City Council - Regular Meeting

I would like to call to order the regular city council meeting close session. The time is 5:32. City clerk Darte, would you please take role? Yes, mayor. Council member Peton, present. Council member Sosa, present. Council member Thrujillo is absent. Mayor Pro Mortis is absent. And Mayor Fa present. Okay. Um do we have any public comment um that was submitted? We do not have any written public comment here.

Okay. I seeing no one is here for public comment in person. Um I make a motion to close public comment. Second.

Okay. So, ordered by the mayor. Um, let's see. The city council will now recess to close session under the following authorities. Government code section 54957.6. Conference with labor negotiator James McQueen. Director of human resources. Direction for labor negotiations with Downey City Employees Association, Maintenance Unit, Downey City Employees Association, Miscellaneous Unit, Downey Fire Management Association, Downey Police Officers Association, and the Downey Public Safety Auxiliary Association. We will now recess to close session. The time is 5:33.

Okay. Good evening everybody. Thank you for joining us. I will now reconvene the regular council meeting, close session. Uh, city attorney Funk, will you please report the close session items? Yes. Good evening, mayor, members of the council, and members of the public. The city council in tonight's close session addressed all matters that were agendaized on the close session agenda. Tonight, there was no reportable action from the proceedings. Thank you.

Thank you, city attorney Funk. Uh and before we begin the regular city council meeting open session, I would like to remind members of the audience that anyone wishing to speak during our public comment period must obtain a number card from the city clerk. Number cards should be exchanged should not be exchanged with other meeting attendees. If you decide not to speak after taking a number or decide to leave the meeting early, you must return the number card to the city staff. If you did not obtain a number and wish to speak, please proceed to the back of the room and city staff will issue you a number card. Lining up during public comment will not be permitted and each speaker should remain in their seat until their number is called. The time clock will begin when your when you begin your comments. Per the city's council meeting rules and for fire safety regulations, all persons shall remain seated unless addressing the council or entering or leaving the chambers. Standing in the aisles or along the walls is prohibited. There is overflow sitting outside um available in the lobby. And if there's no available seats inside, I will now call to order the regular city council meeting open session. Uh the time is 6:32. City Clare, would you please take role?

Yes, mayor. Council member Peton, present. Council member Sosa, present. Council member Trujillo, here. Mayor Proa Mortis is absent and Mayor Frometa present. Thank you. I will now call uh the invocation uh will be led by uh Pastor Chris from Calvary Chapel Downing. Thank you for joining us tonight, Pastor Chris.

Thank you. Good evening. The book of Nehemiah in chapter 1, it says in verse 5, and this is Nehemiah speaking. He's just been made aware of the condition of the city of Jerusalem. But he's made aware of two things, the people and the place. And he finds out that they're they're not in good condition. And he says the following in verse 5. I said, "I beseech you, oh Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves a covenant and loving kindness for those who love him and keep his commandments. Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant, which I I am praying before you day and night." Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful hearts, thanking you for the city of Downey, for its people, and for the opportunity we have to serve them. We ask for your presence and divine guidance as this council gathers to conduct matters that are set before us. Grant the mayor and each member with wisdom and discernment that decisions may be made with integrity, with fairness, and with compassion. Help us to esteem or help us to listen carefully to speak respectfully and to act justly always seeking the glory of God and the good of the people. Lord, we ask for patience in matters of disagreement for courage in matters in moments that require difficult choices and humility to recognize our dependence on you. May our words and actions reflect the love, your love, and bring peace, unity, and hope to those we serve. We ask your blessing over this meeting, the city of Downey, and all who call it their home. In Jesus name we pray. We all said, "Amen."

Amen. Thank you, pastor.

Pastor Art Reyes, uh, senior pastor was not able to join us tonight. So, we are thankful uh, for another pastor. Uh the flag salute will be conducted by Girl Scout troop number 71453. Would you please come up and lead us in the flag salute? You may begin. Um, we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

Thank you, ladies and thank you parents for bringing um the Girl Scout troop to participate in this um civic process. We have two presentations uh this evening. Um what I would like to um announce is welcome all of you to your city council. Um it is a pleasure to have you here today and we have two presentations. Uh we have the mayor's legacy award to the Downey Rose Florida Association for winning the founders trophy at the37th Tournament of Roses parade. And uh we're going to go um down and make that presentation. Good evening again. I would like to call upon Andrew Malarkey uh current president of the Downey Rose Florida Association to uh accept this recognition. And I will I will say a few things. Um, congratulations uh, Downey Rose Float Association on winning this year's founders award for the float the glow of achievement. As one of only six built and self-decorated floats, this entry stands out as part of a select group of

community created entries crafted for excellence in design and by dedicated local volunteers. Downey is truly truly blessed to have this hardworking group. And I would like to also invite the rest of the members that are here that have been working on design and building this float for the last 47 plus years. Starting with Kelly, we've got Jeremy, we've got um Story, we've got so many of you. And I would like to please have all of you come up and join me because this this float would not be possible without all of you.

Yes. Yes. I also would like to call and please give them a big round of applause. these guys, Jen and Danielle, and our our rose float um chaperones and assistant chaperon,

all of you. Um let let me tell you that uh from the board, we've got uh Kelly, he's the construction chair. Mike, Jason, John, Kathy, Alex, George, and Jason. Um, this is such a significant group of people. Uh, we also have on the Rose Float board Andrew as the president, Danielle, the first uh VP of fundraiser and decor in and master decor decorator extraordinaire, Aaron the second VP of membership. Pam uh memorabilia Bernice Secretary and Jennifer the treasurer. Um these individuals right here um and of course Jeremy you've been uh past president for for several several years several times but every time we turn on our television on January 1, we look for in anticipation to see the city of Downy's rose float. And these people right here that you see next to me, um, these people take time out of their work, uh, their vacation time, and they've been doing this, some of you, for over four decades.

Yes.

Yes. And so it is it is their heart, their hard work and so many other volunteers that come and join during deck week, the last week of December and prepare this float so that we the residents of this community can wake up on January 1 and anticipate Downy's entry and again for over many years because again as as I mentioned Downey is is the last is one of six cities that has has been grandfathered and has these selfbuilt completely by volunteers. They're they're self-funded, self-built. The type of the type of um floats that these group of people um have built over the years, you are you cannot put a price on it, but if we did, it would be well over a quarter of a million dollars, if not more. 300,000 400,000 and yet we do it they do it for the benefit of our community at a fraction of the cost. And so when we talk about service and when we talk about love of community, you're you're looking at these people and I know I I've recognized them years ago and I know um former mayor Sosa recognized them last year, but these are the type of people that that we we have to continue to recognize and hopefully the younger generations um the high schoolers, the the young college students that find themselves in front of the television set uh during winter break they can say hey I can give of my time because these people give of their time their talent and their treasure so that we can enjoy an amazing float and so can you please give them a round of applause

and and certainly it is my hope um it is truly my hope that this council um and future councils will continue to fund help fund a portion of this float because as you can see after spending three four decades building this float, some people may decide to retire at some point. And so we need to bring a new generation of of people that can know and can learn how to do this. And if we as a city, as much pride as we take, if we also don't put our money where our mouth is and say we need to continue to support, as they also fund raise, but we need to continue to support because otherwise our float and our presence in the down in the uh Rose Float uh parade will cease to exist. So I want to really have you something to think about. Um Andrew, would you like to say a few words and then Kelly?

Sure. I didn't do so well last year winging it, so I wrote some stuff down this time around. Bear with me. All right. First, good evening everybody. I would like to thank the mayor and the city council for the support throughout the entire year and everything else. I'd also like to thank the city of Downey as a whole for everything you guys do and for us. I'd like to give a special thanks to the Downey Police for escorting us to and from Pasadena, to the public works department for cutting the trees and patching the road to make it as smooth as possible. And the Department of Parks and Rex for including us in city events and fundraisers and stuff like that. And I'd like to thank the board and every member of the association, the city who's come out and helped us with everything over the year, whether it's decorating the float building, fundraising, or anything like that. We couldn't do it without you. And the founders's award and this certificate belongs to everybody, not just to those of us standing up here. And that is the shortest way to get that out. So, thank you.

The longest survey. Here we go.

Yeah. Here we go. All right. So, I went to a uh a tournament parade evaluation meeting just last week, and I thought I'd share this information with you. So, the Rose Parade on its linear viewership reaches 25,835,12 people. Streaming viewership reached 2,214,643. Tik Tok viewership was 5,200,000 people. Total viewership this is country 33,000 33,247,655 of that the households there's 20,555,441 households that watched the Rose Parade. Um media exposure was 68.8,000 8,000 to potential global exposure $59 billion. And then the actual marketing value for a float is anywhere between 28 and $500 million. I've seen it as low as 28 and this one here was 541 million for one float broadcast. all over the world. Everybody knows Downey now.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Big big round of applause. Um, and we have uh also a certificate of recognition from Assembly Member Blanca Pacheco and of course the mayor's legacy award to the Downey Rose Association on behalf of the citizens of Downey in recognition of your win of the founders trophy at the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade for your float entry, the Globe Achievement given this 27th day of January. 2026. Um, here you go. Thank you.

And I would like to also bring up uh at this time the uh 2026 Downey Rose Court. Uh I know we have again um first starting with Miss Downey Leilani if she is present. Miss Downey Princess Angelina, Miss Downey, Princess Jacel. Miss Downey Princess Joselyn if you can join us here please. Miss Downey Princess Melanie. Missine Downey, Leila, Miss Teen Downey, Princess Sophia, Miss Teen Downey, Princess Isabelle, Miss Teen Downey, Princess Jovana, Junior Miss Downey, Michaela. Junior Miss Downey, Princess Alisa. We're going to take a big picture. We're going to take a big picture.

Junior Miss Downey, Princess Clover, and Junior Miss Downey, Princess Aubrey. Little Miss Downey, Mavis. Little Miss Downey, Princess Kenise. And Little Miss Downey, Princess Jenna. This is your 2026 Downey Princess Court. Would you please give them a big round of applause up here and tell her to come, please?

Yes. And if we can have Alexis come up and join us. And we're going to go ahead and take one big picture. 16 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sir,

yes, we have the 16 heroes in a hand. We have city pins for the court and Pam has them. Thank you, Pam. Give him another round of applause, please. And with this, I would like we're going to take a 3minut recess. I know that this will be a time where the court would like to probably take some photos outside some of the parents that are here. Um, so we're going to go ahead and pause for about 3 minutes so they can exit the council chambers uh if if they need to. Thank you.

Again, thank you for joining us. Uh the time is 6:53 and uh at this time uh we will move on to public hearings. The uh council member comments uh agenda items, conference reports and requests for agenda items will be moved to the end of our meeting. um in line with our uh Downey Municipal Code 21105 I these will be moved uh to the end of the meeting and city manager Bradley uh I am requesting for these to be moved uh permanently.

Uh thank you mayor. That does actually say that in the municipal code that those comments should be at the end of the meeting. If there's no objection from council we'll make that a permanent change.

Thank you. Um moving on to public hearings tonight. There is one public hearing this evening and that is the adoption of ordinances adopting the 2025 edition of the California building standards code in local amendments there too based upon climatic topographical and geological conditions that the city council adopt the five ordinances described in the agenda memo ordinance numbers 26-1535 26-1536 26- -1537, 26-1538, and 26-1539. The hour having arrived, the public hearing is now open. The time is 654. City clerk Dwarte, do we have proof of publication?

We do. Mayor, I will make a motion. Can I get a second to receive and file the publication? Second. Please vote. The motion is approved with council member or uh Mayor Porto Mortis absent. Okay. Thank you. City manager Bradley. Is there a staff report?

Uh yes, Mayor. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Raspersonson is here for the presentation. Good evening, mayor, members of the city council, city manager Bradley, city staff, and members of our community. My name is Dan Rasmmanson, assistant fire chief and fire marshall. Thank you for the opportunity to present this evening. The fire and community development departments are requesting council adoption of these five ordinances to implement California's 2025 building standards code with local amendments. The trienal updates that ensure our standards reflect current construction practices and life safety technology. At your January 13 meeting, the council introduced these five ordinances that collectively adopt the state's 2025 building, residential, fire, and related technical codes with our local amendments. Tonight's hearing represents the final step in the required code adoption process. The 2025 codes include statewide updates. The building code incorporates updated standards for wind and seismic loads. The fire code emphasizes wildfire resistant construction and modern detection systems, particularly for properties in wildland urban interface. And the energy code expands electricready requirements to support state climate goals. Downy's local amendments address our specific climate, topographic, and geological conditions. These amendments establish fire prevention bureau duties, grant enforcement author authority, guide permitting, set fees, and maintain public safety standards. They remain substantively equivalent to previously approved amendments and fully comply with recent state legislation, including Assembly Bill 130, which limits local modification for residential construction. What has changed in our local amendments is the organization. We've cleaned up, clarified, and reorganized the municipal code sections to align with California's 2025 building and fire code structure,

making them more userfriendly for residents and development partners while supporting efficient plan review and permitting. No substantive policy changes have been made. The intent is to improve the accessibility and usability of the of the municipal code. staff respectfully recommends adoption of these ordinances at the conclusion of this public hearing. Our team is available for any questions. Thank you. Thank you, uh, Assistant Chief. Um, I don't have any questions. I just want to say thank you. Uh, we know the state of California, uh, enacts these building codes every 3 years and we just need to, uh, adhere to that. Um, council colleagues, any questions or comments? I'm good. Thank you. Thank you for the presentation. No, I don't have any as well.

Okay. I will now entertain a motion. Actually, before I do that, um if there's no questions or comments from my colleagues, I will now open this public hearing um up for uh public comment. City Cler Dwarte, did we receive any written correspondence in regards to this item? We did not, Mayor. And we also don't have any speakers for this item. Okay, then I will uh close public comment. I will make a motion to close uh close public comment. Can I get a second? Second. So moved. And at this time, um, can I get a motion to approve, uh, this public hearing? I'll make a motion to receive and file.

Second. Oh, yes. Um, I will go ahead and I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. Can I get a second? Second. Okay. So, order by the mayor and I opened up uh the item for adoption. Um, council member Sosa, you made a motion. Correct. Who second? Uh, council member Thrujillo. Please vote.

The motion is approved with Mayor Proa Mortis Hson. Thank you. So the um we've now adopted the ordinances adopting the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code and local amendments thereof too. Now we're going to uh open up public comment regarding agenda consent calendar and non-aggenda items. Now is the time for the public for their public comment uh regarding agenda consent and non-aggenda items. Uh, city clerk Darte, would you please play the message?

The city council will now take public comment on agenda, consent calendar, and non-aggenda items. If you did not receive a number card and wish to speak, please proceed to the back of the room to be issued a number card by city staff. We will be calling blue number cards for the public comment period. Before we begin the public comment period, we would like to remind members of the audience that the city's meeting rules contained in the Downey Municipal Code prohibit any conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. Copies of the meeting rules are located in the back of the chambers. Members of the audience and speakers who violate these rules and cause a disruption will receive one warning and then may be removed from the meeting. Violations of the rules of decorum for council meetings may also result in an administrative fine under the municipal code or citation for a misdemeanor under penal code section 403. The city council acknowledges the right of the public to address issues that are within the city's jurisdiction and invites the public to do so during the city council meeting. However, this right must be balanced with the need of the city council to conduct the public business in a fair and efficient manner free from disruption or disturbance. We expect that everyone who participates in today's meeting from the members of the council here on the deis to staff to the members of the public in attendance do so with respect and dignity. Please refrain from using profanity, name calling or behaving in a way that disrupts this meeting. This includes yelling, whistling, booing, screaming, and any other outburst that disrupts or disturbs the meeting. Any conduct that interferes with or disrupts persons who are addressing the city council. Any conduct that interferes with, or disrupts council members while they are speaking. Any other conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. and attacks of a personal nature on city staff or city council members that have

no connection to agenda items or non-aggenda items. We remind speakers that your comments must be addressed to the mayor and not to any other council member, city staff, or the audience. Thank you, Alisia. Do we have any uh written correspondence that needs to be incorporated into the record? We do not, Mayor. Okay. Um how many speakers do we have? We have uh seven at this time.

Okay. Based on the number of speakers, each speaker will have three minutes to address the council on matters uh within the city's jurisdiction. Thank you. And I remind all the speakers that you must remain seated until your number is called. Um speaker number one may come up. Good evening.

Good evening, city council mayor. Pull down the mic so we can hear you. Thank you. Okay. Is that good? That's much better.

Okay. Um, I just learned about the storm um, drain um, reservoir that they're putting in Ferman Park, I guess, at the end of this year. I was wondering if that had been already approved or is there some way that we can notify the residents of Downey that this is actually happening because it seems like nobody really knows what's going on. So there are a lot of questions um and if they if you considered how much it's going to impact the residents um in that area. I I live close to the park and um it seems like you know just want to make sure you guys have checked everything and maybe there's not another place that this can be introduced to um because it's a small park um a big residential area and um concerns are about stadium lighting concerns are about if this is going to be a region park. Um the traffic that's going to come in and out. I mean, we don't have really much parking. So, there are just a lot of concerns that um you know, have come up that I haven't really seen where it's all mapped out clearly and wondered if you know really all the residents had really been notified of the impact that this is going to have on our neighborhood. This is your time. If you can pause it, this is your time. Public comment is usually for our residents to come and

and speak their concerns. We usually do not engage in in a conversation. Um, but I'm happy to have our city manager um address that issue and um make sure that we uh inform our residents about this project. City manager. Uh uh happy to. Mayor, we have been working on this project for some time. The council has considered it. We do have a number of studies and other things that have been conducted. I'll have our public works director connect with you so he can answer all those uh questions specifically. Happy to do that. Well, thanks for listening to me and hearing my concern. Thank you for coming in. Of course. Thank you. Thank you for coming.

Thanks, Matt. Um and again for members of the public um wishing to come and speak here, this is a time public comment is a time for you to come and share your concerns um requests, criticism um but based on our meeting rules, we are not allowed to engage in dialogue with you during this time. and we're happy to provide and point you as I just uh did through our city manager um and anybody else that may help you with a specific request. Um but I just want to make sure that um everybody understands the process. Um thank you for that. Um speaker number two may come up.

Good evening. My name is Armando Montes. I reside on the 11,300 block of Cecilia, which mayor happens to be your uh uh district and we've been going with an ongoing problem of speeders there. And I know you guys put out speed bumps with the city of Norwok because we all got together from both sides of the street to get it done and that was one of them. And you put out the speed bumps, but they still get tend to have a lot of aggressive uh drivers. And I'll tell you an incident what happened last Thursday. I was coming over to my grandson's house. He's a special needs child and we take care of him and my wife and uh we're coming down to Celia and this lady well I didn't know she's a lady till afterwards. She's coming down opposite my way like against the grain. So I honk at her to get back on the other side. Uh I told her slow down because you're going real fast. So, I'm pulling into my daughter's house and she comes around and starts cursing at me and I says, you know, hold up, you know, hold up. I mean, it's not necessary. So, she kept on. I said, "Just just leave." Later on, when she was leaving, he says, "My husband will be down later. Go ahead. I mean, I'm you know, I'm going to back down." Um, she comes back like this is only 8:30 in the morning. The guy came by 8:00 at night. It's with it's uh actually put down with Downey police came out. We had to get them out there cuz the guy was being aggressive and just yelling. So, in saying that, the police told me, you know, gave me their card and told me if you had any other questions, address it. So, I went out there on Friday. I came over here with you guys and I went to the uh public works uh city clerk. I matter of fact, I saw one of the gentlemen here that's that was up here right now. He's the one helped me out and u he told me about Mr. Norris is in public works and Bumgardner. I've spoken to them prior to when you guys put up the the speed bumps

and they said they're going to get back to me. Never did and I've I've reached out to you yourself and I I know you're busy and not the only person in Downey. Uh when we were working with uh Norwok and what happened was it's helped a little bit

but not to the point where it's I mean nothing's going to be 100%. I understand that. So today my grandson's being dropped off like I can tell you special needs. He's been dropped off on the on the bus and this van just literally just goes around the the around the school bus and um the driver is letting him down and the assistant which happens to be the principal of Sodbaker Elementary saw that you guys go through that all the times. Yeah. So I'm out to you know reach out to you guys

if you guys can put more patrol out there. I'm sure they're speeding. I mean they their limit is 15 to 25. 15 going into uh down uh into Norwok 25 coming into Downey uh what would actually take I mean like I know you said you can't converse on this but reach out to actually you know traffic department which I did with Hernandez and uh he told me he's been out there. I know I spoke to you like four months ago. What day did you guys go out there? And he didn't know he couldn't tell me. I mean, I'm not saying he's lying, but I need to know some results because a lot of the people that are getting frustrated and I don't want to have to have like any confrontations anymore.

Yes. Yes. And thank you for that. Um, your time is up. Um, Matt, um, can you can you talk to um the resident and you said it was 11,800 block of 11,300? It's 300. Three. Yeah. Got it. Thank you. All right. Speaker number three may come up. Would I give you assistance back there? I here. Okay. Thank you. Good evening.

Good evening. Lee Squire, Vietnamera veteran, US Army, federal civil rights advocate. Subjects first, black community and federal civil rights. January the 19th was Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. I also recognize him as the father of the civil rights movement with the with the civil rights with the civil rights movement led by the black community resulted in the following. The civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. I want to thank I want to thank the black community who led the fight for civil rights that we have to this day. Second, the Jewish community. January the 27th, today is known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. January the 27th was the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp Ashwitz, the most notorious of the concentration camps. For the last two years, we have seen the rise of anti-semitism and hate against Jews in America and across this world. This hate brings dishonor to those who served during World War II, who are also known as the liberators of Nazi tyranny. We of the Vietnam War era, most of us were the children of those of World War II, including myself. We have a duty of honor to speak up against hatred against the Jews in honor of those who served during World War II. Also, for the record, the Holy Bible is also known as the Book of the Jews. And those who practice this holy Bible who also associate with the Jews are also have what's known as a protected class status which is a federal civil rights right of enforcement. God bless America and the nation of Israel. God bless my military and its veterans and its families. And God bless law enforcement at all levels and their families. Thank you. I'd like this a matter of the public record.

Thank you, Mr. Squire. Speaker number four may come up. Good evening, Madame Mayor, members of the city council, Mr. Bradley, staff. I have some brief comments. I want to talk about what's happening in our country today. Uh point number one is that I support in general ICE. Point number two in general I support the people who demonstrate peacefully in our country. Point number three is that if either one of those groups violate the law, they should all be held accountable by the violation. Madame Mayor, this ends my comments.

Thank you, Mr. Lacy. Speaker number five may come up. Good evening, Madame Mayor and council members.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, there comes a time when silence is betrayal. This community is full of hurt and fear. Our community has a long history of being used and exploited by many of our mayors and council members for many years. Downey has been used as an opportunity for growing their personal wealth and as a stepping stone to elevate their political careers. In the past, we've had uh previous uh mayor Rick Rodriguez declare no conflict of interest when they kept a city uh security contract with their personal con company. Previous mayor Kirk Carttosian sells tequila and fancy tequila bottles and advertises loia themed nights at their local restaurants in downtown Downey, yet remain completely silent regarding what's going on in our community. Ex mayor Mario Gara attempts to meddle in Downey politics every chance he gets and self-inflates their ego by continuing to refer themselves as mayor although their mayoral run ended over a decade ago. Claudia Fomemeta, you've repeatedly complained that your first mayoral term happened during the pandemic and that you didn't get to do much. You completed a second term. Dorothy Peton essentially handed you a third term, citing no other reason other than that you didn't get to do much your first mayoral term due to co. The only thing lacking during first mayoral term was photo ops. Downey is more than a background backdrop for your photo ops. Our community has had enough and it's time to say basta. No more to these vulture-like politicians who like to pretend to love and understand our culture and community. They benefit from using this community as a prop. They remain silent and refuse to speak out against the unjust profiling and abuse

that people of Downey are facing. Downey, let's do better in seeking out supporting competent and caring city officials. Madame Mayor and council members, please take action. Speak out for our community or resign. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker number six may come up. Good evening, council members. I came here tonight to talk about Mayor Foretta's conduct during the last city council meeting two weeks ago. I think Mayor Foretta acted unprofessionally and she owes an apology to council member Trujillo as well as the residents of Downey. To remind you, at the last city council meeting, Mayor Foretta got angry with council member Mario Trujillo's comments and responded by calling a recess in the middle of his speech. Then upon reconvening from the recess, she did not allow him to continue the speech. I would like to point out that council member Trujillo had the floor. In other words, he was not speaking out of order and his comments were neither inappropriate nor univil. What upset Mayor Foretta was that council member to pointed out her hypocrisy of opposing ICE raids in Downey, yet she supported Donald Trump when he ran for president. The two positions are indeed mutually exclusive. The ICE agents conducting the raids were not acting rogue. They were executing President Donald Trump's policies and Donald Trump promised those policies during the campaign. So, it's not as if you didn't know. How can anybody forget President Donald Trump's dehumanization of immigrants when he said at a debate with Vice President

Kamala Harris that immigr that the immigrants are eating the dogs? Mayor Fetta, you need to learn how to take criticism. It's part of your job as an elected official. Your conduct at the last council meeting in the face of criticism was unprofessional. You owe council member Tojo an apology for cutting off his speech. And you owe an apology to their all the residents of Downey who attended the last council meeting and the apologies for wasting their time because you're unable to take criticism and needed time to cool off. I hereby condemn you for your unprofessional behavior. You need to learn how to take criticism because it's part of the job that you signed up for.

Thank you for that. Speaker number seven may come up.

Good evening everyone.

Good evening. And I do agree with the person that says we have to respect the constitution and the constitution. It applies to all of us. And even if a person is undocumented and whether we like it or not, it applies. And what you want to see, you want to turn uh truth twist to truth into whatever your reality. That's really the problem that we have here. And just walking out of I mean coming in here, somebody just said, "Oh, the crazies are not here." You know what? I've been active in trying to defend or residents of my con my people here since June 6 because we have seen abuses. How many of you how many people here know about the veteran that was uh thrown on the floor on the ground just because he say leave him alone right here at the car wash car wash a veteran uh he served in the in the army or whatever area you know and he's he can barely walk but he's very dark very dark Latino he was born here and just because he, you know, he looked apart. He was thrown on the ground. And that's not right. And when you guys say, and I'm talking about the five of you, well, Orasio's not here, but when you say, "Oh, there's nothing we can do about what ISIS is doing. What about those kidnappers?" They don't show any identification.

What about them? That's what we are. We're not saying, you know what, we are against ICE. what we are saying enough enough of this abuse with our residents just because we look brown you're going to take us down you're gonna and and people screaming I'm I'm legal I'm US citizen I was born here but you're too brown and and I respected the kid in Minnesota working they were pulled out of Target and just because they look brown and he was all bruised because they threw him in the middle of the street So I want you to do something. I understand you are in another the city is divided and I understand you are in another uh there's two you know that ones that are pro that ones are against that but you got to see reality. Those of you that you know who you are that are pro- eyes I but we are asking please stop or you can do something about the abuse that is happening in here the kidnapping and myself I seen with plates from Mexico do me a favor they're using they are undercover they're using plates from other state I was embarrassed that they were using a plate from my state come on you got to do something yes you can do something about it thank Thank you for that, Miss Mia. Speaker number eight may come up. Okay. I want to say something nice about my city, my council, and the city staff. Um, I think it takes a lot of you guys go through a lot of criticism up there, and I applaud you. You guys are very brave taking all the criticism. And I know it's not easy to hear, but I will never criticize none of my council members, my mayor, my city staff, cuz I think you guys are great. And sometimes

it breaks my heart to hear all this critic criticism against you all. And I think it's wrong. I think you're doing fine. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that. Uh speaker number nine may come up. Hi, good evening.

My name is Michelle Fina. I'm a resident of Downey and I work here in Downey. Um, I just want to say as a reminder to everyone in the community that ICE is trained by IDF soldiers on their tactics. The same tactics that are used in Palestine, in Lebanon, in Syria, by the IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, they use the same tactics over here to train our ICE agents. They work hand in hand. And so if you are against what ICE is doing, you need to join us in being against what the IDF is doing. We actually don't call them the IDF, a lot of us, we call them the IOF. They're not a defense force. They're an occupational force. They are illegally occupying the lands of Palestine and their intention is to take over as much land as possible in the in the Levant area in the Middle East. So, with that said, I do appreciate the town hall meeting that we had tonight um about an ICE watch that we're forming and I appreciate what you're doing, Mario Trillo. Um but inviting Congresswoman Linda Sanchez goes against everything that we stand for because she is funded by Apac. That's the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. And she's taken over $130,000 for her campaigns from Apac. Why are our elected officials being funded by entities that are meant to just protect foreign countries and foreign supposed allies? We need to put our people first over here. The money that we send to Israel and the money that we use to fund ICE should be used for programs here, healthcare, um you name it. We know all the things that we need to do. And so when I found out that we were having a special session, which I missed, um where council member Peton basically gave up her seat so that

Frometa can be mayor again. I was completely outraged because um back in October on October 7th, 2025, Foretta posted on her Instagram that she went to visit Israel and took a tour of the sites of October 7th, which understandably is a horrific scene to to to look at. I understand like the sentiment in wanting to be there, but yet absolutely not a word about the genocide that's been ongoing ever since October 7, 2023. And back when we were coming for the the first year of the genocide, there were plenty of people coming to these meetings every single time for an entire year. And we were asking the council to make public comments to divest from entities that are profiting from this genocide. And fora, you made a comment about how neutral you are and about how you have friends that are Israeli, friends who are Palestinian. You were taking a a stance that you were neutral. Um, which there's no such thing in a genocide. But anyway, here we see two years later, you're posting proudly that you stand with Israel during a genocide. So, I just want to point that out to the community and we need to know what we're facing. It's not just ICE. It's all connected. Thank you.

Thank you for that. Do we have any more speakers? If not, I will uh make a motion to close public comment. Can I get a second? Second. Second. Please vote. The motion is approved with Mayor Pton Ortiz absent. Thank you. Now is the time for consent calendar items. Are there any council members that would like to remove or abstain from an item?

I just wanted to comment on a couple consent item that we're going to um approve just to let our public know. On item number four, it's going to be um the procurement. We're going to get five phase 3 fast charging EV stations at the Civic Center. And we currently have a lower level. So, we're going to be approving uh design, procurement, and installation. And number five, we're getting new HVACs at the Macaken Gym. They're 20 years old, so the gymnasium will have good functioning um HVACs in summer. And also number eight is important for our residents. The alleys are starting to be repaved. Uh the group includes areas by Imperial and Aidenmore eastward, uh Lakewood to uh from Meadow to Fifth, Washburn Road. I know Councilman Ortiz has been working for Washburn between Belfflower and Regent View. And there's quite a few alleys um in my area, Orange Estates, and over by Lena, the multifamily residential area. So, we really appreciate the alleys getting that look. And lastly, um um item number nine, um we're pleased to announce that theus have been reached between the city and the Downey Fire Men's Association for the next four years, and funding for that will be coming from measures uh S, D, and our general funds. So, thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Peton. Yeah. Uh, I'd like to pull item number 12 for discussion, mayor. Okay. Uh, anyone else? Okay, then if no one else, um, we are If I could just a quick aside, mayor, if I will. Um, item number 12 does have some relation to items number 10 and 11. So, it would be appropriate to discuss those items in tandem. Um, if F1 is to be pulled. Thank you, John. Um if uh may I inquire from the city attorney, madam mayor, if if he's only asking to pull 12, why do we need to pull 10, 11, and 12?

Um at least uh council member Trill um in response at least um items 11 and 12 um um from what I interpret them in the agenda are related to one another because those positions are are being changed out um at least. So at least items 11 and 12. Okay, fine. Thank you. Without further um we will go ahead and pull those two um items for discussion and let's go ahead and take a vote to approve the rest of the consent calendar. I move to approve. Second. Second.

Okay. Please vote. The consent calendar is approved with council member Sosa pulling item number 12, the staff pulling item number 11, and mayor prom Ortiz absent. Um, I'm going to turn it over to you, uh, Council Member Sosa, uh, in regards to

Thank you, Mayor. Simply, uh, I I pulled item number 12 because, uh, this is a no for me. Um, and I'll tell you why. Um, at a special meeting we had in September, uh, Mrs. Rivera, uh, who's being, uh, um, I guess there's a recommendation pointer for, um, parks and recreation, uh, community service commission. And my concern here is at a special meeting in September, Mrs. Rivera had an emotional, rational outburst that interrupted the business of our meeting. Um, I asked her several times. uh gave her several chances to allow us to continue the meeting uh and she refused and then ultimately she had to be es escorted out by Downey PD. Um also that wasn't the first uh time she was escorted out of the chambers as she was first um escorted out of a meeting going after a council member in 2022. So both scenarios were completely uncalled for and uh as a commissioner you're a representative of the city and uh my concern here is uh knowing this as a body if she has another outburst it would reflect on this body. Uh so therefore this is a this is a no for me.

Thank you. Um and I think uh it is important to bring uh forth and discuss there is a um code of ethics for uh council members as well as um appointed committee members as well as uh commissioners. And the code of ethics is very clear. In fact, we had some um situations that necessitated the creation of that code of ethics. Um and we passed that code of ethics in 2021. And so I I want to highlight um and underscore the importance of individuals that we are selecting as committee members and commissioners in the city of Downey. Other cities may um may run their affairs differently, but in the city of Downey, we we have uh certain rules and protocols and we may disagree on various issues in terms of uh what the city is doing. But when it comes to representing um the city and or misrepresenting the city, uh either creating um business cards with the city and city phone numbers without authorization um as as this was the case. as well as um creating um polo shirts and utilizing these polo shirts to conduct uh other meetings. Representing this city uh or misrepresenting the city uh is also a violation of our code of ethics. And so as as we consider committee members um

and commissioners, this is uh prudent for us as a as a legislative body for the city of Downey to remind the committee members and commissioners currently um representing the city that you are not to wear uh city shirts unless you are in a city event. In other words, you are invited to the event and you are there truly representing this city with us. Uh otherwise that is a misrepresentation uh of of the city. And so, um, I will make sure and I will ask, um, the city manager to ensure that the code of ethics, uh, is circulated among all of our committee members and commissioners and that a new copy is given to them and signed because we will be holding them to those standards and anyone that deviates from those standards will be removed.

Yes. Let's start with former mayor Mario Gha. I don't understand why he gets to use the city logo with a sign that says mayor's corner that we never approved and he gets to hang out with former mayors in the downy corner. And let's also ask him to never use our logo in his podcast. We've seen him and he's a I think on our planning commission. So let's start with Mario Gara and make sure that people are not using our logo. Let's be consistent with everyone if that's uh the position that we're going to take. So, um that's my position. I think Miss Rivera has done a fabulous job in um her current commission and so I thought she'd be good for this commission. But obviously, this body has the power to select. But I am asking for consistency. Madame Mayor, if that's your position regarding the use of the logo, why don't you start with your friend, former mayor Mario Gera. Thank you.

Thank you. And um Council Member Trujillo, um also for the record, I would like to ask you um you continue to use on the social media um the political page under Mayor Mario Trujillo. And this is um also uh confusing for the city of Downey considering your term ended at the end of 2024. So for the record, I will ask you to cease uh using that political page under Mario mayor Mario Trujillo um until that is changed. I know Facebook and other things take a while to change. I've been there before, but uh for the record, I would like that to be incorporated. And to your point, um, yes, we will be, uh, uniform in how we conduct ourselves.

I look forward to the mayor's corner sign being taken down since it was never authorized by anybody in the city. That's an improper use of our logo. Um, madame mayor, I have engaged our department. My uh, city our city manager can attest. I given Axel the password to that um, Facebook page and he's in the process of trying to change it. Okay. Uh, I will ask then that no other posts are done utilizing the mayor Madillo. That I will not do.

Okay. May madame mayor, I have a few comments before we just close this out. You know, I've sat on public works for, you know, a number of years and and park and wreck. on public works. You know, we did not do number of things that Miss Rivera had done as already mentioned and it was shown to me by others uh specifically with the business card and printing your own business cards and your own logo with the city on there. Um using the wrong name of a commissioner when it was committee member um again using imprinting city logo without our authorization. But recently there was a town hall a town hall sheet someone showed me that she was putting on not our neighborhood watch that does it for everyone her own individual town hall stapled with the business card um out of the area um also then posting on social media with her political candidacy promoting it. Um again I feel that that is is not good ethical quality representing the city as as se things have been said you want to do things you ask for permission to do that you check it you attend the meetings you don't do any political um uh advertising for it um I too I don't think that she's been in the best interest of the city for representing and currently and things that are happening and and I too don't feel this appointment is the right person for this area.

Thank you. Um, we're going to go ahead and vote. And again, as a as as a last um comment, I will underscore the importance of the individuals that were uh the remaining individuals were voting on and the current uh committee members. Um, there is a difference between being a committee member like a public works committee member and a commissioner. And so I I let the record reflect that we've had this conversation and if those individuals uh violate uh the code of ethics, this they will come back and this body will remove them. Um but uh I'll go ahead and entertain a motion um to uh approve items number uh 10 and 11 uh or 11 and 12 and uh with the exception of number 13.

What should be separated? Yes. on a procedural point, madame mayor, since they're separate, I'm actually going to pull number 11 as that was my request at this time. Uh, so I'm asked to pull in table number 11 and then we can vote on 12 if that's correct. I think actually you have you can't if you don't do both, you can't do either. I think is how it works out, John. Right. Yes. um from the agenda, those um positions or those individuals would be swapping out positions um on their respective on their current respective bodies. And so they're they're 11 and 12 in short are dependent on one another. Um they're either both approved or they would both not be approved.

Well, then I'll move to table both as those were my requested items and I have to go back to the drawing board since it's clear that that's going to be approved. So I'm going to need time. So I'd like to pull both items. Then you have a drawing. Let's presume that. Yeah. I then those two items um have been pulled at this time. We are only moving forward with um what is it? I think 10 was already approved as part of the 10 had been approved as part of the consent calendar. So it would be the record um madame clerk that council member Trujillo withdrew um on his own items number 11 and 12 for consideration in tonight's proceedings.

Okay. So moving on. Um, that was that. And moving on to the next item on Madame Mayor, I if I may, uh, I mean, I can get together with Axel afterwards because I was able to change my, uh, title back from mayor to council member on Facebook, uh, within a day. So, I'll get together with Axel. I will attest that I Axel has been working with him to make that change and it has been submitted to

and I don't and with with all due respect, I don't doubt that. Uh, I had um when I was council member going into mayor, it took like 8 months for Facebook to approve, but for some reason after I was and I got I I had the mayor title on Facebook for like two months. Um, but then um when I went back and I had to do it on a desktop, not the mobile, I was able to change it right away and I was actually surprised. So, I mean, I can get to the So, the desktop worked? Yeah. Yes. Okay. It's not It's not on the phone. It has to be the desktop. Okay. Yeah. Max will try it on the desktop. Thank you.

All right. Um so that's settled. Uh we're going to move on to uh administrative reports. And now is the time we have one administrative report this evening. And that is a discussion regarding a cat spay and neuter rebate program. and uh that the city council receive an update regarding SIAKA's cat spay and neuter programs and consider staff's recommendation to have SIAKA continue and expand its SIAKA, excuse me, its cat spay and neuter programs based on recent information gathered from Siaka. Uh city manager Bradley, I see Judy Montenegro uh ready with a staff report. Judy, good evening.

Good evening, Mayor Fermed and members of the city council. So, I'm here this evening to uh provide an update regarding SIAKA's cats, spay and neuter programs. So, based on the information presented tonight, we are asking for the council to consider staff's recommendation to have SIAKA continue to expand its cats spay and neuter programs. As you know, these programs provide affordable or free sterilization surgeries to help control pet overpopulation, uh reduce shelter intake, and improve cat health, among other benefits. So, first I'll just start off with a brief background on this topic. So, at the fiscal year 2025206 city budget workshop held in June of last year, uh, Council Member Peton requested that staff look into the creation of a CAT spay and neuter rebate program to assist residents with veterinary cost associated with these procedures. On September 9th, 2025, during a regularly scheduled city council meeting, staff presented its findings based on information gathered from similar programs offered by surrounding cities and asked for the council's direction on the creation of a city cat spay and neuter program, which included a one-time appropriation of up to $20,000 from the general fund balance. Following staff's presentation, the city council took no action on the item and requested that staff evaluate the programs that Siaka is currently offering to the public. So, per the council's direction, staff contacted SIAKA and they shared they have multiple spay and neuter programs underway. Last year, during the months of September, October, and December, Siaka partnered with other agencies to provide these programs. For the event held in September, a total of 40 surgeries were performed for Downey Pets. This included both cats and dogs. Siaka provided additional data uh for other events that were held last year after this staff report was submitted and that information is as follows. From

October through December of last year, a total of 107 surgeries were performed through the good mobile clinic and a total of 20 pets were from the city of Downey. Specifically, um on October 9th, uh there were seven pets from Downey. October 30th, six pets. Uh November 6th, five pets. And December 4th, two pets from Downey. This uh was a program in partnership with the good mo mobile clinics, which offered offers low-income spay and neuter services. So, Siaka has confirmed they are continuing their partnership with the good mobile clinic this year and has provided a schedule of upcoming events with one clinic being held every month from now until June. SAKa is also planning to have the ASPCA bring their mobile unit to the care center to provide spayneuter and other pet medical services to the community. Lastly, SIKAKa just relaunched their Big Meow and Big Wolf programs in December 2025. These are lowcost spay and neuter programs that were previously suspended. So, the city provides annual funding to SIAKA for animal control services as part of a joint powers agreement that the city has in place with the agency. The table showcased in the staff report indicates the amount of funding SIAKA has received from the city over the last few years. As you can see, the amount of funding has increased over the last few years. Just this current fiscal year alone, the city is providing 1.1 million in funding to SIAKA. It is important to note that SIKAK's fund balance as of June 30th, 2025 was approximately 11 million, putting their reserves at over 100 100%. It is estimated that their fund balance will be close to 15 million as of December 31st, 2025. To put this into perspective, the city's reserve balance policy is at 35% and the DFOA states that a minimum balance should be 2 months of an agency's operation. This amounts to approximately 17%. So based on the information provided in

the staff report, staff believes that the best option would be to request that SIAKA make CAPS spay and neuter programs an ongoing priority by allocating monies every budget from its own funds. The city does provide a significant financial contribution annually to SIAKA and a large portion of the existing SIAKA fund balance is from city provided revenues. So SAKa has available funds and these types of programs fall under their purview. If the city council agrees with this recommendation, staff can work with the new executive director of Siaka to ensure this service is a priority and that there is ongoing funding for these programs. The city will also continue sharing information and other on other related services offered to the community uh via our social media platforms. So, this concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you, Judy. Um, thank you for this informative presentation. I know um how passionate we are about pets. Uh I know I served in Siaka Siaka's board for a couple of years and I'm very happy that council member Peton um is serving. Um she's doing a fantastic job and having um these numbers in front of us. They're they're very telling. Um we increased our funding to SIAKA um from year over year over $250,000. um in looking at their their robust reserves, uh I do believe that is imperative as a founding member city that we hold SIAKA um and that we have them uh conduct these spay and neuter programs because you mentioned the number of animals that were serviced by Downey and Downey being a founding member um and when we are contributing over a million dollars to um this boutique agency. Uh it is imperative that we provide our residents um the services they need and and those are much much needed. I I I can't stress enough um how much we support uh the spay and programs and seeing I think it was important for all of us to see the the financial picture of of where the agency is and make sure that they um that they allocate funding that benefits Downey as a founding city. That's all. Um, okay. Let me let me start the discussion since I brought it in last August. Um, animal welfare, especially with cats and such, has been a very top priority for me. And I asked to stay on uh join the board. It's almost been about a year.

Uh, so many residents we see on social media don't properly spay and neuter their cats. There always seems to be the program for the dogs and they tend to take the dogs and prioritize that. So when I did get on, I asked about any programs that they had and um they said, "Well, we used to have, you know, the Big Meow. I won't go too long." And I and I have this here. So I was instrumental in pushing why don't we have the Big Meow? You know, we have the Big Wolf and that's getting a lot of traction. So it's always from foundations. So these are foundations that come in. We just recently had one called Good Mobile. Um it was a foundation funded spay and neutering one day. It was full. Appointments were full in hours, in hours. And that was just recently here in January from my meeting. Um, I found out also that this big meow and woof is a grant funding from the Michaelelsson Foundation for $7,500. And when that's gone, this will stop. They also are not doing it for free. They're charging for neutering cats 115 and 130 for Spain. uh there's still people out there that cannot afford to pay that much. Um we want to I want to make some type of a a fast track now so that they have an option and that's why I was looking at the reimbursement plan. Yes, I've started to dig in and I see the numbers. Um and the numbers also are are high because I've learned that their uh employment has a 25 to 30% vacancy factor. they are not fully staffed and when they are becoming fully staffed and they are putting um uh applica or employment out there for people to to get hired that will change. It will start to balance out. I still strongly agree like I said uh with our mayor Frometa that the financial aspect of that h really has to be tightened and

dug deep. Their budget is until June, excuse me, this fiscal budget 2526 till June 30th. But until now between then, we also have a reorganization with management in there. We have a temporary uh liaison in there. We have a audit going on on the internal controls of SIAKA. There's a lot of things and wheels happening so that if we were to just say offer that now it I don't think it would happen. We don't have in 6 months we might be able to do that. Ask that they do that for the 14 cities, but this $7,500 is going to run out quickly. Um all the other weekend programs that they have are going to are get full and I just want to be able to offer our residents go on your own. Go to ABC and Norwok or some other vet and we will reimburse you up to 150 or 200 any type of cat that you have. It could be maybe up to two or three cats. It could be your cat, it could be domestic, it could be community, but we have a feline overpopulation program because they do not pick up feral and community cats. Uh it's been dictated here with other um uh humane organizations that they don't pick them up stray even if it's wild because they're not a harm to society. So during our our count, our homeless count, I counted more cats than I did, you know, people that we were looking for. up to 15 cats walking around and it's sad because they're going to multiply and spring is coming. So maybe for right now rather than put that amount that I had requested originally at the 20k that we can implement something now between now for 6 months until I can come back to to Siaka. Many of the other cities are also having a program on their own that they offer something or reimbursement. But again, this big meow, it isn't free. They are still paying. They're going to be running out. I guarantee you running out of that $7,500 pretty quick. And at least we can offer all the um uh cat

rescue organizations a means to go out there uh either get them fixed for people for free or other ones, community cats, and we're going to do something to the problem, not just wait until we have red tape later down the road, 6 months from now. Council member um Pimton, what what do you think would be um would be reasonable? Um I know the initial ask uh when we discussed this several months ago back in September was the 20K. What do you think? What would you propose instead? Um and do it over the next six months. Well, that is reasonable. That would be helpful. And also that we can go back to SIAKA and say, "Okay, guys, we we we can do this for the next 6 months, but then you need to you need to do X."

I've seen other cities offer $150 to $200. Is that some of the numbers that you saw on reimbursement from their cities? I think if I can recall a few months ago, yes, around that, right? Um, and we can see what the fees are here. I would say perhaps rather than up to $200 a person, let's just do 150 a person. Bring it back down, make it up to two or three uh cats if they had, maybe two cats, a limit of two, and start that for 6 months so that they could go on their own to a licensed authorized veterary um to perform the service um or if uh I don't believe Seaka is actually doing the surgery on site. This is through another.

So now and what what would be your recommendation in terms of a set amount? So two two cats per household or per individual. Two cats per individual to $150 each um procedure and and maybe $10,000 for the next six month. Revisit this in six months. I I um I'm not opposed to that. I think that that's going to be helpful to the community and we can go back to SIAKA and say this is what Downy's doing, but moving forward, this is what you need to pick up.

We will have while like I said an internal audit completed, we may have then our management staff um in in uh selected and hired because right now the act the director Denise Woodside has taken employment elsewhere. So, right now we're doing a little bit of a shuffling around and um let's see what we can do when we address a budget for 2627 and take a look at that. Okay, colleagues, I mean, we we had the we had the budgeting discussions coming up soon, so we'll uh that's what I'm interested in. Anyone else?

Nothing. No, that would be that would be my recommendation if we can do a pilot program for six months. What I'm sorry, what's the cost on that? She want 10 10,000 for a pilot program for 6 months and go back to Syaka and make sure that Syaka continues it uh after the 6 months. Well, they start their budget discussions for 2627 to see how we can include Spain and neutering for our member cities. I I vote to um to approve that that pilot program.

What um I'm sorry, 10,000 and that's for a six month. Uh is that real? Is that realistic over six months? U city manager. Um based on demand, I'm sure it would be until it's extinguished. I'm sure there would be some uh level of demand there. I'm not sure if we'd spend it all, but I think I heard two cats at 150 each per count per household. Um that's that's doable. I will say as pointed out in the staff report that there are programs available currently. Um our recommendation simply was is if you look at SIAKA and have them spend their money first. That was so I think is that is that staff's recommendation to have SIAKA spend their money first? That is yes. Correct. before we commit to anything.

And you know where you get them for free? It's called Fix Nation out in Seami Valley. And I've listened and and talked to a lot of rescue organizations and I think that Fix Nation may be closing down, but Seami Valley I I'm not going to quote me, but they said Sun Valley, Sun Valley, and it is closing down. See, and it's only for um stray pets, not your pets. Okay. So, you know Oh, sorry. Thank you. We didn't hear that, but thank you. So, I mean, I'd be in favor of uh allowing SIAKA to spend their money first before we commit to any dollars, any um additional spends. That's my position.

Then it's going to be at least till July. I just don't want to wait that long. You know, we can do something temporary right now, but that's your prerogative. We can always bring this back, right? Uh we can always revisit this in the meantime if it if it gets uh pretty thin. That's council me right now. Oh, can can we we can't

I'm sorry. I appreciate your comment. We can't speak. But again, Councilman Sosa, my my objective is to do something now. We have cats that need to be fixed. This will be running out. Maybe some won't even do it because they can't afford it. Let the individuals who want to take that notion to spay their animals to stop this overpopulation have a a method to do it. Well, and and I think what what is important here is allocating the funds. And again, you have to be a Downey resident. They have to be your your pets. Um and let's see what type of demand there is. Right. There may not be. There could be there could be very little demand. Um and we reallocate those funds.

And I think SIAKA can do more and I will work to with the other board members to put together a program. My my question is uh for for Judy and city manager Bradley uh I mean you know we're throwing out a figure of $10,000 and if the staff's recommendation is to exhaust or have Siaka uh spend their monies first. Um I don't know if $10,000 makes sense. Uh, is there when staff has a recommendation to spend Siaka's money first, um, is it possible that $10,000 isn't even necessary from the city of Downey?

Well, I think that's kind of what we're trying to provide in the analysis is that they've got a a reserve of $1 million uh that could be allocated at any time by that organization to fund these programs. uh our recommendation is simply that that be take place uh before we spend our funds, but if council's will and direction is to go ahead and put city funds forward, uh we're willing to take that too. But yes, we believe that they have adequate fund balance to pay for this program and to provide for the city this year, next year, and probably a few years beyond.

Yeah. You know, again, that and I've said this before that the the differential between revenues and expenditures is tight. and it could get tighter and a lot of cities and municipalities and school districts are going through the same thing and $10,000 in the grand scheme of things isn't a whole lot of money. But if if uh Siaka has this has a reserves of $11 billion u you know why commit to $10,000 from the city of Downey and if we monitor it and let's say two three months down the line it's evident that the city of Downey needs to pitch in let's revisit it. I I just hate, you know, I I just hate to commit to $10,000 where it's not absolutely necessary.

It's It's not as much as the fund balance as being able to implement this program now. Now when the breeding season is starting, uh if I was to go to our uh board, Siaka board, it's not part of the budget that they have right now budgeted. We would have to look are there any unallocated funds in there. Again, we have a temporary person in management who might not be able to implement the program. The timing for SIAKA to take it on now is not as good. That's all I'm saying.

So, um, Councilwoman Peton, if we were to allocate the 10,000 for this year, do you think that would give, um, Saka time then to hopefully implement this next year if you can get the board to do it? because I tend to agree with council member SSA. I mean, they have a million dollars in reserve. So, but I also understand the timeliness of it. So, if you were allocated 10,000 that you think it'd be a onetime thing and perhaps correct, you can get Siaka to get on board and do it next year.

Correct. Be with other cities that offer programs, but for the future and to make it uh part of their program, we definitely can look into it. I want to look into the numbers as well. I don't see those numbers as high, but I trust that you looked at recent numbers. I've been running my own spreadsheet as well. So,

well, and I'll just for the record, I'm going to be adamant a no on this because it doesn't seem like it's it's absolutely necessary. Uh if we get to that point, I think we can revisit this, but I don't want to just hand out $10,000 uh just because and again, it's not a whole lot of money, but these things add up and our uh the spread between our revenues and expenditures is really tight. It's getting tighter. Uh this is going to be a no for me. Okay. So, do we have a a motion and a second or do we table this item?

I'd like to move that we pilot a program for six months allocating $10,000 for reimbursement up to two cats per household for Spain and neutering with up to a reimbursement of $150 per cat upon proper receipts from a veterary um hospital and a veterary a licensed veterinarian. Okay, we have a motion. Do I have a second? I would second that. If you would accept that it's a one-time expenditure for this funding cycle only. Yes, onetime expenditure for 2526. Then I will second the motion.

Please vote. The motion is approve approved with council member Sosa um voting no and mayor port is absent. Okay, at this time we are going to move into our city council member announcements. Uh requests for future agenda items and conference and meeting reports. Um and as I've indicated based on our municipal code, um this is how the meeting will go moving forward. Um I'm starting with my far left. Uh, Council Member Thrui, um, Sosa, would you please, uh, provide your comments?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, I'll just keep my comments short. I I do want to add that, um, I I did, uh, this past Saturday, I did attend a an astronaut commemoration ceremony. Um, great job, Ben Dickau. Um, great ceremony. Um, I and I I I bring that up because uh I don't always talk about all the events I've gone to, but uh the Columbia Memorial Space Center was a is an important uh part of this community and uh it is and will be continue to grow as the regional hub for science, STEM, and engineering education for our youth. Um it was a commemorative uh ceremony to honor the astronauts that we lost in the Colombia Challenger and Apollo 1. uh the this is the 40th anniversary of the uh Challenger and uh I think uh most of us can remember where we were when that happened. So uh great ceremony. Thank you Ben Dicko and and your team for putting such a great ceremony together. Um I do want to mention an upcoming event this Friday at 10:00 a.m. uh 10 to 12 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Barbara J. Riley at the Apollo Park uh hosted by Assemblywoman Downy's own Blanco Pacheco. It is a senior fraud prevention workshop. Uh if you know any seniors who can attend that, please uh spread the word. Uh that should be an event with a bunch of resources. And that concludes my comments, Madame Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Sosa. Um Council Member Peton.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor Frometa. Um I attended and participated in the homeless count in Downey that we had last week along with our our co my colleagues um uh Sosa Ortiz Sosa and Mayor Frometa along with many other volunteers. We drove through different parts of our city from 7 to 10:00 p.m. to identify those we saw living on the streets or in the cars. Uh the homeless solutions team coordinated with our maps and teams and a big thank you to our homeless task force manager Sergio along with city net and the staff. Um as uh we drove around we located uh one individual um we had two large areas uh we drove uh around another team located like three to four uh resultings u results of the counts um should be forthcoming and then we'll see what's happening. I think our homeless solutions team is is working hard to reach the residents, not the residents, the transients and the unhoused in our community. It's making a big difference. Um, last night I attended the city of Belfflower mayoral transition and uh we have a save the date coming up TLC 14th annual 5K. It's February 28th starting at 8 a.m. at Apollo Park. I have a a a couple thank yous. Thank you to staff for conducting um a request I had here on dis one time by adding a raised median on Florence at Tristan and Bellman kind of like the old McDonald's. Um a resident concerned about that left turn arrow um that it might not be safe that maybe it should close the medium and and close the traffic going down Bellman, but staff has determined there was no excessive collision history in the past three-year period. So a median will not be implemented. I'll reach out to the resident and let them know as well. A shout out to our park, our public works team for always quickly responding to graffiti and dumping. I

especially want to recognize Louisie for responding so quickly to my many requests on the Downey app. You'd get the Downey app for illegal dumping pickups. I was reported something a dresser drawer on Old River. I moved up the street a level and there was Louis with his truck and uh but this was this was at noon and it was his third truck full of stuff. Uh so at the same time we need to inform apartment owners and homeowners that you just cannot leave your dump furniture on the sidewalk when a tenant moves out. I spoken to a property manager who gave her tenant options for hauling all of their unwanted furniture, maybe $50. Um they have services that do that. they do a walk through. Uh we have Athens that can come and pick it up, but we may need to look into reaching out into multif family properties to let them know that uh their tenants it it's a chronic power of them all around. I know in district one my colleague Mr. Otis says that as well um for that. So, um, you know, and I just want to make I'd also make want to make comments regarding the recent incident in Minnesota. Uh, the tragic loss of Alex Prey is shocking, horrific, and deeply disturbing. And knowing he was an ICU nurse for veterans is even more devastating. This was someone who spent years helping others. And his last effort was helping a woman before he was attacked and killed by ICE. Yes, he had an open carry permit and he did have a weapon on him, but at no time did he attempt to use it. ICE has removed had removed his weapon before he was shot multiple times in the back. And what I and many others saw in the video was unbelievable and appalling. This is not how the in the America that I grew up or any of us. We are starting to live in scary times when due process is not being followed. This is not

acceptable, nor should it ever be in America. We are a democracy that supports freedom of speech and peaceful protests. Holding a cell phone to videotape is considered peaceful. I've listened to a number of talk shows and speakers and political experts and news shows and commentaries because I'm that type of person that wants to learn from multiple sources and make my own decisions. There are some comments I've heard and learned from that resonated with me. So, I'd like to share. Um, I heard ICE is not properly trained. They are only getting 47 days of training, not months like it's been in the past. And the number 477 should sound familiar. ICE has become a lawless mob. They are violating the policies of immigration and border patrol. They are creating disorder and fear in communities unlike other times in history where immigration enforcement was conducted. Why the difference? Sanctuary cities, sanctuary states does not limit what local and federal law enforcement can do what they can do in the past. So the other uh day I was speaking last week I was speaking with a retired Long Beach police sergeant and I said in the past it was working. What's the problem now? And he says, "In the past, immigration could go into local police, could go to local police, and local police could call immigration for any undocumented, felon, or criminal being booked. Immigration would come to pick up and start deportation. But this can't be done now." And this is from him. So, is a sanctuary city a benefit in helping criminals be deported? I say no because law enforcement and our prison system should be working together to get the worst of the worst like we've heard. Now they are what's called at large arrests. They're the arrests that are being done now without warrants. But understanding this change does not give ICE the authority to violate the

constitution, raid neighborhoods, or profile people. ICE is lacking oversight, and Congress and the Senate need to take action to stop the way they are operating. assault on the first amendment and the second amendment. Assault on the fourth amendment for search and seizure nor warrants being used. Congress needs to speak out to the get the Trump administration to administration to scale back and deescalate. Tell this administration to enforce the law but lawfully. Um here's some other facts that I had. You It's staggering for detainment costs that they want to do. ICE just has a new budget of $75 billion and many go for administration and co court court costs and things of that nature. Um, immigration and border control need to do their job but do it properly without regard and and but do it properly with regard for our constitution. We should all agree our borders should be secured. The last administration was not enforcing immigration as they should have. We are now at the lowest illegal crossing uh of immigrants in a long time. Every country controls their borders and the people who enter, the US has for decades. Um I I had some numbers here. Wall Street estimates we have 13 million immigrants that have entered illegally, but they're not call also looking at the ones who have been working here for decades and waiting to get approved, waiting for their visas. my daughter's friend's father uh 14 years finally got his visa in El Salvador. It's a broken system and we need to fix it. Uh many times you have to post $10,000 for an attorney. So, um by now you're probably wondering, am I a Republican or a Democrat? My first 20 years I registered and voted as a Republican like my mom in the past. Then the next 20 years I registered as a Democrat because my

mom felt it worked more for her in in as her people. And now in the past few years I'm neither party. Neither represents me fully. So I've rented so I've registered as independent which is one of the fastest growing parties around. So for for those that think that I'm MAGA, think again. Not that party affiliation has anything to do with running the city or this position. Being Republican or Democrat has nothing to do with running this city and making good decisions for public safety, quality of life, and having a balanced budget. Let me also say to all those keyboard warriors out there, try and put your energy into more productive things rather than attacking on social media, especially the anonymous ones. I have a list of people and places where volunteers can make a difference. Let our voices be heard collectively admonishing this type of activity by this administration. Let's also send voices to our legislative leaders and put the pressure for DACA reform. Let the DACA immigrants be allowed a clear pathway to legal status like back when Obama had started it. This administration had a hold on processing DACA recipients. DACA recipients must renew their visas every two years. Many of my friends are fearful that they have been working for so many years, came here as children, have the social security, pay taxes, and could be deported any time with this administration. Let Congress pass a DREAM Act. Uh let Congress pass the DREAM Act that Congress failed to pass in 2010. Trump suspended DACA in 2017. In 2021, Biden signed an order to preserve DACA, but right now it's in the court. It's being challenged. Oh, and one one one more last comment. Um, nobody bullied me out of the mayoral position. In December, I explained my reasons clearly. Let me choose say it

again. I choose to finish working and focusing on my district that has been unrepresentative for so long. I want to learn from a person with experience like I've learned from former mayor Sosa and Trillo. And lastly, I need to refocus on my business, which has taken a hard hit last year due to my council duties and the time that I have put in. When I become mayor, I'll be more experienced and able to give 100% of my time to that position in our great city. So, I hope this clears up any misconception that may be out there. And and I hope you get to see a little bit more about me and who I am. I want to focus on city business. Sorry for taking so much time, but I think there were some things that I needed to make clear. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Peton. Um, appreciate your comments. Uh, Council Member Dojo,

thank you. Um, Madame Mayor, if we could add Alex Prey to the adjournment in memory of list. Um, I I I want to echo Councilwoman Peton's uh description of that event. Um, so we um are limited in what we can do. um as a government, but I'm happy to say that thanks to some community members and I want to publicly acknowledge them. Victor Korea, Sandy Mecado, Ricardo Mireles, Henry Sea, and Carlos Casillas. We've been able to put together a community-led alert and response network, Downey Icew Watch. It's on Instagram. It's on Facebook. They had the first inaugural meeting today. Council member Salsa and I were both able to attend to just give them some words of support because obviously we're limited. We cannot alert and we don't even have the information, but we cannot alert anyone or intervene in those enforcement actions. So, congratulations to Downey Icew Watch. I love that it's a community-led event. There was a training today by Unon Delbario. the group the attendees 100 plus in attendance were divided into five uh districts mirroring the uh map adopted by this council. So they are going to form alert systems by using uh WhatsApp to alert each other. They've adopted the whistle. They're recommending that if you have uh vulnerable individuals in your families that you give them a whistle to alert people if they're being kidnapped. They're asking families to buy these whistles. They're very inexpensive on Amazon, just a whistle and in your morning walks or anything in those in those districts. They're going to look out for each other. So, I want to uh congratulate that group for doing that for our community and they will be

meeting regularly and providing training. So, if you're interested, please look up Downey Icew Watch on Instagram and Facebook. Um, I also want to thank Louie. Um, Lou, he's doing an amazing job. I don't know if it's a one-man job, but um, he is busy. And just the response time. I also use our Downey Connect app and I open up cases and there's times when 3 hours later he's already picked up the item and I get the notification. So, kudos to the city. I I think we are one of the cleanest cities in the region and part of it is because we're so quick to respond. So kudos to the staff under public works, especially Louie. Um the visitors tax, I I would like a second for us to have a discussion and to consider whether we're going to put the visitors tax back on the ballot perhaps in the midterms. U so I was hoping that we can get that back on the agenda to see when would be the appropriate time for us to consider that. Can I get a second on putting the visitors tax on the agenda for discussion?

Is that the top the TOT? Yes, the transency t tax they called it last time for hotels. The hotel users tax. The hotel users tax. I think our choices would be the midterms and 26 or the general and 28. I'll I'll second that to research.

Thank you. Um I did attend a neighborhood watch um meeting at Norwok. I was there. U my public works uh committee member Lette invited me. There was numerous staff from Norwok. I thought it was a Norwok event. I didn't know that Downey had any part in putting that together, but thank you to Norwok, our neighbor. Uh they had numerous uh personnel there. And I I did get a chance to talk to some of our residents who live in that area that we call the triangle. It's where Downey meets Norwok. So, thank you Norwok for uh bringing us together. I had an opportunity to attend a community leaders uh reception for our new Senate President Pro Tempor Monique Lemon who came down from Sacramento. So, it was a pleasure to um meet her, get her business card so we can uh get to know her and see how she can assist us perhaps along with our state senator Bob Archeletta. I'm not sure if I brought this to the attention already, but um the 105 exit off of um Paramount Boulevard, when you enter when you exit, sorry, the 105 freeway, if you're going eastbound and you exit on Paramount Boulevard, the conditions of Paramount Boulevard south of Gardenale are alarming. The the the uh the potholes are just humongous. And I realized part of it may have been because of the rains. I took it upon myself. I did reach out to um Mayor Joshua Baron from Southgate, but I'd like to see if maybe the city could write an email so they have a document that sometimes when we speak with our neighboring representatives, they may not write something down or the message. Yeah, if they could it might be a Calrans issue. Um I don't know, but I I was hoping we could work on that area.

We'll go and check it out. It looks like it might be could be Cal Trans, could be Southgate. We'll go back and check and see. I I just want to add it's the same thing on the border of Southgate off of Stewart and Gray. There's a clear distinction on the the the road uh quality uh on the border of Southgate and Downey. Same thing uh going coming from Garfield uh going eastbound on Gar on Stewart and Gray.

Yes. And the last item I'm hoping I get a second is is I I would like this council to have a frank discussion of our participation in NALO. I've asked staff to present um the numbers of what we're spending to be uh members of this organization that has a national platform and we know the mayor is the president of my knowledge of NALO is that it's a national group of bipartisan elected officials Latinos who whose primary mission statement for NLEO is in the area of voting rights and immigration reform. form. I think in those areas we may not agree as a council on those issues and now our participation in that organization has made its way into these chambers because our council uh our mayor is the president. I I echo my positions that I think NLEO is not doing enough on the issue of immigration reform. uh these last two weeks there was a statement put out by the executive director um but nothing from the board and nothing in the area of voting rights has come out of NLEO in the last year that I know of or even a specific demand for immigration reform. Our mayor has said it that neither the previous administration or this administration seemed like they're going to do anything for immigration reform. So I don't see the benefit then if by her own words there's not much that even the can do. It's almost like the most we can get from them is thoughts and prayers. I can get thoughts and prayers for free from father Danny down at OP. So I want us to have a discussion about our participation in NALO. The spread between our expenditures or revenues is tight and I put about $20,000 every year we're spending on being part of this organization that at least during this

time it seems can't do anything for us. So, as a steward of the taxpayers money in the city, I would like us to consider exiting that group and using that money perhaps to spay and neuter cats. I see that would be more direct benefit. So, if I I'm asking for a second for us to agendaize a discussion and for us to have a frank discussion of our participation in this group. NALO. Can I have a second? See no second. that will make it to the agenda. I think that concludes uh my items, Madame Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Through. Um appreciate that. Uh moving on, I would like to um thank those of you that are remaining here um with us tonight and I want to thank the staff for working hard and diligently on behalf of the residents of this community. Um I participated also with uh my colleagues on the homeless count last uh week and also and the there was a meeting on the veterans uh match app and this is combined with the veterans reintegration center. Um what we saw was uh the nation's first live demonstration that will match veterans coming back to civilian life and match them to workforce solutions. Um this is really important because as we look at uh addiction and or homelessness uh we do see uh significant segment of our population uh being veterans. And uh currently I know that Celico uh for which council member Sosa is a um board member of uh Celico will be working alongside uh the Veterans Reintegration Center to um uh get this new uh Veterans Match app and get veterans registered and get them um that work uh back to work skills they need. Um what I would like to ask um I have several asks tonight and one is uh a study on having a crosswalk uh along Florence Boulevard that between Arrington and Balti. Um, I know this the

stoplight is there's a long block, but I do see many people crossing right in the middle of Florence because of the apartments um that are on both sides uh of the avenue. And uh a couple of times I've seen uh near misses of of people uh almost getting hit. And so we need to really consider that. Um, another thing is, um, as I was visiting our parks, uh, I've I've come back to my nightly, um, date nights, and that is driving around our city and looking at our various parks, and, uh, I invite you all driving around our city at night, we see a lot of different things, and it gets us thinking, um, about safety and many other issues. But I would like to find out what happened to the plaques that had been put in the parks that uh under measure S. Um I didn't see any of those plaques. I don't know if they have been if they were stolen um during that period of time. Uh a lot of the copper was being stolen. I could not find any of the plaques at any of the parts.

We do have an inventory. We can bring that forward. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you. Um also as uh my council colleague Peton indicated uh the illegal dumping. Um, thank you staff for working so diligently. Uh, we still continue to see it and I know that we continue to educate the public uh on the app as well as having that in our various uh social media um platforms to make sure what number our people need to call and make sure that we get to it right away. Um, I would like to ask um to bring back the men's mental health fair. Um certainly it is it is really important. Um initially I thought about combining it and doing a one big uh mental health but uh but men men are special and and um men's uh mental health health awareness month is in the month of June. And so I would like to bring that back. I know that project is is very dear to council member Sosa's heart. So I I really would like to see that. and the regular mental health awareness month is in the month of May. I know we're busy. I know we're tackling a lot of projects. Um, but I would like to see it uh come to fruition.

Second. Uh, thank you for doing that. Uh, Mayor Veretta, I'll second that.

Okay. And in regards to um I think that's that's it. I do have a couple of brief comments. Um and that is um up until up until recent years uh our positions we live in a democracy and as council members we we have party affiliation. Some of us were Democrats at some point and switched over to the other side and others were Republicans and switched over. That's great. But I I've always said that local governance, our lights, our sewers, and our streets are nonpartisan. And this issue um that we have been seeing and unfold and morph into something very ugly. It's not about politics anymore. It's again about government's actions not aligning with our constitution, not aligning with the rule of law and basic standards of fairness and humanity. what was said earlier. Yes, we have a serious documented consequences of individuals um getting involved and disrupting communities. And as local municipalities, we are the closest form of government for our communities. And we hear our communities. We hear the plight and we feel the anger. We see the anger and we feel the anger as well. I want you to know that we will continue as a community. I I am very glad to see there is a

community-led um program and I will continue to encourage people to video. I know that there are classes now for as to become legal documenters um of events. Um I do want to caution um our community and our community members to get in the face and get involved and interfere physically um for your own safety. But let me be clear unequivocally this is beyond party affiliation. This is beyond party affiliation and we will stand together as a community and make sure that item number four in our item number seven in our agenda tonight was the approval of additional funding for additional workshops on your rights and legal aid. We will continue to do that. Um, in regards to um, again that that is my my comment as the mayor of this city. Um, I want to let our community know, um, NALEO as an organization has the principles of immigration were adopted unanimously by a bipartisan board and these were reviewed in June of 2021. There's no single individual even as the pre its president. There is not one position that single-handedly

drives policy for an organization that is nonpartisan. Being nonpartisan does not mean we're valuesneutral. The organization unites elected officials across party lines around shared commitments to the civic engagement of Latinos, democracy, the constitution, due process, and human dignity. Not one person, whether is the chair of the ED fund or the president of the organization, not one person directs its policy. We're a large, we're two boards. We're a large organization and together we speak in a bipartisan manner. We have said here I think on the dis um we need immigration reform. The last meaningful immigration reform was 40 years ago under the Reagan administration and this is where we are now. I will it it's not productive for us to engage in singling out who belongs to what party on this dis because what we do here the approving of balanced budgets um the projects that benefit the community are aside from our what you would call partisan politics. We come as individuals collectively and this is what Downey over the last 60 years has stood and has stood firm. This is not the first um controversy that our world has faced. But as elected officials, we serve this community and we work with our police and our fire for

the benefit of this community regardless of documented status. Regardless of color, regardless of creed, and regardless of religion, we are here to serve as one body. And with that, I end my comments. Um, this city council meeting will be adjourned in memory. Oh, Mr. City Manager, I I skipped your comments.

I don't have a whole lot, mayor. Um, I did uh just want to go over quickly. Uh, I got a lot of items uh for tonight. I think I got seconds as I needed on most of those here. I did appreciate the comments about uh about the hard work of staff from from council. It's much appreciated. Uh we have uh a pretty solid team here and I want to say thank you to them for all the hard work that we put in and appreciate the comment mayor about um the number of activities and things that we have. It is going to be a busy year. Uh we may have to have some conversations at some point about what we can and can accomplish, but happy touh bring these items back to you guys for consideration and move these things forward. I think it's going to be a a a very I think it's going to be an awesome year. 2026, I think, has a lot ahead and I'm pretty excited for all the things that we're going to be bringing forward. So, please stay tuned. We have some good stuff's coming.

Yes. Thank you. Um thank you, city manager. And at this time, this meeting will be adjourned in memory of um ICU nurse uh Mr. Pretty and Downey resident uh Jose Moreno who lost his life tragically in Downey this morning. Um, also the Apollo 1 astronauts, the STS51L Challenger space shuttle crew and the STS 107 Colombia space shuttle crew. A moment of silence, please. It is 8:34. This meeting is adjourned.