City Council - Regular Meeting

ready. All right. Good evening, everyone. We're going to call our meeting to order tonight. It is 6:43 p.m. We'll start with our land acknowledgement. We would like to acknowledge that the land we inhabit today was once known as Tovengar, the home of the Gabalinino Tanva people. We show our respect to the Gabalin Tonva people as well as all indigenous people, past, present, and future, and honor their labor as original caretakers of this land. We commit to uplifting the Gabalinial Tomba people, invite you to acknowledge the history, and join us for caring for this land. And today we have a flag salute by the Monterey Park Police Explorers. So please rise for the PLA flag salute. Place your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge algiance 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.

Order colors. Upward face. Forward. Thank you. You may be seated. Thank you to our Monterey Park Police Explorers for the flag salute. I do want to make an announcement or mayor prom Henry Low is not present tonight because his mother has passed away. So if you can all um send your prayers and condolences to him and his family um that would be much appreciated. Uh Madame Clerk, may we have a roll call, please? Council member Go

present. Council member Wong here. Council member Sanchez present. Mayor Yang present. We have a quorum. Thank you. Um any agenda revisions or additions? No, Madame Mayor.

All right. Thank you. Then we'll go into public communications. We have one comment card. Uh Dave Jones. Good evening everyone. Honorable mayor, council members, first of all, my deepest sympathies uh to Mayor Proin Low and his family at the passing of his mother. I have lost both my parents. I know that it's never easy. Um, so my prayers are with him and his family. I know that tonight we don't have data centers or a data center on the agenda, but I think it's important to continue speaking about this issue, especially as HNC Stratcap gears up for what promises to be a very dirty political fight. Um, I just want to address one issue. One of the lies that is continuously told is that the data center will not cause electricity rates to go up. As I spoke at the last meeting, uh the law of supply and demand proves that as false. Goldman Sachs has reported that electricity prices jumped 6.9% in 2025, more than twice the inflation rate, which was 2.9% that year. Prices are expected to continue to grow an additional 6% through 2027. and data centers, again according to Goldman Sachs, not the most liberal organization out there, are make up 40%

of electricity demand growth. Bloomberg reports electricity costs in areas near data centers have increased up to 267 267% compared to five years ago. Harvard Law Today explained how while utility rates climb for businesses and consumers, their data center neighbors often try to hide their effects on utility prices. This is why towns like Braidwood, Illinois, Egan, Minnesota, Madison, Wisconsin, two counties in Georgia, multiple towns in Michigan have enacted or are considering moratoriums on data centers. This is not a fringe position by a small group of people in Monterey Park. As we have seen, there is a large portion of the city that is just against having data centers in this town for very good reasons. Reasons that go beyond just the cost of electricity. Now, that's not to say that data centers are all bad. I use AI at my job, but data centers don't belong in residential communities. They don't belong here. You know, I've been in this town. I have lived here now for 35 years, not counting the 10 plus years that I was here when I grew up as a child. Um, I'm very lucky. I've never had one of my neighbors come up to my door and say, "I'm going to sue you." before they even said hello. But that's not what HMC Track Cap did. They came right into this council chamber and said, "We're going to sue

the city if they don't let us have a data center." They don't care what the majority of the people feel. They're going to sue. They want what they want. They're telling us we're not going to be a good neighbor. Actions speak louder than words. I want everyone in the city to remember that if this goes to a ballot and we have this dirty election campaign, actions speak louder than words and HNC Stratcap is showing us by their actions what type of neighbor they would be. Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting. And if anyone's interested, this is just water, no lines. Thank you, Dave. Um, that's all the public communications we have tonight and no staff communications. All right, then we we're going to go into 8A recognition of Jason and Justin Himenez. Madame Mayor, members of the council, I'm going to invite up um our fire chief, Jason Hing, um to present this um item to provide background and then he'll join the council in um recognizing these two young men. So, Fire Chief Hing, and we also did get public uh written communications uh two of them, one from a Fan Wang and a Nathan Chen.

Perfect. Hey, not so close. I told you you're too good-looking. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. All right. Uh, Madame Mayor, honorable council, city executive team, members of the audience, and the Monterey Park Fire Department, we are honored tonight to recognize two brave young men who are Monterey Park residents for their extraordinary heroism. On December 19th, 2026, these individuals, one a former Monterey Park Fire Department explorer and reserve, arrived first at a burning house in the city of Alhhamra. Before any fire or police units arrived on scene, they entered the structure under extreme fire conditions and successfully rescued a trapped elderly female. Their quick and selfless actions saved a life in a moment of crisis. These young men represent the best of our community. Courage, compassion, and neighborly care. They embody the spirit of public safety and partnership we strive for at the Monterey Park Fire Department. On behalf of the Monterey Park Fire Department, the city of Alhhamra, and our entire city, we proudly present Justin Ramirez and Jason Ramirez with this formal commendation for exceptional bravery and life-saving valor. [applause] [applause]

[applause]

Thank you both. Monterey Park is safer and stronger because of both of you. I invite the council to join me for this well-deserved recognition. Can Can we have them share maybe a little bit about their experience? You guys want to say a few words? Sure. [laughter]

Yeah. On December 19th of 2025, uh me and my brother got a a call on our phones, Post Point, and uh we lived like two or three minutes from the address and we're a street away from the house that was on fire and we seen it just a big old glow of flames and smoke. And my first instincts was we got there on scene and uh we seen the house fully involved in smoke and fire. And uh my first instinct for me, my brother started banging on the door to see if we heard anybody inside. And uh which we did. We heard the the man that was inside that obviously passed away. Our condolences to the family. So we broke down the windows, tried to gain access inside, but it was too much smoke. Then the lady was running this the the sister comes running from the back saying her auntie was inside the house stuck. So my first thing was just to run over there. I was in sweats, my Birkenstock, sandals and uh my first instinct was break down that wall and I broke down the wall getting access inside and I grabbed the lady out. She was 2 feet away from flames and smoke. The house was fully involved. and I was thank God I was able to get her out.

Thank you. [applause]

Thank Thank you both so much for your bravery and for saving a life. We have certificates of recognition for you. So we'll come down and present it. line them up and then yeah, we'll use these phones if that's what you want. All right. Ready? One more. One, two, three.

Okay. Anybody else? Any other phones? No. Okay. You guys will pass them around. Okay. I've never shook hand of a real certified hero. Thank you so very much. Thank you. Thank you.

[snorts]

All right, let's uh go to item 9A, discussion of potential legal challenges to inclusionary housing ordinances statewide. Honorable Mayor Yang and city council, my name is Timothy How. I'm the director of community development. Tonight, I'm going to be discussing potential legal challenges to inclusionary housing ordinance, including uh the city of Monterey Park. I'll first start with a bit of a background because uh this topic has uh a couple years of history. Um but first, what is an exclusionary housing ordinance? uh and I'll you'll see that abbreviated as IHO throughout the uh PowerPoint slides. Uh an inclusionary housing ordinance requires that certain residential projects uh provide a percentage of affordable units in their project or use some alternative means. Um the most uh common is paying an inl uh of uh providing those affordable units uh through an inloo fee. On September 6th, the of 2023, the city council adopted an inclusionary housing ordinance and paused its implementation and directed staff to evaluate the financial fees ability, including uh developing a uh a marketable inl feed on January 17, 2024 um and provided findings uh along with the consultant EPS and those findings ings show that the IHO posed financial challenges to both small and midsized residential developments. Uh as a result, council opted to pause the inclusionary housing ordinance for one year. Consequently, staff returned uh along with uh consultant EPS uh last year on January 15th

providing updated findings which showed that the inclusionary housing ordinance and in lies still posed financial challenges despite some modest improvements in the residential market for certain uh housing development types. As a result, council uh opted to extend the IHO pause another year. Um and that uh brings us to today where staff is returning and providing some additional context. Uh most importantly, there have been recent public law developments and I'm going to walk uh a bit through two particular cases. Um first is a US case law uh Supreme Court case sheets the county of Elorado. Uh, this case involved a $20,000 traffic impact fee as a condition of approval for a home development project. Ultimately, the uh the the determination of the case uh it addressed legal requirements for governmentactions on private projects. And for those exactions, the uh the court decided that cities must be prepared to show u an essential nexus and show rough proportionality for the uh the impact fees or exactions being charged. The second was uh litigation uh with in the city of East Palo Alto uh that ultimately led to a settlement agreement. In this case, you the city of East Palo Alto ultimately was settled uh recently in the past few months. This case involved the owner of a uh of a property building two new housing units via an SB9 lot split being required to

pay a $55,000 uh inclusionary housing in Lou fee or being required to designate one of the two units uh being proposed as an affordable unit. The outcome of that case was that the city um settled agreeing to approve the project with no inclusionary requirement uh in essentially a strategic retreat from a a u a determination in court. Uh the result included a payment of the litigate legal costs and the city of East PaloAlto carving out an SB9 exemption from their inclusionary housing uh regulations. In light of these uh challenges uh in public law, there are some policy considerations for council to consider. For the city's inclusionary housing ordinance, uh the city may face similar legal scrutiny if uh applied as a uniform requirement on residential projects. Uh the case law uh suggests that a case by case or project by project nexus studies or alternative compliance options may be necessary. However, these uh these case-bycase requirements would increase the administrative burden on staff, add more layers to the entitlement process for development, and may ultimately not find justification for meaningful IHO requirement. Uh furthermore, uh another option is amending the city's inclusionary housing ordinance to incorporate exemptions to better align with public law. However,

this does not eliminate the need for the uh ordinance and its requirements to meet this reasonable connection and proportionality tests. Uh the council can also opt to continue to pause the inclusionary housing ordinance as as it currently stands. Uh this frees the housing market from the added costs and administrative hurdles. Um we can further promote and incentivize affordable housing through alternative means such as the state density bonus law. Finally, staff recommendation is for council to consider the following options and provide direction. Uh first is to either amend the inclusionary housing ordinance to align with recent legal development and incorporate exemptions such as uh what East uh PaloAlto looked at with carving out SB9 projects as exempt or option two to continue the pause on inclusionary housing ordinance requirements pending further analysis as well as uh public law developments. This concludes staff's report and I'm available to answer any questions. Thank you.

Thank you, mayor. Uh Tim, thanks for the update and I think this was an uh an issue where we looked at for a couple of years, but we paused it for the reasons listed. I guess I have a question in terms of the recommendation. The recommendation is to amend and basically incorporate the exemptions which is SB9 and then the continuing pause. Are you recommending a specific timeline or is that something that we're considering?

That's something for the council to consider uh taking current previous uh actions that council has taken. Council has opted to pause for uh 12 months. um that provides enough time to see how uh either the market developed previously or in this case whether there's further action on the public law side that can further settle this matter.

Okay. Well, I'm just going to throw a number out there. I think 12 months what we did consistently in the past is a good timeline given that we're already in midFebruary and if you look at the economic projections we're probably looking at a 50 basis point uh reduction from the Fed so interest rates will be lower but that's happening toward the second half of the year and hopefully they'll restart the economy with another drop in the first quarter of next year. So I think 12 months is probably a good time. Uh I I support the the two uh actions as requested and I would like to recommend maybe 12 months or I would suggest 12 months for the pause. So for clarification, uh, council member, no go. Um, if so, you're interested in continuing the pause for 12 months and then potentially after the pause coming back to amend the IHO is

no. Uh, amend it and then continue the pause. I thought there two, one and two. So, it's it's uh we're asking for direction, but definitely we're looking for potentially one or the other because if we're pausing it, we we wouldn't amend the IHO right now because if there's further um potential public law developments, um we would want to investigate those after the 12 months. So, if your recommendation is to posit, then we would continue to leave it as is. We would watch it, monitor it, and if other developments occur, then we would bring that back uh after 12 months with an update for council um with what that means. Or we could amend it with what we know today, right? um it with the exemptions from SB9 projects that that's what we're asking if

how long would it take for you to amend the process like the timing

the if if we went with option one how long would it take it wouldn't take very long we could we could return fairly shortly um the question however with amending the IHO would be whether or not uh we start enforcement and and um activate the IHO requirements and regulation. It's currently on pause in light of public law developments. Staff's recommendation if we were to move forward would be if we wanted to enforce it would be option one. Um option two, so it's it is an eitheror. Uh option two would be to continue the pause. um there's advantages to continuing the pause in light of the uncertainty around the legality of it. Frankly,

if I could uh further clarify, um as a reminder, so the the last update that we brought to council, which was in uh January of of 2025, um the analysis that was previously done on our IHO at the time, not all prototypes that were evaluated um were seemed to be financially feasible for those types of developments. So at that time the council decided to leave leave um the IHO on pause for 12 months. So um additionally if the council is going to consider potentially amending the IHO um and and enforcing it we would also want to make sure that um it's financially feasible so uh residential projects could potentially come into the city. So that's another consideration. Are are we already working on that feasibility assessment for given current market conditions and are we potentially amending the IHO for to make sure that it is feasible for different types of projects to move forward city or is that something you need council direction to do again?

I it's the latter. Um staff is prepared. We have a consultant ready uh a scope defined. Um however in light of these you know pending legal implications uh step felt it was prudent to bring those to light first and seek direction.

So I I think I'm I think I'm where council member go is too. I I we obviously should amend the IHO to align with existing legal issues. Uh, I'd imagine even some of the SP9 projects though I our doesn't apply for projects that are less than nine nine or 10 units. I think because I think I think we set a threshold for where they apply, right? But I don't know. So So we'd have to we'd have to make sure that if we're just talking about the SB9 exemption, we would make sure that it would it would align with that. I I want to take a step back. However, the larger challenge is there the recent legal developments there's there's no way to amend the IHO to make it say litigation proof or and so that then becomes the challenge how to amend it. um this may ultimately be borne out um through additional litigation and case law. Um and that's why you have option two as an option to continue to pause um pending further analysis and further development on that front.

Well, I I go ahead.

Yeah, sorry. Um city council members, the other um consideration as Tim mentioned, so we do have a consultant that has submitted a proposal. The reason that we wanted the direction is because we didn't want to expend those funds yet on the consultant if the council may be interested in the POS. So, we are ready to utilize the consultant to do further analysis to to see if there's another um you know option for making it financially feasible, but it's still um the questions that are are still on the table are um you know potential challenges to an IHO. Correct. I mean for I mean where I'm coming for that to at this is there's always going to be litigation and policy changes are always going to happen. So I just we're going to keep pausing this forever every year if that's what we're going to wait for. So I think we I would like to see us move and at least work towards adopting an IHO that feasibly or that financially and economically is feasible for developers so that we don't completely disincentivize development in the city. Uh but we all we're also under pressure from the state to make sure that we're meeting our arena numbers and to facilitate development at all income levels and affordability levels including affordable housing. Uh which is what the IHO is meant to we put in our housing onlet for the I that we would explore an IHO to help incentivize lower income affordable housing in the city. Uh, so I I I'm I'd like to move forward on that and provide direction to the staff to to do the alignment with what we know existing in terms of the law and litigation to make sure that ours is going to be as defensible as possible knowing that there's never litigation proof any policy. Uh, but I want to just keep moving forward and get to a place where we have something ready for the council to at least adopt. uh and I would provide direction I'm comfortable providing direction to city to the staff to move forward on some sort of the financial economic analysis

to to make sure that we're shaping the IHO so that it does work and is financially feasible given current market conditions obviously market conditions can change any time uh and policy can change at any time as well but knowing what we know now I think let's move forward as quickly as possible to get the our IHO into a place where uh it makes sense and it accomplishes the goal of incentivizing affordable housing development um and uh without disincentivizing development completely in the city. How do we get there? And then also my hope out of this is right we approved and have been uh supportive of an inblue fee kind of structure as well. I think it's also helpful uh even if we're going to adopt an IHO as we make these changes if we have I mean the council can always defer enforcement but it's helpful to have something written down right for developers that are proposing developments in the city at least have a starting point for negotiated development agreement and where where we want to go up and down on some of that potentially on on affordability components for for those DAS so I think it's helpful just to offer a little more certainty to have something up an IHO kind of on paper at least as a starting point for those negotiations and not just keep keep pushing this off. So I don't know if that's clear. I hope that's clear, but I I'm in support of moving forward, having staff continue to move forward on putting together revising the IHO given these legal developments, but also moving forward on the consultant to to

do the e economic analysis and bring something back to the city council that will be as economically and financially feasible for development in the city as possible knowing all these goals that we have. So, so if I can simply restate that just to ensure clarity. Uh this is would essentially continue the existing state of uh having the IHO requirements paused. Uh as staff develops uh well first uh works with the consultant to update the market feasibility. um determine proper inlue fees per market conditions as well as align the language and because this will come back as a essentially an amendment to our existing IHO to address one um the structure of it that that was an a main uh discussion point previously are the percentages right um and what is the inloo fee going to be but in addition now what ex uh carveouts would be uh examined as well um to and bring that back uh before council for consideration.

Yes, I'm very comfortable with a pause until uh staff brings back a revision to the IHO for the council to consider adoption. Yes. And for clarification, um Tim, the timeline for the consultant, did they provide that in the proposal by chance just so that we could provide a an rough estimate of when we would expect that to come back? Yeah, it's about 90 to 120 days. Okay. So, few months before we'll see that item come back.

Thank you for the presentation. I have some questions. Um, I know that we had put a pause in the past to try to encourage development, encourage developers to try to speed up their housing developments, to try to perhaps incentivize them already by putting a pause on on housing. Uh, I'm just curious um in and and I think we've had two pauses already. Is that correct? Yes. So, two years we paused the IHO. um in those two years that we've paused the IHO, have we seen an increase in housing development that has incentivized developers to build housing in our city?

So, I can only speak to um I can't speak to my own recollection. I can only speak to the numbers. Looking at um building permits issued. Um and in 2024 uh building permits issued within the city, I believe it was about 44. Um the majority of those being uh accessory uh ADUs, accessory ding units. Uh in 2025, um we're still finalizing those numbers, but uh that number has increased. um uh significantly by a p uh a percentage. Um however, it's it's still less than a 100 uh units that have been um building permit issued in 2025. Um that's however not the only metric. Um the other metric to consider are uh entitlement applications and the number of housing units, you know, currently going through the entitlement process right now. And we have several hundred uh units over a combination of um uh mixeduse projects, purely housing projects, uh single family dwellings, things of that nature, as well as ADUs. Uh it's it's in the several hundred units uh currently in process right now.

Okay. The reason I ask is because I'm not sure if necessarily putting a pause is providing an incentive for developers to actually build housing. Um but but I to Council Member Wong's point, I I am in favor of um having a IHO that we can work with um as quickly as possible um that incentivizes uh development because we do need we do need housing. I just don't know that we need a year uh to make that happen. Um and I think uh city manager, you said you need about 90 days, 120 days.

Correct. Uh, Council Member Sanchez, the uh, proposal from the consultant 90 to 120 days. So, we would work back with the consultant to get them going. Um, as soon as that report is ready, we would uh, work to bring that in front of council. So, we would definitely need a few months. Uh, uh, if the council is providing direction tonight to go ahead and do that. Um, we don't have to pause the IHO for the the whole 12 months. We could essentially pause it while we're working on that uh, analysis and then bring it back to council for consideration. Correct. Yeah, I think I would prefer that. And then also um even if we did have a if we like let's say um continue with our with our IHO and uh decided not to pause um there are other alternatives that um developers have like paying in blue fees. Is that still an option for them if they didn't want to include if they didn't want to provide um um affordable housing units in their development?

Yes. TP uh under the existing regulations, it calls for an enloo fee as an alternative. Um council has not set an enloo fee. That's what's been studied uh with the consultant DPS over the last couple of years and determining whether an enloo fee would uh uh be a deterrent for certain types of housing developments. And that has been the case uh in most cases uh every time that analysis has been brought forward to council.

So to clarify, council member Sanchez, the right now the influ is also paused because it's part of the IHO as an alternative. Correct. So yes. So yes, there that exists but both of them are on pause. So if they if the um housing project doesn't provide the um units, they they do have that alternative in the IHO. However, right now both are paused. Correct. because it's in the IHO.

Okay. Um because I I am I mean we obviously need housing. We have we have a housing crunch in this not just in our community but in the entire state. But we're also um in desperate need of affordable housing. Um and housing especially rent and and homes have dramatically increased. So, whatever we can do, um, you know, from our from our city standpoint on at the local level to be able to provide affordable housing within our city, um, to to whatever extent, um, I'm in favor of. So, um, I I'm in agreement with Council Member Wong and in, uh, being able to bring something back that provides, you know, affordable housing alternatives, but also, um, encourages development. Um we have I know some developments that are you know taken longer uh than we um anticipated. Um and I think we need to start encouraging them to um build. So whatever we can do uh to do that as well and I know that's that's a whole different aspect there and I'm hoping with a different kind of worms but I know that they work hand in hand. So um I want to make sure that whatever we are building in our city um housing wise um is also affordable for our residents and for community members. Thank you.

Uh thank you to my colleagues for sharing their thoughts and to staff for the thorough presentation. I would also be in favor of continuing the pause. Um just for clarification, we are pausing we we've paused the IHO requirements in the past in order to encourage more development. I it to provide a more complete um uh summary of that the council direction was to pause until market conditions improved. Um the reason being that the uh either the imposition of the um inclusionary housing requirement in terms of a percentage of units as part of the project or the inloo fee um paying basically the difference um between an affordable unit or or or a market rate uh essentially became a deterrent to development and would would would make it cost prohibitive. for a development to be uh to pencil. So that was the that was the primary uh cause of uh the the previous pauses,

right? So it it wouldn't be as cost prohibited for developers to develop because they wouldn't have so many um rules in place. It it becomes a it becomes a cost concern um whether or not um they can uh make it work financially uh for them to uh pursue the project. And part of the analysis that would have to be updated and uh as part of uh the staff's work before they would come back as as as is being um recommended would be an an update to that market feasibility analysis and determining what inli would would or or if there is an inluff fee that would um pencil out and and would be acceptable to market. And so it sounds like my colleague suggested amending the IHO, but we would still have the ability to continue the pause even after the IHO is amended.

That's correct. Okay. So correct council to to hear uh to just reiterate what we're what we're the direction that we're hearing is to do the analysis to do that work um bring it back for council's consideration. At that time the council can continue to either pause it or decide to enforce it. So, I think we're clear on the direction. We just need to make sure that um that we get a vote on that direction. All right. I'll make the motion. All right. Council member W moves. Council member Sanchez seconds. Let's vote. Approved unanimously.

Thank you. All right, that's it for old business tonight. Uh next item is our consent agenda. Oh. Uh, mayor, I'll pull item 10A for the Mor financial. Okay. 10A is pulled. Any other items? Madame Mayor, I'd like to pull item uh 10 um 10B and 10. Sorry, I just had it. That was 10F. Sorry. 10B and 10F. Got it.

Just for brief highlighting. And I'll I'll move the remaining items. All right. Council moves. Camera go seconds. Let's vote. Approved unanimously.

Thank you. All right. Let's go with 10A. Good evening, council and um mayor. Um Laura Bourjon, finance manager. It's my pleasure to present the fiscal year 2526 midyear financial report. We will um be going over general fund revenues, general fund expenditures, and a general fund five-year projection, as well as budget augmentation requests. Total general general fund revenue collections are at 34% of total estimated revenues with half of the year complete. This is below 50% because certain revenues have a delay in when they are received by the city. Specifically, it only represents four months of sales tax revenue, four months of franchise fee revenue, and approximately 25% of property tax revenue. That being said, when comparing a current fiscal year to the prior fiscal year, we're seeing um property tax up 5% from last year. Sales tax revenue is down 7% from the previous year due in large part to consumer uncertainty from inflation and fluctu fluctuating tariff policies leading to consumers or customers focusing customers to focus on spending on essentials and value while wait awaiting a more stable and predictable economy.

Toot revenue is doing well. Um we've experienced an increase of 9%. Uh UUT uh is down 2% uh but that's due to timing. Um business license tax is up 69% from the prior fiscal year. Um the new measure implemented implementation um oh I'm sorry. Uh so it is it it's up 69% from the prior year. Uh licenses and permits and service charges and fees are slightly higher um than estimated and other revenue um specifically interest income is lower than last year. So the majority of departments a actual expenditures are at or below 50% of their budgeted amounts with the exception of community CIP, city council, police, and fire. Uh this is due to the community CIP, the purchase of the property for the relocation of fire station 63. uh city council. Um what I noticed is uh the number of payrolls posted there. So it's a slight difference, but um it should actually be below 50%. And police and fire are uh over due to o overtime. General fund five-year projection for revenues um were made with the following assumptions. an increase in 3.5 uh from 3.5% to 4.3% increase in property tax and toot revenue projections um which

include a full year of meas measure GL um LG sorry um so for the current fiscal year we estimate revenues at uh 75 over 75 million for 2627 it will be uh we estimate 77 7.3 million for 2728 uh 79.5 million and for 2829 81.8 million general fund expenditures um are estimated for last fiscal year the actuals were 69.6 6 million. For 2526, we estimate uh 73.9 million. For 2627, uh 75.9 million, 2728 78.1 million and 2829, 80.4 million. all surpluses um increase the fund balance and with the affformentioned uh assumptions we project a fund balance of 45.3 million at the end of 2829. Staff is recommending the allocation of uh 150,000 to the committed uh catastrophic and stabilization fund to um balance to maintain the GFOA recommended 15% to general fund operating budget. General fund uh budget augmentation. The city is requesting a mid-year budget augmentation the amount of 2,698,232

from the general fund. A million for the fire station 63 renovation project. A million for the Barnes Park pool project. 250,000 for tree plantings throughout the city. 50,000 for fire training services, 298,232 for various expenditures incre including increased costs of operating supplies, unanticipated landscaping and fencing needs throughout city parks. Enterprise funds budget augmentation. The city is requesting a mid-year budget augmentation in the amount of 167,000 from water funds for necessary software upgrades and carbon for water treatment operations. The city's requesting a mid-year augmentation, budget augmentation in the amount of 168,000 from internal service funds. The building maintenance funds in the amount of 25,000 to cover the cost of uh office furniture replacement at the city yard. Shop funds in the amount of 71,000 to cover the cost of annual support and maintenance fees for the fleet management software. technology and data processing funds in the amount of 72 72,000 to cover the cost of hardware replacement including computer switches and routers and software licenses. The city's requesting a mid-year budget augmentation in the amount of $1,740,913 from special funds, Proposition A funds in the amount of 823,975 for Sar Vista Park playground project and public transportation services. Propos proposition C funds in the amount of 181,512 for pavement improvements. Measure W funds in the amount of 241,000 for street sweeping services and ground emergency medical transportation funds

in the amount of 330,000 for emergency transportation services. COVID community development block grant funds in the amount of 115,000 for purchases of supplies and/or services that will help reduce the spread of CO 19 by service transmission. Household hazardous waste grant funds received from Cal Recycle in the amount of $49,426 for household hazardous waste collection at city sponsored community cleanup events. That concludes my presentation. Staff is available to answer any questions.

Yeah. So, uh, if you can go back to I think it was the first slide where you compare 24 25 One more back. Next one. Yeah, it's this one. Um, so I'm just I'm just looking at that. So it looks like if you think about this past year versus the year before, we're short about 950,000. That's why we're augmenting a million uh million five or 2 million five to this year, right? That's kind of like the gist of it. We're we're short by the 950, but it's not the money comes in at different times. So, I wouldn't be too concerned that we're not at the same as last year

because when we did our analysis, uh we found that our uh property tax is going to come in higher. The only thing that we anticipate coming in lower than our original budget is sales tax because it's slightly um and Laura has an answer to that. uh we're they're not um the community is not spending as much as they used to. So, we're anticipating about $200,000 less, but a few of our other um uh revenue sources will be slightly more than anticipated. Uh but I wouldn't worry too much of the 950 because it's just a matter of timing. It's just a matter of timing.

Okay. Thank you. uh on the sales tax uh coming in lower anything I mean I'm a little worried and I know that all of us are everyone is feeling a little tighter in terms of the budget and I it sounds like we're seeing that in the numbers in terms of sales tax uh revenue generation going down. uh any additional context just from HDL or others or our own kind of views on where things are headed just where what we're seeing.

Uh the information that we did receive um is from HDL. They they anticipate they said it's it it is across the state. Um they're seeing the same trend across the state. Uh consumers are just not spending u on um discretionary items. they're spending on essentials and um val, you know, they're they're going for value items rather than splurging um at this time just because of economic uncertainties.

Thank you. And I want to emphasize that and harp on that, right? This is without a recession happening, which I mean I know every year we're saying the recession's coming. Uh but to get to my next point around our existing I know the staff recommendation is to augment our catastrophic in working capital set aside or reserves there by $150,000. I think that needs to be way higher. Um and I'm curious what our capacity is to get that higher. I know the we're at at and trying to get to the 15% minimum for those two funds for working capital and for catastrophic. Frankly, those I mean those really should be separate and should both be at 10 to 15%. Um in a healthy healthier I think uh budget. Uh so I'd like to see how we can augment that even further. I don't know if that's possible this year given where we are, but I think we need to prioritize that even higher in terms of our budgeting going forward to future years, especially as the general fund is expected to continue to grow. That 15% even at a minimum is going to continue to grow, right? It's a percentage. Uh and so whatever we can do to continue to build up a stronger reserve for catastrophic events and for uh right working capital because that's the if correct me if I'm wrong that's the fund that we would go to if there is a downturn in the economy we would tap that fund to to prevent reducing services prevent layoffs prevent uh cutting back on essential services the city would have to provide and we would still be using that fund that would be the same fund we would draw on if a disaster hit the city where we need money up front to to be able to right pay for emergency construction or whatever or something to clear the roads, uh, FEMA money and state and federal money in terms of potential disaster uh, support doesn't come in

immediately in many cases, especially for cities. So, we need to have that working capital up front to be able to meet an emergency. And those things are not they don't get cheaper, they only get more expensive, too, uh, over time. And so I'm worried that we're only at 11 or 12 million for a $75 million general fund budget, which meets the minimum, I guess. But I think we should be aiming for way higher because in a recession, if you're talking about 5, 10, 15, 20% decline in revenue, that current 11 12 million is going to get eaten up very, very quickly. We don't have any we won't have any runway or room to breathe in terms of having to cut back on essential services. hours and resources that are available for the community that in a recession or an economic downturn we want the city to be able to provide. So I'm very worried actually that our number is actually kind of low there. um and would like to see I don't know Martha if you have another number that you can throw out there uh to add to the catastrophic uh working capital reserve amount or if that's something more appropriate for the as we get into next fiscal year budget uh to see how we can set aside additional funds into that budget and start setting aside more money for that. If uh council wishes um for us to set aside more um we can definitely uh depending on where we are at the end of the fiscal year. If we have a surplus, we can definitely increase uh the amount to 500,000 um GFOA's recommendation is 15 to 20 um% of the general fund um operational budget. So we can aim for the 20% um if council wishes.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I I I think we should be aiming for that 20%. I know we probably won't get there just in one fiscal year. Um I'm hoping we have time to ramp up to 20%. And that 20% I know will grow even more as the general fund continues to grow, but right that's going from what are we 11ish million right now to 15 million if we're going off the $75 million general fun expenditures right this year. Uh that's adding $4 million right now. So yes, we should be looking towards it and I think uh as we get towards next fiscal year budget, I think we should start figuring out how we set in policy getting closer to that 20% over time as opposed to just meeting the 50%. So with council approval tonight at the year when we close our books if there's additional surplus if we are authorized by city council we can go from the 150 to as higher as the surpluses um like we did this past fiscal year in 25 we had we were able to increase the catastrophic by 3 million. So with surplus if council authorizes we could increase it and we can start using surplus as a mechanism. Marissa, what we use to increase the the reserves.

Yeah, I'm I'm in full support of that and whatever we can do to right fill our rainy day fund, our catastrophic working capital fund and also right that goes towards our ability to borrow and our credit rating uh to have additional funds set aside. So, all of that is good and we I think we need to be even more prepared for a rainy day. appreciate all the the work on the finance department team, but all the staff for getting us to this point, too. Even I think uh this is still despite whatever my my comments might be indicating, we're in a much better fiscal situation than some of our neighbors, especially our larger neighbor to to the west. Um and so appreciate the a lot of hard work that went into getting us to this place and the posture of being as conservative as possible with our managing our finances uh as possible that we've that we've had in terms of managing the last few years. Uh so appreciate that and want to continue in that set and see what else we can do to make sure we're more prepared for very likely hard times to come. Um on the other on co we mentioned one of the staff recommendations was to expend some co funds. Do we how much do we still have left from the co funding from federal government?

We have about uh I don't have the exact number. It's 200 plus,000 and we have until September of 26 to spend it or we don't get it because it's a draw down account. Uh we we have budgeted 115 because uh public works has some uh infrastructure or some operating items that they're going to purchase that are related to a non you know surface non no touching surface touchless surface sorry. Uh, and we do have maybe another 100,000 that we can uh um come back at them, you know, when when we have other items because it's very specific to touchless items. So, if we can come up, you know, if we can find other uses for the rest of the money, we will be definitely coming back to ask for the other 100,000 so we can spend it before September of 26.

Yeah, I just it sounds like we're working on it and I just encourage uh staff to make sure we don't leave money on the table. It's spend that on what we need and we what we know we we're going to need uh before federal government claws that back. I'll leave it at that. Uh on the the staff also recommendation in terms of the million dollars for Barnespark pool design. I uh I know that item is going to come back in the next few weeks or in March or some I think March time frame or so. Um I don't know if that's going to be enough. We'll see. Uh but just uh note for finance staff to right we have assigned funds in our reserves for capital projects. We can we can reassign some of that for design. I'd also like to provide some initial direction of staff. Right. We're still waiting on word from grant applications that we sent out as well. Many of those have uh matching grant require matching fund requirements that the city's going to have to meet. Do we know do you know offhand uh where those amounts are if we win some of those grants what we would have to set aside?

We do have about three million in assigned CIPs that have not been appropriated to a project. So we have the money to match the three million to match if we are if we are awarded the $6 million grant. And so that $6 million grant is the largest one we've applied for that I'm that I'm aware of. Yes. Yes, council member. That that one is the largest and the match requirement is three million.

Right. And so if we if you're saying we have three well one I think the priority should be to build up our working capital and our catastrophic reserves but also uh whatever we can do if we're if we win one of these grants uh we're going to need at least $3 million it sounds like to for matching funds to receive that money. uh let's start working towards making sure we're setting aside that that amount for in an account or at least assigning in our reserves for that specific purpose so that we have that money set aside and ready if and when we do receive hopefully positive news on on our grant application and that's I'll pass it on to my call.

Thank you for the report. Um I I I think financially we're um I think we've worked hard to be where we're at and I'm really happy and glad to see that we're um you know meeting a lot of our reserve goals. I I I'm in completing agreement with uh Council Member Wong in terms of being able to increase our when we can our reserves uh for and I think I think as as we look at what's going on in neighboring communities, I think it's very important to be prepared not just for potential environmental disasters, but also just a very uh dubious, you know, economic forecast that potentially might impact our community. So um wherever whenever we have reserves um I think we should try to put as much as we can um into whenever we have to I'm sorry um surplus as if we could put them into our reserves uh would be extremely beneficial but also I know we have a lot of capital projects um that we have to be working on. So I I in including the pool and many others. Um and so um you know when whatever we can put aside to also prioritize a lot of those capital projects um would be very useful. Thank you Martha.

We do have a public speaker uh card Deb Simone who would like to speak on this item. Honorable mayor, uh, council members, I just want to point out too that minus 7% up there for sales tax. Let's not forget ICE. Um, I, you know, I know that there's not much we can do at the local level. I think whatever we can do to increase neighborhood unity, uh, I doing all this canvasing for the data center, it's I've gotten to meet a lot of my neighbors and it's been really great and it makes me it does make me feel more secure and I know we do national night out events and that kind of thing here. Um, I don't know if you want to think about other things we can do to increase that looking at the events in Minneapolis, too. And I honestly I remember when they were here and I drove down First Street from downtown out here and uh it was empty, empty. There was nobody here and it wasn't Christmas time and it wasn't Thanksgiving. It was the federal government. So, I I know it's difficult from a policy standpoint, but whatever we can do, I I think that's responsible for your minus 7% in sales tax. People just aren't going out, you know, they're staying in their houses. Thank you. [applause]

Thank you, Deb. And I agree with that as well. Whatever we can do um to further um go against ICE, it would be for it. Um, anyone want to make a motion with I'll make the motion. I'll second. Right. And clarifying the motion is to adopt staff recommendation but also with the additional direction on the uh but looking for staff to look into assigning additional money for both the catastrophic working capital reserves and also for the Barnespark pool set aside for grant matching funds. If that's a mutual we'll throw the motion. Yes.

Approved unanimously.

Okay. Thank you. Uh the next item pulled is C 10B. That's me, right? Uh, good evening, Madame Mayor, honorable council, Diana Garcia, assistant city manager. Uh, this evening before you, we have updates to the city logo and branding materials. Um, I just want to note on Zoom we have Kevin Boswick from Trapey Smith who's joining us. He was the lead um on this project with us. Um, this evening we're going to ask that council approves the updated simplified city logo as well as the motto, the official color palette, fonts, and the uh comprehensive style guide that's attached to the staff report. So, this effort that you see before you this evening is the result of several months of collaborative work by staff across multiple city departments, all city departments, uh, at all levels with input from city council and city commissioners. Um, and you'll see our branding preserves the city's heritage while providing us some updated tools that function effectively across digital and print platforms as well. Um, so I thought it'd be interesting to share with you this evening kind of the evolution of the city seal. Uh, you'll see the first one there was adopted in 1916 when the city was founded. Um, and it's got the shield with the stars and the stripes on it. In 1966, 50 years later, is when we adopted the seal that we're currently using that you see uh on top of the council chambers here. And then um the seal was great. Uh the information that we got when we did outreach and surveying of community members was that they loved all of the

elements of it that it really represented Monterey Park, but we wanted to simplify it a bit because it is a little busy, especially when you print it or when you silk screen it or when you embroider it. And so what you'll see on the right hand side is the updated more simplified city seal that contains the uh the nod to the 20 sorry the 1916 seal. You've got the bear for California and you've got the Cascades and right in the middle we've got the establishment of the city the date. Um, so just to differentiate between the official seal and the logo, the official seal is registered with the state. That will continue to be used for ceremonial purposes. The city clerk has uh an embosser with the official seal on it as well. Uh, and you'll see the logo that's simplified below. That'll be used uh website, business cards, letter heads, PowerPoint presentations, flyers, uh, signage, things like that. These are the uh new proposed Monterey Park city colors. When we did our survey and we talked to our commissioners, uh people felt that they that Monterey Park um should be represented by the colors of nature, the green of the hills and the blue of the skies. So, you'll see the primary colors are blues and greens. And then we've got accent colors with uh red, a nod to our city's Asian heritage. Uh, and then we've got neutrals in tan and gray that can be used for background colors. Uh, as mentioned, as part of this effort in redesigning the logo, we also had our graphic designers create some updated templates for us. So, you'll see business cards here on the left. Uh, PowerPoint deck here on the right, um, which I'm actually using this evening. You'll notice it's a little bit different than the one we've been using.

Uh there's a new email signature here on the left which is a lot easier to read. Uh and then an updated letter head on the right hand side there. Those are just some of the deliverables that we that we've um created during this process. The next steps for this will be after approval we will roll out the logo and the templates and then we're going to provide staff training on brand use uh guidelines and then Canva for design. Uh and we'll also be updating the website to uh reflect the new colors and the logo. Uh thank you for your attention. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Mir, thank you Diana. Great presentation. Uh, I think the the new logo looks spiffy. Spiffy. Uh, I know it's taken 60 years, but it is a much clearer design. I mean, you look at it, it the print looks a lot better. I mean, you kind of go back to black and white back 110 years ago. We've come a long way. So, I like it. Thank you.

I also like the Thank you, Diana, for the presentation. and all the work and collaboration that went to um updating the city logo. I I think it was definitely due for some updating. Uh and I think the council had already mentioned uh in the past potential of updating the logo, but also um updating our certificates and uh which I'm sure um will be the next step perhaps uh in in terms of updating some of our items. Um, I I do like the um the the color scheme and uh to me it looks a lot more clearer. Uh but u to use council member Go's uh words looks spiffy. Um so uh but I I I do I do appreciate the the effort and work that went to updating it and looking forward to seeing it a lot more um in our city communications and paperwork. Thank you.

Thank you as well. I'm glad it's going to be a lot easier to read in emails because it's more simplified. So, great work on the logos. Mayor, a quick question. Do we need have we looked into or I don't know if our original logo is trademarked or if we need to pursue a trademark for any of this just to make sure it's not misused.

So, it's not trademarked, but by the simple creation of any intellectual property, you gain a copyright to that. Um, you can register the copyright with the the office of the copyright in Washington DC. Um, and it makes a little bit easier to defend in litigation. Um, but we we own the copyright to this image. In the past um, we have sent uh we have sent communications to folks who have misused this and we also have very clear standards as to who is able to use this. So, this is only applied um for city use, city programs, city flyers. Uh and we've made sure to communicate that when it does show up on programs or flyers or websites that are not our own, we always ask that that's removed.

All right. Anyone want to make a motion? I'll make the motion. I'll second. All right. Let's vote. Approved unanimously. Thank you. And just a question for staff. How are how is this going to be rolled out now?

So go to my final slide here. Uh so first thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to send out uh an email to everybody across the city letting them know that this is approved. We're all really excited to start using it. We've got a huge folder in our shared drive with all of the assets and the templates for use. And then we will be scheduling trainings for all staff on how that is to be used. So if you look at uh your attachments, there's the brand guidelines there and so it gives um usage on you know where you put the logo, how big it should be, uh things not to do, how to use the colors, all of those things. So we'll be doing uh trainings for all staff on how to roll that out. And so if you imagine um you know I I think you don't realize how many things the logo is on until you start thinking about it. It's definitely on a lot of different things from our street signs to our vehicles to our business cards to our uh letter head. That will be a slow roll out. Um obviously we're not going to go and replace all the city street signs all at once, but as those things need to be replaced, we'll be doing it. Other things like the business cards, as we run out, we'll be printing the new ones. The website can be updated a little bit more quickly. Obviously, flyers and signage that'll be adopted immediately. So, uh you'll see this in use immediately.

Additionally, C council, I just wanted to jump in. Um this also helps us to solidify uh city colors. So, we didn't have adopted city colors uh previously. So, this gives us really clear direction on our city colors. Uh so, this gives us our template that we would be pulling from which is shown here. So we got a primary color is our dark blue and that will coincide with everything else that we're doing. So that's going to uh you know be reflective in our certificates. We already have uh certificate jackets that are in this color but um those would be updated as well to uh you utilize the updated um seal option. So all of it will be rolled in. But this is definitely helpful for staff just from a consistency standpoint.

Yeah. And I appreciate the consistency and knowing I appreciate that staff are thinking through how to be judicious in the roll out. Not going to change everything overnight. Uh let's use up what we have and then make sure we're transitioning everything to make sure the brand is consistent going forward and we've got we're all on the same page knowing that that's going to be a transition. It's not something I don't I have not even I don't use a signature line or anything for my city email, but maybe I should now. So let me know what I need to do. We'll we'll include you on that email.

Okay. Thank you. Um 10F, consideration of a request for an overnight camping permit allowing the recreation and community services department to conduct an MPK campout event in Barnes Park. Do you need a full presentation or you just wanted to mention it? Just a brief presentation.

Good evening, Madame Mayor, council members. My name is Christina Alator. I'm the recreation manager for the recreation and community services department. Tonight, I'm requesting an overnight camping permit allowing the recreation and community services department to conduct an MPK campout in Barnes Park. The MPK campout is intended to expand community events and opportunities, activate park space after hours, build stewardship of city parks, and provide a family-friendly outdoor experience. The park system master plan was adopted on August 6, 2025, and identified community events as the most important and desired park program. During the fiscal year 2526 in the approved budget, uh the recreation department included the goal of implementing a camping in the park family event. If approved, the MPK campout held in Barnes Park Friday, June 12th, 2026 would be from Friday would be from Friday to Saturday uh June 12th to June 13th. This family-friendly event would feature arts and crafts, a movie in the park, games, and entertainment. Registration is required with each participant wearing an event wristband to be identified by staff. A check-in and checkout process will be required with assigned camping spaces designated for each participant. All registered participants uh will be required to provide their own tents, sleeping bags, and amendities. Uh currently uh the Monterey Park Municipal Code 6.3704 prohibits any person to sleep, camp, or store personal property including camp uh facilities and paraphernalia or in or on restricted public property. In addition, the Monterey Park Municipal Code uh 12.04.190 04.190 states that it is unlawful for any person to enter, remain, or stay in any park or recreation center within the

city at any time between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day. The Recreation and Community Services Department is requesting a permit for overnight camping for the registered MPK campout participants. That's all I have. I am happy to answer any questions or um any comments that you may have. Madam Mayor, I have a I have a quick question. What's the movie that night? Well, let let me start by saying the theme is Lu. So, the movie for that night is going to be uh Moana.

Second question is, can council members participate? Of course. and we always welcome our council members to participate in all of our recreation and uh city events. So, yes. Okay, I'm going to bring my girls then. And I know that Robert had mentioned this uh camp out before, so I'm glad to see that it's coming to fruition. Um and you know, when the time comes and um I know this is not till the summer. Um looking forward to see more information about uh what exactly is happening. I'm assuming there's going to probably be even a bonfire, right, Robert? I don't know, maybe. Yeah. So, we are actually partnering with our fire department. Um Oh, it's going to be epic. Then [snorts]

it's going to be more than epic to um do s'mores. So, we're going to be fire safe with our fire department and we're going to be offering s'mores to those uh families that join us for the camp out. Very good. Thank you so much for that report. And and you know, since I already have the parks and wreck people here, I was wondering if you guys can speak a little bit to 10H, which is the Sierra Vista playground. Um, which I'm also very excited as a parent when we talk about parks and wreck and parks just in general.

Absolutely. Uh, Robert Deiri, director of recreation and community services. Uh, so yeah, I know the item didn't get pulled tonight. Uh, thank you for that. Uh, but do do want to share uh we're definitely excited about the opportunity uh for a new playground at Sierra Vista Park. Sierra Vista Park, as you uh may well very well know, um that's our oldest playground currently in the city. And so we've been working with the um San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians uh Gabalino Tongva tribe uh to come up with a Tongva themed playground um first of its kind um and so we're really excited. They're really excited. They're very enthusiastic about this project. So that playground will be completely Tongva themed. It'll have some educational pieces that will show uh and let people know about uh the different various uh items that are included on the playground and how and why those were important to the tribe. Um, we will also be incorporating some native plants in the park as well as working with a local uh, Tongville artist to add a mural in the park as well. So, we're very very excited about this very unique opportunity and uh, we've had, like I said, the tribe is very enthusiastic. We even got a letter of support from the uh, local chief. So, um, yeah, we're excited. So, within within this year, we should be getting that that done. It may just add, sorry to [clears throat] interrupt, but those are legacy swings at service the park from 40 years ago that I remember riding on or sitting on.

So you may want to go over to Sierra Vista and get a few last rides in. [laughter] I think although I will share we will be adding swings. Uh not the same legacy swings, but yes, there will be new swings that will be part of that project.

Sounds like Council of Go wants to be part of the demolition. I think he wants to take one of those swings home before they uh get taken out. Um, thank you, Robert, for this project. Actually, I'm gonna admit and be honest. I I I accidentally pulled the wrong item. I really wanted it here on 10H, so I'm glad that you um [laughter] but the camp out was really great, too. So, I'm glad I did pull the camp out item. Um, but I I know that this uh project at Sierra Vista will be uh probably the only one uh themed uh uh like this, right? In terms of the Tongva tribes, right?

Yes. As far as I know, and even speaking with the tribe, uh that's one thing they were very enthusiastic about was the fact that it was the first that they knew of their of the kind. It's a completely custom uh build. So, uh we're really excited about it and we'll definitely be celebrating with with the tribe there as well.

Great. I'm I'm looking forward to seeing uh when those concepts are available, seeing how they look like, but also I think there's no better way in terms of our logo here in terms of um our motto, sorry, um of um taking pride in our past than acknowledging the first peoples um that in that h inhabited this area. So, I think that it speaks volumes that when we read or when the mayor reads our land acknowledgement at every council meeting that our city puts true meaning to it and and I thank you for the work that you're doing um and working in conjunction with the Sanro Band of Mission Indians to make this happen and and a mural. I know we're always talking about including more public art in the city. So, thank you for combining all of those different elements. I I know I'm looking forward to to that ribbon cutting for sure.

Thank you, Robert. Thank you. All right. Well, 10H is already approved. So, anyone want to make a motion to approve 10F? I'll I'll make the motion. I just want to note that I remember speaking to Shine. We're also getting more trees at that park. Service the park. And he gave me a thumbs up. So, I'll make that motion. I'll second. All right. Let's vote. Approved unanimously. Thank you, staff, for the presentations. That's all for our consent agenda. No public hearing, no new business. City communications.

I will start. It is the first week of Luna New Year. So, there's a lot of activities that's been going on in the city and the surroundings in Gable Valley. Uh I think personally, I think the mayor and I have been to at least three temple gatherings to celebrate the Luna New Year. I've been to five so far and I think there's a couple more coming this weekend. Uh we also did the ribbon cutting celebration for the Thai house restaurant that's opened up at the marketplace. So that's the second restaurant in our city, but that is the third restaurant overall for that family. Uh we also joined the Langley Center ping pong tournament which uh awarded the I guess participation and also the medal winners for their tournament. Uh last week the park chamber uh did their Luna New Year dinner celebration at NBC restaurant. I think many of us was there. Um, and I will end with for those of you who are still celebrating the Luna New Year, go out there. Uh, we have plenty of food. We have plenty of activities. Lion dances, they'll be continuing on for the next 12 or 13 days. So, Luna New Year celebration is actually the first 15 days of the Luna calendar month. Thank you. I'll just echo uh Celo's sentiments. Wish everyone happy Lunar New Year, year of the horse. Uh it's only the second day of the new Lunar New Year. So wish everyone uh good health, prosperity, and and hopefully a better year than last year. But uh looking forward to working with everyone again in this this new year. Uh and I know that the community and regional celebrations are continuing uh have been going on for the last few weeks and will probably go be going on for at least the next few weeks. So hope to see everyone around town.

Thank you. Um I just wanted to remind everyone that uh this month is African-American Heritage Month and I know this council last at our last council meeting approved a resolution um honoring um our African-American brothers but also recognizing African-American Heritage Month here in the city of Monterey Park. Um and I know that the Reverend Jesse Jackson recently passed away. Um, so, um, as we think about African-American Heritage Month, also honoring a lot of the civil rights work that was done by the African-American community to advance civil rights in our communities, uh, that have impacted all of us, uh, whether you're regardless of your uh, race or ethnicity or gender. Um, I also, uh, wanted to send um, extreme condolences to our colleague Henry Lowe, who uh, recently, as you heard earlier in the council meeting, lost his mother recently. um and he he might be listening and I don't know but uh just wanted to send uh our condolences uh to him uh during this difficult time. Um and then lastly um this morning I had an opportunity uh to go on behalf of my colleague Henry Low to um the LAX roundt um at at LAX. Uh they're celebrating their 25 year anniversary um at the there's a Airflight LAX museum right literally next to the airport. Um and so when you visit the museum you can see all the planes taking off and arriving which is really amazing. It's my first time there, so I'm glad I was able to do that. Um, but for those of you who are not familiar with the LAX round table, they um have for the last 25 years, I learned this while I was there. Um, for the last 25 and through our colleague Henry Lo who, um, always shares the reports to us, um, they take into account a lot of the complaints that happen as a result of airflights. And and for those of us who live in Monterey Park know all of the I know my daughters when we're in our backyard are always

looking at which planes are and they're so close you can actually read uh all of the different airlines. So they handle um a lot of the complaints that come in as a result of flights coming in perhaps too low or coming in too early or being too noisy. Um and so we are in that direct flight path. So if ever you need or have any questions or any concerns, you can always reach out to our colleague Henry Low who is our representative at the LAX round table um and he can bring those concerns to um to the um to this group but also to the FAA. And one of the things they recommended and that I want to share with all of you guys um at the meeting was that um right now the FAA is building a lot of um uh towers um airport towers and as they're building these and designing these they are taking into account um the complaints that are coming in. So, they said if you have any complaints specifically related to Monterey Park and they actually mentioned specifically Monterey Park um make sure that you contact the FAA um and you email them and that you let them know what your concerns are because they do take them into account and then they will receive them and they will advocate on our behalf as well. But um I know that when I first moved into Monterey Park, this was actually one of um the issues I had because I I because of the planes being so loud, but it also had to do with my windows. So I had to replace my windows and get double pane windows so I wouldn't be able to hear the planes. But um but anyhow, um just wanted to share that because that was uh pretty interesting. Um and then um that'll be it for me. Thank you.

Thank you. Um just a few from me. Next Tuesday is our meet up with the mayor event at La Diosa de los moles. That's February 24th, Tuesday at 5:00 pm. So, love to meet all my uh constituents and community members. The food there is really good.

Yes, the food is very good there. And Saturday, February 28th at 10:00 a.m. It's the uh ribbon cutting of Maid Cafe. That's the one in Atlantic Time Square. Um and happy lunar new year everyone. That was yesterday. Happy year of the horse and um please come to our council meeting first week of March because the data center is going to be on that agenda. And uh one more announcement quickly. Um Madame Mayor, we do have a um our police department is hosting a community meeting. Um talk about just safety tips uh for residents to come and meet our uh police officers. That's going to be on Tuesday, February 24th at Brightwood School at 6 PM. So, [clears throat] please join us if you're interested in um having some conversations with our police department and also um they're going to be sharing tips on how to protect your uh properties. So, please join us if you can. All that information can be found on the city's web page. Yes, sorry, I'll repeat it one more time. Uh I know we have a busy Tuesday afternoon. Uh we have a meet up with the mayor at 5:00 at um Laddiosa Deos Mles and then at 6 o'clock we're going to be over at Brightwood uh elementary school at 6 p.m. um for a community meeting with our police department. Thank you.

All right. And I'd like to adjourn tonight's meeting in memory of our mayor prom Henry Lowe's. Thank you. adjourned at 8:17 p.m.