Sep 13, 2022 City Council Meeting 3pm

UH, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS, MICHELLE? HI, THANKS JASMINE FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND PROVIDING THE, UH, SANDBAGS FOR RESIDENTS.

MY HUSBAND, UH, WENT AND GOT SOME FOR OUR PROPERTY.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO USE THEM.

WE DIDN'T GET THE RAIN LIKE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD, BUT AT LEAST IT WAS AVAILABLE.

SO I THANK YOU.

UM, THE SECOND THING IS, UM, WHERE'D IT GO? OH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHEN WE'RE DOING HIGH VISIBILITY WALK, UH, CROSSWALKS, DO YOU USE JUST REGULAR PAINT OR ARE YOU USING, UM, SOME OF THE NEW STUFF THAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT? UH, FOR HIGH VISIBILITY, IT'S LIKE AN OCTAGON, I'M A NERD.

AND I WATCH A LOT OF VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN USE IN YOUR CITY AND THEY HAVE THIS NEW, UM, THEY USE IT ON STREET SIGNS A LOT, BUT THEY CAN ALSO USE IT ON ROADWAYS WHERE IT JUST, IT REFLECTS BETTER.

IT SHOWS THAT WHEN YOU SHOW THE LIGHT ON JUST A FLAT SURFACE, HOW IT REFRACTS BACK, BUT IN THIS, UH, I WANNA SEE IT'S AN OCTAGON SHAPE.

UM, THAT'S EMBEDDED INTO THE CROSSWALK OR THE SIGNS.

IT REFLECTS BETTER.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU'RE GOT IT.

WE TYPICALLY USE, UM, THE THERMOPLASTIC, BUT, UM, IF, UM, UH, IS THERE, UM, THE THERMOPLASTIC RIGHT WITH THE REFLECT? OKAY.

AND THEN IF IT'S WE USE PAINT, WE USE THE REFLECTIVE BEAT.

SO YEAH, THEY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

UM, I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT PROJECTS GOING ON.

A LOT OF RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BROADWAY, UM, CREEK RESTORATION.

UM, I'M GLAD THAT IT'S OPENED AGAIN, THAT RELIEVES THAT TRAFFIC ISSUE.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY PHIL YASIN.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THIS HAS GOTTA BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS OF CITY COUNCIL TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WHEN WE GET A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, GET A RECAP AND OF THE, OF ON A VIDEO, PUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC SOCIAL MEDIA.

I MEAN, SHOWING WHERE THE TAX DOLLARS ARE WORKING AND SHOWING THE CITY'S MAKING PROGRESS.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE CHURNING OUT SO MUCH GREAT WORK AND, UM, NOT TO TOO OUR ON HORN ALL THE TIME, BUT YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW WHERE, WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING AND THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

SO I REALLY FANTASTIC, UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS, ONE, THE BROADWAY BROADWAY CREEK, WE JUST HAD RAINED.

HOW DID IT DO AFTER THE RESTORATION? DID IT, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF PERFECT TIMING, RIGHT.

TO TEST IT.

IT IS.

YES.

SO, UM, WE DID GREAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE, UH, MIKE, UH, JAMES, OUR OPERATIONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AND, UM, TO IF, TO SEE IF HE WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING TO, UM, OUR BROADWAY CREEK, BUT, UM, SO FAR PERFORMANCE WAS VERY GOOD.

AWESOME.

BUT IT'S STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WE'RE NOT FINALIZED WITH THAT PART.

SURE.

UM, I THINK JUST TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT, UM, THE, THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT, UM, THAT CAME WAS WAS LUCKILY A LOT LESS THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT, BUT WE DID TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES AND ACTUALLY WE WERE OUT THERE DURING THE RAIN.

SO IT, IT HANDLED IT VERY WELL, UM, EVEN NOT BEING FULLY CONSTRUCTED.

GREAT.

SO IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE, UM, AT THE END RESULT THAT THERE WASN'T AS MUCH, UM, UH, IMPACT AS WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD'VE BEEN, NOT THAT WE GET A TON OF RAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ANYWAY, BUT WHEN IT COMES, IT COMES SO FANTASTIC.

STREET LIGHTS, UH, NEW STREET LIGHTS OR REHABBING, WHAT'S THE SELECTION PROCESS WITH REGARD TO WHICH STREETS GET SELECTED AND THE PRIORITY.

UM, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD WITH REGARD TO INSTALLING

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I KNOW SOME OF THE PUBLIC HAS ALWAYS ASKED, YOU KNOW, HOW COME MY STREET, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

SURE.

FOR THE TWO PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE COMPLETED, ONE AND THE OTHER ONE THAT WE HAVE OUT TO BIT, UM, WE'RE WE UTILIZE, UH, CDBG, UM, ZONES.

SO WE HAVE TO STICK TO CERTAIN, UM, CENSUS DIRECT, UM, AREAS.

PERFECT.

UM, BUT, UM, I, I THINK, UH, AS LONG AS, AS WE THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER FUNDING, UM, AVAILABLE SUCH AS, UM, TRANSNET, UM, THAT WE COULD PROGRAM, UM, IF, UH, WE DECIDE TO, UM, GO DO LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THOSE CENSUS STRIKES, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON THE, THE SENSE OF STRIKE THAT, AND, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE WHERE IT'S MOST NEEDED ALSO.

AWESOME.

THE CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS IS THAT THE SIDEWALK REHABILITATION? NO.

SO CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS ARE BASICALLY, UH, YES, SIDEWALKS, CURB AND GUTTER, UM, CROSS GUTTERS AND HANDICAP RAMPS.

AND THESE ARE, WE HAVE TO, UH, UH, FIX, UH, OR HAVE, UM, ACCESSIBILITY, UM, TO THE AREAS THAT WE PAVE.

SO, SO THAT'S WHY KIND LIKE, I, THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED, UH, WE'RE DOING THE CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, AND PREPARATION OF OUR PAVING PROJECT.

SO EVERY TIME WE DO A PAVING, OUR SOLAR SEAL PROJECT, WE GO IN FIRST AND WE DO THE REPAIRS TO, UM, ACCESSIBILITY.

SO IT'S PART OF ANOTHER PROJECT.

IT'S PART OF ANOTHER PROJECT SOUNDS RIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UM, COULD WE GET THE BOSTON RECREATION PARKING LOT LOOKED AT? I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT AT EIGHT 30, AND I THINK THEY'RE STILL USING THE OLD HOEN LIGHTS.

IT IS DARK THERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ON A LIST TO BE DONE, BUT, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF SCARY.

UM, I SAW A LOT OF NAMES ON THE PROJECT HERE.

SI ROBERT JESUS.

ANDAN MARIO, IF THEY'RE HERE, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE THEM? YES, PLEASE.

UM, SO AS I MENTIONED, UM, INTRODUCE YOU TO MIKE JAMES, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, AND OPERATIONS, UH, MARIO SANCHEZ, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OVER, UM, ENGINEERING AND CITY ENGINEER.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, SAN CACHI, OUR ASSOCIATE ENGINEER OVER, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE HAVE, UH, SYDNEY GROUP ASSISTANT ENGINEERING CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE HAVE MR. ROW LAMENT.

HE'S AN ASSOCIATE ENGINEER IN OUR TRAFFIC DIVISION AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

THAT'S GOOD.

YOU KNOW, IT IS, IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL THESE ADVANCEMENTS AND, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALCOHOL AND YOUR OPERATIONS OR YOUR MAINTENANCE TEAM DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB, KEEPING THE CITY CLEAN, DOING DIFFICULT THINGS, BUT IT'S, IT'S FUN TO SEE THESE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT A VERY SKILLED STAFF.

THANK YOU, GARY.

ANYTHING I'M I'M OKAY.

NO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION.

WE'VE TALKED IN ANOTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS ABOUT THERE'S A RATING SYSTEM FOR THE ROADS AND THAT I KNOW YEARS AGO WHAT I WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATINGS, UH, ARE WE MAINTAINING THAT? WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN IT.

UH, WE'RE ROUGHLY AT ABOUT 70 FOR THE PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX, UH, WHICH IS A GOOD AVERAGE AND THIS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

UM, HOWEVER, UH, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE.

OKAY, THANKS.

APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, NOW I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

I NICE PRESENTATION.

I, I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK AND I, ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT WORKED SO HARD, I, I DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT.

YOU DO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, ARE THERE ANY, UM, UH, COMMENT CARDS ON THIS? NO COMMENTS FOR SUE.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, WELL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO, UM, COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND MAKE A MOTION.

AND IN THIS CASE, THIS IS JUST A REPORT FOR INFORMATION AND, UH, ANY FEEDBACK THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GIVE WILL TAKE IT.

OH, GREAT.

AND WE HEARD SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK, SO WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THAT.

ANY OTHER FEEDBACK THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO PROVIDE? ALL RIGHT.

WELL THAT, THAT'S GREAT.

16 IS FOR A CAPITAL OUTLAY AUTHORIZATION AND COUNCIL POLICY B ONE.

ITEM

[16. Capital Outlay Authorization and City Council Policy B-1 Amendment RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: Authorizes the capital expenditure of $8,500 as detailed in the report; Waives the capital expenditure threshold of $5,000 contained in City Council Policy B-1: Budget Adjustments and Capital Expenditures for expenditures previously approved for Fiscal Year 2022-23; and Amends City Council Policy B-1: Budget Adjustments and Capital Expenditures to reflect a revised capital expenditure threshold of $25,000, or as otherwise directed.]

I'LL ASK STAFF TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM, PLEASE.

HI CLAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

HONORABLE MAYOR, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CLAY SHANE.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON.

TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

TODAY IS THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY B ONE.

THIS IS A COPY OF THE POLICY ITSELF, TITLED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

UM, THIS POLICY IS A MODEL IN BREVITY TAKING UP LESS THAN HALF A PAGE.

IT CONTAINS TWO PARTS.

THE FIRST OF WHICH, UM, SETS THE

[00:20:01]

LEVEL OF BUDGETARY CONTROL IN THE CITY SIMPLY, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE O IS THE ONLY BODY THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS OR MOVE MONEY BETWEEN FUNDS.

THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE MONEY BUDGET AROUND WITHIN A FUND.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS SURPLUS OFFICE SUPPLY BUDGET, AND THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS SHORT, THE CITY MANAGER CAN AUTHORIZE A TRANSFER OF BUDGET FROM THE ONE DEPARTMENT TO THE OTHER.

AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE BUDGET WITHIN THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS AN UNEXPECTED, UH, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT REQUIRES REPAIR, UM, I HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO TRANSFER FUNDING FROM OFFICE SUPPLIES TO, UH, THE REPAIR.

UM, WE ARE NOT SEEKING ANY AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO THAT PORTION OF THE POLICY.

UM, HOWEVER, TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, UH, THIS VERY SHORT, UH, PORTION OF THE POLICY, A SINGLE SENTENCE, UH, REGARDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND IT READS SIMPLY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.

OVER $5,000 MAY ONLY BE MADE BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, THIS IS A PRETTY INNOCUOUS SENTENCE.

HOWEVER, IT DOES HAVE FAIRLY LARGE RAMIFICATIONS.

THIS POLICY IS MOST COMMONLY APPLIED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

UM, IN THIS CONTEXT, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE THE, USUALLY THE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT THE CITY NEEDS TO OPERATE.

UM, AT TIME OF THE BUDGET, UH, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBMIT THE REQUESTS FOR THESE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT.

THEY NEED THE CITY MANAGER REVIEWS AND IT EVALUATES THESE REQUESTS AND INCLUDES IT WITHIN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE POLICIES THAT'S VERY MATURE.

UH, IT WAS LAST REVISED IN 2018, UM, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, RULES OF LIFE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE CITY ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST LEARNED HOW TO WORK WITH AND VERY RARELY CAUSES ANY ISSUES.

HOWEVER, FROM TIME TO TIME, CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, ARE SUCH THAT IT REQUIRES AN EVALUATION OF WEATHER POLICIES ARE PERFORMING AS THEY SHOULD.

AND WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE THAT CAME UP RECENTLY THAT I THINK WARRANTS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF REVIEW OF THIS POLICY, IF IT'S REALLY MEETING THE COUNCIL'S OBJECTIVES.

SO INCLUDED IN THE 2023 DRAFT BUDGET, THE PUBLIC WORKS WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT INCLUDED A REQUEST FOR A REPLACEMENT OF A GENERATOR.

THIS GENERATOR IS ON THE CLOSED CIRCUIT TV VAN THAT RUNS THE SEWER INSPECTION CAMERAS FOR THAT WE USE TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN THE, THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM.

THIS, UH, GENERATOR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS AND EVERYONE KIND OF KNEW IT WAS ON ITS LAST LEG.

UM, SO THEY PUT THE REQUEST IN FOR FY 23.

AT THAT TIME, THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT GENERATOR WAS APPROXIMATELY $6,500.

HOWEVER, BY THE TIME IT WAS TIME TO PURCHASE THIS, UH, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT COSTS.

LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE HAVE ESCALATED, WHETHER IT BE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS OR INFLATION ITSELF.

UM, AND NOW THAT GENERATOR COSTS $8,500.

UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS POLICY IN PLACE, IT REQUIRED A TRIP BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO REAUTHORIZE THIS EXPENDITURE.

NOW, IN THIS CASE, THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT'S A VERY VITAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FREQUENTLY.

IT'S NOT, THE DEPARTMENTS WILL TAKE THAT REQUEST AND SEND IT UP WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENTS, QUARTERLY REPORTS, AND IT'S JUST A LINE IN A REPORT AND THE, UH, DEPARTMENTS CAN USUALLY WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS TO OCCUR.

BUT FROM TIME TO TIME, THE EQUIPMENT BEING REQUESTED IS CRITICAL.

AND THIS IS JUST SUCH A CASE WHERE IF WE STRICTLY FOLLOWED THE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POLICY, IT WOULD EFFECTIVELY RISK SHUTTING DOWN THAT PIECE OF EQUI, THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

AND THIS IS KIND OF WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

IT, IT KIND OF WARRANTS THE EVALUATION OF IS THAT THE DESIRED RESULT OF THIS POLICY.

SO SPECIFICALLY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY, THE FIRST IS TO ADDRESS THAT SINGULAR, UH, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

UH, WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OR RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REAUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF THAT GENERATOR AT A NEW ESTIMATED COST OF $8,500.

HOWEVER, UM, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY, UH, CAPITAL OUTLAY EXPENDITURE WE'VE SEEN THAT IS IMPACTED BY INFLATION.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN OTHER ITEMS AND THE WAY, THE WAY THE ENVIRONMENT IS RIGHT NOW, THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT IS RIGHT NOW.

I EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AS AN INTERIM SOLUTION, WE RECOMMEND STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, THAT AT LEAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO WAIVE THE DOLLAR THRESHOLD CONTAINED IN COUNCIL POLICY B ONE.

AND THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCUREMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED, EVEN IF IT'S AT AN ADDITIONAL COST.

NOW WE ARE NOT SEEKING ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

AT THIS POINT, IT'S JUST SIMPLY

[00:25:01]

AUTHORIZING THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

IT WOULD STILL BE ON THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS TO WORK WITHIN THEIR EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS.

AND LASTLY, UM, STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL CONSIDERS ADJUSTING THE POLICY, UH, TO BRING IT TO MAYBE MORE CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS.

STAFF RECOMMENDS INCREASING THAT DOLLAR THRESHOLD FOR THE CAPITAL ATLAS TO $25,000, UM, TO HELP REMOVE SUDDEN SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF, UM, THE TRIP TO COUNCIL, JUST TO REAPPROVE SOMETHING AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER COST.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, CLA NICE REPORT.

ANY YES.

SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM.

NO COMMENTS RECEIVED.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT ITEM 17 IS FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR MEASURE P AND I'LL ASK STAFF TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

UM, IT SEEMS PRETTY, UH, STRAIGHTFORWARD, HOUSEKEEPING.

I I'M COMFORTABLE WITH ALL OF THE REQUESTS.

IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO ADD, MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND, PLEASE VOTE MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS SMOKE.

THE LAST

[17. Committment of Measure P Fund Allocation RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council consider a preliminary spending plan in the event Measure P is approved by El Cajon voters on November 8, 2022.]

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

LET ME PULL UP THE REPORT FOR THE PRESENTATION DURING THE FIRST MEETING OF, OF AUGUST THE CITY COUNCIL PLACED MEASURE P UH, WHICH IS A, A SALES TAX MEASURE ON THE BA ON THE NOVEMBER, 2022 BALLOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT APPROVED THAT, THAT PLACEMENT IS SOME OVERSIGHT, UH, SOME TAXPAYER OVERSIGHTS OR TAXPAYER SAFEGUARDS, INCLUDING THE OVERSIGHT, UH, COMMITTEE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE PROP COMMITTEE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

IT ALSO INCLUDED A PROVISION WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL COULD, UH, REDUCE THE ACTUAL RATE OF SALES TAX, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S OCCURRED IN THIS COUNTY.

AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE SAN DIEGO TAXPAYERS, UH, SAN DIEGO COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION ENDORSES MEASURE P AND THEN IT ALSO, UM, INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, A RESOLUTION, WHICH IDENTIFIED THE CITY COUNCIL'S SPENDING PRIORITIES, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE OR SPENDING PLAN.

UM, IT DOES NOT CODIFY OR, OR TIE THE HANDS OF THIS CURRENT CITY COUNCIL OR THE FUTURE CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT IDENTIFIES TO THE PUBLIC WHERE YOU THINK YOU WANNA SPEND THE MONEY.

AND IT, IT HELPS TO SIGNAL TO SOME THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO PAY FOR PENSIONS OR, OR BE TO PAY FOR, UM, MONOPOLY GAMES.

IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE USED TO ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR AND SHOWS LIKE A TRUE INVESTMENT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO JUST AS A RECOLLECTION, THIS IS FROM THE POLLING DATA OF THE 400, UH, LIKELY VOTERS, UH, REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, REMOVING ILLEGAL ENCAMPMENTS, PREVENTING CRIME, REDUCING CRIME, UH, MOVE DOWN TO IMPROVING STREETS, ROADS, SIDEWALKS, IMPROVING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

THESE ARE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS TO THE RESIDENTS OF EL CAJON.

AND I THINK YOU PROBABLY, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU GO OUT AND TALK TO CONSTITUENTS, THESE, THE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SO, UM, TAKING THOSE IDEAS FROM THE POLLING DATA AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND FEEDBACK.

UH, AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT, THAT, UM, LOCKS US IN.

THERE'S NO RESOLUTION, UH, APPROVING THIS EXPENDITURE PLAN, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD SIGNAL TO THE COMMUNITY OF HOW THE COUNCIL WISHES TO SPEND THE FUNDS.

SO LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY NEED STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT 4 MILLION OF THE ADDITIONAL 13 MILLION I'LL I'LL GO BACK.

SO IF MEASURE P WERE TO BE ADOPTED, IT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 26 MILLION IN REVENUE THE FIRST YEAR, AS YOU RECALL, UM, IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL HALF CENT SALES TAX TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY GET THROUGH PROP J.

SO WE'RE REALLY ALLOCATING THE ADDITIONAL $13 MILLION.

AND SO THIS, THIS ADDS UP TO ABOUT $13 MILLION.

SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND $4 MILLION OF THE 13 MILLION BE ALLOCATED TO

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SPECIFICALLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON CRIME REDUCTION AND FOCUS ON ILLEGAL HOMELESS ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.

UH, THIS WOULD ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE 20 ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH WOULD GIVE US CAPACITY TO PROVIDE MORE PATROLS, TO AUGMENT THE EXISTING HOMELESS PATROLS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO JUST PUT MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET SO WE CAN, UH, GET BETTER INTEL AND MORE VISIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE'D ALSO RECOMMEND $4 MILLION TO ENHANCING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ABILITY.

UM, AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CALL VOLUMES.

I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC RECOGNIZES THAT THEY, THEY JUST KNOW WHEN THEY CALL 9 1, 1 SOMEONE SHOWS UP.

UM, BUT IT, WE ARE, ARE STRAINED IN THIS AREA.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ALLOCATE $4 MILLION TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THAT WOULD BE USUALLY TYPICALLY IN THE FORM OF PROBABLY AN ENGINE COMPANY AND A SQUAD THAT COSTS ABOUT $4 MILLION OR POTENTIALLY THREE SQUADS.

WE WOULD NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THE FIRE CHIEF AND WITH, UM, STAFF TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE, THE, THE BEST WAY TO MAKE $4 MILLION GO THE FURTHEST, BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE TO PUT MORE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE WOULD RELY MUCH LESS ON SE MIGUEL AND LAKESIDE WHO RUN CALLS INTO EL CAJON ALL THE TIME.

AND IT WOULD GIVE US GREATER CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH WILDFIRES, ESPECIALLY ON OUR EASTERN BOUNDARIES.

UM, IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW US TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M RECOMMENDING THAT $2 MILLION BE ALLOCATED FOR HARD INVESTMENTS, SUCH AS ADDING MORE STREETLIGHTS IN AREAS WHERE MAYBE CDBG MONIES CAN'T BE SPENT, UM, MORE PAVING, MORE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, MORE TRAFFIC CALMING, MORE PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, I'M RECOMMENDING 1.5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE REASON I DO THAT IS I THINK SOME OF THE CHA THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACE ARE TWOFOLD.

ONE IS SOME SYSTEMIC ISSUES ARE HOUSING STOCK, WHICH RESULT IN HIGHER NINE ONE, ONE CALL VOLUMES AND HIGHER POLICE CALL VOLUMES.

SO ADDRESSING THAT AT THE, THE, UM, ADDRESSING THE SYMPTOM OR THE ADDRESSING THE, THE MANIFESTATION OF THAT THROUGH ADDING POLICE AND FIRE IS ONE WAY TO HANDLE IT.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO HANDLE IT FROM HOW CAN WE FIX THESE PROBLEMS LONG TERM, RATHER THAN JUST ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, BY BRINGING IN MORE BUSINESSES, WE GROW THE PIE, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO START RATCHETING BACK THAT 1% BACK DOWN TO A HALF A PERCENT OR LESS AS THE ECONOMY GROWS AS THAT PIE GROWS.

THE OTHER THING I THINK THROWING SOME, SO EVERY YEAR, SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MONEY, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO SOME OLD FASHIONED REDEVELOPMENT WHERE WE CONTRIBUTE MONEY TO IMPROVING APARTMENTS, INCREASING THE HOUSING STOCK ON THE VALLEY FLOOR AND HAVING A, A LONG TERM IMPACT, NOT ONLY ON PROPERTY TAX GENERATION, BUT ON THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES DEMANDED FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I THINK THERE'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, CUZ IT ADDRESSES SORT OF THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM.

UM, STAFF'S RECOMMENDING ABOUT 1.1 MILLION IN WHAT I'D CALL CITY CLEANLINESS OR BEAUTIFICATION ADDRESSING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENTS.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN CORE WHO DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.

THEY OPERATE CITYWIDE.

UH, THE IDEA WOULD BE WITH 1.1 MILLION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE ALMOST THAT EXACT SAME SERVICE IN ALMOST EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

SO IMAGINE THAT, BUT CONCENTRATED IN A DISTRICT AND IT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY.

I THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

I KNOW WE WE'VE COMMITTED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITHIN 72 HOURS.

AND I THINK WE GET TO IT MUCH FASTER THAN 72 HOURS, BUT THIS WOULD GUARANTEE 24 HOUR DELIVERY OF SERVICE.

WHENEVER THERE'S A PROBLEM, IT WOULD JUST ALLOW THE CITY TO LOOK MUCH CLEANER.

IT WOULD HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT WOULD HELP WITH BROKEN WINDOW EFFECT.

IT WOULD HELP INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.

IT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF RESIDUAL EFFECTS.

AND THEN THE LAST IS JUST, WE, WE DO A LOT.

I MEAN YOU JUST HEARD PUB PUBLIC WORKS, HOW MUCH STUFF IS HAPPENING WITH VERY FEW STAFF MEMBERS.

AND SOMETIMES WE'RE JUST NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS WE'D LIKE TO BE.

SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED THAT EXTRA LITTLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, UM, AN EXTRA TRAFFIC SPEED SURVEY SIGN THAT WOULD HELP US TO, TO ADDRESS A TRAFFIC SPEEDING ISSUE.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT CAPACITY.

AND SO THIS WOULD JUST BE ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BOLSTER THAT PERHAPS ADD ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF PERSON TO MANAGE THESE PRO PROJECTS, TO HAVE SOME CONTINUAL FUNDING FOR THE MARKETING PERSON TO, TO GET INFORMATION OUT.

SO IT WOULD REALLY JUST BE TO

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HELP BOLSTER GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WITH THAT STAFF, ISN'T MARRIED TO THESE IDEAS, BUT WE CLEARLY, UM, HAVE, UH, HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT INCLUDES EVEN MORE DETAIL IN TALKING TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION.

WE THOUGHT ONE OF THE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IS TO LOOK AT WHATEVER BENCHMARKS THE CITY COUNCIL EVENTUALLY SETS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN THROUGH THE, THE REVENUE SOURCE IS ACTUALLY BEING USED ON THESE THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY CUZ YOU'LL GET A REPORT EVERY YEAR TO SAY, HOW ARE WE DOING? IS, IS 20 OFFICERS SUFFICIENT? IS THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO? OR, OR DO WE NEED 18 OFFICERS? AND UM, THEY CAN HELP WEIGH IN AND GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ON THE BEST USE OF THOSE FUNDS BASED ON THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

SO WITH THAT, STAFF'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK TO ADJUST.

UM, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS ONCE THE COUNCIL HAS A PLAN THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, APPROVE, THEN WE CAN PUT THAT OUT IN OUR INFORMATION CAMPAIGN TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, THIS IS HOW THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO SPEND THE MEASURE P MONEY IN THE EVENT, THEY WERE TO ADOPT THAT TAX MEASURE.

GRAHAM QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON, WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE, UH, $13 MILLION NUMBER THAT IT'S GONNA ADD.

I MEAN THAT'S GIVE OR TAKE KENTUCKY WINDAGE OR ARE WE, I MEAN, IT'LL IT'LL, I MEAN SALES TAX ARE ALWAYS SURPRISES US EVERY YEAR UP OR DOWN, RIGHT? YEAH.

BUT, BUT NOT MORE THAN USUALLY A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UNLESS IT'S PRETTY DRAMATIC.

AND THIS SALES TAX IS A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE THAN THE NORMAL, TYPICAL SALES TAX.

IT ACTUALLY STAYS A LITTLE MORE FLATTER.

IT'S LESS VOLATILE.

IT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS 12, 2, 12 0.5 MILLION.

IT COULD BE 13.5 MILLION IT'LL DEPEND FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

SO THAT DELTA IS GONNA BE AROUND A MILLION.

MAYBE NOT.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TWO OR 3 MILLION OF DELTA.

PROBABLY NOT.

AND REMEMBER WE STRUGGLE THE COUNCIL'S GIVEN AUTHORITY TO OVER HIRE 10 OFFICERS.

WE, WE CAN'T FIND 10 OFFICERS TO HIRE WE'RE WE'RE OVERHIRED I BELIEVE AT SIX OFFICERS RIGHT NOW, ARE WE WE'RE THERE? WE'RE DOWN NOW WE HAVE SOME RETIREMENTS.

WE'RE A FLAT NOW BECAUSE WE, WE, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE RETIREMENT.

SO WE'RE UP MORE THAN WE WOULD'VE BEEN, BUT IT'S, UH, HARD TO FIND PEOPLE AND UH, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND HIRING PEOPLE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF HIRING PEOPLE.

SO, UM, SO, SO HAVING ON ASSUMING THE VOTERS ADOPT THIS ON NOVEMBER 8TH AND IT GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST AND WE START GETTING OUR FIRST ADDITIONAL SALES TAX, UM, SOMETIME IN THE SPRING, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE 20 OFFICERS ALREADY HIRED BY THAT TIME.

IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

SO, UM, THAT WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS PURCHASE SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'LL NEED FOR THEM UP FRONT AND TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THAT.

UM, SO THERE'S GONNA BE MONEY TO, I DON'T WANNA SAY PLAY WITH, BUT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME, SOME FLEXIBILITY WITH THE FUNDS.

WELL, THAT LEADS TO THE OTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY PROGRAM OR INCENTIVE TO THAT WE COULD BRING OVER OFFICERS IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THE OFFICERS THAT WE NEED, MAYBE A BRAINSTORM SESSION OF OPTIONS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THESE 20 OFFICERS, CUZ LIKE YOU SAID, WE DON'T WANNA HIRE ANYONE, BUT THEY GOTTA BE QUALITY HIGHER.

SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO PUT INTO THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, TO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN WE HAVE, WE HAD THAT AS YOU RECALL, WE HAD A INCENTIVE PROGRAM A WHILE AGO WHERE WE ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZED OUR OWN OFFICERS FOR REFERRING PEOPLE HERE.

UH, WE PROBABLY NEED TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN, SOONER THAN LATER.

WHAT ABOUT FIRE STAFF? IS THAT THE SAME STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING OR IS THAT HERE? I BELIEVE WE'RE CURRENTLY FULLY STAFFED, BUT IT, IT OR WE'RE TOO DOWN, SO YEAH.

SO WE'RE REVIEWING THE APPLICANTS RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HEARD WAS COVID DISRUPTED A LOT OF THE ACADEMIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT'S GONNA KIND OF NORMALIZE WITH REGARD TO, AND THAT BE NORMALIZED BY NOW.

MORE QUESTIONS OF GRANT COMMENTS LATER? YEAH.

UM, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS, SIR.

YOUR EXISTING, UM, WORKFORCE.

IT BRINGS BACK TO US, UM, TAKE COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.

I, UH, SOME COMMENTS YOU, YOU KNOW, ON THE OFFICER THING, ANOTHER WAY TO APPROACH IT RATHER THAN THIS INCENTIVE THING IS TO, UH, UM, BOLSTER

[00:40:01]

SO THAT, THAT BECOMES THE ATTRACTION.

A SLIPPERY SLOPE THERE, MR. GO.

I MEAN WE'VE ALWAYS KIND OF LIKE, WELL WE'LL AIM FOR MEDIAN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I, IT MAY NOT BE TOO MUCH TO PUT THEM OVER MEDIAN AND OTHER PEOPLE SAY, WELL, GEEZ, I DON'T, I DON'T GET THAT KIND OF PAY THAT'S BESIDES COMING TO ALCOHOL WHERE IT'S, IT'S A SUPPORTIVE COUNCIL.

IT'S, IT'S ALSO A GOOD PAYING PLACE BECAUSE THEY'VE, THE PUBLIC HAS PROVIDED THIS TAILS TAX.

AND UH, NOW WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE GEEZ, WE WANT TO COME WORK BECAUSE THEY PAID BETTER THAN MEDIAN OR SOMETHING.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT RATHER THAN JUST INCREASING THE INCENTIVE.

IT'S IT'S PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED BOTH YES.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

SO LET'S, I, MY SUGGESTION, LET'S NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE INCENTIVE, BUT ALSO, UH, MAKING OUR EXISTING FORCE PART OF THE AMBASSADORS OF, OF UH, OF A GOOD PLACE TO WORK.

AND, AND WE DO THAT BY, BY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY, FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, IT'S NOT JUST FOR LEASE POLICE IT'S FOR FIRE IT'S FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

IT'S FOR HR, IT'S FOR ENGINEERING.

AND I THINK I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A SLUSH FUND, BUT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING YOU'RE GONNA GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

AND WE'RE WILLING TO PAY MORE BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET, OR, OR KEEP RETAINING EMPLOYEES IS JUST AS GOOD AS ATTRACTING EMPLOYEES.

MAYBE THEY'LL THINK SECOND ABOUT RETIRING A LITTLE SOONER IF THEY GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST THING THERE.

UM, I, I LIKE THE SPENDING PLAN, THE BENCHMARKS AND THE STAFF REPORT CONCERN ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY DIDN'T MENTION, UH, HOMELESSNESS ENOUGH FOR ME, WHICH THE SURVEY SAID 81%, REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, 64% REDUCING ENCAMPMENTS.

UH, THE STAFF REPORT TALKED ABOUT, UH, DETECTIVE FOR COLD HOMICIDE CASES AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT STOLEN, PROPERTY RECOVERY, UH, INVESTIGATION, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.

I'M HEARING THE PUBLIC SAYING WE DON'T WANNA SEE ENCAMPMENTS ON THE SIDEWALK ANYMORE.

I MEAN, IF WE HAVE A, I I'LL TELL YOU THE EXPECTATION OF THE PUBLIC, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S PRACTICAL.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXPECTATION OF THE PUBLIC IS YOU HAVE A ROVING STREET UNIT DEDICATED TO DRIVING AROUND THE CITY AND CLEANING UP ENCAMPMENTS.

THERE'S ONE THAT JUST POPPED UP TODAY AT 1649 EAST MAIN STREET, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK SHOULD PROBABLY BE THERE FOR 72 HOURS.

BUT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING, WE WANT THAT CLEANED OFF THE SIDEWALK TODAY AT THAT IS WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING.

WITH THIS SALES TAX INCREASE, 70% SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR A SALES TAX INCREASE OF 1 CENT PER HUNDRED DOLLARS.

IF IT WENT TO REDUCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE ENCAMPMENTS.

NOW WE MEET MARTIN VERSUS BOISE BECAUSE WE DO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE.

WE DO OFFER A SPACE IN A MOTEL WITH A VOUCHER.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN MANY JURISDICTIONS.

AND SO THE PUBLIC IS, IS ABSOLUTELY NOW LOOKING FOR MORE ENFORCEMENT.

THEY KNOW WE DO COMPASSION.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ENFORCEMENT AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT'S THE EXPECTATION WHETHER HOW IT GETS DONE IS UP TO, UH, THE CITY STAFF, UH, ON THE POLICE SIDE, SORRY ON THE FIRE FIRESIDE, SAME THING, THE EASTERN ZONE, AS I'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, UH, THIS IS THE PLACE TO SHORE UP THE, THE TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON MUTUAL AID ON THE EASTERN ZONE.

THIS PROVIDES THE FUNDS, UH, TO DO THAT.

I KIND OF LIKE THE OPTION OF THREE SQUADS.

UM, I AM LOOKING 10 OR 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT ALL PASSENGER CARS, AFTER 2035 MUST BE ELECTRIC, DOES THAT APPLY TO PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES? I WOULD HATE FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE CARS TO HAVE TO BE BATTERY OPERATED CARS.

I MEAN, YOU GOTTA HAVE A POLICE CAR THAT CAN OUT SPEED ANYBODY.

AND I THAT'S GOTTA HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF POWER AND I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BUYING, UH, BIG APPARATUS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE IN 10 YEARS.

I'M LOOKING THAT FAR DOWN THE ROAD.

I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT IF PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES ARE EXEMPT.

THERE ARE FIRE ENGINES THAT ARE BATTERY OPERATED TODAY, AND THEY'RE TWICE THE COST OF WHAT A REGULAR FIRE ENGINE IS AND, AND MTS THEY'RE CHARGING.

UH, THEY TAKE THREE AND A HALF TO FOUR HOURS.

SO WHEN WE HAVE A POLICE CAR ON THE ROAD, 24 HOURS A DAY NOW, BECAUSE IT'S ON 12 HOURS FOR A SHIFT AND THEN IT GETS PASSED OFF THE NEXT PERSON.

WELL, THAT'S GOTTA GO INTO THE CHARGING BAY FOR FOUR HOURS.

WELL, NOW WE GOTTA BUY MORE VEHICLES IF THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA BE REQUIRED OF US.

SO WE'RE GOING DOWN

[00:45:01]

I'LL NOTE ALSO THAT ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINES ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A DIESEL ENGINE IN CASE THE, THE WATER PUMP DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO BE PUMPED.

SO, UM, IT STILL HAS AN ENGINE.

RIDICULOUS.

YEAH, I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD BE HAPPY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS.

44% SAID THEY WANTED THAT.

SO YOU DONE THAT 37% SAID THEY WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S GOOD.

URBAN CORE DOES VERY GOOD JOB.

SOMETHING THAT'S NOT KNOWN BY THE PUBLIC IS WHEN WE OFFER A HOMELESS PERSON, A MOTEL VOUCHER AND THEY GO STAY IN THE MOTEL AND THEY DESTROY THE MOTEL ROOM.

THEY END UP ON A, DO NOT RENT LIST, A DNR OF A DIFFERENT MEETING.

THE PUBLIC THINKS, WELL, WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING THESE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET? WELL, THIS PARTICULAR PERSON DESTROYED A MOTEL ROOM.

THE LAST TIME THEY GOT A SPOT OFF THE STREET.

SO, UH, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AGAIN WITH HOW WE USE MONEY AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE FULLY AWARE OF ALL THE EFFORTS THAT WE GO THROUGH.

THESE ARE GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

I SUPPORT THIS JUST ON THE TOP LINE.

THE PUBLIC'S REALLY LOOKING FOR MORE HOMELESS ENFORCEMENT AND LESS COLD CASE, UH, PARKING ENFORCEMENT, UH, THOSE KIND OF THINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT.

MICHELLE, THANK YOU.

LET'S DO IT BEFORE IT CLICKS OFF AGAIN.

IT WAS A GOOD REPORT.

UM, I AGREE WITH MY, UH, COLLEAGUE, UH, THE PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR A LOT OF THE HOMELESS MITIGATION, BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY THE, THE PHONE APP THAT WE USE FOR REPORTING GRAFFITI REPORTING, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS REPORT, AND BROKEN SIDEWALKS, WHATEVER WORKS WONDERFUL.

AND I AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TELL RESIDENTS, USE THE APP, GO TO THE APP, DO THE, UM, WEBSITE BECAUSE IT WORKS AND YOU GUYS ARE FAST.

I GET EMAIL RESPONSES BACK.

UM, HEY, THIS IS DONE.

AND SOMETIMES I'VE QUESTIONS LIKE, MM, I DON'T THINK SO.

IT DIDN'T GET REALLY DONE.

BUT THEN WHEN I GO AND CHECK, THEY'VE PASSED IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT HASN'T BEEN DONE BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY COUNTY.

SO I DO WANNA COMMEND YOU ON THAT.

IT'S, IT'S, UH, A GREAT TOOL.

I CAN'T SELL IT ENOUGH.

UM, I AGREE WITH YOUR SPENDING YOUR ALLOCATION PURPOSES.

UM, AND THIS IS A REALLY HARD DECISION.

THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POSITION FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE, TO ASK FOR THIS TAX INCREASE.

WE'RE NOT DOING IT BECAUSE WE JUST WANT TO, I THINK THE, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T GENERATE MONEY IN THE SENSE OF WE DON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING OTHER THAN RESULTS.

WE'RE NOT PRODUCING STICKERS.

WE'RE NOT PRODUCING CLOTHING.

WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, PRODUCING BUILDINGS SO THAT WE CAN RENT 'EM OUT TO PEOPLE.

WE DON'T DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE TAXES TO COME IN.

I MEAN, IF WE DID, I IMAGINE HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN MAKE IF WE MADE, I LOVE EL CA HOME STICKERS.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT MY POINT IS IS THAT THE PUBLIC THINKS THAT WE CAN JUST KEEP OPERATING OUR CITY ON WHAT WE HAVE NOW, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMY IS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMY'S GONNA BE LIKE IN TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS, OR EVEN NEXT YEAR OR SIX MONTHS, THE WAY THE WORLD IS RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

AND WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS.

WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF CONDEMNATION FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTY ABOUT YOU ARE RAISING TAXES.

WE DON'T WANT OUR TAXES RAISED WELL, NEITHER DO WE.

AND WE ALL LIVE HERE AND WE HAVE TO PAY TAXES AND WE DON'T WANT OUR TAXES RAISED, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN ORDER TO RUN A CITY.

THESE PEOPLE WHO CONDEMN US FOR THIS, THEY'RE NOT RUNNING CITIES.

THEY'RE NOT ON THIS COUNCIL.

MS. MITCHELL, REMEMBER WE ARE EDUCATIONAL, NON ADVOCACY IN OUR DISCUSSIONS OF MEASURE P THIS IS, I THINK WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WELL, TALKING ABOUT THE REASONS FOR VOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IS ADVOCACY.

AND THIS IS A PIE THAT AIN'T BEEN BAKED YET, LIKE MY MOM AND SAID, SO WE SHOULD, UH, LOOK AT THE PLAN AND SEE IF THE RECIPE'S RIGHT FOR A BLUE RIBBON PIE FOR THE CITY.

[00:50:01]

UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER GLOBAL MADE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD POINTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT DOING THINGS TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO TRANSFER OVER TO EL CAJON.

WE'RE ALL ECONOMIC CREATURES AND WE GOTTA TAKE A HARD LOOK AT ALL THE REASONS WHY A, UH, POLICE OFFICER MIGHT WANT TO COME HERE.

I THINK THAT INCREASE TO 20 OFFICERS AS A GOAL IS A GREAT ONE.

UH, I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THERE BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF CONTROLLING THE HOMELESS PROBLEM, OR IS HELPING THE HOMELESS.

AND THEN THERE'S, UH, ALSO CLEARING OUT THE ONES THAT DON'T WANT TO GET INTO PROGRAMS. AND I, I, I CALL IT A TOUGH LOVE, UH, POLICY.

SO, UH, I, I AGREE WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT STEVE SAID AND, UH, HIS ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION.

UH, THANKS, GRAHAM.

I WOULD TEND TO AGREE AS WELL WITH THE SPENDING PLAN, UM, WITH REGARD TO ORDER OF IMPORTANCE.

I, I DON'T, AS I'M NOT ASSUMING THAT THESE ARE IN, IF I AM ASSUMING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, I'LL JUST SAY THAT WITH MY OPINION, I WOULD SAY REDUCED CRIME F EFFECTIVE EMS, AND THEN I'D WANNA MOVE CITY CLEANLINESS, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENT, UP TO THIRD AS ORDER OF IMPORTANCE AND IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION WITH INCENTIVES AND PAY.

I MEAN, IF WE HAVE TO MOVE THOSE NUMBERS WITH, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY IT'S $5 MILLION TO GET 20 POLICE OFFICERS AND 4 MILLION, THEN LET'S MOVE THOSE NUMBERS TO HIT, HIT THOSE BENCHMARKS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS SAID THROUGH THE SURVEY.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? LIKE YOU SAID, I DON'T WANNA BE MAR WE SHOULDN'T BE MARRIED TO THOSE NUMBERS.

I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

WELL, UM, AND THESE, THESE, THIS ORDER IS JUST BASED ON DOLLAR AMOUNT.

RIGHT? SO GOT IT.

UM, THAT'S, THAT WAS THE ORDER.

I, I THINK THERE IS SOME VALUE OF CREATING AN ORDER BASED ON WHAT'S YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

AND I THINK IT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE A ROUGH DOLLAR AMOUNT, JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, YEAH.

EIGHT OF THE 13 MILLION IS GONNA GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, RIGHT.

OR, OR EVEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO ALMOST 10 MILLION IS GONNA REALLY GO TO HOMELESS, PUBLIC SAFETY SLASH HOMELESS ABATEMENT.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THE NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S WHY THESE NUMBERS AREN'T, AREN'T LOCKED IN THROUGH RESOLUTION AS, AS THE BUDGET.

IF IT'S ADOPTED, YOU'LL LOOK AT BUDGETS, YOU'LL IDENTIFY EXACTLY HOW THOSE MONIES WILL BE SPENT.

UM, THAT, THAT THIRD COLUMN THAT MR. GO MADE REFERENCE TO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DIVE INTO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT UNTIL THEN, I THINK KEEPING IT HIGH LEVEL IS, IS IMPORTANT TO DO.

UM, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS BUYING VEHICLES ON EQUIPMENT FOR THESE OFFICERS? UM, WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THE COST OF AN OFFICER.

TO TOTALLY AGREE.

AND, AND I THINK YOU'RE TRACKING.

AND SO MY, IF WE'RE DOING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, IT'D BE CR CRIME, UM, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT, ILLEGAL HOMELESS, ENCAMPMENT, FIRE RESPONSE, CITY CLEANLINESS, AND THEN, UH, INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT OVER AFTER THAT, THEN WE MOVE DOWN.

BUT, UM, BASED OFF OF THE SURVEY RESULTS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S PROBABLY A MOVING TARGET.

I MEAN, WE MAY SAY $4 MILLION TO 20 POLICE OFFICERS, BUT WE ADD AN INCREASED PAY AND INCENTIVE AND THEN BUMPS UP TO FIVE.

YOU KNOW, SO FLEXIBILITY, I THINK IS PARAMOUNT TO MAKE SURE WE HIT THOSE OBJECTIVES.

OTHER THAN THAT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GRAHAM.

THIS IS FANTASTIC.

YOU KNOW, ONE IDEA WHILE YOU'RE WAITING TO HIRE THESE PEOPLE THAT THE PUBLIC IS ASKING FOR, UH, THAT COULD TAKE A YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, DO THAT, BUT YOU'RE STILL HAVING MONEY COME IN.

SO THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A ONE TIME, UH, NON PERSONABLE STIPEND TO WHATEVER EMPLOYEES THAT YOU DESIGNATE, UH, TO HELP RETAIN, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE CUZ THAT'S A ONE TIME EXPENSE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE FUTURE EXPENSE TO DEVELOP AND, AND BECOME REALITY.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS CHUNK OF FUNDS IN YEAR ONE, AND THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT IN THE RETENTION AREA OR, OR SOMETHING AND ACROSS ALL CITY STAFF, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE.

SURE.

I MEAN, WE'LL, I MEAN, WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE ONE WHAT THE VOTERS DO, RIGHT.

AND THEN I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE SOME GOOD WAYS TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO USE THOSE FUNDS.

I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND SOMETHING I WANNA DISCUSS WITH THE COUNCIL.

UM, QUESTION ONE IS 20 OF THE OFFICERS.

[00:55:01]

WE TOOK THE ASSUMPTION OF FIVE NEW POLICE VEHICLES.

YOU NEED ABOUT FIVE VEHICLES FOR 20 OFFICERS, AND YOU AMORTIZE THAT OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A SORT OF A, A BUILT IN COST COST OF EQUIPMENT AND INSURANCE AND LIABILITY.

WORKERS' COMP THAT'S ALL WRAPPED IN, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MILLION OR 4 MILLION TO HIRE 20 OFFICERS FOR THE WHOLE PACKAGE.

GREAT.

UM, ADDITIONAL COMPANY FOR FIRE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? EXACTLY.

SO A COMP AN ENGINE COMPANY WOULD BE A FIRE ENGINE STAFFED WITH THREE STAFF, UM, FOR THREE SHIFTS.

SO IT WOULD BE A, AN ENGINE, A FIRE ENGINE WITH NINE STAFF.

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH, UM, STATIONS FOR ALL THIS? WE WOULD, I WOULD ASSUME WE WOULD USE STATION EIGHT.

UM, AS A SECOND, WE'D HAVE TWO ENGINES IN STATION EIGHT.

SO, OR, OR THE ALTERNATIVE.

AND THE REASON SAYS, PLUS IS IT'S EITHER, IF YOU LOOK AT $4 MILLION, 4 MILLION COVERS ABOUT, UM, A FIRE ENGINE EVERY 10 YEARS, PLUS THE STAFFING, PLUS A SQUAD OR THREE SQUADS.

ARE WE GOING TO A NEW STATION BASED UPON THIS NEW STAFFING? AT SOME POINT? I, I DON'T KNOW THAT.

SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT PART OF THIS EQUATION THOUGH.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THEN MY COMMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS, BUT LOOKING AT THIS, I, I FEEL LIKE THE $1.1 MILLION FOR CITY CITY CLEANS AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENT IS TOO LOW.

UM, I'D, I'D RATHER SEE, FRANKLY, I'D RATHER SEE THE INVERSE OF INVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS BE $1.1 MILLION THAN CITY CLEANS AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENT TO BE 2 MILLION, JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE ASKING FOR.

THAT'S THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT THEY WANT.

UM, ALSO, I, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SIDEWALKS, PARKS, AND TRAFFIC, IT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING, NOT TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THERE, BUT I, I, I THINK THE PRIORITIES ARE MIXED UP IN THAT.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.

I AGREE, MR. MAYOR, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TO MY POINT EARLIER, IT'S I DON'T WANNA BE MARRIED TO THESE NUMBERS.

IT'S WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE BASED OFF OF OUR, THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS LET'S DO THAT.

NOT LET'S HIT $1.1 MILLION AND WE'VE RUN OUTTA MONEY.

NO, I AGREE.

BUT I THINK, I THINK THE STAFF'S GONNA WANT TO KNOW OUR PRIORITIES AND YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.

APPARENTLY YOU ARE AT AGREEMENT.

I AGREE.

YES.

I, I THINK THAT, UH, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT THE CITIZENS WANT IS YOU WANT THOSE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS GONE AND THEN SIDEWALK COME AFTER THAT.

SO I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR.

I, I THINK I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO HIGH, BUT I'M OKAY WITH YOUR SUGGESTION, BECAUSE I THINK URBAN CORE, OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM IS $150,000 A YEAR.

I THINK, I WANNA SAY IT'S MORE LIKE ONE 60 ISH.

BUT CERTAINLY THEY'RE, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT VERY EXPENSIVE.

VERY LOW.

HAVE THAT NOT HAVE THAT FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND HAVE IT SAY, YEAH, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR, FOR THAT.

AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROVIDING 24 HOUR RESPONSE TO GRAFFITI AND, AND JUNK CLEANUP.

JUST THE CREW THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON.

SO UNLESS WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN ENCAMPMENTS, I DON'T SEE THEM.

SO THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF, OF MITIGATION.

THAT'S, THAT'S VERY COST EFFECTIVE.

YOU KNOW, HAVING SAID THAT IF, IF GRAHAM CAME BACK TO US AND SAID, YOU'VE ALLOCATED 2 MILLION A YEAR FOR THIS, AND WE'RE SPENDING 700,000, OR THEN I'D SAY, GREAT, THE, THE WAY I READ WHAT I'M READING FROM YOU, MAYOR IS, I MEAN, THESE NUMBERS WEREN'T PULLED OUT OF NOWHERE, RIGHT.

WE SURE.

I WENT TO STAFF AND SAID, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU NEED TO DO X, Y, AND Z.

UM, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT'S IMPORTANT CITY CLEANLINESS.

IF YOU WERE, IF YOU WERE PRIORITIZING BASED ON THE DOLLAR ALLOCATION CITY, CLEANLINESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INVESTING IN STREETS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE USING OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING.

I, YEAH, I GUESS WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING IS I DON'T WANT TO BORROW THIS MONEY CUZ THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE, WE'RE BORROWING MONEY BASICALLY IN, IN, IN A TA BORROW FROM THE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

UH, I, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT AND TELL THEM IN, IN, IN ALL THE ADVERTISING THAT WE DO FOR THIS, I'M, I'LL BE CAREFUL, UM, THAT, UM, IT IT'S FOR, FOR GETTING RID OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND THAT IT

[01:00:01]

WE, BUT WE BUILD, BUT WE BUILD A WHOLE BUNCH OF SIDEWALKS.

AND THAT'S SO THAT'S, THAT WAS MY CONCERN.

UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I, I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE TRASH AROUND TOWN IS GENERATED BY THE HOMELESS.

SO IF WE GET THIS HOMELESS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, I THINK IT WILL RESULT IN LESS TRASH AROUND THE CITY.

I HOPE SO.

I MEAN, STAFF WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SWAPPING THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR CLEANLINESS AND INVESTMENT.

UM, IF COUNCIL'S OKAY WITH THAT, I THINK WE COULD, WE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN TERMS OF FINDING PROJECTS TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC.

I, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I, I, I AGREE WITH PHIL THAT LET'S NOT MARRY OURSELVES TO THE NUMBERS, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS LET'S MAKE THE NUMBERS REFLECT THE PRIORITIES.

I, IF IT'S REAL, IF IT'S REALISTIC, I MEAN, IT, SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER THINGS.

IF, IF YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IT'S THAT BEING THE CLEANEST CITY IN THE, IN THE COUNTY IN REGARD TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS MEANS THAT WE ONLY HAVE TO SPEND HALF OF THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED.

THEN LET'S NOT WASTE MONEY.

I, I DON'T WANNA BE FORMAL OR FUNCTIONAL.

WE, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE.

BUT IF IT COMES DOWN WELL, I'VE, I'VE GOTTA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS ON SIDEWALKS OR I'VE GOTTA SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS ON CLEANING UP HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.

I, I SAY WE LEAN TOWARDS CLEANING UP HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US TO DO.

CERTAINLY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT THE PUB 44% OF THE PUBLIC ALSO SAID IMPROVE IMPROVED STREETS, ROADS, AND SIDEWALKS.

AND SO YOU BRING UP A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT IF WE BUDGET 2 MILLION FOR CITY CLEANLINESS AND WELL, YOU ONLY USE 500,000, IS THE PUBLIC GONNA SAY THIN LOWER THE SALES TAX, THREE QUARTERS OF A CENT? OR ARE THEY GONNA SAY, WELL, LET'S GET SOME MORE STREETS DONE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK WE WILL KNOW, UM, BASED UPON CONTINUE LOOKING AT, AT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IF, IF THERE'S A, IF THERE'S AN EXCESS REVENUE AND WE'RE, WE'RE STORING MONEY AWAY.

AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR TOO MUCH MONEY.

I THINK I, AT LEAST, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY COUNCIL WOULD GLADLY, UM, ADJUST THAT SALES TAX TO MEET THE NEEDS.

I, I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.

I I'M SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR MESSAGE OF SWAPPING CITY CLEANLINESS TO POSITION THREE.

I THINK IT WAS YOUR IDEA AND, AND SWAP THE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS BECAUSE THAT DOES SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE HEAR YOU.

THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

WITH REGARD TO INFORMATION BEING SENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC FROM THE CITY ABOUT MEASURE P CAN THAT BE COMMUNICATED TO THEM.

SO, UM, WE'RE GETTING READY TO KIND OF LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN.

THERE IS A, THERE IS A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING, NOT AS CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING ON A ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN, RIGHT.

WE'RE KIND OF WAITING FOR THE GATEWAY TO COME OUT.

IT'S OUT TODAY.

UM, YOU HAVE ONE AT YOUR DESK, BUT WE DO A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT INFORMATION ABOUT PROP P.

NOW OUR MEASURE P, NOW THAT THAT'S OUT, WE'RE GONNA START PUTTING OUT MORE INFORMATION.

THERE'S A FEW SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT, BUT SOME MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING OUT SOON AND THIS WILL BE A REALLY KEY COMPONENT FOR THAT INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO YEAH, TO, TO GO BACK TO THE DISCUSSION, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH MR. GO AND MAYOR WELLS, UM, WITH REGARD TO ALLOCATION AND YEAH, IF IT TURNS OUT WE'RE NOT USING, WE DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR THE MONEY, THEN WE'LL RATCHET DOWN THE TAX.

AND WITH REGARD TO, UM, INVESTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS THOUGH, PARKS STREET LIGHTS PAVING, THAT WAS ONE OF THE NEEDS TO MR. GO'S POINT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S OUTSIDE OF, UM, THE JURISDICTION TO, TO, TO USE THE FUNDING FOR THAT IN ANY MEANS.

I THINK IT'S JUST A LOWER ON THE PRIORITY AND, YOU KNOW, UM, MAYBE THAT'S A LOWER HANGING FRUIT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN EXECUTE THAT A LOT QUICKER THAN HIRING 20 POLICE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, BUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE MONEY TO GET US TO THE FINISH LINE FOR THE PRIORITIES.

I ALSO THINK ONCE THE WORD ON THE STREET GETS OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T ALLOW THE ENCAMPMENTS AND WE'RE GONNA CLEAN 'EM UP QUICKLY AND DECISIVELY, YOU'LL SEE LESS OF IT.

MORTAL SPREAD YOUR YOU'RE.

UM, GRAHAM, DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON THIS? I, I DON'T THINK I NEED A MOTION.

I THINK I'VE GOT THE FEEDBACK THAT I NEEDED.

UM, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

UM, WE ARE AT ACTIVITIES REPORTS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER GLOBAL, UH, COUPLE OF ITEMS OF COMMENTS, UH, THE ADVANCED WATER PURIFICATION PROJECT.

ANYBODY ELSE WANNA LAST, LAST WORD BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY, THEN.

[01:05:01]

THERE ARE NO COMMISSIONER REPORTS ON TODAY'S

[18. Council Activity Report]

AGENDA.

ITEM 18 IS MY ACTIVITY REPORT, WHICH IS AS REPORTED.

[19. 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.]

WE ARE LIKELY GOING TO GO TO COURT AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO ON OCTOBER 14TH FOR A MOTION FOR POSSESSION OF THE EAST MISSION GORGE PUMP STATION, UH, DIRT PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY.

WE STILL MAKE PROGRESS WITH THE CITY, BUT OF IT'S.

I, I DOUBT WE'RE GONNA GET SIGNED AGREEMENTS BACK AND FORTH IN LESS THAN A MONTH.

THE MERIDIAN, UH, AMICUS PROJECT IS JUST ABOUT COMPLETE AND THE RIBBON CUTTING IS FRIDAY NIGHT AT SIX O'CLOCK FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO WANT TO ATTEND THE MTS, UH, BOARD HAS APPROVED A THIRD TRACK, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE FOR THE CAJON TRANSIT STATION.

THAT MEANS THAT THE ORANGE LINE AND THE GREEN LINE WILL STOP IN EL CAJON.

IT WILL NOT GO TO SANT AND I, THE THIRD TRACK IS FOR A TURNAROUND OF THOSE CARS THAT DO THAT.

THERE WILL BE A ONE CAR SHUTTLE THAT GOES FROM EL CAJON TO SANT, AND, UH, THAT'S GOING ON.

MTSS ALSO HAD MEETINGS AND WITH THE CITY STAFF ABOUT DEVELOPING THE MTS PARKING LOT THERE, WHICH IS A HUGE PARKING LOT.

AND THERE'S BEEN A COMPANY EXPRESS INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THAT BOTH AS A MARKET RATE PROJECT AND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT, UH, IT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT MATCH FOR ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT CITY STAFF IS WORKING ON AS WELL.

SO THERE IS SOME INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THAT PROJECT THAT PARCEL.

AND DEPUTY MAYOR MICHELLE MITCHELL.

THANK YOU, STEVE.

APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ AS REPORTED

[21. DEPUTY MAYOR MICHELLE METSCHEL Harry Griffen Park Joint Steering Committee; Heartland Communications – Alternate; Heartland Fire Training JPA – Alternate; METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA – Alternate.]

I JUST HAVE ONE ADJUSTMENT.

I DID NOT ATTEND THE, UH, EAST COUNTY HOMELESS TASK FORCE COORDINATED OUTREACH MEETING.

THAT WAS TODAY.

IT WAS SCHEDULED AN ERROR YESTERDAY, SO I DIDN'T ATTEND.

THANKS FOR TELLING US AS REPORTED.

DID I SKIP YOU? YES.

OH GOSH.

I'M SORRY.

[23. Residential Gardening Assistance Program That the City Council directs staff to present a program for City Council consideration regarding a Residential Gardening Assistance Program.]

CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY, YOU CAN PUT MORE OF THOSE UP THERE.

WE HAVE, UH, TWO JOINT COUNSEL REPORTS TODAY.

UH, THESE ARE FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, ORTIZ AND MYSELF.

THE FIRST ONE IS REGARDING RESIDENTIAL GUARDING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AND THIS WAS AN IDEA THAT I HAD PHIL.

I THINK I WOULD TAKE THIS ONE IF YOU'LL TAKE THE NEXT ONE.

YEAH, PLEASE.

UM, THIS IS AN EYE IDEA I HAD FROM GENERATED FROM ALL PEOPLE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

UM, SHORTLY AFTER THE UKRAINIAN WAR BEGAN, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME OUT AND SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FERTILIZER AND THAT, AND, UH, OTHER SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING, THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THAT SIGNIFICANT FOOD SHORTAGES ARE COMING TO THE WORLD AND THAT WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR THAT.

AND I TOOK, I TOOK HIM AT HIS WORD ON THAT, UM, AND I THOUGHT, I'M ALWAYS THINKING, WELL, WHAT CAN WE AS A COUNCIL DO TO HELP PEOPLE PREPARE FOR ANY KIND OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS? AND, UH, ONE OF THE THOUGHTS I HAD WAS THAT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY GARDENS.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE CONCEPT OF FARM TO TABLE PRODUCE, MEANING, UH, PRODUCE THAT IS GROWN WITHIN, UM, 10 MILES OF THE PLACE THAT IT'S SOLD.

AND I THOUGHT, WHAT IF WE OFFERED SOME KIND OF A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTED PEOPLE IN GROWING FOOD IN THEIR OWN HOMES? AND THE, UM, IDEA WAS THAT WE, WE HAD A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF THE THOUGHTS WAS MAYBE LETTING PEOPLE GO TO HOME DEPOT AND BUY THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED AND COME BACK WITH A, WITH A RECEIPT.

BUT THEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA VERIFY THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, COULD THERE BE FRAUD, WASTED ABUSE IN, IN THAT? AND CERTAINLY THERE COULD BE.

AND WHAT WE EVENTUALLY CAME UP WITH AS THE CONCEPT THAT IF WE WERE TO DO THIS PROGRAM, THAT WE WOULD BUY SOIL AND WE WOULD BUY SEEDS AND FRUIT TREES AND PERHAPS, UH, RAIN COLLECTION BARRELS.

AND IF, IF PEOPLE HAD A NEED FOR THAT, THEY COULD COME AND REQUISITION THAT FROM OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS YARD.

AND THE ONLY, UH, PART OF THIS PROGRAM THAT I DON'T LIKE IS IT, IT DOES TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CENTRIC TOWARDS PEOPLE THAT OWN THEIR OWN PROPERTY AND HAVE SOME PROPERTY THAT THEY CAN PLACE.

BUT MY WIFE HAS ASKED ME TO BUILD, UM, RAISED, BE PLANTER BEDS THAT I'VE BEEN, UH, BUILDING ABOUT ONE A WEEK FOR THE PAST SIX WEEKS.

I'VE ONLY GOT ANOTHER 15 TO GO .

AND, UM, YOU KNOW,

[01:10:01]

BUT IF YOU HAVE, I, I LIVED IN A, UH, A TOWNHOUSE FOR A LONG TIME.

WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE HAD FOUR OR FIVE OF THOSE, THOSE RAISED BEDS.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY, FOR THE MOST PART CAN, CAN AT LEAST PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM TO SOME DEGREE.

SO THAT'S MY THOUGHTS.

UM, GRAHAM, YOU MIGHT EXPLAIN WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM FROM, FOR THIS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THAT YET.

I THINK WE'RE, IF COUNCIL HAS SOME, UM, DIRECTION, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL COME BACK AND DEVELOP A, A GAME PLAN THAT WOULD INCLUDE A FUNDING SOURCE.

UM, I THOUGHT WE COULD USE THE APA FUNDING.

IT IS APA ELIGIBLE.

IT WOULD BE APA ELIGIBLE.

BUT WE COULD LOOK AT SOME VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE, BUT IN, IN ANY EVENT, I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE TREMENDOUSLY, UH, EXPENSIVE, BUT STAFF WILL COME BACK AND TELL US, BUT I, I THINK IT'S RELATIVELY MINOR, BUT IT, IT, IT GIVES A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE MATTERS IN THEIR OWN HANDS AND TO TEACH THEIR KIDS HOW TO BE MORE SELF-RELIANT HOW TO, HOW TO PLANT, HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.

SO THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

AND I'M, UH, CERTAINLY OPEN TO YOUR THOUGHTS, BUT FIRST LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY, UH, AGENDA, UH, ANYBODY, UH, PUTTING A CARD ON THIS.

NO COMMENTS SPEAKING.

I CAN NO SPEAKER CARD.

SO, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO, TO YOU GUYS TO, TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WELL, I GREW UP IN SANT IN THE 1960S AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD GARDENS CUZ WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY AND UH, ALL THROUGH SUMMER WE WOULD HAVE TOMATOES AND ZUCCHINI AND PEPPERS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

AND WE HAD 13 FRUIT TREES.

WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, AND EVEN TODAY WHEN, WELL, ACTUALLY 20 YEARS AGO, MY, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAVING KIDS, WE HAD A GARDEN IN THE KIDS, ALWAYS WANTED A LIKE WHAT THEY PLANTED, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT TASTED.

SO, UH, I THINK IT'S WORTH, UH, LOOKING INTO ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, STEVE.

SO YOU BROUGHT UP A, A, A CONCERN, I THINK HALF THE CITY COULD HAVE CUZ OVER HALF THE CITY, UH, DON'T OWN THEIR OWN HOME AND IS THEIR PERCEPTION AMONG THOSE THAT LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY THINGS THAT, HEY, THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR THE RICH PEOPLE WHO CAN ONLY OWN THEIR OWN HOMES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT A TREE OR HAVE A RAISED GARDEN IN MY APARTMENT.

SO, SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THAT? YOU KNOW, I, AT, AT SOME POINT I THINK YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY, THE GOOD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE, I, I THINK IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM TO BENEFIT THE RICH BECAUSE GROWING HOME VEGETABLES IS NOT, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE RICH ARE GENERALLY ACCUSED OF BEING TOO INVOLVED IN.

I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO CAN TO, UH, TAKE MATTERS OF THEIR OWN HAND AND PREPARE FOR POSSIBILITY OF HARD TIMES.

AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT KILLED BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERFECT.

SOMETHING YOU MIGHT CONSIDER IS THESE, UH, HOAS OR THESE APARTMENT OWNERS MAY PROVIDE AN AREA WITHIN THEIR OWN COMPLEX FOR THIS KIND OF THING.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UH, A PERFECT ALTERNATIVE AND CERTAINLY, UH, NOBODY WOULD BE TURNED AWAY IF THAT WAS, IF THAT WERE THE CASE, UH, WE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE GREAT, BUT IN CAJON, I, I THINK THE HOMELESS POPULATION KIND OF MAKES IT A DIFFICULT PLAY TO HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN, UH, BECAUSE CHAIN LINK IS, IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT USED TO BE.

UM, I, I, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS.

I I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF THE CONCERNS OF APARTMENT OWNERS OR HOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO SAY, WHY ARE YOU PROMOTING SOMETHING THAT USES A LOT OF WATER WHEN WE'RE IN A WATER CRISIS? I I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF ANY POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS.

THE PLANTY OF TREES AND, AND PLANTS.

I MEAN, I MEAN, LOOK, THAT WOULDN'T BE SURPRISING TO ME CUZ CERTAINLY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS STARVING OUT THE CENTRAL VALLEY FROM WATER AND CENTRAL VALLEY USED TO PRODUCE 20% OF THE WORLD'S FOOD.

UH, I THINK IT'S SUICIDAL INSANE TO, TO DO THAT.

BUT UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S HARD PRESS FOR ME TO MAKE THE, THE ARGUMENT, THE GROWING FOOD IS A WASTE OF WATER, BUT I GUESS I'LL JUST, UH, SUGGEST THAT WE INCLUDE A WAY FOR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS TO PARTICIPATE ALSO.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS WE COULD MITIGATE SOME OF THAT IS IF WE INCLUDED, UM, WATER COLLECTION BARRELS, SO PEOPLE CAN COLLECT WATER THAT'S COMING OFF THEIR ROOFS AND, AND USE THAT FOR IRRIGATION, THAT THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL WINTER TOO, BY THE WAY, IT, IT REDUCES CARBON.

IT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT PROMOTES, UH,

[01:15:01]

I THINK EVERYBODY LIKES THAT.

SO YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I FOUND OUT, ESPECIALLY AT MY PARENTS' HOUSE WERE, WERE, THEY HAD A LOT OF TREES IS WE HAD HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF SAY APRICOTS.

WE WOULD GIVE 'EM TO ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS AT SCHOOL.

AND I THINK THE THING, SAME THING ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, YOU BRING 'EM INTO WORK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY USE SO MANY APRICOTS OR APPLES OR FIGS.

WE, WE GAVE AWAY GRAPEFRU TO 15 DIFFERENT FAMILIES.

SO I, I THINK IT AUTOMATICALLY GETS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO PEERS AND UH, FRIENDS AT SCHOOL.

THAT'S HOW WE DO VERY GOOD POINT.

COOL.

YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY.

I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TOTALLY, UM, RIGHT OFF THE IDEA OF, UH, COMMUNITY GARDENS.

I MEAN, IN COLLEGE, ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WAS IF YOU INCREASE PEDESTRIANS AND, AND TRAFFIC IN AN AREA, IT REDUCES CRIME, UM, PASSIVELY, IT'S A PASSIVE WAY TO DO THAT.

SO MAYBE STILL, I DON'T WANNA RIDE OFF THE TABLE COMPLETELY, BUT LET'S EXPLORE THAT IDEA FOR THOSE MULTI-FAMILY PEOPLE.

UM, BUT THEN ALSO, UM, I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT FOR SENIORS IN MOBILE HOMES.

THEY GOT SPACE AND THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, REINVIGORATE THEIR GREEN THUMB AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE, UM, FOOD SECURE IN A TIME OF INFLATION.

THINGS ARE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO I THINK OUR, OUR, OUR MOBILE HOME PARKS AND OUR SENIORS ARE GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

SO, YEAH, CHILL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

UM, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

WE HAVE DONE GARDENS AT OUR HOUSE, UM, QUITE FREQUENTLY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE US MAYBE PARTNER WITH QU MECCA COLLEGE, UM, TO PROVIDE GROWING TIPS AND HOW TO PLANT AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO GIVE THEM THE SEEDS.

IT'S GREAT TO GIVE HIM THE FERTILIZER AND THE DIRT.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD KIND OF THEM ALONG.

UM, SO IT'S NOT A WASTE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST GIVE PAMPHLETS ON HOW TO PLANT WHAT TYPE OF, UH, SOIL IS NEEDED FOR THIS OR THAT.

UM, I KNOW BUTTERNUT SQUASH GROWS PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE AND WE'VE HAD BUTTERNUT SQUASH TAKE OVER THE BACKYARD AND MY NEIGHBORS HATED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AFTER A WHILE.

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

UM, AND I LIKE THE COMMUNITY GARDENS.

I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT HAVING MORE COMMUNITY GARDENS.

UM, THERE'S THE GROUP THAT HAS THE GARDEN NEXT TO MAGNOLIA SCHOOL.

THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.

AND, UM, IT'S STILL THERE.

I KNOW WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO SCHOOL THERE PROBABLY IN THE MID EIGHTIES, IT HAD ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.

SO I THINK IT THERE'S SOME VALUE TO THERE.

I JUST HOPE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT WE GIVE SOME OF THESE NEW GARDENERS, UM, SOME INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA AND NOT JUST LIKE, OKAY, WELL, I, I GUESS I'LL JUST PUT THE SEED IN THE GROUND.

AND I, AND I, I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE LIGHT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, CUZ I THINK THERE IS SOME VALUE THERE.

WE HAD THE VICTORY GARDENS AND ALIKE.

UM, MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAD A GARDEN UP IN SANDEE AS WELL.

AND UM, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SET 'EM UP FOR SUCCESS AND UM, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED AND GO FORWARD.

YES, SIR.

UH, THERE'S A COMMUNITY GARDEN JUST DOWN THE BLOCK FOR ME ON TRAVEL LODGE ACROSS FROM KAISER.

UH, FROM THE CITY THROUGH QUEENA COLLEGE, CUZ IT GOT PILES AND PILES OF IT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE VALLEY FLOOR THAT GO UP THERE AND THEY HAVE THEIR LITTLE SPOT AND BOY, THERE'S A LOT OF VEGETABLES IN THERE AND PEOPLE ARE IN THERE WORKING ON IT ALL THE TIME.

THEY HAVE A BIG CHAIN LINK FENCE AROUND IT.

UH, AND THAT SEEMS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

UH, ABOUT WHAT 15 YEARS AGO, MY KIDS AS A FATHER'S DAY PRESENT GOT A TRUCKLOAD OF MULCH FROM QUEEN MACKA COLLEGE FOR $10 AND BUILT ME A RAISED BED FOR FATHER'S DAY.

THAT'S NICE.

AND I HAD TOMATO PLANTS THAT WERE ABOUT SEVEN FEET HIGH AND EVERYBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GOT LOTS OF TOMATOES FROM ME.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT JUST NOT THAT DIFFICULT.

AND UH, WE MIGHT EVEN SET SOMETHING UP WHERE THEY CAN GET A TRUCKLOAD OF MALTS DELIVERED,

[01:20:01]

OH, MAYBE.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? LAST ONE, THERE'S A SHARK TANK IDEA.

I I'M A SHARK TANK FEED WHERE THESE ENTREPRENEURS ACTUALLY MADE, UH, A SHEET THAT YOU ROLL OUT AND IT'S HAS SOIL AND SEEDS IN EACH LITTLE POD THAT YOU ROLL INTO A BED THAT MIGHT BE, UH, A LOT EASIER METHOD TO HELP BEGINNER GARDENERS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL SAID.

SO JUST AN OPTION TO THROW OUT THERE TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

I'D SUGGEST A DOLLAR MAXIMUM FOR THE PROGRAM AND A TIME JUST LIKE THE BUSINESS GRANTS.

YEAH, I THINK SO.

I THINK SO HAVE A SUNSET DATE AND A SUN AND A PROGRAM MAX.

YEAH, I I'M LOOKING AT THIS MORE LIKE A, UM, EXPERIMENT AND TO SEE IF, IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, I, I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I, IT MAY BE THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BUT WE WON'T, UH, WE WON'T, UH, OVER BUY SO WE'LL WE WON'T WASTE ANY MONEY JUST TO BE CLEAR CANNABIS PLANTS ARE NOT PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

CORRECT.

I'M JUST GOOD POINTS, STEVE.

NOT PART OF THE PROGRAM.

DANG.

UH, GRAHAM, YOU HAVE DIRECTION.

THAT'S GREAT.

WE'LL BRING THIS BACK IN A COUPLE COUNCIL MEETINGS.

UH, ANGELA, DID WE GET A COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NO COMMENTS, SIR.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS.

[24. Independent Third-Party Review of City of El Cajon Finances That the City Council directs staff to procure the services for an independent third-party review of the City's finances.]

THAN THE AUDITS THAT WE GET EVERY YEAR BY, UH, A THIRD PARTY AUDITING COMPANY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AND MAYBE STAFF CAN MAKE SOME DISTINCTIONS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE AUDITING THAT WE HAVE IS BASED ON, ARE WE LEGALLY SPENDING MONEY, UH, CORRECTLY AND ARE, IS THERE EMBEZZLEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S NOT A, UH, AN AUDIT TO DETERMINE HOW WELL WE ARE MAXIMIZING THOSE FUNDS.

THE SECOND JOINT COUNCIL REPORT IS FOR AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY REVIEW OF CITY FINANCES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ AND I HAVE BROUGHT, AND I'M GONNA LET, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ EXPLAIN IT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

SO, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE TAX MEASURE WITH HALF SENTENCE SALES, UH, TAX INCREASE, UM, I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING, UM, CALLS AND CONCERNS FROM NOT JUST RESIDENTS, BUT PEOPLE OUTSIDE, UM, ASKING TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR THIS.

AND WE AS A COUNCIL AND OUR STAFF, WE LIVE IN THE BUDGET.

UM, I'M CONFIDENT WE DO A GREAT JOB.

UM, AND SO I THOUGHT WHAT COULD REMOVE ALL DOUBT OR, OR MOST OF THE DOUBT, UM, FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW IS THE CITY OF EL CAJON MAXIMIZING ITS DOLLARS.

IS IT BEING A GOOD STEWARD? UM, AND WE CAN POINT TO ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE WANT TO, BUT INTERNALLY, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, OURSELVES, PAT IT'S US PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK.

UM, SO WE DO FINANCIAL AUDITS ON OURSELVES FOR WASTE FRAUD, ABUSE, NEFARIOUS PURPOSES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LEGALLY SPENDING OUR MONEY CORRECTLY.

UM, SO MY THOUGHT IS TO MIRROR THAT IN SOME REGARD TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY PARTY AUDITOR COME IN AND CONFIRM OUR, OUR, UM, WHAT WE'RE SAYING WITH REGARD TO, WE DO A GOOD JOB HERE IN EL CAJON, UM, MANAGING THE PUBLIC FUNDS.

UM, THIS COULD BE USED AS AN EDUCATION PIECE, UM, TOWARDS THE PUBLIC TO SHOW LISTEN, UH, WE'VE LOOKED AT EVERYTHING IN OUR BUDGET, UM, TO, AND WE'RE OUT OF OPTIONS.

SO TO SPEAK WITH REGARD TO THE INCREASE FOR SERVICES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED.

SO MY THOUGHT IS LET'S BRING IN AN EXPERT, UM, OR AN ORGANIZATION OR A GROUP OR A PERSON THAT HAS SOME EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.

UM, GIVE US A GRADE, SO TO SPEAK.

UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, A THROUGH F WE DO A, UH, WE GOT A, A MINUS WITH REGARD TO, UM, MAXIMIZING OUR FUNDING.

UM, SO THAT'S ON THE FRONT END.

UM, ON THE BACK END, I THINK THIS WOULD SERVE SOME VALUE AS WELL.

UM, WITH REGARD TO, IF THIS DOESN'T, IF THIS HALF AND SALES TAX ISN'T PASSED, THIS COULD SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT AS TO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? UM, ARE THERE AREAS IN THE BUDGET THAT WE MISSED OR IS THERE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE, UM, SALES TAX REVENUE? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE AUDITOR COULD, COULD, UH, IDENTIFY, UM, PLAN, UH, HOPE FOR THE BEST PLAN FOR THE WORST.

SO I, I SEE THIS BEING A BENEFIT, A SMALL INVESTMENT ON THE FRONT END ON THE BACK END.

UM, LISTEN, I, I THINK THAT WE ARE, UH, THE POSTER CHILD WITH REGARD TO SPENDING CITIES, SPENDING RESIDENTS TAXES, UM, EFFECTIVELY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD REMOVE ALL DOWN.

AND PART OF THAT IS HAVING A THIRD PARTY COME IN AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT, UM, WE'VE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF SAN COUNTY TAXPAYERS AND, UM, EAST COUNTY CHAMBER, BUT I THINK THIS COULD, UM, SERVE A GREAT BENEFIT TO QUELL ANY CONCERNS OR EXISTING CONCERNS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS, WHICH THERE ARE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE COUNCIL WITH, UH, ANY OF THEIR THOUGHTS, GARY.

UM, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT

[01:25:01]

UM, SO WHAT, THIS WOULD BE A THIRD PARTY THAT GIVES THEIR JUDGMENT OF WHETHER WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY, WHERE, AND HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY IS MY VISION OF HOW, WHAT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT IS, WHAT IT WOULD BE IS HOW WELL IS EL CAJON PERFORMING, UM, WITH REGARD TO MAXIMIZING FUNDS AND, UM, HOW WELL THEY SPELL TAX, UH, SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

YEAH, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR MORE MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, PROOF THAT WE'RE SPENDING EXISTING MONEY, UM, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND NOT WASTING MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, GIVING LIKE THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO GIVING 40 MILLION WORTH OF BONUSES TO EMPLOYEES DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE DO HERE.

AND I THINK A THIRD PARTY TO VERIFY ALL OF THAT AND SHOW LISTEN, WE, WE DO A GOOD JOB AT THIS, UM, IS, IS WHERE I THINK THAT PERFORMANCE AUDIT WOULD, WOULD COME INTO PLAY.

AND HOW WOULD THAT THIRD PARTY BE SELECTED? UM, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE, THE PROCESS, UH, GRAHAM, WE COULD SOLICIT, UH, PEOPLE OR GROUPS THAT COULD COME IN AND, AND WITH EXPERTISE, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, THERE'S MAYBE TWO WAYS TO DO IT.

ONE WAY WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE FROM A TRUE INDEPENDENCE.

CAUSE I THINK THE ARGUMENT THAT PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS MAKE ARE, WELL, YOU PAID FOR THE SURVEY, SO YOU GOT THE GRADE THAT YOU PAID FOR.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

SO, UM, THE, THE, AND WE'RE, WE'RE PUSHED UP AGAINST A TIME LIMIT.

SO ONE OPTION WOULD BE, WE WOULD GO OUT DO A, AN RFQ RFP.

AND BECAUSE THERE'S NOT TIME TO COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WE WOULD JUST, UM, LOOK AT THAT.

AND I CANNOT IMAGINE THIS COSTING MORE THAN 10 TO $20,000.

THE OTHER, THE OTHER OPTION, IT WOULD COST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME IS WE WOULD DO A SIMILAR PROCESS TO HIRE A COMPANY TO THEN PROCURE THE, THE, THE PERSON THAT WOULD DO THE FINANCIAL.

SO WE, YOU WOULD FIND ORGANIZATION X WHO WOULD THEN INDEPENDENTLY NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY, FIND A PARTY TO DO THE, THE AUDIT OR THE ANALYSIS.

AND THEN THEY WOULD DO THAT ANALYSIS AND THEN REPORT BACK TO THE COMPANY THAT WE HIRED.

SO THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF REMOVAL.

WE'RE ABOUT 53 DAYS AWAY FROM THE ELECTION.

I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

THAT'S A CHALLENGE IN, IN SOME WAYS, THIS IS ALMOST THE, ONE OF THE BEST FINANCIAL AUDITS IS A BOND RATING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO THE CITY OR THE, OR THE BOND THAT THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S SELLING BONDS, THEY'RE BEHOLDEN TO THE BOND HOLDERS.

AND I MEAN, THAT'S, IT'S ALMOST AKIN TO GETTING A BOND ASSESSMENT IN A WAY, BUT I THINK WHAT MR. ORTIZ IS TALKING ABOUT IS MAYBE LOOKING AT IT EVEN A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH.

AGAIN, I THINK ONE, THE CHALLENGES IS THAT REMIND YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL CANNOT, UH, COMMIT ADVOCACY AGAIN WITH, FOR AGAINST MEASURE P LET'S KEEP IT, UH, ANY OF THE, THE WORK ON THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY TO, TO THAT, UH, TO THAT NOTE.

I THINK THAT ANYTHING WE DO TIME SHOULD BE REALLY, UH, SUPER IMPORTANT IN THIS, BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THIS IS GETTING PEOPLE IN MORE INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

SO, YOU KNOW, EARLY VOTING, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHEN EARLY VOTING STARTS, BUT IT'S, IT'S GOTTA BE OCTOBER 10TH.

THAT'S, THAT'S A, AND THERE'S SORT OF A, THERE'S A RULE OF THUMB THAT, THAT OUR, THE CITY'S NON ADVOCACY INFORMATION PROGRAM SHOULD KIND OF CEASE 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY LESS THAN, WE'RE REALLY MORE LIKE 20 DAYS AWAY FROM GETTING INFORMATION OUT.

SO IF YOU WERE TO HIRE, IF, IF WE GAVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO HIRE SOMEBODY AND YOU CHOSE SOMEBODY, UM, FROM TODAY ON HOW LONG DO YOU THINK BEFORE WE COULD HAVE A REPORT BACK IN HAND, IS THIS EVEN FEASIBLE? IS WHAT I'M SAYING? I, I THINK WE NEED TO DEVELOP A SCOPE.

SO, UM, I THINK IT'S FEASIBLE, BUT IT, IT MAY BE BARELY IN TIME.

I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW,

[01:30:01]

I DON'T KNOW.

IT COULD BE FEASIBLE.

I JUST DUNNO HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE.

I'VE NEVER DONE ONE OF THESE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE KIND OF FIRMS LOOK LIKE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY NEED TO SPEND.

I I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME IN A CITY HALL IN ONE DAY.

THEY'RE GONNA PROBABLY, THEY'RE GONNA PROBABLY WALK AROUND, DO A LOT OF KICKING.

LOOK AT BUDGETS, LOOK AT TRENDS, PROBABLY LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, LOOK AT THEIR TRENDS, LOOK AT SOME COST COMPARISONS.

UM, LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.

PROBABLY LOOK AT OUR FEE STRUCTURES.

ARE WE NOT CHARGING SUFFICIENT FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS OR DEVELOPMENT, IMPACT FEES? THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THEY, IF I, IF I WERE DOING THE ANALYSIS OF A CITY, I'D PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT THAT AND GOING WELL, YEAH, YOU'RE UNDER UNDERCHARGING.

YOU'RE DEVELOPERS BY 20%.

IF YOU WERE TO CHARGE THEM WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS CHARGING, YOU WOULDN'T NEED A SENSE, ONE SENTENCE SALES TAX.

I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT THAT.

BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF ANALYSIS I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED THAT.

OR AT LEAST I WOULD DO.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'LL TAKE MORE THAN A WEEK.

SO YOU SAY, LET'S SAY I'M JUST SPITBALLING.

IT TAKES US A WEEK TO GET A PROCUREMENT OUT A WEEK TO GET RESPONSES BACK.

UM, THREE DAYS TO CHOOSE SOMEBODY, GET SOMEONE UNDER PROCUREMENTS TWO DAYS, THAT'S THREE WEEKS TO GET SOMEBODY ON THE JOB.

AND THEN IT TAKES SOMEONE LET'S SAY A WEEK TO DO THEIR ANALYSIS, ASSUMING THEY CAN GET IT DONE IN A WEEK.

SO WE'RE TALKING FOUR WEEKS FROM NOW.

SO THAT TAKES US OUT TO ABOUT OCTOBER 11TH.

AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE FRANKLY, DROPPING EVERYTHING TO GET THAT DONE, BILL.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

I THINK OUR BOND RATINGS, UH, ARE A GOOD, UH, INDICATOR OF HOW WE, OUR MONEY IF WE SPEND OUR MONEY WISELY, UH, WHAT IS OUR, WHAT WAS OUR BOND RATING? WE WENT OUT FOR THE REFINANCE.

WE'RE DOUBLE A, IS THAT THE HIGHEST AAA IS THE HIGHEST OUR BOND HOLDER TOLD US OUR BOND RATE TOLD US, UM, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TRIPLE A IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT'S CALLED CALIFORNIA.

I, I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL RIGHT THERE.

YEAH, GO AHEAD, STEVE.

I, BESIDES THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING INFORMATION DEVELOPED, THEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT INFORMATION IN TERMS OF GETTING IT INTO THE PUBLIC'S HANDS AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM.

AND AT THAT POINT, I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE BALLOTS IN THEIR HANDS, UH, THROUGH EARLY VOTING.

AND SO IT'S NOT JUST HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THE INFORMATION, BUT WHAT WOULD WE DO THE, WITH THE INFORMATION ONCE WE GET IT, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO DO SOMETHING? BECAUSE, UH, I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A TURNAROUND THERE ALSO, UH, WE STAND, I THINK IT'S CALLED THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

IS THAT WHAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY KIND OF, AS A, AS A TRADE INDUSTRY, UH, SAY YOU, YOU ARE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES WITH, WITH YOUR FINANCES AND THINGS.

IF WE'RE GONNA GET INTO A JUDGMENT OF, WELL, SHOULD YOU HAVE DONE ROADS OR SHOULD YOU HAVE DONE PARKS? THAT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF A DISCUSSION.

UH, NOW THAT'S, THAT'S NOT ARE THEIR BEST PRACTICES DONE IS NOW IT'S IS THE JUDGMENT OF THE COUNCIL.

GOOD.

AND THAT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT KIND OF DISCUSSIONS.

I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO GATHER AND MAKE THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC CASE.

IT JUST TO BE REALLY TRANSPARENT.

A LOT OF THIS CAME FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND, AND PEOPLE WHO, PEOPLE WHO TALKED TO PHIL AND THEY TALKED TO ME AS WELL.

I'M SURE THEY TALKED TO YOU AS WELL.

WHO SAID, ARE YOU SURE YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD SHORT OF A SALES TAX TO, TO TRY TO MITIGATE THIS, THIS FINANCIAL PROBLEM? AND WE SAID, YEAH, WE BELIEVE WE DID.

THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S BASED UPON YOU BELIEVING THE INFORMATION YOU GOT FROM YOUR STAFF, WHICH I THINK WE DO, BUT THIS WAS A, THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO LOOK IT A WAY TO KIND OF TAKE IT OUT OF THE, UM, THE REALM OF, OF BELIEVING IN TRUSTING AND, AND, AND LETTING AN INDEPENDENT GROUP VERIFY.

I STILL THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT I I'M, I'M NOT SURE I'M SEEING HOW THE, THE TIME WORKS OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I, I, I DON'T WANT TO JUST WASTE $20,000 TO TRY TO PLACATE SOMEBODY WHO'S SQUEAMISH ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION, FRANKLY.

I, I WAS NOT, UM, THINKING THAT IT WAS GONNA TAKE THIS LONG.

I THOUGHT WE COULD HIRE SOMEBODY IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEY COULD BE DONE IN A WEEK.

SO I, I, I, I WAS LOOKING AT 10 DAYS FROM NOW VERSUS THREE TO FOUR WEEKS FROM NOW, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY,

[01:35:02]

THE CHAMBER ENDORSED IT.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT AND KEEPING THE CITIES CLEAN.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THE, WELL, I CAN'T GET INTO THAT.

THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS SALES TAX THING IS WE'RE BEING A RESPONSIVE COUNCIL.

WE DIDN'T PROPOSE A ONE SENT SALES TAX.

WE RESPONDED TO A SURVEY THAT SAID 81% OF THE RESIDENTS SAID, DO SOMETHING TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.

AND WE SAID, OKAY, THEN WE WILL COME UP WITH AN INITIAL HALF CENT SALES TAX.

YOU DECIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE YOU WANT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS NOT US IMPLEMENTING A TAX INCREASE.

THIS IS GIVING THE RESIDENTS A CHOICE.

WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE DO YOU WANT? OH, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, PHIL.

THIS IS, YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING, BUT THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO YEAH.

IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MY MIC'S WORKING, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S VALUE IN PURSUING IT.

UM, I UNDERSTAND THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, YOU KNOW, IF, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD A LITTLE, THE CHALLENGE OF ALL OF THIS IS THE TIMEFRAME, CUZ THIS WAS RUSH TO US, YOU KNOW, TO PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS YEAR.

UM, AND SO, UM, BUT I, I, I UNDERSTAND THE TIME CONSTRAINTS IF I'M IN THE MINORITY, YOU KNOW, SO BE IT, I STILL THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN, IN BOLSTERING OUR CREDIBILITY IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

I GET THEA BOND RATING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE CITED TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

THAT WE'RE, UH, THAT WE, WE HAVE AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD.

UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, ON THE, ON THE BACK END AS WELL, IF, UM, IF THIS DOESN'T PASS, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T HURT TO HAVE SOME OPTIONS THAT BEING SAID, IF, YOU KNOW, IF I AM IN THE MINORITY, THEN YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT, IT BEGS A QUESTION.

UM, LET LET'S, LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THAT, UM, WE HAD SIX, SIX MONTHS AND, AND WE, WE WANTED TO, TO DO THIS.

HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN DOING IT IF WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME? OH, ABSOLUTELY.

NO.

NO.

SO I THINK IT'S A VALID CONCERN AND I MEAN AN INDEPENDENT STUDY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE DONE IT.

I MEAN, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT COSTING US IN OUR MEN AND LEG TO DO IT.

AND I THINK THAT THERE MAY BE SOME VALIDITY IN HAVING IT DONE, IF THIS THING SHOULD PASS, WHY NOT COME BACK? LIKE AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AFTER WE'VE HAD MAYBE SIX MONTHS OF IT BEING IMPLEMENTED MINUTE AND IN REVISITING THIS, THIS CONCEPT OF HAVING AN, UH, A THIRD PARTY, CHECK US OUT.

LET ME ASK GRAHAM A QUESTION.

IF YOU DON'T MIND.

NO, GO AHEAD, GRAHAM.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEETINGS AND, AND AUTHORIZATION.

UM, IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND FIND A WAY TO DO THIS AND GET THE INFORMATION BACK BEFORE, UM, THE BALLOT WENT OUT AND WE, WE HAD HAD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, WOULD, WHAT KIND OF AUTHORIZATION WOULD YOU NEED TODAY? YOU JUST, I MEAN, IT WOULD BE WITHIN MY SIGNING AUTHORITY, I CAN HIRE A CONSULTANT UP TO SIX MONTHS, BUT WOULD YOU ALSO, WOULD YOU ALSO HAVE THE, HAVE THE LEEWAY AT THAT POINT TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE FAST ENOUGH.

IT'S, IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY, SO I'M NOT GONNA DO IT.

CAN WE, CAN WE GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IT IF IT'S POSSIBLE? WELL, I, I, I GUESS I'M, I STRUGGLE WITH THAT BECAUSE ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE, BUT I COULD RETURN A REAL TURN TO YOU THAT HAS NO VALUE.

BUT, UH, WE, IF IT'S, IF IT'S AN EXERCISE AND FUTILITY, IF IT CAN'T BE DONE IN TIME, I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE, UH, HANDCUFFED INTO MAKING A BAD DECISION AND THROWING MONEY AWAY.

AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN RETURN SOMETHING THAT HAS VALUE THAT WOULD ENHANCE YOUR, YOUR CONFIDENCE.

I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.

SO HOW ABOUT THIS? I'M ASKING ALL OF US, HOW ABOUT THIS? COULD YOU LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITIES OF MOVING THAT TIMELINE UP AND, AND MAKING THIS WORK FROM A, A TIMELINE PERSPECTIVE AND THEN IF NEED BE CO CONVENE IN A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TO, TO GIVE YOU AUTHORIZATION, WE COULD DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EXTRA COUNCIL MEETING WOULD BE.

IN FACT, IT WOULD PROBABLY JUST SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS.

YEAH, I'M GET IT DONE.

I, I, I JUST THOUGHT THE ANSWER TO MY LAST QUESTION WAS, I GUESS I JUST NEED A GO OR NO GO.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I NEED FROM A COUNCIL.

DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT OR DO YOU WANT ME TO NOT DO IT BECAUSE YEAH, I WANT YOU TO DO IT, BUT I, I DON'T, I, I THINK, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE VOTES HERE WOULD BE, YES, WE WANT YOU TO DO IT,

[01:40:01]

I THINK WHAT I WOULD NEED FROM THE COUNCIL, IF, IF THE THERE'S A GREEN LIGHT TO GO, I KIND OF NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE SCOPE IS.

CUZ RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT A, A FISCAL ANALYSIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

IS IT A BENCHMARK COMPARISON? IS IT A STUDY OF LOST REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES? IS IT ALL? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

I THINK, I THINK WHAT IT MEANS IS, UM, WHAT ARE THE CONS ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF, OF NOT DOING THIS? REALLY? WHAT WE SAY ARE, ARE, ARE COUNCIL.

I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND THAT SORT OF WHACKAMOLE NO, NO, I UNDERSTAND.

SO I GUESS THE, THE, WHAT WOULD I BE LOOKING FOR WOULD BE TO, IN ORDER TO ADJUST, TO MEET THE, THE CHALLENGES O OF, OF THIS, THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN AND, AND TO ADJUST INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

AND WE WILL GIVE THAT AS, AS A GIVEN THAT, THAT THAT'S NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION THAT THAT REALLY HAS TO HAPPEN.

IS THERE A WAY TO PAY FOR THAT WITHOUT THE SALES TAX? MY GUESS IS THE ANSWER WOULD BE NO, BUT FOR THOSE WHO, WHO QUESTION THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY COME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN TELLING YOU AND WHAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN TELLING YOU IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THOSE KIND OF SERVICES, THERE'S NO WAY TO DO THAT BY, UH, TRIMMING A LITTLE HERE AND TRIMMING A LITTLE THERE AND ADDING SOME FEES.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IT'S, IT IS UNREACHABLE WITHOUT THE TAX.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

FOR, WITH EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE ME AS CREDIBLE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY DOES AND, UH, FAIR THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

SO THE, THE QUESTION IS, COULD YOU FULFILL ALL THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC BY REDUCING COSTS? SURE.

BECAUSE WE'RE OVERPAYING SOMETHING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GIVING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FREE RENT, RIGHT.

SHOULD WE REALLY BE CHA CHARGING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MARKET RATE RENT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THOSE THINGS AND IDENTIFY, DOES THAT ADD UP TO $13 MILLION? OR ARE WE LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE BECAUSE X, Y IS Z, RIGHT? YEAH.

AND, AND I, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND SAY, WHETHER IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR A BAD IDEA TO INCREASE OUR COSTS, BECAUSE I THINK WE WE'VE AGREED AS A COUNCIL.

AND AS THE STAFF UNANIMOUSLY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU JUST ADDED SOME MORE FEES, IF YOU JUST DEALT WITH YOUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IF YOU JUST DID THIS OR THAT YOU COULD, UM, YOU COULD PROBABLY MAKE THIS WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN, IN SALES TAX.

AND I THINK YOU, AND I BOTH KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I, I WOULD LOVE, I WOULD LOVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO COME MEET WITH ME AND HELP SHOW ME THE WAY .

UM, SO, BUT, BUT I, I, I THINK WHAT, WHAT PHIL IS, IS SAYING, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA, I'LL SPEAK FOR YOU, PHIL.

THEY IN AN EFFORT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AND TO GIVE PEOPLE AS MUCH, UM, COMFORT THAT, THAT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN, LIKE YOU'VE SAID FOR YOURSELF, THERE'S OTHER, OTHER CITIES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE GOING OUT FOR A, A SALES TAX THAT MAYBE DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO DO.

THEY, THEY DIDN'T, UH, REORGANIZE THEIR PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS.

THEY, THEY HAVEN'T CUT THEIR, UH, PAYROLL AS MUCH TO THE BONE AS WE HAD.

AND THEY, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AN AUTO LIKE THIS BECAUSE THE AUTO THERE MIGHT COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, YOU DIDN'T DO THIS.

YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.

YOU DIDN'T DO THIS.

YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU EVEN START TALKING ABOUT BORROWING EXTRA MONEY, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO THE BASIC THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

AND I, I THINK YOU COULD MAKE A, A, A VERY VALID CASE TO WHOEVER WE HIRE TO DO THIS.

UM, LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE MISSED WAS THERE, WAS THERE AN AREA? AND I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY'LL SAY, YEAH, YOU COULD, YOU COULD ADD, UH, BUILDING IMPACT FEES, WHICH WOULD ADD, YOU KNOW, A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

YOU COULD, YOU COULD DO THIS AND THAT, WHICH MIGHT ADD A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, BUT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY YOU COULD REDUCE STAFF BY 20% BECAUSE YOU SAY, WOW, AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY YOU COULD, UH, REDUCE WASTEFUL SPENDING BECAUSE YOU SAY WHERE.

SO I, I THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE, THIS IS KIND OF A, AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.

CAUSE WE THINK WE KNOW ALL KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME'S GONNA BE.

WELL, THAT HELPS WITH THE SCOPE, BUT TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.

I THINK YOU JUST DID THE STUDY JUST NOW, MR. MAYOR.

I AGREE.

BUT I, I, I DON'T THINK THAT

[01:45:01]

I, I, THAT GIVES ME GREAT COMFORT SO THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD'S AT.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD CALL FOR A VOTE, BUT BEFORE WE CALL FOR A VOTE, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ASKING? AND CAN YOU, CAN YOU MAKE THAT WORK? I, I UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE.

IF THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AGREES WITH THAT SCOPE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A DOABLE SCOPE.

WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND IF YOU CAN'T, I WOULD COME BACK AND LET YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I CAN'T FIND A FIRM THAT WOULD, CAN DO THIS AND THAT KIND OF TIME.

I MEAN, ONCE WE REACH OUT TO THESE FIRMS, THEY MAY SAY, OH YEAH, IT TAKES US THREE MONTHS TO DO THIS KIND OF A STUDY.

AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

WELL, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THEN THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO DO.

JUST THAT I HAVE A COMMENT.

I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PERSON.

THAT'S AN ELCON RESIDENT.

UH, CONTACT ME ABOUT THE, UH, TO NOT VOTE FOR PROP P AND MORGAN LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY.

I DON'T WANNA CROSS THE LINE HERE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS COMING FROM EXTREMISTS OUTSIDE OF THIS CITY FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

I THINK THERE'S SOME TRUTH IN THAT.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT OWN BUSINESSES HERE IN, IN TOWN THAT FEEL THAT THEIR BUSINESS IS GONNA BE DAMAGED.

AND, UH, I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT GRAHAM HAS THERE BEEN ANY LEAKAGE SINCE, UH, WE HAD THE LAST, UH, SALES TAX INCREASE, EVEN WHEN AT THAT POINT IT WAS 1%, CAUSE IT WAS HALF PERCENT, HALF A PERCENT FOR PROPO AND A HALF PERCENT FOR PROP P.

SO AS I'VE EXPLAINED TO SEVERAL CAR DEALERSHIP OWNERS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL BECAUSE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, THE, JUST THE ECONOMY'S DIFFERENT.

IF, IF WE LIVED IN THIS PERFECT BUBBLE WHERE EVERYTHING WAS CONSTANT, YOU COULD SAY YES, ONCE PROP O EXPIRED SALES WENT UP BY X PERCENT OR ONCE PROP O WENT INTO EFFECT, THEY WENT DOWN, BUT THERE WAS A THOUSAND OTHER FACTORS GOING ON, INTEREST RATES, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, UH, ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE, BAD ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.

THERE'S ALL THESE, NON-CON ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS THAT JUST DON'T TELL YOU, YES, IT GOES DOWN OR IT GOES UP THEY'LL THEY WILL LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THEY GO DOWN.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE EVIDENCE, BUT I ALSO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATA THAT WOULD GIMME ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO SAY, THEY'RE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE.

OR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS NOT TRUE.

I, I THINK THESE OUTSIDE EXTREMISTS WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED IN ANY KIND OF, UH, TAXES.

THEY'LL SAY NO.

I MEAN, I HAD A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER 15 YEARS AGO THAT SAID, I'D RATHER HAVE MY CITY GO BANKRUPT AND INCREASE A SALES TAX.

AND I THINK HE MEANT IT.

SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY.

I THINK THE BOND RATING SAYS IT ALL.

I'VE BEEN ON THIS, I'M INVOLVED WITH THE CITY FOR 25 YEARS NOW, 20 YEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND FIVE YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING, THIS CITY IS VERY FRUGAL.

I KNOW IT.

AND EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL KNOWS IT, CUZ WE'RE FRUGAL PEOPLE.

SO I DON'T LIKE SOMEONE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY TELLING US WHAT WE SHOULD DO FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND UH, TRY AND USE SOMETHING, UH, TO BEAT US OVER THE HEAD WITH OR TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC.

AND I, I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ON THAT.

MAYOR MORGAN, I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL, RIGHT.

I, I THINK THERE COULD BE SOME VALUE IN A STUDY AT A FUTURE DATE OF, ARE WE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVENUE? ARE WE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EFFICIENT? I THINK THAT THAT HAS SOME VALUE IN A FUTURE.

THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS, I'M NOT SURE, UH, THAT YOU'RE REALLY THE BEST AT THIS.

I, I AGREE WITH YOU.

AND I AGREE WITH MICHELLE.

I THINK THAT HAS VALLEY FUTURE STATE FOR THIS REASON, I QUESTION WHETHER THIS IS AKIN TO A PAID FIVE STAR REVIEW AND TO COUNCILMAN KENDRICK'S POINT, UH, I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY'S GONNA BE HAPPY.

UH, NO MATTER HOW, HOW GOOD IT SAYS THAT.

WELL, OF COURSE IT'S A, IT'S A PAID FIVE STAR REVIEW IS WHAT, YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE EDUCATING PEOPLE ON.

I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S CREATING A PROBLEM.

I'M A SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST BECAUSE THE SURVEY SAID 70% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD VOTE FOR A 1% SALES TAX.

IF IT WENT TO REDUCE THE THINGS THAT WE SAID THAT WE WERE GONNA DO ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO BE A 50% PLUS ONE.

AND WHEN 70% SAY I'M NOT SEEING A PROBLEM

[01:50:01]

I THINK THAT EVALUATION IS FOR FUTURE, BUT THIS CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, I'M NOT SURE THE VALUE THIS STUDY WOULD PROVIDE, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY.

WELL, I SUGGEST WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

UM, I THINK EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS ALL THE ISSUES UNLESS ANYBODY FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION.

MARY, WE NEED A SECOND ON YOUR MOTION, PLEASE.

I'LL BE THAT SECOND REPO.

WHAT'S THE MOTION MY, MY MOTION WAS TO, TO, UH, DO, AS GRAHAM HAD SUGGESTED, I, I WOULD, UH, TO HELP AL OR HELP WITH THE MOTION.

I THINK IT WOULD BE TO, UM, ALLOCATE $20,000 OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE AND GIVE ME AUTHORITY, GIVE THE CITY MANAGER AUTHORITY TO SECURE A FINANCE STUDY FINANCIAL STUDY.

SO THAT IS, THAT IS THE MOTION.

DO YOU HAVE A, IS PHIL, ARE YOU SECONDING? OH YEAH.

I'LL SECOND.

THAT ALL RIGHT, THEN WE SHOULD VOTE.

I'M CURIOUS.

MOTION CARRIES BY A THREE, TWO VOTE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KENDRICK AND GLOBAL VOTING.

NO.