[ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells]
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THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER, AND I'LL ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO BE FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE? 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.
[ POSTINGS: The City Clerk posted Orders of Adjournment of the March 12, 2024, Meeting and the Agenda of the March 26, 2024, Meeting in accordance to State Law and City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Policy.]
THE CITY CLERK POSTED ORDERS OF ADJOURNMENT OF THE MARCH 12TH, 2024 MEETING AND THE AGENDA OF THE MARCH 26TH, 2024 MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY POLICY.[ PRESENTATIONS: April Pool's Day]
WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION ON TODAY'S AGENDA, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE RECREATION SUPERVISOR, MARK ICK, I'M SORRY, ROSS BLOCK TO TELL US ABOUT APRIL POOL'S DAY.ROSS, YOUR NAME CAUGHT ME THERE.
I'M MARK ROSS, BLOCK SUPERVISOR UP AT FLETCHER HILL CENTER, AND I'M JOINED BY, I'M BRENNA SEABACH.
I'M THE ASSISTANT HEAD GUARD AT FLETCHER HILL CENTER.
AND WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WATER SAFETY MONTH TODAY, UH, MAY IS DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH, AND DROWNING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS AMONG, AMONGST CHILDREN, ONE TO FOUR THAN ANY OTHER CAUSE EXCEPT CONGENITAL AMONG ANOMALIES, WHICH ARE BIRTH DEFECTS.
UM, AMONG THOSE AGES, ONE TO 14 FATAL DROWNING REMAINS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL INJURY RELATED DEATH BEHIND MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES.
THE DISPARITY IS WIDEST AMONG CHILDREN, FIVE TO 18 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S FROM THE CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL.
SO WHAT IS APRIL POOLS DAY? UH, APRIL POOLS DAY IS A, UH, A KICKOFF TO MAY, WHICH IS MON OR AGAIN, DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH.
UM, IT'S A WAY FOR US TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON, UH, DROWNING PREVENTION, SUN SAFETY, UM, AND ALL THINGS SWIM SAFETY AS IT PERTAINS TO WHETHER YOU'RE IN YOUR BACKYARD AT A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL.
UH, MULTIPLE CITY AND PRIVATE AGENCIES PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT, AND IT'S ALSO RECOGNIZED AND SUPPORTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS, UH, SAFE KIDS WORLDWIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY AQUATICS COUNCIL.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA BE HOSTING OUR APRIL POOLS DAY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH FROM FOUR TO 6:00 PM THIS IS A FREE EVENT.
UM, NO REGISTRATION IS NEEDED.
UH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE ALL KIND OR ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES THERE, UH, INCLUDING SWAG BAGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GIVING AWAY.
WE HAVE SOME, UM, UH, ITEMS FROM THE JOHN WA, UH, JOHN WAYNE FOUNDATION, WHO ALSO HAS A LITTLE GROUP CALLED, UM, BLOCK THE BLAZE.
SO THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GREAT SUN SAFETY TIPS IN THOSE BAGS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SAFETY STATIONS THAT, UM, ALSO HAVE EXERCISES FOR DROWNING RESCUES, SUCH AS REACH AND THROW ACTIVITIES, CPR MINI LESSONS, UM, ADDITIONAL SUN SAFETY INFORMATION.
WE'RE HOPING TO GET HEARTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SOME INTERACTIVE, UH, EXPERIENCES FOR ANYBODY THAT DOES COME TO THE EVENT, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE REC SQUAD THERE PROVIDING SOME TRADITIONAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS KONA ICE, IF ANYONE WANTS TO GET SOME REFRESHING COLD DRINKS.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE ALL PARTICIPANTS WITH A LITTLE PASSPORT THAT THEY'RE GONNA GO AROUND AND GET STAMPED AT EVERY LOCATION.
ONCE THAT, UH, PASSPORT IS FULL, THEY'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO SOME OPEN SWIM.
SO OPEN SWIM WILL BE OPEN THE ENTIRE TIME, AND ADULTS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN UNDER SIX YEARS OLD.
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OOPS.SO, UH, CITY OF EL CAJONS CONTRIBUTION TO, UH, DROWNING PREVENTION, WE ACTUALLY OFFER 188 REGISTERED ACTIVITIES, UH, BETWEEN APRIL AND OCTOBER, 2023.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDED 1,991 PARTICIPANTS OF THOSE CLASSES.
UH, THEY CONSISTED OF ONE JUNIOR LIFEGUARD CLASS, UH, 16 PARENT TAUGHT CLASSES, WHICH, UM, ARE FOR SIX MONTH TO THREE YEAR OLDS.
WE HAD 55 GROUP LESSONS FOR AGES SIX PLUS.
WE HAD 46 PRESCHOOL OR TINY TAUGHT, UM, LESSONS.
WE HAD 56 PRIVATE AND SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS, SIX SWIM TEAM SESSIONS, EIGHT WATER AEROBIC SESSIONS FOR ADULTS.
AND WE ACTUALLY WERE AT THE TAIL END OF OUR DOLLAR DAYS INITIATIVE.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME ADDITIONAL NUMBERS THAT CAME IN FROM CAMP CAJON AND, UH, JOHNSON ELEMENTARY, WHICH, UH, WAS UP TO A LITTLE OVER 200, UH, EXTRA EXTRA PARTICIPANTS.
SO WHAT DOES DROWNING LOOK LIKE? IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DROWNING LOOK LIKE? UM, IT'S, WE WANNA UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF DROWNING.
THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT STAGES OF DROWNING.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS A DISTRESSED VICTIM.
AND WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE IS SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT BE CALLING FOR HELP.
THEY MIGHT BE STARTING TO STRUGGLE, GETTING EXHAUSTED.
THEY MIGHT BE WAVING, UM, GENERAL, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION, THEY'RE ABLE TO STILL SPEAK, AND THEY'RE STILL SLIGHTLY SWIMMING.
UM, AND ACTIVE DROWNING VICTIM IS SOMEONE WHO IS A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, VISIBLE IN THEIR STRUGGLE.
THEY'RE STARTING TO APPEAR LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO GRASP ONTO SOMETHING.
THIS IS WHEN YOU CAN SEE SOME THRASHING HAPPENING.
UM, JUST LIKE IN THIS IMAGE HERE, SOMEBODY MIGHT BE TRYING TO LIFT THEIR FACE UP TO GET MORE AIR.
AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE THE PASSIVE STAGE OF DROWNING, AND THAT IS WHEN SOMEBODY HAS BECOME UNRESPONSIVE IN THE WATER.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS THAT WE CAN PREVENT DROWNINGS, UM, ESPECIALLY AT HOME IN BACKYARD POOLS WHERE DROWNINGS ARE MOST COMMON, IS TO HAVE, UM, ADULTS BEING VIGILANT AROUND THE WATER.
AND THAT'S WHY WE DISCUSS A WATER WATCHER.
A WATER WATCHER IS AN ADULT WHO IS DESIGNATED TO WATCH THE POOL OR THE BODY OF WATER.
UM, THEIR JOB IS TO SUPERVISE ANY CHILDREN OR SWIMMERS, KNOW THE DEPTHS OF THE POOL, LOOK FOR THOSE SIGNS OF DROWNING THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED.
UM, A WATER WATCHER WILL WANNA REMAIN FREE OF DISTRACTIONS SUCH AS CELL PHONES, UM, FOOD DRINKS OR BEVERAGES.
AND THEY WANNA BE ABLE TO TAKE, UH, BREAKS.
SO WORKING ON SHIFTS LIKE, UM, A LIFEGUARD MIGHT AND THAT WILL HELP YOU REMAIN VIGILANT AND HOLD YOUR STAMINA TO WATCH THE POOL.
UM, WE ALSO WANNA TEACH THE KIDS AROUND THE POOL TO SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING IF THEY SEE A FRIEND STRUGGLING TO SWIM TO SAY AN SAY SOMETHING TO AN ADULT.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO TAKE LOTS OF BREAKS TO AVOID EXHAUSTION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, UH, FOR, UH, DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH.
STAFF HAVE PUT TOGETHER SOME AMAZING VIDEOS JUST TO HELP EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON WAYS THAT WE CAN BE SAFE AROUND THE POOL, UH, WITHOUT, OR WOULD THAT, UH, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? LEMME SEE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, BUT THANKS FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA CHANGES.
STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY AGENDA CHANGES MR. MAYOR? WE HAVE NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.
[7. CONSENT ITEMS: Consent Items are routine matters enacted by one motion according to the RECOMMENDATION listed below. With the concurrence of the City Council, a Council Member or person in attendance may request discussion of a Consent Item at this time.]
BRINGS US TO CONSENT ITEMS, CONSENT ITEMS OR ROUTINE MATTERS ENACTED BY ONE MOTION ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATION LISTED BELOW WITH CONCURRENCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER OR PERSON IN ATTENDANCE MAY REQUEST DISCUSSION OF A CONSENT ITEM AT THIS TIME.COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU WISH TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS? UH, MR. GOBEL? YES.
I'D JUST LIKE TO PULL ITEM SIX.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THAT NOW.
ITEM SIX IS REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM INCREASED VEHICLE COSTS.
IT SAID, WHEN THE BUDGET WAS PREPARED FOR THE 20 23 20 24 BUDGET, WE HAD SOME COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, SOME OF THOSE HAVE GONE UP 20% SINCE FIRST QUOTED.
UM, LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF POLICE VEHICLES, A FIRED FOUR F TWO 50 WENT FROM 123,000 TO 147,000.
MY COMMENT IS, UH, THAT'S SUCH A SIGNIFICANT JUMP THAT AS WE LOOK OVER THE USEFUL LIFE OF A VEHICLE, IT MAY MAKE
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SENSE TO RETIRE IT A YEAR EARLY TO AVOID A BIG INCREASE LIKE THIS IF THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.AND MY COMMENT IS, LET'S BE AWARE OF THE COST OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE VERSUS THE REPLACEMENT COSTS, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE STUFF'S GETTING INCREMENTALLY MORE EXPENSIVE EVERY YEAR.
A LOT OF THE COSTS INCREASE, IF YOU NOTICE, THEY'RE ALL MOSTLY THE, THE POLICE VEHICLES.
A LOT OF THAT IS THE COST OF BALLISTIC GLASS HAS GONE UP DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR.
SO THAT IS SOME OF THE COST REASON, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS ANALYZING THAT, THAT SWEET SPOT OF WHEN TO HIRE, GET A NEW VEHICLE OR NOT TO GET A NEW VEHICLE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT BECAUSE IT, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
OH, UH, GRAHAM, I, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BALLISTIC GLASS? UM, WELL, IT'S GLASS THAT IS, UH, BULLETPROOF.
UM, IN FACT, WE WERE OUT AT THE RANGE RECENTLY SHOOTING FIREARMS AT GLASS TO TEST OUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
MOST OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE SOME SORT OF BALLISTIC GLASS IN THEM, SO OUR OFFICERS ARE PROTECTED WHILE THEY'RE DRIVING AND PROTECTING US.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ENTIRE CONSENT AGENDA.
LEMME JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONSENT ITEMS THEY WANTED TO PULL.
WERE THERE ANY CONSENT ITEMS THAT STAFF WANTED TO PULL BEFORE WE GO? NO, SIR.
OH, THEN I'LL, I'LL SECOND STEVE'S MOTION PLEASE VOTE.
AND FOR THE RECORD, SIR, THERE WERE NO SPEAKER CARDS ON THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, any person may address a matter within the jurisdiction of the City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency that is not on the Agenda. Comments relating to items on today’s docket are to be taken at the time the item is heard. State law prohibits discussion or action on items not on the Agenda; however, Council, Authority and Agency Members may briefly respond to statements or questions. An item may be placed on a future Agenda.]
WE'RE A PUBLIC COMMENT.NOW AT THIS TIME, ANY PERSON MAY ADDRESS A MATTER WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL HOUSING AUTHORITY SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE EL CAJON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
COMMENTS RELATING TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ARE TO BE TAKEN AT THE TIME THE ITEM IS HEARD.
STATE LAW PROHIBITS DISCUSSION OR ACTION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, CITY COUNCIL AND HOUSING AUTHORITY MEMBERS MAY BRIEFLY RESPOND TO STATEMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
AN ITEM MAY BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
ANGELA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR.
UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WARNED YOU ABOUT A GROUP THAT WAS GONNA MESS WITH PEOPLE AND RECORD THEIR REACTION ON CAMERA.
I'M GONNA GO PUBLIC WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA ASK THE BLACK SWANS TO PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THE RADICAL PART OF THEIR GROUP.
THE BLACK SWANS IS A SERVICE GROUP LIKE THE BLACK PANTHERS STARTED OUT, UM, SOME OF THEM WENT BAD, SO I'VE BEEN PHYSICALLY AND VERBALLY ASSAULTED BY THEM, THE RADICAL PART OF THE BLACK SWANS.
FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS OR MORE.
SATURDAY, I WAS ASSAULTED IN LEMON GROVE BY A MALE, WHICH WOULD BE A IFIED BLACK SWAN.
PLEASE, WHEN THESE PEOPLE MESS WITH YOU, JUST WALK AWAY FROM THEM.
I WAS JUST FILMING STUFF FOR OUR, FOR, FOR OUR STORM DRAIN, UM, WORKSHOP THAT WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT IN LEMON GROVE.
SO I'M WONDERING, MY QUESTION THAT I LEFT ON MY, ONE OF MY VIDEOS IS, IS, UM, EL CAJON AND SANTI HAVING A P*****G CONTEST.
JUST WONDERING YOU, UM, GRAHAM WILL PROBABLY GET TO SEE THE VIDEO THAT I SENT.
SO PLEASE, IF ANY OF THE BLACK SWANS ARE LISTENING, PLEASE GET TAKE CARE OF YOUR RADICAL GROUP 'CAUSE YOU'RE MAKING YOUR GOOD SERVICE GROUP LOOK BAD.
THERE ARE NO WRITTEN, I'M SORRY, THERE ARE NO WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[11. Consideration of an Adjustment to the SANDAG Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) Fee RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: Opens the Public Hearing and receives testimony; Closes the Public Hearing; and Adopts the next Resolution, in order, approving an adjustment to the Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) Fee to the new amount of $2,875.06, for each newly-constructed residential unit.]
NOW AT PUBLIC HEARINGS.CONSIDER ITEM 11 IS FREE ADJUSTMENT OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FEE.
AND I'LL ASK STAFF TO TELL US ABOUT THIS, PLEASE.
HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FEE.
IT'S IS AN ANNUAL FEE THAT'S UPDATED BY SANDAG.
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THE R-T-C-I-P IS COLLECTED FOR, UM, FROM THE DEVELOPER OWNER FOR EACH NEW HOUSING, UH, UNIT CONSTRUCTED IN THE CITY.THE FEE IS USED TO OFFSET IMPACTS OF GROWTH ON THE REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM AND THE FEE EXCLUDES, UH, LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING AND ADUS.
AND THE FEES ARE COLLECTED, UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, UH, BY NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNITS.
AND TO DATE, WE HAVE COLLECTED SINCE 2008, OVER $955,000 TO, OR AN AVERAGE OF $59,000 PER YEAR TO ADDRESS OUR STREET IMPROVEMENTS OR ADDRESS, UH, ANY, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECTS, UH, ON OUR REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM.
THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS ALL OUR STREETS.
THERE'S 14 ARTERIALS ON THE REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM IDENTIFIED BY SANDAG.
AND, UH, UM, AND THERE'S A REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM.
EVERY JURISDICTION HAS ONE, AND THEY APPLY THEIR FEES TO THEIR, UH, RESPECTIVE, UH, CITIES.
SANDAG IS REQUIRED TO ADJUST THE FEE ON JULY 1ST OF EACH YEAR BASED ON THE LATEST CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THE CI IS BASED ON CHANGES IN FOUR AREAS, LUMBER, CONCRETE, STRUCTURAL STEEL, AND LABOR.
THIS YEAR, SANDAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS INCREASED THE FEE BY 4.9% DUE TO THESE RISING COSTS.
SO OVER THE PERIOD FROM 2009 TO TO DATE, WE'VE ONLY, UH, INCREASED THE FEE ABOVE 2%, TWO TIMES.
SO THIS FEE INCREASE HAS GOT, UH, UH, WAS APPROVED FOR BY 4.9%.
AND THE PROPOSED FEE IS $2,875 OR AN INCREASE OF $133 AND 9 CENTS FROM THE CURRENT FEE AMOUNT OF $2,741 AND 97 CENTS FOR EACH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED, UH, DWELLING UNIT IN THE CITY.
SO OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, UH, CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE INCREASED OVER 13% BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 21 AND FISCAL YEAR 23.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REQUESTING TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THIS ADJUSTMENT TO THE R-T-C-I-P, TO THE NEW AMOUNT FOR EACH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED RESIDENTIAL UNIT IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND I CAN RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS.
LEMME SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MICHELLE.
GOOD REPORT QUESTION, UM, HOW IS THE AMOUNT FIGURED OUT? SO IF YOU GO BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE, UH, NEXT SLIDE.
THE CITY OF, UM, THE ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD, WHICH IS A PUBLICATION OUTTA LOS ANGELES.
THEY TRACK CONSTRUCTION COST INDEXES.
AND, UM, EVERY YEAR THEY PUBLISH, UH, WHAT THE INCREASE OR DECREASES ARE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AND THEY REACH OUT TO THE, UH, UH, ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA.
SO THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR COSTS.
AND DOES, UH, ARE THE AMOUNTS CHARGED TO EACH, UM, ARE THE AMOUNTS IN EACH CITY THE SAME? YES.
SO IF YOU WENT TO LA JOLLA, IT WOULD STILL BE, WOULD BE 28 75 IF YOU WENT TO, UH, LEMON GROVE.
LEMON GROVE FANT, SAME THING? YES.
AND THAT'S FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENCE OR BUSINESS? NO, JUST SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.
SO IF, IF A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND HE BUILDS 10, 15 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND SAY A NEW SUBDIVISION, HE WOULD PAY 28 75 PER BUILDING? CORRECT.
UM, ON THE, GO BACK TO THE REGIONAL, UM, ARTERIAL LINE.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? AND I SEE SEVERAL STREETS AROUND MY AREA.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DO THOSE, SO THESE STREETS ARE TIE INTO THE ACTUAL, THE, THE REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM.
SO THEY REACH THE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, CHASE AVENUE WOULD GO INTO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, WHICH GOES TO STATE ROUTE 54.
AND THEN THAT JUST CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR WHOLE OVERALL, UH, REGIONAL ARTERIAL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY.
SO LIKE, GREENFIELD GOES FROM ONE END OF THE CITY TO, TO THE EIGHT TO EL CA TO THE COUNTY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH.
WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS FOR THIS ITEM? NO SPEAKER CARD, SIR.
UM, ACTUALLY, I, I HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
ALRIGHT, ANY BOARD DISCUSSION OR SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?
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I'LL DO BOTH.UM, THIS IS REALLY A VERY SMALL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE THAT WE DON'T AS A CITY REQUIRE.
I BELIEVE OUR CITY IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTY THAT DOES NOT CHARGE A DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE FOR OURSELVES IN OTHER CITIES, THAT FEE CAN RANGE FROM 30 TO $40,000 PER UNIT.
SO, UH, WE KEEP THIS INTENTIONALLY LOW TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OR CITY.
AND WE'LL HAVE A, A REPORT LATER ON HOW MUCH GROWTH HAS BEEN BUILT IN THE PAST CITY.
SO, UH, IT, IT'S A GREAT INCENTIVE TO KEEP THIS NUMBER LOW IS TO INVITE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND, THESE VOTE MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[12. 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: Accepts the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report; and Directs staff to forward the report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).]
WE HAVE THREE ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.ITEM 12 IS THE 2023 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT.
AND I'LL ASK OUR STAFF TO INTRODUCE TO THIS ITEM PLEASE.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
EACH YEAR, UH, STAFF PROVIDES THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT.
UM, THIS REPORT IS MANDATED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND AFTER PRESENTING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, IT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF UM, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS BY APRIL 1ST OF EACH YEAR.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE ANNUAL REPORT, UM, REFERENCES PROGRESS FOR 2023.
AND ALL DEPARTMENTS HERE AT THE CITY PARTICIPATE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IN IMPLEMENTING THE GENERAL PLAN.
BUT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT I THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT AND WORTH NOTING IN TERMS OF THE CIRCULATION ELEMENT, WHICH IS PRIMARILY MANAGED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THE MAIN STREET GREEN STREET PROJECT BEGAN IN 23 AND INCLUDES APPROVED, IMPROVED WALKING AND BICYCLE LANES ON WEST MAIN STREET, AND IS INTENDED TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN AND AROUND THE EL CAJON TRANSIT CENTER.
ALSO NEAR THE TRANSIT CENTER, THE, UM, STREETLIGHTS, NEW STREETLIGHTS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE, UH, IMAGE ON YOUR RIGHT, UH, WERE INSTALLED ON PALM AVENUE AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE'S BEEN A TOTAL OF 34, UH, STREETLIGHTS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN 23.
AND WE KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS NOW IN AN EFFORT TO LIGHT, UM, PRIMARILY THE VALLEY FLOOR.
THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO DELIVER PROGRAMMING, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS.
HEARTLAND, UH, FIRE, UH, CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICE CLASS ONE RATING ISO CLASS ONE STATUS FOR ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND SUPPRESSION CAPABILITIES.
UM, AND POLICE LAST YEAR ALONE HANDLED 191,934, EXCUSE ME, 35 CALLS.
AND, UH, 60,450 OF 'EM WERE RESULTED IN CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER IF YOU CALCULATE THAT PER DAY.
NOW, THE PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THE, UM, ANNUAL REPORT IS THE CITY'S PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING ITS REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RE ALLOCATION, WHICH FOR THIS CURRENT PLANNING PERIOD, WHICH IS AN EIGHT YEAR CYCLE, IS 3,280 UNITS.
UH, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EL CAJONS CURRENT ZONING AND, UH, PLANS HAVE CAPACITY TO BUILD THESE UNITS.
SO NO ZONING CHANGES ARE REQUIRED.
IT'S REALLY UP TO THE MARKETPLACE TO DEVELOP THESE UNITS.
'CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOESN'T BUILD HOUSING.
NOW, HCD HAS A, A VERY COMPLICATED AND DETAILED, UH, REPORT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO FILL.
BUT AT LEAST ONE PAGE OF THIS REPORT WE WANNA SHARE WITH YOU AND THE TABLE'S IN A FORMAT THAT'S REQUIRED BY CD.
AND IT SHOWS THE CITY ISSUED 139 PERMITS IN 23, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 22, WHICH WAS AT 71.
AND SO WITH THAT, I JUST ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT THE GENERAL PLAN, ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT AND
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DIRECT STAFF TO SEND IT TO OPR AND HCD AND SANDAG BY APRIL 1ST.STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
LOOKS LIKE YOU ANSWERED ALL OUR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE ASK THEM.
UM, ANY CARDS ON THIS? NO SPEAKER CARD, SIR.
I'LL LEAVE IT BACK TO, UM, THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND OR MAKE A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE GENERAL PLAN, ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT AND DIRECT STAFF TO FORWARD THE REPORT TO THE APPROPRIATE, YES, I'M SORRY, FI GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR MOTION AND, UH, DIRECT STAFF TO FORWARD THE REPORT TO THE APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS.
BEFORE I ASK FOR A SECOND THOUGH, I, I, STEVE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BRING SOMETHING UNDER DISCUSSION.
UH, AND I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
UH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF INTERESTING, UH, THINGS I LIKE TO, TO THANK STAFF WHEN THEY TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE SUCH A REPORT BECAUSE IT'S WORTH READING.
THERE'S INFORMATIONAL STUFF IN THERE, UH, OF THE 139 NEW HOUSING UNITS, 67 WHERE ADUS THAT'S GREAT.
WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY, HOW ABOUT THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES ARE LOW.
I THINK THAT HELPS INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO BUILD ADUS.
THAT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO THE, UM, HOUSING STOCK IN EL CAJON.
ALSO IN THE REPORT UNDER HOUSING ELEMENT 3,559 HOUSEHOLDS ARE SECTION EIGHT THAT IS 10% OR ONE IN 10 HOUSEHOLDS IN EL CAJON.
ONE IN 10 HOUSEHOLDS IS A SECTION EIGHT HOUSEHOLD.
WE KNOW EL CAJON IS CHALLENGED IN TERMS OF AREA MEETING INCOME.
UH, BUT ONE IN 10 WAS A SURPRISE TO ME.
UH, IT ALSO WAS GOOD TO NOTE THAT WHAT IS THE HOUSING STOCK OF EL CAJON? HALF OF THE HOUSING UNITS IN EL CAJON ARE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING APARTMENTS.
HALF OF THE HOUSEHOLDS, UH, 46% ARE HOUSES AND 5% ARE MOBILE HOMES.
UH, I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE OPEN SPACE AND PARKS ELEMENT TO KUDOS TO OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
UH, THEY HANDLE OVER 145 COMMUNITY GROUPS USING OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
SO WAY TO ENGAGE, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ELEMENT HAD AN INTERESTING NOTE ON PAGE THREE AT THE BOTTOM.
IN MANY CASES, INSPECTIONS HAVE REVEALED A HIGH LEVEL OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN SOME OF THESE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING UNITS.
VIOLATIONS ARE DOCUMENTED AND FOLLOW UP INSPECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED AND TRACKED.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE AND THAT YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT.
ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO THE VOTE? ALRIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
[13. A Summary of the Downtown Business Partners Review and Consideration of the Recommendations from the New City America Report on the Property Business Improvement District (PBID). RECOMMENDATION: This is an informational report only. No action is required.]
THE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM NEW CITY AMERICA REGARDING THE P BID.I'LL ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER VINCE DIMAGGIO TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, ON FEBRUARY 13TH, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED A REPORT FROM ME AND, UM, MR. LAMONDRE OF NEW CITY AMERICA ON A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE OPERATIONS OF THE P BID.
UH, FOLLOWING THAT MEETING ON FEBRUARY 28TH, UH, I PRESENTED THE SAME REPORT TO THE P BID BOARD TO GAUGE THEIR LEVEL OF SUPPORT, UH, FOR ADOPTING OR ENACTING ANY OF THE 12 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THEIR PURVIEW OF ACTION.
I BRIEFLY WANT TO GO OVER EACH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THE BOARD'S OPINION ON THAT, ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE.
UM, THEY ALSO SENT MESSAGES TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO IF THERE'S ANY DIRECTION THAT YOU WANNA PROVIDE TO STAFF, WE CAN, UM, TAKE THAT AND AND MOVE THAT FORWARD IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S YOUR DIRECTION, IF THAT'S YOUR DESIRE.
UM, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION MADE UNDER THE NEW CITY REPORT WAS TO EXPAND THE BOARD TO INCLUDE, UM, MORE PARTICIPANTS, UH, SUCH AS NEW DEVELOPERS, THE MAGNOLIA, UM, OPERATORS, LIVE NATION, THE COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT.
UM, THEY WERE, THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE TO THIS.
THIS REQUIRES AMENDING THE CURRENT SET OF BYLAWS, AND THEY COMMITTED TO DO THAT IN THE SPRING.
SO I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, SOME BYLAW AMENDMENTS HAPPENING, UM, ANYTIME, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND THAT BEING THE CASE, UH, WE DID HAVE THE LIVE NATION REPRESENTATIVE, UH, THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MAGNOLIA, UM, APPEAR AT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AND EXPRESS INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE BOARD.
AND THAT WAS ALSO WELL RECEIVED.
SO WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING THE P BID BOARD IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UH, NUMBER TWO, WORK WITH KEY COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS TO BRING NEW RESTAURANTS
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TO THE DOWNTOWN.UM, AGAIN, THEY VOICED STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL, UH, IMPROVING ANY NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES, UM, IN, INTO THE DOWNTOWN OR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DOWNTOWN, PARTICULARLY ON MAIN STREET.
UM, AND THEY DID AGREE TO PERIODICALLY INVITE, UH, BROKERS TO P BID MEETINGS TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MARKET, UM, AS IT PERTAINS TO, UH, COMMERCIAL OR RESTAURANT TYPE DEVELOPMENT.
THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION WAS TO CREATE A FUNCTIONING AND WORKING COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED THIS ALREADY IN PART, THEY RECENTLY, UM, HAD A, THEY HAVE NO STANDING COMMITTEES PER SE, BUT THEY RECENTLY HAD AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE A WEBSITE AND OTHER MEANS, UH, OF USES OF TECHNOLOGY FOR MARKETING THE P BID.
SO THERE'S ALREADY A SUBCOMMITTEE OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO DO THAT, BUT NO STANDING SUBCOMMITTEE.
SYSTEM NUMBER FOUR, CREATE A HOSPITALITY TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
THE BOARD TOOK THIS UNDER ADVISEMENT, BUT THEY DIDN'T PLAN ANY FUTURE DISCUSSION, UM, ON THIS ITEM.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO RELAX ZONING RESTRICTIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT MORE BARS AND PUBS.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ZONING ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW BREWERIES WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BREWERIES WITH RESTAURANTS WITH A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
UM, BARS SPECIFICALLY, UM, UH, I'M NOT, I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE ZONING, UH, REQUIREMENTS ARE ON THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO LOOK INTO THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
BUT THEY SEEM TO WANT TO VIEW, UH, THAT AS BEING A DOWNTOWN ACTIVITY THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTAKE IN AFTER GOING TO THE MAGNOLIA, FOR INSTANCE, OR AFTER GOING TO THE CAR SHOW THAT THEY MAY NOT WANT TO GO TO, UM, A RESTAURANT, A SIT DOWN RESTAURANT, BUT MAY JUST WANT TO GO FOR DRINKS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO LOOK AT.
UH, NUMBER FIVE, PRIORITIZE ART ALLEY AS A FUNCTIONING PIECE OF DOWNTOWN.
UH, THE BOARD, UH, NOTED THAT THEY ALREADY PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ALLEY CAT, UH, ART WALK AND OUR SUPPORTIVE OF EFFORTS TO BRING MORE MURAL ART TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UH, NUMBER SIX, CONVERT THE OWNER'S ASSOCIATION TO A 5 0 1 C3.
UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IT'S ORGANIZED CURRENTLY AS A 5 0 1 C SIX.
UM, AND ACCORDING TO NCA BY REORGANIZING TO A 5 0 1 C3, THEY CAN PURSUE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFITS.
THERE AREN'T MANY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR 5 0 1 C SIX S.
THE BOARD IS IN FAVOR OF THIS, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE TIME AND EXPENSE THAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE VARIOUS STEPS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, THEY WANT TO DO THIS AFTER RECERTIFICATION OCCURS IN TWO YEARS.
SO THEY BASICALLY SAID, WE LIKE THIS IDEA, WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR GRANTS, BUT WE WANT TO DO THIS IF AND WHEN WE GET RE-CERTIFIED IN 2026.
NUMBER SEVEN, CONSIDER THE EXPANSION, UH, OF THE P BID DOWN EL CAJON BOULEVARD SOUTH ON MAG, UH, MAGNOLIA AVENUE AND EAST, UH, ON MAIN STREET.
UH, THE BOARD, AGAIN EXPRESSED OPENNESS FOR THIS, UH, BUT AGAIN, FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE EXAMINED AFTER RECERTIFICATION.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PURSUE EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE P BID AND THEN HAVE TO DO A RECERTIFICATION, UM, WITH THOSE, UH, WITH THOSE NEW BOUNDARIES.
UM, SO THEY WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF, UM, BENEFIT TO EXPANDING THE P BID IF AND WHEN THEY GET RE-CERTIFIED IN, IN 2026.
UH, NUMBER EIGHT, HIRE STAFF, NAMELY AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR CONTRACTED MANAGEMENT TO RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE P BID.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING, BOTH THE CITY MANAGER AND I AND OUR MEETINGS WITH THE P BID BOARD MEMBERS.
I HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING IT AS A MEMBER OF THE P BID BOARD REPRESENTING THE CITY.
UM, BUT THERE'S SOME DISAGREEMENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEIR BUDGET CAN AFFORD TO, UH, SUSTAIN THIS.
THEY, THEY BELIEVE THAT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION AS A FULL-TIME POSITION WOULD BE AT LEAST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, PLUS PERHAPS OTHER BENEFITS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE BELIEVING THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CURRENTLY SUPPORT IN THE P BID AREA IF THEY WENT WITH FULL-TIME STAFFING.
UM, WE, WE HAVE POINTED OUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
UM, BUT THERE STILL REMAINS A, A, A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN THAT RESPECT.
THEY DO HIRE, THEY DO HAVE, HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE A PART-TIME MANAGEMENT PERSON AT ABOUT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S ABOUT $1,500 A MONTH.
UM, AND THAT PERSON DOES BASICALLY WEBSITE MAINTENANCE.
UM, NOT AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE DONE, QUITE FRANKLY.
UM, AND SHOULD BE MANAGING THE, UM, E-C-T-L-C CONTRACT FOR THE SIDEWALK CLEANING, UM, PORTION OF IT NOT BEING DONE TO OUR
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SATISFACTION.UM, THAT'S SOMETHING AGAIN, THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE WORKED ON, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HAS WORKED ON.
SO THERE DOES NEED TO BE A STEP UP IN STAFFING OF THESE VARIOUS THINGS THAT, THAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
NUMBER NINE, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING AND LANDSCAPE COMPANY OR DO IT IN-HOUSE.
UM, THE P BID HAS PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED THIS AGAIN BY CONTRACTING WITH E-C-T-L-C.
UM, ALTHOUGH THE PERFORMANCE, AS I MENTIONED IN OUR OPINION AND, AND IN THEIR OPINION HAS BEEN SUBSTANDARD AND THAT THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, UH, THE E-C-T-L-C PROGRAM TO, TO MAKE IT BETTER.
BUT THEY DID ENTER RECENTLY IN THEIR, IN THEIR LATEST BUDGET, THEY DID ENTER INTO A SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT WITH A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING COMPANY TO SUPPLEMENT THE E-C-T-L-C CONTRACT.
SO E-C-T-L-C UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT SHOULD BE PERFORMING CLEANING SERVICES ON A DAILY BASIS IN AND THROUGHOUT THE P BID AREA.
AND THIS PROFESSIONAL COMPANY WILL COME IN MONTHLY AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, UH, SERVICES.
NUMBER 10, SEEK GRANTS FROM COUNTY SUPERVISOR FOR SPECIAL, UH, PROJECTS.
AGAIN, THAT, THAT KIND OF DOVETAILS WITH THE WHOLE 5 0 1 C 6 5 0 1 C3, UH, THING.
UM, BUT, BUT, UM, UNDER THE COUNTY'S CURRENT BUDGET, EACH SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT HAS, UH, SOME, SOME INCOME THAT HAVE, HAS A BUDGET THAT THEY CAN DISPENSE OUT TO SPECIAL PROJECTS.
AND SO THEY, THEY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH DISTRICT TWO SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE.
WHOEVER, UH, WOULD OCCUPY THAT OFFICE CURRENTLY IS MR. ANDERSON.
BUT WHOEVER WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY OCCUPY THAT OFFICE LONG TERM, THEY COMMITTED TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH DISTRICT TWO SUPERVISOR.
UM, NUMBER 11, UH, BEGIN THE PROGRAM, UH, OF, OF ANNUAL SEASONAL DISPLAYS.
THE BOARD NOTED THAT THEY'RE ALREADY ACTIVE IN SPONSORING A HOST OF SEASONAL DISPLAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND SO THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE IN, THAT THEY ARE ALREADY IMPLEMENTING THIS.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 12, UH, IS SUPPORT EAST COUNTY MARKET NIGHTS.
THE BOARD HAS BEEN SHOWN, UM, CONCEPTUAL, UM, IDEAS FOR WHAT EAST COUNTY MARKET NIGHTS WILL LOOK LIKE.
THEY VO VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
UM, AND, UH, THIS, THIS EFFORT IS BEING LED BY THE CITY, BY THE WAY.
IT'S NOT BEING LED BY THE P BID.
AND THE CITY WILL LIKELY ASK THE P BID TO FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS.
SO THE BOARD WILL NEED TO EXAMINE, UH, WHETHER SUCH SUPPORT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED IN THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE THEY ARE, UH, VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THE CONCEPT.
SO, IN SUMMARY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THE PREPARATION OF THE NCA REPORT.
THE BOARD ALSO EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, EXAMINE A NUMBER OF OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT FELT THAT ACHIEVING RECERTIFICATION IN 2026 WAS THE NATURAL PREREQUISITE, UH, BEFORE MOVING FORWARD ON SEVERAL OF THOSE.
SO THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL.
UM, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND IT SEEMS LIKE, YES, WE'LL LOOK AT IT, BUT THEY, THERE'S NOT, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IF WE WERE COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS, IS LIKE, OH, WELL, WE'LL LOOK AT IT.
WELL, IN TWO YEARS WE MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL.
UM, YOU MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS IF THEY WOULD EXPAND THEIR BOUNDARIES, YOU HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN AND MORE BUSINESS, THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS ZONING FOR BARS, I WAS AT, UM, OB AND WENT TO THE OB NOODLE HOUSE.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE THAT BUSINESS AND DROP IT RIGHT HERE IN EL CAJON POUNDING MUSIC, ALCOHOL PEOPLE WERE THERE, THEY WERE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE NOTHING LIKE THAT HERE.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS HERE.
NOW, MOST OF US HERE ARE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA STAY HOME AND KICK BACK AND WATCH MOVIES AND NOT GO ANYWHERE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SINGLES AND A LOT OF 20 TO 40 YEAR OLDS THAT WANT MORE ACTIVITIES HERE IN THE CITY.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO, UH, LA MESA.
LA MESA HAS GOT A LOT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS AND BARS TOO.
AND IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BARS, BUT LET'S FACE IT, IT'S A FUN TIME.
AND MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT, BUT I KNOW WHEN I WAS IN THAT AGE, THAT WAS MY THING TO DO.
WE NEED MORE PLACES LIKE OB NOODLE HOUSE, UH, SUSHI PLACES.
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GO OUT OF TOWN AND WE COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING SALES TAX REVENUE COMING IN.BUT IF WE'RE NOT PROVIDING STORES, IF WE'RE NOT PROVIDING BUSINESSES AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT IN OUR CITY, THEY'RE GONNA GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF MAYBE PUSH ON.
UM, ZONING, UH, EXPANDING BOUNDARIES.
UM, THEN, LET'S SEE, THEY'RE PART-TIME PERSON.
I THINK THEIR PART-TIME PERSON SHOULD BE SOMEONE TOTALLY SEPARATE AND NOT WORKING FOR THE BUILDING THAT THEY'RE IN.
THAT SHOULD BE A TOTALLY SEPARATE PERSON SO THAT YES, THEY WORK FOUR HOURS A DAY OR WHATEVER THEIR HOURS ARE, BUT IT SHOULD BE JUST FOR THEM NOT SITTING THERE AND MAYBE LOGGING TIME IN AND THEY'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR HERE FOR THE BUILDING AND THEN MAYBE AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR THE P BED AND THEN MAYBE LATER ON THEY'LL DO ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF.
I'VE DONE THAT TYPE OF WORK BEFORE, UM, IN A SENSE OF WHERE YOU HAVE TO LOG YOUR TIME FOR WHATEVER DEPARTMENT YOU'RE WORKING FOR.
IF I WORKED FOR THIS DIRECTOR, IT WAS THIS, AND IF I WORKED FOR THAT DIRECTOR, IT WAS THAT CODE.
I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY, UM, FOR THE P BID AND NOT BE PULLED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEONE FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THIS PERSON IS GETTING PAID, BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE DEDICATED TO WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR.
IS IT NECESSARY TO WAIT FOR RECERTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO CONVERT TO THE 5 0 1 C3? IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO DO THAT.
AND WHY WOULD, WHY WOULD WE NEED TO WAIT? WHAT IS THEIR RELUCTANCE IN WAITING AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THEM BY THEIR, UH, BY THEIR ATTORNEY? UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS, UM, AND, AND PREPARATIONS THAT HAVE TO GO INTO THAT PROCESS.
SO IT WAS MADE TO SOUND LIKE IT WAS QUITE INVOLVED AS THE BOARD WAS BEING EXPLAINED WHAT'S INVOLVED BY THEIR ATTORNEY.
SO, AND, AND SO THEY, THEY FELT THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL RECERTIFICATION, UM, BEFORE THEY TAKE ON THOSE STEPS AND THE EXPENSE OF THOSE STEPS, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE FARMED OUT TO THEIR ATTORNEY.
AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? WELL, LET ME JUMP IN ON THAT.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE, WE, THE CITY COUNCIL OR YOU THE CITY COUNCIL ARE THE ONES THAT WILL DIRECT WHETHER THE RECERTIFICATION OCCURS OR NOT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THIS BODY.
'CAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT PRESENT THE ORDINANCE AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
SO I DON'T, NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH AUTHORITY THEY HAVE OVER THAT PORTION.
I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND IT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO RECERTIFY UNDER THE CURRENT MODEL AND THEN GO BACK A YEAR LATER OR TWO YEARS LATER AND RE RECERTIFY WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY GOING OUT FOR THE VOTE.
THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE AT LEAST, AND WE'VE EXPRESSED THIS AT, AT THE STAFF LEVEL, IS UNDER THE RE NEW RECERTIFICATION, THE GOAL WILL BE TO, UM, UH, BRING REVENUE IN THROUGH ASSESSMENTS ON RESIDENTIAL THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT MODEL DOES NOT ALLOW US TO ATTRACT THAT KIND OF REVENUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING TODAY, AND IF WE WAIT TWO YEARS AND THEN WAIT ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THAT, THERE, THERE COULD BE HUNDREDS OF UNITS THAT WON'T BE ON THAT ASSESSMENT ROLE.
SO IT'D BE BETTER TO GET THAT THOSE ON THE ROLL NOW BEFORE THEY, UM, THEY'RE ALREADY DEVELOPED.
SO THOSE ARE, I GUESS THOSE ARE SOME STAFF THOUGHTS.
AND I, I THINK, UM, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE PROBABLY GET THROUGH MEASURE J IF, IF WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN START THINKING ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THAT AS THE NEXT, THE NEXT STEP.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE HER ORGANIZATIONS BECOMING 5 0 1 C3 ORGANIZATIONS ALL THE TIME.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE DRAGGING THEIR FEET BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM OR WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM, UH, MR. LEARY'S PRESENTATION.
YES, IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S REALLY HARD TO TAKE THAT, NOT TO NOT TAKE IT AS CRITICISM, BUT IN THE END, IF WE WERE TO TAKE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THEM AND WITH FULL COMMITMENT TO IT, IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER.
AND IT MIGHT MAKE THEIR JOB EVEN EASIER.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU EXPAND THE BOARD.
YOU DON'T HAVE A FEW, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD TRYING TO DO ALL THIS WORK.
NOW YOU'VE EXPANDED IT, YOU'VE GOT MORE BUSINESSES
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INVOLVED.YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE MORE OPINIONS, BUT IT'S GONNA BE BETTER FOR THE CITY.
AND ISN'T THAT OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE MORE RESTAURANTS AND MORE ENTERTAINMENT AND JUST MORE TO OUR DOWNTOWN THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? NO, MS. MITCHELL, I, I AGREE WITH YOU.
UM, AND MY OBSERVATION OVER THE LAST, UH, TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT I'VE SAT ON THE BOARD AS THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE, UM, LOOK, I, I AGREE THAT THEY HAVE BECOME VERY COMPLACENT.
THAT THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE, BUT ALSO IN THEIR DEFENSE, I WOULD SAY THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE STEPPING UP TO VOLUNTEER.
AND I THINK YOU AND I WERE AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING TOGETHER AND, UH, WE SAW HOW MANY PEOPLE DID WE SEE THERE? MAYBE 10.
SO THERE'S VERY LOW INVOLVEMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE P BID DESIGNATED AREA FOR PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND WANT TO TAKE THOSE SPOTS ON THE BOARD.
THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, UM, THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
AND THEN OVER TIME, IF IT'S JUST THE SAME PEOPLE, THOSE SAME PEOPLE GET VERY ACCUSTOMED TO DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS DONE THEM.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AND, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THEIR LAST, UH, BOARD MEETING THAT AGAIN, STAFF, UH, STILL WANTS TO ADDRESS WITH THEM AND, AND WILL BE ADDRESSING WITH THEM IN UPCOMING MEETINGS.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT'S ALL I HAD.
THE ISSUE ABOUT NEW RESIDENCES NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE P BID FREE STRUCTURE, IS THAT A DIFFICULT THING TO IMPLEMENT? AND THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS, UM, IN ESSENTIALLY A FEE ON A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FOR IS LIKE A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEE.
AND IT'S A BUMMER IF YOU MOVE INTO A PLACE, YOU KNOW WHAT THE RENT IS AND THEN A YEAR LATER YOU FIND OUT, OH, YOU JUST GOT TACKED ON WITH THE $75 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE MARKET AND DEVELOPERS AND FUTURE RENTERS TO KNOW WHAT THAT FEE IS BEFORE THAT PLACE IS BUILT OR BEFORE SOMEBODY MOVES IN.
WHAT'S THE DIFFICULTY IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN NOW? IT WOULD TAKE A VOTE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE P BID AREA TO CHANGE IT.
SO WHAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS IS THAT, OKAY, SO RESIDENTIAL NEVER, NEVER WAS PART OF THE, THE CALCULATION FOR THE, THE TAX.
AND THAT COMMERCIAL CALCULATION CHANGED, I BELIEVE IN 20 14, 20 15, AND SO WENT DOWN TO A LOWER RATE.
SO CONSEQUENTLY THEY WERE TAKING LESS MONEY IN, AND THEN THAT'S WHY THEY BUDGET IS LIMITED TO RIGHT AROUND $700,000 BECAUSE OF THAT CHANGE IN THE CALCULATION OF THE TAX BEING, UM, PLACED ON THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CALCULATION WAS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE AT THE BOTTOM FLOOR, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WAS ALREADY INCLUDED? CORRECT.
WHAT'S THE RESISTANCE TO ADDING MORE REVENUE TO THE B BID P BID BY VOTING TO ADD? THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEY WOULD GET THE SUPPORT WITHIN THE DISTRICT IF TAX, IF THE SPECIAL TAX WENT UP.
THEY DON'T THINK THEY, BECAUSE RECERTIFICATION WAS SO NARROWLY APPROVED LAST TIME, THEY THINK ANY CHANGE TO THE CALCULATION WOULD PUT THE ENTIRE RECERTIFICATION EFFORT IN DANGER AND THAT, THAT THE P BID WOULD GO AWAY.
BUT THE RECERTIFICATION IS UP TO US THAT IT, IT'S UP TO YOU TO, TO INITIATE AND THEN THEY CONDUCT IT, IT'S CONDUCTED, AND THEN IT'S UP TO THE PEOPLE IN THAT ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DISTRICT TO VOTE ON IT, AND THEY FEEL THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET THE VOTES TO, TO SUBSTANTIATE THE TAX.
I, I, THAT SURPRISES ME BECAUSE I WOULD THINK IF, IF YOU CURRENTLY PAY A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR YOUR PARCEL AND, UH, THE P BID COULD GET ANOTHER A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT RESIDENTIAL ABOVE YOU, IT'S AT NO COST TO YOU FOR YOUR BOTTOM FLOOR OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
IT'S JUST INCREMENTAL INCOME FROM ADDITIONAL SPACES.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD OPPOSE THAT AND WHY.
SO I, I'M JUST KIND OF, THAT SEEMS LIKE FREE MONEY IN A SENSE TO AT LEAST GET THAT POLICY IN BEFORE THOSE PLACES ARE BUILT.
SO THE MARKET KNOWS I'M GONNA HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA $50 A MONTH FOR THE AMENITIES DOWNTOWN.
MR. CITY ATTORNEY, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE READY TO BREAK INTO.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE P BID IS AN ASSESSMENT DISTRICT.
AND AS AN ASSESSMENT DISTRICT, YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO ASSESS THE PROPERTIES BASED ON THEIR USE.
AND, AND, AND YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GONNA GIVE A A TAX OF A PARTICULAR AMOUNT.
THERE'S GOTTA BE A STUDY AND THERE WILL BE A STUDY THAT SHOWS WHAT'S THE BENEFIT THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO EACH PARCEL BASED ON THE TYPE OF USE AND THE, UH, SIZE OF THOSE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE, WE RELATE THOSE TO
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THE ASSESSMENTS.NOW, UH, RESIDENTIAL ASSESSMENTS MIGHT BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, UH, CERTAINLY BECAUSE THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT INTENDED TO DRAW IN THE PUBLIC FOR ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT AND, AND OTHER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AS A RESIDENCE.
SO JUST TRY TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A TAX THAT THE COUNCIL, UM, UH, PUTS ON, ON THE BALLOT FOR THEM.
BUT IT IS A, IT IS A BALLOT ELECTION TO TO, UH, UM, TO APPROVE THE ASSESSMENTS.
THE FORMULA IS DETERMINED BY A CONSULTANT AND IT HAS TO BE SUPPORTED BY THAT CONSULTANT STUDY.
UH, I GET THAT IF I'M A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS AT THE BOTTOM FLOOR, I BENEFIT BY, UH, TRASH PICKUP AND, UH, POWER WASHING SIDEWALKS.
I BENEFIT BY EXTRA TRAFFIC COMING DOWNTOWN FROM CONCERTS AND CAR SHOWS.
IF I'M A RESIDENT, I BENEFIT BY THE VERY SAME THINGS.
SO I THINK IT'S WORTH PURSUING TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN PURSUE AND PRESS ON THAT ONE.
UH, NOW IF WE WERE TO HAVE THIS, UH, UM, VOTE OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, IF, IF AFTER THE, UH, PARCEL HAS BEEN CUT TO INDIVIDUAL PARCELS FOR SALE AND THEY SELL, THOSE RESIDENTS WOULD VOTE ON IT, RIGHT? WELL, IF THE, IF THE ASSESSMENT'S IN PLACE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE A SUBDIVISION, SO TO SPEAK, WITH A, UM, A CREATION OF A SECOND PARCEL OUT OF A FIRST ONE IN THIS DISTRICT.
BUT IF THERE WAS A SITUATION LIKE THAT, THERE WOULD, UM, THERE WOULD STILL BE THE OBLIGATION FOR THEM TO PAY THE ASSESSMENT.
THERE MIGHT BE A WAY UNDER THE STUDY TO REASSESS THEM REVALUE THAT, UH, JUST LIKE A TAX WOULD, UH, THE TAX COLLECTOR WOULD IN THE COUNTY REASSESS THE PROPERTY BASED ON THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE, AND THE CHANGE IN USE.
BUT IF IT WAS, IF THEY DID THIS BEFORE THEY WERE OFFERED, INITIALLY OFFERED UP FOR SALE, THEN IT WOULD BE JUST DEVELOPER THAT WOULD VOTE.
IF CURRENT OWNER YEAH, THE CURRENT OWNER, RIGHT.
WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE, WOULD BE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF THAT.
I THINK I THOUGHT YOUR QUESTION WAS AFTER SOMEBODY'S BEEN THERE AND PAYING AN ASSESSMENT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY, UH, DIVIDED THE PROPERTY, SUBDIVIDED THE PROPERTY AND AND CREATED NEW OWNERSHIP? YEAH.
IS THE ORIGINAL, UH, THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPER HAS THIS, UH, LET'S SAY ON THE CONDOS AND THEY'RE ALL, ALL THOSE UNITS ARE IN THE DEVELOPER'S NAME.
AND, AND THEN THE VOTE DEVELOPER DECIDES, YOU KNOW, HE HAS THIS BIG BLOCK OF CONDOS AND HE CAN JUST SAY YES OR NO FOR THIS WHOLE BLOCK OF CONDOS.
JUST LIKE THE CITY VOTES AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE A BIG VOTE IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS.
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I THINK, MAYBE NOT SCHOOL DISTRICT, COUNTY, COUNTY.
AND, UH, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE TWO LARGEST PROPERTY OWNERS FOR ASSESSMENT PURPOSES, I WOULD GUESS IS THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
SO WE, WE BENEFIT FROM IT AND WE HAVE, UH, APPROVAL OF OUR VOTE, UH, WHEN IT COMES AROUND TO CERTIFICATION OR RECERTIFICATION OF THE, OF THE DISTRICT.
I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU BRINGING BACK THE BOARD'S, UM, OPINIONS ON THIS TOPIC.
AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, BUT I AM VERY EAGER TO SEE HOW THE P BID BOARD IMPLEMENTS AND RESPONDS TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK, AT LEAST FOR ME, AND I, I KNOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AGREES THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE A BUSTLING VIBRANT DOWNTOWN FULL OF ACTIVITY.
AND WE ALMOST FEEL LIKE IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND HIRING.
UM, MR. DEANDRE'S, UM, SERVICES WAS, I THINK THE CITY'S FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE TO CAST VISION AS TO WHAT ARE WE MISSING? WHAT, WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHAT, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE? AND I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE INVERTED IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE P BID SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT CASTING THE VISION OF HOW WE, HOW DO WE IMPROVE, LET'S GO LOOK AT OTHER AREAS.
AND, AND SO I THINK THERE'S SOME, THERE'S AN INVERSE ROLE THERE WHERE THE CITY SHOULD BE CASTING VISION.
WE WANNA SEE DOWNTOWN EXCEPTIONAL AND IMPROVED, AND YOU TELL US HOW, WHAT REGULATIONS WE CAN REMOVE TO DO THAT OR HOW WE CAN BE A PARTNER TO DO THAT.
AND, AND I'M, I THINK THERE'S THE FRUSTRATION SAYING, UM, WE ARE THE ONES DRIVING WHAT SHOULD BE CHANGED WHEN IN REALITY WE'RE LOOKING TO THE EXPERTS AT THE P BID TO SAY, HOW SHOULD THIS BE CHANGED? AND, UM,
[00:55:01]
I, I WANNA SEE, UH, THE P BID BOARD HUNGRY.I WANNA SEE, UM, UH, GOALS FOR THEM TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO, LIKE A HOSPITALITY TASK FORCE, LIKE INVITING BROKERS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS PERSON THAT THEY'RE HIRING, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR THE PART-TIME PERSON, WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING, UM, ON A DAILY BASIS TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO EL CAJON, TO BRING IN EAST COUNTY MARKET NIGHTS OF WHATEVER VISION THAT THEY HAVE? UM, AND SO, UH, ALL THAT TO SAY TO YOUR COMMENT, UM, VINCE, ABOUT, IT'S AN ALL VOLUNTEER BOARD.
WE RAN INTO THIS ISSUE AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHERE WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE, THE CHAMBER, ALL OF ITS EVENTS AND DUTIES WERE VERY HEAVILY VOLUNTEER BASED.
THEY, THEY, ALL OF THE COMMITTEES, ALL OF THE EVENTS WERE, UM, EXECUTED NOT BY STAFF AT THE CHAMBER, BUT BY VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE ALSO BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND NOW THAT HAS FLIPPED TO WHERE THE BUSINESS OWNERS DON'T HAVE TIME, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES.
IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO RUN BUSINESSES IN CALIFORNIA.
UM, IT'S SO, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO THE CHAMBER.
SO THE CHAMBER HAD TO PIVOT AND BRING ON STAFF TO EXECUTE THEIR VISION AND GOALS THAT THE BOARD WOULD SET FORTH.
I HAVE A FEELING THAT THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING HERE AT P BID WHERE IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER IN CALIFORNIA, UM, TO RUN A BUSINESS AND, AND, AND MANAGE YOUR PROPERTIES.
AND THERE JUST MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY OR THE WEEK OR THE MONTH FOR THESE BUSINESS OWNERS TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE WHAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.
UM, AND SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I, I WOULD LOVE TO PERSONALLY SEE, WATCH CLOSELY HOW THEY REACT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING AT A SITUATION THAT THE CHAMBER'S FACING AND A LOT OF CHAMBERS ARE FACING WHERE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE JUST HAVING IT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME MANAGING EVERYTHING.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY FEEDBACK TO THEM, UM, THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY PERFORM WITH THIS, BUT MAYBE TAKE A REALISTIC VIEW OF WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET DONE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I WOULD, I THINK WHAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THAT BECAUSE OF MR. LEARY'S REPORT IT AND BECAUSE WE'RE PRESENTING IT TO YOU NOW WITH KIND OF IDENTIFYING WHAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AND WHAT THEIR QUOTE UNQUOTE WILLINGNESS IS TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THEM, IT ALLOWS THE STAFF WHO SITS ON THAT BOARD ON THE REGULAR MEETINGS TO BOTH MONITOR AND PUSH MM-HMM.
CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED A REPORT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF HER RECOMMENDATIONS, THIS IS WHERE YOU SHOULD BE GOING.
AND I THINK THAT WE NOW HAVE, WE'RE CLEARLY GETTING SOME DIRECTION IN THAT RESPECT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'LL CLEARLY BE REPRESENTING, UM, WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY TO, TO THE P BID BOARD IN THE, IN THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS.
BUT I, I ALSO AGREE, I WAS GONNA SAY, I'M ALSO TRYING TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO THEM SOMEWHAT BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE SEEN FROM MY INVOLVEMENT THAT THEY'RE SCARED OF THE UNKNOWN, RIGHT? THERE'S SOME FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, THERE'S SOME COMFORT IN DOING THINGS THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
AND I THINK THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT ALONG AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THIS, YOU NEED TO GO OUT.
AND I THINK THEY NEED TO START COMMUNICATING TO THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ON MAIN STREET, THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY BENEFIT TO BE HAD BY BEING IN THE P BID.
THERE'S A VISION UNDERWAY AND THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THAT VISION RIGHT NOW.
IT'S LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY JUST WITH THEIR CAR SHOWS AND THEIR RESTAURANTS AND THEY REALLY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE FACT THAT THE MAGNOLIA IS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, AND THEY SHOULD BE CAPITALIZING ON THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE OWNER OF DOWNTOWN CAFE, FOR INSTANCE, WHO HAS TWO RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA AND ALSO SITS ON THE BOARD, HE'S INTERESTED IN POSSIBLY A THIRD RESTAURANT.
SO HE'S, HE'S, BUT HE HAS THE BENEFIT OF BEING INVOLVED WITH THE BOARD.
SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE OUTREACH, I THINK THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE PUSHING SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THE COUNCIL IS DIRECTING US TO DO SO.
AND, AND I THINK WHERE, WHERE IMPACTS CAN BE MADE WITH, WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE SHOULD MAKE THEM OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
I, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RELAYING THE COUNCIL'S, UM, OPINION TO THE BOARD, TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE, HAVE GOTTEN COMFORTABLE, WHOEVER IT IS, THE BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING, YOU'RE DYING.
AND AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL ARE BUSINESS OWNERS.
IF YOU'RE NOT GROWING, YOU'RE DYING.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR DOWNTOWN IS HAPPENING.
SO WE CAN'T AFFORD, UM, FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE ANYMORE.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT, UH, MICHELLE HAD TALKED ABOUT AND THAT WAS TAKING, AND STEVE, UH, IT'S TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ZONING FOR DOWNTOWN.
[01:00:01]
DRINK ALCOHOL, BUT I, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE A DRINK AFT LET'S SAY AFTER THE, A SHOW AT THE MAGNOLIA.AND I THINK OUR ONE OLDEST USED TO BE THE, CALLED THE OLDEST BAR IN EL CAJON NEXT TO THE JACK IN A BOX.
YOU KNOW, THE GRAND, THEY'RE GONE NOW.
SO MAYBE SOME OTHER, UH, BAR AND, YOU KNOW, HOMELESS PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA GO IN AND PAY FIVE OR $6 FOR A DRINK, WHATEVER IT COSTS.
THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA DO THAT.
SO I DON'T SEE IT AS DRAWING ANY HOMELESS TO, UH, DOWNTOWN.
BUT, UH, THAT THERE, I THINK THERE'S A MARKET OUT THERE FOR THAT.
BUT WE CAN, I THINK WE COULD CHANGE THE ZONING TO AT LEAST ALLOW THE FREE MARKETPLACE TO ANALYZE IT, WHICH THEY CAN DO WAY BETTER THAN WE CAN.
'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE RISKING AND PUTTING THEIR HARD EARNED CASH, YOU KNOW, INTO THIS.
SO I, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT.
AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE LIKE A LIGHTED SIDEWALK GOING FROM THE MAGNOLIA DOWN TO THE, DOWN THE MAIN STREET.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO GET DOWN THERE AND THAT WOULD BE MORE WELCOMING.
WELL, MR. KENDRICK, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE CITY MANAGER AND I BOTH LIVE IN ESCONDIDO.
WE'RE BOTH FAMILIAR WITH DOWNTOWN ESCONDIDO GRAND AVENUE.
AND WHAT'S THERE, IT'S, IT'S BARS, IT'S KIND OF HOLE IN THE WALL BARS, QUITE FRANKLY.
IT'S KIND OF PUBS, UH, THAT, THAT BASICALLY SERVE DRINKS AND MAYBE SOME FINGER FOOD.
AND, AND YOU HAVE A GAME ON, ON THE TELEVISION, ON THE BIG SCREEN AND, OR IT'S RESTAURANTS BECAUSE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S DOWN THERE IN NIGHTTIME THAT'S SERVICE ORIENTED IS CLOSED.
AND IT ALL WORKS IN HARMONY WITH, WITH EACH OTHER.
NOBODY'S PUTTING ANYBODY ELSE OUT OF BUSINESS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPE OF BARS, DIFFERENT TYPE OF RESTAURANTS, DIFFERENT KIND TYPE, TYPE OF CLIENTELE.
UM, SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, TO TALK WITH THE STAFF ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT A BAD THING TO EMULATE.
LOOKING AT HOW ESCONDIDO'S GRAND AVENUE IS OPERATING BECAUSE IT OPERATES BETTER.
THERE'S TONS OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
THERE'S, THERE'S A FARMER'S MARKET TODAY,
THERE'S, THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE BRINGING PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, DOWN THERE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EMULATE, UM, AT LEAST AND, AND BRING THOSE IDEAS MAYBE TO THE P BID OR BRING THE P BID UP THERE.
I MEAN, IF WE, IF WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE THE P BID TO TAKE A RIDE TO ESCONDIDO ONE NIGHT, I'D CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, JUST TO GET THEM TO SEE HOW, HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.
I USED TO WORK UP IN A, BY SAN MARCOS, EITHER, EITHER SAN MARCOS OR VISTA, WHERE THEY HAD RESTAURANT ROW AND YOU KNEW IF AT LUNCHTIME IF YOU WENT DOWN RESTAURANT ROW, YOU WOULD FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD FIND INTERESTING TO GO IN AND HAVE LUNCH.
'CAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.
SO IT, IT, IT DOES HAVE KIND OF A SNOWBALL EFFECT WHEN YOU GET MORE AND MORE OF THESE RESTAURANTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, WHICH I'LL CALL THE BARS.
AND SO YOU CAN KNOW, YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING GOING ON DOWN THERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
I THINK WE NEED TO STOP ROLLING UP OUR SIDEWALKS AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AND WE NEED TO START KEEPING OUR DOWNTOWN OPEN.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE BOTTOM LINE AND ALL OF THAT.
IF YOU HAVE THAT MENTALITY, THAT'S GOING TO ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING THAT WE WANNA DO, EVERYTHING WE WANNA SEE, EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT THE P BID TO DO IS WE NEED TO GET PAST THIS SMALL TOWN, ROLL UP THE SIDEWALKS, NOTHING TO DO AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK.
IF IT GOES TILL TWO, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THEN IT GOES TILL TWO, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE TRYING TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS.
IF YOU'RE DOING TWO RESTAURANTS, YOU'RE GOING TO THREE, YOUR HEART ISN'T IN THE P BID AND MAKING THE P BID EXPAND AND GROW AND THRIVE AND WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT, IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
SO THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN MEANS, I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW HARD I WORK WILL GET SOMETHING FOR ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO DO THAT, TO GET OVER THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.
YOU NEED AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO GET AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
YOU NEED MORE MONEY TO GET MORE MONEY.
YOU NEED MORE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN OR HIGHER RATES FROM THOSE IN THE PLAN.
USUALLY WE DON'T LIKE INCREASES FROM THOSE INNER PLAN, BUT MORE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN.
WHICH LEADS ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT MR. LARI SAID WE NEED MORE RESIDENCES DOWNTOWN.
HE SAID LITTLE ITALY WENT FROM 70
[01:05:01]
CONDOS TO OVER 2000 CONDOS.THE SHEER PRESENCE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN LITTLE ITALY CREATED THE DEMAND FOR THAT VIBRANT AREA.
SO MORE RESIDENCES IS MORE PARTICIPANTS ON THE PLAN AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCENTIVIZE ANY OF THESE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER RAISING THEIR ROOF INTO ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS LIKE WE'RE SEEING AT MAINE AND MAGNOLIA WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, THAT THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
YEAH, I I THINK STEVE MAKES A VERY GOOD POINT.
UH, I CAN GO DOWN TO, AND I WORKED DOWN IN DOWNTOWN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND I SAW THE TRANSITION OF LITTLE ITALY AND I CAN GO DOWN THERE AND FIND ALL SORTS OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND THEY'VE EXPANDED AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE ABOVE THE RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME AND UH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO EAT AND THEY JUST WALK OUT THE DOOR AND WALK A COUPLE BLOCKS AND FIND ALL SORTS OF GREAT RESTAURANTS.
AND EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS DURING THE DAY, THAT PLACE IS PACKED.
UH, SO I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS, UH, PBIT STUFF SINCE 2008 WHEN I STARTED ON THE COUNCIL AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONTENTIOUS.
AND, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I I WANNA ASK ABOUT.
ONE IS, IS THERE ANY KIND OF, UH, SATISFACTION SURVEY DONE AMONGST THE, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE P BID? UH, THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE MANY YEARS AGO.
UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THAT.
UM, I THINK IT WENT BACK TO BEFORE 2008.
UM, BUT THERE HAS BEEN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT SURVEY OF, OF, UM, SAT PROPERTY OWNER SATISFACTION.
IT, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE LIVE A LOT IN, IN THE, IN THE PLACE OF, UH, OPINIONS OF LIKE, WE SHOULD DO THIS, WE SHOULD DO THAT.
AND A LOT OF GOOD OPINIONS, UH, ON THE COUNCIL SAY, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THIS IS MARKET DRIVEN.
UM, I, YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, VINCE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME LIKE OUR, OUR, UH, ZONING IS SUCH THAT IT WOULD PROHIBIT, UH, PEOPLE FROM OPENING UP NIGHT SPOTS AND RESTAURANTS AND HIPPER PLACES, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.
PRO NO PROHIBITION AGAINST SUSHI BARS.
ALTHOUGH I THINK MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE, BUT
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE BONES IN PLACE TO TO, TO BE A THRIVING BUSINESS, BUT THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS ON, ON HOW TO GET THERE.
WE SPENT SOME MONEY, UM, WITH THE MALL THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND, BUT WE, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE NOBODY WAS REALLY TAKING THE STEP TO, TO GO AHEAD AND DO A MARKET STUDY TO SEE WHAT, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE AS OPPOSED TO A STUDY FROM ANOTHER P BID.
ONE IS A CONSENSUS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE P BID.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE, I KNOW EVERYBODY LIKES THE CAR SHOWS, BUT AT LEAST YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S COMMON WISDOM, BUT DOES EVERYBODY LIKE THE CAR SHOWS HOW, HOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE THINK IT REALLY BENEFITS THEM? UH, YOU KNOW, IS IS, IS THAT WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO, NUMBER ONE, HAVE A, HAVE A STUDY AMONGST PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE P BID TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK.
AND THEN IT MIGHT ALSO BE REASONABLE TO EITHER HAVE THE P BID RAISE MONEY TO THAT OR, OR FOR THE CITY TO HELP THEM TO DO A MARKET STUDY AND SEE IF WE WERE TO TAKE STEPS TO TRY TO HELP RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND, AND UH, OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT TO, TO OPEN UP, WOULD THERE BE A MARKET APPETITE FOR THAT? AND IF SO, THEN HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT GAP? BUT MY GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT IS THE P BID IS, IS IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION RIGHT NOW.
IT, IT WANTS, IT WANTS TO JUSTIFY HIS EXISTENCE BY JUSTIFY HIS EXISTENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT JUST KEEPS ON GOING.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE, IF WE'RE GONNA BE TAXING PEOPLE AND THERE IS THERE GONNA BE AN ASSESSMENT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE REAL VALUE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE PAYING FOR IT.
AND SO I'M, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S
[01:10:01]
A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS AMONGST THE STAFF, BUT I, I'D LIKE TO BE THINKING ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD KIND OF TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THIS AND, AND RETHINK THIS.UM, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH MICHELLE.
I I I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE ALL THESE, THESE THINGS, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW WE GET THERE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE IS QUITE SURE HOW WE GET THERE.
WILL I, I THINK WE REALLY NEED THE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY LIVE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S GONNA WELL, I, I, I, I AGREE AND IT, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU AND WHAT STEVE BOTH SAID ABOUT THAT.
THE MORE, THE MORE WE SEE THESE, UH, REALLY NICER DEVELOPMENTS COMING IN WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN THAT ARE BRINGING MORE MONEY AND MORE LIFE INTO THE AREA, IT, IT'S GONNA BE A A, A MARKET SITUATION WHERE THE MARKET IS THOUGHTFUL.
ENTREPRENEURS ARE GONNA SAY, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MAKE SOME MONEY BY OPENING UP A SUSHI BAR OR A NOODLE BAR OR, AND IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN.
YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE P BID THAT AREN'T IN DOWNTOWN, THAT ARE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE P BEARD AREA, THE INSURANCE AGENT, THE ACCOUNTANT, THE DRY CLEANERS WHO AREN'T DOWNTOWN BUT ARE IN THE P BID PAYING THINGS, THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
ALRIGHT, WELL I DID, DID YOU GET ENOUGH FEEDBACK OR QUITE A BIT?
LET ME ASK ANGELA IF WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM.
THERE ARE NO SPEAKER CARDS, SIR.
ALRIGHT, SO DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL? UH, I DO NOT.
COUNSEL, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA MAKE ONE LAST, UH, STATEMENT? OKAY, WE ARE GONNA MOVE ON THEN.
UH, THERE ARE NO COMMISSION REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ITEM 15 IS MY ACTIVITIES REPORT, WHICH IS AS REPORTED.
OH, MR. MR. MAYOR, YOU SKIPPED MY ITEM.
[14. Report on Implementing Fire Engine 208 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receives a report on the status of implementing Fire Engine 208.]
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM, ITEM 14 IS A REPORT ON FIRE ENGINE 2 0 8, AND I'LL ASK STAFF TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AS YOU RECALL, UH, EARLIER, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM OUR CONSULTANT THAT, UH, WAS BROUGHT ON TO LOOK AT FIRE COVERAGE AND, AND DO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT OR IS THERE A NEED FOR AUGMENTATION? UH, THAT STUDY RESULTED IN A WORKSHOP THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
AND OUT OF THAT WORKSHOP CAME SOME DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP, UH, A PLAN TO, ON THE SHORT TERM, DEVELOP A WAY TO BRING ON AN ADDITIONAL FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, WHICH IS A, A TOTAL OF NINE INDIVIDUALS, UH, A NEW ENGINE SPACE AT A STATION, AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO LOOK AT, UM, LOCATING A NEW FIRE STATION IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON.
UH, WE HAD ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION PLAN A GOAL TO, UM, HAVE THIS IN PLACE BY SEPTEMBER 20, UH, 2024.
LITERALLY A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW.
AS WE STARTED LOOKING AT, UH, THE, THE FLOW CHART OF THINGS THAT HAD TO OCCUR, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CHALLENGES WITH THAT.
I JUST WANNA RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF THOSE.
SO FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.
UH, WE'D HAVE TO HAVE ALL STAFF HIRED BY SEPTEMBER, 2024.
UM, THAT WOULD PROBABLY ENTAIL TWO RECRUITMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS.
PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WE WOULD BRING ON FIREFIGHTER EMTS TEMPORARILY.
UH, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO LABOR MOU AND, UH, WE HAVE TO, UH, PROMOTE THREE, THREE ENGINEERS THAT ARE, OR CURRENT ENGINEERS TO CAPTAINS.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PROMOTE SEVEN ENGINEERS.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE THREE ENGINEERS THAT JUST GOT PROMOTED.
SO THERE'S THREE, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING ON THREE NEW ONES, UM, THAT WILL BE RUNNING, UM, THE, THE NEW, THE NEW THREE THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OPERATE.
AND THEN WE HAVE A UPCOMING RETIREMENT SOON.
SO, UM, I'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THERE IN A SECOND.
IN TERMS OF THE EQUIPMENT WE WOULD NEED TO, UM, WE'VE ALREADY, WE HAVE TWO FIRE ENGINES ON THE WAY.
ONE IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING, UM, OR WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE RESERVE ENGINES, BUT THEY'RE ALL ON VERY LAST LEGS.
UH, WE HAVE ONE COMING IN, ACTUALLY IT SHOULD BE ARRIVED OR HAS JUST ARRIVED AND NOW IS BEING OUTFITTED.
AND SO THAT WILL REPLACE OUR RESERVE ENGINE.
JUST SO THE COUNCIL KNOWS, WE ARE CURRENTLY BORROWING LA MESA'S RESERVE ENGINE TODAY BECAUSE OUR RESERVE ENGINES ARE UNABLE
[01:15:01]
TO BE USED.SO, UM, THIS RESERVE ENGINE OR THIS NEW ENGINE THAT'S COMING ON BOARD, WHICH WILL ALLOW ANOTHER RESERVE ENGINE TO GO INTO, INTO PLACES IS PRETTY CRITICAL.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE COMING ON BOARD TOWARD THE END OF, OR MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR OR TO THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WE'RE ORDERING ANO ORDERING ANOTHER ENGINE AS PART OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
UM, WE'D ALSO NEED TO GET, UH, PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, PROTECTIVE GEAR, AND THEN OUTFIT STATION EIGHT TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL ENGINE.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE, WE NEED TO FIND FUNDING FOR THIS.
UM, FINDING ABOUT $2.5 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, WE WOULD RECOMMEND APPLYING FOR THE SAFER GRANT.
UH, WE WOULD NEED TO SECURE MONEY.
WE STILL NEED TO SECURE MONEY FOR THE FIRE ENGINE.
AND THEN, UH, LOOK AT SOME MOU LANGUAGE TO REGARDING OVERTIME AND THEN, UH, INCLUDE THE, THE BUDGETING OF ENGINE 2 0 8 IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.
SO HERE ARE THE, REALLY THE THREE REALLY CRITICAL CHALLENGES THAT WE FOUND.
ONE IS THAT THIS YEAR WE FOUND OUT THAT THE SAFER GRANT ALLOWS 100% COVERAGE OF PER NEW PERSONNEL THAT'S HIRED FOR THREE YEAR PERIOD.
THAT ENDS UP BEING ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $6 MILLION OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
HOWEVER, WE CANNOT HIRE THOSE INDIVIDUALS UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE GRANT.
THE GRANT IS DUE, UM, IN APRIL AND WE WON'T BE NOTIFIED UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST.
SO IF WE WERE TO BE UP AND RUNNING IN SEPTEMBER, THAT MEANS WE WOULD'VE HAD TO HIRE ALL NINE, MEANING THE SAFER GRANT HAS NO APPLICABILITY ANYMORE.
SO THERE'S SOME REAL VALUE THERE.
THE SECOND ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS, AS I INDICATED BEFORE, WE NEED TO HIRE SEVEN OR PROMOTE SEVEN FIRE ENGINEER CANDIDATES.
RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE ONE ELIGIBLE TO PROMOTE.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE AN OPTION OF TRYING TO SECURE OR ENTICE LATERAL ENGINEERS TO COME OVER.
UH, THAT POSES SOME CHALLENGES.
SO IF WE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE, I'LL USE THE WORD THAT THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN USING LATELY RUNWAY, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GET IN OUR CURRENT FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS PREPARED TO TAKE THE ENGINEERS TEST AND BE READY TO BE ENGINEERS, UH, WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT ON BOARD.
AND THEN LASTLY IS WE REALLY DO NEED A PIECE.
'CAUSE IF WE, UH, HAVE AN APP, UH, HAVE THE STAFF WITH NO APPARATUS, THAT DOESN'T DO AS MUCH GOOD.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE RECOMMEND, I'LL JUST, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, THESE, THESE ARE ALL I JUST WANT COUNSEL TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE RUN THROUGH THIS IS DEEP ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE RUN THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES, UH, LOOKING AT WHEN WE CAN HOLD, UH, RECRUITMENTS AND ACADEMIES, UM, WHEN WE CAN HIRE NEW STAFF BASED ON THE SAFER GRANT.
WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT SOME OF THE FUNDING ISSUES AND THEN, OH, I MISS, I'M MISSING ONE.
LEMME GO TO FUNDING REALLY FAST.
NO, LET ME COME BACK TO FUNDING.
UM, AND THEN THE EQUIPMENT IS REALLY THE BIG ISSUE.
SO IF WE GET THE NEW ENGINE IN OCTOBER, THE NEXT ENGINE IN OCTOBER, AND IT TAKES US ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO OUTFIT, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT A DECEMBER WHEN THAT ENGINE IS READY TO GO, UM, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT THAT WE TRAIN ON THAT NEW ENGINE BEFORE WE ROLL IT OUT.
AND SO IN TALKING TO CITY MANAGEMENT STAFF ALONG WITH THE FIRE LABOR GROUP, WE'RE THINKING IF WE COULD BE OPERATIONAL A YEAR FROM NOW, IDEALLY BEFORE A YEAR FROM NOW, BUT SOMETIME AFTER JANUARY, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST REALISTIC.
THAT IS STILL, YOU MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT TO THE COUNCIL, BUT THAT'S OPERATING AT LIGHTNING SPEEDS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO OCCUR.
UM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TRAINING AND WE'RE NOT CUTTING CORNERS TO GET, UM, US TO HAVE AN OPERATIONAL ENGINE.
LET ME GO BACK REALLY QUICKLY TO FUNDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT IS IDENTIFYING A FUNDING SOURCE.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE FULL FUNDING SOURCE, BUT LOOKING AT A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE OUR CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES TO RELY ON OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT LESS AS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.
MR. CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CANNOT CHARGE, UH, A FEE ON GENERAL SERVICES.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOUND SOME EXAMPLES WHERE, UM, CITIES, TACOMA WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THEM THAT BEGAN CHARGING A FEE FOR LIFTS.
UH, THERE, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT, THERE'S NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BE LIFTED UP OUT OF YOUR BED BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF LIFT ASSIST NOT TO SNS BY THE WAY, SNS, WE, WE RAN THE NUMBERS, WE RAN ONE LIFT ASSIST TO OUR, UM, SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES LAST YEAR.
BUT WE DO RUN THEM A LOT TO OUR OTHER CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES.
AND SO, UM, WE'D LIKE, WE, WE THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
LEMME JUST SHOW YOU SOME, SOME DATA REALLY FAST.
[01:20:01]
UH, WE HAVE THREE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, UH, OR MEMORY CARE FACILITIES.YOU MAY WANT TO CALL THESE TRADITIONALLY OLD FOLKS HOMES.
UM, THERE'S ONLY THREE, UH, LITTLE UNDER 300 BEDS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, EIGHT FACILITIES THAT ARE PSYCHIATRIC IN NATURE.
AND THEN WE HAVE NINE FACILITIES THAT ARE TRADITIONAL SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, WHICH MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE BEDS IN THE CITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ANNUAL CALLS FOR SERVICE, YOU CAN SEE THAT ON AVERAGE WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING ABOUT 1.45 CALLS PER BED PER YEAR.
UM, WE ALSO BROKE DOWN THESE CALLS TO THE NON-EMERGENCY CALLS.
THIS IS WHERE LYFT ASSIST WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE.
UH, BLS TRANSPORT WOULD BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, OUR, OUR PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES AND OUR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES RELY ON THE SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN OUR S SNIFFS.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME INTERESTING DATA HERE.
I THINK THE CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT, UH, OH, I POINT OUT THAT THIS DATA DOES NOT LOOK AT OUR UNREGULATED SIX TO EIGHT BED FACILITIES THAT ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH ALSO RELY HEAVILY ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE HAVE NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER.
UM, BUT WE'RE ON AN AVERAGE DAY, WE'RE MAKING 7.8 CALLS PER DAY TO A CARE FACILITY.
UH, 2.5 OF THOSE ARE FOR NON-EMERGENCY CALLS.
AND, UH, WAS INTERESTING OF THE 20 FACILITIES, UH, 10 OF THEM ACTUALLY REDUCED CALL VOLUME IN THE LAST YEAR.
I WANNA THANK OUR BATTALION CHIEF, JOHN NEVIN.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CALCULATED A LOT OF THIS DATA, BUT 25% OR 10 PER HALF OF 'EM HAD A DECLINE, BUT ONLY BY 25% ON AGGREGATE.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE INCREASE OF THE OTHER 10, IT WAS 89%.
SO WE HAVE SOME REAL ABUSERS OF THEIR SYSTEM AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM.
ONE-ON-ONE, BUT WE THINK THAT IF THERE WAS SOME LEGAL FEES THAT COULD BE PUT IN PLACE, IT WOULD NOT ONLY RECOVER SOME OF OUR COSTS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING, BUT MAY ALSO PRICE US OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AND THEY WOULD LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO, UH, DO BUSINESS.
UM, I'LL POINT OUT THAT TWO OF OUR FACILITIES HAD OVER A 300% INCREASE IN THE USE OF OUR SERVICES THIS LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE PUSH THE TIMELINE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGINE 2 0 8, SO TO SOMETIME BETWEEN THE JANUARY AND MARCH, 2025.
ONE, THIS ALLOWS US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SAFER GRANT.
IT ALLOWS US TO INTERNALLY HIRE OR INTERNALLY PROMOTE FIRE ENGINEER CANDIDATES.
HOWEVER, WE WILL PROBABLY RECRUIT, UH, LATERALS AS WELL AT THE SAME TIME AND PUT THEM ON A SEPARATE LIST.
AND IF WE CAN'T FILL THE SLOTS WITH INTERNAL, WE'LL THEN HAVE A CANDIDATE POOL BY WHICH TO GO FORWARD.
'CAUSE THAT WAY WE'RE, WE'RE SORT OF DUAL RECRUITING.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WOULD ALSO BEGIN A RECRUITMENT SOONER THAN WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE SAFER GRANT.
'CAUSE WE CAN BEGIN RECRUITING.
WE JUST CAN'T MAKE A, A FORMAL HIRE.
UM, AND THAT WILL ALSO ALLOW OUR STAFF TO TRAIN ON OUR ENGINES.
ONE OF, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I KNOW MANAGEMENT HAS IN THE FIRE LEVEL IS UNDER THE SCENARIO, 44% OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL BE WHAT WE CALL UNDER PROBATION.
MEANING THERE'LL BE IN A NEW POSITION THAT'S A VERY, ALTHOUGH MAYBE NOT YOUNG, UH, IN, IN A STAFF THAT'S INEXPERIENCED IN THEIR CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS.
AND SO HAVING SOME ABILITY TO GET THEM TRAINED UP TO THAT, UM, IS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT.
UM, IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN A RESERVE ENGINE AND THEN IT FRANKLY, UH, GETTING STATION EIGHT READY BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER WILL IS A CHALLENGING TASK ALREADY.
UM, HAVING A FEW MORE MONTHS TO MOVE SOME PUZZLE PIECES AROUND MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER TOO.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANNA GIVE STAFF THAT UPDATE AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR COMMENTS STAFF'S HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU GRAHAM COUNSEL MICHELLE.
I WANNA JUST PUT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO PUT OFF, AS YOU SAID, UNTIL AFTER WE GET THE GRANT APPROVAL, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE ECONOMY, UH, MEASURE J IF THAT GETS PASSED AND MAKING SURE ALL THE HR COSTS AND PAYROLL IS COVERED BY THE GRANT.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET THAT GRANT AND WE HAVE TO COVER THOSE COSTS OURSELVES, IF MAJOR J DOESN'T GET PASSED NOW, WE'VE LOST WHAT, 12 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE COST OF LAYOFFS.
AND I KNOW THAT I CAN'T LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR IF I'VE GOT A, IF WE'VE GOT THE LAYOFF STAFF, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE RIGHT.
[01:25:01]
YOU'VE LAID OUT A REALLY GOOD PLAN HERE AND I THINK WE SHOULD FOLLOW THAT.UH, I THINK THAT THIS, YOU'VE GIVEN US A TIMELINE AND I THINK IT'S A RESPONSIBLE TIMELINE.
UM, UH, I KNOW THAT WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR CALLS INTERNALLY WITH, WITHIN OUR CITY.
SO WE'RE REDUCING THE NEED AND AS, UH, TO RELY ON OTHER FIRE, UH, MUNICIPALITIES AND DISTRICTS COMING INTO THE CITY.
UM, AND $6 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO, UH, TO PASS UP.
AND SO, UM, I I, I THINK BETWEEN THAT AND JUST THE FIRE ENGINEER CANDIDATE POOL, I THINK THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON TO TO, TO DELAY.
UM, SO, SO YEAH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I, I I WOULD, UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S A DELAY BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAY, YOU STILL HAVE TO STAFF UP AND DO ALL THIS STUFF AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE US TILL OCTOBER ANYWAY.
EVEN IF WE HAD THE MONEY, WE WOULDN'T BE READY TO GO ON OCTOBER 1ST.
SO IT MAKES SENSE TO GO FOR THE GRANT.
ARE WE PROHIBITED FROM ANY LATERALS FROM ANY AGENCY, ANY CITY? ARE WE, CAN WE NOT SEEK TO GET CANDIDATES FROM OTHER HEARTLAND CITIES? WE, WE CAN.
THERE'S NO PROHIBITION IN OUR LABOR AGREEMENT TO DO THAT.
UM, I KNOW THE, IT'S A, IT'S A STICKY POINT FOR THE LABOR GROUP 'CAUSE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN.
AND I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S SOME BENEFIT TO THAT FROM A MORALE PERSPECTIVE, BUT CLEARLY IF THE CANDIDATE POOL ISN'T THERE, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
OTHERWISE WE'D BE STAFFING THOSE ENGINEER POSITIONS WITH OVERTIME.
UM, THE PROBATION STATUS I THINK CAN BE SOLVED IF WE SAY, UH, NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR INITIATIVE TO SEEK HIGHER POSITION, IT'S GO TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO BE A FUTURE CAPTAIN, SHOW US IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WHY YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN.
AND THAT THAT KIND OF SOLVES BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY NEED THEM TO BE A CAPTAIN.
THEY'VE BEEN AN ACTING CAPTAIN AND ARE LESS PROBATIONARY AND MORE QUALIFIED.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE FIREFIGHTERS, THIS IS GO TIME AS FAR AS THE A MRI WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF WE HAD TO PUT THEM IN A TRAILER.
I THINK THAT WOULDN'T SEND A GOOD MESSAGE TO OUR PARTNERS.
STATION EIGHT HAS THREE BAY DOORS AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE AN AMBULANCE AND A FIRE ENGINES.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE NATURALLY THERE'S ROOM FOR THREE APPARATUS TOTAL.
YES, IT'S THE LIVING QUARTERS.
SO IF WE HAD TO REMODEL AND ADD SOME MORE BEDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE, UH, READINESS THING.
I'M ON BOARD WITH YOUR PROPOSALS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL REALLY GOOD.
ONE LAST ONE LAST COMMENT AND MY, MY I'M GOOD WITH IT.
DURING OUR WORKSHOP LABOR, I EXPRESSED THE DESIRE THAT WE HAD A PLAN MOVING FORWARD AND I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD AND THAT THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
AND SO I'M, I'M GOING OFF OF THAT, THAT LABOR IS STILL OKAY WITH, UM, WITH THIS, WITH, AS LONG AS WE HAVE A TIMELINE, UM, AND, AND, AND A GOAL, UM, THEN THEY'LL BE OKAY BEING PATIENT AS WELL.
THOSE WERE, THAT WAS LABOR'S, UM, UH, COMMENTS DURING, DURING THE WORKSHOP.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF MY OPINION AS WELL.
MR. ORTIZ, I, I WISH THEY WERE HERE TO EXPRESS IT THEMSELVES, BUT SOMETHING THEY EXPRESS TO ME, ME IS JUST THAT, IS THAT FOR SO LONG THERE'S BEEN A PROMISE OF A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, BUT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE LIGHT.
AND WHETHER THAT TUNNEL IS 50 YARDS LONG OR 500 YARDS LONG IS MAYBE IRRELEVANT AS MUCH AS THEY, THEY CAN NOW SEE THE LIGHT.
YEAH, I AGREE WITH, UM, THE REST OF THE STAFF.
I, I DO WANT TO ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CAUTION IN WITH THE IDEA OF GOING TO THE SKILLED NURSE FACILITIES AND THE OTHER CARE FACILITIES AND SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HELP ANYMORE WITH, UH, LIFT ASSIST.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, BUT CLINICALLY IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE, UH, THESE, THESE PLACES RUN ON A RAZOR THIN MARGIN AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO THERE, THERE ARE GONNA BE TIMES WHEN THEY PUT THE PATIENT IN DANGER AND IN, IN A SENSE IT'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF US TAKING AWAY THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SO MAY MAYBE WE COULD JUST THINK
[01:30:01]
THROUGH SOME OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THAT BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT.I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM, AND THIS IS ANECDOTAL FROM STAFF, IS THAT, UH, STAFF WILL SHOW UP FOR A LIFT ASSIST FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY'LL BE QUALIFIED STAFF AND SAID, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT WE DON'T TOUCH PATIENTS.
WELL, IF SOMEONE'S ON THE GROUND, SOMEONE'S GOTTA TOUCH THEM.
AND SO THE SHIFTING OF LIABILITY COMPLETELY TO THE CITY OF EL CAJON, ESPECIALLY IF, IF THEY HAVE OR DON'T HAVE A LIFT ASSIST MACHINE, WE, WE USE A MACHINE FOR THE MOST PART TO HELP THEM GET UP.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, AND I KNOW AND I BRENT BROUGHT THIS UP IN A, IN A EMAIL TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEXAMINE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OF ONE OF OUR FACILITIES.
AND IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WE HAVE WITH MOTELS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA BE ASKING STAFF TO INCLUDE IS THAT THEY DO HAVE A LIFT, MACH LIFT ASSIST MACHINE OR APPARATUS IN THE FACILITY TO HELP WITH THOSE, THOSE THINGS.
BUT WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK AT ALL THE, THE CONSEQUENCES.
WE LOOK, I LOOKED A LOT AT THE TACOMA CONCERNS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UM, IN THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOGUE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE HEALTH INDUSTRY, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT PUTTING PATIENTS IN HARM'S WAY BECAUSE OF THE POLICY.
UM, OKAY THEN, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM? NO SPEAKER CARDS, SIR.
UM, DO YOU NEED, UH, ANYTHING ELSE FROM US? YOUR FEEDBACK WAS HELPFUL.
OKAY, THEN I WILL MOVE ON TO COMMISSION REPORTS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[15. Council Activity Report]
MINE AS REPORTED.[16. 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.]
REPORTED, MR. KENDRICK AS[17. COUNCILMEMBER GARY KENDRICK METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA; Heartland Communications; Heartland Fire Training JPA.]
REPORTED, MS. MITCHELL[18. COUNCILMEMBER MICHELLE METSCHEL Harry Griffen Park Joint Steering Committee; METRO Commission/Wastewater JPA – Alternate; Heartland Communications – Alternate; Heartland Fire Training JPA – Alternate.]
AS REPORTED MR. ORTIZ[19. DEPUTY MAYOR PHIL ORTIZ League of California Cities, San Diego Division; East County Economic Development Council; MTS (Metropolitan Transit System Board) – Alternate; East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority Board – Alternate; Chamber of Commerce – Government Affairs Committee – Alternate.]
AS REPORTED.UM, WE NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND CONCLUDE THE MEETING WITH THE MEETING.
AND JUST A NOTE, COUNCIL MEMBER KENDRICK HAS HAD TO LEAVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITHOUT HIM.
[20. Maintenance of Bus Stops and Addition of New Bus Shelters RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council directs staff to provide an analysis of the pros and cons of turning over the bus stop shelter and maintenance program to MTS. ]
WE HAVE A JOINT COUNCIL MEMBER REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS GLOBAL AND MITCHELL.AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MITCHELL FOR JOINING ME ON THIS.
UH, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL'S APPOINTMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT DOWN THERE IS A LOT IS AMENITIES FOR, UH, BUS RIDERS.
AND THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO IT.
YOU CAN EITHER MANAGE THE BUS STOPS YOURSELF AND MTS GIVES YOU MONEY, OR MTS CAN MANAGE THEM IN YOUR CITY AND THEY GET MONEY THROUGH ADVERTISING ON THE BUS SHELTERS FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, ELON HAS DONE THE FIRST WHERE WE, UH, MAINTAIN OUR OWN SHELTERS AND WE GET ABOUT $138,000 A YEAR TO DO POWER WASHING AND TRASH CLEANUP.
MADELINE, SOPHIE CENTER TO, UH, DO THOSE FOR US.
HOWEVER, IT MEANS WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET A NEW BUS SHELTER AND WE HAVE 153 STOPS IN THE CITY.
ONLY 40 OF THOSE HAVE A SHELTER.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IT IS REALLY HOT.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WAITING AT AN MTS BUS STOP.
UH, IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY ROUGH.
I SAW A LADY NOT TOO LONG AGO, ONE OF OUR HOTTER DAYS RECENTLY WITH A, A YOUNG CHILD SHE HAD IN HER ARMS WAITING FOR THE BUS IN HOT WEATHER.
SO THE WAY TO SOLVE THAT IS TO TURN OUR MTS BUS STOPS OVER TO MTS.
THE DOWNSIDE IS YOU HAVE LESS CONTROL OVER THE ADVERTISING ON THE SHELTER THAT MTS ESTABLISHES INCLUDED NOW IS ALCOHOL ADVERTISING.
I HAVE SAID TO THE MTS BOARD IN TERMS OF EQUITY, WHICH THE MTS BOARD IS VERY BIG ON, IT'S NOT FAIR TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES TO HAVE ALCOHOL ADVERTISING ON THE BUS SHELTERS BECAUSE IT'S ALCOHOL AND LOW INCOME DON'T GO WELL TOGETHER.
SO I GUESS I'M ASKING STAFF, WE ARE ASKING STAFF TO TALK TO MTS AND SAY, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO TAKE OVER THE BUS SHELTER MANAGEMENT HERE IN THE CITY? AND WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO ALCOHOL ADVERTISING? SO THAT'S MY ASK TO THE COUNCIL IS TO HAVE STAFF TALK TO MTS ABOUT THAT.
MITCHELL, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? UM, LET'S SEE.
I I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE, WE ARE PROPOSING, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I DIDN'T REALIZE WE ONLY HAD 40
[01:35:01]
SHELTERS, THE RAIN OR, UH, THE SUN.PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA WANNA RIDE THE BUS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET US ON THE BUSES MORE.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND, AND SEE WHAT MTS WILL DO.
I I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL, UH, ADVERTISING, UM, BECAUSE I THINK WE CANNOT LEGISLATE PEOPLE'S VICES, UH, VICES THAT ARE LEGAL AND READILY AVAILABLE ALREADY.
AND CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO BEER COMMERCIALS DURING SPORTING EVENTS AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS ON TV AND MOVIES.
IF IT'S A REVENUE SOURCE, IT'S A REVENUE SOURCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN MAKE THE SUGGESTION, BUT THAT'S MY 2 CENTS ON THAT.
MY EARLIER COMMENTS WERE THAT, UM, 10% OF THE HOUSING UNITS IN EL CAJON ARE SECTION EIGHT RELATED TO LOW INCOME.
ACTUALLY, IF YOU SAY THAT HALF OF THE HOUSING UNITS IN EL CAJON ARE APARTMENTS OR CONDOS, THEN REALLY IT'S 20% OF THE HOUSING UNITS ARE SECTION EIGHT.
IF THEY'RE LIMITED TO MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING.
SO DEFINITELY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD PROVIDE SHELTER TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
UH, WHO RELY UPON THE BUS TO GET TO THEIR JOBS AND AROUND TOWN.
SO YOU DO, YOU KNOW, IF MARIJUANA IS ADVERTISED ON THE BUS STOPS, IT'S NOT ALLOWED.
I, UM, I'D BE MORE WITH REGARD TO ADVERTISING, I'D BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENT IN THE ADVERTISEMENTS WITH REGARD TO, UM, PARTIAL NUDITY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT KIDS ARE GONNA SEE.
I'D BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE ADVERTISEMENT IS PLACED AS OPPOSED TO, UM, WHAT IS BEING ADVERTISED.
I, I'D BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ANY KIND OF ILLICIT DRUGS OR ANY KIND OF DRUGS BEING ADVERTISED, BUT MORE ALONG THE CONTENT OF WHAT, WHAT IS BEING SHOWN IN THE ADVERTISEMENT WITH REGARD TO PEOPLE OR THINGS.
MTS HAS A CURRENT POLICY REGARDING ADVERTISING THAT PROHIBITS THINGS LIKE, UH, UH, MARIJUANA MM-HMM.
WITHOUT INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
BUT SAVING THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS.
SO PART OF THE ASK OF STAFF IS, SO WHAT KIND OF ADS COULD BE SHOWN IN EL CAJON? MM-HMM.
SO I, I CAN TELL YOU, SO I DID TALK TO SHARON COONEY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MTSA WHILE AGO ABOUT, UM, MARIJUANA OR CANNABIS ADS.
AND I THINK THE CONCERN FROM MTS IS THAT THEY RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING AND SINCE, UM, THAT COULD, UH, GO AWRY OF FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO THEY, THEY HAVE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED THAT.
SO NOW IF FEDERAL LAW CHANGED THAT, THAT MAY CHANGE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, UM, SO FROM WHAT I HEARD IS, UM, STAFF WOULD LIKE, OR THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE STAFF TO SORT OF REDU OFF.
WE, WE PRESENTED SOMETHING SIMILAR IN SEPTEMBER MM-HMM.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT IF WE DO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THIS? IS THERE A WAY TO UN PULL THE TRIGGER TO REGAIN? IS, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY ONCE WE RELINQUISH OVER TO MTS? IF WE'RE NOT SATISFIED, COULD WE BRING IT BACK? WE WILL, WE CAN EXPLORE THAT.
PART OF WHAT MTS WILL SEEK WILL BE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, IF A CONCRETE PAD NEEDS TO BE BUILT BEHIND A SIDEWALK TO ACCOMMODATE A SHELTER, THEY'LL PROBABLY ASK US TO PERHAPS ASK US TO MAKE THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ASK STAFF TO DO THOSE THINGS.
SECOND, UM, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE ARE, WERE THERE ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM? NO CARDS, SIR.
UH, MOVING EXECUTIVE PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT.
THERE ARE NO GENERAL INFORMATION ITEMS AND NO FIRST OR SECOND READINGS AND NO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE ADJOURNMENT, THE ADJOURNED REGULAR JOINT MEETING OF THE EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL.
EL CAJON HOUSING AUTHORITY SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE EL CAJON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
HELD THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH, 2024 IS ADJOURNED TILL TUESDAY, APRIL 20.
APRIL 9TH, 2024 AT 3:00 PM THANKS VERY MUCH EVERYBODY.