.
WITH THAT, UH, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I REQUEST THE INTERPRETER TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETATION SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THIS EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I WILL REPEAT THIS MESSAGE IN SPANISH.
ALRIGHT, AS A REMINDER, IF WE COULD PLEASE SILENCE ALL CELL PHONES OR ANY OTHER DEVICES IN THE CHAMBER THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WITH THAT, I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER A LIVE WEBCAST, THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING VIA ZOOM, VIEWING THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE MEETING, INTERPRETER INSTRUCTIONS WILL APPEAR IN THE CHAT BOX AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO SIT IN THE CHAMBER, HEADSETS ARE AVAILABLE.
TO PROVIDE THE LIVE SPANISH TRANSLATION, PLEASE SEE THE CITY'S CLERK'S DESK, UH, TO CHECK OUT A HEADSET.
THE NOTICE AGENDA AND INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF NASHVILLE CITY'S WEBSITE INFORMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY MAY SUBMIT A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
IN PERSON IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER BY SUBMITTING ONE OF THE SALMON COLORED REQUEST TO ENTER, UH, COMMENT QUEUE SLIPS OR BY ZOOM, UH, BY REGISTERING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND RAISING A HAND DURING THE ITEM TO COMMENT OR EMAILING NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS.
UH, BEFORE THE MEETING, ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IF RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
WITH THAT, COULD WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ PRESENT.
IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
AND, UH, UH, MEMBER LINA, WOULD YOU THIS PLEASE? YES.
WHEN HE BEGIN, I FLAG ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MY NAME IS JIM CARTMEL AND I'VE SERVED AS THE VOLUNTEER PASTOR FOR EAST LAKE CHURCH AT PARADISE VILLAGE RETIREMENT, UH, UH, COMMUNITY HERE IN NATIONAL CITY FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE THERE AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL CITY, UH, CLERGY ASSOCIATION, WHICH I FIND
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QUITE IRONIC AS A RECOVERING POLITICIAN MYSELF THAT DURING ELECTION SEASON I WOULD BE GIVING THE INVOCATION THIS EVENING.SO WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE? HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE JUST PRAY RIGHT NOW.
UH, AS THE GREAT THEOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHER TOLSTOY SAID, EVERYBODY THINKS ABOUT CHANGING HUMANITY, BUT NOBODY EVER THINKS ABOUT CHANGING THEMSELVES.
FATHER GOD, HELP THOSE THAT ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO BE THAT CHANGE IN A, IN A, IN A WORLD THAT SEEMS TO BE UPSIDE DOWN SOMETIMES.
AND FATHER GOD, I'M GONNA PRAY FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR THE PUBLIC SERVANTS THAT SERVE THIS CITY AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
UH, WHAT PAUL TOLD YOUNG TIMOTHY IN TWO TIMOTHY ONE, SEVEN, GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.
I PRAY, FATHER GOD, THAT WE USE YOUR POWER TO SERVE OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE YOUR LOVE, YOUR AGAPE LOVE TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR OTHERS, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.
AND FATHER GOD, I PRAY IN THE MIDST OF EVERYTHING GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORLD TODAY, THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT SOUND MIND, THAT PEACE THAT ONLY YOU CAN GIVE.
AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, UM, WE KNOW THAT IN THE ARENA IT'S VERY STRESSFUL AT TIMES.
AND SO FATHER GOD, GIVE THEM A SPECIAL DOSE OF YOUR PEACE AS WELL.
AND WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN JESUS' NAME.
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
WE'LL GO INTO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.THESE ARE ON ITEMS OR MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
AND UH, WE WILL BE, UH, WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TONIGHT, SO WE WILL BE CALLING THEM UP ONCE WE DO OUR, UH, ZOOM.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL BE CALLING THEM UP AND UH, WE'LL CALL UP NORMALLY THREE PEOPLE AT A TIME.
SO PLEASE, WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, IF YOU'LL COME OUT INTO THE AISLE THAT WAY IT GOES A LOT, LOT FASTER.
SO WE'LL TURN THAT ON OVER HERE TO OUR CITY CLERKS.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS I'VE HAD TODAY WITH MY WORK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I SPENT THE AFTERNOON DOING SOME WORKSHOPS WITH THEM.
IT WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEIR MATURITY AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ROLE.
THEY WERE SOMEWHAT SURPRISED TO UNDERSTAND IN THIS COUNTY, THE AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA IS 12.
AND REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE AVERAGE.
SO ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE CAN AND DOES BEGIN EARLIER.
SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT ADDICTION IS A PEDIATRIC ONSET DISEASE AND THAT PREVENTING ITS INITIATIVE CAN NEVER BE UNDERESTIMATED AS A GOAL FOR ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE LEADERS.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WHY THEIR PEERS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, THEY FELT THAT THEY THEMSELVES NEEDED TO SPEAK UP MORE, AND THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA, OF COURSE, HAS AFFECTED THEIR PEERS AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT THEY SEE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT THE MESSAGING IS.
THEY KNOW THAT CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, OR MARIJUANA BUSINESSES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN THE PERCEPTION OF RISK IS MUTED.
AND THAT WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE BEGIN THIS USE BEFORE THE AGE OF 19 HAS A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THEIR BRAIN AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
AND THEY RECOGNIZE AMONG THEIR FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN MARIJUANA AND ALCOHOL USE HAS CREATED PROBLEMS FOR THEM IN SCHOOL AND THEN FOR THEIR FUTURE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD TO REALIZE HERE IN NATIONAL CITY THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, LOOK AT THE RETAIL SETTINGS OF MARIJUANA, TOBACCO, AND ALCOHOL, AND SEE IF WE COULDN'T RATCHET BACK THEIR FOOTPRINT OF INFLUENCE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE ZOOM COMMENTS.
SO WE'LL GO ON IN, IN-PERSON COMMENTS.
CESAR JAVIER, FOLLOWED BY PURITA JAVIER, FOLLOWED BY TED GOTCH.
WE APOLOGIZE HUMBLY AND, UH, WE SUGGEST RESPECTFULLY THE CHAIR THAT I WILL READ MY WIFE'S THOUGHT BECAUSE OF HER MEDICAL CONDITION.
THANK YOU, SIR FOR TWO MINUTES.
I AM PURITA JAVIER, SENIOR AND VICTIM OF POISON GAS EMISSION FROM THIS PRODUCT MANUFACTURING CERAMICS
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NEXT DOOR.MOM, ANI KNOWS THIS SHARE BUS KNOWS THIS, UH, HAZARD SERVED BUSINESS SINCE 1984 AT A RESIDENTIAL ZONE DEDICATED, POPULATED ASIAN AMERICAN, LATINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
WE SOUGHT HELP FROM THE POLICE UP THE LADDER CITY.
MAYOR GLORIA, COUNCILOR RIVERA.
THIS IS OUR LEADERSHIP WHO IS ASPIRING TO BE A MAYOR.
COUNCILOR RIVERA, YOU ARE THE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL THINKER.
YOU WERE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNING BOARD A PCD THAT INCLUDES THEN CHAIR, UH, BUS, MARCUS BUS.
YOU GAVE US HOPE IN YOUR LETTERS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ABATE AND OR TRANSFER THIS HAZARDOUS BUSINESS IN A SAFER PLACE.
YOU IGNORED US UP TO THIS DATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT.
UH, COUNSELOR BUSH, YOU CAME TO OUR SITE, YOU SAW THE FLAG HANGING THERE FACING THE KILN, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A HEARTY, HOPEFUL ACTION.
YOU ARE AN ENVIRONMENT THEIST AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE ARE CONSISTENTLY HERE BECAUSE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS COME FROM MY TURN, SIR.
YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING LIKE ALL OF US SURVIVALISTS AND WE ARE WORKING FOR IT.
THIS IS A CHALLENGE TO OUR MORAL DIMENSION, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR LEADERSHIP AS PUBLIC SERVANT HUMANS, THE SAN DIEGOS ARE EXPECTED, HOPEFUL OF YOUR MORAL DIMENSION, MEANING THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
ANI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE THAT YOU ONLY VOICE YOUR COMMUNITY CONCERN AND NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR POLLUTION HAPPENING OR POLLUTION CRISIS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER.
THAT IS NOT AN ADVICE, MA'AM, PLEASE.
AND I REMEMBER ALSO WE ASKED YOU TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY OF THE COPA.
YOU KNOW, COPA IN MESSIAH, IT'S BAD WORD, COUNCIL OF AMERICAN, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
FILIPINO AMERICANS, A COMMUNITY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WHERE'S THE MONEY? MAIA MONEY.
WE NEED THE TRUST BE BROUGHT BACK TO US.
AND COINCIDENCE, WE HAVE A CELEBRATION RECOGNIZING OUR FILIPINO AMERICAN HERITAGE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE IT IS OUR JUMPING BOARD.
SINCE THIS IS NON AGENDA, WE LOVE TO HEAR THE HISTORICAL DARK DAYS OF THE FILIPINOS.
WE WERE PUT IN A ZOO OR THE AMERICANS TO SEE HOW THESE PEOPLE TRIBE THEY ARE CRUEL SUBURBS PEOPLE.
TED GODSHAW FOLLOWED BY WENDY EGAN, FOLLOWED BY MCKAYLA POLANCO.
CERTAINLY TRUMP FIRED HIS PRESS SECRETARY AFTER FIVE DAYS.
MITCH BEAM THREW IN THE TOWEL AND JERRY CONNO, SHOULD WE CALL IT MAYBE A WELLNESS CHECK THIS HERE, THIS ORGANIZATION IS STARTING TO UNRAVEL.
TONIGHT'S AGENDA SPEAKS TO THE SLOW DECLINE AND THE STRUGGLE TO TURN IT AROUND.
YOU HIRED A CITY MANAGER TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
HIS CONTRACT IS MORE THAN 100 DAYS OLD.
AND WE'RE NOT STARTING WITH ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT ON THE BUDGET CRISIS HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA REHASH THE CANNABIS SALES YOU ENDORSED JUST BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION FOUR YEARS AGO, AND YOU HAVE FAILED AT POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS.
BOTH CANDIDATES CHOSE TO ENDORSE WEED SALES AND NOW THEY WANNA RECOGNIZE THE
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FALSE PRO.THEY WON'T RECOGNIZE THE FALSE PROMISES THEY MADE BEFORE THE ELECTION.
BOTH INCUMBENTS ARE SUPPORTED BY BIG BUSINESS MILE LA CARS, PLAZA, BONITA, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SEIU BUILDING TRADES.
THEY ALL HAVE A STAKE IN SOMETHING IN CONTRACTS AND OF COURSE IN PUB.
AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CON EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
BIG BUSINESS AND MONEY BACK, BOTH CANDIDATES.
I ASK YOU, WILL YOU TAX THE PEOPLE OF NATIONAL CITY? AGAIN, YOUR UNION SUPPORTERS FROM THE SEIU ARE HERE TONIGHT.
NOT SURE WHY YOU BOTH SUPPORTED THEIR CONTRACTS.
SEIU IS WONDERFUL THAT THEY'VE GAINED A DEGREE OF POWER.
IT'S NOT CLOSE, I THINK TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SEIU GAIN PORTABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS WITH OTHER CITIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH EVERY CITY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
AND IF THEY WERE TO LOSE THEIR JOB HERE, MAYBE THEY COULD FILL IN SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS THEM, THAT THEIR BUDGET CAN SUPPORT 'EM.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SAIU MEMBERS SIDE WITH THE POOR AND THE MIDDLE CLASS OF NATIONAL CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND DEMAND THAT THE BUDGET IS CORRECTED.
WENDY EGAN, FOLLOWED BY MCKAYLA POLANCO, FOLLOWED BY LOUISA MCCARTHY.
GOOD, IT'S ME AGAIN HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK.
FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU ALL, EVERYBODY, UM, TO OUR HOPE IN MOTION GALA THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND.
YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK INVITING YOU TO OUR CELEBRATION.
IT'S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO SHARE THAT INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK NETWORK RECENTLY RECEIVED THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE OFFERING FREE INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE, WE GOT WORD FROM THE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT GRANT AND THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL GRANT.
HOWEVER, DESPITE THIS EXCITING NEWS, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT SPACE.
EVEN AFTER SPEAKING WITH MR. PACHECO.
WE FIND OURSELVES CONSIDERING LEASING A COMMERCIAL FACILITY, UH, TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
I UNDERSTAND OUR CITY IS FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS MUST BE MADE.
I SINCERELY ASK THE COUNCIL TO BE WISE AND THOUGHTFUL WHEN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
UH, PLEASE REMEMBER SOME OF OUR RULES.
MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ARE CHILDREN AND OUR SENIORS.
THEY DEPEND ON OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE CONNECTION, SUPPORT, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
AS WE APPROACH THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.
I WANT TO WISH EVERY CANDIDATE THE VERY BEST.
UH, SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN
I CERTAINLY HAVE MY FAVORITES, BUT ABOVE ALL, I VALUE THE LEADERS WHOSE LOYALTY IS TO THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.
REGARDLESS OF PARTY, MAY THE BEST PERSON WIN AND WHOEVER'S ELECTED WILL HAVE MY RESPECT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER FOR ITS FUTURE.
MIKAYLA POLANCO, FOLLOWED BY LUISA MCCARTHY, FOLLOWED BY MICAH GARY.
UM, TODAY AS WE APPROACH THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION, I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THE PAGE AND BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER FOR NATIONAL CITY SEVEN MORE DAYS.
RON, TILL YOU LEAVE, WHICH IS GONNA BE MY MOST ETERNAL SEVEN DAYS.
I WANNA THANK YOU NOT FOR LEAVING THE CITY IN A THRIVING, FLOURISHING STATE, BUT FOR STEPPING DOWN, HAVING THE COURAGE, AND FINALLY HAVING THE BLES TO STEPPING DOWN BECAUSE THE CITY REALLY DESERVES THIS WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE BALLOT.
THIS ELECTION IS OUR CHANCE TO CHOOSE LEADERS WHO WILL PRIORITIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS OVER PERSONAL INTERESTS.
AND I WANT TO HONOR THE CITY OFFICIALS AND THE STAFF WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED INTEGRITY AND A COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.
YOUR DEDICATION HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND YOU SET THE STANDARD FOR WHAT OUR CITY CAN BE.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS NEVER HESITATED TO SPEAK UP FOR NATIONAL CITY EVEN RECENTLY ON THE NEWS WHEN HE, IT MEANT FACING PUSHBACK FROM A WEALTHIER NEIGHBORING CITY BY ERASING IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICIES THAT COULD UNFAIRLY BURN NATIONAL CITY.
RODRIGUEZ HAS SHOWN A COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND PUTTING NATIONAL CITIES RESIDENTS FIRST.
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERY ISSUE, BUT THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY.
WHAT MATTERS MOST IS THAT OUR LEADERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE,
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TRANSPARENT, AND ALWAYS ACT IN THE NATIONAL CITY'S BEST INTEREST.WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO RE TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND TO ENSURE AN OPEN, HONEST GOVERNMENT.
BUT I'M HOPEFUL THIS ELECTION WILL TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION AND LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD BY VOTING FOR LEADERS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY.
LOUISA MCCARTHY, FOLLOWED BY MICAH GEARY, FOLLOWED BY MARIA SSON.
RON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CITY COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT I SPEAK TO YOU WITH RENEWED HOPE AND OPTIMISM FROM NATIONAL CITY'S FUTURE.
YOU MAY FIND THAT SURPRISING, GIVEN THAT HOW MANY MEETINGS I'VE ATTENDED OVER THE YEARS TO HOLD RON MORRISON AND HIS PSYCHO FAN MAJORITY ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT IT'S TRUE TONIGHT, I'M GENUINELY HOPEFUL AND I'M INSPIRED BY RESILIENCE AND DEDICATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN UP, SPOKEN UP, AND WORKED TOGETHER TO PUSH FOR THE CITY.
WELL, WE ALL WELL DESERVE ONE, BUILT ON TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GENUINE CARE FOR ITS PEOPLE.
AS ONE POLITICAL SCHOLAR ONCE SAID, EVERY ELECTION IS DETERMINED BY THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP.
THE PEOPLE OF NATIONAL CITY HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP ALL THESE MEETINGS AND NOW NEED TO DO SO AT THE POLLS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT MARKS THE LAST DAY SITTING ON THE DAAS FOR A MAYOR WHOSE LEGACY HAS BEEN CLOUDED BY CORRUPTION AND A LACK OF OPENNESS AND RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE.
FOR YEARS, MIKA AND I HAVE COME TO THESE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO CONFRONT THE LIES AND EVASIONS OF CITY OFFICIALS THAT HAVE CLOUDED NATIONAL CITY FOR TOO LONG.
BUT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE, AND I BELIEVE WE ARE STANDING AT THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW ERA.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THE TIDE IS TURNING.
WE CAN BUILD THE TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS THAT THEY DESERVE.
AND THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THAT GOAL IS THIS NEXT ELECTION.
WE DON'T NEED A NEW BOSS LIKE THE OLD BOSS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ADVANCING THOSE THAT SERVE THE CITY AND SAYING GOODBYE TO THOSE WHO DON'T.
MARCUS, I HOPE YOU CAN FIND A JOB TO PAY FOR YOUR EXPIRED LICENSE PLATE STICKER THAT HAS BEEN EXPIRED SINCE AUGUST.
YOU WILL BE AN OUTSTANDING LEADER FOR WHAT YOU STAND FOR AND WHAT YOU CAN HOLD WITHOUT MOM AND DAD HELPING YOU OUT.
MICAH GEARY, MARIA SSON, FOLLOWED BY JUANITA CASTANEDA.
44 YEARS AGO I BEGAN MY QUEST FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE IN NATIONAL CITY.
I RAN FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS AGAINST A GOOD FRIEND JIM BATES.
I'VE ALWAYS HELD NATIONAL CITY AS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE BECAUSE OF ITS DIVERSITY.
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY, THE LATINO COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE OTHER DIVERSE PARTS OF NATIONAL CITY.
THIS ELECTION IS A CHANGE, BUT IT IS NOT A PERMANENT CHANGE.
AND NO ONE PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL HAS TO BE TOMORROW WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TODAY.
I BELIEVE VERY DEEPLY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ HAS BEEN COURAGEOUS.
NO, HE HAS NOT BEEN NECESSARILY POPULAR, BUT AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO COME BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO FORM A NEW COALITION AND A NEW LEADERSHIP MAYOR.
I STILL GOT TIME TO COME BACK LATER AND, YOU KNOW, COME BACK AS A, A SURROGATE OF MIKE A GEARY.
OKAY, WE GET A GOOD, GOOD REFORMER.
OKAY? YOU'RE NEVER, NEVER, NEVER TOO LATE.
UH, AND YOU'RE STILL A YOUNG GUY, SO NO REASON NOT TO.
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE CAN SEE YOU ALL COME TOGETHER TO SAVE THIS AMAZINGLY GREAT CITY BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND EVERYBODY COULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
SO MY VERY BEST TO ALL OF YOU, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AS, UH, WE'VE HEARD TO THIS NEW CHAPTER AND, UH, MY HEART REACH OUT TO YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUANITA CASTANEDA, FOLLOWED BY JANINE HERNANDEZ.
[00:25:01]
MAYOR MORRISON AND CITY ATTORNEY COUNCIL MEMBERS.UM, SO THIS IS YOUR LAST TIME ON THE DAYS BEFORE YOU LEAVE, OR AT LEAST BEFORE THE ELECTION AS I UNDERSTAND.
AND SO, UH, WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT YOUR LEGACY AND I'VE COME HERE BEFORE TALKING ABOUT BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS, PUBLIC RECORDS ACT VIOLATIONS.
AND IT'S MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE OF NATIONAL CITY WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE OR STEPPING DOWN, I THINK THAT'S GRACIOUS.
I THINK ONE, LOOK AT THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, MAKES IT CLEAR THAT, UH, SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE AT THE HELM.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WHEN I SEE NATIONAL CITY WHAT IT'S DOING, THAT IT'S LED BY SOMEONE WHO DOES RESPECT THOSE LAWS, THAT DOESN'T HAVE SECRET MEETINGS WITH DEVELOPERS, THAT DOESN'T TAKE GOODS.
AND, UH, AND OTHER TYPES OF IN KIND DONATIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR, UH, THE PROMISE OF FAVORS THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE.
THAT WHEN RECORDS ARE REQUESTED, THEY ARE READILY GIVEN UP.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ADVICE OF CITY ATTORNEY, THAT OUR SPEAKER SLIPS ARE NOT PUSHED TO THE END, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY RESPECTED FOR THOSE WHO GET HERE EARLY AND THAT WE'RE NOT, I'M NOT GIVING THIS COMMENT AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, WHICH IS WHERE YOU, YOU USUALLY PUT US.
SO, UH, IN CLOSING, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THIS ELECTION COMING UP IS A REFERENDUM ON REALLY ONE PERSON, AND THAT'S YOU MAYOR MORRISON.
AND IS, ARE THE PEOPLE GOING TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO WON THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, OR SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT? AND I THINK THAT, UH, THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED IN YOUR SHADOWS, UH, SHOULD NOT BE ELECTED.
AND I HOPE THOSE WHO CHALLENGE IT ARE.
JUANITA CASTANEDA, FOLLOWED BY JANINE HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANNA BAENA.
HELLO CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M A RECREATION SUPERVISOR WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IN MY HAND, I HOLD A PETITION FROM SEIU MEMBERS AND IT READS, WE'RE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL WORKERS AND PROUD MEMBERS OF SEIU, LOCAL 2 2 1.
WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONAL CITY IN THE GREATER SAN DIEGO AREA THROUGH OUR WORK IN EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT.
THROUGH OUR WORK, WE SERVE PATRONS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES AND PROVIDING, PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO PROGRAMMING, SUPPORT AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO MEET THEIR DIVERSE NEEDS.
DUE TO YEARS OF POOR LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, NATIONAL CITY IS IN A BUDGET CRISIS WITH A PROJECTED DEFICIT OF 13 MILLION THIS YEAR.
CITY LEADERS HAS DISCUSSED, HAS DISCUSSED CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT.
THIS WILL MEAN POTENTIAL LAYOFFS OF CITY WORKERS, DECREASED CITY PROGRAMMING, AND REDUCED FACILITIES HOURS AT PLACES LIKE THE LIBRARY PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS NUTRITION CENTER, AND THE SENIOR CENTER.
AS NATIONAL CITY WORKERS, WE COULD FACE JOB, JOB LOSS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE COULD SEE PROGRAMMING THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY GO, GO AWAY.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT CUTS DO NOT FALL SOLELY ON OUR BACKS AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE THE CITY OPERATE.
WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERWAY TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET DEFICIT IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT, SAVE OUR JOBS, AND PREVENT REDUCTIONS TO CITY PROGRAMMING.
WE DEMAND THAT YOU GIVE US A SEAT AT THE TABLE DURING BUDGET DEFICIT DECISIONS MAKING, UH, MAKING TO ALLOW US TO FIND COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS AND CHART THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY, PROTECT OUR JOBS, AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ON US AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
EXPLORE ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR RAISING NEW REVENUE FOR THE CITY, INCLUDING PUTTING THE BUSINESS TAX REFORM MEASURE ON THE BALLOT OF SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE SPRING.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE PETITION WAS SIGNED FOR MORE, UH, BY MORE THAN 150 MEMBERS OF SEIU.
AND I'LL HAND COPIES OVER TO THE CITY CLERK FOR EVERYONE.
JANINE HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANNA BINA, FOLLOWED BY SAMUELLA VOSA.
OH, HELLO, MY NAME IS JANINE AND I WORK AT THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A PART-TIME LIBRARIAN.
AND I'M A CIU 2 2 1 LABOR ORGANIZER.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE LEADERSHIP OF NC TO PROTECT OUR JOBS AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF BUDGET CUTS ON US AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AT THE LIBRARY.
WE SERVE A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES.
CUTTING OR LAYING OFF WORKERS AT THE LIBRARY WOULD NEGATIVELY, UH, REFLECT THE PORT CHOICES OF NC LEADERSHIP.
[00:30:01]
THE MEDIA REPRESENTS US WORKERS FOR THE DEFICIT DUE TO EARNING A 5% RAISE.IN REALITY, IT IS POCKET CHANGE.
THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO AND THE SDUT ARE MAKING VAPID ACCUSATIONS WHEN IT'S BEEN THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE CITY.
IT'S ALSO WORTH MENTIONING THAT PART-TIMERS DON'T EVEN HAVE BENEFITS AS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, WHICH SHOULD BE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF NC.
THE REASON FOR THE DEFICIT IS BECAUSE THE BIG BUSINESSES HERE IN IN NATIONAL CITY HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE TO PASS THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
THE WORKERS ARE SUFFERING FROM INFLATION AND SEGMENT WAGES.
MEANWHILE, THE WEALTHY BUSINESSES ARE GETTING OFF EASY FROM AMASSING WEALTH IN THIS ECONOMY FOR FEAR OF BEING TAXED.
AND ALSO THE NCPD IS IS GETTING MASSIVELY FUNDED AND GIVEN RAISES LIKE THE POLICE CHIEF WHILE THE LIBRARY AND RECREATION CENTERS ARE CONSIDERED DISCRETIONARY SITES TO FUND.
THIS IS EGREGIOUS BECAUSE THE WORKING CLASS IS IN DECLINE.
HOWEVER, OUR FIGHT AS WORKERS IS ONLY BEGINNING ANNA BINA, FOLLOWED BY SAMUEL OSA, FOLLOWED BY AVERY WARE.
MY NAME IS ANNA BANA AND I'M A PROUD, I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE AS A MEMBER OF SEI U2 TWO.
SIX YEARS AGO, I STARTED AT THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A LITERACY TUTOR.
I CAME FOR THE WORK, BUT I STAYED FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I BECAME A LIBRARY ASSISTANT, WORKED IN LITERACY THROUGH OUR AMERICORPS PROGRAM, AND NOW I'M THE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS COORDINATOR OVERSEEING OUR LITERACY DEPARTMENT.
BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT MY DEPARTMENT.
THE LIBRARY IS A HUB FOR OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT'S WHERE ADULTS COME FOR FREE TUTORING, ENGLISH CLASSES, DIGITAL LITERACY AND CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION.
IT'S WHERE PEOPLE FIND JOB HELP.
WHEN THE GOODWILL EMPLOYMENT MOBILE UNIT VISITS US EACH MONTH, IT'S WHERE OUR NEIGHBORS GATHER AT CAFE NIGHTS JUST TO HAVE A WELCOMING PLACE TO BE.
FOR MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE LIBRARY IS THE ONE PLACE THEY CAN COME WITHOUT BEING TURNED AWAY.
IF THESE SERVICES DISAPPEAR, OUR COMMUNITY LOSES MORE THAN PROGRAMS, IT LOSES A LIFELINE.
SO LET ME BE DIRECT WITH THIS BUDGET CRISIS.
MY JOB IS AT RISK, AND I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE.
SOME OF MY COWORKERS IN THIS ROOM WON'T HAVE A JOB TO COME BACK TO.
IF WE'RE CUT AND THE SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY DEPEND ON ARE ON THE LINE WITH US, THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD BUDGETING AND POOR LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT FALL ON THE WORKERS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY.
WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKED TO PAY FOR IT WITH OUR JOBS.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RAISE NEW REVENUE.
AND IF YOU WON'T, WE'LL TAKE ACTION OURSELVES.
WE WILL ASK NATIONAL CITY VOTERS TO SIGN OUR CITIZENS INITIATIVE AND PUT THE BUSINESS TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.
OUR JOBS ARE NOT YOURS TO SACRIFICE.
OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE NOT YOURS TO DISMANTLE AND WORKING FAMILIES SHOULD NOT PAY THE PRICE FOR THIS BUDGET CRISIS.
WE ASK YOU TO RESPECT OUR PETITION, LISTEN TO YOUR CITY WORKERS AND RAISE NEW REVENUE.
WE'RE READY TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT WE WILL NOT STAND BY QUIETLY.
SAMUELLA VOSA, FOLLOWED BY AVERY WARE, FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL IRVING.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SAMUEL VOA AND I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE CITY FOR OVER A YEAR AND TWO MONTHS.
I'M A PARK MAINTENANCE WORKER AND I'VE, AND I HELP TO MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS OF A PARKS AND STREETS.
MY JOB IS ALSO CLEANING UP ON THE DAILY AFTER THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
THAT IS STEAD INCREASING IN NUMBERS.
MIND YOU, THIS INCLUDES THE DRUGS AND SYRINGES THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND.
AND DON'T GET ME STUDIED ON THE MASS THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND, BUT THAT IS A WHOLE NOTHER TOPIC FOR ANOTHER DAY.
NOW, WITH THIS BUDGET CRISIS, REGARDLESS OF ALL THE PROMISES MADE, MY JOB WILL ALWAYS BE AT RISK SHOULD THIS HAPPEN? MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHO WILL KEEP THE PARKS CLEAN? WHO WILL CLEAN UP THE STREETS? WHO CLEANS UP AFTER THE HOMELESS, WHO WILL HELP FEED MY FAMILY, WHO WILL KEEP A ROOF OVER MY MY FAMILY? THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN SHOULD I LOSE MY JOB DUE TO POOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS MADE BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY PETITION TO YOU TODAY IS TO ASK AND URGE YOU TO PLEASE HELP ME AND MY COWORKERS HAVE A VOICE IN THE PRO PROCESSING AROUND AND CLOSING THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
MINIMIZE THE CUTS AND LAYOFFS THAT WILL DIS DISRUPT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS.
HELP RAISE NEW REVENUE, WHICH WILL INCLUDE PUTTING THE BUSINESS TAX REFORM MEASURE ON THE BALLOTS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.
WITH THIS BEING SAID, THE BAD BUDGETING AND POOR DECISIONS MADE BY SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD NEVER FALL BACK
[00:35:01]
ON ME AND MY COWORKERS.I'M HERE TODAY NOT ONLY AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THIS GREAT CITY, A UNION MEMBER, BUT AS A FAMILY MAN AND HUSBAND WHO CARES? THANK YOU.
AVERY WARE, FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL.
CRYSTAL IRVING, FOLLOWED BY SASHA.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF SEIU LOCAL 2 2 1.
I'M NOT A NATIONAL CITY EMPLOYEE.
I'M A COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND I WORK FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
I AM ONE OF ABOUT 11,000 COUNTY EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THIS SAME UNION THAT REPRESENTS YOUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND IT WAS MOST DEPRESSING FOR US TO SEE THE UNION TRIBUNE AND THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO FRAME THE BUDGET CRISIS IN SUCH A TIRED, EXHAUSTING REPETITION OF THIS RHETORIC THAT ENDLESSLY BLAMES THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK FOR.
THE WEALTH IS SO ABSURDLY CONCENTRATED AT THE TOP OF SOCIETY, AND YOU ALL KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S GROWING SUPPORT FOR REDISTRIBUTION, FOR THERE'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CANDIDATES AROUND THE COUNTRY GAINING SUPPORT.
THERE'S A GROWING SENSE THAT OUR CLASS, THE WORKING CLASS JUST DOESN'T ACCEPT THIS NARRATIVE ANYMORE.
AND AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, I GO INTO, UH, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IN 2028 TO SEE NATIONAL CITY WORKERS SACRIFICED BEFORE THAT TIME.
AND TO DO THAT TO THE LABOR MARKET AND TO SET THAT STANDARD FOR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THIS COUNTY AS ONE CITY WILL DO FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
I'M NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT.
AND SO ME AND MY COWORKERS, AND YOU WILL SEE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LISTED ON THE PETITION.
SOME OF THOSE ARE OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES LIKE MYSELF.
WE ARE GONNA STAND WITH NATIONAL CITY EMPLOYEES FOR WHATEVER THAT'S WORTH.
I PERSONALLY WOULD BE WILLING TO STRIKE IN SOLIDARITY IF IT WERE NECESSARY.
CRYSTAL IRVING, FOLLOWED BY SASHA, FOLLOWED BY BRIANNE CLAPPER.
MY NAME IS CRYSTAL IRVING AND I'M PROUD TO STAND BEFORE YOU ALL AS PRESIDENT OF SCIU, LOCAL 2 2 1.
BUT I'M EVEN MORE PROUD TO BE HERE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR MEMBERS HERE AT NATIONAL CITY.
NOW, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM OUR MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS.
AND I GOTTA BE HONEST, I AM FIRED UP LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCES.
UM, AS MEMBERS AND AS WORKERS HERE IN THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, YOU HEAR AND FEEL THE PASSION AND THE EXPERIENCE THEY BRING TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY YOU HEAR HOW THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM THEIR SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.
AND OUR FIGHT TODAY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE JOB FOR OUR MEMBERS.
IT'S ABOUT PURPOSE, IT'S ABOUT IMPACT, AND IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS BEING AT STAKE.
AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY TO TAKE ACTION.
THE PETITION THAT WE SUBMITTED ASKS YOU TO GIVE WORKERS A VOICE IN HOW THE BUDGET DEFICIT GETS CLOSED.
IT ASKS YOU TO MINIMIZE CUTS AND LAYOFFS THAT WOULD HURT THESE WORKERS AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
IT ALSO ASKS YOU TO RAISE NEW REVENUE, INCLUDING PUTTING THE BUSINESS TAX REFORM MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IN THIS NEXT ELECTION.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE, AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR MEMBERS ALREADY, WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING FOR COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION.
WE'RE TAKING ACTION NOW BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
WE ARE INVITING EVERY NATIONAL CITY VOTER TO SIGN THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE, TO PUT THE BUSINESS TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, THESE WORKERS ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR WORK.
THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO WORK FOR A CITY THAT SERVES ITS RESIDENTS AND THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN MAKING THE GREATEST IMPACT POSSIBLE.
WE ASK THAT YOU RESPECT THE DEMANDS OF THIS PETITION.
AND I'LL JUST SAY, SOLVING FOR A BUDGET CRISIS WILL REQUIRE INTENTION.
IT'LL REQUIRE STRATEGY, INPUT, AND FEEDBACK.
BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE, IT'LL REQUIRE COURAGE.
AND SCIU LOOKS FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL IN THAT.
FOLLOWED BY BRIANNE CLAPPER, FOLLOWED BY ANITA BRINKLEY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA STATES THE FOLLOWING REGARDING THE BUSINESS TAX INCREASE.
IT IS UNFAIR TO BUSINESSES AND VOTERS TO TRUST US WITH MORE MONEY WHEN WE HAVEN'T MADE GOOD DECISIONS.
THEREFORE, MOLINA SUGGESTS TO SHELVED THE IDEA OF TAXING BIG BUSINESS, BIG BUSINESSES.
WHAT HYPOCRISY, I'M A STUDENT.
I AM NOT IN A UNION, BUT I AM IN SUPPORT OF SEI 2 2 1.
AND THEIR PETITIONS ASK SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE ASKED TO INCLUDE
[00:40:01]
REINTRODUCING THE BIG BUSINESS TAX REFORM MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.THERE ARE CLAIMS MADE BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CLASS TRADER JOURNALISTS THAT THE NATIONAL CITY WORKER RAISES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY'S DEFICIT.
I'VE NEVER FOR A SECOND BELIEVED THIS CLAIM.
IT IS NOT THAT THE 5%, IT IS NOT THE 5% RAISES TO LIBRARIANS AND PARK CARETAKERS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS DEFICIT.
IT IS THE GHASTLY UNCONDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE LACK OF TAXING TO BIG BUSINESSES.
POLICE CHIEF ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ WAS GIVEN A 15% BASE SALARY INCREASE.
PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF MUNICIPAL SPENDING.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 3.5 MILLION CONTRACT EXPANSION WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS 12.7 MILLION CITY DEFICIT.
UM, IF THE POLICE STOP INSTITUTIONALIZING CORRUPT PRACTICES SUCH AS THE HOMOPHOBIC SEX STATEMENTS ON FEMALE OFFICERS NEEDING TO SUBMIT OR TO SLEEP WITH MALE OFFICERS TO FIT IN, THAT LED TO $10 MILLION OF HARASSMENT SUITS, WHICH IS 50% OF THE POLICE BUDGET.
THE NASHVILLE CITY RESIDENTS AND NASHVILLE CITY BUDGET NEED NOT TO BAIL OUT THE DEPARTMENT AND SIPHON CITY FUNDS.
NASHVILLE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO CUT CITY FUNDING TO NASHVILLE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REINTRODUCE THE BIG BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
I AM NOT A UNION MEMBER, BUT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO SUPPORT THE UNION'S.
FIGHT FOR THE WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE, THE HEART AND THE BRAIN OF THE CITY.
BRIANNE CLAPPER, FOLLOWED BY ANITA BRINKLEY, FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NIETO.
TONIGHT, I'M REPRESENTING THE SWEETWATER LEOS CLUB.
MY NAME IS BRIANNE CLAPPER AND I AM THEIR ADVISOR.
TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR, SOME OF OUR OFFICERS AND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS WHO'S REALLY EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR UPCOMING EVENT.
GOOD EVENING, NATIONAL CITY MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AT THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONAL CITY.
MY NAME IS KOTA BOAR AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE SWEETWATER HIGH SCHOOL LEOS CLUB.
A STUDENT ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PARTNERED WITH THE NATIONAL CITY HOST LION CLUB.
WE ARE INVITED YOU TO OUR FOURTH ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE EVENT HOSTED AT THE FRANK KIBBLE MUSEUM THIS HALLOWEEN.
OUR EVENT WILL BE OPEN FROM SIX TO 10:00 PM FROM SIX TO SEVEN, FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM IT'LL BE A CHILDREN'S FRIENDLY HOUR BY SEVEN TO 10:00 PM OUR STUDENT SCARE ACTORS WILL BE TRYING THEIR HARDEST TO MAKE THIS HAUNTED HOUSE A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE.
THIS WILL BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY TRICK-OR-TREATING EVENT FOR EVERYONE.
WE ARE HOSTING FUN ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING FREE TOURS OF THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, WHAT'S OWNED BY FRANK KIMBALL.
WE'LL ALSO BE SELLING CHAMP PODO AND FILIPINO SWEET BREAD.
AND THERE WILL ALSO BE CONTESTS, NAMELY A PUMPKIN DERBY CONTEST AND A DOG COSTUME CONTEST PUT ON BY THE INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SPONSORS, THE NATIONAL CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR GIVING US THE PRIVILEGE TO HOST OUR EVENT INCLUSIVE KIDS NETWORK AND THE NATIONAL CITY LIGHTHOUSE MISSIONARY FOR COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR OUR TOILET TREE DRIVE.
WE WOULD BE, WE WILL BE ACCEPTING TRAVEL SIZED DONATIONS FOR TOILET TREE ITEMS DURING THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
PLEASE COME BY FOR LOTS OF CANDY AND FUN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING US YOUR TIME.
ANITA BRINKLEY, FOLLOWED BY EDWARD NIETO, FOLLOWED BY LI LIANA ARMA.
STAFF, UH, STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START WITH, UM, THANKING THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS REPRESENTING HERE, BUT THEY DID COME AND SWEEP BRICK ROW WHERE I LIVE AT 9 34.
AND IT LOOKED VERY, VERY NICE.
I HOPE THAT THEY WILL KEEP THIS UP MAYBE ONCE A MONTH, YOU KNOW, OR PERIODICALLY.
BUT I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THE SECONDLY, I'M HERE BECAUSE I RECEIVED THIS IN THE MAIL THIS WEEK, WHICH WAS VERY DISTURBING TO RECEIVE A BIG FAT LIE IN THE MAIL.
NOW, YOU AND I, MR. RODRIGUEZ HAD A CONVERSATION PERSONALLY BEFORE ABOUT LYING.
AND I WANNA KNOW, DO YOU DO THIS? IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN? DO YOU LIE TO YOUR WIFE BECAUSE YOU LIED ON YOUR APPLICATIONS? YOU HAVE
[00:45:01]
LIED, UH, TO THE CITY AND NOW YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE LYING TO RESIDENTS.ALL RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING NOTHING BUT LIES FROM YOU, YOUR THEATRICS UP AT THE, UH, ESCONDIDO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU EMBARRASSED NATIONAL CITY WATCHING YOU HAVING, HAVING TO BE, UH, ESCORTED TO YOUR SEAT BECAUSE YOU WERE OUT OF ORDER.
YOU ARE THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER I HAVE COME ACROSS.
AND GOD FORBID THAT YOU WIN BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MAYOR THAT LIES TO CONSTITUENTS, TO RESIDENTS, TO EVERYONE.
EDWARD NIETO, FOLLOWED BY LILIANA ARMENTA, FOLLOWED BY REGINA HEINRICH.
I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIE ALSO.
AND I WANT TO START OFF, I HOPE THESE EIU PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE BEFORE I SAY THIS, BUT JOSE'S CONSISTENT LIFE HAS A FISCAL EFFECT THAT AFFECTS THEIR JOBS.
WHEN A LIE IS, IS PUT IN, IT'S, IT REFLECTS FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, IT REFLECTS THE, THE GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT OF ALL CITY WORKERS.
A LIE WAS SAID AND NOW IT PUTS A TAINT ON ALL THE GOVERNANCE DECISION.
ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' DECISIONS ON POLICIES.
IS THE CITY ATTORNEY GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? MAYBE NOT.
IS THE CITY MANAGER GONNA DO ABOUT ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? MAYBE NOT.
WHETHER THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OR DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, SETS THE TONE OF WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE IN TERMS OF OTHER ISSUES.
ARE THEY GONNA BE ENFORCING IF THEY DON'T ENFORCE THE ETHIC? POLICY VIOLATION THAT MR. RODRIGUEZ DID? IS ARE THEY GONNA ENFORCE THE FISCAL VIOLATIONS IN POLICIES? IS THAT GONNA THROW THAT IN QUESTION? SO ONCE YOU DON'T ENFORCE A POLICY AND ETHICS, IT HAS A FISCAL EFFECT.
IT JEOPARDIZES PEOPLE'S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.
SO WHY WOULD A, WHY WOULD THE CITIZENS SEE THIS AND SAY, IF WE CAN'T EVEN FORCE POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE, WHY WOULD THEY SUGGEST THAT THEY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER PAYING FOR AN INCREASE IN TAXES WHEN THE CITY CAN'T HANDLE ITS OWN PROBLEMS? THAT'S THE FISCAL EFFECT THAT WE HAVE HERE.
RODRIGUEZ HAS PROBABLY BRUSH IT OFF, BUT IT HAS AN EFFECT ON CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE GONNA COME FORTH AND APPLY FOR JOBS.
HEY, IF A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN GET AWAY WITH LIFE, WHY CAN'T I? SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, EITHER ADDRESSING THIS OR NOT ADDRESSING IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
REGINA HEINRICH, FOLLOWED BY OZZIE MENEZ.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS THAT ARE STILL HERE.
NATIONAL CITY HAS MADE HEADLINES FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT INTEGRITY, CONTROVERSIAL CITY CONTRACTS, OUTSIDE POLITICAL SPENDING, BUDGET TROUBLES, AND POLITICAL CONDUCT.
THEY ARE NOT JUST HEADLINES, THEY ARE WARNING SIGNS THAT DESERVE ANSWERS.
I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE CITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY EXISTS WHEN INACCURATE INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED ON OFFICIAL CITY PAPERWORK.
IF WE CANNOT DEMAND HONESTY ON PAPER, HOW CAN WE EXPECT INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC OFFICE? AND IF THIS GOES UNADDRESSED, WHAT ELSE IS OUR CITY WILLING TO TURN THE BLIND EYE TO THAT NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PUBLIC OFFICE IS PUBLIC TRUST, NOT A POLITICAL PRIVILEGE.
AND TO THE COMMUNITY, LET'S VOTE WITH A CLEAR MIND, A GOOD HEART AND OPEN EYES.
LET'S ALL LOOK BEYOND THE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS, THE FANCY MAILERS, THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER PROMISES.
WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, WHO WILL PUT NATIONAL CITY FIRST? WHO WILL ANSWER TO OUR RESIDENTS NOT OUTSIDE POLITICAL INTEREST.
A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION SHOULD NEVER BECOME A POLITICAL DEBT PAID WITH OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
NATIONAL CITY NODE, NATIONAL CITY
WE DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT UNITES, LISTENS AND SERVES WITH INTEGRITY.
DEMAND, ACCOUNTABILITY AND VOTE.
THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE CITY THAT WE WILL LEAVE OUR CHILDREN AND, AND GRANDCHILDREN WITH.
NATIONAL CITY IS NOT A POLITICAL
[00:50:01]
PRIZE TO BE WON.IT IS A COMMUNITY TO BE PROTECTED.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
REGINA HEINRICH, FOLLOWED BY OZZY MEN COUNSEL.
MY NAME'S REGINA HEINRICH AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF NATIONAL CITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND I LOVE NATIONAL CITY, BUT I GOT TO COME IN FOR A LITTLE BIT COMPLAINING TONIGHT.
'CAUSE I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME.
THEY GOT 21 MILLION SITTING SOMEWHERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
SO GIVE THE PEOPLE THEY MONEY.
BESIDE THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN GOING TO A LIBRARY TO GET A COMPUTER.
I HAVE A HANDICAPPED DAUGHTER HERE.
YOU PROBABLY SEE HER AROUND NATIONAL CITY ALL THE TIME WALKING, BUT SHE NEEDS A COMPUTER.
SO WE'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL COMPUTERS FROM THE LIBRARY.
THEY LAST LESS THAN 60 DAYS AND THEY GO OUT.
THEY, THEY DON'T FUNCTION ANYMORE.
SHE NEEDS A REAL LIVE COMPUTER.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO GIVE HER A VOUCHER SO I CAN TAKE HER TO THE COMMISS, UH, NAVY EXCHANGE OR SOMEPLACE.
SHE CAN GET A LEGITIMATE COMPUTER.
AND THE SECOND THING, UM, YOU ALL HAVE LISTENED TO ME ABOUT ME COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NEIGHBOR AND THE, THE NO PERMITS.
AND MR. MARK AVER TALKED TO ME A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I GOT HERE THIS MORNING.
AND HE SAID THEY WERE LOOKING INTO IT.
HOPEFULLY THEY LOOKING, LOOKING INTO IT BECAUSE I CAME IN JULY AND I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT.
NO ONE HAS HIT IT ON THE HEAD, BUT I'M GONNA TRUST YOU.
I'M, I'M GONNA BELIEVE YOU HAVE AN INTEGRITY THAT ALL MARINES HAVE.
THEN THE SECOND THING, THE THIRD THING ON MY LIST IS CARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO CARS IT IS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CARS ON MY STREET THAT, UM, DON'T HAVE REGISTRATION.
THEY GOT TAGS ON 'EM, BUT THEY'RE NOT UP TO DATE REGISTRATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU, I KNOW WHAT CARD WITH, I JUST KNOW THERE'S A BUNCH OF CARS ON MY STREET.
I CALLED 'EM THE DAY AND SHE SAID, WELL, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE FOR 24 HOURS, THEN IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPER TAGS, STICKERS ON YOUR CAR, SOMEONE SHOULD COME AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OH, I TOOK MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.
MAD ES MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL CITY HEALTH CULTURA COALITION AND MUNDO GARDENS.
LAST THURSDAY, WE HOSTED A CANDIDATE FORUM AT OLIVER GARDENS.
ABOUT 80 PEOPLE FILLED THE, THE SPACE, INCLUDING SEVEN CANDIDATES FOR THE CITY OFFICES.
WE HAD FOOD, LIVE MUSIC AND INTERPRETATION IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH SO THAT EVERYONE THERE COULD PARTICIPATE.
WHAT STOOD OUT TO US MOST WAS THE YOUTH.
YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED UP.
THEY ASKED QUESTIONS AND HEARD ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY THEY ARE GROWING UP IN.
THAT IS WHAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND THE SEVEN CANDIDATES WHO MADE THE TIME TO BE THERE.
OUR RESIDENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND THEY'RE READY TO BE PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD.
WE HOPE THE CITY WILL KEEP CREATING SPACES WHERE THAT CAN CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
HEY, HOW Y'ALL DOING TODAY? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS DAVID GARCIA UA AND I'M A NATIONAL RESIDENT,
AND I'M HERE ABOUT TO, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONE.
UH, WE'RE WEEKS FROM ELECTION AND OUR CITY FACES ABOUT $13 MILLION IN DEFICIT.
RESIDENTS DESERVE A DEBATE ABOUT THAT NOT INSULTS.
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, I'VE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS ONLINE ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILINGS, WHICH ARE PUBLIC RECORD.
IN RESPONSE, I'VE BEEN BLOCKED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLACES.
AND I'VE BEEN CALLED NAMES BY PEOPLE DEFENDING.
UM, UH, THESE, THIS SLATE CAMPAIGN, UH, NONE OF IT ANSWERED A SINGLE QUESTION.
I'M NOT ASKING ANYONE TO AGREE WITH ME.
I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO DO THREE THINGS.
FIRST, PUBLICLY ENCOURAGE SUPPORTERS TO DEBATE RECORDS AND NOT PEOPLE.
SECOND, UH, KEEP OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OPEN TO RESIDENTS.
THIRD ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT DONORS VOTES AND THE BUDGET ON THE RECORD.
[00:55:01]
OUR BUSINESS LICENSE TAX HASN'T BEEN OVERHAULED IN FOUR, SEVEN YEARS AND CORPORATIONS GROSSING OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, PAY NO MORE THAN 1700, $1,700.THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE SHOULD BE HAVING AND RESIDENTS SHOULDN'T BE SHUT DOWN OUT OF THEM.
THAT CONCLUDES IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHERS ON ZOOM.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS BECKY RAP AND TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO A RECENT ACTION FROM THE DEA REGARDING KRATOM AND ITS DANGERS.
THE DEA HAS ANNOUNCED STEPS TO CLASSIFY KRATOM AS A SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN ADDRESSING SUBSTANCES THAT POSE RISKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
KRATOM CONTAINS PSYCHOACTIVE COMPOUNDS THAT ACT ON THE BODY'S OPIOID RECEPTORS.
ACCORDING TO THE DEA KRATOM HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE, ADDICTION, AND PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE.
HEALTH EFFECTS INCLUDE SEIZURES, LIVER TOXICITY, RAPID HEARTBEAT, NAUSEA, CONFUSION, HALLUCINATIONS, AND EVEN DEATH.
THE THEA'S ACTIONS PROVE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HARMED.
I ALSO WANNA RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER PRODUCTS BEING SOLD IN SMOKE SHOPS, VAPE STORES, AND SIMILAR RETAIL LOCATIONS THAT MAY NOT COMPLY WITH STATE AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND THIS INCLUDES INTOXICATING HEMP PRODUCTS MARKETED AS WELLNESS PRODUCTS.
CONSUMERS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE PURCHASING, UM, THE POT OR THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS THESE PRODUCTS CAN HAVE ON THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT NEED TO GO HAND IN HAND.
I'M ASKING THE CITY TO MAKE ENFORCEMENT A PRIORITY BY INCREASING INSPECTIONS OF SMOKE AND VAPE SHOPS, EDUCATING RETAILERS ABOUT WHICH PRODUCTS THEY CAN LEGALLY SELL.
VERIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS AND HOLDING REPEAT ERS ACCOUNTABLE.
WHEN PRODUCTS ARE BEING SOLD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT BUSINESSES ARE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND THAT ALL RETAILERS ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR SAN DIEGO'S CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
MUCH OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AROUND SUBSTANCES SUCH AS TOBACCO, MARIJUANA, AND ALCOHOL FOCUSES ON ADULT USE.
HOWEVER, FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GOALS IS PREVENTING YOUTH INITIATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE EARLIER A YOUNG PERSON BEGINS USING ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES, THE GREATER THE RISK OF DEVELOPING LONG-TERM SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.
PREVENTION DOESN'T MEAN JUST TELLING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAY NO.
IT ALSO INVOLVES CREATING COMMUNITIES WHERE THE HEALTHY CHOICE IS THE EASY CHOICE.
THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS, REDUCING YOUTH EXPOSURE TO SUBSTANCE MARKETING, MAINTAINING SMOKE-FREE PUBLIC SPACES, AND ENSURING THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT UNNECESSARILY EXPOSED TO PRODUCTS AND ADVERTISING THAT NORMALIZE SUBSTANCE USE.
NATIONAL CITY INVESTS SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES IN RESPONDING TO ADDICTION, OVERDOSES, AND SUBSTANCE RELATED HARMS. THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE OF COURSE IMPORTANT, BUT PREVENTION REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AVAILABLE.
I ENCOURAGE NATIONAL CITY TO CONTINUE PRIORITIZING POLICIES THAT PROTECT YOUTH, SUPPORT FAMILIES, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.
WHETHER WE ARE DISCUSSING TOBACCO, MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER DRUGS, OUR SHARED GOAL SHOULD BE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE REACH ADULTHOOD HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND FREE FROM ADDICTION.
AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I PARTICIPATED IN THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE HONESTLY, THAT MORTUARY WOMEN CIRCUS ERA WAS REALLY TIRING.
IT'S STILL IS AND SO IS THE PURPLE SHIRTS THREATENING TAXES ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS TIRING? JOSE RODRIGUEZ'S POLITICAL THEATER.
IT WAS DISGRACEFUL THAT HE TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE CITY OF ENCINITAS TO PLAY POLITICAL GAMES WITH THEM TOO.
JOSE RODRIGUEZ ABSOLUTELY CAMPAIGNED AT ANOTHER CITY'S PODIUM AND LUCKILY, ENCINITAS COUNCIL DID NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE PLAYED.
BUT THIS IS ALSO HOW JOSE TREAT NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AS SELF-SERVING POLITICAL THEATER.
JOSE ACTUALLY SUPPORTED EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT SHELTER PROJECT MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING ITS LOW BARRIER, HIGH DRUG ALLOWANCE STRUCTURE.
JOSE MISREPRESENTED NATIONAL CITY AND ITS POSITION OF VIOLATING CITY POLICY AND UNNECESSARILY EMBARRASSING ITS RESIDENTS.
I DON'T CARE IF IT LOOKS POLITICAL BECAUSE OF TIMING, JOSE
[01:00:01]
NEEDS TO BE CENSORED FOR A SECOND TIME.JOSE IS ALSO DIRECTLY TARGETED AND EXCLUDED RESIDENTS FOR SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT, STATING NO TRUMPERS IN OUR BACKYARD AND LABELING HIS OPPOSITION AS RIGHT WING.
AND YET HE'S NOW FALSELY DOING THE SAME THING TO MARCUS.
HE'S ALSO HAD THE MANIPULATION AND EXPLOITATION OF RENTERS ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP A, THE MANIPULATION AND EXPLOITATION OF NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS, THE LYING ABOUT HIS EDUCATION, THE MISUSE OF CITY FUNDS AND TAX DOLLARS.
INTENTIONAL HIJACKING A MEETING, DELAYING A VOTE UNTIL MIDNIGHT, EXHAUSTING BOTH COUNCIL AND PUBLIC AND THE GASLIGHTING EVERY SINGLE MEETING WHEN HE IS CAUGHT DOING SOMETHING WRONG, WHICH IS EVERY TWO WEEKS.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, JOSE HAS ONLY ENGAGED IN SELF-SERVICE.
HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF UNFIT AND INCAPABLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
JOSE SAYS THE BIGGEST PERSON YOU LIE TO JOSE IS YOURSELF.
PRETENDING YOU CARE ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN POLITICAL AMBITION AND DITTOS, WHAT IS THE UNION DARK MONEY WORTH TO YOU? WILL YOU EMBED YOURSELF DEEPER INTO CORRUPTION TONIGHT AND ALIGN WITH JOSE AS ALWAYS.
AND MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
[Items 6.1 & 6.2]
INTO OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.WE HAVE TWO OF 'EM TONIGHT, AND THEY KIND OF JOINED TOGETHER.
UH, THIS IS WITH FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND, UH, WHICH DOES GO THROUGH THIS ENTIRE MONTH.
AND THE, THE HISTORY BETWEEN OUR REGION, CALIFORNIA AND, UH, UH, THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1587 AND HAS BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, AND HAS BEEN CONTINUED SINCE THEN.
AND EVERYTHING FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENTS, UH, AND WITH THE, UH, UH, GRAPE STRIKES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WENT ON WITH THAT.
WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
NATIONAL CITY IS APPROXIMATELY 20%, JUST IN POPULATION IS ABOUT 20% FILIPINO AMERICAN.
I THINK OUR DAYTIME POPULATION IS CLOSER TO 50% FILIPINO AMERICAN.
AND, UH, UH, AND THEN WITH ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, PLAZA BOULEVARD IS PARTICULARLY KNOWN FOR.
ITS, UH, FOR THE FILIPINO BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE, UH, OH, A NUMBER OF, OF FIRST YEAR SEAFOOD CITY WAS THE FIRST.
THAT'S THE FIRST SEAFOOD CITY IN THE WORLD.
NOW IT'S GOING WORLDWIDE AND WITH STORES EVERY WHICH WAY.
UH, THERE WAS ONLY ONE IN UNITED STATES.
UH, I VISITED IT AND FOUND, FOUND, YOU KNOW, A GREAT FILIPINO CORPORATION, WHICH, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THRIVING THERE.
AND INTERESTING AROUND THE WORLD.
EVERY COUNTRY THAT HAS FRANCHISE, THE NUMBER ONE FRANCHISE IS MCDONALD'S, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
AND IN THE PHILIPPINES YOU GOT A MCDONALD'S ON JUST ABOUT EVERY QUARTER, BUT YOU GOT MORE JOLLY BEES THAN YOU GOT, UH, THAN YOU DO HAVE MCDONALD'S.
AND SO, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE SECOND, UH, JOLLY BEE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE ONE THAT ON PLAZA BOULEVARD.
AND FOR TWO MONTHS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD TO HAVE TRAFFIC CONTROL OUT ON PLAZA BOULEVARD FOR TWO MONTHS, UH, BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRAFFIC THAT, UH, THE JOLLY BE, UH, BROUGHT IN.
AND OF COURSE NOW THERE'S JOLLY BEES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
UM, AND SO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE CULTURAL, NOW THAT'S JUST TALKING ABOUT THE, THE BUSINESS WISE AND, AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THE CULTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES IS, IS AMAZING AND WHAT IT BRINGS INTO OUR REGION AND INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M ALWAYS PROUD TO, UH, UH, AND LOUDLY PROCLAIM THAT WE ARE THE UNOFFICIAL CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND UH, UH, AND I DO THAT EVERY TIME I GO OVER TO THE PHILIPPINES.
AND, UH, THE, UH, WHICH I DO PLAN ANOTHER TRIP I THINK IN FEBRUARY.
UH, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN IMMENSELY A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE DO WANT TO CELEBRATE ALL THAT IS INVOLVED WITH FILIPINO HISTORY.
UH, THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES IS, IS TERRIBLY, UH, INTERPOSED WITH THE PHILIPPINES.
MANY PEOPLE, EVEN A LOT OF SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION FILIPINO AMERICANS DON'T REALIZE 'CAUSE A LOT OF 'EM HAVEN'T BEEN BACK OVER TO THE PHILIPPINES.
'CAUSE BASICALLY EVERYONE IN THE PHILIPPINES SPEAKS ENGLISH.
EVERYTHING'S WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.
ALL THE NEWSPAPERS ARE IN ENGLISH.
THEIR SHOPPING MALLS PUT OURS TO SHAME.
AND, UH, AND THEY ARE FULLY AMERICANIZED.
AND, UH, SO IT'S THE, THE COMBINATION BETWEEN OUR, OUR TWO COUNTRIES IS, IS INTERTWINED.
AND WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN.
THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE AND THE PEOPLE OF
[01:05:01]
NOT ONLY THE PHILIPPINES, BUT THAT HAVE INGRAINED WITHIN OUR COUNTRY AND BECOME FILIPINO AMERICANS.SO FOR THAT WE DO ARE GONNA CELEBRATE FILIPINO, UH, AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, BUT ALSO IN COMBINATION WITH THAT.
AND, UH, EDNA, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE, UH, PHIL AM BID.
AND WE GOT A, I THINK A FEW OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE AND PHIL AMBI.
AND I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER, IT WAS BACK IN ABOUT, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THAT WAS FORMED IN 2005 IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
AND, UH, THERE WAS A GROUP OF US GOT TOGETHER AND UH, AND DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER THIS WHOLE IDEA OF, OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITHIN THE, UH, THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF JOINING TOGETHER AND MAKING PROGRESS AND MAKING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE THEIR, UM, THEIR TOP HAT CELEBRATION COMING UP AND UH, STAR BLAZERS.
AND SO WE ALSO WANT TO COMBINE THESE TWO, BOTH WITH FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND THEN ALSO WITH THE, UH, PHIL AM BIDS 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF STAR BLAZERS.
AND TOP AT GOOD EVENING MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY I'D LIKE TO CALL ON OUR HONOREE FOR THIS YEAR.
IF THEY COULD JOIN US, PLEASE.
JULIANNA ARMA CHIEF, WE HAVE MR. MARCUS BUSH.
AND OF COURSE OUR EVER OUR NUMBER ONE MAYOR, MAYOR RON MORRISON.
THIS WOULD BE YOUR THIRD AWARD FROM PHIL MBI.
MR. MAYOR MORRISON WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ADVISORS OF PHIL MBI.
IT WAS YOUR FIRST TIME AS BEING MAYOR, RIGHT? IT WAS YOUR, IN FACT, I WASN'T EVEN MAYOR AT THAT TIME.
SO DID, UM, EVERYONE, SO THESE ARE, I'D LIKE TO
CHECK WHO, WHERE'S EDWARD? HE, HE'S TAKING PICTURES.
ACTUALLY IT WAS AWARDED LAST YEAR.
MAYOR MCCANN
SO ANYWAY, SO WE'LL GIVE IT TO HER THIS YEAR.
WE'LL GIVE IT, YOU'LL HAND IT TO HER THIS YEAR.
SO IF WE CAN, WE WILL PRESENT YOU WITH BOTH OF THOSE TO REPRESENT THIS YEAR.
SO IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME IN FRONT OF THE PO ON THAT SIDE OF THE PODIUM, BUT FACING THAT WAY, MS. EDNA ON THE OTHER SIDE.
OTHERWISE THE PODIUM WILL COVER YOU.
WHAT'S THE OTHER, WHAT'S THE WRITER'S NAME? JIM OF SAN DIEGO.
SAME HAIRSTYLE, BUT DIFFERENT GUY MR. LEY.
I THINK SHE WANTS MR. HATCH UP HERE BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THE HONOREES TOO, I THINK.
I THINK I SAW HIS NAME ON THE LIST.
NOT WHY SHE, SHE, SHE'S NOT BIG, BUT SHE BITES.
OKAY, LET'S GET ED UNDER UN ED.
MISS EDNA, COME ON UP FOR THE PICTURE.
SHOW THE, SHOW THE CERTIFICATE.
[01:10:04]
THANK YOU.THERE'S ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, OKAY? OKAY.
SEE CAESAR, JAVIER, GO FOR IT.
MR. JAVIER, WE HAVE YOU UP HERE, PLEASE.
CORITA, JAVIER, FILIPINO AMERICAN.
WE JUST PRAYED THAT, UH, MOM ANI WOULD BE HERE IN PERSON.
WE TAKE THIS PRIVILEGE TO DECLARE THAT WE ARE HUMANS, HUMAN AMERICANS.
AND SO WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY TO THE SPECIALIST WHO MANAGES CLEAN AIR FOR ALL, INCLUDING FILIPINO AMERICANS, SERVE COUNCILOR BUSH.
IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THE FILIPINO AMERICANS HONORS TONIGHT, BUT TO ALL AMERICANS, WE PRAY AND WE ARE WORKING FOR IT.
YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME DEGREE.
WHY ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE HEBS, TO HAVE CLEAN AIR AND NOT LESS? WHY? BUSINESS FIRST, MONEY FIRST, THEN HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL AMERICANS.
WE CONGRATULATE OUR HONORS BECAUSE YOU DID YOUR PART.
YOU HEATED THE CALL OF GENERAL MCCARTHUR.
GIVE ME 10,000 FILIPINOS AND I WILL IMPROVE THE WORLD.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR RECOGNIZING THAT LETTER CONTRIBUTION.
[7. REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
WE GO ON TO REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.I'LL, UH, START DOWN HERE ON MY LEFT.
UM, REMEMBER IMANI UP ON THE SCREEN, I THINK THE REPORT FOR NOW.
I WILL MEET THIS FRIDAY AND I WILL ATTEND THAT MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN FOR ME.
LAST FRI, UH, TWO FRIDAYS AGO.
IT WAS INTERESTING MEETING
AND, UH, BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS GOOD TO, GOOD TO SEE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS.
ALRIGHT, MAYOR, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, CAESAR JAVIER.
OKAY, CAESAR JAVIER, ITEM SEVEN.
THANK GOD, BECAUSE OUR PRAYER HAS BEEN, UH, RECOGNIZED, ANSWERED.
THERE IS NOW A NEW AIR POLLUTION SAR DECLARED BY THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT'S A VITAL SURVIVAL KIT.
CLEAN AIR MA ANI UNITE US SO THAT WE COULD FORM A PERFECT UNION WITH THE REST OF THE EARTH LINKS HERE IN NATIONAL CITY.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FACET BECAUSE SINCE 1993, WE NEGLECTED, WE IGNORED THE CALL FOR CURE AND CARE OF THE VICTIMS
[01:15:01]
OF OUR FELLOW OF SAN DIEGO BY THE BORDER.WE WERE PRAYING THAT THE REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING THE SUB, SUB POLITICAL JURISDICTION, WOULD EVEN CONTRIBUTE A DOLLAR AS A NEIGHBORHOOD GOODWILL.
UP TO NOW, WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, EVEN IN OUR BUDGET, WE DO NOT HAVE SOMETHING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
IN FACT, WE ARE DREAMING AND PRAYING THAT EVERY CITY, NOT ONLY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE CALL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEDICATED TO MONITOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AT NATIONAL CITY LEVEL.
SIR MAYOR OR ANY COUNSELOR, HOW MANY SICK AND DYING NATIONAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AWAY.
[8. CONSENT CALENDAR]
TO CONSENT CALENDAR.UH, BEFORE YOU DO ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY CONFLICT OR ANY EX PARTE DISCLOSURES FOR ANY CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS, SEEING, SEEING YOUR HEARING DONE, WE WILL MOVE ON.
THIS IS ITEMS EIGHT ONE THROUGH EIGHT 12.
AND DO WE HAVE A REQUEST BY ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PULL ANY ITEMS? MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. WE, WE HAVE, I I, WE, I KNOW WE'VE GOT SPEAKERS ON ITEMS. YES, WE DO.
SO, SO, BUT THERE'S NO REQUEST TO PULL ANYTHING.
UM, UH, I, ITEM 8.4, CAESAR JAVIER, YOUR HONORS, WE, WE DO NOT WANT TO MONOPOLIZE THIS, BUT WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE SAFETY.
YOU SEE THESE BIKE LANES, WHOEVER HAD PROPOSED THIS RESEARCH DOESN'T POINT TO DEMANDS SUCH LANE BICYCLE LANE.
IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED SINCE BY DMB SHARE THE ROAD.
OUR LESSON AT CITY OF SAN DIEGO BEING A RESIDENT DISTRICT NINE, IS THAT IT PRODUCED FATALITIES INJURIES.
NATIONAL CITY HAS NO RECORD OF THAT BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE LIKE OTHER INCORPORATED CITIES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MONITORING.
IT'S ONLY THE COUNTY, WHICH WE HAVE HEARD.
AND SO OUR PLANNERS, PARTICULARLY ON CIRCULATION MOBILITY, TAKE IT DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO THEY GO, THEY GO PUTTING THESE BIKE LANES, IF I MAY SPEAK ON ONE ASPECT, BIKE LANES IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO LOOK DIFFERENT.
SOME ARE PINCH, SOME ARE SOLID BARRIERS IN BETWEEN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC CARS BIG AND SMALL.
OUR SISTER RECOMMEND LET US DEDICATE A BIKE LANE NOT IN BETWEEN.
THOMAS ROY, AND WHICH NUMBER IS THIS FOR? STILL 8.4.
HELLO? UH, I LOOKED AT THE PDF AND ABOUT THE SAFETY ANALYSIS AND CHEN RYAN LOOKS LIKE TO GET $300,000 FOR THAT.
NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT, BUT THE THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE DOTS FOR ALL THE ACTIONS OF SOME MAJOR ACTS OF FATALITY.
THEY HAVE AN AERIAL VIEW, THEY HAVE AN AERIAL VIEW OF ALL THE, LET'S SEE, THE SWEETWATER SWEETWATER LINE.
BUT IT'S, MY POINT IS, MY POINT IS IT'S JUST, UH,
[01:20:01]
IT'S OVERKILL.UH, THREE $30,000 IS A, IS A, WOULD YOU PAY 33, $300,000 FOR REPORT THAT HAS EVERY STREET CORNER IN NATIONAL CITY? AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE POINT I'M MAKING.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AWFUL EXPENSIVE INFORMATION IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
THERE WAS ONE WRITTEN COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
UH, WE HAVE 8.5 CAESAR JAVIER.
OH, THIS IS, OH, THOMAS WRIGHT.
UH, THIS, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE, THERE A GRANT, A GRANT FOR, FOR 30.
SO LET'S SEE, 900, 900,000 FOR FROM 900,000.
$2 MILLION FROM OUR INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTION.
NOW THIS IS THE THING THAT GETS ME, THIS IS ALL VERY GOOD BECAUSE THIS IS FOR GRANTS.
SO WE, THIS DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING, BUT STILL THE TAXPAYERS, THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THIS.
SO THIS JUST GIVING YOU SOME OF THE IDEAS OF THE RACE SCHEDULE OF THESE PEOPLE.
FOR CHIN RYAN, THE, THE SENIOR PRINCIPAL GETS $366 AN HOUR.
THE SENIOR PROFESSIONAL GETS $211 AN HOUR AND THE ENGINEER GETS $127 FOR DURO GROUP.
UH, THE PROJECT MANAGER GETS $274 AN HOUR, AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER GETS $220.
NOW, THIS IS ALL GRANT MONEY, BUT THIS IS ALL GRANT MONEY, BUT, UH, IT COMES OUT OF THE TAXPAYERS.
THAT'S THE POINT I WANNA MAKE.
JAVIER, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN PROJECTS.
THIS IS URBAN PLANNERS, UH, SPECIALTY.
MR. BUSH SHOULD BE AROUND BECAUSE MY QUESTION HERE IS WE WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THE EIR ON THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS THE FULL BLOOD OF ALL PROJECTS, WHETHER IT IS IN ACCORD WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY OR NOT, NOT JUST PROJECT, BUT IT MUST CONFORM.
EXAMPLE, EXAMPLE, SIR, IF I MAY, THE CULTURAL, UH, GARDEN AT THE EUCLID IS PLAZA BOULEVARD.
WAS THERE AN EIR ON THIS? YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT COST 5 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, UNITED FILIPINO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WHO WAS THERE AT THE OPENING OR CUTTING OF THE RIBBON.
MOM, MOM, ANI, IS THAT TRUE? IS THAT 5 MILLION WITH THREE METAL POSTS AND 25 ROSES AND ONE PLUG POOL? WHERE IS THE MONEY? AND MR. UH, THE UPI PRESIDENT SAID, OH, THE OTHER, UH, PART OF THAT MONEY IS NOW IN THE ION PART.
YOU KNOW, I AM INTERESTED ON THIS BECAUSE WE WANTED A UNITED FILIPINO, DISCIPLINED FILIPINO SO THAT WE COULD BE A FORMING PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, CORE OF HELPING ONE ANOTHER.
NOT ONLY JUST FILIPINO, BUT ALL AMERICANS.
[01:25:03]
UH, THIS IS THE INTERIM, UH, HERE TO DATE FINANCIAL, UH, ACCRUAL REPORT.WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WE DON'T HAVE AUDITED NUMBERS TO START THIS OFF WITH.
HOW MANY MONTHS HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE AUDIT REPORT WE'RE GONNA MAKE A PHONE CALL VERSUS THAT? YOU KNOW, I'VE SUBMITTED A PRA NOT TO EVEN GET THE AUDIT REPORT.
JUST VERIFY WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME AS FAR AS YOU'RE CALLING SOMEBODY AND WHAT'S THE UNDERLYING REASONS WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING IT.
YOU KNOW, IN THIS FISCAL TIME WHERE WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, THAT AUDIT REPORT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING REPORT TO READ.
HOW ARE THEY GONNA, HOW ARE THEY GONNA COME WITH AN UNQUALIFIED OPINION, WHICH MEANS THE GOOD REPORT IN SPITE OF ALL THE BAD THINGS WE'VE HEARD? ARE THEY GONNA GET INTO THE CAUSES AND THE CONDITIONS OF WHY, WHERE WE, WHERE WE'RE AT? AND THESE ARE ALL RELEVANT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR, WHICH ARE MISSING.
I, I, I'M, I'M SURPRISED WE DON'T HAVE A A, A UPDATED, UH, FINANCIAL SOLVENCY UPDATE HERE.
THERE'S THINGS WE COULD BE DOING NOW WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT.
WE COULD WORK ON POLICIES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE AND WE CAN WORK ON THEM NOW AND WE'RE NOT WORKING.
WE COULD HAVE, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THIS FISCAL SOLVENCY PROBLEM, UH, PLAN IS ACTUALLY IN WORKS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM.
THOMAS RE I'M JUST GOING OVER THE WARRANT REGISTERS, UH, AND I, FOR THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE, UH, JUST LIST OF THINGS.
THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL COMPANY, THE MARTIN LUTHER, MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER ROOF, $118,000.
THE, THE PRIMAN ROOFING, THE FIRE STATION, 34 $14,000.
UH, ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORKS, BULLDOG BULLDOG TOWING, TOWING THE FIRE TRUCK, 1020 $3.
THE CITY MANAGERS, THE GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS, HOSPITALITY, $170 ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS, TOLL ROADS, PAY TOLL VIOLATIONS, $123.
I IMAGINE THAT'S THE TOLL ROAD IN
THE PAYROLL FOR EIGHT 14 TO EIGHT 17 WAS $2,004,000.
UH, NVS INCORPORATED THE PROJECTS.
SWEETWATER EIGHTH AVENUE HIGHLAND, 34 36 ITEMS, $41,000.
UH, AP GENERAL CORPORATION, LAS PALMAS PARKS IMPROVEMENTS, 46,000 ADMINIS.
ADMINISTER ACCOUNT REPLENISHMENT FOR, UH, WORK WORKFORCE COMPENSATION REPLENISHMENT.
CITY MANAGER FOR THE TWO 11 FOR THE TWO 11 PHONE LINE.
RETIREMENT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY LIGHTING $115,600.
SECTION EIGHT HALF PAYMENTS, 1,444,000 FOR THE LIBRARY.
INNOVATIVE IN INNOVATIVE INTERFACE.
AND THE SPEED PRO IMAGING FOR VEHICLE D CALLS FOR 27,000.
THOSE ARE THE ONES I SELECTED.
AND, UH, MR. RECH WAS SPEAKING ON ITEMS EIGHT POINT 10, EIGHT POINT 11, AND EIGHT POINT 12.
SHE JUST SAYING YOU WERE SPEAKING ON ALL THOSE ITEMS. YES.
AND WE HAVE A WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM EIGHT POINT 11 FROM TED OCK AND A SLEEP SPEAKER SLIP AS WELL.
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE LOCAL COASTAL PLAN AMENDMENT ENTAILS?
[01:30:02]
AND DO YOU KNOW, LET'S ASK, WOULD THAT BE A PLANNING? YEAH.CAN WE GET AN ANSWER? WHAT IS THE LOCAL COASTAL PLAN AMENDMENT? NORMALLY WE DON'T ANSWER PUBLIC MIKE.
UM, BOTTOM LINE IS NORMALLY WE DON'T ENGAGE IN BACK AND FORTH, BUT I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION.
UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR WE HAVE A, UM, A FAIRLY OLD LOCAL COASTAL PLAN AND IT NEEDED TO BE AMENDED AS PART OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BALANCE PLAN.
AND THAT WAS THE INITIAL PHASE.
SO WE HAVE TWO DOCUMENTS IN OUR LOCAL COASTAL PLAN, THE LAND USE PLAN AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
THE LAND USE PLAN WAS ALREADY AMENDED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AS PART OF THE BALANCE PLAN.
AND WE ARE NOW WORKING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PART OF THAT LCP.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS OFFLINE ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PROCESS.
BUT, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A SMALL STAFF, SO WE DO DEPEND ON, UH, CONSULTANTS TO HELP US WITH THAT WORK.
AND ALL COASTAL CITIES UNDER STATE LAW ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE SUCH A PLAN.
I WAS PLANNING COMMISSIONER, UH, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
UM, MR. SCHULZE IS AWAY ON BUSINESS.
IS THERE AN INTERIM OR AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TONIGHT? I'LL ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
IS THERE WHAT? THERE'S NOT AN INTERIM, UM, FOR THE NIGHT? NO.
IS THERE AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER? NO, NO.
WHO'S OUR TOP CEO TONIGHT? UM, ME, THE CITY ATTORNEY IS ME.
YOU THINK YOU ARE SETTING IT IN THAT MESSAGE? YOU KIND OF LOOK AROUND, BUT ME, YOU'LL TAKE IT IN CASE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, MAYOR.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR, OKAY.
UH, HERE I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ALL CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. ADOPT OR ACCEPT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND.
AND, AND THEN THERE GOES A SECOND.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
AND WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
[9.1 Business License Tax Reform Advisory Committee Direction]
GO INTO STAFF REPORTS.UH, FIRST ONE IS ON BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIRECTION.
I'LL BE ADDRESSING THIS ONE, ESSENTIALLY.
UM, IF WE GO BACK TO, UH, THE DAY THAT WE HEARD THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM, WE HAD, UH, VERY EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION FOR THOSE THAT WERE ON THE DAIS AND THOSE THAT WERE HERE OR LEARNED ABOUT IT.
UH, THERE WAS A MOTION AND THEN THERE WAS A SUBSEQUENT MOTION IN BETWEEN THAT MOTION.
THERE WAS, UM, A HALF HOUR OR 45 MINUTES OF CONVERSATION.
UM, BASICALLY WHAT, UM, CITY MANAGER SCHULTZ IS LOOKING FOR IS DIRECTION SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED, UM, THAT IS CONTINUING TO WORK AND MEET THEY MET TODAY.
UM, ARE THEY ALSO, AND IS THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION THAT THEY LOOK AT THE BUDGET, UM, SEPARATE FROM THE BL THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM ISSUE, OR HAVE, UM, INPUT ON THE BUDGET.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE CLARIFICATION THAT WE'RE SEEKING FROM YOU ALL, UH, TONIGHT, WHETHER THAT WAS THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL OR NOT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY ATTORNEY HEIDI.
UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS MY COMMENT THAT, OR MY CONVERSATION THAT I'VE HAD WITH, UM, CITY MANAGER, UM, DOUG SCHULZE.
AND I DID MENTION TO HIM, UH, THAT, AND IN FACT, FIRST LET ME BACK UP.
I DID ATTEND ONE OF THE, UH, BUSINESS LICENSE, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND WAS HIGHLY IMPRESSED.
THE, THE CALIBER OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING AT THAT TABLE AND DISCUSSING A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, UH, PUTTING IN ALL OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT.
THEY'RE DEDICATING THEIR TIME, THEY ARE VOLUNTEERING TO HELP US.
UM, THAT IS EXACTLY THE INTENT.
AND I MENTIONED TO OUR CITY MANAGER THAT THE PRIMARY TASK, THE, THE ONE THING THAT WE NEED TO GET ACROSS THE TABLE RIGHT NOW IS THE REFORM THAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
AND, UM, THIS HAS BEEN STATED BY EVERYBODY HERE, THIS
[01:35:01]
IS NECESSARY.UM, A LOT OF RHETORIC HAS BEEN MISCONSTRUING A LOT OF MY PERSONAL, UM, UH, OPINION ON THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
THIS IS A NECESSARY REFORM AND I AM GRATEFUL TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT HAS AGREED TO HELP US GET THIS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN NATIONAL CITY.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT BACK.
THE MEETING THAT I ATTENDED WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, HELD WITHIN AN HOUR, WITHIN AN HOUR.
THERE WAS SO MANY GOOD IDEAS, SO MUCH HELP.
UM, MR. PEDRO GARCIA WAS LEADING THAT MEETING, UH, THE ONE THAT I ATTENDED.
AND, UM, IT WAS, UH, VERY HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS ACHIEVING.
SO THE PRIMARY TASK FOR THIS COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, UM, AND MY INTENT WAS, I HOPE, UH, UM, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT MY COUNCIL MAID'S, UM, INTENT IS, IS TO GET US THROUGH TO A, UH, REFORM MEASURE THAT WE CAN PRODUCE, UH, FOR OUR VOTERS TO APPROVE.
UM, INVOLVING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY IS A WAY TO, UH, ADDRESS THE, UM, OPPOSITION THAT WAS HAPPENING BACK IN AUGUST WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER TO HAVE THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT OR NOT.
SO I FEEL THAT THAT'S THE PRIMARY TASK.
THE SITUATION WITH THE BUDGET IS VERY DIRE.
UH, EVERYBODY THAT IS PAYING ATTENTION IS AWARE, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR BUSINESS LEADERS.
AND I ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THEIR DESIRE TO HELP US.
THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT WE CAN TAP INTO.
AND I WOULD, UM, LIKE TO SHARE MY INPUT FOR THE INTENT HERE.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY TOGETHER, CONTINUE MEETING, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE THAT WANT TO HELP US REVIEW OUR BUDGET.
UM, WHILE WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET CYCLE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE HAVE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE, EITHER ON THE DAAS OR WHEN THE, UH, INFORMATION IS PRODUCED IN A PUBLIC WAY, I WELCOME THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REMAIN INTACT.
WHOEVER WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WAY AFTER THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM, UH, DOCUMENT IS PRODUCED.
UM, ONCE WE GET STARTED ON THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, I WELCOME THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO DO SO.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE AT THAT POINT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE GROUP HAS, UH, SORT OF DEFINED THEIR OWN STRUCTURE AND HAS DONE SO IN A VERY RELEVANT WAY, UH, A WAY THAT IS SUPER HELPFUL IN ACHIEVING THE PRIMARY TASK, WHICH IS THE BLT REFORM.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM MEASURE.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY PRIMARY, TOP OF MIND NUMBER ONE TASK AFTER THAT, MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING WITH US, WITH, UM, MEMBERS OF STAFF, UM, THE BUDGET SITUATION, AND THEY WANNA CONTINUE MEETING, UM, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, HOWEVER, WHATEVER STRUCTURE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEES FIT, I WELCOME THAT RESOURCE, VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE THAT WE CAN TAP INTO TO HELP US SOLVE OUR BUDGET PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.
SO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, THE BUSINESSES, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR BEING SO DILIGENT ABOUT MEETING WEEKLY.
THAT WASN'T EVEN THE INITIAL INTENT.
I SAID, UH, MONTHLY, BUT THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION, THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT IN.
I HAVE FAITH IN YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAD OPPOSITION TO PUTTING THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, THANK YOU FOR HOLDING FIRM TO YOUR PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO WANTING TO ADDRESS THIS FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, AND I THINK THERE'S EVEN SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO, UM, IN THE OUTLINE OR STRUCTURE OF AN, AN AGREEMENT OF A PROPOSAL.
SO THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER, YOU HAVE A DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.
SO I'M ACTUALLY REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW THIS IS GOING SO FAR AND REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MR. PEDRO GARCIA, UH, FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS AND FOR ALL OF YOUR DILIGENT WORK.
AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW PROFESSIONAL, HOW ORGANIZED, AND HOW TRANSPARENT WE'VE WE'VE BEEN AND HOW MUCH WE'VE IMPROVED OUR PROCESS.
SO I THANK YOU UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR CITY MANAGER.
[01:40:01]
SO, SO APPRECIATE THAT.SO I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, WEISER MOLINA, THAT THE PRIMARY TASK WAS THIS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED.
SO I, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALREADY IN MOTION WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THIS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX PROPOSAL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET.
IT GOT ACCELERATED AND PUSHED BECAUSE OF THE GAP, BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET DEFICIT AND HOW DIRE THAT WAS.
THAT'S WHAT REALLY PUSHED AND ACCELERATED THAT.
SO THEREFORE, I THINK THAT, AND ESPECIALLY IN ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS YOU HEARD FROM OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF, UH, MISINFORMATION.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SUGGESTION THAT THIS BUDGET DEFICIT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY SOLVED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS FLAT OUT NOT TRUE.
AND THAT NEEDS TO STOP THE LIES AND THE, UM, UNTRUE STATEMENTS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND SAY, FACTS ARE FACTS.
AND IT IS A FACT THAT THIS WILL NOT ALONE SOLVE THE BUDGET DEFICIT, BUT IT'S A PART OF IT AND IT'S MAKING PROGRESS.
BUT THAT'S THE PART WHERE MY INTENT ORIGINALLY WAS THAT IF THERE WAS, UM, A BIG GAP, SO SAY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAME UP WITH A FIGURE THAT WAS LESS THAN THE 7 MILLION THAT WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED AND THE STRUCTURE, UH, THAT WAS GONNA GO ON THE NOVEMBER 20, 26 BALLOT, THAT THERE WOULD BE DISCUSSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR CUTS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT CAN STILL HAPPEN.
AND I THINK HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN IS JUST AN ITEM, AND I TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT'S AS SIMPLE AS IN ONE OF THE WEEKLY MEETINGS THAT A BUDGET IS DISCUSSED AS AN ITEM SO THAT YOU ALL CAN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY STAFF, AND HOPEFULLY I WOULD EXPECT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER DIRECT DIRECTION THAT OUR FINANCE STAFF IS AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN HELP THEM BRIDGE THAT GAP IN UNDERSTANDING THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE THE, UM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OVERALL DOESN'T, UM, KNOW ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE GRANTS OR INTERNAL PROCESSES.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM THEM ON, ON CUTS OR ON, UH, ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
BUT THAT, I THINK INSTEAD OF CREATING A WHOLE NEW COMMITTEE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A SIMPLE ITEM ON THE, UM, IN, IN ONE OF YOUR GUYS' WEEKLY MEETINGS.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IT'S A DISCUSS A BUDGET IS JUST A SEPARATE, UM, THAT IT IS JUST AN ITEM THAT YOU ALL DISCUSS IN, IN YOUR WEEKLY MEETING.
I THINK THAT'S HOW IT COULD BE ADDRESSED.
AND IF THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, HEAR FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR THE PUBLIC.
ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THAT? SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S WHERE I'M, I STAND ON THAT, IS THAT I THINK THE BUDGET CAN BE HANDLED IN ONE, ONE OR TWO, UH, OF THE, OF THE MEETINGS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CREATE A WHOLE SEPARATE COMMITTEE FOR THAT.
I DO BELIEVE, UM, UH, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THE CONVERSATION FOCUSED ON TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
ONE THING WAS TRYING TO BRING, UH, A GROUP OF BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BLTR AND WHAT AN UPDATE TO THAT WOULD BE.
AND THEN SEPARATE FROM THAT WOULD BE A BUDGET DISCUSSION.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A BUDGET DISCUSSION, UH, I IMPLORED THAT OUR CITY AND EMPLOYEES WOULD BE A PART OF THAT, INCLUDING OUR SCIU 2 21 LEADERSHIP, OUR POA LEADERSHIP AND OUR NATIONAL CITY FIREFIGHTER LEADERSHIP.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, WE, WE SPEND ALMOST ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF.
AND SO IT'S ONLY, I THINK, MAKES SENSE TO HAVE STAFF AT THE TABLE AS WE'RE MAKING SOME OF THESE DECISIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
SO, UM, I SAW THEM AS TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS AND I, I THANK THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
I THANK THE WORK OF CITY STAFF.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I'M MORE THAN OPEN TO HAVING ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE POST THIS, UH, SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COME, GONNA COME OUR WAY REGARDING THE BUDGET.
WE'RE GONNA LIKELY START NEXT MARCH OR SO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS AT THAT TIME AND INCLUDE OUR UNION LEADERSHIPS AT THAT TIME AS WELL.
YEAH, I, I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
UH, THE, THE TIMING OF THIS ONE, UH, IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HOW THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER AND WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY ON THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE FAIRLY CLOSE TO BRINGING US BACK A RECOMMENDATION AND, AND A FORMAT, UH, TO, TO GO AHEAD WITH A, UM, PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT HERE THIS NEXT YEAR, THIS NEXT SPRING, NOT WAITING TO 2028,
[01:45:01]
AND THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT SEE ANY RELIEF UNTIL 29 IF YOU WAS TO DO THAT.UM, THE QUESTION CAME UP WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE US, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO US AT THE 25TH HOUR.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS THE LAST MEETING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GET IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, AND IT WAS RELEASED THE NIGHT BEFORE, A 53 PAGE DOCUMENT.
NOW REALIZING WHEN VOTERS VOTE ON ANYTHING, WHAT THEY SEE IS A TITLE AND A 75 WORD SUMMARY.
AND IF 1% OF VOTERS EVEN SEE THAT 53 PAGE DOCUMENT THAT ACTUALLY DOES THE DETAILS, I WOULD BE TOTALLY AMAZED TO EVEN SEE IT.
I DIDN'T SAY READ IT, BUT EVEN SAW IT.
UM, THAT BECAME THE CONCERN WAS BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAD THE COUNCIL NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY DIG INTO THE, THE DOCUMENT, BUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WAS GONNA BE THE ONES THAT WERE GONNA BE AFFECTED.
WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE POISON PILLS THAT MIGHT BE IN IT OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE, UH, UNFAIR.
THAT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, REALIZING BUSINESSES ARE DIFFERENT.
AND SO THE ERRONEOUS THING THAT CAME OUT WAS THAT WE VOTED AGAINST PUTTING THIS THING ON THE BALLOT.
NO, WE VOTED PUTTING IT AGAINST THE BALLOT AT THE LAST MINUTE WITHOUT A PROPER REVIEW.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING, IS A PROPER REVIEW.
UH, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A, UH, SOMETHING TO GO ON THE BALLOT.
AND ONCE IT'S VOTED ON, IT'S VERY HARD TO EVER CHANGE IT.
AND YOU DON'T WANNA SAY, OOPS, WHY DIDN'T WE ADDRESS THAT BEFORE? SO YOU WANT TO HAVE AS MANY EYES ON IT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO COME BACK ON A BALLOT THIS NEXT YEAR WITH EVERYBODY TOGETHER INSTEAD OF HAVING A STRONG OPPOSITION, BUT HAVE PEOPLE TOGETHER, A COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND SAYING THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THERE IS NOBODY, AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN, AND THAT INCLUDES FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, EXPERTS WANT TO BE EXPERTS.
THERE HAS BEEN NOBODY THAT SAYS THAT THE, THAT THIS TAX DOES NOT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, DOES NOT NEED TO BE REDRESSED AND UH, UM, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A LOGICAL AND IN A PROPER WAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THIS, IN THIS MEASURE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ADDRESSING THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BUDGET.
'CAUSE THE BUDGET ITSELF IS A MUCH LARGER HOLISTIC, UH, CONVERSATION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WILL INCLUDE, UH, THE, UM, THE EMPLOYEES WILL INCLUDE MANAGEMENT WILL INCLUDE THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA END CITIZENS AS A WHOLE.
AND AS WE GET INTO THAT, AND IT, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE GOTTEN INTO, BECAUSE AS WAS STATED, THIS IS GOING TO BE, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE INCREASES WE'RE GONNA HAVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND THERE IS GONNA BE INCREASES TO THE BUDGET THAT ARE SIZABLE THAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, THAT WE, A LOT OF IT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO THERE STILL HAS TO BE OTHER AREAS FOR BRINGING IN REVENUE.
WE NEED TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE ARE DOING WITH DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT THAT BRINGS IN REVENUE, UH, FOR THE CITY SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
AND, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS HERE.
SO THE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE COMING IN AND SAYING THAT, OH YEAH, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT AT THIS LEVEL.
NO, NO ONE SAID IT WANTS TO KEEP THIS LEVEL.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAID IT DOESN'T NEED TO STAY AT THIS LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALISTIC, BUT WE GOTTA BE FAIR.
WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT AN HONEST BALLOT MEASURE AND ONE THAT WE WON'T SAY AFTERWARDS, WELL GEE, WHY DIDN'T WE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING BEFORE WE JUST THREW IT ON, UH, THREW IT ON A BALLOT.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN DISCUSSION WAS TO HAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LOOK AT THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX, GROSS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX AS AS AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
LET'S GET IT SO IT CAN GO TO A BALLOT AND THEN, THEN WE CAN, AND SAY WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE BUDGET, BUT THEN DEAL WITH THE BUDGET IN A MUCH MORE DIRECT DEAL, IN A MUCH MORE HOLISTIC WAY.
WE GOT, UH, COUNCILMAN YAMANI.
I THINK THE, THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY MANAGERS ASKING IS VERY SIMPLE.
UM, AN ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE REFORM, THAT'S IT.
OH, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
IF YOU NEED A DIRECTION NO, TO CLARIFY.
SO THEN THERE IS NO OTHER TOPIC ASIDE FROM THE BUSINESS LICENSE REFORM.
[01:50:01]
NOT A, A VOTING ITEM, RIGHT? IT'S CLARIFICATION ON THE ACTION YOU TOOK.I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS INDICATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY GROUP WAS TO ADDRESS BUSINESS LICENSE TAX REFORM, AND MOVING FORWARD, AS WE DEAL WITH BUDGET ISSUES, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF OUR WORKING GROUP TO BE HEARD.
IS THAT FAIR? I UNDERSTAND COUNSEL, BUT THERE WAS A MOTION LAST TIME THAT BECAME COMPLICATED.
THAT'S WHY CITY MANAGERS COMING BACK.
SO THEN THERE IS A CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THIS COUNCIL AND, AND, AND I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY JUST SUMMED UP WHAT WE'VE ALL JUST SAID, SO THAT, THAT BECOMES DIRECTION.
AND YES, AND IF EVERYONE WANTS TO DO A FIRST AND A SECOND, THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'VE CAPTURED IT, THAT'S FINE.
UH, DO WE HEAR FROM PUBLIC COMMENT TO, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT IF WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE NEED TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD.
BUT I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ HAS A COMMENT.
I WAS GONNA SECOND THE MOTION.
I DO THINK WE NEED CLARITY JUST TO BE SURE.
CAN WE GET PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, KAREN MCMANUS, FOLLOWED BY DEXTER, UH, IAN, FOLLOWED BY ED NIETO.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I BROUGHT OUT SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING OUR PARTICIPATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR CHAMBER BE INCLUDED.
I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR INCLUDING THE CHAMBER.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT THE, WHOEVER SPOKE TO THE, TO THE CITY MANAGER, HE INVITED ME TO THE TABLE.
IT, IT WAS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A VOTE OF CON CONFIDENCE FROM OUR BOARD.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND WE ARE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU AND TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT NATIONAL CITY IS THAT EVERYONE HERE WAS WILLING TO COME TOGETHER AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THE CITY, THE CHAMBER, OUR BUSINESSES CONCERNED CITIZENS, OUR POLICE, AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
I'VE WATCHED POLICE OFFICERS KEEP STREETS SAFE, INCLUDING HELPING YOUNG WOMEN GET OFF THE BLADE.
UH, WOMEN WHO MAY HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED.
I'VE WATCHED FIREFIGHTERS ANSWER THE CALL WHEN PEOPLE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMERGENCY.
I'VE WATCHED OUR BUSINESSES COME TOGETHER RECENTLY TO WORK THROUGH THIS LATEST TAX ISSUE.
AND THE CHAMBER DO ITS PART TO KEEP THOSE BUSINESSES INFORMED.
I'VE WATCHED CITY STAFF FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP STAY ACCESSIBLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY SERVE.
EVERYONE IS OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND NOT ONE OF YOU ARE DETACHED FROM IT.
THAT IS THIS PART OF THIS CITY'S UNIQUE CHARACTER.
I'LL TELL YOU THIS, AS SOMEONE THAT SERVED OVERSEAS IN AS A COMBAT VETERAN, NOBODY FIGHTS HARDER THAN SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR HOME, EVEN AGAINST HOPELESS ODDS.
AND I SEE THAT IN JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE.
WE KEEP THAT SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION WITH GOOD INTENT AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO.
NATIONAL CITY CAN ENTER A NEW ERA PAST THE OLD STEREOTYPES AND RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES.
AS ONE OF THE OLDEST CITIES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S A CALLING TO COOPERATE AND COLLABORATE TO GET PAST OUR DIFFERENCES AND ACCEPT THE CHALLENGES WE'RE GOING TO FACE AS ONE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.
NIETO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MORE I CAN EMPHASIZE THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH MISCOMMUNICATION THAT THE BUSINESS LICENSING TAX, UM, THAT WAS THE CONFUSION IN THE CON, UH, BUSINESS LICENSING TAX CREATED THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS LICENSING TAX DISCUSSION HERE WE'RE HAVING IS NOT WHAT CREATED THE BUDGET.
IT WAS THE PRACTICE OF NOT REVIEWING FEES FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THAT'S A PROCESS WITHIN THE CITY.
LIKE ALL OTHER PROCESSES HAVE TO BE REVIEWED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION HERE.
I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PURE POOR S-E-I-I-U PEOPLE ARE GETTING DECEIVED, YOU KNOW, WHAT POLITICALLY AND WHAT, WHAT'S CAUSING THE BUDGET.
BUT THAT TAKEN, I HAVE TO GIVE COMPLIMENTS TO, UH, PEDRO.
I MEAN, HE'S DONE AMAZING JOBS IN PROVIDING FIVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WHERE INITIALLY THAT STARTED OFF AS A BIG BALL OF CONFUSION
[01:55:01]
IN THE BLT.I PARTICIPATED IN THE FOUR I HEARD FOR, UH, UH, TWO MEETINGS OF THE FOUR.
AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OVERALL PLANS.
I HEAR YOU GUYS TALKING, BUT YOU'RE SORT OF TALKING NOW OF DEFINING WHAT THE SCOPE IS AFTER THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEBATING.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PLAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFINED ON KEEPING WHETHER THE, THE, THE, THE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUE, UH, UPFRONT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M HEARING THESE MEETINGS IN THE TWO MEETINGS I WENT TO, THEY'RE BUMPING UP AGAINST THE SAME ISSUES OF WHAT'S CAUSING THE DEFICIT.
AND THOSE ANSWERS AREN'T BEING, UH, THOSE QUESTIONS AREN'T BEING ANSWERED IN THE BLT MEETING.
AND IT WOULD BEHOOVE THEM IF THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OR A FEEL FOR THE COUNCIL WHERE THEY'RE LEANING ON THIS.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE THE, THE, THE OUTCOME MORE CONFUSING THAN WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE DID HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE CLARITY OF THE MOTION, AND DID I UNDERSTAND IT BASICALLY BEING THAT THE DIRECTION WOULD BE THAT THE, THE COMMITTEE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO HEAR FROM THEM IS ABOUT THE BLT TAX ITSELF.
THE, UH, AND AS A, THE BUDGET WILL BE A SEPARATE, WILL BE A SEPARATE ISSUE BECAUSE OF TRYING TO, TRYING TO GET, NOT GET THE CHICKEN BEFORE THE EGG TYPE OF THING.
IS THAT, WHAT IS THAT BASICALLY? OKAY.
I'M SEEING A NOD FOR YOU SECOND.
I, I SECONDED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI.
YEAH, I WAS JUST SAYING, I WAS JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY TO SEE WHAT THE MOTION WAS.
SO, SO IT'S BASICALLY THAT, THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FROM, PARTICULARLY FROM THE CHAMBER AT THE MOMENT, IS THIS, OF COURSE, CHAMBER CAN BE INVOLVED ON THE, THE, THE BUDGET STUFF, EVERYTHING AFTERWARDS ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, HUH? WE DON'T WANNA CHANGE ANYTHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAVE PUT IN PLACE.
HIS DIRECTION IS TO ASK THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, ITEM IS ONLY FOR BLT.
UM, MAYOR, UH, I WANNA CLARIFY, UH, I THINK WE'RE POINTING OUT THE CHAMBER, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE COMMITTEE, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT JUST THE NATIONAL CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, IT IS A GROUP OF BUSINESS LEADERS, UH, LOCALLY THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME BECAUSE THEY FIND THIS TOPIC OF IMPORTANCE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD THE OPINION TO THE TABLE HERE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS HERE ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THE BUDGET AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE ALL AGREED THE TASK IS THE BLT REFORM.
UM, BUT THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAME TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I MEAN, THAT WAS WHAT GOT US IN TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE, IS A, YOU KNOW, MISMANAGEMENT.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS BUDGET DEFICIT.
ANYWAY, I DON'T WANT TO DETER THE FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS WAY.
UM, NATIONAL CITY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS WAY FROM HELPING US IN THE FUTURE WITH THE BUDGET.
SO, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND FOR CLARITY'S SAKE AND TO HELP THE CITY MANAGER, UM, FULFILL HIS REQUEST, WHICH IS HE WANTS CLEAR DIRECTION AS FAR AS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW, UM, I AM FINE WITH NARROWING THE SCOPE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS, UH, HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY, UH, MEMBER YAMANI, WHICH IS FOCUS ON THE BLT.
UM, I WANT TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT HERE THAT I AM INTERESTED IN TAPPING INTO THIS RESOURCE NOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, STRENGTHENED THE, UH, THE CONNECTION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? UM, THIS ADVISORY GROUP IS, WAS BORN OUT OF, YOU KNOW, A, A NEED FOR COMMUNICATION, A NEED FOR CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, HELP US COME TO THE TABLE NOW THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THAT.
I WELCOME THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REMAIN TOGETHER, TO COME BACK AND JOIN US ONCE WE BEGIN OUR SERIOUS BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE ARE DEFINING THE SCOPE OF, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY MANAGER OF THE BLT, UH, PORTION OF THE TASK FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN FOR ME THAT YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO COME BACK AND HELP US ONCE WE BEGIN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
AND I, I THINK IF I CAN JUST EXPOUND ON THAT JUST A BIT, WE WANNA HEAR FROM EVERYBODY ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE HEARD TONIGHT ABOUT THE BUDGET FROM THE SEIU.
[02:00:01]
OKAY.THEY WERE PUTTING IN THEIR, UH, THEIR BITS ON IT.
WE WANT TO HEAR THE SAME THING.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE WANNA HEAR THE SAME THING FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE YOUTH LEAGUES.
WE WANT TO HEAR THE SAME THING JUST FROM THE COMMON CITIZENS.
WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR STREET SWEEPING OR WHATEVER ELSE IT MAY BE, UH, THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
AND SO, UH, SO YEAH, WE DEFINITELY DO WANNA BE HEARING FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER GROUPS.
OKAY, WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, COULD YOU GUYS, UH, I'LL DO ROLL PROBLEM.
WE'LL GET USED TO THIS TONIGHT YET.
[9.2 Commercial Cannabis Program – Policy Direction Regarding Available Licenses and Land Use.]
TO THE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS PROGRAM.THIS IS A POLICY DECISION REGARDING AVAILABLE LICENSES AND LAND USE FROM THIS ONE OVER PEDRO GARCIA.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY IN CHARGE IN
EVERYONE'S FAVORITE TOPIC, MOST RECEIPTS IN CANNABIS.
PEDRO GARCIA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR THE CITY.
UH, TONIGHT WE DO NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT THIS IS JUST, UM, A DISCUSSION ON HOW THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PROCEED OR NOT PROCEED WITH THE TWO EXISTING LICENSES THAT WE HAVE.
UH, THEY WERE A PRODUCT OF TWO REVOCATIONS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, UH, THROUGH, UH, MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE REASONS WHY WE HAD TO REVOKE THOSE LICENSES.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE COME OUT OF, UH, TWO, UH, COURT ORDERED APPEAL HEARINGS THAT, UH, THE CITY WAS UPHELD ON THE DECISION AND WE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THAT AND CAME OUT ON TOP.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY RISKS OF DOING ANYTHING WITH THOSE TWO LICENSES NOW AT THIS TIME.
SO, UH, CITY MANAGER AND MYSELF THOUGHT IT WAS A APPROPRIATE TIME TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO, UM, LOOK AT UTILIZING THESE TWO LICENSES OR NOT USING 'EM.
AND SO I KIND OF WANNA LEAVE IT AT THAT AND, UM, OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
I'M SURE THERE'S GONNA BE QUESTIONS BACK AND FORTH AND I THINK THERE'S SOME PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT, UM, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
UH, DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS? YES, WE DO.
I BELIEVE SHELLY WILL START WITH THE ZOOM.
I AM IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.
NATIONAL CITY DOES NOT NEED MORE MARIJUANA BUSINESSES.
THE CITY ALREADY HAS FOUR OPERATING RETAIL SHOPS AND, UM, THAT'S PLENTY OF POT FOR OUR CITY.
THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA IS FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
STATE DATA SHOWS THAT CANNABIS RETAIL SALE SALES ARE DECLINING FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT, UM, IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2024 COMPARED TO 2023.
AND THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE MARIJUANA LI MARIJUANA LICENSES FELL ALMOST 20% IN 2024.
THESE TRENDS POINT TO THE FACT THAT EXPANDING A DECLINING INDUSTRY IS NOT A WISE USE OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES.
ADDING MORE CANNABIS BUSINESSES WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME FOR APPLICATIONS, INSPECTIONS, ZONING REVIEWS, AND REGULATORY OVERSIGHT THAT TIME COULD BE BETTER SPENT ADDRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT ANY EXPANSION AND FOCUS ON MANAGING EXISTING BUSINESSES WHILE DIRECTING STAFF RESOURCES TOWARDS PRIORITIES THAT BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
NATIONAL CITIES SHOULD PURSUE A WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
RATHER THAN EXPANDING INDUSTRY FACING DECLINING SALES AND FEWER ACTIVE LICENSES STATEWIDE, THE CITY SHOULD PROTECT, PROTECT TAXPAYER RESOURCES AND ENSURE STAFF TIME IS USED WHERE CAN PROVIDE THE GREATEST BENEFIT TO RESIDENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION OF EXPANDING A COMMERCIAL CANNABIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING OPENING ADDITIONAL CANNABIS LICENSES, INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LICENSED CANNABIS BUSINESSES, OR EXPANDING OPERATIONS INTO ADDITIONAL ZONING DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY AS THE LEADERS OF NATIONAL CITY TO BALANCE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH, NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE,
[02:05:01]
AND YOUTH PROTECTION RESEARCH HAS FOUND MANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CANNABIS USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS, INCLUDING IMPACTS ON LEARNING, MEMORY, ATTENTION, MOTIVATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH.IF WE INCREASE NORMALIZATION AND CREATE GREATER EXPOSURE TO THESE CANNABIS RETAIL BUSINESSES, IT CAN UNDERMINE PREVENTION EFFORTS BY SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES, WHICH ARE ATTEMPTING TO DELAY SUBSTANCE USE AMONG YOUTH.
ANOTHER POINT IS THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS PLACE A HIGH VALUE ON COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS THAT PRIORITIZE FAMILY SERVING BUSINESSES, DINING, RECREATION, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORIENTED USES.
I ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT LIMITATIONS ON CANNABIS BUSINESSES AND TO CAREFULLY EVALUATE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, YOUTH PREVENTION, AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS BEFORE CREATING ANY EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.
IF THE CITY DID CHOOSE TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES, YOUTH EXPOSURE CONCERNS, AND RESIDENT FEEDBACK, RATHER THAN FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE HYPOTHETICAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
AND I ALSO AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER ABOUT STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES GOING TOWARDS THINGS BESIDES JUST CANNABIS BUSINESSES.
SO IF WE COULD, UH, OPPOSE THIS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
MAY I BELIEVE THAT CAN, THAT CONCLUDES THE ZOOM PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, IN-PERSON C, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CAESAR JAVIER, FOLLOWED BY TED GODSHAW, FOLLOWED BY GINA AUSTIN SENSOR IN PURITA.
WE ARE ON OUR TWILIGHT YEARS AND WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE AND WE HAVE LEARNED AND LEARNED AND LEARNED AFTER THIS MOMENT.
NATIONAL CITY, OUR CITY IS UNIQUE AND THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION SEEMS TO BE UNIQUE TOO.
THE FORCE OR VECTOR WITH ITS MUSCLE IS DIRECTED TO CONSULAR BOOTH.
DID YOU USE MARIJUANA WHILE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT? YES OR NO, SIR? YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER.
I JUST WANT TO RECOMMEND THAT SINCE NATIONAL CITY IS UNIQUE AND FOCUS ON HUMAN SURVIVABILITY, I DO NOT KNOW MARIJUANA WOULD CURE ANY PART OF THE BODY.
THE ANATOMY OF A HUMAN PERSON, WHETHER AMERICAN, AMERICAN OR FILIPINO AMERICAN OR LATINO AMERICAN OR HEALTH BENEFIT.
BUT I HAVE NOT LEARNED THAT THE ASTRONAUT GOING TO MARS ARE TAKING MARIJUANA.
MR. BUS, SIR, YOU'RE TAKING, YOU DID NOT ANSWER ME.
AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND, SIR, THAT SINCE NATIONAL CITY IS UNIQUE AND FOCUS ON HUMAN SURVIVABILITY, LONGEVITY, 106 OR CENTENARIAN HEALTHY NATIONAL CITY RESIDENTS.
WHY NOT CANNABIS FREE NATIONAL CITY.
NEVERMIND ECONOMICS, BUT MORE ON HEALTH.
TED GODSHAW, FOLLOWED BY GINA AUSTIN, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS RE WELL, IT JUST TAKES ME BACK TO, UH, COVID.
WHEN WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ZOOM CALL THERE, A LOT OF THIS WAS
[02:10:01]
HASHED OUT DURING COVID.ONLY TWO OF YOU VOTED ON IT FOUR YEARS AGO, JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION.
ONE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC, THE OTHER ONE WAS AN ENTHUSIAST OF MARIJUANA.
I'M UNDECIDED IF I REALLY SHOULD LEAD ABOUT LEAD WITH MY CONCERN ABOUT MR. BUSH'S MARIJUANA USE AND HOW THAT CLOUDS HIS DECISIONS ON THIS MATTER.
FAMILY, MY WIFE'S FAMILY HAS LIVED 103 YEARS ON CLEVELAND AVENUE.
WE HAVE A CANNABIS SHOP, A CANNABIS SHOP, AND A CANNABIS SHOP.
I PICK UP THE WEED TRASH, MR I CAN'T RECALL HIS NAME NOW, BUT THE MR. EMERSON BROUGHT THE LITTER THAT HE FOUND AND DROPPED IT ON HERE.
AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT DOING, WHY WOULD I DO IT IF HE'S DONE IT RIGHT? PEOPLE, MANY EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ROLL UP, LIGHT UP, HIT IT AND DRIVE AWAY ON THE STREET AFTER LEAVING THE SHOPS HIGH FIVE ZOOMS RIGHT ALONG NEARBY.
AND THAT'S WHERE THESE DRIVERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE GO.
I'M AGAINST THE ADDITION OF ANY MORE LICENSES AND I THINK YOU SHOULD HELP MOVE THE ONE THAT'S AT 20TH ON CLEVELAND, AWAY, AWAY FROM CLEVELAND.
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DO ANY CHANGES, HELP THEM MOVE TO SOME OTHER LOCATION.
I'VE SUBMITTED AN SCRIBE, I HOPE YOU'VE SEEN IT.
THERE ARE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS THERE OF THINGS YOU NEED TO FIND OUT BEFORE ONE OF 'EM IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU LOOK AT THE SALES TAX AND DID YOU KNOW THAT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE, MACY'S, FOOTLOCKER, AUTOZONE, JOLLY VICTORIA'S SECRET, I'M JUST GIVING SOME, SOME, A BROAD RANGE OF BUSINESSES ALL BRING IN MORE SALES TAX THAN THE CANNABIS OUTLETS.
IF YOU'RE GONNA CITE SOMEBODY'S IN OUR CITY, FIND A BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SOCIAL IMPACTS, THAT DOESN'T PROMISE THINGS THAT IT CAN'T COME THROUGH WITH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
INSTEAD, DO SOMETHING THAT HELPS OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'LL BE COMING BACK IF YOU PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
GINA AUSTIN, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS REICH, FOLLOWED BY ALEX AON REASON IN HERE.
ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS GINA AUSTIN AND I REPRESENT BUZZ CANNABIS AND I'M HERE WITH COMMENTS FROM THEM AND CONCURRENCE FROM OFF THE CHARTS AS WELL AS SESSIONS BY THE BAY.
FIRST, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR A NATIONAL CITY FOR DEVELOPING A CANNABIS PROGRAM THAT REALLY HAD A LOT OF THOUGHT PUT INTO IT.
NATIONAL CITY WAS THE FIRST JURISDICTION TO HAVE A CONSUMPTION LOUNGE WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTY WASN'T EVEN READY TO DO THAT.
AND IN FACT, MOST OF THE STATE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
AND THE CITY SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING THROUGH THAT ORDINANCE TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND BY THE CITY'S OWN ASSESSMENT, IT'S WORKING.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS IN THE COMMENTS THAT WERE IN THE, UM, IN THE, UH, AGENDA.
BUT I WANNA LOOK AT WHY WE WOULD DO ANY OF THESE ACTIONS BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS WORKING.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THERE IS NO DATA OUT THERE TO SUGGEST THAT WE NEED MORE SHOPS, MORE ZONING, MORE ANYTHING.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I REPRESENT THE EXISTING CANNABIS OPERATORS AND WE WANNA KEEP EVERYBODY OUT OF THE INDUSTRY.
IT'S ABOUT WE'RE ASKING FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE WE'VE ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE? IS THERE A LACK OF DISPENSARIES THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T GET CANNABIS? IS IT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR INCREASED TAX REVENUE? OR ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR EMPLOYMENT JOBS? WHAT IS IT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO AUTHORIZE CANNABIS IN ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS AND PUT IT, UM, IN ADDITIONAL ZONES? MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THOUGHT I HAD THREE MINUTES, SO I'M GETTING THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE OPERATORS.
THERE ARE BENEFITS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS, THOSE NEED TO BE REEVALUATED BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE RISK.
WE, WE ENTERED INTO THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS OF WHAT WE HAD.
THOMAS RE FOLLOWED BY ALEX AON.
I'M AGAINST, I'M AGAINST ANY NEW LICENSES BECAUSE OF THE ADDICTION THAT CAUSES THE PEOPLE.
AND ONE MAJOR ACCIDENT, A SHOOTING OR A CAR ACCIDENT WILL, WILL NO GAIN, NO FINANCIAL GAIN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY EITHER PAY IN HOSPITAL BILLS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
[02:15:01]
IT.UM, IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN THAT THE INDUSTRY AND, UH, THE OTHER SPEAKERS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT SOMETHING
UH, BUT, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS CONTINUING TO ENGAGE ON CANNABIS.
UM, I'M HERE AS CEO OF SESSIONS BY THE BAY.
UH, I'M NOT FORMALLY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER OPERATORS, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, THEY PROBABLY SHARE MY SAME CONCERNS.
WE OPENED THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
UM, AND WE HAD, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, WE OPENED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
WE STARTED ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO GOING THROUGH LICENSING, CONSTRUCTION, UH, AND JUST PREPARATION.
AND LIKE MANY BUSINESSES WE'RE STILL JUST TRYING TO FIND OUR FOOTING.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN OPEN THE LONGEST AND THAT'S JUST BARELY A YEAR AND A HALF.
I THINK SOME OF THE NEWER ONES ARE LESS THAN A YEAR.
UM, CONSUMERS CURRENTLY ARE STRETCHED THIN.
WE OPEN IN A DIFFICULT ECONOMY.
THAT'S NOT ANYBODY'S FAULT, BUT THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.
SO, UM, THE INDUSTRY IS IN FACT CONTRACTING AND WE ARE COMPETING WITH DISPENSARIES OUTSIDE THE REGION.
SO BEING STRONG AND HEALTHY HELPS US DRAW REVENUE INTO THE CITY.
UM, MY CONCERN WITH ADDING MORE LICENSES IS THAT IT WOULDN'T MAKE THE MARKET BIGGER.
IT'S SIMPLY DIVIDED INTO SMALLER PIECES.
AND THAT WOULD JUST, UH, WEAKEN US AND OUR ABILITY TO, UH, TO PERFORM.
UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT EXPANDING THE ALLOWABLE ZONES, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE, UH, WE, UH, MOVED INTO THIS PARTICULAR, UH, REGION, UM, SIGNED LONG-TERM LEASES, INVESTED HEAVILY INTO OUR LOCATIONS, UM, AND ALLOWING NEW BUSINESSES CLOSER TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN COMMUNITIES OR ALONG MAJOR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS WOULD GIVE THEM A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WHILE, UH, US YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RELOCATE LIKE THAT.
UM, YOU HAVE CREATED WHAT'S, UH, KINDA LIKE A MINI GREEN ZONE AND I THINK THAT ACTUALLY HAS A LOT OF VALUE.
PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO THAT AREA FOR THAT.
AND IT IS AN INDUSTRIAL SPACE.
UM, UH, CONVENIENTLY OFF THE FREEWAY.
UM, I THINK, UH, WHAT WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL IS LOOKING AT THE EXISTING REGULATIONS AND SEEING HOW YOU COULD BETTER SUPPORT THE EXISTING OPERATORS.
UM, ONE, ONE ASK I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER IS MAYBE ALLOWING THE RENEWALS TO HAPPEN EVERY FIVE YEARS VERSUS EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S A HUGE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN TO GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU GUYS TOO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, UH, TO PRODUCE ALL THAT.
AND ALSO WE CAN'T ADVERTISE IN THE CITY.
THAT CONCLUDES IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE WERE SEVEN WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM AND CITY CLERK CHAPEL HAS ANOTHER SPEAKER ON ZOOM.
OKAY, WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON ZOOM.
AS A PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER AND YOUTH ADVOCATE, I RESPECTFULLY SAY NO MORE LICENSES AND NO TO EXPANDING INTO ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED TO JUSTIFY ABANDONING THE CURRENT APPROACH.
AND I AGREE THERE'S NO DATA TO SHOW THAT WE SHOULD FIERCE.
COMPETITION FOR LIMITED PERMITS HAS TRIGGERED LEGAL DISPUTES AND EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY OR CHANGING ZONING COULD INVITE FURTHER CHALLENGES FROM DIS DISSATISFIED OPERATORS, ADDING UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS AND LEGAL COSTS FOR TAXPAYERS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY HAS TREATED CANNABIS PERMITTING AS A HIGHLY REGULATED TOOL.
DO NOT MAKE IT AN OPEN MARKET.
LET'S PRESERVE THAT CLOSED APPROACH.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED AGAINST BROADER CANNABIS OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC OPPOSITION HAS SUPPORTED A CAUTIOUS POLICY.
WHY CHANGE COURSE WHEN THERE'S NO DEMONSTRATED NEED TO EXPAND? THIS MARKET IS FAR FROM STABLE.
WE SHOULD NOT EXPAND SIMPLY BECAUSE MORE MAR MORE BUSINESSES WANT MARKET ACCESS.
THE BURDEN SHOULD BE ON PROPONENTS TO DEMONSTRATE A COMPELLING PUBLIC PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ON RESIDENTS TO BEAR THE RISKS AND COSTS OF EXPANSION OF SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT WANT.
PLEASE PROTECT NATIONAL CITY'S FISCAL INTERESTS, COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, FAMILY PRIORITIES, AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, SO NOW WE'LL LOOK TO THE COUNCIL, UM, NOW THAT WE'VE HEARD IN THE PUBLIC AND 'CAUSE THIS IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION AT THIS STAGE.
UH, GO WITH MEMBER BUSH FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO WITH THE, UH, MEMBER IMANI.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR SPEAKING.
I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE? AND I THINK WHAT THIS, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WHEN I LOOK AT IT IS POTENTIAL REVENUE IN BUSINESSES, UM, ECONOMIC.
AND I AM CONCERNED, THERE'S TWO CONCERNS I HAVE WITH OUR EXISTING ORDINANCE, AND I DO AGREE THAT OUR STAFF DID A GOOD JOB WHEN I COMPARED TO CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND OTHER CITIES, CHULA VISTA, WHO'VE HAD, UH,
[02:20:01]
SO MANY LAWSUITS AND HAD THIS, UH, DRAG ON.AND CONSIDERING WE WERE THE FIRST TO HAVE A CONSUMPTION LOUNGE, I THINK WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
WE DID HAVE SOME LAWSUITS THAT GOT RESOLVED.
I WANNA THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, FOR THEIR WORK ON THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK, UH, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT THE FACTS, THE DATA, AND THE ACTUALS.
SO I'M NOT CLEAR, I, I, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND AND KNOW, AND WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ON THE STAFF REPORT TO GO BY, BUT THE PROJECTIONS OF THE REVENUE WE'RE GONNA GENERATE THAT HASN'T BEEN MET.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ACTUALS THERE.
UM, AND IF STAFF CAN ANSWER THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, CONCERNS ME, AND I APPRECIATE MR. GODSHAW FOR SPEAKING ON THIS IS THE OVER CONCENTRATION OVERALL, THE OVERSATURATION OF THE MARKET, BUT THE OVER CONCENTRATION IN ONE DISTRICT AND DISTRICT ONE.
SO I, HOW WE SOLVE THAT, I CAN SEE A PATH TO SOLVING THAT.
MAYBE IT IS ALLOWING THE EXISTING BUSINESSES TO MOVE INTO THE OTHER, UH, OTHER, UH, PARTS OF THE DISTRICT SO THAT THERE'S AT LEAST GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ALL CONCENTRATED IN DISTRICT ONE.
SO IT'S, UH, MORE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
SO ALLOWING THE EX, I DON'T KNOW IF ALLOWING THE BUS, THE EXISTING BUSINESSES, UH, TO, TO MOVE INTO OTHER, UH, AREAS OF THE CITY, IF THAT WOULD SOLVE IT.
UM, I JUST DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, UH, ALLOWING THE RENEWALS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UM, BUT, UH, I DO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF, UM, THE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE, UM, THE OVER CONCENTRATION IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.
SO, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK, UH, EE EXPANDING, UH, THE NUMBER OF LICENSES, WE, WE INITIALLY HAD SIX, THAT'S HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY AS AN EXPANSION.
THIS IS JUST, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WE ALREADY ALLOWED, WHICH WAS, WE ALLOWED SIX, BUT WE HAVE FOUR RIGHT NOW.
AND ALREADY WITH THOSE FOREIGN OPERATION, IT SEEMS THAT IT'S OVERSATURATION.
SO I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THE REVENUE, UH, FOR OUR CITY AND WHAT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT.
UM, BUT IF CITY STAFF AND WHETHER IT'S FINANCE OR, UM, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER CAN TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, IF WE'VE HIT OUR PROJECTIONS FOR THE REVENUE BASED ON THE ACTUALS AND WHAT'S ALREADY COME IN, UH, REMEMBER YOUR MONEY.
UM, I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, UM, THAT WE NEED TO HELP THE FOUR THAT ARE EXISTING RIGHT NOW TO FLOURISH, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
RIGHT NOW, THE PROJECTIONS WERE TOO HIGH.
I WASN'T THERE YET WHEN YOU APPROVED THE SIX LICENSES, BUT I REQUESTED THE REPORT.
THAT WAS THE FIRST, THE FIRST SIX MONTHS WHEN SESSIONS OPENED.
AND IT'S, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING.
SO THE DIRECTION THAT THEY'RE ASKING RIGHT NOW IS TO ADD TO THE OTHER POLICIES THAT WE ARE MENTIONING RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HELPING THIS FOUR THAT ARE EXISTING RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY THAT YOU APPROVED.
YOU, I MEAN, TO, TO, TO BE, TO FLOURISH AND TO, AND TO, UM, UH, REALIZE THE PROJECTIONS THAT THEY SAID, UM, WILL BRING INTO THE CITY.
I DON'T SEE IT AND OPENING ANOTHER TWO, WERE JUST GOING TO, TO, UM, SET THEM UP FOR FAILURE.
WE NEED TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES FLOURISH HERE IN OUR CITY.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS.
I, UM, I DO BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALREADY EXISTING BUSINESSES TO FIND THEIR FOOTING WITHIN THIS MARKET.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT RECEIVE, UM, UH, AS MUCH REVENUE AS WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
AND THAT HAS TO DO A LOT WITH THE MARKET AND THE MARKET IN NATIONAL CITIES.
SO, UH, CONTINUING TO HAVE ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH CURRENT BUSINESSES IS CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UH, SUCCEED.
AND I WOULD BE OPEN TO HAVING A DISCUSSION ON THIS SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR OR END OF NEXT YEAR AFTER BUSINESSES GET THEIR FOOTING.
AND, UM, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, ONE THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY, UH, MR. REER, BUT I, I THINK THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER.
UM, YEAH, WHEN THIS WAS ALL BROUGHT UP, ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, FOR ONE, WAS VERY CRITICAL ABOUT THE PROJECTIONS BECAUSE PROJECTIONS WEREN'T WORKING ANYWHERE IN
[02:25:01]
CALIFORNIA, UH, THAT WERE BEING CLAIMED.AND EVEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THEY HAD TO CUT THEIR PROJECTIONS IN HALF AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, WHEN, WHEN THEY FIRST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND HOW MUCH IT WAS GONNA BRING IN ALL THE GREAT THINGS IT WAS GONNA DO.
AND IN ALMOST EVERY PLACE THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S BEEN TRIED, IT HAS NEVER MET THE PROJECTIONS.
SO THE PROJECTIONS, THAT'S ONE THING.
UH, ANOTHER THING IS WE DID NOT APPROVE SIX LICENSES.
WE APPROVED UP TO SIX LICENSES.
AND SO THERE NEVER WAS A DEAL SAYING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE SIX LICENSES.
AND IT WAS JUST UP TO, UM, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, WE HAVE WENT THROUGH A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS.
EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE GOT THROUGH 'EM, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, I'M, I'M SORRY, IT'S HAPPENING IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
WHENEVER YOU BRING IN CANNABIS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LAWSUITS WHEN YOU GIVE OUT THOSE LICENSES.
AND, UH, UM, SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE AT A SATURATION POINT.
'CAUSE WE DO HAVE THE FOUR, AND WE HAVE ONE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM NATIONAL CITY, ALSO THE GRASSHOPPER, WHICH IS LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM, UH, NATIONAL CITY ON, ON THE OTHER, RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
AND, UH, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AND THAT MARKET IS ALREADY SATURATED.
AND, AND OUR, AND BY DISTRICT, WE DON'T DO IT BY DISTRICT.
WE PUT IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.
AND BECAUSE IT MUCH LIKE, UH, CRAFT BEER DO NOT NEED TO BE IN A MORE A RESIDENTIAL TYPE AREA.
'CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CUSTOMERS GO TO IT AND IT'S NOT, UH, UH, SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN JUST EVERY AREA.
AND OUR CITY'S TOO SMALL ANYWAY.
SO THE DISTANCE IS, IS VERY SHORT NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT FROM OUR CITY TO THE EXISTING ONES.
UM, AND IF WE WERE TO OPEN UP THOSE OTHER TWO, WHAT WOULD WE OPEN 'EM UP TO? WOULD WE OPEN IT UP TO THE ONES WHO HAD ALREADY APPLIED THAT WERE ON THE BOTTOM, I'M GONNA CALL IT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT GOT RATED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, OR WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP AGAIN AND GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN AND PUT OURSELF BACK INTO THE WORLD OF LAWSUITS ALL OVER AGAIN.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH US TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR PROCEDURES AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, TAKING IT THEIR WORD, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THE ONE YEAR MAY NOT BE THE, UH, UH, ONE YEAR REVIEWS MAY NOT BE THE BEST.
MAYBE A THREE YEAR REVIEW OR WHAT SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE, DOES IT MAKE SENSE? 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA PUT MORE WORK ON THEM OR MORE WORK ON US IF IT'S UNNECESSARY.
BUT IF THERE'S A REALITY, IF THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, THEN WE SHOULD STICK WITH IT.
BUT THAT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE A, LIKE, WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE TO THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE, UM, AND TO THE EXISTING BUSINESSES WE HAVE.
UH, BUT PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT BE FOR, FOR ANY EXPANSION.
I, I DON'T THINK IT JUST MAKES IT GOOD BUSINESS SENSE AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME.
UH, OR ANY OTHER, UH, ANY OTHER SENSE ON THAT.
AND IT JUST PUTS US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT'S GONNA PUT US BACK IN THE WORLD OF LAWSUITS THAT WE JUST GOT OUT OF.
AND, UH, SO MY OPINION THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I THINK SHE HAD HER HAND UP FIRST.
IS THIS, UM, NEEDING A MOTION? UM, IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE DIRECTION, THE COUNSEL CAN TAKE DIRECTION TO SAY YOU WANNA HAVE IT STUDIED FURTHER, YOU WOULD LIKE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
YOU WANT TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW LICENSES, YOU DO ANY DIRECTION THAT THE COUNCIL GIVES THAT'S SUPPORTED BY A MOTION A SECOND AND CARRIES, AND I THINK THANK YOU.
COUNCIL HAS SOME MORE INFORMATION TOO.
COUNCIL, WITH, WITH THAT SAID, MAYOR, I CONCUR WITH YOUR, UM, COMMENTS.
I WOULD, UH, STAY WITH THIS ITEM AND NOT TO ADD ANYMORE, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT,
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS LAWSUITS YET.
SO WE WANTED TO HELP THOSE FOUR EXISTING RIGHT NOW AND, UM, LOOK INTO OTHER, UM, UM, OTHER, UM, PROCESSES OR, OR, UM, UH, ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF, UH, HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS BUSINESS SUCCESSFUL AND, UM, REALIZE THE PROJECTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, UH, PROPOSAL.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? NOT RENEW TO, OKAY.
AND, UH, JUST TO, I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, GAIN A LITTLE CLARITY.
SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT STAFF IS LOOKING FOR IS BASICALLY WHAT TO DO WITH THESE TWO LICENSES, WHETHER TO OPEN UP ANOTHER APPLICATION WINDOW OR TO BASICALLY DO NOTHING.
AND THEN WE CAN OBVIOUSLY BRING IT BACK IF THERE ARE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT BROUGHT BACK MM-HMM
[02:30:01]
SUCH AS, UM, UH, LOOKING AGAIN AT THE RENEWAL PROCESS, LIKE I HEARD THE MAYOR SAY, UM, LOOKING AT EXPANDED ZONES, NOT, AGAIN, JUST GIVING EXAMPLES OF WHAT COULD BE BROUGHT AT, BROUGHT BACK.UM, SO THIS WAS NEVER BEING PROPOSED AS AN EXPANSION.
IT WAS JUST TO, UH, GATHER INFORMATION FROM THE COUNCIL AND SEE WHETHER WE WANTED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE TWO VACANT LICENSES.
WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, THE MOTION IS TO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE TWO EXISTING LICENSES.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING.
UM, IN THE STAFF REPORT, WE DO HAVE LISTED THE, UH, ACTUAL REVENUE, UH, FOR, UH, THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WAS RIGHT UNDER ABOUT $8,000, SHORT OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE FIRST YEAR PREDICTION OR FORECASTED REVENUE THAT WE WHAT, WHAT PAGE COULD YOU POINT? WHAT PAGE? IT'S IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF THE EXPLANATION OF THE STAFF REPORT.
SO, SO, SO ACTUALLY, SO WHEN WE'RE SAYING THAT, SO, UM, SO IT HAS MEANT OUR, THESE ARE THE, AND THESE ARE THE ACTUALS FOR FY AS I SCROLL AND I'M LOOKING FY 20 FOR THE PAGE.
SO THIS IS BASED ON THE ACTUALS FOR FY 26, OR WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THESE NUMBERS BASED ON? CORRECT.
THAT IS THE FY ACTUALS OF FY 26, UH, OF WHAT THE CITY RECEIVED IN REVENUES FROM THE FOUR CANNABIS OPERATORS, WHICH WAS WHAT FINANCE AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FORECASTED.
UM, AND ACTUALLY I WOULD GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY IT'S ACTUALLY PERFORMING BETTER SINCE THAT WAS BASED OFF OF SIX BUSINESSES AND WE ONLY HAVE FOUR OPERATING.
SO, SO THEN I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHEN WE SAY IT HASN'T MET PROJECTIONS, WE, WE JUST SHOULD BE CLEAR FOR TRANSPARENCY AND BECAUSE THESE ARE FACTS THAT THEN WE HAVE, OR WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO MEETING THE PROJECTIONS THEN, BUT STILL THERE'S A QUESTION FOR ME ABOUT THE OVERSATURATION OF THE MARKET.
SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE CONCERNS WITH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF DIRECTION AND CLARITY FOR STAFF, SO I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE TWO LICENSES.
I, I WOULD, FOR ME, AND I WANNA HEAR FROM THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECOND IF, UH, THEY'RE WILLING TO HAVE STAFF EXPLORE THE RENEWAL PROCESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY.
'CAUSE THAT'S A CO COST TO THE STAFF AND THE BUSINESSES.
SO I'M OPEN TO, UH, I WOULD, UH, LIKE THAT CONSIDERED AND THEN ADDRESSING THE OVER CONCENTRATION IN, IN DISTRICT ONE OR SOME OF THE ISSUES, UH, WITH THE, UH, TRASH AND SOME OF THE IMPACTS THERE THAT I WOULD LIKE, UM, STUDIED OR LOOKED INTO.
SO IF, UH, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE SECOND ARE OPEN TO EX EXPLORING THOSE TWO I'D, THAT'D BE MY QUESTION THROUGH THE CHAIR.
YES, I WOULD STAY ON ALL OF IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, FREEZE ON ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BUSINESS UNTIL WE, WE STUDY THE FOUR THAT ARE EXISTING RIGHT NOW AND THE RIGHT PROJECTIONS THAT I WANTED TO SEE THAT WAS PROMISED IN THOSE PROPOSALS.
I DO AGREE WITH MEMBER YAMANI.
I, UH, HESITATE TO OPEN UP THE ORDINANCE AND REVISITING CHANGES TO THAT AT THIS TIME.
I DO AGREE WITH MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, PERHAPS AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO REVISIT THE ORDINANCE, UM, DISCUSS, UH, THE POINTS THAT, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER JUST MADE ABOUT, UH, CHANGING THE, YOU KNOW, HOW OFTEN THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE RENEWAL PROCESS HAPPENS.
UM, I, I THINK FIVE YEARS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
MAYBE THREE YEARS, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT, UM, I WOULD BE OPEN TO DOING THAT AS WELL AS OPEN, UM, TO EXPANDING CANNABIS BEYOND DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I'M NOT TOO KEEN ON ADDING MORE COMMERCIAL CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO DISTRICT ONE IF WE ARE IN NATIONAL CITY GOING TO EXPAND FURTHER.
I WOULD, UM, BE INTERESTED IN HAVING IT BE, YOU KNOW, BEYOND DISTRICT ONE.
BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A, UH, OVERHAUL OR THAT WOULD REQUIRE BRINGING BACK THE ORDINANCE.
AND INEVITABLY THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL, I THINK OF A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE APPROPRIATE TO CHANGE IN THAT ORDINANCE.
I THINK PREPARING FOR THAT NEAR THE END OF NEXT YEAR IS PROBABLY, UM, IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA, I DON'T WANT US TO BE EXPOSED IN ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, NO LEGALITIES BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT WE TOUCH IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT, THAT WAS APPROVED PRIOR TO, UM, WILL OPEN UP TO ANY EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR AND, UM, DO THE ROCA VOTE.
[02:35:01]
VICE MAYOR MOLINA.[9.3 Proclamation of Local Emergency by the City Council.]
UH, NEXT WE GO TO PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCIES BY THE CITY COUNCIL.AND WE HAVE THREE ITEMS, UH, AS A PART OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S WANNA LEAD OFF ON THAT.
UM, UH, BASICALLY THIS IS FOLLOWING IN LINE WITH THE STATE'S DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY AND THE COUNTY'S DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY.
WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE THE COUNCIL TAKE THREE ACTIONS TONIGHT.
ONE IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO ACTIVATE OUR EMERGENCY POWERS.
UM, IT WILL FACILITATE AND STREAMLINE SOME OF OUR EMERGENCY CONTRACTING PROCESSES THAT WE WILL NEED, UM, LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE EL NINO EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WILL ALLOW US TO HANDLE STORM RELATED, UM, EMERGENCIES, UH, WITH GREATER EFFICIENCY.
THE FIRST IS A RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THE LOCAL EMERGENCY, WHICH WILL UNLOCK ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THE SECOND PROCLAMATION IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY TO BE IN LINE WITH THE STATE.
SO RIGHT NOW THE STATE HAS CERTAIN, UM, UH, STATE FACILITIES AND STATE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THIS AND TO FUNDING.
BUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR IS THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE DESIGNATED AGENTS THROUGH THE STATE.
SO THAT WOULD BE OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR, WHO BY CODE AND OUR STATUTE, OUR, OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES IS THE, UH, CITY MANAGER AND ALTERNATIVE INDIVIDUALS.
SO THAT WHEN THE STATE, UH, TAKES CERTAIN ACTIONS, IT CAN CONSIDER THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY AS PART OF THAT GROUP.
IT WILL ADDITIONALLY ALLOW US TO HAVE COMMUNICATIONS MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH OUR FINANCE MANAGER.
UM, AND OTHERS, UH, WHO ARE, UM, IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE THIRD IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, UM, TO RATIFY A DECISION MADE BY OUR CITY MANAGER DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY CONDITION.
WE DID HAVE, UM, A SINK HOLE THAT DID NOT BECOME A FULL SINK HOLE BECAUSE OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND CONTRACTORS WERE ABLE TO CATCH IT, UM, IN THE RIGHT MOMENT AND BEGIN REPAIR WORK.
AND SO A BIG SHOUT OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS TO ALL OF THE WORKERS, UH, WHO ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE BEFORE THE SINK HOLE OPENED, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
AND, UH, REALLY USING OUR, OUR, UM, CONSULTANTS AND OUR WORK WORKERS TO GET THAT HANDLED SO IT DOESN'T BECOME A LARGER EMERGENCY.
UH, AND THAT'S JUST THE THIRD RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ADOPT, UH, TONIGHT.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
IF I CAN THROUGH THE CHAIR? YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO ADOPT NUMBER ONE.
SO THEN WE OPEN OURSELVES WITH STATE AND FEDERAL HELP.
UM, AND, UM, I SO MOVE, LET ME JUST ASK YOU BEFORE I ASK FOR A SECOND.
CAN WE ADOPT ALL THREE OF 'EM TOGETHER? YOU CAN.
IF THERE ARE NO CHANGES, YOU DO NOT.
BUT IF YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT OR DO, WOULD YOU ONE AT A TIME.
DO YOU WANNA DO IT ONE AT A TIME? ONE AT A TIME.
YOU WANT, YOU WANNA DO IT ONE AT A TIME? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OKAY.
WE'LL, AND WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
WE COULD HAVE, UH, WAIT A MINUTE.
CAESAR JAVIER, FOLLOWED BY OZZY MEN MENSES, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS RECH.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF, UH, CRISIS.
THAT HUMANS ARE SHAPED DURING THIS CHALLENGING CALAMITY.
NUMBER ONE, LET'S MAKE OUR RESPONSE TO THIS VERY SIMPLE, VERY SIMPLE.
THAT IS ONE, UH, OF THE CRITERIA IN PUBLIC, UH, DELIVERY OF, UH, PUBLIC GOOD.
MY FELLOW CITIZENS, OURS IS TO PREPARE.
LET ME ASK, WHO WILL BE THE LEADER? WHO IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF? MR. BUS.
SIR, IF YOU ARE INCAPACITATED, WHO IS NEXT? NUMBER TWO, WHERE IS THE HEADQUARTERS? WILL IT BE AT THE CITY HALL OR SOMEWHERE
[02:40:01]
ELSE? MR. BUSBECAUSE THAT IS ONE CRITERIA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE PROVISION, HOW TO LINK WITH THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTH CITIES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CRISIS WHERE WE NEED HELP FROM EVERYONE.
NUMBER THREE, HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE PREPARE FOR THIS? WE HEARD WE ARE ASKING FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE FEDERAL.
WE SHOULD PREPARE OUR ASSET, PREPARE OUR ASSET.
WHATEVER ASSETS WE HAVE IN OUR POCKET, LET'S BRING THEM AND MAKE IT READY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT SEE PROVISION OF MEDICAL RESPONDERS EXCEPT THE ONE THAT EXISTING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE.
WE NEED PEOPLE ON THE GROUND READY.
AND I THINK THAT IS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
SIMPLEST THING WE COULD RECOMMEND.
SIR, WHO IS THE COMMANDER? OZZY MEN MENES, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS RE.
OZZY MENES WITH MUNDO GARDENS.
I JUST WANNA SAY I SUPPORT THIS DECLARATION ACTING BEFORE THE FLOODING IS THE RIGHT MOVE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PARTNERS ALREADY WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHEN THE GARDENS HAS HOSTED STORM WATER SATURDAYS.
VOLUNTEERS SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY TO CLEAN UP TRASH AND DEBRIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE IT WASHES INTO THE STORM DRAINS AND CONTRIBUTES TO FLOODING.
WE ARE CONTINUING THAT THROUGH THE SEASON.
THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO PREVENTION.
DURING THE 2024 FLOODS, OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZED THE FOOD ACCESS RESPONSE THAT FED HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS.
WE CARRY A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT.
AND TOGETHER WE CAN WORK TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN THESE EFFORTS.
THIS INCLUDES THE OUTREACH TO OVER 200 POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS THAT CAN BE ACTIVATED WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES ON OUR END, AS THE CITY BUILDS OUT ITS RESPONSE, PLEASE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING THIS.
WE LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S WORK.
WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE LAND WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY ON.
I LOOKED, I LOOKED AT THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM AND THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED.
THE CITY MANAGER BECOMES EMERGENCY SERVICE DIRECTOR.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, IT TAKES FOUR OF THE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DECLARE EMERGENCY.
IT DOES AWAY WITH A BID PROCESS AND IMPROVE AND IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, DO YOU WANT TO DECLARE EMERGENCY NOW? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD.
WE DON'T HAVE, UH, 80 WEATHER BUREAU 80 NUMBER SOME.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT, RIGHT? WE DO HAVE A MOTION.
THIS IS FOR RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE, AND WE WOULD NEED FOUR VOTES FOR THIS.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE, UH, WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ROLL CALL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI AYE.
MOTION APPROVE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
NEXT WE HAVE, UM, ITEM TWO, UH, RECOMMENDATION TWO, WHICH IS RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL APPROVING THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, DESIGNATION OF APPLICANT'S AGENT, UH, RESOLUTION OF NON-STATE AGENCIES.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ONE? 11.1 11? UH, THIS IS, THERE'S NOT A SUB TO IT.
I THINK THERE WAS ONLY COMMENTS TO 9.3.
THAT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN THEREFORE WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
THIS IS FOR RECOMMENDATION TWO.
UH, WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MOTION TO APPROVE A UNANIMOUSLY.
WE HAVE RECOMMENDATION THREE, WHICH IS RESOLUTION.
AND THIS RATIFIED THE CITY MANAGER'S DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY
[02:45:01]
CONDITION FOR A LARGE SINKHOLE AND DECLARING THE NEED TO CONTINUE THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY.NEXT WE GO TO CITY MANAGER REPORT.
I DON'T THINK WE GOT ANYTHING FROM THERE.
[11.1 Consideration of a Proposal to Reduce City Councilmember Budgets]
OKAY.WE GO INTO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS REPORT.
WE DO HAVE ITEM 11.1, CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL REDUCE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BUDGETS.
AND I THINK THIS WAS AN ITEM BROUGHT FORWARD BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH.
YEAH, SO THE TWO PROPOSALS I BROUGHT, UH, INITIALLY WE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
AND THE OTHER THAT I CAME UP WITH THIS IN THE STAFF REPORT IS A PROPOSED, UH, 25%, UH, REDUCTION OF THE BUDGET.
SO, UH, PUTTING THIS OPEN FOR OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, THIS IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
IF WE ARE, UH, BEING RESPONSIBLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, AND WE ARE ASKING THIS FROM EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN OUR, IN OUR ORGANIZATION, TO LOOK AT CUTS TO BE SERIOUS, TO, UH, SACRIFICE, TO MAKE CHANGES.
THESE ARE NOT EASY CUTS OR PROPOSALS TO MAKE.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE, UH, TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE WANT TO STAVE OFF AS MUCH LAYOFFS AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE THIS VERY SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET, ABOUT THE EFFICIENCY.
THERE'S BEEN, UM, A LOT OF COMMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN THE VALUE, THE RETURN OF THE INVESTMENT OF THIS TO OUR TAXPAYERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY VALID QUESTION.
AND SO I'M PUTTING THIS OUT THERE SO THAT WE LOOK, WE CAN LOOK AT, AT THE VERY LEAST, REDUCTION IN POTENTIAL ELIMINATION OF THE BUDGET.
SO, GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE, UM, I TOOK THE LEAD ON IMPLEMENTING THIS BACK IN 2023.
I DO THINK, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN EXPERIMENT, AND THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF OUR, UM, OF THIS, OF THE, UM, BUDGETS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE WORK THAT MY REPRESENTATIVE DID.
BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND BE FAIR AND LOOK AT, LOOK AT EVERY, EVERY POTENTIAL CUT EFFICIENCY.
AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT VALUE EVERY POSITION EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS.
AND IT, ITS LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE.
AND IT, I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SACRIFICES AND HAVE THESE REAL, UH, BUT DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS.
SO, UM, THAT'S MY INTRO TO THIS.
UM, MR. BUSH, UH, MEMBER BUSH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS, UM, SOMETHING I'M CO-SPONSORING, I BELIEVE ON, ON THE 1 0 5, UH, THAT YOU PROPOSED.
UH, I HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE VALUE THAT THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BUDGETS HAVE BROUGHT TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND IN, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE ARE FACING THE BUDGET SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO, UH, SET THE EXAMPLE.
WE ARE ASKING OUR CITY, UM, STAFF.
WE ARE ASKING OUR, EACH, IN EACH DEPARTMENT TO UNDERGO SOME TYPE OF SACRIFICE, UH, INEVITABLY, UM, TO HELP US BALANCE A BUDGET THAT IS VERY IMBALANCED RIGHT NOW.
AND I FEEL THAT SETTING THE EXAMPLE BY, UH, ELIMINATING COUNCIL BUDGETS, UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UM, TIMES THE FOUR OF US TIMES THE FOUR YEARS, UM, THAT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND, UM, IT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE, RIGHT.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE IN A LITTLE BIT, UM, IS GONNA HAVE TO PUT IN, UH, THAT TYPE OF SACRIFICE.
AND I AM WILLING TO BE THE FIRST, UM, IN PROPOSING THIS.
I DO PROPOSE THAT WE ELIMINATE COUNCIL BUDGETS, UH, BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2027, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, RETURN TO THE STRUCTURE THAT IT WAS BEFORE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BUDGETS WERE IMPLEMENTED FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DETAILS OF WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.
I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS RETURNS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO HELP US UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW WE WOULD RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS STRUCTURE.
I WOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, I, I AM HIGHLY SENSITIVE ABOUT PERSONNEL, UM, AND THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED, I WOULD REQUEST THAT OUR, UM, STAFF MEMBERS FROM UM, HR, UM, OUR CITY ATTORNEY HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE THE SOLUTION THERE, UH, FOR, UH, MANAGING, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS THAT, UH, WON'T BE FUNDED BY COUNCIL BUDGETS ANY LONGER.
[02:50:01]
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE FUNDED OTHERWISE, OR, UH, WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THERE ARE.AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT IN A FORM OF A MOTION TO ELIMINATE COUNCIL BUDGETS BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2027.
CLARIFY TO ELIMINATE THE $100,000 BUDGETS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED FOUR YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THEN RETURN TO THE STRUCTURE THAT IT WAS $400,000 BUDGETS WERE, UM, UH, ALLOTTED THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I'LL, I'LL SECOND FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK A NUMBER OF THINGS, UH, BE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS BECAUSE THERE ARE STAFFING INVOLVED AND CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND I SAW, I THINK WE COULD NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION, UM, ON THAT AND WHAT THE DETAILS WOULD BE, UM, AND WHAT ALL THAT WOULD WOULD AFFECT.
UM, BECAUSE I SAY I, WELL, I, I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, THAT WHATEVER WE WOULD DO AND WHATEVER MEASURES THAT WOULD BE TAKEN, UM, THAT IT WOULD BE CORRECT AND PARTICULARLY TOWARD, UH, TOWARD PERSONNEL AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK OUT.
UM, AND INDEED BEFORE THERE WAS, THERE WAS COUNCIL BUDGETS AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SO MUCH FOR WHAT THEY CALLED GENERAL PURPOSES.
THERE WAS SO MUCH FOR, FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
THERE WAS, AND I, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMOUNT, BUT I THINK IT WAS IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 15, 17,000 A YEAR OR SO, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.
BUT I, I, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK BACK ON THE STUFF, BUT, BUT, SO THERE WAS, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, AMOUNTS LEFT FOR THAT AND FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, THINGS ON THAT LINE.
UM, SO, BUT I SAY, BUT I, BUT I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK IN WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, UH, PARTICULARLY ON HOW IT AFFECTS PERSONNEL AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT COST SAVINGS, WHAT COST SAVINGS IS THERE, AND YEAH, WHEN, WHEN YOU START DEALING WITH PERSONNEL ISSUES.
TO, TO THAT END, TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS.
I THINK ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE HERE IS BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UM, THERE WOULD BE, UH, A GROUP OF SORTS THAT WOULD BE HR, UM, CITY ATTORNEY FINANCE, AND CMO.
SO CITY MANAGER WOULD GET TOGETHER, GATHER INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO ALTERNATIVES.
ONE IS THE, RIGHT NOW, THE MOTION IS FOR A FULL ELIMINATION.
I KNOW THERE WAS A 25% PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT THOSE TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PERSONNEL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
IF WE CAN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION AT WHATEVER MEETING YOU TELL US.
THE NEXT ONE IS NOVEMBER 17TH, WHERE WE WOULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU BEFORE.
UM, SOME OF IT WILL BE PRIVILEGED INFORMATION, UH, THAT WOULDN'T BE MAKING IT ONTO THE, THE DAAS, BUT I THINK IT WOULD GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST FULLY ALL OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO THIS ACTION OR POTENTIAL ACTION THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HEAR THESE REPORTS FROM, UH, BECAUSE IT'S PERSONNEL ISSUE, RIGHT? AND WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, PERSONNEL ISSUE, JUST, I CONCUR WITH YOU, MAYOR.
IT IS A, UH, THERE ARE SENSITIVITIES TO IT AND ALSO PEOPLE'S DIGNITY, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE QUALITY OF LIVES.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S A PERSONNEL ISSUE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN GET, YOU KNOW, I MEAN A, UH, UH, A RECOMMENDATION OR A GUIDANCE FROM OUR HR.
SO THIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED, UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE AN INTELLIGENT, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
AND I WOULD INCLUDE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OFFICE FOR THAT TO BE STUDIED AND THEN GET, GET BACK TO US.
LET US PRESERVE THE DIGNITY OF THESE PEOPLE, THE STAFF, THE, THE, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IMPACTED.
UM, SO LET, LET US BE CONSIDERATE AS, AS A, AS THE, UH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AS WE RESPECT THIS HUMAN RESOURCE POLICY THAT WE, WE NEED TO REVISIT.
AND I DO AGREE ABOUT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL BUDGETS, FFYI, SO I WOULD LOOK AT THE, UH, MAYOR'S BUDGET POSITION AS WELL.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, CONSIDERATION.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS THIS THOROUGHLY.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A INDIVIDUAL POLICY, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A SUBCOMMITTEE AT SOME POINT CREATED, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE,
[02:55:01]
UM, RECEIVED SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK.SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UH, CLARIFY ON THAT.
SO I THINK I'M LOOKING AT THIS ON TWO THINGS.
UM, ON ONE END I THINK WE NEED A POLICY AND, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
ON THE OTHER END, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, THAT WE DISCUSS THE BUDGET, SEEING AS IT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, DISCUSSING FOR LATTER PART OF A COUPLE MONTHS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO, AS PART OF THIS REPORT THAT STAFF BRINGS BACK TO US, UH, TO INCLUDE NUMEROUS THINGS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE EXPENDITURES ON ALL THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
SO WITHIN OUR COUNCIL BUDGET AND MAYOR BUDGET, UM, ACCORDING TO THE ADOPTIVE BUDGET, UH, THE BUDGET FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS COLLECTIVELY IS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND IT'S DIVIDED IN THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
PERSONNEL SERVICES, MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, AND INTERNAL SERVICE CHARGES.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT AND HOW WE HAVE UTILIZED OUR COUNCIL BUDGETS IN EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.
WOULD THAT BE, UH, FOR ALL YEARS THAT THE COUNCIL BUDGET'S BEEN IN EFFECT IN, IN OTHER WORDS, NOT GOING BACK LAST YEAR, BUT ALL THE YEARS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? SURE.
SO THAT FINANCIAL DATA RELATED TO, UH, MAYORAL OFFICE IN EACH COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICE IS FOR THE LAST FOUR.
IF IT'S FOUR, IS IT FOUR YEARS? WELL, IT WAS BE THREE.
MIGHT THINK IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.
THE FIRST ONE IS 20 23, 24 YEARS.
SO INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURES BY OFFICE.
BY OFFICE FOR THE LAST, UM, THREE YEARS, I SUPPOSE.
BUDGETED AMOUNT AND THEN EXPENDITURE AMOUNT.
AND FOR SOME OF YOU, THEY MAY NOT SEE THE EXPENDITURES.
UM, WE SEE THEM AS PERSONNEL SERVICES, MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, AND INTERNAL SERVICE CHARGES.
AND SOME OF THOSE ARE DIFFERENT.
SO PERSONNEL SERVICES ARE 725,000 MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS IS 195,000.
AND INTERNAL SERVICE CHARGES IS 153,000.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BROKEN DOWN SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REPORT COME BACK TO US ON THE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF STAFF SEEN AS, UM, THEY ARE CITY STAFF.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, LIVELIHOODS, AND, AND JOBS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LEGAL ANALYSIS ON THAT.
AND IF THERE'S ANY, UH, CIVIL SERVICE, UM, RULES THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH, OKAY.
IN ORDER TO, UM, UH, EXPLORE ANY ADDITIONAL OPTIONS.
UM, AND, UH, LET'S SEE, OH, ON THE CLARIFICATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL EXPENSES, UM, SO BROKEN DOWN BY EXPENDITURE, UM, I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS DETAIL OF BREAKDOWN, I HAVE THE BREAKDOWN NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF TRAINING SESSIONS.
SO WHICH AGENCY PAID FOR THOSE SESSIONS? WHERE DID I ATTEND? WHERE DID I GO? AND WAS THAT A PART OF THE BUDGET? THAT WAS, WHERE DID THAT FALL IN THE CATEGORY? SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CLARITY ON MY OWN INDIVIDUAL, ALL OF OUR EXPENDITURES, UM, WHAT EVENTS WE ATTENDED, IF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES PAID FOR IT, WHO WAS IT PAID BY.
ALL THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DECIDE ON OUR COUNCIL BUDGETS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT A ESTABLISH A, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, A MAYOR AND COUNCIL STAFF POLICY, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HAVE US DISCUSS WHAT OTHER CITIES DO WITH THAT PARTICULAR POLICY IN THAT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST STAFF THAT WORK WITHIN COUNCIL MEMBERS OR MAYOR'S OFFICES ARE AT WILL EMPLOYEES, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE, UM, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MANY OTHER CITIES DO.
UM, AND I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND SOME MAY BE AT WILL, SOME MAY NOT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO THAT CLARITY TO BE THERE, A SURVEY OF WHAT THE OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION ARE DOING, A SURVEY OF WHAT THE OTHER CITIES HAVE BEEN DOING, WHAT THEY DO WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE, IF THEY'RE AT WILL OR NOT FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, SO THAT WE COULD DISCUSS THAT, UM, THOROUGHLY.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, IF WE ARE DISCUSSING ABOUT SHIFTING, UH, STAFF TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THEN, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT A, UH, COST SAVING ANALYSIS OF THAT.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE SHIFTING STAFF FROM COUNCIL STAFF OVER TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, ARE WE REALLY SAVING MONEY? AND, AND IF WE ARE, THAT'S GREAT.
AND IF WE'RE NOT, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW, RIGHT.
I MEAN, SO I THINK, I THINK ALL OF THAT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN RECEIVING AS PART OF THIS REPORT.
UM, IS THAT IN THE FORM OF A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR THOSE FIVE SPECIFIC ITEMS? I'M ACCEPTING OF THAT, IF IT'S OKAY.
SO THE FIRST AND THE SECOND IS TO,
[03:00:01]
UH, TO REVISIT BY LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES BY OFFICE.FOR THE THREE YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN A LEGAL ANALYSIS SLASH LABOR ANALYSIS OF PERSONNEL AND RELATED ISSUES.
UM, UM, UH, WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, COST SAVING ANALYSIS.
AND I WROTE SOMETHING, THERE'S ONE MORE WHAT, WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, RIGHT.
PERTAINING THEIR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANCE.
IS THERE AT WILL OR IF THEY HAVE, UM, CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS? IF I COULD READ MY OWN HANDWRITING, I'D KNOW AN ITEM OF THE THREE OF US
AND THEN ALL OF OUR, OUR EXPENDITURES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS BROKEN DOWN GOT IT.
BY EVENTS, UH, PUBLIC AGENCIES, UH, UH, OTHER, UH, TRAININGS WE ATTENDED.
UM, GIVEN THAT WORK, I, UM, ARE YOU, WE STRIVING FOR THE NEXT MEETING? WE, WE WE HAVE A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT I, ANY, THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE MOTION FOR, FOR THE INFORMATION TO COME BACK.
SEEING RACHEL, DOD, I'LL TALK TO, UH, CMO AND I, WE'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HR, SO, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY IF WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THAT DEADLINE, WE'LL COME TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE OR PRESENT THE ACTUALS OR SOME OF THE INFORMATION.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
MY OTHER POINT THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP, AND, UH, IF, UM, AS PART OF, UH, THE MOTION, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS THE BANNERS.
SO THE BANNERS ARE POLITICAL, I BELIEVE, AND I FEEL THAT'S A PERCEPTION.
SO I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS, AND THERE WAS, I THINK A LEGAL ANALYSIS THAT SAID THEY WEREN'T OR THEY'RE OKAY.
THE QUESTION IS THE PERCEPTION.
AND WE'RE IN ELECTION SEASON, SO MY EXPECTATION AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF IN THE PAST WERE THAT BY ELECTION SEASON, THOSE BANNERS NEED TO COME DOWN.
UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO THE CANOPIES, THE CANOPIES AND THE BANNERS, THEY NEVER WERE PART, PART OF OUR INITIAL DISCUSSION.
IT WAS, IN MY OPINION, INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE APPROVED.
SO AS PART OF, UM, IF THE, UM, MAKER OF THE MOTION IS WILLING TO ACCEPT ANOTHER AMENDMENT, UH, GIVEN DIRECTION, THE STAFF TO REMOVE THE BANNERS AND THE CANOPIES, YES, I'M ACCEPTING OF THAT.
UH, JUST AS A CLARITY, CAN WE HAVE, UM, CLARITY ON, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES AND WHAT THEY DO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS POLICY AS WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS? FOR ME, NO.
I THINK WE'VE HAD ENOUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, AND THIS WASN'T PART OF THE INITIAL DISCUSSION.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE CLEAR, SINCE THIS IS A DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL, SO THAT STAFF FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION, I WANNA BE CLEAR WITH OUR DIRECTION THAT THE BANNERS SHOULD COME DOWN BECAUSE IT'S ELECTION SEASON AND IT WASN'T, IT NEVER CAME BEFORE THE FULL BODY FOR DISCUSSION ANYWAY.
IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, WHICH, SO AGAIN, I, I, I WANNA SEE THE BANNERS.
UH, I, MY MO MOTION OR AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION IS FOR THE BANNERS FOR THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER OFFICE FOR THE BANNERS TO BE REMOVED.
AND THE CANOPIES COUNCIL MEMBER, ALTHOUGH I, I AGREE WITH YOUR SENTIMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY.
AND AS PART OF THE COUNCIL BUDGET, ONE OF THE EXPENDITURE ITEMS IS BANNERS AND CANOPIES, WHICH WEREN'T ORIGINALLY, UH, PROPOSED.
SO MY MOTION IS TO, UH, DIRECT STAFF TO REMOVE THOSE.
SO WHEN, WHEN A CANOPY WAS REVIEWED LEGALLY TO PURCHASE IT, AND WE PURCHASED IT A FEW YEARS AGO AND WE UTILIZE IT AS WE ARE IN CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.
UM, I, I, I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET RID OF THE CANOPY WE PURCHASED? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO? AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S CURRENTLY ACTUALLY AGENDIZED, SO WHAT'S GENDERIZED IS THE COUNCIL BUDGETS AND THE DISCUSSIONS.
SO THAT IS PART OF THE ITEM IS THE BANNERS AND THE CANOPIES.
AND I THINK WE CAN COME BACK ABOUT THE CANOPIES, BUT THE BANNERS, ABSOLUTELY.
AND IN AN ELECTION SEASON, I BELIEVE THE BANNERS NEED TO COME DOWN THROUGH THE CHAIR.
SECOND, I'M GONNA PUT, BANNERS WAS USED IN 2023 DURING THE TIME THAT IN 22 WE WERE DISTRICTED.
LET PUT, I'M GONNA PUT THE, UH, BY FPC AS WELL AS THE LAWYER, UM, UH, OUR, OUR, UM, FORMER COUNSEL, UM, DOUBLE CHECKED IT.
SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS Y AND IT'S, UH, IT'S IRRELEVANT.
THEY'RE GONNA COME WITH A REPORT OF ALL THE COSTS THAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE 23 OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THIS BUDGET WAS APPROVED.
SO, UM, Y AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RELEVANCE OF IT.
WELL, I'M GONNA PUT THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THE SPOT HERE.
SO IF, IF I COULD CLARIFY, YES, THERE WAS A, A LEGAL ASSESSMENT ON, ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, WE DID, UH, DISCUSS IT WITH
[03:05:01]
OUR COUNSEL, UM, NOT MYSELF, BUT OUR COUNSEL WHO SPECIALIZES IN THESE ISSUES, UM, AND GOT AN OPINION ON IT AS IT RELATES TO THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BANNERS.SEPARATE FROM THAT, IF I MAY, UM, THE ITEM TONIGHT WOULDN'T, EVEN IF IT IS, IF IT'S GONNA COME BACK, I THINK WE'RE TALKING THE ITEM IS WHAT, WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND I THINK FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO ADD TO IT REMOVAL OF CANOPIES AND REMOVAL OF BANNERS, ET CETERA.
TO THAT END, WE ARE ALSO DOING A POLICY REVIEW RIGHT NOW, AND ONE OF THE POLICIES THAT'S GOING TO BE REVIEWED, UH, THAT'S BEING REVIEWED BY MY, MY OFFICE IS THE, UM, OUR SIGNAGE AND OUR, UM, OH MY GOSH, I'VE FORGOTTEN THE NAME, BUT BASICALLY OUR SIGNS IN OUR LOGOS, ET CETERA, WHERE THEY CAN BE USED, HOW THEY CAN BE USED.
WE ARE IN NEED OF CLARIFICATION AND THAT WILL CLARIFY SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
AND ALSO, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, SOME, WHAT I COULD CALL TWEAKS TO THE PROCESS.
IN OTHER WORDS, PROCESS WISE, IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO GO A CERTAIN WAY, WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOR THE WHATEVER THE COUNCIL BUDGETS MAY OR MAY NOT BE, THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE TWEAKED.
THAT'S POLICY 1 21 RIGHT NOW, POLICY 1 21 IS BEING LOOKED AT BY TWO OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AD HOC, BUT ALSO, UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE TO CLEAN UP PROCEDURALLY ANY ISSUES.
SO THESE THINGS ARE NOT NECESSARILY TOGETHER TONIGHT, BUT THEY ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING AROUND THE SAME TIME.
SO IF THAT WORKS, COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH, IN OTHER WORDS, UPDATING OUR POLICY WOULD RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
POLICY 1 21, AND I'M SORRY, SHELLY PROBABLY KNOWS THE POLICY OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD THAT RELATES TO OUR CUS OUR LOGOS, OUR CUSTOMS, OUR TRADEMARKS, ET CETERA, THAT IS GONNA BE UPDATED AS WELL.
SO INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THINGS, YES, IT'S, THANK YOU.
UH, LOOKING AT THINGS ONE HERE, WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE HOLISTIC WITH IT SO THAT WE'RE GOING ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, DOES THAT HELP? SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK MAYBE IF TO, UM, ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS, MAYBE WE MAKE THIS A SEPARATE MOTION.
BUT MY PROBLEM WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, UH, HEIDI AS OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, IS THAT THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED A LOT INDIVIDUALLY, PRIVATELY WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WITH STAFF ABOUT THE CONCERN AND THE PERCEPTION OF, UH, POLITICS AND CAMPAIGNING.
AND, AND THERE I DO BELIEVE HAS BEEN A DISPARITY IN TERMS OF HOW EVEN US ON THE ES ARE TREATED, UH, WITH THE BUDGET.
SOME OF US HAD TO COME BACK FOR A FULL COUNCIL DISCUSSION TO GET CLARITY ON SOME OF THE ITEMS. SOME JUST GOT STREAMLINED CITY MANAGER APPROVAL, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT GOT STREAMLINED CITY MANAGER APPROVAL.
AND NOW WE'RE IN, IN BUDGET SEASON.
SO, OR EXCUSE ME, IN, IN CAMPAIGN SEASON.
SO THOSE BANNERS TO ME, I'M, I'M WILLING TO, UH, I MEAN I'M OPEN TO HEARING FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES WHETHER IT'S, UM, UH, IN PARTICULAR, UM, UH, VICE MAYOR MOLINA ABOUT JUST SEPARATING THE MOTION, UM, THAT, THAT PART OF IT, UH, THE WITH THE BANNERS AND THE, AND THE CANOPIES.
BUT, UM, BUT THOSE, I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT THOSE, TO ME, THOSE NEED TO BE REMOVED.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, UM, I DON'T, I THINK THAT THAT ITEM AT ALL RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY, UH, REMOVAL OF THE CANOPIES, REMOVAL OF BANNERS HAS BEEN AGENDIZED.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING AS PART OF THE PROCESS HERE, WE CAN LOOK AT, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO DIRECTION 'CAUSE IT WASN'T AGENDIZED ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, BUT I THINK IT CAN BE LOOKED AT AS ALL OF THIS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO EVERYBODY.
I, I UNDERSTAND I DO HAVE A DISAGREEMENT BECAUSE THAT IS AN ITEM WITHIN, BUT I, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT YOUR OPINION, SO THANK YOU.
UM, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM ALSO.
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S HEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I BELIEVE, UH, UH, OUR CLARK CHAPEL HAS SOMEONE ON ZOOM.
SO THE LOSES THE MASK HAS $1.6 MILLION LOST, NO TELLING HOW MUCH LOSS AND OPPORTUNITY COSTS ARE ON THE LAWSUITS DUE TO MISSPENDING AND CORRUPTION CAUSED BY THE SLUSH FUND.
THE RESIDENTS OF NATIONAL CITY HAVE BEEN FLEED LY.
RON WAS ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT THE DISTRICT BUDGET AND YETTA WAS RIGHT.
RON AND L VOTED NO WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED.
THAT IN ITSELF IS A BETTER LEGACY THAN THE DESTRUCTION JOSE HAS LEFT IN ONLY SIX YEARS, RELYING ON THE SLUSH FUNDS, INCLUDING THE INFAMOUS TURKEY INCIDENT, $7,120 IN TAXPAYER FROM THE TURKEYS FOR AN UNVETTED NON-CITY SANCTIONED EVENT HOSTED BY BOTH JOSE AND DEPOT.
MAYOR RONS AND DENIED THE REIMBURSEMENT WHILE THE CORRUPT FORMER CITY MANAGER DID A RUNAROUND AND APPROVED.
WHEN, BY THE WAY, JOSE'S FRIEND MANELA PALOMA GATORADE ACTUALLY DID THE SAME THING WITH TAXPAYER FUND OF TURKEYS FOR SEIU.
JOSE ALSO USED A SL FUND TO GO ON COUNTLESS UNNECESSARY LAVISH POLITICAL TRIPS TO SACRAMENTO.
BUT THEY ALSO CIRCUMVENTED THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS BY GIVING A VAGUE $47,000 CONTRACT
[03:10:01]
TO CORDERO COACHING AND CONSULTING JOSE TO DO FAKE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AKA CAMPAIGNING WITH FELLOW UNION PUPPETS, INCLUDING CINDY LOPEZ, WHO RAN THE CLUB THAT ENDORSED JOSE.ISN'T SHE RUNNING FOR SOMETHING NOW YET AS PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, SHE COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY CORDERA HAD NO BUSINESS ADDRESS OR WEBSITE AT THE TIME OF THAT CONTRACT.
SO THEY ENDED UP GETTING CED OVER ALL OF THOSE ACTIONS AND MORE.
THERE WAS ALSO A $32,000 BANNER FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS TO DESIGN HER OFFICE WITH FLOWERS.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY THOUSAND SHE SPENT ON MULTIPLE JACKETS WITH THE CITY LOGO.
SHE LOVES ME BRINGING THAT UP.
UNLIKE A RUSH TAX, THAT JOSE'S SPECIAL INTEREST SUCH AS SEOU PUSH, WHICH IS NOT FAIR, TRANSPARENT, I SAY YES TO THE CITY CUTTING ITS FAIR SHARE OF MISS SPENDING, YES TO SAVING $400,000 A YEAR.
BUT YES TO THE CITY, MAINTAINING NEEDED PERSONNEL AND NO TO POLITICAL THEATER BY TRYING TO FALSELY DEFLECT AND BLAME SHIFT TOWARDS THE MAYOR.
HE WASN'T THE ONE WHO GOT VENTURED OVER THE FLUSH FUND, JOSE WAS.
SO YES, SELL THOSE STUPID CANOPIES.
BRING DOWN THOSE STUPID BANNERS, IT'S OVER.
NO MORE MISSPENDING WITH TAX DOLLARS.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE ON? DOES THAT OKAY? YES, THAT'S IT.
UH, SO WE HAVE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM FROM TED GODSHAW AND TWO IN-HOUSE COMMENTS, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS FROM CAESAR JAVIER AND ED NIETO.
OH, WELL, I SUBMITTED A, UH, TO AN SCRIBE.
I HOPE YOU READ IT IN ADVANCE.
THE POINT OF THE SCRIBE AND THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
YOU NEED TO ADVERTISE IT SO THAT THE MEETINGS GO FASTER AND YOU WOULD HAVE IT, WE'D HAVE TO TRUST THAT YOU READ IT.
IT'S IRONIC THAT MR. RODRIGUEZ BRINGS UP POLICY ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
MR. NIETO AND I, WHEN YOU FIRST DECIDED TO GIVE YOURSELF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WE SAID YOU NEEDED A POLICY, YOU WENT AHEAD AND SPENT MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO LIVE WITH.
IT'S, THIS REPORT STARTED OFF WITH A 25% REDUCTION OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET.
I SAID IN MY ESCRIBE, THAT'S SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN THE WHOLE A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO SERIOUSLY ATTACK THE BUDGET CRISIS.
YOU NEED TO CUT ALSO 20% OF YOUR PAY OR STIPEND.
THAT'S NOT PART OF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
WELL, IT IS, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT NEW.
IT'S GETTING BACK TO THE NUMBER THAT YOU ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH.
THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE TO SET.
ALL TRAVEL MUST BE ON HOLD TALKING ABOUT AGENCY SUPPORTED TRAVEL.
BUT I THINK ALL TRAVEL, MR. SCHULZE NEEDS TO BE, BE HERE TONIGHT.
THE MAYOR'S AID MUST TAKE THIS WAGE REDUCTION AS WELL.
DO ENOUGH TODAY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TOMORROW.
CESAR JAVIER FOLLOWED BY NIETO AS ELDERS ON TWILIGHT YEARS AND VICTIM OF POISON GAS CONSULAR BUSH.
WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA OF 25%? WHY NOT 50% OR 80%? THIS IS PERFORMANCE FIDUCIARY ASPECT.
PERHAPS WE WERE HAPPY BECAUSE WE HEARD THE WORD SACRIFICE.
ARE YOU SACRIFICING FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS? YES OR NO? THAT IS TRUE TO ALL OF US.
MY HEART BLEEDS BECAUSE YOU'RE LYING.
HOW COULD YOU RUN THE MACHINE WITHOUT FUEL? YOU TELL ME.
ARE YOU GOING TO USE SALT OR WATER? WE ARE A CADILLAC DRIVING.
AMERICANS FORGIVE MY BEING PASSIONATE.
SO, UH, RESTRAINING ORDER, MR. RE YOU MIGHT CROSS THE LINE.
WE ARE SPEAKING AS FATHERS AND MOTHERS AND HUMANS.
WHAT IT MEANS HERE, IF I HAVE TO SAY IT'S SIMPLE, WE REDUCE CORRUPTION.
A MISTAKE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING IN THE POLICY MAKING IMPLEMENTATION IS THE CROSS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SUBJECT OF SERVICES.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT LANGUAGE ATTORNEY TO SAY THIS.
WE ARE ON DIRECT DIRECTION DIVINE INTERVENTION BECAUSE THE WORD SACRIFICE, LET'S MAKE OUR CITY UNIQUE, THE SHOW WINDOW, BECAUSE
[03:15:01]
THIS WILL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, OUR NEIGHBORS.I LOVE THE WAY MR. JAVIER, UH, TREATS HIS WIFE.
UM, WHAT I WANT TO SAY HERE IS, UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS IN TERMS OF SENSITIVITY OF CUTS.
AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, I'M LOOKING AT IT AS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT FOR THE $1.6 MILLION? IT'S NOT ABOUT CUTS, IT'S ABOUT ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT LEARNED FROM THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE? YOU HAD A POLICY IN WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE FOUR YEARS AGO? WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? THAT'S YOUR FAULT.
WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU KNOW, SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR COMPASSION ABOUT LOSING PEOPLE'S JOBS, YOU DESERVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUTTING THEM IN THAT SPOT.
YOU HAVEN'T ASKED FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT HOW ACCOUNTABILITY IS ENFORCED IN THIS, IN THIS CITY FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
AND THIS AREA HAS COME OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO I GOTTA TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, DON'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
DON'T LOOK AT YOUR PAPERS, LOOK STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND SAY, I THINK YOU, YOU SCREWED UP.
YOU GOTTA BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT AND OWN UP TO IT.
WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU KNOW, I THINK THE HENCE FORWARD.
THIS THING ABOUT COMPARISONS WITH OTHER CITY IS JUST A DISTRACTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE KNOWS PERFECTLY WELL.
THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER STUDY THERE THAT HAS A COMPARE.
LOOK AT THE ETHICS BEHIND THOSE CITIES.
LOOK AT THE POLICIES, LOOK AT THE, THE, THE GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE TO PREVENT THAT ABUSE.
JUST DON'T LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
LOOK AT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO PREVENT ABUSE AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO NATIONAL CITY.
YOU GOTTA ELEVATE THE GAME HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU GOTTA HAVE A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT PROBLEMS DISSECTING IT, LOOKING AT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES.
LOOK AT THESE UNCOMFORTABLE DECISIONS INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT YOUR CELL PHONE ALL DAY OR DIRECTION OF WHAT TO SAY.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, UM, SO MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE, UM, COMMENTS THAT, UM, MEMBER BUSH BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE, THE OR THE, UM, THE CANOPIES YEAH.
AND THE BANNERS, BECAUSE IT IS A CONCERN REGARDING THE ELECTION SEASON THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO IF I, I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE COME BACK NOVEMBER 17TH, WELL, AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ELECTIONEERING ASPECT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT HERE WILL BE A MOOT POINT.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO AT THIS MOMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM? UM, AS IT RELATES, UH, TO THE CANOPIES AND THE BANNERS? AND THE BANNERS? I'M, I'M SEPARATING THEM.
THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES, UH, LEGALLY TO ME.
UM, BUT AS, AS, AS FOR THE CANOPIES, THEY, THEY WERE AUTHORIZED FOR PAYMENT.
I THINK YOUR CONCERN IS VALID THAT IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH PROCESS A, IT MIGHT'VE GONE THROUGH PROCESS BI DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC PROCESS ON THE CANOPIES.
BUT IN THAT REGARD, UH, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE TIME LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, IN THE 60 DAYS BEFORE, WE KNOW THE RULES ON ELECTIONEERING.
THE ISSUE IS THAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ON THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IT'S ALSO NOT ON, UM, THE CITY CLERK.
IT IS AN FPPC ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO THE BANNERS.
I'M GONNA ASK THE BANNERS THAT WERE PUT UP BECAUSE THEY WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY SOME YEARS AGO AND WERE PAID FOR, UM, THROUGH I BELIEVE A, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S BUDGET.
UM, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER YAMANI.
UM, BUT THEY WERE APPROVED BY THE CITY THAT PUTS THEM IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY THAT MAKES THEM WHAT'S CALLED AN INCIDENTAL USE.
IT IS AN OPERATIONAL CALL WHETHER OR NOT THOSE WOULD COME DOWN.
AND BY THAT I MEAN IF IT'S DETERMINED BY THE CITY MANAGER, THEY SHOULD COME DOWN.
BUT THERE IS NOT A LEGAL ISSUE RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY TO THE BANNERS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE ONES THAT ARE IN, UH, DISTRICT THREE.
COULD WE HEAR ABOUT THIS CHIEF? SEPARATE HIM.
AND, AND, AND AS TO THE CANOPIES, I THINK THE RULE WOULD BE FAIRLY CLEAR.
UH, I THINK IF ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BROUGHT ISSUES TO US, UM, WHETHER IT'S FOR AN EVENT OR THIS OR THAT,
[03:20:01]
WE'VE SAID THE SAME THING CONSISTENTLY IN THE 60 DAYS PRIOR, WE REMOVE THOSE ELECTIONEERING REFERENCES, RIGHT? THAT MEANS WE'RE REMOVING DISTRICT NAMES, COUNCIL MEMBER NAMES, THINGS LIKE THAT.THAT'S WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING.
NOW THERE ARE, UM, ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP TO US DAILY, UH, FROM ALL SIDES.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL SIDES, UH, COMPLAINTS AS RECENTLY AS TODAY, UM, ABOUT IMPROPER ELECTIONEERING, IMPROPER SIGNAGE, IMPROPER SIGNAGE PLACEMENT, IMPROPER USE OF NAMES.
UM, AND WE HAVE PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION TO EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE IS A WHO TO CALL IF YOU BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TODAY, THEN THAT THAT SHEET PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION.
WE'VE SENT OUT THE SAME INFORMATION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT DIRECTLY ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, VICE MAYOR, BUT WELL, NO, BUT IT GETS TO THE POINT.
UM, AND IF, IF YOU'RE, YEAH, I THINK I'M, I THINK I'M DONE.
I THINK FOR ELECTIONEERING PURPOSES, WE WOULD ELIMINATE ITEMS THAT HAVE NAMES, DISTRICTS, UM, UH, INFORMATION THAT IS ADDITION, UH, THAT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED? YEAH, SO THE, THE, I GUESS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY THERE WOULD BE THE FPPC, BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IS THE CANDIDATE THAT IS, UH, PERFORMING THE ELECTIONEERING.
SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE DISCUSSION REGARDING COUNCIL BUDGETS, I WANNA BE CLEAR WITH THE PUBLIC THE REASON WHY THIS IS COMING UP.
UM, PUBLIC MONEY, TAXPAYER MONEY THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WAS USED, WAS UTILIZED TO PURCHASE CANOPIES WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES ON THEM, UH, COATS AND, AND, UH, APPAREL AND, AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF WITH PEOPLE'S NAMES ON THEM.
AND BANNERS THAT ARE BEING DISPLAYED ON CITY, UM, POSTS, CITY, UH, PROPERTY, UM, WITH CANDIDATES OR WITH INDIVIDUALS NAMES ON THEM.
NOW, THE REASON IT IS ELECTIONEERING NOW IS BECAUSE THIS IS IMPROPER USE OF CITY PROPERTY, OF, UM, CITY, YOU KNOW, TAXPAYER OR TAXPAYER FUNDING, UH, THAT WAS UTILIZED TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS. AND NOW THESE ITEMS ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE A CANDIDATE WHOSE NAME IS LISTED ON THESE ITEMS, UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
SO A PERSON THAT TRULY DOES HAVE INTEGRITY AND TRULY DOES WANNA PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS AN HONEST PERSON THAT UNDERSTANDS THE RULES, THAT UNDERSTANDS AND IS WILLING TO ABIDE BY FAIR PRACTICES, WOULD, IN MY, UH, WORLD, WOULD DO THE PROPER THING AND WOULD ELIMINATE THAT PIECE OF ELECTIONEERING.
NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, IT HAS COME TO THE POINT WHERE, UH, MEMBER BUSH AND AND, AND MYSELF ARE NOW PETITIONING FOR AN OFFICIAL ACTION FOR THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF IT.
IN FACT, THEY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, LEAVING IT ALONE, IGNORING IT.
UH, SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE.
THE ELECTION IS, UM, JUST A WEEK AND A HALF, TWO WEEKS AWAY.
I DON'T KNOW, I, AND WE'VE COME THIS FAR AND THAT, UH, ELECTIONEERING HAS BEEN OCCURRING THUS FAR.
SO HONESTLY, WHO KNOWS IF IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR NOT.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT A PERSON WITH INTEGRITY, AN HONEST PERSON, A PERSON THAT ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT FOLLOWING THE RULES AND BEING FAIR, WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS PROBLEM SO THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE TO COME DOWN TO THIS POINT.
I, I THINK THAT, UM, WE'RE 14 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND I KNOW A LOT IS BEING SAID EVERYWHERE.
UH, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO WHAT I, UM, PERTAINING TO THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE ON CANOPIES.
WHEN WE UTILIZE CANOPIES, SO WE PLANTED TREES OVER AT SWEETWATER HEIGHTS PARK TWO WEEKS AGO WITH TREE SAN DIEGO.
PEOPLE NEEDED A CANOPY AND A PLACE TO HANG OUT AND EAT AND RELAX WHILE WE WERE PLANTING TREES.
WE DO THAT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, UH, WE PARTICIPATE IN, IN, UH, EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE DO UTILIZE, UH, OUR CANOPY BECAUSE WE'RE THERE AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES.
ANYTHING WE HAND OUT, WE FOLLOW FPPC RULES, WE CHECK WITH FPPC, WE CHECK WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
WE DO NOT INCLUDE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF MY FACE OR, OR, OR, UM, MY NAME.
WE DON'T PRINT MORE THAN 199 COPIES.
[03:25:01]
DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH.AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR MANY YEARS.
IT ISN'T JUST BECAUSE IT IS ELECTION SEASON, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S FALL SEASON AND WE NEED TO PLANT TREES.
WE WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
SO I, I THINK BEFORE INSINUATING AND THROWING THINGS LIKE THAT OUT THERE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT PEOPLE'S RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO DOING OUTREACH.
AND IF THAT RECORD IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, IT'S JUST COMMON PRACTICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SOMETHING YOU I THINK DID NOT MENTION COUNCIL MEMBER WAS HOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO FOLLOW FPPC RULES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
MY ASSISTANT HELPS ME CREATE CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BROADER PUBLIC.
THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE IS SEPARATED INTO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER PAGE WITH OFFICIAL, UH, UH, UH, COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY CAMPAIGN IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THAT.
BUT WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT UTILIZES THE SAME EXACT RESOURCES FROM THE COUNCIL AND CONTENT THAT IS GENERATED THROUGH STAFF TIME UTILIZING CITY RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CAMPAIGN.
SO I THINK I WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK IN THE MIRROR COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH OURSELVES FROM THAT AND SEPARATE THE RESOURCES THAT WE UTILIZE FROM THE CITY AND FROM OUR CAMPAIGNS AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN 2022 WHEN THE DISTRICTING OF OUR CITY PASSED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROMOTIONS OR HAVE NO INFORMATION, UH, OUTREACH TO OUR PEOPLE, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THE CITY HAS DISTRICTED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IN MY FIRST YEAR, I DIDN'T HAVE AN ASSISTANT, AND I HAVE TO OUTREACH PROFUSELY TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT THREE.
THE BANNERS WAS NOT INTENDED TO ELECTION YEAR.
I JUST WANTED TO OUTREACH, DO AN OUTREACH, PROMOTE MY DISTRICT TO COME SHOP THERE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, TO COME VISIT, RIGHT.
THAT I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE, THAT I AM ACCESSIBLE TO THEM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UM, DOUBLE CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, DOUBLE CHECK WITH THE FPPC.
AND IT WASN'T 32,000 WAS 18, AND THAT WAS IN 2023.
AND IT'S BEEN THERE BECAUSE IT'S, THEY, THEY DID A GOOD JOB IN, IN THE, THE QUALITY OF THE BANNERS THAT WERE, THAT WERE, UM, APPROVED WITH REGARDS TO THE, TO THE, UM, UM, CANOPY.
I DO A LOT OF EVENTS IN MY DISTRICT.
I GO TO EL TOON, I GO TO EVERYWHERE REACHING OUT AND BEING ACCESSIBLE TO MY CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT THREE.
SO I, I, I DID NOT MEAN ANY, MY, MY CAMPAIGN PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT FROM THIS, THIS IS OUTREACH REPRESENTATION.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS LOOKED INTO A BAD LIFE OF HAVING AN OUTREACH TO THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SERVE.
I DON'T MEAN TO HURT YOU TOO, BUT YOU, THIS IS MEAN.
AND, AND BE, BECAUSE IT'S POLITICAL SEASON.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT, I HAVE A DIFFERENT PROGRAM FOR, FOR MY CAMPAIGN, AND IT'S OUTSIDE OF MY BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I HOPE YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING.
I DON'T MEAN TO OFFEND ANYONE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY A COUPLE, COUPLE THINGS.
UH, LET, I ALSO HAVE CANOPIES, AND THEY WERE, UH, DONATED AS PART OF THE, UH, STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UH, AND WE USE THEM ALSO FOR OUTREACH.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S PRINTED ON THEM IS COLEMAN.
THEY'RE MADE BY THE COLEMAN COMPANY.
UM, BUT THEY STILL, OR YOU CAN BE USED FOR OUTREACH AND THEY PROVIDE SHADE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT.
ALSO, UM, THE, UH, IN TALKING ON, ON THE SUBJECT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ON HERE, AS FAR AS THE, LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, BOTH COUNCIL AND MAYOR BUDGETS.
WE NEED TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE, HOW THEY'RE USED.
I WILL SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS THE TWO FULL-TIME SALARIES THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, AT LEAST 60 YEARS IN THE LAST 60 YEARS.
UM, SO THOSE WERE NOT SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN ADDED IN OR WHATEVER.
AND THEY ARE, THE NUMBER IS WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
THERE'S DISCRETIONARY MONEY JUST AS WITHIN THE BUDGETS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[03:30:01]
THERE'S MONEY FOR STAFFING, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO DISCRETIONARY MONEY.UH, SO IN JUNE, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, AND, AND WE WERE ALL ASKED TO, UH, BRING CUTS TO THE BUDGET, UH, AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS BASICALLY BROUGHT ALL THEIR CUTS.
UH, I ALSO BROUGHT OUT OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS OUT OF THE CA MAYOR'S OFFICE, $40,000 IN CUTS.
AND I TOOK $40,000 OUT OF THE MIRRORS BUDGET, UH, ON THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.
AND, UH, THE SALARY PART, I CAN'T, IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT THE DISCRETIONARY PART, WE'VE GOT 40,000, AND WE PROBABLY WON'T EVEN USE MOST OF THE REST OF THAT, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE UP, UP NEXT TO THE, UH, LEFT UP TO THE NEXT MAYOR ON WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY HANDLE THAT.
UH, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK WITH INFORMATION.
AND PARTICULARLY HOW, HOW THIS HANDLES WITH PERSONNEL.
THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN 23 WHEN THIS WAS FIRST INITIATED, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS REALLY GONNA COMPLICATE THINGS ONCE YOU START PUTTING PEOPLE IN THERE, UH, INTO THESE OFFICES.
AND IT DOES CAUSE A LOT OF PERSONNEL ISSUES.
THE, UH, UH, I KNOW MYSELF, I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE FOR 18 YEARS, AND THE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE SHARED A PERSON AND WE DID OUTREACH, WE DID WORK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID, UH, PROGRAMS. SO, I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY CAN BE DONE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE CAN MAKE, WHAT WE CAN MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE DO HAVE AND STILL PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN NATIONAL CITY.
SO WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND THAT IS TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK.
WE'RE LOOKING HOPEFULLY AT THE, THE, OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT MEETING.
WHICH WILL BE IN FOUR WEEKS WOULD BE OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND, UH, SO WITH THAT, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER ANI.
MOTION TO APPROVE UNANIMOUSLY.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE GO BACK TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS.
I'LL START DOWN HERE ON MY LEFT.
UM, MANY OF YOU, UH, ALREADY LIKELY KNOW, BUT THERE IS A VERY ACTIVE, UH, BASEBALL LEAGUE HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, PONY LEAGUE BASEBALL HERE AT KIMBALL PARK.
IT'S RUN BY THE MOJICA BROTHERS, AND TRAGICALLY ONE OF THE BROTHERS, UH, GARY PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND, UH, SERVICES WILL BE HELD IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, HE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT, UH, ALWAYS WANTED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, DONATED HIS TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND, AND HAD PROFOUND JOY IN HELPING, UH, TEACH YOUNG KIDS THE VALUE OF PLAYING TOGETHER AS A, AS A TEAM AND BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND BRINGING A LOT OF JOY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I FEEL TERRIBLY SORRY FOR THE MOJICA FAMILY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO NATIONAL CITY.
WE'LL GO UP TO THE SCREEN UP HERE TO, UH, REMEMBER YAMANI, I THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE MOJICA FAMILY.
UM, NO OTHER REPORT, MR. MAYOR.
ALSO WANT TO GIVE CONDOLENCES TO THE MOJICA FAMILY AND THEIR, THEIR BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL.
AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR YOUTH, AND IT'S NOT EASY TO WORK WITH YOUTH, YOUTH, IT'S NOT EASY TO WORK IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS.
SO I REALLY WANNA SHARE, UM, MY CONDOLENCES.
AND HE WAS A CONSTITUENT AS WELL, SO IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I WANNA THANK STAFF AND EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, INTEGRITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
AND TELLING THE TRUTH AND HAVING THE FACTS, WE CAN HAVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS AMONGST OURSELVES.
AND, UM, EVEN WITH, WITH STAFF, DISAGREEMENT IS HEALTHY AS PART OF DEMOCRACY, BUT WHEN DISAGREEMENTS ARE NOT RELIANT ON FACTS, WHEN THINGS ARE BEING SAID, AND OF COURSE POLITICAL SEASON, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS GRAY SUBJECTIVE AREA, BUT FACTS ARE FACTS.
WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS HERE AND THEY'RE BEING COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY, UM, LIED ABOUT, LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET DEFICIT, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX WILL SOLVE THE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT CONTINUES TO BE TOLD.
AND OUR, UM, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES BELIEVE THAT THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX IS A BIG PART OF POTENTIALLY HELPING US GET THERE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO LOOK INWARD AND BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR BUDGET AND LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES AND JUST TRY TO BE BETTER.
NONE OF US ON THIS DAIS ARE PERFECT AND NONE OF YOU ALL
[03:35:01]
AND, AND STAFF ARE PERFECT.NONE OF THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE PERFECT.
THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S PERFECT.
BUT IF WE CAN COLLABORATE AND HAVE HONEST, TRANSPARENT DISCUSSIONS, THEN I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN GET THERE, UM, WITH HONESTY AND, AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE CAN HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT LET'S, LIKE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, VALUE AND PRINCIPLE INTEGRITY SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE THING.
AND UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH THAT AS AN ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU TO STAFF AND ALL OF THE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT JOINED US TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND THE PARTICIPATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH US.
UM, MY CONDOLENCES, GO TO THE MOJICA FAMILY, UH, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR, UM, THE WORK.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE AND, UH, LET'S, LET'S COME BACK WITH MORE ENERGY.
ALRIGHT, UM, JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING, I THINK, UH, TOMORROW NIGHT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER STORM COMING IN AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORM AND ALL THAT LITTLE FUN STUFF, BUT THEY STILL SAY THE BIG STUFF IS WAITING FOR US IN LATER IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, JANUARY, UH, TIME PERIOD.
AND SO BASED ON THAT, I KNOW THIS, THIS SATURDAY AT, UH, THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT, THEY'LL BE GIVING OUT, UH, SANDBAGS, GETTING PEOPLE IN PREPARATION BECAUSE WHAT ALWAYS ENDS UP HAPPENING, LIKE WE GET IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG STORM, EVERYONE GOES, WELL, WHERE'S THE SANDBAGS? AND BY THAT TIME IT'S TOO LATE.
AND SO THIS IS SO, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO DO, GO AHEAD AND GET PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME AND NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER IT'S TOO LATE AND THERE'S ALREADY A COUPLE OF INCHES OF, UH, WATER ON THEIR FLOORS AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO PLAN TO PUT UP A SANDBAG KINDA KINDA LATE AT THAT POINT.
SO THAT'S THIS SATURDAY FROM 10 TO TWO AT THE, UH, NATIONAL CITY LIBRARY, SO WE CAN GET INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE ON THAT.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, WE WILL, UH, BE THE, UH, UH, BE A MUCH MORE PREPARED CITY IN EVERY WAY WE CAN ON THIS, THIS WHOLE THING AS WE LOOK TOGETHER FOR IT.
WITH THAT, WE HAD A LOT OF STUFF ON TONIGHT AND, UH, AND WE HAD A LOT OF STUFF ON CLOSED SESSION, SO THEREFORE
[12. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY NOW.UH, THIS AFTERNOON THE CITY COUNCIL MET IN CLOSED SESSION FROM 4:12 PM TO 6:00 PM AT THE START OF CLOSED SESSION COUNCIL MEMBERS RODRIGUEZ YAMANI, UM, VICE MAYOR MOLINA AND MAYOR MORRISON WERE PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH JOINED CLOSED SESSION AT 4:51 PM UH, THE COUNCIL TOOK NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS ON ANY ITEMS HEARD.
WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED FOR FOUR WEEKS, FOLKS.