City Council - Regular Meeting

We will call this special meeting of the January 28th, 2026 city council to order. Let the record reflect that all council members that were present earlier except for council member Trembley um are here and we have a close session item. Madame city attorney. Yes. Thank you mayor and council. We have one item on the agenda pursuant to government code section 54956.9D1 and it's the OPV coalition uh matter versus Fox Canyon. And if there's any reportable action, I can make that report. Thank you very much. We will recess until 5:00 pm to close session.

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the Cameo City Council, the Cameo Sanitation District, the CLB, the SA, the IDA, the PFA, and the CCIC for January 28th, 2026. I'm going to ask Council Member Santangelo to lead us in the pledge. Please stand. [clears throat] Hand over heart. Ready, begin. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]

Thank you, Susan. Uh, are there any changes to the agenda? I'd like to also comment that all of the members of the council are present except for Mr. Trembley who is on his way here from another meeting. At this time, we will make a presentation to Ventura County Food Share, but I'm going to read it from the dis and then invite you up here. Last October, the city council approved a $70,000 allocation to food share of Ventur County specifically for food assistance to Cameo residents, CSU Channel Island students, Sus Ranch residents with no distinction made in terms of immigration status. The city of Camrio prioritizes collaboration with trusted community partners that deliver measurable local impact. Food Share of Ventura County is one such partner with strong strong connections to local agencies, grocery stores, volunteers, and food pantries serving the city of Camaro and its surrounding areas. Ventura County Food Share serves more than 250,000 residents each year. It works to support approximately 7,800 residents through 13 local pantries here in Camaro, providing food assistance and it reaches pe people efficiently and with dignity. Food share's coordinated approach allows resources to be used responsibly and kept focused on local needs. This partnership was demonstrated during the emergency food collection at city hall this past December when community donations were quickly delivered to residents who needed them most. On behalf of the city of Camrio and the entire council, we would like to thank food chair of Ventura County for your continu continued work in supporting our

residents and strengthening our community. Now, if you'd be so kind as to meet me up here, I'd appreciate that. Um, they might want to say something. I'm sure Jennifer will have something to say. Hi, Monica. Good to see you.

How are you?

Oh, I probably should. Can you hear me now? Once again, um, thank you food share for everything you do, not just in Camaro and the surrounding area, but throughout the entire county. I would urge anyone that has not visited Food Share's facilities to set up a tour. It's amazing the number of volunteers they have and the tons of food that get processed probably almost daily. So, thank you very much. And on behalf of the city, I know you already got the real check, but we'd like to have you get the fake check. So, photos.

Monica, I'll let you have the first. I was I was gonna do it. [laughter]

I'll hold on for you. Thank you, Mayor Tennyson. This is absolutely incredible, council. I just absolutely adore you. As as a resident of the city of Camaro, this is extra meaningful. As Mayor Tennyson mentioned, food share feeds 250,000 Ventura County residents on an annual basis, just under 8,000 of those here in the city of Camaro. So, this is really meaningful to those residents that we're serving right here in our local community. And food share can take the dollar that much further. So, for every dollar donated to food share, we can take uh and buy $5 worth of food. So, this is a significant investment in making sure that Ventura County and the city of Camaro is fed um all year round. So, this is uh on behalf of uh my CEO, my COO, our board of directors, just a huge thank you to the city for making this happen.

Thank you. Any council member comments, [applause] vice mayor,

just a super big thank you. Uh I know how hard you work and especially executive director, so much work happening behind the scenes. all of staff and I've had the opportunity to tour um motivating so many volunteers is amazing just the entire uh project and the love that goes into doing everything. So on behalf of the city, um we're just I mean I know when we had that motion come to the city and we expanded um the the funding that went from 50 to 70 and expanded the service not only to Camaro but to the residents impacted um by immigration enforcement. Uh expanding that to Som Ranch farm workers and to the CSUCI students uh just I think it's it was the right move. So thank you for for providing and doing that hard work. really appreciate it.

I'm just gonna add on um Council Member Trembley isn't here, but he would say ditto. [snorts] Ditto.

Yeah, I do want to [clears throat] ditto. Then I want to thank all of your efforts and everybody out here that makes it happen. you know, we we all know food insecurity is a is a major issue and it affects all of us in a lot of different ways here. So, you're one organization that's doing more than your part, if not totally your part, and trying to alleviate some of that. and and uh I can reasonably with certainty say that all of the residents in Camaro are very very supportive of what you do and you will continue to do that. So I'm I'm really happy we could do a little small part with us and try to make the job tiny tiny bit easier. But uh keep up the good work. It really it it doesn't go unnoticed and it's very much needed. Thank you very much. [clears throat]

[clears throat] Okay, I'm going to exercise the mayor's prerogative and take something out of order. Um, Vice Mayor Martinez Bravo has a request to adjourn in the memory of a local resident. So, if you want to start, Marta.

Uh, thank you, Mayor. So yes, um we typically do this at the end of a meeting, but what I am requesting is to adjourn in honor of Hayden Fischer Miller. Uh and we're going to learn more about who he was. Um and Mr. David Tennyson actually also served in the military as did Hayden. and Hayden's family is actually here today and we wanted to honor him today in this way. Um, so David, if you can begin speaking about him and then I will follow.

I can I just want to extend my heartfelt sympathy for the family. Um, I have such tremendous pride in the young men and women that voluntarily put on the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. We have had an all volunteer force since the early 70s. So that means every young man and every young woman or even some old ones with gray hair that you see wearing a uniform volunteered to put themselves in harmway for all of us. So tremendous respect to the family, tremendous respect to Hayden for his volunteerism by joining the military. Hayden is the beloved and beautiful son of Calvin and Laura Reie Miller. He grew up in Camaro. He ended up um hiking with friends, made films, traveled to Ecuador, the Galopagos, Thailand, Vietnam, Europe on and yearly trips to Big Bear. He was offered several scholarships and decided to attend the UN uh Indiana University, earned a degree in criminal justice before he joined, and again I say joined, not conscripted, but joined the United States Army. After boot camp, he completed officer candidate school, then infantry school at Fort Moore, Georgia, becoming a first lieutenant. He went on to Ranger school and earned the esteemed and coveted Ranger Tab. During this time, he forged a lasting friendship and bond with fellow officer Tom Hurst. They served together at Fort Bragg, Fort Moore, and later at Fort Bliss, Texas. Hayden became a platoon leader and also worked logistics. [clears throat] After completing his army service, Hayden made the brave choice to support the people of Ukraine in their fight

against aggression. On October 9th, he gave his life in that service. Hayden was a beautiful soul, levelheaded, kind, generous, and funny. He loved his family deeply. He was a devoted younger brother to Calvin and shared a close bond with his cousins, Alex, Becca, [snorts] and Nick, who felt like another brother. He spent summers working at the family business. Cal Coast Plumbing, where his presence brought joy to every job site. Laura will cherish her memories of trips to Wyoming, Montana, and Utah with Hayden. CJ will cherish the many fishing trips with Hayden, Grandpa Cal, and friends to Alaska, Panama, Mexico, and Florida. Hayden loved animals, especially dogs. And after volunteering at the Camrio Animal Shelter, he adopted his loyal pug, Gus. [snorts] In lie of flowers, donations may be ba made to the Camrio Animal Shelter. We believe this would have made him very happy. Hayden is survived by his parents Calvin Miller and Laura Miller, his brother Calvin Miller, his grandfather Calvin Miller Jr., his grandmother Sharon me Rassie, his aunt Lisa Johnston, Johnny, his cousins Alexandra Smith, Rebecca Smith, Scott Cameron, Nick Bounce, and Kelly me. He was preceded in death by his beloved papa Charles Rasi. And I also extend my condolences to the family. I think as a mother

the most terrifying thing that I could imagine is losing a child. And unfortunately the parents are living that terror and that nightmare now. and I share my grief with you. I'm so sorry he's no longer here. Do know that through his relationships and the love that he had for humanity, he continues to live on here in the city and throughout the world. I thank him for his bravery, for promoting justice in every step of the way, and for even giving up his life for that. May God bless you, every single one of you, the families who is here, and I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Thank you.

Thank you very much. We come to the time for general public comments for items not on the agenda. Madame clerk.

Yes. Currently at this time I showed that we have nine speakers and I'm just going to read a little bit about the the general public comment rules. Per city council policy 1.05. Each speaker is limited three minutes. The city council will receive general public comment for a maximum of 20 minutes, which typically allows for up to seven speakers. Speakers who sign up during the 20 minute public comment period, but are not heard within that time will be given an opportunity to speak following the completion of action on all other agenda items. The city council may not take action on matters raised during general public comment, but may briefly respond, seek clarification, or refer matters to staff as permitted by government code section 54954.3. Your time will be displayed with a video on the displays up here. And when your time is up, the microphone will be muted and then we'll move on to the next speaker. So I'm going to call up the first person and indicate who the second two the second and third people will be. So our first person is going to be Patty Braa and then after Patty will be Joseph Dinski and Cleotali. So Patty if you want to come on up.

Welcome.

Thank you. Um thank you Mayor Tennyson uh Camo City Council members. My name is Patty Braa. I ser I have the pleasure of serving as the executive director of Ventura County Leadership Academy. VCLA's mission is to connect people and issues to strengthen our county. We do that by bringing together a diverse network of leaders from the business, education, nonprofit, and public sectors. Over a nine-month program, we hear from subject matter experts on the complex issues impacting our community. We build relationships and understanding between cohorts and throughout our vast alumni network, many of them in this room, so that we can all work together across all industries in all areas of the county to make our community the best it can be. We are now in our 31st year and we have over 890 alumni. I wanted to take a moment and share with you our 23rd annual journey to leadership award honores for 2026. This year's honores include our business leader of the year, Nick Dich, principal architect at RRM design group. Our educational leader of the year is Dr. Cynthia Herrera, vice chancellor for institutional effectiveness with the Ventura County Community College District. Our notfor-profit leader of the year is Robin Britt, executive director for community conscience. Our public sector leader of the year is Mark Stadler, senior program administrator for the crisis intervention training program with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. And our alumni of the year is Danielle Boura, president and CEO of the Greater Kaneo Valley Chamber of Commerce. This is your formal invitation to join [clears throat] us at the lunchon on Thursday, April 30th, beginning at

11:30, hosted right here in Kimaro. You can learn more by visiting our website or please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, next person is Joseph. [snorts] Welcome.

Good evening. My name is Joseph Duzinski Jr. I'm a resident of Camaro and I spend my mornings outside of Cortez Circle tracking raid activity. I missed y'all last time. I was too busy training over 250 people in Santa Barbara to get involved with this effort because other people can't or won't. For statistics, uh, in during in the 805 Tri County area, 1,534 people at least have been abducted by ICE. Uh, 817 of those are from Ventura County and 444 have been taken within Camaro. That's over 50% of the Ventura County total. Imagine my surprise this week when I opened up the VC Star and saw an op-ed from Mayor Tennyson uh saying the same things that we've been saying for months. Um which is nothing new actually. Uh Ventura County has been experiencing harassment, doxing, instigation, brutality, rammed with cars, flashbang, tear gas, and murder by ICE within our community. I guess it took a couple of people being gunned down in Minneapolis to actually start uh waking up to what's going on. So, I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you're seeing the brutality that this lawless administration has started to have and I hope you'll do more as a city council to protect us. Um, the only thing I didn't agree with is why people are having trouble [cough] trusting law enforcement with ICE. It's not just ICE's actions that are making it hard to trust because law enforcement has remained neutral while ICE has continued its reign of terror throughout the county. Because law enforcement officers won't investigate the many claims that we have brought to city council and county boards within Ventura County. Because the sheriff spoke at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, who hated immigrants and willingly collaborates with and the sheriff willingly collaborates with ICE and has spent months passing along their lives without investigation while downplaying their actions as just guys doing a job. Because when we report crimes by ICE to local law enforcement, they don't actually show up or do any investigation. But when ICE reports a crime, three units show up to question our volunteers outside a Cortez circle.

Because when I provide photographic evidence and precise details of lawbreaking happening with the county, Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Camo Police Department will not respond. I am still waiting for a call back from Deputy Bordon. [snorts] As such, words and opinions without actions are meaningless. And as such, I want you to really reconsider the immigrant stakeholders committee we've been trying to get established within Camaro as part of the city council here. the same way Oxnard has, the same way Santa Paula has, the same way more park is now getting going, and the same uh thing that Filillmore after last night's uh city council meeting is considering. If you don't want to be a part of this discussion in supporting the undocumented community, that's fine. We can't wait for you guys to actually do something or take action outside of food going to food share for everyone, not just the undocumented community. So if you don't want to be a part of this conversation, we're going to start an immigration stakeholders roundt within Camaro and we'll work around you guys and we'll figure out how we can support this community because y'all aren't doing it. Thank you.

Okay, our next person is Clea Thally. After Cleo will be Spencer Richie and after Spencer will be Bev Dansfelt. [snorts]

Um, hello. My name is Clea Thally and um I'm here today to ask the city council to vote to terminate the contract with Flock and cover any cameras currently deployed within the city until they can be removed. If the council does not want to discuss further on the issue today, I request an open public hearing be scheduled similar to what was held in Santa Cruz on the January 13th, which would allow true public commentary and transparency on this taxpayer funded and unapproved liability. Several flock cameras are easily found online with publicly accessible live feeds with 30 days searchable footage. No login required. These are open IP addresses. Um, these new cameras that have been installed in Camrio are located next to our public schools and private schools um with the um playground grounds clearly visible in the camera feed. Um this is in violation of the our privacy laws and exposes our children to um the internet in terms of what they um can be accessible. Safe uh flock cameras pose an unacceptable risk to our community privacy, safety, and civil liberties. Flock cameras and automated license plate plate readers are used by California police and in cooperation with ICE and federal agents to clearly conduct unconstitutional immigration enforcement activities across straight state lines in violation of California's privacy laws. They have been used by law enforcement officers to track people, vulnerable people um with health care issues, with the idea of charging them with the

crime, to track exromantic partners, and to stalk people for personal reasons. Uh recent audits of data have confirmed as well as national reporting that have shown the information is not just um accessible by police departments nationwide but homeland security and other agencies. We are quickly becoming a mass surveillance nation. Is this what we really want? Independent research has uncovered dozens of serious um security vulnerabilities that have allow access to live feeds unencrypted data. no security whatsoever. And by the way, the recent current terms and conditions by Flock Safety have now said that the data in those camera systems belongs to them in perpetuity. So I would ask these cameras be covered as soon as possible and the contracts terminated and that you hold a public hearing as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Spencer and Dr. Spence is Spencer is Bev Dansfeld and then Nicole Ren. Hello, this I'm Spencer Richie. Um I have quite a few things to say. So, the first um thing is that I for some reason um on your sign up to public comment thing out in the front, there was an option to sign up to public comment on the on the food chair check presentation, I noticed and I signed up to to do that to comment on that and I noticed you skipped you skipped public comment on that over. So I don't know why that was an option if that was your plan. Um, and then the second thing I am seconding the whole you need to get rid of the flock aler cameras because again why why you you put you're feeding us to ICE police departments across the whole country and you know bad actors from every single stripe on a silver platter because again that's what these flocker cameras do because literally anyone everyone can look at their footage from the past 30 days. And then and also you you you you I I've noticed you still make a huge point of being physically responsible. Renting 25 al a whopping 25 alper cameras when Oxnard, a city that is multiple times their size, only has 19. That is not phys physically responsible on your part. And then trans going into

what I actually submitted in my in my written public comment this afternoon. No, nobody was pointing against your heads to rent a whopping 25 flock aler cameras to cover a town that is a fraction of the size of the neighboring city with only 19 flock aler cameras. [snorts] like that, you know, multiple people have told you that, you know, you can prove by looking it up online with at, you know, reliable sources that, you know, flock all camera footage is accessible by ice. Um and it's there it's a huge you know the and like notably that and you're not at least commissioning studies to look at the possibility of the city switching from contracting with the openly collaborationist VCSO for law enforcement and instead going to its own in-house PD that does not collaborate with ICE and you know not doing even the slightest steps that you can against ICE. That is tacid approval of ICE. That is tacitly agreeing with what ICE is doing. You are all bunch of traders who like ICE. Thank you. Have a nice day.

Okay. Next we have Bev Dansfelt and after Bev is Nicole Ren and after Nicole is Bob Garcia.

Good evening again, council members. Um, I I think it's important to express gratitude where gratitude is due. Um, so, Mayor Tennyson, I do want to thank you for your comments in the op- ed. Um, it it's an important stance and it's important for people to hear that from you as well. I also want to express gratitude for the funding that did go to food share. And and with that being said, um I do find it interesting that um you know, the immigration standpoint is is brought up in in these statements up here um publicly um I don't feel and I can be corrected on this um that it's available, you know, that's not in the press release sort of thing. So the reason why this was pushed forward was for advocacy from 805 and docu and many other volunteers that are supporting the immigrant um community. And I I bring that up because, you know, it's a significant investment in our community. And it could have been an even more significant investment. And uh Mayor Tennyson, uh Council Member Trembley, I appreciate you taking the time after one of the meetings to explain to me that with VCCF, um it was a con because of policy that it was considered a pass through. Um I I think that is something that could have also been explained to um to understand that and that's also something that could have been changed prior to if that was such a concern. So even the 50 grand that was originally proposed could have gone even further than the 70 grand to make it $100,000. And as we know every dollar that is spent is $5, you know. So again, just when we're talking about fiscal responsibility, that is where the disappointment is held. And again, we're not asking for a million dollars. All I'm asking for, all we're asking for is an immigration stakeholders meeting. This goes back to

some of the goals and objectives that were presented earlier today. Um when it looks at trust um which uh vice mayor Dr. Dr. Martinez Bravo brought up that has eroded um and it's happened on every single level of local government um of every layer of government from local to national um so building that trust. We're looking at forums. This is an opportunity again this discussion of three minutes at a time every couple of weeks. Um I do want to touch on the public comment portion now that it's 20 minutes. I'm not sure if that's previous policy that wasn't um before. I'm I'm seeing a nod from Mayor Tennyson um again being very forthcoming because about that because right now it seems like it's a retaliation of the number of public comments that are coming. I appreciated that former mayor Kildy um allowed everyone to speak and I understand if it goes towards afterwards but I know with Oxnard City Council often what they do is move to extend that time. So I hope that the council also um does that in practice if that policy change. Thank you.

Okay. Now we have Nicole Ren and after Nicole Ren is Bob Garcia and Blanca Oak. Madame Clerk, I'd just like to recognize that Council Member Trebley is now present. If I may, for the record, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I sit on the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board of directors. We had a lengthy qua adjudicatory hearing this afternoon that concluded at 4:47 p.m. So, I apologize for being late, but that's why I'm late. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Tennyson, and members of the council. My name is Nicole Raiden, and I am a Camaro resident. I've come again today to voice my continued concern about the immigration enforcement that's happening in our community and to ask that city council take decisive and immediate action. I want to use my voice to remind our leaders that the issue of immigration is still critically important and very urgent. The people of our city are being deeply affected by this issue. Earlier this week, a friend reached out to me. Um, she and her family live overseas and run a social enterprise business in a developing nation. She reached out to me um because she was unsure whether or not it was safe for her family to come home uh because she has darker skin than I do. Uh she said from this side of the world it looks pretty intense. Honestly, I'm a bit scared to come home. Scared to come home. Home here to Camaro. It was difficult to answer her. I tried to answer candidly. Yes, the political climate and immigration enforcement is intense and scary. It's not just happening in big cities. Um, but it's happening here as well. Um, the numbers that I have are actually outdated just cuz I pulled them the other day. It's now over 700 people have been taken from Ventura County and over 440 of those were taken in Camaro. But I was also able to share with my friend that there are pockets of hopefulness in community members that are taking action, working to protect our neighbors. People stepping up in our city to care for one another. [snorts] People are uh people from my church recently banded together to were able to help provide diapers for a local family where both parents were taken and three toddlers were left behind. While I was able to share about community members taking action, I did

not have much to point to from the leadership of our city, nothing to point to her that is from the officials in charge that say we as your city council want you to feel safe. We want we here's what we have to say about what's going on or here's what we're going to do. I do appreciate very much that there's a web page uh with immigration resources on the city of Camaro's website, but it's critically out ofd uh and it is very insufficient facing uh regarding the gravity and the urgency of the ongoing crisis. I am going to keep on working to make sure that people feel safe at home here in the small ways that I know how and in my small sphere of influence. Um, and I hope that our council will join me and my friends. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. On the list, I have Bob Garcia, Blanca O, and Sidheart is the last one I have signed up. So, three more. Correct. We will complete those three before we go on to the regular agenda. [snorts]

And unfortunately, I'm here to talk about people who've been lost in military service. I wasn't aware of what was happening tonight, but that's my topic. You all know that. I've been here before about this. U I believe I came here in October of 2023 and made some requests and in over two and a half years, I've just now been able to get four more names that I [clears throat] found Vietnam uh casualties of war, Camrio residents that were uh killed. uh those names should be added uh I believe in February to the plaques. So that will make the total of 40 names of Camrial residents that died in the service of our country. Uh one of the holdup is every time I try and do something like this they say well it has to go through the American Legion. I've brought this stuff this this is where I get my information that I've gathered. It it's doesn't have anything to do with the American Legion. doing it on my own. And that's why I'm asking you guys, and I've asked this before, that you establish a citizens advis advisory committee, volunteer for uh veterans affairs and let under your guidance uh come come up with proposals for that affect veterans. And I I think that will make things a lot easier because there's a big delay when they say, "Oh, we have to wait for the American Legion." Well, they don't know. The information's here, not over there. Um, so that's my main proposal is that you establish a veterans advisory committee all made up of volunteers. They don't have to be veterans, but that would be helpful. Um, the another issue and and I' I've made several proposals like changing the name of Constitution Park to Veterans

Memorial Park. I went to one committee meeting and uh I mean two of the council members says they weren't in favor of that. Well, there's five of you. Is that how it works? Two guys get to make the decision. I I don't know. I don't know what the policy and procedure is on that. Um I I've made some other proposals about uh letting veterans buy those memorial bricks like they're doing at the Pleasant Valley Historical Society and put them up around the memorial out here. That's a no cost thing for the city as far as I can tell. And the last thing I'm asking from you guys is I'm also dealing with um Assemblyman Bennett and uh Irwin's office trying to get one of those freeway signs like we have for Deputy Cuchenko here on at Lewis Road for Camriel's only unaccounted for missing in action uh service member Victor Corona who's been missing in action since July of 23rd of 1952. Camrio resident uh and I'm running really into the same kind of roadblocks dealing with the state that getting here. So my request is that you guys support that as well. Thank

you. Okay, Blanca. [cough]

As an Oxard native, I just want to point out that we have a beautiful memorial in Plaza Park. So, I think it could be done here as well. [sighs and gasps] Let's stop lying to ourselves. This is not about immigration enforcement. If it were, the math would make sense. Minnesota has an estimated 95,000 undocumented residents, while Texas has over 2 million and Florida has 1.6 million. Yet, enforcement resources are being funneled into blue states, states that did not vote for Donald Trump. That is not coincidence. That is strategy. We are told this is about the worst of the worst. But the facts say otherwise otherwise. Roughly 93% of those detained have no violent criminal record. If cartel leaders were really being arrested, the footage would be everywhere. Instead, what we see are ordinary people taken, families shattered, and communities terrorized. So, let's say the quiet part out loud. This is not public safety. This is political targeting. And when anyone dares to point that out, they're gas lit. We're told, "No, this is just enforcing the law." Is it? Then why are state police deployments paired with political pressure, like demands involving voter roles? That has nothing to do with immigration and everything to do with power. We're also told to take Donald Trump seriously when he tells us who he is. But when someone openly sells and wears Trump 2028 merchandise, when when democratic norms are mocked instead of defended, at what point do we believe him? Democracy doesn't disappear overnight. It is dismantled piece by piece while people in positions of authority look away. And real people are paying for that silence. Renee Nicole Good, Alex Prey, and a small child, Liam Kaneo Ramos. These are not talking points. These are lies forever altered or lost under

policies that treat human beings as collateral collateral damage. Then we see federal agencies themselves promoting language like one homeland, one people, one heritage. We are not stupid. We know exactly what that language comes from. It is not neutral. It is not accidental. And it is a rhetoric of exclusion and white supremacy repackaged and stamped with a government seal. This is not about undocumented people. It is about consolidating power, silencing opposition, and testing how far institutions will bend before they break. So the question before this council is very simple. Will you continue to play neutral while while democracy is eroded in real time? Or will you name what is happening and stand on the side of civil rights, due process, and humanity? It is a pretty good time to start believing your eyes and ears.

Thank you.

Okay, our last speaker and I Yes. [snorts] Mr. Mayor, council, fellow citizens, my name, as you seem to have so much trouble with it, is Sidhart Merottra. And by now you know me. [sighs] And by now you know I agree. I agree with the family of Hayden Miller. No parent should be forced to bury their child. I agree with Mr. um with Joseph. This matter has gone on too long and our response is too late. I agree with Miss Tally and Miss Richie. We have not done due diligence. I agree with Bev Drunksfeld and Blanca in all they have said. I agree [sighs] with all this and I hope you do too. Indeed, I have come to believe we all must I have come to believe in these things more than and perhaps I have ever believed in anything in my adult life. For the past 25 years, we have suffered this oppression, this mad search, this tearing of ourselves apart in search of a non-existent threat, of a totally fictitious danger to people who stand in no danger at all. The time has come. Time has come instead to heal ourselves, to stop what is destroying ourselves and do what will will knit us back together. And what has will net us back

together has been named already to free the prisoners, disarm those who captured them, and and streamline the immigration process so people don't have to wait and be punished for it. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we will move on to council staff and intergovernmental reports. Our first report is a library update. And I know Mandy's here. Mandy, the microphone is yours. [snorts] Good evening.

Good evening, Mayor David Tennyson and library trustees. I am excited to announce a new modern feature in the library, which is a 12 bay laptop dispenser located on the library second floor. The dispenser allows patrons to check out a laptop to use anywhere inside a library building and provides greater flexibility for library patrons. The dispenser is self-service and patrons can check out a laptop for up to three hours a day. When the library when the patrons complete their computer session, the laptop is returned to dispenser where is charged and prepared for the next patron to use. This service is available for all patrons 18 years and older and have a valid Camaro Public Library card. In relation to technology, the library will redesign the existing tech lab in the second floor into a new meeting space that we are branding as the workspace. The workspace allows small groups of up to 15 people to book a private meeting space for their business and educational needs. The space will include technology upgrades such as a smartboard for virtual meetings and offer modular furniture for room flexibility. We hope to launch a workspace later this spring and foresee this being a popular service with the public. Our library staff will market this accordingly once we have all the equipment and furniture in place. The laptop dispenser and the workspace in the workspace [laughter] support the city of Cameo strategic plan by ensuring the city's technology and facilities promote efficient operations and public engagement. And that concludes my presentation. I'm happy to address any questions.

Any questions for Mandy? Go ahead, Mr. Kild. Yeah, Mandy, I want to thank you for being here tonight. And I think that that kiosk is [snorts] really neat. And um I hearken back I think it was about 2008 2009 the lab library was actually constructed and um somewhere in that neighborhood and uh boy it really looks good and I think it's really great that you're continuing updating it to reflect what um you know the consumer andor you know the residents and the people's needs are. So

if you could pass that along to your I really always enjoy going there. So well used. Yeah. Anybody else? Thank you, Mandy. Thank you. Thank you, Mandy. Next, I would like to invite Oxnard College Dr. Roberto Gonzalez, president to the microphone. Sir, good evening. Buenos,

Mayor Tennyson, um, council members, thank you for having us. Uh, I'm Roberto Gonzalez, president of Oxnard College. Um, like many of you and many of the families we serve in Camaro, I'm a proud son of immigrant parents who came to this country from MO Mexico to provide for their families a better life. Um, I'm the first in my family to go to college. Um, I started my college career at my local community college and the guidance and support that I received there really helped to set the stage and laid the foundation for my future academic and career success. Um, my purpose is to help youth and adults in our community. um and and help them discover their calling just as I was helped to find mine. Uh my wife and I are proud to have chosen Camaro as our home uh where where we are uh excited to be raising our two young daughters uh in the city. Uh from the moment we arrived, we found the city to be very family uh friendly, very u just just people oriented. And so we're so happy to be here. Uh this evening I'm joined by Mara Malch, vice president of business and admin services. Uh and and James Schuli, our director of outreach and marketing. Um uh this year Oxnard College is celebrating our 50th anniversary. Uh as you may know, um the college was established thanks to families of Oxnard and Ventura County advocating for equitable access to higher education. And today, some 50 years later, uh we are proud to have served generations of Camaro families. Uh from fire departments to city halls, schools and businesses to hospitals and clinics, uh laboratories and nonprofits, Oxnard College graduates are on the front lines serving our communities uh every day. Uh we honor our shared past and tonight we hope to give you a sense of uh where Oxnard College uh stands today and where we're heading as we forge the next half century of of service. Um, in terms of the PowerPoint, [snorts]

uh, Oxnard College is an institution of excellence with recent statewide and national recognition for the work uh, our work serving students. Uh Oxnard College was recently ranked ninth in the nation among two-year Hispanic serving institutions by the Washington Monthly college rankings uh which prioritizes advancing social mobility, equity, and student opportunity. Oxnard College was also ranked amongst the top 10 community college in California for return on investment by the College Futures Foundation. And both in 2023 and 2025, the prestigious Aspen Institute named us among the nation's top 150 community colleges out of,200. Uh recently we received a recognition by the Carnegie Foundation for our community engagement work. Only two uh 277 institutions nationwide uh received this designation uh honoring colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to working alongside uh their communities. Uh these distinctions underscore Oxnard Colle's commitment to providing affordable highquality education uh that leads directly to economic mobility. Uh we are proud to offer highquality academic programs. Uh this fall we launched our first bachelor's degree program in dental hygiene. Uh we also assist students to transfer to four-year universities by offering 36 transfer programs. Our top five transfer degrees are business administration, biology, psychology, anthropology, and elementary teacher education. Oxnard College also offers uh about 20 career education programs. The top five programs are business management, early childhood studies, dental hygiene, computer networking, information technology, and culinary arts. And next, I'd like to introduce our vice president of business and admin services, Maam to come present.

Good evening. Um, as a num resident number person on campus, I got assigned all the number slides, so bear with me. But we wanted to give you an overview of our demographics. Um, in the 2024 25 academic year, we saw a reasonable growth of about 9 and a half% serving just over 12,000 um students on campus. Our enrollment is a little bit heavier on the female side over the males um which is a trend in higher education overall. [snorts]

When we look at our ethnicity, our students are predominantly Hispanic with about 72% being Hispanic, followed by the next largest group of about 16% white and 6% Asians and then the remainder being a mix of various ethnicities. So we have a very multicultural campus with a broad representation of the communities that we serve. Additionally, if you look at the age breakdown of our students, um our largest group is that traditional collegebound age, but we do have a strong representation of the 17 or younger with our dual enrollment students and then also a strong representation of um adult learners from our CTE programs as well as our PACE and our ESL programs, which we'll discuss a little bit later. Um again we have seen a um nice growth in our dual enrollment programs at about six and a half%. Um as a proud Camrio graduate um Camrio High graduate we service cameo um high school as well as Rancho Kapana and Rio Mesa that service your students here in the city of Camrio as well as a number of other high schools within our service area. Additionally, we have some targeted programs for non-traditional students and adult learners. Our PACE program, which is our program for accelerated college education, is focused on working adults to assist them in getting um transfer degrees for transfer as well as professional certificates to advance their um employment opportunities and improve their income status. And then additionally, we offer ESL programs for English learners. And we've seen additional growth in those programs as well. So with our PACE grow program growing 9% over the past year and our ESL growing 35% over the prior year. So when we look at those targeted programs of that 9 and a half% overall growth, those programs contribute about 6% of our overall growth. And so it's important to know that we have diverse

programs on campus and that we tailor our services and our programs to meet the needs of the community in which we serve. And with that, I'm going to turn it back over to President Gonzalez. Oh, I forgot this one. I apologize. We have we've also had an increase in the completion rate. So whether it's our associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer or professional certificates, we've seen a modest growth of almost 2% in that area as well from the prior year. Um, Oxnard College also offers excellent student services, uh, including specialized support, uh, for specific student populations, including our veterans resource center, which uh, supports our veteran students. Uh, in terms of financial aid, uh, we distributed about $32 million in aid last year to help students pay for their education. Uh we have many external partners including the United States Navy, uh Port of Weini, County of Ventura and Lyuna. Uh we partnered with the Navy and the port uh to create a logistics certificate uh to help meet industry demand. Uh the port of WAMI recently awarded Oxnard College with scholarships funding uh to support our students in the logistics program. And then recently we partnered with Luna to offer their laborers training school on campus. The program starting later this year, uh will train community members for jobs in construction. Um Oxnard College, the college with the heart, is proud of our 50 years of service to our community and our contributions to the workforce and economic v vitality of Ventura County. Uh here's to 50 more years of service. Thank you so much for your time and attention. You

Thank you. Any comments from council? I know Vice Mayor Martinez Bravo has her hand up without looking. I do. I do. Thank you. Uh thank you so much. Um yeah, first and foremost, thank you for the the great work [snorts] that is happening at Oxnard College. Uh when I was elected, uh shortly after I came on, uh Dr. Oscar Kobian

and uh Dr. Luis Gonzalez invited me for a tour of Oxnard College and kind of to begin that that partnership. Um, and I I truly enjoyed it. But in addition to that, I think it's the fact that they thought about inviting a council member to the campus to provide and initiate that that relationship I thought was extremely meaningful. Um I know that they are two doctoral level um individuals who are residents of the city of Camaro and I was pretty saddened to hear that they are no longer uh with Oxnard College. And so my [clears throat] question to you is how are you prioritizing local talent and what are you doing to retain uh excellent uh uh workers and leaders such as such as Mr. Oscar and Luis uh both doctoral level Latinos which are highly in demand.

No, thank you for that question. Um, you know, um, as I've, uh, been at the college for about a year and a half, um, one of the, uh, big things that I've spent time doing is really getting to know the culture of the institution. Um, and getting to know how we engage with our community. And so, one of the big takeaways is that we're we're a small college, but we're the college with the heart. And so, and everything that we do, we want to make sure that we're supporting our uh, professionals, helping them grow and and and move forward in their career. um and and also looking for new talent and making sure we prioritize local talent. So um right now we're going through the searches for interim positions and then very shortly we'll go out for the permanent position. So right now although it doesn't look like it um I'm three people. So I am the vice president of student services, the vice president of academic affairs and the president. So just been working with everybody on on on the team at the college to help kind of keep the boat afloat until we get some temporary people to help out. uh hopefully some local talent and then also as we recruit for the permanent hopefully some local talent to your to your point. So

yeah, no thank you. I mean I think just the fact that they they are Camrio residents and were able to bring that perspective was extremely meaningful uh to me but I know this is uh I sit on the site authority board of CSUCI as well. I know things take time. Um, but yeah, definitely uh continue to uh prioritize uh local and and important talent here. Absolutely. Thank you. Anybody else? Mr. K.

Yeah, I want to thank you for being here. I'm actually a a graduate of community college back in the day. Um but it it's great great uh uh college that you have over there. for my current dental hygienist is a proud graduate of your program. She does a great job

and I know you have a whole bunch of other really good programs over there. So, want to go over there sometime and take another tour. I haven't done it in a while, but I'm uh I'd like to do that and uh we're here to help and uh wish you uh continued success 50 years. It's it's it's amazing. I can remember when uh I can remember the first year. So, [laughter] uh yeah, it's really great. Congratulations. I know you're going to have 50 probably a whole lot more really good years, too. So, keep up your good work and uh I wish you nothing but future success and thanks for coming here. Makes a difference. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for having us. Council member Santangelo, anything.

Get this figured out. Hi. Thank you so much for being here. It's really um it's appreciated that you've taken time out of your evening to show us a little bit more about your school and all that you do. So, thank you for all that you do for the community. Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Trembley. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um thank you for your presentation. Thank you.

Um I also think that it's significant and it speaks very well of Oxnard College that you now have a bachelor's program in dental hygiene. I'm, you know, I know that more park has been moving in that direction. or already is in that direction with other with other subject matter uh areas. Not sure about Ventura College yet, but I think that speaks very well of our community college district uh and of Oxnard College in particular. So, I congratulate you on that. And if there's if I left any other academic areas out, I'm sorry. I just saw that one on the slide. Thank you. Thank you.

Well, Dr. Gonzalez, thank you for you and having some of your staff present this evening. Um, I would sing you happy birthday, but I don't have a singing quality voice. My wife has outlawed singing except at church on Sunday morning. So, there's people that drown me out. But, happy birthday. Uh, congratulations to Oxnard College and all of your alumni that have passed through those doors and keep up the good work. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now we shall go to council comments. Who would like to go first?

Mr. KD.

Okay. Meetings attended. Uh January 15th VRSD. Uh today uh I attended the investment committee with uh Martita and January 24th uh Saturday I did attend. I got there a little bit late, but I did attend the uh Steve Bennett had a well, lack of a better term, call it an open house in Cameroon. I always look forward to uh going to those and um listening to what's going on up in uh not only locally, but uh obviously up in Sacramento, too. He does a great job. He's very uh eloquent speaker. Uh and with that, that's all I have tonight.

Thank you, sir. Who'd like to go next? I'll let you correct the record, Council Member Santangelo.

Okay, I'll go next. [snorts] Okay. On January 15th, I attended [clears throat] CPA board meeting. Also, on January 15th, we had the CPA executive committee meeting. On January 21st, I attended LAFCO. On January 28th, that was earlier today, I attended the investment committee. And then I attended the CPA finance committee. And that's it for meetings attendance. Um I did want to explain um I handed out to all of you a little two-page black and white. Um and these are talking points for the board of directors, but I figured you could all use them. um CPA instigated a um an interim rate change because um the PCIA fee um for Southern California Edison went up. So CPA lowered rates so that we could keep ourselves competitive. Um let's see. If the board had not taken a action, the new PCIA fees would have increased monthly electricity bills by an average of 9 to 13% for most residential customers. Rates for communities that started in CPA service in 2025 were also lowered. CPA rates remain competitive withce and CPA's lean power option remains less expensive thance's base rate. So, if you have any questions, you can ask me. Hopefully this helps explain things a little bit and that's all I have.

Can I Can I ask something? Susan, I owe you an apology. I had backtoback meetings this morning with both of you and I apologize. Actually, investment committee meeting with Susan. You start to look a lot. Was that memorable, right? Yeah. Sorry about that. Vice Mayor, you're up. Thank you. and uh council member uh Kildy, I think you just missed me too much in the investment [laughter] investment meeting, but we did have a a following meeting after that. Thank you. I'll get it right.

Yeah. [laughter] Uh January 15th, I attended the economic development collaborative annual board meeting. Um city staff attended and there was a wonderful panel on the film industry to help support the economic development uh throughout the county actually. So, it was a very very interesting uh panel. Uh January 26th meeting uh or January, excuse me, January 26, we had a meeting with uh Adalfo Camrio High School staff and also with city staff to discuss some traffic concerns. So, that's going to be some ongoing efforts there. Um, and then in terms of the comment that was made about our veterans, I am all for supporting or looking into other ways to honor our veterans. Um, I know we do have also a beautiful memorial here in the city at Constitution Park. Um, but I'm definitely open to other possibilities. Um, so I'm happy to speak with a gentleman who was here. I think he may have left um or to uh you know just discuss that. Um, additionally, um, I I do want to say I I do have some comments and Rachel, city attorney, please stop me if this is in any way going out uh uh, you know, that would be possibly violating the Brown Act. That's something that we're always very careful with. Um, [clears throat] look, I wanted to share on December 4th of 2025 of last year, I I accompanied a farm worker to the ICE office in Camrio. The day before, I had accompanied her as well, and she was told that everything

was fine and that all she had to do was go to the Camrio office and have her monitor removed. Well, as it turned out, that's not what happened. When I showed up to the office, they detained her and would not even give me that information. Um, I managed to get that information from them. In addition, her vehicle was there and it was going to be towed. So I had to uh request like authorization by giving my ID to uh to get her car keys so that we could move it. Um immediately I contacted uh UFW who came and helped me. I was extremely shaken up by the entire experience. Um you can just imagine what it's like for the people who are living it. And I know that we see this and many more horrors that are happening throughout our country. Um, but when you're there, whether you're recording or living it, it's very, very different. And I was just extremely shaken up by the entire situation. On that same day, I know Undocu was there on the side. You they had no idea what was going on. um because we serve very different functions um and so at least in that moment um so I don't do through my organizations I don't do rapid response I don't follow ICE what we do is we provide direct service to farm workers in need and that is not to criticize one level of work versus another but the reason I am

saying this is Because all of us have a role to play and it doesn't mean that if you're not doing one thing that it's not as important as somebody who's doing something else. I have farm workers who are calling me from detention. I have sat there and literally prayed with farm workers who are calling me as they weep. I have sat there for far from farm workers who call me and guide them through meditation because they're literally having a panic attack on the other end. There are organizations who are working on family preparation plans and none of this is something that we provide publicly but is it is work that is happening behind the scenes and sometimes the work that is happening behind the scenes is obviously just as important and I understand the frustration. I understand the anger. I have photos of my passports on my [clears throat] phones. I have made plans to make copies and leave one with city hall and another with with the chief of police because the concern is because of the work that I do and because of my color of my skin. I am a target and as the only woman of color on this dis. Yes, I do believe I and my family and many people of color in this country know what that terror is like. And as we move we move forward, I think we're experiencing something that we never have in this country before, at least in the

most recent years. We don't need to look at Nazi Germany because the Nazis borrowed the playbook from the United States in terms of the mistreatment of slaves, people that were brought here against their will. We have indigenous people who are being taken during these times. Indigenous people of this land who are being detained. So it is extremely extremely troubling. As I mentioned, I do believe that every single one of us has a role to play. And I also think it's important to provide grace. If there are people who voted for this, but are now realizing, you know, maybe this isn't the right thing, let's provide some grace because at the end of the day, we do need to move forward. We do need to have a country and we are all here passionate because we do love this country. If you did not care, we would not be here. And so I think we are all doing the best that we can. At three o'clock, we had our goals and objectives meeting. And one of the uh goals that I brought forth within public safety was to try to establish a strategic plan for to increase uh public trust because we know that this has been trust has been under attack. uh between uh law enforcement and the community because of these recent actions. So

do know there is work happening um we're not perfect. I am happy to always meet with folks um to see what you have in mind. And you know, I I think I'd like to also thank Mayor Tennyson for your op-ed on the VC Star. Uh the reality is that no matter what policy we bring forth, it always has to be done with humanity and that is the part that I think is lacking currently with the current tactics that are being utilized under this administration. Um, I did share a social media post and I shared it after mass on Sunday and so I would like to share it with you as well in both English and Spanish. This is a moral crisis. We are living under a deadly federal administration. Human and civil rights are being stripped away. Violence is being used against US citizens. I condemn it. Children are being gassed, used as bait, and traumatized. Indigenous people, US veterans, and other citizens are being detained. People of color, including police officers, are being held at gunpoint. This is no longer political. This is about right and wrong. Psychological warfare is being waged against the American people. Truth is being distorted. The American people are being

gaslit. Fear is being weaponized. But justice does not disappear when it is denied. I stand with the American people. I stand with those protecting our communities and defending the God-given dignity of every human life. Faith leaders, medical associations, US veterans, NLPA, National Latino Peace Officers Association and Peace Officers, nonprofits, and all who refuse to stay silent. May Alex Prey rest in peace. May justice rise. I pray for his family and loved ones. And on this Sunday, I offer my holy communion for the repose of his soul and for eternal life. Federal Esto

distortion alo. No, NLP Domingo or Fresco. That is all that I have. Thank you,

Mr. Trembley.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This will be pretty short. Uh for meetings attended since January 12th. Um I attended the um California Association of Sanitation Agencies conference between January 13 to 16. Uh and today uh a lengthy Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board meeting uh at the uh CASSA conference um and I have programs that I'll distribute to all the members of the council later. Uh there were excellent presentations on federal deregulation and permitting reform and in particular on agency funding uh and project financing opportunities. We all know that we have an extremely significant public works project ahead of us in the next couple of years uh in terms of our u water recovery facility and so the the presentation was was the lengthy presentation was was opportune. The second thing is that um the Camaro senior resource guide just came out. Uh I think the cover page was signed by our mayor. Uh but I want to thank publicly uh Kathy Glucert and Bruce Margolus who spent an untold number of hours in putting this together and together with the Camrio Council on Aging. It's a it's a very welcome uh resource guide and I really appreciate their efforts and that's it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. On uh the 14th through the 16th, I too attended CASSA and I'll just say ditto to Mr. Trembley's comments, you wouldn't necessarily think discussing sanitation agencies is that exciting, but it was very germanine to what Camrio is looking at over the next several years with our sanitation plant with our water reclamation plant. Our

water resource facility.

Yeah, water resource facility. On the 15th, I had a VCOG admin committee meeting. On January 23rd, the city selection committee, which is uh mayors from all 10 cities in the county, where we proudly and unanimously elected Mr. Trembley to continue in his role as a city representative on Fox Canyon. So, congratulations, Mr. Trembley. And then on Saturday, I attended the community coffee with Assembly Member Bennett, and there were some good discussions. And with that, I am going to announce a 10m minute recess and we will reconvene in exactly 10 minutes.

the council meeting and we will begin with the consent calendar items D through P. Madame clerk, any public comments on the consent calendar? I do actually have somebody that signed up for um consent counter, but I believe they're out in the foyer and it's Spencer Richie. Can they hear us out there? I don't see. We can't see her on the screen. So, all right. We will move on. Are there any questions from council on the consent calendar?

I'm happy to move consent. I'll second. Got a motion in a second. Madame clerk. Guess I got to hit the right button. [snorts] You put yes, but it's going through. I'm happy to take um Susan's and Kevin's vote. I Oh, here we go. I got it. You got it. You got it. Yeah. Stuck. Thank you. It's not coming up. Oh, okay. Are you voting yes or no? Yes.

Okay, I'll vote for you. [snorts] Okay, I'm leaving up the screen for the mayor to announce the vote. Uh, that passes 50. Thank you.

Uh, now we will move on to item two, a discussion item. And before we turn it over to Lette, I just want to make a quick preparatory comment. Uh this was uh presented to council last month and there were several questions about it. So it came back to the public safety and emergency preparedness committee. We're working with staff. We refined it and fine-tuned it a little bit. So with that, Lazette, please take over. Uh, thank you, Mayor, City Council, um, and members of the public. I'm pleased to be, uh, here once again to introduce this item. Um, and also to introduce Colleen Murphy with Lassar Development Consultants. Um, and she's going to walk us through the revised version of our homelessness strategic plan draft. And then also waiting in the wings, we have senior deputy Jason Havvela, um, who will be available to answer any questions the council may have following the presentation. And so now, welcome Colleen forward um and we'll begin the presentation. Thank you.

Thank you, Colleen.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council members. Thank you again for the opportunity to present a revised city of Camaro homelessness draft uh strategic plan for your consideration tonight. We greatly appreciate your feedback on the plan back in early November and tonight I'm pleased to share how we've integrated this feedback in alignment with the city's priorities. Before I provide a summary of the plan's revisions, I wanted to share that the plans uh phasebased structure remains the same. Phase one continues to be focused on creating the right conditions for success. That includes the potential for pursuing applicable funding opportunities, reducing barriers to housing development, and expanding staff capacity to strengthen the city's response. This phase also emphasizes the opportunity for strengthening partnerships, working closely with the county, the continuum of care, and the housing authority to align efforts and avoid duplication. And finally, this phase recommends prioritizing transparency and public engagement. That includes the opportunity to create tools like dashboards, continuing community outreach, and providing regular updates to council so pro progress remains visible and measurable. With phase one's groundwork groundwork laid, phase two seeks to focus on implementation, including delivering the housing and services needed to reduce homelessness. Phase two outlines suggested activities for the next three years and looks to develop additional permanent housing solutions, add new affordable and supportive units, and expand interim options such as motelbased shelter and other opportunities for residents living in

vehicles. It also includes a suggested prevention strategy to help keep people housed through rental assistance, shared housing, and other local supports along with flexible funds that can help remove smaller barriers to housing. And finally, it includes the proposition for workforce development recognizing that long-term housing stability is tied to income and opportunity. This plan is also still grounded in a proposed measurable outcome. And this core outcome seeks to secure a twothirds reduction in Camaro residents experiencing homelessness by year five through sustained increases in housing placements for those experiencing homelessness and a strong prevention effort to better stabilize inflows. This proposed outcome is grounded in current baseline data and supported by our detailed modeling that demonstrates how maintaining steadily steady rehousing rates while managing inflow increases increases through prevention can achieve the stated goal. With that grounding, I'd like to shift on how we revise the plan in line with council and public safety committees helpful feedback. One can categorize the plan revisions in these seven categories. Number one, clarifying the aspirational nature of this plan. Number two, sharing how this plan integrates with the general plan and housing element. Number three, focusing funding strategies on external resources uh external sources. Number four, highlighting the importance of aligning potential organizational changes with the city's budget processes. Number five, linking programming to funding availability and feasibility. Number six, providing augmented language around traumainformed care. And seven,

clarifying the difference between goals 5.1 and 5.3 that focus on community education and community access to resources respectively. So for number one, a comprehensive note to reader section was added at the beginning of the plan to explicitly establish it as a guiding framework that provides direction versus mandates. This section clarifies that strategies represent informed recommendations rather than requirements, that timelines serve as logical guideposts rather than deadlines, and that the plan does not supersede existing city policy or council direction. It also adds that the city may adjust plan actions based on circumstances, reinforcing the flexible, adaptable nature of the plans framework. So for number two, we strengthen language to include explicit connections to the city's ongoing general plan update and adopting uh adopted housing element. The opening sections now clearly state that the plan aligns with and builds upon existing planning ef documents and that recommendations may be revisited and incorporated into future fund planning cycles only when consistent with broader city priorities and statutory requirements. Goal two, which addresses barriers to affordable housing, has been revised with particular attention to land use and zoning recommendations. Timelines note that review will occur in alignment with housing element programs and that comprehensive zoning updates will be analyzed as part of the general plan update process with implementation contingent on consistency with that comprehensive planning effort. So moving on to number three, the plans funding section shifts emphasis towards external funding opportunities focusing on how

Cal uh Camaro can maximize state uh funding, federal funding and regional funding sources. The potential opportunities for local revenue sources that the city may consider if external funding proves insufficient is still available as an appendix appendix. For number four, recommendations regarding organizational structure and staffing have been revised to tie any potential changes to the city's established annual budget development process. New language emphasizes that the city will assess the need for additional positions, including their scope, timing, and funding sources through the comprehensive budget study that occurs as part of the normal fiscal planning. Additional context has been provided to explain the potential benefits of these proposed organizational changes. Moving on to number five. Recommendations for specific program implementation, particularly those that involved master leasing arrangements and permanent spar of housing development have been revised to include explicit conditional language tied to funding availability. Action steps now consistently reference the need to secure grant funding before launching programs and include language directing feasibility assessments rather than immediate implementation. Additional considerations note notes have been incorporated to acknowledge program costs, coordination um requirements and the need for strategic implementation based on available resources. This ensures that the program recommendations are understood as opportunities to pursue when conditions are favorable rather than immediate mandates. Number six, uh this this section addresses the engagement challenges and was augmented so as to provide a more detailed trauma-informed perspective. The revised content

acknowledges that engage engagement challenges are real and complex and while explaining how behaviors that may appear as resistant often reflect trauma responses, safety concerns or program design mismatches rather than unwillingness to accept help. The added content emphasizes that trust building, consistent engagement, and person centered program design are proven to lead to better outcomes. And finally for number seven, we refined goals one 5.1 and 5.3 to ensure that the plan's language clarifies that 5.1 is focused on general educational opportunities to engage Camaro residents on the causes of homelessness and housing crisis and Camaro's response to these crises. And that 5.3 is focused in on enhanced ways that residents can find out what prevention and homeless services may be available and how to access access them when needed. Next slide. For your consideration, I leave you with the recommendation here. And to close out, thank you to the council, city staff, the project hope team, county and regional partners, lived experience advisors, service providers, and residents who all contributed to this process that has led us here today. We appreciate everyone's feedback and inputs to this plan and I thank you.

Thank you, Colleen. Any questions from council? No questions, just comments. Questions, too. Well, we'll do that afterwards. Madame clerk, any public speakers on this issue. On item Q, the draft cameo homelessness strategic plan. Yes, I do have two people who have signed up to speak on this item. I have um Spencer Richie and after Spencer is Jacob Anguin. Ang. So, Spencer, if you want to come on up.

[snorts] [snorts] [clears throat]

All right. Um, hello this evening again. Um, I'm Spencer Richie. Um um so yeah, I would say that your the homelessness the this draft of the homelessness strategic plan sounds, you know, pretty good, pretty good, you know, pretty sound stuff. Um my question for you as like I guess an addendum to it is actually two questions. So one actually three questions. Um so one um I you know as you might have heard um you know from among all the horrible news coming out of u Minnesota is that is that I think four um homeless unhoused um indigenous people were actually picked up by ICE and have been detained by ICE, you know, despite, you know, being indigenous American, I think more specifically Sue. Um, and so there's been a backlash about that. Does the city have anywhere have any plans for, you know, if ICE, you know, targets any of our local unhoused homeless people? [snorts] Um and then this leads kind with this what you know yeah this is related to my second concern about this um to um as you you know hopefully may have

heard as well in general um both Trump and um RFK Jr. have suggested that you know institutions or as you know RFK Jr. likes to likes to call them wellness farms um be brought back. Um and in fact in Utah currently there is a huge giant Spencer I'm going to interrupt you. Please address the issues to the item on this is related agenda. This is our strategic homeless plan. [snorts] Okay. Next. Madame clerk. Yes. Jacob, you want to come forward?

[snorts]

Mayor Tennyson, council members, staff, I I appreciate the work that you're doing on this. Uh I want to thank you for that. I can see how thorough you do desire to be to make sure that this is holistic change that you're going after. And so I'm praying for you all in this aspect. And and so a couple things that I just want to recommend from that holistic picture. you mentioned it beautifully that there's sometimes there's level of of trauma that is prohibiting people and that's not just sound counseling that gets that through. And so as you're looking for partnerships of who to engage with, I would encourage you to find people that can effectually pray for that level of freedom for people of past trauma, things in their family that have happened. So there's emotional wholeness and ways of thinking so people can get broken free of maybe any cycles that they've had in their lives. So that's one component as you're looking for partnerships is people that can effectually bring that. Uh secondly, there's there's two other facets when it comes to the land use and affordable housing. I don't know if you've already engaged with, but I would encourage you to reach out to the housing trust fund Ventura County and housing trust fund the land trust Ventura County. Uh they're already working with the state and getting grants and doing affordable housing in the region. So they could be a good resource not only for feedback and strategy and planning but Lord willing there's maybe strategic partnerships to be developed in that. And lastly my other encouragement and recommendation around that land use because you're looking how do we create funding through this or the sustainability for even the people's income and staying in those types of places. I think there may be a potential for overlap and on another time I'd like to talk about the sustainability development plan but what does it look like on certain land use where it's available to actually incorporate on the places where there's affordable housing for garden scapes regenerative agriculture for that type of thing to

not only be there but then the people that are staying there to be trained and equipped on how to steward that level because it'll do a couple things. It'll one provide food for them right away. So you're talking about another level of expense that somebody in that situation is already having to work through. And then two, there's also a level of resource, you know, for local markets. A lot of our agriculture here, which has been booming, is very much exported and global. But what about our local community? And so what does that look like to have a multiaceted approach in some of those affordable housing and land use places where people are being trained up in those areas can implement that have have other income that comes from it and then that could also be scaled for other types of trade that they're learning on site. So overall we can talk about that another time with sustainability and the sustain sustainable plan but not just thinking how do we get as many houses as possible in one location. How do we also think holistically in that approach? So, I just wanted to offer those encouragements and recommendations as you continue to go forward and glad to follow up with any of you at at another time. So, God bless.

Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Now, it's time for council discussion and comments. Mr. Trembley.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I I I want to thank staff, our consultant. Um, I want to thank the public safety and emergency preparedness committee uh for the extensive revisions to the prior draft plan uh for their hard work on the plan. Um, the revisions are excellent and they are responsive to the requests that I previously made uh at some length at a prior council meeting. I really appreciate all of the work uh that that staff and our consultant has done, the committee has done. I support adoption of the plan. Um, I want to thank you all for your patience responding uh to my concerns. Uh, as I was leaving my prior meeting, I I was coming late to this meeting. I think I saw an email from a representative of the Autism Society asking for a couple of changes uh in the plan. I hope I read that correctly. I'm not sure if I saw it. One was to correct a misspelling in at least one of the areas and I apologize. I don't remember the exact Did anybody else see that email and staff? You see that email?

Yes. It was to update I don't know. It was to update the organization's name on pages 106 and 125 to the Autism Society of Ventura County.

And I think that would be really appropriate. So I certainly support that revision. And then secondly, uh to remove the term aspirational from the cover page, which I'm fine with. I think it's covered at some length in the forward, which I really appreciate has been done. Um and and with that, um thank you, Mr. Mayor. And again, I really appreciate all the hard work on this. I think it's a more from my standpoint, far more improved and and and something we can be very proud of. and I'd be happy to make a motion when the time is right to approve it. Okay. Any other comments? No. No. I mean that

Susan, did you have something?

Um, okay. I wanted to voice my appreciation for the work done on this plan originally and on all of the revisions. Um, because I think you did a really good job. I actually went back and listened to the November meeting again because I wanted to be refreshed on um how that discussion went and I think you did a really good job of addressing um some of the concerns. Um I really like the addition of the trauma-informed care. Um I'm a nurse. I work with um I work in psychiatric nursing and psychiatric medicine. Um, and so I we we're addressing and realizing that addressing the trauma um for some of these folks is so important. So I really appreciate that addition. Um, I appreciate that we've clearly spelled out that this is aspirational. I'm glad you were okay with changing the the title if that's okay. Um, I because I was wondering if we almost went too far to the other side. Um but um but I'm okay with that. Um but I agree with changing the the name of it. Yeah. Um [snorts] and that's all I have.

Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Uh the two comments that I was going to make have already been uh touched upon. That was the the name uh updating the Autism Society of Ventura County. And then I was also in agreement with changing the aspirational piece actually. Um and other than that I really wanted to thank staff, our consultants, wonderful work. Um I'm glad we're here. I'm glad we're moving forward. Thank you to Project Hope and everybody who's doing the work on the ground um serving this very vulnerable population. Thank you, Mayor uh Tennyson for uh collaborating with me and for even meeting after we were already on different committees. So, with that being said, yeah, I'm happy to support it as is as well.

Mr. K D.

Yeah. Um I agree with everything that said here. Um this is a top 10 issue nationwide. It might even be a top five issue. Uh it breaks my heart to see anybody that's homeless here. Um we're spending a lot of money. We're spending a lot of resources to see if we can't help this problem. I hope in my uh lifetime that I'll see it eradicated. It probably won't, but I've seen it uh jump exponentially in my lifetime, too. And that that troubles me. Um what I would ask, I appreciate u all the changes on that. I think I'm really proud of our city and uh potentially our council if we adopt this that we do have a plan now. We spent a lot of time and a lot of effort on this. But I would also ask that the council gets periodic updates on how it is going, what is working and perhaps even more importantly what is not working and uh also what could be happening in the future. Um there's not any one reason why folks are homeless and there's not one solution to it either. So we have to be open-minded on any changes that could be brought forward in the future too. But other than that, uh I support the hard work that uh the committee did. Committee worked extremely hard. Uh staff was and your staff and everyone else that had a hand in this. You worked extremely hard in this, but it's a very important document and u I will support it.

Mr. Trimblely, the floor is yours. I'll move that the council adopt the Camrio homelessness strategic plan. I'll second. We have a motion and a second. Madame clerk, please prepare us for the vote.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [laughter] Get it right. And that passes 50. Thank you very much, staff and Colleen. Thank you. Thank you.

And with that, um, I'm going to ask the city attorney if there's any report from our earlier close session. No, but after we adjourn the regular meeting, we will be returning back into close session.

Correct. So, as a reminder, we're adjourning tonight's meeting in memory of Hayden Miller, and we will reconvene back to our special meeting and continue our close session. Who was Carol, thanks Carol.

Okay, thank you. Cheers. That was a nice tribute to him.

I was going to say something.