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We're going to call the meeting to order. City clerk, can you please do the roll call?

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Mayor Olsen here. Mayor Pultim Bishop. Here. Council members Lowa. Here.

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That in court, here, and Alacan. Here. We have a quorum.

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Okay, if you're able, please stand for the pledge allegiance.

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Place your right hand over your heart and

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Again, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

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One nation, one under God, an individual with liberty and justice for all.

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Thank you.

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We're not going to do the moment of silence until we have a legitimate reason to do the moment of silence.

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I think it kind of takes away from it if we just do it for the fun of it.

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So we're going to move on to the cute critter video, please.

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Oh, I'm sorry, the public code of conduct and

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less acute critter videos faster.

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Okay, thank you.

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Now, do you public code conduct please?

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All right, got it.

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Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention?

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The meeting of the Palm Del City Council is now in order.

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A code of conduct will now be read.

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And we request that you comply with it to ensure the efficient administration of the meeting.

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Members of the public, it is your right to participate in today's City Council meeting and the council encourages such participation.

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However, the right of the public to address the council must be balanced with the need to ensure that public comment does not interfere with the orderly course of the council's business.

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All are reminded to abide by the following rules.

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Speakers must see speaking immediately when their time has ended.

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Public comment on agenda items must relate to the subject matter of that item.

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General public comment is limited to subjects within the jurisdiction of the council.

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Public comment does not include the right to engage in a dialogue with council members or staff.

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Please remain respectful of the form and refrain from uttering, writing, or displaying, profane,

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personal threatening derogatory demeaning or other abusive statements towards the council any member there of staff or any other person

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Members of the audience should be respectful of the views expressed by speakers, staff, and council members, and may not excessively clap, cheer, whistle or otherwise disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting.

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Any person engaging in conduct that disrupt the meeting is subject to being removed from the council meeting.

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Finally, if you witnessed conduct or behavior by other members of the public, that disrupts your ability to remain engaged or participate in this meeting, please notify city staff.

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Thank you for your cooperation. Ladies and gentlemen.

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Thank you.

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We acknowledge the observances for the month of September.

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The city of Pomdo would like to acknowledge the following observances for September, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15.

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Thank you.

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City Manager, are there any items to pull from the agenda?

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Mayor, may I just make a point?

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So we have five items on our agenda that are award for contracts.

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So they have underlying procurement documents, RFPs, proposals from various proposals.

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Those five items in total, we received an email with a link yesterday at 201 p.m.

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containing 5,241 pages of supporting documentation for those five items.

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One in particular is $2,562 pages for a $30 million contract.

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I was here in the office, I was here till 730 p.m. printing all of as many of them as I could.

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I went home and had a meeting on Zoom 730 to 9. I was up till 3 a.m. reading.

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Welcome again at 7.30 a.m. again reading impossible to get through 5,200 pages of just procurement documents for those five items because we've got a variety of other items that required a lot of reading and looking into because this binder alone on top of is another at least a rema paper so another 500 pages if the agenda is posted on a Thursday evening because we've got closures on Friday.

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Then our briefings are held on Monday.

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The council meeting is then held Tuesday.

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If I have questions, my briefing was yesterday at 5 p.m.,

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which means as soon as my briefings over, essentially staff leaves.

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And then any questions that I have

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or request for information and response to those briefings,

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I may or may not get in time.

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And if I get them, I get them a minute before the meeting

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and don't have time to process and I just them either.

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This is a structural problem.

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So when we move the meetings from Wednesday to Tuesday, we made this the time constraints

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much more difficult to contend with, particularly because we have Friday closures.

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But with regard to tonight, I don't know, I think there are also some electronic issues.

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I think where you mentioned that you weren't even able to click the link or open the link

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electronically to review the documents.

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I think we've got management oversight issues.

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There's no reason why if they were agendas,

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why we should get the link yesterday at 2 p.m.

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If the items were agendas, those procurement documents

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were already available records and should have been disclosed

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when the agenda was posted so that we could have at least

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the benefit of the weekend to review.

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On an item like Chimbole, which is the centerpiece of our city,

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$30 million of taxpayer dollars.

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$2,562 pages of documents for us to review in less than 24 hours is really just unreasonable.

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So what I'm going to ask at least for the, I got through a couple of the items.

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I don't know if you would just want to, you want to postpone all five of the items to allow the council to have adequate time to review.

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The procurement documents, but item 7.4 is Chimbole, 2,562 underline procurement documents.

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And then item 5.7 is 1,159 pages also.

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The others are 500, 501, 519.

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I was able to review those three on top of the other 18 items that we've got on the agenda.

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So what I would like to suggest in terms of organizing the agenda at a minimum on Chimbole I would like for us to be able to hold the public hearing to get public comment and feedback because it was agendas and people probably are may be prepared to offer comment with regard to what the envision for the centerpiece of our city and $30 million.

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So, let's hear public comment, but let's move the action item to the next council meeting. If we could for that item at least for the others, I'd prefer as well, so that the council is fully informed, but I'm prepared to at least act on the other three items. I think item five five seven and seven four, that's total, I think, over three, over almost 4,000 pages alone. I just couldn't get through.

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I'm not in favor of postponing anything for Chimbole because we've been waiting years for this.

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We've already awarded the Design Services.

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Staff has already gone through months and months of having people bid on this job and get quotes and RFPs and proposals.

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Although I understand what you're saying, it's a very slow moving process.

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I think the, unfortunately, the Chimple A Center burned down almost three, maybe four years ago.

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I think it was 2023 during Christmas, unfortunate situation.

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However, I'm not in favor of slowing this project down at all.

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We need this, we need this bill.

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I don't think, I don't think awarding, this is pretty much just an agreement to an award

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of contract where either going to award it or not, and I don't want to slow that down.

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I agree with that. It's been a long time in the process and those are great union jobs that we should get going on now.

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I do agree that maybe there are some issues with the process but we can work that out as we go.

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But that particular item has been a long time coming in the public has been asking for it for a while and we want to get people to work.

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So because it's been a long time coming, there should have been a advance notice.

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Should have been an advance availability of the documentation because it's been in the works for so long. Why provide it hours before or meeting?

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It's 30 million dollar expenditure.

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If we had a second meeting, September would only be a two week delays to allow us to make

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informed decisions.

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That's what our job is to provide actual policy oversight.

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To review these documents and look at them from a umbrella, from the sky's view, from

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a different vantage point than staff.

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That's our job.

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If we keep rubber stamping everything without reviewing any of the underlying documents, I just

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I don't know. What is the purpose of us being up here?

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I think we can have that conversation when we get to that item.

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That's Section 7 and right now we're at Section 4, which is not a gender public comment.

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So let's do that first. Is there anybody that wish to speak on any items on the agenda that is not listed on the agenda?

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Yes, we have Alejandro Castillo.

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Good evening. Good evening Mayor members of the council.

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I'm Alejandro Castillo, founder of Boots on the Ground Alliance.

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I'm here with a person invitation to our second annual annual Valley Military Ball.

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On Saturday, November 14th at the Hellenix Center.

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We will honor our veterans and the mothers who send their children off to serve.

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Bogos work as grounded in the Perma will be model and direct physical presence.

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I personally commute to high desert state prison to teach the Perma model.

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level for incarcerated individuals because meaningful service requires us to show up with

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a need exists. We created, we created and facilitate the welcome home Vietnam veterans

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every March as well as the stand-down, bringing recognition, resources, and community

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directly to those who serve. We do not simply discuss service, we show up. The military

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bar continues the mission. It is more than a celebration. It is a bridge, connecting veterans,

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military families, businesses,

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elected officials, and neighbors.

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Let me be clear, the military boss, not a fundraiser,

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and it's not designed to generate profit for Boga.

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It is a created strictly for our community

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to honor veterans, support military families,

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and give them the recognition they deserve.

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The bridge begins before the ball.

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Boga is currently finalizing program realistic

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with local youth organization

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to teach practical life skills through the PURMA model.

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Through this work and by welcoming youth volunteers at the ball, we are helping young people

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build resilience, leadership, and personal responsibility while introducing them to the veteran community.

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The meaning of service and the sacrifice behind the uniform.

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We offer several sponsorship tiers but I want to highlight two opportunities.

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The 3,000 operation 30 includes five guests, five honor veterans, formal attire for those veterans,

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Commemorative Challenge Coins in a Premier Recognition or Exclusive 5,000 Sponsorship receives its logo on every 2026 Commemorative

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The best part, right?

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We have David Aekers

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Meaning council member staff on names David Aekers, Palm Del Freedom Coalition

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Just come here tonight to say that I'm disappointed and optimistic. Disappointed, because I was going through the agenda, as much as I could get through before coming to a meeting, and saw that once again, you're just meeting once this month to get the people's work done.

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And that's really disappointing. The Palm Delphreadic Coalition meets once a week. There's a large group that gets together to talk about ways that we can help our community. And none of us gets paid right now.

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We just show up to see what we can do for this community. I would think our council could at least show up twice a month to do that.

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So I'm disappointed and speaking of getting together to discuss what we can do in the community.

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I'm also disappointed to see there's still no discussion on having town home meetings or council members have a reasonable way to get out and hear from their community and have actual discussions which we know are not allowed here in this setting.

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At the same time, I'm optimistic, I'm optimistic because I love Palmdale, there's groups like boots on the ground, people that also meet together like PFC, they want to help this community, there's a group of men and women that want to build our community, and we're going to celebrate their chance to do that tonight.

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Avenue P might improve the traffic, so things are being done, and I'm optimistic, but I wish you'd work a little bit harder.

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Thank you for your time.

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Thanks.

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Alcanacorcus?

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We have to prepare that.

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Testing one, two, three.

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Good evening, Council members.

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I'll try to be a little bit fast because time got cut from three to two minutes.

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A few weeks ago, Eric Olson wrote a public statement that, uh, Chastise Miguel Coronado

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for using an inappropriate slur towards African Americans when referencing a Lancaster

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city council member.

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And while Coronado has made an error in judgment, it's curious that Olson took the time to

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criticize Coronado and yet refuses to investigate racism against Asians.

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Many months ago, Olsen was informed that Filipino school teachers in Palmdale were being

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extorted for money.

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The Filipino's paid, but this regular extortion fee kept getting raised higher and higher

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by school official.

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And when the Filipino teacher stated they couldn't pay any longer, they were deported

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from the country.

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Mayor Olsen did nothing about this.

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He didn't write a public statement.

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Also when Olsen was informed that a white principle that learned for life referred to a Filipino

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teachers, baby, as an anchor baby. Once again, also did nothing. Again, no written statement.

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I don't think anyone here knows about this. Then, when Steven Lee in Asian wrote a post

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on sub-steck, called the Benefit of No Doubt, which talks about this in detail and talks

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about how lower a bed and core is a racist against Asians. Using Eric Olsen's own criteria,

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Mayor Olsen did not write a statement condemning lower bed and core as he did with Miguel Coronado.

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To make things worse, Mr. Lee contacted Mayor Olson multiple times after the benefit of

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no doubt was published to be fair and to get his side of the story. Olson not only

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ignored Mr. Lee, but he talked about it with Rich Gallego, who is not a nation. It's

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rather offensive that he would discuss this with Mr. Gallego, who is not an Asian, and yet

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ignore Mr. Lee, who is, and was the actual writer of the post. Furthermore, Mayor Olson

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has claimed that dealing with schools and learn for life is not within his jurisdiction,

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And yet he has shown previously he will get involved when it suits his agenda.

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For example, he was unwilling to defy the federal government when it came to issues dealing

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with ICE, but yet Olsen was unwilling to unofficially talk to a local school board to

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a school board on behalf of Mr. Lee.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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And Mr. Dornandizations are respond to it.

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Mr. Lee was fired from learn for life, which is not under the jurisdiction of the city

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of Palmdale.

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I did respond to him.

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explained it clearly and I will make my response available publicly. No, no, no, no, not your time to speak. Your time is over. Please have a seat. Next.

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Well, can I just say something? I was accused of being a racist at no time in my life. If I ever been racist towards Asian or any other group in our community.

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I love all people equally and I support every one of our community members. So that's a flat out lie.

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Great. Next.

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We have Eugene Hernandez.

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I

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agree with the statements by the Freedom Coalition and the young man here.

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I think you are the center of corruption in the city.

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You know, you cut our speaking time to two minutes.

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You only meet once a month.

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Everybody used to be two, two times a month.

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I long for the days of Steve Knight, Pete Knight and Jim Ledford,

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who are real leaders, but you're not a leader.

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In fact, you have a corrupt city, city manager, who has spent thousands of dollars on his own personal trips for his closing for probably horrors,

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probably meals and having interesting things.

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And you have to take away here.

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You can't come make those accusations, because that is extremely inappropriate.

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That is, you have no factual basis to make an accusation like that, Jeanne.

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As the freedom of speech, given his time.

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The corruption of the city manager, the fakeness of the city attorney, who doesn't know the law of the basic of the law,

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should be pointed out, you know, you got rid of a run-the-petice for less things than the city manager has done.

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Thousands of dollars you spent are city money. Why did you take away his credit card? How do we

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know he's going to take another big trip? It's been a thousand of dollars. Is that okay with you? You don't

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you, you have to understand that you're not a king. People here are taxpayers. We should be having

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I am a rent control, the cost of living is sky high, the cost of gas is sky high.

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But do you care about a Chicano community?

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You have a spot at once, but you'll talk about Chicano's history that should be done here.

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You're a total fake, or what do you think you should be saying?

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They're a pudictentering.

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Great, sorry.

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my name is Rebecca I'm here okay so all that I need to just hi everybody thank you for

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how I'm here I'm here because I want to formally invite you guys my partners sunflower I

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parted up with some flower haven of cycling, and we were granted a grant with acta, the alliance

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of California traditional arts, and we want to teach the youth, the fundamentals of furniture

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report and artistic expression, connecting the youth with artistic mental health practices

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and pathways through entrepreneurship. And it's a five week art clinic and on October 24th,

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we will be holding the graduation of the cohort. And we would like to invite you to come and

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just encourage the kids to keep going. And our goal is to have them complete the tax, so they

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completed, they have instances, you know, they keep all their tools that are are used during the art

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So, again, our graduation is October 24th and it's called therapeutic tinkering, so it's, again, it's, we're trying to tie in the arts and mental health practices that may not look like usual practices with arts and crafts and French repair. So thank you for your time.

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Can you give the time and date and location to our clerks so that we can put our calendars?

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So I'm going to jump on top on in addition to that.

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Can you please provide a, by the way, thank you for all that you do.

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And for providing an opportunity for our kids to access the arts,

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our schools are limited in their funding and the arts programs are getting cut.

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And so it's, it's, what you provide is a valuable asset to our community and to our kids.

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And there are rich men, but can you also provide a list of the kids' names that are gradually or that are that are that you intend to graduate so that we can get certificates from City of Palmdale and if if I would love to be there if I can't be there Council member vet and court can be there to present them or we can make sure you get them but in any case make sure you get us a list of the kids names that we can prepare certificates that is wonderful news. Thank you so much.

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Here. We have Dr. Coronado.

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You've been in court. I know you're not a racist to me.

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Yeah, I know only for years. Eric Olson, you're asking the people of Pondo to give

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you another term. No English and no Spanish.

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On your record, you participate in decisions

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involving millions of dollars of our money. Start with the Raymond Center. Our means

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Raymond. Pondo committed approximately $10 million to this project. $10 million of public

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money, you participated in the decisions surrounding the commitment, you own your role in it,

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then they are political and organizational connections surrounding your public record.

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Our experts, he owns you.

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The Raymond Center, the Community Coalition of the Analovali, A.V. Edge, Regional Government

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to Organizations, Major Contracts and Appropriations.

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These connections deserve public scrutiny, your campaign contribution deserves scrutiny,

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Your form 700 financial disclosures the surfscrew me your future too

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You deserve scrutiny. Your vote deserves scrutiny. And then there is measure PD. You supported put in measure PD before pumped of voters. You sign your name to the proponents ballot argument. You put your political credibility behind it. You own that record.

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Eric, so call mayor. You are running for reelection in English, no, Spanish, un poco. You do not get to campaign and as though these decisions happened around you, you were there. You participated. You voted.

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you help public office while millions of taxpayer dollars were committed. I'm not sending here tonight

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ask to ask you questions. I'm sending here tonight to put your record directly in front of you and directly

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in front of the people of Palmdale. The Raymond Center, $10 million for the Paris Center,

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our repairs owns you. Community coalition of the AV, AVH, measure PD, campaign contributions, financial

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disclosures, recusals public records, lawsuits, your votes, your records, lawsuits. You want another term?

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The people say no in English, the people say no in Spanish.

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Ponto resident showed exam in the money, exam in the relationship, exam in the organizations,

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exam in the disclosure, exam in the boats, then decide with Eric Olson, record deserves another term.

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In Spanish?

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No for the speaker cards on this section.

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Mr. Zink.

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Jason Zink.

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I have to agree with all the speakers in Alec on to you.

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I think Eric, you are an ethical and a corrupt politician.

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And I think also, Bishop and Loa are illegal,

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we know this.

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I hope that's your first lawsuit when you get out of office, is to throw these two people out of office for breaking state law to hold their seat.

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Where is our $10 million from Lancaster that $10 million worth about $8 million with inflation?

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Thanks a lot for losing us more money.

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And the Paldo Magazine, there was nothing about Palmedale elections, nothing about districts,

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education or anything like that.

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This city is running so incompetent.

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You don't hold anybody accountable.

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For the end, Eric, you picked this America 250 celebration sidewalk.

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We, as one, are voices, symphony, building this country flagged that flu high.

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Our flag doesn't fly high in America no more you didn't know that none of all five of you all the educated staff

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Our country doesn't fly anymore high our flag doesn't fly high my dad was alive a Korean war veteran

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He'd go right there in the middle of the day and with the sludge hammer and break that shot that sucker

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You guys are disgraced to our country. You're disgraced to this city that's so crazy

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On our 250th anniversary, our flag that flew high past tense, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

283
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You all should resign. You discussed me.

284
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Better do something about it.

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Okay, the flag as it stands, fly as high. The poem referenced 250 years ago when it flew high. Next.

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No further speaker cards on this section.

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Okay, we're closing on agenda public comment, we're moving on to the consent calendar.

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Anybody have public comment for consent calendar items listed on the consent calendar.

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Yes, we have a scene actor.

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I mean, it's very scene actor and of course some of you guys are familiar with me.

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But I just wanted to say the room is filled today and I met some of these lovely employees of the city of Palmdale.

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And I want to say regardless of the things and the bumps that we come through that the city council members and the people that's working for city

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I was doing a great job. I want to acknowledge that McAdden's park that is one of my district parts and I support that park

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I bring my kids there reading in part and I want I'm sorry, but I would like to say continue to good job

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And hopefully we figure out the money thing. So we can ask community use that park bring our kids there and enjoy the what we as the citizen's pay for to see that

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I think that's a very important thing that not only do we see the numbers on paper, but we

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see the results of what that's brought into our city.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Anybody in the audience was to speak on the consent calendar.

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Jason Zink.

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5.5.

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This is about a $100,000 program to do facade, a small businesses.

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Is there any report?

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Who's lead?

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You gave $7 million to rich, auto mall owners. $7 million, and then you give $100,000 to facade, probably to campaign contribution. This is so corrupt. Let's talk about the advancing communities together, 330,000 for 20 units. I looked all the documents, there's no floor plan, there's no information, there's no layout,

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site plan, nothing, no information, common sense things that any city would have in their packet.

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This city is incompetent.

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Let's go to the next one.

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5.9.

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This is about the Union Pacific Road Road at Fonda Blomer and Sarah Highway.

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You guys want to spend $70 million on our overpass on Avenue P, Rancho Vista.

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Wouldn't be more common sense to dig a trench with the railroads underneath all the surface streets.

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So you have all the streets undisturbed with the railroad.

315
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You guys just don't think common sense.

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Reno did it.

317
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They're doing it up there in our, I believe it's Kansas City.

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What happened to the train?

319
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No horn zone.

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Where are you guys going to work on that?

321
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You've been in office four years, Eric, big court, 14 years, lower, a decade, Austin,

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bigs at nine years, Alecon, four years, you're not improving our lives, you are not improving

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the quality of life in the people of Palmdale, leaders are better.

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Anyone else wish to speak on to the Senate calendar?

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If I may, David Icters, one other thing I'm optimistic about is when I was going over the

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agenda. I saw the facades in the ADA program and I thought, wow, something for small businesses

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because of the operator for over a decade in this community. I sometimes we see the big things

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that are done. When I saw that program, I was excited that there's $25,000 grant that small

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businesses could do to improve the front edge of their buildings and I just drove by liesters

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and said, wow, that's looking really good. I know they clean that up recently. So another reason

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optimistic and I support that program and appreciate it. Anyone else? Okay, we're closing in public comment on the consent calendar council would any of you like to pull any items?

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Ready? Yep.

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five, five, five, five, six, five, seven, five, eight, five, 10.

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Five, eleven, and five, twelve.

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Five, three, five, five, five, five, six, five, seven, five, eight, five, 10,

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five, eleven, and five, twelve.

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Okay, is there a motion to approve the remainder of the consent

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element.

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Oh, make the motion to move.

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All in favor say aye.

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00:38:07,510 --> 00:38:07,930
Aye.

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I don't even want to pose.

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That passes unanimously.

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Can we get a staff report?

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1,5,3.

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00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:30,940
Good evening, Mayor and Council, Jan. Samson, Deputy City Manager. Stuart Thompson.

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The City's IT Manager is here to present this item.

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00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:41,320
Good evening, Mayor, Mayor of Pro Tem, and members of the Council. My name is Stuart Thompson.

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I'm the Senior Manager of Information Technology. Before you tonight is agreement with ABM for

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Citywide Prince Services, providing the city with a comprehensive and cost effective solution for our printing needs.

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City issued a form of RFP to replace 26 stand-alone printers and received six proposals.

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A traditional printers were added after the vendor was selected,

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bringing the contract total to 34.

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00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:11,860
The RFP allowed for new or used equipment required fully,

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I'm sorry, fully itemized pricing for leases consumable staffing,

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software installation support and other services.

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A ward was based on the best overall selection, not solely the lowest lease price and allowed the city to negotiate terms in its best interest.

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A five-member evaluation team representing three departments determined that ABM met all RFP requirements and earned the highest overall score among the six vendors.

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Additionally, ABM is a local vendor with an office in Palmdale, approval of this contract will support five local jobs, providing additional economic benefit by keeping employment and business activity within the Palmdale community.

360
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And I'm here for your questions.

361
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Thank you so much for that report.

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That's it. You answered.

363
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:29,260
Question that's exactly why I pulled the item. I asked yesterday how many local jobs is this going to create. And the answer is five. For those of us who have been engaged in these conversations, we ask almost every time. Why are we not awarding contracts to Palmdale contractors to Palmdale vendors? This one we are. So this is proof positive Palmdale tax dollars are being reinvested in the city of Palmdale and to support five local jobs. So thank you for that. So thank you.

364
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Thank you very much.

365
00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:33,940
All in favor say aye.

366
00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:35,100
Anyone opposed?

367
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That passes unanimously.

368
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It takes us to five five.

369
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I would like to hear the staff report on that, please.

370
00:40:57,780 --> 00:40:58,580
Good evening, Mayor.

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Council members.

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My name is Eric Gide.

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I'm deputy director of Community and Economic Development.

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I'm excited to discuss tonight's item,

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seeking approval to establish the city of Palmdale's new

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commercial facade and ADA Accessibility Improvement Program.

377
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At its core, this is a small business program.

378
00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:21,260
Designed to encourage investment in Palmdale,

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businesses and commercial properties.

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The program provides grants up to $25,000 for eligible improvements,

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such as storefront rehabilitation, exterior painting,

382
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windows and doors, signage, lighting, landscaping,

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00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:39,380
ADA Accessibility Improvement.

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these are permanent improvements to our city.

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The objective is to help small locally owned businesses make investments that improve the

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parents and accessibility in our city.

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Our outreach messaging will emphasize targeting small businesses and the review will focus on

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applications that deserve support.

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The program will launch with $100,000 in measure AV funding already budgeted for commercial

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beautification, revitalization, and accessibility improvements. We also structured the program to provide

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an equitable opportunity for businesses throughout Palmdale. The program is available for commercial

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and mixed use areas throughout the city. Applications will be evaluated using a published

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100-point scoring system, primarily based on the projects of visible impact, need, feasibility,

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readiness and ability to complete the project.

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If approved tonight, our intent is to incorporate the rollout of this program into our broader

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fall, small business programming and promotion, as we head into the holiday shopping season.

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This gives us an opportunity to not only promote the new incentive, but to use our broader

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fall outreach to connect Palmdale businesses with city resources and encourage residents

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to support our local small business community.

400
00:43:00,500 --> 00:43:08,480
staff recommends approval, resolution, 2026, 53. Thank you. Are there any questions?

401
00:43:09,200 --> 00:43:12,980
Thank you for your report. And again, I know you're new. And so I said, I said,

402
00:43:13,180 --> 00:43:17,280
welcome to the to the city team yesterday. This is your first staff report before

403
00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:23,180
so please don't take this personally. But it's, it's, it's not directed at you

404
00:43:23,180 --> 00:43:28,720
per se. I think the buck stops that are city manager. This is item is quintessential

405
00:43:28,720 --> 00:43:32,720
new business. There's no reason why it should be on the consent calendar. It's implementing

406
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a new program, adopting new policy guidelines. There's a lot to be discussed about the

407
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implementation of this program. So there's no reason why it should be on the consent calendar.

408
00:43:42,180 --> 00:43:50,180
Setting that aside, you mentioned in the staff report, talks about this is supposed to support

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small businesses. And I am a huge advocate for supporting small businesses, particularly in light

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of measure PD, because it incentivizes people to shop elsewhere, in small businesses are

411
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hurting, because people are opting to go to Santa Clarita or other locations to avoid

412
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the astronomical sales tax we've got here.

413
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Question though, there is no reference to, so I went through the policy guidelines, pretty

414
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specifically, there is no reference to small businesses.

415
00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:32,900
So it says that it applies to commercial tenants operating a business with the city of Palmdale.

416
00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:40,560
I think we need to be very clear about what kinds of businesses we're supporting because if this is in fact to support small businesses,

417
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we need to be clear on which businesses qualify for such a grant.

418
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I suggested yesterday in our briefing that we include definitions from micro businesses and small businesses.

419
00:44:50,780 --> 00:44:59,400
And so I don't know if you were able to pull those up and we could incorporate that, those definitions into the guidelines, I think that would be helpful.

420
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Secondarily, what I saw here is that it's reimbursement based. It's a reimbursement based grant program, so there's an opportunity for there to be 50% of the amount provided by the city upon execution of the grant award, but not always, is that the discretion of the city. Small businesses are struggling. They don't have money to front fund.

421
00:45:23,200 --> 00:45:30,420
So I would like for us to be able to maybe consider an alternative structure because if they're going to

422
00:45:30,420 --> 00:45:35,480
what's the point of them apply, they're struggling paycheck by paycheck barely able to maintain their

423
00:45:35,480 --> 00:45:41,520
existing one, two or three employees to ask them to front fund up to $25,000.

424
00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:49,460
I think is a big ask and really would render a lot of small businesses that are in

425
00:45:49,460 --> 00:45:54,120
a dire need of such a program, ineligible because they just couldn't, they couldn't do it.

426
00:45:54,500 --> 00:45:56,420
So I'd like to for us to consider that.

427
00:45:57,000 --> 00:46:04,460
I'm also, you, and I mentioned this yesterday too, so the budget for this program is $100,000.

428
00:46:05,240 --> 00:46:09,740
And you mentioned that this is supposed to be equitably, that one of the, one of the, one of the goals

429
00:46:10,420 --> 00:46:14,060
is that the grants are equitably distributed throughout the city.

430
00:46:14,060 --> 00:46:19,440
There are five council districts, $100,000, the grants are up to $25,000.

431
00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:25,360
I mean, in theory, that's about 25 in four districts, not five.

432
00:46:26,200 --> 00:46:33,980
So at a minimum, I would like to see that we increase the allocation of measure A.V. funds

433
00:46:33,980 --> 00:46:40,480
to ensure that there is $25,000 allocated to each council district for the grants be awarded

434
00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:44,400
up to 25,000 needs Council District, so 125,000.

435
00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:47,080
But I don't think that's enough.

436
00:46:47,560 --> 00:46:54,700
I mean, we gave big business millions, and measure AV, small businesses are the backbone

437
00:46:54,700 --> 00:46:59,840
of our local economy, quite frankly, and they're their providers of significant numbers

438
00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:00,460
of jobs.

439
00:47:00,940 --> 00:47:07,300
100,000 or $125,000 for all of the businesses, all of the small and local businesses in

440
00:47:07,300 --> 00:47:09,140
the city of Palmdale is just not enough.

441
00:47:09,140 --> 00:47:17,580
I would like to see this, there be a more thoughtful way of upgrading more money to this program.

442
00:47:18,660 --> 00:47:22,400
How many, do you know how many businesses we have, how many small local businesses we have in the city of Columbia?

443
00:47:23,420 --> 00:47:25,320
Not at the end, but I could find that out.

444
00:47:25,820 --> 00:47:28,920
Okay, so I mean if we're, there's got to be more than four.

445
00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:39,120
I mean, and there, I mean ADA requirements are expensive, signage is expensive, all of the stuff that this grant program is intended to support.

446
00:47:39,120 --> 00:47:47,040
is expensive. So again, the funding piece is concerning to me. The total allocation, I just think is just by far not enough.

447
00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:54,100
Our population is over 160,000. I would venture to say we've got at least a thousand small businesses here.

448
00:47:55,540 --> 00:48:04,680
And the availability of four grants that are supposed to be equitably distributed throughout the city, but there are five council districts.

449
00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:09,960
I don't the math is a math thing for me.

450
00:48:10,860 --> 00:48:12,380
So there are a variety of other issues.

451
00:48:12,380 --> 00:48:14,680
I think with the guidelines, there's no definition.

452
00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:15,860
It's reimbursement based.

453
00:48:16,740 --> 00:48:19,580
Some are in some ways you require a match.

454
00:48:21,540 --> 00:48:23,200
If somebody's denied funding,

455
00:48:23,920 --> 00:48:26,280
doesn't really say that they're going to be told why.

456
00:48:26,720 --> 00:48:27,480
They're denied funding.

457
00:48:27,600 --> 00:48:29,920
It also says that you guys are going to be accepting applications

458
00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:31,260
on a quarterly basis.

459
00:48:31,440 --> 00:48:34,040
But if you're only warning for a year,

460
00:48:34,040 --> 00:48:43,720
What is it one quarter? I'm just not sure that this is this is going to have the the impact that it could and it that it should.

461
00:48:44,220 --> 00:48:59,620
This is I think a great program, but I think it's so small in micro now in concept that we need to sort of make it to scale adjusted to scale to the size of our city and the amount of businesses small businesses that we've got here locally.

462
00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:09,080
Councilmember, thank you. I know you're a small business advocate. I appreciate your engagement and thoughtfulness around your comments. I'd like to quickly address those if I may.

463
00:49:10,220 --> 00:49:22,540
I did look at based after our briefing looked at state guidelines around defining small businesses. The state of California does define small businesses both in revenue and employee count.

464
00:49:23,360 --> 00:49:30,580
And importantly there's also a car there's also it also address micro businesses which I know is something that is near and dear to your heart.

465
00:49:31,020 --> 00:49:39,940
I think this is this is something that we could incorporate into our review in the rubric pretty seamlessly with the way this is drafted already.

466
00:49:39,940 --> 00:49:55,000
Number two, the grant giving up, for awards that are approved, we would, we can provide up to 50% of money up front.

467
00:49:55,820 --> 00:49:57,140
And I really thought about this lot.

468
00:49:57,660 --> 00:49:59,780
Most, I looked at many cities that offer,

469
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:05,160
Facility Improvement Programs, most of them. You have the people have to front pay and then they get reimbursed

470
00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:11,280
everything later, which really puts the burden on small businesses. The exact people we want to help,

471
00:50:11,940 --> 00:50:15,700
that need that money to be able to beautify their space and improve our city.

472
00:50:16,960 --> 00:50:22,180
This was an effort to try to extend all branch, to make it easier for them to get started,

473
00:50:23,360 --> 00:50:28,440
typically projects they have to put, if they're doing a construction project, they have to pay 50%

474
00:50:28,440 --> 00:50:31,060
up front and then 50% on time of completion.

475
00:50:31,700 --> 00:50:33,900
So trying to match the program with the requirements

476
00:50:34,860 --> 00:50:38,320
that the construction industry already operates by.

477
00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:43,820
The $100,000 allocated, you're absolutely right to say

478
00:50:43,820 --> 00:50:45,980
that it's small, it's not enough for the city,

479
00:50:46,220 --> 00:50:48,280
but this is really our first effort doing this.

480
00:50:48,280 --> 00:50:49,660
This is a pilot program.

481
00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:52,080
We don't know what the uptakes get a B.

482
00:50:52,360 --> 00:50:53,520
We're gonna learn a lot.

483
00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:55,520
We already are looking at other streams

484
00:50:55,520 --> 00:51:00,840
of funding including CDBG and the future from the federal government to augment this program.

485
00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:05,220
What you need is good data to be able to get those funds and project what you're going to

486
00:51:05,220 --> 00:51:11,160
spend. This pilot program will allow us to get that data to be able to chase those resources

487
00:51:11,160 --> 00:51:14,720
from the federal government to be able to supervise it and serve more of our small businesses

488
00:51:14,720 --> 00:51:20,920
here in Palmdale. We do not require a match. We do take that into account. But again, we

489
00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:25,440
do not require a match because if people don't have the money and they have their deserve

490
00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:31,440
applicant and all other respects they still deserve help so I'm I try to be

491
00:51:31,440 --> 00:51:35,220
thoughtful around this but I really appreciate the the questions you raised and

492
00:51:35,220 --> 00:51:39,700
thank you for actually going back and thinking through some of my comments and

493
00:51:39,700 --> 00:51:44,180
thoughts about the program I think some of them can be addressed if we just tweak

494
00:51:44,180 --> 00:51:50,380
the guidelines so as opposed to up to 50% maybe awarded will be awarded upon

495
00:51:50,380 --> 00:51:53,360
execution if we're going to award the grant we've had to believe in our in our

496
00:51:53,360 --> 00:51:59,800
local businesses. I don't know why they would be denied the 50% up front. So the May, I don't

497
00:51:59,800 --> 00:52:03,200
want there to be discretion in it. I want people to be confident to know that if they get

498
00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:06,920
awarded this grant, they're going to get that 50% up front and they're going to get the job done.

499
00:52:07,400 --> 00:52:11,840
And their storefront's going to look that much better, that much quicker. So I think we just

500
00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:18,960
tweak that word. It's page six under disbursement structure and make sure that we incorporate

501
00:52:20,380 --> 00:52:26,020
the definition of small and microbusinesses in here as eligible and maybe at some point

502
00:52:26,020 --> 00:52:31,260
since this is a pilot maybe at some point, create two different grants, a microbusiness

503
00:52:31,260 --> 00:52:38,060
grant and a small business grant because they do have their different size entities that

504
00:52:38,060 --> 00:52:43,200
may have different needs. I don't know, you'll figure that out in the aftermath of the pilot

505
00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:48,640
project but I do really appreciate it. Again welcome and I'm so you've been really

506
00:52:48,640 --> 00:52:53,960
responsive and I appreciate that's what we're working with you and your substantive

507
00:52:53,960 --> 00:52:59,500
responses. So Council, you've got my my comments and my thoughts I think we need

508
00:52:59,500 --> 00:53:04,100
to add a minimum increase this to 125 so that there's 25 a district.

509
00:53:04,520 --> 00:53:11,300
Mr. Walla. Thank you. Now you do thank you, Mr. Pettenquart. I do agree that this

510
00:53:11,300 --> 00:53:18,460
is a very small amount for a program to benefit small businesses and the micro businesses.

511
00:53:20,520 --> 00:53:26,360
The adoption of measure AV and measure PD, so that we could have local control over those

512
00:53:26,360 --> 00:53:33,780
monies. This is exactly the kind of program that we need to have in order to show our businesses

513
00:53:33,780 --> 00:53:41,740
in the city that we support them. $100,000 for that would serve what five businesses,

514
00:53:41,940 --> 00:53:49,040
four businesses, okay. It was just a tiny thing and it demonstrates really not very much.

515
00:53:50,420 --> 00:54:00,740
But measure PD and measure AV were adopted for us to provide returns to our tax paying residents.

516
00:54:01,580 --> 00:54:05,700
And for the large measure, we don't do that.

517
00:54:06,360 --> 00:54:09,060
You know, we dedicated to other programs, and then on top of that,

518
00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:14,260
we want to raise the rates for development and for fees.

519
00:54:15,340 --> 00:54:18,980
Instead of being more creative and trying to find how we can use these funds

520
00:54:18,980 --> 00:54:21,620
that the taxpayers have granted to us.

521
00:54:23,260 --> 00:54:26,360
And then this is, I mean, I think we should pass this,

522
00:54:26,560 --> 00:54:27,680
but I think it's a minor token.

523
00:54:27,680 --> 00:54:38,640
And by the way, if someone goes down to Santa Corita, their tax rate is 9.75, the city

524
00:54:38,640 --> 00:54:40,440
of Palm Dils is 11.25.

525
00:54:41,820 --> 00:54:48,040
On a thousand dollars that they went down to Santa Corita to purchase at the mall or groceries

526
00:54:48,040 --> 00:54:50,580
or what have you, they would say $15.

527
00:54:50,580 --> 00:54:59,960
I dare say with gasoline prices today, that would probably not be a very, not a very good economic decision.

528
00:55:00,620 --> 00:55:09,880
If they went down to Santa Cruz to buy a car, instead of buying it here, the sales tax are based on where the car buyer is living.

529
00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:15,860
So if it's a 93550 zip code and they go down there, the city's going to get those taxes.

530
00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:21,900
Which we should be using because on the purchase of a car, now we're talking a little bit more money.

531
00:55:22,760 --> 00:55:28,040
We should be using those money. In order to benefit those people who might be going elsewhere to buy the cars,

532
00:55:28,040 --> 00:55:43,900
We should have a program in the city that we could use out a PD or measure a V that reimbursees people who go elsewhere or by cars here in Palmdale and have to pay a higher tax rate.

533
00:55:44,220 --> 00:55:51,900
I believe the city of Lancaster has a program that incentivizes people to buy cars in Lancaster.

534
00:55:51,900 --> 00:55:55,900
their tax rate is like ours.

535
00:55:56,800 --> 00:55:59,020
So I don't think it makes a lot of sense if you're going to go

536
00:55:59,020 --> 00:56:01,840
down to Santa Corita and buy a thousand dollars

537
00:56:01,840 --> 00:56:04,260
with merchandise down there or two thousand dollars

538
00:56:04,260 --> 00:56:05,740
worth of merchandise and you're going to spend

539
00:56:05,740 --> 00:56:07,600
thirty dollars in gas and you're going to be saving

540
00:56:07,600 --> 00:56:09,660
thirty dollars on two thousand dollars.

541
00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:13,780
So I do agree with the council woman that this is a

542
00:56:13,780 --> 00:56:21,380
very small token and we again I urge our staff to

543
00:56:21,380 --> 00:56:31,480
start using the money that the residents of Palmdale have given us in measures PD and AV to actually benefit our residents in a more productive way.

544
00:56:32,760 --> 00:56:33,900
That's all I have to say on that.

545
00:56:34,320 --> 00:56:40,260
We need to pass this and this is to me it's just a pilot program that we need to develop further.

546
00:56:40,740 --> 00:56:41,380
Thank you.

547
00:56:42,220 --> 00:56:43,400
Thank you for this program.

548
00:56:43,560 --> 00:56:44,180
It's a good start.

549
00:56:44,320 --> 00:56:45,360
We've got a long ways to go.

550
00:56:45,620 --> 00:56:46,880
I would like to see that tripled.

551
00:56:47,400 --> 00:56:52,980
But the problem with it being only four businesses is we do have five districts and I would

552
00:56:52,980 --> 00:57:00,080
like to see something in this document that says that not more than one can be from each district.

553
00:57:00,200 --> 00:57:06,160
We don't want three businesses and one district and then nobody else gets anything from another district.

554
00:57:06,440 --> 00:57:16,220
You see I'm saying it needs to be equitable amongst all of our businesses because we each have our own

555
00:57:16,220 --> 00:57:21,440
We really need to have one for district with a guarantee that we won't pick all four of them

556
00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:26,280
or five of them from one district, that it has to be dispersed amongst the districts.

557
00:57:26,500 --> 00:57:28,160
So each district is getting equity.

558
00:57:28,320 --> 00:57:29,740
That would be my suggestion.

559
00:57:29,800 --> 00:57:34,340
Councilmember, that's exactly what I was envisioning, and that reminded me of a point

560
00:57:34,340 --> 00:57:37,520
that's in the guidelines that I would hope that we can elaborate on.

561
00:57:37,520 --> 00:57:42,940
So it says that the city may prioritize projects that revitalize major commercial corridors,

562
00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:45,360
but it doesn't define what those commercial corridors.

563
00:57:46,340 --> 00:57:52,580
means, where are they? Can we identify what we mean by those? My concern is I think the

564
00:57:52,580 --> 00:57:57,720
same as Council Member Bettencourt's. In my district, the East Side, we campaign on the

565
00:57:57,720 --> 00:58:05,100
issue of getting fair share of resources for the East Side. My concern is that all the money is

566
00:58:05,100 --> 00:58:08,700
going to go to business small businesses by the mall or all money is going to go to small businesses

567
00:58:08,700 --> 00:58:15,080
and other corridors, nowhere, maybe the east side, my district, my district is between 15th

568
00:58:15,080 --> 00:58:16,480
and 40th.

569
00:58:16,740 --> 00:58:21,620
On Palmdale Boulevard, a lot of those businesses are shuddered, and their friends, their

570
00:58:21,620 --> 00:58:22,920
storefronts are dilapidated.

571
00:58:22,980 --> 00:58:29,200
I want to make sure that my district, Eric's district, Council Member Benton, our three districts

572
00:58:29,200 --> 00:58:31,320
on the east side get their fair share.

573
00:58:31,560 --> 00:58:38,220
And the only way that we can do that is to have enough to ensure that there's 25 dedicated

574
00:58:38,220 --> 00:58:43,680
to each council district, but also if we can define the major commercial quarters to include

575
00:58:43,680 --> 00:58:49,660
the 47th Street East Shopping Center to include. I mean, of course, we're going to have the

576
00:58:49,660 --> 00:58:56,360
the EV Mall area for the west side council members, but Palmdale Boulevard for sure. I think

577
00:58:56,360 --> 00:59:00,920
council members in court, maybe you have a specific corridor in your district that you are concerned

578
00:59:00,920 --> 00:59:06,260
about, but we need to be clear that it is a citywide that we are targeting citywide major

579
00:59:06,260 --> 00:59:12,120
commercial corridors and that the money is in fact going to be distributed equitably throughout the city.

580
00:59:13,700 --> 00:59:17,180
I guess for me it's hard to argue with any of this right.

581
00:59:17,720 --> 00:59:20,700
But for me I know district one.

582
00:59:20,760 --> 00:59:22,260
I know we're elected by districts.

583
00:59:22,580 --> 00:59:23,320
I'm a district one.

584
00:59:23,440 --> 00:59:25,200
We have the mall in 10th Street.

585
00:59:25,780 --> 00:59:29,000
But for me when I look at this, I just look at where's the greatest need.

586
00:59:29,620 --> 00:59:34,660
I would imagine the city will be going out and certain businesses and saying,

587
00:59:34,660 --> 00:59:39,040
This is where we have the greatest need for ADA accessibility.

588
00:59:39,860 --> 00:59:42,600
I'm sure some areas will be much worse than others.

589
00:59:42,820 --> 00:59:47,140
And for me, if those are the places that get prioritized first,

590
00:59:47,540 --> 00:59:48,680
I think that's most important.

591
00:59:48,860 --> 00:59:49,860
I think it is important.

592
00:59:50,080 --> 00:59:53,620
We focus on districts, but when I look at something like this,

593
00:59:53,900 --> 00:59:57,480
when we look at, it's to focus on ADA.

594
00:59:57,620 --> 00:59:59,980
People who are disabled, who can get into business.

595
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:07,360
This is correct. That is the focus of it. We go to we find the businesses or they apply the ones who are

596
01:00:07,360 --> 01:00:15,140
most in need that are having the hardest time getting their customers in for one reason or another. I think

597
01:00:15,140 --> 01:00:24,520
that should be the priority is finding the the greatest need. If I may, I did, I did think a lot and we

598
01:00:24,520 --> 01:00:31,620
deliberations amongst the staff around how do we serve the entire city. We were thinking a lot about

599
01:00:31,620 --> 01:00:36,920
some of the key corridors like Palmdale Boulevard, which we know can and should look better to

600
01:00:36,920 --> 01:00:43,340
really represent our city. That is one of the areas we had in mind, but the outreach,

601
01:00:44,340 --> 01:00:48,740
we wanted to be equitable and outreach across all council districts, but we don't know where the

602
01:00:48,740 --> 01:00:53,300
uptick is going to be, where the demand is going to be, so we didn't want to over engineer or create

603
01:00:53,300 --> 01:00:55,840
additional hurdles in creating the guidelines.

604
01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:57,560
So there's attention there.

605
01:00:57,680 --> 01:00:59,100
We don't know what we're going to find.

606
01:00:59,180 --> 01:00:59,980
That's what I was going to say.

607
01:01:00,400 --> 01:01:01,100
It's just going to come up with a lot of things.

608
01:01:01,100 --> 01:01:01,740
Who applies?

609
01:01:02,320 --> 01:01:05,000
I mean, we might get all of the applicants from one district,

610
01:01:05,020 --> 01:01:09,280
and then it would be appropriate to award them to just that district,

611
01:01:09,280 --> 01:01:11,120
if you don't get anything from any other districts.

612
01:01:11,980 --> 01:01:14,220
But I think it's going to depend on who actually applies.

613
01:01:14,380 --> 01:01:17,360
So we have to do outreach to all the districts to see who's going

614
01:01:17,360 --> 01:01:18,300
to apply for these.

615
01:01:18,740 --> 01:01:21,720
To us, in this point, we should spend the money.

616
01:01:21,720 --> 01:01:26,140
I agree, which has been the money where we needed most in my district between 15th and 40th

617
01:01:26,140 --> 01:01:26,960
on the boulevard.

618
01:01:27,720 --> 01:01:33,580
I would argue, I mean, Albee's is a local small business and maybe they need assistance

619
01:01:33,580 --> 01:01:36,720
in grading ADA requirements, maybe they need.

620
01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:38,000
I talk to him.

621
01:01:38,020 --> 01:01:47,840
I don't know a couple of weeks ago, and it's difficult, but it's difficult, but I think we need

622
01:01:47,840 --> 01:01:52,120
make sure that it doesn't all get costrated and we don't want to cherry pick either.

623
01:01:52,420 --> 01:01:56,960
I don't want, like, you know, Austin say, let's identify the one business over there that

624
01:01:56,960 --> 01:02:02,440
needs the help and then we give them the 25,000 and the one business over there. I don't

625
01:02:02,440 --> 01:02:06,800
know that that's the way. I can't disagree with that. We should go out and find, you know,

626
01:02:06,920 --> 01:02:11,780
and they're probably will be more on the east side in your district. I know the buildings are older.

627
01:02:11,980 --> 01:02:16,720
They were built longer a long time ago. So like it just comes down to sometimes the age of the

628
01:02:16,720 --> 01:02:21,860
building and regulations were different back then, it's no fault of anyone but if that's

629
01:02:21,860 --> 01:02:26,360
where the need is, that's where the funding should go, that truly where the need is.

630
01:02:26,760 --> 01:02:28,880
So I'm happy to move to approve it.

631
01:02:29,360 --> 01:02:36,340
I think I'm hearing sort of consensus on Adam minimum increasing the allocation.

632
01:02:36,880 --> 01:02:39,580
I also asked yesterday for and I didn't get it.

633
01:02:39,920 --> 01:02:45,220
The measure A.V. budget was told that this money was already allocated in the budget that we approved.

634
01:02:45,220 --> 01:02:51,380
I don't recall seeing it, and then I asked for it yesterday didn't get it, so I haven't

635
01:02:51,380 --> 01:02:57,260
been able to look at the percentage of money that we're allocating out of measure area

636
01:02:57,260 --> 01:03:03,800
of your money to small business economic development versus the larger businesses, like

637
01:03:03,800 --> 01:03:08,660
already been spoken about the automals. I think is what stands out in a lot of people's minds. We

638
01:03:08,660 --> 01:03:15,200
put millions into them, and $100,000 pays in comparison. But so I didn't get them

639
01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:24,560
It's hard to see, but I'd be happy to move to approve, to increase the allocation to 125,

640
01:03:25,920 --> 01:03:35,040
ensuring that up to 25 is distributed in each council district, and that we incorporate

641
01:03:35,040 --> 01:03:41,360
of clear definitions for small business and micro business into the eligibility criteria,

642
01:03:41,360 --> 01:03:50,380
also identifying which major commercial corridors will be prioritized and I think that's it.

643
01:03:51,480 --> 01:03:53,780
Okay, anybody have anything else for one second that motion?

644
01:03:54,300 --> 01:03:56,200
Okay, we've got a motion a second.

645
01:03:56,580 --> 01:03:57,220
Oh, sorry.

646
01:03:57,620 --> 01:03:59,480
One more, a friendly amendment to my own motion.

647
01:03:59,840 --> 01:04:05,740
Can we, the, the, the May to to will be dispersed the front funding.

648
01:04:05,740 --> 01:04:14,960
the 50% change the language, the 50% maybe or maybe dispersed, change that to will be.

649
01:04:14,960 --> 01:04:16,940
You accept that?

650
01:04:16,940 --> 01:04:17,140
Yeah.

651
01:04:17,940 --> 01:04:19,120
Okay, all fair to say aye.

652
01:04:19,220 --> 01:04:19,620
Aye.

653
01:04:19,960 --> 01:04:20,820
Anyone opposed?

654
01:04:21,220 --> 01:04:22,200
That passes unanimously.

655
01:04:23,040 --> 01:04:24,080
Well, you do Palm Bill.

656
01:04:25,340 --> 01:04:26,180
I'm not feeling there.

657
01:04:26,180 --> 01:04:27,500
I won't be here for a long time.

658
01:04:27,540 --> 01:04:28,140
You're not going to have to deal with me.

659
01:04:28,240 --> 01:04:30,100
Can you keep us updated?

660
01:04:30,240 --> 01:04:32,980
If we need to add more money to this program, it can come back later.

661
01:04:32,980 --> 01:04:37,340
So can you keep us updated on what applications come in and when we're close to hitting that

662
01:04:37,340 --> 01:04:39,980
funding cap so that we can look at adding more money to this?

663
01:04:40,220 --> 01:04:40,520
Absolutely.

664
01:04:40,880 --> 01:04:43,960
I would love that as a small business champion throughout my career.

665
01:04:44,060 --> 01:04:48,220
I would love to see a strong demand of great applicants and we'll keep you informed.

666
01:04:48,640 --> 01:04:48,780
Okay.

667
01:04:49,140 --> 01:04:50,200
Thank you.

668
01:04:50,780 --> 01:04:51,400
5-6.

669
01:04:51,480 --> 01:04:52,680
Do you need a staff report?

670
01:04:53,500 --> 01:04:53,920
Yes.

671
01:04:54,580 --> 01:04:55,100
Staff report.

672
01:04:55,220 --> 01:04:56,000
5-6, please.

673
01:05:00,980 --> 01:05:01,940
Good evening.

674
01:05:05,140 --> 01:05:29,960
This item is to approve the second amendment to agreement number A-8464 with advancing communities together at to allocate $333,141.25 for the completion of the dream village. This is not our proposal for a new project. Dream village is an existing city supported project that is substantially under development.

675
01:05:29,960 --> 01:05:38,680
The City originally approved or provided ARPA funding in 2023 through a grant to act as an ARPA

676
01:05:38,680 --> 01:05:45,000
of subrecipient to develop 20 interim housing units on acts property adjacent to the winter

677
01:05:45,000 --> 01:05:50,980
shelter. As a project progressed through design, permitting and construction, actual development

678
01:05:50,980 --> 01:05:57,120
costs exceeded the original estimates. The action before Council provides additional eligible

679
01:05:57,120 --> 01:06:03,560
permanent local housing allocation, known as PLHA, funding to address the gap and complete

680
01:06:03,560 --> 01:06:09,620
the same 20 unit project. Staff will continue monitoring eligible expenditures, project

681
01:06:09,620 --> 01:06:17,080
completion, operations, and ultimately the services and housing outcomes produced by the

682
01:06:17,080 --> 01:06:17,860
city's investment.

683
01:06:21,080 --> 01:06:25,360
Thank you for your report. So I pulled this item because it's got a long

684
01:06:25,360 --> 01:06:32,540
history, attached to it, and I know you're also new, and you weren't here for the original sort

685
01:06:32,540 --> 01:06:39,840
of actions that pertained to this item. But we originally awarded to act $781,000,

686
01:06:40,840 --> 01:06:45,330
essentially as a sole source, but it wasn't approved as a sole source. They submitted a four-page

687
01:06:47,260 --> 01:06:53,820
proposal after request of a specific staff member. They were awarded $780,000 with no competitive

688
01:06:53,820 --> 01:07:04,220
process, federal, urban money. That was problematic. It violates a variety of CFRs and governing

689
01:07:04,220 --> 01:07:10,720
regulations. In 2024, I just distributed to the Council a letter that I wrote August 21,

690
01:07:11,700 --> 01:07:19,980
2024, that outlines all of the issues in the particular regulations that I don't believe

691
01:07:19,980 --> 01:07:28,020
were followed. Federal regulations are very clear that contracts of this magnitude must be competitively

692
01:07:28,020 --> 01:07:33,020
bid. There was no competitive bid process. And we're here now today. I give all that

693
01:07:33,020 --> 01:07:42,800
background because we're here today. I think because of the sort of knee jerk inclination

694
01:07:42,800 --> 01:07:50,640
to award a contract to a friendly local organization, who I vehemently support and in the letter

695
01:07:50,640 --> 01:07:55,440
it says, I support their mission, I support all of that and I said it during, I went back and

696
01:07:55,440 --> 01:08:01,180
I listened to the council and last night I listened to the council meeting in August, August 16,

697
01:08:01,380 --> 01:08:08,580
the 2023 when we first appropriated this money. I raised the same questions then and my concerns

698
01:08:08,580 --> 01:08:16,840
are that now since that time, they submitted their proposal, we approved it, August 16, 2023.

699
01:08:17,480 --> 01:08:23,900
Their project was supposed to be completed in November 2023. It is now 2026, almost November

700
01:08:23,900 --> 01:08:30,680
2026, right? And we're still awarding the, we're going to award them another 333,000.

701
01:08:30,740 --> 01:08:35,320
There was also a previous amendment to award them 102. So we're nearing almost another

702
01:08:35,320 --> 01:08:43,560
a half a million dollars on top of the original appropriation to support this project for 20 units of these tiny homes.

703
01:08:43,900 --> 01:08:51,240
Love tiny homes, one of create affordable housing and opportunities to bring folks underneath under a roof.

704
01:08:52,240 --> 01:08:57,140
But the process that this has undergone is is problematic.

705
01:08:57,140 --> 01:09:04,960
like I, Austin, you, during that meeting, because I, I was concerned, well, 70, enough for this

706
01:09:04,960 --> 01:09:09,620
project to be delivered in that short period of time, and Austin, you said, what if it

707
01:09:09,620 --> 01:09:10,240
goes over?

708
01:09:10,380 --> 01:09:12,960
Are you guys going to have the funds to finish the project?

709
01:09:13,520 --> 01:09:18,460
And the response was we did our due diligence, we already got quotes from contractors, they're

710
01:09:18,460 --> 01:09:22,520
all going to be City of Columbia contractors, they're going to come into this work, and

711
01:09:22,520 --> 01:09:25,380
we're going to get it done in the next couple of months, we're going to house people for

712
01:09:25,380 --> 01:09:31,720
We're in anticipation of the winter season, yet we're three years later, and we're still

713
01:09:31,720 --> 01:09:36,660
awarding them more money, and the tiny homes are still not there.

714
01:09:37,340 --> 01:09:44,220
It's 20 units now, after $1.2 million after tonight, $1.2 million for $20 units, that's $61,000

715
01:09:44,220 --> 01:09:46,760
a unit, and they're still not there.

716
01:09:47,380 --> 01:09:52,800
It's just a concern, and I wanted to err it for a lot of reasons, because I think things get

717
01:09:52,800 --> 01:09:55,040
lost in the shuffle, and this is also on the consent calendar.

718
01:09:55,040 --> 01:09:59,960
This is these are substantive issues and questions that I think we should discuss and not just

719
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:20,820
Sort of rush under the rug on consent. But it speaks directly to the process and why it is so important that we competitively bid the process to make sure that the contractors that we select are ready and able to deliver on the proposal that they make and the grants and the contracts that we enter into with them for.

720
01:10:20,820 --> 01:10:31,180
So at this point, it is going to finally get us our 20 units, the 333,000, I mean, we're already almost a million in.

721
01:10:31,420 --> 01:10:44,020
Yeah, I'm like, I'm doing, I will support it, but I just needed there to be a public conversation of that speaks to procedurally what the problem is.

722
01:10:44,020 --> 01:11:02,640
It should have been clawed back. I don't know how we got away from that not getting clawed back, but in any case, I just wanted wanted the council to have a full understanding of what we're doing here today and the history of it to refresh their recollection, but also for the public to understand as well.

723
01:11:02,640 --> 01:11:06,460
city attorney or city manager who ever wants to fight dance for this question.

724
01:11:06,820 --> 01:11:14,440
If you had a chance to review the later dated August 21st, 2024, and if so, were we out of

725
01:11:14,440 --> 01:11:16,500
compliance with the ARPA guidelines?

726
01:11:18,180 --> 01:11:24,380
There's a city council. I think our contractor Anna from avant-garde is probably best suited to

727
01:11:24,380 --> 01:11:29,440
answer that question she works with many other municipalities has worked with this funding source

728
01:11:29,440 --> 01:11:32,840
it has is very well-versed in.

729
01:11:33,040 --> 01:11:37,040
Well, as of yesterday, when the question was brought up,

730
01:11:37,700 --> 01:11:41,880
and we came back and looked into how the money was programmed

731
01:11:41,880 --> 01:11:43,280
because I wasn't here.

732
01:11:43,980 --> 01:11:45,740
And so we looked into how it was programmed,

733
01:11:45,860 --> 01:11:50,440
and I followed up also with how it was reported to ARPA,

734
01:11:50,980 --> 01:11:55,760
and I also asked for legal to review what we discovered.

735
01:11:55,760 --> 01:12:02,960
So, the original 23 award was not structured as a procurement of services from act.

736
01:12:03,200 --> 01:12:10,380
It was structured as a grant, a sub-award of ARPA, financial assistance for the development of the project.

737
01:12:11,300 --> 01:12:16,300
And given that the property was adjacent where the winter shelter was, and it's their property,

738
01:12:16,300 --> 01:12:25,080
It's a proposal to develop that in alignment with the city's goals to house interim housing for the unhoused.

739
01:12:27,040 --> 01:12:36,060
So, in looking at that, finance confirmed that Act was classified and reported as an ARPA subrecipient, rather than a city contractor or vendor,

740
01:12:36,060 --> 01:12:38,560
and that the city attorney concurred with the analysis.

741
01:12:38,840 --> 01:12:43,020
So I did look into that to see the city's exposure

742
01:12:44,620 --> 01:12:46,940
to the requirements, the ARPA requirements.

743
01:12:48,800 --> 01:12:49,740
Mayor, may I have the floor?

744
01:12:51,060 --> 01:12:52,980
Is there anyone here tonight from act or anyone

745
01:12:52,980 --> 01:12:54,320
from the organization who can speak?

746
01:12:54,400 --> 01:12:56,600
I'd like to hear from them before we go any.

747
01:12:57,020 --> 01:12:57,660
Oh, here, Rossi.

748
01:13:00,910 --> 01:13:02,430
Let's see what Rossi asked this afternoon.

749
01:13:02,430 --> 01:13:03,470
I appreciate it.

750
01:13:03,510 --> 01:13:05,850
I think of that as I was here, we just were concerns.

751
01:13:06,130 --> 01:13:07,410
Like I said, I don't have anything but

752
01:13:07,410 --> 01:13:13,270
that was done that way, but I will say over the course of the three years, the project was

753
01:13:13,270 --> 01:13:18,970
redefined after an apartment complex. And so what happens is now we have over $100,000

754
01:13:18,970 --> 01:13:25,290
in permit fees, over $200,000 in concrete work needs to be done, brick walls need to be put in.

755
01:13:25,390 --> 01:13:30,210
And so we were abiding by building the safety and planning and this process, and what to make

756
01:13:30,210 --> 01:13:34,510
a story was going to be safe. And so our original design was restructured and changed,

757
01:13:34,510 --> 01:13:37,950
And that increased the cost, because we didn't anticipate

758
01:13:38,530 --> 01:13:41,150
swales and curves and brick walls.

759
01:13:41,670 --> 01:13:43,970
And over three years inflation hasn't occurred.

760
01:13:44,170 --> 01:13:45,310
And so prices have increased.

761
01:13:45,910 --> 01:13:47,270
And so that's been a big part of it.

762
01:13:47,350 --> 01:13:50,130
So originally we've had the units sitting there for two years,

763
01:13:50,130 --> 01:13:51,030
three years.

764
01:13:51,370 --> 01:13:52,190
Right, so that wasn't an issue.

765
01:13:52,210 --> 01:13:53,610
It just didn't want the city.

766
01:13:53,910 --> 01:13:54,830
And they've been very progressive

767
01:13:54,830 --> 01:13:56,730
and how they want to look at this in term housing.

768
01:13:56,970 --> 01:13:58,790
And they should have secured space for all of us.

769
01:13:58,890 --> 01:14:01,470
And so that took longer to get the permitting processes.

770
01:14:01,470 --> 01:14:06,050
get more architects on board, go back and forth the architects in the city, playing the

771
01:14:06,050 --> 01:14:10,310
department, and so it took a lot longer to get to this point. But we're pretty confident

772
01:14:10,310 --> 01:14:14,690
now that we, you know, all our things that we told you before, we were told that everything

773
01:14:14,690 --> 01:14:19,130
is fine now, our plan we do have a plan, because it's on paper, it is designed with the

774
01:14:19,130 --> 01:14:23,750
architects and engineers to be able to move forward, where the last, where I have the elevations

775
01:14:23,750 --> 01:14:28,390
are in there, brick walls are already been going up, right? And so we realized that I was just

776
01:14:28,390 --> 01:14:33,230
to Miss Anna that we're going to the concrete and electricity work is going to be the biggest cost.

777
01:14:34,270 --> 01:14:40,290
So question, that's news to me that this is now going to be a building. What point was that decision made?

778
01:14:40,370 --> 01:14:46,330
No, I'm sorry. We didn't make it a certain so we had tiny homes. It was decided by public safety and planning

779
01:14:46,970 --> 01:14:51,190
to make it to make it treat like an apartment complex because it had 20 units. So therefore,

780
01:14:51,430 --> 01:14:57,010
in doing so we had to have the concrete and the footings and everything, the same we were doing

781
01:14:57,010 --> 01:14:59,950
department building so the concrete work including the

782
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:10,100
Park a lot of diamonds, landscaping, all that was not part of our original design. But it's now part of the design working with the city and edge arranged in years to make sure we meet city standards.

783
01:15:10,580 --> 01:15:19,280
So your original proposal I'm looking at it, it included plumbing installation, electrical installation, concrete, flat grading work. I mean, all of the, all of this stuff.

784
01:15:19,420 --> 01:15:29,860
Yes, ma'am, we didn't, we didn't just pay swells, curves, five foot of digging, right? We're, we're going to just lay concrete on our unit because you go to LA, these same units are just laying on dirt.

785
01:15:29,860 --> 01:15:32,620
or later on concrete, there are not curves,

786
01:15:33,180 --> 01:15:36,460
Rick walls around it, there's not a whole bunch of things we had to do.

787
01:15:37,060 --> 01:15:39,980
So we had to adapt to what was asked of us by the city staff.

788
01:15:40,180 --> 01:15:41,980
You weren't planning for fully developed.

789
01:15:42,220 --> 01:15:45,740
You were planning for basically putting slabs down and putting out.

790
01:15:46,100 --> 01:15:48,540
Yeah, the builds are designed to go on dirt or just basic concrete.

791
01:15:48,700 --> 01:15:50,200
So we're designed to just put it down,

792
01:15:50,420 --> 01:15:53,440
20 units and be done with it in two months.

793
01:15:53,640 --> 01:15:56,880
That's kind of how everything sidewalks, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt.

794
01:15:56,880 --> 01:15:59,460
The ADA compliance, everything will be there now.

795
01:15:59,480 --> 01:16:04,800
Finting will be around, so it will look like a actual complex other than just the tiny

796
01:16:04,800 --> 01:16:05,560
on those two in there.

797
01:16:05,620 --> 01:16:06,280
I don't understand.

798
01:16:06,460 --> 01:16:09,320
Your original proposal included ADA accessible ramps.

799
01:16:09,380 --> 01:16:10,480
I mean, I'm looking at it.

800
01:16:10,920 --> 01:16:15,300
We didn't include ADA sidewalks and everything that we're going to go along with that.

801
01:16:15,700 --> 01:16:20,740
So again, did the council give direction to amend the scope of the project?

802
01:16:21,320 --> 01:16:22,060
Or was that just?

803
01:16:22,300 --> 01:16:25,960
We do directly with public safety and planning.

804
01:16:25,960 --> 01:16:31,680
So we have to, we have to submit our proposal, our design, they came back, they told us to make adjustments,

805
01:16:31,920 --> 01:16:36,460
make changes over the last two years we've been doing that for the public safety and playing department.

806
01:16:36,720 --> 01:16:37,260
So thank you.

807
01:16:37,380 --> 01:16:38,860
And again, not an indictment on you.

808
01:16:39,020 --> 01:16:39,760
We love what you do.

809
01:16:39,860 --> 01:16:41,660
You do transitional age juice, housing.

810
01:16:41,860 --> 01:16:45,280
You do all the good stuff, listen, you train our, you train our kids, you train those

811
01:16:45,280 --> 01:16:45,920
that need skills.

812
01:16:46,200 --> 01:16:47,280
We love what you do.

813
01:16:47,340 --> 01:16:49,740
This is just process is taking so long.

814
01:16:49,960 --> 01:16:53,920
And the idea that we have had the ability to deliver 20 units.

815
01:16:53,920 --> 01:16:59,640
but didn't because now the scope got changed because somebody had a grand idea but didn't bring

816
01:16:59,640 --> 01:17:02,800
it a council for approval and now we've got to pay another half a million dollars. Again,

817
01:17:02,960 --> 01:17:09,880
not you. The question is now to the city manager at what point did the scope of this entire project

818
01:17:09,880 --> 01:17:15,840
change and did we consider the additional appropriation that would be required because it was originally

819
01:17:15,840 --> 01:17:21,400
a grant. It'll forgive a whole grant. We were just going to give them the almost $800,000 of money.

820
01:17:21,400 --> 01:17:25,340
And now we're going to get we we got ready to give them a digital 100,000 and now it's another

821
01:17:27,340 --> 01:17:28,300
333,000.

822
01:17:28,480 --> 01:17:31,040
At what point did all of that happen?

823
01:17:33,070 --> 01:17:39,310
I remember city council as Mr. Ross stated, it was going through the process and part of it

824
01:17:39,310 --> 01:17:41,990
is this is a city project.

825
01:17:42,770 --> 01:17:46,110
My job is also to mitigate risks.

826
01:17:47,130 --> 01:17:49,610
Access that may happen by city bill projects.

827
01:17:50,270 --> 01:17:54,830
Megan, if you may speak to the process and which we came here for.

828
01:17:54,890 --> 01:17:59,730
And real quick, I've imagined that a lot of this is us having to make sure we're building stuff to code, right?

829
01:17:59,730 --> 01:18:02,850
And making sure that we're doing things correctly and a lot of these.

830
01:18:02,910 --> 01:18:08,790
I mean, it probably falls under title 22 and California State law, like a lot of this stuff.

831
01:18:09,070 --> 01:18:11,810
I'm sure when Rosy imagined it like we all do.

832
01:18:11,810 --> 01:18:17,210
Oh, we can just put the houses down and we've tried to, you know, work up a project with a really tight budget.

833
01:18:17,210 --> 01:18:24,430
But that speaks to why an RFP process is so important so that we can set proper specifications

834
01:18:24,430 --> 01:18:30,030
and get responsive proposals that meet all of those qualifications and standards.

835
01:18:31,070 --> 01:18:39,070
We can just award off of, and then now we're at 1.2 on a four-page request for funding,

836
01:18:40,550 --> 01:18:45,590
and that's now it's ballooned and now the entire scope has changed, and part of the reason

837
01:18:45,590 --> 01:18:48,850
I'm getting upset is because it's one tax payer dollars.

838
01:18:48,930 --> 01:18:50,550
It's taken three years to get us here.

839
01:18:50,710 --> 01:18:52,110
We still have no deliverables.

840
01:18:53,070 --> 01:18:56,130
And then it correlates to one of the other items on our agenda

841
01:18:56,130 --> 01:18:59,310
that I've got issues with our caper, our caper report,

842
01:18:59,710 --> 01:19:02,350
our affordable house, we get CDBG money and we get home money.

843
01:19:02,890 --> 01:19:05,550
What are we doing with that money is most of me in that report?

844
01:19:05,990 --> 01:19:07,710
And it's not great.

845
01:19:08,190 --> 01:19:11,050
In our affordable housing, units delivered, zero.

846
01:19:11,650 --> 01:19:13,250
This could have been what it was.

847
01:19:13,390 --> 01:19:14,750
And it's been zero for years.

848
01:19:14,750 --> 01:19:16,830
because this project has been on hold,

849
01:19:16,910 --> 01:19:18,250
that we could have delivered it back then,

850
01:19:18,250 --> 01:19:19,650
if we kept the scope what it was,

851
01:19:20,030 --> 01:19:21,590
but decisions were made internally

852
01:19:21,590 --> 01:19:23,190
that should have been brought to the council

853
01:19:23,190 --> 01:19:27,450
because it was going to delay the delivery of the units,

854
01:19:28,190 --> 01:19:30,390
put people in homes that needed it.

855
01:19:30,490 --> 01:19:33,290
It was also going to cost the city half a million dollars more.

856
01:19:33,750 --> 01:19:36,910
So I'm a little bit upset because I'm just finding this out,

857
01:19:37,090 --> 01:19:38,010
that this whole thing changed,

858
01:19:38,010 --> 01:19:39,570
and nobody mentioned it during my briefing,

859
01:19:40,090 --> 01:19:41,250
that the whole scope changed.

860
01:19:41,250 --> 01:19:46,250
I mean, it's, it's, again, speaks to problems in the process internally.

861
01:19:46,710 --> 01:19:51,050
How are, how is the council left in the dark, about all of this?

862
01:19:51,410 --> 01:19:54,170
This is Fatter. Sorry. Good evening.

863
01:19:54,310 --> 01:19:56,410
Megan Tiger, Director of Economic and Community Development.

864
01:19:57,550 --> 01:19:59,890
I will try to respond to everyone's question.

865
01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:29,080
But please refresh my memory if I missed something. So the way the project was originally envisioned was as emergency housing. And emergency housing is treated a little bit differently in the building code, then permanent support of housing or transitional housing. So when we originally brought the agreement forward, the thought was it was going to be emergency housing. We're going to use certain provisions of the code to help accommodate that. As we work through the process, it became apparent that that section of state law did not apply.

866
01:20:29,080 --> 01:20:35,860
So, this particular project. So, we worked with the applicants to find creative ways to amend the agreement.

867
01:20:36,060 --> 01:20:45,560
Make sure that the site was constructed or will be constructed in a manner that's safe for everyone understanding that these structures will likely become more permanent.

868
01:20:46,060 --> 01:20:55,680
So, that they do require electrical infoundations and proper access and laundry facilities and kitchen facilities and all these additional things that we didn't originally anticipate.

869
01:20:55,680 --> 01:21:04,700
The site is partially graded now. The work has been done out there. This is just the last chunk of money that's needed to get the project across the finish line.

870
01:21:05,160 --> 01:21:07,320
So, I'm looking at the budget, Megan, I'm miss Taggart.

871
01:21:07,820 --> 01:21:18,620
It has four stackable washer dryer units, electrical installation, landscaping, outdoor lighting, ADA ramps, fencing, plumbing, concrete, flat, grading work.

872
01:21:18,620 --> 01:21:23,480
All of the stuff that you're saying that was changed, that was in the original proposal.

873
01:21:23,480 --> 01:21:29,440
But I believe it costs more to install than was originally anticipated half a million dollars more. I mean

874
01:21:29,440 --> 01:21:35,660
The assertion if the council was that the the code so had already been received and we had already vetted that

875
01:21:36,200 --> 01:21:43,640
And we have received a revised budget from the applicant and it is showing what money has been spent where they've been spent and what money is still outstanding

876
01:21:43,640 --> 01:21:46,060
And it is the 333 that is being requested

877
01:21:46,060 --> 01:21:51,340
When are these actually going to be delivered assuming we move forward because at this point like I said at this point we're a million in

878
01:21:51,820 --> 01:21:57,340
We got to be able to deliver. We can't have a zero on our caper affordable units for three years straight.

879
01:21:59,980 --> 01:22:01,260
When are these going to be done?

880
01:22:01,880 --> 01:22:02,720
All good for them.

881
01:22:02,980 --> 01:22:04,200
All right. We're going to pay right now.

882
01:22:04,340 --> 01:22:05,580
We're going to be doing the brick walls.

883
01:22:05,760 --> 01:22:09,440
We're going to pay will be done by kind of winter shelters over by April 1st.

884
01:22:09,620 --> 01:22:09,660
Right.

885
01:22:09,680 --> 01:22:12,240
Because ideally it was taken with the shelter people.

886
01:22:12,420 --> 01:22:16,140
Those worst people and those who can make it will go into these units.

887
01:22:16,520 --> 01:22:16,740
Right.

888
01:22:16,740 --> 01:22:31,660
So we've already said before, we talked to our brick wall guys are out, the construction guys are out for the concrete, which is, we have all the bits, our thing like I said, we did not anticipate something that came about and we understand.

889
01:22:31,660 --> 01:22:35,400
Open up, which would have turned to me and told me that would have been like, what is going on here?

890
01:22:35,980 --> 01:22:41,260
And also, this is just a state, our, our, our, our, I was incredibly, but our history.

891
01:22:41,680 --> 01:22:44,520
We have built a 11 unit project in the city of Palmdale.

892
01:22:44,620 --> 01:22:46,540
We built a dudeplex from ground up in Palmdale.

893
01:22:46,820 --> 01:22:49,140
We built, we rehab the fourplex for the city of Palmdale.

894
01:22:49,360 --> 01:22:53,100
So we have three projects we've done for the city of Palmdale all under time under budget.

895
01:22:53,340 --> 01:22:58,340
This is the first one we had not meet the expectation because of change that we had no control over.

896
01:22:58,340 --> 01:23:07,560
And so when I'm ready to put this to bid or not, it changed from emergency housing to something different under the guys of how we want to see the operate operate with us.

897
01:23:07,780 --> 01:23:13,800
And so we're okay with that because your job is protect the city and our job is comply with that comply with that rule and that law.

898
01:23:14,020 --> 01:23:15,940
So it's okay for us, we're okay with that.

899
01:23:15,960 --> 01:23:18,120
But it was not due to us being incompetent.

900
01:23:18,320 --> 01:23:18,760
No.

901
01:23:18,760 --> 01:23:21,500
There was lack of any ability to do the work.

902
01:23:21,500 --> 01:23:30,280
It was just a negotiation that we have at the city, staff, and how they want to see things done for the safety of our tenants that are going to be there, and the citizens will roll.

903
01:23:31,120 --> 01:23:34,740
So I'm going to just read the last paragraph of this later so that, too, your point.

904
01:23:35,080 --> 01:23:37,360
Good ends cannot come from questionable means.

905
01:23:37,460 --> 01:23:45,100
While I'm wholeheartedly supportive of the nonprofit recipient of these funds, and I'm incredibly grateful for the much needed services that they provide to our community.

906
01:23:45,100 --> 01:23:50,180
I do believe that the requisite competitive process set forth by the code of federal regulations was not followed.

907
01:23:50,660 --> 01:24:00,140
When this matter came before council, I was placing an impossible predicament as to whether I should vote against a project to house the most vulnerable in our community due to a flawed procedure.

908
01:24:00,540 --> 01:24:05,860
Ultimately, we got voted to support the project and following that meaning, I continue to research the matter as well to my, and it goes on and on.

909
01:24:06,200 --> 01:24:13,540
But it's not an indictment on you. I love what you do in which you have done for decades for the most vulnerable folks in our community.

910
01:24:13,540 --> 01:24:17,640
And I just wish that we were able to partner with you in a better,

911
01:24:17,640 --> 01:24:22,040
more transparent way to be able to deliver these units years ago.

912
01:24:22,320 --> 01:24:23,420
Mr. Lowe, do you have any?

913
01:24:24,600 --> 01:24:31,980
I think this points out a more systemic problem with our city and the way in which we treat

914
01:24:31,980 --> 01:24:35,260
prospective developers in a different way.

915
01:24:35,800 --> 01:24:41,480
But I consider being here about changes that are being required by our city and the process.

916
01:24:42,200 --> 01:24:49,400
impact fees, permit fees and other fees that create difficulty for developers to build anything

917
01:24:49,400 --> 01:24:55,760
and it's difficult to do it here. And, you know, I think that the project that you're talking

918
01:24:55,760 --> 01:24:59,960
about, and it sounds to me, that these were things that were imposed on you, that...

919
01:25:00,110 --> 01:25:04,730
We're completely different from when we first approved the project a few years ago.

920
01:25:05,770 --> 01:25:10,410
But I think it just points out to a different problem that I talked to you about Mr. Mendes earlier today,

921
01:25:11,510 --> 01:25:14,250
involving all of this process. That has to change.

922
01:25:14,990 --> 01:25:18,010
We have a reputation for being a difficult city to deal with.

923
01:25:18,230 --> 01:25:25,110
And here we have something that is urgent, necessary, humane to take people off the streets.

924
01:25:25,110 --> 01:25:27,750
And here we are three years later, and what do we have?

925
01:25:27,970 --> 01:25:38,810
Grady is not your fault, but I think that it points out the greater problem, which is the way that we process development in this city.

926
01:25:39,250 --> 01:25:42,630
When are we going to get it going in the right way? Sound?

927
01:25:45,080 --> 01:25:45,820
I mean, really.

928
01:25:46,860 --> 01:25:49,560
We need to change things. Mayor Pro Tem Bishop.

929
01:25:50,120 --> 01:25:53,940
Yeah, thank you, Rossi, for everything you've done and he's thanks for everything.

930
01:25:54,600 --> 01:26:04,080
Thank you for being here to explain that and educate us where the project is at and where it's going and all that you have a good reputation and you've done good work in the city so

931
01:26:04,080 --> 01:26:05,120
Thank you.

932
01:26:05,120 --> 01:26:05,940
We have a motion.

933
01:26:06,560 --> 01:26:08,200
We'll improve second.

934
01:26:08,400 --> 01:26:09,740
All in favor say aye.

935
01:26:09,980 --> 01:26:10,020
Aye.

936
01:26:10,020 --> 01:26:12,180
I want to pose that passes unanimously.

937
01:26:13,000 --> 01:26:15,060
5.7 can we please get a staff report.

938
01:26:16,700 --> 01:26:20,060
Oh, this is the one that I can't.

939
01:26:20,060 --> 01:26:32,100
This is one of the ones. This one was 1,159 pages of procurement documents on top of this in the in the in the thing.

940
01:26:32,400 --> 01:26:39,100
So this is one of the items that is of concern that if nobody on the Council has had the opportunity to review the underlying procurement documents.

941
01:26:39,840 --> 01:26:49,020
I don't know how we fulfill our oversight responsibilities and legislative responsibilities without reviewing them.

942
01:26:49,020 --> 01:26:54,120
Staffer Park, please. Thank you. Good evening Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, members of Council, Brian George, City of Building

943
01:26:54,720 --> 01:27:03,200
Fischel. Item 5.7 for your consideration, approve agreements with Bureau of Eratos, North America, BPR consulting group,

944
01:27:04,080 --> 01:27:18,940
Interwest consulting group for as needed plan check and staffing services each and an amount not to exceed 750,000 for a combined total of 2,250,000 and each for a two year term with the

945
01:27:18,940 --> 01:27:22,480
to extend for three additional one-year terms.

946
01:27:24,420 --> 01:27:27,360
Building and safety division utilizes qualified consultant

947
01:27:27,360 --> 01:27:30,560
for outside plan review and related services.

948
01:27:30,880 --> 01:27:33,680
Building and inspection services when it's needed permit

949
01:27:33,680 --> 01:27:35,460
technician services as well.

950
01:27:37,830 --> 01:27:42,350
These services are meant to supplement city staff during times

951
01:27:42,350 --> 01:27:46,290
of fluctuation and workload when the development community

952
01:27:46,290 --> 01:27:50,610
submits plans and projects that are in excess

953
01:27:50,610 --> 01:27:55,670
of what our in-house staff can timely and efficiently produce.

954
01:27:57,010 --> 01:28:03,070
To ensure the continued availability of these services on February 24th, 2026, the city

955
01:28:03,070 --> 01:28:12,710
issued request for RFP. On March 26, 11 proposals were received, following a competitive selection

956
01:28:12,710 --> 01:28:18,570
process. The proposals were evaluated and established on a criteria. Three firms were selected

957
01:28:18,570 --> 01:28:24,010
to provide the required services and to support the city's ongoing development review activities.

958
01:28:29,490 --> 01:28:34,570
Two rounds of interviews were held with the top five firms, one virtual, one in person.

959
01:28:35,790 --> 01:28:42,390
And as a result, BPR, Bureau of Eratos and Interwest Consulting Group were still

960
01:28:42,390 --> 01:28:58,530
A multi-award consultant pool will provide flexibility to assign projects based on their requirements and the availability of staff, like I said, inspectors, permit technician staff in-house.

961
01:28:59,330 --> 01:29:04,650
This also allows us to negotiate competitively with the three firms on more complex projects.

962
01:29:04,650 --> 01:29:12,990
As far as the fiscal impact, 2,250,000 is comprised of 754 each agreement.

963
01:29:13,730 --> 01:29:17,910
Those agreements are two years with three, one year options to extend.

964
01:29:18,090 --> 01:29:22,010
So it's five years total, 750 or five years.

965
01:29:22,830 --> 01:29:33,470
Consultant compensation for plan review is funded through the plan review fees collected by the building and safety division that the applicant pays.

966
01:29:33,470 --> 01:29:40,710
So services are not requested of any of these consultants until the fees have already been paid.

967
01:29:41,070 --> 01:29:44,290
So it's essentially passed through, if you will.

968
01:29:45,370 --> 01:29:51,310
Funding beyond the current adopted budget is subject to future budget appropriations approved by the City Council.

969
01:29:52,250 --> 01:29:53,930
We have to take any questions.

970
01:29:53,930 --> 01:29:59,970
If I may add please just a reminder that this meet this item was

971
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:04,780
Push the last council meeting. So council has had these procurement documents for over a month.

972
01:30:04,980 --> 01:30:10,060
But I also asked that our last briefing for specific information that was never provided to me,

973
01:30:10,060 --> 01:30:16,560
which is why we continued it last meeting because the documents that I've asked for were not provided to me in advance of that council meeting.

974
01:30:16,560 --> 01:30:22,320
And I said, I didn't get what I what I needed in order to make an accurate decision and informed decision.

975
01:30:22,860 --> 01:30:28,360
So Mayor agreed to continue to item still didn't get the information at my briefing yesterday.

976
01:30:28,360 --> 01:30:36,060
I just checked my email. I got it at today. I got it at 147 p.m. before the meeting. I

977
01:30:36,060 --> 01:30:41,180
clearly have not been able to review it. But part of the reason why I wanted some of

978
01:30:41,180 --> 01:30:46,020
at least some of that background information is this is three contracts. And yes, it's as

979
01:30:46,020 --> 01:30:51,420
needed. But it's three quarters of a million each contract. One of the contractors that's

980
01:30:51,420 --> 01:30:59,320
suggesting is a new contractor to the city of Palmdale, and they were selected for its

981
01:30:59,320 --> 01:31:04,800
strong local presence established relationships with neighboring jurisdictions. I asked

982
01:31:04,800 --> 01:31:10,200
what does that mean? And I didn't get a very clear answer that they generally do work all around.

983
01:31:10,460 --> 01:31:16,740
I'm not sure if that's Lancaster, I'm not sure if that's LA County, but in addition to that,

984
01:31:17,820 --> 01:31:26,560
But three that were selected in terms of costs, there are others that were lesserate that were not selected.

985
01:31:27,340 --> 01:31:29,380
And so that's concerning as well.

986
01:31:30,780 --> 01:31:40,560
So yes, you can make your point south that it was continued, but it was been continued because I still don't have the information needed in order to make an informed decision on this item.

987
01:31:40,560 --> 01:31:47,640
And again, if the council has not reviewed them, it's 1159 pages of supporting documents

988
01:31:47,640 --> 01:31:52,320
in addition to this probably a couple hundred pages of documents in our binder.

989
01:31:52,880 --> 01:31:53,560
Mayor, may I have the floor?

990
01:31:55,680 --> 01:31:56,360
I have questions.

991
01:31:56,700 --> 01:31:57,540
Maybe we could have a little bit.

992
01:31:58,000 --> 01:32:00,860
We really have that many builders turning in plans.

993
01:32:01,000 --> 01:32:06,400
We need three simultaneous plan checkers, or do some of them get busy, or some firms

994
01:32:06,400 --> 01:32:12,120
better like different types of project like track houses versus commercial. So if a

995
01:32:12,120 --> 01:32:16,300
the developer comes in and says, I want to build a strip mall or I want to build

996
01:32:16,300 --> 01:32:20,860
you know 100 million track homes or like, oh we have a plan checker for that. How does that work?

997
01:32:21,100 --> 01:32:26,300
Correct. The out of the three firms they do specialize in certain areas. For instance,

998
01:32:26,540 --> 01:32:32,040
we have Lockheed. Lockheed has, I'm going to be honest, some of it's equipment is just unbelievable.

999
01:32:32,040 --> 01:32:37,140
that's specialized. And extremely specialized. It takes an electrical engineer to

1000
01:32:38,000 --> 01:32:43,240
plan review it. Those are the types of things that some firms will specialize in

1001
01:32:43,240 --> 01:32:48,880
one of the firms. The other one is the ADA accessibility. Again, when I talked

1002
01:32:48,880 --> 01:32:53,680
about flexibility, that's one thing, but availability. We're in a region where if I

1003
01:32:53,680 --> 01:33:02,020
call for building inspectors, I need to have more than one person who may or

1004
01:33:02,020 --> 01:33:07,140
you to the Analo Valley in times of need for a large project.

1005
01:33:08,160 --> 01:33:12,200
There's large projects that sometimes will put a dedicated inspector on.

1006
01:33:12,540 --> 01:33:17,200
That's no time when we have a big project that's high profile and we want to make sure

1007
01:33:17,200 --> 01:33:22,160
that the developer can just go without interference or delay, that's no time for us not

1008
01:33:22,160 --> 01:33:22,960
to be able to find.

1009
01:33:23,040 --> 01:33:26,980
Having three companies in your back pocket is easy to call and get someone out there on

1010
01:33:26,980 --> 01:33:27,120
side.

1011
01:33:27,320 --> 01:33:29,600
Options are good and availability is key.

1012
01:33:29,600 --> 01:33:32,820
I'm going to especially when you're trying to keep up with developers and development,

1013
01:33:33,180 --> 01:33:36,800
I mean, development is, it's up and down, you know, the EBS and flows.

1014
01:33:37,080 --> 01:33:41,100
It's, yeah, they say it's seasonal, I guess, but I guess on an average maybe weekly or monthly

1015
01:33:41,100 --> 01:33:44,600
base, let's say how many developers or builders or investors come and say,

1016
01:33:45,100 --> 01:33:50,260
I want to build this, here's my plans and here's my fees to the pay, said plan checker,

1017
01:33:50,320 --> 01:33:53,420
you're going to hire this curious. I want to see how busy we are.

1018
01:33:53,440 --> 01:33:57,040
Large projects, you probably, well, depends on what you do to firm as large project,

1019
01:33:57,040 --> 01:34:03,020
But we get anywhere from 100 to 250 projects a week of varying sizes, of course.

1020
01:34:03,240 --> 01:34:04,060
That seems like a lot.

1021
01:34:04,220 --> 01:34:07,100
A lot of that stuff is stuff that we can check in house.

1022
01:34:07,400 --> 01:34:10,120
Okay, we're talking about ADUs.

1023
01:34:10,300 --> 01:34:11,560
We're talking about window upgrades.

1024
01:34:11,760 --> 01:34:12,940
We're talking about things like that.

1025
01:34:13,340 --> 01:34:15,840
So these are things that we can handle in house.

1026
01:34:17,160 --> 01:34:20,300
The larger projects are fewer and far between.

1027
01:34:20,900 --> 01:34:23,180
And that's why it's an as needed basis.

1028
01:34:23,760 --> 01:34:26,260
There may be a month where we don't rely on these.

1029
01:34:26,260 --> 01:34:31,560
Or maybe even two months where we don't rely on these these firms, but in that month

1030
01:34:31,560 --> 01:34:35,480
Where diesel prices maybe in the near future will drop, right?

1031
01:34:36,480 --> 01:34:44,140
We could get we could get bombarded with 10 or 12 big projects and that's I don't ever want to tell the developer or an applicant

1032
01:34:44,820 --> 01:34:48,020
Hang on where we can't we can I see what you mean now?

1033
01:34:48,140 --> 01:34:52,720
So we're not we're just allocating the money the big project comes in they pay their fee

1034
01:34:52,720 --> 01:34:58,680
They're covering the cost of the contractor that we're hiring to go planchex.

1035
01:34:58,780 --> 01:34:59,960
So it is truly a path.

1036
01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:10,860
It really is. We do like I said previously. We do not request services. We literally don't email or pick up the phone to request services until the plan check fees have been paid.

1037
01:35:11,260 --> 01:35:15,820
And we've ensured through our staff that all the documents are there and ready to go for review.

1038
01:35:15,960 --> 01:35:18,900
And last question, these three companies, good. They qualified. Yes.

1039
01:35:19,260 --> 01:35:21,840
Okay. Let's get enough for me. I'll make a motion to approve.

1040
01:35:22,260 --> 01:35:23,940
First, I want to go to council number law.

1041
01:35:23,940 --> 01:35:29,040
Is this going to have any impact on the amount of money that the permit are going to cost

1042
01:35:29,040 --> 01:35:34,010
to the individuals that have to process through one of these companies?

1043
01:35:34,740 --> 01:35:35,660
No, sir.

1044
01:35:35,840 --> 01:35:36,180
Not at all.

1045
01:35:36,200 --> 01:35:37,580
Our fee schedule did not change.

1046
01:35:37,840 --> 01:35:42,900
Therefore, our permit, our permit valuations and our permit fees are based on valuation

1047
01:35:42,900 --> 01:35:47,080
and the plan check fees based on the permit fee and without the fee schedule going up

1048
01:35:47,080 --> 01:35:49,800
or valuations going up, there is no increase in fee.

1049
01:35:50,140 --> 01:35:53,260
Well, these contracts make our permitting process more efficient.

1050
01:35:53,260 --> 01:36:02,780
Yes, sir. Okay. Why is that? Because without them, we would be working eight days a week with two people in the house.

1051
01:36:04,080 --> 01:36:05,780
That's it, too. Yes, sir.

1052
01:36:06,600 --> 01:36:07,080
Okay.

1053
01:36:08,420 --> 01:36:11,720
We have a motion on the floor by the mayor, Pro Tem, is there a second?

1054
01:36:11,780 --> 01:36:15,800
Second. All in favor, signify if I say an aye. Aye. Anyone opposed?

1055
01:36:17,080 --> 01:36:19,100
Okay. That passes forward to one.

1056
01:36:21,220 --> 01:36:24,480
5.8, staff report, please.

1057
01:36:41,060 --> 01:36:43,200
Good evening, Mayor. May I protest against the council members?

1058
01:36:43,960 --> 01:36:49,800
This agenda, no 5.8 is for your consideration to approve a second amendment agreement with

1059
01:36:49,800 --> 01:37:01,560
BKF for Project Construction Management Services for the additional amount of $244,000 to

1060
01:37:01,560 --> 01:37:11,020
1,574,274 for the dry-town water park thrill-rike project, and also all the rides appropriation

1061
01:37:11,020 --> 01:37:19,620
of 244,000,274 in general falls for this project. The agreement for VKF was originally

1062
01:37:19,620 --> 01:37:26,900
approved back in September 2, 2025 to oversee the project. There have been delays with this project

1063
01:37:26,900 --> 01:37:32,860
for construction related to health permitting, as well as subcontractor changing out their

1064
01:37:32,860 --> 01:37:40,180
contractors, changing out their subcontractors. Originally, this was to begin in May, but

1065
01:37:40,180 --> 01:37:46,040
the beginning of construction began closer to April. I'll see you to June on this project.

1066
01:37:49,080 --> 01:37:53,380
The additional funds will come from general funds and any questions you may have to my

1067
01:37:53,380 --> 01:37:53,780
best to answer.

1068
01:37:57,040 --> 01:38:02,960
I think you so I also mean everything as for some follow-up information. I don't know. Did you send it to me today?

1069
01:38:04,460 --> 01:38:05,400
Yes, it was spoiled.

1070
01:38:06,040 --> 01:38:10,780
Okay, what time I don't know. Anyway, obviously they haven't didn't get a chance to look at it, but question.

1071
01:38:11,660 --> 01:38:22,620
So the original contract expired June 2026 and then in July there was an extension, right?

1072
01:38:22,620 --> 01:38:30,460
Time was correct. Time was. And then now you're asking for another $250,000, $250,000.

1073
01:38:31,960 --> 01:38:37,040
In our briefing you explained that the additional money is because there was a delay in the

1074
01:38:37,040 --> 01:38:43,860
notice to proceed. And so there was just a delay in doing the work. So my question is, if there was

1075
01:38:43,860 --> 01:38:49,320
a delay in doing the work and this is for construction management, why do they need double the money?

1076
01:38:49,320 --> 01:38:55,140
If they weren't overseeing anything because there was nothing to manage if the work hadn't started.

1077
01:38:55,600 --> 01:39:00,860
Actually the work, the contract is for project management and construction management services.

1078
01:39:01,300 --> 01:39:05,580
And this has been on board since September 2025 working on this project.

1079
01:39:06,120 --> 01:39:09,530
So they were spending time on this project.

1080
01:39:10,320 --> 01:39:17,840
And because of the delay, the project management also exceeded or expend all the hours a lot for this project.

1081
01:39:17,840 --> 01:39:18,580
so everything.

1082
01:39:18,740 --> 01:39:23,180
But if there was, if the notice to proceed was not issued, if there was a delay in several

1083
01:39:23,180 --> 01:39:25,460
months for the, what work were they overseeing?

1084
01:39:25,780 --> 01:39:32,120
This is a design bill contract with KPRS Bergman, so that project, they were responsible for

1085
01:39:32,120 --> 01:39:32,600
design.

1086
01:39:33,040 --> 01:39:38,620
So MNS was also responsible for oversight of design, all the plan reviews, all the coordination

1087
01:39:38,620 --> 01:39:42,760
with the health department, so they were involved from September on.

1088
01:39:42,760 --> 01:39:59,820
So, again, the contract expired with the city expired in June, then sell extended it in July, July 27, signed an extension, and then we get a letter August 24.

1089
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:08,800
First, was that last week asking for this $250,000, and now it's on our agenda to move. But in

1090
01:40:08,800 --> 01:40:17,300
their letter to us, that was sent last week. It says, Mr. Issa, who is the project manager, will

1091
01:40:17,300 --> 01:40:20,500
assume the role of the project manager for this assignment while continuing to support

1092
01:40:20,500 --> 01:40:29,460
the dry down water park slide inflation as a result. His construction management services for the

1093
01:40:29,460 --> 01:40:36,360
original level of effort with the service, so he's we're pulling him from one and he's

1094
01:40:36,360 --> 01:40:38,400
reducing, I don't understand why we're doing this.

1095
01:40:38,620 --> 01:40:46,640
That was an, that was an incorrect statement by the, um, MS or BKF. So they were providing

1096
01:40:46,640 --> 01:40:53,160
us with a solution to manage two projects by this person because, uh, to give us more savings.

1097
01:40:53,160 --> 01:41:00,580
so the allotted hours that he had here could be reduced more by managing two projects at one time.

1098
01:41:01,480 --> 01:41:07,260
You're just savings, but this is essentially doubling the original amount that was awarded for a six month

1099
01:41:07,260 --> 01:41:15,560
extension. Yes, it doubled it because of all the additional hours spent during the plan preparation process.

1100
01:41:16,980 --> 01:41:27,780
And originally was there. I pulled the original contract to where I asked for that. I don't know if you said it in the email. I went back and I found it September 2nd, 2025 on council.

1101
01:41:30,120 --> 01:41:39,000
There was no actual procurement process RFP or request RFQ. There was nothing. They were just selected, right? Correct.

1102
01:41:39,000 --> 01:41:42,540
Why because staff just said, they're great?

1103
01:41:43,680 --> 01:41:47,880
This MNS was also overseeing the project before that award.

1104
01:41:48,280 --> 01:41:54,460
They were involved in preparing the RFQ involved in negotiation with Bergman,

1105
01:41:54,540 --> 01:41:58,140
as well as working with Whitewater, who's the slide fabricator,

1106
01:41:58,400 --> 01:42:00,080
to do all the prep documents.

1107
01:42:01,200 --> 01:42:06,000
So my recommendation at the time was to recommend MNS to continue

1108
01:42:06,000 --> 01:42:12,100
With the project management construction oversight for the project that was the action item, and that was a request in September

1109
01:42:12,100 --> 01:42:19,880
Yeah, so I have an issue with the contractor. They changed their name. They're they were in menace for the same reasons that I've voiced

1110
01:42:19,880 --> 01:42:23,960
Concerns about all of the contracts that were awarded

1111
01:42:23,960 --> 01:42:32,060
It is sort of a slew of contracts awarded the wild end. I've got concerns about MNS 2 and their relationship to executive management

1112
01:42:32,640 --> 01:42:34,160
That's a concern for me

1113
01:42:34,160 --> 01:42:38,980
how they were single, single-handedly selected at the outset.

1114
01:42:39,120 --> 01:42:42,900
And now we're doubling their contract for a six-month oversight

1115
01:42:42,900 --> 01:42:46,500
responsibility for work that didn't actually start.

1116
01:42:47,300 --> 01:42:50,060
It doesn't, again, the math is a math thing.

1117
01:42:50,400 --> 01:42:52,700
So I can't support this.

1118
01:42:54,260 --> 01:42:57,360
Do we have anything on our contract?

1119
01:42:58,060 --> 01:43:00,220
There's two people essentially involved here.

1120
01:43:00,400 --> 01:43:02,260
It's the county and the health department, right?

1121
01:43:02,260 --> 01:43:09,260
that delayed it. And because of those delays, the subcontractors left the contractor manager, right,

1122
01:43:09,640 --> 01:43:16,200
is that roughly it? Correct. They dropped out. So the prime contractor had to get new subcontractors

1123
01:43:16,200 --> 01:43:21,340
in place to make sure that they're also under the CWA. So it was difficult for them to find

1124
01:43:21,340 --> 01:43:26,780
replacement. So there's additional delays as well. Isn't the contractor unhauled or responsible?

1125
01:43:27,120 --> 01:43:30,780
Isn't there any kind of liquidated damages? I mean, is there anything we can,

1126
01:43:30,780 --> 01:43:36,920
because there's a couple of mechanisms that fall, but I do hate it when someone tells you the price,

1127
01:43:36,980 --> 01:43:42,900
this is what it's going to be. They bet the job, we award it. It is a very common thing in government,

1128
01:43:43,380 --> 01:43:47,860
and a lot of construction projects. If you're in construction, you hear the term change orders

1129
01:43:47,860 --> 01:43:53,820
thrown around it, you know, almost the start of the first swing of the hammer. So it is a little

1130
01:43:53,820 --> 01:43:58,960
annoying. I don't like the fact that we're having to pick up another bill for something, especially

1131
01:43:58,960 --> 01:44:01,760
because dry time takes so much money anyway to keep operating.

1132
01:44:02,480 --> 01:44:05,740
Yes, we've been tracking the working days for this project.

1133
01:44:06,300 --> 01:44:11,260
So there will be assessing LDS, liquidated damage on this project at the completion.

1134
01:44:11,900 --> 01:44:15,840
Is there anything like so anything that we can get back close to what we're awarding tonight?

1135
01:44:16,000 --> 01:44:16,320
You think?

1136
01:44:16,660 --> 01:44:20,280
Very close to approximately 50

1137
01:44:25,370 --> 01:44:28,310
working days over contracted.

1138
01:44:28,990 --> 01:44:30,970
Do you know a price-wise where that puts them?

1139
01:44:31,410 --> 01:44:32,570
I don't know the exact amount.

1140
01:44:32,570 --> 01:44:37,630
But essentially, like, you know, some of that, um, loss through the LDP, but we will

1141
01:44:37,630 --> 01:44:42,630
hit them because they, they were unable to perform. How do we do that when we extend the working

1142
01:44:42,630 --> 01:44:49,590
days in the amendments? The, not all the, this is for the contractor, KPRS correct? No.

1143
01:44:49,670 --> 01:44:56,530
No. No, for the, for the, for the consultants, we don't get LDs from them. That's, I want to be clear.

1144
01:44:56,530 --> 01:44:59,650
So, to answer your question, the answer is no Austin.

1145
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:00,760
There is an earlier liquid.

1146
01:45:01,080 --> 01:45:07,260
It's on the list. They don't control the unforeseen conditions. The contractor is on the hook for those.

1147
01:45:07,640 --> 01:45:07,640
Okay.

1148
01:45:11,220 --> 01:45:15,120
All right. Yeah. I'm not crazy about it. The water slides are already there, right?

1149
01:45:15,640 --> 01:45:23,660
Yes, we're about 35 percent complete. And now right now they're building the pump house and next month they'll be erecting the towers.

1150
01:45:24,600 --> 01:45:30,220
Okay. All right. That's that. Anyone else? Motion, move to approve.

1151
01:45:30,220 --> 01:45:38,340
Second, I'll second it all in favor of signify five saying aye. I don't want to pose that passes for one

1152
01:45:39,840 --> 01:45:46,900
5.10 can we get a staff report please. Hey, this was going to be a fun one. Sorry, guys

1153
01:45:46,900 --> 01:45:49,300
No staff.

1154
01:45:51,720 --> 01:45:52,700
My 10 staff report

1155
01:46:02,420 --> 01:46:02,820
Take

1156
01:46:07,270 --> 01:46:11,630
your time. It's going to be a fun one. I hurt we don't really need the staff

1157
01:46:11,650 --> 01:46:17,090
I'll be here to give this a record. I just want to, I just want to, I just want to put

1158
01:46:17,090 --> 01:46:23,210
an exclamation point and essentially the fact that this is getting done. This is for much

1159
01:46:23,210 --> 01:46:27,750
needed improvements in Macadam Park, the one park in my council district. I've been fighting

1160
01:46:27,750 --> 01:46:35,550
since day one of being elected for equity, indistribution of funding for rehabbing that park.

1161
01:46:35,770 --> 01:46:41,370
We, with the council support, thank you. I have now allocated over a level. I think it's 11.2

1162
01:46:41,370 --> 01:46:46,450
million dollars, we're getting new restrooms, new lighting, new fields, we're actually getting

1163
01:46:46,450 --> 01:46:47,090
us neck bar.

1164
01:46:47,370 --> 01:46:51,990
So we, so that the, I will leave us in the parents, don't have to drag, you know, fold up

1165
01:46:51,990 --> 01:47:00,390
plastic tables and sell a caprice on out of coolers when we, we spent, I think, 1.2 million

1166
01:47:00,390 --> 01:47:03,150
on a stack bar at Marie Curr.

1167
01:47:03,850 --> 01:47:10,530
This is such a phenomenal accomplishment and thank you to the Council for supporting, but

1168
01:47:10,530 --> 01:47:14,070
Thank you to staff for actually bringing it to fruition.

1169
01:47:14,590 --> 01:47:16,930
I'm not going to be here to what I'm not going to be here.

1170
01:47:17,730 --> 01:47:21,630
When this gets done, when I'm just so happy and thankful

1171
01:47:21,630 --> 01:47:25,970
that it's actually coming to fruition because the people

1172
01:47:25,970 --> 01:47:30,210
and my district to the people on the east side need green space

1173
01:47:30,210 --> 01:47:35,730
that's safe and that looks like West Side Recreation

1174
01:47:35,730 --> 01:47:41,750
facility, so any help thank you so much. With that some Andrea I totally feel your joy

1175
01:47:41,750 --> 01:47:46,890
because it took me nine years to get my equipment at my park but it finally got done so I know

1176
01:47:46,890 --> 01:47:50,970
how warm your heart is feeling right now that's something that you've worked so hard for has

1177
01:47:50,970 --> 01:47:57,050
come to fruition so congratulations. And to the people in my district so this is actually the construction

1178
01:47:57,050 --> 01:48:03,510
is going to start in spring 2027 and the entire park is already finished right now and so I've my

1179
01:48:03,510 --> 01:48:10,430
to those that try to go there on Saturdays and use the, you know, practice soccer or what not.

1180
01:48:10,890 --> 01:48:16,470
But it's all for the good. Next summer, it will be a completely renovated park and it will be a

1181
01:48:16,470 --> 01:48:23,070
Jason to together California, which is also an incredibly beautiful foster facility and community

1182
01:48:23,070 --> 01:48:31,890
resource center that is being built. So it's, it's an entire quarter that is being invested in

1183
01:48:31,890 --> 01:48:36,830
I just, I'm so thankful to everybody for supporting.

1184
01:48:37,930 --> 01:48:38,030
Yes.

1185
01:48:38,170 --> 01:48:38,970
Move to approve.

1186
01:48:41,550 --> 01:48:42,050
Took a minute.

1187
01:48:42,830 --> 01:48:44,170
We've got a first in a second.

1188
01:48:44,570 --> 01:48:45,730
On favor say aye.

1189
01:48:46,030 --> 01:48:46,870
Anyone opposed?

1190
01:48:47,550 --> 01:48:48,890
About one pass is unanimously.

1191
01:48:50,730 --> 01:48:51,290
5, 11.

1192
01:48:52,110 --> 01:48:52,330
Staff.

1193
01:48:54,600 --> 01:48:55,560
I've still you.

1194
01:48:55,980 --> 01:48:56,480
Yes, yes.

1195
01:48:56,940 --> 01:48:57,980
Step 4 questions.

1196
01:49:00,550 --> 01:49:01,230
You pulled this item.

1197
01:49:01,790 --> 01:49:02,530
All right.

1198
01:49:02,850 --> 01:49:06,930
This next item is to clear consideration to approve an agreement with R.C.

1199
01:49:06,930 --> 01:49:15,110
for construction of Boulder's ADA Improvement for a total not to see it amount of $254,617,

1200
01:49:15,550 --> 01:49:22,470
which includes a 10% contingency. The project enhances ADA compliance and safety with the Boulder's community.

1201
01:49:23,170 --> 01:49:33,530
The scope of the project will involve ADA ramps, concrete repair panels at both Rollers Ranch 1 and also Rollers at the lake.

1202
01:49:34,050 --> 01:49:38,830
Bids were advertised back in June 2nd, 2026 on planet Bids for Bids were received.

1203
01:49:39,470 --> 01:49:43,330
Our CPAC was submitted, submitted the lowest response of the bid.

1204
01:49:45,820 --> 01:49:48,380
The funding will come from CDBG for this project.

1205
01:49:48,640 --> 01:49:49,080
Any questions?

1206
01:49:50,240 --> 01:49:55,960
No questions, really. I just thank you for bringing this forward. My concern as I've

1207
01:49:55,960 --> 01:49:59,960
voiced in our briefing about this one, so one of these parks is in my...

1208
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:29,980
Is in My District. A lot of the residents have voice concerns about safety concern. You know rehab that's needed. This is much needed to work. What I wanted to add. I guess there is a question and I asked it in the briefing. What are we doing? The work is both to start in November of this year. What are we doing in terms of outreach, notifying the residents that this work is going to occur and getting feedback and making sure that the right away is not impacted the ingress egress from the part that the Government has made.

1209
01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:35,120
the noise is not going to affect people, you know, in their homes, can you just speak on that?

1210
01:50:35,520 --> 01:50:39,020
Yes, as a student, as we execute the agreement, we'll have a pre-construction meeting

1211
01:50:39,020 --> 01:50:44,000
and our project man to be responsible for public outreach and notification, potentially

1212
01:50:44,000 --> 01:50:46,720
and by them for virtual meetings to understand the project.

1213
01:50:47,560 --> 01:50:50,720
And then the contractor prior to start a work, we're also be responsible to notify

1214
01:50:50,720 --> 01:50:53,380
the residents, make sure the signs are up.

1215
01:50:54,340 --> 01:50:58,380
You're concerned with accessibility, we'll also be addressed during construction.

1216
01:50:58,380 --> 01:51:06,200
the make sure it's properly donated and the date I gave last or yesterday was actually a little later.

1217
01:51:06,660 --> 01:51:13,720
We can start this project as early as it's mid October and finished before or by November 23rd.

1218
01:51:13,860 --> 01:51:27,840
Great that the work is going to get done but all the more importance of doing the outreach and notifying the residents that they're going to have this work sort of around the clock or whenever the schedule is.

1219
01:51:27,840 --> 01:51:33,460
What we hear from our mobile home parks often is that they're not notified of a lot of things.

1220
01:51:33,740 --> 01:51:39,480
And we hear when they get even the the most minute of running increases that they didn't know they weren't aware they weren't part of the process.

1221
01:51:40,300 --> 01:51:47,000
And so we want to make sure that they are informed and aware of the construction that's going to happen very soon.

1222
01:51:47,220 --> 01:51:52,920
It sounds like it was right around the corner and so that they can make you know plans accordingly.

1223
01:51:53,940 --> 01:51:55,260
Yes, I'll make sure that happens.

1224
01:51:55,520 --> 01:51:56,240
Great, thank you.

1225
01:51:56,920 --> 01:51:57,340
Move the item.

1226
01:51:58,180 --> 01:51:59,440
We'll go through.

1227
01:51:59,640 --> 01:52:00,000
Second.

1228
01:52:00,460 --> 01:52:01,600
All favors say aye.

1229
01:52:01,700 --> 01:52:02,120
Aye.

1230
01:52:02,420 --> 01:52:02,960
Anyone close?

1231
01:52:03,360 --> 01:52:04,600
That one passes unanimously.

1232
01:52:05,260 --> 01:52:06,020
5.12.

1233
01:52:06,320 --> 01:52:07,460
Do you want to staff report?

1234
01:52:08,380 --> 01:52:08,580
Oh.

1235
01:52:09,320 --> 01:52:10,100
Staff report on the minute?

1236
01:52:10,120 --> 01:52:10,380
Yeah.

1237
01:52:11,000 --> 01:52:11,340
No.

1238
01:52:11,860 --> 01:52:12,400
I just want to.

1239
01:52:16,180 --> 01:52:20,180
So there are a couple of things that we need to adjust on the minutes.

1240
01:52:20,480 --> 01:52:26,900
But I just, there are things that I just want to raise because otherwise I don't know how else to get them addressed.

1241
01:52:26,900 --> 01:52:37,420
by our city attorney item 6.1 on the July 7th minutes was the item if you guys recall

1242
01:52:37,420 --> 01:52:41,600
there was a 6 month extension and there was this this contractor that I found had all

1243
01:52:41,600 --> 01:52:47,320
violations with the secretaries state. We gave them an additional 6 months. It two months

1244
01:52:47,320 --> 01:52:54,160
have passed the item I asked in the city attorneys that they were going to do some research

1245
01:52:54,160 --> 01:52:58,360
and figure out what recourse we've got and that the item be brought back before the expiration

1246
01:52:58,360 --> 01:52:59,140
of the six months.

1247
01:52:59,600 --> 01:53:04,940
I haven't heard anything on that, so we'd love to have that address or at some point

1248
01:53:04,940 --> 01:53:11,780
added on to an agenda before the expiration of the 180 days and the contract expires.

1249
01:53:12,880 --> 01:53:19,980
I asked for it says here, and it just confirms here, I asked for a report several times

1250
01:53:19,980 --> 01:53:26,440
over. And the motion was approved. Motion was made by me, seconded by Council Member Benton

1251
01:53:26,440 --> 01:53:33,000
Court, at least in this. These minutes to have a report about the mark Senate, the $10 million.

1252
01:53:33,760 --> 01:53:39,260
I've said it every council meeting. We need to have them come and give us a report on the status

1253
01:53:39,260 --> 01:53:45,200
of it, on revenue sharing opportunities for if it is in fact going to be open as an event center.

1254
01:53:45,200 --> 01:53:50,160
What happened to our $10 million? Where is it in the process? What are the operating

1255
01:53:51,480 --> 01:53:56,360
regulations going to be? What do Palmdale residents need to do? Or say if there

1256
01:53:56,360 --> 01:54:00,620
is in fact an emergency, we had a fire today in my district or adjacent to my district and

1257
01:54:00,620 --> 01:54:06,060
Erics. What if they had to evacuate and go over there? We have no idea and we would not be able

1258
01:54:06,060 --> 01:54:13,760
to inform our residents how to go and access that emergency facility. So I don't know what

1259
01:54:13,760 --> 01:54:17,960
status of that. Where are we? I keep hearing you keep telling me they're coming

1260
01:54:17,960 --> 01:54:20,080
they're coming but they're never here.

1261
01:54:22,530 --> 01:54:24,890
Members to see council. I've reached out to Mr.

1262
01:54:24,990 --> 01:54:33,050
Dan Jacobs in waiting for a reply on that. He has future dates that he even offered to take the city.

1263
01:54:33,290 --> 01:54:38,450
I just recently offered to take the city on a tour. The city comes on a tour but we express his

1264
01:54:38,450 --> 01:54:45,950
want to come out here and we'll reach out again. So a tour is appreciated but we need to talk to the

1265
01:54:45,950 --> 01:54:51,950
10 million dollars went and how they're going to access the facility that it's intended to

1266
01:54:52,710 --> 01:54:59,570
provide services for them. So a tour is great, happy to go on a tour, but we need to

1267
01:55:00,270 --> 01:55:09,690
It's like the next meeting. We've said it time and time again, but he needs to come. We gave them $10 million. And we have nothing to show for it.

1268
01:55:10,230 --> 01:55:22,250
Life-saving to February leaders, we talked about that last council meeting, and this motion was very clearly was approved and said that it's going to come back. In my briefing, there was lack of clarity on what was happening.

1269
01:55:22,250 --> 01:55:39,930
So they said you guys said that it's not on this agenda because you didn't realize that there was an actual action item taken. It's in the minutes. So you guys can reference that. I hope that that's on the upcoming agenda and then the financial analysis.

1270
01:55:39,930 --> 01:55:46,930
So this is one edit into the minutes that I want to make August 4th minutes, Madam Clerk,

1271
01:55:48,370 --> 01:55:59,830
on the deferment of measure PDE. I want it to be clear that I preferred to, and that I placed

1272
01:55:59,830 --> 01:56:06,670
a motion before the council to fully repeal measure PDE and to put that on the ballot.

1273
01:56:06,670 --> 01:56:14,030
There's no reference to any of that. We had a exhaustive conversation about it, but there's no reference to my preference for a full repeal of measure peating.

1274
01:56:14,790 --> 01:56:17,290
And so I just want to make sure that that's incorporated in there.

1275
01:56:17,690 --> 01:56:22,170
And then six one fees. The fee structure we talked about, I think,

1276
01:56:22,330 --> 01:56:27,450
Council number low and the council at our last meeting, we talked extensively about our fee structure.

1277
01:56:27,910 --> 01:56:31,470
It's very clear in here. It says that we're going to table the item to September.

1278
01:56:32,170 --> 01:56:36,510
This is the only meeting in September, and it's not on the agenda.

1279
01:56:37,350 --> 01:56:46,250
I apparently, Mr. Mendes, you decided on your own free will that you were going to not bring

1280
01:56:46,250 --> 01:56:50,250
it back, because you decided that you were going to not make changes to the fees schedule

1281
01:56:50,250 --> 01:56:55,910
that besides the point, it was directed to bring back to the Council for consideration.

1282
01:56:55,910 --> 01:57:03,350
I think not adjusting the fees schedule from last year doesn't answer or address the problems that were raised.

1283
01:57:03,950 --> 01:57:10,270
I think it was $3,400 for a mobile home resident to file an appeal for a rent increase.

1284
01:57:10,430 --> 01:57:17,650
The rent increases are like $50 each for them to have to pay over $3,000 in a fee to file an appeal is preposterous.

1285
01:57:17,950 --> 01:57:20,730
I would imagine I think that that fee schedule existed last year.

1286
01:57:21,090 --> 01:57:23,050
So leaving at the same doesn't solve the problem.

1287
01:57:23,050 --> 01:57:29,690
so that needs to be one, and I would want to be very clear and transparent. It needs to be on an upcoming

1288
01:57:29,690 --> 01:57:36,230
agenda so that we can address this. And I know Council Member Lowe, you had, you know, some pretty,

1289
01:57:36,230 --> 01:57:42,030
you know, strong concerns about it as well. I sent the email a couple of weeks ago saying I'm

1290
01:57:42,030 --> 01:57:47,390
ready and willing to work, send me the documents from the prior fiscal year's fee structures,

1291
01:57:47,810 --> 01:57:52,210
which Council Member is going to work with me on it and you get the staff together for a meeting

1292
01:57:52,210 --> 01:57:57,730
get it on my calendar, got nothing, I think I got something today from you with the form

1293
01:57:57,730 --> 01:58:02,050
of yours fee structure, but that's not enough. We need it on the agenda and we need a meeting

1294
01:58:02,050 --> 01:58:07,030
calendar with whichever council member, if anyone wants to work with me on revising the

1295
01:58:07,030 --> 01:58:10,970
fee structure. And I think that's it.

1296
01:58:13,480 --> 01:58:17,700
And what else? So when are we going to deal with the fee schedule as a council?

1297
01:58:19,950 --> 01:58:24,670
I'm going to see a council. As I stated to council member, I stated that we're still analyzing

1298
01:58:24,670 --> 01:58:30,630
the budget. I didn't say we were not changing it. So we are hoping to bring it back as soon as we're

1299
01:58:30,630 --> 01:58:36,650
done analyzing the budget. One more thing. No. Hopefully the next meeting. Yes.

1300
01:58:38,890 --> 01:58:39,550
I should

1301
01:58:39,550 --> 01:58:46,430
return the two meetings a month. Just thing. Yes, ma'am. I'm willing to work with you on that.

1302
01:58:47,450 --> 01:58:54,210
Let me know your calendar. Okay. It says that you're reviewing the impacts of not changing

1303
01:58:54,210 --> 01:58:59,770
costs this year. Once we get that done, we will contact you. What? That's not what Council

1304
01:58:59,770 --> 01:59:06,370
directed. It's not incumbent upon you to change Council's direction. We moved. I moved. It was

1305
01:59:06,370 --> 01:59:11,630
seconded. We voted unanimously to bring it back. And you can't, you know, bring it back

1306
01:59:11,630 --> 01:59:16,330
at a meeting in September. You can't, you know, laterally override or circumvent the Council's

1307
01:59:16,330 --> 01:59:16,710
action.

1308
01:59:17,610 --> 01:59:21,930
Thank you. Mayor, remember to see Council. Council asked me what its impact would be to our budget

1309
01:59:21,930 --> 01:59:24,930
If we didn't move it, I'm getting those numbers.

1310
01:59:27,260 --> 01:59:29,180
That's not what's in the minutes, and that's not what happened.

1311
01:59:29,300 --> 01:59:31,400
A lot of wood counsel asked you to do that.

1312
01:59:32,260 --> 01:59:33,080
I did.

1313
01:59:36,080 --> 01:59:40,280
I wanted to know, why are we raising these fees?

1314
01:59:41,020 --> 01:59:46,060
When we have all the money that's been generated by the sales taxes in PD and measure AV.

1315
01:59:47,060 --> 01:59:50,100
And again, I think it's something that we could do,

1316
01:59:50,740 --> 01:59:52,480
by the use of that sales tax revenue,

1317
01:59:53,360 --> 01:59:58,820
to lessen the load on people who want to do business with the city, including anyone that wants

1318
01:59:58,820 --> 01:59:59,640
to file an appeal.

1319
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:07,000
Because of a red increase. I mean, we have to have better use of the money that the taxpayers have given us.

1320
02:00:08,240 --> 02:00:13,000
And so, yes, I did ask for that. And I'm looking forward to whatever you're going to come back with.

1321
02:00:14,180 --> 02:00:15,640
All right. Do you want to define a motion?

1322
02:00:17,820 --> 02:00:19,040
Define my motion.

1323
02:00:19,580 --> 02:00:21,340
I mean, there it is.

1324
02:00:21,360 --> 02:00:29,040
Yeah, it's all moved to approve the minutes with the changes of the madam clerk that I mentioned specifically with regard to

1325
02:00:29,740 --> 02:00:36,040
The measure PDIM 7.1 and new figures on August 4, 20, 26 minutes.

1326
02:00:37,820 --> 02:00:38,780
Second that.

1327
02:00:39,000 --> 02:00:39,980
And I just didn't go.

1328
02:00:43,520 --> 02:00:44,000
No.

1329
02:00:45,600 --> 02:00:45,800
Okay.

1330
02:00:46,560 --> 02:00:48,740
I don't care that the minute say that.

1331
02:00:48,800 --> 02:00:49,260
It's all second.

1332
02:00:49,400 --> 02:00:49,800
Your motion.

1333
02:00:50,040 --> 02:00:51,080
All in favor say aye.

1334
02:00:52,020 --> 02:00:52,740
Anyone opposed?

1335
02:00:53,720 --> 02:00:53,820
Aye.

1336
02:00:54,440 --> 02:00:54,720
Aye.

1337
02:00:54,880 --> 02:00:55,600
That passes.

1338
02:00:55,900 --> 02:00:57,840
You absolutely live in one abstenture.

1339
02:00:58,640 --> 02:01:04,060
Okay, public hearing section six, we're going to open the public hearing.

1340
02:01:04,260 --> 02:01:06,600
Can we get a staff report on six one, please?

1341
02:01:08,660 --> 02:01:08,800
Okay.

1342
02:01:08,800 --> 02:01:13,620
We take this one first, and the important thing.

1343
02:01:14,700 --> 02:01:16,180
Good evening, Mayor members of the Council.

1344
02:01:17,160 --> 02:01:22,960
This public hearing is to address the 2025 through 2026 consolidated annual performance and

1345
02:01:22,960 --> 02:01:28,760
evaluation report known as the Caper for the CDBG and Home Funds.

1346
02:01:28,760 --> 02:01:36,520
Each year, the city receives federal entitlement funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. We call that HUD.

1347
02:01:37,120 --> 02:01:46,940
To maintain eligibility, the city must submit a report outlining usage of the funds from the previous fiscal year due to HUD by September 28.

1348
02:01:46,940 --> 02:01:53,700
The caper, as we call it, measures the city's progress on the five-year consolidated plan.

1349
02:01:54,220 --> 02:01:58,280
This particular year is year one of that consolidated plan.

1350
02:01:58,860 --> 02:02:05,480
And the caper measures projects and programs that are funded exclusively with CDBG and our home funds.

1351
02:02:07,300 --> 02:02:13,720
The activities that are highlighted throughout the document include capital projects that were completed.

1352
02:02:13,720 --> 02:02:23,880
There were two that were completed with CDBG funds and they included Avenue Q12 for ADA compliance and third street ADA compliance.

1353
02:02:26,420 --> 02:02:35,140
Saves also served over 9,000 people with CDBG funding and fair housing services were provided to 250 residents.

1354
02:02:36,000 --> 02:02:38,980
Additionally CDBG paid for administration of the program.

1355
02:02:38,980 --> 02:02:48,600
In home activities, the tenant based rental assistance program provided assistance to 31

1356
02:02:48,600 --> 02:02:55,520
low income senior households and the funds also paid for program administration of that

1357
02:02:55,520 --> 02:03:00,180
program and money was set aside for future affordable housing development.

1358
02:03:02,330 --> 02:03:10,470
Staff's recommendation is to conduct the public hearing to hear public comments on the

1359
02:03:10,470 --> 02:03:28,650
And to approve the 2526 Caper for submittal to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and authorize the city manager or their design need to make necessary changes and submit the 2526 Caper to HUD by September 28th, 2026 per HUD requirements.

1360
02:03:29,230 --> 02:03:31,630
Great. Thank you. Is there a public comment on this item?

1361
02:03:32,850 --> 02:03:34,250
Mr. Zink,

1362
02:03:36,420 --> 02:03:42,400
Jason Zink, it's apparent to me that government is in the way of progress.

1363
02:03:43,600 --> 02:03:48,860
With the dream village, it sounded to me, and I think from all of everybody out here, it sounded

1364
02:03:48,860 --> 02:03:54,080
like the city was the one preventing them from preventing them from getting their project done,

1365
02:03:54,440 --> 02:04:00,540
and then it cost $300,000 more, and then you guys given $300,000 dollars, and charge them

1366
02:04:00,540 --> 02:04:02,460
all of these other fees and everything like that.

1367
02:04:02,460 --> 02:04:07,300
You guys prevented drink village from happening quickly.

1368
02:04:08,440 --> 02:04:14,700
Let's talk about the mission of hope, the 100 unit motel.

1369
02:04:15,380 --> 02:04:18,080
There's supposed to be rapidly done in and house people.

1370
02:04:18,400 --> 02:04:20,780
They were already homeless people live in there.

1371
02:04:21,700 --> 02:04:25,920
Now, here it is three years later, not done.

1372
02:04:26,700 --> 02:04:31,000
The taxpayers paid $290,000 per hotel room.

1373
02:04:31,000 --> 02:04:36,280
You could have built an apartment complex and gave them two, three bedroom apartments with

1374
02:04:36,280 --> 02:04:37,380
kitchens and everything.

1375
02:04:40,180 --> 02:04:41,480
We are incompetent.

1376
02:04:42,280 --> 02:04:43,760
The city is incompetent.

1377
02:04:43,960 --> 02:04:44,720
The city is sloppy.

1378
02:04:45,400 --> 02:04:55,640
How many times have I seen Alacon, Lowe, Betoncourt, as the city for documents, or a map of

1379
02:04:55,640 --> 02:04:57,220
where our roads are going to be paved?

1380
02:04:57,600 --> 02:04:59,280
You guys are not holding him accountable.

1381
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:15,080
Who, guys, are not holding the staff accountable? The people pump out deserve better. If the count doesn't exist with the existing staff, then you need to go look for better qualified counted people that have real life experience.

1382
02:05:16,140 --> 02:05:23,860
To understand, delays mean dollars, my aunt just died, the one that just, you guys pretty

1383
02:05:23,860 --> 02:05:27,720
much kicked out of the senior housing complex because the rent kept on going up and

1384
02:05:27,720 --> 02:05:31,640
up and up and I asked for senior housing subsidies for her.

1385
02:05:31,800 --> 02:05:33,620
My other aunt still lives in a travel trailer.

1386
02:05:34,520 --> 02:05:42,560
You guys, it's because of you guys, your unleadership of accountability that is holding

1387
02:05:42,560 --> 02:05:45,880
this city back. Anyone else wish to speak?

1388
02:05:47,420 --> 02:05:51,060
I'm closing the public hearing council discussion.

1389
02:05:52,460 --> 02:05:57,900
I think maybe the public would probably prefer to speak after my comments.

1390
02:05:58,820 --> 02:06:02,380
So we'll start with what's in the staff report first and then we'll get into the

1391
02:06:02,380 --> 02:06:06,720
substance of what's in the report itself because that really is I think what the

1392
02:06:06,720 --> 02:06:15,720
the community should know and what raises concern for me. So on page two of the staff report,

1393
02:06:16,160 --> 02:06:24,260
it says that the 2025-26 C2BJ allocation on the top is 1.4 and then home is 4.78,

1394
02:06:25,080 --> 02:06:32,380
but what's in the graph below, adds up to 3.7 that doesn't add up.

1395
02:06:34,280 --> 02:06:46,120
And then affordable housing development, allocated 207, essentially 270,000, zero was expended.

1396
02:06:47,540 --> 02:06:54,640
A 71,000 was allocated for CHD, a set of size zero was expended.

1397
02:06:55,720 --> 02:06:58,160
The admin money was expended.

1398
02:06:59,060 --> 02:07:05,240
25% of the home money that we got went to administration, general home administration.

1399
02:07:05,920 --> 02:07:09,480
As opposed to actually service delivery for the community, that's concerned.

1400
02:07:10,500 --> 02:07:19,400
25% is, I think, not going great for acceptable overhead for grant expenditures.

1401
02:07:19,400 --> 02:07:22,900
But I don't, can you make this math work out for me?

1402
02:07:24,680 --> 02:07:32,120
Why we have so much unexpected money and how what was allocated here adds up to 3.7.

1403
02:07:32,480 --> 02:07:37,020
But it says the 2025-26 allocation was about 1.8.

1404
02:07:37,520 --> 02:07:42,600
Yes. So the allocation is what you receive from HUD each year.

1405
02:07:42,940 --> 02:07:49,300
So in that particular year that 1.4 is what was allocated to the city based on

1406
02:07:49,300 --> 02:07:56,300
formula based on LMI households, limiter income households, and some other factors. What you see in

1407
02:07:56,300 --> 02:08:02,740
the table is what was programmed as part of your annual action plan. And that includes any carryover

1408
02:08:02,740 --> 02:08:13,980
funds, unspent funds, reprogrammed dollars. So for the CDBG, most of the carryover came from the

1409
02:08:13,980 --> 02:08:19,220
capital improvements that had been programmed in previous years, but we're not completed until

1410
02:08:19,220 --> 02:08:26,520
this particular caper year. And then in the home dollars, and there's also annual caps of how

1411
02:08:26,520 --> 02:08:34,160
you can use the funds. So for your CDBG allocation, 15 percent of your allocation can be used

1412
02:08:34,160 --> 02:08:40,220
that fiscal year for public services, while 20 percent can be used for the administration of the

1413
02:08:40,220 --> 02:08:46,980
program overall. And then in home funds, I think it's only 10 percent can be 15 percent can be used

1414
02:08:46,980 --> 02:08:51,300
for administration, but there's carryover funds, because if there's not, for example, a

1415
02:08:51,300 --> 02:08:59,240
development, then there's usually a banking of those funds that is sitting there waiting

1416
02:08:59,240 --> 02:09:04,040
to be utilized. The affordable housing development that shows zero and the total set aside

1417
02:09:04,040 --> 02:09:10,120
that shows zero is like, it was because it wasn't program for a specific project. If you recall,

1418
02:09:10,320 --> 02:09:16,300
most of that was programmed in this last action plan, which will be demonstrated in the

1419
02:09:16,300 --> 02:09:22,520
paper for next year if the project gets completed. You'll see those projected progress reports

1420
02:09:22,520 --> 02:09:28,900
in the paper for that year. So the what's in the staff report under the allocated

1421
02:09:28,900 --> 02:09:37,180
column includes prior year. They will finance the entire annual the annual action plan amount

1422
02:09:37,180 --> 02:09:42,040
that was programmed that year. So the allocation is just telling you the money that you received

1423
02:09:42,040 --> 02:09:47,100
from HUD, but there were funds that were already there that were programed as part of the Action

1424
02:09:47,100 --> 02:09:47,380
Plan.

1425
02:09:47,620 --> 02:09:47,800
Right.

1426
02:09:48,180 --> 02:09:48,240
Okay.

1427
02:09:48,480 --> 02:09:52,000
So that amount is 3.7 on page 2 of the staff report.

1428
02:09:52,400 --> 02:09:56,940
In the paper itself, it says that together with prior years funding available, a total

1429
02:09:56,940 --> 02:09:59,200
of 4.6 was allocated to projects.

1430
02:09:59,820 --> 02:09:59,960
That's...

1431
02:10:00,300 --> 02:10:09,720
A $917,000 difference. The numbers aren't, they don't match up. Look, I went, I've diced it all kinds of

1432
02:10:09,720 --> 02:10:15,800
which ways I think this needs work with the numbers for a variety of reasons, but we can get

1433
02:10:15,800 --> 02:10:23,380
into the substance. Table 1 of the actual paper, what I was alluding to earlier when we're

1434
02:10:23,380 --> 02:10:29,680
about the Act, the tiny home development of the 20 units, the first row, affordable housing,

1435
02:10:30,580 --> 02:10:35,680
2025, 2026 program, you're expected 80 units, affordable housing units, to be delivered,

1436
02:10:36,200 --> 02:10:42,620
actual delivered, zero. That's a problem. And it's not, it's not, it's just to know

1437
02:10:42,620 --> 02:10:48,540
fault of your own. I'm frustrated because it's like four year, every year that this

1438
02:10:48,540 --> 02:10:53,900
paper comes to us. I feel like a broken record. Because it's a lot of the same

1439
02:10:53,900 --> 02:10:58,520
zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero. When are we going to be able to actually deliver

1440
02:10:58,520 --> 02:11:00,720
for the people of Palmdale as my concern?

1441
02:11:00,980 --> 02:11:01,880
If you'd like me to.

1442
02:11:02,560 --> 02:11:07,900
Okay. So with regards to this particular table, the 80 is part of your five-year strategic plan.

1443
02:11:07,960 --> 02:11:09,780
So that's part of your consolidated plan.

1444
02:11:10,080 --> 02:11:14,720
And this 25-26 program year is your one of that five-year plan.

1445
02:11:14,720 --> 02:11:19,200
So, for example, affordable housing development, that will be from home funds.

1446
02:11:19,420 --> 02:11:24,700
These would be home funds that are programmed and this last action plan, which is not

1447
02:11:24,700 --> 02:11:31,120
part of this paper, this city, they programmed homes for town homes and for link.

1448
02:11:31,520 --> 02:11:36,240
And so that when those developments get done, those numbers will be reported in the

1449
02:11:36,240 --> 02:11:36,540
paper.

1450
02:11:36,980 --> 02:11:42,960
Link is the one I was referencing that it was unable to, unable to get their funding and had

1451
02:11:42,960 --> 02:11:46,440
these delinquencies with the Secretary of State that I asked for the city attorney to give us

1452
02:11:46,440 --> 02:11:53,960
a report on that we never got. But it says here that we allocated 271,000 in 2526 fiscal year

1453
02:11:55,020 --> 02:12:00,300
and that we expected 80 in that same program, 80 units and then we got zero.

1454
02:12:03,150 --> 02:12:08,910
I do see what you're saying. So I would say I would have to look at that because I wouldn't expect

1455
02:12:08,910 --> 02:12:15,130
that 271,000 would have been for 80 households serve so I will have to look into that one.

1456
02:12:15,490 --> 02:12:45,470
Okay, and I would appreciate, I just I found a variety of issues with the numbers in here and sort of the figures, but can you please explain to me that so this is in reference to a five year consolidated plan 25 to 2029 right there is a whole section in here a paragraphs about COVID and actions in 2020 and city of Palmdale continues to serve right.

1457
02:12:45,490 --> 02:12:50,810
as it is affected by the pandemic, it talks about March 16th, 2020, saves adopted the national

1458
02:12:50,810 --> 02:12:54,890
emergency model. Can you please talk about that and why it's in here?

1459
02:12:55,190 --> 02:13:01,650
And I know that there's a schedule that has CWGCV funds, but can you please just

1460
02:13:01,650 --> 02:13:09,090
explain? Sure. So due to the pandemic funds were distributed to, you know, public agencies

1461
02:13:09,090 --> 02:13:16,590
municipalities throughout the United States and it was a unique support of funding that came out.

1462
02:13:17,310 --> 02:13:24,650
And they HUD is requiring cities to report how their use will report on the balance

1463
02:13:24,650 --> 02:13:26,810
of those dollars in their capers.

1464
02:13:27,190 --> 02:13:33,170
So they didn't have a separate mechanism to ask communities to report back the way they do

1465
02:13:33,170 --> 02:13:33,830
the caper.

1466
02:13:33,830 --> 02:13:39,410
so they ask to put the report like to continue reporting and through the close out of the funds.

1467
02:13:39,890 --> 02:13:47,270
And in this year, rather than show an amount of accomplishments that actually occurred prior,

1468
02:13:47,350 --> 02:13:55,130
because we only had about 50,000 left in CV to expand. It's not noted as part of the main

1469
02:13:55,130 --> 02:14:01,450
paper because those accomplishments occurred in the year's prior following the pandemic.

1470
02:14:02,910 --> 02:14:09,950
Okay, and then so we allocated a quarter of a million dollars, $250,000 for tenant-based

1471
02:14:09,950 --> 02:14:11,170
rental assistance, right?

1472
02:14:12,070 --> 02:14:16,350
And our numbers show that we expected to be able to provide tenant-based rental assistance

1473
02:14:16,350 --> 02:14:17,470
to 25 people.

1474
02:14:17,810 --> 02:14:19,890
We exceeded that number and we hit 31.

1475
02:14:20,830 --> 02:14:25,110
Our priority throughout here is very clear that it was for vulnerable seniors, wonderful

1476
02:14:26,350 --> 02:14:29,570
We serve 31 people, but we also left money on the table.

1477
02:14:29,770 --> 02:14:33,930
We only expended two hundred and two thousand of the two hundred and fifty that we allocated.

1478
02:14:35,090 --> 02:14:40,450
Those funds will be carried forward, so it's not a set dollar amount per household.

1479
02:14:40,690 --> 02:14:43,890
It's based on a percentage of their rent that's being subsidized.

1480
02:14:44,430 --> 02:14:49,170
And so based on those numbers and when someone becomes eligible and gets into the program,

1481
02:14:49,390 --> 02:14:54,230
for example, maybe they get into the program a little later in the year.

1482
02:14:54,230 --> 02:14:59,670
So they just continue to expand the dollars until they reach the max, but they have to program out.

1483
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:15,160
Anyone's getting assistance for a period of time? You need to make sure you keep the bank of that amount through the year. So those funds carried over into, they weren't lost. They're going to be moved over. So you'll see actually more funds expended in this fiscal year when the caper comes back.

1484
02:15:15,380 --> 02:15:25,060
So my concern is not that the funds are good loss because I understand that they roll over. My concern is that I know that there are more than 31 people in the city and Palmdale that need rental assistance.

1485
02:15:26,600 --> 02:15:34,520
And if we leave, what are we doing wrong that we're only reaching 31 people when we're leaving

1486
02:15:34,520 --> 02:15:41,240
50, almost $50,000 on the table that was allocated for this year, are we doing the proper

1487
02:15:41,240 --> 02:15:41,600
outreach?

1488
02:15:41,760 --> 02:15:43,660
And this is, again, the broken record.

1489
02:15:43,940 --> 02:15:46,880
I've said this over, at one point, I think it might have been my first year.

1490
02:15:47,280 --> 02:15:50,620
The number was zero before, at one point.

1491
02:15:50,620 --> 02:15:58,760
And I was so upset about that because people are struggling and have been increasingly struggling.

1492
02:15:59,520 --> 02:16:05,620
There are, I guarantee you, there are more than 31 people in the city of Palmdale who could use a little bit of help to pay their rent.

1493
02:16:06,120 --> 02:16:10,760
So what are we doing differently? What do we plan to do different moving forward?

1494
02:16:11,340 --> 02:16:16,940
Because clearly we didn't do enough to maximize the expenditure and what was allocated to 250,000.

1495
02:16:16,940 --> 02:16:26,760
What do we plan to do? What are we doing to close that gap so that we can make sure that we maximize the assistance that we provide to those that are struggling to pay the rent?

1496
02:16:28,480 --> 02:16:42,240
So with regards to CDBG specifically for the TBRA program, that would be, again, it's a formula based on how many people you can ensure that you're going to fund through the cycle of their period of assistance.

1497
02:16:43,240 --> 02:16:49,720
That formula has been followed according to plan, and I can only say that maybe some people

1498
02:16:49,720 --> 02:16:54,980
got into the program a little later, but those folks are going to be extended their entire

1499
02:16:54,980 --> 02:16:58,560
period of time as long as they remain eligible and want to participate in the program.

1500
02:16:59,460 --> 02:17:03,900
I'm confident that at least the CDBG Tupere Funds are going to get spent the way they

1501
02:17:03,900 --> 02:17:08,920
should be spent. With regards to other assistance, there's new programs that are coming

1502
02:17:08,920 --> 02:17:13,800
out for measure A funds that are being used for rental assistance and those are programs

1503
02:17:13,800 --> 02:17:20,820
that are being launched right now through Makata and then also I think there's another

1504
02:17:20,820 --> 02:17:25,380
funding source that's also providing some rental assistance and those will be with third

1505
02:17:25,380 --> 02:17:31,220
party administrators but serving residents here in Lancaster. So there are a series of

1506
02:17:31,220 --> 02:17:36,640
programs that are going to be added to the T-BRA program and they all carry their own compliance

1507
02:17:36,640 --> 02:17:41,380
requirements and you know you have to just meet those different requirements based on the different

1508
02:17:41,380 --> 02:17:46,740
finding sources. Okay and then on page 8 there's a racial and ethnic composition of families

1509
02:17:46,740 --> 02:17:54,240
assisted chart. I've raised this issue year after year I think one year it said zero Hispanics were

1510
02:17:54,240 --> 02:17:59,340
were serviced and then they had to go back and recalculate because there was some some wrong

1511
02:17:59,340 --> 02:18:07,220
computation of it because that seemed completely ridiculous to me and if it was actually accurate

1512
02:18:07,220 --> 02:18:16,900
I mean that speaks to systemic problems but this year it shows that essentially the numbers

1513
02:18:16,900 --> 02:18:24,310
when you add up CDBG in-home services provided to those that identify Hispanic 20% of those

1514
02:18:24,310 --> 02:18:33,910
that received services by virtue of these funds identified as Hispanic, 80% non-Hispanic.

1515
02:18:34,450 --> 02:18:41,450
Our population, I checked, our 2025 July 1st, 2025 population number 63% of our population

1516
02:18:42,030 --> 02:18:49,930
is Hispanic, identifies as Hispanic, 54% other than English at home.

1517
02:18:51,510 --> 02:19:00,930
The dynamic seam upside down and I've raised this issue before because I've been very clear that

1518
02:19:01,570 --> 02:19:08,330
for tenant assistance for instance, just as one for instance, do we do that outreach in Spanish?

1519
02:19:08,750 --> 02:19:16,450
Do we provide the information to the local entities that have already that trusted partnership relationship with

1520
02:19:16,450 --> 02:19:25,510
communities of color. I don't know that it doesn't it doesn't seem very clear that that we are. The numbers are don't reflect it.

1521
02:19:26,230 --> 02:19:38,610
And I think we've got to do a significant work to make sure that we reach that population that that's a vulnerable population too. And it's my district. It's the heart of the east side.

1522
02:19:38,610 --> 02:19:45,610
understood. The HUD specific requirements for HUD funding and as noted like in your documents

1523
02:19:45,610 --> 02:19:51,550
require that the applications and the reach are in English and Spanish and the staff are also

1524
02:19:51,550 --> 02:19:58,230
bilingual so it I know that they're served through their Spanish language at least.

1525
02:19:58,270 --> 02:19:59,970
What do they can be served is not-

1526
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:24,400
I know staff is we pay employees, you know, bonus for being able to speak Spanish and what not. I get that we can provide the service. Do we go actively out to the community to solve a to other entities that have those trusted relationships that already have identified, I mean, I know that they exist right. There's more than 31 I know when I go to the food distributions on Fridays.

1527
02:20:25,220 --> 02:20:31,520
The lines are around the corner. People are struggling and so what do we do? We could have

1528
02:20:31,520 --> 02:20:36,540
closed that gap. We could have not just used the 200 and 2000. We could have used the

1529
02:20:36,540 --> 02:20:45,360
full 250 this year but the question and the racial composition shows me again what I've seen

1530
02:20:45,360 --> 02:20:53,440
in the past three years that we're not doing adequate outreach to specific communities of color

1531
02:20:53,440 --> 02:21:01,040
and specific organizations and entities that do work their trusted messengers, particularly in the aftermath of ICE.

1532
02:21:01,540 --> 02:21:05,740
They're not necessarily going to come directly to the city and say, oh hi, I'm here.

1533
02:21:06,060 --> 02:21:11,820
They're going to go to the organization entity that they have that trusted relationship with and say, I need help.

1534
02:21:12,200 --> 02:21:14,520
I actually went and volunteered for Salva.

1535
02:21:15,340 --> 02:21:19,200
They have, and I don't know, Sal was there.

1536
02:21:19,200 --> 02:21:21,700
I don't know if there were any other council members there.

1537
02:21:21,740 --> 02:21:26,980
There was a press conference for the eviction protection program that Salva was awarded

1538
02:21:26,980 --> 02:21:32,640
I was at a million dollars and I actually was there I volunteered for hours working with

1539
02:21:32,640 --> 02:21:36,680
families and actually cutting checks through Salva for them.

1540
02:21:37,340 --> 02:21:43,420
But the city was not a partner in that and so I just what we got to do more is my point.

1541
02:21:43,980 --> 02:21:47,920
And I just wanted to add that we can always improve upon our efforts, right?

1542
02:21:47,920 --> 02:21:58,100
I think we can always try harder, but I wanted to mention that there is a challenge to acquiring the reporting from the recipient.

1543
02:21:58,420 --> 02:22:03,340
So the participants have to provide the information to the program.

1544
02:22:04,260 --> 02:22:14,100
And if they're not forced to, so a lot of times they write their name, they check a box and they sign it and they don't, they're not forced to provide this piece of information.

1545
02:22:14,100 --> 02:22:19,680
sometimes they don't provide, they don't complete the entire form and I think that's the challenge.

1546
02:22:20,520 --> 02:22:26,580
I don't want to speak for saves, but I know that like with programs like that where there's a lot of people coming through

1547
02:22:26,580 --> 02:22:31,240
quickly and they're being served. They're not always reporting all of the information.

1548
02:22:31,820 --> 02:22:36,200
So we can only provide HUD what we receive and what we can validate by the forms,

1549
02:22:36,200 --> 02:22:42,120
the participant data forms. I'm not saying that's the only reason, but that would be one of the challenges

1550
02:22:42,120 --> 02:22:48,080
and as far as outreach, we can certainly continue to work with our partners to make sure that

1551
02:22:48,080 --> 02:22:50,800
those communities are reached with these programs.

1552
02:22:54,420 --> 02:22:58,840
There's more, but I think there need, there need, the numbers are not accurate.

1553
02:22:59,320 --> 02:23:04,260
I mean, I've, maybe I'm doing my calculations wrong by this meant like almost two hours

1554
02:23:04,260 --> 02:23:09,660
going through this report specifically because it matters, because it's actual service delivery

1555
02:23:09,660 --> 02:23:17,560
to people that needed the most, and the numbers didn't net up for me, and the narrative

1556
02:23:17,560 --> 02:23:25,300
also was concerning. It also didn't include, there's a section in here, what have we done

1557
02:23:25,300 --> 02:23:30,720
to help low-income individuals and those specifically facing potentially violence in the home?

1558
02:23:31,080 --> 02:23:35,680
But there's no reference to, I introduced the motion and Council Member Betten Court of Seconded

1559
02:23:35,680 --> 02:23:42,800
unanimously council adopted to allocate. I think it was about $300,000 for the development of actual

1560
02:23:43,500 --> 02:23:48,160
domestic violence shelter here. The first domestic violence shelter here in the city of Palmedale.

1561
02:23:48,340 --> 02:23:53,220
We did that a couple months ago. There's no reference to that in this report. I think that's an

1562
02:23:53,220 --> 02:24:01,100
important milestone that we've set aside $300,000. Maybe there are CDBG funds or home funds or other

1563
02:24:01,100 --> 02:24:08,220
of phones. It was that could contribute to the full development and bringing that to fruition,

1564
02:24:08,500 --> 02:24:10,480
but that's not represented here and it needs to be incorporated.

1565
02:24:13,140 --> 02:24:18,100
Okay, just very briefly. You know, the numbers in terms of the racial and ethnic

1566
02:24:18,100 --> 02:24:26,760
population of assistance, this was a similar report as last year regarding the Hispanic population.

1567
02:24:28,340 --> 02:24:33,760
And it seemed like this would have jumped out to staff saying, well, I mean, why is there such a disparity here?

1568
02:24:36,000 --> 02:24:40,420
And what can be done about it? I mean, there may be a good rational explanation for it.

1569
02:24:40,520 --> 02:24:47,680
But I mean, we had the same numbers last year, or maybe a little worse, but it hasn't improved very much substantially.

1570
02:24:47,680 --> 02:24:54,020
since a very large percentage of the population of Pongolius is panic, and that doesn't

1571
02:24:54,020 --> 02:24:58,520
just include immigrants, it includes a lot of people that have been here for generations

1572
02:24:58,520 --> 02:24:59,980
that are a Spanish sir.

1573
02:25:00,530 --> 02:25:08,250
And sometimes, maybe somebody won't self-identify this panic, but one of the indications might be the surname.

1574
02:25:08,990 --> 02:25:15,990
Right? I know that, for example, in the voter rolls, when we look at voter rolls, and it talks about,

1575
02:25:16,090 --> 02:25:19,330
because it's all broken down to ethnicities and all of that.

1576
02:25:19,710 --> 02:25:26,610
And I don't think that the, when you register to vote, that you identify as Hispanic or African American or Asian or whatever.

1577
02:25:26,610 --> 02:25:33,650
So those statistics come from somewhere, and I think it's just looking at the data that's there, perhaps a certain

1578
02:25:33,650 --> 02:25:40,490
indicates who the people are, what racial group they're with or what ethnic group they're with.

1579
02:25:40,970 --> 02:25:43,330
I'm just jumped out at us last year.

1580
02:25:43,770 --> 02:25:49,010
It's there again this this time, and I just don't understand if there's an explanation for this.

1581
02:25:49,590 --> 02:25:53,730
We can't change the documents that they submit to us.

1582
02:25:53,730 --> 02:26:01,310
And what I will do is work with the program deliveries, so the subrecipients of these funds,

1583
02:26:01,470 --> 02:26:05,410
we can talk to them about trying to encourage the participants to be more thorough with

1584
02:26:05,410 --> 02:26:07,790
the reports and to fill them out.

1585
02:26:08,690 --> 02:26:15,070
I've heard feedback has been that a lot of folks are afraid to fill out certain ethnic

1586
02:26:15,070 --> 02:26:20,370
and cities on forms or to fill out the forms or to want to share any intimate details with

1587
02:26:20,370 --> 02:26:21,130
the federal government.

1588
02:26:21,130 --> 02:26:28,390
So, I don't know. That's some feedback that I've received from some of the folks that work in the programs, but we can

1589
02:26:28,390 --> 02:26:34,790
Work for them. That works for some of the population, but not all of it.

1590
02:26:35,370 --> 02:26:40,930
And so I'm just saying that if two people fill out their names.

1591
02:26:41,410 --> 02:26:45,970
They put their names on there, but I can't change their reporting by based on their surnames.

1592
02:26:45,970 --> 02:26:51,330
If you look at a name, for example, if it's a Asian-sounding name, you could tell perhaps that it's a Asian person.

1593
02:26:52,050 --> 02:26:57,610
If it's a Spanish surname, perhaps you can glean from that, that the person may be Hispanic.

1594
02:26:58,670 --> 02:27:02,010
There's some likelihood that they are Hispanic with certain surnames.

1595
02:27:02,650 --> 02:27:08,610
I don't think it takes any kind of great detective work to make those kind of...

1596
02:27:08,610 --> 02:27:10,990
Well, a lot of us marry into the culture.

1597
02:27:10,990 --> 02:27:13,290
Well, it's a lot of, but it's the same.

1598
02:27:13,290 --> 02:27:14,210
You see my left hand.

1599
02:27:14,510 --> 02:27:15,410
I've heard it overhaul.

1600
02:27:15,950 --> 02:27:18,850
The overwhelming population that is the majority population

1601
02:27:18,850 --> 02:27:21,090
of the city of Palmdale is Hispanic.

1602
02:27:21,950 --> 02:27:23,790
And it's not because they married into the Anglo,

1603
02:27:24,090 --> 02:27:26,530
or the English marrying into the Hispanic population.

1604
02:27:27,090 --> 02:27:34,030
The majority are Hispanics because they are ethnically Hispanic.

1605
02:27:34,330 --> 02:27:37,490
I mean, they're either Mexican or Central American or South American.

1606
02:27:38,370 --> 02:27:39,090
But they're Hispanic.

1607
02:27:39,090 --> 02:27:48,250
And the names tend to indicate what that is and perhaps it's something that your staff could look at in terms of determining whether these numbers are accurate enough.

1608
02:27:48,450 --> 02:27:53,590
It's just this small that 3968 Hispanics reserved.

1609
02:27:53,790 --> 02:27:59,710
And then it says not Hispanic 15,838 and you know, just I don't know.

1610
02:28:00,050 --> 02:28:05,170
And I just for clarification, the numbers don't demonstrate how many people were served.

1611
02:28:05,630 --> 02:28:07,670
It's how many people reported their ethnicity.

1612
02:28:08,290 --> 02:28:13,930
out of a total. So the majority are not indicating what their ethnicity is. It's possible, yeah.

1613
02:28:14,270 --> 02:28:20,230
Okay, so that's the next information, right? But you can also tell from the names that perhaps

1614
02:28:20,230 --> 02:28:26,390
people are being served that are not being recorded. Yes, I just can't report to had that information.

1615
02:28:26,830 --> 02:28:29,810
Don't you have a box where you guys can put on your documentation,

1616
02:28:30,350 --> 02:28:36,750
did not respond to question or did not fill out that way we would know how many just didn't fill out a form.

1617
02:28:36,750 --> 02:28:43,010
I can ask the sub recipients to track that because that way we would we would have a better idea of who's actually just not putting it up

1618
02:28:43,010 --> 02:28:50,630
A form. Yeah, but when you add up the columns, the total numbers of services so there's a variety of different tables and schedules.

1619
02:28:51,050 --> 02:28:59,110
So if you look at one and then you sort of correlated to the next one and the next one and the next one and you can piece things together for a more comprehensive picture.

1620
02:28:59,450 --> 02:29:04,910
And when you add up all these numbers, they correlate to that. So you know, they're in here. They're just not Hispanic.

1621
02:29:06,750 --> 02:29:09,130
Mayor May have this.

1622
02:29:09,670 --> 02:29:11,590
We used to get a little bit more funding from that.

1623
02:29:11,710 --> 02:29:16,570
I remember when I started years ago, the funding from federal government and the CBDG pool

1624
02:29:16,570 --> 02:29:16,990
was bigger.

1625
02:29:17,610 --> 02:29:20,650
Unfortunately, it's been slowly shrinking over the years.

1626
02:29:21,210 --> 02:29:25,570
So we have roughly a couple million dollars here to play with and a huge report card

1627
02:29:25,570 --> 02:29:27,610
to turn in every year for it.

1628
02:29:28,470 --> 02:29:33,110
Definitely a little bit of work on city, but as far as we're helping people get the resources

1629
02:29:33,110 --> 02:29:35,350
they need, that's the most important.

1630
02:29:35,350 --> 02:29:41,410
we're helping the most vulnerable, the people who are starving, the people who need blankets,

1631
02:29:41,870 --> 02:29:46,270
and that's what saves us for. So we put a bunch of money into saves. We put a bunch of money

1632
02:29:46,270 --> 02:29:51,310
into infrastructure projects. The money only goes so far. So I've seen over the years,

1633
02:29:51,570 --> 02:29:57,550
well, staff prioritizes a certain couple categories of that $2 million a year. Let's say,

1634
02:29:57,830 --> 02:29:59,970
I think they're good priorities. I wish the money would-

1635
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:05,140
Distretch further, it never does in government when when when we do projects, everything just costs more.

1636
02:30:05,800 --> 02:30:14,120
But as long as the resources that we're getting are going to the people and who need it the most, the most vulnerable, that's all I care about.

1637
02:30:14,580 --> 02:30:20,040
The people in her state are a city and need it the most, that's where it's going and I know a lot of that goes through saves.

1638
02:30:20,920 --> 02:30:23,600
So there's no other discussion on make a motion to move it.

1639
02:30:23,600 --> 02:30:27,000
So the report itself needs fixing.

1640
02:30:28,000 --> 02:30:30,540
So my question to you is you in your opening.

1641
02:30:30,880 --> 02:30:32,580
Is there an urgency to pass it?

1642
02:30:32,620 --> 02:30:35,220
She says September 26th, right?

1643
02:30:35,740 --> 02:30:39,860
And again, that speaks to why we need to council meetings every month.

1644
02:30:40,040 --> 02:30:41,780
I mean, we've got city businesses to take care of,

1645
02:30:41,840 --> 02:30:43,020
and I can't do it by myself.

1646
02:30:43,420 --> 02:30:46,480
And I mean, I'm happy to help rewrite this thing

1647
02:30:46,480 --> 02:30:49,240
because it matters to me, and I'm willing to do the work

1648
02:30:49,240 --> 02:30:52,020
and put the time into it, but it needs council approval.

1649
02:30:52,020 --> 02:30:59,180
And so I don't know how we get is there a way to get an extension for it because this is there's it's

1650
02:30:59,180 --> 02:31:04,660
Is it technically incorrect or can it be amended like what is what is technically?

1651
02:31:05,980 --> 02:31:08,240
Wrong if we submit it. I guess

1652
02:31:09,160 --> 02:31:14,340
We want to fit the maybe that's why we're getting decreased more of funding because our numbers are all screwed up

1653
02:31:15,980 --> 02:31:20,960
No, I would agree that I would look into the affordable housing development that expected

1654
02:31:20,960 --> 02:31:27,000
80. I want to look into that one. Okay. And with your permission, we can amend that. If there

1655
02:31:27,000 --> 02:31:33,080
are the comments today were related to programming, they would be added into the report. So there's

1656
02:31:33,080 --> 02:31:38,340
room to do that. This is a draft. So I can look at that definitely. If there's other areas you want

1657
02:31:38,340 --> 02:31:43,740
me to take a look at, I can. And then if there's substantial, I can let, you know, I can let the

1658
02:31:43,740 --> 02:31:48,360
city manager know. And then that information would come to you to determine, I guess if we're going to

1659
02:31:48,360 --> 02:31:53,180
late and turning in the paper wait again extension on the submission of it no there's no

1660
02:31:53,180 --> 02:31:59,920
extensions for this but and why is it come to us late like literally a week whether two

1661
02:31:59,920 --> 02:32:08,320
week three weeks would before it's due if this is a draft it requires 30 30 day posting so we have to

1662
02:32:08,320 --> 02:32:15,340
get it the draft out for 30 days for review on and it's posted on the city website so it it's just

1663
02:32:15,340 --> 02:32:23,160
process of the public getting the public input. It takes it's long so it's pushed in there.

1664
02:32:23,560 --> 02:32:29,300
So it's it's it's not late in developing the draft as much as it feels late coming here.

1665
02:32:29,600 --> 02:32:34,760
Yeah, I mean, the fiscal year ended 230th, right? Yes. And then all the summer events have

1666
02:32:34,760 --> 02:32:39,000
over. They have a month to get their final numbers in and then you have to have time to

1667
02:32:39,000 --> 02:32:43,540
and analyze the data, so it's a rush.

1668
02:32:43,840 --> 02:32:48,780
Like we finish the action plan and then we rush into the paper to make sure we meet the deadlines.

1669
02:32:49,260 --> 02:32:53,340
So let's say we tend to leave a pass this as it is and then know that we might have amendments.

1670
02:32:53,780 --> 02:32:55,240
Can we do that as this legally sound?

1671
02:32:55,240 --> 02:32:58,260
Will you stand behind these numbers and say this is presentable?

1672
02:32:58,340 --> 02:33:07,020
We do them and absolutely report back and you know that you'll know that I'll let you know if the numbers were changed and if they needed to be changed.

1673
02:33:07,020 --> 02:33:36,840
And I will report back definitely on on the the question of that 80 and if there's any other items and if there's anything other than that then we come back and then we we look at it and we voted again, but I have confidence yeah absolutely I mean that that would be okay so clear direction every single one of your allocated versus expanded line line and go line item by line item and make sure that what is in this

1674
02:33:36,840 --> 02:33:43,000
And what is in each of the varying tables, correlates, because they don't.

1675
02:33:44,080 --> 02:33:51,080
So there's going to need to be a little work with the actual numerical figures, but also

1676
02:33:51,080 --> 02:33:55,560
substanceably adding the narrative about the domestic violence money that we've allocated.

1677
02:33:57,640 --> 02:34:03,060
I think there's like reference to stuff that we did in 2013.

1678
02:34:03,060 --> 02:34:12,320
I mean, there's got to be more relevant, recent work that we've done to include in this.

1679
02:34:12,620 --> 02:34:16,440
What it sound, what it felt like to me when I was reading through the narrative piece of this,

1680
02:34:16,440 --> 02:34:23,200
it's about 20 something pages, is that this is just sort of the same old narrative that we've

1681
02:34:23,200 --> 02:34:28,320
been submitting every year after year after year after year, and it's just, we just got and

1682
02:34:28,320 --> 02:34:37,440
place in with it. Because there's no infusion of new information. So that's concerning. And maybe

1683
02:34:37,440 --> 02:34:41,460
that's why there's a drop off in actual funding.

1684
02:34:44,210 --> 02:34:46,650
But I can't support it as it's because the number,

1685
02:34:46,790 --> 02:34:52,670
I know the number is a romp and the narrative needs fixing. Okay, so you understand the assignment? Yes.

1686
02:34:52,670 --> 02:34:59,970
Okay, um, can I ask a clarifying question? So if, because I'm my focus is good.

1687
02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:23,800
I'm going to be on the paper what needs to be submitted to HUD. That's what we're reporting. So I'm going to look at those numbers. If there's a discrepancy between those numbers and how it was reported in the staff report, I'm going to report that back as a summary, but does that mean we don't submit the paper or we do? If there's not a substantial difference in how the paper numbers are verified, can we submit the papers?

1688
02:35:23,800 --> 02:35:29,140
So the keeper numbers need to be, the step report is less important because it's not an actual binding document.

1689
02:35:29,680 --> 02:35:34,120
What the keeper is based upon is the five-year consolidated plan, the 2025-2029.

1690
02:35:34,400 --> 02:35:38,500
That's not included in our documents, although I did request it, and I got it this morning.

1691
02:35:39,600 --> 02:35:43,940
Again, too late for me to be able to do all of the work for it, but

1692
02:35:43,940 --> 02:35:49,500
the keeper needs to correlate specifically to the consolidated plan. That's what's important.

1693
02:35:49,500 --> 02:35:53,780
But the numbers in the caper itself don't match.

1694
02:35:54,040 --> 02:36:03,120
Yes, I'm going to focus on the numbers in the caper, and as far as the consolidated, that's the guiding the guidance based on the goals that you established that we have to be.

1695
02:36:03,280 --> 02:36:10,680
Okay, I guess that would be my motion as tenderly approve this. Have you focus on the caper, everything we're submitting?

1696
02:36:11,040 --> 02:36:18,720
Make sure it's everything adds up and is accountable if not to report to the city manager will schedule another meeting so we can get it turned it on time.

1697
02:36:19,500 --> 02:36:20,660
Yes, that's my motion.

1698
02:36:20,840 --> 02:36:21,080
Through everything.

1699
02:36:21,780 --> 02:36:21,800
Yes.

1700
02:36:22,020 --> 02:36:22,100
Awesome.

1701
02:36:22,400 --> 02:36:22,580
Awesome.

1702
02:36:23,320 --> 02:36:23,760
Okay.

1703
02:36:24,180 --> 02:36:25,960
As long as you come back.

1704
02:36:26,000 --> 02:36:27,060
You, okay.

1705
02:36:27,320 --> 02:36:27,940
On favors.

1706
02:36:28,200 --> 02:36:28,960
We have to roll call.

1707
02:36:30,380 --> 02:36:30,540
Okay.

1708
02:36:30,880 --> 02:36:31,680
On favor say aye.

1709
02:36:32,420 --> 02:36:33,220
Anyone opposed?

1710
02:36:33,920 --> 02:36:35,040
That passes unanimously.

1711
02:36:35,820 --> 02:36:37,520
I know it was an honest mistake.

1712
02:36:37,560 --> 02:36:39,240
But I don't want to let that linger any longer.

1713
02:36:39,320 --> 02:36:41,000
No offense to the city of Lancaster.

1714
02:36:41,080 --> 02:36:43,160
But we're proud to be the city of Palmdale.

1715
02:36:44,220 --> 02:36:44,240
Okay.

1716
02:36:44,740 --> 02:36:47,640
We had a couple request for a break.

1717
02:36:48,560 --> 02:36:50,700
Yeah, she actually said, I guess.

1718
02:36:53,240 --> 02:37:03,000
I know we have a couple requests for a break, but I want to get these men and women home to their families, being with their kids, it's very important.

1719
02:37:03,280 --> 02:37:07,400
So I want to power through at least for item 7.1 and then we can take 10 minutes.

1720
02:37:08,760 --> 02:37:11,260
So city clerk, can you please read the title of the resolution?

1721
02:37:11,260 --> 02:37:14,060
A resolution of the City Council of the City of Pomda,

1722
02:37:14,380 --> 02:37:18,640
approving a memorandum of understanding between the City of Pomda and the California

1723
02:37:18,640 --> 02:37:23,740
Teamsters Local 986, public works, maintenance, division, supervisory and confidential unit

1724
02:37:23,740 --> 02:37:28,700
for a five-year term from June 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2031.

1725
02:37:29,360 --> 02:37:30,460
Great. Do we have a staff report?

1726
02:37:36,840 --> 02:37:39,720
Could you be Mayor, Mayor Protem, and Council members,

1727
02:37:40,200 --> 02:37:43,420
Ivette Barrios, Director of Human Resources and Respandagement?

1728
02:37:43,420 --> 02:37:52,580
The item for consideration this evening is the adoption of Resolution CC-2026-55, which is the

1729
02:37:52,580 --> 02:37:59,360
approving of the agreement, which is the MOU for the newly formed bargaining unit,

1730
02:38:00,420 --> 02:38:10,780
back on April 7th, with Resolution 2026-055. I'm sorry, well 2026-017,

1731
02:38:10,780 --> 02:38:18,000
Council had adopted the resolution to form that newly, bargaining unit and so the MOU and the

1732
02:38:18,000 --> 02:38:26,800
agreement that is here before you is the work from that resolution. And this new bargaining

1733
02:38:26,800 --> 02:38:32,640
unit is again going to be recognized by the Teamsters Union Local 986 as there exclusive

1734
02:38:32,640 --> 02:38:39,060
representative for both the employee bargaining group as well as the new super supervisory and

1735
02:38:39,060 --> 02:38:40,500
the potential bargaining unit.

1736
02:38:41,640 --> 02:38:44,960
The terms are similar with the previous bargain unit.

1737
02:38:45,260 --> 02:38:47,080
It is going to be five-year term

1738
02:38:47,080 --> 02:38:50,000
with the retroactive request going back to July 1.

1739
02:38:50,640 --> 02:38:54,520
It does include the boot allowance

1740
02:38:54,520 --> 02:38:57,980
and the allowance, all of those are similar with respect

1741
02:38:57,980 --> 02:38:59,780
to what was in the other bargaining unit.

1742
02:38:59,780 --> 02:39:01,380
I wanted to highlight the differences.

1743
02:39:02,060 --> 02:39:05,860
And that is with the Ottawa allowance for superintendents due

1744
02:39:05,860 --> 02:39:11,880
to their required to report out for emergency weather events.

1745
02:39:12,280 --> 02:39:16,420
And so we are allowing them $150 a auto allowance.

1746
02:39:16,880 --> 02:39:19,680
In addition, there are some required certification

1747
02:39:19,680 --> 02:39:22,400
and licenses that are now going to be formally

1748
02:39:23,200 --> 02:39:24,960
requirement of their job position,

1749
02:39:25,120 --> 02:39:27,580
as well as additional ones that are more professional development.

1750
02:39:28,000 --> 02:39:30,780
And that comes with the corresponding stipend as well.

1751
02:39:31,360 --> 02:39:33,720
And then lastly, the other item of differential

1752
02:39:33,720 --> 02:39:41,300
is the administrative leave for our superintendents because they do work a significant amount of time

1753
02:39:41,300 --> 02:39:49,040
outside of their regular 80 hours that all exempt employees get, especially during the winter season

1754
02:39:49,040 --> 02:39:55,040
they can come out pretty much daily if depending on the on the incident and so we are

1755
02:39:55,040 --> 02:39:59,900
recommending that they, that being increased to 96 hours. And so, total.

1756
02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:15,160
In fact, fiscal impact-wise, we're looking for eight superintendents, one administrative assistant and two analysts, we're looking at an overall fiscal impact of 573,820 dollars. I'm available for questions.

1757
02:40:17,100 --> 02:40:21,220
Before that, I want to go to public comment. Anybody in the audience wants to speak to us?

1758
02:40:21,220 --> 02:40:22,920
Yes, we have Evan Armstrong.

1759
02:40:31,210 --> 02:40:32,510
Good evening, Mayor. Council.

1760
02:40:32,510 --> 02:40:35,170
I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

1761
02:40:35,530 --> 02:40:39,770
I'm having an Armstrong Chief Shop Stewart for the general group, Teamsters of 1986, City

1762
02:40:39,770 --> 02:40:42,110
of Palmdale Public Works Maintenance.

1763
02:40:43,110 --> 02:40:45,930
I'd like to talk about the benefits of being a Teamster.

1764
02:40:46,770 --> 02:40:49,930
First establishing this new unit improves communication and coordination.

1765
02:40:50,810 --> 02:40:54,930
When workers with similar duties and challenges are grouped appropriately, it becomes much easier

1766
02:40:54,930 --> 02:40:59,410
to address operational needs, safety concerns, and workload expectations.

1767
02:40:59,410 --> 02:41:04,710
This creates a smoother, more reliable workflow, directly benefiting the departments involved

1768
02:41:04,710 --> 02:41:06,170
as the residents we serve.

1769
02:41:07,190 --> 02:41:09,810
Second, the new unit provides clarity and stability.

1770
02:41:10,590 --> 02:41:15,530
Employees will have a clearly defined structure that outlines standards, expectations, and procedures.

1771
02:41:16,310 --> 02:41:21,350
This helps reduce confusion, strength and accountability, and supports a more professional working environment.

1772
02:41:21,950 --> 02:41:27,230
A well-organized workforce is essential to maintaining the high-level of service, our community expects and deserves.

1773
02:41:28,050 --> 02:41:33,790
Another benefit is efficiency in problem solving. With a dedicated unit, the city and its employees

1774
02:41:33,790 --> 02:41:38,810
have a more focused pathway for addressing issues that arise. Whether the topic is training,

1775
02:41:39,190 --> 02:41:43,870
job duties or safety, having a structured group allows discussions to state organized and

1776
02:41:43,870 --> 02:41:50,130
productive. This leads to faster resolutions and better long-term planning. It's also important

1777
02:41:50,130 --> 02:41:55,190
to recognize that the formation of this unit helps ensure fairness and consistency. By organizing

1778
02:41:55,190 --> 02:41:59,970
employees appropriately, we help create a balanced system where similar positions have similar

1779
02:41:59,970 --> 02:42:05,950
standards. That consistency supports morale, improves retention and strengthens trust between

1780
02:42:05,950 --> 02:42:12,150
employees and city leadership. Finally, this new unit represents partnership. It's not just about

1781
02:42:12,150 --> 02:42:16,570
internal organization, it's about continuing to build a collaborative environment where employees

1782
02:42:16,570 --> 02:42:21,650
still supported and the city gains a more efficient and engaged workforce. When employees have

1783
02:42:21,650 --> 02:42:27,210
The infrastructure, clarity, and a voice in the process, they are better able to serve the public at a best and class level.

1784
02:42:27,750 --> 02:42:31,510
In closing, the formation of this unit is not an obstacle, it's an opportunity.

1785
02:42:32,910 --> 02:42:38,490
It's a chance to enforce fairness and proof coordination and support the essential work being done every day.

1786
02:42:38,790 --> 02:42:42,650
I look forward to welcoming this new unit of brothers and sisters to Teamster Local 1986.

1787
02:42:43,230 --> 02:42:45,730
I appreciate your time and attention in solidarity.

1788
02:42:46,890 --> 02:42:48,130
Adam Dyer.

1789
02:42:54,720 --> 02:43:21,340
Good evening Mayor. Members of the City Council. I'm here tonight to ask for your approval for the new five year agreement with California team team sir 96. Representing the supervisory and confidential employees. To put it simply, the professionals in this group are superintendents are analysts are administrative assistance are the backbone to Palmdale's daily maintenance operations.

1790
02:43:22,440 --> 02:43:29,020
They work behind the scenes, they often, often under the radar to keep our city running smoothly and safely.

1791
02:43:29,460 --> 02:43:33,240
Their impact is visible everywhere in the city.

1792
02:43:35,160 --> 02:43:39,460
This team is really a dream team, a subject matter experts.

1793
02:43:40,300 --> 02:43:43,000
They run award-winning, best-in-class programs.

1794
02:43:44,260 --> 02:43:52,540
In fact, our programs are so successful, a lot of our neighboring cities regularly look to Palmdale for blueprints.

1795
02:43:54,760 --> 02:44:01,580
Because of this, it's important to get this contract in place as a critical retention strategy.

1796
02:44:02,460 --> 02:44:10,280
We've invested heavy in building a top to your talent team and maintenance, and this agreement ensures they stay right here serving the residents of Palmdale.

1797
02:44:12,340 --> 02:44:18,260
Well, no compromises completely perfect, both sides bargained in good faith to reach a fair

1798
02:44:18,260 --> 02:44:19,560
balance deal.

1799
02:44:21,000 --> 02:44:27,180
A guarantee's five years operational stability protects the vital city services and signals

1800
02:44:27,180 --> 02:44:31,740
in exciting new level of unity and cooperation with local 1986.

1801
02:44:32,720 --> 02:44:37,760
The union is on board with this agreement and I respectfully request your approval tonight.

1802
02:44:37,760 --> 02:44:39,600
Thank you.

1803
02:44:40,740 --> 02:44:42,020
Pam Paul Wood.

1804
02:44:48,330 --> 02:44:49,590
Good evening, Mayor.

1805
02:44:49,590 --> 02:44:51,190
Mayor Pro Tim and Council.

1806
02:44:52,790 --> 02:44:54,230
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

1807
02:44:54,530 --> 02:44:57,230
My name is Paul Wood and I serve as landscape superintendent.

1808
02:44:58,390 --> 02:44:59,950
Tonight I stand here, not only us.

1809
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:07,640
Superintendent, but in solidarity as a steward for the teamfers local 986 representing our supervisory and confidential employee group.

1810
02:45:08,540 --> 02:45:21,040
I am here in support of City Council approving agreement A104041 a memorandum of understanding with the California teamsters local 986 public work supervisory and confidential unit.

1811
02:45:21,040 --> 02:45:28,580
I would like to thank the city executive leadership team for working in good faith while negotiating this first contract.

1812
02:45:29,860 --> 02:45:39,560
Like our colleagues in the general employee group, the superintendents and administrative staff here tonight represented discipline, highly experienced and dedicated class professionals.

1813
02:45:40,820 --> 02:45:47,200
We are individuals who live in our community, raise our families here, and have dedicated our careers to public service.

1814
02:45:47,200 --> 02:45:55,240
We are the front line leadership ensuring operational continuity of public services, emergency

1815
02:45:55,240 --> 02:46:00,220
response, hazard mitigation, regulatory compliance, and fiscal accountability.

1816
02:46:01,860 --> 02:46:05,980
Every level of this organization has responsibility to our community to operate with the highest

1817
02:46:05,980 --> 02:46:07,980
level of personal and professional discipline.

1818
02:46:08,680 --> 02:46:10,980
In maintenance, that's our core foundation.

1819
02:46:13,620 --> 02:46:17,900
In public force maintenance, we understand the importance of shared stewardship and transparent

1820
02:46:17,900 --> 02:46:22,420
decision making processes rooted in collaboration when we operate in good faith, communicate

1821
02:46:22,420 --> 02:46:27,220
openly, we become more effective, more accountable, and more successful as an organization.

1822
02:46:28,380 --> 02:46:32,100
In my 26 years of service, it has been an honor to have worked alongside some of the most

1823
02:46:32,100 --> 02:46:34,680
talented professionals in our trades.

1824
02:46:35,660 --> 02:46:40,520
In fact, I would not be here today without the mentorship and guidance.

1825
02:46:41,820 --> 02:46:46,480
When we pay it forward, we are ensuring the next generation of public service professionals

1826
02:46:46,480 --> 02:46:51,860
carry on excellence in stewardship that our community deserves. In closing, we're

1827
02:46:51,860 --> 02:46:55,640
making a meeting to moving forward with respect to accountability and shared

1828
02:46:55,640 --> 02:47:01,140
focus on providing exemplary services for our community together in solidarity and

1829
02:47:01,140 --> 02:47:04,860
all in the name of progress. Thank you. Stephen Montenegro.

1830
02:47:17,790 --> 02:47:24,630
Good evening. Mayor Mayor Protem, City Council, Madame City Clerk, Madame City Attorney,

1831
02:47:24,630 --> 02:47:30,770
City Manager City Leadership in the back. My name is Steven Montenegro. I proudly serve this

1832
02:47:30,770 --> 02:47:35,990
community as the Park Superintendent. On behalf of the Superintendents and the Administrative

1833
02:47:35,990 --> 02:47:42,030
Staff here today, I want to express our sincere appreciation and consideration,

1834
02:47:42,190 --> 02:47:45,950
excuse me, our sincere appreciation for your consideration and support of this first

1835
02:47:45,950 --> 02:47:52,170
MOU. When we came before you to form this bargaining group, we spoke about community unity

1836
02:47:52,170 --> 02:47:58,830
purpose and the value of collaboration and good faith. Tonight represents your action tonight,

1837
02:47:59,430 --> 02:48:04,970
represents the progress that is possible when we approach one another with mutual respect,

1838
02:48:05,770 --> 02:48:10,970
collaborate through our differences and remain focused on what unites us. We are proud to serve

1839
02:48:10,970 --> 02:48:16,630
this community and prioritize their needs above all else. We remain committed to partnering with

1840
02:48:16,630 --> 02:48:21,030
city leadership and our colleagues across the organization in the spirit of collaboration

1841
02:48:21,030 --> 02:48:27,510
in public service. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your continued commitment to the

1842
02:48:27,510 --> 02:48:29,310
people we collectively serve.

1843
02:48:33,760 --> 02:48:37,660
No further speaker cards on the section. Mr. Zank.

1844
02:48:42,580 --> 02:48:48,720
Jason Zank. My problem with this is that the staff report, it didn't tell you how many people

1845
02:48:48,720 --> 02:48:54,240
we were talking about. It didn't tell you the salaries or the benefits of these people.

1846
02:48:55,160 --> 02:49:05,440
They talked about a pants and a boot allowance, a little trick, tricks, I guess you call them.

1847
02:49:05,460 --> 02:49:12,020
Talk about a $500 bonus to each person and retroactive pay, I think, back to July.

1848
02:49:13,100 --> 02:49:20,780
This is a question I have. How can you give bonuses to people when we still have dead city trees?

1849
02:49:21,980 --> 02:49:27,140
These city trees have been dead since before you guys were even elected.

1850
02:49:29,080 --> 02:49:32,660
I'm talking about Eric and Andrea,

1851
02:49:35,150 --> 02:49:40,250
four years, but it also says something about yourselves, right?

1852
02:49:40,470 --> 02:49:45,310
You can't even cut the dead trees in your own district and you want to be elected again.

1853
02:49:48,060 --> 02:49:59,220
There's incompetence, all over this place, sloppiness, a lack of pride, a lack of caring, as far as I see as a resident of Palmdale.

1854
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:20,840
Let's see the results from paying the highest sales tax in the nation. If you can't cut dead trees down and you can't hold the city manager to cut dead trees down in your districts, then you should have no business being in a position of a leadership.

1855
02:50:22,020 --> 02:50:32,240
Do these people deserve a bonus for incompetence, for not caring, for not cutting dead trees that they drive by every day?

1856
02:50:32,420 --> 02:50:36,040
Do they not care about the dead trees, the dead limbs?

1857
02:50:36,240 --> 02:50:38,960
Don't they want palm dodo to be beautiful and a place to call home?

1858
02:50:39,040 --> 02:50:44,710
It would be proud of the $6,500 and $500.

1859
02:50:45,390 --> 02:50:49,130
That would pay for a palm mental historic park sign, right?

1860
02:50:49,390 --> 02:50:50,590
Thank you.

1861
02:50:50,590 --> 02:50:51,890
All

1862
02:50:57,200 --> 02:51:06,860
right, this is historic, as you know I'm pro labor, an SCIU-721 shopstreet for bargaining

1863
02:51:06,860 --> 02:51:11,320
unit for our eligibility workers was represents about 55,000 people.

1864
02:51:12,440 --> 02:51:17,900
So what you're doing here and what they presented is on the outside looking in, we're

1865
02:51:17,900 --> 02:51:24,240
just trying to keep up with the times, with taxes, inflation, so having someone accountable

1866
02:51:24,240 --> 02:51:30,560
and having a voice for workers who can't speak for themselves and creating and working with local

1867
02:51:30,560 --> 02:51:34,780
1986 and Teamsters is the best thing that can happen to the city of Palmdale moving

1868
02:51:34,780 --> 02:51:40,080
board. Not just for the people that work here before their children who are looking to protect

1869
02:51:40,080 --> 02:51:47,620
the workplace and create and give democracy a chance for equal pain job. That's all they're doing

1870
02:51:47,620 --> 02:51:53,100
to represent and keep up for people who live check-to-check in this community and other communities.

1871
02:51:53,100 --> 02:51:59,600
that's the beauty of a union so I hope that this body supports what they bring forward

1872
02:51:59,600 --> 02:52:04,920
moving for the city as a relates to public transportation relations and any other

1873
02:52:04,920 --> 02:52:11,680
department that they represent. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay closing public comment

1874
02:52:11,680 --> 02:52:14,820
on that. Is there any council discussion?

1875
02:52:16,940 --> 02:52:22,960
Me again. Hey so I said it to you guys when I walked into this room it like warms my

1876
02:52:22,960 --> 02:52:30,580
to see the sea of orange and the teamsters. You guys are really the heartbeat of this city.

1877
02:52:30,720 --> 02:52:36,200
You guys deliver. You guys are the, he mentioned, you guys are on the front line. You absolutely are.

1878
02:52:36,200 --> 02:52:41,780
You deliver quality of life to our community. And I will not let, I did it last time,

1879
02:52:43,080 --> 02:52:47,600
but I will not let anybody disparage you as individuals are ordered the work that you do

1880
02:52:47,600 --> 02:52:53,520
leadership in Teamsters, actually negotiated, the work that you're talking about, that you

1881
02:52:53,520 --> 02:52:59,860
have concerns about dead trees. A lot of that work is contracted out. What Teamsters is

1882
02:52:59,860 --> 02:53:04,900
responsible for in urban forestry is very limited, and a lot of that is contracted out. Most of

1883
02:53:04,900 --> 02:53:10,020
it is contracted out, and because of the leadership that we have at the Teamsters, they actually

1884
02:53:10,020 --> 02:53:15,880
developed very strict liquid-day damages provisions to hold those contractors accountable

1885
02:53:15,880 --> 02:53:23,000
When they fail in their obligations to the city and we're whole we're working on holding them accountable to all of those high standards

1886
02:53:23,000 --> 02:53:33,460
That we set forth in those contracts, but those liquidated damage provisions are in those contracts because they were negotiated and drafted by our team

1887
02:53:33,460 --> 02:53:36,240
Through leadership. So let's not get it twisted

1888
02:53:36,240 --> 02:53:42,300
These are the best of the best in the city of Palmdale and I'm so proud to have them on our team tonight

1889
02:53:42,300 --> 02:53:51,400
What we're doing here tonight really speaks to why unions are so important, particularly in municipal government, you guys know what you need.

1890
02:53:52,340 --> 02:54:04,340
You guys organize amongst yourselves and you came to us and thankfully we've got a city structure city executive management and a council that is receptive and listens to it and that's the partnership.

1891
02:54:04,760 --> 02:54:09,120
That's the beauty. Help us help you deliver for the city of Palmdale.

1892
02:54:09,120 --> 02:54:15,840
that's what this is about tonight. You guys spoke your needs and we're here to respond and deliver

1893
02:54:15,840 --> 02:54:22,300
for you as a microcosm for the way that you deliver for the residents of the city of Palmdale.

1894
02:54:22,760 --> 02:54:27,080
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do and that's all that you continue to

1895
02:54:27,080 --> 02:54:31,800
do. I'm happy to move this item. If there is no other discussion.

1896
02:54:32,400 --> 02:54:37,920
Miss Katz, remember a lot? No second, but I just wanted to express Mr Armstrong and all of you that are here

1897
02:54:37,920 --> 02:54:44,480
As I told you individually, if you're a unit breaks down, the city breaks down.

1898
02:54:44,900 --> 02:54:49,480
There's nothing that is more central to the ongoing safety and operation of the city

1899
02:54:49,480 --> 02:54:51,000
than what you guys do.

1900
02:54:51,680 --> 02:54:58,200
And it's important to compensate you accordingly and you've selected to do it through

1901
02:54:58,890 --> 02:54:59,160
Union.

1902
02:55:00,000 --> 02:55:22,360
Now, negotiation with our team here, and you've come up with a good agreement, I believe. And I just wanted to urge and to emphasize to all of you and to everyone here, and across the city, that what you guys do in public works and other operations is essential to the city. And I thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

1903
02:55:22,360 --> 02:55:31,040
So I want to do what both of them said, but I just want to say that I've been a council member for quite some time and I can also say that I have never seen this city look better.

1904
02:55:31,900 --> 02:55:40,080
So your hard work, what you guys are doing out there every day really, really reflects on how you feel about the city you live in, because it looks amazing.

1905
02:55:40,500 --> 02:55:50,980
I remember the days of bad parks, graffiti, bad roads. Everything's getting cleaned up and starting to shine like a new penny, and that's because of all the hard work that you guys do.

1906
02:55:50,980 --> 02:56:00,980
And I'm part of a union for the Sheriff's Department, and so I really understand the value of a union and how important it is to both the management and the staff.

1907
02:56:01,740 --> 02:56:08,260
And I don't think I would ever disagree with supporting our unions.

1908
02:56:08,680 --> 02:56:14,680
So, thank you all for what you do. Continue to do what you do, and I totally support this.

1909
02:56:14,680 --> 02:56:19,120
or a program. Yes, I'll be brief because it's getting late. I know people want to get home,

1910
02:56:19,540 --> 02:56:25,300
but I'm always happy to support staff, people who come and put their best foot forward to do

1911
02:56:25,300 --> 02:56:32,280
good work for the residents of Palmdale. So thank you to this this union and this public works

1912
02:56:32,280 --> 02:56:38,620
team, which represents a fairly large portion of our 300 employees. But at the same time, I want to

1913
02:56:38,620 --> 02:56:44,040
acknowledge our entire staff and just not the staff that's currently working here, but the previous

1914
02:56:44,040 --> 02:56:48,820
staff, administration, and councils because Palmdale really is a remarkable place.

1915
02:56:49,780 --> 02:56:50,700
It's a big city.

1916
02:56:50,840 --> 02:56:54,500
I know things aren't perfect, especially when you've got an organization with hundreds

1917
02:56:54,500 --> 02:56:54,940
of people.

1918
02:56:55,140 --> 02:56:56,360
There's a lot of personality.

1919
02:56:56,700 --> 02:56:57,580
There's a lot of overlap.

1920
02:56:57,800 --> 02:57:02,300
There's communication, but on the whole, I think, the city of Palmdale and the staff are doing

1921
02:57:02,300 --> 02:57:07,840
a good job present and past because if you drive around the city and you look and you talk

1922
02:57:07,840 --> 02:57:11,780
to a lot of residents, the majority of them are happy.

1923
02:57:11,780 --> 02:57:14,440
And I think the property values and Palm does speak for themselves.

1924
02:57:15,360 --> 02:57:17,860
I think when you look at what's going on in our city,

1925
02:57:17,940 --> 02:57:20,760
I think it's a fairly good set up.

1926
02:57:21,260 --> 02:57:26,120
So thank you to the teamsters, but more so,

1927
02:57:26,260 --> 02:57:27,880
thank you to the entire staff of Palmdale

1928
02:57:27,880 --> 02:57:28,980
for keeping the city going.

1929
02:57:30,480 --> 02:57:33,120
So without a doubt, you are the skill

1930
02:57:33,120 --> 02:57:35,920
that train professionals that keep this city moving

1931
02:57:35,920 --> 02:57:37,900
and you prove it time and time again.

1932
02:57:38,220 --> 02:57:41,040
And I know that we have some storms on the horizon,

1933
02:57:41,040 --> 02:57:47,640
And I'm confident that we'll weather them like we do every time because you guys put in the work to prepare us

1934
02:57:48,040 --> 02:57:52,780
You keep the city moving. You know that we love you. So without a doubt

1935
02:57:52,780 --> 02:57:57,900
Let's go to the vote. We've got a motion by Councilmember Alarcon a second by

1936
02:57:58,760 --> 02:58:04,560
Councilmember Loa all in favor say aye aye anyone opposed that passes unanimously

1937
02:58:04,560 --> 02:58:05,320
Congratulations

1938
02:58:09,050 --> 02:58:13,330
Okay, we have a request to take a break. We're gonna do it as quickly as possible

1939
02:58:13,330 --> 02:58:17,850
no more than 10 minutes. I know that some of us want to congratulate the teamsters, use the

1940
02:58:17,850 --> 02:58:22,370
restroom, but we'll be quick because we know people are waiting. We got more items to go, too.

1941
02:58:32,950 --> 02:58:51,690
Yeah, you're welcome. Thank you. Thank you for coming.

1942
02:59:44,640 --> 02:59:47,160
That's it.

1943
03:00:01,260 --> 03:00:07,380
We got some talk in some.

1944
03:00:19,800 --> 03:00:20,500
Yes.

1945
03:00:28,870 --> 03:00:30,070
Testing test.

1946
03:00:30,610 --> 03:00:31,210
My check.

1947
03:00:32,170 --> 03:00:35,470
My check one two.

1948
03:00:39,390 --> 03:00:40,590
Testing test.

1949
03:00:42,070 --> 03:00:43,310
My check.

1950
03:00:43,710 --> 03:00:45,350
One two.

1951
03:00:45,550 --> 03:00:46,410
This is a test.

1952
03:00:46,410 --> 03:00:46,530
I don't know.

1953
03:00:47,310 --> 03:00:47,990
How did you believe?

1954
03:00:48,410 --> 03:00:48,610
Okay.

1955
03:00:49,050 --> 03:00:49,550
It was a good one.

1956
03:00:49,710 --> 03:00:50,690
It was a good one.

1957
03:00:51,030 --> 03:00:51,170
Yeah.

1958
03:07:24,690 --> 03:07:27,930
All right, we're missing one.

1959
03:08:35,790 --> 03:08:46,430
It's meeting. All fair, say aye, aye, anyone opposed? Okay, we're at 74. Can we get a staff report please?

1960
03:09:05,000 --> 03:09:11,240
This is to approve the construction agreement with Icon West, for the Chimboli Library Rear Innovation Project,

1961
03:09:12,220 --> 03:09:20,040
PN-878, for not to atotal not to exceed 30 million, 6,000, 8,000, 8, and 64 dollars.

1962
03:09:20,140 --> 03:09:21,860
That includes a 50% contingency.

1963
03:09:30,700 --> 03:09:34,420
So why we're doing this is because back in December 22,

1964
03:09:35,000 --> 03:09:43,160
We had fire, extensively fire and water damage, building has been closed since, and required extensive renovation and modernization.

1965
03:09:45,680 --> 03:09:50,820
Just to the scope of work, this is not limited to this, this is more to it.

1966
03:09:50,980 --> 03:09:56,440
But we're going to be doing structural improvements for the project into your exterior renovations,

1967
03:09:56,980 --> 03:09:59,700
safety and security improvements, and also site improvements.

1968
03:10:00,020 --> 03:10:08,360
This project will also include a new roofing system, new mechanical electrical plumbing system, and

1969
03:10:08,360 --> 03:10:15,060
set improvements, including parking lot reconfiguration, upgrades, and site lighting, and AD accessibility.

1970
03:10:17,220 --> 03:10:25,180
And how we get here, we started this project back in November 2020-24, city council approved an agreement with SVA Architects for the design.

1971
03:10:25,180 --> 03:10:33,180
We brought it back on September 2nd, 2025 SVA presented the conceptual design to the city.

1972
03:10:33,580 --> 03:10:40,200
We moved forward with that and developing the final design and also the construction documents in March 3rd.

1973
03:10:41,840 --> 03:10:49,480
It's a staff release of request for qualifications to pre-qualified contractors as capable of doing this type of project.

1974
03:10:49,480 --> 03:10:54,640
and August 6th. We received four pre-qualified bids.

1975
03:10:57,230 --> 03:10:58,530
Our construction management team

1976
03:10:58,530 --> 03:11:05,470
Cummings and our project manager reviewed the ICON West bit proposal and it was determined

1977
03:11:05,470 --> 03:11:12,250
to be the lowest responsible bidder. ICON West has completed similar project scopes,

1978
03:11:14,370 --> 03:11:14,800
county

1979
03:11:14,800 --> 03:11:21,360
Dino, Orange County Community College, and Long Beach Unified School District, our team also

1980
03:11:21,360 --> 03:11:27,720
verified the references for this company, and they all turn back positive. This project

1981
03:11:27,720 --> 03:11:34,180
will be funded using journal funds, measure AB funds, ARPA funds, and also the congressman

1982
03:11:34,180 --> 03:11:39,580
congressman Whiteside, your mark funds. I'm here to answer any questions. Do my best.

1983
03:11:39,580 --> 03:11:41,820
Before we go to questions, Paula, comment.

1984
03:11:45,250 --> 03:11:50,390
We have Kat F, IBW, Nika, LMCC, Katzenice,

1985
03:11:55,020 --> 03:11:57,160
to all you.

1986
03:11:57,740 --> 03:12:02,460
Yes, I'm here today as IBW, Nika, LMCC,

1987
03:12:02,520 --> 03:12:04,580
since I wear many hats.

1988
03:12:06,100 --> 03:12:10,000
Of course, I'm in support of this as a resident.

1989
03:12:10,320 --> 03:12:12,940
I can't wait to see the new building in the library.

1990
03:12:12,940 --> 03:12:19,400
it's something we've been waiting for since it's been burnt down, doing these agreements under

1991
03:12:19,400 --> 03:12:27,480
a community workforce agreement allows us to take more residents into our programs.

1992
03:12:28,240 --> 03:12:38,800
We have had numerous times where we, within four hours, we are filled with our applicants.

1993
03:12:38,800 --> 03:12:45,840
So, when we know big projects coming, it even lets us bring in more people from the area

1994
03:12:45,840 --> 03:12:51,500
of the community workforce agreement supports the fact that they're going to be local

1995
03:12:51,500 --> 03:12:52,140
residents.

1996
03:12:52,480 --> 03:12:54,200
So I'm very excited for this.

1997
03:12:54,640 --> 03:12:59,980
I'm hoping you'll support it and get those guys and women.

1998
03:13:00,360 --> 03:13:03,100
Women, it's a great thing for to work.

1999
03:13:03,500 --> 03:13:03,860
Thanks.

2000
03:13:05,500 --> 03:13:06,540
No further speaker cards?

2001
03:13:06,740 --> 03:13:07,040
Anybody?

2002
03:13:07,260 --> 03:13:07,940
Mr. Zink.

2003
03:13:12,570 --> 03:13:15,610
Jason Zink, what's missing in all this?

2004
03:13:15,850 --> 03:13:18,670
This whole project, $30 million project.

2005
03:13:20,090 --> 03:13:20,890
You know what's missing?

2006
03:13:22,230 --> 03:13:22,890
Public input.

2007
03:13:25,270 --> 03:13:25,490
Nothing.

2008
03:13:26,850 --> 03:13:28,150
No public input whatsoever.

2009
03:13:28,730 --> 03:13:29,890
No town hall meetings.

2010
03:13:30,750 --> 03:13:32,430
Didn't go before the planning commission.

2011
03:13:33,470 --> 03:13:35,390
Give us an opportunity to talk about it.

2012
03:13:35,610 --> 03:13:39,090
We don't even, I've never even heard one person that said they wanted this

2013
03:13:39,090 --> 03:13:43,210
$30 million project except the council and the city manager.

2014
03:13:46,430 --> 03:13:52,670
that's what's missing. And all of this in the whole years of you guys being on the

2015
03:13:52,670 --> 03:13:57,670
city council, public participation, public engagement, public input.

2016
03:14:00,710 --> 03:14:01,210
I would have rather

2017
03:14:01,210 --> 03:14:05,770
just been a couple million dollars and put it back the way it was, set it being closed

2018
03:14:05,770 --> 03:14:17,090
for so many years and just built a brand new building over there on the vacant land. Do you

2019
03:14:17,090 --> 03:14:25,570
sad point. You guys just don't get it. You're forgetting the biggest part of Palmdale. It's

2020
03:14:25,570 --> 03:14:27,570
residents and it's input.

2021
03:14:30,180 --> 03:14:35,460
You know, when I heard the superintendents getting allowances for

2022
03:14:35,460 --> 03:14:42,340
pants and boots, I'm thinking these guys are making over $100,000 a year. Do you think they really

2023
03:14:42,340 --> 03:14:46,880
need money for pants and boots? Maybe you should give it to the crew. That's actually in the ditch

2024
03:14:46,880 --> 03:14:50,000
Do in the work to the city crews.

2025
03:14:50,920 --> 03:14:53,940
You guys are so backwards in the way you think.

2026
03:14:54,440 --> 03:14:56,220
You're so out of touch, you're delusional,

2027
03:14:56,500 --> 03:14:58,060
telling staffs they're doing a great job.

2028
03:14:58,500 --> 03:14:59,620
They can't even cut dead trees.

2029
03:15:00,240 --> 03:15:04,720
A blind man could see. You guys are delusional.

2030
03:15:07,520 --> 03:15:14,380
I hate this project. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? I'm closing public comment. Council discussion.

2031
03:15:16,540 --> 03:15:29,380
So I'm just going to just state for the record reiterate. My initial concerns. This is a long-awaited project. There's no reason why we should have received the documents when we did. We got an email.

2032
03:15:29,380 --> 03:15:38,260
at 201 p.m. yesterday that contained 2,562 underlying procurement documents that I know for

2033
03:15:38,260 --> 03:15:44,120
a fact because I confirmed before that at least three members were not even able to access

2034
03:15:44,120 --> 03:15:51,240
the link. So they haven't looked at not one page of those procurement documents. At least

2035
03:15:51,240 --> 03:15:55,480
I looked at some of it, but I could clearly could not get through 2,500 pages on top of

2036
03:15:55,480 --> 03:16:00,260
of the thousands of pages that I had to go through for the other remaining items, it is

2037
03:16:00,260 --> 03:16:06,000
incomprehensible to me that this council would be willing to move forward on such an enormous

2038
03:16:06,000 --> 03:16:13,220
project without having even looked at the underlying procurement documents, the fact that the

2039
03:16:13,220 --> 03:16:23,480
city manager and thinks it's acceptable to send those 2,500 documents the day before at 201

2040
03:16:23,480 --> 03:16:28,060
before our council meeting is just mind boggling.

2041
03:16:29,460 --> 03:16:34,100
So, one, I can't support moving forward with a $31 million expenditure

2042
03:16:35,160 --> 03:16:37,800
without having reviewed those procurement commissioners.

2043
03:16:38,020 --> 03:16:39,600
This is like we all discussed.

2044
03:16:39,820 --> 03:16:41,220
This has been a long-awaited project.

2045
03:16:41,740 --> 03:16:42,640
And yes, I'm all for job.

2046
03:16:42,900 --> 03:16:43,140
Are you kidding?

2047
03:16:43,220 --> 03:16:44,240
Kathy McLean, Nika.

2048
03:16:44,420 --> 03:16:46,960
I'm not like, I think I'm probably the strongest labor

2049
03:16:46,960 --> 03:16:49,660
at getting to have been since I was zero years old.

2050
03:16:49,660 --> 03:16:58,440
I've been on lines in fighting for labor rights since I was a child.

2051
03:16:59,660 --> 03:17:03,080
So I've all about delivering on jobs, but I want to make sure that our money is our

2052
03:17:03,080 --> 03:17:06,740
taxpayer dollars are being appropriate and expended the right way.

2053
03:17:07,180 --> 03:17:11,560
And I can't do any of that without having the opportunity to review the 2,500 pages

2054
03:17:11,560 --> 03:17:12,660
at a minimum.

2055
03:17:12,860 --> 03:17:17,400
I would hope that the council would do that if they're willing to move forward with it.

2056
03:17:17,400 --> 03:17:22,260
I just, I think, I don't know, I have, I have no words for for for that.

2057
03:17:22,800 --> 03:17:25,640
There's no need to have it done today.

2058
03:17:26,620 --> 03:17:30,800
Again, if we would have had a council meeting in the second meeting in September,

2059
03:17:31,180 --> 03:17:32,460
it would have just been a two week delay.

2060
03:17:32,700 --> 03:17:35,180
There's going to be a meeting the first week of October.

2061
03:17:35,800 --> 03:17:37,640
So only, you know, it's not that far away.

2062
03:17:39,020 --> 03:17:41,280
There's really, we've waited long enough.

2063
03:17:41,500 --> 03:17:45,700
There's no urgency with which we have to move this forward.

2064
03:17:45,700 --> 03:17:50,380
blind without looking at any of the underlying procurement documents.

2065
03:17:50,980 --> 03:17:53,280
And this is not an indictment on staff.

2066
03:17:53,900 --> 03:17:56,900
This is a procedural problem.

2067
03:17:58,200 --> 03:18:03,180
And the city manager, your job is to allow us to do our jobs.

2068
03:18:03,240 --> 03:18:04,420
Help us do our jobs.

2069
03:18:04,440 --> 03:18:10,500
Affectuate our responsibilities and sending procurement documents the day before

2070
03:18:10,500 --> 03:18:17,040
to a 1 PM, my briefings at 5, can't get responsive information after the briefing.

2071
03:18:17,580 --> 03:18:22,540
And then I'm here and we're going to approve a 31, we're being asked to approve a $31 million

2072
03:18:22,540 --> 03:18:23,260
expenditure.

2073
03:18:23,580 --> 03:18:25,960
It just seems completely ridiculous to me.

2074
03:18:26,340 --> 03:18:27,520
Councillor Miller, hello, do you have any?

2075
03:18:28,120 --> 03:18:28,120
Yeah,

2076
03:18:31,020 --> 03:18:32,940
I mean, I don't like the design.

2077
03:18:33,200 --> 03:18:34,460
I've expressed that before.

2078
03:18:34,740 --> 03:18:42,160
I think it's inconsistent in congruent even with the design that we had adopted

2079
03:18:42,160 --> 03:18:50,220
many years ago, which is to have kind of a Mediterranean or Spanish or Mexican kind of

2080
03:18:50,220 --> 03:18:57,420
look with the tiles and all that. But I think that, that wasn't listened to, it wasn't

2081
03:18:57,420 --> 03:19:01,580
listened to by, I mean, I was listened to, but there was no action. I was promised something

2082
03:19:01,580 --> 03:19:06,780
it didn't happen. And I was told that the majority was going along with the design that we have

2083
03:19:06,780 --> 03:19:12,020
now, or all of you were okay with the design that we have now. I still don't like it, but

2084
03:19:12,020 --> 03:19:14,160
think that we just have to move the project forward.

2085
03:19:16,820 --> 03:19:18,540
I think it's just once it gets completed

2086
03:19:18,540 --> 03:19:22,540
I don't think it's going to have a good look. I think it's going to look like a courthouse and

2087
03:19:23,460 --> 03:19:29,100
I've expressed that before and but we need to move forward. We need to have this in the

2088
03:19:29,100 --> 03:19:36,060
in the city that's a meeting place. It's a place where people can have various events of many kinds

2089
03:19:36,660 --> 03:19:40,200
And I guess the facade doesn't matter that much, finally.

2090
03:19:42,300 --> 03:19:43,340
We just need to get it done.

2091
03:19:44,240 --> 03:19:45,820
So I think we need to move on it now.

2092
03:19:46,780 --> 03:19:50,540
And the 2,500 pages, I don't know that.

2093
03:19:50,540 --> 03:19:54,060
Anything that there's anything in there that would make this

2094
03:19:54,680 --> 03:19:56,920
change in any material or significant way.

2095
03:19:57,980 --> 03:19:59,900
I mean, yes, a lot of pages and dumping it.

2096
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:08,920
The last minute like that is not good. Mr. Mendes. But I don't know that did you review the 2500 pages?

2097
03:20:11,890 --> 03:20:30,750
I did not personally review all those 2500 pages, but we have staff professionals on here that I count on day in and day out to do their job. They're hired for that exact reason. They're hired to do these bids. They gone through significant education for this. They are more than competent to do what they're doing. That's why they are part of this team.

2098
03:20:30,750 --> 03:20:33,890
So as Mr. Torres, did you review the 2500 pages?

2099
03:20:34,170 --> 03:20:39,770
No sir, the project manager and also the construction manager did all the review of all the documents.

2100
03:20:39,930 --> 03:20:41,650
And are they anybody here from most of them?

2101
03:20:41,670 --> 03:20:44,470
They're here, coming through, the construction manager's here.

2102
03:20:44,530 --> 03:20:46,110
Come on up sir, please,

2103
03:20:48,940 --> 03:20:50,000
but you don't work for the city.

2104
03:20:50,780 --> 03:20:52,120
No, I do not.

2105
03:20:52,300 --> 03:20:53,240
I work for the management.

2106
03:20:53,540 --> 03:20:55,880
We're the construction management company.

2107
03:20:56,120 --> 03:20:58,920
We're hired by these teams to do the construction.

2108
03:20:58,920 --> 03:21:04,060
Okay, did anybody in the city review the 2,500 pages? That's what I guess they should have.

2109
03:21:04,080 --> 03:21:08,960
Yes, the project manager Harriet, she's a way for a run emergency. So she's not here today.

2110
03:21:10,040 --> 03:21:14,220
Can we get a summary of what those 2,500 pages are about? Roughly.

2111
03:21:14,940 --> 03:21:19,040
So the reason why the 2,500 pages are important is because on the other procurement items,

2112
03:21:19,280 --> 03:21:25,240
I U.S. can tell that when I read through those procurement, the underlying procurement documents for the other contract awards,

2113
03:21:25,240 --> 03:21:29,880
I can identify issues of concern and I've raised those over the course of this meeting.

2114
03:21:30,080 --> 03:21:33,160
I continue to I've raised them in prior meetings on other contract awards.

2115
03:21:33,520 --> 03:21:36,300
Those underlying procurement documents are important.

2116
03:21:38,400 --> 03:21:38,920
Sure.

2117
03:21:39,160 --> 03:21:40,400
4,500 pages.

2118
03:21:40,900 --> 03:21:45,900
I don't know exactly the 2,500 pages that you've received, but I can tell you that we did receive

2119
03:21:45,900 --> 03:21:49,180
four bids and they're extensive.

2120
03:21:50,600 --> 03:21:54,740
As a public agency representing a public agency, we ask for a lot of items.

2121
03:21:55,860 --> 03:22:07,160
It talks about references, their legal status, it talks about previous projects, it talks about

2122
03:22:07,160 --> 03:22:09,160
any number of things.

2123
03:22:09,780 --> 03:22:10,420
It's a lot.

2124
03:22:10,660 --> 03:22:11,780
There's no doubt about it.

2125
03:22:12,080 --> 03:22:17,020
And that's what our job is, is to review those documents and report up to Harriet and Lee on

2126
03:22:17,020 --> 03:22:19,480
the response and the responsiveness of those documents.

2127
03:22:19,540 --> 03:22:20,720
It talks about costs.

2128
03:22:20,720 --> 03:22:26,880
it talks about sub-contractors that they've partnered with and all of those relationships

2129
03:22:26,880 --> 03:22:32,240
and partnerships that they include in their proposals are important and we should, that should

2130
03:22:32,240 --> 03:22:37,880
be part of our policy consideration. Staff has its role. They review things for responsive

2131
03:22:37,880 --> 03:22:43,580
responsible bidder or look at proposals based on this whatever 100 points scoring in those various

2132
03:22:43,580 --> 03:22:50,020
categories. We look at it from a different vantage point. That's our job. They do what they do.

2133
03:22:50,020 --> 03:22:55,540
They check the boxes, make sure that all of the forms have been submitted, that all of the

2134
03:22:55,540 --> 03:22:59,860
signatories, you know, the proper signatures are where they need to be, that all their

2135
03:22:59,860 --> 03:23:00,920
licenses are in place.

2136
03:23:01,240 --> 03:23:02,700
They have that role.

2137
03:23:03,260 --> 03:23:05,340
Our role, our function is something different.

2138
03:23:05,620 --> 03:23:11,920
And without access to access to time, to review those documents, which is not an unreasonable

2139
03:23:11,920 --> 03:23:15,740
request, which is why it's so much more frustrating.

2140
03:23:15,740 --> 03:23:19,900
This is not unree, I'm not asking for anything unreadable.

2141
03:23:20,800 --> 03:23:21,560
But anyway.

2142
03:23:22,980 --> 03:23:30,640
I, so no one, no one that's here from the city, not city manager, not Mr. Torres,

2143
03:23:30,960 --> 03:23:32,780
and the person that's out on emergency.

2144
03:23:32,980 --> 03:23:36,400
No one has actually reviewed this documentation.

2145
03:23:37,920 --> 03:23:40,740
And yet the recommendation is that we approve it.

2146
03:23:41,100 --> 03:23:43,780
And you know, I mean, we need to get this project going,

2147
03:23:43,780 --> 03:23:49,980
but I mean I think the Councilwoman has been concerned and I don't know how to deal with it

2148
03:23:49,980 --> 03:23:53,520
frankly but I would think that somebody would have been here from the city to say yeah I've

2149
03:23:53,520 --> 03:24:00,480
looked at every single page here and I can guarantee or I can assert that recommending the passage of

2150
03:24:00,480 --> 03:24:06,360
this thing is going to be appropriate and but we don't have anyone that's actually seen the documentation

2151
03:24:06,360 --> 03:24:10,360
here. Yes, the product manager's not here.

2152
03:24:11,620 --> 03:24:16,580
Family member passed away, so it's under was heard like an assistant to the project manager,

2153
03:24:16,980 --> 03:24:21,720
or that's the team is coming as a group and also SBA, that's for a project team.

2154
03:24:25,950 --> 03:24:31,650
I remember a busy council and I also want to point out that these procurement documents that we are sharing

2155
03:24:31,650 --> 03:24:37,350
is a complete, big package. This was, these are new documents we hadn't given before.

2156
03:24:37,350 --> 03:24:43,550
This is the scoring matrix. This is there. Like like the gentleman stated, this is everything.

2157
03:24:44,210 --> 03:24:47,490
Everything that we've ever been given through through these processes.

2158
03:24:48,630 --> 03:24:52,310
The most important thing I think are the specs and the big sheets and all that information.

2159
03:24:52,730 --> 03:24:54,030
And that's been viewed.

2160
03:24:55,410 --> 03:24:59,950
Yeah, that's true. I mean, the specifications and the drawings could be part of the packages you've received, which...

2161
03:25:00,000 --> 03:25:23,760
Also, extent to the set of drawings is not small. Neither is a so-so specification. But we were hired to do this. This is our job. The company that I represent does this every day on multiple projects. I've done this for 20 years. I've reviewed many of these types of solicitations. So yes, Harriet, it's not here. That is correct. We've gone through all the documents with Harriet. You said you hadn't reviewed the documents.

2162
03:25:24,680 --> 03:25:31,780
I didn't say that. I've reviewed the documents. My team has reviewed the documents. I don't work for the city, though. So, yes, we've

2163
03:25:31,780 --> 03:25:36,400
leafed through all the documents. I've spoken to Icon, West, we've spoken to all the bitters on all of this stuff.

2164
03:25:36,520 --> 03:25:39,280
We hosted a precon conference. We did everything.

2165
03:25:39,640 --> 03:25:40,900
Public Contracting Code.

2166
03:25:41,540 --> 03:25:48,600
Except for provide the public policy decision makers with the ample information in advance. It's not your fault. Not your fault.

2167
03:25:48,600 --> 03:25:53,440
And my concern also is city manager, your position, I don't, you're not even saying yes.

2168
03:25:54,020 --> 03:26:00,980
I should have provided it to you earlier, you're just, you're trying to defend it and it's just, it makes no sense to me.

2169
03:26:01,060 --> 03:26:04,500
Mr. Olson, I think maybe we should take it up in October.

2170
03:26:04,740 --> 03:26:06,580
Give everybody an opportunity to look at everything.

2171
03:26:07,920 --> 03:26:09,400
And it is a big project.

2172
03:26:09,620 --> 03:26:11,780
30 million is a significant number.

2173
03:26:12,500 --> 03:26:16,920
And just to make sure that everything is appropriate, I'm sure it is.

2174
03:26:16,920 --> 03:26:20,120
But the thing is we don't have someone here to save from the city.

2175
03:26:20,740 --> 03:26:26,400
I laid my eyes on everything and I can say that we need to move forward with this project and it's a okay.

2176
03:26:27,320 --> 03:26:32,260
So I would move to, or second, the seller comes motion to continue it over to the next meeting.

2177
03:26:32,500 --> 03:26:33,280
Thank you.

2178
03:26:33,540 --> 03:26:35,300
Okay. We have a motion in a second.

2179
03:26:35,520 --> 03:26:36,560
All of a favor say aye.

2180
03:26:36,620 --> 03:26:38,000
Aye. Anyone opposed?

2181
03:26:38,800 --> 03:26:39,640
We're tagling it.

2182
03:26:39,940 --> 03:26:40,920
Thank you. Thank you, Bill.

2183
03:26:41,860 --> 03:26:42,980
City manager's report.

2184
03:26:44,960 --> 03:26:51,540
for the City Council. We have two summer events to go for the concert series. This Saturday

2185
03:26:51,540 --> 03:26:58,080
September 5th, we will have the Gene Simmons band. Also in October, October 2nd, we will

2186
03:26:58,080 --> 03:27:05,380
have our finals item which is going to be fluffy the comedian. Mark your characters for Tuesday,

2187
03:27:05,500 --> 03:27:11,260
September 22nd at 2.30 p.m. for the State of City event. Please, please look at our visit

2188
03:27:11,260 --> 03:27:16,320
Pondale, excuse me, please visit our Pondale Playhouse website to reserve your seat.

2189
03:27:16,820 --> 03:27:22,460
Having exciting news about two new businesses opening up later this month on the east side,

2190
03:27:22,780 --> 03:27:28,820
one which will be Ross that's going to be opening up on I believe it's S in 25th and the

2191
03:27:28,820 --> 03:27:33,820
other one is Handle's ice cream, right, does your second location in the city often 47th. We're

2192
03:27:33,820 --> 03:27:36,740
excited about those new businesses and welcome them to the city of Pondale.

2193
03:27:45,640 --> 03:27:55,190
All right, let's move on, we're going to close sessions to do interviews of city attorney applicants if they're still here.

2194
03:27:55,640 --> 03:27:58,360
It looks like all of you stay through, okay.

2195
03:27:58,680 --> 03:27:59,660
You still want the job?

2196
03:28:00,660 --> 03:28:02,020
Presentation by city attorney.

2197
03:28:02,660 --> 03:28:05,120
Good evening Mayor and members of the city council tonight.

2198
03:28:05,120 --> 03:28:10,080
We have item number 10.1, and we are ready to go into close session when you are.

2199
03:28:10,080 --> 03:28:12,060
No, I got to take public comment, Mr. Zink.

2200
03:28:14,140 --> 03:28:17,420
Yeah, when you go in here, I really want you guys to really think about lawsuits.

2201
03:28:18,320 --> 03:28:21,560
Like this project right here, 31 million.

2202
03:28:21,720 --> 03:28:24,160
And you guys don't even know what the hell's going on in it.

2203
03:28:24,340 --> 03:28:26,020
The public hasn't even seen it.

2204
03:28:26,200 --> 03:28:27,580
It wasn't even in this magazine.

2205
03:28:28,040 --> 03:28:31,720
If there's nothing on it on our website, we don't even know what it looks like.

2206
03:28:31,740 --> 03:28:33,040
We don't know the floor plan.

2207
03:28:33,040 --> 03:28:35,820
And you guys are approving this.

2208
03:28:36,400 --> 03:28:37,680
This is insane.

2209
03:28:39,060 --> 03:28:42,040
The public has no idea what you're even talking about.

2210
03:28:43,060 --> 03:28:46,040
Spinning 31 million dollars of heart money on.

2211
03:28:47,140 --> 03:28:51,480
And I guarantee you, if you don't really look into this thing like she wants this too,

2212
03:28:51,740 --> 03:28:55,840
and though agreed, this project could balloon to 50 million dollars.

2213
03:28:57,060 --> 03:28:59,420
And I can't even get a damn park sign.

2214
03:28:59,840 --> 03:29:02,140
We can't even cut trees down.

2215
03:29:02,140 --> 03:29:12,600
Mr. Zank, we've tabled that, and that's not related to close session, this is your time to speak on the close session.

2216
03:29:12,920 --> 03:29:20,700
We've tabled that item, so many fraudulent documents in the city's received.

2217
03:29:21,320 --> 03:29:32,060
There are small businesses that haven't been paid in six months, small businesses in six months, there should be a policy in 90 days, anybody that does a contract with Pondo

2218
03:29:32,060 --> 03:29:38,140
get paid. So you guys have a good reputation. Right now, Ponda has a worse reputation ever.

2219
03:29:38,920 --> 03:29:42,980
I'm telling you, small businesses are hurting because the city is at pain them.

2220
03:29:43,900 --> 03:29:48,960
I keep telling you guys this, there's something rotten in the city, figured out.

2221
03:29:49,440 --> 03:29:53,480
Please, and Eric, the American flag flies high.

2222
03:29:56,140 --> 03:29:58,700
Anyone else wish to speak? Okay, we're adjourning to

2223
03:29:58,700 --> 03:29:59,120
session.

2224
03:30:02,580 --> 03:30:05,900
Except for when I'm previously waived at flu time.

2225
06:17:25,170 --> 06:17:26,950
If we could get the report out, please?

2226
06:17:30,670 --> 06:17:31,190
Good evening.

2227
06:17:32,830 --> 06:17:40,630
E that barrios reporting out on behalf of City Attorney for item 10.1 public employment, City Attorney

2228
06:17:40,630 --> 06:17:43,030
recruitment, there is no report of lack.

2229
06:17:44,150 --> 06:17:48,450
Okay. Thank you. We are adjourned in two until October 6.