It's written red, I have to ask you. It's red.
I would like to call this meeting to order. Mr. City Attorney, are there any things to report from closed session?
There's nothing to report out. Thank you.
Chief Shorts, would you lead us in the pledge, please?
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Thanks, Chief.
Roll call, please.
Council member, let's do. Here. Council member Kavanaugh. Here. Council member Judge. Here.
Mayor Protoem Rhodes. Here.
Mayor Thomas is absent this evening.
All right. Are there any items for agenda review tonight?
Seeing none.
I move that all resolutions and ordinances presented tonight be read entitled only.
And all further reading be waved. Second call for the vote.
The motion passes unanimously.
All right. This time, if any member of the city council may have a conflict of interest of any reason, why that matter.
Why that member must abstain from consideration on any matter this agenda.
Here she should declare at this time.
Seeing none.
Mr. Mayor Protoem and members of the city council. The first item on the agenda is item 1D1 presentation of a certificate of appreciation to outgoing community development block grant advisory committee member.
And management analyst, we have her made is is here to present this item.
Good evening, Mr. Mayor Protoem.
Council members.
This evening, we recognize an outgoing member of the community development block grant advisory committee.
The committee members are committed to the city's continued efforts to provide service and community improvements to low and moderate income residents.
During his tenure this committee member diligently reviewed evaluated and recommended funding allocations which benefit it see me value residents.
Please join me in congratulating the outgoing committee member Mr. Harry Ben Dyke.
And he well chopped job well done.
He's enabled join us this evening but we will mail his certificate to him.
And Harry if you're listening we miss you wish you were here and wish you well and wish I could have shaken your hand but I'll do that in another time.
Mr. Mayor Protoem and members of the city council next on the agenda is item 2 public statements on appointment special presentations and information reports and we have no public speakers for this item this evening.
Mr. Mayor Protoem and members of the city council the next on the agenda is item 3A1.
Appointment to the community development block grant advisory committee and management analyst Julia Ramirez is present in this item.
Good evening once more.
The five number block granted advisory committee was established by the city council in 2006 members are appointed to provide funding recommendations on an annual block grant applications.
One can many members completing his term on December 31 and to fill his vacancy the CME Valley Chamber of Commerce nominated Anthony Angelini.
Mr Angelini is an attendance this evening thing and I see he has stepped forward.
Mr Angelini is the Ventura County native and a CME Valley resident who is currently pursuing his master's degree.
He volunteers on numerous community organizations and holds leadership positions in many of them he is employed by the chamber as director of tourism and government affairs.
It is recommended that the city council approve and the mayor point that it's not many to the community development block grant advisory board for his respective term.
So we do the motion first.
I move the we appoint second.
We want you Anthony.
The motion passes unanimously.
Congratulations Mr Angelini.
I present you with a volunteer pin.
Your volunteer work in the city is been numerous and been volume us.
We got the opportunity to sit on the youth employment services board together and your service there was the exemplary and I'm very pleased the chamber chose you to represent on this very difficult.
Board the decision making process is crucial and a good mind like yours is going to do well in this job.
Thank you.
Do you want your mom to come up and be proud of your two.
Okay.
I love it.
Mr Mayor.
Program and members of the city council next on the agenda is item four public statements.
Mr Mayor.
Program and members of the city council says there are no public hearings under agenda item five this evening agenda items four and six are combined and the council will hear public statements under the agenda item four.
An agenda item number six are the times allotted for public statements on all items other than public hearings appointments and information reports.
Beakers will be called in in the order which the car was submitted to speak for this public statements item four for a period of no more than three minutes each.
Each person addressing the city council are requested to state the name and community residents for the record.
Mr Mayor.
I don't want to say any comments we can begin public statements my only comment and we decided that we should be starting public comments this way on the council is that for anyone that is speaking we don't have the opportunity of responding direct directly with you it's not a dialogue but we do appreciate hearing from you and want to hear what you have to say we just may not be able to respond from the day us with that we can call our first speaker.
Maribel Pantoja.
Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Good evening, city council members and city staff. My name is Maryly
Will. I live in CME Valley and I'm a student at CSU Channel Islands. I'm also a volunteer
with a community organization called Vambacino, which is Spanish for good name. I am here tonight
to share some exciting news with the city council and the general public. The good news is that
I knew law was passed this year that will open up new opportunities to address the need for more
affordable housing. The new law is Senate bill for affordable housing on faith and hunger,
education land act of 2020 free. This law will take effect on January 1, 2020. Thank you.
SB 4 will allow faith institutions such as churches, synagogues and mosques along with non-profit colleges
to use portions of their property to build affordable housing by right. SB 4 is a powerful new
tool to empower religious communities to take an active role in addressing the crisis we are currently
experiencing due to the inadequate supply of affordable housing. This law unlocks new land for
affordable housing, production, creating opportunities for veterans, seniors, people with disabilities,
low-end moderate income earners and other community members in need. Another major group that is
impacted by the high cost of housing is young adults, people like me, who would love to establish a home,
plant roots and raise the family here and see me valley, but we are currently priced out
out of the market and left with few choices but to leave the community. SB 4 will allow churches and non-profit
organizations to help alleviate the housing affordability crisis by building safe, stable, affordable,
residential units on their properties. The law requires that 100% of the housing developments must be
affordable. SB 4 will empower faith and institutions to expand and deepen the role they play
of serving God and the needs of our human family. Lary just Galatians chapter 5 and verse 14 which says
for the whole law is fulfilled in the one word you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. Equally
important, SB 4 can boost the local economy by generating jobs for construction workforce. We encourage
the city to reach out to local congregations to make them aware of the affordable housing on
faith and higher education lands act and to encourage them to consider how they may be able to apply
this law on their properties. Thank you for your time and happy holidays. Thank you. Mr. Mayor
Pertemza was the only speaker we had this evening. Mr. Mayor Pertemza members of the city council next
in the agenda is item 4 a city council comment regarding public statements.
Galatians remember Lister. Thank you. First of all, I want to make it very clear. I did take a
shower today. The reason there's gap here is not. It's just where we're supposed to sit. Actually,
Mayor Pertemza, I want to say thank you for coming and speaking to us and appreciate it. And also
want to be aware that as we work on our general plan and our housing element, you will find that
almost all of the area that is like I'm saying low on the different places where there are churches,
a lot of that already has been zoned to allow for housing density, et cetera. So just so you know,
I just want you to be aware that the city is very mindful of that need for housing and we have, I think,
specifically in our housing element have worked to make sure that those areas that you're speaking of
may put housing up and affordable, we'd love affordable housing there. So I just want you to
be sure that we are supportive of your efforts. And so thank you for coming here tonight. Appreciate it.
Those are my comments. Gell's a woman going on. Just roll quick. Thank you. When did you know,
right? Did I say it? When was it okay? I hope you frequent us a little bit more and tell us more about,
I know you do more in our community than we're aware of. So I really like you to be able to share that
with us whenever you can. All right, appreciate it. Thank you.
All right. And for myself, thank you for bringing it up. You said, get the word out. Congratulations,
you just started the ball rolling. So good job. Mr. Mayor, pro 10 members of the city council next
on the agenda is item 7. The consent calendar and there are no resolutions for your consideration this evening.
Mr. Mayor, I moved to approve the consent calendar. Mayor, pro 10. I did have a question,
but I thought first of all, I thought you were going to pull the even one that I was going to pull the
off. Actually, I would just, I quick question for item number six. But if we want to vote on the first five,
and then either ways, that's the final thing. We can go ahead and enter the question.
Is that all right? Okay. And this is really a question for the chief. This is about the, about the
purchase of 11 Dodge Durango pursuit utility vehicles. And I know in the past that we have used Ford,
Ford Interceptors that, and I guess my question is, are you comfortable that these Dodge Durango's
are just as good? And I mean, are they, I know, I know when you're used to using certain vehicle,
you get used to it, you know, and would it be worth waiting to continue with what we know or is it okay to
mix the vehicles? Do you have any thoughts about that? The reason why we normally stay with
in terms of mark cars. Sure. I marked as a whole different discussion. In terms of mark cars,
we normally stay with the a consistent platform because in terms of fleet management, it's easier
if they're using the same parts and on the same maintenance schedule. The issue is, as you know,
that there was a strike. Ford also went through some different issues where they retooled and hybrid
are no longer specialty vehicles and they're putting that in some of their main plants and they had to
retool for the 2024s. So what that did in terms of pursuit vehicles, it set them back really,
really far where their orders are going to be protracted out. Ventura PD, Oxnard PD, and several other
PDs up and down the state because police mark police vehicles and specifically are driven pretty hard
to run any 24 hours a day, have made the decision to move to the Dodge Durango package,
which has been used by the way throughout the country for years. So it's just kind of a supply and demand
issue that makes us make this transition. The worst thing that could happen to us is not to have
operable vehicles, which really creates a service issue. So you know, we're going to-
And pivot this time around if Ford is able to get tooled up and get back on a normal cycle. We would revisit
going back to them as our primary vehicles.
I guess that was my question. Going to be my question. Whether you're going to, is this a permanent
change or is this just going to?
Not in my mind to, in my mind, this is just temporary, but we'll have to see. There are several organizations
throughout the country that Ford is backed up on orders, and many of them much larger than us,
where they owe them hundreds of vehicles. And so, where we would be in their
air traffic control, if you would, is on known, and I've actually gone through the
effort of speaking to one of their high-level managers about how backed up they are on it.
Well, I hope this works out well for you. Thank you. I appreciate your answers.
Sorry to be happy to move passage. Oh, sorry to move. Sorry.
My, it's moved in seconded.
Call for the vote.
The motion passes unanimously.
Mr. Mayor, per 10, and members of the city council. Next on the agenda is item 8A.
Second reading of ordinance number 1353 for city initiating municipal code
amendments z dash s dash 2023 dash 0 0 0 6 to amend portions of Title IX of the
CME value municipal code to modify standard residential all street parking
front yard landscaping rear yard vehicle access gates and screening, and a determination
at the amendments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as amended.
The reading of the ordinance is as follows.
Ordnance number 1353 an ordinance of the city council of the city of CME value for city
initiating municipal code amendments z dash s dash 203 dash 0 0 0 6 to amend portions of Title IX
of the CME value municipal code to modify standards for residential all street parking
front yard landscaping rear yard vehicle access gates and screening and a determination at the
amendments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
No presentation. This is the second reading. So we just need to move a second reading.
And I will say that it looks like all the changes were captured well and correctly that we approved last time.
Call for the vote.
The motion passes unanimously.
Mr. Mayor.
Second reading of ordinance number 1354 for city initiated
specific plan amendments s p dash s dash 2023 dash 0 0 0 1 to amend the Western specific plan WESP
to modify the land use matrix for commercial and industrial uses update commercial
developments standard and a determination that the amendments are exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act as amended.
The reading of the ordinance is as follows ordinance number 1354.
And ordinance of the city council of the city of CME value for city initiated specific
plan amendment s p dash s dash 203 dash 0 0 0 0 1 to amend the Western specific plan WESP
to modify the land use matrix for commercial and industrial uses update developments standard for retail
stores and the determination that the amendments are exempt from an additional from
the determination that the amendments are exempt from additional environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Act.
I moved to adopt ordinance number 1354.
Call for the vote.
The motion passes unanimously.
Mr. Mayor.
Program members of the city council next in the agenda is item 10 a city council member reports.
You're so delighted not to have to get report first.
I'm sensing there's a real gleam.
Now this may be the record for one of our shortest council meetings, but thank you everyone for being here.
I just want to say that.
Appreciate it.
To so in the last two weeks, there's been some fun interesting events I've attended and I'll try to be brief.
On Tuesday December the fifth, I attended the CME Valley Ed Foundation teacher the month presentation,
which was given to Mr. Oigart Lynn Scott, who is the machine shop instructor at CME Institute for
Career's Education and he when you read his credentials and what he's done for that program is
really outstanding and so I will say that.
More here of what CME teachers doing they're really training some fabulous people and so I would
encourage people to look at their catalog and sign up starting January again and he.
As I read the reviews from his students he would if you have an interested in learning about
machine he take a class for me the Fabius so that was December 5th December 6th.
I attended the press event which was the check presentation by Assembly Member Jackie Irwin to
the Ranchos Susanna Park and Reck department where basically she caused the state budget to
allocate $2 million for improvement of the public community pool area.
I want you to know what my efforts were there and I spoke with Dan Perry and I
can understand this correctly. The project is 4 million dollars so the state has now
given $2 million dollars. The school district is going to give a million and parks and
parks and parks. They're going to give a million dollars but that means you don't need
our million so we could take our million back and put it towards our
appatheter or whatever.
So anyway then he proceeded to tell me about some other plans that the funds were already committed
but anyway I just wanted to share that I you know I tried I knew that anyway
but the funds actually is the first time I've seen the pool completely drained and
drained and you have to pull this pulls drain before, but usually not when they have a deep and a high
dive component. And there's a pretty deep hole there. I'm just saying it's very interesting to see
that. So, but some beautiful improvements are taking place and that money from the state is specifically
earmarked to improve the dressing room area in the locker room area. So, it will be lovely to have that
in the spring and fall for our schools and all those taking lessons. On December 7, I attended
Scag's annual economic summit downtown. I know that Council Member Mike Judge was there as well.
It was interesting that they put together this economic outlook booklet. It was and then they kind of
paraphrased by county, what they have to say. It was interesting what their summary of Ventura County.
I won't read the entire thing, but just to read a paragraph from it. Since the pandemic
alone mid-2020, Ventura County gained more than 27,000 of our jobs, the most for any three year
periods since 98 to 2000, which, anyways, probably is at 2020. Employment searched 4.2% in 2022,
principally due to recovery pandemic impacted jobs. Year to date, data suggests that 2020 job growth,
of course, they're looking at, this was all last year, will be 2% employment gains in this year.
We're largest in the health care and social assistance sectors, but I will copy this and share this with you
because it's just very interesting to hear what they have. It's basically saying that relatively flat
in terms of our job growth. Employment growth is expected to slow to less than 1% in 2024.
Unemployment will rise, pushing the rate toward 5%, that's their projection for Ventura County.
But it was a very interesting series of meetings. Later that evening, it was great to join my colleagues,
council member Judge, and council member Kavanaugh at the menorah Lydin on the first sign of Hanukkah
at the Reagan Library. It was lovely that I thought particularly moving that given the events of
this year that was done there. It was a beautiful outdoor event and appreciated the remarks of my colleagues
and it was good to be part of that celebration that was very significant.
On Friday, December 6th, I attended the Boys and Girls Club breakfast and it was interesting that their
speaker was Eric Lamark. I didn't know that name, maybe I should have. I guess if you've seen the movie,
six below, it's about him, but it basically is the man that was lost outside Manus for eight days in
freezing cold and lost, you know, lost his legs, but somehow survived eight days. And he had been at
he was an athlete, a hockey player, and a snowboarder, and anyway, just a miraculous story of resilience
and the indomitable human spirit what can be done. So if you get a chance, you might look
up his story, Eric Lamark. Fun events that weekend, I'll take you into the next the following week,
December 11th, the 10th of the council on aging, also with council member Judge, we met the
candidates who are interested in serving on that council. They're quite a few qualified candidates
on Wednesday, December 13th, I attended the state of the college address at more part
college, which was conducted by, well, they had various speakers, including, of course, President Julius
Silcanol, you know, I knew that. I know that and that I saw that in the weekend. Silcanol, yes,
I've said a brain moment. A couple of things that he shared that I thought were very interesting. It is
absolutely approved that they are getting their batches degree in their biotechnical field. That is,
it is going forward and they envisioned their first cohort of students about 24 to 48.
A year will begin in the fall. He also, they talked about all of their capital improvement projects,
what they would like to get done. He did say that they are trying to get a college bond on the
ballot for the fall that would help with those capital improvements for more part college. I believe
the other colleges. He also mentioned there was talk about that second batches, the cybercrime that
they were trying to get done. What he basically said is that it appears that it has been kind of
side tracked or way laid primarily by the other California University system who are concerned about
competition. In essence, he wouldn't say, I'm just being more blunt. I think that's he was a little nicer.
But the thought is that the degree at more part level would be more technical in nature,
the ones that would be running the programs making it happen, whereas that degree at the university level
would be more designing the programs, etc. And there really is room for both and he would welcome anyone
who's willing to basically go on the offensive and so if we are as a body want to write a letter of
support or something, I think it would be who as well. Also on Wednesday's 13th, I attended the Arts
Commission meeting. It was held here at our lovely see-all. One of the things that came out of that
we discussed was an extension of our grant that there has been a grant given to performers who
or entities that wanted to use this cultural arts center. It came out of the COVID recovery funds, etc.
There are still money left available in that grant so it's so we are pleased it's going to be extended
into another year, possibly two more years. But the language was changed so that there was more
monitoring that there was some tweaking if it was a repeat customer and ways to encourage new
customers, etc. And was that the day that was the wonderful holiday lunch and here at that we celebrated
here that it was it was it was it was a lovely gathering of to it was great to visit with my
see colleagues and although that are doing great things here and so that was a yes thank you for putting
that together that was a lovely holiday gathering luncheon. December 14th attended the Aetry
a see-me-heel retirement grant reopening. Basically I don't know that I call it reopening I call it more
grand remodeling celebration but that was lovely facility up on Madeira and that's about it I will
tell you this weekend has been a crazy musical weekend for many lots of fun harp things which is my
other alter ego but I do have to share that I conducted harp extravaganza for the 25th year in a
row. We had it harp extravaganza is a group of harpists and basically I published the music
harpists from all over who've never played together show up at a hospital in Pasadena. We had 27
harp's harpists there playing holiday music there at the hospital and that's one of my favorite ways
to celebrate this beautiful time of year and so that concludes my report in whichever one of
wonderful happy Merry Christmas and happy new year whatever they celebrate to hell I just make
made this be a joy to time for all so that concludes my report. Thank you Kelsimer Gavina.
Thank you Mr. Mayor Prochem on December 6th when say December 6th I had my next to the last EDC executive
board meeting so I'm sharing it so that's I said it was my last meeting they said no you still have
one in January so I do have one more executive board meeting but it's been a great year it's been
we've accomplished quite a bit the EDC's done a fantastic job at our annual dinner in January
We will be celebrating all of the wonderful things that have happened. We have gotten so many words this year.
None of them because of me, all because of staff, but I get credit for it. So it's kind of nice.
But it's all we'll be happy to share all of those that we have a great staff there.
On Thursday, December 7th, I also attended the Hanukkah celebration at the Reagan Library.
One of the key things about that is the program in the museum right now is Auschwitz, not long ago, not far away.
So it was almost a fitting place to have the menor lighting that first night. It was cold, but it was a very heartwarming.
There were a lot of people, I think I said about 200 people.
And it was just a very nice event, so thank you to the Reagan Library and to the Habat of Simi Valley for putting that on.
On Sunday, December 10th, Ms. Karen Troop had her annual holiday celebration that where she invites community members,
and people that have thanked her, it was a wonderful event.
And it's good to see a lot of our community members get together.
And Monday, December 11th, the most important day my daughter's birthday.
So I didn't do anything else, I worked and then we went to dinner.
On Wednesday, December 6th, 13th, I also attended a second menor lighting up at the Wood Ranch facility of the Wood Ranch Shopping Center.
I have friends that are with Simi Valley, it's kind of temple.
And when they found out the three of us were up at the Reagan Library for the menor lighting, they said, why didn't anyone come to ours?
So they invited me, I said, well, we didn't know about it, so we went to that one.
She goes, well, we're having one on the 13th, that's okay, I'll be there and so I was.
So it was a wonderful small celebration.
Rabbi Michelle, I think it's Pascal, I think it's her last name, I've met her a few times, she's a super nice lady.
There were a lot of kids there and Simi entertained with stuff for the kids and it really was a nice event.
I was happy to attend.
And that's pretty much it yesterday I spent the day with my grandkids because it's Christmas, so it was kind of fun to do that.
And I just want to wish Merry Christmas and happy holidays and happy New Year to everyone out there.
So thank you.
Thank you, councilmember Judge.
Thank you, Mayor Prothem.
I'll make my quick Thursday December 7th, I was honored also to celebrate the monoral wedding up at the regular library for the Shabbat here in Simi Valley.
I think it's going to be my calendar the last week, last couple of weeks other than that.
Monoral wedding, which everybody said is very poignant being up there at the regular mother's celebrate where they're displaying all the Auschwitz historical artifacts.
I was Saturday December 16th, that was at the 40th anniversary of Dr. Compties over its sophomore Plaza.
Great place, Simi Valley locals that have a coffee shop and a candy shop.
This is that time of year if you need your candy or your coffee, make sure you go over to Dr. Compties.
And that's the end of my report. I want to wish everybody Merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
And for my report, also brief on December 5th, I attended via Zoom.
The Connect SoCal presentation from Skag, that's their operating plan on housing and transportation.
I got on an airplane on this 7th, arrived in China and there was not one monoral wedding in China, so I did not attend those, but I did regret not attending some of the activities here in town.
And from Shanghai, I was able to attend the Arts Commission meeting, chaired by Councilman Lister.
And it was one of those great flawless moments of technology and timing that I could attend and participate.
And again, thank you for your leadership on that Council because I think it moves the arts forward in the right direction and also is fiscally responsible use of the city's money.
Thank you for that. And that is the end of my report.
Any future agenda items?
Seeing none.
We don't have access.
Actually, Rocky, did we want to write a letter of support for Buckleoria to degree for the, and maybe it's out of our purview?
It's cybercrime meeting.
I mean, Councilman, I'm just welcome to do it on your own on your stationary.
If you'd like.
Okay. I think that might probably is more perfect. Thank you.
Okay.
With that, we have no one to endure adjourn in memory of, so meeting adjourn.