City Council - Regular Meeting

And may we have the roll call, please? Council member Chavez here. Council member Chen here. Council member Yu here. Mayor Proen Man here. Mayor Sternquist here. Okay, we move to item three, the invocation. Pastor Ky from Community of Christ Church will provide the invocation. It's located at 5851 Temple City Boulevard. Services are on Sunday mornings and 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. And Pastor Kelty comes regularly to our meetings and we so appreciate. It's always it's always a pleasure to be here.

Please stand. Oh our divine creator, we thank you that we able to meet here together this evening to conduct the business of this city of Temple City. We do so in order that we might provide direction to this community so that it might become even a better community than it already is. We know that this will not be an easy task when all considers all of the problems and difficulties that we face for whatever reason day in and day out. If so that we'd ask for your divine support indeed the city council staff all those associated indeed might do their best to do the best they can. We offer you this prayer this evening that we creator may see the world around us and all it this community in particular as your divine creations and as we caregivers. Therefore let this be our prayer to you this evening that through what we do here tonight tomorrow in the following days and the days to come both near and far we might tap into your direction. we might leave this community a better community than when we found it. This we pray in all humility. Amen.

Amen. Amen.

Thank you, pastor. Before we have the um boys come in. I'm going to tell you a little bit about our cub scout pack 169 who will be leading the flag salute this evening. They are based in Temple City. They serve the greater San Gabriel Valley and they have about 35 members who meet weekly at Emperor Elementary and the Elks Lodge. The pack actively participates in community events such as the Temple City Chamilleia Festival Parade, Lights on Temple City, and the Sierra Madre Fourth of July parade. And they host an annual schoolwide camp out. Welcome to Cub Scout 169. audience attention. All those in uniform, please salute the flag. All those not in uniform, please put your right hand over your heart.

Color guard, advance. Color guard. Halt. Color guard. Cross colors. Color guard, prepare the colors.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. Ready, begin. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Holy God of course colors. Two color guard. We're trying to write Thank you so much. Can I have all of you come out up so we can have a picture taken? And council, if you'll join us. Really?

Although not you know We could all step forward.

Can we get behind you? One more step forward. There you go. Ready? Okay.

Thank you.

Go home and watch yourself on TV now. I need to you. person. We haven't had a scout troop come to help us with the pledge of allegiance for some time and it's just so nice to see you come and I hope you can come back again. So, um just please let Peggy know and she'll be thrilled to sign you up. Okay. Apologies.

We move to item five, ceremonial matters presentation. And tonight we have an update from Family Promise and Brian will tell us a little bit about them. Sure.

Oh, there we are. Um, Family Promise is the organization that the city works with to assist with those families that are at risk of homelessness, those families who have had unfortunate situations to where they need assistance. Um, it is a it is funding that we get through the state of California that we pass through with Family Promise. Family Promise has been around for several decades assisting families in their time of need and in assisting them in a way that not only helps them with a hand up but a path forward in terms of getting them back on track not only just with direct rental assistance but also to with supportive services. You have uh assisting during times of medical need but also in terms of in particular job loss as well. So, I'll turn it over.

Hello. Good evening, everyone. So, my name is Deli Batal and I'm the case manager for Family Promise of San Gabriel Valley. Um, and specifically for the Temple City Rental Assistance Program. Um, so I want kind of want to go a little bit um how we've been helping the community um how we've been partnering with agencies um to help as many families in need within Temple City. So, as you can see, referrals. I'm a big advocate, big big advocate of partnerships. That's very important. Partnering with other nonprofit organizations, with the schools, with um any um government agency, it's very important because not one agency has all the answers and not one agency has all the services. So, it's kind of like wrapping around services around individuals and families to prevent homelessness. Um so as you can see on this like we have the social media we have the billboard from Temple City as you can see a big chunk comes from partner agencies which is vital and very important um landlords friends and neighbors as well as we also have some some a few that are unknown because they've reached out to me but uh initially but when I reached back out to them I never really um heard back from them. So that's why we have 10 that are unknown how they found out about the program. So, as you can see, so last year in 20 basically 2024 2025 from the 15 families that were helped with rental assistance, this was the average rent of $16.95. Um, so as you know, rents are going up. So with the 2025 2026, we see that with the 15 families that we're helping this year, the average rent is now 243. the demographics. So, as of November of 2025, we were at full capacity. Um, we were a were able to help 15 families with this rental assistance program. Um, and then I kind of broke it down with

single parents. We have about four families that are single parents, two um that are individual and then we have twine families um with minor children or we have an adult taking care of their elderly parent. Um, out of those, um, we have two that are African-American, one that's Asian, and 12 that are Hispanic. Um, income level, important to know. So, nine out of those 15 families extremely low income, and then we have five who are very low income and one was at was at moderate income that we were able to help. I wanted to kind of share um a couple of stories because it's very important that you know who's who's living in your community, who are these people that are needing help. So again, we go to partnership. The first family is a single mother with 14 kids with four teenage kids. Um they grew up in Temple City. They have a um long-standing relationship where Temple City Unified watched these kids grow up. So they knew them very closely. Um she had been living in Temple City with her mother, the grandmother of the kids, uh for several years. There was a strife that happened there. the mother illegally kicked her out of the rental unit and um she ended up being homeless with her four kids for about three three to four weeks. Um she was connected to DPSS, but as we know they move a little slow. So even if you identify a unit, it takes time and landlords are not willing to wait. So Temple City uh Unified School District referred that family to us. I reached out to them. Um this is a single mom who's working three to four jobs. Always done that. Hardworking. Um, and so she, uh, was able to identify a unit. We helped her with moving costs, and we're helping her with six months of rental assistance. Um, and this is how partnership comes into play. When mom moved into the apartment, she had nothing. So, I connected her with an agency that provided um, used furniture,

but I also referred her to an agency. It's a big um furniture store that was giving away uh brand new beds to u minor children who were experiencing homelessness. So I connected her to that program. They all four kids got beds. Um the other thing too, she didn't have any social networks. It was her family and that she no longer has that connection. She doesn't really have friends. So she was really happy to have a case manager involved to run ideas by. So that has been an added support for her. Family Promise also connected her um to a congregation where they adopted her and her children for the holidays. Um so that was a tremendous help that they got as well. And um the other thing too, the kids were traumatized because they had never been homeless before. So even when they were in their permanent housing, they thought, "When are we moving again? When when when do we move?" And and you know, so I actually reached out back to Temple City Unified School District and we connected them with services for therapy. we connected them because they fell behind with school. So like tutoring or what can we do programs that can help them within the school to catch up as well. So all of this has been detrimental and helpful again um working in partnership. The second one u we have an adult child taking care of uh their senior parent. So this person hadn't been working for several months. she was surviving on taking um people a couple of friends of hers were loaning her money but that ran out and so as we started working with her her her dad got social security however um that's that wasn't enough because the rent was really high. So in the time that we were working together she was able to um find a job with Culver City. She started off part-time, now she's full-time, and then I connected her to IHSS because I'm like, if you're already taking care of your elderly father, and you're doing all

these things for them, why not get paid? So, um, I went ahead and connected her with that. She did it, and now she has a full-time job and a part-time job doing what she was already doing as well. Um, the other thing that the other goal that she had was, can you help us with senior affordable senior um, housing? So, I have been sending her some of these um referrals and um she's been on top of it trying to do that. So, that's but that takes a process, but um she's just really happy because she goes if if we're able to get into a senior housing that will stabilize us for a good long time in terms of um rental assistance. And then last but not least, we have a family of four with an adult child and a minor uh child who came from Venezuela. They came here on a refugee visa. Um, and they were here. Um, dad already had his own business. He wanted to establish his business here, but they needed a permanent address and they didn't have that. So, when they came here, they were literally paying for a motel and that's where all their money went. So, they could not afford the moving costs or anything like that. Another partner agency referred that family to us. Um and so we started working with them and um we were able to and then the nice thing about um these new landlords that we were able to help out, we built partnerships with these landlords as well because they didn't know about our program. They didn't even know we existed. So um anyhow, so um we went ahead and connected. They wanted to work with us. Um we built these relationships. Um we were able to house this family, paid for their moving costs and also paying for six months of rental assistance. And all of these families just feel extremely blessed. The um I know their child wasn't very fluent in speaking English. So I reached out to Temple City Unified to see what programs or some added help that they can do so that the child can catch up um and learn the language quicker. And they've

actually been very pleased with this um with this child because they're like by the end of the year she's going to be fluent like in in her English. Um, so I just want to say I'm I we feel extremely blessed to partner with Temple City and being able to do that and just a huge blessing to be able to work with these families. Thank you. Can I ask you one question? Um, what happens after the six months if a family who has been in the program is not able to continue on their own for whatever reason? Well, I think that at that point, um, we would see what other, um, referrals or agencies that we can connect them with, um, to help them in in in that process. Okay. Um, we so appreciate the work that you do and we're I know personally I'm thrilled that we're able to partner with you and I think, um, Brian and I talk about this often that we've had so much success. So we are happy to, you know, have you here to help share with the community. So thank you very much for the work that you do.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we move to item six, public comments on the items not listed on the agenda. Is there anyone who would like to speak? Nope. Okay, we move to the consent calendar. Tom Make a motion. A motion to approve consent calendar. Second. Okay. May we have a roll call, please? Council member Chavez. Yes. Council member Chen. Yes. Council member Yu. Yes. Mayor Pro Tim Man. Yes. Mayor Sternquist. Yes.

Okay. We move to item eight. Public hearing. establish the community development block grant programs and allocations for fiscal year 2026. Brian,

thank you. Mayor Sting Chris and members of the council, speaking of successful programs that help those who are in need, our community development block grant program has been around for several years. We have gone through many evaluations over time. There was an ad hoc last year that looked at it as well. We're carrying over some of those recommendations. is we are proposing one minor adjustment and that adjustment is understandable in terms of the costs that um are being incurred for home improvement. So with that I'll turn it over to Adam Goolic who along with our other partners uh administer this program.

Thank you. Good evening Mayor, Mayor Prom, council members, members of the audience. Um the estimated allocation for next fiscal year is a little over $200,000. Um there's currently unallocated balance which is unexpended funds or funds that carried over from the previous year or funds paid back to the city um just over 96,000. So approximately 297,000 uh will be available for programs for next fiscal year. Um just a little about little bit about our our ongoing programs. We have the housing rehab loan and grant program. There's approximately 30 residents that are on the waiting list at the time. Um the program typically assists six households per year, usually five or six. Um and then we also have the associated speesus and lead based leadbased paint testing and removal. Um that is a requirement um through HUD. We need to do that. Um just some figures for the past couple of years. Right now we have three projects that are um I believe one or two already finished construction and there's a couple that are uh under construction at the moment. And then the past two previous fiscal years we've assisted six households. Um and then the testing figures that varies. Um, as you can see, there's one year where it's or last fiscal year, it's a little over 30,000 and in the year prior to that's uh just under 23,000. That really varies based on what kind of improvements are being done. So, if someone's changing windows or redoing the paint on the exterior, uh that could trigger some um lead uh lead based paint uh abatement work, which could increase the cost for the project.

Uh the last time that the city increased the loan and grant amounts was in 2016. Um we were just curious and looked online. We talked with our consultant and prices have increased more than 50% according to some state figures. Um and with that staff's recommending that we increase the loan amount by 5,000 as well as the grant um just to allow homeowners to do uh work that is needed rather than them having to select or not do certain improvements. And then I'm just included some figures here uh that we found online replacing 12 windows. Actually these are from our building permit records. But even the even with these figures, um the amounts do vary depending on what's being done. Like the windows, different size windows, there's going to be different costs, but um you're looking at about $7,200 in 2016 and now it's almost 11,000. Um roof replacement, that's another common one. So that's increased uh significantly. And then bathroom and kitchen remodels. um uh uh those figures have also increased uh a lot and those figures also depend on u the materials on what's being done so that varies significantly and then the third program that has that's ongoing is the youth scholarship program um we do have 15 scholarships to date unfortunately I don't know what the figures are but the past two years um we had 11,225 and then the previous fiscal year was uh slightly lower. Um that one uh for this fiscal year the proposed amount was 10,000. Um if the council desires we can increase that amount to just to give some wiggle

room. Uh but these are the proposed recommended allocation or programs and allocations for the next fiscal year. Um there's no impact to the general fund. They're all uh reimbursed from uh the federal funds and the recommendation. Sorry, Adam. Do you mind going back a couple of slides? How much did we give last Okay. So So last year 2425 we awarded 11. Is that correct? $11,000 in scholarships. Correct. Okay. And that's the most up-to-date amount. Uh that was last f fiscal year. I don't have the figures for this year, but the budget for this fiscal year is 10,000. Okay. And um

also as well, you have you if if tonight you approve it as you've approved in the past, you can allow me to adjust the amount. So, for example, if it goes above the 10,000, it goes to 12,000. I have the ability administratively to fund that. And that's how we funded the 24. Why do we get to 11,000 when we only 10? You you give me the authority under under the resolution and the public hearing to do that. So it just sits but you take it from other uh generally we take it from the unallocated portion so that so that the other programs are not impacted. Okay, that was my question. Okay, thank you. Can you go back one to the There you go.

Okay. Thank you. Madam Mayor, one quick followup to that scholarship question. Um, just occurred to me. Um, I read in the connect, is this, uh, for the youth scholarship? Is Chamilleia fund something separate or is

Thank you for bringing that up, Council Member Chen. Yes, there's two different programs. The Chamilleia Fund is a private endowment that was endowed to the city for uh needs-based uh applications for not just city programs but for other programs as well. This is specific CDBG program is specifically for cityrun programs. So that's why there's sometimes a different draw down off that and we're it's a discrete component of the city's financial statements but it is specifically for that sole purpose. Thank you. Thanks for bringing that up.

And with that, it's recommended to open the public hearing. Authorize the city manager to amend the programs and allocations up to 50%, increase the loan amount from the current 35,000 to 40,000 and the grants amount from 10,000 to 15, and adopt the attached resolution. Okay. Before we open the public hearing, do we have any questions from council members? William.

Yes. Thank Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, in in the staff report, it mentions that the demand for the youth scholarship program has decreased. Do do we know exactly why is is it is it a matter of just less people are interested or are there certain parameters of the youth scholarship program that make it less? From what I remember, um, a lot of people that offered classes during COVID stopped offering classes. I think more and more people are coming back and offering those classes again. So, I don't know if that led to decreased enrollment, but I know the um parks and recreation has done a lot of outreach and the levels haven't been what they were prior to co

and I think addition to that um Mr. Matsumoto would also say that I think the youth scholarships also help fund the afterchool daycare and some of the summer day camp programs. Um and there's other programs out there that also service that need. So they just seen less demand for those programs in general. Oh, I see. And I think there's also declining enrollment in the school districts, which probably could have an effect on this also.

And one of our adjacent school districts that use some of our programs actually subsidized their own program as well. So that's part of the reason for the the demand some of the socioeconomics of those who would use that type of program or those who would be eligible for that type of program. I think some of the programs have shifted throughout and um I know one school district adjoining to us provides subsidized programming especially for the after school care. That's Elman.

Yes sir. Okay. Thank you. And just kind of generally speaking that table with the increased construction costs I mean the allocations that we get from it's lack though right that that allocates CDBG um that doesn't really catch up with cost increases right okay yeah generally the CDBG program we tend to get a little bit less every year while the costs tend to go up tend to go up okay and our reimbursements back into the program have been more for the zero interest loans. Yeah. Than when people been paying that back. So that unallocated

fund is a good chunk of that is actually people pay being paying back those loans over time and then those being recycled as investments back for other program participants. So is that so I'm sorry. Yeah. So kind of follow up on that. So is that why we have a surplus every year is because of the paybacks perhaps? I I wouldn't necessarily describe it as a surplus. It's it's some well carryover. Carry over. Yeah, that's that's that's one that's that's the major reason. Yeah.

Because it would seem that as as as uh Council Member Man pointed out, one of the things I wrote down is this based on the figures that you supplied from 2016 to now that this grant program has not kept up with the increase in cost at all. Yeah. I mean, it not even close. So, so I guess we to some extent and and one of my questions is it appears that the uh the amount we receive every year is pretty constant or has been around the $200,000 level. It falls about I think 2% annually. Yeah, it tends to decline.

Okay. And we don't anticipate any great increases over the next few years or anything like that. Um okay. Um and I guess this may be for later, but I ask a question now. It appears that the request is to of course increase the loans 35 to 40 grants from 10 to 15. Wouldn't that by definition then mean we have uh less households that we can help out? Yeah. Uh and already we have uh 30 on the waiting list and we service maybe five to six years. Uh that waiting list is a long waiting list.

And do do they I guess my question to that is do these people stay on this like number 30 in line right now. Will they stay on for the next five years or do we see people just saying you know what it's too long we're going to go different direction maybe? So they they stay on the waiting list and our consultant will reach out usually to groups at a time like maybe five or six at a time and then reach out to them one to see if they still live in the city if they're interested in participating. Okay. And then start to gather some general information. So they try to keep the list up up to date I guess. And and what we find is um about half of the people who are on the list don't meet the requirements of the program. So So you don't even vet those people until their number comes up I guess.

That's right. Yeah. And so when we start the fiscal year, we start vetting applicants. We vet more than we think we're actually gonna fund just because we know that some of them um so realistically somebody who's a 10th on the list could actually move up pretty quick. Yes. If the people in front of them don't qualify. Yeah. So the the 30 number looks scary, but those that we may get through those 30 in the first two or three years. Oh, okay. Yeah. That's when I saw that I go, "Wow, that's that's quite a weight." Yeah. But now that you've explained it, that's good. That makes sense. All right. Thank you. I don't know what other questions.

Just a followup question to the question I've been asked. I know the CDBG's funding been reduced slightly over time. So just uh to help our memory here. Um how is the amount of CDPG funding determined based on what factors and how can we as a city get more if It's just hypothetical. $64,000 question. Exactly. Adam. Okay. Oh.

Uh, generally speaking, and and Adam and Scott can chime in. Uh, where I'm missing something. Generally speaking, the census determines where there are low income the socioeconomics and where there are low to very low income areas of the city. So the city is divided up and here's the areas that is then calculated formulaically into the percentage of funding that the county gets and then is divided through because the county is actually for those who are what we are called a non-entitlement city meaning that the majority of our city is not in um a low to very low income category for many of its residents. There are some parts of LA County where there is economic distress and um challenges. So those cities are within what's called an entitlement city. We are not an entitlement city, but we're calculated as part of the whole of the remaining parts of the unentit non-entitlement cities and then that that is a portioned uh according to the amount of low to very low-income families you have. So to answer your question directly sir, it's formulaic. So in terms of this program, there's not really much more you could either lobby for or go after and it's a long very long established program as well. It's a good question and uh I'd appreciate it and we'd love we would love more money because there are even though we we were fortunate enough to have not as many families in need but there are still families in need in this community and it would be great to be able to fund many more of these programs but this is how the program has been structured for many decades.

Mr. Click is well it's probably more a question for Greg. Greg, is the city able to contribute money to this program from the general fund? So, you wouldn't contribute to CDBG, but could you add city funds to um the the separate programs to the housing rehabilitation program? You could add city funds to that. So, supplement, in other words, what we already are giving through that program,

right? the the concern with using city funds um would be the potential triggering of certain prevailing wage laws. Um which you know I I don't deal with CDBG projects on a general in a daily in-n-out basis. I know that the projects that Mr. Cook talked about in some of the cities that have um more entitlement um they have to follow federal Davis bacon law, but I I don't believe the handiworker program does. And by contributing city funds, you might trigger that. And so it might actually uh if it if it did trigger prevailing wage law, it could cause the labor costs to rise to the point where you would actually be um potentially causing more cost by giving money than you would be easing cost, but it's certainly something that staff we and I can look at. Adam, go ahead.

I believe this is not the first time this question has come up. Adam, remember we've asked this before. Yeah, Davis kind of got the same answer. I believe Davis Bacon doesn't apply to these types of programs. I think it's multiple units. I don't know what the number is when it starts to trigger um those are David Bacon. I know I can think in the back of my mind that when we've gone over this that issue has come up. Why can't we give some money to it? And there was some valid reasons why we should not or maybe

I don't think we've ever really studied it to the extent where we really at least I could say I really understood what the valid I mean I do from Greg what Greg was saying but I don't think we've studied it to the point where we have looked at other considerations or putting some other things but before I speak I'm going ask at or Vince are you do you have any other questions? No, no, I didn't. I'm good. Okay. I have I have one followup question. Um I'm drawing a blank. What was the other program that we were using to do handy work around for homeless? The is that what what's that program? Habitat for humanity.

Habitat for Humanity. That's the handyman program around or brush with kindness program. Yes. Is that what it's called now? Yeah. Okay. Do we do that? It's still around still. It's still around, but we don't participate with them. Um, I think we I don't remember if we use general funds for that program. I know we had explored doing using community development block grant funds on that, but there's a lot of complications with that from what I remember. I'm just thinking maybe there's a that's another way

like you mentioned if we rather than put money in from our general fund maybe teaming up with these associations again to get that back because I I remember when we first did it there it was some pretty good success stories from that partnership.

I think it was six or seven homes at the time. I remember because I worked on bringing that project to the city and I I remember Scott that one of the reasons we didn't continue with it there was a change um can't think of her name it was with the Sonia I believe might have been the woman who was from the represented the San Gabriel Valley but there was at the time that we did it you didn't have to sign any um what's it called when you put like the lean on the house or a lean on the property And then something changed in their legal um department that said, "Well, they have to stay in the house for a certain amount of time." And I think maybe you know a little bit more. Do you recall?

No, this is this predates my time.

Oh, okay. Something something transpired and I think at the time it we just thought, well, it seemed a little bit more complicated than we contributed monies. But we can definitely look at um the Habitat for Humanity. They're they're they're going strong and they have quite a few different programs that I see just on Facebook because they're a part of my Facebook feed. But I have a question because I do have a concern regarding not the increase in the in the smaller amounts of money, but if we could go back to that slide, Adam, where we had the um allocations. So refresh my memory, Scott. When someone applies, do they apply for a specific one? Not this one. The one with how much we spent, I'm sorry, for roofs,

kitchens. Do they just apply for one item? They they give us a list of ideas of things that they would like to do and then we have to kind of go through it because there's only certain things that federal funds can support. So this So we go through it with them and we say, "Well, this is something we could cover. this is something we shouldn't and then if there's some issues that are urgently need to be taken care of we can tell them no no no you have to for instance you have to fix the electrical component of the house first okay so we walk them through that set of private can someone say get more than $35,000

uh only if through the process we discover that there's something of an emergency nature that needs to be repaired but that you can get both a grant and a loan um the same individual get a grant and a loan from the program. Yes. So, they could get the $10,000 grant and then they could also get a loan that they have to repay. Okay. And then we've had a few instances where someone as they're were doing work, we find out that there's a big issue and then we have to give them a little bit more to get that wrapped up. And so the loan comes out of this pot. Yes.

Okay. This is just I'm thinking out loud here. When you have a $35,000 remodel kitchen. That's a heck of a lot of money for a kitchen. If you are upgrading, say they own the house, I'm they have to own the house, right? If someone owns the house and they're going to have a kitchen remodel and it's $35,000, I mean, that that's the biggest chunk of money that we expend here. Is there any way that we can secure contractors or or something that meet the requirements who don't charge $35,000 to do a kitchen? Because I don't know how many people who aren't even lowincome have the money these days to spend $35,000 on a kitchen unless you are very high income. I mean, it's probably more than that. 75,000, say, but it seems like $35,000 to remodel a kitchen. I mean, say you get all new appliances, right? You you have the kitchen there. So, basically, you're gutting the kitchen. I mean, I didn't spend nearly that much on doing my kitchen maybe three or four years ago, but I didn't ask for, you know, appliances were important, but I mean, I I just think that if you only can service six families, six or seven, and we're spending so much money on a kitchen, I mean, why why wouldn't you want to spend the $35,000 if you can get that loan at a low rate and it's available. I mean, it seems like it's a a way to say, "Okay, well, get me those higherend

cabinets and, you know, I want granite, not Cororean."

Yeah, it it I think um Adam can kind of speak to what the program um uh funds and why we fund remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. It It's not something just to make it look prettier, right? Um, but before Adam gets to that, I just wanted to note that when these projects go out, they go out to bid first. And so we go out and and do have additional contractors come out and give us bids to make sure that we're getting the lowest uh and the best bang for the buck. But maybe Adam can tell us a little bit more about that part of the program. So, Adam, I I get bathrooms, you know, that's a safety issue, but you get a nice stove and a fridge and, you know, um microwave and all that, you're you're pretty much set to go and have cabinets installed. And I mean, to make a K. Maybe it's just me. I just think that that's a heck of a lot of money to devote for kitchens when you only you're so limited in funding.

Yeah. So, this figures might be a little misleading. I think this may be like a complete kitchen remodel where they're gutting everything and redoing everything new. For our program, I think we typically see if someone's redoing the cabinets, um the countertop, like it can't be a luxury upgrade if whatever material like kind of has to be comparable. It can't be like you're saying like granite countertop like something that's the cost is going to significantly increase. Um it would be kind of comparable to what they had previously. So it's not this figure may be a little bit higher than what the program actually typically sees when they're redoing the kitchen.

So are the kitchen remodels to bring it up to a safety code or standard? What what is the goal of a kitchen remodel? Well, typically I know like the lights, they need to be LED lights and hardwired. like those are some of the you might have the old um I don't know the terminology for it where you have the kind of office lights with the big tubes like in older kitchens I think have that well depending on what year the house is but uh there might be upgrades that or um maybe a faucet's like leaking or something like that. So they need to redo the countertop and then a new faucet. So

or putting in a new electrical for the ground fault interrupter that was on originally. safety concerns for that,

right? I'm just wondering because I know like Tom said, we've talked about how we can help more families and I know specifically just in the city of Alhamra where they have a program for the seniors who really need it because they're on fixed incomes and they they upgrade most of the time it's their bathrooms for safety by putting safety bars and whatever those type of things and maybe if they needed some upgrades in appliances, short buyers or like you said the lighting. But I I just think it's time for us to to help more people. And so if we could look, Brian,

Sure, we can we'll we'll take a look and we will bring something back to the council uh and to let you know what uh issues or um the parameters of which uh a city-f funded effort of a similar type would mean programmatically. Okay. And then one last um thing about the kitchen. So, do the six people that have used the funding and the loan are most of them at that $35,000 or are they do they come in significantly lower and or that's the amount that's

they usually do the maximum amount but sometime sometimes people don't want loans for whatever reason like we don't require monthly payments it's a deferred loan so right whenever they sell the house, then that's when it's paid back to the city. So, in the last year, did the six people that we um did a loan or what have you, were there varying amounts or were they all at the max of 35,000? They're varying amounts. Varying amounts starting from about what amount? The 10. Some people only do the the grant and then but most of the people do um do the loan and grant together.

Yeah. Why wouldn't you? I mean it seems. Okay. Well, thank you. All right. I am going to open up public comment. Anyone? Jerry. Good evening, Mayor, council members. I have a couple questions. uh what is the criteria if any between the loan and the grant? Uh how is it determined? And I guess I have several other questions. Well, a couple just one maybe. But is there an amount acred that is like accounts payable, loans outstanding? Do you have that amount that is due to the city,

Scott or Adam? We do have a running balance that's required from our auditors. If I had to guess, it's slightly over a million. I know it's a million, but I don't know the exact figure. U to qualify for the program, it depends on how many people are in the household, and it's based on gross income. So if you have social security, a pension, um anything you're reporting for taxes, that's all counted towards calculating the total household income.

The general idea again is that loans go out, loans get repaid over time and that's where our unallocated amount of funding is coming from so that it revolves back it it gets paid back revolves back into the community. Are those zero interest loans?

They are. they you about seven years ago or so you went to 0% interest loans because it was at a time when interest rates were extremely low and we weren't getting the level of participation that um that was as robust as we wanted it to be. So we went to zero and then that and especially now considering where interest rates are that's why a robust market I mean robust response to the program since I'm on the what is it the uh committee on aging uh committee and we're having a meeting this month. I'm just wondering if a senior citizen comes and says I'm 81 years old now and I'm having trouble getting in my house. Uh, I need handrails on the outside. I need grab bars in the bathroom. Uh, that type of thing. Is are they eligible and would they be moved to the front for safety purposes?

Our program is uh on a first come first serve basis. So someone would submit their name and we put on put them on the waiting list. So difference is not given to seniors then. Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you. Well, maybe we can look at all that, Brian. Okay. All right. Anyone else? I'm going to close public comment. Any final questions from council members? We get any uh Sure, we do, but what is the default on these loans? Do we have you see a lot of default on paybacks or

generally speaking? No. because of how because of how the repayments are made to and also to a title transfer also to we get the full amount of the of the of the loan back. So So no one has ever defaulted on one of these loans. There could have been in the past. Um but not I don't not in the last 10 years. So how do we acrew a million dollar in money though? That's that is that is well if you think about $200,000 out every single year over a fiveyear period that's because that payback is so you're over the last 10 years the city has um expensed through the program a little over $2 million.

So maybe the next the follow-up question would be what are the payback terms on these loans? Is it over how is it a certain period of time? Is it a certain amount of money? How how do we determine how and when they pay these loans back? So the the loans are only required to be paid back when the when the property sells. Oh, okay. So it's not even there is no payment schedule. That's correct. So if the house doesn't sell for 30 years, we don't see any money for 30 years. That's correct. I would say probably 90% of our applicants are seniors. Okay. Um we do not allow them I think on reverse mortgages. Yeah.

So generally the the value of the property increases. Most of our people already have a good deal amount of equity in the property. Okay. And so then of course when the loan is in like a it's like a balloon payment then the tire amounts paid off at that point. Yes. Yeah. But not until then. That's correct. Except there's no interest, right? Yeah. Right. No acred interest. So it's it's a heck of a deal. It is. It's a good deal. It's a really good deal. Well, it's a good deal, but it's limited as to how much you can get, obviously. And you're not we aren't making $100,000 loans to these people. That's correct.

And part of the reason we are because we're looking to assist those who are either aging in place or others who are in fixed income to have the essential aspects of a home intact, things like a roof, windows, those kind of things. I just wish there was a way we could uh cut down on this waiting list. That's like to Jerry's point, you know, you have somebody who who really needs it for whatever for let's say safety reasons or whatever and they're number 30 on the list. That's right. Not a lot of hope there. A lot of things can happen between now and then. Maybe there's maybe some we can look at.

We'll come back. We'll come back. We'll come back to the council. What's up with uh comprehensive review and and can we add those types of things to this program? Uh or are we bound by state or federal law? Like for example, could we allow for quote emergency services to jump to the front of the line or something like that if we were to think it would be worthy? Is is that possible through this program? It is up to the city or city council how we run the program. I know some cities do a lottery system. So maybe if you're on the waiting list and you don't get selected then the next year you may get

more points to being eligible. Well, I for one, I don't know what other council members be, but I would I think it's worth looking into as far as addressing some of these concerns that have been raised tonight regarding the priority, qualifications, the waiting period, things like that that maybe how we could improve that in some way.

And I'm wondering if Okay, it many houses have more than one bathroom. Is this only can they only do one bathroom? Not necessarily. They can they and they sit with our team and our consultant and go through and see what they really need to prioritize in the home and what is of the most pressing needs. Yeah. Because if you have one subpar bathroom, you probably have the second one's not so great either. I don't know. But I I mean I'm wondering because you only have one kitchen. Maybe it's because I don't like to cook, right? I don't know what

you got kitchen. No, I have something about kitchens, but maybe if you have two bathrooms, maybe give some of that extra 5,000 from the kitchen to the bathroom remodels. I love a nice bathroom. It's a collaborative effort between us making sure we're meeting all of HUD's HUD's guidelines in terms of the program, working with the participant as well, too. So, okay. So, we'll just we can work it. Yes, ma'am. Yeah, good. Maybe we can figure something out. You guys You guys are pretty smart. You can Yeah, I know. This is like Vince Gon Vincent more opinion than it is policy.

Well, well, I think it's Mayor, if I may. I I think I think it's good time that we revisit all the CDBG funding and how we allocate what kind of program we serve because we have had this program for many many years and some of the details we have forgotten

for example. But sounds to me like the the mayor mentioned and there seems to be a desire on the city council to help more people given the limited funds. So perhaps uh well these people would be required to take out building permits because construction work right in inspection and perhaps maybe the city attorney can look into if we wave those I mean talking about the mayor trying to help if we wave those fees it's not would that be considered city funds and would that exempt them from um some prevailing wage if the city wanted to help.

Yeah, we we can look in terms of single family residences. In general though, yes, waiver of otherwise required fees is considered contribution of public funds to the project which so difficult one. Yeah.

Okay. Well, the second thing is that perhaps um I mean it I I I too would uh would like to have more people being helped, but uh six people seems like a lot. I mean, it's it's it's a very few. It seems like if you if you won that, it's almost like winning the lot lotto and all of a sudden you got $35,000. Um but I do agree uh the question that Jerry brought up. I mean, if there are some really genuine safety needs, would it be possible to create maybe for for a city manager to bring back next time um maybe create a certain category just for safety and maybe have a smaller amounts?

Sure, we can look into that. Separate list for that, waiting list for that. Yeah, because some of those things that were talked about I can't imagine would be that expensive like grab bar, right? You know, bars. That's why that's why I recall the Habitat for Humanity. A lot of those projects had to do with um making the the entrances safer and things like that which were at that time fairly affordable. Of course, as we know, costs have gone up ridiculously over the last couple three years. And

that's the problem is the as we saw already seen by the graphs that you know the costs have far exceeded the rate of the monies that are available and now we're stuck holding the bag so to speak. Okay. Yeah. I think we we need to take we need to retake a look at these things. Yeah. Okay. That's all, mayor. Thank you. Okay. Um, can I have a motion? We close public comment. Okay.

Um, I would, uh, offer a motion that, uh, you authorize a city manager. Let's see. Uh, authorize city manager to amend the CDBG funded program allocations. Up to 50% of the approved allocation is necessary throughout the fiscal year. Authorize the city manager to amend the home improvement program guidelines to increase the loan amount from 35 to 40 and the grant amount from 10 to 15 and that we adopt resolution 26-5853 establishing the CDBG funded programs and allocations below uh for fiscal year 2627 for attachment A. Um do we need to say do I need to put the amounts in there Greg or just referring to that attachment A is okay?

No, it's fine. attachment. Um, that's it. Second. Okay. Can we get a roll call? Council member Chavez. Yes. Council member Chen. Yes. Council member Yu. Yes. Mayor Pro 10 man. Yes. Mayor Stern. Yes. All right. Adam. Thank you, Scott. We move to item B. Continuation of public hearing for ordinance number 25-1086 to a date uncertain. Brian Mayor Sternquist, the council needs to take no action. So there's no public hearing being opened or anything like that. We are just moving this item to a date uncertain.

Okay. All right. We move to item nine, unfinished business. None. New business. Adoption of resolution 26-5855 establishing priorities for revenue generated by measure TC on the March 3rd 2026 ballot. Brian,

thank you. Mayor Sny, member of the of the council, just let me go, if I may, go over briefly just kind of how we've gotten to this place. Um, in early 20 late 2024, the city council authorized staff to work with Pbolski Research to do some polling and conduct some community outreach and and education regarding efforts to establish one community priorities, but to have the community understand some of the needs, infrastructure needs in the community. Uh the polling that came out uh in that we did in February of 2025 showed support for a 3/4% local sales tax. Uh and the expression from the voters at that time were street maintenance, pave repaving the streets is one of the top priorities, public safety, emergency management, emergency preparedness and our parks. Uh the council then elected after uh several months of community outreach to place on the ballot for November of excuse me on November 18th to place on the ballot for the March 3rd 2026 municipal election coming up. Uh that transaction and use tax otherwise known as sales tax known as measure TC. Um so uh with that uh the council can decide to express in the form of this resolution some of the priorities that was heard were we heard from the community in the polling which include what's noted in the resolution. Um what's noted in in the resolution is just that the council affirming that the rehabilitation and maintenance of residential streets and roads, public safety services, parks and recreation and recreational services and program are amongst the key priorities that will be funding measure TC.

Okay. Do we have any um questions from council? I do have one done here. So So uh Mr. Cook, the fact that we adopted a resolution, it doesn't necessarily obligate the city uh how to spend that um sales tax, right? Um so assuming for a minute that the sales tax measure got passed or the measure TC got passed, what would the logical next step for the city do is actually come out a program and approve it? and how how do we um address in addition to just the resolution the use of these funds

most thank you for that question uh council member you one of the things I'll be bringing forward soon as we are just about to uh uh have an updated pavement management plan that will have um a kind of an evaluation of where we are today and where unfunded need or currently our unfunded needs are. So that will be one of the primary plans that will come forward to you to to start to show you what those issues are um and more importantly where that funding gap lies and how you can prioritize those for residential streets in particular but also for the arterial streets because it's citywide. The other document that we'll be coming forward to you with as well is the remaining parks and parks facility programming and everything else that um from a capital improvement standpoint um is either planned or as a part of too to to bring those. But the the first first document that we're going to be bringing forward to you will be the pavement management plan. And so you will have that. We're required to do that every so often for the state of California, but it is kind of our guiding document to help us plan ahead and more importantly know what those funding gaps are. We already know there's a funding gap with our residential uh street repayment program. Um that is very evident and even though we've done a lot of pavement in the last few years, we have we are running out of that money to do that with both the remaining streets that we need to do, but more importantly a long-term maintenance program. So, that'll be the first document that comes uh your way. Council member, you

Vincent, I also asked um Brian to look for a date when we can go over our strategic plan. It's been many years and I think that this will obviously be one of our top priorities. So, Brian, you're working on a date? Yes, ma'am. Great. Thank you. Okay. Well, with all due respect, I'm not sure I heard an answer to council members's question. And that is what we're doing tonight. Does that in any way bind us or put in stone what we're actually going to be using the monies for?

Let me help with that. Legally speaking, what's on the ballot is a general tax measure, which means that you cannot bind or or put in stone for the very long term what the money will be used for. What you can do on a general tax measure is state that you've heard the community and that your intent is to follow sort of the community's desires. Um but a general tax necessarily the money can be used for any governmental purpose. And so if at some point in the future the public opinion changed as to what was important, uh you as a council or five other human beings at some point in the future felt that other priorities needed to come first, the money can be shifted. Um if if it were to be kept for a very limited amount of things, it would be called a special tax and the procedures for adoption are very different and they don't give that leeway at a point in the future. So no, you are not committing forever and ever uh to these priorities, but what you are saying is that the five of you as a council have heard the public and are putting these priorities in place.

So I guess my follow-up question would be so all we're really doing is we're kind of uh expressing our priorities based on what we've heard from the public. Okay, which is okay. And I guess at the end of the day, we this passes and let's say we decide, yeah, we weren't really committed to that. Let's let's use the money for something else entirely. That wouldn't look too good for us. And I suppose the public would then say, "Wait a minute. You said you were going to use it for this reason. Now you're completely, you know, you're using it to put in a uh casino or something which I don't know if that that's legal anyway but but I guess the check and balance would be I guess the public I think I guess I mean we're saying okay this is what we're going to do and at some point somebody's going to say come up in the meeting perhaps say hey what about uh what you guys said that day on January 10 20th whatever happened to that

right I mean

so you have a you have a budget process that can go through that this will be this you'll see this as a separate line item as a revenue source in the budget as well. So we can start to track that individually and if um and that that is the council's prerogative to look at that while not in a special tax manner but in a manner that looks at it as a different category of funding of how in this case your priorities of funding um be it streets and parks and public safety um you can do that as well. And then also to the audit committee can direct the auditor to separately track that as well. The so so that it can be we can show essentially for lack for lack of better a term kind of like a dashboard of here's where TC here's where your measure TC dollars went. Here's the projects it went to. Here's the programs it's gone to.

I guess what what I'm hearing is we still have the ability if things change. None of us can predict the future. Two, three years from the line. What I'm hearing Greg say is that maybe the things have changed to the point where it's better to use the money for this rather than what we were going to do before. Uh, and that's based on what we believe the the community wants and needs. We still have that discretion to do that. At the same time, we also are holding ourselves accountable and the public's going to hold us accountable for what we're doing tonight to say that, okay, you guys uh you know, these are these are we're not we're not saying this is what we're going to use the money, but we're prioritizing certain things based on what we've heard from the community, I guess, in order to put this on the ballot to begin with,

right? And I think Tom also that if we obviously don't have the money to to do and keep the streets in good repair that if the streets were not being taken care of we would be they'd be knocking down the doors as they'd continue to deteriorate. So the streets are going to hold us all accountable and I guess with the at the end of the day that's why we have elections. No, and if we don't do what we say we were going to do, then somebody's going to come along and call us on that and say, "Okay."

Well, but I do think that the resolution that we passed tonight would be something that really signifies what this council believe and somebody can always point to, hey, you guys passed it that night. Um, and you guys are not doing it. I'm going to hold you responsible for not doing what you promised. No, I agree. Great. Okay. Thank you. Or resolved. If not, I promise at least a resolved to do. Yeah. Anyone else? Open public comment. Jerry busy, Jar. Good thing you came.

Good evening again, Jerry Jambasian. I guess sitting in the audience and listening to what's taking place tonight in the last 15 minutes, I guess I wish that everybody in the city would hear this. In other words, I appreciate the fact that city manager Brian Cook is going to bring you back reports on pavement management and that type of thing, but the average person isn't seeing that. So, you took the results from 2024, which was two years ago, of the citizens of what they wanted, but what are you going to do between now and March the 6 to sell this? And I hate to put it in those terms, but it's important and our people need to know uh what's going to be happening and why I should be voting for this increase. And it seems like unless something's going to be done, uh, nothing is being done to promote it. And hate to use the word sell, but that's what it comes down to. So, I'm wondering, are there plans to promote this and make it a community meeting, a televised type of thing or whatever? So, thank you,

Jerry. Um, Brian had numerous community meetings, right, Brian? At the schools and pri prior to it being placed on the ballot. Yes. Prior to being placed on the ballot. So, I guess you're saying now that it will be on the ballot that there should be more. Are asking what more are we going to I'm I'm confused. Are these going to take place or they already have? Brian's did take place. They did take place. Yes. Wow. I didn't know about them. But I also think that there are also legal requirements to how we maybe the city manager or city attorney can address that there are certain things we can or cannot do uh from taking

Thank you, mayor, council member. I'll turn it over to my colleague on that one.

Sure. Yeah. Once a once a measure has been put on the ballot, um, California law prohibits public funds, which would include public time, uh, from being spent advocating one way or the other. um a city or a county or a special district has the ability to put out factual statements um stating what money would be used for uh what needs are there, but you can't advocate. Um, most public agencies will put something on the ballot and then uh let a committee or a a involved group of residents uh potentially including elected officials advocate out in the public sphere, but the governmental apparatus can't be used um to advocate. And in light of that, most public agencies really try to once something has been on put on the ballot try to stay out of the communication at all so that what they uh say doesn't get interpreted as advocacy and lead to to um conflict or or challenge. So there probably will not be much from the city at this point, although you'll certainly hear from individuals. Can I just ask one more question then? If the city is giving the Chamber of Commerce over $5,000 a month, could they advocate for this or would there be a conflict of interest there? I don't want to get into too much detail but there are within the contract uh with the chamber of commerce there is parameters in which the conduct of the chamber uh is um expected and also to meeting all state laws as well so that they they fall within those guidelines.

So does that mean yes it it it actually would would tend to mean the opposite. um okay that

city money received by the chamber would have to be able to be shown to be used for things unrelated or unrelated to an item like this. Um and and again without going too far down the road, the chamber's contract includes some very other some very specific other provisions about what city funds cannot be used for um in light of some of the chamber activities because we don't want we want to be able to keep supporting the chamber without crossing that line. So, while they could advocate and it wouldn't be a surprise if they did, um, they would have to be cautious with their funds and in their reporting back to the city. Okay.

Thank you. All right. Anyone else? I'm going to close public comment. Any final questions or comments by council? Members? Nope.

Actually, mayor, I'll just say one quick thing. I I I just want to concur with what was previously mentioned because I I guess in short I see the resolution as an affirmation of all the work that was done leading up to this being like this kind of affirms the reason why this is even on the ballot, right? Because otherwise people could say, "Well, did you guys just out of the blue, out of thin air decide to put a tax measure on there?" It's like, "Well, no. there was a certain amount of homework and data gathering that led us to this logical conclusion. So there's there's a there's a basis for that. Um and and I do appreciate uh our city manager talking about the the followup and follow through and I agree we have many mechanisms in place. So, I know you brought up the strategic plan. There's the pavement management plan. And then, of course, the the budget ultimately, I think, is going to be the the document that reflects how we're truly going to be committing the city's money, just like everything else that we we are um obligated to safeguard. So, so I I think this is a good thing. I I we we'd have a we have a track record of a council of holding ourselves accountable and being as transparent as possible with what we're trying to do. And I think this is very much in align with that. So

okay.

Well, allow me madam mayor just to retate restate the obvious, right? I mean this not only affirms but this is actually telling the public we have resolved as a body. This is how we intend to use those funds if the measure passes. So we're out holding ourselves uh responsible and folks can criticize us if we didn't follow through in the future uh on the on on the expenditure of these funds. So this is out there not only affirming is is also holding ourselves responsible how those funds would be would would be used.

And I think it's important to note that there was no argument right from anyone in the community against the the me the ballot measure. So I think that in itself affirms that what we're doing is good for the community. I'm with to state the obvious again. It's really a resolution by the five of us. Yes. If in two months there are two new members, they're not bound by this resolution in any way, shape, or form. Correct. I mean, well, I think it's similar to like our protocols, right, that we that we

Well, no, because the protocols are they they bind you. I mean, they're just a certain expected level of of of I don't know. I think they're similar, but uh I don't know. I I I'm in favor of the resolution, but I don't really All it really does is really state the obvious, and that is we've what we've already, you know, gotten to this point is we've we've all agreed that this is the way to go. Just another step of affirmation,

I I suppose. And again, I'm not against it. I'm all for it. But again, it has no no it doesn't bind anybody. If there's two new council members in two months and they decide I don't agree with these priorities, they have every right to do so. But they wouldn't be a majority. Well, just takes one more. All right. Anyone else? Okay. So, we are moving on to item 11. We still need a vote to approve Oh yeah. M madame mayor, if I could

move to um adopt make a motion to adopt resolution number 26- 5855, attachment A outlining the city council's intended priorities for revenue generated by the proposed transaction and use tax measure TC to be considered by voters on March 3rd, 2026. Okay, we have a roll call, please. We need a second. Oh, second. Yeah. Council member Chavez, yes. Council member Chen, yes. Council member Yu, yes. Mayor Pton Man, yes. Mayor Sternquist,

yes. Okay. Update from our city manager. Thank you, Mayor Sternquist. Just one quick thing. The latest issue of Connect is out. It's titled Urban Renaissance. highlight some of the projects that we've done at the council's authorized over the last uh couple years um coming to fruition and some of our exciting events that are coming up including a lunar new year celebration on February 7th and uh some of the fun programs that we have for our seniors and for our youth. So it should be in everybody's mailbox. If it's not in their mailbox now, it will be in their mailbox soon. and

state of the city. Yes, state of the city will be on February, sorry, February 24th at 6:15. 6:30 will be the start time uh at the uh woman's club. Yes. Uh Mayor Sternquist will be providing our annual state of the city for 2026. You want to tell them the title? You tell us the title is the stage is set. So what does that mean? The stage is set to come and see. But anyway, I'm so looking forward to um giving that because we've done the staff and we've all done such great work. So

thank you, Mayor Stringquest. Thank you. Okay. Um update from our city attorney, Greg.

Thank you. very briefly. So, we looked into the ebike law changes for 2026 and and actually it was interesting. They came out with a lot of fanfare, but for local jurisdictions, um I I guess the best way to put it is they they changed the regulation of the machines themselves, uh which has more to do with your public safety, with the sheriffs, rather than changing, uh or allowing local jurisdictions to change the regulation of behavior, which is what we hope for. We hope that, you know, perhaps a local jurisdiction could say that in order to ride a certain class of ebike, you had to uh be a certain age or or be outfitted in a certain way. And the laws don't say that. Um they focus on two things mainly. One one is is actually kind of interesting considering their ebike laws or or have been called that and that is regulation of vehicles that don't meet the definition of ebikes. So, an ebike by definition is pedled. And what these are are essentially mopeds, for lack of a better word, that look like ebikes, go much faster than ebikes actually go. And those are now subject to totally different regulations. Uh the the second interesting part is that San Diego County was having such a tough time with ebikes themselves that there was special legislation for cities in that county uh to uh allow local jurisdictions to further regulate behavior of ebikes. Again, uh youths below a certain age using them. um uh impoundment of bikes if the rider is not wearing a helmet, things along that line because you you were seeing especially in the beach communities just an overwhelming number of ebikes and some pretty bad behavior on the roads.

So, does that mean the counties have a right to regulate? It it means that there's special legislation that lets the cities or the county in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County No, but so for can LA County do the same thing? They would have to get legislation from the state legislature. So the state legislature carved out an exception for the city county of San Diego. Correct. And not the rest of the state. Correct.

Well, that's pretty they they do it all the time. They started years ago they started a uh a design build public contracting program and they listed certain cities. The city of Elk Grove in Sacramento County was one of them. So they they do it all the time. Uh they they tend to call them test programs. Um, but really it's special legislation. So, because of that, we know that we still have very limited rights to regulate and we'll keep regulating as best we can. Um, and then rely on public safety to take care of the uh the bad actors. So, do we want that, Greg, here want to similar to what San Diego County?

I would defer to the city manager to tell me how much of a problem ebikes are in the city of Temple City. depends on who you ask. We get complaints. There's no doubt. Um it'll be interesting to see and we'll take a look at what the San Diego what it truly allows the agencies to impose uh and what it allows them to enforce. So, so we'll take a look at what they have to say and then we can report back to you and say, "Hey, this makes sense. Maybe we should be

advocating to our uh state senator and assembly member that this is something that should be expanded to either statewide or add LA County to the Sounds like all we can do is nothing we can do because we're not in that that special legislation that was passed. All we can do is identify maybe potential issues here and then advocate or or get our our state representatives to come on board with us, I guess. Yes.

Two days ago, there was a child. It looked like he was in junior high crossing Groaldi onto um from Gurabaldi from which way is that? west coming east on Giraaldi on an ebike with a kid on his shoulders behind him. I I I just don't get it, you know. And I I stopped my car and said, "That's just pulled over and said, you know, that's really unsafe." They just looked at me like, you know, you're out to lunch. You're an old person. Who cares what you say? But they had to be in junior high school. They weren't even high school students. but just on his back holding, you know, it was just an accident waiting to happen.

I saw a weird thing. I can't remember what freeway I was on, but there were about eight juveniles on not ebikes, but minibikes. Remember what minibikes are? Yes. On the freeway, like a pack of them. I'm looking like, whoa, where'd that come from? But where's a CHP when you need one? Right. Okay. Um, let's see. Thanks, Greg. Thank you, Greg. Council reports regarding ad hoc or standing committee meetings. Do we have any updates?

I would like to report on the school district city uh city uh school district city standing committee meeting. Mayor Prom man and I met with uh um our staff and uh staff in the school district on January 15th. Um, first item of business was ebikes. Surprise. But, uh, uh, Joseé Omaya, our public safety supervisor, uh, gave gave kind of a similar type update on on the new laws and and what was going and actually uh, Mayor Mayor Protan Man can can follow up on this, too. But I think his conclusion was it really didn't change too much as far as what we can do. Um, as as Greg mentioned, all they did was change uh uh the type of bikes. For example, uh they have to have a red light on the back of the bike now and no other modifications can be made to the bikes and you know, but nothing having to do with the the safety value of those of these things or or the or safety regulations. So, um I mean I think it's just another example of state kind of missing the ball and maybe there's just not enough um voice out there right now to do that. But I think at some point like most of these things it's going to come to a head because I think we all agree that we're seeing more and more ebikes on the road and and of course the it's a it's a subject that's close to the school district because a lot of their student not a lot but more and more students are starting to ride those things. Uh however, we have done uh some work in the area of of so-called bike rack checks that they've been performing those at Oak and and at the high school to determine if there are any bikes that have been changed or there's a problem. And I think they have confiscated a couple of those bikes and informed the parents they have to come and pick them up, the kids couldn't go home on them. So, there are things there that that they're doing and you know, but I think there's still a little more work to do and some of it's out of our hands, some

of it isn't, but uh we'll continue to follow that and work with the school districts on that as well. Um, as always, we also discuss uh traffic issues primarily around Longden Elementary. Um there's still some ongoing issues there, but there's also some ongoing plans to improve that. And so we're going to keep that uh on the agendas moving forward to make sure that the city and the school district both work together to try to alleviate those issues that are still still of concern. Um along those same lines, Temple City Unified formed as the safe route to schools. Uh the traffic concerns things and they there was good news. They are getting better. They believe the parents are are are following the rules a little bit better, but you know, maybe not as much as we'd all like to do, but but getting there. One of the things that was brought to my attention prior to the meeting and we discussed it briefly at the meeting was the fact that Oak Avenue School and it was brought to my attention by council member Chen that Oak Avenue School recently received a national award called a national school to watch.

Oh, nice. Which is a very I guess pretty prestigious award. And um so we discussed at the meeting perhaps uh bringing uh those who were responsible for that award, the staff and principal to a future council meeting and recognizing their achievements. I want to thank council member Chen for bringing that to our attention. And I think Brian, if you were going to work with them, I think or uh bring them to bring them in probably maybe next council or next meeting after that.

It's a it's a good a big deal. Um, and we certainly want to recognize them and because I think we've all we've all recognized and stated various times how important school districts are to the city and one of the reasons why people want to live in Simple City is because of the school district and so to recognize I think it'd be a nice nice thing to do. So, so we're going to do that. Um, we had scheduled our next meeting for April 30th. So again, if anybody has any items of discussion or anything they they would like Mayor Prom man and I to discuss, please let us know and we'll get that on the agenda as well. And Mayor Prom man, if you have anything you want to add, feel free.

I think you covered it pretty well. I one question I did have for Brian was we had discussed that a joint meeting with the full bodies together. Is that still going to happen? We we tenatively have it it scheduled for March 5th. March. Oh, we do. Okay. Wait, March 5th. Okay. Soon after. That's a Thursday. Two days after. That's a Thursday. Okay. Okay. Thursday. Okay. So, that that date is still That's still that that that date is still there. Okay. So, we we'll we'll we'll uh that's not on our calendar though. Uh I believe it is. We'll double check, but that was that tenative date we have.

I remember getting that on our calendar. Let's see. We'll we'll work with everybody's uh schedules one more time and uh double check to make sure that date works for everybody. You said March what now? Sixth. Fifth. Fifth. Oh, fifth. No, it's not uh we haven't got anything on that yet. Any safe date or anything. So, may want to have Liz do that. Okay.

Yeah. But but other than that, I'll just say one last thing which I think most of us would agree. I I think the standing committee has been very beneficial and constructive because I think just keeping that dialogue going with the school district is really important and that's what we keep striving for is kind of improving not just the communication but you know if they have certain issues that we can help them more quickly than if things just kind of like took their natural course then that's what we're we're here for right so so I I do appreciate uh our our staff both on the public safety side the park side as well as, you know, Trans Tech and our city engineers for really, you know, working so well together to try to address a lot of the concerns and issues that our our our district partners bring bring forth and and we appreciate them, you know, partnering with us on so many things.

Yeah. And and just as a quick followup, this before your time, of course, uh when Vince and I were first elected, there was a I I wouldn't say um what's the best word to say? A certain amount of animosity or or hostility.

Hostility, that's a good word, between the school district and the city would believe it or not. Jerry, you probably remember those days. And uh I'm proud to say that as a council, we've come a long ways. And so it's a school district and and it's a true partnership and I think as as Mayor Pro Tim man mentioned these standing committee meetings further that goal and um and I I'm a firm believer and I'm glad we do have that full meeting together because I think it's also beneficial. We didn't used to always do that either. We would maybe do it every couple years or something like that, but I think having one of those meetings every year is a good idea as well.

It's been a while. it. Yeah, it's been a while, I think, since we had the last one, but I think having them at least once a year is a good idea.

You know, I'd like to see if if you could put it on the agenda either in March or the next time is I I still would, and I've been talking to Brian this for a very long time. I think that we need to look at some coordination of services should we have a disaster in the city where our school district is in communication with the city or how are we going to coordinate together if we need to use say a field or something. So, I think it's it's just something that we should be looking at and I think it's important for them to, you know, have that conversation with us, especially emergencies. I mean, look at the fire. The kids were out of school. They're they needed to have places to go. Well, if we have something available, whether it's at the park or rooms available, I just think it's we should have something in place, a plan. And I've asked Brian. Brian, you're still working on this. I know it's been a very long time. If we can get an emergency plan update for council members, especially for Ed who's new. Um I think it's just something that we haven't had for some time and we should.

I I I would we'll put that on the next agenda to discuss. Okay. Moving forward on that partnership plan is in the event of an emergency. Yes. And then but you're also talking about our own just to bring us up on what our plan is. They're kind of intertwined. We should know what we're going to do. But it also makes sense because we have two council members who have children in our schools. So uh that would be a good link I guess as far as what what they what we can or cannot do as well. So

yeah and and that's to to that extent mayor. I think it it would behoove of us to in in that scope also have a discussion with Elmani Unifi since they they have a an actual facility within the city limits. So So I I I think I I think it's a good idea. It's just I think the scope we might need to consider the fact that there's more than just the Temple City unified within within the city limits. Clemenson being the obvious one. Okay. And then Greg, I don't think we need item H anymore. Correct. I don't think you do anymore. So, can we just resolve that?

Okay. Any other updates? Nope. So, let's move on to item 15, additional public comments on items not listed on the agenda. Anyone? Um, I would just like to say uh just again a big thank you to Cub Cub Scout Pack 169. So cute. They were out here in force. Um, little background on that. Uh, couple of weeks ago, uh, Council Member Chen called me and said, "Hey, Tom, what are you doing tonight?" I said, "Nothing. You want to come and talk to Cub Scout uh park cub scout pack 169 tonight at Emperor and talk about local government. I am offended.

Yeah, you are now on the big sh list. Well, I have a kind of a connection with uh with Clifford who is a part of the uh Cub Scouts group too. But it was fun. So, I I went and uh

spoke with them and uh had a good time and had a lot of good questions and and uh it was fun and and they expressed an interest on coming and doing the flag salute and so that was pretty cool and they they came tonight and they were excited about it and so yeah they good group good group of kids and uh you know a lot of us here have have attended um what is it the Eagle Scout ceremonies and things like that and this is where they started. And uh it's kind of neat because you don't get we don't get a chance too much to spend with the cub scouts but because usually we see the older kids and right

young men and women but uh but it was a good group of and good group of parents as well. So so uh it was good to see them come out and um it's about it. We've been a little little quiet beginning of the year but we have a busy schedule coming up that's for sure in February. A lot of events coming up. So that's all I have. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? Nope. All right. So, um I'd like to Are we on 16 now? Adjournment. Yes. No. 15. 15. Okay. Additional public comments. Jerry said no. So, that's why Jerry said no already. Yeah, he did. Come on, Jerry.

Um I'd like to close the meeting in memory of former council member and mayor Mary Lou Swain. So um with that we are adjourned.