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Mayer? Yes. I did get a few phone calls from people that they could not hear.

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Gentlemen, good to see everybody. I hope you all had a good father's day. We can.

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I'm going to call to order the special meeting of Monday, June 22nd.

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I would first before we move into the business of agenda. I would very much, and I'm very sorry to report that over the weekend,

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And we had the passing, unfortunate passing of one of our 13-year public works employees, Benjamin

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Hernandez, our deepest condolences go to his family and to our employees and those who

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knew him, and I would respectfully request the enjoyment and moment of silence.

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Thank you, everybody.

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Let's then move to the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Pratem.

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I

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pledge allegiance to the flag every night of the states of America, and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God, and divisible with liberty and justice for all.

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You have someone good to hear us, please?

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Thank you.

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Dear God, thank you for allowing us to be here today.

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As we start this meeting and continuing talking about the budget, please guide us and give us the wisdom necessary to make the choices there will be.

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will be good for all the people, including the city, and the, um, and God's

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grant name and pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Councilman.

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Maybe please have the roll call, Madam Clerk.

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Council member, here.

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We have the agenda finalization, I see no changes to the agenda. I would just like to make note that we do have a closed session schedule that we will be going into following our legislative action discussion.

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So, may we now have the statement of participation by the City Clerk, please?

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During a special meeting, public comment is the opportunity for members of the public to

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comment on items listed on this agenda only. The City Council agenda outlined the

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process for which members of the public could provide public comment for the record.

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At this time, I will or at the appropriate time. I will read into the record the

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comments that I received for the instructions outlined on the agenda.

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So,

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if you want to go into it, or do you want to just go ahead and have the public comment

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right now, you don't want to need a reporter or anything from staff.

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That's correct.

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So, Charlie's going to be the first one, and we're going to do what we did before we

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have two phone calls.

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So while he's doing the first comments, I'm going to make the first phone call.

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Okay.

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The first comment is from Shelley Kaplan, dear Mayor Aguilar, Mayor Protem, Gregory, and Council

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members.

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I will make this email short, since my last was too long to fit within the three minutes.

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I want to recap the end of my last email.

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Given the uncertainties I spelled out, it is always prudent to be conservative.

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However, reducing staff, especially in public safety areas, is a major step to take that

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will require time for recovery and will have a direct impact on the primary services

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the city provides for our businesses, visitors, and residents.

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I understand that some of the city's reserve funds are needed for cash flow purposes,

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but the rest is for emergency situations, and this clearly fits that category. Therefore, I am

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recommending that Council consider using an additional 2 million from reserves for next year's budget,

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which will allow for some reduction in the elimination of sworn and needed positions for both the fire and police departments.

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These key services should remain as whole as possible in this difficult time, just as our 911 dispatch operation remains untouched.

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It is always possible to adjust budgets using the actual revenue and expense information during the fiscal year,

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and so I would argue to allocate more from reserves at this point in time and reevaluate in the late fall.

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Actual allocation of the funds should be recommended by the city manager in consultation with the department heads,

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but I would recommend the focus on public safety staffing as the highest priority.

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If we are prudent in decision-making and successful in addressing the situation, a vaccine will

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be available by the 1st quarter of 2021, and more treatment options will be available sooner.

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Once that happens, we should see a return to a more normal economic and financial situation,

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and an opportunity to reinstate more of the items being eliminated from the budget.

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This whole process does give the council going forward, an opportunity to reevaluate annual

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expenditures and perhaps look at ways to better address some of the basic needs of the city.

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Thanks for your consideration as you discuss how to allocate resources for the city

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for the coming fiscal year.

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Good morning, Mayor Aguilar, Mayor Putem, and Council members.

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My name is Chiffier Aguilar, and I am a resident of Cathedral City in the Panorama Park area.

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And on the last council meeting, I was reading a letter and

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all of you, and I hope that you had the time to,

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in that letter, regarding, you know, some things that I believe would be better cut than what we're being proposed in public safety.

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I

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believe that the higher power came to talk to me and the health across the streets from me, there was a fire.

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Thankfully, we had enough firefighters on engine 413 to arrive and do a quick stop on that fire.

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It started to get windy and could have easily spread to the neighbors home.

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home. So I'm thankful that we had enough staffing to put that fire out.

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We really want to

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stress that public safety is important. We, the city, is worked very hard to get that back.

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And I would hate to lose it.

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I'm hopeful to use reserves and reevaluate in October whether or

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not we need to make those drafts that cuts the public safety.

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You know, I think we need to really

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look at the police department's budget. In the way that it is right now, policing is

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going to be changing drastically. I think you're seeing it all over the country and I don't think

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that we need to make any cuts there until we figure out what the new model of policing is

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going to look like. So thank you for your time and I urge you to keep public safety the way it

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is. Congratulations. Thank you, Jeff.

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The next comment is from Alan Carvalo.

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Dear Mayor Aguilar, Mayor Protem, Gregory and Council members, I wanted to address our appreciation

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to the entire council and staff. For the time spent on these emergency council meetings, dealing

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with a very difficult and challenging time, while attempting to preserve our public safety

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officers while the economic world's require a serious review. I have in the past addressed

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my admiration of our public safety officers, the importance of our first responders, especially

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in these times of emergency during our pandemic. I am always appreciative of the phenomenal

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firefighters and paramedics, who have always gone the extra mile to make our citizens feel

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included, cared for, and well-taking care of.

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I had to call on the ambulance service back in January for what I thought was a heart attack,

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and their professionalism and personal concern will always be what I remember when they

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transferred me to the hospital for overnight observation and tests.

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The young paramedic made me feel like I was talking to an old friend.

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That type of outreach to our residents during a trip in an ambulance is beyond what is

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in training. That human interaction helps us in so many ways, as it turns out my health

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scare was not serious. It's very comforting to know that especially during our public health

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concerns, we very much need our first responders available and ready to assist our residents.

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We are so very lucky to have our own police and fire departments in Cathedral City. I think

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it's very important to preserve the quality of care by utilizing the reserve fund set

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side to help to fund both fire and police departments. If 2 million was purpose by council

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to assist in continuing servicing our city residents by all means doubling that to 4 million

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from the cash reserve would be a better solution. The cash reserve was created to handle just

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exactly this type of economic downturn and that we are presently experiencing. It seems that although

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we are uncertain how long we will be experiencing this national emergency, we would be wise to

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take advantage of this past reserve and compromise public safety at a minimum, sincerely

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Ellen Carvalho.

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Terry Appelgate, Cathedral City District 3.

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It was a very year ago that Tammy Scott reviewed the budget projections for council,

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and the picture was much different than what we are discussing now.

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We're looking at a much different scenario.

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The pandemic has created fear, not just in terms of the disease itself,

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but also real concerns about the economy.

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The budget decisions are much harder for council to make.

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A number of us in the community are concerned about staffing,

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as the city had made staffing cuts in 2009,

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and not brought back the level of staff prior to the Great Recession.

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A couple of us circulated a petition asking for reserves to be spent

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to protect public safety.

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While 23 residents find the petition, there are several more discussions that we have with

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people.

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Some more hesitant to sign over not being comfortable knowing how much is in reserve,

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hesitation over how long the pandemic may last, et cetera.

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They were good conversations that reflected thoughtfulness about the budget overall.

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A catchment six entitled fire department budget services impact states engine 411 and 413 will run with two personnel versus current three.

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This will directly impact emergency services to district 1, 2 and 3 with a legend engine 411 and 3, 4 and 5 with engine 413.

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fires, traffic collisions, drowning, corny aircrafts, and other significant incidents will

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have delayed or reduced fire and rescue capacities,

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but I want to hold in on what that

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actually means. Is this what we want to do during your pandemic?

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EMTs and paramedics perform

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life-saving tasks. Paramedics may be called to anticipate someone in the field or administer

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for Ivy Medication, and they have to insert a chest tube to drain blood, floor, or air

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to treat a collapsed lung or difficult to breathe in.

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I mention these types of tests because in the abstract cutting-edge inside from staffs

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three or two, may sound reasonable.

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But would you like to be the person or the family member that didn't receive life-saving

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aids through the budget cuts come right a very thoughtful opinion piece in the you can report,

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regarding defunding the police.

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This frame is actually a misnomer

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as it reflects the campaign to re-allocate resources

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so that police can focus on criminal activity

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and not be asked to play the role

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of mental health counselor, social worker, et cetera.

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None of us know how long the pandemic

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will last in its impact to our economy.

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Currently, our counties know on the California Watchlist,

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for failing to meet the governor's revised metrics.

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I think critical.

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Terry, Terry, this is John.

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Can you wrap up quickly, please?

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Your time is up.

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Sure.

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I suggest that we have measures to incentivize

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rather than penalize our businesses.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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The next comment is from Julie Osburn.

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I read with alarm, the article in the Desert Sun this morning regarding the projected 5.2 million

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dollar deficit the city is estimating.

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The article states their proposed realignment could cost a number of city workers, including

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five firefighters and one police officer, their jobs.

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As a resident, I'm particularly concerned about how that will impact serious crimes in

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the city and there are plenty.

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I hope that the city is not considering layoffs for those who have part of the investigations

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and or who work with the evidence processing for serious crimes.

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If I ever were to be a victim of serious crime, I would like to take comfort in knowing that advanced matters continue to be handled by competent investigators, employees who are skilled in evidence processing.

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I believe it would be a disaster to lose any experience personnel or have cases placed in the hands of anything other than your most skilled employees.

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After the last layoffs, the Police Department can't afford to lose any more of their people.

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There must be other places in the city where cost savings can be made.

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I know there are serious financial impacts from what we're going through, but things are opening

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up.

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Certainly the financial situation is bound to improve, and cathedral city will have a bright

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future.

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I do believe things will not take too long before they get better.

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Thank you for allowing me to contribute to the discussion, Julie Osborne, Cathedral City

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resident.

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And

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there, the last comment that I had them is actually not budget-related, so you'll be provided the email with a part of the record, but it's not related to the budget.

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Thank you.

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All right, seeing that there are no further comments, thank those who both called in as well as sent their comments to us in writing.

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Our next item are public hearings. We have no public hearings this morning.

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Let's now move to legislative actions, continuing our discussion regarding the budget reductions.

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I did, I believe police is going to be up first today, so we'll start with our police chief.

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And I did ask the chief this morning if I could beg the Council's indulgence to just take a couple of minutes and address the fireworks issues.

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Since we've had so many complaints and calls about fireworks over the last several weeks

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and we'll continue to, I'm sure, but I know our police departments were very hard to

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try to do as much as possible to mitigate the problem so chief, if you would please.

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To council members, I know that the fireworks situation in our city hasn't been a significant

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get one. I can tell you that since May 27, the police department has made seven fireworks

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related to rest. Last weekend, I began an additional deployment of four officers on Friday

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and Saturday nights that will run through the Fourth of July weekend. Those officers are

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working single unit cars from 8 p.m. till 2 a.m. As a result of that,

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beginning this past weekend, we did make a rest as a result of that.

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We are also doing operations where we are seeking people that are illegally

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selling fireworks in our city, and that has also proved successful for us,

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in additional arrest being made with a significant firework seizures that you all have seen

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photos of. So we're making a difference and speaking to many people in this community,

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it's not been like this ever. I'm not sure what has occurred. It could be pandemic-related.

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people are at home. They've been at home for months now as a result of the pandemic and this is

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their way of releasing some energy I suppose. We are absolutely doing our very best. I looked

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into the option of deploying drones in a night operation last week. We had that discussion and I need

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to seek FAA approval in order to fly night operations in our city.

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And I'm happy to answer any questions, council, and may have a call.

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Thank you, Chief.

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I appreciate that.

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Any questions, comments very quickly?

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Chief, over the weekend, I was, of course, hearing a lot of fireworks, and I decided to just take a walk.

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So I took my docks a little walk.

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And off of those seniors, I saw firework go off, so I looked and I said, there must be a party going on.

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So I kept on walking and when all of a sudden there was a vehicle that just took off.

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Exactly what a firework came off.

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Now, when I got to the location, there was no party.

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It was that individual that I'm pretty sure fire the firework and moving vehicle.

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Is could this be someone that is in their own vehicle moving around different locations and fire them off?

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It's interesting that you mention that councilman because that has been the case in some of the fireworks activity

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Is that it is individuals and pickup trucks that are mobile throughout the city

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They're setting out their fireworks and moving to a different location within the city

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And that is, that is also something we're looking into and trying to determine who that may be.

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There may be multiple people.

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Could this be something a sign of gang relation or gang related?

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Some kind of drug related issue?

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It's possible, but until we actually locate these people,

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I won't be able to determine that.

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Thank you.

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You're welcome.

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00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:41,880
When they are arrested, apprehended, is there a significant fine, is this misdemeanor, is it a site in release?

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00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,540
I mean, obviously these things could catch houses on fire.

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We could result to major costs and even deaths.

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So I hope we have a pretty significant penalty on this here.

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There are penalties related, councilman, currently in California, there's zero bail.

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00:20:59,940 --> 00:21:02,620
Those particular crimes at the moment are misdemeanor crimes.

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Therefore, it would result in a citation and release, and that individual will not be booked into county jail.

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This would be a question for the city attorney.

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00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:17,740
Is there anything we can do to strengthen that?

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00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,480
Find for illegal fireworks in the city, Eric?

236
00:21:22,940 --> 00:21:23,820
I can't remember.

237
00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:31,620
There's nothing you can do to strengthen the criminal penalty and the miscommunity that's set by state law.

238
00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:37,110
You could look at increasing the administrative fines and numbers cities have done that.

239
00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:44,760
You could all turn it into the look at prosecuting or finding people under the health and safety code as well.

240
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While you can increase your fines under the administrative provision,

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We do run into a practicality problem of being able to actually in what we've been posing

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00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:58,400
the fine.

243
00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,500
We run into some problems collecting the fine.

244
00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,020
But we can certainly look at those as alternatively.

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00:22:04,620 --> 00:22:07,800
Is that something Council, Mr. Mayor, would you want to look into in the near future?

246
00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:09,480
I would sayly support that.

247
00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,040
I think you could just add that eventually to a study session.

248
00:22:15,820 --> 00:22:16,080
Thank you.

249
00:22:16,220 --> 00:22:16,340
Yeah.

250
00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:17,780
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

251
00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:24,540
I just wanted to know, you know, this is, I was surprised to hear on good morning America

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00:22:24,540 --> 00:22:29,480
last week that this is a national problem. It's not just occurring here locally, but it's

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occurring all over the country when I heard the article and the reports of what's going on,

254
00:22:35,340 --> 00:22:41,740
it sounded just like exactly what's happening here. And for the reasons that the chief stated

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00:22:41,740 --> 00:22:47,400
is what's felt is the issue, people are at home, they're not working, they have time you would

256
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:52,680
I think they would be conserving their money, but unfortunately, they're choosing to do it this way.

257
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So I do want to point out that although it is a big problem, and I do congratulate the chief.

258
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I think we need to continue to do what we can do that the business isn't just isolated here,

259
00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:07,460
or feeling like we're alone.

260
00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:12,160
But, you know, with that said I do think it is very serious.

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I do thank the police chief and encourage him to continue and I encourage residents to not be afraid to call in when they see something.

262
00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,000
I mean, it's helpful when they see where it's actually coming from and report that to the police department.

263
00:23:27,140 --> 00:23:34,180
I have assurances from the chief that those calls will be taken seriously and given the proper priorities.

264
00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,540
So I would encourage people to do that so at least we can address this locally.

265
00:23:38,540 --> 00:23:42,140
But if you're interested, it's probably on a website somewhere.

266
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,100
There was an extensive story about this issue.

267
00:23:45,260 --> 00:23:47,920
They should know why I think I saw it on Friday or Saturday.

268
00:23:48,540 --> 00:23:49,260
So, thank you.

269
00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:50,280
Thank you, Mayor Virginia.

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00:23:51,540 --> 00:23:55,660
And I just wanted to thank you for your excellent work in doing this, because it's such

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00:23:55,660 --> 00:23:57,500
a pervasive problem.

272
00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:03,260
And I certainly want to thank our city manager Charlie McClendon because he participated

273
00:24:03,260 --> 00:24:07,800
with me on a conference call with a resident who was frustrated.

274
00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:14,720
his dogs are upset, didn't think anything was happening and when Charlie was able to articulate

275
00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:19,640
for him the plan, the action plan that you had, he was much more relieved that we're on

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00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:20,040
the case.

277
00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:22,160
Thank you so much.

278
00:24:23,220 --> 00:24:27,240
Chief, thank you and your team for working on this issue, so let's proceed to budget.

279
00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,720
Yes, before we proceed, I had a question.

280
00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:39,620
Are we going to be making a decision per department or are we going to hold off and making decisions

281
00:24:39,620 --> 00:24:43,640
until both departments have finalized their presentation?

282
00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:48,840
We're going to listen to the presentations as we did with the other departments.

283
00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,300
We'll ask questions and then we will arrive at some conclusions.

284
00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:59,020
Charlie will summarize for us and then we will move from there.

285
00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:05,120
And before we proceed, is it possible to have Tammy Scott?

286
00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,000
Can I ask her a couple of questions?

287
00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,260
You can ask her in questions as soon as we complete the department presentations.

288
00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:12,860
Would you want to ask the questions now?

289
00:25:13,860 --> 00:25:14,780
Before we start.

290
00:25:14,980 --> 00:25:16,120
I see no objection.

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00:25:17,620 --> 00:25:17,920
Does Tammy?

292
00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:19,680
Sorry, Chief.

293
00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:31,440
Good morning, Tammy.

294
00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:34,720
I want to ask you a couple of questions.

295
00:25:35,140 --> 00:25:39,020
How much time did you take to actually go through the budget?

296
00:25:39,020 --> 00:25:53,800
and so you're able to give us a suggestion how much we have to cut into our budget in order to preserve our reserves and remain sustainable.

297
00:25:54,600 --> 00:26:02,580
Our weeks, days, Charlie and I met with each of the individual department heads, reviewed their budget, reviewed their line items,

298
00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:07,840
reviewed their staffing, priced their staffing, priced individual positions, cost of positions,

299
00:26:08,060 --> 00:26:13,600
reallocating of positions, what are in the MOUs, what are our legal obligations for

300
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:20,180
notifying reduction in staff areas that we can have that we could have cuts and minimize

301
00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:28,200
delivery of services as best possible given the circumstances, but I have been looking at

302
00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,800
budget items issues since February, and it's now June.

303
00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:34,800
The way we get revenue, it's sometimes

304
00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,580
is very difficult to see what was going to happen with what

305
00:26:37,580 --> 00:26:38,400
was going on.

306
00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,440
And further, what is going to happen in the next several months,

307
00:26:41,780 --> 00:26:43,620
because if you watch a television or listen

308
00:26:43,620 --> 00:26:46,940
to the news, as I indicated last week, some of the best economists

309
00:26:46,940 --> 00:26:48,820
in the world can't figure out why the market is

310
00:26:48,820 --> 00:26:51,060
doing what it's doing because nobody thinks it should be.

311
00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:54,360
So I know that's a long answer, but that's

312
00:26:54,360 --> 00:26:56,000
a lot of time has gone into it.

313
00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:03,780
So in other words, you didn't come out with his numbers just you just woke up one day and said, okay, if this is the numbers, is that correct?

314
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:04,560
Oh, no, sir.

315
00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:13,000
Okay, so there was a lot of work with you and all the department has, including Charlie, to come up with all these numbers and the suggestions, correct?

316
00:27:13,260 --> 00:27:13,880
Yes, sir.

317
00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:19,560
Now, can you tell me a little bit of security if we don't make such cuts?

318
00:27:21,420 --> 00:27:25,000
Well, I think Charlie probably put a best last week that

319
00:27:26,180 --> 00:27:33,180
We're looking at about $9 million a change in our adopted budget from a year ago as far as a reduction.

320
00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:40,920
Of that $9 million, only about six of it is actual cuts to recommended cuts to the various

321
00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:43,320
department staffing and operational cuts.

322
00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:49,480
So there's $3 million that we're using from other internal service funds and things like that that we can't go on forever.

323
00:27:49,480 --> 00:28:01,340
So, when we start at $92 million in our general fund budget right now, and if we don't do the cuts that you can do the math and you take the $22 million,

324
00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,860
you might as 9 million that brings it down to 13 million.

325
00:28:05,340 --> 00:28:14,300
If it continues and or we have a second wave, and frankly, I don't see any indication where businesses are necessarily going to be completely shut down.

326
00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:21,300
But you could have businesses fall in the situation where the business themselves has a bunch of COVID-19

327
00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:27,240
cases and the business can't literally, can't literally open or stay open to provide services

328
00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:31,560
to include city staff, to include public safety and those kinds of things.

329
00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:38,560
So if this continues or even a diminished economy of some sort, we're at $12 million.

330
00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:44,100
We need between 7 or 8 million, 8 million better to survive, to pay our bills on a regular basis.

331
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,720
You will not get through another year without doing cuts, period.

332
00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:54,820
And it's going to be a hard recovery, it's going to be very slow recovery to get if we go down to 12 million,

333
00:28:54,940 --> 00:28:57,320
to get back up to the 20 to 25 million dollars.

334
00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:00,800
We're talking, it took us 10 years to get back here to this level.

335
00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,560
It's not going to happen overnight and God forbid if we have another

336
00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:10,400
down turn in the economy like we had 10 years ago, we're not going to recover anything for

337
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,780
the second economic downturn, whether it's pandemic related or not.

338
00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:21,200
So the responsible thing to do for this survival of this business, of the city as a business,

339
00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:27,240
of your existing people, of the community, of services, of the retirees, is to do the appropriate

340
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,480
cuts that are being, that are being, and the magnitude of what's being recommended.

341
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:36,380
Thank you, Tammy. Councilman, we need to proceed to Mayor, this is a very important question.

342
00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:41,720
I'm not just asking this question just to waste time, so they're a very important question.

343
00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:48,840
But we have an opportunity as we've done with the other departments, Councilman, ask questions and have an intensive discussion after the department presentations.

344
00:29:49,700 --> 00:29:57,880
Okay. So I would just ask that you hold your very worthwhile questions until we get to that point so we can be consistent as we have with the other departments.

345
00:29:58,440 --> 00:29:58,460
Okay.

346
00:29:58,460 --> 00:29:59,700
Thanks, please. Thank you.

347
00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:01,220
Chief,

348
00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:17,680
thank you, Mayor. First,

349
00:30:19,740 --> 00:30:42,580
I would like to say that in looking at the budget cut proposals from the police department itself, I was able to come up to a 10% level, which is almost $1.9 million without affecting any layoffs within the organization.

350
00:30:43,780 --> 00:30:58,080
As we continue through the working process with both Miss Scott and the City Manager, we ended up at a almost 15.5% budget cut proposal.

351
00:30:59,980 --> 00:31:05,040
And what that includes in looking at the positions themselves,

352
00:31:07,690 --> 00:31:09,910
how will that impact the organization?

353
00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:17,310
The first position is responsible for filing of criminal cases.

354
00:31:18,430 --> 00:31:25,170
They do quite a bit in redacting and selling cases, which are required by statute, as well

355
00:31:25,170 --> 00:31:26,470
as purging cases.

356
00:31:26,870 --> 00:31:33,510
To give you an example of where we are with the purging of old cases, we are currently in

357
00:31:33,510 --> 00:31:38,110
the year of 2000-2001 in purging criminal cases.

358
00:31:38,110 --> 00:31:44,810
So we are about 19 years in the rear on that particular project.

359
00:31:46,570 --> 00:31:52,810
They're also responsible for processing our traffic citations, writing letters of correction.

360
00:31:53,450 --> 00:32:00,430
So if a mistake is made on a citation, a letter of correction is required to the court before that appearance date.

361
00:32:01,190 --> 00:32:04,910
They're also responsible for processing all of our misdemeanor citations.

362
00:32:04,910 --> 00:32:07,510
So as the officers write the citations in the field,

363
00:32:08,030 --> 00:32:12,790
they go into the people that hold position number one,

364
00:32:12,930 --> 00:32:16,990
and they process it for court filing at a later time.

365
00:32:18,330 --> 00:32:20,550
They also process our parking citations

366
00:32:20,550 --> 00:32:23,870
through turbo data, maintain the cow photo

367
00:32:23,870 --> 00:32:27,150
and cow ID machines and the mobile fingerprint readers,

368
00:32:27,990 --> 00:32:30,170
as well as have a responsibility

369
00:32:30,170 --> 00:32:33,310
for our Uniform Crime Report stats.

370
00:32:33,310 --> 00:32:49,750
At the end of each year, I provide council with a prime update for the calendar year, and that is where the uniform crime report stats come into play when I provide that information to this council at the end of each calendar year.

371
00:32:52,030 --> 00:33:01,510
The second position to be discussed is ultimately responsible for the processing of all of our evidence in permanent cases.

372
00:33:01,510 --> 00:33:11,610
It is a very significant position within the organization that individuals responsible for

373
00:33:11,610 --> 00:33:13,870
processing of some crime scenes.

374
00:33:14,090 --> 00:33:20,470
Generally, if we have a major crime scene such as homicides, we will call in the county

375
00:33:20,470 --> 00:33:21,170
for that.

376
00:33:21,370 --> 00:33:26,150
They have a much larger crime scene processing group that we can utilize.

377
00:33:26,150 --> 00:33:46,630
But when it's all said and done and the scene has been processed, our person is responsible for maintaining the chain of custody of that evidence, making sure that we and the detectives have all the evidence that they need in place in order to file that case and ultimately get a successful conviction for the crimes that do occur in our city.

378
00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:56,660
The other component with that position is they are responsible for handling all requests from

379
00:33:56,660 --> 00:34:03,280
allied agencies, where it becomes a major component is a reclastic come through the district

380
00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:04,180
attorney's office.

381
00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:08,960
There are filing of criminal cases, they require evidence to be brought in on almost all of

382
00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:15,180
our criminal cases in order to prosecute that individual during the trial of that person.

383
00:34:15,180 --> 00:34:20,760
So again, they are responsible for that chain of custody and making sure that that evidence gets

384
00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,720
to court properly and gets back to our evidence room properly.

385
00:34:28,500 --> 00:34:35,640
And lastly, it's imperative that they maintain accurate records with our evidence that we

386
00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:36,620
do process.

387
00:34:40,170 --> 00:34:46,470
The third positions responsible for our fleet maintenance, that individual make sure that

388
00:34:46,470 --> 00:34:51,590
of our vehicles, our service, that they are functional so that we may deliver that service

389
00:34:51,590 --> 00:34:52,530
to the community.

390
00:34:53,710 --> 00:34:57,710
There's nothing worse than having to respond to a call for service from one of our community

391
00:34:57,710 --> 00:35:03,290
members and our vehicles are not functioning properly, where we have to switch out or send

392
00:35:03,290 --> 00:35:07,510
a different unit from a further location to assist that resident.

393
00:35:09,250 --> 00:35:14,970
This person is also responsible for our sex offender registrants, our cannabis business processing,

394
00:35:16,050 --> 00:35:23,210
They handle our court run, what the court run is, is our filing of cases, mostly our misdemeanor

395
00:35:23,210 --> 00:35:25,770
cases that get processed through the court.

396
00:35:25,930 --> 00:35:33,180
This individual takes those cases, once our records division has finished the court

397
00:35:33,180 --> 00:35:35,720
packets, and they make sure it gets to court on time.

398
00:35:36,820 --> 00:35:42,640
They are also involved in the taking of evidence to the Department of Justice Crime

399
00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,160
for processing that could be DNA,

400
00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:48,700
things of that nature that they're responsible for.

401
00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:54,820
We also utilize this person on critical situations.

402
00:35:54,980 --> 00:35:58,380
We will call this individual out on a major case

403
00:35:58,380 --> 00:36:01,300
that we may be an extended period of time,

404
00:36:01,460 --> 00:36:06,380
where this individual is able to bring items to the

405
00:36:06,380 --> 00:36:10,140
commander-on scene to make sure that all the individuals

406
00:36:10,140 --> 00:36:13,640
on scene have what they need or get us additional equipment

407
00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,700
that we may be lacking at the initial response.

408
00:36:18,980 --> 00:36:23,760
Position four manages our records for all soren and non-sworn personnel

409
00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:25,220
as it relates to training.

410
00:36:26,580 --> 00:36:32,420
As you know, and I believe we will see a significant change in

411
00:36:32,420 --> 00:36:35,880
policing in the next year and beyond.

412
00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:39,720
That's going to change what our training requirements will be.

413
00:36:39,720 --> 00:36:42,360
That's going to a lot of that will be mandated by law.

414
00:36:42,540 --> 00:36:44,900
It currently already is mandated by law.

415
00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:48,260
What our officers are required to do training wise.

416
00:36:50,020 --> 00:36:53,580
This position mandates, our schedules mandated

417
00:36:53,580 --> 00:36:56,040
in the central training courses for all of our personnel.

418
00:36:57,060 --> 00:37:03,580
It's a key position for me to go to and ask if we have training needs.

419
00:37:03,940 --> 00:37:06,000
If there are state requirements in place,

420
00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:13,640
that I need to make sure that we are in compliance with, that person's significant in that

421
00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:17,900
role, so that we can maintain proper training records of all of our employees.

422
00:37:19,180 --> 00:37:24,620
They also monitor subpoenas for officers and dispatchers when the Attorney's Office

423
00:37:24,620 --> 00:37:25,620
issues subpoenas.

424
00:37:25,660 --> 00:37:30,720
They come to this central location within the police department, and that person is able

425
00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:35,520
to make sure that the proper service is occurring

426
00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:40,120
for the officers to be notified that they have a court case pending.

427
00:37:43,180 --> 00:37:45,740
Also, they are responsible for the compliance and all areas

428
00:37:45,740 --> 00:37:48,260
of training and training records as I stated earlier.

429
00:37:49,060 --> 00:37:51,860
And they're also responsible for submitting training reimbursements

430
00:37:52,460 --> 00:37:53,920
through California Post.

431
00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:55,920
That is where we attend training,

432
00:37:56,380 --> 00:37:59,520
and we get reimbursements back from California

433
00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:02,280
for a lot of the training that we attend,

434
00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:05,640
which does bring back additional revenue into the city.

435
00:38:08,980 --> 00:38:12,720
Position five is responsible for preparing payroll

436
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:14,280
for the police department.

437
00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:19,600
Handels all administrative requests within the police

438
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:22,080
farmer out of the office of the chief.

439
00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:26,260
Handels paperwork preparation for all concealed

440
00:38:26,260 --> 00:38:27,400
carry permits.

441
00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:32,120
Most of that is related to retirees who are eligible

442
00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,760
for their CCWs.

443
00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:41,380
This person also maintains all personnel files for the police department, so they are responsible

444
00:38:41,380 --> 00:38:45,600
to make sure that our P files are current and up to date.

445
00:38:47,660 --> 00:38:53,200
Also issues all identification cards to not only new employees, but also current employees

446
00:38:53,650 --> 00:38:57,440
and handles a new higher paperwork between the police department and human resources.

447
00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:07,060
position six produces weekly reports to police personnel. This is something that I have utilized

448
00:39:07,060 --> 00:39:15,020
in our fight against the fireworks. As this council knows, I was able to produce this

449
00:39:15,020 --> 00:39:21,660
person was able to produce a document to all of you to show the level of activity in our city.

450
00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:28,040
By mapping it, you are all able to see that the fireworks issues are occurring throughout

451
00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:34,780
the city. It's not just one location that we're dealing with. This person provides investigative

452
00:39:34,780 --> 00:39:40,800
support during criminal investigations, significant to homicide investigations. We have this

453
00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:50,660
individual at the station running records, running social media, doing all kinds of things behind

454
00:39:50,660 --> 00:39:57,580
the scenes for our detective bureau in order to be successful in the investigation of the crimes.

455
00:39:59,900 --> 00:40:05,280
significant component for us in the three homicides we had after I first arrived.

456
00:40:05,900 --> 00:40:13,060
This individual was key and us being able to ultimately solve all three of those homicides.

457
00:40:17,710 --> 00:40:22,720
In addition, creates and distributes flyers, collaborates with Riverside Church Department,

458
00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:25,520
Palm Springs, other allied agencies here in the valley.

459
00:40:26,260 --> 00:40:31,700
We are able to get one of its flyers and bulletins from other agencies to our city.

460
00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:37,580
Perhaps we have a crime trend that is occurring in the city of India through this position's

461
00:40:37,580 --> 00:40:45,570
collaboration with other equals and other agencies were able to get a heads up on certain crimes

462
00:40:45,570 --> 00:40:50,870
that may be headed our way and perhaps be proactive in preventing that type of crime in our

463
00:40:50,870 --> 00:40:51,270
city.

464
00:40:52,610 --> 00:41:07,470
Lastly, provides here in Stats for me, which I ultimately provide to the City Council, and that's what I was referring to earlier with our year and report that you all like to see that we have a drop in crime, hopefully.

465
00:41:09,410 --> 00:41:13,370
And that's my recap on those positions Mayor, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

466
00:41:13,370 --> 00:41:17,490
Thank you Chief, appreciate the report and the update.

467
00:41:17,490 --> 00:41:23,350
I'd like to take the Mayor's prerogative to start with a few questions and comments if I might.

468
00:41:23,530 --> 00:41:24,250
Yes, sir.

469
00:41:24,290 --> 00:41:26,950
And then we'll turn it over to my steamed colleagues.

470
00:41:28,670 --> 00:41:33,930
First, let me say that I am absolutely opposed to any further reductions in personnel and department.

471
00:41:34,630 --> 00:41:36,850
For a lot of the same reasons that we've already heard.

472
00:41:37,610 --> 00:41:46,110
But even with a 10% reduction, and I'm assuming that the 10% reduction and the million nine

473
00:41:46,110 --> 00:41:54,770
that that number reflects does not include the fact that there are seven unfilled positions

474
00:41:54,770 --> 00:41:58,370
in the department that are not going to be filled. Is that correct?

475
00:41:59,530 --> 00:42:05,830
Correct, Mayor. Part of my 10 percent reduction would be not filling the deputy chief position

476
00:42:05,830 --> 00:42:11,610
for at least this budget year. Okay. So I just want to confirm that. Thank you.

477
00:42:11,610 --> 00:42:19,690
So, that still leaves us below the National Police Association standard of one officer for

478
00:42:19,690 --> 00:42:26,170
10,000 population, and we're right on the cusp of that.

479
00:42:26,930 --> 00:42:33,770
So, that's a huge concern for me, based on the fact that we have taken great strides to get to

480
00:42:33,770 --> 00:42:39,950
this point, and I can leave with a nominal reduction, but I cannot live with anywhere else.

481
00:42:40,470 --> 00:42:46,110
Now, I do how we ever think that there may be other potential areas for savings that we should

482
00:42:46,110 --> 00:42:46,510
look at.

483
00:42:47,070 --> 00:42:51,530
I know you may not have the chance for today, but I do think that it's not at all inappropriate

484
00:42:52,090 --> 00:42:57,210
to go back to the unions and ask them and let them know, we're faced with this alternative

485
00:42:57,210 --> 00:43:03,170
here, which is more japonian than the possibility of your giving us something back.

486
00:43:04,110 --> 00:43:09,650
So I really think that we need to, you know, technically, staff can figure out how to do that.

487
00:43:09,650 --> 00:43:15,450
think we need to go back and have that discussion. I also think that and if you've done this,

488
00:43:15,570 --> 00:43:21,090
let me know that there may be some folks in the department who might be close to retirement

489
00:43:21,870 --> 00:43:31,230
and perhaps an incentive for them to retire and replacing those positions with less cellary

490
00:43:31,830 --> 00:43:38,010
qualified candidates might be aware to go. So I think we need to investigate that and look at

491
00:43:39,230 --> 00:43:45,170
going forward. And then the other, the last question I had was related to our contract

492
00:43:45,170 --> 00:43:49,290
with Desan Ospreings. So we do dispatch for Desan Ospreings.

493
00:43:50,890 --> 00:43:57,350
Is that, is that contract a, basically, we cover all costs, or is that a revenue producing

494
00:43:57,350 --> 00:43:57,970
contract?

495
00:44:00,580 --> 00:44:03,880
Your fresh, my memory. It's a cost recovery.

496
00:44:05,580 --> 00:44:10,080
Okay, so that's, it's a mutual contract, okay.

497
00:44:10,300 --> 00:44:10,740
Yes, sir.

498
00:44:10,860 --> 00:44:11,740
Thank you.

499
00:44:11,880 --> 00:44:13,000
So those are my questions.

500
00:44:13,720 --> 00:44:15,880
We'll not proceed to other council comments.

501
00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:16,360
Your questions.

502
00:44:16,580 --> 00:44:16,940
May I pretend?

503
00:44:28,170 --> 00:44:32,190
Thank you, Chief, for going over your list.

504
00:44:32,510 --> 00:44:37,250
And I understand we're trying to be somewhat sensitive because we're not just talking about

505
00:44:38,390 --> 00:44:43,590
widgets, we're talking about people and the great work that they have done and continue to do for the city.

506
00:44:46,250 --> 00:44:49,310
So I just wanted to maybe ask you a few things.

507
00:44:50,490 --> 00:44:52,870
I'm not really going to take a position right now.

508
00:44:53,070 --> 00:44:54,430
At least I don't intend to because I,

509
00:44:54,430 --> 00:44:56,470
I mean I think we're going to do that all together.

510
00:44:57,270 --> 00:44:59,090
But so there is talk.

511
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:02,320
Or there is a chart.

512
00:45:05,030 --> 00:45:11,930
And it does show besides the unfilled positions that does show a sworn cut.

513
00:45:12,210 --> 00:45:17,150
That's correct. So, my understanding is, and you can film the blanks, please.

514
00:45:17,910 --> 00:45:31,410
The proposed cut is not a line, police officer necessarily. The proposed cut has to do with a member of police management that would actually be not laid off but would be retiring.

515
00:45:32,630 --> 00:45:41,590
That's correct, and would be then maybe even brought back or could be used on a contractual basis as needed.

516
00:45:42,150 --> 00:45:42,490
Yes, sir.

517
00:45:42,970 --> 00:45:52,110
So I think this is important because the news is saying, we're proposing a sworn cut and we haven't clarified anywhere.

518
00:45:52,770 --> 00:45:54,390
Well, what does that actually mean?

519
00:45:55,110 --> 00:45:57,050
So could you maybe kind of clarify that?

520
00:45:57,050 --> 00:46:04,590
Absolutely. One of our commanders and I have had discussions regarding the potential of retiring.

521
00:46:05,410 --> 00:46:12,430
This particular commander is in charge of the Mark 43 Cadd RMS implementation that I believe

522
00:46:12,430 --> 00:46:20,070
this council approved back in 2019. That is most likely at least a 12-month implementation

523
00:46:20,070 --> 00:46:28,230
process. So the discussion with that particular sworn member has been that to consider retiring.

524
00:46:28,770 --> 00:46:34,970
And then I would need that individual back as the project manager to complete the implementation,

525
00:46:35,330 --> 00:46:41,090
which would probably take up to 12 months. So that is some dialogue that I have had. That does not

526
00:46:41,090 --> 00:46:49,810
necessitate a layoff of any sworn member of the police department. Okay. And so, and of course,

527
00:46:49,810 --> 00:46:57,770
any loss hurts, but I'm sure that person takes care of other areas now, but you believe that

528
00:46:57,770 --> 00:47:02,090
the remainder of your management team, including you, are going to be able to adequately

529
00:47:03,270 --> 00:47:08,670
split up those duties and be able to perform the necessary work, at least for now while we're in this

530
00:47:08,670 --> 00:47:16,850
crisis period. My hopes would be we could maintain for a year and then at the end of the 2021

531
00:47:16,850 --> 00:47:26,170
budget cycle I do have the opportunity to effect those promotions and get upper management reinstated

532
00:47:26,170 --> 00:47:32,250
within the organization. I already be running without a deputy chief and bringing a commander

533
00:47:32,250 --> 00:47:39,470
back in a 1960 capacity once that commander's project had ended, then I would have, I would

534
00:47:39,470 --> 00:47:42,170
be down a deputy chief and a commander at that time.

535
00:47:42,170 --> 00:47:49,410
Which I think is important to note because I don't think at least for me that we would be in the position or

536
00:47:49,410 --> 00:47:56,830
Or would be wanting to look at any type of a permanent cut or getting rid of positions, but we're just talking about at least temporarily.

537
00:47:56,970 --> 00:48:00,810
This one would not be a layoff would be some other arrangement correct.

538
00:48:01,350 --> 00:48:05,170
So then you kind of went over the

539
00:48:05,870 --> 00:48:34,170
The sticks propose non-sworn. It's on the chart. There are non-sworn. You're being very tactful. You're not saying any actual positions, but I, my guess would be anyone in your department would be able to look at the list of things that would be affected, and I can kind of tell which positions are being looked at. So a couple of questions or observations. Some of the items that you listed are much in a similar way of some of the,

540
00:48:35,270 --> 00:48:46,190
items that we're in finance that we're discussed in that you list things that really have to be done to be able to make the process work.

541
00:48:46,310 --> 00:48:53,470
The police department is not just the officers on the street handling the call and then they get back in a car and it's over.

542
00:48:53,950 --> 00:48:59,170
There's a lot more that has to be done and people do expect to have criminal prosecutions.

543
00:49:00,370 --> 00:49:03,350
prosecutions and justice when they are victimized.

544
00:49:04,370 --> 00:49:06,310
So that's very important that we follow through.

545
00:49:06,430 --> 00:49:08,090
When you make a rest, you put people in jail.

546
00:49:08,610 --> 00:49:09,470
You're not done.

547
00:49:09,790 --> 00:49:10,450
You're just beginning.

548
00:49:10,810 --> 00:49:12,090
You have timelines to meet.

549
00:49:12,570 --> 00:49:16,950
So there are some things on the list that concern me about those.

550
00:49:16,950 --> 00:49:18,750
And I think they're probably the rest of the council.

551
00:49:20,330 --> 00:49:23,850
And so you kind of went over what the six positions did.

552
00:49:24,690 --> 00:49:27,450
And I understand that.

553
00:49:27,450 --> 00:49:43,430
I also am assuming probably certainly that no matter what happened, you and whoever is left in the department are gonna do the best they can do and prioritize and make sure as much as possible gets done.

554
00:49:44,070 --> 00:49:56,690
I think we're all concerned though that we have a certain level that we have managed to scrape our way to and we don't want that level to be seriously eroded.

555
00:49:56,690 --> 00:50:03,330
understanding that if finances don't recover, everything's going to eventually, you know,

556
00:50:03,630 --> 00:50:11,350
get, get cut. So I guess what I would ask, and not trying to put you too much in the spot,

557
00:50:11,930 --> 00:50:19,870
but each of these positions has certain things that they do, but sometimes, well, when we cut,

558
00:50:19,870 --> 00:50:26,990
and it's we're looking at in another department that sometimes some of those duties can be

559
00:50:26,990 --> 00:50:36,710
divvied up to other people and sometimes they they can't because of a specialty or they

560
00:50:36,710 --> 00:50:44,910
already do other duties that aren't necessarily mentioned. So you know you're looking at six positions

561
00:50:44,910 --> 00:50:52,370
And I mean frankly looking at some of them and just even my experience in other departments.

562
00:50:53,470 --> 00:51:01,790
I don't know exactly what each one of them does, but some of the duties and let's just throw one out,

563
00:51:01,870 --> 00:51:04,270
like scheduling training those types of things.

564
00:51:04,570 --> 00:51:09,230
You know, sometimes those can be handled as other duties with other people.

565
00:51:09,230 --> 00:51:14,050
Maybe not as well, and it's very, and of course, that area has grown over time.

566
00:51:14,230 --> 00:51:18,430
I know we're required training in that type of stuff is harder, but we're just talking

567
00:51:18,430 --> 00:51:22,910
about scheduling sometimes that's something that's not a crisis has to be done right now,

568
00:51:22,950 --> 00:51:23,910
but it can be done.

569
00:51:24,210 --> 00:51:27,970
You know, have you looked at those, I guess what I'm asking is have you looked at all of those

570
00:51:27,970 --> 00:51:36,290
duties, and you have a priority list on some of them on, you know, I could actually, if I had

571
00:51:36,290 --> 00:51:42,790
If I had to, I could squeeze by without some of these or some of the others, are there some other duties?

572
00:51:43,530 --> 00:51:51,250
I think I had heard that some of these positions can are certified or qualified to fill in for dispatch.

573
00:51:51,510 --> 00:51:53,530
But I don't hear that anywhere in the discussions.

574
00:51:54,230 --> 00:51:57,070
And I think that type of thing is also important.

575
00:51:57,970 --> 00:52:01,130
So could you maybe take a moment?

576
00:52:01,130 --> 00:52:03,510
I'll try to recap your question, sir.

577
00:52:04,970 --> 00:52:11,030
The reality behind any direction of this council to conduct any layoff within the police

578
00:52:11,030 --> 00:52:19,210
department would certainly require me to reimagine and look at all of the job duties

579
00:52:19,210 --> 00:52:21,230
entailed in these positions.

580
00:52:22,750 --> 00:52:27,370
That's not necessarily something that I have ready to present at this moment.

581
00:52:27,370 --> 00:52:34,390
that's certainly something that I have given significant thought to since this discussion began

582
00:52:35,210 --> 00:52:43,350
six or seven weeks ago. I do have some of the people in these key positions right now,

583
00:52:43,590 --> 00:52:57,350
do have also the ability to dispatch for us. As you know, as part of my

584
00:52:57,350 --> 00:53:05,370
some vacant positions. So those particular people are key to me in the ability to staff our dispatch center.

585
00:53:05,930 --> 00:53:12,810
I have to look at the next 12 months if I'm going to hold open for dispatch positions moving forward.

586
00:53:12,930 --> 00:53:25,110
I certainly would need those individuals in that capacity to certainly dispatch for us at key times so that we continue to maintain the service levels that our community expects.

587
00:53:26,410 --> 00:53:28,250
I think I answered this question.

588
00:53:28,250 --> 00:53:36,710
Well, I think so, but the problem you kind of leave us as a council in is that, of course, none of us want to cut any public safety.

589
00:53:37,050 --> 00:53:39,650
But the public safety are the big money departments.

590
00:53:39,810 --> 00:53:48,290
And I appreciate what you have said that with the cuts that you're able to make without any of these scheduled personnel cuts.

591
00:53:48,290 --> 00:53:59,290
My guess would be the commander cut is still is in your budget savings because that's not necessarily a layoff even though shows on our chart as a layoff.

592
00:53:59,810 --> 00:54:03,070
So we're really talking about these six non sworn positions.

593
00:54:04,150 --> 00:54:17,010
And the problem that I see is that although no one would disagree that each one of those fulfills necessary functions,

594
00:54:17,010 --> 00:54:35,570
You really, we have an all or nothing scenario in front of us, and now you're a mystery that some of them also dispatch, which we have placed as a priority in the police department recognizing that it's just as officers that there's you just don't function without having adequate dispatch.

595
00:54:37,010 --> 00:54:42,630
So, yeah, I mean, I'm less scratching my head because, you know,

596
00:54:44,510 --> 00:54:50,110
where I think the tendency, at this point, is going to be, again, I wasn't going to

597
00:54:50,110 --> 00:54:55,630
necessarily talk a little bit about what I'm feeling is that none of us have an appetite for

598
00:54:55,630 --> 00:55:04,110
really cutting public safety, but if we were to look and we will eventually be there if things

599
00:55:04,110 --> 00:55:14,190
turn around is to, well, instead of all six, is there some variety where one or two would go,

600
00:55:15,170 --> 00:55:23,650
and those duties could be redistributed, and I'm not getting any feedback, so if you don't have it,

601
00:55:23,650 --> 00:55:33,790
you don't have it, but I would say that if these discussions should continue or if we're not able

602
00:55:33,790 --> 00:55:35,990
to reach some type of answer.

603
00:55:36,130 --> 00:55:38,850
Today, these are the types of things I think would be helpful

604
00:55:38,850 --> 00:55:42,250
for us to be able to make a decision.

605
00:55:42,470 --> 00:55:45,010
I mean, nobody wants to split the baby,

606
00:55:45,330 --> 00:55:47,290
but we're left with these all or nothing scenarios.

607
00:55:47,590 --> 00:55:49,210
It's very difficult for us.

608
00:55:50,330 --> 00:55:52,130
Yeah, I certainly can prioritize,

609
00:55:52,630 --> 00:55:55,850
I think that's what you're asking me to do.

610
00:55:56,430 --> 00:55:58,130
When I look at the six positions,

611
00:55:59,850 --> 00:56:05,190
some are difficult to fill their job duties.

612
00:56:06,730 --> 00:56:14,110
So, if I'm being asked to go one through six by priority, I'm prepared to do that.

613
00:56:14,230 --> 00:56:20,430
If that's what you all would like me to do at this time, or I can do it at a later time.

614
00:56:20,870 --> 00:56:22,430
I'll leave that up to the council.

615
00:56:23,230 --> 00:56:24,830
All right, well, I'll tell you what.

616
00:56:25,230 --> 00:56:31,430
Let's wait and hear what the other discussion and questions and see if we get around to that, but it's good to know that at least that's available for you.

617
00:56:31,710 --> 00:56:32,650
I can certainly do that, sir.

618
00:56:32,870 --> 00:56:33,830
Thank you, Mayor, for what you have.

619
00:56:34,850 --> 00:56:35,750
Councilman, good to have us.

620
00:56:35,870 --> 00:56:36,390
Was in the queue.

621
00:56:36,630 --> 00:56:37,070
You want to go next?

622
00:56:38,790 --> 00:56:39,370
Good morning, Chief.

623
00:56:39,790 --> 00:56:40,110
Good morning, sir.

624
00:56:40,310 --> 00:56:41,950
Well, first of all, thank you for all you hard work.

625
00:56:42,010 --> 00:56:44,790
I know that going through the budget is now the easiest thing.

626
00:56:45,730 --> 00:56:48,470
And I just wanted to ask you some questions regarding your career.

627
00:56:48,930 --> 00:56:51,530
How long have you been in the employee and life forcement?

628
00:56:51,830 --> 00:56:52,470
31 years.

629
00:56:52,470 --> 00:56:57,070
So, have you gone through cuts, budget cuts within your time?

630
00:56:57,310 --> 00:56:57,950
Yes, sir.

631
00:56:58,370 --> 00:57:01,810
Okay. So, I am talking to the right person, I know it.

632
00:57:02,770 --> 00:57:11,470
Now, through those cuts, I'm sure you have explored all options as to the employees that we do have,

633
00:57:11,950 --> 00:57:16,330
which ones would be like my colleagues mentioned.

634
00:57:16,330 --> 00:57:23,450
If you were to do with 10%, you mentioned that you probably will not have any layoffs.

635
00:57:24,350 --> 00:57:25,150
That's correct.

636
00:57:25,690 --> 00:57:32,090
Okay, so you have some, you have made some cuts in other areas in order to come up with a number.

637
00:57:33,150 --> 00:57:39,650
Have you thought about about the importance of our SWAT team?

638
00:57:40,370 --> 00:57:45,350
If we, I don't know, I don't know if we can, because what I've heard and talking to people,

639
00:57:45,350 --> 00:57:49,330
including someone that has been in line forcement for a while as well.

640
00:57:50,210 --> 00:57:59,190
We can actually not even contract, but call our shares department, and it will be free.

641
00:57:59,970 --> 00:58:00,570
Is that correct?

642
00:58:01,010 --> 00:58:02,990
In case we need to, this one team?

643
00:58:03,950 --> 00:58:08,450
In a mutual aid capacity, that's ideally what would happen.

644
00:58:08,890 --> 00:58:17,930
What is the cost of the SWAT team between over time, training, and all the materials, everything?

645
00:58:18,470 --> 00:58:19,730
Do you have an idea?

646
00:58:20,410 --> 00:58:26,710
I'm sorry I'm asking you this without having done any work, but just on the top of your head.

647
00:58:26,710 --> 00:58:37,050
Well, I believe my line item slot is 25,000, and that's for equipment and ammunition

648
00:58:37,050 --> 00:58:38,390
things of that nature.

649
00:58:38,950 --> 00:58:44,630
To look at it from an over time perspective, since I have returned in February, my request

650
00:58:44,630 --> 00:58:53,630
for SWAT training is that it be completed in lieu of a duty day, where we're not acquiring

651
00:58:53,630 --> 00:59:00,570
over time to go to SWAT training. Both Palm Springs and Indio, you know, we are a joint team.

652
00:59:00,870 --> 00:59:08,410
It's not just SWAT for the City of Cathedral City, but I would say overall it's not a

653
00:59:08,410 --> 00:59:16,030
significant expense to the city, but does allow us a significant resource in times when we need it.

654
00:59:16,030 --> 00:59:24,210
So, I would say looking at it overall probably less than 60,000 per year.

655
00:59:24,950 --> 00:59:29,370
Okay. That could possibly save one of the positions, couldn't it?

656
00:59:29,450 --> 00:59:29,870
Potentially.

657
00:59:30,670 --> 00:59:33,130
Okay. One of the things that I'm moving to do is,

658
00:59:34,190 --> 00:59:38,170
like our city managers did, he took a pay cut.

659
00:59:38,170 --> 00:59:43,170
I'm willing to also take a pay cut to help try to help some of the employees to give it

660
00:59:43,170 --> 00:59:49,990
And also, my discretionary income is going to be $5,000 as a correct choice.

661
00:59:52,950 --> 00:59:59,970
I'm willing to also cut that in half in order to save one of the positions either in five.

662
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:14,620
Or with you, so I am willing to do that. Now, out of that 10%, again, all the employees that could potentially be laid off.

663
01:00:14,820 --> 01:00:20,960
I'm sure there's one or two that will definitely make a big difference if they were to remain correct.

664
01:00:21,660 --> 01:00:22,220
Yes, sir.

665
01:00:22,220 --> 01:00:28,440
And now, one of the issues that we heard was that

666
01:00:28,440 --> 01:00:31,440
before prior to laying off some of the employees,

667
01:00:32,640 --> 01:00:37,260
we have to give him a 60-day notice prior to laying them off.

668
01:00:38,340 --> 01:00:39,380
Is that correct, Tammy?

669
01:00:39,880 --> 01:00:40,040
Sorry.

670
01:00:41,960 --> 01:00:44,440
It varies from bargaining unit to bargaining unit,

671
01:00:44,700 --> 01:00:46,840
but in many cases, that is correct.

672
01:00:46,840 --> 01:01:12,340
Okay, so if we were to talk about and negotiate possibly the 10% initially within 2-3 months from now, we are going to find out more likely what the extent of the damages of revenue that we have experienced in the city.

673
01:01:12,340 --> 01:01:22,000
Would you be ready to increase from 10% to 15% immediately in case things do not change?

674
01:01:22,660 --> 01:01:23,640
Yes, sir.

675
01:01:23,640 --> 01:01:26,320
Okay, that was one of the things.

676
01:01:28,800 --> 01:01:30,720
Now, I guess that's all my questions.

677
01:01:31,260 --> 01:01:32,480
Thank you for how work again.

678
01:01:32,840 --> 01:01:36,380
I know it's a difficult decision and it's a lot of hard work.

679
01:01:36,820 --> 01:01:37,080
Thank you.

680
01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:38,020
Thank you, Councilwoman.

681
01:01:41,460 --> 01:01:42,680
Good morning, Chief.

682
01:01:42,680 --> 01:01:45,780
And I just wanted to reiterate from my own thinking.

683
01:01:46,400 --> 01:01:51,540
So the proposal you were making was describing 10% cut

684
01:01:51,540 --> 01:01:55,980
that didn't unfold into any layoffs.

685
01:01:56,540 --> 01:02:00,440
Then you had a job description of the six positions.

686
01:02:01,420 --> 01:02:02,880
I'm not in law enforcement.

687
01:02:03,120 --> 01:02:04,860
They all seem essential to me.

688
01:02:06,480 --> 01:02:11,520
And that you are willing to prioritize those six positions

689
01:02:11,520 --> 01:02:21,800
And Mayor Protein had seemed like it is all or nothing, and I would benefit greatly from knowing what your priority list is.

690
01:02:22,820 --> 01:02:35,040
You know, I am loads to make any cuts in public safety, but my background has been in education, and I know fiscal solvency for school districts is paramount.

691
01:02:35,040 --> 01:02:37,500
I mean, they have to run, we have to teach the kids.

692
01:02:37,820 --> 01:02:39,180
We have to keep our residents safe.

693
01:02:40,500 --> 01:02:43,600
So my responsibility, as I look at it this morning,

694
01:02:44,200 --> 01:02:48,700
is to ensure that the public is safe,

695
01:02:49,160 --> 01:02:50,460
and that the city remains solvent.

696
01:02:50,620 --> 01:02:54,820
How to do that, you know, I don't know.

697
01:02:55,100 --> 01:02:56,460
It seems like it's all in, I think,

698
01:02:56,580 --> 01:02:58,260
and that can't be the solution.

699
01:02:58,960 --> 01:03:01,520
So I would appreciate if you have a priority,

700
01:03:02,120 --> 01:03:04,000
let's get a sooner rather than the later.

701
01:03:04,000 --> 01:03:05,340
Thank you.

702
01:03:05,380 --> 01:03:06,380
Thank you, Councilman.

703
01:03:06,380 --> 01:03:07,280
Councilman Kronowali.

704
01:03:07,840 --> 01:03:08,060
Thank you.

705
01:03:08,300 --> 01:03:08,660
Thank you.

706
01:03:08,660 --> 01:03:09,620
Thank you, Chief, for that.

707
01:03:11,790 --> 01:03:16,910
I feel the same way my colleagues here, you know, we've all campaigned and first and foremost

708
01:03:16,910 --> 01:03:21,950
as public safety here on Cathedral City until that anyone go at the police department

709
01:03:21,950 --> 01:03:28,130
at this time when it's in these trying times just to be unproductive.

710
01:03:29,510 --> 01:03:34,430
We hired you Chief to run this department two times and we hired you because the ability

711
01:03:34,430 --> 01:03:40,650
to lead for it any challenging times and you've always told me when I asked you a question,

712
01:03:40,910 --> 01:03:45,990
what if this happens, you said you're prepared. So I trust you explicitly in your decisions

713
01:03:45,990 --> 01:03:51,830
and who you should cut, I wish you cut, but the 10 percent, I'm leaning the 10 percent

714
01:03:51,830 --> 01:03:57,310
seems more than fair with your department. So with that being said, thank you for what you

715
01:03:57,310 --> 01:03:58,670
Thank you.

716
01:03:58,670 --> 01:03:58,830
Thank you.

717
01:03:58,830 --> 01:03:59,110
Thank you.

718
01:03:59,110 --> 01:03:59,470
Thank you, gentlemen.

719
01:04:00,450 --> 01:04:01,230
Other council comments?

720
01:04:01,770 --> 01:04:03,170
I have a one more that I missed.

721
01:04:04,150 --> 01:04:09,250
Just to clarify one of the questions that my colleague Raymond Gregory mentioned.

722
01:04:10,510 --> 01:04:18,190
So regarding the sworn officer, it is not a position that this is a police officer that

723
01:04:18,190 --> 01:04:22,370
is out on the streets fighting crime that is going to be cut.

724
01:04:22,830 --> 01:04:23,630
Is that correct?

725
01:04:23,970 --> 01:04:24,710
Correct, sir.

726
01:04:24,810 --> 01:04:26,830
It's not a cut of a sworn officer.

727
01:04:26,830 --> 01:04:32,890
it would be a retirement and then that individual being brought back to manage the Mark 43 project.

728
01:04:33,530 --> 01:04:34,050
Thank you.

729
01:04:34,230 --> 01:04:34,570
You're welcome.

730
01:04:36,130 --> 01:04:36,290
Okay.

731
01:04:36,450 --> 01:04:36,730
Thank you.

732
01:04:37,070 --> 01:04:43,090
So what I would like to do is I would just like to list three or four points that I believe we have.

733
01:04:43,230 --> 01:04:50,410
Agreement on and then Charlie, if you would either support that or say no that there are other areas that I may have missed.

734
01:04:50,470 --> 01:04:52,730
And of course any council members as well.

735
01:04:53,530 --> 01:04:57,210
So, just to confirm we are not going to fail any devagan positions?

736
01:04:59,470 --> 01:05:03,510
That's the proposal and that's included actually in the 10 percent.

737
01:05:03,510 --> 01:05:06,050
And that's included in 10 percent.

738
01:05:07,010 --> 01:05:10,870
That we are not going to lay off not going to lay off any sworn personnel.

739
01:05:13,130 --> 01:05:16,290
And that is correct as well, mayor.

740
01:05:17,210 --> 01:05:25,770
Thirdly, that we are going to work to prioritize the non-sworn personnel, a list of

741
01:05:25,770 --> 01:05:35,750
potential folks who may be at risk and to have a report back on your priority of those

742
01:05:35,750 --> 01:05:42,530
affected positions, including a recommendation on the one retirement for the management

743
01:05:42,530 --> 01:05:43,390
position?

744
01:05:44,970 --> 01:05:44,990
Correct?

745
01:05:46,490 --> 01:05:46,930
Any else?

746
01:05:51,740 --> 01:05:52,020
I'm sorry.

747
01:05:52,180 --> 01:05:52,920
Can you speak up?

748
01:05:53,160 --> 01:05:58,560
I think the chief indicated that he could actually prioritize those for you now.

749
01:06:01,710 --> 01:06:02,110
Proceed.

750
01:06:04,530 --> 01:06:15,470
So in a 1 through 6 order, 1 being the most significant, that would be the evidence technician.

751
01:06:17,990 --> 01:06:19,630
Number 2 would be the crime analyst.

752
01:06:21,030 --> 01:06:23,730
Sorry, so these are in order of retention?

753
01:06:24,250 --> 01:06:24,950
Yes, sir.

754
01:06:24,970 --> 01:06:25,190
Okay.

755
01:06:27,940 --> 01:06:29,500
Sorry, please can you start over?

756
01:06:29,660 --> 01:06:30,400
Yes, sir.

757
01:06:30,420 --> 01:06:31,120
Evidence technician.

758
01:06:31,880 --> 01:06:32,940
Number one.

759
01:06:34,140 --> 01:06:34,580
Crime analysts.

760
01:06:34,880 --> 01:06:35,580
Number two.

761
01:06:38,690 --> 01:06:39,310
The record analyst.

762
01:06:39,670 --> 01:06:40,590
Number three.

763
01:06:42,290 --> 01:06:42,550
Excuse me.

764
01:06:43,010 --> 01:06:44,450
Tracy, you're right and it's all down, right?

765
01:06:44,830 --> 01:06:46,410
And I'm not going to try to keep up right now, then.

766
01:06:46,530 --> 01:06:46,950
All right, thank you.

767
01:06:47,210 --> 01:06:47,430
Sorry, sir.

768
01:06:49,760 --> 01:06:50,720
Start over, sir.

769
01:06:52,260 --> 01:06:52,560
I'm sorry.

770
01:06:52,680 --> 01:06:53,220
Say the last one.

771
01:06:53,600 --> 01:06:55,140
What number was it?

772
01:06:55,140 --> 01:06:56,200
Did I last give?

773
01:06:56,200 --> 01:06:58,300
Number three, record clerk.

774
01:06:58,960 --> 01:07:00,500
Number four, police training coordinator.

775
01:07:04,540 --> 01:07:05,860
Number five, office assistant.

776
01:07:09,030 --> 01:07:10,430
And number six, PSA.

777
01:07:19,690 --> 01:07:26,670
And as I stated earlier, mayor in the 10% proposal, those are not included in that 10%.

778
01:07:27,950 --> 01:07:32,110
So that would take me beyond the 10% proposal.

779
01:07:33,050 --> 01:07:34,210
Thank you.

780
01:07:34,330 --> 01:07:35,210
You're welcome.

781
01:07:36,170 --> 01:07:37,270
You'll see no other questions.

782
01:07:37,550 --> 01:07:39,770
And just for some context, in terms of the math,

783
01:07:39,770 --> 01:07:46,870
I think this might be important to you and I looked at the actual net general fund costs because

784
01:07:46,870 --> 01:07:53,290
that already had built in the notification periods and all that kind of thing.

785
01:07:53,870 --> 01:08:01,030
Those six added together as 500,274 would have to be added back in if the decision was

786
01:08:01,030 --> 01:08:02,210
to retain all six.

787
01:08:02,730 --> 01:08:03,690
Thank you.

788
01:08:03,730 --> 01:08:05,930
Thank you so very much for everything you do for us.

789
01:08:06,010 --> 01:08:06,890
I really appreciate it.

790
01:08:07,070 --> 01:08:07,710
Thank you.

791
01:08:07,710 --> 01:08:12,170
And if you could, if you could stay, thank you.

792
01:08:12,950 --> 01:08:15,870
Before, well, the fire chief is moving up to the podium

793
01:08:15,870 --> 01:08:18,430
and getting ready for his presentation

794
01:08:18,430 --> 01:08:21,130
as we move to the fire department.

795
01:08:22,050 --> 01:08:24,750
I did want to make just one observation.

796
01:08:25,070 --> 01:08:31,930
And that is that one of the items that I know that I would

797
01:08:31,930 --> 01:08:34,870
need before we make any final final decisions

798
01:08:34,870 --> 01:08:40,990
is we made several decisions I believe last week when we talked about the other departments

799
01:08:40,990 --> 01:08:46,190
and I think we largely agreed with the recommendations with some exceptions.

800
01:08:47,330 --> 01:08:51,770
And so I think, and I don't know, Tammy, if you're prepared to give us that number today,

801
01:08:52,350 --> 01:08:57,880
but I think knowing what the magnitude is of those decisions that were made

802
01:08:59,460 --> 01:08:59,980
Yes.

803
01:09:00,160 --> 01:09:04,140
Has on the amount of the dip into the reserves?

804
01:09:05,340 --> 01:09:06,940
I can give you that right now.

805
01:09:07,540 --> 01:09:07,600
Okay.

806
01:09:08,040 --> 01:09:11,840
As long as I read these back at the end of the last meeting,

807
01:09:12,060 --> 01:09:14,540
so I'm assuming that I got them correct.

808
01:09:15,420 --> 01:09:18,180
It was to eliminate funding for the sponsorship

809
01:09:18,180 --> 01:09:19,900
of the Palm Springs International Film Festival,

810
01:09:20,000 --> 01:09:22,120
that puts you 50,000 to the good.

811
01:09:23,540 --> 01:09:26,260
On CVEP you moved the funding from CVEP

812
01:09:26,260 --> 01:09:34,300
from the Greater Coachella Valley chamber contract two CVEF, so that was a zero cost there.

813
01:09:34,840 --> 01:09:44,680
And the other two items were to report back to you with a plan to what would be necessary to complete the overall fee study,

814
01:09:45,000 --> 01:09:52,720
which in the long run we believe will pay for itself, but over the short term will require some additional resources to do that.

815
01:09:52,720 --> 01:10:06,280
That is not ready yet, but I think that the effect, you can assume the effect on the current budget is zero and we'll report back in the future what needs to be done there.

816
01:10:06,820 --> 01:10:22,340
And then also at zero was to keep code enforcement coverage as close to seven days a week as possible by redeploying the remaining personnel there to come as close as possible to covering seven days.

817
01:10:22,340 --> 01:10:28,320
So with all of that, you're actually $50,000 to the good at this point.

818
01:10:28,480 --> 01:10:29,760
It explained what that means.

819
01:10:29,900 --> 01:10:35,880
That means that you have decreased by $50,000, the amount of reserves that would need

820
01:10:35,880 --> 01:10:36,980
to be drawn down.

821
01:10:37,240 --> 01:10:50,380
As opposed to what was the original recommendation, which was a total of $22,2,467 draw down.

822
01:10:50,380 --> 01:10:51,840
That's the number I was looking for.

823
01:10:51,840 --> 01:10:56,740
Or 2021, that would decrease that number by $50,000.

824
01:10:56,940 --> 01:10:58,760
It's just where you stand right now.

825
01:10:59,620 --> 01:11:02,560
And the number I just gave you for the six positions

826
01:11:02,560 --> 01:11:05,620
in the police department would then increase it up by,

827
01:11:05,620 --> 01:11:08,100
if you went all the way, 500,000, 274.

828
01:11:11,060 --> 01:11:11,800
Thank you, Charlie.

829
01:11:11,920 --> 01:11:13,360
Sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot there,

830
01:11:13,620 --> 01:11:15,600
but I wanted to get that on the record.

831
01:11:16,120 --> 01:11:18,480
And I'm trying to do the math as we go along.

832
01:11:18,900 --> 01:11:21,720
So if you see me, it's the calculator

833
01:11:21,720 --> 01:11:24,040
on the phone, I'm not reading my email or anything.

834
01:11:25,440 --> 01:11:28,900
I said, Chief, welcome, please proceed.

835
01:11:29,100 --> 01:11:29,980
Mr. Mayor, thank you.

836
01:11:30,000 --> 01:11:31,600
With your permission, I'd like to take my mask off.

837
01:11:31,660 --> 01:11:31,980
Of course.

838
01:11:32,520 --> 01:11:32,920
Thank you.

839
01:11:33,040 --> 01:11:35,900
And we're social distancing, I can breathe better.

840
01:11:36,320 --> 01:11:42,620
These fire department masks are especially designed to keep out very fine particulates.

841
01:11:43,800 --> 01:11:47,300
Mr. Mayor, Mayor Pro-Cham and Council, it's my pleasure to be here today.

842
01:11:48,040 --> 01:11:51,440
And I've committed, I want to thank you for the comments that you sent in about the

843
01:11:51,440 --> 01:11:54,320
Department about the good work that they do out in the field.

844
01:11:54,520 --> 01:12:00,880
I've been here seven weeks now, and I can't tell you how impressed I am with the quality

845
01:12:00,880 --> 01:12:08,540
of the firefighters, captains engineers, the leadership of the Tainchees, and the type

846
01:12:08,540 --> 01:12:11,280
of calls they go on and the service they provide.

847
01:12:12,220 --> 01:12:20,260
What's before you today is a proposed reduction in the fire department of $1,759,49.

848
01:12:20,260 --> 01:12:21,720
to

849
01:12:24,180 --> 01:12:31,860
achieve that, we would eliminate one battalion chief, six firefighters, two of which are vacant,

850
01:12:32,640 --> 01:12:45,530
so that would be five layoffs. One battalion chief and four firefighters would position to be eliminated.

851
01:12:47,010 --> 01:12:56,810
that would take the staffing from 14 to 12 because 4, 11, downtown and 4, 13 in the

852
01:12:56,810 --> 01:13:02,630
north end would go from three person staffing to two person staffing. So we're 14

853
01:13:03,190 --> 01:13:07,650
now that would drop to 12 and on the shift where we lost the battalion chief it

854
01:13:07,650 --> 01:13:12,430
would go to 11. The third factor is there's no overtime for the other two

855
01:13:13,150 --> 01:13:17,030
So when ever they are off, then that shift would also drop to 11.

856
01:13:19,910 --> 01:13:21,950
That's really what we're looking at here.

857
01:13:22,570 --> 01:13:28,230
In addition to the $650,000 was in the operating budget,

858
01:13:29,270 --> 01:13:31,130
we can handle for a year.

859
01:13:31,430 --> 01:13:37,510
We'll just hunker down and buy the bare minimum and do the no training and just hang in there.

860
01:13:37,510 --> 01:13:56,750
But the reduction in services is pretty drastic, and you and Chief Olsen over the years have built the department up to three O staffing with shift of time chiefs, which is where you need to be.

861
01:13:57,230 --> 01:14:02,870
You really don't want to go back from that if you can help it. If we need to do it temporarily, this is a way to do it.

862
01:14:02,870 --> 01:14:06,850
Now, I know that you read the calls every day.

863
01:14:07,750 --> 01:14:14,590
Over the two and a half years, all of 18, all of 19, and half of this year, today,

864
01:14:15,490 --> 01:14:19,050
16.21 emergency calls per 24-hour period.

865
01:14:19,890 --> 01:14:23,870
Of those calls, 75% are rescue and EMS.

866
01:14:25,570 --> 01:14:29,070
10% are public service and 3% are fires.

867
01:14:31,630 --> 01:14:59,970
We often hear NFPA standards of one firefighter 2,000 to 1,000, you know, these kinds of numbers don't resonate with me that well, because I have a hard time equating, you know, we're not a population of certain amount of people when we have all these visitors and guests, and so I have a hard time with the 1,000, you know, 1 firefighter 1,000, what I like to think of is rule.

868
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:07,220
Versus urban, are we a rule fire department that runs with one in two people? Or are we an urban department that runs with three and four?

869
01:15:08,300 --> 01:15:19,680
That's a better way to look at it. And the third and most important part, also, is your ISO rating, insurance service organization, comes in and rates the fire department every three years for as its capabilities.

870
01:15:20,980 --> 01:15:27,340
40 percent of that is the water supply. We have excellent water supply. 10 percent is a

871
01:15:27,340 --> 01:15:33,380
ability to dispatch. We have excellent dispatch. 50 percent is firefighting resources.

872
01:15:34,080 --> 01:15:41,440
Manpower personnel and equipment. We reduce that side of the equation and we're right now

873
01:15:41,440 --> 01:15:46,040
in an ISO rating. They just sent us the information to start the process for the next three

874
01:15:46,580 --> 01:15:50,080
We're at a class two or a class three right now.

875
01:15:50,460 --> 01:15:52,200
We're at low class three.

876
01:15:53,680 --> 01:15:56,320
If we lost these positions, my

877
01:15:58,910 --> 01:16:02,750
judgment would be that we would still stay a class three.

878
01:16:02,990 --> 01:16:04,590
But it would be at the top end of a class three.

879
01:16:04,750 --> 01:16:05,910
We could go to a class four.

880
01:16:06,270 --> 01:16:07,150
Now what does that mean?

881
01:16:07,550 --> 01:16:14,150
The difference in these classes determines the amount of commercial insurance premiums that the commercial industry has to pay.

882
01:16:14,150 --> 01:16:26,290
So if you have a business, a manufacturing facility, the insurance rates are based on the ISO rating for the Fire Department's ability to put out the fires in these types of businesses.

883
01:16:26,850 --> 01:16:27,870
Not so much residential.

884
01:16:28,930 --> 01:16:40,070
There is a small impact to the residential insurance, but it's really an insurance for that the insurance companies use to base how much insurance they need to fire insurance they need on a property.

885
01:16:40,690 --> 01:16:47,450
So we're close to a two, we're in the three, we'll probably, if we were to make these cuts.

886
01:16:47,930 --> 01:16:52,230
My guess is we would stay in a three, but we could drop to a four.

887
01:16:53,290 --> 01:16:59,150
My objective, of course, would be to try to get to a two or a one over the next few years.

888
01:16:59,430 --> 01:17:07,570
If you think of the, I like to look at our area here, very similar to Beverly Hills.

889
01:17:07,570 --> 01:17:09,770
Everybody hills is a class one fire department.

890
01:17:12,290 --> 01:17:13,490
We're class three.

891
01:17:14,090 --> 01:17:15,270
Could go to class four.

892
01:17:15,850 --> 01:17:17,730
You make these types of reductions in staff.

893
01:17:17,950 --> 01:17:20,010
It's going to impact the daily operations.

894
01:17:20,350 --> 01:17:23,230
Now I can go into what all that means, but we're going to be

895
01:17:23,230 --> 01:17:26,050
waiting around for firefighters to show up on other engines.

896
01:17:26,490 --> 01:17:28,630
Because that ambulance, those ambulances,

897
01:17:29,310 --> 01:17:32,070
they're key to this organization because they give us firefighters

898
01:17:32,070 --> 01:17:34,370
to do the firefighting when we need them.

899
01:17:34,550 --> 01:17:37,010
They provide the most excellent outstanding transport

900
01:17:37,010 --> 01:17:43,430
services in the valley, in my opinion, to the hospitals, because the paramedics on these ambulances

901
01:17:43,430 --> 01:17:50,730
are with that patient from start to finish all the way to the ER doctor. And they're very

902
01:17:50,730 --> 01:17:56,170
skilled because of that. We're saving lives because of that. So when you drop from a two

903
01:17:56,170 --> 01:18:00,950
person, three person to two person, and you keep your ambulances at two, you have four people

904
01:18:00,950 --> 01:18:06,370
at those two stations. But those ambulances are gone 44 percent of the time. They're not

905
01:18:06,370 --> 01:18:12,510
available because they're running emergency calls, because 75% of our calls are EMS calls

906
01:18:12,510 --> 01:18:20,830
and a lot of them are transports. So you're going to be forced to have a two-person

907
01:18:20,830 --> 01:18:31,050
engine company, respond to a major incident traffic accident, medical emergency, fire, rescue,

908
01:18:31,050 --> 01:18:37,510
with two people. They can't do anything with two people. All they can do is set up and

909
01:18:37,510 --> 01:18:44,170
establish command and call in the cavalry, which are the other engines that are here,

910
01:18:44,270 --> 01:18:48,430
which would have five more. You'd have three on the truck and two on the engine, maybe

911
01:18:48,430 --> 01:18:54,670
two on the other ambulance unless it's on a call at the hospital. So that's the reality

912
01:18:54,670 --> 01:19:07,910
of it. And we can do it. We can survive its plane, the odds, really. What can happen with

913
01:19:07,910 --> 01:19:09,130
this level of reduction?

914
01:19:12,070 --> 01:19:16,850
Thank you, Chief. I appreciate those comments. We'll move to Council of comments in just

915
01:19:16,850 --> 01:19:22,230
one moment. I did have a couple of questions, please. First of all, I was going to mention

916
01:19:22,230 --> 01:19:32,810
the insurance services office issue and the impact that a decrease in our rating could

917
01:19:32,810 --> 01:19:37,890
have on our businesses, which are already suffering. So I think any risk and losing

918
01:19:37,890 --> 01:19:44,410
that number is problematic for me. Now I also have a question and perhaps you can answer

919
01:19:44,410 --> 01:19:50,470
this if not I think Tammy or Charlie Kim. When we acquire the safer grant with additional

920
01:19:50,470 --> 01:19:58,350
firefighters. If we make any reductions, does that impact our grant? Is that kick in any repayment

921
01:19:58,350 --> 01:20:03,770
provision? Was it put a set risk of losing marble medicine from that grant?

922
01:20:05,850 --> 01:20:11,370
My judgment would be this. I did this in Palm Springs during the Great Recession. We had

923
01:20:11,370 --> 01:20:17,350
to say for grant that we could not fulfill the obligations of that grant. And because we were

924
01:20:17,350 --> 01:20:21,130
fiscal emergency, which we are here as well.

925
01:20:22,730 --> 01:20:26,590
We would, first of all, we're at the very end of that safer grant.

926
01:20:27,610 --> 01:20:31,810
The money that we're going to, it ends in February, okay, so we don't have much

927
01:20:31,810 --> 01:20:33,850
long to go before that safer grant is over.

928
01:20:34,490 --> 01:20:38,070
The revenues coming in from that grant is diminishing very quickly.

929
01:20:39,190 --> 01:20:43,790
Like 20,000 last month, next month, the B-18,000, and then presence is going to drop to nine,

930
01:20:43,790 --> 01:20:46,770
and it's going to go by October we zero amount of revenue.

931
01:20:47,770 --> 01:20:50,590
So we're really not benefiting much from the safer grant any longer.

932
01:20:50,770 --> 01:20:52,490
We've already got the benefit from it.

933
01:20:53,010 --> 01:21:00,270
My fear is this, if we were to reduce surf staffing to reduce the number of firefighters

934
01:21:01,550 --> 01:21:07,090
that does not allow us to meet the terms of the safer grant, then the next time we go

935
01:21:07,090 --> 01:21:09,970
for a safer grant, we're going to be at a disadvantage.

936
01:21:10,810 --> 01:21:14,130
Now, it's certainly understandable if we need to.

937
01:21:14,710 --> 01:21:17,790
Now, none of the firefighters that are listed are safer grant funded firefighters.

938
01:21:18,450 --> 01:21:20,990
They're further up in the chain.

939
01:21:21,510 --> 01:21:26,470
So, that does help us that we're not actually laying off a safer granted funded firefighter.

940
01:21:26,730 --> 01:21:30,270
We're reducing our overall capability or overall staffing level.

941
01:21:30,650 --> 01:21:33,670
And safer does not look at minimum staffing levels.

942
01:21:34,070 --> 01:21:36,910
It looks at the firefighters that were hired under the grant

943
01:21:36,910 --> 01:21:39,730
and are they still employed unless they will still be employed?

944
01:21:40,350 --> 01:21:40,890
Thank you Chief.

945
01:21:41,450 --> 01:21:41,470
Okay.

946
01:21:41,590 --> 01:21:45,770
We'll go next to Councilwoman Land, who was first in the queue followed by Mayor Protem,

947
01:21:46,430 --> 01:21:47,650
who was second in the queue.

948
01:21:47,890 --> 01:21:48,410
Councilwoman.

949
01:21:48,590 --> 01:21:49,890
Thank you very much for your presentation.

950
01:21:50,130 --> 01:21:52,310
And I just wanted to clarify for myself.

951
01:21:52,690 --> 01:21:56,230
So the five positions that you're talking about,

952
01:21:56,350 --> 01:22:04,150
that amounts to about $850,000 in terms of their commitments as I would.

953
01:22:04,150 --> 01:22:11,210
actually for the for the for the year 2021 once we back out the notification periods and all that

954
01:22:11,210 --> 01:22:19,110
what it actually saved us was 554602 that was for all five back out the battalion chief just for the firefighters

955
01:22:19,110 --> 01:22:28,670
it was 37612 okay and and so in that proposal it is that's that's an all or nothing I love that phrase but that's an all or nothing

956
01:22:28,670 --> 01:22:40,970
It's this is the this is what we're considering or none of that. Well, no. Okay. Okay. The target for me and and this this staff was 20% reduction.

957
01:22:42,290 --> 01:22:52,370
Prior to that chief Wilson had actually prepared a 10% reduction and that included dropping from 14 to 12.

958
01:22:53,170 --> 01:22:59,710
two hundred and seventy three days a year and not laying anybody off. Now I don't

959
01:22:59,710 --> 01:23:04,850
I haven't run the numbers on those to to know what the cost savings is but it

960
01:23:05,390 --> 01:23:12,450
it seemed to be a way to one not have any layoffs but you're still going to drop to

961
01:23:12,450 --> 01:23:16,130
twelve depending on who's off that day.

962
01:23:19,940 --> 01:23:25,900
Councilmember Lam and Mayor with your permission so that everyone understands what that means.

963
01:23:26,260 --> 01:23:32,420
That means you would still have the ability to assign 14 to a shift, but you would not fit

964
01:23:32,420 --> 01:23:38,240
backfill with over time when somebody was off either because of an injury, an illness, or

965
01:23:38,240 --> 01:23:44,200
a vacation day. So you would have varying numbers from day to day, and that's integral to even

966
01:23:44,200 --> 01:23:53,100
getting the 10% target, and you put that in place by a policy decision.

967
01:23:55,280 --> 01:24:03,280
So, so you would have the ability to staff to 14 or 13 if you still eliminated one of the battalion chiefs,

968
01:24:03,600 --> 01:24:07,900
but you would only backfill with overtime when it was going to drop below 12.

969
01:24:07,900 --> 01:24:13,500
And that's about 273 days a year, you're going to not be at 14.

970
01:24:14,940 --> 01:24:14,960
Okay.

971
01:24:15,100 --> 01:24:20,940
You'd be less than 14, but no less than 12, because if three people were off, we have

972
01:24:20,940 --> 01:24:26,120
to recall one person for over time to keep this mapping level at 12.

973
01:24:26,340 --> 01:24:26,740
I see.

974
01:24:27,220 --> 01:24:29,580
That's a more measured approach.

975
01:24:30,340 --> 01:24:32,120
It still doesn't really help us.

976
01:24:32,160 --> 01:24:37,420
It helps our odds on the types of calls and the numbers and what day it's going to happen

977
01:24:37,420 --> 01:24:44,400
but it's not as draconian a measure as as eliminating seven positions.

978
01:24:44,820 --> 01:24:47,720
All right, thank you. Thank you.

979
01:24:48,100 --> 01:24:48,960
May you pretend please.

980
01:24:49,100 --> 01:24:50,760
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council.

981
01:24:52,340 --> 01:24:55,560
So you actually got right into my biggest question here.

982
01:24:55,700 --> 01:25:00,120
I two of them and one of them was what were the personnel costs versus other savings.

983
01:25:00,120 --> 01:25:07,960
And I think you covered that that the personnel savings is about $550,000.

984
01:25:10,320 --> 01:25:12,640
And the other had to do with the safer grant and staffing.

985
01:25:13,320 --> 01:25:21,440
When we actually did this two year budget, there was a lot of discussion about the staffing required by the safer grant.

986
01:25:21,440 --> 01:25:30,100
and at the time we were being told we being the council that we had to stay at a 14 staffing

987
01:25:30,100 --> 01:25:36,620
because that was part of the safer grant and that meant we had to approve which we ended up doing

988
01:25:36,620 --> 01:25:42,960
massive amounts of overtime because although we had the staff if everybody is there every day

989
01:25:42,960 --> 01:25:50,360
and not a training and not sick and not a vacation to do that level that maintain that level required

990
01:25:50,360 --> 01:25:58,320
massive amounts of overtime. So, a lot of us weren't really very happy about that, but we ended

991
01:25:58,320 --> 01:26:05,940
up approving that because we needed to maintain that for the safer grant. So now we're getting

992
01:26:05,940 --> 01:26:10,360
told something a little different. Well I understand the circumstances change that were in a

993
01:26:10,360 --> 01:26:15,240
financial emergency, although I would raise the question to the city manager as if we'd declared

994
01:26:15,240 --> 01:26:22,000
a financial emergency and maybe we should so that we have to make sure that we are covered

995
01:26:22,000 --> 01:26:27,040
if they do come back, maybe we did in all of that initial, but I don't remember that actually

996
01:26:27,040 --> 01:26:33,760
being a financial emergency. So that would be something to please follow up on. But so I respect

997
01:26:34,560 --> 01:26:39,120
that that circumstance has changed and I'm not trying to rehash the past and you weren't here.

998
01:26:40,100 --> 01:26:47,720
But I do think the reason I bring that up is I do think that there is some merit to

999
01:26:47,720 --> 01:26:55,060
having a little more flexibility in the policy where we would have a goal of having

1000
01:26:55,060 --> 01:26:58,520
14 every day, but we would set a floor.

1001
01:26:59,240 --> 01:27:05,160
My experience in public safety is that's super common where you have a floor, but especially

1002
01:27:05,160 --> 01:27:35,100
While you're building staff or trying to maintain staff is you have a goal that is your ideal and then it gives management some flexibility as to how you're doing on your overtime budget, whether you're going to fill in when somebody's out or whether you're still above your floor and you believe because of whatever circumstance or whatever shift or whatever day of the week it is.

1003
01:27:35,160 --> 01:27:41,760
management is my experience very good at this type of thing, they're able to then say, well,

1004
01:27:41,900 --> 01:27:48,580
I think that we will be able to get by today without filling that one with overtime and over time,

1005
01:27:49,060 --> 01:27:52,160
that adds up to pretty substantial savings.

1006
01:27:54,380 --> 01:27:57,560
So, so I don't know if you have some comments.

1007
01:27:57,800 --> 01:28:02,200
Well, I would like to just clarify a little bit on the safe for because there's a component of it

1008
01:28:02,200 --> 01:28:08,560
I'm not sure of, and this is what, the last week that Chief Wilson was here is he and I did,

1009
01:28:08,820 --> 01:28:11,240
there's several reports that go into the safer reporting.

1010
01:28:11,380 --> 01:28:17,200
One is a quarterly report, and then one is our finance report to get the reimbursement

1011
01:28:17,200 --> 01:28:17,480
money.

1012
01:28:18,220 --> 01:28:23,000
When he and I did, the logged in and did the finance report, it was very simple, click down,

1013
01:28:23,220 --> 01:28:25,820
click down, click down, fill in the blanks, this and this.

1014
01:28:26,140 --> 01:28:29,120
And it asks the question, how many firefighters do you have total?

1015
01:28:29,120 --> 01:28:38,880
And with the retirements that we just recently had last month, we'd gone down from, I think, 40 or 41, 42 to 40.

1016
01:28:39,320 --> 01:28:46,180
And he told me we can go one more to 39, but for all kinds of stuff a safer is going to happen.

1017
01:28:46,500 --> 01:28:51,940
Now, what that means, I don't know, because it's just one number plugged in there.

1018
01:28:52,160 --> 01:28:55,140
But the fact of the matter is we're very near the end of the safer grant.

1019
01:28:55,140 --> 01:28:56,780
It could jeopardize it.

1020
01:28:57,360 --> 01:29:04,740
My preference would be to not lay off anybody to maintain the levels that we can so that we can

1021
01:29:04,740 --> 01:29:09,820
actually say next time when I got to fill that form out, we have this many people and not

1022
01:29:09,820 --> 01:29:16,020
and we can probably afford to lose one and we may get one out of retirement quite possibly

1023
01:29:16,020 --> 01:29:18,500
here in the next three to six months.

1024
01:29:18,500 --> 01:29:26,060
And so that would put us at that floor for the safer grant that we would not have jeopardized that grant.

1025
01:29:26,380 --> 01:29:29,540
It's going to be over in February.

1026
01:29:30,540 --> 01:29:32,140
And we'd be in a position to reapply.

1027
01:29:32,300 --> 01:29:37,720
What I would not want to see us do is come back and reapply after we reneged on a grant once.

1028
01:29:37,940 --> 01:29:40,740
They're not likely to provide that a second time.

1029
01:29:42,080 --> 01:29:42,920
Yes, thank you very much.

1030
01:29:43,300 --> 01:29:47,580
So again, I know we weren't necessarily talking final answers here.

1031
01:29:47,580 --> 01:29:59,700
But when I look at this, I will just say that, well, for the public safety swan, which would include police swan in the end to me and the firefighters, both your paramedics at EMTs.

1032
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:28,340
You know, one thing that's kind of lost is how much work goes into hiring, training, certifying, equipping, all of these people. And so, there is also, besides the notice cost, there, if we, then later now come back to put them back on, you got that huge burden that the council has to overcome at the city. Financial burden, besides the fact of trying to find,

1033
01:30:30,280 --> 01:30:36,060
Highly qualified people out here in the desert can be a problem, I'm trying to look for diversity or

1034
01:30:37,040 --> 01:30:44,940
Macolar bilingual and all the different things that we've tried to do. So this deeply disturbs me when I see the proposals to cut

1035
01:30:45,420 --> 01:30:47,640
actual line officers

1036
01:30:49,100 --> 01:30:52,360
Besides the fact that we have the reduction in service

1037
01:30:52,360 --> 01:30:59,480
What I think makes a lot of sense to me and I would hope the council would would give it serious consideration

1038
01:31:01,340 --> 01:31:08,160
is flexing that policy, though, so that we first do the best that we can with our existing

1039
01:31:08,160 --> 01:31:16,600
staff, and we give management the discretion to try to find savings where it can be done on days

1040
01:31:16,600 --> 01:31:22,480
and scheduling, and those types of things by setting 12, and instead of a 14 with the goal being

1041
01:31:22,480 --> 01:31:28,560
I don't want to lose sight, I don't think anybody does, that being the proper staffing,

1042
01:31:30,580 --> 01:31:37,100
but without having to just automatically fill over time and without management really having that discussions.

1043
01:31:40,260 --> 01:31:41,220
Thank you.

1044
01:31:41,500 --> 01:31:42,700
The Councilman Gutierrez.

1045
01:31:42,840 --> 01:31:43,240
Yes.

1046
01:31:43,900 --> 01:31:45,800
Well, Chief, thank you for all you hard work as well.

1047
01:31:46,080 --> 01:31:48,260
I know has taken quite a bit of your time.

1048
01:31:48,540 --> 01:31:49,520
We're going through all this budget.

1049
01:31:49,520 --> 01:31:54,040
Now, the first question is going to be for either Charlie or Tammy.

1050
01:31:54,960 --> 01:32:00,200
Can you guys tell me, what was the last time or what department in the last four years

1051
01:32:00,200 --> 01:32:08,180
has received the largest increase in money, why is it for the department?

1052
01:32:13,190 --> 01:32:14,030
I can't answer.

1053
01:32:14,370 --> 01:32:20,390
I'd have to go back and actually do some calculations to determine on a monetary basis.

1054
01:32:20,390 --> 01:32:31,450
I do know that since I've been here, which is, you have to go back six years, that the most personnel added to any department has been in the fire department, and that was an intentional thing.

1055
01:32:31,490 --> 01:32:46,470
I think on the part of the policy makers to try to get to where we achieved that 14 person staffing, so we've added 10 positions to the fire department in the last six years.

1056
01:32:46,470 --> 01:32:54,150
we're added when we received the cannabis funding and we're able to take some money out of that

1057
01:32:54,150 --> 01:33:01,750
to add and then the other six with the safer grant. Okay, now one was the last time that

1058
01:33:01,750 --> 01:33:06,870
we operated with Eminem of 12, what year, how long ago has it been?

1059
01:33:10,360 --> 01:33:11,500
Well actually it's more

1060
01:33:11,500 --> 01:33:19,440
recent than that because when I came here in 2014 we were operating with 12. That was

1061
01:33:19,440 --> 01:33:22,600
prior to the addition of those 10 personnel.

1062
01:33:22,880 --> 01:33:26,840
And I think the first batch of those that were hired

1063
01:33:26,840 --> 01:33:30,420
was in 2016 or was it 17 with 16.

1064
01:33:30,880 --> 01:33:33,620
So it would be 2016 and prior.

1065
01:33:34,320 --> 01:33:36,560
So for about four years, we have an operating

1066
01:33:36,560 --> 01:33:40,540
with minimum 14 for about four years now, approximately.

1067
01:33:42,220 --> 01:33:42,480
Great.

1068
01:33:42,900 --> 01:33:43,540
That's correct.

1069
01:33:43,760 --> 01:33:46,860
So between, I think the first, the most recent round

1070
01:33:46,860 --> 01:33:50,920
cuts with 2012, so between 2012 and 2016, we probably

1071
01:33:50,920 --> 01:33:55,220
operated with around 12 on most occasions.

1072
01:33:55,620 --> 01:34:01,060
Since 2016, we went up to that first batch of four,

1073
01:34:01,140 --> 01:34:05,460
put us up to 13, and then when we added the safer

1074
01:34:05,460 --> 01:34:08,000
grant that took us back up to 4G.

1075
01:34:09,000 --> 01:34:14,380
Now, some of these potential layoffs.

1076
01:34:16,120 --> 01:34:20,380
These firemen, are they also paramedics or EMTs?

1077
01:34:21,140 --> 01:34:21,420
Where are they?

1078
01:34:21,440 --> 01:34:25,640
I believe two are EMTs and two are paramedics.

1079
01:34:26,380 --> 01:34:31,500
Your counsel goal was to, well, Chief Wilson was to reduce a number of paramedics and bring in more EMTs.

1080
01:34:32,420 --> 01:34:34,440
And so he's done that.

1081
01:34:34,760 --> 01:34:44,360
The last, based on the rule of, you know, last in first out in the organization at the lowest rank.

1082
01:34:44,360 --> 01:34:51,120
the firefighter to our paramedics and to our EMTs.

1083
01:34:51,420 --> 01:34:55,000
Out of our entire force, how many are paramedics?

1084
01:34:56,280 --> 01:34:56,420
Currently?

1085
01:34:56,580 --> 01:34:58,260
I think all but four.

1086
01:34:58,260 --> 01:34:58,900
All but four?

1087
01:34:59,160 --> 01:34:59,680
I think so.

1088
01:35:00,260 --> 01:35:01,820
And monetarily wise, my wife.

1089
01:35:02,780 --> 01:35:07,200
Do they make a lot more money if you were a paramedic than EMT?

1090
01:35:07,460 --> 01:35:08,200
Not necessarily.

1091
01:35:08,520 --> 01:35:10,240
I think that what's in Senate pay?

1092
01:35:11,700 --> 01:35:14,340
I wouldn't characterize it as a lot.

1093
01:35:14,440 --> 01:35:16,060
I think it's about between 10 and 15.

1094
01:35:16,680 --> 01:35:18,220
Yeah, for the skillset you're getting,

1095
01:35:19,240 --> 01:35:23,160
the difference between a paramedic and an EMT is pretty significant.

1096
01:35:25,060 --> 01:35:28,880
My personal feeling is you want as many medics as you can at the lowest levels,

1097
01:35:29,280 --> 01:35:31,640
and at the highest levels you don't need to have paramedics,

1098
01:35:31,920 --> 01:35:34,020
at the time chiefs level, for say,

1099
01:35:34,560 --> 01:35:37,360
or maybe even at some captains, maybe half medic pay.

1100
01:35:37,640 --> 01:35:40,000
But for your engineers and firefighters, you want paramedics.

1101
01:35:40,000 --> 01:35:45,940
It's much as possible, because they can all do the job, especially in an organization like

1102
01:35:45,940 --> 01:35:51,060
this, where you transport, you're not just passing it off to a private ambulance company

1103
01:35:51,060 --> 01:35:51,860
to take it from there.

1104
01:35:52,420 --> 01:35:56,760
You're actually providing a continuity of care from the beginning all the way to the emergency

1105
01:35:56,760 --> 01:36:03,800
room doctor, and I've learned this from armatics, just since I've been here, how valuable

1106
01:36:03,800 --> 01:36:06,820
that has been from the senior medics.

1107
01:36:06,820 --> 01:36:14,100
That's a critical component that no other fire department, other than the COVID communities that also transports has as well.

1108
01:36:14,420 --> 01:36:24,160
Now, one of the things that I'm trying to get to here is that we have currently, we have three man-pertruck fire truck.

1109
01:36:24,680 --> 01:36:33,720
And they're all paramedics. Then we dispatch most of them. Then we dispatch the ambulance in both of them, our paramedics.

1110
01:36:34,540 --> 01:36:41,260
Now, when there's a call, like you mentioned earlier, a very high percentage of those calls are medical aids.

1111
01:36:42,000 --> 01:36:49,880
So we're dispatching five people that are paramedics to a medical aid call.

1112
01:36:50,300 --> 01:36:58,400
I believe that's a little bit, of course, we are getting really high quality of care, but at what cost.

1113
01:36:58,400 --> 01:37:06,160
And we're getting five paramedics for medical aid, which is assist to a lift assist.

1114
01:37:06,800 --> 01:37:09,760
Some of the fell off their bed or they can't get up.

1115
01:37:10,540 --> 01:37:13,260
So we're dispatching five paramedics.

1116
01:37:14,280 --> 01:37:21,620
So one of my goals is trying to see what we do to reduce the cost and the new future with

1117
01:37:21,620 --> 01:37:21,900
that.

1118
01:37:21,900 --> 01:37:28,020
understand and my response to that would be fully staff with the three person engine company

1119
01:37:28,020 --> 01:37:32,720
and a two person medic, you may have five because we still have some EMTs but that's the soon

1120
01:37:32,720 --> 01:37:37,860
we all five are paramedics and they're going to transport that first of all on the lift assist

1121
01:37:37,860 --> 01:37:42,980
that's a public service that's a public service okay so the engine goes back in service right away

1122
01:37:42,980 --> 01:37:48,460
but on a emergency medical emergency that ambulance is going to transport the patient so now you're left

1123
01:37:48,460 --> 01:37:54,240
with three, but they're still in their first in area to handle the next call, and that's probably

1124
01:37:54,240 --> 01:37:56,900
going to be 75% of the time, a medical emergency.

1125
01:37:57,580 --> 01:38:02,460
And now you're down to three, and you're going to need three to do most procedures on an advanced

1126
01:38:02,460 --> 01:38:03,420
life support incident.

1127
01:38:05,380 --> 01:38:08,380
Now, you were, you retired from the City of Palm Springs, correct?

1128
01:38:08,400 --> 01:38:09,020
That's correct.

1129
01:38:09,060 --> 01:38:10,800
The operate under AMR.

1130
01:38:12,460 --> 01:38:16,400
Now, what is the cost to the city when they operate under AMR?

1131
01:38:17,140 --> 01:38:21,380
So, the way it works in Palm Springs is much like here.

1132
01:38:21,960 --> 01:38:25,680
I started the Paramedic Program in 2001 with three paramedics.

1133
01:38:25,760 --> 01:38:26,680
One on each shift.

1134
01:38:27,360 --> 01:38:30,500
It has blossomed to all the way up to Deputy Chief.

1135
01:38:30,960 --> 01:38:31,800
It's a paramedic.

1136
01:38:32,860 --> 01:38:33,920
There's reasons for that.

1137
01:38:34,040 --> 01:38:36,420
Part of the reasons is on the recruitment side.

1138
01:38:36,780 --> 01:38:41,220
You can take a pool of 7 or 800 candidates and get it down to 70 applicants.

1139
01:38:41,380 --> 01:38:45,020
Something manageable if you make a paramedic the standard that you're going to hire.

1140
01:38:45,020 --> 01:38:52,480
and we want those. But in Palm Springs, they provide the advanced life support for the patient

1141
01:38:52,480 --> 01:39:00,080
and then wait and wait and wait for the ambulance to come. Sometimes it's right there. Oftentimes,

1142
01:39:00,680 --> 01:39:05,960
it's not. It's 20 minute wait. They're doing their thing with the patient as waiting for the

1143
01:39:05,960 --> 01:39:12,660
transport and then they pass the patient over to the AMR ambulance who then takes that person to the hospital.

1144
01:39:12,660 --> 01:39:16,320
So, the Fire Department receives no revenue from that, none.

1145
01:39:18,280 --> 01:39:23,860
What the Fire Department gets, because AMR is charging the patient for the supplies used

1146
01:39:23,860 --> 01:39:28,760
and the drugs and the IV bags, those are then reimbursed to the Fire Department.

1147
01:39:29,060 --> 01:39:33,880
Once a month order gets placed, to AMR, it's drop ship to the Fire Department, so there's

1148
01:39:33,880 --> 01:39:41,200
no autopocket expense for the ALS and EMS products that have been used on the scene for a

1149
01:39:41,200 --> 01:39:42,840
that they can build for.

1150
01:39:43,680 --> 01:39:45,120
So there's no money that comes in.

1151
01:39:45,460 --> 01:39:48,520
Now, what AMR does is all those times that they missed,

1152
01:39:48,880 --> 01:39:51,300
they're time limit, and we're sitting there waiting,

1153
01:39:51,560 --> 01:39:52,980
where the firefighters are sitting there waiting,

1154
01:39:53,380 --> 01:39:55,120
they have to pay a penalty to the city.

1155
01:39:55,960 --> 01:39:58,420
The penalties are small.

1156
01:40:00,060 --> 01:40:02,240
60,000 the air may be.

1157
01:40:02,320 --> 01:40:03,300
Not much.

1158
01:40:04,420 --> 01:40:07,200
Yeah, because one of the things that I talked about in the past was

1159
01:40:08,300 --> 01:40:16,700
to actually get to conduct the study to see if what would it take to transition our ambulance

1160
01:40:16,700 --> 01:40:25,300
department to AMR in our city in order to attempt to save about $1.5 million give or take.

1161
01:40:25,640 --> 01:40:30,860
We would have to go back and talk about the figures but that was one of my big things that

1162
01:40:30,860 --> 01:40:31,700
I talked about.

1163
01:40:31,700 --> 01:40:33,320
But the council vote in no.

1164
01:40:33,900 --> 01:40:39,960
Right, and what you would do is you basically give up two, four for shift times.

1165
01:40:40,100 --> 01:40:44,860
So you give up 12 firefighters and be left with the remaining.

1166
01:40:45,160 --> 01:40:46,320
So you'd have to do that.

1167
01:40:46,400 --> 01:40:47,640
You give up 12 of your firefighters.

1168
01:40:48,220 --> 01:40:51,700
That could be used for firefighting and rescue and traffic accidents and everything else.

1169
01:40:53,020 --> 01:40:59,700
So that's just a, if you've got rid of the ambulances, you'd have to eliminate 12 firefighters that do firefighting.

1170
01:40:59,700 --> 01:41:06,120
It was just a way to analyze things and to see if there was possible savings.

1171
01:41:06,460 --> 01:41:12,220
I think the model that you have here, you're really fortunate that you have this transport service.

1172
01:41:13,100 --> 01:41:17,620
The revenue from that offset the cost of those firefighters.

1173
01:41:18,800 --> 01:41:23,300
And it's a good benefit to the city, the model that you're running under right now.

1174
01:41:25,450 --> 01:41:26,030
Thank you.

1175
01:41:26,210 --> 01:41:26,790
Thank you, Chief.

1176
01:41:26,990 --> 01:41:27,910
Appreciate it.

1177
01:41:28,630 --> 01:41:29,710
Can someone kind of have all the comments?

1178
01:41:29,710 --> 01:41:36,490
questions? I'll be real brief. Council is pretty much touch-based on everything to be discussed,

1179
01:41:37,770 --> 01:41:41,230
but when the appreciation of Council in the good tier is looking at the bottom line,

1180
01:41:43,610 --> 01:41:48,470
you know, you just can't put price on life. You know, when you have five permedics going out on a call,

1181
01:41:48,630 --> 01:41:53,710
just recently we had a accident on the freeway. But there were six people injured,

1182
01:41:53,790 --> 01:41:59,090
two babies died. You know, what if a multiple accident happens here? Just not one person gets an

1183
01:41:59,090 --> 01:42:03,910
you got three or four, you're going to need those five paramedics and not to show up with five

1184
01:42:03,910 --> 01:42:10,430
paramedics, I think, which would just be harmful to the city. So I just think proper management

1185
01:42:10,430 --> 01:42:13,630
watching over time and

1186
01:42:15,870 --> 01:42:19,670
showing good faith in keeping everybody working and, like I said, the

1187
01:42:19,670 --> 01:42:24,230
over time is what I'd like to see trim down a little bit and to keep everyone working so that's

1188
01:42:24,230 --> 01:42:30,170
it. Thank you. If you were to drop your staffing to 12, it's doable. We're going to drop our

1189
01:42:30,170 --> 01:42:35,450
staffing on a daily basis, three quarters of the year or more, that will then also save

1190
01:42:35,450 --> 01:42:38,190
in over time, of course, by doing that.

1191
01:42:39,430 --> 01:42:45,490
And it's a stop gap measure, but it's not the drastic measures of laying firefighters off.

1192
01:42:46,810 --> 01:42:50,650
So over time is more of the management control.

1193
01:42:51,110 --> 01:42:54,870
Over time is not a management discretion.

1194
01:42:55,430 --> 01:42:59,590
When you need 14, and a guy takes off, he gets another person gets over time.

1195
01:42:59,590 --> 01:43:00,990
We have no choice there.

1196
01:43:01,290 --> 01:43:05,070
So what we're saying is, if you drink a drop down to 12,

1197
01:43:06,210 --> 01:43:11,030
we're going to over time in that 12, if a third person takes off,

1198
01:43:11,210 --> 01:43:14,230
to make it 11, we're going to hire back somebody,

1199
01:43:14,390 --> 01:43:15,830
but we're not hiring back three.

1200
01:43:16,510 --> 01:43:18,350
We're only going to hire back two on over time.

1201
01:43:20,700 --> 01:43:21,340
Thank you, Chief.

1202
01:43:21,860 --> 01:43:26,560
Sorry, you're basically, you know, I think drastically reducing

1203
01:43:27,340 --> 01:43:28,940
that is not necessary at this time.

1204
01:43:29,020 --> 01:43:30,040
We don't have a crystal ball.

1205
01:43:30,040 --> 01:43:33,800
We don't know what's going to happen three months, six months, a year from now.

1206
01:43:35,040 --> 01:43:39,300
So I think, which would just be cautious, what's going to happen in the future, wait three

1207
01:43:39,300 --> 01:43:40,820
four months, and reevaluate.

1208
01:43:41,100 --> 01:43:41,300
Yeah.

1209
01:43:41,460 --> 01:43:45,200
Our discretionary overtime, which Chief Wilson is pretty much already curtailed.

1210
01:43:45,220 --> 01:43:50,060
We don't send a battalion chief off duty to the training officers in Riverside anymore.

1211
01:43:50,300 --> 01:43:51,980
So we have no representation there.

1212
01:43:52,300 --> 01:43:56,560
No travel and training has been in place anyways, but they've already reduced the amount

1213
01:43:56,560 --> 01:43:56,960
of overtime.

1214
01:43:56,960 --> 01:44:02,560
And the only real overtime that's in the department is when people have to attend a special

1215
01:44:02,560 --> 01:44:03,600
meeting off duty.

1216
01:44:04,320 --> 01:44:08,700
Some of our captains are very excellent captains, they represent us at the county MS meeting.

1217
01:44:09,260 --> 01:44:14,660
We pay for that per hour rate for the six or eight hours at the meeting.

1218
01:44:15,220 --> 01:44:19,500
And the rest of it is pretty much going to be just left to the minimum staffing at whatever

1219
01:44:19,500 --> 01:44:20,960
levels you determine it to be.

1220
01:44:22,920 --> 01:44:23,140
All right.

1221
01:44:23,140 --> 01:44:23,700
Thank you, Chief.

1222
01:44:23,700 --> 01:44:34,240
Well, I think the message is quite clear from the majority of council that we do not have an appetite for any layoffs, particularly in this department.

1223
01:44:35,400 --> 01:44:44,020
I would also add that, and I made this point last time when we had this discussion that I've had personal experience.

1224
01:44:44,120 --> 01:44:48,640
My families have personal experience with both MR and with our own department.

1225
01:44:49,200 --> 01:44:50,940
And there it's absolutely no comparison.

1226
01:44:51,160 --> 01:44:59,980
I would never want to reduce the quality of care for our community based on what I personally experienced with all the efforts.

1227
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:06,060
On springs and maybe what they've done there to improve the quality of service, that certainly wasn't apparent in my case.

1228
01:45:06,860 --> 01:45:10,140
And I just frankly do not believe this is time for us to be making these kinds of changes.

1229
01:45:11,320 --> 01:45:14,720
We did all receive an email from a particularly large business.

1230
01:45:15,260 --> 01:45:23,900
In our community that talked about how since they've reopened in May, their revenues have been extremely good,

1231
01:45:24,480 --> 01:45:33,700
which we believe is perhaps the indication that we might be able to recover our revenues more expeditially than we are predicting in our numbers.

1232
01:45:33,880 --> 01:45:40,200
But regardless, I think the message is very clear and thank you very much for your presentation, Chief.

1233
01:45:40,820 --> 01:45:41,280
That's early?

1234
01:45:42,340 --> 01:45:42,820
Mr. Mayor.

1235
01:45:43,060 --> 01:45:43,760
Yes, I'm sorry.

1236
01:45:44,220 --> 01:45:44,560
I've got.

1237
01:45:44,560 --> 01:45:53,260
But with that, are we open to entertaining to allow the policy to move to 12 and allow management of flexibility?

1238
01:45:53,260 --> 01:45:59,080
that was my intent by looking at increasing efficiencies.

1239
01:46:01,820 --> 01:46:01,820
Charlie,

1240
01:46:08,710 --> 01:46:09,930
Charlie is figured over there.

1241
01:46:10,070 --> 01:46:15,730
I would remind the council that we do have a closed session schedule that we will be adjourned to shortly.

1242
01:46:17,070 --> 01:46:19,910
Okay, I was just going to give you a sort of a math summary.

1243
01:46:21,190 --> 01:46:23,730
And unless I made a mistake somewhere,

1244
01:46:25,850 --> 01:46:27,950
which maybe Tammy can catch me if I did.

1245
01:46:27,950 --> 01:46:37,330
Okay, so you're 50,000 dollars to the good over here already from the decisions that you made the other day.

1246
01:46:38,070 --> 01:46:48,770
If you keep all five positions in fire, that requires a drawdown of reserves of 554602.

1247
01:46:48,770 --> 01:46:57,370
If you keep all six of the positions that were discussed in police, that requires a drawdown

1248
01:46:57,370 --> 01:47:07,350
of 500,274, just which totals 1,554,876, which is pretty close to the, when you take

1249
01:47:07,350 --> 01:47:11,850
the 50,000 off of that, you're really right out of 1,000, which is pretty close to the question

1250
01:47:11,850 --> 01:47:16,130
that Council Member Lam asked me about last week.

1251
01:47:16,670 --> 01:47:21,990
So the answer to that would be that would be the effect of that, what I already went

1252
01:47:21,990 --> 01:47:22,410
over to.

1253
01:47:22,510 --> 01:47:29,210
Now just for discussion purposes, if you only went with the top three in that priority list,

1254
01:47:29,390 --> 01:47:35,170
instead of 500,274 drawdown, that requires a 224,887.

1255
01:47:35,170 --> 01:47:42,670
So that puts your reserve draw down at 729-989, then.

1256
01:47:42,710 --> 01:47:45,050
Make less the 50,000 that you already say.

1257
01:47:45,150 --> 01:47:45,470
I'm interested.

1258
01:47:47,090 --> 01:47:48,310
All right, thank you.

1259
01:47:48,310 --> 01:47:50,210
Thank you to the staff for your work

1260
01:47:50,210 --> 01:47:52,110
and preparing for today and presenting.

1261
01:47:53,190 --> 01:47:54,430
These are really difficult decisions

1262
01:47:55,190 --> 01:47:57,410
that we're making and that you're having to make

1263
01:47:57,410 --> 01:47:58,110
and your departments.

1264
01:48:00,150 --> 01:48:03,970
And so we are very empathetic, but we understand

1265
01:48:03,970 --> 01:48:06,630
that we're coming out of the other end, much stronger.

1266
01:48:08,310 --> 01:48:09,650
Have you said that, a city attorney?

1267
01:48:09,770 --> 01:48:12,790
Would you please read to us the closed session items?

1268
01:48:14,630 --> 01:48:15,750
I'd be happy to do that, Mary.

1269
01:48:15,830 --> 01:48:18,190
You have one item on your closed session for today.

1270
01:48:18,350 --> 01:48:20,770
It's a conference with your Labor Negotiator.

1271
01:48:21,110 --> 01:48:23,350
The Labor Negotiator is Charles McClinn,

1272
01:48:23,450 --> 01:48:24,330
in your city manager.

1273
01:48:25,730 --> 01:48:30,170
And the groups you'll be talking about are listed on your agenda,

1274
01:48:30,170 --> 01:48:35,110
inclusive of non-represented employees. That concludes my report.

1275
01:48:36,210 --> 01:48:39,330
Thank you. Appreciate that. Okay, we're going to adjourn the close session.

1276
01:48:48,890 --> 01:48:50,110
I would prefer to be staying here.

1277
01:49:05,330 --> 01:49:11,950
Following our close session discussion. First I'd like to ask the city attorney for a

1278
01:49:11,950 --> 01:49:16,950
quick report and then we'll go from there.

1279
01:49:16,950 --> 01:49:18,030
It's just a city journey.

1280
01:49:18,730 --> 01:49:18,990
Thank you.

1281
01:49:19,290 --> 01:49:22,030
The city council did have one item on its closed session.

1282
01:49:22,190 --> 01:49:26,850
The agenda was meeting with its Labor Negotiator Charlie McLean and your city manager.

1283
01:49:28,350 --> 01:49:35,110
Council received a briefing and had a discussion and gave direction to the city manager with regard to those items.

1284
01:49:35,670 --> 01:49:39,010
There was no portable action out of the closed session.

1285
01:49:40,430 --> 01:49:41,830
That concludes my report.

1286
01:49:42,130 --> 01:49:42,910
Thank you.

1287
01:49:43,030 --> 01:49:44,550
Thank you very much.

1288
01:49:44,550 --> 01:49:46,550
I appreciate that.

1289
01:49:47,410 --> 01:49:54,010
Okay, following our discussion on the budget under legislative actions, do we have any action

1290
01:49:54,010 --> 01:49:55,550
recommended by the City Council?

1291
01:49:56,430 --> 01:49:57,010
Yes, Mr. Mayor.

1292
01:49:57,010 --> 01:49:57,150
Mayor.

1293
01:49:57,370 --> 01:49:57,730
Pro-Champ.

1294
01:49:58,250 --> 01:50:03,870
If I may, I know the City Manager took some notes and had been provided so I'd like to

1295
01:50:03,870 --> 01:50:07,990
go ahead and make a motion and then you can please.

1296
01:50:07,990 --> 01:50:11,390
if anything to add.

1297
01:50:11,670 --> 01:50:14,190
I'm Mr. Mayor, I move approval of the recommended budget reductions

1298
01:50:14,190 --> 01:50:19,230
to the fiscal year 2021 budget in the amount of $9 million,

1299
01:50:19,490 --> 01:50:20,770
$32,064.

1300
01:50:21,150 --> 01:50:25,270
It authorized the use of reserve funds in the amount of $2 million,

1301
01:50:25,490 --> 01:50:31,730
$827,397,000, the fiscal year, $19,20 budget.

1302
01:50:31,890 --> 01:50:37,970
In the amount of $2,420,667, the balance of the fiscal year,

1303
01:50:37,970 --> 01:50:41,390
or 2021 budget, but with the following changes.

1304
01:50:41,870 --> 01:50:44,650
Number one, we eliminate the funding for the sponsorship

1305
01:50:44,650 --> 01:50:47,070
of the Palm Springs International Film Festival,

1306
01:50:47,890 --> 01:50:51,010
which should net us $50,000 in the plus.

1307
01:50:52,010 --> 01:50:54,730
That number two, we move funding in the amount of $25,000

1308
01:50:54,730 --> 01:50:58,050
from the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce

1309
01:50:58,050 --> 01:50:59,870
contract to fund CVEP.

1310
01:51:00,610 --> 01:51:03,730
Number three, that we bring back a plan to council,

1311
01:51:04,010 --> 01:51:05,690
including necessary funding to complete

1312
01:51:05,690 --> 01:51:11,770
the comprehensive fee study and number four that we keep code enforcement coverage as close as possible

1313
01:51:11,770 --> 01:51:20,250
to seven days a week and number five that we keep our fire personnel and do so by drawing

1314
01:51:20,250 --> 01:51:30,650
down on reserves and the amount approximately $554,600 in two dollars. Number six that we

1315
01:51:31,750 --> 01:51:36,430
Restore funding for select police personnel, first of all, make no

1316
01:51:36,430 --> 01:51:42,810
no sworn cuts in police personnel, but that we restore funding for

1317
01:51:44,570 --> 01:51:48,870
the non-sworn personnel, so that we restore funding for the evidence

1318
01:51:48,870 --> 01:51:52,590
technician position, the crime analyst position, and the records

1319
01:51:52,590 --> 01:51:57,030
clerk position, and do so by drawing down on reserves,

1320
01:51:57,030 --> 01:52:10,410
amount, approximately $224,887, that the Council take a 10% reduction in Council salaries for

1321
01:52:10,410 --> 01:52:16,290
this upcoming fiscal year, which should net us a gain of about $6,500.

1322
01:52:17,790 --> 01:52:24,330
And for the fire department that we affirm that fire staffing while an ideal goal is

1323
01:52:24,330 --> 01:52:29,730
14, the overtime floor will be changed so that we will have a floor of 12.

1324
01:52:31,070 --> 01:52:31,790
That's my motion.

1325
01:52:32,890 --> 01:52:33,210
A second.

1326
01:52:33,930 --> 01:52:36,230
So we have a motion and we have a second.

1327
01:52:36,450 --> 01:52:39,770
Under discussion, do we have any clarification or questions on the motion?

1328
01:52:40,410 --> 01:52:40,850
Seeing none.

1329
01:52:41,150 --> 01:52:42,590
Maybe we have a roll call, though, please.

1330
01:52:42,990 --> 01:52:43,790
Council member Lam.

1331
01:52:44,830 --> 01:52:45,090
Yes.

1332
01:52:45,410 --> 01:52:46,710
Council member Guzietta's.

1333
01:52:46,710 --> 01:52:47,050
Yes.

1334
01:52:47,330 --> 01:52:48,430
Council member Carnivali.

1335
01:52:48,450 --> 01:52:48,750
Yes.

1336
01:52:49,290 --> 01:52:50,370
Mayor Pro Tem Gregory.

1337
01:52:50,750 --> 01:52:51,130
Yes.

1338
01:52:51,330 --> 01:52:52,290
Mayor Aguilar.

1339
01:52:52,690 --> 01:52:52,970
Yes.

1340
01:52:52,970 --> 01:53:04,470
Thank you everybody for your vote and for your hard work and deliberations on this very, very important topic.

1341
01:53:06,790 --> 01:53:15,510
It doesn't feel real good actually to have completed this whole process because it involves, as we pointed out earlier,

1342
01:53:17,950 --> 01:53:25,630
changes to folks' lives, but we will do all we can for those who are affected to help them with the

1343
01:53:25,630 --> 01:53:28,390
appropriate resources that we have access to.

1344
01:53:30,110 --> 01:53:35,390
And we look forward to coming out of the other end of this and re-evaluating our position

1345
01:53:35,390 --> 01:53:43,590
in a few months and to continue with our highest priority, which is the maintenance of customer

1346
01:53:43,590 --> 01:53:50,730
service at our highest level possible. So having said that, thank you again, stay safe, stay

1347
01:53:50,730 --> 01:53:54,330
home, be well and we will see everybody Wednesday afternoon.