Feb 25, 2025 City Council Meeting 3pm

[ CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bill Wells]

[ POSTINGS: The City Clerk posted Orders of Adjournment of the February 11, 2025, Meeting and the Agenda of the February 25, 2025, Meetings in accordance to State Law and City Council/Housing Authority/Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Policy.]

[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.]

[ 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.]

[8. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Report RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: Receives and accepts the CEQA designation; Receives and accepts the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Report; Increases or modifies Fiscal Year 2024-25 appropriations in the net amount of $4,427,494 for additional needs as detailed in this report; Authorizes the proposed capital expenditures detailed in this report; and Authorizes the proposed personnel changes detailed in this report.]

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LITHIUM

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SO WHY CAN'T ALL GO HOME? WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY ASK FOR A WAIVER THEN? AND LET'S SEE.

AND YOU HAVE AN EXTRA 400,000 FOR FIREFIGHTER STRIKE TEAMS RESPONDING TO, UH, EXTRA FIRE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO BLAME, UH, HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE PROF, PROFESSIONAL ARSONIST ON THE WINDIEST OF DAYS AND THINGS LIKE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SITES, WHICH THE COUNTY REFUSES TO ADDRESS.

AND THAT DEFINITELY INCLUDES A SICK SUPERVISOR, JOEL ANDERSON, UH, SICK TODAY.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND LET'S SEE.

OH, THOSE CARS, THE, UH, ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THE EVS.

IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THAT THEY CANNOT BE CHARGED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND THEY'RE ALSO FULL OF COMBUSTIBLE LITHIUM BATTERIES.

SO IT'S LIKE, WHAT, WHAT COULD GO WRONG? LET'S DO IT.

AND FIND OUT.

I THINK THAT'S THE STATE'S MOTTO.

AND YOU HAD $43,970 TO POLICE IT EQUIPMENT.

AND IS THAT FOR THE CITY'S SMART CITY PLAN, BY ANY CHANCE? IT COULD BE RELATED.

MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE'LL FIND OUT, HUH.

AND 70,000 OF THE BALANCE TO INCREASE THE WILLS PARK INDOOR SOCCER AND PICKLEBALL.

AND I JUST LIKE TO, LIKE TO ASK THIS QUESTION FOR FUN.

IT'S VERY TRIGGERING, SO I'M GONNA DO IT.

UH, WHAT IS PICKLEBALL? THANK YOU.

HEY, TRUTH, I JUST, I, I DO WANNA TELL YOU IN, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, UM, I'VE HEARD THE, THE PRESIDENT SAY THAT HE'S GOING TO ADDRESS THESE UNREALISTIC EV MANDATES.

AND I, I DO HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE'LL GET SOME RELIEF FROM WASHINGTON.

SOUNDS GOOD.

I HOPE SO.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? NO OTHER SPEAKER, SIR.

ALRIGHT, IT'S BACK TO COUNSEL FOR DISCUSSION OR A MOTION.

UH, I HAVE GOOD NEWS ON THE MTS FRONT BECAUSE I SIT ON THE MTS BOARD WHERE WE SAID, HEY, WE WERE KIND OF AHEAD OF THE GAME IN BUYING ELECTRIC THINGS, THE, THE, UH, BOARD.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET CREDITS AND NOT HAVE TO BUY AS MANY NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECAUSE THE EARLY ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC ALLOWED US TO GET CREDITS.

I BELIEVE THE CITY, UH, THAT SAME VEIN OF THOUGHT HAS COME ALONG AND WE'RE ABLE TO USE OR PURSUE CREDITS FOR THOSE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WE BOUGHT, THUS POTENTIALLY SOFTENING THE BLOW OF HOW MANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO BUY.

SO, UH, THAT KNOWLEDGE FROM ONE AGENCY CARRIED OVER TO THE OTHER AND GLAD TO SEE THE CITY MANAGER IS ON TOP OF THAT.

WELL DONE.

MOVE ADOPTION.

YEAH.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.

PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

THE SECOND AND LAST LEGISLATIVE REPORT

[9. Draft 2025 City Council Action Plan RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council receives the report, provides feedback, and approves the 2025 City Council Action Plan.]

UH, CITY MANAGER GRAHAM MITCHELL.

TELL US ALL ABOUT THIS.

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

I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT THE, UH, DRAFT 2025 CITY COUNCIL ACTION PLANNER, AS WE REFER TO AS THE CAP.

UM,

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AND FROM THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THAT DISCUSSION AND BOIL IT DOWN INTO A DOCUMENT THAT YOU CAN THEN CONSIDER FOR ADOPTION.

UH, THIS AGENDA REPORT WILL COVER FOUR AREAS.

ONE WILL PRESENT THE, THE DRAFT, UM, CITY COUNCIL ACTION PLAN.

THERE ARE SPECIFICALLY TWO GOALS WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME CLARIFICATION ON, 'CAUSE WE WERE UNCLEAR OF WHAT THE COUNCIL'S INTENTION WAS AS, AS WE REGROUPED AND, AND, AND REHASHED THE CONVERSATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.

WE STILL WERE LEFT CONFUSED, SO WE'LL ASK FOR SOME CLARIFICATION THERE.

UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO PRESENT SOME PRELIMINARY NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET NUMBERS, JUST SO THERE'S SOME CONTEXT AND HELP GIVE STAFF SOME UNDERSTANDING OF ONE PRIORITIZATION, BUT ALSO, UM, HOW WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THAT THE COUNCIL SET FORTH WHILE TRYING TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AS WELL.

AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO SHOWCASE AND, AND SHOW OFF A, A PILOT SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE USING TO NOT ONLY MANAGE THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION PLAN GOALS, BUT ALSO PROVIDE SOME INTERESTING TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC THAT I DON'T THINK MANY JURISDICTIONS USE.

SO WITH THAT, UM, UH, BASED ON THE GOAL SETTING SESSION, THE CITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMED ITS SIX PRIORITIES, WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED HERE ON THE SCREEN AND IN THE STAFF REPORT.

UH, ALSO DURING THAT GOAL SETTING, SESSION 28 GOALS OR OBJECTIVES WERE IDENTIFIED.

STAFF TOOK THOSE IDENTIFIED MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TASKS, MILESTONES THAT NEED TO OCCUR, AND IDENTIFIED ABOUT 90 OF THEM.

THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AS PART OF A DOCUMENT THAT WE PRESENTED.

AND, UH, WE HOPE THAT ACCOMPLISHING THESE 90 TASKS WILL ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL SET FORTH, UM, THAT THE COUNCIL SET FORTH.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THE, UM, SIX PRIORITIES.

UM, I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE GOALS REALLY HIGH LEVEL.

I WON'T GET INTO THE TASKS UNLESS THE COUNCIL HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TASK, AND WE COULD OPEN THAT UP AND HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

UM, SO WITH CITY BEAUTIFICATION, THERE ARE SIX SPECIFIC OR FIVE SPECIFIC GOALS.

UH, THE ILLEGAL DUMPING FROM APARTMENT COMPLEXES IS A CARRYOVER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, UH, WILL BE, UM, THERE'S A GOAL RELATING TO, UH, MARRYING VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUR, OUR CITY WITH SENIORS THAT HAVE EITHER CODE OF VIOLATIONS OR SOME LANDSCAPING CHALLENGES.

UH, WE'LL HAVE, THERE'S A GOAL ABOUT DOING A BETTER JOB AND MANAGING OUR THIRD CON THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS, UH, LANDSCAPING, MORE LANDSCAPING ON CITY STREET PROJECTS, AND THEN EXPLORING A PILOT PROGRAM OF SIDEWALK PANELS THAT LIGHT UP AND SEE IF THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT.

SO THOSE ARE THE, THE FIVE BEAUTIFICATION GOALS.

UH, THE TWO INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS RELATED TO ENHAN, AN ENHANCED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REVIEW.

OUR GOAL IS TO PRESENT A FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WITH EXPENDITURES OR NEEDS EXPENDITURES AND FUNDING SOURCES.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THOSE GAPS ARE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, LOOKING OUT INTO THE FUTURE, NOT JUST ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE.

AND THEN ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THERE'S A, A CARRYOVER GOAL IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, FILL IN THE GAP OF A SIDEWALK AT LIKE FOUR HOUSES, OR ADD SOME ADDITIONAL STREETLIGHTS OR SOME SMALL LITTLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, POTENTIALLY PULLING OUT SOME ONE-TIME GENERAL FUND MONIES TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF PROJECTS HAPPEN.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THOSE.

UM, UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THERE WERE SIX GOALS.

UH, PARKWAY PLAZA CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY OF THE CITY, AND IN FACT, WE'LL BE BRINGING SOME AGENDA ITEMS FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE MEETINGS.

TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE THERE.

UM, FOC A FOCUS ON OUR DOWNTOWN, SPECIFICALLY OUR PROPERTY BASED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT COUNCIL HAD A WONDERFUL WORKSHOP LAST NIGHT AND SOME GREAT DIRECTION WAS GIVEN.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT DIRECTION.

UH, CREATION OF A VACANT LOT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

THIS IS A, ANOTHER CARRYOVER PROGRAM FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

UM, I'LL GO TO THE LAST ONE.

IDENTIFY SOME WAYS TO PROGRAM THE SPACE AROUND THE MAGNOLIA SO IT BECOMES ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REAL ESTATE AND LANDSCAPE AREAS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY MAXIMIZE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

SO LOOKING AT SOME WAYS TO PROGRAM THAT SPACE.

THE TWO AREAS THAT WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE OF ARE, UM, EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION CENTERS AROUND THE AIRPORT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REFERS TO THE APOLIS THAT THE E-C-E-D-C WAS EXPLORING AT ONE POINT, AND THEN THIS CONCEPT OF INNOVATIVE EVENTS.

SO WE, IF WE WANNA TALK ABOUT THOSE NOW THAT WE CAN GET SOME CLARITY AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND, UM, IDENTIFY SOME TASKS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THOSE COUNSEL INNOVATIVE EVENTS.

I, I REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT, UH,

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UH, I DON'T KNOW THE EXPENSE.

THE, I, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXPENSE.

YOU MAY WANNA TAKE IT OFF AFTER YOU HEAR THIS .

SO, UH, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF WAS AT A TRADE SHOW AND THERE WAS A DRONE DISPLAY GROUP AND THEY STARTED ASKING LIKE, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? AND THEY SAID, WELL, LET ME ASK YOU, HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND IN YOUR FIREWORKS RIGHT NOW? AND I BELIEVE IT'S $28,000, 25,000.

AND THE VENDOR PRETTY MUCH SAID, 'CAUSE I THINK HE REALIZED WE WEREN'T SERIOUS PLAYERS IN THE GAME, SAID, OH, FOR $25,000, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO EVEN NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A DRONE IN THE AIR.

SO, UM, SO DRONES ARE A POSSIBILITY, BUT I HAVE A FEELING IT WOULD BE DRAMATICALLY MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO THAT HELPS.

YOU'RE SAYING WE COULD ONLY GET THREE DRONES IN THE AIR FOR $25,000 WITH TWO LITTLE BLINKING LIGHTS.

YEAH.

OKAY.

WELL YOU CAN CROSS THAT ONE OFF THE LIST.

OKAY.

AND THEN THE EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATIVE SITES.

I'LL, I'LL EX I, I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UM, NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME STAFF CAPACITY TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RETAIL SALES FRANKLY ARE NOT WHERE THE MONEY IS.

IT'S BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SALES.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

IN THE LAST QUARTERLY SALES TAX REPORT NEWSLETTER THAT I GAVE YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP 20, THERE'S A COUPLE OF BUSINESSES THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE NEVER WALKED IN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU GO BUY A PAIR OF SHOES OR JEANS OR, OR A BELT.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF FOCUS THE, THE LITTLE INDUSTRIAL AREA THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND THE AIRPORT AND FOCUS NOT ONLY ON THE INNOVATION, BUT ALSO SALES TAX GENERATING BUSINESSES, AND MAYBE CREATE SOME INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR BROKERS TO BRING THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESSES RATHER THAN JUST WAREHOUSING OR, OR SERVICE RELATED.

SO IF THE COUNCIL'S OKAY WITH THAT EXPANDED VIEW, I THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE OF KEEPING THAT ON OUR RADAR.

IF COUNCIL'S OKAY WITH THAT.

UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

UH, A QUICK QUESTION.

DO I KNOW THERE WAS LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO GET RID OF SALES TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS? DID THAT PASS OR COULD WE STILL DO THAT AS A CITY? DO YOU KNOW? I, I KNOW EVERY YEAR THERE'S SOME EROSION OF THAT.

I THINK WE ARE STILL ALLOWED TO DO SALES TAX SHARING AGREEMENTS.

OKAY.

I THINK, OKAY.

MAYBE LET, LET'S, UM, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A GREAT TOOL IF WE'RE GONNA BRING IN BROKERS AND IF WE SEE A BUSINESS THAT WE REALLY LIKE, UM, AS A, AS A TOOL AND MAYBE FINE TUNE WHAT THE LAW SAYS AND HOW QUICKLY IT'S ERODING.

MAYBE GET AS MANY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY ERODES.

OKAY.

IS THIS SOMETHING THE EAST COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CAN LEAD? ISN'T THAT KIND OF THEIR CHARGE THAT WE WOULD LEAN ON THEM TO BE PART OF THAT? MAYBE A, UM, I, I'D LOVE TO SEE A BUSINESS HELPER YES.

THAT NEEDS THE AIRPORT FOR FREIGHT OR SOMETHING.

AND YES, THERE'S NOT MANY LOCATIONS THAT HAVE AN AIRPORT NEXT TO 'EM, AND THERE MUST BE SOME BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON HAVING AN AIRPORT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT.

YES, FOR SURE.

OKAY.

SO DID WE HAVE A SLIDE ON HOMELESSNESS ON OUR GOAL SETTING? UH, YOU HAVEN'T GOT I HAVEN'T GOT THERE QUITE YET.

OKAY.

SORRY, I DIDN'T, I WANTED TO HIT THESE TWO SINCE THESE ARE THE ONES WE HAD QUESTIONS ON.

I THINK I GOT ENOUGH RESPONSE TO, TO DO SOME THINGS WITH THEM, SO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

MOVING ON TO HOMELESSNESS.

SPEAKING OF HOMELESSNESS, UM, THERE WAS, THERE WAS FOUR GOALS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, UM, PROMOTING SOME OF THE SUCCESS PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE HAD.

IN FACT, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA DIVE DEEPER WHEN I SHOW YOU THE TRANSPARENCY PORTAL THAT WE'VE CREATED.

UM, INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, TASK FORCE.

THAT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROGRAM.

AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL SHARE SOME DETAILS WITH YOU ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.

UM, SOME ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS THAT PROP 36 HAS HAD, NOT ONLY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME, BUT ALSO ON HOMELESSNESS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE GOALS THAT THE COUNCIL SET FORWARD.

AND THEN REVAMPING THE CITY'S, UH, HOMELESS DASHBOARD AND, AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE USER FRIENDLY.

SO THOSE ARE THE HOMELESS GOALS THAT YOU GUYS HAD IDENTIFIED REALLY QUICKLY RE REGARDING THE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS OF PROP 36.

CAN WE ENGAGE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO GET SOME DATA FROM THEM AS WELL? YOU WILL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT DATA FROM THEM.

OKAY.

BECAUSE THAT'S OKAY.

GREAT.

YEAH, THEY'LL, THE ONES, THEY, THEY'LL BE THE ONES THAT WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

UM, MOVING ALONG TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX GOALS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, ONE HAD TO DO WITH ENGINE 2 0 8.

WE HAD OUR WORKSHOP THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THAT.

AND SO THERE'S, UH, I'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE COST RELATED TO THAT.

UH, ONGOING REDUCING CONGREGATE CARE FACILITY CALLS, THAT'S AT A, UM, A CARRYOVER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

EXPANDING SOME ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, INTEGRATING ALL OF THIS DIFFERENT TECH THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND INTEGRATING IT.

SO THERE'S SOME

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UH, COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT UPDATING POLICIES ON PRIVACY, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO CAMERAS AND DRONES, AND THEN ALSO A BROADER THREAT ASSESSMENT.

NOT MORE THAN TO MORE THAN JUST FIRE HYDRANTS, BUT ALSO JUST CONTINGENCY PLANS.

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OR YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THIS, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS UPDATING ALL OF ITS FIRE HAZARD MAPS.

UM, OUR, THE MAP FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY WAS, WAS SUPPOSED TO ALREADY HAVE BEEN DELIVERED, BUT DUE TO THE LOS ANGELES FIRES, IT'S GOT PUSHED BACK.

I BELIEVE IT'S GONNA BE MADE AVAILABLE ON MARCH 24TH OR MARCH 25TH.

SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, IT WILL HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON SOME, SEVERAL OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ALONG CANYONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FLETCHER HILLS AREA.

SO HAVING A, A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT NOT ONLY PREPAREDNESS AND OUR ABILITY TO MEET SOME OF THOSE THREATS, BUT MAYBE SOME AREAS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN TAKE SOME PROACTIVITY IN, UM, DOING SOME ADDITIONAL FIRE EDUCATION.

SO WE THOUGHT THAT THERE'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND TIMING FOR THAT.

UH, MOVING ON TO THE MISCELLANEOUS GOALS.

THERE WERE FIVE MISCELLANEOUS GOALS.

UH, THE VETERANS MEMORIAL, WHICH WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT TODAY.

UH, THE EXPLORATION OF A CITIZEN'S ACADEMY.

UH, AND SOME OF THESE ARE BUDGET DEPENDENT AND SOME OF THESE THINGS JUST MAY NOT FIT INTO THE BUDGET THIS NEXT YEAR, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THEM AS A PLACEHOLDER TO EXPLORE.

UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO COMMUNICATE TO THE EVENTS RATHER THAN THROUGH DIGITAL, WHICH WE'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT.

BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT ABILITY.

AS MR. GOBEL TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT AT THE WORKSHOP, UM, INCREASED THE APP, THE USAGE OF THE APP, AND WE SAID RATHER THAN SUBSCRIBERS ACTUAL, UH, GETTING NEW SUBSCRIBERS, BUT ALSO USERS OF THE APP.

SO IT'S ONE THING TO DOWNLOAD IT AND THEN NEVER USE IT.

IT'S ANOTHER TO ENGAGE WITH IT.

AND SO WE, WE HAVE SOME METRICS THERE.

AND THEN LAST, UH, BUT NOT LEAST CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE MAGNOLIA IS RELYING LESS AND LESS ON THE GENERAL FUND YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO THOSE, THOSE WERE THE GOALS.

UH, I GOT MY CLARIFICATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, BUT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET AND OTHER THINGS, DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK, OR ANY CLARIFICATION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE GOALS? WELL, THIS IS MAYBE, MAYBE TOO HIGH LEVEL.

I'M THROWING IT OUT THERE.

WOULD IT BE, UM, BETTER SUITED TO HAVE OUR GOALS ALIGN WITH OUR FI OUR FISCAL YEAR? IT'S FUNNY, I WAS, I WAS TALKING WITH THE STAFF ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE EVEN MOVING OUR GOAL SETTING UP TO NOVEMBER.

MM-HMM .

'CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE THROES.

I MEAN, MR. UH, MR. SHANE WILL TELL YOU THAT WE, WE'VE, IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE TO ADJUST THE BUDGET.

THAT'S EXAGGERATION.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT.

SO HAVING THE GOAL SETTING SESSION IN NOVEMBER OR EVEN OCTOBER WOULD HELP US PREPARE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

YEAH, I, I MEAN IT'S MAKES SENSE FROM A CALENDAR STANDPOINT AND THE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FOR THE NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS, BUT I THINK PRACTICALLY WHAT'S ALIGNED OUR GOALS WITH OUR BUDGET, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

SO YEAH.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.

THANKS GRAHAM.

UM, LET'S, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY SPEAKER CARDS.

CAN WE GO OVER BUDGET, SOME BUDGET STUFF REALLY FAST? OH, SURE.

SO JUST REALLY QUICKLY, UM, THERE WERE THREE, BUT OUR GOALS THAT ARE, I, I'D CALL BUDGET, BIG TICKET ITEMS, UM, THE STAFFING ONE THIRD OF ENGINE 2 0 8, THAT'S ABOUT 800, A LITTLE UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S ADDING THREE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

UM, INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE TASK FORCE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE GO OUT TWO DAYS A WEEK TO DO CLEANUP AND WE DO OUTREACH IN ORDER TO DO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, INCLUDING HOLIDAY AND WEEKENDS, THAT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION.

IT'S A REALLY BIG ITEM WE'D HAVE TO BRING ON 16 ADDITIONAL STAFF.

UM, JUST DOUBLING WHAT WE DO NOW IS ABOUT $2 MILLION.

WE THINK IF THE COUNCIL WAS OKAY WITH IT, WE COULD SPEND ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND PAY FOR SOME OVERTIME AND JUST DO SATURATION DETAILED, UM, OPPORTUNITY OR DETAILS.

UM, BUT TO, TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF COVERAGE, IT'S PRETTY INTENSIVE IN TERMS OF STAFF.

WHAT WE DO NOW IS INTENSIVE ON STAFF.

UM, AND IN PARKWAY PLAZA IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT ANOTHER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, I, I THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THESE ARE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES.

PARKWAY PLAZA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES E FOR ME, IT'S EASY TO, TO JUSTIFY TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF RESERVE FUNDS BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE.

THERE'S A POTENTIAL ROI THE ONGOING COSTS OF INCREASED QUALITY OF LIFE STAFFING

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TYPICALLY, I WOULD NOT SAY YOU SHOULD USE RESERVES FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN YOUR CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE SOCKED MONEY AWAY YEAR AFTER YEAR INTO THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

UM, I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING NEXT YEAR.

I'LL SHOW YOU SOME DATA ABOUT THAT, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME STRATEGIC USAGE OF YOUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

BUT IT HAS TO BE VERY STRATEGIC AND IT HAS TO BE VERY PURPOSEFUL, AND IT HAS TO HAVE SOME ABILITIES TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF WHEN NEEDED TO, TO USE SOME OF YOUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

I I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT TODAY, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN EXPLORING THE USE OF THOSE MONIES TO MEET SHORT TERM PRIORITIES.

UM, AND YOU COULD JUSTIFY THE UP UP STAFFING FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE COULD HAVE SOME VALUE THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOU HIT IT HARD, IT COULD HAVE SOME LONG-TERM IMPACT AND MAYBE YOU CAN START TAPERING IT OFF OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, SO LET ME JUST SHOW SOME DATA.

THIS, THIS IS, UM, THIS SHOWS FISCAL YEAR, THE, THE FISCAL YEAR.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THEN, UH, NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND THIS IS RELYING ON LAST YEAR'S FIVE YEAR, UH, PROJECTIONS.

MR. SHANE MENTIONED THAT HE'S WORKING ON THIS CURRENT FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION.

SO THIS MAY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE, WE HAD TO DIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE TO PAY FOR THE, THE OVER HIRES AND SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT WE PURPOSEFULLY, STRATEGICALLY TOOK MONEY OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND TO DO.

UM, WE DO SEE THAT WITH SOFTENING SALES TAX AND MAYBE FLATTENING PROPERTY TAX TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, THAT THE REVENUES ARE NOT GONNA MEET EXPENDITURES NEXT YEAR, ASSUMING WE DO NOTHING.

SO, UH, OUR JOB AS STAFF IS TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

SO WE WILL BE PRESENTING ABOUT 5% IN CUTS TO GET TO A BALANCED BUDGET.

WHAT'S DIFFICULT IS WHEN WE PUT THE STRAIN OF A 5% CUT ON TOP OF ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES, THAT THAT IS OUR CROSS TO BEAR FOR RIGHT NOW.

AND WE, OUR GOALS PRESENT THE COUNCIL WITH A, UH, A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME DECISION MAKING.

THERE WILL BE SOME TRADE-OFFS FOR US.

IT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE A PRIORITY, IS ONE OF THESE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER? UM, IS THERE IS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNED USE OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR SOME OF THESE OR ANY OF THESE? AND THAT WILL HELP GUIDE US AS WE GET READY TO PRESENT THE BUDGET TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO WITH THAT, ANY, ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU WANNA SHARE WITH STAFF THAT WOULD HELP US MOVE FORWARD? I'M SURE WE DO.

YEAH.

MICHELLE.

OKAY.

ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE, I CAN SEE, I CAN SEE INCREASING THE STAFF AND INCREASING THE TIME THAT IS SPENT OUT THERE.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? BECAUSE WHERE ARE WE GOING TO, WHERE DO WE TAKE 'EM? E-C-T-L-C IS FULL WITH A WAITING LIST A WAY BACK HOME.

I MEAN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON IF THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO, WE CAN SHUFFLE 'EM OFF ONTO COUNTY, WE CAN SHUFFLE 'EM OFF TO CALTRANS PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY HOP, SKIP, AND JUMP FROM ONE JURISDICTION TO ANOTHER.

WHERE DO WE TAKE THEM IF THEY ACCEPT SERVICES? WE'VE LOST OUR HOUSING NAVIGATOR AT HOMESTART.

WHERE DO WE, WHERE IF WE INCREASE OUR STAFF TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT, WHERE DO, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO? AND, AND I MEAN, I'M ALL FOR INCREASING ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY BITE TO OUR BARK AND THEY'RE JUST MOVING DOWN THE STREET.

AND I, I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION IS LIKE, IF WE GO TO PUT IN A NEW SHELTER, THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE SAYING, NO, WE DON'T WANNA SHELTER.

SO OTHER THAN ROUNDING PEOPLE UP AND PUTTING THEM ON A BUS AND SHIPPING THEM OUT TO THE DESERT, WHICH IS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING STAFF? AND THIS IS WHAT I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES, OTHER THAN INCREASING OUR STAFF AND INCREASING OUR MONEY THAT IS BEING SPENT, WHAT DO WE DO? CAN WE ARREST THEM? CAN WE PUT 'EM IN OUR JAILS? BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS THEN? AGAIN, YOU GETTING INTO YOU, IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO BE POOR.

IT'S NOT

[01:00:01]

I MEAN, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW.

I WANNA DO SOMETHING AND I WANT TO SEE US INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND I WANNA SEE, GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF THE DRAINAGE CHANNELS AND GET THEM OFF THE SIDES OF THE ROAD.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WHERE DO, WHERE DO WE PUT 'EM? I AND I NEED SOME ANSWERS FROM SOMEONE BECAUSE FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

WELL, YOUR, YOUR COMMENT BRINGS UP A QUESTION, GRAHAM, ARE WE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE, WE HAVE NO, UH, WE HAVE NO BEDS TO PUT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

WE, WE DO HAVE BEDS.

UH, THERE IS A WAITING LIST TO GET INTO THE FAMILY PROGRAM AT E-C-T-L-C, BUT BECAUSE WE DO FUND IT, WE HAVE GUARANTEED BEDS AVAILABLE TO US.

SO IF, IF A POLICE OFFICER, SO THAT'S ON OFFICER, BRING SOMEBODY THERE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE ROOM FOR THAT PERSON.

OKAY, BUT HOW MANY DO, HOW MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE ON OUR STREET RIGHT NOW? I, I DON'T KNOW.

THE LAST POINT IN TIME COUNT HAD LIKE 280.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE UPCOMING ONE SAYS.

WILL E-C-T-L-C IF, IF BY A MIRACLE WE GOT 200 SOME ODD PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, WILL THEY TAKE IN 200 SOME? I MEAN, YOU, YOU THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY? I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING, BILL.

I MEAN, MY 30 YEARS OF WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND THE HOSPITALS IS THAT THEY'LL REFUSE TREATMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS TELL US THAT 95% OF THE TIME THEY REFUSE TREATMENT.

SO I THINK REALISTICALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND THEN, WE'LL, IF, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PUT SOMEBODY.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

RIGHT.

BUT IS IT, IS IT WORTH THE TWO TO $4 MILLION? IT MAY NOT BE.

OR A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET MUCH BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

NO, I, WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE, THAT THE JUICE MIGHT NOT BE WORTH THE SQUEEZE.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU IN THE SENSE THAT, THAT, THAT WE, WE, WE DON'T DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID OF RU HOUSE SPACE.

WELL, NO, ABSOLUTELY.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

AND I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

I, I HAD A THOUGHT, UH, GRAHAM O OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP, AND THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S THE WAY LIFE WORKS SOMETIMES .

UM, BUT CAN WE BE MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT IT? I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABUSING THE STREETS, AND I, AND I DO THINK THEY'RE ABUSING THE STREETS.

MM-HMM .

I DON'T THINK, I, I THINK THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION AS TO HOW BEST TO WORK THE SYSTEM.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THEY CAN DO THAT IS THEY KNOW THAT ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND HOLIDAYS, OUR TEAM IS NOT GONNA BE OUT THERE.

UH, COULD WE, COULD WE MIX IT UP SO THAT WE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF DAYS GOING OUT? BUT, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, IT'S, WE, WE, UH, TRY TO OPERATE AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN.

AND THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY IS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.

YOU HAVE, YOU SCHEDULE POLICE SCHEDULES AROUND THAT.

AND TO YOUR POINT, MR. MAYOR, UH, WHEN WE'VE CLEANED UP ON NON THURSDAYS, PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED.

THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT? IT'S ON THURSDAY TODAY.

RIGHT.

SO THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW WHEN WE'RE OUT.

RIGHT.

AND SO, UH, THERE IS SOME VALUE IN THAT AND WE CAN EXPLORE SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

AND, AND IS, I GUESS, ON THOSE DETAILS THAT WE DID LAST YEAR, TODAY ALSO, IS THERE A COMPROMISE? I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

CAN, CAN WE ADD ONE MORE DAY A WEEK? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND, AND THOUGHTS.

UM, I, I JUST BECAUSE IT, IT DOESN'T WORK IN TOTAL DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE, THERE'S NOT STRATEGIC WAY TO INCREASE IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE, MORE RESULTS.

WE, WE CAN MODIFY THE GOAL TO LOOK AT THAT FOR SURE.

ALRIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.

I MEAN, I, I LIKE YOUR IDEA.

I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE IT, NUMBER ONE.

AND IF ONE DAY IS ENOUGH TO DO IT, THAT'S GREAT.

UM, AND I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO GET THESE PEOPLE OUT THE STREET.

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

UM, BECAUSE FRANKLY IT'S, IT'S GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO, I JUST DON'T WANNA SEE THE TWO TO $4 MILLION FOR 20 PEOPLE.

I, I DON'T CONSIDER THE FACT THAT, THAT WE ARE SCRAMBLING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH TWO TO $4 MILLION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT.

AND, UM, IT, IT DOES, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A, A LOFTY GOAL TO PUT THAT AHEAD OF A, A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO YEAH, I, I AGREE WITH YOU.

I, WE OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

RIGHT.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH, UM, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE ROBUST REGARDING OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM, MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING, AGAIN, WE NEED TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND MAYBE WE

[01:05:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, I, IT, IT'S JUST A THOUGHT.

ALRIGHT, WELL YOU'LL BRING IT BACK.

YEAH.

SO WE'LL, WILL WE BRING, WE'LL, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPT THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION PLAN, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO MASSAGE THAT ONE AND, AND GIVE YOU UPDATES ON THAT.

I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME MORE QUESTIONS THOUGH.

PERFECT.

YES, PHIL OR STEVE, ANYTHING? I, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FINANCIAL SENSE TO, TO USE RESERVES FOR OPERATIONS.

EVEN IF YOU'RE GUESSING WE MIGHT COVER IT IN FIVE YEARS.

BECAUSE WHAT IF YOU DON'T, THEN WHAT IF YOU, WHAT IF YOU STAFF SOMETHING THAT IT, IT'S VERY HARD FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE A GOVERNMENT SERVICE STOP.

IT'S VERY EASY TO START ONE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP ONE.

AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT GO AWAY.

SO I, I, I'M A LITTLE MORE HESITANT TO, TO DIP INTO RESERVES TO START SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

I'M, I'M GONNA TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

UM, I, I GENERALLY AGREE THAT WE SHOULDN'T USE SAVINGS, A SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO FUND ONGOING EXPENSES.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO GO TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH WE CALL IT IS A TAX INCREASE.

UM, I, THIS IS PUBLIC FUNDING AND 99% OF THE CALLS AND COMPLAINTS I GET IS HOMELESSNESS.

AND SO I, I KIND OF SEE IT AS HERE'S WHAT COULD, HERE'S WHAT THE CITY SERVICES COULD LOOK LIKE IF THE TAX INCREASE OCCURRED.

THIS IS WHAT WE COMMIT TO.

AND THIS IF, IF WE CAN'T MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE STREET, A MATERIAL IMPACT THAT THE RESIDENTS COULD SEE, THEN THEY SAY, OH MY GOSH, LIKE THE CITY, THERE'S NOT HOMELESS IN THE STREET ANYMORE.

THERE'S A BIG CLEANUP.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTS TO TAPER OFF, WELL, WHAT HAPPENED? WELL THEN THAT'S THE ARGUMENT IS, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.

DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES? THAT THAT COULD BE A, AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT THE TAX INCREASE WOULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR A TAX INCREASE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE SEES THAT.

BUT I, IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND ANY PUBLIC FUNDING, IT SHOULD BE ON, UH, THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN OUR RE UH, IN OUR CITY AND WHAT RESIDENTS TALK ABOUT THE MOST.

AND SO IT, I LIKE THE MAYOR'S IDEA OF IT BEING STRATEGIC AND A SLOW RAMP UP AS LONG AS WE HAVE AN EXIT PLAN, A VERY CLEAR DEFINED EXIT PLAN WITH REGARD TO STAFFING.

AND, UH, BUT ALL THAT TO SAY, UM, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GENERALLY IN SUPPORT OF, UH, USING SAVINGS FOR AN ONGOING COST, BUT, UH, I JUST, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH, UM, THE PUBLIC, I, I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD, WOULD WELCOME IT.

SO, STEVE, I, I AGREE WITH YOU IN A SENSE THAT I, THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION OUT THERE CURRENTLY WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION.

UH, ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD ALLOW US TO, TO, TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE 10 MORE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC WORKS.

PEOPLE MEASURE PI THINK IT WAS IN 2022.

YEAH.

UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK IT FAILED IS THE VOTERS SAW THAT MONEY WOULD GO TOWARDS HOMELESS SERVICES.

AND I JUST, IN MY CIRCLE, THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE'RE, WE'RE DONE SPENDING MONEY ON HOMELESS SERVICES.

WE WANT HOMELESS ENFORCEMENT.

YES.

AND SO IF THE PUBLIC SAW, I, I THINK THERE'S COMPASSION FATIGUE AT THIS POINT.

YES.

PEOPLE HAVE SAID EVERYONE HAS HAD MULTIPLE CHANCES TO, UH, OUR E-C-T-L-C EVEN TAKES PEOPLE IN THAT AREN'T EVEN FROM EL CAJON.

AND WE, WE DO OFFER COMPASSION FOR THOSE THAT REALLY WANT TO GET OFF THE STREET AND IT WORKS.

SAME THING WITH MARIA, 78% SUCCESS RATE.

IF YOU WERE TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD GO FOR, UH, ENFORCEMENT CLEAN UP AND PUBLIC SAFETY, MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET, THAT'S A WHOLE LOT EASIER SELL THAN HOMELESS SERVICES OR ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY IN THE REALM,

[01:10:01]

IS THAT WHAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IF IT WAS FOR THAT ITEM? CORRECT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

IIII, I AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT AND, AND YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

YEAH, 100%.

UM, SO I GUESS IF I WERE TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION, IT WOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID IN, MAYBE WE DON'T JUMP TO TWO TO $4 MILLION A YEAR.

LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, MAYBE IT'S ONE DAY A WEEK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, AS LONG AS THERE'S SOME KIND OF AN EXIT PLAN, UM, THAT'S KNOWN, UM, TO RAMP IT DOWN.

UM, SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SAY IF, IF THE CITY HAD ANOTHER SIX OR $7 MILLION, WHAT WOULD THESE THINGS COST? YOU ARE ALMOST SAYING IF, IF THE, IF THE CITIZENS WERE WILLING TO FUND THESE THINGS, YOU WOULD GET SEVEN DAY A WEEK THINGS.

YOU WOULD HAVE 10 MORE OFFICERS FOR ENFORCEMENT, FIVE MORE FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

YOU'D HAVE AN ENGINE THAT WOULD CUT RESPONSE TIME DOWN BY TWO MINUTES IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT HAS A LOT OF VALUE TO PUT TOGETHER FOR THE PUBLIC, KIND OF A PRECURSOR TO A, SOME KIND OF EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WE HAVE TWO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ON THAT LIST.

ONE WAS THE, UH, THE MONEY THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE WORKSHOP WE HAD FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF STARTING WITH ONE THIRD, WHICH I THINK WAS $870,000.

UM, I AM, I'M NOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH, WITH THE, UH, USING THE, THE RESERVE TO PAY FOR PART OF THAT.

UM, I'M ALSO, UH, THE PARKWAY PLAZA, $500,000 SEEMS IF WE DON'T FIX THIS PARKWAY PLAZA SITUATION, WE'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

SO I, I I THINK THAT'S A, A GOOD USE OF THAT MONEY.

YEAH, I, I WOULD AGREE.

AND PI REALLY SEE PARKWAY PLAZA AS EL CAJONS WAY OUT OF ITS FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

I DO TOO.

YEAH.

I MEAN THE, WHAT THE HUNIN PARTNERS, UH, EVEN JUST, EVEN IF WE ACCOMPLISHED HALF OF WHAT THEY SAID WE COULD WITH REGARD TO THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE SALES TAX, IT'S GONNA SOLVE THIS.

AND SO THAT'S GOT TO BE IN THE CONVERSATION NON-NEGOTIABLE.

OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA BE, WHETHER WE'RE HERE OR THERE'S ANOTHER COUNCIL HERE, WE'RE GONNA BE SPINNING OUR WHEELS WITH FUNDING FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS.

UM, UNLESS SOMEONE WAVES A MAGIC WAND AND THERE'S A SOLVE FOR ALL OF IT, WHICH ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, UM, THAT'S MY GOAL IS PARKWAY PLAZA.

LONG TERM, I'D BE OKAY WITH 2 0 8.

UM, STARTING WITH GENERAL FUND, AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I'M, I'M NOT PREPARED TO GO TO THE PUBLIC FOR A TAX INCREASE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE, WE JUST ASKED HIM IN TWO YEARS AGO.

WE ASKED HIM THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR.

SO I JUST, WE, I I THINK WE, THERE'S STILL SOME OPTIONS TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF THAT.

I, I LIKE 870,000.

I, I, I'M NOT A GREAT FAN OF ONCE WE START IT, BUT I, I THINK THAT'S NOT A INSURMOUNTABLE NUMBER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

UH, AND THE BENEFITS OF, OF THE, THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, NUMBER ONE, IT, IT'S JUST, I'VE COME BACK AND SET UP BEFORE AN ENGINE COMING FROM LAKE JENNINGS ROAD OR AN ENGINE COMING FROM CHANNEL ROAD OUT LAKESIDE, IT JUST TAKES LONGER TO GET HERE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, THEY, THEY HAVE A SAYING, I THINK IT'S TIME IS TISSUE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND, AND THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE, IF YOU ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES OF TIME BEFORE THINGS GO SOUTH AND EVERY MINUTE COUNTS, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A, A REALLY GOOD PRIORITY TO USE THAT MONEY THAT WAY.

IT'S NOT MUCH.

AND I'LL POINT OUT WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET A GRANT TO COVER A BIG CHUNK OF THE $500,000 FOR THE PARKWAY PLAZA.

SO, I MEAN, WE'LL, THE, ON THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

I, UM, DO YOU HAVE ALL THE, UM, FEEDBACK YOU NEED OR DO YOU NEED MORE? I GOT IT.

I GOT WHAT I NEEDED.

AND CAN I SHOW YOU A COUPLE INTERESTING, A COUPLE INTERESTING THINGS WE'RE DOING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY REALLY FAST? SURE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE, IF YOU, OKAY, I, I MUST, UM, TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.

WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A, UH, IT'S, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM.

IT'S A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT WILL GO UP ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT WILL HAVE SOME DASHBOARDS AND SOME ABILITIES TO DIVE IN DEEPER ON WHERE COUNCIL IS WITH THEIR GOALS.

THIS IS KIND OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THE WEBSITE.

IT WOULD IDENTIFY EACH OF THE

[01:15:01]

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BAR AT THE BOTTOM THAT WOULD SHOW ALMOST A, A MEASUREMENT OF HOW FAR ALONG YOU ARE IN MEETING THESE GOALS.

YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE ALMOST NOT STARTED 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN ADOPTED IT, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE SOME PROGRESS ON A FEW THINGS.

UM, IF YOU, AND I'LL JUST ASSUME I, I CLICKED HOMELESSNESS.

I DIDN'T DO THIS LIVE 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD WORK LIVE, BUT IF I CLICKED HOMELESSNESS, I WOULD COME TO, UH, A PORTAL FOR HOMELESSNESS AND THEN IT WOULD IDENTIFY THE FOUR SPECIFIC GOALS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THIS PRIORITY.

AND LET'S SAY I CLICKED ON THE PROMOTE EL CAJONS HOMELESS PROGRAM SUCCESS STORIES.

AND THEN IT WOULD SHOW, UM, AGAIN, WHERE WE'RE ALL AT THERE WITH THE DIFFERENT GOALS.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

SHOWS UP IN GREEN.

WHAT'S, UH, SHOWS UP IN RED IS WHAT'S BEING WORKED ON.

GRAY MEANS.

THERE'S NO NOTHING TO REPORT.

AND LET'S SAY THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET TO THAT WOULD BE, WILL NOT BE COMPLETED, THAT WILL SHOW UP AS RED.

SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE, UH, WHAT'S BEING WORKED ON AND WHAT'S NOT BEING WORKED ON.

AND YOU CAN EVEN DIG, THE PUBLIC CAN EVEN DIG DEEPER OR THE COUNCIL CAN DIG DEEPER INTO THE VERY SPECIFIC TASKS.

I KNOW THIS IS REALLY HARD TO READ, BUT THIS IS THE GOAL FOR PROMOTING, UH, HOMELESS PROGRAM SUCCESS STORIES.

IT TALKS ABOUT HAVING SOME INITIAL MEETINGS WITH, UM, STAKEHOLDERS AT THE STAFF LEVEL, STAKEHOLDERS OUTSIDE.

WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT CREATING A VIDEO WHERE WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW, UH, THREE TO FOUR FAMILIES AROUND FOR A WHOLE YEAR AND KIND OF SEE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK, AND HOW THEY GOT FROM, UH, LIVING IN A, IN A TENT ON THE STREETS TO, INTO A PERMANENT HOME.

SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT, THAT'LL TAKE ALL YEAR AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN MEASURE AND WATCH OUR PROGRESS ON EACH OF THESE GOALS ON THIS TRANSPARENCY SHEET.

SO ANYWAY, SO WITH THAT, I THINK COUNSEL, YOU GAVE ME THE FEEDBACK THAT I'M LOOKING FOR AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO PRESENT THE, THE SEAT OF COUNCIL ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR ADOPTION.

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER THOUGH, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY SPEAKER CARDS ON THIS ITEM.

YES SIR.

WE HAVE TWO.

THE FIRST ONE IS TRUTH.

HI TRUTH.

HI GUYS.

I'M GONNA POINT OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU GUYS SAID.

UH, THERE WAS TAX OPPORTUNITY, EASIER SELL, UH, ROUND THEM UP AND SHIP 'EM TO THE DESERT.

, UH, WORKING THE SYSTEM, ABUSING THE STREETS.

AND THAT ONE WAS THE FIRST, UH, VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS.

DEFINITELY YOU NEED A CHART TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND COST.

UM, ALTHOUGH WE'LL SAY WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, ELCON LOOKS SUPER CLEAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

UM, FOR THE GENERAL CITY BEAUTIFICATION, UH, MAYBE SOME MORE AMERICAN FLAGS, UH, MAYBE MORE LIT UP SIGNS, MAYBE WORK ON SECOND STREET, UH, FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND SAFETY, INCLUDING FOR CLEANUPS AND BETTER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS.

AND IN THERE WAS SIDEWALK PANELS THAT LIGHT UP.

BUT WHAT IS THAT? BECAUSE IF EL CAJON CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN AND ENSURE THE PANELS DON'T END UP DAMAGED, THEN IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY CITY NEEDS.

UH, BUT DO LIGHTED SIDEWALK PANELS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER MISSING SIDEWALK SEGMENTS AND UNLIT NEIGHBORHOODS? AND FOR PARKWAY, IF YOU CAN'T TURN IT INTO ANOTHER UTC, IT SHOULD PROBABLY BECOME AN EVENT CENTER WITH A FOOD HALL OR SOMETHING.

UH, THERE'S ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO COMMUNICATE CITY EVENTS.

IS THAT BILLBOARDS POSTERS, BOOTH AT FARMERS MARKETS? I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE INNOVATION IS AND WISE.

IS THERE NO DUE DATE FOR COMPILING A LIST OF PROPERTIES TO SHARE WITH VOLUNTEER GROUPS FOR LANDSCAPING FOR SENIORS? UH, SHOULDN'T ENSURING CITY DOES NOT INCUR LIABILITY BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND DEVELOP NEW EVENTS TO TRACK MORE PEOPLE TO THE DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET AREA.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION, HOW ABOUT SOME CULTURAL FESTIVALS? EXAMPLE, CALON CULTURAL EVENT OR A LUNAR NEW YEAR EVENT? I DON'T THINK EAST COUNTY HAS ANY LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AND INNOVATION FOR AREAS AROUND AIRPORT.

DOES THAT MEAN AMAZON OR SOME MIXED USE STACK AND PACKS? UM, AND AS FAR AS THE DRONE SHOWS, NOT ONLY ARE THEY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN FIREWORKS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY MORE DANGEROUS.

THERE WAS RECENTLY A CHILD KILLED AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE INJURED BY A DRONE SHOW.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH, UH, CITY OR STATE THAT WAS.

UH, I LIKE THE, UH, DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROGRAM SUCCESS STORIES.

I WOULD EXPEDITE, EXPEDITE THE MEETINGS TO REDUCE CALLS TO CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES TO SOONER THAN MAY BECAUSE OUR ELDERS, YOU GUYS, ESPECIALLY PHIL, SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

UM, LET'S SEE.

UPDATING POLICIES ON PRIVACY AND NEW TECH, INCLUDING THE DANGEROUS DRONES, PROBABLY SHOULD ALREADY BEEN DONE.

UH, HOPEFULLY THERE'S GONNA BE A PUBLIC PROCESS WITH POSSIBLY A COMMISSION WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE END.

RESULT.

UH, TWO TOWN HALL MEETINGS ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SHOULD BE EXPEDITED BEFORE OCTOBER BECAUSE THE HOTTEST TIMES OF THE YEAR ARE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.