City Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress.

Okay. Wow. Uh, good evening. Welcome to the city

council meeting for February 10th. Madame Clerk, will you please call roll? Council member Dillard here. Council member Lotheian here. Council member Suzuki here. Vice Mayor Kazarez. Mayor Rapatthis here. We begin every meeting with a flag salute and um an invocation flag salute. And tonight will be council member Diller. Council member Dillard.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, good evening, everyone. Um, uh, as recognizing, um, Black History Month in February, I thought it would be fitting to read about one of the most prolific poets in black history, James Baldwin, one of the most influential American writers and thinkers of the 20th century. James Arthur Baldwin uh born August Id 1924 and passing on December 1, 1987 was an American novelist, essaist, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist whose work examined race, sexuality, and identity in the United States. Born in Harlem, New York, he became one of the most powerful voices on social justice and human experience in the postworld war II era. Baldwin's writing expand expands fiction, essays, plays, and poems. Baldwin didn't just write about racism and inequality. He lived it, engaging directly with the civil rights movement. He traveled throughout the American South, met and worked with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and participated in marches such as Selma to Montgomery in 1965. His essays and speeches became essential texts in the struggle for civil rights and human dignity. James Baldwin's work has had a profound and lasting influence on literature, race discourse, and civil rights thought. His writing continues to be widely studied and remains relevant

to the discussions about social justice today. After his death in 1987 in St. Paul Devince France Baldwin influenced only his influence only grew inspiring later generations of writers, thinkers and activists and leading to renowned interest in his life and work through books, films and public dialogues. That is just a little bit about James Baldwin. Shall we stand uh for pledge of allegiance? Ready? Begin. To the flag of the United States of America to the stand with

Thank you. City manager comments. I have none.

Community bulletin reports. Um, I'll start with Council Member Dillard. Uh yes, I have one. Um uh the year of the horse. Join us Monday, February the 16th at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for our third annual Lunar New Year celebration. Um, this is, uh, taking place at the Joan Croc Center just down the road, and it's going to cover stunning cultural uh, performances, familyfriendly crafts and games, uh, anime, trivia, uh, competition, things to buy, bring cash, they say, uh, new year prayer and wish wall church at, uh, the croc and passport around the world for each vendor. uh Laos, Thailand, um Japan, China, and Vietnam. Did I say that wrong? La La L Okay. But anyway, I hope uh that you uh will be able to attend. It should be fun. If you need more information, you can check with me after city council. I'm happy to pass this flyer along. Thank you. Thank you,

Council Member Lotheian. Mr. Mayor, for the first time in my city council career, I do not have one. Okay. Uh, council member Suzuki, I have nothing.

I just have a few here. Uh, they've given me to read. Um, La Mesa Police Department will be holding a DUI checkpoint this Friday, February 13th, between 7:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the city limits. Please consider ordering a ride share service or a designated driver. Um, we're encouraging sober driving. Please plan ahead. Remember, um, some prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can interfere with your driving, too. Kickoff Litterfree La Mesa's fourth year of a community cleanup uh from Brierrest Park to neighborhoods along Murray Drive. The event is on Saturday, February 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Trash pickers and buckets will be provided. Just bring comfortable clothes, closed towed shoes, and sunscreen. Um, swap your gently used clothes, accessories, shoes during our free clothing swap event on Saturday, February 28th at 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donations must be free of odors, stains, or rips. This event will be held at the Laame Mesa Library on the 28th. Join us for home energy fair happening on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the La Mesa Library. You learn where energy comes from, tips to reduce home energy use, and ways to access programs that lower utility costs. And lastly, MTS wants to hear from people who live and work and visit Lame Mesa about their experience with the bus trolley. Take a three-minut survey to share your feedback and be entered to win one of three $25 gift cards. Council member Dillard is excluded because she serves on the board. I'm just kidding. It doesn't say that. But anyways, I know that she's been promoting that as well. So, thank you for that. And please take that survey. Um, next are additions or deletions by staff. Is there anything you want to

pull? Sorry, just that's okay. um vice mayor uh Kazarus um is out today and she and I had a council initiated item and um we need to uh table it and that would be um council initiated 11.1 11.2 those were the advocacy letters requesting legislative action uh regarding the um the um sober living etc. Okay. So, we will table that today. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, next on the agenda are presentations. We welcome our city treasurer, Mr. Strabone. Always a pleasure to have you. Thank you for being here, sir. I pretend there's nothing in here. It's just empty. Just a pen. Right. Good evening to staff, the mayor, the vice mayor, the council, everyone joining us here in chambers and watching at home. My name is Matt Strabone. I am the city treasur of La Mesa and what follows is my report for the quarter ending December 31st, 2025. Next slide, please. I will start as I always do with a quick recitation of the principles underlying the city's investment policy. They are safety, liquidity, and earnings. Safety meaning we seek to safeguard the principle of our invested funds by investing in only safe assets. liquidity, meaning that we have enough cash to meet the needs of the city at all times. And finally, earnings. Once the first two principles are met, I go into the marketplace and uh purchase assets that seek to achieve the maximum yield possible. Next slide, please. Portfolio activity for this past quarter was quiet. We had two agencies called at a cumulative rate of 4.25%. Which meant that $2 million returned to us. Uh, I think business will pick up in this current quarter, Q1 of 26. We've had about a year's worth of quiet quarters in a row, but they've been quite lucrative for us. We made just a little bit over half a million dollars um in Q4. Next slide, please. Portfolio profile. As you could see, our portfolio is uh quite liquid and um weighted towards uh fairly soon maturity assets. done that on purpose because of the relative uncertainty in the marketplace uh which I think is starting to smooth out. I think will continue to smooth out

through the appointment of the next chair of the Federal Reserve. I have purposefully over the last 12 months or so um brought about $20 million after this coming month $20 million of maturing assets back into our flexible account. U I've been waiting to deploy it to see how the market and frankly the world has shaken out. I think we are going to start deploying that money again um over the coming months. Next slide please. Performer earnings which is just a estimate of what would happen if the last quarter was projected out over 12 months. As you could see we would uh earn about $2.4 million with a cumulative rate of 3.28%. Next slide please. Now the important part over the calendar year 2025 and for the third year running we earned the most money ever in the entire history of LA Mesa. It's illustrious history. We're earned 2.8 I nearly $2.9 million. Pretty good. Three straight years of uh records. Can't promise we're going to do it again, but so far so good. We'll we'll try our best. Next slide, please. Finally, before I get to final thoughts, I'm required to tell you by law that the city's investment portfolio complies with the city of Lames's investment policy as well as the relevant sections of the California government code that concern the safety and liquidity in the investment of public funds. Investment strategies are based on budgetary liquidity considerations and interest rate projections and have been collaboratively determined by myself, the director of finance and city manager. Next slide, please. Final thoughts. Uh yeah, I mean we have set so many records that it's old hat when I announce an annual record here, which is good. I think that um things are quieting down. The market for the kind of assets that we buy is generally all based on the treasury rate for five years or fewer. Um in years past we have been able to point to the federal payments rate and

say roughly treasuries are going to be there. We are not as sure that that's true anymore because of certain macroeconomic conditions. Uh there are a number of countries around the world that are seeking to get out from under their treasury holdings. I'm not sure what impact this is going to have on Treasury rates. Um I think they will hue roughly towards the the Federal rate that is set by the Federal Reserve, but I don't know if that rate will go up. I think the Treasury rate is going to end up being a few point a few basis points higher than that going forward. That being said, it is the stated wish of the administration to bring rates down. If rates do come down, the Treasury rates will also come down and we will enter the marketplace before that happens and try to buy up what we can to lock in the rights that we can. Um, but on the other hand, who knows? I mean, a lot of unprecedented things have happened uh in the fixed asset marketplace over the last 12 months and that could continue. I am going to do the best I can. Um, I would be derelict in not saying this next part. I have struggled with whether I was going to say it or not. Um, Lame Mesa is a wonderful place. there is a good goal along get along vibe to a lot of what we do here. But over my three years and I before I say this I'll just say that I think I hope that three straight years of investment records has earned me some capital to say what I think about these matters in particular I am not so sure this city needs an elected treasurer. Surprising as that may sound. A few years ago, this city also had an elected clerk and I think the council wisely decided that they were going to professionalize that operation and now we have an appointed clerk and it's worked out pretty well. When we have an elected city treasurer, given the makeup of Lamesa's finance department as it stands, there is always going to be tension between the city treasurer and the director of finance. That is what I've learned. I did not have a good relationship with Tammy Royalis. I had a good relationship with the interim

director, John Herrera. I have my doubts about my relationship going forward with the new finance director. And that's not a knock on her character or anything. I just think there is an inherent tension between what my elected mandate is to do and what her responsibilities are. I think that that will always lead to one of two outcomes. either the elected city treasurer is going to follow a very basic latter uh strategy, which you don't need an elected city treasurer to do, or the city treasurer who has ideas of their own, even if they have a proven record of success, is going to come into conflict with what the finance director thinks is appropriate. Now, especially if the finance director is a CPA, let's say, there are just different um incentives, let's say. And to that end, I you know, I say this not to empire build or ask for more authority or ask for more money or anything. It just might be wise to not elect this office anymore and remove some of that tension. Now, I don't think the director of finance should be the one in charge of the investments either. I do think that you should perhaps consider appointing someone or hiring an outside firm uh to handle this on a more full-time basis who can craft uh a better strategy in concert with the finance department and the city manager. Uh but yeah, I don't know. The three years I've spent doing this, it has seemed to me that there is always going to be conflict if the city treasur is truly trying to do the best that they can for this city rather than just again follow a ladder blindly, which a machine could do and you don't need that for city treasur for that. So, I'm sure that will surprise all of you. I do like being city treasur. I would not seek the appointment if you do make an appointment appointed position. Don't misunderstand me. Uh but I do think there isn't a whole lot of point to this. Um if this is how it's going to be, I think it's not that hard for uh you to find someone who could do a credible job and will do it with a good

relationship with the finance department. I just don't know if electing someone is the way to go going forward. The portfolio is it it vascalates between 75 million and $90 million anyway. I get paid $16,000 a year to do this. I obviously have a full-time job on the side. It's a lot of money. Uh, I don't think the tension and the amount of time and care that an elected city treasur could give to this are commensurate with the scope of the task before them. So, just something to consider. I mean, my term is up in nine months. That's plenty of time to sort this out. Um, but that is my honest opinion and um I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't share with the council. And with that, I will take any questions you may have.

Yes. Um, the first thing I want to say is Mr. Strobone, thank you for your work because I I know that you you're very modest in what you've done and how you accomplished it. And I appreciate that, especially working in a position where it seems like what you've just described is it can um result in conflict and so I appreciate that. I am concerned about what you've just said just because naturally um it would be changing the nature of a position. I would like to hear more about this. Um, and so I don't know, um, how to go about researching the position because I don't know how I really, you know, um, full disclosure, I don't know how that how a city treasurer works until until I came, I knew it was an elected position. And when you give us your reports, I'm I'm always um you know, it's it's fantastical to me because I am not a money person in terms of numbers and everything, but on the other hand, I'm concerned because I feel like a check and balance system may be important to the running of the city versus having I I wouldn't want an outside firm personally. I would not want that. So, um that concerns me, but then maybe that's for the best. I I don't know if we would want the city to do research about this or find out about this. I don't know. I I I like you, Mr. Strobone, and I like your reports. So, I appreciate your work and um I I guess I'm just a little astounded by what you've told us.

That is fair. And I I thank you for the kind words, council member. I will say you are absolutely free to ignore me. Uh you are under no obligation to listen to me when I suggest this. And I I don't want to I don't want to make it sound like there is some disaster waiting to happen here. There there isn't. That would be a gross overstatement of the situation. I simply think that um well I I'll sketch out exactly kind of an example of what I'm talking about. So I mentioned earlier I've I've over the last 12 months purposefully have been put $20 million back into our flexible account which earns a decent rate of return right now. I perceived an arbitrage opportunity in doing so and I think the results have spoken for themselves but I did that with the understanding that that 20 million would be available later for redeployment. I am not aware of any new capital unplanned capital expenditure that was not budgeted for among the city but I did not get the level of immediate cooperation that I was hoping for when I set that out. Uh and and this used to happen with the previous permit and finance director quite a bit. there would be discussions about well this money we have to go back in have to go back out and I would not understand why we weren't projecting these figures out um and you know I I also I also think that if you really step back and take a look at how La Mesa over time has um I don't want to say handcuffed the role but to a certain extent handcuffed the role the investment requirements in this city are more stringent than the state the City treasurer has a threeperson committee that um the city treasure nominally chairs but that can outvote the city treasur on certain things. Those other two people are staff and have to work together every single day. It's asking a lot for the city treasur to overcome that relationship. Right now I absolutely understand why these things were put into place. Electing someone to manage this fund in a city of only 60,000 people. You are

rolling the dice. Maybe you got lucky with me. Maybe not. That's not for me to say, but you may not always. So, I understand why the safeguards are in there, but the safeguards lead to certain outcomes, which are okay until there is more tension between um the city treasur and staff around what should be done with the money that was set aside for the investments. And at that point, it's like why do we even have a city treasure? So, that is all I'm saying. Again, you are free to ignore that piece of advice that I've given you. Um if so, that's fine. I will continue doing what I do. No worries. Council member Dillard.

Well, first of all, Matt, thank you for the presentation. Um, I've been with you the whole entire time that you've been with us and I h have come to um not just admire your performance, but trust it. And uh I don't think that anyone doubts your capabilities and I think that 3 years is more than enough time to prove yourself and um you've definitely done that. Um I don't know what the resolution is here. uh since you you brought it to us like this, I would like more understanding or discussion about if there's even a possibility that we could work this out. Um because I don't um want you to feel like uh you're getting push back uh and making decisions that um are coming into conflict. So, um, uh, Mayor, I would I I I would

This is not on the agenda, so I'm letting it go, but but we all of this discussion we've just had, we're not really allowed to have it. So, sorry. It's it's something you can talk privately to the the city treasurer about or you can talk to the city manager, but this isn't on the agenda. So, I'm just I'm I didn't want to shut anybody down, but we weren't allowed to do any of this. So, so yeah, it is out of left field. Yeah. Well, it's just not on on the agenda. It's just the treasur's report and no disrespect to our treasurer, but um so it's not on the agenda, so we can't have this conversation. I'm sorry. I thank the council member for her kind words. Yes.

And I'll just add uh one more time, no one currently on staff is doing anything wrong. I simply think that there is an inherent tension in the prerogatives and incentives of the positions as they are arrayed right now. That's all. I'm not saying anyone did anything wrong. They have not. Just Just don't get that twisted. I'm simply um observing a pressure point that I don't think is ever going to go away. That's all. Thank you for your thoughts. Thank you for the Thank you for the report. Thank you.

Um next are public comments, general comments on the agenda. Uh first is uh Diane Diane Austerling followed by Von Rios. Welcome.

Thanks. I am not as prepared as I usually would be, but um felt compelled to come again. And I'm going to admit um part of that is because when I go to church, uh they remind us that we should speak up for other people. And that's uh really drives to my heart. And um as well as I went to the Banksy exhibit yesterday and I didn't realize that it's not just art he does. He is serious social commentary on the status of how we as human beings treat not just each other but interact with our government or how our government interacts with us. how corporations perhaps are breaking down the boundaries between nationalism and individual rights. Um anyways, very interesting. So I I recommend Banksy. Uh that's not really why, but I do want to read something. It was really a rather overwhelming experience to go. I didn't know what I was gonna get. My husband got me tickets or us tickets for Christmas. But just to give you a sense of these are some of the things that I think about with what you guys do. We have to survive through AI. We have to survive through this, you know, these crises of needs of water where we're having water shortages. We have an increased demand of electricity that's coming on with AI, etc., etc. And I think that we tend to look at the shortterm pictures and what makes everybody feel happy and don't address the real elephants in the room, which is, you know, sure, we can all put solar on our roof, but if there's no electrical grid, we got a problem. We Anyways, I'm rambling on. Sorry about that. Um, but life is a journey, and I

just encourage you guys hopefully to look at the big picture stuff. You're here to help people, not just for everybody to make money. And I'm not opposed to making money, but it's a it's a short-term gain when you have a much of much more important things going on. Part of the reason I'm not wasn't here a lot. I think you guys know my brother's house burnt down in January. My mother-in-law died three weeks later, and my father got very sick and passed away in November. So, it's been a full year with all the other stuff we had going on, but really um it just brings to mind

what's important and that is the people that we surround ourselves with and our neighborhoods. Thank you. Thank you, Von Rios, followed by Barbrey Wheeler. Welcome. Thank you.

Thank you for having me. My name is Von Rios. Good evening, mayor and city council members. Thank you for your time and for everyone in the room and watching. Uh I've been a taxpayer here in La Mesa for nearly 20 years. I'm here to speak about the undeveloped city park located at the corner of Weight Drive and Murray Hill Road. Uh listed on Google Maps as City of La Mesa Park at Weight Drive. Uh if you drive by the place, you can clearly see it is not a park. Uh on Google Maps it says it is opened uh from certain hour to certain hours completely fenced off. Nothing there. It's dirt lot. It's been like that for 20 plus years since I've been a kid. Since I've been here in La Mesa, over 30 years now. Um for several years now, um there's been a sign posted uh indicating a park would be built there. Uh many of us in the neighborhood viewed that sign as a promise. Uh recently I was told construction may be still 5 years away which is frustrating after already waiting for so long. This part of La Mesa has not seen a new park built in over 20 years. At the same time funds were allocated to tear down and rebuild Collier Park downtown, a park that was already functional. I'm not opposed to improvements around downtown, but the overall distribution of park funds does not feel equitable across all neighborhoods here, especially after hearing uh from the treasurer that the city has had three straight years of record uh setting investments or earnings. Uh in the area near Helix High School, we've seen significant growth. There's been noticeable increase of students, families, and young children. Uh two new housing developments have been built in the neighborhood. yet neither includes a park or playground. Meanwhile, if you look at newer developments in North County and Chula Vista where everything is booming right now, um playgrounds and green spaces are often built right into the neighborhood. Sometimes even few

blocks is every few blocks. We are seeing more strollers, more families, more babies. My younger brother has a one-year-old and myself, I just had a two week I I myself have a two week old daughter. We want what families everywhere want, a safe, walkable park where our children can play and our community can gather. Parks are not a luxury. They are an essential infrastructure that support health, safety, and quality of life. When park projects are delayed year after year, families are effectively told to wait even as we continue to pay taxes and invest in this city.

30 seconds. I'm asking the city council and the parks and recreation department to prioritize the weight drive park with real visible action. That could mean allocating funds sooner, accelerating planning, or at least providing clear timelines and accountability to the residents who have been waiting patiently. La Mesa uh prides itself on being a family-friendly city. I urge you to make sure that promises apply to all neighborhoods, including ours.

Thank you for your time and service. Thank you, Barbie Wheeler. Good evening. Glad to see you again. Okay, I'm here representing Belfflower Drive on the residents of Belfflower Drive and I'm very um encouraged by the agendas. even though they were tabd, I read them and I'm very encouraged about them, but I'd like to just speak in general now as I have been in the past. Um, I do appreciate the work you have done at keeping us informed about the process of stopping this drug house growing in our neighborhood. We received a letter from council member Lothium which stated the following items. One, the city of Lame Mesa does not have the authority to shut down Richard Evans detox house. Two, the city has inspected the house se home several times. Three, the La Mesa Police Department patrols Bellflower and maintains a visual presence. Richard Evans and his hands at home alcohol and drug detox has been the subject of multiple public comments at city council member meetings and these will continue. Knowing he is on the city's radar, re Evans is either in the process of p procuring a license, state license or already has one. You don't know this whether he has a one or not. Come on. We the residents have researched him and his house on our own and have come to you for help with this matter for more for more than 10 years. Why does it take over 10 years for the city to do something about this? I just heard about an area that needed a park. What's going on? more important to build big high-rise apartment buildings because it is not on your street because

it does not affect your daily living. This is why it's not taken care of. It is on our street. It does affect our daily living. Our children and grandchildren cannot have freedom to play outside because of the fear of the druggies coming out of the drug house and harassing them or stealing from them which has happened. I met a person who left that house. He is clean and sober, has a good job. And he said, "Richard Evans runs an illegal sober living house. It is not run correctly." He says that all it is is a flop house for druggies and crackheads. Evans house is now for sale. We pray that it will be sold to a nice family, but that won't happen. We think Evans is up to something listing undervalue. He is trying to fool everyone. He has We have seen him his realtors run running down the street with people in there. They don't even go on the property. They turn around and leave. It's crazy. Shut him down. He needs to be stopped. He's playing a game with all of us, with you and us. Okay? And he's a crook. He's no no good. And we have asked and asked

Thank you for your comment. Your time is up, please. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, next on the conflict disclosures by anybody on council. All right. Boards and commission appointments. Um, this is for the um the police oversight. And I have these names will be my my motion. Uh, please beat one, Jeffrey M. Mane. Okay. Can I get uh please beat two, Beth Morante. Police beat three, Clifton Eubank. Police beat four, Todd McCauley, and advocate for um homelessness, Aaron Landau. That is my motion. Thank you. Motion carries with all council members voting yes. The next uh item on the agenda is a resolution appointing the member to fill the unscheduled vacancy on the parks and recreation commission. I'll hand this over to the city clerk. Honorable mayor and council, interviews for the vacancy on the parks and recreation commission were conducted at the January 27th meeting. This evening, you're being asked to appoint one member to fill the vacancy. Nomination forms have been placed before you and the mayor and council members will indicate their nomination on the forms provided. Once completed, please pass the forms to me and I will read each nomination aloud and the process will continue until a nominee receives a majority vote of the council. Uh please refer to the yellow ballot and there are three applicants, Jonathan Austin, Sher Meek, and Jason Mullen. And you may select one nominee. Mayor Rapastatis has nominated Jonathan

Austin. Council member Suzuki has nominated Jonathan Austin. Council member Lotheian has nominated Jonathan Austin. And Council Member Dillard has nominated Jonathan Austin. Jonathan Austin has received the uh majority nomination. Thank you. We do need a motion and make a motion to uh appoint Jonathan Austin. Second. Thank you.

Motion carries with all council members voting yes. Thank you. Next is a public comment on consent calendar. Um 103 Diana Australine, 104 Diana, 106 Diana. Welcome.

Thanks. Again, I apologize. I'm not as prepared, but um juggling things still. So um and these aren't all criticism, but these are I just I'd like to pay attention to what's going on. Very few people have an opportunity to do that. So I try to when I can. Um on the sustainability I just wanted to acknowledge um again this was partly my Banksy experience recognizing that sometimes we talk about things that we want to do but what's really going on. So I can I would encourage thought going into the return on investment on sustainability issues. So when I say that it might not be just a dollar investment, but how are we, if we're going to say everybody has to, you know, ride their bikes to work, um, how's the practicality of that going to, if we're putting in lots of money into it, is that actually going to get a turnaround where you're going to have a lot of people stop writing, taking a car, and they're going to ride their bikes instead. U, more of a a bus idea might be more beneficial. Just being realistic. I think part of the problem is we have a lot of ideals and believe me, I'm a person of ideals, but when you get into it, there's only so much money and they're running out at the state level, the county level. Luckily, we're doing well, but it's a it's a shortage that we have going on and so practicality needs to be a part of the decision-making process. Um, I also on environmental stuff, I would encourage supporting and looking at conservation issues more. For those of you who I don't know if you remember, but when I was a kid, my parents bought our school clothes on layaway because we didn't have credit. It just wasn't a thing. Now we we don't anticipate we we I think we we undervalue the importance of not

overspending or overusing. My point is conservation putting in um insulation and things like that is much cheaper and more effective than it is to have to have people again put solar on the roof which we have. I'm just saying like I'm not opposed to these other things but practicality. How is it going to help people? um uh looking at storm water stuff. I I went to a thing at San Diego State and there was a brilliant scientist talking about one of the big issues we have with storm water that's really going on is um these concrete culverts um which seem to resolve issues are actually flushing out water so fast there's no place to absorb it. So 30 seconds water that would go into our ground system is not regenerating our aquafers that can be used for plant life and and drinkable water etc. and it's going out to the ocean. Anyways, um just looking at understanding how and why these things happen. And for the spring house seems like a great opportunity to maybe teach kids about water that whole water process because it is the spring house my understanding was an actual spring and water from the mountains around us are feeding that spring water um reservoir. Thanks.

It was Yes. Thank you. I'll make a motion to um approve 101 through 1011. Oh yeah. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yes. What what item would you like? Uh can can I just pull 10.7? 10.7. So I'll make a motion to approve 10 1 through 10 6 and 10 8 through 1011. Second.

Thanks. Motion carries without council members voting yes. Item 107. Council member Dillard.

Thank you. If I could just have the chief come forward. Um, I was just reviewing this and um, uh, I realized that there's some significant changes between 2024 and 2025. And I just wanted to highlight them because I want to commend you on the amazing um progress uh and ask you how how did that happen? You've got uh a total number of clients served in 24 at 57 and in 25 you have 137 which is uh a significant increase more than double. Uh, and then also, and you can just answer me. I'll ask you. I'll just tell you what I'm getting at here. Um, in the end, you have a total amount of people housed in 24 at 186 and in 25 you have a total house 322. So, what kind of magic is going on here?

I I wish I could say there's some kind of instant magic fil, but there's not. We have great staff that do an incredible job that have built amazing connections across the county. The reality is there's not a lot of room or a lot of places to put people, uh, but they've found every nook and cranny to do it. Uh, the numbers, as you see, sometimes are repetitive customers. So, it's people that have come back or that are still working on getting housing into services,

but uh with Matthew Smiley leading that team and uh everything that we have with the housing coordinator right now is just it's just been clicking. So, you know, the good thing is yeah, we still see people out there on the streets, but the people that we're encountering that come here want to get help. They want to get services. And I equate that to we don't have to use police resources now to go out and do that. So the cost savings that we're seeing there to have a home team civilian response uh doing that instead of police officers has has been quite a help. And do you know where um it's showing that we have total house like all the way through not coming back? Is there a number there? I I don't have that. Sorry.

Okay. It's all right. I can get it for you. Okay. Yeah. Um phenomenal job. Um, I commend Matthew uh, Smiley and the team and I'm just so happy to see this and congratulations on the progress. It's it's awesome that city collective. So, thank you. Yeah, thank you. That's all I had. Mayor, I'd like to Yes. jump on that now. So, let me get this right. Um, from 2023 to 2024, we went from 57 to 137 clients served. Client served means homeless person, right? Okay. Don't we want that number to go down,

not up? Because doesn't that mean like we that means 57 homeless people were on the streets in 2023, but our services are so awesome that now more have come and now we have serviced 137. Don't we want to see it go from 137 to 57 to four? I think that would be wonderful if if homelessness was going down like that. We'd probably see that. I mean, what's it going to be next year? 500. I mean that we don't want to see that number grow. I I agree with you 100%. There was an article a profile was done in the UT where a homeless man was interviewed and he said that he comes to La Mesa specifically because of how great of a treatment he gets here. So meaning that becomes a magnet. So I this I'm I'm feeling the opposite toward these numbers. I wish the numbers were going down instead of up.

Thank you, Mayor. Can I just Yes. Okay. So the thing is is that Matthew Smiley and his team is out there uh speaking to people and the challenge is is that you can speak to a person and they don't get the help or they don't take the help and so you go to the next person, you go to the next person. and the fact that he's had enough years now of establishing himself and his team uh that there's people that are agreeing to finally. Would you agree with that?

I I would agree with that and I think it's it's a fine balance too of looking at ensuring that those that are experiencing homelessness that want to get housed get housed. Yet there's also the other component of those that don't want to get housed and are out committing crimes. So that's the balance between the police department and the home team that has been very well uh you know taking the wrinkles out. Yes.

Of being able to do that to balance it to make sure that you know those that are uh chronic problems that don't want to get help that may have drug or addiction issues, things like that that we're getting help in a different way where those that want to get help and get into a treatment program if that's the case can go through our home team. And they've been extremely successful with that. And the reason why I'm commending uh the team is because I know what the struggle was in the very beginning just getting anyone uh to trust them initially. Uh when we had the police officers doing it, it they were as nice as they could possibly be and these people would not trust them. Uh would you agree?

I would. I mean the reality is this is a barrier uh to getting people into housing. We understand that and so we've come up with a program right now, our home program to where that it removes that barrier but it's still there when we need it. Yes. And so that's that's why I see this as a plus. Uh ultimately uh what uh uh councelor uh Lotheian has to say. We will get to that. Uh I would like to see the numbers go down as well, but for the right reasons uh not because uh no one's taking the help. And I think that that's making the difference when I weigh what what we started with. Thank you. Thank you, mayor.

One last question just to make clear. So, you're for reducing homelessness. Absolutely. Oh, me too. Good job. All right. Thanks. Um, sorry. Would you um like to make the motion on 107? One question. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That's okay.

Okay. So, sorry. The um just to make sure I understand. So I see that the community support partnerships there's a list in the in the attachment of the many people who work with it as well as the community resource partnerships. Is that a list that has grown as as the home program expands? So that means that there are more people touching um people who are out there because before you know I would think that as soon as a program starts there's there there are less volunteers and less people helping and so you can't reach as many people and so is this list one that grows um encompassing more people. It does. And it also we've we've had people in our city for years that have been trying to, you know, go feed or do things differently and now they can actually have a resource to provide that to rather than doing it somewhere else.

Thank you. Would you like to make the motion 107? Yes. I'd like to make the motion to approve. Second. Okay. Thank you. That's all we did. Just a consent calendar. We Motion carries uh with all council members voting yes. We did not solve homelessness.

Okay. We're always open to suggestions if anyone has something. We're going to table 11 one and two. So, we're at council committee reports. Uh council member Dillard MTS. I just wanted to give I haven't given a report for some time on public uh safety when it comes to MTS. Uh and I'd just like to report that the orange line we we always have the the highest line of participation is the blue line which runs uh from Sanro all the way up north. Um and they're at 488,259. The Orange Line is the third busiest with 105,185 trips. Um, and I just want to remind people about uh the Pronto passes. Um, those are the most convenient to get instead of having to go through the process every time you want to get uh, you know, take a ride. Um, but I want to remind uh everyone that if you don't have a pronto pass, um, uh, you if you get caught without it, you will get a ticket. Uh, there's no, uh, grace period. There used to be a grace period, uh, but that's all changed. And I just want to remind people to please get their passes and um you know buy it for a month. You can do that. And I want to remind the public also that if you are a student and you're under 18, your passes uh if you get a student pass, it's it's free. Uh so uh we want to make sure that um parents know uh that their children can ride for free if they're under 18 and they're a student. So that's all I have and thank you mayor.

Thank you council member Lotheian. I don't but I do have a question. If it's what if it's a high school dropout can they get a school pronto pass?

But if they're not a student and they're under 18, can they get one? I have nothing. Um, this isn't on this isn't the right spot for this, but would you mind talking about because I wasn't at the um the groundbreaking, so I I was ill, unfortunately. So, would you take this time just to uh let everybody know what happened?

Absolutely. My my my total pleasure. Uh we had a a groundbreaking for the new La Mesa district sign. Uh it was on Tuesday morning at uh I think 10 o'clock and uh you would have thought it was a ribbon cutting because there were so many people there instead of just a shovel and and the dirt. Um but we had the media there. Uh Vice Mayor uh Kazarus did a wonderful job uh telling the the public and the news about the sign uh because you were absent and so she did a great job covering for you and um everybody was excited. It felt like a street festival and uh it's we're going to have a sign in a and within a couple this summer and going forward downtown's going to have that outdoor dining patio. It's going to have that sign. It's going to have new it's just going to be amazing. Uh so um I'm not sure what else to add to that except that uh except that it was it was well attended and everybody's very excited about the ribbon cutting.

Thank you. Just I knew you were there and so I didn't want to talk about it so thank you for doing that. Yes. Uh, Council Member Suzuki, um, public safety, right? Oh, no, no, sorry. I forgot what yours is. Yes. Um, no, that's okay. No report. What about the water? Did you Did you go on a tour of the water, please? We will be going on a tour tomorrow on Thursday. Thursday. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. And then I will give reports then. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Um, no one traveled city attorney remarks. All right. We're adjourned until the second meeting in February. Thank you.