[0:00] Okay, we'll call this meeting to order. Roll call, please, Fernando.

[0:07] Council member Reves. Council member Green. Present. Council member Beltran. Present. Vice member Kirby. Present. Mayor Meister. Present. Oral communication. This is opportunity to address the city council on any matter scheduled for a closed session, unless additional time is authorized by the council. Each speaker shall be limited to three minutes. Does anyone want to come forward at this time?

[0:42] No, you got to turn the mic on, ma'am.

[0:46] Thanks. Great start. I'm here this evening to talk to you about a few things. And as you

[0:55] know, we've all met. The first time I met you was over the phone, Mr. McCurvey. Meister,

[1:02] you were an ongoing pain in my butt. And, Mr., I don't know you, Mr. Rebus, but you are

[1:10] a retired state employee, okay, and Raymond, nice to see you, and I'm sorry Mr. Green,

[1:20] I've never had a chance to get to know you.

[1:22] But the reason I'm coming to talk to you today is about some of the issues and accusations

[1:30] towards people that are residents of this town that you're representing.

[1:37] I think there's been some sort of a back-and-forth communication issue that I think we can resolve because you were for us, right?

[1:49] And so on this trail I've been on in the last few weeks, I discovered something that I wasn't aware of.

[1:57] This town has the highest sales tax of any city in this county and other places as well.

[2:08] Also, another thing that I discovered was that we have the highest unemployment rate here in Portaville.

[2:21] And if you just look at those two issues and think about what we can do to resolve it,

[2:29] then we would be making some progress instead of going back and forth amongst each other.

[2:35] Am I right?

[2:36] Do you agree?

[2:37] Do you disagree?

[2:38] If not, please tell me why.

[2:42] You receive your retirement, right?

[2:44] You are California retiree, and you receive your pension.

[2:49] don't answer. You don't have to answer, but you can if you want to. Because I'm

[2:54] engaging you right now. So bottom line is that you have your health benefits. You

[3:02] have your pension and you earned it. You paid into it. But actually it was the

[3:08] people that came before you. That you were paying into. So depending on when you

[3:17] retired like for instance right now even though you may not be a member of the

[3:23] California Retire Reassociation you are paying into the system and you have

[3:28] your health care right same thing with our employees here with the

[3:33] unemployment rates as they are the economy as bad as it is why would you want to

[3:39] basically contract out some of our jobs that we have that the city workers had in

[3:46] in the past.

[3:46] Thank you, ma'am.

[3:47] I have more time asking for it.

[3:50] I gave it to you.

[3:51] Oh.

[3:52] 15 minutes when you came here, and I want to continue to talk.

[3:55] Ma'am, do you need to grab control of yourself and have?

[3:58] Call me ma'am.

[4:00] Ma'am, you're out of line.

[4:01] I'm going to ask for you to stop.

[4:03] You'll have another opportunity for oral communication

[4:05] to finish your, ma'am, your time is up.

[4:09] Please, please have a seat.

[4:11] And why can't I stand here and have a little bit more time?

[4:19] I'm going to ask for us to go into recess and then if we can just have the police department

[4:24] remove her.

[4:27] We're going to go into recess.

[6:16] Okay.

[6:16] We'll be back in bringing back the meeting back into order.

[6:22] You know, before closed session council comments are meant to talk about what is going to be

[6:28] in closed session.

[6:29] I always respect the first and then the right to say what you feel the need to and so I respect that but there is a time limit because the city still has business to do.

[6:40] With that is there anyone else that would like to say anything?

[6:46] I promise it's about closed session.

[6:49] So the items ahead of you, there's a couple of items you guys are going to be negotiating on.

[6:54] I guess my concern is more of process and maybe an opportunity for the council to maybe reassure the public.

[6:59] There are people we're going to be negotiating with, these are somebody that's been known to the council,

[7:04] somebody that's publicly been supporting certain council members.

[7:08] So, how does the city know that, how do the people know that that's going to be an honest and fair negotiation?

[7:15] That's the biggest concern.

[7:16] And secondly, it looks like, yeah, I guess you guys can't say much of that.

[7:21] That's just my only concern is maybe sharing with the public if you can.

[7:24] And not necessarily what you're doing at closed session, but

[7:26] maybe later on during the council comments, an education session of how you go about keeping personal alliances or friendships aside when you negotiate for the business and protect taxpayers dollars.

[7:40] Thanks for your time, gentlemen.

[7:40] Thank you, Mr. Saleh.

[7:42] Is there anyone else?

[7:50] Do we have anyone online, Fernandes?

[7:53] My name is Jerry Rousseau.

[7:54] I came in here on March 3rd on an issue.

[8:00] I was wondering maybe you guys could look back on YouTube and get back on me on the same issue, but a different a different thing

[8:11] But I came up here to tell the city workers a great job

[8:18] This gentleman right here good job

[8:20] I mean I see all the stuff that he does on the city council

[8:26] about a lot of stuff on YouTube

[8:32] It's a lot of work, you know, be a part of the city, all of you guys, you know what I mean?

[8:37] It's a hard work, you know what I mean?

[8:40] All of you guys, you know what I mean?

[8:43] It's a lot of work, working for the city.

[8:45] You know what I mean?

[8:46] It goes, it's better for you.

[8:49] But I just have a great one.

[8:53] Thank you, sir.

[8:55] Anyone online, Fernando?

[8:59] Okay, moving on to close session, City Manager.

[9:02] Thank you, Mayor and Members of the Council.

[9:04] We have six items on close session tonight.

[9:06] First item is government code section 54956.8, conference with real property negotiators, property APN 253160-064, and

[9:19] And dash 065-068-069-070 and 261-125-018 and dash 020, agency negotiators richer tree negotiating parties is City of Portable and James Gardery Shelton under negotiation terms and price.

[9:42] Item number two, government code section 549-56.8, conference with the real property negotiators.

[9:49] And property is APN 261-130-002 and 253-160-059, agency negotiator, Richard Tree, negotiating

[10:00] parties, city of Portable, and the state of California, department of general services under

[10:05] Under negotiation is terms and price.

[10:07] Item number three, government code section 54956.8, conference with real property, negotiators and property.

[10:14] APN 268-00100-001, and 268-110-034, agency negotiator Richard Tree, negotiating parties of the city of Portugal and SME Homes Incorporated.

[10:31] Under negotiation, terms and price.

[10:33] Item number four, government code section 54956.95, a liability claim.

[10:39] Claiming is bowing.

[10:41] Guan, agency claimed against city of Portoville.

[10:44] Item number five is government code section 54956.95, and liability claim.

[10:50] Claiming is Robert Perez, agency claimed against city of Portoville in the final item on the closed session.

[10:57] agenda is government code section 549-56.9D2, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation,

[11:06] significant exposure to litigation, one case in which facts are not yet known to potential plaintiff.

[11:13] Okay, with that, we will go into closed session and re-convene at 630.

[11:16] you

[1:03:05] Okay, we'll reconvene to open session and report on any reportable action taken in closed session. Yes, we have reportable action for item number four. The council voted five to zero to reject the claim of bowing one. And for item number five, the council voted five zero to reject the claim of Robert Perez, and that's the end of reportable action. Thank you, ma'am. Okay, I'll ask you all to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

[1:03:35] Allegiance led by Council member Greene, and then please remain standing for invocation if someone would like to give one.

[1:03:42] Before we do the pledge of allegiance, I'd like to take a moment of silence from Miles Elliott.

[1:03:48] He was a helicopter pilot from our community who was fighting wild land fire in Utah and unfortunately the tragedy happened and he crashed his helicopter and he paid the ultimate sacrifice and service to others.

[1:04:03] and there is no greater love than to give one's life in service to others and so

[1:04:09] we want to honor miles by a moment of silence.

[1:04:41] Councilman Green.

[1:04:43] All right, everybody, please salute and pledge.

[1:04:48] I pledge to the United States of America and to the Republic

[1:04:55] for which it stands, one nation, and regard, individual,

[1:05:00] liberty and justice for all.

[1:05:03] Great job, kids.

[1:05:05] I can hear every one of you.

[1:05:08] Excellent.

[1:05:12] Go ahead, ma'am.

[1:05:13] As we gather together today, I pray that we bind ourselves in unity and when accord.

[1:05:21] Let our concerns for our city and resident support of it empower our thoughts and our actions

[1:05:28] and deeds to be fruitful in our endeavors to live a peaceful and a prosperous life.

[1:05:34] Before we pray for our land to be increased, with jobs, business opportunities and increased

[1:05:41] finances, let us be thankful for our liberty and freedom given to us at the cost of many

[1:05:48] lives. Freedom is never without a cost. Let us put aside arguments, disputes, name

[1:05:55] calling and accusations, and may we not be entangled with anger and hate towards anyone.

[1:06:03] Though disagreements arise and opinions may vary at critical times, let us keep in our

[1:06:09] mind and heart that if we stay committed to the needs of our community that all things

[1:06:14] do work together for the glory of God. Write the vision down and make it plain on tablets

[1:06:20] and believe in faith it will be fulfilled. A city divided against itself will not prosper

[1:06:28] and division usually starts within. I pray that our community will keep an open mind regarding

[1:06:36] that will speak and act respectfully towards all.

[1:06:41] A plan for peace and unity will cause future plans to prosper in all ways.

[1:06:48] The words that we speak are seeds that will bring forth our harvest for our lives and the city.

[1:06:56] So let us celebrate God's goodness, mercy, and His great hand upon us.

[1:07:01] Matthew 535 states, or by the earth for it is his footstool.

[1:07:07] We must be willing to reach peaceful agreements with all opponents, or our city will not prosper.

[1:07:14] So let us all be in peace and agreement together in unity and I pray in the name of the Lord

[1:07:20] Jesus Christ.

[1:07:21] Amen.

[1:07:23] Okay.

[1:07:24] I'm not saying anyone else, please be seated.

[1:07:26] Okay,

[1:07:32] we're going to go into council comments, and I'll go ahead and lead tonight with those comments.

[1:07:37] And just to finish up with Miles Elliott, he was a father of Truxton,

[1:07:44] fiance to Brianna Grove, and a pillar in our community.

[1:07:49] He did photography to pictures of baseball, football, and was also a board member of the Port of the Little League.

[1:07:58] and a board member of our airport committee, and was just an outstanding gentleman.

[1:08:04] And so our community lost a great man.

[1:08:07] I want to sincerely just thank our Portavill Fire Department, Chief Cogburn, and his command staff,

[1:08:16] Portavill Police Department, Chief Raider and his command staff.

[1:08:22] And all adjoining agencies like the Toole River Fire Department,

[1:08:27] the Tulip County, Tulary County Fire Department, the Sheriff's Office, and countless agencies around our county that came together for the procession, I want to thank the community who came out and line the streets to honor this man because he was a hero.

[1:08:44] And that's what we do here in Portable, we honor our heroes, so I just want to state that for the record.

[1:08:53] Assemblywoman Macido and Senator Grove will be reading a adjourn in memory of Miles Elliot at the state capital and that will be coming in the future and they'll be reading his name into the state record.

[1:09:07] So it's good things are coming.

[1:09:09] With this, we set a new flag policy and I'd like to make a motion that the flag we flew at half mass over city hall.

[1:09:18] We honor Miles Elliott's family by dedicating that flag to the family.

[1:09:25] It's going to take a vote by the council, but that would be my motion on the table.

[1:09:31] Okay, we have a first and a second.

[1:09:33] Is there any discussion?

[1:09:36] We'll call for the vote.

[1:09:38] Roll, call.

[1:09:39] Councilmember Rivas?

[1:09:41] Aye.

[1:09:42] Councilmember Green?

[1:09:43] Aye.

[1:09:43] Councilmember Beltran?

[1:09:44] Aye.

[1:09:44] Vice Mayor McCurvy?

[1:09:45] Aye.

[1:09:45] May I, Mr.

[1:09:46] Aye.

[1:09:47] Passes 5-0.

[1:09:48] Okay.

[1:09:48] Moving on.

[1:09:49] August 5th, I met with Andy Garcia.

[1:09:52] He is in the city manager and we talked about an investment in our community.

[1:09:58] He's looking to bring a trampoline park to the city of Portaville.

[1:10:01] So really exciting things going on.

[1:10:03] We want to continue to support business owners and entrepreneurs that want to invest in

[1:10:08] our communities.

[1:10:08] So really exciting stuff.

[1:10:10] August 6th, we met with the Tuley River Tribal Council, myself, Vice Mayor McCurvy, and supporting staff.

[1:10:17] We discussed, first they give us a tour of the new expansion, the hotel, the convention center, and

[1:10:24] future lazy river.

[1:10:27] Really some amazing stuff going on out there.

[1:10:29] We also talked and discussed our MOU for our fire department and police department.

[1:10:34] And we want to continue to work alongside with the Tuley River tribe.

[1:10:40] August 7th, I had the great honor, some guys that I used to do tile with 21 years ago.

[1:10:46] I went down to our future community center that's being built.

[1:10:49] It's going to have basketball courts, volleyball courts, pump track, splash pad, and playground.

[1:10:54] And they were actually tiling it.

[1:10:56] And so it was kind of a full circle for me where I got to go back with guys that I worked

[1:11:00] with 21 years ago and got a little private tour.

[1:11:05] And I presented them challenge coins, challenge coins that you all will get here tonight.

[1:11:09] I would just suggest to my colleagues, if you'd like to go on tour, set up with City Manager Tree and go and take a tour and it really is a special thing that's going on there exciting for the future of Portoville.

[1:11:27] Also August 7th, I went and met with Johnny Ramirez and the Ville Academy.

[1:11:33] I presented a proclamation from the City of Portoville for the Ville Academy day.

[1:11:40] They had Fresno Pro Am in on August 7th with the professional basketball league at Granite Hill.

[1:11:47] So I was really excited to see that.

[1:11:49] August 8th, I attended Cala event where I was a special guest speaker.

[1:11:54] And that is California American Latino Association.

[1:11:59] And my message was clear, we may not be able to change Sacramento.

[1:12:03] We may not be able to change DC, but if we get involved here at the local level and we invest in ourselves with our time and our energy, we can make a difference here in Portugal, but it takes us getting involved.

[1:12:16] August 11th, I did a ride along with the Refuse Department.

[1:12:22] Really some things that I've learned from our Refuse Department.

[1:12:26] One is the cans for residentials.

[1:12:31] There's a reason why they want the cans, your trash cans off of the curb and it's because

[1:12:36] of the arm that goes out and grabs it, if it's up on the curb it will actually grab the

[1:12:41] wheels and when they take it and dump it it gets lost into the truck.

[1:12:46] And so they request, humbly requests that we put our cans on the road and it makes it faster

[1:12:54] for them going forward.

[1:12:56] Also, avoid your basketball hoops or mailboxes and cars when be thinking about them when they're coming by because they have a lot of cans.

[1:13:07] We are understaffed in our trash department.

[1:13:09] There are guys I have to do 16 cans and 1,600 cans in one day.

[1:13:14] It takes some 10 hours in a truck driving, so a lot of hard work from these guys.

[1:13:19] We talked, I then had a meeting with the staff and we talked about customer service and some of the changes that came during COVID-19 and where they went away from,

[1:13:32] you know if a can was slightly open and able to be retrieved, they went away from doing so.

[1:13:39] And so we want to revitalize that and focus in on customer service.

[1:13:44] We also talked about route software that'll be coming into play in about two months, and we're going to be adding four more drivers with four diesel trucks.

[1:13:53] It's kind of interesting, and I went with this right along and the diesel trucks are actually a lot better than the CNG when the CNG trucks get filled, they don't have the power and it's the same problem with the electric trucks.

[1:14:05] So, we want to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars and buy those diesels, so these guys have good equipment, and equipment that will last, we get our money's worth.

[1:14:15] We also talked with the street sweeper, we have one driver in this city, we have one driver that has to cover 400 lane miles, we have to invest in our street department, we got to get another driver, we need to get another truck to help relieve his job.

[1:14:32] And really, we want to beautify Porterville, and these are the steps we have to take to do so.

[1:14:39] In my eye-opening experience, and I'm going to make another motion here, is some of the problems with trash around the city.

[1:14:49] You know, I'm never going to try to sell you that we're going to solve homelessness.

[1:14:54] We will enforce the laws and we've been doing so, but the homeless will always be with us.

[1:14:58] And so one of the prop-

[1:15:00] Problems is they get in the dumpsters and they make a mess and they pull the trash out of the dumpsters and it's on the sides. And it's not the truck drivers fault and it's not the business owners fault either. And so what I'd like to do is get what I'm calling an eye sore crew, like a two man crew that goes and takes care of eye sores when our drivers do pull up. And they see an issue where trash has been pulled out and out on the street or in these bins.

[1:15:28] means that we can then call this crew to go and clean up this mess.

[1:15:34] Also, it would help with cleaning our trash trucks also in the future.

[1:15:41] I also would like to, I talked with Hugo in the trash department and he challenged me because I gave my word that we won't sell the refuse department if they deliver customer service.

[1:15:54] And that is the focus that I want to continue to drive on.

[1:15:57] And so what I would, with my motion, I want to table the selling of the refuse department,

[1:16:04] but still continue to look at investing in a transfer station at Teapot Dome.

[1:16:11] I think the drive out to Wood Lake is way too far for not only our trash truck drivers, but the residents of Portoville.

[1:16:19] And so I think in partnering with the county and

[1:16:22] finding a way that we can get a transfer station here locally, it'll really help the community at

[1:16:27] large and also help our trash truck drivers or the refuse department.

[1:16:33] That is my

[1:16:34] motion that I'm putting on the table.

[1:16:38] If any of you guys would like to make a

[1:16:40] comment I know that you both when they did some ride alongs as well. Well thank

[1:16:44] you mayor for laying all of that out I've been busy. I did a ride along with

[1:16:50] John Morrison this week too and and it's really true the diesel trucks are so

[1:16:57] far superior to the CNGs and the other equipment that they have.

[1:17:01] Not only are they faster and get the job done better, but they're more comfortable, they're more effective, and they last longer.

[1:17:06] And so I think that was a great investment that we made, and there's validation there.

[1:17:09] I know there's some conversations about expense, but I think if you do the long term on that, it's actually going to pay us back.

[1:17:16] We're actually going to save money.

[1:17:17] While we're helping these guys get to 1,600 or 1,400 bins, whichever route that they're on.

[1:17:24] I think it's important that we continue to focus on this.

[1:17:27] When the downtown committee, we had a lot of discussions downtown about the trash in

[1:17:30] the alleyways.

[1:17:32] And when we come down and we have parades, and we come down and we celebrate downtown

[1:17:36] and our great downtown that we're revitalizing, our alleyways need some work still.

[1:17:41] And so I think the idea of mayor that you're presenting here that we would have someone that

[1:17:45] could go and take care of some odd things, that's kind of a tiger team or whatever we would

[1:17:50] We call that someone that could go and help us to square away those areas.

[1:17:54] We want to make those places safe and clean.

[1:17:57] So when we come down here for a parade that we can park away from Main Street and still

[1:18:01] work through those alleyways and not be worried about the trash and the clutter and those things.

[1:18:06] So I really like this idea, I think it's a terrific idea.

[1:18:09] And it was great to get some time to spend with the refuse folks and look at where the rubber

[1:18:14] meets the road, so to speak.

[1:18:15] but how hard it is with the transferring of trash, because we have now this long trip that we have to make to dump the trash.

[1:18:26] A transfer station would be very, very vital and essential to helping us to keep people from going down in these alleyways and just dumping stuff from their house.

[1:18:35] Because that's what's happening, I think this would be a way to address that as well.

[1:18:39] So I think I would second that motion after those comments, Mayor.

[1:18:42] Okay, we've got a person a second, and I just want to clarify my motion.

[1:18:47] We're tabling the cell of the refuse, but we're still going forward with researching on a transfer station.

[1:18:53] Either we privatize that transfer station, or we look at a partnership between the county and the city.

[1:18:59] And then also the two-man tiger team, I like that.

[1:19:04] The two-man tiger team that goes around and takes care of eye sores where trash has been dumped in our city.

[1:19:09] And continue the efforts to beautify Porterville.

[1:19:13] So we have a first and second, is there any other discussion?

[1:19:22] So I like the tabling of the refuse, I think that was something I recommended back when we were talking about it.

[1:19:30] So I support that, but on the cleanup crew, would that be, I don't know if your recommendation is that we hire two new people.

[1:19:42] or we're looking at the encampment abatement team and maybe they make a team out of that one.

[1:19:48] No, I'm talking about out of the refuse enterprise using refuse enterprise funds to hire two specific guys and get their own specialty truck that could go around and clean up trash.

[1:20:02] And this is not only with commercial side, but there's also, sometimes the drivers may lose a bin and trash spills in front of a residential house.

[1:20:11] The trash truck driver getting out and trying to clean that up takes time.

[1:20:16] And so if we had a crew that could come and help and clean to keep our trash truck guys going or refuse truck drivers, then we could continue doing business.

[1:20:24] Thank you, Mayor, just to clarify and thank you for that.

[1:20:27] That's all I had, thank you.

[1:20:29] Okay, so we have a first and a second, go ahead, Councilman Revis.

[1:20:35] Yes, sir. Yes, I also went on a ride along with the Refuge and me and Gilbert Semental, who is the Union, I guess, negotiator.

[1:20:47] We had a good discussion and it was exciting and I seen some of the things that they encounter.

[1:20:54] So during our my run with him with the routes, he was explaining a lot of issues that they were having.

[1:21:02] And I've seen it for first hand view the issues and dilemmas.

[1:21:07] And before I get a little too further ahead of myself, I'd like the suggestions that you made mayor along with you Mr.

[1:21:15] Rice mayor and thank you for clearing that up Mr. Beltran on those two men tiger crew that you mayor mentioned.

[1:21:23] So with that, I have some thoughts that I want to bring to the table if we can, when we table this.

[1:21:30] on streamlining, and I do not entertain the thought of outsourcing our refuge to outside companies at this time.

[1:21:40] So I just want to make that clear on my point.

[1:21:43] So with that, at a good time, they treated us with all due diligence, respect, and courtesy, and at a fun time.

[1:21:50] But they do need help, and we will try to find some things to streamline and make it more resilient for the city of Portoville

[1:21:59] to have their trash truck picked up on early fashion, so.

[1:22:03] Thank you, Councilman Revis.

[1:22:04] Okay, we have a first and a second.

[1:22:07] We'll call for the vote.

[1:22:08] Roll call, please.

[1:22:09] Councilman Revis.

[1:22:10] Councilman McLean.

[1:22:11] All right, Councilman Belchren.

[1:22:13] Vice Mayor McLean.

[1:22:14] All right, Mayor Meister.

[1:22:15] All right, passes 5-0.

[1:22:17] Okay, just finishing up here.

[1:22:18] August 12th, I met with a local concerned citizen.

[1:22:22] And we talked about asphalt in the city.

[1:22:25] You know, we've expanded what we're doing here in the city of Portoville.

[1:22:27] just four years ago we were doing, I think we did 15 lane miles, and then five years ago

[1:22:33] we were only doing five lane miles of self-performed street maintenance.

[1:22:37] And so when you do the math over the last four years, we've done 90 lane miles.

[1:22:42] If you go to the four years before I was elected, we only did 30 lane miles.

[1:22:46] So we made a significant investment in our roads.

[1:22:49] We are now investing $3 million annually and performing 30 lane miles of self-performed

[1:22:55] street maintenance.

[1:22:55] And so that talk came up, some of the concerns are the asphalt that we're getting, and we need to be testing the asphalt that we get so that we make sure we're getting high quality asphalt the asphalt we're paying for, I'm not going to make a motion on that but I just I want to thank the concerned citizen, I think it was a good meeting and they brought some really good points to the meeting.

[1:23:18] And then the 13th, I met with the Chamber of Commerce, had a really great discussion on the future of Porterville and the relationship with Chamber of Commerce.

[1:23:28] We talked about leadership, Porterville, we talked about the Christmas parade.

[1:23:33] We also talked about shop local, did you know every dollar that spent locally turns into $3 around our city?

[1:23:41] And so we want to shop local as much as we can, but we have to reduce regulations, we have to create an environment where businesses

[1:23:47] This is want to come and open.

[1:23:50] With that, we also talked about fraud.

[1:23:55] We have our senior citizens' class, it's happening more and more where individuals are going and

[1:24:01] making a claim against our senior citizens and they'll take $10,000, $15,000 from our senior citizens, excuse me.

[1:24:09] Without them even knowing what's going on.

[1:24:13] And so Chief Raider, I'm hoping that we can work with Chamber and commerce and come up with some kind of presentation that we could get in the port of a recorder, get on record, teaching people about how these scam artists are using, they're finding out what your information is, who your children are and try to educate them to not be handing over these kinds of funds to people.

[1:24:33] And so that's something that we'll continue to talk about, but it was a great conversation with the Chamber of Commerce.

[1:24:38] And then yesterday, I met at PDC with Dr.

[1:24:43] John O'Keefe and supporting staff, I was the city manager and vice mayor was with me.

[1:24:50] And we talked about mental illness and homeless and expansion of Portable Developmental Center.

[1:24:56] I've talked with state legislature, I've talked with the governor's office, I've talked with our sheriff.

[1:25:01] The state of California and the way we're doing businesses wrong.

[1:25:05] We're funding NGOs and billions of dollars are being lost statewide and we need to bring it back in house and

[1:25:12] Start investing into facilities like PDC to address the homeless and the mental illness that are on our streets every day and so

[1:25:21] This approach is bottom-pressure and we're creating top-pressure. This is a big ass. This is years in the making, but

[1:25:29] But we have 1100 acres out at Portable Developmental Centers.

[1:25:33] It's a great opportunity for expansion and great jobs in our city.

[1:25:38] And talking with Dr. O'Keefe, he pointed out that there are a lot of jobs currently vacant at Portable Developmental Center.

[1:25:47] So if you are, if you have a family member or you are looking for a job, go and

[1:25:52] research and look into and see what kind of opportunities there may be for yourself.

[1:25:56] He said it's mostly psyched techs and behavioral health those fields are having a hard time so there's a demand out there

[1:26:03] Yes, the word vice mayor. I am finally finished. Go ahead, sir

[1:26:08] No, I'm just gonna leave it there because I'm excited about all the folks that we have visiting us this evening

[1:26:13] And we're gonna get to some recognition and and I'm gonna a great presentation. You've been very busy

[1:26:18] I really appreciate that but I'm gonna go and I'll talk later about some of these other things that I had on my list

[1:26:23] Okay, wonderful. Councilman Revis, do you have any comments?

[1:26:26] No comment at the same. Councilman Green?

[1:26:28] No comment at this time, Mayor.

[1:26:30] Councilman Beltran.

[1:26:33] So I'll just echo what the mayor said about the community coming out to recognize Miles

[1:26:40] Elliott. I was able to briefly be out there and seeing Portable High School had, seemed

[1:26:45] like a hundred students or more out there.

[1:26:50] Employees from the hospital out there so it was really

[1:26:54] We really need to see the community rally around the family and just acknowledge who he was in our community.

[1:27:01] Secondly, school starting back up and we see our chambers feel today with young athletes in our community.

[1:27:08] But as school year starts, we're going to get a lot of knock on our doors or see kids soliciting to sell chocolate or buy fundraiser items.

[1:27:15] Just be mindful that these are keeping kids busy, sometimes their families can afford equipment or trips.

[1:27:21] And so before you just are annoyed by maybe somebody knocking your door,

[1:27:25] maybe you get two or three here in our popular area.

[1:27:27] Just think about their future and that you're pouring into them.

[1:27:30] So just be mindful of the supporting kids in our community.

[1:27:34] And these future athletes and hopefully leaders in our community, they stay here and grow a family.

[1:27:41] And then lastly, a shameless plug because there's a big crowd here.

[1:27:44] We have our link committee tickets or a drive-through dinner and this helps with our

[1:27:51] homeless

[1:27:52] events it's a one year or one our annual

[1:27:56] Drive-through dinner that $15 a ticket

[1:27:59] You can purchase them here at City Hall at the planning desk or you can contact me

[1:28:04] I'll be happy to give you guys a ticket. So thank you guys. That's it

[1:28:08] Okay, with that we'll move on to our presentation and is the coach in the room. We're

[1:28:15] Devon, come up, come up, bring all the kids up.

[1:28:23] Wow, this is amazing.

[1:28:27] No, no, stay there for now.

[1:28:30] Just a sec, we're going to call you up all the way here and shortly.

[1:28:33] So, it's so amazing to have you guys in here.

[1:28:38] You guys are the future of our city and you guys are working hard.

[1:28:42] And your champions, right?

[1:28:44] All right, we're so proud of you guys and it's a great honor for us to recognize you guys here today.

[1:28:51] Before I read this certificate, I want to tell you about this challenge coin you guys are getting here today.

[1:28:57] We are celebrating 250 years as Americans, 250 years of greatness.

[1:29:03] And the City of Porterville had special coins made, we only made a thousand of them.

[1:29:08] On the front side, has anybody seen our farmer statue on Main Street?

[1:29:13] Yeah, on the front of this coin has a farmer statue.

[1:29:16] and it says America 250 and then E. Pluribus Unum, which is right in front of me and that means Adam any one, one Adam any.

[1:29:27] And then on the backside is Portable Home Rule, 100 years of charter status and our city motto in God we trust.

[1:29:34] So we have this here for you guys today, I have certificates signed by myself as well.

[1:29:39] But before I read the certificate, I'm going to pass it off to the vice mayor for some words.

[1:29:43] efforts. Thank you very much, Mayor. Now, you guys, I understand you guys, your organization

[1:29:49] has been around for about 75 years, which is amazing in itself, so it's just a great opportunity

[1:29:57] for us to recognize you and the longevity of this greater

[1:30:00] The organization, both of my girls were in Neptuneites. So in 2011, I was a stroke and turn coach out there, and I used to travel around, and I know exactly what you guys are doing.

[1:30:18] It's just amazing as individuals and as team members, how you guys will go out, and I experienced it firsthand, and you would travel to other cities together, eat together, swim together, do so many things together, it's like a big family. And so I just wanted to say thank you so much for

[1:30:36] or all that you guys do all the time over those 75 years.

[1:30:39] But I would like to give Evan a few minutes to talk

[1:30:42] about maybe some accomplishments

[1:30:44] that are so important this year.

[1:30:46] And then you can take it away from me, Evan,

[1:30:48] and then maybe we'll close that and do a picture.

[1:30:50] Vice mayor, before Evan speaks,

[1:30:52] can we give the other, my other colleague?

[1:30:55] Sure, absolutely.

[1:30:56] And say, Councilman Revis, you have any comments?

[1:30:58] Yes, sir.

[1:30:59] Hey, I just want to say thank you for what you do.

[1:31:03] I used to be, my grandkids used to be with your guys for about three years and I remember

[1:31:10] those evenings, those hot days and hot evenings and all over the place and seeing you guys

[1:31:16] compete was an amazing thing to watch and I just want to say thank you, thank you for

[1:31:22] your accomplishments, thank you for your tenacity and focusing on your vision.

[1:31:27] So thank you coach and all you guys, thank you very much.

[1:31:30] Thank you. Councilman Green, you have any comments?

[1:31:32] I think if I'm not mistaken, the mayor mentioned to me that in your 75-year history, this is only the second time that they have won the gold medal.

[1:31:44] Outstanding.

[1:31:45] And that's great. And I'll take, you know, I know how great you kids must be because when we were done, the pledge of allegiance I could hear every one of you.

[1:31:54] I mean, it was, I applaud you kids for being patriots.

[1:32:01] Keep up the good work.

[1:32:03] And you guys probably like, where do you go from here?

[1:32:11] Does there, because I don't really

[1:32:12] know much about the NEP tonight.

[1:32:14] NEP tonight.

[1:32:15] So is there a different, like, in a little league, you got?

[1:32:17] Well, I bet Coach Evans is going to tell us everything right now.

[1:32:20] That's why I'm explaining just a few minutes.

[1:32:22] Councilman and Beltran?

[1:32:23] Yeah, congratulations to all of you. Well done. You guys are getting all the attention. You guys got the medals, but give your parents a hand too for all the time that they're with you guys.

[1:32:44] Yeah, because without that support, it'd be really hard to accomplish what you guys did. So thank you parents out there.

[1:32:51] But great job sticking with it, not quitting, giving up when you didn't think you could do it. So great job of sticking with it.

[1:32:58] Okay, Coach Evan, go ahead, sir.

[1:33:00] Well, first of all, thank you guys for inviting us here today.

[1:33:04] I know all the kids and myself and all the families are super excited.

[1:33:10] Basically, what I wanted to let everyone know is, you guys kind of hit it on the head.

[1:33:16] I know a couple of you have been neptanites in the past.

[1:33:19] We have been around since 1955, so 76 years.

[1:33:25] This is our second time winning our league which is the Central Valley Recreational Swim League.

[1:33:35] It goes, we are the most southern team in the league.

[1:33:41] There's a team in Sierra, that's kind of the furthest north, Sierra, Madera, and then

[1:33:49] all the way over to Kalinga.

[1:33:50] And there's about 25 teams, there might be a few less than that within our league, all

[1:33:56] from that little section of our valley.

[1:34:00] But yeah, this group of kids and parents in our board and coaches was an awesome group

[1:34:07] to work with this year.

[1:34:09] One of the things that I want all the neptanites to know in anyone that's here is that I always

[1:34:15] like to say that this is my family.

[1:34:18] And it really showed this year because at our finals, that's our all-star meet, just about every age group was either first, second or third in their relay, which is a team event.

[1:34:33] So if you don't know anything about swimming, it's four swimmers and the age groups range from 18 and we had a three year old on our team this year.

[1:34:44] So, from three years old to 18 years old, that is our age group.

[1:34:50] And, you know, it's sectioned off a little better than that when we go to the meets.

[1:34:55] You know, there's six and under, seven and eights, nine, tens, 11, 12s, 13, 14s, and then

[1:35:01] 15 to 18 years.

[1:35:03] But almost every age group that we had, at least in one of the relays, they got first,

[1:35:08] second, or third, which was quite an accomplishment.

[1:35:11] That's not always the case.

[1:35:12] So, that was a big reason for our team winning the league this year was the relay events.

[1:35:19] And it takes all of them working together and spending those long hot nights together.

[1:35:26] All the families showing up every day to practice to the five hour swim meets, driving in

[1:35:33] an hour and a half to the swim meets, it takes everybody in this room to make that happen.

[1:35:39] And so I just want to say thank you to all you guys.

[1:35:41] You guys did awesome this season.

[1:35:43] And thank you to the parents.

[1:35:45] You guys are awesome.

[1:35:46] We could not do this without you guys.

[1:35:48] And our coaches, some of us are in blue.

[1:35:51] Some of us were in yellow shirts here today.

[1:35:54] But we have about 10 to 15 coaches on staff.

[1:35:59] Coach Freddie, he's sitting right over there.

[1:36:01] He's the assistant head coach.

[1:36:03] And then our board.

[1:36:04] Our board has been amazing for the last couple of years.

[1:36:06] and they've helped make this a success.

[1:36:10] So awesome job this year, guys, you guys did absolutely amazing.

[1:36:13] And thank you guys again for inviting us today.

[1:36:16] Thank you, Evan.

[1:36:16] Great job.

[1:36:17] Outstanding.

[1:36:24] Okay.

[1:36:25] So we have certificates.

[1:36:27] I'm going to read one and I didn't pick this one.

[1:36:30] Is Grant Aguilar here?

[1:36:32] Yeah, Grant.

[1:36:32] All right, Grant.

[1:36:33] This is your certificate.

[1:36:34] Wait, just wait there.

[1:36:36] I'm going to read yours.

[1:36:37] All of yours.

[1:36:38] Read the same way, okay?

[1:36:41] Grant Aguilar.

[1:36:41] And recognition of winning the 2026 Central Valley Recreational Swim League as a member of the Portavill Neptinites Recreational Swim team.

[1:36:51] This exceptional achievement reflects the team's dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence.

[1:36:57] Bringing honor to the City of Portavill as set in a standard achievement for future generations.

[1:37:03] The City Council commends you and your teammates for your hard work, sportsmanship, and

[1:37:08] an outstanding representation of the community by the City of Portugal on August 18, 2026, signed by myself, Mayor Greg Meister.

[1:37:18] So congratulations to all of you.

[1:37:26] Okay, so the council's going to come down and we're going to bring you guys some challenge coins, and then coach, you're going to get the certificates, you can hand those out.

[1:37:34] Perfect, thank you.

[1:39:40] You know, if you're parents, if you're parents, if you guys want to be in the picture, you could come up here and stand in the back.

[1:39:53] Don't be shy, come on up.

[1:40:05] This reminds me of a swan meet.

[1:40:08] Okay,

[1:40:39] everybody look over there. Say nip tonight.

[1:40:47] That's good.

[1:40:48] Good.

[1:40:50] Wow, there's a lot of cameras out there. Yeah.

[1:40:54] One, two, three.

[1:40:57] Meptin' nights.

[1:41:00] I don't know which one to look at.

[1:41:03] Okay, look at the center.

[1:41:07] Meptin' nights.

[1:41:10] Did we get everybody? One from the city. You got to get Eureka.

[1:41:13] You would think the portable recorder would take a picture of you.

[1:41:16] Thank

[1:41:23] you guys for everything.

[1:41:26] Thank you.

[1:41:27] I remember those days with the span of history, great job.

[1:41:33] All right.

[1:41:34] Out.

[1:41:35] Future leaders.

[1:41:37] Everybody get a ball.

[1:41:39] Welcome.

[1:41:39] You guys take care.

[1:41:40] Keep working hard.

[1:41:45] Oh, thank you.

[1:41:46] Thank you.

[1:41:46] Have a great job.

[1:41:47] Thank you.

[1:41:47] Great job.

[1:41:51] Thank you.

[1:41:52] Thank you.

[1:41:53] Thank you.

[1:41:55] Hey coach.

[1:41:56] If anybody, oh, you've got some extra clients.

[1:41:59] Do you have them next?

[1:42:00] Yeah, but I've got, if we're here, if not,

[1:42:04] reach back out to us and we'll make sure we're good.

[1:42:06] Don't leave any kids out.

[1:42:08] Thank you.

[1:42:14] It was fun.

[1:42:15] The biggest one yet.

[1:42:17] Now, before we get our ass kicked, that was fun.

[1:42:41] Great job, man.

[1:42:42] It's true, man.

[1:42:43] That's fun.

[1:43:01] Well,

[1:43:11] I'll tell you what, it doesn't get better than that, it just doesn't.

[1:43:18] It really is a great privilege to honor these kids in the hard work they do.

[1:43:59] Okay,

[1:44:02] we're going to move on to oral communication.

[1:44:06] This is the opportunity to address the council of any matter of interest whether on the agenda

[1:44:11] or not, please address all items not scheduled for public hearings at this time unless additional

[1:44:16] time is authorized by the council, each speaker shall be limited to three minutes.

[1:44:21] The total time for public comment shall not exceed one hour.

[1:44:26] If you'd like to come forward, please come forward at this time.

[1:44:39] Okay, two seconds, all of a sudden I'm on file.

[1:44:41] I want to bring to your attention the street light on West Olive.

[1:44:47] Olive and Porter.

[1:44:49] If you are on olive and you're traveling east, the red, the yellow and the green are

[1:44:55] are so faded and it's been that way for quite some time that you cannot see.

[1:45:00] So that's a big issue. It's been that way for quite some time, and I just want to bring that up to you. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.

[1:45:13] Members of the council. There comes a point when silence is no longer neutrality. Can you state your name for the record, please? No. There comes a point when silence is no longer neutrality. Silence becomes a choice. And when racism and xenophobia are being expressed in our community, particularly by people who openly identify themselves as supporters of

[1:45:36] members of this council, the people of Portoville have a right to know where each of you stands.

[1:45:41] Let me be very clear, you are not responsible for every word spoken by every person who

[1:45:46] supports you, but you are responsible for your own response when those words cross the

[1:45:51] line into racism, xenophobia, or the demeaning of people because of where they came from,

[1:45:57] what they look like, or whether someone thinks they are American enough.

[1:46:00] And silence is a response.

[1:46:02] So, tonight, I am not asking this council collectively to hide behind a generic statement about kindness or civility.

[1:46:10] I am asking each council member individually to denounce racism and xenophobia.

[1:46:16] Not someday, not privately, not through a carefully worded statement that condemns hate on all sides.

[1:46:22] Say it plainly. Racism is wrong, xenophobia is wrong, and neither is welcome in Porterville.

[1:46:28] And if that behavior comes from someone who voted for you, supported your campaign,

[1:46:33] stood beside you or shares your politics, it should be just as easy to condemn.

[1:46:39] In fact, that is when leadership matters most.

[1:46:41] Porterville belongs to all of us.

[1:46:43] It belongs to the families who have lived here for generations and the families who have arrived recently.

[1:46:48] It belongs to people whose first language is English and those whose first language is Spanish or something else.

[1:46:54] It belongs to people of every race, ethnicity, religion, and political belief.

[1:46:59] No political faction gets to decide who is sufficiently American to belong here.

[1:47:04] And no elected official should allow supporters to believe that racism or xenophobia is tolerated

[1:47:11] simply because those supporters are politically useful.

[1:47:14] You were not elected only to represent the people wearing your campaign signs.

[1:47:18] You represent the people being targeted by these words too.

[1:47:21] So I'm asking each one of you to answer a very simple question.

[1:47:25] Do you unequivocally condemn racism, and xenophobia, and port devil, including when it comes

[1:47:31] from your own supporters?

[1:47:33] There should be no hesitation in answering that question, because leadership isn't demonstrated

[1:47:38] by condemning your political opponents.

[1:47:41] Leadership is demonstrated when you are willing to look at the people standing beside you

[1:47:45] and say, this is wrong, you do not speak for me, and this is not who port devil is.

[1:47:50] Tonight, during your public comment time, every member of this council has an opportunity to say that and every member of this council should.

[1:48:09] Good afternoon, my name is Gavin Lembrina Blackwell, and I am here on my third attempt to convince the Portable City Council to disband a contract with flock.

[1:48:18] In October 4th, 2025, a woman in Florida named Lindsey Brook, Isaacs, discovered that her car was flagged in a hit end run that involved the deaths of three people.

[1:48:33] She spent 13 years in jail facing eight felony charges, and they were barely able to say that they didn't have enough evidence to convict her.

[1:48:43] What is this? Guilty until proven innocent? Are we seriously going to continue to use

[1:48:48] flock when they have demonstrated that they have demonstrated that they do not work as

[1:49:03] they should? There have been mistakes that have been made and since it's an AI there's

[1:49:08] no one that can really be blamed.

[1:49:12] The decision for surveillance should be up to the people

[1:49:14] for it is them who lose their privacy.

[1:49:18] Another thing I want to bring up, there is a crosswalk that is currently not in use

[1:49:25] on Morton, and it connects a trail that is paved.

[1:49:31] One night I was right there, I wasn't going to cross with someone stopped for me, and I

[1:49:37] decided, hey, they're being nice, I'm going to cross.

[1:49:40] And so I have my phone out since it's dark, and I have the light on, shining it so people

[1:49:44] can see me. I walk past the first car and I hear the screech of tires. I look to my right

[1:49:48] and it's a police officer.

[1:49:52] Personally, I don't have any quarrels with the police. I just wish

[1:49:55] maybe it would take better care because there are a lot of people, a lot of kids who like to

[1:50:01] bike at night and it's pretty much the culture nowadays for them. And so what if there was a kid

[1:50:07] who was biking, being dumb, and the officer hit him?

[1:50:13] My last and final thing to address,

[1:50:16] There is a crosswalk on Maine and Henderson.

[1:50:21] It's right next to the old statue.

[1:50:24] I am not a slow walker, I press the thing to get the sign and be able to walk and I can't make it.

[1:50:30] What if someone elderly was there and they tried to cross?

[1:50:34] What if they couldn't and it stopped right there and there were people honking at them?

[1:50:39] I mean,

[1:50:44] please look into that.

[1:50:45] And for the crosswalk that doesn't work on Morton, at least put up a sign that says it's not an use so that people don't accidentally use it.

[1:50:53] Thank you for your time.

[1:50:54] Thank you, Mr. Morton.

[1:51:06] My name is Jacob Walker.

[1:51:08] My stream, sorry, I'm meeting fell through, but I look forward to when we get to do that.

[1:51:14] First, McCurvy, you said at the end of the last meeting there's three Supreme Court cases that ruled ALPRs are constitutional.

[1:51:21] that's not true, some lower courts in Virginia have ruled them constitutional, and some of those have already been appealed by federal courts, the Supreme Court, the federal Supreme Court is not ruled on ALPRs.

[1:51:36] We're having this debate in real time all across the country, the verdict is still out.

[1:51:42] It was said at the last meeting that we don't share data with federal agencies, but we do share data with over 320 organizations across California,

[1:51:50] including still to this day, Elkahone, which is currently being sued for sharing their data illegally with federal agencies.

[1:51:57] Who knows how many more of these organizations do the same?

[1:52:00] I trust our officers, but I don't know that I could trust 320 agencies across the state.

[1:52:07] If the moral, constitutional, legal, and anecdotal arguments for these cameras aren't enough, then what will be?

[1:52:14] If every other city in the country cancels their contracts, because flock lied to them.

[1:52:18] As is the case in nearly a hundred cities who have canceled.

[1:52:23] Would you still hang on to the system because you haven't seen it misused with your own two eyes?

[1:52:30] Because I can tell you all with confidence that your eyes see no greater truth and your minds make no better argument than the tens if not hundreds of thousands of citizens who are aware of these cameras and know what they mean for their individual liberties.

[1:52:43] I understand that these cameras help solve crimes, but they do not prevent them.

[1:52:47] There are many things you can focus on that prevent crime altogether.

[1:52:52] Starting with the literacy rate crisis we have, these kids can't read.

[1:52:57] It's a big issue going on right now.

[1:52:59] And studies show two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by fourth grade will eventually end up incarcerated.

[1:53:06] That's from the national assessment of adult literacy.

[1:53:09] So you can check that out because it does seem like a big number.

[1:53:12] Big brother and sister programs show reduction in youth delinquencies by 30%.

[1:53:17] The list goes on, all of these things not only benefit us because we are safer as a result, but they lead to huge economic productivity results.

[1:53:26] It's more financially sensible than giving $240,000 to a company that calls its critics domestic terrorists, uses these cameras,

[1:53:34] Whereas, uses cameras and kids' gymnastics rooms to pitch their surveillance capabilities and was funded by a company who aids in genocide.

[1:53:44] You guys do not work for the police, your job is not to make them more powerful, your job is to protect our rights as citizens.

[1:53:51] We are not governed by the demands and wants of the executive branch.

[1:53:55] We govern ourselves through you, our elected officials with the explicit purpose of maintaining our inalienable rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[1:54:03] which last I checked does not involve using your power to aid in the fortification of an ever-growing, ever-more militarized police surveillance state.

[1:54:12] Thank you Mr. Miserable, and we are built upon technologies that undermine our liberties break by break.

[1:54:27] I'd recommend that you pull your latest Mission Impossible video off your Facebook page, unless you can show that you actually have contacted Sony USA at the right to use Mission Impossible theme, and also have model releases for all the kids in the video around the ship.

[1:54:50] If you don't have permission from those parents, that's actually considered trafficking.

[1:54:56] Thank you.

[1:54:57] Thank you, sir.

[1:55:04] And I will say my name, it's David Horowitz.

[1:55:07] So it's kind of interesting that one of the people that came up here talked about racism.

[1:55:12] And said that if there's anybody on the council who's people are being racist, they should

[1:55:18] deny them and give them a hard time and not want them to be part of their group anymore.

[1:55:25] So, if this be the case, I have a question, I was at a dinner not too long ago, that was hosted

[1:55:33] by a Mexican-American organization.

[1:55:35] And what they were sent was this, dear racist Mexicans, Latinos trying to be white.

[1:55:42] You don't like, they don't like you either.

[1:55:44] Pendejo, Joe, stupid.

[1:55:46] Well, let me tell you who sent that.

[1:55:49] It was a bell tram.

[1:55:51] So, you should probably deny your family as thinking like you.

[1:55:56] That's what this woman wants you to do, okay?

[1:55:59] Because to me, that's a pretty racist comment.

[1:56:02] You know, the people are allowed to hold political dinners, fundraisers for the people they want to support.

[1:56:09] But when another group wants to send out stuff like this, that to me is racism, right?

[1:56:15] It shouldn't be done.

[1:56:16] And another thing, as far as racism goes, and it was interesting of who was complaining

[1:56:21] about the racism, because I was here two weeks ago talking about the fact that I keep

[1:56:26] getting berated because I'm Jewish, and I'm getting a little tired of it.

[1:56:31] The funniest part about it, which wasn't funny at all, and I noticed the pink-aird lady's

[1:56:36] not here tonight, but a purple pink, whatever, she's crazy.

[1:56:40] I'm standing out in the foray, talking to Greg Sheldon, and this purple hair lady comes

[1:56:46] and starts braiding me for being Jewish and cussing me out.

[1:56:50] After I just talked about why are we doing this?

[1:56:53] So if you want to talk about racism, maybe you should talk with your own people about the

[1:56:57] racism that they're putting forward because we're getting tired of it.

[1:57:02] I'm getting tired of it.

[1:57:04] I don't need to be braided because of the way I was born.

[1:57:07] I was born Jewish.

[1:57:08] I can't change that, I don't want to change that, and I'm not going to change that.

[1:57:14] But I'm getting tired of being berated because I'm Jewish.

[1:57:17] So maybe the people on the left might want to try and be a little more civilized, because

[1:57:22] they want to have discussions, that's what we're all about, discussions.

[1:57:26] But to berate people for no reason, for being a Mexican that's in favor of certain Republicans,

[1:57:32] that's wrong.

[1:57:33] To berate me because I was born a Jew, that's wrong.

[1:57:37] So if you want to start, start in your own house.

[1:57:41] Thank you, Mr. Horowitz.

[1:57:50] Karen Anderson, so I just have a few thoughts on something that just came to mind not too long ago.

[1:57:59] When we were in school, all of us in school, we had at one point or another to participate in a group project.

[1:58:05] We're broken up into groups, three, four, five people in a group.

[1:58:09] could have been started like an elementary school, middle school, for sure, definitely high school.

[1:58:17] Often there was one person who would kind of take the lead.

[1:58:22] Others would not do much at all.

[1:58:25] Everybody would receive equal credit, which was not fair, wasn't right.

[1:58:31] This can transfer over to the workplace.

[1:58:34] There may be a project that whatever organization or company has, corporation, there's a project.

[1:58:44] Sometimes people take credit for things they didn't do.

[1:58:48] One of those things came up tonight in comments that Mayor Meister brought up previously.

[1:58:54] He mentioned that there were several miles of road work that were done that he was responsible for in the last four years.

[1:59:02] He hasn't been mayor for four years, he hasn't been on the council for four years, I don't believe.

[1:59:09] Maybe two years as a city council member and then two as mayor.

[1:59:14] But for him to take credit for all of the road work that's been done in the last four years.

[1:59:20] Is like a student or a person in a company that takes credit for the project that was started before they even came into position of power.

[1:59:32] sometimes plagiarism comes up that's another thing this can result in in

[1:59:41] unwarranted praise unwarranted attention it's not fair it's not right sooner

[1:59:47] later the light comes on the light is shown things are exposed the truth will

[1:59:53] eventually come out. Thank you. Thank you, Karen.

[2:00:08] Yes, I heard your opening speeches. You spent all of two hours with the driver and had an eye-opening experience. Well, that's an experience. You should have had long before you decided to try and outsource their jobs. It would have saved a whole lot of grief. And when you were done with your little joy, right? Mr. Meister, you didn't join their safety meeting. There was no safety meeting. There was a meeting which purposely excluded their superintendent and director that you and Mr. Tree arranged where you told them we were going to speak first and they could ask questions.

[2:00:38] questions later, you want better customer service, you want cleaner trucks, you want them to pick up the overload account and then get out and pick up the mess that's left.

[2:00:47] You want them to go ahead and work overtime to complete these tasks because Lord knows these guys have nothing better to do than clean up messes that they didn't make.

[2:00:55] Lord knows the director has better things to do than retrieving oversized TV box that someone was too lazy to haul the mile down the road to the recycling center.

[2:01:04] We also don't need to wait for the county nor do we need a partner with the county to reopen T-Pot Dome landfill.

[2:01:11] We have a transfer station at the corp yard that's fully permitted for up to 500 tons, trash, grain waste, recycling.

[2:01:19] And if you have questions about it, Mr. Revas, feel free to contact me, I'll let you know.

[2:01:25] You've then went so far as to tell them they needed to ask for a 401k plan during their next negotiation because purses so bad.

[2:01:32] and then you had the nerve to suggest that maybe their female superintendent was

[2:01:37] a diversity hire. No, it wasn't misunderstood and yes, it was most definitely

[2:01:42] heard correctly. As the former female superintendent, listen carefully so there's no

[2:01:48] misunderstanding because I can't say the exact two words I'd like to but one of

[2:01:53] them starts with an F and I'm sure you can figure out the rest and if all of that

[2:01:57] isn't enough, you go improve that that meeting was truly about. It was just another

[2:02:02] photo-op for your campaign posts on Facebook and TikTok.

[2:02:05] You posted that you wanted to thank those men for their hard work and you look forward

[2:02:09] to continuing to work alongside them and giving them the tools, staffing, and support

[2:02:13] they need.

[2:02:14] How disingenuous can you get?

[2:02:17] Where was that support when you were trying to get rid of them?

[2:02:20] Where was the thanks when you sat up there and publicly chastised them and told them to

[2:02:24] do better?

[2:02:25] Well, here's a thank you to you, too.

[2:02:27] Thank you for finally pulling your head out of your, well, you can figure that out, too.

[2:02:31] Thank you, Mr. Ferguson.

[2:02:39] Steve Kimbrough, I've been here before.

[2:02:41] What I want to do is address the flock stuff.

[2:02:45] We have people up here at this podium lie to you about the company.

[2:02:50] One, it was founded in 2017.

[2:02:53] So some of the dates and some of the stuff they give you is just made up.

[2:02:59] So what I would like you guys to do to kind of stop it is have the police chief bring in the person

[2:03:05] is responsible for the searches and tell you how it's used in this town.

[2:03:09] That will help a lot, that will educate you, and the citizenry of what this tool does

[2:03:15] for the city, and not just rumors of what people read on the web.

[2:03:19] Thank you.

[2:03:20] Thank you, sir.

[2:03:28] Hi, my name is-

[2:03:29] City Clerk.

[2:03:29] Hold on, man.

[2:03:30] Is there anyone online?

[2:03:33] Are you on her?

[2:03:34] Okay.

[2:03:34] Go ahead, man.

[2:03:35] Alrighty.

[2:03:36] Hi.

[2:03:36] My name is Kalista Walker.

[2:03:37] My apologies if my voice is a little shaky.

[2:03:39] I think you don't love public speaking, but I'm here today as a proud member of Porteville.

[2:03:44] I love being a constituent here, I love working here, and I think that what makes Porteville so different is we have a strong sense of community and we work hard.

[2:03:53] And I think that AI defeats the purpose of that, and you guys have heard it, I have a whole thing written down of why flock AI is bad.

[2:04:02] Even our AI posters, I think that we have such a community of small business owners,

[2:04:08] graders, artists, we could be using them, but we should also be using our own skills and

[2:04:14] our own power, rather than AI surveillance, but I'm actually going to forego what I wrote.

[2:04:24] I just hear this my first time getting to hear people, and there's a lot of anger, there's a lot of divide.

[2:04:29] we see it in Portaville and we see it across the country and we have a strong sense of community

[2:04:36] except for right now. We have a lot of angry people up here from both sides and I think that

[2:04:41] it's going to become a problem where you guys are getting just a lot of people who are very angry

[2:04:46] but no solutions. And I love our community but I hate to see it so ugly and divided. People are

[2:04:56] people are hurt and people are blaming each other, and I think that maybe as community what the gentleman right before me said when it comes to flock, I think that would be an amazing opportunity to clear things up because there's a lot of frustration with that itself but also there's such a divide in portable right now that I think there's a bigger problem I think we all need to come together because it's not about the right or the left and it's not about conspiracy theories, it's not about

[2:05:26] But having power over each other surveillance, it's about supporting each other.

[2:05:32] I think about if you do believe what would Jesus do, but Jesus helps their neighbor, they heal the sick, they help the poor.

[2:05:39] And I see a lot of just ugliness right now, and not a lot of, I think what we should be doing.

[2:05:47] Hopefully that made sense, I didn't follow a single thing I wrote, so thank you guys.

[2:05:51] Yes.

[2:05:51] Thank you.

[2:05:56] Hey guys, it's me Alexis, I still live here in Portivell.

[2:06:00] I just want to bring something here, attention, I don't have anything to complain about yet,

[2:06:04] but the county voted on data centers this morning and they put a 45 day moratorium on allowing

[2:06:10] any data centers to be built within the outer line communities of the county, however, that

[2:06:16] leaves opportunity for data center developments, developers to infiltrate into the cities to

[2:06:22] trying to get proposals into the city as well, the county decides what their regulations

[2:06:29] are going to be on it.

[2:06:30] However, the county has made it very, very clear that if any cities receive proposals

[2:06:35] that they will send letters of opposition to those proposals, they don't think any applications

[2:06:40] are in, but I did want to bring it to your attention because Portville has a ton of land to develop

[2:06:45] on in the outer skirts, so I would hate to see a data center come in and try and infiltrate

[2:06:50] on that land, just ahead of my good luck to me.

[2:06:55] Thanks guys.

[2:06:55] Thank you, Alexis.

[2:07:07] Hello, gentlemen.

[2:07:08] Taha Sully.

[2:07:08] I have just some file.

[2:07:11] I want to talk about some items on the agenda.

[2:07:13] Item number one.

[2:07:14] I see the accent standards.

[2:07:15] It looks like promising technology.

[2:07:17] I like the idea of early intervention and accountability side of it.

[2:07:21] I guess my question is, and this is probably going to be solved because I do read the agendas

[2:07:25] and sometimes there's a little bit left to be had as far as information.

[2:07:29] You know, what are we using now and how is this going to replace, and I know it's $73,000 worth.

[2:07:35] It doesn't sound like a lot of work five years of a still, it would be a very beneficial moving forward.

[2:07:40] I know I'm asking something from the chief of police.

[2:07:42] Just more information, just more information on what's going on with this on the agenda item.

[2:07:47] Number six, tort reform.

[2:07:49] I know there's an ask for us to join that.

[2:07:50] I had the opportunity of doing a risk management academy, so that one caught my eye.

[2:07:54] Okay, my understanding is this is trying to limit liability on cities for things that happen.

[2:08:01] I get that, but also I don't want this to turn to people getting hurt for things that they didn't do and not getting their fair shake.

[2:08:08] So maybe we'll just take a look at that and see exactly what they're asking for, what kind of reform.

[2:08:13] And what can we do to prevent losses ourselves?

[2:08:15] What can we do within our city government and promote safety and control the controllables is the thing I learned.

[2:08:20] And how can we have that within all our departments, safety minded person, how do we take care of our community?

[2:08:26] Number 13, I want to say welcome Brian, I'm glad to see somebody step forward to be a part of that committee.

[2:08:30] I'm excited about that.

[2:08:32] Number 14, I know we have an idea for communication specialists, I agree, we all can agree from the person who just spoke before us.

[2:08:39] We can do a better job of communicating, but this is another permanent position.

[2:08:43] And what's the real cost and benefits and the retirement package and I read in the report, this is something, but it's going to go through all departments.

[2:08:49] I know some departments already have their PR people, so that person's begun already consolidating.

[2:08:55] I know the city manager at one time talked about an app.

[2:08:58] The issue with the app was cost, but now this is a whole person, so that's a lot more so just taking about that with our budget situation.

[2:09:06] And lastly, number 19, this one really hits home, and that's where I dropped off with my letter, you know, a year ago I had a situation where I had a significant leak, I figured it out.

[2:09:17] I came to the city, asked for not just reimbursement for the water, but for the sewer rate because my water went into the ground, not into the sewer.

[2:09:24] Unfortunately, I got rejected, so I'm trying to figure out what changed, what was the sudden change of heart then now we're going to do this program.

[2:09:32] It's coming out of the water, I think the water enterprise, so we're all going to bear that.

[2:09:39] These $2,500 refunds, while we were given some money, some people were all going to bear that.

[2:09:43] And lastly, I'm really excited that we finally table the RFQ, but I would challenge you to go further and just kill it.

[2:09:51] We don't need to do it if we're going to support these people and we're going to commit to that.

[2:09:56] I feel like tableings like, all right, it's like an ultimatum and I don't think that's how you run a city organization of business by giving ultimatums.

[2:10:03] So, thank you for your time and have a great evening, gentlemen.

[2:10:06] Thank you, Mr. Saleh.

[2:10:13] Hi, good evening.

[2:10:15] My name is Jasmine Gutierrez.

[2:10:17] I'm a resident of Porterville.

[2:10:18] I'm a recent graduate from Fresno State.

[2:10:20] And I'm taking time today to speak about the use

[2:10:22] of flock cameras.

[2:10:23] Like many residents here, I was unaware

[2:10:25] that flock cameras had been installed,

[2:10:27] which should raise concern.

[2:10:29] Flot cameras are automated license plate readers.

[2:10:32] Flot cameras take pictures of any vehicle passing by

[2:10:34] with the driver unaware raising concerns about

[2:10:36] our civil liberties.

[2:10:37] Flot cameras collect information like the

[2:10:39] make model and license plate of an individual's car,

[2:10:41] or as well as one's daily movements.

[2:10:44] Data collected from flock cameras

[2:10:45] is a contributor to a national network of surveillance tools.

[2:10:48] This information is collected and shared without a warrant.

[2:10:51] Law enforcement agencies with working flock contracts

[2:10:54] are allowed to access this data under their own discretion.

[2:10:58] The use of flock cameras should raise local concern

[2:11:00] as there isn't heavy regulation

[2:11:01] as to how the data may be used.

[2:11:04] Across the nation, there have been multiple cases

[2:11:05] of police officers stalking ex-partners

[2:11:08] using flock cameras or similar forms of ALPRs.

[2:11:11] Flock cameras invite and allow communities to be heavily policed, especially affecting black and brown communities.

[2:11:17] Civil rights groups have found flock cameras have in place in areas that are predominantly people of color and low income neighborhoods.

[2:11:26] Members of the community should have been allowed to join in the discussion of placing flock cameras in our city.

[2:11:30] I ask that the mayor and then the rest of the council council

[2:11:33] Portables contract with flock cameras and to not replace it with an alternate automatic license plate reader

[2:11:39] I ask that the city of portable also release the full flock safety contract including the cost covered by portable taxpayers

[2:11:46] Thank you. Thank you, ma'am

[2:11:56] For two years or more and you hear people coming up here talking about racism

[2:12:02] First time I saw racism face-to-face

[2:12:07] I'm not going to state my name, but it's when I came to the liberty of blessing meeting that y'all had, okay?

[2:12:15] First time, face to face with racism with you two.

[2:12:19] Second time, I said, let me come here and see if City Council is about.

[2:12:24] Hell, he reads off an email, a racist homophobic email, and you sit there and didn't do anything

[2:12:32] and he's shaking his head and smiling.

[2:12:35] You wonder why this city is divided?

[2:12:38] It's divided because of you up there.

[2:12:41] It's divided because of your racism, your homophobic and your sexism that you have here in

[2:12:48] this town.

[2:12:49] And you're the ones disparaging it.

[2:12:51] Thank you, sir.

[2:12:54] Okay, do we have anyone online?

[2:12:58] Okay, thank you.

[2:12:59] All right, moving on.

[2:13:01] Back to council comments.

[2:13:04] Councilman Beltran, do you have any comments?

[2:13:08] I'll start off on the lighter stuff there.

[2:13:11] Thank you, those who brought the signal lights and crosswalk issues.

[2:13:14] That's exactly what we'd like to hear.

[2:13:16] There's an issue going on in the city.

[2:13:17] We'll try to thank you, Mr. Payne.

[2:13:19] He got the information and, you know, it will be addressed as soon as possible.

[2:13:25] Secondly, yeah, the talk about, I'm so thankful when I ran almost four years ago, I don't

[2:13:34] remember any of that stuff going on with the condemnation.

[2:13:38] I think at that time it was everybody respected each other, even though we may have disagreed

[2:13:44] at different things. Everybody was very respectful. It's not unique to Portaville, unfortunately,

[2:13:51] when we had the presidential elections. I mean, sometimes families were divided friends.

[2:13:56] Different things became between people. And I'm saddened to hear, you know, as unfortunately

[2:14:02] another election time comes, it brings out sometimes the worst in us. I don't know if that's

[2:14:08] just our nature as humans, you know. We have wounds that happen to us, and we don't know

[2:14:13] know how to deal with them and how to address them when we might misunderstand something

[2:14:18] that's happening around us.

[2:14:22] I do a lot of research on our community and most people probably know at one point

[2:14:27] that KKK marched down Main Street, that's how much of a life and well it was in our community.

[2:14:32] I believe it may have happened also in the 80s.

[2:14:36] My wife works in real estate, there were some homes when they were looking at the deeds,

[2:14:40] Hispanics weren't allowed to own homes in port about one point.

[2:14:44] Even soccer, it was not allowed in the area.

[2:14:48] Believe it or not, how interesting soccer wasn't allowed.

[2:14:51] They had to believe go to the county, I believe, to approve them to be able to play soccer.

[2:14:55] So unfortunately, there's some deep rooted, you know, I said wounds.

[2:15:00] Eight different things that happen to people. I'm sorry to hear my last name attached to something that may have been said. It's unfortunate. I'm sure there's times in anger that I feel something, but I try to make sure when I do address somebody, I try not to do that. Doesn't mean I'm without fault. There might be something I said to somebody 20 years ago. But no, I condemn any hate, hateful speech, any hate in the heart. There's times when I get anger with things that I see or hear, but I just pray on it and meditate.

[2:15:29] and just say, you know what, who am I going to represent?

[2:15:32] What am I going to look like when I'm representing my family?

[2:15:36] And so, I will condemn anything that's said negatively

[2:15:39] about other people.

[2:15:40] We may not agree with them.

[2:15:41] We might not like what's happening,

[2:15:43] but there's a better way to do it.

[2:15:44] Do it with better speech, with love, and better ideas.

[2:15:49] That will ultimately win out.

[2:15:51] So, I'm sorry people are going through that,

[2:15:53] whether it's people stepping up to be leaders in the community

[2:15:56] or in the private lives, there's no place in that.

[2:15:59] You know, we're not going to grow as a society.

[2:16:01] You know, we see war, we see a lot of these different things that come from ultimately hate.

[2:16:06] And whether it's in the national level, world level, just here in our own backyard, let's do this to do better.

[2:16:12] Thank you, Councilman Beltrein.

[2:16:14] Councilman Green, do you have any comments?

[2:16:17] About the only thing I'd like to say is, is about the tribalism or polarization of the community.

[2:16:24] Well, it's not just the community, but thank you.

[2:16:29] Can

[2:16:32] you hold it for me, Mr. Nat?

[2:16:34] I appreciate that.

[2:16:35] Continue on.

[2:16:37] I think, you know, it takes two to be, it takes two to have polarization.

[2:16:42] I mean, people need to think about it.

[2:16:44] It's not just local.

[2:16:47] It's nationwide.

[2:16:48] It's worldwide.

[2:16:49] And it's when you pigeonhole people as racist, misogynist, homophobes.

[2:16:58] I don't really know of anybody, in my experience with everybody up here, I don't see that.

[2:17:07] But being polarized and having different, it takes two, it takes two sides to have a problem.

[2:17:18] That's all I'm going to say, thank you.

[2:17:20] Thank you.

[2:17:21] Councilman Green.

[2:17:22] Councilman Revis, do you have any comments?

[2:17:30] I think everybody, depending on what nationality you are, what race you are, what ethnic you are.

[2:17:36] Everybody's racist at one point or another.

[2:17:39] Could be your racist against homosexuality be racist because he has a long hair.

[2:17:47] Everybody's prejudiced.

[2:17:48] That's when you just need to control and how you're upbringing is.

[2:17:52] But anyway, I've been, I've experienced it all my life.

[2:17:56] I think everybody has, but I'm not gonna go back and entertain that type of rhetoric.

[2:18:05] I did just, I'm not because, you know, there's times where I've sat down with my mother

[2:18:10] and my grandfather, and they've told me the times of how they grew up.

[2:18:14] They couldn't speak, and every time they spoke a Spanish word, money was taken away from

[2:18:20] them and sometimes they weren't able to eat so don't you know unless you lived it you really don't

[2:18:28] know what you're talking about because there is a lot of racism in this country and I do know

[2:18:33] growing up KKK used to be here and they used to have their things out there and by the two core

[2:18:40] area and I know the Grand Wizard used to have an auto part store here and Lindsay used to back in the

[2:18:47] day in the city council, they would pretty much ensure that during their council meetings

[2:18:53] that they would not have the Hispanics or the minorities within the city limits.

[2:19:00] So it is here, it was here, and anybody can be racist, anybody.

[2:19:06] It doesn't matter who you are, male, female, it doesn't.

[2:19:10] So, let's just, but on the topic of accusing certain people of what, of some of my colleagues

[2:19:19] up here being raised, I haven't seen it, and if I, and I'm the kind of person that

[2:19:24] will tell them straight to their face, and if you don't believe me, you just don't know

[2:19:29] me.

[2:19:30] That's how I am, because I lived it 36 years inside prison.

[2:19:35] You want to know what racism is?

[2:19:37] It's in there because you don't have a choice.

[2:19:41] You don't.

[2:19:43] They tell you what to do.

[2:19:46] They tell you when to eat.

[2:19:48] They tell you when to sleep and how to say hello.

[2:19:51] And I'm talking about the convicts.

[2:19:56] You are already put in that category.

[2:19:58] You don't have a choice.

[2:20:01] Racism is a cesspool in there.

[2:20:04] A lot of hatred, a lot of evilness

[2:20:06] and a lot of predators.

[2:20:09] It's the worst of the worst.

[2:20:12] And so when I came out here, there is racism,

[2:20:17] but I don't entertain it, and I don't give it the time of day.

[2:20:21] I just wish him well, say a little prayer, and I'm on my way.

[2:20:26] Because if I feed into it, then I encourage it.

[2:20:30] I'm not going to do that.

[2:20:32] And I know these colleagues, their faith, religion, man,

[2:20:36] And all of them all the way down to Mr. Beltrein.

[2:20:39] It's unfortunate that there's a lot of hatred, a lot of anger in here, for some people.

[2:20:45] But we're just trying to fix something that has been an issue for too long.

[2:20:52] And I'm sorry that it's hitting home for some, but this is a business, and

[2:20:58] you have to treat it as a business like Mr.

[2:21:00] Taha Saleh, he should know what business is.

[2:21:02] is, he should know because he runs a business.

[2:21:08] He knows how to, you have to run it like a business.

[2:21:11] So in regards to racism,

[2:21:15] I've seen it, lived it.

[2:21:17] I just don't entertain it.

[2:21:19] So with that, I'll turn it over to you.

[2:21:22] Thank you, Councilman Revis, vice-memory curry.

[2:21:26] I just have a few comments.

[2:21:27] The flock conversations continuing and for those that are new, we've been doing this for

[2:21:32] a little bit. We did put a comprehensive article in the newspaper and we've been doing some follow up just to make sure to dispel any myths and rumors and conjecture.

[2:21:41] And I'll just say this, we do have strict controls and audits in our city to make sure that the things that people have been talking about which are not happening here don't ever happen here.

[2:21:54] So just want to set the record straight on that. Thank you guys for coming in.

[2:21:57] There's a lot of concern about this everywhere, it's become a national conversation, and it's

[2:22:02] good to have it here, and it's good to have it civilly, and just make sure that we're

[2:22:06] not talking past each other.

[2:22:08] Thank you guys for coming in and sharing your concerns.

[2:22:11] I put an article in the paper last week about racism, and got a lot of good conversations

[2:22:17] about that.

[2:22:18] So, it's a difficult conversation when you look at it because a lot of people will politicize

[2:22:23] racism, and use it as a weapon.

[2:22:26] And I think that we have to be careful when you look at history.

[2:22:29] You can see how that can be done.

[2:22:32] The good book teaches us a couple of things, right?

[2:22:35] If you answer a fool's argument with a foolish argument,

[2:22:38] you become a fool.

[2:22:40] And so let's not do that.

[2:22:42] And let's continue to be working towards unity

[2:22:44] because those seeking division using those terminologies

[2:22:48] and these politicized approaches using racism

[2:22:52] to browbeat their enemies, it's not new.

[2:22:55] This started in the early 1900s.

[2:22:58] It's attributed to Leon Trotsky and the socialist organizations

[2:23:02] in the Russian Revolution.

[2:23:04] It's all documented, and they use it as a weapon.

[2:23:07] But as far as this conversation,

[2:23:09] I think it's a good conversation.

[2:23:11] And firsthand, we've all experienced it.

[2:23:13] So let's work together and make sure

[2:23:15] that we're not doing that to each other with each other.

[2:23:18] And if we see it, let's call it out.

[2:23:20] But let's not go so far that we try

[2:23:22] to diminish other people using those terms.

[2:23:24] That's my comment.

[2:23:26] Thank you, sir.

[2:23:27] You know, just to clear some of the records on the, like the roads,

[2:23:32] I absolutely was instrumental on the expansion of roads in the community.

[2:23:39] Our streets department's doing the work.

[2:23:42] Their management teams are putting together the plan.

[2:23:45] But I was instrumental in moving funds to fund the 30-lane miles that we are doing now today.

[2:23:51] a $3 million investment, so I just want to clear that for the record and I have been elected for four years.

[2:23:59] Wendy Ferguson, she holds merit.

[2:24:02] She's an ex-ployee of the city, she actually left the city to go to Viselia and she's correct.

[2:24:09] She's obviously well connected still with the Refuse Department and I appreciate her clearing the record.

[2:24:14] I did recommend to the staff, the drivers.

[2:24:17] When they're coming and asking for raises and negotiations, I advise them to ask for a match on their 401K.

[2:24:28] I think it's wise to invest in your future.

[2:24:31] And so, you know, they make many ask and they never ask for a match on their 401K.

[2:24:37] And that's something that I would like to support as a Mayor of Portable and maybe a future councilman.

[2:24:43] And because I work for the state and there are people that retire from the state and still have to go back to work.

[2:24:51] And so if they're putting in a 401k throughout their career, it gives them a buffer.

[2:24:57] And so it's just the goal is just to take care of the sending employees at the end of the day.

[2:25:02] And so I appreciate her bringing that to the table.

[2:25:05] The talks of, you know, it should drop the name of the person, I'm not going to use it, but I don't even know her.

[2:25:11] So to say that I said she's a DEI hire or she's not qualified for the job is a blatant lie and I want to clear that for the record as well.

[2:25:21] Now this council led on killing any DEI style of hiring.

[2:25:27] This council took it in closed session and we killed it.

[2:25:30] So I just want to clear that for the record as well.

[2:25:32] That's what I was talking to.

[2:25:36] You know, this talk of racism, I'm not even going to feed into it.

[2:25:40] It's laughable that the person that's come in here and called me a Nazi, a white nationalist,

[2:25:46] all kinds of slanderous defamation.

[2:25:50] And then once me to say something about it, no, I'm going to keep leading, by example, I'm

[2:25:57] going to continue to do what's right for my community, I'm not going to play into these

[2:26:01] politics of race, it doesn't, I care about merit, that's what I care about.

[2:26:08] What do you bring to the table?

[2:26:09] Are you a hard worker?

[2:26:11] I don't care about genders or the color of your skin.

[2:26:16] It's what do you bring to the table and I want the best person for the best job.

[2:26:20] And that's what America is about, and that's what I support.

[2:26:23] So with that, we will move on to the consent calendar.

[2:26:26] All consent calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion.

[2:26:30] there will be no separate discussion of these matters unless the request is made and which event the item will be removed from the consent calendar and all items removed from the consent calendar for further discussion will be heard at the end of schedule matters. I would like to poll agenda item number 14 this council have any other agenda items they like to see pulled number one please. So we have one 14 is there any others?

[2:27:01] Okay, I'll make a motion one through 14 excluding one and 14.

[2:27:06] I'll second.

[2:27:07] Okay, we have a first and a second, we'll call for the vote.

[2:27:11] If we are using our monitors, gentlemen,

[2:27:22] passes 5-0.

[2:27:24] Okay, moving on to our first public hearing in the night, city manager.

[2:27:29] Thank you, Mayor and members of the council.

[2:27:31] Our public hearing tonight is a conditional use permit, PRC, 2026-13-C for

[2:27:37] or dead in saloon located at 1200 South Main Street.

[2:27:40] I'm asked Director Dignum to provide the staff report.

[2:27:44] Good evening, Mayor, members of Council.

[2:27:48] Tonight's subject is the conditional use permit

[2:27:51] for the dead in saloon at 1200 South Main Street.

[2:27:54] The purpose of this item is to conduct a public hearing

[2:27:56] and consider a conditional use permit

[2:27:58] to allow the reopening of a previously operated bar tavern

[2:28:02] within an existing commercial building

[2:28:04] at 1200 South Main Street.

[2:28:06] The applicant, Don Burns, on behalf of property owner Mike Colletto, proposes to reopen the previously operated Harleys Tavern under the business name, Dead and Saloon, at 1200 South Main Street.

[2:28:19] Approval of the CUP with a lot of proposed tavern, use and support the applicant's acquisition of a state of California type 48 alcohol beverage control ABC license, which authorizes the onsite sale and

[2:28:34] consumption of beer, wine and distilled spirits.

[2:28:37] Based on the applicable ABC licensing threshold for the census tract, the proposed on sale license

[2:28:43] would not result in an over-concentration of alcohol licenses within the census tract.

[2:28:48] The subject property is located within the CR zone district, which has a general plan

[2:28:54] land used designation of retail centers and allows bars and taverns subject to the approval

[2:29:00] of a conditional use permit.

[2:29:02] The Portavill Development Ordinance requires the City Council to make specific findings prior

[2:29:08] to approving or modifying a conditional use permit.

[2:29:11] Staff evaluated the proposed use and determined that the required findings can be made as

[2:29:15] follows.

[2:29:16] Number one, the proposed project advances the goals and objectives of the city and is consistent

[2:29:21] with the policies of the general plan and other applicable plans.

[2:29:25] The reopening of a tavern at 1200 South Main Street supports the following City of Portavill

[2:29:29] general plan policies, ED-G-2 to retain, improve, and promote existing businesses in Portoville.

[2:29:38] ED-G-5 retain existing local businesses and foster local startups.

[2:29:44] LU-G-1 to promote a sustainable, balanced, land-use pattern that responds to the existing

[2:29:51] and future needs of the city. There are no other applicable specific plans for the project location.

[2:29:58] Number two.

[2:30:00] The location-size design and operating characteristics of the proposed project are consistent with the purposes of the district and conform with the general plan, development ordinance and other applicable plans adopted by the city council.

[2:30:13] The CR zone district does allow bars and taverns subject to approval of the conditional use permit. The proposed project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.

[2:30:31] And based on the project application, applicable general plan and zoning requirements, departmental

[2:30:37] review, and the findings described above, staff recommends approval of the conditional

[2:30:42] use permit for the dead insolute at 1200 South Main Street, subject to the applicable conditions

[2:30:47] of approval.

[2:30:48] The recommendation is that the city council number one conduct a public hearing to receive

[2:30:54] testimony regarding the proposed conditional use permit for the dead insolute at 1200 South

[2:30:59] main street. And based on a procedural correction, staff is recommending that we continue the

[2:31:06] hearing to the meeting of September 1st.

[2:31:11] Okay. Okay, bringing it back to the council will open the public hearing. You heard that

[2:31:16] we're going to prolong the public hearing to the next meeting. We'll open the public hearing

[2:31:22] at this time. Does anyone have anything that they would like to say?

[2:31:28] I'm not seeing anyone.

[2:31:29] Is there anyone online for an amdou?

[2:31:32] No, Your Honor.

[2:31:33] Okay, we'll close the public hearing.

[2:31:35] Actually, we're going to, are we keeping the public hearing open?

[2:31:37] Oh, that's you are correct.

[2:31:39] We'll keep the public hearing open.

[2:31:41] We'll just amend that little shot there.

[2:31:44] So, and we will, do we need to bring it back to council for comments?

[2:31:48] Or we're prolonging it to the next meeting?

[2:31:51] Well, first, I want to make it clear we're adjourning the public meeting to,

[2:31:55] and we need to state the specific date.

[2:31:57] I don't know if that was September 1st.

[2:31:59] We're adjourning the meeting to September 1st.

[2:32:01] But they don't have to re-notice who they've already noticed.

[2:32:03] Okay.

[2:32:04] And then you guys can discuss it, but I mean, it's not going to be appropriate.

[2:32:08] This council have any comments?

[2:32:10] We're not voting on this, so we'll see it September 1st.

[2:32:12] Yeah, I just motion to go September 1st.

[2:32:15] Do we need a motion that just carries on, right?

[2:32:18] Yeah, I would motion to adjourn it to September 1st.

[2:32:22] I second his motion, we'll call for the vote.

[2:32:25] passes

[2:32:39] 5-0. Okay moving on to second reading agenda item 16.

[2:32:49] Fern, were you going to read that one, of course?

[2:32:56] Yes, I'm going to give you one moment.

[2:33:01] The ordinance number 1934 in ordinance of the city council, the city of Portugal,

[2:33:07] repealing and replacing sections 2-26.1 through 2-26.4 of chapter 2,

[2:33:13] And adding sections 2-26.5 through 2-26.9 are the portable municipal code pertaining to code enforcement officers including the relocation of the code enforcement function to the building division within the planning and engineering department.

[2:33:27] Staff's recommendation is that the city council gives second reading to ordinance number 1934 way further reading and a doubt set of ordinance.

[2:33:35] Okay, do we, that's it, right?

[2:33:38] Do you need to make a motion?

[2:33:40] Okay, I'll make a motion to go with staff recommendation.

[2:33:42] Okay, first and a second, we'll call for the vote.

[2:33:54] Passes 50, okay, moving on, you need to read by title only?

[2:33:58] Yes, Ron.

[2:33:59] Go ahead.

[2:33:59] Ordinance number 1934, an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Portivo, repealing and replacing sections 2-26.1 through 2-26.4 of Chapter 2, and adding sections 2-26.5 through 2-26.9 of the Portivo municipal code pertaining to code enforcement officer.

[2:34:16] Thank you, sir.

[2:34:17] Okay, moving on to the second reading, agenda item number 17.

[2:34:22] I'll turn that over to Fernando again.

[2:34:25] Yes, Your Honor.

[2:34:26] We have agenda item number 17, an ordinance number 1935.

[2:34:33] An ordinance of the City Council, the City of Portivo,

[2:34:36] a meeting chapter 15 of the Portivo Municipal Court

[2:34:38] pertained to business licenses, including the transfer

[2:34:41] of administration of the city's business license program

[2:34:44] to the planning and engineering department

[2:34:46] and related administrative updates, staff's recommendations, that the City Council gives

[2:34:49] second read into ordinance number 1935, way further reading and that said ordinance.

[2:34:54] Okay, bringing it back to the Council, I'll make a motion to go with staff's recommendation.

[2:35:01] Second.

[2:35:02] Okay, we have a first and a second, Councilman Beltran.

[2:35:06] It is a comment briefly, Director Dingham, you've got a plate full.

[2:35:14] And being the Fire Marshal as well, now the Director for Planning and Engineering.

[2:35:19] Great job, I know you're up for that task.

[2:35:24] Just knowing that you're overseeing so much, I know I can overextend myself at times, thinking I'm capable.

[2:35:30] I want to be that person that says, I know you're up for it.

[2:35:36] I disagree with this just because I don't want to put more on your plate because you have so much going on.

[2:35:41] As much as I respect and know your capabilities, I want to be that person that speaks into you said, I think you got your plate full.

[2:35:50] But anyhow, I love what you stepped up to do though, but I just want to make those comments.

[2:35:56] Okay, we have a first and a second, we'll call for the vote.

[2:36:08] Passes 4-1. Okay, moving on to schedule matter.

[2:36:12] Yes, go ahead, re-by title only, sir.

[2:36:14] ordinance number 1935 in the ordinance of the City Council of the City of Portugal,

[2:36:18] a man in chapter 15 of the Portable Municipal Code, pertaining to business license.

[2:36:23] Thank you, sir. Okay, moving on to schedule matters. Do we want to just do one, 14, 18 and 19?

[2:36:30] Let's do it. Councilman Beltran, you pulled one. Go ahead, sir.

[2:36:35] Yeah, thank you. It's a great product. I can see where it's get a really reduced staff time. It'd be efficient.

[2:36:41] I really love what an overall package it does provide. I think it's going to be

[2:36:45] very beneficial.

[2:36:47] But my only concern was that kind of like the flock situation is, I saw in the agreement

[2:36:53] that they are allowed to use the footage and they call it de-identifying so they'll

[2:36:59] take away any insignia, names, identifiers to know what the videos are from for training

[2:37:05] purposes and to make a better product.

[2:37:09] And I had asked the city manager, we weren't really sure if there was a clause that we could

[2:37:14] We just say, no, we still want the product, but we don't want you to use any of our things that are developed through our videos to be utilized in any train.

[2:37:21] I didn't know if it was a clause that we can, or it's all or nothing, I guess.

[2:37:25] Yeah, and maybe to that point, I shared the clause or the section with the agreement in front of if you have that section just so we could share it on the screen for the council and the public that council in Beltrein is brought up in.

[2:37:43] So Megan, I know this is quick, but in your review, is there any concern with what Axon is asking for?

[2:37:53] Yeah, the way I read this is that it's not really about them sharing it for training, it's more like if there's an issue and they need a troubleshoot it, that they have access to our content to make sure that they can accurately troubleshoot their system.

[2:38:12] It specifically mentions performing troubleshooting diagnostic system monitoring, maintenance, and incident response.

[2:38:20] Otherwise, the city retains all right, including intellectual property rights in the content.

[2:38:26] So I personally am not concerned with the way the agreements are in.

[2:38:30] But if there's another part that's raising a concern outside of that, I'd be willing to look at it.

[2:38:39] I think I can clear this up for you.

[2:38:41] It's a good question, so the cameras that are the footage that we retain in our axon database is evidence.

[2:38:50] They are not allowed by law to possess or use that evidence.

[2:38:54] There are occasions where, especially for axon standards, so

[2:38:59] there's multiple axon products that the police department uses and law enforcement overall uses.

[2:39:05] is, axon standards is very different.

[2:39:07] It is for strictly for oversight, admin reviews,

[2:39:12] internal affairs investigations, so anything that is pulled

[2:39:17] from evidenceaxonevidence.com into axon standards

[2:39:22] is used for the sole purpose of investigations

[2:39:27] and accountability.

[2:39:29] There are occasions where a police officer will do something

[2:39:33] than really awesome, and they want to use it to train other law enforcement agencies

[2:39:39] across the country.

[2:39:40] In those instances where that might be useful, they would ask us.

[2:39:47] Yeah, thank you for that clarification.

[2:39:48] It might have just been me and all the stuff that I'm reading that I got these two as one.

[2:39:52] And so thank you for putting this up there.

[2:39:54] And this, mostly not just educate myself, but also the community what the questions about

[2:39:58] how videos are used.

[2:40:00] And so I love the product again.

[2:40:01] It wasn't so much that I was against it, it's just to clarify so people understand.

[2:40:04] And we do have a lot of good restrictions and oversight.

[2:40:08] Thank you.

[2:40:08] That's all mayor.

[2:40:09] Okay, I'm going to make a motion to go with staff recommendation.

[2:40:12] Second.

[2:40:13] Okay, we have a first and second.

[2:40:14] Is there any other comments?

[2:40:16] No.

[2:40:16] Okay, let's call for the vote.

[2:40:24] Passes 5-0, okay, moving on to schedule matter number 14.

[2:40:28] Mr. Tree, we had our city manager meeting yesterday or agenda briefing.

[2:40:34] I voiced my concerns on the pay scale.

[2:40:37] I'd like to bring it down.

[2:40:39] I think we discussed the 210 level, I can't remember, I think it's 60 to 75,000 a year just for clarification.

[2:40:52] I don't know if that's something we could pull up for colleagues.

[2:40:56] We could pull up the pay and benefit plan, but I can tell you that the range 210 is the starting salary of $63,876.

[2:41:07] with a five-step increase, which would cap out at 77,952.

[2:41:16] We did some wage comparison to that point, the Tlaire County, their media specialists,

[2:41:22] which is essentially doing the same function, is almost identical salary.

[2:41:28] What you recommended or what I'm recommend?

[2:41:29] What you're recommending, okay.

[2:41:30] And then there are others, the city of Isaiah has a median communication specialist that's about $5,000 more, 67,000 starting out and then they have a manager at 102,000.

[2:41:45] And the good thing about the step system is, if you do have someone that's highly qualified, maybe coming from the county.

[2:41:53] They, you have the ability to end the discretion to identify the skills of that future employee and you can give them a higher step coming in.

[2:42:03] So that would be my motion as to amend it to the 210 salary range, is there any other comments?

[2:42:17] Yeah, similar, I didn't like the pay, I'm glad if we're entertaining this, it's brought down.

[2:42:25] But even a comparison with a county in Visalia between not necessarily just their budgets alone are a lot larger than ours.

[2:42:31] I think at least three times that the county's probably a billion dollars versus ours.

[2:42:36] But then also just the size of the department's how much bigger they are.

[2:42:41] So I don't like that apples to apples comparison.

[2:42:45] But my recommendation was when I had my meeting yesterday as well was I think this might be something that could be also a part time basis.

[2:42:52] So we're not looking at retirement and benefit taxes that can really,

[2:42:56] now you're talking upwards of $100,000 for an employee to,

[2:43:01] you know, I think information is important in nowadays.

[2:43:06] There's so many avenues that people can get content.

[2:43:10] And I know that's a part that we need to figure out on the backside as an organization.

[2:43:16] Some departments have members that are better at it than others

[2:43:19] or have personnel that have some time that they're able to.

[2:43:23] So I get that that might be, I wanna say a weak link,

[2:43:26] but a thing that we need to look at.

[2:43:29] But at this price tag, I just don't,

[2:43:32] I would more entertain a part-time job,

[2:43:35] especially if we're gonna compare to the county and by cell,

[2:43:37] they have a much bigger structure.

[2:43:40] I mean, again, I think I'm more in the part-time range

[2:43:42] of that would bring it around like 45,000.

[2:43:45] Thank you for making your point, is there anything else?

[2:43:49] Yeah, so you wanted it to be a part time you said it three times. So does

[2:43:54] Council agreeing do you have any comments?

[2:43:59] I'm just trying to wrap my head around it

[2:44:01] but it seems like maybe at this point in time it seems to me to be kind of

[2:44:05] prudent maybe to slow the truck down a little bit and really flesh this out a

[2:44:09] little further and give it some more thought before we jump off the bridge into

[2:44:16] the creek for now deep it is. That's what my recommendation is.

[2:44:22] Okay, so you're recommending you don't want this position at all, we have a recommendation

[2:44:27] of part time. I'm saying the salary range of 210, Councilman Revis, do you have any comments?

[2:44:41] Well, since,

[2:44:45] I mean, I think the city needs something like this. And I think we need a good

[2:44:51] with a source for communication with the public.

[2:45:00] I like the idea of what Mr. Beltran said at part time, but I don't think that's going to bring anything in in that aspect with high cost of living and a few other things. I think if we have the budgetary to do it now, I think we should do it, but at a lower pay as what the mayor recommended.

[2:45:25] It's up there, but I mean, we got to see what our options are.

[2:45:29] but I support the, I think we need this, and I think that we need to move forward with this.

[2:45:37] So with that, pass it on.

[2:45:38] Thank you, Councilman Rivas, Vice Member Kirby, do you have any comments?

[2:45:45] No, is there a second, AJ?

[2:45:48] Yeah, I don't have any comments, I concur.

[2:45:52] Yeah, and I'm still supporting my motion.

[2:45:56] I think this is important to get the public outreach.

[2:46:00] the town square is social media today.

[2:46:02] Just posting in the port of a recorder is not sufficient.

[2:46:06] We need to be showing what the city is doing to better the lives of the constituent supporter bill on the daily if we can pull it off.

[2:46:15] So I think it's important.

[2:46:18] I think this is a good wage in our community.

[2:46:21] Maybe we are wanting a talented person and so this will bring that talent.

[2:46:26] So we have a first and a second.

[2:46:28] Let me say one more thing.

[2:46:30] I want to make sure I want to make it clear, I'm not against the position.

[2:46:34] I think more slow down a little bit because in part time, yeah, that sounds good, but I think you're going to have a hard time getting a qualified person for part time.

[2:46:44] That's just probably not going to happen, so I just want to make it clear.

[2:46:48] I do support the position.

[2:46:49] I just think we have to think about it a little more.

[2:46:51] Okay, so we have a first and a second.

[2:46:54] We'll call for the vote.

[2:47:06] I think you just click it.

[2:47:07] No, just touch the, whatever other one you want.

[2:47:10] Okay.

[2:47:11] Pardon me.

[2:47:15] Passes three, two.

[2:47:17] Okay, moving on to schedule matter number 18, City Manager.

[2:47:21] Thank you, Mayor.

[2:47:22] This is for consideration of amendments to the city's entertainment zone back on March 17th.

[2:47:29] The City Council adopted ordinance number 1930, amending chapter 15.2.

[2:47:34] zero of the portal municipal code to establish the entertainment zone within the city ordinance number

[2:47:42] 1930 currently establishes two entertainment zones. The first zone is our downtown zone consisting

[2:47:48] of Main Street between all of Avenue and Morton Avenue including adjacent sidewalks and public

[2:47:53] right-of-ways. The second is our airport zone consisting of a designated public area consisting

[2:47:59] consisting of designated public areas of the portable municipal airport on July 21st, the City Council of Discuss Entertainment Zone, the mayor made a motion to expand the entertainment zone to include the portable sports complex and Main Street parking lots, and also asked to review the existing wristband fee, and so we're bringing this item forward for further discussion regarding staff is looking for direction on

[2:48:29] specific areas to expand to, including, it's already mentioned,

[2:48:36] Main Street parking lots but also there's four complex, if Council would like,

[2:48:40] any other areas as well as staff is looking for direction,

[2:48:45] either to increase, decrease or keep the risk and fee the same.

[2:48:51] Once staff gets direction, we would bring back the amended ordinance

[2:48:57] for city council for the council's consideration.

[2:49:03] Okay, thank you city manager.

[2:49:05] And I'll go ahead and lead on this.

[2:49:06] It was my motion.

[2:49:09] You know, it was exciting to see the farmer's market

[2:49:11] and this is where as we said, you know,

[2:49:15] we don't want to close down Main Street

[2:49:16] or certain streets, let's move it to the parking lot,

[2:49:19] but we still want them to have access

[2:49:21] to the entertainment zone or any kind of future group.

[2:49:26] So what I would say with this motion is we encompass all live to Morton, third street to D street.

[2:49:33] It creates a downtown entertainment zone that has our parking lots within it.

[2:49:39] And then also with the expansion, I'd like to see this expansion out to the sports complex.

[2:49:47] I know Vice Mayor had mentioned the fairgrounds.

[2:49:51] We do not have jurisdiction over those fairgrounds.

[2:49:54] They have their own board, it is their land, not our land.

[2:49:58] And so I don't think we even have the ability to really that's their decision to make on how they want to run their facility out there.

[2:50:09] But I think that the sports complex, if we can expand out to there, it creates the opportunity.

[2:50:14] I mean, like I've said in the past for maybe Eagle Mountain because you know to do an outdoor concert or other venues, excuse me, or even possibly say like a Christian ban comes to town and the churches all gather together and have a Christian concert out in the park we create this atmosphere.

[2:50:34] I'm not saying they're going to drink alcohol but creates an atmosphere where people could come together.

[2:50:38] I think that the risk bands need to stay where they are.

[2:50:45] That's my position right now.

[2:50:47] I'll pass it off, vice mayor, do you have any comments?

[2:50:51] No, I concur.

[2:50:55] I think originally when we made the downtown entertainment zone,

[2:50:59] we had not had an event.

[2:51:01] And so now that we've had an event and we

[2:51:02] see how that works, the $10 was definitely a challenge for

[2:51:07] or someone because that's a barrier.

[2:51:11] And there's been a lot of debate about that.

[2:51:13] I think that the most important part of that debate for me

[2:51:16] was when you use money, that's a contract.

[2:51:22] So when you say, I'm going to pay 10 bucks,

[2:51:24] I'm serious about following the rules.

[2:51:26] And I like that because it's self-policing for the most part,

[2:51:30] because folks that are going to participate in that

[2:51:33] are going to have to put some money in the pot and say,

[2:51:36] I'm signing up it could be done with five bucks and I think you know we could bring it back and look at that again

[2:51:42] But I don't think it's a showstopper keeping it at 10

[2:51:45] But it does put a lot of pressure on whoever's having the event to make sure that they design the event properly because

[2:51:51] It could be a barrier to the event

[2:51:54] But I think in the context of what we have done and what we're planning to do at the sports complex

[2:52:00] I think it still makes sense at ten bucks. So I'm gonna stay there

[2:52:04] I'm not moved yet, and I think the idea of expanding the, just I think what we're saying is we're just going to make the existing zone around Main Street bigger, but we still come back to the council and decide how big it is by each event.

[2:52:23] So we're just we're casting a wider net to start now that we've seen the success and so if someone wants to have a

[2:52:32] Smaller event that's it that's isolated to a parking lot or some then we can make it just that size

[2:52:38] It'll be within the new boundaries, and so I like that too. I guess I didn't understand the

[2:52:46] The fairgrounds properly. We don't want to have an entertainment zone in the parking lot, right?

[2:52:52] So that was a faux pas, but I think this is a good move and it's adjusting it slightly, it's not a big adjustment and I think it expands it a little bit.

[2:53:01] I'm hoping that we can have some events at the airport and at the sports complex, but it's going to take someone to lead them.

[2:53:08] We are creating the conditions and I think that this opens it up for us to invite someone to have a farmer's market type thing or a downtown.

[2:53:18] I think that's helpful.

[2:53:19] So I am with the mayor on his comments and I concur for those reasons, so I go with the recommendations that the mayor made, was that it?

[2:53:28] Yeah, that would be a motion, I like that.

[2:53:30] Yeah, I will second that.

[2:53:32] Okay, we have a first and a second.

[2:53:34] Councilman Revis, do you have any comments?

[2:53:36] No comments.

[2:53:36] No comments?

[2:53:37] Councilman Green?

[2:53:38] No, sir.

[2:53:39] Councilman Beltran.

[2:53:43] I don't mind the expansion of the parking lot areas.

[2:53:47] is more only concern would be if staff or the zoning department could look at if there's any

[2:53:55] properties that may be problematic with having alcohol near them. I don't know if there's

[2:54:00] anything like that, like a school because it'd be closed. I don't know if there's I'm not in that

[2:54:04] world, so just making sure legally there's no conflicts with having alcohol around somebody. I

[2:54:09] hate to do it if it was like a sober living place adjacent to something, but so Councilman Bell

[2:54:16] I'll try and just interrupt you for a second, sorry, but it's going to come to the council.

[2:54:21] So we'll have that ability to show discretion if something like that happens.

[2:54:25] Yeah, just so people know that's my mind thought, I'm not just, you know,

[2:54:29] rubber stamping things, I'm just kind of looking ahead to when these things do come before us.

[2:54:36] I don't really care to expand it much further than that for now.

[2:54:41] All of these my thought is because initially when the entertainment zone came to us was let's revitalize downtown.

[2:54:48] The whole thing was that strived businesses downtown to get that businesses kind of influx of business,

[2:54:54] get people re-acquainted with businesses that are downtown.

[2:54:59] And so that's kind of, I see the bigger picture, but I guess I'm having trouble saying we had one event downtown now that spread this all over our community.

[2:55:10] When the main focus was to bring people to downtown, I'm glad the fee is going to stay similarly sets the consensus is I believed you know $10 shouldn't be a barrier for something that's free that's mostly free

[2:55:23] I guess if it's a concert those promoters may have a charge

[2:55:27] But the other point of bringing it to downtown and having an entertainment zone was to create funds to then support

[2:55:35] infrastructure or beautification projects in downtown Portaville.

[2:55:39] So if we were going to look at lowering that rate, then we're just,

[2:55:44] we're not going to raise any funds for what the purpose of this was.

[2:55:49] So those are kind of my little bit of concerns of, we've only had one event and

[2:55:54] now we're going to spread this a little bit further.

[2:55:56] I don't see how if a big concert comes for some reason.

[2:56:02] And I guess this is part of getting ahead of that.

[2:56:07] But part of talking about the fee was there's a cost to these community events.

[2:56:16] So I think the car show one since it was considered kind of a large event was roughly $10,000.

[2:56:25] I don't think we recouped that kind of money and that's not in the intention.

[2:56:29] But the more that we're expanding this to other areas,

[2:56:35] there's already some comments about how much we're spending now.

[2:56:37] What is it going to look like when this starts to happen?

[2:56:41] So I'd like to get the farmer's markets going,

[2:56:44] maybe more things geared towards downtown,

[2:56:46] which that was kind of the whole point of this before we start expanding this.

[2:56:49] I love the idea of the parking lots off of Main Street to the Mayor's comment.

[2:56:54] I don't like shutting down Main Street.

[2:56:55] So if D Street or Second Street could be used, I think that's awesome, but again, I don't like that we're going to maybe expand it further because we haven't shown the success yet from the first phase before we're looking at phase two or phase three.

[2:57:13] I like to make sure that phase one worked out really well. So those are my comments.

[2:57:18] Thank you, sir. We have a first and a second. We'll call for the vote.

[2:57:29] Sorry, Your Honor, it's not working correctly.

[2:57:31] Let's see a roll call.

[2:57:33] Councillor Mareevis.

[2:57:34] Aye.

[2:57:35] Councillor Maree green.

[2:57:36] Aye.

[2:57:36] Councillor Beltrein.

[2:57:37] No.

[2:57:38] Vice Mayor McCurvy.

[2:57:39] Aye.

[2:57:39] Mayor Meister.

[2:57:40] Aye.

[2:57:40] Passes 4-1.

[2:57:42] Okay.

[2:57:44] Moving on to schedule matter number 19.

[2:57:46] This is one that I, oh, go ahead, City Manager.

[2:57:50] Definitely, Mayor, this is one that you requested back in July 21st, which is a consideration of a courtesy leak program for utility customers.

[2:57:58] In response to the approved motion, staff to develop a proposed courtesy leak adjustment program for residential and commercial utility customers who experience unusually high water usage resulting from unintended verified leak.

[2:58:15] The program is intended to provide limited financial relief while encouraging prompt repair of leaks and maintaining appropriate safeguards for the city's utility funds.

[2:58:25] Under the proposed guidelines, the applicant must be the utility account holder of record and may receive no more than one courtesy leak adjustment during any two year period.

[2:58:37] The leak must be repaired before the request is submitted and a completed request for review form with required supporting documentation must be submitted within 90 calendar days following the end of the billing period in which the unusually high water usage associated with the leak first appeared.

[2:58:55] Customers must provide reasonable documentation demonstrating that the leak occurred and was repaired.

[2:59:02] Supporting documentation may include invoices or receipts from a repair professional receipts for materials used in self-perform repair.

[2:59:13] Photographs written documentation, describing the leak or other information determined appropriate by the city's utility billing supervisor.

[2:59:22] The guidelines also require customers to take responsibility and time in the action after becoming aware of a potential leak, including when the city provides an automated or other leak notification because we don't have the smart meters installed throughout receipt of an automated notification is not required for eligibility and customers without a smart meter technology remain eligible under the same

[2:59:52] program requirements. Eligible leaks generally include unintended water loss

[2:59:59] resulting from

[3:00:00] We've broken or leaking water lines, failed plumbing fixtures, irrigation system leaks, underground service line leaks, or other verified water system failures, intentionally discretionary or avoidable water use, including filling your swimming pool, excessive irrigation of your lawn, or water intention left running, and water loss resulting from interference.

[3:00:29] from a city-owned water system component such as our meter box or water meter is not eligible.

[3:00:37] So we'll go into detail regarding the residential accounts and commercial accounts.

[3:00:43] For residential, the qualifying residential accounts, the courtesy adjustment will apply to

[3:00:48] eligible water consumption charges attributed to the verified leak.

[3:00:53] No more uses will generally be established using the customer's usage for

[3:00:57] the same billing month from the prior year.

[3:01:01] If comparable prior year usage is unavailable, the utility billing supervisor may use available

[3:01:07] historical consumption data or other reasonable and representative methodology.

[3:01:14] Staff is proposing that the maximum total courtesy adjustment for a residential account is $500

[3:01:21] per approved leak occurrence.

[3:01:23] For commercial accounts, the courtesy adjustment will be calculated using the customer's normal

[3:01:31] historical water usage under the proposed guidelines the adjustment applies to the

[3:01:36] eligible water consumption charges attributed to the verified leak and sewer charges calculated

[3:01:41] on the elevated water consumption resulting from the verified leak.

[3:01:47] Same, still using the same historical information.

[3:01:51] However, the maximum total courtesy adjustment for a commercial account is $2,000 per approved leak occurrence.

[3:01:59] The draft program that was attached to the staff report also discusses in detail regarding the program administration and appeals.

[3:02:08] For example, the utility billing supervisor will administer the program, review applications, verify billing.

[3:02:15] in consumption, history, determine whether a reported condition qualifies as an eligible

[3:02:20] leak and establish an alternative normal usage methodology when necessary.

[3:02:28] A written determination, approving, denying or modifying a request will generally issue

[3:02:34] within 30 days after receipt of a completed application and all required supporting documentation.

[3:02:41] the applicant who disagrees with the utility billing supervisor determination may appeal to the city manager or

[3:02:48] designate within 15 calendar days. The city manager will also issue a final written determination generally within 30

[3:02:56] calendar days after receipt of the completed appeal. Staff is proposing that the program be effective on the date

[3:03:04] Established by City Council and will apply only to eligible leaks moving forward during the billing periods ending on or after the effective date.

[3:03:17] Currency leak adjustments approved under the program will be funded by the Water Enterprise Fund.

[3:03:23] The proposed Currency leak adjustment program guidelines including the request for review form are attached for council consideration.

[3:03:30] Staff's recommendation is that the city council won approve the courtesy league adjustment program and associate program guidelines as presented with any modifications directed by the city council and to authorize the city manager to take the administrative actions necessary to implement the program.

[3:03:49] Staff is happy to answer any questions.

[3:03:51] Thank you city manager and I think this is great work I appreciate it.

[3:03:55] I couldn't really pick a part, it's kind of a learning thing as we go forward we may have

[3:04:02] to make some adjustments.

[3:04:03] Main reason why I requested this or made a motion for this, you know, we've seen residential

[3:04:11] owners, we've seen commercial owners, we've seen churches come to the city in closed session

[3:04:20] and the recommendation is always to decline.

[3:04:23] And you fill for them because sometimes they don't know they even have a water leak and we're charging them for it.

[3:04:33] And so I think this is a good way of showing some grace for our constituents and working with them to make sure that they fix their leaks, which are important, but also not over charging them on something that they didn't have a lot of control over.

[3:04:50] Pass it off, Councilman Beltram, do you have any comments?

[3:04:54] Councilman Green, do you have any comments?

[3:04:59] I'm not sure.

[3:05:01] Well, that's perfect, I can move.

[3:05:04] I just think that, well, it's like just one question, like if, say I turn on my sprinklers in the back yard and you leave for the whole weekend and I come home and the next month I get a bill for $607 on my water bill and I go,

[3:05:18] So, hokey smoke, well I'm going to apply for the first time lead thing.

[3:05:24] So, how is that going to, how is that going to be to determine whether that's legit or

[3:05:31] not legit?

[3:05:32] Yeah, answer for that one.

[3:05:35] Really good question.

[3:05:36] The short answer is excessive watering of your lawn is not an eligible action under this

[3:05:44] program.

[3:05:44] You need to have a verified leak that is corrected by a licensed professional.

[3:05:52] So there's a valve that was broken, right?

[3:05:57] That could potentially be a situation where we could reimburse up to $500.

[3:06:03] I recently had a broken valve in my backyard on woke up Sunday morning and

[3:06:09] my whole backyard was flooded.

[3:06:10] So that, but leaving on the sprinklers, no, but something that's broken, pictured, we can verify, and you have to call plumber out or someone else licensed or a professional to fix it.

[3:06:25] Then yeah, you have the proper paperwork and we can proceed.

[3:06:28] Thank you, City Manager, was that your only question?

[3:06:30] That's good.

[3:06:31] Council Member Revis.

[3:06:33] Where was this program seven years ago?

[3:06:37] because I a 30 yard roller dumped it on my, a roller on my driveway and you know

[3:06:49] and then they land pretty rough. They do. Well when I turn on my sprinkler, the

[3:06:57] corner wheel was about two feet from my sprinkler and it was under cement.

[3:07:04] I

[3:07:05] They're leaking I go what the heck it's going on

[3:07:09] Well, the roller did it because of the vibration when he slammed it down. It was not intentional, but it happened

[3:07:15] But other than that I wish it would be retroactive seven years. I way I can get my money back

[3:07:21] But I'm not looking for that. I'm just I'm glad this is here for the people. I'm glad that it's a grace thing and

[3:07:28] I mean, it's a good

[3:07:30] It's a good thing that we're doing for the people because some people

[3:07:34] residents they need, it's not their fault.

[3:07:38] So I'm looking forward to seeing if we have to find two of some things.

[3:07:43] Great, if not, I think I'm motioning to go forward with this, I like it.

[3:07:48] Okay, we have a motion on the table and you're correct.

[3:07:51] We don't want to go in the past and try to correct all the wrongs from the past.

[3:07:56] We're looking at the future and trying to deal with it, right?

[3:07:58] So I appreciate the comments.

[3:07:59] We have a motion on the table.

[3:08:03] I can think of four major in the last four years where it was thousands of dollars,

[3:08:10] where it was below the pavement and you took a long time to find it and it impacts

[3:08:16] a business and a family and so I think it's prudent.

[3:08:21] It goes a little further than we would any of the other services because right now everything

[3:08:28] I think stops at the curb, right?

[3:08:30] So this is saying, you know, if this thing happens,

[3:08:33] pass the curb and it's a legitimate under this criteria,

[3:08:37] then we'll have some grace.

[3:08:39] I think it's a prudent thing to do.

[3:08:40] We've got to make sure it's not abused,

[3:08:43] and we've got to be careful that, you know,

[3:08:44] it really is helping the people that it's intended to help.

[3:08:47] And I think those examples in my mind are those.

[3:08:50] And I'm for this, but we've got to be careful

[3:08:53] that we don't let it get abused.

[3:08:55] And to that point, staff will be providing quarterly updates.

[3:09:00] That's wonderful.

[3:09:01] Okay, I'll second the motion, let's call for the vote.

[3:09:13] Okay, pass it as four and one abstain.

[3:09:16] All right, moving on to 1234 reports to the East Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

[3:09:24] Now there's two of them, Mr. Mayor May, I'm just doing both at the same time where they've got them listed separately.

[3:09:29] or throw that stone and kill two birds, sir.

[3:09:34] Well, what I'm going to do here is just kind of give everybody an overview of the meeting or meetings and I want to bore you with a bunch of laborious information and I will give

[3:09:50] of some places where you can go if you have any questions and want to learn more about

[3:09:56] what the ETGSA or Tule East GSA is doing and what we're working at because I will tell

[3:10:05] you before I get started.

[3:10:07] The main thrust of both the Tule East and all the GSAs within the Tule subbasin at this moment

[3:10:14] But is the laser focus on getting a GSA key plan to the state that will be accepted to mitigate subsidence along the Frank Kern Canal.

[3:10:27] That's the main focus of all these agencies at the moment.

[3:10:32] So I just leave you with that.

[3:10:34] And on the August 5th meeting, it was called order at 9 AM in the morning.

[3:10:39] In the meeting covered several key points.

[3:10:42] Public comments were limited to three minutes when there were no public comments.

[3:10:47] Robert Gould and Nicolai Morin from Ag Innovations introduced their facilitation support services.

[3:10:53] And this is funded by the Department of Water Resources Grant.

[3:10:57] The border proof, these people help facilitate all the other agencies in trying to keep everybody coordinated.

[3:11:07] So, and the Board approved the July minutes, financial reports, and also the city employee benefits for the truly ESA staff.

[3:11:20] Well registering and meeting and reporting policy was discussed with the focus on surface water prioritization and domestic well mitigation.

[3:11:30] I mean, there's we're putting money, we have to put money back mandated by the state to

[3:11:36] If there is a determined that a domestic well has been rendered without water that there is money in these mitigation domestic well mitigation funds to help take care of that to domestic well users.

[3:11:56] The board also addressed the accelerator interim plan for the Tully sub-basin, emphasizing the need for a unified GSP plan, which is a ground water sustainability plan, and addressing subsidence issue, which I just mentioned about the front current canal meeting discussed the updated map of 78 zones and emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to manage land subsidence.

[3:12:25] in which this encompasses all of the GSAs in the truly subbasin.

[3:12:32] There is an urgency to have this done by January, February, and this is important to get

[3:12:38] this to the state before they come in and implement their plan, and it's not going to be pretty

[3:12:44] if they do, and we don't get this taken care of.

[3:12:48] The importance of water depth and sustainability, which is the depth that these well pumping from the lower aquifer, that's where most of the subsidence is coming from, which is usually below 600 feet deep wells emphasizing the importance of water depth potential for lawsuits of draconian pumping restrictions are imposed, which I don't that right now is not that big of an issue because

[3:13:15] because we're hoping to avoid that.

[3:13:18] The discussion also covered the formation of a technical committee,

[3:13:22] the need for a basin wide approach to subsidence issues in the development of a new groundwater accounting system.

[3:13:30] Upcoming meetings and the Prop 26 fee study were also highlighted.

[3:13:35] And there will be a special meeting, this goes into, then the following Monday we had on August 10th.

[3:13:43] We had a special meeting of the board, and this meeting focused on the Tule East GSA's fee study, and public hearing schedule, which is scheduled for September the second, and it will be here in the council chambers at 2 a.m.

[3:13:58] 2 p.m. in the afternoon on September the second.

[3:14:05] Brandon Van Mugen and John Blitz from one of our consulting firms presented the study.

[3:14:13] detailing the $62 per acre foot volumetric fee based on consumptive groundwater use.

[3:14:21] This is a fee not a tax and it covers monitoring and porting and sub-basin coordination.

[3:14:28] Total revenue requirement according to them is $4.1 million.

[3:14:33] Public water systems such as Portaville will not, will be charged based on their full meter production.

[3:14:41] and the Board accepted the study and said a public hearing date, which is September 2nd at 9 a.m. here in the chambers.

[3:14:50] Also, there was discussed the need for community outreach meetings and the financial implications of these fees.

[3:14:57] Now, the pul-

[3:15:00] Public hearing, again, as I said, is set for September 2nd at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I'm sorry, that's 9 a.m. Pardon me, then there, because I got this confused with, there's a public workshop being held by Tule East GSA here in the council chambers. That is at 2 p.m. on August 25th here in the council chambers. Now, anybody, for me to bore you with any more details,

[3:15:29] Anybody that's interested and wants more information,

[3:15:33] want to understand what the GSA is trying to accomplish.

[3:15:38] And so forth, you have any questions?

[3:15:41] Go to the TEGSA website, which is all lower case,

[3:15:46] to the EastGSA.org.

[3:15:50] And on that, on the website, you will find the email address,

[3:15:55] unless in case you wish to direct a specific question to Mr. Rojillo,

[3:16:03] Cadeo, who is the manager of the TEGSA.

[3:16:07] Also, phone number you can reach is posted on the website.

[3:16:12] So with that, I think that concludes what I have to say, unless Mr. Payne,

[3:16:18] you have anything to add to that.

[3:16:20] No, you covered it.

[3:16:21] I really will.

[3:16:22] So, thank you. I appreciate that.

[3:16:29] Perfect answer, Mr. Payne.

[3:16:32] Okay, moving on to Link Council and Bill Trin.

[3:16:37] So the Link Committee met on August 5th at 3 p.m. across the street at the Thurman

[3:16:42] conference room.

[3:16:45] Roll call was taken or called a order.

[3:16:48] There was a welcome introduction.

[3:16:49] We had a couple of new faces.

[3:16:51] I'll talk about them later.

[3:16:53] The minutes were approved.

[3:16:55] The only change to the budget was $5,000 was noted in our budget

[3:17:01] that the council approved to give to the committee.

[3:17:05] Of that, I think I mentioned the last time only $235 was used

[3:17:08] to buy more canopies for shade during the summer time.

[3:17:13] Onto, let's see.

[3:17:16] The navigation update from the navigation center, both the bridge and emergency beds were full.

[3:17:24] Full were placed in housing in July, there are four pending as of August the 5th.

[3:17:31] The big news was just awaiting the official opening of the expansion and the showers and restrooms there.

[3:17:38] I know we're waiting on Edison, but we're like, come on, come on.

[3:17:41] Is there any way we could get higher up on that list to get checked off?

[3:17:45] So just a lot of anticipation for that.

[3:17:49] Next was the link subcommittee updates.

[3:17:55] There were some improvements made to the shed.

[3:17:58] There was ventilation because it's a closed up wooden shed that's prefabricated, no ventilation.

[3:18:04] So that helped with stuff that stored in there.

[3:18:06] the doors are reinforced because they were just having issues there. We did

[3:18:11] discuss we debatement around the property as kind of earlier comments about

[3:18:15] the beautification of our community. We want to make sure either King's view is

[3:18:21] doing their part and if not so, volunteers can step in and make sure that

[3:18:25] property is maintained as best we can. The next thing was the upcoming events and

[3:18:32] And that is the drive-through dinner I mentioned earlier.

[3:18:35] Letters for soliciting donations were sent out.

[3:18:39] Not only are we doing the drive-through dinner, but we're also, this is the main part is for the winter coat drive.

[3:18:44] And this is to give out jackets and warm weather items for the upcoming cold weather that will be happening in October.

[3:18:55] Again, I mentioned earlier I have tickets for sale, they're $15.

[3:18:58] $15 I really challenge anybody to really want to make an impact for these this is our one time we ask for funds

[3:19:04] It really goes a long way. There are 150 tickets. We're selling

[3:19:08] $15 a piece. There are limited four-pack tickets for $50 and

[3:19:13] Think to Jane our meats. They're gonna be not only donating the meat, but they also be preparing it so the meat will be

[3:19:20] very tender and very delicious

[3:19:25] Let's see

[3:19:28] We did talk about the cancellation of the last link event because the extreme heat a couple of weeks ago

[3:19:35] We're looking forward to tomorrow's event the temperatures won't be as high

[3:19:38] I want to thank cold blessings ice there are local veteran-owned

[3:19:43] Business who's donating ice reached out to them and they said they'd be providing ice because along with just the

[3:19:49] Services is something cold for them to drink a lot of them walk a long ways to get there

[3:19:54] And there's really not a lot of places for them to keep cool

[3:19:56] So just, and then King's view, we talked about their mental health team that's out working in the community.

[3:20:04] Just continually connecting with them, the homeless are really hard to track, they move constantly.

[3:20:09] And so just making sure to help the PD, help the businesses, help the overall look and

[3:20:16] fill the community to making sure that we're working with our partners in the community to address those mental health issues.

[3:20:21] What's great about this King's view team is they go meet the people where they're at.

[3:20:25] They don't have to make an appointment, they don't have to drive to an office.

[3:20:28] The team goes right to wherever they're at, so just it was really nice to hear about that effort.

[3:20:34] The next meeting will be, I'm sorry, we have a subcommittee meeting tomorrow at Trinity Lutheran Church at 3 p.m.

[3:20:42] Anybody who would like to volunteer to see with this.

[3:20:44] This is a subcommittee that supports the overall committee, another opportunity to get connected tomorrow at 3 p.m.

[3:20:50] I want to circle back to one of the gentlemen.

[3:20:53] He's new to the group, but not new to the service at link.

[3:20:57] His name is Mario.

[3:20:58] He's the barber who volunteers his time every two weeks to cut hair.

[3:21:02] Just, he came to say he wanted to do more.

[3:21:05] He's a local business owner.

[3:21:07] He shared his testimony of being an ex-addict and understanding where these people are coming from.

[3:21:12] But again, it's just these people in our community that the unsung heroes are stepping up and

[3:21:18] providing, he's obviously providing hygiene care with the haircuts.

[3:21:22] But also supporting these people however, they're needed, not just on every other Wednesday.

[3:21:28] So just really appreciate that gentleman's time.

[3:21:31] And again, next link, the main link committee meeting will be September 2nd at 3pm.

[3:21:37] Thank you, sir.

[3:21:38] Okay, moving on to the Heritage Committee.

[3:21:41] We met August 10th.

[3:21:43] The first thing that matters was daughters of American Revolution update.

[3:21:48] Final details were discussed regarding historic revolution and war patriot marker that would be dedicated to the city as part of the September 26 Washington Monument ceremony.

[3:22:00] Next on the agenda was further discussion of the upcoming dedication ceremony at Veterans Park, logistics were planned, tasks were delegated.

[3:22:07] Any new updates from the committee were commented on.

[3:22:10] The calendar events was reviewed, the Washington Monument,

[3:22:15] the marker for September 26th, Pioneer Day, October 3rd,

[3:22:19] Veterans Day Parade for November 11th,

[3:22:22] and then in December, the Zalad House Christmas tour.

[3:22:26] And then something that I told Kathy, I would share,

[3:22:30] about the daughters of American Revolution, bells across America.

[3:22:35] They're celebrating 239th anniversary of doing this, and so that is September 20th, 2026 at the first congressional church here in Portoville.

[3:22:50] Okay, moving on to Tilari County Association of Governance, they met yesterday I wasn't able to attend Councilman Revis.

[3:22:58] Yes, sir. Thank you mayor for that update on the heritage committee and thank you for the link and the TGSA

[3:23:05] Make it real quick the tea cag

[3:23:09] We made on Monday, August 17th of

[3:23:11] 2026 me and the city manager attended the August tea cag meeting at the Teneric County Board of Supervisors

[3:23:17] The consent calendar was approved which included a couple of notable items first funding was approved to support a regional

[3:23:25] uniform

[3:23:25] firm, fair program.

[3:23:27] Now, passengers will pay the same fair regardless if you are writing in Porteville,

[3:23:32] Teleria, and LaCellia.

[3:23:33] The uniform transit fair program will also make it easier to implement regional pass programs.

[3:23:39] Another notable item was the approval of the fiscal year 2026-27.

[3:23:45] State of Goods Repair Project List, which includes Porteville Project to purchase two hybrid vans for

[3:23:51] dollar code service, and the discussion items portion of the agenda, the TCA board approved the following.

[3:23:58] Awarded the FAN, the Fair 3 Transit Study to Nelson Nygard for $125,400.

[3:24:06] Awarded the mobility management study to via mobility for 350,000.

[3:24:13] Purchased a community engagement tool for 4,500.

[3:24:16] Approved the 2026 Title VI program, which is required to continue to receive federal funding.

[3:24:23] Approved the TCAG Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy.

[3:24:28] Measure our revenues for the July 26 was $4.3 million, almost the same as July of 2025.

[3:24:37] They also mentioned September is Rail Road Safety Month.

[3:24:42] The next TCAG board meeting will be on September the 21st, 2026 at the Tulary County Ag Commissioners Building and that's all out the report.

[3:24:50] Thank you, Councilman Rivas.

[3:24:51] Okay, moving on to oral communications, this opportunity to address the council on any matters of interest.

[3:24:58] Your time will be limited three minutes.

[3:25:08] Rockney and the address on record.

[3:25:10] What you're receiving are some flyers for some events coming up at the Port of the Louth Lodge.

[3:25:16] Also remember that the first Sunday of every month, we have our Veterans Breakfast, this coming month, we're going to actually implement it on the third Sunday of the month, so we're going to try to expand that.

[3:25:31] Come and join us, it's a fun time.

[3:25:37] Thank you, Mr. Neely.

[3:25:41] I'm Alexis and haven't moved, still live here.

[3:25:46] These are just some thoughts.

[3:25:48] You mentioned Christmas stores at the Zolat House, but they do Halloween ones too for us spooky people.

[3:25:52] I think they do a couple, they do ghost tours.

[3:25:54] The museum sometimes does them too, they're really cool.

[3:25:56] You have a chance, you should check them out, take your kids, it's not scary.

[3:26:01] I did want to mention that I got to attend the Medal of Valor ceremony for

[3:26:07] Mr. Hopper, and that was really awesome.

[3:26:09] so I saw Chief Raider there with all our PPD captains

[3:26:13] and it was a really nice short ceremony.

[3:26:17] I don't know how much they'll do for him anymore

[3:26:19] because it's a little long and metal of valor

[3:26:22] is like the top honor you can get at TCSO,

[3:26:24] so I just wanted to mention

[3:26:25] that it was a beautiful ceremony

[3:26:26] and they put it together well.

[3:26:29] This is my thought on the expansion to the sports complex.

[3:26:32] I think it's a great idea,

[3:26:34] but we lack lighting out there so badly

[3:26:37] that trying to host an event in the evening time, maybe a little bit difficult without

[3:26:43] volunteer lighting that gets wheeled out there. I think the city should definitely look into putting

[3:26:48] some more lighting out there. I'm going to be biased and say, especially for those kids that play

[3:26:52] soccer, my son play soccer out there, and it would be really cool to do evening practices and stuff

[3:26:57] along with being able to hold events. But that brings me to my next point. You have the casino

[3:27:02] I know right there that is also expanding who can also host really large events.

[3:27:06] So I would hate to like double up and have to compete with the casino with our venues versus their venues and who can host what and who wants the money and who doesn't.

[3:27:16] That's it, I thought it was a productive meeting, good job tonight guys, thank you.

[3:27:19] Thank you, man.

[3:27:23] Jacob Walker, I don't have much to add this time around, but I did want to ask about the axon standards thing.

[3:27:30] Is that just like a software or an operating system kind of thing or does it have anything

[3:27:36] to do with implementing the fixed ALPRs at all?

[3:27:40] Do we know?

[3:27:40] Okay.

[3:27:41] Cool.

[3:27:43] And then I was going to pick back on the division conversations from earlier and I just

[3:27:50] wanted to make a point that I think that the youth today is more united than it's ever

[3:27:58] been before.

[3:27:59] or I don't think we're really all that divided, we agree on almost most things.

[3:28:03] We disagree on some things like forms of government and stuff like that,

[3:28:07] but it's getting harder and harder to find younger people.

[3:28:11] I disagree with and polls show that a lot.

[3:28:15] You see it online a lot and I think there's a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel

[3:28:20] in that regard that we're pretty united, I'd argue.

[3:28:26] Thank you.

[3:28:26] And so that's it.

[3:28:28] Thank you, Mr. Walker.

[3:28:33] Greg Shelton, maybe an awful little for drive.

[3:28:35] I thought it was going to be a boring meeting,

[3:28:37] and I guess I missed all the fireworks.

[3:28:40] Sounded kind of ugly.

[3:28:42] I don't like any allegations of racism.

[3:28:46] I was talking to someone today

[3:28:47] and I want to say that Mr. Mayor,

[3:28:50] you were instrumental in doing those roles.

[3:28:52] I think they would have probably got done,

[3:28:56] but it wouldn't have been done as soon as it got done.

[3:28:58] You know with you I feel like you know you pushed it you know and and I remember when I've even for us on council one thing that they complained about was the roads.

[3:29:09] I've heard that for 25 years and I'm sure that even after these 30 miles they were going to hear about it some more.

[3:29:16] But that's changed that I see and I can recognize I think the homeless people is better.

[3:29:21] I think that the way we're handling homeless people is getting better, I'm not as bad as it was.

[3:29:28] A lot of people want to complain about what this council did.

[3:29:32] Yeah, this council broke some eggs, you know, but if you want to make a homie you've got to break some eggs.

[3:29:39] And it seems like everybody's more responsive, I feel like I'm being treated better, you know, than before.

[3:29:49] or I feel like a lot of people are.

[3:29:52] So I don't agree with everything,

[3:29:54] but it's the change that I haven't seen for over a decade.

[3:29:59] So...

[3:30:00] No, you know, keep it up, that a boy. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Sheldon.

[3:30:06] Is there anyone on mine, Fernando? You can keep coming up, sir. No, you're on it. Okay. Go ahead. Hi, Matthew. Do's are just on item 19. I own an old house. A couple of previous stories. I called the city in 2005, because I noticed I had a little leak from the main line coming to the house. Keep speaking in the mics of security. Sorry about that. No, it's okay. And I nicked it with just a shovel.

[3:30:31] and I had 25 feet in the air because the line was thin, but our house was over a hundred

[3:30:35] years old. When the folks came out, the water folks came out, I had two concrete liners

[3:30:43] down to an old key type that they couldn't turn off. So they had to come back again. They

[3:30:49] finally did fix it. That was fine and I got fixed. In 2016, I had a high pressure leak

[3:30:55] between the house and a single card of the garage,

[3:30:59] which would not turn off with my main valve.

[3:31:03] I came down to planning and said, do you guys have anything that I don't know about?

[3:31:08] That's commercial, whatever?

[3:31:10] They said no, I said fine.

[3:31:13] Talked to a neighbor two doors down, said, the funniest thing is I've got a high water bill leak.

[3:31:19] Call the city of says, go turn hers off.

[3:31:23] And I discovered in fact finding from some old neighbors in

[3:31:28] mine who have lived for a long time, one of the previous

[3:31:30] stories from my house owns the house, two doors down,

[3:31:34] cat that at my end where it was leaking.

[3:31:37] But they had the main valve at that house.

[3:31:41] But it took weird investigation to go figure that out.

[3:31:45] So older homes and older projects, you know, no.

[3:31:48] Thank you.

[3:31:49] Thank you.

[3:31:51] Okay, is there any other comments?

[3:31:54] I'm not seeing anyone, so we'll close oral communication and go into other matters.

[3:32:01] Vice-member Curry, you want to lead other matters tonight?

[3:32:04] Well, there was a couple things I didn't mention.

[3:32:06] I really did enjoy the tour at the casino with the tribe, and we had a good meeting over there,

[3:32:14] and we got to meet some new folks, and it was a really good event.

[3:32:16] We're really building some strong relationships there with the tribe.

[3:32:20] And there's a lot of good conversations and positive things going on.

[3:32:25] I'm really happy to report that success and the optimism and

[3:32:31] the progress that we're making with the tribe and just working on basic stuff.

[3:32:36] Let's get some things done.

[3:32:37] And they're really going to have a nice event center out there when it's done.

[3:32:43] And they're making a lot of progress on that.

[3:32:45] We got to see that firsthand.

[3:32:47] I was able to judge at a car show this week at the Riverwalk

[3:32:53] Care Center.

[3:32:53] It's their second annual.

[3:32:55] It was over there off of Morton.

[3:32:58] It was a lot of fun.

[3:33:00] It's amazing.

[3:33:01] It was hot out, but there was a lot of shade.

[3:33:03] So we spent a few hours out there with the folks.

[3:33:06] And the residents there were out there able to participate.

[3:33:11] And it's a good to get them out and I know my mother-in-law was in there a few years ago and our church things at that place

[3:33:18] But it's really good for those folks and it's great to see the community coming together. I noticed a

[3:33:23] bunch of kids there too with their bikes and it's

[3:33:27] It's nice to see people getting together talking to each other

[3:33:29] There was a lot of phones and people are out there having a good time and having real conversations and we're able to judge that

[3:33:36] Councilman Rivas and I were there and we got on the microphone.

[3:33:41] But I just wanted to shout out to Marla and to Catherine and the folks that put that

[3:33:46] on at the Riverwalk Care Center.

[3:33:49] It's a good event.

[3:33:50] They're probably going to continue it.

[3:33:51] That was their second annual and they invited us back to do a third annual.

[3:33:55] So that was a good thing.

[3:33:56] I really want to say a couple more things and just odds and ends.

[3:34:02] There's a real healing power in this community when we come together and focus on the good.

[3:34:09] And we see that a lot and I know that we're trending positively there.

[3:34:12] It's really great to hear Mr. Walker's comments too because there is a lot of unity.

[3:34:17] Let's focus on that unity.

[3:34:18] Let's focus on the optimism because even in our church, we pray for all the first responders

[3:34:23] and we pray for everybody that serves us and we pray when we lose those men and women

[3:34:29] that support us like miles and we pay first family and it's good for the community to do that

[3:34:36] and it's good that we do that here in this chamber and we got to continue to lift each other up

[3:34:40] because these things are going to happen from time to time this is life and I just want to say a

[3:34:46] positive thing about that and if we focus on the good things and those are the things that are going

[3:34:50] to happen because we become what we focus on and if we focus on negativity and we focus on division

[3:34:57] those are the things that we're going to get.

[3:35:00] And so I just want to continue to encourage everyone.

[3:35:02] The comments have been great.

[3:35:04] There's a lot of good discretion.

[3:35:05] There's a lot of listening going on,

[3:35:08] and a lot less of the political posturing and those things.

[3:35:12] And that's good because then we can get more business done

[3:35:15] and it lightens the mood,

[3:35:16] and it really shows the spirit of our community.

[3:35:19] So I just want to say those things.

[3:35:22] The NEP tonight's being here.

[3:35:24] Awesome.

[3:35:24] I really love that group and it's amazing how much time, you can see how close knit that

[3:35:30] group is right, they were loud, they were together, they were motivated, I mean when

[3:35:36] you get, that was only half, less than half right, you get the whole crew together and

[3:35:42] go to another city and you spend six hours with them and man it's an event and it really

[3:35:47] was a pleasure hosting them here tonight and that spirit in this chamber and just recognizing

[3:35:53] recognizing that talent and the family environment that we have in our schools and our children to Mr. Walker's point.

[3:36:01] There's a lot of unity there and we got to continue to lift up those kids and continue to encourage them.

[3:36:06] And this is the way we do that and let's continue with all of the programs that we talk about up here.

[3:36:11] We do a lot of things and I just want to highlight those and say it was a pleasure and it was an honor to look at the future leaders and we got to keep looking at them before us.

[3:36:21] our culture has a problem. Our culture is looking at us before them and we have to flip

[3:36:28] that back. When I grew up, it was them before us. We're living in a time where it's us before

[3:36:33] them and the adults are kind of selfish right now. But the kids aren't and we've got to focus

[3:36:38] on them and they're going to be the next leaders and that's the way it ought to be. And I just

[3:36:42] want to say that, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Vice Mayor. We'll put Councilman Revis, I hate for you to

[3:36:47] follow that, but I can follow that. I can't follow that. The only thing I can say is a few

[3:36:55] things. Real simple. Isn't there enough evil in this world that we have to bring it

[3:37:00] here to counsel? That's it. I mean, I mean, if there's issues that need to be addressed,

[3:37:08] address them, but not with name calling, not with mocking, not with, oh, by the way, liquidity

[3:37:16] I got it right this time.

[3:37:18] Thank you, appreciate it.

[3:37:20] Are you on a liquidity diet?

[3:37:21] I guess so, but you know, somebody put it on their page and made a mockery of me.

[3:37:29] And then they come out here and they don't want us to talk down to them.

[3:37:33] I'm not going to talk down to you because I'm not going to stoop to your level.

[3:37:37] I'm not much better than that, but liquidity, I got it right, okay?

[3:37:44] I'll leave it there.

[3:37:45] Thank you.

[3:37:46] Councilman Reeves.

[3:37:47] is Councilman Beltran.

[3:37:51] Just briefly, I really appreciate looking at the tort reform

[3:37:56] with the CalCities, and I just think about,

[3:37:59] as we spent some money on some other projects,

[3:38:03] I didn't think about some of the maybe lost opportunities

[3:38:05] that we had when we left CalCities.

[3:38:07] I think it was roughly $30,000 we paid a year,

[3:38:10] but they have some great things.

[3:38:12] We might not always agree with some of the things

[3:38:14] that are happening, but we're talking about lobbyists

[3:38:16] and different things that they can do.

[3:38:18] I'm glad this didn't cost anybody to join that,

[3:38:21] but there are some great things that they're doing.

[3:38:23] As I'm glad we're continuing following them,

[3:38:25] we get their emails still to kind of track things

[3:38:27] that are important to our community.

[3:38:31] Again, shameless, I got tickets.

[3:38:34] I'm trying to hustle to make sure we sell those tickets,

[3:38:37] so we don't want anything left.

[3:38:39] If you're tired, don't want to cook on a Thursday,

[3:38:41] you just drive through and pick up your mail,

[3:38:43] so hit me up or another link committee member.

[3:38:46] And lastly, more of just when I was speaking earlier about the social media person, I was trying to gather my thoughts and the mayor had said I repeated myself so it kind of got cut off there, but I have a full time job plus counsel duties and I do social media.

[3:39:02] I got a couple of different platforms I do. It's not a job that is that difficult or needs to be paid that much money.

[3:39:10] I just, I get it, you know, I think I just checked the city's WebP or Social Media and I think it's 5,000 people that follow, hopefully they'll improve, not everybody who has Social Media, even younger generations, some people are actually going against Social Media now, and so we'll see where that trend goes in a few years but I, it's stuff that I do as a side thing for free.

[3:39:36] And so I just hated that we're spending tax payer money on something like that.

[3:39:39] But overall we'll see how the product looks like and that's it, thank you.

[3:39:43] Thank you, Councilman Beltrend, Councilman Green, do you have any comments?

[3:39:49] Very little, I just want to kind of top off what Ed said about the kids.

[3:39:54] The little neptenice, a little polywag kids that were in here.

[3:39:59] When you get to be my age, kids just make their heart feel lighter.

[3:40:04] you know they were just a pleasure and I was so impressed with them standing up here with my

[3:40:10] back time with the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe I could hear every single one of them loud and

[3:40:16] clear so I mean it was just it was a very joyful experience for me it makes makes my you know

[3:40:25] feet feel lighter kind of like the old PF flyer tennis shoe commercials and we were kids where you

[3:40:32] You can run your, jump your highest and run your fastest.

[3:40:36] Well, that's what they make you feel like.

[3:40:38] They make you feel really good.

[3:40:39] Then also, I just have something to report

[3:40:42] that I noticed the last few days,

[3:40:44] I think we're out of the heat because of Jack Rabbits,

[3:40:47] of Quitt Keren, can't deem it.

[3:40:49] There we go.

[3:40:50] All right, thank you, Councilman Green.

[3:40:52] I'll be very quick.

[3:40:56] Mr., I didn't get your last name, but Matthew,

[3:40:59] I really appreciate you coming up and sharing your story

[3:41:01] and how a leak impacted you and you had to pay a high rate for something that you didn't necessarily have full control over an interesting story.

[3:41:12] And the good thing is what we did tonight is we're going to protect people like you in the future.

[3:41:17] Mr. Walker, you know, we're probably closer in age than I am with these guys.

[3:41:23] And I have to echo with what, and no insult there, Councilman Green.

[3:41:30] But I would echo with you because, you know, I went to school here and, you know, the population, trying to compare the KKK and all this craziness, it's not something I dealt with growing up in Porterville.

[3:41:45] You know, I was actually the minority in elementary school, you could say went to West Putnam.

[3:41:50] And so, I even look at my children who are mixed blood.

[3:41:56] You could say, mutts of the world.

[3:42:00] And I'm proud of them.

[3:42:02] I'm going to be wrong.

[3:42:03] But it's just interesting how it's the same individuals that want to continue to try

[3:42:09] to echo this and beat the drums of racism and try to keep it alive

[3:42:15] when when we focus in on what matters and that's the people and and merit and we

[3:42:23] continue going forward with that. So appreciate your comments as well. I'll end

[3:42:29] with the tonight we approved the civic event. Many people are impacted by

[3:42:36] cancer worldwide and in our community I know everyone knows someone that has

[3:42:41] It's lost someone to cancer or have been impacted by cancer and it's so hard.

[3:42:46] And it's so difficult to watch a family member go through chemo and

[3:42:50] you're watching them slowly die before your eyes and it's heartbreaking.

[3:42:54] And so we approved an event tonight for the run for life.

[3:42:59] The Port ofville run for life, it's Saturday, September 5th.

[3:43:03] I'd invite you, the community, if you could come out and give support to these families,

[3:43:07] So these individuals that are in the fights for their lives, it'd be a great honor.

[3:43:12] I'd love to walk with you for the event.

[3:43:14] With that, pass it off to you, City Manager.

[3:43:17] Thank you, Mayor.

[3:43:18] I'm going to take this moment, I'll call it the City Manager's minute, but tonight, I'd ask for a couple minutes.

[3:43:26] It last week I recognized and thanked many of our employees, but I forgot a couple, and so tonight I wanted to highlight some outstanding work by some of our staff.

[3:43:37] First, I wanted to recognize Yulana Andrade, she really has been outstanding.

[3:43:44] And often thinks outside of the box to support all of our departments.

[3:43:50] And a recent example is in regards to our business license staff.

[3:43:56] And they had recently been one person down.

[3:44:01] And Yulana thought outside of the box,

[3:44:04] Fox contacted one of our retired employees that previously served in the business license division.

[3:44:12] And that employee was extremely excited to come back to work part time and help out the staff.

[3:44:18] So it's just an example of outstanding work by Euliana, I appreciate how she's just constantly thinking on how to best support her staff and as well as all the departments within in the city.

[3:44:32] In regards to the Fire Marshal position, I agree, Mr. Dignum has his hands full.

[3:44:38] And so just recently, I'm happy to report that Melinda Rios, who was previously serving as the police department crime analyst, has been appointed as our new Fire Marshal.

[3:44:52] but director Dignum is his request as not ended or he can't release that title yet because

[3:45:00] As he has graciously offered to help with the transition and appreciate Clayton offering that support. And we're excited for Melinda as she takes on these new responsibilities. And thanks for approving the community, the communications specialist.

[3:45:19] Eureko Valarde back there has done an outstanding job and she has been tasked with communications for the city.

[3:45:31] However, she doesn't have experiences in all the areas and we really wanted to maximize her talents and support her.

[3:45:42] And so she's going to be transitioning back to our administrative services department.

[3:45:47] to really essentially support our public records request.

[3:45:52] Now we're going to have essentially three full-time employees to address or answer the

[3:46:02] request.

[3:46:03] When previously not too long ago, it was a half of a position.

[3:46:08] And so that is unfortunate, but we are working through it.

[3:46:13] It is a lot of pressure on our departments.

[3:46:17] I recently, as I meet with each of our directors regularly and I ask them how they're doing and just as an example,

[3:46:26] our finance department is spending two hours every couple of days to research and look up information.

[3:46:35] And I meet with the next director, for example Clayton just today,

[3:46:40] go in his office, see how he's doing, ask him a couple questions, and he's working on public records requests, spending hours working on that, so I appreciate their efforts in their timely response. I know it's a tough task, but we're up to essentially three people to support that, to support those requests.

[3:47:02] Yes, appreciate Mary, your comments towards our fire department.

[3:47:08] I do want to recognize Chief Cogburn, and Deputy Chief Rossmann, and the entire fire department for

[3:47:15] their just tremendous support that they've provided to the Elliott family this past couple weeks.

[3:47:23] It really shows in these difficult moments, the compassion and support shown by all of our employees.

[3:47:30] It just says a great deal about who we are as an organization in our community.

[3:47:38] I also want to thank city staff who helped coordinate and participate in the vehicle procession.

[3:47:44] It was a meaningful show of support for the family and I appreciate everyone who helped to make it possible.

[3:47:51] Thank you all very much.

[3:47:55] And staying with the fire department.

[3:47:57] And I also wanted to recognize members of our fire department who have been serving outside our community.

[3:48:05] Assisting with fires throughout California, we know that work is taking them away from Porterville and their family.

[3:48:14] But they're representing our city and helping other communities during times of need.

[3:48:19] We appreciate their service and their willingness to answer the call whenever they're needed.

[3:48:25] I wanted to give a quick update on some projects.

[3:48:29] The Butterfield Stage Corridor project is essentially complete.

[3:48:34] We're working through some punchless items.

[3:48:36] I hope everyone has had the opportunity to get out and enjoy the new trail.

[3:48:41] I know I have with Deputy City Manager Moore running on it.

[3:48:47] It's great to see this project becoming something our residents can get out and use on

[3:48:54] the overland rec center and park that you toured mayor.

[3:48:58] It's progressing nicely.

[3:49:00] There's still work ahead of us, but the project is really beginning to take shape.

[3:49:05] And right now we anticipate the completion next year, early next year.

[3:49:12] With the new school year getting underway, I wanted to highlight the many pedestrian safety projects that have been recently awarded.

[3:49:21] construction on those improvements will begin in the next couple months and these investments

[3:49:28] are really important, many of them focus around schools and neighborhoods for students and

[3:49:35] families that are walking to school during the normal school, during their normal school

[3:49:41] year routines.

[3:49:43] For those that are more active, the city's sportsplex is currently under design.

[3:49:50] This is an exciting project that will bring new recreation amenities to our community including pickleball courts, arena soccer fields and amphitheater and more.

[3:50:00] We look forward to providing more information as that design progresses.

[3:50:07] There are many projects underway in various stages and so I wanted to share with the council that the planning and engineering department is putting together a project update presentation.

[3:50:20] that we'll be providing either the first or second meeting in September.

[3:50:25] So we'll go more into detail.

[3:50:28] I also want to recognize our parks and leisure services department

[3:50:32] for another successful movie in the park.

[3:50:36] They recently featured Lilo and Stitch.

[3:50:40] Just providing an opportunity for families to get outside, enjoy the park, spend time together as a community.

[3:50:47] thank you to our parks and leisure team and everyone who helped to make that

[3:50:51] event possible. I understand that I call them the Guardians of Centino Park

[3:50:56] and David who were sitting in the back row tonight had VIP seating so it's

[3:51:02] cool that they were able to join and participate in moving the park. And finally

[3:51:09] Mayor I want to wish you a happy birthday of this past Sunday and on behalf of the

[3:51:15] city team. I hope you have a had a wonderful birthday and wish you a great year ahead.

[3:51:20] Thank you, sir. Okay, with that, meanings of

City Council Meeting

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