City - Regular Meeting

We're going to wait five minutes before we start our meeting. So, thank you.

Good evening everyone. Can I have your attention? Good evening. Uh it's it's wonderful to see such a great crowd here this evening.

I'd start the meeting then. Thank you. Thank you. It's good to see everybody here this evening. What a wonderful crowd. Before we start our meeting, I'd like to ask uh for invocation Rosario Dominion from the word of life to come forward for our invocation. Please stand.

Hello. Hello everyone. Lord Jesus, we come before you, Lord Jesus, once again, just thankful, Lord God, for your goodness, for your mercy and grace, and for the great gift of salvation. Father, right now, I pray, Lord, that you be in our midst, Lord God. I pray, Lord God, that your Holy Spirit would give us direction, Lord, that everything um that is spoken of today, Lord God, that it will be for the good of the people, Lord God, in this city, in this town, Lord. I pray father that everything that is done Lord God that everything that is done in your name Lord God that it would be Lord God of a great blessing to everyone. I thank you Lord God for your goodness once again Father and I pray Lord God that you give us wisdom understanding Lord God and most importantly Lord God that you help us to come into one mind and one accord in any decision made today in your holy name Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Amen. like to call to order this meeting of the city council Las Banis for November 5th, 2025. And chief, if we have the pledge 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. That was wonderful to hear everybody giving the pledge. That's great. And let's see. We will now go with roll call, please. Perez. Sanders here. Chavez here.

Lewis here. Amil I am here. The first item is the consideration of approval of the agenda as submitted. And before we have a motion on that, I need that motion. We've had a request to move item 10 up to behind eight be in front of eight in front of eight. Right. Correct. Right after the consent agenda.

Okay. Right after the consent agenda, we will move item 10 which is the P bid. We'll move it forward for the convenience of everybody here in the audience. And if so, if I could have that motion to move that uh along with approval as the rest of the agenda. So moved. Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve the approval of the agenda as submitted with the movement of item 10 as stated. Any further questions or comments? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Thank you. So uh now we have some presentation so I'll come forward.

I love you daddy. So last Saturday we had a wonderful parade in town for the Veterans Day. It was organized by our local veterans. They did an excellent job. Patricia did an excellent job. Mike, if you if you the the your group could come forward, please. I have a proclamation com uh commemorating the veterans day which is this November 11th. Whereas freedom are we enjoy as Americans have been purchased and maintained at a high price throughout our history. And whereas since the establishment of the original 13 states have been willing to fight and die to preserve their individual rights as guaranteed in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And whereas we owe a great debt to those who have served in defense of this nation and throughout the generations. their sacrifices and they have preserved our unique form of government dedicated to the human rights and respect for all individuals. And whereas for many the sacrifice has ended in permanent injury or death, yet the spirit remains in the continued preservation of our freedoms and the promise of liberty established as an example for all the oppressed persons in the world. And whereas in honor of these dedicated men and women, we pledge our continued defense of our nation so that their sacrifice will stand before the entire world as a tribute to the spirit and determination of people dedicated to principles of

freedom and democracy. Now therefore be proclaimed that the mayor and the city council members of the city of Lasass call upon all citizens to salute our veterans who have served with honor and distinction and to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies in honor of our veterans both living and deceased who have served this country so willingly to preserve the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy. to fly the flag and to show our veterans we appreciate their great sacrifice. Congratulations. We can't thank you enough. And on behalf of both the uh the VFW and the American Legion, we'd like to um thank you, mayor, and thank the city council and thank the uh city for all that you do for the veterans in Los Manners.

Thank you very much. Now, we're going to have

Oh, okay. So, if we could have Grasslands Elementary come forward.

Y Come forward. Wow.

So, everybody's here. Okay. So, this is a certificate of recognition presented to Grasslands Elementary School in recognition of being named as the most patriotic elementary school for its entry in the 2025 Veterans Day parade. The staff and students are applauded for their outstanding efforts. Congratulations. And Mike, again, we we want to thank all of the schools in Lasis. We had all of the schools participate this year and I feel really sorry for our judges because a lot of these winners were only by one or two points. U everybody did an excellent job and to see all of these young people with what they have put forth in an effort to support the veterans, it just makes you want to have tears in your eyes. It's a just a great great feeling to see what they do. Uh, good evening everyone. My name is Caric Prasad here on behalf of Congressman Adam Gray and uh, we also wanted to take a moment to recognize Grasslands Elementary. Their float was absolutely incredible. Um, and it was a they were so incredibly polite when they came up to ask for water at the water table. Um, so I really want to thank um everyone here on behalf of them and all the parents cuz uh they were very very adorable and it was great fun making sure they were hydrated. So behalf of Congressman Adam Gray in the United States House of Representatives, thank you. Great. Thank you very much. CONGRATULATIONS.

Now we can have Creekide Junior High School come forward. Creek Side. Thank you very much. Go ahead. Make your way in. Your way in.

Oh yeah. Thank you. Well, what a good turnout and an excellent job in the parade and uh you look older than than it should be for junior high, but I guess you like that, but when you're my age, you don't like to look older. Now, this is certificate recognition presented to Creekide Junior High in recognition of being named the most patriotic junior high school for its entry in the 2025 Veterans Day parade. The staff and students are applauded for their outstanding efforts. Congratulations. And I'll give this over TO AGAIN. We would like to uh like to give a special thanks to Creekide. I believe this two years in a row, isn't it, sir?

Yes, sir. Yeah. Yeah. You know, one point's all it takes. But all of the again, like I said before, all of these all of the entries this year from the schools were outstanding. And I believe we get them all this year, didn't we get them all? All but one, two, all but two. All but two schools participated. So, what an excellent showing for the schools in the city of Las Vegas.

I'll also extend the uh that was some very tough competition, but uh two years running is pretty darn good. So, half of Congressman Adam Gray and United States House of Repres representatives, thank you and uh good luck on year three. picture. He Okay, thank you very much. I think we got the pictures. Congratulations. Really appreciate you all. No, I know. people. I love

Okay, if we have Laspanis High School, any of Lasis High School here, please come forward.

Last side, come forward. Well, again, we're very proud of the high school, Lasanis High, for their entry in the parade. And this is a certificate of recognition presented to Laspanis High School, recognition of being named the most patriotic high school for its entry in the 2025 Veterans Day parade. The staff and students are applauded for their outstanding efforts. Congratulations very much. And we also have another one. Likewise, we also wanted to recognize Laspanas High for incredible turnout during the parade. Additionally, I also just wanted to tell a brief story. I saw a while I was giving out water there, saw a smaller kid who looked very, very thirsty and I was thinking about walking over and giving them water cuz they were drenched in sweat. And uh it was someone from Losers High who came over and asked for a bottle of water, took it, went over and gave it to them. So I want to thank you guys for keeping an eye out on the smaller kids as well. So thank you. Okay. And again, the high school did an outstanding job. Um and the veterans parade is um kind of a unique veterans parade that we have in Lasis. Other than uh Losanis, I don't know of any place else that the veterans put the prey down for themselves. The county gets stuck with putting the prey down in Merrced and they do a awesome job in Merced. But in Las Vegas, we wanted a veterans parade and we've done it ourselves. How many years, Patricia?

13 years. 13 years. We've done it. We started out with about 30 entries to to what we have today and it lasted just over an hour this year. So, so thank the community for supporting us and we thank all of the schools for being involved. We're going to get those other two schools for next year because we're going to have a bigger and better parade. Thank you, Mike. Take a picture.

Thank you again. Thank you.

Congratulations. So that's the fun part of being mayor and city council is doing those things. Is Bradu, are you here, Brad? Thought you was.

Oh, there he is. Come forward. There we go.

Nice to meet you. So this is a certificate of recognition presented to Brad Rescue Maintenance Worker One Parks and Recreation Department in recognition of your outstanding performance and dedicated service to the city of Lasanis and for being named employee of the month for October 2025. He does an excellent job for the city like all our employees do. But he's special this he's the best of the best for October. So congratulations Congratulations. Okay. So, we had a a an officer retire and unfortunately she's not here, but I'd like to read her proclamation because it's definitely deserving. It's a proclamation recognizing the retirement of the city of Las Police Officer Teresa Teresa Provenio. Whereas Teresa joined the Las Vegas Police Department as a property evidence clerk on September 17th, 2001. And whereas Teresa became a police officer traininee on May 20th, 2003 and was sworn in as the police officer on October 24th, 2003. whereas Teresa served as a K-9 handler from Mayu uh 2016 to June 2019 and as a school resource officer at Pacheo High School as of April 29th, 2016. And whereas Teresa has contributed tremendously throughout her career to

the community of Lasanis with her knowledge and commitment to her job. and Teresa retired from the city of Lasanis as a police officer on November 2nd, 2025 with 24 years of service as a city employee. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the mayor and the city council members of city of Lasanis do commend Teresa on her dedication and loyalty to the city of Lasanis. And we all congratulate her on her retirement. And Chief, if you could make sure she gets this from the city council, would really appreciate it. You're welcome. You want to? Thank you. Thank you. YES.

SO, UH, TERESA, her most recent assignment was school resource officer. She served at Poco High School for several years. Um, so, uh, Teresa brought a lot of valuable knowledge to the city of Laspanos. Um, and she will be missed. So, thank you, Teresa, if you're listening, uh, for your service. We appreciate it. Thank you, mayor. How do you do that? Come down and read. We will go on to item 5 E and it's a city council resolution number 7007 commendation to Gary Ambreezy Jr. So, if we could go ahead and have that motion and then we'll all bring Gary up here and and talk about it before.

I'd like to make a motion 7007 is read by title. So, moved. Second. We can let council member uh Evans take it. Okay. We have a motion by Chavez, second by Evans for resolution number 7007. Any further questions or comments? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Eyes have it.

And now we'll go down. Okay, Gary, it's it's time. He doesn't like to be put on the spot too much, but I at the last city council meeting, I we made quite a few comments about Gary and they were all very good. And as a city and as a council, we can't thank him enough for what he did. He brought this city back together again. He healed our employees and he was the perfect person at the right time, the right person to get it done. And I am so very honored to read this resolution to you. Resolution number 7007, resolution of commendation to Gary M. Breezy Jr. Whereas Gary M. Breezy Jr. has faithfully and honorably served the city of Los Banis for nearly three decades in a variety of leadership roles, including multiple appointments as interim city manager. And whereas Gary began his distinguished career with the Las Police Department in 1995, serving as a police officer, sergeant, commander, and ultimately chief of police from 2010 until his retirement in 2023. And whereas Gary has served the city of Las Venice as interim city manager on four occasions from November 2012 to May 2013, January 2016 to July

2016, March 2021 to September 2021, and February 2025 to November 2025. each time providing steady leadership, professionalism, and commitment to public service. And whereas through his tenure, Gary has guided the city of Lasanis through important transitions, budget preposition, prepos preparations, and key community initiatives with fairness, compassion, and integrity while effectively managing city budgets, strengthening intergovernable partnerships, and demonstrating an unwavering dedication to the well-being of the Lasis community. Now therefore be it resolved by the city of of the city of Los Banis that it hereby expresses its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Gary Ambreezy Jr. for his exemplary service, leadership and longstanding commitment to the city of Lasanis. Be it further resolved that an embossed copy of this resolution be presented to Gary as an expression of the city's appreciation and respect. Congratulations. Thank you sir. He's struggling right now. And I understand this because when he retired as our chief of police, um, we had a little retirement party for him and it it was hard to track him down to get him to come, but he did show up. So I I wasn't here at the last meeting. I

was away for a conference uh for the airbor. And so Gary has been a real trooper for our city uh to help us move along. And I want to thank you for that. And I'll just say this, happy trails to you. We hope we don't meet again, that you can go into retirement and enjoy your time. So, thank you again for what you've done. Thank you. I prepared a speech for Gary. No, I'm just kidding, Gary. It's just a piece of paper. I just want to say thank you very much, Gary. Thank you. I I won't make it worse for you,

Mr. Sanders. Uh, thank you, Gary. I'm glad you got dressed up for this. We really appreciate it. Thank you so much. You you eased my transition into public office uh very well. Probably better than anybody else could have. So, very much appreciate it. You want to say something? Sure.

Just real quick, just want to say thank you to the staff and uh the people that I work with every single day. These folks around the table make my job easy. We had a lot of highs and lows, I guess you could say. Busy days, nice days. I want to say thank you to the council for your support and faith in me. That was very much appreciated. Uh we really had a good time, but we got a lot accomplished. And at last, I would like to thank my mother and most importantly my beautiful wife who's been with me thick and thin for seems like 38 years, love. Is that about right?

Technically 27. So anyways, thank you all very much. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. And when you get tired of them, kick them back to the city. Okay. And before we uh start a public forum, Chief, you want to come up for a second to the podium?

Good evening, Mayor Council. So, as promised, I stopped by with Officer David Peralta. Uh David um just recently retire uh retired too too soon uh someday. Um he uh just completed the police academy, the Delta Police Academy in Stockton. And so um I'm here to introduce Officer Peralta to the council, the mayor, and to our community. So officer Peralta has just started with us. Um he is now um going through the training program. And do you have any words?

Yes. Uh, first off, very excited to be here. Um, I look forward to rewarding career within the department and I can just say that I'm very proud to start service of a community that I can tell is very deeply rooted in family values. Um, so that's something that I really much look forward to and look forward to meeting more members of the community throughout my course of my career here and I appreciate your time. Thank you. We really appreciate you being here choosing Lasis and welcome aboard.

THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, NOW WE will go to our public forum. Members of the public may address this. What?

Oh, yes. That's right. Before we go to the public forum, we're going to have a presentation discussing regarding the federal shutdown and the impacts of the CalFresh program and director of the county human services, John come forward. And we're honored to have our county supervisor Scott SA here, District 5. Scott, welcome. Thank you, mayor, council members. Mr. Vaughn, how you been? Um, so you know, as we had a discussion, this presentation was given at our board meeting on Tuesday and we thought was important to get kind information out to folks. You know, at the local level, you guys all know this at the city council. We know this at the county. There's things that happen in Washington DC that we really have no control over. And and one of those things is is with our CalFresh benefits, SNAP, as it's known federally, there's people are not getting the resources that they need. And so I just wanted to let the folks here in Lasis know and all over the county that we didn't just sit by and didn't do anything and and under the leadership of our director John Czechley, we've been working on this issue now for multiple weeks and we we um opened up what we call a department operations center which brings all the smartest people in the county that touch these these human ser the health and human services agency all of our um nonprofit groups. the Merced County Food Bank brought all these folks together in order to be able to combat this issue. And so John's going to give you guys a detailed presentation in if you want to donate, where you can donate at, if you need resources, where you can go to be able to pick up those those um food resources. So, a very detailed presentation and I and I don't want to say that folks are going to enjoy it because it really is a tumultuous time, but it is going to be something that we give you good solid information that you can rely on. You hear a lot of stuff in the media. Court ruling said this is going to happen. Just understand that if you think local government works slowly, the federal government works even slower. So even if they opened up the

government tomorrow, we're still talking weeks away from people being able to see their benefits. And there is a need out there and and John's going to be able to share some information with you folks that where you can go and how you can access those resources. So Miss Czechley, please.

Welcome, John. Thank you. And good evening, honorable mayor, members of the Laspanos City Council. Uh John Czechley, director of the human service agency. And in two days, I'll have been in that position for one month. And I couldn't have asked for a better time to serve uh during a disruption to really bring that team together under a shared vision and a shared goal as far as how we could mitigate this disruption um to the CalFresh benefits due to the due to the government shutdown. Um so on October 20 20th of 2025 we started receiving message traffic from our California Department of Social Services. Uh they basically started releasing guidance regarding the funding hold due to the government shutdown and they stated that as of October 23rd um that if the shutdown persisted beyond that date there would be a disruption and a delay in benefits. It's it's a it's a big federal program, right? We're talking about a nationwide impact. Um so there's there's mechanisms for how those those funds are distributed to uh recipients. It's over the first 10 days of the month and literally eight days prior to that this process has to start. So here we are on the 5th uh the process still hasn't started uh to so to supervisor SA's statement we are expecting a more pro protracted time period before benefits are issued. Uh what we did as a department was immediately start preparing for what that disruption was going to look like and how again we could mit mitigate that. That started in in on the week of October 20th uh once this information started coming out. Uh part of that information was just the information fidelity. There's a lot of of access to information uh via social media uh that wasn't necessarily accurate. I'm sure we all saw um some of the you know days of rage or November 3rd is going to be national go get groceries and walk out. Um so it it obviously created um you know some some

concern amongst the individuals not only in my department but across the county uh as well as community members. On October 22nd, uh California Department of Social Services uh stated through our federal partners at um that there would be no federal reimbursement, no FEMA reimbursement. This was not a disaster like we would normally um where that would become a normal process. There would be no federal reimbursement for any emergency funds issued um as a supplement to the CalFresh program. And on October 23rd, as as many of you may know, there was two federal judge rulings that um was requiring the release of funds um sometime this week, and information is is still forthcoming on that. It doesn't look like there's going to be um any counter litigation in regards to that fact. I think now they're trying to figure out what that release will look like. In the emergency funds, there was about5 billion dollars available, which is about half of what would be needed for a monthly distribution across the entire United States. I think it's important to note as well, um although this is only impacting Calresh at this point, other federally funded programs such as our our cow works, federally it's known as uh TANF, uh temporary assistance to needy folk families. It's really a cash aid, uh, foster care payments, aid to adoption payments, inhome supportive service payments. If this government shutdown is not resolved, um, you know, relatively quickly, there could be impacts to those federal programs as well. So, be mindful um that this disruption could spread again on on October 27th. We actually the week prior had met with some of our uh what we would call our policy group which is basically the department heads um at the county to discuss what this looks like and if we as other jurisdictions had done we're going to activate our

emergency operation center to deal with this. Um, it was decided that it would be better at this point to start with the department operation center opening and we commence that activation in close coordination with our office of emergency services on October 27th. And I I I think it's important to point out the reason why we did that. It this clearly exceeded very quickly our span of control as a department. We started talking about doing outreach to the biggest grocerers in the community. We were talking about what we were seeing message traffic from a safety perspective. Uh we were talking about on November 3rd, 9,000 households in Merced County would not have received their CalFresh benefit. And what if just 10% of them came to, you know, the three department offices? How would we manage traffic flow? How would we get information out? What kind of security would we have in place for our our our our county staff? Um, so that's really what prompted us to formally um, activate our department operations center. Some background, there's 32,000 households in Merced County that receive CalFresh benefit. Uh, that's those households are composed of 67,000 individuals of which 26,000 are children 0 to 18 and over 9,500 recipients are age 60 and over. Here in Los Bonos, there's 10,000 plus recipients of CalFresh. This is obviously a communitywide impact. Every community jurisdiction within our county has a household that is receiving CalFresh benefit. And we, you know, federally, we know that as as SNAP, and I like to point out it's a supplemental nutrition assistance program. It it's not designed to be necessarily um for a household's um entire needs of of food. Some of the department of US department of agricultural st stat stats one-third of total SNAP households have earned income

again supplemental in California approximately two in five households have employed members that are receiving the supplemental nutrition program or calresh and in Merced county and this is a little different statistic I want to be clear about it over 19,000 Calresh households have income but that could also the prior two statistics were earned income this just income overall. So it could be retirement, a widow's pension for a veteran, etc. That's approximately 60% have some type of income of the recipients within Merced County. We look more broadly at the economic impacts as we as we, you know, planned on how we could mitigate that. Um you million in monthly benefits are provided to families, which is approximately $316 per household. And then we looked at the amount of vendors that accepted our our electronic benefits transfer card and there were there were over 300 vendors, some large, some small, uh that did receive that. So, you know, early on we're like, how do we communicate this? California Department of Social Services was sending text messages and emails uh informing uh the recipients. Uh we also have the ability to send out text messages, which we did. Um but you know, was that going to be enough? Was that going to capture everybody? We literally had folks in the streets making sure individuals um experiencing homelessness, for example, who may not have access to a phone or an email uh were being informed to anticipate this slowdown. And I think this is where uh as a department operations center efforts, uh I can say here, you know, a few weeks into this now, um probably the fruits of our labor really really came out and came through this Monday. Um, you know, we identified early on which what stakeholders did we need to engage with and one obviously it was the Merced County Food Bank and we learned some things and and we're going to take those forward post this disruption. The Merced County Food Bank provides meals to

42,000 households monthly through a network of food pantries that are distributed in almost every community and city within Merced County. Um, so there's over 40 of those food pantries that people can have access to. Very early on, one of the first phone calls we made was to Bethl Community Church. And just to to gauge like the scale of what you normally do is going to be disrupted here. You know, Pastor Hammond, how do you feel about that? And Pastor Hammond and being Pastor Ham, I was like, you put put us out there on social media, do whatever we have to to get the folks that are here, and we'll serve them as long as we can with as much as we can for um you know, to help out with this. Um the food bank itself, we partnered with them very closely on food drives. We had one last Saturday, we'll have one this Saturday. We called all of those pantries and and just verified the information that we were going to make public. um making sure they understood and and their capacity is being stretched as much as you um could imagine with this this level of uh of need that's in the community. Several have called and said we need additional resources in order to meet the high demand right now. We called the superintendent of schools. Schools were just organically providing meals um you know providing take-home lunches and dinners to their students. Um, one of my colleagues, um, her child came home and on Saturday she she she mentioned to her, she's like, "Hey, I I got a bag when I was leaving school this Friday and they opened it up and it had a ham sandwich and some other, you know, necessities that a child might need if they didn't have another option." You know, obviously in this case, uh, there was food in the house. So, it was just very nice to see so many different sectors within our community. We engaged with our managed care plan who uh admin administers medical and some community supports through an enhanced care management program uh and asked them can you reach out to the 50 providers that you have and make sure they understand

there's been a disruption. We created a a URL a unique resource link uh so folks could go to www.countyofmerred.com/foodresources county ofmerred.com/foodresources and know not only where they could get resources, but how they could contribute to this effort. Our board of supervisors recorded videos for social media distribution. Our our county executive officer recorded a video at uh locations. We had 18 locations spread throughout the county that volunteered primarily through fire stations, including um one here in Laspanos to be food bin donation sites to just make it more convenient for for well-meaning community members who wanted to contribute. And then lastly, and I think in the United Way was another huge um partner in this effort through their 211, right? At one point, we're like, we need to get food donations. We need to have food distribution, and we need to be able to orient people on how to get to those locations. And through leveraging the food bank, the food pantries, and 211 as a resource, all of those boxes were checked, at least from a a logistical standpoint. We still need food. We still need donations. Uh we're still doing food drives and we're still encouraging community members who want to help to either make monetary donations and they can go to that website to do so or food donations. Um we learned that the food bank is able to um purchase food for about 24 cents for a pound. And I'm I'm still trying to figure out how that's possible. Is that through an average of what they get donated as well? and and we'll have conversations cuz post this we'll have an active action report just because that's a process of the department operations center and see how we can help them if they're feeding 42,000 meals during the course of a month. I think it's important that the county um and and cities and community are partnered with them to make sure they can be most effective. And then lastly, one thing came up and although when you get Calresh benefits, you don't

necessarily get transportation, there was a disruption in how people were going to procure their food. We literally called MCAG, Merced County Association of Governments in the morning and by the afternoon their director Stacy Guzman said, "We can help. We can provide free transportation through the bus at least through November 13th. That's where my authorities end. But we're going to get in front of our commission and our board and ask them for authorization to provide free bus transportation for at least as long as the government shutdown lasts in order to help out on a different tact. but it will save folks money if they don't have to drive. So, we did outreach to 103 of the largest grocerers with 500 flyers that had a QR code linked to our website and 100 posters so that they could put those up in their lobbies. And, you know, we didn't want a a mother to have a shopping cart full of items and and be in the checkout line without understanding that this would So, what were we created a plan lastly can end here? Um, we created a plan as a department, as a director of a department, my um, overriding responsibility is the safety of our our teams and and making sure they can still complete their mission of improving the well-being of the community through service and partnership. When I listed the last 5 minutes worth of partnerships, that's us still completing our mission, although we're not going to be issuing or handing out any food items, we're in partnership are going to be meeting that need. Um, so we created a lobby traffic plan um, in case those 9,000 households came to any of our three lobbies, including here in Laspanos. And I will say somewhat unexpectedly, our lobby traffic was normal. There were not a there was not a huge turnout of families coming in. I think the communication plan from the state and us locally uh, really helped just keep people informed, oriented where they needed to go. And obviously we've seen a big uptick uptick in food pantry uh utilization. So really a multi-pronged approach which was one of the reasons

again we opened our department operations center. When we sat down with the the the planning team and started talking about doing outreach and coordinating and food drives and food distribution. We knew that we were going to have to resource this as well as possible as well as as as as managed public messaging. On that website, you'll find 18 fire stations, including here in Los Banos, so station uh 71 on 8th Street, where community members who would like to contribute uh food items can go to. And then lastly, um at our website, you'll you'll be able to well, you can call 211 and access them anytime. and why that was such an important um resource and something we learned through COVID with the emergency rental assistance program. We were engaging with households who were like, "Hey, I paid my rent. I don't have, you know, rental arars that you can help me out with with this pot of money for that, but I have $15,000 in credit card bills because I couldn't, you know, I wasn't working for whatever reasons, but I use that to pay my rent." Um, so we identified quickly 211 has resources not only for utility and rents and and housing costs and food referrals, but also behavioral health and some of these others. Um, services that might be needed in a time of disruption like this. So, I mean, in conclusion, I think what this highlighted for me as a new director was the community resources that are there outside of our mandated responsibilities as a human service agency. And moving forward, how we even in the best of times, um, you know, food insecurity is a real issue here in Merced County. How in the best of times can we make sure we're partnered as closely with the food bank and some of these food pantries and 211 to make sure community members know where the resources that are available here uh through through so many different agencies um are accessible. So uh with that I'd like to thank you for your time

and and also express some appreciation. your your city's a the first one that reached out to us and said, "Hey, come out here and help inform our community, help keep our council members informed and uh I think that's an important part of what we all do as public servants. So, I do appreciate the fact that you invited us here. Um I know we have tried to keep you as well informed as possible, but you know, the citizens citizenry behind me also um needs that information. So, thank you again. Thank you very much. We appreciate being so proactive on this these trying times for these people. Scott, do you want to end it up? And if there's any questions by the council, we ask Scott, John.

John will be the one that probably gets to answer all the questions. But just in closing, what I want to say is is, you know, our community time and time again when when we've faced a challenge, we've always come together. And so really the plea is today is is look at if you need help, there's resources. If you're able to help the food bank, what what director Czechley said, it's amazing what I can go to the grocery store and buy something for, they buy in such volume that they're buying stuff at such a cheaper rate. And this is going to continue. Even if the government opens tomorrow, there's still going to be that need there. So the ask is is if you're fortunate enough and you have a little bit of extra resources, please donate to the food bank. Cash or food. The food helps in the immediate. the cash helps them in the long term. And then also those are the same places Bethl Community Church has been a longtime food pantry here in Lasanis that you can actually go get those resources and don't have to travel that far. So thank you.

Thank you very much. Any questions? No, thank you. Appreciate you coming. Sorry. Oh yes. U Supervisor SA and um Director Chuckley, I just want to thank you because um your communications was right on point. I think right when we knows that the government shutdown is going to impact SNAP, you guys call an emergency meeting with all the city managers and inform us right away of the actions and stuff that you guys are going to take. Um so really appreciate the transparency and really come together during this time. So thank you guys and of course CEO Mark Hendrickson as well.

Yeah and thank you for saying that Mr. city manager and then that is something that Mark Hendrickson said right away is is we need to have these calls with the city managers and and the mayors so that there is that communication so because you're going to hear it first here in Lasis and you can pass that on to us. So thank you for saying that and recognizing it. Thank you. Appreciate you coming on.

Okay. Now we're going to go ahead and open up the public forum. Members of the public may address the city council on any item that's within the public within the jurisdiction of the city council. This includes agenda and non-aggenda items. Um I will give you anyone that wants to talk on the P bid. I'll I'll give you opportunity when we reach that item after the public forum to speak. But if there's some anybody would like to speak on any item besides the P bid, please come forward. You have five minutes to speak. Welcome. Come forward, Greg. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and members of the council, our city attorney, city manager, clerk, and others that have given their lives to public service. I having um been in the city, county, school, special districts, local government business now, my wife would argue 57 years. I say only 56. I've got to say uh this is very uplifting in many respects to our spirits. Uh I don't care where you're from. All you have to do is hear the dedication. We have in California, some would argue 6 to 8,000 special district. You got 58 counties, 486 cities,

a bunch of special districts, each one with their own board, council, whatever you want to call it, legal representation. And so to coordinate that is a massive, massive effort. That's what's got to be done. You've got 40 million people in California now and that is equal to over the years the entire population of the country of Canada give or take. So I'm really very grateful uh to all of you and to uh our guests I guess if you might want to call them that citizens for showing the interest to show up and to revive our spirits because that's what we need in the country. We all feel that don't we? Regardless of our political affiliation, we feel a need to be connected. We feel a need to do good. We feel a need to see the results of our hopes and our prayers. I should say that um I know Mike Hughes has corrected me on my timeline here, but I would say the late 60s and early 70s uh serving in this community as a social worker and a probation officer in my young years. I had had to be sent home for 3 weeks because I was not yet 21 when I was appointed. It's not about me,

but it's about the welcoming spirit that I found on the west side. Dos Palace, Los Bannis, Gustinine, and home. We had one car and a little baby. My wife consented to give me the car. She in turn had a a bicycle with a kitty seat on the back of it. Some of you remember that. I doubt very many of you. Um I won't go into all the experiences. Uh obviously when I arrived we had Sam uh um Sam Beneditino. I I recognized the tremendous um participation with the schools. We had Sam Benettino is our in this community our superintendent of schools and our police chief was Loris Brick. Real quick story you know old one minute left. Okay so Las Manis dos palace Augustine and homeon you would appreciate that. Um, that was the route. And I got I got to tell you, one day I I walked into the chief's office and I said, "Chief, why do they call this the west side?" And he became quite irritated with me. And he went up to a map and he he said, "This is Merced County. This is the jurisdiction that pays your salary." Oh. Okay, chief. So, I'm going to give you a real quick uh lesson on water. You take the Sacramento River and all of its tributaries and eventually it winds its way south and to the Delta. You take the Sanwaqen River. It goes north, picks

up additional supply, also meets at the Delta. Remember that. I have I have managed many cities, the county of Merrced for a while. Uh, six years, 5 years, six years. I spent 35 years there and I am most grateful to see the fruits of your labors in the city of Los Angeles. You've got a lot of stuff going for you here. I refer to the city as an outpost and I've got to say I think you have an excellent city manager appointed. Treasure him. When I left here a oh well over two years ago, he had 44 projects and I said, "Daron, how did this happen?" He said, 'Well, boss, most of them came from you, so please take a little better care of your manager than that. I say that from my heart. Thank you very much for your comments. Anyone else, please come forward.

Welcome. Hello. Hello. Um, Carlos Flores, I missed you guys last time. Yeah. Anyways, uh District One, um today I have two things I want to talk about. All right. Um the first one is the homeless. I talk to them um often.

Um and I try to find out what's going on with the situation with them, right? Um last time I spoke to Aba at the park again, we talked about many many different things. All right. And so one of the things we talked about is the tiny homes. like when are they going to actually actually get some dignity and actually get some housing for them, right? I know you guys put that little piece of patch over there with tents, right? No trees, no shade. I don't even know if there's showers out there, right? And the thing that kind of makes me frustrated a little bit is every morning you guys every day you guys start off at city council, you guys start off with a prayer, right? But the thing is is if you guys are truly religious and you guys truly follow the teachings of God, God was a social worker and he cared for everybody. It didn't matter what or Jesus didn't matter where you came from, right? So the thing is is that when I spoke to him about he said that you guys possibly might have had land over there by Gilbert Gonzalez for the tiny homes, right? And so I don't know how much money you guys got from the grant or whatever from the state of California for the homeless, right? I'm hearing 11 million. I'm not sure if that's correct or not, right? But the thing is is that here comes another winter and they're still out there, right? And I know like the guy said, the federal government works slower than city governments, right? But there's seven city council people here, right? And at the same time, if there's a need for something, right? And the community really needs it. Why does it take so long to get these things done? Like for instance, how long has it been since you guys received that money from from the state for the homeless?

And why has it taken so long to even even talk I mean get it done, right? And so I'm just going to I just want to say something because I was out there with the homeless yesterday at the east end of the trail. And so I was speaking to them, right? And so the court code enforcement went out there, right? They were cool, but at the same time they said, "You know what? We're giving you guys 24 hours to vacate, right? And supposedly you guys have given those people a lot of notices to vacate, right?" And then I sit back and I go, "What's the problem? Like why don't you guys want to go over there?" Right? and they said, "Well, it's right next to the police department." First of all, like we're being babysat. Second of all, they get to come in here or into our tents or they do they do whatever they want once we they come over here. So, there's no privacy, right? Knowing the homeless, they have addictions, they have mental health issues, they have a lot of different things. I know you guys had the resource guy coming in here. I am I work for ECN and Merced County. All the services that they're saying there it's it's it's not true. We have three places for food here, right? And the Salvation Army is one of them. And nobody even likes to go over there because most of the food is expired or going to be expired. So the stuff we're giving them is garbage, you know? And so the thing is is that not only that when I was sitting there the homeless go you know what let me see what amendments they're violating how are they violating my amendments right so I got educated yesterday the eth amendment cruel and unusual punishment you know what the code enforcement told these people before he left if they don't vacate you guys know exactly what they said they said if you don't leave we're going to arrest you so homeless lessness is becoming a crime now. Not everybody can

live in this world. Not everybody can live in this system that was brought to us. Not everybody can do this. But in our minds, everybody who has money and wants to make decisions thinks that everybody can get along on the ship and everybody can just, you know, live a great life. And it's not true. Especially people with minorities, right? It's not it's not an even playing field still. It's not right. When when the police derive from the slave patrol and we have violence against the community and we understand why it comes from the slave patrol. What did the slave patrol do? The same thing the police are doing and ICE and DHS using violence, but they say they're Christians. We're God-loving people. where we're where from. So, I'm here to find out and cuz I told him I'm going to go advocate for you guys. I even told him come and I keep encouraging to tell them to keep on coming. I want them to speak cuz they're people, right? The second thing I want to talk about is the gas prices in this town. We're being price gouged. And I know capitalism. Capitalism is take advantage of what you can. I was at Winchester Mystery House two weeks ago right across the street from Santana Road. You know how much I got the gas for right across the street from Santana Road. People $3.97. And we're commuters. So the people who own those gas stations are taking advantage of the community. Especially at these hard times, people are buying houses for $400,000 here that are worth the damn. They're falling apart, right? But the thing is is that we have to pay that money and the people who own those gas stations know what they're doing and they're charging those prices because they know we got to commute.

And when you talk to those people going over the hill, they're saying, "What the hell is going on with Los Boss? Why are we being ripped off?" That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else, please come forward. Welcome.

Hello and good evening council of Los Banos. We, the officers of Pacheco High's Thespian Society, are here today tonight to present to you the fall play, the upcoming fall play that we we've been working very hard on the past few months, The Outsiders. It will be premiering just next weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:00, and tickets will be $8. Oh, on Saturday there will be two shows, 12 and at 6. Oh,

yeah. Cool. Anything else?

Um, I just wanted to say at PJO, we're working on hopefully doing three showings of different types. This one is a play. We're hoping to do a one act and hopefully a musical. We're hoping the community of Laspanos is able to come and at least enjoy theater in these times because even when everyone has to deal with having to go to work, struggle, eat, pay their bills, sometimes not even make do, sometimes just sitting down and enjoying something that's just nice to look at and enjoy and just make you forget about your worries just helps you get through the day just a little bit more. So, if we're able to provide that here at Pico through even just a simple play that we've worked a couple months on, then we would love for you to see you there.

Fantastic. Thank you. One last thing. I forgot to mention that tickets can be bought up front at the door or online um on our website if QR code if you scan the QR code. Uh will we like leave this here? Well, we can leave here. We could leave you can leave it at the city clerk and she'll make sure she spread spreads around. Thank you so much and thank you for having us. Yeah, thank you. Congratulations. That's really nice.

Anyone else would like to Oh, hi B.

Hello. Good evening. I live in the downtown area. Um, but I wanted to um I was given a request um from the Elks Lodge that we are inviting all veterans to a lunchon and it's actually going to be tomorrow. We'd love for you to come and participate in this lunchon. It's to honor all veterans and service members. Um they do have a choice of bringing a guest with them. It's a complimentary meal, but if you bring like five people, just know that some of them will be charged 15 bucks. It is spaghetti with meatballs, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. If you have any questions, please call the Elks Lodge. But we do this every year, and it's a great joy to honor our veterans. My second thing that I'd like to talk to you about is um if you notice I'm kind of dressed a little bit. Um I had the honor uh last week and this week to do some um animal transporting and I do it on a regular basis at least once a week. But what I want to let you know again is that this whenever a animal gets surrendered or comes to the shelter, the shelter individuals are right on top of calling rescues um because they want to help out. There is a time period where someone when an animal comes in, there is a time period that's on hold for someone that does own the animal. But if the animal's injured, if the kitten is under 8 weeks old. If the dog is under 8 weeks old by law, they need to go to rescue first.

But there are rescues that definitely need want some animals. So anywhere from Southern California all the way like today I got to go to uh San Francisco and um afterwards Redwood City. Um, and it is again such a wonderful task to do as a volunteer because your personnel are on the phones calling these individuals and getting these animals that may not be adopted um out so that they can have a forever home. A second point that I'd like to make is just a thought that's been and I and I don't know I know this is um I I don't know who to talk to about this is that I have a thought that we do have our airport and we have pilots that are sometimes arrested there and you know they fly in and out of there. If possible, if we could create like a type of flyer inviting um inviting pilots that if they wish to volunteer um to travel with a a dog that needs or cat that needs to be rescued. um if they're going to a certain area and they give the shelter enough notice, I'm pretty sure the shelter will be right on top of getting them to a different location. And if we just put up a simplifier, we we might get a few people, but at least we'll be saving additional lives. But like I said, I don't know other than asking you, asking our new city manager and the council and the staff, you know, how we could get that accomplished. But just wanted to mention that thank you for your time.

Good idea. Okay. Thank you. Please come forward. Welcome again.

Yeah. Good evening, uh, mayor, council, city of Los Banos. My name is Karthy Prasad here on behalf of Congressman Adam Gray. And I always like to say a day I get to go to Laspanos is a good day. Um, and that was no different last Saturday during the Veterans Day parade. Um, it was very, very fun. the just man the amount of support the community shows out for the veterans every year. Uh if that doesn't make you feel like an American, I don't know what will cuz that was just awesome. Um and it was we're very grateful to be able to play our part and help pass out water and be able to help out in any way we can. So just wanted to extend a thank you to the VFW and the Legion uh for just putting on a just really good parade. It was just so much fun. Um but the main reason I'm here today is to uh actually ask the council and city for uh some support. This summer, Congressman Adam Gray introduced the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act uh to protect access to health care for Valley families. The bill was a response to HR1 and would have reversed all healthc care cuts that were passed into the budget bill and extend the Affordable Care Acts enhanced premium tax credits. With four million Californians set to lose their healthcare coverage and another 1.7 million set to see premium increases of 66%, this is a critical piece of legislature that will help keep care within reach for families in our valley. We hope that you'll consider endorsing the bill and we actually sent it over uh to the city uh earlier last month, I believe, um alongside a one-pager and a draft letter of support. Um and uh we hope that the city might be able to uh endorse the bill and uh help us get this passed as it would really benefit a lot of folks in the valley as I'm hurt sure you heard um in some of the earlier uh presentations today. Um don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Our office is still open. Uh we're still operating as usual over 602 West 20th Street in Merced. Um you can find our number, email address, everything you need online and we're more than happy to answer any questions anyone has. And uh yeah, thank you for your support and

consideration. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Anyone else like to speak? Come forward.

Hello, Los Venice um community. Um I wanted to speak uh for the community that I live in the apartment complex. Um I wanted to let all you um like um ma'am in sers of the complex where I stay and others are having to not be saying anything whatsoever. and me and my father was here on the 31st um spoke to this um young gentleman oriental here in the um city hall and he had recommend me and my father um to come in to the um to the meeting of the community to let the community know what is going on at the complex. It will be um the MacArthur Apartments and um is having to me and my father is having to tell the manager um about the lighting of the pulse of what uh has not been resolved over two and a half years. And the manager said, "Oh, um the light post is um all the the fixtures is getting um shipped to of within the um what's that called?" Home Depot. But it doesn't take that long to have light fixtures of the light poles to be shipped and other things that is having to go in around that complex and all the drug sales and drug things of of having to um to um experience others experiencing and I want to be the um the voice of the silence of that they are not speaking of it because they're

afraid of the retaliation at that complex and it's not right and it's absurd and the manager and the maintenance guy needs to get dealt with accordingly by justice of all what is having to go through um in that complex and the tenants are not saying anything because they're afraid and they're afraid because of their of their um retaliation and that there is wrong and and like the light fixtures I mean, my father has um stated that it's been over two and a half years and it's nothing getting resolved. And I have pictures of what of the of the lightings that needs to get replaced. And and others of the tenants are telling me what is going um that they need to get replaced. And most of the tenants is having to say what they are telling me. They should tell the manager, but they're so afraid. They need to speak up, but they not speaking up because they're are afraid of retaliation or having to come across of getting evicted. And the manager don't give a jack spit about other tenants. She just gives a a jack spit of what she wants to come across and getting her money and then I'm gone. That's my um job of being the manager and not care about anything about the tenants bringing in the money. That's what I um will be what's her um mentality and it's not right. It's wrong. and what it needs to come across with other tenants that are telling me of the maintenance guy and I've seen it for myself of the maintenance guy. He don't do anything whatsoever in that complex and having to fix what he needs to get um of having to be working as a

ma maintenance guy and and the um the tenants are saying he doesn't really he doesn't really do anything of he just does fast jobs and and it's it's it's wrong and I tell the tenants you need to speak up you need to speak up what is right and what is wrong and I you can't be relying on me and having to say of um telling me that I'm not the manager if I was oh yes I will come across and getting things done properly and having to know what it is and what it is supposed to be and and the maintenance I if I was a manager I would fire that m um the maintenance guy right there and then of not performing me u correctly and and um to know what is um needs to be get done at the complex and he he doesn't do a good job. He does have very fast jobs and and I just wanted to make everyone aware what is going on at the complex especially at the complex at the Heritage Village. They're having to do having to experience the same thing from that manager too. And it's not right and it's absurd.

Yeah. So, go ahead and give those papers to our city clerk, your name and number, and the city will visit. Thank you very much for your comments. Anyone else come like to speak to the city council, please come forward. You're all welcome. Welcome. Hi. Thank you, council, city staff, mayor. Um, I'm here on behalf of a fellow resident who wanted me to read off something that's important to her. But first, before I read this, I want to say uh thank you to the VFW and Legion for putting up the Veterans Day parade. And thank you for the community members who are stepping up for those people who are having a hard time with uh the whole government shutdown. It's it's really Yeah. Okay. So, before I read this, I'm going say speak in Spanish. This group, Latinos, council members. Okay, here I go. On behalf of a fellow Lasano resident, we're going to talk about chickens. Good evening, mayor and council members. I'm speaking today on behalf of Lasano's resident and a small business owner who loves his community's agricultural roots and values sustainability. She's asking the council to consider updating city reg regulations to allow residents to keep a small number of backyard hens, not roosters, within the city limits. Many larger cities across

California, including San Jose, Fresno, and Modesto already allow hens responsibly and with great success in those city. And if those cities can do it, surely a small agricultural based community like Losangas can as well. Allowing backyard hands would bring several benefits. It encourages sustainability and local food production by giving families access to fresh, healthy eggs. It provides educational opportunities for children to learn about responsibility and agriculture. It supports local businesses and home bakers who value using fresh, high-quality ingredients. We understand that there may be concerns about noise or cleanliness, but hens are actually very quiet and much quieter than dogs or lawnmowers. With clear regulations, these these concerns can easily be managed. For example, limiting hands to three to six per household depending on lot size, requiring coups to be clean, enclosed, and placed at least 15 to 25 ft from neighboring fences, prohibiting roosters altogether to prevent noise issues. Then this proposal, this proposal aligns perfectly with Los's agricultural heritage and our community's commitment to responsible sustainable living. On behalf of the resident, we we we respectfully ask the council to consider drafting an ordinance that allows backyard hands under clear, responsible guidelines. Thank you for your time and for listening to a proposal that will be that will let the Las residents continue to practice the agricultural values that make our city special. Yeah, that's what she had to say. Thank you, council, mayor, city staff. Thank you very much.

Anyone else, please come forward. Okay. Uh before I close the public forum, we have some letters, correct? Or is that all PEID? There's no none for just the public forum.

All PEID. Okay. Because we'll give you an opportunity to speak when we reach out. We will be doing the the consent agenda then we'll go into the pid. So at this time like to close the public forum and go back to the city council. Consideration approval of the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be voted on with one motion unless removed by a city council member for further discussion. So with that, Lucy, if you can discuss what's on the consent agenda this evening.

Items on the consent agenda are as follows. Warrant numbers 254152 through 254494 in the amount of 2,929,886.15. First quarter investment report for 2025 2026. City Council resolution number 7008 accepting the Transportation Development Act funds financial statement for the years ended June 30, 2018 and 17 as prepared by Price Paging Company, Merced County Association of Government's Auditors. City Council resolution number 7009 approving the radio tower license agreement between the city of Laspanis and the county of Merced authorizing Merced County to install and operate public safety radio communications equipment on the cityowned telecommunications tower located at the Losanis Fire Department. City Council resolution number 7010 awarding the bid for the purchase of two new 2026 model halfton pickup trucks with liftgates and authorize to issue a purchase order in the amount of $106,6020 to Pharaoh Automotive Group DBA Fairfield Chevrolet city council resolution number 7011 awarding the bid for the purchase of a new 2026 six model halfton crew cab truck and authorized to issue a purchase order in in the amount of $48,457.99 to Pharaoh Automotive Group DBA Fairfield Chevrolet. City Council resolution number 7012 awarding the bid for the purchase of a new 2026 model midsize crew cab 4x4

truck and authorized to issue a purchase order in the amount of 41,64263 to Pharaoh Automotive Group DBA Fairfield Chevrolet city council resolution number 7013 accepting the eastern application field irrigation piping replacement project in the wastewater treatment plant as complete. Authorizing the filing of the notice of completion, authorizing release of retention, and approving a budget amendment to increase appropriations in the wastewater treatment fund by $110,320.90. City Council resolution number 7014 acting as the city of Laspanis groundwater sustainability agency authorizing the city manager to execute the Delta Mandota subbasin groundwater sustainability ay's joint powers authority agreement and the items are to be approved as submitted.

Okay. And does city council have any items they want to remove or ask a question of? Yeah, I mean I got questions. Okay,

so it's on 7E, 7F, and 7G. So I'm looking, you know, to be educated and understand. I just want to So it looks like all three of these are being awarded to a place uh in Fairfield, correct? H how does the process work exactly as far as the uh you know I know we've done this bidding before and stuff but how can we choose you know I know there's some some leeway there you you give you know certain amount for the local but I'm also you know the reason I'm asking the question is because you know you've got the you know you want to support local and I know Santos has been second in a lot of these and that's the only local place here um some of those tax dollars would come back here. Somebody goes into the county still comes here. Measure V, stuff like that. But then there's also you're supporting the jobs that are there that are still in this town. Um even if we're paying a little bit more. But I don't that's why I'm asking the question because I don't know if there's certain rules where it gets awarded a certain way. I know some of this some of these were out just because they didn't meet the uh what you're looking for in the criteria and stuff like that. But uh did Santos meet any of those?

Yeah. William, go ahead answer that.

Um yes. Um, in in Santos's bid, they didn't meet. Um, there was one where even with when we give gave them the 5% local um uh for for using local, they still didn't meet the engine size requirements um that were in the bid specs. They didn't meet the the the bed size requirements on at least one of them. And they couldn't meet the timeline of 60 days that was put in the bid documents. They were between 90 and 120 days out uh because they had to order them. Um and uh Pharaoh Automotive Group had all four of these vehicles on their lot so as soon as we um issue a purchase order they can be delivered.

That's for all all of them. For all four of them, correct? Trying to keep some local business for you. Some tax dollars, but mainly to support the the local business, the jobs we have here. That's why I'm asking that question. Is there anything else that could be done in these types of scenarios? Look like we're close, but you know, just to keep that in mind for the future. Well, for vehicles, all those tax dollars would come to the location where the vehicle is going to be used. So, Oh, yeah. Yeah. So, we will get this where it's where the vehicle's registered. Registered. So, it can be registered here. All right. We'll get those tax dollars. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. We have a motion, please.

Mayor. Yes. Yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda as submitted. Second. Okay. I have a motion and a second as stated. Any further questions or comments? And hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Okay. We will now move on to item item 10, the update and auditing services request for the Laspanis Downtown Property and Business Improvement District, the PBID, but this will go to our finance director, Morano.

Uh, good evening, mayor, council members. Tonight, I'm update a process for council consideration. On May 7th, the council approved the renewal of the PBID agreement and directed staff to initiate a comprehensive audit from inception to pre to present. Between June and August, staff collaborated with the PBID representatives, gathered financial reports and tax returns. On September 7th, we issued solicitations to three qualified audit firms. Of the three firms contacted, two submitted proposals, one declined because they were too busy. Cost estimates for a full six-year audit range from 60,000 to 66,000, exceeding the city's informal procurement threshold of 30,000. To remain fiscally prudent, staff explored scaling down alternatives with the lowest cost respondent, which was price page and company CPAs who offered three distinct engagement options. The first one was a compilation engagement. It's uh proves no assurance and is limited to identifying obvious errors and preparing financial statements with footnotes. This would uh cover the six years in a bianual report as estimated cost of 27,500. However, it does not meet the city council's intent for audit level validation. The second one was the review engagement. The second offer um is limited assurance through analytical procedures and inquiries. It covers four years. While more robust than a compilation, it does not include fraud detection or internal control testing and therefore falls short of the full

audit standards. An audit engagement for option three um provides the highest level of assurance. It includes internal controls testing and covers fiscal year 2324 and 2425 with a partial testing of the initial cost of 2223. The estimated cost of that would be 28,500 which remains within the city's informal procurement threshold. Staff recognizes the council's primary goal is to validate the accuracy and reliability of the Ped's financials. After evaluating all options, staff determined that the only full audit meets this objective. However, given cost constraints, option three offers a practical balance between responsibility and audit integrity. Council has three paths moving forward. Issue a formal RFP for a full six-year audit estimated at 60,000 to 70,000. proceed with option three, a two and a halfyear audit within the 30,000 threshold or provide alternative direction to staff. Staff's recommendation is to do option three. This approach delivers high assurance while remaining within procurement limits. The 28,500 cost will be offset against future PBID dispersements agreed upon with the uh downtown association for the city's agreement with them. If audit finding are warranted, we can retroactively do a review. Staff will initiate additional audits. Annual audits will be conducted moving forward to ensure continued oversight and compliance. Council discussion and motion. We have

proposed um two um options. Uh one would be to do the full audit and um and do an RFP. The second would be to direct staff to proceed with option three, initiating a 2.5-year audit that falls within the city's informal procurement threshold with the understanding that the retroactive audits may be necessary and that the annual audit conducted moving forward uh we will ensure an oversight and comply. So we welcome any discussion or proposed motion.

Okay. So, just to remind everybody that this is about uh the council had directed staff to look into uh having an audit of the downtown association and that's what this is about. It's not about the downtown association and taxes and things like that. So, at this time, anybody that's opposing actually I'm going to do it the other way around. Anybody in favor of the audit, come forward and you have three minutes to speak to the city council before we discuss what's what's going on. So, you're all welcome. But if you're in favor of the proposal or you have a favor of a certain option, we want the council wants to hear that.

I thought I had five minutes to go over. I'll give you five minutes. You sure can. In fact, the reason why I was moved up is because of you. Yeah. Well, a lot of a lot of business here at the at the podium at the council. So, we appreciate you coming forward. And I'm here to speak about the pit.

Okay. I recently visited with several business owners trying to understand DTA. That's downtown association. PBID, you've heard that that stands for property beautifification improvement district. And the city, that's Lasanis. But who is the city? Who who actually makes the vote? What I learned was that the DTA, the Downtown Association, was started as a grassroots organization. No salaries, no mandatory assessments, no paid employees. A couple of years in, a local business person decided to hijack this volunteer organization and thus began officers, maps, and assessments. And the PBID, property beautifification improvement district was added. And that's business maps, districts conjured up by whom and when. I never got the answer to that. And rules and taxes began in earnest. Meanwhile, the city of Lasanis owned the majority of square footage on the map. I don't know who grew this map, how it was decided. So when it was time to say yes or no to continuing PBID for another 10 years, even after the majority of business

owners downtown voted to not extend another 10 years. It was passed because or of course because the city had the majority of votes. Meanwhile, we're at the point where the DTA, Downtown Association, evidently can decide to add insult to injury by assessing hardworking businesses up to 3% every year to the extra taxes we already are required to pay. I believe that t tax does not have to be and I think there's provisions that could it be less or not at all. That's it. Help.

Caroline, before you leave, are you in favor of an audit or are you against it? I'm in favor of an audit. Okay. Thank you. And I have I made the rounds and I I presented Lucy with um we have at least eight signatures and I got three more tonight. Yes. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Yeah, we will read those letters at the end of this. one little Thank you. Come forward. Good evening.

Hi, good evening. My name is Mark Dudies. I'm here representing the Oddfellows. Um over this, we're a pretty big player in this organization as far as the assessment goes. Um over the 10 years, our assessments over $82,000. Yeah, it's over 8,000 a year. that that's a lot for a one business. You know, last May when the city assigned the Los Angeles Downtown Association the continued management of these assessment funds, I I provided my dissatisfaction with not only the formation of the district but the expenditures of the funds. I want to reiterate that the council approved this based on U Councilman Lewis's at that time she supported that our concerns and said we should have an audit. So thank you for proceeding with this. I know that the audit expense will be borne entirely from the PBID funds, not any funds coming from the city. I'm concerned that the expenditures that we have right now are not in compliance with the PEIB uh contract. The funds are to be restricted for use for the revitalization as defined by the assessment agreement provided by CES you know expenses there to be divided into three categories

administration operations 15% marketing and place m making 42.5% maintenance, general and security 42.5%. Now this budget cannot be adjusted more than 20% between the categories. I noted that the budget that is currently provided to us added a a fourth category in non-compliance with the agreement. It's called small infrastructure. Also, I want to comment that these assessment funds should not be loaned or co-mingled with another entity, namely the Las Downtown Association. A requirement of this agreement is to provide an annual budget. The budget that I have received did not provide any detail of what the expenses expenses were anticipated. What it did is it simply estimated the amount of the taxes that would be received and divided it by four categories 25% each which only supposed to be three categories. You know, we wouldn't have this discussion of the, you know, need of an audit if they could provide simply, you know, five reports that we could review on a quarterly basis. One would be a profit and loss. Second would be a balance sheet. Third would be a general journal report. The fourth would be a budget fiscal year to date. And last, the fifth would be a 12-month trailing profit and loss

statement. If we had those five reports four times a year, audits would be very simple, maybe not needed. But after 5 years of these assessments and collecting over $750,000, I don't see those improvements. I see 30 planners at $51,000, benches at 25, trash cans at 24,000, security cameras at $18,000, and this is what we get for $750,000. I'm going to try to cut this a little shorter, but please be assured that I'm not inferring that there's any misappropriation or fraudulent activity for these funds. That's the farthest thing from my mind. And I understand that we all do not agree the best way to spend assessment funds or any budget for that matter. Yet compliance to the terms of the PBI and the assessment contract must be adhered to. So, please continue with the pledge to require the audit and I support the the uh the city's recommendation for the 2 and 1/2 year audit. I think that that's adequate and and if there are any fraudulent inactivities, they can do more. So, I support it, but I also would like that audit to make sure that they're in compliance with the BB bid. Thank you. Thank you very much.

And I'm sorry, I forgot to say that Bill von had to leave the DEA because of the DAS because he's a property owner within the PBIT. So, it's a conflict of interest. Thank you. I'm also in favor of the audit. I've been asking for ages for transparency to where the money goes. And what I presented the council is three different things. The first is a letter from their CPA and this is in referring to the 2023 audit that their auditing or their recordkeeping did not meet regular approved accounting standards. And the second item is from the bylaws states right there at the end of the fiscal year within 120 days they will provide you the city with an audited financial statement. Where are those statements? If you got those audited statements this would not be coming up today. And the third one was when we asked in the spring for an audit and the records the reply that we got to our audit request which would say that they would decide what and when they would give us and to date we haven't gotten anything. And at that time we were supposed to get quarterly audits. July nothing.

September nothing. We're on to another quarter. What is so hard about printing out and sending a statement? They keep their books on computer. They have an accountant. We should be entitled to the general ledger, the profit and loss, and a cash flow. Simple recordkeeping is all we're asking. And since they've shown bad faith, they haven't abide by their own bylaws, I think we deserve a full six-year audit. And five years have gone by, and if they'd have done those audits, this would not be such a big expense. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Anyone else, please come forward. Welcome.

Good evening, mayor, city council. My name is Frank Vieira. I'm the owner and my wife of Liz Beauty Salon in Las Vegas. And uh I'm really disappointed in in this pid thing. You know, when this was originated, okay, we were supposed to vote. We won unanimously. And what happens? They come back and says, "No, we have to vote again because it's on square footage." Now, isn't that sweet? And now I'm sitting there paying from the back of my shop to the the alley for space that I'm not getting paid a dime for. And I started out at a thousand. I mean, excuse me. I started out uh at uh yeah, a thousand and now I'm over 1,200 and every time something is to be done, we're never notified. Somebody from the city told me that we were having this meeting tonight. I never got a notification, never got a letter. And on that 3%, why can't we vote? It's our money, not yours, not theirs. Our money, but yet we can't vote on it. What happened to democracy? I don't think we got much of it. You know, this is really disappointing. You know, you're supposed to be helping it, helping us. You're cutting our throats. You're running us ragged trying to make ends meet. We keep cutting back and you guys keep raising raising the Annie. I I don't understand. But you know, we've been in business November 1st made 50 years. No thanks to the PBIT help cuz

they weren't around then. And I wish they weren't around now either. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else? Please come forward. Welcome.

Hi, my name is Kathy. I am not in the downtown. I don't have a business there, but I do run a business. I've read the reports from the PBID on where they spend their money. And it does have huge holes in it. It just says we get X amount and we divide it four ways. That's it. um that is not a financial report. It's not a profit and loss that they're asking for or where those payments have gone. Um so, um somebody had said to do a 2 and 1/2 year, but I would like to keep it open so that if you do find discrepancies, it's possible to go all the way back. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Welcome. Good evening, Mr. Chair, city council, staff, fellow residents. Um, I'm fully support of the audit uh as robust as possible. Uh, there needs to be a full account of where our tax money is going. Uh, right now we don't see a lot of development. We don't see a lot of uh energy into the downtown area and I fully support a more vibrant downtown. So again, I support the uh the audit and I want to thank Mrs. Lewis for pushing this forward. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else? Please come forward.

Yeah. When we're finished. Hi. Hi. Welcome.

Well, good evening, mayor, city manager, and uh council and uh city staff. Well, uh well, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I want to begin by saying that we welcome transparency and we welcome the upcoming audit. Our budget is approximately 176,000 and we operate with the same goal we have always had to serve our downtown businesses, support local and uplift our community through events, clean streets, safety and economic growth. We operate responsibly and we look forward to demonstrating that through the audit process. However, I also want to address the narrative that continues to surface, the idea that those people don't support this work. I think it's important to remind everyone that many people do support this effort. Our property owners who voted for the PEBID, our businesses who show up and participate, our community members who attend events, volunteers and board members who give their time, and our downtown partners who want progress, not division. Those voices deserve to be recognized just as loudly as the critics. Recently, we have experienced ex exclusion from discussions, decisions happening without our involvement and mis information circulating that undermines the work that we are doing. These actions don't just hurt this organization, they hurt downtown, they hurt small businesses, and they hurt community trust. From the beginning, our goal has been to collaborate, not comp not compete. To build, not divide. We are here to work with the city, not to be dismissed by it. My ask tonight is simple. Treat us as partners in the success of downtown Losanes. Include us in conversations that impact the district and the

businesses we serve, and allow the audit to speak for itself without predetermined narratives. We stand here confident in our work and are committed to improvement where needed. We are not afraid of accountability. We embrace it. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing, a thriving downtown community where businesses flourish and families feel proud. Let's move forward together with transparency, respect, and collaboration. Thank you. Have a great evening.

How do you feel on the audit? I feel that it's needed. I think I embra we embrace it. Um we just want you to take consideration our budget. Um you're it that's really the most important is to consider our budget. It's unfortunate that people are blind and they don't see what we are doing. I mean if you go downtown right now you see the beautiful lighting that is the Losanis Downtown Association. Let's talk about the 99,000 that I already brought in from farmtotable which that money is still there and it's up to the board of directors and our sponsors of how that money will be spent. Not only that, there's several thing the banners from Merced College are partnership that brought us in over 30,000. There's a lot of great things that we are doing. So, it's just unfortunate that those people um have blind they're blinded is what I you know is the only thing I can say. But overall, we're extremely positive. We want to move forward and we don't win. We win when we get the majority of the property owners on board because what we're here for is for the property owners, for the businesses and our community. And that's what we're here for is to serve. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else? Please come forward. Anyone else? Okay, I will close our public hearing. Turn it. Turn it back to the city council discussion. And uh I think first of all Correct.

Keep me on the ball. Oh, I had them over before 3:00, but we're we're fine. We're fine. You play by the rules, Caroline.

Um, I received an email from Mary Brooks. Um, please vote in favor of the audit for the downtown association. that was delivered by email to me. And then I received um there is one, two, three, four, five, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 letters and they read to the city of Losanis downtown Association and the PBID program. I am a business person within the PBID zone. My business is affected by the PBID assessment. We are in the PBID district, have been promised a complete audit by the end of this year. We believe that we are entitled to this audit and hereby demand that the audit be completed and submitted to us for review by the end of 2025. And it is signed by Leah Costa with Flirty Lease. Um Kathleen Seamus, Healthime Joanne Hoffer, Sean George, Emil D. Area, Alfred Whitehurst, Trajan J. Sorz, um, Marissa Lopez, Melissio Hernandez, Patricia Reyes, and that's it.

Thank you very much. Yes, I did text. Yes, you were under your five minutes, so you can Okay.

Yeah, you have to come to the microphone now. I'm sorry, Elaine. I think there's a lot of confusion here because of the way that you tied the two entities together cuz when Marbel was talking, she was talking about the downtown association which is separate from the BID but they run out of the same office by the same board and they intermingle the money is what we've always objected to. Those should be two separate entities. Whatever they do on their fundraising, their nonprofit, we could care less. We're asking only about our tax dollars. Where are our tax dollars going? How are they being handled? If as far as their nonprofit, the IRS or whatever can deal with them if there's a question. We're not questioning that. We're just questioning the tax dollars and we want an audit. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, I'm going to go ahead and close. What?

Yeah, we we understand the frustration, but tonight tonight what we're talking about is is the bid. So this was done by the past administrations and and but we're in charge now and we want to make sure things are handled correctly. We're you know I know people don't like to pay taxes. I don't like to pay taxes. No one likes to pay taxes. We're just trying to get into a point where we're all moving together in a positive way and everybody that pays money and everybody that just visits downtown to all those new restaurants hopefully show up real soon enjoy it and can see it different. Now the lot a lot of people have said to me, you know, why doesn't the city just do this? Not the not the audit, but the downtown association. Why didn't the city run that? Well, see it's why doesn't the city run the 152 corridor with all the businesses on that too? So that's why there's chamber of commerces. That's why there's downtown associations because the city is responsible for all the citizens, not just certain businesses and not just certain districts. So that's sort of the difficult thing here. But I I want to go back to many uh I want you to explain a little clearer. I we understand it the difference between what it would do to a six-year audit. You talked about the monies, you have to talk about going out for bids and things like that. Just explain that a little bit.

It would take uh additional time to go RFP and then finally get proposals in, evaluate them. Um we're probably looking in probably February, March to get it started by doing the two and a half year audit. we already have Price Page giving us the informal proposal and we'd be able to get it started sooner. Um and if we do find any discrepancies or any findings, uh we still have the as as the motion that we're proposing um one of the motions that we were proposing you um adopt is that we can go back and and look at the other years um and moving forward we'd have a annual audit as prescribed per the per the agreement. So um it's going to be able to save time. Um it's going to uh the 60s to 70,000 is an estimate. Those proposals come in can come in higher um depending on what the workload is of auditors. Um they can come in lower but most likely they can come in higher. Um and um so that's why we think it's a good medium to go ahead and do the two and a half years um to be uh fiscally prudent to the association. Um and then we can also establish um it coming out of the assessment in partial payments if you would like to make that motion um from maybe divided it into three and have it come out of their assessment in their assessment in January, their assessment in April and then their assessment the next fiscal year or three years out. So there's um there's ways to be able to to accomplish what we what you are what your intention has been.

So So basically, if we have to spend more than or authorize more than $30,000 to be spent, we have to go the formal process of bidding requests for proposals. that takes months, you know, and we're trying to avoid that so we can be we can get things done to be fair with the downtown association and the taxpayers. Yeah. So, that's why she's recommending that. But I want to turn over to the city council if you have any questions, comments, thoughts. Yeah. Evan, um, so you got all the financial documentation from the PBID.

I did. I get I got summarized documentation um and I got their uh tax uh filings from the downtown association which one of their well which their major program is the PBID within their tax uh return and you got that for the two and a half years or for the full six I got for the full six years. Okay. And do you feel like it's the documents are there to where they can be audited? Like is it are there I heard some comments about the records not being kept very well. like is there auditable documentation to be done with six years? I believe the documentation that I feel will be there is the 2 and 1/2 years. So beyond that is

we can request it. I think the 2 and 1/2 years will get us the documentation that we need to make the evaluation or that the auditors would need to make the evaluation if there's any findings. Okay. And then we could decide. Yes.

Okay. Um just a second. Tom, did you want did I stop you? Did you want to Did I cut off the public before you spoke? I want to be fair to everybody. Tom Calgian. Uh I I just want to say I mean what we're trying to do here is improve the downtown. I'm spending thousands of dollars. There's nothing in it for me. Uh the idea is to make our downtown more vibrant. And I think we've done it. We're we're doing it. If you look at the downtown today, there are more people down there. We've had a number of events downtown. We've got these cameras that are monitored 24/7. When somebody's doing something wrong, this guy's hollering at them over over the speakers. Uh um we're pressure washing the sidewalks. We've we've put in uh some some seating. We put in the trash containers. Uh um we've we've brought in the man that's completely redone the old theater. He spent over a million dollars there. That was that was our association. The lady running it before uh uh the current person brought that guy in here and it's made a tremendous difference to High Street. I I I just just want to say we're the only reason we're doing this is to try to improve our downtown. Thank you. Thank you.

Tom, are you for against the audit? Are you for or against the audit? No, I I think we have to do it now. We We have to have Okay. Uh there there there'll be some things that come up. I'm sure the one that uh I can think of uh is that the the downtown association for two years during the co couldn't raise a penny. They couldn't do anything to to generate money. They're supposed to be according to our agreement paying half of her salary. Well, they weren't making any money so that didn't happen. Okay,

that'll all come out. But I I don't think it's anything bad. It's just what happened. Yeah. Thank you. And if you couldn't hear on at home, he said he was for the audit. Okay. Further questions, comments. Thank you, mayor. Um, so to our financial director, based on the tax records and what you've received from the downtown association in the first years of formation, are there any records that are missing or that cannot be obtained?

Uh, we wouldn't know that without conducting an audit. Um the records that you would do for an audit would be like um resolutions um agreements. Um all we have is their financial data. So we have the financial data. Um we don't have the backup to that financial data. So without doing an audit, you wouldn't be able to request those documents from the association. Um but we feel confident that for the two and a half years we can get those documents from the association and therefore the auditors can conduct their audit if they find anything within the findings. Um there all of the accounts are consistent for the multiple years that are there. So we'd be able to request those audit or those documents for the existing numbers on the balance sheet and the income statement that are there. So with any organization that falls you know under um laws, rules and regulations that the PEBID portion falls under um whether or not they make any money during CO which is what you know what we heard tonight is that during CO there was no not enough money made or no money made. Um, you know, we as a city, we still had to do audits during that particular time to account for our finances. Um, what I'm concerned about is I I think the public taxpayers as well as the business owners, regardless of whether they made money or not, need to know um what happened during that period of time. Now, you know, there's this proposal for 2 and 1/2 years. In order

for us to move forward in a more timely fashion, if this council decides to go for the full 5 years, it means we have to send it out to bid and it may cost them anywhere between 60 and 70,000. Uh I'm not trying to break an organization, but when we as a city do audits, we're required to pay what we have to pay. And so I'm here as a representative to all the citizens of Los Banos, not just the business owners, but people who buy groceries, who pay gasoline, uh who pay property tax, they all contributed to this as well. And they're entitled to know what happened to this money, how it was spent, you know, being accurate or not, whatever the case may be. So, um, and again, I'm only one voice, and if if this costs somewhere between 60 and 70,000 to get the full accuracy of an accounting, then I don't have issue with that. I think we owe that to the taxpayers, to the business owners. And and I do recall that when we uh uh moved forward with this 10-year contract or uh uh contract with uh the downtown association that there were more people individually who voted no not to renew it than did. And it's only the reason it passed is because everything is weighted by square footage. Your building, your parking lot, all of that is included in the waiting. And so therefore, the city I think is the largest property owner and there's some individuals here uh within the organization and within the scope of the business community uh for the PBID that own more than one single piece of property or it may be square footage wise larger as a building. Um

so I I'm still concerned about getting the full picture. I don't know how the business community feels about uh waiting extra time to get a true picture of the whole five six years of of an audit. Um and again this council will make the decision about uh the two year 2 and 1/2 years which we can go forward with much quick quicker. However, for me, um if that will be the decision, I certainly want some other extra um uh additives built into the um the motion that um if and I I think it's kind of implied that we will go forward with you know looking at the full five years if enough discrepancies are found. But I don't want it to have to come back to council again to ask for that to happen. I think we need to make that decision tonight. um if discrepancies are found and we need to move forward with a full 5 years that we will order that and that we will order that it be paid by the downtown association um collecting 750,000 and I think that was stated by the gentleman uh from I um uh I won't say but it's the oddfellows um that's a lot of money collected did and compared to what was spent during that particular time. Um the farmtotable as uh was indicated is their 501c and that's what they raise to do with whatever they want to do with um but I saw some records where there was

money being um uh borrowed from um members of the the board to meet expenses. So, I'm concerned as a council person as to whether that was the 501c portion, whether it was the PBID portion. I don't know. If it's the PBID portion, then there's an issue with how money is being spent and whether or not their budget is sufficient enough to do the things that need to be done. Um, so, uh, you know, there's a there were a lot of accolades about what they've done and I thank them for the things that they've done, but I also know that there have been some things that were disruptive like the merchants downtown complained when the tree trimming happened and that was in the in the early onsets. They were never notified. You know, some of the things I'd like to see is when there when there are things that are going to be purchased like pots or benches or whatever, talk to the merchants downtown. Get their input. It's it's not just a decision of the board. It you're you're here to work with the merchants and to help build the downtown up. And and I know it's going to take time to do that. Uh, and I I hope we're on the right track for this, but right now there's a financial concern and I think we owe it to all again all the business owners, uh, all the property owners in the PBID area as well as the taxpayers of the city of Los Banos to know how money is spent. I I I really am not concerned about the accolades right now. It's wonderful, but this is about the money. And just as we have to be accountable to you as taxpayers, to

you as business owners, the same thing applies to the to the PBID portion. And you know, we have what's the organization uh mayor that we have where we have to have a separate meeting? Um agency. I'm sorry. Redevelopment agency.

Redevelopment agency. When we have redevelopment agency agenda, it has to be a separate agenda from city council. We can't mix that stuff together. So, I suspect that it has to be the same for the downtown association/ped. When you're having a PBED meeting, that needs to be a separate agenda from your your 501c. and it needs to have the 72-hour posting and it needs to be in a in a place where people can come and know that that meeting is going to be held each and every time at that location. So, um I I was for the full 5 years. We'll see where the council goes with this uh whether or not they will go for the 2 and 1/2 years so we can get this done immediately and move forward. But if that's going to be the case, then I want to add in that um if we move forward and there are discrepancies found within the the uh audit that uh we will automatically move forward with the additional years to make it the full five years and that the fiscal burden to pay for that will automatically fall to the uh PBID portion of the downtown association

and it is six years.

Is it six years? Okay. So, I I made, you know, I made a big point about all of this when we had our May 7th meeting and my concerns. I don't want to have to go over that again, but the bottom line is it's about the money and transparency is very important in government today. Um, I made that commitment when I ran. I know the mayor made that commitment as well. And it to me it doesn't matter who it belongs to. I I asked for this information continually over the past three years here on council and I was snubbed for it and and and ignored and ask people from the downtown association to come and speak at the lectturn about what was going on regarding finances and all we got were pie charts. So now we have this opportunity to give the business owners and the taxpayers what they've asked for and I'm glad that um some of the members of of the downtown association agree that we need to move forward with this audit. Thank you mayor.

Thank you. So I think it was Mark from Oddfellows talked about there's three categories uh admin marketing and uh maintenance security. Um now there seems to be a fourth with the audit. Tell us if that's correct and all that good stuff. The audit will all right. So then what happens if we find it will look at the management um agreement and it will determine if things were not um paid per the agreement.

Okay. You know just like Miss Lewis is saying you know I'm not in favor of breaking any organization. That's not um and at the same time you know I think what she's saying is important as far as the the two and a half and if something's not looking right then automatically yeah it kicks into the full deal. I mean, the way this has gone, look, I don't, you know, I I barely started and it's in January, so that was the first hot topic that got hit with this. And it's like, we're still working on this. We're still trying to get somewhere with it. It's like, why is it so hard? And I think the only way forward is there has to be an audit because you're not going to you got to answer questions uh to everyone, both sides. I think it's best in everybody's best interest. I'm not for either of the two sides. I'm just like, what's facts? what's truth and what makes sense and and and I think the only way to get there unfortunately at this point it's it's we got to get transparency we got to get you know to the answers of what's really going on and then once that comes out then what are the next steps you know if there are further questions and if people aren't satisfied with what came out of that then then what's going to be next I don't know but I think we've got to go forward to get answers with an audit I think that's that's going to be important to move forward um And again, you know, I'm not looking to Barry Pid or anybody. I'm not trying to cause more expense to anybody, but if we have to get to a six year, I think that needs to be in like Miss Lewis said for sure. But I think we got to do something right away, too, instead of wait and rebid the whole thing and then wait some more. And it's just I think it's dragging on here. So, I'd like to get somewhere. That's that's I'm not going to repeat everything she said, but those are my thoughts at this point. I don't know about you, Evan. Yeah, I mean I feel like the two and a half year I think it's a great place to start, but I feel like the next time that we hear about this, it needs to either be we did the two and a half year, everything looks

great or here's the resolution to do the six to to go out to bid for the six year. Like I don't want to have to have a conversation again about like what are we going to do now? Like it's either everything's good with the two and a half year or here's the resolution to pass for the six year just to keep things moving. I like the idea of doing the two and a half year just so we get something done fast. Um, we'll see if it comes back and it's everything's hunky dory. But yeah, I don't think we should have the discussion again about what to do. I think that we know we all I think we all more or less agree that two and a half year start there, but immediately go to the six year if that doesn't look great. So, um, the way the resolution reads right now is, uh, direct staff to proceed with option three, um, to initiate a 2 and 1/2 year a 2.5 year audit with, uh, that falls within the city's informal procurement threshold. with the understanding that uh the retro audit and the word is may I'd like to change that to will be necessary and that the annual audit conduct uh conducted moving forward to ensure continued oversight and compliance. So that's basically saying and now they're on a fisc year budget like we are they were in the beginning annual but that was changed. So just as our budget goes from July 1st to June 30th, so will theirs. And that means that it it will kind of fall in line with uh the time frame. So we will know what's happening at that time. Um, I'd also like to add with that that um the financial burden um if if if we do have to move forward uh with the addition with the full six years will be on the P bid downtown association. Uh

so the two and a half year and the six year it will all fall on on the association. Okay. Yes. It's just the matter of payment of that. So, are are we to determine tonight also how that's going to be paid out? Well, uh whether it'll be in chunks uh of when their money is being dispersed. Okay. Okay. Um, also I' I'd like to recommend that um uh staff report out to us once the audit comes in uh so that we know how we're going to move forward and not have to wait till the end to keep us on board uh with how that's happening. we will

so yes uh in order not to financially devastate them I don't have a problem with you know uh x amount of money coming out of uh the distribution that they have coming to them and I guess that's three distrib distributions a year is that it or is it two it's two it's two okay so that that would be my proposal and I know that it's moving forward uh they're going to be required to have an annual audit. Yes. Yes. Okay.

So, I heard we heard from a lot of people in the audience, a lot of citizens, and they all agreed that at least a two and a half year audit, you know, I'm trying to look at this very pragmatically. Um, our goal is transparency and the property owners and people that pay the taxes know what's going on, how the money spent. And we can go to the past five, six years and wonder what's going on back then. Are we going to be able to even change it? It's it's the it's history now. I think two and a half years is plenty of time and if we find something we can go back which it says that but a six-year audit could pay it could cost up to $100,000. It says possibly 70 but we know how that works. when governments when the government is goes out to bid for the government, everything gets really expensive. And and so my my thoughts is we don't do not want to stop the downtown association by burdening them with 70 80 90 $100,000 bills. That sort of defeats the whole purpose. So we'll be back be back here in a year saying what what's taken place will all the money has gone to paying for an audit. So that doesn't make any sense to me. I know staff recommended during the finance when the payments come. I'd say we should even spread it out more than that. My personal opinion we do not want to hamper the downtown association to be more effectively. What we're trying to do is be more transparent and everybody knows what's going on and I'm sure they're good people. They'll do that. I think that's what it is. It's not to

with the city controlling it. Then we'll keep the ball moving, make sure things happen. And I know you trust us. You know, this is a new administration up here. And I know you trust us. And so we want to do the right thing. So, I would not be in favor of anything more than a two and a half. I'd actually go two-year audit, but I'll go with the 2 and 1/2 year. And I'd like to see it spread out over a couple of years payment pay back to the city. That's what I would personally like to see, but it's up to the council because I do not want to burden the downtown association. Even though I know you can say the reason is why we're here today. I heard two or three people say if there was better transparency, we'd not even be here today. That is very true. So, I mean, we're all going to get on the same page, get everybody working, and we got to do this together. We all have to work together to make sure our downtown thrives. We get those new businesses in there that will stay open. And hopefully, like I said, hopefully we get some restaurants down there. That's that. and the small stores really and and the hair salons, those type of things, you know, I I every time I cringe when another office comes downtown. Not I'm against offices, but you know, they close up at 4:00 or 5 in the afternoon and that's the end of downtown, but I understand you own the you you have the right, you own the property, you do whatever you want, but we need a vibrant downtown. So, I'm in favor of spreading it out over a couple of years, doing two and a half year audit. I think everybody here was in favor of that. And then if something and I don't expect this, but if something comes up, it automatically triggers it. We don't even have to to do that. So, that's my my thoughts on the matter.

Well, I Excuse me, Mayor. I I think you're probably saying pretty much the same thing that the three of us have said up here already with the exception of um and I'll I'll just use a city in the state of California right now called Isleton who's in big trouble because they kept no financial books. Uh they made a lot of purchases and did things and now they're trying to file bankruptcy. We we have to learn how to hold people accountable. Not not we're not trying to break a back, but we have to learn how to hold any organization that's under the jurisdiction of the city accountable. And so, um, I I think this is the time where we have to start now. This is the time to start now. And yes, I I think option number two is good for the 2 and 1/2 years. And if we if there's any inconsistency within the budget where you know and I I noticed that in in the proposals, one of them indicated I think it was proposal two uh review engagement which t which talked about detecting potential fraud or material omission but that was not in the audit agreement. So, is is that something that's automatically in the audit agreement?

Yes.

Okay. All right. Um I I I may be the odd man out here. I don't know. But I I think we owe this to the businesses. It's time to move forward and and just this might be the very thing that will help us get our city to the next level where it needs to be cuz mayor, you know, we've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars with, you know, um, plans on how we want our downtown to look. You know, when you were on mayor, I don't even know what happened to those plans. We had two of them since I've been on council and and we do absolutely nothing. So now here we have a option. We have an opportunity to have expectations of our downtown association and what their promises are when they came with the agreement. Cuz I'll sit here and openly admit I really wasn't for this. But I was the very person that made the motion to start the downtown association. But I said, I will be watching you because I wasn't really sure that the plans that were brought to this council about what you were going to do could be fulfilled. And so I was watching and so this this is where I stand on it. I think it's the ethical thing for us to do as a city to make sure that we move forward with this audit and that the accountability and the tracking is good. This is this for me this is not about whether these are good people or bad people. This has nothing to do with that. This is about what's right for making sure that tax dollars are open and transparent. So that's that's where I'll leave it, mayor. And thank you for the additional time of comment.

Okay, I'll entertain a motion. Yes, I'll make the motion. Um, and it will be number three to direct staff to proceed with option three which has been stated. I'd like to change the word from may to will within in that motion and to additionally indicate that um to make sure that it's in writing that the financial burden for the audit will fall on the downtown association if it's found to be that we need to go beyond the 2 and 1/2 years and that a annual uh fiscal audit will uh be required of the association moving forward and the payment plan. Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. And the payment plan will be two years uh in I'm sorry. Two years. Two years. Mayor wanted two years. Okay. Um I thought I said I I had said three payments, but mayor wanted two years. So it'd be four payments. We won't know if they'll be in business for four years. So I you know for two years. Yeah. I I'll go with two years. Taxes will still come. Taxes. Yeah. taxes will be it will be there. Uh so regardless of what happens with the downtown association those taxes will come. Yes. Okay. So question out of curiosity what stops it? What what

it just in perpetuity those taxes will be collected no matter what for 10 it was for 10 years from the whenever they renewed it last year. It would last year the governance of the city or or another association or Yeah. So those will will be assessed. So if if it's found that we we still need to move forward with a a P bid organization, then the city would uh go out and formulate another another organization to to continue the 10-year taxes.

Okay. Well, with that being said, then I don't have an issue with the four years. And I I don't know how the other council members feel if they want to do two, three, or what. So, two years, four payments. Two years, four payments. Okay, that's part of your motion. Yeah, I'll take that one. Yes. May I a quick clarification? I know there was discussions about um bringing the audit report back to council. Is that part of the motion? Oh, yes. I didn't say that one. Okay. Um yes. uh additionally to bring the audit report back to council once uh it's been done uh so that we you know we know that we're going to move automatically uh forward with the remainder of the additional years. Yes.

Okay. I I don't know if I said that properly but everybody understand understood. All right. Second before we discuss or don't want to second that's fine. I want to I want to ask a question. So right now they're saying if something were to happen you know and tax money still keeps coming that goes to the end of the 10 years regardless then you're saying so that tax money it's there then you're going to look for another association to handle that money. That would be the the thing to do at that time. Is that the only option?

Yes. Because the city would not be we're paying the assessment so we really need another association. We would need another association or a chamber of commerce or something 501c3 to be able to handle the the pitid. The streets and highways code requires a 501c3 to govern the pit. Do I have a second? Second. Okay, we have a motion and second as as stated and further comments, questions. No, I just think we got to needs to happen. I mean, at this point seems like trust is broken and we we need to fix it. So, I think the all in favor signify by saying I

I opposed and I really appreciate everybody that spoke very much.

Thank you all very much. So, we'll have a two and a half year audit. I can make it straight. They can't back off. But then moving forward. Yeah,

Okay, we'll go ahead move to item eight, public hearing. that if you challenge the proposed action as described herein, court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described herein or in written correspondence delivered to the city at or prior to this public hearing. Our public hearing is to receive public comment and consideration of the 2025 California fire standard codes. This is local city of Lasanis amendments to the codes and justification of local conditions. And let's see who do we Brandon? That's you.

Good evening. This is the first reading of the triannual code updates. This cycle occurs every three years and is line with the state adoptions. All cities and counties will have these hearings. These code adoptions require public notices that were sent out in October and posted in the Merced Star. The code will be in effect January 1st, 2026. We're updated. We have updated the current municipal code and ordinance to reflect these changes. This will be the first reading. As for the changes that were completed this cycle were minimal. Examples of those changes were the um um wildland urban interface, energy storage systems, battery type definitions, fire clearance, pre-insspection, energy green energy and green codes, electric ready buildings. We are requesting the council to open up public hearing, take comments, close the hearings, and request to wave the first reading.

Thank you. So this is ordinance number 1211 adopting the reference as stated with the 2025 edition of the California fire code. It's a routine item that comes up so we can match the state codes. So with this I'd like to open the public hearing on ordinance number 1211. I apologize. I think we're not done with the presentation. I'm sorry. Oh okay myself. Sorry. Oh yeah. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Thank you council mayor city manager. I'm your deputy fire marshal Gio. I'm here to just present a real quick couple slides of brief uh overview of what the updates are this year.

Um as we go through the slides like chief was saying every 3 years the national model code gets revised. This year it aligns itself with the 2024 international fire code uh under the local jurisdiction per the health and safety code 17958 and 18938. Everything will align. Uh again, as chief said, effective January 1st, 2026, all codes become effective 180 days after they are published by the California Building Standards Commission, which was published July 1st, 2025. Uh Lasanis must adopt these codes to be in ordinance by January 1st. Um Las Municipal Code has 13 amendments by the fire code. They're subject they're specific to us and they're located within the municipal code title 4 chapter 3.07. The 13 minutes amendments are special to law Spanish and range from administration cost recovery assistance from other agencies, permits, inspections, plan review fees, NOX boxes, automatic sprinklers, fire extinguishers, portable extinguishers, fire alarm systems, pallet storage, explosives, and fireworks. storage of flammable or combustible liquids and storage of LPG. Some of the changes for 2026 are the pre-fire clearances that are clarified underneath the health and safety code. What this does is this delegates the enforcement from the state fire marshall's office to the local prevention office which would be us ourselves. Um, chapter 49 is the WOOI code which was deleted from the California fire code as well as the California building code and is now its own California wildland wildland urban interface code itself. It's a standalone code now. Uh, it

clarifies residential ESS requirements which is energy storage systems. It just aligns itself with the current NFPA 855 standard and the international fire code chapter 12. All it did is just it just aligned everything together. Uh added new battery type definitions to match the international fire code and the NFPA 855. What they did was they separated and added another 10 more definitions of types of batteries. Those batteries have always been there. They're just more clarified and more defined now. Um change some more changes. Um they added new battery type definitions. Again they clarified these classifications and uses for evolving technologies included a unused unwanted battery collection and waste storage provisions in the fire code. Now uh outdoor storage for fire separations detection weather protections of the actual batteries themselves where they can be stored how they can be stored and what provisions need to happen for protection. um updated general rules for the lithium and non- lithium ion batteries types. Uh reformatted the fire protection sprinkler system to align itself with the 2024 international fire code. All it was was just a cleanup of verbiage and just aligned itself up. uh updated language for the special amusement areas, updated outdated standpipe and alarm systems for systems that have been in place for so many years. There are certain things that they have to do and upgrade and uh revamp as time goes on. Means of egress, it's emergency illumination powered by backup batteries. This has more to do with group I2 for standby power for the exit

paths. Um it was really specific to that this year for this goround. Uh two-way communication required in a horizontal exit compartment. Uh basically emergency two-way communication. So there's some type of PA system back and forth. Uh some of the changes again tents temporary special event structures membranes. It clarifies the testing the registration for flame resistant fabrics and materials. Aligning the combustible materials with title 19 standards brings everything again back together. Uh ensures consistency for all types of events. Uh updated the reference standards to the newest publications and available for adoption. Uh our staff recommendation again as chief said public notices were sent out to the Mercedar posted October 26, 2025 requesting council to open the public hearing accepting comments and then wave the first reading and any questions.

That's your new truck. That is it right there. Yeah. Beautiful. Thank you again for that. Yeah. Any question? I think it's pretty standard. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Okay. At this time, I'd like to open the public hearing for ordinance number 1211, adopting reference to the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code, an amendment to title 4, chapter 3 of the Laspmass Municipal Code and adoption of local amendments there too. Anybody would like to speak on this exciting public hearing, please come forward. Okay. Hey, like I said, this is pretty standard routine items that happen all the time for cities to align with the state's requirements. So, with that, I'll close the public hearing and turn it back to the council to let's see, we'll have the wave the first reading and introduction.

Yeah, I'd like to motion first.

No, we'll wait. We have to wave it first. First reading. Yep. Okay. We have a motion and second to wave the first reading ordinance 1211 as stated. Any further comments or questions? I hear n. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Now a motion to introduce ordinance 1211. All right. Making a motion to introduce the ordinance 1211 is read by title. Second. Okay. Motion second as stated. Any further questions or comments? This is an ordinance, so we need a roll call vote, please. Lucy

Perez Sanders, yes. Chavez, yes. Lewis, yes. Amil, yes. Okay, thank you. Next item is also a public hearing to receive comment and consideration of the 2025 building codes. This is for the local city of Lasanis. Amendments to the codes and justification of local conditions. This be ordinance number 1212 adopting reference the two 2025 edition the California building standard codes by amendment to title 8 chapter 1 of the Lasis municipal code. Again, this is aligning up with the state and chief, I go back to you with this or same thing. Yes. Okay. That's building codes are the same thing. Exact same thing.

The only changes to the building code were the um the part seven which is the wildland urban interface and the energy green codes and the um the the electric ready buildings to facilitate future adoption of cleaner electric technologies for cooking and water heat heating. Okay. Anyone else? That's it. Okay. With that, any with that? Uh, let's see. I got to open the public hearing. Oh, I'd like to open the public hearing over that for item ordinance number 122. Anyone who would like to speak on this ordinance, please come forward.

Okay. Do not see anyone. We'll close the public hearing. Move back to the city council for the waving of the first reading. All right. I can make a motion to wave the first reading of ordinance 1212 as read by title. I'll second first and second to wave the first reading of ordinance 1212. Any further comments or discussion? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Eyes have it. Now motion to introduce ordinance 1212. And I'll make the motion to introduce uh ordinance 122 is read by title. I'll second it again. Motion and second to introduce ordinance number 1212. Any further comments or questions? If we have roll call, please.

Perez Sanders, yes. Chavez, yes. Lewis, yes. Hamme,

yes. Next item is also a public hearing. Three, public comment and consideration of approving the six cycle multi-jurisdictional housing element 2024 to 2032 and approving a new ordinance to implement the housing elements establishing a regional housing needs assessment RHNA and an overlay district. With this, let's see. Before us, we have a resolution and an ordinance. Resolution number 7015 and ordinance 1213. And with this, we'll go to our community and economic development director, Soua Elms.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor and City Council. Um, with this item, I do want to preface it with um really describing to the council the council's discretion in approving a housing element. Um it is narrow um because the state of California has dictated by state law um that each city has to have a housing element and has to have certain sections certain elements within the housing element uh which I'm going to go through in this presentation. Um and HCD requires mandatory review and certification to ensure compliance with all of the criteria that is needed in the housing element. So that discretion is very narrow. The city is required to have a compliant housing element and then it has to be certified by HCD. non-compliance uh would mean the city would be in jeopardy of losing state funding. Um especially in this instance in the in the atmosphere that we're in right now and the current environment would be our encampment resolution fund. we could be in jeopardy if we do not have a compliant housing element which is tied to our um that funding specifically is tied to our housing element um which is um programmed for permanent supportive housing for our unhoused community. Um so with that um what is a housing element? It's one of the eight mandatory elements in the city's general plan. Uh the city recently adopted a general plan, a new general plan update in October of 2022. Um and the housing element is governed by the California government code. It's required to be updated every 8 years in

accordance with the RENA, regional housing needs allocation cycle. Uh and the RENA is the fair share of housing each jurisdiction should meet in their region to accommodate adequate housing as determined by HCD. and our region is Merced County. Um so our Reena um that RENA number that regional housing needs allocation um is provided by HCD to uh Merced County to our uh association of governments and then a methodology is applied uh across all of the jurisdictions within the region to determine what our fair share is. Um and as you can see based on this chart, Las Vegas and this is highlighted in blue. Um but the majority of the units for the regional housing needs allocation uh the majority of that is going to the city of Merced and then next is the unincorporated county of Merced and then next is the city of Lasanis. So it's not just a matter of there's seven jurisdictions and we're going to divide it up you know seven ways equally. uh there's a methodology that's taken into place, there's uh site inventory, there's constraints um that are all taken into consideration um which some of the constraints that lost Spanish then uh we would have had a larger allocation but some of the constraints uh that we are faced with here in Lasis is that on the west side we are surrounded by uh prime a land um and so some units then got distributed to other um areas in the county. Um and with that those constraints, additional units were not added to Las Vegas. So the multi-jurisdictional housing element um was a regional approach that

all of the jurisdictions in Merced County took in this update of uh the housing element in this cycle. uh the approach was to do multi-jurisdictional because the majority about 90% of the housing element itself is required uh re statewide um so regardless of the jurisdiction it's housing it's state law and all jurisdictions are required to uh abide by it all in California. Um so we came together um as a region and said okay um well we can um work cooperatively together um to be able to put together the housing element. Um and then each city would have their own focus and appendix within the multi-jurisdictional housing element that focus specifically on your jurisdiction and the policies and programs that apply to your city. So the participating cities were Atwater, Dos Palace, Gustinine, Livingston, Lasanis and Merced uh and the county of Merced and their regional an analysis shared among all cities. Um and then like I said the local analysis is provided in the appendices and the city of Lasanis we are within appendix F and that's what we're going to focus on tonight is the Las Spanish specific area of the housing element and which we have jurisdiction over. So the housing element components well first off there needs to be public participation which we started um I went there's a timeline slide within this um but we started back in 2022 we started with workshops we had surveys conducted and we held stakeholder interviews uh the state requires that we provide an analysis on housing needs uh

which have its own requirements. We need to analyze housing constraints. We needed to determine resources and inventory. We need to analyze fair housing assessment. And then we need to create a housing plan. So those are all the components that the state mandates we have within our housing element. So that timeline like I said we kicked off in winter of 2022. Uh we were developing the draft in 2023 and holding uh community workshops and surveys. uh we had about 150 uh responses uh with the survey that was conducted. Uh then in summer of 2024 we held our first public review which was submitted to HCD. Um so that was uh the multi-jurisdictional housing element itself and all of the appendices were submitted to HCD July 1st. there was a um 90day review period that HCD had and then they responded back to each of the jurisdictions with revisions. Um so then Lasanis we focused on um from the fall of 2024 to basically now revising our housing element um and resubmitting back to HCD. We had three rounds of reviews um and which takes us to where we are today to October and November of 2025 uh where we presented the draft housing element to the planning commission. They made a recommendation up to the city council to approve um and then hopefully after tonight um we'd get direction to submit for certification to the department of housing community development of the state of California. So public participation uh there was uh different methods used for public engagement. First there was a website that was created at mercedmjh.com. So that stood for merc

multi-jurisdictionalhousing element.com. Um to the right of that slide is what you would see at the landing page when you get to that website. It gives you a little bit of information of their multi-jurisdictional housing element. Um what are the um quick facts about Merced County. Um and then uh each community is highlighted. And if you're interested in a specific community, you can look at the different workshop presentations. You can look at the site inventory. Um and you can also read the appendices um on this website. Then we held community workshops um which were um helped us create uh the housing element and it helped to introduce new housing element goals and requirements to the community. We held stakeholder interviews and this was targeted to stakeholders uh to help collect feedback on housing needs and fair housing issues in the Merced County region. Um some of those stakeholders uh that we interviewed uh were Habitat for Humanity. Um we interviewed um uh United Way. Um we also interviewed uh Anabvisist which is the developer that's um helping us develop our uh permanent supportive housing um and just to understand the needs um that Merced County is facing. And then we like I said we held an online survey and we received over 150 responses. So the housing needs um we had to analyze what law span is uh what are our housing needs and we looked at our population our employment tren trends

our population growth just in a snapshot uh between 2010 and 2021 grew 23.5%. Our top employers were identified as Liberty Packing and Memorial Hospital. And our unemployment um as of September of 2024 is 9.2%. We had to analyze affordability and housing needs. 36% of our households spend more than 30% on housing. Um so that was the big highlight and the big takeaway on Las Vegas. Um as we looked at affordability um and uh the renter occupied 21.1% are overpaying. Of that 36% that are paying more than 30% 21.10% are renters and 15% are owner occupied. We had to look at housing constraints and analyze u those layers of constraints. We identified three different layers. governmental which are constraints as in zoning, permitting process, building codes, required improvements, and the California Environmental Quality Act. We determined that the market is also a constraint um with impact fees, construction costs, including cost of labor, land, um materials, complexities of financing. So, just making the project pencil out um is a constraint. And then environmental droughts, um, fault zones, resource conservation, um, all of those components add to the layers of constraints for housing development. So we looked at our resources and our inventory. Uh, we had to conduct a site inventory and our re regional housing needs allocation. Um so if you can recall um one of those

first slides had that table with the arena for the entire county and the city of Las Vegas we are identified with 3,132 units within our arena and I apologize I didn't take enough time to really highlight that but that is our regional housing needs allocation that's what the state of California has said city of Lasanis you must provide opportunity to provide that housing within your community and you need to identify opportunity sites within your inventory of where those units can be built. So, we need to identify that. Well, the state of California does allow the city with planned and approved units to get credit. So, though our total is 3,132, we have 400 units that we get credit for. and then anticipated ADUs which conservatively we're planning for 40. So technically in total with the site inventory we're only required well not that we're only required but what we are identifying is site inventory for 2434 units. That's because we got that credit. So within our site inventory, we had to identify the opportunity sites and determine if we needed to reszone and then what that capacity would be. So we identified um that we would have a total of over 2800 units and that within our current site inventory and that we gave our we also have surplus of over uh 371 units uh which gives us the required buffer that the state of California requires.

Excuse me real fast. Is that over an 8-year period?

It is. It's during the planning period. And I do want to emphasize that the city we're not developers and the state of California is not saying city of Lasanis you must develop this. What the state of California is saying is cities you must accommodate for housing within your community. You must ensure that there these sites are appropriately zoned and that you're removing constraints to allow for that development to occur. And that's because the state of California is in a housing crisis. Um, so great question, Mayor. Um, but that is over the eight-year horizon. There are check-in points. We have to report annually to the state of California on whether we're meeting our goals and whether we've um we've made any progress towards our arena. If you can recall, we do that about March every year. There's an annual report and then that goes to HCD uh to ensure that we're in compliance. So, that's a check that the state of California requires. Um, and with this cycle of the housing element, we're anticipating that probably maybe halfway through, and I have RCON consultants here, and it'll be through this planning period, uh, the state of California, if we are not meeting our goals and we are not making any progress towards our regional housing needs allocation, then the city is going to need to take more progressive action in providing incentives for development and really encouraging that those opportunity sites get developed. So that site selection criteria. So we needed to look at how the city could accommodate that arena, those regional housing needs allocation through our site inventory. But not every infill site qualifies. The criteria is that it needed to be between a half an acre to 10 acres in size and it needed to be

vacant or underutilized. So, we were able to use sites that maybe were between a half an acre to 10 acres that um maybe had like an old homestead on it, an old um you know, it could been an old ranchet that now has the ability, it's R2, so it has the ability to have uh town homes and duplexes. So, we were able to get credit um and identify that within our site inventory. So there was eight projects that were uh identified as approved and pending projects and this these are the projects that we got credit for within um our arena. So that reduced our number down to 2400 units. And then the inventory sites, these are really all sites that we had planned for within our adopted general plan update that like I said was just adopted in October of 2022. We were fortunate um as a jurisdiction that we have a new general plan update. Uh most jurisdictions are having to reszone, you know, in this case we have over um 50 sites um close to almost 50 sites. Um it's um it's 48 within the inventory. Um but you can imagine some jurisdictions are having to reszone almost the majority of all of their site inventory. But we were lucky we were already planning for that in the general plan update um anticipation of this sixth c sixth cycle of the housing element.

So mayor before we move forward I'd like to ask Stacy a question. So on this Reena going back uh set page 17. Um I guess it would be site three. I noticed on Seventh Street um almost across the street from the police uh police from the fire department station one there are two complexes back to back that are being built.

And then also on 7th and I believe it's Wilmont. Um that's an old uh project that was developed by a former uh um developer here in Los Banos and there's some projects going up on on land there. Is that part of this arena uh fulfillment or is that private projects?

So the Alta Vista will be counted. It's actually going to be in a couple of slides because that was identified in the fourth and the fifth cycle of the raina. Um so that's actually helping us. Uh that's the Alta Vista which is uh just shy of an acre. It's 78 um of an acre but the two duplexes are less than half an acre. So they don't qualify for the site inventory.

All right. Thank you. Mhm. Um so a new component that's been added to the sixth cycle is that we have to analyze affirmatively furthering fair housing and this is per AB686 uh which has a very complex components within it but essentially the state of California has said all jurisdictions need to identify disparities in access and opportunity. That focus for Laspanis has been central and east Laspanis, specifically central Laspanis where our low and mod census tract is. Uh we need to promote equity through zoning and programs and our duty is to affirmatively further fair housing and extends to site inventory and our housing plan. So we need to remove those constraints that segregation within the community and we need to ensure that um various income level of housing is throughout our entire community not just concentrated in one area is essentially what affirmatively furthering fair housing does. So we had to identify our opportunity areas. The area outlined in blue um is the city's high resource area. Um and the focus is ensuring that we are providing opportunity sites within that blue areas which you can see we are uh the moderate resource area is um east Losanis uh which is just east of Mercy Springs. Uh-huh.

And then uh North Laspanus and Central Laspanis are actually um lower resource areas. Um but these opportunity areas and there's a lot uh and I apologize cuz this packet is extremely thick. Um, so I know you had a lot of material to read through. Um, but that material is going through very carefully the analysis that goes into developing the housing element. And we had to identify opportunity areas and ensure that we, like I said, we're not concentrating all of our housing into say a low resource area. We needed to ensure that our housing is spread throughout the entire community, but especially in high resource areas. And what identifies as a high resource area could be employment, education, environmental. Um, lots of components go into what makes an area, which you can see here are our former census tracks. Um, and the south law Spanish is identified as where the highest resources are. So what do what do those little boxes represent? Are those single family homes? Is it multiple family? And

it corresponds directly to this the site inventory. Those boxes here are outlines of those projects. Does that make if is that what you're asking or are you referring to the to the other screen please? It's R1 and Yep. It's our different Yes, it's our different residential zoning. Thank you.

Okay. So then we needed to identify after looking at affirmatively furthering fair housing, we needed to identify our housing plan. Uh and that housing plan we're required to have seven goals. Uh so regional collaboration, housing development, affordable housing options, housing and neighborhood preservation, housing for persons with special needs, resource conservation and sustainable development, and then last, affirmatively furthering fair housing. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but we've met all of those seven goals through the various programs within the housing element. So regional collaboration specifically was with program one. Housing development and affordable housing options uh those are within program two and three. Um also with uh removing constraints we identified that within program six and seven. And then developing affordable housing options program 5, 8 and 11. Looking at goal um for housing and neighborhood preservation and housing for persons with special needs. Those are within program 4, 9, and 10. And then program six, which requires zoning code amendments. Um, and then program 11, which is for lower income and special needs housing. And then resource conservation and sustainable development. Uh, we have a program for um incentives for energy conservation and efficiency and residential development. And we're encouraging um energy conservation. Um and then with the last goal for affirmatively furthering fair housing action programs, we have fair housing enforcement and outreach. Um which requires us to put information on the city's website. It requires us to hold an annual meeting with affordable housing developers. Um we need to um

have housing mobility uh new housing opportunities in higher opportunity areas and placebased strategies for neighborhood revitalization. Um, we had to also have an analysis uh for SQA, the California Environmental Quality Act. um which we were uh staff determined uh this to be exempt from the uh California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to SQA guidelines section 15061 B3 and 15283 and that uh the housing element update will not result in direct or reasonable foreseeable physical environmental effects. Future residential development facilitated by these actions will be subject to subsequent project level SQA review and city of Laspan as we are able to meet this exemption because of our recently adopted general plan update. It's less than 5 years. We have a certified EIR and we're able to tear off of um that environmental document and we have no zoning updates um excuse me reszones. Uh now I'm going to move into the zone zoning ordinance amendment and the purpose of this is uh it is required by state law and it's to implement the housing element. We're requesting to add article 49 to chapter 3 title 9 of the planning and zoning code to establish a regional housing needs assessment reena overlay district which implements program three of the housing element. So, the state of California has said not only do you need to adopt your housing element, but you need to as of January 1st, 2024, um was it January 24 first rate or Jan? It was January of 2024, um you need to have a um Reena overlay district to

implement your housing element. Um, and this state law background, it's required per government code. Um, and certain housing element sites are eligible for by approval, meaning that they're exempt from squa. They need to be approved ministerially and they're subject only to objective design standards. So byite housing eligibility eligibility uh are projects that qualify for by approval when they include at least 20% of the units for affordable to lower income households and do not include a subdivision. The eligible reuse sites applies to vacant sites for lower inome housing in the fourth and fifth cycle which there's 13 sites that have been identified and their non- vacant sites for lower income housing in the fifth cycle housing element. Uh but what byright approval means is that the city cannot require any type of discretionary approval. Um that would mean the discretionary approval would go to the planning commission. So we cannot require a conditional use permit. We cannot require plan development permits or any other discretionary approval under SQA. And that for design review it is still allowed but it has to be objective. So those standards um could be setbacks but um they cannot be subjective as in paint colors um or um um elements um that are subjective. they need to be objective. Um, and so we really need to take that into consideration and it must remain ministerial. So the arena overlay site summary, like I said, there's 13 sites. Those are identified in the fourth and the fifth cycle um housing elements that have not been

developed on yet. Um and so those sites are eligible for for buy, but they have to meet the criterion that at least 20% are for affordable um housing and it's not a subdivision. So to to to qualify for byite, you need to meet that that criteria combined potentially this would give us uh over 1,400 units. um and it is included in the housing element table F6-13. These sites are also already located within the site's inventory. Um and the majority of these 13 sites are in some sort of pending planned development. Um three of these parcels are North Point um subdivision which has been in the planning process for several years. Um and um others are um Joe Roachcha projects, Sunset Hills development, um the Seventh Street project specifically, which is Alta Vista, the project that Council Member Lewis brought up. Um so we're already making quite a bit of headway uh which is going to count towards our arena. Um but those sites are technically eligible for byite approval. So with that, staff is recommending uh that the city council adopt the 2024 2032 housing element and wave the first reading and introduce by title ordinance number 1213 adding regional housing needs assessment overlay district to the zoning code and find the actions exempt from SQA pursuant to SQA guidelines sections 15061B3 and 15283. And that concludes my presentation. I know I went through that really quickly. Um, but let me know if you haven't. Please ask

questions. And I also have uh representatives from Ringcon. I have Kay and Brena here from Ringcon Consultants that helped us develop the multi-jurisdictional housing element.

Before we before we open it up to questions, I'd like to open up the public hearing. see the audience have anything they would like to speak about for this would be uh let's see public hearing to receive public comment on what's been discussed our sixth cycle of multi-jurisdiction housing element from 2024 to 2032 like to open up that public hearing anyone who' like to speak on that please come forward after the public hearing we'll open up to the council okay not seeing or hear anyone coming forward I'll close the public hearing. We went back to the city council questions of staff.

At the beginning, you said we have very little discretion in this. Where is the discretion?

The discretion really would be in our programs and it's the state of California defines what those programs should be and clarifies, you know, city must have language to clarify and define how to implement these programs. Um, but if the city wanted to provide additional incentives, wanted to provide additional flexibility for development, really to help development, you could do that within your programs. You also have discretion within your site inventory. So for Las Vegas, I go back to we've already identified those sites within that general plan update that we did back in 2022. Um so those sites are already zoned um for that development. But in other jurisdictions where lots of reszoning would have to take place, local jurisdiction can determine where the that site inventory would take place.

So we've done what we can do. We have congratulations on meeting all those goals. It's a lot. It's a lot of work. Questions over here. Okay. Then before us,

mayor, if I may add one thing just to to elaborate on what you just said, the six cycle housing element is one of the most challenging housing elements that's ever come down from the state and I had the pleasure of listening to it twice. One for the city of Gustinine that we just adopted and I get to do it again tonight for the city of Lasanis. So thank you for staff as well as the ring consultant for really helping us get in compliance. as Stacy mentioned is is a very important program that are required as part of a housing element and now there is a string attached is that if the housing elements are not in compliance it ties to your earth funding as well as your SP1. So um thank you for making this happen and also as the council me uh uh Sanders point and to retain some of that u local policy uh to have them in place so that it still be inconsistent with what have been adopted in the 2020 general plan. So thank you.

Okay. Okay. So, if we could have a a motion for resolution number 7015 for approval. We did. We helped. Oh, we did. What? It's 7015. We'd be approving general plan amendment number 202503 to adopt the city lobanis housing element of the general plan the period of 2024 2032. That's just a motion and a second needed. May Mayor, I'll like to make a motion to adopt the resolution as read by title. Second.

Okay, we have a motion and second for resolution number 7015 as stated. Further questions or comments? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Eyes have it. Now we have an ordinance in front of us 201213 adding article 49 to title 9 chapter 3 of the Laspanis Municipal Code Regional Housing Needs Assessment RHNA overlay district to facilitate implementation of the housing element. This would be a waving of the first reading motion. Yes, mayor. I'd like to make a motion to uh wave the first reading of ordinance number 1213 as read by title. Second.

Okay. A motion as stated for ordinance 1213. Any further comments or questions? All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Now a motion to introduce ordinance 1213. Yeah. Okay, I'd like to make a motion to introduce ordinance uh 1213 as read by title. Second. Motion and second is stated. Any further questions or comments? It's an ordinance. So, we need a roll call vote, please. Perez Sanders, yes. Chavez, yes. Lewis, yes. Amil,

yes. Thank you very much. Thank you, ladies. You go home at night and talk to your husband about this stuff. Just thought I'd ask. Okay. So, consideration. Let's see. We did. Okay. Next item. Consideration approval for city council resolution number 7016 amending the city's policy and procedures manual. This is personnel rules and establishing the summary of compensation for unrepresented employees. So, with this, we'll go to our human resource director, Lucy Melanie. Lucy,

good evening, mayor and city council. Tonight, we are asking the council to approve a resolution to update the city's personnel rules and to also create a separate summary of compensation for employees who are not in a bargaining unit. The personnel rules were first adopted in 2012 and since then only small changes have been made over the years. So this will be the first full review since 2012. The goal of this update is to make sure the rules follow current laws, match how we actually work today, and are easier for employees and supervisors to understand. This review was completed by acting city manager Gary Breezy, myself, and outside legal counsel Chufo with Libert Cassidy and Whitmore. Department heads were given the opportunity to review the rules and provide input. In addition, all six employee bargaining groups were offered the chance to meet and confer, and agreements were reached with those that requested meetings. One major change is that benefits for unrepresented employees are now in a separate document called the summary of compensation for unrepresented employees. This puts their benefits in the same format as theus for the six other employee bargaining groups and makes the information easier to find and update. The updates include changes required by state law such as updates to sick leave, family and medical leave, bereavement leave, and leave for victims of certain crimes.

Updated descriptions of special pay items to match KPERS reporting rules. Newer updated policies on outside employment, drug and alcohol testing, mobile device and social media use, workplace civility, and required workplace safety programs. A few of the changes do have financial impacts. One is lateral police officer hiring incentive. The hiring incentive for experienced police officers coming from other agencies is being increased from $3,000 to $15,000. This is intended to improve recruitment in a very competitive hiring environment. Another issue is or a change is temporary upgrade pay. Employees who are assigned to temporarily perform duties of a higher level position will now begin receiving the appropriate higher pay starting the pay period after the assignment begins if the assignment is expected to last 30 days or more. This change reflects how these assignments generally work in practice. Um the third item is sick leave reinstatement. If an employee leaves the city and returns within two years, their previously unused sick leave will be reinstated. This change reflects supports rehiring experienced employees and matches requirements for reinstatement within one year. And the fourth item is competency time off for unrepresented employees. Overtime eligible unrepresented employees will now be allowed to earn, carry, and cash out up to 80 hours of

CTO per year. This change brings them in line with the public works bargaining group and provides consistency across the organization. There are sufficient funds in the current budget to support these financial impacts. If approved, the updated personnel rules with the new summary will be posted on the HR web page for employees and the public to view. And that's all I have and I'm happy to answer any questions. Okay, any questions,

mayor. Thank you. Um yes, I have a question on well some clarifications on a few things under division 2 of city organization on page 551 uh section 004 uh 00 I'm sorry 20004 uh planning commission and it states that uh the planning commission is seven members I think it's uh five now.

Yeah. um and that um the members are appointed to two years. It's two years for the atlarge position now, which is the mayor's position. Um but it's four years for the uh city council member appointment and that the uh city council um the district city council members are are uh the appointing person for their own jurisdiction. So uh is that to be reflected in this sense that was a or it will be okay.

So I'll make that change if you include that in your motion. And also under section 0020005 parks and wreck uh it indicates that the public works director/engineer is over it and I think it it's under parks and wreck now. Okay. All right. We can make that change too if you make that motion.

And then under section 002007 the tree committee it also states uh public works and I think that falls under parks and wreck. Um the other one I think is just more of a clarification for me. Uh on page 582 um 582

582 and that would be um it starts with section 6005A department head re No well I guess it falls in that classification but on five uh 582 it talks about um classes and courses attended uh to be requiring to get a a various different degrees. It states in the field the in the field of study to the employees job classification. So is that saying that if an employee if the city is going to pay for further education that it has to be related to their current employment?

Yeah. Or it'll enhance enhance them. Okay. like they can't go to school to become a teacher because becoming a teacher isn't going to help them. So, does the degree have to be related to their job classification? Um, it just has to enhance their ability to do their job. Okay. So, you can you can get a a degree in social services but be the chief of police possibly. Yes. Okay.

All right. That that's all I needed clarification on. I thought I thought, you know, that it had to be specifically related to the technical abilities of you doing your job. Um because there was that word in there, employee technical job knowledge. So yeah, you know, getting a degree in something that's not related to the job that you're holding.

It seemed like it was a discrepancy to me. Council member, if I may clarify on that, typically for an employee tuition reimbursement, it's on in a per employee basis. Usually, when they submit in a tu tuition reimbursement agreement, they would put on there, what are they pursuing? And typically, what we can do then is ask them, okay, how is this then going to enhance your current jobs and provide those justifications? That's typically how we proceed on each one of the tuition reimbursement program. Okay. Yeah. All right. Thank you. That's it. So, so what's re to be to get a have a BS or a BA further education is to be a department head still that's still in there

for all department heads? Yes. Some mid managers? No. Okay. Is that a standard that's still taking place throughout cities? Do you know? I I see it with department heads, but I think in public safety there there may be some cases where it's not because I I just know in the in the private fields that's being taken away in a lot of a lot of companies are taking that away now. So I just something to consider.

Mayor, I've seen that. Um, so I know that there's at least for police officer, there is a law or a proposed law that may eventually come down the pipe to where police officer may be required to have a BS or BA. Um, that is coming down. Um, but yet it has not been passed yet. However, in some other MA mid-management level like Lucy mentioned, just to help us with recruitment purposes of some of those positions, rather than having as a minimum requirement, that is now listed as desired qualifications to where you don't have to fail them right up front when they apply. But you can determine those during the interview process to see if that going to elevate their skill to be able to do the technical job if it is technical require that degree. Okay. Chief, did you have some? No.

No. Okay. Uh yeah. And I've also seen where maybe it is required to be a department head but you can further education and work towards it within a time period two years to get it or something like that or experience can substitute for education. Very true. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions, comments? Well, this took a lot of work too. Yes.

This the housing element took a lot of work. So, bravo to to our staff. So, with that, I need a motion. Consider a motion for resolution 7016. I'm not sure how to include uh Mayor

Pro. I'll just I'll just read the numbers. I think I've already stated the corrections and so yeah. Okay. So, with that, uh, mayor, I'd like to make a, um, a motion to approve resolution 716 with the corrections to section 20005, Los Banos Parks and Recreation. um to make the park and wreck to be over the department uh over the commission and also for um it was 2004, 2005 and 2006. Okay. How did I lose those pages?

On page 551 and two

Oh, okay. And yes, I skipped over one. uh section uh 20004 the planning commission to change uh the commission from a seven member to five member and that uh the mayor's appointment is at large which is a two-year appointment and that each council member's district has a 4-year appointment and that's appointed by the council member. Um and then the other one was section 20007 the tree commission uh to change it from public works depart uh department director to park and rec wreck department director. I think those were it on I think those were the

yes corrections. Okay, I'll enter a second. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second resolution 7016 as stated. Any further questions or comments? All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you very much staff. Okay. Item 10 we've already done. We already took care of so we will move on to item 11, city department reports. We'll go back to Stacy, community economic development.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I do want to note we do have a public hearing um for Wednesday, uh, November 12th for North Point. Uh, it's a, uh, subdivision that the city's been working on with Stonefield Development for several years. Uh, but it's proposing about 543 single family units and it has a multifamily component within it. Um, it also has a dedication of 1 acre for a fire station and um 5 acres um for parkland and then it has a linear trail um along the canal. Uh that project will be coming to the planning commission next Wednesday at 6 PM. And then in addition to that, I would like to call up our housing um program manager uh Christy Mccameand um to give us a little update on um our housing program and all of the great uh victories uh with the housing division.

Thank you for being so courteous with waiting. We appreciate that.

My pleasure. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, city council, city manager, staff, and and beloved community members. Um I'm Christine McCammon for the record. I'm our housing program manager proudly, and I wanted to give a couple of updates on the One Tree permanent supportive housing um project. We are happy to report some progress and some victories. Um, I'd like to talk first of all about the real estate transaction that escrow is closing. That gives property ownership to the developer and that means that construction can really pick up. We've been working very diligently on the project. Um, and it doesn't mean that no work has occurred thus far, but now we can start to get equipment out and start to do some some um ground work. We are um expecting for that transaction to close here in the next week. All the signatures have been acquired. So, we're very excited. Um once that closes um we've got a um a groundbreaking ceremony that we are planning now. We are trying to schedule that for the week of the 17th. If um if Sarah Blevens hasn't gotten with you so far, we're going to try to coordinate schedules and make sure that everybody um can can join us. We're also reaching out to um Sydia and Cavayto as well as the uh principles from the Central California Alliance for Health. Of course, they are the grtors that gave us the beautiful $2.5 million to extend the project. So we want to make sure that all those very important people are there present at the groundbreaking. Um we are really deep in the permit process through the um public works division and also through planning and that's going really well. Um, I really am grateful for the multiddisciplinary team that has been working so well

together, so collaboratively so that when those permit packages came, um, they were expected and had even been discussed in in advance. That makes those processes a little bit easier. We're looking for the permitting processes um to come to their next benchmark on November 10th where our CSG provider um will be providing feedback to the developer for the um um mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits. Very excited about that. Um in the next month um our developer has said that they that he will probably be putting the deposit down on the actual housing units. So, that is just such an exciting moment. We're still looking about 12 to 18 months for lease ups and for moveins. That's giving our outreach coordinators and all of our community providers that we work with so closely time to get people connected with income and benefits um so that they can move into those rentals. Um we're having a lot of success. I want to share two victories that happened in the last 3 weeks. two people who were living in the encampment are now in their own apartments. One um also received full-time employment and she got that offer the same week that she got the approval for her apartment. So, two people that were in the encampment are now in their own homes. Um, of course, just as a reminder, we visit newly housed people once per week for up to 6 months. We sit down and have a cup of coffee with them. We make sure they're still connected to their goals and we still work on managing um paperwork for them so they still have access to food, nutrition, and other basic um life needs. Um I think that concludes my update. I'm so glad to be with you and I'm available for questions outside the

meeting. One of the comments that was made during the public forum. Yes. Um was why does it take so long? I'd May I answer that question? We know why, but you can answer it.

For for the record, this um subdivision is 58 homes um in uh a site where there is bare land. And so I can tell you I actually live in a single wide uh manufactured home very similar to the houses that we will make for our people. And it took me almost 2 years on a piece of bare land to place a unit very similar to what we're going to be placing. So we have to go through the due diligence that's really important to all residents of the city and to make it fair for all residents. also to make it fair for affordable housing developers. So the procurement processes as we learned with the audit, they can take months just for the procurement process. Also to create the agreements with the developer that are very careful. It took a lot of legal review and months of work to put that agreement together to make sure that we were good stewards of the city's land and that we're good stewards of the grant money that came to us so generously. And then in addition, building takes a while, even with modulars. We'll also have to take into account that we want to make sure people can be with their families during the holidays. It's very important. And that we'll run into some weather. And so just like any other development, we wish it could happen faster, but if it happened faster, it may not be fair. It may not be diligent, and it may not be safe. So that's why we want to make sure we're fair.

I wish it was faster. I got more of a comment. I just want to say, you know, good job. I know when I stopped in to visit with you, you had made comment about you found new landlords that were willing to work with you and take the certificates and, you know, with section 8 and all that. So that's good progress. landlord engagement. Yes. I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, I'm just saying that I I know it's not easy trying to get someone to, you know, to to rent and uh so that's that's good. It's good news. Thank you. Thank you. Well, I appreciate your time. We appreciate you very much. Thank you. Have a good evening.

That it Stacy or you have more? Okay, with that, uh, let's see, we'll go to finance. Minnie,

good evening, mayor. Um, just wanted to give you an update, um, on a couple of audits. Um, our regular city audit is going very, very well. Um, we had auditors for their final fieldwork yesterday and today. And so, we're very happy. We're going to be um, completing the audit by December 31st. Last audit was completed in June um, of this year. So, we're we're really on top of it and and and and doing good headway. Um we haven't had any issues. So, um it's going very well. Uh we also are doing headway on the specialized audit. Um we have a selection list and we're working with the auditors to upload all the documentation required and that's also due by the end of um December. So, we will have that to you um completed with our auditors Harshaw company and CPAs. Um we're also doing interviews. Uh we did interviews today for an accountant 2 position. We're very excited to be able to get full staffed. Um we have an accounting clerk one starting on Monday. And so what once we have the accountant too then finance will be full staffed and and we'll be able to complete everything that that we need to do um moving forward. And um I do want to praise staff of they've worked really hard um with all the audits that we have going on and now with the addition of the of the ped um really good good staff and making sure those those things get moving along

and uh thank you. And I the special audit is audits that the council requested correct? Yes, that's the specialized audit for this capital projects. Yes, capital projects from the past. Okay. Thank you very much, Mayor. Yeah, I think there was one other one we did a toot tax audit and I I think we did a uh we had a company that did a toot tax audit for, but it was just a percentage of of the businesses that they audited, but it's my understanding that we were going to move forward to do all of the uh most

So, we we have a contract um an annual contract um with the company and um we're going to do the remaining of the um hotels and the toot and that will be coming after we finish our our regular audit. Okay, great. So toot is transit occupancy taxes on hotel stays. Just going to clar clarify that. And let's see, we'll go to fire chief. You have anything to report? Uh nothing new to report. Okay, thank you and thanks for your help tonight and human resources. Lucy, anything to report? Okay. Parks and wreck. Joe's he did he run out of town or what?

He's out of training. He's recovering. Oh, he's still working. He's out of training. I thought he was getting therapy. I don't know. So, okay. Well, Joe will be back here at the next meeting. He does a great job. Uh, police chief, I'm sure you have a few things.

Hello again, Mayor Council. Uh, a couple items. Um, I know it's late, so I'll try to go fast. Um, there's been uh I think a little bit of a request for an update on the homeless encampment. Um, it's not really exciting, but I'll I'll do my best to uh bring you up to speed. So, as you all know, about the first week of June is when we set everything in motion, got some staff together. We had some a plan and some equipment in place. Uh we removed the encampment after providing notice uh providing items to help um the uh the unhoused store their belongings and um we put together a number of um all weather tents and uh as of today we have about 90 tents out there. We have um about 95 or so um unhoused people who are living on G Street. Um, so, uh, takes a lot of work on the police, code enforcement, and, uh, public works side. Uh, we're out there every single day. We're out there at night. The site is monitored, um, from about 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. through a company that we have monitoring and and cameras. We also have our own cameras monitoring the site. Um, there was a question about um, calls for service and, uh, potentially fires. Um we did have one tent that did catch fire. Um and then there have been other calls of warming fires and other things and trash burning. Um those types of calls have gone down significantly since we have um put together this model uh prior uh to the way it is now. It was completely out of control. It was very hard to manage. As of today, I would say that um it is much safer. It makes it much easier for uh Christy and her staff, uh Stacy staff, also all the outreach uh

entities, um some of the faith faith-based groups that go out there and and provide resources. Um we still say uh we believe we have about 95% of our homeless in one location. Um we do still deal with some that move around town and we address those issues as they come up. Um but for the most part um all of I would say about 95% of our homeless are in one location. We've had a number of both county agencies, agencies from other cities, other groups come to Losanis interested in what we're doing and they tour it with us and they're amazed at they have no idea how we pulled something like this off. But it's only due to the staff and all the work. Um we work very well together at the city of Los Banos, code enforcement, police, fire, public works, parks. Um all the staff uh they do a a great job and we have the support of our council and our city manager also. Um so not too much more on that other than um we're again the promise was that we're going to try to hold this thing together. So gives you all time to come up with more solutions. Um, we are still working on a few other things with housing because the weather is changing and so we're working on those and we'll bring those forward as well. Just a quick reminder also that um from November 1st to I believe December 10th uh we are in our 12th year our annual food drive. So we raise um we we put this together and we um we gather a lot of food for our food bank. So would like to say about 5 days in, we've gathered probably about 6 to 7,000. We took a huge donation today from um both of our high schools. So a big thanks and we are in the process of making arrangements to offload uh those items what we've collected so far to um

our food banks in Los Bano. So we've already made contact with them. Generally, in years before, we waited till the very end. We're doing it now as we get it just to help with what's going on in Los Banos. Um, another reminder, the uh police officer association is selling tickets. As many of you know, one of my police officers is dealing with a um a really hard emergency in his life involving his young child. So, those are available at the police department at the event is, I believe, going to be on Monday the 10th, and it's a it's a dinner. And then the last thing I have is um I believe that this is your last meeting until the new city manager, city attorney starts. And so I know that you're going to be around for a little bit longer. Um, but I just want to let you know that uh I appreciate everything you've done uh back in 2010 when I got promoted and I had no idea what I was doing and I was working on um projects and Chief Greezy for those of you who know he loves to give the work and he and and he expects a lot and um and that was good and we worked on a lot of really cool things over the years and you were a very good teacher and you've been a good friend and I appreciate you. So, uh, thank you, Mr. Vaughn. And don't be a stranger. I'm sure after a few weeks, you'll get bored and you'll be sitting back here during council meetings.

That's all I have, mayor. Thank you. Twilight, I have a couple of questions. Chief, um, the fundraiser, uh, the food drive, do you have a drop off box at the police department? Is it in the lobby or Yes, it's in the lobby. Okay. And then uh Mechanics Bank is going to have a barrel. I think we're going to get one out there tomorrow. Okay. And then the fundraiser for your officer, I know there was, you know, like some, for lack of words, like a credit thing on on the um brochure that you could I don't do those things. So, can can you guys take a check?

So, uh police officers association. I'm just bringing it up because it's I think it's it's a it's a worthy event. But yeah, we'll we'll we'll get you take care. Okay. All right. Chief, is that a takeout, too? Cuz it's a whole Yes. Is a takeout. Yes. Yeah. Thank you very much for all your work. We really appreciate what the encampment, all the staff does in the encampment. And I'll be coming with I got a few more ideas. So, I'll be Sounds great. Being a thorn in your side for a while. We're ready. Thank you very much. Public works. William, welcome to the table. Yes.

Thank you, Mayor uh city council. I'm still I'm still uh settling in a little bit. Um Joe left me a lot of work. I thought he got it all done, but he didn't. Um but I just have a few quick updates and um these will probably get lengthier as we go along. Um just a reminder, fall leaf pickup is going to start uh start up pretty soon. It it usually just depends on the weather when the leaves start falling. And all of those all of those leaves that are picked up um are taken to the landfill and dumped but then hauled to a composting facility, a certified organic composting facility that then comes back to the city to the residents in the bags of of um organic compost that are given away um through Mid Valley Disposal. So that's uh it it all gets recycled. you can put it back around your trees and then it'll make more leaves and fall back down and the cycle continues, right? Um and then uh associated with that, that's usually the day before your garbage day is the regular route. Now, public works goes where the leaves are really heavy more often than that where there's larger um older trees. Um but uh generally the day before your garbage day, then it's garbage day and then sweepers is your day after your garbage day. The sweeper comes by. So just a reminder to pull your cans back in off of the street. Um after your garbage day, so the sweeper can get by and do do a good job, do a better job. Um, uh, we had, uh, some interviews for ECS, environmental control specialist, which is a wastewater treatment plant operator. We made a conditional offer, so we're looking to fill one of those positions. Um, we have some part-time interviews for maintenance workers tomorrow, I believe. And then we're trying to schedule some some utility maintenance

worker positions next week. So, we're making some progress on on some of those positions. Uh, city manager and I have had a couple of conversations about some other positions, so we're working towards those that need to be filled. We had three preconstruction meetings since I've been here. Today's my eighth day, so those things are moving forward. We got lots of projects going on. Uh, quick update on the Ortigalita Road Pioneer. the um I think there was some discussion about the delays for the signal light poles. So, it was going to be a four-way stop. It may still be a four-way stop, but the poles did come in um earlier than expected. So, the poles are there. Now, we just have to make sure we have the heads, we have the electricity, and all of that. So, but that's good news that those came in early because those can take a long time. And then finally, I would like to say um Stacy mentioned in her her um very short brief presentation without much information in it that we got lucky because of the general plan. I it's not I don't it's not luck. It's that's good planning. That's how that was all built into our general plan and why we're so far ahead of the curve. So, uh good job, Stacy.

And that's all I have. Great. Thank you. Great. first report. Thank you. And now we'll turn to our city manager report on.

Good evening, mayor and council. Um the first item on the report there is for the um um regarding the executive compensations. That's on item uh 12A. Um the first one is for the police chief. Um, so prior to my time on January 27, 2025, um, based upon an annual performance review by acting city manager Breezy, the police chief's salary will be increased to $18,11 monthly um, for a total of $216,000, $132 to $216,132 annually effective November 1st, 2025. Um, the second executive will be for the park and Rex director. So again, on October 27, um city manager Breezy completed the annual performing um evaluations and um the park and recck director salary will be increased to $13, um $18 monthly uh or $156,216 annually effective November 16, 2025. Um, in additions to that report, um, I do want to to remind council that even though we just came back from the one voice trips, um, we are planning for next year one voice trips and the due date for the delegates for that is December uh, 1st. Um, so next council meeting on uh, November 19, I will bring back some options and alternative on policy platform as well. I will be asking council to nominate delegates to be going to the one voice trip for next year. Um, as discussed at MCAG, there will be an additional day, an additional meeting at Washington DC itself. Um, so it's most likely going to be taking the entire week um in May when that time come. Um, since Joe is not here today, I do want to um um announce some of the public hearing or public meeting that he will be conducting next week. So on November 13 uh at starting at 5:30 at the community center um we'll be doing a

public meetings to um get inputs on the pump track project as well as the South Point Park project. And both of these project will have two public uh um input meeting uh ones on again at at um November 13 at 5:30 um and also on Saturday, November 15 at 12:00 p.m. Both will be at the community center location. Um otherwise it is my third day here. Um so um thank you council for the opportunity to be back home in those banners. Um I am very excited to work with very very capable and dedicated department head and city staff. So um it's like drinking from the um fire hydrants in the last two days but um it is a lot of exciting stuff and as William mentions there's a lot of progress and project that are going to be put forth before you. So um we're looking forward to execute on on those plan that you guys adopted. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. Good first report. We'll go to our council members. Uh Misty is absent, so we'll go to Evan, District 2. Uh I will try to keep this very brief. Um generally, thank you very much to staff, to everybody. I'm not going to call anybody out by name because I'll forget people, but I'm just continually impressed by how well everybody here does their job. And just thank you so much. It's particularly it's impressive. It's really fun to work with people who know what they're doing and and take take pride in their work. Um, other than that, uh, if anybody in this town still says there's nothing to do, I'm not sure what what they're if they're even trying because there is so much going on. I think I've been to like five events in the last couple weeks and I missed probably 15 of them. I think there was a trunk or treat every day for seven days leading up to Halloween. It was pretty crazy keeping the dentist in business in town. Um, and yeah, that's pretty I' I'd like to hear um else still here. So, I'd like to hear more people about the the hens because I'm I I support that. I've been waiting for somebody to bring it up because I think it'd be cool to have an ordinance for that. I'd like to hear from from more people. If if people want to come to to council meetings and and start a movement towards that, that'd be cool. Part of it for me is that there's so many roosters in my neighborhood. like to get some something around that, but I think doing them both at the same time makes a lot of sense. There's one particular rooster that never stops and it's getting old. Uh, and then I was going to ask William if you know anything about Danzaway and what the status is on that, but I won't hold you to actually knowing anything since it's your day. I can wait till the next meeting.

I know I know a little bit about it. I there have been some meetings and some discussions about Deansza way and and with another project that's going on in the general area. Uh I don't think we have a finalized plan yet and not a lot of movement but um we're work we're working towards it. Continually working towards it. Okay. Thank you. Um council member, we'll get back on you to you on the next report just because there is um ongoing coordination with Cal Rams right now on the permitting portion. So, we want to make sure we get those information to you before we make the report. Thank you, Evan. Marcus, District 3.

Yeah, like Evan said, you Evan said, thank you to the staff. You guys do amazing work. Thank you very much to all of you. Um, I also want to welcome again William and Neon. Welcome. You guys just started and you guys are hit the ground running, which is fantastic. Um, they brought up, you know, something about the MacArthur apartment. So, I'm not sure what, you know, what we can do on that. So, I kind of going to kick that over to you. I don't need to answer now, but if we can see, you know, what are the concerns there, which they told us, but, you know, what what can we do? Um, veterans parade, that was great. That was great turnout. Um, you know, so that's that's a lot of participation by the bands and that was uh fantastic. Um, you know, like Kevin said, there's a lot of things to do in this town. Can't get to everything. There's a lot. Um, yeah, and you're I'm looking at your sheet right now, parks and wreck, and you're reading off like, man, there's even more stuff to do. There's a lot. But, uh, no, that's good stuff there. And, uh, you know, once again, uh, I want to finish off by just thanking Gary Breezy for everything he did for the city and everything he's done for everybody that's here. Um, you know, he was great to work with. And uh once again, you know, thank you to uh to Gary. All right. Thanks,

you Marcus. Mayor Prom Debor.

Thank you, Mayor. And um I have a um uh email that I received from uh Sanwaqin Air Quality Control District, um which they are recommending to the public to improve our winter quality air uh for our residents by avoiding wood burning this winter. and using cleaner alternatives as much as possible uh due to the PM2.5 which are the pollutants of fine particles that are produced by uh uh fires burned in a fireplace. Um the period of time that uh they're recommending for no wood burning in fireplaces or stoves would be November 1st through the end of February is the protected period of time. There are grants available um some based on income qualification and some just for everyday regular people to help you transition from a wood burning fireplace to a gas insert or electric. So that there are funds available to help purchase those items uh if you need the help or would like to help. Um it's been a little while since I've been here and so uh I want to thank the city for uh making it possible for me to attend the League of Cities. Um there were some interesting classes that um I attended and one was about council meetings and so uh there was a lot of discussion in regards to that. Uh this last meeting that I missed uh was as a result of attending the um annual retreat for uh Valley Air District and there were as usual multiple subjects around um uh finances which are going on regarding the state and the federal government. We had state firefighters there. We had federal forest firefighters there uh educating

us on what the latest things that they're doing to mitigate all the underbrush that's been laying there for years that probably are taller than I am and uh the dead vegetation. Uh we did have a tour the first day of a bofuel plant um that's right up there by um uh gosh, where did I write it down here? Bass Lake. Uh, and this fuel bio plant should be coming online sometime in December. And they've already been shipping up uh uh tree particles from the fires down south, anything that's going to be happening here in the central valley area. And this bio plant will be incinerating all of those chips and turning it into energy and selling it back to PG&. So there doesn't really seem to be much controversy from the public about this type of bio plant because it doesn't produce any uh bad uh bad uh fumes or uh uh PM2.5 or all the other bad things that go out into the atmosphere. So it it's it's a positive positive thing. And so it's going to help get rid of all of those trees that were in the fire um down in Southern California as well as what's being dealt with in our state forestry department. So I I would assume if this becomes successful, there'll be other bofuel plants that are that will be erected here in California to take care of that that problem. Um welcome uh Mr. Vi and welcome to our new city manager. Uh look forward to working with both of you and um we had a long meeting tonight but it was a good meeting. Thank you mayor.

Thank you. Um the I'm going to sort of cut it short too but I just want to announce that thanks to the air quality board and board that mayor prom's on. We had received a grant for our off for our chambers here, our council chambers. And after the first of the year, you'll be able to uh not only watch us on TV, but send us information and actually interact with with the city clerk during meetings. Uh this is something that's being required by the state and so we'll be getting on board of that probably early next year sometime. So, I'm looking forward to that. It'll be probably another screen I have to handle. And so, but Lucy's going to take care of it, I think. Right. So, so I'll rely on her. So, um, let's see. With that, I've been invited to tour Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. So, I'm looking forward to that. I've always wanted to get inside that plant and take a look. So, that's in December. and I'll give a report after. If I'm not glowing, I'll get with with nuclear fallout radiation. I'll I'll be coming back and making a report on that. So, I do appreciate everybody that spoke this evening. It's a long meeting, but we had a lot of participation and we we we respect everybody and we want to hear everybody's concerns and we want to make sure you know where we're coming from and also the process. Some government can be very frustrating. And as you see, city government works the fastest, then this county works slower, then a state works slower, and you can tell federal is almost standill. And it is standstilling now. Standing still now. So anyway, with that, I appreciate

everybody. Our next meeting will be in two weeks. And uh I know Bill this he's going to be gone a little bit, but I think we're going to see you back in December, right, Bill? So, he's going to make a little return visit uh planned time. So, it's not quite saying goodbye to Bill, but with that, this meeting is adjourned. Mayor, yes. I just want to say shop spar smart and support. There you go, man. I forgot it is.