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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
[ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.UH, ALL CITY COUNCIL IS PRESENT.
WOULD YOU JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE AFTERWARDS? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[1. Regulating the Use of El Cajon Lodging Establishments for Regional Homeless Solutions RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council provide direction to staff.]
CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY TO DISCUSS REGULATING THE USE OF EL CAJON LOGIC ESTABLISHMENT ESTABLISHMENTS FOR REGIONAL HOME OF SOLUTIONS.AND I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY MANAGER, GRANT MITCHELL, TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR OVER HALF A YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND DEALING WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE USE OF EL CAJON MOTELS AS THE COUNTY'S REGIONAL HOUSING HOMELESS SOLUTION.
AND, UH, AND WE HAVE THE DATA, IT'S OBVIOUS THE COUNCIL'S TALKED ABOUT THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE HAVE AN INPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF FOLKS STAYING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR MOTELS FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA.
AND IN FACT, WHEN WE DID A STUDY EARLIER, UM, OF THE 98 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE IN THE MOTEL, OR THE 101 INDIVIDUALS IN THE MOTEL 98 WERE, WERE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
SO CLEARLY THIS, THESE ARE NOT, UM, ARE MOTELS BEING USED TO HOUSE EL CAJON HOMELESS.
IT'S BEING USED TO HOUSE THE REGION'S HOMELESS.
O ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE WEEKEND WE HAD A, A HORRIFIC ASSAULT OF A TEENAGER.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST RELEASED A PRESS RELEASE THAT JUST CAME OUT PROBABLY AS YOU WERE WALKING TO THE MEETING THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM.
SHE'S A 16 YEAR OLD YOUNG WOMAN, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER VICTIMS THAT WE BELIEVE EXIST BASED ON TESTIMONY WE'VE RECEIVED FROM, FROM INDIVIDUALS.
SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA DO SOMETHING, OH, CAN WE, I HAD, I HAD THIS PERFECTLY SET UP.
WE CAN GO TO THE, MY POWERPOINT PLEASE.
SO IF NOT NOW, WHEN ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I THINK, UH, BE BETWEEN THIS ISSUE.
THE SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED AT A MOTEL ALSO CONNECTED TO A VOUCHER PROGRAM TO THE SEX OFFENDER THAT WE ARRESTED OVER THE, ANOTHER SEX OFFENDER WE ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY ON A COUNTY VOUCHER PROGRAM THROUGH THE R H A P PROGRAM.
UM, THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GROWING AND GROWING AND GROWING AND, AND AS A CITY MANAGER, I COMPLETELY FEEL LEFT IN THE DARK WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL WERE TO ASK ME RIGHT NOW HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE STAYING IN EL CAJON MOTELS THAT ARE HOMELESS, I, I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
I COULD MAKE A AN ESTIMATED GUESS AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME DATA THAT I HAVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS WE JUST SEE THESE, THESE INCIDENTS LIKE WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST WEEKEND, AND WE THINK IT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
WE THINK THERE IS SO MUCH MORE GOING ON, WE'RE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND, AND FRANKLY IT'S A SHAME AND IT'S, UM, IT'S INAPPROPRIATE THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THE REGION ARE UNWILLING TO COMPLETELY BE TRANSPARENT WITH HOW THEY'RE UTILIZING MOTELS IN EL CAJON.
I DO KNOW THAT WE GET A WEEKLY UPDATE FROM THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ON INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HOUSED THROUGH THE R H A P PROGRAM.
UM, I GET CRIME DATA ALL THE TIME, OUR CHIEF SHARES WITH, WITH, UH, ME AND THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER A CRIME REPORT.
UH, I CAN, I CAN ATTEST THAT A LOT OF CRIME IS OCCURRING AT OUR MOTELS AND, UM, WE KNOW THAT ONGOING CALLS FOR SERVICE CONTINUE.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE COUNTY MOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM AND SPECIFICALLY THE R H A P PROGRAM.
AND I, I'M GONNA CALL THAT OUT BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS HAS BEEN VERY CAUTIOUS OF, OF HOW TO NAME PROGRAMS. AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD A SPOKESPERSON RECENTLY SAY THAT THE VOUCHER RECIPIENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE SEXUAL ASSAULTS OVER THE WEEKEND WERE NOT PART OF A COUNTY R R H A P PROGRAM, WHICH IS TRUE, THEY WERE PART OF ANOTHER COUNTY PROGRAM.
LIKE, LIKE THE CITY OF EL CAJON, THE COUNTY HAS MORE THAN ONE HOMELESS PROGRAM.
AND SO THESE ARE JUST THE R H A P UM, PARTICIPANTS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD 112
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PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MOTELS.THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN OVER TIME.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, A MONTHLY AVERAGE, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE AVERAGING 114 LAST NOVEMBER.
NOW WE'RE UP TO 130 SO FAR IN MARCH, AND WE HAD A FULL MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WE WERE AT 131.
SO THIS IS CLEARLY A, CLEARLY A PROGRAM THAT IS NOT DIMINISHING.
AND SO, UM, EITHER AS STAFF WE FELT WE NEEDED TO BRING SOME SOLUTIONS OR SOME OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RATHER THAN JUST SIT BACK AND WAIT TO BE ACTED UPON.
AS WE WERE THINKING ABOUT OPTIONS, WE IDENTIFIED FIVE VERY SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES.
ONE IS TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THE, THAT MOTELS ARE HAVING CURRENTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THESE MOTELS, BUT FRANKLY FOR THE, THE MOTELS THEMSELVES.
WE RECEIVED A CALL EARLIER TODAY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THIS, UM, RESIDENT FEELS COMFORTABLE TALKING TODAY, UM, I'M SORRY, BUT HER WORDS WERE HAUNTING THAT SHE FELT UNSAFE FOR HER 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO STAY IN A MOTEL IN EL CAJON.
AND IT'S NOT SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE STAYING IN MOTELS.
NOT ONLY JUST REGULAR TRAVELERS, BUT PEOPLE THAT RELY ON MOTELS FOR HOUSING AND INCLUDING PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY'S OWN VOUCHER PROGRAM AREN'T SAFE IN A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS.
AND SO WE WANNA CREATE A, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK WE ALSO WANNA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REDUCE THE, THE IMMENSE STRAIN ON OUR OWN PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IS IRONIC.
AS I WAS WATCHING JUST VERY TWO VERY SHORT NEWS CLIPS YESTERDAY, UH, THAT WERE OUT AT MOTEL SIX AND THESE WERE NOT STAGED.
WE DID NOT, WE DO NOT HAVE THIS STAFFING RESOURCES TO STAGE, UH, RUNNING CALLS, BUT AN AMBULANCE RAN DOWN TO MOTEL SIX AND A FEW MINUTES LATER A POLICE CAR RAN DOWN.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY RUNNING AND IT'S NOT JUST MOTEL SIX, IT'S ALL OF THE MOTELS WE ARE MAKING TONS OF CALLS TO.
AND SO WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REDUCE THE STRAIN THAT, THAT THESE THIS PROGRAM HAS ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.
CUZ WE'RE NOT BEING COMPENSATED, WE'RE NOT BEING REIMBURSED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO JUST HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE, WE, WE CLAIM TO MANAGE A CITY, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, IT'S HARD TO MANAGE THAT.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE CLEARLY NEED TO ADDRESS HOW TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS FROM REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
AND, UM, IF, IF WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY PARTICIPATING BEFORE, WE COULDN'T BE ABLE TO SAY THAT AFTER THIS WEEKEND.
SO STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED SIX AND THERE'S A STAFF REPORT, A COMPANY THAT'S, I'LL GO OVER THESE QUICKLY, BUT SIX I OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE OR ALL OF THESE.
BUT ONE IS YOU COULD ACTUALLY CREATE A CONDITION FOR ANY SEX OFFENDER THAT IS ON A VOUCHER.
AND I, AND I THINK WE'LL NEED TO DEFINE THE WORD VOUCHER BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S CAN BE USED WORD, UH, LOOSELY, BUT COLLOQUIALLY THE WORD VOUCHER.
IF SOMEONE IS ON A SEX, UH, A SEX OFFENDER AND THEY'RE, THEY'VE THEN PLACED IN AN EL CAJON MOTEL, THEY HAVE 10 DAYS UNTIL REPORT, UNTIL THEY REPORT TO THE ELCON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REGISTER AT THAT LOCAL LOCATION.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE SEX OFFENDERS THAT COME INTO EL CAJON AND ARE STAYING ON A VOUCHER FOR LESS THAN 10 DAYS AND THEN BEING MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION TO AVOID, UH, HAVING TO REPORT.
SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD RECOMMEND, ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IS THAT IF SOMEONE IS ON A VOUCHER AND IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER, THEY HAVE TWO HOURS TO REPORT, NOT 10 DAYS TO REPORT.
AND IN OUR MIND, THAT SHOULD BE, BE THE ONUS OF THAT SHOULD BE ON THE ORGANIZATION, THE, THE, UH, THE NONPROFIT OR THE CONTRACTOR THAT HAS MANAGER MANAGING THAT INDIVIDUAL.
WE ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IN UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A SEX PREDATOR BE PLACED IN A MOTEL ANY LESS THAN 2000 FEET AWAY FROM A SCHOOL OR A LICENSED DAYCARE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE MOTEL SIX IS ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET AWAY FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HUNDREDS OF KIDS WALK BY THAT, THAT MOTEL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE'D ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER SOME SORT OF A, A 90 DAY MORATORIUM THAT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT AND UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IT WOULD GIVE US A CHANCE TO TALK TO ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTORS, UM, TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING, HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM, HOW WE CAN MAKE THEIR PROGRAM BETTER, AND HOW THEY CAN SHARE INFORMATION WITH US.
AND LASTLY, TO DEVELOP A MORE EQUITABLE APPROACH TO HOUSING
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SOLUTIONS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.SO THE, THE CITY OF EL CAJON IS NOT TAKING THE BRUNT OF THE COUNTY'S HOMELESS PROBLEM.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER IS, UM, HAVING ONCE, ONCE THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS DONE, BRINGING MOTEL SIX BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A HEARING TO CONSIDER THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS, UM, CRIME THAT OCCURRED AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CULPABILITY THERE.
WE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT ANOTHER, ANOTHER SET OF POLICY IDEAS IS THAT WE COULD ESTABLISH SOME CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATING MOTELS.
THIS DOES DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM WHAT WE WERE EXPLORING BEFORE WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GAVE US A CEASE AND DESIST NOTICE.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT, WHAT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THE CITY OF EL CAJON KNOW WHICH MOTELS ARE PARTICIPATING.
IT'S FAIR FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY ROOMS ARE BEING ALLOCATED FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.
WE BELIEVE IT'S FAIR TO UNDERSTAND WHICH AGENCIES ARE PARTICIPATING AND WHICH PROGRAMS ARE PARTICIPATING BECAUSE SOME PROGRAMS CATER TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT THE ROOM RATE'S BEING CHARGED SO WE CAN GO BACK AND COMPARE THAT TO OUR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAXES AS WE DO OUR AUDITS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF EL CAHO IS GETTING ITS FAIR SHARE IN T O T.
AND LASTLY, WE THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN A MOTEL NOTIFYING GUESTS THAT ARE THERE, THAT THERE IS A, A VOUCHER PROGRAM OR HOMELESS SHELTERING PROGRAM THAT OPERATES AT THAT FACILITY.
THE, THE NEXT TO LAST ITEM THAT WE'D RECOMMEND OR HAVE RECOMMEND FOR CITY CONSIDERATION IS THAT WE'D REQUIRE A, A CRIMINAL RECORD SEARCH FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT IS BROUGHT INTO THE CITY OF EL CAJON AS PART OF A VOUCHER VOUCHER PROGRAM.
WE CURRENTLY DO THIS THROUGH HOME START AS WE, UM, PROVIDE VOUCHERS THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.
WE REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK, A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK TO OCCUR.
WE THINK THAT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHO'S IN OUR COMMUNITY, HOW WE CAN MITIGATE CHA CHALLENGES AND FRANKLY, HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP THE CONTRACTORS AVOID PROBLEMS BECAUSE WE MAY KNOW THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW BECAUSE OF JUST INTEL THAT WE RECEIVE.
AND, UM, WE THINK THAT IN THAT INFORMATION SHARING IS IMPORTANT TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE LAST THING THAT, THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE SUBMIT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO NOT ONLY THE, THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT ALSO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY OF PRICE GOUGING.
I WENT ONLINE THIS MORNING TO TRY TO BOOK A MOTEL ROOM AT MOTEL SIX, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET A ROOM FOR $75 AND 99 CENTS, UM, LAST MINUTE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT UNDER THE CONTRACTS, AS WE'VE, AS WE, AS WE'VE READ THE CONTRACTS, SOME OF THESE MOTELS ARE RECEIVING AS MUCH AS $149 PER NIGHT.
UM, THAT ENDS UP BEING OVER $4,000 A MONTH, UH, IN, IN, IN RENT.
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.
UH, WE THINK THAT THIS IS A FORM OF PRICE GOUGING AND WE THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE AND WE'D ACTUALLY CALL ON OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO CONSIDER THIS.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY WHERE WE ARE INFLATING THE PRICE BY ALMOST 20 OR BY 50% ON IN SOME CASES DOUBLING THE PRICE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR A HOTEL ROOM, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
TALK ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS HAMMER.
SO, UM, THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE SEVEN CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
UM, I'M SURE THERE'S PROBABLY A DOZEN MORE THAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT OF, AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO ASK ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. UM, OF COURSE, TODAY IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND GIVE SOME STAFF SOME DIRECTION.
NONE OF THESE THINGS EXCEPT FOR THE, UH, INVESTIGATE PRICE GOUGING CAN HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.
ALL THESE THINGS WOULD REQUIRE STAFF DRAFTING POLICY AND COMING BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL UNDER A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WE'VE ALSO SCHEDULED FOR THIS MEETING A CLOSED SESSION.
SO IF THERE ARE LITIGATION ISSUES OR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, UH, WE CAN BREAK INTO CLOSED SESSION AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, UH, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT OPENLY.
SO WITH THAT, STAFF'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND, UH, CHIEF MOULTON'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT CRIME ISSUES.
UM, TONY SHOOT'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, UH, LAND USE REGULATIONS.
AND OF COURSE OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE QUESTIONS, THE COUNCIL, I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS A A HUGE INTEREST IN WHAT HAPPENS HERE TODAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR SPEAKER CARDS AND GET PUBLIC COMMENT DONE BEFORE WE WE BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
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ARE YOU IN HERE? YEAH, YEAH, YOU GOT IT.I'M CURRENTLY A RESIDENT AT THE MOTEL SIX.
MY TWO SONS WHO ARE NINE AND SEVEN RESIDE WITH ME CURRENTLY.
I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY HOTEL VOUCHERS.
I'VE GONE TO HOME START, I'VE GONE TO BCG.
I MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY WORKING MY TWO JOBS AS A FULL-TIME CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN AT VASELINE AND AN ASSISTANT MANAGER AT ECO LAUNDRY ON EAST MAIN THAT I DON'T QUALIFY FOR FOOD STAMPS OR CASH ASSISTANT, WHICH MEANS I DON'T QUALIFY FOR A LOT OF THE HOUSING OR THE HOTEL VOUCHERS UNTIL I CAN GET PERMANENT HOUSING.
NOW I JUST GOT MY TAX RETURN AND I LITERALLY HAVE SPENT ALL MY TAX RETURNED FOR US TO BE SOMEWHERE WHILE IT RAINS SO I CAN MAINTAIN MY TWO JOBS.
AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CANNOT EVEN COME TO THE HOTEL ANYMORE WHERE WE RESIDE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFER THERE.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS POSTED OR SAID TODAY.
UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE A VERY, UH, STERN ASSESSMENT OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY ME.
UM, MY COWORKER, SHE'S 22, SHE HAS A THREE-YEAR-OLD SON.
WE JUST COMBINED ROOMS TODAY SO WE CAN SAVE MONEY.
SO WE CAN PROBABLY GET A PLACE BECAUSE SHE ALSO IS WASTING HER TAX RETURN.
AND SHE ALSO DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE HOTEL VOUCHERS AS WELL.
I'M BEGGING FOR SOME KIND OF SOLUTION BECAUSE ME AND RACHEL CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONES NOT TO MENTION IF THIS IS HAPPENING INSIDE THESE HOTEL ROOMS. THERE'S AN ENCAMPMENT RIGHT BEHIND THE MOTEL SIX THAT IS GROWING.
I'VE BEEN THERE ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND IT'S GONE FROM TWO PEOPLE, TENS TO THREE, TO FIVE TO 12 PEOPLE, TENS.
AND IF THESE SICK ACTS ARE HAPPENING IN THE HOTEL ROOMS, THEN I CAN BEST BET THEY'RE HAPPENING IN THESE TENTS LIKE WE DEALT WITH A YEAR AGO ON MAGNOLIA.
I JUST, I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME UP TO SOME SOLUTIONS ASSESSMENTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THESE VOUCHERS BECAUSE YES, THERE IS A SCHOOL LESS THAN A COUPLE THOUSAND FEET FROM THE HOTEL AND IT'S GETTING REALLY OUT OF HAND.
OKAY, LET ME SEE IF THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MS. SINCLAIR, LET ME SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I AM SO SORRY THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE OR WHERE, WHERE HAVE YOU APPLIED? YOU'VE GONE TO HOME START.
AND THEY KIND OF GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND.
THEY SAY, ALWAYS TELL ME THERE ARE NO VOUCHERS.
AND WHAT IS KEEPING YOU RIGHT NOW FROM GETTING INTO AN APARTMENT? IS IT JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY? I HAD FIVE GRAND FROM MY TAX RETURN TO THE MOVE-IN MONEY WAS FIRST MONTH'S RENT DEPOSIT.
BUT WAITING FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ALL THAT STUFF, I'VE LITERALLY SPENT IT ALL ON THIS HOTEL.
JUST LIKE THE PRICE GOUGING THING.
ONE DAY WE PAY $75 ONE DAY WE PAY ONE 20, NEXT DAY WE PAY ONE 50.
THEY'RE LITERALLY STEALING FUN, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE COMBINED ROOMS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO KITCHENS.
I HAVE TO GO OUT AND BRING FAST FOOD HOME.
I CAN'T COOK MY KIDS A MEAL ANYMORE.
I AM SO SORRY THAT THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED YOU AND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE THESE PROGRAMS IN THESE MOTELS HAVE FAILED YOU BECAUSE AS A RESIDENT YOU HAVE A RIGHT FOR SAFETY.
I'M SORRY THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT GIVING YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
WE'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND AT THIS, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
AND FOR YOUR DAUGHTER TO HAVE TO BE AROUND THIS DISGUSTING ACTIONS OF THESE MEN IS NOT GOING TO BE TOLERATED
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ANYMORE.PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM BEYOND MAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.
AND I THANK YOU AND WE'LL GET SOMETHING WORKED OUT FOR YOU.
DID YOU WANT OKAY, STEVE, I, I KNOW WE HAVE RAPID REHOUSING FIRST LAST SECURITY DEPOSIT.
WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
YEAH, I, UM, STAFF JUST TEXTED ME WHILE MS. MITCHELL WAS SPEAKING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE KARINA HERNANDEZ DIRECTLY REACH OUT TO THIS RESIDENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY VOUCHER PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE OUT UNTIL THE NEXT CDBG ROUND COMES THROUGH.
BUT WE DO HAVE RAPID REHOUSING MONEY.
SO RAPID REHOUSING MONEY IS MONEY FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
IT'S FIRST MONTH'S RENT, LAST MONTH'S RENT, SECURITY DEPOSIT, THE THINGS WHICH ARE THE BARRIER TO GET IN.
YOU HAVE A JOB WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP THAT APARTMENT.
I, MS. SINCLAIR AS COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL SAID, THANK YOU FOR, FOR SPEAKING.
UM, I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S POLITICS SURROUNDING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NO ONE UP.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MY STAFF AND, AND THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
WE HAVE VERY PRACTICAL, REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT IN OUR CITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND OTHER ENTITIES WANT TO PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT.
AND THERE'S A WAY TO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND HELP HOMELESS WITHOUT HARBORING CRIMINALS.
WE HAVE GOOD IDEAS, BUT APPARENTLY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AGENDAS AND, AND THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SACRIFICING, UM, OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR SAFETY FOR THEIR AGENDA.
BUT I PROMISE YOU, YOU HAVE FRIENDS HERE, YOU HAVE ALLIES HERE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A COUNCIL IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT HAS MORE EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS BETWEEN THE FIVE OF US THAN ANY OTHER COUNCIL IN THE STATE.
I PUT OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR EXPERTISE UP THERE WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SO YOU HAVE Y YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FEEL SAFE.
AND CUZ THAT'S WHAT YOU DESERVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COURAGE IN COMING HERE.
UH, IT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO HELP YOU, BUT IT'S GONNA HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU.
AND I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE SAFE.
AND WE MAY HAVE TO RUN UP AGAINST SOME POLITICAL HEAVY HITTERS, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
WHEN YOU CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL, YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PAYING CASH.
I MEAN, BUT YOU PAID JUST YOUR OWN MONEY.
YOU DIDN'T USE SOME KIND OF YES.
COUNTY PROGRAM OR, OR ANYTHING.
WHEN YOU DID THAT, DID ANYBODY DISCLOSE TO YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE SHARING THE HOTEL WITH YOU THAT WERE SEX OFFENDERS, UH, HAD CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT WERE PART OF A COUNTY PROGRAM? DID THEY, DID THEY TELL YOU THAT AT ALL? NO.
SO WHEN YOU GOT IN THERE, WOULD YOU HAVE NO, WOULD YOU HAVE FIGURED IT OUT PRETTY QUICKLY OR WOULD THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED? UM, I MEAN, JUST BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD ASSUME, DID YOU FEEL, DID YOU EVER FEEL UNSAFE? ALL THE TIME, BUT I HAD NOWHERE TO GO.
IT WAS EITHER THAT OR BE ON THE STREETS.
AT LEAST WE HAVE A ROOM WE CAN LOCK THE DOOR.
WELL, I, I, I, AGAIN, LET THE REST OF MY COUNSEL, MY HEART BREAKS THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.
UM, I THINK WE CAN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON SOLVING THE BIGGER PROBLEM TO, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SAY? JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND LISTENING.
THANKS FOR YOUR COURAGE FOR COMING AND SPEAKING OUT.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN SOMETIMES UNTIL SOMEBODY COMES AND TELLS US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL OF YOU.
ANY MORE CARDS? NO OTHER SPEAKERS, SIR.
I WANNA BRING YOU BACK TO THE COUNCIL THEN.
UM, GRAHAM, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE US A, A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION HERE.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR US
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TO NARROW THINGS DOWN TO? WELL, I, I THINK IF THERE ARE, IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE LISTED HERE THAT RESONATE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT YOU WANT US TO WORK ON, WE CAN, WE CAN PUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR EFFORT INTO BRINGING SOMETHING BACK FOR CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF A POLICY.SO, SO WE'RE NOT PRESENTING ANY POLICIES.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE BIG IDEAS OR IDEAS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING, BUT THERE IS STILL AN IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR.
I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT MORATORIUM, THE 90 DAY MORATORIUM.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE MOST DRACONIAN OF, OF THE, THE GROUP.
UM, HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UH, WHAT ARE THE LEGAL HURDLES? WELL, LET, LET ME LET ME ANSWER THE, THE FIRST PART CUZ THERE ARE PROBABLY, THERE ARE LEGAL HURDLES.
THERE'S REALLY TWO WAYS YOU COULD DO IT.
ONE IS, YOU COULD JUST SAY ON THIS DATE, THOU SHALL NOT HAVE A VOUCHER PROGRAM OR NO MOTEL MAY ACCEPT OR MAY HAVE, MAY TAKE MONEY FROM A VOUCHER PROGRAM.
UH, WHAT THAT WOULD IN ESSENCE DO IS KICK A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF MOTELS.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND AT LEAST A SLOW ROLE WHERE AT A DATE CERTAIN, THE COUNCIL COULD SAY, NO NEW PEOPLE COME TO EL CAJON UNLESS THEY WERE HOMELESS IN EL CAJON AND ARE BEING HOUSED AS PART OF A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE ADMINISTERING.
SO, UM, NOW, NOW THAT MAY NOT BE LEGAL OR THERE MAY BE, WE MAY RUN INTO SOME THINGS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN CLOSED SESSION OR OPEN SESSION IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO.
UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE HOW WE WOULD SEE IT IMPLEMENTED.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A, MY THOUGHTS ON HOW, SO WE, WE MIGHT SAY, UM, BY APRIL 15TH, UM, NO NEW COUNTY VOUCHER PROGRAM RECIPIENTS CAN COME IN.
AND THEN BY MAY 15TH WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROGRAM DISSIPATED COMPLETELY THROUGH ATTRITION.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU WOULD SEE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING? WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS SOME SORT OF A, A PAUSE, SOME SORT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE BUTTON.
SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH EVERYBODY, SAY, HEY, WE GOT A BIG PROBLEM HERE.
WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE WE DON'T WANNA BE UNREASONABLE.
BUT BUT WE'RE, WE'RE DONE WITH BUSINESS THE WAY IT'S BEING DONE.
WE'RE WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REVAMP SOMETHING.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, DESPITE THE CITY'S EFFORTS BY DOING PRESS CONFERENCES AND PRESS RELEASES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, IT'S NOT MOVE THE, IT IS NOT, IT HAS NOT MOVED THE NEEDLE.
UH, NO ONE HAS COME TO THE TABLE AND HAS SAT DOWN WITH US AND SAID, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM CUZ THERE'S NOT A PERCEIVED PROBLEM FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THIS WOULD CREATE A PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO GO TO DIFFERENT MOTELS AND DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, UM, OR, OR FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT SOLUTION ALTOGETHER.
LET ME SEE IF QUESTION MICHELLE.
SO THAT, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK.
IF WE DO A 90 DAY MORATORIUM, SO IF WE CLOSE DOWN PA UM, CLOSE DOWN A VOUCHER PROGRAM, IF WE CLOSE IT DOWN, THEN THAT LEAVES THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW, THOSE WHO ARE MINING THEIR OWN BUSINESS, STAYING TO THEMSELVES AND NOT CREATING ANY ISSUES, THEY'RE GONNA BE AFFECTED GREATLY.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIES OUT THERE WHO NEED THAT HELP.
AND IF WE CLOSE IT DOWN, THEY'RE GONNA SUFFER FOR THE ACTIONS OF YES, A LARGE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND CRIMINAL CHARACTERS.
BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO THEM.
SO WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF SAYING AS OF THIS DATE, NO MORE NEW ONES.
AND THEN YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM GET TO WORK AND GET THESE PEOPLE REHOUSED, GET THESE PEOPLE IN SOMETHING PERMANENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA BE DONE, BUT THAT'S THEIR JOB AND GET THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND THEN ONCE WE, IF THERE'S NO MORE, ONCE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE VOUCHER PROGRAMS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THEN STOP IT NO MORE.
BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE UNTIL THEY CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION ON HOW THEY'RE GONNA RUN THEIR PROGRAMS. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS UNLESS THEY'RE GOING TO GUARANTEE US THAT THEY ARE GOING TO VET EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT GOES IN HERE.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE HAVING THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM.
HOW MANY MORE LITTLE GIRLS ARE GONNA BE MOLESTED? HOW MANY MORE FAMILIES ARE GONNA BE TORN APART BY THE ACTIONS OF SOME DISGUSTING PERSON,
[00:30:01]
MALE OR FEMALE? I'M, I'M DONE.NO GIRL SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING RAPED, PERIOD.
AND SHE'S LIVING IN A MOTEL AND, AND WHETHER THIS GIRL IS 16 AND SHE CONSENTED, THOSE TWO MEN ARE ADULTS.
THEY HAVE THE OBLIGATION AS AN ADULT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T DO THAT TO SOME LITTLE GIRL BECAUSE FRANKLY, SHE'S 16, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF THE TIME.
AND WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS ANY LONGER IN THIS CITY PERIOD.
EVEN IN THE COUNTY, I'M SORRY.
BUT ANY MOTEL OPERATOR WHO IS ALLOWING THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TO GO ON AND THEY KNOW IT, THEY KNOW THAT IT'S GOING ON LONG AS THEY ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE LITTLE GIRLS RAPED, MORE LITTLE BOYS RAPED AND FAMILIES ARE GONNA BE TORN APART.
I AM SO MAD I COULD SPIT NAILS AND I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STAND UP AND GET JUSTICE FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL AND THE OTHER ONES WHO WERE MOLESTED AND WE NEED TO GET JUSTICE FOR, FOR MISS FAITH AND HER FAMILY BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND HOW IS THAT RIGHT TO HER? SHE'S MINDING HER OWN BUSINESS.
MAY I STEP IN A MINUTE? HUH? MAY I STEP IN FOR ONE MINUTE? MAY INTERRUPT YOU.
JUST REMEMBER THESE GENTLEMEN, UH, HAVE NOT BEEN TRIED.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, GIVEN THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS, THEIR ALLEGATIONS OF THIS OCCURRED.
THERE MAY BE PROOF THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED THAT, THAT, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES IT TO BE TRUE.
BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT TO ACTUALLY MAKE STATEMENTS THAT ARE SO, UM, UH, SPECIFIC AND, AND CERTAIN, AND I I'D ASK YOU TO CERTAINLY TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC FOR THAT PURPOSE.
IT'S, IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE.
AND IF, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S DETERMINED THAT THIS IS TRUE AND THEY PLEAD GUILTY TO THESE CHARGES, THEN CERTAINLY CAN TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER THAT THEY STILL HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO, UH, UH, TRIAL BEFORE A JURY BEFORE WE CAN SAY EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAVE, I HAVE OVER 300 REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN A TWO MILE RADIUS OF MY HOME.
HOW MANY MORE CAN WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY? ANYBODY CAN GO ON MEGAN'S LAW, PUT IN YOUR ADDRESS AND SEE HOW MANY SEX OFFENDERS ARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE SEVERAL RIGHT DOWN BY SCHOOLS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
WHO'S NEXT? A QUESTION ON, UH, UH, THE NUMBER OF FEET.
HOW FAR AWAY IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER REQUIRED TO BE FROM A SCHOOL, A DAYCARE FOR THEIR DOMICILE OR RESIDENCE? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
SO WHILE WE'RE LOOKING THAT ONE UP.
AND IT, IT MAY BE, THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANTIAL TOO BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE CRIME, THERE MAY BE SOME SPECIFIC PROBATIONARY CONDITIONS FOR THAT SPECIFIC PERSON.
I ALSO THINK IT'S S WORTH MENTIONING AT THIS POINT THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIGUITY BECAUSE THE LAWS HAVE CHANGED.
THE LANGUAGE AROUND THE LAWS HAVE CHANGED.
IS THAT, IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE'S SOME SEMANTICS WITH A RETRO OR THERE'S A, WELL THERE'S A SEX OFFENDER, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS REDUCED CERTAIN SEX OFFENDERS SO THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO REGISTER.
AND SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SEX OFFENDER AND A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CUZ THERE'S DIFFERENT TIERS OF SEX OFFENDERS NOW.
AND SO, UM, I THINK SOMETIMES IN SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, SO WILL SAY, WELL, WE DON'T, WE DO NOT SERVE REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS, BUT THEY CLEARLY CONTINUE TO SERVE SEX OFFENDERS.
RIGHT? SO THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFERENCES BASED ON THOSE TIERS, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK THAT UP.
I GUESS YOU KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IS CAN THE MOTEL RENT TO SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT ALLOWED TO BE WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL? YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.
AND IF YOU ARE RENTING TO SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T BE WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL, ARREST THEM.
THE MORATORIUM, I'M A LITTLE, MY, MY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE SAYS I'D HATE TO TURN DOWN A ROOM TO A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON A VOUCHER.
WHO NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY TONIGHT? SO I'M A LITTLE, UH, THIS, THE BLANKET MORATORIUM OR, OR THE BLANKET VOUCHER.
UH, BOY, WE'RE LUMPING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED HELP WITH THAT.
WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T HURT THEM.
[00:35:01]
OVER? THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.IF THE COUNTY, IF THE COUNTY CAN CLOSE A RESTAURANT WITHOUT NOTICE FOR COCKROACHES, SURELY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD A MOTEL OWNER ACCOUNTABLE QUICKLY WHEN A PERSON THEY RENT TO SHOOTS A 16 YEAR OLD GIRL ON THE HEAD OR, OR ONE OF THEIR PE ONE OF THEIR GUESTS MOLEST 16 YEAR OLD GIRL.
IF THE COUNTY CAN SHUT DOWN A RESTAURANT FOR COCKROACHES, WHY CAN'T WE BE JUST AS FAST FOR MOTEL OWNERS FOR MORE SERIOUS CONDITIONS? HERE'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING.
WE CREATE A LIST OF OFFENSES, VIOLENT FELONIES, WHATEVER WORKING WITH THE POLICE SAYS.
IF A MOTEL OWNER HAS A GUESS THAT COMMITS ONE OF THOSE OFFENSES, YOU GO STRAIGHT TO A DEEMED APPROVED HEARING.
YOU DON'T WAIT FIVE MONTHS FOR THEM TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER.
YOU GO TO THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND YOU HAVE TO DEFEND WHY WE DON'T PULL YOUR PERMIT.
YOU HAVE THE CHOICE WHO YOU RENT TO AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
I WENT ON MEGAN'S LAW WEBSITE, I'M A I'M A CITIZEN, AND I LOOKED UP BOTH OF THESE PEOPLE ACCUSED OF THIS CRIME.
ONE OF THEM HAS A RISK FACTOR OF SEVEN.
IT IS THE HIGHEST RISK FACTOR TO RE-OFFEND.
IF I CAN DO THAT AS A CITIZEN, WHY CAN'T A MOTEL OWNER DO THE SAME IN DECIDING WHO THEY WANT TO RENT TO? I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE A VOUCHER OR NOT.
MY PROPOSAL IS FOR CERTAIN DEFENSES, YOU GO STRAIGHT TO A DEEMED TO PROVE HEARING WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO DEFEND WHY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR PERMIT NEXT.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN GOBEL.
THAT'S, UH, I WOULD AG UH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT SUGGESTION.
UM, WHERE DO I START? A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, WITH REGARD TO ANOTHER OPTION, THE VAL, THE MOTELS IN OUR CITY HAVE BEEN HARBORING AND HAVE BEEN HOTBEDS FOR CRIME.
AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING THE TREND, UH, UH, UH, INCREASE.
UM, AND SO MY QUESTION TO THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE CREATING SOME KIND OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT WHERE BECAUSE OF ALL THESE, UM, CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ARE OCCURRING, UM, AT THESE MOTELS, COULD YOU, COULD WE CREATE A POTENTIALLY SPEC, A SPECIAL DISTRICT TO PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS TO SAY, UM, COULD WE PER ROOM, COULD WE TAX OR PUT A FEE ON A PER ROOM AMOUNT SO WE COULD, UM, CO GET COMPENSATION FOR THE CRIME THAT'S OCCURRING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE RES RESOURCES FOR, FROM POLICE AND FROM FIRE.
IS IS, IS THERE AN ABILITY TO DO THAT OR CAN YOU, UH, GIMME SOME INFORMATION AS WITH REGARD TO A SPECIAL DISTRICT? SO HOW THAT WOULD WORK? SO I CAN SPEAK FROM THE TAX PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S PROBABLY A, A LEGAL FAIR HOUSING COMPONENT TO THAT AS WELL.
BUT FROM THE, THE TAXING PERSPECTIVE, IF WE WERE TO CREATE A, A SPECIFIC FEE MM-HMM.
AND SO THAT WOULD REQUIRE GOING TO THE VOTERS AND OKAY.
AND AS SOON AS WE CAN DO THAT IS 2024, UNLESS YOU WANNA CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION.
BUT THAT IS, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
WE CAN IMPLEMENT A SPECIAL FEE.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE FEES FOR THE TAXES FOR AND, UM, TAILOR THAT THOSE TAX MONIES COLLECTED WOULD HAVE TO GO TO WHATEVER THAT, WHATEVER THAT PURPOSE WOULD BE.
BUT THAT'S, YOU DO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT.
THAT I, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EXPLORE FURTHER, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING IMMEDIATE.
SO I GUESS I'LL JUST TABLE THAT.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED, DO WE KNOW IF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY, IS THIS COUNTY MONEY OR IS THIS STATE FUNDED THAT THE COUNTY IS ADMINISTERING? DO WE KNOW THAT? ANSWER IT.
IT'S, I I SAW THE FUNDING SOURCE AND I BELIEVE I'M LOOKING TO TONY.
I BELIEVE IT'S FEDERAL MONEY RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.
FEDERAL MONEY RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
I DO THINK IT'D BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO, AS A CITY, TO CON BE IN, UH, IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM TO SHOW THEM, LISTEN, THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE, THE PROGRAMS
[00:40:01]
AND THE POLICIES THAT ARE OCCURRING.UM, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY.
WE PUT, WE PUT, UM, FINE PRINT AND REGULATIONS ON MONEY ALL THE TIME, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BEND THE EAR OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, SO THEY KNOW THE RESULT OF THEIR LACK OF OVERSIGHT WITH DOLING OUT THIS MONEY.
UM, I AM 100% A BELIEVER THAT THESE TWO OR THREE HEINOUS CRIMES ARE NOT THE ONLY HEINOUS CRIMES OCCURRING.
THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE JUST WHAT IS COMING TO THE SURFACE WITH THESE ISSUES.
UM, SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND RAPES ARE UNDERREPORTED.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S FACTUALLY TRUE.
UM, THAT'S STATISTICALLY TRUE.
THERE IS A DARK UNDERBELLY THAT'S OCCURRING IN THESE MOTELS.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO REGULATE IT AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS ARE SAFE.
GOING OFF OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I THINK THE REPORTING THAT'S EASY.
WE, WE SHOULD MO I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF, UH, OF MOVING FORWARD WITH EXPLORING THAT THE 2000 FEET FROM A SCHOOL OR A THOUSAND FEET FROM THE SCHOOL, WHATEVER THAT IS.
UM, I THINK WE, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
UM, THE HEARING TO COUNCILMAN GO'S IDEA, YES.
LET'S ABSOLUTELY DO IT RIGHT AWAY.
UM, THE CRIMINAL RECORD SEARCH THAT THAT SHOULD BE A GIVEN.
UM, I WOULD SUPPORT THE PRICE GOUGING, UM, AND CONDITIONS FOR MOTEL PARTICIPATION.
THERE'S HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION, UM, AND WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH REQUESTS FROM OUR POLICE OR OUR CITY WITH REGARD TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PLACED IN A MAR MOTELS.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ANSWERS FROM CERTAIN CONTRACTORS FROM THE COUNTY WITH REGARD TO WHO'S BEING THERE.
SO THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME KIND OF CHANGE IN THE WAY THIS PROGRAM IS, IS ADMINISTERED.
UM, UM, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.
THIS THIS IS A PRACTICAL SITUATION.
I THINK WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
UM, AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAVE ABOUT THIS.
I THINK, UM, MORE IDEAS CAN COME TO LIGHT AND, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION AS A CITY, UM, WITH POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
MS. TOR ORTIZ, IF I COULD JUST POINT OUT, YOU MENTIONED CONTRACTORS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE, THE LOCAL DIRECTOR OF PATH.
SHE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND RESPONSIVE.
SO I I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND APPRECIATE THAT CUZ IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THE INVESTIGATION AND UNDERSTANDING THE BIGGER PICTURE.
UM, THERE'S OTHER CONTRACTORS WHERE STAFF HAS BEEN TOLD YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO THEM.
UH, THE COUNTY HAS TOLD, COUNTY STAFF HAS TOLD US THAT AND SO THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SO I THINK PATH, I'D HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEM WANTING TO COME AND HELP WORK OUT SOLUTIONS WHERE OTHERS DON'T.
SO THERE IS SOME VALUE IN CREATING SOME INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO COME TALK TO US.
AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ACCOMPLISHED THAT.
AND I WANNA THANK THE STAFF AT PATH FOR, FOR BEING FORTHCOMING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S VICTIMS LIKE THIS.
BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, HOW, HOW MUCH WORSE DOES IT HAVE TO GET FOR A CITY TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS? MM-HMM.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER, I HAVE TWO SONS.
UM, EVERYONE UP HERE IS A PARENT.
UM, I SHARE MS. MITCHELL'S FRUSTRATION AND, UM, I, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO, WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
AND, UM, UH, I WANNA THANK MR. MITCHELL AND, AND OUR STAFF FOR, FOR PREPARING THESE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
AND I HOPE THAT OTHER ENTITIES ARE LISTENING TO US WHEN WE SAY, PLEASE SIT DOWN WITH US AND REFORM YOUR PROGRAMS CUZ THEY'RE NOT WORKING.
THERE'S A WAY TO HELP HOMELESS WITHOUT, UM, HARBORING CRIMINALS.
UH, QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, WHO WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE ENTITY TO RUN THE CRI CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS? WELL, THERE, THERE'S TWO WAYS TO DO IT.
ONE IS, UM, THEY COULD RUN IT, THE, THE SERVICE PROVIDER RUN IT AND PROVIDE US INFORMATION OR THEY COULD CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF EL CAJON AND WE COULD RUN IT.
SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
UH, MY GOAL IS TO CREATE THE MOST ROBUST ORDINANCES TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF EL OF EL CAJON THAT WILL PASS CONSTITUTIONAL MUSTER.
AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE ON THIS ONE, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY ISN'T, HASN'T BEEN KNOWN FOR COOPERATING
[00:45:01]
WITH US IN THE PAST.AND, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY PUSH HARD ON THIS ONE.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR CITIZENS.
THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THE ONES THAT NEED THE MOST PROTECTION ARE THE CHILDREN OF EL CAJON.
SO I, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AND PUSH HARD.
WE'RE GONNA GET PUSHBACK FROM OTHER, CERTAIN, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, BUT WE HAD TO STAY STRONG ON THIS.
MY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IS THAT THIS IS NOT A BRAND NEW PROBLEM.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY NOW FOR SIX MONTHS.
WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE COUNTY WAS ENGAGED IN THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM, WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND SAID, WAIT A SECOND.
EL CAJON IS CARRYING ABOUT 50% OF THE BURDEN FOR THIS PROGRAM.
AND YET EL CAJON REPRESENTS ABOUT 3% OF THE POPULATION, WHEREAS THE EQUITY IN THAT, WHEREAS, WHEREAS THE FAIRNESS IN THAT EL CAJON POLICE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CRIMINAL PROBLEMS. EL CAJON FIRE HAS TO DEAL WITH MORE MEDICAL PROBLEMS. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN EL ALCOHOL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MORE TRASH AND CRIMINALITY AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS. WE TALKED TO THE COUNTY AT THAT TIME, WE BEGGED THEM, WE GRAHAM YOU TALKED TO THEM MANY, MANY TIMES.
HOW MANY EMAILS DID YOU WRITE ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO BE COOPERATIVE WITH US? LET'S WORK SOMETHING OUT.
LET'S WORK OUT A PROGRAM THAT'S FAIR FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
WE WEREN'T, WE NEVER CAME OUTTA THE GATE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
WE NEVER CAME OUTTA THE GATE SAYING, YOU TAKE YOUR VOUCHER PROGRAM AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE WANNA DO OUR SHARE, BUT WE DON'T WANNA DO MORE THAN OUR SHARE AND WE DON'T WANNA PUT THE CITIZENS OF EL CAHO IN MORE RISK THAN THE CITIZENS OF THE OTHER, UH, JURISDICTIONS IN THIS COUNTY THAT, THAT SHOULD BE SHARING IN THIS RISK.
SO NOW I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE FOCUSED ON THIS INCIDENT THIS WEEKEND, BUT I THINK GRAHAM'S POINT ABOUT BEING THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IS PRETTY IMPORTANT.
IF WE HEARD ABOUT THIS THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE, WE, FRANK, WE HAD SOMEBODY IN OUR HOTEL THAT, THAT WAS FROM A ANOTHER VOUCHER PROGRAM IN SAN DIEGO THAT MET THIS ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL.
THEY, THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL CA IT'S CONFUSING, BUT THE, THE INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT THE ANKLE BRACELET CAME TO EL CAJON AND THEN HIS FRIEND WITH THE ANKLE BRACELET CAME AND STAYED IN OUR HOTELS AND, AND ASSAULTED, ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED THESE GIRLS IN THE HOTELS.
THAT'S AN ALLEGED THING, BUT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE.
BUT THEN WE'VE HAD THE OTHER INCIDENT WHERE A, SOMEBODY ON A COUNTY VOUCHER PROGRAM SOLD HIS VOUCHER TO SOME KIDS THAT WANTED THE PARTY.
THOSE KIDS DID HAVE A BIG PARTY AND A GIRL SHOT IN THE HEAD AND SHE'S IN A VEGETATIVE STATE WILL NEVER BE OKAY AGAIN.
IT'S BASICALLY A MURDER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
THIS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL THAT THIS THING IS OUTTA CONTROL.
THIS IS A MALIGNANT PROGRAM AND WITH ALL CANCERS, ALL MALIGNANT PROGRAMS, YOU DON'T TALK TO THE CANCER AND SAY, WELL LET'S, LET'S WATCH YOU FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SEE HOW YOU DO.
LET'S SEE IF YOU MAYBE STOP ATTACKING THE PANCREAS.
AND IF YOU JUST LEAVE THE LIVER ALONE, WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY.
AND IF THE COUNTY WANTS TO GET BACK IN OUR GOOD GRACES, THEY WANT US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, THEY NEED TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH US AND SAY WE ARE REALLY SORRY THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING TO YOU.
THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING MEETINGS, THAT WE'RE NOT ANSWERING PHONE CALLS, THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT GETTING IN AND WORKING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE'RE JUST CALLING PEOPLE NAMES.
AND I, I SUGGEST THAT WE GO FOR THE 90 DAY MORATORIUM, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND, AND GRANTED, WE, WE MAY HAVE TO MODIFY THAT TO SOME DEGREE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE ALREADY IN A PROGRAM LINE.
I WANNA THROW PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, BUT THAT WE, WE PUT A STOP TO NEW, NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND WE LET THE REST OF IT DWINDLE BY ATTRITION UNTIL WE FIGURED OUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS TO OUR SATISFACTION.
NOT THE COUNTY SATISFACTION, NOT ROB ANTE'S SATISFACTION, BUT TO OUR SATISFACTION BECAUSE IT'S OUR CITY, IT'S OUR POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S OUR FIREFIGHTERS, IT'S OUR RESIDENTS.
AND IF, IF THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE DOES NOT PROTECT THEM, NOBODY WILL.
I'M NOT GONNA EVEN MAKE IT A RHETORICAL WHO WILL, CUZ I KNOW THAT NOBODY WILL.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ELECTED TO DO.
THIS IS THE, THE SENTIENT MOMENT.
THE SALIENT MOMENT FOR OUR ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREERS IS TODAY.
NOW, WE MAY WANNA GO TO, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE THE DEPTHS OF THIS, WE MAY WANNA GO TO CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE REASON I'M SUGGESTING CLOSED SESSION IS BECAUSE THIS IS BOUND TO BE CONTENTIOUSLY LEGAL AND WE USUALLY HANDLE LEGAL PROBLEMS IN CLOSED SESSION
[00:50:01]
FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS.AND I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY YET.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US ALL THE THINGS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT AND ALL THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES LIKE MR. GOBEL SUGGESTED IN CLOSE SESSION AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU WITH AT LEAST OUR NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS.
SO IF NOBODY HAS ANY OBJECTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, MOTION THAT WE ADJOURNED A CLOSED SESSION.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[1. Closed Session - Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation - Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code section 54956.9: One potential case]
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW QUICK THIS MIGHT BE.I WOULD, I WOULD GUESS IS WHAT, HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND REPORT OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CLOSED SESSION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
AND WE'LL BE BACK AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WE ARE BACK FROM CLOSED SESSION.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY NOW TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER CLOSED SESSION AND THEN I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER WILL GIVE A REPORT AS WELL.
DOES UH, MORGAN HAVE A MICROPHONE? I CAN SHOUT.
THAT CITY COUNCIL MEN IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS, UH, EXPOSURE LITIGATION OF, UM, UH, WITH THE POTENTIAL OF AT LEAST ONE CASE DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO OUR OFFICE TO DO SOME, UH, RESEARCH INTO THE MATTERS THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
UM, AND UM, MR. MITCHELL NOW WILL ALSO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING THE CLOSED SESSION.
THANK YOU, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
BASED ON THE CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER AND SOME DIRECTION GIVEN IN CLOSED SESSION, STAFF WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO THE, WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD A PLANNING COMMISSION ITEM TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GOBEL SUGGESTED.
SO IF, IF CERTAIN THRESHOLDS ARE CROSSED, THERE'LL BE AN IMMEDIATE HEARING FOR A DEEMED APPROVED STATUS, REVO REVOCATION.
AND WE WILL ALSO BE BRINGING FORWARD MOTEL SIX FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE NEXT POSSIBLE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, AS ASSUMING WE MEET ALL THOSE NOTICING DEADLINES.
UM, FOR THE REST COUNCIL WILL OR STAFF WILL BEGIN RESEARCHING ALL OF THESE AND BRINGING THEM BACK ONE AT A TIME.
UM, AS WE GET THEM COMPLETED OR IMPLEMENTED TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, WE'LL BE BRINGING THIS FORWARD, INCLUDING THE 90 DAY MORATORIUM.
THE COMPLICATED ISSUE IS GONNA BE WITH US FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UH, I KNOW THE COM THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO, UH, JUSTICE IN THIS, IN THIS AND, UH, A GOOD OUTCOME FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE ARE AT ADJOURNMENT.
THE ADJOURNED JOINT SPECIAL MEANING OF THE EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL AND EL EL CAJON HOUSING AUTHORITY HELD THIS 21ST DAY OF MARCH, 2023 IS ADJOURNED.