City Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome your patterson city council meeting monday august third twenty twenty six public meeting guidelines city patterson city council meetings are conducted in person at city hall council chambers as a courtesy and technology permitting members of the public may continue to participate virtually however the city cannot guarantee the public's access to teleconferencing technology will be uninterrupted And technical difficulties may occur from time to time. The meeting will be televised and available for public viewing on Comcast Channel 7 on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 12 p.m. Our members of the public may watch on the internet with the Vimo link available on our city's website. Before we start our session, those in the audience who wish to do so, please stand and bow your heads for our invocation. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight in gratitude as we consider your blessings. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for a community full of wonderful neighbors. As we work together as a council to appoint a new council member, please guide our discussion. Help us find the best resident for this role. We seek your wisdom and direction. We give you glory in all that you do as you lead us. We say this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Call to order. Your Patterson City Council meeting will now come to order. Pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Statements of conflict. Are there any statements of conflict from the council members? None. None here. And I have no agenda conflicts. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC. ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON A MATTER NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA OR LISTED ON THE AGENDA MAY DO SO BY RAISING YOUR HAND AND STEPPING TO THE PODIUM. IF YOU'RE JOINING THE MEETING THROUGH ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE. IF YOU'RE CALLING IN BY PHONE, YOU MAY PRESS NINE WHEN THE MAYOR ANNOUNCES THE ITEM. COUNCIL WILL TAKE NO ACTION OTHER THAN REFERRING THE ITEM TO STUDY FOR ANALYSIS AND MAY PLACE THE ITEM ON A FUTURE AGENDA. IN ORDER TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, EACH INDIVIDUAL MAY PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ONCE DURING THE PUBLIC After an individual has spoken, they may not return to the podium or otherwise provide additional comment during the same public comment period. This ensures fairness and equal access for all members of the public. Any person addressing the Council will be limited to a maximum of three minutes unless the Mayor grants a longer period of time. The City Council requests everyone be respectful of other citizens' time and stay within the allotted time period. If after extending the three-minute time period the Mayor determines that the Speaker will not complete their comments within a reasonable time, the Mayor will request the comments be completed at a later date. Once the mayor closes in-person public comment and transitions to online zoom public comment, those physically in attendance may no longer provide comment. At that point, only individuals participating through zoom or by phone will be recognized for public comment. This applies to all public comment during this council meeting. The city council fully supports the right of the public to comment freely during the public comment period per the Brown Act. However, all comments must be made respectfully and may not be disruptive in nature. The Brown Act expressly authorizes a legislative body to remove from a meeting those persons who willfully interrupt the proceedings. Independent of the Brown Act, California Penal Code Section 403 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully disturb a lawful meeting. As a quick reminder for tonight's special City Council meeting, public comment is limited to the items listed on the special meeting agenda. Under Government Code Section 54954.3, members of the public may comment only on those noticed agenda items. and comments should be taken before during the council's consideration of each item. Unlike a regular city council meeting, there's no general public comment period for items that are not on the special meeting agenda. Do I have a consensus of the council to move all public comment to agenda item 5.1 of the special meeting?

Yes.

All right. So moved. Moving on to item 5.1, city staff reports. DISCUSS CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS AND CONSIDER APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-51 TO APPOINT AN ELIGIBLE CANDIDATE TO FILL THE VACANT DISTRICT B CITY COUNCIL SEAT. THE CANDIDATES ARE TITO VALDEZ-SPINO AND SHINERI NOTAMCHICHI JACK. THE STAFF REPORT WILL BE PROVIDED BY DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS REMLINGER. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BEFORE THE STAFF REPORT FROM THE ATTORNEY, THE CITY COUNCIL MUST DECIDE ON THE PROCESS WE WILL USE THIS EVENING. After discussion with the city attorney and city clerk, we created a draft framework as a starting point for the council's discussion. The process that we came up with as a draft for council consideration is the city attorney will provide the staff report, an opportunity for the candidates to speak for up to five minutes if they so desire. Council will make any statements and or ask any questions of the candidates at the next part of the discussion. then we'll move to public comment candidates will then have an opportunity to respond to public comments and they will be given five minutes to do so we would then close the public comment period and then each council member will have an opportunity to speak on the candidates ask questions and or make any final comments once each council member has an opportunity to speak then one of the council members would make a motion for a particular candidate if we have a candidate that she's three votes that person will be appointed to the district bc if we have a two to tie it will go back under consideration be returned to the city manager and city staff to look for additional candidates does the council have any feedback or recommendations or changes to that process

It's a lot to take in. It kind of probably could have got it before we sat down, but no, we're good.

Okay.

Okay.

Council Member Hernandez? No? Okay. Then we're going to proceed. Go ahead and provide the staff report.

Good evening, City Council and members of the public. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting. My name is Thomas Remlinger. I'm an attorney working under City Attorney Goldstein. Tonight, we have for you a discussion and potential action item to appoint an eligible candidate to fill the vacancy in the District B City Council seat. On June 30th, you directed staff that you would like to fill the vacancy via appointment. Under that direction, staff proceeded to open the appointment. the application period from July 1st to July 28th. During that period, we received two applications, and staff confirmed that both those applicants are eligible to hold the district B seat. So tonight's item gives you an opportunity to discuss the candidates. The council was already allowed to interview both candidates in a 2-2 format, and so Now you have the opportunity to discuss the council as a whole and to receive public comments on the item. I'm here for any questions you might have about the process, but that concludes the staff report.

All right. Thank you very much. Now we're going to provide an opportunity, if the candidates so choose, to come forward and provide a statement to the council and to the public. Would either candidate like to come forward and make a statement before we proceed? You don't have to. It's not required.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening, Mayor, council members, members of staff, attorney, and our community members. My name is Chin Yarin Nodim Jack. I'm Chi Chi Jack. I have served this community for many years. I come before you today just to provide service that is needed in my district, not just in my district alone, but in our city as a whole. I come before you with passion, transparency, accountability, knowing that our citizens, especially our most vulnerable citizens, need our help. I'm only here to serve with honor and dignity to provide every member of this community the opportunity to hear their voices, to listen to them, and to solve the problems that we have in our community, in our city as a whole. So thank you for giving us the opportunity, and thank you for listening to us today. Thank you.

Okay, if you could just hold on just one second. If you want to applause, go ahead. I just want to give the opportunity to the council to have any comments or questions of you while you're there at the podium. So are there any comments or questions at this point from the council? Yes, yes we are.

CHI for stepping up to the plate. Thank you.

Absolutely, ma'am. Thank you. Mr. Valdespino, would you like to come forward?

All right. Thank you, council, city staff, and everyone else, and my neighbors. Thank you for taking time to be here. This is a new process for me. I typically stand in front of different audiences. I am a local pastor here in town. I just live a life of service. I am committed to seeing individuals take the next best steps in life. And collectively, I think as a council, as a city, as a community, I think we will definitely be able to take steps forward to doing this together. I believe in building bridges. I think that there is a level of accountability in the process. And involved with that, along with transparency, I think that's going to establish a great bond of trust within this community as well. And so this is all new to me. I'm willing to learn. I'm a fast learner. I hold my neighbors in high regard. I'm a listener. I spent time listening behind cups of coffee to my neighbor as far as what's going on in their lives. And I believe on a different level of spirituality that there's certainly a pathway that God tends to lead us, and I'm just stepping in this in obedience and seeing what God does with it. So I'm here. I'm here to serve. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Go ahead. Any questions or comments from Council at this time.

And thank you so much to you know for stepping up to the plate.

Okay, thank you very much, sir.

Thank you. I just want to say to both of you guys I really appreciate you guys taking the time and courage to stand up here for a community and we really look forward to what you guys helping us guide this see the right direction. Thank you for your courage and let's get this. Oh no perfect, thank you very much.

All right, so seeing no Additional questions or concerns from the council we will now open item five point one for public comment are there any members of the public present in the council chambers with comments on item five point one please step to the podium state your name and city for the record.

Cheryl Lex, City of Patterson. I had two questions for each of the candidates. Can I do those later, or is now a good time?

Or are we doing that at all? You can provide the questions, and then when we're done, they can have an opportunity to come up and answer them, but we can't have you interact with them. So you can put the questions out, no problem, and then it'll be up to them to choose whether or not they want to answer them.

Should I read them now?

Absolutely.

Okay, good. Let's see. Let me put my other glasses on here. Okay. Number one, how do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our town? That's the first one. And the second one, if you received a $1 million grant to use for the city in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why? And those are my two questions.

Those are great questions. Do the candidates have the questions down?

Repeat the second one short if you received a 1 million dollar grant to use for the city any way you wanted What would you do with it? And why? Any any further comment Any further comment?

Yeah, no, no, that's it.

I just those were the two I had for them. So okay. Thank you Thank you.

Is there anyone else present the council chambers who wish to provide a public comment at this time? Yes, ma'am

Hello, my name is Cynthia Holman, city of Patterson, and I just wanted to thank both of the candidates for stepping up and being willing to serve. They both did well. I will tell you I've known Chi Chi Notum for many, many years, and her level of community service has been bar none. And so I was very happy when she put in her application, and that's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Anybody else with a public comment on item 5-1? All right, seeing none, we will now close the in-person public comment period and move to the online public comment. Madam Clerk, is there anyone online who wishes to provide a public comment on 5-1?

Hello, Candace White Rock City of Patterson. I have not had the opportunity to meet Ms. Chi Chi, but I have seen some good things that she's done in the community. And I have heard good things, but I also want to take this opportunity to be a character witness for Tito. I have seen his work in the community with the fire department, with our youth, with our homeless for the last, I'd say probably about five years. And I feel like Patterson would absolutely, especially District B, would be in wonderful hands if he is given this appointment. And being that I'm leaving Patterson in the near future, I want to feel like it is being left in good hands. So I know most of you hate me at this point, and honestly, I'm okay with that because sometimes the truth just needs to be said. But that being said, the other truth is that you will not find someone with more integrity, more hard work, and more passion to change people's lives for the better than with Tito. So thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Is there anyone else online, ma'am?

Just as a reminder, if you're joining us on Zoom and wish to make a comment, please use the raised hand feature. If you're calling in by phone, you may press star nine. And we do not have any other comments online, Mayor.

All right. So I'm not going to close the public comment period at this time. I am for the audience, but I want to give an opportunity for both candidates to come back up and address anything that they would like to at this time. So, Mr. Valespino, would you like to come forward and?

All right five minutes total when I'm usually long winded I don't know if I'll be long winded right now so. I just want to say thank you again regardless this experience is going to be kind of an opportunity for me to continue see growth in myself an opportunity that there's plenty of road left and regardless I'm still going to be a servant to the community all the way through it all. But in the effort to be able to bring the residents into some of the conversations of what's being talked about, full transparency is exactly how I live my life. I think it needs to be put out there. As a pastor, it's already there. We're under a microscope, so to say. And so I live best in the area of kind of just saying it how it is. I would offer and recommend kind of like a town hall. Let's talk about it. Let's see how we can get together, collect our thoughts, think about how we can move the ball forward. but not just from one side of this conversation. Bring in some of those that are actually in the communities, seeing these circumstances. And so I don't know how that would look organizationally, but I can see a group of people coming together alongside of some of us to be able to brainstorm and see where the heartbeat is of the community. I think it would be a good first step to bring in the residents in full transparency. As far as the dream of having a million-dollar grant, I think that's awesome. And what would you do with the million dollars? That's a lot of money. I can't help but to go straight for our students. I have a heart for our youth. I believe that they are our future of today. Right now it's happening. And I think there is a lot of our youth that are being missed. And so, of course, we'd find some allocation for our students, for our schools, but for our city, infrastructure, you know, let's go ahead and get that done. But right now the million dollars would go straight for that water. Let's get our water situation situated as well. You know, kind of get a good foot forward in that. Since we're talking about having a million dollars, let's put it towards something like that as well. That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Thank you so much. That was a great question. And also, I believe, was that Candice online? Thank you, and also thank you, Cynthia. I have been a resident of this community since 2006. And from day one that I came into this city, I love it. I came here strategically to raise my daughter. And I have been involved from day one. As a matter of fact, the first action that I put together was work for Diabetes with American Diabetes Association. It was a community event. I saw Patterson as a place to raise my child, to build a home. And I've loved it ever since. I have communicated with every resident. If there was anything that is needed, I've always been out there, volunteering both in school. I've been a PTO president. I've served in the County Board of Education. I've put up community events. I've honored women that have served this community without having a platform. So, yes. Transparency is my middle name. Not only that, I believe in our children because they are the future. My daughter just graduated from college, heading to law school. She is a product of this community. And one thing that I applaud our youth is to make sure that after graduating from college, that we have a sustainable employment for them to come back to. Because we shouldn't be sending away all those brilliant minds out of our area. We need them here to create jobs, to build more infrastructure for the community. How do I plan to get the residents involved? Same way I've done all these years. I've always have an event. Everyone is invited to participate. I always make sure that the residents are aware of what is available. I've always wanted to make sure, especially our most vulnerable citizens, our elders, Our elderly community, they need our help. Our children, they need our help. So getting out there, getting involved, not just from the phone. I'm on social media. My life is full of transparency. So you can look me up. You can read up about me. There's nothing to hide. My family is here. I love kids. When my daughter was in track and field, cross country, I was always the cheerleader mom, always.

Having a million dollars is absolutely great.

We need good water. And if someone give us money today to fix that problem, great. What concerns me about our water is there are some of us that can afford to put water filtration in our home, but sometimes I worry about our children when the parents are not available. Where are they drinking the water from? So I would want to get the community involved. I want them to tell me what do they want to see.

I want our city to be safe.

I want our children to walk around with that problem. As you all know, Patterson is a bedroom community. Most of our parents commute. So sometimes these kids are wandering off on their own. So we need to provide them a safety net. I've done that. So what I would like to see is a community where we all come together. We may agree to disagree, but what happens is I want to be the solution, not the problem. So however we can come together, lead with love, with passion, Our understanding. So I want to listen, not only listening, but I want to listen with open mind, but listen to understand. So I will get all the community involved. I would like to ask them questions and see what it is that they need in their community. But for us, it's together that we can solve the problem. It's not a one person issue. It's all of our issues. So we must collaborate with one another. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. right and with that we will now close the public comment period and bring the item back before council for final deliberation so in is there anybody that wants to go first with their comments and questions or do we just want to go by district like I guess we'll start with district a since there's no volunteers sorry councilmember Hernandez

Well, we did interview them so just FYI Yeah, so One of the questions is directly to towards your district the district that you will be representing What do you believe are? it says three but one of the biggest challenges facing district B is Over the next four years and what specific actions would you take during your first year in office to address it? The problem. So if hopefully you guys know your district a little bit. Well, and what challenge do you think your district faces?

OK, so we're going to bring forward the candidates so they can answer the questions so. Gigi, why don't you come up first? Since I brought Mr. Valespino up first the last time, we'll just alternate back and forth. Back to the hot seat, ma'am. You want to sit in the hot seat, so here you go.

You know what, my district, not just my district, our districts need good water. I think one of the things that I've seen, because I do take a lot of work, I see people, like dogs walk around and poop in the areas, so I would like to see a way that we can make sure that the dogs poops are cleaned up so that our city will continue to be clean. We have safe parks. The other day I was out doing a documentary and I see families come out, especially right there on Mary Good and Scarlet. Children coming out to play in the evening, even when it's hot, because they have a safe space. I do see a water fountain there. but there was no water coming out of it. So I would like to see that water fountain fixed. These are just minor issues. Also lighting. I want to make sure the street lights are on. Because there are oftentimes families walk their dogs at all times of the evening. My daughter walk my dog too. So I would like to make sure that there's lighting, you know, as they walk the pathway to make sure that those lightings are up. The trees, we just need to make sure that we constantly trim the trees. Because sometimes the trees, they do block the light. If the city permits the owner, or maybe like the owner will come and call the city. I've called a couple of times and it was taken care of. So I like to see that continuity. Also the trash cans or sometimes too many cars. park on the street. When the city comes to sweep the street, there's always those cars that are parked. Try to make sure that we have those cars moved so our streets can be clean. Safe, safe, safe. We need to be, our children and everyone needs to be safe. District B, we have a very big park in some of the areas. If we can put some gadgets for kids to just continue to play, because I don't mind they get into trouble, but when they have a place that they can congregate and play safely, I think it will make our city much safer, and they can all collaborate and think of how to beautify Patterson as a whole.

Thank you. Thank you. Any follow-up? Any follow-up?

Just a comment, Chi Chi. You know how I know that everything you just said is true? Because I just had a meeting today at 2 o'clock, and that was an issue that was brought up. No water in the water fountains at a park. Right, Fernando? So I know you're paying attention. So thank you so much for that.

Thank you.

Any follow up from any of the council members? Okay, none for me mr. Val Spino your turn in the hot seat Well, thank you.

Thank you for the question and I think there are although there are many things that I would work on Safety is key for it all I think there needs to be a a collaboration with our first responders to be able to come alongside of the district, more just availability in a sense of being around and appreciation, of course. But before that, it's our water situation, and I agree that that is the key thing right now for our future, for our kids. And I will be beating that drum to be able to see if there will be any movement on that. I have some issues and circumstances just kind of just having this mind of situational awareness and kind of seeing around the corners of some of the dark spots and of course lighting is one of the things I think is key. The trees definitely need to kind of allow the light to come through. And I know that we're in an era where we don't want cameras around by any means. Privacy is certainly something that I believe in. But having a daughter that went to UVA and had the little blue lights that she could press on something, it would bring an alert to something happening in a neighborhood. I don't know. I don't know how that looks. But maybe there can be something that we can grow into that, that we can maybe work alongside of our first responders to make that something to move that forward it's just kind of a dream big thing I've been on college campuses and there's always these opportunities for kids to kind of press a blue button if there's an emergency and then there's a response in that Our parks I like our parks able to take my kid there have an 11 year-old well almost 12 and we play at the parks frequently and so they're clean and I did notice that the water fountains do not work as well and so we always have our own but. As I'm learning and growing and doing these are the key things that I would definitely move forward with in in in working with my district thank you. Thank you any follow up.

Okay thanks sir.

Any additional comments questions from council member Hernandez. Council member more.

Was not prepared sorry. Who are we starting with.

Oh, no, it's your general comments or concerns, and then you can... We're not asking questions? Yes. No, she asked questions, so you can absolutely ask questions.

Okay. So, general comments, I think we went over in the interview, and I think both are wonderful candidates, to be honest. Hard to make a decision or a choice because you both have such great... value in different areas. So it was just difficult to let you both know. But I do have a question if you guys want to come up. Okay. Are you ready? I'm ready. If appointed today, what are the first three city issues you would want to investigate?

Hmm. well of course the water issue would be the highlight the first thing right there to be able to work on I definitely want to learn more about how to see how we move if we move forward with these data centers in that just learn more about that investigate both sides who's just everything in that whole thing and the third thing would be You know, as I'm growing and learning, would be just accountability, working with our city staff to be able to build bridges and be able to create on-ramps to be able to move forward in maybe some of the areas where there may have been hiccups or just different things. I think that there is a certain opportunity to collectively move forward and bring healing in some areas if needed. And so those would be my top three.

Thank you.

Any additional follow-up for this candidate? No? Okay. All right.

Ms. Jatt? Council Member, I just want to make sure the language is correct.

You said investigate? Investigate. Just learn about, figure out how to fix things. I'm a fixer, so. Okay.

Um so one of the things that I would like to I mean we've been the issue of water is you know it is a priority um because we all want quality water and of course the one million dollar grant has already throw it in there so it's already working right so um the budget the city budget is important and then to find out which ways that we allocate things based on priorities Prioritizing the issues that really matter. There's something that we don't talk about a lot, but it's something that concerns me as someone that serves on the Board of Education, is affordable housing. One of the things that I have noticed is that at the end of the day, the teachers go home. I mean, they always seem to get home. But if our kids need help with extra homework, how would they get that help? I happen to have a kid that always tutored other kids online. That was one thing that COVID did. COVID brought a lot of Zoom. So children were able to connect with other children. and be able to help them with their assignments. But I would want a situation whereby we can bring in affordable housing so that teachers can afford to live here, and then they're able to help our children. Because at the end of the day, if you don't understand science, you cannot help your kids. And for whether it's a data center or whatever we're doing, math and science is something that is important. And we need our teachers here to be able to help us with that. I think when it comes to water issue, it is something that I would want to listen and hear where the council and the mayor, where the city planners, where they are, and then collaborate and find ways that we can work together to bring about the best resolution. And whatever it is, it's not just me investigating, it's the team investigating as one. Because it's not a one-person issue, it is a city issue. So together we can collaborate and find the answers that we need. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Any additional comments or concerns or questions? Okay. You have the floor, sir.

Well, thank you very much for being here and one thing I did notice about you, Chi Chi and Tito, you guys both have in common is you guys mentioned youth and family. So how do you plan to support our youth and families in this next couple years?

Family is the key. When I was taking some courses in college here, it was family members that helped me watch my kid while I take those night classes. I believe in having a tutoring center. I've done that with the community center. I want to be able to bring families together and find out what their needs are. If your child needs help with math, and I have a daughter or a friend that I know that can help, I want to be able to pair them all together. I want to let families know that they're not alone. One of the issues that I notice being here, working from home, telecommuting, where the families that had to commute out, they leave early in the morning, they come back at night. So sometimes they don't even know what their kids are doing. So I wouldn't want us to have a center. We used to have one. Not only where they can play, but where they can take their education seriously. And the only way that can be possible is by each and every one of us showing up and showing out. We have to support each other. You know, the parks are here. We do dancing, Zumba in the park. I used to do Zumba at the community center. I brought one of the family Zumba at the center to combat obesity. So there are so many things we can do. But I think the most important thing that you can do is open up your door. Because we are a family community. We really are. And for those of us that commute outside the area, I want to make sure that you know you can count on your neighbor to watch out for your children. It takes a village to raise a child. That adage is so true, and that is one thing that Paterson is known for. So I want to be able to continue that family connection, bridging that gap, making sure that every child is not left alone. And if their parents are commuting, that they know that they have neighbors that they can count on. So I want to be able to do Family Day. I mean, we have parks already. And hey, just throw out some hot dog on the pit and just bring families together and then just collaborate and enjoy and find out what we can do to help one another. My daughter is already out. She's heading to school now. But I don't stop. There are still children that need each and every one of us. So I'm available for kids to come to. And that is one thing I really want to see. There's more. But that's my connecting families together.

Thank you.

Okay, so the question, as I understand it, is what will I do to come alongside of families and children, their children and their students, correct?

What do you plan to support our youth and families? What plan of action do you have?

Right, right. It's definitely a partnership with the families, with the parents, with those that are caring for the children or the students. But that takes being present, means being around. So I would certainly keep in step with how I'm already moving in the community with being available. to different capacities to come alongside of families now. I know that our rec department's been doing a great job. They've been really holding it down. I would partner with them as well to see how we can get events or see how we can get different things happening in our city. But partnerships, I have only the lens to look through the church right now, okay? So I am a youth pastor. I have been mentoring students for several years through different ages, through different circumstances that they've walked through. Anything that you think a kid has gone through, I've had sat around across the table and discussed it through my time. And all this happens because of being available to the families. Now, I would look at a means to be able to possibly duplicate something like that on the city level to be available for these students. I would love to see mentoring available to some of our kids that don't have responsible or any mature or reasonable responsible individual to help them there's a lot of our young men out there that are trying to live life by themselves and I have witnessed and experienced what it means to come alongside of these students and their families as a partnership so I would love to establish a mentoring program here in town for our our students and then also I mean, how great would it be to offer a platform for our parents to maybe come alongside and get some resources for parenting as well? There's some parents that could use some help in this. And so there's so many things that I can probably sit here and continue to think about how to come alongside of these families, but the core at its core it would be being available and listening and hearing and then partnering with these parents to help their kids take the next best steps that's what I have right now for you thank you thank you thank you very much all right so in this process that we went through we had an opportunity like we said to be able to speak to these candidates and I spent a half an hour with both of them

asking various questions. And I will tell you that when we have to evaluate candidates, we have to assign a numeric value to each answer of those questions. And when I added it up at the end of the day, they were completely tied. And that's attributed to the quality of the answers, the intelligence of both the candidates, and what they have to offer the community in different ways. but i'm telling you and i'm telling the whole community right now we simply can't lose no matter who we choose because they're both wonderful people and dedicated public servants with that i will take bring it back to the council i don't have any questions at all they've already been asked and answered so do we have any final comments for a particular candidate before we bring a motion forward

Thank you so much to both for your service in our community. I've worked alongside both of you guys. I've presented at, I was going to say FCC, New Life. I've presented at New Life with Tito and with Chi Chi. I know I've sponsored a couple of your events, so thank you so much for bringing those events here to town. I know that you guys both work extremely hard for our youth, our families. And I know I can depend on you guys, on both of you guys, for anything. And you guys, and I'm here also. You guys can lean on me for anything. So thank you guys for taking your time and energy and passion into stepping forward for this seat. So thank you.

All right. With that, I will leave it up to the council to bring a motion for a particular candidate. Is there a motion on the table?

I will motion to move Tito, one of the candidates.

All right. There's a motion on the table to approve Resolution 2026-51 to appoint Tito Valdespino to fill the vacant District B City Council seat for the remainder of the term of office. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

The motion is seconded and requires a roll call vote from the Council. Mayor Pro Tem Roque?

Aye.

councilmember mora councilmember hernandez name and your mayor votes nay we have a time and as it results in the time we have to send the item to the city manager to direct staff to continue with the appointment process and see if there's alternate candidates for consideration Right. We can also entertain a second motion. Oh, okay. Well, that's perfect. Let's do that. I'm glad. I didn't know I had that option. All right. So, do we have a second motion on the table?

A motion for Shinieri.

All right. So, we have a motion to approve Resolution 2026-51 to appoint Shinneri Chi Chi Jack to fill the vacant district B City Council seat for the remainder of the term of office do I have a second I Will second that motion and it requires a roll call vote from the council mayor pro tem Roque Nay council member Maura Council member Hernandez And your mayor votes aye it results in a 2-2 tie and the motion fails so with that being said I City Maggiola please direct staff to continue with the appointment process and see if we can find some alternate candidates for consideration. And that will close item five point one.

Is there any other business that needs to be conducted know that covers it know okay so that will close item 5.1 for the evening beef before we close to we want as we continue on moving forward on this to the staff have a a timeline on when it was the 15th correct.

Yes, the timeline that the deadline 60 days from the vacancy would be the fit the 15th of August okay.

All right. So you have the timelines. Is there any other direction you need city manager?

Does the city council want to direct on any specific actions the staff might want to take to fulfill the candidacy given the lack of appointment tonight?

They would just go back and put the applications back out and follow the same process that we did before.

So do they reapply? I mean, how does... Can you explain this? Yes.

Right, so they're certainly welcome to reapply, and staff will make its best efforts to find additional candidates in recognition of the expedited timeline since previously we had a month to find applicants. So we'll do the best we can and look for some alternatives and bring something back to the council.

Okay, one more question. What was the purpose of the scoring if we're not using it?

So the city council, the metrics for candidates are, it's totally up to the council, and they have, you guys have the ability to use your discretion. I don't know exactly what was instructed, but for each individual council member, it's completely up to you as to how you want to evaluate a candidate.

And go by the scoring?

It just seems, this just doesn't seem to be very, ORGANIZED. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A SCORING, IF WE WEREN'T GOING TO USE THE SCORING, WHY DID WE USE THE SCORING?

SO WE HADN'T, I HADN'T ESTABLISHED THE SCORING OR NOTED THE SCORING. BUT IF THAT'S A METRIC THAT YOU'D LIKE TO USE IN THE NEXT APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO GIVE US SOME MORE CERTAINTY, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD UNDER THAT WITH YOUR DIRECTION. But currently, under this appointment process, the scoring wasn't implicated in sort of the criteria.

Mr. Okay. So, would you guys like to do that?

Ms. Yes. Ms. No. The motions were already made, and we don't have a second chance.

Mr. Okay. So, we would have to make sure that they're given direction to make the scoring public during the public meeting? Or how does that work? I just want to make sure we're being specific so that it's not left, you know, with strings not tied up.

Right. So you'll have to give staff an opportunity to evaluate exactly how we want to do it. But we'll have to use the scoring as the basis for the appointment. And so it would then be the council's determination that the highest scoring candidate will be appointed.

Okay. So do we have to give that specific direction right now, that it will be metrics-based? That would be very helpful.

Okay.

Do we have a consensus that we're going to go with a metrics-based decision on the next appointment process? It'll be go straight by scoring?

Yes. Yes.

Okay. I would agree too. There's another question I have. Unfortunately, I'll be out of the country for business and we're on a tight deadline. Will this still be able to carry out three without me being here?

It would be a 3-0, so that would pass. It would have to be unanimous with you not being here. Okay.

Thank you.

I have a question. Do we want to include a deadline for the new application process?

Yes. What would the City Council like to see for opening it up for another week or? There's not a ton of time left. Well, I would say tomorrow.

I mean, as soon as possible, correct? Can you pull that off? Can we open it up tomorrow?

I can post it, but I don't think I can put it in the newspaper if that's a requirement.

It's not a requirement, but I think given this meeting, we can just post it to the website and socials, and that should be sufficient.

Okay, so do we have a consensus to open it up tomorrow?

Yes.

We're doing this together. And just to clarify, the candidates from tonight, if they were to reapply, and then they would be, it would be metrics-based scoring. But that's what you guys contemplate is to allow them to reapply. Yeah, absolutely.

Another question.

Yes, ma'am.

They've taken their time to come in to interview. They already have scores. So can we use those scores? Can we use those interviews? Or they have to come back again and redo this

As long as the questions are all the same and you use the same scoring metrics, I think it makes sense for them to use their standing interviews. But that's, again, a decision for the council. You guys are the masters of this process.

Okay. So on the table is for us to decide is whether or not we want to use the scores in the interviews that they've already provided if they so choose to reapply. Do we want to make sure that that part is done and just open it up for additional candidates?

Is that correct?

Well, one more question. Would they have an opportunity to choose if they wanted to reapply? So, not reapply, but re-interview. So, now that they have, would they have a choice?

I think given, it would be best if we gave them the choice, given the circumstances.

Okay. So, they can stand on their current interview and their current scores, or they can choose to go through the process again. All right. So, you got that understanding?

Yes, I just need clarification. Are we just opening the application period for one day, so open tomorrow and close by the end of 5 p.m. tomorrow?

I mean, I think we should give that. We gave them a week before, correct?

A month. It was a month. A whole month. Yes.

I mean, in order for us to be able to, because we could do it on another special, correct? Yes. Okay. I mean, I would say we would have to give them until Friday, the 7th, to be able to apply any new candidates. And then we'd have to have the next special by the 14th. So, okay. I mean, and that's going to have to be determined based off availability, right?

Correct.

Okay.

Just for me to clarify, if they do reapply tomorrow, could we just go back and say that way we don't do this all over again? We do have to have a special meeting, or are we just going to read our scores, and whoever scores the highest is the one that's going to be appointed?

No. Are we going to have to redo everything? Yeah, because the vote happened. We have to redo everything, correct? That's what you just told us? Right.

I don't know. So you'd have to redo the public sort of interviews process since you're standing on the metrics. So you would be able to come to the meeting with whatever metric has been decided. And then based on that, you would make your vote.

So there would be probably less deliberation. Yes. No, that's agreed. It'll just be the raw numbers based on the questions. I wasn't going to be here. I was hoping we could use my... No, I understand. I understand what you're saying. I'm sorry. No, you're good. Okay. Do you guys have everything that you need from us as far as decisions in the process? All right.

Okay.

And... Do we have an opportunity to say anything about why we voted the way we voted or no? Since we closed it.

Since we're reopening it, why don't we leave without any further discussion?

Understood. No problem. I just want to clarify just in case they wanted to say something. All right. So that being said, Item 5.1 is closed and direction has been provided to staff as to the next step in the process. And so I will move for adjournment in that case. Like I said, Wonderful. Both candidates, excellent. Great job in your interviews. And may God bless you, both of you. May God bless our city. May God bless our sheriffs, our firefighters, and all our first responders. May God bless our families and our beautiful city. This meeting is now adjourned.