City Council - Regular Meeting

Everybody ready to call to order our meeting? Our meeting the joint meeting of the city council successor agency to the redevelopment agency, our public finance authority, public utility authority, housing authority, Paris joint powers authority, and the Paris Community Economic Development Corporation, the city of Paris this Thursday, excuse me, Tuesday, April 14th. All time is 6:30 p.m. Madam Cler, can we have a roll call, please? Council member Vjo here. Council member Nava present. Mayor Prom Corona present. Council member Rab here. Mayor Vargas

present. Thank you. Item three is our invocation which will be led by Pastor Edward Avula from the Victory Outreach here in Paris. Please stand and join us and then remain standing for item four which is our pledge of allegiance which will be led by Councilwoman Vallejo. Mayor, city council, thank you for having me here this evening. Let us pray. Father in heaven, we come before you here. We know you're with us. We're not alone. And you always hear, Father, all things that'll be brought to the table here this evening. We just pray, Father, that you will help us to work out all, Father, for the beneficial of each and every one of us. We pray for a mayor of city council, Father, and the responsibilities that they have, Father, that you will, Father, help them, Father, to do the things, Father, that are right before your eyes. Give them the spirit of wisdom to make those proper decisions, Father, throughout their lives here in the city of Paris. And we thank you for everyone that is here. Father, we just ask that you be with each and every one of us in a special way. We pray, Father, for the city of Paris. Also, we know you care for each and every one of us here in the city. We pray you watch over the city of Paris and all the communities, Father, and every individual, Father, for you love them. You care for them. You want the best, Father, for their lives as well as to this city. Father, we pray and lift up problems that exist here in the city that you will help us to work it out as a unit, as a spirit of unity together. Father, even though we have differences, but Father, let us have our minds one together. Father to make this city a city that you father have placed here on earth for us to work it out father for the best of each and every one of us. We pray for the blessings and the leading of your holy spirit here in this meeting father that you would have your way. We know father that you are watching over us father and you want father everything to be brought

in order in order. This we pray in the name of Christ Jesus we all say amen. May god bless you. Now, please join me in saluting to our nation's flag. Place your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. Thank you, pastor. Item five is a report on close session items. I'll call on our city attorney, Sultan, to give a report.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The council met in close session pursuant to government code section 54956.91 in three cases and uh there were two settlement agreements that were authorized between the city of Paris and city of Meny and certain men developers and certain Paris developers. uh copies of the settlement agreements will be available for inspection by any member of the public at the city uh clerk's office upon execution of same which should be sometime this week or next week. Um so both settlement agreements were authorized by the council and finalized. Um the council met in close session pursuant to government code section 54956.8 regarding real property negotiations. No reportable action was taken. The council met pursuant to government code section 54956.9D2 to discuss two potential litigation cases and no reportable action was taken. Actually in one of them there was another settlement agreement that was authorized and a copy of that will also be available for inspection as soon as it's done. So I stand corrected. Sorry.

Thank you. Item six is presentations and announcements. 6A is a presentation to the Orange Vista High School boys and girls wrestling teams in recognition of their accomplishments. This item was brought forward uh through our mayor prom Malcolm Corona. Tonight we are proud to recognize the Orange Vista High School boys and girls wrestling teams for an outstanding season. The girls wrestling team made history, placing third in the state and becoming the first team in the Inland Empire to earn five CIF championship champion champions in a single tournament. We also recognize coach Jesus Ria for his leadership in achieving this milestone. We commend the following athletes for their exceptional performances. Gia Coons, Zara Stewart, Sophia Galen Galendez, Tiffany Bell, Adriana Rodriguez, and Natalie Ibara, each of whom earned top honors at CIF Masters and State levels. We're also recognizing the boys wrestling team who were league champions, CIF dual semifinalists, and had 11 CIF individual qualifiers. Special recognition to Wyatt Vaia and Aaron Valencia for their CIF placements. On behalf of the city of Paris, congratulations to all our student athletes. You have made our community incredibly proud. At this time, the council and I will come down below. We'll issue some certificates and take some photos. There's the girls.

and different accomplishments. All right, this first certificate goes to Gia Coons for her uh exemporary performance throughout the 202526 CF season. We congratulate you on being named Mast's champion, CIF champion, and accomplishing a historic state championship title. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. Come on up.

We're going to do one photo at the end. I'm not You can take an individual.

All right. Next is Sophia Galendez. This is for recognizing her for her exemplary performance throughout the 2025 C CIF season. We congratulate you on being named Mast's runner up and CAF champion and placing fifth in the in the state. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. I know I don't I don't think I want to be caught in an alley with these girls. All right, next we have Zara Stewart for her exemplary performance throughout the 2526 CIF season. We congratulate you on being named Mast's champion, CIF champion, and runner up for the state championship title. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. Next up, Tiffany Bell. This is for your exemplary performance throughout the 2526 CIF season. We congratulate you on being named Mast's champion, CIF champion, and placing seventh in the state. We wish you much success in your future endeavors.

Next up is Natalie Ibara. For your uh exemplary performance throughout the 2526 CIF champion season, excuse me. We congratulate you on achieving fourth place in CIFF. We wish you much success in your future endeavors.

All right, next we have Adriana Rodriguez. for your exemplary performance throughout the 2526 CIF season. We congratulate you on being named CIF champion, achieving third place in Masters, and achieving seventh place in state. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. coach called coach. And finally, we have the the man of the hour that raised all these girls in these uh awesome awards, and that's Jesus Rivera, the coach.

Coach, this is for your outstanding leadership and guidance throughout the 2526 CF season. We congratulate you on steering the OVHs girls wrestling team to five CIF championships in a single tournament and wish you much success in your future endeavor. Thank you for all you do.

Where's the overall? And this is an overall certificate for the girls wrestling team.

All right. I'm going to organize this going to take a group photo, girls. So, we're probably have to start twisting Now we're moving on to the boys. This first one's for Wyatt Vet. Wyatt, this is for your exemplary performance throughout the 2526 CIF season. We congratulate you on achieving fourth place in CAF. We wish you much success in your future endeavors.

Thank you.

And Aaron Valencia. Come on up, Aaron. This is for your exemplary performance of the 2526 CF season. We congratulate you on achieving sixth place. We wish you much success in your future endeavors. And for coach, we thank you for your outstanding leadership teaching these boys uh where they have gone. And we also would like to present a certificate in addition to you as well as for one for the school as well. So come on up. What do you want?

There's no All right. Uh, next we have uh 6B is a presentation of the proclamation recognition of the finance professionals week. This item is going to be introduced by director of finance, Mr. Matthew Shank.

Thank you, honorable mayor and members of the city council. Yes, this is an initiative that was actually started by your ACM Ernie Rea when he was president of CSMFO in 2024. Uh, Government Finance Professionals Week is a statewide organiza uh, statewide recognition event uh, supported by California Society of Municipal Finance Officers. It's a mouthful. CSMFO. Each year during the last week of March, California cities, counties, joint powers, authorities, and special districts celebrate the dedication of finance professionals who safeguard public resources and help deliver highquality public services. These professionals work behind the scenes to ensure the financial integrity, transparency, and accountability of local governments operations. Their expertise keeps California communities running smoothly every day. their uh finance professionals are essential to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, trans transparency and public trust, compliance with California and federal laws, supporting community services, strategic decision-making, and lastly to meet state requirements. With that, I I have nine of 14 of our staff member your staff members public or here. Uh first of all, our finance manager, Dr. Steven Aobiway, accounting supervisor, Adrienne Morales, accountant 2, Anna Yakez, senior accounting specialist, Liz Curiel Garcia. She's in charge of all of your payroll, so make sure everybody gets paid. Accounting specialist three, Sam Amphram. Accounting specialist 2, Lorenna Rodriguez. Accounting specialist one, Mara Rico. And accounting specialist one, a prior employee of the quarter, Desiree Garcia. If we could have them come up.

You there. right there. One, two, There you go.

All right. And our last one, uh, 6C is a presentation of proclamation in recognition of Arbor Day. And this item will be introduced by our director of public works, Mr. Brian Hill. Guess we'll go this way. Uh good evening, honorable mayor, mayor prom, uh council members, city staff. Uh tonight's presentation is twofold. Uh first we'll have the mayor read the proclamation that we're going to recognize uh April 24th as Arbor Day. And second, I'm proud to share that the city of Paris has been officially designated as a Tree City USA community uh by the Arbor Foundation. This designation is more than a recognition. It represents a meaningful commitment to enhancing our environment and strengthening our urban forest. Communities that achieve this status benefit from cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and improved public health, all contributing to a more sustainable and vibrant city. As part of this achievement, the city uh submitted a formal application to the Arbor Day Foundation and then we had to meet four uh required standards as part of the review process. Let me see if this will be easier. Um, I'll kind of go through these. First, uh, we needed a designated department that's responsible for trees, which is public works. We had to have a tree ordinance, which we have 19.71, which is our urban forestry establishing care. And then we have to have a minimum uh, annual budget of $2 per capita, which ours is approx approximately $8 per capita. And then we have to do the annual Arbor Day observance and

proclamation. And then that was issued in uh March of this this year. Uh just a couple tidbits here. The city of Paris maintains over 16,000 trees in the public rightway and that number continues to grow as new developments add additional trees. Uh for the past three years, we have been kind of gifting trees to our residents. Uh our goal is 100 and two out of the three years, we've had 200 trees. So again, this year we're uh going to be gifting 200 trees to our residents. And then we do have a a tree planting uh event happening on April 25th, the day after Arbor Day over by Paragon Park. And then finally, I'd just like to recognize and thank our sponsors that have helped us uh achieve this goal of uh 200 trees, which the nursery uh Gavlin Nursery not only are providing the trees, but they also donated trees. And then we had uh Bill and Dave Landscaping as one of our contractors uh throughout the city. Uh CRNR donated some trees and then Act One Construction uh donated some trees. So with that, I'm ready for you to read your proclamation if you would like. Okay. Proclamation is entitled Arbor Day. Whereas in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a special day dedicated to planting of trees known as Arbor Day, which was first observed with planting over 1 million trees across Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now celebrated across the nation and around the world, recognizing the vital role trees play in reducing soil erosion caused by wind and water, lowering heating and cooling costs, regulating temperatures, purifying the air, and

generating life sustaining oxygen. And I'm good. I had to move it up. And in the city of Paris is dedicated to environmental sustainability, planting 187 trees in 2025 and maintaining 6,200 trees throughout the community programs, projects, and partnerships, including the Grow Paris community garden demonstration center that is designed to showcase urban friendly growing systems and promote horicultural and nutrition education for all ages. And whereas a city uh whereas the parish municipal code calls upon an urban forestry team that is tasked with implementation of urban forestry policies as well as preservation and upkeep of protected trees throughout the city. And whereas the celebration of Arbor Day represents the commitment of preserving the natural beauty and resources that sustain our community, serving as a reminder of the essential contributions trees make to our quality of life by providing shade, clean air, wildlife habitats, and climate benefits. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Mayor Michael Vargas, and the city of Paris Council, do hereby recognize Friday, April 24th to be Arbor Day. We encourage all residents to join us in celebrating the beauty and value of trees by planting and caring for them, contributing to a greener, healthier, and more vibrant Paris. Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to the environmental stewardship, preserve our city's natural heritage, and ensure that future generations enjoy countless benefits and trees bring to that trees bring to our community. Presented on this 14th day of April, 2026.

Okay, ready. One, two. All good. All right. Uh, we're going to let the coaches come up. They want to come up and share some words. Uh, Coach Flores, I believe you were the boys coach. Okay. I want to say thank you to uh, Mayor Vargas, Councilman Corona, um, and the rest of our city council. Um, it's amazing and incredible that you guys uh, celebrate our student athletes in the way that you do. Um, Councilman Corona wrestled for Paris High. I'm not sure if everybody knows that. Um, but he has reached out to me for a couple of years now in order to make sure that we recognize our our young athletes. So, it's much appreciated. Thank you very much.

Coach Rivas, was it first of all, I want to say uh thank you to every single one of you. Mayor Vargas, city council. I want to say thank you. The girls appreciate what you guys do. The recognition um means a lot to them. I also want to thank the city of Paris for the opportunity that they're providing to the kids at the high school level to be able to provide the sports uh provide the funding that they need. This takes the kids off the streets and provides them the opportunity to open doors for colleges. So, we appreciate you. We appreciate the city and the support. So, thank you and we look forward to seeing you again next year. Awesome. Thank you.

All righty. That concludes our presentations. Moving on to item seven is our youth advisory committee communications. Oh, hold on, guys. Hold on. Let my council make some comments. I'm sorry. All right. Who wants to start? Q in, please. Okay, you get started. I guess I'll start. Yeah.

Okay, I guess I'll go ahead and get started. Um, you you know, you know, I think we'll just have you hostage for just a couple more minutes here. But I do want to thank you guys all for coming out. It's it's it's absolutely amazing when we when we're allowed to recognize our our our uh our tremendous uh uh young athletes uh here in our city, especially the girls team. Well, I think all athletes, right? But the girls team, you know, I'm I'm just uh as coach Flores mentioned, I did wrestle back in high school a long long time ago, right? and and girls wrestling was almost non-existent, right? Every team might have had maybe one on every other team. Now it's full-fledged tournaments, their state tournaments and and very competitive. Now they're even competing in college. So So just absolutely amazing that that we're able to to recognize such a quality team right here in our in our own community. Uh special shout out obviously to uh uh Miss Gia Coons uh for being the the the number one wrestler in the whole state of California in her weight class, which which is amazing. Um, and and for those that were here last year, we did recognize her. Uh, but Mizara, she was she was uh she was runner up this year, but she was also the the the number one wrestler last year. Uh, for those that know wrestling, anything could happen. So, I so I I still I still obviously she's still a champion. And uh just just very thankful for you guys uh coming out here and and showing showing all your uh great work that you do. And and great job, coach, and and especially the parents, too, because I know it's a lot of work. Thank you. Council member Lejo.

Yes. Um I also want to acknowledge both teams. Um I think it's amazing that you guys are showing us at Paris that we have amazing students doing amazing accomplishments. Um I do want to ask one of the girls though. Can you can one of you teach me how to make some moves? Because any case Malcolm makes mad I just want to pound him down. That would be great. That would help me out a lot. But I I appreciate you all so much. Um it's really hard work what you are all doing and being amazing ro role models for all of our young ladies. So thank you all so much and we hope you guys get more more titles out there because uh Paris has special amazing students out here. Thank you. Councilman Reb,

just like to echo the sentiments of my colleagues and congratulate the members of the Orange Vista High School Boys and Girls Wrestling Team. Continue on your path. You'll do well. You know, you guys are already doing well. One thing I I recognize is that each of the wrestlers had a very firm handshake and that's that'll get you very far in life. So, once again, congratulate you. Also like to congratulate and recognize the employees of our finance uh financial department for financial professionals week. We really appreciate all the work you do for the city. And then lastly, I'd like to thank public works for all their work on getting all the trees planted, handing out the trees to various employees. We are noticing a huge difference. I know a few years ago, I reached out to Mr. Ho regarding trees along Paris Boulevard just right over here. And within about two or three weeks, you guys had those trees planted. So, thank you so much. Look forward to the upcoming tree planting and look forward to even providing more of a tree cover. So, once again, thank you for everyone coming out. And lastly, I want to thank the parents of the wrestlers for all the time and energy you put in mentoring and guiding your your children and the other children on the team. So once again, thank you,

Councilwoman Nava. Thank you, Mayor. There is just something so special to recognize our young, talented athletes here in city hall. So, thank you for allowing the time to come here and for us to celebrate you all along with your families because I know it's a team effort, right? So, and again something very special as well to see our girl athletes just pouring into themselves and I'm so proud of all of you and also a very special thank you to our finance team and our public works team. You probably don't hear it enough, but you are both very critical departments as well here in our city. So, thank you all for everything you do. Those are my comments. Thank you. Thank you. So, Miss Coons, what grade are you in?

Excuse me. You're only in 10th grade. Wow. You got a future there going? How many uh are you classified as a varsity junior? So, coach, this is a varsity team that's here now or it's a mixture. Wow.

And Flores, the boys are varsities. So, tremendous job, guys, students. And if you need letters of recommendation, please reach out to my office in the council. We're always happy to write letters of reference for your college. Um, you've got a long way to go, but uh you you already knocked it out of the park already. And I think some one of us someone mentioned it up too. I think might might have been Rab, but parents, so the parents that are here, can you raise your hands, please? Yeah. Thank you so much. So, we we really do appreciate your participation and your supporting of your child in in education and sports. And it takes a lot just for the parents to be going back and forth taking kids to school and practice and what have you. I mean, I know I did it with four daughters and now with my grandchildren is just starting all over again. So, it doesn't end parents, it's going to keep going. And then the coaches, thank you for your outstanding service. Uh, you know, it's beyond school hours that you're doing this. So we thank you very much for your contribution and dedication to our students and to the finance department al as well. Thank you too guys for all the work that you do and the public works crew. I've gone out there and some of us have on tree planting days what have you guys are doing a phenomenal job and yeah we do have a lot of trees in Paris and it's just going to keep on growing. So thank you to our departments for everything you guys do. Okay, now you guys can leave. Give a couple of seconds here.

All right, moving on. Item seven is our youth advisory committee communications. This will be uh given by Melanie Lopez, our president. Good evening, honorable mayor, members of city council, and city staff. My name is Melanie Lopez, and I am honored to serve as the president of the youth advisory committee. I am pleased to provide several updates on behalf of YAC. YC will be attending the health fair this Saturday, April 18th, 2026. See you there. Our next YC meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers. We welcome youth who are interested in leadership, civic engagement, and community service to attend and learn how they can get involved. YC will also be getting their hands dirty for Earth Day in Arbor Day on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 with assisting with planting new trees and cleaning Paragon Park. The event begins at 8 a.m. We encourage the community to come and participate. In addition, YSC will take part in the Cinco de Mayo event May 2nd, 2026. We invite everyone to come celebrate Mexican American culture with us. Lastly, the YC application for the 2026 2027 term is now open with a deadline of Friday, May 1st, 2026. Space is limited and we encourage eligible youth to apply and take part in serving their community. As always, we encourage our community to stay safe, stay engaged, and stay connected. For the latest updates on YC programs and events, please follow us on social media at Paris YAC. Thank you for your time and continued support. We truly appreciate your partnership in helping to make Paris a vibrant, welcoming, and inspiring place for youth and families. Thank you, Melanie.

Okay. Item eight is public comment. This is the time when any member of the public may bring a matter of attention uh to the mayor or the city council that is within our jurisdiction of the city council. Uh normally we allow three minutes. However, I'm up to 16 speakers at this time. We do have a lot more to cover tonight. So, I'm going to uh limit our public comment tonight to two minutes a piece. So if you are speaking please come forward. We're going to read off the first four names and please come towards the front. Madame clerk JC Franco Muhammad Ramen Hector Gosen Alam. I say that you're the first person.

Actually, you're a heavy state.

She keeps getting heavier by the minute. Um, good evening, council. Um, I I received not too long ago. I I have to share this. I just couldn't help it. Um, I recently received my 18th high school anniversary and I was on a water polo team and I remember when we were in CIF and um, gosh, what a reminder of of of that time. I need to put this girl in coach. I need to put her in wrestling. She beats the hell out of me. Um, so she's gonna she's gonna excel if we stay here in Paris. Um, with such uh, you know, our algorithms knows better than we do nowadays. Uh, so of course a Simpson ring run started to come up on my feed again. If if any of us know the Simpsons, uh, there was a particular episode where directly over the houses of the Simpson family, uh, airlines started to have a a flight path directly over them. Um all in all that it was an um an unsettling experience uh to say the least uh for that family. So they they did what they could to to mitigate some of that. And at the end they they spoke to council, they spoke to Congress and eventually the flight paths went elsewhere. So let me just play this quick little snippet here.

At last those planes are flying where they belong.

That's right. Over the homes of poor people. Uh yeah, that's a lot of deafening silence to say the least here. Um look, we may we may already have be dealing with March and that's not something I'm here to contest. I'm here to contest uh how some of our most vulnerable communities are being taken advantage of and being misinformed by developers are being intentionally misinformed by community members that don't even belong in this community. And and it has to do with how us the working class I have three jobs. I I sell roasted corn on the cob on the weekends. Uh I work at an architecture firm. Like I am workingass member of this community. And many of our folks are being completely taken advantage of by those who know and and understand more complex things, nuances in the city. So

thank you. Muhammad Ramen. Uh, hello city council. My name is Muhammad Raman and I'm running from district 1. Um, today I'm talking about the affordable housing. Sorry. Hold on. I just got to let you know we cannot be talking about your campaign.

Uh, no, sorry. This is for the affordable housing. city crisis is now uh affordable housing because the housing uh rent is average two bed to bath is $2,500 is 38% the total gross income and is more than 8% should be and our regular house price is $600,000 and regular household income annually $98,000 and they cannot afforded buy those $600,000 house. So we need to negotiate with the builder to make a condominium attached home or small basic house. So cost can go down under $400,000. So our local resident can buy those house. Right now the house city building it is $600,000. City of parish resident cannot afford. So who buying this house? People from San Diego, people from Los Angeles. Our city of parish losing the opportunity. The people are grow up here. They like to start family here. The couple income is $62,000 average. They cannot buy the house or rent the house here. So city going to face very soon homeless crisis because our population is growing up annually 1.25%. So we have to think right now to housing crisis to make those smaller affordable housing city of parish. So today I'm bring some people to support the harvest landing plan. So please can you stand up who come to support this plan for me. Can you please

So this all people come to support the harvest learning plan and thank you so much for giving me opportunity. Thank you Hector Gos.

Hi my name is Hector Gos. um just this is the first time I'm um friend of um Mohammed. I all the time support him. He's a good person and um I'm here to have a good things for him and um always he tried to help and help all the people and also help me. I live here in Paris and Ali for like 20 years already and um just want to say um Mohammed is a good person. Mr. Mayor, yes.

May I just state something for the public? It's really important whoever's here, you cannot be supporting candidates. You cannot be speaking about someone's election and that you support them. The city is prohibited from allowing speakers to use city resources to advocate for a candidate. So all the speakers next time if you talk about a candidate your mic will be cut off. You cannot be using the podium to speak about candidates. Um you you can talk about issues city related and agenda items. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Shutin Alam,

honorable mayor and councilwoman and city councilman, thank you for giving me the opportunity and we have upcoming November election and

you cannot talk about the election, sir. I just finished saying you cannot talk about the election. Sorry. And we the the housing problem, affordable housing. That's the number one problem. And the second one is job creation. You know, middle income job creation. And then the other things that city can do is in infrastructure, you know, the road and public safety. These are the common things that for the betterment of the people and attract more people as you know the inland empire is growing. So and there must be that housing affordable housing and public safety and schooling these are all you know for the betterment of the community and attract new people new inhabitant as the city grow. Thank you.

Thank you. Ismael Hussein. Good evening. Thank you to give me opportunity to say something in this honorable board and honorable city people. I love Paris city. I love it. So nice and organized, especially administration, honorable mayor and councilman. And uh very soon is new election coming. Okay, I got you need to stop now. We cannot be talking about campaign stuff.

You use the word campaign. Okay. Or elections you cannot this is not an opportunity. We cannot do this under city resources. Okay. All right. Okay. Okay. So we are uh seeing like the some people are very alert about the affordable housing and the like a job creation. So I think these two issue is major for this city. city going better and better and then if it is uh future people is try to bring the affordable housing and small businesses and the like a job creation that will be great for our city. Thank you.

Thank you

Assad Raman. Good evening Paris city council and the citizens of Paris. I just want to thank you for mayor and the city council for international um mother language monument you supported. I just really want to say thank you for your contribution on this and other than this you know like everyone is talking about the housing crisis the rent housing prices we need to do something and also the taxes like the local taxes city is also adding taxes on our property so if something could be done within city resources Please do that. That will really help us. And other than that, the city is getting more and more beautiful. That's very positive. Thank you all.

Thank you. Sh alarm, honorable mayor Vargas, honorable city council members and audience. Uh I'd like to thank all of you for creating this international mother language day monument. I was part of it along with 10 other amazing team members. Uh I just want to give you some feedback. last two years lot of our community member came they see this public place they enjoy the library and the atmosphere so from the bottom of our heart we like to thank you for the honor that you created for every language of the world thank you

thank you

Farhana alam good evening honorable Mayor Michael Vargas, all the distinguished guests here, and the city council members. Um, I'm actually here uh just to say just the way my husband, previous speaker, spoke about the mother language day monument. Um, I'm a very strong part of our community promoting multiculture, diversity, and bilingual lingual states. So, uh, me being a proud mother, um, advocate for young children, administrator of early childhood education, I want to show this amazing monument, the mother language day monument that uh, city uh, Paris city built along with the international mother language day council uh, or committee members that what a wonderful thing it is for the young generation to learn the diversity university to learn multiculture and um of course the language. So once again I want to thank you all for supporting our Bangladeshi community to do this amazing job and thank you all again. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you. Others assalamu alaykum. Good evening. And to our honorable mayor and his staff here, we actually love our city staff. so much

I have encountered of so many times with the city staff. Everybody is very cooperative. Unbelievable. And I want to appreciate them. And Mayor Vargas is one of the mayor in America who is more popular, you cannot believe it, more popular in Bangladesh about few thousand miles away from here. You you name city of Paris, you name mayor Vargas, a lot of people who are educated about the foreign things, they know where is city of Paris, where who is mayor Burgus. So I appreciate everything you did mayor and your staff. I don't want to name anybody. There are quite a few stuff I encountered with few help I needed and they are very very helpful and they put me in their website for the emailing and they update me with everything every time I need something. So I appreciate Mayor Bargas. I appreciate all the staff. Please continue supporting our community. Our community very much very much depends on your support and you did it in the past. I hope in the future also your staff you yourself will support us with anything we want. Thank you so much everybody. Thank you

Shaheen Monseru. Thank you sir. appreciate it for giving me opportunity to talk about it and uh all previous speaker already mentions the problem and uh the things you have done for the city of Paris which is really appreciate from the bottom of my heart. The one things I need to I think of I should mention it is 215 freeway there's a uh you know the condition of the street is uh very rough so if you can keep eye on it and pay attention on it to fix it other than that I live in more than two decade in city of Paris I never seen anything uh you know negative that I have to mention it on the podium but everything is quite okay and I really appreciate whatever you have done and city council peoples and workers and all of everybody's here. I really appreciate from the bottom of my heart and thank you so much. If you need any kind of support, cooperation from Bangladeshi community or myself, I'm very uh much happy to support you all the time. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

She Islam Mr. Mayor and all councilmen and uh our ordinance. Thank you so much to get the opportunity. I'm talking here. Uh I'm uh I'm I'm a longtime residence this Paris city. Peris city is really nice city and we are really uh very thankful to city councilman, city mayor and everybody but still we have lot of problem u Muhammad Raman he mentioned about the housing housing is the really day by day is going to very crazy the house price is going up house renting is going up but income is not going up. Income is going low. How the gas price is going up and the grocery price is going up but our income is not going up. The our the working-class people and low-inccome people actually they are in big crisis. Next next thing is city tax. I'm request for everybody who is in the chair please think about the city tax. The house city house taxes are going day by day up and up and up. Uh I start from myself I start $5,000 now is $12,000 is capital but however thank you so much Bangladeshi people are grateful to the city of Paris councilman and mayor. Uh

there you are being lot of thing for us. Bangladeshi cultural event is every year we are celebrate in your lawn bushakima and we get your support. We are really grateful to you guys and our next event is May 9. Everybody are in invited and thank you Adriana Ooa.

Hi, good evening honorable mayor, city council, and city staff. Uh my name is Adriana Choa. I'm the executive director for the Paris Valley Chamber of Commerce. I'm excited to share a quick update on our recent activities. Um, April has been a very active month for us. We kicked off with Good Morning Paris. Um, bringing together local professionals to have meaningful conversations around innovation and the future of our workforce with AI technology. We also hosted lunch with friends membership um, appreciation barbecue at the fire station 1. Um, we we reconnected with current members, welcome new businesses and continue building strong relationships with the community. uh Chiefs Scoville and Captain Deetsz were gracious hosts. Um also we have our Level Up Paris workshop. It's another one we're proud um of providing John Maxwell leadership development through and real world insights to help our local businesses. I also wanted to highlight our Avansando Spanish workshop series which continues to grow each month. We're seeing more engagement and participation allowing us to better serve and empower our Spanish-speaking business community here in Paris. Also, we look forward and we are very excited of state of the city um event on April 30th. It's an opportunity to bring together business community residents and regional partners here in progress the future of city. We have also confirmed city representatives of Sanhasinto, Hamemed, Bulma, Wdemar and Meny who will be joining us. We look forward to a great event and continuing to build momentum. Thank you.

Thank you,

Alejandro Risa. Alejandro Risa, Katie Keys. Good evening everyone and thank you so much. It's an honor for me to be here and speak to you today. What I'm wanting to know, I'm wanting to let everybody know that we have a date now for our Clarence Muse Art Festival, which is the 30th of May from 10 until 3. We're wanting artists to uh email us and um we're going to have besides artists, we're going to have photography and crafts home, you know, sometimes uh craft people and they can actually bring it and sell it. And we're looking forward to a nice crowd. Um, I'm just trying to read my notes here and I forgot my glasses. I can see. Okay. Except for the small print. Um, we would like to have some sponsors. So, if anyone would want to, any business would like to sponsor us and you know hundred whatever they can afford it' be wonderful. And I do want to announce our Clarence Muse

star for the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. We have collected $85,000 as of today. So, we have con contacted the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and they have to put him back on the list because if you don't have the money within two years, they take him off. So he has to get back on the list and this is for the list of 2027. So it'll be next year. Hopefully he'll get on the list and we'll celebrate because a lot of people do not

It's okay. Sorry, time's up. Okay, let's talk about that later though. I want to I'm hoping it doesn't go up by the time 87 comes around. Thank you. But anyway, I'm happy we have the money. Thank you. I'm proud of our

Ashley B. Hello. My name is Ashley. I'm with Rise Paris Pride. So, our last meeting on March 28th was centered around supporting the community in the resistance against ICE and CBP violent abductions and loud opposition to the abuse of federal administration. We partnered with Inland Valley Alliance, me Coalition for Clean Air, and Stay Alert Mareno Valley Paris to distribute over a 100red information packs with red cards, whistles, information flyers, and a newsletter with the instructions to pass it on. I want to say especially thank you so much to council memberjo for being there and supporting us as well. Uh last week on uh Monday we also stood in Riverside downtown to stand for a trans day of visibility and we were happily representing the city of Paris for a very very um persecuted minority group right now. So, it's wonderful to stand up for that type of justice because our liberation is intersectional. We stand for LGBTQIA justice, environmental justice, indigenous justice, racial justice, immigration justice, disability justice, and justice for the working class. So, if any of those ideas happen to be your cup of tea, we'd like to invite you to our next meeting and workshop. We're going to do rock painting. We're going to meet at the library community room on Saturday the 25th at 2:30 until 4:30. And lastly, speaking of the library, I did want to applaud the city council for quick thinking and covering that statue. I was wondering what are we doing at looking at renaming? Can we contact the mural artist to help us adjust it? My

personal recommendation for the replacement, Dolores Huerta Community Library. Thank you. Thank you Dr. Nisam Kasi.

Hello Mayor Borggas, Council Member Mr. Corona. I know two of you out of all the members. Uh I'm here to see some of my student. I taught sento college 40 years and few of student from this city went to my class. I don't know I forgot any I retired 8 months back. I'm here to Oh, don't go. Don't go. Come here. No. No.

No. No. Come on. Come on. He's my friend from my same country. One day he told me we have a good member good mayor named Vargas. What wrong with him? No, no, no. He's doing with his members of the cabinet. He's creating a monument. What monument? Which is national monument of Bangladesh. Mr. Vargas is more popular than in Bangladesh than here. I believe if he wants to become their governor, I think he he's known everywhere. I proposed him to go to Bangladesh. We'll arrange his some citizenship and he will do that. In short, he's my good friend. He communicate with me about your cities what you guys doing and wonderful job you guys are doing and I think you will keep it up education when I taught you the student I at that time I felt you need little bit more especially college education. Thank you very much. Have a blessed day. Thank you. Keep up the good job.

That is all. Thank you. All right. Uh moving on to item nine, which is approval of minutes. 9A is a consideration to approve the minutes of the regular joint meeting held on March 10th, 2026 of the city council successor agency to the redevelopment agencies and all the rest of the entities as listed in our agenda. There are no comments or questions from the council. I entertain a motion to approve. I have a motion by Councilman Rab, second by Councilwoman Nava. Please call the vote.

5 motion approved. Thank you. Item 10 is our consent calendar. Consent calendar items are normally enacted in one motion. The mayor or the city council may remove a consent calendar item for a separate action. Madam clerk or mad council, anybody have anything they want to pull? Yes, mayor. I'd like to pull item 10 G for a comment G. Anybody else? Oh, yeah. 10.

That's it. All right. Uh E. All right, let's hear uh well, so now let's looking for a motion on 10 A B C D F HIG J K LMN. Madam Cler, is there any request to speak on any of those I just read off?

You just read off? Yes, we have 10 10E public comment. We pulled 10 E. Oh, got it. 10E. I'm looking for any of the other ones. No, sir. All right. I have a motion by Councilman Rab. Waiting for a second. Second by Councilwoman Nava. Please call a vote. 50 motion approved. All right, I'm going to 10 G. Councilman Rabb.

Yes, 10G is the extension of the closure uh at guest case and gets road. Uh the closure was the road was initially scheduled to open midappril, but this extension 10g is calling us to extend it August 31st. When I saw this on the agenda, I contacted a representative from IDI. Is Mr. Monville here? He's back there. He's making his way up. I had a discussion with him and we understand that the closure is outside the scope of IDI just given Edison problems with Southern California Edison. But Mr. Monville, is that correct?

It is. Honorable mayor, members of the city council Lou Monville representing IDI. Yeah. Unfortunately, uh, the utility made a very significant change and caused an entire redesign. Complications with the rail line didn't help. And in that term, reading the agenda pack and looking at it, I understand that we initially agreed that you guys would pay $1,000 a day if it was within your um scope. But that's correct. Based on my reading of that, my knowledge of Southern California Edison. Um but we agreed given the community's um interest in getting this open.

Certainly. I'm an individual that lives not too far from here. I've noticed an uptick of traffic down G Street, down 7th Street, uh down the arterial streets in that area. Um, I believe IDI, you've talked to IDI and they've agreed to work with several businesses along that area, primarily the post office, uh, to reh help them rellandscape and with the city uh, for a scheme to help provide trees in the downtown area.

Yeah, we're happy to work with city staff and and neighboring businesses that are interested to um, you know, to to provide additional landscaping and beautify that corridor. It's least we can do. Look, we we don't want it closed any more than you all. We're anxious to get it going and we're happy to continue to be good neighbors in that regard. If that's the case, I'm prepared to support the extension of the closure provided we um direct u IDI to work with city staff and beautifying that area. I also have some photos of the uh the area I'm discussing. Would uh it be able to show those photographs? Okay. So, this is Redlands on the other side of the IDI project. Um can you show the next photograph? This is in front of the post office. I took this a few weeks ago when I was on a walk. I mean, I believe a portion of this is within the city rightway. Is that correct, Mr. Hill?

If I may respond to that. Sorry, excuse me. Yes, we have some right away within the uh within the planter area. Okay. And we'd be able to work to maybe even replace these palm trees with some shade trees. Kind of analogous to the ones on the other side. Match the other side of the street. Sure. If if that's the case, I'm prepared to support the extension of the closure. I know council mayor pro Tim Corona had some comments as well. Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, mayor. Um, so, so, so I did have qu uh a couple questions. I guys, this is not a hearing, so make your comments and let him come up and and speak when it's time. I mean, I I read already went off with Councilman R. I'll bring your questions later. Make

there's no questions because this is not a hearing. This is just this is calendar. Yeah. So, bring up your your comments and then I think he's one of our speakers. Is he on the list to speak? Did you do No, I didn't. I can I I can give you I was just responding to the fill out a print a comment card and then we'll have you come up and speak. Well, well, well, I guess I do have questions to our staff or whoever can answer it then. That's fine. You can sit down fill out a card though, Mr. Manville. Go ahead. So, I'm not sure who can answer it, but um I I know that we we closed we originally closed in I believe October, correct?

Well, we it was closed in 2024. 2024. That's what I meant. October 2024. And then in in October and in in quarter number four of 2024, SE sent them a sent a revision plan. That is correct. Actually, this project the design was going started in 2020. Uh okay. And then uh talk about the actual street closure. When did we close the street? Uh I believe it it was in October 2024. 2024 for when we I think it was only for 6 months at the time. It was Yeah. Yeah. I do remember that. And I thought six months was a long time. Okay. And then so when whence sent them the revision plans um did they did they continue working or did they stop working?

I think they initiated working and then in the process trying to get of course FAA got involved as well at the time. So uh they had to re do some basically a whole redesign. Okay. Basically the power poles had to be removed and all the cables undergrounded. Okay. So, my my concern is just just driving by there. I did uh drive by there recently, just kind of see the work. It looks like not much has changed in in more than a year. They've been sitting there. I feel like we could have had the street open the whole time for at least a year while we're just sitting there waiting. Is that is that not accurate? Some of the work has started. They did some work that they had to remove actually because of uh Metro Link and Southern California Railroad Authority.

Okay. So, it wasn't just I mean they were it was Edison. it was coordination with all these other agencies and entities as well.

Cuz I do agree with the Councilman Rabb. I mean I mean I I can't imagine being those the the residents that live on Seventh Street or the or just going to work even on on uh on Paris Boulevard. So many cars are just trying to get down there just to just to go what what they're trying to do. They're trying to get to the corner of Fourth Street and Redlands so they could go on the freeway and and and Ellis and Redlands was a common way for for traffic to go to. When we had the when the developers came to us, the public works committee, we were we were hesitant. I was hesitant, but I was thinking, well, it's going to take six weeks or six months. Now, here we are potentially going to two years. Uh we did the whole Nova Road uh bridge in less time than that. Yeah. That took about 10 months.

Yeah. So, I mean like we're we're taking so long and I get it wasn't all your fault, but so much of that time it was just sitting there empty. Nothing was happening. We could have opened that at that time. There's Krails right now, but as of right now, can we open it right now? Uh, well, no, because the crossing at the railroad, that's the that's the issue that we're trying to overcome and resolve and uh get that as soon as that portion gets done, the rest of it can be, you know, as I said, they're already working on installing some of the uh underground infrastructure.

Okay. So for for now now I totally get all all this part with uh with SoCal Edison but how much of that time how much of the delay was because of them when we could have potentially opened it up. Is is it are we confident that in in August is going to be opened up? Uh there are some there are some actually final design that are ongoing right now and uh actually we're going to start probably the initiating dialogue with Edison as well to see if you can get the easements uh that they need to provide get those uh executed. Okay. So are we allowed to get involved because I'm hearing we can't get involved. Well, we we will we will start in initiating dialogue and see how we can help to get the process going faster.

I guess question for city manager. Are we are we allowed to get involved at all or not? We can definitely assist and try to reach out to our leaison in Edison or anyone in those agencies. Have we been doing that? We have not today. We've been involved in the discussions and uh but I think we're going to get more uh but this whole time has has uh IDI ever reached out to us to say hey we we need some help on this. Um we have not been reached but we may they haven't asked us at all. Correct. Okay. And are we not allowed to ask IDA? I mean, if they're the applicant trying to It's not a hearing. We're not here to be going at Q&A.

My question would be for Mayor Pro Tim. What is the ultimate goal? Do you intend to impose the $1,000 penalty starting a April 17th when they complete it? I I think if we could maybe meet somewhere in the middle um maybe starting, you know, June, mid June at the very least. I mean, it's our it's our residents that are the ones paying the price. you know, they're they're not our residents aren't dealing with Edison. Our residents aren't dealing with IDI. And and keep in mind, we just we just we just approved a street closure on a separate item. And we had no problems with it because it had to deal with housing. We did a street closure for warehouses, you know, and um

I would say in the interm would you be okay with continuing the closure but limiting it instead of reg rather August 31st saying we'll come back um June 30th and then our late July meeting we will have a better well I guess June 30th we would need we would come back in our June meeting to see the status of try to get an update. Yeah.

And the next question would be the IDI is if they're okay with that. It just seems like that's where we're at right now instead of going back and forth and wasting everyone's time. And I see Mr. Monville raising his finger. So I if that's the case, I would make a motion that instead of extending the closure to August 31st, we extend it to June 30th and then we come back at our June meeting in early June. And at the same time, we direct we direct IDI to work with staff with the planting of trees in that area and then the downtown area. I think that's probably the best way we can move forward on this because if not we can we can try to put the 10,00 but I just don't think we have legal standing because there is a force majure cause in that contract that says things outside of their control right

and I think they make a compelling argument that Edison because I live down the street you know on seventh street they've been building these two duplexes right there the two twotory ones the reason that they have been rebuilding those for three years is because Edison has been very very slow on getting the connection to those twotory houses so I I I I I I read the materials. I've talked to them extensively and I do think it is outside of their control, but I understand your frustrations because there's a lot more traffic down G Street, a lot more traffic down Paris in order to move this forward. Um would you be okay with the motion to continue this? Yeah. If we bring Yeah. Yeah. I think that's a good compromise. Uh to to the end of uh June meeting. Yeah. Is it We don't have a I think it's early early June meeting. We have our early June meeting.

Why don't we do early June then? And then if we could finally work with them. I guess that I I'm just I'm just shocked after all this time they never reached out to us. Well, we did. I mean, even uh we tried to coordinate with Southern California Railroad Authority to see if we can have it uh like an interim uh improvement so we can open the roadway and they were not susceptible to that. They would not allow it.

Yeah. Now, I do appreciate Mr. Monville for reaching out. I I I I understand the frustration, but but nobody on your side has to drive on the roads on a regular basis like our residents do. So, um you know, I I think I think uh we we have to be the ones to speak up for our residents and and I myself getting to work every day, I see the traffic. So, thank you.

Um yeah, it's it's it's an issue. I when I go to uh the Rotary Club, it's I'm not completely blocked. I go down Seventh Street, I make a right, no, go down Redlands. I make a right street, a right turn on Seventh to G Street, and then I can cross over. So, it's not like they're completely blocked off. And this is totally not under the control of IDI. Yes, they probably should have reached out sooner. Some of us have contacts. We have government affairs folks with every entity that you're talking about. we could start pressing pressing uh putting some uh pressure with some letters and and calls to them to find out what's going on. It is a public safety issue because it is a railroad concern and that's huge and I would rather have our residents drive around. It's one block over to go down G Street. So, it's not that that big of a of an inconvenience uh for now. But again, as Councilman Rab indicated, there is a force majure clause. So, this is beyond their control. We can't we can't hold them accountable and start charging them $1,000 a day because because of another entity's responsibility. I don't see anybody else in the queue. So, um are you making the motion?

Yes, I'd make a motion rather than extend the closure to August 31st, uh we extend a closure to June 30th and then we address this matter during an open hearing at our upcoming our early June meeting. I believe it's June the 9th. and that staff that the developer work with staff uh to provide trees for designated areas within the downtown area. Oh, you guys want to punch in? Councilwoman, I mean uh motion by council mayor AB, second by Mayor Prom. Please call the vote.

Before I move on though, I want to Did you turn in the paper? Did you want to speak? Uh, Lou. Yeah. I'm sorry. I I should have called you up earlier.

Well, I understand that, but he can at least he heard all the comments, so he can

No, no. I listen, I I appreciate the c the frustration of the council. I I sit in traffic like you do. Nobody likes to do it. Um I I I will note um this is probably in in you know in addition to Edison you've probably got one of the most unique intersections because of the rail interface and state law is uh unbelievably resting as as John knows we offered the state multiple opportunities the railroad multiple opportunities. The only option is the closure and so we'll work with you. We're working expeditiously. We've been working with your staff bi-weekly on this for a year there those agencies can be a challenge. We'll continue to work and partner with the city and we look forward to doing what we can to continue to improve that corridor and and make it right for neighbors. So, we appreciate your feedback.

Thank you. 50 motion approved. What was the other one you pulled? 5H.

I don't know why it didn't work. Oh, there it is. All right. Next one is uh 10E. This was pulled by Councilman or Mayor Prom Rab uh Mayor Prom Corano. You want to go ahead and start off? No, I don't. I mean, I just want to hear you want to hear what I guess. Okay. Did we have any public comments on this for 10? Yes, we do. For 10E 10E. How many? 17. All right. Um, can we clock a minute and a half on this timer?

No, I'm I'm asking staff. Are you able to do a minute and a half, Nancy? Yes. All right, let's do a minute and a half. And uh All right, someone do the math. How much time is that total? 27 minutes. All right, so let's get this done, folks. Call out the first. There's three empty seats up front. If we can get three up people up here when she calls the names.

David Moore, Rita Rogers, JC Franco. Somebody left the phone. Right. Good evening, mayor. Um, members of the city council member. My name is David Moore and I'm a proud member of Labor's International Union of North America. I've been a Luna member for 14 years and today I'm here representing hardworking construction laborers who live in this county. This project represents good local jobs for skilled workers who help build and maintain our communities. Projects like this means families can pay their mortgages, support local businesses, and continue contributing to the local economy. Luna members and are trained highly skilled and committed to completing projects safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. When we support responsible developers that use union workers, you're investing in long-term success of this community. I respectfully urge the council to support this project so our brothers and sisters can continue to do what we do best, build this city and keeping our community strong. Thanks for allowing me to speak.

Thank you,

Rita Rogers. Good evening, mayor and council members. I am here tonight to voice my support for Harvest Landing, and also to share some past history to you. I support this project because it will bring hundreds of union jobs, new homes, infrastructure, soccer fields, a plethora of new and exciting retail shops as well as restaurants. a FedEx facility with salary ranges from 21 to $35 per hour, plus tuition reimbursement of up to $5,200 per year, which is a wonderful opportunity for our college students, a substantial tax revenues to help the city operate as well as progress. And I know Ernie likes that tax revenue, a potential new hospital, and lastly, financial guarantees by the developer. Now, on the past history, I have known and worked with both Tim Howard and Kevin Wolf for approximately 20 years. Tim Howard has a vast history of 16 completed projects throughout Southern California. His very first project here in Paris was a Paris Markham which was completed in 2013. His second project, Paris Logistical Center, was completed shortly after.

Thank you, Miss Rogers. That was quick. Thank you, JC Franco. Can you call the next three? Sandra Gil Ramirez, Haley Rosenbomb, Alicia Jones. Go ahead, Mr. Franco. Good evening. Once more, uh, city council, residents, uh, of city of Paris. Um, I just have three, uh,

I just have three quick points. Um, I I am a free marketer. I believe in business. I believe in what this country is built on, which is business members. Um, but I believe all of that should be done responsibly and with the best interest of the community. Um, number one, uh, the the parking lot should be covered just as we did here with Fosfield. You know, like the solar panels, that's that's an easy thing to do. That can be introduced into a second increment for the project. That's not impossible. Uh, I've been around construction for many, many years in my life. I was a framer for some time. That's point number one. Point number two, parcel hubs moving forward and including up to this one should be capped to be no larger than what is now in the city considered an official warehouse versus a parcel hub. Right. If if you were to and I would I would love to hear if you have u have conducted a study from your residents that can give you a solid answer between the differences of a parcel hub and a warehouse. They would not know. I would be amazed if you knew exactly what the distinction is. Your residents must know those things. Um, and my last item, Mommy's, no, that's not nice. Um, please protect protect my family. Uh, protect all those in the city who who whose voices are harder to hear, um, because they are being constantly misinformed and and would even be continue to be misinformed tonight. Thank you,

Sandra Gale Ramirez.

Hi. Good afternoon. Um, my name is Sandra. I am here for a class project for Cal State San Bernardino speaking about the warehouse development in city of Paris. I would like to speak about the growing number of warehouses in our community including many that are sitting empty while development can bring jobs to many um too many warehouses have also created concerns like traffic pollution and limited benefits for residents. Instead of um continuing to build more, we should focus on making better use of the spaces we already have. Empty warehouses could be transformed into community centers, um spaces for local small businesses, job training facilities, or even affordable housing. I asked the council to consider a more balanced approach that prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of our community while finding meaningful uses for existing buildings. Thank you.

Thank you. Haley Rosenban.

Good evening. My name is Haley and I am speaking on on a CSB CSUSB project regarding the lack of warehouse development education and awareness amongst residents. Recently, we conducted an online survey with 23 participants and over half marked not very knowledgeable about the ongoing warehouse expansion. 16 had no idea about the current motoriums. We have spoken directly to over 50 community members at public spaces with a majority of them unaware of how many warehouses are being developed while others stay empty or the effects of these projects and how they affect neighborhoods and health. It is concerning because the current moratorum expires this year and residents need to be aware of it to support the extension or more importantly push for more permanent policies. We urge the city council to recognize that residents cannot advocate effectively unless we increase outreach efforts utilizing multilingual material and accessible public information to ensure that everybody can understand the issue and that and their power to make a difference. This community is not against jobs or development, but they deserve a balanced approach with more options and regulations that protect their health, environment, and more importantly, their family's future. Thank you for your attention. We hope that you will support these ongoing education efforts.

Thank you. Thank you,

Alicia Jones. Hello, my name is Alicia and I'm with Cal State University San Bernardino on a project. Bill 98 was created to bring transparency to track what warehouses are doing, to monitor traffic, truck traffic, and to finally shine a light on working to conditions and environment impact. But let me be clear, none of that matters if companies are not being held accountable when they when they ignore it. Bill 98 needs strong visible enforcement, not option compliance, not delay action, not loopholes. We need real inspections, not just paperwork. Real consequences, finds that actually hurt when companies violate the law. Real oversight, so data isn't just collected, but actually used to protect communities. As someone going into clinical social work, I see this as more than policy. It's about justice. is about protecting communities that are too often overlooked, under represented and over and overburdened. We cannot continue accept growth that harms people. We cannot accept systems where a profit comes before health and we cannot accept a law that exists without being enforced. Bill 98 has the potential to create real change, but not only but only if we demand it. So the question is not whether Bill 98 is a good idea. The real question is, are we going to make sure it actually works? Because our communities deserve more than pro promises. We deserve action. We deserve protection and we deserve it now. Thank you.

Thank you. Call the next three.

Kathy Hernandez, Jerry Sapova, Laura Vasquez. Hi, good evening. My name is Katya. I'm a resident of Paris and a student at Cal San Bernardino. I'm here to speak on the impact of warehouses in our communities. Warehouses affect our everyday lives. It's not about the buildings, but what comes with them. Um, there are trucks driving through our streets, which causes traffic, safety issues, especially for those who live near them. Um, for the people who do live near those, this is a daily thing. It's not just annoying, but it can be dangerous, especially near neighborhoods or schools. On top of that, people are worried about air quality and how that affects our health. So, even though warehouses brings us businesses, um it is affecting our day-to-day lives. Thank you.

Thank you, Jerry Sepova.

Hello. Good evening, honorable mayor, council, and city. Uh, I'm Jerry Sapova, president of the Paris Valley Chamber of Commerce here in favor of Harvest Landing. Um, congratulations on the um, Tree City USA. That's a big deal. Uh, providing cleaner air for our city and our residents. Um, one thing I want to make sure as a resident, I'm also in favor of this. So, I'm just not as a president, but also raising my kids um, in in Paris. I'm also in favor of of this project. So, I want to just keep it short and clear. And then also I just want to make sure everyone knows no one on the dis owes me anything. So I just want to make sure this is just clear that I'm in favor and on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce with all the business that's going to be coming in obviously we're in favor. Thank you everybody.

Thank you. Laura Vasquez, Laura Vasquez, Felix Fernandez, Anthony Cruz, Rich Edwards, Riley, I'm sorry, Riley Edwards.

Good evening, council. My name is Felix Fernandez. I sent you guys an email a few weeks ago. I didn't get any response. Um I assume you got it. So, um first off, I want to say it's rude for you guys to have conversations, side conversations while um we're speaking. Um I'd like for you guys to listen to everybody because we don't get much time. So, um what I'd like to say is um in favor of Harvest Landing um I said in this email I addressed a lot of things and got no response. So, I don't know how you guys feel about this. I know how some of you guys feel, but with the jobs that this is going to offer, by voting no against it, you take a lot of jobs away. And I asked specifically, what do you have to replace the jobs for the community, the construction workers, the people that are going to build it and everything. So, by voting no, you're taking jobs away. Okay? And also, you hear about the Bloomington project a lot. That question's been asked and answered, so it needs to stop. Okay? Talk about the successes this man had. Don't use the 8020 rule against him. He's had a lot of successes. So, we need to stop all the negativity and just continue on with this project. So you guys just go ahead and I hope you did your homework this time and not just bring up garbage like you did last time because that was a bunch of garbage what you guys did by extending this to today. You guys had the opportunity to end it last month. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Anthony Cruz.

Hi, my name is Anthony Cruz. I'm a current I'm a resident here and have been a resident here for roughly six years. I've come to high school over here and I went to middle school here and I want to talk about the development that we've been seeing here in the city of Paris and I want to talk about a lot more about the jobs we are bringing. Yes, we are bringing construction jobs. Yes, we are bringing jobs for the warehouses and we are bringing jobs for the parasa hub as long as the jobs as well with the commercials. But we're also going to be expecting to lose the jobs. We have 17,000 We have lost 17,000 jobs in the span of the four years when we had automation AI when we came to logistic work and we have lost 1,600 jobs when it came to the Inland Empire when it came to the warehouses. Now we're going to see about 63% by 2035 of automation in our warehouses. We're going to lose jobs and but the jobs we are going to create here in the Inland Empire, we're lacking education in. So the jobs that are going to be here and are going to be replaced are not going to be available for the residents. They're going to be available where there is education. Los Angeles, San Diego. We need more education. If you want to bring warehouses here, if you want to bring any type of development, you invest in education. You invest into the public because the jobs that you are bringing are short term short term. We need to think about long-term development. We need to think about mixeduse development, not just warehousing. Hopefully, we get a big paycheck for the fi next five years. No, we need to think about long-term development. Stop sacrificing our health for short-term jobs.

Riley Edwards.

Good evening, Mayor Vargas and city council. My name is Riley Edwards. On the behalf of 433 Iron Workers, I'm here because I care about creating health and active spaces for kids and families in Paris. Harvest and Lending not only brings jobs and retail shops, but it also offers acres of of open spaces in potential 16.5 acres sports park. These are give these areas give children and families more opportunities to be active, practice sports, and enjoy outdoors. The projects include walking trails and new trees, making the community greener and more enjoyable to live in. Moving forward about delivering on what we already promised to the community. Paris deserve to see these benefits both uh e economical and recreational. I respectfully ask you to move forward with the harvest lining. Thank you.

Thank you. Bradley Trey, Maria Torres, David Corbaro. Uh, good evening, Mayor Vargas, City Council. My name is Bradley Tracy. I'm speaking on behalf of the uh brothers of 433. Um, in my life, I made a lot of questionable decisions. smartest thing I could do is get in with them, start a career, build things for the community. And this is what this project is doing. Um, it's not just bringing me a job. It's bringing a lot of people jobs, opening things for the community, um, allowing me to take care of my daughter. Yeah. So, if you can, you care about the community, if you care about the little dogs trying to do better for themselves, if you could push this forward, uh, it does a lot for all of us. So, thank you.

Thank you,

Maria Torres. Good evening. My name is Maria Torres. I'm in favor of this project because it's going to bring more good things than bad things. We've been asking for like Chase Bank for a lot of years to major Argus. And then um we need Olive Garden. We need all those shopping centers. I mean all those things that they're going to bring. And then another thing is that it's going to create more jobs. It's going to bring more things than bad. You put in a balance. is more things than bad. You know, the warehouse that they're going to bring or FedEx that they're going to bring is going to be a good thing. You know, it's going to be create more jobs and all these um project is going to be creating more job for that people on that uh unions and other people. So, I'm in favor of the project. I will ask you guys to please vote yes. Thank you.

Thank you,

David Corvo. Good evening, council, uh, members, uh, staff, and everybody here in attendance. I think it's not the first time we've been here. My name is David Cordo. As I mentioned, I'm a representative for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters and represent many of the members that live within this area. It's important to consider that the economy at this point it's very uncertain and for this developer to try to move forward and invest within the community I think that's a positive especially because it's going to be creating job opportunities not just for the local members but for our members as well. So I encourage you to please support this project. Thank you.

Thank you. Julio Flores, Andrew Meling, Katie McClendon. Good evening, mayor, council members, staff. My name is Julio Flores. I'm a representative for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters. Uh here we are again today uh for the fourth time, believe the same project. Uh we're in full support like my uh colleague mentioned earlier. Um this project with the uh developer uh harvest uh the harvest landing project is going to create plenty of jobs. Plenty of jobs that's going to uh help a lot of our members. I know I was having a conversation with one of our members in the back and uh she stated uh to be able to work close to home. What would that be? To be able to make it with my daughter and just be able to hang out with my daughter a little more than than on a usual night when I'm driving back from that late. So she's still here. She says she woke up at what 3:00 in the morning. Uh she's still here supporting the project. So these type of projects are going to help our members and along with many other uh in the construction industry have the opportunity to work close to home and spend time with their family members. So we strongly urge you to vote yes for this project. Thank you.

Andrew Meling. Good evening everybody. My name is Andrew Meling. I'm a representative with the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters. Um, I've been doing this for a long time and projects like Harvest Landing that we we're addressing tonight don't come around very often and when they do, they're very beneficial to communities. It's going to provide thousands of jobs hopefully. Um, sports park, all the housing that comes with it. It's a win-win situation for everybody. So, I strongly urge you guys to to to pass this project tonight. Thank you. Thank you,

Katie McClendon.

Greetings, Honorable Mayor Vargas, city council, city staff, and everyone in attendance. Um, I stand here as a very, very proud uh resident of the city of Paris, and I truly believe that we reach points in our lives that are pivotal. And I think that this is a pivotal point for the city of Paris and I am here in full support of the Harvest Landing project. I think that we need to set personal feelings aside and do what's best for our community. Nothing is ever perfect. Nothing is 100% perfect. But I truly believe that the benefits of this project far outweigh any concerns. So I urge you to approve this project. Thank you.

Thank you.

Carla Cervantes, Muhammad Ramen, Franco Pacheco, Julio Reyes. Hi, council. Carlos is here with Paris Neighbors in Action. As a resident of Paris, this developer is claiming to bring more than a quarter of the jobs that exist in Paris. Um, I ask you to put it in paper that the jobs he's promising will stay at least 30% in the perpetuity of the project because we see it all the time. False promises, marketing, and then AI takes over these draws. Put it in writing. As mentioned by students earlier, they are studying the proliferation of warehouses in our area, which I've been talking about for years. Put in writing these jobs won't be lost to AI. as the parent of the Valverde district who will pay who's going to pay for the replacement school that's going to be destroyed in order to make space for warehousing uh residents of Marino Valley me and Paris it's a very unique school it has tons of special education programs there are people leaving Paris because they're concerned about the air quality and finding jobs outside logistics it's just very difficult we want commercial sure and I've been saying it for a long time that we need commercial but I'm worried about what's around the commercial that's the concern here yes we do need these things and I understand because I've been coming here and saying that we need these things. However, not mentioning to residents that in support of this what's going to be around there, it's just taking too much of a risk with a developer that has been proven to screw over communities time and time and time again. Of course, he didn't do it in Orange County. That's where he lives. He does it in the IE where we live, where you guys live, where a lot of our carpenter union people live. So, I'm advocating for better air quality for all of us. Even though it seems like I'm against it, you guys need to put in better protections. Thank you.

Muhammad Ramen.

Uh good evening council. I come to support the harbor's landing project because they bring a lot of good pay union job. I'm representative branch 1100. I'm the union shopister. I'm working post office last 27 years and I'm doing the union. I know the how good is the union job is. Please don't miss this opportunity and approve this job because the pedex have paidex job is a union pay good union paid job. You know we need the union paid job. I working last 27 years as a male carrier. I know how good the union job is. My wife also work post office. We know we both working the post office. We know the union job how good it is. So pedex is not like the other warehouse. It's kind of distribution like a post officeish. They bring the package and they distribute the other city. So you guys already approved so many white house. Why not this one? This one bring the good pay union job. Please please approve this one. Thank you.

Thank you. Franco Pacheco.

Uh, good evening, city council. My name is Franco Pacheco with LA Valley Alliance and also with Paris Neighbors in Action. Um, I just want to thank Nava and AJo for standing their ground and looking out for the best interest of the Paris residents. when this project started uh it was going to be eight uh giant warehouses. And I also want to say Corona, what are you doing, man? I seen a campaign video of him speaking in front of Valverie Elementary School concerned about this project, but when it came down to it, it was fine. So, I just want to make sure um that's said. And then uh also the AI data center clause in the project, we should restrict it to prevent AI data centers from being built in the uncertain phases of this project. Thank you.

Thank you. Also, there's a phone up here. I don't know who this is. Julio Reyes.

Hello. Good evening. My name is Julio Reyes. I'm here representing Kicks FC and the Paris Soccer League. Um, as you guys all know, we have a partnership with uh with the fields here and we're pretty we're we don't have enough room for for our kids, for our families. So, we're using uh Marino Valley College and uh Mount Sosinto College for their field usage and it's been great uh partnership and we actually got Marino Valley College thanks to uh Tim. So, that's been great. um with these partnership we've been able to show our families like the right route you know about JO and and uh that we have them here locally. So that's been a huge step for us forward. Um so as you know we're all supporting the the project especially with uh us not having field space. Um not only that but we understand that there's pros and cons to every project right but this has to be the biggest project that our city or community has had. So, we for sure think the pros overweigh the cons by a mile. So, you guys know the city, the community, we all want this, not just for the fields, but for the restaurants, for the jobs, for it all. So, again, we're here supporting it. Thank you.

Thank you. That is all. All right, back to you. Comes Mayor Pro Tim. Well, ju just uh just comments uh or no no a couple questions. Um since our last uh uh meeting, city manager, for transparency purposes, what has changed? Well, I'm going to uh have uh Kenneth Fun go over that. Um I don't think you you're asking for a presentation. I think we're just looking for a summary of the changes the uh changes to the project or anything that's been added as part of the development agreement.

Yes. Um Council member Corona, let me just briefly go over that with you. Um, so the changes that have been included is since there was a concern about um just wanting to make sure there's a priority for housing since that um last meeting uh housing is permitted by right in the phase 1 MBU which is the 68 acres. Uh the plan in that area already 615 units uh in that area which allow addition housing. In addition, the developer is making an additional contribution of $2 million within 90 days of the project approval to go towards first home buyer um down payment program that will be administered by the city. Um in addition um just to um further encourage u just give the city option for commercial uses. any commercial uses such as recreation manufacturing will require a CUP and will be subject to city council approval which is beyond the typical planning commission. Um this would give the council flexibility in the event that there's an op there's an commercial use that would be u amendable to the council that the council might want would like to support. And in addition, the developer and now includes in the development agreement a $5 million uh contribution towards a future aquatic center for the city. So those were the additional terms that have been included since the last uh second reading meeting.

Okay. Thank you. Um so so so I do have some comments uh real quick. Um I'll try to I'll try to be brief. I I I I do notice that we do have some uh some new um uh people here. Um, so I I I know I said in the last two meetings, um, but I do fully understand the controversy behind this this specific project. Uh, I want the public to know that in my opinion, we have worked a great deal to get the best we possibly can for our residents. Um, we we have worked with the developer to to uh to hold the developer to the highest possible standards. And and I'm really confident I'm very confident that we have received by far by far the most community benefits for any project in the history of our city. And uh you know ju just adding to that we we it looks like we added more. So what are some of those things? Over 500 or close to 500 square feet of commercial development, a 16 acre sports complex, $22 million of subsidies to bring commercial, right? which which which we're not in a position to to be doing that to be bringing uh commercial and retail um using subsidies um all the infrastructure which I think added about to $90 million 40 acres at least to be allocated for a future hospital and then also putting housing putting housing as a priority and then since our last meeting because I know it was mentioned before how come we just didn't improve it last time why are we wasting everyone's time I'll tell you Okay. Since that time, my colleague, Councilwoman Vjo, was able to meet with the developer and she was able to get for our city and our residents $2 million for firsttime home buyer program and $5 million for a future aquatic center. So, I think that's well worth the wait and

and and I'm not sorry for uh for for waiting uh for that time. So, I I I I want to um commend you for doing that. And so, so I just want to make it clear, it's not just empty promises. All this stuff has been written down. We've had our lawyers look over it. We've we've gone over this because I'm I'm I have the concerns that many of our residents do. Are these just promises? And Yeah. Yeah. So, I'm concerned about that. So, we had we made sure we had everything written down. Um so for the the residents who who are Oh and and also if if he doesn't if he doesn't um go along I guess with the development agreements, there are very steep penalties that that that you know I'm sure I'm sure we're going to make sure that he uh he pays those uh penalties if if they don't if they don't uh adhere to the to the community benefits. Now for those that hate big buildings, right? I I hate them too, right? We all hate him too. So I don't think there's really much I could say to you to convince you. So at the same time as you might be asking why why are you doing this? Why why not just deny it? What what's you know the pros and cons, right? If we were to deny it right now, the developer because of the of the uh what's what's currently zoned right now, they could build several many 99,000 square foot warehouses all along the 215, which will add more more square more warehouse square footage than what's currently being being uh proposed right now. So if if you're not a fan of warehouses, then then I think I think this project is actually better than than saying no. At the same time, it's not going to come with the community benefits. It's not going to come with the development agreements, and at the same time, it doesn't come with a covenant that we were very adamant about putting to prevent future warehouses in the future. So he can't build warehouses in the future if he wanted to. Now, I

just want to be transparent. Anything that we put in there, any covenant that we we put in there could be reversed by any future council. So if you have three people up here that are pro warehouse that that that likes to accept warehouse money, it could be reversed. So I just want to make that clear. But as of right now, as it stands right now, he can't build any future warehouses. Um I do want to address address an issue. So in in 2020, um there was a proposal to put seven warehouses from Novo Road all the way to Placencia and it was horrendous and there was people that supported that. There there's people in this audience right now that supported that project. So I was very adamant that that cannot happen. What I'm what we're voting on today is not that project. We're talking about we're talking about I think it was 3.5 million square feet of warehouses. Right now it's 400 a little bit more than 400,000 square feet. So I I want to make that clear that we're not talking about the same project. This project I believe is a win. I understand it. I understand the controversy. I don't I don't like big buildings either. I don't like the trucks going through it, right? But I do believe that that by by denying this, it actually sets us up for future problems in the future. And that's why um I I am I am in support of this project. I'm ready to move forward. I think we've done enough uh from to to get as much from the developer as we possibly can um with with all the work that we put to ensure the best possible plan. Um, you know, it's it's it's I do think about the the past projects that we didn't get anything for, right? I mean, we just had something not too long ago where we're we're trying to trying to almost beg the person to give the to bring the commercial that they promised us 10 years ago and here we are. We're we're making sure we're going to get it. So, you know, I think it's amazing what can happen when when the

council when we start to put um our residents before our own campaign funds. So, I I think moving forward it sets it sets a good standard. Um hopefully we're not back here a lot for for for some of these projects. So, I'm looking forward to uh supporting this. That's it. That's all. Thank you, Councilman R.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor Vargas. I'd like to thank all the speakers for coming out and sharing their thoughts today. Um, as I mentioned at the February and March meeting, I do believe that this project with this commercial aspect is well worth us supporting it. Not only are we going to be getting a Sam's Club, there's also a Sprouts, a Chase Bank, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden, and many other commercial facilities in that area. I think we've worked with the developer over the last few years, particularly over the last three months to get this project that is palatable and will benefit the community as a whole. Regarding the FedEx facility, I think a lot of people are um classifi mclassifying that as a warehouse, but it is classified as a parcel hub per our municipal code. I had an opportunity to visit a FedEx facility four years ago with the developer in October of 2022. There are people working in that facility. There are people making decent wages in that facility. So, I think we're too focused. We're too apologetic about that. The good benefit of that facility is that the workers that work there, when they have their lunch, when they get off of work, they have the commercial right there. They have the Sam's Club to gas up at, to go in and buy supplies at. They have the sprouts to go in and get healthy food at. We're working on getting the soccer the soccer club, the soccer facilities as part of the mandate of building that. So, I think it's imperative that we move forward on this. Things are changing by the minute in our nation's economy. I mean, when we first heard this in February, we weren't at war with Iran. Now we're at war. The Straight of Hummus is opening and closing every few days. So I think it's imperative that we lock this down, that we lock it down for the commercial development, that we move forward on this. This is the one of the biggest commercial developments we've seen in the city of Paris in years, possibly decades. I think the Windco was actually the extension of the Super Walmart. Super armor opened in 2015 with all the attendant stores opening up sometime in 2017 around there. So this is one of the biggest facial facilities we've seen open up over the last year.

We have the warehouse moratorum. We're working on uh prohibiting AI data centers within the city. So we've done we have the good neighbor policy that have all been extended or enacted over the last few months. So with that, I do believe we've protected ourselves. As Councilman Corona mentioned, the original plan that was approved at the beginning of the 201s does not prohibit the the developer from building warehousing in that area. Regarding the Bloomington issue, I think we're discussing uh apples and oranges. Paris is an incorporated city in Riverside County. We have city staff here. We have municipal code. Bloomington is an unincorporated community in another county, San Bernardino County. They are governed by the board of supervisors. From my understanding, a lot of county planning departments have a lot of turnover. People are moving into the private sphere. People are moving into municipal government. So they don't have the same uh dedication and and attention to detail that the city of Paris has and the city of Paris council has because we represent smaller areas. We even though we represent boards or districts we go throughout the city that might not be the case at the city the county level especially a county that is one of the largest the largest county in the country in the continental United States. So I think given everything that mayor pro Tim Corona has discussed everything we've discussed over the last few meetings ad nauseium I am prepared everything that's in writing it's all in the agenda packet so feel free to peruse that during your free time to show everything that we've mandated the developer to do I'm prepared to support this now to get this project built to start receiving the sales tax revenue from this project. Thank you.

Thank you Valo.

Yes. Uh thank you mayor. Um, what I do want to be more clear about is I am um thankful that some of my uh council members have agreed to extend it because it gave me more time to to really assess the whole situation. I've said it before and I've said it many times. I do not like the parcel hub only because it's at the peak of where the freeway is. Like we should make our city look more beautiful and having a parcel hub does not make it any better. and we and I want more higher paying jobs for our um community. But thinking from then, I feel like everyone knew where this vote was heading. Like it was always going to get a majority of the vote. I feel like we can all think about that. Like that's that's just where it it was headed. Like we like I I I was always going to be on the losing side. But I wanted to make sure that, okay, I don't want to pout and be mad and just be like, "Okay, fine." I wanted to be more proactive and be like, "Well, what can we do since this project is is going to pass anyways? What can we do to at least make sure we get the full benefit for you guys?" Cuz that's my job. My job is I have a seat at this table. So regardless of how any situation goes, my job is to make sure that you guys get all like the amenities and the services that that you guys don't have yet. And so far, I was very happy to um have $2 million to help with first-time home buyers assistance program. I've said it. Thank you. I've said it ever since I started this council that I am your council member and I can't even afford a home. I I can't I still live with my parents cuz I can't afford one. So to so to know that I that we can give you guys that opportunity, that's what I care about more. And I completely understand the environmental quality like I am a huge in like environmentalist. I care about the air quality. I feel like no other

city in the Inland Empire is thinking about how terrible it's causing our bodies. But the more I think about it is I need I need you guys to step up with me. Like I can't be the only one here fighting like like after this next election I'm pretty much the sole vote here. No, no one is there supporting me and and it's and it's people like me where I might have to leave too because I have no one to to back it up with me. But if you guys can come be on this seat and on this table with me, we can make Paris and we can really change it to the way that we wanted to. I I really hope you guys consider running because that's what I want you guys to do. And I know it's hard and I know there's a lot that goes into it. But if you guys are there with me, we can literally make Paris better because it's not going to look good in the next few years. And I just want to make sure that you guys are getting all the services that that you guys really want. And I hope all cities now in the Inland Empire can look at Paris and be like, "Dang, they got a lot out of this developer." Like, we did get a lot out of it. And I am very impressed. I'm just I can't like I can't believe we actually do that. And it is possible. I just really want you guys to really understand that. I have thought about this truly. I don't like the Parcel Hub. I love the commercial. I just don't like it. I don't like the project. But now that it has already passed and then now it is at a second reading. I feel like we did I mean I still think we could do more but I don't have the votes for it and we don't have and like I don't have the full support to go through. But if I can get you guys as change makers, as the young progressives that you guys are, we can make Paris better and we can turn around. But I just need your guys' help because if not, this is how it's always going to be. This is how it's always going to be. And I hate it, but that is how politics works. and and unfortunately to really be into

politics, you really have to work with the people you don't like or or the people that you hate just just so the community gets all all the benefit out there. So I I really hope that you guys see that the commercial is the best part about it. I love it. I do not like the parallel hub, but we have to unfortunately move forward with it. But I hope I gathered as much as I can for the little experience that I have on here. Jo uh just so you you guys can have a little bit more success in this city living here. That's it. Thank you,

Councilwoman.

Thank you, Mayor. This is a highly controversial project. So, I truly appreciate the time and dedication for us to truly deliberate on what we are um discussing here. So, a great thank you to all our public comments. This is uh unusual for us to go on to what we'd call a third reading, right? Um but as my colleague uh has already stated, the writing is already on the wall. But since we first heard about this item, there have continued to be several updates. So, I'm hoping that I could receive and I'm sure the public would like to know uh because we are interested in the commercial component of this. Could we review exactly who is set to come as far as a commercial component? Is staff able to do that or would we have to require that from the applicant?

Um the applicant would be more appropriate to This is not this is not a hearing again folks. This is a consent calendar item and we've gone over this I don't know how many months. So if you have it uh Kenneth please pitch it out. If you don't we got to move forward. It's not a hearing. I I can go off the things that I remember. So

okay. So just sorry Kenneth not to put you on the spot. I understand this is not a public hearing and it is on the consent calendar but since our last meetings we have been updated that Olive Garden will no longer be a part of this project and anyone feel free to chime in if I am wrong. Um so we continue to hear that that is that correct? I'm sorry. Olive Garden has pulled out. Um that's what we're told by the developer. Um but we have not heard that from I've not heard that from Olive Garden directly. Okay. That's not That's not it. Sit down, please. All right.

The one that's not The one that's pulled out is Panera Bread, not Olive Garden. That's the latest that I received. And I gave up on Panera Bread. I don't know how many times. This is like the fourth tribe we've been trying to get them. They keep coming and going. So, okay. Five now. Thank you for clarifying that.

So, so that just reinforces my point, right? But I know that the argument here by my colleagues is that and I quote that community has been crying, not my words, community has been crying for commercial and yet between the first reading and now we continue to hear pullback and I'm not sure that my colleagues know exactly which retail components are coming. I heard a mention about a chase. We don't know that. we have nothing in contract by the applicant and that is very unusual for us to make decisions when there aren't any signed contracts when it's very vague and I just want to reiterate that it's very vague for a reason but I'm not sure if those changes in retail will have my colleagues waiver on their decision because I know that the advocacy here is the push for retail right but I'm not sure when they draw the line once we continue to hear that these retail components are now dropping and again um Mr. Howard as a business owner I know you are pushing for what is best for for your you know your interests and whatnot and again as a council we also have to uh push for our community's interest and and there's no no uh nothing wrong in what Mr. Howard is doing. He's a businessman, right? He's going to push for whatever is more profitable that will stick and be approved. Um, and so I believe as a council we also have to weigh what residents have been mentioning as far as pros and cons and finding that delicate balance. Um, and I don't know about you, but I can't put a price on clean air, quality of our air, increased traffic. A lot of our residents are commuters. We haven't even discussed or touched on how many semi-truckss will be coming in and out of this parcel hub. There's studies that mention that it will be four to five times higher increased volume than a regular warehouse. So, I'm not sure about you, but those who commute in and out of Paris, do you want to sit in your

car for longer? Do you want to miss out on family time like our union workers mentioned? So, these are just again the delicate balance that we have to question. And I'm sorry that it this is uh just a one-sided, but again, this is a consent calendar item and there doesn't seem to be much room for discussion. Um, and on the on this item, we mentioned that the developer will be required to do the due diligence as far as filling the future phase of the hospital. What does that due diligence entail? And this is a staff questions. Do we have any oversight committee? Are there any benchmarks, any deadlines to make sure that the applicant will be truly fulfilling those obligations?

At this point, as required in the DA, there is a 10-year lock on the northern 40 acres to allow the applicant to complete the due diligence and attract a hospital. That's the um the stipulation in the DA.

Okay. But there's no oversight committee who's in charge of making sure that the applicant is attending conferences or negotiating. So, it's just that's what that's what also drives me to have my reservations is that again it's very vague. There doesn't seem to be any oversight on some of these things. And just to make it really clear, I know our community really wants commercial. I know we really want some of the things on this project are very attractive to our to our community, but again, then we have a parcel hub tied up to it. Um, so I know the park is also a crucial component of this project and I truly hope that Lacademia has had all the weighin that they can in order to make sure that this project meets uh and satisfies those requirements because on this side again we haven't seen any plans as far as the park. We don't know if it's turf grass. We don't know if there's a playground attached to it. It's again just there's there's nothing that obligates the developer to build and and meet you know those criterias. It seems to be very vague. The key word is vague. Um there was talks from our public regarding solar panels. Uh I'm just wondering if that's something that was ever addressed with the applicant.

No. Is that something we can entertain with the applicant as far as solar panels go? Um, Councilwoman Nava, um, this is a second uh the third second reading um, at this point unless you continue. I mean, I I don't I'll refer that to our city attorney. Well, this is the second reading and um, I I think everything has been negotiated. So unless the mayor wants to allow the applicant to come up and respond to this, it's not a hearing, but the mayor definitely has discretion to allow the applicant to respond to the council woman's question.

Regardless of the requirement, there's there's an airport, so um would have to include airport restriction requirements, too. Yeah. What we've extended this too long. We need to get this finalized.

No, I agree. It's it was just a comment that was made today that I don't believe had been addressed. And then there was also a comment made regarding empty warehouses. We have so many. I just wish the applicant could have taken advantage of one of those empty warehouses and made that retrofitting in order to make the FedEx parcel hub work out of there out of already an already approved project. Um, and then another comment, I believe I' I've uh touched on some of the ones that really stood out to me, but there was another comment made as far as long-term development. And just to throw it out there, um, our city is expected to grow. We have approved housing coming to our city and those that are have been yet to be approved. Our city is growing with families whose median median income will be much higher in order to afford these high um cost of living, high mortgages, high rents. Businesses are highly attracted to those rooftops and you know as I mentioned the income will also be going up. With projects like the like the one today, I'm worried that we're not thinking long term and rather than moving growth to a positive direction, we're going to t deter away from prospective businesses who'd be looking at our city of Paris as a as a profitable profitable city for them. Um, and not only that, but I know I wouldn't want to have a warehouse as my neighbor. I wouldn't want to have a a parcel hub as something that isn't, you know, I look out my window and that's what I would see. And I doubt anyone here in this room would like to have their views obstructed by any type of industrial warehouse type parcel hub facility. Um, and that's what it seems like we're attracting. We continue to push this direction and and at at some point every resident here in Paris will have some kind of view to something that is unsightly. And this is why we have to have 14 ft walls in order to try to hide something that you really can't hide because again we know that the impacts are significant and avoidable and the

things that you can see like air quality will also be affected. Um and there was also a comment made by Mr. Felix. Um I offered to meet with you in person and over the phone. You turned me down. Um, so those are my comments regarding that and the rest of the comments you made I will not address because my mother quite frankly worries me better than that. Um, and so my concerns continue to stem from the vagueness and lack of transparency that is being done here in our DSO. Um, I'm worried that by approving these 70 acres, the applicant can very well much come back and continue to approve similar type uses like the parcel hub. And all it takes, like council member Cronis said, is three people that like to accept warehouse money. So, there really is no guarantee that the growth we see here will continue to go in line with parcel hub. So, those are my comments for now. Thank you.

Thank you. Um, Kenneth, what's the covenant for not not being able to build homes or house or warehouses in the future to 20 years? Uh, this indefinite indefinite, but that can be reversed. That would have to come back for city council approval. Okay. At any rate, but we have we got Sorry, I was just going to say, Mr. Mayor, but there's a provision in there that says the applicant shall not ask for it to be reversed.

Very good. Thank you. So, yeah, I just it's it just baffles me how long we have to continue enduring this this uh battle for this fantastic project for this community that the majority of the community or those who have met the surveys what have you have have supported this project. Um the initial I think Mayor Portimment mentioned it but it it was close to 4 million square ft of warehouses that this was project was originally going to bring and it's now down to 390,000 square foot partial hub. Partial hub being it's the last mile of delivery. You're not going to have a bunch of 18 wheelers coming in and out there. Yes, there will be some 18 wheelers delivering the final packages and then being delivered to our residents uh in electrified vehicles. uh which are paying uh union jobs. FedEx is a union employer, so these are good paying jobs with great benefits. Um yeah, I know so far Panera Bread left and the longer we keep on delaying this, yeah, we're going to lose more people because they're tired of waiting. This should have been resolved two months ago or three months ago, whenever the second reading should have been done. the developer has met all these obligations or demands that this council has asked for. Way above the norm. I I just can't believe how much he has given into this council for this project. $90 million alone in infrastructure. We don't That's our That's our budget, folks. That would take decades for this city to develop that kind of infrastructure. And that's who builds out our infrastructures, not just warehouses, but home developers and commercial developers.

And everybody's f and not everybody. Those who are negative about this project are focused over 390,000 square feet and assumed to forget all the retail that wants to come to this city. Yeah. He can't have a signed uh PSA, purchase sales agreement, because until he gets this project approved, but he's got letters of interest. Folks have come to this meeting saying they're ready to come. They've come to us at IC ICS, the International Council Shopping Center. So, what's what's the hold up? Why are we waiting? We're ready to go to in Paris, the park, 600 homes, but we're all worried about this partial hub. forget about all these other amenities that he's bringing to this city that everybody's been crying for. Every time we make a ribbon cutting, we want Chase, we want this. I mean, they just throw out. And you all know that up here on this dice. We're all on Facebook and you see the demands that this council is doing. And here we have this opportunity to do this. And yet we are prolonging uh this second reading because we need to we we're confused. We need to learn more. this man is just given a lot of and has met these demands s significantly. Uh and I I don't want to be beat around the bush. We've done that before. So, um at this point, I'm looking for a motion to approve this.

All right. If you can wrap this up so we can get this going. Uh Mayor Portim. Yeah. So I I I think some of the questions uh some of the comments that my colleague uh uh Nava kind of mentioned um uh you know about that that uh there's certain commercial that are pulling out. I wasn't aware of that. The staff never let me know about Panera. Is Panera do we not know? Uh we have not heard that.

Okay. Because because a big portion of this as a mayor stated was because of the commercial. I mean I mean it's the only thing that's really selling everything, but if we're going to have people pulling out, that's kind of concerning to me. Um, but I I do want to make it clear and and I don't think I mentioned that, but if maybe our city manager can elaborate. Um, what is the requirement that the developer has to uh construct and then how much has to be occupied and what happens if it doesn't occupy it? Do we have a contingency for that? Uh, yes. Uh, Mayor Prom, the developer is required to construct about 340 300 how many square feet? 326,000

326,000 square ft simultaneously at the same time when the FedEx building is under construction. That is out of the total 424,000 ft. So about 70 80% of the commercial must be constructed at the same time as the parcel hub. That's minimum. Additionally, the uh the the constructed commercial must be occupied and fully operational for $194,000 square feet of that uh over 300,000 ft of construction. If it's not, the developer shall pay to the city $15 million at such time until $194,000 square feet are fully occupied.

Okay. And then the concern I had was, hey, maybe it's cheaper just to pay us off. So, what happens as time goes on? Do we have a contingency for that? Um, additionally, the developer is required to pay a million dollars a month until he meets that requirement.

So, after after one year, we would get an additional $12 million. So, we do have a contingency plan. If if they did decide to to pull out and kind of bamboozle, guys, I've thought about this stuff, right? I thought about this stuff. I'm not paid off by the developer, right? I want to I want to fight what's what's important for our residents. Um, you know, I I I I care deeply about it. I understand it's controversial issue, but you know, I I I do think it's it's it would be worse if we did nothing. It would be worse for the people who are against uh warehouses and large buildings. It would be worse if we did nothing because they're going to build it and we're not going to get all this other stuff, too. So, I'm ready to move forward. Thank you.

All right. Looking for a motion, please. I have a motion by Councilman Tart. A motion by Councilman Rabb and a second by Mayor Prom. Please call I'm tired, man. Mayor Mayor Prom Corona, please call the vote.

VJO Corona Rab Vargas, yes. Nava, no.

Thank you. The motion uh finally passes. All right, I believe that clears up the consent calendar. We just had two items, right? Give a couple of minutes here to let the traffic uh clear out. Let's just take a fivem minute break, folks. I'm happy.

All right. So, now we're going into our public hearings and we are down to our last hour. So, we do have some time sensitive issues. I'm going to ask staff to push 11B to uh Can we say the next meeting or do you have to figure that one out? Uh yes, it would be uh date specific so we don't have to readvertise. Okay. So what's the date for that? Tell me somebody who's the next meeting. Oh, this month. Okay. Um, so if I get someone to uh make that motion for me, please uh Mayor Prom, are you making that motion?

I'm sorry. I I never heard what item. Sorry. Hearing 11 11 Oh, it's 11B. I'm sorry. I skipped 11A, didn't I? 11. 11 A. All right. I'm sorry, guys. I just jumped the gun. We'll get to that. Let's do 11 A cuz that's that's

Yeah. No, thank you for that. Okay. 11 A is a is a consideration to continue the general plan amendment 23-05247 a zone change 2305245 plan development overlay zone 23-05246 tenative track map 23 05244 TTM 38775 and the development plan review 23-000019 which is continued from the February 24th 2026 meeting to the May 26 to the May 26, 2026 city council meeting. A proposal to facilitate the development of Aasia Point, a 140 unit town home style condominium project on 11.6 acres located south of Newable Road and east of Wilson Avenue. The applicant is Ryan Rusley from Dr. Horton. This is introduced by our uh director of development services, Mr. Kenneth Fun. Yes. The the applicant is requesting a continuence as you mentioned to May 2626 to work out an agreement with one of the property owners

down to one property owner. Madam clerk, was there any request to speak on this item? Yes, sir. L Gomez.

Hi, my name is L Gomez. I'm here because I'm still waiting on them to let me know what's going to happen with my property. I just got an email yesterday from a whole month that I just got an email yesterday saying that give them until Monday. And that's just what they keep on saying. Every time it's Monday, nothing. I don't get no emails. I email them again and they just, oh, give me another day. That's all they do to me. And I haven't got no no good response from them. And I'm not the only one. There's another person that they haven't did anything with her property. Thank you. Thank you.

Do you know the last person that they got to work out? We are only aware of one, but we'll reach out to Dr. Horton to double check if there's another one. Anybody here from Dr. Horton? Mr. Mayor? Yes. Just point of technicality. I don't think you opened the public hearing. So we can can you declare that you opened it, please? Thank you. No, you're right. Thank you. I'm going to open up the public hearing at uh 9:02.

Mr. Mayor and members of city council, thank you for your patience this evening. It's been a long night, hasn't it? I'm Dan Boyd, Vice President Dr. Horton for entitlements. Um, we do appreciate the communities and the council's patience in this matter as we still continue to work out uh all the legalities of this project with respect to some of the homeowners and there are more than one outstanding. So, we're still working feverishly under advice of legal counsel. I'm not able to go into any of the specifics, but trust us, we own the property. We're looking forward to develop it and we looking forward to come back here for the final approval. Thank you. I I appreciate your comments, but um you know, we have constituents we have to look after. You can have a seat.

Thank you. And this woman's been here before. What was your name, ma'am? Was it Rosa somewhere? Loose. Do me a favor. Come on up to the podium. So, when you send an email, you have you been in sending emails or no? Yes. Okay. When you do send emails, I need you to attach my name to that. Mayor, mayor, I do have your info at city of Paris.org. Please, I have it. Please include me in it. Okay, I'll CC all of you guys. No, listen to what I'm saying. Just include me. I don't want to violate any Brown Act. Okay, just include me. I will.

And so we can see that you are responding what what what's going back and forth because we need to get this resolved. Okay, I will do that. Thank you so much. Thank you, Angela Martinez. How many speakers did you have on this? That is all. Oh, come on up, Angela. You could please bring Angela, pull down the microphone closer to you, please. Do you need an interpreter?

See, mto Okay. Okay. I'm here because I came in February. I spoke to somebody in regards to the damage that was caused to my property. I was told that I needed to have another evaluation because what I had done uh was too high.

I had the other evaluation and I sent it but uh up to this point I haven't received any information. I sent a letter uh because they came to evaluate the house and then I was sent information saying that they did not cause any damage that my house was already damaged. I don't remember these people coming before the work was started uh for them to come and ask for permission to evaluate my house. And so they said uh that they have nothing to do with the damages to my home. But I think that they don't live in my home. They didn't come before the work started to evaluate my home. So, they don't know if my house was damaged.

I have videos on how they were passing by near my house with their machines and how they were how they would zoom by. And it seemed like they were uh racing each other with those big machines close to my home. In this letter, I sent information saying that they cannot decide whether uh they damaged or did not damage my home. If they cannot fix things with me and do it correctly, then I think a judge should be the one who decides if the house is it needs to be corrected.

Now another thing they are thinking of putting up a fence next to ours. And between both fences there is going to be a small space. I took images now that it rained.

It's full of weeds there now. Now, who's going to go in there and clean that up? When the rain comes, there's going to be weeds. There's going to be trash.

When there's trash there and weeds, it's going to get infested with rats, uh, roaches, all types of animals. those animals are going to be coming over to our homes because it's going to be so close. The trash, the weeds, and all the trash there. What I would like to know is who is going to be in charge of cleaning that area because I wouldn't want my house full of rodents, full of animals, and full of weeds.

Yes, that's all. Tell her thank Gracias. Hold on. Would you explain to her that a staff member is going to talk to her? All right. You said that was it? Yes. Okay. Uh, council, the request is to I'm sorry, what was the request? They want to continue. Was there to May 26? So, if there's no comments or someone wants to make that motion council, Mayor Prom, you're making the motion. Oh,

I have a motion by uh Mayor Prom Con Corona and second by Councilman Rabb. Please call the vote.

50 motion approved. Thank you. Continue to May 26. All right. Now, the 11B I was mentioning to uh we're going to push that to the date specific to April 28th because of our timeline here. So, if I can get someone to make that motion. And I did ask you, Mr. Mayor, I'm so sorry. I didn't close the public hearing. You you didn't close the public hearing and then you would have to open the public hearing in this one and close it before you continue it too. Sorry. That's okay. It's late. Um so, I need to close the public hearing at 9:12. Thank you. I'm done with that one now. Right.

All right. Now, I'm going back to 11 C B and I want to open the public hearing at Thank you. 912. Madam Cler, do we have any requests to speak on this item? No, sir. Very good. We're going to close the public hearing at 9:12 still. And um as I mentioned before, I'm going to I'd like to move this to the May 28th date specific. So So question, are we also moving item C? We haven't got to see yet. But no, we have to hear site item C. This is just 11B right now.

Did I mess up again? No, no, no, no. You're right. But I'm just wondering why are we moving item B? It's not time sensitive and we're running out of time and I got a lot more on my calendar to deal with. This is this is protected by your moratorum so it's not time sensitive. Okay. Um Okay. So I'm looking for a motion on that. Make a motion to continue this to the April 28th meeting. I

have a motion by Councilman Rav, second by Mayor Pro Tim Corona. Please call a vote. Who didn't vote me? I It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday. It's been a long week. It's only Tuesday. 50 motion approved.

Thank you. I'm sorry, folks. Okay. Um item 11 C C is to consider the to adopt the first reading of the proposed ordinance number next in order to update the transportation uniform mitigation fee most commonly known as TUMF program to include the construction cost index CCI adjustment for fees on all developments in the city of Paris and adopt proposed resolution number next in order to amend and update the fee schedule applicable to the temp program to include a construction cost index adjustment and this is going to be introduced by our director of development services Mr. Kenneth Fun.

Uh good evening mayor members of the city council. This will be presented by Gus Lu Lua our building and safety manager. All right, welcome Gus.

Hi, good evening council members and city staff. Um I'm going to just do a quick presentation. Uh basically it's up to bullet points of what the program entails. And basically this is a um proposal to do a resolution and a ordinance amendment for our tone fees. So just a bit of background um the city is a member of the western regional uh county of governments which is ARCOG. Um for those of you familiar uh the city council did adopt a fee change back in 2025. Arcog um recently contacted city members which is consists of 18 agencies and uh presented a proposal to update the ordinances and resolutions for tum. The updates uh contain approximately about 2.6% increase in fees uh commencing July 1st. And then additionally there's a component for a cost construction index change that would occur annually afterward every July 1st. The next slide is a comparison of the current rate that's on the far left, the proposed rate that's in the middle, and all the land use categories that's outlined on the far right. Um basically the construction cost uh index will enable ARCOG to keep pace with the rising cost of construction associated with the trough the TU regional roadway network and the index is uh capped at a 5% max which would be either positive or negative. So it could actually go negative in years if that occurs. Um staff recommendation is to adopt uh to introduce and adopt the ordinance and next in order amending the city's tough ordinance to include the updated fee schedule and establish an annual adjustment using the construction co cost index of land labor and materials and effective uh July 1st of 2026.

Uh, also staff recommends that city council adopt resolution the next in order to implement the updated tone fee schedule effective July 1st, 2026. And uh that concludes my presentation. It's not a lengthy one but basically a quick overview of the t proposal for Thank you, Gus. I just want to clarify um this is a regional county increase not just a city of correct the all the 18 agencies are Thank you guys. All right. We're going to open up the public hearing at 9:17. Madam clerk, do we have any requests to speak? No, sir.

Okay. Going to close the public hearing at 9:17. Council, does anybody have any questions or comments? And I entertain a motion to approve. Motion by Councilman Rab, second by Mayor Prom Corona. Please call the vote. Okay. Thank you guys. 50 motion approved. Thank you. All right. Uh 11D is consideration to approve a location sales tax sharing agreement with Medline Industries. This is going to be introduced by our city manager, Miss Clar Montes.

Thank you, mayor. Um I'd like to introduce uh Mr. Armando Ponchi, a principal management analyst uh who will be uh introducing this item.

Thank you. Um, good evening, uh, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council, and city staff. Uh, tonight I'm presenting for your, uh, consideration a location sales tax, uh, sharing agreement between the city of Paris and Metline Industries, LP. On December 11, uh, 2025, the Economic Development Committee reviewed a request from, uh, Metland Industries for a, uh, sales tax sharing location agreement at 815 South Redlands Avenue. The committee at the time recommended moving forward this item, uh, for council consideration and approval. Uh Meline Industries a is a uh prospective tenant of a 975,000 foot uh uh distribution facility located at 815 Sautelins Avenue here in Paris. Metline is one of the uh largest providers of medical surgical uh products and supply chain solutions in the country. They employ over uh 43,000 people in over uh 100 countries worldwide. So, Metline currently operates uh distribution centers in cities of uh uh like Rialto uh Tmacula and the city of Tracy all under uh which they have a 1550 uh revenue sharing agreement similar to what is being proposed tonight. The proposed agreement carries a uh 20-year term uh from the the effective date. Under the agreement, the uh city would uh share 50% of all local sales uh tax revenues generated by Meline operations. Uh based on the projected annual sales of uh $8 million, the uh city share is estimated to at $4 million per year over the uh full 20-year term. That represents $80

million projected uh revenue for the city. Uh the agreement is also uh projected to bring over uh 500 uh jobs to to Paris and it includes uh employment outreach for local residents provisions. So this requires Metline to make uh reasonable efforts to uh recruit and hire locally. So just uh without this agreement, the site would likely operate as a uh standard facility distribution that wouldn't generate that additional tax revenue for the city. The city also received a letter of support from the um California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Uh GO Biz. Uh this letter has been included in your packet for reference. So with that, uh, staff recommends that the city council approve entr into the location sales tax section sharing agreement between the city of Paris and Metland Industries and authorize the city manager to execute the agreement and substantially uh the form attached uh subject to as to form by the city attorney. Uh this concludes my uh presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions and uh representatives from Metland are here uh to answer any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. I'm going to up the public hearing at 9:21. Matter of fact, do you have any requests to speak on this item? No, sir. Council or anybody have any questions or comments? I'm going to close the public hearing at Thank you, Bunchie. At 9:21 and I'll call for a motion. I have a motion by Councilwoman Nava, second by Mayor Prom Corona. Please call the vote.

50 motion approved. Thank you. Uh 11E is consideration to approve a sales tax sharing agreement with Dover Incorporated for the Ethan Travel Center. This will be introduced by our assistant city manager, Mr. Wendle Bucktike. Thank you, mayor. We have Matt Cohen with Elshar Winer to present this item.

Good evening, mayor, members of the city council. We save the best for last, I guess. Um the local sales this is a local sales tax uh sharing agreement and uh this is for a project. Next slide, please. That was already approved by the next slide, please. Oh, okay. Oh. Oh, I got to do it. Okay. Sorry. That that would be nice. Can't tell your finger.

Okay. Well, we'll start again. Local sales tax sharing agreement between the city of Paris and Dover regarding the Ethan Travel Center. Um the project overview. This was a project that the city council approved on February 11th, 2025. Um, it's a for the Ethan Travel Center. It's a new facility supporting regional and local highway traveling users uh located on 14.4 acres on the northwest corn northwest corner of Ethan Road and Trumbull Road in the city of Paris. Um, Dover Inc. is the expected owner and operator of the Ethanac Travel Center. And this project will include a 2,228 ft drive-through restaurant, an 11,752 ft convenience store and fueling facilities for trucks and passenger vehicles, and 8,452 square foot truck and parking facilities for passing motorists and commercial truck operators. The proposed agreement is for 10 years from the effective date. Um the city of Paris will share 50% of all local sales tax revenues generated by Dover Inc. but only up to a total amount of $3 million. Um so as it would work, the city would retain 50% of local sales tax revenues each fiscal quarter and Dover Inc. would receive 50% of local sales tax revenues as city payment. The projected annual sales tax revenue is $1 million um which will be shared between the two up till Dover reaches its maximum of $3 million. As stated before, the projected employment will be approximately 70 positions and the purpose of the agreement would allow the project to offset initial prohibitive uh inflationary costs and proceed with construction. So the recommendation is that the city council approve entering a local sales tax sharing agreement between the city of Paris and Dover, Inc. and authorize the city manager to execute the

agreement in substantially the form and format attached subject to approval as to form by the city attorney. That's all. Thank you. Open up the public hearing at 9:25. Madam clerk, have any requests to speak? No, sir. Close the hearing at 9:25. Council, anybody have any comments or questions? If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve. Question. Yes, council. Regarding the sales tax agreement, uh was there a reason why this wasn't an issue when we initially approved this project? I think it was last year uh for the sales tax sharing agreement when we discussed this back in 2025.

Uh yes, uh Councilman Rab. uh being that this pro project was one of the items that was also part of the litigation with the uh men global settlement uh they were held back and the litigation took over a year and a half to settle. So at that time we did not know that the litigation was going to go on that long so it wasn't necessary at the time. They did lose a couple of tenants which was pilot loves um so they had some some losses recently. So this is now a necessity. It wasn't back then um but now it is. That's why it's here today. and they need it for 10 years. It's only up to 10 years, whichever comes first. So, up when they reach their $3 million uh sales tax sharing, then it's over.

Okay. Thank you. Anybody else? Council Mayor Prom. No, no, my question was the same thing. I saw I saw that with the 10 years and I was wondering why why do they need 10 years, but you answered it. Thank you. All right. I'm looking for a motion then. I motion to approve by Mayor Prom Corona. Second by mayor Councilman Corona. Councilman Rab, please call the vote. We had League of Cities last night in Linta till I didn't get home till after 8:30 last night. 50 motion approved. Thank you.

Okay. Uh where am I at? 12A. This is our business items which are not public hearings. 12A is consideration to discuss and provide direction to staff related to the renaming of the Caesar Chavez Library and modification removal of the Caesar Chavez statue and artistic paintings/murals on city properties. This will be introduced by our city manager Clara Midamontes.

Yes. Thank you, mayor. This is regarding existing public art. Um, put the slide, please. I can't I don't have access to ever. There we go. Uh this is regarding to existing p Thank you. This is regarding existing public art and the library name that currently recognizes Caesar Chavez. And in light of the recent allegations pertaining to Caesar Chavez personal conduct in the past, um staff is bringing this item to the council to get direction as to how to proceed with either uh modifying or removing some of these it well these items. Um and one of them is a utility box, a library mural, a bronze sculpture, and the BL library name. Um, the utility box rewrapping uh would be approximately $900. The library mural could be modified and that would be where we could paint the uh the painter would paint over the Caesar Chavez and create another art um depiction. The uh third item is the bronze sculpture which was recently put up in 2024 and um there's a couple of things that can be done with that one. It could either be removed which is a cost of about $5,000. It could be modified by replacing Caesar Chavez only with some other figure or it could be and that would be range about a $100 to $200,000 or the entire statue could be replaced which could cost up to $500,000. And the last um piece of of of of tied to Caesar Chavez is the name of the library. Um and that includes the facade. um it currently does have his name up there and also the plaque and those would need to be modified and that could cost up to $25,000. So staff is asking for direction um as to how to proceed. That concludes my report.

Thank you. Clerk, do we have any requests to speak on this item? Yes, sir. Yolanda Tobar, how many speakers do we have? Four. Okay. Good evening, honorable mayor Marcus and staff from the city. Can you pull down the microphone closer to you? Thank you.

I said good evening, honorable mayor, the city staff, especially you, David. I've known you a long time. Okay, I'm going to get started because I know I don't have much time and everybody wants to go home. Well, first of all, I knew Caesar Chavis. I worked in Fresno at the Grapes and I went to Deleno to visit Caesar Chavis because I wanted to hear what he had to say. He ruined the farmer. He wanted just to get a union going. I wasn't for Caesar Chavis right from the beginning. I didn't like what he did. I was invited to one of his parties after the rally. I did not go. Family calling me. Anyway, I suggest I don't know if you got these papers where you could see where I'm in Fresno and you can see the grape vines and there's a little girl there where I'm after work. Do you see that? Where it says what? Um Fresno. Okay. And um I just want to say I was at this walking Sanwalking River that's right behind on Shaw Avenue in Fresno that we used to get in. So I'm real familiar with grapes. Every year we go for about three months and pick grapes. I picked tray and I worked for the gondola for the wineries. So I was there quite often. So anyway, I just want please to change it. I knew the man. I didn't like what he did. And it's true. I'm sorry to say, but it's true. I have other people that I listed a child Viegas was residents from here from Paris. He ran the potato fields

that Norman Hughes, Charlie and Johnny Mott, they were potato people. There was the third one, fourth one, Underwood, he was onion. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood. Mrs. Underwood had a dress shop here in town. Here are my clippers from the onions that I used to pick. If you notice on one of the pictures there, you see a young man sitting on a sack. That was my cousin Marcelino Tovar. We got paid 25 cents a sack for picking with two buckets that you put in the sack. So, I'm very familiar with working in the fields. I was seven years old working in the fields. I was seven years old driving a John Deere tractor in Fresno. I I you know I've been in a lot of field work. Squash, watermelon, tomato, just you name it. Thank Miss Tovar. Thank you. Your time your time's up. Yeah. Sorry, but thank you for coming.

Thank you so much. And you look great.

Yeah. It's okay, deputies. Remy. I'm here to read for my colleague. Hello. I'm going to read the following on behalf of L. Gyos. She is currently in Sacramento and is not able to be present. I read the many years of organizing and hard work to secure funding to bring a library to our city of Paris was a community effort to the organizing to naming it after Caesar was a struggle. The library was built on our old Paris park. This was the location where we would gather and meet with our local farm workers and Caesar to organize to bring justice for our local Paris Valley farm workers. But now, but now we have learned of the allegations and we stand with the survivors. What has been revealed is painful. Silence has never protected our farmworker communities. The farm the farmworker movement was built by workers and families. It belongs to the people. Standing this standing with the survivors is not a betrayal to move to the movement. It is a commitment to its values. All the organizing and mobilizing that it took to secure a library for our city to the naming of the library was made possible by our organizing of our local Paris community members. We ask any decision that is made has to be in consideration with the input of our local Paris residents.

We want to make sure this vision includes the movement of many people including kids, women, men, and families. We move forward in unity as we continue to seek justice for all vulnerable workers. The fight never ended. The fight for justice continues on. Thank you. Thank you,

Carla Cervantes. Good evening again, council. Here I am crying to you all as Mayor Vargas likes to say, but what I like to say is engaging in my civic rights to be able to come and talk about things publicly. Um, I used to work at the Paris Library. I really enjoyed it. There are librarians there that have been there since before this building was there. They've been there since for so long. I will shout out to Shirley if you've ever gone to the Paris Library. She's incredible. I did speak to her. She said she doesn't want a mural about herself, which I was kind of bummed about cuz I think she deserves it. But um it is a shame that we did see something for so long and now we're finding out these allegations is just so terrible. But I also um want to reiterate that this doesn't take away from the farmers workers movement. If we can make something that is um reflecting that still because we do have history here in the city of Paris that I think definitely needs to be shown in a light that we did have and we still have a really strong agricultural community here. And so although this is disappointing, I know it's not only happening in the city of Paris, but I commend that you guys are at least taking steps forward to try to really show show and highlight that this doesn't define the farmers worker movement. Right. So, um, yeah, I think, uh, there's tons and tons of ideas here. I hope that you guys have community input in this, um, because I know it's going to cost a pretty penny. I know that that statue cost a lot of money, too. Um, so yeah. Um, thank you for hearing me crying about this. Thank you.

Thank you,

Franco Pacheco. Good evening, uh, city council. Um, I want to start off by saying that my grandfather was a brasero, um, when he first came working over here and he would tell me stories about how when crossing over they would have to throw bolvo on them, right? So, cuz they said they were full of um, boho and all that stuff, right? So, um, I think it's very deep ingrained in Paris. A lot of Paris residents, they come from families that were farm workers. Uh families who have deep history, who have migrated here, who um had their paycheck stolen by the governments because they were doing fraud on them. Um I think it's a good uh direction to remove the name of Caesar Chavez uh because of that allegations. It's kind of crazy with the underage stuff that there's a statue of him with two children there. Um, and whatever direction you go into naming the the Paris Library, um, you know, I think it should, uh, really be thought out well and, uh, give it a name that's going to be proud. And, um, I also want to point out the fact that this is the problem with putting faces to movements because things like this can happen where, uh, all of a sudden, uh, one person can kind of harm the movement with um, their own actions. So, it's kind of important to send her what it actually stood for. Um, yeah, my only suggestion is uh maybe name it after somebody who has done a lot for Paris, who's always been on the right side of issues in Paris, always looked out for people in Paris. I'll nominate Nava to put it right there. Nava Library. Uh,

I think it's a great name. So, I just wanted to say that. Thank you. Thank you.

That is all. All right, back to the day. Is anybody have any questions, comments? Councilman Reb. Yes. Given the um lateness of the hour, I would suggest that we refer the art exhibits, the utility box, library mural, and bronze statue for the park committee to decide how to move forward on those items. But I do think we should probably at least cover up the utility box. Regarding the naming of the library, I think uh personally I just think we should just go to city of Paris Library. If you look at how the how the um bronze is, it says city of Paris and it says Caesar H. Chavez Library. All we would need to do is just chisel off his name, center library, and we're done. My concern is if we name it after someone, there may be something, you know, that comes up later on. I know technically the city of Paris is named after Fred T. Paris, but he's been dead since 1916. So you figure anybody that's knowing him has at least been dead 25 years if he had, you know, a seven or eight year old grandchild that was alive when he was alive. They've probably been dead a good 20 years. Um, so I think that would be my um thing moving forward with this, but I'd like to hear from my colleagues.

I I uh no one's in the queue yet, but I I I agree. Uh this came from the parks, so let's let's send it back to the parks. But I also have to agree with um bless you. So much is coming out all over the the world for that matter. But yeah, I think we should not name it after anybody's name and just keep it the Paris City Library. Um everybody's queued in now. Council Mayor Prom.

Thank you, Mayor. Um so, so I'm sure you could all you know, I'm sure when when we all heard the news, we were all in in disbelief a little bit. Um, I'm sure you can understand how how devastated many people were. Uh, Cesar Chavis obviously was a was a hero to to many people, right? Including including people in our own uh community here uh and around the country as well too. Uh, our city uh if those that that were here could recall. I was I think 8 years old about but but I do remember even my father going and and you know talk coming to the city and and arguing for it because it was it was right after he passed away and I believe the city of Paris was actually the first uh municipality to name something after Cesar Travis after he passed away and growing up I was always uh very proud myself also being a a proud grandson of a brascto uh knowing that that you know the the with the things he did. Now, if you talk to most people that that were around, they they acknowledged that he improved their lives and and brought dignity to thousands of people and uh you know, as stated before, the the movement was very important um and in doing that and and he was he wasn't he was a face of it, if you want to say it or not. I mean, he was a face of it. But I do understand that the allegations and the accusations um you know, I think they are serious. I I I fully am aware. I I think as council member R was saying, maybe find someone older. Well, we have there's people that were founders of our nation, right? And they were slave owners. They raped their slaves. There's there's proof. There's there's proof there. And you can reach into your in your wallet and pick out uh money with them out there, right? Um not everyone's perfect, but I think the allegations, especially with the with miners, are very serious. I do agree. I think we need to make some changes. We'll we'll definitely discuss it during uh parks and wreck if that's where we choose to take it. Um, I am very uh especially saddened, right? Because I I was I was actually pushing for the for the statue and I'll tell you one story. I spoke to Dolores Wera herself and I asked her what I'm thinking about doing

and she looked at me and her face lit up and she said that's a great idea, right? And and you know, I just think about about that and just wow, I wish you would have just told me because I um I know it was stated before, uh you know, maybe name after Laura Doloresa and and I have nothing uh but but good things to say about it, but I do have an issue about naming things after people. I I I would be um I'd feel terrible if we're back in the same situation. So I I do not think that we should name a Dolores or any or or after anybody for that matter or the Nav. I I'd be okay with that unless you know unless Yeah. Um I I do think wrapping up or or at least covering up or we could maybe peel it off, right? I mean, doesn't it? Yeah.

Don't you just take a heat gun and just peel that off? The the the utility wrap. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. That that's done quick. The paint. I remember that the artist actually had a different design and we said, "No, let's put one of the chas." So, once again, I wish I would have known. And of course, I I do agree. Maybe maybe see how it would look. Uh you know, city of Paris, we could put library. I like that. Maybe even add the word public in there. Public library. That might maybe create some balance, right? Because it might be the library might be a little too lonely. And of course, a statue. I've been messing around with AI. I mean, you could do a lot of things with that. But obviously things things could uh might have to change some stuff, but you could I I don't think I I I think that's something we could look into, but I don't think we have to fully replace it completely. I think we could modify it and still give uh recognition to our farm worker community um history that we had in our city. That's all the comments. Thank you,

Councilwoman Alva.

Thank you, mayor. I greatly appreciate the input. I believe it's really important to make sure that we have community feedback on such a sensitive uh monument and murals. And so, I I know that these allegations are devastating and and I think now is appropriate time and I'm glad that the conversation is gearing that my colleague agrees to to move forward in making those those changes. So, I I definitely agree with the proposals that they have made. Um, and I I do believe that because this is such a sensitive topic that we should take some time to really figure out what to do with the rest of the items. So, the parks committee would be a great place to start and then we could we I would imagine bring this back to the council for final approval. So, that would provide us several opportunities for community input. So, if we have any other takers for the Nava Library, I kid you not, I wouldn't. I I don't I don't think that's appropriate. But anything else? I I I am more than happy to to continue hearing what our constituents have to say. Like, I know, like I mentioned, everyone has some kind of story or background related to to the farm worker movement. And we have to remember that it was collective power that that made these strides. So, those are all the comments I have. Thank you,

Councilwoman Delego. I agree with the rest of my colleagues. I also want to let the community members know that you can email us or DM us or or also give us individually. And uh we would we would love to hear your feedback because this library is for you all. And then I also want everyone to be aware that the parks and wreck committee meetings are are the third Wednesday of every month and they are they are open to the public. So, if you all want to come and make any type of suggestion, that would be great cuz we want to know what would be best for you guys all to have it renamed, but I am more than happy to move forward to put it in the parks and rec committee. Thank you.

Thank you. I just want to reiterate one thing then and move on is um because there was a lot of comments on Facebook. What a waste of city money and taxpayers money. The statue was the most expensive item of these four. Uh I think the tune was $422,000 and it did not cost the taxpayers. our G general fund, not 1 cent. This all came from our cultural arts fee, which is a diff fee that's imposed on our warehouse developers. Uh, which we greatly appreciate it, but it's a shame that now we got to deal with what we have to deal with. But anyway, moving on. I believe Councilman Rab, you have a motion.

Two parts of the motion. Uh, first part is to rename the library, city of Paris library. And the second component of the motion is to refer the utility box, library mirror, and bronze statue to the next public safety, sorry, public safety um park committee meeting so that they can figure out uh get community input to figure out which direction to go for those three items. Um you are you asking to what what did you say about the naming of the library? You don't want that going to parks either? I I I think we have enough uh I have enough input from the community to just go with city of Paris library. I think um personally I think a lot of people have just said hey we just don't want to name things after people haven't been deceased that long.

Got it. So everybody understands that rename it to just Paris Library and the rest goes to parks and reccks. So I think I threw out just seeing what what it would look like if we put public library just kind of balance. Oh it is a public library. It should be city of Paris public library. It's open to but but maybe get two different um votes. Well, as it as we see the picture here, we have the first uh rendering, city of Paris, and then on the second arch here, it could just read library, right? Centered there. What he was what what he was saying, and I'm like that. I'm very symmetrical. It's going to look funny just this one word library where public library would symmetrically fall under. But before you before we spend money to just show us two renderings and then we go from there.

All right. So, that's motion. I need a second. I'm I'm sorry. Uh if if you could repeat that the first one I got. What was the second one? Second one is the Oh, take the parking rack. Gotcha. The library mural and the bronze sculpture park. Gotcha. Thank you. I I second that. All right. We have a motion by Councilman Rab, second by Mayor Prom Corona. Call the vote, please. Who didn't vote? the motion. I vote. Motion approved.

All right. Very good. Thank you everybody. Um item 13 is council communications. Councilman Rab. Thank you, Mayor Vargas. I just want to hope everyone had a happy Easter. I'm looking forward to the upcoming health fair. And I think there's something wrong with my mic. So, if we can check that out in terms of because I used to be able to be way back here and it would catch me. Um, besides that, I want to thank everyone for coming out to this meeting and thank everyone for sharing your opinions. Thank you, Council Councilwoman Vallejo.

Hello. Thank you. Um, I just want to say thank you to everyone that spoke today. Um, it's very important to be vocal. So, please everyone continue to be vocal. Lastly, I just want to uh direct staff to add a or to research to see if we can add a penalty fee for a period of time for all the vacant um where uh warehouses nearby. we have so many vacant ones and if we can add some type of fee that we can add um to the owners. So then we can see what what we can do with it cuz I know we're limited as well but if we can also get legal counsel to see is there anything that we can do um regarding those warehouses or see what we can do to somehow work with them to maybe buy it in the future or do some type of sales tax agreement. anything to where we can make sure that we can be more proactive and do something about those empty warehouses. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Nava. I'd just like to thank everyone who participated in tonight's meeting and due to the lateness of the hour, I will refer my comments. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Prom.

Thank you, Mayor. Um uh you know, with spring coming along, I I know uh hopefully we're going to see a a reduction of uh of rain. So, if we could talk to uh I'm kind of talking about the the amount of weeds that we have. If we could talk to property owners that have excessive weeds. Um Fosfield uh ribbon cutting. All five of my colle all five of us were there. Uh staff was there. Great. Fantastic job to everybody that was involved with that. Um I just saw everybody so happy. Um you know, I I didn't mention it there, but I'll mention it here. I would put our top four parks against any other city around here, and I think we have the best uh top four. I think we're later on we'll be adding some some other parks. Uh but at least our top four are better than all the other uh cities. Um if you're a skateboarder in our city, you are absolutely spoiled. If you're like a 12-y old kid that picked up a skateboard, you have so many places to choose from. Uh so so I'm, you know, I'm sure they're happy. Uh I did attend uh with Councilwoman VJO uh CPRS. It was a it was a great great event where uh we we did get a lot of ideas. Um, one one session that I I that that I uh was thinking about, I recently went to Mexico City recently. Um, you know, just kind of just, you know, every time I do traveling, I like to see what other places are doing, steal some ideas. I brought the footsaw courts, that idea here. Uh, murals and other things.

Can you uh uh define what CPRS means? Oh, CPRS, the California Parks and Recreational Society. Thank you for that.

No problem. Um, so CPR, so so you know, going around looking at parks and and uh one thing I did notice, our parks are are great compared to even a a large metropolitan center like Mexico City. But I do notice one thing and I'm I'm really glad that we brought the attention to it is the the amount of tree canopies that we have in our city at CPRS. Uh we we did have a session on uh on tree equity. That that that's actually a word, right? Um, so there's certain communities that have less tree canopy than other places. And you could go to a website called treequitycore.org. That's tree equitycore.org. And you could compare different parts even within our city of of which areas probably need more trees. And and just for for um for comparison, if you compare just the average place in our city compared to Tmacula, they have about three times as much canopy space than than we do. And uh you know I think I I know we we've made efforts in bringing more trees to our city, but I I definitely want to see more of them planted. Um I know we're doing a great job, but we could always do more. And um that's all the comments. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to defer all my comments to the next meeting except for one. I want to give a shout out to Bill and Days, our contracted landscapers. They um sponsored over 250 tacos for a taco man at the Fossfield reopening ribbon cutting ceremony. So, thank you uh Dave uh Bill and Dave for your contribution back to the community. With that, we'll move on to item third and thank you all our speakers who came out this evening. Uh item 14, city manager report.

Thank you, mayor. This Saturday we will have our 12th annual health fair. Um that's a April 18th. Um and that will begin at 7:45 a.m. And secondly, the tree planting event is also scheduled for Saturday, April 25th at Paragon Park. That concludes my report. Yeah. All right. Uh item 15 is our journment. We are injuring in memory of a person that I have my mayor prom announce.

Yes. So, so just want to give recognition to the passing of uh Dolores Gonzalez. Uh she was a Parasite graduate. Um she was married to longtime uh her her longtime husband and uh life partner uh Herman Gonzalez. And we wish her family uh well in this time. Uh she she she worked in the in the Paris Elementary School District for over three decades, was very involved in the community, always gave her opinion. I don't know if you have anything else to add to that, uh, Council Ram. I know you also knew her very well. Yeah, she was a a great pillar in the Paris community. I believe she graduated from Paris High School in 1953. She also served on the Paris Union High School District board. I believe it was two terms in the 1980s and was instrumental in getting the initial pool built at Paris High in 1982. She passed away the May when? March. March 23rd.

March 23rd. Okay. Thank you. All right. With that uh everybody thank you for coming out this evening and for all those watching on the social media have a good night. We are journed at 9:55.