[0:01] [GAVEL POUNDS]
[0:03] We now call to order the regular meeting of the city council,
[0:05] the successor agency to the former redevelopment
[0:08] agency and the public financing authority,
[0:09] and special meeting of the Azusa city utility
[0:11] board of the city of Azusa.
[0:13] Today is Monday, August 17, 2026.
[0:17] It is now 6:30 PM.
[0:20] City clerk roll call, please.
[0:23] Council Member Sabrina Bow.
[0:24] Here.
[0:25] Council Member Andrew N. Mendez?
[0:26] Present.
[0:27] Council Member Robert Gonzalez?
[0:28] Here.
[0:29] Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Avila Jr.
[0:31] Here.
[0:31] Mayor Edward J. Alvarez?
[0:33] Here.
[0:33] Thank you all.
[0:36] This is now the--
[0:39] we do have three items in closed session.
[0:43] Item 1, conference with real property negotiators
[0:46] pursuant to California Government Code section 54956.8,
[0:50] property address 729 North Azusa Avenue, city negotiator Sergio
[0:55] González, city manager, negotiating parties
[0:57] at Patel ANS management and investment
[1:00] incorporated under negotiation price in terms of payment.
[1:03] Item 2, conference with legal counsel existing litigation
[1:07] pursuant to Government Code section 54956.1(d)(1),
[1:11] name of case Whittier versus Los Angeles County Superior Court,
[1:16] LASC case number 23STCP03579.
[1:21] Item 3, conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation,
[1:24] significant exposure to litigation pursuant
[1:27] to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) one potential
[1:31] case.
[1:33] This is now the public's opportunity
[1:35] to address the Council on closed session items only.
[1:37] Each person, a representative of a group,
[1:39] shall be allowed to speak without interruption
[1:41] for up to five continuous minutes, subject to compliance
[1:44] with applicable meeting rules.
[1:46] If you are joining remotely and wish
[1:48] to address the council at this time,
[1:50] please raise your digital hand now
[1:52] or dial star 5 to indicate you wish to speak.
[1:56] Once you are called, please unmute yourself
[1:59] or press star 6 to speak.
[2:01] In-person participants will be called first, followed
[2:04] by remote participants.
[2:06] City clerk, are there any in-person speakers?
[2:10] No, mayor and council.
[2:11] There are none.
[2:12] City clerk, are there any remote participants?
[2:19] No, mayor and council.
[2:20] There are none.
[2:21] Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed and we will
[2:26] recess to close session and reconvene at approximately 7:30
[2:31] PM.
[2:56] [GAVEL POUNDS]
[2:57] We now call to order the regular meeting of the city council,
[3:00] the successor agency to the former redevelopment
[3:03] agency and the public financing authority
[3:05] and special meeting of the utility
[3:06] board of the city of Azusa.
[3:08] Today is Monday, August 17, 2026,
[3:11] and it is approximately 7:37 PM.
[3:16] City clerk, roll call please.
[3:19] I will be doing roll call for both city council and utility
[3:22] board.
[3:23] Yes.
[3:24] Board member Edward J. Alvarez?
[3:26] Here.
[3:27] Board member Robert Gonzalez?
[3:28] Here.
[3:29] Board member Sabrina Bow.
[3:30] Here.
[3:31] Vice Chairman Andrew N. Mendez?
[3:32] Present.
[3:33] Chairman Jesse Avila Jr.
[3:35] Here.
[3:35] Council Member Sabrina Bow.
[3:37] Here.
[3:37] Council Member Andrew N. Mendez?
[3:40] Present.
[3:40] Council Member Robert Gonzalez?
[3:42] Here.
[3:42] Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Avila Jr?
[3:44] Mayor Edward J. Alvarez?
[3:45] Here.
[3:46] Thank you.
[3:47] We now ask that you please stand for the flag salute
[3:49] and it will be led today by Debbie Gutierrez.
[4:01] Stand up if you can.
[4:02] Right hand over your heart.
[4:03] Those in military uniform are free to salute instead
[4:06] of the hand over the heart.
[4:09] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
[4:14] And to the Republic for which it stands
[4:17] One nation under God
[4:20] Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[4:24] Thank you.
[4:26] Please remain standing for the invocation from Reverend Alvin
[4:29] Miranda, police chaplain.
[4:32] Please join me in prayer.
[4:34] Bow your heads with me.
[4:35] Lord, we are very thankful that you
[4:38] have given us this city that's affectionately
[4:40] known as a Canyon City.
[4:42] Those 50,000 people this council represents,
[4:45] those 10 square miles that they watch over.
[4:49] We pray, Lord, that you would give our city manager, Sergio
[4:52] González, our mayor Alvarez and the council members
[4:56] Mendez, Avila, Bow and Gonzalez, all the wisdom, all
[5:01] the discernment and everything they
[5:03] need to make good choices that are
[5:06] the ones that are be blessing for every citizen in the city--
[5:10] the city of Azusa.
[5:12] We also are thinking of those--
[5:15] I think of our police chief Wenrick, Lord.
[5:18] I pray that you would-- along with their staff,
[5:22] bring protection to each and every officer that's
[5:25] out there tonight representing this city.
[5:27] They would go home safe and be blessed.
[5:29] I also think of fire chief Anthony Marrone and his command
[5:33] staff.
[5:34] I pray that the people of station 97
[5:37] and those at 32 that you'd keep them safe, watch over them.
[5:42] But at the end of the day, we come here today
[5:44] that you would bless this meeting
[5:46] and that every choice and decision that is made
[5:49] would be a blessing to every citizen in the city of Azusa.
[5:53] And we ask your blessing upon us tonight in your holy name.
[5:56] And all God's people say amen.
[5:58] Amen.
[6:09] Earlier we had met in closed session.
[6:12] City attorney, is there anything to report?
[6:15] Yes, we did conduct three items on closed session
[6:17] and there was no reportable action taken.
[6:20] Thank you.
[6:20] Thank you.
[6:22] We will now move to public comment.
[6:27] This is now the public's opportunity
[6:29] to address the council on items listed or not listed
[6:32] on this agenda.
[6:33] Comments related to the public hearing
[6:34] will be taken at the time of the public hearing is held,
[6:37] each person or representative of a group
[6:39] shall be allowed to speak without interruption
[6:41] for up to five continuous minutes, subject to compliance
[6:44] with applicable meeting rules.
[6:46] Individuals may only speak once during this public comment
[6:48] period.
[6:49] This council meeting is a limited public forum.
[6:52] Speaker comments during public comment
[6:54] must be limited to matters within the council's authority.
[6:57] If you are joining remotely and wish
[6:58] to address the council at this time,
[7:00] please raise your digital hand now
[7:03] or dial star 5 to indicate you wish to speak.
[7:06] Once you are called, please unmute yourself or press
[7:09] star 6 to speak in person.
[7:12] Participants will be called first, followed
[7:14] by remote participants.
[7:16] City clerk, are there any in-person speakers?
[7:19] Yes, Mayor and council, there is the first card BG Casas.
[7:26] Welcome BG.
[7:27] [APPLAUSE]
[7:42] All right.
[7:43] Good evening, mayor, council members, city manager,
[7:48] city clerk and staff.
[7:50] My name is BG Casas, and I am the President
[7:53] of Canyon City Runners.
[7:54] Azusa, formerly known as Dog Hause Running Club Azusa.
[7:59] And although our name has changed,
[8:01] our heart and our mission has not.
[8:04] Three years ago, we started as a small run club
[8:08] founded by Debi Ramos with one simple goal in mind
[8:12] to bring people together through movement.
[8:15] What began with just 12 runners has
[8:18] grown into a thriving community, built on three values that
[8:23] continue to guide everything that we do; fitness, fun
[8:27] and philanthropy.
[8:29] Over the three years, something amazing has happened.
[8:34] We didn't just grow as a run club.
[8:37] We became part of the fabric of the city of Azusa.
[8:41] That's why we chose to rebrand as Canyon City Runners Azusa.
[8:47] Our identity is tied to the city we love, the people we serve,
[8:51] and the community we've built together.
[8:54] And now that Dog Haus beer garden is back.
[8:57] We're excited to continue supporting the place where
[9:01] our story began, while using our broader reach
[9:05] to bring even more people into Dog Haus and downtown Azusa.
[9:11] Every Thursday at 6:00 PM, we meet at the Orchard in downtown,
[9:15] welcoming runners and walkers of all paces and abilities.
[9:20] They support our local restaurants and businesses,
[9:23] meet new people, improve their health,
[9:25] and discover what makes this city so special.
[9:30] But our impact goes beyond movement.
[9:32] We've partnered with Azusa PD to raise
[9:35] funds for the K9 unit and Baker to Vegas relay, supported breast
[9:39] Cancer Awareness through the Azusa PD Pink Patch Project,
[9:44] partnered with Azusa Connects for the Autism Acceptance
[9:47] and Awareness Walk, collecting toys for the neighborhood
[9:51] homework House of Azusa, built an ongoing partnership
[9:55] with the Azusa library through our community game nights,
[9:58] and participated in the city's golden days celebration,
[10:02] supported and spotlighted local businesses
[10:05] and continue to look for ways to give back whenever we can.
[10:10] We are not just a run club, we're
[10:12] a community that believes in making
[10:14] Azusa healthier, stronger while giving back to the city we love.
[10:19] Tonight, we simply wanted to introduce ourselves
[10:22] under our new name and let you know that our mission hasn't
[10:26] changed.
[10:27] We remain committed to fitness, fun, and philanthropy, and we
[10:31] proudly and proudly representing the city of Azusa
[10:35] wherever we go.
[10:36] We're also very excited to invite our city to join us
[10:40] on Thursday, October 15 at 6:00 PM at the Orchard for the Route
[10:45] 66 Centennial 5K run walk, celebrating 100 years of Route
[10:51] 66 as part of Azusa golden days.
[10:54] Runners and walkers of all paces are welcome,
[10:57] and every registered participant will
[10:59] receive a beautiful commemorative finisher
[11:03] medal celebrating this historic milestone.
[11:06] Before I close, I want to sincerely thank the city council
[11:11] and leadership for embracing our club
[11:14] and believing in what we're building.
[11:17] Your support has meant more than you know.
[11:20] As a small token of our appreciation,
[11:23] we'd like to present each of you with a Canyon city runner shirt
[11:27] that reads "Building a healthier Azusa Together."
[11:32] We hope you will wear it proudly.
[11:35] Thank you for welcoming us.
[11:37] We are proud to be Canyon City Runners Azusa,
[11:40] and we look forward to serving this incredible city
[11:43] for many years to come.
[11:45] Thank you.
[11:45] [APPLAUSE]
[11:47] Thank you.
[11:49] Ladies, ladies, ladies--
[11:52] With us, I have Angie Vargas, who's part of our leadership.
[11:56] We also have Mara Amador, part of our leadership,
[11:59] and Eddie [? Barrera, ?] who was not able to make it.
[12:02] And of course, your Canyon City runners.
[12:07] [APPLAUSE]
[12:17] Can we open one?
[12:19] Shall we open one?
[12:20] Yeah, can we open one.
[12:21] All right.
[12:22] This is for-- oh, Sergio González.
[12:24] Sergio.
[12:33] Here you go.
[12:34] Canyon City Runners our logo in the back.
[12:38] This is our monogram.
[12:39] And Building a Healthier Azusa together.
[12:44] Thank you.
[12:45] So ladies and gentlemen, I hate to tell you,
[12:51] but we do not allow clapping.
[12:53] If we allow clapping, we have to allow booing.
[12:56] I'm sorry about that.
[12:57] So we do not allow clapping.
[13:00] Thank you.
[13:02] OK.
[13:06] OK.
[13:07] See.
[13:10] Thank You.
[13:14] You shouldn't be booing Jessie.
[13:16] Jessie.
[13:17] [LAUGHTER]
[13:23] Next card please.
[13:25] The next card is Adam [? Raph. ?]
[13:29] Welcome.
[13:32] Hello.
[13:33] Hello, everyone.
[13:35] My name is Adam [? Raph. ?] I'm a 30-plus year resident
[13:40] of Azusa.
[13:42] I'm a long-time activist and also
[13:45] an independent news reporter.
[13:47] And I'm here today to talk about a disturbing trend
[13:52] in government-- in general, from federal to state, even to local.
[13:58] So what I'm observing and what I think
[14:04] the general population of the United States is observing
[14:08] is that government is no longer behaving as our servants,
[14:16] and they're no longer acting in our interests.
[14:18] They seem to be acting in their own interests.
[14:21] And for example, at the federal level,
[14:28] they're sending a great deal of our tax money to Israel.
[14:35] And there's no vote involved.
[14:38] The people have no say in how their money is spent,
[14:42] and the whole system appears to be
[14:46] set up so that the people really have no substantial access
[14:52] to reign in their government and to control them,
[14:59] because this is the land--
[15:02] this government is of the people, by the people,
[15:05] and for the people.
[15:06] So the people are in charge of this government
[15:09] according to our Constitution.
[15:11] But the federal government has infringed
[15:16] on our constitutional rights in a myriad of ways.
[15:21] And I'm not going to get into that because we're here
[15:24] at the local level today.
[15:26] But the state government has done the same many attempts
[15:31] to take away our Second Amendment rights.
[15:33] For example, every attempt to write a gun law
[15:38] to restrict our ability to keep and bear arms
[15:42] is an infringement on the Constitution.
[15:46] So at the local level, it's unfortunate
[15:51] that I have to be here today to talk about the flock mass
[15:56] surveillance system that has been installed all around Azusa.
[16:02] Now, for people that don't know, these
[16:04] are automatic license plate reader cameras that
[16:08] are set up throughout the city.
[16:11] They're strategically set up at all the entrances and exits
[16:15] of the freeways and all the major roads
[16:21] entering and leaving Azusa.
[16:23] So the argument is that these are for public safety.
[16:29] Well, the problem is mass surveillance
[16:32] does not comport with the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution,
[16:38] and the Supreme Court has ruled that way on several occasions.
[16:44] And just as a reminder, the Fourth Amendment
[16:49] reads the right of the people to be secure in their persons,
[16:53] houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches
[16:56] and seizures shall not be violated
[17:00] and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
[17:04] by oath or affirmation, and particularly
[17:07] describing the place to be searched
[17:09] and the persons or things to be seized.
[17:13] So mass surveillance basically tracks us everywhere we go.
[17:18] So this system has led to abuse by a lot of police.
[17:27] There are police that have been caught
[17:29] all around the country surveilling
[17:32] their ex wives, an ex-girlfriend, boyfriend
[17:36] and so on.
[17:37] So the system is already being abused,
[17:40] but it's automatically an abuse of the Constitution
[17:44] and therefore it's illegal.
[17:46] So as a result of this, many municipalities
[17:50] throughout the country are removing the flock cameras.
[17:54] And I'm here to ask you to do that in Azusa to remove these.
[17:59] So one of the municipalities that just recently canceled
[18:03] their flock contract was the city of Los Angeles.
[18:08] So that's about as big a city municipality as you can get.
[18:14] And along with Los Angeles, Denver
[18:17] and many, many other large cities.
[18:21] In Florida, there is a candidate running
[18:23] on a platform of removing flock cameras from the whole state
[18:27] of Florida.
[18:28] So I'm here to ask you today to please remove these privacy
[18:34] infringing cameras.
[18:35] Thank you.
[18:38] Thank you.
[18:41] We have no further in-person calls.
[18:43] We just have a caller on line, Mayor.
[18:44] All right.
[18:45] So, city clerk.
[18:48] So we'll go ahead and go to the remote participants.
[18:56] Caller, please identify your name and address for the record,
[18:59] please.
[19:07] Hear me?
[19:08] Yes, can you please identify yourself, name and address.
[19:12] My name is Scott Robinson, and I'm not giving out
[19:15] my address for nothing.
[19:17] I just want to say raise an issue of public safety
[19:21] in this city.
[19:22] And I want to thank the chaplain for saying, like, mentioning
[19:25] to keep our police safe.
[19:27] I'm a big supporter of the police,
[19:30] no matter where they may be.
[19:32] Anyway, I want to bring up this public safety issue.
[19:36] I hate trannies.
[19:37] I hate them so much.
[19:39] These transgenders are invading our cities.
[19:42] They used to be stuck in these big cities like Los
[19:45] Angeles and San Francisco, but now they're
[19:48] raiding Azusa and all other cities in the Foothill
[19:52] and all over California.
[19:54] They beat our girls in sports.
[19:56] They rape our women in restrooms.
[19:59] They also rape our women in county jail.
[20:04] And I don't want any more trannies in this city.
[20:07] They need to be institutionalized.
[20:09] California needs to get rid of all these special rocks laws,
[20:13] especially since all these trannies are getting off
[20:17] welfare benefits.
[20:19] I hate them so freaking much, and I hope that on item 2
[20:25] when you consider a resolution appointing candidates
[20:28] to the Office of City Treasurer and Office
[20:31] of city clerk and cancelation of at large, whatever.
[20:35] I think that there should be no trannies considered
[20:37] for that post.
[20:39] I believe men are men and women are women.
[20:42] As he sang on Law and Order and you knew who you were then.
[20:46] Girls were girls and men were men.
[20:49] And that's something we all need to believe in.
[20:52] And also, I really think that we need to cut government waste
[20:57] and stop giving free handouts to transexuals, especially
[21:02] transsexual homeless people come here from other states
[21:05] and cause all sorts of problems, and they rape our women
[21:09] and they rape our kids, and they need
[21:13] to be sent up to camp somewhere out in the wilderness
[21:18] and gotten rid of.
[21:19] And they're a waste of taxpayer dollars,
[21:23] and I'm sick and tired of cities coddling these people.
[21:31] And of course, we need to kick them out
[21:34] of our library, low-voltage cabling.
[21:37] How about high-voltage treatment for these transsexuals?
[21:41] And also, I'm sick and tired of all this crap, all this DEI crap
[21:47] and all this stuff.
[21:50] And I know you're all sick of it, too.
[21:52] This is a majority Hispanic community,
[21:54] and I know you Hispanics don't like no trannies.
[21:57] I mean, I live up in Murdock County.
[22:00] I live like on California route 139,
[22:03] and we don't do that crap up there.
[22:06] I'm sick and tired of this crap invading various cities
[22:09] across the California.
[22:13] And that's why I'm calling it to every city council in California
[22:17] to tell them how much trannies do not
[22:19] belong in our civil society.
[22:22] They do not belong here.
[22:23] They need to-- they need to go away
[22:27] and consideration of purchase and installation
[22:29] of furniture for the [INAUDIBLE] city library.
[22:33] No furniture because all the homeless people
[22:36] will feed on it and stuff.
[22:39] And also electrical vehicle charging.
[22:44] Electrical vehicle charging is for liberals in LA and Santa
[22:48] Monica and West Hollywood and San Francisco.
[22:53] Yeah, we don't want no trannies in this city.
[22:57] And God bless America and God bless our eternal President
[23:04] Donald Trump.
[23:06] And God bless Israel and God bless you all, if you--
[23:11] I want to see a commitment from this city council
[23:16] that they will not enable the transgender agenda.
[23:24] And I just-- and God bless Israel and God
[23:28] bless our hopeful governor [INAUDIBLE] who
[23:31] we hope to get installed instead of Xavier Becerra
[23:35] because he's Democrats have done nothing
[23:37] but ruin California and ruin our way of life.
[23:46] OK.
[23:49] With that Mayor, there are no further public card
[23:51] participants.
[23:55] And with that, I'll say that's what happens when state mandates
[24:00] we have to go remote.
[24:03] Anyways, we now move to reports, updates and announcements
[24:10] from staff and council.
[24:12] And we'll start with our city clerk.
[24:15] Yes, Mayor and council.
[24:16] It is again that time of the year
[24:18] when we have our culture-- our commission and board
[24:23] applications.
[24:24] So it was closed this last week on August 13.
[24:28] We got 20 applicants.
[24:31] There are 10 commission openings, multiple applicants
[24:37] applied for multiple positions.
[24:40] So with that being said, we're asking
[24:42] if you would possibly the dais would be available for Monday,
[24:45] August 31 or Monday, September 14
[24:48] for our traditional interviews at the Azusa Light and Water
[24:50] department.
[24:54] I'm sorry, city clerk, can you give us
[24:56] those dates one more time, please?
[24:57] August 31 or September 14.
[25:01] And just for the record, we are interviewing
[25:03] for two positions on the arts and cultural,
[25:06] two positions on the library, two positions
[25:08] on parks and recreation, two positions on planning.
[25:11] And there are two positions open for the personnel board,
[25:13] but those will not be interviewed
[25:15] for they are city employee and personnel board elected.
[25:19] So I'm available both days so I'll open it up to others.
[25:24] I'm not available on the 31, Mayor.
[25:27] So only on the 14th?
[25:30] I'm only available on the August date.
[25:32] I'm not available on September 14.
[25:35] Both dates are available.
[25:40] They're good for me.
[25:45] Well, three.
[25:46] And if you guys needed to go ahead and do that,
[25:49] the four of you can do that.
[25:51] And I trust your judgment regarding those interviews.
[25:54] So don't let me stop you from--
[25:57] So the 31, 31, 31--
[26:01] 31.
[26:02] So you're OK with that?
[26:03] Yeah.
[26:04] I won't be able to make it, but you guys
[26:06] can do those interviews.
[26:07] And I apologize to the interviewees.
[26:09] I won't be able to make the 31.
[26:11] Yeah, and we apologize for being at the expiration
[26:14] of the terms of September 30.
[26:16] And it is an extremely busy calendar for all of you.
[26:18] We're trying to find what would work best, but those
[26:20] are the two dates that were--
[26:22] [INAUDIBLE]
[26:24] So August 31 it is.
[26:27] And I'll just so you know, we have quite a few applicants.
[26:32] So I don't know if you're open to maybe starting
[26:35] a little earlier.
[26:37] That would be up to 5:30--
[26:42] Are you available at 5:00?
[26:43] 5:00 or 5:30.
[26:45] Either is fine.
[26:46] OK.
[26:46] 5:00 PM.
[26:47] 5 o'clock.
[26:47] OK.
[26:48] Yeah, we have found in the past that the later it is-- it's
[26:50] harder for the applicants.
[26:52] So we appreciate that and we will keep it as according.
[26:56] So on Monday, August 31, 5:00 PM at Azusa Light and Water
[26:59] department.
[27:00] OK.
[27:00] Thank you, city clerk.
[27:04] We now move to city manager, communications.
[27:08] Mayor and council, those in the audience and at home,
[27:11] I don't have any announcements this evening.
[27:13] Thank you.
[27:15] Real quick, before we get to council member announcements.
[27:18] Chief, did you want--
[27:19] do you have any comments on the flock camera?
[27:22] No.
[27:24] OK.
[27:24] That's fine.
[27:26] So we now move to council member announcements
[27:29] and we'll start with Mayor Pro Tem Avila.
[27:32] Thank you.
[27:32] Mayor, I have a couple announcements.
[27:34] Let's not all forget that this Thursday from 5:00 PM to 9:00
[27:37] PM, we have the Downtown Azusa night market rocking
[27:41] and Espanyol night August 20, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
[27:46] right in our downtown.
[27:48] Next announcement, we have a community survey local hazard
[27:51] mitigation plan to reduce community risk
[27:54] to natural hazards, the city of Azusa
[27:56] will be updating the local hazard mitigation plan.
[27:59] The survey should take approximately 10 minutes
[28:01] and responses will remain anonymous.
[28:03] Results from the survey will be inform the LHMP plan.
[28:08] The survey deadline will be Wednesday, September the 9.
[28:11] Complete the survey by visiting www.azusaca.gov.
[28:17] Also, we have youth volleyball coming up from ages 4--
[28:21] from grade 4 to grade 7. $35 season starts September 9
[28:26] and the registration will be at Memorial Park.
[28:29] Youth flag football from grades 4 to grade 7.
[28:33] Also, registration will be at Memorial Park.
[28:36] It'd be $35 and the season starts on September 10.
[28:40] Then also really quick, I'd just like
[28:42] to congratulate staff on some events
[28:44] that we had since the last meeting.
[28:47] The box fam barbecue on July 18 and the national night
[28:51] Out on August 4.
[28:53] Kathy's Cool Cuts again was another great event on August 9.
[28:57] The reopening of Dog Haus.
[28:58] Make sure that you go and visit Dog Haus.
[29:00] We got new management.
[29:02] At the Dog Haus a ribbon cutting on August the 12th.
[29:05] I'd like to thank the Canyon City Running
[29:07] Club for attending today's meeting and for our shirts.
[29:11] And lastly, as being the liaison for the golden days committee.
[29:14] Our next meeting, we're going to have a lot of announcements
[29:17] regarding golden days.
[29:18] We have a lot of fun events coming up.
[29:20] I just want to remind everyone that the parade will
[29:22] be October 17 and this year to celebrate route 66,
[29:28] the parade will be on Foothill starting East, coming West
[29:32] on Foothill Avenue, just like it used to be during the old days.
[29:34] Once again, the parade will be August 17
[29:37] and look out for more announcements regarding
[29:39] golden days.
[29:39] That's it, Mayor.
[29:40] Thank you.
[29:42] Thank you.
[29:42] We now go to council member Mendez.
[29:45] Thank you, Mayor.
[29:50] And of course, it'd give me feedback.
[29:55] I knew I was trying to bust out my Spanish here.
[29:57] [SPEAKING SPANISH] got to work on my Spanish.
[30:09] [SPEAKING SPANISH] This is in La Biblioteca in Escuela Slauson
[30:15] at 340 West 5 Street.
[30:18] Thank you, thank you.
[30:18] That's all I got.
[30:23] I hope my grandparents, who are both English second language,
[30:28] are not watching tonight and they probably are.
[30:30] And I'm going to get a text message right now saying
[30:32] you disappointed me, Andrew.
[30:35] Upcoming dates for yard sales.
[30:37] Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6
[30:40] are yard sales in the city of Azusa.
[30:42] They are free and require no city permit,
[30:45] but you must adhere to the rules and regulations listed
[30:47] on the website.
[30:48] Please, we've got a dream big kids community career day
[30:51] at the library.
[30:52] This is on Tuesday, September 8, 4:30 to 6 o'clock at the city
[30:57] library, which of course, at Slauson Middle School.
[30:59] And then we've got animal explorer storytime,
[31:02] axolotl edition, this is Wednesday, September 9, 5
[31:07] to 6 o'clock also at the Azusa library
[31:09] at Slauson Middle School.
[31:11] Moving on to my announcements here.
[31:13] I've got a big congratulations to Council Gonzalez.
[31:18] A incredible 19th annual Kathy's Cool Cuts events.
[31:23] I'll let you tell that story, but congratulations on that.
[31:27] I too wanted to thank the Canyon City runners
[31:29] with Dog Haus back open.
[31:31] I think everyone's there I had the opportunity of swinging
[31:34] by three times last week.
[31:36] Don't judge me a lot of energy.
[31:38] I stopped by there Thursday night as well.
[31:40] They had a DJ.
[31:41] I had 100 and plus of my closest running friends.
[31:45] There is a lot of fun.
[31:46] So congratulations to them.
[31:48] And then lastly, I would like to request of this council that we
[31:51] do adjourn this meeting in memory of [? Johnny ?]
[31:55] [? Ceniceros, ?] US Army veteran and life-long Azusa resident.
[32:02] Cisneros?
[32:03] Cisneros.
[32:04] Thank you.
[32:04] Sorry my apologies.
[32:05] Thank you.
[32:07] OK.
[32:07] Council member Bow.
[32:10] Thank you, Mayor.
[32:11] Several city announcements and a couple
[32:13] of updates on activity in the city.
[32:15] So beginning with the Here for Azusa FeedLA free produce
[32:20] distribution, it will be held at Memorial Park.
[32:22] It's being held throughout the year on Wednesdays.
[32:25] The upcoming dates are Wednesday,
[32:27] August 19 and September 2, 16th and 30th.
[32:32] Again, it's a FeedLA free produce distribution at Memorial
[32:36] Park from 9:30 to 12 PM, free and open to all.
[32:41] Then through the Azusa city library on August 26,
[32:45] enjoy snacks from around the world.
[32:47] A taste testing adventure part two.
[32:50] Enjoy a trip around the world from the comfort
[32:52] of your library.
[32:54] Taste test and assortment of international candies, desserts,
[32:56] chips and drinks from different countries.
[32:59] All ages are welcome and registration is required.
[33:03] Please call the library to register at (626)-812-5232.
[33:10] Continuing with activities at the library on Thursday,
[33:13] September 3 from 11:30 to 12:30 PM, toddler craft hour.
[33:18] It's play-doh fun.
[33:20] Ages 4 and under, no registration required.
[33:23] Again, for more information, call the Azusa city library
[33:26] (626)-812-5268.
[33:30] And then rounding out the month of September.
[33:32] On Tuesday, September 29 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM,
[33:37] author storytime.
[33:38] Its bilingual English and Spanish
[33:40] storytime and meet and greet with author Katherine Trejo.
[33:45] The first 100 families will receive
[33:48] a free copy of her book, Yefferson, actually,
[33:52] and this is author Katherine Trejo.
[33:56] I wanted to report out some of the activities
[33:59] and events I attended in the past couple of weeks.
[34:02] On Friday, August 7, I was able to attend the teen festival
[34:06] at Memorial Park.
[34:08] Over 300 Azusa youth middle school and high schoolers
[34:10] attended.
[34:11] There was in and out a rock climbing wall and ax
[34:14] throwing contest, and it was a great way
[34:17] for our youth to spend a safe evening in Azusa.
[34:22] And they even had a parents lounge
[34:24] for parents who wanted to let their kids have fun,
[34:26] but also stay close.
[34:28] So that was fun to take a sneak peak.
[34:29] The DJ was only 15 years old, so when
[34:32] we talk about a teen festival, it really
[34:33] was a teen-led and teen-inspired festival.
[34:37] Then of course, Kathy's Cool Cuts on the 9, a fantastic
[34:41] event, and I wanted to also thank my colleagues
[34:46] for their support in being able to provide
[34:48] a certificate of recognition to the San Gabriel Valley Business
[34:52] Association.
[34:54] SGV Business Association will be celebrating its 10th anniversary
[34:58] tomorrow at Marie Callender's breakfast at 7:30 AM.
[35:02] I'm planning to be there and hope to see you there as well.
[35:06] And then city manager, I just have one question
[35:08] about the general plan survey.
[35:13] Has the survey period closed and do
[35:16] we have any indication of the number of responses?
[35:22] And was it only done online?
[35:28] Council Member, let me have our director
[35:31] provide some information on that survey.
[35:33] Good evening.
[35:34] Council Member Bow, we advertised online.
[35:37] Last time I checked, which was last week,
[35:39] we had about a little bit over 300.
[35:42] Outreach included us being at public events, trying
[35:45] to help people to send them to the QR code
[35:49] to fill out the survey.
[35:50] So it was a web-based survey.
[35:54] So we were asking folks to use the web page to input
[35:56] that information.
[35:59] And so has the survey period close?
[36:01] It closed, I believe last week either Thursday or Friday
[36:04] or the 13th, I'm sorry.
[36:06] I forget what day that is.
[36:10] Just to offer my feedback only because the general plan
[36:12] is about every 20 years that we do this.
[36:15] I think it's such an important time to invest a little as
[36:19] much as we can to encourage as broad-based community support
[36:23] and participation as possible.
[36:25] I am wondering again, not being on the committee,
[36:28] but being part of council, I'm wondering
[36:30] if we might consider opening up the survey response time,
[36:35] the window a little bit longer, and perhaps now that school
[36:38] has started, use our school district
[36:42] partner to be able to get these surveys out into families
[36:46] through the district flyer.
[36:49] It's a captive audience that we might capture,
[36:53] as well as maybe taking paper copies
[36:58] or taking iPads or tablets over to the senior center
[37:02] to help our seniors participate in the survey,
[37:05] just so that we're getting--
[37:07] I don't want to quantify it, but get a significantly more
[37:10] robust response rate only because this general plan comes
[37:14] around only every 20 years, and it
[37:16] seems like 300 might not be as representative
[37:22] as we would want it to be for such an important planning
[37:24] period.
[37:25] Yeah, that's good direction.
[37:27] We do have the ability to go back and open it up for a few
[37:29] more weeks.
[37:30] I will have to talk to the staff, the team,
[37:33] because it may require an adjustment to our timelines,
[37:35] but I'm sure we can go on ahead and accommodate.
[37:37] Thank you.
[37:38] Is there a first meeting of the committee scheduled?
[37:41] We were interested in taking the information of the survey
[37:45] to share that with our general plan steering committee,
[37:48] to share our initial findings.
[37:50] So at this point, we're looking probably
[37:53] into the fall, maybe late October,
[37:54] November to share that information.
[37:57] But we can definitely look to maybe holding the timeline.
[38:02] It's looking at the consultant's bandwidth
[38:05] to see if they can accommodate an extended comment period,
[38:08] and hoping that it doesn't necessarily
[38:10] impact our deliverable of having a meeting in the fall.
[38:13] Thank you.
[38:15] That's my feedback around the survey response
[38:18] for the general plan survey.
[38:20] Well, I think we should probably leave it up to staff
[38:23] if they can do that or not.
[38:24] I can tell you, though.
[38:25] I mean, we do have a new school superintendent,
[38:28] but I can tell you that schools stopped distributing flyers
[38:33] a few years ago.
[38:34] That was an issue we had brought up many times,
[38:37] but they don't distribute our flyers anymore.
[38:42] And they don't-- basically they don't distribute paper.
[38:46] It's even for them a lot of it is online or school
[38:50] announcement.
[38:51] I really don't know.
[38:52] The flyers are electronic.
[38:53] And we've taken opportunities at recently at national night
[38:57] out there was the running group at one of their previous events.
[39:01] I actually was there personally taking surveys myself.
[39:04] So we're trying to do our best, but this feedback is definitely
[39:08] welcome and we can revisit.
[39:09] Just try to bump up our numbers-- our numbers.
[39:13] Thank you.
[39:14] Anything else?
[39:16] So now we go to council member Gonzalez.
[39:18] Thank you, Mayor Alvarez.
[39:20] I have a handful of announcements.
[39:23] One, I have from the library.
[39:25] It is our teen do-it-yourself crafts,
[39:28] and we have anime paint night, and that will be held Thursday,
[39:32] September 17 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM at our own city library.
[39:37] It is our pre-drawn canvases featuring characters
[39:42] from one piece and demon slayer, and then add
[39:46] your own creative touches open to ages 12 to 18.
[39:49] And that once again will be Thursday, September 17
[39:52] at our library.
[39:54] We do have on Tuesday, September 15 is a decorate a mini pinata
[40:00] and that's also held at our city library.
[40:03] And if we have-- for more information,
[40:06] you would like to call area code 626-812-5268.
[40:10] And both those events will be at our library.
[40:13] And from our parks and rec division,
[40:15] we have Mighty Mite flag football
[40:18] and will be co-ed grade grades kindergarten through second.
[40:22] The price is $50 and you want to register in person at Memorial
[40:27] Park at 320 North Orange place, or online
[40:30] at azusaca.gov/civicrec and the season starts September 15.
[40:38] And lastly, we have our pet of the month,
[40:43] and I would like to thank our colleagues once again
[40:45] for adopting this program for our community,
[40:48] where we advertise an adoptable pets that need to be cared for
[40:56] and have a forever home.
[40:58] And so this month's pet of the month.
[41:01] And I would like staff to strongly ask our new partners
[41:06] to see if we can actually get the pet here.
[41:09] I think that worked very well when we had our pets here
[41:12] in the audience, and it had great success
[41:15] getting these pets adopted.
[41:17] But this month's pet is a black cat named Daffy.
[41:22] And I think we have--
[41:24] I think she's coming up here.
[41:28] Let me see here.
[41:30] Nope.
[41:32] Some technical difficulties here.
[41:36] It's a domestic short hair, age two years old.
[41:41] It's a neutered male.
[41:43] It's affectionate, cuddly, friendly, gentle and playful.
[41:48] So if you're into cats, there's Daffy.
[41:54] Daffy guys.
[41:55] So Daffy needs a forever home.
[41:56] So if you're in the cats, this is definitely your cat for you.
[42:01] So please contact Inland Valley to see
[42:06] if we can get Daffy adopted.
[42:09] So, Council Mendez, I know this is for you right up your alley.
[42:13] So please--
[42:14] What size?
[42:16] What type of dog do I have?
[42:17] We're a Frenchie type of house.
[42:19] Thank you.
[42:20] We'll go very well together.
[42:21] So please consider giving Daffy or any of these animals
[42:25] a forever home.
[42:26] Please adopt at your first choice.
[42:30] I get it, but these animals need forever homes,
[42:33] so please consider that.
[42:35] And lastly, my colleagues had mentioned regarding Kathy's Cool
[42:39] Cuts.
[42:40] This has been a program that's been in this city for 19 years.
[42:46] And with my colleagues blessing, traditionally our next council
[42:52] meeting, I would like to acknowledge the hairstylists
[42:56] and barbers and all the donors that helped make this event very
[43:01] successful.
[43:01] So, colleagues, if it's OK, I will work with the city clerks
[43:04] to get those folks recognized.
[43:07] And I will give you the magic number,
[43:10] amount of haircuts and kids that we touched and helped
[43:14] their first day of school, 309 students that we
[43:18] cut hair and gave school supplies for last Sunday
[43:22] or previous Sunday.
[43:24] 309 kids that we got ready for school.
[43:27] So I want to thank all the individuals from the council
[43:32] helping picking up hair.
[43:33] We had a planning commissioner, Chris Dodson,
[43:35] thank you very much for giving your time.
[43:37] Talent City manager Sergio González.
[43:39] You didn't get your nails done, but thank you anyway.
[43:42] And I would like to thank Marty [INAUDIBLE]
[43:44] for actually getting the media out here to cover this event.
[43:49] We had, I believe, Channel 11 and Channel 7 cover this,
[43:54] and that's the first time ever.
[43:55] So I want to thank those news outlets for making that happen.
[43:59] So with that, we look forward to recognizing the time and talent
[44:03] on our next meeting on September 21.
[44:06] So with that, that's all I have.
[44:07] Mayor, thank you.
[44:08] All right.
[44:09] Thank you.
[44:10] I also have some announcements.
[44:13] Adult game night, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate
[44:17] join us for an exciting evening at [INAUDIBLE] Hosted
[44:20] by Canyon City Runners Azusa and Azusa city library
[44:24] for a fun packed, competitive Super Smash Brothers game
[44:26] night on the Nintendo Switch.
[44:30] September 24, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at [INAUDIBLE] 100 West Foothill
[44:37] Boulevard.
[44:38] For more information, call the city library (626)-812-5232.
[44:46] City of Azusa community resources.
[44:49] Pony League Baseball, for the 2026 fall season.
[44:54] Ages 12 to 14.
[44:56] The cost is $50.
[44:58] Registration is open August 10 to September--
[45:02] through September 16.
[45:04] All games and practices played at Gladstone Park, 414 South
[45:09] Pasadena Avenue, and the first practice
[45:12] will be the week of September 21.
[45:15] You can also register online at Azusaca.gov/civicrec.
[45:24] For more information, please call (626)-812-5280.
[45:31] Next, we have presented by the city of Azusa,
[45:35] the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments,
[45:37] the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,
[45:39] and the Indian Valley Humane Society Neighborhood Coyote
[45:42] Informational workshop.
[45:44] Join the Azusa community for discussion
[45:46] on Coyote awareness, education and safety.
[45:49] Hear from local agencies, learn important tips for safety living
[45:53] alongside local wildlife and have an opportunity
[45:55] for question and answer.
[45:57] That's Thursday, September 3 at 5:00 PM at the Azusa city
[46:01] library at the Slauson auditorium, 340 West 5 Street.
[46:07] Event is free and open to the public.
[46:09] Registration is not required and for questions,
[46:13] please email neighborhoodserv ices@azusaca.gov.
[46:18] That's neighborhoodserv ices@azusaca.gov.
[46:22] Also, on Wednesday evening meditation workshops.
[46:29] August 12 and September 16, 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the Azusa city
[46:35] library at Slauson, 340 West 5 Street.
[46:40] Registration is not required and for more info,
[46:44] call the Azusa city library at (626)-812-5232.
[46:52] With that, as I believe was mentioned,
[46:55] the Dog Haus is now reopened.
[46:57] We did have a new dental studio open ribbon cutting.
[47:05] Thank you, chief to police department
[47:08] and your staff for the National Night Out.
[47:10] Everything went very well.
[47:12] I think Council Member Gonzalez talked about coolcutttz,
[47:16] and I also attended the [? Dharmakaya ?] ceremony
[47:22] for either getting ready to build their meditation hall,
[47:28] and they did have a period of meditation.
[47:32] I didn't know what I was doing, but I just closed my eyes
[47:35] and put my head down.
[47:37] But they do have meditation classes to teach you.
[47:41] And funny, the city library, you just
[47:44] mentioned meditation classes there too,
[47:46] so you're competing with dharmakaya there.
[47:48] But anyways, I also spent a couple of days in Las Vegas
[47:53] to tour bus manufacturers.
[47:59] The Foothill Transit is going to build some double-decker buses,
[48:05] and Las Vegas already has double-decker buses
[48:10] on their streets on the strip and other various parts of Las
[48:15] Vegas.
[48:16] So we went to go check out that manufacturer,
[48:21] and I believe that's all I have.
[48:24] So with that, we will move to scheduled items.
[48:29] The first scheduled item is designation
[48:31] of voting delegate and alternate for the League of California
[48:34] Cities 2026 annual conference and consideration
[48:36] of proposed resolution packet.
[48:38] And I'll turn it over to staff.
[48:40] Good evening, Mayor, city council, Nico De Anda-Scaia,
[48:44] deputy city manager.
[48:47] This is a standard item that goes before councils every year
[48:50] in anticipation of the League of California Cities
[48:53] annual conference, which is being
[48:56] held at the end of next month in the city of Anaheim.
[49:00] In advance of the conference, the league requests
[49:02] that member cities designate a voting delegate,
[49:07] and an alternate to represent the city position
[49:10] on legislative matters that are voted on
[49:12] during the conferences general assembly business meetings.
[49:17] This year, one resolution has been
[49:19] introduced for consideration by the league's membership.
[49:24] The city of Murrieta and several [INAUDIBLE] cities
[49:27] are sponsoring a resolution in response
[49:30] to concerns over state laws that have increasingly
[49:34] reduced city discretion over housing and land-use decisions.
[49:40] As provided in the background information,
[49:45] more than 500 housing related laws
[49:48] have been enacted by the state since 2010 that
[49:51] have expanded by right approvals for housing projects,
[49:55] limited the application of locally-adopted standards
[49:59] and review processes, and established enforcement
[50:03] mechanisms against local governments.
[50:06] Additionally, the city of Murietta
[50:08] maintains that the state has continued
[50:11] to prioritize increased development
[50:13] capacity without adequately accounting
[50:18] for the infrastructure, public services, economic realities,
[50:23] and safety measures necessary to support housing growth.
[50:27] While the resolution itself does not prescribe a specific policy
[50:31] mechanism, it calls for the creation of a working group
[50:35] or committee to evaluate potential approaches, including
[50:39] legislative proposals, constitutional amendments
[50:43] or ballot initiatives to restrain--
[50:46] to restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land
[50:50] use matters.
[50:52] Further investigation would need to be
[50:53] done by the committee, including what
[50:55] specific legislative strategy should be taken.
[50:59] These recommendations would then be brought back
[51:01] for further consideration.
[51:04] On its face, the proposed resolution
[51:06] appears to be consistent with the city of Azusa's 2026
[51:10] legislative platform, which prioritizes
[51:14] local control and collaboration and decision making.
[51:18] Therefore, staff recommends that the city council designate
[51:23] a voting delegate, and an alternate for the league's
[51:26] annual business meeting and authorize the council's delegate
[51:31] to vote in support of the league's 2026 general assembly
[51:34] resolutions packet.
[51:36] Currently, the city council's representative to the league
[51:40] is Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Avila, with Council Mendez
[51:43] as an alternate.
[51:45] Council may designate any member as voting delegates
[51:49] or alternates to the general assembly.
[51:52] That concludes staff's report unless there are any questions.
[51:55] Thank you.
[51:55] Questions?
[51:59] None.
[52:00] No questions of staff, Mayor.
[52:01] But I am unfortunately unavailable during the time
[52:03] slot, so would not be able to serve as the alternate.
[52:07] Do we have anybody else attending?
[52:09] I am signed up to go and I plan on being there
[52:13] and so I'm already signed up to go.
[52:16] But we do need an alternate just to make sure if something
[52:19] happens and I can't make it.
[52:21] And I support keeping Mayor Pro Tem Avila as the main source.
[52:28] But the alternate, I will not be in attendance
[52:32] as well, but Mayor or council member Bow
[52:36] if you're available for an alternate.
[52:38] I'm not able to serve as an alternate for that conference.
[52:45] I don't even know if I'm attending that one.
[52:51] Do we have to have an alternate?
[52:53] No.
[52:53] OK.
[52:54] So then we'll leave.
[52:56] Mayor Pro Tem Avila as the delegate with no alternate.
[53:02] Everyone's OK with that?
[53:05] Yes.
[53:06] Do we need an informal vote or just a direction?
[53:09] City attorney, do we need a formal vote?
[53:12] If they request a vote, yeah.
[53:14] OK.
[53:15] So we do have--
[53:17] do we have a motion?
[53:18] There are two items to designate the voting
[53:21] delegate and alternate and to concur with staff's position.
[53:25] Do we have a motion to approve?
[53:27] I'll make them--
[53:28] I'll second Council Member Mendez' motion.
[53:32] So motion by Council Member Mendez
[53:36] and seconded by Council Member Gonzalez.
[53:39] Let's light up the board.
[53:48] It passes unanimously.
[53:50] So we go to item 2, consideration of a resolution
[53:53] appointing candidates to the Office
[53:55] of City Treasurer and Office of the City Clerk,
[53:57] and cancelation of the [INAUDIBLE] November 5, 2020
[54:00] general municipal election as authorized by California
[54:04] elections code section 10229.
[54:08] And I'll turn that over to staff.
[54:11] Mayor and council, at this time, I'm
[54:13] going to turn it over to Annette Juarez, our city clerk service
[54:16] manager, due to the uniqueness of this item.
[54:22] There you go.
[54:25] Mayor and council, before you, for your consideration,
[54:27] is a resolution to appoint candidates
[54:30] to the offices of city treasurer and city clerk.
[54:33] And the cancelation of at large general municipal election.
[54:37] Back on June 1, you adopted a resolution
[54:40] to call for the election for the offices of city council member
[54:44] district one, city council member district 3, city
[54:47] treasurer and city clerk.
[54:49] The candidate nomination period was held from July 13
[54:53] through August 6, and at the close of that nomination period,
[54:56] there was only one person that filed nomination papers
[54:58] for each of those two offices city treasurer and city clerk.
[55:02] Pursuant to California elections code section 10229,
[55:07] if at the close of the nomination period,
[55:09] the number of persons nominated does not
[55:12] exceed the number of seats to be filled at that election,
[55:15] the election officials shall submit a certificate of facts
[55:18] to the city council, as well as publish that same certificate
[55:22] of facts in the newspaper, and after the fifth day following
[55:25] the publication, the city council
[55:27] is authorized to either appoint the person or persons who
[55:32] are nominated or vote to continue
[55:34] to hold the election with just the one
[55:38] individual for each office.
[55:40] Should the city council decide to appoint,
[55:42] the decision must be made by the 75th day before the election,
[55:46] which is this Wednesday, August 20.
[55:49] The persons appointed would take office and serve exactly
[55:52] as if elected, with their term beginning in December 2026
[55:57] and for the full four-year term.
[55:59] The election for those two offices would then be canceled
[56:03] and the two district city council member seat elections
[56:07] would still continue.
[56:09] Without the need for the citywide election services from
[56:12] the registrar of voters, the city could realize an estimated
[56:16] cost savings of $105,000.
[56:19] So with that, staff recommends that the city council adopt
[56:22] resolution number 2026-C48, appointing Arthur M. Vasquez Jr.
[56:28] to the Office of City Treasurer, and Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo Jr.
[56:32] to the Office of city clerk, each for a full term of four
[56:35] years in lieu of an election, and canceling at large general
[56:39] municipal election for those two offices only,
[56:44] or direct staff to continue preparation for at-large general
[56:49] municipal election for city treasurer and city clerk,
[56:52] with the one candidate that has been nominated for each office.
[56:56] Do we have any questions?
[56:57] Are there any questions?
[56:59] I don't have a question, Mayor.
[57:01] I think this is a position of where
[57:04] there's a cost savings here.
[57:06] I think my question is for future elections, every office,
[57:12] every two years we have elections
[57:13] and obviously council and city treasurer and city clerk
[57:16] now are good for four.
[57:18] But if this situation ever happened at a council level,
[57:23] I'm not saying it won't ever happen.
[57:25] But if it did, what would be our policy?
[57:28] Would we allow an election or would
[57:33] we, in essence make a policy of to be
[57:36] consistent with this action if there's ever a council
[57:40] position that doesn't have an opponent, an incumbent,
[57:43] would we forego that and as a policy,
[57:47] or is that going to be just determined
[57:48] on what we feel at that time, city attorney?
[57:53] Yes, that would be a determination at the time
[57:56] for the council sitting.
[57:58] I would as a policy, at least for discussion,
[58:02] if we ever have that happen for the council would say, hey,
[58:07] let's save the money and move it forward to the general fund.
[58:11] But just my thought, Mayor.
[58:14] I'm not going to lose sleep over either way, but just a thought.
[58:17] City attorney, is that something we can actually
[58:20] make a policy on, or is it something that we
[58:22] have to vote on each time?
[58:24] I think the law is going to want that to be acted on at the time.
[58:27] OK.
[58:31] OK.
[58:31] All right.
[58:32] Thank you.
[58:32] So I guess that answers that.
[58:34] So do we have a motion to approve either option A or B?
[58:41] Do we have a motion?
[58:42] I want to that motion, Mayor?
[58:44] For option?
[58:45] Yeah.
[58:46] Option A.
[58:46] OK.
[58:47] So we have a motion to approve option A by Council Member
[58:49] Gonzalez.
[58:50] Do we have a second?
[58:51] Second.
[58:52] Second by Mayor Pro Tem Avila.
[58:54] Let's light the board.
[59:04] And that passes unanimously.
[59:08] We now go to scheduled item 3, consideration
[59:11] of a funding agreement between the city of Azusa
[59:13] and the Azusa Chamber of Commerce.
[59:17] And I turn it over to staff.
[59:20] Our mayor, city council, good evening.
[59:22] It's me again.
[59:23] Nico De Anda-Scaia, deputy city manager.
[59:26] The item before you this evening is a proposed funding agreement
[59:30] with Azusa Chamber of Commerce.
[59:33] You may recall that council considered this item initially
[59:36] back in March of this year, deciding at the time
[59:41] to table the chamber's funding request
[59:42] until additional information could
[59:44] be provided by the Chamber regarding
[59:46] their overall fiscal, health and operational budget.
[59:51] Since that time, the chamber has endeavored
[59:53] to develop a full and accurate picture of their finances,
[59:57] along with a clear vision for operations.
[1:00:00] This information has been included in your packet
[1:00:03] for your consideration.
[1:00:04] Chamber leadership are also on hand
[1:00:06] and will provide a brief presentation
[1:00:08] as soon as I conclude here.
[1:00:11] But to recap briefly, the city has traditionally
[1:00:13] funded the chamber at various levels
[1:00:16] in exchange for key business centered services that support
[1:00:20] and promote the local economy.
[1:00:26] The funding agreement that's before you
[1:00:27] this evening represents council's direction
[1:00:30] and expectations from prior discussions on this matter.
[1:00:34] Key responsibilities of the chamber under this agreement
[1:00:37] include business support and training through business
[1:00:41] development workshops and resource fairs,
[1:00:44] event coordination such as business ribbon cuttings
[1:00:48] and the annual taste of the town event, business outreach
[1:00:52] and marketing and promotion of city initiatives
[1:00:55] and promotional shop local campaigns, community information
[1:00:59] and engagement and city collaboration and transparency
[1:01:04] through frequent and open communication with the city,
[1:01:07] including quarterly public presentations to city council
[1:01:10] and members of the public.
[1:01:12] These expectations are further outlined in your agreement
[1:01:16] under section 3.3, along with exhibit A,
[1:01:20] which lists the chamber's full proposed scope of services.
[1:01:24] Therefore, at this time, staff is recommending approval
[1:01:27] of an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce for fiscal year
[1:01:31] 26-27 at a funding level of $45,000,
[1:01:36] retroactive to July one of this year,
[1:01:40] to be paid out in equal monthly installments.
[1:01:43] Additionally, staff recommends authorization for the city
[1:01:46] manager to execute up to two additional one year term
[1:01:50] renewals, provided that the chamber
[1:01:52] is in good standing with its obligations under the agreement,
[1:01:56] including providing transparent annual financial reporting.
[1:02:01] This concludes staff's presentation.
[1:02:04] Representatives from the chamber will now
[1:02:06] give a brief presentation and are also
[1:02:08] available to answer council member questions.
[1:02:10] I'd like to hand the podium over to interim executive director
[1:02:15] Andrea Batista.
[1:02:33] Well, good afternoon, Mayor Eddie Alvarez and city council.
[1:02:38] Some of you may know me.
[1:02:39] My name is Andrea Batista.
[1:02:41] I am the interim director for Azusa chamber of Commerce.
[1:02:45] I also have Laura [INAUDIBLE] from Preston Flowers
[1:02:49] and Angelica from--
[1:02:51] Angelica [? Arteaga ?] from [? Max's. ?] And we're just here
[1:02:55] to present a quick slideshow to tell you where we were and where
[1:03:00] we're going.
[1:03:04] So from where we were to where we're
[1:03:06] going, as of end of April 2026, we had a change in leadership.
[1:03:13] Immediately, we reviewed our financials,
[1:03:16] renegotiated contracts to lower costs,
[1:03:19] establish new vendors that matched our financial status,
[1:03:23] canceled unnecessary bills, and established a debt agreement
[1:03:27] with our past tenants.
[1:03:28] Where we're going, a solid foundation taking it back
[1:03:33] to basics, adhering to what gives us structure our bylaws,
[1:03:39] financial clarity reports with no holes,
[1:03:42] payroll that matches our revenue and contracts that
[1:03:46] make sense for growth.
[1:03:48] Trust and transparency.
[1:03:50] Communication that is clear with materials that allow everyone
[1:03:55] to understand the details.
[1:03:57] Above all, our priority is to rebuild trust
[1:04:02] with council, the city and our business partners
[1:04:05] following the change in leadership.
[1:04:11] So building for the long-term, budget and fiscal calendar,
[1:04:15] a working annual budget built around the chamber's July, June
[1:04:19] fiscal year.
[1:04:21] Membership engagement, growing membership value
[1:04:25] by giving memberships a place to showcase their business,
[1:04:28] presenting at ribbon cuttings, introducing themselves
[1:04:31] to new business owners, and rebuilding rapport
[1:04:34] with fellow members for mutual support and networking.
[1:04:38] We're committed to visiting, reaching out and inviting
[1:04:41] members to all things chamber so they can see firsthand
[1:04:45] that what they put into their membership,
[1:04:48] they get back many times over.
[1:04:51] Government and continuity.
[1:04:54] Creating systems that are structured and aligned
[1:04:57] with our bylaws with board development.
[1:04:59] So the chamber's growth doesn't rely on any one person,
[1:05:04] but on a group effort.
[1:05:06] And build for the future.
[1:05:08] Growing our financial reserves, creating new programs
[1:05:12] that benefit members and building
[1:05:14] a harmonious relationship with the city.
[1:05:18] So our vision.
[1:05:20] A chamber built on purpose, powered by people,
[1:05:23] with Azusa at the heart of it all.
[1:05:26] Stability.
[1:05:27] I'm sorry I didn't change my slide.
[1:05:30] Stability, sound finances and clear systems the city
[1:05:34] and community can trust.
[1:05:36] Growth, expanded programming that brings visible
[1:05:39] benefit back to Azusa and partnership.
[1:05:43] A multiyear relationship with the city
[1:05:45] built on demonstrated results.
[1:05:48] So I have our--
[1:05:51] just a quick outline of our calendar of events.
[1:05:55] There's just a few of them.
[1:05:57] Unfortunately, we had to postpone our installation
[1:05:59] dinner because of the leadership change.
[1:06:01] But we will be getting that back on schedule.
[1:06:04] Quarterly chamber mixers.
[1:06:06] October we have our taste of town,
[1:06:08] part of the Azusa golden days celebration,
[1:06:11] ongoing educational workshops, ongoing monthly morning coffee.
[1:06:16] And we're going to be introducing a new series called
[1:06:20] Did You Know.
[1:06:22] And then in January, we're looking
[1:06:24] to have a chamber community calendar and promotions.
[1:06:31] So a little bit about the Did You Know series.
[1:06:34] A lot of times we hear individuals
[1:06:35] asking a lot of questions, businesses
[1:06:37] ask a lot of questions.
[1:06:39] And so what we want to do is create a new quarterly program,
[1:06:45] one installment per fiscal year quarter designed to inform,
[1:06:49] educate and connect the community with the chamber
[1:06:52] and its members--
[1:06:54] and its member businesses.
[1:06:57] It'll run quarterly, align with the chamber's fiscal calendar,
[1:07:01] highlights chamber resources, member business
[1:07:04] and community facts.
[1:07:06] Built as an ongoing engagement touchpoint between mixers
[1:07:10] and larger events.
[1:07:14] The Taste of Town is our signature event.
[1:07:17] This year, our theme is A to Z in the USA.
[1:07:22] Your route to local flavor, part of Azusa golden days, this route
[1:07:26] 66 Centennial themed evening celebrates Azusa local flavor
[1:07:31] and its A to Z in the USA spirit.
[1:07:34] So that's going to be held Wednesday, October 14,
[1:07:37] 5:30 to 8:30 PM at Memorial Park.
[1:07:41] We have about 25 to 30 vendors that we are signing off.
[1:07:46] Tickets we have here at $45, but it
[1:07:48] looks like we're going to go with $40.
[1:07:49] So some of the featured items will
[1:07:51] be desserts and auction, live music, spirits, kids corner,
[1:07:56] sampling local flavors from Azusa restaurants,
[1:07:59] informational booths, and vendor and sponsor and volunteer
[1:08:03] opportunities are open.
[1:08:06] So the partnership we're asking proposing a path out of--
[1:08:12] I'm sorry, thank you proposing a path out of survival mode.
[1:08:18] We're proposing a multiyear partnership
[1:08:20] that lets the chamber plan, invest and deliver.
[1:08:23] And thank you for your time.
[1:08:26] Do we have any questions?
[1:08:29] Questions?
[1:08:29] Yes.
[1:08:30] Council Member Bow?
[1:08:32] Good evening, Chamber.
[1:08:34] In the materials you shared, and also in this presentation,
[1:08:37] you allude to new membership.
[1:08:40] Do you have a board member directory?
[1:08:44] Yes--
[1:08:44] That's available to share with us.
[1:08:46] So I'm interested to know who's on your board
[1:08:48] and who's off your board and who are continuing board members
[1:08:51] and if you have any new board members.
[1:08:53] OK, so board members and executive board members.
[1:08:56] Right now we have seven present executive board members.
[1:09:02] Well, some board and some of those are board members as well.
[1:09:06] So we have 7 as of right now.
[1:09:09] We really just put a pause on everything,
[1:09:11] just that way we could comb through what
[1:09:14] we needed to clean up.
[1:09:17] We're moving forward in September
[1:09:20] as far as asking and nominating new members as
[1:09:23] well to be part of our board.
[1:09:25] So we do want to grow that.
[1:09:26] But as of right now, just because of the change
[1:09:29] and trying to figure out what can we do, where are we heading,
[1:09:34] we didn't bring anybody else on board.
[1:09:36] So right now we have seven.
[1:09:37] Who are they?
[1:09:38] OK.
[1:09:39] So Laura [? Noia, ?] Angelica Arteaga, Anthony Gallegos, Eddie
[1:09:46] Barrera, Elena Maldonado, Marissa Tucker and Adrian
[1:09:55] Pastrano from Home2 Suites.
[1:09:58] And prior to the leadership change between March
[1:10:01] and now, how many board members left the board
[1:10:04] or exited the board if you're at seven now?
[1:10:08] I think half of them left.
[1:10:11] From March?
[1:10:14] From March-- no, April.
[1:10:15] Are you referring to April with a leadership change?
[1:10:17] Yeah.
[1:10:18] OK.
[1:10:18] So from leadership change--
[1:10:21] well, it's a series of events that happen.
[1:10:24] The reason for the leadership change.
[1:10:26] And so with that, we started having members resign.
[1:10:30] So since March, I'm going to say half have left.
[1:10:34] I was just looking for a list of board members.
[1:10:37] I'm sorry, I don't have that.
[1:10:39] So you have seven board members.
[1:10:41] You used to have roughly 15.
[1:10:44] And the seven board members that you currently have--
[1:10:47] I think I'm understanding you don't have any new board
[1:10:50] members, but these are board members from--
[1:10:52] these are continuing board members.
[1:10:54] Yes.
[1:10:54] And you're currently serving as the interim director?
[1:10:57] I am.
[1:10:58] Are you serving in a paid or consulting capacity?
[1:11:00] I'm not paid.
[1:11:02] No.
[1:11:03] And what's your staffing plan?
[1:11:07] What's your staffing plan?
[1:11:08] Do you envision having the director
[1:11:11] be a paid part-time person or serve as a consultant
[1:11:15] or do you envision that the chamber will
[1:11:17] be led by volunteer staff?
[1:11:21] So right now we don't have our director yet,
[1:11:26] so my name will be put in that hat
[1:11:29] and yes, that individual will be paid.
[1:11:32] But that's going to be we need to align our salary
[1:11:36] along with the hours of that individual that
[1:11:38] would align with our budget as well
[1:11:42] as our goals to move forward.
[1:11:44] So that is all-- everything is happening in our next September
[1:11:48] board meeting.
[1:11:50] So that's where we're at right now as far as
[1:11:52] if we're going to add any other employees, not at this time.
[1:11:58] OK.
[1:12:00] Any other questions?
[1:12:01] So I just had a few comments.
[1:12:04] So I'm glad to see that you did make money on Taste of the Town,
[1:12:11] et cetera, the last ones you had.
[1:12:14] So you have monthly coffees, but you have not
[1:12:17] started that, right?
[1:12:18] No.
[1:12:19] Everything, really-- I mean, we have been involved with mixers.
[1:12:24] We've been involved in marketing with the current businesses,
[1:12:28] but a lot of the items we needed to put a pause on it
[1:12:31] just so that we can, like I said, do the cleanup,
[1:12:35] understand what direction we're going to basically create
[1:12:39] a foundation.
[1:12:40] There wasn't a foundation.
[1:12:43] And so I was trying to do the math.
[1:12:44] So depending on the number of members
[1:12:46] and how much money you raise, so it's $300.
[1:12:50] Is that how much it is?
[1:12:51] $300 is the basic of the base membership.
[1:12:56] So do you still go by--
[1:12:58] in the past, you used to go by number of employees.
[1:13:01] If you had more employees, they would charge more?
[1:13:04] No, we're not.
[1:13:04] We don't go that way.
[1:13:05] We're not basically structuring it that way.
[1:13:07] Yeah.
[1:13:08] So how are you structured?
[1:13:11] Yeah.
[1:13:11] It's tiers.
[1:13:13] I don't know if I have my tiers here, but our basic is $300
[1:13:17] and then the next would be $500.
[1:13:20] So there's three tiers $300, $500 and then $1,500 with
[1:13:26] different perks for each tier.
[1:13:28] Oh, I see.
[1:13:29] [INAUDIBLE] come up--
[1:13:30] We revamp that because of the fact that--
[1:13:34] sorry, because of the fact that some of the tiers
[1:13:37] had some promises that were not made previously.
[1:13:40] So we are going to go back and look at it
[1:13:44] and possibly change the numbers, possibly make
[1:13:47] a few more affordable for newer businesses,
[1:13:50] just for the simple fact that a lot of us
[1:13:51] have said when new businesses come in,
[1:13:53] they can't afford to be marketed and promoted at certain cost.
[1:13:58] So our goal is to help small businesses succeed.
[1:14:02] Part of it is allowing non-members as well
[1:14:04] to participate until they can become members.
[1:14:07] For us, our goal is to help the small businesses, not hurt them.
[1:14:10] Yeah, I appreciate that because it's
[1:14:13] true it costs a tremendous amount of money just
[1:14:18] to open a business.
[1:14:20] So I mean, I see--
[1:14:23] I'm glad to see you have actually a capital improvement
[1:14:27] plan.
[1:14:27] You do need a new roof.
[1:14:28] I live not far from there.
[1:14:31] Yes, you do need a new roof.
[1:14:34] And all these look like legitimate expenses.
[1:14:39] I was looking at your current bank balance.
[1:14:41] It's pretty low.
[1:14:42] These payments, are they at the first
[1:14:44] of the month, end of the month?
[1:14:46] How is that going to work?
[1:14:48] Yeah, they vary.
[1:14:49] They vary.
[1:14:51] Most in the first and the 15th--
[1:14:53] The payments from the city, you said
[1:14:55] you wanted the payments from the city monthly-- divided monthly.
[1:14:58] Is that how you're going to do it, Nico?
[1:15:01] Yeah, we have some flexibility.
[1:15:03] Typically we've done them towards the beginning
[1:15:05] of the month.
[1:15:06] We can set up whatever date we'd like.
[1:15:09] Yeah, because looking at the balance, current balance,
[1:15:14] if they really want to get things done,
[1:15:17] I think we need to adjust the initial payment.
[1:15:20] That's just my opinion.
[1:15:23] I don't know if others would be in tune with that,
[1:15:27] but it's my opinion that to give them a kick start,
[1:15:30] they're going to need a little more than one
[1:15:32] or two payments, monthly payments.
[1:15:37] I think one of the options is to give it to them in a lump sum.
[1:15:40] Is that correct, Nico?
[1:15:42] Yeah, I listed that in the staff report.
[1:15:45] Part of the challenge is this is a performance-based agreement.
[1:15:50] We want to be able to help the chamber be successful,
[1:15:53] but also track accountability over the various deliverables
[1:15:57] that are outlined in the agreement.
[1:15:59] But yes, one of the options that I listed in the staff report,
[1:16:04] we could do it monthly equal payments.
[1:16:07] We're a little into the fiscal year.
[1:16:10] So it would be a higher monthly payment
[1:16:11] that would have been originally because we're prorating it back
[1:16:15] to the beginning of the fiscal year.
[1:16:17] Another alternative, I suppose, could
[1:16:19] have been quarterly or one larger payment at the beginning
[1:16:23] and then tapering off.
[1:16:25] So all those are valid options that we could work with.
[1:16:29] In the past, didn't we not give a lump sum in the past?
[1:16:34] No.
[1:16:35] Since I've been here, the last five years,
[1:16:39] they were always monthly payments.
[1:16:40] It might have been something different prior to that time.
[1:16:43] And you're correct, Mayor.
[1:16:44] We used to years ago to do a lump sum
[1:16:47] and annually pay make that.
[1:16:49] But if I remember correctly, it wasn't exactly--
[1:16:54] we weren't exactly getting the books straight.
[1:16:56] So we ended up going to a month to month
[1:16:58] so we can get some of these books straightened out
[1:17:01] on some of the reporting.
[1:17:04] And to your-- I don't want to punish
[1:17:08] the new leadership of the Chamber for past discrepancies.
[1:17:12] So I'm supportive of getting them some financial footing.
[1:17:17] My whole thing with-- and the council member Bow to stop some
[1:17:23] of the bleeding that you guys had with the previous leadership
[1:17:25] and for whatever happened, I think,
[1:17:29] for me is we were supposed to--you guys were supposed to be
[1:17:34] self-sustained back in 2011.
[1:17:38] And here we are in '26.
[1:17:39] So [? Andrea, ?] and as you get your director, is there a plan,
[1:17:44] in place and you don't have to answer that right today.
[1:17:47] But I think the goal here for the council
[1:17:49] would to have you guys self-sustainable.
[1:17:52] So wean you off so you guys have money
[1:17:57] and you can survive on your own.
[1:17:59] I think that's the ultimate goal here is so we don't
[1:18:03] have you continue coming to us.
[1:18:06] And it's not a bad thing.
[1:18:08] It's a partnership, but we should eventually
[1:18:11] get you guys self-sustained.
[1:18:13] And I would like to see something maybe in the future,
[1:18:17] or this council would like to see what is that plan,
[1:18:19] how does that look.
[1:18:20] Not today because we know this is your first step,
[1:18:24] but I think this council would like
[1:18:26] to see what your future endeavors are
[1:18:27] going to look like.
[1:18:29] So I'm supportive of a lump sum or even six-month upfront
[1:18:34] and come back in six months.
[1:18:36] I'm supportive of your position, Mayor, on that.
[1:18:38] Yeah, I would say a lump sum or I don't know what you prefer.
[1:18:47] The problem sometimes with the lump sum
[1:18:50] is you got to make sure it lasts all year
[1:18:53] and you have a lump of money and then you say, oh,
[1:18:58] let's go ahead and do the roof.
[1:18:59] Let's go do this.
[1:19:00] And before you know it, it's out.
[1:19:01] So I'm willing to how you feel because looking at your balance,
[1:19:07] you do need help, that's for sure.
[1:19:10] I don't even know if a quarterly payment would help, but at least
[1:19:13] the bi annual or--
[1:19:18] would be the proper term semiannual, every six months
[1:19:21] or something to start because it looks like you do
[1:19:26] need a lot of-- you have to get a lot of things going,
[1:19:30] and it's going to be very easy to spend that money.
[1:19:32] That's just my opinion.
[1:19:34] However, if you feel--
[1:19:35] I'm not saying I don't trust you guys.
[1:19:37] I'm just saying it's just--
[1:19:39] it's only natural.
[1:19:40] It's just a natural, something that
[1:19:42] happens when you have this lump sum of money
[1:19:46] and you try to do everything that you need to do at once.
[1:19:51] But if you seem to have a better control over the monies.
[1:19:56] And if you feel you need the lump sum,
[1:19:59] I'm all for it this year.
[1:20:01] So you could do things like the roof,
[1:20:03] but I don't know how you feel.
[1:20:05] That's just my suggestion.
[1:20:06] But yes, we did the real plan, like he
[1:20:12] mentioned was to get you self-sustainable.
[1:20:17] But that looks like it's going to be a few years off.
[1:20:22] I know that because you're starting over
[1:20:25] and I'm not going to worry about that right now.
[1:20:30] But in the end, we are here to help you
[1:20:33] because you have to remember that the city also
[1:20:36] gets a benefit from promoting the business.
[1:20:39] Whatever it is, patronizing, increase
[1:20:43] in the patronage, et cetera, increase in sales, tax, revenue,
[1:20:47] et cetera.
[1:20:49] So we have to get that partnership going.
[1:20:53] And it'd be nice once you get everything going,
[1:21:00] the monthly coffees, the quarterly breakfasts that
[1:21:02] used to be that you actually maybe invite us, maybe.
[1:21:07] Yes.
[1:21:08] Of course.
[1:21:09] Because sometimes that didn't always happen.
[1:21:15] And I understand sometimes if--
[1:21:20] I used to just to go.
[1:21:22] Just to go.
[1:21:23] Exactly.
[1:21:24] We want to continue this relationship as well.
[1:21:26] And so I know I had heard those complaints that there
[1:21:29] weren't invitations in the past, but this is new leadership.
[1:21:33] And so we do plan to make sure this partnership continues.
[1:21:36] This relationship continues to build.
[1:21:38] Also with the capital improvement,
[1:21:41] we understand that we can't do it all at once.
[1:21:43] So that's going to be something that we're building towards.
[1:21:47] I listed it just because it's obvious
[1:21:49] what needs to be taken care of.
[1:21:52] I've already had vendors come by and give us quotes, give us
[1:21:56] some idea.
[1:21:57] And so that way, I can present that to the board
[1:22:00] and we can figure out what is priority.
[1:22:03] Good news.
[1:22:04] The roof might not look that great,
[1:22:05] but we have another two years is--
[1:22:08] and I had a great honest roofer come and give me
[1:22:10] that information.
[1:22:11] I have other people coming to give us estimates as well.
[1:22:14] So we're doing our research and our due diligence
[1:22:17] to make sure that we're spending this money correctly
[1:22:20] and that we're not in the same situation.
[1:22:23] We just need to get ourselves out of survival mode.
[1:22:26] And like I said, looking at your balance,
[1:22:29] you're barely surviving.
[1:22:31] So that's why I understand if you
[1:22:33] feel you need one lump sum or--
[1:22:37] but Nico is shaking his head.
[1:22:40] He's saying lump sum.
[1:22:43] Go ahead.
[1:22:46] You're not only starting over, you're
[1:22:48] starting-- you took a couple steps back.
[1:22:50] And not because of anything of your doing.
[1:22:54] As the questions that were stated by Council woman Bow.
[1:22:58] As far as the board member, you had
[1:22:59] mentioned, your interim executive director.
[1:23:02] How long are we going to be able to keep you
[1:23:04] as interim executive director, or what
[1:23:06] is the plan on that position right now?
[1:23:09] Well, that's going to be a part of our September meeting
[1:23:13] as well as I did make a commitment of six months
[1:23:17] to the board.
[1:23:18] So they know that they have me for sure for six months.
[1:23:21] But then we're going to need to start talking about where
[1:23:24] that position is going to go.
[1:23:26] OK.
[1:23:28] I like what I've seen so far.
[1:23:30] I really like what I've seen so far.
[1:23:32] And these financial statements that you presented us today
[1:23:35] were the best financial statements
[1:23:36] I've received since I've been on council.
[1:23:39] So thank you for that.
[1:23:40] And I also would be an agreement to give them a lump sum as well.
[1:23:45] Any other questions, comments.
[1:23:46] Thank you.
[1:23:48] Just one additional that my--
[1:23:49] I don't think it's been asked yet have you guys--
[1:23:52] and you may have alluded to this,
[1:23:55] but have you identified a magic number
[1:23:59] to achieve critical mass as Mayor Pro Tem Avila mentioned
[1:24:03] I think it's very noble that you're doing this for free.
[1:24:05] However, from a sustainability standpoint, I commend you.
[1:24:10] I thank you, but it's not sustainable.
[1:24:13] So is there a number of members that would be required,
[1:24:21] or even if it's a guesstimate as to how many individuals need
[1:24:24] to be a part of the chamber for that
[1:24:26] to be a paid, at least from a part-time perspective.
[1:24:33] S?
[1:24:33] We're going based off of what we had as numbers.
[1:24:37] We had 103, but really we had 88 members paid.
[1:24:42] When we looked at the numbers, it was about $27,000.
[1:24:47] So is it doable?
[1:24:49] Yes.
[1:24:50] Can we pay somebody?
[1:24:52] We're not going to be paying somebody an outrageous salary.
[1:24:55] We already learned that.
[1:24:57] But we will be able to pay somebody,
[1:25:01] either a part-time position or a decent full time, so.
[1:25:07] Got it.
[1:25:07] Thank you.
[1:25:08] And to answer your question, I don't have an exact number yet.
[1:25:10] OK.
[1:25:11] Yeah, but based off of what we have
[1:25:14] and what we already know as far as individuals
[1:25:18] that we're already talking to about becoming
[1:25:21] members and sponsors, we're at a good start, so.
[1:25:25] Got it.
[1:25:26] Thank you.
[1:25:27] And the actual.
[1:25:29] So in looking at the different events,
[1:25:30] you guys have obviously been one of the biggest fundraisers,
[1:25:34] the events not just to pay a salary from purely
[1:25:38] the annual dues.
[1:25:40] It's from all aspects including from what the city is providing.
[1:25:43] Is that correct?
[1:25:44] OK.
[1:25:44] Thank you.
[1:25:45] With that, I have no further questions.
[1:25:47] Ladies, I really appreciate you coming up.
[1:25:48] I would be in favor of the lump sum.
[1:25:52] Any other questions, comments?
[1:25:53] OK.
[1:25:54] With that, I need a motion.
[1:25:55] There are three items to approve and do we have a motion
[1:26:01] to pay the funding level.
[1:26:04] And if you can include how you want to pay that,
[1:26:08] do we have a motion?
[1:26:09] Make a motion, Mayor.
[1:26:11] For all three and to one lump sum?
[1:26:14] One lump sum.
[1:26:15] Do we have-- so one lump sum of $45,000.
[1:26:19] Motion by Council Member Gonzalez.
[1:26:21] Do we have a second?
[1:26:22] Second.
[1:26:23] Second by Mayor Pro Tem Avila.
[1:26:24] Let's light up the board.
[1:26:33] And it passes unanimously.
[1:26:35] Congratulations.
[1:26:36] Thank you so much.
[1:26:36] We appreciate it.
[1:26:37] Thank you.
[1:26:39] Thank you council.
[1:26:40] And thank you on behalf of all the small businesses
[1:26:42] and other businesses in the city as well.
[1:26:44] Thank you.
[1:26:45] Keep up the good work.
[1:26:47] See you tomorrow.
[1:26:49] Why not?
[1:26:51] So we now move to item 4, consideration
[1:26:56] of introducing an ordinance of the city
[1:26:57] council of the city of Azusa, California,
[1:26:59] making amendments to chapter 58, Article II related
[1:27:02] to waste disposal and recycling, determining the ordinance
[1:27:05] to be exempt from [INAUDIBLE].
[1:27:06] I turn it over to staff.
[1:27:09] Good evening, Mayor and members of the city council.
[1:27:12] I'm Lisa [? Sagan, ?] acting environmental programs manager.
[1:27:17] The item before you tonight is requesting
[1:27:19] your consideration of amending ordinance chapter 58,
[1:27:25] Article II relating to waste disposal and recycling.
[1:27:33] SB1383 or the short-lived climate pollutants,
[1:27:38] requires jurisdictions to implement programs
[1:27:41] to comply with the state's organic waste reduction
[1:27:44] and recycling requirements.
[1:27:47] The law also requires cities to adopt and enforce an ordinance
[1:27:52] to ensure that the organic waste generators comply
[1:27:55] with these requirements through a mandatory waste disposal
[1:28:00] and recycling ordinance.
[1:28:04] As you may recall, the city adopted the waste disposal
[1:28:07] and recycling ordinance effective January 2022
[1:28:11] to support SB1383.
[1:28:14] The city council recently approved contract amendment
[1:28:18] with [INAUDIBLE] services for commercial and multifamily
[1:28:22] to transition from two-stream to three-stream collection program.
[1:28:28] Because of these changes, the current ordinance
[1:28:31] needs to be amended to reflect changes to trash collection
[1:28:35] services for these sectors and to update
[1:28:38] other provisions needed to support the city's
[1:28:41] enforcement of SB1383.
[1:28:46] So the major changes in the ordinance is are the following;
[1:28:51] establishing the requirements for three container collection
[1:28:54] service, four commercial and multi-family sectors.
[1:28:58] We also updated some definitions and administrative requirements
[1:29:03] for organic waste collection and recycling services.
[1:29:08] Another update is on the code enforcement procedure and code
[1:29:13] references to ensure consistency with the current state
[1:29:17] regulations.
[1:29:22] With that, the staff recommends the following actions;
[1:29:26] introduce an ordinance of the city council of the city
[1:29:29] of Azusa, adopting the proposed amendments to chapter
[1:29:32] 58, Article II related to waste disposal, recycling and number
[1:29:38] 2, determined that the adoption of this ordinance
[1:29:41] does not qualify as a project as defined
[1:29:45] in California Environmental Quality Act section 15378.
[1:29:52] I welcome your questions.
[1:29:54] Any questions, comments?
[1:29:56] Anybody?
[1:29:58] No.
[1:29:59] Seeing none, do we have a motion to approve the two items.
[1:30:04] I'll make a motion, Mayor.
[1:30:05] I'll second.
[1:30:06] So we have a motion by Council Member Mendez and a second
[1:30:09] by Council Member Gonzalez.
[1:30:11] Let's take a vote.
[1:30:20] It passes unanimously.
[1:30:22] So we now move to the consent calendar.
[1:30:24] There are 16 items on the consent calendar.
[1:30:28] I will be abstaining from item 13 due to having
[1:30:33] property in close proximity.
[1:30:36] Is there any other member that would
[1:30:39] like to pull any of these items, or have a question on any
[1:30:43] of these items?
[1:30:45] I have questions on E8.
[1:30:47] Number eight?
[1:30:49] Anybody else?
[1:30:52] Seeing none, Council Member Mendez,
[1:30:55] is that a motion to approve items 1 through 7 and 9
[1:31:00] through 16 with myself abstaining from item 13?
[1:31:04] It is so moved.
[1:31:04] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:31:05] Motion to approve by Council Member Mendez.
[1:31:08] Do we have a second?
[1:31:10] Second.
[1:31:10] Second by Mayor Pro Tem Avila.
[1:31:14] Let's light up the board.
[1:31:21] Passes unanimously, and we will move to item 8.
[1:31:29] Council Mendez.
[1:31:32] Thank you.
[1:31:32] Chief at our last special council meeting or Water Board
[1:31:36] meeting, we had a conversation regarding
[1:31:40] some updates to the systems potentially
[1:31:43] go with different service providers.
[1:31:46] So as we're looking at this, is this in collaboration with that?
[1:31:53] Is this a totally separate?
[1:31:55] How does this fit into the puzzle piece
[1:31:58] or is it a totally different puzzle?
[1:32:02] So this is like the foundation, our [INAUDIBLE]
[1:32:05] and our miss pretty much is what the daily function of the police
[1:32:09] department runs on.
[1:32:11] And this system will allow us to then grow into the other systems
[1:32:15] that we had discussed prior.
[1:32:19] Thank you.
[1:32:20] From a-- so this is purely technology.
[1:32:23] This isn't changing anything necessarily internal.
[1:32:25] The way we handle processes or anything like that.
[1:32:28] No, this will not change anything.
[1:32:30] And I do see that a significant portion from the asset seizure
[1:32:36] fund, of course, our opiate settlement funds, which
[1:32:38] is always appreciated.
[1:32:39] So that's all-- that's all.
[1:32:40] I have no further questions.
[1:32:43] Any other questions, comments?
[1:32:46] Seeing none, Council Member Mendez,
[1:32:48] is that a motion to approve the three items for item 8?
[1:32:51] So move, Mayor.
[1:32:52] So we have a motion to approve by Council Mendez.
[1:32:55] Do we have a second?
[1:32:57] Second.
[1:32:57] Second by Council Member Gonzalez.
[1:33:00] Let's take a vote.
[1:33:06] That passes unanimously.
[1:33:09] So we now go to.
[1:33:13] Scheduled item, successor agency related business.
[1:33:18] Consideration of sale and acquisition of 975 West Foothill
[1:33:21] Boulevard from the successor agency to the city of Azusa
[1:33:25] and related fiscal year 26-27 budget amendments.
[1:33:29] And I turn it over to staff.
[1:33:31] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:33:32] Talika Johnson, Director of Administrative Services.
[1:33:35] So before you tonight is a multi-joint item
[1:33:40] for the city council, the utility board, and the successor
[1:33:44] agency.
[1:33:45] This item is fairly straightforward.
[1:33:48] It's a request to approve a purchase and sale agreement,
[1:33:52] and two resolutions for the city to purchase 975 West Foothill.
[1:34:00] 975 West Foothill is one of two properties
[1:34:03] that are held by the former redevelopment agency.
[1:34:09] And the Oversight Board January during the adoption
[1:34:14] of the annual [? ROPS, ?] did express interest in the city,
[1:34:18] continuing its momentum to wind down the successor agency
[1:34:22] business.
[1:34:23] And so before you tonight is again,
[1:34:26] the request for the city to purchase
[1:34:29] 975 West Foothill from the successor agency
[1:34:34] at a 50% split funding between the general fund
[1:34:38] and the electric utility.
[1:34:40] And so the total proposed cost is the appraised--
[1:34:45] the latest appraised value for the property, which
[1:34:48] was about $3.58 million.
[1:34:51] In addition to the purchase price,
[1:34:54] some estimated closing costs of about $100,000.
[1:34:59] Again, that's just estimated.
[1:35:01] And so the request tonight is for the city to purchase 975
[1:35:06] West Foothill for a not to exceed price,
[1:35:10] including closing costs and fees of $3.68 million,
[1:35:15] again with a 50/50 split between the general fund
[1:35:18] and the electric utility.
[1:35:21] Happy to answer any questions you have.
[1:35:23] Any questions or comments?
[1:35:27] No questions.
[1:35:29] OK.
[1:35:31] Seeing no questions, this is a public hearing.
[1:35:35] We now open the public hearing.
[1:35:38] City clerk, [? Cornejo, ?] do we have proof of publication?
[1:35:42] Yes, Mayor and council.
[1:35:43] I have before me proof of posting
[1:35:45] at the Azusa City Clerk's Department, the Azusa Police
[1:35:48] Department, the Azusa Light and Water Department, the Azusa
[1:35:52] Civic Auditorium, and the Azusa City Website.
[1:35:56] Thank you.
[1:35:56] This is now the public's opportunity
[1:35:58] to address the council regarding the public hearing.
[1:36:00] Each person or representative of a group
[1:36:03] shall be allowed to speak without interruption
[1:36:05] for up to five continuous minutes, subject to compliance
[1:36:08] with applicable meeting rules.
[1:36:10] If you are joining remotely and wish
[1:36:12] to address the council at this time,
[1:36:14] please raise your digital hand now
[1:36:16] or dial star 5 to indicate you wish to speak.
[1:36:20] Once you are called, please unmute yourself
[1:36:22] or press star 6 to speak.
[1:36:25] In-person participants will be called first, followed
[1:36:28] by remote participants.
[1:36:29] City clerk, are there any in-person speakers?
[1:36:33] No mayor and council.
[1:36:34] There are none.
[1:36:35] City clerk, are there any remote participants?
[1:36:39] No, mayor and council.
[1:36:40] There are none.
[1:36:42] Seeing none, the public hearing is now closed.
[1:36:49] Do we have a motion to close the public hearing?
[1:36:51] Motion to close the public hearing.
[1:36:54] Motion to close the public hearing
[1:36:55] by Council Member Gonzalez.
[1:36:56] Do we have a second?
[1:36:57] Second.
[1:36:58] Second by Council Mendez.
[1:37:00] Let's light up the board.
[1:37:07] And that passes unanimously.
[1:37:11] So with that, if there are no further questions or comments,
[1:37:16] city attorney, do we need to take successor agency and city
[1:37:19] council utility board separate?
[1:37:20] Yes, I do.
[1:37:22] So for the successor agency, there
[1:37:26] are three items to approve.
[1:37:27] Do we have a motion to approve?
[1:37:30] Make that motion, Mayor.
[1:37:31] Motion to approve by Council Member Gonzalez.
[1:37:33] Do we have a second?
[1:37:34] Second.
[1:37:35] Second By Mayor Pro Tem Avila.
[1:37:37] Let's light up the board.
[1:37:46] It passes unanimously for the city council and utility board,
[1:37:50] there are four items.
[1:37:52] Do we have a motion to approve these four items?
[1:37:55] I'll make the motion, Mayor.
[1:37:57] Motion is approved by Council Member Mendez.
[1:37:59] Do we have a second?
[1:38:01] Second.
[1:38:02] Second by Council Member Bow.
[1:38:03] Let's light up the board.
[1:38:10] And it passes unanimously.
[1:38:14] And we will adjourn tonight in memory of Johnny Cisneros.
[1:38:21] And with that, we are adjourned.
[1:38:24] [GAVEL POUNDS]