[0:00] Or, good afternoon, everybody. We're ready to go ahead and get this city council work session meeting started. November 3rd, and we will call this meeting to order.

[0:09] We'll start off with public comments. Citizens are now invited to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Vice-Sized City Council and items listed on the closed session agenda.

[0:19] The Council asked to keep your comments concise and positive. Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

[0:25] Each speaker will be allowed three minutes and a timer will notify you when your time is expired.

[0:29] Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residents.

[0:33] Do you have anyone from the public wishing to speak?

[0:38] Seeing pretty much all.

[0:42] So I see no one.

[0:44] Is this microphone working?

[0:48] It's low.

[0:49] It was working.

[0:51] Then it wasn't.

[0:52] All right.

[0:53] So we're going to start off with item number one, which is recognition of city of

[0:57] So, innovators, by design award, and that's going to be given by Jason Serpa.

[1:07] Good evening, Council.

[1:08] Jason Serpa Public Works Manager for Solid Waste.

[1:10] On October 8th, the Workforce Investment Board, held the innovators by design conference,

[1:18] which invited a lot of partners, community partners, community individuals,

[1:21] to collaborate and inspire change in community involvement.

[1:27] In addition to having a keynote speaker there and other breakout conferences, they did give out individual and team awards to recognize not only organizations but individuals and the city of ISIL was awarded the Innovation Award for our ECO program.

[1:45] And so, they also did a real special video, which will, I guess, become a lot longer video

[1:53] for, to send out to other cities and organizations as an example.

[1:58] And we do have the video to show today, but before we show the video, I do want to introduce

[2:02] our individuals that went through the Eco Program, Michael Gonzalez, and Celeste Paras.

[2:09] they are both in our suite program now with full-time employees and Griseldah Harrow who's a

[2:17] solid waste operator and we do have Alyssa O'Hate also in our wastewater collections department.

[2:23] She should be able to make it. She might go away today. Griseldah was featured in the video,

[2:28] but they're all super stars. They all came to the program and we can go ahead and start.

[2:52] The eco program was developed in order to provide individuals that are experiencing homelessness

[2:57] in the city of Isaia, with the skills needed to be successful, and also the resources and

[3:01] confidence needed to be successful in the workforce.

[3:05] I have been a big hit from my apartment, and I was not on the streets for a very long time,

[3:10] but I was on the streets for about three weeks before I got into a shelter.

[3:22] I saw another participant there in her yellow shirt with her pants and her boots and

[3:27] Like, what are you, what are you, what are you, you know?

[3:32] The Eagle Program was always a partnership

[3:35] between the workforce investment board

[3:37] and C-Sat, along with the city of Isaia.

[3:40] What's up, I'm here, I'm doing a little walk up this way.

[3:44] C-Sat does run the level one crew,

[3:46] which is a cleanup crew, supervised with a C-Sat employee.

[3:50] It was like a little eye-opener to be cleaning up the unhouse.

[3:55] I was able to see if I would have stayed out longer

[3:58] on-house, then that could have been me. That kind of gave me more of a more

[4:02] motivational push to continue to move forward. So phase one helps people get

[4:06] their foot back in the door with the workforce, right? In addition, what they're

[4:10] doing is job preparation workshops helping them with interview skills with

[4:13] resume writing, your career exploration figuring out what's out there, and then we

[4:18] also have phase two. Those individuals are then working directly into the

[4:21] supervision of the city of Bicelius Public Works Department. They send them over to

[4:26] the City of Isalia, Solid Waste Department, and they work here in place of our lease that

[4:32] we would have hired anyways. There are folks out there that have a hard time finding the

[4:36] avenue to get back to work. We consider a success when they achieve outside of playmen.

[4:41] I really enjoyed the program getting a firm and becoming responsible. I started saving money.

[4:51] That's when they asked me if I wanted to apply for a position in your city.

[4:56] It's all the parts I've heard, and that's it.

[5:00] I ended up getting my license, my personal license, and I got the solid wage operator job. I love my job. I actually work for the city for almost four years.

[5:36] And that's it.

[5:37] All right, so we do have a award, so we'll come down and take a picture with our folks, but I'll just read it real quick. It says,

[5:43] The workforce investment board of telecounty presents city if I say innovators by design

[5:49] award for exceptional partnership and commitment to strength to the workforce.

[5:54] It's on October 8th, 2025 so if we can have the four of you or guess five of you come

[5:59] on over and we'll take a picture right down here in the well.

[6:05] Oh yeah if you guys want to come up here I guess there's only few of you that works better.

[7:09] Council this is one of those programs that it just really fills me and I'm sure you

[7:12] with a lot of pride for the number of years this has gone on and it was very innovative

[7:18] when it started and it has really paid off and dividends for people who have been able

[7:22] to change their lives.

[7:23] So thank you for continuing to support this.

[7:28] It really is an amazing program and we get a lot of kudos from the community for how beautiful

[7:33] our city is.

[7:35] You know whether it's graffiti, abatement, trash, just cleanups, you know, I've been out watching

[7:40] and some of these ladies work, and it's amazing.

[7:42] They just come in and it is a crew, and within minutes,

[7:45] they can clean something that would take me a day or two.

[7:48] So, it's amazing to watch them work.

[7:49] If I could share my supervisor at night,

[7:53] came out of the ECO program, and he lived at the rescue mission,

[7:57] and because he's now working, he has his own apartment,

[8:00] bought a car, and he's reunited with his son,

[8:03] and it's because of that program.

[8:05] I'm standing.

[8:08] All right, so we're going to go on next to item number two,

[8:10] which is a presentation of the 2025 Public Opinion Survey results.

[8:17] Council with us today is Richard Bernard, who was with FM3.

[8:22] He has a 20-year history with us in doing a variety of surveys that have led to measure

[8:29] T, measure N, measure R, and incredibly accurate with those statistically valid surveys.

[8:35] As you may know, this is the first time that the city has done a professional community opinion survey

[8:43] that we had many, many decades of the Citizens Advisory Committee conducting those

[8:49] and it was just time to look at really getting a statistically valid survey.

[8:54] So I really appreciate the work that John and his folks have done and take it away.

[8:59] I was the old, John was the old consultant.

[9:04] I thought you were referring to this system.

[9:07] I was just, I was just, I'll simply say your staff was amazing all the way around,

[9:14] how's that as a good start.

[9:16] And that's an end of one, but I can confirm that.

[9:19] All right.

[9:20] Good afternoon.

[9:21] Thank you for inviting me to come to what I always refer to as the jewel of the crown

[9:26] of the Larry County to present your residents opinion.

[9:33] So, I'd like to start with the methodology

[9:36] and then I'll get into the details.

[9:38] We conducted the survey between August 13th and the 28th.

[9:42] It was a dual mode survey,

[9:44] which means a random portion of their respondents took the survey

[9:47] on the phone and a random portion took the survey online.

[9:50] In fact, 47% took the survey on telephone if 53 online.

[9:55] We interviewed a random sample of 556 city of Vite.

[10:00] Assembly, a residence who are 18 years of age or older. For questions asked, everyone, the margin varies

[10:06] plus or minus 4.4. In some cases, we had a lot of questions, but we didn't want to over-over-tax. I

[10:14] don't mean it in the financial way. Your residence, and so there, we took a random half the sample and

[10:20] asked them some questions and a random half others. There, the margin and there's a little bit larger

[10:24] or plus or minus 6.2.

[10:27] We contacted residents by telephone, email, text, and postcards.

[10:33] And of course, we offered the survey in English and Spanish

[10:36] of which 13% opted to take the survey in Spanish.

[10:40] And as we go through the results, and if you notice something

[10:42] doesn't quite equal 100%, I blame that entirely

[10:47] on rounding just from the decimal points.

[10:51] So I want to start by giving you

[10:54] demographics of the respondents, and we look very closely at the U.S. Census Community Survey

[11:03] to make sure that the demographics mirror the demographics of your community. It's never

[11:09] helpful to over-sampled Group A when Group A only makes up a small portion of your respondents.

[11:16] So we wanted to make sure that it was a representative sample. In the first slide that you see here,

[11:24] I'm very familiar that the you folks at the city like to think there are many ways you

[11:29] like to slice and dice the city, but one of them is to cut it north south east west using

[11:36] i198 and moony boulevard. And so you could see the percentages of the respondents from each of

[11:43] those quadrants of the city. Then by age you could see 59% of the respondents or 18 years of age

[11:55] between 18 years of age, and 49 years of age, and I could tell you looking at the responses

[12:05] from your previous years, we actually ended up interviewing more younger people than we

[12:11] had in the past, but it's in line with your sense of status.

[12:15] So I felt very good about that.

[12:18] Then this slide demonstrates self-identified

[12:24] race and ethnicity.

[12:26] We don't tell people what they are.

[12:27] They tell us.

[12:28] And here 62% identified as a person of color

[12:33] in one of our multiple groups,

[12:35] of which almost one and every two identified as Latino.

[12:39] And then 35% white.

[12:41] By gender, when they told us, 51% said they were female, and 48% male, I'm somewhat

[12:52] of a social demographer, my background in sociology, and we know that women live longer

[12:56] than men, so these numbers don't necessarily surprise me.

[13:02] With respect to home ownership, 29% describe themselves as renters, 68% said a homeowner

[13:11] I look back on your 2021, 2022, 2022, 2023 survey, the interviews were less than 20%

[13:20] renters.

[13:21] So we were able to expand that base and we waited the data a little bit because you

[13:28] have certainly more renters than less than 20%.

[13:32] So they're more represented here in the responses.

[13:35] And we also asked a length of time living in VALSET by Celia.

[13:39] And here the data was fairly consistent with your previous results, and in that, you have a pretty modest number of folks who have recently moved in in the last four or five years.

[13:53] If you, I guess if you love this city, you stay, and you live here a long, long period of time, and that is represented here as well as in your previous surveys.

[14:02] And then by income, you could see about a third self-adentified

[14:10] as having household incomes in 2024, of $75,000 or less.

[14:18] It's not unusual for people to not want to give their income,

[14:22] but I rarely see only 11%.

[14:24] It's usually about a third of the samples.

[14:26] So they were, as long as the ranges were large and a lot of them

[14:30] at least self-adentified.

[14:32] Now, can I tell you they were telling us the truth?

[14:34] I cannot, but I will, in this case,

[14:37] try to take them at their word.

[14:39] All right, so those are the general demographics

[14:42] and now I'd like to move into sort of opinions.

[14:46] So we began the survey,

[14:47] be asking how they would rate if I silly

[14:49] as a place to live, and we gave them the option

[14:51] of excellent good fare, poor, or very poor.

[14:55] And 92% had what I'll call a favorable,

[15:00] Or at least said average in terms of their opinion about a place to live. I often look at this data and look at the percentage of sets of day before, and this is relatively low, and only 1% said very poor.

[15:14] And I think that's indicative of a well-run, great place to live city. Everyone aspires to do better, and so there's opportunities in the future for that, but very few people consider this to be a place to live.

[15:30] that they wouldn't want to live.

[15:33] We gave them a couple of statements.

[15:34] And we asked them if they agreed or disagreed with the statement.

[15:38] I presented two here.

[15:39] One is, I personally feel safe living in Vicellia.

[15:43] 75% said they either strongly or somewhat agree with that number.

[15:48] I think that's a relatively good number.

[15:50] I do a lot of these kinds of questions throughout the state.

[15:55] So it's a pretty strong number.

[15:57] though I'm always cautious, I assume the city's aspirational goal is for everyone to say extremely

[16:04] safe. So there's certainly room to move and you'll see as we move forward one of the issues

[16:11] of concern in the city is issues around crime which is not yet again unique to your city.

[16:17] The other question we asked for an agreed disagree on their opinion I trust by

[16:22] tell you, city government to do what is right all

[16:25] are most of the time.

[16:27] And here, bearing in mind that the views of government

[16:31] in general, these days are poor.

[16:35] And I'm not even talking about which side of the aisle

[16:38] you're on, just general, doesn't matter.

[16:42] And I think sometimes cities get a little bit of a raw deal

[16:45] because they that negative opinion from either Washington

[16:50] and or Sacramento, trickles down to where folks live, and I see a majority people saying they

[16:59] agree with that statement as a good marker of their opinions about how the city in general

[17:07] is doing. You don't get around with seeing very high numbers on this question, so to have a majority

[17:15] saying they agree with that is a good representation.

[17:21] So now, before we got into any of the topics in the survey,

[17:26] we asked them an open-ended question.

[17:28] We asked us a number of open-ended questions

[17:30] and I'm gonna mostly be showing in this section

[17:32] of the presentation.

[17:34] We asked them, what do you think is the most serious issue

[17:36] facing residents of Isleia that you'd like to see

[17:39] city government do something about?

[17:41] And we accepted multiple responses.

[17:43] So, if you do the math quickly and you see it equals more than 100, you know why.

[17:48] We took their actual answers and we grouped them together in themes.

[17:53] And so, those are the ones that are presented.

[17:56] And then I've ranked it,

[18:06] okay, great, sorry about that, I'll try to not break your technology.

[18:11] 37% said homelessness is an issue that they would like to see government do something about.

[18:19] And this theme runs throughout the data in the research,

[18:24] a clearly an issue that is top of mind.

[18:27] Remember, we didn't ask that,

[18:29] we didn't give them ideas,

[18:30] we were going to in a moment, but we asked them,

[18:33] this is purely top of mind.

[18:35] Crime, a significant drop down, but 12% crime,

[18:40] and then traffic congestion, transportation issues,

[18:43] unsafe traffic conditions.

[18:45] These are the three that you will see time and time

[18:49] again in this in this survey for you to be my full up.

[18:52] Some of you may be scratching your head and saying,

[18:55] well, what do we have to do with the schools other than

[18:57] you're certainly supportive of your schools?

[18:59] You'd like them to do well.

[19:01] Many people don't understand that city government

[19:04] is not responsible for local schools.

[19:06] There are certainly some exceptions in the US,

[19:09] but that's not necessarily very much in California

[19:11] with the exception of the LAUSD.

[19:14] And that's only in a modest way.

[19:15] So those are the top of mind items.

[19:20] We then gave them a list of 16 issues,

[19:23] and we asked them how serious a problem are these.

[19:27] The bright orange is extremely serious problem.

[19:31] The mid-color orange is very serious problem.

[19:34] The dull kind of beige or orange is somewhat serious problem.

[19:38] The blue is not too serious problem.

[19:40] And the gray are the folks who said they didn't know enough

[19:43] to offer an opinion.

[19:44] I've taken the extremely in very serious problem and I aggregate them on the right-hand side and ranked it as such.

[19:51] And the number one item both in terms of intensity but also overall by 15 points on the extremely very serious.

[20:01] So again, open ended, they brought it up top of mind and we give them a list and it clearly ranks the top.

[20:08] Cost of housing, cost of living, which are one could argue somewhat connected. Certainly, if I can't afford a place to live, I ultimately can be homeless.

[20:20] And we tested, cost of housing, lack of affordable housing in two different ways. The framing shows you.

[20:26] Sometimes words matter, and it changes the level of importance.

[20:31] Gang and youth juvenile violence,

[20:33] traffic on local streets, property crime,

[20:36] crime in general.

[20:38] These are kind of the top tier.

[20:40] Though I will tell you, in most cities,

[20:42] I see high percentages on multiple items.

[20:46] And here, I don't want to minimize something

[20:48] that's in the 40s, but I often will see a number

[20:51] of things a way above 50%, and that is in the case.

[20:55] And given the fact that I have another slide, and as you go down this list, the extremely

[21:02] a very serious problem starts to decline pretty dramatically.

[21:06] For example, again, people are generally not happy with government, yet waste in an efficiency

[21:12] in city government, only 10% say that's an extremely serious problem.

[21:17] And if you think about what's gone on over the last year with those, and the right wing

[21:22] is argued that there's waste of mismanagement, we've got to make the cuts, the leftling

[21:29] has argued we don't disagree, there's waste of mismanagement, but we would say you have

[21:34] to do it in a certain way. You have to be careful about that. All forms of the spectrum

[21:40] are talking about waste of mismanagement and government. And yet low and behold, it's relatively

[21:46] modest here. So I think that really speaks to the functioning of the government here.

[21:53] I wanted to point out a couple things about transportation.

[21:58] You have a modest number of people that use the buses.

[22:01] I'm very familiar with your transportation.

[22:04] I measure as the city manager mentioned.

[22:07] I was involved. My firm was involved with the measure.

[22:11] I believe this measure are.

[22:14] So I get the importance of transportation, public transportation.

[22:17] But I don't minimize some of those 18% that say lack of public transportation, they are incredibly dependent on public transportation and other folks aren't.

[22:27] So if you're not dependent on it, you don't think it's a serious problem.

[22:31] But there is a significant percentage of people, even if it's to intend that for them that's an issue.

[22:36] So I just, I don't want to just ignore that it's not 80%.

[22:40] But it's still for some people, it's a significant livelihood.

[22:44] Later in the survey, we started to talk about public safety and we asked, what would you

[22:50] say is the most serious public safety problem in your neighborhood? Again, open-ended, we

[22:55] group the responses thematically. And here, you could see speeding and unsafe driving and traffic

[23:04] is statistically tied with homeless and homeless encampments. So that sort of identifies

[23:10] as yet another topic of concern when you break it down,

[23:15] and this was specifically about their area.

[23:19] And if I were to take crime in general,

[23:23] theft in general, residential home burglaries,

[23:26] car breakings and thefts, graffiti, vandalism,

[23:29] property damage, and added just those together.

[23:33] I believe you get about 38%.

[23:35] And so it's actually when they think about their neighborhood,

[23:39] The number one, but item, but they're greater specificity in how they talk about it.

[23:44] But if you lump it together, really suggest crying is a issue.

[23:49] And I know you have a dedicated portion of your sales tax just for public safety.

[23:54] Yet, that's still a problem.

[23:56] I will tell you that issues about crime, whether your crime rates are going up or down throughout

[24:03] the state, folks are perceiving that crime is on property crime is on the increase. And we

[24:10] started to see that during COVID when low and behold right in front of their homes, their

[24:18] front doors, people were stealing their packages. And it's really persisted over time, particularly

[24:24] related to property crimes. And then finally at the end of the survey, and I know I have a whole

[24:29] things to tell you in between, we revisited this question in a little bit different way

[24:34] because we wanted, we talk a lot about the services and all these items, and now finally,

[24:40] from the beginning where we didn't mention anything, it was top of mind, and now when they've

[24:44] had a chance to think about a lot of things, we asked them in thinking about issues we've discussed

[24:48] or other issues related to Bicellia, what is the most important thing that city of Bicellia can

[24:54] to improve the services for people who live and or work in the city.

[24:59] And you'll notice

[25:00] Those top issues of decreased homelessness still remain. Though it starts at 37% on the first slide,

[25:09] it's gone down to 21%. So we've introduced additional issues for them that they now consider

[25:16] also important to be considered. But homelessness is, by far, that crime and unsafe driving

[25:25] is clearly the top items in your community in terms of concern.

[25:31] Now I'd like to get to some of the specific services that you offer.

[25:34] We first asked a general question,

[25:36] but how satisfied are they with the services that you're providing?

[25:39] Sort of a job performance rating overall for the city.

[25:44] 70 to 72%.

[25:47] So almost three, three and every four residents were satisfied

[25:51] with what the city is doing.

[25:55] And it's hard to get people to be extremely intense on their satisfaction again on government.

[26:02] So the fact that 15% say very satisfied,

[26:08] I might caution you about being too

[26:09] dejected by it, they just generally feel good.

[26:12] But what's interesting in a moment, I'm going to show you about the interactions that they

[26:16] have with city employees, and you're going to see a bump-up in terms of the very satisfied.

[26:22] So those one-on-one interactions really, really people are more intense in their satisfaction.

[26:30] So we provided them now with 22 services and programs that your city has to offer.

[26:36] We gave them a scale of 1-7 and we said,

[26:39] How important is each of these items with 1 being not at all important and 7 being very important?

[26:45] 4 is the midpoint of 1-7.

[26:47] So things above four are in a good direction, things below four are in not such a good direction.

[26:55] And four is sort of the neutral. It's not, you know, it's not, it's not important. Sorry for the double negative.

[27:05] I've taken the six and seven and I call that very important.

[27:10] That's the dark blue and the bright blue is somewhat important.

[27:14] The means for those math friends or the averages are on the right hand side, but I've

[27:21] ranked it by the sixes and sevens that blue and you could see that these numbers are very high.

[27:28] What you do is important to them and there's a couple of slides and you'll see by far the public safety

[27:36] items are among the top items probably not surprising and I believe that you have disproportionate

[27:42] amount of your general fund probably goes to public safety and plus you have that dedicated sales

[27:48] tax.

[27:48] So that's consistent with all cities that I've ever worked with over 23 years.

[27:55] The management of city finances is important.

[27:57] People are mindful of their tax dollars, but you'll see in a moment not everyone knows what

[28:02] you do with the money.

[28:04] I've done a lot of focus groups and people tell me, I'll ask them, well, what do you think

[28:09] they do with their money?

[28:10] with city's money, not specifically here, but in general.

[28:14] And they'll say, well, whatever it is, it can't be good.

[28:16] They just don't know what you do.

[28:18] And so communicating through efforts,

[28:21] you post your budget online, you do a whole bunch

[28:24] of things, you do your best you can.

[28:26] But people are busy and they're not able to always

[28:30] sort of keep up with that.

[28:32] Street and local road maintenance, street lighting.

[28:35] These are some of the top in terms of importance.

[28:37] and you can see the numbers persist in terms of very high as high percentages as you go down

[28:44] the list and you'll notice all items are above that midpoint to 4. With the lowest item being

[28:51] cultural and arts options at 4.9 but still close to 5 out of 7 for those items. Now we give them

[29:01] same list but we ask how status fighter you. This time the skill is 1 to 7 or 1 is not at all

[29:08] status fights. Evan is very satisfied of taking the sixes and sevenths again and I've ranked them

[29:14] and that dark blue is the very satisfied and the bright blue is somewhat satisfied and I've given

[29:20] you the means on the right hand side as well. And here as every city that I've ever done a

[29:29] Resonance satisfaction for where I've done the importance and satisfaction ratings for, in this case, 22 items, only one gets into the 60s in terms of very satisfied.

[29:43] I can't remember a time where fire and paramedic services didn't score the top in terms of satisfaction.

[29:50] So Kudos to those folks and everyone loves a firefighter or a paramedic.

[29:57] So, next is Trash for recycling.

[30:00] Services again, something that's often on the high-end and police protection in services is also up there.

[30:09] So you're in storm, a tray maintenance, street lighting, bus services, but you'll notice 24% say they don't know.

[30:17] My suggestion before was not everyone uses the bus. So even though that 18% said, you know, that was a serious problem, you want to be mindful of why that is such a small number.

[30:30] As we go down the list, I'm going to go to the bottom, I know you have access to this and I'd be happy to answer what I can.

[30:36] As we move forward, I want to point out that only one item goes below four, and that's services for people experiencing homelessness.

[30:47] So again, and you know, substantiating that theme that we see in the previous slides.

[30:53] management of city services, I've kind of spoken to that before, 21% don't know enough

[30:59] to offer an opinion.

[31:02] And traffic flow, I'd say traffic flow and services for experiencing homeless that

[31:07] orange bar, the one to three, not two or not are all satisfied or the highest, and that's

[31:13] consistent with some of the other findings that I presented.

[31:16] Now, we'll go to the direct relationship between city staff and your residents.

[31:24] We asked folks in the last two years that they've had some kind of interaction with city

[31:29] government, it could be an email, it could be one-on-one, it could be interacting with the

[31:36] police, the fire, whoever works for the city could be interacting with city council and

[31:43] or the mayor, 61% said they had in the last two years.

[31:48] And so then we asked those folks,

[31:50] which made up about 341 of the sample,

[31:54] how satisfied were you with those interactions?

[31:57] And there, again, you get almost three quarters

[31:59] that say satisfied, but it's doubled

[32:02] in terms of the very satisfied.

[32:05] Which speaks to the quality of the staff

[32:08] and perhaps you folks, I don't know who they interacted with,

[32:12] That when you have that one-on-one experience, it elevates their willingness to say something really positive about it and I think that is a really good number and you should be very proud of your staff with respect to that.

[32:29] I'm also mindful about this question.

[32:31] If I were to call, let's say, to get a permit and I needed to go to the county to get some information.

[32:42] and they take two or three days to get back to me.

[32:45] And then I get back to a resident with the answer.

[32:48] Am I deemed for not being responsive when it wasn't me

[32:52] that caused the delay?

[32:54] So you have to be cautious about how you interpret

[32:58] the data in a variety of ways.

[33:00] But again, a third of the people are very satisfied

[33:03] with those interactions.

[33:05] We asked, again, we asked now about whether they attended

[33:10] the following places and we gave them a series of a number of times.

[33:15] We asked about city parks, city trails, and are walking past

[33:17] and convention centers.

[33:19] And here you could see 71% have used the city parks

[33:26] at least three or more times in the year, with one and every two

[33:30] saying five or more.

[33:31] Now that could be daily, right?

[33:34] We didn't get into that great specificity.

[33:36] But you only have a little less than 10% that do not use your parks and that may help explain the number that I'm going to show you in a moment

[33:45] But keep in mind this is a lot of activity and if they didn't like their parks they wouldn't be using it

[33:51] So that's something to be mindful of

[33:53] City trails and or walking past

[33:56] There you have 51%

[33:58] 3 times or more with about a quarter that say they don't use it at all or at least in the last year

[34:05] And then the Convention Center, I mean, unless they have activities they want to go, no one's

[34:10] going on a daily basis to the Convention Center unless you work there.

[34:15] But you still have sizable majority who have been there at least one time in the years.

[34:23] So I guess programming matters and if they have interesting things they will go to the Convention

[34:27] Center, but clearly it's used by significant percentage of folks.

[34:31] a question real quick on the past. Of course, we've written this issue in the past where we have

[34:38] walking trails in the parks. So you think there's not going to confuse you on those because I feel like

[34:44] our walking past are used a lot more, but I think they're confused with parks. I don't have the

[34:50] answer to that. I could simply say this is how we read it to them and they may have interpreted

[34:56] in multiple ways, and since we randomize that.

[35:00] I could have heard, like, I could have heard city trails under walking past first and interpreted it in a way and if I heard city parks first, then if I heard the walking past, I might have differentiated it. So it's hard to know because it wasn't an open-ended question, but that's good to know for the future.

[35:18] Thanks. How would you framed it to differentiate?

[35:23] I don't know.

[35:25] You're like in years past we had very

[35:28] Municipal use of the trails.

[35:30] But then you drive around town.

[35:32] You see a lot of people walking on the trails.

[35:33] I don't know.

[35:34] I don't know how you differentiate.

[35:36] Yeah, you can see not in parks.

[35:38] You could say city trails are not in parks or.

[35:42] Yeah, no.

[35:43] That's good.

[35:43] Yeah.

[35:44] Well, that's my job.

[35:45] You're not responsible for that.

[35:46] But that's good to know.

[35:47] All right. Thank you for that. So we wanted to, the city wanted to test different recreation programs and facilities

[35:57] and basically ask, do we have enough? Is just right or do we have too many of these things?

[36:04] And so these are randomized. I've taken the not enough in orange and I've ranked it as the high to low.

[36:12] By far, aquatic facility, including the community pool, 64% said they're not enough.

[36:20] Now, I want to be super clear, we asked whether there was enough of them or not, but we didn't ask whether they would be willing to pay for additional pools.

[36:30] I generally have not seen pools score well.

[36:33] I test them when I do school bonds and I test them when I work for cities.

[36:39] There's always the exception, so I don't want to presume anything you folks are much

[36:43] smarter about the city than I.

[36:45] But I thought that was a pretty strong number, 64%, usually people who are involved with swimming

[36:52] and or their kids are involved with swimming, or it's super passionate about this wonderful

[36:56] sport.

[36:57] And they talk to council members, and you hear from them all the time.

[37:01] But it doesn't necessarily mean it's reflective of the community.

[37:04] But here, you have data that says, regardless of where you're a parent or not, there's a significant number of people that think, you know, there's got to be more pools, but again, did not ask if they're willing to pay.

[37:16] Other things that scored high were community centers, walking a biking pass, again, noted your comment for perhaps future use BMX bike pump track facilities are among the highest ranked.

[37:34] And I have to say this is the highest rank pickle ball courts number I've ever seen.

[37:40] I have every city manager says, I love my residents and they're driving me crazy because

[37:45] they want more pickle ball courts and then I tested it and it's one of the lowest items.

[37:50] But in this case, it wasn't bad. It was 40% only 4% that there were too many.

[37:57] But I will tell you the younger people actually scored higher in terms of

[38:02] not enough than some of the older folks and I would be in that older range, so I use that category.

[38:10] And then on the lower side is parks. And you know, I'm sure, I'm, again, never seen

[38:16] a council member that doesn't say, all my constituents want park parks, but you could see

[38:20] how well they're used now and perhaps people think, oh, I have my favorite park. I go there

[38:26] all the time, perhaps we don't need any, but maybe some parts of the city may feel different.

[38:32] You would know that better than I.

[38:34] And then finally, and thanks for being patient, sources of information.

[38:39] We asked them how frequently they use a variety of sources of information.

[38:43] This data was fairly consistent with your previous surveys.

[38:48] Social media clearly is among the top items.

[38:52] We asked them if we randomized the list.

[38:55] We said to use it frequently, occasionally, rarely or never.

[39:00] And even your website page, 38% was a consistent with your last survey.

[39:06] I would say compared to many of the other cities I've worked with, or on behalf, the website page is modest, in terms of use, relative to some other cities, just a point of knowledge.

[39:20] So inclusion.

[39:22] Yeah, please.

[39:23] Back to that slide.

[39:25] Yeah.

[39:25] The data, have the data that you have, can you differentiate the traffic concerns, homelessness

[39:31] with people that are online, social media, people that are not, is that something you

[39:36] could do now with the data you have or is that something we could do in the future?

[39:40] I could cross, it's a really interesting question, and I know why you're asking, but I could

[39:47] probably do a run where we're cross-tabulating frequency of social media and perceptions

[39:54] of homelessness. My feeling is because the concerns about homelessness are so...

[40:00] So high percentage wise that it won't matter, because I think it would cross boundaries.

[40:06] And what about traffic? It's like traffic, might you see where you see a different.

[40:09] That might be interesting.

[40:11] Exactly. I am committed to do the analysis and letting the city manager know what I find.

[40:17] Those are excellent questions. The homelessness I'm sure of because it's just so high.

[40:22] I'm prevalent. The issue about unsafe driving is an interesting question.

[40:27] I will look into that and I will report back.

[40:30] Thank you.

[40:31] Yeah, that's a great question.

[40:33] All right.

[40:34] It's slightly more than nine and ten

[40:35] of favorable views of Icelli, it's a place to live.

[40:38] Only 8% are dissatisfied.

[40:41] We can always do better, right.

[40:43] Three quarters feel safe living in Icelliah.

[40:47] I've made it clear throughout that issues of homelessness,

[40:51] improved traffic regulations, repairing roads, lower crimes.

[40:54] I didn't talk a lot about repairing roads, but that's up there as well, are clearly the top issues.

[41:02] Close to three quarters are satisfied with the overall service for overall job performance rating.

[41:09] And I've mentioned fire protection, city finances, police protection is top items of importance.

[41:18] And fire fighting, trash recycling, police protection is among the many items that they're satisfied with.

[41:24] But when I focus on the contact with city employees, again three quarters are satisfied, but the intensity of that very satisfied, dramatically goes up at more than doubles, suggesting that they really generally have very good reactions and interactions with your staff and perhaps you as well.

[41:43] Most residents use city parts multiple times a year in a slight majority use the city trails and walking pass

[41:51] a majority indicated the intent of the events center, but only once or maybe twice a year.

[41:56] Majority of residents perceive there's not enough aquatic facilities, including community pools, close to one and two

[42:03] perceived not enough community centers walking by pass and BMX by pump track facilities.

[42:09] And social media, particularly Facebook, are, sorry about that, are among the most frequently

[42:17] used and probably if you might want to do some work either on advertising your city web page,

[42:28] your web page or updating it, maybe you have more services offered there so they have reason

[42:36] to go.

[42:37] And with that, I am, thank you for patients and I'm happy to answer any questions.

[42:41] Wonderful. Thank you very much for that report. I was fantastic. It comes from

[42:45] Nelson, do you have any questions?

[42:47] Councilor Soto?

[42:49] Thank you for the report. One more question. Someone from the city asks, you surveyed

[42:54] less than 1% of the population.

[42:57] Is it accurate?

[42:58] Right. What is the answer?

[43:01] Yeah. So that's probably the most asked question I ever get.

[43:05] So good on you for being the one who asked it.

[43:07] It's a great question.

[43:09] So we do a random sample of all your residents.

[43:14] And let me put it in context.

[43:15] When we do a statewide survey, we do about 1,800 to 1,000.

[43:21] When we do a national survey, let's say between 3,235,00.

[43:30] So when you put that in context of Iselia, 500 is a pretty good

[43:34] And in fact, the C manager likes to remind me that I asked for, I said, well, let's do a sample of 400, and she says, no, let's do 500, I feel better with that number.

[43:46] And we have used those kinds of numbers in the past, and at least when it comes to election day, so you have something to hold.

[43:53] My the results of our surveys to up for standards we've been pretty dead on. So I feel like we're representing your community and we make sure that the demographics of your adult population 18 plus mirrored the demographics of the communities survey. So I feel pretty good about that. But thanks for that question. This is a great one.

[44:15] Councilmember Prachigen.

[44:18] Yeah, great report.

[44:19] I will say this.

[44:20] I've been part of this survey in the past.

[44:22] I think our goal used to be a 100 per quadrant.

[44:25] Does that give you enough information?

[44:28] So the fact that it was random.

[44:30] I think this is a little more exact of a science that we've done before.

[44:35] We had our public or opinions ever done by the Citizens Advisory Committee.

[44:39] I will say I do appreciate you giving us the information for other

[44:44] are doing as well, or how we compare to other cities, because I think it shows where

[44:48] we're at compared against other cities. In the future, I would like to see kind of break

[44:55] down per quadron, like what each quadron or their concern.

[45:00] Councilor, needs, just so we can see like you know, it might be roads on one side of the city, but others are the city more

[45:07] facility. So we know where people want things and kind of go off that for the future, but I think this

[45:15] probably one of our most exact surveys that we've got in, and I'm going to great job.

[45:20] Thanks, and I just want to say Kudos to you for working so hard to try to get, I mean, what you are doing is tough.

[45:26] You know, I've been doing I have a PhD in this. I do it hard and you folks were just blood sweat and love of the city

[45:34] So

[45:34] I will say this. I think it's better than when you guys are doing it because we were trying to stop people walk as they walk through the grocery stores

[45:39] I don't know how exact that was is mostly yeah, everything's great everything's great

[45:43] And we think my cookie and walk away from hell

[45:45] You gave them a cookie

[45:47] Wow, see they did it for the reward

[45:49] We gave them for the satisfaction that they're making difference in the city

[45:54] So thank you for that.

[45:55] We probably got to calculate the bribe scale out of there

[45:57] to figure out the true number.

[45:59] All right.

[46:00] Vice Mayor Win?

[46:02] I actually was going to have the same question.

[46:04] It's councilmember Pachea and just

[46:05] would be nice to have a quadrant.

[46:07] And you have the information as a possible.

[46:08] You could just turn that out with your little statistical numbers.

[46:13] Yeah.

[46:14] The city.

[46:16] Yes, that's not a problem.

[46:19] Thank you very much.

[46:20] Obviously this is extremely important for us

[46:22] because this is how we set future goals and agendas for our city.

[46:27] We look at what our citizens are looking for, what the issues are, and how we can improve it as a city.

[46:31] So we appreciate this data, because this will literally help us with all of our future policy throughout the year.

[46:38] So we appreciate that. This is a public item, so anyone wish to speak on this.

[46:42] Item, please come forward and state your name and city of residence.

[46:48] Mr. Mayor, if I could, just one thing is, I don't want anybody to think that this is just

[46:53] going to go on a shelf, and it's going to grow dusty.

[46:56] There will begin to bring some things back, as you know, we're preparing a report on homelessness,

[47:00] we'll bring some ideas and concepts to you.

[47:03] There are many of these that are addressed already in your goals and objectives that you set

[47:08] earlier this year, but we will relate them back, as we bring forward things or as we begin

[47:14] set budgetary goals related to this survey.

[47:19] And since I don't see anyone running up there to the speaker on the item,

[47:22] thank you very much.

[47:23] We appreciate it.

[47:25] Okay, next one.

[47:26] I'd like to item number three, which is the sanitary sewer master plan update.

[47:38] Good afternoon, Council.

[47:38] Jason Hugglery, a development engineering and building director.

[47:42] I'll be joined with by Catherine Woodhold.

[47:46] You get our social engineer as well as our city engineer Chris Crawford.

[47:50] Just quickly, as I, before I turn over to Catherine,

[47:53] I'm super excited to be here to talk about the sort of

[47:55] what's becoming the end of our sewer master plan update,

[47:58] and special things to Catherine and Chris for kind of pushing

[48:00] through this big, big project.

[48:03] And with that, I'll turn over to Catherine.

[48:09] Good evening, Council.

[48:10] Members of the public.

[48:11] My name is Catherine.

[48:12] We'll hope you get.

[48:13] I'm an Associate Engineer with the Engineering Building

[48:15] Department, as Jason said.

[48:17] And tonight I'll be presenting on an update on the

[48:19] Sanitary sewer master plan.

[48:23] This presentation's agenda has four parts.

[48:27] The purpose and overview of the sewer master plan,

[48:30] a next-study sneak peek, and then next steps.

[48:35] The purpose of the sewer master plan update is to update the

[48:39] collection system hydraulic model, model the sewer system growth

[48:43] per the 2030 general plan land uses, assess capacity of the sewer

[48:48] collection system, identify needed upgrades and expansions

[48:52] to support growth per the general plan.

[48:54] provide direction for incoming development and provide capital improvement costs to update

[49:00] this wastewater truncline developer impact fee.

[49:06] For an overview of the sewer master plan update,

[49:09] the planning area assumptions and design criteria were carried over from a 1994 adopted

[49:14] and the 2005 draft sewer master plans with only minor revisions. Additionally, most master

[49:20] plants, trunks, had only minor changes in size or alignment based on water conservation

[49:27] changes in the last one.

[49:29] One major difference from the previous master plants, which will be gone over in more

[49:34] detail later on, is new south-west quadrant reserve area trunks.

[49:42] One key planning area assumption carried over from the 2005 draft sewer master plan was

[49:47] at the area shown in gray on the south side of the city, would not develop or connect to

[49:51] while the area shown yellow was assumed to develop at the ratios shown.

[49:57] The gray area was assumed not to develop in order to...

[50:00] Permission to maintain separation between Visalia and the city of Tulari as called for in the general plan.

[50:06] The percentages for the area in yellow outside the sphere of influence were based on the distribution of existing development within the city,

[50:15] but with the assumption that industrial development will remain within the industrial park.

[50:23] While the sewer master plan included modeling of the entire planning area shown in yellow on the previous slide,

[50:29] Only the trunk lines within the laugh-coaster of influence and the general plan urban growth boundaries are anticipated to occur within the next 20 years.

[50:40] These projects are shown here in blue.

[50:43] The trunk lines shown in gray are either outside the sphere of influence or triggered by build out beyond the sphere of influence if they're up-sizing.

[50:53] These were modeled for planning purposes and to ensure downstream facilities were adequately sized.

[51:03] One major difference from the previous master plans is the inclusion of trunk clients in the Southwest Quadrant Reserve area.

[51:10] Wastewater gravity main, WWGM 15 by Zalea Parkway Extension, was sized not only to convey flows from the Southwest Quadrant Reserve area,

[51:19] but also to enable growth in the South East Quadrant.

[51:23] This is a long-term project not anticipated to occur within the next 10 years.

[51:27] We used water gravity main 14, the south-sirk main, ties into the existing term climbing

[51:32] on Walnut, and is intended to serve development of the reserve area along Shirk.

[51:37] While also in the sewer master plan as a long-term project, segments of it could be constructed

[51:42] sooner if needed should the reserve area develop.

[51:52] This map was taken from the master plan report and chose the master plan project to

[51:57] a paid project face.

[52:02] Once there are any questions on this section, we'll move on to the next study speak.

[52:07] Any questions?

[52:08] You know, I understand we're looking at the wastewater treatment plant.

[52:11] In this study, do you overlap it into how to expand the tertiary water from the plant?

[52:20] No.

[52:21] So the treatment plant itself has a separate master plan that was approved by Council last year

[52:29] year before. The expansion of the tertiary water treatment, basically a recycling of water,

[52:36] I do not believe it was, I'd have to go back and look at that plan again. I don't think

[52:42] it was covered in much detail. One of the constraints with purple pipe and reclaim water in the

[52:49] expansion thereof is that it's reliant on us having a lot of water basically treated available.

[52:56] I know that historically the treatment plant has had

[53:01] potential issues with generating significant amounts of

[53:06] purple-pipe water because our water conservation efforts have been so successful.

[53:14] If water doesn't get flush down the drain, it doesn't get recyclable, right?

[53:18] So the treatment plant has, and this, I believe, came up in the presentation by public

[53:26] works of the treatment plant, has a higher solid to liquid ratio than it was projected

[53:34] historically, because of the water conservation efforts, which means the plant still has

[53:39] to be expanded and alike to deal with the solids, but we don't necessarily have all that

[53:45] couple of pipe. We don't have that necessary tertiary treated water available to essentially

[53:51] to necessarily expand that system.

[53:54] Okay, thank you.

[53:55] In addition, Council Member, just gravity flow is against us and we'd probably be better

[54:02] off to trade it out than to try and pump it.

[54:10] We have a question on that section before I move on.

[54:19] This slide

[54:23] shows the development related

[54:26] projects and their costs broken out by anticipated phase. Engineering and tends to incorporate

[54:32] the cost of phases one through four which totaled to roughly 84 million into the next

[54:37] study. Projects in phase five will not be included in the nexus scope because they are outside

[54:44] the boundaries of the general plan. They may come back up after the next general plan update,

[54:51] but they are outside of the scope of the current nexus study.

[54:56] There are multiple fees that go into

[55:00] Any developments who are impact fee? There is a treatment plan, connection fee, a truncline capacity fee, and then also the front foot fee, which feeds into general wastewater fund.

[55:13] These costs are solely related to the truncline capacity fee. The current truncline capacity fee for a single family dwelling unit is $1,035.

[55:24] dollars. The based on our initial projections, which are preliminary and subject to change,

[55:33] the sewer trunk line impact fee is likely to increase by roughly $800 per equivalent

[55:40] while in unit without any further modifications,

[55:48] but more detailed analysis will occur during

[55:50] the next study. So factors that are influencing that is that 30 years ago, when the previous

[55:56] next study was done, they reduced the total impact fee by 25% and offset that by increasing

[56:04] the service charges, which is no longer legally defensible move.

[56:12] But I'd be happy to answer

[56:14] any questions on this, but we will be coming back into come back to Council during the next

[56:19] this is a new process for more in-depth discussion.

[56:23] As well as providing stakeholder outreach,

[56:26] community involvement as we develop those fees.

[56:32] So, since the, up to 2035, we have built that plant.

[56:38] Relay 2035, or phase three, is kind of getting a suit here three.

[56:42] And then we're just kind of guess to meeting what's going to happen in that,

[56:45] because we don't know what structure we're going to go after tier three, correct?

[56:50] Well, so phase four includes the southwest quadrant reserve area.

[56:56] That's the main difference between three and four.

[56:59] The assumptions of those trunk lines are based on the EIR for the general plan,

[57:04] which assumed a commercial or industrial land use.

[57:09] The for flow modeling purposes we assumed commercial,

[57:12] which would be equivalent to the light industrial,

[57:15] but not equivalent to heavy industrial.

[57:17] and so we did not assume, for example, any dairy processing facilities, which would be very different.

[57:25] The, and this will come to be discussed more in the next study.

[57:32] The intent of incorporating the fee.

[57:38] The generated fee of just doing phases one through three,

[57:46] because not only are you not because not just your numerator,

[57:50] but also your denominator is changing.

[57:53] So the difference between just having phase one through three

[57:57] versus having phase one through four won't necessarily

[58:01] be significant,

[58:04] phase five, which is for beyond the scope

[58:06] of this here of influence is beyond this is way just guessing

[58:11] and too far at this point.

[58:13] Also, when was the last time the developer fees for sewer were raised?

[58:21] So the sewer fees are increased by the engineering news record construction cost index on

[58:28] an annual basis.

[58:30] So they have been just incrementally increased since they were last actually studied, but they

[58:38] were last actually studied 30 years ago.

[58:40] Yeah, I thought we were a little behind them all.

[58:43] What about, doesn't it a portion of our residential sewer bill

[58:46] help pay for some of these operational costs?

[58:49] So this is solely for the impact fee

[58:52] is solely for the impact of new development and so it does not

[58:56] incorporate any operational costs.

[58:58] OK, OK.

[58:59] So the operational costs for the maintenance and operation

[59:03] and the residential, but not the service charge,

[59:06] Okay, he's a separate, separate fund and and part of money that the impact fee cannot actually be put into and so it's a, yeah, due to a mitigation fee actions and then if we were to have a heavy industrial user when we require a pretreatment plant on site before they could join our, we do typically require pretreatment for any sort of heavy industrial users that doesn't necessarily can guarantee their

[59:36] impact their operation of those facilities to our standards.

[59:43] It also would only necessarily mitigate the solids, but not necessarily the liquid components.

[59:49] So if they are doing everything that they're supposed to, and then complying with their

[59:54] pre-treatment permits, then they won't necessarily have a significant impact on our facility.

[1:00:01] But if they aren't necessarily great at complying and may incorporate the charge of our files into the cost of doing business, then things get more complicated.

[1:00:16] And I'm sorry if I missed this in the report. It was a lot to read. Oh, hi. If you talk a little bit about it, I thank you.

[1:00:22] So it's a very long package.

[1:00:24] I don't envy you this task.

[1:00:26] But so this master plan, did we have to,

[1:00:29] did we have to do an EIR for this?

[1:00:31] It was covered under the general plan EIR, or?

[1:00:33] So originally the intent was that we were going to,

[1:00:37] based on, look, so the current adopted 94 master plan

[1:00:41] was done with an EIR.

[1:00:43] So the original thought was that we were going to do an EIR

[1:00:45] for this one.

[1:00:47] And we did go as far as procurator consultant for that.

[1:00:49] But then after further discussing discussion, both with the consultant and with the planning department and taking into consideration the fact that we are in the process of starting a new update to the general plan

[1:01:02] We determined that it did not make sense at this time to go through the effort before we are

[1:01:11] So we instead pivoted to a notice of exemption based on the consistency with a general plan

[1:01:17] And a large portion of that decision is that we are essentially committing, so if before constructing any of these projects, we will have to do additional environmental review of each project, but it was a term that they did not, we don't have the master plan acts more as a guideline than the projects are not set in stone to the extent where it makes sense to do all that environmental work ahead of time.

[1:01:47] Right.

[1:01:47] Because they're going to have to do that as they submit their projects.

[1:01:50] Okay.

[1:01:51] Thank you.

[1:01:58] So for next steps, the sewer master plan report has been made available for public

[1:02:02] comment on the city website and as an attachment to the Council agenda.

[1:02:06] On the city website, it can be found links from the engineering and building department

[1:02:10] home page and then also under the engineering documents within that division.

[1:02:17] After providing four weeks for public comment, engineering staff intends to return it to Council

[1:02:22] on December 2nd, to approve and adopt the sewer-master plan as a regular session item.

[1:02:27] This will enable the consultant Corolla to resume work on the next-study.

[1:02:34] Then to put it in another way, after tonight's presentation, the master plan will be available

[1:02:42] for public review and comment, and then adoption will occur by council in December with the

[1:02:52] the recording of the notice of exemption as part of that process.

[1:02:57] The next study scope will include development of the draft impact fee, meetings with stakeholders,

[1:03:04] and the development of the final report for presentation to council.

[1:03:08] The next study work is expected to take roughly six months.

[1:03:12] And we aim to bring the updated sewer impact fees to council for adoption in the summer of next year.

[1:03:23] That's all I have.

[1:03:24] And if you're ready, more questions, I'd be happy to address them.

[1:03:27] Any other questions from Council?

[1:03:29] No questions, thank you.

[1:03:32] I just want to make a comment, thank you.

[1:03:34] Thank you so much for your presentations.

[1:03:36] In a billion years, I never thought I know this much about the sewer system.

[1:03:39] Or to say, the treatment center, so it's fantastic.

[1:03:44] Now I know about what type of loads you're going to go to that system

[1:03:48] and how we clear everything out.

[1:03:49] So thank you for all the information that you're going to do to us.

[1:03:52] I couldn't use the word, but I'm like, I like to use the thunder.

[1:03:56] Well, they fleshed out all the information.

[1:04:03] Great report, very thorough.

[1:04:07] It's a very eye-opening the depth that that report was, and your report tonight, and I appreciate it.

[1:04:15] It's amazing when you see that kind of work, and then you see the kind of numbers that go into trying to achieve that.

[1:04:20] at that goal. Very great before. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

[1:04:26] All right, let's go to an opens up to the public. Anybody from a public

[1:04:29] question to speak on this item? Please come forward.

[1:04:33] And seeing no one, I will

[1:04:35] entertain a motion. I would have received the update presentation on the

[1:04:39] sanitary sewer system master plan. First and second, please vote.

[1:04:55] And the

[1:05:00] Thank you for giving that out to us, early. I appreciate it.

[1:05:04] All right, next one, ground to item number four, engineering division presentation.

[1:05:09] Thank you, getting council to be a Christian myself on this one.

[1:05:13] Just briefly, we had intended originally to give you a full update for all engineering division divisions,

[1:05:19] which would include engineering development, traffic safety as well as the engineering design and capital improvement programs.

[1:05:25] We just had too much to cover, so we're going to give Chris his opportunity to go through

[1:05:31] the changes and it kind of pretty happy update for you on how he has this division moving forward.

[1:05:39] Briefly, I've worked with those reflect on us a little bit scenario earlier.

[1:05:42] I've worked with Chris for, I think, over 20 years now.

[1:05:45] He's a bit of a rarity in that he, and you told me he's one time, he eats breeze in the sleep system.

[1:05:52] And it's awesome to have him back, he's been back a little over a year, and again, the direction that we're moving under his leadership and expertise has been phenomenal.

[1:06:01] And I think you're going to see some of that tonight as he goes through his presentation, so thank you to Chris and thank you for joining us.

[1:06:08] Yeah, good afternoon council members. Just to kind of give us a little introduction on this, we've got a pretty small group in here tonight, so I guess feel free to be pretty informal.

[1:06:18] Well, if you guys have questions about anything,

[1:06:19] I'm going over a feel free to stop and just ask questions.

[1:06:22] This is really just for council's benefit

[1:06:23] to make sure we have a really good grasp on kind of

[1:06:26] the things that engineering departments doing.

[1:06:29] And just make sure that you kind of know

[1:06:31] where all this money is going because it's a lot of money.

[1:06:34] So kind of is a brief thing on my background,

[1:06:36] like 16 years of my experience been spent

[1:06:38] in the private sector, right?

[1:06:39] So I mean, extremely efficient,

[1:06:41] like extremely cost effective.

[1:06:43] That's highly important for private sector, right?

[1:06:45] That's what a lot of my background is.

[1:06:46] So coming into the city, I'm always looking at kind of ways we can improve.

[1:06:50] So a lot of that's going to be kind of discussed here tonight, along with a lot of the good things that we're doing.

[1:06:56] Seven years of that time has been spent previously at city of Isalia.

[1:07:00] So I got a lot of experience with this staff here, and I'm usually consult for a lot of the city staff members and stuff like that.

[1:07:05] So a lot of relations has been built over the years.

[1:07:09] So kind of jumping right into this, I think council has a pretty good idea of what the capital improvement project division does.

[1:07:15] basically do all the planning, designing,

[1:07:18] construction for all the capital projects, essentially.

[1:07:21] So could be something as small as the Plaza Park

[1:07:23] Prond to something as big as the Civic Center, right?

[1:07:26] So like anything in between lots of street projects.

[1:07:28] You know, I think that if you just drive around

[1:07:30] town right now, you're going to really quickly see

[1:07:32] what engineering's been up to, you know?

[1:07:35] So one of the important things with this group

[1:07:36] is we do have a lot of ability to do like designs

[1:07:39] and how's serving and how's drafting and how's things like that.

[1:07:43] whether or not we are able to save money and do those things and how it really depends on how busy we are.

[1:07:49] So, and right now we're super busy, so we're utilizing a lot of consultant services right now is kind of how we're keeping up with things.

[1:07:59] Coming back from from the private side. Again, one of the things that really stuck out that it kind of wanted to make sure we went over with Council is that.

[1:08:08] And right now on our list, we have about somewhere around 200 CIP projects, and probably about

[1:08:13] $450 million of funding that's on this list, right?

[1:08:16] Which is a ton of money.

[1:08:17] So one of my most important things coming back is, you know, what's our backlog?

[1:08:21] Like, what are we actually able to do per year, right?

[1:08:24] Because like in the private side, we define that by labor, right?

[1:08:27] So it's like if I've got $5 million in billable labor within engineers, then my backlog

[1:08:32] shouldn't be more than $10 million because that's about two years of work.

[1:08:35] And it gets to be more than that.

[1:08:36] I know I need to hire a lot of staff.

[1:08:38] I'm going to be in a real trouble, all right?

[1:08:40] So looking at kind of the backlog that we've got here

[1:08:42] is the city.

[1:08:43] The labor stuff is not as easy, but what I get

[1:08:47] think is definable is a backlog metric,

[1:08:50] is what the actual amount of money is we spend

[1:08:53] on capital projects throughout the year.

[1:08:55] So kind of looking at this over the years,

[1:08:57] like you can see kind of where we're at,

[1:08:59] we're at about $30 million, right?

[1:09:01] Being spent each year.

[1:09:02] And there's $550 million on that list.

[1:09:04] That's quite an issue, right?

[1:09:06] Like, I mean, because we got to start kicking some stuff out and really get some things done,

[1:09:10] which is kind of what you're seeing going on right now.

[1:09:12] So, I'll apologize for the, it was a bad time this year to ask that question about traffic congestion

[1:09:18] and your, your public survey there, right?

[1:09:20] Like, this year.

[1:09:22] So, like, we'll apologize a little bit, I'm now the engineering side, but we're going to catch up

[1:09:25] right now is what's going on, you know?

[1:09:27] So, a lot of projects with grant funding deadlines, deadlines for things like the Costco facility,

[1:09:31] things like that, or what's going on right now.

[1:09:34] But, you know, looking at this, what we're having to do a little bit differently right now is

[1:09:39] utilize like a lot more consultant assistance that kind of get us caught up, right?

[1:09:44] So I mean it's easy to see like you can't keep up with staff you've got, like you've got to do something to get caught back up, right?

[1:09:49] And that's one of the things that we've been focused on a lot the last year.

[1:09:54] Just to kind of give you a little bit of idea about where we're at with staff in the capital.

[1:10:02] We really have like a very few number of staff members compared to the actual like volume of work we do. So really, like on this list, there's about five people that are actually licensed engineers like for all the work that is done in the city, which is a pretty low number, we do have a lot of like assistant associate staff members, some support staff members, this drafting, surveying technicians and so on.

[1:10:25] One of the things that like just very transparent here has been a real struggles we've been

[1:10:31] rebuilding a lot of staff right like because over the last period of what it looks like

[1:10:35] about two to seven years ago there was this huge turnover in staff like so like this is

[1:10:41] statistic for you know we have about you know ten like people with engineering or project

[1:10:47] manager titles that you see on this page if I just take the five like most recent ones that's

[1:10:52] been here an average of like 11 months or less at the city, right?

[1:10:55] So that's not a good metric, like for us, like for the city side.

[1:11:01] So one of the things we're really trying to focus on is training those staff, getting

[1:11:04] up the speed and retaining them is going to be a huge thing, like because when we fall

[1:11:09] behind like on the CIP side, there's a lot of costs associated with that, right?

[1:11:14] So I'll talk about that a little bit more moving forward, like, but you know, a lot of departments

[1:11:19] at the city if you have some vacancies and everything that's probably not that big of a deal

[1:11:24] right if it's an operational thing. For the CIP group, if you have an operational vacancy,

[1:11:30] you're talking about $23 million of products that probably aren't moving like so which comes

[1:11:34] into losses and construction costs and decreases and things like that right. So it's a really

[1:11:39] big deal.

[1:11:43] And the good thing with this is that about the last like one to two years, Jason

[1:11:48] the director started working on back-filling a lot of positions before I showed up. We've been working

[1:11:52] on it really heavily the last year and a half, right? So we're almost completely like staffed

[1:11:57] up right now again. And the only early open position is that professional answer of air position,

[1:12:03] and that reason, I mean it's just there's so few of them, there's not much you can do about it,

[1:12:07] unless you're going to throw out just a super high salary to get somebody in. So right now we're

[1:12:11] just using consultants to kind of like bridge that gap right now. This is kind of one of the big

[1:12:18] thing has been helping us like keep up with projects at the moment. We've done a lot of work

[1:12:24] getting a lot of these on-call contracts with consultants put in place. Probably one of the

[1:12:29] biggest one that we've done this year that's helping us really start up a lot of the design

[1:12:33] products that we're supposed to be startup up right now is that civil engineering design on

[1:12:38] call contract. We've got five firms on there right now so we've started like quite a few projects

[1:12:44] that we're trying to get back on schedule through that so it's been like a really beneficial

[1:12:48] thing. It helps a purchasing department a lot because the on-call contracts we don't have to put RFP after RFP

[1:12:54] after RFP through a purchasing department because they're just really backlog trying to

[1:12:58] kip off all the other civil, all the other departments. So what we're trying to do is kind of take

[1:13:03] that load a little bit off of them. Like and also make the engineering department more efficient.

[1:13:08] Like saves our consultants, money are also so ended up makes our consultant contracts a little bit

[1:13:18] have right now with the consultants, where the thing says federalize what that means is there's

[1:13:23] about a 50 extra page we have to do in every single RFP, if it's going to be a federally

[1:13:27] funded thing, right? So we've got the ability to use this for federal funding if we want to,

[1:13:33] so which is kind of a big benefit for us at the city and everything. So in these contracts we've

[1:13:40] kind of talked about this a little bit when we view a war to these accounts, but the way it works is

[1:13:44] if we have local funding, we try and do those selections kind of on a rotational basis, try

[1:13:50] and keep the cost out, it's right evenly between people on the on-call list and everything,

[1:13:54] so it's reasonably fair and locally funding, we can do that.

[1:13:58] State and federal funding, we do have to do a mini RFP process, which is like qualifications

[1:14:04] based selections, just with those on-call consultants and whoever appears to be the most

[1:14:08] qualified or most knowledgeable about those projects or the ones that end up getting it.

[1:14:13] So one other thing has been asked by Council in the past to use it.

[1:14:18] We put kind of like a dollar limitation on those contracts for each consultant.

[1:14:23] So a lot of the bigger projects still come back to the council to get awarded, right?

[1:14:27] Like, do you want council to be aware of what's going on?

[1:14:30] We also want council to be a ones that are awarding the big dollar contracts.

[1:14:34] So we'll run large majority of stuff through Council staff reports,

[1:14:39] But, like, we'll still maintain, like, let's say, if I've got a $500,000 contract right, but my consultant is a million dollar project, we'll come to council, get the extra authorization for the million dollars, and then retain our $500,000 ability for engineering to kind of hire consultants for smaller things or emergency things, because that's what we really need is just to keep some capacity.

[1:15:00] For emergency things that happen, or we need to act really quickly.

[1:15:10] Kind of just go through like a brief thing about some of the major projects here. So, you know,

[1:15:16] that list is like 200 projects long, so we'll get to that question for you on this. If you guys

[1:15:19] have specific questions about projects, go ahead and throw them out there, because we just picked kind of some of the

[1:15:24] bigger major ones to go over. So, civic centers probably on everybody's mind. Completion on that

[1:15:30] if you're still to be on schedule July, 2027.

[1:15:33] So I don't know if you've driven by out there

[1:15:35] but there are just loads of people working out there all the time.

[1:15:38] So lots of good progress out there.

[1:15:40] So that's really something positive to see for the city.

[1:15:43] The ride, Clubhouse 1's been another kind of big, quick,

[1:15:48] and unique project where we actually did a little bit

[1:15:50] of a design boat process with that.

[1:15:52] It's actually been going really well.

[1:15:53] So right now, the outfilled fence is nearly done out there.

[1:15:56] The batting cage is nearly done right now.

[1:15:58] the club house is moving along really well, so that's probably been like very successful

[1:16:03] like with the way that's being managed and I think city manager and the owner for the

[1:16:07] raw hide actually went out there and did a site review of that the other day and just

[1:16:11] all really complimentary from the raw hide side of staff and everything else so in the project

[1:16:15] so it's really great. Shirk whitening project right now the completion for that we're thinking

[1:16:22] March, 2026. So good. So this is going to be all the way when I need it to be four lines.

[1:16:29] Correct. Yeah. Well, okay. With the exception that when you get to Sherkin Mill Creek,

[1:16:35] we've got kind of a bottleneck once you hit right there. So this will be four lanes to around Hillsdale,

[1:16:40] right now. Like, and then we got it multiple projects that I'll kind of talk.

[1:16:46] Well, I'm going to mention that now. We got multiple projects going on on sure.

[1:16:50] So there's a shirk and mill creek project that's going to underground the mill creek right there this currently opened ditch and then also like widen the culverts so we can actually make the road for lanes.

[1:17:01] So that's one project. There's also a shirk operational project that's going to be for installing traffic signals over the interchange right there to get vehicles to move more efficient right there. Also some lane reconfiguration stuff right there like and then there's also the shirk widening project that's going to be south of 198.

[1:17:19] Like, and that's installing the big trunk line from 198 all the way to Walnut to kind of finish off that segment that goes all the way to the Costco area

[1:17:27] Like and then we've got some probably like what I would say to be a fourth project. It's going to be the shirt and Walnut intersection signal and everything right there

[1:17:35] So we're doing a lot of work with different property owners talking to him about some of those things and like work with different consultants on those things

[1:17:45] like there's a lot of stuff when on some of those

[1:17:48] are just really complicated projects.

[1:17:50] Chris, on the shirt, I thought between,

[1:17:54] was it Hillsdale, one idea, Hillsdale,

[1:17:57] and Hurley right in there.

[1:17:59] That's two years out because we had to get something

[1:18:00] stamped by the Army Corps of Engineers, right?

[1:18:03] I see that's a question.

[1:18:04] Why don't we just do it now?

[1:18:06] Well, everyone's uncomfortable with the construction

[1:18:08] that's getting it done now, and I was told,

[1:18:11] well, we turn our plans into the Army Corps of Engineers,

[1:18:13] but they said it's two years out, so that's why we're kind of delaying the project, right?

[1:18:17] Yeah, so just to be, what we found out about that project is I had staff go back with that

[1:18:22] because kind of went through a number of staff members, like that project did, so I hadn't

[1:18:26] go back and look at the entire history of that project and where we were out with that.

[1:18:30] Like in what's happened is it, apparently that consultant didn't get the army courses

[1:18:33] have submitted, but now it's been so long because that project started and it stopped and started

[1:18:38] so many times that we've got kind of a change order that we're not super happy with,

[1:18:42] that the contractor is proposed and we're in negotiations with that consultant to see if we can

[1:18:47] kind of get past that and get to some kind of agreement so we can get that thing finished.

[1:18:52] So right now that thing is being held up by the consultant a little bit because they,

[1:18:57] you know, not super happy that product's been going on for so long so we're having to work

[1:19:02] some internal things out but that's where that is. So we'll probably get an update to council on that

[1:19:08] when we get that kind of avenue to get that done and worked out with them.

[1:19:13] So I talked to the neighborhood around Hurley and Cherka.

[1:19:15] First, they liked the construction.

[1:19:17] They said, oh, it's like our own private road now,

[1:19:18] because no one comes down here anymore.

[1:19:20] Oh, yeah.

[1:19:20] So they liked that.

[1:19:22] But they were aware of it.

[1:19:23] They said, what, and I was trying to prep on a bicycle a little longer

[1:19:26] and be another section.

[1:19:28] Also, on the Civic Center, I drove by the other day,

[1:19:31] they had the bell tower set up there, which looks really cool.

[1:19:36] And then the Rahok High Clubhouse, I walked out with

[1:19:38] the manager and the Ryan management and the wall and the banners I look fantastic.

[1:19:43] Looks more modern, kind of an industrial look with that metal they have there but looks

[1:19:47] really good.

[1:19:48] The clubhouse is going along really good, a new batting cage, a way to remember anything

[1:19:52] looks fantastic and the raw height teamer, very complimentary of staff, much to enjoy working

[1:19:57] with you guys.

[1:19:58] So great job.

[1:19:59] Yeah.

[1:20:02] Kind of moving on. One of the on the shirt widening project. Yeah, completion March 2006, Costco would like that to be a little bit sooner, but we've kind of made them aware of that. We're kind of giving them routine updates on that and it seems like that.

[1:20:18] Yeah, there were that but we're continuing to talk with them about that because the February date that we were talking about often on seem like it might be a little bit soon for the rig and Kelsey to shirt project.

[1:20:29] Gover like one more project on this list than all kind of move on here just for the sake of time.

[1:20:35] Like the color widening project from Santa Fe to Lovers Lane.

[1:20:39] That one is expected to be done like May 2026.

[1:20:42] That's one that's been around for quite a while.

[1:20:45] This was an example that we'll talk about real quick where you know this thing started back in 2016.

[1:20:50] Like realistically probably four or five years that thing should have been done right.

[1:20:54] This is one of those ones that kind of sat around.

[1:20:56] Like, this is something that, you know, Jason, I've talked about a lot or we're really going to try and prevent this from happening in the future because what happened during the last five years is there was about 38% construction costs increases right like in the construction industry.

[1:21:10] So I mean on that project alone probably equivalents like five and a half million dollars of extra costs right so I mean we're aware of that we're looking into that like we're trying to really make sure that staff when we're doing budget stuff we've got escalation factors on like the construction costs we're using now.

[1:21:26] depending on what year or four or five years from now that's going to be actually constructed.

[1:21:31] So we got quite a few projects like that that we're cleaning up that have been around for a long time.

[1:21:36] And I think that Council members, some of you guys have recognized that we're coming back in a lot of

[1:21:40] products having to ask for more money, right?

[1:21:42] Like I mean, but that's the reason is there's just a lot of stuff.

[1:21:45] A lot of things that happened with the staff turnover just didn't get moved along or didn't get done.

[1:21:50] So we're kind of working through a lot of that stuff.

[1:21:53] I'll kind of skip over kind of that next page of projects right there if I'm

[1:21:59] be asked questions on any of those let me know.

[1:22:02] I have a question.

[1:22:03] Any possibility of I sell you a parkway jumping all the way to at least

[1:22:08] binematics or all the way to Lovers Lane at some point?

[1:22:12] So the big struggle on that one is the railroad right?

[1:22:15] Why did you?

[1:22:16] I talked to T-Cag about that hopefully we could try to work that out but.

[1:22:20] Yeah.

[1:22:20] I think we have a plan. I think we have a plan on play, so we'll see.

[1:22:25] There's a good plan. If we can pull it off, then it might help us out a lot.

[1:22:30] Yeah, so it is being worked on talked about.

[1:22:34] It's just that's the issue right at the moment.

[1:22:38] That would give us a major east-west corridor right there.

[1:22:43] Because right now it's great to booney and to acres.

[1:22:47] But we've pushed that all the way through.

[1:22:49] I think that really opens things up for our residents.

[1:22:52] So I think that for sure.

[1:22:55] Any other questions on current?

[1:22:57] Products that we're on that?

[1:22:59] No, I was just looking at Reagan, Reagan, to Eddie Drive.

[1:23:04] We're still going to have that little where it goes from four lanes.

[1:23:07] Two lanes, right past Costco.

[1:23:10] Is that going to Reagan?

[1:23:11] I know it's just going to go all the way.

[1:23:12] But we don't have that planned yet, do we?

[1:23:14] The Reagan Kelsey to shirt party that we're doing right now

[1:23:17] was actually supposed to make that four lanes.

[1:23:19] So West of?

[1:23:21] To Betty Drive?

[1:23:22] Yeah, they're the last piece we call it.

[1:23:25] The list of the last pieces is going to be that,

[1:23:27] let's see, a robin to the list of acres.

[1:23:30] Right.

[1:23:31] That piece is in design now.

[1:23:33] I think I've been hearing it's 30% probably moving towards

[1:23:35] 50% design now.

[1:23:36] We're still trying to secure construction dollars on it.

[1:23:39] OK, that was, but it is in design now.

[1:23:41] Yeah, but it doesn't matter.

[1:23:42] You're not good enough, honey, for that.

[1:23:43] OK, somebody asked me, and I said,

[1:23:45] I think we don't have the money, but if you want to donate,

[1:23:47] We would be happy to get this.

[1:23:49] The rope in the acres part we did.

[1:23:52] Get notified by Califarans and got like really forcing.

[1:23:55] We picked up about 1.3 million for that not too long ago.

[1:23:58] So I think there was like some federal earmark.

[1:24:01] We picked up never quarter million dollars or something on that.

[1:24:03] So we're kind of like trying to compile money, you know.

[1:24:06] Like for that part.

[1:24:07] But I mean since that's the last segment that we've got right there to kind of

[1:24:10] complete the four lane all the way through town.

[1:24:12] It's a pretty appealing thing for grant funding and everything we're hoping.

[1:24:16] So we're going to just continue to track and pile money for that.

[1:24:20] Thank you Chris.

[1:24:20] Are we still talking about it?

[1:24:21] I know at one time they're talking about doing roundabouts in there.

[1:24:24] We're on the school.

[1:24:25] Is that still happening or now?

[1:24:26] There's an existing roundabout now near the school there.

[1:24:32] The Carleton Acres master planning incorporates additional smaller roundabouts.

[1:24:37] Isn't there a lot of rigging though, right?

[1:24:39] No, not on rigging.

[1:24:40] Well I think one point they were talking about putting them around where they were talking

[1:24:43] with the high school was going to go.

[1:24:44] Yeah, not in all of them.

[1:24:46] Thank you.

[1:24:49] Yeah.

[1:24:51] Any other of those CIP projects?

[1:24:52] You guys have questions on those slides?

[1:24:56] Kind of moving on just to some of the other big projects

[1:24:58] that aren't run through.

[1:25:00] We're real quick. Can you talk about the delays on the lever lane 198?

[1:25:09] Yeah, okay. So I understand now. I had to get relatively involved with that. So there's a lot of details related to that.

[1:25:18] But what sounded like happened is there was an unforeseen like Edison line found that went to those four creeks apartments right there.

[1:25:27] like in, um, it delayed a lot of the construction out there according to

[1:25:32] calterans, but I think there was a lot of back and forth communication between

[1:25:36] calterans and SE that didn't probably get done the way it should have. And

[1:25:39] apparently they're dealing with the relatively difficult contractor out there. So

[1:25:43] it delayed a fair amount of that work. And I just talked to that,

[1:25:48] construction manager out there today, and they're saying probably now, hopefully a worst case

[1:25:52] is September, 2026. That's going to be done. But yeah, it's a big extension out there, like

[1:26:00] on that. So yeah, it's a lot of the residents have been frustrated about that. We've taken

[1:26:04] phone calls for it. We've got to get involved with call trends and SEO and some of that stuff

[1:26:08] and kind of just to help push things along. But we've had a lot of people up a lot higher in different

[1:26:14] government agencies had to get involved with that to push that along too. So I mean, it's been a

[1:26:19] real frustrating thing for a lot of our residents.

[1:26:25] That one is like September 2020, six is what they're anticipating for completion on that.

[1:26:31] And I did talk, when I talked to that construction manager today, they said that they actually

[1:26:34] do have that meter pedestal in now, like out there, and they've got the field work approved

[1:26:41] by the SEE, so they're getting it, they're into scheduling now.

[1:26:44] So it's moved now since we've got pretty highly involved with it.

[1:26:49] like so if they're making progress out there the next one this on here is that

[1:26:55] CalTrans Highway 99 and call will have a new interchange project you know some

[1:27:00] updates on this one to fortunately this isn't like inconveniencing a lot of our

[1:27:07] residents right now but originally like staff here at the city was told that

[1:27:10] was supposed to start back in August of 2025 right like now based on I guess

[1:27:15] issues with similar things with utilities that CalTrans House out there right

[1:27:18] Now, that's expected to be October 2026, but that's going to start.

[1:27:23] So, yeah, yep.

[1:27:26] So, yeah, so that's the most current that we know of on that one, but that's going to be

[1:27:32] like a three-year project once it starts, and they're definitely going to be inconveniences

[1:27:36] at the inter-changes and stuff like that right there.

[1:27:39] So, like I told the Gus what we're going to also just now, we waited 30 years, but I'm going

[1:27:42] to wait for more of you here for that one right now.

[1:27:43] Yeah, yeah, you got to hang around a little bit more to see that one through.

[1:27:48] Another big project that CalTrans and city staff have kind of been

[1:27:53] according with together is the State Route 63 we have and that's going to go from

[1:27:58] about 198 in Muni and it's going to go east down Mineral King and Noble for in the areas

[1:28:04] that are CalTrans right away on that road and then it's going to go completely north up

[1:28:08] and in court street all the way through the north side of town.

[1:28:15] So right now I mean it's going to be a huge like rehab project for them.

[1:28:19] They're talking about you know putting bike lanes in there and stuff like that.

[1:28:22] So city's working with them on that.

[1:28:23] They're talking about upgrading ADA ramps and a bunch of other things.

[1:28:26] So it should be like a really beneficial like project for the city cleaning a lot of stuff up.

[1:28:31] But the construction on that they're estimating probably 2829 is what they're thinking.

[1:28:36] I think narrow that down to two lanes when it goes through downtown.

[1:28:40] Yeah, it's the busy, you know, where it should be the slowest you've got three lanes and people are tearing through there.

[1:28:46] Yeah, so I guess what we've talked about with like admin staff and engineering and we've kind of broached with cow trans is that

[1:28:54] the city likes to keep its parking right in the downtown so that's kind of a big priority but we talked about

[1:28:59] There's a stretch from like about mineral king to a sequia where there's three lanes right now

[1:29:05] where we're saying, hey, let's keep the three lanes right there because one of it's in front of the hospital

[1:29:09] like which is pretty important to have like capacity right there like in the other one's going to be coming off the bridge

[1:29:16] which is going to be really important to have capacity without there's going to be back up over the bridge and everything

[1:29:21] but then once we go north of a sequia we have been talking about just making those three lane areas two lanes to keep the parking

[1:29:27] Right there, like then be able to add the bike lanes and everything so that's what we have

[1:29:31] Talk with cow trans about and that's what they're trying to work up can songs because some can songs concepts with

[1:29:36] So, but that's stuff when we get some content from them that are kind of more further along because right now

[1:29:42] We don't really have a lot like you know we can bring that back to council if that's a desire of council to make sure that you're aware fully what we're doing right there

[1:29:53] Yeah, well, yeah

[1:29:55] Yeah.

[1:29:56] And to their credit, they have brought that out to us and ask us to be involved in the process.

[1:30:00] So we feel like we have the opportunity at least.

[1:30:04] Yeah. And what a lot of the, where we're keeping the three lanes, but probably going to lose some parking

[1:30:09] most of it's red-curved anyway right now. So there's not going to be really much loss of that parking

[1:30:14] between menroking and acquia, because there's already one side of the road, like the Marriott's there,

[1:30:19] so a bunch of red-curved anyway. Like, or it's kind of narrowing down by the bank and a bunch of red-curved anyway.

[1:30:24] And we got a parking garage right there and stuff like that. So we're not really expecting that that's going to be a really

[1:30:28] significant loss of parking anyway, because most of it's red curve.

[1:30:33] Thank you.

[1:30:35] Yeah, that's some of the bigger major

[1:30:36] CalTrans projects that are going on.

[1:30:41] Switching to the next slide, we've got a whole bunch of like these are some of the more

[1:30:45] significant projects that are in design right now.

[1:30:48] I don't know if the council members want any updates on this.

[1:30:51] I know what kind of going long on time.

[1:30:53] So I'll probably go through these unless council has questions on some of these.

[1:30:57] A lot of these are pretty.

[1:30:58] uh... significant projects far as the fire station fifty one inclusive park

[1:31:03] like the sequencer street reabs going to affect a lot of the downtown so we'll

[1:31:07] be bringing concepts back to council about that big thing with that's probably

[1:31:10] going to be more like

[1:31:11] didn't ball about so it's a lot more walkable and everything downtown and kind of

[1:31:15] improving what we did on main street even now

[1:31:17] so i think council is going to be happy about that one

[1:31:20] cross-reli corridors up in a staff report later that tonight

[1:31:24] uh... north-west quadrant road crossing kind of a big thing for the north-west

[1:31:27] we've kind of already talked about a lot of the short projects that are out there right now.

[1:31:32] So I'll kind of just blow through that a little bit.

[1:31:36] Master plan stuff.

[1:31:37] There's kind of a list there.

[1:31:38] I think council's probably relatively up to speed on that stuff.

[1:31:43] So I'll kind of move through that.

[1:31:49] The grant money short summary is engineering department was super successful.

[1:31:52] We've got a whole bunch of grant money to the team.

[1:31:54] probably like $60 million along with some help from admin and federal earmark stuff and everything so

[1:31:59] super successful like great for the city like a lot of some money coming in from grants so that was

[1:32:05] really great

[1:32:09] yeah sorry a little behind there you got right there so there's about 50 51 million from the

[1:32:14] ATP program CMAC money was 5.9 million community grants in federal earmark so probably about 2 million

[1:32:21] it's probably like another 2 to 3 million that we got for federal earmark stuff for recharge purposes

[1:32:25] out east side regional part that's not on this list. So, engineer, we did really well with

[1:32:30] the grants for sure, like on this. Moving forward, like a conference for 2025, back

[1:32:38] filling all the open positions was huge. So, I mean, that took a big effort on both like

[1:32:42] Jason, my administration's part to get that done. So, that was really great. And we have a lot of

[1:32:46] light. We got some really good staff too, like right now. So, we got a really, really great group.

[1:32:50] the big thing is just we got to keep them. So probably 135 million dollars worth of construction

[1:32:55] projects started. That's a really big thing we talked about the grants. We've been doing a lot

[1:33:00] of internal stuff as far as standardizing like RFB bid templates and construction management

[1:33:05] record keeping that's going to make the department a lot more efficient too. You know the only thing

[1:33:11] that I want to get through this really quick the only thing I'm really going to mention on this I

[1:33:14] don't know I think it's a number you up there private sector people right everybody loves this

[1:33:18] of analysis, right? There's like the big thing that the owner's low on the private sector.

[1:33:22] So a couple of things on this that really just want to emphasize on is on weaknesses and

[1:33:28] threats like employee succession planning is something that we're really going to have to like

[1:33:32] work on pretty hard the next three to five years because we have probably only five licensed staff

[1:33:38] members right now with engineering licenses like in three of them I'm guessing are probably going to go

[1:33:42] in the next five to seven years, you know. So it's going to be super important that we get some of

[1:33:49] So, I mean, right now, I mean, the joke is it's probably about as hard to find a license

[1:33:55] near what the work ethic is.

[1:33:56] It is a doctor, you know?

[1:33:58] So, I mean, it's like, yeah, it's quite the challenge, you know?

[1:34:03] So, that's a big thing, but one of the things I think that we probably are really going

[1:34:09] to focus on is that, you know, the city has a policy of like waiting to hire a new staff

[1:34:16] until the old staff are officially like retired, right?

[1:34:19] Like, and this is the only probably department,

[1:34:22] or maybe not, let's say Santa I'm wrong.

[1:34:24] So, okay, so, okay, yeah,

[1:34:27] this department's one of those ones

[1:34:29] where we have to like transfer that institutional knowledge

[1:34:31] before somebody leaves, you know?

[1:34:33] So there may be some risk in hiring like a new staff member

[1:34:36] when we don't officially have a staff member retiring,

[1:34:39] but we know they're gonna retire in a year or two,

[1:34:40] just because we have to get that transfer institutional knowledge

[1:34:43] because if we don't, it's a huge loss for the city.

[1:34:46] You said that we were losing, we might lose license, engineers in the next five or seven years.

[1:34:56] Is that because of pay or because of retirement?

[1:34:59] For retirement.

[1:35:01] It's what it's most likely going to happen. Unless people are going to work a lot longer than I think they're going to work for a quirk, which is possible. Like maybe this enjoys so much. They'll stick around for another ten years and we'll be good. You know, like, but we got to like make sure we plan for that. We do have some really good younger licens younger engineers that are probably going to be taking like engineering license tests. So we've got to make sure there's room for them to grow movement upwards, things like that.

[1:35:24] That is true one of the things that bring Chris is bringing to the table with the junior engineers who have their engineering training their first step towards licensure is

[1:35:34] He's he's hosting training. He provides a lot of insight into how to how to what to study for and how to attack the the full

[1:35:42] Federal engineering license. So it's something that's really nice to see because sometimes I'll get in that EAT and that that mid level associated your level and not not push to go higher up because it kind of comfortable

[1:35:54] Chris is kind of making them a little bit more uncomfortable

[1:35:56] and trying to push them forward.

[1:35:58] They're very good.

[1:36:01] Yeah, and one of the big things is that, like,

[1:36:03] you often understand what the license of one year is

[1:36:05] once they get their engineering license,

[1:36:07] they're just a target for everybody, like for acquisitions.

[1:36:10] I mean, it's like constantly like people.

[1:36:12] Just what happens is that you're addressing your contact info,

[1:36:15] goes on engineering license, board webpage,

[1:36:17] and all the recruiters and everybody in the world

[1:36:18] gets access to that.

[1:36:20] So I mean, it's constant, like, I mean, monthly,

[1:36:22] you get text emails, whatever from recruiters, things like that.

[1:36:26] So one of the big things is you've got to really make sure you've got a good working environment

[1:36:30] for those license engineers, so they stick around, like as one of the biggest things.

[1:36:35] That's all kind of talk about on that spot thing.

[1:36:39] You can kind of look through some of the rest of those things and kind of just think about

[1:36:46] those a little bit, but I guess bringing that to the end of the presentation and everything.

[1:36:51] I guess open to any kind of questions, concerns, anything that Council has.

[1:36:55] Great, thank you so much.

[1:36:57] Councilman, could you get any questions?

[1:36:59] The great presentation.

[1:37:00] I like that.

[1:37:01] You're bringing the private sector mindset to this,

[1:37:04] to see if we become more efficient.

[1:37:06] So a great job.

[1:37:07] I'd like you guys to do it.

[1:37:08] Councilman Nelson?

[1:37:10] You know, a very thorough report and I appreciate it.

[1:37:12] Thank you.

[1:37:13] Councilman Settle?

[1:37:14] No questions.

[1:37:16] Just thank you for what you're all doing.

[1:37:17] I know you said five six years ago.

[1:37:20] There was, you know, lack of staff.

[1:37:23] And I know you've brought that up to speed and so I appreciate what you all are doing.

[1:37:27] And I appreciate it.

[1:37:28] Thank you.

[1:37:29] Vice Mayor Win?

[1:37:30] Yeah.

[1:37:30] Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work.

[1:37:36] So the the the the the large capital projects and street maps.

[1:37:40] I love showing that to the community.

[1:37:41] You know when for the longest time we've been you know told that our

[1:37:45] streets weren't getting repaired properly.

[1:37:48] And so I love showing that to our community to show.

[1:37:51] Like all of our streets on an annual basis are getting touched and that we work in a, you know, one

[1:37:57] Quadrant at a time. And so I appreciate you guys doing that. If you notice our survey that we just had streets

[1:38:03] weren't number one that were they had been for quite a few years. And so we appreciate all the work. Our community loves it.

[1:38:09] Obviously they're not happy during construction. I think afterwards they're very happy with all the work. My only question is

[1:38:16] We have, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars of projects kind of in the pipeline.

[1:38:20] Are we, is there any possibility that we're not going to start in those on time

[1:38:25] or losing these potential state or federal funding if we can't get any projects started?

[1:38:31] So, right now, like, the reason you see so many projects going on is because of things like that

[1:38:36] because of federal funding deadlines or some kind of grant deadline, things like that.

[1:38:41] So some of the agencies, you know, where we haven't done a lot of extensions already, we still have a couple of extensions open, but I don't know my great like list that Leslie loves here, this got the 200 projects on it, we pretty thoroughly go through that to make sure that we're doing everything we can to not lose grant money.

[1:39:00] There's just a lot of issues, things that parties have been stopped and started, like that we're kind of working through things that have been missed on some projects we're working through.

[1:39:09] So, right now, I'm not early envisioning us losing like any of the grant money that we've got.

[1:39:15] There's a couple really complicated things, but I'm thinking they're probably going to, we're

[1:39:18] going to get them worked out. So, right now, there's no expectation we're going to be losing grant

[1:39:23] money over any of these things. Wonderful, that's great and I was appreciate it. Okay, let's go ahead and

[1:39:28] open this up to the public. Anybody from the public wishing to speak on this item, please come forward.

[1:39:35] And seeing them, we appreciate it. They're report.

[1:39:41] All right, last item number five will be fiscal year

[1:39:44] in 2006, in 2007, in 2007, in 2007, in 2008, strategic, budget goals.

[1:40:35] Good evening council. Good evening council. My name is Renee Nagel and I'm the finance and

[1:40:41] technology director. And with me, I have Amy Sparingen, who is our financial analyst, who's

[1:40:46] main focus is our budget. Tonight we're here to discuss the 2627-2728 budget discussion, which

[1:40:55] is mainly to start the budget kick off and discuss the calendar and to set some budget strategic

[1:41:03] It goes for this next to your budget.

[1:41:09] Okay, so here is our by annual budget cycle,

[1:41:12] as you can see, we're currently actually

[1:41:15] in our second year of our current budget, 2526.

[1:41:19] We are going to be starting our 2627, 2728 budget,

[1:41:25] which will be adopted in June.

[1:41:29] So for a budget document requirements,

[1:41:31] the city uses the GFOA,

[1:41:35] best budgeting practices to create the budget document

[1:41:37] and we have received the distinguished budget award for the past 30 plus years.

[1:41:43] The GFOA requires your document to meet a list of criteria.

[1:41:47] The main ones that we focus on are using our document as a strategic budget document, which

[1:41:55] that's what we're here for tonight, establishing our strategic goals and showing how they're

[1:41:59] being met throughout our departments.

[1:42:00] We have department performance measures, city priorities and issues, impact of capital projects

[1:42:07] on the operating budget, debt-discussed discussion, long-range financial plans, and citizen

[1:42:13] involvement.

[1:42:17] The budget document consists of current financials, future forecasts, the department's summaries,

[1:42:24] which include department discussion, financials, performance measures, accomplishments,

[1:42:30] and schools. It includes a six year capital plan and it also includes our city financial

[1:42:37] policies which some of them are debt, investments, reserves, and we also have to have

[1:42:43] a budget ordinance. It also includes some other things like our allocated positions and

[1:42:48] salary schedules.

[1:42:52] This is our budget process timeline so kind of our calendar that we're

[1:42:57] for the new budget, 26, 27, and 27, 28.

[1:43:02] We're here tonight, the second one down for our goals,

[1:43:06] and then we will be back to you guys presenting

[1:43:10] at most meetings from February through May.

[1:43:14] We'll start with capital, and then in April, April,

[1:43:17] we'll bring back a midgear, which we focus on just a general fund

[1:43:20] since we're in the middle of creating a budget.

[1:43:22] And then all of that is put together for the adoption engine.

[1:43:31] So for strategic goals, as mentioned earlier,

[1:43:35] they are typically broad and focus on our future.

[1:43:39] The structure is typically up to five categories,

[1:43:43] no more than five points under each category,

[1:43:46] and then we've been using icons for each of our categories.

[1:43:49] This kind of ties everything in throughout our document.

[1:43:52] It shows how each department is using them and how our goals are being met.

[1:44:00] So here are our current strategic goals.

[1:44:03] They're kind of small so we gave you a handout because it's hard to see on there.

[1:44:07] But we have quality of life, infrastructure and growth, fiscal strength,

[1:44:14] organizational excellence and economic vitality.

[1:44:18] These are in line with the citizen surveys of FM3 presented to you guys tonight.

[1:44:24] We're here tonight to see if you guys would like to change any of these or if you'd like to just stick with our current ones.

[1:44:33] So that's basically our presentations, if you guys would like to discuss these.

[1:44:37] We can go into that.

[1:44:40] Wonderful. Thank you. Nice and quick.

[1:44:42] All right. Councilman, we're noticing any questions.

[1:44:45] No, not at all.

[1:44:46] been through this before.

[1:44:48] You can't wait to put you in.

[1:44:50] That was the quickest financial presentation.

[1:44:52] I think we've ever received.

[1:44:54] It's a dollar.

[1:44:54] I know.

[1:44:56] I don't know.

[1:44:56] A great presentation.

[1:44:57] You guys always do a fantastic job.

[1:44:59] to

[1:45:00] Put us in a good financial situation, so I'll be supportive of the staff recommendations for that.

[1:45:05] Councilor Soto?

[1:45:07] Yeah, no, thanks for the presentation. Nothing to change here.

[1:45:12] Excited for the new budget.

[1:45:14] And Vice Mayor Wynn?

[1:45:16] Yeah, I think it looks like you've lined these up with council strategic goals, which I appreciate very much.

[1:45:23] And I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[1:45:27] because I know those CAP budgets are always long.

[1:45:31] And usually five to ten times more than many we have.

[1:45:34] So a good luck.

[1:45:37] Yeah, thank you.

[1:45:39] And mostly for this.

[1:45:40] The fact that you're tying our finances into the goals of the city.

[1:45:45] I mean, that's huge.

[1:45:46] Because just two weeks ago, we were talking about potentially putting a new pool.

[1:45:50] And that could be $15 to $30 million.

[1:45:52] So it sounds really great, but we need to make sure we have the money for that.

[1:45:55] And so, tying the goals that we've put together as a council with an actual budget, we appreciate

[1:46:00] that.

[1:46:01] It makes sure that it keeps everybody on the right path for doing what our citizens want for

[1:46:06] our community.

[1:46:07] So, we really appreciate you guys doing that.

[1:46:09] We'll go ahead and open this up to the public.

[1:46:10] Anybody wishing to speak on this item, please come forward.

[1:46:15] I think this really is the quickest budget if meaning ever.

[1:46:18] So, I'll go ahead and entertain that motion if there's not a comments.

[1:46:24] Well, first and second, please vote.

[1:46:42] All right.

[1:46:42] and passes 5-0. Thank you very much. We're going to go ahead and adjourn this portion of the meeting,

[1:46:46] and we're going to go into a close session. We invite everyone to come back at the general meeting at 7 o'clock.

[1:48:04] Good evening. Everybody, welcome to the Vice-City Council meeting. We're going to go ahead and call the order.

[1:48:09] This meeting for tonight. We will start off first by doing the Pledge of Allegiance. That will be offered by Council

[1:48:15] Mayor Pritchigian. Then we'll be followed by an invocation by Reverend Susie Ward.

[1:48:48] Let us pray, gracious and loving God who has provided us with this beautiful land that we may share with all.

[1:48:57] Help us to be mindful of the needs of the many and diverse people who live and work in this community.

[1:49:04] Bless this city with productive jobs, places of eager learning and neighborhoods where all can live and safety.

[1:49:12] Protect our first responders from danger as they protect us.

[1:49:18] May we all work in unity defending the liberties of all people so that we might live

[1:49:23] as one united people, even though we represent a multitude of languages and heritage.

[1:49:30] Give this spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice to those who have been entrusted with

[1:49:35] the authority of government, that they may serve the city with steadfast purpose, faithfully

[1:49:42] promoting the well-being of all people.

[1:49:45] Let their discussions be guided by truth, transparency,

[1:49:49] and steadfast dedication to the public trust.

[1:49:54] In times of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,

[1:49:57] and in days of trouble, let not our-

[1:50:00] Court trust in you, fail. All this we ask through the one in eternal creator who brings life to all people in all places and for all time.

[1:50:11] Please forgive me for my absence last month.

[1:50:18] Thank you very much.

[1:50:20] All right, so we will start with public comments. This is a time for the general public to comment on issues within the jurisdiction of the Viceroy City Council.

[1:50:29] Each speaker tonight may speak for up to three minutes during the general comment period on a matter

[1:50:35] that is not on the agenda.

[1:50:38] The public may make one comment for up to three minutes prior to the consideration of the consent

[1:50:42] calendar and immediately before any regular item is heard.

[1:50:47] The council asks you to keep your comments concise and positive.

[1:50:50] Creative criticism presented with appropriate courtesy is welcome.

[1:50:54] Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, and a timer will notify you when your time is expired.

[1:50:59] Please begin your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residents.

[1:51:03] Anybody at this time wishing to speak during public comment period?

[1:51:14] Good evening, Council. You from Bessera, I live in district one by his mayor's wins district.

[1:51:21] I just wanted to comment and say that the event on Saturday was a huge success.

[1:51:27] They had a quadriple, the amount of people in the last 10 years that they have had it.

[1:51:32] It was nice seeing a military leader there for the proclamation.

[1:51:36] The chamber has worked very hard and nothing but positive comments were said with the displays

[1:51:43] that were there so that's great to hear.

[1:51:47] Hopefully it won't be the last, hopefully it'll just grow into a very event and have more involvement

[1:51:52] from other organizations like the Bicylic Chamber and the City. And again, I wanted to say also

[1:52:00] the event prior to the Chamber also was a success. They had a really nice display of the Mexican

[1:52:07] League, worked hard around that event. So I just want to say thank you guys for having these events

[1:52:12] and showing the diversity in the city and hope we have more to come. Thank you.

[1:52:28] Hi, my name is Kathy Falkner.

[1:52:30] I live here in Viseia, and something recently came up that I was concerned about, what are

[1:52:36] we doing for Veterans Day event, wonderful parade in Port of Vill, but what about Viseia,

[1:52:43] search for the city, search for everything, and came across something I think is really phenomenal.

[1:52:48] Amy King, the curator at the Monies Grove Park in the museum, has dedicated a lot of time

[1:52:57] to reach out to all of the schools within the

[1:53:01] of I.C. unified school district and has brought up

[1:53:05] high school students with essays, there will be over

[1:53:08] 2,000 puppies hanging from the seas ceiling in the museum

[1:53:13] with a note from elementary students attached to each one.

[1:53:18] I was so overwhelmed by what she was doing, but I'm with another group

[1:53:22] called with Viseia and our goal was to try and find ways

[1:53:26] where we could provide food and services for veterans.

[1:53:29] We know sometimes they're in need.

[1:53:31] And so we're working on a table for contributions of food.

[1:53:37] Gift cards that are $5 money, even gift card from a grocery store,

[1:53:43] just something to give to the VFM post 1864 here locally

[1:53:49] and by say, this is going to be held.

[1:53:52] This Veterans Day celebration, November 9th, Sunday at 11 o'clock, and she assumes it's only

[1:54:00] going to be lasting an hour. There'll be music, poetry, veterans speaking. The program will be

[1:54:07] one hour, but then she welcomes everybody to go into the new exhibit. So I hope that people will be

[1:54:12] able to attend that. I think it's a phenomenal thing, and I think we need more things like this

[1:54:17] happening and by say for veterans day honoring those who have served us. Thank you.

[1:54:30] My name is Isaac Herrera and I'm a resident of Iselia. One with regard to the EBT snap

[1:54:37] situation, this is for the city and for the whole country, I think it would be well advised to

[1:54:45] maybe tie it to some form of civic engagement. Anybody that receives those benefits might get more involved

[1:54:52] in their communities and have more feedback through that with regard to the loge.

[1:55:00] Go situation. I had read on the Vice Helio Delta Times that you paid 150,000 to a marketing firm for a

[1:55:08] logo that's not even in use. And then you paid someone 1,500 for that logo. So that was something

[1:55:20] that I got brought up because I'm sort of an investigative journalist. But you know, you do

[1:55:26] to wonder about priorities on that, so I'll leave it at that.

[1:55:32] But the other issue, there's a court case going on.

[1:55:37] Our president is Scottish right, free-mason, Donald Trump, 33 degree, and the question of

[1:55:47] is free-masonry overly represented in the country.

[1:55:51] JFK famously said, we do not support secret outs or secret proceedings in the country.

[1:56:00] So there is a question of our secret oaths in conflict with your allegiance to the Constitution.

[1:56:11] So that is something that might make its way to the Supreme Court at some point.

[1:56:15] And I do know that there's a lodge in pretty much every city.

[1:56:18] So I'll leave that there and then finally I have a company that I recently moved from

[1:56:26] Anaheim and there's a company that I'm working with that we are trying to provide super

[1:56:32] Wi-Fi to municipalities and you can offer free internet to the entire community and I would

[1:56:40] like to try to reach out to anybody that might be involved in exploring that idea.

[1:56:47] you could have a smart city upgrade by Celia and have all kinds of new capabilities with

[1:56:56] citizenry and public engagement and things like that. So if I could maybe speak

[1:57:02] with somebody after that would be great. Thank you.

[1:57:12] And that's all go fast and I'll need to read my size day focused. My name is Mary Jennings.

[1:57:18] I'm in the city of Iselia. Good evening. I'm Mary Jennings, the executive director of

[1:57:23] of ISIL Emergency Council.

[1:57:26] VEC is the Food Pantry Family Assistance Center in ISIL.

[1:57:30] We have been serving our community for over 93 years,

[1:57:34] focusing on the underserved in the housed community.

[1:57:38] Located in the heart of the Oval Park area

[1:57:41] we are within walking distance of the Bethlehem Center,

[1:57:44] the Rescue Mission, the Navigation Center,

[1:57:46] and the Salvation Center,

[1:57:48] all of which served the unhoused population.

[1:57:51] VEC is unique in that we focus on the household unit.

[1:57:56] Those really focusing on those households with minor children.

[1:58:00] Our primary focus is on providing a food pantry where we typically serve around 1,200 households

[1:58:07] reaching about 4,000 individuals each month.

[1:58:10] Those numbers are important because I'll let you know what we serve last month.

[1:58:14] We also are the local diaper bag providing diapers and other baby products.

[1:58:18] We provide utility and rental assistance through our thrift store.

[1:58:22] We offer vouchers that allow families to shop for closing and help those items that no

[1:58:26] charge.

[1:58:27] Our typical clients include single parents, multiple family homes where mom, dad, grandma's,

[1:58:33] aunts, uncles and kids all live under one household.

[1:58:36] Seniors, many of whom are raising their grandchildren, veterans, and disabled living on a fixed income.

[1:58:43] 45% of our clients have at least one wage earner in the household, but still must depend

[1:58:48] on WIC and SNAP to get by each month.

[1:58:52] Many of our working clients are in the service and agricultural industries earning minimum

[1:58:57] wage or just slightly above, often having to choose between buying food or putting gas in

[1:59:03] their car to get to work.

[1:59:05] With the current uncertainty around the SNAP program, we have seen our food request increase

[1:59:10] In October, we served over 1,750 households, reaching 5,800 individuals, and increase

[1:59:20] of over 15% from the previous October, with much of our growth occurring in the last ten

[1:59:26] days, which when was becoming very public, that snap was not going to happen for the month

[1:59:31] of November.

[1:59:32] As we enter November, families are stressed not only about putting food on their tables, but

[1:59:37] Also about the Thanksgiving holiday, a time when traditions have families gathered around their

[1:59:42] tables to share a meal with family and friends.

[1:59:45] The EAC utilizes both food link to their county as the primary USDA provider and the central

[1:59:51] California food bank where we can buy food for pennies per pound.

[1:59:55] However, with the increase in clients served, and no absolute confidence.

[2:00:00] The crisis will be over any time soon, even the food banks are struggling and are feeling the crunch and programs and donations, resulting in less products for our pantry.

[2:00:10] This means that VECA has to purchase fruits, vegetables, dairy, and a good source of protein.

[2:00:18] This really puts a pinch on a tight budget. This week alone.

[2:00:21] Thank you, ma'am. Your time's expired.

[2:00:27] Thank you. You can pass it right here.

[2:00:38] I'm Christine Murphy. I'm from Vesalia.

[2:00:43] The protests are going on on a moody boulevard. Okay, so I had my phone and I sat there with them.

[2:00:50] I was able to sit there with them until my gatter ran out and then my phone went dead.

[2:00:56] But the other day when my bike broke down, I couldn't fix it because I kept being told that I couldn't be there, I was trying to fix my bike, right there on the side of the road, right there on the front of the Chevrolet, no, I couldn't fix my bike, my bike was broke, so I took it to the trail, I wasn't there 10 minutes, I said I couldn't be there, I intend to protest,

[2:01:20] I intend to protest, I intend to protest where they've been protesting and I intend to not stop.

[2:01:31] I'm just saying thank you oh what else I mean I I should be able to do that if I'm

[2:01:40] peaceful and it's just me right instead of like all those people out there right

[2:01:47] Am I right

[2:01:50] or what they can and I can't

[2:01:53] Because I'd actually applied there's a petition application to do that I did it 20 years ago

[2:02:00] You know and I was denied I end him to protest

[2:02:09] But with signs, just letting you know,

[2:02:28] may your vice mayor, and members of the council, I

[2:02:30] reenlap an vice-alien, the grift, the graft, the grope, and not always in that order.

[2:02:38] As you know, the emoluments clauses are two constitutional provisions that prevent federal

[2:02:43] office holders from accepting gifts, payments, or other benefits from foreign or domestic

[2:02:48] governments, obviously because it leads to corruption.

[2:02:53] In less than one year since Trump was elected president, he and his family of a mass

[2:02:57] more than $1.8 billion in cash in gifts.

[2:03:02] For every American, however, for the average American, who are more inflation, tariffs, firings,

[2:03:08] department closures, massive service and health care cuts, the use of military against

[2:03:13] on people and over the tap surveillance. A million and a half federal employees are going without pay.

[2:03:21] The unemployed are standing in lines waiting for arrangements for themselves and their children.

[2:03:26] Thousands can no longer pay their mortgages or their rent.

[2:03:30] On the eve of the termination of snap benefits on Halloween,

[2:03:34] Trump throws a flashy, trashy, gas-be party at Moralago,

[2:03:38] while back in D.C. the People's House is being demolished and turned into a

[2:03:44] ballroom that has more gold per square inch than his own personal toilet.

[2:03:50] Maybe the corporate sponsors of the Appariety Display can spare a few dollars each

[2:03:56] defeat the hungry.

[2:03:58] In the meantime, Vice President Vance, self-hating because of his own childhood poverty,

[2:04:03] Wang's finger is at the poor, with the warning there will be more suffering.

[2:04:10] About Venezuela, before this year, the Coast Guard, accompanied by the Navy,

[2:04:15] would interdict and boards suspected vessels, seasoned cargo, and arrest the crews

[2:04:22] and prepare them for prosecution.

[2:04:25] They would not use legal force, but they wouldn't be sufficient,

[2:04:29] narcissistic supply for the narcissist.

[2:04:32] He needs to blow up every fishing boat he can get his hands on.

[2:04:38] Because it's in his personal enemy territory.

[2:04:42] Act first, ask later, no, don't ask at all.

[2:04:46] Not only is that a violation of several international laws,

[2:04:51] but is a task not granted to the executive office.

[2:04:55] No need to cry for Argentina, however,

[2:04:58] because Trump wants to spin.

[2:05:00] The 40 million of our tax dollars to bail out, the only country she seems to like, rather than want to seize, and they have want to be dictated.

[2:05:10] As former President Obama said last weekend, and I call him my President for life, it's been like Halloween every day this year, except its all tricks and no treats.

[2:05:23] Thank you.

[2:05:35] I'm a Sean Kiner out of Icelia.

[2:05:39] I was more so wondering if the city of Icelia is playing on partnering with the Icelia

[2:05:46] emergency aid because I know that they are not part or they're not affiliated with any sort

[2:05:54] of outside entity besides just being of non-profit for Icelia so they're not affiliated

[2:06:00] is any like faith based. I was wondering if the city was going to be doing a big push particularly

[2:06:08] with that organization because of because of city council members that were at the Trump

[2:06:18] inauguration that that may be who's the council to really put a big push into that to show

[2:06:27] support with the community, and for the fact that we don't have SNAP anymore, thank you

[2:06:33] that was all.

[2:06:43] Okay, anybody else wanted to speak during public comment?

[2:06:46] Okay, we'll go ahead and close public comments now, and we're going to skip items of interest

[2:06:51] tonight, and we'll go on to the consent calendar.

[2:06:56] Consent calendar items are considered routine, we'll be enacted in one motion.

[2:07:00] This is the time for members of the public to provide public comments on an item, on

[2:07:04] consent calendar, comments will not be taken individually by the public. If an item is pulled by a council member, each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes and a timer will notify you when your time is expired.

[2:07:16] Please be in your comments by stating and spelling your name and providing your city of residents. Anybody here wishing to speak on an item that's on the consent calendar.

[2:07:25] Mayer, mayer, mayer, you can finish your comment here, right? Is that okay if you were to finish your comment?

[2:07:32] Since it has to do with an item on the consent calendar?

[2:07:38] So this is just item consent calendar items, even we should not speak on this.

[2:07:46] Good evening, mayer, and council members. My name is Maria Guillain.

[2:07:51] That's G-U-I-L-L-E-N-X-N over the E.

[2:07:55] I live in Viceria.

[2:07:56] I'd like to address item number 13 on the consent calendar.

[2:08:03] Let me first applaud Council Member Emmanuel Soktho for having the leadership and compassion

[2:08:08] to raise this issue, especially in light of the fact that there may be pushback since it may

[2:08:15] be addressing a national or federal issue.

[2:08:19] Personally, I don't believe there's anyone in this room that believes we are not being negative

[2:08:26] impact by what is happening at the national level.

[2:08:30] To not address this issue is irresponsible at best and cowardly at worse.

[2:08:37] I prepared a different format for my testimony.

[2:08:40] I'd like to create high coup poems as a hobby.

[2:08:44] I follow a strict pattern of using three lines with the first line having five syllables,

[2:08:49] the second, seven syllables, and the third having five.

[2:08:53] This is what I created to address the topic.

[2:09:00] Hunger pains make noise without care for your vote.

[2:09:05] Was it red or blue?

[2:09:08] Well, work for food.

[2:09:10] I do work, but wages then, so take pound of flesh.

[2:09:17] I picked the fresh fruit.

[2:09:19] Jose arranges them at store.

[2:09:22] My cupboards are bare.

[2:09:24] New life is precious, they say baby needs new shoes, but first she needs milk.

[2:09:32] With holding dollars to feed those in need is wrong, my neighbor's agree.

[2:09:39] As Tupac once shared, there's money for war, somehow, none to feed the poor.

[2:09:47] Come to our table for warm meal, served with side of human dignity.

[2:09:55] Compassion is gift, you gladly give from the heart.

[2:10:00] That doesn't keep score. I urge the council to pass this item that a show our concern and commitment to providing a safety net for our residents.

[2:10:10] That coupled with the amazing resiliency we see in the community and those that are setting up mutual aid resources will bring us a sense of peace in our city.

[2:10:33] Michelle Kenner out of very Celia.

[2:10:36] Sorry, I didn't know that I didn't read number 13 on the items

[2:10:41] of interest.

[2:10:42] I apologize about that.

[2:10:43] I'm actually here for number 12.

[2:10:46] Conceration of the future of the item to redesign a portion

[2:10:49] of the Bikling configurations.

[2:10:52] I am here to see if there's any way

[2:10:56] maybe I could give a little bit input

[2:10:58] because it is office-lary avenue.

[2:11:00] And it's the major sheet rehabilitation.

[2:11:01] And I know that we have a lot of schools right there along with COS as well.

[2:11:06] So, let's try to make you aware that I am interested in that.

[2:11:10] And I know that there was a lot of discourse online about the impact of bicycles with the traffic pattern.

[2:11:20] So, I have pulled examples of what they do in other cities around the state of California.

[2:11:28] So I have those examples, if anybody maybe wants to look at them and maybe we can come up to something.

[2:11:34] That would be beneficial to the bicyclists along with the vehicles.

[2:11:41] Thank you.

[2:11:49] Hi, my name is Kathy Faulkner.

[2:11:51] I live here in VISA and in reference to number eight the insurance broker service.

[2:11:56] You're working on trying to connect with the needs of our community for a long period of time and the insurance needed.

[2:12:02] But I'd like to address the climate change and the impact of economic losses in the billions.

[2:12:10] Our area, our air quality has been rated in F by the American Lung Association.

[2:12:16] And it has to do with the rising heat.

[2:12:19] We're on the 65% tile as the very highest ranking in the nation for the 65% higher than most.

[2:12:28] ranked higher at over the average number of days that are 100 plus.

[2:12:33] We require cooling centers.

[2:12:35] We project the number of hotter days per year will increase.

[2:12:39] Higher levels of particulate matter are also part of the ozone production.

[2:12:45] Agriculture, particular proximity to water,

[2:12:48] which item are you speaking on?

[2:12:50] Item number eight, the insurance broker service.

[2:12:53] That's employee insurance.

[2:12:55] Is it just the employee? I thought it was all

[2:13:05] okay, so it's not overall for the city's insurance policy to protect it from

[2:13:14] I just want to make sure that's one that I don't mean you're talking about so, okay?

[2:13:18] No, no, I wasn't thinking in terms of health insurance.

[2:13:23] Yeah, no, just an overall insurance policy for the city to protect it against any sort of negative reactions or impact

[2:13:31] upon our city as it results to negligence or anything else.

[2:13:37] So if I'm wrong, let me know.

[2:13:39] No, it's not.

[2:13:44] Anyway,

[2:13:47] there's a lot going on and we really need to be aware.

[2:13:50] I know risk management has probably done a lot as far as

[2:13:53] whether the potentials for drought, for water loss,

[2:13:56] but there is so much coming up in the next 10 years

[2:14:00] that it's really critical.

[2:14:01] We prepare ourselves.

[2:14:02] Thank you.

[2:14:06] Anybody else want to speak? Also, just like you know, it sounds like there are some people that are wanting to speak on the

[2:14:11] Tolerary Avenue Project. So if you did want to speak on the item, this is your time to speak. If we do pull the item later, this will be the only time where people will be allowed to speak.

[2:14:25] Hello, my name is Mark Walll. I'm a city of Iselia, a daughter block and a half from Tolerary Avenue.

[2:14:31] And I'm also president of the Southern Sierra Cycle's bicycle club.

[2:14:35] Although most of our members live in Bicellia, the Bicycle Club represents cyclists throughout

[2:14:41] Hillary County, we currently have 295 members, including 106 families memberships, which

[2:14:48] may include more people.

[2:14:50] Hesta C is affiliated with the League of American Bicycles, seven of our members, including

[2:14:55] five board members, are leagues certified cycling instructors.

[2:14:58] This means...

[2:15:00] Teams have had extensive training in bicycle safety and are committed to bicycle safety wherever we are.

[2:15:08] Stycling is an affordable and healthy recreation and transportation. SSC strongly support city efforts

[2:15:14] to build walking and cycling infrastructure for all ages. This policy helps to keep older by

[2:15:25] for families and children and makes walking or cycling to and from school safe and

[2:15:32] feasible. This in turn offers an opportunity to end traffic jams at schools and

[2:15:38] reduce overall traffic on our streets. I'm here tonight because Tulleri Avenue

[2:15:43] offers a unique opportunity. Tulleri Avenue is a two-lane collector street

[2:15:49] intended to move traffic from residential streets to neighborhood facilities

[2:15:53] I could sell elementary schools and then on beyond to arterial streets generally.

[2:15:59] There are nine schools by my count and I was told another, I missed one, there's ten by

[2:16:04] my count, a long-tolerary oven in the project area.

[2:16:10] Mostly elementary schools but also COS, Mount Whitney, and to visit era.

[2:16:16] The traffic calming design of the protected bike lanes will reduce traffic speed, noise

[2:16:22] and accidents resulting in a better quality of life

[2:16:25] for nearby residents and road users.

[2:16:28] The design provides a five mile long cross-town corridor

[2:16:32] that supports greater bicycle network continuity

[2:16:35] and connectivity.

[2:16:38] Placing bike lanes between the sidewalk and park cars

[2:16:42] protects pedestrians and cyclists

[2:16:44] while preserving some unstreet parking.

[2:16:48] It is the only design scheme that protects cyclists

[2:16:51] and preserves some parking.

[2:16:55] Education and outreach is needed.

[2:16:59] Obviously, this is new to the residents and the community.

[2:17:03] And SSC would welcome the opportunity to assist with a transportation, or I'm in

[2:17:08] sorry, but the transition, by offering cycling education programs at schools, boys and

[2:17:13] girls, clubs, churches and other locations.

[2:17:15] We can also assist with the city would like with a door door information campaign specific to each residence and names or questions.

[2:17:25] The bottom line is increasing traffic speed is made.

[2:17:28] Thank you, sir.

[2:17:30] Appreciate your comments.

[2:17:41] Anybody else?

[2:17:43] If you want to speak, come on up, madam.

[2:17:45] If you'd like to speak, please go ahead and form a line so we can gauge how many people are going to be speaking.

[2:17:53] Hello, my name is Laura Anderson, L-A-E-R-A-N-D-E-R-S-O-N. I'm a resident here in Baisalia.

[2:18:00] And I just wanted to speak on the recent bike lane changes tutorial avenue.

[2:18:06] I used the bike lane on Baisalia avenue to go back and forth to work in downtown Baisalia.

[2:18:11] I really appreciate having a protected bike lane available on my route.

[2:18:14] It's made me choose to go down that street as opposed to other streets.

[2:18:18] I feel safest when I'm writing on that street.

[2:18:22] Having that bike lane available has increased how frequently I write back and forth to work as well.

[2:18:27] It has also changed how frequently I write with my daughter.

[2:18:31] She's younger, and that's one of the few streets where I feel like she's safe and protected from the traffic.

[2:18:38] I really hope that I say I continue to invest in bike friendly infrastructure,

[2:18:42] and I look forward to see what improvements are made to the city's bike lanes moving forward.

[2:18:46] Thank you.

[2:18:57] Do you hear?

[2:18:57] Just your name and city residents.

[2:19:00] I'm Arvella, France, and I'm a resident of Isalia.

[2:19:05] I first noticed the problem on Tullary Avenue with Gateway Church.

[2:19:11] They always park their cars along the highway.

[2:19:16] So now they're limited to being able to do that.

[2:19:20] I don't know actually whether I'm pro or against the painting and the symbols that they're

[2:19:28] putting on these streets.

[2:19:31] So it's kind of confusing to some who haven't familiar with this.

[2:19:38] Also I was wondering how long can a car be parked?

[2:19:43] How can it, let's see, what size the auto is going to be parked?

[2:19:48] We'll just bring the cost of our homes down.

[2:19:53] It's already a busy street.

[2:19:55] Some families have teenagers with multiple cars and some...

[2:20:00] Some people on our street rent rooms, so they need to have a place to park their cars.

[2:20:07] It isn't a problem for me, because I have a large area of parking for cars.

[2:20:18] But one thing I know that it will do is diminish traffic, because

[2:20:24] Right now we have a lot of traffic until every avenue and there are multiple accidents happening.

[2:20:36] So I was just wondering if they would also be giving parking tickets for people if they park too long on the street.

[2:20:47] And can you park a truck on the street?

[2:20:55] So, I just don't even know what some of the symbols are that they have on the street.

[2:21:03] So, I notice that there are people parking down by divicidero junior high.

[2:21:10] There is parking people are doing that, and it seems like it's fine.

[2:21:15] When I go by, but there's not much space if you're driving a larger truck.

[2:21:24] So I just wonder about accidents and the safety.

[2:21:30] So I know one thing about I am in favor of the red curves because I have, by my home,

[2:21:40] And there's someone who parked a car on the street for over two years.

[2:21:47] And then another person down the street had their car parked there for almost the same amount

[2:21:52] of time.

[2:21:53] There's grass growing underneath it so I don't know.

[2:21:57] I did call the city.

[2:21:59] They did move his truck but he moved it up in front of his own home.

[2:22:07] Thank you, man.

[2:22:07] Appreciate your comments.

[2:22:19] I'm a Lonnie Miller, a resident of I saw, yeah, I live a couple walks away from Clara Avenue and wrote it on a regular basis and tell her tired a couple of years ago.

[2:22:27] That was my commute route and it's much safer now riding it when I do ride it than I did then thanks to the traffic calming.

[2:22:33] The idea that if I'm hit by a car going 20 miles in our faster line, my chance of dying is dramatically higher than a car going slower.

[2:22:41] So anything that we can do to keep cars and cyclists and pedestrians away from each other is what we need to do.

[2:22:48] It's much safer for all involved.

[2:22:50] Thank you.

[2:22:58] Okay, we're going to go ahead and close public comments now and

[2:23:03] Council member,

[2:23:06] Nelson and the items you'd like to pull from consent calendar.

[2:23:08] I'd have a 13.

[2:23:10] Council member put your game in the items you'd like to pull.

[2:23:20] I don't know why I'm 12 and 13.

[2:23:23] Okay, vice mayor.

[2:23:24] when you need items you want to pull?

[2:23:27] Item number two.

[2:23:31] And council member.

[2:23:33] So any items you want to pull?

[2:23:34] No, I don't think you.

[2:23:35] Okay, and I have no items to pull.

[2:23:38] So I will entertain a motion for the remainder of the calendar.

[2:23:41] I'm making motion.

[2:23:41] Do you accept a balance to the consent calendar?

[2:23:43] I'll second.

[2:23:44] I'm going to person second please vote.

[2:23:55] Okay, the remainder of the consent calendar passes five zero.

[2:23:58] I'll start off with item or consent calendar item number two please.

[2:24:02] did you want a presentation or did you just have a question on that specific?

[2:24:06] I just, I wanted to publicly thank the animal services department and also bring, is Candace here today?

[2:24:16] Oh, could you come up and just give us a brief explanation of what this grant does because I think the community will really appreciate that?

[2:24:23] Yeah, absolutely.

[2:24:24] So my name is Candice Harrington.

[2:24:26] I'm the manager of the PSI Animal Services.

[2:24:29] And so we are looking to apply for a grant from the American Society

[2:24:33] of Prevention and Coal TV Animals for up to $95,000.

[2:24:38] And part of it is going to go towards waving or subsidizing return

[2:24:43] to home fees.

[2:24:44] So there's a reclaimed fees if your animal comes in,

[2:24:47] yet it's pay fees to get it out.

[2:24:50] And then the other portion of it is going to go towards

[2:24:52] producing adoption fees, so if you're looking to adopt a bit from us, it'll help subsidizer

[2:24:57] or wave that adoption fee.

[2:25:02] Any other comments? As Vice Mayor said, thank you, and I hope we get the money.

[2:25:08] Me too. Any other comments for my council?

[2:25:12] Okay, I'll entertain the motion, then. I can motion approve.

[2:25:15] Second. Okay, with a first and second, please vote.

[2:25:25] Concent calendar, number two, pass this five zero. Thank you very much.

[2:25:29] The next one to item, consent calendar item number 12. Would you like a staff report or

[2:25:39] So, when this got presented to us, I was under my impression, or I was under the impression

[2:25:46] that we were required to do a bike lane like this.

[2:25:50] Going back to where we were told that we weren't, so then I asked them, or that it gives

[2:25:54] what the presentation was, and nowhere in this presentation, does it look like what it does,

[2:26:00] which Lori does now.

[2:26:02] I like the protected bike lane, but the protected bike lane that was sold to us here is nothing

[2:26:07] like to Larry does now. So I don't know if we can make some changes to that because this is

[2:26:12] what the picture looks like. I mean essentially it looks like protective bike lane.

[2:26:16] The lane is straight down where people go park on the street and that's not what to Larry looks like.

[2:26:20] I've always said I've been proposing that bike lanes. I like bike lanes. I don't like the

[2:26:24] delineators. It looks like it's much a missing teeth when you have those. I've always said that I

[2:26:28] thought the safest bike lane is a bike lane protected by a curb. So if we could talk about this item

[2:26:35] some more. Just to make it a little more user friendly for our community. This is the first

[2:26:40] type of this kind. I would also think it's unfair for some of the residents along

[2:26:45] to Larry because they lost a lot of parking.

[2:26:49] So just so we could bring it back, I don't know

[2:26:51] of the cost of this would be. And if it's something astronomical then I think it's, we're going

[2:26:56] to probably be stuck with this at this time. But I would just like to see, get those questions

[2:27:00] answers before the proceed.

[2:27:05] Any other, Councillor Nelson, do you have any comments on this one?

[2:27:08] Any questions?

[2:27:11] Okay.

[2:27:12] Vice Mayor?

[2:27:12] I just want to make clear to the public that this is the first step in reviewing this project.

[2:27:17] There's no decisions, no cost estimates or anything tonight.

[2:27:20] This simply allows us to move forward and discuss it further.

[2:27:23] So I know many of you are here from the neighborhood.

[2:27:25] We've had meetings about this.

[2:27:26] So, this is step one, and you guys all have my contact information, so feel free to reach out to me as we move along, but we will have a special meeting for this.

[2:27:37] Second, and you will be, I'll notify you as many of you as I can, and also, you can reach out to me as well.

[2:27:46] Hey, this would pause the future strategy and correct you.

[2:27:49] Yes, this should pause until we make a final decision on design.

[2:27:54] Okay, so my only comment is, um, I'm sorry.

[2:27:58] I'm sorry.

[2:27:59] I'm sorry.

[2:28:00] Yeah, I'll wait for the meeting where we discuss everything and allow the public to give us more input.

[2:28:05] And so just for the public record, um, this doesn't necessarily mean that there's a meaning changes.

[2:28:11] Means that there'll be future discussion on the item.

[2:28:14] It's possible that we could potentially change the way it looks or we could potentially keep it exactly the way it already is,

[2:28:20] But by putting it on a future agenda item, we're then going to be allowed to have more context, more information.

[2:28:28] And they'll give you additional time for the public to speak on this issue.

[2:28:33] Okay, so there's no other questions or comments.

[2:28:36] I will entertain a motion on this one.

[2:28:37] Mr. Approve.

[2:28:38] Second.

[2:28:40] We have first and second. All those in favor please vote.

[2:28:48] Item number 12 passes five zero. Thank you very much.

[2:28:52] Okay, last we're going to go on to item number 13.

[2:29:02] I think people need to understand the state as it contributed a ton of money to food banks.

[2:29:14] Last Thursday of federal judge said the administration has to release funding for

[2:29:19] And supposedly, they're going to release partial funding on Wednesday.

[2:29:25] Now, how fast it gets down to this level is kind of an interesting discussion to have.

[2:29:32] But I think, in I understand the concern, I understand the passion,

[2:29:38] but I think that that drive needs be driven to your local representatives.

[2:29:42] What I mean, your senators and your congressmen, they're in Washington, D.C.

[2:29:46] And you may say, well, they won't talk to me or I can't reach them.

[2:29:50] So you understand in the lockdown, they're the only people getting paid.

[2:29:54] In the entire lockdown, the federal, your senators, your representatives, the only

[2:29:58] getting paid.

[2:29:59] They're here to rep-

[2:30:01] And I'm sorry to say both parties have failed the public miserably. But if we can get a ground swell up, that everybody makes an attempt to call your representative, to call your state Senator, is anything going to change?

[2:30:16] is historically, probably not, but at least they've heard a loud voice.

[2:30:21] I won't support this because this opens up a can of worms for this city financially.

[2:30:26] If we say yes to a given program, then how do you say no to another program?

[2:30:31] And then another program.

[2:30:33] I think funding is coming.

[2:30:36] Council members also have a discretionary fund.

[2:30:38] Any council member up here can donate money to whatever agency they would like to donate money to.

[2:30:43] We have seen your meals on a discussion item tonight, again, we have that opportunity.

[2:30:50] I will not support this item because I think it's in the purview of our federal government

[2:30:59] to take care of the people that elected them to office.

[2:31:05] Councillor Sardin, do you have any questions or comments on this item?

[2:31:07] No, just, you know, Councillor Mernellson did say, you know, that partial funding would be

[2:31:15] It means there's a gap and with folks that won't be receiving their full benefits, it has a ripple effect in the community with our grocery stores and then that affects the workers and it just goes on and on.

[2:31:30] I'm not asking that we, I'm not committing to any number.

[2:31:34] For all we know it could be a thousand dollars.

[2:31:35] I mean, I don't know, right?

[2:31:36] I'm definitely going to want a request that we have more.

[2:31:39] But if we could help with anything that the Council is willing to give on top of what we already have as discretionary funds, I would be very appreciative of that.

[2:31:51] And I'm sure many of the families in my society would do.

[2:31:53] And I know there's non-profits that I think, like the, my society emergency aid, who does check utility bills to make sure they live in the city of my society.

[2:32:03] But when they go to go receive food from them, so anybody can't just come and get the food,

[2:32:11] they verify information.

[2:32:13] So again, I'd appreciate if Council would consider moving this forward so we can discuss further

[2:32:17] and figure out those details.

[2:32:21] Thank you.

[2:32:22] Councillor and Pritchigan.

[2:32:22] Any questions or comments on the item?

[2:32:24] No.

[2:32:25] I've always been a pretty consistent federal issues or federal issues and local issues or local

[2:32:29] issues.

[2:32:31] And we shouldn't get involved with the federal issue.

[2:32:34] I've always been consistent on that.

[2:32:35] I think it's a dangerous precedent.

[2:32:37] When do you step it on the federal issue?

[2:32:39] When don't you step it on a federal issue?

[2:32:41] If we give it to one organization, why don't you give it another organization?

[2:32:44] And since it's a dangerous precedent,

[2:32:46] I don't think that's in our peer purview on the city council.

[2:32:52] You know, I would say that I urge Congress to act.

[2:32:55] This is what we put them to do when they're not there doing their job.

[2:32:58] Now, would I be okay with us writing a letter to our Congress representatives, urgent and

[2:33:05] vote on this to get people that supplies they need?

[2:33:09] Yes, I would be fully supportive of that, because that's in our purview, that's what our

[2:33:12] job is.

[2:33:14] I don't think this is what the system is very, very dangerous precedent, because once you do

[2:33:18] for one, you guys do for all, and that's how we've always worked on the city council.

[2:33:22] We try to stay in our lane and do what we do, do what our job is here, and this is a federal

[2:33:27] government job, not a local government job, and that's why I don't want to

[2:33:31] set up that dangerous president, so that's why I won't be supportive of this

[2:33:35] tonight. I will say that we have discretionary funds, and we can pick

[2:33:38] the organizations that we want to help out with those discretionary

[2:33:41] funds, and those are those funds that are meant for for us to give us

[2:33:45] the organizations that we think need that, and that's why we have those

[2:33:49] funds. But to use taxpayer in general fund money for this, I don't think

[2:33:53] that's appropriate use of the public funds, so I can be supportive of this

[2:33:56] I'm sorry.

[2:33:57] Wait, may I win?

[2:33:58] I mean, comments or questions?

[2:34:01] It's the former executive director of the EAC.

[2:34:04] I probably need to conflict myself out of this, but I'm not very, that was my whole request

[2:34:13] of this council and I know many of them have done that, was that they could, way would consider

[2:34:19] discretionary funds going to the food pantry, as well as my friends, neighbors and family

[2:34:23] members.

[2:34:23] And so I urge everyone in this audience to think about that even $25.

[2:34:28] I mean, any amount that you can send to our local food pantry, they can double

[2:34:32] in Tripoli effect.

[2:34:34] I will support Council Member Soto because I think it's the right thing to do right now.

[2:34:38] In two weeks or whenever this comes up next, the whole thing may be over.

[2:34:42] But I think it's worth having at least a discussion, although I know it won't go far.

[2:34:47] That's all right.

[2:34:48] We each sometimes just have to support one another.

[2:34:51] Thank you.

[2:34:52] Thank you. And so on this item, I'll be voting now also a federal judge has already stated that this is a program that needs to be funded by the federal government.

[2:35:01] So we should be dealing with, so I will not be supporting this item.

[2:35:06] At this time, I'll entertain a motion.

[2:35:19] I move to approve the request by Council Member Soto to place item on a future city council agenda.

[2:35:25] To discuss the possibility of the situation to a food base non-profit in my side.

[2:35:30] And I'll second that.

[2:35:30] for a second please vote

[2:35:39] and the item fails three two. Thank you very much. Okay next

[2:35:43] we're going to go on to regular items of public hearing. Comments related to regular items

[2:35:49] of public hearing items are limited to three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per

[2:35:53] item. The mayor may reasonably limit or stand the public comment period to preserve the council's

[2:35:57] interest on conducting efficient order limit meetings. We're so off with item number one public

[2:36:01] during an adoption of resolution number 2025-74,

[2:36:05] authorizing fee adjustment for senior mill program.

[2:36:08] Staff report, please.

[2:36:15] Thank you, Mayor Vice Mayor and Council.

[2:36:17] Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director.

[2:36:20] Tonight I have, I will arrest the Rubin Camp Recreation Manager here.

[2:36:24] Holly Ellis, sitting right over there.

[2:36:26] Recreation supervisor and Stephanie Soto, Recreation Coordinator.

[2:36:33] Tonight we're here to conduct a public hearing

[2:36:35] to authorize a proposed fee adjustment

[2:36:36] for the Senior Center Ledge Program Price on a multi-tiered pricing structure for

[2:36:41] Vice-SIA seniors and non-SIA seniors for DININ and to go meals and appropriate $17,000

[2:36:48] from the general fund.

[2:36:51] The recommended motion tonight is to move to adopt resolution number 2025-74, authorizing

[2:36:58] the increase the price of the senior meal program up to $10 for Vice-SIA seniors and up

[2:37:04] $12 for $9 by sign by signers as outlined in the report and appropriate additional $17,000 from the general fund.

[2:37:12] On September 29, 2025, the current contractor, Sue Saves, Creative Catering,

[2:37:17] Notified staff will be no longer able to provide.

[2:37:21] Mail services will be an effective date of November 1, 2025.

[2:37:26] The city has worked with the current vendors Sue Saves on a month-month basis following the expiration date of their five year contracts since February

[2:37:36] on October 4th, staff met with a cater to discuss options, following the meeting, the cater,

[2:37:43] submitted a proposal to continue meal services. Meanwhile, during when all of those discussions

[2:37:49] were going on, staff also reached out to several local food vendors, including queer health

[2:37:55] and KT AAA. We actually had conversations with queer health and KT AAA. However,

[2:38:01] Suce was the only vendor who submitted a proposal by our established deadline.

[2:38:07] KT AAA is a grant funded program that runs on a four year grant cycle and their next cycle

[2:38:15] for funding is fiscal year 2627, very familiar with KT AAA.

[2:38:21] We use KT AAA in the city of Tolerary to bright meal services.

[2:38:25] It's a nutritional program, it has to meet certain guidelines to serve the meal and it's a $3.55 donation for that program.

[2:38:36] This is something we can look at in the future.

[2:38:39] We also reached out to Cuia Health.

[2:38:42] The meals they were talking about were the meals they provide patients, but we never received a proposal by our established deadline.

[2:38:50] In our parking recreation program fee philosophy, the meal program qualifies for a fee subsidy

[2:38:55] of 50% senior programs and youth programs.

[2:38:59] To continue the contract and the current meal service, the contractors agree to a six-month

[2:39:06] contract to increase the unit price from $450 per meal to $10 per meal.

[2:39:12] To maintain a balance of the fee subsidy and participant contribution staff is proposing and increase

[2:39:18] and participation meal services with a phased approach.

[2:39:24] Phase one would begin on December 1st.

[2:39:26] For seniors' dine-end price would increase to $6.

[2:39:29] Take out prices would increase to $7.

[2:39:32] Non-seniors and non-residents on December 1st.

[2:39:37] Dine in a price would increase to $10.

[2:39:39] Take out a price would increase to $11.

[2:39:42] Phase two would begin on March 1st, 2026.

[2:39:46] Dine in the price would increase to $7.75.

[2:39:50] Take out a price would increase to $8.75.

[2:39:54] We're currently working on an RFP to secure a long-term caterer.

[2:39:59] The city is...

[2:40:00] Working on that process, and that RFP should hit the streets by the end of this calendar year.

[2:40:06] Regarding the RFP, an up-to-date amount is being recommended in the event that a bid for a new

[2:40:12] caterer comes in lower than the current price. In that case, staff could implement the lower rates

[2:40:17] without going back through this revision process. Again, the recommended motion is to move to a

[2:40:24] resolution number 2025-74, authorizing the increase of the price of the senior meal program to

[2:40:31] up to $10 for Viceroy seniors and up to $12 for $9 for non-viceroy seniors as outlined

[2:40:37] in the port and again, appropriate additional $17,000 from the general fund.

[2:40:44] At this time, Council, I'm here to answer any questions that you may have.

[2:40:48] We have staff here to answer questions as well.

[2:40:51] Thank you.

[2:40:52] Thank you, Jason.

[2:40:53] Councilmember Nelson any questions?

[2:40:57] No, I mean it's a thorough report and understand the dynamics of why this has to happen.

[2:41:03] Now here's an example where it's a city service and it's something the Council can look at.

[2:41:09] I appreciate the phase in approach.

[2:41:11] I think people need to understand that that's a subsidized dollar amount and probably it's not covering everything we need to cover.

[2:41:18] And again, the Council members can use discretionary fund to help offset some of this.

[2:41:24] And I think at that juncture we should look at that.

[2:41:27] But I think people need to understand when our costs go up, you have to do something to

[2:41:33] cover your costs even though this is a subsidized program.

[2:41:37] Is it something we all wanted to see happen?

[2:41:39] The answer is no.

[2:41:41] But at some time you're dealt with a hand where you have to respond to it, and that's

[2:41:46] is taking place now. I appreciate the staff for the efforts in coming up with this plan.

[2:41:51] I think it's a fair plan. Change is hard. But again, because economic dynamics, it puts

[2:41:58] the city in a bad situation. So I'd be supportive of this.

[2:42:05] It comes from a pretty good.

[2:42:06] So this is a kind of like a stop gap program because the prices got rocketed up. We had to

[2:42:14] something to fill that gap. I'm hoping we can get a vendor that comes in a lot cheaper, but

[2:42:19] I don't foresee that happening. I hope it does. Maybe work around with maybe any kind of

[2:42:25] local restaurants around there that could maybe do this at a lower cost, but I understand why we

[2:42:31] have to do this. I don't like doing this. I would think this is a, like, Council Member Nelson said

[2:42:36] this is a program where we can't get involved in business a local program. So unfortunately,

[2:42:42] I think we have to support this because we don't support this in the whole program goes away, correct?

[2:42:47] All right.

[2:42:47] Thank you.

[2:42:50] Councilmember Soto, any questions or comments?

[2:42:52] I don't know.

[2:42:52] Only question have is, is there any grants that we can go after that would help lower these,

[2:42:57] or keep these costs low that are not like meals on wheels or, you know, USDA?

[2:43:03] We can certainly research that, but the grant I'm most familiar with is the KT Triple A,

[2:43:07] which C set uses through the meals on wheels program.

[2:43:11] And the Meals on Wheels program is available to folks in Vaisal.

[2:43:16] Yeah.

[2:43:16] Thank you.

[2:43:17] Nice to meet you everyone.

[2:43:19] I just want to clarification.

[2:43:21] I'm looking at the attachment to the resolution.

[2:43:23] And it says beginning March 2026 a dying in price increase of up to 775.

[2:43:30] That's the maximum because I heard $10.

[2:43:32] But that was for non-Vaisalia people and 19 years.

[2:43:35] That is right.

[2:43:36] So it could potentially go up to 775.

[2:43:39] that you have a caterer at $15 a meal or something, right? Am I understanding that?

[2:43:47] Yeah, so we have a phased approach to this and the subsidy, the 50% subsidy is at 775.

[2:43:57] Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you.

[2:44:00] And Mike, I was just going to clarify that's what I'd call an all-in price, so that's the staffing,

[2:44:06] the, you know, all of the costs that are associated with providing the meal, not just the meal itself.

[2:44:12] Right, but that was, because he was, he was, yeah, lots and lots and lots and lots.

[2:44:16] A lot of numbers and I just want to verify that the maximum price increases 775, which in today's economy is, for next year.

[2:44:29] So for this year, if this motion doesn't move forward, it would be $6 for next year, it would be $7 and $7 and $7.

[2:44:35] That's up to unless the bid comes in less, and then it would be the lesser amount, correct?

[2:44:42] Correct.

[2:44:43] If the bid comes in less, we can actually lower the fee.

[2:44:46] Why is it take out price to dollar more than the dime in price?

[2:44:51] Actually, I have a lower say answer to that question.

[2:44:53] Thank you.

[2:44:54] As Eddie Mandra mentioned, the pricing is reflective of also the staff and then to go's, we have...

[2:45:00] Additional materials that we have to include with the to go pricing. So we have the to go containers, bags, and utensils that we include.

[2:45:08] Okay. All right. I appreciate you explaining that. Okay. Let's go ahead and open this up to the public. Anybody wishing to speak on this item. Please come forward and state your name and city residents.

[2:45:17] My

[2:45:21] name is Patty Stergel, and I live in Viceroy, and my last name is spelled STU-R-G-I-L-L.

[2:45:30] I am a senior advocate and a resource person. I work at two senior communities, and I have residents.

[2:45:43] At least half of them are not going to get their snap, and as you said, it's not going to be something you address now.

[2:45:50] But also, if the prices go up, seniors are unlimited income, my people at my residents are on a fixed income.

[2:46:02] And even when the income goes up with the cost of living, it's still going to cost more for Medicare or other things.

[2:46:12] And so I'm really concerned because this is something my residents do on a daily basis.

[2:46:18] they go for these meals and it's so I'm kind of scared.

[2:46:26] It keeps them socializing, socializing keeps them healthy.

[2:46:32] I didn't understand that, but I'm now a senior too.

[2:46:34] So I understand these things a little bit differently.

[2:46:37] It also keeps them from isolating.

[2:46:40] And if they don't have these regular meals, they are not able to get them somewhere else.

[2:46:45] You know, meals and meals is great, I do have residents who take that avenue, but these

[2:46:52] are people who can only walk next door to the senior center.

[2:46:56] My building is right next door to the senior center.

[2:47:01] Anyway, I'm here to advocate for the seniors as a whole, but my seniors are at risk,

[2:47:16] very

[2:47:16] I have senior men who don't cook.

[2:47:19] They go there for their meals.

[2:47:22] Anyway, I don't know what else to say,

[2:47:24] but I just really am afraid for them and for other seniors

[2:47:28] who are coming to the building, the senior center,

[2:47:32] for activities and for food and socializing.

[2:47:35] I don't want them to be isolated,

[2:47:37] and I don't want them to go hungry

[2:47:38] because they can't afford it.

[2:47:41] Thank you.

[2:47:47] We're going to ask that you don't applaud any of the speakers

[2:47:50] where you try to keep an orderly meeting, go ahead, sir.

[2:47:55] I would think since this is Central Valley,

[2:47:58] the heart of the food for the world,

[2:48:01] that maybe there could be partnerships with directly

[2:48:04] the farms themselves, the farm owners,

[2:48:08] and once again, tying snap benefits to community service,

[2:48:12] maybe having a centralized kitchen

[2:48:14] where snap recipients are preparing the food

[2:48:18] and doing a lot of the work required by the restaurants.

[2:48:25] Instead of utilizing a restaurant service,

[2:48:28] maybe the SNAP recipients could do community service

[2:48:34] to receive their benefits.

[2:48:37] Your name is Siddler.

[2:48:38] Oh, Isaac Herrera from Placelia.

[2:48:40] Our people are like, can't hear that.

[2:48:53] Hi, my name is Janet Fox.

[2:48:55] And I too live here in Placelia.

[2:48:56] And I would like to touch base about we had rumored that the lunches were going to go up between $8 and $10.

[2:49:05] Okay, that's just not acceptable.

[2:49:07] We have two senior low-income senior housings right next door to the senior center.

[2:49:13] And for some of these seniors, that's their only meal for the day.

[2:49:17] And that's not good.

[2:49:19] So I did take up a petition with signatures that if they would continue coming

[2:49:25] if the prices increase that much?

[2:49:28] No.

[2:49:29] And you more than welcome to have this.

[2:49:33] I'm going to give that to Rainer right there.

[2:49:48] Hello, I'm a euphemper Sarah from this trip.

[2:49:50] I live in this trip one, vice mayor.

[2:49:52] I just wanted to comment about this.

[2:49:55] Knowing the situation that our country is living right now,

[2:49:58] seeing our White House being destroyed.

[2:50:00] I know you said it's not your jurisdiction, but I'm going to comment something.

[2:50:08] So some of you are supported by the Republican Party. You all know they would validail. Why don't you go ask they would validail to help out? You guys are friends with him. So I think we can, I don't think it would be as smart if I was sitting there. I would try to come up with a solution and not, you know, I don't think it's smart to raise the price.

[2:50:30] We understand that things are getting expensive, right?

[2:50:34] But also there's things going on that don't make sense to a lot of people.

[2:50:41] So when it comes to finance I think we can look at different items from the city's budget

[2:50:48] and try to fit in shuffle things around, I would say.

[2:50:52] But really I don't think it would be a smart idea at the moment, just currently raising these prices.

[2:50:59] especially of what's going on.

[2:51:03] I mean, I've been sitting here for almost a year and a half,

[2:51:06] and I have heard some of you talk about the importance

[2:51:09] of making like easier for seniors in the panel.

[2:51:13] And I've heard it from some of you guys.

[2:51:15] So I think that if they're here telling you that it's not going to benefit,

[2:51:21] how about we try to look for another solution within the pool

[2:51:25] of the city, I think.

[2:51:26] And again, you know, speak today at Validale because I know somebody you don't like Jim Costa.

[2:51:32] So if you can talk to Jim Costa then that would be great and see what solutions he would offer at the federal level.

[2:51:39] Thank you.

[2:51:51] My name is Stan Fox, F.O.X.

[2:51:55] and I'm a resident of Isaia, a city employed for the last 27 years with the recreation department.

[2:52:02] But I'm here to speak about the lunch program.

[2:52:06] Number one, the lunch program issue would not even be here today if the RFP was done in

[2:52:14] proper manner.

[2:52:15] We knew in 2020 that we were going to have a contract that was five years and it ran

[2:52:21] out in March of 2025.

[2:52:24] Here we are eight months later doing an emergency kind of situation where we're trying to figure

[2:52:32] out where contract with bidders would have sorted it out without all this to do. Also in

[2:52:43] the staff, it talks about the vendors producing $4.50 for that time. Now the people

[2:52:53] who have been dating lunches pay 450, that's like 100% of the meal and the other portion

[2:53:00] of that income that's being charged, that's 50, 50, is not really spelled out in the, in the

[2:53:08] staff report. So, and then we have the two phases, which is fine. The first phase, everybody knew

[2:53:19] that price of food was gone up. And $6 was a number that everybody probably agree on, which

[2:53:26] is nice but it's only 53 months. 775 will probably have people leave the program. I was

[2:53:37] on the KT AAA board. I went to all the senior lunch programs in Tolerian King's County. The closest

[2:53:46] one is City of Tolerary. They run it through federal funding. It's a $3 donation. That's what

[2:53:53] charge there. It's to go type meal.

[2:53:58] And to me, the lunch program is the heart of the senior

[2:54:02] center. It really is, everybody comes there first for the lunch, and then the other power

[2:54:08] programs kind of feed off of that. And I'd hate to see that go. I personally will drive

[2:54:15] over to the story to get this three-dollar lunch. I'll bring it back to the United States.

[2:54:19] but that's the best I can do. But they don't care. So I hate to see the program fall apart

[2:54:27] because it is lunch program issue with the cost. So that's my two cents. I got 19 seconds.

[2:54:39] That's it. Thank you.

[2:54:49] Jim Reaves by Celia. I'm fortunate enough that I don't feel the need to

[2:54:55] Take advantage of the Senior Meals program, even though I probably qualify now.

[2:55:00] But as a resident of Visalia, I would not object to the city increasing its underwriting more than 50% if that's what it would take to keep the costs where there are now.

[2:55:16] I would not object. I think that would be an acceptable use of city tax money. Thank you.

[2:55:31] Michelle Canaryfaitalia. I agree with what Jim proposed and that we should be using

[2:55:38] part of that money to go to this. I don't think it's fair that the senior lunch program is increasing

[2:55:45] for our seniors when their finances aren't increasing. It doesn't make any sense to me. It's not

[2:55:53] I mean it's not like any one person's fault. It's just kind of how everything's working right now in

[2:55:59] country, and that's time that we're living, but I really don't think that the Senior

[2:56:04] Lunge Program should be increased anymore, especially when it's the one time that people

[2:56:12] have just socialized with one another, and people aren't isolating themselves. Thank you.

[2:56:28] I'm Mediagi, and I live here in Bicythea.

[2:56:34] I first want to say, it bothers me a lot that it's so easy for you to compartmentalize

[2:56:40] and take cover over the fact that this is a local funding we're talking about and a local

[2:56:45] commitment.

[2:56:48] I see it broader, I see it people need to eat, people need to not be isolated, people need

[2:56:56] senior services, and so the socialists in me, I guess, wishes, well, let's put it this way.

[2:57:06] I was today's years old when I found out that by a Sania Senior Center, a meal program

[2:57:15] was funded by the city, and it wasn't part of the AAA contract, and because I know

[2:57:24] those programs allow for federal funding, it allows for seniors in the community that are

[2:57:32] a low income to be able to come and afford a meal or as it's put, it's a voluntary contribution

[2:57:45] that they are asked for. And if they can't pay that, they're not refused a meal. So for me,

[2:57:52] I'm nice, but I say, that's a socialist of me thinking,

[2:57:55] well, that's really what would be ideal.

[2:57:59] Except if we want to make sure that, you know,

[2:58:03] we have the program set up, like we want it to be,

[2:58:07] and as opposed to opening it up to more people,

[2:58:10] because I understand that in Teleri,

[2:58:11] when they did convert over to federal funding,

[2:58:15] they did have some issues in regards to folks

[2:58:18] that were coming to the Senior Center

[2:58:20] that we're not necessarily that welcomed.

[2:58:24] So I, I too believe that if the city has many,

[2:58:29] that this is a good way to utilize that many,

[2:58:32] even though, like I said, it bothers me

[2:58:35] that

[2:58:38] the compassion doesn't extend further than that

[2:58:42] to families that are really, really hurting.

[2:58:46] Thank you.

[2:58:57] My name is Nora Par, and I live in Bacelia.

[2:59:00] I am adjacent to the senior center, so I know the seniors in my building, I know the people at the senior center.

[2:59:07] They're awesome.

[2:59:08] They don't want this anymore than any of the rest of us do.

[2:59:11] The senior center is the only place that I can name that has never increased their prices throughout COVID,

[2:59:18] where everybody else is making cans of money all over the place.

[2:59:22] This is hard.

[2:59:24] This is hard on our seniors.

[2:59:26] We do have seniors.

[2:59:27] The only meal they get is next door.

[2:59:30] There's got to be a middle ground someplace.

[2:59:34] You can't just literally say these things,

[2:59:37] I don't get it.

[2:59:39] We worked, we raised our kids, we paid our taxes,

[2:59:42] just like the little formula thing says,

[2:59:44] and now look at us.

[2:59:46] This is the only socialization that most of us have,

[2:59:49] or a meal.

[2:59:50] Some place to go where people are glad to see you.

[2:59:56] We need that.

[2:59:57] That's what we don't take it away from us.

[3:00:00] I'm willing to go to six dollars. I'm sure the rest of them would. But the rest of it just, it's too much.

[3:00:07] And I get both sides, but you have to have some compassion for the rest of us. It's hard on all of us.

[3:00:15] Thank you.

[3:00:24] I want to add one more thing.

[3:00:27] I'm sorry if you've already spoken, I'd love to get back up in a week again.

[3:00:30] We have an awesome thing.

[3:00:32] Thank you.

[3:00:32] All right.

[3:00:33] Anybody else wish to speak?

[3:00:36] We'll go ahead and close.

[3:00:37] Anyone else?

[3:00:38] I come on up, ma'am.

[3:00:40] Since a lot of you guys are having a walkers, I'm not going to force you guys into the line.

[3:00:43] You can come on up when you're ready.

[3:00:47] Hi.

[3:00:47] My name is Teresa Ted.

[3:00:49] I'm a resident of Isilia.

[3:00:51] I'm new to these meetings.

[3:00:53] So I'm not real familiar with how it's always run.

[3:00:58] However, judging by what I've been hearing so far,

[3:01:04] I'm with a good people here that have said that they're in support of helping out the senior

[3:01:11] center with what they need. And my view is that there may be more organizations that are going

[3:01:21] to need help. And I think we should get used to that right now, because there's something that

[3:01:33] our community, it is up to us to fill the gap. Or else who else is going to do it? What's

[3:01:41] going to happen when people start really having problems? People can't afford food, and if

[3:01:48] they're not getting food stamps, it's only going to increase crime because what are people

[3:01:52] going to do? So it's just going to snowball into a huge problem that will wish we had of

[3:02:04] to show our support for people, regardless of the politics, regardless of their class,

[3:02:16] people

[3:02:16] need help.

[3:02:18] Thank you.

[3:02:26] Okay, anybody else wanting to speak?

[3:02:30] Okay, seeing that will go ahead and close public comments.

[3:02:34] And I'll turn it back over to Councillor Nelson if you have any further comments.

[3:02:38] Excuse me, can I have a clarification please?

[3:02:40] Look at the motion, the attachment says up to 775 and March, but the motion says $10 and $12.

[3:02:50] Let me, I was going to address that.

[3:02:51] Can you?

[3:02:52] Thank you.

[3:02:55] I know, I'm not going to say this.

[3:02:58] Number one, and I'll speak for myself.

[3:03:02] This is not a political position.

[3:03:03] This is a people's position.

[3:03:05] So in an individual comes up here and says, I take advantage because of a given party, that's so far from the truth, ever represents you folks.

[3:03:14] Our staff did a tremendous job researching this.

[3:03:18] Could have been done sooner, could have been later.

[3:03:21] Time is everything.

[3:03:23] We were putting in a situation where the current caterer said, hey, I'm done, I'm retiring.

[3:03:27] I absolutely, I already know the lady. She wants out.

[3:03:31] It's simplistic.

[3:03:31] not a lot of time to get the search and destroy mission.

[3:03:35] The staff did a tremendous job reaching out to two agencies hoping that we could get a result.

[3:03:40] And we didn't get a result.

[3:03:42] So basic this is a plan stock gap plan.

[3:03:46] So the question I would ask tonight is why can't we table the,

[3:03:50] we don't have to make this decision tonight?

[3:03:53] Why don't we table this item?

[3:03:55] Do a little bit more research?

[3:03:58] Maybe there is some additional funding that we can find in the general

[3:04:01] phone? Maybe there's not. Maybe Council members can make the determination to use some of

[3:04:07] their discretionary fund, offset some of this for seniors. But I think there needs to

[3:04:12] be more discussion. You know, I appreciate that the staff did, I appreciate the time and effort

[3:04:16] they put into this. I think a lot of folks here need to understand cost of doing business is

[3:04:24] going up. You see that in the private sector. Well, guess what folks you see it in the public

[3:04:29] sector. Our employees expect to get living wages. Our employees expect to get benefits so

[3:04:35] forth and so on. That's a cost of doing business. We can absorb so much of that. Some

[3:04:41] of that is a pass through. But I think there's some dynamic here that we need to take a

[3:04:47] deeper dive on. And maybe there's a way there's some other additional funding. Maybe we could

[3:04:53] get opportunities to talk to some other folks. Maybe they would want to get involved in our

[3:04:58] I don't know, I just...

[3:05:00] I think this item here needs more time to have that meaningful discussion, and maybe at the end of that discussion, the results are the same, but at least we looked at every opportunity to possibly make a change for the benefit of the people we represent. So I'd recommend we table this, but other people have comments.

[3:05:26] So we table this tonight so we can find different ways can solve this problem will there be food service for the time being or no?

[3:05:35] Say that again, please.

[3:05:36] Well, they're meaning kind of food meals or everything be paused.

[3:05:40] So we could table this to try to see if we can find a stopgap or any way to keep these prices stagnant.

[3:05:45] Because someone said, they haven't raised the price since it's COVID and I think that's pretty commendable because everything else in the world has gone up since COVID.

[3:05:52] And we've kept these prices the same.

[3:05:56] So if we can find a new way to keep the prices as close as we can,

[3:05:59] I think we take that avenue.

[3:06:02] But I just wanted to make sure if we do table it,

[3:06:04] Service doesn't stop.

[3:06:05] We're just so continue service until we've solved that issue, right?

[3:06:09] Yes.

[3:06:12] Nice to meet you.

[3:06:14] Hi, Greg.

[3:06:15] I'm like the one council member.

[3:06:17] Councilmember Settle?

[3:06:18] Yeah.

[3:06:19] I agree.

[3:06:20] I would support table this and try to find different avenues

[3:06:24] to keep the costs as low as possible.

[3:06:28] How, I guess, one question I have,

[3:06:31] how soon will we be going to RFP?

[3:06:33] Is there already out for RFP?

[3:06:35] The RFP is currently being put together.

[3:06:37] It'll go out by the end of the calendar year.

[3:06:41] So we'll have a better idea sometime early next year.

[3:06:45] Well, we have a contract for six months.

[3:06:47] Okay.

[3:06:47] We don't care.

[3:06:48] That's what it took.

[3:06:49] Council member, if I could maybe perhaps as a half way in between, maybe approve the up to six dollars

[3:06:55] for the remainder of the six months,

[3:07:00] rather than increasing that again in March, but that's just one thought.

[3:07:03] Thank you for the recommendation. We ask questions. We table this with the current provider walk away.

[3:07:09] No, no. We would she would not walk away. We would need to appropriate the money so that we can

[3:07:16] continue to pay it her increased price. So it's not I'm not worried about the food service part of it

[3:07:22] especially if you moved to appropriate the money. We would have to go back to the public hearing

[3:07:26] process and so on. Can we make the motion table above? We appropriate the funds to pay for the

[3:07:30] area there. Yes. Yes. We'll be the more prudent thing to deal. You can do that. Yes. Okay.

[3:07:36] I just have one question. So I didn't know this was this program was open to non-Bicycle residents.

[3:07:41] Do you know roughly how many people participate that on a daily or weekly basis?

[3:07:47] not non-Vicellians and non-seniors, yes. So we have a Bicellier senior price and then non-Vicellier

[3:07:55] senior and non-seniors. Very nominal I would say on average per week it's maybe 20 people

[3:08:04] who are non-Vicellier seniors, non-Vicellier residents that utilize the program. Perfect, thank

[3:08:12] you. So yeah, me personally if it's a non-Vicellier resident I would want to charge them

[3:08:16] actual cost for the rest of this. For our community, you know, obviously I want them to be able

[3:08:22] to do this program. This is a great program. I know my grandpa years ago participated in this

[3:08:27] program and it's a great way. I mean, besides being able to get a good meal that's affordable,

[3:08:34] it was a great way to stay active in the community and stay with friends. So it sounds like, you know,

[3:08:39] as a council, we're wanting to wait and see what the actual cost are going to be because to me,

[3:08:43] It does seem a little weird that we're raising prices when we don't know exactly what the new

[3:08:48] prices are going to be.

[3:08:50] But I do want to say, you know, I'm proud that the city has not raised prices since COVID.

[3:08:55] It's someone who does a lot of events.

[3:08:58] And with Suce, I can tell you that the cost of food is probably tripled or quadrupled in

[3:09:03] the last five years.

[3:09:04] So the fact that the city has maintain this program, kudos to you guys for, you know, running

[3:09:08] this program and for allowing our seniors a place that community to hang out.

[3:09:12] So, personally, I would like to see what the RFP is actually coming in at so we can talk

[3:09:18] of real numbers, because I mean it's possible that the real numbers might come in at $15

[3:09:24] a, you know, a mill, $20 a mill.

[3:09:26] I mean, you got to make Donald's now, you know, a big back in 2018 bucks, so it's pretty crazy

[3:09:31] what prices are.

[3:09:32] So, I would like to table this item also to see what the real numbers are.

[3:09:36] I would say this so, do table this.

[3:09:38] I don't mind charging non-by-soluble residents and non-seniors the actual price.

[3:09:46] Just include that in your motion and we can do that and appropriate the money, please.

[3:09:50] So I'll go ahead and entertain an emotion.

[3:09:52] All right.

[3:09:53] I'll make a motion to appropriate the funds for this program to the end of the calendar year until the RFP.

[3:10:00] Please come back to keep prices the same towards the end of the year until we figure out what we're going to deal.

[3:10:06] And then I would say charge non-vicellia residents the actual price.

[3:10:12] And non-seniors are just non-vicellian.

[3:10:15] I'm looking at the seniors the past of the end of the year.

[3:10:20] Non-vicellia residents the actual price low down.

[3:10:23] Just to clarify, the RFP will be hitting the streets by the end of the calendar year.

[3:10:29] then there's another six to eight week process when we get those beds back.

[3:10:34] So like February Mark?

[3:10:35] Yeah, so just to do it and tell that.

[3:10:37] So continue to keep this item from that.

[3:10:38] Same motion, but until the RFP is returned,

[3:10:41] we make a decision.

[3:10:42] I love that.

[3:10:45] All right, we have first and second.

[3:10:47] Uh, although it's in favor, please vote and

[3:10:55] the item passes five zero.

[3:10:57] So thank you guys for your comment.

[3:10:58] We appreciate it.

[3:11:00] And you guys will be notified when the RFP does come back and we have this discussion in the future.

[3:11:05] or probably be anywhere from 46 months from now, but you guys will be notified, thank you.

[3:11:12] All right, next we're going to item number two, which is the city's participation as a project

[3:11:18] lead and primary operator of the regional and express transit service project.

[3:11:46] Well, good evening, Vice Mayor, Mayor of the Council, John Laws, Assistant City Manager for the City

[3:11:50] Vice-Sally, and I'll let others introduce themselves as well.

[3:11:55] Tetsmalli director to our County Association Governance.

[3:11:59] Angelina Baker, Transit Manager City of Isalia.

[3:12:03] And we're pleased to be before you this evening and introducing and

[3:12:06] seeking the Council's support to proceed as a partner as a lead as a lead

[3:12:12] partner and operator.

[3:12:15] What's referred to as a cross valley corridor and we have a presentation that's been

[3:12:19] prepared for you this evening in support of the staff report.

[3:12:23] That was developed and so between the three of us will be answering any questions that you may have and presenting what has been several decades in the making to this evening.

[3:12:36] And so maybe I'll let Mr. Smolley begin by kind of talking about the history of the crossline corner.

[3:12:42] Sure, thank you.

[3:12:45] So, as you know, you all are part of T-Cag and really the hub of transportation in Tweri County.

[3:12:54] And a number of years ago, January it starts at a retreat.

[3:12:59] We started looking at what do we do?

[3:13:02] I'm so sorry.

[3:13:05] I just, I'm allergic to John.

[3:13:09] Thank you.

[3:13:10] I had a nickel for him.

[3:13:13] And that's because he's probably a Dodger fan, he's got a lot of the real series there, so that's okay.

[3:13:18] I like Brian.

[3:13:22] Sorry, Councilman.

[3:13:25] But in all seriousness, we started looking at what do we do collectively to look out in the future

[3:13:32] and that included what goes beyond our county.

[3:13:37] And you guys actually are great leaders in that, right?

[3:13:43] Leading to go to Fresno State, leading to go up to the National Park.

[3:13:47] I realize that technically is in our county, but certainly a whole different paradigm going up there.

[3:13:54] And so we started looking at what we call the Cross Valley corridor,

[3:14:00] which at the very end and this scares everybody,

[3:14:02] but people need to understand 35 years out, not in 20, 35, big difference, what could the future

[3:14:10] look like going from Port of Bel all the way to the Navy base someday with passenger rail

[3:14:18] that doesn't look like what we've seen today. So I don't know how many times I've said that

[3:14:22] because everyone thinks I'm proposing Bart on that proposing Bart, not proposing the Metro and DC.

[3:14:28] what I think honestly could look like in 35 years is a bus on tracks as opposed to big

[3:14:34] trains. But nevertheless that vision and then with that vision and the board

[3:14:42] you know it's really supporting okay how do we get there someday. It's a monumental

[3:14:46] lift to get there, let alone the vision to get there in 30 years or whatever it could be

[3:14:52] because we just don't know when technology will catch up.

[3:14:57] So we put together.

[3:15:00] Our study that took a couple years. Well, it's looking at increased transit service efficiency. I'm not gonna read you, but looking at promoting development where its appropriates a So you get ridership. As an example, I think most even know there are a transit center built in farmersville and ride across the street is what I would call quality affordable housing done by self help.

[3:15:28] Every transit center we are supporting or transfer center.

[3:15:32] I realize there are some technicalities of what that means.

[3:15:35] But nevertheless, all of them are being next built next the rail.

[3:15:40] So in 20 30 years, we're not required to go by property at crazy prices.

[3:15:47] Can you imagine buying your transit center in 20 years with that would cost a little

[3:15:52] what would be torn down. It just makes it impossible and you see that in big cities. So part of

[3:15:59] this is revitalization, economic development, and eventually connecting to what I understand

[3:16:05] is very fun to discuss this high-speed rail. But again, by say it was leaders, what was that

[3:16:13] 10, 15 years ago saying what? It's a controversial project, but if we're not at the table,

[3:16:19] And it does happen, we will be left out.

[3:16:23] So again, this is keeping our options open without hurting

[3:16:27] your all budget, which I'm sure we're going to get into.

[3:16:30] So that leads us today, where we've completed the study.

[3:16:36] When are you going to talk about the grant yet, or this first?

[3:16:40] Okay, all right.

[3:16:41] Well, this is the, and that's kind of still the background

[3:16:44] to where we are today and before the grant.

[3:16:46] But before applying for the grant, doing the necessary study, looking at what is feasible and looking at phase approach, which is essentially what the 2018 study said.

[3:16:59] And I guess I should also reflect on the staff report. This wasn't the first study. This has been studied a number of different times.

[3:17:06] to use it looking at that historic,

[3:17:09] Samokin Valley Railroad corridor and what would this future look like?

[3:17:13] There are 75 miles of high frequency regional transit.

[3:17:18] I was in Porterville, this was a conversation

[3:17:20] at that particular time when the rails were subject to sale,

[3:17:24] and TKG stepped forward and said,

[3:17:26] we need to maintain that railroad right away,

[3:17:30] provided the necessary funding for that,

[3:17:32] and so that that railroad right away still is established

[3:17:34] that this could be extended all the way to Portoville in a future date.

[3:17:41] If that had not been the case, we wouldn't be talking about Portoville being an option within

[3:17:46] that in some future horizon.

[3:17:49] But linking those cities from east to west across the Central Valley, with Viceria being

[3:17:54] the hub of that, and this is a graphical representation that looked at Portoville to

[3:18:01] on, going through NAS the more, and City of Exit, and then there was an update, I guess I would

[3:18:11] say, kind of in taking that 2018 study and then in 2024 looking at a phased operations plan,

[3:18:18] and with the ideal service being between NAS the more in the City of Lindsey, what that,

[3:18:24] that was seen as an initial phase, and again this would be by bus service that would not

[3:18:28] certainly be by rail.

[3:18:33] But beginning with transit service between NS

[3:18:36] the more in the city of Lindsay.

[3:18:39] And just given what the opportunities are for ridership

[3:18:43] as it's been evaluated, that initial service

[3:18:47] is proposed between the Farmersville Transit Center,

[3:18:50] which is currently the shelves of it constructed

[3:18:52] in right now TKE is working with additional funding

[3:18:54] to support the finishing of that center.

[3:18:57] and then to NES the more. There have been some obstacles of extending between Hanford

[3:19:07] and Lamor because Cart is a member. There's a reciprocal agency that's working in this

[3:19:12] as well from the King's County side. Resistance to that initially at first because it's a

[3:19:21] the equivalent, I would say, a route one to Bicellia, the money, you know, is one of their

[3:19:27] highest ridership routes serving any of us the more, but wanting, but recently recognizing

[3:19:34] as you said, the bigger picture and receptive to having the service code to go to the

[3:19:39] more.

[3:19:40] And as the council is aware, this has been an interest of any of us the more, in fact, they've

[3:19:45] kind of checked on with us to say, you know, when are we going to have that opportunity

[3:19:49] of connection for both transit between any of us little more and the city by say given so many

[3:19:55] of the residents or personnel of the base.

[3:20:06] So the route details of that were 30 minute frequencies operating, and this is from the plan. Five a.m. to 11 p.m. one way run times of 120 minutes. Again, this was looking at Lindsey initially.

[3:20:19] transit center is New Transit Center is an Exeter Farmersville Hanford and Lindsay, New Transfer Station in the Industrial and the Industrial Park and then

[3:20:28] given that state funding is involved zero mission vehicles.

[3:20:32] That being either battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell.

[3:20:36] Do we have any anticipation of that?

[3:20:38] Those regulations being held back any moment?

[3:20:41] I know last we talked you said no, but just curious if that's.

[3:20:44] On zero mission?

[3:20:45] Yeah, well, they've been numbers the phases that we were trying to meet within a certain timeframe.

[3:20:51] That's a good question because carbs in the middle, it's a great question because they have made almost essentially a three year postponement.

[3:21:03] But they didn't finish the job because there were two options.

[3:21:06] There was milestone and then model year.

[3:21:11] They've changed the model year, but didn't change the milestone, which the milestone used to be the most flexible of more than the model year,

[3:21:20] but then they made the model year now more flexible by extending it for three years, but didn't take an account for the milestone.

[3:21:30] So now they're having, and we've pressed this with the league, I know that Vice Mayor Wynn is working through it on the air district because it was really just missed, as I would say,

[3:21:40] And so there's a coordinated effort to try to reconcile that

[3:21:43] so that there's additional flexibility, at least by three years.

[3:21:48] But right now, that's under the grant requirements.

[3:21:56] So again, this is what it was talking about as the phase from Lindsey

[3:22:00] to Annayah Somor, and this has been brought back to Farmersville.

[3:22:06] Lindsey is in the throws of designing a transit center right now.

[3:22:10] I think there are like 30% design, but so ultimately in some time frame that could be looking

[3:22:18] at as an extension to that, but again, ridership is going to depend a lot on that.

[3:22:23] And right now, generally that ridership is in the viso area to any of some more.

[3:22:31] And so this is kind of showing in a representation of what these phases would look like from

[3:22:35] that.

[3:22:35] So phase one actually is already in place.

[3:22:38] This is cart, which is right now providing service

[3:22:43] from the Hanford Amtrak station to the VISA transit center.

[3:22:46] A trips a day with stops at COS, Korea Health,

[3:22:49] and VISA transit center.

[3:22:52] It envisioned this year that VISA transit would match the cart service.

[3:22:59] So essentially there would be two operators providing that same,

[3:23:03] those same stops going back and forth between the Hanford

[3:23:09] Amtrak station to, I say, a transit center,

[3:23:12] back and forth in 30 minute intervals.

[3:23:15] There were buses that were programmed in an

[3:23:17] grant and I'll speak to this.

[3:23:21] But even by admission.

[3:23:23] So because of the range of electric buses

[3:23:25] cannot make this an entire cycle,

[3:23:28] that was why you would need two buses to meet one

[3:23:32] and which with the systems of T-Cag we looked okay so that's not a and there's not

[3:23:36] supporting infrastructure. As we said today there's not electrical infrastructure to charge

[3:23:42] electric buses in in hamford. So it's not even a feasible option to have zero mission buses

[3:23:49] running right now. So looking at using CNG and so T-Cag it come up with a solution programming

[3:23:58] solution of buying a CNG bus that would provide that distance and provide that same service.

[3:24:05] Is that fair?

[3:24:07] Yeah.

[3:24:08] Look into it.

[3:24:10] These are the experts.

[3:24:11] I'm going to give it to you.

[3:24:12] And then into one C, and this is kind of where we, so one B is in pause right now.

[3:24:18] Given that there isn't the infrastructure to support electric buses, so coming up with

[3:24:22] solution of looking at using a CNG bus to achieve that currently.

[3:24:31] And then phase one, C, is really where we get to the meat of this.

[3:24:38] Cross Valley Express Service between Hanford and Farmersville extending with 14 stops.

[3:24:44] And again, this is where kind of the cross valley corridor kind of has two intersecting express

[3:24:51] plus service. One, between farmers with a hand food, and one, between

[3:24:56] Toyota Transit Center and the Bicelia Transit Center. I'm Mooney Boulevard.

[3:25:00] Ideally, to be within 15 minute intervals, and then 30 minute intervals, going between farmersville and NSW.

[3:25:09] And it is a goal. I want to be very clear to say, it is a goal to have that running in

[3:25:13] 28, 28. But it's more important. It's kind of the funding that's been secured.

[3:25:19] And we'll talk a little bit in your staff report about that.

[3:25:21] John on phase one beating chance to get a stop at the industrial park on I don't know

[3:25:28] Stop at the industrial park

[3:25:32] I get people coming from surrounding communities or that's going to be a major hub for employment

[3:25:37] I would say it in that phase. Yes

[3:25:42] Where and I guess this kind of gets to where we see CLS

[3:25:46] Quea health I sell your transit center, but if we get a stop at I mean that's one of our major hubs in our community and that draws from all surrounding communities from

[3:25:55] more all the way to Porterville. I think it'd be interesting to see if we could get a stop right around there.

[3:26:00] In this is a great question that kind of said, you know, this was as a plan and vision and tried to capture in the staff report this that

[3:26:09] as as the opportunities present themselves to be able to make adjustments to make adjustments to that and to that point.

[3:26:18] And that could be in 20, you know, with, we talked about the dosenters potential reuse as an employee.

[3:26:27] It's not an option today because it's still in use, but if that transitions and is available in 27, that could be added as a potential as a potential.

[3:26:34] Just being the largest industrial park probably in this region, I think it would be, be who was, is making a stop there, because then we can pull employment from all different communities.

[3:26:42] So, right, and with this gets into a reimagination study that of transit, that Angelina

[3:26:51] will be leading, looking at how, you know, what are more efficient means of operating

[3:26:58] fixed, fixed route with the incorporation of microtransit, flex transit, these sorts of

[3:27:04] things, which are, and just envisioning out there that you could have, and with our partnership

[3:27:11] with Calvans, so you have van pools, serving the industrial park, we've already seen in

[3:27:15] microtransit, as an example, Amazon is one of the major destination points of microtransit,

[3:27:21] so are there opportunities to build a microtransit van pool of all, you know, kind of look

[3:27:26] at, and Ted has been talking about, you know, I'd be happy to champion some pilot type things

[3:27:32] to see, you know, how, how does this best serve local residents and necessary workforce

[3:27:39] for the industrial part.

[3:27:41] Phase one, if you will have driverless advancing us all over the place by the Nantet?

[3:27:45] All right.

[3:27:49] So, capital infrastructure is pretty significant.

[3:27:54] Transit terminals and charging infrastructure, transit stop facilities, shelters,

[3:28:00] street improvements, wayfinding, you know, signage, traffic signal priority,

[3:28:05] in intelligent transportation systems and in zero-mission vehicles, trans-insignal

[3:28:12] priority and I'll speak, I was listening to Chris and his earlier presentation.

[3:28:16] He said a lot of things, hopefully you still kind of remember about cost of projects and

[3:28:22] what is somebody's program oversight and the personnel, so we'll get into some big numbers

[3:28:28] here.

[3:28:29] But traffic signal priority and intelligent transportation systems, Mooney Boulevard, when

[3:28:34] was rehabilitated, they now call it a intelligent highway. So there was fiber that was installed

[3:28:43] in it, so it's at a very high technological corridor. And I'll be curious to hear if they continue

[3:28:53] with that through downtown on Locust and Court. But in large part, this is greatly assisted

[3:29:02] and being able to do intelligent traffic systems,

[3:29:06] a log-moony boulevard.

[3:29:08] And I want to be important to say something,

[3:29:10] because sometimes you're used interchangeably.

[3:29:12] So there's traffic priority, and then there's traffic preemption.

[3:29:18] So preemption means it changes it,

[3:29:20] and that's your public safety vehicles, fire trucks,

[3:29:24] place cars, they have the ability with a signal to change it.

[3:29:28] or allows them to move, and it will change all the signals

[3:29:31] for the priority of that.

[3:29:33] This is preempted.

[3:29:35] Priority just means that we're just trying to make sure

[3:29:37] that the traffic flows so that it can keep it

[3:29:39] schedule that it has.

[3:29:41] And so that gets to the traffic management system

[3:29:43] that's guiding it.

[3:29:49] So the financial plan estimated at 70 million

[3:29:52] in capital infrastructure.

[3:29:54] And I guess I would, as this, a good transition

[3:29:56] to the money.

[3:29:58] So, so with this in mind.

[3:30:00] And maybe you want to talk about what that looked like for you?

[3:30:05] Sure, so a couple of things have occurred, and I would just say this is an order to find this kind

[3:30:13] of money for the city of Bicellia for trance, and it would take T-Cag 20 to 25 years. We just,

[3:30:20] somewhere, we don't have extra trance of money. So that's the order of magnitude we're looking at.

[3:30:28] But we've done two things, one we were able to get a statewide competitive grant, and that was over $50 million.

[3:30:38] Plus we had state 125 transfer money and SB 743 mitigation. So what we looked at, what's the best place to put that

[3:30:50] in transit. And it's no surprise that the urban center of

[3:30:56] Icya is a heavy investment location for that. But we also had to look

[3:31:04] at how do we make sure this doesn't put Icya in a weird

[3:31:09] predicament one year from now. If you've seen other places, a lot of

[3:31:14] things are done. We'll give you the capital and good luck figuring

[3:31:17] out the operations. That's not where we're at. I think you saw that with micro-transit. We're

[3:31:22] paying for a three-year pilot program because we don't believe in doing that. We hate when the

[3:31:31] government does that to us and gives us mandates. So this is what we structure. I'm not going to

[3:31:37] go through all the exact numbers, but look at how big the numbers are. And we are TKACs already proved

[3:31:45] unanimously to move forward. So three years of operations to test this, figure out how to get

[3:31:53] the kinks out of fuel and give us a transition to look at how do we take over the operations.

[3:32:01] And so there's a lot of grants, there's a lot of different authorities.

[3:32:07] But we've been very successful and I think what's before you is a significant amount of

[3:32:13] operations money that front loads for you all, are you?

[3:32:18] Can I talk about how we're floating it for the, all right.

[3:32:22] So as an example, we're floating to capital.

[3:32:26] And I suppose, let's say we want to be pessimistic

[3:32:30] or negative and say high-speed rail fell apart.

[3:32:35] That would not leave you with anything that's unusable.

[3:32:39] All right, and I'm not, I'm not trying to make Judge head about high speed rail, but it hasn't been quite on time.

[3:32:49] What's delivery?

[3:32:50] It was agreed to.

[3:32:52] So, it could be 2035.

[3:32:55] I don't know when it's actually open.

[3:32:59] So, we structured this to make sure all the capitals done, right?

[3:33:03] So, for me, personally, and I love advice, I hate to.

[3:33:07] The idea that we can do pre-emption and priority.

[3:33:13] We can save people's lives and help transit,

[3:33:17] and that's a big chunk of this.

[3:33:21] You're under mandate to go to alternative fuels.

[3:33:25] We've got a big chunk of this to pay for it.

[3:33:29] You don't get this.

[3:33:31] the money to do it. As your staff are rightfully telling you, everyone that makes it over-simplified

[3:33:39] that works in Sacramento. It's not so simple to do alternative fuels. It's not so simple distances

[3:33:47] and making all this work. And so we've been working in John and Angelina and I think there's a good

[3:33:54] way out here. So I would just say this, a ton of money is put into capital, right? And that's all money that you get to keep all those capital improvements of other stuff, didn't wind up.

[3:34:12] Or let's say for whatever reason, and I hope that certainly not the case, the five squadrons get delayed 10 years going to the Navy base.

[3:34:20] I doubt that will occur.

[3:34:23] So, in other words, I think in partnership what we're bringing you before you is a good investment

[3:34:29] that lets you be a leader that helps protect you from going down the way God forbid,

[3:34:39] you having a structure like that in Fresno that you drive under all the time.

[3:34:44] That's not usable yet.

[3:34:47] signal preemption, signal priority will be used day one.

[3:34:56] The, all the charging would be able to be used, and we say

[3:35:00] We certainly encourage co-use, right, as technology changes whatever that co-use is, absolutely.

[3:35:07] Let's figure out how to do it. So, a big win. So, I just can't encourage you enough.

[3:35:14] I don't know how in the world to get to this kind of money for these kind of improvements.

[3:35:21] Again, right, we fought for you guys and probably should have had some more workshops ahead

[3:35:26] of time, but we're here today, and this is a huge win for VISAIA.

[3:35:33] And I think the important note and it's been Ted's commitment, as you see, the kind

[3:35:37] of the cost breakdown, essentially 49 million in designing construction of capital improvements,

[3:35:42] and then, you know, a part of 20 million in zero mission.

[3:35:45] If it, if it's 60 million in capital improvements,

[3:35:49] there's other funding sources for buses, as he just said.

[3:35:52] We'll find other avenues for transit buses.

[3:35:57] It's harder to get capital improvements.

[3:35:59] So the focus of this would be,

[3:36:02] in making plan amendments over time, if necessary,

[3:36:05] to get the capital done right,

[3:36:08] because that, that will have length to it.

[3:36:10] buses are replaceable and other funding that can be secured to support that.

[3:36:16] And as Ted talked about, you know, money advanced ahead of time and making sure that there is sufficient funding for to get service done as the pilot.

[3:36:27] Again, this is just an overview. There's been essentially three different funding sources.

[3:37:00] there was a, what was called the cycle five of the

[3:37:01] out of that. Again, those would be monies that in all likelihood will be converted into capital for electrification.

[3:37:08] State, and then the larger one, is Ted reference, was the 59 million in Tursup, which was in

[3:37:16] the cycle 7. And again, I put the grant funds in there. So these were awarded,

[3:37:27] if you go to Tursup,

[3:37:28] by 3132 and that's small, that's the small portion of it to the city of Icellia, of greater

[3:37:37] emphasis is the 30 fiscal year 3334 which would be needy be expenditure funds by then and

[3:37:44] these are on the construction of the improvements.

[3:37:48] So when you saw 2028 that's a goal, this is the more, this is the more, as you heard Chris

[3:37:54] earlier talk about, you know, what are the timelines for grants and ensuring that you

[3:37:57] have your expenditures done, that's in fiscal year 3334, it's a 10 year grant essentially.

[3:38:06] And then for the operation side, SB 125 transit and Senate Bill 743 mitigation funds,

[3:38:12] which came from the highway winding on 99 and the interchange at page mitigation funds for operations.

[3:38:23] And so again, the priority capital infrastructure, signal priority and street improvements

[3:38:28] estimated at 12.4 million construction contractor, and that's kind of interesting how this

[3:38:35] is broken out, but essentially there's 40, that's how the 49 million goes to construction,

[3:38:40] both playing for soft costs and design and how the difference, how the grants can split up

[3:38:47] accordingly.

[3:38:50] I use the CVX signal prioritization, and you'll see a special study area at

[3:38:57] moony boulevard and minroking and noble.

[3:39:00] That's going to end you have, so you have 1.98,

[3:39:02] you have moony boulevard, and you have to this.

[3:39:04] And that will be a, that is going to be a trick.

[3:39:07] That's for sure.

[3:39:09] It's going to require a lot of coordination

[3:39:11] with count trans and ensuring that the flow of traffic

[3:39:13] continues to intersect.

[3:39:16] And so that will be special.

[3:39:19] But if you look, you can see here coming off binmatics

[3:39:23] in the signals that are there,

[3:39:24] that will be traffic signals there, and you can kind of see

[3:39:28] as that picks up through downtown down over to mineral king.

[3:39:33] And you'll see intersections of these two

[3:39:35] between the bus driver transit from Tolerary and the Cross Valley Express

[3:39:38] to NAS some more.

[3:39:40] Intersections at the Transit Center, Intersections at Quia Health,

[3:39:44] and Intersections at COS.

[3:39:47] One of the chances we can make buses take Avenue

[3:39:50] and use some of these funds to fix OCA Avenue.

[3:39:54] Sounds like a great idea.

[3:39:58] Actually, Ted would say this.

[3:40:00] With this in those capital costs, I mean, that is really to try to figure out how to do more, what has length to it, and we'll have a lasting improvement.

[3:40:11] So that's a great, great thought.

[3:40:17] But by responding to that, I would definitely say two as we're looking at different things.

[3:40:23] We can certainly look at quote and quote the phase two and things to be added on.

[3:40:31] Because it's always amazing what you get momentum and we start doing this.

[3:40:36] How much more we're going to be successful in getting more money.

[3:40:42] And so I would never take things off the table yet even if they're doing it for me.

[3:40:47] We always like getting more money.

[3:40:48] Yeah, there you go.

[3:40:52] So, from an implementation standpoint, there's a number of agreements that will, with your approval this evening would begin drafting, some of them already are in preliminary forms, but a cooperative agreement will need to be implemented between

[3:41:09] and the city given 75% of the improvements are on

[3:41:13] CalTrans right away.

[3:41:14] So the city would serve as the project lead with

[3:41:16] CalTrans providing oversight.

[3:41:19] A number of MOUs, one for capital

[3:41:22] Development between the city and T.K.

[3:41:25] Operations between city T.K.

[3:41:27] T.C.R.T.A. plays a role in connecting

[3:41:29] Outline communities.

[3:41:31] And I would imagine they'll play a role on the

[3:41:34] Bus Rapid Transit on Mooney Boulevard as well,

[3:41:36] given that we'll be intersecting

[3:41:38] with the City of Tolerary, just as cart is as we're intersecting with Hanford and NAS the more.

[3:41:45] State grant funding, Cal Trans, the City and T-Cag, T-Cag funding.

[3:41:50] The City gets SB 125 use of funds.

[3:41:56] Again, I want to emphasize that design engineering construction of capital improvements is the priority of this,

[3:42:01] and then secondarily zero mission vehicle procurement.

[3:42:07] List of examples of all the different agencies that are involved in this and some fashion.

[3:42:13] California State Transportation Agency, they are the overriding financier, implemented and monitored by Caltrans.

[3:42:24] T-Cag was the applying agency by study of transit and city by study of would serve as the lead

[3:42:33] implementer of project implementer and then operator.

[3:42:38] Claire kind of regional transit agency would be a connecting agency and support as well as

[3:42:44] So I'm looking at value, power is authority is M track and so when we talk about other funding

[3:42:50] opportunities will be, this is one that will be in play and then certainly the California

[3:42:56] high speed rail authority.

[3:42:59] Not on here yet, it is NES the more and there's been some preliminary conversations

[3:43:03] that Ted and I have had is, what does that look like on the base?

[3:43:08] I mean, we don't have anything here really talking about that, well that'll be military that

[3:43:13] will be milk on money, that will go to that.

[3:43:15] They'll be doing a specific to their standards.

[3:43:18] And so those are improvements understood to be separate

[3:43:22] and another funding source coming to the table in that.

[3:43:27] So the staff recommendation is to approve.

[3:43:30] Council approve the city's participation

[3:43:32] in the regional Express Transit Project,

[3:43:34] serving as the project lead and primary services operator.

[3:43:37] Approved the drafts for a solution,

[3:43:39] authorized in the city manager to execute the Caltrans Master

[3:43:41] agreement and program supplement for first of funding and authorized city manager draft necessary

[3:43:46] agreements with Caltrans, TKG and TCRJ with approval to form a city attorney to be returned

[3:43:51] to the city council for final approval.

[3:43:55] Happening.

[3:43:55] Answer any questions?

[3:43:57] All right.

[3:43:57] Thank you.

[3:43:58] Any questions for staff?

[3:44:01] Any questions?

[3:44:02] Angelina.

[3:44:03] Do you want to say anything?

[3:44:04] You're ready to run this all over.

[3:44:05] All right.

[3:44:05] I was like, jump in any journey.

[3:44:06] I have a lot of responsibility coming your way.

[3:44:08] I'm, he's the face, I'm just the work.

[3:44:13] Not a great face.

[3:44:15] You just get out of the program.

[3:44:17] Just like that.

[3:44:18] The secret's out now.

[3:44:20] All right.

[3:44:21] There's no other questions.

[3:44:22] We'll guide you up in the subject of public.

[3:44:25] Any other questions to speak?

[3:44:27] Seeing nobody, we'll close public comments.

[3:44:30] And I will entertain a motion.

[3:44:32] Dr. Reed, the whole thing.

[3:44:35] I'm going to go to the short version.

[3:44:38] I'll second.

[3:44:40] All right, we have a person's second to approve.

[3:44:43] Please vote.

[3:44:48] That one I saw as long as I can.

[3:44:54] All right, nine and passes, five zero.

[3:44:56] Thank you very much.

[3:44:57] Thank you.

[3:44:58] We always appreciate your Ted bringing us.

[3:45:00] More projects in our community, so thank you. All right, we're going to go ahead and adjourn our meeting today in the closest report.

[3:45:07] Nothing report this evening. Thank you very much. Well, adjourned until our next meeting. Thank you.

Visalia City Council on 2025-11-03 7:00 PM

Agenda

Transcript