[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[4:12] All right, we're going to start our meeting at 634 p.m. Okay. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to today's council meeting. For City Morning Park Council City Council, one of the September 2nd. Let's do our landing allegement. We would like to acknowledge that the land we inhabit today with once known as top on guard, the home of the Gabrielle Tonga people. We show our respect to the Gabrielle Tonga people, as well as all indigenous people, past, present, future, and on of their labor.
[4:41] as original characteristics of this land,
[4:43] you commit to uplifting the Gedlin of Tonga people,
[4:46] and invite you to acknowledge the history
[4:47] and join us in caring for this land.
[4:50] Please stand for flexilute.
[5:35] Mr. Rahan, over your heart. Are you begin?
[5:48] I'm Eric Geh, and it is all over again because of those
[5:54] colors, post
[6:14] colors,
[6:16] flying solid about face forward march.
[6:46] Thank you to our public safety explorers.
[6:49] Please be seated.
[6:54] Clerk, call the roll. Council Member Yang,
[6:57] President, Council Member Goh. President? Council Member Wong. Mayor Pro-Tem Sanchez.
[7:02] Present.
[7:03] Mayor Lough.
[7:04] Present.
[7:05] We have a quorum.
[7:06] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[7:09] Pursuant to SB 707 and in resolution number 26-R23, rules for conducting legislative
[7:14] meeting, remote participation, via Zoom is available.
[7:18] Public comments for all agenda items will be accepted during the public comment period item number
[7:22] seven, except for public hearing, which will be taken at the time each hearing is called.
[7:27] Please complete one yellow card, only if you wish to make a comment on the non-public hearing
[7:32] And a separate blue public hearing speaker card for each public hearing item.
[7:37] The time for each speaker will be determined based on the total number of requests to speak,
[7:42] including those submitted by in-person attendees, zoom participants using the raise hand feature and
[7:47] collars participating by phone, by pressing star 9 to join the speaker queue.
[7:52] Request to speak will be accepted until the beginning of the applicable public comment period to determine the speaker time card.
[7:59] And those alert times are five or four, five or four fewer speakers, five minutes each, six to 20 speakers, three minutes each, 21 to 40 speakers, two minutes each, 41 or more speakers, one minute each.
[8:14] Live interpretation is available through the wordly app and closed captioning is available on Zoom.
[8:19] Reminder, any person addressing the council who disrupts, disturbs, impedes or otherwise renders, infeasible,
[8:24] the meeting order conduct, who after a request by the providing officer refuses to see such behavior may be removed from the city council chamber or remote participation platform for more information, procedure instructions, visits the website agenda page.
[8:40] Okay, any telecommunication announcements?
[8:43] Okay, agenda revisions and additions.
[8:46] Mr. Mayor, members of the council, just a wanted to note for item 10A.
[8:52] There's a red line version that's been provided to the city council and there's a copy in the back of the chamber.
[8:58] And that version, the red line version was just so that the changes to the investment policy was easily identifiable.
[9:06] Just wanted to make that note.
[9:08] Okay, thank you very much.
[9:10] Okay, we're going on to presentation.
[9:12] We have a presentation, boys and girls above the West thing of a valley strive for peace race against gun violence, and I believe we have folks from the West thing of a valley, and let's see, if we want to actually let's invite Billy Crystal from, or whoever wishes to come and come, and say a few words, and we will take the presentation.
[9:48] Thank you for the opportunity for letting us go ahead a lot of fun for the ride.
[9:54] My name is Austin.
[9:55] I work with Boys and Girls Club.
[9:56] Unfortunately, Dr. Noah was unable to attend today.
[9:59] Bye.
[10:00] And nor was it written, re-care, more or no, but they were really excited to be able to participate and really excited about the opportunity to be able to get fundraising for the club that they love. So we want to thank you guys as well for giving us the opportunity. Thank you. Members, any comments, questions? I'll just add my appreciation to the boys and girls for highlighting a gun violence prevention and really making this a focus.
[10:29] of the effort here, congratulations Crystal, you were the top finisher and one of the top finisher's in terms of the fundraising and really just helping to, especially given Morning Park's own history with a convivalence here in the last shooting a few years ago, and all the love that the club poured out into the community during that time and since really appreciate the efforts that the club is doing to help highlight this as an issue and to help get youth and others in the community involved in helping
[10:59] helping to prevent a gun violence and helping to highlight the challenges of doing that.
[11:05] So I appreciate all the efforts here and just wanted to highlight that from the City Council to.
[11:09] Thank you, Thomas, and just to add on that, we also want to thank you guys for
[11:13] making sure that we have a safe community around us and
[11:18] pushing the agenda and not have any gun violence here in the city, so thank you so much.
[11:24] Thank you.
[11:24] And we have certificate, okay, we have certificate to present to the Washington Girl Club, the West thing of the Valley, and East Side, as well as to Dr.
[11:35] Koei-No, to Enrique Moreno, and to Crystal Cortez, who's here with us tonight.
[11:41] Okay.
[11:42] Thank you.
[11:58] Okay.
[12:00] Thank you so much.
[12:11] Thank you.
[12:48] Thank you.
[13:03] Okay,
[13:07] thank you so much.
[13:09] Let's see.
[13:10] Okay, moving on to public comment.
[13:14] Again, it's the final opportunity to request to speak on agenda items other than public hearing items.
[13:19] If you have not yet submitted a yellow speaker card and wish to comment, please raise your hand.
[13:23] Complete a speaker card and provide it to the city clerk.
[13:26] For those participating remotely, please use the raised hand feature in Zoom.
[13:31] If you're participating by phone, press star nine to join Speaker Q.
[13:38] Okay, we will hear comments from the first fall by, I'm sorry,
[13:44] in person then followed by remote participants.
[13:47] So they clear how many in person speakers and how many remote speakers do we have, and what is the time limit?
[13:52] There are five in person speakers and zero speakers participating remotely by phone or zoom.
[13:57] For a total of five speakers, each speaker is limited to five minutes each.
[14:04] We're going to thank you Madam Clerk, okay, then let me go ahead and call them.
[14:10] Oops, let me put my glasses again, okay, first David Hoop, please come forward.
[14:24] My name is David Hoop, I lived in Monterey Park all my life.
[14:29] To keep the long story short is I received a water bill on June 18th for $1700, okay?
[14:38] Okay, I called the city, okay, there must be some kind of issue because my water bill is usually between maybe $150 at most.
[14:48] They told me it was not a mistake and there is a leak somewhere on my line, okay?
[14:56] So we call Plumber, Plumber comes out, cannot find the leak.
[15:00] Anywhere. He says the only way that we can really figure out where it is is to replace the entire line. So, I did that, right? At the cost of $8,500 we dig the main line out and we finally find a leak, which is under the city sidewalk. Okay? I understand that the, anything past the meter is my responsibility, but there is no obvious way to figure out
[15:29] this leak since it was under I mean I wouldn't be able to take a pickaxe to a sidewalk right I'm assuming I'd get a rest for that
[15:38] So we replace the line
[15:40] And I call the city and I ask if there's anything that can be done for this large water bill granted that $1,700
[15:48] was only half because that leak had been going on for
[15:53] Close to a month, okay, at I think a rate of five gallons per minute
[15:59] And they say the current ordinance doesn't allow for them to do anything for me at this point.
[16:07] Okay, I understand right now there are three tiers for water bill, okay.
[16:14] Giving approximations, but I think the first tier is about $3 per unit, and
[16:20] each unit is about 528 gallons of water, okay?
[16:25] You're allowed I think up to 10 units, and then you go to the second tier.
[16:28] Here, second tier is about twice that, approximately $6 per unit.
[16:35] Once you use, I believe, 20 units from there on, you're at the third tier, which is triple the first tier, so roughly $9 to $10 per unit.
[16:49] I understand that this is here to prevent you, not prevent.
[16:55] I guess, I kind of prevent you from overusing water, right?
[17:01] Wasting water, leaving a hose on or overwatering your plants or whatnot.
[17:07] But in my case, I wasn't using the water.
[17:10] I had no idea and there was no way for me to figure out that had lost 400,000 gallons of water in that situation.
[17:19] because it was leaking under the city sidewalk
[17:22] into the street, underneath the street.
[17:25] So when the plumber came, it's like there's no way
[17:28] that you're losing this much water.
[17:30] Your entire house would be drenched.
[17:34] You know, you'd be in a pool.
[17:35] I mean, I think a pool is about 30,000 gallons of water.
[17:39] So I've lost over 10 full-size pools of water
[17:43] in about the span of a month, okay?
[17:46] I've been working with the water utility company
[17:49] And they've been great, they're telling me their limitations.
[17:54] I guess the point of this today is there's nothing else that they can do to help me, right?
[18:01] I've spoken to Martha Garcia, and I believe she's spoken to you about my issue as well.
[18:10] I guess my request would be to allow some type of emergency power in a situation like mine to where I understand that
[18:19] the water went through my water meter.
[18:21] I'm not asking for free water.
[18:23] I'm asking that you charge me at the first tier,
[18:27] so you're not penalizing me for water that I was aware
[18:31] that I was using.
[18:34] I think that's it.
[18:37] No, it's just some time.
[18:39] What's that?
[18:39] It's just some time.
[18:43] Well, we might look at it.
[18:44] Yeah, well, again, thank you for coming in.
[18:47] And again, my sincere apologies that you had to experience this.
[18:50] Yes.
[18:50] I know you've been speaking to staff, see Madam Martha, do you want to comment on this?
[18:57] Mr. Mayor and members of the council, correct our finance department who manages our water billing division.
[19:04] Has tried to work back with the customer.
[19:07] Correct our municipal code does not provide for emergency, emergency such as this for staff to change the billing.
[19:19] The building is based on usage or consumption and so there's not a mechanism within the current municipal code to allow staff to make that determination to reduce the bill from a tier three to its year one use and this is what this resident is requesting.
[19:35] So if the council is interested, the staff could evaluate and bring back an item for
[19:43] a city council's consideration, for instances like this, so that there is some type of
[19:50] ramification that can be offered, but at this time there's not something that exists
[19:56] in the code, would we make...
[20:00] If there's small adjustments, if there's justification to bills, if there's some kind of error that was identified in those circumstances, there is that allowance, but in this circumstance, there's not an allowance in the code to reduce the bill from a tier 3 to a tier 1 rate. So, if the council is interested, then city staff could evaluate and bring back an item for your consideration.
[20:27] So, again, it's not right now in our public, but it would require a council action.
[20:31] Something agenda is as well, correct?
[20:33] Correct, there's nothing on the agenda for tonight, correct?
[20:36] Yeah, thank you for that explanation.
[20:38] I feel terrible about what you went through, David.
[20:42] I'd love to direct staff to further evaluate our municipal code and research what we can do in these extreme circumstances that rarely happen in a city, but when it does happen, you know, it's-
[20:55] It's from my understanding it happens once or twice every year, and I'm sorry if I'm using more time.
[21:02] But I mean the city of Monterey Park is not extremely, you don't have extremely wealthy residents where either low or middle class people, right?
[21:12] Right now with that, my current water bill is, which standing or the holding is $3,300 at tier three, right?
[21:22] Okay, so with that on top of my $8500 water replacement,
[21:28] I'm close to $12,000 out of pocket, right?
[21:32] I'm just asking for a little bit of a leeway from you guys.
[21:35] Like I said, I'm gonna ask you for free water.
[21:37] I'll pay it.
[21:38] So if my colleagues are okay with that,
[21:40] we'll direct staff to look into it more
[21:42] and then come back with some kind of proposal.
[21:46] I also think we should look at it.
[21:48] I mean, look, our city is 110 years old.
[21:50] I'm sure you've got water liings throughout the city that potentially has similar issues, which we don't know about.
[21:58] I mean, you only find out when it happens, right? So I only found out that they gave me water bill.
[22:06] I'll just add, I know we don't have an agenda item tonight, but echo and join the other council members and I think we should look at a policy so that staff at least have options.
[22:15] Maybe we can look at what other cities are doing in cases like these knowing that they're not
[22:21] They hopefully continue to be rare occurrences, but also knowing that we need to balance right
[22:27] Someone pays for this water and if it's not the customer. It's the
[22:31] Everyone else and so how do we find kind of a middle ground here knowing that this is an extraordinary situation and
[22:38] We got to figure out a middle ground here that makes sense that doesn't overly burden other rate pairs as well
[22:45] But we'll look happy to look at options with direct staff to just do some research and bring back something in the meantime, maybe we can since as we are researching options, maybe we can put this on hold the bill on hold until we figure out what those are so that we can make sure we're not forcing someone to pay before we finalize a policy.
[23:06] Okay. Okay. Okay. I think, again, I think you have consensus from the State Council. Again,
[23:11] my apology that you had to experience this, but thank you for coming and bring it to our attention.
[23:15] And you will certainly take action on this.
[23:17] Great. Thank you.
[23:17] Thank you very much, Shady.
[23:19] Okay.
[23:22] Okay. Next speaker, Dave Jones.
[23:35] Good evening.
[23:37] I'll dispense with the niceties in the interest of time and the First Amendment.
[23:41] My name is Dave Jones. I live in District 5, but I have friends everywhere.
[23:46] there. Apparently, even in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis announced flock cameras
[23:52] will be removed from all state right of ways. Speaking further about flock, the governor
[23:58] said they can make some money producing cameras. The real money they make is by selling your
[24:04] data and making a fortune off that. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. Just since
[24:12] Since the beginning of August, 23 jurisdictions publicly reported taking actions to terminate
[24:19] flock contracts or remove cameras.
[24:22] Secure justice reported 93 jurisdictions ending flock relationships last month.
[24:30] Monterrey Park should do the same.
[24:33] I appreciate the community meeting the city held on my birthday, but
[24:39] But we really didn't have enough time to fully explore both sides of the issue.
[24:45] Significantly, Chief Weas did note the city and MPPD are powerless to prevent the abuse and misuse of flock data by other agencies.
[24:57] except by ending sharing agreement.
[25:11] I also spoke with the flock representative at the meeting who told me there are no audit records. They can provide that would prove data from flock cameras in Monterey Park is deleted after 30 days. There is a lot more to discuss.
[25:29] us and learn about flock cameras and ALPRs.
[25:33] Therefore, I urge the City Council, staff, and residents of Monterey Park to attend the flock community teaching on Saturday, September 12th, from 10 AM to 12 PM at the George Elder Community Room on Wilcox.
[25:51] Confirmed speakers include Carlyna Arosco, PhD, professor of criminology at Cal State LA,
[26:00] a specialist in crime analysis and police decision making who worked nine years in law enforcement.
[26:07] And Melody Dinser, JD, UCLA lecturer in law, and senior staff attorney at Tech Justice
[26:14] Law, who specializes in data privacy, AI, and biometric surveillance.
[26:19] I hope to see you there.
[26:22] Thank you, just water, no ice.
[26:30] Next bill, Ziger, please come forward.
[26:44] Mayor, members of the City Council and staff.
[26:47] I come here in asking something.
[26:52] I've been the victim of several near misses.
[26:56] When I say near misses, I want to speak directly of the area near the fire department, right outside.
[27:04] That intersection, I've had situations where I've been trying to cross the intersection and cars come right through that intersection, not stopping.
[27:14] They go straight through the intersection and I'm in that intersection.
[27:19] I hate to say this, that's a safety issue.
[27:22] That's a big safety issue.
[27:25] I get to the point where I don't want to have to, but I want to take a baseball bat with me.
[27:32] And just carry that thing with me to cross that intersection.
[27:37] That's sad, I shouldn't have to feel that way in this town of mine.
[27:42] I've lived here all my life.
[27:45] I was born here on September 11th, 1959.
[27:49] I've never left.
[27:52] Thank you.
[27:54] Thank you, Mr. Deaker.
[27:55] And can we make sure to have information and follow up regarding his concern again?
[27:59] Thank you for sharing this issue with us.
[28:01] Sounds
[28:04] like we could do some extra traffic enforcement in the intersection or two, since it's our fire department entry exit.
[28:13] Noted, we'll have staff follow-up as well.
[28:16] Thank you.
[28:18] Next, Raymond U.
[28:21] Five minutes.
[28:26] Good evening, everybody.
[28:28] My name is Raymond U. Recently, I have passed you the rendering sample presentation of the Paneva bread is coming to
[28:38] the monetary park marketplace in the city of Monterey Park, California 91755. But the rendering of the
[28:46] panellar bread will fill up 4400 marketplace drive in the city of Monterey Park, California,
[28:54] the picture that I gave you is still a vacant man. But this city's council district free
[29:02] Hoses, Sanchez will have to deal with the panellar bread and in the city south side, the panellar bread
[29:10] corporate headquarters from Missouri will have to come to Montaway Park Marketplace in this city
[29:16] south side district on the 63-way X-8 paramount, Bolivar, all the way to the Montaway Park Marketplace
[29:24] area. It will be built up. It is gap between Buffalo Wild Wings and Arnold
[29:33] Hawaiian Barbecue since the vacant and has been stuck there. How the vacant
[29:40] for eight years following the In-N-Out Burger Chick-fil-A, Arnold and Buffalo Wild
[29:46] Wings built inside the Mono Park Marketplace. It's 2018 with Costco and Home Depot.
[29:54] everything except panelloprat. This is why we need panelloprat.
[30:00] This is up in the city of Monterey Park, South District, free, Sanchez representing the city's south side. It is on Marketplace Drive 63-way, Paramount Boulevard, Costco, and Port railroad one-day drive. The reason why it's Monterey Park residents want the panellop, that drive food, and the animated sip subscription should be.
[30:28] take place situated inside the Monterey Park Marketplace next to Honour Hawaiian Barbecue and the Buffalo
[30:37] Wild Wings and it should have dry through everything or amenities. The
[30:43] unlimited set club is $14.99 and also annual drink subscription is $120 a year.
[30:55] This paper has a detail to look up at panellabra.com and the customer support center for panellabra is 855-672-677.
[31:09] It is listed on the paper.
[31:13] The reason why is people want the unlimited drinks subscription in the cities
[31:20] So they don't want to drive a far away between our ham bra and people were in the south gate further far away.
[31:29] This is why this city's south side need to have panellop bread in the Monterey Park Marketplace.
[31:36] South in this city next to home depot and the Czech feeling and people like using panellop bread for consuming anything.
[31:47] and also Wi-Fi. Panera Bread is the best drink subscription we ever have since. I am a Panera Bread
[31:54] anonymity subscriber at all times since 2022 when I sign up in Alhambra. This is why we need
[32:02] to bring it down here.
[32:06] Followed by, this is why we may need the Panera Bread Express Ticketway in the
[32:11] Atlantic Place Shopping Center, and also that we need panorfitness built in Atlantic Place Shopping Center,
[32:23] location at Atlantic Boulevard and Flow Road Drive.
[32:26] I said 2100 South Atlantic Boulevard in this city of Monterey Park Southside District next to East L.A. College.
[32:36] When Y8 was closed, this is why we need to have planet fitness is coming to Monterey Park, California,
[32:46] East LA.
[32:47] Carlisters, I am a member subscriber of the planet fitness.
[32:52] When I sign up since 2017, now I am a continuing Panebra bread unanimous sip club member in the
[33:01] Monterrey Park Marketplace, 63-way, XH Paramount Boulevard Marketplace Drive, and also the
[33:08] future Panda Fitness Open in the Monterrey Park Atlantic Place Shopping Center, East
[33:14] Albert College, 64-moner-freeway, XF4 Atlantic Boulevard, when I pass you the rendering sample
[33:21] presentation to all of you, including this City Council District Free Horsesanches.
[33:28] Thank you.
[33:28] Thank you very much, and perhaps I'm from our economic department can speak to the constituent.
[33:33] Thank you.
[33:35] Next, Pauli Zazaki.
[33:54] Last week, the City Council voted on the zoning of the property on Garvey and Abajo.
[34:06] What basically happened is you just went back to the original zoning to R3, that's my understanding.
[34:13] Well, I have some ideas that our idea that I think we need to form a committee to see about this R3 zoning because if you look at the property, it's not really R3.
[34:30] I was going to make a suggestion that obviously Thomas Wong should be on this committee because he lives in the Highlands so he knows this area well.
[34:39] Now, other City Council members, definitely neighborhood members of the Highlands.
[34:45] Now, why?
[34:46] Why do we want to change it from R3?
[34:48] Well, we already know the lands unstable.
[34:51] We want to spend those millions of dollars.
[34:54] I hear the number 16 million, because we needed to stabilize the hill.
[34:59] Thank you.
[35:00] So, to put any big structure up there, that may not be the wisest idea. Now, okay, why don't we just leave it at R3 and we could build a R1 on it? Because that's perfectly legal. Because I don't trust the future of our city council. What do you mean by that? Well, I was a city planner. And as a city commissioner and a planning commissioner.
[35:30] Let me tell you about two properties that will happen.
[35:33] One real close to here, the address 128 Chandler, there's two open properties right next to each other.
[35:42] When I was there, the contractor came up there to get approval so they can bring it up to the next step to the city council.
[35:50] And I told the developer clearly, no way are we going to pass this.
[35:54] And I asked them several questions, I don't have the time to tell you the questions.
[35:58] I asked them several questions, any conancerum, and for us to put a big four story condominium right there in a residential area, I felt was not right.
[36:11] Well, you know what? That was before COVID, and then after COVID, the next thing I know they got approval to build, and there was a sign up there.
[36:19] So, you know what the game is? The game is if the City Council does not pass a plan, they just wait until the City Council changes, and then they bring in someone that is favorable to the project and they got to pass.
[36:37] This is a project that should not have passed, but they waited.
[36:42] The real crime is 1,500 Suburl.
[36:45] If you know Suburl, it's in the Highlands.
[36:48] And it also tells you about the unstable condition of that hill.
[36:52] If you're driving down Garvey, you make a left on Kassouda Canyon.
[36:56] You make a left on the first street Suburl and you start going up.
[37:01] They came in with plans to build on that property.
[37:05] I said, don't be ridiculous.
[37:07] I said, you can't build on that property.
[37:09] And then when I told the other planning commissioners, we'll vote on this next week, I'm just asking you one favor go to the property and look at it.
[37:20] Simple favor.
[37:21] Just go look at the product.
[37:23] It's too steep.
[37:24] I'm a steer.
[37:25] I understand the concept of slope.
[37:28] Also, you know, I'm a math teacher, so m equals y minus y over x minus x.
[37:34] You know, the slope is just too steep to be building on.
[37:40] We rejected it. After COVID, they got approved and they're building on it. And, boy, I know
[37:47] we're going to get sued in as. We're going to get sued, probably in this summer one year
[37:52] from now, because if it's a super alineo, you guys, if it's a super alineo, man, that thing's
[37:58] coming down. So, all I'm asking is, oh, by the way, so the bottom line is they waited again
[38:04] and for a new city council, they voted for it.
[38:08] And you know, let's face it, it's the same side job
[38:11] there's people who are at city councilmen,
[38:13] businessmen, who knows who's motivated to pass a project.
[38:17] A project that's not best interest for the city
[38:21] or not best interest for the citizens
[38:24] and homeowners of Monterey Park.
[38:27] And that's how I care about.
[38:28] So let's form a committee.
[38:31] And I'll go to the council, each council member,
[38:34] I will talk to you until we get three people to vote, and set up a committee.
[38:37] We're not asking anything to see what's in the best interest of the city.
[38:42] R1, R2, or keep it R3.
[38:45] I'm not pushing anything, I don't have no agenda.
[38:48] I just want to do things right.
[38:50] And then with this committee, when they make the recommendations,
[38:53] you can look at it and then decide to vote.
[38:56] Let's change the zoning, or let's not.
[38:58] Thank you very much.
[38:59] Thank you very much.
[39:00] And
[39:04] that concludes public comment.
[39:06] Let's continue on to staff communications.
[39:10] We're going to our library.
[39:11] We've come forward.
[39:18] All right, just to confirm prior direction from council on that particular, the garbage projects
[39:23] in terms of staff starting to work on aligning the land use element in the zoning, we're going
[39:31] to start looking at that rate.
[39:38] Yes, we're starting to look at that.
[39:40] Correct.
[39:45] Thank you much.
[39:45] Okay, let's continue.
[39:47] Library.
[39:52] Good evening, Mellow and City Council Members.
[39:56] My name is Leonie Jordan, and I'm the Senior Librarian for—
[40:02] First off, a recap from last month. In August, the library offered 120 programs which were attended by 2,139 people.
[40:16] In celebration of National Library Cards sign-up month, throughout September, the library is partnering with local businesses to offer the Reader Awards program.
[40:27] Just show your Monterey Park library card at participating businesses and receive special
[40:33] perks.
[40:34] If you don't have a library card, just visit the library to register for one and start
[40:39] saving.
[40:42] This Friday at 11am, join us for the opening reception of the Cantonese Pioneers building North
[40:49] America exhibition.
[40:52] This pictorial exhibition will be on display in the library throughout September and is
[40:58] presented by the Chinese-American citizen alliance,
[41:01] Greater San Gabriel Valley Lodge, and the Cantonese Society of Southern California,
[41:09] calling all aspiring authors. On Saturday, September 12 at 2 p.m.,
[41:16] hear from a panel of independent authors at the secret life of indie book publishing.
[41:23] You'll learn insider secrets on the writing process, what mistakes to avoid,
[41:28] and how to turn your passion for writing into a career.
[41:33] Books by the authors will be available for purchase and signing.
[41:39] The library is the place to go for Hispanic Heritage Month.
[41:43] On Saturday, September 19th at 3pm,
[41:48] teens can learn how to make delicious Puerto Rican casitos
[41:51] at our popular teens cook program.
[41:55] Also on the 19th, families are invited to join us
[41:59] for a special Spanish bilingual craft story time.
[42:05] Bell his stories and create a paper,
[42:08] Muniakalale,
[42:14] celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival
[42:17] with an all ages moon party
[42:19] at the Gabi Ranch Park Observatory
[42:21] on Wednesday, September 23rd from 7 till 8.30.
[42:26] Join astronomers from the LA Astronomical Society
[42:29] for some moon viewing on the lawn
[42:31] or a tour of the observatory.
[42:33] Asian Youth Centre will also lead a mindful lantern making activity that supports mental
[42:38] wellness while celebrating cultural traditions. Lastly, there's also a special Mid-Autumn
[42:46] Festival family story time on Tuesday, September 22 at 6.30. Hop on over to the library
[42:54] to enjoy moon themed stories and a moon cake play-doh activity. We hope to see you at the
[43:00] the library soon, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
[43:05] Thank you so much, any questions, members?
[43:08] I just want to say it's amazing you guys to do 120 events in a month.
[43:13] That's unbelievable, keep up with good work, thank you.
[43:17] Thank you for the presentation and update.
[43:21] Our library is amazing, I'm looking forward to two new things coming up.
[43:25] That's this Friday, the Cantonese Pioneer, I'll be happy to join that.
[43:31] And also, quick question on September 23rd, the moon party.
[43:36] Yeah.
[43:36] Thank you, AYC, there's you on that chair, you on that board.
[43:40] Would it be providing moon cakes?
[43:42] Or can we get someone to sponsor moon cakes for that event?
[43:44] We are looking into that at the moment.
[43:46] Awesome, thank you.
[43:51] Yeah, but also very amazed by the amount of events that the library hosted.
[43:56] I just think it's fabulous how libraries are just not the way they used to be.
[44:01] and are offering so much programming today to be able to piece a lot of different residents
[44:10] and their likes.
[44:11] So also very appreciative of the celebration for a connection with Hispanic Heritage Month
[44:15] is coming up pretty soon and I know the Council is considering a resolution a little bit
[44:20] later to commemorate and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month here in the city.
[44:24] So thank you for that.
[44:25] I know we have Kacitos and I think there was a Spanish bilingual craft story time so I'm going
[44:30] I try to make both of those something.
[44:33] I'm going to be camping out at the library on the 19th, but thank you so much.
[44:38] Thank you as always and looking forward to participating in all these activities as well as members of our community.
[44:44] Thank you.
[44:44] Thank you.
[44:48] Next, for Christian Community Services.
[44:50] is.
[45:00] Good evening, mayor and members of the city council. I'm recreation supervisor Memo Chavez, and I'm here to provide a few brief updates from the recreation and community services department. First, we had a couple of recent activities take place in August. We had the MPK night at Dodger Stadium on August 15th. We had 275 people attend this game, which is the most ever attended for an MPK Dodger night. Also, in August, Langley Center held
[45:30] it's a night out event on August 25th, which featured dinner, dancing, and live entertainment
[45:35] for adults 50 and over.
[45:38] The event was also sold out and received a tremendous amount of positive reviews from
[45:43] the people that attended the event.
[45:47] Looking ahead at Langley Center, beginning on September 3rd, Langley Center will offer a free
[45:53] ballroom dance event on the first Thursday of each month from 1230 to 430 with live entertainment
[46:00] and registration is not required for this activity.
[46:05] Langley Center is also looking forward
[46:07] to our September Summer Luow Dance on Thursday, September 24th,
[46:11] from one to three.
[46:13] The event is for ages 50 and over, event costs is $3,
[46:17] and will include a spam asubi and macaroni salad lunch
[46:21] and live entertainment.
[46:24] Upcoming events in September, upcoming community events,
[46:29] The Patriot Day Ceremony will take place on September 11th at 8.30 in front of City Hall as we come together to remember and honor those affected by 9.11.
[46:40] Also on September 24th, we will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at the Farmers Market from 6 to 7, featuring live entertainment by Mariachi Orguillo-Haleciense.
[46:53] And in October, a couple of events coming up, electric park returns for its sixth annual event at Barnes Park on Saturday, October 3rd from 4 to 10 featuring Morgan Page.
[47:09] The event and collaboration with Monary Park Arts Collective will offer food trucks, art vendors, and free family games.
[47:17] Later on in the month, on Thursday, October 5th, the city will host the annual Monster Mash event at Barnes Park from 4 to 7.
[47:26] This family Halloween event will include carnival games, giveaways, activities, live entertainment, food trucks, and free candy.
[47:35] And then looking ahead to saving the date in November, the Monterey Park Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday-
[47:43] in progress.
[47:44] At Barnes Park, registration runs from September 21st through August 26th.
[47:51] Also the city's Veterans Day of Ceremony will be held November 11th at 11am at the American
[47:56] Legion Post 397.
[47:59] That concludes my updates and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
[48:03] Thank you so much, members.
[48:05] Thank you.
[48:06] Lots of great events coming up and I can't believe we're already in the last few months
[48:09] at the year and it's now like following events.
[48:12] Yeah,
[48:15] I think I saw Langley Center with three different dancing, so I better look at how
[48:20] to dance to get in there.
[48:22] And then I love Monster Mash.
[48:24] I think all the dancers love him too.
[48:26] But I know every year we make it the best show for the kids to be out here, so thanks for
[48:33] doing that.
[48:33] Thank you.
[48:36] I think it's definitely starting to feel like fall because a lot of my favorite events are
[48:41] starting to pop up in my daughter's favorite events are my favorite events.
[48:47] Anyhow, I wanted to thank you for the September 24th Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
[48:54] Happening at the farmers market, I love that we do it in conjunction with the farmers market.
[48:59] Which is tomorrow, I want to do a plug for it.
[49:02] Those of you who don't have vegetables or want to get some fresh vegetables and fruit should go out and get it.
[49:10] Or if you don't have any dinner plans, great place to go grab some dinner and hang out.
[49:13] I will be there, so if you want to share a talk with me or talk a little bit about any city stuff, I'll see you there.
[49:21] Informally, thank you.
[49:23] I'll say again, as I said before, we're very fortunate that in our city, we have such wonderful programs for the community.
[49:29] And that's a credit to our incredible staff, like those at the Parks and Rec Department, so thank you so much.
[49:34] Thank you.
[49:35] Next, public works.
[49:43] Good evening, mayor, mayor of pro-demons to the council.
[49:45] Sean, I go to the work director.
[49:47] Tonight, I have an overview of a bulky items collection and how residents, businesses, and others can help address illegal dumping and facilitate bulky item pickups.
[49:57] Residents and multi-family customers have access.
[50:00] Press to free, unlimited, bulky item pickups through wear disposal. Residents can schedule a pickup by calling 626-225-2400 or emailing MPIMPO at weardisposal.com. One important reminder is that items should be placed out before 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Placing items out before the scheduled date can result in items being reported as abandoned items. Residents also have opportunities four times per year to dispose of bulky items at city,
[50:29] quarterly cleanup events.
[50:32] Business customers should coordinate directly with their appropriate waste hauler,
[50:35] either wear disposal at 626-225-2400 or
[50:41] Athens services at 626-336-6100.
[50:46] Wear disposal currently charges 38.74 per item while
[50:49] Athens services charges 49.33 per item for business bulky item pickups.
[50:54] Next slide, please.
[50:57] In coordination with Code Compliance Team,
[50:59] In addition, we are developing a new outreach campaign to better educate residents, property owners, and businesses about bulky item disposal and legal dumping.
[51:06] This is the portion of the new flyer which provides information on proper disposal, procedures, and potential penalties associated with illegal dumping.
[51:14] It also addresses hazardous waste, which should never be placed outside the bulky item pickups.
[51:20] Next slide please.
[51:22] Finally, we encourage residents to use the GO&PK app to report abandoned items.
[51:26] The city uses this platform to identify and schedule to the removal of these items.
[51:33] As we continue working with co-compliance and where disposal to address illegal dumping
[51:37] and bulky items, we appreciate the community's patience as these items are scheduled and
[51:41] prioritized for removal.
[51:43] So put the volume into perspective, where collects about 8,000 items per year, and
[51:49] and the city staff collects about 2,000 items per year.
[51:52] With that, I'll take any questions.
[51:55] Thank you so much Council.
[51:57] Yeah, thanks for summarizing this again.
[51:59] I just wanted to reiterate that a lot of residents don't know it's free.
[52:04] So all the bouquet items are free and it's really easy to just call the number and they come out.
[52:08] So I know there's been a lot of dumping in various parts of the city right now,
[52:12] but if everyone can just do their part and keep our city clean, that'd be great.
[52:19] Along the lines of what Councillor Young was saying, if we can maybe increase the amount of reminders to customers and residents about the free bulky item pick up, I think that'd be very helpful.
[52:30] Just on my street, people are constantly leaving bulky items and I'm pretty sure they have not called in because they sit there for a few days and then someone probably reports it and comes to pick it up, but maybe we can increase the number of reminders for people to call bulky item pick up so that it does get picked up.
[52:48] in the next day and we don't leave it on our sidewalks.
[52:52] Yeah, we can work on cascades, we can do additional outreach.
[52:55] Like I said, we're looking with co-compliance on additional outreach material.
[52:58] Again, to the point of having residents schedule and then put it out the day they're supposed to at 7 AM.
[53:04] That's part of the challenge is they put it out the day they call and it could be a week or even a couple of days later.
[53:10] So that's what we're asking that they put it out the day of.
[53:12] Yeah, more reminders because people forget that they actually need to have a bulky item to put out.
[53:18] Absolutely, thank you.
[53:21] Yeah, thank you, Sean.
[53:22] And I can't stress enough how important reporting stuff on the Gwent BKF is.
[53:27] I do it all the time and you guys are really quick about answering and fixing the problem within a day or two, so I really appreciate that.
[53:37] But I also wanted to highlight because I saw on the city's Instagram actually your monthly metrics,
[53:46] which are very impressive and I want to share these so the public knows in case you haven't seen it.
[53:51] You had over 3,500 particles filled throughout the city, 370 water service orders completed, 190 illegally dumped bulk items picked up.
[54:03] But 134 graffiti removals throughout the city, probably most of them in my district, and then 400, because I call all those.
[54:10] And over 490 go MPK service orders that were closed, that's impressive.
[54:16] That's how you know public work is working, so thank you.
[54:19] Really appreciate about that, thank you.
[54:19] We have a great team, thank you.
[54:21] And I also want to share those sentiments.
[54:23] I know on my colleagues, I received reports of illegal dumping, and again, I want to appreciate our staff being attentive.
[54:32] I do have a question, though, I mean, especially jumping in some of our empty lots.
[54:36] I don't know if they're the way that we can, we don't already like impose fines for
[54:40] these owners of allowing their lands to become dumping ground.
[54:45] I'm not sure if that's anything we can do about that, so.
[54:49] Mr. Mayor, members of the council, we definitely want to work with all of our property owners for
[54:56] responsible clean.
[55:00] Meaning of their properties, I think the challenge definitely, property owners that have vacant parcels, I think oftentimes immediately are going to share that they're illegally dumped there. And so definitely the property owner at times might, they don't want to have to pay for service. But that's why we want to make sure that we're providing residents with the information. Our goal with our outreach campaign is to make sure that we're educating our community members on how to properly
[55:29] differently disposed so that we see less and less illegal dumping.
[55:33] Definitely we want residents to know that it is free for them and so we want them to help us coordinate so that our city looks nice as well.
[55:41] The other thing too is when you're reporting it, and I think often times maybe if an item is dumped and it's picked up, and
[55:53] that person who dumped it didn't call it in or schedule it and it gets removed.
[55:58] I think that's the other challenge too, is sometimes residents then think, well last time it was removed and I just brought it out here and just happened.
[56:05] So we want to make sure that we're educating our residents.
[56:09] So the campaign is, we're definitely trying to push the information out, agree that people might forget how to report these items and how to schedule them.
[56:20] We're working back with our code compliance division as well.
[56:23] Well, we have areas of the city that would describe as more like, you know, high areas where people are dumping more often.
[56:30] So we're going to work on signage.
[56:32] We're going to work on some flyer campaign for those specific areas.
[56:37] But definitely, we're just going to do our best to try to see if we can get more people to schedule their bulky items responsibly.
[56:46] We will work always back with the vacant owners.
[56:49] Let's try to get those items removed as well.
[56:52] It's a challenge of, because like I said, oftentimes it's illegally dumped and I'm sure that they're just as frustrated as we are with that.
[57:00] Thank you.
[57:01] Thank you.
[57:02] Don, if I can just do a follow up question with regards to what the mayor just said.
[57:06] I know that there's specific places within the city that are kind of like targets for illegal dumping that are just kind of.
[57:13] Usually I know there's one in my district near the Motel 6 and 7-11 and I see it all the time because I drive down Monterey pass all the time.
[57:23] Is there a particular, I'm not sure if we have in that area like signage that says like no dumping, especially in areas that are habitual where people will drop off?
[57:35] So if we don't have signage we can definitely play signage working on updating our signage so that we can have it in all three languages
[57:40] And so as soon as we receive those we're putting them out in our high traffic areas
[57:44] Yeah, I think because I think just that's specifically that area I get a lot of
[57:51] You know messages from residents that people keep dumping stuff there and I you know
[57:56] I'm not sure if there's signage available there or that we could potentially put to kind of prevent some of that from
[58:00] Yeah, we can look at adding signage there. Thank you. No problem. Thank you. Thank you
[58:05] Okay, fire department.
[58:16] Good evening, Honorable Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, members of the City Council.
[58:20] Raid Luzano could comply in supervisor.
[58:22] Before you this evening is a presentation dedicated to providing information on the fire department's national preparedness resource fair that we are having on September 23rd.
[58:34] It's going to be located at Barnes Park under the tree area directly behind City Hall, the date or excuse me, the time for
[58:41] For the resource fairs between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., the focus of this event is going
[58:47] to be providing information and resources to the community members on community preparedness.
[58:53] Some of the activities that will be happening will include the community emergency response
[58:59] team providing demonstrations, resources, and addition to recruitment.
[59:03] The fire department will have emergency planning, notifications, earthquake preparedness, and
[59:08] other related resources available as well.
[59:10] We will have a dedicated ever bridge table, so we can have residents sign up if they are not already signed up.
[59:19] Additionally, the CODE compliance division will have a property readiness and preparedness presentation.
[59:25] Additionally, we will have community partners such as Home Depot and Costco and other businesses alike attending as well, and we are grateful for Einstein bros to also be providing coffee for this event.
[59:37] So we look forward to it and encourage all community members that are available to come out meet the fire department and see what resources are available to them
[59:46] Welcome any questions
[59:48] Thank you.
[59:51] I just want to congratulate you. I think I just saw you graduated. So congratulations Ray. Thank you
[59:57] Yeah, thank you for this yes
[1:00:01] I just wanted to thank you for hosting this. I may go every year and it's always well attended, so I'm very appreciative of that. Thank you.
[1:00:09] Thank you so much for sharing this information to our community, valuable information. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:00:19] Okay. Let's see, no old business, consent calendar, item 10, any items, members, which to pull?
[1:00:30] Mayor, I would just like just for a brief mention, item 10H, that's it.
[1:00:36] 10H, okay.
[1:00:39] I'll move the remaining consent items.
[1:00:42] Move by Councillor Wong, may I second please?
[1:00:44] Oh, a second.
[1:00:45] Councillor Goe, okay, hang on for the discussion.
[1:00:50] Members please vote.
[1:00:56] Approved unanimously.
[1:00:57] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[1:01:00] Item 10H.
[1:01:05] National Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution, that's because by Mayor Potem Sanchez, Mayor Potem.
[1:01:11] Yes, thank you, Mayor, for allowing me to speak on this item briefly.
[1:01:17] I want to encourage City Council to adopt a resolution declaring September 15th through October 15th National Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Monterey Park, and I wanted to share just with people who are listening and who are here, some of the facts from the resolution.
[1:01:34] So that you are aware, Hispanics and Latinos account for about 26.5% of the city of Monterey Park's population, approximately 15,656 individuals, and Hispanic Latin Americans represent vibrant and thriving part of our diverse community here in Monterey Park.
[1:01:55] It's what makes us really strong is our diversity within our city.
[1:02:00] And I want to also encourage, I know our city is planning to do a lot of events as you saw earlier to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
[1:02:10] I want to encourage residents to come out to the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on September 24th at our Thursday, September 24th.
[1:02:22] And at the same time, be at the farmers market, and then on September 19th, you heard from
[1:02:27] the library.
[1:02:29] We'll be hosting our, in the friends room, the two separate events, one cooking and the
[1:02:35] other one, a Spanish bilingual event as well.
[1:02:38] So I want to encourage our City Council to help support this item.
[1:02:43] So I'll go ahead and move to move this item forward.
[1:02:46] Thank you.
[1:02:47] Move by Mayor Pro Tem.
[1:02:48] And I will second.
[1:02:49] Second, my council member will go.
[1:02:51] Thank you.
[1:02:52] Hearing no further debate or discussion.
[1:02:54] Members please vote.
[1:02:57] Approved unanimously.
[1:02:59] Thank you, Madam Clerk.
[1:03:00] Thank you.
[1:03:01] Okay.
[1:03:01] Public hearing items.
[1:03:02] None.
[1:03:03] New business.
[1:03:05] None.
[1:03:06] City Council Communications.
[1:03:09] Just yesterday we had a great ribbon cutting for the melt.
[1:03:15] So all the council members were there and we're super excited to welcome the melt
[1:03:20] into our city, finally.
[1:03:22] Well said.
[1:03:23] Next.
[1:03:25] Again, it was a great showing of community members
[1:03:28] at the Melp, the ribbon cutting yesterday.
[1:03:31] Just also on the report on the August 29th,
[1:03:34] CSE opened up a all-cove,
[1:03:37] which is a mental health facility in St. Gabriel
[1:03:40] that supports the entire St. Gabriel Valley youth.
[1:03:43] So it's the first of its kind in Southern California.
[1:03:47] And it will be serving all the youth,
[1:03:48] the local high schools in Singapore Valley.
[1:03:52] Also, I attended the 25th to meet the mayor event by our mayor Henry Lowe at Hong Kong
[1:04:00] Cafe, Atlantic Time Squares, and just proud to say that the units along the Atlantic Time
[1:04:09] Squares Plaza are coming along really well.
[1:04:12] I mean, there's a lot of new stories in there.
[1:04:14] And that's the same as Atlantic Square as well, which we went yesterday.
[1:04:19] So the tenants are moving into those locations.
[1:04:23] That's all I have, thank you.
[1:04:25] Thank you.
[1:04:28] I'll just share in echo some of my appreciation for the recent new grand opening of the melt here in Monterey Park.
[1:04:38] If you haven't had a chat, if you are a burger fan, like I am, I felt like actually I was cheating on the hat for a second.
[1:04:46] And so anyhow, please don't let them know that I've gone there a couple of times already.
[1:04:52] But I highly want to recommend you check out the melt on Atlantic Square.
[1:04:57] It's a new addition to Atlantic Square.
[1:04:59] Atlantic Square has been-
[1:05:00] I've been doing a great job of adding new businesses and fill up council member Goh mentioned on the North Atlantic's work, but South Atlantic's work has quite a bit of new businesses as well. So our city is thriving. So I want to make sure that you guys go out and support a lot of our local businesses as well. So do want to do a shout out for that. And then I had opportunity to also go to the meetup with the mayor at the Hong Kong Cafe. One of my daughters actually favorite restaurants to go to is the Hong Kong Cafe.
[1:05:29] Hong Kong Cafe, so if you haven't been, go check it out.
[1:05:32] Their favorite is the shrimp,
[1:05:39] that's there, the, what am I thinking about?
[1:05:42] I'm drawing a blank right now, but anyhow, the honeywanna shrimp, thank you.
[1:05:47] And anyhow, so I wanted to think the mayor for hosting that and for doing a great job in highlighting
[1:05:52] also one of our businesses that has been in the city for quite a bit of time as the chief will tell you.
[1:05:58] So, and well liked, and then lastly, this past week I had an opportunity to attend the
[1:06:04] California Contract Cities Conference, and I wanted to mention there was three bills
[1:06:10] that probably are now at the May of the Governor's desk that they have highlighted in our encouraging cities to
[1:06:18] take a look at. One is AB 1546. We were encouraged to share these out, which heightens criminal penalties for driving under the influence, particularly for repeatable.
[1:06:28] offenders, SB 1361, which undermines local line use authority by restricting city's
[1:06:35] ability to effectively evaluate and provide input on transit projects in their communities.
[1:06:40] And SB 1117, which limits city's abilities to collect revenue that funds essential local
[1:06:46] services by changing how impact these are calculated for accessory dwellings or aid use as we commonly
[1:06:52] refer to them.
[1:06:54] Just wanted to mention those items.
[1:06:56] Other than that, I think most people had a great start to the school year, I hope.
[1:07:01] I know that things are in full swing now, by this point, right chief?
[1:07:04] So that's it for me, thank you.
[1:07:07] Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, and actually to piggyback what you just said.
[1:07:12] So yesterday, I'm sorry, no, yes, yesterday, with the final day of the legislative session for
[1:07:19] our state legislature, and so a lot of bills passed out and are awaiting the government veto or signature.
[1:07:27] And as always, the cities, we would bait abreast to see what becomes law, what doesn't, and how it impacts our cities in general.
[1:07:37] And I also want to thank our staff for also being diligent and paying attention to legislation that has been impactful to our community and will continue to do so.
[1:07:47] Also, I just want to thank everyone who attended our last meeting up, we had about 25 people show up and it's a great opportunity for residents to share their concerns, ask questions, ideas with not just myself as mayor but also as a staff and so I encourage everyone to show up.
[1:08:08] We also use this opportunity to promote and celebrate our many businesses in the City of Monterey Park, our next mayor's meeting will be at September 30th, 5 p.m.
[1:08:18] at the ASEYARO May Cafe, and again September 30th, ASEYARO May Cafe, I hope they're going to give me an apron or something, where?
[1:08:31] We may need to notice that meeting because I think there's a lot of interest from the council.
[1:08:36] No. Okay. And came with that. Oh, yes, yes.
[1:08:41] If I can just do a plug for two more items. Actually, one of the, we have a lot of treasures
[1:08:47] in Monterrey Park, but one of the treasures that we have in Monterrey Park is the observatory
[1:08:51] which you had mentioned earlier. Tonight they have the observatories open tonight till 10
[1:08:56] p.m. So since our council meeting ended early, highly recommend it's not over yet. It's ending
[1:09:02] early, earlier than usual.
[1:09:04] I want to recommend that you go and check out the observatory tonight's open till 10
[1:09:08] PM.
[1:09:09] I'm going to go pick up my daughters and take them there.
[1:09:11] And then tomorrow is the farmer's market, so make sure that you check that out.
[1:09:15] That's it.
[1:09:16] Thank you so much.
[1:09:17] Okay.
[1:09:18] So session, items, nothing to announce.
[1:09:21] And with that, if there's no objection, we will adjourn tights meet court 739 PM, thank you
[1:09:30] so much.
[1:09:30] Okay.