Apr 09, 2024 City Council Meeting 3pm

[ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells]

[00:00:06]

CALL A ROLL.

UH, MAYOR WELTZ IS ABSENT.

ALL OTHERS ARE PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

ANGELA, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE? READY? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WISHES STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE PAROLE.

THANK YOU.

THE CITY

[ POSTINGS: The City Clerk posted Orders of Adjournment of the March 26, 2024, Meeting and the Agenda of the April 9, 2024, Meeting in accordance to State Law and City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Policy.]

WE

[ PRESENTATIONS: Parks & Recreation Leadership Academy]

TAKE IT AWAY.

CHRISTIE.

HELLO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

I HAVE SOME OF MY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY STUDENTS HERE WITH ME TODAY.

I AM CHRISTIE MCBRIDE.

I'M A RECREATION SERVICES SUPERVISOR HERE FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON AND THIS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR RUNNING IT FOR THE CITY OF EL CAJON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

UH, THIS WAS OPENED UP TO ALL OF OUR PART-TIME STAFF, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THE TOP SIX APPLICANTS WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE.

I HAVE FOUR OF THEM WITH ME HERE TODAY THAT ARE ALSO GONNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED IN THE ACADEMY.

THIS ACADEMY WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE THEM A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE CITY.

UH, AS A WHOLE, UM, ALMOST EVERY ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATED, SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING AND GIVING THEM A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS CITY.

UM, MANY OF THEM ARE JUST ABOUT READY TO TAKE ON FULL-TIME POSITIONS, BUT WE DID NOTICE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP BETWEEN PART-TIME ROLES AND THE FULL-TIME ROLES.

SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BOTH THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THE GREATER UNDERSTANDING TO BE READY WHEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR FULL-TIME.

SO WE'RE GONNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT TODAY ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THIS ACADEMY.

SO THIS IS A SIX WEEK PROGRAM THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THESE PARTICIPANTS.

THEY MEET ONCE A WEEK, AGAIN FOR A SIX WEEK SERIES.

ON WEEK ONE, WE FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP STYLES.

UH, WE TOURED ALL OF OUR RECREATION CENTERS AND SPOKE WITH THE SUPERVISORS AT EACH SITE, TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES AND WHEN THEY MIGHT COME INTO PLAY WHEN WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC, AND HOW TO ADAPT THAT STYLE BASED ON THE SITUATION OR SCENARIO THAT YOU'RE PRESENTED WITH.

AND FOR WEEK TWO, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA BRING UP AIA, ONE OF OUR PRO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO SHARE WHAT SHE LEARNED.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS AIA RAGGATT.

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'VE DEDICATED MYSELF TO SERVING WITHIN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HONING MY SKILLS THROUGH ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AT KENNEDY PARK, AND THROUGH INSTRUCTING CLASSES WITHIN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM.

DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, GUEST SPEAKERS MEGAN BLAKE FROM HR AND LIEUTENANT RECO FROM PD DELVED INTO THE INTRICACIES OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DEESCALATION STRATEGIES.

SINCE GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON THESE TACTICS, I HAVE GRASPED THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING DISAGREEMENTS IN FOSTERING ENHANCED COMMUNICATION, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT TO A BETTER WORK ENVIRONMENT.

GIVEN THE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC SERVED WITHIN THE PARK, I FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER INSTANCES OF CUSTOMER FRUSTRATION, THUS INTEGRATING THE INSIGHTS ATTAINED FROM THESE SESSIONS INTO MY DAILY INTERACTIONS HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL, BOTH WITHIN THE PROFESSIONAL REALM AMONG COLLEAGUES AND PATRONS, AS WELL AS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE AT KENNEDY PARK, I HAVE ALSO CONFRONTED VARIOUS EMERGENCIES RANGING FROM ALTERCATIONS TO LOST CHILDREN, WHICH I AM NOW BETTER EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE WITH COMPOSURE AND CLARITY, ENSURING POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

AND NOW I'LL PASS IT ON TO DYLAN.

OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, MY NAME'S DYLAN GARCIA.

I STARTED WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AS A VOLUNTEER BACK IN WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL OVER A DECADE AGO.

AND, UH, I'VE NOW FOUR AND A HALF YEARS INTO SERVING AS AN EMPLOYEE OVER AT KENNEDY CENTER.

I STARTED AS A REC SPECIALIST ONE, AND NOW HOLD A REC SPECIALIST THREE POSITION.

UM, MY THEME WAS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.

AND TO EXPLORE THIS THEME, WE TOOK A TOUR OF ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN CITY HALL.

WE LEARNED FROM EACH DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW THEIR RELATIONSHIPS SHAPE THEIR WORK AND HOW THEY'RE VITAL TO TEAM SUCCESS FOR OUR CITY.

AND WE LEARNED THAT THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT ALLOW US TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND CONNECT TO OUR PAST, WHILE ALSO FOCUSING ON BUILDING TOWARDS OUR FUTURE.

WE LEARNED THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND THEIR DIFFERENT ROLES ARE WHAT COME TOGETHER TO LET US ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

FOR MYSELF, I SERVE AS THE LEAD PART-TIME STAFF AT MY CENTER, AND I ALSO WORK AS A MEMBER OF THE LOGISTICS TEAM WHO HELPED PUT ON EVENTS LIKE HAUNT FEST OR 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AT KENNEDY.

[00:05:01]

AND HOPEFULLY AS A FUTURE LEADER IN THE CITY, I WANNA THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN CITY HALL FOR, UH, ALLOWING US TO COME IN AND LEARN FROM THEM.

AND GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO REL LAMENTO AND PUBLIC WORKS, SARAH DIAZ AND IT, AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, VINCE DIAGGIO.

UH, THEY GAVE US A LOT OF REALLY VALUABLE INSIGHT AND HELPED BUILD US RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE GROUND UP WITH THEM.

AND I'LL NOW BRING UP NORMA, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS NORMA JAMIL ROJA.

I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING FOR THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND BOSTONIAN RECREATION CENTER FOR NINE YEARS NOW.

AND I HAVE WORKED MYSELF UP FROM RECREATION SPECIALIST ONE TO RECREATION SPECIALIST THREE, I HOPE ONE DAY TO BECOME AN ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR FOR PARKS AND RECREATION FOR CITY OF EL CAJON, SO I CAN BETTER SERVE OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

DURING OUR FOUR WEEK, WE TALKED ABOUT LEADERSHIP READINESS, WE COVERED ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS AND INTERVIEW TIPS.

SO FOR ME, I GET SO NERVOUS WHEN I THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND I AM SUPER AFRAID BECAUSE THE ENGLISH IS MY THIRD LANGUAGE.

AND ALSO, I, I GOT AFRAID PEOPLE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND ME DUE TO MY ACCENT.

SO I HAVE GAINED CONFIDENCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING THROUGH THE READERSHIP ACADEMY AND HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE.

AS SUPERVISOR CHRISTIE MCBRIDE MENTIONED TO US DURING THE MEETING.

WHILE PRESENTING IS A GOOD STEP TO HAVE A MENTOR RIGHT THERE FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT YOU DID, AND THEN HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR PRESENTATION AND UPCOMING PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENT.

ALSO, WE LEARNED SOME TIPS FOR INTERVIEWS.

WHAT I LEARNED, AND I I WILL MOVE ON TO MY INTERVIEWS UPCOMING, IS PRACTICE MY INTERVIEW BEFOREHAND.

AND ALSO, I NEED TO PUT BULLET POINTS OF WHAT I DID DURING MY PUBLIC SPEAKING AND THEN DOING THIS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SHIP.

AND THEN ALSO, I HAVE TO MEMORIZE WHAT I HAVE DONE THROUGH THE CITY OF OKON AS A TRANSLATOR FOR ARABIC SPEAKER AND IAN SPEAKER.

AND NOW WE HAVE ALSO A BONUS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE GOT THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

AND THEN WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS BEING A PART PARKS AND RECREATION MARCH DEPARTMENT MEETING, WHICH IS OR URGENTLY RESERVED FOR PART-TIME STAFF ONLY.

I MEAN, FULL-TIME, STAFF ONLY.

AND WE ALSO GOT TO ATTEND THE CPRS BOARD INSTALLATION AWARD BANQUET ON APRIL 2ND, WHICH CONNECTED US PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONAL ACROSS THE COUNTY, NOT JUST CITY OF EL CAJON.

WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AS PART OF LEADERSHIP ACADEMY EXPERIENCE.

THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BEN TO COME UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS BEN SLATER AND I'VE WORKED AT THE REC DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW.

I STARTED AS A REC ONE AT THE RON RAIN COMMUNITY CENTER, AND WAS ABLE TO WORK MY WAY UP TO MY CURRENT POSITION AS A REC THREE.

DURING WEEK FIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WE COVERED SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT.

THIS WAS WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN A TOUR OF BOTH THE EL COE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FIRE STATION SIX.

WE WERE ABLE TO TALK WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AND TRULY UNDERSTAND THEIR REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE REVOLVING AROUND SAFE, THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE IN THE CITY, AND HOW THEY MANAGE RISKS PRESENT IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT.

WE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH GOES INTO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE DILIGENT DISPATCHERS, RECEIVING CALLS FOR HELP TO THE STALWART OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDING IN TURN TO THOSE CALLS.

AS WE CONTINUED OUR TOUR THROUGH THE TWO STATIONS, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE JUST HOW MANY RESOURCES AND TOOLS FIRST RESPONDERS HAD IN ORDER TO HELP MITIGATE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THEMSELVES AS WELL AS OTHERS.

HOWEVER, AFTER TALKING WITH MANY OF THEM ABOUT WHAT THE BEST TOOL WAS, I FOUND A COMMON UNDERLYING THEME.

IT WASN'T THEIR SHINY NEW SET OF HANDCUFFS OR EVEN THE JAWS OF LIFE.

IT WASN'T EVEN A PHYSICAL TOOL.

INSTEAD, THE TOOLS THEY EMPHASIZED WERE IN THEIR MENTAL TOOL BELT.

IT WAS THEIR ABILITY TO REMAIN CALM WHILE ACTIVELY ASSESSING ANY SITUATION AND THEN COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY TO HELP PREVENT OR RESOLVE WHATEVER ISSUE THEY'RE PRESENTED WITH.

THIS MINDSET WAS THE KEY TAKEAWAY DURING OUR TOUR AND MADE US REALIZE THAT WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TOOLS AND JUST NEED TO PRACTICE THEM SO WE TOO CAN DO OUR PART IN CONTINUING TO ENSURE THE CITY STAFF AND PUBLIC REMAIN AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANTED TO THANK BOTH THE ELCON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HEARTLAND FIRE, IN ADDITION TO CAPTAIN HAYES AND LIEUTENANT RECO FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THESE INSIGHTFUL TOURS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS.

AND I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO MY SUPERVISOR, KRISTY MCBRIDE.

THANK YOU.

SO WE HAVE ONE WEEK LEFT FOR OUR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON SOME CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

UM, WE REALLY WANTED TO HELP THESE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BE READY TO TAKE ON THE NEXT STEP AS IT COMES, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE EVEN MORE EQUIPPED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

AND I THINK THEY'VE REALLY GAINED A BETTER INSIGHT ON HOW TO BE REALLY HELPFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY THIS, UH, HAS REALLY HELPED THEM ALONG THEIR JOURNEY AS, AS WELL AS HELPING TO SERVE OUR PUBLIC HERE IN EL CAJON.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO OIA AND BEN, WHO WERE JUST RECENTLY

[00:10:01]

SO WE HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST WORKING FOR US HERE IN EL CAJON.

NORMA WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THIS AWARD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AS WELL.

UH, SO WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND THEY'RE REALLY INVESTED.

UM, AND WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THEM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, CHRISSY.

COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, GARY? WELL, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE SPEAKERS IN DOING A VERY FINE JOB AT THEIR PUBLIC SPEAKING.

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING A LOT BETTER JOB THAN I COULD HAVE DONE AT YOUR AGE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

MICHELLE, THANK YOU CHRISTIE, FOR THE GREAT REPORT.

AND FOLKS, YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY ONE AND ONLY LANGUAGE, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW IT IS TO DO WITH THREE .

UM, I REALLY WISH THAT EVERY HIGH SCHOOLER AND COLLEGE KID COULD TAKE THIS TYPE OF TRAINING BECAUSE IT WOULD SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS LATER ON IN LIFE.

I DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I HAD TO LEARN BY TRIAL AND ERROR.

AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO HONE THOSE SKILLS SO THAT IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO LIVE IN EL CAJON AND SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, YOU'RE ALREADY SET UP FOR SUCCESS.

YOU'VE GOT IT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE, TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE CITY.

AND I'M SURE THAT RESIDENTS WHO INTERACT WITH YOU HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.

YOU'VE MADE A GREAT CHOICE IN GOING THROUGH THIS ACADEMY PROCESS.

AND IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER.

WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT LIFE, YOU WILL COME IN COMPETITION FOR SOMETHING WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, FOR A JOB, FOR A, A LEADERSHIP POSITION OF SOME KIND.

AND OFTEN AS A, A FORMER EMPLOYER WHO WAS INTERVIEWING, I LOOKED FOR TIEBREAKERS.

I HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE EQUALLY STRONG.

WHAT'S THE TIEBREAKER? AND YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE MAKES YOU A TIEBREAKER? YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE, I, WE GOTTA SAY THAT OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IS A WORLD CLASS DEPARTMENT.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE STACKING UP, UH, AWARDS CONSTANTLY.

INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING AWARDS.

WE HAVE A, A LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THAT AT A DIFFERENT CITY.

SO CHRISTIE, GREAT JOB TIPPING YOUR HAT TO YOU AND FRANK.

EXCELLENT WORK.

UM, AND TO THE, UH, WOULD YOU CALL 'EM GRADUATES OR PARTICIPANTS? THEY'RE ABOUT TO GRADUATES.

OKAY.

ALMOST GRADUATES.

ALMOST GRADUATES.

THESE PRINCIPLES YOU'RE LEARNING AND YOU, ONE OF YOU MENTIONED YOU CAN APPLY TO YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

I WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW MUCH THESE PRINCIPLES YOU CAN APPLY NOT PROFESSIONAL LIFE, BUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AS WELL TO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BEING A FATHER OR A MOTHER, UM, BEING A HUSBAND OR A WIFE.

UM, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO APPLY THESE PRINCIPLES AND YOU'RE GONNA SET YOUR RELATIONSHIPS UP FOR SUCCESS.

I REMEMBER GOING TO THESE LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AND I STILL HAVE MY PACKETS FROM THEM IN STORAGE.

AND EVERY TIME I DO SPRING CLEANING, CLEANING, I PULL IT OUT AND THERE'S A COUPLE LITTLE NUGGETS THAT I'LL READ.

I'M LIKE, THAT'S STILL APPLIES.

SO HOLD THAT WITH YOU.

AND IF YOU WANT TO BE A FIRST RESPONDER, YOU ALREADY GOT THE MUSTACHE FOR IT.

SO , JUST KEEP IT GOING.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

GREAT PRESENTATION.

UH, THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA CHANGES.

STAFF.

DO WE HAVE ANY AGENDA CHANGES? UH, MR. DEPUTY MAYOR, NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.

COUNSEL, ANY CHANGES? NO.

CAN WE HAVE A, SO THAT

[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.]

UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO WE WISH TO PULL ANY CONSENT ITEMS? NO STAFF.

NO SIR.

PERFECT.

UH, ANGELA, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? UH, NO SPEAKER CARDS, SIR.

WONDERFUL.

UM, MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. I MOVE, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, UH, MOVE IN A SECOND.

UH, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT.

UH,

[ 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.]

COMMENTS RELATING TO THESE 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? WE DO, SIR.

[00:15:01]

THE FIRST ONE IS BRENDA HAMMOND.

ALL RIGHT.

COME ON DOWN, BRENDA.

I LIKE THAT SAN DIEGO PADRE SHIRT AND THE CHARGER CHARGERS.

I REMEMBER THEM.

.

OKAY.

HI GRAHAM.

MR. MITCHELL.

UM, OKAY.

GOOD STUFF TODAY 'CAUSE IT'S NOT RAINING .

UM, THAT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION.

WOW.

I LOVE HOW THE YOUNG, THIS YOUNGER GENERATION IS GETTING SO INVOLVED.

I SEE IT ALL OVER EAST COUNTY, BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL.

UM, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SUMMER CONCERTS.

I LOVE DANCING OR BOUNCING, UM, FOR EXERCISE.

NOTHING AGAINST THE GYMS, BUT I GET REALLY BORED THERE.

.

ANYWAY, THE CAR SHOWS ARE A BLAST.

CAN'T WAIT.

UM, WE CAN DANCE WHILE LOOKING AT THE B***H IN CARS.

OH, CAN I SAY THAT WORD? TOO LATE.

.

UM, ALSO IF YOU SEE PEOPLE CHECKING THEIR CARS AND THEIR HOMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LOCKED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THEY ARE JUST BEING CAREFUL, NOT PARANOID.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

WE ALL NEED TO BE CAREFUL THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CAR IS YOUR HOUSE.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR TO COMB PD AND HEARTLAND FIRE FOR KEEPING US SAFE.

AND, AND OH, OF COURSE, THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, BRENDA.

ANGELA, NEXT SPEAKER.

THE LAST SPEAKER IS SHERRY ASHBAUGH.

HI SHERRY.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME'S SHERRY ASHBY.

I'M A RESIDENT OF EL CAJON AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY.

WE HAVE A LOCAL CHAPTER HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

SO I'LL START BY SAYING, HAPPY EARTH MONTH, AND ASK YOU IF YOU KNOW WHAT OCCURS DURING THE THIRD FULL WEEK OF APRIL EARTH WEEK.

VERY CLOSE.

EARTH DAY.

.

VERY CLOSE.

UH, DID YOU KNOW IN 2011 THAT THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED NATIVE PLANT WEEK? AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DURING THE THIRD WEEK OF APRIL.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN RECOGNITION OF CALIFORNIA'S GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT NATIVE PLANTS.

CALIFORNIA BELONGS TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S 36 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS.

CALIFORNIA ALSO HAS MORE TYPES OF NATIVE PLANTS THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ANOTHER INTERESTING STATISTIC, ONE THIRD OF CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS ARE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

SO FOR ME PERSONALLY, AS A BIOLOGIST AND AN ECOLOGIST, THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT NUMBERS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS WEEK, UH, OUR LOCAL CHAPTER HERE IS DOING A SERIES OF EVENTS.

UH, DURING NATIVE PLANT WEEK, WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING A DAY ON THE BEGINNING ON THE 12TH AND AN EXTRA DAY ON THE END.

AND WE ARE DOING LOCAL EVENTS TO DO PUBLIC OUTREACH TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF MY DUTIES AS A BOARD MEMBER.

UH, FOR THE LOCAL CHAPTER, I'M THE PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMITTEE CHAIR.

SO I SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING TO, UH, EARTH DAY EVENTS AND STREET FAIRS AND EVENTS LIKE THAT TO BASICALLY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUES OF NATIVE PLANTS.

SO WE'RE DOING A SERIES OF DIFFERENT EVENTS, UH, STARTING FRIDAY, APRIL 12TH THROUGH, UH, THE 21ST.

YOU CAN FIND ALL THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITES.

AND, UH, ALSO AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY'RE DOING SOME ACTIVITIES AS WELL.

THE STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES ARE, ARE GEARED TO A LITTLE BIT OF A BROADER AUDIENCE.

THEY'RE NOT AS SPECIFIC FOR ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO HERE IN SAN DIEGO, BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.

UH, AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, AFTER 32 YEARS IN THE FIELD, I'M PRETTY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I SIGN UP FOR.

AND THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY DOES IMPRESS ME.

AND MY STANDARDS ARE PRETTY HIGH.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.

IF YOU'D LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES ARE POSTED THERE.

AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, I BROUGHT SOME INFORMATION FOR EACH OF YOU AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT HOME WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SHERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I SIT ON THE SAN DIEGO RIVER CONSERVANCY BOARD AND IT WAS AN EDUCATION LEARNING, UM, HOW IMPORTANT NATIVE PLANTS ARE AND HOW DETRIMENTAL NON-NATIVE PLANTS ARE TO OUR AREA AND OUR ECOSYSTEM.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

UM, ANY MORE SPEAKER CARDS? NO OTHER SPEAKER, SIR.

WONDERFUL.

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

WE DO HAVE THREE

[6. Agreement Renewal with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System to Regulate For-Hire Vehicle Services RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopts the next Resolution, in order, approving a five-year extension of an existing agreement with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) for For-Hire Vehicle Regulation. ]

ITEM SIX IS A REPORT FOR FOUR HIGHER VEHICLE SERVICES, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER, GRAHAM MITCHELL, INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.

[00:20:01]

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VEHICLES SUCH AS TAXI CABS OR CHARTER VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW UNDER THE STATE VEHICLE CODE TO COMPLY WITH CERTAIN REGULATIONS.

AND RIGHT NOW, UNDER AN AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS WITH MTS, THEY PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR THE CITY.

THEY ALSO PROVIDE IT FOR THE CITIES OF, UM, CHULA VISTA, IMPERIAL BEACH, LA MESA, LEMON GROVE, NATIONAL CITY, POWAY, AND SAN DIEGO.

AND, UM, ONE OF THE BENEFITS, AND I I, I ASKED ABOUT THIS TO WONDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE BIG BENEFIT IS TO OUR TAXI CAB DRIVERS.

'CAUSE IF THEY WERE TO HAVE A EL CAJON LICENSE ONLY, AND WE WERE TO HANDLE ALL THE REGULATORY, UH, REGIME FOR THAT, THEY WOULD STILL THEN HAVE TO GO GET THE MTS, UH, PERMIT IF THEY WANTED TO OPERATE IN POWAY OR NASHVILLE CITY OR CHULA VISTA.

SO IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO RENEW THAT AGREEMENT, WHICH COMES TO AN EXPIRATION AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR ON JUNE 30TH.

STAFF WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY ADOPT OR, UH, UH, APPROVING AN EXTENSION, A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH MTS AND STAFF'S HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

GREAT.

APPRECIATE IT.

GRAHAM.

UM, COUNSEL, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.

UM, ANGELA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER CARDS? NO SPEAKER CARDS.

UM, SEEMS PRETTY, UH, STRAIGHTFORWARD.

HOUSEKEEPING, UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR SOMEONE THAT CAN MAKE A MOTION? UM, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE NEXT RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION OF AN EXCI EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR FOUR HIGHER VEHICLE REGULATION.

SECOND.

MOVE IN A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT.

WONDERFUL.

UH, WE

[7. ARPA Project Update RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receives a report on the progress of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) related projects and provides feedback.]

RYAN.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHTY.

HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON, DEPUTY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS RYAN VIEGAS.

I'M A SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND TODAY I'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE TO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA.

SO, A LITTLE BACKGROUND, UH, IN MAY OF 2021, THE CITY RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UH, THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES COMING BACK OR COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FUNDS CAN AND CANNOT BE USED FOR.

AND TO DATE, THERE ARE 21 PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH ARPA.

AND THEN SOME KEY DATES TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'VE KEPT IN MIND.

UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2024, THE END OF THIS YEAR, UH, IS THE DEADLINE TO COMMIT ALL FUNDS TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT.

AND THEN, UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

SO TWO YEARS LATER IS THE DEADLINE FOR ALL FUNDS TO HAVE BEEN EXPENDED OR TO ALL, FOR ALL MONEY TO BE SPENT.

SO, UH, THIS SLIDE, FIRST OFF, I APOLOGIZE FOR HOW BUSY IT IS AND ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S ON IT.

UM, EACH OF YOU, UH, DO HAVE A COPY OF IT WITH YOU SO YOU CAN LOOK CLOSE ON, ON UP AT IT.

AND THERE ARE SOME COPIES HERE IN THE, UH, UH, CHAMBERS TOO AS WELL.

UM, AND BEFORE WE GO, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH EACH LINE ITEM TO PROVIDE A OVERVIEW OF WHERE EACH PROJECT IS AND WHERE IT'S HEADED.

UM, AND A FEW OTHER THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE I DO THAT.

UM, EACH PROJECT HAS BEEN CATEGORIZED OR CLASSIFIED INTO A SPECIFIC CATEGORY.

SO WE CAN IDENTIFY HOW THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED, UH, IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

UM, THE FINAL, UH, COLUMN ON THE RIGHT, THAT'S THE PROJECTED TOTALS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR WHERE ALL FUNDS ARE TO BE COMMITTED OR EXPECTED TO BE, UH, COMMITTED TO.

AND THEN ALSO THE FIRST LINE ITEM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE MOST RECENT ALLOCATION WAS 573,000, AND THAT THE, UH, THE PROJECTED TOTAL ACTUALLY GOES UP.

SO WHERE THAT COMES FROM IS THE, THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BOLDED, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY COMPLETED ALREADY, AND THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPENDED.

SO ANYTIME THAT THE PREVIOUS, THE ALLOCATION AND WHAT'S BEEN EXPENDED HAS GONE DOWN, THAT DIFFERENCE WAS SHIFTED UP INTO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.

UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A HOLD ACCOUNT.

SO THOSE FUNDS ACTUALLY HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOCATED.

SO A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, WHEN YOU ALL HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD PLACE THE REMAINING FUNDS, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NUMBER THAT WE'LL BE, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH.

OKAY.

UM,

[00:25:01]

UM, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, ARPA ADMIN, THERE'S $12,000 THERE.

THE CITY IS AUDITED EVERY YEAR ON HOW IT USES, UH, ARPA FUNDS.

AND WE ARE, UH, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND WE ARE, IT IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE, UM, WITH ARPA FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE THAT PROJECT IS.

THE BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.

UM, THAT'S THE LAST ROUND OF BUSINESS GRANTS WHERE BUSINESSES WERE ABLE TO, UM, EITHER INVEST IN THEIR BUSINESS, UH, FOR, UM, FOR, UH, FIXTURES, UM, TABLES AND OTHER ITEMS. UM, THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO HIRE UP TO THREE EMPLOYEES.

UM, AND FROM THAT PROGRAM, A TOTAL OF 333 NEW EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED IN THE CITY OF EL CAJON, CREATING THAT MANY NEW JOBS AND A TOTAL OF 279 BUSINESSES TOTAL, UM, RECEIVED GRANTS FROM THAT PROGRAM.

AND YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT IT CLOSED OUT AT 3.101 MILLION.

AND SO THE, ABOUT $450,000 WAS MOVED UP INTO THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR.

UM, THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 4 0 5 EAST LEXINGTON, UM, PROPERTY THAT THE CITY IS WORKING TOWARDS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM.

UH, THE BUSINESS FACADE OR THE SIGN GRANT PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM IS OPEN CURRENTLY AND IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

UM, AS OF ACTUALLY JUST AN HOUR AGO, WE HAVE, UH, 29 SIGN APPLICATIONS, SIX PAINT APPLICATIONS, AND THREE WINDOW GRANT APPLICATIONS IN, UM, THERE'S $500,000, UM, BUDGETED FOR THAT PROGRAM.

UM, AND WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS THROUGH MAY 1ST.

AND ALL, UM, BUSINESSES WILL BE PRE-APPROVED, UM, BY THE END OF MAY.

UH, WE HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE ASSISTANCE.

UM, THIS PROGRAM ASSISTED BUSINESSES WITH RENEWING THEIR FIRST ROUND OF BUSINESS LICENSES AFTER THE PANDEMIC, OR COMING AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND A TOTAL OF 2077 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY BENEFITED FROM THIS.

AND THEN NEXT WE HAVE COOL ZONES, EVACUATION SITE UPGRADES AT THE RECREATION CENTERS.

THIS IS TO UPGRADE THE, THE HVAC SYSTEMS ON OUR RECREATION CENTERS.

AND SO THAT, UM, IDEALLY THE GOAL IS THAT THEY CAN ALL BECOME, UM, EVACUATION CENTERS, SITES AS, AS NEEDED.

UM, AND SO THAT'S THE GOAL WITH THIS PROGRAM.

UH, DOLLAR DAYS IS NEXT.

YES.

UH, SO DOLLAR DAYS, UH, WHICH IS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT CLOSED OUT THIS PAST FALL THAT OFFERED, UH, DOLLAR RECREATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS $5 AQUATIC PROGRAMS, UM, AT OUR, AT FLETCHER HILLS.

AND SO THAT PROGRAM CLOSED OUT THIS LAST, UH, FALL, UM, AS YOU SEE THERE, JUST UNDER BUDGET.

UM, LET'S SEE.

THEN WE HAVE EL CAJON FOODIE FEST.

UM, THAT WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF 2021, ASSISTING BUSINESSES, UM, TO REBOUND FROM THE PANDEMIC.

UM, NATURALLY THAT WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND IT'S NOW BEEN, UH, IT'S STILL ALIVE IN, UH, AMERICA MAIN STREET.

SO THAT'S A PART OF THAT EVERY YEAR.

AND PARK AMENITIES, UH, PARK AMENITIES IS THE, UH, PICKLEBALL COURTS OVER AT WELLS PARK.

UM, A RECENT UPDATE, UM, WAS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL, BUT AS A QUICK RECAP, UM, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT IS NOW ON BOARD AND THE DESIGNS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED AND A CONTRACTOR'S, UH, AWARDED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND THE COURTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID, UH, NEXT YEAR.

UM, THE AERIAL PLATFORM TRUCK, UH, THIS IS FOR HEARTLAND FIRE, AND THIS IS A COMBINATION OF ARPA FUNDING, THE 1.28 MILLION THERE THAT YOU SEE, AS WELL AS APPROXIMATELY 400,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THIS AERIAL PLATFORM TRUCK.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY IN THE SPRING OF 2026.

AND LET'S SEE, CITY NETWORK AND CYBERSECURITY.

UM, THIS ADDRESSES THE DEFICIENCIES IN CYBERSECURITY THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGH, UH, THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES BY REPLACING, UH, AGING NETWORK EQUIPMENT AND RE RESTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO NEW DATA CENTER, UH, PROCURES TOOLS TO HELP PROTECT THE CITY FROM CYBER THREATS, UM, UPGRADE OR THE VIDEO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO BETTER IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO PHYSICAL THREATS AT CITY LOCATIONS.

AND ALSO, UM, AV AUDIO VISUAL UPGRADES, UM, AT PUBLIC SAFETY ROOMS TO INCORPORATE NEW TOOLS INTO PLANNING, TRAINING, RESPONDING AND RECOVERING FROM THREATS TO THE CITY.

UH, THE TIMETABLE FOR THIS PROJECT, UM, THE DATA SET HAS BEEN BUILT.

UM, NETWORK SWITCHES AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

AND, UH, CITY, UH, CITY HALL IS BEING WORKED ON AS SATELLITE LOCATIONS THIS SUMMER.

AND THEN FINAL PURCHASES ARE ALSO PLANNED FOR THE SUMMER FOR DIGITAL RADAR SIGNS.

UH, THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND TO CON CURTAIL, UH, RACING AND SPEEDING ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS.

THE PROGRAM CLOSED JUST ABOVE $82,000, AND THE RESIDUALS WERE SENT OVER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HOLD ACCOUNT AND FOR EXPANDING

[00:30:01]

UH, THIS IS TO INSTALL, INSTALL FIBER AT FLETCHER HILLS, BOSTON, KENNEDY NETTE, RONALD REAGAN, AND ALSO FIRE STATIONS NUMBER SEVEN AND EIGHT.

AND THE TIMETABLE FOR THIS IS THAT THE FIBER INSTALLATION, UH, WILL BE THIS SUMMER AND FINAL PUR PURCHASES AND CONTINGENCIES.

ALSO, LATE SUMMER, WE HAVE THE LED, UH, MOBILE SCREEN WALL.

UH, THIS IS FOR THE LARGE MOBILE SCREEN, UH, WALL THAT YOU'VE SEEN MOST RECENTLY.

IT WAS USED AT THE, UH, THE AT WELLS PARK DURING THE WORLD CHALLENGE TO BE HAVE THE MOST DOGS VIEWING A MOVIE.

AND I BELIEVE BEETHOVEN, UH, WAS PROJECTED ONTO THE SCREEN, SO SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ATTENDED THAT.

SO, UM, IT WAS USED DURING THEN.

SO, UM, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED AND THE RESIDUALS MOVED UP TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE HAVE THE SOLAR SOLAR BATTERY PROJECT.

UM, THIS PROJECT IS, UH, TO PUT BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER, AS WELL AS SOLAR PANELS, UM, ON THE PARKING LOT RIGHT OUTSIDE HERE BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE COURTYARD MARRIOTT.

SO THAT WILL PROVIDE THAT POWER AS WELL AS SOME SHADE STRUCTURES FOR PARKING TOO AS WELL.

AND THEN WE HAVE STREET BEAUTIFICATION.

UH, THIS IS THE BEAUTIFICATION ALONG OAKDALE AVENUE, ALONG WITH THE ALLEYWAYS ADJACENT TO NORTH SECOND STREET IN WALTER WAY.

THIS INCLUDES NEW STREET LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING.

AND THEN THE CONTRACTS FOR BEAUTIFICATION ALONG SHAW ROAD AND OTHER PARTS OF NOR NORTH SECOND WILL BE AWARDED THIS FALL.

AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MONUMENT SIGN IN EL CAJON BOULEVARD AND OTHER BEAUTIFICATION AT OTHER ENTRY POINTS TO THE CITY.

AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, UH, STREET CAMERA SYSTEM.

UH, THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE PURCHASE OF THE FLOCK CAMERAS THAT ARE USED BY THE ELON POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

UM, AND ASSISTING THE, THE CITY IN LOCATING STOLEN VEHICLES IN AND AROUND THE CITY, UH, FOR THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS SLEEP CABINS.

THESE $25,000, UM, SUPPORTED AMICAS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TINY HOMES OVER AT A MERIDIAN BAPTIST CHURCH.

AND THE VACCINE HOTLINES, UH, THE VACCINE HOTLINES WERE FIRST BECAME A AVAIL, OR WHEN VACCINES FIRST BECAME AVAILABLE EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, THE CITY OPENED A HOTLINE TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN LOCATING VACCINE LOCATIONS THAT ARE NEAR TO THEM.

AND THEN ONCE THE CITY REALIZED THAT OTHER SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST RESIDENTS, THEN THE CITY FOLDED UP THIS, THIS PROGRAM HERE.

AND FINALLY, THE WELLS PARK EMERGENCY RENOVATIONS.

THIS PROJECT UPGRADED THE RESTROOMS AT THE WE AT WEALTH PARK THIS PAST YEAR, UM, AND WHICH CAME IN WELL UNDER BUDGET.

AND SO THOSE RESIDUALS WERE ALSO MOVED UP TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.

SO AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE UN UH, THE FUNDS THAT ARE UNCOMMITTED IS THAT 1.1 MILLION $794,922 OF SOME.

AGAIN, THE KEY DATES TO REMEMBER IS THAT ALL THESE FUNDS ALL MUST BE COMMITTED, LIKE TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT, WHETHER THAT'S TO PURCHASE SOMETHING OR JUST TO A LONG TERM PROJECT.

UM, BUT ALL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND ALL THOSE FUNDS MUST BE EXPENDED BY THE END, BY THE END OF 2026.

UM, ANOTHER COUPLE THINGS TO NOTE THOUGH, TOO, IS THAT, UM, ONE OF THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS EARLIER TODAY OR EARLIER AT TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING WAS FOR AN IT PROJECT FOR AV UPGRADES.

IT'S ABOUT, SO IT WAS FOR ABOUT $150,000, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE THERE.

AND SO THE ACTUAL UNCOMMITTED FUNDS PROJECTED AS APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION.

BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING THOUGH, THAT THAT IS THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.

SO WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE THE REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS AND PROVIDES FEEDBACK ON REMAINING UNCOMMITTED ARPA FUNDS.

THANK YOU.

GREAT.

THANKS FOR BREAKING THAT DOWN FOR US, RYAN.

EXCELLENT REPORT.

UM, COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MICHELLE? OKAY.

UM, RYAN, THE, OKAY, I SEE THAT WE HAVE THE 1.7, UM, UNACCOUNT UNCOMMITTED FUNDS, AND THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED TO FIND OUT.

ONE WAS THE DIGITAL RADAR SIGNS.

IF SOMETHING WERE TO COME UP AND RESIDENTS, THERE WAS A GROUP OF RESIDENTS OR SAY MYSELF AND WE NEEDED A RADAR SIGN ON MY STREET, CAN WE COMMIT TO BUYING MORE RADAR SIGNS WITH THAT, WITH THOSE FUNDS? RESOURCE SCIENCE? SO IF THE PRO IF, GO AHEAD MR. YEAH, WE, I THINK RIGHT NOW THE YES FOR SURE.

ANYTHING THAT'S ON THIS LIST RIGHT NOW, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO MORE OF THOSE THINGS.

OKAY.

UH, THE QUESTION IS HOW TO ALLOCATE THAT.

I'LL, I'LL JUMP IN RIGHT HERE IF THAT'S OKAY, MR. VIEGAS.

YES.

BUT WITH THE $1.7 MILLION RESIDUAL, UM, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING IN AN ITEM FORWARD TO

[00:35:01]

RIGHT.

UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE UTILIZE THIS FUNDING SOURCE, NOT GENERAL FUND RESERVES.

UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE SPENT $1.2 MILLION ON THE LAST ENGINE SINCE THAT, UH, THE CHIEF TELLS ME THAT IT GOES UP EVERY QUARTER OF A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.

SO WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT, AT LEAST AT 1.3 MILLION FOR IF WE WERE TO ORDER TODAY.

AND THEN IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO OUTFIT.

SO THAT'S ABOUT $1.4 MILLION.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'S LEAVING US ABOUT $400,000 IN OTHER MONEY.

UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANNA CONSIDER.

AND I THINK, AND MS. MITCHELL, AS THINGS WORK REALLY WELL ON THIS LIST, THOSE ARE REALLY EASY THINGS TO DO.

'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THINGS LINED UP.

MM-HMM.

, IT'S EASY TO GO BUY NEW STUFF AGAIN.

UM, BUT ONE THING YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IS I THINK THAT THE FACADE SIGN, GRANT GRANT IS GONNA BE POPULAR AND WE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE MORE APPLICATIONS THAN WE HAVE MONEY FOR.

AND SO POTENTIALLY EXPANDING THAT BY ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MAY BE USEFUL OR USING SOME OTHER THINGS FOR SOME REALLY EASY LOW HANGING REDEVELOPMENT MONEY OR, OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

BUT, BUT AS MR. VIEGAS EXPLAINED, THOSE MONIES HAVE TO BE SPENT LIKE SOON.

RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM COMMITTED.

SO, UM, LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT ARE EASY TO DO.

UH, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND PUTTING THE MAJORITY OF IT TOWARDS FIRE ENGINE TYPE STUFF.

OKAY.

UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION.

DID I READ SOMEWHERE IN THE AGENDA THAT WE HAD DUGOUT ROUTE, UH, THE DUGOUT ROOFS COLLAPSED DURING THE LAST STORM.

IS THAT GONNA BE PART OF THE WELLS PARK EMERGENCY RENOVATIONS? SO MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE RE WELLS PARK RENOVATIONS, THAT SPECIFICALLY WAS FOR THE RESTROOMS THERE.

RIGHT.

AND SO, UM, IF, AND THAT PROJECT PROJECT IS CURRENTLY COMPLETE.

SO I WOULD, I CAN, UM, COME BACK TO YOU TO CONFIRM.

I WOULD NEED TO LOOK THROUGH THE ARPA STIPULATIONS TO SEE IF THAT PROJECT SPECIFICALLY IS ELIGIBLE.

UM, BUT IT MAY BE SOMETHING WITH THE RES RESIDUALS LEFTOVER.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF WE WERE CONSIDERING IT.

WELL, THE OTHER, THE OTHER CONSIDERATION IS TO BE A, AN ARPA QUALIFIED VENDOR, THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS THAT ONE MUST JUMP THROUGH.

AND SO THE, THE FEWER PURCHASES, THE BETTER.

SO ON THOSE SMALLER TYPES OF PROJECTS, WE WOULD PROBABLY NOT RECOMMEND OKAY.

USING THAT SOURCE OF MONEY.

'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE ENTAILED WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE THINKING BIGGER PROJECTS, UH, PAVING PROJECTS IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY WE COULD USE MONEY FOR ARPA MONEY FOR, UM, THAT ARE EASY TO, TO EASY HURDLES TO CLEAR WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTUAL EXPENDING OF ARPA MONEY.

THANK YOU.

UNDERSTOOD, STEVE.

THANK YOU, RYAN.

VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION.

GET A LOT OF STUFF IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

UM, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS.

UM, LET'S SEE.

THE BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOCATED 3.5, BUT WE ONLY USED 3.1 THAT INDICATES WE WEREN'T FULLY SUBSCRIBED.

THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH INTEREST THAT NOT EVERYBODY USED UP THE MONEY.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED? POSSIBLE IT IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT, WE DID DURING THE YEAR AND A HALF, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT WE ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS.

WE DID SOUND OUT A FEW, UM, REMINDERS, IF YOU WILL, THAT THESE FUNDS ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

AND SO IT DID APPEAR AS WE, WHEN WE DECIDED TO CLOSE IT, THE PROGRAM THAT THERE, THE APPLICATIONS WERE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN.

AND WE HAD, EVEN WITH THAT PROGRAM, WE DID EXPAND IT A FEW TIMES, SUCH AS EXPANDING IT TO THE NONPROFITS AND TO THE, THE HOME-BASED BUSINESSES WITH OTHER CONDITIONS FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS.

SO WE DID FEEL, UM, THAT WE HAD, YOU KNOW, IT, IT HAD REACHED ITS ITS LIMIT OR ITS PEAK AS FAR AS INTEREST.

AND, AND THE METHOD OF COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC'S WOULD SAY, DID YOU MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE TO EVERYBODY THAT THIS WAS AVAILABLE? TELL US SOME OF THE TYPE OF COMMUNICATIONS YOU DID.

SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE, UH, SENT IT OUT THROUGH ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT WE HAD.

UM, WE UTILIZED THE, THE BUSINESS LICENSE EMAIL DATABASE, UM, TO, TO NOTIFY EVERY BUSINESS THAT MET THE, THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM.

AND WE HAD FLYERS THAT WE, A FEW OF US HAD GONE OUT TO BUSINESSES ALL OVER THE CITY WHERE OVER A MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, UH, TO DISTRIBUTE FLYERS TO NOTIFY BUSINESSES IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

SO, UH, WE HAD MANY MEANS OF, UH, SOCIALIZING THE, THE, THE PROGRAM.

OKAY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ON THE, UH, BUSINESS FACADE SIGN GRANT, YOU SAID ALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE PRE-APPROVED WILL BE NOTIFIED BY SUCH AND SUCH A DATE.

YES.

SO THAT MEANS ALL ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES CORRECT.

NOT EVERY BUSINESS.

CORRECT.

THAT APPLIES, YES.

OKAY, GOOD.

THANK YOU.

DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN EXPECTATION FOR THOSE APPLYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET A GRANT AUTOMATICALLY.

OKAY.

NUMBER FOUR.

UH, THE AERIAL PLATFORM TRUCK, WE TOOK $400,000 AT THE TIME.

I THINK FROM GENERAL RESERVES, CAN WE TAKE THAT $400,000

[00:40:01]

YEAH, IT WAS LIKE 1.7 AND WE WERE GONNA USE 1.2 FROM ARPA AND LIKE FOUR OR 500,000 FROM GENERAL RESERVES.

CAN WE, I I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN OR IS IT ALREADY BEEN SPENT? IT, I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN SPENT.

OKAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S YEAH.

CASE CLOSED OUT THE GATE.

OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UM, THE DIGITAL RADAR SIGNS, ARE THESE THE SIGNS THAT SAY YOUR SPEED IS, AND THEN THE SPEED LIMIT I WOULD'VE TO DIVERT TO OUR POLICE CHIEF DIGITAL RADAR SIGNS THAT WE BOUGHT? ARE THOSE THE, THAT SAYS YOUR SPEED IS, AND THEN THAT AND THE POST SPEED LIMIT IT? THE BLINKING LIGHTS? YEAH, THE BLINKING LIGHTS.

OKAY.

I HAVE AN IDEA THAT WOULD MAYBE HELP WITH SOME OF THE SPEEDING IN TOWN.

WE HAVE THOSE SIDEWALKS THAT, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL 'EM, THE ACTIVE SIDEWALKS WHERE SOMEBODY BREAKS A BEAM AND THE, UH, THE LIGHTS IN THE STREET FLASH FOR A SIDEWALK AND BID BLOCK.

AND WE HAVE THE DIGITAL SIGNS THAT SAYS YOUR SPEED IS, BOY, I WOULD LOVE TO COMBINE THOSE TWO TECHNOLOGIES.

AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS SPEEDING, IT ACTIVATES THOSE LIGHTS IN THE STREET TO SAY, HEY, ATTENTION.

ATTENTION.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST IGNORE THE WHITE NOISE OF SOMETHING OUT OF YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION, WHEREAS THE INTENT OF THE LIGHTS IN THE STREET ARE TO SAY, HEY, HEY, HEY, YOU'RE GOING TOO FAST.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO TECHNOLOGIES AND MAYBE WE CAN USE FUNDS FOR THOSE.

THANK YOU.

UH, NUMBER SIX, THE BROADBAND FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, FIRE STATIONS, DOES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OR RELIABILITY OF THE DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS TO THE FIRE STATIONS? I'M GONNA DEFER TO OUR IT DIRECTOR FOR THAT.

PARDON ME? YES.

YES.

GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I NEED.

THANK YOU.

NUMBER SEVEN, UH, THE STREET CAMERA SYSTEM, THAT'S THE FLOCK SYSTEM.

WE ALSO SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR THE LICENSE FOR THE ADDITIONAL YEARS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE THIS ARPA MONEY FOR? SO ARPA MONEY IS GOING TO BE, UM, THE 320,000, UH, THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR THAT, UM, WILL BE PAYING FOR THE TWO REMAINING YEARS THAT ARE, THAT GO UP UNTIL THAT 2026 DEADLINE.

AND THEN THEREAFTER, I BELIEVE THE NEXT, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR OR TWO WILL BE COMING FROM, I BELIEVE THIS GENERAL FUND.