[0:08] Morning everyone. Bright and early. I'd like to call the special meeting for the [0:12] city council of Temple City to order on August 26, 2026 at 7 a.m. [0:21] May we have a roll call, please? >> Council member Chavez [0:26] » here. >> Council member Sternquist [0:28] » here. Council member Yu >> here. [0:30] » Mayor Proench Chen is absent. Mayor man >> here. [0:36] » Move to excuse Mayor Prom Chen for cost. >> We have a second. [0:44] » Second. >> Okay. All right. If there are no [0:46] objections, Mayor Promchen is excused. Next, we move to public comments. [0:51] Anyone who wishes to address the council at this time? Yes, Mr. Jambasian. Good [0:58] morning. [1:02] [snorts] [1:07] » Morning, Jerry Jambasian. Good morning, mayor, council members, and staff and [1:13] deputies. When I was here probably four weeks ago, I did mention the uh radar [1:20] indicator on uh Longden near Longd. And I'm wondering is there any update on [1:28] it when it's going to be operational? [1:32] Okay. I know you can't give answers but after [1:37] a month it seems like something should happen. [1:41] » Fair. We we will we will ask during the meeting. Thank you for Thank you. [1:45] » There's a radar in there's a radar thing. [1:47] » There's two two of them. >> It's like a speed. You're talking about [1:50] the speed. >> Yeah. East and west there. [1:52] » How fast you're going, right? >> Exactly. [1:54] » Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. And with school starting, it kind [1:57] of be a help. >> Thank you, Jerry. Does anyone else wish [2:01] to address council at this time? >> Okay. Uh, madame city clerk, are there [2:06] any virtual speakers? [2:10] » There are none, mayor. >> Okay. Thank you. With that, we will [2:13] close public comment and we will go right into item four, communications. [2:18] So, Mr. City Manager, do you want to say [2:22] anything before we start or should I turn it right over to [2:25] » Thank you, Mayor Man. If you could turn it right over to Deputy Schwarz, then we [2:28] can we can begin our normal presentation. Thank you, sir. [2:31] » Morning, Deputy Schwarz. Floor is yours. >> Good morning, everyone. Uh, today we're [2:35] going to be going over um for July. Um, I think there was kind of a mishap with [2:42] changing everything uh going back and forth. So, I do apologize. Um, I don't [2:47] know where the August came from, but we're going to be going over July. [2:53] Um, of course, uh, we have the volunteers on patrol. If you do want to [2:58] volunteer, um, all the information is right there. You can reach out to Deputy [3:02] Johnson if you want to volunteer, uh, to do control checks. Um, still it's the [3:07] same, the quality of life. Um, always checking up on the register, the police [3:11] and the probationers in the city along with talking to the progentation [3:16] officers. Um, the crime trends are still uh getting the burglaries um the the [3:23] petty testies uh and we're just doing um constant patrol checks burglary [3:28] operations throughout the city. Um right here for a notable arrest [3:34] deputies uh deputies doing a patrol check notice [3:38] person laying on the ground upon contacting him they recovered a [3:41] controlled substance. Can you hear me? >> Yeah. [3:46] » Okay. Sorry. um department resources showed that um uh the person um had [3:52] prior convictions of being in possession of a controlled substance and this is [3:56] one of the new laws that passed the 11395B1. [3:59] So he was arrested for a felony. Other than that it would would have been a [4:02] misdemeanor. [4:06] Um also uh this one I know you guys might have heard deputies responded to [4:10] an assault with a deadly weapon call where there was a gun pointed at the [4:13] victims using department resources. All suspects uh were arrested uh that night [4:18] and later that day. Um just using uh interview and department resources that [4:23] throughout the city. [4:29] Um right here, this one is a good notable arrest. A deputy doing a patrol [4:33] check was flagged down that the victim had just had jewelry uh stolen from her [4:37] person. During the investigation, the deputy was able to get a license plate. [4:42] Right. Uh earlier in that day, these suspects had committed a robbery inside [4:46] Roseme. So they were able to tie them together. Later that evening, both [4:50] suspects were arrested. These suspects were also related to two prior uh [4:56] robberies in the city and they were also uh wanted in Lakewood for also uh [5:01] committing a robbery. So uh with that arrest uh was able to close a lot of [5:05] cases and um uh arrest them. [5:12] But are they just part of a figure gang or two individual? [5:17] » Uh two two individuals. Yes. Mhm. >> Uh so right here we're going to be going [5:24] down uh the the crime stats. >> Deputy Schwarz, just sorry to interrupt. [5:28] Yes. >> In your previous slide at the bottom [5:30] when you said there's a notation that says the suspects were arrested for the [5:34] following. Could you help us understand what those [5:37] » Yes, sir. Uh the 211 PC is robbery. Oh, >> um and then they were also arrested for [5:43] grand theft. >> That's 487A. [5:46] » Yes, sir. 211 is robbery and the 487 APC is grand theft. Thank you. [5:50] » Um and then prior to that, uh they were um suspects for committing a grand theft [5:56] earlier and a robbery also in the city. >> Just as one quick reminder too for the [6:02] council, the team actually looks at every single report that comes in. So, [6:07] not only are the crime analysts doing activity, but Deputy Buoie, Deputy [6:11] Felix, and Deputy Schwarz are looking at all the crimes in the city and then [6:15] reporting to and it dictates some of their [6:18] operations, but also too, they're pushing that up the chain as well. So, [6:22] they have a good handle on what is happening in the community and I [6:25] appreciate all their work. So, that's why you can hear from anyone, Deputy [6:30] Felix, Deputy Buoie, Deputy Schwarz, they have this very intimate knowledge [6:34] of each of these crimes every single time. [6:37] Thank you, sir. Uh so now we're going to be going down the um uh the stats from [6:42] uh January to July as well. Uh so for the month of July, zero homicides, um [6:48] zero rapes. Uh the one robbery was actually at a business where the victim [6:52] confronted the suspects and that's how the elements were were meant for a [6:55] robbery. So it just wasn't a person uh out and about. Uh the victim actually [6:59] approached these people and they were stealing copper wire. Um the assault [7:03] it's actually not five, it should be three. Sorry, is it not on the screen? [7:07] It should be three. Um out of the three, two are arrested. Uh the other one is a [7:13] uh named suspect and hopefully by uh next meeting uh that person will be will [7:17] be arrested. Um the residential burglary should be uh [7:22] at 10. Um one of them wasn't attempted. Uh and there is some uh information that [7:28] is ongoing with the detectives and hopefully we'll have an answer for you [7:31] uh next meeting regarding some arrests. Um vehicle burglaries were at zero. The [7:36] one grand theft uh is what we just talked about for the notable arrest [7:40] where that person had jewelry taken from them and they were arrested behind that. [7:44] Um the petty thefts uh one was a late reported from an unlocked vehicle [7:51] and uh the other one I believe is from a business. Um I know the Grand Theft [7:56] Autos uh it was up to four but out of the four three of them were unlocked and [8:02] one of them actually had their keys inside. So this is one of the things [8:05] that we talk about in the area uh watch meeting of trying not to be a victim of [8:09] a crime. preventing don't don't leave purses visible inside your car. Um lock [8:15] your car. So out of the four uh the three were unlocked. [8:23] Uh and this just breaks down um all the stats again from year to date. So from [8:28] year to date from last year we're at 100 burglaries. Uh currently right now uh we [8:32] are at uh 61. And sorry I did skip through one the one commercial burglary. [8:38] Sorry about that. The person we did arrest um commercial burglary uh was a [8:42] sight out but using department resources we noticed that this individual had uh [8:47] prior convictions for theft. So we did arrest for that new law the 66.1 PC. So [8:53] that person was held. Um but just to let you know I thought it was a felony. Um [8:58] they actually charged that individual as a misdemeanor. So I know talking to a [9:02] few people we all just thought it was a straight felony but it could be charged [9:05] as a misdemeanor. And if I can add one thing, one thing on the civilian side [9:09] that we've done that you've done as well is that you've really we've really [9:13] strengthened the behavioral issues related to uh use of public spaces and [9:18] and um activity and behavior in the public right away. So, I know the team [9:25] does a really good job of coupling those two together using what the new laws [9:30] allow them from a criminal justice standpoint, but also to our laws that we [9:34] have that you passed almost a year and a half ago now. They are a they're a [9:39] little bit more quant qualitative rather than quantitative in their in what you [9:44] see in the numbers, but they are having effect. And I know talking to the team [9:48] and u getting the captain acquainted as well and captain May said that that was [9:53] something that he felt was really important and it's working. So I want to [9:57] thank the council for that. I know it can be a little more stringent for some [10:00] folks in in some communities feel a little bit more um [10:05] maybe not at ease with those types of those types of ordinances. But it it is [10:10] helping [10:18] Uh so this just breaks down exactly what we just went over um year-to- date from [10:21] 2023. Um all the stats that uh we just went over. [10:27] Um so these are our response times uh for the month of July. The routine was [10:31] uh 49.3 uh minutes uh priority uh 12 and emergent call uh was three. Um the total [10:39] arrest for felony was six. uh misdemeanor was 40 for a total of 46 [10:43] arrests and one of them was the prox P prop 36 arrest which was that um prior [10:48] conviction with a controlled substance the 11395B1. [10:54] Uh the traffic issues um are still especially with school picking up right [10:58] now the speeding uh failure to stop at uh red lights and the ebikes. I know [11:03] Deputy Felix and Deputy Buouie this past week uh were at Temple City High School [11:07] uh regarding ebikes and talking to everyone. [11:12] » Could you explain what high visibility patrols are? [11:15] » Yeah, so that's just us uh driving around doing patrol checks in the cities [11:19] just how Mr. Cook said, we know by reading the reports, we kind of know the [11:23] certain areas in the city that we're getting complaints regarding speeding. [11:27] If there's a certain crime trend going on, that's where we'll start doing [11:30] patrol checks in that certain area. just for high visibility to try to deter it. [11:39] Um these are the um the traffic stats um from January to July and then also uh [11:44] July. Uh we had two traffic crashes uh that unfortunately had an injury. 11 [11:50] were property damage uh for a total of 13. Uh for traffic citations, 101 [11:56] hazardous citations were giving out um and six non-hazardous. The difference [12:01] between hazardous and non-hazardous is running a stop sign, running a red light [12:05] is a hazardous citation. Somebody having uh expired registration, a brake light [12:10] out, uh that is considered a nonhazardous citation uh for a total of [12:14] 107. And two, in this situation, I want to thank our not only our we we do our [12:20] motors, but I appreciate our our team and our traffic deputies who are out who [12:26] are really trying their best uh their best to um enforce but also be a [12:32] presence out in the community, too. So, we've seen that especially in the last [12:36] last I would say about the last three months. Um and and you can see it in [12:40] some of the statistics as well. [12:46] Um right here for the special assignment uh the activities uh the city meetings [12:51] uh the transportation and public safety commission meetings um a few weeks uh [12:55] every night um traffic enforcement detail uh meetings with the captain if [13:00] we have any uh trends and we're also currently doing burglary suppression [13:03] operations throughout the city and just how Mr. Cook said, uh, always doing [13:07] follow-up on active cases, uh, assisting with DB and what we can do, um, to try [13:12] to solve some of these reports and cases. [13:16] Uh, September events, uh, that we have coming up is the high autumn festival. [13:20] Um, and then just, uh, contacting some uh, regarding residential burglaries [13:26] with some other uh, agencies. And that's where I said hopefully next month we can [13:31] uh talk to you a little bit more about um some arrests where we're talking to [13:34] some local agencies and even some agencies that aren't so close. [13:40] Um public outreach um uh constantly uh going to businesses for a letter of [13:45] agencies uh doing the neighborhood watch meeting which we just had um a week ago. [13:51] And uh doing the ebike and burglary uh suppression. I know ebikes right now [13:55] with school starting uh is a big issue. And that'll conclude uh for the month of [14:01] July. So, >> and with that, Council uh Mayor Man, um [14:07] uh I know we're moving a little fast today, but I'd like uh only two and a [14:11] half weeks on the job. Sir, I'd like to I think several of you met uh Captain [14:16] Sheriff Morsey, who is the new captain of the Temple Station. I'll allow him to [14:20] introduce himself. [14:23] » Good morning. First of all, I apologize for uh for my late arrival. Uh pleasure [14:28] to be here. I'm glad to be back at Temple Station. Um as you know, I I was [14:32] previously assigned here approximately 10 years ago. Um very happy to be back. [14:36] I have a great team here at at the station. You have a great team at the [14:40] Temple City in particular, our SEO team are doing a phenomenal job. And I thank [14:44] you for the opportunity to be here. >> Okay. Well, welcome Kathy. [14:50] And yeah, we we look forward to having you being part of the Temple City [14:55] community. I know you're familiar with it and you're absolutely right. We have [14:59] a phenomenal team here and the proof is in the not just the numbers but in the [15:05] way that they interact with our community, not just at neighborhood [15:08] watch meetings, but at so many different events. So, um, just like Brian said [15:12] earlier, their intimate knowledge of our crimes helps us better understand what [15:17] we as a council need to do to help and support our partners in law enforcement, [15:22] especially our amazing Temple Station team. So, thank you for being here with [15:26] us. >> Um, so we and thank you, Deputy Schwarz, [15:31] for the presentation. Um, I do want to allow council for any questions or [15:36] comments. Um, council member Sturquist, >> I don't have any questions. Just thanks [15:40] again for the work that you all do. >> No questions. [15:44] » No. >> No further questions the mayor, but I [15:48] would really want to welcome the captain uh back to Temple Temple City and Temple [15:54] Station and uh and like the mayor said, we have a phenomenal team. You know how [15:59] the city works and um and um and I think you also understand the sentiment of our [16:06] residents that their expectations. So looking forward to working with you. [16:12] » So I I do have a couple questions just uh one to try to follow up on Mr. [16:17] Jambasian's question. The the Longden the speeding limit sign that's on [16:23] Longden is that's under the purview of the city, right? We we maintain that. [16:28] » It is Mayor Man. And I'm sorry for the delay on that. We've been we've been [16:32] replacing several of the batteries for a lot of those locations throughout. I [16:36] will double check on that one. Um that that may have I I will double check on [16:41] where we are with that. I apologize. >> Okay. [16:43] » So I I will report back to the council and I'll I'll get back to the community [16:46] as well. >> Yeah. If if you can at least report back [16:49] at our next regular council meeting, perhaps in your city manager's report on [16:53] an ETA on that. >> Good idea, sir. We'll do. [16:55] » Okay. Thank you. Um and then another thing to follow up on, I know during our [17:00] last meeting we had some students from Temple City High School [17:06] bring some ideas to us in in terms of how that's being rolled out or or if [17:13] it's being rolled out. Is there anything that you can update us on? [17:19] » Sure. Um especially on the ebike front, we're trying um we've been working very [17:24] aggressively and I know Deputy Felix was was it this Saturday or last Saturday? [17:29] » Saturday. myself and Deputy Buy >> and Deputy Buouie. Uh Saturday, we're [17:32] actually out in at the school doing an active level of education. I know that [17:37] um the Temple City Unified School District has asked us to do what we can. [17:42] Um we're trying to balance between educating and enforcement. [laughter] I [17:47] think that's that's that's really that's really the the challenge. um outright [17:51] bans and stuff like that. That's a little bit um more difficult in terms of [17:56] what's allowed under the law, but really um the dedicated team has been out in [18:02] force with the schools and I think um Deputy Felix and Deputy Buy spent the [18:08] weekend and then they've been to several of their assemblies too. Um in terms of [18:12] some of the other particular aspects of what the um students brought forward [18:16] with a little bit more detail beyond the enforcement and education, we'll take a [18:21] deeper dive into that as well and see what is uh what's feasible as well. [18:26] » Yeah, I I think that that I would appreciate if we we did consider that [18:31] and at least provide a a response even even if we believed some of them may not [18:37] be feasible for whatever reason it may be. I think we at least deserve to take [18:43] a look at it and review it and determine what what makes sense for us. [18:47] » Yeah, absolutely. And we can talk and some of those uh some of those young uh [18:51] folks are, you know, part of a lot of the leadership activities with it with [18:55] that work with us. So, we're in contact with them. So, and we'll we'll get back [18:59] to them. Um, I know that we had mentioned to Greg [19:03] some time ago when I believe there were some cities in San Diego that had [19:08] actually put ordinances in place that banned ebikes uh ebikes and um I know of [19:17] some other cities that are looking at banning them at a certain time which is [19:22] early morning and then again in the early afternoon when kids are coming and [19:27] going because that seems to the time that [clears throat] of course they're [19:32] using them. You know, I I only live one block um east of Temple City Boulevard [19:40] and I am going to say in the last two weeks [19:45] I have seen an uptake in kids on ebikes, 90% of them without [19:52] helmets. So, I'm wondering at what point will we decide that we're just not going [20:02] to allow them or make it so difficult that these kids [20:08] can't use them? Maybe. [clears throat] I I don't know what the answer is, but I [20:13] am just afraid that every day on, you know, whether it's Facebook pages or [20:20] um you know, the news, somebody's in the hospital, someone's having a GoFundMe [20:26] um fundraiser for someone who was injured critically with brain injuries [20:34] on, you know, the news. I I I just don't know. I mean, if if one city was able to [20:40] do it and it was legally okay. We've been talking about education of of [20:45] ebikes for how long? You know, your hands are tied. And I think we really [20:50] need to think about this and maybe have a special meeting in with Greg, our city [20:57] attorney, looking and our sheriff's department looking at what's the maximum [21:02] enforcement we can allow in our city that's legal. It's just my thought, but [21:07] I know Tom, you have been so vocal about this also. And I just think there comes [21:12] a point in time where education is not working anymore. [21:18] It it just doesn't seem to be enough. So just my thoughts on that. [21:23] » Mayor, may I just take on comments? >> Yes, please. [21:25] » So yeah, not only ebikes. Um just uh just last week I was driving Huntington [21:31] Boulevard and there was a kid in East Scooter not bike and he was going [21:38] between 30 and 40 miles because I could tell cuz that's by speed and I could [21:43] barely caught up with him uh on I don't it was it was crazy. So, so my question [21:49] is really while we're talking about ebikes, but there are e scooters out [21:52] there that are probably even faster because they're light, smaller, lighter. [21:56] And and I must say as a former cyclist, it's harder to control a [22:02] scooter than a bike. Bike you can control it just with your legs, but [22:05] there are no legs, you know, because you're standing on the scooter. So, so I [22:10] just want to take on what to council member Sternest uh response. So, um, at [22:16] what point and and what should we do about these things? [22:22] » Okay. Yeah. So, I think our city manager hears us loud and clear. I think there [22:27] there's a lot of uh information that we would need to have a substantive [22:32] discussion on this matter that of course includes our city attorney's input. And [22:38] we do know there's a lot going on in neighboring cities. And uh I I will the [22:42] only thing I will say at this point is not all cities are created equal. So in [22:47] terms of what they're dealing with, what we're dealing with uh maybe not exactly [22:51] an applesto apples comparison, but nevertheless I think it warrants a a [22:55] substantive discussion to see if there's anything again on the policy end that [23:01] would help with this issue. Right. Um, one thing I I want us to be cognizant of [23:06] is that if we're limiting accessibility for transportation, that could also have [23:11] a another effect. So, there's always going to be pros and cons to what we do. [23:15] And and I think that's that's why it necessitates a a discussion at the [23:19] policy level. >> You know, I I'm sorry. I [23:22] » Sorry. >> I think that [23:26] accessibility, yes, can be an issue, but we did without ebikes for many years. [23:32] And most children who go to school are either dropped off by [23:38] their parents and or you know um maybe they walk maybe some parents don't feel [23:43] safe with that but they make arrangements and I think that [23:48] you know at some point we are the policy makers and we take a note to do the best [23:54] that we can and and protect the people that we represent. And I just think that [24:00] anything that's within the law, whether it's making you get a license or [24:04] whatever that might look like, I think that we should should do that. And, you [24:11] know, parents can get up 5 minutes earlier. How how long does it take to [24:14] get from, you know, where I live to the high school? It's just a matter of more [24:19] convenience provided. It's like we live in a fast food, you know, world. then I [24:23] I just can't be more adamant about it that I think we're going to sit here one [24:27] day and we're going to feel sorry for the family of someone that got either [24:31] killed or critically injured. And I think Tom and I see the possibilities [24:35] daily that can happen with serving on CJPIA. I do from a transportation issue [24:42] because I serve on Foothill Transit. So, you know, accessibility is people make [24:48] it happen. I mean, I drove my kids to school far out of Temple City and I made [24:52] sure they got there on time. I mean, because I chose to send my kids to a [24:56] religious school, but so I think parents have the ability to enforce it, but it [25:02] doesn't seem like enforcement is is happening from the parental standpoint. [25:06] So, get up 10 minutes earlier and take your kids to school. [25:09] » And if I may, um, I think there's a huge difference between bicycle and ebikes. I [25:15] mean I mean we have bicycles for ages, right? We never had accessibility [25:20] problem. So we're really not talking about banning regular bicycles. [25:24] » No. >> Right. Or or or um making ordinance [25:27] against uh regular bicycles. We're talking about ebikes. The ones that that [25:31] goes fast. >> The children with that are on bicycles [25:34] are wearing helmets, >> right? [25:36] » They have the helmets on. I see them with helmets, but I don't see the ebike [25:40] kids with helmets or scooters. >> Yeah. [25:43] » Yeah. So, so what what I would suggest is that of you, our city manager will [25:48] tell us when an agenda item can be prepared for this discussion matter. I [25:53] would also suggest that considering the substantive nature of the discussion, it [25:58] probably wouldn't fit in this current meetings format. It would be part of our [26:03] regular council meeting discussion. Um, I would also suggest that as part of the [26:08] standing committee with the school district that council member Chavez and [26:12] I are part of that before that gets placed on our agenda, we get a chance to [26:17] give them a heads up that this is part of that discussion and we should invite [26:20] them to be a part of that input as well since they are our partners um, in that [26:25] and I would go as far as saying that this extends to Elmani Unified even [26:30] though we don't hear as much of maybe we don't hear as many issues from Clemenson [26:34] But nevertheless, they are part of the the city limits as well as any kind of [26:41] impacts related to the Arcadia school district side of the city. [26:44] » We'll do >> Yeah, I know. [26:45] » St. Gabriel, we have the the school right behind the police station. [26:51] » Oh, the the St. Gabriel Academy. >> Yes. [26:53] » On Broadway, >> the Elks Club, isn't there a school [26:56] right across the street? >> Oh, yes. Yes. I forgot about that. Yes. [26:59] Yeah. So [clears throat] definitely that partnership with the districts needs to [27:04] be included as part of this discussion. >> Understood sir. [27:07] » Okay. And and I do want to just on that note and end on a a rel somewhat high [27:13] note on that. Um I will say that anecdotally for the uh the Temple City [27:17] Unified School District even at the elementary school level in back to [27:21] school nights for my kids the teachers have actually addressed the ebike issue [27:27] in the back to school night. They don't go into a lot of details obviously, but [27:31] they do note that well they first they mention that well it's not as prevalent [27:35] of a problem at the elementary school level but they do tell parents they says [27:39] hey if you if your kids are coming to school on ebikes know that there are [27:43] laws and regulations governing safety the types of bikes the speed etc and so [27:50] they said you need to be informed um but when I asked the teachers they says yeah [27:54] we we don't see that as as much at Longden Cloverly elementary. So, it's [27:59] probably a more of a high school or middle school issue. [28:05] All right, with that, um, if are there any final final comments before we [28:12] adjourn? Um, oh, actually, no, we have one last public comment item. So, I will [28:17] open the public comment for the final part of our meeting. Is there anyone who [28:21] would like to address council at this time? [28:24] Okay, madame city clerk, are there any virtual speakers on this part of the [28:28] item? >> Mayor, we do not have a request. Oh, [28:31] excuse me. >> Do we have one? [28:33] » We do have a public uh we do have a participant, but they're not requesting [28:37] to speak. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you. Then uh with [28:40] that, I will close the public comment and we are adjourned for this session. [28:46] Um but council does have a close session following this meeting. So um we will [28:51] follow and open the close session right afterwards. [28:55] » Uh close session is threat of litigation facts unknown to the potential plaintiff [28:59] one potential case under government code section 54956.9 [29:05] subsection D I have four. Thank you. Where are we? [29:13] » Okay. Good good morning. Um >> council has concluded close session. We [29:19] were briefed by our city attorney on the item listed on 6A of close session item [29:27] and there is no reportable action at this time. So with that we will adjourn [29:34] the close session.