1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,480 Gary Garrett Craig Christiansen Katrina 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,960 McCay Rachel Whipple Peggy Bogden Travis 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:07,720 Hoban Jeff Whitlock 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,680 Today's prayer will be given to us by a 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,160 new resident, Joanne Osmond. She's 6 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,600 recently moved here. And then after her, 7 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:15,920 we'll have a pledge of allegiance by 8 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:22,790 counselor Rachel Whipple. 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,560 She was on the school board for 35 10 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,590 years, guys. 11 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,680 Our most gracious heavenly father we're 12 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,440 very grateful to be here on this 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,480 beautiful earth to be able to serve thee 14 00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:34,960 and to serve the 15 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:36,840 members of this community. 16 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,680 I pray that you will 17 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,440 and thy spirit be with us as we as they 18 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,680 make decisions and they look at the 19 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,400 needs of the residents of this area. 20 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,160 We're so very grateful for all that we 21 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:49,560 have and for our families that just 22 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,840 support us. I say this in the name of 23 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,560 Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. 24 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,520 Please stand and join me in the pledge 25 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,440 of allegiance. 26 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,200 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the 27 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,080 United States of America and to the 28 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,680 republic for which it stands, one nation 29 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,200 under God, indivisible, with liberty and 30 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:16,670 justice for all. 31 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,920 On another note, April 1st was our 175th 32 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,640 birthday of Provo. Wow. So, that's cool, 33 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,400 too. All right. As indicated on the 34 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:25,720 screen, a required public hearing will 35 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,400 be held for certain agenda items prior 36 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,640 to council action. After each such item 37 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,320 has been presented, time to comment will 38 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:32,640 be provided for all those who wish to 39 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,680 speak. For items that do not require a 40 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,120 public hearing, public comment will 41 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,160 still be taken following presentation of 42 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:39,760 the item, but will be limited to 10 43 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,680 minutes. At this time, up to 15 minutes 44 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,160 have been set aside for an open public 45 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,880 comment period, which is intended to 46 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,480 allow comment on matters that do not 47 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,320 appear on the agenda, but are limited to 48 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,080 topics regarding municipal business or 49 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,200 within municipal council purview. 50 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,520 Persons who speak during this time to an 51 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:56,880 item that is on the agenda will not 52 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,080 normally be afforded a second 53 00:01:58,080 --> 00:01:59,520 opportunity to speak during the comment 54 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,760 period specific to that item. 55 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,320 During any public comment period, each 56 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:04,840 speaker will generally be limited to 2 57 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:06,800 minutes. Due to noticing requirements, 58 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,800 no formal action will be taken in this 59 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,240 meeting on matters that do not appear on 60 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:11,440 the agenda. 61 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:12,680 Those with comments are invited to 62 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,640 approach the podium. Those with Those 63 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:16,080 participating on Zoom will need to use 64 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:17,560 the raise hand feature to indicate they 65 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,720 wish to comment. The chair may choose to 66 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,240 alternate between in-person and online 67 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,320 commenters. Please begin your comments 68 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,440 by stating your name and your city of 69 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,360 residence. And whoever wishes to comment 70 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:35,710 now has 2 minutes. 71 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,120 Members of the council, my name is 72 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,480 Joshua Johns and I'm a resident of Provo 73 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,120 and um 74 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,600 these are my daughters, Amelia and 75 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,480 Sophia. 76 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,000 Um 77 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,680 they have been missing since last July 78 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,080 when their mother abducted them. 79 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:54,480 And since that day, I've spent every 80 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,360 moment that I can and every resource 81 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,800 that I can to try and bring them home. 82 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,600 But from my first interaction with the 83 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,280 Provo Police Department to the most 84 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,880 recent one I had just yesterday 85 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:06,920 uh I've been met with responses that 86 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,840 were callous, dismissive, 87 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,520 and cold. I've spent tens of thousands 88 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,320 of dollars on private investigators and 89 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:15,480 lawyers. 90 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,360 I've cooperated fully, tried to make 91 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,960 contact with the FBI. I've waited weeks 92 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:21,720 for missing posters to be approved by 93 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:23,240 the local police. 94 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:24,600 And even after obtaining a writ of 95 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,320 assistance from a judge commanding the 96 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:28,400 police to help locate my daughters, I 97 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,640 was told it was a civil matter 98 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:32,960 and that they would not act on it. 99 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,360 I'm not only their father, but I'm their 100 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,280 sole custodial parent. 101 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,040 But I've been treated more or less 102 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,400 like this was just a missed weekend with 103 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,920 my kids. 104 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:47,720 But Amelia and Sophia, my daughters and 105 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:49,600 residences of your city, have not been 106 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,030 seen or heard from by anybody 107 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,320 that we know of since July. 108 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,880 And I wanted to come here initially to 109 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,440 ask you to implore the local police to 110 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,680 do more or even just to follow their own 111 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,360 internal procedures when it comes to 112 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,720 missing children. 113 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,120 But honestly, my faith in that 114 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,560 institution is a bit shaken right now. 115 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,200 And so 116 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,480 I don't know how good that would 117 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,560 actually do and instead I'm just asking 118 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,120 for awareness to this matter. 119 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,000 I'm asking you to please remember Amelia 120 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:22,920 and Sophia, my daughters. They're 7 121 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,240 years old. 122 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,200 And to please use your voices 123 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,240 uh whether it's on social media or in 124 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:30,880 your own circles 125 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,880 to just help bring attention to this so 126 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,000 that we can bring them home. 127 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,560 Um I have several 128 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,200 Can you please leave a flyer with our 129 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:41,920 staff there and include your name and 130 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,640 number and email? 131 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:52,990 Thank you. 132 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,720 My name is Glenn Johns. 133 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,960 I'm from Springville. 134 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,920 And my twin granddaughters, Amelia and 135 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,280 Sophia, are missing. 136 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:06,830 They've been missing for 9 months. 137 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,520 And I think as parents and grandparents 138 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:12,040 I'd like for you to reflect for a moment 139 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,640 of how you would feel 140 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,230 if this happened to you. 141 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,120 We've been met We have met with local 142 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,480 and federal officials on this matter 143 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,240 and here are a few of the examples of 144 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,800 the things that we've been told. 145 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,200 This is a civil matter. 146 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,750 No laws have been broken. 147 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,160 They're not missing. They're with their 148 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,440 mother. 149 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,120 We have submitted the case and it's been 150 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,960 declined. 151 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,240 Or 152 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:44,360 we only prosecute felony offenses and we 153 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,080 cannot go approve beyond a reasonable 154 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:47,840 doubt 155 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:50,520 that they have left the state. 156 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,280 And still my grandchildren are missing 157 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:55,550 for nearly 9 months. 158 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,600 To the point of when people say they are 159 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,760 not missing, they're with their mother 160 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,200 I'd like to share with you a quote from 161 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,800 the National Center 162 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,680 for Missing and Exploited Children. 163 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,400 I quote. 164 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,120 We now We also now recognize children 165 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,000 are deeply and permanently affected by 166 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,000 family abduction. 167 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,080 The emotional scarring caused by these 168 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:17,400 events 169 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,720 requires officers to recognize family 170 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:21,440 abduction 171 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,400 not as a harm harm harmless offense 172 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,920 where two parents are arguing over who 173 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,120 loves the children more, 174 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,440 but instead as an insidious form of 175 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,880 child abuse. 176 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:34,880 I've come here tonight to ask the city 177 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,120 council three things. 178 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,040 Number one, urge the police department 179 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,680 to make this case a higher priority 180 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,320 and give them the resources that they 181 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,920 need to do that. 182 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,320 Number two, 183 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,680 use your personal and agency social 184 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,880 media accounts to spread the word 185 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:55,280 children. 186 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:56,480 And if I may 187 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,840 give one more comment. 188 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:01,080 Support and assist our future efforts to 189 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,120 change the state laws to prevent better 190 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,120 response to missing children like me and 191 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:08,480 Sophia. 192 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:13,750 Thank you. 193 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,760 Next, an implied motion on a resolution 194 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,600 approving the appropriation of 96,547 195 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,480 to pay for three new firefighters and 196 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,160 their equipment between May and June for 197 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,680 the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026. 198 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,440 This will be presented by Jeremy Hedman, 199 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,560 our fire chief. It is This is an item 200 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,480 that we have heard um multiple times in 201 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,510 a work meeting. 202 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:38,960 Council, thanks for giving me a few 203 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,400 minutes this evening to talk to you 204 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,720 about our request. Uh I know you've 205 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,800 heard all heard it already, 206 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,000 but uh we're requesting that we hire 207 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,880 three firefighters 208 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:49,600 uh 209 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,960 for just for June and July of this year. 210 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,840 We're requesting appropriation for 211 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,000 96,547 212 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:57,400 dollars. 213 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,760 Um 60 of that is for the three 214 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:01,240 firefighters. 215 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,360 36 of that is for the equipment we need 216 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,960 to get them started. 217 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:07,080 Um 218 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,040 the reason we need these firefighters, 219 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:10,840 it'll put one additional firefighter per 220 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,840 shift, which helps us with our staffing 221 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,600 needs. 222 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,760 Um the reason we need these firefighters 223 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,480 now instead of later is 224 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,880 it helps us with our training 225 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:24,200 for 226 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,920 the the camp we run them through, an 227 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,320 8-week camp. It'll make it so we only 228 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,800 have to do that once instead of three firefighters now, three 229 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,400 firefighters later. 230 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,880 Um and then on top of that 231 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,320 we have recently done a test. We have a 232 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,680 list and we have some good candidates on 233 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:42,479 that list that we'd like to hire before 234 00:08:42,479 --> 00:08:44,480 they get hired somewhere else. 235 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,280 Uh two of those firefighters that were 236 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,720 on the list or candidates have already 237 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,600 been hired in other fire departments. So 238 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,240 we'd like to to get the best of the best 239 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:56,840 while we can. 240 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,280 Um So, do we still have three that are 241 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,440 available? We have three great great 242 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,840 quality firefighter candidates still on 243 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:05,360 the list. Okay. 244 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:06,480 All right. 245 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,120 Thank you, Chief. Any questions for 246 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:09,880 Chief? 247 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:11,880 Okay. Thank you. We will open this item 248 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:13,400 up for public comment. Is there any 249 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,880 public comment on this item? 250 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:17,920 Seeing no public comment, we'll go to 251 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,720 council discussion. Is there any council 252 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,120 discussion on this item? 253 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:24,760 All right. We'll have a Oh. 254 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,200 Counselor Whitlock. Um just I think 255 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,720 maybe for the benefit of the public who 256 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,720 wasn't part of the work meetings, I I 257 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,840 really appreciate what we're doing here. 258 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,480 We're hiring full-time staff, which is 259 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,960 going to be covered by reductions in 260 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,760 uh overtime budget. So, on a run rate 261 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,440 basis or on an ongoing basis, this is 262 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,280 going to be budget neutral. 263 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:44,840 Thank you. 264 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,680 All right. We will now call for a vote 265 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:48,320 on the implied motion. Counselor 266 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:49,680 Garrett. 267 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:51,800 Yes. Counselor McCay, yes. Counselor 268 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,040 Christiansen. Yes. Counselor Whitlock. 269 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,760 Yes. Counselor Bogden. Yes. Counselor 270 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,680 Hoban. Yes. Councilor Whipple. Yes. 271 00:10:00,680 --> 00:10:03,280 The motion passes 7-0. And if there's no 272 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:04,720 objection, we will now adjourn the Pro 273 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:09,280 Municipal Council by unanimous consent.