Council - Regular Meeting

Mr. Mayor, we're live. Thank you for that, David. Uh, today is Wednesday, January 21st. The time is 7:05 p.m. I am calling to order the Baltimore Park City Council regular meeting. Um, Pastor Jackson, I'm sorry about that. City clerk, can we get roll call?

No, I'm sorry about that invocation. Yes, Pastor Jackson, Pastor Flores. Uh, heavenly father, we come before you right now in the name of the Lord and giving you praise, glory, and honor, and thanksgiving. Heavenly Father, we have entered into a new year. We've even have new uh mayor, Lord. But you said acknowledge you in all of our ways and you will direct our path. And this is what Baldwin Park needs. Uh your divine direction. We need your direction here in city council with the police department, fire department. We need your divine direction in our schools and keeping our children from gangs and drugs. Uh Lord, we asking you, Lord God, in uniting the the families together. Heavenly Father, we're asking you to touch the businesses, Lord, that Bowman Park may may prosper. We need you. We acknowledge you. In the name of the Lord, we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you for that, Pastor Jackson. Pastor Flores, Council Member AA, can you lead us in the pledge of pledge of allegiance, please? Put your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

liberty and justice for all. Thank you for that. City attorney, can you please report from close session? We had uh four items on the agenda. There was one that was not discussed the last item. Uh there's nothing to report from close session. Thank you for that, city attorney. I do have some announcements. The city council are also members of the board of directors of the housing authority and the finance authority which are concurrently convening with the city council this evening. And each council member is paid an additional stipend of $30 for attending the housing authority meeting and $50 for attending the finance authority meeting. All right. Now we're going to be going into proclamation accommodations presentations. Yes.

Mayor, if I may roll call. Oh. Um, so sorry. Now I skipped roll call. City clerk. See my first meeting. You're already making me nervous. No, you're doing a great job. Clerk, can you please uh conduct roll call? Mayor Mayor Daniel Damian here. Mayor Promin Ayala here. Council member Alejandra Aila here. Council member Emanuel Estrada here. Council member Emanuel Lozano here. Thank you.

And for Before I forget, I will now close the special meeting. Um now we're moving on to proclamations, commendations, presentations. We do have a presentation from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Is someone here from the county? Yes. And David, if you could bring up their presentation, please. And when you would like to hit the next slide, just say next slide and staff will move the slide over. Thank you.

Good evening, C city council and uh Mayor Damian. I appreciate the time um and for inviting us to present today. Um my name is Brad Kim and I oversee our contracts grants and analytics division and I'm also joined by um our director Marshia Mada and our deputy director for South County Freight Corvino in case you have any questions after the presentation um that I might not be able to address. Um so I'll go ahead and I'll wait for the slides to u show up. But um I I wanted to also um again thank you for the opportunity and um just express our understanding of your your responsibility and desire to potentially look at other options um and your fudiciary responsibility to find um you know the most cost effective provider. So the presentation um the intention of it is just to provide an overview of the services we currently provide and then also to address some of the issues and concerns that were raised at previous council meetings over the last few months and then at the end we um hope to address any questions you may have or provide further clarification on anything in the presentation. So, with that, um, I'm just going to get started with a quick overview of the services that we offer as a county agency, um, and have as a contract provider for the city of Baldwin Park. So, we we do provide 247 medical care and housing for animals at the Baldwin Park animal care center. We currently provide this for um, all of Uncorporated LA County and 45 contract cities. Um, and this includes, of course, the intake and care of animals brought to our facility, either as strays or or owner surreners. Um, as well as the medical care required, um, to ensure that they receive the care they need. We also provide 24/7 field response. Um, and this can include lower priority calls such as dead animal pickup calls, um, barking complaints, um, or also higher priority calls such as, um, bite or attacks in progress where we may require

police or sheriff's assistance. We we provide um 247 emergency response to um all of the areas we serve and that includes um when natural disasters strike such as the um recent fires in January where we saw the sweeping fires um affect those areas and had to intake animals um and provide housing and emergency evacuation. And that that also I I'll um dive a little bit more into it in the next slides, but that also includes providing resources for pet owners who are either um evacuating or need assistance temporarily um and require um no cost housing for them or food and food and supplies that we can provide um for their needs. We also have our um a team dedicated to humane cruelty and endangered dog investigations um and also a major case unit which I'll get a little bit more into in the next slides as well. We provide um spayneuter in vaccination clinics which are essential for promoting animal health and also pro providing access to lowc cost and free spayneuter options which we recognize is one of the most critical means for reducing admissions and of course city costs uh related to animal admissions and I I'll talk a little bit more about the pets or family program in um later slides but this is just as a general overview pretty much supplemental programs we provide um all aimed at either helping animals in our care or providing resources to pet owners in our communities. And these are mostly funded by grants and donations that the department and our foundation are able to receive. Um and these are offered at at no cost to the cities. Uh next slide please. Thank you. So to dive a little more into um some of the services we provide, uh as I mentioned, emergency response pertains to helping injured animals um during evacuation events or like such as in SoCal common wildfires and responding and working with law enforcement and

other agencies to ensure we're appropriately responding. We currently have um a little over 20 agreements right now, mutual assistance agreements with um agencies across Southern California to activate during those emergency response events or if they need assistance, we provide response to them. So that was pretty critical during the January fires last year. And then we have a team dedicated to dangerous dog investigations. And this this includes investigating serious dog bite incidents or cases that may involve a potentially dangerous or vicious dog. and then determining um whether that dog is adoptable can be adopted responsibly to the public to ensure public safety. Our major case unit handles more high complex large scale cases such as animal hoarding incidents or such as um fighting reports and um our agencies are often tapped into from other agencies for for guidance or training because we typically are dealing with such large scale cases. We have a behavior and enrichment team that um regularly assesses dogs at our care centers and conducts playgroups. And the intention of that is to assess dogs um to ensure they're okay for adoption to the public, but also to work with dogs who may express behavioral um concerns and to work with them to make them adoptable either to the public or rescue groups. And then we offer pet and business licensing. Pet licensing is important um for generating revenue of course for the cities and ensuring responsible pet ownership. And then our business licensing team goes out to animal facilities um grooming parlors and conducts inspections on the facility and grades them. Uh and that's a service that is offered at no cost to cities. Uh next slide please. Thank you. So to talk a little bit more about our pets or family program. These are again these are um almost exclusively funded by grants and donations and the intention of them is to be proactive in the community and to help with issues

that we see common commonly that lead to pet surreners. We offer a care voucher program which residents um so residents in Baldwin Park and any any city that contracts with us for full service can redeem um and it covers up to $300 generally veterinary care although we do also offer for pet food and supplies or compassionate youth in Asia if they need it. We host um that at the park mobile clinics um generally 12 times a year, usually once per month. And this is where we station our mobile veterary clinic in um local county or city parks to provide free vaccinations. And then whatever pet food or supplies we may have on hand, we don't uh donate and give distribute to pet owners. And then we also have a separate from the care voucher program or separate spayneuter vouchers where we cover up to $100 in spayneuter costs for anyone who may need them. And then for large dogs, we offer up to $300 through our big muts program. And again, this is um very critical right now, especially as we see spayneuter costs um increase with the shortage of veterinarians and just the demand with pet owners right now um who need spayneuter and other veterinary services. Next slide, please. And then a few other partnerships we actually started recently. Um we partner with West Coast Grooming Academy, which is a grooming school, and they bring um groomers in to do a full day of grooming at our Baldwin Park Care Center every Tuesday. And this program is funded by grants in our foundation, which I'll speak a little more about a little later in the presentation. And we're also currently working with um Homeboy Industries and their puppy fades program. They currently provide grooming services at our Downey Care Center once per week and we're looking to expand services with them so that they can also offer an additional day at Baldwin Park so that we have two hopefully two days of full grooming um at the Baldwin Park Care Center. And this is important not just for the medical needs of animals, but it makes animals more adoptable. We

find that those that do get groomed and can have um pictures presented on our website um are much more likely to get adopted. We for many years have been partnering with spay for LA um which is a nonprofit that prioritizes spay and neuter services via their mobile clinic. We have um the county funds a certain allocate or provides a certain allocation each year to provide spayneuter through them. They provide spayneuter for owned pets and then also community cats and we've been uh fortunate enough to be able to expand that as well with our foundation and with grants we've been able to receive. So residents can call or book an appointment anytime. They they they're generally pretty um requested due to the need for spayneuter. Um so it could take a little time for them to book an appointment, but um they'll always be able to get in if they call the number listed on uh that presentation slide. And then we also work with ASPCA. We have uh for many years they they have an on-site clinic at our Baldwin Park Care Center and they provide spayneuter services every Wednesday um to any eligible pet owners. So, we're we're we're constantly looking for ways to increase access to spayneuter um to make it more affordable because we understand that just enforcing spayneuter isn't the only way to curtail emissions. You also have to make it accessible um and available to to pet owners who want it. Next slide, please. So, um I'm just going to talk a little bit about how the department uh recently responded and how we generally try to pivot to meet the needs of the community. We had a recent outbreak at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center um due to a distemper outbreak. Um and dister, if you're not familiar, is a very can be a very fatal disease to dogs and spreads very quickly and requires close to monitoring and cleaning. So, we we shut down um our spayneutering temporarily to ensure we're controlling for um the spread of the distemper um

and also have bolstered up our our monitoring and cleaning processes. Um it is not the first time we've had a distemper outbreak. So, we have procedures in place, but we also set up an impromptu vet at the park clinic scheduled for February 8th, um which I know is Super Bowl Sunday, but uh hopefully we get a lot of uh individuals who are interested. We we offer free vaccines. um DHLPP vaccinations which um prevent distemper and vaccinations are of course the primary means for preventing distemper. Uh next slide please. And then in consideration of cost and revenue. Um if I I think everyone's pretty familiar, but just as a quick overview, the county implemented a a new billing structure in 2122. And this was following two independent um studies conducted by consultants which determined that the county wasn't recovering its full cost. So they recommended a new billing structure which we have been slowly phasing in over six years for cities to help ease cities into it. And um essentially we're subsidizing 10% we're taking away a 10% subsidy each year. Right now the city's in step five of their uh methodology. So next year will be the final step of that plan where we're no longer subsidizing any cost. So the county is just recovering costs for the services provided since we're not able or not permitted to generate revenue on cities. We're just recovering the cost of full services. So the primary increase in m um city's billing each year has been due primarily to that 10% subsidy being removed. So once that 10% that final 10% is removed next year, you'll begin to see rates kind of taper off because there's no longer a subsidy in play. It'll just be the nominal rates that um are based on like the CPI that are increased each year. Next slide, please. Thank you. Um so just as a quick overview for the

city of Binm Park specifically in terms of your volume. Um last fiscal year we saw about um 1150 cat and dog emissions and this makes up the primary um cost of city billing as admissions are charged per impound. So for these animals they're just charged on a flat per impound basis no matter how long they're with um they're at the care center. And then I'll get a little bit more into that on a further slide to how that compares with other cities and the volume that makes up comparatively. Um we saw 103 other animal emissions. So this could include reptiles, livestock. Um and this is not charged to the cities. We don't charge for other animals. And we had 346 deceased animal disposals at our care center. And this is also not charged to the cities. Those are both part of the uh new billing methodology as well where we no longer charge for those. The city had about 16 hours at 1,600 hours in field services. Um, and that made up 1679 calls placed with 174 of those calls being um after hours or between 9:00 p.m. and 7 a.m. And we processed about three uh,000 pet licenses that fiscal year. Uh, next slide, please. So, this slide has uh just a summary of the billing invoice that's uh, usually shared. And this just breaks down the cost to give you an idea of where the majority of the costs are coming from. And then at the bottom, if you see where it says revenue, that's where the city credits are applied. Um, and one of the reasons the credits have declined is because we suspended inerson license enforcement. Um, during the pandemic, we just started ramping that back up last year focusing on unincorporated areas, but this year we're implementing it back into contract cities. Um, and that makes up a pretty large share of the revenue or the cost offset that you'll see. And I have um in a slide or two, we'll show you um what it looked like when the city did full

canvasing. Actually, I'm sorry. I'm not sure that's in a slide, so I'll just address it now. Um just to give you an idea. So you were seeing about $80,000 in revenue from license credit offsets the last two fiscal years. But when we had done full canvasing efforts, so this is when we were doing um a,000 to 2,000 hours in the city specifically. Yeah, the revenue offset was closer to um $250,000. So a pretty significant difference from when we were doing inerson canvasing. Um, so we did reach out to the cities back in February to gauge cities and to help onboard them for in-person canvasing. Um, so that is something if the city is still interested and we we'd be happy to do in schedule. Uh, next slide please. Um, so some of the recommendations offset costs um because we understand that these rates um the cost for annual emissions have gone up significantly for cities. Um, one thing that the cities can do, they have the opportunity to adopt their own cat and dog license fees. Most cities adopt the county structure, uh, fee structure, but you have the option to increase like cat licenses, for example, or or dog licenses for alter dogs to increase as a way of increasing revenue. Um, another option is contracting for dead animal pickup separately from the county. Um so while we don't charge for dead animal disposal, we do charge for the field hours officers go out and do the actual dead animal pickup. So um an option may be to contract directly with the waste management provider or even with our contract provider. Um you have an option of contracting with them directly if he offers or if they offer a cheaper rate and that's something we've recommended to cities. Um I know the city of Isuza is reaching out to them to see if that might be a cheaper option. And then of course inperson license enforcement has the most significant impact um in terms of your revenue and credit. So um we we recommend doing inerson license enforcement as it tends to be the most effective way for

ensuring license compliance. And it's not only that year that you you see the um credits come in, but it's a recurring continuing stream of revenue as as um we send out license renewals. We have the pet owner information. So we're constantly um reaching out for them to renew their licensing for their pets. And then investing in spayneuter um is critical for curtailing emissions in the long term. Making sure that uh pet owners have access to spayneuter. And that's what that's what we've tried to do with our partnering with our vet clinics and um spay fo and the ASPCA to ensure that folks have access to low and free uh spayneuter. Next slide please. I do have it on the slide here. So this is uh this is the slide I was referring to where you can see the hours that we committed to license enforcement these years and these were the the last three years where we did full scale license enforcement and you can see um the revenue is pretty significantly different than what it is um this fiscal year and last fiscal year where it's closer to around $80,000. So this is a big means for offsetting your your city costs. Next slide please. I know um it was also addressed in prior council meetings that serving as a host city can present certain challenges because you're the sheltering site. Um so as a means to try to help the city and recognizing that you are a host city. Um we would like to offer a priority for Spain clinics. We we work closely with our provider to schedule sites um for them to host their clinics. And while your residents have access to them all the time um they might not be in close proximity. So we could work with our our provider currently to schedule clinics more um in the city of Baltimore parks so that your residents have um better access to them. And then we because our vet at the park events are grant funded um we have in the past tried to make um an all fair to make it

fair for all cities who um contract with us for full city uh full sheltering. We try to space it out so that everyone gets an opportunity to participate in vetart clinics. Um but recognizing you as a host city, we would um like to offer to prioritize you as a vet at the Park City. Um recognizing there could be different challenges that you have. And then again um the opportunity for prioritizing your inperson license enforcement as um as we saw it's a huge means for offsetting your revenue. So we'd also like to prioritize um our host cities for inperson licensing enforcement if you're interested. And generally those are the hours the hours offered are up to the city. Some cities opt into just uh maybe a week of inerson license enforcement and only portions of their city or some want a full-scale um city effort. So that's up to the city to determine. Uh next slide please. Thank you. So um just to talk a little bit about our nonprofit foundation. The LA County Animal Care Foundation was established in the early 80s. Um and starting off initially as a nonprofit, but it has grown significantly over the last 5 or 10 years. It was established solely to support the department of animal care and control. So all the funds that go to the foundation go to the county and for county supplemental programs like the pets or family programs, care vouchers, uh venart clinics, and then a few other things the foundation offers are the grooming gives hope program, which uh I touched on a little bit with West Coast Grooming Academy and Homeboy Industries. They we have a grooming program where we bring in groomers to groom um animals typically with severe medical needs who be may highly matted um or have other conditions that are posing challenges to their health. We have the dreams come true program which provides up to $5,000 in medical coverage for animals who may have severe medical needs and maybe be beyond the capacity um of our veterinary clinic. So we'll refer them out to private vet clinics. They'll receive the

treatment or surgery they need. then we'll return for adoption. And these are generally for highly adoptable animals um that maybe need a fracture repair or something one time to make them to get them into a home. And then nose legacy fund is primarily for emergency response and for um responding to large crisis like the wildfires. Through the nose legacy fund, they provide food and um supplies that we can give to pet owners. They they cover um medical housing uh temporary housing for animals who need it during those cases. Um they've donated trailers which we use to respond to wildfire incidents. Um and the foundation has been pretty instrumental in allowing us to offer all these supplemental programs um just due to the limited county funding um the county budget. So, it's been um really really helpful in in the programs that help prevent owner surreners and help prevent emissions. Next slide, please.

Thank you. Um and we just wanted to to end with potential potential impacts of contract termination. um just to kind of prepare the city and if you do decide to terminate and go with another provider um just to ensure we're collaborating and making sure we're minimizing the potential impact. Um one thing is with the increased distance to Lin Valley Humane if that's the provider you go with. Um we could see folks who maybe don't want to drive that distance and who may decide to either try to surrender the animal at our care center or may end up abandoning it in the field. And um just ethically as a as a department and our mission, if we have an animal brought to us that does have a severe injury or needs to be addressed immediately, um we we won't turn it away or let it suffer. So um that's something we will need to take in and either humanely euthanize or refer out to a private veterinarian immediately for treatment. Um so if if again if the city does decide to terminate and go with another provider um we just ask you consider maybe even all the contract services where we could provide limited sheltering. We we currently have that set up with um a lot of our cities where they either contract for limited sheltering or limited field services where we provide afterhour coverage or in this case for limited sheltering if you need us to take in animals who have no other option but to be dropped off at the facility. And then of course um you could have a lot of resident feedback um again not wanting to drive the distance and maybe um not getting the response time due to the distance of the officers. Um with with animals being surrendered in the by the care center or in the field with increases of those it does pose a risk to public safety especially if um their dogs with behavioral concerns. Um and then of course potentially added cost to the cities if again you do decide to utilize all the card services where now you could potentially have a setup where you have two contracts um

one primarily with IVHS and then one with us for limited sheltering. So we just want to again we just want to make sure that the onboarding if if you do decide to terminate um we we want to collaborate with you. We want to make sure the licensing um the pet licensing is transferred over as well because we know a lot of folks have already licensed their pets. So um we would work closely with you with your provider with whatever licensing company they provide to ensure that it's a smooth transition. Um we have worked with I believe IVHS uses uh Docupet. We've worked with them before so we are familiar with transitioning. Um so we just want to make sure we're we're closely collaborating and have that communication and also um also to the public just so that they're aware and that when they go if they try to go to the shelter post uh June 30th they aren't and turned away they aren't confused. U we just want to minimize the impact on the residents and the the animals as much as we can. Uh next slide please. Uh again just wanted to thank you thank you for the opportunity to present it providing us today. Um we appreciate again um everything you're doing and we we completely understand your your obligation to um find the most efficient and cost-effective provider as the county does as well. So again we appreciate it. Um, yeah, and I have uh I'd be happy to address any questions. Again, I have director Ma and Frank here too if there's anything I can't answer. Thank you for that presentation. Uh, council, does anyone have any questions for the presenter? No. No, I do have a couple. Um, so number one, I do have a question uh in regards to the 1156 admissions. Are those people that generally go and drop off their their pets because they can no longer care for them or what type of admissions are these?

They're primarily um either stray admissions or owner surreners. So folks who determine for one reason or another they can't keep their pets will decide to surrender it. Um but the majority would be stray animals that are either found in the field or relinquished in the field. So these animals per se, they're not necessarily 100% animals that are uh within our city. Uh it could be someone that could just say, you know, I found this animal and they just they're surrendering it, but they're saying that they found it in Bald Park. Correct. Right. We So we verify where the animal is surrendered or where we found it in the stray. So if someone say came from another city, dropped it off at Baldwin Park, we would use the address where the animal was found.

Got it. Okay. And then um when you mentioned the contract for dead animal pickup, what is the amount that you guys charge for, uh pickup? We so we charge by field hour. So it's it's bulked into all of our field services. So it's our it's our hourly rate for field services um which is around 150 an hour. So whether it's us responding to an attack in progress or just responding to a dead animal pickup, that same hourly rate applies. So if it takes 15 minutes for the dead animal pickup, it would be build 15 minutes. So $30. So let me give you an example. Let's just say my pet dies at home. I call you to come and pick up my animal. You're going to charge me $150 for the pickup?

We if if our field officer is responding correct, we charge per any field response. Okay. So, me as a resident, I call because my pet died at my home. You're going to send a field officer to my house and I'm going to be charged $150 for the pickup. Not not the resident, but the city would be charged. So, the city's charged for that, not the So, it's free for the resident, right? Okay. And then uh also, Mary Damon, if they if they drop the animal off at the care center, uh that that's not charged because we don't charge for the disposal of the animal. Got it. Okay. And then how are you enforcing the licenses?

So, it's uh it's door-to-door efforts where officers are going door to door um knocking on doors, identifying properties that are likely to have a dog um because they've heard a dog barking or for another reason um and then they will issue the license at that moment. So, yeah, door todoor license enforcement. I have a question. Go ahead, Council Rob. So, if um the city was not to go with with LA County anymore and a resident found a pet on our streets and they take it to you, you wouldn't take the pet.

If if um if we don't have a contract together, correct? council. If the if we determine the animal is suffering or ill or injured, we we would always take it in just because we wouldn't allow the animal to suffer. Um if it's a animal in good condition and you don't have a contract um set up with us, we would refer it or have have a structure with IBHS where we reach out to them and have their officer pick up the animal. Okay. Right. Anyone else have any questions? Well, thank you so much for coming out and presenting this to us. I believe the they're going to bring this to us, Manny, if I'm correct.

Yes. At the next city council meeting, we will uh have a presentation and uh give an opportunity for the city council to decide which option they would like to choose. Thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate your time. All right. Now, we're going to be moving on to uh public communications. Uh city clerk, how many speaker courts do we have? Mayor, we have received 17 speaker cards. Okay, go ahead and call up the first speaker.

First card we have is from Irma Males with the Los Angeles County Library. Good evening, Mayor Damian, uh, city council members and, uh, city staff and community members. I wanted to talk about, uh, some of the upcoming programs for the library. I am very excited to report that our homework center is being reopened as of Tuesday. Our homework center will be staffed. um and our hours for the homework center. Um so what it is is for drop in assignments. It's for a grades uh uh grade 1 through 12. And so if uh community members, students have uh homework to do or homework assignments that they have questions on, our homework center is now open. Um we also are starting a tutoring program. It's called STAR tutoring. Students together achieve in results. Our star uh tutoring program is by registration. Students will be tutored one hour a week and we will be tutoring um Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Our homework center is going to be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The hours will be updated on our website pretty soon. Um tutoring for star tutoring, it's open to grades one through six, and it's small groupoup tutoring. And as I said, they will be having 1-hour um tutoring sessions per week and that's going to go through the um through May 21st. So, it started the tutoring started January 20th and it's going through May the 21st. Our homework center opened January 13th and will go through May 22nd. And they are um that area is being staffed. Um the hours will also be on the website soon. If you go to laount library.org

and go to our location, Bowwin Park Library, you will be able to find they're going to update hopefully the hours pretty soon. Um, and the other thing I wanted to give you some information about is the um, housing for health mobile clinic will be back at Baltimore Park Library. It's a free clinic for people experience experiencing homelessness. It's going to be on Thursday, January 29th and uh it's going to be in our parking lot and it's from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. So, we have lots of great programs going on. We um have programs for children, teens, and adults and virtual programs. Find out any more information, please go to our libraries website, laount library.org. Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much. Next we call Yanetta Whitley, the mayor, and everybody sitting on the council tonight. Happy New Year. The blessing to be here. I'm here again. You should know my face by now. Still a word about flaws flannel. We want to get a part from I hope everybody will stand with me this year. We also asking you to please help us with the zoning. Don't let nobody else have it. Let us have it for the children for me. Let us have green around where we can enjoy. People can go out. We have somewhere for our children. I'm concerned about the children. I once was a child. I didn't have an opportunity. The only opportunity I had was a whole chopping cotton, a sack picking cotton to see these children have a place to go. They can play soccer. They can play basketball. They can play football. We can have a center. We can have a center for seniors. If you help us get this, we pro we'll prove to you we'll use it right. We have so much congestion. These 105 units that they want to put in there. We already having a hard time. I am speaking for myself and the community that stands behind me. We need you. We actually need you. We can raise gardens. You can come and eat.

You can come and get food, have a good time. We can have recreation for kids. I might do some singing for you. You'll be surprised about me. I done been a little everywhere around the world. But I just ask you, please stand with us. Please don't let no contractors have this zone. Save it for us in the community. We pay taxes. Our community needs you. We need you. I need you. And I know God will bless you if you help us with it. Please stand. Together we stand. The body we fall. God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son. Help me with this. I'm one. I can't do what he did for the world, but I can speak for it. Help us with this park. Please help us with this zoning. Please, and help us to save water. We need to save this water God is sending down. We need somewhere to put this water because we gonna need it. It's been cold, but it's going to get hot. It's going to be dry. Help us. Please help this old lady if you don't help nothing else. Because where I stand, my heart is there. And looking at my heart, you can't see it. But God can't know what I mean. Thank you. Have a happy new year and good health to everybody. Next we call Patrice Denzion.

I do not want to follow Miss Wanetta. He speaks the word of the Lord. Um, greetings Mr. Mayor, city council. The Flanner Project began as a few homes with community fields and that was plural. A homework center for our children, on-site presence by the district. But somewhere in behind closed doors, it morphed into 100 plus condos, 200 cars, and a lone exit on a narrow street that has no easy exit to a main street. Again, I question the safety of this project that you have all before you and have all the power over. Years ago, there was a fire there that took forever, it seemed like, but it was only over 30 minutes. When a fire truck did finally arrive, the long ladder truck could not navigate the access. Yes, safety is an issue. I made this statement last time I was here. Most of the poor souls in 9/11 did not perish from being hit by the plane. They lost their lives because they could not get out. I know that you stand to make millions off of the project in years to come. The question is here, are people's safety, possibly their very lives, important to you? Or is the money? What you answer, and how you proceed from now will tell what kind of person you are? I pray that you make the right decision. Thank you for your time. Next we call Jorge Del Royale Carlos. Uh great evening city of Walden Park and board members. I'm George. I'm here once again to strongly oppose leasing of Florence Flanner um the campus in Basset. We continue to urge you to please do the right thing and stand with

our community. When the project comes to your hands, reject the reasonzoning of this open space. I'm aware of the housing crisis your communities face, but I'm also aware of the scarcity of green areas or public spaces and public spaces following park spaces. I believe if we develop and keep this property green and open for our community, it is it is a better benefit for the health of the residents and the lifelong of our communities. I urge you to please do the right thing and keep this um area green and open for us. Thank you.

Next we call Yolanda PMPA. Um good evening mayor and Balm Park city council members. My name is Yolanda. We are here tonight to ask you to work with us, the neighbors in the Basset community and to help stop the building project that Storm Property is proposing at Florence Flanner Elementary School. As we approach the new year, we want to remind you that we are still here asking you not to move forward with this proposal. It brings no real value to our community. We have also been attending vast board members meeting asking those board members which we have two here with us today um to withdraw their support yet the but yet they continue to pass the matter on to you Balm Park City Council. Please keep in mind that we are open to new opportunities at the Florence Flanner site. ideas that offer better solutions for our children, our seniors, and our entire community. Thank you guys.

Next, we call Elena Robas. Elena Robas.

Good evening, Mayor, members of the city council. I'm here to make a couple of announcements on behalf of state senator Susan Rubio. Um we have our intern um recruitment going on right now. Uh it's basically a great opportunity for students that are in college, undergraduate students. Uh they get to be in our office, learn about the uh the process of the legislative process and they will be given a stipen. Uh our deadline for this is Sunday, January 25th. So, if you know any students, if the the community uh in person and and on the online has anybody that would be interested in in interning in our office, this is a great uh learning uh resource and many of our interns have ended up with jobs in in other um great um offices. So, again, this information can be found on our website and um and we could answer any questions you may have. And then I also wanted to announce our women of the year. Basically, we're looking for volunteers, exceptional women in different aspects of the community um that you would like to honor yourselves, members of the community, churches, anybody could nominate. Um we uh have our applications online on our website again and the deadline for that is on Friday, February 6. So any questions you may have, our office is there um to answer them. and and just uh wanted to remind you all that we are there as a resource and we're able to help the community and if we don't have the answer, we'll find it. Thank you.

Next, we call Chris S. I've come in person today to speak on a topic that is worth addressing. Is not on the agenda, but it is definitely worth addressing. The area in Basset where the site of Florence Flanner Children's Development Center resides is being taken out of the hands of the community and sold for private development. This is the plan that has been communicated to us despite the need for the center, despite the calls for more school resources and greener spaces. The fact remains it is public land that should be shared by the people who currently live in the area. And furthermore, it violates the laws dictated by the zone it resides in, especially now that City of Industry has expressed plans to develop a data center that would not only steal our water, but contaminate whatever is left as well. The need for public green spaces such as the one at the child development center is increasingly crucial to the health of the community and the students surrounding it. We prayed earlier for the well-being and education of our children. And before you is presented a chance to uphold that wish in the simplest manner of basically doing nothing. We ask that you do not reszone the area of Florence Flanner and in doing so uphold the mandate that keeps our neighborhoods resources in the hands of the neighbors that live there. I thank you for your time and again I urge city council not to reszone Florence Flanner. Thank you.

That's next call. Sam Brown. I apologize that we came all of us from the Florence Flanner. Um, but I do want to give a deep appreciation for everybody that showed up. You know, this is a workingclass community much like many of the neighborhoods in Bowwin Park. And you know, we've been at it for a year, more than a year, and we could just wait and wait for the planning commission and then wait for the city council to decide. But the problem with that is that the more time we wait, the more money the developer puts into this project. And suddenly the legal um position becomes a lot more tenuous for the city of Bwin Park. And we're here to remind you that this is public land. The land belongs to a school district, but it's within the city of Baldwin Park. You guys control the zoning. And right now, the zoning is open space and recreation, and there's a scarcity of parks in the city of Baldwin Park. And I know that you guys are doing everything possible to increase the total acreage of parks, and you guys are making significant strides. So, let's do it again right here. And let's do it again because it's consistent with the city of Baldwin Park 2020 general plan. According to the general plan which um ha was written in November of 2002 the city's park master plan um the national recreation of parks and association the guideline says there has to be 2.5 acres of park space per thousand residents. Right now it's.5 acres right in 20 years 23 years since the original master plan came out there's only been a 0.1

increase in the total acreage of parks. Right? And we know that there's many projects that are along the way, but we're not going to increase that acreage if the developers can come in and privatize public land. The school district did not pursue and follow the Naylor Act, which means that they have to offer it to another public agency for a quarter of the price. According to the um 2020 general plan, you know, one of the goals is for you guys to acquire new land to increase the total number of parks. You guys have joint use agreements. You have 17 joint use agreements with Baldwin Park Unified School District. Why not increase a joint use agreement with Basset Unified School District? It's inside the city of Baldwin Park, right? um this plan if you work with the community right by not reszoning the land and we ask you not to reszone the land because if you reszone the land you allow a private multi-million dollar hedge fund that is worth $und00 million to dictate the policy of the city and they're going to say well it meets the housing objectives but according to the general plan you guys have an open space and recreation element that has never been fulfilled since you guys established it. And so we think that it's only appropriate that you work with this community and that you work with us to honor the unfulfilled legacy of creating that park demand that your workingclass res.

Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Next we call Aaron Simmonal.

Hello honorable mayor and council. Um my name is Aaron Simantad. I am a very proud member of the Basset community. Um I also serve on the Basset school board but I'm here speaking in my individual capacity. Um my views are not necessarily represented by the district, but I am here tonight to join the many of my fellow committee members who have been here not only tonight but in past other nights um to speak on the topic of resoning. Um I personally have listened to hours and hours the last year on a lot of things that you've listened to tonight and will probably hear for the next couple of council meetings. Um, but the neighborhood impact that we've heard, um, considerations on traffic congestion, public safety considerations, these are all very valid concerns that our community have expressed over and over again. Um, these committee members have addresses to our school board. Um, but of course, only the Baldin Park um, city controls zoning and planning. It's not necessarily pushing off this item to this body, but it's a reality of which local government holds which power. Um, I have heard from our community members who have called for Baldin Park to not reszone the property. um from the to residential use and to keep it as it currently is. As the last speaker beautifully just mentioned, um this is an opportunity for the land to be used for the other alternative public benefits. Um we've heard educational alternatives, recreational alternatives, environmental options, um all for the vacant lot behind the FL the FER child development center. The possibilities are truly endless. Um I would respectfully ask that this body listen to our committee members regarding the resoning and protect the FER neighborhood. The time to act is now and I do appreciate everyone here tonight to speak on this topic and look forward to continuing this topic with you all. Thank you very much.

Next we call Javier Romo.

Good evening Mayor and city council. My name is Kabir Romo and I have less uh 16 years living in B uh Baswin. Uh I was a parent activist. I became a board member and also a support my colleagues and myself to reopen Flanners. We got a $2.5 million from Head Start to reopen Flanners and to hear the closing it for housing. Our community need schools for our little ones 18 months because our community we have crime rate high jail corporation they make a studies how many students in the high school they going to fail to making jails but now you you're the one who has the zoning because is you not the district not the school district has a zony you are and coming to my mind you did a zoning study for demographic noise pollution smoke pollution you walk around planners people are fighting for parking spot That's one of the things we need projects for storm water. We need green areas not a housing. You want housing in control because the developer is going to charge 2600 to three something dollars per month. They're going to make the profit.

Not the school district. The school district has a experience with three school sites closed in the 90s. Honopa, Little Basset and I don't recall the third because I have 16 years living in the community. We need parks. We need areas for our kids. I take my kids, well my grandkid to play in front of Bangkok school in the green area. In summer, parents, grandparents, they take their kids on the parking lot and Bangick. During summer's time, adults they walk around Bang Elementary School. We need your support for green areas, not developers. Thank you. Next, we call Cindy Rubio. Cindy Rubio. I apologize if I um mispronounce but is this Jim V Jim Jim wasn't sure it's Jim Ch. Good evening, mayor, [clears throat] mayor prom, mayor in waiting, chief. I want to forget the chief, city staff, council members, and the community and the rabble. Uh, tonight I'm calling it Florence Fer.

You folks were elected to the to do the right by your constituents. You arrive at that place by listening to us here through calls, letters, and in the vernacular through the socials. We're here to tell you now, today, you have the golden opportunity to correct a 70-year-old oversight. 70 years ago, the developers were building housing for returning GIS, okay? But they neglected to include open space for recreation. As a consequence, Eastern St. Gabriel Valley has a severe shortage of open space. Sam pointed that out. And parks, I draw a contrast to modern cities like Mission, Viejo, and Irvine. They have a greater share per capita of parks per residents. You can help correct that wrong today. Storm Properties is a present-day vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money. They're exploiting the land for profit at the public's expense. Please don't enable the exploitation of our commons. For heaven's sake, uh, our commons are under attack. This is your opportunity to get in the record books to say, "Hey, I voted for open space for the people. I voted to keep the green areas green. Let them expand the child care center."

Folks, you guys can do the right thing tonight. The folks that are here tonight are just a small portion of the people who have attended our meetings. Most of these poor devils can't come out and make their uh their [clears throat] point make their position known because they, you know, they got to go uh uh grind out a living. So, if you can help them out by providing a space to pay to play soccer, to run around for the kids, because not everybody has a 5,000 6,000 square foot lot. We have a lot of apartments, especially B.

Thank you so much for your time. So, do the right thing, folks. Next we call Lou Cruz.

Good evening, mayor, [clears throat] council members, community activists. I want to thank you for this opportunity to speak out in support of Florence Flanner. Um I'm going to be speaking about the reszoning. I'm sure you're all aware of this, but I'm going to just name a few disadvantages even though there are many many disadvantages of the reszoning right now. It c can c there's a lot of the disadvantage, but it can co cause community disruption. It can raise property values. It can raise rents and lowincome people have to move because they can no longer afford to live there. It can overboarden overburden the resources. It can strain the existing infrastructures like the roads, sewers, schools and if there are any little existing parks, it can strain that. There's loss of green environment right now. That's a top priority of many communities, many states. We need green environment. There's not enough. And I was I identified with this uh young lady who spoke because at the school when I was growing up, not here, but in Michigan, they tore a lot of houses down. They were going to build freeways. Oh, it's going to bring a lot of people here. What happened? The whole community was lost. The school was no longer in existence. The people there didn't do the right thing. They didn't make the choices and they left. They left the ones who made the choices. Um, inadequate planning can outpace the upgrade to public services. There can be more pollution, car uh carbon emissions,

water issues. It can cause a lot of problems. We need this school to stand because we can use that as a hub for the community. We can have there tutoring, health clinics, we can have mental health, food support right now. Open up your um the uh the newspaper. I shouldn't say newspaper, but open up your apps and you can see how much fighting is going on. And I told my boyfriend over and over, we need to do something about the mental health and we have to start young with kids. I'm a teacher and we always start young. This is a time that could become a hub for kids to let out their anger and learn how to work their anger out instead of fighting, instead of arguing, instead of shooting. We can create a hub where we can have soccer, we can have baseball. We could do something with the community. Don't shoot it down. Don't stop it. Be on the right side of history. Thank you. Next, we call Joshua Arnas. Joshua Arnas. Uh, good evening, Mayor Damian, and again, all city council members. Again, I'm here to again reiterate what a bunch of my other neighbors and community members have said about uh storm properties. And again, I believe we've touched on most of the topics, but again, just to reiterate on it, that again, the infrastructure itself does not support a lot of it. I understand and I did look into it that Storm Properties did say they were going to again create a second point of uh of

access to it to increase traffic flow and accessibility. But again, it's just it feels that it's more to their benefit. And again, this is something that's creating I guess again they're saying they want to create more attendance uh more students to the schools, but again, who is it going to benefit really? It's not going to benefit the students and the actual community that is there right now. So it's it's a question that you need to ask. Are you going to assist the students and the family members and the the people in that community who are already there or in the hopes of what this corporation is trying to bring uh to this community. Again, they they promise all these things, but we all know a lot of corporations. Some of us probably live through the 2008 uh banking crisis. So again, we all know that corporations aren't exactly the ones to keep their promise and keep their end of the deal. And I think that's uh among other things just things that need to be brought up. Again, they have uh what is it? They again, like I said, they say they want to attract new students. Who what community? What district is that actually going to go to? I know it's Baldwin Park. Are they going to be brought into this? They're saying it can be for Baldwin Park, uh for Basset Unified School District, I should say. So again, it's one of those where we're unsure about the end results. They can make promises right now, but at the end of the day, are we actually going to see those being fulfilled or is it going to be something that brings uh more trouble? You know, some people are bringing up crime issues. Some people are bringing up the fact that there's not enough parking uh parks and access to these parks in the community itself. And again, that's something that I feel that we need to look into for the community and the people that are already there versus uh thinking about what's going to happen and what they can bring into later in the time. Again, it's something that I feel I've been living there. I've lived there for pretty much my whole life, and it would have been nice to have a park back there when I was growing up. I did have Shire Park uh back then, but that one's been

closed down. I'm not sure if you guys are familiar with Sher Park, just right there by In-N-Out, but again, it's been closed down. I like playing baseball back then, but at this point, the closest park from my understanding is Basset Park for them. And uh for some of them, probably not able to access it walking. I think it's at least two blocks. So, something like that, a community, an actual park for them. And again, just really quick, I know they are building a park in there technically, but again, they say free access, but will it be accessed for all? And if is it going to be a small park versus something that the community itself would uh be able to access that would be a much larger park with extra resources?

Time. Next we call Francisco Arenas. Good evening, mayor and council members. I'm Francisco Renes and my wife uh Sandra Zavia. Uh we are the ones that are going to be more affected because we live right next to the entrance. So, uh we want you to please consider that and not letting the uh storm properties. Uh we have a um animals that area right now. Coyotes that uh bringing I guess the uh they are they are um uh having new babies born there in that area since maybe for for the past 10 years. uh they've been there uh every year. Right now we have uh like baby coyotes around and around in the backyard. So we want that to consider that instead of building uh the condominions or stone properties. Uh please consider that uh not to have them build that. You want uh conservation water, you guys can do that. We have a space right there. There's the river right there that you guys can uh channel that the water to there. So, we need water instead of uh building uh on properties on the minions. So, please consider that. I don't know you want to talk to me. Storm

properties. Thank you. I want to say that there are people of the third age like Mr. Aner here. She shouldn't be here. She should be at home, you know, going to sleep, but she's here and uh we all uh come here fighting for this issue and uh we want to put we want you to put in our positions and consider reconsider this. Thank you. Next, we call Jenny Amaya. Um, good evening, mayor, city council, and staff. My name is Jenny Amaya, and I'm a resident of Bowen Park. Um, I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley where I went to schools both in La Point and Bowen Park. Um, based off that lived experience, I urge you all to listen to community voices and community needs. What we don't need right now is more traffic, more congestion, more pollution or luxury housing. What we need now is more green spaces, community gardens, public education also for adults and children, more recreational spaces, more third spaces, um land where we can coex coexist with one another. Um so public land, not private land. Um, this is a great opportunity for you all to materialize something that is beneficial to the local community that lives here now rather than the needs of developers that have no relationship to this area. Please do not reszone Flanner Elementary for luxury housing as land that was for public educational use. It should be for public use, not private use. Thank you.

Next we call Jezebel Milan. Greetings to all my friends and relatives. I come here to speak on behalf of the water and land. Um I just have a couple of reminders um for everybody in the room. Um according to the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, um 97.5% of the Earth's water is salt water. Of that well 2.5% is fresh water and of that 2.5% 0.13% is fresh water that is easily accessible in lakes, rivers and shallow groundwater. Here in the issue that we face today, our water is threatened by an attack of industrial discharge pollutants in addition to the to the veracity of climate change. I know that we all feel the summer's getting hotter. Instead of um reszoning and selling the land to multi-million dollar entities, there are plenty of beautiful things that we could do that would benefit public. Creating a storm water capture park could feature a playground. Um a good model of this nearby would be Adventure Park in Whittier. I'm not sure if you guys are familiar with it. Um formerly known as Gun Park, but it was

rebranded. Um so this is a beautiful example of storm water capturing and how it can benefit the community. Um personally as an educator I work with children. I firmly believe in the preservation of green spaces and spa and third spaces. Green spaces are third spaces. And I would love for the children that I work with, the children that we all have and that we love to be given the opportunity to run free and be happy. Thank you. I hope Mayor, that concludes all speaker cards received.

Thank you for that, city clerk. Um, is there anyone in the audience who did not fill out a speaker card who would wish to speak? This is your time. Mr. Rios, going once. Going twice. We'll cut We'll cut his time down to two minutes. Happy New Year, Mr. Rios. Happy New Year's. [clears throat]

Uh, I have a little complaint on the launch trucks that you guys have been letting come in into the city is getting a little ridiculous. Over the weekend, we had around four lunch trucks next to McDonald's. Um, I know I have I talked to the manager and they told me, "Well, we have to close down because this, you know, there's no business." Those are the people that buy uh the business license, the health department and everything. We're letting people come in uh from outside and do whatever they want to in the city. We already put a stop of it over four years ago. You know, now we're letting them come back in. I know the code force has been working lately trying to get rid of them, but it seems like there's special permits that was issued maybe four years, 5 years ago without uh going through the proper channels. They have to go through they had do have license but they don't have uh they can only stand in one area for 10 minutes. That's the law by the state of California. Okay. So why are we letting those people come in? I see him some corners and everything. I usually call uh Carlos when he's not busy. He'll respond to me. Another thing, I've been seeing a lot of furniture and everything all over the city. It's getting dirty again. Hey, that's why I send you guys some pictures. Those pictures that I sent were two

weeks old cuz those furniturees had been out there. We need to to start putting uh not pressure but don't put a ticket right there and tape it with some green tag or whatever. Pick it up. It's part of public works. Pick it up. Don't let the city go to waste. You want to go to waste, go to almani. Yes. I hate to talk about almani. I loved Armani, but lately I've been going over there. It's just trash, you know. But like I said, and the people from the Basset area, we had people going in our neighborhood sending out flowers and signing here, signing there. I told them, "Get out of here. We do not need you guys in here." That was the contractor. Thank you. for homeless.

Jack in the box. That's disable. Good evening to all of you. Uh, thanks for I want to say first of all, thanks for picking up the trash that was being accumulated in front of my business. Um, Carlos would go there and pick it up and I don't know who did it, but uh, it's been taken care of. Thank you. There's still uh homeless people there um next to in an empty lot there and they you know leave trash and it's piling up and it's there's too much uh um of this going on and uh there's also increments or there's been robberies around and in that area Jack in the Box is very dirty in the back. You know, when people go there, eat their burgers, it really smells like there's something really going on, something nasty in the back. So, this is no good. I also want to tell you about the area where the 605 meets the 10. There's some graffiti there next to La Virginia or Vivo. And uh well,

thank you for uh listening and paying attention to my comments. Thank you. Uh, I'm sorry. What if you've already spoke during public communication? We can't we can't allow we can't have an open dialogue back and forth.

Okay. If you if you can, you can go to our city clerk here, give her the information, and then she'll pass it to us. Okay. Thank you for that. Is there anyone else that has not spoken that would like to speak? Now is your time. It's okay. Thank you. All right. Seeing no more interest in Did you'd like to speak? I wasn't going to come up here, but anyways. Hey, I just want to say thank you to Bone Park, city of Bone Park. I seen I've been here over 50 years and seen a lot of things that you guys done in your city. And uh we would like to see that city of Basset and the surrounding cities also. And I just uh we just ask that you be united with us cuz we're we are kind of like family, you know, we're maybe distant, but we're asking we're asking that, you know, that you would help us out by not allowing like Star Storm Properties to come in or any other one someone like that developers would come in and uh and break up a family like us, you know. So, I just I just thank you for listening to all of us and uh I appreciate you guys. God bless.

Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to speak? No. Okay. So, I will now close public communication. Um I just did want to thank all of you guys for coming out. You know, I I I know that some of you guys have been here. Uh Miss Wetta, you know, thank you. Thank you because you you know you're a you're a fighter and we can see that. But you know we we we do want to thank you guys because I believe that myself and my colleagues up here you know have listened to you guys. We continue to listen to you guys. But I just want to let you guys know, you know, this is not on the agenda for tonight. We're not going to be taking up a vote on this. Um they're currently uh submitting their plans to our planning department. Once it gets to our planning department and the planning department or commission um takes it up, then it's going to come to us, the city council, and then that's when we'll we'll take a vote on that. But for now, it's not something that we can vote on. Okay. But we do thank you guys. We do hear you guys. Um and we thank you guys for coming out. Yes. And then our city attorney will go ahead and add something to that as well.

Yeah. And and and just so you understand too that legally we have to wait until a project is presented. If if they start to make statements in favor or against then that is biased against the person who's making the application. So we have to withhold judgment until there's an actual project before them and then they can make decisions on it. Mayor,

thank you. I want to thank all the speakers that came uh to talk about different subjects here in the city. We are all very interesting interested here to know what concerns you and how we can better service the community. So, it's always appreciated that you come out here and speak. Um Abel talked about the in and out really quick. The Jack in the Box area, if you can take a look again, please. Um it's been an issue with CALR. Um there is homeless. I was just by there recently. They do um reside there at times and I know our PD has worked with them. They go out there, they provide services, they move out, but they keep coming back. Our PD can only do so much. We need uh CALR to always also step in to make sure they're cleaning up and that there's no graffiti in the area. So, if you can please look into that to make sure that that area is maintained clean. And also since we're on the subject of that area on that property that's going to be developed as a hotel, that property is really dirty. It's uh the grass is overgrown and a lot of trash as you exit uh Poente Avenue. It looks really bad. So if you can go after the property owners to make sure they clean it up, please. Thank you.

Thank you for that, Council Member Rob. Yes, you're correct that uh Grand Parkin is is uh looking really bad. Uh any other council members wishing to address address anything? No. Yeah, real real quick. Thank you. Just want to remind as the city attorney uh mentioned until such time that the actual developers submit the actual documentations and from there make sure you're you're informed. So this way you know what what other steps you're going to take from from that point as residents. Thank you.

Thank you for that. So then uh now we're going to go ahead and move on to our uh consent calendar. Uh city council, is there anyone wishing to pull any items? No. Okay. Uh do we have a motion to approve consent calendar items one through well the entire consent calendar? Yeah, mayor. I'll go ahead and make the motion. We got a motion by council. Second. Second by council member Aila. City clerk, can we get roll call, please? We have a motion to adopt items one through four. Motion by council member Lozano. Second by council member Aila. Council member Aila. Yes. Council member Estrada. Yes. Council member Lozano.

Yes. Mayor Prom Ayola. Yes. Mayor Damian. Yes. Motion carries. 5-0. Thank you for that, city clerk. Moving on to public hearing. We have no public hearing. So now we're going to go to reports of officers. the update on project activities implemented by the St. Gabriel Valley Valley Habitat for Humanity. Um, Manny, thank you, mayor. I'm going to toss this over to our community development director. He will start off this presentation. Okina,

thank you, Manny. And thank you, Mayor Damian, and the rest of the city council. Uh, this item was requested by council member Damian with regards to um asking for a status update on the Habitat for Humanity project. Um, that request came in in November 19th, 2025. Um, we've been working alongside with um, Habitat for Humanity, uh, Mr. P here in the audience tonight and his, uh, colleague as well. This item in terms of the presentation reflects the um fiscal impact in terms of the different funding source that's provided by um the city or the project itself. Approximately $5 million of different funding allocation was uh set aside towards different variety of projects throughout the community that is uh worked on and funded by um Habitat for Humanity. A few project are home renovations, garage conversion, both attach and detach, um ownership occupied uh rehabilitation, also owner ownership occupied regarding veterans housing, the torch project itself which involve land acquisition both and construction as well. land acquisition has been acquired. The matrix in the city council staff report outlines the different funding sources provided as part of each each category of the project and the number of units for the project itself. Uh the steward project is a new construction project that's underway.

It's a adaptive reuse of an existing church as well as developing some new uh condominiums, townhouse type of development. Overall, the project itself is going to um build new projects as well as involving about 54 units of housing uh throughout the community itself. Uh at this time the allocation that Habitat for Humanity is wishing to request as part of this or providing an update um there's some number that was requested to be adjusted and that will come before the city council at a separate meeting for that consideration on the adjustment. Habitat for Humanity also are considering requesting for some extension. The these type of funding source started since 2021 uh October 6 to be exact and all the way to July 16, 2025 on adjustments of certain fundings. At this time, um to summarize everything else, I wanted to turn over the presentation to uh Mr. powers from Habitat for Humanity. He will provide you a uh an example of the different projects that they're working on. And I know that uh Mayor Pro Tim uh sorry the Mayor Damian and the rest of the council may have questions with regards to additional status update with regards to that.

Thank you. And if I may, David, if you could bring the PowerPoint presentation up for Habitat for Humanity. Uh,

good evening, U, Mayor Damian and city council members. Uh, I'm Grant Power, director of real estate for San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. Uh, tonight with me is Laura Elely, who's senior director for housing and community engagement. We're delighted to be here and have a chance to give you updates on the activities that were authorized by the city under the affordable home ownership expansion agreement from 2021. Um we would like to walk through the steps that we have taken to implement this so you can see the progress to date and also talk about our next steps so that you can see the timeline from here to completing the task. Uh, next slide please. This slide was just up uh earlier. You can see here a summary of where we started and where we are currently. Um, the original expiration date for Port Street uh was the end of 25. The same for Stewart. And the other projects you can see listed here, ADUs, critical home repairs and acquisition rehabilitation. We have made progress uh especially on Stewart that property um that project will create 15 new units of affordable for sale housing. It's located that site is located at the corner of Stewart and Los Angeles. Uh we are now in mid construction. Uh we are completing some due diligence associated with holding the final grading permit for the new construction units of which there are four and the and the remaining 11 units at Steuart will be adaptive reuse units based on the transformation of an existing church facility at that location. We're very proud and excited

about the progress we're seeing there. We expect that the um construction of Stewart will be concluded by the end of 2026. Um in the case of torch, torch has been the uh longest in gestation of the project activities in this agreement. U there are some reasons for that. But uh what I want to share with you today is that we have submitted plans the full plans for that project to the planning department for their design review. We anticipate that we will be able to start construction in the fall of 26 and complete construction of 13 units at the infill site on Torch and Marinda by the end of 27. Regarding the ADU program, under the expansion agreement, we set out to build four affordable ADUs. To date, we have completed one and that is now occupied by a tenant, and we have almost completed 90% of the way to completing construction of the second ADU. Uh we are at the moment looking at uh new steps to identify opportunities to build the final two ADUs over the next two years on critical home repairs. Um we got busy very quickly on home repairs because this is the aspect of the work of Habitat focused on preservation of affordability. Um, there are many folks in town, including fixed income seniors, who are facing heavyduty repairs to their homes. They do not have funding for that. And as you've heard us talk about before, Habitat has stepped in with funding to help complete repairs that are needed so the people living there can age in

place. Um, our original target was 14 repairs to be done under this agreement. We were able to complete 16 in the end by the end of 25. We would like to have the opportunity to continue to do more home repairs. And this is partly because we have noticed along the way that there is quite a strong demand across the city for more repairs to be completed on acquisition rehab. Um you may recall the property that we worked on. It was uh two units on Brazie Avenue. Uh that was the very first SB9 lots split project in the city of Baldwin Park. We were able to complete the renovation of the front house and the construction of the back house. And after the lot split was signed off by the city and county, we sold both homes to low-income families. We still have some more units that we'd like to build and we are actively seeking a new site for development of the remaining units that are part of the fulfillment of our obligation under this agreement. Next slide, please. I've given you a lot of detail already about the properties and the projects that are listed in this presentation. Uh many of you may already may remember from previous presentations what these projects are. So we'll just go through these quickly. Um here's the a slide that shows a view of what Torch conceptually will look like at the end of construction. 13 units at Torch and Marinda. Next slide please. Uh here's a slide about Stewart. As we

mentioned earlier, 15 units uh expected completion of construction is in in December of 2026 after which the units will be sold to low-income families. Next slide. This is a conceptual site plan. You will see units that are carved out of the existing uh church facilities at this property on the left and new construction units that are shown on the right facing Los Angeles Street. Next slide, please. These are pictures of construction in progress at Stewart currently. Next slide. on ADUs. You can see uh shots of the ADU at Nubia at completion and the uh ADU located on Holly was very close to being completed. These are affordable ADUs, so they're a niche within the city among the uh whole collection of ADUs that are built here. Next slide, please. on critical home repairs. You can see the number of homes assisted. Uh it's I want to draw your attention to the fact that the mean age of the homeowners is 68 years. Uh the number of years living in their homes average 36. Cost to repair just over 11,000 per house. And the mean household AMI uh is 60%. Next slide, please. On acquisition rehab, you can see the Brazie property here. Front house was completed. Following that, a back house was completed. Both homes were then sold

to low-income families. And we're taking this to be a model for our work in the city on acquisition rehab. Next slide. This is a summary page which shows what the original allocations of funding were that were approved under the affordable home ownership expansion agreement. There are several different sources and each source is uh shown shows a distribution of dollars for different types of projects. Total allocation came up to 4.99 million. Okay, next slide. Uh, this is a report to date on where the money is and where it's gone. On the second row, you can see the original city allocation, which was shown on the previous page or previous slide. Um the city dollars spent by Habitat to date investing in affordable home ownership is shown per property running across the third row of numbers. Below that you can see the percentage or burn rate so to speak of spending relative to the original allocation. The last row of numbers shows how much money remains unspent from the original allocation by the city. I just want to draw your attention to the top row as well, which shows what the overall budget is for each of these projects in fact, which has required from us a fairly extensive body of work mobilizing capital from outside sources so that we could leverage the investment from the city to the tune of three or four dollars of private investment dollars

or every dollar invested by the city in affordable home ownership. Okay, last next slide, please. What I'm hoping you can see from this is that affordable home ownership expansion is happening. It's happening across different classes of projects all being done by Habitat in the form of scattered site neighborhood scale projects to bring about outcomes in preservation as well as infill production. Some of the homes are single family or duplex and some of them are multif family. But the end result here is to accomplish the purpose of this agreement as we understood it in the beginning to expand affordable home ownership opportunities and preserve those opportunities for upwards of 50 households in the city of Balden Park. We are well on our way to accomplishing this and we just need a bit more time to bring this task to completion. We're confident that we can do that. We appreciate immensely the support the city has provided to us and the help that we've received from the staff has been incredible. And so uh with that same um collaboration partnership, we look forward to being able to finish these activities and we'd like to open uh the floor for any questions that you may have based on this information.

Mayor, thank you for that grant. Go ahead. Uh Mayor Protempo, thank you. I have a few comments and questions. Um, within our staff report, Okina, within our staff report, um, it notes that the tentative completion for their torch project will be, um, December of 27. It actually lists that for Torch and Stewart. Yes, that's that's what they're requesting to extend the timeline. Okay. So Grant, you noted you noted here in your presentation that you're telling us that Stuart will be completed by December of 26th. Correct. That is correct.

Okay. So you're you're giving me your word it's going to be done December of 26. Uh we're working absolutely for that to happen. Okay. So Kina, so so in our staff report where it says December of 27 for Stuart, I guess it should say 26 because that's what Grant's telling us. Just a just a typo, I guess. I'm just saying because he's telling me right here in, you know, in front of all keep you updated on our progress, but we fully expect this to happen. Our lenders our lenders have also set a deadline for us. So, that's our goal.

Good. I I I hope I hope so. Um, so on Torch Street, you commented during your presentation that um there's several reasons why Torch has not um commenced or started and all of that. Can you can you tell us briefly what those reasons are? Briefly, uh there are sources of delay coming from us and from the city at different times. Uh when we started out on this project, we came up with an initial design and we submitted it to the city. That was in 2022.

Right. City review was reviewing that and then at the same time we were looking more closely at the true cost to us of developing that project based on the design that we had submitted and we came to a conclusion that it was not financially workable. As a result of that we asked the city to push pause on this project and give us a chance to redesign and resubmit.

Okay. and your in your presentation you gave us a um conceptual site plan of Stewart with like a floor plan and then you referred to your page two of your presentation uh where you have new construction of of Torch and it's just like a a mockup street view and you you commented this is your conceptual do you have a floor plan of Torch like you do of Steuart? We do. We have the draw. Was there a reason it wasn't included in your presentation?

Uh, yes. Um, we have a a site plan and we have floor plans that are not artistically colored in yet. So, we we did not bring that to the slides.

Okay. Cuz I think that would have given a a better visual. I mean, I know most of us have been up here for, you know, numerous presentations by you, but some of us have have returned after a little vacation. So, I mean it would be beneficial that they would have had an opportunity to see those as well. You know, uh, council member Losano, I think for him to have seen the conceptual site plan of torch would have been beneficial. Um, and then you noted, um, for your critical home repairs, you said that you've completed 16 of critical home repairs and and I and I do appreciate you saying that the average age, I believe, is 68 of some sort of the individuals um, and your your s um, examples of the typical repairs um, are listed here. Would you say that some of these homes, these 16 homes, these repairs are one of these examples, two maybe numerous at these homes? So, for example, replace broken fences, doors, windows, landscaping. Um, are these critical repairs just one per per home or are they numerous? Do you have that kind of idea?

It depends. Each property has unique uh needs and conditions and we've had we've had to address them one by one and some of them do require more than just one intervention in order to bring them up to code or to quality of life. Mhm. So, would you say that can you honestly say that um most of these 16 properties that you said you've completed with critical home repairs have had at least more than two issues? Your estimate on the number of

Yeah. saying the focus is safety, accessibility, and deferred maintenance. And so we did see kind of a skew up on roof repair requests, but we always go in and replace like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. So that would be one. Grab bars and handrails are a big ask as well. And then if we do a third is probably interior painting, um exterior painting or kind of like siding. So kind of like water barrier issues. So I'd say yeah, on average it's probably two or three interventions, but we can give you a bigger event. Okay. Per like per per home. Um yeah.

Okay. Okay. Um, I I believe that's that at this point that's all my questions. Thank you, mayor. Thank you. Thank you for the presentation, the update. Any other council members have any questions? No. Go ahead. Thank you. Thank you, mayor.

Well, first of all, thank you for the presentation. is very detailed uh on where you're at with the projects. Thank you, Melinda, for being here until we're done. Right. Thank you. Um you know, these projects uh through Habitat have been amazing to a lot of people that in reality would not be able to afford to purchase a home. And it it is there is a process and there is a process on your end and on on our end in order for projects to to flow smoothly. So, first thank you for the presentation and the update. I absolutely look forward to to getting these complete. But I'm so upset because um he was invited to renovate a home and I wasn't.

Oh my.

Yes. So remember, you have my number. If anything, text me. we're going to be renovating. Give me the address so I can show up because I I had mentioned when you first came in that that I want to be part of that. Uh secondly, I I'd like to ask the city um I don't know if there's already a process in place to make sure that not just with Habitat, but with anybody coming in through pool to pull permits or doing any type of work in their house. If we can have a process that doesn't delay the projects when they come in for check plans to make sure that everything that's checked on there gets completed, but when they come back, they don't add something new. Everything should be done when they come in. This is what you have to fix. Fix it, come back, prove it, and not add anymore. because I've been in that in that situation where we'd have to and and it was in the city of Balden Park amazingly about 17 years ago. Uh you come in for a plan check, you get it reviewed, you fix it, and then what now you have to fix this and the same plan. So, I don't know what the process is right now, but I just want to make sure that we have a process in place to make it easier for everybody trying to do this home improvements or these new builds in our city so that it can go faster because the longer a project takes, the more money that gets put into the project because prices go up, uh, salaries go up. So, we actually end up spending more money when we're we're building something and it just takes longer. So that's my ask of the city to make sure that the the plan check and all the processes are smooth for everybody to make the process faster. Please, again, thank you. Thank you for everything that you're doing and I know this will get completed and we're all going to be excited to do the the ribbon cutting for all these projects. So, thank you.

There will be many opportunities to come out. Make sure you let me know. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

Go ahead, Council. I just uh I just kind of want to reiterate um councilwoman's points, but yes, of course, we want to acknowledge the Presbyterian Church and Melinda, you know, out of all the churches that have gone for sale in the city of Bowen Park, this is literally the only one the only church that has done something that aligns with church values, right? And um you know and I know that and to that point I know you know speaking about churches I know that um yes you know we we want to see these come to uh completion and I know that we're behind schedule for sure and I think we're all in agreeance to that but we're also you know I can also attest that you know Habitat is doing the work and when it comes to property and acquisition and trying to negotiate it gets difficult. I know I you know I I bombard you with listings that can hopefully help you meet these but also making sure that the numbers are working right and one of those was a church that just wasn't budgeting. So um you know it's a it's a very complex very complex project and you know we it's not we're not completing as fast as we'd like to and you know it's it's the reality of of of the market and just trying to hit all these things. I I do want to reiterate those things where we want we want to make sure that, you know, if somebody submits a plan, a one and done, right? Not a here's a correction and they sub resubmit it and you're like, "Oh, wait. We forgot this one." And then we add another one, then we add another one, you know, not just for Habitat, but in general, because that's, you know, that's a big that's a I think that's a big selling point for developers and people that are trying to build housing, anybody really that's trying to invest in the city.

Um, so I just wanted to really make sure that we're working together, that we're keeping each other updated. I know council wants to be a little bit more updated about the projects and how we're how we're what's what's you know there's a holdup or there's not a holdup. I think that line of communication can really facilitate know and people you know then that way nobody's kind of you know play psychic and try to figure out what's going on with these projects. We hear you.

You know it's a I mean this is a this is the first of its kind, right? This is the first program that Bowen Park has had like this. I want to make sure that it's successful. You know we've had some very big wins from the lotslit to the church. Um, you know, there's and there's a lot of opportunity to continue having many firsts in housing development in the city of Bowen Park. So, and I mean, we've heard a lot of these a lot of these people just talking about the school district and the line of students. I mean, that's a that's the most obvious sign that we need to do something to bring in families and to make sure that families can only come in, but that they can stay here, right? So, this is a this is a big all-around uh thing. So, wanted to highlight that and make sure while we're figuring out how we're working together that we're all just in sync and that there's no um you know, just no noise in between.

Thank you, Mayor. And really quick, uh not doesn't have to do so much with the construction part of it, but with the availability of it. So once these homes are available, how soon our residents will be notified to apply uh to be able to acquire this properties because we do want our residents of course to have first dibs. So make sure that we have that information up and ready for them once we're ready to sell them. Yes, we will work with city staff. We'll probably start um marketing the steward opportunity this summer. People have time to apply. Okay, perfect. Thank you.

The city attorney wanted to ask a question as well. Yeah, I was just interested on the ADU option there because that would would seem to involve individuals with privately owned property and you're I guess they're agreeing to let an ADU be built in the backyard and you're paying the construction costs. Is that correct? That's a good question. Yeah. So, the ADU program it's so you have to qualify as a low-inccome homeowner. We would build an ADU on your property to rent out to a low-inccome renter. So it's uh affordable home ownership on the owner has to qualify as low income, correct? Then you build the unit and then it has a covenant on it for 55 years be affordable or

5 years. I have to look up what it is, but it is a covenant to make it remain affordable. Yes. Okay. And then they they they're able to collect that that rent, but it's an affordable rent, correct? Yeah. So there's a cap on the rent that you could charge. Um and then the money for the city goes back to the city as well. I was just thinking because you're still looking for two more sites and it seems like it would be good for the community to know it would be a good opportunity to get some income for a low-inccome person. Yeah. And those ADUs we make sure they don't become Airbnbs, right? Yes. So they it's a no 30 no under 30

because you know some people do that in different cities. They built those ADUs and now they're it's Airbnb all of a sudden. So just make sure that doesn't happen. Anyone else have any questions?

Yeah. Uh, thank you very much, uh, mayor. Uh, at this point, I just want to say that I personally, me, myself, and I'm disappointed. Uh, this project started in 2021. So, I personally don't think this is going to be finished in 2026. We're talking about the steward and then the torch. Obviously, that your signs are no longer there. So, obviously, that's probably going to take even a lot more time. So, whatever whatever is behind that, I walked around that steward area and the resident wondering what is going on. We don't see anything out. some of the some of the um some of the covering there. I forget what what you call just flying flying out in the air and so on and so forth. You had three major projects in the city of Balden Park that's that were started uh after this project came in and they're completed. I know there's a process and I understand that, but I really personally me myself uh feel that you're neglecting the city and I don't like the fact that this city should be treated in a third or or third or fourth place and that's the way I personally feel. I'm speaking for myself. When you go around Stewart, ask those residents what they feel about the project. When is it going to finish? When is it going to be completed? I mean, I really I mean, again, me, I feel that you personally are giving us a runaround. I mean, you've been given I believe you've been fronted the money. Am I correct? You've been fronted the money for the project.

Yes, to a large extent, which I personally would have chosen not to. How did that happen? How does that money get upfront for this project? Can that someone answer that for me? Is that is that the because I I don't think that's the norm unless I'm wrong. Can anyone answer that for me over here? One of our staff, Mr. Kino. I was kind of curious. I could go ahead and answer that, sir. Uh at the time the staff in place made that recommendation. City council approved it. I am not sure if that was your request, Mr. Powers, or if that was staff's recommendation. if you could shed any light on that. Thank you.

At the time the agreement was originally put together, there was a mutual understanding that some funds would be advanced from the city to make it possible for us to begin the work. Um, and that happened as a partner of the city. It is our job to safeguard those funds and make sure they're used as required. That has happened. Um, we keep very good accounts. we uh keep good track of where the funds are and we use them as required. And so uh what I want to say about that is that you're in good hands with Habitat for Humanity when it comes to this. Um there are some funds that are still with the city. That's a different subject, but we hope that we can still uh work with the city in a way that will provide a means of access to those funds so that we can complete the task on on schedule. Well, are they collecting interest? I I'd imagine. Right.

Interest bearing accounts. Yeah. The actual the actual money that was loan to you. So, they're they're actually uh there's interest that's being paid on that money. Those those funds are in a in a zero interest checking account. Okay. All right. But let me just let let me just again I'm speaking for myself. It is frustrating that I go by there, you know, the when I go when I pass by there and it just is there's no progress in that project. And if you ask the residents, they'll let you know. We don't know what's going on here. I mean the mayor pick uh that what what is her name from the church.

Miss Melinda. Yeah. And I've attended the church when the church was active years ago when Mr. Nixon and his family and everyone used to go there. You know I I I just want to say you're probably back here next year and the year thereafter. And I hate to say that but the reality is that you're going to have to somehow prioritize this project. I personally don't think Ballen Park is your priority. I think if you were in a more a fluent community, I think we'd probably see faster change. And I just want to say that I look forward to the projects, but I it just it just frustrating for me. It it honestly is because we're back here from the last time and uh now this project is going to take another year at the end of 2026 when you say the the Stewart's going to be finished. Now we're moving the other torch to 2027. I I I just want to air my concern, but at the same time, I I wish you the best in moving the project forward. But just keep us informed. Let us know what's happening because sometimes I pass by during the week. I don't see anyone working there. So I'm assuming what's happening here. Maybe the priority is else not Baldin Park. And again,

your chance to volunteer. Yeah. Yeah. Well, no, no. I'm saying so for me I agree to disagree. Okay. Because obviously we're all going to have opinions. These are my colleagues. We'll work together, but we obviously have different types of methods of of way that we work. So I just want to add that for the record. Okay. So we look forward. Thank you. Kina, thank you councel for your uh feedback to us.

I just I want I want to know so I I went through some of these things in the in the staff report. So to make it clear, we did pass this in 2021, but it didn't get funded until the year after, you know, and so I that's one of the the big things that I want to make clear and I know that some council members weren't here at this time. Also want to note that u Habitat is a a nonprofit. Now, when I came into office, we had developers that had ENAs that had zero accountability for their ENAs with multiple extensions and nobody batted an eye to date. So, you know, this idea that we're going to be rough on our partners and our long-standing partners because you've been our total partner for a very long time, you know, I just don't find it agreeable and, you know, we can agree to disagree on that, but you know, I want to make sure that that's noted.

Absolutely. I agree with that.

All right, let me let me have a shot at this. Um, so look, Grant, thank you so much. Thank you for Thank you for the presentation. Thank you for being here. Um you heard from my council colleagues, right? They're we're you know, we all have our concerns. Listen, I I know the work that you guys do. You guys do an amazing job. No doubt about that. I have no fear that you're going to run off with your money because trust me, I will chase you down. But but you know, I'm not going to sit here and lie that we're not concerned. you know this we started working with on this in 2021. In 2022 you guys announced that you would start construction of the torch project later that year. We are now in 2026 and there's crickets. Um you know and I understand there's delays. I understand all of this. But a couple of questions for you. So according to your slide on on the torch street, you you have here to be dated to be restarted January 12th, 2026. Is that a typo? Cuz we're in January 21st.

Uh 20 January 26 was the date of resubmitt of the 2.0 design for torch.

Okay. And so on that same slide, you have a rendering there, which looks like the rendering, if I'm not mistaken, that you showed us of what these homes would look like originally. So, is this still the same rendering of what these homes are going to look like, or are we going to expect a whole new design? Um, my best recollection on this is that the uh conceptual view that we're showing you tonight came from David Goodale, who's our most recent architect and not from the original. Okay. So, I mean, obviously, if you resubmitted a new design, we just want to make sure that if this is not it, that it comes back to the city council for review so that we can see now what we're expecting there. Um, and another thing I will reiterate and and I'm going to be honest with you, my biggest concern right now is the torch project. I'm glad to see that the Stewart project is finally, you know, getting worked on, I I really have no big concerns on the home critical repair program or the ADU. I think right now for me personally, the my biggest concern is a torch project. You have it here that you're expecting completion of this in on December 31st of 2027.

Yes.

Okay. I just want to let you know that personally I will hold you accountable for this date only because and trust me I don't mean this in any way shape or form in a threatening manner or in a you know disrespectful manner. I am just letting you know that I don't want to see these homes for our residents built in 2030. You know when we brought this to to the council in 2021 I knew this would be a great project for our residents. I know many of our residents want that home affordability um you know option and this is one of them. But I will tell you that if you have to come back to the city council for another extension and we're past this December 31st 2027 deadline, you know, we may be having a different type of conversation. So I just really want you to go back, you know, with your team. Look, if we need to work together with our city to the we can make sure that whatever plans are in review are not taking long. If we can expedite whatever we can, uh, Okina, let's do that because I think this is a major priority for the entire city council so that we can get these homes built and constructed so that our residents can start moving in there. Hopefully, you know, 100% of those people are from Baldwin Park. But that's my biggest concern, Grant. So, if you can commit to us here that for the torch project, you will have it delivered by December 31st, 2027, I'm I'm all good for that. But if if it's not, I would really appreciate you letting us know now so that we can maybe start exploring different options.

Sure. Uh that's very much appreciated. We understand that uh it's taken a while. Uh we are committed to following through as we are stating this evening and if what we'd like to do is provide more perhaps more frequent updates so you can see the progress in mid in midcourse um and uh hopefully that will provide some reassurance and clarification of where we are on the way.

Okay. I think that's a plan. I think that it would be good for you to come and give us I don't want to say quarterly updates but maybe give us a a June update you know in June 6 months from now. give us an update, let us know where you're at so that this way if there's any, you know, hurdles that we have to go through, we can figure out with our city staff what are we going to do to get through these hurdles. So, if you know, you can come back to us because I was personally a little disappointed that I had to request an update to know, hey, what's going on here? You know, where are we at? I don't see any movement. So, I would appreciate it if maybe in June of this year, you come to us with an update. And it doesn't have to be a big huge presentation, a very brief update just letting us know this is where we're at. We're on on schedule or you know what, we may be backed up, you know, 2 3 months and and trust me, if by December 31st, 2027, this isn't completely built, but I see that you're you know, you're needing another month or two months. Hey, I'm all for that because I know that there's delays in construction, but I just don't want to have this same type of conversation or presentation one or two years later. That's just my biggest concern.

Okay. Okay. Very good. Thank you. Does anyone else have any Okina?

Yes. Uh I want to touch base on a few question that the council uh asked and I wanted to provide some clarification. I'll start off with council member Ayella with regards to the Steward project. What's identified as the update for the Steuart project and the staff report? Uh this specific date was identified based on the requests of Habitat for Humanity. um requesting for the extension of December 31st, 2027. And that report was done, written, finalized. Then we came to learn working with our finance team, working for with our housing team, working with Habitat that there are restricted funds and deadlines that's mandated by the funding source. And as a result of that, uh Mr. power is able to change the PowerPoint presentation because that deadline or that request for extension for this specific project cannot move beyond the December 30 uh 31st 2026. So I wanted to provide that clarity um because that was written uh initially finalized and then the modification was done. In fact uh Mr. power and I was working on the revise exhibit to correct some of these numbers and information with regards to council member uh Avula with regards to the the plan check process uh I believe we have a great team right now um so one of the major uh streamlining process we have been collaborating interdep departmentally so between planning building and safety, public works and our finance team. So when plans are submitted, we review the plans in conjunction. Each of the department have uh we're given a time to review and

provide all the list of comments and corrections all at once back to the applicant. Uh there are a few situation where if an applicant change something that triggers some additional requirements uh that's typically that's pretty standard but um that's a process to expedite the process. Um that goes with a a few other folks as well um that raise that question. And then of course the uh funding source you know with regards to the funding yes that's not typical standard practice. you uh the standard practice you award the contract you pay as you go you provide the proof that we typically don't front the money you finish a project request for reimbursement throughout the process whether it's monthly quarterly or annually so um whatever happened in the past that's unique is not going to move forward with the same process that's in to ensure safety and security uh as well as those potential funding source can be sitting in our account acrewing interests. So, um both our finance director and myself have been communicating on many facet of that and uh to help fine-tune the process and to help move the project along. So, we'll continue to work with uh Habitat to um complete these project as soon as possible.

Thank you, Okina, for that. And just so you know, uh, when processes are brought to us, it's always recommended, you know, because you guys are the professionals, recommendations are done and we base on your recommendations. Uh, well, it wasn't yours at the time, so to make that clear. So that will that's what we based it on. And again, it's Habitat for Humanity. They're not going to take that money and run, right? So we we know they're reliable. So we know yes the project is behind but it doesn't mean it's not going to get completed with this update. I really true believe it's going to get updated and I never meant anything that your staff was not doing their I know they're doing their their job but in the past there has been

it's we have a lot of new staff in your department that yes that has happened. So I just wanted to make sure that we were streamlining and making the process faster not just for habitat but for everybody coming into plant or starting any new projects so that there's no frustration anywhere. That was the only reason why I said that.

Yes, this is a priority a priority project not just for the city but for staff and everybody else. Um and I did assure grant uh Mr. power with regards to the requests of modification of the number of units, the time extension and so forth. That will have to come back before the city council as an official request for an extension. So, uh, we will be working forward, you know, the next few months to bring that back. Thank you for that, Okina. Thank you so much, uh, Grant. Appreciate you being here. Thank you. Give Brian our best. Tell him that he's got a deadline to complete. Okay. Thank you guys so much. Thank you.

All right. So, can I get a motion to file and receive? Motion. Okay. We got a motion by Council Member Lozano and a second by Council Member Aila. Uh, city clerk, can we get roll call, please? We have a motion to adopt and file item number five. Motion by council member Lozano. Second by council member Aila. Council member Aila. Yes. Council member Estrada. Yes. Council member Lozano. Yes. Mayor Promayala. Yes. Mayor Damian, yes. Motion carries 5-0.

Thank you for that, city clerk. All right, now we're moving on to city council acting as successor agency of the dissolved community development commission. Uh item six, we've got Can I do these together? City attorney 6, seven, and eight. You can. I'm going to go ahead and make a motion to approve items six, seven, and eight. Can I get a second? I'll go ahead. Motion. Okay, we got a motion by council member Lozana. Can I get a second? Second. Second by council member Estrada. City clerk, can we get roll call, please? We have a motion to adopt item 6, seven, and eight. Motion by council member Lozano. Second by council member Estrada. Council member Avula, yes. Council member Estrada. Council member Lozano. Yes. Mayor Ayala. Mayor Promayala.

Yes. Uh, Mayor Damian, yes. Motion carries 5. Thank you for that, city clerk. All right. Going on to the finance authority treasures report. Can get a motion to approve. Motion. I'll second. Got a uh motion by council member Lozano. Uh second by Mayor Prom Ayala. So click roll call. We have a motion to adopt item number nine. Motion by council member Lozano. Second by Mayor Payala. Council member Aila. Yes. Council member Estrada. Yes. Council member Lozano. Daniel. Yes. Mayor Promayella. Yes. Mayor Damian. Yes.

Motion carries. 5-0. All right, we're going to go move on to the housing authority and I'm going to go ahead and do these individually. Um, I will be abstaining from item 10 uh only because my commercial landlord is on the warrants of demands. Um, so can I get a motion to approve item 10? I motion. Motion by Mayor Potm Ayala. Can I get a second? Motion second. Second by council Rosano. City clerk can make a roll call. We have a motion to adopt item number 10. Motion made by Mayor Payala. Second by council member Rosano. Council member Avula. Council member Estrada, yes. Council member Lozano, yes. Mayor Promayala, yes. Motion carries 401. Thank you for that, city clerk. All right. Item number 11, treasures report. Can I get a motion to approve?

Motion. Got a motion by Mayor Prom Yalas. Can I get a second? A second. Second by Council Lozano. We have a motion to adopt item number 11. Motion made by Mayor Promayala. Second by Council Lozano. Council member Avila. Council member Estrada. Yes. Casar Lozano. Yes. Mayor Broad Sam Ayala. Yes. Mayor Damian. Yes. Motion carries. 5-0. Thank you for that, city clerk. Moving on to city council, city clerk, city treasure, staff request and communications. Uh Mayor Pamala, the floor is yours.

Thank you, mayor. Um, I'm seeking uh my council colleagues consensus um that we consider uh dedicating the 4200 block of Philhurst Avenue in the memory of our fallen soldier u soldier, excuse me, our officer Samuel Riveros. Uh if I have council consensus, I'd like uh to direct staff to bring back a report um for our consideration uh the feasibility of doing that. Do I have consensus? Yeah, I'll go. I guess I'll motion. Um, mayor, make my motion. Yes.

Sorry. I I think it's a good good idea. I just ask in the feasibility report if you can also give us some potential alternatives. Yes. Yes, sir. Council member is strata. We also have a formal request submitted by Ball and Park Police Department. So, we will also list that as an option for the city council and they'll be able to decide. Our goal would be the next city council meeting. So, you bring them concurrently. Yes, sir. Thank you. That's Thank you. Yeah. All right. Um I know that nobody else has anything on here, but do you any of you have any council comments or requests?

Yeah, real quick. I just want to if we could get a hold of our state senate and assembly. These exits on the freeway are dirty as heck. I mean, I just don't understand. Go to West Coina. make change automatically. So, I don't know what's going on here. Are you okay? Somehow, let's get let's get let's get them out there. If not, why don't we volunteer and go clean up ourselves because this is ridiculous the amount of trash that Kent Abel mentioned this evening too about behind that Jack in the Box. Take a look at those exits as you're going in in and out of there. Just dirty. Yes, sir. I believe it was the last minute we asked you to contact Calrans for the exits. Remember?

Yeah. Let's go ahead. Let's go ahead and do that. Contact Cra staff level. We said at the staff level first and then if it didn't they didn't respond it would escalate to the senate. I we had that discussion. Yes. We we reached out to our state assembly and state senator and their staff coordinated CALR to show up and uh clean up a few of them. But unfortunately as soon as they get cleaned up they get dirty again. Another [clears throat] thing that we can do is maybe I don't know if we have that what is I I don't remember what it's called when we have that one day clean up. Maybe we can start doing, you know, one every quarter and see if we can get volunteers from the community to come out. We I mean there's different areas of Absolutely. You know, I mean, we

look, I know our residents I' I've talked to a few, but some of them, they just don't even want to pick up the phone to call for Brookie items. And I know, you know, I think it's our HR individually responsibilities to make sure that we don't only not only keep our own homes clean, but let's keep our streets clean because this is the city that we live in and we want to have, you know, pride in the city that we live in. So, definitely let's try to address those those issues where where we see that it's looking rundown. Um, any other council members have anything to add? Mayor. Yes. Go ahead.

All right. I um I just wanted there's a uh there's a grant from the California uh Department of State of uh public health and it's for uh central local training and education program for uh prevention of domestic violence. I think this would be a uh good idea to partner on with our school district and potentially a nonprofit. So just hoping that we can get a consensus to look into it. Yeah. And is that a good one to bring maybe to the uh collaborative committee? That's what I would think. Yeah. So I think Manny we can add that to the collaborative committee agenda. And then speaking of that, uh, see when we're going to be able to have our first meeting of the year because it's been a while since we met. Yes, sir. Okay, perfect. Thank you for that, Manny. Council Roba, do you have any

Yes. I I wanted to ask uh Daniel if you can um follow up with the Balden Park School District on the area of Francis Ho and Dansza where we fixed all the sidewalks and the greenery. Um it I believe it was a verbal agreement. I don't know exactly how that agreement came about that we would um beautify the area, but the district would actually be in charge of keeping up the area because it's right in front of the schools because um I was just walking through Francisc took a drive towards Yansza, the ones that are completed. There's a lot of weeds, a lot of trash that's not being cleaned up and I believe um the district is supposed to keep that area up as well as making sure that it's get it gets watered. So maybe if we can have a joint meeting with them to make sure that process is in place because the city put a lot of money and work into those areas and for it to not to be kept up. It would just be a waste of money because it's going to end up dry and ugly. So we can talk to the school district and make sure we're all on the same page because we're going to continue doing that um in front of all the schools to make sure they're all nice and clean and they have uh greenery around them. Also, um, Rose, if you can give us, uh, an update on the payment of Rome on the balance that they have, uh, next meeting, you can tell us where we're at. When was the last time they make a payment, made a payment, and, uh, what the balance is, please?

Yes, I will do that. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Can I So, adding to that, can we get a can we I mean, I don't know if it's a close session item or not, but, can we figure out what the plan forward is? I think they've, you know, they've had that money for over 10 years. I think it's 12 million and they haven't really been even responsive. You know, we we've been asking for this report since 2022. We stopped the last DNA because they weren't being responsive to that either. So, I think at this point we have to figure out what's going to happen with that money because that is a lot of money. And I think it's a I kind of remember 50 years something like that.

And if they don't make payments, can we put a lean on the property? Just checking. Yes, they've been making they've been making payment. I've been meet try to meet with them and I try many many times. Finally, we had a meeting with them. I will provide the update information and I appreciate the meetings. We just see need to see the cash flowing in more uh regularly. When did you when did you have this meeting Rose?

Uh little bit before Christmas. Unfortunately, they are saying we request for the addict report to they unfortunately the payment seems going lower and lower

and that's exactly it the information that they us give us an update see what we can do moving forward because legally I mean there's something we need to be able to do that is a lot of money they owe the city when they give were giving the opportunity to use the land, use our parking lot and on top of that use the city money and now we're not getting paid for. So if I would like for our attorney to please look into what we can do legally uh to make sure that we're getting that money that they owe us and yes it was 50 years but they should I don't know how it was stipulated how much money they should be paying but it's ridiculous that they still owe us so much money.

Yes. I only because it's not agenda. So for the financial report, just an update, Rose, please. It's not agendaized. Um why don't we go ahead and bring it up to the next city council meeting so that this way we have questions and we can go into further discussion. Yes. Okay. Thank you for that. Rose, city attorney, go ahead.

Yes. I just noticed that you know for all these meetings we keep um approving these items. It seems to me that these uh housing authority, finance authority, we could put those under consent if if if uh you're okay with that. I don't know what the process is for modifying the agenda, but um would you be okay with us sticking it under the regular consent that a lot of cities do do that and then it would all be one vote to approve those particular items? Yeah, let's let's if you know discuss with our our boss lady over there, city clerk, and then if you know if it's if it's okay. Yeah, sure. We're I'm okay with it on consent. Are you guys okay with it being on consent?

Okay. So, we'll we'll look into it and then bring back whatever needs to be brought.

Okay. Perfect. All right. So, uh I only have one thing I just want to say. First of all, Daniel, thank you and staff for the two meetings that you had for the dial ride uh at the senior center. Uh I think it was last week and the week before. I'm losing track of what date I'm in anymore. Um however, I'm still getting complaints. I just got one on my way here from one that was supposed to be picked up for a doctor's appointment at 3:30 p.m. and they didn't pick her up till 4 something and she literally called me when she was on the bus and they told her that they apologized it was system issue that problems with the with the system. Um, so I'm still constantly getting these complaints. Um, they're very unhappy. So, I don't know if you can maybe go back or bring us just an update as to, you know, what conversation took place after those two meetings and what are they going to do to fix these issues? And if they're not going to be fixed, then what are our options? What are what are going to be our city council options in reference to the contract? Because to me, it seems like they're not they're not holding their end of the bargain when it comes to this contract. And we can't have you know these are seniors who need transportation are medically ill and are going to you know Kaiser for blood transfusions you know so these are very critical seniors you know that that we need to care for. So uh the last thing I want is with their health condition to be stressing over this ride situation that is really to us it may be simple but to them it's something really big. Um so if you can just you know bring us an update at the next council meeting or give you know send us an email whatever is easier just so that we know if this is not going to work out then what are our options moving forward.

This is not the new company itself. It is it is the new company.

Yes. Yeah. Yes. A lot of issues. So if I may um yes we've we've had multiple meetings. We've had um we have weekly meetings with them with um TransDev and and Rideco who's developing the app. So, you know, they had new dispatchers that didn't know, you know, the policies. Um there was I don't know a dozen so dozen or so locations outside of the city limits that we serve. Um they the dispatchers weren't aware of that. So there there's been a little bit of a learning curve and we have, you know, new they have new dispatchers and new um staff that that are not as familiar with with Baldwin Park as STI was after 31 years, which is expected. There's been there's been um a lot of hiccups, more than we anticipated. Um but we're definitely I think we've seen um a lot less um um complaints, but yes, we we still have a ways to go and um yeah, I'll I'll uh send an an email um with what we've done and the progress that we've made and and um lingering concerns that we're seeing.

Perfect. And and while I have your attention um real quickly, so our CDBG sidewalk projects um project started yesterday. I saw that they were they started about a month early um that than what was uh listed in the contract. So um that some good news.

I just sent Manny one that he's going to share with you, too. Yeah, I saw the the signs being put up that they're going to be no parking and then the next day I No, no, a few days later I saw the city employees working on there. Thank you as always. Thank you staff. Thank you everybody that's always making sure our residents are taken care of. Thank you.

Thank you for that, Daniel. And if uh I'm I'm really excited that the that that's getting started, the sidewalks. So maybe we can get some pictures so we can promote on social media just so that the uh you know our residents are aware that we're going to get to these sidewalks one by one because they're not easy to get to. So all right, if no one has anything else, I will now go ahead uh I will now go ahead and make a motion to adjurnn. Second. We are adjourned. Have a good night everyone. Yes, the staff.