Jun 08, 2021 City Council Meeting 3pm

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL CANDIDATES.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS.

THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

WE HAVE FOUR ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

ITEM FOUR IS REGARDING

[4. Evidence of Residency for Mayor and City Council Candidates RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council provides feedback on a proposed policy to collect evidence of residency for the offices of Mayor and City Council Candidates.]

I'LL ASK STAFF TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TIM KENRICK AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S IDENTIFY PRIORITIES IS THE REQUEST THAT STAFF BRING BACK IN WHAT WAS REFERRED TO AS AN ELECTION INTEGRITY ORDINANCE.

UM, SPECIFICALLY I THINK THE COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST SIMPLY CHICK CHECKING THE REGISTRAR VOTERS OFFICE FOR RESIDENCY.

[00:05:01]

UM, AND IN THIS CASE, AS MENTIONED IN MY GENDER REPORT, WE'LL REFER TO IT AS A DOMICILE OF, OF CANDIDATES.

UM, AND IT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS WHETHER, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR IS IN THE CITY OR SOMEBODY WHO'S IN A COUNCIL DISTRICT, UH, RESIDES, OR IS IT ALMOST FILED IN THAT DISTRICT IN FURTHER AND SAID THIS PRIORITY, THE CITY CLERK, CANVAS TO OTHER CITIES TO DETERMINE IF SUCH AN ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ELSEWHERE IN THE HOPES THAT WE COULD FIND SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD.

UM, THE, HER SEARCH YIELDED VERY FEW ACTUAL ORDINANCES, UH, A TOUR, UH, TWO OR THREE OF THE RESPONSES FROM CITIES HAD ADOPTED POLICIES THAT THEY PROVIDED US WITH RESOLUTIONS THAT GAVE POLICIES FOR THE CITY CLERK TO, UM, TO FOLLOW UP.

UM, MOST OF THOSE POLICIES THEN REQUIRED, UH, UH, UH, SEARCH OF, OR ACTUALLY REQUEST OF RECORDS THAT WOULD PROVE, UH, DOMUS DOMICILE.

THAT CANDIDATE WAS DOMICILED IN THAT PROPER LOCATION.

AS MY GENDER REPORT STATES, THE PROOF OF RESIDENCY IS ALREADY A PART OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE WHEN A PERSON ACTUALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE.

AND AS WE KNOW TO BE A CANDIDATE TO ANY OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA, YOU NEED TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER AND OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO, TO, UH, HOLD THAT OFFICE.

UM, WE PRESUME THAT THE, UM, RIGHT ONCE A PERSON'S REGISTERED THAT THEY, OR REREGISTERED, UH, IT IS A VALID, UM, STATUS.

UH, IF, IF, UH, ACCEPTED BY THE REGISTRAR, THE REGISTRAR WILL REQUIRE SOME SORT OF PROOF OF, OF REVENUE RESIDENCY, INCLUDING A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, AS WELL AS CERTIFICATION OF WHERE THEY RESIDE.

UM, IT'S WORTH EMPHASIZING.

THE REAL QUESTION MIGHT BE WHERE A PERSON IS DOMICILED IF THEY ARE TO BE A CANDIDATE OR A VOTER.

AND, UM, THAT TAKES AN ANALYSIS OF ACTION ON THE PART OF THE CANDIDATE OR THE, OR THE LECTOR, UH, IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN AND OR RELOCATED AS A RESIDENCE AND WHETHER THE INTENT IS FOR THE CANDIDATE TO MAKE THAT LOCATION, THEIR DOMICILE, UH, AS IT'S MY AGENDA REPORT REFLECTS, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.

ONE IS RESIDENCE OF A PERSON IS, CAN BE, CAN BE MO MULTIPLE OR A PERSON CAN HAVE MULTIPLE RESIDENCES, BUT YOU CAN ONLY HAVE ONE DOMICILE.

AND THAT'S THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS.

MY REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT WE DO NOT ADOPT ANY SORT OF ORDINANCE, HOWEVER, TO ALTER THE CURRENT PER, UH, APPROACH.

UH, CURRENTLY THE CITY CLERK RELIES UPON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE REGISTRAR.

IF, WHEN DETERMINING IF A PERSON IS REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND IF THAT PERSON IS DOMICILED IN THE CITY OR DOMICILED IN THE PARTICULAR COUNCIL DISTRICT, UH, THAT THEY ARE SEEKING TO, TO ACHIEVE THIS RECOMMENDATION IS TO AVOID BURDENING THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, NOT ONLY CHECKING EACH AND EVERY CANDIDATE WITH ADDITIONAL PROOF, IT'S A VERY TIME CONSUMING PROCESS, BUT ALSO UNDERTAKING THE COMPLEX ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE, UM, THE INTENT OF THE CANDIDATE WHO REGISTERS AT ONE ADDRESS WHILE MAINTAINING A RESIDENCE, PERHAPS AT ANOTHER LOCATION.

WHEN THE QUESTION ARISES, THAT BEING SAID, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE A POLICY TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE CITY CLERK IS MY SUGGESTION THAT FIRST THE POLICY BE SET BY RESOLUTION, NOT ORDINANCE AND SECOND, THAT IT CANDIDATES COOPERATION AND PROVIDING PROOF BE VOLUNTARY, UH, WITH THE PROVISION OF TYPES OF DOCUMENTS, TO PROVIDE DOMICILES, TO BE IDENTIFIED BY THAT POLICY AND GIVING THE CANDIDATE THE OPTION TO NOT, UH, PROVIDE, UH, DECLINED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION WITHOUT AFFECTING THAT PERSON'S ELIGIBILITY AS A CANDIDATE, OF COURSE, THE, UH, CHOICE TO DECLINE AS WELL AS THE DOCUMENTS THAT PROVE THAT CANDIDATES DOMICILE WOULD BE PUBLIC RECORDS, REDACTING, UM, CERTAIN PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF PRIVACY FOR THOSE CANDIDATES.

UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND, AND, UH, WE CAN RETURN WITH WHATEVER, UM, DOCUMENTS OR PROCEDURE YOU DECIDE IS APPROPRIATE AND READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GO AHEAD.

UH, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GET YOUR COMMENT.

SO HOW WOULD THIS HAVE AFFECTED THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE? BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE A CANDIDATE STATED HE LIVED ONE PLACE AND DID NOT, WELL FIRST WE DON'T KNOW THAT HE DID NOT.

AND AGAIN, THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT HE, HE COULD HAVE RESIDED IN TWO LOCATIONS,

[00:10:02]

BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS WHERE HE WAS DOMICILED.

AND THE REGISTRAR VOTERS TELLS US THAT WAS AT THE LOCATION WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT HE, THIS PERSON RAN FOR OFFICE.

UM, IF WE HAD THIS SORT OF POLICY IN PLACE, AND IF THAT CANDIDATE DID CHOOSE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT DECIDE, MIGHT'VE DECIDED IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO JUSTIFY OR PROVE THEIR DOMICILE, THAT THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER CANDIDATES TO REVIEW, UH, TO BE CRITICAL ABOUT IT COULD BE USED FOR CHALLENGES, UM, TO PREVENT THAT PERSON FROM TAKING OFFICE, BUT ACTUALLY, UH, WOULD NOT LIKELY PREVENT THEM FROM BEING A CANDIDATE AND BEING ELECTED.

IT WOULD BE PROVIDE PERHAPS PROOF TO BE USED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IF A CHALLENGE WAS MADE AFTER ELECTION AND THAT PERSON WAS SUCCESSFUL.

REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO KEEP SOMEBODY OFF THE BALLOT, AND I DON'T THINK THE COURT WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP SOMEBODY OFF THE BALLOT, AS LONG AS THEY'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THAT LOCATION.

IT WOULD SIMPLY BE USED AFTER THE FACT TO, OR PRIOR TO THE ELECTION FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES OR AFTER THE FACT TO REMOVE SOMEBODY UNDER QUOTE, RUN TWO PROCEEDINGS.

IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALLOWS US THAT ALLOWS SOMEBODY TO, UH, FILE THAT TYPE OF A LAWSUIT.

I WAS JUST KIND OF CURIOUS BECAUSE I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME UP AGAINST THIS.

UM, IT'S A LOT OF WORK ON OUR CITY CLERK, UM, JUST TO DO HER JOB ON THAT.

AND I WOULD CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO ADD TO IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF, COUNCILMAN GOBEL? UH, I HAD A BRIEF EMAIL DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, YESTERDAY AND TODAY WHO WAS VERY HELPFUL, CLARIFYING SOME THINGS FOR ME.

AND YOU MIGHT EXTEND THOSE COMMENTS TO THE OTHERS TO HEAR MY QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS OUR, UH, MUNICIPAL CODE SAYS EACH DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL RESIDE WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.

AND I SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT CANDIDATES? AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AND ANSWER THAT? OR THE ELECTIONS CODE PROVIDES THE SOLUTION TO THAT QUESTION? AND THAT IS A CANDIDATE MUST BE REGISTERED, A REGISTERED VOTER AND OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO VOTE FOR THE OFFICE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING AT THE TIME THAT THEY'D TAKE OUT NOMINATION PAPERS.

SO WHETHER THE POLICY OR R OR R CODE REFERS TO ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, OR, AND DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CANDIDACY, IT STILL MEANS THAT THE ELECTIONS CODE WOULD APPLY AND REQUIRE THAT THEY BE DOMICILED IN THAT LOCATION.

AND THE ELECTION CODE IS THE STATE ELECTION CODE, WHICH KIND OF SUPERSEDES OR, OR A, A LEVEL ABOVE OUR MUNICIPAL CODE.

YES, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A CHARTER CITY AS MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA REPORT AND WE CAN RUN OUR OWN ELECTIONS, WE STILL MUST FOLLOW THE RULES THAT THE STATE HAS IMPOSED ON LOCAL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR THE CHARTER CITIES.

AND SO THAT REALLY TAKES CARE OF WHAT REALLY MEANS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE, OR HOW A PERSON QUALIFIES TO BE A CANDIDATE.

SO WE WOULD FOLLOW THE STATE LAW IN THAT CASE.

THOSE ARE THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS PROVIDE ANY KIND OF ENFORCEMENT TO SAY, UH, UH, WE SEE THAT YOU'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN A LOCATION, NOT IN THE DISTRICT, YOU'RE RUNNING FOUR PER ELECTION STATE, ELECTION LAW, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A COURT CHALLENGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION.

UM, SO THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT CANDIDATES, THE STATE ELECTION CODE, UH, ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.

UH, AS I READ THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT, I, I'M NOT A FAN OF ADDING ANY MORE PAPERWORK TO THE CITY CLERK.

I THINK IF SOMEBODY WERE PROVIDED A LEASE OR PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT OR UTILITY BILL, IT COULD BE FOR AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY, NOT NECESSARILY THE STYLE.

SO I THINK, UM, AT BEST WE COULD HAVE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT SAID, I, I CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT I LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT AND THEY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO SIGN THAT AFFIDAVIT.

AND THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER DISCUSSION POINT FOR WHOEVER.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY SKIP THE, THE DOCUMENTS AND JUST HAVE PART OF THE ELECTION PACKET, BE AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING, I, I AFFIRM UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

WELL, I THINK SOMEONE THAT RUNS FOR A DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE DISTRICT OR HAVE THEIR DOMICILE THERE, I THINK THAT'S A DIRECT ATTACK ON A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

UH, OUR VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO BREAK UP THE CITY INTO DISTRICTS.

AND, UH, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, UH, TO BRING THE TRUTH TO LIGHT.

AND IT'S MY OPINION IN THE LAST ELECTION.

[00:15:01]

UH, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT SOMEONE DID NOT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

AND I THINK IF THEY PROVIDE DOCUMENT AT THAT PRIDE, SOME SORT OF DOCUMENTATION, AND THAT IS A PUBLIC RECORD, THEN THE VOTERS CAN GET TO THE TRUTH MUCH EASIER THAN IF THAT INFORMATION IS HIDDEN.

AND, UH, IT, TO ME, IT JUST OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE THAT ELECTIONS ARE, HAVE INTEGRITY.

AND, UH, I DON'T THINK IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF WORK TO PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTS THAT, UH, ARE SUGGESTED IN THE STAFF REPORT.

I THINK IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC THAT THAT'S DONE, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE IS ELECTED AND DOESN'T LIVE IN A DISTRICT, UH, THEN THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TO GO AFTER HIM.

THEY HAVE TO COLLECT ALL THE EVIDENCE.

AND THEN WE COULD HAVE A VERY EXPENSIVE, SPECIAL ELECTION THAT COSTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

AND I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GAMING THE SYSTEM.

IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT FOR SOMEONE TO RUN WHO DOESN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE THE, UH, STRONGEST REQUIREMENTS THAT PASS CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER, UH, TO ENSURE THAT SOMEONE ACTUALLY HAS A DOMICILE THERE.

UM, AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, WHAT IS IT, A FELONY IF THEY ACTUALLY RUN AND WIN AND DON'T LIVE DON'T, THEIR DOMICILE IS NOT IN A DISTRICT MAYOR PRO TEM KENDRICK.

I HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE OF ANY CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS, MOSTLY IT'S JUST TO REMOVE THE PERSON FROM OFFICE.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S JUST THE CHOICE OF A DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR THE AGS OFFICE NOT TO PURSUE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

BUT I THINK THAT THE SOLUTION IS MORE OF A CIVIL REMEDY THAN IT IS A CRIMINAL RIBBONY.

AND WHO PAYS FOR THAT? WELL, IF SOMEBODY WERE TO CHOOSE TO FILE, UH, AN ACTION TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTION, FIRST, YOU HAVE TO GET THE APPROVAL OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND IF THAT APPROVAL IS GIVEN, THEN THE PERSON FILES A LAWSUIT AND THEY, THEY TAKE UNDERTAKE THE COST THEMSELVES TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTIONS OF THAT PERSON IN THE RESIDENCY OF THE DOMICILE, THAT PERSON.

WELL, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME PROOF OF WHERE THEY LIVE, UH, PROPERTY TAX, BILL, UH, RENTAL AGREEMENT, UTILITY BILLS.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, THAT SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM TEST FOR SOMEONE RUNNING FOR AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC OFFICE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

SO, UH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE, UH, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION JUST TO CLARIFY.

SO MR. CITY ATTORNEY THAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS IT WOULD BE A VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS AND THAT CANDIDATE COULD CHOOSE TO NOT SUBMIT THAT DOCUMENT, WHICH WOULD THEN THEREFORE CREATE THE MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE.

SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER CANDIDATE COULD CHALLENGE THAT INDEPENDENTLY.

IS THAT KIND OF THE COURSE OF ACTION THAT WOULD OCCUR? WELL, THAT'S NOT MY INTENT.

AND CERTAINLY I WOULDN'T SUGGEST TO THE CITY COUNCIL TAKE THE POSITION THAT, THAT, UH, THAT THE LACK OF COOPERATION OR THE LACK OF CHOICE, OR, UH, SELECTING THE OPTION NOT TO COMPLY OR PROVIDE THE INFORMATION IS IN ITSELF.

UM, A REASON TO FIND THAT THERE IS NOT, NOT A DOMICILE ON THE PART OF THE CANDIDATE.

WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT AT LEAST IT PROVIDES A BOOK OF EVIDENCE THAT FOR BOTH, IT GOES, BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN OR CANNOT BE USED TO ASSIST A CANDIDATE.

AND IN TAKING AWAY THE, UM, UH, THE SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER HE OR SHE IS DOMICIDAL IN THE DISTRICT, I THINK A VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION OF, OF, OF DOCUMENTS IS, IS GOOD.

RIGHT? I AGREE.

AND IN ACTUALITY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN

[00:20:01]

IF A PERSON REFUSED IT, IT WOULD, THAT PERSON WOULD CALL HIM HIS CALL, ATTENTION, HIM OR HERSELF.

AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS IN THIS CITY, AND THEY WOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT IT AND FIND OUT, OKAY, DO THEY HAVE A HOMEOWNER'S EXEMPTION WHERE THEY SAY THEY LIVE? DID THEY LOOK AT ALL, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS? AND THE PUBLIC IS JUST GOING TO GET THE TRUTH.

AND I DON'T WANT TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATE AS POSSIBLE.

SO OUR ELECTIONS HAVE INTEGRITY AND IT'S, AND IT'S OPTIONAL.

THEY CAN MAKE THE CHOICE.

YES OR NO.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION THAT LET'S SAY, UM, I CAN THINK OF A SITUATION WHERE A PERSON OWNS A RESIDENCE IN THE DISTRICT, UH, BUT HAS MOVED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY, BUT THAT RESIDENCE THEY STILL GET.

AND THEY'VE NOW LEASED OUT THAT RESIDENCE.

SO THE PROPERTY TAX STATEMENTS ARE IN THAT NAME, AT THAT RESIDENCE, PERHAPS EVEN A UTILITY BILL, UM, THE GRANT DEED IS STILL IN THEIR NAME.

UH, SO IF THEY SUBMIT THAT AS EVIDENCE OF A DOMICILE, NUMBER ONE, THAT'S PROBABLY FRAUDULENTLY DOING SO, BUT THAT'S NOT OUR POLICING TO DO.

UH, DOES THAT PROVIDE THE STRENGTH YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? IF SOMEBODY WILLINGLY PROVIDES A PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT, THAT'S IN THEIR NAME FOR THAT ADDRESS, BUT THEY LIVE IN THE HOYA, RIGHT? WELL, THE PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT, IF THEY DON'T LIVE THERE, IT'S NOT GOING TO SHOW THE HOMEOWNER'S EXEMPTION.

SO THAT'S, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT CALLS ATTENTION TO SOMETHING.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION.

AND THEN I THINK THE NEWSPAPERS WILL START TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THAT'S A STORY WHEN SOMEONE'S TRYING TO CHEAT THE SYSTEM, LET'S SAY THEY COULD SUBMIT A UTILITY BILL INSTEAD.

WELL, THEN THEY SUBMITTED UTILITY BILL, BUT, UH, THEN, UH, SOMEONE MIGHT CHECK THE IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION WHO HAS, UH, WHO HAS A, UM, HOMEOWNERS EXEMPTION, NO, A SDG, ANY BILL THAT COMES TO THE ADDRESS AND THE HOMEOWNER IS PAYING THE UTILITY BILL AND IT'S FLAT FEE RENT TO THE, UH, TO THE LESSEES IS, IS THAT UTILITY BILL, UH, PROVIDING THE STRENGTH THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

IT'S ACTUALLY UP TO THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY GET THAT INFORMATION FOR THEM TO DECIDE.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, NOT FOR ME OR, UH, THE OTHER THING IS THEY CAN PROVIDE A, UH, A COPY OF THEIR, UH, HOMEOWNER, THEIR INSURANCE, AND THERE'S A RENTAL POLICY, AND THERE IS A HOMEOWNERS POLICY AND THE RENTAL POLICIES A LOT CHEAPER THAN A HOMEOWNER'S POLICY.

SO IT'S UNLIKELY, YOU KNOW, W IT'S NOTHING'S GOING TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT PERFECT, BUT MAYBE WE GET IT 95% BY ASKING FOR THESE THINGS AND THEIR CHOICES TO NOT PROVIDE IT, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE TAKING THE RISK THAT SOMEBODY FINDS OUT THAT THEY'RE CHEATING.

AND IF THEY'RE NOT CHEATING, THERE'S NO PROBLEM.

NO, ONE'S GOING TO FIND ANYTHING, UH, THAT DISPUTES THEIR, UH, RESIDENTS.

EARLY STAGE, MAYBE GIVEN THE PERSON WITH THIS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE TO OPPORTUNITY TO WITHDRAW.

I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GOAL IS WE'RE TRYING TO GET, WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE CANDIDATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRANSPARENT AND BE WITHOUT QUESTION LIVING IN THE DISTRICT, AND THIS IS A STEP FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

BUT THEN ALSO, LIKE YOU SAID, GARY, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, TO MEASURE IS THAT ENOUGH EVIDENCE, UM, WHETHER THAT BE A RESIDENT OR A, OR, OR THE NEWSPAPERS OR THE LIGHTS, RIGHT.

THIS ISN'T FOR US, THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY, JUST LIKE WE FILL OUT OUR FORM SEVEN HUNDREDS THAT TALK ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE INCOME.

AND, AND IT, IT'S NOT MUCH OF A BIRD TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION, GIVEN THIS THE IMPORTANCE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HONEST ELECTIONS, BECAUSE SOMEONE THAT RUNS AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T WIN, THEY CAN AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.

ALL I WANT THEM TO DO IS FOLLOW THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, ENCOURAGING THEM TO FOLLOW THE LAW WITHOUT A BIG HAMMER AND NOT, AND THEN CERTAINLY IN MY MIND, ISN'T GOVERN GOVERNMENT OVERREACH TO HAVE HONEST ELECTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S MY OPINION.

THAT WAS SUSPECT IN THE LAST ELECTION.

DO YOU THINK THIS KIND OF DOCUMENTATION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THAT SITUATION? YEAH.

YES.

OR CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT TO LIGHT.

AND, UH, AT

[00:25:01]

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

SO WOULD WE CHOOSE WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE GOING TO BE SUGGESTED OR WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK WOULD, WOULD CHOOSE ON THEIR OWN? MY THOUGHT IS THAT HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, UM, CERTAINLY MR. KENDRICK'S COMMENT ABOUT A SCHOOL DISTRICT PROOF, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE HEARD BEFORE TOO, IS TO PROVE YOU'RE IN A, YOU KNOW, AN ELEMENTARY DISTRICT OR, OR A HIGH SCHOOL LOCATION THAT, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO YOUR CHILD TO ATTEND THAT SCHOOL IS SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT.

IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S UNDER THE EDUCATION CODE, W W WE'LL EXPLORE THAT.

UM, BUT, UM, IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THERE DOWN THE ROUTE OF MORE THAN JUST AN AFFIDAVIT, WE WOULD BRING BACK, UM, A RECOMMENDED LIST OF DOCUMENTS.

AND THEN YOU COULD ALWAYS DISCUSS THAT AT THAT TIME AND PICK AND CHOOSE OR SUPPLEMENT THOSE AS WELL BEFORE ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AND HONEST CANDIDATE HAS NOTHING TO FEAR FROM THIS.

SO TODAY'S, UH, CANDIDATE PACKET DOES NOT INCLUDE AN AFFIDAVIT THAT YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

WELL, I, I, I THINK, UH, I'VE DONE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THING BEFORE, UH, 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I DID SOME NOTARIZATIONS FOR MY BUSINESS.

IT WAS A SIMPLE AFFIDAVIT.

WE LIVE AT THIS ADDRESS AND I THINK THEY HAD TO PROVIDE A UTILITY BILL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOMETHING SIMPLE.

UM, IT'S NOT A HILL I'M GONNA DIE ON.

I'D PREFER JUST TO HAVE AN AFFIDAVIT, BUT, UH, I'M OKAY WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS.

IT'S NOT A HILL I'M GONNA DIE.

YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GIVE THEM THE CHOICE OF HOW MANY DOCUMENTS MAYBE WE SUGGEST TWO OR THREE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE QUESTIONS MY RESIDENCY, I'LL GIVE THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTS I HAVE.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

NO ONE IN THIS ROOM HAS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IT'S THE PERSON THAT'S TRYING TO CHEAT THE PUBLIC.

THEY'RE THE ONES I WANT TO STOP.

SO, UH, ARE THERE, IS THERE A MOTION? IS IT JUST, IS IT JUST FEEDBACK AT THIS POINT OR, WELL, I THINK IF IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO COME BACK WITH THE IDEA OF A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A POLICY, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO YOU.

UM, SO I, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A MOTION AT THIS TIME.

I W I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST AND THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN'T GET INVOLVED WITH THINGS AT THE DEPTH THAT WE DO.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTIONS FOR THE VOTERS AT THE VERY LEAST.

AND, UH, I THINK WHAT THE STAFF HAS COME UP WITH IT IS, IS EXCELLENT.

AND ACTUALLY TO ADD TO THAT, GARY, UH, MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS UP, BROUGHT THIS IDEA UP, STEPHANIE HARPER CAME TO US DURING A MEETING AND SAID, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE? SO WE'RE ACTUALLY RESPONDING TO THEM, RIGHT? YEAH.

I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT HAPPENED WAS PRETTY BLATANT.

MORGAN D DD NEED ANYTHING ELSE FROM US? NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

WE'LL TRY TO GET BACK TO YOU LATER THIS SUMMER, THEN WITH SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

OH, ANGELA, DID YOU HAVE ANY, DID YOU RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR.

WE RECEIVED ONE COMMENT FROM STEPHANIE HARPER AND IT READS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM, ALTHOUGH IT DOES LITTLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ROBBED OF THOSE VOTES COUNTED FOR A NON-RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO IN THIS PAST ELECTION.

BUT THIS NEW LEGISLATION TO OUR ELECTION CODE BRINGS NEW HOPE THAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS WILLING AND ABLE TO SEE WHERE THE CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE.

I HOPE THIS MAKES PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR COUNCIL FEEL BETTER ABOUT OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS.

THIS ADDITION TO THIS CODE WILL ALSO BRING EASE TO EACH CITIZEN IN THAT DISTRICT, THAT THEY CAN HOLD A BELIEF, THE BEGINNING THAT THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING UNDERSTAND THAT DISTRICT ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.

AND THE COMMENTS AND NO MORE COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM.

THE 2021, 2022 PRELIMINARY BUDGET.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

MOVING ALONG.

UM, THE SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE

[5. Fiscal Year 2021-22 Preliminary Annual Budget RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council, Housing Authority, and the City of El Cajon as Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency receives information related to the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 Preliminary Annual Budget.]

REPORT ITEM FIVE IS FOR

[00:30:01]

I'LL ASK STAFF TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM REALLY IS AN INFORMATION ITEM.

UH, GETTING YOU PRIMED TO CONSIDER THE, UM, ANNUAL BUDGET AT YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

I'M GOING TO INVITE CLAY, SHANE, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO COME DOWN TO PRESENT SOME INFORMATION.

BUT, UM, AS PART OF THE STAFF REPORT, YOU'LL ALSO FIND A DRAFT TRANSMIT A LETTER FOR ME, UH, KIND OF A OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET AND OUR, AND OUR, UH, PROPOSED COVER FOR THE BUDGET.

SO THAT'S IN THE BUDGET PACKAGE.

I WANTED TO JUST REITERATE A COUPLE OF POINTS.

ONE IS THE DRAFT BUDGET WE'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING IS A BALANCED, I THINK IT'S, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING GIVEN THE YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, WE YOU'LL HEAR FROM MR. SHANE, BUT WE ACTUALLY DID BETTER FINANCIALLY THAN WE ANTICIPATED IN PART DUE TO ROBUST REVENUES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE, UH, YOUR CITY STAFF REALLY TIGHTEN THE BELT AND, UM, PER THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION.

AND I THINK WE FULFILLED WHAT YOU, WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DID NOT EXCEED EXPENDITURES, OR WE REDUCE OUR EXPENDITURES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT AS I'VE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH OUR STAFF THIS PAST YEAR, THEY'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TIRELESSLY, AND THERE, THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE EXCUSES FOR NOT DELIVERING SERVICE, BUT THAT WAS NOT IN OUR MANTRA.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF FOR MOVING FORWARD.

AND I WANT TO THANK MR. SHANE, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A ADOPTED BUDGET YET, BUT HIM AND HIS, HIS FINANCE TEAM AND THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, GIVEN THE MANY BALLS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY JUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THE TIME OVER TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS CLAIRE SHANE.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA.

I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE INFORMATION AND OPEN THE DIALOGUE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 PRELIMINARY ANNUAL BUDGET TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE STATUS OF THE ECONOMY, A COUPLE OF POINTS OF RELEVANT LEGISLATION, A CHECK-IN TO SEE WHERE WE'RE EXPECTING TO END THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2021, AS WELL AS INTRODUCE THE 2022 ANNUAL BUDGET, UH, THROUGHOUT TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS, UM, RATHER THAN SAVE IT FOR THE END, THE BUDGET PROCESS.

WHILE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEGIN WORK IN THE, AS EARLY AS THE FALL AND THE PRECEDING YEAR.

I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT CONCEPTUALLY AS STARTING WITH THE FIVE-YEAR BUSINESS PLAN.

THIS IS WHEN THE CITY LOOKS FORWARD FOR FIVE YEARS AND REALLY GETS A SENSE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING AS AN ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF TRENDS FROM THAT, THE CITY MANAGER WILL DERIVE A BUDGETARY STRATEGY, WHICH HE WILL SHARE WITH HIS DIRECTORS AT WHICH TIME THE DIRECTORS WILL THEN GO BACK AND WORK ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT SUBMISSIONS.

WHEN THESE ARE ALL COMPLETE AND SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, WE WILL THEN, UH, REVIEW, COMPILE AND BEGIN TO BALANCE.

AT WHICH POINT WE REVIEW IT WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND PUT THINGS TOGETHER INTO A FINISHED PRODUCT WHERE WE CAN PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 22ND ON THE 22ND, THEN, UM, BARRING ANY PROBLEMS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, UH, WE WILL ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, WHICH TAKES EFFECT ON JULY 1ST AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR BEGINNING OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, YEAR STATUS OF THE ECONOMY, IT'S USUALLY EXPRESSED IN THREE BASIC FACTORS.

I THINK OF THESE AS KIND OF THE PLAY-BY-PLAY, UH, WITH HOUSING THROWN IN AS SORT OF THE COLOR COMMENTARY A LITTLE BIT, THE FIRST ONE IS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.

UM, FOR MOST OF THESE SOURCES, I USE, UH, FEDERAL INFORMATION SOURCES IN THIS CASE, THE BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, UM, THEY'VE PRODUCED A REGULAR SERIES OF STATUS UPDATES ON GDP, AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THESE REPORTS FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEY ALWAYS INCLUDE THIS GRAPH ON THE BEGINNING OF THE REPORT, AND I'VE NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT, BUT I FIND NOW WITH THE RECENT EVENTS, WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST YEAR, IT PARTICULARLY TELLING OF WHAT HAS OCCURRED.

IF YOU WERE TO HYPOTHETICALLY DRAW THIS OUT SEVERAL YEARS TO THE LEFT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE VERY MUCH THE SAME PATTERN.

THE ECONOMY JUST SORT OF BUMPS ALONG AT TWO OR 3%.

AND THIS GRAPH IS NOT VERY EXCITING UNTIL WE GET TO LAST YEAR.

AND I THINK THIS REALLY SHOWS WHAT WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST 12 TO 15 MONTHS.

UM, THIS IS CALENDAR YEAR.

SO QUARTER ONE OR Q1 IS JANUARY

[00:35:01]

THROUGH MARCH.

UM, COVID REALLY HIT US RIGHT IN THE MID MARCH END OF MARCH AND Q1 OF 2020.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE, UH, NATIONAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GOES NEGATIVE AT THAT POINT, Q2 OR APRIL THROUGH JUNE IS WHEN WE REALLY FELT THE PAIN, A LOT OF, UH, DIRE OUTLOOK AT THAT POINT IN TIME, INCLUDING HERE.

UM, I THINK WE HAVE SOME CATASTROPHIC INITIAL, UH, PROJECTIONS OF SHORTFALLS IN SALES TAXES UP TO $12 MILLION AT ONE POINT.

HOWEVER, UH, WHEN JULY ROLLED AROUND THE ECONOMY BOUNCED BACK AND BOUNCED BACK HARD AND HAS CONTINUED TO GROW PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE DETAIL BEHIND THIS REPORT.

AND AS OF Q1 2021, WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN BACK IN RAW DOLLARS BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT Q1 OF 2020.

SO I DON'T WANT TO USE A TERM LIKE RECOVER, BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE GETTING THERE FOR SURE.

ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT FRONT WE HAVE SEEN, UH, ALSO IMPRESSIVE, UH, RECOVERY.

OH, I WASN'T GOING TO USE THAT WORD WAS I, UM, AS OF APRIL, 2021, UH, US UNEMPLOYMENT WAS AT 6.1%, UM, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN WHAT IT HAD BEEN A YEAR BEFORE.

IN FACT, CALIFORNIA FOR THE SAME PERIOD WAS 8.3%.

AND IT WAS HIGHEST 16% IN APRIL OF 2020.

AND JUST FOR COMPARISON SAKE COULD PUT IT INTO, INTO SCALE.

UM, THAT CHANGE REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION JOBS IN CALIFORNIA ON THE INFLATION FRONT.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

WE'VE HAD ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT.

THEIR INFLATION HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT AROUND 2% FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST 12 MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN MAY OF 2021, UH, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS REPORTS A CPI OF 4.2% FOR THAT 12 MONTH PERIOD AND COMMENTED IN THEIR REPORT THAT THIS IS THE LARGEST 12 MONTH INCREASE SINCE THE 4.9% INCREASE FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER OF 2008.

THAT OF COURSE WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT RECESSION.

HOUSING HAS BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE AS OF LATE IN A APRIL, 2021 RELEASE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REPORTS THAT HOUSING STARTS ARE UP A STAGGERING 67.3% FROM THE SAME POINT LAST YEAR, WHILE NEW HOME SALES ARE UP 66.8%.

UM, THE CITY ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KEEPS US ABREAST OF A VERY BUSY STATE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.

UM, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THREE ACTIONS THAT HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT, BOTH.

UH, ONLY ONE OF THESE IS VERY CURRENT.

UM, FIRST OF COURSE, IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IN, UH, MARCH OF 2021.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW AS PART OF THAT ACT, $30.4 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED TO THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA TO RECOVER FROM THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.

UM, WE HAVE HAD A STANDING COUNCIL ITEM FOR THE SUBJECT.

IN FACT, IT FOLLOWS THIS ITEM.

SO I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL, HOWEVER, AS IT APPLIES TO THIS BUDGET, IT IS FULLY APPROPRIATED THIS YEAR IN 2022, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE MONIES ARE THERE, HOWEVER THEY REMAIN TO BE FULLY COMMITTED.

AND THE BUDGET REFLECTS THAT IN 2018, A VERY SIGNIFICANT, UH, SUPREME COURT CASE, UH, WAS DECIDED, UH, SOUTH DAKOTA VERSUS WAYFAIR THAT HAS LED TO A NUMBER OF STATE LAWS, UH, REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS DECISION.

AND THIS WAS THE SHIFT IN RECOGNITION OF SALES TAX, UM, AND CHANGE THAT TO THE POINT OF DESTINATION RATHER THAN, UH, FROM SHIPPING.

UM, AT THE TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE IN LATE 2019.

WE BEGAN TO SEE THE EFFECTS JUST IN TIME FOR COVID TO HIT.

AND SINCE THAT TIME, TWO SIGNIFICANT FACTORS HAVE HAPPENED THERE AS BRICK AND MORTAR STORES HAVE SHUT DOWN.

PEOPLE HAVE SHIFTED THEIR SHOPPING TO AN ONLINE PRESENCE, WHICH HAS DEFINITELY AFFECTED HOW SALES TAXES COME IN, BUT ALSO WE'RE SEEING MIXED IN THERE THE WHERE WAYFAIR DECISION IMPACT AS WELL.

SO IT'S VERY HARD TO TEASE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT IS, BUT OUR WORKING ESTIMATE OF THE IMPACT OF THIS DECISION IS APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX TO THE CITY.

AND THEN OF COURSE, PROPOSITION J UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT IN THE PUBLIC, THIS WAS A VOTER APPROVED SALES TAX MEASURE PASSED IN 2008, AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL HALF CENT SALES TAX.

THIS MEASURE EXPIRES IN 2029, UM, AND IT REMAINS A CRITICAL SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS IN THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA IN 2022, WE'RE ANTICIPATING $10.9 MILLION

[00:40:02]

OF REVENUE FROM PROPOSITION J.

UM, THIS REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 13% OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES.

AND JUST TO PUT IT IN, IN SCOPE, UM, THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT IN 2022 OF 55 POLICE OFFICERS, OR ROUGHLY HALF THE UNIFORM POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO THE EQUIVALENT OF THREE ENTIRE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.

UM, JUST TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS MEASURE IS.

SO MOVING ALONG TO 2021, SPECIFICALLY, WHERE WE ANTICIPATE TO END THE YEAR FOR GENERAL FUND RESERVES, UM, AS I ALLUDED TO A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, UM, THE IMPACTS OF SALES TAX, EVERY TIME WE UPDATE NUMBERS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WE FEARED A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WE FEARED A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN FEARED.

AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT, UH, WE ADOPTED A BUDGET ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR OR THE CITY COUNCIL DID, UM, OF APPROXIMATELY ANTICIPATING APPROXIMATELY $23 MILLION IN SALES TAX.

AND CURRENTLY WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO EXCEED THAT, UM, BY APPROXIMATELY 8%, UM, SIMILAR THINGS FOR PROPOSITION J WE'RE ANTICIPATING A BEATING BUDGET BY CLOSE TO 4%, THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

UM, THIS IS STILL A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BUT IT HAS OCCURRED AS ANTICIPATED AND WE'VE HAD MINOR SOFTENING AND OUR OTHER REVENUE CATEGORIES, BOTTOM LINE FUND REVENUES, THEREFORE WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO TOTAL BOUT $75.7 BILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1.6 BETTER THAN BUDGETED, UM, A YEAR AGO OR 2.2%.

BUT ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS IS VERY MUCH WHAT WE REPORTED AND ANTICIPATED WHEN WE WERE IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THE MID-YEAR REPORT IN MARCH, UM, SALARY AND BENEFITS ARE MORE OR LESS ON BUDGET AT 100.2% OF BUDGET.

UM, BOTTOM LINE WE'RE ANTICIPATING SAVINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $800,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.

MOST OF WHICH IS HAPPENING IN THE MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES CATEGORY.

UM, WE'RE ONLY EXPECTING TO CONSUME APPROXIMATELY 95% OF THE BUDGET BY YEAR END.

SO OVERALL, UH, BOTTOM LINE, UH, 99% OF BUDGET OR $82.6 MILLION.

I WANT TO GO BACK ON THIS SLIDE A LITTLE BIT IF TIME PERMITS IN OUR NEXT MEETING AND DEPENDING ON HOW THIS CONVERSATION GOES, UM, I MAY COME BACK TO THIS AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE TRENDS ON THIS.

CAUSE IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING STORY TO WATCH HOW THE GENERAL FUND HAS PERFORMED OVER, SAY THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES WE'VE SEEN AS WELL AS THE SHORTFALLS AND HOW WE'RE STARTING TO RECOVER.

UM, DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THAT TODAY, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF GETTING AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT THERE, BUT WE MAY COME BACK AND DISCUSS THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SO TAKEN ALL TOGETHER.

THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS WHERE WE ANTICIPATE ENDING THE ENDING OF THE YEAR NET RESULT.

UM, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE.

UM, I WILL TRY TO BRING OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IT.

FIRST ON THE BUDGET COLUMN, WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH $48.8 MILLION IN TOTAL GENERAL FUND RESERVES.

WE ANTICIPATED REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY $74.1 MILLION AND ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES OF APPROXIMATELY $77.9 MILLION.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT DISCONNECT THERE BETWEEN REVENUES AND EXPENSES, THAT'S WHERE THE USE OF RESERVES COME IN.

AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE ANTICIPATING A USE OF RESERVES OF APPROXIMATELY $3.8 MILLION.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT I WANTED TO SEPARATE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE, THOSE TWO LINES FOR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES KIND OF REPRESENT OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

AND I WANTED TO PULL OUT THOSE TWO ITEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE NOT NORMAL OPERATIONS.

THERE ARE OF COURSE, THE TRANSFER TO THE CIP FUND OF APPROXIMATELY $3.2 MILLION, UH, FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

AND THEN WE TRANSFERRED $2 MILLION FROM RESERVES TO ESTABLISH THE PARS SECTION ONE 15 TRUST, WHICH WILL, I WILL GET TO AGAIN HERE IN A SECOND.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ESTIMATED COLUMN, NOW, THAT IS WHERE WE THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO END.

AND I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE LINES AGAIN, AND THESE ARE THE SAME BALANCES I JUST DISCUSSED WITH REVENUES OF $75.7 MILLION BEING 1.6 MILLION BETTER THAN BUDGETED AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, ANTICIPATING SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $840,000.

SO TAKING

[00:45:01]

THAT INTO TOTALITY, UM, THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT $2.4 MILLION BETTER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

SO INSTEAD OF CONSUMING THAT $3.8 MILLION OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES, WE'RE ONLY EXPECTING A HIT OF APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION AT FISCAL YEAR END.

CONTRACTING WITH OUTSIDE SERVICE PROVIDERS, SUCH AS EMS FOR, UH, UH, MEDICAL TRANSPORT, THE ANIMAL SHELTER STREET, SWEEPING CUSTODIAN SERVICES, AND A FEW OTHERS, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S JUST A, BEEN A GENERAL TREND OVER THE YEARS OF A SMALLER AND SMALLER WORKFORCE.

UM, THAT OF COURSE IS THE 2.2, WHEN THE 1.1 SAVINGS ON THE PERCENTAGE, THIS SLIDE KIND OF DETAILS THE SAME THING.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT JUST SHOWS HOW THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE, UH, BREAKS DOWN, UH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

UM, WE SEE A SLIGHT REBALANCING, UH, BETWEEN THE OPERATING RESERVE AND THE CARRY OVER RESERVE, THE REFLECTION OF THE, UH, CONSUMPTION OF RESERVE, AS WELL AS THE TRANSFER FROM THE, UH, GENERAL FUND RESERVE FOR THE CIP.

I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY TO THE RESERVE FOR UNFUNDED RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS.

THAT RESERVE BUCKET HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM EIGHT TO 6 MILLION, AND THAT OF COURSE IS TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO THE PARS ACCOUNT.

UM, FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN'T REALLY CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THAT RESERVES, BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT PERFORMS THAT SAME WAY.

IT'S RESTRICTED AND PURPOSE FOR EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL IS STILL HAS PRETTY WIDE DISCRETION ON HOW AND WHEN THAT IS USED.

SO I STILL THINK ABOUT IT LIKE RESERVES.

SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE 2022 PRELIMINARY BUDGET.

UM, THIS IS A TOTAL SPENDING PLAN OF APPROXIMATELY $191.3 MILLION.

UM, THE GENERAL FUND OF COURSE, IS THE BIGGEST CONSUMPTION OR THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF THIS AT $83.6 MILLION.

UM, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON EACH OF THE FUND TYPES.

UM, THE GENERAL FUND IS THE CITY'S PRIMARY OPERATING FUND.

THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES YOU ASSOCIATE WITH GOVERNMENT HAPPEN, YOUR POLICE SERVICE, YOUR FIRE SERVICE.

A LOT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ARE A UNIQUE CATEGORY OF FUNDS AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM.

UM, IN ORDER TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND HAS TO HAVE A UNIQUE REVENUE SOURCE, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE RESTRICTED IN PURPOSE.

SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WE CAN ONLY USE ON A SPECIFIC THING.

BEST EXAMPLE, HERE IS ARP MONEY, UH, CDBG MONEY GRANTS OF, OF OTHER SHORTS.

OUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS ARE MONIES THAT, UM, ARE SET ASIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

UM, WE'RE ANTICIPATING NEW MONEY OF APPROXIMATELY $12.2 MILLION TO THE CIP FUNDS APPEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR AT LEAST THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

UH, WE HAVE A DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DEBT SERVICE FUND IS A GOVERNMENTAL FUND THAT IS ESTABLISHED TO COLLECT MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE ISSUED PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS, AND THIS IS THE MECHANISM THAT WE USE TO COLLECT MONEY FROM THE OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND THEN MAKE OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE WASTEWATER FUND IS OUR SOLE ENTERPRISE FUND.

UH, THIS IS OUR, OUR WASTEWATER UTILITY.

UH, WE'RE ANTICIPATING A TOTAL BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $30.8 MILLION.

I'LL SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON EACH OF THESE HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.

AND THEN INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ARE THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT FUNDED BY TAXES, BUT ARE FUNDED BY FEES CHARGED TO INTERNAL CUSTOMERS.

SO THESE ARE OUR OWN GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES OR OUR OWN GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS SERVICING OTHER DEPARTMENTAL USERS.

SO ALL IN ALL THAT WE HAVE $191.3 MILLION PERSONNEL REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF ANY ANNUAL BUDGET.

UM, THIS ONE, THE 2022 PROPOSED IS NO DIFFERENT.

WE ARE PROPOSING 404 FTES.

UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM, THAT IS FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES.

UM, FOR IF YOU HAVE TWO HALF-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT COUNTS AS ONE FTE, UM, THE BUDGET INCLUDES 404 BUDGETED FTES, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING THE LARGEST WITH 188.

UM, FIRE IS THERE WITH 62.

I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS, THAT IS 250 OF THE 404 POSITIONS OR 62% ARE STAFF ASSOCIATED DIRECTLY WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, SAME INFORMATION LOOKED AT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.

THIS IS A 10 YEAR HISTORY OF FTE GROWTH.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE NUMBER AT THE TOP OF EACH BAR IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FTES.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT CREEP DOWN OVER THE YEARS, UM, THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

UH, MOST OF THE SIGNIFICANT JUMPS HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF OUTSOURCING SPECIFIC SURFACE SERVICES

[00:50:01]

UM, ALSO IF YOU NOTICE AT THE BOTTOM, THERE IS A CONSTANT MOVEMENT BETWEEN OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THAT'S USUALLY REFLECTIVE OF THE NATURE OF WORK WHEN WE'RE, FOR EXAMPLE, DOING MORE WASTEWATER WORK, YOU'LL SEE THAT SHIFT SHIFTING BODIES TO THE WASTEWATER FUND WHEN IT'S MORE GENERAL FUND TYPE WORK, YOU'LL SEE THEM SHIFT BACK.

SPEAKING OF THE GENERAL FUND AS THE LARGEST, UH, COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET, WE'LL START WITH THAT.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING TOTAL REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY $83.6 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2022.

UM, MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN A SIMILAR GRAPH THAT I LIKE TO SHOW THAT USUALLY CLUMPS, UH, THIS INTO TWO BIG CATEGORIES, PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX INTO ONE GIANT, PAC-MAN EATING A SMALL SLICE OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

UM, HOWEVER, I WANT TO START BREAKING THIS UP A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THAT PROP J SLICE AND THE SIZE OF THE PIE THAT THAT REPRESENTS.

HOWEVER, I THINK YOU CAN STILL SEE THAT THE TWO SALES TAX CATEGORIES AND PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

UH, ALSO, UH, TOTAL IS $83.6 MILLION PROPOSED.

UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IS THE BIGGEST WEDGE IN THE PIE AT, UH, $41.3 MILLION OR APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE GENERAL FUND, UH, BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE.

APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

ORDINARILY I WOULD DETAIL OUT THE GROWTH OF DEPARTMENTS YEAR TO YEAR BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.

I THINK GIVEN THE MEASURES THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE IN 2021 IN RESPONSE TO COVID MAKES THAT A LITTLE MISLEADING RIGHT NOW.

SO I WAS GOING TO PASS OVER THAT.

HOWEVER, I DID MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN THE AGENDA REPORT, LOOKING AT THE SAME INFORMATION, A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.

UH, THIS IS BY EXPENDITURE CATEGORY IN THE GENERAL FUND HERE, AGAIN, SAME $83.6 MILLION.

UM, BUT PERSONNEL COSTS SALARIES AND BENEFIT COSTS ARE APPROXIMATELY 66% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, BUT I WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE CHANGE.

WE SEE THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS ALSO AS THE RESULT OF THE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.

UM, THAT GREEN SLIVER IS USUALLY MUCH, MUCH SLOWER, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PAYING CALPERS DIRECTLY AS AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COSTS.

THOSE DOLLARS ARE NO LONGER CATEGORIZED AS SALARY AND BENEFITS, BUT ARE NOW SHOWING UP IN THE GREEN WEDGE AS, UH, TRANSFERS, IF YOU WERE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

UM, APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERSONNEL COST.

THIS SLIDE HAS PERHAPS THE, OF ALL THE LITTLE THINGS IN THE BUDGET I'M HAPPY ABOUT.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOST, THE ONE ITEM THAT I'M THE MOST PROUD OF IN THIS BUDGET.

AND IT'S THAT ZERO RIGHT ON THE PLANNED USE OF RESERVES.

UM, WE ANTICIPATE STARTING THE YEAR WITH APPROXIMATELY $42 MILLION IN RESERVES, AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING ENDING THE YEAR WITH $42.2 MILLION IN RESERVES.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE REVENUES EQUAL EXPENDITURES.

AND THAT IS A BALANCED BUDGET WITH NO PLANNED RESERVES.

AND I THINK GIVEN EVERYTHING THIS NATION, THIS WORLD, THIS CITY HAS BEEN THROUGH THE LAST 15 MONTHS, IF THIS, IF WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT THIS NUMBER, THAT MEANS WE HAVE MOVED THROUGH THIS EPISODE WITH ONLY USING $1.4 MILLION OF OUR RESERVES.

AND IT WAS MITCHELL.

MR. MITCHELL SAID, IT'S REALLY BEEN A TEAM EFFORT WITH EVERYONE CONTRIBUTING TO GET US THERE, HERE, AGAIN, SIMILAR TO A PREVIOUS SLIDE, THIS BREAKS DOWN WHERE WE ANTICIPATE THE INDIVIDUAL BUCKETS OF THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES.

UH, WE'RE ANTICIPATING AFTER RE CATEGORIZING, UH, THE 20% RESERVE TO BE AT $16.7 MILLION.

THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY RESERVE AT 6.5, THE RESERVE FOR UNFUNDED RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS AT SIX.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE CARRY OVER RESERVE AT 13 MONTHS, BRING TO THE WASTEWATER FUND OR ENTERPRISE FUND.

WE ARE PROPOSING A REVENUE BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $31.5 MILLION.

UH, THE MAJORITY OF THIS REVENUE IS BEING GENERATED BY CHARGES FOR SERVICES OR OUR SEWER BILLS.

UM, THE SEWER FUND DOES COLLECT MONIES IN A NUMBER OF OTHER WAYS, BUT CLEARLY THAT IS

[00:55:01]

THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE FUND IS CHARGES FOR SERVICES.

THE EXPENSE BUDGET AS PROPOSED IS $30.8 MILLION.

IF YOU NOTICE THAT IS NOT EQUAL TO THE REVENUE BUDGET.

AND ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF FUND IS THIS HAS BOTH OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND EXPENSES IN IT, EXCUSE ME.

UM, AND CIP TYPICALLY HAVE A DISCONNECT FOR TIMING BETWEEN THE REVENUES AND THE SPENDING OF THOSE REVENUES.

SO THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THAT OF THE GENERAL FUND OR EXCUSE ME, OF THE WASTEWATER, UH, BUDGET $30.8 MILLION.

APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THAT IS TIED TO THE ACTUAL, UH, UH, TRANSMISSION AND DISPOSAL OF THE WASTEWATER ITSELF.

UM, KEEPING THE SYSTEM OPERATING ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY $8.2 MILLION AND THEN MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM AND REPLACING OF EQUIPMENT AND ADDITIONAL $6.4 MILLION FOR OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

I'VE ONLY SHOWN THE TOP FIVE HERE.

THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND AT $30.4 MILLION.

UM, THE SECOND LARGEST IS OUR GAS TAX FUND.

MOST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IS IN OUR CIP FUNDS.

HOWEVER, THIS IS MORE FOR STREET MAINTENANCE THAN BUILDING MORE STREETS.

UM, $2.8 MILLION IS APPROPRIATE, OR WE PROPOSE TO BE APPROPRIATED FOR HOUSING PROJECT FUNDS CDB.

THE CDBG ENTITLEMENT IS AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 MILLION THIS YEAR.

AND OF COURSE THE MAGNOLIA, UH, PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, UH, IS PROPOSED AT $1.1 MILLION IN ANTICIPATION OF REOPENING.

UM, THE SOLE COMPONENT OF OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND IS OUR PENSION OBLIGATION FUND, WHICH IS ANTICIPATING COLLECTING AND THEN PAYING THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT OF $9.1 MILLION.

AND THESE ARE OUR SIX INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, UH, $2.2 MILLION APPROPRIATED FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, FLEET MAINTENANCE, $1.2 MILLION, A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT, AND IT'S TOO BIG AND TOO RED, NOT TO POINT IT OUT, BUT THAT DOES INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF ONE OF OUR AGING, UH, FIRE ENGINES AT APPROXIMATELY $760,000.

UM, ALSO OUR, OUR TWO SELF-INSURANCE FUNDS, UH, TRADITIONAL LIABILITY IN SELF-INSURANCE AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION AT 2.5 AND $1.5 MILLION, RESPECTIVELY, OUR IT, UH, SERVICES FUND 3.8 MILLION AND OUR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AT 1.1 MILLION.

WE, UH, PRESENT THE CIP, UH, PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN BY FUND.

UM, AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO PROJECT DRIVEN, WE TRY TO HAVE A PROJECT FOCUS ON THIS, UH, FOR 2022, UH, THERE'S THE PROPOSAL FOR SIX NEW PROJECTS.

THIS IS THE VERY NECESSARY, BUT MAYBE UNGLAMOROUS WORK THAT GOVERNMENT DOES.

UH, THE MAJORITY OF THIS WORK ARE STREET LIGHTS, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, UH, SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AS WELL AS A GATE REPLACEMENT IN OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS YARD INCLUDED WITH CIP OR A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING PROJECTS IN THE TRUST, UH, PROGRAM.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY SIX PROJECT AMENDMENTS PROPOSED THE LARGEST OF WHICH IS RELATED TO THE ALCOHOL AND TRANSIT CENTER.

THE CITY CIP PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS ARE PRIMARILY TIED TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FIRE TRAINING CENTER, UM, THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION WITH EACH FTA.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM INCLUDES A PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR THE FIRE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER.

AND THE WASTEWATER PROGRAM HAS FIVE PROPOSED PROJECT AMENDMENTS TOTALLING $4.8 MILLION WITH THE LARGEST OF WHICH BEING TIED TO WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.

SO AS MR. MITCHELL EXPLAINED, THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT TODAY, UM, IT IS TO OPEN THE DIALOGUE ON THE 2022 BUDGET.

UM, THERE ARE FOUR, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR ANY SPECIFIC ACTION OR MOTION.

UM, HOWEVER, THAT DOES CONCLUDE MY REPORT AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, ANGELA, DID THE RE RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS FOR THIS ITEM? YES, SIR.

WE DID.

WE HAVE EIGHT COMMENTS.

UM, THE FIRST ONE IS FROM IVAN AND DO HER, AND IT READS EAST COUNTY.

TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER SUPPORTS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND APPRECIATES THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS MADE BY OUR OFFICERS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BASKETBALL GAME REMATCH.

[01:00:02]

UM, AND THE NEXT COMMENT FROM DANIEL BICKFORD READS WITH THE UNREST WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, KEEPING ALCOHOL IN A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE BUDGET CONCERN RECENTLY AND ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL MAN HAD VOTED IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE WHILE ON CAMPAIGNS ON A CAMPAIGN STEP FOR HIS MAYORAL BID.

HE WATCHED AS THIS CAR WAS STOLEN BY A GROUP OF KIDS AGE EIGHT TO 12 YEARS OLD BLM DID NOT COME TO HIS RESCUE ON T4.

DIDN'T HELP THIS COUNCILMAN DIDN'T CALL A SOCIAL WORKER.

THE COUNCILMAN CALLED THE POLICE HOME LATER, RECOVERED HIS CAR, KEEP ALCOHOL SAFE SUPPORT THE ALCOHOL POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL IT HURTS.

NEXT COMMENT FROM S OSBORN.

IS THERE A WAY TO ADD FUNDING TO THE POLICE FOR USE IN ADDITIONAL TRAINING? I DON'T WANT TO SEE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OTHER CITIES HAPPEN HERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TRAIN OUR OFFICERS FROM MS. MICHAEL MILER.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF THE POLICE REACTING TO UNREST.

DO THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES READY IN CASE THE PROTESTS RETURNED THIS SUMMER? IF NOT, WHAT IS THE PLAN FROM SHARON MURPHY? I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR 60 YEARS, INCLUDING WORKING AT CHASE ELEMENTARY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE UCPD KNOWS HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THEM AND THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO ALL THEY DO FOR EACH OF US DAY AND NIGHT FROM JOSH TURNED CHIN.

WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE MOTION TO DEFUND THE POLICE AS A THIRD GENERATION BUSINESS OWNER IN OKLAHOMA.

THE CHALLENGE OF COMBATING MATERIAL THAT IS A NEVER ENDING BATTLE.

THE TRANSIENT AND DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIC SEEMS TO HAVE ACCELERATED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH MAKES IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAINTAIN A PROFITABLE, PROFITABLE OPERATION.

WE WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL POLICE SUPPORT IN OUR EFFORTS TO STEM THE LOSSES.

WE ROUTINELY SUFFERED DUE TO DEATHS, TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE OF OPERATING HOURS.

A REDUCTION IN POLICE SUPPORT COULD MEAN THE DEATH BLOW TO OUR 43 YEAR OLD ALCOHOLIC HEADQUARTERED BUSINESS.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

AND MR. TURCHIN IS THE PRECEDENT OWNER OF CALIFORNIA METALS DBA MILLER METALS.

I HAVE TWO MORE.

AND THIS COMMUNIST FROM STEPHANIE HARPER AND IT READS, I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR BUDGET.

WHAT MONEY HAS THE CITY GIVEN TO THE EAST COUNTY HOMELESS TASK FORCE? WHAT PROJECTS HAS OUR FUNDING HELP WITH THE LAST TIME I ATTENDED ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS, THEY WERE FUNDRAISING FOR SUCH THINGS AS A MOBILE SHOWER STATION.

THESE ARE SIMPLE INVESTMENTS.

THE CITY CAN MAKE WHAT WELLS PARK PROJECT DO YOU HAVE THE SPENDING GOING TOWARDS? I QUESTIONED THIS BECAUSE OF THE PAST 500,000 ALLOCATED FOR PHASE ONE AND ANOTHER 500,000 ALLOCATED FOR PHASE TWO OF WELLS PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

VERY FEW THINGS PROMISE FOR THOSE BUDGETS WERE CARRIED OUT.

NO ADA COMPLIANT BATHROOMS. IN FACT, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THE BATHROOM AT WELLS.

SINCE YOU ARE EXPECTED TO WASH YOUR HANDS WHERE YOU DRINK YOUR WATER FROM THAT IS A HEPATITIS B SCARE WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NO NEW PICNIC TABLES, NO NEWBORN WALK PATHS AND NO SPLASH PAD FOR OUR CHILDREN.

I DO NOT RECALL ANY MEETING WHERE ANY OF THIS MONEY WAS REALLOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ISN'T THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL BEFORE IT CAN BE ALLOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE NEED TO FINISH THE PROJECTS THAT WE START AND NOT TO MAKE PROMISES THAT WE CAN'T KEEP.

ALTHOUGH THIS LEAVE THE QUESTION OF WHERE THESE FUNDS ACTUALLY WENT.

LASTLY, A SUGGESTION, IS THERE A WAY WE COULD ALLOCATE SOME FUNDING TO HELPING OUT WITH LOW COSTS, CHECKUPS SHOTS, AND OTHER VETERINARIAN VISITS FOR OUR POOR CREDITORS IN OKLAHOMA, THE FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR NEEDS NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF US BUILDING THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

SO WE COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICES AT LOW COST FOR CITIZENS.

LET'S SHOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS.

AND THE LAST COMMENT FROM MARK MILLER READS, I NOTED IN YOUR AGENDA DISCUSSION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET.

I COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR RECOMMENDING, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE TO FILL ALL VACANT POLICE POSITIONS

[01:05:01]

AND IMPLEMENT COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

MY INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE IN OKLAHOMA HAVE SHOWN THEM TO BE COMPLETELY PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

JUST LOOK AT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE DEFENDED THE POLICE, AND YOU WILL SEE A MARKED INCREASE IN CRIMES AND HOMICIDES.

WE DO NOT NEED THAT IN OUR REGION.

POLICE HAVE AT TIMES A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS JOB AND SERVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.

I ASKED ALL COUNCIL PERSONS TO SUPPORT FILLING ALL VACANT POLICE POSITIONS AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPENSATION INCREASE FOR POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE COMMENT.

AND THAT'S THE END OF ALL COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, ANGELA.

UH, ONE THING THAT I BELIEVE IN IS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY GIVEN THAT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET AND THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT IS DETERMINED BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

I, I TRUST HIS EXPERTISE AND, UH, HIS ABILITIES, UH, GRAHAM, UH, HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT? WELL, AS YOU SAW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

SO WE WOULD, IF THAT WERE THE DIRECTION, WE WOULD NEED TO FIND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SOMEPLACE IN THE BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

UM, AND THERE CERTAINLY IS ALWAYS A NEED IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S A NEED.

AND TALKING TO THE CHIEF ABOUT IS I TALKED TO EACH OF THE DIRECTORS ABOUT IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, CHIEF MOLTEN IS BROUGHT UP IS WE COULD USE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME DEESCALATION TRAINING, ADDITIONAL DEESCALATION TRAINING, AND SOME, UH, LESS THAN LETHAL TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE EXISTING TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE.

SO THAT WOULD BE HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS IF THAT WAS THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION.

BUT I WOULD, IF THAT WERE THE DIRECTION, STAFF WOULD NEED TO FIND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM ANOTHER, UM, AREA COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS ON THAT, MICHELLE? YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, KEVIN KENDRICK, THAT WE SHOULD ADD TO THE BUDGET, BUT AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME AS MR. MITCHELL INDICATED THAT WE NEED TO FIND THAT MONEY SOMEPLACE ELSE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAN BE BOUND.

UM, BUT I'M SURE THAT THE CHIEF COULD FIND SOME REALLY GOOD TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OUR GUYS.

AND I HAVE FOUR COMPETENCE THAT HE WOULD UTILIZE THE MONEY JUDICIOUSLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE MONEY FOR THAT.

SO I AGREE WITH MR. KENDRICK, BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH MR. MITCHELL.

SO I DON'T KNOW, I'M KIND OF STUCK IN THE MIDDLE, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER GOEBEL.

IF YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ON THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES, MAYBE THE FIFTH OR SIXTH SLIDE, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INCREASE IN REGULAR SALES TAX AND PROP J UM, YEAH.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GROWTH OF APPROXIMATELY 8% IN BASE SALES FASTER, WHY DON'T THEY GO TOGETHER? OKAY.

THEY'RE VERY CLOSELY RELATED, BUT THEY DO APPLY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY AS FAR AS BASE.

THE ONE THING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COUNTER TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS, BUT BECAUSE THE PRO J IS AN ADDITIONAL DISTRICT TAX THAT EXCEEDS WHAT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE, WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE IT THROUGH USE TAX.

WHEREAS A LOT OF TIMES, IF OTHER AGENCIES ARE COLLECTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF SALES TAX, WE DO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO PRO PROPOSITION J BY ITS VERY NATURE ALLOWS US TO, TO CAPTURE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN REGULAR SALES TAX.

BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS WE ANTICIPATED HIGHER GROWTH WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET FOR PROP J THAN WE DID IN REGULAR SALES TAX.

SO I THINK THIS IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF NOT TRUE, STRONGER GROWTH, BUT RATHER A DIFFERENCE IN THE ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE.

LAST YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE SPENT THIS MUCH ON PERS THIS MUCH.

UM, I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE PERHAPS AT THE JUNE 22ND MEETING, SOME TYPE OF TABLE REGARDING THE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS AND THE DEBT SERVICE, I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW.

SO YOU DID THIS, WHAT'S THE OUTCOME.

I MEAN, WE HEARD THE BIG NUMBER.

WE'RE GOING TO SAVE $170 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, BUT HOW'S THAT HOW'S THAT AFFECT THE BUDGET YEAR TO YEAR? I THINK JUST KIND OF A

[01:10:01]

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MUCH ON PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.

IT'S A CHANGE OF THIS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TABLE TO HAVE AT SOME POINT, PROBABLY WE'RE GOING TO GET CHALLENGED BY THE PUBLIC, ON OUR RESERVES TO COME THROUGH COVID-19 AND ONLY HAVE TO USE A MILLION AND A HALF OF RESERVES IS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND I CAN SEE THE SOME POINT, THE PUBLIC WILL SAY, YOU GUYS ARE SITTING ON A LOT OF RESERVES AND YOU PEOPLE.

AND SO, UH, I WOULD SAY TO MR. KENDRICK'S THING, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, LET'S TAKE IT OUT OF RESERVES BECAUSE DEESCALATION TRAINING IS NOT AN ONGOING PERIODIC EXPENSE.

IT'S IT MIGHT BE A ONE-TIME EXPENSE.

UH, AND THEN YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO CONTINUE IT AND ANY, UH, CAPITAL OUTLAYS FOR LESS THAN LETHAL DEVICES WOULD BE A ONE-TIME EXPENSE.

ALSO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE OF RESERVES.

I HATE TO USE RESERVES FOR PROGRAMMATIC EXPENSES VERSUS ONE-TIME EXPENSES.

UH, AND SO THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

THE PUBLIC TALKED ABOUT PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENDITURES.

UH, I W WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, MR. GLOBAL, IF I COULD, UH, EXCUSE ME, I, IF I CAN RESPOND TO THAT SECOND POINT ABOUT THE NOT TOUCHING THE RESERVES.

UM, AS I RECALL, WHEN WE WERE ABOUT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, WE WERE LOOKING AT A PROPOSED DEFICIT IN THE GENERAL FUND, OR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND $8 MILLION.

WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THIS, THIS EPISODE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE FOR A GREAT LENGTH OF TIME.

WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DEPLETING RESERVES TOO QUICKLY.

AND WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS SPLITTING THE BABY FOR THE 21 BUDGET.

AND WE, WE CLOSED THAT GAP BY A COMBINATION OF CUTS AND, UH, A MODEST USE OF RESERVES.

SO IT'S NOT THAT WE WERE AFRAID TO USE RESERVES.

WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO RISK BURNING IT OUT IN THE FIRST YEAR AND HALF.

THIS HAPPENED FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO LET'S JUST BE CAUTIOUS.

AND IF I THINK I REMEMBER YOU SAID OUR NET USE OF RESERVES WAS A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.

ONE OF THE KEY DECISIONS THE COUNCIL MADE LAST YEAR WAS TO NOT FREEZE EMPLOYEE COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR ALL CITY STAFF.

WE SAID, WE WILL USE RESERVES IF WE HAVE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RETAIN THE TALENT THAT WE NEED GOING FORWARD.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT A USE OF A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS PROBABLY EQUATES TO, UH, GIVING EVERYBODY THEIR, THEIR DO RAISES AND, AND APPROPRIATELY.

AND AS A RESULT, WE RETAIN TALENT.

AND THAT WAS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF RESERVES COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ, A QUICK QUESTION, UM, TOUCHING ON THE SUBJECT YOU TWO WERE JUST DISCUSSING WITH REGARD TO OUR USE OF RESERVES 1.5 MILLION AND THE ARP FUNDS.

ARE WE NOT ABLE TO USE ARP FUNDS TO FULFILL THAT 1.5 MILLION BECAUSE WE HAVE A RESERVE? IS THAT HOW IT WORKS? THAT'S A LITTLE BIT STICKY TO ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY.

THE ARP, AS I UNDERSTAND, IT INCLUDES A LANGUAGE THAT SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS AGENCIES FROM USING THIS FUNDING SOURCE TO BUILD RESERVES.

HOWEVER, IT ALSO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES REVENUE REPLACEMENT FOR REVENUE WE'VE LOST DURING THAT PERIOD.

THAT SEEMS TO BE KIND OF CONFLICTING GUIDANCE ON THAT.

UM, I THINK, AND WE'LL, I'M SURE WE'LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THIS IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

UM, BUT I THINK THE PURPOSE IS TO STEP UP OUR GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT WERE IMPACTED DURING THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THAT MONEY IS GOING TO EQUATE TO SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH RESERVES.

AS A CITY? IS THERE A STANDARD, A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT WE SHOULD HAVE FOR OUR SIZE? YES AND NO.

THANK YOU, MICHELLE.

SO MR. GOBLE TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH WHEN HE MENTIONED THE RESERVE FUND.

AND I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE.

THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING FOR DEESCALATE DEESCALATION TRAINING.

THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING FOR NON-LETHAL TRAINING.

AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE PROACTIVE IN DOING THAT.

UM, AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF OUR RESERVES IS I KNEW IT'S BIG MONEY FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN, BUT I THINK A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF RESERVE COULD BE UTILIZED VERY NICELY.

AND THAT'S MY IDEA.

AND I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY HERE, PHIL, WHAT, WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT AND RESERVES THAT WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD BE RETAINING

[01:15:01]

UM, THE THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION DOES HAVE A, UH, BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE ON THE SUBJECT.

UM, AND IT RECOMMENDS THAT A MINIMUM AGENT AGENCIES SHOULD MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF TWO MONTHS OF EITHER REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES, BUT THEY HAVE A GIGANTIC CAVEAT RELATED TO THAT.

AND IT'S BASICALLY EVERY AGENCY'S DIFFERENT.

AND DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT AGENCY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE, UM, FOR OUR AGENCY, WHICH IS SO HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON SALES TAX, WE'RE VERY VULNERABLE TO SWINGS IN THE ECONOMY.

SO THEREFORE THAT WOULD BE A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT TO MAYBE MAINTAIN HIGHER RESERVES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A RESERVE SPECIFICALLY, THE 20% RESERVE THAT WE MAINTAIN.

SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO ENTER INTO SHORT TERM BORROWINGS FOR, TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, A LOT OF AGENCIES WILL BORROW MONEY, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE OUR REVENUE IS BACK LOADED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE WORKING CAPITAL, THE 20% RESERVE PROVIDES.

SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE TRAINING OR, OR ONE-TIME COST FOR NON-LETHAL WELLS WITHOUT, WITHOUT ANY WORRY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT HEALTHY RESERVE THAT WE NEED WITH THIS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE'RE WE'RE DISCUSSING.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE VERY HEALTHY RESERVE BALANCES WITH, OR WITHOUT THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I THINK THAT TAKING THE $100,000 OUT OF RESERVES IS GOOD BUSINESS BECAUSE WITH THIS, A DEESCALATION TRAINING COULD SAVE LIVES, AVOID LAWSUITS.

WE MIGHT SAVE, WE COULD SAVE THAT IN JUST THE ATTORNEY'S FEES ON LAWSUITS, SORRY, MORGAN.

BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S MONEY REALLY WELL SPENT AND TO USE THE OLD ADAGE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST MONEY WELL SPENT, YOU KNOW, JUST PENNIES COMPARED TO WHAT IT COULD COST US, IF THINGS GO WRONG AND IT HELPS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC PEACE.

AND IT SHOWS THE WORLD WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS A NASH NATIONAL SITUATION HERE.

AND, UH, EVERYBODY WINS IN, IN THIS, NO POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO HURT SOMEBODY IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

AND, UH, THIS COULD GO A LONG WAY INTO MAKING THIS A BETTER PLACE.

SO, UH, AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HERE MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS ON IT.

SO I, I THINK, UH, WE SHOULD TAKE THIS OUT OF RESERVES.

HOW DOES THE POLICE CHIEF FEEL ABOUT THIS, SIR? IS THAT A THUMBS UP FROM YOU OR, I MEAN, MS. MITCHELL, I TALKED TO HIM EARLIER TODAY AND THAT, THAT WAS HIS RECOMMENDATION ACTUALLY.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, I'LL JUST, I GOTTA CHIME IN HERE.

I HOPE THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THAT, UM, ADDING SOME MONEY TO THE BUDGET FOR DEESCALATION TRAINING DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT NOW.

AND IN FACT, IF YOU WERE TO GO TO P TWO RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL SEE AT THE PARKING STRUCTURE LEVEL TWO, YOU'LL SEE A LARGE AREA OF IT CURRENTLY CORDED OFF IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING DEESCALATING TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

I WATCHED SOME OF IT TODAY.

SO, UM, IT'S SOMETHING, THAT'S AN ONGOING THING THAT WE DO, WE TRAIN ALL THE TIME ON IT.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY TO THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL, IF, IF YOU DIDN'T THINK WE WERE DOING THAT ALREADY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT'S HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

UH, DO YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE? UH, GRAHAM, OKAY.

NO, THIS IS GREAT FEEDBACK.

WE CAN TAKE THIS AND BRING FORWARD A FINAL PACKAGE FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION NEXT MEETING, MR. SHANE, VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

AND I'LL SAY, UM, WE'RE DOING THIS DEESCALATING TRAINING ALL WEEK.

SO IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED CONTACT ME AND I CAN ARRANGE A TIME FOR YOU TO COME IN AND WATCH SOME OF IT AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

[6. American Rescue Plan Act - Eligible Use of Funds & Current Programs Update RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council provides direction regarding possible uses of American Rescue Plan Act funds.]

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT ITEM SIX IS FOR THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLANS ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS.

I'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

[01:20:01]

UM, MR. DEPUTY MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, I HAVE A CLICKER RIGHT THERE.

GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF PROJECTS, ONE WAS WE LOOKED AT THE 900 PLUS RESPONSES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM IS REALLY TO GO OVER KIND OF A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO, AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS THE INTERIM RULE HAD JUST COME OUT AND WE WERE TRYING TO READ THROUGH THE 151 PAGE DOCUMENT, UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WAS ALLOWED, WHAT WAS NOT ALLOWED SINCE THEN, SOME MORE CLARIFICATION HAS COME DOWN FROM THE US TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

AND SO TODAY WE WOULD REALLY WANT TO JUST DIVE INTO, I NEED TO TURN IT ON ON, ALL RIGHT, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ELIGIBLE USES.

SOME OF WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS RE CRITERIA FOR HOW THE COUNCIL WERE TO CONSIDER TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS IS $30 MILLION, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE CURRENT PROGRAMS OF MONEY YOU'VE ALLOCATED.

AND THEN AS PART OF THE STAFF REPORT, WE'VE INCLUDED SOME SUGGESTIONS ON FUTURE ALLOCATIONS.

WE'RE HOPING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WE CAN BRING THAT BACK FOR A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL.

SO AS MR SHANE SAID THAT MONEY IS, IS IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S IN NO CATEGORIES, NO ABILITY TO APPROPRIATE OR SPEND THOSE MONIES UNTIL THAT, THAT ACTION OCCURS.

SO, UM, REALLY QUICKLY THE ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES SIMPLY THEY CAN BE USED TO MITIGATE COVID-19 OR ANY RELATED RESPONSE, ANY EXPENSES TO THE RESPONSE OF.

SO IF WE HAD OPENED UP DAYCARE CENTERS OR VACCINATION CENTERS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD GET REIMBURSED FOR MUCH OF THE REIMBURSEMENT OR MUCH OF THE ACTIVITIES WE DID IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEEK FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.

SO, UM, UH, MOST OF THAT HAS BEEN REIMBURSABLE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS, PROBABLY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF UNREIMBURSABLE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND UTILIZING THIS FUND FOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS MADE WHOLE, UM, ONE OF THE MOST, I WOULD SAY GENEROUS OR PERHAPS, UM, MOST OPEN CATEGORY IS TO ASSIST HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED OUR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY IMPACTED BY COVID-19.

SO THAT'S PRETTY BROAD.

WE THINK THAT COVERS A WIDE VARIETY OF, UM, ITEMS, A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.

WE THINK IT CAN COVER QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, HAVE SOME DIRECT IMPACT ON, ON SPECIFIC BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDS, BUT CAN ALSO HAVE A GENERAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS WELL.

THERE'S ALSO, THE OTHER, ANOTHER CATEGORY IS REPLACING PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE.

WE HAD A LITTLE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT, UM, IF THE WERE DOWN, LET'S SAY $10 MILLION, WHICH WE HAD ANTICIPATED INITIALLY THAT THAT $10 MILLION JUST CAN'T BE BANKED INTO THE CITY'S COFFERS.

IT HAS TO BE PUT BACK OUT IN CITY SERVICES.

AND SO WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS RATHER THAN ONGOING CITY SERVICES THAT WE UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR, FOR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT, UM, TYPICALLY DOESN'T GET FUNDED YEAR AFTER YEAR.

CAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT HAS, DOESN'T HAVE A REALLY STRONG, DIRECT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY HAS A REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, IMPACT ON THE CITY'S ABILITY TO BE EITHER FISCALLY SOUND OR TO FULFILL THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'LL ADDRESS SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THAT.

THE ANOTHER AREA OF ELIGIBILITY IS PAYMENT FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS HERE IN LIES THE CHALLENGE.

IT DOESN'T SAY MUNICIPAL SERVICE, ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

IT JUST SAYS ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

IT'S PRETTY BROAD.

AND IN FACT, I THINK I CALCULATED, UH, OVER 40 DIFFERENT JOB CATEGORIES.

AND IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THOSE CATEGORIES WITHIN EACH, THERE'S PROBABLY OVER HUNDREDS OF CATEGORIES OF FOLKS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BUSINESS OR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE NOT UTILIZE THE, UM, ARPA FUNDS FOR THIS CATEGORY.

WE THINK IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, IT'S COMPLEX, AND WE THINK THERE'S OTHER POTENTIAL USES THAT WOULD BENEFIT HAVE A GREATER WIDER, BROADER BENEFIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THE LAST IS TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ARPA IS PRETTY CLEAR WHEN IT IDENTIFIES INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S NOT FOR CITY HALL BUILDINGS.

IT'S NOT TO REPLACE THE VIDEO EQUIPMENT IN HERE, BUT IT'S REALLY FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION FOR CLEAN WATER, STORM, WATER, AND SEWAGE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THAT AS WELL.

WHEN WE WERE

[01:25:01]

AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WE PRESENTED THOSE A FEW MEETINGS AGO AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF GREAT NUGGETS IN THERE.

AND I THINK IT GAVE US AN IDEA OF TRENDS AND, UH, AREAS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED SPENDING IN.

UM, SOME OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH HOMELESSNESS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE DIVERTED A LOT OF MONEY FROM, UH, COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO HOMELESS.

IN FACT, THE MAJORITY OF OUR LAST COVID CVG MONIES ALL WENT TOWARDS HOMELESS PROGRAMMING.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY RECOMMENDING NO FUNDS FROM THE 30 MILLION BE ALLOCATED FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMMING.

WE, UM, WE BELIEVE THAT ONE-TIME FUNDS REALLY SHOULD MEAN ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.

SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK BACK A GENERATION FROM NOW AND SAY, WE DID THAT WITH THAT MONEY.

IT FULFILLS A COMMUNITY NEED.

AND THIS GETS BACK TO, I THINK MR. ORTIZ'S IDEA, WE COULD GET EVERYBODY AN IPAD IN THE CITY THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE NICE, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T FULFILL A COMMUNITY NEED.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S A VALUE OF HAVING THOSE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS DONE.

UH, IT STRENGTHENS THE CITY'S FISCAL POSITION.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, YOU'LL SEE HOW THAT TIES IN.

IT COMPLIMENTS THE CITY'S CURRENT MISSION.

AND I THINK THERE'S, UM, WE DO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS, BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS WE JUST DON'T DO.

WE DON'T DO.

UM, WE DON'T DO OUR OWN TRANSIT FOR EXAMPLE.

SO I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND WE START A TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH THESE FUNDS.

I THINK WE, WE FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE WE DO WELL, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN HAVING SOME EQUITY IN HOW THE MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED.

SO, UM, UH, UPDATE ON OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE FIRST FOUR, A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.

WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE MOST LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE WAY TO ASSIST OUR BUSINESSES THROUGH THE BUSINESS LICENSE PROGRAM.

SO THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

AND, UH, AS I INDICATED, THE COUNCIL HAD RESERVED ABOUT $10 MILLION OR ALLOCATED $10 MILLION FOR REDUCED REVENUE.

WE THINK IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MUCH LESS THAN THAT.

BASED ON THE REPORT YOU JUST HEARD, IT'LL PROBABLY BE AROUND THE MORE $6.5 MILLION RANGE.

SO IT DOES FREE UP SOME MONEY IN THE FUTURE.

SO QUICKLY ON THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS, IT'S BEEN OPEN APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WE'VE HAD 63 APPLICANTS.

UH, 34 GRANTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS OF LITERALLY AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO OR TWO HOURS AGO NOW.

UH, AND WE'VE DISTRIBUTED A LITTLE OVER $300,000.

THIS IS LESS THAN 10% OF, OF WHAT THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SENT DIRECT EMAILS TO FOLKS THAT HAVE BUSINESS LICENSES WITH THE CITY.

WE SPOKE TO THE CHAMBER YESTERDAY.

WE'RE HOPING TO HELP UTILIZE THEIR ASSISTANCE TO GET THE WORD OUT.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'RE HOPING THAT BUSINESSES ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THESE FUNDS.

WHEREAS THE LAST TIME IT WAS JUST MONEY, RIGHT? AND THIS ONE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE SOME STRATEGIC DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE AS PART OF THIS.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THAT'S OCCURRING, BUT I THINK AS TIME GOES ON, THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO MODIFY THE PROGRAM BASED ON PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM.

UH, WE ARE, THE COUNCIL IS ALLOCATED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP REDUCE BARRIERS TO RECEIVE THOSE THAT WOULD LIKE A VACCINE.

SO WE'VE CREATED A WEBSITE IT'S UP AND RUNNING.

WE'VE.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE A HOTLINE AND A STAFF PERSON THAT IS AT THAT HOTLINE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM.

UH, WE'VE SUPPORTED SEVERAL COMMUNITY VACCINATION EVENTS, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE COMING UP.

WE'RE DEVELOPING A DOOR HANGER IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY TARGET CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S LOW VACCINATION RATES, LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE.

AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, MEALS ON WHEELS, ELDER HELP TO IDENTIFY SENIORS THAT WANT THE VACCINE, BUT ARE HOME BOUND AND CAN'T GET OUT AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THE VACCINE DIRECTLY TO THEM.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS AS PART OF THE REDUCING THE BARRIERS PROGRAM, UH, DOLLAR DAYS IS SUPER SUCCESSFUL.

THE STAFF REPORT DOES HAVE A TYPO.

IT SAYS WE'VE EXPENDED 31% OF THE FUNDS.

WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT YET, BUT WE HAVE SPENT, UM, WE'RE ESTIMATING ALMOST $60,000 WORTH OF, OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT FOR A MERE $673.

CAUSE WE'VE COLLECTED $673 IN $1 BILLS.

AND, UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ENERGY BEHIND THIS.

MR. CARSON SENT ME A PICTURE, UH, FROM THE LAST WEEKEND OF ALL THE BANK ENVELOPES REALLY THICK FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT SITES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND REGISTERING AND PAYING THEIR DOLLAR

[01:30:01]

AND GETTING INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS. I THINK IT IS FULFILLING THE GOAL THAT THE COUNCIL HAD.

IT'S HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ENERGIZING, OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENTS AND OUR STAFF IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

UM, THE LAST THING I WANTED TO REPORT ON IS WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE FOODIE FEST IDEA, UH, THE, UH, HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERS GROUP AND ST.

MADELINE SOPHIE TO HELP MANAGE AND ORGANIZE THE PROGRAM.

THE IDEA IS THAT THE CHAMBER WOULD HANDLE THE FOOD.

UH, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP WOULD HANDLE THE ENTERTAINMENT AND ST.

MADS WOULD HANDLE THE, UM, CRAFT BOOTHS AND CITY BOOTHS AND ALL THE OTHER INFORMATIONAL BOOSTS HAVE A BIG DAY IN SEPTEMBER.

AND IDEALLY WE'RE WORKING WITH LIVE NATION TO TRY TO BOOK A CONCERT THAT NIGHT.

AND SO IT CAN KIND OF END WITH, WITH BRINGING A WHOLE BUNCH OF VISITORS TO ALCOHOL SAMPLE FOOD, AND THEN PARTIES PARTICIPATE IN A CONCERT.

UM, SO THE VERY END OF THE STAFF REPORT INCLUDES A MATRIX RIGHT HERE THAT HAS A LIST OF, OF DIFFERENT PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING.

UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE REALLY POSSIBLE AREAS.

AND STAFF IS LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ABOUT THESE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT LESS THAN 5% OF THE FUNDS BE USED FOR COVID RESPONSE AND MITIGATION, THE MAJORITY OF THAT RESPONSE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.

THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO INVEST ADDITIONAL MONIES IN THAT AREA.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING LESS THAN 10% AND BE INVESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND, THAT 20% OF IT BE ALLOCATED FOR, UM, REPLACING LOST REVENUE AND THAT THE MAJORITY ALMOST 70% REALLY BE DIRECTED BACK TOWARDS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BACK TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR HOUSEHOLDS IN BENEFITING THEM WITH QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS AND DIRECT BUSINESS PROGRAMS. SO I'LL KIND OF RUN THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICKLY, UM, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM.

ALL, SOME OF THEM WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, WE THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, IN THE ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES, TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THE UPGRADES, TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WE UTILIZE OUR REC CENTERS AS AN EVACUATION CENTER AS THERE'S FIRES IN EAST COUNTY, BUT NONE OF OUR REC CENTERS HAVE HVAC IN THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WOULD BE LIVING.

AND SO THERE'S REALLY SOME VALUE TO CREATE COOL ZONES FOR THOSE LIVING ON THE VALLEY FLOOR AND, UH, DECENT, SAFE, AND COMFORTABLE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE EVACUATED.

SO PUTTING IN JUST TWO HVAC SYSTEMS AND OUR REC CENTERS WOULD HAVE A BIG VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO HAVE, I ALSO THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME PARK AMENITIES, UM, PICKLEBALL AT MANY OF OUR, OUR PARKS SOCCER COURTS AT WELLS PARK.

UH, WE THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, IN ADDITION TO THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM TO CONTRIBUTE ANOTHER THREE PLUS MILLION DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

IN FACT, UH, MR. DEMOSS, YOU AND I MET EARLIER TODAY WITH A DEVELOPER AND WE THOUGHT THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEVERAGE OUR VERY FEW DOLLARS TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THERE'S A REAL BIG PAYOFF TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL NOT ONLY BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WILL ALSO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY'S COFFERS THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THINGS LIKE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

UM, WE ALSO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE HEAR A LOT OF FOLKS SAY THAT THEY WISH WE WOULD, THAT SOCIETY SHOULD DEPLOY SOCIAL WORKERS TO, UH, PEOPLE IN CRISIS RATHER THAN POLICE OFFICERS.

AND THE REALITY IS THERE MAY BE SOME VALUE THERE, BUT IT'S A BIG GAMBLE AND IT'S AN EXPENSIVE GAMBLE.

AND IT'S USUALLY A GAMBLE AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DON'T HAVE JUST SUPERFLUOUS FUNDS KICKING AROUND TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY USE A MERE HALF, A MILLION DOLLARS TO RUN AN EXPERIMENT, A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT, AND SEE IF THAT PROGRAM WOULD WORK.

AND IF IT WORKS THAT COULD ACTUALLY SAVE THE, THE CITY, UM, MONEY INTO THE FUTURE.

AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE HAVE THE DATA TO SUPPORT THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T WORK.

SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF HALF, A MILLION DOLLARS TO RUN A PILOT PROGRAM AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME VALUE THERE.

UM, IN TERMS OF REPLACING THE REVENUE, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE REINVEST THAT BACK IN THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

OUR CITIES NETWORK IS SOMETHING THAT GETS NEGLECTED YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND BECAUSE OF IT, I, I W I KNOW OUR IT DIRECTOR WORRIES THAT WE BECOME MORE, MORE VULNERABLE TO CYBER ATTACKS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO THERE'S SOME VALUE OF UPGRADING OUR NETWORK CAPACITY.

THERE'S ALSO

[01:35:01]

SOME VALUE IN INITIATING PHASE TWO OF A LARGE SOLAR AND BATTERY PROJECT.

SO, YOU KNOW, MR. SHANE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE $3 MILLION THAT COUNCIL ALLOCATED A FEW MEETINGS AGO OR A FEW WEEKS AGO.

UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING FORWARD AN RFP SHORTLY ON PHASE ONE, BUT IF WE GET PARLAY AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION, WE COULD CREATE A CITY THAT IS, UM, FAR MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WILL SAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UTILITIES COSTS EVERY YEAR.

SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, AGAIN, REINVEST BACK INTO OUR CITY, PUT IT BACK INTO PUBLIC SAFETY, PUT IT BACK INTO PROGRAMS FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST AND UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE, WE WOULD RECOMMEND AN ADDITIONAL, UH, $2.3 MILLION TO PUSH BROADBAND OUT TO ALL OF OUR PARKS.

WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS ONE CREATE OUR PARKS AS ZONES, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET FREE INTERNET NUMBER ONE, BUT TWO, IT ALLOW US TO HAVE FIBER THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT WE COULD THEN RENT OR LEASE OR SELL TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND SO WE WOULD GENERATE REVENUE OFF OF THAT AS WELL.

SO WE WOULD GET THE BENEFIT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE WOULD ALSO GET SOME REVENUE ON THE BACKSIDE.

SO WE THINK THAT THIS PLAN FORWARD AGAIN, VERY, VERY BROAD, UM, PROPOSAL MEETS A LOT OF THE NEEDS THAT THE COUNCILS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

RECENTLY.

WE THINK IT HITS ON THE POINTS THAT THE PUBLIC BROUGHT UP DURING THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP.

WE THINK IT WILL GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY, AND IT'S SOME AREAS OF INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT, OR WE'VE FRANKLY, NEGLECTED YEAR AFTER YEAR, AS WE HIT TIGHT BUDGETS AFTER TIGHT BUDGETS.

AND AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF IT REALLY GETS PUSHED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS BENEFIT.

SO WITH THAT, UM, STAFF SEEKS COUNCIL'S INPUT ON, UM, DO YOU LIKE THIS LIST? ARE THERE MODIFICATIONS TO IT? ARE THERE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING BACK, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK AT LEAST IN THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS, AND IF THERE'S VERY FEW CHANGES, WE WOULD BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING, UM, A FINALIST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.

SO WE CAN ACTUALLY START TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE IDEAS.

SO WITH THAT STAFF IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THE, UH, ECONOMIC IMPACT TO HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES.

UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT, UM, WE HAVE THE WEBSITE, UM, WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, OUT THERE ABOUT, UM, DO YOU NEED HELP WITH PAYING RENT BUSINESS GRANTS? I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO DON'T HAVE INTERNET.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE CABLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS, WHEN YOU'RE USING JUST THE ANTENNA, UM, YOU GET A LOT OF STATIONS AND LIKE, HOW DO WE PLAN ON GETTING, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OUT TO THESE HOUSEHOLDS THAT, HEY, ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH YOUR RENT PAYMENT BECAUSE YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT HOW ARE WE GETTING OUT TO THE PUBLIC JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE SOME OF THESE, UM, SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, OR THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

SAME THING WITH BUSINESSES.

I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME, UM, SOME SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET, OR, UM, MAYBE THERE THERE'S A LANGUAGE BARRIER.

HOW ARE WE GETTING THAT OUT TO THEM OTHER THAN SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND OUT GOOD POINT? WE, WE RELY HEAVILY ON AUTOMATIC OR EMAILS, UM, OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET THE WORD OUT, THAT'S THE CHEAPEST WAY TO PUSH INFORMATION OUT, BUT IT DOES MISS A CERTAIN POPULATION.

ONE OF THE GOALS THAT THE COUNCIL HAD AS YOU RECALL, IS TO LOOK AT, UM, WAYS THAT ARE WE COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

IN FACT, MR. RICHARDS HAS BEEN HOLDING A FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO COMMUNICATE.

I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DOING AS MUCH AS WE COULD DO.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THERE WAS A LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT THAT WAS A TRULY LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND WE PUBLISH OUR GATEWAY, BUT THAT COMES OUT ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR, AND IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE AND TO MAIL.

UM, AND FRANKLY WE DON'T, WE'VE NEVER MEASURED THE RETURN OF THAT.

WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW OFTEN IT'S RED OR WELL, IT'S RED.

SO I CAN, I DON'T HAVE A GREAT ANSWER FOR YOU, BUT, UM, WE HAVE RELIED ON ELECTRONIC FORMS, BUT THAT PROBABLY IS MISSING A LARGE PART OF OUR POPULATION.

IF THERE'S, IF COUNCIL HAS IDEAS OF OTHER

[01:40:01]

WAYS, WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO THAT.

WELL, IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN ALCOHOL.

IT WOULD TAKE WALKING THE STREETS, I THINK, OR MAYBE, UM, COORDINATING MEETINGS WITH PASTORS, ALL THE PASTORS IN ALCOHOL.

AND I THINK THERE'S A COALITION OF PASTORS.

I'M NOT SURE ON THE VALLEY FLOOR, UM, THAT MAYBE WE COULD WORK THROUGH THEM AND GET SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OUT, UH, TO THEIR, UM, CONGREGANTS OR SOME OF THESE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD GO DOOR TO DOOR AND ACTUALLY PUT DOOR HANGERS OR TALK TO PEOPLE, UM, IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO ALMOST GET A PERSON TO PERSON CONTACT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S KIND OF HARD OR DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO, TO DO THAT.

UM, BUT IT'S JUST AN IDEA.

I THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULD COORDINATE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY WERE SENDING STUFF HOME WITH THE KIDS ALL THE TIME, BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND WE DO RELY ON THEM.

IN FACT, I THINK FOR RECALL, A FEW EVENTS AGO, WE ACTUALLY PUT IT AS A BACKDROP ON ALL THE KIDS, IPADS, OR THE COMPUTERS THAT THEY ARE THEY'RE HANDED OUT.

THIS DISTRICT CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE WHAT THE BACKGROUND PROFILE IS AND HAD SOME ADVERTISING FOR THE CITY ON THAT.

SO COUNCILMAN ORTIZ, THANKS, GRAHAM.

AND ALL THE STAFF ARE CHEWING ON THIS.

IT'S A, IT'S A BIG, BIG MOUTHFUL, AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

UM, IT SEEMS LIKE BASED OFF OF, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL BUSINESS GRANT DESIGNATED 5 MILLION, 64 APPLICANTS, IT DOESN'T SEEM IF I'M DOING KENTUCKY WINDAGE, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE END OF THAT, UH, FUNDING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE ALL THAT FUNDING FROM, FROM THE INITIAL WAVE.

IS THAT, AM I TRACKING OKAY? UH, I'D LIKE, I WOULD S I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS BEFORE I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT, BUT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THE TRENDS, I WOULD SAY YES, BUT I STILL THINK THAT THIS MONEY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.

BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR, UM, THOUGHT PROCESS.

SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BUT WAIT, I DON'T KNOW THAT.

UM, AND THEN WITH THE RECOUP OF CITY FUNDS, INITIAL ESTIMATES THAT WE WERE GOING TO DESIGNATE WAS 10 MILLION, 6.5.

SO, UM, I GUESS MY BIG QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT, THINGS GOING, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDER BUDGET.

AND SOME OF THESE PLACES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT OVER, MAYBE AT THE END OF THIS, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REWORK OUT WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING TO GO.

UM, WHEN DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS MONEY SPENT, I GUESS THAT'S MY BIG QUESTION.

2020 FOR THE END OF 2024, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

WELL, YES AND NO.

I MEAN, TO DO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, FOR EXAMPLE, IT TAKES A WHILE.

SO WE THINK THAT THERE'S AREAS, I, THE EASIEST PLACE TO PUT THIS MONEY, ISN'T A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HERE, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THERE IT'S BIG STREET BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS IT'S, UM, ALLOCATING MONEY TO OUR SEWER PROGRAMS. I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF BIG PLACES THAT MONEY COULD FUNDING COULD GO TO THAT WOULD HAVE A BIG PAYOFF IN THE END AS WELL.

SO I, OKAY.

I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT IF THERE IS SOME MONEY LEFT OVER, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES.

SO WE HAVE SOME IDEAS IN, YOU KNOW, ON THE BENCH THAT WE COULD PULL UP IF FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE EXTRA FUNDING.

INTEREST IS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE LOTS THAT MR. DEMASIO AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH DEVELOPERS ON ARE THOSE LOTS THAT HAVE BEEN HABITUALLY VACANT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS THAT WE ALL DRIVE BY ON DAY IN, DAY OUT, DAY IN, DAY OUT, AND THEN, UH, PARK AMENITIES, THE PICKUP BALL, SOCCER COURTS.

THAT'S GREAT.

UM, WITH THE QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, DID I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY? WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS AND SEE THEIR NEEDS IN IMPROVING LAND IN, IN THE CITY TO HELP THEM DEVELOP IT AND GET SOME ECONOMIC ACTIVITY GOING.

YEAH, CLEARLY ONE OH ONE OF THE BARRIER.

I SHOULDN'T SAY A BARRIER, BUT ONE OF THE EXPENDITURE EXPENSES TO DO ANY DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY, UM, A REPURPOSED PIECE OF LAND IS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED.

SIDEWALKS HAVE TO BE WIDENED.

UM, AND UTILITIES HAVE TO BE UNDERGROUNDED.

INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO BIGGER SEWER PIPES HAVE TO BE BROUGHT IN ALL THOSE THINGS CAN REALLY LIMIT AN ABILITY TO NOW INVEST, YOU KNOW, $25 MILLION WHEN YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

WE THINK THAT THIS MONEY COULD BE USED FOR SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

AGAIN, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD THEN RESULT IN A REALLY BIG IMPACT.

AND ARE WE LOOKING AT UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES OR VACANT LOTS OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN, CORRECT.

I MEAN, WELL, ONE, IT DEPENDS WHERE THE, I MEAN, WHERE, WHERE THE

[01:45:01]

ARE WE GOING TO LOOK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE JUST DID THE, UH, SOCCER COURT AT, UM, THE SOCCER COURT AT WELLS PARK, WELLS PARK, WELLS PARK.

IS, ARE WE LOOKING TO DO MORE PICKLEBALL COURT OR PICKLEBALL OR SOCCER COURTS ELSEWHERE? I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT WE WOULD PUT PICKLEBALL COURTS AND A LOT OF OUR PARKS.

SO WE WOULD SPREAD THAT AROUND AND THEN WE WOULD BUILD MORE OF A SOCCER ARENA.

THAT WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE FIELDS THAT THEN COULD REALLY ACCOMMODATE AND NOT WITH THE HARD TURF OR WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY TURF NOT GRASP, BUT ARTIFICIAL THAT COULD, UH, UH, ACCOMMODATE LEAGUES, WHICH WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE AN ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW.

GREAT.

UM, AND THEN TWO MORE, THE SOLAR, THE SOLAR BATTERY PROJECT IS WITH THAT 5 MILLION.

TALK TO ME ABOUT, IS THAT GOING TO COVER ALL OF OUR ELECTRICITY BILL OR ARE WE GOING TO MAXIMIZE OUR ROOF SPACE ON ALL OF OUR CITY BUILDINGS? LIKE WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT $5 MILLION LOOK LIKE? UM, TOO EARLY TO SAY, BUT IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO GIVE DIRECTION AND MOVE FORWARD, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT COULD COME BACK AND GO, OH, GUESS WHAT? IT'S REALLY MORE OF A $6.3 MILLION PROJECT, OR, OR IT'S A $4.2 MILLION PROJECT.

BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS IDENTIFY THE LOCATIONS, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, HOW QUICKLY, HOW MUCH REVENUE WOULD BE SAVED AND HOW MUCH OF OUR FOOTPRINT WOULD BE REDUCED.

WE'RE MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT, THAT ARE IN CRISIS THAT COULD BE ASSISTED WITHOUT A POLICE OFFICER, WHICH IS A REALLY EXPENSIVE RESOURCE WORKING BACKWARDS.

I'D LIKE TO MAXIMIZE OUR, OUR, OUR FOOTPRINT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UM, PAYING FOR ELECTRICITY WHEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET RID OF OUR ELECTRICITY BILL IS IT'S SILLY.

UM, AND THEN THE BROADBAND FIBER NETWORK, I LIKE THE IDEA OF EXPANDING OUR NETWORK IN OKLAHOMA.

SO OUR, YOU KNOW, COX AND AT AND T CAN, CAN BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.

I'M A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT THE WIFI FREE WIFI IN PARKS.

I'VE SEEN SOME REPORTS OF THAT BEING A MAGNET FOR, UH, VAGRANTS IN THE AREA AND, AND PEOPLE JUST HANGING OUT UP TO NO GOOD.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MITIGATE THAT IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN OR I'M SURE YOU GUYS THINK OF EVERYTHING THAT I'VE THOUGHT OF.

SO I'LL JUST LET YOU SPEAK TO IT.

WE THOUGHT OF THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.

AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY EARLY.

THIS IS JUST KIND OF, IS THIS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WANTS US TO EXPLORE? AND IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD LOOK AT SOME BEST CASE SCENARIOS.

I'VE READ SOME ARTICLES OF WAYS TO DEAL WITH THAT, BUT, UM, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE'S NO PERFECT SOLUTION.

THERE.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE NOW.

THANKS NELSON SOMEONE GOOGLE, I'LL START AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST AND WORK BACKWARDS.

I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN ORTIZ, UH, THE PARKS, I THINK PARKS ARE FOR ACTIVE USE AND, AND INTERNET SEEMS TO BE KIND OF PASSIVE.

SO PROBABLY PASS ON THE PARKS, UH, FOR INTERNET THING, I THINK THERE PROBABLY IS SOME VALUE WITH BROADBAND THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR OTHER USES, UM, THE ELK ON FOODIE FEST THAT HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE A REALLY BIG PARTY.

I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY AT ONE TIME, YOU, WEREN'T SURE YOU CAN, YOU DON'T NEED ALL 150,000.

I CONSIDER FLIPPING IT AND SAYING DANGLE AS BIG A CARROT AS YOU CAN OUT THERE THAT YOU HAVE A WAITING LIST OF PEOPLE, CATERING COMPANIES, THE RESTAURANTS SAYING, ARE YOU KIDDING? I CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR MY BUSINESS AND I'M IN.

SO, UH, MAKE THE CARROT BIGGER, MIGHT BE MY SUGGESTION.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, AS, AS YOU ALLOCATE THESE MONIES, THE WAY THE MUNICIPAL CODE WORKS, IT GIVES ME AUTHORITY TO SPEND WITHIN CATEGORIES.

SO, UM, IF WE SPEND $250,000, IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED TO THE $5 MILLION STREET BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.

SO, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S CERTAINLY ROOM FOR THAT TO OCCUR MR. BELL.

SO I, I'M NOT PUTTING A NUMBER ON IT.

I'M SAYING MAKE THE OUTCOME THAT RESTAURANTS AND CATERING COMPANIES ARE BEGGING TO GET ON THIS LIST TO BE PART OF THIS GRAND EVENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MASK BURNING PARTY OR SOMETHING.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT A SOCIAL WORKER PILOT PROGRAM.

I WASN'T UNDERSTANDING THAT.

ARE YOU SAYING THE PILOT PROGRAM WOULD ANSWER NINE ONE, ONE CALLS? WE WOULD, UH, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES AROUND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYING OR USING CONTRACTED SOCIAL WORKERS.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE DISPATCHED BY NINE 11.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE DISPATCHED BY TWO, ONE, ONE, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE DISPATCHED AND THEY WOULD NOT BE SENT WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

WOULDN'T BE LIKE A CURT OFFICER.

THEY WOULD ACTUALLY GO OUT WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE.

UM, OF COURSE THEY WOULD RELY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IF IT GOT TO A POSITION WHERE AND REQUIRED IT, BUT THERE WE'RE,

[01:50:01]

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY KNOW, UH, HOUSEHOLDS THAT COULD USE A PROACTIVE, UH, TOUCH FROM A SOCIAL WORKER.

UH, HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING.

WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

IS EVERYTHING STILL GOOD? SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE NINE ONE ONE SITUATION AGAIN, I CAN SEE THAT I'M HOPING THAT'S PERHAPS MORE OF A FOCUS THAN REPLACING NINE ONE, ONE CALLS, UH, PARK AMENITIES.

I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE SOME CAPITAL MONEY RESERVES, CDBG, MANY RESERVED FOR WELLS PARK.

SO 3 MILLION SEEMS A PRETTY HEALTHY THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AT ONE TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FRONT OF THE MAGNOLIA, THE LAWN, AND THAT DOES HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.

AND THAT MAY A GOOD, BE A GOOD PLACE TO CONSIDER SOME OF THIS BIG MONEY.

WE AGREE.

AND AS YOU RECALL, THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED STAFF TO SPEND SOME FUNDS WITH COSMOS AND ASSOCIATES WE'RE WERE CURRENTLY IN WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING AN ARCHITECT TO EXPLORE SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CIVIC CENTER BLOCK AREA.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE SITES THAT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT MR. GOBLE, THAT COULD BE A REAL PRIME INITIAL PROJECT.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

UH, THE REC CENTER UPGRADES.

I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA OF THE COOLER ZONES BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO CROSS PROMOTE THE USE OF THE RECREATION CENTERS WHEN IT'S MORE APPEALING BECAUSE IT'S COOLER.

SO NOT ONLY IS IT A GOOD, A HOT DAY THING, IT ALSO MAKES IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO WANT TO GO THERE.

SO I THINK YOU GET A TWO FOR ONE THERE, THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM I NOTICED, UH, THE ROUND ONE FROM LAST YEAR, WE HAD A HUNDRED HUNDRED AND 34 GRANTS FOR TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE EXISTING CRITERIA IS GOING TO GET US TO 5 MILLION, PROBABLY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND WE TAKE OFF THE REINS OF THIS THING AND JUST LET THE CITY MANAGER DECIDE HOW BEST TO GIVE THIS MONEY TO BUSINESSES WITH THE POLICY BEING JUST PREVENT FRAUD.

IT'S JUST, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY BUY A BOAT OR SHOW UP WITH A NEW CAR, BUT IF THEY NEED MORE INVENTORY, UH, THAT'LL WORK IF THEY NEED WHATEVER IT IS.

I THINK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING TO BE THE STREET BEAUTIFICATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS OUT OF OUR, OUR, UH, WORKSHOP IN MARCH 1ST WAS ENHANCED THE IMAGE OF THE CITY BY FOCUSING ON CITIES, ENTRY LOCATIONS, DOES THAT FALL IN THERE SOMEHOW? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS.

BECAUSE THAT IN SOME SAFETY PROJECTS, UH, LOOKING OUR SIDEWALKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE AS WELL.

SO IT IT'S KIND OF ALL ENCOMPASSING.

UH, I THINK WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF THE WORKSHOP ITEMS, WHICH WE ALL AGREED WERE KIND OF THE BIG ITEMS WE'D LIKE TO SHOOT FOR IF THERE'S ANY LEFTOVER MONEY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HIT THEIR BUDGETS.

ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, WHEN YOU DEFER EXPENSES, YOU SET UP YOURSELF FOR, UH, GREATER REPLACEMENT COSTS DOWN THE ROAD, THE LONGER YOU, UH, USE YOUR CAR AND KEEP USING MAINTENANCE, IT GETS MORE EXPENSIVE TO USE IT.

SO WE HAVE KIND OF A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY HERE TO SAY, WE ACTUALLY CAN DO THE REVERSE AND DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OR CAPITAL ADVANCEMENT KIND OF THING.

SO SOME IDEAS FOR LEFTOVER MONEY MIGHT BE THE EVENTS, WATER PURIFICATION PROJECT.

WE ARE GOING TO OWE A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT SOMEDAY FOR OUR PORTION.

AND ALSO PERHAPS YOU MIGHT LOOK AT VEHICLES OR OTHER CAPITAL ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, UH, IF, IF THEY'RE RUNNING ON OVERTIME IN A SENSE NOW, UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A RESET NOW RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE.

THAT COVERS MY NOTES.

WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM, BUT IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I HAVE ONE.

UM, I WOULD PASS ON THE WIFI FOR THE PARKS.

I CAN, I THINK THAT COULD GO REALLY WRONG.

AND I REALLY LIKE THE FIBER OPTIC, UH, INTERNET.

I THINK THAT COULD MAKE OUR BUSINESSES MORE COMPETITIVE.

UH, I LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE PLAN.

SO IF, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE IN GETTING BROADBANDER OR FIBER TO OUR RECREATION CENTERS.

CAUSE WE HAVE THESE HUBS OF STAFF THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THOSE HAVE TO BE FREE WIFI ZONES, RIGHT? SO, UM, UNDER THIS PLAN, WE'D PROBABLY CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GET FIBER TO OUR PARKS, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN OFFERING THE WIFI SO THAT WE'D PROBABLY RECOMMEND THAT WE DID LOOK AT WHERE OUR FIBER IS THE MOST ROBUST.

IT HAPPENS TO BE IN OUR BUSINESS

[01:55:01]

DISTRICT.

SO WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO AUGMENT FIBER IN THOSE AREAS.

IT REALLY IS ACTUALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, MOSTLY ON THE VALLEY FLOOR.

SO IF, BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM COUNSEL'S FEEDBACK, WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO RECOMMEND THE FIBER NETWORK, BUT WE JUST WOULDN'T OFFER THE WIFI AND PARKS.

AND I THINK HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONING AT SOME OF THE REC CENTERS WOULD BE VERY GOOD BECAUSE THERE ARE DAYS WHEN IT'S 106 OUT HERE AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PLAYED BASKETBALL EVEN IN DOORS AND AT 106.

AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SINCE WE'RE THE EASTERN MOST CITY THAT SOME BIG FIRES START SOMEWHERE, UH, THAT WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO PUT PEOPLE UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE, UNTIL THEY'RE SAFE AND THEY CAN GO HOME.

AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS GOING TO HELP A LOT ON THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ELDERLY PEOPLE AND SMALL CHILDREN THAT COULD REALLY BE IMPACTED IN A VERY, VERY HOT DAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS COME TO MIND? OKAY.

THE, UM, LAST REPORT ITEM SEVEN

[7. COVID-19 Status Report RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council provides direction regarding the format of City Council and Planning Commission meetings after the June 15, 2021 “Beyond the Blueprint” direction from the State of California.]

IS A COVID-19 UPDATE.

I'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO TELL US ABOUT THIS COUNSEL.

I'LL BE BRIEF ON THIS.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME COMMITMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO GET TO SLIDES BEING PULLED UP REALLY QUICKLY.

SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, UM, ACTIVE CASES COUNTY-WIDE IS FANTASTICALLY LOW.

WE'RE ABOUT A THOUSAND ACTIVE CASES.

THAT'S A 0.0 0.03% OF THE POPULATION OR 30 PER EVERY A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE, UM, FOR ALCOHOL.

AND THERE'S ABOUT 50 ACTIVE CASES, BY THE WAY, THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER.

WE HAD AN APRIL 2ND, ACTUALLY BETWEEN APRIL 2ND AND APRIL 3RD, 2020.

SO WE'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN THOSE TWO DATES.

SO THAT KIND OF TELLS YOU WHERE WE'RE AT.

UM, THERE IS NEW REOPENING PROTOCOL.

IN FACT, WE JUST ENTERED INTO THE YELLOW ZONE TODAY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN A LOT, CAUSE IT'S ONLY GONNA LAST FOR A WEEK.

IT MEANS OUR RESTAURANTS CAN BE AT 75% CAPACITY AND IT DOES OPEN UP A FEW MORE THINGS.

BUT THE REALITY IS, UM, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE A NON-EXISTENT SOON, BUT UNDER THE REOPENING PROTOCOLS, THERE'S NO PHYSICALLY DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS, NO CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS MASS ARE DEPENDENT ON CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR CALOSHA.

SO WE'RE LEARNING, UH, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EVENTS ARE OKAY.

MEGA EVENTS DO HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS.

THERE IS EITHER A REQUIREMENT FOR A NEGATIVE VACCINATION TEST OR, OR SOME SORT OF SELF-CERTIFICATION FOR ANYONE THAT HAS AN INDOOR EVENT OVER 5,000, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MAGNOLIA.

AND BY THE WAY, I JUST HEARD LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM SIGNED WITH LIVE NATION TODAY.

SO THERE'LL BE, UH, HE'LL BE PERFORMING FROM, UM, PROBABLY SOME FLEETWOOD MAC SONGS, UH, AND THEN OUTDOOR EVENTS OVER 10,000 ALSO ARE REQUIRED, ARE ALSO DEEMED A MEGA EVENT.

SO FOR, FOR THE CITY, THE VERY, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST A HUNDRED PERCENT OPENED UP AFTER THIS POINT BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE, SOME OF THOSE MASSIVE EVENTS.

UM, I THINK WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

I THINK OF KIND OF TWO OPTIONS.

ONE IS SORT OF GO BACK 100% TO THE PRE PANDEMIC WAY IN WHICH WE HELD COUNCIL MEETINGS, OR THERE COULD BE A HYBRID AS LONG AS THERE'S SOME BROWN ACT LIMITATIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AS A GOVERNOR HAS INDICATED STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE TO USE FACEBOOK LIVE TO BROADCAST.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN A VALUABLE TOOL.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY TO BROADCAST.

AND AS A REMINDER, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE MEETING FROM FACEBOOK LIVE.

THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE WAY.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE MEETING, UM, ACCEPTING COMMENTS VIA WEBMASTER.

UM, WHEN, WHEN WE WERE MEETING ALL IN ZOOM, IT WAS SEMI MANAGEABLE BY OUR CITY CLERK.

AS WE MEET IN HERE WHILE SHE'S TAKING MINUTES AND TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION TO SETTING THE, THE, UM, VOTING DOCK OR A DEVICE PAYING ATTENTION TO SEEING WHICH EMAILS ARE COMING IN AND ARE THEY APPLICABLE, HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY RECOMMEND WE CEASE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS THROUGH THE WEBMASTER.

UM, ONCE WE GO BACK TO LIVE MEETINGS, NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, AND THEN I THINK THE, UH, THE OTHER QUESTION STAFF'S A LITTLE BIT AMBIVALENT ON THIS ONE IS CITY COUNCIL ATTENDANCE RIGHT NOW, COUNCIL, HER THE BROWN ACT CAN ATTEND VIA ZOOM.

IT DOES BECOME A CHALLENGE IF MORE THAN ONE OF YOU

[02:00:01]

IT IS A LITTLE CLUNKY, BUT IT'S DOABLE.

SO THE QUESTION IS, DOES THE COUNCIL WANT TO CONTINUE FACEBOOK LIVE? DO WE, DO YOU WANT TO END ACCEPTING COMMENTS VIA THE WEBMASTER LIVE COMMENTS? AND THEN HOW DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED WITH COUNCIL MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE UTILIZING ZOOM COUNCIL MEMBER OR TEASED? UM, I THINK FACEBOOK LIVES A GREAT PLATFORM TO, TO GET THE WORD OUT.

SO I WOULD SAY WE CONTINUE DOING THAT.

UM, ACCEPTING COMMENTS VIA WEBMASTER, MAYBE.

I MEAN, I AGREE WE SHOULD STOP MITT, BUT TO A CERTAIN POINT, MAYBE WE HAVE A CUTOFF TIME THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO STOP CUTTING IT BASED OFF OF WHEN THE MEETING STARTS, WHETHER IT'S THREE O'CLOCK OR SEVEN O'CLOCK THAT WAY OUR CITY, CLERK'S NOT SPINNING 15 PLATES AT ONCE AND MISSING SOMETHING.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE A TWO O'CLOCK CUTOFF OR TWO 30 OR WHATEVER WHATEVER'S APPROPRIATE FOR WHATEVER SHE SEEMS APPROPRIATE.

UM, COUNSEL ATTENDANCE OPTIONS.

I MEAN, I THINK IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL OF ONE PERSON CAN, IF THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.

I THINK, I THINK, WELL, WE SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE IN, IN CHAMBERS.

IF THERE'S A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THIS IS WHAT THE CITY CITY RESIDENTS ELECTED US TO DO.

SO, MICHELLE, YES, I AGREE WITH FACEBOOK LIVE.

I AGREE MY COLLEAGUE ON THE COMMENTS AND LET'S LET, UM, MS. CORTEZ MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.

IT'S HER WORKLOAD AND SHE SHOULD HAVE SOME AUTONOMY ON THAT.

AND AS FAR AS COUNSELOR ATTENDANCE OPTIONS, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW FOR ZOOM FOR ONE PERSON, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN OR THEY'RE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WE MIGHT NOT FEEL UP TO BEING ABLE TO COME TO COUNCIL, BUT WE'RE COGNITIVELY, UH, AVAILABLE TO ATTEND AND BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

AND THEN MY, I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION.

OH, UM, MR. MITCHELL REGARDING THE CAL OSHA, UM, DETERMINATION ON CONTINUING, UH, MASK, UH, FOR INDOOR FOR WORKPLACE, WE WERE, DID WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT OR HAVE WE GOT AN UPDATE ON THAT YET WHERE HE STILL HAS, THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS UNTIL JUNE 14TH TO MAKE THAT DECISION? WELL, CAL OSHA HAS MADE A DECISION AND IT'S BEING REVIEWED OVER A 10 DAY PERIOD.

SO THERE'S NO FINAL DETERMINATION ON THAT.

I THINK, UM, IT'S MORE OF AN OPERATIONAL CITY THING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

I CAN KEEP THE COUNCIL APPRISED OF WHAT HAPPENS, BUT, UM, WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM CALOSHA YET.

RIGHT.

I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL THE 14TH TO OVERTURN CALOSHA.

UM, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SEND A LETTER REGARDING THAT OR ANYTHING? NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PURVIEW OVER CAL OSHA REQUIREMENTS.

SO LET LET'S SAY OUR, A BUSINESS IN ALCOHOL AND DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW CAL OSHA REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

AND SO WE WOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.

THANKS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, STEVE, SPEAKING OF ENFORCEMENT AND ENFORCING COW OSHA REQUIREMENTS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THAT? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THAT CAL OSHA? SO THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

DO THEY HAVE THOSE HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY? HUH? I MAKE THE ASSUMPTION.

I DON'T KNOW.

MR. FOLEY KNOWS.

I THINK, I BELIEVE THEY DO, BUT IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY IT'S PROBABLY NOT STAFFED TO THE, THE AMOUNT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WHEN OUR POLICE FORCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT YEAH, THEY, THEY TYPICALLY RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS.

ALTHOUGH CAL OSHA CAN JUST INSPECT ANY BUSINESS TO, TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE, UM, AND PROCEED FROM THERE.

SO IT'LL PROBABLY BE ENFORCED ON A COMPLAINT BASIS AND WHO KNOWS HOW THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINTS DEPENDING ON VOLUME AND STAFFING LEVELS.

CORRECT.

I AGREE WITH FACEBOOK LIVE.

I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS.

MY QUESTION WOULD BE, UH, SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A COMMENT ON SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISCUSSION LIKE THIS, THEY COULD, THEY COULD IN PERSON SAY, I, I I'VE GOT SOMETHING, A NEW THOUGHT, BUT YOU, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT ONLINE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

[02:05:01]

I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

I THINK MTS AND SANDAG BOTH DO IT THE SAME WAY.

UM, OKAY.

I'M GOOD.

COUNCIL ACTIVITIES REPORT ITEM EIGHT, THE MAYOR'S REPORT AS, AS SUBMITTED ITEM

UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS? OKAY.

UH, THERE ARE NO COMMISSION REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA

[8. Council Activity Report]

[9. Legislative Update]

NINE IS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

I'LL ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO MALAYSIA TO SHARE THIS WITH US.

UM, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF, UM, BECAUSE I KNOW TIME IS, UM, IMPORTANT TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE COMMITMENTS, UH, ELSEWHERE.

UM, BASICALLY JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THIS COULDN'T GET ANY LONGER OR MORE OUTLANDISH, IT SEEMS TO DO THAT.

UM, LET ME JUST HIT SOME OF THE HIGH ONES.

UM, BASICALLY EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME HAS MOVED THROUGH ITS RESPECTIVE HOUSE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, STEVE GOBLE.

AND IT'S NOW INTO THE OTHER HOUSE, WHEREVER IT, IT DIDN'T, IT NEEDS TO GO.

SO ONE, A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, AB THREE, THREE, THREE, UM, THAT THIS REMOVES BURGLARY, LOOTING FELONY, VANDALISM AND IDENTITY FRAUD FROM CLOT CRIMES THAT DEFINE A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL CRIMINAL GANG ACTIVITY THAT, UM, WAS RECONSIDERED.

IT FAILED IN THE ASSEMBLY, WAS BROUGHT BACK RECONSIDERED.

PEOPLE CHANGED THEIR VOTES AND IT PASSED.

AND SO IT NOW GOES TO THE, UM, TO THE SENATE.

UM, SOMETHING RELATED TO WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IS AB THREE, THREE NINE.

THIS REQUIRES CITY COUNCILS UNTIL 12 OF 2023, DECEMBER, 2023 TO PROVIDE TELEPHONIC AND INTERNET BASED OPTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

SO THIS HAS PASSED THE ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK AND IT'S IN THE SENATE, UM, WHETHER IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE OR CHANGE, I'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU ON THAT.

UM, AB NINE, EIGHT, NINE IS THE, UM, THE FAMOUS STATE AGENCY THAT CAN OVERRULE YOUR DECISION ON A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OR OTHER DEVELOPMENT THING THAT PASSED, UH, IN THE ASSEMBLY AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE.

UM, AB 1401.

UH, THIS IS THE, UM, THE, UH, PRO PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM IMPOSING MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS, UM, ON RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL OR OTHER DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A HALF MILE OF A TRANSIT STATION THAT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE.

UM, A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, I THINK TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES IS SB TWO.

UM, THIS ELIMINATES QUALIFIED IMMUNITY FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

THIS PASSED THE SENATE, IT'S NOW IN THE ASSEMBLY.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO BE UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UM, NO MATTER WHERE THEY WORK HAVE SOME DEGREE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

AND SO TAKING IT AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, I THINK HAS A REAL CHILLING EFFECT ON WHETHER OR NOT, UM, PEOPLE WANT TO BECOME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THIS, IF THIS PASSES AND GETS TO HIS DESK.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, UM, SB 300, UM, IS THE BILL THAT WOULD REPEAL.

AND THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS A NEW ONE ADDED TO YOUR UPDATE, BY THE WAY, UM, WOULD REPEAL THE PROVISION REQUIRING PUNISHMENT BY DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR A PERSON CONVICTED OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE, BUT WHO IS NOT THE ACTUAL KILLER.

SO BASICALLY IT'S KIND OF A CONSPIRACY SITUATION.

YOU, YOU ARE CONSPIRING TO COMMIT THE CRIME.

YOU ARE THEN FOUND GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T, YOU, YOU DIDN'T CARRY OUT THE MURDER YOURSELF OR POSSESS THE INSTRUMENT THAT CARRIED OUT THE MURDER.

SO YOU CANNOT, UH, BE CHARGED WITH LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING KIND OF LOWERING OF THE BAR.

UM, AND THEN THE, UM, LAST ONE IS, UH, SB FIVE 19, WHICH IS ALSO NEW TO YOUR REPORT AND IT LEGALIZES CERTAIN PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS, INCLUDING ECSTASY, PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS, LSD, AND OTHERS.

AND THIS PASSED THE SENATE, IT'S NOW IN THE ASSEMBLY.

SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE THESE DAYS.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS.

OH, ARE WE, ARE WE STILL PLANNING ON WRITING A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO THE HANDFUL THAT WE DESIGNATED? YES, YES, YES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS DISCUSSED? OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ALONG.

UH, ACTIVITY REPORTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS,

[10. COUNCILMEMBER STEVE GOBLE MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board); East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority Board; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee; SANDAG – Board of Directors – Alternate; SANDAG Public Safety Committee – Alternate; METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA – Alternate.]

UH, THE ACTIVITIES ARE AS REPORTED, LIKE TO ADD TWO ITEMS. UM, NUMBER ONE WAS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS CALL WITH COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

LAST THURSDAY.

[02:10:01]

THE FINAL CALL, UH, MY QUESTION TO DR.

RUTAN WAS SO WHAT WILL BE THE METRIC USED TO, AND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE ANSWER IS WHATEVER THE STATE DOES.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THERE IS FEDERAL MONEY COMING INTO THE STATE AND FLOWING DOWN AS LONG AS THERE'S A STATE, A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THE EMERGENCY GOING ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE MONEY COMING THAT, UM, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE GOOD GOVERNMENT, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

THE OTHER EVENT WAS A MAJOR EVENT LAST FRIDAY.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE EAST COUNTY ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION BOARD AND THERE WAS A BIG EVENT.

LAST FRIDAY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE EPA FLEW OUT FOR THE EVENT.

WE'RE EIGHT MONTHS AWAY FROM A GO-NO-GO ON THIS PROJECT.

THIS WILL BE A $642 MILLION PROJECT THAT SHOULD GO ONLINE IN 2025, THE EPA LOANED US $388 MILLION, ROUGHLY HALF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST AT 2.3, 3% THAT SAVES RATE PAYERS OVER $285 MILLION VERSUS HAVING TO RAISE THAT MONEY IN THE OPEN MARKET SELLING BONDS.

SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE EPA.

THE WHITE HOUSE SPECIFICALLY, UH, TEXTED US DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE, THE EVENT SAYING THEY WANTED PICTURES.

SO IT'S A VERY BIG EVENT, UH, FOR THE, UM, ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS FEBRUARY IS OUR OFF RAMP.

OUR FINAL OFF-RAMP TO GO ON, TO GO ON THIS PROJECT, IT GOES UP BECAUSE OF THE COST OF STEEL IS UP 300% AND MUCH OF THE PIPELINES ARE BUILT OUT OF STEEL.

INTERESTINGLY, A NEW ELEMENT OF THIS PROJECT HAS COME ALONG.

IT'S CALLED THE RESIDUALS.

WHAT'S LEFT OVER AFTER YOU RECYCLE THE WATER.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT TAKING THAT AND MAKING AN ANAEROBIC DIGESTER, WHICH WOULD CREATE METHANE GAS TO POWER VEHICLES ACTUALLY SELL THE FUEL.

AND IT'S TRYING TO DO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON THAT.

SO OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE AWP IS VERY LARGE BECAUSE WE'RE THE LARGEST PARTNER AND IT'S GOING VERY WELL SO FAR.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HOW THINGS ARE GOING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S PARTICIPATION.