City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, residents of Tallery, staff, and fellow council members to our Taller City Council meeting for Tuesday, April 7th. With that, the items that we have on our agenda is our pledge of allegiance and invocation. Council member Dennis Maderos will lead us in our pledge of allegiance. And if you'd please remain standing for Pastor Dennis Sunderland, who will lead our invocation. Salute the flag. Please remember the last six words of the father. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible. Shall we pray? Father, we're so very grateful that we could come in the lovely name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That we can come having just celebrated the resurrection, Easter, the joy of the season. And I pray Lord Jesus, may your presence be real in this room, real in the life of each one that is gathered here. I ask that you'll give wisdom and direction to those that are council members, city staff. Lead them and guide them that they may direct our city in a way that all of its citizens can prosper and be blessed. I ask for your peace to be upon this meeting. We commit it into your hands. We give you the glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, Pastor S. Next on our agenda is proclamations and

recognition. 3.1 is a proclamation for child abuse prevention month and this will be led by council member Terry sir. Good evening. Whereas children are our nation's most valuable members and our nation's most valuable resources helping to shape the future of Tillary. And whereas positive childhood experiences and safe, stable, nurturing relationships help mitigate the long-term impacts of trauma and adverse childhood experiences supporting the healthy development of children. And whereas child abuse and neglect affect every community in the United States and preventing these issues requires collective action, strengthened family supports and community engagement. And whereas the Child Abuse Prevention Council, CAPC, of Tallery County, established in 1982, brings together public and community-based organizations to prevent child abuse through advocacy, collaboration, education, and information sharing for children and families. And whereas the CAPC's mission is to prevent child abuse by coordinating community partnerships and quality services and its vision is to end child abuse by promoting healthy families where children reach their full potential. And whereas the CAPC values the strengths of families, the empowerment of communities, and a united commitment to preventing a child abuse and neglect in Tallery County. And whereas the city of Toaryi recognizes and appreciates the CAPC and its network

of partners, educators, health care providers, law enforcement personnel, nonprofits, and volunteers who work collaboratively to ensure children and families receive the support they need to thrive. Now therefore, we the city council of the city of Teraryi do hereby proclaim April 2026 as national child abuse prevention month in the city of Tallarian and encourage all residents to support families, participate in prevention efforts, and help build a hopeful, healthy future for every child dated this 7th day of April, 2026, and signed by the Tallery City Council. Is there anyone here to receive this? So, I'd like to present this to you on our behalf. And would you like to say something?

Good afternoon. My name is Gel Leara. I am with the Tallery County Child Abuse Prevention Council. I am the program manager. Um, on behalf of the Tallery County Child Abuse Prevention Council, I want to extend our grateful gratitude for your support and recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Your leadership is an astounding way of acknowledging the importance of protecting our children and sending powerful message that every child deserves to grow up safe, supported, and nurtured. At this at the Tiller County Child abuse prevention council, our mission is to where to raise awareness, educate and provide resources to family and the community to prevent child abuse and neglect. We work with schools, social service, businesses, law enforcement, healthc care providers and community members to ensure that our children family have access to programs that strengthen families, build resilience, and prevent harm before it occurs. Throughout the years, we have led different campaigns, community events that highlights the importance of prevention and early intervention. We advocate policies that protect our children and support our families. Child abuse prevention month is not just on April. It is every month of the year. It is our commitment to support and reinforce every day of the month and year. Your support helps amplify our message and our mission. Together we could create a community where children feel safe, families are strong and prevention issued responsibilities. Let us continue working together not just this month but every month to prevent child abuse. Our pri our priorities are to ensure that every child has opportunity to thrive in our communities. Thank you to our city council members, mayors, city council personnel, and everyone here tonight to sh to show our efforts to prevent child and our commitment and leadership and advocating for our future children. Thank you.

Thank you for having me. Thank you for yours.

The next item on our agenda 3.2 to is a proclamation for donate life month. Do we have a representative from donate life here this evening? Yes. Thank you. If you would please if you would join me at the podium. All right. Yes. If you me up here. Welcome. Welcome. Yeah,

good evening. This proclamation is for National Donate Life Month. Whereas National Donate Life Month is observed each April to honor the individuals who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, and tissue donation and to celebrate the lives that have been saved or healed through this generosity. And whereas more than 100,000 people in the United States, including many Californians, Toarians are currently the national are on the national organ transplant waiting list, each hoping for a second chance at life through the generosity of a donor. And whereas organ, eye, and tissue donation is a life-saving giving act recognized worldwide as an expression of compassion within a single donor able to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve or heal the lives of up to 75 more through tissue donation. And whereas this year's donate life theme uses trees as a symbol of life, growth, and connection, reminding us that just as trees support one another within a forest, donations connect donors, recipients, families, and caregivers, creating a lasting legacy of hope. And whereas the gift of donation is not limited by age or most medical conditions. And more than 14 million Californians have already registered their decision to be organ, eye, and tissue donors through the donate life California registry. And whereas Californians, you, me, and our neighbors may register their donor decision when applying for or renewing a driver's license or identification card through the California Department of Motor Vehicles or online. Now therefore, we the city council of the city of Toary do hereby proclaim the month of April as National Donate Life Month.

Thank you. You have a a wonderful group with you if you'd like to say a few words. Very very uh Hello everyone. My name is Leonardo Hernandez and I'm the community engagement specialist at Donor Network West. And my role is basically to raise awareness about the issue, just get people talking about it. And one of through one of those ways is telling stories. And today I'm actually going to have two people who are residents of this area who are going to briefly share the impact of what donation can have on them. And with that, I'm going to invite Jennifer McClung to briefly share her story.

Good evening everyone. I'm honored to be here this evening, not only to share my story, but to also tell you how organ donation has changed my life. At 16 and a half, I was diagnosed with kidney failure. I went to the hospital thinking that I had just a bad case of the flu. My parents took me to the doctor multiple times, and it just seemed I couldn't get better. Finally, the doctor ordered a lab test and a chest X-ray. When the results came back, it showed that I had pneumonia. My heart was double the size it should be, and it seemed my kidneys had failed. The doctor decided to give me a medication called Lasex, hoping to pull off that excess fluid, and that my lab results would be better. The next day, the next morning, my mom took me back to the hospital, and once again, they drew blood. There was no change. A nurse came out to meet my mom and I. And I remember walking along the long white narrow hallway scared to go to my hospital room. There the nurse handed me a file telling me about the different types of diialysis treatments I could choose from, what foods I could and could not have. All right. and what my life would be like with kidney failure until I received a kidney transplant. At a time that I should have been picking out my prom dress and kissing boys. Instead, I was picking out the type of diialysis I wanted and kissing my freedom away. I did dialysis for over 17 years doing both a gentle formidialysis peritineal which allowed me to sleep as the treatment was done and a much more invasive formidialis hemo which caused me to go to a clinic three times a week and be poked with large needles. Hemmoiolysis was extremely hard on me

and when I went for a transplant at one point in time they thought I was going to need a heart and kidney transplant. But after being tested I was very blessed that my heart was just good enough to receive a kidney transplant. I remember on December 3rd, 2015, my phone rang at 6:00 a.m. I see UCSF flash across the screen. This was it. On the other end was the transplant team nurse. She asked me a bunch of questions and she let me know that my donor was from a 13-year-old boy who sadly died from a traumatic brain injury. In the background, I heard my mom banging on my siblings doors. Jyn's got the call. Jyn's got the call. My mom and I got in the car and we drove the four hours to get to San Francisco through the tillerary fog, as you all know, the rain and a little bit of sun. When I got to UCSF, the nurse once again met me with my mom. Once again, we walked along the long, stark white hallway, but this time it was filled with bright and colorful pictures symbolizing hope and the bright future I had before me. I went into surgery and four hours later, I looked down at the bag attached to me. Little drops of yellow liquid gold. The kidney was working. Since then, my life has done a 180. How many people can say they have more energy and look better in their 20s. I no longer depend on a machine to live. I can enjoy the foods and drinks that I love, even in moderation. Kind of hard when your sister's a baker and make some

good cakes. But most importantly, I'm still here to enjoy my friends and family, such as that sister who's in the audience tonight to support me. I I am forever grateful to that family who I can't imagine the grief they were going through when they lost their son to have the courage, kindness to say yes to donate his own. Every morning I wake up and I am forever thankful because with this gift from my donor, he did not just change my life, he saved my life. Thank you. And now I'd like to turn things over to my fellow ambassador Craig. So, first off, I just got to say it's uh feels really good to be back. uh here in this space.

Yeah, a little bit. And I think you're supposed to identify yourself first and say what city you live in. You understand that, don't you?

Okay. So, I'm Craig Vida. I used to sit on this DAS uh 10 years ago uh last time I was here. Um anyway, first off, I want to thank you all for the job that you are doing. Sometimes you don't get thanked for what you do. As a citizen of this community, I very much appreciate it. Doing a good work. Keep it up. So, most of you know that I got a heart transplant three and a half years ago. Um, and then shortly thereafter, I volunteered to be in part of Donor Net West. I I weighed a lot less then the shirt actually fit. So, I've been living a little bit large since then, but it's been a real blessing. Uh, I have a a rare blood disorder. Milt Stow shared the same rare blood disorder. Milt was our parks and rec director here in the city of Tiller and then was mayor of Porterville subsequently. Milt's doing great. I'm healthy. Uh, and I'm here because of, you know, the grace of God, fantastic med medical teams at Cedar Sinai, and a donor. And you got to have all three of those. So, if you are registered, if you're on the donor registry, I thank you. I do ask that you let your loved ones know that you are because it's a tough time for people uh when they lose a loved one then to have to say, "Okay, uh can we, you know, harvest some parts?" Let your family know. Makes it a lot easier for them. Uh you've heard that if you're not registered, so easy to do through the DMV online. There's multiple options online. Um, and I'm going to share one other thing. Steve Boots was a math teacher and a football coach at Toar Union High School. Did anybody know Steve? Yeah.

Okay. Yeah. So, Steve Boots had a son, Steve, who's my age. Uh, he played football and he was uh the heavyweight on our wrestling team. And Steve needs a kidney. and his best chance of getting a kidney is through a good Samaritan donor. He's my age. So, I I share that with you um to say let's spread the word and maybe there's somebody out there. There are a couple organs that you can donate while you're still alive. Kidney and part of your liver. The liver regenerates. The rest of them are harvested after you've passed. So, um I thank you for this time and thank you all for uh you know helping helping save lives. Appreciate it. Mayor

Hello, my name is Maria Ghalva and I am a 39year organ recipient donated by my living donor brother. So, living donation is right here represented. Now, I am going to challenge the uniform population out here. We are having our first gift of life run in Cutler Park this Saturday. Now, Sheriff Harold Lyles received his kidney from his son celebrating one year. These are all the sheriff's department. I'm challenging you, Tary Police Department, everybody out here

to represent Tary now. So, I hope to see you out there. All right. So, this is a formal invitation. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here and sharing the stories. And Maria, if I understand, you've kind of one of the founders of this. You've been through this for a very long time. Well, again, 39 years. Yes. Yes. Third my lifetime. Yes.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you to everybody. Next on our agenda is 3.3 California Parks and Recreation Society CPRS Awards of Excellence presentation. Good evening and welcome. Yes. Okay. Would you There we go. Uh, hi everybody. I am Mel Johnson. I am the region 3 rep on the state board for the California Park and Rec Society, CPRS. Uh it's a distinct honor to be here to celebrate the hard work of an incredible team of dedicated park and recck professionals and I dare say there are other city staff members that worked hard on these projects as well. Uh the CPRS annual awards program celebrates the outstanding examples of quality facility and park design, programming accomplishments, effective communications, community leadership, and professional successes that take place daily in our profession. Through our five award categories, we highlight the people, places, spaces, programs, and stories that make communities like Toary special. This year, there were 186 total applications. Only 52 were awarded and two of them were awarded to Ter City of Toeri which is a big deal. Uh as an innovation award winner, you are in an elite group. There were only 12 awardees in six subcategories for this brand new

award. The program letters to Jack Skellington is a truly innovative approach designed to promote literacy, community connection, and holiday spirit. In 2025, the program went viral, receiving 5,000 letters from all 50 states and two territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, as well as from Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, and Australia. The program not only connected local residents, but created a global connection through a shared themed activity, creating a sense of belonging and community excitement during the Halloween season. The program provides a fun and engaging creative writing prompt and motivates children to practice letterw writing and communication skills. It promotes inclusivity, accessibility, and equity by leveraging digital tools to remove traditional participation barriers and engaging in kidd hobbies and imaginative activities. Also helps lower stress levels, invokes a sense of nostalgia, and provides a healthy creative escape. Uh you'll find this next in my agency. The parks and wreck is a bag, borrow, and steel industry. So, a huge congrats to Miss Lusk for your efforts on this. Mhm. I was told to do that. That's a cool award. Okay. I said there were two awards. The next one is the park. You You good? Great. the park planning award of excellence for Zumwalt Park featuring Advent Adventist Health Amphitheater. Uh the category only had eight awards earned through three subcategories. So it's one of the most difficult awards to earn through CPRS. Uh the renovation of Zumalt Park has transformed a once underused green space into a central hub for entertainment, recreation, and economic revitalization. The addition of the Adventist Health Amphitheater

provides a space for world-class live concerts, community celebrations. The park serves as a cornerstone of the city's downtown master plan, drawing nearly 35 to 50,000 visitors annually, and local businesses have reported increased business, indicating a significant boost to the local economy. New features include custom-designed playground, a zipline, and a splash pad with integrated misters and colored lighting for summer cooling. The park offers free events to promote public wellness and connections such as yoga, cross trainining, tai chichi, and folklorico dance lessons. Its inclusive design includes ADA accessible restroom upgrades and AD ADA accessible playground and walkable paths to ensure the space is accessible to all residents. Uh beyond concerts, the park hosts movie nights, car shows, holiday celebrations, nonprofit events, and my picnic dinner later because I'm going there next. That sounds amazing. Uh so congratulations city of Tallery on your two awards uh for the well-deserved awards of excellence. I don't know who to give this one to. Who do we have? Uh Oh, I like when people fight over a warts.

I stepped down here because I surely representing the city council wanted to as well extend the handshake. Congratulations to our staff involved. So, Mr. or if you please join,

I'm going to fill time on the long walk down. Mr. Orur, the one-of-a-kind award plaque that's in your hands was made by an artist through an LA based nonprofit. It's called Piece by Piece. So, not only are you being recognized with a unique piece of artwork as an award, uh, but CPRS likes to help people who were formerly unhoused, um, or experiencing lower SCEs and develop marketable skills, self-confidence, and improved quality of life. That is a unique award. Congratulations to all of you. This wouldn't

is it on now? This wouldn't have been possible without uh the amazing parks and recreation staff I have as well as our community development department and pretty much everyone in the city. It really was a group effort on Zumba Park. So, thank you again. And of course we uh city council appreciates the leadership of Mark Mandell and of course with the staff and directors and everyone involved and I know there was something I don't want to put you on the spot your efforts

5,000 letters. I definitely did not do this on my own. We had an entire part-time staff of two main girls and then like six other that I like helped with the 5,000. We had a whole system going with tubs and boxes all the way up until October 30th. And we even got some in February that got delayed through uh Michigan and Alaska. So we were still doing letters all the way up until February because they got lost in the mail somehow. Um so I could not have done it without my part-time staff. They were amazing because we wrote back and responded individually customized letters back to 5,000 kids. They're all individually customized. So I could not do it without them because I don't have that creative ability to think of 5,000 letters. So thank you. Oh, a picture you want. I'm sorry, Melissa. Okay. All right. Moving forward on our agenda is number four, public comment. Members of the public wishing to comment on any item not appearing on the agenda may address the city council at this time. State law prevents council from acting on any matter not on the agenda. However, your comments may be referred to staff for followup. This is also the time for the public to comment on items listed under the consent calendar or to request an item from the consent calendar be pulled for discussion purposes. Comments related to public hearing and general business items will be heard at the time those items are discussed. In fairness to all wish in fairness to all who wish to speak, public comment is limited to a total of 15 minutes with each speaker allowed three minutes unless otherwise extended by council. Please begin your comments

by stating your name and providing your city of residence. For those that wish to provide public comments while viewing the meeting online, you may call 559-3661849 and the clerk will assist you with your call. As we start the public comment, I do have various yellow cards that were turned in for item 9.1. So, I'm going to hold those cards specifically for item 9.1. I have others that are listed as general comments. As I said in setting up uh the rules and conditions with the time frame tonight and setting the 15minute time limit on our public comment, but of course council members, council myself may extend that depending on the discussion or presentation. So the first item that I have is Eric Ferrer, uh TPFA contract. Good evening, Mr. Ferrer. Good to have you. Welcome,

welcome, uh, council members. Uh, my name is Eric Fer. I live here in the city of Teriy, and I served the citizens via the Tiller City Fire Department for the last 18 years. And I've been on our executive board that represents the Tiller Professional Firefighters Association for the last 12 years. And I saw the vice mayor when I came in with my posi here. you got a little nervous, but I I can assure you that this is uh praise and uh gratitude for the individuals that you have empowered and entrusted uh with negotiations between uh my repres organization that I represent and the administrators such as Chief, Mark, Thomas, Jason, and Janie from my association to to the council want to let you know that we've had nothing but uh respectful conversations And um we have nothing but praise for your administration that you've that you've empowered. And there's a lot that you guys don't get to see when we go to the table um because it's illegal and it's not moral. But um I'd have to let you know that the conversations we had and when we came to our differences, which when two entities come to the table, there's always going to be differences. What we noticed with this administration, because like I said, I've been there for 12 years, so I've seen numerous administrations, they explain the why, and they've been trusted. Uh they let our people know why we can't come to a certain agreement. And we really appreciate that. We can go back to our brothers and sisters and who I represent and explain to them the vision of the city of Tiller. And u we're just very thankful and uh grateful. We want to thank uh Mark, Chief A, Thomas, Jason, and Janie. And I know you'll see the contract took quite a quite a bit of time, but me and Thomas even talked about it. Keep in mind that there were some HR changes, people coming into the game midway through. So, getting everyone caught up to speed and getting a good contract, not only for uh my organization, but for the city. We thank you.

Can I ask one question? Yes, sir. Why did you leave Mario Zamore out? Did he offend? Isn't he part? Oh, I you know uh we actually had good pleasant conversation with him. So, actually I thought maybe he was the lawyer. No, no, no, no, no. Thank you very much, Mr. Fer to you and your team. Thank you for your comments. Thank you.

Appreciate the presentation and thank you to your team for all that you do. The next card I have is Esther Vasquez and Patty Mina. Good evening, Esther. Welcome. Hello and God bless you all. It's good to be here. Um, my name is Esther Vasquez and I live in Goan, but I am coming tonight to represent the deios or church of God. um here in Tillary on East Street. And our main concern is um that well our purpose here today is um to bring your attention regarding some accidents that have been uh occurring at two intersections. uh and some of our uh members have um had car accidents and we noticed that there's always a lot of people uh surrounding this this intersections here in Tillary um walking or um having you know to to deal with the traffic um and we noticed that on these two uh four-way intersections which are on I and cross and E and Sanwa um that there's only like two signs at the fourways, you know, there's only two stop signs and so the cars that are coming like from cross or after they pass the light on J, you know, they're just they just keep going straight and the other cars don't know that they don't have a stop cuz there's an intersection there. So they they're having car accidents and a couple of our

members uh from church have had accidents there and so before any more fatalities or anything I don't know that that they they perished or not you know but um um I was asked as a secretary of the church to come and speak to you folks you know here tonight to see if we could get more stops on those two intersections. And I mentioned I think uh E and Sanwaqin and I and cross. Um and so that's that's my spill for today. And we're hoping that you know you guys can see fit, you know, to to do something about the putting more stop signs there on those two intersections.

All right. To prevent more accidents. Thank you. Thank you very much for your time today. It's good to see you and I have your yellow card and we will pass that to staff and our team will be in touch with you. Thank you very much. God bless you all. The next yellow card that I have is uh Mr. Bruce Young. Good evening, Bruce. Welcome.

I have no idea how to work this thing.

It's all right. Oh, I see. Okay, perfect. Um, so I'm here to address the council about the lack of access to the social services building here in Teriy. Um, the social service building has been closed since March 25th, 2025. And I feel like that has had a very negative effect on our community. Um, a light touch on what's been going on in my life is that I just moved back to Tiller after living here my whole life about two months ago and it took me almost a whole like I for for two or three weeks I was being run around with 10-hour calls and I could not reach anybody. I tried to get access to our local social service building. I didn't have access to a car. I didn't have access to a computer. And with that lack of accessibility, I couldn't get anything done. The only way I was able to get these things done is by contacting our mayor and by contacting our district representative. And I know that many people in our communities don't have the ability to reach out to our district representatives and to our mayor. And so that is a negative. And there's another story I'd like to add where I talked to my neighbor who just lives right next to me. It's James and Beverly Silva. They're a veteran and 70-year residents. They oversee the health of a Miss Rosalie and she took four weeks to get access to any medical information. They had to travel to Lindsay and it took them once again 3 weeks to like find the information to be able to get access to that medical. And in the time of that 3 weeks, Miss Rosalie her health declined and she ended up on hospice. And these people are too old to be having to travel all the way to Lindsay by car to wait six to seven hours to be hung up on on phone calls waiting for their social services. And so this is just two houses in what I would consider to be a middle income class middle inome neighborhood in Terary County. So I can't even imagine

the effect that this has had on our poor residents. And so like 17.4% 4% per the last census data makes up the poverty line in Tallery County. And so that's over 1/5if of your residents and 1/5if of your residents do not have accesses to their social services because of this problem and not having an alternate building to go to or anything. That seems a little ridiculous to me. So because that building was my lifeline when she was born in 2021 when I became a solo dad and I gained full custody and without the access to that I don't know what I would have done then. And so I can't imagine all the single mothers all the other elderly people out here and the problems that they're going through. That is all.

Thank you Mr. Young. Appreciate you sharing the situation. Mr. Mayor, if I might just add just so that I have clarity. Um I believe what you're referring to our social service was provided by Tallery County, not the city of Taller. Is that correct? Well, the the social services is town is is provided by Tallery County, but we had access to a social service building specifically here in Tallery. The other nearest buildings are Lindsay and in Bisalia, both about 20 25 miles away. Just so I was clear and then the public that was listening, social services is not a function of or a department of the city of Talleria. is a function of Teriy that organization but it's located in the city of Tallery. Is that correct? I don't have that knowledge sir. I I think what I understood

Yeah. It's on O'Neal Street if if I can been shut down quickly and as Mr. Young referenced reaching out to the mayor and if I can Mr. Young if I have this right I think what what Mr. Young is sharing and advocating for is the access point. Yes.

So the county the access point many folks in the situation for which Mr. Young described being in Toary and having to go through the communication, bureaucracy, travel, just those access points and I think you shared your frustration need in those areas. I did share your information with other leaders of that organization and you do have here tonight who are also hearing this very much of health care providers um of the community in the audience this evening. So, I hope I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I appreciate you sharing and I hope we've captured a quick summary of what you're conveying. Yes, absolutely. Thank you, sir. And just want to say I appreciate your comments and uh I'll see if we can at least uh write a letter from our city council.

Thank you, sir. County. Thank Thank you, Mr. Sorry for being a child and I will stop with the interruptions with that. Perfectly welcome. Thank you. Next I have is uh Charlie Bird. Sorry Charlie if I got your last name wrong. I apologize. Bird. Okay. Good evening Charlie. Welcome.

Good evening council. My name is Charles Bird and I've been in the city of Tuler for approximately since 1960. And why I'm here is I want to complain on the alleys in the area where I live at. And the alleys look terrible up in down through the streets there. Even on Martin Luther King, they got a lot of bumps. And we was walking on the on the day of Martin Luther King and we couldn't hardly walk on the on the turf because it was so many bumps and lumps on that highway. So I feel that I look in the city and all the rest of the cities look beautiful. Tul beautiful company city that you guys did a great job on the park and it looks good in the city here and I'm proud of that. But in my area, nobody never do anything over there. They just kind of neglect that area, the Lincoln track. So I would be like to see if we could get a little love down those alleys that clean them up and make them look nice. And I really appreciate that.

And you refer to it as the Lincoln tract. Is that what you said? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bird. Thank you. Appreciate it. With that, that's Carter. Is there anyone else in chambers who'd like to make public comment at this time for items not on the agenda? Madame Clerk, do we have anyone on the phone? Okay. Do we have anyone on the phone? Okay. Yeah, Alberto, if you give me one second, if I can just go to the phone real quick. You can you can remain at the microphone.

So, I want to if I can, Lyn, I want to address the phone call first. ma'am. Yes, you may proceed with your comments.

Thank you. Good evening. My name is uh Rhonda Quintterero and I'm from the city of Tiller and I was just calling um I know that it's being presented for a citywide yard sale to happen in the city of Terary and I'm just asking that you guys would um hopefully consider that. I know that a lot of people in Teriy um would really appreciate being able to have one. um I had asked online and we got a lot of feedback where people would um would love to participate in that event and I think you know if you know Moral Bay has one every year. I think the city of of exit actually has one um once a year and I think if all goes well with the city of Tari and maybe we can um do this maybe yearly at at the most. I know it also will bring in a lot of um a lot of other people from other cities um going to our shops and using our services here. Thank you. That's all I have.

Yes. Thank you for your comments, Mr. Aguilar. And I think just to clarify if maybe you're asking, I just said uh Al's first name just because of knowing each other, but there's no special calling into the microphone with that. He just asked to speak. Oh, when that time comes, I will I will call you by your card. Mr. Thank you very much. I think you may have overlooked that I wanted to speak during public comment not only on item number 91 but also I wanted to make uh

a public comment and my public comment is regarding the Brown Act and I know for a fact that all of you including the senior manager is required by state law to go ahead and take ethics training uh according to assembly bill 1234 and that covers the Brown Act. Okay. And I went ahead and I went to the city council and uh I've got a report that's written that makes some interesting comments that makes me believe that there is a violation of the Brown Act. Specifically, uh it indicates that uh the following public statements by council member Sagala regarding covering the removal of the monument, staff place a temporary cover on the sign. Although this action did not receive majority council direction, staff moved forward out of caution. What that tells me is that more than two members had some kind of dialogue with consummate Zagala which makes it a violation of the Brown Act. It's called a serial meeting. Even if he didn't speak directly to him, if he went ahead and contacted for example uh Councilman Herold and he went ahead and contacted Miss Ser or Mr. Maderos, that is a violation of the Brown Act. That is a serial meeting. And if it's a serial meeting, if it's a serial meeting, any action taken regarding the issue that was brought forward will be null and void. That's the Brown Act. All right.

Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. You got a question for question far away. Mr. Did you say that I made a phone call to him? No. No. I said for example. Oh, okay. I used you as an example. I apologize for using you. I should have used Mr. Issuewood instead and Carrie S. No, I would never go ahead and say that you did something like that. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Moving forward on our agenda just for clarification and that's also assuming that everybody was contacted. I just read what's No, I understand. I wasn't I wasn't contacted. Okay. I'm not using and Miss Sarah wasn't contact.

I understand. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I do have another phone call. That's okay. Okay.

Go ahead now. Yes.

Good evening, Mayor Ishbwood and members of council. This is Donette Silva with the Teriy Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for the opportunity to share comments. I'm sorry that another commitment is keeping me from being there in person tonight. Uh first of all, I just wanted to start with a thank you to the city for the collaboration for our participation at ICSC Monterey for business attraction. I feel like it was a very successful and productive uh trip to that conference and the opportunity for us to have a booth and to engage with entities as an opportunity to bring them into our community as prospects for development. I think you'll hear more, I'm sure, from Jennifer Gomez and from council member Sagala. To that end, we also want to thank the community in general for coming out to Cars on K. We had several thousand people out last weekend and 50 vehicles. It was a great day in downtown Taller and a great um opportunity as well to put a spotlight on all of the reinvigoration efforts in our downtown area. I'd like to invite everyone to join us at the International Agra Center this Thursday evening 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. where they will host our business after hours networking mixer. Come out and mingle to grow your business. And then finally, uh, we will be presenting an in-depth report about T-Biz efforts at the next council meeting, but we want to announce our new partnership with Civic and we will be offering courses in Spanish and focused on our immigrant population that does start later this month. So, if you know any emerging entrepreneurs who may be interested, we want uh individuals to get in touch with us there at TBIS or at the chamber office. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share out information from the tillerary chamber.

Thank you, Donette. Okay, with that I'm ending the public com comment period and moving forward to item five, presentations, status of public health presented by local health agencies. And with that, I was all ready. I have an agenda for this and I don't know what I did with it amongst the 5,000 documents that I have. I think somebody does anybody else have the cover sheet for this as well? Can I say if you wouldn't go ahead?

Oh, well the mayor uh finds his documents. I just wanted to thank uh the folks that are here today to talk about the u status of u of health care here in our city. I appreciate the council supporting this a few months ago to to be here this evening. Uh and uh you know, we've had some changes at the federal level in regards to um healthc care access and budgets and a number of things that uh eventually will trickle down and affect our local clinics and hospitals. So, I really do appreciate uh those folks that are here tonight uh to share a little bit about u what they do uh for the public to know and uh hopefully share with us um what they see down the line in terms of uh any concerns that people will have to their either their funding for their clinics to continue to provide support or um any lack of access that will come as a result of the federal legislation that was passed last here. So, Mr. Mayor's ready.

I think with that, as I know our staff had reached out to our partners. Perhaps of our staff would be interested in introducing our partners that are here with us this evening. Good evening, council. So, we reached out to um three of our local organizations. Um we have Family Healthcare Network, Alura Centers for Health and Adventist Health who are going to present on the current status of health care here in Terary. Um first up will be um Family Healthcare Network. Welcome.

Okay, sorry. Good evening, mayor and council members. Uh my name is Mallalerie Vagan. I'm the director of special programs with Family Healthcare Network. And first off, I thank you for the opportunity to be here today to um talk about healthcare changes alongside with other community health partners. Um but I wanted to first begin uh by grounding us really in the reality of the patients that we serve collectively um here in the Sanin Valley. A new 2025 market report included data from the valley. And here's where we fail. So if you look at the slide here, um it says one in five children in our region experience food insecurity. Over half residents rely on medical solely for their health coverage. Uh 7.6 of residents remain uninsured and nearly one in five people live in poverty. So this is really the landscape in which these federal healthcare decisions are going to affect our local communities. And we know that even the smallest changes will have rippling effects. Um so with that context I want to just briefly talk about uh family healthcare network and why our role in the community is important. So family healthcare network exists specifically to serve these vulnerable populations and we have since 1976. Uh we are celebrating our fifth year um in service. Um this picture here actually depicts our first health center. It was an old gasoline station out in Portville. Um and our our network has definitely grown, but we like to remember our humble beginnings. Um so as healthcare providers, we provide primary and specialty care access now across four counties. So Tiller, Kings, Kern, and Fresno counties. And um our footprint has really grown over the years. Each year, our clinical system sees more than 254,000 unique patients. Um, 90% of whom are lowincome and over 100,000 of them identify as migrant seasonal farm workers. Um, on an annual

basis, we deliver over 1 million patient visits across our more than 50 sites. So, patients trust us to care for them. Um, and that trust has been earned through care served to them with dignity and respect. Um, but patients rely on us for more than just medical services, but also for our programs that are designed to address social determinance of health. So, I want to share a little bit about some of the programs we do have. Um, first being those programs that address food insecurity. Um, such as our food pantries, our food distributions who collectively serve over 5,000 patient visits a year and distribute more than 203,000 pounds of food annually. Um, also our literacy programs that include our reach out and read program um that offers children zero to five free books at their pediatric while child visits and of course our bookstore that was opened in 2022. Um, and then with the addition of our bookstore, we created a reading RX program. So our providers hand out reading RX's at visits and the children are welcome to come to our bookstore to redeem a free book. Um, and collectively our programs distribute over 19,000 books annually. So to kind of put this in context, uh, one week without family healthcare network, 20,000 patients would need to find alternative care. So in short, we like to see ourselves as a stabilizing force in the communities that we serve. So with that foundation, I want to turn to currently what we do know about the potential impacts. Um I think first it's important to acknowledge there's still a lot of uncertainty. The full impact of these changes are really still unfolding before us. Um we know that there will be uh potential decreases in medical enrollments due to immigration status. Um and then there will also be be work requirements and so we assume that those will have a significant impact on the

retention of medical coverage. Um, folks will be required to have 80 hours per month of work, study, or community service. Um, and this is set to take effect January 1st, 2027. And also the renewals um will change to every 6 months to retain coverage. Um, but it does look like the state of California will be implementing optional short-term exemptions, which include exemptions from work requirements for those living in a county with high unemployment rates. Um and in the state it does appear that over 22 cal uh counties in California will qualify for this exemption with Terary County potentially being one of them. Um so this would significantly decrease the impact on the patient coverage specifically in our service area. Um but please keep in mind these changes that are being discussed are for adult expansion population only. So for adults ages 19 through 64 years of age. Um, so really the pool that is impacted either way is smaller than our total patient population. Um, effective October 1st, 2026, those uh who no longer qualify for full scope medical due to immigration status, they will transition back to what we call restricted scope medical, which only covers emergency or pregnancy related services. Um and we're really still unsure of how the counties will respond to this. Kind of each county will take their own charge in response to these um new changes, but we are actively engaged in conversation with the counties to ensure that we're a reliable partner. Uh but there are some things that we do know will not change. One of being that Family Healthcare Network will still be here to serve the community. Um we have no plans for reductions to services to reductions of clinical sites or even hours of operation. Um but we do actually have a robust expansion plan over the next two years to open um 20 additional sites across our service

areas. Um so really our focus remains clear on communicating with our patients any changes that we know of as soon as we you know get information because we know that they will have a lot of questions. Um we do have outreach and enrollment teams that will continue to be out in the communities every day to um address these concerns and questions of our patients. Um and then there are some system level challenges that we are watching closely. Um obviously of great concern is not only funding but also system capacity. So within our network we know we al we offer specialty services and we're able to use our sliding fee scale to offer those at a discounted rate to our patients. Um but in the larger scope um access to specialty care is already strained and many of our external specialty providers don't accept safety net programs. So, we know that they're not able to offer those discounted programs to patients. So, any reductions in coverage, we know it's going to place a lot of pressure on our patients and um even on county systems. So, you know, those could lead to longer referral delays and increased emergency department utilization. So, some these are some of the things that we're watching closely. But given those challenges, we recognize that preparation and partnerships are important. And our message today is not one of panic, but really just our commitment to remain vigilant and responsive. And we will remain here and focus on the healthcare to the communities we serve. And with that, I open it to any questions that you have for me. I I think what we'll do is uh appreciate the information and the sharing and perhaps let all of the the partners go and then we'll go around. Of course, I'm sure council members will have some questions.

Thank you.

I don't know. Okay. Up next, we're going to have a presentation by Alura.

Good evening, Alura. Good evening, Graciella. Graciella. I'm from Woodlake, but today I am representing Alura Centers for Health. I'm Graciella Sto. I am the chief executive officer for Alura Centers for Health. And once again, good evening, mayor and council members. Thank you for having us. So, we were asked what is the state of health in Tillary? So one of the big issues we have ongoing is not just to but the whole country is provider shortage. So some of the challenges of recruiting medical doctors doctors of osteopathic medicine which are DOS primary care doctors especially which is pediatrics family medicine OBGYn. So when you go to private offices or specialists, you tend to see more nurse practitioners or physician assistants because there's a lack of doctors. Specialists uh as Mis mentioned, specialists are very difficult to access. We're very fortunate that we do have the major a lot of our specialists that come to the clinic and treat our patients. Uh but we still have that shortage. We have OBGYNS. Uh we have they still deliver at the hospital. They're very expensive. So, luckily we still have them. Uh, dentist, behavioral health, and etc. They're very difficult. It's taken us years to find some of these providers. So, the H-1B visas for those. We are a clinic that we can sponsor. We're a federally qualified health center as well and a nonprofit. We can sponsor J1s, we can sponsor H-1B visas. Uh, but they just recently, the federal government just recently increased the immigration fees for H-1Bs to $100,000

to bring a doctor. That's a lot of money and what we build versus is it's just not it's very expensive to to hire these providers now. So, some of the solutions that we've come up with is we continue to host doctors from Koa Delta. They rotate through our clinics. Our obgyns do deliver at Korea. Uh we also have residents from USC, other universities, also physician assistants, nurse practitioners. We try to grow and retain our own here. So we do have that partnership that tries to help us. We also are been hiring. We're part of that pilot program. There are four clinics that were part of this program. Uh we're with the only ones in Central Valley. We brought doctors from Mexico who are alumni from one of the largest universities in the western hemisphere which is called UNAM and they are alumni and they've been a blessing. Some doctors have subsp specialties. They're pulmonologists, cardiologists, emergency room. So we have one at the west clinic who is a pediatrician pulmonologist and because it's difficult to access specialty our pediatricians are referring a lot of the cases to him because he's a pulmonologist and we bought state-of-the-art equipment for pulmonology for respiratory because that's one of the biggest conditions here in the valley. We have poor quality there. So that's the provider shortage. So a mention to Larry County has one of the worst well uh we don't have very good health care act in the valley that's just what that shows uh we're not compared to well national average we're find but the state we're not we have one of the poor qualities and I think part of it is also the respiratory the next one is federal so you all have been hearing probably what prompted Mr. Zagala probably to always talk about healthcare what are the impacts. So the beautiful bill which is HR1

uh what happened is covered California was eliminated. We call it covered California here in California. California always calls something different. Uh like for example Medicaid program is called medical in California but Medicaid and medical are the same. So covered California, there was no funding for it. And that's why anybody who has that coverage, their premiums have significantly increased because there's no more funding for it. It it was cut out of the federal funding and the medical cuts. Uh we of course you already heard there's a work requirement for 19264. We have to report proof of work, volunteer hours. There's going to be a cost sharing now. It's going to be $35 depending on your income. And it used to be free. not not anymore. $35 is going to be the case for those for that category. Uh medical determinations is every six months. Right now it's every year and there's going to be cuts to the SNAP program as well which is the food program and as I mentioned uh there's that restriction also they they have it's not going to be as easy accessible now. there's more requirements for the food program. So this is very important to note is the medical program based on the department of healthcare services. There's over 14 million people enrolled in the medical program as of January 2026. Toi County has 286 800 uh 286,86 enrolled as of J of January 2026. And if you look at the next one to get a better idea. So the county of Tuleri has 286 886 enrolled in the medical program now and there's 14 million that has to be processed right now every year. The state of California does not have the

manpower or the technology to enroll people every six months. And this is why many people are going to drop. And if we go to the next one, these are the new applicants. The left is the tillerary county, how many people have are in process, have applied. And then on the right is a whole state. We Tiller County are completing with that whole state. That's that's a lot of people. And the next one, so in the city of Tuleri, we have about over 74,000 population, right Mark? Something around there. And medical eligible uh I believe it was 34,000 or something. I have it in the form, but you can see that in this in the city of Tary, 57% of our Tarians are medical eligible for the Medicaid program. So, we have a high percentage of poverty in the city of Tiller and they're going to be impacted by this and it's going to impact the whole economy. And the next, so what are we doing at Alura to address this? Oh, let me give you another stats. So over 21,000 about 22,000 of our patients are Toarians. 14,991 are on medical of those. So about 70% of our patients are on medical. Now we see not only people from Teraryi but the whole county and surrounding areas and overall we have 68% of our patients are on medical. So all of these patients are going to be impacted by this program but city to has a high percentage of again Medicaid patients.

So what we are doing we are we are our enrollers our counselors uh we have placed them in all alter clinical locations you don't need to be a patient if you know somebody who you think may need coverage needs medical they don't have to just go to the county we work with the county and we can enroll patients into the medical program or covered California and they don't have to be patients we'll help them we are collaborating collaborating with the Terrier County Community Care Coalition. Uh collaborating with the Terrier County Health Department to again going to enroll and be determined medic patients. Collaborating with food link and the city of Tiller schools. We go to Mo Wilson and Roosevelt do food distributions through food link collaborating with St. John's Baptist Church here in Terary and they have more. They have food and fruits and vegetables. They have more variety. Uh we are also educating our promas which are our bridge to the community and community health workers to educate our patients and community on new medical requirements uh for the undocumented as you know they're going to be impacted as well. They're going to be grandfathered in but once they drop they won't be able to get back on. So education but we have no way of identifying who or those patients are undocumented. Educate all the employees and patients that visit the clinic collaborating with chirp. Some of you may know that term from Tiller because that addresses the homeless here in the city of Tary. Advocate for an easier process for redetermination from through our state uh through ad advocacy and enrolling patients into our federal sliding fee scale program. But the thing with the sliding fees fee scale program is we can give them a discount. But any services we need like acute care hospital X-ray, we can't help them there. Those are the expensive items. We tried to do fitness through walk with the doc which we do at the Lago every third Saturday of each

month. Uh fitness activities through at the south building here in Teriy and Palmer. So some of the things that we're doing and so that is the state of Teriy. It's we have a lot of challenges ahead. We try to not be so gloom. There is hope. uh it is better than before the SEA because with the ACA before only children and mothers qualified for health care for medical luckily they still let the left the adults eligible men can still qualify even though you don't have children but it's going to be challenging still going to be a huge hit especially in California any questions oh we going to wait

thank you please thank you for the presentation Graciella. Thank you, Ala. And yes, I'd say please wait as we go through the presentation. I'm sure council members will have a question. All right, our last presentation will be um from Adventist Health. Good evening, Adventist. Welcome. Thank you for participating tonight.

Appreciate the invitation. Hi everyone. My name is Tim Hok. the operations executive for Adventist Health in Central California, responsible for our hospital here in the city of Tiller. As well, um I have with me a couple of our superstar members of our executive team. Katya Sodto, who's our vice president over specialty services, and Daniel Ruiz, who's our executive over operations of some of our key service lines, including surgery. So, we're just going to go through a few brief updates of things that we've got going on right now, and then we'll talk a little bit more about the legislative changes. If we can go to the next, please. So we represent the central California network. We have eight hospitals, two in Fresno County, one in Kings County. Our hospital here in Taller and four in Kern County. We have 137 clinics across those counties as well. Um and Taller is kind of the geographic center of that whole network. So everything um that we do is kind of growing toward the center and building on what we've got going on here in Taller. If we go to the next slide, um just a few pictures of our clinics here in the city. And in Tiller, we have three clinics right now where we continue to expand access um so that we can keep care here for our patients. Some of the specialty services that we've recently added is our orthopedic joint um specialist, Dr. Golan, who actually um um volunteered to help the community. He saw a need and and volunteered some of his time over here. So, we're super to have him. And our GI um specialist, Dr. Nadinem, who joined us um late last year. And Daniel, do you want to add a little bit about

Yeah. Um, starting with Dr. Nadem and our GI specialist, we've, you know, put significant um, funds into increase into bringing GI to Terry. And then as we spoke with Dr. Golan, he's a one of our key orthopedic surgeons in Kern County who once again saw a need in Terary and wanted to start doing these instead of having the residents go to him in Deleno or in Bakersfield. He decided he wanted to come here to Tallery and service the Tari and surrounding area. So really excited for those moves that we made. If you want to go to the next slide. Um, one of the things that we are extremely proud of is our uh, resident program. On here you can see our class of 2026. Um, this is specifically this program is very critical for us. Um, it is a way to you for physician recruitment and workforce strategy. Um, happy to say that um, these 50% of our taller uh, or of the graduating um, class is going to stay in the central valley. So um we continue to expand our residents so that we can ensure a pipeline and keep our workforce here.

Yeah. One last thing on the residents, we are starting to see more of them that are graduating from the residency program in family medicine or internal medicine uh pursue fellowships. So hopefully the pipeline for some of those specialty services that we sorely need everywhere um will start to grow in the future. We are starting to see that shift. Um a few upgra updates on clinical quality. So we're an agraded hospital here in Teraryi, one of the few in Central Valley um by the Leaprog Institute, which is an organization that leads across the country in grading hospitals on um safety and quality uh protocols and outcomes. And then we are a gold plus designated stroke center of excellence here in Talleria as well. If we go to the next slide, please. Um we have in Tallaria a cardiac program that has a diagnostic cardiology program as well as um an electrphysiology program and we after over two years in the process with the state of California just received approval for our interventional cardiology program. So that'll be starting here in just a couple of weeks. Um just another way to keep care more local and here in the city of Taller. If we go to the next please.

Yeah. So as we had spoken about Dr. Dr. Nadim before and like I said we've done significant uh investments into our GI program. GI is one of the hardest things to get into a local community a smaller community and so with Dr. Nadem as being kind of our staple we look to just kind of grow and and keep that service line within the tillerary so people do not have to travel to other sites.

Yeah. And then we're going to have our breast care center opening up here in just a few weeks at our hospital here in Tiller. It's been a long time coming as we work through some um facility issues to get through uh some sign off on the fire panel, but we're here just a few weeks out from a new breast center. It'll have all the latest technology, 3D mimography services. Next slide, please. All right. And this is the last one. Um so the Terary Tower, I think we all know probably the story of the Tillery Tower. Well, we're really excited in our partnership with the healthc care district to start to see meaningful progress being made on that tower. They have done an incredible job. We work very closely with them. Um public information, they submitted an RFP um which is a request for proposal for contractors to bid on building out the first and second floors as a first phase um and getting the tower complete and open. Uh and so that process is going through. It's a it's a public process. It takes a little while. obviously to get through the the selection process, but um we do believe we'll start to see construction happening in 2026 and start to see some of these new spaces opening in 2027. Those first two floors are brand new emergency department. Um and the second floor is all new operating rooms and procedural spaces. Uh so exciting things. We've got uh some things planned to to show some developmental videos along the way as construction's unfolding just to build the excitement among the community. Um, as you can see through all of this, our goal is to continue to expand access to incredible health care in the city of Tari and across the entire central valley. And as we know, there are going to be some implications from legislative changes that are going to potentially restrict access to services because people may lose some of their coverage. um as the experts already kind of laid out the specific details, so I won't I won't um double down on those things. But our biggest concern uh aside from just some of the the straight

reimbursement cuts is really for hospitals is going to be around people falling out of coverage. And um I think somebody said it the not yet sure exactly what it means for the counties. each county is going to kind of handle it differently, but it calls for the counties to um assume responsibility for caring for the un uninsured. And obviously, counties have different um direct patient care resources. Some have hospitals, some have small clinics, some have large clinics. Um but it's going to require us to go back to a different form of a of a partnership probably here in Toeri County. Once upon a time before the Affordable Care Act, um you know, counties had the indigent programs where there was a funding mechanism that came through to pay um you know, providers for caring for uninsured. I don't know that there's another funding stream coming for the counties for that. So, it's going to be a collective effort for us to figure that out. Um and so, yeah, as we look ahead, it's it's daunting and it's scary. And I have seen what the city of Tiller and the people that live here are capable of when they go through scary times in healthcare when the hospital closed under prior operators. I've seen the grit and the fight and what can be accomplished together. So I think all of us um kind of have a similar message. We're here to provide hope and I think we can accomplish it together and we've got a lot to figure out still. We don't know exactly what kind of the final product of this legislation looks like, but we are all committed to fulfilling all of our missions, which is to care for the entire community, regardless of background, regardless of race, regardless of financial backing or any of those sorts of things. And we're all going to be here to do it. Um, but anyway, I think that's the end of of what we've got prepared. I don't Do you want us to leave? Do you want us to stay up here? What do you guys want us to do?

Yeah. First, thank you for participating. if you would please remain. Okay. Um and I think if you would uh have a seat, appreciate, but stay in the front because our council might have some questions maybe directly to you or perhaps you could have insight into an area with that in insight into the area asked. Uh with that, I I want to go um around and ask council members. I know it's an important topic, but if you could just keep your e comments or questions uh brief as we work through our time limit and uh Mr. Maderos, would you any questions or comments?

No, I appreciate the presentation from all three u and I have no particular questions that I can't also ask them individually as opposed to public.

Okay. Thanks, Council Member S. I concur uh with uh Councilman Maderas, having lived in this community for a while and been a you know been a patient of some of these facilities myself, gone to the clinics. Um I know that the heart and the soul of health care in Tiller is in good hands. I know that each organization that's here tonight is doing the very best that they can do under the circumstances. Unfortunately, these circumstances have arisen and I know that you all put every effort and resource that you have to continue the vision of of caring for all of the Tary residents and I appreciate that and know how difficult it is to work under circumstances you have no control over.

Councilman Seagull.

Yes. Uh thank you all for your presentation. I um you know was hoping that uh whoever listens to our council meeting understands the the great work that our healthcare providers do in our city and the challenges that they face um as legislation as other things get voted on um outside of our area that make have an impact in our community. But um I had uh a couple of questions. Um I think what uh concerns me is obviously the fact that um uh there's going to be a lot of people that lose their health care. We know that exactly how many we don't know but I am sure some will lose it and some will definitely be hurt by it. Um there are also going to be uh as as Missto talked about some very chaotic uh bureaucracy as I call it that needs to occur for people to continue to be on coverage. So you go from uh yearly uh renewal I guess or whatever that process is that you are eligible to now every six months. And I could imagine um you know I hear stories I I I used to represented a lot of the uh Tallery HHSA staffers, social workers and all that. And so I understood that the tremendous pressure they were on under to enroll people and how that process could be uh long. You know, there were there were some departments HS that were a year and a half behind and just mailing them a packet a packet of information on, hey, this is how you can sign up. They were one and a half year behind and sending Mr. Ishelwood a packet that he called, you know, 19 months ago just say, "Hey, this is how you can enroll." So, I can imagine just how more difficulty it

would be. But I think one of the things that that that um um I'm not sure how we can continue to collaborate if it's even possible. What strikes me is that some people are going to be required to do volunteer hours. I think all of you guys mentioned that either work or volunteer or do some community service. I hate to envision that a lot of people that have health issues and want to rely on their health care have to wear a vest and be like the DUI guys or the court guys and out there cleaning parks and picking up trash to do that kind of volunteer. So, so my question to to some of you would be what type of volunteer would they need? And then the and then the question to our staff, especially the folks that deal with the senior center, is there a way for us to help fulfill those hours? So that that's a question if anybody can ask. What are we looking at when they say volunteer?

I should have added there is a group that is exempt. For example, if you are ADA, physically disabled, and you have a doctor's so forth, then you don't need to do you're exempt from the work or volunteer hours. There is ambiguity still. exactly what the requirements are going to be. Now, this is takes effect January 1st, 2027. That's when all of this starts and California is not ready. But if that answers that question.

No, no, it is. I know. Yes, I do. There's exceptions. So, I think for me, I don't know if it's something our city could do. you know, I'm sure there's a lot of seniors that are, you know, are getting medical or eligible if there's a way for us, you know, to prepare and say, "Hey, if you want to do two or three hours a week or 10 hours a month, here's something you can do." So, that that's definitely a longer term discussion. So, I think so, that's one thing. And then the last thing I wanted to ask Adventist, I really appreciate that that chart that you had of all the incoming doctors. They all look young. They all look eager. They're all ready to take care of people. Um, you know, I years ago I I worked for two two legislators, a guy named Marco Fireball and a guy named Richard Palanco, who were the authors of legislation that allowed uh clinics like Alura to bring doctors. I remember visiting a dental school in Mexico. It was the equivalent of USC. That's what it was called. It was like just being at USC, but it's down in it was down in Guanauatoto. Uh the question to you is, have you in any of your clinics, you know, I I enjoy your map. Have you guys ever decided to invest in doctor housing? In other words, provide some housing. Either you help build it or you help identify it because that's an issue I know for for doctors is, you know, finding a place to live. So, have you guys ever invested in doctor housing? We have not not for the the doctors that work with us full-time in the in the area. Um we do at times if we have to bring like a super specialist or something here on a periodic basis, we'll have to provide housing to get them here. Um but it's an interesting idea. Is that something you've seen in your experience?

Well, yeah. I've seen where some university I mean excuse me some communities that don't have the retention you know because you as Garcia mentioned now the visas cost a lot but some may partner with local cities to try to help uh encourage housing maybe a 10 12 15 unit complex that is set up for doctors or young residents. So I don't know if that's something that you guys would look at. I think something that we we I would love our city to explore if that's an idea how we might be able to partner build 15 apartments downtown toi where your h your doctors can live

you don't have to worry about again it happens in LA and San Francisco where you know housing is unaffordable but I think the concept of doing something like that you know I I I ask you because you guys have more means I would imagine than a clinic but there's always a partnership that that that

course it's something we'll we can explore and talk about we some sporadic like apartment units and things like that again for some specific purposes. Um but that dynamics have changed so greatly really year-over-year. Um and the central valley it's tough. It's a it's a substantial uphill battle to get people here. And that's why um we're firm believers that if we can get them here and train them here, we certainly increase the odds of keeping them here. When they're in training, they're members of our community. They're buying homes and and all those things. And we did we forgot to mention we just added a GI fellowship. So our very first fellowship um will be which will be attached to the Tiller hospital starting this summer. Um but we we'll take it back. It's we're going to have to keep evolving with the dynamics for sure. Yeah. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Harold. My only comment is is that, you know, having some background in one of these entities, uh, I really appreciate everybody's willingness to deal with the unknown. It's scary not knowing what's going to happen. And, uh, it's greatly appreciated that you're willing to take that on and try to come up with a solution, make it work so everybody has healthcare like they should have.

Yes. Yes. says, "We surely want to extend uh our gratitude to Family Healthcare Network, Alura Centers for Health, Adventist Health. Thank you for sharing this information, which is the health spotlight on Tary." And in a quick summary, and I think it's the council members touched on that was highlighted, you know, is I appreciate the dive into Taller's impact. provider shortages were touched on HB1 visa fees um other doctors scale with the reimbursements um a lot of the unknown as Mr. Harold touched on uh but really the way that uh the impact for Tiller and if I had your stat right Graciella 57% are eligible in tillerary for the Medicaid uh program and of course what all three of you touched on family healthcare network and alter of your patient count you know so touching somewhere amongst your agencies combined of roughly what I have of about 40,000 of our population at least I mean that was just from our light jotting notes of our conversation. So, the three of you have a deep relationship with residents of Taller. So, I think that was part of the purpose of being here tonight amongst others. And with that, unless there's no other questions or comments, again, we'll extend.

Yeah, just one last comment. I was looking at my notes. Um, again, I do appreciate everyone being here, sharing those statistics and and and the work you're doing to face those challenges that are either unknown or known that are coming down the road down uh that will affect our community. And I hope I hope that our uh our congressional representatives um have the opportunity to listen to this and know that u know that the votes that they take in Washington um affect the community here and uh when things like this come before them, I hope they realize that uh there are real impacts on the lives of many uh people from Taller and Tiller County that are affected by by those votes um 3,000 miles away. So, I do hope that they listen to this. Thank you.

All right. Any other comments from our our partners? All right. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Appreciate it. All right, moving forward on our agenda, communications. Uh, city manager, any communications to

only that we did receive, uh, several emails, uh, from Lydia Huerta, Donabed, uh, directed to council and myself. I forwarded all those to council, and I'm sure some of that'll be discussed this evening under agenda item 9.1. That's all. Thank you. Item seven, council reports and items of interest. Vice Mayor Herrell.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. on uh March 30th attended the joint meeting with Tiller Union High School District and College of Sequoia's board and on 42 participated in the evaluation of our three uh respondents to the sports park uh RFQ.

All right, Mr. only thing I wanted to bring up was what Donette brought up earlier. I wanted to thank um our staff, Jennifer and Glattis and Donette uh for the uh amazing work they did in Monterey a few weeks ago. I guess now seems a few weeks ago um where they were very prepared had we had a great booth that we shared um and provided a number of um opportunities for developers and and business folks business leaders to to see Tary understand there was a moment where I think all of us were on the same page on a particular a particular u business that's thinking about coming to Taller and so uh I appreciate that I had a chance to uh to talk to developers and real estate folks and everybody directly at our booth about how great Taller is doing and uh so I wanted just to thank them for for their big effort and it's a smaller venue. I know Las Vegas is a lot bigger but Monterey we did get did have an opportunity to make sure Taller was on the map as well. So so thank you to the staff and to Donette

Councilman Maduros. Uh for the second time I'll I'll pass. Council member Sarah

there. Now you can hear me. A lot of amazing things went on our community since our last meeting. Leadership to Larry held their uh fundraiser with the dueling pianos. The hospital foundation proud to be pink. Uh Laura Fana with her enchanted evening. They served over 250 young women that received prom dresses at no cost. Um, also Cars on K Saturday. All of those were wonderful community events that I was I was excited to attend. And then of course the joint meeting with COS and the high school district.

Yes. Uh to all of you who attended the joint meeting with the school district. My apologies again for not getting back in time and attending that meeting. as well as great Carzon K, great spirit, great weather and energy um in downtown Taller was honored to represent the city in recognition of Mr. Morehead for the farmer of the year award. And uh for those have attended the appreciate city staff hosting the budget uh presentation and community uh webinar last night um at 6 pm attended that uh with Mark Mandell, Thomas um Mark and quite a few staff. And of course um um I have one more note and I can't read my own handwriting. Oh, and as well, uh, appreciate, um, a lot of the feedback. I put a note out there about our sports complex survey that the city has going on and, uh, with that and of course responding. But the the part that really I I touch on this and grabbed is one, if if you're out there and you're hearing this, I think there's still time, go on and take the Sportslex survey, but the the outpouring of text messages that I got from so many uh volunteers and leaders in the community from baseball, football, um softball, uh groups that had shared that information and were texting me um about that uh sparked quite a bit of uh energy. So I hope uh with that is complete the survey but it was great to hear the response especially from families that have children in uh sports in our community. And with that then uh we'll go on to uh item eight which is our consent calendar. All matters listed under the consent calendar are considered by the council to be routine and will be enacted in one motion without discussion. If the discussion is desired, that item may be removed and

considered separately. And council, with that, I do need to rec uh we can pull um item 8.6 because I will need to recuse myself from item 8.6. And council, do you have any other recommended action? So, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to request uh 8.4 4 8.17 8.2 uh 8.20 and 8.21

8.20 two 0 and two one council members. Do we have any other recommended uh any other items to pull or do we have an action to move forward? Well, Mr. If there are no other items, then I would request that we or I would move to uh approve the consent calendar minus the items that were stated unless I need to repeat them.

Sure. Your motion is approval of the consent calendar with retraction of 8.4, 8.6, 8.17, and 8.21 and 2021. Okay, we have a motion. I'll second. We have a second. Is there any other discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, with that 8.4

I don't I don't understand. I don't think I have to leave the room. I just need to recuse myself from Okay.

8.4. Well, Mr. Mayor, Council, I just uh wanted to take a moment. I know that the firefighters were here earlier today, so I just wanted to take this moment on this item to um to really thank them for their service and the things that they do um to to provide public safety as was stated by uh uh their union representative, Miss Ferah, that I also want to thank our staff for uh keeping us informed uh in terms of their needs. And you know, uh I think these uh uh gains, I guess if you want to call them, uh wins through the bargaining process, uh are uh definitely deserved. And uh I'm very proud to have uh been part of this process to to support our our firefighters as well as the management association. And so I um just wanted to take the opportunity with this item to to state that publicly. So that's it. And unless anybody has any further comments, then I'll move to adopt the 8.4.

Second. We have a motion and a second. And I think any other comments other than with that is great job to the collaboration and effort. As Mr. Fer touched on, our city staff and everybody working on this. It's a united front and united collaboration for public safety. We'll go to the vote. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. 8.4 is approved. And vice mayor, I will hand 8.6. six over to you. Well, I hand it to you, but Mr. I I just need to recuse myself. I separated.

Yeah. Well, Mr. Mr. Vice Mayor, then I would move to appoint to approve item 8.6. We have a motion to approve 8.6. Do we have a second? Okay, we have a motion to second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. So moved.

Thank just for the record, the our mayor recused himself from that vote. I did. Yes. Thank you. Moving forward. 8.17.

Mr. Mayor, council. Uh this particular item is stated on the agenda asked for requests for uh qualifications for our uh corporation yard master planning. Um has been discussed in previous council meetings and even at our last joint meeting with the CO board. This is a very important um uh project for the city to take a look at to see what's going to be the best fit for us to expand and modernize. I would imagine are corporation yard. And uh I did get a chance to look at some of the items that are being requested of the uh vendors or companies or whoever is going to uh respond to the the RFQ. And I think for me, one of the things that I wanted to ask our city manager was in the process in looking at potential sites uh and a number of things that are listed out are are environmental, residential type of concerns in that that work. In other words, right now the corporation yard is down on South K and I believe there are no residents in terms of like there might be I'm not sure north of it some residents but they're not neighborhoods next to P Street.

A potential move would move them on west by the uh wastewater treatment plant a lot closer to neighborhoods. So, I guess one of the things that that I wanted to find out is in the RFQ is there and and I couldn't find it and if there isn't something like that be incorporated as part of the study if we put it there then what kind of impact would it have on homes nearby?

Yeah. So, so what the consultant will do is that the site analysis piece will come a little bit later. The really the first piece of the project is to meet with all the departments to figure out our long-term needs uh space needs, right? Uh that has to happen first because as you figure out how much space we need for each department and then you figure out the relationships between those spaces that develop that starts creating the development program. Then you that tells you how many square footage, how many square feet you need, right? How much space you need between buildings to be able to have trucks to be able to maneuver so on and so forth. And then that tells us how many acres we need. And so after they go through that effort and and we'll have multiple steps in the process where we bring this back to the BPU, we bring this back to council to take a look at it. Um then we'll start moving into the properties. And as you noticed in the RFQ, it says they are going to identify at least a property on the west side, a property on the east side. They'll look at the existing corporation yard to see if we could expand that facility, and they'll also look at the city's wastewater treatment plant. So at least four sites are going to be examined. And when they come back to you with those sites, they'll they'll do a sort of a pros and cons of each. And there's a lot of different, you know, uh, headings for pros and cons, right? They really won't do a full environmental analysis on the site at that point. They'll talk about some of the environ environmental impacts, but they'll talk about a lot of other things like this site cost X dollars, that site cost Y dollars. This site in order for us to acquire this property, we would there's not a vacant property next to us. we'd have to acquire a business in addition to that land, right? So, they'll talk about all of those potential pros and cons and impacts once council and they might even do a little bit of a li a preliminary analysis on the environmental just to see for example if a site and we haven't talked about this but we'll we'll get into this a little bit more when we start looking at the sites. If you do a title search on a property you might find out that this site has you know potential environmental contamination. So, we have to do a phase one analysis,

right? But the full environmental will come later once we really get into selecting the site. And then we'll have to go through the squa process just like we would just like any other development project would and can look at all of those factors and through the squa process you know if it's near a neighborhood for example uh then we'd have to mitigate environmental impacts to a neighborhood. So whatever whatever sites we're looking at there are going to be pros and cons and impacts for every site. Well, well, I appreciate that response and what what I'm looking for is is perhaps if this thing is phased out as you stated that um as part of the procons obviously I'm not asking for a full environmental impact report or the sequest stuff because we don't know exactly what site we're beginning and that's a big investment right to be able to do that as Mario may know a lot of lot of money goes into that but what I like to do is a preliminary in the pro and cons of the sites that some of that stuff is noted. In other words, for example, if we pick uh the west side by the wastewater treatment plant, uh that there are uh 30 15,000 residents within half a mile or if we pick uh some site on the east side of Mooney, there are 5,000 residents within a half a mile. So, I'm looking to see what I would like to do is is get it have council have an idea of what the impact could be without having to kind of pick a site and then do the full environmental concern. So, I'd like to kind of have a preliminary beforehand if possible like what pro and con can come out of that process

and that is a part of this scope of work. Okay. So, I just want to make sure I didn't I didn't I would I didn't find it but that's what I wanted to ask. Yeah. So task 3.1 the candidate site selection that includes one of the things they're evaluating is the compatibility with sele with surrounding land uses. Then as they move forward into the um relocated facility feasibility technical letter that first bullet also calls out land use approvals and environmental review. So even though it isn't that full process just assessing that feasibility as you described is already included in staff scope.

Right. And I think just to the last point Mr. I think I appreciate that sin, but what I want is real people in it. In other words, we can say, well, yeah, it's it's next to multifamily or it's next to single family, you know, uh track, but if if they can go a little bit further and say, well, hey, that track has 5,000 people, that track has 3,000 people. I think that would be for me helpful in terms of looking down the road to see what site because you know I'm hoping that as part of that process as you mentioned out Thomas there will be the analysis of well we build it there there's going to be you know x amount of heavy trucks driving by every day every every morning every afternoon I mean those are things that we'll decide later on but I'm just for me I'm just curious to see what sites that we currently have now what the impact could be on residents and quite honestly what could what would be the impact on the west side my council district residents. So that's that's what I'm

we understand. Thank you. Any other questions on 8.17? If there are none, I'll make a motion to adopt 8.17 as indicated. We have a motion in a second for 8.17. All in favor? Any opposed? with that 8.20.

Well, that's another one of mine, Mr. Mayor, Council. Uh, so this one particular is the amendment to a professional services agreement with I is it Trip Pepe? Is that what they call it? Tripe Trappepy Smith professional services agreement. Um, I understand they've done some great uh work with our staff to do public relations and a number of things and in particular contracting amendment. Um, I know that they're looking to assist with the upcoming tax measure that ends up becoming uh an item that the council supports and and votes on. But the question I had was um as part of this contract, is there any access that council members may have with some ideas in terms of maybe some PR work um what that process looks like or is that would be something different? for example, uh wanted to maybe put together a little flyer for my district in terms of what's going on or so. Is there any access for council members if they choose to work with this firm to maybe do some PR outreach work?

Well, I guess I would say it this way. Um couple couple responses. One would be um they are producing a variety of um collateral materials that are intended to be used by the city organization to communicate with the public and share the information about the sales tax measure. It'll take variety of forms, shapes, and sizes. All of that material will be made available to city council members for their use in communicating with their constituents in each of their districts. It'll be available both in English and in Spanish, for example. Um, if there are specific things and I would encourage you guys to take a look at that that that amendment and the things that they list and as those materials become available, we will be sharing them with you. We'll be putting them on the city's website. We've already started some of that process. If there's specific things that you you would like or you're not seeing, I would just ask you to send me an email and allow me to sit down with the consultant and talk through that to see if we can do that within the budget. There may be something for example that we say you know this is a great idea that council member Sagala had and and can we do this and maybe instead of this other thing we we do the thing he is asking for and they say yeah that fits right within the budget or no we could do that but it's going to cost another $10,000 and then I'd have to come back to you and talk to you about it. I'd ask you to do that all through my office because what I don't want to have happen is the consultant get confused if they have five different council members and a city manager talking to them and asking them, can you do this or can you do that, right? They they'll think they have six different masters that they're working through. So, if you'd work through my office or through Melissa, we can get them that information and then they can respond to, hey, this is how we can we can get you what you need and and and hopefully that'll get you to exactly where you're at. you can start that process now by sending me your your email and your comments and your thoughts and we'll get that to them and get you back a response.

Okay. So, just to be clear, I mean, like I said, I'm not interested in us or whoever is interested talking directly to the consultant, but um if there's some kind of format that, you know, would like to be able to share, hey, you know what? I've seen other city council members share with their constituents what's going on. Here's kind of a newsletter format. Can they put it together? You know, kind of that stuff. So, I'm not, you know, but I definitely will send you some ideas. And I mean, I definitely don't think a newsletter would be that much, but I didn't know what you were talking about.

Yeah. But just like little newsletters where, you know, you give me the template, I'll fill in the I'll fill in the stuffing and uh but just wanted to find out if that uh if that particular consultant would be able to provide those type of services if a council member wanted. I think so. If you send me the stuff you're interested, I can get you a better response once I see it. And I think it's extremely important that the message that goes out to the public whether it's your district, my district, you know, anyone's district that it's consistent. So, um I think going through the city manager is the only way to keep that consistency. Uh so that somebody said, "Oh, Councilwoman Ser said they're going to do we're going to do this and we're going to get this and we're going to get that." You know, it just needs to be consistent because those decisions haven't been made.

Right. Well, I'll keep that under adisement. All council districts are different. But thank you. Um, they're not that different. Well, what we do is different. What we do is what we do might be different. Yeah. So, I appreciate that. Just to add to that, I think I don't want to speak for council member Sarah, but I think there's a fundamental difference between a position taken by the city of Tary, which would be a vote of majority council, or a position taken by an individual council member, which would be for your district. And I I think that's kind of where she's coming from. No, I understand. I've been on I don't think there's a disagreement there, is there? I understand. I've been on the council 10 years, so I understand how that works. Yeah, I've been on eight years. We're on the same

That's about That's how long it took me to become a lawyer. So I I've been here. Yeah. All right. If there's no other question, Mr. Mayor, then I'll move to adopt item. There are a couple of other questions I just want to highlight. So even though I just want to also clarify this even though the staff report notes about initiatives and deliverables for which trape Smith works for distribution of numerous press releases to highlight the positive work of the city new social media. This element though is to help with factual information organization of the tax. So it's not to market it or campaign it. It is just to help your staff to factualize it to make it a yes a document of here's what's taking place and how to share that.

Yep. And to your point, you mentioned the um information session we had the other night last night. Um there was questions asked like so for example those questions and the responses we're feeding to the consultant. Those may end up as part of the information campaign because they're like that was a great question. Maybe a lot of citizens have that same question. Here's the response. So yes, you're correct. The next question, which I I didn't pose to staff beforehand, but kind of catching this and I think it's important to constituents. It notes that seven responses were received. Were any of the responses that facilitated the virtual interviews from the city of Toary? Just ask that one more time.

The staff report notes and we looked through seven responses were received. But did did any organization did did any organization in the city of Talleria apply for this? Any organization within the city limit? Correct. Uh I don't believe any of we did not receive any and this this type of work is fairly specialized. So I think most of the proposals we received are from the the firms that kind of operate with throughout the entire state and maybe even beyond the state boundaries. It's it's a little bit more specialized. Okay. No, thank you. I just wanted to just touch on that that if any of our responses were from the city of Tallery and the answer is no. No, it was not. Okay, Mr. Sagali, you had a motion.

Uh, actually, before you do the motion, one last thing, just for a point of clarification. Uh, this this covers I think all of the work that they've identified. Again, if if council members send us some stuff and there's great ideas and there's some other things, there could be some additional costs. If there are are there are minor additional costs or ancillary costs related to this work if it fits within my authority um I I will probably move some of those things forward just so that we don't have to get the process bog down because we're getting ready to move in this thing. So I just want council to be aware of that that we have some flexibility and there may be some ancillary costs and things we may have to deal with and if it's under my authority I would move those forward. And when you say authority you're talking about up to the That is correct. no more than $50,000 and I don't expect anything to come anywhere near that really.

Uh Mr. Mayor Council, then I'll move to adopt item 8.2 on the consent calendar. We'll second. Oh, 8.20. Sorry. Thank you. We have a motion and a second for approval of 8.20. Any further discussion? All in favor? I. Any opposed? Approve. And the last item we have under consent 8.21. Yes. Uh, Mr. Mayor, Council, uh, I'm extremely excited that this item is before us. It's been, uh, it's been a long time. I can probably say since Councilman Bait has been on the council on that front, but it's it's coming to fruition. This item will move forward. As long as it took Dennis to be an attorney, right?

Yeah. West West Traffic Signal on Prosperity and West. Um, the only question I had uh um that a couple of business folks have asked me um on this and obviously I'm using it as a example but not necessarily the case but uh in terms of like vendors uh that could help local vendors that could help with some of these projects. We currently don't have a list of of of um minority vendors that could be sort of tapped into for these kind of projects. Is that correct? Electricians and carpenters and whatever trades.

We do not. We point uh potential contractors to the state website. They maintain a website for um disadvantaged businesses. It's a huge undertaking to maintain that list because people come and go. so frequently that it's pretty much impossible for us to maintain a list like that ourselves.

Now, so the the question is so they could there I know that we can't force them, correct? Because I've had a lot of developers come to council and you want my vote, I want you to vote hire local people, but we can't do that type of thing. But is there um so right now there's the state website database uh and all we can do is just point them towards that to see if there's someone they can work with.

That's correct. In fact, the on a federal level um the rules regarding disadvantaged business um enterprises and the requirements for local agencies to go through that process have changed significantly under the current administration. So with this backed way way down. So at this point, yeah, it's it's mainly largely depends on the funding source being used for the project, but it's largely just encourage them.

Yeah. So well, it's something I definitely would will explore to see maybe if there's anything we could do as a city, but um I just wanted to bring that to your attention that I've had several contractors and say, "Hey, how can we be part of a something like this with the city?" because they see a lot of these companies from Fresno and other areas, right? So, that that was the the only thing that was brought to my attention. But other than that, I'm very glad it's moving forward and look forward to the uh ribbon cutting of the uh for sure

the uh the street sign of the street signals uh soon. But u that those are all the questions I have for this night. So, Michael, is am I understanding that any contractor can get their name on the list themselves? If they're qualified, they Yeah, they can certainly register. So, we can encourage them to get registered on the state uh list and then when contractors want to know, they can go to that list and we've encouraged people to be on the list.

Yeah. Exact. Exactly. And when we advertise projects, you put them out to bid for construction obviously they're advertised. They're available on a a website called bidnet where they all have contractor has ability to to monitor for upcoming projects. So I would encourage any local contractors to of course be plugged into that and always be looking to see what projects are coming up. So that's something we could do for our constituents. Yes. Okay. Uh do you want to include a bottle of champagne with your Mr. Sig? If I had one of those where we launch it off. Yes. Uh, here we go. Um, so I'd like to move that we adopt item 8.21.

I'll second that. Okay, we have a motion and a second for 8.21. Any further discussion? Motion is approved. Did we vote? We vote. Getting ahead of myself. Stick to the script, Patrick. 8.21. All in favor? I. Any opposed? 8.21 is approved. 5.

Item nine, general business. Comments related to general business items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per item unless otherwise extended by council. I just share with perhaps members of the community there in this room tonight or those that are attending by phone that those uh parameters for public speaking on general miss are not new. Those are the same um established uh guidelines in our agenda from yesterday and today. Uh for those that wish to provide public comment while viewing the meeting online, you may call 559-3661849 and the clerk will assist you with your call. So with that, as we get into general business items, we have 9.1 regarding the Cesar Chavez memorial park, 9.2 to our fiscal budget review and 9.3 I just want to share is I'm going to monitor uh public comment um uh based off topics and material and I will be keeping to the three minute schedule of course uh the mayor council members or others and depending on the conversation or topic might extend that time but just I want to let speakers know that um aware of the uh the parameters of our public discussion as we get into these items. So, moving forward 9 9.1 our Caesar Chavez Memorial Park and Mr. Montdale if you want to open this item.

Sure. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Conso, as you are aware, uh over the last several weeks, there have been some claims made uh regarding um Caesar Chavez and those claims um have raised concerns in around the country and certainly within our community. And given those claims, um there have been discussions uh leading up to tonight. We've heard from a number of citizens um sharing their viewpoints on should the city do anything in response to those claims regarding perhaps the renaming of the park. Uh should the sign be removed or covered or left as is? So on and so forth. Um and so you know I just want to remind council that the park uh is owned and operated by the school district. we share in its operation by having some use of the features of the park itself. Back in 1994, the park was renamed from Lincoln Park to Caesar Chavez Memorial Park. And if you'll recall, um we sent you some emails with pictures of the sign. Very large sign is out there with a number of bricks and um commemorating statements. And so um you know this is a complex issue and one where there there's a lot of opinions on what should be done and what speed should a city move at in terms of making its decisions. We did go out and cover the sign uh as staff. Um there was a discussion I believe between council member Sagala and the mayor. Uh in response we started seeing a number of communities covering signs or removing signs immediately. And so, um, council member Sagala and the mayor had a conversation to my knowledge. That's my understanding. Uh, I am not aware that any other council members were involved in any

discussions. The mayor reached out to me and shared that the two of them felt that it was in the best interest at that point in time to cover the sign. I concurred with their decision from the perspective of uh it's important to remember that while there's many community views and there may be many individuals and community organizations ultimately is the city council members that are elected to represent the citizens in the decision-making process. And so uh they are trying to be very transparent by having this meeting and discussion this evening. But because the two of them felt that for a temporary period at least the sign should be covered, not removed, staff complied with that request and we went out and covered it. Um the initial covers were removed by someone. I don't know who removed them and so we replaced them with a more permanent or more sturdy cover to get to this meeting for council to make some decisions. Now um you know there's a lot of different ways of approaching it. Um staff had shared that some of our initial thoughts were that perhaps if council were going to decide to rename the park that it in rather than an individual, it might consider a a broader uh term, something that captures the essence of what the original movement as we understand it was trying to address. So perhaps something like the farm workers park or freedom park or unity park or some other term. We're not suggesting that council make that decision this evening, although it certainly can do that. Council will recall that our ordinance doesn't it doesn't really identify the exact process. I know there's other communities that have other ordinances. Our ordinance does not identify the way parks are to be named. what the what the city's practice has been in the past and most recently with the K9 Bane Dog Park was to remit that issue to the parks commission for them to have a discussion and discuss some potential names and

come back with a recommendation to council. In that case, the recommendation was the K9 Bane Dog Park and council accepted that recommendation. It's not obligated to do so, but it did and named that park. And so given the fact that we've had a little history of of doing things that way and not having an ordinance that specifically dictates how the park naming is going to occur, our initial thought was perhaps council would want to consider establishing a 2 by two committee where you have two council members that are identified and you identify two park and recreation commissioners and the four of them work together with staff to hold public meetings outside of the city council meetings. for a period of time to take input and suggestions. Um, our thought was it's best to do that in an organized manner, not have each of the individuals going out and having different conversations because it's very difficult to record who is saying what. It's better to have sort of the four of them together with staff. advertising the the the meeting date and location um allowing them to be in several different locations at different times so people have access to those meetings and can share their thoughts and then staff would record all of those minutes. We could also do a survey as part of that process if you wanted to. So those were our initial thoughts. Um, I think whatever direction council decides to go, there are a few questions that we would need uh some direction on, you know, is there generally support uh for renaming the park either from council or the community? Um, should the monument, if that were the case, should the monument be removed, altered, maintained, or should it be uncovered or should we leave it covered for now? Um, are there any, you know, immediate operational or communication steps council wants us to take? Do you want us following this meeting to reach out to the public and say this is the way council's moving, the direction we're moving and the vote they've taken, you know, so on and so

forth. So, those are our initial thoughts. Uh, we are ready to respond whichever direction council wants us to take. We're certainly here to answer any questions that it may have. Uh, and we welcome that dialogue. One of the uh I'd like to do to start before our public comment on this is a little bit of the background that Mr. Manddale had touched on and I as he had said that Councilman Sagala and I touched base is this community conversation was taking um and just kind of the wake of the conversation the community I do appreciate because Councilman Sagala reached out to me directly said hey here's what I'm hearing what's going on he shared his thoughts and I absolutely um appreciate appreciated him doing that in doing so then I reached out to the city manager as Well, and we were sharing about this issue. One of the parts which I was shared that escalated um that came up and I don't want to put words in your mouth but I think you on this on your side as well as I know on my side is then it turned to threats as well of if the city doesn't perform this way we're going to vandalize. There was threats placed upon the park. Um in doing so okay with that was then reaching out to city staff. We don't it's a very intimate and passionate issue that's taking place which care about but also was the part we those and many that are in the community here that are in the room here tonight had contributed and participated with that overall dedication and the park element there's with with the name on it but the whole enormity of it we we don't want people taking matters into their own hands and surely destruct having destructive nature with our parks. So, can we get out there and cover that? And as you said, even when that happened, there was other actions that took place with that. Um, I think in emergencies, and threats and situations, we surely want to act. And

of course, appreciate that communication. And with Mark, hey, how do how do we jump on this? Um, here tonight and of course, as as Councilman Seagal will note as of putting this on our agenda, uh, with that is to have a community conversation. we need to surely uh our our process that we have here tonight and I know with all council members in that discussion of let's bring the community together uh what is that conversation look like um of course it's an extremely important and impactful um dynamic that is happen there was a the creed for which the city of Terary recognized and with our community towards the park represents um is extremely important and as with that is we have members that are here in the crowd tonight that the history and their life's travels through the spirit and intent and of course the recognition of of movement and being involved with the spirit of what that park uh symbolizes and participating in that process. Um it's all important. So with that we have it on the agenda and we go to public comment. I just want to share that's really the spirit behind it and the spirit is to having the the open process with that. Please, we want to hear that. Uh

can I just not interject on the comments of public comment but just clarification on something that was brought up and and it's the fundamental aspect that uh as I understand it in 1994 the name was changed from Lincoln Park to Caesar Shave. That's my understanding. Yes. And it was city council that did that. That is my understanding. Even though city schools own that property. That is my understanding. And and it's also my understanding we have no joint powers agreement with the city school district. We're not aware of any. We've not been able to find. So under what authority did the city change the name?

I wasn't here. I've only looked at the minutes and I'm not able to give you that answer to this evening. So, um I and I just kind of the protocol um Councilman Maderas, but two is if if council members I just wanted to open this up and I wanted to also open that this isn't an element of just jumping into performance. It's really that community connection. You know, what does this mean? What's right for Tary? What does this mean to to the purpose and of course to the residents of our city? So before we go to public comment, council members, is anybody else that wanted to add something uh briefly before opening to public comment?

Okay, with that I'm going to go to our yellow cards. Um number one, which I have uh Mr. Agular, you had it for 9.1 if there's comments you'd like to share. doesn't know what she was there. I She's number two on my yellow card by all means. All right. I should have called on you for the segue. Uh with that again video where to Donovan. I did a packet to the city clerk because I was hoping to uh address

the the time to address the time change that I submitted here and I was hoping to address that for the city council. So I gave her the packet and I put it on the public comments but I wasn't called. So if we can put that on the next session for the city of Tiller regular meeting. You'll recall that Mr. Donovette sent an email suggesting that the city council reconsider the start times of our council meetings as a whole. Separate issue from the question of the renaming of the park.

So that I do apologize. You you absolutely did do that. You did mark that. Um I think as Mr. Agular had mentioned on general comment too, I saw the 9.1 agenda item. So I do extend my apologies to you for that. um if you would like uh that is I will surely allocate the time for you if you'd like to touch on the request for city and I will then let you speak on the second this the second item for Chavez Park.

Okay. Thank you. Well, first again I'm submitting a formal request for the Tori city council to reconsider their 5:30 p.m. regular meetings to accommodate maximum public input. The current 5:30 regular schedule meetings falls outside of typical working hours and shift work commuting outside of city limits and I have data attached. Overall, this time frame does not present an optional public participation and accessibility by both in person and online. Cursory analysis indicates that current website usage levels are disproportionately low relative low in regard to each district one to five concerning district's overall population that each district represents. Efficiency of streamlining public meetings even if legal comes at the cost of excluding a significant working class of concerned public. Again I have provided data Basically, you have proprietary staff convenience and city council meetings over convenience over democracy. The public does not delegate their right to be informed. Recommendation solution. This is one right now sitting here for three hours. There are some city council meetings that are separating their agenda, their administration business and then adjourning to a portion where the public comments can come in like for this issue they say for an hour. So that gives there's three hours now on administrative time. You know, you could have one of the recommendations to separate that meeting and I can see now where the web people the website people are not going to be here listening for three hours and getting to an item that we have here. uh to maximize your public

input. You know, you need to have more tone town hallow meetings before city council and on regular meetings, special gettogethers, walkabout, walk about your your district, find out what's going on, observe conditions of housing, streets, need improvements, get to know your constituents, uh regular surveys. There's all other things that you might do to reach your contact. The reason I mentioned this, do any of you know how many u registered voters you have in your district? District one, 13,698 is your population. Your registered voters is 6,500. District number two, 13,600. Your registered voters 6,500. District number three, 3,600 registered voters, 5,418. District four, 13,600 registered voters, 7,300. Number five,

well, you went to three minutes, but anyway, I did did the u the demographics to the city clerk. Sure. It's if you would like to make your final point. I'll surely Okay. you're uh we did a curs a cursory review on your website and from 2023 you had almost 2,000 3,000 3,000 as of this year you only have 630 users there's something you're not the website is failing for some reason I think the time change has made a direct impact on that okay

so I provided that data the city clerk has all the populations and everything. And to remind the council, the Hispanics have a 65 to 70% representation in the city of Tiller and it's growing by 4% and it's going to be the highest increase with the city of Terren and they're not getting their fair share and they're not getting what access that we need. A lot of you need to go do a walkabout. go talk to your constituents because it shows here that you're depending on the website and these meetings yet you're not reaching out your total population or your registered voters and then that's critical.

It it is um thank you. I I have a job to do so I have to keep our meeting going. Um your points are are wellreceived on that public comment. Um, thank you. And as well, you wanted to speak on 9.1 and we appreciate you being here. And um, if you need a moment to collect your notes or Okay. to switch gears on that.

Doing this for a while. To let you know, every time I went to a department to ask for records, public records, they wanted to know my name. What question I gave them, uh, what organization do you represent? I mean it was like a third degree before I can get a public record record which I could personally have just gone there and not go through your records thing. So to let you know, there's a group of us throughout the years and in 19 uh in 2008, Grace Calderon, who's not here yet, she worked with uh Walking Naval. This is why you're all sitting on districts because we sued the city and that's why the districts are here. And to answer Mrs. says, "If you're all thinking the same, you're not thinking. Each district represents a different culture, a different population, different needs. So, there can't be that consistency because you're not representing the same group of people. Mr. Seagull is representing a a different type of group of people than Mrs. S, Dennis McDer, or you, Mr. Shaw. that district. That's why we had the districts because we wanted representation for each part of the town. So you can't have that consistency. He has the right, you have the right, all of you to recommend what your district population wants, what they need. You need to be able to go out there. Mr. Sidal should be able to represent what he feels, what he needs for his district, just like every one of you. We haven't heard from um Councilman Herrell yet on the that district as far as the park or anything the Chavez, but um I do understand that you want two

city council members and two from the public from the parks and recreation. Uh that I feel forms a legislative body. You have two people from the council, two people from the park and recreation. And concerning that right now, I don't think you're changing your meeting time. Parks and recreation meets at 6:30 in the morning. To me, they because of their job employment because they have to go to work. To me, any members from that group do not want public input. They haven't changed it. They've been working on that for a number of years. from 6:30. Who's going to attend a public hearing at 6:30 in the morning and their time is about 45 minutes and they're out the door? But anyway, if you have a legislative body, you have the two city council, you have two members of the park, then they become a legislative body that is subject to the Brown Act and hopefully they will open the public and have town hall meetings and you don't have a date time for them to end which you need to do according to the uh your provisions and then be it becomes an advisory committee. But if you put when is it going to limit if you can only have it for 30 or 40 days then it doesn't have to meet the Brown Act provision. But according to you it's stated that there's no end date. Okay.

You know so that has to be clarified. Is there going to be an end date or are they going to be yes a committee that as a legislative body is going to conform to the Round Act? If Thank you for that part. If if I can ask in the time that we have left quickly one of the items I think as Mr. Agular had noted you uh you have a plaque there at the park. You were involved in the history of this. Would you perhaps share a moment of history that you participate?

Yes. It has never been linked in part. I worked for the city of Toaryi as a planner city planner for nine years. So I know the history and we were part of that Caesar Chavez movement. That is a park ponding basin. It was a it's a hundred year part 100 year 100 um year rainfall and it's the deepest parket uh ponding basin that you have within the city of Teri. It's the deepest area. So it was a park ponding basin. It is the property of the city of Tiller. It was never part of the Lincoln school area. I talked to the um superintendent. He said they had nothing to do with the park. They can use it. they have a sign, you know, to use it for the recreation, but other than that, it is a city community park. It doesn't have any property rights with the school district, but they but they're able to use it. And uh when we did the Caesar Chavez Park, again, that's the area that they gave us. And that was back in 95. And um we uh named it the Caesar Chavez Park, and we raised the monies for it, and we had the committee for it. that was never associated and there was never a Lincoln school park. So that never existed.

Okay. The Caesar Travis Park, it was a it's a um park ponding basin for a 100year rainfall. Okay. And that's how it's designed. It's the deepest actually it's the deepest park ponding basin that you have throughout the city of Tiller. Miss um Miss Donabed, I have your summary real quick. is you you had recommended you talked with us about a legislative uh body a twoerson from the commission two from council members but a legislative body that allows public input is what you have endorsed. Well yes um well not only it's the quality of that public input. Okay.

You know they're going to be a legislative body because there's two four that makes of a legislative. So, they're going to have to follow the Brown Act as far as open meetings and hopefully they're going to be proficient in getting that public input, going out to the different areas and uh maximizing the public input. I don't me I don't have a an opinion yet, but I'm still going through the motions of what it happens. But then I'm still going through the motion of the Epstein's files, you know, which is kind of difficult. But um at the same time, that's what we're looking for, okay? Is to get maximum public input. Okay?

And again, each district was made so they could represent their community and you have every right. You don't have that consistency. You don't represent the same communities. Understood. So that's why we have Sigala, you have sir, Mader, uh all of you that represent a certain section that has different needs than another section.

If if I may is I I need to continue on and let other speakers and if you would please um I hope you plan to stay throughout the discussion and might call on you again on some of the process pieces of when this uh dedication took place. might add to identify myself because I get I don't know who you are. Okay. We have been involved not only in the district but we got involved with the U 95 of the death of Michael Coleman. We worked directly with the state department of justice to get the human rights committee

uh to get a complaint process hopefully to get a cultural sensitivity training for the police officers. Uh we also worked with getting the districts uh we've done a lot of work. So we go from one issue to another as people contact us. Okay. Um school district I taught people uh came to me on family uh school rights, student rights, suspensions. We eliminate the suspensions from school because it took away from the education. So there's no more suspensions where kids are not in school. So we do this for that work.

Thank you. Thank you. I you have my utmost respect towards your history and engagement with Tallery. And with that, just in keeping fairness with the group, if I can is if I can thank you for your time at the moment and I need to move on to some other. Okay, that's fine. And thank you for the time. Yes. Thank you,

Mr. Agular. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Yes. Uh I totally agree with the recommendation that was made by uh your our city manager to go ahead and form a committee and have public involvement. It's very important that we go ahead and have public uh involvement and input in different areas of the city. Uh it's uh also my recommendation that uh uh the meetings be held at a time that many individuals can attend as is stated by by Mrs. Donabed. We have to be able to go ahead and have input as to what the people want. I I would recommend that each of you go down and take a look at the monument and take a look at the bricks of the individuals whose names are on there that paid to have that monument put up. Okay? When people pay for a monument or people pay for whatever it may be, that's money that they contributed for that. Take that into consideration. Okay. Now, I know that when people read the report uh and the story that was written out uh by uh Dolores Werta, it seems to me that uh some individuals jumped the gun and right away, you know, hang him, hang him, crucify him. But, you know, there's been no action taken by any court at any time against this individual. None. I mean, where's the proof? Okay. In this country, a person is supposed to be innocent until proven un guilty. All right. But I got no problem with if if with what the majority of the people in the city of Toeri want to go ahead and change the name of the park to the farm workers memorial park or whatever it may be. As long as the majority, if that's their desire, then I got no problem with that. But how you

going to get that information? I would recommend a survey. Get a survey out there. Get it. Get it to all the people where they want. You got bills that come out and mail every month, right? We now have watering days. We can water now. We went without watering for four months, but now we can water. Why don't we put a survey out there? What does the people want to do? Do they want to change the name? Do you want to keep it the same? But if you're going to do that, please do not destroy what people have paid for that's on there that belong to the people, the names of the individuals, the schools, okay, the districts that went ahead and paid to have those bricks put on there. Respect that. Okay. Thank you much very much for your time. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Mr. Angular. Next I have is Ethel Shaver.

Good evening, Miss Shaver. Welcome.

I want to give honor to our mayor and to our city council and all the city officials. I'm grateful to be here today and I'm want definitely to do things in decent and in order. I've been in the city for a long time. However, I'm from Birkhorn, Alabama. I was raised in Taller, California. What I wanted to address is in 94 just a quickie I was the chairman of the coalition and I know basically every step how it occurred however Lydia her down a bit has already covered that so it's not necessary or mandated for me to do it however I would like to address the tulary Well, the Clton Misenhammer Center that what it was renamed. I called it the community center at one time and then the city council changed it to the Claude Mhammer Center which is fine. It's absolutely okay. However, I was the one who wrote the proposal for the community center. Not only that, the people that marched for it was my late father, my late brother that died at 38 years old, Reverend Freeman, so many people in the neighborhood because we needed a place for our children to go. We needed a place to them to experience wonderful things in their life that they hadn't. We had a swimming pool there at one time. That kitchen should be renovated. The whole center should be redone. We need help. It's a poor area. I still live there. I live on S Street. I've seen a lot. I've been all over the country and out of state many times.

However, I support you. I will give you my support, but I want to compromise as well. And while I'm up here, I want to apologize to Mr. Beck because the conversation that I had with him. I'm sorry I might have to. I want to apologize to him publicly because I'm a person of my word. I believe in God heavily and I want to make that apology public because he is a good man. Every one of you are different because I'm different. We're all different. But one thing about it is we may not all agree but we want what is best for the community. And I want to revise some of the things. When I made conditions with that center, when I wrote that proposal, I had conditions and I don't want to have any rejects, any regrets about it. I want to compromise with that, too. So perhaps I should be put on the agenda for a long length of time. But today, I want you to consider that. I want you to come and go and look around the community. Go and look at the center. Look how it's just like drained. Our pool was taken away. Our kitchen was taken away. We don't even want to utilize it anymore. So, we go to Wilson School and pay. That's not fair. I'm a person of fairness. I'm a woman of God because I believe in him. So, I I appreciate you giving me this special time tonight and I love each and every one of you and I'm grateful for all of you. And may God bless you.

Thank you. Uh, Mr. Victor Gonzalez. Good evening, Victor. I have a yellow card for you. Well, good evening, member, city council. Um, my name is Victor Gonzalez. I reside in the city of Chilleri. I was shocked and embarrassed. um uh ashamed um that someone that I had respected and uh worked with uh was accused of these uh horrible things and um with a number of revelations that came out and just uh was shocked and embarrassed. Um so um I spoke with um uh Councilman Sigala and said and we discussed it and at that time there was a movement across the state to cover up the monuments to Cesar Chavez and at the same time recognizing that the movement that he led and participated in and many of us here participated ated in did many good things uh for farm workers or um for u members of u lower income communities and we want we think their efforts should be recognized. So, I'm in favor of um renaming the park something that honors the movement say such as a farmworker farmworker park or something of that nature without um committing to

something now. And I think the what the um city manager has proposed is is totally appropriate and we should establish some kind of a joint commission. Um, and I'll leave it to you, um, the council members to figure out how that should be done. So, but I just wanted to um, so my my counter is counting down there. So, um, but yes, it's it's something that, uh, I feel strongly about and, uh, it's something that that affected me personally and and emotionally. So, but thank you. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Victor. Appreciate your comments. Uh, Mr. Butos. Good evening, sir. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. I was there 60 years ago. I'm one of the original Okay. Roberto Bustos aka El Capitan of the historic farmworker march that we did from Deleno to Sacramento. Cesar Chavez named me El Capitan of that march. But I was there 60 years ago. Yes, we went through that with struggle and I want to be in that committee. when you guys interview, you want to be in the committee to interview about the statue, about his work, his dedication, and his sacrifice that he did. I want to be in that committee. So, whenever you guys go around and interview people, I want to be there, too, cuz I was there 60 years ago, and I I can't believe what's going on. I can't believe it. I don't like it, you know. And I'm asking you guys, please leave the statue alone. Don't mess with it. Don't mess with it. Don't be like the other people already condemning him already sacrificing him already for the work that he's done. He sacrificed. He gave his life for the farm workers. And we've been doing the same thing, too. I've been doing the same thing, too. We had to cancel our 31st annual celebration event. We had to cancel it. But not because of what was going on. No, the union told us, you know, just to be we want you guys to be safe. We want

to be, you know, nothing happened to you guys. We don't want no deranged somebody with a gun and start shooting people when they're marching. We don't want that. We don't want that. And then they get pardoned by by the White House. No way. So, please put me in the committee. I want to I want to talk some more cuz I was there and I know what's going on and I didn't see nothing than he did anything. He was more respectful for men and women. He respected everybody and then he was not alone all the time. There were so many people with him. Farm workers were there. The staff was there. The family was there. He was never alone. So I don't know what they're talking about. It happened 60 70 years ago. Okay. So thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments, Mr. Brutos. Those are the yellow cards that I have. Is there anyone else in chambers who'd like to speak on this matter? Mr. Mendoza, good evening.

All right. So, I didn't have time to fill out your card. Sorry. Good evening. Welcome.

My name is Lupe Mendoza. I reside at 435 FORO Courtney. And uh I'm here to basically just voice my opinion about this situation. Um when I first heard the news and saw your reaction, to me it upset me because I have I've been here since ' 64 and I've never seen any city council react to an a situation so fast. Um the first thing that was done was to cover up that uh the monument and to me I think it was a overreaction. Uh it's it's it's really not an emergency that that you guys you guys took a a uh in in my opinion inappropriate action. Okay. You acted too swiftly without getting more information. And uh I just uh want to basically express my disappointment in that the city leadership just took it upon themselves to react without getting the facts and without uh taking uh public uh input. Now, I see that you're you're trying to do that now, but um I hope that you guys before you take permanent action on this, whether to remove or rename uh I would be I I would be in favor of of renaming the park if we get to that point. But as far as removing the the the monument, I'm totally against that because that monument was there for a purpose. It was put on by public funds and uh I believe that uh you guys need to act but act uh in the proper manner. Take your time, get all gather all the facts, get input from the community and then do what is right for the city.

Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mendoza. I know you're here for this item and I know we're in a busy meeting, but you just returned from your family from a very special trip and if you feel comfortable, I'd love for you to maybe share your important trip that you have with your family if you're okay doing that.

I I'll try because it's it's a I tend to get emotional when I talk about that kind of stuff. So, I just I just returned um from doing a uh pilgrimage in Spain. my my two sons. I'm I'm gifted with two boys, Michael Paul and Lupe Mendula. And uh I was able to uh make that trip with them. Basically, it's a pilgrimage. We walked the last 100 miles of a 450 mi walk. And it's a religious it's it's it's a pilgrimage, but people do it for different reasons.

I did it for uh a spiritual purpose. Others do it as a challenge for themselves. and and whoever goes with them. But it's an experience that uh everybody has to do in at least once in their lifetime. You meet people from all over the world, the sweetest people in the world because you know we're all doing the same thing. You're carrying your backpack with all your all your needs for the duration that you're going to be there for. They be 10 days or 30 days. And so uh you're basically a pilgrim. you're trying to survive off the ground, off, you know, uh like they say, the Camino will provide for you if you go with a very minimal uh supplies, somebody will always be there to help give you a hand. It's an experience that I was fortunate to have uh with my two boys and something that I will never forget. Um, if you people are interested in in what that is all about, YouTube has a lot of uh special uh uh videos of people that are experiencing their they're sharing their experience with with the people at the time that they're doing it. Uh, my son Michael did a pretty good job at doing his part. And so uh I would invite everybody to um and you know I just to the reason I got involved with this year is because the movie The Way with uh Martin Sheen. I saw that movie about 15 years ago and I told my wife, I got to do that someday because it's a very emotional it's very emotional for me and for most of the people that see it because you suffer you, you know, you go through pain, hunger or you're climbing hills and you you know my sons had the most the the the worst time for them was the downhills. It takes a beating on the knees, your feet, but it's a sacrifice that we put that we're willing to do. And and most of the most of and we have nothing to complain about because we did the short stretch. There's people that

are on there doing 450 miles. Just imagine that day after day after day after day. Anybody can go up there and walk 20 miles one day, but can you do it for 30 to 40 days at a time? I run out of breath walking to my car. So, yeah. Uh but yes, thank thank you for sharing. I didn't mean to embarrass a picture on the spot, but thank you for sharing. But you know, it's I I can't explain it, but if you go into YouTube and type in El Camino, you can see everything you want to see there. Okay. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good evening. Thank you.

Anyone else in chambers who'd like to speak on this issue? And madam clerk, do we have anyone on the phone who'd like to speak on this issue? Okay. If the call gets connected again, please let me know. Thanks. All right. With that, um, council members, uh, comments or thoughts? U one of there's a few questions that I have, but I think maybe our questions and comm conversation here will will bring that up. But Mr. Herrell, Vice Mayor Herald, I'll start with you. I think the very first question that has to be answered is who does that park belong to? Whether it belongs to the city or whether it belongs to the school district before we start making any kind of taking any kind of action on that. We need a definitive answer on that.

We can certainly do additional research. I will tell you that the research we have done, if you go to and look at the APN numbers, it indicates that it is owned by the school district. I I'm not saying it has always been owned by the school district. I don't know if it was by the city and then at some point was transferred. I don't know any of those answers. All I can tell you is the documents, the legal documents we have access to tell us it's the school district. We can certainly do more research, get a title search done to see who owned it, when and when did that title change. We could do that uh that research if council would like. I don't want to take up staff time to do all that research. If you have from the county recorder or whoever right now that says by APN that belongs to the Tory City School District,

yes, then this issue is their issue. Ours also, but basically it's for them to deal with too. Just to interject, there's a fair fairly simple process with a title to get a chain of title. I think legal counsel can verify that that isn't very expensive that could clarify it under the circumstances. I would recommend that. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Councilman Seagull.

Yes. Mr. Mayor, Council, uh, first of all, I'd like to thank everyone who, uh, came forward with their, um, points of views and history and and, uh, perspective on this issue. Um, you know, uh, like when Mr. Gonzalez talked about this, you know, we did have a pretty good conversation. Um, you know, I like everyone uh was very disappointed to hear the news, was very shocked, uh, was very taken back. You know, as I share with Mr. Gonzalez, I remember, um, hearing the news and his passing. I was up at Berkeley uh hearing his passing. A professor, one of our CHO studies professors uh rented a van for us and uh eight of us jumped in the van and we drove all the way back down to Deleno and participated in the uh in the uh in the funeral, you know, saw Jesse Jackson, saw all kinds of people come to celebrate the life of Cesar Chavez. And I remember here right on Beachwood, 373 Beachwood where my mom lived. Uh all of us slept on her floor, you know, as we came back and you know, my mom fed everybody and you know, we we ended up going back to Berkeley. But it was uh and and the first time I met SR Chavez, you know, I grew up in Venice in Santa Monica and the first time I met Sr. Chavez was on Santa Mon in Santa Monica. He came to Santa Monica to support the workers, the hotel workers that worked on those very very nice hotels along the beach. And so it was the first time I I met him when I was about 18 years old, 19 years old. So it was very very shocking to hear the stories to to to read the New York Times report uh about what's going on. And uh you know obviously Dolores Werta who who I've known for a long time when when I used

to come home on the train uh there were four or five times that I was very lucky that my train mate was Dolores Werta. So I sat with her for hours and she would tell me stories about the farmworker movement and then when I worked up in the state legislature I did everything I could working for the senators that I worked for to support the farm workers. So, it was very disappointing and yes, we reacted and and and and I saw what was going on in the community. I did talk to community folks and and it was it was shocking. So, I reached out to the mayor to have a conversation about it and and yes, I made the recommendation that we should join other communities to cover up the name and and then I also asked um that we have a a cons a council conversation about what the next steps would be. And I do appreciate the city manager, you know, looking at it and trying to come up with the best solution. I did talk to Miss Werta for for a couple hours about this issue and other things. You know, I I I have a lot of respect for folks who were involved back then. You know, I came to know that Mr. Mendoza, you know, commissioner on our parks was a a mapista, you know, head of MAPA. I was one of I was a student supporter of the map of the Mexican-American Political Association. You know, they sent me to Berkeley with the big scholarship. So, I'm I'm very familiar with all the work that a lot of people done in the past. And so, but it was just shocking, disappointing, uh to read that and and and embarrassing that, uh, you know, someone that a lot of us looked up to now had issues. And yes, he's not around to defend himself, but those stories, even if you believe half of them, are are just crazy. But um that will work itself out through the national conversations, local conversations. What I like to do is see what's the best process to move forward

to, as Mr. Aguilar mentioned, figure out what is best for our community. There are a lot of communities up and down the state all across the country who are taking actions in various forms for everything from renaming Cesar Chave Street in Fresno to dropping the issue in Bakersfield to painting over murals and removing monuments. There's a lot of things going on, but what's the best thing for Taller? And so, um, I'm definitely supportive of what the um, uh, city manager is recommending. There'll be two commissioners and two council members. I'm still thinking of whether there whether what the process would be maybe to have some community members, but then again, what do we go how does that process going to work? You know, do we put the word out, hey, who would like to sit on this commission and have applicants and have a whole interview process and all that? you know, uh the more the the more public input the better for me. But, uh I I'm okay with what the what the uh city manager has um recommended thus far and uh moving forward in in trying to figure out how we address this locally.

Mr. McGaris,

I agree with the vice mayor. As I've indicated, we need the foundational facts determined as to uh who owns the property, uh what the city schools involvement was at that time. And I and I think the uh the uh committee that's being discussed and recommended can do that with the assistance of staff that we have. I appreciate the input that we got uh tonight from all the different members of the community. Um, I I'm glad to hear Mr. Sagala is in favor of the recommendation of the city manager and basically uh the way it's formatted with two council members and two members of parks and wreck who who take input from the community, they can then turn around and make a recommendation to city council to take the appropriate action which at that time will give a further opportunity for members of the community to give input. So, I'm in favor of the recommendation.

Council member sir,

I do want to thank everyone that came this evening to uh educate us. Um I wasn't here uh when all of that was happening. I um you know, listen to the news. I tried to stay in support of uh those that were being marginalized and not uh given opportunities that that I was given growing up. as a young adult. Um, so thank you for sharing your thoughts and your experiences with those of us who didn't have that uh firsthand participation in in that activity. I I agree that um you know I just believe that personally I believe that tearing down monuments, negating history, negating the good that's maybe some people that made mistakes uh dead is is not is not a good thing to do. That's my personal opinion that uh when we started tearing down all the um the Civil War monuments, when we start tearing down president's monuments, we start tearing, you know, it's just that's our history. It's our history. And if if we feel like it's embarrassing, uh that it's shocking, it's still our history. And I think it's important that we learn from our history, that we have grace and forgiveness, that we move forward uh with what we know and what we can find out factually about the, you know, the perimeters of of what we can do with this park. But I agree, you know, we need to um be transparent. We need to have public input. We need to hear what the citizens of Tary I would hope that it wouldn't end up being like our nation so polarized that we couldn't come to a decision because we have 50% 50% then then what do we do? Um and that's what's happened in our nation and I I would hope that tiller has more

heart than that that we can come to a compromise to a to a conclusion that honors the good that came out of that movement. um probably more good needs to be happening and some of the things that happening in our nation now are reversing a lot of that good that came out of the United Farm Workers U movement. So um I don't know that's that's my opinion. I just feel like our history is our history. We learn from our history. We learn from o from our mistakes and we learn from the mistakes of others. And that's what makes us human and makes us um greatest commandment was to love one another. It gives us that opportunity uh you know to love one another and to forgive one another and to learn from the things that happened that are maybe we consider ugly or shocking in our in our you know in our past. Our past is the past. We live in the moment. And the moment to me is that we honor, we respect, and we love one another in our community so that we don't have these divisions and we can come to a compromise. Mrs. Schaefer brought that out. You know, we come to a compromise uh from both sides of of the issue. And um Mrs. Donovet, I just want I just want to say to you that I think you and I have known each other for a long time. I think that when I said our districts are the same. I meant we're all human beings. And uh yes, the I live on the west side. The the situation on the west side is different from where my kids live on the east side, but we have the same needs, exactly the same needs. And uh we know Maslo's hierarchy of needs. They're the same for all of us as human beings. And so that's what I meant when I said we're not that different. I know that we have different, but when it

comes to that tax, the tax thing, that tax thing needs to be consistent throughout the city where that money comes. That's what I was talking about. So, not to defend myself, but just to be clear that that's what I was talking about. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Herald. Yes.

I think the idea of the a survey included in the utility bills might be beneficial also. Yeah. Um, council, you know, certainly we we have a number of means by which we could do surveys. For example, you mentioned an early in the meeting about the regional sports plex survey that we've done, right? So, if council ultimately follows staff's recommendation and sets up the committee and provides us direction to make sure that we're doing surveys, we will come I will come back to you and let you know the different methods by which we can do surveys so we can reach the maximum amount of people. Um, and that's that's not a concern of mine at all. We can make sure that that happens. I I've always operated on on the idea that everybody gets a bill, but they don't,

right? Uh what treasure, what's the percentage now who actually uh Jason might know it a little bit better, but I think it's at least a third actually get a bill. Uh a third that don't get a bill. Yeah. So, you're taking 33% and eliminating them entirely from the conversation. And then the ones that do get it electronically, I don't know how many open it. Yeah. My mom asked me about shred day the other day and I said, "It was in your bill." And she's like, "I don't open it." She just looks at the amount.

Yeah. The reality is is there will be some folks that will be able to do a survey. We can't reach every person the same way. So, we'll probably have to deploy at least five or six different methods to reach people. And and we're familiar with those techniques. Well, I I think in summary of it though is is the methods are perhaps the second part which is the first part is what what does this look like? Um how does this conversation perhaps continue? And I think that's what you want direction on. Do we continue this conversation?

Um the the part which I endorse and I hear in the summary of it is there's some factf finding that needs to happen. Um and I'm I'm just I don't think I'm saying anything different that other council members. I'm sensitive to the fact of course that we have this monument that was paid for by citizens and a committee and its its purpose and I think the nexus of what it rep what it represents and then the second part is okay is that the school is that the ground city and what does that look like and it sounds like there's also um at least a a majority which is from there you recommended the staff did to two city council members two people from parks and I think that that conversation evolves is perhaps maybe it's two from the school district or what does that look like to expand and then the community part so I think I if if to keep our conversation a bit pointed but start with the next steps anyway so because we don't debate all the steps going forward is is there a consensus here that first we want to do the factf finding yes there is an endorsement for setting up I don't want to speak for all of you. I'm just giving a summary. There's an endorsement for this process. We'll start there because other things might come out of that of what that looks next.

So, council, if that is your that's a general consensus. Here's what I would recommend. Nick, can your office coordinate with a title company? You probably are working with one pretty regularly to get to do the title search so we can see the chain of ownership. Yeah. Yes.

So, you can put that into motion very quickly. If you can get it done soon enough, as soon as we have that, we can, if you would like, unless you're ready to make a decision tonight, we can certainly schedule at the next council meeting or whenever we have that information, a staff report that says, "Here's the ownership. You know, let's say it's the district. We've reached out to the district and have this conversation if you would like and they're ready to appoint two people. We can come back with the names potentially for the committee, right? For the council members, for the if that's what you want. Once we have that all together, we can put that together in the staff report and you can adopt it or or you can give us more direction this evening.

There's there's one that I didn't say yet steps and that's of course community or community being a part of this group and I share with that is I think out of the factf finding and at least getting that group then we get into the next steps of does it involve an expanded part of the community ser

I just I don't want community members feeling like this conversation left that out. Yeah. it's just to start this process. Uh, and that's what you're into. I I think the idea of of two and two on a committee is sufficient making sure we get the input from others. But if you if my personal opinion, if you expand this committee to a side size that it's inoperable almost because people can't make decisions, we'll never get a recommendation. Yeah, absolutely. It's just the starting steps, but I I don't I'm just leaving this is only Patrick speaking. summary is I don't want folks feeling as was mentioned tonight that they're left out of this. This just starts this and it gets some facts to us and so we can make some decisions

and we can also you know let's say the committee stayed fairly tight. One of the things we can do is we can post you know for for example tomorrow or this week we can say hey council had a discussion here's where we're at. Anyone who wants to be made aware of these meetings when they're going to occur or be part of the survey process, please send your information to the clerk so we can start a mailing list and and a list to contact people and every time we're going to have a public meeting of the committee. So, there's a lot of things we can be doing getting ready so that anyone who wants to have a voice has the opportunity to have a voice

and they'll still feel left out. There still will be some people who feel left out can't change. Uh I think part of the research I mean I I would be in favor of starting a committee and then you know doing the research the diligence but um I did have an I did talk to Ira Porche um and from my conversation with him he did not feel it was a school district's purview. So, uh, so I think, uh, I think part of the thing is like I brought up at our, uh, joint meeting, my understanding is we have joint use agreements with the with the school district. I mean, because, you know, all of our parks and and this is an issue that I have in general. I mean, I have a hard time calling a basin a park, but it's a park. Uh but we have uh able like for like like for example Prosperity Park, softball park, is that uh school district property or city property, you know? So, but I understand that they do have we do have joint use agreements.

Yeah, but won't they determine I mean let's let's just move forward and let them determine those. Well, that's what I'm saying. I I'm in favor of establishing the committee and then as in the same time processing that they'll do that. But, you know, I don't want to wait two, three months to get this process going. From our standpoint, I do think we can go ahead m and select which two uh council members if we adopt this and my proposal would be Mr. Sagalan and the vice mayor. It's in your district. Yeah. So, we have some or did I assume did I make an assumption? I shouldn't assume. I want the information first.

Okay. So Mark, is that a consensus I think of our steps? Right. So and we can and we can we can get you that information as quickly as possible. We found another document that talks a little bit about the the situation and so um we got to do a little bit more digging. So we'll we'll immediately pull the chain of command so or the chain of command chain of ownership so we know who owns it now and who owned it in the past. And we'll do some more researching on if there's a maintenance agreement. Right. I think there's a couple documents here that probably are applicable. So, we'll get that as quick as we can and get it back in front of you. And that probably I mean we probably could have that before that committee ever meets.

Yeah, I think in the next two to three weeks we can probably get most of this information. That's my gut feeling for sure by the next council meeting. Yeah. So, I'm a little confused here. So, um I understand that it's important to get that information. I mean, does the school district maintain the park as it is currently? Does the school district clean the bathrooms? Chris, would you speak to that? No, we maintain the turf area and we maintain the general uh maintenance around the playground and the restrooms. So, how about the interior part of it, the basin and the little amphitheater and all that? Who's in charge of that? I believe that's on our landscape contract. I'd need to double check that. I just know we do the

My understanding is the city pays 100% of the maintenance of the park. That That's my understanding, but let us do that research to find out. But but I'm just trying to get at, you know, if that's the case, we're paying 100% of all the all the parks that are abunded against all the school districts. So there's got to be something that says what? Cuz I don't I'm just going to say I don't I don't think any of us disagree with you with that. Uh I think the part is hashing that out right now as we walk through that. So,

well, the question is, do we hash that out first and then do the come back and do another vote on whether establishing the committee or do we establish the committee tonight? I'm in favor of establishing tonight and having the process run concurrent. So, that I'm one vote. So, I know Mr. Harold thinks otherwise. So, that's one and one. So, I like to see what the other three think. What What do you propose, Mr. Her? I want all the information if I'm going to sit on this committee. I want all the information about ownership before we have a meeting or anything happens even even the establishment of the committee.

We can establish it but I don't want to take any don't want to have any any dealings with anything until I know definitely who owns the property who has responsibility. So, so if we established the committee on the recommendation as indicated in the staff report with you and Mr. Sagala as the city's representative with the understanding that the first meeting would not take place until this information was obtained, would you be in favor of it at that point? Yes. Okay. That that being the case, I'll make the motion exactly as I just indicated. Second.

And before you vote really quick, the the caller She did second. I'm sorry. Did I heard the caller that you had asked for is back on the line, I believe. Okay. So, person say I'm gonna real quick. I I'm going to look to legal counsel though since we have a motion in a second. Can I suspend a vote though? Yeah, you can take further.

Okay. So, we'll further discussion, we'll take in further information and go to our caller. Okay. Unfortunat if the if the caller hears us, we're trying to get connected. Even after the vote, if you have comments, I will surely recognize that. But I'm going to move forward uh with the vote. So, we have a motion and second. All in favor? I.

Any oppose? Okay. Our direction is set. And again, please let me know, Mr. Clerk, if the caller comes back in. I want to respect and and I apologize for throwing a wrench in all of this, but I do have one other quick question, which is um are we leaving the sign covered for now or are you wanting us to take the cover down? That wasn't in our discussion or vote. I was Yeah, it social media. Weren't there some threats made towards damaging? Yes,

that's what we're trying to prevent. We don't want it damaged. That's why I that's why, you know, frankly, I think that decision, if we were splitting hairs, I would say that decision is actually the city manager's decision. Uh because it's the city manager's decision in terms of the operations of the city. How do we handle those things? I I'm bringing it to you because I recognize the the the sensitivity of this issue. I think keeping it covered for now is still the best situation because we're not having people fandalize and try to sledgehammer the sign, right? Once that happens, that's you're not going to piece it together again, right? I know there's some people that are offended by the cover, but I think it's protecting the sign right now.

Well, as I had stated, the reason why it came up was be Yes. The sensitivity of it was the threats unfortunately um with that. So, um I know the public comment here tonight and the sensitivity of it and I looked at council members was and unfortunately if it's seen as as like a political statement towards it, which it's not meant to be. It was um people coming out and sprayed whatever that means. What does that look like? So, I looked to council members of what we of what we want to do um with that. I know Sagala, you and I had a conversation on the sensitivity of this, but it's the five of us up here and our thoughts real quick. So, I look to each of you your thoughts on it remaining covered or taking the cover off?

I I would leave things as as they are. Um, and then

which is as they are now. It's covered. It's covered. So, I would leave things as they are now. Um but I do know that that you know this situation is just having different impacts you know because I know that we were supposed to celebrate our birthday there our birthday our birthday there and now it's been moved to Datto so I mean that's already I mean I got the letter here that it was going to be there but then I lost saw online and now it's moved. So things like that is what what what I think I prefer it wasn't done that way. But you know it's it's done. So I think just trying to keep things emotional and just um keep it as is I think would probably the best way. One to protect the monument. Um you know I'd hate from someone to even just go uh spray paint it or anything like that. So I I that would be my thing for now. So Chris, are we going to plant trees then at that park on Arbor Day?

Arbor Day will be at Delago this year. So are we going to plant trees at Delago instead of at Yes, ma'am. Okay. Anything else? So, uh I think with I looked to you two as well. Yes. I couldn't hear what I could hear what the vice mayor indicated. I said to keep it protected and you originally said protected. So, I'll defer to what the three of you have indicated. We've got a consensus. Thank you.

And I would say to members of the audience that are hearing this along, if you have by all means opinions or views on that, feel free. You can email me or email city staff with that. Yes.

Not to my knowledge. No, that no. Yes. As it is now. Yes. Can't hear. We can't We can't hear you, but she'll have to come. Yes. Yeah. I can't hear her. Ma'am, we're going to do that research. We're going to do that research and nothing else is changing at the park. It's going to keep the same hours and everything else that we have currently other than what you heard today. Yes. Yes. Sure.

April 24th. They're saying that the Arbor Day ceremonies will be at Delago Park. I think

again, we have to make decisions at the time as we plan forward to things and as in the at the time when this was occurring. There was a lot of angst and and energy and we were concerned that if we did something at the park that it could result in uh some negative uh occurrence. We're not saying we're changing it forever. We're saying for this period of time, for this one time at Arbor Day, move the event so we don't have any negative, you know, people start showing up and get in a fight because somebody says we don't want it be named C for Chavez. We say we want it and we we're trying to avoid that kind of outcome, right? Keep the temperatures down for just now so we can get through this issue. Yeah. And with next year, we'll bring it back to Caesar Chavez. Not not not for this event. Not at this time for this event.

Okay. Next year we would have to bring it back and plant trees next year.

Okay. Thank you for the the questions and comments and um with that I just want to mindful because I know part of that discussion will go over to Arbor Day which isn't on our agenda uh tonight but with that I'm I want to thank every the public comment for uh your input on 9.1. Thank you for being being here. Um the conversation will continue and again if your thoughts feel free to email um the council of the city and we'll we'll surely receive your communications. Uh moving forward uh with item 9.2 as we go into fiscal year 2027 budget review. Um thank you. If if we can as we shift gears into the budget I just would like to take a twominut well it never turns into two minutes. So, I'm just going to say a 5m minute break to allow for restroom and and getting ready for those documents. So, we'll reconvene here at um what's 5 minutes. Help me somebody. I can't see that far.

8:54.

All right. 854. Be right back. This is closes. Washington has Yes.

There you go. must. He's tired. You ready? You might do some stretches, Matt.

Calling back our council members.

Here ye hear ye. We are rec to reconvene. waiting for Mr. Her. Jacob, let's move quick through this.

Show those.

No, I don't. I I look forward to this item on the agenda. It's important item and I hopefully I think we have 9.2 and we have uh a couple two items to go. So, our budget's important. I'm going to recon reconvene. So, uh we'll open item where we are is 9.2, which is fiscal year 2027 budget review. Mr. Roberts or staff that will be opening this item. Feel free to proceed.

Yes. Uh thank you, mayor, vice mayor, and council members. Uh it's a pleasure for the city's budget manager, Jacob Bel Sid, and I to present the first preliminary budget to you this evening for fisc year 27. Of course, uh before we begin, I'd like to thank Jacob for his work in putting together the information uh before you. I'd also like to say thank you to the council for being with us tonight. I'd like to thank all city staff, department heads, and all of their staff under them for helping put together this information. They they submit a lot of their M and I just compile everything and all the other things. So, I'd like to thank them for their assistance as well. I don't think so.

Total fiscal year 2026 revenues are currently estimated to be $179.9 million. Preliminary operating appropriations are $166.2 million. The seemingly large disparity between revenues and expenditures is primarily due to capital projects appropriations not yet being included. Um also typically we don't show transfers uh for the budget as a whole uh because transfers in and out should wash um which they do except for a small general fund transfer to the successor agency um the budget of which is not adopted with the city's budget. So there is an uh not an offsetting transfer in And at the city man's direction. That concludes the presentation. We'll take your questions.

No. No. Okay. So, uh, total revenues and transfers, uh, preliminary total preliminary fiscal year 27, uh, uh, revenues and transfers are about $75 million, a $1.6 6 million increase from the $73.3 million adopted for for the current fiscal year.

So now I'll go over the revenues and transfers in by category. Um I'll try to summarize it as best I can. Um when we put together fiscal year 26 budget, we're talking about sales and use tax revenue currently. Um when we put the 26 budget together, we were extremely conservative when it came to projecting our sales and use tax revenue. After evaluating fiscal year 25 actuals, which are still being unodudited, so I like to take those numbers with a grain of salt. We ended fiscal year 25 at around $14.8 million. Combining these fiscal year 25 actuals using trend analysis and integrating our most recent consultants um projections for fiscal year 27. We've come up with $15.9 million in uh in sales and use tax projections for fiscal year 27. transactions and use tax or measure I revenue is projected to see a slight increase year-over-year of around $400,000. Property and property tax and property tax in lie of BLF revenues are also projected to see a slight increase of about 562,000 and 600,000 respectively. Utilities users tax revenues are projected to see a decrease in revenue. We incorporated our UUT consultants projections during the fiscal year 26 budget process and as as the year has gone by we believe those projections may have been slightly overestimated and we did include that in the midyear for fiscal year 26 as well. These lower projections account for what we think is more accurate and more in line with those revenues. Franchise taxes currently project to remain flat increasing only around $50,000. cannabis and dispensary tax or measure Y revenue is projecting it's projecting to see a year-over-year decrease and I've analyzed the past three fiscal years for this cannabis measure Y revenue and every single year it's been decreasing so I'm not seeing an increase year-over-year and I don't feel comfortable projecting an increase on that currently transient occupancy tax is projected to see a $250,000 increase in revenue and

this reflects our belief in the new amphitheater and the concert series will bringing more people to the community over the next fiscal year. Lastly, other revenues are projected to see a $920,000 decrease. And this is largely attributed to attributable to two revenue, two duplicate revenues that we discovered um partly partially in fiscal year 26. And we're making sure that we account for it in fiscal year 27. Those revenues uh lie within the community development, the engineering departments. And so we've taken those into account and made sure they're not replugged into the budget twice. Those account for roughly $1 million alone. Transfers in are projected to stay the same. These transfers include transfers in include 50,000 from the traffic safety fund and roughly $8,000 from the police department grants fund to fund capital purchases and improvements. And again, in total, we're currently projecting right around 75 million, right under 75 million in total general fund revenues and transfer.

I had a quick question for you. Um, yes, sir. The transaction and use tax, is that measure I? That's measure I. Why don't we just call it Measure I? Well, we generally go with the technical term, but we can call it Measure. I mean, I think that would be helpful for people to know that what they voted on is helping the city. So, at least in we'll incorporate that moving forward.

Okay. Uh moving on to uh to expenditures. Uh uh the total expenditures for fiscal year preliminary expenditures for fiscal year 27 are estimated to increase approximately 3.1 million from fiscal year 26 to $72.8 million. Uh transfers out are uh which which Jacob will address in a moment are uh are $2 million less currently uh in the preliminary budget than uh the current fiscal year. and total expenditures and transfers out are are expected to increase or are $1 million about $1.1 million higher than the current fiscal year at $75.8 million.

So, first I'll dive into salaries and benefits. So, salaries and benefits are anticipated to see a $ 1.9 million increase year-over-year. And this is largely attribut attributable to approved negotiated salary increases. But I'd also like to note that this amount accounts for also accounts for current vacant positions right now at this moment in time at a 33% vacancy factor. And I'd also like to note that the um this also includes a 15% um assumed savings for health insurance costs due to the employee clinic that is that's open now. And so we're assuming a 15% um savings for health insurance costs as well. We don't have any official data from the clinic, but once we get official data from them, we we may change um the 15% or depending on what that data ends up being, but currently it's at 15%. Next, we'll go over maintenance and operations expenses, and they're expected to increase about $1.9 million. And in about three more slides, we have significant drivers listed for you separately, so you can see them all. So, we'll we'll review those shortly. Internal service charges and allocated costs are expected to see a $771,000 reduction. And this is due to the temporary suspension of equipment replacement internal service charges uh general fundwide. This temporary suspension is to um is is we're doing this temporary suspension because we do have sufficient fund balance within the equipment replacement fund itself. So we believe we can go ahead and suspend those to help help balance the budget. Capital outlay is projected to see a roughly $52,000 reduction year-over-year. The capital outlay figure you see here, the $77,000 accounts for all public safety equipment such as police department training and tactical equipment, fire department PPE and training equipment and also public work streets electrolyers. Debt service is projected to see a $45,000 increase and this is based on the debt service schedule for our energy debt service.

transfers out are projected to see or currently see a reduction of around two $2 million, but that's largely attribut attributable to no CIP currently being included yet. Um, that $3 million roughly accounts for $2.2 million to our financing authority fund for debt service for the 2018 lease revenue bonds. $375,000 is an operating subsidy to the senior services fund. $272,000 is to resume the operating subsidy to the surface water management fund that was suspended last year. $50,000 is another operating subsidy to the aviation fund. And another $50,000 to the unemployment insurance fund to help pay for unemployment claims. And lastly, like Mark mentioned earlier, $38,500 is for the housing successor agency fund. Again, combining all of these, we get a roughly total about $75.9 million for expenditures and transfers out, which is a roughly $1.1 million increase year-over-year. One thing I would like to reiterate before we move on from this slide is that that $75.9 million does not include any new position requests or new CIP projects

on on the 75 million. Does it does it include the homeless shelter operation? It does. So, that's in there. Yeah, it's in there. We'll go over that soon. one of just if you if you can I'm sorry but if you go back to your previous slide and what I was looking for I want to understand includes this uh this asterct is not in the materials that we have this I'm missing it somewhere so that's it grabs me to understand includes assumption of 15% health insurance claim reduction from employee health clinic and 33% vacancy factor for current vacant positions can you perhaps touch on that definition again

yeah for So the this only pertains to the salary and benefits category. And so the salary and benefits for fiscal year 27 at this time are $45.5 million. So when we when we project the salary and benefits for the entire year, we're we're we're accounting for full cost of of health insurance and health insurance claims for every employee general throughout the general fund. that 15% we're baking in reducing that amount because we're assuming a savings from the employee healthcare clinic at the same time. So we're assuming that the clinic is going to help reduce those costs. The savings is put into that number. Correct. It's already baked in right now.

And then the 33% vacancy factor is that just of the 15% or is that another is that an independent factor? So that's another separate independent vac factor based on current vacancies in the city right now. Okay. So so I don't mean to cut you off. saying salaries and benefits is based off that vacancy factor. That's not the full factor. Should all positions be be right. Just the 33% of only vacant positions as of right now. Okay. At any given time we have vacancies, right? Yeah. That number goes up and down, right? So we have to put some assumption in there that we're going to have vacancies over the the balance of the entire year. That's the assumption that we're using.

That's where we're at now. That number may go up or down as we go through this budget process. So the the part um in understanding statistics 33% vacancy perhaps is a vacancy of all things not necessarily that we are sitting at 33% vacant positions statistically that amount correct that accounts for the position being vacant for about three months

uh combining combining revenues and expenditures and shrink transfers um preliminarily for fiscal year 27 in the general fund uh results in a use of fund balance of approximately $871,000, a $582,000 improvement over fiscal year 26. Now, we should note that as council may recall that you adopted a a budget where revenues uh equaled expenditures and separate separately adopted uh uh capital projects for the purpose of this exercise because that was 26 operations. We combined those things and that's where the $1.5 million at the bottom of of fiscal year 26 comes from.

Mark, I have some a question on this one. I have some eagle-eyed constituents. They ask me, "Why do we use the term use a fund balance versus deficit?" Because that's what they're used to. They're used to seeing you either got a surplus or you got a deficit. So they're like more like why are you guys using that?

In in part it's because in government we use fund accounting and the use of fund balance is separate and because deficit can be confused with structural deficit. A structural deficit is when you have an ongoing um excess of expenses over revenues. Um and we don't want that to be perceived. Uh we don't what we right now we do not have a structural deficit. We do not believe we're going to have uh well we have to do some work but we do not believe that our our operating expenses our ongoing expenses are going to exceed our ongoing revenues. And the use of fund balance can happen when you have balanced those things in such a way where revenues meet or exceed expenditures but you also decide to make one time one-time uh exp uh or have onetime expenses like capital items like vehicles other capital items and to perform capital projects.

So a used fund balance covers a shortfall. Yes. Yes. So what old school people call a deficit? Yes. Okay. Yes. And just to clarify, you can have a use of fund balance without a structural deficit, but you cannot have a structural deficit without a use of fund balance.

Yeah. So another way I would describe this would be and right now right now we're saying we have a deficit of $871,000. But this is the first time we're showing you this budget as we go through the budget process where there's a lot more information that comes in. like we don't have all the information from our consulting firms on the revenue what we're anticipating the revenues be right so that number could grow or it could get less my opinion based on our ongoing discussions and everything I'm looking at is that number is going to get lower right I believe by the end of June we're going to present to you a balanced budget my hope is we're going to do a balanced budget without the use of fund balance right we'll see I can't tell you that for certain but I I think we're trending in that direction but a good example where you know so even if at the end of June we ask you to adopt a budget let's say we say to you council to balance your budget this year we think we should use $250,000 of fund balance to balance the budget yes we have a deficit yes we're using this surplus fund balance over here we're not tapping into our reserves we're using this extra money over here to cover our fund balance I would say you would have a structural deficit if for example and you're going to see in a minute all the position requests if council decided to fund all those position requests right now. And that adds another $2.5 million. And now we're and now we're going to be using that money not for a one-time expense. We're going to use that money year over year. Now we're moving into a structural deficit situation because we could project how long before we running out of money. We're not in that situation. Next, we'll go over the significant drivers. So, as I mentioned in the previous couple previous slides, salary and benefits is is a significant driver in the year-over-year increase, and it's accounting for about $1.9 million. Again, due to negotiated compensation increases and other benefits, but the main one I want to talk to you about and

show you is the drivers for maintenance and operations costs. So, our largest driver currently is $852,000 increase for the homeless shelter. So, in fiscal year 26, we budgeted a little over $1.1 million for the homeless division. However, that home, that $1.1 million covered the inc the temporary encampment through the entirety of fiscal year 26 until we opened up the shelter. And so, now for fiscal year 27, we need to account for a full year of shelter operations. So, currently we're breaking in about two a little over $2 million. And that's why you're seeing that $852,000 increase for the homeless shelter and their services. Next is software maintenance. Software maintenance is looking to see about a $295,000 increase and this just reflects higher licensing support costs across multiple systems. We also have budgeted $250,000 for Zumalt Park operations specifically tied to the concert series. The council approved $500,000 for this program back in December. Um and based on that increase of appropriations, we believe 250,000 is sufficient to get us through the rest of this year, the calendar year. So that's why we're only baking in $250,000. We'll reevaluate that the mid year if we need to. There's an additional $200,000 for an increase in fire PPE. And finally, we have about $100,000 increase for city attorney expenditures that are now being budgeted within the police department. Together, these large drivers total $1.7 million that are currently contributing to the roughly $ 1.9 million increase in M expenses. Well, before you move on, I I have a question on my favorite topic, the concert series. So, um my understanding from my math, we did 550,000 earlier this year.

So, this is an additional 250,000 because remember what we did hang those 250,000. So, in a matter of I think we voted in January. So between January and August, we're spending $800,000. No. To subsidize the concert series. Well, let let me let me answer that.

Yeah. Not exactly. So in December of last year, you allocated the money you described, the $550,000 to carry us through December of this year. But this budget doesn't go from June of this year to December of this year. This budget, the fifth, this fiscal year 27 budget goes from July 1st to June 30th of next year. So we have to ant the 550U budget was not to carry us through June 30th of next year. That was to get us through this calendar year. But this doesn't go this isn't a calendar year budget. It's a July 1st to June 30th next year. So Well, I understand that. But what scares me is that you'll come back in December for another 250 300,000.

We might. I don't know. Well, that that my point is that this 250,000 starts July 1st and goes through June 30th. I understand that budget, but the way things have gone, I'm I wouldn't be surprised if this money is all sucked up by September, October and then we got to come back again next year for another whatever.

Yeah, we don't. So remember, and this is and I get it. I understand your perspective on it, Council Member Sagala. I'm just going to remind council of a different perspective, which is when we did this project, we've always said it's going to take us at least three years to figure out, you know, how much how much it's going to cost to sort of operate this park and subsidize this park. But remember why we do this. This is very important. I think most people are forgetting this. If you want downtown redevelopment to be success successful, you have to do things that are investing monies that are attracting people to come to downtown. Remember, we've talked about this many times. The city of is this is just the reason I use Vicelia because they're right up the road. You could drive up there and look at it for yourself. The city of Iselia invests $3.1 million every year. Every year they're putting $3.1 million into the convention center. Why are they I'm talking about just to subsidize the convention center. I'm not talking about maintenance. I'm not talking about all the money they put in. I'm talking about just to subsidize the operation. Why did they do that? Because the convention attracts people to the downtown. They put almost $800,000 a year into the baseball stadium. That that doesn't account the $10 million they have to put in new capital improvements. That's just the subsidation of the annual operation of the stadium. Why did they do that? To attract the people to downtown. We're not doing anything different than most cities do to try to encourage downtown redevelopment. And the thing you have to remember is when we subsidize the operations, our goal is to get the the the concert series to be successful that more people are coming and the ticket revenue starts covering more of that cost and the investment that other businesses are making to downtown to create to generate more property tax revenue, sales tax revenue, toot revenue. Ultimately, people are staying here for the concert series. So, they're buying gas. to generate more gas, gas tax revenue. All of those revenues

ultimately work to try to cover this cost long term. This is a this is an investment we're making for a long-term gain. So, I don't want it's easy to focus on this number right here and say, "My god, we're subsidizing this." This isn't coming at the cost of any other services. This money that we're talking about here, we're talking about that that that money that we have the the surplus reserves money, not our operating. We're not taking this from police or fire. We're taking that extra surplus reserve for a short period of time to try to get this park to stabilize so that the concert series and all the other revenues could cover those expenses. That's what the goal is. So, just real quick, so the 3.1 million Vicelia spends in their convention center, does that money go to help pay the bills of the concert promoters?

That goes to help cover their operating cost of that facility. They run that whole facility. A promoter, I know they're going to have a bunch of Mr. Mayor. Well, hang on a second. No, wait a second, Mr. Mayor. That's not what we're doing here. We're not talking about subsidy money. We're not debating that one line on whether it's good or whether I'm trying to understand the same things up over and over. I don't want to be here till midnight. I don't feel well, but I want to complete this meeting. I've been sick all weekend and I'm here on agenda, please. I am on the agenda. I'm talking about 250,000 agenda.

Is that is the 250,000 you have listed here what it would be what in your mind is it for? It would be ultimately for the same things we've been using down money for. Paying for the production cost, paying for the janitorial, paying for the artists, pay all those costs that we use to go. It's the same thing. So to subsidize Spade Entertainment. That's your opinion. That's not what I said. Hold on a second. If we pay for janitorial service, spay doesn't touch that money. Mark Sagala. Sagala. Next. Next. Dennis. Any other items? Gentlemen,

gentlemen, let's go. Continue on, sir. Where did we leave off? Oh, okay. Um, okay. Um, as I'm sorry, let me get back to where we were on the uh the item. Okay. Okay, as you uh as you saw a few slides ago, um the uh the overall general fund preliminary fiscal year 27 uh 2027 budget is $72.8 million. Uh here you can see the the uh preliminary budget by department. Um, as expected and as was discussed at last night's community budget meeting, uh, public safety is the is the city's largest expense at approximately uh, $ 38.7 million. Uh, the, uh, community development, uh, combining those last two items is approximately 10.6. and the uh administration of city activities which is those top four mayor and council administration finance and and human resources uh combines for approximately $7.1 million and then you can see the other departments there here on the uh on the following page which make up the uh the $72.8 million. Excuse me. This slide shows the current council member appropriations that are currently included in this version of the preliminary 20 fiscal year 27 budget. It includes travel and event expenses per council member per district for $5,000. Community improvements per council member and district for $5,000 and the community arts for $50,000. That was a request at the end of last the last budget cycle that has already been pre-baked into this fiscal year preliminary budget as well. and we wanted to get to let you know that that's currently in there as we speak. So,

we we've had a couple years where council has asked for money for community arts. None of that money has been been spent on anything. We're assuming you're going to ask for it again. So, that's why we put it into the budget. Next, we're going to go over personnel. So, this current version of the fisc year 27 budget includes a handful of reclassifications which include city clerk and public affairs director for about a rough estimate cost of $45.5,000, community maintenance manager for $35,000, senior project manager for about $9,000, senior administrative assistant roughly $6,000, and a senior records specialist for about 4 $4,600. These reclassifications are currently included in the budget and they total about 90 almost $100,000.

So these are not new positions. They're they're taking existing classifications and reclassifying those positions.

Next, we're going to talk about position requests. And before I even begin, I'd like to note that these are these positions are not currently included in the fiscal year 27 preliminary budget and they will be brought forward for council consideration at the midyear review dependent on if there's adequate operating funds available during that review. So, the personnel position requests that will be brought forward for council consideration include about 12 police officers, which include two corporals, two sergeants, two lieutenants, and six police officers, and two fire department positions, which include a deputy fire chief and a fire inspector. Those 14 positions total about $2 million just between the public safety departments. We also have a traffic maintenance worker too at an estimated cost of about $85,000. Two community maintenance workers at about $67,000 a piece. A lead custodian for also $67,000 and a department assistant for $64,000 roughly. These additions will total about $2.4 million. And like I mentioned before, these are not currently included, but they will be brought forward for consideration at the midyear review dependent on what the fiscal year 27 operations um throughout the first year go. And before we leave this really quick council, so every year all the departments will sit submit their position requests just like their capital expenditures, equipment expenses, etc. fleet related vehicles expenses. Uh and then we have a committee that goes through all these and reviews. So these are not all the positions that were requested, but these are the ones that ultimately made it through the committee saying that we believe these positions are necessary, but because we can't afford these positions, they're not in your budget at this time. Are are these positions at the high step and know I mean is it there like

I think they're cept is it cstep in other words yeah no yeah c step okay we wouldn't necessarily hire at the cep we try to hire at the entry step sometimes we are forced to hire at at a mid-step and we always have to consider that um if an employee were if a new employee were to start at the beginning of the year he or she would get a step increase before the year is done so that would get them to the second step. So if we hire somebody at the second step because they're well qualified, they would be to see before the end of the year even.

But also keep in mind if you guys let's say let's say at mid year we came back with these positions and we had adequate savings or dollars and council decided to these we would even at mid year it'd only be half of this number because it would only be six months and that's assume you you hired everybody on day one when the reality is we're probably going to have another three months of savings because we can't we have to recruit them and interview them. Right. Okay. the and these positions are all general fund not enterprise. Correct. Correct.

Thanks. Uh moving on to the uh to the city's municipal utility enterprise funds. Uh of course these funds are under the purview of the board of public utility commissioners. Uh so this information uh isformational only uh for for the the fiscal year 2027 preliminary solid waste and street sweeping budget is $14 million. Wastewater is 29.6 million and water is $13.8 million. As with the general fund, there are is still work to be done. Um and uh we will we will be going back to the to the BPU uh with with updated numbers and of course we'll inform you about that about those updates as well. Taking estimated revenues, proposed expenditures and transfers out for the solid waste and street sweeping fund. We are estimating a surplus of about $1.1 million currently. For the wastewater fund, we are estimating a $500,000 surplus. And for the water fund, we are estimating currently a $2.9 million use of fund balance. And let's talk about that for one quick second. Why is that? And that's because, you know, every about five years, you should be updating your water sewer rates or any of your rate structures. We're about two years behind in updating our water sewer rates. We're in a process now of looking at them. But what happens is was when you get off track and you get a few years behind your costs keep going up, but you're not collecting enough revenue to cover those costs. And you start seeing that kind of start hitting you right now. You're starting to go into fund balance to cover those costs. If we we don't ever increase the rates, then you'd have a structural deficit. Assuming we are going to at some point increase the rates, we'll get back on track with

covering those expenses.

Yes. And also with respect to the to the water fund, uh staff is reviewing unodudited fiscal year 2025 uh June 30, 2025 fund balances and current year financial activities uh to confirm, but we we believe that fund balance is more than adequate to cover the uh the use of fund balance should that be uh what it ultimately is or in that vicinity. Next steps. For our next steps, the primary focus over the next few weeks for myself um we'll be we'll be adjusting and refining the data you see here today, especially within our salary and benefits section. As the council knows, the city went live with a new financial system in July. However, the payroll module itself just became operational this past January. Because of that transition, because the new system includes a personnel projection model, we need to do another detailed review of our position level data. And I'm currently working with HR and we're working with all the departments to make sure that those allocations are correct. The main effort will be to look at a deep look at the current employee allocations to ensure that employees are being distributed correctly and across the across the appropriate funds. This refinement is important to make sure the budget accur accurately reflects where personal costs should be charged. We have some key uh dates coming up for the council and the BPU. Um at the next council meeting, we're hoping to have a fiscal year 2027 CIP workshop. At the first council meeting in May, we're going to have another preliminary budget review for you. On at the May 7th meeting for the BPU, we'll also have another preliminary review for them as well. On the May 21st BPU meeting, we're hoping to adopt the BPU budget. And at the first meeting in June, we're hoping to adopt the fiscal year 2027

budget with the city council. However, if we need more review, we can we also have an alternative date for the June 16th meeting uh to adopt the budget if need be. And that concludes our presentation. Staff is ready to answer any question is and is prepared to receive any direction from the city council. Thank you. If I can quickly in a series of notes in the in the beginning when you were going through expenditures one of the things you'd mentioned and I think it's in here I'm on city of Tier preliminary budget by fund uh restoring the surface water fund

the transfer operating transfer. Yeah. So I see I see the surface water management fund on the enterprise side and then on the general side I don't know if that's like uh the account the fund 195 if you can go back what did you touch on of the fund was being restored this year what was that and how much was that amount so last year the all the enterprise funds and the general fund suspended the trans the operating subsidy to the surface water management fund for the general fund it was in the amount of $272,000 there it is

and the reason why we suspended it last year is because the fund the surface water management fund itself has sufficient fund balance to operate for the year but we can't keep doing that every single year. So this year we are making sure that we continue that operating subsidy between all the funds. So water and wastewater are resuming th those transfers this year and so the general fund is going to do the same thing that's currently baked into this iteration of the budget. I and I just have one more question. I know I'm sure to council and the members I don't mean to hog all the questions in that in going back and what you proposed of basing our personnel and benefits package budget. Sorry if I closed my eyes when I talking to you. I'm just kind of pulling the information in the 33% calculation. I I first have a little this is more subjective just a concern then of what that looks like if it turns into 10% or 5%. However, um if if I could pose a question to staff Mark team could you I would like to know what that number is based off specifically out of the police department. So if if that calculation of 33% is based off includes what does that number mean from the police department of 1.1 or $800,000 is that dynamic because reason why I want to break that one out is again then if police department were to be 100% full what does that mean in impact to the budget so if you could break out that number I would I would appreciate understanding that better for police. Yeah.

I the reason I don't mention fire is I it seemed with the position count, the fire is not so much an understanding of a of a weighted amount with the fire department. We're looking to add two positions so forth and so on. But with the police department, I'd like to know what that number is. Council members, any other questions? Um I had a question on on measure I. Um are we are we still within the ex uh projected revenue? In other words, I saw that this last year the the money was about 8.3 and the projection is 8.7. Are we stick are we still under in terms of like what Measure I pays for? I mean, I know we paid for police officers, firefighters, and I don't know if we even do streets anymore, but there was a little bit of streets. But are we still under that? Because I I can't tell from the budget documents if if you guys are projecting 8.7 million revenue for measure I, but we're spending 8.8, 8.9, 9 million. Is that how do you break that down?

We have a spreadsheet where we where we track that. We don't have that information for you tonight, but we can have it we can update you on that later. Yes, if you can have that for the next uh time we talk about the budget, that'd be great. Okay. Okay. Perhaps one more item because this came up last time and I think to put get this out in front. Last year we had some surprises or we had to walk through the allocation for the Inyo mastermind. Is that is that just to put that item out there? Would that come under the CIP um discussion? to Thomas I we budgeted some money in this year for the INU corridor for the consulting we have that RFP on street right now right

correct and and right now I'm showing that they'll be engaged sometime this year I don't know if we'll be spending from it or not but whatever we haven't spent this year will be reallocated in the next year and that's been I want to say it was 250 but I could be wrong on that correct that was the amount okay all right so our next meeting we'll go through CIP and of course council members have questions they can email our city manager and Tim and we want to get those questions in. So, as we go down our schedule, go from there. Okay. Well, Mr. Mayor, how do how do you how do you want to handle like a direction like is it a form of emotion or consensus because I like to I'm just thinking I mean unless you have specific I like to recommend one thing and then figure out what the council

Yeah. If like for example if everything we presented to you if you felt like we're moving in the right direction just general consensus tells me that. But if there's specific things like we don't want you doing this, we want you doing that, then I need more.

Well, I'm going to throw it out there that um for me personally, and I don't know if any of the council members, but uh for me, I have I have an issue with the 250,000 for the concert series. So, if I need to make a motion to remove that, I'll make the motion. If there's a second, there's if there isn't, that'll be the process. But I will make that recommendation in a form of a motion. So we have a motion. Is there a second? The motion dies for lack of a second. I think for for members, I think as Mark had said, this is the first time we're seeing this summary print out. I think um absolutely respective of everybody's views. there's going to be more questions and thoughts and what I've understood is you have those and we're going to go into the CIP and as we come back um surely share hey I have more questions on this our council will get into a discussion you know pro and con the budget I did like Mark you touched on this a bit of separating out the CIP I felt that was productive for for the group last year and um the conversation continues I so unless there's any other key components sagal I appreciate you know, you're wanting to put on the table, but this carries forward as we go into our next meeting.

Yep. And I'll just remind council, last year when we gave you your first look at the budget, we had a deficit starting that discussion as well. So, it's not uncommon partly because I asked all the directors to load the budget up with all the things that they think they need and the part of the budget process is sorting through needs versus wants, too, right? And so, that's Yes. Yes. How whatever you're most comfortable saying. As long as people don't interpret it as that we have a structural difference because we do not. Well, and by us I mean I'm going to have additional

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Just saying I know why we'll have additional questions. So by not asking them tonight doesn't mean it's a done deal. Just the conversation continues. Great. Okay. Anything else? All right. Thank you staff. Okay. Moving on on our agenda is 9.3 and TAG board of governors representative selection. Uh Melissa, do you want to open this item?

I'll cover it really quick, Melissa. Yeah. So, council, um we just need to decide what we're going to do with this position. Um I think the last four meetings were not attended uh by our primary representative and so we either need to know if you know that individual continues to want to serve in that capacity and if not then council makes a new appointment.

So I think the history of this is TAG had reached out to staff as well. Um my understanding Councilman Sagali you've not submitted a formal resignation from this position. They're they're saying from the absence absences. We have it on the agenda. Um and I think I I look towards you of comments or items that you have with this position. Um attendance. What What's your uh report on this?

Well, Mr. Mayor, as I mentioned to you, I I did uh do intend to resign. uh my uh position, my current job doesn't allow me to have the flexibility like the old job that I had where I can get away for a few hours of meetings. I'm don't have the luxury of being retired or not having to work. So, it's difficult during during those times and uh there are things that yeah, I think the city could weigh in, but a lot of those things are perform over there, but it's good to have a city spot. Sure.

There. um with that and I pose to council with this as well. Sagala in our alternate Terry, you're our alternate for this coming up from TAG. I consensus amongst everybody. Seagala your thoughts are important. Um I would be willing to take that position. I have reviewed that with my with my work as well. Self-help Enterprises at times has relationships with TAG which I would have it exempt. However, I I do agree with you um of having that core position at the table with TAG u experienced with TAG. I've set uh engaged in different positions with TAG in the past and um if what you're saying is a relay with your time commitment. Um we have it here tonight. Um and I share the council if you want to relinquish that I would be h I'm in a position I'd be happy to take that spot. I don't have any other committee. I'd be happy to make that motion for the mayor to serve as a primary representative to the TK.

A second. Any other discussion from I kind of put that out there, but we have a motion in a second that the appointment to TKG will switch to council member Patrick Ishwood from district 5 and the alternate will remain. The alternate will remain council member Terry S. Yeah, I served as a primary representative from 2018 till 2025. So, I'm happy to be the alternate again. Yeah. Okay. We have a motion and a second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Carry 5. Okay. Continuing on our agenda, we have future agenda items 10.1. Um establishing a citywide yard sale weekend. Uh, council member Sigola.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Council, uh, as written in the form, I am asking that the council direct city manager and appropriate staff to research and report back to council on the possibility of establishing a citywide designated weekend in May uh, that would allow residents to have yard sales by waving the current requirement for a permit or fee. So, my understanding from experience is uh uh anyone who has to have a yard sale technically needs to solicit a permit and I think it's a $750 or $8 or something around their feed for the permit. And so, um I had thought about this and then I saw a posting on on social media about folks who were talking about it and it kind of merged where I was able to pro um bring this forward. And you know, for a lot of people out there that are barely making it by a yard sale may give them that extra little bit of money to buy eggs and tortillas or bread or whatever to get their families by. And also, there seems to be a number of folks who are interested in those yard sales to buy goods. So, I thought that we could proclaim and I'm looking at mid miday, maybe the weekend of the 16th, 17th, um to be able to to do that. So I'm asking is just for us to put it on the next agenda and then have a conversation about that.

Mr. Sagala, I endorse your request as well. Miss being quick. Um my only concern is whether this is staff time. Uh I would normally think it should be something that should be coordinated with the chamber. um the and they can decide as far as permits are concerned whether to w work with the city to wave the permit or not wave the permit. That's like we've got car shows, the chamber handles, we have all the various things they have. I don't know if we want staff time involved in something of this nature. Well, the the to answer your question, can I can I finish?

Yeah. Well, when we're talking about tech technicalities, uh technically, every time a sale occurs at a yard sale, they're supposed to pay a sales tax. And nobody the city's never infor uh enforce that. I'm not against a joint um item or or yard sale all around the city. I just don't see staff time involved. That's my only I think it's something the chamber should would uh gladly be involved. So, I'm not in support of this.

If if the chamber wants to Well, just to answer the question, if the chamber wants to come on the 21st and be part of it, that's that's up to them. But I don't see any staff time in regards to like, you know, all I see is that, hey, on this particular weekend and and again, you know, I don't know how code enforcement works. I have seen plenty of yard sales in my 11 and a half years here. I've never I never seen anybody get cited. People get cited. Yeah. Gentlemen, I'm going to look for a a consensus from council. This is putting the item to the at putting it on the agenda. Is there a is there a consensus or majority of council members?

I have at least I have four that say yes. So this there is a majority of putting this item on the agenda. Moving to item 10.2. Um established policy for council members to appeal planning commission decisions. Council member Sagala.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. council. Uh this is an item that uh kind of been thinking about. I know it's been brought up in the past. I think the city manager staff put out an agenda item for uh three years ago, three and a half years ago on this topic. Um I think for one of the things that I'm concerned is just there may be things that um are approved by the planning commission that may have concerns with and um right now there is a process for the public to appeal and what I can see is the highest fee in the entire county uh to appeal uh decision from the planning commission. So, um I think that if there is a council member who is interested in appealing a decision, do we have to pay the fee or could it not be? So, that's that's one of the things I'm trying to figure out what policy there would be if there's an item that was approved by the planning commission and a council member felt that it should come to the council for further discussion, what what that process would look like. So, I'm asking for a conversation and discussion on that topic.

The So, this I'm going to keep this to just putting it on the agenda. I look to council members. Is there a consensus or majority of putting this on the agenda? No. Council members, that's okay. Okay. So, I will say uh with that as well. Well, you have three nos. So, um with that, there's not a majority. We'll move on to item 9 uh 10.3, study session on proposed tax mission.

Uh so, Mr. Mayor, Council, uh, with this item, I'd like to request that, uh, this be put on the agenda the 21st for the council to consider directing city manager appropriate staff to conduct the study session on the uh, at the May 5th council meeting or sooner on the proposed city tax. that staff share the timelines and deadlines for placing the measure on the ballot, be prepared for council to help draft and finalize the language that will be presented to the voters for consideration and have a discussion on the priorities each council may have for some of the funding generated from the sales tax. And the reason I'm asking is, you know, we just got the the outline uh the schedule for the budget. Um I just don't want the council to kind of be pressed and there's not much time for discussion. I know we've been talking about the sales tax. We've been talking about drafting the language. So I so I'd like to see if we can have a study session in that topic.

Staff, do we already have a study session scheduled? Yes. For this one? Yes. When you approved item 8.20 tonight that included the study session on May. This is from my standpoint. This is a duplication of what we've already approved under 8.20 by motion of Mr. Sagala. I uh as a result I'm not in favor of the duplication. Okay. There's not a majority uh um just to confirm it's not 8.20, right? Yes. Well, that's a agenda item 8.2

the agenda item on this evening's meeting 8.20 the first amendment to the TREP IP agreement. If you look at the last page of it, they have a calendar of all the different things we're doing. May 5th's listed for the special work session. Okay. All right. Well, good. I'm glad uh I'm glad this helped generate that. Thank you. Okay. So, moving forward to item 11, which is staff updates. You awake over there, Mr. Or? All right.

Just real quick, I wanted to brief everyone. We just had our spring carnival last Thursday. Um, it was a big success. We had over 500 children participate in the egg hunt, which is an increase of more than 200 last year. Uh, we had five food vendors and 23formational booths. Um, I would like to thank PD and the Explorers. They were a big help uh controlling the egg hunt as well as the fire department for bringing out their ladder truck. I'd also like to invite everyone out to uh the senior center tomorrow. We're doing a a workshop on the Elk Bayou master plan from 5:30 to 7 and then again weather permitting May 17th at Zumalt Park from 12:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thank you.

Nothing to report. Nothing to report. Nothing to report. Nothing to report. Nothing to report. Nothing to report. I'll be providing my updates at the next meeting. Jennifer, real quick, I just want to share with you being on the community. I heard compliments of your position, people that had reached out to you about PE bid and other economic development and I just want to share with you that they reported, hey, really appreciate Jennifer's information. She does a great job. So, thank you for that. Thank you very much.

Nothing to report tonight. Uh we finalized the cleanup in the railroad from Carmel all the way to 200. Total truck removed 55,000 pounds. Nothing to report. Nothing to report. Just a couple quick Oh, you got anything? Nothing. Okay. Couple quick things before you do that. Just real quick. Uh two birthdays today. My oldest granddaughter is nine years old. Oh, yeah. Emily, I'm reaching out to you. And our vice mayor's birthday is today. Congratulations. And he's 90 years old.

Really quick, a couple things. One of the things Chris forgot to mention to council and all the directors is tomorrow morning in Sunwell Park at 7 a.m. we have yoga in the park. So come out with your spandex. City attorney is supposed to go to that. Yes. It is in the contract. Yes.

And then just a couple other quick things. Um and just some of the past two weekly reports. Um you remember last year Taller was identified as the 10th fastest growing city in the state of California for cities of any size. Uh this year it'll be announced that we're number seven. So we're continuing to grow. Also, you'll remember in the weekly report, we announced that we are partnering with the Tallery County Office of Education on a Prop 64 grant. They're seeking $4.5 million over five years largely for youth education related to cannabis sales. So, just wanted to share that information with you. That's all. Thank you.

Okay. And here I put away my agenda and I got another item to read. Apologies. Yes. Well, don't like that sound. So, we'll move to 12.1 recess to close session, which is conference with legal counsel per government code 54956.9 subsection D4. And with anything else we need to announce with that council? All right, we're recess to close session.

Oh, I totally We are reconvening as the Taller City Council. We have nothing to report from close session. Anything to add to that, legal counsel? All right. With that, our Taller City Council meeting is adjourned.