Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon everyone. I'd like to call the Anaheim City Council meeting to order. Clerk, can you please call roll? Thank you, Mayor. Council member Bis here. Council member Curts, here. Council member Moss, present. Council member Meeks, here. Mayor Pro Tim Leon present. Mayor Aken present. Let the record show we have six members present. Are there any additions or deletions to our closed session agenda? Mayor, there are none. And do we have any speakers wishing to address the closed session agenda? We don't have any inerson speakers and we didn't receive any um electronic comments on the closed session agenda.

Thank you. So hearing none, we're going to close the public comment on our closed session agenda and recess to close session. Thank you very much.

Good evening everyone. I would like to call the Anaheim City Council meeting back to order, please. The first item on our agenda is an invocation that will be offered this evening by Chaplain Nathan Zug with Anaheim Police and Fire. Following that, Council Member Meeks will lead us in the flag salute. Would you all please stand if able?

Good evening. Uh let's pray. Father in heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom come and may your will be done right here tonight just as it is in heaven. Would you give us today what we need and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, Lord, but deliver us from the evil one. I ask for grace, truth, peace, love, and favor tonight, Father, on our beloved mayor and council and on all of our city leaders. Thank you for each and every one of them. I pray that you would fill this chamber tonight with unusual peace. Thank you for our police and fire departments and all of our city departments. You take care of our residents, businesses, and guests. Would you bless them and give them favor as they are all serving us in ways that we can see and feel? Please work through them and let them know they're doing a great job. I particularly ask that you would bless our our city manager interim Greg Garcia and our new police chief Manny Sid as they lead our city and make many key decisions. I also pray for our search for another city manager that you would guide that process tonight. Father, I pray for each and every conversation and each decision that's made that you would be honored in all of our Anaheim decision makers. And I pray tonight for Michelle Lamas Yamas as and her family as they have recently lost a loved one. And lastly, Father, I pray for world peace for each and every country leader across the world as they rethink

positions that they would do everything possible to strive for your peace in this world. And I pray this and all these things in your holy name. Amen.

Thank you. Before we begin begin the pledge, I would like to take a moment and thank the brave men and women in our armed forces who are serving at home and especially at abroad at this time of conflict. We thank them for their service, their dedication and we thank their family for the dedication of supporting their service members. So ready begin. I aliance 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. Good evening everyone. Um, today we have the privilege of honoring Brett Finley for his contributions and leadership and service as chief executive officer of the Anaheim family YMCA. Brent has led the organization with vision, integrity, and heart. Under his leadership, the YMCA has strengthened its programs, expanded its reach, and its impact across our Anaheim community. Brett has always put the wise mission first and people at the at the center of every decision and initiative. His genuine care for others will leave a lasting mark not only on the organization but on the lives of countless Anaheim kids. So Brent, thank you for joining us tonight. Your legacy will remain a lasting part of the

Anaheim Y community and the city at large. We wish you best on your retirement. And if you could please join us for to share a few words. And please have your family come up if they want.

Put your initial down. Your initial.

Well, Madame Mayor, thank you very much for those very wonderful kind words. Um certainly it's been a true honor to serve this organization for oh my gosh I think I've count almost on five hands but stopped at four fingers to uh finally again I my grandson the other day said he thinks I'm too young to be retiring. So I think that's a call to action that he wants me to maybe be a guest coach on his soccer baseball team or something. So um it's been a real pleasure to be here in Anaheim. Um the last stop on this wide legacy this wide journey. Um, I would be remiss if I would say that or wouldn't say that the partnership between the YMCA and the city of Anaheim has probably been the greatest city YMCA partnership I've ever been a part of. So, what we do is we do everything together, serving 4,000 kids in swim lessons annually. Our growing youth sports recreational programs on and on and on. Our uh growing youth and government program that is supported by the city is just incredible. So, it's been a blessing, uh, a pleasure, and I just look forward to seeing and watching all the great things that will continue to happen with the YMCA and the city of Anaheim. So, thank you very much. Okay, with me is my uh my true partner. I did uh tell her that this was the last stop, so she can actually open a few boxes that we've carried forward for a couple of other moves. Julie Finley and board member with us, Trisha McDonald. Look right here. Thank you.

So, next I have the honor of celebrating an incredible achievement of the Anaheim High School girls flag football varsity team in their CIF championship. So these amazing students and athletes demonstrated determination and teamwork. Their championship reflects months of hard work and discipline. They have set a new standard for their school and for girls athletics. As always, we want to acknowledge your parents, your families, and your coaches who supported you along the way this season. So, congrats to our colonist champions. Way to represent the city. Could you please join us? Could we have you? Mayor

Perfect. If I can have everybody go here

and families, any photos? Anybody else want to take a photo up here? Can we post them?

Yeah, perfect. Okay, thank you. So, so last but certainly not least, I want to recognize Toast Masters Club to Anaheim as they celebrate a milestone of 100 years of service in our city. So for a century, this club has empowered members to develop skills in public speaking, communication, and leadership. With every speech and meeting, they have helped generations of members build confidence, lead with purpose, and find their voice. And when people find their voice, they make a difference in their workplaces, their communities, and right here in Anaheim. So congratulations on a 100red years of success and we wish you best of luck in your next 100. We'll have to do a couple of

Great. If we could have everybody look right here.

Thank you. Congratulations. So, clerk, are there any additions or deletions to tonight's agenda?

Mayor, there are none.

Excuse me. So, um, can you please outline the public comment procedures? Thank you, mayor. Speakers have one opportunity to address the city council. This also includes item number 10 that's on the city council agenda. The public comment period is limited to 90 minutes or until all agenda item speakers have been heard. Any time remain remaining of the 90 minutes will be provided to speakers who wish to speak on any non-aggenda related items but within the council's jurisdiction. A second public comment period will be open by the mayor only if any non-aggenda item speakers were not heard during this first public comment and it'll be open at the end of council business. The time limit for public comment is three minutes per speaker. Those wishing to address the city council must complete a speaker card, which are available at the back of the council chambers. The name and contact information requested on the speaker card is optional. Any unidentified speakers will be called by the speaker card number. At this time, I'd also like to announce that Spanish interpreting services are provided at every city council meeting. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation is provided through the use of headsets and consecutive interpretation is available to anyone who would like to address the city council. For translation services in other languages, we ask that you please contact the city clerk's office at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. At this time, I like to introduce our interpreter who will make the same announcement in Spanish.

At this time, on behalf half of the city council, we would like to remind the public that Anaheim remains committed to freedom of speech. And we ask that speakers address the city council with civility and refrain from making personal, threatening, abusive, slanderous, or profane remarks towards any member of the council, staff, or general public. We appreciate you reflecting the spirit when you speak. The time now is 5:17 with a 90minute public comment period set to conclude at 6:47 or until all agenda item speakers have been heard. We do ask that speakers line up at the podium once they see their name appear on the projection screen behind me and mayor and city council for agenda items. We have 23 speakers and we'll go ahead and call those speakers forward. Thank you. Before we begin public comment, I wanted to note that item 10 on today's agenda is the continuation of the festival project item. The public hearing on that item was opened and after several hours of comment on January 13th. It was closed on January 13th. While the public hearing will not be reopened when the item is called this evening, the applicant and members of the public are welcome to voice their opinions and thoughts about the project during this public comment portion of the meeting. I have been assured by staff that comments regarding the project during public comment, whether made tonight or during prior meetings, will be included in any administrative record, and they will certainly be considered by this council. In addition, members of the council have the ability to ask questions of the speakers or applicants when that item is considered tonight. Thank you. And madame clerk, can you please call forward the first three speakers?

Thank you, mayor. Our first three speakers, Mark Herbert, David Green, and Mark Richard Daniels. Mr. Herbert, you can step forward at this time. Exit sideways. This doesn't bend. That be Well, I can do this, Mr. Herbert. I can't.

Oh, that would be a problem. Yeah. Mark Herbert, Ananaheimgree.com at the 113. 1326 council meeting there was a hearing on the festival housing project. If you go to the 4 hour 39 minute and 12 second section, you'll see the point I'm raising tonight I raised back then and I'm still waiting for an answer two months later.

At that time on January 13th, um I said that Anaheim needs to some new fire engines and I said that it's a four-year waiting list to get a new engine. There are no outstanding orders for a new fire engine in Anaheim. So, the earliest that there will be a new fire engine in Anaheim is June 2030. Now, how that pertains to this housing project. In June, the new fire station at Angel Stadium will open. The engine for that will come from Anaheim Hills. Currently, there are two engines and crews at fire station 10 as they wait they waited for the completion of the new fire station. So, in June, Anaheim Hills will be losing one of their fire engines. Now, it'll be a four-year wait until they can get it back. And in tonight's agenda, the city's now progressing on getting a new fire station, fire station 13 in Anaheim. and they're acquiring the property. That station truck has not been ordered yet. If it's ordered today, it won't come until June 2030. Now, let's not forget the Anaheim Hills is a high-risk fire area. That's why this extra engine was stationed there. And since that's happened, there's been some wakeup reminders to the council that this order needs to be placed. The wakeups that I remember is it was a big issue during 2024 in October during the Deer Park hearing. The council heard of the need of the high-risk fire danger on Anaheim Hills

yet has not ordered a new fire engine knowing that it's a four-year wait. I'm going to pass out oh a handout from Fullerton which documents their problem ordering a new fire truck. It's fouryear it's a four-year wait. Their press release came out in September 2025 and it did not catch Anaheim's attention. When are you going to order the new fire engine? because it's a 4year weight. What's the priority above that?

Mr. Herbert, your time is up. Our next speaker, David Green.

Good evening to all the council members on the DES and Mayor Aken. My name is David Green. and I've lived and worked in the city of Anaheim for 30 years. In all my years as a resident, I've never felt compelled to attend a council meeting, although I'm certain they've all been really riveting. I'm here today because of the festival center in the Deer Canyon development proposals. When the past seven years, I'm guessing because of the use of apps to find alternative routes to avoid the 91 freeway, I've witnessed bumper-to-bumper stop traffic from the 91 on-ramp um all the way off weir traveling miles up past Ralph's and to Sorano to the Monaco town homes. This queue to get on the 91 can begin as early as 1:00 and can last until 8 o'clock at night. It's it's really gridlock right here in our neighborhood. I've experienced two major fires since residing near the Ralph Shopping Center. And I'm here to share when we were asked to evacuate by a police vehicle over a loudspeaker. There was nowhere to go. Cars could not exit the community. They could not turn left. They could not turn right. Nobody could leave for safety. It was packed. I was struck cold when I saw the panic on the faces of my neighbors who had young children and pets in tow when they were stopped within hundreds of feet of their effort to evacuate. This was something I've never experienced before and I was surprised I was experiencing it in what I thought was a city like Anaheim um which would have infrastructure and thought process to evacuate. Um a lot of us have probably seen the signs up there. This is the evacuation center to go to. Appreciate all you guys back here. This is nice. Um, so that was very chilling to witness. I understand that the festival shopping center owners would enjoy earning more

customer money to keep the shops open and that's a valid community concern. However, we need to listen to the planning commission and local fire authorities about their grave concerns for further housing developments in the area. There has to be better solutions. Please vote no and continue to consider other options. Thank you. Our next speaker.

Thank you. I get an applause before I speak. Anyway, uh you're asking uh a project of this magnitude in an area that is geographically not suited for this kind of a project. you're gonna overwhelm the area with a lot of traffic and a lot of, you know, what has been already said and said better than I do. I don't live anywhere near this area, but it's part of Anaheim, so it's part of me. Uh, you have to vote no on it. You have to you could something that that that is so troubling given the fact that you're going to have that much uh traffic and that much uh coming and going and what has already been said during some of the other incidents that have happened in that area that you've had uh you know with fires and and stuff that the gridlock trying to get in and out of there. So, you're going to add that much more of a population in that area and it just would not work. So, I suggest you uh you know not sacrifice public safety and vote no.

Our next speaker, Joseph Woodara. Following the speaker, we have Mike Robbins.

Madame Mayor and city council members, thank you for allowing me to speak. Uh, my name is Joseph Guadama. I live off of Weird Canyon in Anaheim Hills. I'm speaking about the festival development. Uh, I've been a resident of Anaheim Hills for 10 years and lived through the frightening wildfire that occurred in 2017. In fact, about four houses down from my home, there were fires burning. Luckily, the firemen got to them in time, weren't able to save the homes on my street. However, just a few streets down, several homes did burn down. Recalling that wildfire, I was at work when my wife called, frantic, stating she could see flames, was packing up the car quickly and grabbed a dog and hurried out to get out of the area, only to meet bumper-to-bumper traffic going down where Canyon and Serrano was also blocked off, so we could not escape that route either. I am very concerned about the evacuation process we have for fires. The traffic has only gotten worse. It was not good in 2017 and it will be much worse with 447 apartments that will occupy two to four people in each one. Likely two additional cars per unit. So in other words, about a thousand more cars will be trying to escape a wildfire should it should it occur. There are no new role roads being added. This project not only will add issues we have to with evacuation but in addition those tenants will have difficulty exiting the parking structure and multi-level housing uh complex. Even without a wildfire the parking is not enough and it will be impossible to regulate who parks where. Sadly it seems that is being considered even with very big risks involved. Our safety should be first priority and so

far I don't see our safety has been considered. Given these facts about increased traffic, no new streaks have been added lacking evacuation plans for future f fire wildfires should they occur will with present residents much less 1,000 more vehicles trying to make their way out is obviously a bad idea. The apartment project is deficient and inappropriate for this area. Members, I ask that you please vote no. Thank you. Our next speaker, Mark Mike Robbins.

Mike Robbins. Money is the instrument of the powerful. When one replaces the other, we no longer have a republic. We have a receipt. $3 million. That's what Disney paid for the puppets on the city council. That $3 million purchased something specific. It purchased allegiance. Allegiance when bought has a name. We call it here. Political corruption. Council was not elected by the residents of Anaheim. It was installed by Disney Worldwide. There's a difference. One is democracy. The other is an illegitimate transaction. The social contract, the quaint enlighten enlightenment notion upon which this republic was allegedly founded, holds that government derives its legitimacy from the consent of the government. The people who live here, who drive the streets, who send their children to schools, but we watch with quiet desperation as the city teeters toward insolveny, money that could be used for uh purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purp p purposes like um emergency services. Um, while Disneyland, the people you work for, pay zero taxes on admissions and fees, 6% taxes on admissions and fees in Florida, nothing here. The Disneyland Resort generates billions and and we get the the privilege of traffic. The joy of watching their fire services under fire, underfunded, while a corporation that made $22 billion last year writes a check not to the city, but to the crooked politicians. When homes burn, and they have burned in the past, the question every resident deserves answers is this. Where was the money? Not to firet trucks apparently, not in emergency services, not in the infrastructure that protects the people who actually live in the city. The money was in this room, in these seats, in the campaign accounts of men and women who own their positions, not to the voters of Anaheim, but to a company whose mascot is a mouse and

whose morality, it turns out, is rodentsized as well. You are the proof. The residents of Anaheim are not constituents. They're they're not stakeholders. They're not even by any meaningful definition the people you serve. Campaign contributions are not consent to government. They're the purchase of governance. And when a city council is purchased, city hasn't been led, it's been sold. I would ask you to be ashamed, but shamed appears to be something Disney has arranged for you to be exempt from. 6% is what they they charge on parking and fees in Florida. and we asked for 3% to balance the budget and give us extra money so we can properly provide services for the city of Anaheim that could protect people's lives. Thank you very much.

Our next speaker following this speaker, G Price and Janine Robbins. Members of the council, I am here to oppose the festival development project proposed for Anaheim Hills, a community officially designated a very high fire severity zone under state fire severity mapping in an area with documented wildfire history, steep topography, and limited evacuation capacity. This proposal is not just incompatible, it is unsafe. This project replaces a 60,000q ft cinema with a 400,000 square foot residential complex, more than six times larger, plus a multilevel parking structure, the only one of its kind anywhere in this part of Anaheim. The only comparable structure in the entire city is Mickey and Friends at Disneyland. That alone shows how dramatically out ofcale this is for a hillside community surrounded by canyons, brush, and constrained roadways. But the core of this issue is this. You cannot increase population density in a fire severity zone without increasing evacuation capacity. Anaheim Hills has limited access routes, a fact acknowledged in fire safety studies, city emergency plans, and by residents who lived through evacuations.

These roads already bottleneck during routine traffic, during wildfire, they become gridlocked. So I only so I have to ask directly how can you justify adding hundreds more residents and hundreds more vehicles in a zone where the existing evacuation network already fails under pressure. This is not a planning question. It is a life safety question.

The infrastructure must be corrected before any major development is approved. This is not complicated. It is not theoretical. It is not rocket science. There is an existing well doumented program too few ways in and out of the hills. Until that is fixed, adding more people is not responsible planning. It is increasing risk. Look at the zoning next door. The senior comp the senior community immediately adjacent to this site is zoned for 15 units per acre. This proposed demands, this proposal demands 36 units per acre, more than double the density. That is not smart growth. That is a developer forcing a project onto a site that cannot safely support it under wildfire conditions.

The massing is wrong, the density is wrong, the location is wrong, and in a fire zone, wrong decisions have real consequences. This is not anti-housing. This is pro-s safety, pro- infrastructure, pro planning that respects the land, the risks, and the people who live here. Growth must be balanced. It must be scaled and it and in a fire severe fire zone, it must be safe. This project is oversized, over dense, and out of character for the surrounding area. And it increases danger in an area already vulnerable. Ma'am, I'm sorry, your time is up. under evacuation routes are expanded and infrastructure is your time is up.

No major development should move forward in Anaheim Hills. Our next speaker,

I'd like to address the festival parking impacts. It's entirely reasonable for residents to ask whether the project's parking capacity matches real world demand. The proposed new reduced parking standard would require,55 spaces total, meaning both retail and apartments combined. There are actually 12 spaces short of this, but apparently that's not a requirement. If you use the word shared, how do you share an invisible space? The parking study states the new reduced parking standard for the residential units is just 70 spaces shy of code. The study is full of charts using some very old data and an attempt to prove to us that less spaces isn't a big deal. In fact, they want us to believe they actually have an abundance of parking. But logic paints a different picture. The remaining businesses on the top level of the plaza, the restaurant, salon, medical office are about to get squeezed out. They will have 32 spaces available on the surface lot for customers to park. Those customers who cannot find parking where they normally would park are going to stop coming. But here's the punchline. Their advertised 70 space deficit from code is actually false. To get an accurate account of parking, we must start at the EIR. Section two, project description, page eight, the last paragraph. Look it up. The project would require a minimum of 1,75 parking spaces with an overall parking rate of 2.34 spaces per unit, including 112 spaces for visitors. Oddly, this statement is never seen in the actual parking study. The parking study that is not attached to the EIR falsely states code would require the project to provide 963 spaces with an overall

parking rate of 2.15 spaces per unit. So now we are forced to do the math. They're giving us 781 residential spaces, 107 guest spaces, and five spaces in front for their leasing office. That brings their total to 893 spaces. Are you ready? It's eight2 spaces less than the current code. Let that sink in. Nearly 200 spaces short. This will choke out the remaining businesses on the top level, forcing them to relocate or close. Housing without adequate parking can lead to overflow into neighborhoods, competition for spaces with existing businesses, congestion, and safety concerns. These are issues residents throughout our city know all too well. Just say no.

Our next speakers, Janine Robbins, Kenneth Kenneth Batist, R. Joshua Collins. Let me begin by saying that I feel and have always felt that your most important job is to listen to the residents.

This this is contrary this is contrary to what my husband says. He says your most important job is to serve Disneylands as they have spent millions buying you those seats. Screw the residents and bow to the mouse. That should be the motto behind you. So when people are speaking, you should not be looking down at your phones or texting or even looking at your laptops. You should be listening. My heart breaks for the Arzola family. Thank you.

I I cannot I cannot even begin to fathom the agony, the agony they are going through. I heard Natalie say they would get the body cam footage, but she neglected to mention a date. Is it soon or is it years from now? Why haven't you helped them? Many years ago, Sandy Lozo told me that state law supersedes city law. So, taking that to heart, let me remind you and the city attorney and the police chief that in 2014, 12 years ago, the California Supreme Court ruled that the names of police officers involved in onduty shootings must be disclosed under state public records law, thereby rejecting arguments by police unions and municipalities that the name should be kept confidential for the safety of officers. Release the name of the officer who murdered their son, their cousin, their brother, their friend. Now release the name of the coward who decided to become judge, jury, and executioner for a person who did nothing wrong. Release it now, not later.

Now, on to the hotel that broke the law by illegally increasing the number of hotel rooms without notifying the city, without without pulling permits. What the hell? How can this have gone unnoticed? It is inconceivable that the city did nothing about this. There is no way of verifying whether or not they paid toot over the last 27 years for the increased rooms. How is this being audited? You need to change the toot system. Hotels should put the number of rooms rented, the length rented, the amount rented for. This is not simply a bookkeeping error as some of you seem to think. This is embezzlement from our general fund.

Every hotel motel should be physically inspected as to the actual number of rooms. I suggest it happen soon. Finally, as far as the festival project goes, I am an advocate for our unhoused population and value housing above all else. However, it must be the correct housing and this pro this project is not correct. This project puts human lives at risk and the seven of you do not seem to care. All seven of you are in bed with the trades and rely heavily on their campaign donations to help buy those seats for you. However, let me remind you that you do work for the residents and as they are here fighting for their lives and yet you do not appear to be listening, do not approve this project. If you do indeed vote for this project instead of people's safety, then Anaheim residents should vote you out. Vote you out.

Our next speaker, Kenneth First thing giving honor to God, those on the council is serving the God of the people. First thing to serve the God of the people, you got to listen to him. Yeah. Because he's listening. My point is this right here. It's a political game. But the bottom line is it's people's safety, people's lives, the Arizona family. Release the tape.

Release the tape. For anybody else that's in here, I'm collecting signatures for rent control. I don't rent and I'm not getting paid for this. That's where my heart is at. Next, uh, I want to make sure everybody know with this firework again that Disney is poisoning our underground whales. I want to make sure that's a fact. Now, let's get down to the festival program. Adding 448 units and I'm a housing advocate. This is just not right. the Hills from the rest of us feel that we don't get a good deal from the Hills, but this is not the right deal for the Hills or us. At the last district 5 meeting, we had Chief Russell there. We asked him about the fires in district 6. We were concerned finding out that there was 90 mph up there in Gilman stream. 90 m an hour winds. Do you know what 90 mph winds would do? I worked in the United States Forest Service for two years. Cleveland National Forest typical district. You can't do nothing with 90 m an hour fire except for try to get the hell out the way. The point of it is if it happened once, it'll happen again.

Yes. And when it happened, how many of those people from down in the flat lands went up there and saw them people's houses burned? It wasn't just like they all was burnt. Some of them was burnt here and their neighbors wasn't burnt. Fences knocked down by the fire department trying to get through there. You could just feel the evil spirit of the fire there. And what you want to do is put more lives in jeopardy. Who are you really concerned about? Cuz special interests seem like they are just so corrupt. They don't care about the souls of the people. No, they don't. We need you to step up and do the right thing.

That's what's wrong with our country today. Corruption has been accepted as the norm. We should get back to our cleanliness, our godliness, and our country will rise up and be stronger. Thank you. Our next speaker are Joshua Collins, followed by Doug Robbins.

Good afternoon. My name is R. Joshua Collins, founder of Homeless Advocates for Christ on Facebook. And first, I want to encourage everyone to give their life to Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us from that horrible place called hell, that eternal fire to give us everlasting life. He's the only way to heaven. We've all sinned. We all need a savior. Uh we all must be born again. I also want to talk about the homeless issue. Uh there's so many people that are still needing affordable housing. Uh from what I understand, uh there's still 9,100 units still needed for affordable housing. Uh there's a waiting list for rental assistance years long. So I just want to encourage the council to create more land for for those in need more affordable housing, more shelter. Um also rent control ordinance. Be great to see something like that come to pass. Uh we really need help those of us that don't have a lot of money and there's quite a few of us. I also want to talk a little bit about the issue regarding um the last counseling. I believe it was that it was stated that the police chief said that black and brown people create more crimes uh than uh Caucasians. That's what I was heard at a community meeting. Supposedly he said that.

So So I did a little research and I I just looked it up on Chad GBT. Why not? I just looked it up. I was like I there was no data about that. It says no published APD or FBI data uh shows this. And also uh there was a a data that was kind of interesting though. Uh African-Americans are two times more likely to be stopped in Anaheim than Caucasians. And also uh two and a half times more likely to be arrested for low-level and nonviolent offenses than Caucasians in Anaheim.

So this is facts. This is out of Chad GBT. I'm not making this up. You lit up yourself. But this is a concern. And also, uh, what are we going to do to to bring an end to that? Right. Obviously, there's an issue. There's obviously an issue as an African-American myself, right? Um, I have been arrested here unlawfully and it was dismissed the charges, but

it's happened to me. So, I maybe that was part of the reason. I don't know. But I also want to talk about Alberto Arzola regarding that issue. Uh, I heard about more facts about that. Sounds like no body cam, no crime committed, shot six times, no video. Where's the accountability? It's it's devastating to think that that the that this this family, what they're going through, I just can't imagine. And I work with youth myself as a teacher and educator and and um we got to learn how to deescalate, you know, especially when you work with young people. I don't know what happened in that situation, but no reason for that to happen obviously, but uh litigation of course is is going to be coming and and that the taxpayers got to pay a lot of that stuff, right? the taxpayers suffer when all these things happen. So, we got to get better at doing a lot of these um uh caring for people. The city of kindness, right, and supposed to be the city of kindness. Uh we got we got to make changes. Thanks. Let me share

our next speaker, Doug Robbins. Dear mayor and council members, um I'm here once again speaking about the festival center residential project. I've spoke with many of you in person with the exception Norma Curts at your open house deals you had. I've been up here many times talking about this project and the dangers it imposes on us. Uh we went back with back and forth with you and other city staff about the dangers this project puts residents of the area. You folks uh seem to think you have this magic bulletproof plan to evacuate us in a life-threatening emergency. And while we appreciate that there is a plan, the community is not buying what you are trying to sell us.

You you underestimate the impact of the project and overestimate the evacuation plan. We have gone back and forth and beat this subject to death. So, I'm done discussing this with you and your staff. And it comes down to this. The bottom line is you've been you've been elected to represent what we want. Okay? And we've made it more than clear that this development is an unwanted danger. Yet, it seems you disagree with what we want. Honestly, your opinion is not important. What isn't important is that you listen to the people you represent and start representing them.

If this seems like a radical concept, maybe you should resign. Yeah, it seems it seems politicians these days only care about what we think while they are trying to secure our vote. And once in office, they don't care what our opinions are any longer. They only care about wealthy donors and lobbyists. Shay Holmes and Kurt Pringle. Sound familiar? We have vowed to change that. We will no longer support any politician that will not listen to people they represent. And uh we're no longer asking you to vote no on this project. We are demanding a no vote. Thank you.

Our next speaker.

Hi again. Um I've been here before and I'm here to plead with you to vote no on the festival project. Not only for me, not only for you, not only for all the citizens of Anaheim, but most importantly, take your eyes to the very back last row. The young girl who How old are you, young lady? Six. How old are you? Six. But for the children of our community, you know, God watch over you should this project go through because you'll have blood on your hands

of children. I'm here to plead with you to vote no. Two words, safety first. Right on. The idea that you would add over 400 apartments and a thousand and a thousand additional people and vehicles to this very high severity fire zone just doesn't make sense. Again, two words, safety first. We need infrastructure improvements in our area. For example, the Fairmont overpass prior to any additional residential development along Sana Canyon. Absolutely.

Two words, safety first. The evacuation analysis report shows that it already takes residents almost three hours to get out during a fire. Then to say adding another 14 minutes of delay is not a big deal is total nonsense. Two words, safety first. safety

for city employees, the city spokesperson and some council members to continue to espouse know your way is a dereliction of duty. That's not the word I want to use, but it totally is a dereliction of duty. We all understand know your way. There's one way. Get to the flipping 91 freeway. And how do you do that? You get on to Sana Canyon and you go to Weir or you go to Imperial. That's the option. And and and everybody would be so gridlocked. It's a total death trap. The evacuation time analysis cites very specific scenarios and specific areas and zones where the fire might occur. Well, last time I checked, a fire doesn't know just to stay in zone three. Don't jump over into zone eight. Oh no, don't go to zone five. So this whole know your way by zone is a croc of crap.

Ridiculous. So fire jumps. It goes crazy. It will go every way imaginable. And I don't know about anybody else, but I'm going to get the hell out of dodge. I don't care what zone I live in. I'm leaving. So two words again. Safety. Ma'am, I'm sorry. Your time is up. Please do the responsible thing. Vote no. Our next speaker.

And the will the next three speakers please line up at the podium? Here is very familiar with this.

This is what we face. This is what we face every time we have a fire. And it's not once. It's not twice. And it will happen again. Every one of you. I don't want our city to be responsible for the class action lawsuits that are going to come when you know you have been warned. Our insurance companies have pulled out. You're telling us we're safer now than in 2017? Two years, the last two years. All our insurance companies pulled out because they fi they determined that we're such a fire hazard. You don't think that their recommendations and their expertise is going to go above yours? I'm telling you right now, the no way out plan is a no way out for the people who live there. I've lived through so many fires. I've been told, "Don't evacuate. Don't evacuate." 15 minutes later, the wind switch at 60 to 80 miles per hour and it's over us and pass us and hopping through our homes. You cannot use that no your way plan. It's you're going to smell the fire. You're going to see it. You're going to head for your kids, your pets, and you're going to get out of dodge. And so you cannot even tell us that the know your way plan is acceptable and to add this on us when there's a senior project that is right above them and we have to they have one little road that has to connect to both the main arteries. You cannot tell us that you have thought about our safety. This project does not have to be and there should be nothing but a no vote on this project.

Oh no. back again. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I also am here to speak against the proposed festival project in zip code 92808, which is designated by Calire as a very high fire hazard severity zone. the highest fire risk designated by the state and the only area in Anaheim with that classification. We are being asked as residents to allow density in the city in the highest fire risk area using the comparison of the former theater which is not equivalent. The theater functioned as a neighborhood amenity. It primarily served nearby residents and generated staggered event-based traffic. It did not add permanent residential population. It did not introduce a thousand sustained vehicles. Traffic conditions today are materially different than they were when that theater was built. Wildfire is also greater than it was decades ago. Both risk and congestion have increased. Extending evacuation times with minutes matter most. So, what are Anaheim residents receiving in exchange for this project? We're being asked to accept smaller units, reduced parking, tighter safety margins, and the loss of valuable commercial property that many of us would prefer to see revitalized. Yet, this project does not deliver meaningful affordability, improved quality of life, or create high wage employment opportunities for Anaheim residents. We do not need this. It does. We've already met our state housing requirements. There is no reason we

can't deny this project and place housing somewhere that is not in the city's highest fire risk area. Every member of this council represents Anaheim residents.

Public safety should not be secondary to development interests. For these reasons, I respectfully ask that you urge you to vote no. Approving a highdensity project in the city's highest fire risk area is not responsible and is not good for the residents of Anaheim. And I will again say that I stand in solidarity with the Olazera family and the names need to be released of the people involved and they need that body cam footage so that they can have peace of mind. I can't imagine going through what they're going through and the support that they have and the determination they have showing up here with the entire family is bar none um quite a commitment. So they need some resolution.

Our next speaker, good evening. My name is Stephanie Thckery and I want to start off by saying that I stand with solidarity with the family of Mr. Arzola. I hope that the council keeps its word and releases the footage. Secondly, I'm here to discuss the festival development. I'm a new member of the Anah Anaheim Hills community. I recently bought a home in the East Hills community, girl. I spent my life savings on that, working very hard to get that home. And it did not take long to realize that this area is very congested as is. When I found out about this development, my heart sank because all I could think about was being trapped.

Adding a new development under the guise of affordable housing is a disservice to the community, reckless, and extremely dangerous. During a fire, as we know, every second counts. Being trapped on the road for even an extra minute can be the difference between life and death. The promise of new homes is not worth the death sentence that will ensue when everyone is trapped. I urge you to do the sensible and right thing and fulfill your duty to us, your constituents, and not to developers. Thank you.

Our next speaker Hello, city council and mayor. Um, my name is Andrew Winger and I'm a resident of Anaheim. Um, first, please do what you can do to help the Arzola family get some closure with their tragedy. The festival project is one of these moments where the officials are saying there's no problem while science and data is saying otherwise. We all live through real world scenarios where three-hour evacuation times were reality. We have two different science-based environmental impact reports that support these three-hour evacuation times using science and modeling. On the other side, we have the government officials saying there's no problem without any proof. Who are you going to believe? You have no studies to back up the claims of the evacuations have been solved. You have no way to quantify the benefits of the know your way plan or the zonebased based evacuation. For example, how much time does the know your way plan reduce the numbers from the sciencebacked evacuation modeling of three hours? The know your way plan relies on public following orders. By the admission of Mike Lyster, most people don't even have a basic emergency plan. In a way, it sounds like the city of Anaheim is trying to push the blame on the citizens for not being prepared. However, in recognizing that people don't always do what they're supposed to be doing, it's also recognizing that the know your way plan is impossible to implement.

People panic during situations and don't act rationally. When meeting with the city council members, I asked the cit I asked what the citizens are misunderstanding about the know your way plan. One city council member said,"I don't really know the details of the know your way plan." How can you be making a life and death decision and not fully understand what you're voting on? Be on

be on the right side of science. You wouldn't support smoking. You wouldn't support lead paint. Don't support evacuation modeling that isn't based on real science. The city now has pages of documentation outlining the problems with this project. You've received a total of nearly 500 opposition letters from residents since January 13th. You have sent an you've been sent an official letter from a SQL attorney. At what point does ignoring the abundance of facts move into the realm of negligence? You need to pro

You need to protect the city of Anaheim from liability. You need to protect this residents. I'm gonna make a quick side note here. The EIR modeled this thing after wind speeds of 40 miles an hour and 60 mph. We get wind speeds up to 80 miles an hour and higher. So, the modeling itself is not even accurate. In conclusion, please make this decision that puts the safety of residents first. Thank you. Safety first.

Hello, city council and mayor. Here we are again. You've heard me speak on this a lot. You've heard me talk to you about what happened to me when I was in Maui and when I was evacuated three different times from my home. But that didn't work. So, let me paint a different picture for you. The Titanic was built with lifeboats for only half of its passengers. Why? because the belief was that the ship's unsinkability led to a lack of preparedness for emergencies. Well, we all know how that ended. The know your way plan is not fireproofed. If you vote yes on this festival project with the flawed know your way plan, you would be repeating the same type of tragic mistake.

We are not prepared to safely evacuate an additional 1,00 to,500 cars and individuals. Lives are at risk. I urge you to vote no on this project. During the January 13, 2026 Anaheim City Council meeting, Shea Holmes made a crucial statement. He said, and I quote, "Reducing the unit count apartment housing has the single biggest impact on traffic and evacuation times." Straight out of his mouth. He further explained that the project exceeds the city's adopted vehicle miles traveled or VMT per service population threshold and therefore does does create a significant unavoidable impact. Let that sink in straight from the builder's mouth. The builder is in charge of this project and he admits that it exceeds the city's VMT threshold resulting in a significant and unavoidable impact on the community. I urge you to vote no. In addition, our own mayor in the February city council meeting stated and I quote, "I am extremely concerned about adding housing to this part of East Hills an East Anaheim Hills of District 6 if we have other available options in the canyon or in areas that are not severe high fire zone, which we are." On Friday, the Taten Brown Law Group sent you all a letter and it outlines several key points, but I will highlight a few. The project's EIR is fatally flawed. Its analysis of evacuation hazards is based on a misinterpretation of the city's know your way plans. The EIR incorrectly assumes that all westbound traffic, including from the nearly 500 hills project reserve, would evacuate, if that goes through, would evacuate westbound,

impacting festival cent's evacuation. The city's plans other say otherwise. This traffic would evacuate east directly towards festival. This misinterpretation of the evacuation plan hides the true impact of the project and undermines the EIR conclusions about the significance and the impact resulting in a lack of prioritizing safety for District 6 residents. If the city cannot get it right, how are you to trust that the residents will be properly informed? Vote no. Our next speaker,

Steve Herrer. Good evening. I was hoping if somebody could pass this out, but I guess that's not doable, is it? Okay. Thank you. While uh the young lady is passing that out while I'm speaking and it'll be very brief. You'll see it. Uh if you can I didn't realize we had this large map. If as I'm speaking, if the people in the audience can let to look at that and you'll understand. Okay. the the I just wanted to uh I just wanted uh to look at the map that you have and them there while I speak. Okay. District 6 encompasses 40 to 45% of the city of Anaheim. It's a high fire danger danger danger area high fire danger area. Yet it has the fewest main routes to safety compared to the other districts. And the other districts, please, I'm sure you're aware of it, but please review. Districts 1 through five, has considerably more access routes than district 6, and they are not considered high fire danger areas. We are. And the other point is that the two main freeway access streets to the freeway are Imperial Highway and we're Canyon. These two exits are five miles apart, a lot further than the other uh than any other districts. Compared to the other districts with much less distance between them, Gypsson Canyon is not considered maina, at least for most of us, because it's furthest part of east uh uh east Anaheim. I'm going off script, but real quick, the other districts have so many other off-roads that they can shoot. They have alternative routes. We have two. We have

Santana Canyon to get just to get out and then to Imperial Highway and and um we're Canyon. That's five miles. I need the other districts to understand how we're looking at this. I reviewed the uh strategic plan of Anaheim uh that encompasses the years 2024 to 2034. It states six top city priorities. A maintain financial responsibility. B uh enhance livability. C invest in infrastructure and amenities. D fostering a high performing city organization. E and please listen to and E supporting public safety and F promoting economic development and tourism. other keep it the project goes goes against this project goes against uh B C and D and that is enhance livability this doesn't enhance this project does not do that uh C invest in infra in infrastructure build alternate routes so we can get out that's investment of in infrastructure and uh supporting public safety you guys have been listening

sir I'm sorry your time is up yes real quick you voted against the deer canyon project. Please vote against this project. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Our next speaker,

first off, I want to thank Steve. He's a retired Marine Corps. I want to thank him for his service. Thank you, Steve. Honorable mayor and city council, I do thank you for this opportunity to speak. I, my name is Dean Gainor. I've lived in the track right above Festival, right behind Target for 32 years. This is very emotional for all of us because we, those of us who've lived here for a while, have been through these evacuations. We know what it really is like. So, I'm going to try to read this to take some of the motion out of it. The environmental impact study that we do believe is flawed, but even that study that you're relying upon identifies a significant unavoidable vehicle miles traveled impact. That means that impacts cannot be fully mitigated. When you override unavoidable impacts in a wildfire area with limited evacuation routes, you're making a conscious decision.

This is about emergency clearance time. The specific plan adopted in 1990 by Anaheim intentionally preserved this area as a commercial core. That planning decision was not done accidentally. It reflected infrastructure constraints unique to this segment. By amending that specific plan now to allow highdensity residential in this core, you are undoing decades of planning and safeguards. there.

I've said it before. This is not about rich people in district 6 not wanting multifamily in their backyard. If you need to put it in district 6, put it in district 6. Just put it in the other side of San Canyon and the 91 where people have streets they can get out on. Safety first. Safety first.

This area is literally blocked off by hills that burn and Santa Ana Canyon that's overcrowded. It's not responsible to put more lives at risk, including ours who live there, but these additional 470 plus families. The hills are going to burn again. It's just a question of when. We're just asking our city council not to take some extraordinary political move, but just don't approve changing the zoning that was already planned out.

Yep. Please be responsible and do not put more families at risk. I really want you, I beg you, to search your soul and ask how you're going to live with yourself. If there's another fire and people burn in their cars trying to get out, knowing that you vote it to make it worse, protect us. Protect us. And commercial use is not the same as residential. When the winds pick up and the fires are, these thousand plus car owners are going to be in their units listening if they have to evacuate.

And when they're told they have to evacuate, they're going to find out what we already know that they can't. Vote no. Our next speaker, Mark Fatizo. And the next Mr. Forzo, Mr. Maserella, and Mr. Hill. Coming up next.

Yes. Thank you very much for tonight. My name is Mark PZO. I've spoken a couple times here and I've been very fortunate to meet some of the districts at some of the meetings this last month at their districts in in Anaheim Hills. Got to meet the mayor, too. Um, speaking about our situation out here in Anaheim Hills, I've been very fortunate. My wife and I and the family moved out to Anaheim in uh 1986. We've been out there over 40 years. And I've mentioned this before. When we came off of Weird Canyon, it was a stop sign. One lane going up to Weird, one lane going up to Monavista and one lane coming back. Well, we all know what that's turned into over 40 years. There's approximately over 52,000 people I believe residentials up in Anaheim Hills. That's like I look at something like at Dodger Stadium trying to evacuate or leave after a Dodger game. What that's like coming down to Weird Canyon on the situation with all the building out in the Empire. Uh Weird Canyon is the last on-ramp on-ramp going into the canyon. uh eastbound, westbound, um La Palama, Orange, Sana Canyon, we all get uh bottleneck from anywhere from 12:30, 1:00 in the afternoon into 8 8:30 in the evening, depending on what day. And these are just people passing through our canyon. So now come here, we have a fire condition. Sana winds kicked up. I've been through three fires. The first two we couldn't even leave our we left our house. We left we got less than a mile away. Vans at parking lot which was the target at that time and Ralph's we could not evacuate any further. The third one I just stayed at the house and watered it down. Um I look at the growth in Anon Hills. We've been very fortunate. We like living there. My girls live there. My

grandkids. Um we are very fortunate with the fire department, the police department. They've been very good in our area. But we're at our peak where we cannot allow any more building, more cars. We have to deal with the people that use the corridor. There's approximately 350 plus thousand cars a day that come through the canyon there eastbound, westbound. That's right. 325,000 cars. So if there's a fire plan, God forbid we have to use it. But where are we going to go and where are those cars going to go trying to go or come from depending on the time of the day? So,

and then there's I think about the retirement areas up in An Hills. The people that don't have a car, they look for transportation to come and go to doctors, family. We have uh areas right behind the 24-hour fitness. Who's going to come and get the small kids are there? There's a small community. I think they have 35 to 40 kids. They It's a daycare. Who's going to come and get them out of there? Their family won't be able to come and get them. Sir, I'm sorry. Your time is up. So, thank you very much. Please vote no. And um Thank you. Our next speakers, if they can please step forward.

Following this speaker, we have Charles Hill, Elizabeth Hanssburg, and Carrie Pickkins.

Good evening, Madame Mayor, city council members. Um, we all met individually at each of your district meetings. Thank you very much for taking the time. I did that because of how much all these residents care about their lives and safety during a fire. And during that time when I was at those meetings, um, I found that each district has its own unique set of challenges and needs for each district. Wildfire is the overwhelming challenge and evacuation is the most desperate need for the residents of District 6. Fortunately, District 6 doesn't have the other challenges of the district. But facing high but facing adding more housing in the high fire risk zone east Anaheim Hills will greatly magnify the already extremely terrifying aspect of trying to evacuate during an intense wildfire. I echo Mayor Aken's comments in the January 13th city council meeting when she said, "I'm extremely concerned about adding housing to this part, East Anaheim Hills of District 6 if we have other available options in the canyon or in areas that are not in a higher high fire zone. There are multitude of other areas to build in District 6. And at that same January 13th meeting, um, director Heather Allen said the bulk of the sites in district 6 that were actual candidates are north of the 91 in district 6. So you should consider and what I learned from all the district meetings is that your state mandate does not force you to build in this area.

You can build in other areas. So again, as as district Allen said, the bulk of the sites in district 6 are north of the 91 in district, excuse me, in district six. So, Mayor Pro Timm Leon, I I you know, thank you for your efforts for district 6 as a board member for the OCTA, but we don't have the infrastructure yet to allow for more building. And council member Ma, I want to thank you. You know what it's like. You grew up in Anaheim Hills. You have parents that live in Anaheim Hills and you know what uh sheer catastrophe can do during a wildfire driven by high uh Santa Ana winds. Finally, I just want to say to council member Meeks, um I was a bit blunt with you because I don't think you understand your first duty as a rule is to represent your constituents and your constituents overwhelmingly do not want this. If you feel that you need to vote for this project, you need to resign right now because you do not represent the constituents of District 6.

So, I urge all of you for the lives and safety of all these residents, vote no against this project. Thank you very much. Our next speaker, our next speaker, Charles Hill. Next speaker, Charles Hill. Following Mr. Hill is Elizabeth Hanssburg, Carrie Pickkins, and Shelley Robbins. a lot. Who? Let me just put this up here for a second. I'll take it down when I'm done. Hello again.

I'm sure you all remember me from the last time that I paid you a visit when I told you the story about my daughter, my dogs, and my daughter's shoes and how they only made it down to the Target Center down the street. Um, which is less than a half a mile away. And then this week I and over the last couple of days I sent uh a number of emails and a number of messages to you all. Photos that I found and that my neighbors provided me of the fire right at the end of the culde-sac less than a quarter of a mile up the street from me where the hillside was on fire. And my daughter was calling me frant frantically trying to get me to leave the area to come down to the target center to walk down and get away from it. And I was bound and determined not to lose my home. Um, and as a result of that fire, and I know a number of my other neighbors suffered the same circumstances, the fire, the heat from that fire, you could feel it. I was I'm I'm at the beginning of the culde-sac. I could feel the heat of the fire down the street. And as I walked up, it got more intense. When everything was said and done, the smoke damage that I suffered was over $12,000 worth of smoke damage to my home just from the smoke coming off that hillside up the street. Unreal. Unreal. So, that's why that's why I'm trying to stress and stress before that this is a common sensical situation. Uh, these studies that have been done and provided by by the uh um shape properties, it's it's a farce. Um, you should you should have gotten and I think uh one of the prior speakers mentioned that a 57page uh document from an attorney in San Diego that we asked to be submitted to you that this is this is unbelievable. It's like there's no due diligence that's really been done. The know your way program um someone mentioned the panic that

takes place. I saw that panic. I saw the the the the deadlock that was out there. There was no place to go. Um I understand the uh you know our our our fire chief, he's very good. He's an expert on wildfires, but he's not an expert on traffic or evacuations. Um as far as I'm concerned, uh it's more like find your way instead of know your way. And I I think the other thing that came to my attention was how poorly you communicated this this program that you tout so strongly. When I went back and I looked, what did you do? You rolled it out on your website at anaheim.net and you had two community meetings. You said, "How did we find out about that? You didn't put a a statement stuffer in our utility bills." And guess what? Anaheim, thank you. I'm glad we're not with SoCal Ed, but thank you. But that's an opportunity for you to get a hold of people that are, you know, older, especially I know that those people that live up above us,

Mr. Here, your time is up. 80% of them don't drive. They don't drive and they don't have internet. They're not techsavvy at all. So, please do the right thing and vote. Thank you, Sarah. I'm sorry. Your three minutes are up. But don't forget, our next speakers,

Mr. Hill, you promised me you were going to take your sign down.

I did promise. Let me get Oh, unless you want to use You want to use it?

Um, good evening, uh, Mayor Aken and members of the city council. My name is Elizabeth Hanssburg and to date I think I may be the only person that is here to support this project.

Um, normally normally when Wow. Okay. Normally when we talk about how are we going to add new housing to existing communities, putting multif family housing on underperforming commercial centers is like the number one strategy that we use, right? we're we're not invading the fabric of the existing single family homes. We're finding something that isn't performing well and trying to add an opportunity for more diverse housing types. Right? Anaheim Hills, we know, is largely single family homes. It's not accessible to young people. It's not accessible to people who can't afford to buy a home or pay $4,000 and up for a house in renting, but they could rent an apartment. So it does provide accessible housing in that area. This does seem to be a very charged more charged than other opportunities for housing. At the same time, that's not a function of this project. That's a function of the city. And I would urge you to find a way to make room for new housing and more diverse housing types in Anaheim Hills. We should not

excuse

please be respectful and listen to all speakers. I know it's a heated subject and we have very um varied and strong opinions in this room, but she has every right to express herself as as you do. So, if you could please extend her that common courtesy. Thank you. We should not have a neighborhood or a section of town or a district that can draw a circle around itself and say no new major development here. Anaheim has grown. It's been one of the top producers of housing next to Irvine of all the cities in Orange County. There's no question that you guys between Santa Ana, Irvine, and Anaheim have done the most to add housing stock to Orange County. Hands down. No question. And Director Allen is right. There is nothing in the state law that says it has to go, you know, in a certain place. However, it matters for the residents of the parts of Anaheim that have seen the high density development in their neighborhood and then we have a whole section of town that just doesn't ever have to accommodate new growth. That's not fair. It's not fair. And so finding a way to address the concerns so that every community in Anaheim, including Anaheim Hills, can make room for their neighbors so that the lovely six-year-old that was referred to previously has a place to live when she grows up. Really important. So, I hope that you can find a way to make that happen. Thank you.

Our next speaker, our next speaker, Carrie Pickkins. Following the speaker, we have Shirley Robbins and Dr. Rick Moyer.

Hi, I'm Carrie Pickkins. Uh, thank you for, uh, listening to my comments. Uh, I have emailed all of you my concerns about the festival project and, uh, Natalie Nich, you've replied to me a couple of times. Uh, however, I dispute your point and I don't want to, um, reiterate kind of what has already been said tonight. So, I want to drill down on a couple of points that maybe haven't been as um vocalized tonight. One is this project is wildly inconsistent with the community. Um you know, a leveled parking structure in Anaheim Hills, the scale of Disneyland's Mickey and Friends, it's completely uh uh inappropriate for the residential community of of Anaheim Hills. The other thing is that uh a leveled parking structure will bring with it crime. Crime we don't need in Anaheim Hills. It's an attraction for it will immediately become a catalytic converter theft superstore. It's a a location for uh drug abuse. These are common problems in leveled parking structures. And what happens is it's nobody's problem. the the building operator, the the the management company for the apartment complex, they simply take the position of, well, park at your own risk and we take no liability. And so, what problem is it? It's the problem of everybody who has to have a place to park in that apartment complex and now their property is at risk and the community is at risk as a result of um what that kind of structure attracts. So, uh, I think you've heard and I certainly agree with the comments made earlier about safety, but in addition to that, simply the development doesn't fit. Furthermore, the idea that the fact that there was a theater there before and that somehow the traffic and vehicle quantity of the

apartment complex will be equivalent to the movie theater. That's ludicrous. Yeah, that doesn't that doesn't hold water in any way, shape, or form. A a theater that's open 12 hours a day is somehow going to generate the same level of vehicle traffic as an apartment complex where there are cars located there 24 by7. Sorry, I do not agree. Please vote no.

Our next speaker Hi everyone. Um, usually I'm pretty bubbly and pretty nice, but tonight I think we're going to address a topic that's a little bit different than the usual regarding transparency, accountability, and what's been going on when it comes to new housing builds. In going through the public calendars, I found of each of the council members and the mayor, everyone included that's seated up here, there's someone that's not seated who is also mentioned uh who is in the stepped away. I'd like that record noted. But I'd like to say, thank you for joining us, that the calendars, your guys' calendars, just briefly looking from 2024 to 2026, the calendars, I've already found multiple errors, key players that were missed. Like, how do you forget that your city attorney, your city attorney was at an event you went to? How do you forget that Kurt Pringle, the former may disgraced mayor who's also a huge lobbyist with Kurt Pringle and Associates, was at an event. I find it very suspicious that this project came in with very little knowledge. And if I want you to look over here to my left, your right, where are the carpenters? That every major vote, the carpenters fill this building to get a yes vote. I have legitimate concerns about about their absence. And there was a call on January 26. Some of the people in front of me did meet it did write it on their calendars. Some disclosed part of the attendees that included the carpenters and some did not even mention

the carpenters in their meeting or that they had a secondary meeting. With that, I want to say that it's very interesting to me that uh Kurt Pring Associates has three different associates that are lobbyists that have close ties with a lot of people. When we first met up for this city, this project, a lot of the city council members or I'm sorry, there were it was they had met with the developers, the carpenters, and a handful of lobbyists, but very few residents in the beginning. It seems like we're walking into something that's previously been built. You know, I do want to point out on the calendars, too. It is go doesn't just go here. It goes to the planning commission because I saw several key contacts from the developers. They reached out to seven different planning commission members within days of the vote that that voted yes for this project. And yet, four out of those seven responded to them. And three out of those four that responded voted for the project. Also, in looking at it, I can that's just me just starting to look, but I'm just gonna say that I think there's some a lot of corruption that's possibly still going on. Some we need to look into Curtain Pringle and Associates and Tom Daly cuz their ter their uh their lobbying got cancelled as soon as they lost the Deer Canyon proposal. It's a very interesting time. Their contract terminated.

Have our next speaker step forward. Following this speaker, we have Grace McGee and Brian McGee.

Good evening, Mayor Aken and members of the council. I'm Dr. Rick Moyer. I am a retired physician. My entire career as well as the whole practice of medicine is based on clinical trials and weighing risks versus benefits. My wife and I have lived here in Anaheim Hills for 31 years. We are survivors of the 2017 Canyon 2 fire. I am here tonight asking you to vote against the festival center project because the safety risks outweigh the benefits. Absolutely.

Let let's recap a few things and you've received several emails from me. By all accounts, the 2017 Canyon 2 fire evacuation was a total failure. ABC News was actually here on site and described the evacu the evacuation on Sorrano as absolute gridlock. During the evacuation, some of the residents have reported to you that it took 3 hours to travel what normally takes 15 minutes. Other residents reported that they had to abandon their vehicles due to safety issues. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in fire evacuations and that is due to gridlock and bottlenecks and this is sometimes referred to as death traps. Smoke contains carbon monoxide and when it's inhaled that carbon monoxide gets in the bloodstream and then displaces the oxygen molecules from the red blood cells. A condition that we call hypoxmia or low blood oxygen ensues. Patients get a little people get giddy at first but then they get very fatigued and they can pass out and become unconscious when this this occurs. These death traps occurred in Lahina and Paradise fires. We do not want that here in Anaheim Hills. save us.

Over the past few years, we've seen uh an a market increase in the cut through traffic uh the commuter traffic that causes unacceptable travel delays and gridlock on Serrano and Santa Ana Canyon. According to the due deck report, the festival center project will add time to a fire evacuation in the vicinity of the project. However, that report does not mention the effect of the project on evacuation times of other areas of Anaheim Hills. And due to the geography of Anaheim Hills, we will always be subject to wind-driven fires that are complicated by embers that can travel up to five miles. These ember fires ignite rapidly. Sir, I'm sorry, your time is up.

Challenge firefighters. Tonight, you have to decide. Are you going to vote in favor of human time is up? the residents of Anaheim Hills or in favor of a development. Thank you, sir. I'm sorry. Your three minutes is up. Our next speaker.

Hello again, council. I ask you to please vote no on the festival project. I feel approving 447 units at this particular location would be negligent of the city council as this location is in a known very high fire severity zone that has well doumented threehour badly bottlenecked evacuation times. The overlook senior apartments behind the existing theater site have at least 300 seniors living there. How are they going to evacuate a fire with an additional 1,200 cars exiting ahead of them onto the one lane each way Festival Drive Road and then try to merge onto what will already be a log jammed Santa Ana Canyon Road. And how about the nearly 200 students at the Tutor Time Child Care Center next to the 24-hour fitness? How are they going to get out? And how about the residents in the existing 300 plus homes in the East Hills tract that is directly behind Tutor Time and Target. They have repeatedly stated that they could evacuate no further than the festival center in the last big Canyon 2 fire and the know your way plan has not adequately addressed this huge evacuation issue in this area. Furthermore, it is very unreasonable to think the festival center is even a safe place to shelter during a fire when big commercial properties and grocery stores burn to the ground in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. As I stated last month, what has changed

for the council to now support the festival project when just 16 months ago you voted against the Deer Canyon project due to wildfire and evacuation concerns? Nothing has changed except thousands of homes burned in two Southern California neighborhoods in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. And did you know 80% of the homes that burned in Eladena weren't even in a designated very high fire severity zone like they were before the 2025 fire. Anaheim's already designated as this because we've had so many fires. And those Altadena homes weren't even sitting in the worldrenowned Santa Ana Canyon, known for having 70 m an hour plus wind events every single year.

And Anaheim Hills is an area known for having multiple large wildfires, three in just the last 17 years with over 400 homes burned to the ground. And this project is one mile away. Vote no. Please vote no. Our next speaker. Our next speaker, Brian McGee, followed by Doug Hill and Tammy Hill. Safety first.

Good evening. Uh this morning I was reading an article from the LA Times from a little over a year ago, uh February 25 of 2025 titled Evacuations Failed, Lessons Learned from California's deadliest fire. It was actually talking about the campfire up in uh Little Paradise, California, where 85 people died in November of 2018. The winds drove those flames 100 yards per second. We have stronger winds and a drier climate. It'll be worse. I've heard that systems are in place. Altadena had systems in place. Their wireless evacuation alerts were sent nine hours after the fire broke out, resulting in 19 deaths, all from people in the area that did not receive those notifications. Palisades had 12 deaths in a low density area. We're much more dense out in the the hills. You don't put out a fire by pouring gas on it. And you don't decrease evacuation times by adding high density housing at the choke point of the canyon. There are better options available. The the ju just just as an aside, I I I thought, you know, the the old Kaiser hospital would be a great place for it. Move those offices out by the festival, put the housing right next to the freeway at the at Lake View. There we go.

A a physician's first responsibility is to do no harm. You know, please think about what your responsibilities are to the citizens that are living in the area.

Two weeks ago, there was a traffic accident at La Palma and uh where Canyon Boulevard. Uh, I live right behind where this proposed development is going to be and I was trying to get down to Home Depot and I was parked underneath the freeway waiting to try to get through that one light at the off-ramp. It took me four cycles of the light just to go through there and that that was just during a normal commute because of one traffic accident. Do you think that there might be some traffic accidents when the entire community is trying to evacuate? That the cars might run out of gas creating more problems than what you would, you know, the ERRI uh uh report, EIR report uh considered. Uh please do the the citizens right and don't approve this project. Thank you. Our next two speakers, Doug Hill, Tammy Hill.

Good evening, Mayor Akens and council members. Uh, I've been up here several times basically almost feeling like a broken record, but it's this needs to be heard. You are elected representatives. You were elected to represent us.

As your as rep as you represent us, your first obligation is to protect us. You've heard testimony tonight from several people who have experienced fire evacuation, even physicians who have explained what these burning chemicals and gases can do to the human body. How is it possible you would vote for something that puts us in this type of danger? Really consider that.

You need to save us. I've lived in Anaheim for 30 years. I've had to evacuate twice. Once in 2007, took us two hours to get out. In 200 I'm sorry, in 2008. In 2017, it took 3 hours to get out. Based on that time frame, I'm going to assume it's going to take us 4 hours to get out now. And that's probably without this new development. Anaheim Hills was not originally um made to to take this dense housing into consideration. There's one way out for me and that's down my street to Sana Canyon and make a left in order to get away from the fire. No one's going to go east. Everyone's going west. Your know your way is ridiculous. We all know the way out. It's away from the fire. And no one's going to wait for my zone to be called. I'm going to get in there and evacuate my family, my pets, my precious items, and go. I'm not going to wait for someone to say, "Okay, it's your turn." That doesn't happen that way. When people panic, they move quickly. They do what they have to, and it's every man for himself, basically. It's it's it's a shame to say it, but that's really what it comes down to. So for for you to expect us to get in line or wait for someone to say go or pick up a phone and say, "Hey, can you can you go rescue my parents? There are this, you know, they're they're they're invalidates and they can't get out." That's not going to happen, Natalie. We had this conversation about, "Oh, you you can call the police and they'll go get your f your folks." No, they won't. That you I'll be on hold for two hours while we all burn.

You need to listen to us. We've been through it. Please do not allow this development to take place. Councilman Leon, Councilman Curts, you guys voted for salt, but look at the look at what the community says. We don't want it. We don't need it. Save us. Protect us from this travesty of dense housing in a high fired danger area. Thank you. Our next speaker, Tammy Hill, followed by Charles Boutini, Julian Navaro, Mayor Aken, Council, thank you very much for this opportunity to speak tonight. Um, I know you've heard a lot of different stories. Um, I know you all speak and believe on the know your way. Um, I was at one of the community meetings and I did pick up all the flyers for Know Your Way and I was reviewing them. Um, little off topic, but I'm originally from the Midwest and I'm familiar with tornadoes. When I first moved out here to California, I was unclear of what all these firestorms were. And anybody coming from where I came from, you would just assume as you would on these zones that the fire would just blanket across just like a vacuum on a carpet. But it doesn't. When wind is involved, it's like a tornado. And anybody that's ever been in a tornado realizes it can jump from place to place to place. So trying to say that we're going to exit zone one. I'm in zone nine. Deer Canyon is my backyard. So I have to wait for eight

other zones to be evacuated before I get the go-ahad. I'm here to tell you right now I would break the law because I'm not going to wait for that. Absolutely. Out of there. I did some of the math and I understand having a plan. So within our community, we have about 19,800 residents. In zone one, Running Springs Elementary would need nine buses to evacuate the children because in the plan, it states that no parent can go get their child. The buses will come in and get them. Right.

Zone three, Anaheim Hills Elementary would need 6.5 buses. Zone 4, Canyon Hills Elementary, 7.3. Zone 9, El Rancho, would need 16. Zone 11, Canyon Hills High would need 31 buses. Zone 12, Null Ranch would need 7.8 buses. Crescent Elementary and zone 14 would need 11.77. And zone 15 would need 7.1. This is a total of 97 buses. I looked up how many buses Orange has. Anaheim Unified School District. We have 90. So, we're seven short. Also, you need to have a certain certification to be a bus driver. Do we have 97 certified bus drivers on the ready to pick up these students in the event that this fire would happen during when kids are in school. We also have 11 senior care facilities. We were told in this plan not to worry our ambulance and and paramedics would come get them. We have seven ambulances in the Anaheim City area. Seven. We have over 250 per facility. Please think about what we're doing. Please figure out a way to your time structure so that way we can all get out safely and live in our community. Thank you. Hi, thank you for your time. I'm Charles Berdikini. I'm a resident of Anaheim Hills. I've listened to 30 people come up here who are way smarter than I am giving some really good information to you and I hope you're absorbing it and taking it. Uh, I will show you what a dummy I am.

I've lived in Anaheim Hills for 40 years and I have no idea what know your way is. I have no idea. I've never heard of it. I sat here and people told me I live in the Bowler Country Hill Loop area and if you say we dropped off brochures, I check my mail every day and I didn't get it. Number two, the you've had experts talk, show you why we can absorb this. There's been changes and all this. My experts are different. Like I said, you're dealing with a dummy here. My experts are Mercury insurance, all state insurance, State Farm insurance, travelers insurance. None of them will insure my house. I've lived here for 40 years. I can't get insurance. I have insurance from Bob's insurance that's behind a 7-Eleven in Phoenix, Arizona somewhere. If they won't, if they don't think my house is insurable because of fire, that's the reason they give. It's a fire danger. They've figured out that my house is in danger of burning to the ground. Now I don't know what your experts are but my experts say we won't insure you. The other is why is there this turnout? We keep doing this over and over and over again. Why do we keep doing it? It's obvious that these people are scared. They're scared because they've lived through it. They've they've lived through sitting in traffic trying to get out and not able to. Everyone has their own story. Mine is my wife was over

shopping. The fire was coming. I had to tell her, she called me. I said, "Get out of the car and start walking because she says the car is not nothing's moving. I'm going to die in my car." Gridlock.

Exactly. So, people have been traumatized. They don't want to be the next Paradise. They don't want to be the next Maui. They don't want to be the uh next Palisades. We don't want to be the on that list. Anaheim doesn't want to be on that list. I don't want to be on that list. I don't want to be on a list that shows those dead in the fire. The bottom line, the other thing is, sir, I'm sorry your time is up. We keep spending, Anaheim keeps spending money on flawed research. Sir, I'm sorry. When are we going to be done? Please vote no.

Our next speaker.

Our next speaker, take a step forward. Julian Navaro, followed by Uh good evening, mayor and council. Uh my name is Julian Navaro. I've lived in Anaheim for 22 years of my life. Um I'm a full-time uh student at San College and I also work for full-time at an aerospace company. Um I think everyone in this room can agree that Anaheim Hills is arguably one of the nicest cities in all of Anaheim. follow. All right. Anaheim Hills is place with a bunch of nice views, place where everybody likes to go. Um just it's a lot which is why um I believe um they should allow building new homes because of thoughtful growth. It is necessary uh for the city to remain economically strong, socially balanced, and prepared for the future. Over the past several years, housing demand throughout Orange County has continued to rise while supply has struggled to keep up, leading to higher home prices and limited options for families who want to stay in the community that they grew up in. By permitting responsible residential development in Anaheim Hills, the city can help relieve pressure on the local housing market, making it more realistic for teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other working professionals to live closer to where they work instead of commuting long distances. This not only improves quality of life for residents but also reduces traffic contestation, congestion and vehicle emissions, supporting environmental sustainability goals. In addition, new home construction simulates the local economy um economy by creating jobs in construction, engineering, architecture, landscaping, and related industries. These projects generate permit fees and increase property tax revenue that can help be rein re um invested into public

service such as schools, parks, and maintenance and and emergency responses. As infrastructure ages, cities need a growing tax base to maintain and upgrade essential systems and carefully plan development uh can provide that funding without raising taxes on existing residents. Allowing new homes also gives the city an opportunity to require modern building standards that prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation, and fire resistant materials, which are especially important in hillside communities. Newer homes are typically built with updated safety codes and environmentally friendly designs that are more sustainable than many older properties. Furthermore, creating a variety of housing types such as smaller single home single family homes or well-designed town homes can help young f uh families enter the housing market and allow older residents to downsize while staying in the neighborhood that they love. Without new development, communities risk becoming financially and demographically stagnant with fewer young residents to support local businesses and schools. When growth is guided by smart planning, community input, and environmental review, it does not have to mean overdevelopment or loss of character. Instead, it can enhance the area's long-term stability. Anime Hills has historically been known for scenic views, quality neighborhoods, and strong sense of community, and responsible expansion can preserve those values while adapting to modern needs. Ultimately, allowing new homes at Anaheim Hills is not about unchecked expansion, but balancing preservation. Vote yes.

Our next speaker, Absol. Following the speaker, we have Anthony Adams. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Please begin.

Hi, I'm Abzo. I'm 22 years old and a recent college graduate. Um, grew up in Anaheim. My family is here. Uh, my memories are here. This city is home to me. Right now, I'm starting my career as a full-time IT specialist. And like many people my age, I want to take the next step in life. I want to move out of my parents' home, stand my home, stand on my own feet, and build my future just like many of you were able to. But I want to build that future here in Anaheim. The the reality is that housing here has become so expensive that for many young people, staying here feels impossible. Many residents had the cha chance to buy homes years ago when prices were lower. My generation just wants that same chance. Every young person dreams of the day they can unlock the door to a place they worked for and call it their own. More housing in Anaheim Hills means opportunity. Opportunity to say, opportunity to work here. Opportunity to build our lives here. We grew up here. We work here. We want to live here. Vote yes.

Our next speaker. Our next speaker, Anthony Adams, followed by Aaron.

Excuse me, folks. Please, if we could try to respect the speakers that are uh their turn. Good afternoon. My name is Anthony Adams. Uh, I recently graduated from Cal State University of Long Beach, and this is the stepping stone to the next chapter of my life. I'm not saying this for myself, but I'm also advocating for people my age as well, especially the ones I grew up here. Um, went to school here and want to build a new life here. So, right now, housing costes are at an all-time high. Um, and options keep shrieking. For young adults trying to start out, that means delaying independence, commuting further, or leaving the city altogether, which is a whole mess. We need housing. This project gives people in my position or in any position. A real place to start. It adds options, supports local jobs, and helps this next generation stay in the community we all call home. So therefore, I'm asking and begging for you guys. Please support this project so young residents like myself can have a fair shot at building their future here. Vote yes. And thank you. our next speaker.

He can't even find his way back to his seat. Good evening, council. Uh,

first and foremost, you know, want to say thank you to you guys for sitting here and taking all this, you know, our our comments and it's a lot of burden on you guys. Uh, God bless you guys. I'm for the project. Um, we had a lot of people come up here and talk about the pros and the cons. And mainly it's it's all about fire safety. Fire safety that just keeps being thrown out there. Um, I don't mean to offend anyone with this, but I mean, we we live here and we've known about the fire hazard and we say, you know, hey, this should be a no-brainer for you guys, but yet we can't even make that decision on our on ourselves to move out of the area for the sake of our lives. We're still living there. We're still living there and we're still risking our lives. But yet, here we come. We come here and we try to blame it on you guys. Come on. It's it's our own decision making.

So, vote yes in the project. Folks, please. I know I listen. I know this is an issue that brings up a lot of emotions, but let's try to please be respectful so that everyone has a chance to express themselves. Vote vote yes on the project. U there's still there's about half a million students graduating every year in Southern California. Those students need a a place to live. They want to grow. They want to move out. So, vote yes. God bless you guys. God bless you guys.

Our next our next speaker, Angler Fish Phelps. Our next speaker, if they can please step forward. Angler Fish Phelps is Mr. Fish Phillips. Fish Phelps. Here, Mr. Fish Phelps. We'll go to our next speaker. Um, Andrea. Andrea Phelps. And then Mr. Tim James.

I apologize you guys. Uh, I was just dying laughing over there and I didn't even see my name. I just That was comedy. Pure comedy. All right. Uh, thank you guys for listening to us tonight. We appreciate you very much. Um, Council Member Meeks, you have indicated you approve of the development of the festival because you have a great deal of faith and know your way. We've spoken many times about that. I'm here to tell you the rest of the city council that you shouldn't have faith in know your way. I recently attended district 6 uh open house meeting. My wife and I are eager uh to get clarification on major shortcomings of know your way. Since its creation, we have wondered on how we would be notified what was our zones, the time to evacuate. My wife and I have read Know Your Way, the information on the city website, and attend multiple open houses and meetings regarding Know Your Way and the info that was never provided. At recent open house, we've got a notification that you would start with boots on the ground and instructions being given over bullhorns by police and fire personnel. There are not enough boots on the ground to simultaneously make announcements up and down each street in any particular zone, knocking on doors, blocking roads, leading to active fire areas into the city of Orange. Block entrances of the 91 freeway and keep zones from being evacuated. on overcrowded streets. But don't worry, there's another step to Anaheim's plan. Notifications through the Anaheim alert system. Wait, what? Why is there no mention of Anaheim alert system on the Know Your Way website or any accompanying flyers at the open house or at any of the Know Your Way meetings? I bet I know why. Because Anaheim alert system is clunky, hard to navigate, not reliable as an effective effective communication tool. First, in order to

sign up for Anaheim Alert, you have to download an app, allow the app to track your location, then you have to specify that you want to be included in Anaheim's specific alert system because the app Everbridge is run by a third party and host to multiple notification services. Even though the last thing I want is another app tracking me, I downloaded and signed up. After everything was set, I went to close the window and got a message. Don't swipe to close. keep your act app to ensure full functionality. So, you're telling me that I have to constantly run the app to ensure that I will receive notifications. That's insane. We were informed that notifications with Anaheim Alert will be followed up with notifications on social media. In order to be notified through social media, you would first need to use social media. However, follow Anaheim and I guess constantly check Anaheim social media for updates while you were or loading your vehicle with your family, your pets, your supplies, your valuables, and checking on neighbors. So, it turns out the entire successfulness of know your way, a zoned evacuation is a fact of fallacy. There is no dep dependable plan. Is it up,

sir? Yes. I'm sorry, sir. Please up. Thank you very much. Our next speaker following this speaker, we have Tim J. Tim James.

I urge the city council not to approve the festival center project in its current form. If built, the dense housing project will result in a parking nightmare that will effectively cut off access to festival to anyone who does not live on property. Let's talk about the parking structure. 954 spaces. Of those spaces, 781 will be for residents via gated entry. The the development calls for 447 units. Let's conservatively assume that there are 800 resident vehicles. That means that at least 20 resident cars will need to park somewhere else, but we all know residents are not the only ones parking in the structure. The structure calls for 107 spots for guests. That means that there are only park there's only parking for less than onethird of the residents to have a guest at any one time. G guess where all those extra guests and residents are going to park? You guessed it, the measly 66 parking spots available for patrons. Also, keep in mind that the surface parking that is also marked for potential renters and patrons will have to contain all of the disabled parking spots for the retail area around Wood Ranch because the structure is too far from the retailers. The strip of 30 parking spots behind 24-hour fitness meant for patrons will inevitably be used as overflow parking for g residents, guests, and staff. At the previous city council meeting, it was stated that a parking survey conducted at six properties owned by the developer found that the average occupied rate was 1.87 spaces per unit. It was stated by city staff that the festival project exceeds that threshold by providing 2.0 zero spaces per unit. This isn't true. It's only true if you include the parking spots that are not designated for residents. The true number is only 1.75 spaces per unit, which is below the average occupied rate when only the

resident parking is considered. City staff also indicated there would be a parking management plan implemented by a developer as a condition of approval to ensure balanced parking for the residents, guests, and patrons. What are the details of this plan? How is it implemented? How is it enforced? Another condition of approval should be an evacuation plan specifically for the residents and the guests of the development. The residents and the guests will effectively have to evacuate twice. once from the building, the multi-level apartment building, and again from the parking structure. My brother and sister-in-law live very close to Sha's mixeduse development in Cyprus. I have personally attempted to visit restaurants and shops in the retail portion with them, and only once when we were eating dinner close to 900 p.m. were we able to find a parking spot. Please don't turn festival into an overly packed traffic nightmare that can only be enjoyed by the residents who live there. Please recommend substantially fewer units to this project.

Our next three speakers, Tim James, Anthony Alero, Irma Ramirez. Council members and Mayor Tim James on behalf of the California Groceries Association speaking about the selfch checkckout ordinance. So, we'll uh move a little bit uh to a different subject. Uh unfortunately, uh tonight's discussion on the selfch checkckout at Grocery is at best a partial conversation, definitely an incomplete one. Not one council member, including the authors or any city staff, chose to reach out to Anaheim Grocerers to make them aware or to discuss selfch checkckout. Whether intentional or not, this situation appears that council and the city have minimal respect for the grocery industry by pursuing regulation without their knowledge or input. We ask council to hold off from providing direction until grocerers have been engaged. Had council or staff engaged ger uh engaged grocerers, you would know that the regulation of selfch checkout is a failed policy experiment. You would know it has resulted in removal of selfch checkout due to overregulation and uncontrolled enforcement. You would know data shows it has no impact on retail theft with selfch checkout being the least likely place for theft. You would know employees are already fully protected from incidents in stores and are prohibited from engaging in retail theft situations. You would know that UFCW and its members have already ratified a collective bargaining agreement just months ago addressing selfch checkout. And you would know consumers increasingly seek out selfch checkout for its convenience. And it's and it is an important component for brick andmortar grocerers to stay competitive. Instead, you chose not to engage

grocerers, chose to not understand how grocerers operate selfch checkout, and chose to not review both the data and real world impacts of this policy. Please give grocerers the respect they deserve. Learn from the data and policy experience and do not move this pol policy forward until you engaged and listened to Anaheim Grocerers. We hope to work in partnership with you all in the future. Thank you. Our next three speakers, Anthony Elsuro, Irma Ramirez, and Janet.

Good evening, council. My name is Anthony and I'm here to give you the perspective of the festival project through the eyes of a young person.

It is no secret that we are currently living in a day and age in which affordability is at the forefront of many minds, especially those of young Americans. I have lived here in and around this area my entire life. I exist almost entirely within it. My home, my work, my friends, my entertainment, my peace of mind, all of it resides here. This is my home. However, due to the state of the world and the optics of the future, which are very bleak, I am many others cannot reasonably foresee myself being able to sustain myself even remotely near my own home. I am 24 years old. I work a good, highpaying job, and yet I still live with my parents. This is not by choice, but by circumstance. I do not want this for myself, nor for anyone else. And yet, this has become the unfortunate reality for those countless young people my age. Projects like the festival project represent hope and potential for me and many others I've spoken to. This is one of few opportunities we have to be able to reasonably afford to sustain ourselves within this area that we call home. I understand this project poses potential safety issues as many of these men and women behind me have vocalized and it is concern which the city genuinely needs to look into. Improving the infrastructure in evacuation methods is genuinely a real concern and something that must be improved. I do not want to move into somewhere that will burn because you did not plan accordingly. These things should not be taken lightly, but neither should the lives and well-being of people my age and many others. Anaheim Hills has a phenomenal school system, large amounts of cultural

diversity, and the quality of life that most people deserve to experience without needing an inheritance or to be extraordinarily wealthy. Voting no on this feels as though the residents are trying to gatekeep this wonderful area and lifestyle. I would encourage the board to move forward with this project as I and many other young people say yes. Thank you. Our next speaker Ramirez is Miss Ramirez here. If not, it is Janet.

Oh, thank you. Sorry. And then Janet and then Juan Carlos.

Good evening, council members. My name is Irma Ramirez. I have been an Anaheim resident for over 35 years. During that time, I have seen development on the flat lands nonstop. However, there has been no meaningful development in District 6 for decades. Now, it is time for district equity and for Anaheim residents to finally see future in Anaheim Hills. Please vote yes on Anaheim Hills Festival Project. Thank you. Our next speaker, Janet.

Janet, if you could step forward. Our next speaker then, Juan Carlos. Is Janet. Hi. Hi. My name is Janette and I'm um here because I do approve the festival. baby.

Um, no, I'm not from Ponder Rosa and I think and people are discriminating us because everything has been built in the flat land and not because we're of color, we cannot a uh we can't live over there. So it should be equal opportunity and the people here are saying um note because of the fire there's families that want uh that want to come and and live up there as well because of the because of the education um because of the safety and also um well district 3 for example we had um some a developer wanting u they came to do um they wanted to do a uh like building or stuff. People voted against it and uh the city still approved it. District five, they did the same thing and people still uh uh we uh there was a lot of people that uh were against it and people and people and and the council still approved it. So, it's equal opportunity for all. And I think the festival is a good option for people to stop commuting for two to three hours a day when they come to work over here. And thank you.

Our next speaker, our next speaker. Oh, and the people here are being very disrespectful because we're not I'm not getting paid. I'm just And I just feel discriminated. I feel discriminated because of how the people are acting. listen everybody.

This is getting a bit out of hand. When we come up and we listen to your concerns about what's going on in your neighborhoods, we don't allow anyone to scream at you. We don't allow allow anyone to yell at you. and we try to foster community in this chamber. And what is going on right now is absolutely ridiculous. You wouldn't act like this in church. You wouldn't act like this in your own home. So why are you treating your neighbors, fellow Anaheim residents, like this? It's just not polite. And I think we can all do a little bit better. I want to hear what you have to say, but I also want to hear the opinion of people that may not agree with you. So, if we can please try to be respectful. I know it's a hot button issue. I get it. But this is not the way to move forward. Thank you. Please go on.

Uh good evening everybody. Um, I just want to say I'm a I truly support the house tackling the house uh issue and I go I I go yes on um the fiesta uh uh project because there's a lot of us that or a lot of our kids are not going to be able to stay here with us in California. They have to end up leaving. And yes, I understand everybody else with their issues, but guess what? When you're growing, there's always issues and we got to resolve them. That's it. That's all I got to say.

Our next speaker, Gio Ceil, what time is your bus? Ceil, what time is your bus? We're just gonna let Cecile come forward. Go. Do you want to speak? Ceil Cecil Cecil do you want to speak? Yeah. Why don't you just come on up? We fixing to find out the reports I have about Disney

and for the 1955 when it all started. We fixing to find out what satanic parts, what sexual part, and what uh drug part of Disney because they used to grow marijuana coast in uh

in Colorado. They used to make cocaine and we fix to find out in the subal messes and in the satanic part of it. We fix to find out what's really wrong and what's proof I have with the police department. And the chief's going to help me prepare myself for court for this matter. I don't want you get involved in something that you know not of spiritually. We fixing to find out what that's going on and how far I've got. I got about 70 pages of it and I found an a package of notebooks that I had from Tom Tate and I'm gonna go back through those. It's about five of them or something like that in a bag I was toing around of uh of Target and I'm going to go through those notes one more time and it's talking about sex trafficking most of it and who got arrested and things of that nature. We fixing to find out what makes you safe in the in doing the reports on Gene Arrey way. When we rebuild Disney on Gene Arreyway, we're going to have a court order to do it right and we fixing to find out how that's going to come about. They going to prepare me for court on this matter. Mayor, you I'm getting in something. I'm hope I know what I'm doing in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And I pray for your safety on that matter. Thank you, Cecil. Cuz them little smiles out there means a lot to me. Them child smiles means a lot to me. Okay, you prepare yourself for this matter. Thank you, Cecil. We call the next person. Our next speaker, Gio Gampero. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your Thank you for your patience. I appreciate that.

Uh good evening, mayor and council members. Um my name is Gio and I live here and work in Orange County. And I'm a I'm a designer. In my professional life, I work on developments very similar to the one before you tonight. and I've attended many city council meetings across the county. So, I understand that projects like this can raise real concerns for neighbors. People worry about parking spilling into their nearby streets, about additional traffic, about privacy when buildings are taller than what they're used to seeing. And here in Anaheim Hills, there are also understandable concerns about wildfire risk and whether firefighters can reach people quickly when it matters most. And I want to acknowledge that concern directly, but I'm not here in a position to make a technical judgment about the fire analysis for this project. But I do trust the city uh the city's planning staff and the fire marshall. We need to trust them whose job is to evaluate those risks carefully to ensure that any project moving forward meets the safety standards our community relies on. Good planning isn't about ignoring concerns like these. It's about evaluating them responsibly and designing projects that address them. In my own work, I see physical side I see the physical side of development. How buildings shape streets and public spaces. But through my work with Habitat for Humanity, I also see the human side of housing every day. I meet families who work here, whose children go to school here, and who want nothing more than to stay close to their communities. Yet many tell us they're slowly being pushed farther farther away like these guys are saying because they simply cannot find housing they can they can afford in places they love and they grow up because of their experience. I tend to look at projects not not just as policy proposals but but as places that will shape daily life for decades. From that perspective these redevelopment

makes sense. Today, this site is dominated by large surface parking lots and aging commercial buildings that are inactive much of the day and lifeless at night. Replacing that condition with housing, structured parking and thoughtful l landscape design reduces large areas of exposed asphalt, introduces meaningful tree cover and creates a place people actually live and live in rather than pass through. Architecturally, the proposal restores a sense of human scale that the existing mall buildings simply don't have. Big box commercial structures are designed to be seen from a parking lot not experienced up close. This development uses residential proportions, articulation, and landscaping to create street edges that feel lived in rather than left over. I also appreciate that the proposal brings new life to existing commercial buildings that today lack identity, creating a more cohesive relationship between residential and retail uses and a visual continuity that makes the entire center feel intentional rather than peace meal. So since I am done

sir I'm sorry your time is up. I ask you to vote yes for this project. Our next speaker, Ronnie Vaneir, followed by Sophie Nadell.

Good evening. I came here today to speak about a problem that I'm having at my own house. And uh to hear all these people speak about this, I felt really entitled to get up and share my input of I live across the street from Colony Park that was built as a lowinccome. There is no parking. We don't have fire dangers, but we have a parking issue. We have a speeding issue. And nobody's taking any accountability for it. And I think that is outrageous.

Mayor, you said you listen to us. Why don't you get off your phones and implement something where the council members have to look us in the eyes rather than looking on their computers, writing love notes, or doing anything else? You work for me. You listen.

Yep. Now, back to my agenda. My house, my wall was crashed into by a car coming out that didn't stop at a stop sign. The city council member would now tell me that I cannot build a wall or fix my wall that I had there prior. It's I should be grandfathered in. I should not have to match those condos. I lived in that house since 2009 before any of those condos were built. Excuse me. They should match me, not me. Match them. Yeah.

Secondly, Natalie Rubicara, I think it's very unprofessional and thank you for helping me out during Christmas. But when a resident reaches out to you, an email, a text form, and lets you know that there's been numerous accidents which people have gotten hurt and only response you have, I'll look into it. I think that's a bunch of crap. Just like you're not giving these people the body cam. That's right.

You are the one that can make it happen and you're dropping the ball. I think you guys should all be disgraced of yourselves. You got a lot of people in here upset and nobody's listening to none of them. You're on your phone. You're writing messages. You're getting up. You're walking out. How do you know what we're saying when you're not in that chair? How do you not know what's going on? They've had Pacific Palisades. Live by that example. Hawaii had a fire. Live by that example. Altadena had a fire. Live by that example. Every single situation was houses where houses shouldn't be as bulky and as big as you guys are trying to put them there in Anaheim Hills. It does not belong. Shame on you guys.

This is my first time coming to a a meeting and I felt really touched to get up on behalf of these people I don't even know. I lost my wife three years ago and I will not lose my children because you guys refuse to protect my children or the safety or the concerns in that neighborhood rather than sit there and say it's a car speeding. It's their fault. Do something about it. You put speed bumps on the other hand on the other side of Anaheim Boulevard. Do something. You said there's a park, no crosswalks. It's not a city park. That's a private park. It's patrolled by the park rangers. It's a city park. do something.

Our next speaker, our next speaker.

Hi. I would like to thank the council for their patience and uh kindness tonight. Um, I'd like to start by saying I was a student at Villa Park during the tumultuous fires of 2018 and I do remember the fear and the stress while that went on. So, I also went to Null Canyon Elementary. I've been in this neighborhood and community for a long time. And I also understand that in the years since we've had extensive resources piled into the county from Orange County Fire Authority, from Calire, and the Anaheim Fire Station. So, it's been a lot of funding and preventative measures to prevent those instances from occurring again. But when I moved back to Orange County from college, it has become unaffordable. And the houses my grandparents and my parents bought are now close to a million dollars when they bought them for 20% of that cost. The cost of living is constantly accelerating with health insurance rising, groceries, and gas prices. And to be able to afford a home where I grew up is now no more than a pipe dream. Creating affordable housing would be investing in our future and our next generation. and to give access to a great place to live such as Anaheim Hills where there's great schools, a great community, and fresh groceries would be making sure that the next generation of children is given the same opportunities that people my age and older had. So, please invest in your community from the ground up by voting yes on this affordable housing. Our next speaker,

Julie, do what's right. Hi. I hate this more than anything, but it's my life that I'm fighting for. And I I really hope you are all listening, paying attention. Uh I have a word to say to these young people. This project does not include any affordable housing. It has Okay.

I just I just I'm just saying it includes 10% moderate income housing, which is in now almost $108,000 a year. I feel terrible for all you young people. I have two 30somes that are never going to own a home. I understand that. It's it's heartbreaking. Okay, that but if you think this is going to be affordable apartments, you're not correct. I just want to tell you that. Um

I um I I feel bad for them. I really do. Um Miss Meeks, I want to say one thing to you when you made a comment at the January meeting that it's not an infrastructure problem. We have plenty of it. But according to your safety element that uh was updated due to get your housing element secured. All you did was identify neighborhoods that have only one exit. You just identified them. Nothing has been done about them. We can't get out of them because of the gridlock situation that we're trying to get into. We're going to burn up in there. So you've identified them as problems, infrastructure problems. You have done nothing to eliminate them. That needs to be done first. First and foremost, because I can't get I live in one of those. I can't get out. I back Deer Canyon. I'm going to burn. Uh it's very important also to note that your wind um the wind studies, they're insufficient. Those winds up there, they blow my patio furniture across the yard into the neighbor's yard. We're talking extreme wind here. We're not talking about a little breeze and those I'm surrounded U-shape with dry brush that it's it's going to kill me. In my go bag, I have a respirator mask because I think that I will die from smoke inhilation as you heard an expert talk about tonight. That's my fear and it's real. Um, push back is different when it's life-threatening as opposed to being something you don't want in your backyard or something that you don't like because it's an inconvenience or it's traffic or I want

something else. This is really serious. I've been trying to fight this problem for over a decade before Deer Deer Canyon Park project before festival. Nobody at the city is listening. We have water problems up where I live. We don't have insufficient pipe. We have insufficient time is up. Anyways, thank you for hearing me out. I hope you're really paying attention to all this because it's a matter of life and death. Sorry, your three minutes are up.

Mayor and city council, that concludes our speakers on agenda items. We have 12 speakers that are general comments. Would you like to move forward with those, mayor? NO. YES. We feel discriminated. Sorry. Move forward um with the 12 comments, please. And our next speaker, Leslie Lopez, Carla Lopez, and Christina Lopez.

Hello, my name is Lassie Lopez, and I am here in support of my cousin, Albert Arzola. Last week after the city council meeting, I went to go pick up the so-called suspects that your officers detained the night that they murdered my cousin. Those suspects were a seven-year-old and a 5-year-old. Our plan was to simply take them out for ice cream. When I arrived to my cousin's house, a police car drove by, flasher high beams at the start of the property and turn them off at the end. If you ask me, that is harassment and to inflict fear so we stop attending these meetings. I believe anyone else would feel the same way. According to the Anaheim Police Department website and their crime mapping tool, there has been there has not been reported crime on that street in over 6 months. And I checked this morning, but I do have an idea for what crime you could add to the map to help inform the community. Murder. You can add murder to one of that one of your officers committed and who is still roaming the streets free. His name has still not been released. That shows the commitment you are providing to full transparency regarding the incident in question. Last Tuesday when the incident occurred, we came back to these chambers and we spoke to the police chief. He said the officers would continue to patrol the area that we should not be scared because the community wants them out there and wants them to be seen. But tell me this, how do you ask us to not be scared when the last time your officers were patrolling the area, they killed my cousin? We have spoken with the members of the community and many of them are fearful for their lives because they witnessed what happened when the officer shot my cousin. How are you going to ask the community to ignore what they saw with their own eyes? My cousin had a bright future ahead of him and your officer selfishly took that away. The officer got to go home to his family that night. I will never get to go home and see my cousin again. The officer should be held accountable for the actions he took that

night. I hope that the officer involved in the shooting and killing of my cousin watches these meetings and knows that our family is still here. We are still speaking out and we are still demanding justice. We will not let this go away. We want to be sure that the officers are held accountable for their actions, not only for my cousin, but for everyone who has been mistreated by the police simply because they are minorities. I also want to take a moment to speak on the Fiesta Village project that you all have the opportunity to vote no on. You were elected to support and protect the communities of Anaheim. So, please do the right thing and vote no on this project. Whatever profit the city might receive will never be worth the life that could potentially be lost because of the fire safety risk and the poor evacuation planning. I don't care about the $100,000 that the developers are offering for wild wildfire prevention efforts because I know that is simply not enough. And let me tell you something, no amount of money can bring back a life or ease the pain of losing someone you love. I know this because I will never get to see my cousin again because of the reckless officer. I pray you do the right thing and vote no. Our next speaker following the speaker, Christina Lopez.

Hello, my name is G. I'm here once again standing with the family of Albert Arzola. He was a 19-year-old that was murdered on the front porch of his home by Anaheim PD. We have yet to known the name of the officers that chased him down and shot him that night. The family has yet to receive the unedited footage that they and others like me have been demanding. They were told that they would have it by now. And just like Anaheim does, Anaheim lied. The footage that they're going to see is not something any family member wants to watch. Their son, their boyfriend, their nephew being gunned down. by Anaheim PD and the city of Anaheim leaves us full of doubt and for us to have to watch and have to beg to see this horrible footage. Not only are we here again demanding to or having to demand for what I think is the bare minimum from our government, we have to ask that Anaheim PD stop harassing the Arzola family. Just this past Sunday, the family gathered for a barbecue and multiple police vehicles showed up as well as more than a handful of officers. Why do they feel like they have the power to do anything they want on these streets? I am disgusted by all of you for not doing anything about this since Albert's death on December 6, 2025. I'm disgusted by Anaheim PD for not do or for doing what they have been doing for as long as I could remember, empty promises from everyone involved. We demand once again the unedited footage of both officers who were involved in the murder of Albert. We demand you let the Arzola family grieve and stop the harassment immediately. We demand government officials that have integrity that say more than we will just wait on the investigation or we will replace you. Justice for Albert.

Justice. Justice. our next speaker, Christina Lopez, followed by Grace Arzola.

All right. Hi again. First and foremost, I want to thank the public who has continuously supported the Arzola family as we continue to seek justice by watching these meetings from home. It's nice to hear the community say, "You're doing a good job. Keep the pressure." Um, including the emails and who have presently been here with us. The inaction or lack of concern by your elected officials to protect your constitutional rights should be taken seriously. Our family member Albert Arzola was a victim of a horrific senseless attack by an employee of the city of Anaheim. A gang unit officer who intruded into his home. We must remember that we have the power to vote out those that do nothing to govern in the people's best interests. We need leaders that demonstrate integrity, courage, and who lead with bravery to act on the public's demands for justice. Not only is our family sprinkled all over Anaheim, originating in the old bario in Colonia, Independencia, it's been a decade. I had the opportunity to help campaign with my girls and friends to elect the next council member in district 2. We are ready to support candidates who lead with bravery, integrity, and courage.

I know this district and a few others will be up for reelection. 75% of Anaheim's population are vulnerable to be racially profiled by overpolicing or the target of ICE. You cannot ignore this large voting block. The more we share Albert's story, the more they realize that we must use this movement to take the power back. take the power back from the special interest and back into the hands of the people of Anaheim. Thank you. Remember his name.

Hello. I'm Albert's aunt. I was mayor. I have to agree with you. Decorum. But where was the decorum for my family? So, I'm going to play the video because you asked us to not interrupt people when they were speaking. But in the middle of the traumatic experience, this is how your officer spoke to my family. So, let me play it for you guys cuz it shouldn't be double standards. It should be the same. 911 91 shots fired. 821 South Philly. 821 SOUTH PHILLY 103. GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON THE ground.

So, at the start of the meeting, I do want to thank the chief because of the pressure and the support we have received from the community. He did deliver me a flash drive with the he advised me that there's some things that are left out because of the investigation, but I do want to thank him for that commitment. Uh, last week I came back because I did go take my little nieces to go have ice cream and the Anaheim police patrol car blinded us with their high beans. I asked chief, the chief said that he would look into it today. He said he wasn't able to substantiate it. I know what we saw. Me and my sister, my daughter know what we saw. So, there's no way you guys don't have the patrol dash where you guys could see that the lights are turned on. I ask that you guys look into that because you guys are intimidating us and we won't stop speaking here. And I honestly think they went there because I played that video yesterday, last Tuesday. As soon as we left, they met us up over there and flashed their high beams on us. That's intimidation and it needs to stop. And I could tell that the chief seems to want to clean up the Anaheim PD, but we need you guys to also put the pressure on them because this is not okay for them to treat us like that. I also um saw your post on tagging and I was so happy that that young man did not die and I do as a social worker have to raise concerns on your guys's commitment to providing resources, activities for these young kids where they could get engaged in something else other than tagging a wall. Uh, I know that I want to know who is reviewing the Anaheim Community Foundation on how they allocate their grants. What community are they going to? That's something really important. And for all the young kids, you guys are so entitled. When I got my first place, it was whatever I could afford, not what I wanted. Ponderosa is cheap. Uh, District 3 is

also good. And like Smokeoky the Bear said, "Hello, city council. Only you could prevent wildfires. Our next speaker, our next speaker, following the speaker, we have Ruben Greg Sodto.

Hey guys. Um, now post two, I just wanted to say I agree with you. Um, it's very unfair when things happen like that to a market or familyowned restaurant. I understand they were having a a council member meeting the week before. So, that's very unfortunate. I do feel like that isn't fair. We don't support that. That's just not right. And um also, I'm I'm here to say no on the housing. Um I'm young. I'm 27. I've dreamed of buying a house forever. I've had a full-time job since I was 16 and just never been able to save. And uh I'm not here to blame it on the people that live in Anaheim Hills. It's just not fair to them. And you have to understand in life, you're not going to be able to get everything you want. You're gonna have to settle on things. I might want to live in Anaheim Hills, but I might settle and live in Corona. And uh, of course, I'm just here in support of Albert. I just feel like he was a martyr in a graffiti situation that should have never been escalated. He would still be working. He would still be here eating dinners with his family like he was doing every single night. Um, you know, I just think about it like what the average settlement for police killing is what? It would have been cheaper to just paint the wall instead of killing him.

Yeah. It's it's it's insane.

He was 19 years old a week from his birthday. Looking forward to Christmas. He was a kid. He looked forward to Christmas every single year. Thank you. The next speaker, Ruben Greg stood followed by Pearl Arzola. M Ashley, um, city council, these old people don't want to change. They can't even walk. Wes, these young kids might move in there and help them get out. There's a fire if their brain is gone. But anyway, let me play this for you. It's a movie called Lady Bloodfight. It's about American goes to Asia and they fight karate and he he goes to the top. He's like one of the top winners. He and then they kill him because they don't want American to win. So the daughter goes investigate and this and she the same thing happened to her. The guy wants to kill her. But this is what about revenge and what these churches tell you not to do. All that is necessary for evil to prosper is that good people do nothing.

Good people do nothing and you will prosper. Right, cops? You're bad You excuse my language. Okay. Now, I did this as city council in Riverside and the mayor told me I like that star as I walked out the door. Now, Fullton PD again with Robert Boss. I exploded the first time they took my car. They did it again. They took my car and I gota go get it out. So, I got any good people going to help me help get it out and not have to pay again or lose it. So, he did it on purpose cuz I got him in trouble for environmental and paying his people under the table and many other things. And now he wants revenge. But you know what? I never stop. So, is there any good cop that want to help me that boom me in the gutter and falsely arrest me? I sure hope so. Hey, hello. You want to meet my two little friends? I know what you talking about. The two vibeers I did. I'm not a gangster, but that's what the I put a YouTube video on cuz I got arrested for that stupid thing. But anyway, and now I call the FBI and Washington DC. Like I told you before, they would first only give me their numbers, okay? Their ID number. Then the ladies start giving me their name. Why? Cuz I like they like what I do and what I turn in. Hey, anybody want to help me? The good guy you think you are. Thank you. Our next three speakers, Pearl Arzola, Lzette Diaz, and Lup Lopez.

Hello. I just want to say to you ignorant young people, I could afford to buy a house right now in District 6. You guys need to get your money up and be like, "Oh, affordable housing. what a housing is affordable. You freaking losers. Anyways, I just want to say that I am tired of hear of having the cops patrol all the time and shine their lights. And I'm going to speak to you guys right there cuz you guys don't even put me on your guys' screen. You guys think it's so funny to flash the lights on us thinking that we're gonna be scared. The only person I'm scared of is God. You guys are just someone with a badge, but without that badge, you guys are nothing. And you guys should also vote no because why would you guys want people to die in a fire? That is so up. And it's honestly the most disgraced thing you could do there. You know how many people live there? How many kids lives are gonna be at risk because you guys want a development? Because this guy's offering money. I'll double what he's offering for you guys to put vote no. I'll double it right now. I'll double it. I'll double that money. So you guys could vote no on it because you think, "Oh, let me throw this much money, this much money. They're going to do it." No, boy. They're not. I'll double whatever whatever money that he is putting. I'll double it so you guys could vote no on the housing. Let's help somewhere else. District three. You guys have good apartments that are affordable, that are in good areas. Why don't you build in district three? Why are you trying to

build where there's fire hazards? For what? Sleeping Tom. That's You're right here sleeping. This is you. You're not tired today. Hey, I hope he got rest. Anyways, so you guys need to vote no. I'll maximize whatever he's putting out. I'll double it. Vote no and we'll all be good and be friends. Thank you. Our next speaker, Lzette Diaz.

Hello. Good evening, everybody. And um I'm just here um expressing my condolences to the family of Albert and may um God give you the peace that you so for look for and know that you look to him for peace more than in people. Psalms 20 says that people other people trust in chariots but when you trust in God he you know he gives you the answers that you need and I thank you uh lovely council and I'm just here because I this actually is my second time here and um I am uh consider myself a member of this community and I actually um two years ago I had like a I was disrupted out of my stability when I experienced a a separation divorce after 21 years of marriage. I married very young. Um, I have two young children. I I have an eldest daughter, too. She's 19. But I'm looking just for help in in, you know, I was on housing and um it wasn't uh I was in a marriage that wasn't, you know, um it wasn't peaceful. And I only seek peace. I I seek to God and I just seek for the peace that he gives me. And um I'm just asking for a little help, you know, um with with the housing situation. kind of place myself on the on the housing list and um I had to kind of start over. I had to uh you know uh stop drop out of of college. I was going to Cypress for music cuz I was hoping to maybe teach you know kids music cuz you know music is very healing. And um you know I'm a member of my church with pastors that have been incredibly supportive through during one of the hardest times of my life and that was here in Anaheim. Actually I came from my friend's uh salon as if you could tell. Um, I'm actually going to church right after this and um, she's also from Anaheim. She's her her name is AI and and her beauty salon is you guys go to AI, okay? She's she and you know what and so God placed me in this community and I hope to keep being a part of it and I just want a little bit of help for a little bit, you know, because I hope to get up my feet again. and I had to start over, you know, and um and I'm

actually, you know, I I I hear all these stories and I just feel like, you know, I'm just praying God just give everybody peace here, you know, and and no matter what we have, like the Bible says, we have to love each other, you know. If we don't have love, we don't have nothing, you know. I don't know why I'm saying this. And um with all the bad stuff that's going on in the world, we just need a little peace and a little love, you know. And we know that when you guys took on this job, you guys set to do your best, you know, and and I hope that you turn to God for that guidance with every story that you read. We don't know how it, you know, hits you. And I know that you guys, you know, like as my I told my mom now I was older and you know what, mom? Um I blamed you a lot when I was younger, but I realize that you just never said to ruin my day. You never said to ruin my life. You did your best that you could. And I hope here everybody does their best in helping each other out, in hearing everybody's story. And um I just hope so and I thank you so much for your time and and may God's peace be with you all. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Um ma'am Lette um I was going to see if Grace could you raise your hand. No, sorry. Other Grace um I was going to have you speak with her um or Andy just about um housing and opportunities so we can get your Oh, sorry. So we can get um your information. Oh, he's right back there. Sorry. Can you raise your hand? Do you see him?

Thank you. Good evening, mayor and members of the Anaheim City Council. Your your mission is for the quality of life, mayor of every Anaheim resident. And so, as we see here that the quality of life is you hear the speakers talking about the festival project voting no. We see families of the Albert Arzola saying to provide justice for this young man 19 that was murdered by your employees on December 6, 2025 by an unmarked vehicle who was rushed. And what does that mean rushed at the time of violence of ICE? mayor at the time where we're at at this time, an unmarked vehicle, gets out of the car with men ununiformed. What I mean by ununiform, I mean like full body uniformed to be rushed into somebody's property home and the boundaries of their home. Wouldn't you, mayor, run? Wouldn't you get scared and go to the safest place that's close to you, which would be your home, your family? This young man, a US citizen, by generations and generations in Orange County, when the lands were still cow farms, when there were strawberry fields and orange fields forever. This is where this young man's family comes from. generations, many generations ago. And so what I want to say is that mayor and each of you from district 1 all the way to district 6, I want you to look at this audience. If you are an Anaheim voter, raise your hand up high.

That's right. All of you Anaheim voters, look at these council members and mayors because if they're up for reelection, you know how to vote. And watch and see who's

watch and see who the Anaheim PD is funding in this dasis. Look them up. If they're receiving money from the Anaheim PD, then you know how they're going to support. So I ask each and every one of you to do the right thing because just like the festival project that are asking you to say no and the Arzola family is asking you for justice mayor and I hope you're writing my notes there is that we're watching your vote. We're watching your behavior and we're watching who's funding you. Thank you.

Our next speaker Art Castillo Art Castillo Well, I just want to add on to the no over there. My friend, he lives over there. He's about 70. He's got some medical problems and he has to he wants to his family said, "You got to get out." So, they're selling the house right on Fairmont and Sana Canyon Road because of this issue. And they're very they're very because he can't drive anymore. He can't get out. So, this is something that hit me really hard. and I got a family member over there also and and friends and through all the districts. So just wanted to support that we don't know you know please and when when the people come Natalie um makes you know when the persons come here to come here to speak cuz we're the people that stand up here not the ones that are sleeping they should you should be listening to them and they're the they're the majority you know maybe they voted for you I don't know but I think you should look at that you guys all should look at that we're here all the time and we're here I' that's 52 years for me I haven't seen anything happen and any positiveness towards uh the people here in those communities that are always being targeted. So, I just want to throw that. Uh I knew all the family members of these people that all these kids that got killed and I do know that because I was in the streets and I've been there and I put I actually spotted the police coming with their guns drawing, breaking down a door when they knew the kid wasn't there with the mother and her little kids. And they would go do this every day with guns drawn. And I know the names of the officers. I know what they used to do. And the shining lights on their houses and breaking in house. Boy, I don't think you guys know any of this stuff. I can't even. It'll take me too long. But breaking in houses with guns, with little children, and they knowing the parents are not there. It's called retaliation. You guys, maybe Natalie

Bakavi, you're you would probably have more experience than that to the neighborhoods that were being attacked all the time. So, this is something that uh you know, please listen to some of the things that we say. We're trying to help. We're trying to have a good community and we're going to be getting together so they can hear what some of the things that you guys haven't even heard. And one last thing of the uh the during John Welter uh Chief John Welter, a guy they were chasing three boys over a backyard and they accidentally killed this person, but he wasn't Mexican and they settled with him. And a lot of these young kids that were uh killed, some of them, like I said before here, they told me that the officer said he's going to kill them. And they did. So, what's going on? I mean, you you don't know that we're getting this retaliation. I got bumped at I already said it last time. I got a I got an inter what do you call it? Intimidation bump. And then when I was assaulted over on Brookers and Orange Avenue when there was a fire, this guy was going to one of the West Anaheim neighborhood association. It was the officer. He saw me. So that's premeditated and he attacked me. Then he attacked me at Cortina's and what really hurt me the most was there was an old couple there and they said, "You can't do that to him." He hit me in the face and he and he and he was pushing me back and what happened was the lady said, "You can't do that." And quote, he said to that young lady and her husband, "Sorry, your time is up."

He said, "Shut the up or I'll do that to you, too." And then he grabbed me by my arm and he says, "Get the out of here."

Thank you. I'm sorry your time is up. Thank you. Our next speaker, Hey, I said yes in the Tangua Nawat Mishika AICO linguistic family. We're our brothers that are fighting against that development. We we're with you. We have Native American blood and we support that because not just for you but the animals, the children, the future and under your homes there's remains of our ancestors bones under your homes. Just keep that in mind. And for the developers, there's people behind you, the elites, behind the city council, behind Mike Lyster, behind that those dark those dark tinted tinted windows. I was just told that there was a shooting on Saturday at at um Ponderosa Park, a hardcore bario and that the taco man got shot when that was happening.

They're laughing. I don't know if it's true or not. It's true. It's nothing to laugh about because Aola got killed.

We got to get serious. Your cousin got killed. My cousin got killed. He was a teacher at Catella High School, Armano Risava, and he was found dead laying down upside down at a restroom in Mexico, Mexico at some tourist place. There won't ever be any any uh um autopsy for my cousin. He graduated from Chapman University, alumni, soccer coach. He's on the hall of fame at Ch University. So, when I think about the autopsy, I hope they do get the video and the autopsy. But for us darkerkinned natives, there's a lot of discrimination for our brown mesh people even from white white wh white whiteans, white Mexicans. That's Gustaviano. Gustaviano, you're one of them because you wrote a letter and you call the moosos. You call the cho Mexican kids Anaheim High School Moosos crying babies. That's That's sad, brother. Because your roots come from Sakatkas and you'll never know what it is. Like my cousin Armando Risava that we'll never have justice. We'll never have justice. Exactly. We want you guys to wake up because Leonard Pal just said, "Why should I pledge the flag when there's no justice for the Zoras?"

Why should we pray justice when there's no justice for our people right here, white brothers?

This is anger. None of you probably raising the maybe Norma Campos from East Los and I salute you guys and Leon, you know, but some of you have family hills. You'll never know our pain. Some of us live in cars. Our ancestors were murdered, killed by the colonists, by the knights. I remember going to Catella High School. We let the Chuco walk outs do not walk out. But we walked out during the flag salute. Atlanta Palier just said just in Indian country. He finally said it. Why should we support and respect that flag that carries lies and blood on their hands like that police officer that killed Azora? Let's change the name of the school. Catella Knights.

Our next speaker, Brian K. Happy day. Mayor Hiken, did you know that about the coyotes that you signed off on Anaheim killing 84 coyotes? That was in violation of the law and that your trapper has tickets and fines and violations because of that? See, a lot of things are happening. You don't seem to know quite what's going on. You know, Andrew and all the group here about the the fire issue. It's understandable that at first you didn't know what's going on. Same thing with Albert. You didn't know what's going on. But a lot of people have come down here to give you the information so you can make an intelligent informed decision. And are you doing that? You know, you promised to meet with me over three weeks ago. Have you met with me, Mary? You promised to meet with me over three weeks ago. Have you met with me? See, I think part of why maybe this is so difficult for me is because I filed a complaint that if that complaint had been listened to, Albert would be alive today. The reason why I'm alive today is because Donna Michelle Asdo filed a complaint, stood here at this microphone, and spoke, and police officers chose to only try and kill me. So, we want to help you make a better decision. You know, I'm not going to waste my

life, the blessing that I was given. I'm not going to stand by and watch other people who are suffering the same problem or who could have been saved by my voice. Not going to stand by and let you ignore me. Why should I? That's not my place. My responsibility is to come down here and give you the information you need to not kill the next citizen with an Anaheim police officer because that tarnishes the police department. That tarnishes you. You bring up the Catholic Church. You bring up being in church. Is it appropriate for you to promise to meet with me in a meeting and then not meet with me? I mean, you didn't just lie to me. You lied to the chief of police saying that you're going to meet with me and resolve this issue. You lied to 50 people, constituents and citizens in Anaheim, who are all expecting you to meet with me and address this issue. It's a shame. There's a lot of people here who want to help make Anaheim a safer place, make it capable of withstanding a fire. I've got six great ideas I'd like to share with you. meet with me. Happy day,

mayor and city council. That concludes all our in-person speakers. Noting for the record, we did receive public comments electronically. Three were related to item number nine. 315 were related to item number 10 and 24 were general comments. All of those were distributed to city council as well as posted on the Anaheim's website anahheim.net/public comment.

Thank you. So, we now close the public comment portion of the meeting and move to council communications. Are there any council members that had have items to share? Uh, start with council member Ma. Thank you, Madame Mayor. I have two slides to share. I just wanted to share that I had the opportunity to read with students at both James Gwyn Elementary and Sun-Kissed Elementary this week for Read Across America Week. Um, spending time in the classroom is always a good reminder of the steady important work happening every day to build strong readers. Anaheim Elementary School, I'm sorry, Anaheim Elementary School District continues to do a thoughtful job bringing in community guest readers to support that effort. Um, so thank you to our educators for the consistency and care you do to bring this work and to bring us all together and thank you to uh Anaheim PD for joining today. Next slide. Just a quick reminder that on Thursday, March 19th, I will be co-hosting alongside with the Sierra Club a screening of Join or Die. This is a documentary about why you should join a club and why the fate of America depends on it. The film explores how civil civic participation and community involvement shape the strength of our neighborhoods and our democracy. Doors open at 5:30 and there will be several local service clubs and organizations there to share about their great work and how you can get involved. That's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. I don't see anybody else uh ringing in, so I'll move to my slides. I have a couple of things to report on. Um so like um Council Member Moss, I also got to spend uh the day for ReadAcross America at Gwyn Elementary School. Um they did an amazing job of introducing me both to the amazing bilingual program that they have in English and Spanish um as well as um their regular classrooms up through the sixth grade. Such sweet students. I love ReadAcross America Day. I just want to thank everyone at Gwyn Elementary um for letting me spend a couple hours at their school. Um next as a both my parents went to Santa Ana College um and they're proud Dons um and my dad as a Cal State Fullerton Titan. So, it was fun to accompany um him as well as our lieutenant governor to the uh vision and visionaries award that helps raise money and honors some of the amazing alumni of Cal State Fullerton and the and the work that they are doing in the community. Um I want to reach out and thank the Orange County Business Council for asking me u to lead the pledge of allegiance at their annual event. Um they had hundreds and hundreds of people there honoring some of our small and large businesses throughout Orange County and the great work they are doing. And I couldn't have been more prouder. Their um exit gift was Girl Scout cookies. So I got to meet a lot of Girl Scouts that were there handing them um handing out their um exit gifts. Um next I wanted to just thank Dooku and the team at Anaheim Public Utilities. We have our annual um poster art contest every year about water conservation. So if you've ever been to a city event and you've grabbed a bottle uh plastic water bottle, I'm going to steal Mayor Proms right here. They have these beautiful drawings on them and those are done by

our Anaheim uh school students. So over 800 people submitted drawings on water conservation and uh only u a few were chosen. So, it was fun to um honor them, to have their artwork that's going to be hung in city hall as well as um the city hall across the street. And then they got to go to for a lot of them their first ducks game, which is pretty cool. Uh because the Ducks are having a moment. Um last, I wanted to just play something for you. I saw this on local news. I I have to watch local news because I can't handle international news right now. I can't handle national news, but this is something that I know. Do we have the video? Okay.

Perhaps forest chain tells us about a program. Well, wearing clean clothes to school may not even be a thought for a lot of students, but access to laundry is a big challenge for hundreds of families in Orange County. NBC4's Hyd Chain tells us about a program making laundry not only easy, but free for students. Laundry may not seem like it has anything to do with student success, but the owner of this laundromat and school district officials here in Anaheim believe it does.

They would really want to make sure their bas students basic needs are being met before they go into the classroom. And so too does Superior Laundry co-owner Patrick Lee, whose family business has teamed up with the Anaheim Union High School District to provide nearly $9,000 worth of vouchers to students and their families for free laundry services at his two Anaheim laundromats. I just think with so many families juggling multiple jobs, rising costs, this program really helps to eliminate one area of stress for the family. Lee believes his students don't have to stress about basic necessities like cleaning clothes, they can focus more on their education.

We would give them a laundry card, soap and softener to start any um two load washing machine and dryer and anytime. At any time, unlimited unlimited. Lucila says she can relate when it comes to her grandkids. She says her grandsons would benefit from the program. They play sports and don't have a washing machine at their home. Lee says he saw the impact of the free laundry program for Anaheim Elementary School students who have been using the vouchers since the program launched there three years ago. District officials say more than 80% of Anaheim Elementary students are economically disadvantaged.

So, we just want to be a good neighbor in the in the community and our business model is do well by doing good. And hopefully we can do more, you know, with all the other school district in the neighboring cities and so on and so forth.

The Lee family says it's also working with the school district to get free laundry, drop off and pickup services available at some Anaheim high schools in Anaheim. Hedi Chang, NBC4 News. So, I saw that after work one day and it just warmed my heart because I can't think of anything that really um shows our Anaheim values than having small business owners come together with our school district to support our kids. Um, so I would like to um interim city manager bring in the owners of the laundry mats um if we could find them as well as the superintendent and just really honor them for this contribution because you don't have to do something for your neighbor in community but you should and just the fact that they stepped up I think is really beautiful. Um, and I'd like to explore maybe how the city can help them make sure that they have because access to a laundry mat is one thing, but detergent's expensive. Um, so if we can figure out how to help them with getting laundry pods or something creative, I would love to see this program just grow with the city's support. Um, I see that a couple people have uh rung in, excuse me, uh, Council Member Rubikala and then Mayor Prom Leon. Thank you, Mayor Aken. And um while our city clerk is putting up the slides, I just want to thank everybody who comes out to speak and engage in the public process during our public comment period. I know that there's a lot of really emotional topics that we're dealing with and I just want to reassure you that we are listening to your concerns and um I'm looking forward to the rest of our agenda items and I hope that you're all able to stay for that portion of it. The public comment period is a very short time, but we actually do business after the public comment period. And the reason for the non-engagement is that's really not

something that we can do during public comment. Our um opportunity to speak to you is during our council communication. So, just in case you're wondering why we don't respond to what you're saying, I just wanted to mention that. So, I want to highlight a couple of things. Some a lot of good things are also happening in the city of Anaheim. So, we have a young lady who lives in our city. I believe she's in council member Leyon's district, but she is a student at um Orange Lutheran, but she's also a master's champion in wrestling. Um as a freshman, she uh also is our state champion. So, I will be asking our um council to bring her in for a recognition for all of her efforts. Uh she actually placed first in all of those categories. So, uh, wrestling is a pretty new sport for young women, and I'd like to recognize Title Nine for that opportunity for the the girls who are doing big things, uh, in our city. So, Alexa Smith, if we can, um, bring her in, I'll request at the end of the meeting. Like many of my colleagues, one of the opportunities that we get to have as um, elected officials in our city is to contribute to the reading and engagement with our youth. Uh I also had the opportunity to um visit a charter school in Anaheim, uh Vibrant Minds, and just speak to the kindergarten class, which was a really fun experience. For those of you who have kindergarteners or older kids, you know, um the uh the chaos, but it's fun. So, I'm happy to recognize the school, and I know that our city clerk was also there, and we also had members of our fire department present. So, just uh in recognition of National Reading, I want to make sure that we're um recognizing the schools and the teachers and the students who are doing their part uh to better themselves in our community. Like the mayor mentioned, we were able to participate with public utilities. Thank you, Dukie, for your leadership. One of the most important things is community engagement. And what uh Dooku and his team are able to do with this

drawing program is to really engage our youth in water-wise initiatives. Um as you know, water is a precious resource and Anaheim has the opportunity to have its own utilities and with that we're able to really highlight and engage our students. Uh one of the little young ladies here is actually from district 3. So, of the 16 students who were recognized on Sunday for their artistic abilities, this young lady goes to Price Elementary and was also recognized. So, I just wanted to highlight her. And then to the public utilities team, I wanted to feature them because it really is their hard work and effort that goes into um being able to run this program and engage our students. So, thank you, Du. I also wanted to I know somebody mentioned this earlier, but I also just wanted to um highlight some of the increased activity in um graffiti in our neighborhoods. And this is really a beautifification issue. And um I am working on initiatives to help engage our youth, but actually this is an adult um which I didn't I chose not to highlight his face for privacy purpose purposes, but our um police department has been acknowledged and aware of who the person is. So, um, one of the things I'm asking our community and working with some of these local businesses is just to, um, make sure we're cleaning up graffiti. So, those of you who are listening, we do have Anaheim Anytime. Our, um, city spends a lot of money to ensure that our community is clean and beautiful, and we have a public works department that responds to a lot of these um, uh, graffiti uh, in issues that occur within 24 hours. So, please do help us do uh your part by um reporting this graffiti and also if it is gang related, it is reported to Anaheim PD for recordkeeping. So, I just wanted to bring this to everybody's attention to please help. It does take a village to ensure that uh our communities are kept clean and safe. So, that sort of a little public service

announcement. One of the things I I want to recognize, we had a public commenter come in about a month or two ago, but my office is really excited to work with city staff and a local artist to um honor uh this young lady. Her name is Mia Mahia. She is a student in Anaheim and her family are residents of Anaheim. She went to school in District 2, but she lives in dis she lived in District 3. Unfortunately, she left this earth far too soon. Um, one of the initiatives that I have on the suicide awareness front is to ensure that we're also recognizing the fact that bullying and youth suicide is an issue that's impacting families across our city and beyond. We must continue to speak openly and show up for our young people and make sure that they have the resources that they need. So, in collaboration and partnership with a local artist named Carla Ro, who has also done a significant amount of murals across our schools, uh we will be creating a kindness uh mural in Mia's memory. And this mural will also highlight suicide awareness um resources and 988 so that students uh know and also people who are adults uh know that there are resources out there for them. My office also hosts a suicide awareness event in September which happens to be suicide awareness month. So, um I just wanted to recognize the artists who will be donating her time and Shaunie Larson Cash who and her department who are working with me on this initiative to make sure that um not only honoring Mia but even further we're bringing awareness to a really important issue and the be kind that is uh Mia Mahia in the background who's actually posing in front of one of the beind murals that was uh created at an Anahheim elementary school which I believe is also the school that council member Leyon attended. Yes, Clara Barton.

Oh, sorry. He went to Maxwell. Correction. Next slide.

Perfect. That concludes my council comments. Thank you.

I got to represent the Maxwell Road Runners. Maxwell Elementary. Uh, last week I had the pleasure of being at the Laura Little League home opener and there really isn't anything quite like it. watching kids take the field for the first time, especially with their families in the stands. Uh it was a great morning. I'm very proud to support our local youth sports program every chance I get. And I just want to give a thank you to the uh the the parents who really make it all happen. Uh they take care of the field by themselves. They coordinate all the schedules and uh it really means a lot to be uh there to support them as they have that experience. Uh we kicked off the fourth annual ReadAcross America tour across all of the elementary schools in District 2. uh is something I've done now for four years and it does take a little bit of time to visit all of the schools, but it's still very important and I look forward to it every year. I'm looking forward to visiting the rest of the schools later this week. As was mentioned during public comment, I also serve on the OCTA board. Uh and a good part of that year has been spent working in collaboration with OCTA staff uh to get the 24191 Express connector passed through the OCTA board. uh which we were able to do and the last hurdle was CALR's approval which I believe just happened recently. Um and this has been a critical missing link uh between the 241 toll road and the 91 freeway and getting it to this point required years of coordination of environmental review, some stubborn persistence at the regional board level. Um it needless to say it did take a lot of advocacy and working with staff to move these things forward and uh I testified twice in front of the California Transportation Commission in support and I know my my colleague from District 6 has also been a big advocate for this project on the TCA board. Um very proud of the work that went into making this happen. Uh and I'm looking forward to the groundbreaking. And finally, I have to give a well-deserved shout out to the Savannah High School girls basketball team. They are CIF Division 6 champions. Uh these even though they're the rival

school, you can cheer for them. That's okay. Uh these young women put in the work. They competed all season. They brought home a title. So to the Savannah High School uh girls basketball team, congratulations. We're proud of every one of you and uh we look forward to bringing you in for a council recognition and celebration as well. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Um it's now time for the city manager's update. Mr. City Manager, you have no updates this evening, mayor. Give him give him something. I know nothing. You can't give him something.

I appreciate the support, but no. Uh, no update this evening. Mayor, sorry. Um, I was going to ask u my for council input. I know the majority of the people here are here for item 10. Would there be a um any issues if we took it out of order and went to item number 10 first? Okay. Okay. Seeing um seeing seeing no immediate descent, um can we Mr. City Manager turn to item 10? Yes. Uh, mayor, I'm just waiting for our planning team to assemble.

I Yes, I I might have done that to them and I apologize. Um, so item 10 is a public hearing. Uh, as I stated at the beginning of the um of the meeting, we are not reopening the public hearing, but we did um give everyone a chance to both at this meeting and prior meetings um able to make their voices heard and part of the record. Um, so right now we're going to move it over to the clerk. So clerk, could you please read the public hearing?

Thank you, mayor. Item number 10 is a public hearing for development application number 2023-000043. The final envir environmental impact report ER number 5358 and mitigation monitoring program number 397. A general plan amendment amendment number six to festival specific plan number 90-1 with zoning code amendment to chapters 18.08 08 for this festival specific plan number 90-1 the zoning and code development standards of the Anaheim municipal code final site plan as well as development agreement number 202500001 and this is for a project loc um that consists of the entirety of the existing 85.7 acre Anaheim Hills festival specific plan during located south of Santa Ana Canyon Road between festival drive and rose Roosevelt road in the city of Anaheim Thank you. And so sorry to the planning team to make you run. I'm so sorry about that. Uh Mr. City Manager, may we have a staff report?

Yes, mayor. Uh this presentation will be provided by Heather Allen, our planning director, and her team.

Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, members of council. Is Greg said, Heather Allen, planning and building director. With me this evening, Amanda Law for a senior planner, Joanne Wang, deputy director of planning services, and Leoni Mulva Hill, city attorney's office, excuse me. And also behind me are all the important colleagues from the departments who review this project at the interdep departmental review. So this item is the continued public hearing for the Anaheim Festival project and the planning commission at its November 17th meeting recommended city council approval of the project. On January 13th, the city council commenced the public hearing on the project, completing public comments, initiating discussion, and ultimately continuing action on the item to provide an opportunity for the applicant to continue discussions with union labor and for staff to follow up on questions raised by council members in their discussion. So, the project includes a demolition of a vacant movie theater building and the construction of 447 multif family units within the upper tier of the festival shopping center, also called development area 5. The project requires a general plan amendment, specific plan amendment, including amendments to the zoning code, final site plan, and certification of an environmental impact report. The applicant is also requesting to enter into a development agreement with the city. A full analysis of this project was presented at the January 13th public hearing. There have been no changes to the project or technical studies from what was presented at that time. On the next slides, I'll discuss the questions posed by sta posed to staff by council members in their discussion on January 13th. With respect to the residential development potential of the development area 5, uh the proposed specific plan document includes several references to the unit count in DA5 uh as the 447 units which are before you. Because of

this, any future redevelopment or changes to increase the residential unit counts would require a specific plan amendment and additional environmental analysis. However, in response to questions regarding future development residential uh future additional residential development potential in DA5, staff recommends that the general plan figure LU5 on the left and LU4 on the right of the screen be amended to further clarify that the maximum allowed dwelling units in DA5 is 447 units. This uh would include density restrictions for specific areas throughout the city um consistent with other areas as shown in LU5. And with these recommended changes, if a future developer does propose additional residential units in DA5 or any other area of the festival specific plan, both a specific plan amendment and general plan amendment would be required in addition to uh the subsequent environmental analysis. These staff recommended changes to the land use element have been included in the attachment two, which is the draft resolution to approve the general plan amendment. They confirm the proposed development intensity and and is not a uh they're not new information regarding development impact fees. The draft development agreement includes exhibit D which establishes the development impact fee that that the project uh would be subject to. The applicant would be responsible for paying these impact fees at the time of building permit issuance. Importantly, at the rate that is adopted at that time. On the screen is a breakdown of fees that are identified in exhibit D estimated based on the currently adopted rates. So if these rates were to be reset, they would pay um those fees at the currently adopted rates at the time they uh pull their building permit. Applicability of additional impact fees was also discussed including police and fire impact fees and affordable housing in lies. The city does not currently have a citywide police or fire impact

fee and therefore the project would not be subject to the platinum triangle impact fees as it's not in the platinum triangle and these fees are specific to facility needs in the platinum triangle um not citywide. The inclusionary housing ordinance um applies to residential developments filed on or after October 8th of 2024. Because the application was submitted in August of 2023, the project is not subject to the requirements to provide affordable units or alternative options, including payment of inloo fees. However, the project does include 45 moderate income affordable units. For reference only, staff has provided the breakdown of these fees on the slide based on the currently adopted rates and the unit breakdown of the proposed project. Several questions were raised uh related to the housing element and housing production which I'll cover in the next four slides. California state law requires that the city's housing element include an inventory of suitable of land suitable and available for residential development, including vacant sites and sites with realistic potential for redevelopment within the housing element cycle to meet the um local housing needs as set by the regional housing needs assessment or RENA. The inventory, also referred to as the adequate sites analysis, identified sites with submitted development applications known as pipeline projects, as well as sites that permit the development of housing under current regulations or require regulatory update to zoning and land use designations to permit housing, the latter two collectively called candidate sites. So this slide shows the location of pipeline projects shown in green and candidate sites shown in red and yellow within council district 6 that were included in our certified housing element. The subsequent projects uh the subject project site was included as a pipeline project as the city had an

active development application submitted for residential development within the festival shopping center at the time of the housing element update. And that's uh shown with the the green arrow on the screen. The candidate sites in district 6 accounted for 20% of the citywide unit total. Each year, the city is required to report to the state on housing element implementation, including progress made toward meeting the housing production goals of Reena. As of the most recent annual report, which covers up to December 20 uh 24, the city has permitted 2,46 units of the 17453 units allocated during this cycle, which began in 2021 will be coming to council with the uh 2025 numbers at the next meeting. The draft development agreement for this project includes an initial term of 5 years with the ability to extend for an additional 5-year term if the developer has obtained building permit issuance before October 1st, 2029. This timing is designed to incentivize the development such that if approved, the project would assist the city towards meeting the current reena requirements by producing 447 units, including 45 moderate income units. as it relates to overall housing production in District 6. While the majority of Anaheim was developed in the early to mid 20th century, Anaheim Hills was primarily developed in the 1970s and 80s. To facilitate a cohesive development of Anaheim Hills, a variety of specific plans were approved during that time. Through the development of the specific plan areas and data available from the center of gra demographic research, it is estimated that a total of 7,300 units have been built in Anaheim Hills since 1980. Looking at completed new housing projects in the last 25 years, the majority of that production was largely in the central area of the city in districts 3, four, and five, as shown on

the screen. Lastly, council members also discussed the possibility of requiring the developer to use union labor during the construction of the project. While the city can encourage the developer to do so, the city cannot require a developer to use union labor as part of the development agreement negotiations. However, the applicant confirmed to staff on February 26th that they have entered into a formal with the Western States Regional Carpenters Union relating to the project. The applicant will be available to answer any questions council may have with respect to thisou. In addition, the city municipal code has specific disclosure requirements for qualifying projects to identify its contractors and subcontractors prior to building permit issuance and at any time between permit issuance and final inspection. If any change occurs, if any change occurs, this information is a public record and provides the public, including union labor groups, the opportunity to review the contractors and subtract contractors associated with qualifying projects. Failure to comply with the provisions of this code would be considered a violation and can result in the suspension or revocation of building permits by the building official. These disclosure requirements would apply to the project if approved. Staff believes that the proposed project is compatible with the surrounding area and would provide for the redevelopment of an underutilized area of the festival shopping center. The project would allow for the introduction of residential uses in the f festival center and would provide new design guidelines that will encourage highquality commercial improvements to the rest of the specific plan area. Project impacts with the exception of EMT related impacts were determined to be less than significant with the incorporation of mitigation measures including included in the project mitigation monitoring program. The project includes a variety of public benefits and would assist the city in meeting required VINA housing units. The comments recently received from the Chat and Brown Lob Group have been reviewed

and included as part of the record along with other pro public comments received. The commenter does not identify any significant new information that was not adequately disclosed by the EIR. The commenter does not identify any new significant impacts or any substantial increases and impacts beyond those identified and disclosed in the ER. staff continues to recommend council approval of the project and we and additional technical experts working on the project are available to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.

Thank you very much. So, are there any questions by council at this time? Please ring in. I'll start with council member Rubika. Thank you for the comprehensive uh overview. Is the fire chief here? Hi, Chief Russell. I have a couple questions for Chief Russell if if you want to come on down and the fire marshall.

Thank you, Chief, and thank you, Fire Marshall Young. Um, just a couple questions related to the safety um of the development. So the difference between this development and the deer canyon is the deer canyon was a brand new development in the middle of a wildfire danger zone and then this is an infill project which means that it's uh already developed land. That is correct. So can you share why you thought the other one was less safe than this one? Well, I'm not really comfortable commenting on which is safer or not safer or just related to this project. But

I think when there's development in place and you're removing that and putting an addition a different development in, it is a different project. We have to evaluate every project on its own merits and and and what it's going to do or not going to do based on that project. The Deer Canyon project, in my opinion, was a much larger, much more complex project and putting in an entirely, you know, new community into that canyon was much different than this project. Uh, what are some of the things or investments that you think the city can make in this area that might be able to help mitigate some of the fire concerns that we're hearing from a lot of the residents that reside in Anaheim Hills?

Yeah, thank you for the question, ma'am. I think uh we're already doing a great deal and uh the opportunity to explain that. I think one of the things that I feel very strongly about that we need to do uh more aggressive is our weed abatement. Um, I believe we need to take that in-house and have the ability to do weed abatement uh all year long, not uh relying on contract crews that we fund through grants and other things that can come until they get a higher priority because they belong to the state and they can pull those crews at any time. The goats do a great job, but they are limited. All the tools that that we have are limited. But I really believe being able to do weed abatement year round on those target areas on our evacuation routes on other things would be extremely beneficial to the city.

What type of investment do you think it would uh take to have a weed abatement program in house in Anaheim? So without speaking really to grants that are available that we are pursuing and we have staff working on that and others uh to bring it in house buy the equipment get it started um would probably be on the low end 15 the upper end would probably be 2 million and that's you know annually

uh no most of that would be startup the ongoing cost the operating cost would be for the the uh uh personnel I'm envisioning it being very similar to our ambulance operators where it could a hiring pool. We could hire uh labor out of our community, train them uh to do weed abatement, and then we also can train them to respond as a what we call a type two hand crew uh in the event that we get a fire. Not a hot shot crew like uh but some other agencies are are doing that and they're very very successful with that. And then again, having helping get them into a a job pipeline, uh, into, you know, a firefighter position here in Anaheim or whatever city they got hired in would be a success. So, most of that money that I'm speaking about would be startup, but there would be ongoing costs for salaries. We'd have to hire some uh a couple positions for managing, but there are some grants out there that some of my staff are researching to kind of offset that.

And when you're Thank you for that. and I and I budget season's coming up so I do encourage you to include that in your budget. Um just a a quick question related to the hand crew that you just talked about. Would that eventually over time pay for itself like the ambulatory program?

Yeah. Uh thank you for the question. um in our preliminary findings and talking to a couple other agencies, Los Angeles City, Chula Vista, Corona that that have went down this venture, um we we could I believe very confidently that we could get it uh the ongoing costs uh close to being costneutral. A big part of that would be is if we did, you know, rent them out uh to a fire like we do fire engines and overhead that get reimbursed and an admin fee on top of that, we would want to have enough part-time uh staff. So we could keep doing weed abatement here. Uh like I mentioned, our wildland inspector is researching some coastal grants and some other grants. There are funds out there that go to like the conservation corps and others that we may be able to apply bring those back in to to help support that and and you know weed abatement citywide, you know, assisting the parks. Um any place that we need to do do that on our evacuation routes I think would be significant on some of our others would be where I would u highly recommend that that would be good good to go.

My my nephew's a firefighter in LA County and he fought the eaten fire. So one of the things he did mention was a hand crew and that Anaheim does it really well. So to hear you reinforce that I think is um important for us. So, it's something that we can do to help mitigate any of the concerns that some of our residents have um ongoing in in that area. Um, now to shift a little bit on when you guys and I don't know if um this is probably a better question for our fire marshall, but when you are reviewing a project for safety and for any fire concerns when you're looking at how you're going to recommend it or not recommend it. Um, can you give your process just to council so we can get a better understanding of what that looks like? That's a really good question for the fire marshal.

Good evening. Yes, I'm I'm happy to talk about that process. Um we do have staff that sits in with the development review team um as um projects are proposed. Um we do follow along and listen to you know um every project that is prop proposed through this project through through this um process, excuse me. Um and uh then we evaluate it. We ask uh we have the opportunity to ask questions. Um some projects are farther along than others. A lot are um begin very high level and then we get additional detail as we move along. Others are very well thought out before they even enter the process. But um we do go through and make sure that there are no red flags. Um, we identify high level issues that would be uh cause problems potentially with um with adhering to everything required in California fire and building code including the Caloui code, things of that that nature. So any major concerns we would bring up to the uh developer that was proposing the project or um whoever was proposing the project um in an effort to um mitigate some of those before it even came before um for plan approval.

Great. And before I I have one last question just on the know your rights, I know council member Meeks worked really hard on that initiative and and with your partnership. Can you share a little bit about the process and if how um how secure you feel with that uh program that we've initiated out in the hills with the know your way program?

Okay. So um yeah, we um the know your way initi uh the canyon 2 fire. We had an afteraction report after we do with every event frankly um large or small really we do um evaluate how we performed, what we can do better, what went well um but also where items where we can improve. We are constantly looking for areas that we can improve our service to the public. Um one of those was um obviously uh evacuation. um we did not have any burnover or anything like that um with evacuating our residents. But um we we realized several things and without getting too far into the weeds of you know what the results of the study were um one of the items that came out of that afteraction report was the recommendation to have a uh base or a guideline a foundation I would say for making sure that we had a communication um with our residents with our surrounding partners that are responding in an emergency scenario. So we are all um working off I I say you working off the same sheet of music and it gives us a um a foundation a jumping off place um to um to begin working in in whatever emergency scenario that is be it earthquake be it um you know uh wildfire landslide anything of that nature. Um, so in terms of the efficacy of the program, I think we continue to learn and uh and grow and and find ways to make sure that we are able to communicate it to the public because that is a huge part of this is our partnership with the public and when when they evacuate, they are the first levels. Um, so uh we're really working on ways to make sure sure that they are um aware of what that would look like in case of an emergency scenario. Um and it is worth noting that uh regardless of this particular project that has been pulled um for this evening's um review um and vote, that program, the know your way program um will continue to grow and

evolve and be our basis for um evacuation um moving into the future.

Thank you. you. And I know that there were some public commenters that expressed the fact that they hadn't heard about it. But I'm glad that this project has um helped expand the knowledge and awareness of this know your way initiative. And I'm sure that city staff will be open to hearing any feedback that you might have related to enhancing the usefulness of this tool that we've created. But um so I'm I'm glad it's out there and I know that council member Meeks has worked really hard to um bring awareness to it since she was elected. So, thank you guys for your ongoing support in that area. And one last question, um, what are your qualifications? How long have you worked for the city of Anaheim? What what makes you qualified to actually opine on this issue uh related to this project?

Goodness. Um, thank you for the opportunity uh to answer that question. Um, I I don't often get asked that. I I am a 20-year veteran of the fire service. Um, I am a product of the fire service. My dad actually worked um for uh for the fire department um retired um and I I carried on in his footsteps. Um he is my fire family as are the guys standing behind me. Um so my uh very first instinct is to make sure that I am doing something that I am passionate in um and taking care of my fire family as well as my residents. Um I uh was actually uh I was in an MBA program thinking I would be going one day one way with my career. decided um I I needed that passion element um and switched over to uh Sana College. So from there um I have all of the uh many certifications necessary. I have an entire book of certifications, qualifications, um educational um check boxes that meet and frankly will exceed the role that I am currently filling.

And I know the chief is a wildfire expert who goes across the state. So, Chief, can you share a little bit about your um experience just to really reinforce the fact that you are an expert in this area and and I won't call you an expert, but you are um experienced in this area and can offer the opinion to make sure that we're keeping our our community safe.

Thank you. Yeah, I don't use the word expert, but 40 years in the fire service, 36 of those here in Anaheim. of that uh 25 years I've been part of a federal incident management team starting as a division supervisor working my way up to uh currently as one of the incident commanders on one of the eight federal type one incident management teams been fires all over the country um uh federal teams are deployed not just in California but um all 50 states average anywhere from three to five fire assignments a year each one lasts roughly about two weeks. Some of the significance ones were uh I was the operations chief on the Thomas fire. Uh Canyon 2, I was the incident commander. Um several fires here in Orange County. I'm also the incident commander on one of our local type three county teams. Uh so uh managed fires there. Um fires all over Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington. Uh I can name quite a few. So I've always had a I started in that arena with the state coming through the wland system and it's it's always been a specialty and passion for me.

Thank you, chief and fire marshall. So it's safe to say that the two of you have public safety as your number one priority in the positions that you serve here in the city of Anaheim.

Yes, ma'am. That is correct. And if I may just uh indulge me for a second, I would like to and not you know uh whatever trying to change any vote or anything, but I would like to say since the Canyon two fire, I think it's important to say some of our successes or where we are now. Um and I'm sure you guys, pardon me, are all aware of this, but currently some of the upgrades that we have in in Metronet um our dispatch command center monitor 24 hours a day. We have 42 wildland cameras. 12 of those are here in Anaheim and the rest we can monitor. Uh so our early warning is is much improved. I can bring those cameras up if I'm at home and get notification of a wildland response. I'll start watching those cameras as our battalion chiefs will and um and anybody else. We've hugely improved our response matrix into the mutual threat with agreements with the Forest Service, Cal Fire, Orange County Fire in Anaheim. Um, and thankful to all of you, we we pay every year for what we call our wildland protection agreement with Cal Fire, and it's basically an insurance policy. We pay if we use it or not, but that gives us aircraft, hand crews, dozers, and engines. Anytime out in that area, we get a wildfire response. They're immediately dispatched. They don't wait till um we confirm that it's a fire. They're on the road from the Riverside Ranger unit as soon as we get uh alerted of a possible vegetation fire. Um we've done a lot for our intel with SouthOPS where in wind driven events, usually it goes from a fire warning to a fire watch. So, we're usually notified 72 hours, sometimes longer, of a potential uh fire warning that's coming when it's in a uh red red flag watch. So, we can start moving equipment around. We upstaff equipment um move things into

place to assist. And then obviously, one like Fire Marshall Young just mentioned, uh the know your way program is is um part of that as well. So, I think we've not that we've done everything we can do as I mentioned earlier with the hand crews. Not that we don't have to keep refining, training, and working on all those things regardless of whatever project we're talking about, but uh we've come a long way since the freeway fire and the Canyon 2 fire, and I'm very proud of that.

Well, thank you both for your service, and I appreciate your dedication to the city of Anaheim, and and thank you for answering all my questions. I I um uh I know that you guys uh have a lot on your plate and I do just appreciate the um candid uh feedback. Does anyone have any um questions for the chief? Um I wanted to just if you could go back um could you tell me what did you say were the startup costs for the um for a permanent abatement program?

Uh yes, mayor. Thank you. I would say on the low side uh 1.5 to probably two. A lot of that is equipment that we don't currently have and vehicles that we would need which are like crew transports to transport 10 I call them kids but 10 people around to go from one project to the other. So and what would be the do you think the annual um the ongoing costs with salaries?

Operating salary I would say would be around I'm going to swag it at probably a million. Thank you. Um I know a couple people have rang in, but does anyone since we have them up here have questions for Council Member Meeks and then Council Member um Bailis? Well, you've answered uh some of the questions because one of my questions is you know the the improvements that we've made um since 2017 that included the wildfire cameras. Um but we've actually we've added uh equipment out there too, right? And there's, as far as I know, there's no intent to remove that equipment. And I think you mentioned that you restage uh some of your equipment in red flag warning time. So, can you talk about that a little bit?

Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question. Um, so that is correct. Since the Canyon 2 fire, we have doubled our ability for our own response with brush engines, patrols, water tender, um, and increased our our reserve fleet of what we call a type one or our regular structure engines. uh when we look that we're going into a red flag warning um and in or a red flag watch into a warning, we will up staff uh usually five units and another battalion chief that will specifically stay for wildfire response. We also own the what we call and you guys have probably seen them the green engines which are owned by the state OES. They give those to us and we upstaff them with personnel and OES is very good about prepositioning strike teams when red flag areas are coming in to an area. So the state will pay for us to upstaff and put bodies on a type three and and have that and we position them uh in Anaheim and that's for 24 hours. Um, the only thing with that is since it's a state entity, if they called, we would have to send that. Where ours, if we have a a a Santa Ana wind event, we can keep our resources here and say we can't come help. We have our own threats. Um, one of the things earlier that was uh I just wanted to clarify uh we do have uh four new engines coming into the city. Um some of my staff goes back uh on the 14th to do the final and then they're going to ship those engines here and we're hoping once we get them upfitted to have them in service April and May and we have additional equipment coming in next year. The fire company out at fire station 10 uh that was put in as station 12 when we started the station 12 project. They will be moving to station 12. But out of the 27 firefighters that

start the academy on the 13 uh 12 of them by direction of council were hired with the intent to keep that additional fire company out at station 10. So the fire station 10 will stay staffed with two fire companies, eight firefighters on duty 247 out at that station and we will open fire station 12 with the bodies that um were hired uh for that. So that will open with a fire company there as well. So there is no fire engine leaving the canyon.

That's great. And the one of the other things I believe has happened since then is that you've hired a full-time person to do um weed abatement and to inspect properties and make sure that uh we we are up to date and and doing a good job on that. Can you just kind of talk about that program a little bit?

Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Council Member Meeks. This is all the stuff I was trying to think when I thought of all the stuff we've done, but but I appreciate that. So So yes, again on council support and direction, we did hire a an inspector. That is our full-time wildland inspector that meets regularly with the HOAs. Any homeowner that wants a inspection to check on home hardening, uh he's available for that. He interfaces with the uh the company that supplies the goats. he interfaces with the the uh community conservation corps on the priorities of where that brush clearance needs to be done. So that's his full-time job. He is out in the canyon doing that, looking at areas where we need to improve, widen um that's what he does every day and that's been tremendously helpful.

Yes. No, he's been doing a great job and I see a lot fewer overgrown areas. Everything looks pretty clear. Uh the last thing I want to ask you about is somebody mentioned um issues with the water supply and um I have not heard an any issue with the water supply and as a matter of fact when we spoke last year about uh do we need hella hydrants out there something like that you indicated no we've got our reservoir you know we we have good water supply so I just want you to talk a little bit about that. Yeah, I I'm sorry. Uh uh specifically to the Canyon 2 incident. I was not made aware of any water issues. I I don't know if that happened or not. I was never something that was made. Our water system is incredible. Uh thanks to Dooku and his team. We have grid systems that we can boost water pressure that we do on large fires. We did it on the canyon too. The helella hydrants. There's one in your Belinda and you and I were invited to go look at that and the prox and how close that is and how fast they can operate that hella hydrant as well as the reservoirs we have. Um, putting another one in Anaheim Hills because you have to put a hydrant in to supply them in a water mane is extremely costly. If your Belinda didn't have one that we would be using, we're using Orange County helicopters anyway. That might be a different discussion, but it's literally right over the freeway. It's probably a fivem minute turnaround to to fill and back into Anaheim off that heel hydrant. And then we've used Walnut Canyon Reservoir several times. It's full. It's it's very Our water uh for water dropping capabilities in Anaheim is very good.

All right. Thank you. I think that's all I have for the fire chief. Thanks, Bis and then council member Ma.

Uh thank you chief. This question is for you. I know that this is a different project than the last one, a lot smaller. I know this one's supported by the city. We had a lot of uh commenters come out and say that the movie theater, you know, the uh max use was a thousand people. They never saw a thousand people out there. And I I get that and understand that. So, we're comparing a thousand to coming in a thousand. So, my question to you is this. Let's say that this was a brand new project, the movie theater wasn't there, and we're just adding the new people that are there. Do you still feel comfortable that you could evacuate uh the area?

So, it's it's Thank you for the question, sir. Um, I actually had that thought earlier today as I've been looking at all the angles and wanting to provide the best information I can and I I thought of that exact s scenario and I actually discussed with uh Fire Marshall Young after I was thinking about it and she brought up a good point that um, you know, whatifs are very difficult to predict. um and the way the the project was developed and the the inputs that were given were on that on that project. So if it was that project wasn't there and it was just you know a thousand cars coming in from from zero without running that data and understanding what that would or wouldn't do may may change that or maybe it wouldn't. But back to your the the short answer to your question is um me and my staff our our job is to protect the public and whatever the decision is we minimize and and and uh reduce the risk and evacuate. So we're going to evacuate people. Um I know there's been a lot of discussions about the know your way. It's not been tried. it's not been tested and that's that is true. However, uh every plan has to be flexible. Every plan has to be um inputs change. Um having a plan is we have plans for earthquakes, for high-rise fires, for all kinds of things that we don't that are high risk, low frequency that we don't get the opportunity to exercise very often. However, we still have to have a plan. So, very long-winded, sir. I apologize, but I just wanted everyone to hear that that the the plan is there. I I believe that the plan uh will be successful.

Now, to what what degree, and not saying that it's going to be perfect, not saying that we're not going to have challenges, not saying we're not going to have to pivot and and address some of those things, we're ready to do that. And we will do that because we're going to get people out. Thank you. Do you have any further questions, council member? Okay. Thank you, Council Member Ma. Thank you, Chief. I believe I did answer the question. If you want me to clarify, I would believe it would be the same.

Thank you, Council Member Ma. Thank you, Chief, for your work and the many conversations we've had about this uh topic. I'm going to keep my questions on public safety, and I think they're all in the fire realm. I will do my best not to get into um public works. Um, was there any loss of life in the 2017 fire? No. I would just like to respectfully disagree with anybody who says that it was a complete failure. I would agree, ma'am.

Thank you. Um, moving on. You know, I've done um my own homework on this. I've talked to friends and family as was mentioned in here. I lived in Anaheim Hills from off and on from 94 to 2010. Um, Mrs. Merryill, I went to school with your son. I remember going to the theater when it was packed and, um, seeing Forest Gump and being in line out to Santa Ana Canyon. Um, so point being, um, I do have friends and family there and it's important to me that I make any decision based on facts and not feelings. Um, and that's what I've attempted to do in all of our conversations and the meetings that I've had with several staff members. Um, so I just preface that to any of the questions that I ask. Um, how far can embers travel? Uh depending on the conditions, we'll take an extreme because that's what we're all talking about with a a significant Santa Ana push, which is usually 25 miles an hour or higher. 40 miles an hour would be extreme, and then anything above that, you're looking at brand um uh spread can be a half mile to a mile. One of the things though that is is significantly also plays into that is are those fire brands landing in a receptive fuel bed and what is the probability of ignition when they do land. So when it gets into a structure environment and if they're landing on roofs that are that are uh uh combustible roofs or they're landing on dry leaves or or things like when we talk about home hardening that's a receptible fuel bed. if they're landing on a green watered lawn or or something like that, that's not a receptible fuel bed. So, we look at the probability of ignition and we calculate it's a

percentage based on how many of those brands are u able to ignite based on weather and and a bunch of things that are factored into a computer to give us an output of Thank you. And I know we've heard a lot of comparisons over the past couple months to Paradise and Lahina and the Palisades and Altadena. How is Anaheim Hills How does Anaheim Hills compare to those other cities?

Um the question was answered. Thank you. So, if you look at those fires and what I've studied on them, obviously they were all catastrophic fires and that I understand the fear of our citizens out there and I and I I I do understand that there were some significant differences on on those fires. Uh we'll take Lahina for example because that was brought up. Uh one, the fuel loading in Lahina was much different than ours. They had uh dead sugarcane fields all over. Um they also a lot of those structures that burned were of combustible type with fuel right up against the road with very narrow roads. Um they were on an island. So once they re there was only one place for them to evacuate to in basically the water of the beach. The other challenge they had is when you're on an island getting resources in to to assist is very challenging. They were only able to get two helicopters because they had to get them over there. Fire apparatus had to come over on fairies. So, um that's a different um I do want to point out that the new construction that was built on Lahina did not burn.

How about it was built to current fire codes and and that kind of Thank you. How about Palisades and Aladena?

So, Palisades uh very challenging fire. Uh, two words that we don't use in the fire service is always or never. So, I don't want to say we'll never see those situations again or we won't. Obviously, that was the extreme of the extreme uh sana wind condition and we had extreme winds here as well. I was very concerned. We were clocking winds around 80 miles an hour out of Blackar and Fremont Canyon. Um, so that is a the the speed that that fire enveloped was very challenging, especially when it gets into what we call community congregation where it moves out of the brush, gets houses going, and it goes house to house ignition. You need a wind, something very, very strong to And a lot of their streets didn't have wider streets, two lanes, three lanes, that type of stuff to to put any any, you know, fire break essentially, for lack of better words, in there. Another significant thing is the majority of the people evacuating the way they went is they had to go through the flaming front towards the thermal insult and and towards the rate of spread of the fire. Um that's different than our evacuations that could be going away from the fire. So that's a significant difference. So there are some similarities. I mean obviously very catastrophic, very very scary situation, very bad situation. Not saying I wouldn't say that there aren't some of those things that could happen in the canyon, but that was what they experienced on that.

Thank you. Um what can we do to um increase evacuation capacity? I'm not sure if this is a question for you or public works. I would feel more comfortable with public works or traffic. Uh that's not my expertise. So I don't want to misspeak or give people the wrong sense of what I'm saying on what we could do to increase that. Well, thank you, Chief. I appreciate your time and I'm very proud to have you as our chief and leader of fire here in Anaheim. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Council Member Curts.

Thank you. Um, you mentioned something um in one of your answers and and the embers are are are flying and if they land on something combustible, we have a problem. If not, uh, they die out and you have a person um, in the fire department that full-time job is taking a look at that. So when that person finds a neighborhood, a home, a street that may run into trouble because of their landscape, their roofs, what is the procedure to to mitigate that?

So it it it's Thank you for the question, ma'am. It's kind of twofold. If if the individual's out driving around and he he sees something, then he will find out whose property that is, make contact, and try and educate them, inform them, and assist in any way we can to clean that up, do fuel reduction. If they call and say, "My neighbors, overgrown palm trees, a wood pile right up against the house, dead leaves," then we'll go out and and Adrian will go out, make contact, and and try, you know, and we don't charge for that to try and suggest, show them. That's kind of that ground zero thing that you've heard about of really trying to reduce that that fuel and that risk to to um so that that rate of spread or that that spotting potential is minimized. And we have certainly we have homes all over the city that are not taken care of usually because or sometimes it's because of a senior citizen excuse who can't do it himself and can't afford to have it done so they start stockpiling things. Are there any programs or any ways that we can help residents uh who don't have the ability to to take care of that? We we would we would look at that. Um uh I don't want to misspe if I do ma'am jump in but I would say that Adrian would look at that and and on a case-byase basis and if we had to assist those citizens we would figure out some way to do that if they um were were limited on their uh resources to to do that. Uh, another thing I I failed to mention earlier on one of the questions is like things our our tactics in in these type of wind- driven fires change dramatically all the time and the way we we address the fire, the way we fight and obviously evacuations and life safety is always our number one priority. What we also do that is the

norm now uh in the fire service that we didn't used to do is we do what we call tactical patrol. So, um, we order as many fire engines as we need for the problem, but we assign, uh, strike teams to into neighborhoods to do tactical patrol where they will just stay in that neighborhood. Even though there's no problem now, they will continually to to check that to go in the back of neighbors homes, go look down the look down the hill, check them, and they will that's that's their job. Um, that has changed a lot in the last probably 10 years. that was not done before and now we've realized that we lose uh a high percentage of homes that that can happen. So now we address that.

Thank you, Chief, and thank you for your service and thank you to you and and uh the whole department. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Chief. Um does anyone else have questions for the chief?

Oh, thank you, Mayor Prom. Thank you, uh, Madame Mayor, and thank you to all the residents that came out, uh, tonight to speak. Um, I wanted to ask, I'm going to jump a little bit all over the place here, whether it's you, Chief, or Fire Marshall. Um, in terms of resident safety and wildfire risk, uh, fire marshall, would you be able to explain to us, are there any specific features of this building's design that would prevent it from becoming a source of ignition itself that would spread to other homes?

Sure, happy to answer that question. um for buildings that are built in the very high fire hazard severity zone like this one is proposed to be, it does have to um embody all the requirements of the current most current California fire code including the Cal Wooi code which became in effect as of uh January 1 of this last year. Um that includes uh enhanced con construction of course. um our our goals of that would be um reducing ember intrusion uh radiant heat exposure and preventing direct flame impingement. So um through uh those three three areas some of the specific requirements it will of course have fire sprinklers but of course for for a project of this size and nature uh anywhere in the city it would be required to have fire sprinklers. So this would be no different there. Um, specifically for the very high fire hazard severity zone, uh, it would have to have a class A roof. Uh, it would have to have, uh, ember resistant venting. So, the mesh on the vent would be a more restrictive size to prevent ember intrusion. Um, any sort of, uh, glass or glazing would have to be dual pane and tempered. Um, what else? Uh, the there would have to be ignition resistant or non-combustible exterior building materials. So, no wood sighting or combustible sighting. It would have to be all non-combustible. Um, that includes any sort of decking or anything like that. Um, and then of course there's the uh fuel modification which is uh on the exterior of the building. There are different zones that are required to be uh irrigated. Um certain plants are not allowed in these areas because they are um they have high fire potential. So, we have a uh restricted plant list. Um and that uh fuel mod zone goes beyond what is typical of the the 100 foot defensible space that would be required on the rest of the city. We would actually have a plan with the developer that be um reviewed and

approved and then the HOA would be required to maintain throughout the duration of the project. And that the what the some of the things that you mentioned those are not requirements. uh if the building were to be built somewhere here for example across the street as an example correct those would not be um mandated or would not be allowed. Yes sir. So some some items like fire sprinklers I mentioned would be regardless of where it was um but u almost every other of those requirements are are uh singular to u the very high fire hazard severity zone. Not that it couldn't be required in another project for another reason, but if I understand your question correctly, those are if this project were in another area, that would not be included.

Got it. Okay. Thank you. Uh right now, um from my understanding, the site is a vacant commercial building that nobody is maintaining. Um in your experience, would a vacant unmaintained structure like that pose more ignition and spread risk to neighboring homes than a newly built fire code compliant residential building would? Wow, that's a hard one to answer. Um, it depends on how it's maintained. Um, even though it's VA vacant, we would require that it be maintained appropriately. Um, so it depends on the external situations. A lot of external factors. So, not not really an applesto apples comparison, I'm afraid.

Okay, cool. Thank you. Um, can you you specified a little bit about the plan for landscaping and vegetation immediately around the building. Can you just go a little bit into more detail as it's compared to what it is now? What additional um landscaping or vegetation or u uh watering requirements would be needed if there was a new project built?

Sure. So, uh no palms immediately. Um that's palms are a no-go in that area. So, um all of the trees that were selected would have to be um reviewed and approved um through the landscaping plan. um anything um within uh I want to say it's a total of 200 feet from the structure would be dedicated zones. So the first 20 feet um would have to be irrigated. Beyond that would have um certain limitations in the u grouping of shrubs, trees, height um crown uh diameter. All that would be part of the plan review process. Um and how the land the landscaping or the fuel modification plan would be approved and then it would have to be maintained um in perpetuity until superseded by something else that would also have to be approved and maintained.

Got it. Okay. Thank you. Um I want to ask about um the the the traffic concerns that we've heard. Um I I understand that the biggest driver sometimes of gridlock is not necessarily the number of people, but it's how they get notified that they have to evacuate. Um can you talk about and this could be the know your way conversation a little bit, but the notification and evacuation staging plan for these new residents? Um how is that something that would fall on us or the developer to to take into consideration? There is a component where um we have asked the developer to make sure that there is a an early warnific early warning notification system for the residents themselves to make sure that there is um early and often communication um so that um the the residents are um whether that's Anaheim 9 uh the Anaheim 911 um Anaheim Alert um anything like that to make sure that those residents are are automatically enrolled in a lot of these um alert notification systems because as you've heard from some of our residents, they don't they don't know what it is. They're they're unaware when they move in the area um how to enroll, what it entails. And this automatically um gives us the opportunity to make sure that those people that are in that area are immediately engaged in some of those um fire prevention strategies and notification early on.

Got it. Thank you. And I know that to your comment of some people don't know about the know your way plan. Um I think somebody has suggested maybe working with our utilities team to try and get as much information out there as possible for residents. So um Duku I don't know if that's something that we might be able to consider if it's not something that we do already um moving forward uh regardless of of today's decision. Um the uh question I had an additional question in terms of um well more for the police chief. So I'm going to pause and I think my colleague had some questions for for you.

Thank you. Council member Meeks, do you have any additional questions? Okay. Does anyone else have additional questions for the um fire chief or the fire marshall? Okay. Um, so next person on the list, um, sir, we already had public comment. Thank you. You got, yes, sir, we get to ask questions because we're on the city council. It's not something that we can have a public council for because there was a lot of Next, um, council member Rubakalva, do you have any questions? You're next on the list. Oh, you may not have cleared it, but I think Raphael is here for traffic. And I I think that came up.

So then I will um turn it over to council member Meeks for question.

Um well, I was going to uh have our public works uh talk about the evacuation plan a little bit too. Um and one of the things I just wanted to correct, there was a statement saying that I'd indicate that the infrastructure was adequate. Um my comment was that the infrastructure is adequate for our local traffic and our gridlock out there is cutth through traffic that needs to be addressed in a number of different ways and one of those ways will be when we have an evacuation we will cut incoming traffic to the area so that people can get out. Um so I thought that was important

but if we can get uh Raphael Mr. Cobian, thank you. Good evening. Hi. Um, can you just kind of give a brief overview of the traffic modeling that we've done for evacuation and what the status of it is? Um, and maybe are there are there which is, you know, one of the reasons we did this. Are there pinch points and things that that we need to look at addressing going forward? Um, I think we've talked about Fairmont, but let me let you speak about that a little bit.

Thank you, Council Member Meeks. That's a great question, right? And I'm going to take it a step back to what you asked. Is there enough capacity out there? And I've heard that from a couple of council members today. Do we have enough capacity out there? And I'll I'll tell you the the way I think of capacity as a traffic engineer is our our our asphalt, our curb to curb. We have enough capacity out there. It's going to be capacity management and that's what we were talking about a little bit. It's going to be able to utilize both sides of the road under an emergency event situation. Last time I was here before you guys, I was talking about utilizing Santa Canyon Road and shutting it down. That's capacity management. That's the giving us the opportunity to be able to use both sides of Santa Canyon Road. Now I'm effectively doubling our capacity to be able to get people out. That's how I answer the question. Do we have enough capacity? It's it's not allowing our typical traffic to come in, reserving that capacity for that emergency situation and be able to get people out. And so that includes capacity on San Canyon Road, which we've got two uh lanes in each direction. And we've also got a shoulder, right? We could easily fit three vehicles in each direction under an emergency evacuation situation. We've got Weer Canyon Road that's built out pretty wide as well. It's got several lanes in both directions. So that's why our know your way plan and our emergency evacuation plan includes immediate severing of the people coming in and being able to use all of that capacity, all that infrastructure that we have out there solely for the purpose of trying to get people out and obviously still getting our emergency responders in for handling the emergency.

Okay. Does anyone else have any um questions for Mr. Cobian? Council member Rubikava. Thank you, Mayor. Uh so just to expand on what you mentioned about cutting off uh access from freeways. Can you describe the what occurred previously that did not happen? We we weren't communicating with other agencies and how and how we've learned from that experience.

Absolutely. And as fire chief mentioned it earlier right after Canyon Fire 2 we have an act afteraction report. We looked at what do we do well? What do we do not do well? One of the things we observed was one it was coordination with other agencies. Right. We had the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Yurbal and to the north kind of doing their own thing. We had City of Orange who was actually pumping people over Serrano into Anaheim leading to our congestion, taking up our capacity, our ability to uh evacuate our own residents. Um and so that was one of the primary things that we identified is reaching out to them, developing a plan and setting up that communication network to when something like this happens, our emergency operations center is in constant communication with these outside agencies. Okay, what are you going to do? Where's a fire coming from? here's how we're going to as a region address this evacuation. Uh and then two was the realization that we have a lot of people who who we one we evacuated too many people at the same time and that's why we developed the know your way. That's why we sliced up Anaheim Hills into zones into more manageable chunks of Anaheim Hills that we can get out effectively and as the fire progresses then we can just start activating different zones for evacuation. So two, what we also realized was we had a lot of people coming in that didn't need to be coming in. A lot of people did not have to be coming into the Anaheim Hills area when we're trying to evacuate people out. So what we folks, I don't believe any member of our staff was yelling at you while you were talking at public comment. So can you please let him finish so that we can hear him? Um, he is an expert in his field. You might not agree with what he's saying right now, but he is an expert in his field and we deserve to be able to hear our dedicated staff's comments. Thank you. Please continue.

Thank you, Mayor Aken. Um, so another part of their plan is to as soon as we have some sort of event going on Anaheim Hills, we're going to stop we're going to go out in Imperial and uh Sanan Road and we're going to stop traffic from going eastbound. We're going to reserve that capacity. We're going to go out to Sanane Road and uh and we right we're not going to be letting people coming off the freeway and coming south into Anaheim Hills. That's going to effectively we're still going to have a little bit of traffic, but it's going to be able to get its way out, but that's going to reserve all that capacity for us. So, so those were some of the biggest lessons learned that we learned from looking hard at ourselves, figuring out what we did well, what we didn't do well, and what we've implemented as part of our plan for this next uh fire that hopefully doesn't happen. Can you share a little bit about your experience and what qualifies you to opine on this issue?

Um, background, I'm an civil engineer by degree. I've been doing uh tra traffic engineering uh for 18 years. I'm a registered professional engineer in the state of California. Uh, I've been working here at the city of Anaheim for over 11 years. I was at our emergency operations center uh for Canyon Fire 1 and Canyon Fire 2. So, I can tell you firsthand what we were trying to do, what worked, what did not work. Um, and I'm going to be here. I'm going to be one of the first people that also gets called out when the next fire happens. That goes out to emergency evacuations, uh, emergency operations center, right? And coordinates with the fire marshall, the fire chief, the police chief here, and our emergency management at the police department. So, having, um, not only the um, I've got the the technical expertise, but also the the relationship, the understanding here of Anaheim, how Anaheim works. I know what San Road looks like on a Friday afternoon. And I know what it looks like when Wayeys reports a traffic collision out there. I look at our Anaheim traffic every day. I deal with residents, all 350,000 residents that we have in Anaheim. I know Anaheim traffic very well. And I'll be able to apply that at our emergency operation center when that next event happens.

As a council member, I'm not an expert in civil engineering or fire safety or public safety in general. So, we do depend on city staff. Can you share what your process is when you start to look at a project like this and what your role is in collaborating with your colleagues and providing your input as to whether or not something is safe or or you recommend it on the traffic safety side?

Great question, Council Member Ruakava. So, it's a multi-disiplinary approach, right? We don't I'll look at these things in a bubble. Um, we lead as public works traffic engineering, we lead the uh the study or at least the evaluation of the study that's prepared because it's a very data driven. And it's very similar to our traffic impact studies that we do for developments when we're trying to determine what infrastructure is needed and when new developments are coming in. So we oversee that effort, but we know that we need to make sure we bring in our Anaheim Fire and Rescue folks, our NI Police Department folks, our emergency management folks, and even our planning folks to make sure that our documents, our studies are consistent with SIGUA. So we we lead that effort. We review it all together. We bring in all these different perspectives together and at the end of the day look at it holistically from public works, from Anaheim fire, from Anaheim Police Department and emergency management perspective and make a determination as to what the uh the study outcome is.

Perfect. Thank you. I appreciate your uh comments today. Thank you. Thank you. Um do we have any other questions for um Mr. Cobian?

Okay. Thank you. Um, I wanted to ask um, Director Allen, could you pull up the um, slide that shows um, some of the housing units that were were built? Excuse me. So, from 2000 to 2025, we have 1,200 units in district 6. But the slide before that was 1980 to current. Did we have a number associated with units built

um for the period of 1980 through current was 7,300 for district 6. Okay. And so how does that comparison percentage-wise add up?

Um we don't have that same data for the city. um we we don't have we had to get creative in getting that pre20 pre20 data. So the center for demographic research um which is um a an Orange County serving um entity has data from 2000 forward. So that's why we were able to have good data for all six districts for the last 25 years. Um we tried um valiantly through uh census track data um to to come up with the the 80 to 2020 data. Um we ended up looking at as as you mentioned in the presentation because that area was constructed largely through specific plans. We and most of those were built out um generally um for their entirety. we were able to come up with um the the number, but we don't have that same number um going back to the 80s for the other districts, but we know um generally speaking, right, the rest of the city developed um earlier.

And I know you with the with the proposed um change in planning, it is specifically limited to 447 dwelling units, correct? And what is it under the general plan now? Today it's it's a commercial only um designation. So now it today it's zero. Correct.

Okay. Um, and I I want to thank the fire chief and um, traffic engineer Kobian for um, answering some of my other questions uh, about Anaheim Alert um, as well as the fire engine not um, leaving the hills and actually having some staffing. I know that was an a comment made earlier. Um, but I wanted to just kind of address some initial concerns because I have been thinking about this project for months and months and months now from before it was even in front of the planning commission to kind of how we've how we've seen it grow and progress to this to this time. And I think there are some positives to this project. I I as a housing advocate, I I appreciate that it adds much needed housing to our city. It has park space um that is going to be maintained by the developer. And I recently learned um that there is anou so it is going to be structurally sound and well well built. Um, but for me, I'm just having a problem that none of these positives can really alleviate the concerns that I have around public safety. I mean, because what I'm what I'm hearing and what I've been thinking about over the last couple months is that we are hopeful that goats, one abatement marshall, and a know your way plan are going to be enough to evacuate every senior, every child, every family from this area. Thank you. And I know that these remedies seem

adequate, but for me they are untested and aspirational. I mean we have weed and slope management that because of resources we cannot maintain go onto private property and clean up unmaintained slopes behind every house in district six. that is a lot of the times private homeowners andor HOAs. Um we also don't have the staffing or the millions of dollars that it is going to cost to maintain this year overyear if we were able if we had the program already in place today. And we know from just anecdotal knowledge from our residents as well as um talking to people in the community that know your way today and we can do a better job on educating folks. But it's not common knowledge to our own residents, let alone the thousands and thousands of cutthrough drivers that do not live in Anaheim and do not know what Know Your Way is. And I love goats. I have nothing against goats, but I don't think having them out a couple times of a a year is enough to calm my fears of what could happen because wildfires in this area are not an abstract risk. They are real. And while they might be alleviated by some of these measures, I think over the last couple of years, they have been compounded by growing traffic congestion again by people that do not live in our area, do not know our area, and do not know how to react when a wildfire hits. Um I I just feel that I can't in good

conscience endanger residents based on goats know your way and one staff member in the city of Anaheim and I think it's important to remember that wildfires do not negotiate with residents.

Amen. Um, you know, they exploit known weaknesses like am embers that travel half of a mile to get into an attic space that might be open or a roof that is made out of not a modern material. I think they ravage our known and unknown vulnerabilities and we just can't assure for me I cannot assure myself in my conscience that we have enough in place today to break ground tomorrow. So those are my concerns.

Council member Kurtz. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh we certainly have the opportunity to vote yes or no tonight. Um if we vote yes, we know what happens. If we if we vote no and this project doesn't move forward, what may happen in that area? What

just Um, if we vote no for this project, can anyone else come in and use that property?

Yes. So the if if you vote no tonight, the exist our director answer that if the existing zoning and general plan remains in place. So it could uh the building could be um retained and reused. The building could be scraped and something um commercial um within the existing zoning within the existing uses of the specific plan as it stands today um could occur. So, um similar similar uses um to a commercial center um that would be bringing in customers and and um business and and traffic as well.

Okay. Could a developer that wants to develop other type of housing, apartments, low income, very low income, come in? So to do any sort of residential um you would need one of two things. You would either need a similar application to what's before you tonight. Um there are state laws that are are constantly evolving to allow um projects to bypass this traditional process. So, um not not knowing what that future holds, but today um an applicant would come forward generally with a similar request to reszone and change the general plan on the property unless the project would fall into something um a provision in state law that would let them move forward um without those items. Is there a provision in state law today that would allow someone to come in to build low-income housing?

So, there there are several um that it it there generally speaking there are certain um um triggers and thresholds for what a project would um have to comply with and what the area looks like. So, not everything in state law um would be eligible for this site because it is a very high fire severity zone. Um there are certain um provisions which could potentially if a project were to meet the relevant requirements in state law. So, so I so I again the law is ever changing so I can't specifically definitively say um if a project could um use an existing state law today. There are definitely laws that are out there that facilitate mixed income, lowincome unqualifying properties. Generally speaking, um the prop the laws that we've looked at disqualify site when it is in a very high fire severity zone. Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Rubikava.

Thank you. Um I'm gonna ask a question I don't know the answer to, which is risky for me, but um so uh can you share So I looked it up and I think there's a total of about 17,000 housing units in Anaheim Hills. What's the square mileage in that area? because I'm trying to I just want to get the density um for district 6 versus like a district three which I think I have about 27 27,000 households in the district. Um let us get back to you on this. It it will be a little bit skewed because district 6 obviously has a large portion in the eastern portion that is undeveloped. So I think we would want to probably carve that piece out to get a apples to apples comparison, but we can certainly work on that number. So in densely populated areas like district 3 for example, have you have is it has it been common for us to start reszoning our general plan in order to have industrial become residential or mixed use? Yes, I I would say I think throughout the city we've seen applications where um housing developers bring forward a a request to change either from commercial or industrial um or a higher density residential um is is a common occurrence.

Does state law allow for us to deny a housing project because of parking or traffic concerns?

So, it depends on the project. Um, so state law and and I don't know if Leon wants to to chime in. Um, state law definitely um limits our ability with respect to uh qualifying affordable housing projects. So for affordable housing um it state law sets its own uh parking standard which an affordable housing project could use. This project does not qualify because it's it's moderate income. Um, an affordable housing project would also be um subject to denials based on objective standards. Um, that is not applicable to um every project, but again, qualifying housing development projects. Uh, in district three, just in the last couple of years, how many uh, housing developments have we built within two miles from city hall that were reszoned from industrial or commercial to residential or mixed use that were high density projects?

So, we can give you um, let me go back to So, I can't answer the question specifically, but um District 3 has over the last 25 years um 2,843 completed units, which would be um the the third highest right after district 4 in district 5. And I do hear I mean I had one of my residents here a little while ago, Ronnie, uh who expressed concern about just in his neighborhood the highly densely populated developments that we've created there which have contributed to some of the parking and traffic issues. So, it's just something as a city we have to take our fair share in development to make sure that we're not only meeting our housing goals with the state of California, but also enhancing the quality of life so people across our city can live everywhere in Anaheim. Uh, is that does that make sense, Heather?

Yes. And even with this densely populated area, is it possible for there to be a fire in Geneita Lane or Benmore uh where we have only one way to come in and out? Yes, I think the the fire chief would be best suited, but I think as as we've heard, fire fire happens in in both urban wildland urban interface as well as urban environments.

Right. And we have had a fire in in my district which is our uh our oldest part of the city which houses are about 100 years old or older and we have seen fires in this area as well. So I do sympathize with everybody who's here today who's concerned about the fire. But I will say this, I have full faith and trust in our city leadership as well as our fire chief and city staff who's recommended this project. Uh, Deer Canyon, I was one of the no votes and I voted no for that project because city staff, including our fire chief, our planning department, all recommended no because of the fire danger hazards and other issues with that project. This is a different project. This is an infill project. And I really do feel strongly about the fact that Anaheim Hills does need to see a little more development and we need to spread our uh multifamily units across the city. So, with that said, I just want to thank you, Heather. Um, I will also point out a couple of other things with the Deer Canyon project that was a little different than this project. Not only did our fire chief uh and our police chief at the time or the police department, they did not feel comfortable recommending this uh pro that project. Our planning commission did recommend that project move forward. Is that correct?

That's correct. staff's recommendation on Deer Canyon was a denial to planning commission

and planning commission still recommended it. When it came to council, I took it very seriously. Heard hours and hours of public comment as well and I um I voted no ultimately even though we had labor groups here and a lot of other uh the developers were here, but it just wasn't a project that made sense for Anaheim Hills. It was very densely built um where this one is less than 400. Um, I know there's concerns about parking or this is 450. This I know this project is very different. So, with that, Heather, I just want to thank city staff. I want to thank our fire chief. I want to thank everybody who has been part of this project, including public works on the traffic safety side. This is very different for me for um from the Deer Canyon project. So, I will be supporting this project moving forward. Um, 95 million.

I do believe that um we do need to develop across our city. We have 18,000 units to build in the next five to six years and it needs to be done in places other than just district 3, four and five. Um so I will be supporting this project infrastructure. Does anyone else have any other comments? Council member Ma.

Thank you madame mayor. Um, I just want to thank city staff. Um, the vote I make tonight is not a reflection of my lack of trust in you. Um, it really comes down to that seven minutes. When I, uh, talked to my 8-year-old son about the role of government, he says it's to keep people safe.

And when I ran for office, I said public safety would be my number one priority. And I said that housing would also be a priority but in a responsible manner. And for me, I am not willing to make a vote that adds on to a 3hour evacuation time. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Leon.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh I just want to thank everybody that came out tonight, shared your concerns, as well as those who came out to the uh community open houses. Um, I I know that it's uh it's it's difficult for for everybody to to have these conversations and I appreciate I I know a few folks that did stop by and I appreciate the willingness to engage in dialogue and discussion. Um, I've I've I've heard concerns uh not just today but the last time that we were discussing a development project where many of you were in the audience. Uh I mentioned the 24191 connector, the advocacy we've been able to do to get that through the hurdles to get it to uh final approvals. Uh Fairmont connectors next. Um the internal analysis is complete in a draft form. OCTA staff is working on setting up meetings with both the cities of Anaheim and Yorbal Linda to go over the model results. And I know that many people including many of you that are sitting in the audience came out and spoke in support of that project. uh and I hope that if and when it does come before us or the OCTA board that uh you'll be able to do so again. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Curts.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um indeed, uh this has been difficult. We've been looking at this for for months. Um, as council member um, Ma indicated, she she ran on a on a campaign that said safety first. When I was running, and remember, I represent District 4. I ran on the fact that every neighborhood in our city should be treated with the same respect and the same resources as every other neighborhood in the city. And if you look at district four and their those residents inability to get out of their neighborhoods if there were a fire or an earthquake

I looked up your statistics that you don't have fires like you do. You don't have wildfires. I I could not face those residents and say I value safety here more than I value safety in district 4. It's a district. Folks, please let her finish. apples and curtain cringle.

I have neighborhoods in my district that have one way in, one way out. I have neighborhoods where a an emergency vehicle cannot get through because of the parking situation. make a right. They again, I think every neighborhood, every resident in every neighborhood in Anaheim deserves the same resources as any other neighborhood. And so with that,

with that, I will be voting for the project. There's no open space in your district. What's your evaluation? We're out of speakers and I am definitely not making a motion. So, I'll make a motion to approve the project. I'll second. Okay. So, one of the things I just wanted to to highlight just listening to um what some of the comments were is I agree. I I think we all we we need to put residents and safety first

and I was a big supporter of district elections when we went from at large to district elections. But one of the saddest outcomes that I have seen from it is that unlike what the charter says, we become competitors, not collaborators. And everybody up here represents the city of Anaheim and every resident in it.

There was a project in District 3. I remember several years ago and the residents were really against it and I liked the project. It was an affordable housing project. But when you go out and you talk to the residents and you talk to the neighborhoods and you saw this tall building looking right into their backyards, you could understand their perspective. And it broke my heart when they lost that vote, too. And so I think instead of exporting problems from districts to other districts, why don't we import solutions and import better practices? because it just breaks my heart to think that you have an issue in your district and your solution is I'm gonna put it in yours too.

Um, so I mean

I think we need to do better. I I am blessed and that I am elected in all six districts. Every district has 50,000 residents more or less in it. And I am blessed to represent three over 350,000 people in in this city. But I care about my house, my next door neighbor, and the house that is about as far away from me. And in district one, I care about them all the same. And I and I hope we can find a way to collectively not say that, say the inside thoughts out loud. Maybe we all represent this entire council represents the city, represents all of you and I think we just we need to come up with better solutions for every corner, every street in this city because it is a beautiful wonderful city of safety for all district. So we have a motion um and a second. So please vote. A resolution of the city council of the city of Anaheim certifying final environmental impact report number 358 adopting findings of fact and statement of overriding considerations in connection therewith and adopting a mitigation monitoring monitoring program number 397 for the Anaheim Hills Festival project and required and related discre discretionary actions. A resolution of the city council of city of Anaheim amending the general plan land use element of the city of Anaheim and a resolution of the city council of the city of Anaheim improving a final site plan for the construction of 447 multi-family units and make certain findings in connection therewith and the action before council also includes the introduction of two ordinances and the vote is four eyes's three nazs

nays by Mayor Aken council member Mos and council member Meeks motion carries mayor can I Sorry. Do you have a comment? Yeah, I just had a comment. Um, I I mean I I voted representing my constituents, but I will say

that I believe in the evacuation plan and I know that this process has identified a few shortcomings that I will continue to work on and move forward. And I I really want to thank you all for being engaged. Every person that emailed, every person that came out, every person that commented, we have all learned something through this process. And I hope that you remain engaged to make the evacuation process better and to ensure that all the improvements we've made over the last 10 years will keep us all safe moving forward. So, thank you. Oh, okay. Thank you everybody.

So, we are going to move back to the regular order of our city council meeting. We'll address the city council consent calendar. This is as loud as I get. Address the city council consent calendar. So, if you can if you could please quietly walk out. Thank you.

Thank you. So, we're going to now move on to our city council consent calendar. Items one through eight are before us. Uh do we have any items um that wish to be pulled? I'm going to be pulling item number two. Um, Council Member Rubikala. Four and six, please. Sorry, just a second. You said four and six. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Bis. It three. Item number three. Correct. Thank you. So, um, with none others, is there a motion to move the balance? Second.

So, we have a motion and a second to move the balance. Please vote. The consent calendar included ordinance number 6628, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Anaheim approving and adopting amendments to the Anaheim Resort specific plan number 92-2 and chapter 18.116 Anaheim Resort specific plan number 92-2 zoning and development standards of title 18 of the Anaheim Mispo code amend number 18 to the Anaheim resort specific plan. And the vote is seven eyes, no nazs. Motion carries. Thank you. So item number two was an item I wanted to have pulled. Mr. City Manager, can I have a staff report?

Absolutely. Uh staff report will be provided by Shaunie Larson Cash and our parks department, community services. Sorry.

All right. Uh good evening, mayor, members of the city council. for your consideration tonight is an approval for a lease agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District for use of approximately 44 acres of flood basin land owned by the county and located within the Dadm Miller Golf Course. Dad Miller Golf Course sits on a total of 103.54 acres in which 44.18 acres is owned by the county of Orange. This serves as a retarding basin for the Carbon Creek channel for flood control purposes. Nine holes of the Dadm Miller golf course are situated on the county-owned parcel. The original agreement governing use of the county property was executed in 1959 for a 25-year term and modified in 1977 for an additional 25 years. The agreement allowed for recreational use of the land in exchange for maintenance of the site. From 2002 through 2007, the city and county have entered intoUUS for use of the property. After this, the agreement continued on a month-to-month basis subject to cancellation at any time by the county. In December of 24, the county notified the city of its desire to formalize a long-term lease arrangement with rent payments to align this property with other county-owned property properties utilized as golf courses. This agreement establishes an initial 25-year term with five additional 5-year extension options for an annual rent of 215,000. Beginning in 2031, rent will be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index with increases capped at 2.5% per year. This concludes my report and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you so much um for taking time to um brief

this brief me uh on this because I had a couple of questions um just about the timeline of how we are handling this. Um, so for the last how how many years? 570 years, 70 years. I think I calculated 57, but it's it's 57ish. It depends if you count when the agreement started versus when it got built, but yes, it's okay. Um, but we've had it for, I believe, a dollar a year. That is correct. And that's been from the county flood control district to the city municipality, government agency to government agency.

Correct. And when I asked about um I asked about kind of, you know, what who uses the Dad Miller golf course? Is this something that is, you know, really focused more on Anaheim residents? Um, what are the do you you you kind of answered me, but what is the total percent of Anaheim residents that are using the Dad Miller golf course?

So, we went back and evaluated that information and were able to determine um we have about 24% of all the tea times of all the uh at the golf course are utilized by Anaheim residents. But when we broke it down a little bit more, when we looked at our senior pass program, I will tell you that whole program was 68%. So, um that's a fraction of of another number. Um but that does give you an idea of who's utilizing that um program from Anaheim.

So, we are going from a dollar to $215,000 of general fund money a year. It will not be general fund money. Uh it'll be golf enterprise funds that will pay for this. Okay. And in in I was reading under the original agreements, it looks like the dollar a year came with some responsibilities on the city's um part and that was maintenance costs um pumping the water back into the flood control district and then the staffing around the area to make sure that I mean we staff to make to check to make sure that it's safe, there's no debris in the area. And then

are you uh referring to the current um agreement that we are looking at tonight or a previous agreement? I was looking at the original lease agreement. Okay. So yes, the original lease agreement the responsibility was that the city would you be able to utilize this property in exchange for um maintaining that site on behalf of the county. Okay. And so what are our maintenance responsibilities now?

So with this new agreement um our maintenance responsibilities would stay the same. we'd be responsible for maintaining, we would pay the utilities. Um, and then the additional responsibility is that we would also be responsible for cleaning out a portion of the Carbon Creek channel. Now, that is going to be mostly be um maybe debris and trash that uh flow uh that enters from the golf course. We do also have a lot of debris after a storm. So there are some additional responsibilities that we've been asked to take on as a result of that.

And are we being reimbursed by the flood control district or the county for these additional responsibilities and ongoing maintenance costs? No, we are not.

Okay. I I think my concern here is I I understand where the flood control district is coming from, but when you usually have a piece of property um and I in our conversations you said it's undevelopable. It's it's not usable for any other function except to get flooded and as we've seen with that golf course when it gets flooded we have to shut it down. um you know it does we do incur incur costs as part of maintaining that parcel and when only 24% of the users of it are Anaheim residents that means we have a lot of our surrounding cities whether it's Fullerton Cypress Westminster that are coming here to use this facility um and we're going to have to raise costs on those folks if they are not part of the Anaheim resident senior pass program or the Anaheim resident program. And in talking with some of our supervisors, they are not aware that this is happening. So, I feel like we're putting the cart before the horse because it won't hurt Anaheim residents. It's going to hurt other cities in our supervisors districts. So, I would almost prefer if we could do this to let the supervisors approve this first, analyze it, see how many of their residents are upset about it, and if their voters don't care, then why don't we come second because it doesn't affect our residents at all, although not getting reimbursed for the maintenance costs and the staff time that goes into that irks me a little bit, but I know how hard you guys worked on this. So, I I just I don't know how to kind of put that out there, but I just really would like to give our supervisors a chance to weigh in on this before we send a bunch of angry seniors to the board of supervisors because their green fees are

going up. So, um Natalie Rub, I'm sorry, Council Member Rubikala and then Council Member Meeks. I think maybe you didn't clear it because I didn't chime in.

I'm so sorry. Uh Council Member Meeks. Um yeah, I have the same concern regarding these responsibilities. So when they did the uh appraisal on the value of this, which I mean was it offset the fact by the fact that you can't build anything on it because it's a flood zone? Um and then also were the maintenance responsibilities um offset did it offset part of the value of the land as we negotiated our rent on this? So what I can let you know is during the negotiations from where we began to where we ended, you are correct. We are um below market value based on our um own study and analysis that we conducted before agreeing uh to these numbers. Um and the second part of your question was about if the maintenance was included in that evaluation.

Yes. Um, I would I honestly the maintenance cost was not included uh in there um at that time. No.

Uh might be something you want to look at because when I've golfed there, a lot of that maintenance in the channel is not coming from our golfers unless they're taking off their clothes while they golf because um that stuff is washing down from other parts of the river and there's lawn chairs and clothes and you know it is. Um, so yeah, that's some information. I mean, I I think we need to kind of explore what that cost is and try to try to get some credit for that. Um, and then have you calculated what would be the increase in the green fees with this increased rent? We did a um an estimate and we anticipate um it would be approximately $5 per non-resident increase in green fees, but we'd also have to continue to evaluate that um in the next five years because that rate will go up. So there will be a CPI uh associated with the annual rent. So uh beginning in 2031, that rate will continue to go up. So, we're going to have to continue to evaluate how much that should go up in the future.

Okay. So, I mean, that's good information for the um super county supervisors to know as we move forward on this. Council member Bis and then CH council member Curts. Thank you. I'll ask the first question. Did anybody when they were in the agreement with the Orange County Flood Control say, "Hey, look, we're going to in order to afford this, we're going to raise your uh non-resident rates." Did anybody say that to them? And did they they answer back, "Well, still it's this is what we have to do to uh or this is what you have to do to use our property."

Staff did make that reference to them. Um and they continued to uh indicate that this was the direction they were going in and needed to bring um our golf course in alignment with all the other golf courses uh that are on their properties that they're charging for.

So this isn't a question more I'll make a statement. I I'm I'm going to support this if it goes through, but I'll say this. I'm not necessarily a fan of renting uh play space and I know that this is not the only location where we rent play space. We do it at ball fields with some of the local schools. So, this this is not the only one that's out there. I don't know why we don't have a plan to acquire this land so that we don't have to, you know, be the we don't be the renters, we're the owners. And I would suggest that moving forward. I suppose that's just my comment, but thank you very much.

If I could respond to that, I could let you know that we did inquire um about uh purchasing the land, what the value of that land would be, and we were told right off the from the start that that uh county was not interested in selling us that property. I appreciate that. And I wasn't necessarily just saying here, but I mean elsewhere

generally. So, thank you. And if I can just add add on to that, um I know the flood the county flood control district was from what I understand taking orders from um or direction not orders but direction from the county CEO which is why I reached out to some of the supervisors and I just that's why I felt a bit discomfort that we are about to send 76% of our golfers to our supervisors and they're not going to they did not personally weigh in. I think if they bless this, they weigh in on this, um, fine. But I I would love to acquire this. Are we allowed to acquire flood control districts? I mean, go ahead. No, we inquired several times as part of this process over the past, I'll say, couple years, and we're told by staff that uh it's their policy not to um allow jurisdictions to acquire uh these these types of of parcels that that are used for flood control overflow. Uh we pushed a little bit on that. uh we wanted to see the policy and and understand that a little bit better but uh they kind of denied that request moving forward.

Thank you. Uh Mayor Prom Naon and then council member Bis. Thank you madame mayor and I apologize because I was in the back and so I missed some of your questions. Uh so if these are repeats I apologize Shaunie but um where do I start on this one? Um what happens if we don't approve this?

The county would have the ability to terminate our ongoing um arrangement on a month-to-month basis. So we've been operating um on a month-to-month basis and they would have the ability at any time to terminate that agreement um moving forward. Okay. Um, and so may I may I ask you, Madame Mayor, just uh so you were talking about sending this to the county supervisors first before we approve it. Can you

I was I was thinking could we table this until the county supervisors kind of weigh in are briefed on it and approve it and then we can come back. But why are we the first ones to um be signitories to this contract? It was negotiated by the flood control district. I think it should go to the county supervisors and then come back to us once they have once they have approved it because any discussion we want to have once we've approved it, why would they not? I'd rather have them be more educated. I was concerned that in talking to them, they weren't they weren't they didn't have their fingerprints on this. this wasn't one of uh you know their their main issues and agendas and I just think when you go from a government agency to a government agency there should be some leniency in what you charge for absolutely unusable space because it is going to end up raising green fees for seniors and they're not Anaheim seniors but I still am concerned about you know it's a nice recreational place where people are outside there it's it's a tends to be senior engagement and I would just like to keep it an affordable asset for families and kids and residents in North Orange County than having to charge them more rates. But if the county is going to say pay this, we approve it, pay this or we're kicking you off, well then we can have that discussion about what do we want to spend general fund dollars on.

Got it. Okay. Did you want to add something or you could Okay. Um Okay. Thank you for that, Madam Mayor. Uh question, Shaunie. the Carbon Creek channel. We're at the encampment mitigation. I can you talk to me a little bit more of what we currently do? What's within our responsibilities? How does that shift if any with this agreement? Yeah. And I'm looking for a map real quick because there are two sections of the Carbon Creek channel and we're only talking about one of those sections. So, um, right now we, um, let me confirm real quick because I want to make sure I'm not mixing the two sections up.

Okay. Thank you for that uh little break there. That was helpful. Okay, so um there are a couple sections and the section that we're referring to is um a dirt section, not the rip wrap. um those those concrete um boulder-l like items. And so um sometimes we may get encampments, sometimes um like I mentioned earlier after storms we are getting, um mattresses or chairs or other items. And so um as well as as you know any other trash that blows off of the golf course. Um, I think the main intent is for any debris and trash from the golf course that we're making sure we're picking it up. But we have also agreed to clean out that area and identify issues um like u potential encampments which are not the norm in that section, but it could happen. Um, and then uh work to get those cleared out.

And then I'm sorry, just to clarify, we do that currently or we have to wait for county folks to clear those. So currently we do minor weed abatement and trash pickup. This is a higher level of cleanup that uh they're asking us to do. We have not uh done that in the past. Okay. Um I'll pause there. Thank you, Shannon. So just for for clarity, um so we don't do that currently. So we're going to be paying more and doing more. Yes,

that is correct. Okay, I'm gonna um Council Member Curts and then Council Member Bailey. Okay. So, you said it increase grains freeze about $5. If it's we're going to be having to pay $215,000 and that's about 43,000 rounds of ground golf that are played there.

Um we uh currently at our high demand we have 95,000 rounds of golf that are played at Dad Miller Golf Course. Um then you want to take out your um residents, your seniors, your tournaments, your high school. Um and so we did a conservative estimate um that uh for the first few years we felt $5 for nonresidents. Yes. Would that include the additional cost to maintenance? Uh, no, that was not estimated with that number

because I would imagine you would need to do that too. So that at the end of the day, the city is not taking in all those costs. Agreed. Okay. Thank you. this. I'll just ask I'm I'm happy to send this back to the supervisors, but I guess the question I'd ask is uh staff is do you think that that's going to come back at a different a different result?

You know, it's it's hard to tell. It's um you know uh we're dealing with staff versus staff and so in that sense um I struggle to see a different result at my level. Um and I'll just leave it at there.

Yeah. And council member, I'll just add to that. Um and Johnny's correct. We're working with the county real estate office uh and they're representing the flood control district on this. Um um one thing I will say is that even though we discussed the possibility of our green fees increasing to cover this cost, um it's not like we said it was a guarantee that that was going to happen. And so, um, but what I'm hearing from this council is that, um, that is something that we would likely be directed to do, to explore, is to look at our green fees for, uh, non Anaheim residents in order to make up for the loss in the golf revenues that result in this new lease. And so with that new factoid, maybe uh that that may be a good well, I don't know, something that needs to be considered at the county board level as the mayor indicated. And uh with that fact in mind, maybe they approach it differently, but it's tough tough to say. Well, maybe we could just if I would like more information on what we're spending right now um on cleaning up the flood control district of the shoes and debris and mattresses that are in there um because I I don't even know what that cost is. But I would like us to consider having that be taken off of the rent if we're going to be maintaining it. Maybe they'll end up owing us money. I think the the the theory and and correct me if I'm wrong, Shnie, is, you know, we've had this agreement for so many years and and I think the county's perspective is well, we're letting you use it at least for this one section that that is primarily within the golf course that is not covered in the rip wrap rock. Um the city, you know, since it's it's

primarily on your golf course, you clean it up. And so I think that's been the existing agreement for for years and years and years. Um we tried to clarify in this new agreement what exactly that entails moving forward. Uh and so we can certainly go back and see if there's an in going to be an increase in cost to us uh based upon the new lease uh and and provide you with those details on on those numbers. But certainly what I'm hear from the policy body here is that um you know that needs to be taken in consideration as well. If there are additional costs on that end as well as a lease then that is something that we need to explore increase in rates. Thank you. Council member Meeks, did you have another comment? I apologize. I wasn't quite done yet.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Council member,

so I'll ask I guess this last question. You know, usually when we talk about uh flood control land or you know, other let's say limited use facilities, I know we had one on our agenda tonight that we passed through. They don't necessarily have, if you will, a competitor. So, let me just ask you this. Are by going back and trying to get this uh mitigated here, are we in any danger of losing the existing lease that we have? because I don't know if they turned around and offered this to the Tiger Wood Foundation, the Tiger Wood Foundation might say, "Hey, it's a pretty good deal. Let's take it." So, I just want to make sure we're not in in any danger of losing the existing lease that's there.

I don't believe we're in danger of losing it there. Um, you know, there is always the opportunity for the county to, you know, get into an agreement with, um, a recreational organization, organization that wants to provide, you know, athletic um, opportunity, something that, um, would match with the open space, uh, which that area needs to stay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Meeks. Um, is it does the county have a schedule to send it to the board of supervisors at this point?

It is my understanding they're looking to send it in April. Okay. Don't hold me to that. Um, it it can go earlier or later, but based on their tenative schedule, that's what they mentioned. Okay. So, we we do have um a little bit of time if we wanted to continue this and maybe reach out to our supervisors in our districts and see if there's some better partnership they could come to. So, I would I would uh move to continue it until do we have to do a date certain or can I just continue? There would be a continuation um with what do we call it? uh to a date uncertain. Date uncertain.

Date uncertain as opposed to a date certain. Is that a real thing? Yes, we have two. We have two weeks. We have two weeks before the next meeting and I think all of this conversation to say, "Hey, are you going to support us or not?" I have to imagine that that can be done in two weeks, but

okay, we can continue. Well, I'm going to ask um department director Larson Cash, is that enough time to kind of work with public works to get costs on what it's what we've been spending to clean up the flood control district panel? work with the um homeless task force on what we've done to clean up any encampments as well as any times where we have to close the amount of revenue that we lose on the several days that the we have to close the front nine. It's enough time for city staff to get that information together um and bring something back. I just in my head I'm wondering about is that enough time for a response from the county by then and I'm not sure about that. So

well then why don't we do a date uncertain because I can always reagendize it um yeah if we if we have a great solution especially if there's going to be outreach to the county board um to have further conversations higher level conversations I think that's going to take some time. Okay. So, I will move to continue to a date uncertain. I will second. Please vote. Oh, sorry. One more comment. Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, can we also get did we do an appraisal and how we got to the $215,000 figure?

So, uh, we did, um, an evaluation of the market value of the rent that they were proposing to charge us. So, yes, we got um a study done comparing other like properties, other leases. Once we knew they weren't interested in um selling the property, we were focusing on the rental rate. Um based on our um analysis that was completed, uh we believe the rate they're charging us was under market value. Can you clarify when you say that we based it off of the rent that they were giving us? What is what does that mean? that we didn't look at an independent appraisal and get feedback from them.

No, we did. The city um reached out to um Steve White and um worked with him to provide an analysis of other facilities. They're not all golf facilities. Some golf facilities, some by the county, some by other government agencies. taking into account open space, taking into account the number of acres that we're talking about and what that uh annual rent is and coming up with a price per acre um so that we could compare apples to apples.

Thank you. And the 25 years, the 25-y year term, was that our suggestion or their suggestion or how did we land on 25 years? Um, I I honestly don't remember, but I do remember us wanting to extend it as long as possible, which is why uh we asked for the five five-year extensions also. Got it. Okay. Um, and then just to just to confirm the we're we're voting on continuing this to a date uncertain and then the direction to staff is to go to the county board of supervisors. Is that something that we're taking on? you're going to call. Okay.

And just for clarification that just to be consistent with our rules, the term is postpone indefinitely and that allows you to do exactly what you're asking to do.

The vote is seven eyes, no nazs. Motion carries. Excuse me. The next item was item number three pulled by council member Bis. Would you like a staff report? I would love a brief. Thank you, Mr. Interim City Manager. May we have a brief staff report?

Yes. Uh staff report will be provided by Rudy Amami, our public works director. Uh, good evening, mayor and council member. The item before you is a subdivision agreement for parcel map 2020178 located at 208 North Beach Boulevard. This is an agreement with Zelman 39 Common Partners LLC for the subdivision property at the northeast corner of Beach Boulevard in Lincoln Avenue to allow construction of a new retail shopping center. The project will subdivide the existing parcel into five parcels, including four buildable parcels for one uh multi-tenant retail building and three separate drive-through restaurants and one non-buildable parcel that will provide primary access to Beach Boulevard. The planning commission previously approved the tenable tenative map in May of 2020, I'm sorry, 2022 in conjunction with the conditional use permanent final site plan. uh as required the subdivision map act and the project's condition of approval. The developer must dedicate rightaway and construct public improvements along the project frontage. These improvements will include reconstruction of sidewalks installations of parkway landscaping along Beach Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. And the developer will complete these improvements at their sole cost and as posted the require improvement bonds to guarantee the performance and there is no impact to the city's budget and all conditions required prior to the parcel approval have been met. Uh, and that concludes the staff report and I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Rudy. Uh, just a quick question for you. Do you know generally how long does it take after the uh map gets approved by the city council before we will see construction? Um, that that really depends on the developer schedule. Okay. Uh, I was going to answer these questions, but I'll just put it out to you. Do you happen to know what they're building on parcel number four? I would defer to All right, never mind. I'll answer. I was going to give you all the glory, but I'll take it.

So, parcel number four, I think there we anticipate, not anticipate, but we'll know that the construction of an In-N-Out is coming, as well as parcel number three. I believe we're looking at a Dave's Hot Chicken. And then at parcel number one, we'll see a Dutch Brothers Coffee. So, I cannot uh begin to tell you thank you for or I guess we'll say thanks for the developer for finally getting in the parcel map uh getting it approved. I know we're anxious to see uh sticks in the ground and construction going up on that corner of Beach and Lincoln. So, with that, I'll move approval if there are no other comments. Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second.

Thank you. Please vote. Oh, sorry. Would everybody please currently weigh in and vote? The vote is seven eyes, no nays. Motion carries. Thank you. The next item that was pulled um was item number four, pulled by council member Rubika. Would you like a staff report? Yes, please. Mr. City Manager, may we have a staff report? Yes. uh staff report provided by uh our public works director Rudy Amami as well as our fire chief Pat Russell.

All right. Uh this item um is a resolution approving a purchase and sale agreement with the California Department of Transportation or CALR to acquire property adjacent to 1251 West Lincoln Avenue for the future development of fire station 13. This action supports the city's strategic plan goal to strengthen public safety services. The city currently owns a 68 acre remnant parcel at this location. The adjacent 81 acre parcel is owned by Calrans. Acquiring the Calrans parcel will allow the city to assemble a site sufficient a sufficient size to construct fire station 13 and improve emergency response uh coverage in central Anaheim. Calrans obtained an appraisal establishing a value of $1,726,000. The city commissioned an independent MAI certified appraisal to review to confirm fair market value and requested a reduction based on that review. I was notified this afternoon that Calrans has revised the appraisal down to $1,389,000. This result this results in a reduction of $337,000. The final purchase and sale agreement will reflect the revised value. There is a critical timeline associated with this action. Calrans must submit this transaction to the California Transportation Commission by March 18th for consideration at its June meeting. Approval tonight allows the team to proceed without delay. The Anaheim Fire and Rescue budget for fiscal year 2025 will be amended in the amount of the final purchase price and the acquisition is anticipated to be funded through development impact fees. And that concludes my staff report.

Thank you, Rudy. I appreciate the work that you've done um in collaboration with multiple city staff members, including the fire chief and his team to get to this point. Um when we received the original uh amount from CALR, what was that original amount that they requested for purchase of that land? That original amount was the $1.7 million. So then, so thank you guys for going back um per city council to see if you can get a reduction in that price. Has there been a previous um uh review of that land just to see the value of it?

Yes, that's the appraisal that the independent appraisal we had done of it and they identified um they reviewed the CALR appraisal and identified some areas that uh they disagreed with the methodology that they used to uh uh value the land. Um, and we worked with Calran staff, provided the backup and information. Um, and like I mentioned this afternoon, we we did see that uh reduction. It wasn't the full amount that we had requested, but it was more than halfway there.

Thank you. And I'm grateful for all of the work because this was not an easy thing to get done. And I think we've spent almost uh 20 months uh working with CALR assembly member Valencia's office and multiple city staff members just to untangle the situation in that area because we we just to kind of give a little bit of background we own is it 40% of that parcel and then 60% is owned by CALR and um the intention behind building a new fire station there is to serve not only district three but two and one in a densely populated and continu continuing to thrive area. Is that correct? That's correct. As well as that stretch of the I5 freeway that sees a lot of accidents as well.

And we I looked at other properties within the area to see if those would be conducive, but this was the the land that because of all the reasons you just mentioned.

That's correct. And then I just kind of want to mention so in the last four months um just looking at an average based on what is on uh our Anaheim Fire and Rescue social media but it looks like if I did an average of October to January Anaheim Fire and Rescue and this is not limited just to my to the district centrally but um they've had 3,481 total calls and that's in just a month a monthly average. January it was 3,481. And then they've had 81 average fire calls. In January it was 87 and it's gone as high as 92 in November. So we and just in district 3 alone, I know my district has had five or six in a a short period of time and those were residential. So I just want to thank you for the work that you've put into getting us to this point. Um I am happy with the I know taxpayer dollars. I take that very seriously and I feel very comfortable. uh moving forward with this. So, uh with the my council members um additional feedback, I would like to make a motion.

There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Council member Bis

Rudy, I got a question and this might be better for our interimm city manager or possible our our accounting department that's here. But I'm curious. It says uh at the uh impact on budget anticipated to be funded through development impact fees collected from future development. I'm I'm just curious how that works. Anybody know? Well, I think the important thing is that once this is uh approved and we have a final PSA that we will amend the fire budget uh in the near term to make sure that this purchase goes through so that we don't delay this any further in terms of using development fees in the future to uh I I think that was in reference to the actual construction of the uh station uh in the future. So, so then as far as the land purchase goes, the land purchase isn't necessarily using the impact fees.

No, the general fund. Exactly. Uh it's something that that needs to be uh purchased in the in the near term. Yeah. I I believe there it was already confirmed that the development there was sufficient development impact fees for the land purchased, but the future de uh construction of the building added on future development fees. Yeah.

Correct. So, so I apologize for the confusion and the impact of the budget section, but yeah. So, it sounds like uh finance has worked out that that we will be dipping into some development fees for the initial purchase and then uh for the construction of the station uh down the road also relying on future development funds. So we have enough development fees at this point to purchase the land and then moving forward when we try to get the station we're able to I guess forward bill for or we're able to charge an impact fee for the station and that's how we'll generate funds to to fund it. I would need to confirm on your first part of the question which is is there enough of existing development fees to cover the the uh the purchase? I I I don't know the final answer on that. So, I'm gonna have to get back to you on that.

Well, let me just make something very clear. I'm If we have to take it out of general fund, then um this is something that we need. I'm okay doing that. I just want to understand how it works moving forward because I know we're looking at some development fees now. So, it's important to me to understand if we're able to forward bill essentially for impact fees. Thank you. I'll get that clarification. We'll forward it to to council. And before the council votes, I just wanted a clarification from staff if it's still required for you to get the full 1.726 authorization or up to the new revised amount. Do you still need the 1.726 for any reason or is it the new revised amount?

We could revise the the number to the new 1,389,000. Okay. So, I assume the motion would include that revision to the staff recommendation. Yes. Thank you. Oh, we got you a firefighter, Chief. Thank Thank Rudy. Um, Council Member Curts and then Council Member Leon.

Um, I too want I I certainly support the the purchase and thank you Rudy for negotiating. Um, thank you, Chief, for for fighting for this little plot of land so that we can move forward. I know uh because of its central location um in our city and uh that many districts and and many surrounding neighborhoods will uh have shortened response times and that at the end of the day is what's important. Uh and so so thank you very much. Um a question regarding the impact fees. You're going to check to see if we have them there already. Otherwise, in the room, we'll use general fund. We'll find the money for the purchase. But are you saying that the construction of the station will be paid for by development impact fees?

I think ideally that's the plan. Um, but knowing how these projects work and how this is a priority, we may have to look at other financing options as well, just to be perfectly honest.

Okay. All right. Um, because I wouldn't want us to have to wait a year or two to collect enough to build. And so, thank you for saying you'd be looking at other ways to to raise money for it. Thank you. If I could just add one clarification to that too is if we do end up using any general fund, it would end up being repaid by future development fees collected too. So the the timing to get the property is is something that's driving this transaction right now, not the funding. And then the funding would come later with development.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh I just wanted to make a comment that I appreciate staff's work on this. I know that we've talked about this a few times. Um I'm supportive of this. Um the fire response times have been something that um residents in my district have reached out to me about and in particular I know the remodel over in West Anaheim and uh now being able to at least take the next step. I know district 3, I think district 2 um are some of the more heavily impacted districts when it comes to these response times. And so I'm uh happy to support this and and move this forward. Thank you. So with no further comments, we have a motion and a second. Please vote. The action before council is approval resolution of the city council as amended declaring public per purpose and approve a purchase and sale agreement in substantial form with the California Department of Transportation to acquire property adjacent to 1251 West Lincoln Avenue, Cal Trans parcel number DK001153-01-01 for public purposes in the amount not to exceed 1,389,000 based upon a final CALR appraisal. Authorize a director of public works to execute the purchase and sale agreement with CALR and authorize the director of public works or designate to take all actions necessary or advisable to implement and administer the PSA. This action also includes determination that the action is exempt from SQA pursuant to SQA guidelines section 15061B3 because the activity is covered by the general rule that SQA applies only to projects that have been potentially to cause significant impact on the environment. And this also includes amendment to the fiscal year 2526 Anaheim fire and rescue budget and the vote is seven eyes, no naysay. Motion carries.

Thank you. Next is item number six pulled by council member Rubikala. Would you like a staff report? I don't necessarily need a staff report, but thank you um for being here. I just wanted to let you guys know that I I support the carveouts for some of these injuries because I do think that our workers comp program could be a little more efficient. Um, so I am glad to see it happening for fire, but it would be great if we can explore what that would look like for expanding it to other departments that might be impacted like public utilities. Um, so so and I also thank you, Linda, for the memo regarding workers comp, and I will be um requesting some additional information in the future. Uh, but I just want to thank you for um making it more efficient.

Thank you, council member. Um, with that, would you like to make a motion? I'll make a motion. Please vote. A resolution the city council of the city of Anaheim approving a labor management workers compensation alternative dispute resolution agreement between the Anaheim Firefires Association Local 2899 and the city of Anaheim and rescending resolution number 2018-020. This also includes authorization to the human resources director to execute the agreement and take the actions necessary to implement and administer the agreement. And the vote is seven eyes and no nazs. Motion carries.

Thank you. So the next item on our agenda is item number nine. It's a presentation and discussion regarding staffing and safety requirements for selfch checkckout stations at grocery and drug retail establishments as requested by councils. Mr. Mr. City Manager, may I uh request a staff report?

Yes. Thank you, mayor. Um, and uh going to call for some help here from my colleagues in the city manager's office. Uh, Ted White, uh, our deputy city manager, and Patrick man, our, uh, management intern. Uh, please note this is his first time in the staff table, so hazing is encouraged. I'm just kidding. Um uh so yes, uh we we've we've uh we've received this request to have a discussion on this item. Uh and so staff quickly put together some basic background information in order to allow for council to have this discussion. Uh Ted and Patrick put together a brief presentation to just kind of lay out the issues and and what we found with some jurisdictions around us. Obviously, it's not exhaustive uh on this topic, but uh if given direction to move forward, certainly staff is prepared to dive into the issue a bit more. So, with that, I'll hand it over to Ted.

Greg started the hazing by calling him an intern rather than a fellow. I should have known better.

Fellow Patrick man. The item before you this evening is a discussion regarding the potential regulation of staffing and safety standards at grocery stores and retail drugs stores that operate with selfch checkckout stations. This discussion is at the request of Council Member Curts and Mayor Aken. Over the past several years, grocery stores, big box retailers, and retail drugstores have expanded the use of selfch checkckout technologies. Along with the rise in the use of these technologies have come concerns about public safety and appropriate staffing levels at these stores. In response to these concerns, some local jurisdictions have adopted regulations in this area. Long Beach became the first city in the nation to adopt an ordinance effective in September of 2025. Costa Mesa followed adopting an ordinance just last month with an effective date of April um 2026. In addition, at the state level, Senate Bill 442 proposed by Senator Smallwood Quueves from Los Angeles include similar provisions. However, as this bill is currently a two-year bill. The regulatory frameworks adopted by Long Beach and Costa Mesa, as well as the proposed SB 442 share similar key provisions with minor differences. They all establish thresholds for the types and size of business establishments that are subject to the regulations, including grocery stores over 15,000 square feet, superstores um over 75 or 85,000 square feet with more than 10% of the floor area devoted to food, and all retail drugs stores regardless of size. SP 442 would limit this to drugstore chains that operate uh 75 or more locations in the state. Based on these standards, we estimate that approximately 26 stores in Anaheim would be affected if a similar ordinance were to be adopted. All three frameworks establish minimum staffing levels with

Long Beach and Costa Mesa requiring a a one employee per three selfch checkckout stations while also requiring at least one man station to be open whenever selfch checkout is in operation. SB 442 does not contain a staffing ratio and would simply require one dedicated employee. All three frameworks also limit selfch checkckout transactions to 15 items and prohibit the purchase of items requiring identification or stored in locked cabinets. In regards to enforcement and implementation, the three regulatory frameworks share similar attributes. However, I would characterize Long Beach's ordinance as more aggressive than Costa Mesa's ordinance in that there is no cure period in the Long Beach ordinance and it only allowed 30 days for implementation. In contrast, Costa Mesa's ordinance includes a 15-day written notice cure period before litigation may proceed, and it allows for a 60-day implementation period. Both local ordinances carry penalties ranging from $100 to $1,000 per employee per day per store with attorney u fees recoverable. SB442, on the other hand, penalties are up to $1,000 per day with an aggregate cap of $200,000, also with attorneys fees. I would note that council received three correspondences on this item. One from the California Grocerers Association and two from uh from Ger Operators with stores in Anaheim. All three letters expressed their interest to meet with council to provide input and perspective prior to moving forward uh with any ordinance. As indicated, staff is seeking direction on whether and how to proceed on this issue. Uh that concludes our presentation and we're available for questions. Thank you. Thank you so much, Director Wright. Um, Council Member Curts, would you like to begin?

I I can begin. Um it I started this thought process um as I have visited local either supermarkets or or uh stores uh where they have selfch checkckout and over a period of time there are less and less and less checkouts available or uh cashiers available. and in some cases none at all. Um and what I have noticed also is that particularly uh seniors, older folks, uh shoppers um don't know what to do, are having struggles, uh they don't they I've seen them actually leave a cart full of groceries and just walk out because they're frustrated. There's no one there to help them. I've also seen workers just one on Friday um where um it's early in the morning all the kids from Catella from South Junior High are stopping quickly to pick up something for lunch trying to run through the selfch checkckout. I imagine some of them are running right through the selfch checkckout. Um, and one cash, one checker is taking care for those and also helping those of us that want to have our groceries checked, not by ourselves. And that line started forming as soon as he opened that that line. And he's running, literally running back and forth. It and he kept, of course, having to lock up the register. So, in the middle of me trying to get my groceries out, he's had to leave me three times to

answer questions for selfch checkckout. And I wonder how many people get frustrated and leave uh don't go back to that store. Um, how many people uh get, you know, moms with little kids who don't are struggling just to get these kids through, much less checking, bagging and and all of that for themselves. Uh, so as I was thinking about that, um, thinking about is there and and understanding that Long Beach and Costa Mesa had done something, is there something that we can do? uh is there something that we should should do um for not only our residents who are shopping at these stores but those uh folks that are working in that industry. Um we've helped hotel workers in the past with a with a panic button to making sure that uh people who work in our city are safe. Um we had a comment uh from the audience saying well you didn't reach out to us but today is is a discussion just to see if if there's interest in in going further with it. If it is certainly the plan would be to reach out, talk to the grocerers probably through the grocerers association um and and see if we can uh come to to some uh meeting of the minds is again today's intent was to start a discussion about uh our desire uh this council's desire to to move forward with anything of of this nature. So with that, mayor Thank you so much, Council Member Meeks, um, for Sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me today, um, Curts, for collaborating, um, with me and and I really echo a lot of your concerns, not only about, um, our

seniors and making sure that our population is able to get the food and the pharmacy things that that they need, but um, I do also worry about our workers from the perspective of I have been there when the selfch checkouts aren't working and people get frustrated and get angry at the employees. So, um, to the speaker's comment, I'm not as concerned that we're asking employees to become de facto law enforcement officers and stop shoplifting. I'm worried about them being uh, verbally assaulted by customers because the machine doesn't work. Um, and I can say as someone that, you know, kids are in high school and there's a Vans right across the street and there are security guards at both doors just trying to stop people from taking probably energy drinks. I don't know what they're doing. Um, so there is a ton of retail loss or else we wouldn't have such heightened security officers um that are in our grocery stores. So that that just doesn't make any sense. I've seen people weigh one banana and then put four in their bag. I mean, it it's just that's neither here nor there. That's an ethical decision that that person has to make. But when it comes to protecting our workers and some of the aggression and confusion and pressure that comes from trying to staff two lanes while you've got four selfch checkckouts, it's I I just really think we need better protections um around those workers. So, thank you for um for getting this ball rolling. Council member Meeks and then Council Member Rubikala.

Well, I mean, I think everyone can acknowledge that um a lot of our business practices and business models are changing. We're buying things online. Uh if you go to an event, it's all electronic ticketing. Um and I will admit that it drove my dad crazy. He couldn't go to an Angel game without me. But um you know it's something that more and more even seniors are getting more accustomed to using their phone for things. My mom can do it now. Buy a movie ticket. So, but I I really am concerned with putting our businesses in Anaheim at a financial disadvantage with more burdensome regulations than just across our border and making it uh more expensive for our residents to buy their groceries and things like that because we have these. And with the state looking at this, I am not in any hurry to rush forward with an ordinance that that may put our businesses at a disadvantage. Um, I would prefer that the state or the county or does a more global look at this and initiate something that that keeps us at a level playing field with our neighbors.

Thank you, Council Member Rubikava. And then Council Member Ma. Thank you. And I apologize if you answered this question in your presentation, but what's the enforcement mechanism for is that a code enforcement thing who's managing this? This is generally set up as a as a private um uh enforcement issue. There's a there's a right to cure that a an employee or someone from the public, anyone could bring forward um as a so no, I wouldn't I wouldn't expect that this would be a significant um code enforcement um issue. This would be something that any member of the um of the public could bring forward through um through the legal system through

So what number will they be calling? So the signage is required and thank you for the little chart. That's very helpful. So signage will be required so consumers can see what the law is in Anaheim similar to what we have at our hotels. And then what number will they be calling and how will we staff that department?

Because I imagine I might be calling the number. Well, I uh an ordinance hasn't been proposed at this point, so that's obviously subject to discussion. But I I my understanding is that uh there is no department set up in those cities to handle those that it's done through private enforcement. So basically if a um member of the public sees uh there's a violation they would write in one case they'd have a cure period and then the grocery store the um drugstore would have an opportunity to cure it and then if they don't then they'd be subject to a private lawsuit. So they'll first call the store and let the store know and then but how do we find out to enforce the fines and penalties?

I nothing's been proposed at this point. So, if if the council wants to have some sort of enforcement um you know uh right then they could put that into the ordinance, but my understanding is the ones that are out there right now are through private enforcement. So, it's not a call to the city, it's a call to the grocery store. So, none of the So, then the I guess the unions will be working. I I'm just kind of trying to figure out I I my policies that we create should have some sort of an enforcement if it's a city ordinance. So, we're creating it, but then we're not going to oversee it.

And we're creating Well, again, it depends on what you want to propose, but uh if we use the model offered by other cities, it would be um the uh you're creating a private right of action is what the city would be doing. It would be giving the public the right to bring a direct lawsuit against the the grocery store.

Yeah. I guess I mean since it's a discussion I'd be open to seeing what adding an element to this so that we can ensure that it's actually being enforced or implemented at the store levels. Um who who would they report it to? So similarly to you know somebody I don't know reporting something in the city like for the hotel worker safety ordinance I believe there is a number they can call to report it not being you know an employee there can actually report it not being um uh followed. So I guess I would like to see something in there that actually gives the city notification. I'm not saying we need to create a new department, but just some sort of communication because I would like to know if Vans is not actually, you know, putting a the right amount of employees there to oversee selfch checkout because then we just have it in then it's like the labor union has to file a grievance. I'd rather implement a policy that's actually going to be effective if that makes sense.

Yeah. I have a question. Do we have any other policies? I can't quite remember the hotel worker safety button if it was required to be reported to the city, but do we ever do we have anything similar, Mr. City Attorney, where if some if this is a private right of action and then somebody files a lawsuit, they copy, it's part of our program that they copy the city so that we get notified that way. Um I suppose yeah I mean that that could be weaved into an ordinance that basically says uh you know private action is conditioned upon uh showing to the court that you give notice to the city simultaneous or something to that effect. It would just be an extra step right that a litigant would have to do. But if that's something that uh you know the council would like to include that sounds like something that we could probably include. Yeah, I was just trying to think of an easy way. Um, do you have any more questions or Okay, so next is Council Member Ma and then Council Member Bis.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, thinking about our frontline workers, um, we share the same grocery store. Um, our butcher came to our swearing in ceremony. Um, so, um, I do carry much care about them very much. Um, I do share some of the same concerns as council member Meeks and does this put us at a disadvantage? I'm actively seeking a grocery store for the platinum triangle. So, that's why it's top of mind. Um, I am support of a more statewide um situation where it's not peacemail across the state. Um, overall, again, I'm interested in exploring this, but I do have some concerns about potential impact.

Council member Bis, and then Council Member Curts.

Thank you. First, I just want to say thank you to Council Member Curts for uh bringing this forward, I guess, without, you know, all the staff time uh attached to it to kind of take the temperature of everybody that's up here. and then if it seems like it's something that people want to pursue, spend the spend the staff time doing it. So, I really think that's uh commendable. I want to say thank you for that. Um, but then I'd also like to say, you know, I want to clearly say that I'm a I'm a pro labor guy. I'm strongly supportive of employment uh opportunities at every wage level in our community from the entry level position all the way up to, you know, long-term careers. I know the job matters to Anaheim families and to overall health of our local economy. I understand the issues and the reasons why this has come forward for discussion. There are very clearly legitimate concerns about safety, the potential for theft when selfch checkckout stations are left unattended. You know, we've all seen the reports from other cities and I don't dismiss their concerns. Public safety and supporting good jobs are priorities that I take seriously. At the same time, however, I believe that this is an issue that should ultimately be addressed by the free market rather than, you know, new city regulations mandating minimum staff levels. Anaheim should not be in the business of uh telling employers uh what to do. And I think uh you know if the grocery and the dug drugstore operators determine that unstaffed selfch checkckout creates safety risk or increased loss then it's incumbent upon them uh to kind of change their ways. So I'll just stop there. Thank you.

Thank you so much uh Council Member Curts and then Mayor Prom Leon. I just want to respond on the on the state bill. It's a two-year bill. Generally, when that happens, it's not going to move forward. They rather than vote it down, they just make it a two-year bill and let it die. It's slow death. So, don't expect much to come out of the state on that leg piece of legislation.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, Patrick, I have 10 questions for you. Uh, I'm kidding. Um I I also thank my colleague for bringing this forward. Um I I really think every resident who walks into a store in our city should feel confident and should feel safe. Um should be in a welcoming environment. Uh every worker who shows up for their shift uh should be able to do so and be able to do their job safely, be able to go home safely. Um as selfch checkckout has really become a standard across the city. um a standard feature of retail. It really prompts questions that I think are worth asking about the experience of our residents, about the conditions that many workers uh in our community face um and what our role as a city should be um in what our role should be in making sure that everybody is safe and both the workers and the residents that rely uh and and what these stores offer that both of them are protected. Um, I I appreciate staff's work in comparing what other cities have done to um and what they've decided um uh to address these questions uh through policy. Um and I do think there is a meaningful role for our city to play uh in making sure that these environments are safe, that they are accessible, and that they're fair uh for the workers uh who keep them running and the residents who do depend on them. So I do look forward to continuing this discussion to uh bringing something back that's that reflective of both the urgency of the issue as well as our commitment to getting it right and overall it's about the safety uh and and working conditions of our workers but as well as the safety of our residents that rely on these stores to um provide for their families.

Thank you Council Member Meeks. So if if we're are going to bring back something, I mean, I I don't see the safety issue. And so if we're going to bring back information, I would like some facts and statistics about what are the safety issues. Um the the store is staffed. Um you mentioned security guards at the gate. I I'm confused on the safety issues and where that plays in here. So I would would like some data on that. um if that is one of our reasonings for implementing something.

Yeah. And and I agree and one of the things that I've just seen happen so it's anecdotal um is you know people buying alcohol in the selfch checkckout lanes that are clearly not supposed to be buying alcohol. But if it's in the bag and no one knows it, no one's going to card them. Like if I if you try to do it I think they're stealing it because if I try to buy alcohol it no they're definitely stealing it. Yeah. It doesn't let me buy it at the uh selfch checkckout line.

I I was looking out and trying to be like, well, what is the amount of retail loss that goes on, but I don't know an organization's going to put that facts out there and saying, "Oh, this is how much money we're losing or like this is how much alcohol and tobacco gets stolen from our stores." I was trying to because I agree. I was trying to kind of look at that, but it's not the easiest information to to garner. But I agree. I think we should try to make factbased decisions whenever possible. All right. Thank you.

All right. So, I have a question for Patrick. So, two trains are on parallel tracks, 330 miles apart, one going 85 miles per hour and one going 65 miles per hour. How long until they meet? Yeah, I'll let uh council member Bis take that one. I'm kidding. Um it's two and a half hours. Um so without any further questions or comments. Oh, sorry. Council member Bis,

I'll I'm going to piggyback onto Council Member Meek's comment. If we're going to do this, why and and again, please know I said I don't think we should do it, but why are we limiting it to just grocery stores? I mean, I know many other businesses out there that have the same thing. And I I wouldn't require I wouldn't require, you know, Home Depot or Lowe's or the dollar store or I'm just I'm just going through my mind of other businesses that do the same factor and hope I'm not opening up the can, but uh I mean I wouldn't wouldn't apply it to them as just as I wouldn't apply it to a grocery store. So just my two cents. Maybe that's something that we can look into. We can talk to I I know we have Home Depot in um Anaheim and I'm happy to go over there and talk to their management, but um yeah, if we have stores to see what their if their staffing ratios are the same as grocery stores, I'm happy to look into it. It's probably not what you want, but I'm happy to do.

I love selfch checkckout. I mean, and I use it, like you said, Home Depot all the time. Um okay. So I guess one of the things maybe we just to get us full circle um is does looking at the staffing ratios that were around 3 to one. Um I like the idea of um having at least one I like you called it human lane human staffed lane um open if selfch checkckout's going to be in operation. I didn't see in here, and I apologize if I missed it, about having the prohibitions against the sale of alcohol in selfch checkckout.

Um, it's a state law. They if they're going to get it, they have to take it to a cashier that's overseeing the checkout line to um to process that. Um the do you have the page up that is the comparison chart chart? No, not that one. It's a selfch checkckout ordinances comparison chart. Oh,

it's in the staff reports. You don't have that one up or No. Ah, Patrick. Patrick. Oh my god.

No, we just have it on in our staff room. It's because it's really nice to know. So um that chart had some ideas. Uh the the items limit to 15 because right now I don't in at least the market I go to doesn't have any limit. Um restricted items. This is items requiring ID. Alcohol tobacco. This one was an interesting one. And I hadn't really thought about it, but it says items uh with theft deterrent tags or in locked cabinets because that deodorant is not going to get past anybody. Um, so they included that in both Costa Mesa and Long Beach covered establishments, food retail or 85,000 square foot with 10 oh 10% food and all drug retail. Um, so this one does not include the Home Depots of the the world. He found it.

Councilman Curts, I'd put it on from our staff report. It's on the projection screen now. Yeah. Make it bigger. But we can look I mean

we can look into it and then kind of bring it back about the restricted items, the item limits. Um but I I I liked what um Costa Mesa did. I like the opportunity to cure. Um I like that they have an additional time if approved and we go down this path um actually giving 60 to 90 days for people to um get educated and and implemented uh implement the the problem. I think on this one, u mayor, that uh it would be helpful to get um actual action and direction from the council so that uh staff uh can bring back something that reflects what the council likes to see.

Okay. Can I I would like to make a motion for staff to bring back a ordinance based on the Costa Mesa ordinance and further exploring what other businesses besides food, grocery, drugs utilize. Um I guess it would be two separate items. one, an ordinance kind of based on Costa Mesa, but also I'd like to maybe Norma and I can continue to work with you just on what other um box stores or things are in Anaheim that this would apply to. Does that work?

Yeah. Um and also we would work um in making contact or having the grocerers association contact us for a meeting. Sounds great. Okay. So, we have a motion in a sec. Sorry, I couldn't. Please vote. Are we voting on this or Yeah. or just asking staff to come back with

a Costa Mesa um like uh ordinance with also a discussion about the um reach of the ordinance and what other businesses it might apply to. And so we would, my understanding is we are preparing an ordinance uh based on this feedback and we will work with the requesters as we normally do uh to finalize an ordinance, a draft ordinance that can be prepared and brought back to council for consideration.

Please vote. The vote is five eyes, two nays. Nays by Council Member Bis and Council Meeks. Motion carries. Thank you. So, I know we went a bit out of order in that we did um item 10 at the earlier part of the meeting. So, I believe now we have the closed session report. Mr. City Attorney, do you have anything to report? Uh, no, Madame Mayor. No reportable items.

And we have no non-aggenda public speakers. Um, so we're going to move to the future agenda requests by council members. Um, I wanted to put two things kind of get guidance on on two items. U, one of the things that was brought up to me during the Dad Miller golf discussion was the caveat that we have a bit more we have more options if we enex the county island. And I know that's been done in the past um and it hasn't been successful, but it hasn't been done in a while. I wanted to put something on an agenda to just walk us through what that process looks like, who how many who votes on it, obviously the people in the county island. What would that look like for the city if we have any of that information from the last time we went through it? And this isn't an emergency. Um, but I would like to go through that um process because I do get asked about it quite often by people that think they're residents of Anaheim, but they are not voting for their um elected government. Um, and the second thing I wanted to explore um with the with the city attorney is something that came up um in the I I read the article this morning in the um I believe it was the LA Times uh about the Angels organization dropping Anaheim from their name and filings, which I believe is a violation of our current contract. So, is that something that we would need to bring back in closed session? the way you've worded it. Yes. Uh it sounds like it would be a potential litigation item.

Okay. Thank you. We could we could agendaize it as such. Okay. Thank you. Um I'm not sure if these are left over from the prior items, so give me grace. Um Council Member Curts.

Thank you. Um as the city as visit Anaheim um was planning future, one of the things they really relied on was going to be World Cup. It's going to be a boom to to our city. That has fallen by the wayside for several reasons. One was primarily is the draw uh that LA got. But as I've talked to them about that, they also have uh other conventions that have to do with sports. And could you have could we have somebody from Visit Anaheim come next month? It doesn't have to be this month. Next month is good or even the month after. Um to talk to us about what they're doing specifically to bring convent sports themed conventions in. um they are money makers and I want to make sure they're really taking advantage of that area.

Thank you, Council Member Ruba Kaliva and then Council Member Meeks.

Thank you. I'd just like to request to bring in uh Alexa Smith from Orange Lutheran who's an Anaheim resident uh to recognize her achievements uh at the state level. Um, and then I'd also a couple things uh with our interim city manager. It would be great if you can come back and give us an overview of just some of the things that you'll be working on as you're moving the initiatives forward in your interim role. Um, I want I know we had a lot of things that are on this chart that our previous city manager was working on and I just want to make sure that we're not losing sight of some of those. So, if you can come back that would be amazing. And then um I know that we talked about revenue generating opportunities and um we as a council gave some direction as to what to come back with. I think Uber fees were one of them. If we can get an update on that, I think it's probably timely because if it anything has to go onto the November ballot, I think we have till August. So if we can get that update, that'd be great.

Thank you, Council Member Meeks. And then Council Member Ma. I'd like to bring in Sydney TR for recognition. She just won the Orange County Spelling Bee for the second year in a row and is going to be representing uh Orange County in Washington DC. The spelling be um she's from El Rancho Middle School. So yeah, spelled uh shakuderie, you know, as I would spell it, cheese and crackers. Council member Ma.

Thank you, Madame Mayor. I would like to work with staff um to identify ways in which we can be more inclusive and supportive of the autistic community. Um there may be stuff that I need to bring back to agenda, but um something small like being able to check out headphones at some of our concerts in the park could make a big difference to families. So, I'd like to work with various departments to see how as a city we can be more supportive.

I love that. I know Chance Theater does special performances for um autistic families where they leave the lights on and they kind of take off some of the strobe lighting. So, maybe even if we're doing programming in the park, we could explore how they do it and what works. Um, turned it off. Always wait till the last. Mayor Prom, thank you. Uh, my item is going to take about 45 minutes to get through. Um, I'm kidding now. Uh, if I could agendaize, get Patrick back up here.

Patrick, we have follow-up questions. Um, I'm we're we're totally kidding. I'm totally kidding. Um, I just wanted to agendaize bringing in the Savannah High School girls basketball team to uh recognize them for their CIF division championship. Thank you. With no other business before this council, we stand adjourned until March 24th.