City Council - Regular Meeting

We will now move on to the next presentation, but before we do, Mr. Perez, Mrs. Reyes, would you like to say any words?

I would like to say this is a perfect example of when your hard work pays off and I really admire your tenacity because you have done a lot for the city of Arvin and you go out there and you advocate for the city of Arvin. And it's a perfect example of when that your voice does matter. And this is a perfect example of everything that you guys have done. So I really greatly appreciate everything you have done for the city of Arvin. Thank you so much.

Mr. Perez.

I want to say thank you guys. You guys did a great job and doing a good job. I will be looking for future projects because I'm sure we're not done. I'm sure there's more cooking. And I thank you guys a lot. I do love this committee. I feel like you guys are doing great, great work. And again, thank you guys and everybody involved. Even Pedro had to step away for a little bit. But thank you guys very much.

Thank you. We will now Okay. We are now, our community, we declare that Arvin is awesome. Arvin is asombroso. And we declare it proudly because it's true. And Arvin is awesome because our people are awesome. And in the room today are the best of the best. And I mean that. from a place of servant leadership. It is to be in the service of others for the benefit of others. And I'm so incredibly inspired and proud of these young people. Over the past two years, we have had two extraordinary clubs at Arvin High School. future farmers of America, and the National Honor Society that have been out there in the most creative of ways, building community, beautifying our city, and showing us what's possible, and demonstrating that age doesn't matter. These are not the leaders of the future. These are our leaders now. And they are leading. And today we are going to hear from the board, the officers of these clubs that are here with us today. And we are also incredibly grateful to Veolia. Veolia is... the corporation that manages our wastewater treatment plant. And they are here to recognize the community service of these organizations through a donation today. And I know that today's donations to both of these clubs, as well as CASP, the state science testing program, the donation will be split three ways. It is a $10,000 donation that Veolia is making to these three incredible programs, the clubs and the state testing program at Arvin High School. But I want to say that. We know that your efforts are priceless and that this may be a small symbol and that token of appreciation. Know that perhaps, and I know you don't do this for the clicks on social media or for the attagirls and attaboys. You do it because you love Arvin. You do. And I want you to know that perhaps we can't say thank you every day when you're out there behind the scenes. Know that we see you, the community sees you, and we're so grateful for you. So keep shining and keep leading the way. We're so inspired by you. We're going to hear first from the National Honor Society, and then we will be hearing from FFA, followed by Veolia. I want to share with you briefly what the National Honor Society has created in FFA. Then they're going to come up here and they have prepared remarks for us and we'll hear from their officers. The National Honor Society has pillars of excellence and one of them is service. And I've been so incredibly inspired by their heart. They have gone out there and they're now starting their third annual backpack drive where they give our students a free backpack to get back to school, They work in community to make sure that they get a free haircut so they look fresh and cool with their backpack and are excited to go back to school. Have grown this effort so that now they're partnering with community organizations that are also connecting our families with key resources. They're out there cleaning graffiti and cleaning our parks and leading community art through murals and have created the most beautiful mural in partnership with other community organizations. to celebrate our culture and our traditions. They were recognized nationally. And it's such an extraordinary acknowledgement and recognition at the national level. They were one of 16,000 chapters to be recognized nationally for their service. And I'm so very excited about what they're going to continue to do. And it's one of the fastest growing clubs at Arvin High School. And they have these two beautiful advisors, Mr. Jose Unpaco and Alex Q. And they are just... pouring into these students and our families. And because of that, they're making history at Arvin, which is one of the largest graduating high school classes this year of students that are going to go to the top universities in our country. Students that received the Gates Scholarship, full rights to UC Merced, they're going to some of the top-notch universities. They understand about the power of social capital. That's who they are. But behind that, they're out there in service, leading and transforming our community. And it's so beautiful and powerful to see. In addition, To that, they continue to come out. Right now, they're on summer break. They could be sleeping in. They could be doing all sorts of things. Instead, they come out and they join Avanza Arvin, a local coalition of young leaders, and they're planning events like a Father's Day celebration. They planned a woman's celebration. They're out there thinking about community gardens, perhaps a dog park. You know, what do we do about... Animals that are in the streets that have been abandoned, they're constantly identifying problems, but not from a place of let's complain about it, but what are the solutions and what can we do about it? And that's what's powerful about this group. Then you have the Future Farmers of America. Here in Arvin, we declare that Arvin is the garden in the sun. You plant a seed and it grows. We're surrounded by fertile ag land. We are an agricultural community and we're proud to be an agricultural community. And Arvin High's FFA shows that the future in agriculture, it is bright. And I've seen these leaders that are out there in service. And let me tell you that for over a year, a year and a half now, Arvin High's FFA is the driving force of Arvin's community food distribution program. Early in the morning, the first Thursday of the month, come rain or shine, and I'm serious because I've seen them out there when it rains or in the summer when it's really hot. And they're out there and they prepare fresh food boxes, 50-pound food boxes of fresh, delicious food. They prepare it with compassion and dignity to meet that food insecurity and hunger in our community. And they do it. And they do it with a smile. And they're out there in service. And this food distribution is now something that the community has come to expect because the need is great. On average, 450 cars drive through that distribution every month. And there are multiple families in each vehicle. And it's been so tremendous to see these young leaders serve in the way that they do. And thank you to their advisors, to Mr. Mills, Donald Mills, and the Cervantes brothers. It's just, and I'll tell you, It's incredible. They're out there at the Arvin farm. And if you haven't visited, go and see it. It's so beautiful the way they have it organized. And God knows that they need more investment. And we know we're going to be here advocating for that because they're out there early in the morning before school starts at that farm. you know and if you've never worked at a farm but many of them they'll tell you how much work and dedication it takes but i just want to say a special thank you for what they've done because i will tell you this the families that our students are serving our farm worker families The same families that work so hard to put food on America's tables often struggle to put food on their own, and that should not be how it is. And yet these students know that the need is great, and they've been out there committed, and we just want to say thank you so much for your service. Their impact is so tremendous that Clinica Sierra Vista reached out because they saw the turnout and they asked if they could partner as well. And so for the past two months, Clinica Sierra Vista's mobile clinic has now been showing up and offering medical services, health services at the food distribution for our families. That is what Arvin High's FFA has created in community. And we're so tremendously proud of you and thank you. So with that, we'll start with your presentations, and then we'll open it up for comments from the council, and then we'll take group pictures. So we'll have FFA go first. I'm sorry, NHS go first.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the City Council, and distinguished guests. My name is Jose Ompauco, and on behalf of the National Honor Society at Arvin High School, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Veolia for this generous gift and for their willingness to invest in our students, our school, and the wider Arvin community. We're especially grateful to Mr. Troy McCoy, Ms. Mayra Jimenez, and Mr. Jerry Limas. This generosity means a great deal to us because it represents an investment in our young people who are learning to embody lives of service, scholarship, leadership, and character, the four pillars of the National Honor Society. At Arvin High School, our NHS chapter has grown to more than 220 members this past year, and together our students have completed over 5,000 hours of community service, They have served through projects like our backpack drive, community beautification, and food distribution, all meant to meet the real needs of our community. And through these, they are learning that true leadership is not about recognition, but about the glad assumption of sacrificial service. Arvin is a community filled with ability, promise, zeal, and heart. And if you spend any time with our students, you'll know that to be true. But we also know that access is not always equally distributed. A student's zip code should never determine the size of their dreams, the quality of their opportunities, or the reach of their future. which is why this gift is so meaningful. Because with this gift, we hope to provide college-going experiences for our students, experiences that will allow them to see what is possible beyond Arvin, not so that they can forget where they came from, but so that they can return with greater vision, greater purpose, greater resources, and a deeper commitment to serve and uplift our community. Our city of Arvin is known as the garden in the sun. And like any garden, our students need people who are willing to invest, willing to cultivate the soil, And most importantly, willing to believe in what can grow here. Viola's support this evening helps us do that. So again, thank you. Thank you for believing in our students. Thank you for recognizing the good they are already doing. And thank you for opening the door to what we hope will be an ongoing partnership in service to Arvin and its students. City Council, Madam Mayor, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Opako.

Good evening. I will be speaking in English and Spanish, so you don't need to translate. Good evening, everyone. My name is Esmeralda Ramos. I was the president of the National Honor Society these past three years, and soon I will be attending Williams College. I'm honored to be here tonight to thank the ODS team for their generous donation to Arvin High School and to our Arvin High's National Honor Society chapter. Your generosity will make a huge difference in our community as we continue to uplift students who strive for academic excellence while giving back to their community. Over the years, our chapter has grown from 30 members to more than 220 members. We have been recognized nationally through the National Honor Society Chapter Pillar Awards of Service. Only eight high school chapters are chosen from over 16,000 nationwide. We've also expanded our outreach through events like our annual backpack drive, which has provided over 2,000 backpacks to students in need. In addition, we've also taken our members to field trips to prestigious universities like Stanford, UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, to encourage them to reach for the stars. Thanks to the support of the NHS, our past members have continued their education in prestigious universities such as Dartmouth and Yale. 16 students received a full ride to UC Merced, and we have the largest class attending top 20 schools like UChicago, Williams College, Swarthmore, UC Berkeley, Claremont McKenna, and UCLA. In addition, we have two Gates Scholars. Veolia's generosity is not simply a donation. It is an investment in students who are working to become the next generation of leaders, scholars, and change makers. On behalf of our members, our advisors, and the entire community we serve, thank you for believing in our mission and for standing beside us. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact together. Thank you. Buenas noches. Mi nombre es Esmeralda Ramos. Fui presidenta de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores durante los últimos tres años y pronto comenzaré mis estudios en Williams College. Es un honor para mí estar aquí esta noche para agradecer el equipo de Veolia por su generosidad, al club de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores y la escuela secundaria Arvin High School. Su donación marcará una gran diferencia en nuestra comunidad, ya que seguimos apoyando a estudiantes que se esfuerzan para alcanzar la excelencia académica mientras brindan ayuda a su comunidad. A lo largo de los años, nuestro club ha crecido de 30 a más de 220 miembros. Hemos recibido reconocimiento a nivel nacional a través del premio Pilar de Servicio de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores. Solo se eligen ocho escuelas secundarias entre más de 16,000 en todo el país. También hemos ampliado nuestro alcance mediante iniciativas como la campaña anual de recolección de mochilas, que ha proporcionado más de 2,000 mochilas a estudiantes necesitados. Además, hemos organizado visitas a universidades prestigiosas como Stanford, UCLA, USC, y UC Berkeley para motivar a nuestros miembros a aspirar a lo más alto. Gracias al apoyo de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores, nuestros alumnos han continuado su educación en universidades de gran prestigio como Dartmouth y Yale. 16 estudiantes recibieron becas completas para UC Merced y contamos con el grupo más grande de alumnos que asistirán a universidades clasificadas entre las 20 mejores, como la Universidad de Chicago, Williams College, Swarthmore, UC Berkeley, Claremont McKenna, and UCLA. Gracias por creer en nuestra misión y por acompañarnos. Estamos profundamente agradecidos por su colaboración y esperamos seguir generando un impacto positivo juntos. Muchas gracias.

I WILL ALSO BE SPEAKING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR OLIVIA AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. I'M THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE NHS CHAPTER IN ARVIN HIGH. WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR VIOLIA'S DONATION NOT ONLY TO OUR CHAPTER BUT TO THE OTHER GROUPS ALONG IN THE DONATION. Buenas noches, alcaldesa Olivia, miembros del consejo municipal y distinguidos invitados. Me llamo Rodolfo Barana y me presento en frente de ustedes como el presidente de la Sociedad Nacional de Honor. Estamos sumamente agradecidos por la donación de viola, no solamente a nuestro grupo, pero a los otros grupos. There is no end to our gratitude because Veolia entrusted and deemed our chapter with a portion of this donation. And with the contribution of Veolia, our officers will be able to consider widening the scale of our community events to be more fruitful. As for upcoming events, our annual backpack drive is in progress and will be taking place next month. The goal is to give out 1,000 backpacks to children before school starts. But along with those backpacks, we will also be giving out hygiene kits. We also make it necessary for us to push out useful resources out into our community, like free public lawyers and college resources. Nuestra gratitud es infinita, ya que Violia confió en nuestra filial y nos asignó una parte de esa donación. Gracias a las contribuciones de Violia, nuestros directores podrán considerar ampliar el alcance de nuestros eventos comunitarios para que sean aún más beneficiados. En cuanto a las próximas actividades, ya están en marcha. Nuestra campaña anual de donaciones de mochilas que se llevará al cabo del mes que viene, el objetivo es entregar mil mochilas a niños antes del inicio del curso escolar. Además, junto con las mochilas, también distribuiremos kits de higiene. Asimismo, consideramos fundamental difundir recursos Not only will this donation go into helping our community, but it will also benefit our own members. We'll be able to give more opportunities to our members to reach top colleges and universities around the nation. such as SAT practice sessions over the summer and campus tours. which can help our members know about the colleges and universities near them and hopefully attend them. Our passion project for the upcoming year is to create a mentorship program for elementary and middle schools in our local community. The goal for the program is to help struggling students either be at the level they are supposed to be or go beyond. We want to raise test scores in our community because it is crucial to the success of not only our generation but for generations to come. Not only do we want to help them in their academics, but we also want to become a trusted figure in their school where they can go to feel safe. La donación no solo contribuirá a ayudar a nuestra comunidad, sino que también beneficiará a nuestros propios miembros. Podremos ofrecerles más oportunidades para acceder a universidades de prestigio en todo el país. Por ejemplo, mediante sesiones de preparación para el examen SAT y visitas a las universidades. lo que les permitirá conocer mejor las instituciones cercanas y ojalá llegar a cursar estudios en ellas. Nuestro proyecto estrella para el próximo año consiste en crear un programa de mentoría dirigido a escuelas de educación primaria y secundaria de nuestra comunidad local. El objetivo es ayudar a los estudiantes que presentan dificultades académicas a alcanzar el nivel que les corresponde o incluso a superarlo. Queremos mejorar a los estudiantes Lastly, We want to thank you all for this opportunity. This upcoming year will be filled with events and opportunities, not only for the community, but for our members as well. The goal of NHS is to be a place where students learn to be role models and be a part of their communities wherever they go. We will extend you all an invitation to come to our upcoming induction ceremony in case you all want to see the students that you all can support. Por último, queremos agradecerlos a todos por esta oportunidad. El próximo año estará lleno de eventos y oportunidades, no solo para la comunidad, sino también para nuestros miembros. El objetivo de la Sociedad Nacional de Honor es ser un espacio donde los estudiantes aprendan a ser modelos a seguir y formar parte de su comunidad, donde quiera que vayan. Gracias. Muchas gracias.

I will also be translating in English and Spanish, so yeah. Good afternoon, Mayor Olivia, city council members, students, and families. I am Maria Pantoja, the National Honor Society public relations officer. On behalf of the National Honor Society, I would like to thank Viola and their members for their generous donations to the National Honor Society, which will help carry out many projects and provide numerous opportunities for the students of Arvin High School. Buenas tardes, Alcaldes Olivia, Consejo Municipal, estudiantes y padres. Yo soy Maria Pantoja, la Oficial de Relaciones Publicas de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores. Por parte de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores, me gustaría agradecerle a Viola y a sus miembros por su generosidad con la Sociedad Nacional de Honores, la cual ayudará a ejecutar muchos proyectos, dándole muchas oportunidades a los estudiantes de Arvin High School. The National Honor Society, NHS, is the oldest, most prestigious honor society in the United States, which recognizes students who demonstrate and excel in the four pillars of NHS, scholarship, leadership, service, and character. To meet the four pillars of NHS, members must meet the requirements which include maintaining a minimum of a 3.25 GPA and completing a minimum of 30 hours of community service while maintaining exemplary behavior. Being part of the National Honor Society has been a very eye-opening experience. It has not only exposed me to the different colleges I had never known about, but like many other students, they have allowed me to step into the shoes of what college life could look like. In addition to that, so far the National Honor Society has played a big role in helping students with their college application process, allowing many students to go to the top colleges. La Sociedad Nacional de Honores, NHS, es la organización de sociedades de honor más antigua y prestigiosa de los Estados Unidos. Reconoce los estudiantes que demuestran excelencia en los cuatro pilares de NHS. Rendimiento académico, liderazgo, servicio y carácter. Para cumplir con estos cuatro pilares, los miembros deben satisfacer requisitos los cuales incluyen mantener un promedio de 3.25 en sus calificaciones y completar un mínimo de 30 horas de servicio comunitario. Además de tener una conducta ejemplar. Formar parte de la Sociedad Nacional de Honores ha sido una experiencia sumamente reveladora. No solo me han dado a conocer las diversas universidades, las cuales no se me habían hecho reveladas antes, sino que al igual que muchos otros estudiantes, me han permitido experimentar la vida universitaria. Además de esto, hasta la fecha, la Sociedad Nacional de Honores ha desempeñado un papel fundamental en el apoyo durante la solicitud de ingreso a las universidades. Ayudando a muchos estudiantes a ser aceptados en algunas de las universidades más prestigiosas. Furthermore, not only does this National Honor Society uplift its students, but it also uplifts the community by bringing together informal events and providing resources. This investment with Viola will allow the NHS to continue uplifting students and the community, inspiring and changing the trajectory of many, for which we'll continue to be grateful for. Además, la Sociedad Nacional de Honores no solo beneficia a sus estudiantes, sino también a la comunidad, a reunirlos mediante eventos y brindarles recursos. Esta inversión con Viola permitirá que la Sociedad Nacional de Honores continúe beneficiando a los estudiantes y a la comunidad, inspirando y transformando el futuro de muchos. Por ello, siempre estaremos agradecidos. Gracias.

Muchas gracias. Thank you. We will now hear from Future Farmers of America, FFA.

Good evening. I'm Abigail Lopez, FFA president for the upcoming school year 2026 to 2027. I want to give a huge thank you to our mayor and city council members who are here to award us. On behalf of our FFA chapter, I would like to sincerely thank you for this recognition and for your continued support of our students and programs. Your support will be used to strengthen leadership opportunities for our members and help us become more active, informed, and engaged citizens. Through leadership activities, workshops, conferences, and community service projects, we will develop skills that encourage responsibility, teamwork, and civic involvement. A portion of the funds will also help provide FFA uniforms for our members and t-shirts to help create unity, represent our chapter with pride, and promote FFA within our school and community. Your investment in our chapter is an investment in the future leaders of our community. We are grateful for your support and look forward to using these resources to make a positive impact. Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

Good evening, everyone. I'm Dulce Serna, and I would like to begin by saying thank you for having us tonight to our mayor and city council and members of Veolia. On behalf of our FFA chapter, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support. We are incredibly grateful to receive this funding and for your investment in the future of students. This will help our chapter grow by providing more opportunities for leadership development where members can build skills in communication, teamwork, and responsibility. It also helps support activities that encourage civic engagement and community involvement, helping students become active and informed citizens and promote chapter pride, unity, and professionalism as we represent our school and community. Your support helps create opportunities that will benefit students and the community for years to come. Thank you for helping us continue to grow and serve our community.

Thank you. Welcome.

Good evening. My name is Anthony Lopez, and I represent Arvin High FFA. We would like to say thank you for your generous donation and for supporting students in our community. Because of your contribution, students in our program will have opportunities to participate, represent our chapter through official dress, and receive the supplies needed to care for their livestock projects. These experiences develop valuable life skills and prepare us for our future. Thank you for believing in us and investing in the next generation of urban high agriculture.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, City Council, and representatives from Viola. My name is Emily Ramirez, and I'm honored to represent our FFA chapter. Thank you for your support and for investing in our students. Your donation helps provide leadership opportunities for students to build skills in communication, teamwork, responsibility, and community service. It also helps provide FFA t-shirts that give our members a sense of pride and unity, as well as represent our chapter at community events and activities. As someone who has been involved in this program, I have seen firsthand how these experiences help students gain confidence, develop leadership skills, and prepare for the future. Thank you again for your generosity. Your support makes a real difference, and we are all truly grateful for the opportunities you help provide. Thank you.

Thank you. Are we complete from FFA? Yes? Okay, great. Veolia? Oh, we also have Veolia. We have Principal here. Principal Ramirez, would you like to say a few words before we have Veolia come up? We have Arvin High School's principal. Come on up. Welcome, Principal Ramirez.

Good afternoon, and thank you for all of this. I just want to say thank you to our students for all the wonderful work they continue to do, and thank you to Veolia and the city of Arvin for continuing to support their efforts and all the work they've been able to accomplish. So if we can just get one more round of applause for our students, that'd be great.

Well, good evening, Mayor Calderon and Council. I will tell you that that is a very, very tough act to follow, listening to those incredible young people. My name is Troy McCoy. I am the Vice President of Municipal Services for Veolia in the West, and I am extremely grateful to be here. Part of my job is I do a lot of these, check presentations throughout the West. And I will tell you what's so unique about this opportunity is that this is one of the few times that everybody celebrates the academic success, everybody. But to hear the level of community engagement from all the incredible young people here today It's pretty inspiring. And I know many times you look to adults to inspire many of you, but I want to thank you personally for challenging me as I listen to many of those stories. I think the work that you guys are doing in the community for such a small community and the recognition that you guys have received is unbelievable. And a few folks mentioned that they wanted to thank Veolia for the investment. I don't look at it that way. I look at it as you guys, meaning the community, Mayor Calderon, the council, have trusted us enough to be a part of your community for over 20 years. that we feel like we're vested with all of you and really appreciate what you guys are doing. I know we're trying to take a picture, so I'm just gonna be really brief with a couple more things. To hear the level of success that many of you students have achieved is unbelievable for a community this small. I have no doubt that with everything that you're able to accomplish when you leave high school, as many of you have already done, and you take that next step into your professional careers, you guys are going to have an incredible impact on your community and city. And I am not just saying this. I mean it. It is unbelievable the level of service that you guys are giving back to each other, and that's the most important thing in building strong communities. So I personally want to thank you for allowing us to be a part of your community, and we're looking forward to being a part of it for several years to come. So thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I appreciate all of you, and looking forward to returning here next year for the next group that comes along that you guys have paved the way for. So thank you.

Well, hello, everybody. My name is Jerry. There's not much to say. I think everybody has said enough. The only thing I can say is that deepest in my heart, I knew it from the first time that I picked who I wanted to do the contribution. I was not wrong. That's the future to me. That's the future. And I always said it, and I said it to the principal, I don't want to do nothing else other than to invest into the future for Arving, for better Arving. I work here, I live here. I feel like I'm part of your family. Thank you very much for allowing me. Be quite honest, today I have seen two things. The present, the first contribution, that's your present. That's for you guys, the future, to follow. Today is an amazing day. You have seen the present and the future. and choose the future needs to follow the person what they've seen. Because those two contributions that you guys are getting today, it's for the best of the Army. Thank you.

Thank you, Jerry. Thank you for being part of the family. Okay. Council Member Reyes, and then we'll all go out for a picture, and then Council Member Perez. Council Member Reyes. Any comments?

You know what? As I sat here and I listened to the ones that came up and spoke, I was really, truly inspired. I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother, and I know that your parents are beyond proud of you guys. And I think one of the things that really touched me the most is what he said. Do not let a zip code, the color of your skin, define what you can be and what could you do. We live in Arvin. I come from L.A. myself, too. And one thing I do tell my daughters, do not let nobody tell you you cannot do nothing. You can amount to anything because the sky is the limit. And I don't know you guys personally, but you guys really touch me. And I'm so proud of you guys. And I can't wait for you guys to come back and give back to the community. And maybe one day be up here. Absolutely. And lead the city of Arvin. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, yes.

Mr. Perez? I just want to tell you guys that I'm very proud of you guys, especially some of your last names are from my little hometown, right? A lot of us are here. Somos de Guanajuato. Somos del Joconoscle. Somos del Palo. Los miro, los reconozco. Y me da mucho orgullo que estén aquí.

Okay, so with that, are we ready? So we are going to go out there in front of City Hall where it says City of Arvin. We're all going to take a group picture, yes? Okay, let's go. We'll take a ten minute break for the pictures. Eolia will present the check.