City Council - Regular Meeting

Oh, thanks. that I walked out on my head. Okay. or a small fry. All right. Good evening, everyone.

Good evening. We're going to call this meeting to order. Could I have your attention, everyone? Good evening. Thank you so much. Thank you each and everyone of you for being here tonight. I'm going to start off with just some housekeeping rules. So, um, we have overflow seating in the lobby area. Um, the meeting is shown on the TV monitor out there for additional space. So, if anyone standing wants to sit, that's an option. Uh, the restrooms are also in the lobby area. They're right outside to the right. Uh, staff is available at the back of the chambers if you have any questions or need any assistance. Uh because we have many speakers who are joining us for the first time, I just want to make sure everyone understands the meeting protocols. If you would like to speak, please f fill out a yellow speaker card and give it to the city clerk. Please indicate on these yellow cards which agenda item you would like to speak on. During the public communications, I will call speakers by name indicated on the speaker card for each item item on the agenda. Um, please speak into the mic at the podium. You have up to five minutes uh to speak per person, but just like our last meeting. Um, I believe we have close to 80 public comment cards tonight. So, I'm not going to limit anyone's time, but just like last time, I think you guys did a great job managing time. If you are saying something new, by all means. But if you're repeating, I would say let your neighbor, community member, the person sitting next to you get the time. Because last meeting, even though everyone did a great job managing, some people spoke one minute or one and a half minutes, we still had about 20 people go home and not get an

opportunity to speak because the meeting went on so late. So, please manage the time so that everyone gets a chance to speak. Um, we do want to get through all the speakers. So, we respectfully ask that you be mindful of the time where possible and I want to acknowledge that the topics on our agenda tonight carry a lot of weight for our community. We are all here because we all care deeply about the future of our city. To ensure everyone has a chance to speak and be heard, I also ask for your cooperation with a few ground rules. So, please direct uh comments to the council when you're at the podium. Please be respectful of each speaker. Everyone wants a chance to be heard. I know when everyone comes up, we'll respect you and not interrupt. So, please do that for every person whether or not you agree with their um opinion. We ask for silence while others are speaking. We're also using this system called Wordly. Um it's used for translation because not everyone here is fluent in English. Um it also uh does close captioning. uh the platform uses microphones to capture the audio and so if the audience is shouting or speaking out of turn the wordly platform won't be able to capture everyone's comments. So we want to also be mindful of those who are using wordly. Please keep your comments focused on the agenda item at hand and please respect the suggested time limit. My role as mayor here is to ensure this meeting is conducted efficiently and safe safely for everyone in attendance and that everyone who wants to speak will get a chance to speak and be heard. So um let's start off with our flag salute. Uh we have our Monterey Park Fire Explorers tonight and we also have a civic superstar Alex Zoo. He's a fourth grader from Apal Elementary to do our pledge of allegiance. So everyone please rise.

Everybody put their right hands over their heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge of 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. Where four? Thank you so much to Armon Park Fire Explorers and thank you to Alex Zoo. We have a certificate of recognition for you as our civic star this evening.

No, that's If there are any other community members who have children and want to be your civic superstars in the future, you're welcome to sign up online and join our future council meetings. All right, let's move on to our roll call. Madame clerk, may we get a roll call, please? Council member Go present. Council member Wong present. Council member Sanchez present. Mayor Promlo here. Mayor Yang present.

We have a quorum. Thank you so much. All right. Uh item five, any agenda revisions or additions?

Madame Mayor, I would like to request item 8A be heard tonight before uh public communications. Um these are students that we have joining us in the audience and we want to be uh mindful of of their study and bedtime. So if we could u we'd like to request um item 8A to be heard before public communications. And then the other items we'd like to request staff communications. That's agenda item seven if those uh those can be heard after item 9A. Um that way I I know there's a lot of public speakers for item 9A.

Sounds good. So we'll do the presentation, we'll do 9A and then move staff communications behind 9A. All right. So uh recognition of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge third place winners. We have Drexel Go, Alina Ramos, Evan Laauo, and Aicha Champu. You guys are welcome to come to the podium and say a few words. Thank you. I know my teammates want to say a few words, too, so I'll be brief. Thank you for honoring us tonight. Mayor Yang, Mr. Low, Mr. Sanchez, Mr. Wong, and Mr. No. Thank you. We would also like to thank our school administrators, Mr. Bob Jin, Dr. Harmile, Miss Le, Mr. Wyn, and we just like to say thank you for supporting us all of this time. Now, we also like to thank also like to thank our teachers. We know you've had a busy day and we are just so grateful to have your support. Finally, thank you everyone here for listening. We'd like to thank you and we appreciate you each and every one of you. Thank you.

Sorry, mine's a bit longer than his. Um, good evening everyone. I'd like to start by thanking all of the council members for once again inviting us here for this recognition. We truly appreciate it and are delighted to stand here again. We would like to thank all of our parents for supporting our four-year journey for competing in the Congressional App Challenge. Thank you for your endless love, patience, and support. Thank you especially to Miss Lamb for helping us throughout every step of the process each year and for giving us a space to work and dedicating so much of your time to helping us. Thank you for your belief and for bringing our team together. If it were not for you, we would not have made it as far as we have. Our thanks does not end with our parents who are grateful to many others, some of whom are here today. I'd like to thank Mrs. Wyn Drexel's MI and my kindergarten teacher for continuing to support us even 10 years after we left your class. Miss Gaither for your support and publicity, who has also been an important figure in our lives since kindergarten. Miss Lee for her neverending support and presence at ceremonies. Miss Houston for her encouragement and support throughout the years and to all of our past and present administration and teachers, Miss Houston, Mr. Newan, Miss Dr. Haram, doc, Mr. Jen, Miss Le, and many more that are here today. I would like to thank my aunts and uncles for the love and support to all of our friends and families for always encouraging and being supportive of us. We are blessed to have all of you in our lives. Thank you. We truly appreciate your endless support and encouragement. It has helped us greatly. We wouldn't be here without you. Thank you.

Good evening and thank you so much for this recognition. It truly means a lot for us to be acknowledged here today. Over the past few years, this experience has been incredibly fun and memorable. We've learned so much, met amazing people, and grown so many ways we never expected. Being part of this has challenged us, inspired us, and given us opportunities we will always be grateful for. Unfortunately, we won't be participating next year, but in many ways, that makes today even more special. This feels like a really good way to end this with gratitude and appreciation for everything we've been a part of. Thank you for everyone who made this possible, our mentors, organizers, the city, our parents, especially Miss Lamb and Let's Code because nothing would have been possible without her, and also everybody who supported us along the way. We're proud of what we accomplished and are excited to carry these experiences forward. We'd also like to give a special thank you to the teachers who went out of their way to support us today. Your time, encouragement, and presence meant a lot to us and we're truly grateful for everything you've done. Thank you again for this honor. All right. Thank you so much. Congratulations on earning third place in the Congressional App Challenge. And we have certificates of recognition for all four of you. Madame Mayor, if uh before we do that, we have a a brief video uh about the app.

The complete overhaul. While the original app allowed users to navigate a computer using only their eyes and voice, it was limited to only oncreen interaction. In addition to revamped speech to text, eye tracking, and a new face tracker, IMAX goes beyond the screen. A user can now control a robotic arm using their gaze and speech. Our main idea for the app is to help people with physical disabilities such as quadriplegia who cannot perform simple daily tasks without help. Many existing assisted devices are too expensive or inaccessible to those who need them the most. IMAX is our solution. It's a personalized and open source solution built entirely with Python. Using our overhauled eye tracking system and newly developed face tracker, users can navigate a control panel built with TKER to fine-tune parameters through sliders and buttons to their liking. We use OpenCV and other machine learning libraries to create two options for controlling the mouse. One, eye tracking, which estimates where the user is looking on the screen, then moves the mouse to that spot. Clicking can be done through blinking which is detected by checking for a minimum threshold of the eye aspect ratio. Two, face tracking which is done by calculating the pitch and yaw or the vertical and horizontal rotation of the user's face. Based on the direction of where they're facing, the mouse will move left, right, up, down, and diagonal. In addition, our upgraded speech to text engine also allows users to control the keyboard with their voice better than ever. Typing can be done by just saying what you want to type. And keyboard commands can be given through short specific phrases like increase volume or close tab. These commands are stored in a separate custom dictionary. This is for the Congressional App Challenge 2025. Delete seven characters. Open tab.

This year we assembled a self-calibrating prototype arm and integrated seamlessly into the IMAX interface. The control panel allows manual adjustment across the XYZ axis, giving the user precise control over the arm's position. Each axis can be fine- tuned or reset, and movement sequences can be recorded, saved, or executed as needed. The app communicates with the robotic arm using PI serial, which lets us send commands directly to the Raspberry Pi, activating the robotic functions. All this happens in real time thanks to the reworked Python code we wrote to coordinate eye tracking, voice recognition, and hardware control smoothly. All these updates make it possible for users to live more independently. The arm has two detachable options, a grabber and a pen mode. With these two modes, the arm has the capability to pick up water bottles, right? And more.

We also upgraded the gaming capabilities with new face tracker and speech to text functions. We were very conscious of this to be inclusive of all age groups. In addition, we created a website where users can download with this IMAX update, access our source code, and find documentation. We aim to ensure this project wasn't just functional, but truly accessible and sharable for anyone in need or anyone wanting to improve it. Thank you for considering our app line.

Congratulations presentation. Here are your certificates.

Yeah, you know they give you mad Absolutely.

All right. Are you baby? Yes, brother. All

right, back on the agenda. Um, and I think I think some of you are still holding on to the public comment cards. So, just a reminder to turn them in to the city clerk here if you would like to speak. Um, otherwise, if you hold on to it, we won't be able to call your name. Um, right now we're going to do public communications, not and then 9A will be right after. So, I have three quick just a quick announcement. U, if you have seats that are open next to I understand some individuals may have left already. Please raise your hands. So, individuals that don't have a seat behind you, see that there's open seats nearby. So, if there's community members that are looking for chairs, there's uh chairs in the audience here that people are raising their hands if you'd like to come sit down. Um, also just friendly reminder to keep the exit ways clear for us. Thank you.

Thank you, Aness. All right. So, we'll call our first uh public communication speaker uh Paul Isoaki. And uh each speaker, when you come up to the podium, please state your name. That way, the clerk's office can uh make note. Thank you.

Okay. Paul Isaki. Uh no on data center people. Barnes Park swimming pool supporters, listen to this. The city of Monterey Park uh needs to do their business differently. The city needs to get public input before deciding on major projects. The strength of this city is the homeowners and the residents. that you just saw these kids. Many of Monterey Park citizens are professionals and experts in their field. They can inform the city on major issues which our staff might not be able to see. Our city does backdoor business. Let me give you some examples of this backdoor business. The Abaho Garvey project. The city spent over $20 million reinfor reinforcing the hill facing Garvey. A property whose value is uh less than $10 million. So we spent $20 million on this hill, but the property is worth less than 10 million. Not very good business. We did not own the property, but we are now stuck with it. The Monterey Park community found out about the project, but the project was approved, the contracts were signed and doing business um and it was too late and uh they did the project without informing the pro uh public. The data center, our city again worked with the corporation and made deals without informing the public. When the uh community found out, it blew up in their face. We saw it at the last city council

meeting and I can see we're seeing it again today. The transplant center on the same property as the data center. Uh our city worked with one legacy and was ready to begin approval until the neighborhood above it found out and organized to stop it. Let's go back 30 years. When Judy Chu and Fred Balorama were city council person, they negot negotiated a exclusive trash contract with Athens disposal again behind closed doors. The residential trash, the trash cans at your house, all Athens. Commercial on Atlantic and Garvey, those businesses, all Athens. Industrial on Monterey Pass Road, all Athens. If you did construction, you had to use Athens. Um, Athens had an exclusive trash contract with Monteray Park. When the public and two city councilmen objected, the city manager and three in favor city councilmen did not even have to listen. They had three city council votes. Again, we did not go to the public first. the Barnes Park swimming pool. The city uh decided to bury the pool and uh use a property for city plans. Again, the community got involved and are trying to look for a solution. This uh is a simple case of abuse of power. Where does the abuse of power possibly come from? Well, in all five examples, the common denominator is our city attorney. The city attorney has been here too long. They are embedded in everything we do. Even at this meeting, I saw people

talking to the city attorney. They get paid for uh for their expertise, their consulting and representing our city. If we get sued for a project, our Senate uh our city attorney will defend us, but they get paid again. I received uh a detail and history of the Obvery project yesterday by text. It accused the city attorney of mismanagement. The city attorney's law office issued a cease and decease order that shut down the website. This is the problem. Shutting down information and communication between the community and city government. As for our city manager, she learned from Ron B. She was Ron B's assistant. The tradition of learning from past city managers. So, we make the same mistakes over and over. We need to change the way our city does business. We need no we must include our community not exclude them. Thank you very much.

Thank you Paul. Next speaker is Edund Takahashi. Ed. Hello. Um, thank you for this time to speak today. Um, for those of you who don't know me, uh, my name is Edund Takahashi and I am a resident of Monterey Park for 30 plus years. And, um, today I'm, um, here to represent, uh, the SUV powerup beacon, but also Markeell High School alumni. Um, I mentioned before um when I first came that I am a this is a 10-year fight for me and so this jacket over here actually says 13 women dive on it. It was ah the year before I was um president. I do have a funny story. Um this weekend during um the Chinese uh New Year festival, uh one of the former city council members actually ran away from me this weekend um because I app it really happened um because I approached the city council person about the pool. Um I was collecting signatures to continue the petition and that person saw me and I said, "Hey, remember me? Come on over." And they ran away from me in shame. Um, and I said, "Where are you going? You promised me a pool 10 years ago." Ran faster. Um, so anyways, uh, this is really unfinished business. And,

um, you know, I challenged the city council to finish the project this time, and I hoping that happens. But today, I'm here to represent the diving community. um options A, B, and C um that were presented on Monday night were all very nice options and I thank um the uh person the people doing the planning and for city council for having the survey to see you know what was important and um one thing is that the diving community was very um misrepresented. the diving boards were taken into consideration which is two onemeter diving boards. However, um talking to a coach um Leang Lee and he is a the diving coach at Mark Keell High School. He's also an Olympic gold medalist. So, we're talking that the students are being coached by someone who really really understands diving. He said that the minimum um requirements um is two 3meter boards and two onemeter boards. And so we've only allowed for two 1-meter boards in any of these plans. And also there is no spa that would allow the divers to um you know go ahead and do the warm-up and relax the muscles afterwards. So um just some consideration and I just want to point out that this is a very successful team. Oh, one more thing. Uh the uh person who was presenting the pool design said 12 feet was the depth of the pool. Minimum 12' 6 in. We don't want any accidents or any concussions. Um the current pool design may not be deep enough. So whether or not that person um just said 12 feet just to make it easy. I just want to make sure that specifically that pool is deep enough to um handle that uh diving boards that are going in. Um because you know things can happen with

six inches missing. Um going back to the diving team, nine CIF championships, four runner-ups and this just doesn't happen with um any coach and you know designing this pool. We're not just designing the pool for any standard high school. This was the design that we got was for a standard high school. We need it designed for a championship high school because that's what we have championship divers. And we need to continue that tradition. And um again um the uh 50 meter pool 81 almond league championships and the swimmers share the uh nine CIF championships and the four runnup championships because it's a combined team effort. So um the builder admitted that for options A and B that they would have to go and extend south and um I urge you to also look I mean I'm sorry north towards the tennis courts. I'm urging you to look south for space as well for those who are interested in the splash pad and the recck room because on Monday at that meeting it was admitted publicly that there was a possibility that George Elder pool would be closed. That being the case and a possible reality for the future, this Barnes pool needs to be the best pool possible that it can be and just be our dream pool that accommodates everything. Uh the divers 50 meters for our uh competitive swimming high school and club. 25 feet to include our water aerobics program, rehabilitation program, and swimming lessons for the youngsters. And my kids were water safe by the time they were four years old. So, it's possible for kids that young uh just know how to be water safe, not necessarily have a stroke, but to be water safe. So, um and have a splash pad. You can have we can have everything. And if you know we're going to close Elder, then we really need to put everything into Bard's Park.

And I thank you for your time this evening. Thank you, Edelyn. Next speaker is Aaron. I just have a first name. Aaron. Is there an Aaron that signed up for public comment? No. All right, then we will uh that's all the public communications I have. So, we're going to go on to the main item that everyone is here for. Oh, Erin's here. Okay.

Y'all keep groaning. Hi, everyone. Uh, good evening, city council. My name is Aaron Rllis. I'm the chair for the Los Angeles County Peace Freedom Party. I'm a DSALA member. I'm in a bunch of other groups. Um, but basically I'm here to say like what are we going to do about ice in Monterey Park?

Because I mean the same area that ICE was picking up Asian folks here is where I was canvasing to uh alert the community about the data center that's coming in. And to me, like Monterey Park, you know, it's the entrance to San Gabriel Valley. If we let ICE roam around picking up Latinos and Asians, their prime target, they're going to go to the rest of San Gabriel Valley. They're already hitting Alhamra hard, Monterey Park. Alhamra is already We went over there with 200 people. They they said their hands are tied in Los Angeles. The chief of police said his hands are tied. We need Monterey Park to do something. We need to enforce the mask ban. Have your the police department go and make sure they're enforcing that mask ban the same way the same way the police department discriminates against minorities, discriminates against workers. We need them to pull over ICE. Do they have their badges? Do they have their regulation, their f whatever federal documents they have to be operating here? Do you have your ma no mask? Do you have your identification? Any little thing to impede their process. While they're doing that, they could also alert the community where ICE is. I'm tired of all these do nothing Democrats in our state who are saying they're trying their best, having these hearing meetings, how about instead of using the police to protect capital, let's actually use the police to serve the community for once and get out of these mass criminals out of this community. Let's attack them. It's I'm tired of coming up and defending and defending and defending. We need to go and protect our community. I don't care what community is being attacked. If it's the Asian community, Latino community, white community, workingclass people, it's all the same struggle. I'm tired of the

Democratic Party, which all of you are a part of, which most people in an entire county of LA are a part of, all the politicians, Congress members. You have a super majority in the state, 70% of the assembly. the entire statewide seats, governor, public insurance commissioner, every single one. And y'all can't do a thing. I know y'all talk to the Congress members. I know you talk to the assembly members. Maybe not the governor, but y'all have connections. Where is the fight back? You're letting the community down. Cuz I'm telling you all, in these small cities, if the Democrats don't step up and do anything, they're going to be replaced by a new party. If we look back in history, new parties have come up whenever the whenever the supposed workingclass party didn't work. When the Democrats and the wigs fell silent on slavery, that is when the Republican party was created. Later, when women were looking for the right to vote, when we were looking for safe regulations on factories, the Progressive Party took hold and sweep statewide and congressional elections until they were banned from running for office. The Socialist Party became important when workers were going on strike. A new party will develop if you Democrats don't stop it. And I'm warning y'all because I'm already in one of those parties and we're coming for y'all seats. And I'm telling you exactly. I'm telling I'm telling you guys exactly how to stop us and do something for the working class of this state and I'm telling this is gonna you know screw my party over but I rather have that than than you guys do nothing and let more people get taken to who god knows who where to alligator Alcatraz maybe they're sent back to their c home

country maybe not who knows and I'm telling you all this now because people can be shipped in for pay here and sit in half of this council meeting, but you can't ship in votes. Thank you. Good night.

Thank you, Erin. Any other public communications? No. All right, then let's move on to item 9A, the item that everyone's here for. So item 9A, consideration and possible action to direct the city manager and city attorney to prepare a ballot proposition to prohibit data centers citywide and allow housing development within Saturn Park. I want to make clear that this agenda item um the proposed 1977 Saturn project is not on this item not on the agenda tonight and the city council will not and cannot discuss that project or details of that project tonight. So agenda item 9A was proposed by council member Go. So council member go please.

Yeah, let me just kind of speak up a little bit about that. I guess I guess over the last couple of months there's been a lot of dialogues and I've spoken to many in the community. Some of you I recognize here, some of you uh who are not here tonight but who have sent me emails over the phone or in person. I mean it's one thing that's clear and that's that there's a lot of passion in the city and there are many views about data centers in the city. Uh, I will say that the the the sentiment is no data center at this point after what I'm hearing. However, let me let me let me finish. However, that's not up for voting tonight. Uh what I also like to say is that you know we looked into the Saturn business park project which has been vacant at or sitting around vacancy at 86% vacancy for the last probably seven eight years now pre-COVID time and I think there's also a lot of sentiment there that that area needs to be better developed put in better use so that it doesn't further deteriorate and create a needed space. So with that, I'd like to ask uh the city uh attorney and also city staff, city manager to kind of go into review of what we can do from a a proposition ballot initiative for the future because I think the view of the city is important and we want to make sure all the residents voices are heard so that we can take action on this in the future. Thank you so much, Council Member Go. Um, any other comments before we start calling the public speakers? No. All right. So, like I said earlier, we have about 80 public comment uh speakers on this agenda item. Same as the last meeting. Um, you guys manage the time on your own. I'm going to call up five

names at a time so that you guys can line up when you hear your name called and then when the person in front of you is done, you can come up right away. You don't have to wait. All right? That way hopefully everyone gets a chance to speak before you have to go home. And madam may as we call people up, I was I made this comment last time as well. I'll confirm with the city attorney that I can engage on this item just because there has been a lot of misunderstanding about my engagement on this on this item and

yes madam mayor members of the council uh I think it's posted on the dedicated web page with regard to all the information on the data center the FPPC opined that you cannot participate with regard to the 1977 Saturn but this is a general policy matter and does not directly affect 1977 as it's not on the agenda. Oh, and I just want to also reiterate another call I made last meeting for civility. Uh I know I imagine that there are going to be differing opinions coming up uh to speak for the next few hours and so please I hope we could just issue a call for respect for each other that we can disagree uh and there I'm sure varied opinions and perspectives on what we're talking about tonight and the item tonight uh and items maybe not on this agenda item specifically tonight. uh but just ask that we show mutual respect for each other for others opinions and others others uh viewpoints. Uh tonight there at the last meeting there was a lot of trying to speak over and and uh yell at each other or yell while others were talking. Uh we're here to listen. This council's here to listen. We want everyone to be able to have their time. We're sitting here respectfully trying to to listen and hope that the audience will be respectful as the speakers are called up one at a time. Thank you. Madame Mayor, if we could just remind the audience members, when you come up to um the podium, since the mayor will be calling multiple speakers at a time, please um state your name again so that we just make sure that we um understand which speaker is speaking just in case the order is um mixed up or a speaker doesn't show. Um that way we know who's speaking, please.

Thank you. All right. So, I'm going to call names and then as I see the line getting shorter, I'll call more names. um for lineup. So, first few names are Vincent Chang, Dora Leon, yielding time to Vincent Chang, Amy Smith, Mark Gonzalez, Amy Megan, and I know some people are outside, so like Erin earlier, I'll

Okay, no problem. If you can't come to the podium because of disability, go ahead. Good evening, mayor and members of the city council. I'm sorry to be in the wheelchair tonight, but less than two hour 72 hours ago, I just came out of open heart surgery. So, excuse me if I can't, you know, if I speak not too well, but my point is first of all, let me make this clear. I am not here to support the data center, okay? Nor am I here to uh uh you know, focus on everything else. My point is I'm here as a Monterey Park resident. Okay. I am concerned about the city and the city of which I love, the city of which I spent well several a number of years over 10 years. Um so I know everybody on the council knows me. Um and uh I uh am just a little bit concerned about you know the the um you know the proposals that's being made tonight. So I just want to be here to express my opinions with that. I mean there's a lot of good opinions out there. Uh you know and and I'm not saying that they're not legit concern. I said this last time but I am disappointed as the way you know uh you guys are going about this and you know the thing is again like I said it's not an attack on anybody it's not an attack on you know the pros or the cons but it's the fact how is this going to benefit the city of Monterey Park. Okay, I think you all know if you don't know the city doesn't run on uh you know uh what what they call it the candy string sprinkles or whatever it is that you run

on. It runs on money. So how do we get money? Okay. If we lock out any sort of uh development that is not uh properly gone over, we need to have a way to properly vet those. And so the thing is, you know, with this item in regards to the um to the uh uh uh you know, data center, I mean, basically my position is, you know, and I'm also, you know, a believer in in in equality as well. Um, you know, I believe that, you know, everybody should have a chance to present their case. So, maybe they can't make the case. Okay, maybe they can. I don't know. I'm not making judgment on that. I just want to see a fair system. And you know what? Uh I also agree with I believe uh that that was uh Paul that spoke and he said well you know you have to look at it and get the city involved get the residents involved and not necessarily just have you know people from the outside taking whatever position they want to take. So those are my point and you know just a little bit more about me. I don't mean to brag but you know the point is the gentleman brought up the um the issue with the ICE. I'm a lawyer since 1993. I fought ICE. I fought ICE. But back in those days, they actually wore a jacket and tie and maybe uh you know a light jacket. They don't go around like these folks today that looks like wannabe cosplayer that you know they want to be uh you know they they have to full of themselves whatever. So, but

nevertheless, we need to deal with them under the law and that's what we should. I mean, I know there's different opinions in that and you know what, we have to do it the right way because the other folks are not doing it the right way. So, anyways, um I think I'm running out of time. Uh Dora was graciously uh uh uh kind enough to give me her time. Uh, I just want to say, you know, there's a lot of real estate here that has been shopped for, you know, with developers over the years and, you know, they're not uh they're not going anywhere for various reasons. So, those are something to consider. Okay. Again, thank you so much. Thank you, Michelle, for bringing it all the way. I love you still, but Amy Smith, Mark Gonzalez, Amy, and Megan.

Hi, good evening. My name is Amy Smith. Uh, the Oxford dictionary defines precedent as an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances. Monterey Park sits at a moment in time that could be a precedent for future development within not only just the city, but our state and possibly our nation. The world is moving forward and the wheels of of progress are continuing to chug along. Closing our eyes and covering our ears and shaking our heads is not going to write the narrative for the future that should be written. We have an opportunity here to set high standards and powerful rules that could become the models and the basis for future development. Stomping our feet and saying no, not here, not me, no thanks, creates a precedent of future conflict instead of a future resolution with guidelines. Remember, closing the door to development doesn't preserve the future. It quietly decides against it. trading growth and opportunity in for stagnation and regret. Thank you.

Go ahead. Hello. Thank you. All right. Order, please.

Hello. Thank you for letting me speak here tonight. Um, I've lived in Monterey Park since 1972 and uh I've gone to school here. I've uh uh share times with my family here. I have family members that live here. And what really worries me about this data center is as it is right now, it's so hard to make ends meet and to keep your home. And with this coming in to our society, like I don't think my home's going to be available for my daughter. Like I can remember when um we had that terrible incident in Monterey Park where a couple of people were killed and even the president of the United States came and visited Monterey Park and everyone came together. Monterey Park strong. I even have this t-shirt still. I went and I got it. This is not Monterey Park strong. This is working against us. We're the ones that live here. We live here. I want to continue living here. I need a future. I need you guys to watch out. I voted a lot of you in. I'm looking for you guys. I need your help. My family needs your help. We need your help here. Thank you very much. Do we have Amy and Megan? No. I'll call some more names. Um Carrie, Sky Walker, Maria, Jeremy. Oh, okay. Amy. Yes.

Okay. Um, apologies for the outburst earlier. I'm not usually like that. Um, I came to the last city council meeting and I didn't get to stay because I had to go home and finish my work. Um, I didn't get to come here early on time because I was also at work. And I think we're all kind of disappointed that we have to be back here again because we thought we I think kind of trusted you guys last time and kind of rebuilt a little bit more of the faith in you guys last time at the last city council meeting. So I'm kind of surprised that this is up for discussion again. Um I just want to make it clear that I am against the ballot. I don't know why it has to be coupled with anything to do with housing. I think you guys can probably just vote on no data centers, period. I What does that have to do with housing, right? Like I don't I don't get it. Um and I feel like you guys are just misleading the public by coupling putting it together on a ballot with housing. Um no one wants to live next to a data center. And I think that putting it on the ballot is just giving the opportunity for this billiondoll company to come in and disturb our city. Okay? No one wants to come to these city council meetings. No one wants to have to be back here and fight for it again. We're already dealing with ice in our neighborhoods. like high school students across from Marell already had to deal with ICE and now we have to fight this billion dollar company trying to come in and build this data center that absolutely no one asked for. This isn't this isn't the type of development that we need. I think that we as residents of Monterey Park deserve

better. I think that the city council members need to do better. Just because we possibly can build a data center doesn't mean we should. It's not what the community is asking for. We keep telling you guys and you guys keep pushing it out and giving more opportunity for this big ass company to come in here and basically run propaganda that, you know, they're that this is good for the environment and for the public. Like this. They put this out last time we were here. Okay. It's called the Monterey Park Data Center. How misleading is that for for residents? They think that it is affiliated like it sounds like it's officially affiliated with you guys with the city of Monterey Park. Is it is it like are you guys letting them in here? Like this is not this is not Monterey Park. How can they call it the Monterey Park data center? There's a flyer outside. We don't even have it put out in here. They put their flyer on the table here. We have to have a table outside. Like, how is that how does that make sense? So, I'm there's a lot of stupid flashy jargon on this and I'm going to go through it, okay? Like 5 to7 million per year, how how would no other development that goes into that plot also generate some kind of revenue there? Why does it have to be a data center? Okay. Electricity rates are set by Southern California Edison based on regional infrastructure costs, energy supply, and not commercial developments based on use. H like how is that not going to drive up or impact the electricity? My parents live in an area where every other month they get a notice from Southern California Edison that they have to have their electricity shut off for whatever reason. Okay? They're literally afraid that the food in their

freezer that, you know, they're low income and retired is gonna spoil because the electricity has to be shut off. Do you guys really want to put that strain on our electricity grid? Okay. And another thing, it says that the closed loop cooling system is BS. What the hell does that even mean? Okay. This approach significantly reduces water consumption. Reduces water consumption based on what? Based on what? These are all loaded terms. There is nothing backing any of this. Quieter than the typical noise in the neighborhood. Guys, this place is this thing is going to be built in district 5. Your district then I voted for you because you were the board of like the Garvey School District. I went to the Garvey School District. Had great experience there. So, I'm really disappointed that this is on the ballot again. That area is right next to the 60 freeway. So, in addition to having to listen to the 60 freeway, I got to listen to some noisy ass data center. That's like ridiculous. What else is there? We get a new park. A stupid dinky little park. Okay. Compared to the size of the data center that's being built there, like come on, be real. Okay. And I just want to really quickly pull up a quote. I want to ask if any of you guys know who Lindy Stone is. Lindy Stone, she is the principal corporate counsel at Microsoft. She was at a she was part of a webinar hosted by Norton by a law firm law firm Norton rules Fulbright. The webinar was titled data centers construction contracts in debt. Okay. Stone said that where data centers used to be built more away from communities, neighborhoods, and more urban areas as they move into these areas, then you have neighbors that are near you. And nobody really wants a data center in their backyard. I

don't want a data center in my backyard. This is the council for Microsoft that was trying to build a data center. If the lawyer for Microsoft says they don't want a data center in their backyard, what makes you think we want a data center IN OUR BACKYARD? UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR Yang and city council members. My name is Carrie. I'm a resident. I live in district 5 and I also happen to be a licensed California attorney. Um, I understand the item on the agenda tonight is to consider directing the preparation of a ballot measure to prohibit data centers citywide and allow housing development within Saturn Park. First, I'd like to share that I'm opposed to placing the measure on the ballot for voter approval. I feel a ballot measure is very risky because it's a political campaign and subject to being deeply influenced by the deep pockets of the applicant. The majority of residents in our city don't live close to Sat to 1997 Saturn. many my 1977 Saturn and for many of them English is not their first language. The applicant has already started its misinformation campaign, handing out flyers doortodoor and running Facebook ads. The average voter in Monterey Park isn't going to read all of the voluminous documents regarding the project. They're not going to be able to parse out or do independent research to verify if the applicant's claims are true or not. Anyone who's read the M andD documents and done some indiv independent verification of the information provided can see that a lot of the information provided by the applicant and its consultant doesn't add up. Just to give an example, the applicant touts its air cooled chiller systems as utilizing much less water than other data center facilities. But as set forth by the center for biological diversity's comments to the M &D, the amount of water used by the

proposed project is much higher than data centers of comparable size. And that letter further states that the project's massive water demand will significantly impact water supplies. I'm not an engineer, so I can't independently verify these things. I put the letter from the applicant with the air cooled chiller system into AI and the amount of water that they said was going to be used per year and it came out saying that that doesn't add up that the aircooled chiller system should not be using that much water. But you guys should be telling us these things when you get the M andd document. You should have independent review instead of just deferring to Kimley Horn's analysis. But instead, we just have you guys. We don't have any independent um like the planners should be on top of it. They should know the ins and outs of all all the letters, all the back and forth, and they should be independently verifying these things, not just shaking their head and saying it's true. Um after the last meeting, the council indicated that they were going to come back with a proposal for regulations to ban data centers in the city. Now, instead of coming back with those regulations, they're suggesting to put the question to a vote of the people. This seems to play directly and perfectly into the hands of the applicant who didn't really have any good options moving forward after the public outcry at the last meeting. I propose that instead of focusing solely on a ballot measure, I'm requesting that the city staff request agendaize discussion of the following issue at the upcoming meeting. Repeal and amendment of ordinance number 2253. Ordinance 22 Ordinance 2253 was the ordinance adopted by the council in November 2024 that permitted data centers as a category in Saturn Park with a development agreement. Before that time, only data processing facilities were allowed in the zone. The overwhelming majority of residents were not aware that ordinance was being considered. If they had been aware, you

would have had a lot of people here just like they are today. Obviously, we didn't know about it and at the last meeting, you heard from I don't know the almost the entire majority of everyone who came that they barely just heard about this project maybe in December. So, if they had been the ordinance includes many findings to justify its adoption. Specifically, it includes findings of consistency with the policies of the city's land use element and environmental justice element. And I want to read you the the ones that it cites. It it refers to the numbers, but I want to read you what they're about. supporting sustainable practices, reducing disproportionate environmental burdens, and compounding health risks affecting lowincome and minority populations. Ensuring new development is planned in areas that can sustain it long term, considering air quality health indicators of residents and infrastructure networks and services. Limiting exposure to environmental pollution through good planning in the public process, equipping the community with adequate resources to promote enhanced health outcomes and improved quality of life. It seems very obvious to me that the realities of data centers, which the ordinate itself recognizes are quote energy hungry, land uses that consume 74% of all electricity in the US, do not support these general plan policies, but actually do the opposite. Case law establishes that a zoning ordinance that conflicts with the general plan is invalid the moment it is adopted. Furthermore, because the public was not aware of this ordinance, we weren't able to participate in the process. to add to the record our concerns regarding the actual detrimental effects of data centers. So, what is the council going to do now with the invalid ordinance? I request the council agenda for its next meeting to consider repeal of ordinance 2253. That would mean that data processing facilities only, not data centers, are allowed in the zone. As part of the repeal, I would request that the council include a definition for data processing facilities that is consistent with the definition currently at in the code. At

the hearing to repeal the ordinance, the council can take public testimony and accept evidence in the record of the overwhelming evidence of the detrimental environmental impacts posed by data centers. Um, I'm running out of time. Um, I know that. Um, okay, I'll keep going. This approach cannot be seen as intentionally targeting the applicant because the city should not be continuing with a knowingly invalid ordinance. By my comments today, I am notifying the city that ordinance 2253 is invalid and the city needs to rectify the matter.

Lastly, I know that many residents are concerned about the ability of future councils to change the zoning code back to allow data centers in the future. In fact, the repeal of ordinance 2253 does not prevent data centers from being built in other zones in the city. To help achieve a citywide ban that cannot be overturned by future councils, instead of a council sponsored ballot measure, I support the option of a residentled initiative. After collection of signatures equal to 10% of the registered voters, the council has the option to either place the item on the ballot or adopt the ordinance outright. After we collect the requisite signatures, which I think we will be able to do, we should ask the council to adopt it outright rather than putting it on the ballot. This method would avoid any um of the issues with the developers deep pockets. Um lastly, I know there are many residents who want to see expanded housing uses in Saturn Park. I would support that and would suggest that that can be done by a council initiated ballot measure that does not need to be intertwined with the data CENTER ISSUE. HI, I AM A RESIDENT of Monterey Park, born and raised. I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit that I can count the number of city council

Megan.

Yeah, I can count the number of city council meetings I've been to on one hand with my first one being because I wanted extra credit for a class. However, since I since finding out about the data center in December, I have tried to make it out to every single meeting I can and will continue to do so as many times as I need. That's how much I care about this issue. My family and I live only minutes away from the proposed data center site. We found out on social media media. Why is that? Council member Vin, you probably don't remember, but you came over to our house and you spoke to my dad when you were first running for your seat. I want to remind you of the campaign promises you made to us and everyone else that voted for you. I was really disappointed to hear that you were apparently in support of the data center at the last meeting and I implore you to consider your constituents first and foremost before corporate interests. We want a permanent ban on data centers in Monterey Park now.

Thank you. Hi. Uh my name is uh Skywalker on the on a slip. Um I'm a resident of uh Monty Park uh for the past three years. Uh I live on Clover Drive behind the Saturn Park business complex. I'm about 50 to 100 feet away from where the corner of the of the data center would be. Um, I came tonight and I'm a bit frustrated that we're allowing this conversations to be framed as the residents versus the union workers or that this is the um or or or about nimism because like I would like to state that I'm not anti- business. I'm I'm not I'm not anti-housing or am I anti- jobs. I would like all these guys to get jobs. Um, but I want to state that with that said, I want to state that I still strongly oppose this project. The the reason why, particularly because when I look at the facts, they don't really make sense. Um, the developer is a subsidiary of a foreign corporation with no interest in the well-being of our community. An example is when the residents expressed their anger at this project, instead of engaging directly with us, they hired a crisis public relation firm to mount a campaign to influence our options. I work from home from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for five days a week the whole year. No one has reached out to me. If they say so, that's a lie. Um and and like another thing is the number of permanent jobs that is going to be generated once a data center is finished building is small. It's 26 jobs and it's it's it's it's not even guaranteed to go to the the the Monty

Park residents because of the technical aspect of it. Um this type of business does not even attract new businesses to this area. Who wants to build uh uh a sandwich shop or like a store next to a data center that has 26 employees in there? there's no foot traffic. Um, and then I want to bring um focus to the super fun site. It's a if if none of you are aware, it's it's a it's a um it's a toxic waste dump that's only been recently uh mitigated by costing the federal government millions of dollars and it's right where the Home Depot and the um the Home Depot and the Costco is built on top of. So, so it cost it's only been around 2019 that's when it's like completely mitigated. So, this data center uh proposed to have a bunch of these diesel fuel tanks next to the right next to the residential area. What happens when these inevitably leak to the soil or to and contaminating the our water source like I live right behind there and I will be the one to fuel the acute effect of of of that. Um, if I I want to comment on some people might say like this is oh it's beneficial. It's it's is it's good for the the cloud or the internet and and I and I'm all for uh progress. I'm all for that. But let's let's be realistic here. Um the internet has been functioning fine. They they the the purpose of the data center is to support the AI hype and the crypto hype. And as I currently speak right now, they're crashing. The stock markets is doing really bad. All the chip stocks are going down. So what is the need of his data center in our neighborhood anymore? And furthermore, I have a few questions too. Like do we want to encourage more AI slop? Like do we want more AI generated porn polluting our social media and poisoning young kids' minds?

Like personally my wife and I also just welcomed our first child last month. The air and north pollution from the construction alone every day for at least one year I guess will cause detrimental effects on his development. Not to mention the effects it will have on mine and my wives. I work from home. I'm the only person on the only income to my house. What happens to me if I cannot continue to work to support my family? Like it's it's it's very frustrating that we're letting it get to this point. Um, I will end my time with this. Like, if the de if the data center is approved, I would have no choice but to move to protect my family's well-being. Um, I expect the people who wants the data center to put in their offer when I put my house up for sale and it better be above the asking price. If you want it so much, come live next to it.

Thank you. Let me call just a few more names. Uh, Maria, Jeremy, May, Joy, Row, Jesse, Damon, Jim, Pooh, and Kagayyama.

Uh, good evening. My name is Skyler. Uh I live in Monterey Park here with my family. Uh and we love this neighborhood. We love our community. And I want to say I agree with what all of our neighbors have been saying about uh higher utility bills, lower property values, noise pollution, and other forms of pollution and harm in our community. Uh but my daughters came tonight to talk about something that I haven't heard other people talking about. Uh and that they want to share those concerns with you. There are owls

and bats in our canyon. And how do they hunt? And they hunt by using hearing.

And we have an owl pellet. And inside you can even little bones that there's proof that they use their sense of hearing to get animals like like rats and other rodents. A data centers loud noise would make it so owls could not hunt. This would drive away the owls and increase the number of rats, mice, and squirrels. It would also drive away bats and increase the number of mosquitoes.

All right, thank you very much FOR YOUR TIME. HELLO, MY NAME IS MAY AND I live in district 2 and I've been a Monterey Park resident for over 20 years. I grew up in the neighboring city of Montabelloo. The data center issue hits very close to home as my mother still lives in Montabelloo over the hill and I have many friends living in district 5. I'd like to formally express my opposition to the data center. It is critical at this time for the Monterey Park City Council to take a firm stand against the placement of any data center within Monterey Park. The community has already voiced strong opposition to this in previous council meetings. It has been affirmed as incompatible in this city. Given the heavy resources available by the applicant, particularly in public relations and marketing, I'm concerned that residents would be swayed by their one-sided narrative, which does not fully or accurately present the negative impacts of a data center. I'm also concerned about the limited public coverage of this issue in local publications such as our Monterey Park Cascade. In fact, I did not see any information regarding the data center in the February edition. I am a union member myself. But let's just but let's just not think of the next two to three years. Think about the next 10, 15, 25, or 30 years of Marry Park residents who actually live here. Not just people who come and go and will just leave. Let's think about the people who care and the people of Monter Park in the long term. Thank you.

Good evening, council and neighbors. My name is Jesse. I'm a resident of District 5. Council, in recent weeks, you have shown us that you are willing to listen, that you're willing to engage, and that you're willing to take action. Thank you for that. Tonight, you're considering initiating a ballot measure to protect our health and safety. There are multiple paths forward to stopping this data center, and we need to keep these paths open as critical safeguards against what is coming. The Saturn Park project has upended the lives of many residents. And I'm not looking forward to a ballot fight. But if that is what we have to do, I'm ready to get on board. But what the city can start planning now is a town hall to review and workshop the ballot measure language before it goes to print. Also, while I'm strongly in support of expanding Saturn Park regulations to include housing, I believe there needs to be more engagement and dialogue with residents about land use. It's also evident that there are representatives of organized labor here tonight. I love labor unions. My husband is a proud member of three who walked the picket lines and held elected positions. We can't wait to welcome you back to Monterey Park when we have a project that you can take pride in. Unions exist because everyday people are stronger when we organize against forces that exploit our bodies and our resources. This is precisely what the residents of Monterey Park are doing here in this room. Who do you stand with tonight? the community or chat GPT HMC and Actum your flyer said you want to build a true long-term partnership with the city and to ensure the project reflects community priorities and delivers real local benefits. The time for those conversations was three years ago when HMC initiated this process. But you have done nothing but disrespect this community since that time, interfering with community input processes, promising and failing to make

good on town halls and engagement, and showing up last month with nothing but a flyer and literally launching your social media ads yesterday. How long has it taken you to do that? You have spent exponentially more on lobbyists than you have on this community. Lobbyists who are here tonight and who you have paid to dismiss our concerns and gaslight us. All the evidence indicates you don't care what we think. You've never cared what we thought. A true long-term partnership is mutual, not unilateral. There is no consent here. There's another name for what you are doing. This is not the site you are looking for. If you are sincere about reflecting community priorities and delivering local benefits, you can deliver some boba and some bunme on your way out of town. This was never a party. This was never fun. But now it's over and it's time for you to go home.

Hello. I'm there. I'm uh Joy Rule, longtime resident of Monterey Park, 60s and 70s. and my uh I have a master's degree from California University in health and safety. I'm a retired registered California nurse. I have a public health credential nursing credential and I have a school health nursing credential and I have a teaching community college teaching credential in psychology and in nursing. And I've been monitoring the data centers throughout the United States. And besides the astronomical use of the energy that they need and also the water they need, it's the noise. The noise is causing 247 is causing psychological stress and causing a lot of psychological harm. and the quality of life for these residents around this uh data center is dwindling to minus zero. So I suggest that any of you council members who favor corporate greed over your constituents and your residents that voted you in resign. or or fa or face the potential consequences that one day your good name will be dishonored and trashed.

And I exhort everybody here to to contact congressional representatives and voice your opinions. And not only that, I think Judy Chu still has her residency here in Monterey Park. So, contact Judy Chu.

Hello, my name is An Kagayyama. Um, you guys do remember me from the last meeting, I hope. Um well I guess if I'm speaking about 9A today um although I don't understand why the housing part is put into it instead of just having a no data center. Um I just want to say again like I said last time about really thinking about the community. You know my parents couldn't be here today. They're busy doing other stuff and so are my friends and other family members that still live in Monterey Park and the surrounding neighborhoods of Monterey Park. And I just want to let you guys think about what God I'm sorry I'm spacing out right now. Um, thank you. You are putting a death sentence on everyone that not only lives in Monterey Park but also works in Monterey Park and also the surrounding cities. Alhhamra, South San Gabriel, Roseme, Montabelloo, East LA, probably maybe Elsenino. And I don't know would you guys be able to sleep without knowing that? Because it's affecting everyone. It's going to affect you people as well. I see all these union workers and electricians and whatnot here tonight. They're probably here supporting the data center, but you know, that's a temporary job for them for what, two years, then they're gone and they're going to move on to other projects. Do any of you guys live in Monterey Park or in the surrounding cities?

Yeah. I hope you guys are. 26 26 years. Awesome. And good. All right. Order, please. And please direct your comments to council.

Okay. I'm sorry. Sorry, mayor. Anyways, I wish you guys um would put in different language for the 9A, especially with the housing. I I suggest putting the portals. If you guys are thinking about putting revenue, like think of something that could actually make more money because housing if it's going to be partial, if it's going to be um part um low income, that's going to be what 10 20%. And then everything else around there is going to be high if it's going to be apartment living. I just want you to guys to just reconsider about doing the data center in general. I know Mr. Sanchez and Miss Yang, you guys already said no to that. So, um, Council Member Low, Council Member Go, I hope, um, I know this isn't on the board and we're not supposed to be talking about it, but I hope you guys do reconsider and just kill this all together. Thank you. UH, LET me just read a few more names. Lauren, Jessica J, Mark Rudom, Dave, and Cindy Alvarado. And members in the public, just as a reminder, there are seats inside the council chamber. I know there's audience members that are watching from the TV monitor out um in the lobby area. There are some seats available in the council chambers. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Jim Pew from the Shepard Law Firm. I'm representing the applicant.

We're opposed to a ballot measure or any ban on data centers.

Order. Order, please. Everyone gets their turn to speak. Thank you. monitor and a speaker.

Yeah. Continue.

So, we've we've we've previously provided the city with information that demonstrates the merits of the project and the applicants willing to do even more than the city's already done. So, as you know, the city prepared an M &D, which is a mitigated negative declaration that was done under the city as the lead agency. And unlike several of the commenters that mentioned it was done by the developer, that's not true. In fact, the city hired a third-party consultant to check its own work um under Wild Dan's contract. So, there has been a thorough vetting of that information, but I'm not here to talk about necessarily the environmental review of the project. I'm here tonight to instead inform the city that its actions are creating real litigation risk and financial liability.

That's based on several legal legal grounds. And actually, I'll echo the comment that was made by the very first speaker tonight in general comment that there seems to be a history of abuse of discretion by this council in this city. This project seems to fall squarely within that as your current actions have violated several legal premises. The city has discretion. We recognize that. But there are rules that you cannot abuse that discretion. And similarly, similarly, the council must remain neutral and unbiased. Those are rules of law. It is clear from the city's actions that certain council members have actual bias and council for the most part has crossed a legal line into advocacy against the project. That's unlawful. Moreover, the record demonstrates that city actions to ban the applicant's project would result in an unconstitutional taking in violation of the state and US constitution.

Similarly, the city is violating the applicant's due process rights. Your actions, especially recent recently, are arbitrary and comprecious. Instead of following the law, you are following mob rule. That has legal consequences. democracy. My case in point. Finally, the city is violating equal protection laws. Your votes are targeting the applicant and are vindictive in nature. It is clear. It is clear that moratoriums, a ballot measure, or other illegitimate actions are the city's pretext for a denial of the project.

Ballots for the people. The applicant prefers not to litigate this matter, but the city's actions are forcing the issue. Our request tonight is that the city not advance actions to ban data centers in any way. To do so will further escalate this matter and increase litigation risk and financial liabilities of the city. Thank you. You think we're scared of you? First,

you want to see? All right. Um All right. Order, please. Um or city attorney would like to say a few words. Just give u

Madame Mayor, members of the council, thank you. I'm going to briefly respond to Mr. Pew's comments. uh late this afternoon, he made the same comments in written correspondence to the city council. That letter was posted on the dedicated page with regard to the data center along with my response at 5:00. Uh Mr. Pew has made these advances previously. I've informed him that they are misinformed and misleading and I will restate that for the record. Honorable mayor and city council members, hopefully I um get elicit a less incendiary response. Um I hope so. Um my name is Mark Rudolm and I'm a longtime resident of Monterey Park. I've lived here since 1968 minus some years in the middle. Uh I'm speaking tonight not just as a resident but as someone who has actually worked in this industry. I have worked in data centers in Irvine, downtown LA, and near LAX. I mention this because I hear a lot of fear about what these buildings are. From my experience, I can tell you they are quiet, secure, low impact neighbors. They are not dangerous factories. They are silent. They are the silent backbone of the modern economy.

I urge you to let the process work. We do not need a ban. We simply need the facts. The developer has agreed to a full environmental impact report. This is exactly what the community asked for. Moving the goalpost now by imposing a ballot measure is premature. I know there are concerns about the backup generators, but as someone who has worked in these facilities, I know these are for emergency use only, subject to the same strict regulations as the systems at our two hospitals, our office buildings, or right over there in city hall's parking lot. The EIR will confirm this. Regarding electricity rates, rates are not set by zip code. They are set by the state. The developer has committed to funding the infrastructure upgrades themselves. There are no pass through costs to us. If we stop this process now, we are walking away from 5 to7 million in annual revenue that could fund our emergency services, library, parks, and streets. We are also turning our backs on 300 plus good local union jobs. Let the EIR process inform our decision. Thank you.

Hi. Um, my name is uh well I live in district 2. I didn't grow up your name.

Oh, my name is Cindy Alvarado. I didn't grow up here like uh the gentleman that just did, but I did grow up um spending a lot of time in downtown. And when I moved to Monterey Park, let me tell you, I was freaked out about how quiet it is here. Um it was kind of disturbing until I adapted it because LA, downtown LA is very loud. Let me go back. I live in District 2. I want a ban on data centers in Monterey Parks or anywhere near residential communities. I also don't want Monterey Park to change land zonings if it does not prioritize the needs of local community residents. After seeing the people present today, it's sad. There was a couple by the glass door making fun of community members, making comments like it's so funny. They think that they're what they're doing or is going to make a difference, right? Making fun of us in our community, agitating neighbors as they left. Um here voicing their concerns. You know, we're neighbors voicing our concerns. It's sad that these people that are trying to come and join our neighborhoods are treating us this way already. Council members, please show your constituents we have not already been sold out. And don't wait for a ballot. Please ban data centers. Now, based on current info collected by AI, which um uh team serves there gave me an idea, right? Um data cent's revenue uh revenues varies massively based on size with large collocation facilities potentially generating up to 1 million in daily revenue while smaller specialized centers may earn a little bit less. The industry drives on high volume operations with t top tier AI or hypers scale facilities generating substantial daily income often exceeding several hundred,000 operating cost in comparison you know to large for large data centers incurs 10 million to 25 million annually which is not as much um profit margins for data

cent's construction projects may show EBITDA margins of 76% in year 1 improve improving to up to 88% by year five. This is how much more profit they're going to be making after year five. Revenue drivers income is driven by them by usage of power pee with flexible load centers potentially earning an additional 60 to $80,000 per week um depending on the megawws. Um, and this is, you know, revenue is largely based on renting the space, power, and cooling capacity. So, our water, right? Often calculated by kilowatts or megawatts of consumption. I'm not a math wist, but if you sold us out for 5 to 7 million a year, it makes sense why they're interested in punking Monterey Park residents. 5 to7 million is less than 0.03% of the $365 million revenue a year they could be making off of us. with an increase in their profits after year five. All of us opposed to the data center, please feel free to stand up for me, too. Right. Um, we're accused we we we are accused of being outsiders. We are accused of being outsiders, but the 200 to 300 construction work suggested that might might be created are not permanent jobs and are not for local residents. My respect to all the construction workers here today. I work providing resources and information about health and safety to workers. And last year I spoke to hundreds of construction workers and day laborers supporting the burn areas letting them know that here as a community in LA County, we want to keep each other safe and healthy. I ask you carpenters, siren workers, metal sheet workers, union members, teamsters to do the same for this community, for this neighborhood that today is asking to not support the construction of a data

center that will harm us, will harm our neighbors, our nature, our future. I assure you, the unions will find you other contracts to work in. And if the data center is built, the fines that it will generate for violating any legal limits currently set will be considered overhead chump change to their potential million dollar daily daily revenue. Like we say in Spanish, We have to take care of each other. And finally, eyes out of Monterey Park. Their presence this week was detrimental. Their presence was detrimental to the number of people of community members that wanted to join us today. Thank you guys. Thank you very much. Uh, Lauren, Jessica, J, Dave, Andreas, Abarka, and Valerie Lizaraga. Uh, Dave. Dave. There's no last name. It just says Dave.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Just come up when you hear your name called. order. No, if I could read five names. Okay, any order.

But please repeat your name. My name is Jessica J. I too am a lifelong resident of Monterey Park District TR 2. And I stand here not only for myself, but for an extended network of concerned residents, my extended family who could not be here today. from my 90year-old grandmother to a close friend who is about to do give birth to one of Monterey Park's newest residents any day now. And it is this network, my mother, who taught me that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So I ask you, why would a multi- why would a foreign or multinational corporation with seemingly unlimited resources come here and offer all this for free if it's such a good deal? When other corporations are asking to move, like Google, trying to find a new headquarters, they make cities pitch. They make cities pitch. They make cities give them deals. Um, so I'm always a little suspicious if something sounds too good to be true. I'm also come from a union family as well, and it was the very union that allowed my immigrant parents to purchase this house in Monterey Park that they still currently live in today. and to live the American dream. Send two children to school and for a better life. So, I'm asking that if you want to invest in unions, invest in teachers, invest in healthcare workers, invest in long-term businesses that will bring value, long-term value to this city. If you want to invest in business, invest in mom and pop stores. I don't want an Applebee's on my corner. What makes Monterey Park special is it is a city of immigrants where you get a chance to really live. My grandmother does not speak a lick of English. I'm sure many people's grandparents, their parents can't speak a lick of English. And that has never stopped them from living a full fruitful life. She can walk out. She can

she can buy things. She can eat at restaurants. And whether that language is Spanish, Chinese or something else, that is something that is so unique to the soul of Monterey Park. And so I urge you in this to to also consider that as we develop. Um you know, I remember when Monterey Park was very cash poor. Um and we did not have a lot of things and it was still a wonderful place to live. And it's not because of data centers. It's not because of Applebees. It's because of the people and the communities and the residents that make it special and I am so proud to stand with my other residents. I have not seen the city united like this in a very long time. Um, finally this data uh you know you have heard the concerns of multiple people about about the data center and about the process of how this all went down and they're more articulate me than me. They're more, you know, they're ex I'm sure many are more expert more area experts than me. I want to be Carrie when I grow up. Um, so I think you've heard us and I really hope that you remember who you are serving. You are serving the people, not corporations, not not even unions. You are serving the residents of Monterey Park. And I also want to remind you, we do not stand for bullies. I urge you to be a leader and to not let them bully you. And I would also like to remind everyone that the law is not always moral. ICE is lawful. Detention is lawful. So that doesn't hold much weight for me. I want to thank you for your time. And again, I hope you remember who you serve and why you took this position and this oath to begin with. Thank you.

Mayor Yang, honorable council members, dedicated staff, my name is Dave Jones. I've been a resident of Monterey Park for over 45 years. I want to thank you, Mayor Yang, and Council Member Sanchez, for your public written statements against data centers in Monterey Park.

I also want to thank Council Member Go for maintaining ongoing public dialogue in District 5. Thank you, sir. I am here to speak against putting a data center ban on the ballot because they don't deserve two bites at the apple. They have millions of dollars to spend against grassroots movement that is clearly represents the will of the vast majority of the residents. Data centers. The data center has consistently lied to the public and still hasn't gauged engaged in community outreach. They say the project underwent extensive environmental review but refused to do an EIR until they were backed into a corner with no way out. They say electricity rates won't go up, but they don't say Edison only generated 3,200 megawatts of power in 2023 and had to purchase 79 million megawws of power to fulfill their capacity needs. That means Edison has to buy electricity on the open market in order to provide that to the data center or any data center. And which means according to the law of supply and demand which none of us can break, electricity costs will go up for everyone in Monterey Park. They promise stable res revenue but neglect to mention that not a single AI company is profitable today. Sam Alman has said open AI will not be profitable by 2030. So where's that money going to come from? Are they going to print it?

For my union cousins here tonight, my mom was AFL CIO. My heart breaks at the way you disrespected all the people sitting behind you tonight.

Data center. The data center promises a couple of years, a few jobs for a couple of years, but the residents will have to live with the consequences for the rest of our lives. While mixeduse housing will create many more jobs for union workers for a much longer period of time. However, the data center closes the door on those jobs because no one will want to live next to it. So take a longer view, please. However, if the city council in its infinite wisdom decides to put a ban on the ballot, then please separate the questions of data centers and housing. They are two separate issues. Putting them on one measure confuses the issue and will not give you a true vote. Finally. Wow, I have enough time to get to this. Finally, I was saddened at the last city council me meeting to see the way my neighbor Michelle Yei was treated. We are on different sides of this issue, but I love her and respect her right to her opinion, no matter how wrong you may be, Michelle. Thank you again for the time. Thank you everyone in Monterey Park who has come out to speak on this very important issue to all of us. No data centers IN MONTEREY PARK. NO DATA CENTERS IN MONTEREY PARK. NO DATA CENTERS IN MONTEREY PARK. My name is Andres. I'm an organizer in

the SGV. Uh I want to bring everyone's attention to all the people invest representing a union that are for a data center. I'm sorry, dude, but it sucks that your companies and unions are using you as pawns and putting you against other people in the city that also represent the working class. Notice not one of them in a vest has spoken up here at the mic. And I wonder why. It's clear that these people and their jobs aren't really the issue. It's the topic of a data center that will do irreparable damage to the working-class community of color that is Monterey Park. I come from Hassienda Heights and I want to let everybody know that they did this whole charade to us in January at the city council meeting in city of industry when they passed a proposal to build a battery energy storage system which ultimately starts to lay the groundwork for data centers. The difference is that they not that they only sent two union reps to that meeting. Here you have over 50. By the way, that's also why you've got even more of an overflow of people because they're taking up all the space that are here for your residents. The people see through the smoke. We won't be fooled into fighting against each other. We all know the real harm that data centers bring and that there's no denying the science behind it. All of you up there, work for the people of this city, not the companies trying to bring you fat checks to line your pockets. So, whatever your decision is you make for this ballot, I hope it truly represents your residents and your neighbors. Noah data centers. All right. Next names are Valerie Lzeraga, Freda. The last initial is I. Christine Rodriguez, Paul Lang,

Gordon Hang, Jasmine Gonzalez. Hi, good evening. My name is Freda. I am a current resident of Monterey Park. Um, I just wanted to come here because, um, I've actually never been to a council meeting before. Um, something drew me today. Um, I come from a family of unions. My mother was a worker for a union for over 20 years. So, I grew up uh, around unions. I know a lot about that. I've actually been a union member myself multiple times. Um, so you're probably thinking that I'm against or pro data center, but I'm actually not. A lot of the data center information that I've read, um, they state that they are pro jobs, that they are pro community, pro- revenue, but that's actually not true at all. If you think that they're going to give you a job if this data center is built, sure, but it'll be temporary. your jobs are not secure and it's also not even good for the environment. I mean all of these diesel generators that they want to use that they want to implement on site they emit a lot of nitrous oxide which is very harmful to our bodies. So if you are saying that you are pro data center, you are against yourself really because you will get sick and even if only one person gets sick, you would have failed because why would you be okay with anybody getting sick? Why would you be okay with just one person? Because at

the end of the day, it wouldn't be just one. It would be your entire community that is at risk for cancer, for lung disease. Sorry, this is my very first time speaking. Um,

um, it just very it's just it's very clear that a lot of the reports, a lot of the numbers um that are used are just not correct because how can you say that no one will be harmed? I mean, you're just willing to take that risk. At the end of the day, if you're pro- data center, you are not pro- neighbor. You are not pro community. You are actually pro- billionaires that are just using you for their own personal gain. That is sad and embarrassing. You should be embarrassed of yourself if you actually believe that this is actually going to help the community. Um, so yeah, I just want to end with a question to everybody. Okay. Who are you okay with failing? Are you okay with failing your neighbor and your residents, your constituents? And are you okay with serving capitalists who are only in it for their own personal gain? Thank you. And also, eyes out. Hi, good evening. My name is Christine Rodriguez. Uh, I grew up in Monterey Park. I went to school in Monterey Park, both elementary and then my higher education and where you folks are planning or where the data center is, I learned how to drive. So, I really know that area very, very well. Uh, it's a great area, flat, close to the freeway. Um, but what I'm coming here is to be against the building of the data center. uh specifically this idea about the ballot measure. As we're seeing here, this corporation has a lot of money and a lot of power and a lot of resources to really sway people's idea on uh is this a good thing for the community? Is this a bad thing? Will it create jobs? Will it create revenue? I'm worried that if this goes to the ballot that they'll put even more time, energy, and resources uh to sway the voters in their favor. Uh

specifically, I want to uh encourage you folks to if this does go to the ballot, which I really hope it doesn't, and I'll get to that point soon, uh the language about the housing. I fear that if we have the language about the housing, people are going to see housing. They're going to say, "Yes, housing, we love that, but not really consider the implications of the data center." So, I'd really encourage you folks to um amend the language on the ballot that includes uh was it land use? Uh, with that being said, what I was saying about uh, I I don't think this should go to the ballot again because there's a lot of resources that could be used to really sway people and confuse the voters on, you know, what is what are the facts and what are the implications of this data center. Uh, I'd like to end this by just reminding people who are trying to become reelected for city council uh, positions that your support, your lack of support in this measure uh, will really reflect on how the public will view you and will really show when people go to the voting to vote for who they want to represent them. Uh, they'll have this in mind and how you acted at this time. Thank you. Hello, good evening. Uh, thank you for having me. My name is Jasmine Gonzalez. My mother lives here in Monterey Park. And I just want to say I would really well hopefully that the just want to make it actually clear that the unions just for the residents are not it's not against you. So don't take it personal. I think that's one thing we should make very clear that it's not like as we mentioned before it's not the community versus the union members. it's the community versus these big corporation that's coming in. And so I'd like to begin by just saying that I think I speak for most of the people in this room when I say that they are tired of billionaires and development firms just coming in from coming in to destroy their communities with investments. And this project is

disconnected from the community and its needs. This project is a huge environmental and financial burden on residents and neighboring communities. The short-term benefits are not worth the long-term burdens that are yet to come. And what's at stake here is the quality of life for homeowners, small businesses, residents, and future generations. So, I'd like to just reiterate that there. It's a huge disconnect from the community, and I urge you guys to know on data centers. Thank you.

Uh, let me just read some names. Paul Lang, Gordon Huang, Juan Deara, Jeffrey, Tommy Favali, and Christina Jonan. Hello, I'm Paul Lang. I'm a resident of District 3 and a Monterey Park resident. I'm also a union member. And it is also possible to be for a concept such as organized labor and still I am paying attention sir.

Okay. It's easy to get confused actually. That's a good point because I came in today knowing my goal was to prevent this data center from being built because I believe it will do irreparable harm to this community. I believe that because communities like ours have data centers and are are already suffering the harm. I don't believe the pros outweigh the cons. I don't believe and I respect unions trying to advocate for their workers to get work. I'm into myself and I would be against if either of the unions that I am in local 33 or AGVA were trying to profit from this data center. I think it would be wrong because it would harm others. There's a concept in medicine of first do no harm. So you can have a business, you can profit, you can bring tax dollars to the community and you can still make sure your standard is to do no harm, not to threaten a community with litigation because you didn't get your way. not to do as one of their advocates did and come up here and accuse everyone who is against their air being polluted of being childish and against progress. Not to say, "Well, we had the most people in the front row in one photo op in vests, so that negates all the people out in the lobby who you can hear clap at every delayed point that they agree with, who are actual residents." I hope those of you elected to office to serve this community are listening to the community, not to someone who's threatening litigation or saying if we all use AI, we have to be for polluted air. If we all use a Google search, we have to give them core blanch to do whatever they want. And speaking of one of the trillion dollar companies that uses this technology, uh just yesterday

on the radio, I heard an advocate for that corporation saying, "We have this great plan to build data centers in space where there will be unlimited solar energy and unlimited cooling." I actually think the technology will someday exist. They have a goal to do it within 10 years. Then I ask, is the technology of this data center going to be obsolete that quickly? Are we going to have another closed down area that used to do business? Or is it going to be doing very little business, generating very little tax dollars, but still generating very much pollution from its backup generator and using a large portion of this city's water supply? Still, just because it stops making progress, I'm sorry, stops making profit, there is a difference. It doesn't mean it's going to stop using resources if it was built this inefficiently and this harmfully. Now, it can be a complicated issue to know what the best thing to do for a city is financially, but the people who live here are speaking to you with no uncertain terms that the vast majority of us do not believe we stand to profit from this. do not believe the future of this community will go anywhere but down because of this. I very much hope that people with the power to stop this listen. We will vote for a new city council if we have to. But I hope that your campaign promises were true about serving this community. I hope you will listen to this issue and discover that there are pros and cons. But in this particular case, there is no justification for the harm that this will do. I've got one minute left. I think it's hard to not have your mind already made up on this issue.

I think if you stand to profit from this business, you'll be for it. But I just don't believe the majority of those of us who live here will profit. I hope you remember that and do the right thing. Thank you.

Good evening, counselors and mayor. I greet you as a fellow civil servant, a citizen of district 3, and as a gamer. Because as a gamer, we're often miscast as the straw man for societal ills by those who fail to understand or point us in bad faith. Moral degradation, material excess, and supposed data usage. Funny, I don't recall the majority of video games from Pong to Neopets, Tamagotchi to Call of Duty requiring much if any of those sorts of data centers. Us gamers are rather aware of the pitfalls and the of these types of developments, the costs on the microchips market, the bubble that's being developed across all the f all the folks in this stack. There's a good video by Hank Green online about that. And if you can look that up, hey, that's proof that our infrastructure works without these data centers. Now, I am not opposed to technological development. I am for it. I look forward to the future and the fruits of science that comes in due time. However, ethical technological development weighs upon what is right and what is wrong. What technological good is of best to pursue and expend the resources to pursue as alluded by Brian Green, director of technology ethics at Santa Clara University. Countless publications in gaming, Game Rankotaku, Digital Trends, GameSpot, uh, VG Times all note the new universal rejection of AI and adjacent infrastructure material costs. Now, as a citizen of District 3, I question whether this is truly the best use of our land for the people of our community. from the spark sessions, from last

month's meeting. Tonight, I can think of a multitude of uses that we could spend our time and effort and this land for a boba shop, housing for our residents, another veterary hospital for my rabbits who I had to see die because there were no facilities nearby. the question of de community development and benefits to theong flay the common good to the people of Monterey Park for us to ponder and answer not for those whose interests are elsewhere or are at the whims of stakeholders to push us towards. It's easy to be a saint in paradise for these de stakeholders in their corporate ivory towers in Sacramento, Connecticut, Australia to push in the developments where there will be no rate increases to them. No criteria pollutants like NOx in the air, no noise and disruption to their communities. But we will we will be affected by this. and similar such afflictions for our lives, for our lifetimes, our children's lifetimes and theirs and so on. As a civil servant, I swore an oath just like you and as a member of the professional engineers of California government peg to do my best in service to our peoples, our communities. I call upon this council and government to honor these oaths of allegiance to the people of the city in service of the people of the sea. This is our city to continuously labor ceaselessly for

the common good. However, this V council votes, I urge the council to either defend its people or empower us to defend our homes ourselves. And if we must do it ourselves, I say to my fellows, the line must be drawn here this far, no further. The people united will never be defeated. The people united will never be defeated. lays behind me. I've run out of time. Now I yield the deis, but I shall not yield to the scheme to the people. Good evening to the people, to all the people of Montter Park. My name is Jeffrey Munos and I vote for no data centers. Data centers are inevitable and stopping individual projects doesn't reduce demand. It just pushes development to less empowered communities. It is better to move out with these data centers and out of Monterey County, host them elsewhere, set strict standards, and require strong community benefits rather than shifting the impacts onto poor areas. With that being said, no to databases, no ice, and screw that man over there, too. Thank you.

I'm going need a bigger fan. U Hello, my name is Juan and I don't think I I don't support this moratorum and have some ideas about this project. I think if some I think okay all right I think if strict rules annoys operation standards and environmental testing occur the data center could be beneficial for the city the site has been vacant for many years and the city needs money to help fund the police and fire department and repair the streets. Why not go from no money to to millions? We all benefit from data centers in in one way or another or so why have the city benefit from it um financially. Let me end with this. Let's keep what works in place so that we can have a place to enjoy for generations to come. What about developing affordable housing for the unhoused and those in search of a new beginning in a beautiful city like Monterey Park? AI is cool, but I don't need it to run my life or to produce whatever idiotic idea I I is best kept to myself. Let's be progressive in the in the present so that we can have a productive tomorrow. Thanks for your time. Okay. Tommy Favali, Christina Jonan, Diana Leone, Jorge Hernandez, Emily Chu, Brenda Compos.

Mayor, it's not the first time my last name has been murdered like that, but um my name is Tommy Favi. I represent IBW Electrical Workers Local Union 11. We represent close to 12,000 members just in LA County of journeymen and apprentices and we represent over 350 electrical contractors. What I wanted to say tonight is that you heard prior speakers talk about pitting the community versus the unions. Our our members live in the community. I want I want these I want the residents that are not part of the union tell their next door neighbor that that is a union member that say no to their jobs because tonight the decision you're going to make tonight whether it's to put this ballot on the on on initiative for the city will be detrimental to our members and all of the building trees that's standing here behind me their members and their families amilies. We our members that grow that that grows up over here in Monterey Park. They live right next to you to you to you and they try to separate us. But this is not we're not here to separate each other. We're here to live with each other and grow and build projects like this. Say no. say no to a ban and let's move forward with these projects like a data center. Thank you.

Good evening, mayor, council members, and staff. My name is Diana Lemon. I am a proud member of IBW Local 11. As Tommy mentioned, we represent almost 12,000 members in Los Angeles Los Angeles areas with lots of Monterey Park members that live here. Um, one that you just called, Christina Johnson, had to leave to care for her son. Um, but she was willing to speak and we vote you, we urge you to vote no on a proposition ballot. It's uh premature. We here in this room, you see a lot of construction workers. We are experts in our industry. uh the experts that will tell you the council members as well as the residents the best way to move forward and how this really impacts the environment uh including safety uh and health uh is going to be an environmental impact report. So we urge you to move forward with an environmental report so that you can make the best decision for this community. Thank you. Hi, council members. My name is Jorge Hernandez. I'm I'm here representing 12,000 members of IBW Local 11. Our members uh build your public schools, the solar fields in LA County, skyscrapers, install charging electric vehicles, charging stations, and so much more. Tonight, I'm asking you to take a moment to plan and gather information. Yes, let's move forward with a with an EI. It's critical that we promote with accurate information with real data and not fear. I'm here to respectfully ask for your leadership. Please uh show us the good governance that your residents deserve. Moving moving this issue to the ballot to the ballot boxes is premature. Your leadership can give us opportunity to continue evaluating this project through a full environmental impact report which is exactly what uh SQA is designed for. If the E shows problems, that's that's that. We get it, but we

should say no. But we shouldn't say no before the facts are fully on the table. Thank you for for being topful. We look forward to your continued partnership. Thank you.

All right. Uh, good evening council members. My name is Emily. I'm a resident of Monterey Park in District 2 and a member of No Data Center MPK. First, thank you for hearing the community and pursuing a permanent ban on data centers in our city. While it is meaningful that we now seem to be focused on the same goal, the fact of the matter is that this council was about to approve HMC's project. It was at the final milestone and the city only stopped because the public found out. We need to acknowledge that public trust has been broken. This project has been shrouded in secrecy from the beginning and it was only due to community grassroots efforts that residents found out. We have trusted you as elected officials to lead the city and you have let the community down by letting the project get this far. This is a moment to rebuild public trust, to approach the ban with accountability and transparency. What we are seeing so far is not that. Many here tonight are confused by agenda item 9A and what appears to be the city pushing this towards a ballot in November instead of pursuing all possible options. A ballot is risky. A lot of people have come up here and talked about it. And it's not because there isn't widespread community support for a permanent ban, but because we can clearly see HMC ramping up their misinformation campaign. They've hired a PR firm who attended the last meeting taking notes and photos of residents and they are attending here again. In fact, as we can see, they have packed the room to the point where there is no room for residents to sit. People have been standing for hours. My back is killing me. Um, look at all these residents who care about our city forced to stand in the aisles to be heard. To be very clear, if there are any outsiders trying to change the message and influence us,

it's them. They are running ads on social media. They are going doortodoor in our neighborhoods. And they are actively spreading misleading information like ads focusing on 200 jobs during construction, but ignoring that there will only be 26 permanent jobs when construction is complete. To the union workers here, whatever is built instead of a data center can be built with union labor. After two years of work, you get to go home. But this is our home and we will be living here for decades to come.

We know that HMC has money to spend on a massive campaign. And there's a lot of time between now and November for them to do that. I have two questions for the council. one, what would you commit to doing to counter this misinformation campaign from HMC? And two, why are you willing to take this major risk and gamble with Monterey Park's future like this? I also want to be I also want to remind everyone that it is a very recent zoning change that even allows data centers in in Saturn Park in the first place. In fact, the city's municipal code arguably had protections in place to prevent heavy industrial facilities like hyperskilled data centers from being built here. The city council in 2024 passed ordinance 2253, which allows data centers in Saturn Park. They did this specifically to support HMC's data center application. Four of our current council members were on the same council that passed 2253 and they all voted yes to allow data centers. Thomas Wang, Vin Go, Henry Low, and Jose Sanchez. This goes back to accountability and transparency. If you made the decisions that led us to this point, how can we trust you to do the right thing now? Are you truly exploring all possible avenues to a permanent data center ban? Or are you taking the easiest path to the city? If you are drafting a ballot, you should also be exploring other solutions in parallel. And if you want to earn the public's trust back, you need to explain your reasoning. It's not enough to just say we should trust you. Look at what trusting you has led us to. Ultimately, we all want the same thing. We have a con common enemy, HMC. They've hired outside agitators to spread misinformation. I hope that you can take important lessons from your prior mistakes and

rebuild trust with the community so we can work together. Thank you.

Hello city councilman. Um, I'm grateful to be here. I'm very nervous and I'm not a fighter. But can I ask you guys something? Sorry, what's your name? Charlie Lee. Charlie Lee.

You guys got nominated because you guys fought for your position. So, we know you guys are fighters and it's a tough position. You guys do what you guys do, but remember you guys are fighters. And I lived in Monterey Park for all my life. I love the city, the culture, and one thing that I know about the city is that we could make this city great because we fought for it. How do you make a city great? Well, one thing isn't isn't it to listen to the people and you guys sworn an oath to serve the people? No.

But are you guys listening to the people what they're saying?

But maybe it's times they do at this moment right now. Listen to the people of what they're saying. And maybe then the country could be great. The city could be better for what it is. Let's say that you guys go pick a house, right? And you guys are trying to locate and let's say that h what kind of house do you guys want? Probably the best house that you guys could have, right? nice environment, good schooling, and probably a quiet place. Is that maybe near a data center where there's noise, things distracted, or would you like a very good environment? I'm thinking that you guys probably pick a environment that's the best that you guys could have, right? And for the union members, most of you guys probably do live here, but if you guys go pick a house, what kind of house do you guys want it to be in the environment near a data center?

Okay. So, I'd like to go back to the basics. I love union members. I do. You know why? You guys have to know where you guys came from. Unions. Before FDR, the Great Depression, there was no money. There was no jobs. And you know who fought for that? Exactly. Union. You guys fought for that, right? To make the people greater. And you know who tried to tear it down? corporation. Yeah.

The people that you stood up for, which I love because you guys don't know why you guys standing up for it. But guess what? Those are the same people that try to tear you guys down. So before you become like a Trump fan and you know you salute to the right You guys don't know why you guys standing up. You guys could make a living anywhere, right? Charlie, please speak to the council.

Let's say Star Trek. He said, "Your belly could be full, but your soul is empty. Your belly is full but your soul is empty.

Your belly is full but your soul is empty. So do the right thing and remember your basis that you guys fought for the same thing to make the country great. You guys fought for the same thing that made your country great. There was no minimum wage before. There was no insurance, right? It made the country great. It made the city better. But right now, the people, which Union is for the people, the people is telling you we don't want a data center. So, please listen to the people.

Yes, your belly might be full, but what about your soul?

Thank you. Bren, Brenda Compos, Evelyn Moreno, Matteline Okmpo, Deb Simone, Fabian Nunes, Richard Cerna, Jackie Wman. Okay, thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Brenda Campos and I am opposed to this moratorum and I always try to remember that behind every construction job are families, people trying to pay the rent, buy groceries, support the kids and build good lives. Shutting down developments project is shutting out our neighborhoods and families. We should want a community where working people can effort to live and thrive. I hear a lot of stuff and sometimes I make me feel sad because I think we talking with you guys and we really like when we talk we see us because we talk with a heart really this uh city deserve the best and the best is in your hands and when we talk we deserve the attention because honestly sometimes we think twice to talk to you guys because sometimes I think that people don't pay us attention. But please, I really like to thank you for your time and be by my side. Thank you and good evening.

Hello. Uh my name is Maline Okambo. I'm a Monterey Park resident. I'm a utilities engineer. I work in safety oversight. I demand that city council uh explore all options to permanently ban data centers citywide.

Data centers throughout the country have been shown to be detrimental to public health and to the environment. From wasted water to constant noise to greenhouse gas emissions and light pollution, this sort of project will only benefit the oligarch tech giants who want to accumulate more power and wealth. They are clearly not as altruistic as they claim. Look at Elon Musk and Peter Teal, for example, who have appeared in the Epstein files. Do

do you want to be associated with these people? These men among many are not only disgusting pedos, but they have invested in surveillance and military tech that monitors, tracks, and kills people. This is why there is such a big push in tech, it's to control and harm people. These men are sick in the head and building more data centers across the country would only give in to their disturbing desires to continue to exploit, harm, control, and subjugate. Here it says this hyperscale data center supports ICE operations, government surveillance, price gouging, misinformation, and many other things that hurt our community. Why would you give in to this? Why not instead be a source of hope? Why not invest in clean air and water? Stand on the side of thriving communities with green spaces that are safe where kids can play and be safe and happy. Why give into greed and the destruction of the planet? Put people over profit or else we will all suffer for generations to come. Someone mentioned you all live here too. You all would suffer too. This would affect all of us for generations to come. Please think in the long term. Thank you. Abolish eyes. FREE PALESTINE. GOOD EVENING, EVELYN MORENO, District 5. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um, no data center. I think that it's a horrible idea to put it on the ballot for the reasons I already mentioned. if you must. This is a standalone issue. If you have to put it on the ballot, it's a standalone issue. Please do not include language on the housing aspect. It muddies the water unless that's your intention.

For all the reasons mentioned by neighbors and concerned citizens, we can't stress this enough. A data center would only exploit our city. Please know that you are not alone. Monterey Park is not alone in this. Thanks to public outcry, the following cities have already voted to reject data centers for the same reasons we are all here to voice. Chandler, Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, Lewon, Maine, Neighborville, Illinois, Lorden, Ohio, and in Warrington, Virginia, residents voted out officials who supported such projects. Did you hear me? residents voted out. Officials who supported such projects. Your actions on this council are currently amplified and will follow your careers. Everybody's watching. And it's a tough job, I know, and I appreciate your public service, but please listen to us. Your actions will in turn shape the health, quality of life, and lived experience for all of us in the San Gabriel Valley. And in the ga the case of data centers, this is for the absolute worse. Thank you.

Hello, I am Deborah Simone. I spoke at the last meeting. Thank you for hearing my comments all uh council members and honorable mayor. You know, I'm with Carrie. Carrie, are you still here? You're a rock star. Um, instead of a ballot measure, let's repeal ordinance 2253. Let's put the repeal on the agenda. And I support the res a residentled initiative supported by signature gathering about what we all want to see in Saturn Park because that's democracy. We the people decide what's best for us from the bottom up. Let's start this process over and develop something we all want to see in that area. I am actually not against development in that area. I'm a member of a union. I'm not against union labor. I think uh there are all kinds of projects we could do there. And I think that we just need to be listened to. And I've said that many times and I'll say it again. Listen to the people. We want something else. Thank you.

Hi, council members. My name is Jackie Waltman and I'm a proud to be a member of the IBW 11. It's clear that there are strong opinions regarding the project. Many of us have questions and still gaining information. I believe the information is only the path forward. It would be wrong to kill the bill, the project or move it to a valid initiative before we get the facts that an EIR would provide. We owe it to ourselves to pursue an EIR. Thank you for your consideration. Madam, Madame Mayor, uh, honorable members uh, of the city council, uh, Fabian Nunes, uh, here speaking on behalf of the proposed, uh, data center, Monterey Park, and we represent the the the developer. If you mind, uh, Madame Mayor, I'd like to just, uh, present to you, uh, someone referenced earlier the flyers that our firm has been circulating. I want to just present those to you so you can have those just with respect to this project. And I think it's really important first of all, and I listen uh, intently to both sides. Obviously, I'm representing the side that wants the data center built. Um, but I respect the voices of the opposition because this is democracy at work and democracy only works when people participate. And I would say to you, I don't know if you've been listening to the side that supports the data center. We have actually been

saying time and time again on this microphone that we don't want this to go to the voters for an election

for the ballot. No, but but you the other side has said that we're pushing this. This is not our initiative. I just want to be clear. But in a democratic process, at the end of the day, voters ultimately are the finer final arbiters when a decision needs to be made. And so to say that the voices who may be outnumbered, whoever speaks the loudest, whoever can carry their voices longer is right. And everybody else doesn't matter. like some union workers that are here. You got to respect the dignity of work whether you live in Monterey Park or not. And incidentally, a lot of these folks that are here that are union members do live in Monterey Park. So, let's respect them.

Let's respect them. And let me say a couple things about about the project. We joined we joined right I think the first week of of January. Somebody said they hired some firm. I am the firm that was hired and I would have been here. I would have been here Yes, we're act I would have been here I would have been here to speak to you and I'm happy to speak to any one of you

and debate and argue the details of this project because I feel very strongly about what this project represents. I have 35 year hold on 35 years of experience starting as an activist, a community organizer, a legislator and a lot of the laws tied to environment I worked on,

I authored and I believe very strongly that we need to protect the environment. So here's what their client did and this is why we chose to take on this client. They did an environmental review. When you do an environmental review in California and that environmental review says, "Wait a minute, there's more things that need to be done." It can trigger a full EIR. In the case of this project, it didn't do that. Mind you, California has the strictest environmental standards of any state in the nation by far. by far.

By far.

So the the the folks met, the opposition had a community meeting. We heard about what happened in that meeting. We had just been uh brought on to do this. And we heard that in that meeting, what folks said was that they wanted an environmental review, an e a full e that was the demand of the community. So when we heard that, we said that's fair. Let's do a full full e. all the concerns that people are uh expressing here, the mistrust about the water, about the energy, all of these things get addressed fully in a full EIR. So why are folks afraid of doing a full ER? And this is why from a project's perspective, we say to you, let's do the full EIR so that this city council can have all of the information it needs to make a decision to determine what's in the best interest of you and your constituents, those that speak louder or those that speak softer. You can decide at the end of the day what the facts are because the facts cannot be determined by somebody going on AI and asking chat GPT what you you know what the cost of the project or the value of the project is we're here to work and talk to the community engage with the community but we think that we have to have a debate and discussion on the facts and the merits of this pro project not on hearsay and folks coming here and opposing it without having all the facts straight. I will put I will put and I'll say this respectfully respectfully. I will put my 30-year reputation on the line for this project because I believe that this project this project represents will be the best data center

ever built anywhere in the country. And so, and so I say to the community, we're going to engage with you. Folks that are jumping up and down right now, we want to meet with you, but we want to work side by side, engage the community, and find a solution. Times up. Thank you. Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. And happy to answer I've been I I've been booed. Fabian, times up. I just want to say times up. Madam Mayor, here to answer

here to answer any questions from the mayor of the council. Thank you. Next speaker. Next speaker. Rich Richard Cern Cerna Richard is not here. Tommy Zelooki, Robert Castro, Ivonne Wong, Harog Balian, and Bosco Woo.

All right. Good evening, members of the Monterey Park City Council. My name is Tommy Zomsky, proud member of IBW Local 11, representing roughly 12,000 members, many of whom who live and work in the area. I'm here to ask for a no vote on a moratorum and a ballot measure. A citywide ban or ballot initiative is premature when the project is already into environmental review and is prepared to go through with an EIR. The applicant has agreed to such requests, so let the facts come out, then make a decision. Banning data centers or any other type of development citywide hurts not only the construction industry but our members and the city residents as it eliminates jobs and economic opportunities. The site has been vacant for many years and the city previously approved zoning that allows this use. The project will bring millions of dollars in revenues each year. That's funding for public safety, parks, street maintenance, youth programs, and much more. Not to mention the many jobs during the construction phase. Please vote no on any moratorum or ballot measure. Thank you for your time.

Uh good evening council members. Um uh my name is Hog Balian. I'm a resident in Monterey Park. Uh you know we I was here two weeks ago um and I mentioned that we had launched a petition uh about 10 days before that. Um two weeks ago it was at 1,600 signatures. Today it's at almost 5,000 signatures. Almost almost 2,000 of those signatures are Monterey Park residents.

Uh I have some things I want to say, but before I do that, I want to say something. Um, James Pew, the uh, lead counselor. I see you. Why are you look Why are you looking at my LinkedIn? Like, why are you stalking me? Huh? It's It's creepy, man. It's really creepy. Rod, please direct comments this way.

I It's really creepy. So, two weeks ago, um, two of you said that that you want a data center ban. Thank you. Honestly, thank you for that. But I'm not sure we're all on the same page. I wasn't expecting the city council to uh consider putting a ban on the ballot. Now, I'm I'm actually not opposed to a ballot. I just want transparency. Like if that's the best course of action, I can get behind that. You got to take the housing stuff out, but I can get behind the ballot. But honestly, something smells fishy here. Like, why is a ballot being put forward by council member Vin Go? Vin, you know, you haven't even come out against data centers. Like, you're not even committing to a position against data centers. So, like, this smells of opportunism. like this council has not been transparent. A ballot is an option. It's actually it's not the shortest path. What is the shortest path? I think Carrie mentioned it earlier. It's repealing ordinance 2253. Ordinance 2253 was coun was passed by this city council and it's the reason why data centers exist. uh they the data centers can be built in Saturn Park and it was specifically passed to allow data centers and I just want to go through a little bit of history here. So Saturn Park used to be industrial land. For the last 25 years the city has been moving the area away from industrial and and building in protections to prevent industrial projects until this project in 1998. Measure D

reszoned Saturn Park to Office Professional. The zoning included a clause that said, and I quote, "No use shall be permitted which produces or causes any dust, gas, smoke, glare, noise, fumes, odors, electromagnetic emanations, or vibrations which are which are or may be detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, and peace of the city and its residents and businesses." That was that was 1998. Fast forward to 2020. The city puts Measure JJ forward. Measure JJ was meant to envision a revitalized Monterey Park, a deindustrialized Monterey Park. Measure JJ designated Saturn Park as quote innovation technology. So it went from office professional to innovation technology. Well, what is innovation technology? It's some it's stuff like light manufacturing or service service commercial breweries, wineries, distilleries, it is not heavy manufacturing. So since since industrial uses would be would be prohibited under measure JJ, data centers would effectively already be outlawed by default. And this is 2020. So what this means that when when HMC came to Monterey Park, the city already had protections in place to prevent data center development. So now this brings us to ordinance 2253. HMC comes knocking on our door. They're told by the city that they have the they don't have the right zoning in place to build a data center, but they're not told to go away. The city works with HMC to plan a community engagement session called Spark and then passes 2253 right

afterwards about that data center. And now we're here and that and and Jose Sanchez, you know, two weeks ago you said you you are against data centers and I believe you but you voted for that. you know, you voted for 2253 and you know, I hope you take a lesson from that because it's like your your time is up. You know, you teach civics and I I hope that's right next time. Thank you. Yeah.

Hello.

Um, honorable mayor Young and council members, my name is Ivonne Wong. I have been a longtime resident of Montter Park. I usually don't attend city council hearings uh unless it's really affected me and the last time I attended was against one legacy and this time I'm even more upset to learn about the data center and to learn it not from my own city but from another city. I pick up a flyer in Monty Bellow. So uh only two weeks before the hear last uh last time hearing on January 21st. So this is very upsetting for me as a resident that we were not being informed and then I did a lot of research both on data center and on what has been happening in Montterrey Park by the city council. It seems like there's a lot of appearance of favoritism towards the company that wants to build data center here. uh from changing from doing the municipal code that favor data center and also from uh one of your person from the city uh planning department that has communication with the company. Uh it appeared that either the city council or the city planning department were leading this company on so that they think that they're going to be able to

build. So, I was I was even more upset when I noticed the company, let me see it, advertise in the the website called data centermap.com and I was curious. I went there because I want to know how many data centers are in Los Angeles and I don't see anything in the San Gabriel area except for Pasadena. Most of the data center are concentrated in downtown LA. One wheelchair is one of them. But then I saw this little dot that show like it might be moderate park. So I click on it. Guess what I saw? as was advertisement for dig by digital uh infrastructure read either the address 1980 Saturn Street. Now that is not even being considered yet right now only 1977. Then they were advertising and says that this center may not be available. According to our data, the data center is currently listed as planned. Now, doesn't that seem really really fishy that we don't even have 1977 approved yet and they are advertising for 1980 Saturn Street. So I I totally I totally am against data

center because where the site is is next to residential area. It's really completely incompatible with data center. So I hope the city council will pay attention. You know think carefully about what you want to do. I wasn't going to speak tonight, but I saw the labor people outnumbering the residents and show up in force and I know HMC have deep pocket. They could do propaganda, do a lot of, you know, public relations against us. We we are little people. I usually am not an activist, but because of this, I will turn into one. I'm not going to let up. And I and I hope I hope everyone be, you know, I want to a show of hand. How many of these union people live in Montter Park? Please stand up. All right. Thank you, next speaker.

Thank you.

Okay. So, let's let's be organized and fight TO PROTECT TO PROTECT our quality of life. Hello, council member. Um, that's going to be a tough act to follow. Um, I'm my name is Bosco Woo. I'm a lifelong resident of Monterey Park. Um, I went to school, went to elementary school in Monterey Highlands, went graduated Markeel. Um, I'm currently working as an audiovisisual engineer. Um, so I do understand a lot of what the data center is going to bring. Um, we can see that, you know, HMC has packed the room with uh suits and and labor unions, but they're trying to intimidate us, the Mar Park residents. Uh, we're and I want to ask like, do you guys trust the big corporations or do you trust us, the people that are trying to that do have your best interests? So, and and understand that the construction will like would provide a lot of jobs, a lot of temporary jobs, a lot of like a few full-time jobs, right? But, but they get to go home, right? Like I I live in district 5, which is where the data center is going to be. They get to go home and not have to live with that noise, the pollution. And I from my background, right, these generators, they create quite a bit of noise and it's low frequency noise, right? And this low frequency penetrates building materials

pretty powerfully. It will disrupt noise. it will disrupt like people's days, sleeps, whatever, right? And and there's no guarantee, you know, they say the testing is two hours a day. There's no guarantee, you know, because these generators turn on only when there's a power outage and we all know Edison has a lot of power outages. So, we don't know when they're going to be running these. They could be running them throughout the night, right? And it's I'll leave it at that. So, I' I'd like to I'd like the city council to to repeal 2533 2533 um to ban the data center and and it's not really a compromise that they put it on the ballot. Uh HMC has deep pockets. They're going to they're going to try to campaign this and try to sway the vote. And I don't think the ballot is the correct measure and we voted for the city council to represent us and protect the community, but it's clear now that that's not happening. I don't

I don't believe that our city councils will won't will sell us out, but we will have to wait and see. Thank you so much.

Claudia Vera, Robert Castro, Nate Broton, Roouse Gutierrez, Eduardo Lemus, and David Hansen. Robert Castro, uh, resident, district five, uh, less than a mile away from the data center. I'm against it. I, you know, I was here two weeks ago and I heard the moratorum and I thought, oh, we won. Like, no, that's just pushing it down the road. Uh, four generations I've lived here in Monterey. Well, my family. So, I have a niece that still lives here in the city. I wouldn't I, you know, I'm worried about the kids. Something funny just came up, but uh and they talked about that unavailable data center. Uh I don't know, it's a well-known fact, but the FBI has has an office there. So, I wonder is this going to be for AI or FBI uh data center? Is that conspiracy theory? But, you know, it's uh shrouded in secrecy, I heard. So, uh I wonder who's really behind this. So, uh you know, also I'm a union member, right? Retired from 11. You know, I caught some I caught some flack here from like what are you doing here? You know what? I live here. I don't want it. Uh I'm really wound up. I love the city. Wednesdays I should be at the observatory. There's a nice club meeting right now. This is much more important. And uh you know I I support unions, but I I guarantee you none of you would

like to live with 26 generators in a row. And they assure me they're so clean. I worked on generators and electrician. They're exercised every month. They load test them once a year. It's a horrible amount of pollution and it's it'd be like living by an airport. I asked somebody, I saw internal combustion engines like it sounds innocent, but like no, a jet engine is an internal combustion engine. Oh, they said piston powered. I don't think so. The people I know that work at data centers, those generators run with jet engines. So, it'd be like having an airport blocks away from me. They're not going to be running all the time. Okay. They're very dirty. It's like clean coal. Clean generators. It It's, you know, I'm all for good jobs. IBW is LA County. There's jobs in the county. Not in my backyard. Not in Not in San Gabriel Valley. You know, there's jobs other places, but I don't want it. You know, most of the people here don't want it. I'm choked up. It's close to home. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Roland Gutierrez. I am a 20-year union member with Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 709 here in Los Angeles. I represent 1,200 union members for from my local with a handful that work and live here in Monterey Park. I'm here in support of the data project and I understand the concerns of the community behind me. What we need to understand is that data centers are complex mechanical plumbing and piping systems have mechanical plumbing and piping systems that have to work 247. These cooling systems and fire suppression systems of this magnitude require craftsmanship. That kind of work cannot be done by trial and error or unskilled trades. It needs to be done by skilled and trained workforce. UA members install these systems to the highest standards every day. In our apprentichip programs, we combine classroom instruction with thousands of hours of supervised on the job training. Strong apprentichip require requirements on projects like this make sure that young workers are not just brought in as cheap labor but treated as students of a trade building real long-term careers with strong PLA and CWA agreements. The will provide community workforce here in Monterey Park. It will put your community to work in the city that they live in. for the community that matters. When contractors use that properly trained workforce, projects are safer, on time, more efficient, and more reliable over the long run. And the paychecks that are earned on these jobs are spent here locally in your community in Monterey Park.

And I understand the people behind me disagree with me, and I understand and appreciate their opinion. However, supporting families in this local community is what the UA trades are all about. UA local civil line journeymen and apprentices all carry and maintain a current CalFire sprinkler installation certification cards. These certification cards are mandatory by the state of California to install fire suppression systems. and the type of suppression systems that are needed for data centers is what my trade and my membership does for a living every day. Thank you very much. Have a good evening.

Good evening. My name is Limz. Uh I've been uh a resident in the community since 2009. since I moved here. Um I understand this is not a uh unions versus uh residents uh issue but um we do you know got to take in consideration that we are moving into you know the future that we're moving into. Um we were just clapping for the third place winners you know and that uh things that they made. So just you know take into consideration that and the thing that we urge that take the right steps how to go about it. Thank you. C could you say your name one more time? Eduardo. Edo.

Eduardo. Good evening. My name is Claudia Vera. I can try speak English very well, but um I'm part for the community. I think this uh important meeting grown up that we should talk about nine. I think we can we welcome mother instructor without losing to make the city special. I feel the project with a strong community benefits and a strict limited is how we can project Montter Park while still moving forward. I don't want Mter Park to be become a city of station. Um I want to definitely a smart progress and care for the people. We can both protect protective and forwardlooking. The balance is in who we are and having open mind because I need to more cities beautiful. I need more health. I need more opportunities for the Spanish people and the others communities is coming and this time. Good. Good night. Uh, Nate Brotten, David Hansen, Carrie Wong, Randy K, Chris Perry, Eleanor Lee.

So, thank you um to the council and thank you to all of you who've uh come and spoke tonight. I both both sides of the fence, you know, I I to reflect what said earlier. My name is David Hans. The uh um this is democracy and and for both sides come out and speak on this. I I do appreciate it. And uh um I want to say that uh I'm standing here tonight with the community, not with against it or not against it.

We live here, we work here. My family breathes the same air and drinks the same water and listens to the same freeway noises that you do. The uh let me say clearly right up front, your anger is justified when the project this big shows up in your neighborhood with confusing information flying around and worst case scenar scenarios being shouted. the loudest. Of course, people are upset. Anyone pretending otherwise isn't paying attention. Nobody here wants pollution. Nobody wants unchecked noise. Nobody wants their city turned into a science experiment. And nobody wants um decisions to be made behind closed doors. Now,

I appreciate that the union members have allowed the community that is against this to be to be heard over and over again. And I appreciate you also listening. The United States Associated Association and other Union crafts didn't show up late to this project. We've been involved from day one specifically to make sure that this project moves forward that it's done responsibly, safe, and with transparency. We've already signed a community workforce agreement. That means skilled, trained local local workforce. They have to hire from the community. the uh real safety standards, strong oversight, good wages and benefits for local families, families who already live in Monterey Park. Environmental concerns are not being ignored or brushed aside. The SECA SQA process has already been initiated and that process exists for exactly this reason to analyze, mitigate, and resolve concerns around noise, air quality, and environmental impact before anything is approved or built. Let's talk about a few of the biggest fears directly. Those emergency generators, you've heard it over and over again. They don't run continuously. There's one in this parking lot. I haven't heard it run once. There's not 35 emergency generators. I heard last uh time we were out here there were 50. the the uh um the community needs to be educated on the project and that's what the developer is doing. They're disseminating information to educate the community which is exactly what the council asked them to do. The water cooling system, it's a closed loop system, right? What does that mean? They we build them all the time all over

California for a reason. Water conservation is important in California. We don't build them the same way in California as they do in Texas. We the uh we don't build them the same way they build them in um Oregon where water is plentiful and they use cooling towers. We don't do it that way here. We have refrigerant. We're going to have chilled systems that will will have hydronic loops. And I understand the community doesn't know what that is. And that's why I ask the community to look at the information and understand that the people who intend to build this thing in your neighborhood are the people who intend to live around this thing in this neighborhood.

The uh again I respected you when you spoke. Uh any idea that this project somehow gets a free pass? It doesn't. It's under more scrutiny than any development I've ever seen. Uh we're on this project because Monterey Park is our home, too. The United Association has spent over 120 years building cities safely, responsibly, and with the respect of the people who live in them. We're not here to lower standards. We're here to raise them. And finally, yes, this project would bring significant tax revenue to Monterey Park. Revenue that supports schools. that supports services and infrastructure that benefits everyone, not just the developer. You don't have to trust the developers. Honestly, I get it. But you can hold us, your neighbors, your union workers accountable. We're not asking for blind approval. We're asking for facts. We're asking for safeguards. And we're asking for a conversation that doesn't end in shouting. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Chris Perry. I'm a superintendent for CL Construction Company. Uh I'm speaking tonight because we are a construction company that successfully builds data centers around the country. Um, Clinton Construction opened our office in Los Angeles in 1997. So, we are a local contractor. We've been working in and around Los Angeles for a long time. We're very mindful about what we do and how it impacts the local residents, uh, the local city officials. And so, we are proactive in our approach to how we build projects, whether they be data centers, hospitals, churches, whatever it is we're working on. We make sure to

go to you guys first, the city as well. We approach you guys, talk to you about how we plan to build it, and we want to make sure that you guys are part of that process. Um, during the course of all of our construction processes, we post signage on our job sites to let you know who to reach out to if you have concerns. And this is for the community itself. And we have somebody that's available 247 so that if the community is concerned, they have somebody that they can address their concerns with immediately. Um, we're here in support of the EIR and in opposition of the ban. So, we just want to make sure that people are making decisions based off of science and data and not emotions.

As am I. I appreciate that. So, one one comment that the last gentleman said here was that, you know, this is a democratic process, right? And I want to speak to that a little bit because it's important to me that we live in a place where we all get to speak. Hopefully, we speak respectfully and truthfully and we're not drowned out by people that are disrespectful. So, any of those that that are here with me tonight

as as were some of us. So I I disagree with that part of the process. Talk to them, not to us. I'm talking to everybody. Very good. So at any rate, to for the record, Cloon has not been awarded this project. We do not have a contract with the developer. We're here in support of this kind of work because it does bring a lot of very skilled union labor. These guys are the experts at what they do. They build very high quality, safe projects, and I think there needs to be more of that. not less of it. Thank you.

Uh Carrie Wong, Randy K, Elanor Lee, Christa Lee, Anna Yay, Jeremy, Renee Palasios, Randy K,

Randy. So, I'm listening to how well we're going to build this place, but I'm not listening to nobody wants it. That's the problem. Nobody wants it. Period. We don't want to hear how great it's going to be. We just don't want it. Well, we're here in this unbelievably complex situation. Tonight's discussion is not a land use discussion. Tonight's discussion needs to be about what is going to be done to prevent a data center being built in a manner that prevents the applicant any opportunity to challenge any final decision. Overwhelming opposition to a data center here is growing every day and it will continue to grow until this is over. Beware of people on social media acting as residents trying to inform the public that a data center and possibly two next door to each other will not use any water or power and will not cause any pollution. That is absolutely ridiculous. I'd like to thank residents from Montabelloo, Roseme, South St. Gabriel and Alhhamra who are here supporting Montterrey Park residents in making efforts to prevent environmental damage, power and water issues, and lowering of property values in their own cities. We don't want any AI data centers in the St. Gabriel Valley ever. The applicant has said nothing to residents. I don't know where all this information is. They don't need to and won't. We were told at the meeting with you, Mayor Yang, that the applicant would have a town hall u meeting starting January the 9th. Nothing ever happened. Um and if an environmental impact ends up being done, an engineering fir firm that has a track record with AI data centers being completed should not be chosen. We need an independent engineering firm familiar with the challenges in LA

County. Air pollution, severe wildfire risk, severe drought conditions, and an aged electrical grid. Garvey reservoir is not for sale. In an earlier meeting, an engineer spoke briefly after he checked the data that was published, and he mentioned that he thought it was not correct. Should an EIR be done, every sentence needs to be reviewed to ensure that it is correct and complete. If the decision is made to proceed with that, we will make sure we start the largest GoFundMe in the history of the San Gabriel Valley to get independent engineers on this task to conduct a complete review and dissect every finding. And if there is one eye not dotted or one tea not crossed, additional work will need to be done. We want you to find a way out of this for all of us. And I will say that I am an immigrant. I came here many years ago. The reason I came to the St. Gabriel Valley and I I lived in Montrey Park at one time, I didn't sound like Americans and I didn't speak the language that my neighbors spoke and I used to go out to dinner by myself and I made neighbors and friends here. I had great neighbors and friends. And these places, they go through the path of least release resistance. And the reason I'm out there every day asking people what they think about this data center is because I was accepted here as an immigrant. And I intend to fight for the people who have been so kind to me over the years as an immigrant until this is completely over. And I swear to God that if this center is completed, the city council in Mterrey Park will never look the same because there are several people that I heard tonight that if I were living in Mterrey Park, I would sure vote for them for the city council because they're going to go

to the people first and find out what they want before they start making businesses with people who are coming from out of the country to build data centers in Montre Park. Come on team sters.

Hi. Uh this is Jeremy um district 3 and I've been resident for five years. Um I first want to welcome our new neighbors HMC and ACTUM. They are going to be our brand new partners in this amazing opportunity for power and and money making and getting to have temporary jobs. We all love a temporary job, don't we? I mean, I'm like I I work with uh Amazon Teamsters and uh it's just really it's really surprising to see the all it's weird to see all the uh it's really weird to see all the union members standing up in support of a guy in a suit who is representing a company from far away. It's like this is not what we got involved and work for. Not in the power of people. This is not what we were doing. But I had a whole thing I was going to show you, but like just seeing how like there's been a lawsuit proposed now about like gonna like this is how you you come into our city and say, "Oh, if you don't do what we want, we're going to sue you." That's not neighborly. That's not friendly. It's just like it's kind of like just bizarre to me that we're still like having to have this discussion over and over again when clearly the people here do not want it. There will be jobs. There will be opportunities in the future. It doesn't have to be a data center. Why are you guys bending over backwards for this data center? This is insane. But I'll say like to end on this thing like it's it's just amazing that we got like a whole website now. We can go to Monterey Parkdatenter.com. You can see all the great facts and figures about it. But like why am I getting ads uh and for that now? I haven't had anything from an independent source that's you know from the facts. It's all because they have a a a reason for putting all this out there. They're trying to, you know, dispel misinformation, but they're putting out websites and and all this and all these ads to spread misinformation. And I'm I'm glad that, you know, uh, city clerk

gee told us to, you know, don't listen to the misinformation back in the December 3rd meeting. I'm so glad I got to like finally hear what the HMC and and the ACTUM has for for all of us. Uh, it's not great. It's not like you guys haven't really sold me on it yet. Um, yeah, cool. So you guys get to bring a couple hundred jobs temporarily, but we still live here. So all right. THANKS. Good evening. My name is Anna and I'm a resident of Monterey Park. I'm back here to reiterate my position to a data center. I thought we weren't going to build a data center based on our last meeting, but I can't believe we're back here again to fight against this big corporation building a data center. I'm pro business, but I'm anti-data center. They don't care what we care because it's our community is affects our health and other long-term effects I've already mentioned. And you can set a precedent by doing a no data center. Uh, Christa Lee, Renee Palasios, Clot Jen, Kevin Crowe, Susan Halfreed, Tyler Bird.

Uh, my name is Rene.

My name is Renee Palasios. Good uh, good evening, mayor and members of the city council. Um, I'm the business agent for the iron workers of local 433 and I represent 10 members that live in this community. Projects like the data the Saturn data center benefit the community, the local workforce and the city through local higher requirements, apprentichip programs, middle class wages, benefits, pension funds, programs like helmets to hard hats and support of children trans transitioning from uh the foster system, middle class families like mine and those of my brothers and sisters behind me. Um, this is for a prosperous future to look forward to. Through tax revenues and public infrastructure improvements, the city and the community experience both a civic and economic boost that leads to positive changes and improvements citywide. Saying no to the data center development is saying no to development and growth. Thank you. for you.

Good evening, Tyler Bird.

I'm Tyler Bird. I represent Iron Workers 416. I have 3,200 members. I have a good handful that live and work here in Monterey Park over at the college down the street. The recipe for building a good project is to require strict operating limits, meaningful mitigation, independent monitoring, and hiring local skilled workers. Here we have a chance for Monterey Park to demand all these standards while keeping the door open for working families to thrive. It's a chance to be there to be a yes with conditions. And this is responsible stance to take. Let's keep the doors open so projects can be built, that residents can live with, and that workers can be proud of. Build it safely, build it professionally, and build it to high standards. Thank you for your time. Clotail Jane, Kevin Crowe, Joel Greenfield, Max Reed, Alice Lee, Zack Straers, There are seats in the council chambers for the individuals that are watching from the lobby. And if there's individuals that are standing in the back, there are seats available here in the council chambers. All right. Um, I'll keep reading. Nicole Gaden. Okay. I'll just read a few more names because it seems like some people went home.

Sounds good. Nicole Galden, Sochi Madano, Laz Lza Lambert, Cara Ham, Veto Basuto, and Godfrey Watira. Th these are the last words I can't. Okay, go ahead.

Hello, my name is Max Reed. I lived in Monterey Park for 14 and a half years. The first rule of vampires is that when a vampire knocks, you don't let it in. You say get out. So when a vampire is at your door, what do you say? Get out.

Unfortunately, each one of you let them in. Now we've got to deal with a selfish, hungry entity here to suck our neighborhood dry. A belching, water chugging data center vampire. And you saw our community pride two weeks ago. You see our love for this community tonight. You see the difference between astroturf and grassroots, between mercenaries and residents. Don't bow at the data centers. Move to ban them outright. Let's stand up to bullies who say, "Let me help you or I will hurt you."

They say they're here to listen. They say they want all our voices heard. They want to know how we really feel about data centers. What do we SAY TO THE VAMPIRE at the door? GET OUT. This is our neighborhood. We are the ones who have everything at stake. The vampire is in the house, but we are the stakeholders.

Thank you. Hello. Uh, I'm Louisisa Lambert with Actum and the developer. Uh, thanks for having me here. Um, as you've heard, we have been hard at work, uh, reaching out to residents. We've been doing a lot of door knocking. Um, we attended the, um, Lunar New Year's event over the weekend. We have canvased over 250 businesses, met with hundreds of residents. Um, and the overwhelming majority have said they want the opportunity for an EI process to go through. They want to see the facts speak for themselves. Um, and I think at the end of the day, um, by not letting it happen, we lose out on a choice for the residents. um we lose out on the opportunity for um revenue and jobs, union jobs. Um for the union members who are here and live here um short-term or not, they are jobs and um we ask for more time for us to continue meeting um with residents. We have meeting schedules with with small groups um so we have so we have an opportunity to have constructive conversations and hopefully work up to a town hall. SO, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS Sochi Madrono. Uh I am the political coordinator for the District Council of Iron Workers. I was born in Garfield Medical Center and I grew up in the San Gabrio Valley. Uh, I'm here to voice my strong opposition to item 9A. We do not support a

moratorum or the proposed ban on the data centers because these projects represent thousands of hours of high-paying skilled work for our members and their families. Prohibiting these facilities, especially through a permanent ballot measure is a short-sighted move that sends union jobs and millions in tax revenue to neighboring cities. We urge the council to focus on smart regulation and a community benefits agreement instead of a total ban that hurts working class. Please vote no on item 9A and the moratorum. Let's keep Monterey Park open and please do not shut the door on our workers. Thank you. Hello, my name is Veta Pasutu. I am representative of Anchor Church. For our perspective, the data center are powerful tools to substance service from schools education, work, family connections and communication and even chair chair tables work. Data centers allow communication across the world to connect, grow and prosper as well. These resources centers will guide by the responsibilities and companion and companion can be instruments of service, wisdom and a powerful force for a good common good. Let's work to keep our hearts and mind open to build a project to help people thrive. Thank you and God bless you. Hi, my name is Kira Ham. I'm a resident of District 3. I'm a lifelong resident. Um, I attended Brightwood Elementary, Mark Kebell High School, and I still live here today.

Um, I'm against the data center in Monterey Park and I'm really here to just ask you to listen to your residents. Um, I think the last meeting, you know, we really showed all of our support. It wasn't even just Monterey Park residents. It was our neighbors, too. You know, Montabelloo, East LA, San Gabriel. Um, I think a lot of these union members are we're not against the union. It shouldn't be a union versus residents thing. This is this is not us against the union at all. And we fully like whatever gets built here that's after the data center, the union locals are more than welcome to come back and support us and work together. We're not against you. And I think I think that you know that I I'm just asking you to remember everything that was said last meeting too because like a lot of people came up here crying because their neighbors were in danger. They're they're showing their support for their family members that couldn't make it. And I also want to point out that like a lot of people were emotional about it because it's personal to us.

This is where we live. This is where we want to live.

Monterey Park is a community of generational homes. I live in the house that my grandmother bought when she moved here, when she immigrated from the Philippines. And I hope to live here for a long time because I love Monterey Park AND I STAND WITH my residents and my community members. And the fact that HMC Capital has brought these union members to agitate us and to try and scramble our movement, our momentum right now. It's upsetting because they're out here regurgitating the same information. They're not addressing the community concerns that your residents have come up here and and told you again tonight. We have people showing up every council meeting now and we will continue because we care about this city. No data center in Monterey Park, please. Thank you. All right. Good evening, Zach Strawster. It's a pleasure to be here with you tonight. So, uh, it it's pretty evident that your constituency, the local residents are upset. I don't think it takes a genius to figure that out. I think the reality is that any project, if it's worth approving or if it's worth denying, it's based on the merits of the project. So, I'm going to bring out a couple facts as I understand them. I think obviously we have plenty of people that are willing to viferously oppose anything. If this is not true, then the information that I have is false. And obviously through your sequel process, you'd find that out anyways if it makes it that far. First of all, the parcel that it's on, from my understanding, has

been vacant for many years. The city previously approved zoning that to allow this use. The amount of income that's projected is about5 to7 million revenue every year. And that funding obviously is what goes to, you know, public coffers to be able to take care of civil services. So another element that I think is important to understand is either we stand behind SQA or we don't. Certainly there's a lot of squa abuse, but if we're asking for a process and then we're engaging that process in good faith, obviously if the project stands on its merits through that process, bring in whatever independent, you know, source needs to verify, whatever the case may be, you can obviously as a council create whatever additional measures you need and uh the way that you choose to approve. You can create caveats that ask for whatever it is that seems to be appropriate. So since it's gone through years of city and environmental review under SQUA, we're talking not just about, you know, violent emotional threats against it, but talking about the quality of the city processes themselves. And that has to do with the people that we hire, the people that have been vetted. And we're not talking about, you know, whatever polola. We're talking about civil servants that the people are obviously uh voting in and vetting and who have been faithful servants for many years prior to this project. So if the EI shows problems and I think it's obviously reasonable by anybody's understanding of what the sequel process should contain that you would vote to deny it. It doesn't require violence or threats or mob mentality or hatred or bitterness or stalking. It's just a basic simple process. So, you know, if if your opinion requires violence and intimidation, then it seems like there's probably my I mean, my observation is I think we as a people are at a place in our democracy where we ought to take, you know, violence and mob mentality

pretty seriously. So, if we're coming if we're coming to if we're coming to a place where we're asking for due process, which is what I think the argument that most people have against ICE, for example, then let's give the process due process. Let's give this project due process. If the developer is everything that they've been portrayed to be, clearly that'll come out in the wash. Clearly that'll be revealed over the process of what SQA does. And finally, the process, the project itself is either sustainable or it's not. So when you look at the portions of this project like the cooling system, the infrastructure upgrades, no pass through increases to utility rates. If those things are true or those things are false, then we're relying on the due diligence of our dulyeleed civil servants and the teams that we have hired and the third parties that we have vetted for many years to determine if that information is in fact true or false. It doesn't require threats. It doesn't require emotionalism. You kudos to those have who have come out and who have engaged the civil process. That's absolutely what anyone should do. That's a part of our democracy that we hold dear and that we value. That's part of what makes us America. What doesn't make us America is when our opinion requires violence in order to coers others to agree with it. Thanks and God bless you. Uh God Godfrey Washira God Godfrey Washira. Yeah. Uh good evening council members. My name is Godfrey Washi and I'm with CR LA and we are for an EIR for the project and no on the moratorum. We support the EIR process because as the courts have said, an EIR not only protects the environment

but also protects informed self-government because the goal is for decision makers and the public to have sufficient information to make an informed decision about a project. In fact, the consensus before the last hearing was that an EI would be done for the project. Why move the goalposts? Let's do it. There are people who will support the project. There are people who will oppose the project and there are people who are neutral and there are those who are looking for information to make a decision. Why don't we allow that process to play out? Right? Let's embrace the spirit of the founding fathers who believed in a deliberative republic. Right? They slowed down the policym process enough so that everybody's voice could be heard. Right? uh and and every all voices can be heard and people can talk with one another rather than at each other or over each other but talk with each other right if you look at the policy process in Congress that's why one congressman or one senator can stop an entire process that was done by design by the founding fathers because they wanted everybody to have a voice in whatever issue there is right remember we are in a liberal democracy and A liberal democracy and I'll put it well is the will of the majority and protection of the rights and interests of the minority. We always have to consider the minority. And that's what the founding father slowed the process enough so that even the voices of the minorities can be heard because today you can be majority in an issue and tomorrow you find yourself you're a minority in another issue. But the founding fathers wanted to make sure whatever side you are on that your voice can be heard. That they believed that the best way to make

decisions was through deliberation and consensus building. That's how they looked at it. Let's let's all meet at the middle of the political room and talk with each other. Right? And and ER does give us that opportunity to do that. And that's why tonight I urge you to take up the spirit of the founding fathers. Build on the consensus that we have that an EI is okay. At the beginning everybody said let's have the EIR, right? Let's do it. These are consensus. That's our founding fathers. So how the system should work? You build consensus, you deliberate, then you come up with your decision at the end of the day. And that's all we asking. Consensus is do. Let's do it. Let's just do it, right? Because an EIR Thank you. An EI above everything else, an EIR gives science a voice. Let's have science telling us, let's have science lead our policy making. Let's have science lead our decision making. That's what the EI is going to give us. Look, doesn't it sound odd that if if the developer had something to hide, they wouldn't be asking for an they they want it now. They are they've been open enough to say, "Let's do it." So why would you fear if if you don't want data centers, why would you fear an taking place, right? Is it because you fear the information that will come might dispute what you have or is it I I and I know it because as us we started as doubters and became believers because we looked through the information we looked through all of those all the knowledge and figured out it's not as

bad as we thought every data center is because every project is unique in of itself right and so today I add you give a chance for science like give a chance for all to engage and have a shot at making an informed decision. Thank you and God bless you. All right, the next speakers are Nicole Geredon,

Roxanna Furahani, Harrison Quac, Brian Murk, George Bokeenegra, Brian Yan. Yeah, you're both Brian's. Okay, I'll get rid of one. Yan uh Teresa's coming up. Felisa Felicia Marquez.

Mayor, as as the speakers are coming up, can we issue a reminder just to the audience to please not to be respectful for the speakers that are coming so that the council can hear what's being spoken and just ask everyone who continues to be here. I know it's after 10 o'clock and we're all excited still. Uh but if we can all just be respectful and continue to ask for that, please. Yeah. Also, are there people in the lobby still? Maybe have them come in. There's so many seats here, so they can Oh, it's cooler in the lobby. Okay. Okay. Just want to make sure they knew there were seats in here. Uh, yes.

Thank you, council. I'm Brian Murky. I live in district three. Um, I suggested last time that we put it to a vote and I suggested it because I thought that Shephard Mullen, who represents the developer, would come in and say there are threats, threaten to sue. And uh, they've done it today because they're scared. Um, I think they're chickens. They're scared. They think we'll win because we will win a vote. They have the money, but we have the people

and the people cannot be bought. These developers, half a billion dollar project, what are they going to do in a small town? Run an ad in the cascade. Okay, realistically, you can buy big national elections, but what can you do in a small town where we know our neighbors? And I don't know these people sitting here, all right? But we know our neighbors and we can win elections. We'll beat them square. And the reason why we should have an election that needs to address housing, I know you all may not agree with me here, but it has to address housing because if we don't put something there and this blight continues, then some other viper will come in here and they'll be even more hated than these data centers. The city will get desperate. The city will want to fill this land and we can fill it with housing. And the reason we need to fill it in with housing is because we are so far behind on our housing goals. In the 2021 to 2029 mandate from the state, we have to build 5,200 units of housing. In the last reporting period, we had to build 770 units of housing. That is a huge increase. and we have not zoned the land for it. Our housing report said we did not need to change our zoning to meet the housing mandates and that was wrong. The state is going to come in and they're going to put housing complexes all along the single family homes unless we find land to build it. Saturn Park is that land. There's also SB79 passed by the legislature last year that forces cities to reszone land around transit stations, specifically trains. So half a mile within Atlantic Station by Caesar

Chavez, Rian, and Atlantic. Half a mile of there will be reszoned to four five-story apartment buildings unless the city finds alternative land to develop to save those hundreds of single family homes that will be reszoned and will be demolished. So the city needs to act now and the city needs to find this land to do it because if we don't put housing there some other vulture will come in. We don't want this data center here. So, put it on the ballot. Make the people decide there should be no option where we do nothing. Either the putting people put their money where their mouth is and say no data center, yes housing, or the people give up on their city. But I don't think the people will give up on their city. They'll show up at the ballot box and they'll do the right thing because I believe in the people, not empty suits, who are scared and threatened to sue this city. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS HARRISON QUACK. I'm a resident. Um, I apologize. A lot of this material is basically what everyone else has said. What's with the ballot? As our representatives, are you concerned we don't represent how your constituents feel? We're a noisy minority. There's maybe, I don't know, 200 people in the community here. Same at the last meeting. How many folks are normally in here for a city council meeting? Maybe 10. I mean, there's I was on YouTube. There's maybe 30 times the number of views for your last meeting compared to every other video you've ever live streamed. So, you know, we're the people and you're our representatives.

Is it in your power to say this proposal is not for Monterey Park? You need the public to officially weigh in here. A ballot in nine months from now. Yeah. Give the data center more time for flyers, Facebook posts, passionate speeches about progress. You know, the letter as those people. They talked a lot about the need for progress. Well, let the guy threatening to sue you. The haircut, that's what the bad guy looks like. You're our representatives. We need your leadership. How's that research going on the concerns about the power grid, water demands, noise, property values raised by basically every speaker and community member here and last time? What's the latest on the meetings with local officials who've brought data centers into their cities? You have a chance to follow up with them. Councilman Low, you're our representatives. We hope you're making measured decisions. I heard in the last meeting there were struggles with how little direction has been given by the federal and state regulators. True. Not a lot of long-term information on something so new. So maybe caution is needed. Why does this feel like this is quietly being arranged away from the public eye? You know, now they're pro- environmental review. Last time I heard Councilman Low, you said they failed at engaging the public and missed an opportunity. We hope and pray you all had a good you have good plans to attract development in Monterey Park. I'm prog growth in Monterey Park. We hope you can make our city aesthetically pleasing. Our schools, police, and fire departments well supported. A gem in the eyes of the developers. I hate empty fields and useless Boba promises as much as the next person, Lanica and Garvey looking at you. Don't let what's happened in the past make you desperate.

You know what's it say up there? Faith in the future. Make our city tax policy, safety the most attractive thing to those looking for opportunities, those who improve the quality of your constituents lives without controversy. And you'll be backed by everyone here. I appreciate your engagement and maybe you see the ballot as a positive step, but there's been a lot of communication already. No ballot, especially one that combines the issue with housing. Councilman Low, sorry to pick on you. I am quoting you out of context, so my apologies, but in the last meeting, you stated, "When I speak, you will listen." I think this city has spoken. Are you listening?

Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, council members. My name is George Bokan, and I represent over 20,000 members in LA County. Some of us had to go home tonight and some of us are still here because we are passionate about going to work every day. We, the Carpenters, are strongly supportive of this project and against the ballot proposition to prohibit the data centers in Monterey Park. Sometimes the loudest voices don't represent everyone. I know there are strong opinions, but not everyone in Monterey Park feels the same way. Believe it or not, we live here, too. We're your neighbors. Many of us are still learning and asking questions. District 5. Ending the process early sends the message that some voices matter more than others. Continuing reviews keeps the door open for all residents to be heard. This project will create hundreds of good paying jobs. Project like this might put your work might put your kid to work and have a career as a middle class carpenter so he can buy a home here in Monterey Park and not have to move to the IE. Projects like this create family supporting construction union jobs and long-term technical employment. Organized labor supports responsible developers. This developer has committed to local hiring, strong wage standards, apprenticeship, and pathways for new careers in the trades. This is an opportunity to ensure Monterey Park workers benefit directly.

Banning data centers or any other type of development citywide hurts the entire construction industry and stifles economic growth for the members and the residents of the city. Thank you for your time. HI, ROXANNA FARHONEY, a resident of District 5. I wasn't going to speak tonight, so I wrote this on my phone really quick. It's not going to be profound. Um, I spoke last week basically or on January 21st basically reiterating what everybody or echoing what everybody said today. Um, I had to come up and speak because tonight my comments will be directed at HMC rather than city council. You all heard me last week or January 21st. Um, I had to comment on HMC and their PR because it's absolutely ridiculous. Um, and it shows how little they value Monterey Park and its residents. Uh, the first woman who came up was so belittle belittling, saying that we're against development. None of us have given any suggestions that are against development. And for her to come here and act like a child, insinuating that we are all acting like children, I mean, it's disgusting. Second of all, um, I'd like to address AMC and not the union. I am a I'm a part of a union. I want to say this is what billionaires do. They pit the working class against each other.

I'm not I'm not sure what this tactic is. I'm not sure who came up with it to be honest. Could have been anybody. I don't know if it's for strength, for intimidation, for our city. But look what happened tonight. We're all fighting against each other. Um, and it goes against what HMC is preaching, community engagement all over their social media and new website they have. But how is this community engagement? How is this being here for our community, reaching out to our community? They didn't come here for community engagement. They saw us all here united on January 21st and they came here to attack us tonight. And now we're being told we are violent. No, we are here. So I urge us to stay a community strong with our neighbors. We are grassroots but um as others have said uh we can we can be stronger. Our voices can be stronger. Um but HMC is starting their campaign. They are spreading misinformation. Um Fabian Nunes did that tonight. He said um California has some of the strictest laws. Um that's not true because big tech companies buy laws. They buy politicians not to pass environmental laws to be put in place, especially in California because of Silicon Valley. So, California is one of the biggest offenders of this. So, you know, even if we do an ER, I have no doubt that that could be bought. Um, so it's not one of the most environmentally friendly places of misinformation spread tonight here on this podium. Um, so in regards to 9A, um, I I'm under the position that we should explore all avenues. It seems like there can be an ordinance, something done with an ordinance today possibly or in the next few council meetings coming up and then the possibility of a ballot measure in which I would hope that, you know, when drafted language is meticulous. There's

a lot of different ideas that came up tonight. Um, you know, and here's the thing to HMC. This is our neighborhood. Whether it's information or misinformation, we just there. We don't want a data center here. So, you're gonna keep hearing that. Thank you.

Um, Teresa, Stephen, Kung, Bryant, Fan, and Samuel.

Hi, everyone. I uh my sister told me for advice to kill you all of kindness. So I want to say thank you. Uh Jose Sanchez, you're a rockstar. You have my vote of confidence. Uh Vin, I meant it. I have faith in you. And uh of course everyone in the council, thank you. Uh so I want to start off by saying something about those suits over there in the corner. Okay. I want to make it clear uh for public record tonight. And I've confirmed that with that that developer has engaged Actum. They're a 50 to$100 million company, a major political consulting and public affairs firm known for shaping narratives, managing opposition, and engineering political outcomes for highstake corporate clients. Lziza Lambert, remember her? She's with them. And the guy who's paid by HMC Stratcap, he's with Actum. Okay. This means this proposal has never been a simple land use question. From the moment Actum entered the picture, it became a political strategy. Their job is not to design buildings or answer technical questions. Their job is to make controversial projects look inevitable, keep elected officials comfortable, and minimize scrutiny and neutralize community resistance. Know their role. We know who you are. Residents deserve transparency. They deserve a process driven by facts, not political strategy. and they deserve a council that recognizes when outside consultants are shaping the narrative instead of this Monterey Park community. This is not just a development proposal anymore. It's a coordinated political operation and the public Monterey Park community deserves to see it for exactly what it is. I I wish I was a lawyer or a

firefighter, but you know what? I'm an accountant, okay? I'm a numbers guy. So, when I see five to seven million recurring, I want to see the numbers, right? Because I like looking at numbers. It's what I do. Okay? So, what I'm trying to tell you all is they are trying to sell us on phony numbers. Don't buy it. Okay? Their fiscal report depends on assumptions the applicant hasn't proven a favorable property assessment, near full power operations, predictable equipment spending, and zero service costs. Remove any one of those assumptions and the revenue projection collapses. The city should not rely on a model this fragile. So, I'm so far as 9A, I'm I'm hoping that there's a more resident friendly uh solution to all this, as mentioned, I have faith in the council, and I appreciate that the council's working so hard uh trying to figure things out for our community. Um, but if it comes to a ballot initiative, we will fight for our neighbors. We will fight for our modern pay community.

And that's right. We're gonna win. I I don't know who these guys are. They're coming from Australia or Florida or DC or wherever, but they're not from here. So, solutions, repeal 2253 or we do a residentled initiative and we'll do that. I'll go to I'll go door to door. Okay. So again, thank you council. Thank you.

Hi council. How is everyone tonight? Um my name is Felicia Marquez and I spoke last week and I was very emotional. So thank you for getting me through that. Um, I just wanted to say again, um, thank you for staying till 1 in the morning. And after that meeting, I got to thinking, um, from something that Henry Low said in that, um, you know, he was thinking that potentially this could be a model. And I was thinking also, one thing that you said was that there's really no oversight. And it's a shame that the federal government, the state government is not putting any regulations on these data centers and going across the nation and shoving this into our neighborhoods. And unfortunately, you have to bear the shoulder, the weight of that. And it's I was driving to work the next day thinking this is just a horrible situation that you have to bear that we have to bear. And honestly, it's from the top. is from Washington DC and the big billionaires who are in the pocket of Trump just slamming us with data centers and we have to fight for our rights and you have to fight for our rights and I do have faith in you and I do believe that we can turn this around and we can have no data centers. I'm begging you to to reconsider. Um in addition to that I just wanted to reiterate with everybody that I'm a third generation Monterey Parkian and my grandfather lived in Montabelloo. He was a Teamster union. My father was an MTA driver for 20 years for Metro and I took care of both of them. My grandfather died in my house. My father almost passed away in my house and my house was built in 1934. And I also have a boyfriend who's a carpenter, a second chance carpenter. He's very skilled. He's very smart. And we've been working on my house to improve certain things. One thing I wanted to point out to you is, for

example, my garage, 25 feet, I think, has three bolts in the mud seal to the cement foundation. That code was 1934. We have to rectify that. I'm not going to live with my garage going to fall off in the next earthquake. But what I'm saying is that the codes from the past are not the codes of the future. And if we build this data center now, what's to say these skilled workers who are I'm sure highly intelligent, highly skilled. I know I've actually like pride myself on being a DIYer. I've picked up my saw. I've picked up the nail gun. I've done stuff myself. But I just want to say that how do we know that the codes of today are going to be the codes of tomorrow? And these data centers are not going to have to be um re reworked and that could be a cost on our city. So, I just want to keep that in mind. Okay. So, okay. So, thank you for staying. Um, also, I don't know. I guess I'll wait for this disturbance. What should I do? Oh, okay. Keep going. Um, I also wanted to just say to the audience, I'm sure we've all watched Aaron Brochovich, and we all know that breach of groundwater, which is a really big concern of mine beyond this the, you know, I used to be a runner, a marathon runner, an iron man. I've ran past Saturn, you know, many times. I mentioned last week, but we why take the risk that whatever closed loop system or open loop system, why take the risk that we could damage our groundwater, that we can damage our air? It doesn't take an ER either. Why are we putting pollutants on top of pollutants? It doesn't take an ERRI. That's why we don't need the EIR. We don't need it. We can see. We also have researched data centers across the nation. We know the impact of the data

centers. We've all seen it. We see the rust in the water just like Aaron Brochovich. And when Aaron Brochovich goes to that lady in the where she was living and has to pull her daughters out of the pool water, that's frightening to me because I was a swimmer. I don't want to go to the pool and elac and be freaked out that I'm gonna get some type of cancer. In fact, my mother died from ovarian cancer and it ravaged her and I don't want to go through that. I don't think any of us want to go through that. And I just want to say the applicant had said that um we have constitutional rights. Yeah, we do have constitutional rights. Free air, free like non-polluted water and all these things. And if you think that we live in a democracy, have you even looked at the news? We are not in a democracy. I'm sorry. We can talk about this all day long, but we're not. And then I just want to say one more thing. Why am I driving my scooter? Because I have been going to every business in my neighborhood before my work, after my work, in my car. I burnt my battery out in my car because I will not stop until every business owner knows about this data center. And by the way, be this huge list of businesses I've been to between beauty salons, massage, nail, hot pot, everybody. Nobody knows. Please consider that city council. Thank you so much.

Good evening everyone. And first of all, I was already um in bed watching the city council meeting. I don't suggest people do that because when you're in your pajamas, then you start hearing some of these comments and I was like, I got to get there. So, I I rushed here. Um I want to read something to you. When this first came before council on December 3rd, we immediately pulled it from the agenda. We asked the applicant for more information and community town halls. Nearly two months later, we received almost nothing from them. Meanwhile, you showed up with facts, concerns, and evidence. Those are your words, Elizabeth. Remember that. That's the history of this project. We've been here. And if you want to talk about and I completely support Union. I think that they are vital to our economy. I like that some people have come to say they support it. I get it. But at the end of the day, we're the residents. You are our eyes and ears. You you you you are my voice. You are my concern. You are my heart. You are my brain. You are my community. You are my home. Remember that because there's been a lot of information here about holding people accountable and about what a democracy is. Democracy is about listening to your residents because we're the ones that voted you in because when you came to our doors and you know Vin, you're my my district 5 council member. You're my eyes and ears. You're my voice.

So, please listen to us. There's a lot of noise going on here and I get that people are very passionate and I I support the unions like I said, but if we build housing, you're going to be back, right, to support housing. I'm sure you will because we need electricians, we need plumbers, we need carpenters, right? That's right. So it doesn't matter what is built there. The unions will be here to support us because we want to give them jobs. But I'm going to write something. I want to share something else with you though. And this is what I was I was going to send this to you initially um in an email, but then you know I hopped out and came here. Jobs are temporary, but the negative effects of this data center on its residents are permanent. permanent, long lasting. But if they want to look at jobs, housing will create jobs. Plus, housing will create vibrancy. It'll create family. It'll create generations. It'll create community. And it'll add to Monterey Park. So, please don't be fooled tonight by all the noise into voting for a pretty penny

because quality of life is priceless. It's priceless. And you know, I'm going to say one other thing. Um, if you want to put it on the ballot, put it on the ballot. I've got my sneakers ready to go and I'm ready to go door todo because you know one thing We Monterey Park, we stick together and we are community. And that's what a lot of people don't understand. And I'm not anti-data center. I use my AI and whatnot. It's just it's not the right location. That's the issue here. I'm not saying don't put it in the SGV. I can think of different cities where it would be great. If we had a huge industrial complex, I would say, okay, if it's far away enough and we implement some things, but look at where it's situated. So, please, I'm going to say it again, do not turn your back to us. Um, and remember, who gave you false promises at the end of the day? Okay, hold on a moment. Who did? Was it the residents or was it them saying that they were going to do outreach, outreach, outreach? And if you can't depend on their word to do outreach, how can you depend on them for a project? Remember that. So you want to bring in a ballot game on. I will walk. I will walk. Oh, good night and thank you. Hello. Good evening. My name is Bryant. I didn't plan on speaking tonight as I was just going to attend to show my support. Uh so I apologize in advance

for reading off my phone. I'm a resident in district 3 and I'm here not only for myself but my neighbors who could not attend as well as my brother who's a constituent of district 5 who had to leave early. I moved in a few years ago and I remember my neighbor council member Sanchez greeting me on Halloween with his family and vowing to represent me and I appreciate your stance and I hope you will truly represent me and your constituents. I love my neighborhood and this city and I am opposed to having data centers built in my city or any neighboring communities. I'm a member of Local 18. I've worked alongside many carpenters and electricians who take pride in their work. There's plenty of opportunities to work on other projects that can benefit our community like building housing, schools, or renewable energy sources that can be brought into the city. Data centers are not going to benefit our community. I request that the council does not proceed with the ballot proposal and vote to ban data centers outright in the city. Also, how come an ER is being proposed now and wasn't done in the beginning of the project? It sounds like they're scared of us and they're trying to appease us once they saw that our passionate community uh stood up against data centers at the last meeting as well as this one. So, that's all I have to say, but thank you for your time. Uh, hello. I'm Samuel. Uh, I apologize to all my fellow residents. I didn't get to prepare as much as I wanted to for tonight. I just got off work. Um, I'm Australian. Don't hold that against me. Um, uh, why did I come to Monterey Park? um community, restaurants, uh quiet neighborhoods. I would never have been attracted to Monterey Park if I'd known

uh if I knew I'd be living next to a data center. I'm uh in district five, uh which is Vin's district, right? But don't worry about me. I'm a green card holder, so I can't vote. I pay taxes, though. Anyway, um, as a as an immigrant from Australia, I have more in common with most of the residents here than those in LA who have the same skin color as me. My girlfriend and I, my girlfriend is Asian-American, and we would joke when we walk down the streets in Monterey Park. Wonder who if they could guess which one is the immigrant. Anyway, um, I work in the film industry and work has not been easy. Uh, but the kinds of jobs that this data center might provide wouldn't even pay my mortgage. I'm talking about the ones after the short-term construction jobs, uh, which is what, 26, and I don't know if they're going to be residents of Monterey Park. Maybe they'll rent a room somewhere. Uh, just the electricity use alone is crazy. Data centers are not just computers. Their energy is like that of heavy industry. Every year we are advised to ease the load on the electrical grid. I've ever since I've lived in LA, I've been told reduce your AC or whatever in the summer, right? Because they take too much electricity. Uh how is that even possible with this data center using twice as much power as the city? And that's just one of the planned facilities, right? So they they want to put a second one on the other side. I know this has been said before, but I didn't get to talk about this last week uh two weeks ago. Sorry about this guys. To the people arguing for progress, I'm probably at the bleeding edge of the services this data center might provide. I work in visual effects on uh TV commercials and that we use generative AI all the time. Uh but these facilities unequivocally do not belong next to

residential neighborhoods. I don't I don't understand why this is still being discussed when two weeks ago this sounded like you were for a ban on this data center. That's Elizabeth Yang and Mrs. Suarez. Uh this should be a vote to ban data centers. Period. Build more community, not heavy industry. Ban this and this data center and all data centers in Monterey Park. Thank you. Hi, I'm Stephen Kung, District 5. Uh, greetings mayor, council members, and staff. Um, hey, HMC Capital and ACTOM, congratulations on finally engaging the residents of Monterey Park. Uh, you may be wondering why you're being met with so much hostility. And like all these union newcomers, you're probably wondering the same thing. And the truth is the applicant has a severe credibility problem. And here are 10 reasons why we do not trust you. First, you're not honest. Lziza, you introduced yourself to our community with a lie. Community engagement person might be a title you gave yourself, but you hid that part about being a lobbyist from ACTUM, which is your actual job. In fact, Actum knows how compromising that info is, so they scrub your profile from the website. but of course forgot to delete the press release about your promotion. Um, so don't expect us to believe you when you don't even start with the truth. Two, you tried to sneak in your data center without a full environmental impact review, which is against the law, and the only reason you're doing it now is because you got caught. These actions speak louder than any of your crappy Facebook ads. Three, data centers are so odious. You have to

pay people to advocate. You have to pay them off to advocate for you. Actum is here because you are paying them. That guy from Creed LA, he didn't even know that Creed LA submitted like 40 pages of comments like deriding the data center, but you paid them off too. And the unions are here because you promised them work, not because they love data centers. They would be just as happy, if not happier, building housing, mixed use schools, and a pool. No one has drunk your Kool-Aid. We know you're all mercenaries. Four, your data center places 24 diesel generators right next to a middle school girls place where a baseball field where they play, where girl middle school girls play. And while these generators are backup, you fail to know how they'll run regularly for maintenance, and how they'll release air pollutants like PM2.5, which are considered non threshold, i.e. there is no safe level of particulate matter, and they increase our risk of heart disease. Five, according to public resources code 25517, you are building a thermal power plant. And I and I'm not even talking about the Edison substation. Your diesel generators have a capacity of 66 megawws, which surpasses the legal definition of 50 megawatts. You're deceiving the public by deliberately omitting and understating the sheer scale of the project. Six, we all know it's a matter of time before the AI bubble bursts. Just by Moore's law, your data center will be obsolete by the time it's finished, and we'll be just left with another vacant lot within 10 years. Except this time, we'll have to deal with hazardous environmental waste. Hard pass seven, the number of jobs created is a net negative because it doesn't consider the big picture. The construction jobs are temporary. The 26 permanent jobs are easily surpassed by the number of jobs created by one dim

sum restaurant. And the ugly truth, the data center will be used for AI, which replaces human labor and causes massive unemployment, eclipsing any of those 26 lowskilled jobs you would create. Eight, you're not planning on one, but at least two data centers. Nine, you falsely accused us of spreading misinformation, and yet there is not one citation, no receipts, and yet you continue to pedal that narrative. Here's a tip. Don't attack the very people you hope to win over.

10. You've accused us of being outsiders when you are the outsiders. You are an Australian asset management company by the way of Washington DC, Sacramento, Connecticut, and Texas. You don't look like us. You don't speak our language. You don't eat our food. You don't know what a Hong Kong cafe is. You don't live here. And you wouldn't actually live with the impact of a data center. Let me tell you, the actual residents of Monterey Park are savvy, super educated, and we know a bad deal when we see one. Okay, there's one more. 11. Let's not pretend. Everyone knows you'll sue us if you don't get your way. You can't convince us a data center is good when the sort of damicles is hanging over us. What you're doing isn't a just a PR campaign. It's coercion. You're fighting an uphill battle against an entire city that doesn't want you here. And yet you continue to bully your way into this community of color, to pollute the air we breathe, to make electricity more expensive, to devalue our homes, to drain our energy and resources like a parasite. You think you can take us on? You've messed with the wrong city. And we will you out like the tapeworm you are. All right, next speakers. Um, I I called these earlier, but I must have mispronounced it because I couldn't read the handwriting. One is Richard Cow, one is Casey Wong, and did anyone else think they put a speaker card in, but I didn't call their name? Okay, so these are the last two speakers.

Evening everyone. Uh, well, this has been fun. Uh, first things first, I speak Chinese, so Daja. And then second, I've been to all the Cantonese Hong Kong cafes. JJ, I was born at Garfield Medical Center. I grew up on New and Graves. I also lived on Norwood. I still live in the San Gabriel Valley for the last 46 years. I'm a six-year Navy veteran. Okay. The building trades has given me an opportunity to earn a living as a middle class person. I'm able to support my family and my kids. My kids play at Barnes Park. We go to the little splash pools. Mark Keell, all the schools. I built buildings in Elac. I built buildings in PCC. And it's jobs like this that made it so that I could support my family.

At what cost? At what cost? So I was doing data centers when it was 2 megapixel flip phones, little trippy necktails. I did the one wheelchair project that the lady was referring to. I built them in Seami Valley. I built them in Irvine. I built them all through downtown. And then so this is crazy to me. I am your neighbor. I am representing the few Asian people in the sheet metal trade. They can't be here right now because the biggest reason is we work super early in the morning.

WE START AT 5 AND 6 IN THE MORNING. WE'RE then we're not anti-UN. Stop booing us. I am your neighbor. Mayor, if we could remind I was born at this hospital. Mayor, mayor, mayor, if we can remind the speakers to address the council and also can we remind the crowd to please respect the speaker. Our position is simple.

Let's do this the right way. Let's go through the process thoroughly and transparently with clear enforceable community protections and let's build with a skilled local workforce such with being done by C.WAS. I thank you for your time. Hi council. My name is Casey Wong. I am a former resident of Monterey Park. When my grandma when my grandma and my mom immigrated to California to the United States, they immigrated. They traveled from Sacramento to San Diego. And this is where they felt the most at home. This is where they built a life. Um, I unfortunately do not live here anymore, but I still work in this district. I work all over the Sango Valley as a political organizer. And so, I'm very familiar with elections. I am appalled by the first speaker representing um, HMC Capital, Amy Smith, who, as other speakers said, described us as children closing our eyes and closing our ears to the future. I'm sorry. I wish I could close my eyes and close my ears to the pollution that will enter our lungs. I wish I could close my eyes and close my ears to the the damage that this will cause to our communities. We are not. We are staring at this and analyzing it with clear eyes, with clear heads, understanding what the real impacts would be. And so we are not acting like children. The way that this person who is not even from our community is infantilizing us, infantilizing my elders, infantilizing our community members and our neighbors is disgusting when they're trying to profit off of our bodies and our land here. Delaying a decision until November is just a waste of everyone's time. It's a

waste of taxpayer dollars. It is a waste of all of their money that they're going to be spending clogging up our airways, our um radio stations. ICE is in St. Gabriel Valley. You know, it was at Mark Keep High School just yesterday. Families have been taken. They're being taken every single day. We don't have time to be fighting this. We are fighting ICE right now. And so, we don't have time to be here all the time, but we are. people are showing up despite working, despite taking care of children, despite taking care of their families, despite being educators, worrying about their families, worrying about other people's children. We're doing all we can because we love this community. And instead, we're we have to spend hours here, you know, fighting so that we can have a future in this community. Donald Trump has said that the polls will be surrounded by ice. By throwing this to the election, by throwing this to the ballot in November, you're endangering our communities. This election is already at risk. We you have the power to repeal ordinance 2253 so that we don't have to go through all this trouble, so that we don't have to ask our elders and our, you know, families to be endangered by going to the polls and fighting this stupid ballot. If this is the only way that you will be courageous and you know stand up for your constituents and say it's out of our hands and we must let you vote on it, we will organize. We have organized. We will continue to organize. I am a political organizer. I know who the voters are. I know who votes and I will turn them out. You are dragging your feet despite all the knowledge that this community has given you that they have taken their time to research. We've all somehow become experts on data centers in the span of just a few weeks. Um, I wish I knew less. Um, and there's so much more I can say. This is not going to only impact Monterey Park

residents. And yet, they will be the only ones who get to vote on this ballot ordinance. What about Monttoello residents? What about pe the children who don't have the opportunity to vote yet? What about green card holders? What about all the residents in this community that do not have the ability to vote? You're minimizing the the ability to for people to actually have their voice heard by throwing this to a ballot rather than having more town halls. Why have there not been any? Why is it that we only have to come here from 6 to 6 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. to have our voice heard? You know, when are you coming to the community and asking for our voices to be heard and asking for our input? What I have heard is that the um SGV progressive action hosted a teachin in early January to get the community educated about this and at that teachin I learned a lot of things. I learned all about these data centers but I also learned when a data center worker who is lives in this district and works in Irvine spoke about his experience as a data center worker and he said he is working eight 18our shifts that all of his co-workers have been fired. they are minimizing staff because that's how they continue to profit. And so you should really analyze and assess where is the profit going into this. I'm not an accountant. I'm not an expert on this situation. You are the politicians. It's your job to understand the impact that you are asking this community to take on. Thank you.

Mayor Um, all right. We got three more speaker cards. Um, but I know we're coming up on 11. We're coming up. Well, it's 11. So, I'd like to ask for another extra hour for to continue the meeting tonight. I'll second. All right. Let's vote. Approved unanimously. All right. Thank you. That allows us to continue our meeting. So, or the last three uh cars that I just got were Margaret Leang, Andrew Yip, and Vincente Okampo.

Good evening. I'm a Monory Park resident. I've been uh well, I've been dating my wife, my girlfriend back then. Where are you? Since 1986. So, I've been uh around the city since that time. Uh I'm a little bit disappointed uh about what I've heard from that side. What the union people keep coming and saying is that we are skilled. We can build it correctly and we agree you can. Perfect. Then uh you don't understand why we're booing you. We're booing you because today you've been pawns from the suits that are back there. And let me explain why your ponds they have pitted you against us. They have whoever your union leadership is should have said no we're not going to do this. We're not going to get over stand over there make a mockery of this meeting standing up and somehow thinking that brotherhood is is united. You should be united with us. You should have told your union leadership, your union leadership should have told those suits over there, hey don't no don't involve me. But I see them going over and they go and they whisper something and then they smile and they go away. That tells me your union leadership is not rep might re representing you. All of you should be saying I am not going to be a part of this. I can see that the community just a reminder the community is against this so I don't want to be involved and that's what the people the workers should be saying they should notice that it's not about the work it's what you're building let me give you an example a bomb has to be built right that's what you're doing here you are building us a bomb you're lighting it on fire and then you're leaving and then it's going to blow up on us when all of

you are guys are gone. That's what's happening. You're building a bomb, you're lighting it, and then you're gone. And then when it blows up, it's going to be all of you and all of us who have to pick up the pieces. And that's what's disappointing me as a union member, as a teacher, as a union leader and organizer. I'm so enraged by their union leadership who said, "Hey, let's go and mess up their uh let's go and mess up their union meeting." I mean, they're a council meeting. It's ridiculous. I'm embarrassed. You should be embarrassed. You're You are supposed to be here for the community. I understand you want to work. I understand you want to work. I respect the work. I respect union work. As a union person, I respect union work. But this is not the kind of work we want. We are not against your labor. We're against what you're building. That's what it comes down to. And you don't get it. We're not against you working. We're against what you're building. And you're building us a bomb. You're lighting the fuse. And you're walking away. And when it blows up, we will be here.

Got it. Hi, my name is Andrew Yip. I am one of the organizers for SUV Progressive Action. We're here, we primarily focus on community defense. We were doing trainings for patrols in our community around ICE and all that. And so I was surprised to hear from residents when they saw it on the agenda that Monterey Park was going to build a data center. I work for the National Parks Conservation Association. There is a proliferation of data centers from across the country. Some of these states like Virginia was the first state to really fall under these under the these uh data centers entering their state because this is something new. A lot of states, including ours, do not have these protections and regulations in place. So, what we're seeing is states like Virginia is overrun with data centers. Overrun. And I don't say this lightly, people are leaving these communities and those that can't afford, they're stuck there. This is not what we want here in Monterey Park. This is not where what we want here in the Sangro Valley. People are scared because there are plenty of examples out there. Small to large data centers and how they affect communities lowering uh property values, causing environmental pollution and issues like that are very deep to us because we can see it happening. And we're not alone. There's plenty of communities out there

that are fighting data centers successfully and we're going to be the next one to successfully run these folks out of our community. And I also was born in Garfield Hospital. I'm a veteran, Army veteran of eight years. I serve my time. I'm here too. And I can speak Chinese, too. Do this mother, this piece of organization, HMC. Okay, I can speak Chinese. I'm going to go organize with my friends. And I have my my family and my friends here, too. And everybody here, we're going to door knock. We're going to canvas. If the ballet is going to come up, we're going to do the work because so far the city hasn't done their job. So that's why we stepped up. Why do we do the teaching? They were going to say, they said they were going to do town halls. Where are the town halls? Now it's moved to social media, Instagram ads, Facebook ads, door knockocking. That's their job. They were paid to do that. But here we are. A lot of us volunteering our time. We don't get paid. We haven't eaten yet. We're just eating protein bars out there, talking to people, talking to neighbors, handing out flyers. But that we're going to show our full weight as SGB Progressive Action. and no data no data center monitor park. You can visit our website suvp progressiveaction.org visit no data centermppk.org report or many of our other websites uh such as Mario Park data centers with an s.com not to be confused with Mario Parkdatenter.com which uh our friends at HMC purchased but forgot to purchase all the other domains. So hopefully people uh do land on our page, find out more information. We're going to continue our teachings. We're continue reaching out to our community members in multiple languages

because that's the unity that we have here in the community in the SUV. We're going to keep defending our communities whether it's ICE or these billionaire Australian companies trying to come in. We're going to do all that we can do to kick them out. Thank you. So, I really debated tonight if I was going to come up and speak and not speak. Then I was going to speak. Then we were talking about being respectful back there and people screaming, yelling. Um, I saw the last council meeting. I was very energized. I saw the young crowd, people coming up. Um they were very um passionate what they were talking about. Um I have not seen any level of energy like that in this city for a long long time. Um which is that means we have hope to move forward. So I'm here tonight just kind of um to see you know to be in the space instead of just watching it from home. Um very disappointed. Um, I'm sitting back there minding my own business, but um, since we are talking about being bullied, um, why would the former mayor going around telling people, "Don't talk to her. She's for the data center." Um, seriously, I came here. I really think that what is missing here, the biggest gap, it's how Montterrey Park approach a complex project. every single complex project. It's a mess. Seriously, we we use too many consultants. We don't have in-house expert that could walk a process from

beginning to end. We talked about this with every single project. And I want to reiterate what Paul Isosaki said this um earlier. I think he was the first speaker. Uh he's right on the money. We need to change the way we do business. You folks, your job is to make informed decision. I mean, it's like your your decision is like it blows in the wind. One day is this, today is that. I'm not even sure you folks read the the application report. I I I I really doubt it, Jose. I I I think you have passionate. You you love teaching. You t you you talked about your kids. your kids was here to to see, you know, how proud it's a it's a great moment. But then when you started talking about the water and the way you talk about um the resources, I was like, I don't think he read the report yet. You went on the TV to talk about this particular project. You were not talking about information that you obtained. You know, this is not college. You can't do cliffnotes. You can't This this is not this is not high school. You guys are controlling our life. I want to retire here. I am so stressed. Every other week I have to come here for a meeting and I don't understand why when I live on the east coast. I don't think I've ever went to a city council meeting ever. It makes me mad. Really does. and and I was hoping that this conversation here with my neighbors um I was with the team that resolved the one legacy right they want to land little helicopter on top of the building with all those high tension wire was horrible who reviewed the plan

in the city there is no knowledge base there's the training is not being uh absorbed I mean this is not a a union residents issue. You guys like to pit one group of residents with another group like the pickle ball versus the pool. It's horrible. You guys drives me nut. I'm working on the pool full time. And now this with the data center. When when when folks come to a meeting like this or have town hall meeting, I expect a organized uh discussion. It's one-sided. There is no organization to to the way you guys do business. I just want to give a couple example really quickly because I haven't heard it because a lot of people ask me Margaret how big is 250,000 square feet of buildings. Oh yeah on the Facebook four football field scared the daylights out of everybody. So I did some Google and AI. Oh, very easily found. What in which building in Montre Park is 250,000 square feet? Well, it's not just that. It's the volume. It's how tall it is, right? So, you just go down to the marketplace and you look at that. The the Costco, the the Home Depot, there's their footprint. It's 138,000 square feet. Okay. So, but they're tall. they're like 45 feet. So if you look at the data center, it's 50 feet two level. So that means the footprint on the floor is 120,000 square feet, smaller than our Costco and mark um um marketplace. So for me coming to a meeting like this, I expect that

kind of discussion. There is no real information to be obtained here. Like nobody knows. Nobody in this city that report that was submitted was 7,000 page. That 7,000 page of report it was not bookmark. How could anybody ever get any information out of that 7,000 page of report? Maybe that's the reason why nobody know what's going on. And they are just going off telephone. It's a telephone game. She told me she's scared. So I'm scared. So now we are all scared. And the first videotape I have ever seen was a lady crying about the data center running a ginormous um high voltage thing. So I I I I went through the whole thing.

Yeah. Give me a second. Um went through the whole thing. This is a really good video. We have we have two more speaker crushes came in. Everyone had to limit their time. It was a very good video. Aurora Mirez and then they were saying Meredith Alling. Um, final two speakers.

I mean, I the lady was balling. So, I watched the whole vide tape to the end. She wasn't even against the the the data center. She was crying because in order to get that power that the data center need, they need power. So, they went from point A to point B and there was eminent domain. They were against eminent domain. So each of these things that we are complaining about has to be sightsp specific and we has I have not seen any discussion like that. There is no yeah next please.

Good evening. Um I was debating whether to come up again. I spoke at the last council meeting, but I'm just disgusted at the way the this conversation has shifted, if there is even a mention of a conversation. But the only thing that I do want to point out is that the one positive thing that has come out is that the community organizers, the people that I've talked to, we are not paid. We're doing all of this for free and we're passionate about our city. I'm a lifelong member of Monterey Park. My parents are attended. They've never come to a city council meeting. They're elderly. They lasted till 9:30. They couldn't come this evening. All I know is that our organizing is working out so well that HMC has ACTM coming in with these actors uh trying to tell you and tell us that they have our best interest in mind. What they're trying to do and they're playing it both ways. They're trying to So, and let me tell you, I'm a I'm a union member and I'm a teacher. I'm a proud member of UTLA. I have I have helped lead strikes. I have helped organize on the ground. And one thing I have learned is when you do your job well. The other side, the corporate people try to spread FUD. We call it FUD. It's called fear, uncertainty, and doubt. And that's exactly what they what their agenda is. And we're not going to buy it. We're not buying it. and we would hope that you're not buying it because I I'm in in your uh I forget the number because it's late uh Mr. Sanchez, but you know, I voted for you and the same I'm echoing the same thing. We hope that you really truly are representing

our interests, but I'm just telling you, we're not letting up. I have arthritis. I have I mean I'm out of shape but I walked a lot of my neighbors did not know even that this project was in existence. I didn't find out till December and I was so upset. We don't have time to be focusing on this. As a teacher I'm already having to shoulder the burden of helping my community with ICE. I teach in East LA. I don't have time for this. But I'm making the time. I'm making the time. My union right now I'm I'm still involved. We're negotiating. We just called a strike vote. Successful at that. So, I'm telling you, we are not going to stop. I once I start you, you cannot stop me. I keep going and going. And the young people that are organizing, they're doing a hell of a job. I went to the teachings, we are committed. I made copies of the flyers myself. I walked, my whole family walked, my son-in-law spoke, my daughter spoke tonight. Uh he's Chinese. We covered all the languages. We had English. We had uh Cantonese covered. We had Spanish covered. We were engaging our neighbors. I live between First Street and Cesar Chavez, your area. And everywhere I went, people are scared of answering the door because of what's happening. But once I told them, I'm your neighbor. I'm talking about look what's happening. People engage with me through the those modern doorbells that you don't open the door. And then they said, "Just leave me the flyer. I want to know. We're not done walking the streets. I can't believe we're at this point. We're going to continue because we're very passionate about our city and we're disappointed in your leadership because you lied to us by omission. That's why we're so upset. We were not included in this." And then the big guns bring in

this PR firm and I call them sellouts. People that are working for the big corporations. I and I'm disappointed in some of these people that are here and it it's just uh Anyway, that's all I got to say. We're ready.

Hi, my name is Meredith.

Um, thank you. I'm a District 4 resident and this is my worst nightmare to be at this mic right now. I'm so nervous, but um hopefully I can talk normally. I don't have anything prepared, but I first want to say, Mayor Yang, thank you so much. You've really engaged um some of my neighbors and I through chat and talking to us over text message. I really appreciate it and really grateful for all of you. Just this is a long night. I'm going to try to keep this short. Um, the reason I'm speaking is because I I honestly it's really hard to sit here with um family members who are union members, close friends who are union members, and feel the like really intense discord and contention. And like I know that that's we shouldn't be against each other. Honestly, I think so many of us are filled with an immense amount of emotion right now because people are afraid. People are confused. Um, people don't know what's going to happen next. I think there's been a lot of things that have been said, promised, not followed through on. Um, and then we have, yeah, this outside party coming in and feeling like it's kind of dictating um the timeline, the conversations, the movements. So, it it really hurts me. Like, I'm I'm really not for the booing. I'm really not for the name calling. Like, it just distracts from the fact that we're all people and have a stake for one reason or another. HMC has a stake. They're being paid to do this job. That's their job. I'm sure they actually feel very strongly about it. Okay. I think a lot of the union members have a really strong opinion about the value of this work. I understand that. I think that's really valid. But I think that the community again to return to the issue of the residents, they are speaking loud and clear. They do not

want this. It's not about not wanting to create jobs. Like absolutely create jobs. Not with this. And we don't need more information through an EIR. Like we have seen how this has ravaged communities across the country. And that's why people are scared. They're very concerned and that is I think the result of you know what we've seen and also why you're seeing so many emotions which is I agree it's hard to have sometimes a civil conversation but that's also what comes up when people are afraid confused and feel like they are being pushed around by somebody who's outside of the community so I just want to as a resident who moved to Monterey Park and chose ose Monterey Park because it is such an incredible community. Um, I just want to say that this has been a really challenging time, but I have gotten to know so many incredible people through this process, neighbors who sit before behind me. One offered to come up with me because I was like, I don't think I can do it. Um, and we care. We're here because we care. I think sometimes it doesn't come out in the most eloquent way. Um, but that's what happens when people are passionate and um, hopefully you can hear our message through all of that. So, thank you so much for your time. Thank you everyone. Um, you know, I think it's an important for for everyone to be able to share their perspective and I think the majority perspective has been loud and clear tonight. So, thank you,

Madame Mayor, members of the city council. Um, before you um discuss this item, I just for clarification, I wanted to uh clarify that item 9A um is not to place a ballot measure um onto a future election, but to look into potential ballot options. So, if the council is interested in this item, uh this item is to explore uh options around potential ballot language and uh potentially bring back proposed potential ballot measure options for the community and council's discussion to consider in March. So, I wanted to make that uh clear that that's not what's on the agenda tonight is not um putting a ballot initiative on an election. it's to uh discuss potential options. And then additionally um a moratorum extension will be brought back uh to the March 4th meeting for city council's consideration. So just wanted to make those clarifications. Madame Mayor,

thank you city manager and um thank you everyone for the ro robust comments and for um staying so late to listen and to speak as well. Um we will go into comments. I'll start first because I'm the one that made the recommendation or suggestion. And you know what? I stand by it because when you have pro data center and anti-data center both disagreeing with that, it means that it's actually the right place to have further discussion. Uh so I have a few questions. Um, one, uh, well, first I want to thank everyone and I know it's after it's closing on midnight and I think this discussion might take a little while too. So, appreciate everyone sticking around and those that showed up and had to leave as well. uh really appreciate again just like last meeting everyone engaging on this issue that you care about and that I was clear to me that so many people care about this community and I appreciate whatever side you're on whatever viewpoint you have coming out to to share that especially those who have never been to a council meeting. Thank you for showing up and encourage you all to show up for the whole host of issues other issues that we also engage on here at our meetings uh and welcome you to come to any of our meetings on any issue. Um, on the specific item before us, thank you for that clarification, uh, city manager, on what the actual item is. I I'll just voice my support for the action. I I'm all for options. What we're doing tonight is not doing not necessarily taking an action, but not directing staff to start to do the research and put the work together for this option for council means that it's not an option. It's already off the table, especially if we're talking about potentially a June ballot measure. uh which is something I want to explore

right we and I just want to remind everyone who's here and who might watch this after the only way the council can can even discuss anything is to put it on the agenda right we can't have this conversation about these items data center data center uses zoning anything has to come on the agenda that's when the council can decide and discuss these things at all we can't talk well more than two of us can't talk to each other about items that are coming before the council so just a Quick reminder for everyone, that's why we have to put things on the agenda. That's why we can't make decisions and don't make decisions outside of these council meetings. Um, but I generally support this uh and want to provide direction to staff to to move I will vote on supporting this so that we at least have this option uh in the coming weeks so that staff can work on that. Nothing has changed from the last council meeting. Last council meeting we directed staff to look at options uh for potential like how we can potentially address data centers and data center uses in the city going forward. The staff are still working on that. This is just another potential option that I think the council should be able to discuss and have in the potential toolkit to exercise uh going forward as an option to further what we were talking about two weeks ago. Uh, and so I support this, but there were a couple of items that were brought up by a number of the speakers in terms of right, Measure D, um, Measure JJ, Ordinance 2253 that came out of the Spark process and the reasonzoning. Uh, I'll look to Carl, I think, or someone else to explain. Uh I think I think Carl knows how to answer this but I'll if I mess this up. Right. Measure D uh as was pointed out by speakers uh where it was passed in the 90s uh establishing restrictions on what could be what can and cannot happen in the Saturn Park mousen business park area. That measure D was superseded by

measure JJ when approved by the voters in 2020. So measure D is not valid law. It does not it's no longer exists. right in that in the legal sense.

Madame Mayor, members of the council, first let me say this that as a reminder, there is no project on tonight's agenda. This is a general discussion about land uses in general, data centers in particular. It's part of that land use and it continues the discussion that the council had from the last meeting. This as as council member knows has mentioned and council member Wong uh this is direction to count to staff in terms of what if anything should come back on a future agenda for additional council discussion. So for those folks that show up, I'm sure there will be another late night with all of us joining together. So I I look forward to that discussion. Uh but absent at the council direction to have us bring those options to you on a future agenda, uh certainly the city manager and I don't want to bring things out of left field for you to consider and have the uh public observe that gee where did this come from? This needs to be something that the council directs us to bring back. Uh with regard to your specific questions on Saturn Park, uh one of the speakers correctly noted that it has been called Mccclass McCclassland Park uh up until Major JJ was passed. Major JJ renamed that area as Saturn Park. Uh and that land use element which was put onto the ballot in 2020 was actually put on twice. uh was the result of a committee recommendation which was the GPAC which was the general plan advisory committee which helped put together and craft that land use element and ultimately presented that to the city council for consideration. Uh the council voted on it, approved it and put it onto the ballot for voter consideration. Your specific question has to do with measure D and how it interacts with Major JJ. One of the things that major JJ authorized was for the city council to adopt zoning regulations that comply with the land use element, i.e. major

JJ. It specifically delegated authority to the city council to adopt those zoning regulations. Another part of major JJ specifically said that anything that may have been enacted by voters at any point before major JJ was adopted would be superseded by this land use element. And that's very important to understand when one talks about the zoning regulations that existed in Saturn Park. If you recall in 2024 when the council adopted uh ordinance number 2253, the discussion at that point was to be very careful in terms of how those regulations were changed because of the public buyin with what used to be zone OP and is now the Saturn Park uh innovation technology zone. So the council took a very careful and measured approach to that. Quite frankly from a legal perspective, uh from a land use perspective, it this will sound terrible, but it's much more efficient to have taken it all out and redone it. The council didn't do that. It went through line by line and made sure that the original major D language was preserved to the greatest extent possible. Um there's been discussion about repealing ordinance number 2253. I I don't recommend that for this reason which is um the original application that has been discussed but we're not discussing now came in as a data processing facility. Uh that was would be processed under a different set of standards and consideration for the city council. What the city council did in 2024 is said, "No, data centers are a special type of land use category." And we're going to make sure that those are discretionary decisions made by the city council on a case-byase basis. Each one of those projects that might come through in that particular area have to be separately examined from a SQA standpoint. And the city council has to approve a data or a development agreement for any data center that might

be proposed. That's really important because a development agreement is a legislative act by the city council, meaning that it has to be adopted by ordinance by the city council and it's subject to referendum by voters. So, it's a two it's a three-step process really. It's uh assuming for the sake of this hypothetical discussion that a data center project would be something that the council would want to approve, you'd have to adopt an ordinance which requires two readings and then it doesn't become effective for 30 days afterwards which allows a referendum period to be in place for any group that wish to oppose that particular action. That would go onto the ballot and ultimately could be defeated at the ballot box. I've had that happen in other jurisdictions. um it's effective way of making sure that big projects are sufficiently reviewed by the city council and also make sure that the discretionary actions by the city council can be fully vetted. So that is a very long answer to your simple question. The simple question, the answer to that is that major JJ is the standard by which uh we are looking at land use within Saturn Park. And so the entire language of major JJ has to be reviewed in order to uh fully understand how that interacts with with the current zoning in in in Saturn Park. No, I appreciate that because that I think offers some clarity to some of the comments that were made. Um, and I think our addresses a lot of the comments that were made hopefully, but I want to emphasize what you said also, right? That uh repealing ordinance 2253 would not do anything to preclude data center, a data center like this project that's proposed or any other like that to be proposed in the Saturn Park area. I if 2253 were repealed, uh we would be left with arguing with any potential applicant about whether their particular application fits into the category of

data processing facility. That is a whole different legal argument um that I don't advise, and I'll say this publicly, I don't advise that the city council engage in. uh you have a development agreement requirement for any data center that were to come into Saturn Park and that is an absolutely discretionary uh decision for the city council to make. I also have to note just since the threat was made on the record um there is no pending application that has a pending hearing at the moment. There is a pending application but there's no indication when that comes back for public hearing. It was voluntarily with the hearings were voluntarily withdrawn by the applicant. the applicant has voluntarily agreed to go through an EIR process. And so the threats that you heard tonight, I I really take exception to. I I think it's disingenuous for somebody to come up here and threaten you for about a project that that applicant voluntarily withdrew from consideration for the moment. We have no idea if and when it will ever come back. I don't know the answer to that question. uh which is why I think certainly some of the speakers and some of the council members observed uh there were promises made to the city council. None of them have come to fruition and what you've heard tonight um certainly in my view taking off my city attorney hat um I I I I just don't understand why they're coming so late to the party. So that's that's beside the point. Um, you know, there's there there are accusations being made, uh, certainly in writing that I've responded to. You can read them at your leisure online. Um, I I think it's a mischaracterization of what the city has done with regard to that particular application, which again is not on the agenda. So, uh, I'm I'm happy to answer any additional questions.

City manager, do you want to add something? Uh well, appreciate that thorough clarification around what we're discussing tonight and some of the context which I think will be helpful to many of the speakers that spoke tonight. Um so I I'm will reiterate my support for moving ahead on this item, directing staff to begin working on these options so that we can as a council discuss all of them and have them all before us. as we stated two two weeks ago at the last meeting uh to explore all potential opportunities to restrict uh data center uses throughout the city. Um I don't know if Carl or or city manager you can just if you have a quick primer on or if this is something to discuss once you have the options or some analysis uh what the difference might be between council action and a ballot measure and why we might consider those differences. Uh, Madame Mayor, members of the council. So I think when the speaker's accurately uh discussed the um potential for circulating a petition and gathering signatures and and presenting it to the city council, there is a time element in that obviously and based upon the discussions that the city manager and I heard from the last council meeting and and u the council's observations um it seems to me that one of the options for the council would be to put the ballot a ballot proposition onto the ballot itself. itself. Uh two things happen with that. One is you obviously bypass the circulating the petition issue. Uh two is you require sequel review of that ballot proposition. So one of the reasons that that I think the council member has brought this forward was because in in considering this uh we pointed out that we need some time in

order to evaluate any potential ballot language in order to present that to the city council for consideration. and and the the environmental review of that language is important an important component because if a petition is circulated by the general electorate and it qualifies for the ballot and is presented to the city council that doesn't actually require a secret review but if that's a voluntary thing done by the city council under elections code 9222 that's something that does uh trigger squa now as we sit here without having yet received direction from the city council what a potential ballot proposition might look like I can't tell you the extent presented that SQA action but uh I wanted to make sure that you knew that there was that element involved with it. Um that's also a very long answer to your question but there are two processes. One is by the circulating petition getting signatures and the other one is by the city council putting it onto the ballot itself.

And just to be clear in terms of the citizens circulating a petition there's nothing that precludes citizens from initiating that process right now on their own.

Not at all. So, just putting that out there. Uh, and if the council I will just present this comment as well, look forward to my other council colleagues weighing in as as well. Uh, would want to see uh the staff come back with options, right? I know staff are already working on non- ballot measure options that we discussed two weeks ago. would like to add ballot measure to the mix just so we can have this full conversation once staff has researched all these things, the pros and cons of what action to take for the council potentially to take to consider taking uh and have all those options at the table for us. Uh but would look to want to make sure we're looking at both June and November potential for ballot measures if we're looking at that and what the pros and cons might be for those. Um, and then I know there have been comments uh around housing. Some supporting, some seeming I'm not sure where they are in potential housing. Just want to clarify the existing zoning does allow some housing uses in the Saturn Park area. Right.

That's correct. So, the council just adopted uh zoning regulations to add in the mixed housing idea within that within the Saturn Park area. Um I think what certainly I know and I heard about from the last uh meeting on and from the council and from the public was that perhaps a greater breadth of housing might want to be considered for that area. Um one of the speakers talked about the consistency between the land use element and the zoning. And so in order to make sure that there is that type of consistency with the land use element and with the zoning um and the question should be before the council about whether or not to expand the types of housing that might be available within Saturn Park without it having to exercise its own zoning authority within that area that could potentially be challenged. So that I I think is something that should be on a future agenda for council consideration.

Yeah. No, appreciate that. And then I just want to note uh for council colleagues and the audience that are here, right, my overriding concern for the Saturn business park going back to the spark process and those conversations there is as council member Go pointed out right 70 80% vacancy in the office park area on the square footage that has been vacant since before the pandemic. Most of that vacancy has occurred and has been vacant since before the pandemic. Uh so going on close right 8 10 years for some of those buildings at this point. My overriding concern for that area is to make sure that we're addressing vacancy and finding opportunities for redevelopment, economic development opportunities for for housing or other things uh to go in there so it doesn't sit vacant, continue to fall apart and continue to be a detriment to the community and a potential cost, financial economic impact, negative economic impact for the community and for the city. Uh so my overriding concern is making sure we're making uh that area providing as much as we can from the city perspective in terms of zoning and other things that we have control over uh to make sure that there's redevelopment and something going on that's an economic plus for for the community at large. Uh and so want to make sure that we're pursuing all those options including housing, expanding uh potential housing opportunities and other opportunities I'm happy to look at. it doesn't look like office space is going to happen otherwise it probably would have happened already in that area. Um, and if it's I mean, frankly, if it's not going to be data centers, probably very few other uses besides residential and the the likely need for higher density residential to make it marketable and for the financial kind of economic uh case to be made uh for something to happen there instead of those ex those vacant long vacant buildings continuing to fall apart and become eyes and uh negative assets for for the city. Um, so that's what's driving me and that's what I think uh I hope will drive our continued conversation about the future

of Saturn Business Park uh and that area and hopefully the revitalization of that entire area. Um, so we'd look to see how we can make sure that we're addressing if we're going to go to the ballot for something, how we address that, whether that's separate measures, combined measures, whatever, uh, in terms of housing, the zoning, um, and data center uses and the future of that in the in that area and throughout the city. Uh, we look to make sure we're doing the research on all those options so that we can have a a full discussion once that's ready. Thank you. I I want to thank everyone who's still here. Um it's really I know it's really late. Uh but I also want to thank everyone who came out. I know a lot of people have already left. I saw some younger kids um in in the audience with parents as well. So I know that a lot of people, a lot of families are very passionate about this. And so I just want to say that I hear you. Um, and uh, I want to say that um, um, I'm in favor of um, exploring all options um, to ban data centers um, in the city. Um, I think we don't have language yet for a ballot, but I would think that a ballot measure uh coming from the community would be in my opinion probably depending on the language a lot more permanent um and ensure that um the data centers if that's what the community wishes and that's what I'm hearing um you know does not operate in our city. I I have a lot of concerns and I shared those during the last council meeting about data centers uh not just its water use, not just uh environmental in terms of pollution uh but just the longer term consequences that we still don't know um but that we're seeing um play out in a lot of communities throughout the country. So um so I I I also recommend

um and I'm in favor of exploring all options to try to and that that we can bring back to council um in terms of us taking action. But but I also want to make sure uh to Council Member Wong's point uh that we find ways um also whether it's in a combined ballot or uh separate ballots to make sure that we're developing that area. Um and I think one of the speakers uh Brian Murky had mentioned um about arena numbers uh and those things are real. Um we know we're in a housing crunch. Uh we know that uh we have um a housing crisis and we don't have enough housing. Uh and that's not just up, you know, it's not just Monterey Park's responsibility in terms of building housing, although we do have a responsibility to build housing. Um it's our entire state and our country. And part of um you know, a lot of people were talking about economics earlier. Part of the high cost of rent and housing in this in this state and in this city is because we don't have enough housing. And so, I mean, I worry about that. Um, as a parent of three daughters, I I I don't if rates continue this way, I don't know how they'll or anyone will be able to afford a home uh in Monterey Park or just anywhere in LA or in our state. So, I I do want to see not just the Saturn Park area, but other parts of our city uh where we can build housing um and meet our reena numbers uh which are over 5,000. Uh so, we have that responsibility. Uh, so I want to make sure that um um that I um address and and and say that I that I hear you guys. I hear everyone. Appreciate all of you guys who came out. Um and thank you for sharing and being so passionate uh and continuing continuing to engage us and I I encourage you to continue to come to the council meetings um and to continue to engage us and share uh your opinions. I think that's very civic engage is very valuable. Um so um I hope that at our

next council meeting um preferably or in the near future uh we get some uh um some options that council can weigh in on and uh in terms of I mean whatever action we take um whether it's a ballot measure um or what I think there's only one path forward um and if I hear it correctly we're going to ban data centers. So um at least that's my position. I can't speak for my So, but we also need to address the other issues that are at play uh including housing. So, that's it for me. Thank you. Thank you very much. And again, thank you for everyone for um still being here. Um I know it's been a long meeting and uh but very important and robust conversation about a very important quality of life issue in in our community. Uh the question I have and again I realize um this is this action is to explore potentially a ballot measure but um process-wise I I I also like I I'm curious and my question is for example when we passed measure JJ um in 2020 u which again updated our land use element citywide and and and of course updated our policy document our plan document for such things as uh housing commercial um um zoning even though it was passed by the voters, it's still required, correct, that the council still had to hold hearings and meetings for programming language, right? Because uh uh again the ballot is you know the broad language but when if and when it passes it still requires and it's the responsibility of the council at the legislative body to create programming language. Is that correct

madame mayor? Members of the council, yes, you're required to have public hearings anytime that new land use uh regulations are being proposed, which is good way to segue into there's been lots of talk about why is the moratorium only 45 days. Uh that's because there was no public hearing for the initial temporary moratorum. Uh by law, you have to have a notice public hearing in order to even consider extending the moratorum. So the law provides it's a 45day temporary moratorum until you have time for the proper noticing for public hearing and public notice and what have you.

And I ask you is because I think it's an important for the community's information and understanding is that again I know we're exploring but but whatever ballot especially if concerns for say land use were the path nonetheless there would still be hearings opportunities for the community to engage because we have we would have to adopt programming language. Correct.

So for the ballot proposition language, the rules are a little bit different, but nevertheless, obviously, uh you have a very engaged community with regard to this. Um and so I have no doubt that you will have a very robust conversation on on whatever happens. Uh based upon whatever language that that we craft for for council consideration, we will run that through an environmental process. So they may not be the next meeting for example on on the 18th uh but certainly by March 4th we will have something for your consideration which will coincide also with the noticing requirements for a public hearing to consider extension of the moratorum.

Thank you. And um and and finally, and yes, I know and it's it's almost midnight and and my next statement will be brief, but you know, I there was a lot of comments made tonight that yes, California has very stringent environmental laws. However, the law sometimes still is lagging in what's happening in the world and and and I think the reality right now is that the law in this state is still trying to catch up to data centers and their impacts. Um and again um we all read the news. We now all know the impact in other states that you know maybe embraced it as a panacea but are now seeing the consequences and although yes we may have very stringent environmental laws but when it comes to I think data centers we're still catching up and and for example you know there was actually a lot of concern in the legislature last session um and some bills were passed good bills but unfortunately they were vetoed um and this session again there is still interest because the reality is this as as as I've said as some speakers have said without actual framework by the state and the feds then you end up having a patchwork of legislation a patch yes some communities are going to have data center some will not and and whether or not they do comes down to the discourse like we're having right now and so therefore we need the state to step in and provide that framework and so for example like you know our own state senator has a bill SB978 which you know should be adopted by the legislature. Simon the governor would ban the use of backup diesel generators and midair pollution, prevent data centers from placing electricity costs onto rateayers and direct state regulators to assess the impact of data centers on California ability to meet climate goals. And that is type of legislation that we all should be supporting. In fact, I would even say maybe we should write a letter in support of such a bill and any bill that

is being put forward in the legisl legislature. Um and and and likewise, you know, if it does pass the whole process, I would say these bills should also then we should also write letters to the governor asking him to sign those bills. But but again, you know, look, rightly so. Yes, many people are very concerned about um what is what is the impact of the data centers because in some ways very new and frankly it's not surprising. you all one has to do is Google the topic as I have and yeah you see reports and reports and reports and reports about its impact and you know that's why I think that it it's it behooves us you know u and again in the absence of the state or the feds providing that framework then yeah it does come down to us and I think that's where we as a community need to you know then set the standard as well because again you know legislator respond to what's happening in their constituency and I think this is where an opportunity you know for us to then demonstrate that yeah I mean we are you know addressing this issue and again as a community also supporting good legislation like in the case of SB7 978 by Senator Perez anyway that's enough for me so

thank you mayor prom

and madam mayor oh yes

just to echo um Council Member Low's uh recommendation. I know there's other bills that are currently um in the the woodwork in in our state assembly or senate, actually in their state senate, uh that relate to data centers in terms of water use um and other factors. So, if there's if if staff can bring some of those back um in terms of potential um support from our council, I think this is a good way to be able to share that we taking some of that burden, some of that in terms of not having any direction, but I would love to explore some some support of some of those uh legislative action or bills that are currently um in the state legislature and I think there's three or four that I've signed.

Thank you, Council Member Sanchez. And again, thank you everyone for staying so late tonight and really coming for civic engagement. Um, I I specifically wanted to acknowledge some of the residents who really put in the time to do the homework because this is a very complicated topic with a lot of different legal ramifications. If the city does one wrong move, we could end up being in a lawsuit against a billion dollar incorporation. And, you know, I know a lot of residents want us to take abrupt action, but if we do that, we're putting the city in danger. And I know lots of you who pay taxes here don't want your tax dollars being wasted on unnecessary litigation. So that's why every step we take, we really have to look at all the consequences before we take action. So the community members, you guys mentioned you're doing this for free. You're not getting paid for it. You're spending hours of time researching, especially some of the ones with legal background who know the legal ramifications. We appreciate you doing the work educating your fellow community members so that they understand all the complexities that are going behind this current issue. I know some of the um attorneys even stayed up all night last night working. So appreciate that. And I also want because I know Carl gets a lot of heat from you guys all the time, but we got a nasty attorney letter at 3:35 p.m. today. It's on the website. You guys can all look at it. Carl responded with a strong, robust letter in less than two hours defending our city.

Oh, let's vote to extend the time. I'll motion to extend half hour. I'll just remind everyone this is still our first item on the agenda. I'll second. All right, let's vote.

Approved unanimously. All right. Thank you. Um, so yeah, Carl, we we really appreciate you for defending us and protecting our city so that, you know, we don't get student necessarily. And I know council member Wong already mentioned, you know, a lot of you suggested, why don't we just repeal 2253, right? But we discussed it already. There's legal ramifications. We can't just take any action so easily. So with considering all these actions right now, the more we put the power in you guys, the community, the more defensible it is for our city. So you guys want to we got to all protect the city together. Um, someone mentioned resident le initiative like council member W pointed out, nothing's precluding you from going out to collect signatures and and um to clarify, if the residents do collect enough signatures, can we have that supersede any ballot we're going to put any proposition we put on the ballot? Would that supersede if they get the number the requisite number of signatures?

So, Madame Mayor, I think you're giving me a bar exam question.

I think it depends uh depends on one whether or not the council puts something on on its own motion or waits for a citizen initiative and what the wording is of each of those. So, I would hate to predetermine exactly how that would would work out. Uh I think the discussion is probably better for uh the March meeting when you have options in front of you and you decide whether or not that's a path that you want to go down and certainly for those uh individuals are interested in circulating their own petition and gathering signatures that also gives them the time to decide if that's something that they want to do. Obviously they can do it whenever but certainly with the with the March meeting then there would be some I'm sure discussion with interested parties. Got it. So, just to clarify what's on the agenda tonight, we're not putting anything on the ballot. We're instructing staff to prepare a ballot proposition, which means that right now it's February 4th. So, for the month of February, staff would be reaching out to the community, probably via surveys or other other methods to find out what the community wants as the wording. Is that correct? I I think we're asking staff to explore options. That's the key word, right, Carl?

We are exploring options. That's what I'm hearing council from saying. So, however, the the the city manager decides to uh explore options, we will explore options and bring back uh options for council consideration.

Got it. Okay. So, exploring options. Um, I would say we want the community's input. We're here to represent you guys. We're not here for our own personal agenda. I want to hear what you guys have to say. So, I would add that instruction in there to collect input from our community members. Um, and last thing is, you know, someone mentioned who is the one giving us the false promises and is the one who still hasn't scheduled town hall meetings. Mayor, I'll it sounds like we're ready for a motion. I'll make the motion to adopt staff recommendation with the direction that we've provided to to staff if that's clear.

I'll second that. All right, that's a vote. Approved unanimously. Thank you all for your continued civic engagement. We welcome you to continue reaching out to us and continuing the conversations. Thank you. Thank you. Meeting still on. We're not done. Okay, let's let's finish it. No recess. All right. So, um consent agenda. Oh.

Oh, yeah. 7 A and 7B staff communication. Unless you're pretty quick. Okay, let's go. Yeah. All right, let's start with staff communications. 7A, city manager's office. Good evening, madame mayor, members of the council. Uh Diana Garcia, assistant city manager.

If we could ask everyone to silently, if you're going to leave, if you could, we still have a meeting. We'd like to get home, too.

Thank you. Uh this evening I'm providing an update on a partnership to strengthen immigrant support services in the city of Monterey Park along with Chinatown Service Center. In 2025, the city council appropriated $50,000 to bolster support in the city. I want to note that this type of support is already a part of Monterey Park services to the community. Uh last year we hosted two resource fairs with legal support, referrals, mental and physical health services, case management, benefits assistance, food giveaways, and many other services. Our library also provides ESOL and citizenship assistance, hosts monthly legal clinics, and hosts annual immigration assistance days in partnership with AJ SoCal and multilingual attorneys. Um, we also have red cards in our facilities, including the library in Langley Center and in the back of the council chambers. Um, this evening I was going to give an update with Jessica Tran from CSC. She had to leave. Um, so I uh she and I are currently working together to plan the scope and delivery of these services. So, I'll go ahead and give the update. Um, as many of you know, CSC's mission is to promote a better quality of life and equal opportunity for immigrants and underserved communities. and CSSE has long been a vital resource for our families in Monterey Park and surrounding communities. Their organization has a demonstrated history of responding effectively during times of crisis. Following our mass shooting, they provided emergency counseling, case management, and victim assistance. They established the MPK hope resiliency center. Um they've also supported residents through many crises in the city and the region. So building on this foundation, the proposed project would expand immigrant services in Monterey Park in several key areas. These include multilingual know your rights workshops, community events connecting residents with legal and social service partners, expanded translation and outreach through multilingual materials and participation in community events,

improved access to health services, including flu vaccination days and referrals to CSE's clinic services. expanded case management, um support for housing, food insecurity, immigration and health care needs, as well as culturally competent um workshops and referrals. So, these will take place over a 12-month period, and this aims to increase access to information and services, strengthen community resilience through education and support, improve immigrant health and wellness, and provide direct assistance to immigrant families and seniors. These programs will be publicized widely in our community languages and all services will be free of cost. Um, thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions.

I I have a question for Carl from a legal standpoint. I do I recuse myself now or do I abstain being a board member of CSC because I didn't know this was going to jump up. So, council has already made the appropriation. We're not asking for an appropriation right now. That's just an update on some of the services that have been planned. This is staff communication. So, you're not voting on this item, right? No. No. The council is not voting on this item.

Uh Diana, thank you for that and I appreciate uh our the city staff working with China Town Service Center on these specific immigration uh services and programs that we've been trying to get out. Um I would be interested in I'm curious in terms of like numbers and the programs that have been out there, how many people have been helped. uh and what else potentially we could do if there recommendation of CSC or other service providers as well that are providing services to the immigrant community what they're seeing on the ground to inform potentially additional uh support that we could provide from the city side. Um and just as the situation on the ground continues to evolve uh on immigration enforcement in our community. Uh if there's anything else we should be looking at, I would encourage the staff to bring that to council for additional action, consider additional action and potentially resourcing that going in the future as well.

Thank you, Diana, for that report. I I think it's one of those things that I think we asked at the last council meeting for for an update and thank you for the partnership with CSC. Um I I also had um some questions and and and I I really don't know but just thinking to what happened last week in in on here in our city and potentially what could happen in our city um if we had like for example an ICE activity or raids or anything like that. Um, I would imagine that there would be uh families that would be impacted and uh and I don't know uh specifically what types of services we could potentially provide uh for a family that might be going through those types of experiences. Um but I want to make sure that whatever it is that they are going through uh I can imagine um that we try to provide services as much as we can. Um, and I don't know what that might necessarily look like. Um, and and I would imagine that Chinatown Service Center probably already deals with some of that. Um, but it would be great to also explore on our end um, what other types of things we could do. um whether it's partnering with another organization or just ourselves ourselves as a city uh to make sure that we are um addressing those needs uh that might not be um being that might not be addressed through you know flu vaccine clinic or something like that

certainly and I think that the benefit of working with CSC is that they truly provide pro provide wraparound services for our residents so that's everything from food assistance legal assistance assistance, health care, dental care, um you know, referrals to other uh organizations. Uh they can basically, they've never said no to us. Everything that we've asked them to help us with, uh they're able to find a way to do it. And I know that this c Let me do a follow-up question. And um I know that this council approved, uh $50,000. Is our um uh agreement with CSC um making use of that entire amount or is it just a portion of that? The intention is to make use of that entire amount.

Okay. Thank you. No question for me. None for me either. Thank you for the presentation, Diana. Let's move on to 7B, fire department.

Good evening, honorable mayor, mayor prom, members of the city council. Uh Ray Lozano, code enforcement supervisor. Um this evening I have we have a presentation specific to a new newly found uh partnership with Chinatown Services Center. Um and it is specific to um it is specific to um developing equitable pathway to voluntary compliance for specific um residents that are experiencing language barriers, behavioral health barriers. And um this work is guided by these goals and the objectives set forth by this council this evening um which is specific to public safety, access to services and community engagement. Next slide please. Uh this partnership will work through the code enforcement staff providing CSC with referrals to residents or responsible parties that the staff is working with to ensure that they are given the outreach that they need, translation services, care navigation and linkage to applicable services. Um this will be accomplished by code compliance sending uh referrals to CSC and our engagement is going to be focused on being consistent supporting CSC um with the contact with the residents and property owners to achieve and maintain voluntary compliance. Um next slide please. The anticipated outcomes of this partnership is to u provide timely contact with the residents. Um provide clear connections to services and promote voluntary compliance with fewer repeat violations and also to improve the resident experience and promote trust and access to all the members of our community. Available for any questions that you may have.

Ray, I'm just glad your arm is better. Me, too. Thanks for the presentation. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Uh next is public works.

Good evening on Mayor, mayor prom and city council. Sean Igo, public works director. Um tonight I have a few items to update you on. Uh first we have our community transportation survey. So this is we're asking for the community and transit writers to provide input on our recently modified uh um transit program. So, as you're aware, we modified our uh fixed route system and we also added our uh microtransit system. So, we want the community and feedback. Tell us how we're doing and see if we can make some improvements. Uh that survey uh is open until the end of the month. Next slide, please. And then we have our monthly compost giveaway. So, uh this is coming up. Um this is going to be at our normal location, which is our city yard at 751 South Alhambor Avenue. Um, this will be from 8 am to uh about 11 am or until uh supplies are available. This is on February 14th. So, if you want to fun Valentine's Day, stop on by and pick up some mulch. And I have a gardening date. Next slide, please. Uh, where disposal customer survey. So, um, as as we're all aware, our solid waste provider um has been with us for a little over a year now. So, we want to hear from the community. This this survey is being held by Wear and we want to hear how they're doing. um and provide feedback on not only our trash service but our recycling program and any other areas they can make some improvements on. This uh survey is open until about uh the end of March or beginning of April. With that, I'll take any questions.

Thanks, Sean. Excited about the compost, too. Uh on the spirit bus survey related to that uh MP the Mario Park transit express uh where I remember that was a one-year pilot. I don't remember when we started that and when we're going to be evaluating the pilot. So, so we're we're coming up on that year and we'll hope to have something back to council soon to provide some updates and um look at extending that pilot. Great. No, looking forward to that. Thank you.

Uh no, I'm that's glad I'm glad to hear that um that will be the recommendation um for extended pilot because um I I think it's been a great program. Um, I have certainly taken him many times and and because I live by the uh the the Garvey yard, I I see the fleet, you know, parked and as early as 6:30 a.m. they're deployed. Yep. Yeah. Thank you, Sean. Thank you. All right. Next is library.

Good evening, Mayor Yang, members of the city council. Kristen Oliver, city librarian. this evening. To begin, uh we're going to begin with a brief recap of January. In January, the library hosted 102 programs uh that were attended by 2,140 children, teens, and adults. This included craft programs, uh play and dance programs, and Japanese ma jang. Next slide. Um, beginning this month, we launched our partnership with Chinatown Service Center to offer the volunteer volunteer income tax assistance clinic. This program offers free tax preparation for low-income taxpayers and runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. These services are available in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, and appointments can be made online or by contacting Chinatown Service Center. This Saturday at 2 PM, we will be hosting our Happily Ever After author panel with authors Jeannie Cho, JC Lee, and Julie Tu. Um, this program will include a meet and greet and book signings. Next slide. We invite you to celebrate the year of the horse at the library with a special Lunar New Year story time on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:30. And on Saturday, February 21st, teens can make cute horse plushies at our Lunar Teen Lunar New Year workshop. Additionally, registration is now open for our spring semester ESL classes. These 15week adult literacy classes begin feebruary 23rd and help improve reading, writing, and speaking skills. For more information, you can visit our website to view the class schedules. Next slide. We are celebrating Black History Month at the library. You can visit our streaming service canopy to enjoy a curated collection of films and

documentaries that honor the voices and stories of black artists and activists. We also have themed reading list for adults, teens, and children. Families are invited to grab a take and make craft kit from the children's desk and learn about artist Elma Thomas by creating their own vibrant version of her painting. the eclipse. Meanwhile, teens can exercise their culin culinary skills in our teens cook soul food program where they'll make fried green tomatoes and banana pudding on Saturday, February 28th. That concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions. All right, Christian, I know sleep, but did you say 102 programs right off the bat? I sure did.

Only through the month of January. Congrats on such great programming and making the library the center of the city. That's pressure, Robert. Thank you. I I'm sure Robert's gonna come up with some great numbers, too. Uh my only like appreciate everything the library is doing. Uh look forward to these programs. Also, if there's extra food from that event, I think we're happy to taste test on the come on by. Feel free to bring it over here too for our next next meeting too.

Thank you, Kristen. When you were coming up, it reminded me that I have an overdue book that I need to turn in. So, I I apologize. Um I I think I have it in my car actually, so I'll drop it off. We got to reinstitute fines just for him. Yeah, just for me, please. Uh sorry about that. But thank you so much for all all of the uh amazing programming and uh especially I I know their council is considering a resolution for Black History Month. So, um, interested in visiting the library with my girls and checking out what what type of stuff you guys have going on. So, thank you.

Um, you know, again, like sharing sentiments with my colleagues, you know, I mean, I think we're very lucky that our library does so much programming to celebrate um many cultures uh not just in our community, but you know, in the United States. Uh, and not to mention also providing valuable services such as the free legal clinics that our library does. Um, again, it's um I think as as the community, we should very be proud of um the library that we have in our city. So, yeah, and I think it's great you're bringing these actual authors to meet our residents, too. So, thank you. And just a quick reminder that we don't charge overdue fines, so just return those books. I have two chapters left. I'm sorry.

Bring back your book. All right, Robert. Recreation.

Uh, good evening, Mayor. Mayor Prom and city council members, Robert Gary, director of recreation and community services. Here to share a short presentation, understanding that we had a long meeting tonight. Uh do want to highlight that and thank everyone that came out to our Lunar New Year festival where we hosted what we estimate over 200,000 people that attend each year. Uh so just want to thank the residents, all the vendors, the staff that helped put this together and also World Journal, our partner uh in that festival. Uh next slide please. Also want to highlight a a project that's currently going on. I know it's really late right now, but if you have a chance you and during daylight uh you can see that Barnes Park uh tennis and pickleball court was just about completed and uh this project will actually move be moving throughout all of our parks that have tennis courts. All of those will be resurfaced. So uh starting next week, you'll start seeing uh George Elder working on um and then it'll go park to park to still allow for players to play at other parks. uh while the ones are getting resurfaced. So, Barnes, we're expecting to open back up for plays sometime mid uh week next week. Uh but do invite you to come out and check it out. It's be looks beautiful. So excited about that. Next slide, please. Um our Barnes Park uh pool revitalization. So, as you are well well aware, we worked with Dalan, our consultants on putting together some community engagement. So we had a community survey as well as uh several uh community meetings that kind of help uh come up some conceptual designs and now so now the community has an opportunity to vote on three conceptual designs each of those meeting uh the needs of the community in different ways. Uh that survey will be online uh for the next two weeks and and folks can see uh find that at monterey park.ca.govarnespool. Uh that survey is available in multiple languages and we do want to encourage people to not only take the survey but

please share it with your neighbors. Uh that way we can get as much feedback on the pool conceptuals uh for a future project. So thank you. And then finally uh MPK Clipper night is coming up in March. We've sold over 170 tickets. Uh we're down to our last batch of tickets. So, I do want to encourage people if you haven't gotten them yet, uh, make sure you get them quickly. I think we have about 30 tickets left. It is also Japanese Heritage Night. So, all of those participants, all those that have boughten tickets will also get a free, uh, Japanese Heritage uh, jersey. And that completes my uh, presentation. Uh, just want to also encourage everyone to continue to follow us on social media, Monterey Park Rec.

Well, Robert, you can't win all the time. Uh but but I will have to give you for being patient. Uh I know with the pickle ball and tennis, it's never win-win. Right now painting the courts definitely you lose lose because they're off the court now, but when it's done, they will thank you for it. Wait, wait till next week when everyone's

Yeah, they'll thank you for it. And also thank you for uh the pool concepts last night and I was there as many of the council members there and not as vibrant as tonight but close enough. There are a lot of people, a lot of ideas. We had three options and then people had their own fourth or fifth option which is great. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to figure out what's best for the community. uh people just need to understand that there's a process that we have to go through as a city to get engagement and then they can add to that engagement beyond that. So, I think part of that last night was, well, why don't you give this option or that option? Well, because we can only start with three and then from there you can branch off. But, uh, a lot of the community took to the likings of either I think one and two were the most selected ones. Although, we're not done yet because you still have another two.

Still got two weeks to vote. So, good luck. You're still a well-liked man until someone kind of figures that out and says, "No, I wanted one and you pick two." I don't get to pick. You guys get to pick. Robert is looking to become beloved when we open the pool. So, I will be the first jumping in that pool. I don't know. Some people might jump in. Yes, absolutely.

Uh no, I'll echo appreciation for the staff, not just the recreation park staff, but uh all the staff that really had to put in from police, fire, public works, everyone that really put in for the Lunar Festival. I was there for a couple hours Saturday and Sunday and the crowd did not ease. It was it was great. I I was worried. I think many of us are a little worried with the heat and just with everything else going on in the world that it would probably be a lower turnout. It was not at all. Not a lower turnout.

It was great. Um I I mean just given that I'd love to I don't I know a lot of work goes into this and this is a partnership with World Tournal. Look forward to their coming out to report out a little bit once they kind of finalize all their stuff. uh but would love to see clearly there's interest not only from our community but from outside this community for street festivals and for cultural celebrations uh like this. Would love to see if there's opportunities to do this more often than once a year in Monterey Park. Uh and to start thinking about what we can do to make that happen. Uh because there's clearly interests in the community for something like this and seems like it's something that could be financially sustainable more than just once a year. Uh, so we'd love to just put that out there. Um, and then appreciate everyone who came out to the pool concepts meeting. Uh, really appreciate everyone that's providing feedback and I think we generated a good amount of feedback which is what we wanted. Uh, hope everyone submits that feedback through the survey. Uh, and encourage the few folks that are still here. If you haven't taken that survey, please please do. We want everyone's input. Uh and we really want this to be a community uh pool uh if we move forward uh for the whole community and for everyone. So we want to make sure as many people are are providing their feedback and input about what design we want to potentially move forward with uh as possible so that the council can really take that all into account. But thank you to the to the to your team and everyone in the city for really helping to get that moved forward. I know there's been a lot of criticism from some community members, a few community members around the process, but uh this process is really important. I'll emphasize that even though I don't think any of them will be watching this at this point, uh but emphasize how important it is for community to engage and I really applaud the staff uh and the city for really move forward moving forward very intentionally and strategically to make sure that there's community buyin for this moving forward and we are moving this forward. Um, and look forward to

the the concepts coming back for council conversation so that we can move on to the next step too. Thank you.

Thank you, Robert, for all that you do. You're always be beloved, so don't don't worry about it. Um, I was very impressed with the festival this weekend. Had a chance to uh stop by briefly on Saturday, but then spend quite a bit of time on Sunday. Took the family there. They always love eating. And I sent you some pictures of the their ride, the carnival ride. Yeah, that's the best part. And um but I did want to say because I to echo council member Wong's point, it takes a village to put this together and I really appreciated a large police presence uh at the at the car carnival at the festival. Um and so thank you for for all of the organization, everything that um that you guys did to make this happen. It was very very very well organized. So thank you. Um, also what I also went to the pool uh conceptual design meeting. Uh, thank you for um I I just can't believe how far we've moved with this. Uh, I know that this started earlier with the um, you know, parks master plan. So, um, and I know council directed that we make this a priority. So, glad to see that we're at a point where we have potentially three concepts that the community can choose from. Um, I know that my daughter's at home making banners and t-shirts for option A because she wants a splash pad. But, um, anyhow, but uh but I know that there's a lot of a lot of desire uh to build a pool uh at least that's what I heard when I was there a lot of the residents that serves the entire community. So, um anyhow, uh looking forward to I still haven't voted uh on the survey, but uh I think I know how I'm gonna vote. So, thank you, Robert, for all that you do. Uh, looking forward to seeing the results of that survey.

Awesome. Thank you. And there there's no age limit on the voting, right? No age limit. We want we want all residents to vote. Five people in my house. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure you're going to vote.

I'm reminded of that every day. Yeah. Well, to borrow your own words, as always, your department is very epic and all it does and and and and I will also add to the conversation that you know, I know what the issue of the pool and yes, I mean I mean this issue of the pool has been an issue for over a decade and I think that as frustrated as people have been in this process is that we probably come the furthest in a decade because we actually are now at concept and and and and again which is probably more than has been done past 10 years. And so I want to thank your staff and for community for engaging on on the issue. Um and hopefully you know we will be able to push the momentum on on um pool. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. Thanks for all the great events. Lunar New Year festival was really really well attended and a lot of fun. Um how many uh votes have we gotten in for the pool? Do you know? I haven't checked yet because it just went out. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. because we just had the pool meeting Monday. So, I'm wondering if hundreds came in already and well, the last survey we had like over 400 pretty so we're expecting more out of this. Cool. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you,

Madame Mayor. I apologize, city council members. Um if one, we have to extend the time on our meeting and and two uh I apologize. We have our uh media team is letting me know that we have to reset one of our devices. It's recording our meeting tonight and we have to reset one of them. So, if we can extend the meeting and take a quick like two-minute break, please. Because if not, we're going to miss that. Push to extend the meeting by 30 minutes. Second. All right, let's vote. Approved unanimously. So, twominut recess or two minute recess.

Okay. That's what I thought. That's

Okay, let's get started. All right, back on the record. Um, we're done with staff communication, so let's go on to consent agenda. I think I have a conflict on the weed abatement one. 10F. So I will recuse myself from 10F.

I'll make the motion to approve as presented. I'll I'll second uh the motion with the quick note on item 10 C on the murals. If just the quick note to staff is we move forward on that if there's a way to ensure that there or ensure opportunities for participation from residents and stuff to be part of that process in terms of getting the murals up that would be great already on it. Robert. All right, I'll make that second.

Noted. And just uh city council members for item uh 10D, I did want to um let you know that we did have a representative from Pace here who stuck it out. Um Leslie Dia Vasencio is in the audience with us for tonight. So, she is here representing Pace. So, she stuck it out. She is here. Just wanted to point it out. Thanks for staying so late. All right. So, council member go moved. Council member B second. Let's vote. Approved unanimously.

Great. All right. Then no public hearing, no new business. City communications.

Yeah. I just want to share that um you know our community is stronger when everyone participates and you've been seeing that and then you think about what happened this weekend with the northern New York festival. We had over 200,000 I think it's closer to 250,000 people in two days despite the hot weather in January which is great for a lot of people but probably a little too hot for some as well. You know, we are like someone said, the gateway to the Sable Valley and if you think about diversity, the Asian population, it all starts in Mari Park. And I'm just so proud to be in the city to have that celebration with Luna New Year kicking off for the rest of the community in the Southland. That's all I have. I was reiterate appreciation for all the staff. Uh Lunar Festival went off without a hitch and that's I think a credit to all the departments here at the city hall. So just please pass on uh my and our appreciation to everyone that really pitched in having 200,000 people visit the city of Mari Park for a really positive thing to celebrate culture the coming Lunar New Year. uh and really just coming together as a as a community as region is a huge deal and it's great that we're hosting and kicking off these activities uh for the rest of the region. So appreciate everyone doing that and look forward to continuing uh in thatstead. Um want to ask for potential future uh or for future agenda items. I know the budget midyear budget is coming up at the next meeting. Uh we'll have to discuss some of that. But um reiterate my point earlier to Diana on the immigration services and partnership with CSC. If there's uh I'm very open to coming back or a request

coming to council to increase the amount of resources, financial budget uh for potential immigration services that the city can fund and support in our community. would love to if there's a number that makes sense, please bring that to to council and I would be very very open to to expanding what our already existing resources are for that uh and to look at other programs that might be being stood up or have been stood up that we might be interested in supporting to get uh more resources and services to the community including partnering with our schools. Uh and also I know LA County is still working I think still working on their ice free zones ordinance. I don't know if that language is final or not. Uh maybe we can take that as a model potentially for us here uh for our city owned properties whenever LA County is ready. That's it.

One more one more thought as I was seeing uh our mayor shuffle through the many speaker cards. I know we're working on a different management system for agenda and for speakers. Uh would love an update when that when we have one on that. I think it'd be great to to be more efficient with that going forward. Uh whenever we can get kind of get a system like that more integrated. I know county and other jurisdictions have adopted similar kind of digital management systems that are going to be easier for us to be able to handle that make that more efficient for people who want to engage. Um, and also, uh, if there's a way to I don't know, we can consider adding, it'll be easier if it's the digital system, but adding to the speaker cards if people want to get signed up for the city's email list, they can maybe they can write their email down for us to just automatically add them to email lists going forward. is I keep hearing last meeting, this meeting, and meetings prior to this, uh, a lot of people feeling like they're uninformed or did not hear about certain things going on at the city. Maybe we can just automatically sign them up for the city's email list so they are better informed. I just wanted to I just wanted to express my appreciation of um like everyone else said, I think I did so earlier with um all of the work that uh went into planning and um the Lunar New Year festival, but I also wanted to um thank staff for quickly um responding when we had some ice activity uh this week um and re and sharing with with the community. um exactly what was going on in terms of what we knew, but also sharing, you know, that that our department does not collaborate, our police department does not collaborate with ICE. Um and and

also um you know, this city and this council voted to um um also take uh join the lawsuit, remember, um in the Purdomo case. So, um, and sharing with with the community, um, that this, um, council and the city, um, has done, um, what it can, um, in the past, uh, to support immigrants in our immigrant community. So, really appreciate that we put that out really quickly. Um, I think it was pretty well received. Uh, and I think in in the event that there's future actions, um, being able to, um, put out and, uh, and inform the public in terms of what what we know, um, in terms of what's going on in the community. I know that, um, a lot of people were very scared, very confused. There's a lot of rumors going around. So, I think, um, I think what the city can do based on what we know is share what what we have uh, to kind of ease some of those concerns. So, thank you for putting that out, uh, and as out of your office. Um, and, um,

um, just real quick again, congratulations, uh, to the city, uh, for another successful Lunar New Year, uh, festival. As I always say, and we all know, it kicks off the season and, um, it was, I think, um, you know, an apicious occasion. Thank you.

Yeah. Yeah, I wanted to recognize our police and fire department because Lunar New Year festival, I saw them on the roof and all over keeping our community safe and it was a very peaceful event. And then also tonight and other meetings when there's so many people here, it could be very chaotic or police and fire really do a great job. So, thank you guys. Um, well, between now and our next meeting, there's quite a few holidays. So, we've got happy Super Bowl Sunday. the Sunday. We've got Happy Lunar New Year Festival and we have Happy Valentine's Day. So, enjoy the holidays and we'll see you guys in two weeks. Adjourn at 12:42 p.m.