CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL
INSPIRATION

CLOSED SESSION REPORT 

 PUBLIC COMMENT

AGENDA APPROVAL FOR CITY COUNCIL

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION

 Presentations

Item #1 - Senior Officer Promotions – Henry Montelongo, Rick Miranda, and Gladys Harbin

Item #2 - 24th Anniversary of Alaska Flight 261 Memorial Proclamation

 Item #3 - Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Proclamation

CONSENT CALENDAR
PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Item #8 - Update on Local Storm and Flood Emergency Declared on December 21, 2023
Item #9 - City Council Liaison Committee Appointments for 2024
Item #10 - Reorganization of Specific Positions Within the City’s Parking Enforcement Division and
Item #11 - Memorial Day Ceremony at Hueneme Beach Pier
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS AND REPORTS COUNCILMEMBERS’ REPORTS AND COMMENTS
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Welcome to the closed session portion of the City Council meeting. I'm calling this meeting to order. The time is now 530. 00:01:02
Madam Clerk, will you take roll call please? 00:01:12
Council member Gama. 00:01:14
Here, Councilmember Hernandez, Here Council Member Martinez, present Mayor Pro Tem McQueen Lejeune, and Mayor Perez. 00:01:16
We will now hear public comments. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Madam Clerk, does anyone have a public comment tonight? Yes, 00:01:30
we have a public comment from Joan Dart. 00:01:34
You. Good evening, Mayor, Mayor, Pro time and council. This seems a little odd. I don't usually comment at people's performance 00:01:39
reviews, but I wanted to come and show my support for James Vega. 00:01:46
I've been kind of paying attention to City Council meetings for the last 3-4 years. 00:01:54
And I just have to say that I really appreciate having a city manager who shows up. 00:02:00
Who's supportive and still consid? 00:02:07
The city business and the city interests when he's dealing with with concerns of other people. 00:02:10
So being involved with a couple of nonprofits, I've reached out to Mr. Vega on when we've needed help and support, and he's been 00:02:17
helpful. But like I said, he does consider the city's best interests when he does that, but he does it with a lot of respect and 00:02:23
he listens and he's considerate. 00:02:29
And I don't know what goes on behind closed doors, what his employees think of him. But from a public standpoint, I am just. 00:02:35
Really pleased, having sort of learned about how city council's and cities work over the last couple years. 00:02:44
Umm, I'm impressed with the way that. 00:02:49
Runs, runs the meetings and how he organizes the agenda and it seems like he is listening to the council and to the public. 00:02:53
In bringing things in front of in front of the city and the council. So that's why I'm here. I'm gonna leave now. Thank you for 00:03:02
your time. Thank you. 00:03:06
Mr. City Attorney, will you please read the closed session item into the record? Absolutely, Mayor Perez, there's one item of 00:03:15
business on closed session for tonight as Public Employee Performance Evaluation for the City Manager pursuant to Government Code 00:03:19
Section 54957, subdivision B1. 00:03:24
Thank you. 00:03:30
Do any council members have any conflicts to disclose for the listed closed session item? 00:03:32
Nope. 00:03:37
All right, we are going to recess to closed session. Council. Recess to closed session. The time is now 532. 00:03:40
Good evening everyone. 01:01:24
Welcome to the City Council regular meeting. I'm calling this meeting to order. The time is now. 01:01:28
6:30. 01:01:33
Will everyone please stand for the flag salute? 01:01:36
I pledge allegiance to the flag. 01:01:47
Of the United States of America. 01:01:49
And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 01:01:51
Madam Clerk, please take roll call. 01:02:07
Council member Gama. 01:02:09
Councilmember Hernandez. 01:02:11
Here Councilmember Martinez, present Mayor Pro Tem McQueen Lejeune, and Mayor Perez here. 01:02:13
The inspiration tonight is given by myself and it will just be brief. I don't know the names of all the organizations but I plan 01:02:20
on rectifying that. But I want to give a shout out to every. 01:02:25
Agency that came in to help with the disaster cleanup, that help to provide services for the people who were affected, those who 01:02:31
came in the Red Cross, Salvation Army, those who provided food, the Lions Club who came in to assist with cleaning up and please 01:02:39
there any other agencies, Team Rubicon and UMCOR and volunteer organizations active in disaster and United Way. I would just want 01:02:47
to send a shout out to everyone and thank them so much for the the help they provided to our community. 01:02:55
Mr. City Attorney, would you please provide a closed session report? 01:03:04
Absolutely, Mayor Perez. There was no reportable action taken in closed session tonight. 01:03:08
All right. Thank you. 01:03:12
We will now hear public comments not pertaining to items on the agenda. 01:03:15
Comments are limited to 3 minutes. This process will be the same for comments pertaining to each agenda item. Madam Clerk, do we 01:03:19
have any public comments? 01:03:23
I have two general public comments. The first will be Becky Bernie and it followed by Greg L Ross. 01:03:27
Yep. 01:03:32
You need mayor, Mayor. 01:03:39
Council members. 01:03:41
I'm here representing real guppy outdoors. 01:03:43
We have. 01:03:48
Taking a sabbatical during our fishing days. 01:03:50
In November and. 01:03:54
We're going to start that up again this month on the 28th. 01:03:56
And Kevin is calling it Pajama Jammy Jam. 01:04:00
Where you can wear your pajamas to go fishing. 01:04:05
So go to our website. Sign. 01:04:09
And we hope to see you out there on the. 01:04:13
Thank you. 01:04:15
Good evening, council members. Thank you for listening. My name is Greg Ross. I've been a Ventura County resident since 1970. 01:04:27
I've lived in South Oxnard and Port Hueneme since 2005. 01:04:36
I'm here to label the. My discussion is. 01:04:42
Perhaps the inconvenient truth. Apologies to al go. 01:04:47
We're we're concerned our our represent a small group of homeowners. 01:04:52
That we're concerned about the. 01:04:58
And the cancer rates that exist, and there's been a lot of press lately. 01:05:02
Michelle Lockston and I passed out, I think Mr. Vega. 01:05:07
Sent that around too as well and just driving over here. It's a 3 minute drive for me. 01:05:14
I heard another report about the pollution issues of the port. 01:05:20
Because of the rain recently. 01:05:25
Fact that the boats coming into the port and they can't hook up to the electrical grid. 01:05:27
So the cancer rates are are quite intense. Ventura County is 505. 01:05:34
Deaths per 1000 residents. 01:05:43
In our area, just our little tiny community. 01:05:46
Our cancer rates are 10,000. 01:05:50
Per 100. 01:05:53
We've lost 10 or more. 01:05:55
People in the last 10 years to cancer. 01:05:58
And so basically my goal here is. 01:06:01
Twofold one is to put it on your radar screen a little bit so that you know that this situation exists. 01:06:05
Secondly, we don't have all the information we need. 01:06:12
The nearest. 01:06:15
Recording, Pollution. Recording is a mile and a half away, not really downwind from the. 01:06:18
What we just need is more information. 01:06:25
And we need a way to track it. 01:06:28
And and verify it. So it's it's science and it's truth not. 01:06:30
Just me up here talking. 01:06:35
And saying we got problems, but this is the sort of thing this is in. 01:06:37
That that you'll see when you when you walk around the port area, Market Street. 01:06:43
And Surfside. 01:06:49
My wife and I cleaned our front edge of. 01:06:52
Our overhead ceiling fan recently. 01:06:56
This is in your packet as well. These are the rags that came out of that, and it was. 01:06:59
Clean like a month or so ago before that. So there's a lot of particulates up in the air that we're concerned. 01:07:04
And I hope that now it's on your radar screen and maybe we can get back in February. 01:07:12
To address with a little more comprehensive. 01:07:17
Presentation. 01:07:21
Thank you for listening. 01:07:23
Thank you. 01:07:24
The council's not able to discuss public comment items that aren't on the agenda. At the end of the agenda, we have a future 01:07:28
agenda item portion where I just can be requested, but the council is not able to discuss at this time. 01:07:34
All right. We will move on to agenda approval. May I have a motion and a second for approval of the agenda. 01:07:43
Move to approve. 01:07:50
Madam Clerk, all in favor. 01:07:54
All opposed hearing, None motion passes unanimously. 01:07:57
Thank you. 01:08:01
Do any members of Council have any conflicts of interest to disclose for any item on the agenda tonight? 01:08:02
Hearing none, we will move on to presentations. 01:08:12
The first resentation will be. 01:08:15
Given on behalf of Chief Federico, the Senior Officer promotions of Henry Montelongo, Rick Miranda and Gladys Harbin. 01:08:18
Yes, and the chief will be presenting this. That looks like if I had forgotten we have our police presentation. I was just 01:08:28
reminded as I walked in. So. 01:08:32
If you want to introduce. 01:08:39
Thank you all. Tonight we are recognizing the promotion of three officers from police officer to senior police officer. 01:08:44
These are your two strippers. These are the individuals between the level of officer and Sergeant. 01:08:53
Tonight I will be introducing Henry Montelongo, Ricardo, Miranda and Gladys. 01:09:00
The role of senior police officer is your lead position amongst officers in the department. 01:09:06
The senior officers not only responsible for the same general duties of your port or any police officer, but they are also 01:09:12
responsible for training others. 01:09:16
Coordinating the work of others. 01:09:21
The supervisory of others in the absence of a police Sergeant, and so many other increasingly increasingly responsible duties that 01:09:23
require a higher level of skill and experience than your police officers. 01:09:29
They are your supervisors in the absence of a Sergeant, and with that some will be, and some have been acting sergeants for a long 01:09:36
duration. 01:09:40
Such as several months on a patrol, shift, deploy. 01:09:45
Or when there has been a need arrived in detectives. 01:09:48
With that port, only me. These are your future department leaders. 01:09:53
And at this time I'd like to introduce. 01:10:00
Senior Officer Henry Montel. 01:10:02
Henry started his career with the city of Port Wayne 18 years ago as a police explorer. 01:10:18
Beginning as a police explorer, Henry grew within the program and became a dispatcher at the age of 18, while still working as a 01:10:24
dispatcher and volunteering as a Police Explorer. 01:10:28
He also took on a position with the City of Port or Enemy Community Development as a parking enforcement officer. 01:10:34
In 2010, Henry was hired as a reserve police officer and then a full time police officer in 2015. 01:10:39
During his tenure here with the city of Port Hueneme. 01:10:46
Henry has worked to earn his bachelor's and organizational leadership and organizational studies from Arizona State University 01:10:49
with an academic standing of *** laude. 01:10:53
Henry is currently working to complete his master's program from the University of Alabama. 01:10:59
With his major being an organizational leadership. 01:11:05
His academic goal is to earn a doctorate degree. 01:11:09
And utilize what he has learned. 01:11:13
During. 01:11:15
Of his work as an officer for the City of Port Win. 01:11:17
As a police officer, Henry has held many positions in collateral assignments. These include traffic investigator, B coordinator, 01:11:23
cannabis control officer, and Homeless liaison Officer. 01:11:28
However, there's one. 01:11:33
That he holds dear to his heart and it's as an adviser. 01:11:36
For the important enemy police Explorers. Henry's been an advisor for the Explorers for over 13 years. 01:11:39
He has overseen the professional development of these young. 01:11:44
And has also run the auction art in Port Hueneme, Combined Police Explorer, Acad. 01:11:48
Over the past six years, when? 01:11:53
He cannot foresee a better opportunity than overseeing the development of teens into responsible young men and women who have gone 01:11:55
off and started their own businesses, became lawyers, nurses, pharmacists, Marines. 01:12:01
Navy personnel and of course, police officers. 01:12:07
And before I move on to his badge painting, I have to note like there is a dynasty of Montelongo's in the family. 01:12:11
They are part of this. 01:12:20
Tenfold, many of you already have noticed, but Henry's not the only monologue here, with the city of Port Wenemi as an older 01:12:23
brother Frank, who's our property and evidence supervisor, reserve officer and explorer advisor. So older sister Veronica, who's a 01:12:28
recreation attendant and can also be an assist. 01:12:33
With the Explorer functions, whether it's the Thanksgiving dinner giveaway or the car show. 01:12:39
Port Hueneme is truly a family affair for the Montelongo. 01:12:44
Please join me. 01:12:50
Congratulating. 01:12:53
And to. 01:12:54
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council and everyone here in attendance. 01:13:47
I like to take. 01:13:51
For always being there for. 01:13:53
And of course, my brother, my sister. 01:13:56
Weapon my rock whenever I'm in my low. 01:13:58
And who have always lived. 01:14:01
And of course, thank you to all the explore. 01:14:04
For showing. 01:14:07
And I promise this was not a mandatory detail for them. 01:14:09
Thank you guys. 01:14:13
Ricardo. 01:14:23
Ricardo, Ricky, Rick, all his many nicknames. 01:14:32
Ricky was born and raised in this community. He came from a family of law enforcement. 01:14:38
He's been involved in law enforcement for over 10 years in different capacities. In 20/19 he was hired by the Portland Police 01:14:44
Department as a police officer and he served for the past where he served for the past five years. 01:14:49
He was first. 01:14:56
Patrol where he worked three years, and during that time he was awarded not only the Mothers Against Drunk Driving award for his 01:14:58
DUI apprehensions. 01:15:02
But also the 10851 Stolen Vehicle Recovery Award. 01:15:07
2. 01:15:12
Three times. 01:15:14
And he was also our Port Wayne police officer of. 01:15:16
So during his time on patrol, he was a field training officer for our newest officers and it's something that he holds dear is 01:15:22
mentoring our newer officers. 01:15:27
After only 3 1/2 years on patrol, he was selected to assist an investigations unit as a detective, and as a detective he was in 01:15:32
charge of investigating property crime, sex crimes, crimes against children and assisted with homicide investigations. 01:15:38
He's also assisted with their Crisis Intervention team as a crisis intervention coordinator. 01:15:46
On a very lovely note, outside of law enforcement, he has enjoyed coaching and mentoring the youth in different sports to make a 01:15:53
positive impact for them. But he also enjoys his family time because he just celebrated the recent birth of his third child. 01:15:59
So we're very excited for. 01:16:07
Join me in congratulating. 01:16:11
Oh my gosh, look at that. 01:16:38
Oh. 01:16:46
OK. 01:16:56
That was the sweetest pinning I think I've ever witnessed. Thank you for that. 01:17:07
Just keep it brief. I just want to thank the City Council members for all your support. I really do appreciate it. I want to thank 01:17:13
my peers. I appreciate all your help. All your mentorship has really got me to where I am today. 01:17:18
And especially, I want to thank my family, my fiance, my three kids, my family all here, the Miranda clan. 01:17:24
I want to appreciate everything you guys have done for me and stuck with me through thick and thin which has allowed me to get to 01:17:30
where I am today. So I appreciate it and I want to thank also the community members for all your support as well for the Police 01:17:35
Department. So thank you very much to everyone. 01:17:40
Senior Officer Gladys. 01:17:54
Gladys was born of Vent. 01:18:04
And she grew up in Oxnard in Port Hueneme. 01:18:06
She joined the Port Whereabout Police Department in 2009 as a police explorer. 01:18:09
In 20. 01:18:13
He aged out when they get too old to be a police explorer, but that didn't stop her. She became a police volunteer. 01:18:15
In 2017, she was hired as a parking enforcement officer with the city. That's a common trend among some of our folks, as you hear. 01:18:24
In 2015, Gladys graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy and became a reserve police officer here with us at Port 01:18:32
Winnie BPD. 01:18:36
In 2017, she was hired as a full time police. 01:18:40
And assigned to patrol. 01:18:44
She's worked to patrol and investigations, and she served as a field training. 01:18:46
For our newest officers. 01:18:51
She has also served as a crisis intervention coordinator. 01:18:52
I know Gladys has a passion for working with the youth. She holds a great reputation on our schools, especially in elementary 01:18:58
schools with our staff over there. 01:19:03
She has also indicated to me that regardless of her future assignments, she'd like to do more in our schools, so I'm going to be 01:19:09
holding that to her in the near future so she can do some more of that. Ladies and gentlemen, join me in congratulating Gladys 01:19:13
Harmon. 01:19:17
Thank you for being here. First I'd like to thank my family for supporting me since day one. My parents. 01:20:02
This opportunity, the job that I wanted to do my career early on as an explorer. So thank you to my parents for supporting me. 01:20:09
Through thick and thin to my family who's here? My aunt, my cousin, my mother-in-law and of course, my husband. Without him, I 01:20:18
wouldn't be here. 01:20:22
Big support. 01:20:27
So. 01:20:28
Thank you all. And also a big thank you to my Sergeant, Sergeant Bates. 01:20:30
Pushing me and guide. 01:20:35
All this so thank you so much. 01:20:38
Thank you all for your support and thank you community for your support. Appreciate you. Thank you. 01:20:47
Thank you. 01:20:51
The next presentation will be the 24th anniversary. 01:20:53
Of Alaska Flight 261, Memorial Proclamation. 01:20:58
And that is being read by council member. 01:21:03
Hernandez Thank you, Mayor. 01:21:06
I'll just give it a. 01:21:09
Few minutes while everybody that clears out. 01:21:11
That's family right there. 01:21:21
That's right, I mean. 01:21:26
OK. 01:21:37
I'd like to thank Mayor Perez for allowing me to read this proclamation. This incident in particular is very near and dear to my 01:22:00
heart. 01:22:04
As I was serving at the time as the manager for the Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services, I was. 01:22:09
One of the first on scene in our Emergency Operations center and then continue to work this incident for at least seven weeks and 01:22:16
continue to show up for the families to this day on January 31st. 01:22:23
So tonight we're honoring the 24th anniversary of Alaska Flight 261. Whereas on January 31st, 2000 at 4:22 PM, Alaska Flight 261 01:22:30
crashed in the waters off Anacapa Island, approximately 13 miles from Port Hueneme and Ventura County, resulting in the 88 in the 01:22:37
deaths of 88 souls. 01:22:45
Five or crew members. 01:22:53
Of that plane, whereas the accident was the largest loss of life due to a transportation accident in the history of Ventura 01:22:56
County. 01:22:59
And whereas the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 activated an immediate response from over 75 different federal, state and 01:23:04
local agencies, the military, local nonprofit agencies, and private organizations, and whereas the City of Port Hueneme police. 01:23:12
Police and Station 53 of the Ventura County Fire Department were among the first local responders to assist with the immediate 01:23:20
response and recovery. 01:23:25
And whereas it is important to see how individuals in our county and the City of Port Hueneme came to embrace the families of 01:24:08
Alaska Flight 261 by showing and expressing kindness, compassion and giving spirit and whereas it is important to educate the 01:24:14
public about the event. 01:24:19
Of historical significance. 01:24:26
Members of our community came together and continued to do so to support the family members of Alaska Flight 261 in this tragic 01:24:29
loss of life. And whereas as we gather to remember the 24th anniversary anniversary of this tragedy, it is the intention of the 01:24:36
City Council and staff to remember those who died and always keep our community a welcoming and warm place for Alaska Flight 261 01:24:43
family members to visit to honor and remember those killed on January 31st, 2000. 01:24:51
Now, therefore, be proclaimed that the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme does hereby proclaim January 31st as the day we 01:24:59
honor the 88 souls who died on January 31st, 2000. And recognized that the kindness of our community members continues 24 years 01:25:06
later and will always urge residents support Winemie to exercise compassion in our daily lives for the betterment of our family 01:25:13
members, our colleagues, and every individual we encounter proclaim this 16th day. 01:25:21
Of January 2024. 01:25:28
Thank you, Councilmember Hernandez. 01:25:31
And next we will hear a reading of the proclamation. 01:25:33
In honor of Martin Luther King Junior Day by Mayor Pro Tem McQueen. 01:25:36
City of Port Hueneme Proclamation Martin Luther King Junior Day Whereas on January 15, 1929, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King 01:25:42
Junior was born Atlanta, GA and whereas Doctor King was a transformational leader of the American Civil Rights movement and one of 01:25:49
the most influential orders. 01:25:56
Or peace, equality and human rights in world's history. 01:26:03
And whereas Doctor King is remembered for dedicating his life to an unyielding faith and passion for justice and racial harmony by 01:26:08
championing the principles this nation was built upon and a strong commitment to his belief of freedom, equality, justice for all. 01:26:17
And whereas Doctor King envisioned a society where individuals were not judged by the color of their skin. 01:26:26
But the content of their character. 01:26:33
And whereas Doctor King sacrificed his life to spread the message of universal equality and justice that was displayed by his 01:26:35
efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. 01:26:43
Such as his heroic leadership in the 1955 Montgomery. 01:26:51
Bus boycott and the 1957 Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1960, the 1963 March on Washington and the Selma to 01:26:56
Montgomery marches in 1965. 01:27:03
And whereas Doctor King's word continues to resonate with the world today by reminding us of the imperative to continue to fight 01:27:10
for justice and equality no matter the opposition, because the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of 01:27:15
comfort. 01:27:21
And convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. 01:27:27
And whereas people throughout the world continue to be inspired by Doctor King's vision and words, his strength of character and 01:27:32
compassion, and his model for peaceful demonstration and dialogue. 01:27:38
And whereas in 1983, Doctor King became the first private citizen to be honored with a federal holiday, which was yesterday. 01:27:45
Not just us to celebrate his memory, but also to preserve his legacy. One that calls upon us all to exercise our moral authority, 01:27:53
stand up against injustice, and protect our most sacred tenet democracy. 01:28:01
Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of the City of Port Hueneme does hereby proclaim January 15th. 01:28:08
2024 as Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Day proclaimed the 16th Day of January 2024. 01:28:16
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. 01:28:25
We'll move on to the consent calendar. We will now consider items on the consent calendar, which will be enacted in one motion 01:28:27
unless a council member has a request to remove an item for discussion. 01:28:32
May I have a second, a motion and a second to approve our consent calendar? 01:28:38
2nd Thank you, Madam. 01:28:43
All in favor. 01:28:46
All opposed. 01:28:49
Hearing none motion passes unanimously. 01:28:50
Thank you. We have no public hearings. 01:28:52
Moving on to business. 01:28:55
The first business item will be an update on local storm and flood emergency declared on December 21st, 2023. Will staff please 01:28:58
present. 01:29:02
Thank you, Mayor. 01:29:08
We don't do this very often, but with something like this that. 01:29:09
Really important in our community. We've asked some of our partner agencies to come out and help us present a little bit about 01:29:16
what all of the agencies have done related to the storm so far and all the all the work that's gone into it. 01:29:23
Into recovering from the storm. 01:29:31
Umm. And so I have a couple of slides that we'll start with and then I'll ask some of our partners who have been working with us 01:29:33
to, to come up and speak a little bit about it as well. 01:29:38
I know most of our residents probably know this, but it really. 01:29:44
Hard to explain to people how severe the rain that hit Port Hueneme on December 21st, 2023 was. 01:29:51
And you can see from this map, the narrow band that it hit us and a little bit of Oxnard, but it really did not hit many other. 01:29:58
Communities. And so it's very hard to explain to people just how severe it was in our community while somebody and you know, 01:30:07
Thousand Oaks or even Camarillo. 01:30:12
May not even remember that date or that there was a storm. It wasn't out of the ordinary for them. 01:30:18
But here in Port Hueneme and in parts of Oxnard, it was a very severe storm. 01:30:25
And so when we're talking about the recovery from that storm, we are still in the recovery phase of that December 25th storm, 01:30:31
which totaled more than six inches of rain total. 01:30:37
6 inches of rain. 01:30:44
And at its peak at approximately 1:30 in the in the morning. 01:30:46
We were seeing 3 inches of rain in an hour, which is essentially unheard of, I think. 01:30:51
The estimate is that hasn't happened in over 100 years and it's classified by the county flood control district as what they call 01:30:58
a once in 10,000 year level storm. 01:31:02
So some people in this room are are watching May remember this from the morning getting the tornado warning alert. And so we 01:31:09
didn't end up getting a tornado, but the impacts were not far from from the impacts of a tornado. 01:31:16
When for those houses in those areas that were sort of in the? 01:31:24
Right in the trail of this storm or directly located next to some of the the drainage channels and things like that that were 01:31:30
impacted by all of that water coming down at once. 01:31:35
We have the storm on the 21st. 01:31:42
We've been calling it historic for a while, but at this point I think. 01:31:45
It's officially historic and here we have. 01:31:50
From the LA Times of one of our businesses here in Port Hueneme dealing with the storm and where Port Hueneme, I'm sorry, the LA 01:31:53
Times called this a historic, genuinely extraordinary rainfall. 01:31:59
And so. 01:32:07
Yeah, some of the photos that. 01:32:09
Scene And a lot of people in this room probably have seen some of these things already. We've seen more than we'd want to see of 01:32:12
this. 01:32:16
You know there are cars floating. There are cars abandoned in the middle of the street because because they were floating and then 01:32:21
they came to land somewhere after people had to evacuate them. 01:32:26
There are houses. 01:32:32
And I think that's the next picture internally that had. 01:32:35
Feet of water within their. 01:32:39
Units, not not inches. 01:32:43
And there on the right is what sort of what we're dealing with right now, a lot of, a lot of our community members are, is that 01:32:46
that next phase in the recovery? 01:32:50
Which? 01:32:55
It's good that we're that we're getting to that phase, but it's not over yet. People are living in situations where drywall's 01:32:58
taken out of houses, flooring is taking out of houses. 01:33:03
And that's if you're lucky enough to have had a contractor who's already responded and gotten to that point. 01:33:09
Because we have so many units impacted in our community. 01:33:16
And there's only so many contractors out there. 01:33:20
So we're still in the midst of what we're calling the recovery phase in total. 01:33:23
The account was 422 structures impact. 01:33:32
We've gotten a lot of questions about sort of, you know, what was major damage versus minor damage and and what was affected 01:33:36
damage. 01:33:40
I think that's actually probably one of the biggest questions we've gotten. 01:33:45
And you can see from this. 01:33:48
Chart that minor damage is classified as between 1 to 17 inches, which is a huge. 01:33:50
Variance there, and I think anybody who has 17 inches of water in their house would say they don't feel that's minor damage. 01:33:59
And I think we've heard that a lot, but these categories are the categories that we've had to track them in to sort of match up 01:34:07
with them. 01:34:11
FEMA's requirements And so we've had a lot of people say, you know, to have 14-15 inches of water in your house and to have 01:34:15
somebody show up and say it's minor doesn't feel. 01:34:21
Good or it doesn't feel like we were acknowledging the damage they. 01:34:27
But, and we So we want to let everybody know we weren't saying that. 01:34:31
You know that the impacts weren't great. 01:34:36
But when when we're asked to classify them for FEMA for purposes of tracking, it falls into their category defined as minor, which 01:34:39
is which can be severe so. 01:34:44
So we've had this is between. 01:34:50
This is total structures. 01:34:54
And impacted by the storm. So it includes Waniba but also includes Oxnard and I think there's been a couple structures from 01:34:58
Ventura as well identified at this point. 01:35:02
Why Nimi's total number? I think was a. 01:35:08
At 188 I think is what our number is. So we're a big chunk of of those structures. 01:35:12
The other thing that is really mind boggling to think about that maybe it doesn't seem like a big deal when you see it, but. 01:35:18
There were 644 vehicles damaged. 01:35:26
We had in. 01:35:29
Parts of our town we had. 01:35:31
I saw it times. 01:35:34
10 or more tow trucks lined up just towing vehicles that had gotten water. 01:35:36
To the point where the vehicle was damaged or the electronics weren't turning on. 01:35:43
And so you can see here that in port I need me 265 vehicles damaged a lot of those totaled a lot of those complete losses. 01:35:47
And people who have been watching the news the last couple years. 01:35:57
Vehicles are harder to find than ever before. In a lot of cases, more. 01:36:01
Even used vehicles are more expensive than they've been. 01:36:06
And so to know that 265 vehicles were damaged and there's people who lost two vehicles and had damage inside their house. 01:36:09
It's it's a pretty. 01:36:18
Heartbreaking situation. 01:36:20
So that's a little bit on, you know the rain, what happened that day, some of the impacts we saw from that day. 01:36:23
For us, we've had we've gone through a few phases of the storm. 01:36:31
Preparation and we're going to ask, we're going to have our fire department representatives come up and speak a little bit to how 01:36:37
they prepared to. But the city and other key agencies such as the fire department had taken steps to prepare for the storm by 01:36:44
increasing staffing and inspecting areas prior to the to the storm. So that was sort of phase one. 01:36:50
And at that time, it was forecasted to be a couple inches of rain over the 24 hour period. 01:36:57
Well, we ended up getting a lot more rain than that. 01:37:05
And so we ended, we ended up having to go into emergency response. 01:37:07
Phase of. 01:37:13
And we along with County Fire, the various our Police Department and other police agencies in. 01:37:15
Areas, because it did impact Oxnard and in some other areas we had to respond to hundreds and hundreds of emergency calls that 01:37:24
day. 01:37:28
I think the damage is so much that we lose track of this, but we do want to point out, you know, we responded to hundreds of calls 01:37:34
and there is no loss of life and I had not. 01:37:39
Heard any reports of significant injuries? We know one person went to a hospital, but it was more for. 01:37:45
Pre-existing issues so. 01:37:51
In that immediate response, no loss of life and no significant injuries. 01:37:54
Is something we don't want to take for granted. 01:37:59
And then the next few days after that, people probably saw some of our employees going out with with clipboards and things like 01:38:02
that. Actually we have tablets now. I guess I'm dating myself. 01:38:08
But they went out with tablets and they actually went into hundreds of units and assessed the damage to be able to provide the 01:38:15
damage assessments to FEMA and other agencies. 01:38:19
And we went out and assessed over 180 units for damage in the the couple of days that followed the emergency. 01:38:25
And then while we were doing that, we saw the need for dumpsters, which we were able to roll out. 01:38:32
And but even we had some of our public works team members out with. 01:38:41
Scoopers and things like that. Lifting people's couches and beds and things like that, that they had pushed to the curb into the 01:38:47
dumpsters. 01:38:50
Because just the amount of heavy items that were ruined that we had to help remove and get out of the way. 01:38:55
So there's just a lot of work with that. 01:39:03
We also worked with the county OES to coordinate with volunteers and service providers. 01:39:07
And I'll talk a little bit more about that towards the end of the conversation. 01:39:13
And we continued to and still continue to document needs to try to get state and federal aid. 01:39:18
And we keep advocating for those, the state and federal aid as well. 01:39:27
And so after those first few days, we really entered recovery. 01:39:32
And to be honest, what we're finding is this is the hardest part of this emergency. 01:39:39
Maybe the immediacy is not there. Maybe it's not. You know the urgent circumstance that it was on day one. 01:39:45
But there's a lot of people who need a lot of help. 01:39:53
One of our key challenges right now is we have some gaps, things like FEMA. 01:39:58
FEMA based on sort of outdated. 01:40:03
Requirements on their end. 01:40:07
They don't. 01:40:09
This as an emergency at this time. 01:40:10
Because. 01:40:14
Not because of the level of damage wasn't severe, but just because we didn't have enough people who had severe damage. 01:40:15
And so that's one of the challenges we're working for. We've been advocating with the county OES and city of Oxnard and and 01:40:21
ourselves. 01:40:26
We've been trying to advocate the Board of Supervisors issued some support. We've met with Congress, people and other 01:40:30
representatives. We've asked them for support and they're. 01:40:34
They're working on that. And then on tonight's agenda, we have a recommended approval of a letter that we would send to also try 01:40:39
to advocate for support. 01:40:44
So the recovery phase is a challenge right now, I think the elephant in the room is. 01:40:50
We hear from a lot of people right now who say there just isn't enough help coming. There's not any funding yet. There's not. 01:40:56
You know. 01:41:04
Help replacing items and things like that and we all feel it. We're not. 01:41:07
Ignoring that or acting like it's not happening, we're trying. 01:41:13
Make sure we advocate and we try to get help, but it is, it is what I would call a gap right now that we're trying to to address. 01:41:17
So. 01:41:26
By advocating with with FEMA, so. 01:41:28
And I just spoke a little bit about how we're doing that. So I won't go back through this. 01:41:32
The good news and one of the partners that we have speaking here today is that the first sort of. 01:41:37
A form of state assistance. 01:41:44
Has come through with the announcement that Small Business Administration loan assistance is available. 01:41:46
It opened up officially on Saturday and will be open Monday through Thursday, I believe at the South Oxnard Library. 01:41:54
And we have some of the representatives here and later in the presentation we'll ask them to give some more information on that. 01:42:02
So with that we're going to have, I'm going to, I've asked three of our partners to speak. 01:42:10
Fire Department representative. 01:42:17
Captain Williams, the County OES, Representative Patrick Maynard, and then our SBA representatives. And so I'll be introducing 01:42:20
each of those and ask them to just. 01:42:26
Give a little bit on what some of each agency has has done thus far. So Captain Williams, we have a couple slides here for you. 01:42:33
Do you want the clicker or do you want to just say next? I'll say next. OK, I don't need that power. 01:42:45
Good evening, Mayor, Mayor, Pro Tem, City Council, staff, members of the public. My name is Joe Williams. 01:42:50
I'm a division chief with the County of Ventura and I'm your acting Fire Chief with City of Point. 01:42:55
Tonight I'm going to talk about our responses as an OP area and OP area means City of Oxnard, County of Ventura and City of. 01:43:00
Ventura. 01:43:08
To the reigns of the night of the 20th. 01:43:11
Hang on, SO. 01:43:15
Beneficial for me is I'm a duty chief and so I managed the entire county. Umm. 01:43:18
We have 3 shifts, so on the C shift duty chief, I was on duty that night and days prior. 01:43:24
We have a conference call with the National Weather Service and they let us know what's pending and so based on. 01:43:30
The weather I think it was estimated 2 to 4 inches coast and. 01:43:36
Mountains were 4 to 8 inches and. 01:43:40
Based on that and the possible amounts per hour, we instituted a plan to flooding. It's kind of our middle. 01:43:43
Next slide please and it. 01:43:49
We added an extra 112 personnel, so command staff, PIO, safety, logistics leader, about 11 people, 2 swift water teams, 6 persons 01:43:52
each. Oxnard fire also had one swift water team, five utility trucks which have two people on it each. It's usually for flood 01:43:59
mitigation. 01:44:05
Or hand crews. Each crew has about 20 personnel with leadership. 01:44:13
They were instrumental in the Winemay Bay Club for doing search. We were able to grid out, go door to door and make sure everybody 01:44:18
was safe. 01:44:22
3 heavy equipment teams. Those are dozers front load. 01:44:26
Two helicopters, we have a fire Hawk and a Bell 412. They were on 24 hours and we added dispatchers. I was in the dispatch center 01:44:30
that night. I think I texted Mr. Vega at about 3:00 AM, letting him know how bad the flooding was. 01:44:37
We had 98 pending calls that people couldn't even get. 01:44:45
So I think the next slide please will show the the level of calls on that night. 01:44:49
It was another slide show too, I'm not sure. 01:44:57
What street that was. 01:45:01
Might be Oxnard, I think. 01:45:03
Because the county's slides include the whole affected area, which included some parts of Oxnard, I didn't recognize it. 01:45:06
That day we responded to 981 calls and it's not just VCFD, that's the that's the county because our dispatch center. 01:45:17
Dispatches for the entire op. 01:45:25
231 were weather related and we averaged 576 a day. We ran 981. 01:45:28
I'd venture to guess that most of those 231 were between 2:00 and 4:00. 01:45:34
Because that's when that cell kind of parked over. 01:45:38
One interesting thing about that cell was as it parked over this. 01:45:41
I was anticipating it to go north because that's where it came from, either hit Camarillo, Ventura and then Ohio. But it seemed to 01:45:46
peel left out into the ocean. So unfortunately we got the worst of it here. The rest of the county was spared. Next slide, please. 01:45:52
Significant impacts when Amy Bay Club about six blocks of senior living homes were flooded. 01:46:00
60 homes were affected. We had 10 rescues. 01:46:08
Overall that day we had 14 swift water rescues. That is usually people who drove across moving water on a street and get stranded 01:46:12
and then on the roof and that's when our teams go out and get. 01:46:18
And one ocean rescue. 01:46:24
I believe that's it for the counters of response. Does anybody have any questions? 01:46:29
Thank you. 01:46:34
So the next. 01:46:37
Speaker is going to be Patrick Maynard from our County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services. 01:46:40
To talk a little bit about some of the post disaster recovery efforts. 01:46:47
Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the council and residents of Port Hueneme. Thanks for the opportunity to speak tonight. 01:46:51
As Mr. Vega indicated, my name is Patrick Maynard. I'm the director of the Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services. 01:46:59
As Port Hueneme residents, you may wonder why the Sheriff's Office is involved in this. 01:47:05
What I can tell you as our Office of Emergency Services provides service to all 10 Ventura County cities, we operate the county's 01:47:10
Emergency Operations Center, and we're here really to support all 10 cities. 01:47:17
As well as our unincorporated areas when these disasters happen. So we often find ourselves in communities that are unfamiliar 01:47:24
with us. Other than seeing, you know, sheriff's deputies out in the field, our team is here really to support the cities when 01:47:28
things like this come up. 01:47:33
We do a lot in the Office of Emergency Services or we call ourselves the Office of Everything Services. 01:47:39
Councilmember Hernandez knows all too well, but one of the big things that we really work to accomplish following one of these 01:47:44
events is securing important state and federal disaster assistance. So I really wanted to take this opportunity tonight and talk 01:47:51
about a couple of the federal disaster assistance programs that we have available to residents. 01:47:58
Following an incident like. 01:48:05
So the first program that's available and out there is what's called the FEMA Individual Assistance Program, and as the title 01:48:07
indicates. 01:48:11
This program is geared towards assisting individuals with damages that may occur following an incident. 01:48:15
To qualify for this. 01:48:23
FEMA looks to have found. 01:48:25
Upwards of 1200 either destroyed or structures with major damage again. 01:48:28
Mr. Vega alluded to this earlier. Major damage is classified as water into the structure over 18 inches. 01:48:34
It's very disheartening that that's the the look that FEMA is going for when it comes to classifying major damage. We all know 01:48:41
that two inches of water in a structure is. 01:48:46
Major if not feeling like destroyed to all of us. But when it comes to flooding, the big thing that really is a tipping point is 01:48:51
once water reaches on average 18 inches, it makes its way into those electrical outlets and your entire electrical system within 01:48:57
your house has to be replaced. 01:49:03
More often than not, not always, but more often than not. So that's kind of why there's that tipping point. Once we we get word of 01:49:09
of damage, we go out and do damage assessment. We determine, you know ultimately how many structures. 01:49:15
Meet that requirement or meet that that level of damage. 01:49:23
And we share that information off with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. 01:49:26
Calories, as we call it, is our state partner in disaster response. 01:49:32
And the state then makes a determination as to whether or not our event is large enough, and whether or not they want to reach out 01:49:37
to FEMA for assistance. 01:49:41
So in the case of what we saw on December 21st here in Port Hueneme. 01:49:45
Both fortunately and unfortunately, we did not have 1200 structures with major damage. 01:49:51
You know, flooding is unique, we see. 01:49:57
Destroyed structures are unimpacted structures with fires, but there's a lot of ambiguity to flooding incidents and again, 01:49:59
fortunately and unfortunately, we just did not see that level of damage. 01:50:04
If this program is activated, it can provide residents up to $41,000 of grant funding to help them recover. That funding can be 01:50:10
used to make repairs. It can be used to purchase lost personal property, things like clothing and bedding and and all that kind of 01:50:15
stuff. 01:50:21
Again, it is a grant program and it is one of the only grant programs that is available through FEMA for residents. 01:50:28
Unfortunately, I just want to set expectations clearly. 01:50:36
While the requirement is for 1200 structures, we recognize the need locally, so we recognize how challenging the situation is. 01:50:40
And just because we know it requires 1200 structures doesn't mean we didn't attempt to get it. And we're still trying to this day. 01:50:49
I can tell you early on we enlisted the power of many of our state and federal elected representatives to go out and really rally 01:50:56
both the state and FEMA for this assistance. 01:51:01
Thus far, we we have not been told that we received this. Again, I want to set expectations clearly and state that, you know, we 01:51:07
got an uphill battle here. 01:51:11
Odds are not in our favor, given the number of structures that we. 01:51:16
But we're doing everything we can. We know that this is a vital piece of assistance. So please know that just because we didn't 01:51:20
see 1200 structures out there with this level of damage doesn't mean that we didn't even try. We're still trying and and really 01:51:25
have since day one. 01:51:29
Next slide please. 01:51:35
The other program that's available from the federal government, which? 01:51:37
Going to hear a little bit more about is a disaster loan program and that program is made available through the SBA or the Small 01:51:41
Business Administration. 01:51:45
We typically think of the SBA as being there to help businesses but post disaster. 01:51:49
That program is actually there to help residents as well. 01:51:54
Of course, when you're impacted by disaster, free money is always better than a loan, so we'd much rather have grant opportunities 01:51:57
and loan opportunities. 01:52:01
But absent those grant OPP. 01:52:06
Alone is better than nothing, I. 01:52:09
So I don't want to steal the SBA's Thunder. What I will say is that we quickly submitted our data. Shortly thereafter, 01:52:12
representatives from the Small Business Administration responded to Port Hueneme and also Oxnard and together we conducted what's 01:52:19
called a joint preliminary damage assessment. So if there are any residents in the audience that. 01:52:25
The good news is we qualified for the SBA program. Really we have to have 25 structures in our operational area with at least 01:53:02
major damage. We were well beyond that. We were somewhere in the range of 50. 01:53:08
So fortunately, that program was ultimately approved. The SBA can act on their own accord and issue an emergency declaration at 01:53:16
the federal level. 01:53:20
And activate those programs, they've done that. And as of Saturday, they're actually operating in the city of Oxnard providing 01:53:24
residence loans. 01:53:28
Next slide. 01:53:32
I mentioned this earlier, but I want to restate it. We've been advocating from day one and when I say we, there's more than just 01:53:36
us in this room. It's been a team, a team of people that recognize the need very early. 01:53:42
Recovery. As Mr. Vega alluded, it's the worst part of a disaster response. We often think of the initial emergency phase as being 01:53:49
the most challenging, but I will tell you, recovery lives on for years. 01:53:54
So we knew that we needed the support of everyone to to try to get what we can. So that advocacy started the night of the 01:54:00
incident, or really the morning of the incident rather. We quickly began gathering damage information and sharing that over with 01:54:05
the state to kind of give them a heads up. 01:54:10
It being the holidays, it's challenging to ensure that they have staff in place to come down and do those preliminary damage 01:54:16
assessments. We wanted to give them a heads up. 01:54:20
So we stayed in constant contact with him. About a couple weeks later, we we. 01:54:25
A little less than two weeks later, we hosted an elected officials briefing. 01:54:30
And organizing that, it was very strategic. So there's a reason why every council member other than Brown Act issues wasn't 01:54:34
invited. We strategically wanted to invite our state and federal elected representatives with purview over our areas that were 01:54:39
impacted. 01:54:44
To put them on notice that we needed their help, we need their help advocating as much as I want to say that. 01:54:49
FEMA is there to help us, and the federal government and the state government is there to help us. You know as well as I do that 01:54:56
we need to advocate for that support. So we wanted to put them on notice early on that we needed their help. 01:55:01
So we hold that briefing. We shared this important information with them and challenged them to go out and meet with the other 01:55:06
state and federal agencies in Raleigh for support. 01:55:11
And then lastly, the county Board of Supervisors heard an item just a couple of weeks ago now. 01:55:16
And issued a letter of support. 01:55:22
Calories act specifically requesting Director Ward consider a few things. I've already talked about the programs that we asked for 01:55:26
within that letter. We made that request early on. We reiterated that request on January 9th. 01:55:32
One of the additional things that we did ask for is absent any of these federal programs, again, we know that we have SBA 01:55:38
assistance, but absent FEMA assistance. 01:55:42
Or any other state assistance program. 01:55:47
We asked the governor to consider any type of one time funding opportunities that could be made available. 01:55:49
Any of the jurisdictions, whether it's a city, the county, an NGO. 01:55:56
Consider providing some type of state assistance LOC. 01:56:01
To assist our. 01:56:05
The two programs I highlighted are both federal programs. There is no state program specifically geared towards assisting 01:56:07
individuals respond to disasters and that's a huge void that we feel, especially on these small incidents that don't qualify for 01:56:13
any of the major programs. I think my last slide if I'm not mistaken. 01:56:20
Talks about that. So some of our challenges. 01:56:27
I'll be frank. These programs are broken. They're really broken. 01:56:31
Especially with inflation and with the price of goods nowadays, even when these programs are activated, you know as well as I do 01:56:36
that $41,000 is just drop in the bucket if you lose your entire home, especially if it was paid off. 01:56:42
So I say all of this to say that these programs are broken. California has no individual assistance program. There are other. 01:56:48
With within the United States that have their own state programs for these smaller type incidents. 01:56:57
Calais has tried on three separate occasions over the last 10 years to implement a state program. All three times it's failed in 01:57:02
appropriations. 01:57:06
It's a bummer because we are feeling the void, the lack of a state program in these cases. 01:57:11
And then of course, again, I mentioned this, but our federal programs are just completely inadequate. 01:57:17
So something is better than nothing. But we recognize that all of these programs are just not ideal when it comes to responding to 01:57:21
disasters. 01:57:25
That's really where we we lean on our community organizations and that's my last slide, I believe my last slide, we highlight the 01:57:30
availability of our voluntary organizations, active and disaster. 01:57:36
Government. All too often we look to to save the day, but government often lets us down. We we've all experienced that. So in 01:57:43
comes our community based organizations and our non governmental organizations to save the day. 01:57:49
There have been some tremendous efforts by the American Red. 01:57:56
Team Rubicon. 01:58:00
That there's too many to name. If I start naming, I'm gonna leave some out, but they've been out there helping as much as they 01:58:02
can. What I can tell you is that leaves us at collecting information from residents on any unmet needs. We understand that 01:58:08
everyone has a unique variety of needs. We encourage you to report that information to 211. You can call 211 from any landline or 01:58:14
cellular telephone and file an unmet needs report. 01:58:20
I want to make this very clear. 211 does not have all the answers right now, nor do we. 01:58:26
So if you have not heard back on some type of unmet need, it's very important. Please be patient and I know that. 01:58:32
Cliched and painful, but know that we are working very diligently to go down that list of unmet needs and connect individuals with 01:58:38
resources. That's a tricky process. It definitely does not happen overnight, but I want everyone to know. 01:58:45
While we may not have the answers, we're continuing to work to try to connect people with resources. Just today, we had a great 01:58:53
meeting. 01:58:56
Looking at ways that you know soliciting. 01:59:01
The private sector and making donations and how we can make that potential money available to residents. So with that, that 01:59:04
concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions. 01:59:09
Thank you. 01:59:14
Mr. Ghana. 01:59:17
Yes. In regards to the SBA, does that stand for a small Business Association? 01:59:19
Administration Are those only available to small businesses or residents available? 01:59:25
Access. 01:59:31
Thank you for that question. I, I don't want to steal the SBA Thunder because they'll be presenting next, but both the SB, the SBA 01:59:32
loans are available to both business and businesses and residents. 01:59:37
Answer your question. 01:59:42
Thank you, Mayor. Thank you so much, Mr. Maynard, for being here tonight and helping our city and our times in need. I know that 01:59:48
you. 01:59:52
Directly involved from like 1:30 to 7:00 in the morning helping with evacuations, which is a rarity. You don't, I mean. 01:59:56
Somebody up your level, your stature, doesn't get out in the field like that often, I imagine so. Thank you so much for your help. 02:00:06
I really appreciate it. And I just wanted to express my gratitude for for all your assistance. My pleasure. 02:00:12
Thank you. 02:00:21
Thank you, Patrick. And I want to thank Chief Williams for coming. And and Patrick, I've, I know all of those agencies are just 02:00:23
running ragged right now trying to get all these things in place and trying to get programs in place. 02:00:29
I joked at the board meeting but I still mean it as I cannot figure out when Patrick has gone to sleep. So so we really appreciate 02:00:37
them and also taking the time to come out here and help. 02:00:42
Explain some of those things that we're doing. 02:00:49
And then last, we're going to invite up, I think George and Claudia are here from SBA and we're going to give them an opportunity 02:00:52
to talk a little bit about the disaster loan assistance program that became. 02:00:59
Available and open for. 02:01:06
Saturday but but really today too. So with that I will. 02:01:08
Turn it over to George. 02:01:15
Hello. We did submit slides. I don't know if you have them or not. And if you don't, that's OK. We can give you. You've got a lot 02:01:18
of information there, which is super helpful. There's a chance that could be maybe posted online so people can read the 02:01:23
information. That would be phenomenal. I know it's very short notice. So First off, good evening, Honorable City of Port. We need 02:01:29
me, Mayor Misty Misty Pres. Mayor Pro Tem Martha McQueen Lagoon. 02:01:34
Councilmember Steven Gama, Laura Hernandez, Bobby Martinez and City Manager Brad Connors. My name is George Kasturko. 02:01:40
I am with the US Small Business Administration. I'm here to provide an overview of SPA disaster loan resources available to assist 02:01:48
people. 02:01:51
Impacted by the December 2020. 02:01:55
Storm and flooding. 02:01:59
Just a little history just so you kind of see how this rolls out. I think emergency manager did a phenomenal job of really kind of 02:02:02
giving you the playing field of where we're at and why we're here versus maybe why FEMA is not. 02:02:08
SBA received the Administrative Disaster declaration request on January 8th from Cal OES for damages to and businesses resulting 02:02:15
from the flooding that occurred December 21 through 23. 02:02:21
Ventura County met that damage criteria for an SBA administrative declaration following a survey that was conducted on January 02:02:27
3rd. 02:02:31
Our administrator signed an administrative declaration on January 10th. 02:02:35
So to kind of frame it and give you a bigger picture, Council member Gamma SBA offers low interest loans to businesses of all 02:02:40
sizes, nonprofits, homeowners and renters. 02:02:46
Not covered by insurance or other recovery funds. So essentially for those that are not insured or underinsured, we can provide. 02:02:52
Opportunities for funding. At this point, I also want to acknowledge the muscular effort of the Ventura County Sheriff's 02:02:59
Department Office of Emergency Services, led by Patrick Maynard and Kim Delacourt. 02:03:04
With their swiftness and helping us get the word out and what we can offer, it's only been a couple days and I'll share a little 02:03:10
bit about what happened on Saturday at the Recovery Center. 02:03:15
Finally, we have less some information at the back of the room with more details. That same information can also be found at the 02:03:21
Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Oxnard Library. 02:03:25
So essentially to frame the disaster. 02:03:31
SBA disaster loans are available to homeowners for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary res. 02:03:34
Renters and homeowners can borrow up to 100,000 to replace or repair a personal property. 02:03:42
Businesses and nonprofit organizations. 02:03:49
Can borrow up to $2,000,000 to cover disasters, losses not fully covered by insurance. 02:03:52
Businesses up to $2,000,000 can borrow funds to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could not have been 02:03:59
met had the disaster not occurred. That's a second loan. That's not a physical loan that's considered any ideal loan. So I'm going 02:04:05
to get into a little more detail. 02:04:10
So to frame it also, when this county was declared under an administrative declaration, unlike a presidential, which we of course. 02:04:15
Experienced. 02:04:24
So there are 4 eligible California counties that can apply for the storm and flooding disaster loans. So essentially while the 02:04:26
Ventura was the primary. 02:04:30
Earn Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, they're contiguous. They all enjoy the same benefits. So last year, for example, under the 02:04:35
presidential. 02:04:38
Ventura was. 02:04:42
You guys would have received physical anti ideal loans, but any contiguous counties were only eligible for EIDL loans. 02:04:44
That's the difference between a presidential declaration and the administrative declaration. So in a sense. 02:04:51
There's a broader spread of benefits, of course, as the emergency manager mentioned. Really the the pain, the the devastation was 02:04:56
concentrated pretty much in this community with a little bit Oxnard, other than the vehicles that were hit. 02:05:04
So SBA offers low fixed interest rates with terms up to 30 years to help in recovery. 02:05:14
There's no cost to apply and no obligation to accept the loan if approved. 02:05:19
The December 2023 storm and flooding disaster loan rates are as low as 2.688% for homeowners. 02:05:24
As low as 4% for businesses and as low as 3.25% for nonprofit organizations. 02:05:30
Eligibility is based on a case by case review for each applic. 02:05:38
Some other recent developments along with the increase in the loan amounts which happened last year. 02:05:42
There's no interest for the first year and no repayment requirements for the 1st 12 months. 02:05:49
SBA disaster loans have no closing costs and no prepayment penalties. 02:05:53
This is very critical though. This is the deadline, so when we have a physical disaster, it's basically a 60 day deadline. There 02:05:58
can be extensions and sometimes there. 02:06:02
O in this case, the deadline for anybody who has suffered any damage and is interested in applying with the SBA programs. 02:06:07
Must do that by March 11, 2024. So essentially, if you've gone online, if you visited the center, if you called the 800 number and 02:06:14
you've gotten the process started, you're good. 02:06:20
Don't have to worry. It doesn't end. There's no, we're not going to run out of money. There's none of that kind of stuff. 02:06:26
Sometimes there's like pool money. There's only so much for a community to get. That's not an issue here. Everybody has the same 02:06:30
opportunity for the same amount based on the. 02:06:34
So the EIDL loans, which are economic injury disaster loans, is a second program. 02:06:40
This is this is primarily for businesses, and what it does is it provides working capital loans up to $2,000,000 to help small 02:06:45
businesses, small agricultural cooperatives. 02:06:50
Small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes to meet their ordinary and necessary 02:06:55
financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. 02:07:01
These loans are intended to assist the disaster recovery period, so let's say for example in this in Port Hueneme. 02:07:08
You had an abalone. 02:07:14
Farm that that would be the kind of thing that they would be benefiting from the program, not only the disaster side but also the 02:07:16
economic impact. I'll just give you a modest example. In Santa Barbara County last year we had a number of those. 02:07:22
Though so that's an example of that Loan rates are as low as 4% for businesses and small agricultural cooperatives, and 3.25% for 02:07:30
private nonprofit organizations. 02:07:34
And again, that can go as long as 30 years. 02:07:39
So if if an EIDL loan, if it's a cash flow, kind of a situation paying employees, that kind of thing. 02:07:43
The deadline for that is a lot longer. That's October 10th. So that goes, depending on the declaration, either eight or nine 02:07:50
months. So that one people haven't. Our companies, individuals, nonprofits have until. 02:07:55
October. 02:08:02
To start that. 02:08:03
As was mentioned earlier, the SBA has a disaster loan Outreach Center at the South Oxnard Branch Library at 4300 Saviors Rd. zip 02:08:05
code 9303. 02:08:10
As you were alerted today, the hours of operation were expanded pretty dramatically based on the need. 02:08:17
So right now the hours are from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. 02:08:23
Monday through Thursday. 02:08:28
Saturdays are 9:00 AM to 3:00. 02:08:29
Now when somebody shows up at 2:59, we're going to stay to help them. The doors might close, but if they're in the building, 02:08:32
they're going to still be helped. So we don't turn anybody away. That's not the way SBA works. 02:08:37
And I mentioned earlier the muscular efforts by not only the county but the cities to get the word out to those interested in SBA 02:08:43
help. 02:08:47
On Saturday, the opening day of our disaster loan outreach center, we had more than 100 people arrive for assistance. That is a 02:08:50
phenomenal amount of folks that shows a need, and I'm certainly hoping that helps. 02:08:56
Mr. Maynard and others as you work towards talking to the count to the the state and the federal government in terms of any 02:09:03
additional assistance. 02:09:06
While some of those people had to leave for work or after learning they they had the ability to register and or enroll online. 02:09:11
Our field operations staff assisted 71 people that first day. 02:09:18
Probably the largest group in recent memory for a first day of an agency disaster loan outreach center. 02:09:23
So that's really speaks volumes to your organization, this city, the county. 02:09:29
The chamber's getting the word out for folks to show up, and we are grateful. We really are grateful, because when we can show 02:09:36
that kind of need, that means we can be here as long as possible to help folks. 02:09:40
We try to keep the open this the disaster loan outreach centers open until the need is met. 02:09:45
So we asked those that if we asked that if there are those in the community with needs we haven't that haven't come in yet, please 02:09:51
come to the center at the Oxnard library. It's really great to have that one-on-one help because sometimes the forms can be a 02:09:56
little confusing. The kind of information they're asking for when you get that person, they're walking you through and giving 02:10:01
examples. It's super helpful. 02:10:06
But if. 02:10:11
Someone that is unable to get to the disaster loan outreach. 02:10:14
They can also apply online through SBA secure site. SBA dot. 02:10:19
Right hand slash. 02:10:23
And that is another way to go ahead and apply. 02:10:26
So we we also have an SBA customer service number which is 800-659-2955 and anybody can e-mail disaster customer service all run 02:10:31
on at sba.gov. 02:10:38
So finally, this disaster is clearly devastating to this community without a. 02:10:47
As you can see, it's impacting the businesses, the homeowners and I'm sure a number of renters were were really hurt with this. 02:10:54
So basically SBA is really here to help and that's I'm glad I was able to get. I was getting the opportunity to speak that even 02:11:03
though we're called SBA, we do help homeowners and renters. So if anybody has any questions, I'd be glad to answer. 02:11:09
Thank you. 02:11:15
I had just two quick ones if I could, and one is because I actually spoke at a kind of a town hall meeting this morning and I said 02:11:18
something and some people in the room. 02:11:24
Seem to think. 02:11:30
Maybe I was interpreting it differently, so I just would like to know, but. 02:11:32
Reading the fact sheet had noted that the loan can be repaid without interest for the first year. 02:11:38
Right. And so we were trying to tell people because some people are saying, well, I'd rather wait and see if if FEMA assistance or 02:11:42
something like that comes through rather than start the process for a loan. 02:11:47
And so when we spoke with a couple 100 people today, we. 02:11:52
You you don't lose anything. You the only way you're going to lose something is if you don't come in and inquire and find out. I 02:12:31
think you gave them excellent advice. Our hope is that we do. 02:12:36
More assistance here on the federal level, I think it's when we worked in partnership with FEMA, we actually. 02:12:42
While we're equals lead especially. 02:12:48
First response aspect of it. So we're kind of part of the recovery thing. So what would happen in a typical presidential, let's 02:12:52
say, and some of you in the community may remember this. 02:12:57
You come in, you talk to FEMA first. 02:13:02
And then in that FEMA application, you can refer to SBA. Some people come straight to us and we obviously want to work with them, 02:13:04
but we also explain to them, please talk to FEMA. There may be some benefits here that you might be eligible or grants, the kind 02:13:10
of grants that Mister Maynard was bringing up, we unfortunately. 02:13:15
Give money away and and not ask for repayment or it's all the what happens with these loans is when they're repaid, they go back 02:13:22
to the US Treasury and then they're recycled through. And then that's why I want to emphasize that there is no limit. We do not 02:13:26
run out of money. I know we've heard. 02:13:30
Some stories where FEMA can run out of money in terms of allocation. The SBA is a different setup. We're set up with the financial 02:13:35
industry. 02:13:38
We have banks that are there that are eligible, that are, that are backed by the US government and their loans, so they are, they 02:13:42
are ready to. 02:13:45
Offer the funds. It's just that there are certain requirements that you're going to have to meet in terms of the loans, so. 02:13:50
Could you also talk on if you are denied first, there is a second or like an appeal? 02:13:57
So what that person? What will happen with that individual or businesses? They'll get a denial letter. 02:14:43
But in every denial letter, there's an opportunity to appeal, to provide additional information. We certainly encourage people to 02:14:48
get denial letters to come to the center or to call or get online and follow up and find out what what was the reason why? 02:14:54
We, I can tell you that on the back end in terms of when we look at loans. 02:15:01
There's a lot of especially with the newer the with the enhanced loan programs, there's a lot more flexibility in the program that 02:15:06
we had before. So this administration has really bent over backwards to try to make sure that where we had maybe really strict 02:15:13
collateral standards at a certain dollar amount, those have been basically those are very flexible in terms of having that 02:15:19
collateral to get a loan. In terms of looking at some of the financials, if you don't have regular tax records, W2 can work those 02:15:25
kinds of things. So there's. 02:15:31
There's opportunities to work around it and everybody's financial situation is considered on its own. 02:15:38
So everybody, everybody will have a different outcome. People ask, well, how long is it going to take? Well, it really depends on. 02:15:43
Soon all the pieces come together. 02:15:52
If we have all the pieces, we can come back usually in about two to four weeks with and what I don't really call an offer, but 02:15:55
basically an outcome in terms of what would be available for that person based on their financial situation. 02:16:01
And that sometimes in that case, the denial letter comes, but we were always interested in reviewing those denials. 02:16:08
The only thing that's missing here unfortunately, and this is where there's some confusion because of some people suffered losses 02:16:14
last year in the presidential. 02:16:18
Is you'll have. 02:16:22
FEMA will deny you initially send you to S. 02:16:24
And this drives people crazy, but unfortunately it is a process. 02:16:28
On a navigate so SBA will go. 02:16:32
You're. 02:16:37
This does it seems really what you need is to go back to FEMA and we will once we deny and go back to FEMA then they can go and 02:16:38
look at a second level or a third level and that goes into some of the grants I think that Patrick talked about. We don't have 02:16:44
that safety net right now with FEMA. It's just SBA here right now. So I just want to be very clear that. 02:16:51
While we have an internal re review process, we don't have that ability to reach out to another federal, federal partner for a re 02:16:57
review or reconsideration. 02:17:01
Thank you. 02:17:07
Any other questions? One last question, it's just. 02:17:08
Today we've we've had a couple meetings with a couple 100 people and so some of the questions I've heard and sorry to put you on 02:17:11
the spot on this, but just so we know sort of you know where potential gaps would be that we would need to focus. 02:17:18
You mentioned Social Security number, are these programs only available to U.S. citizens at this point? So what we're what we're 02:17:25
trying to do is we encourage people no matter what their background to come in and apply. 02:17:32
It's really based on. 02:17:38
And and we're not going to discriminate based on, I mean. 02:17:40
Are we just asked people to come? 02:17:44
And and find out what's available. 02:17:47
Thank you. I would and I would echo that for anybody watching anything. We we do hear right now a lot from people saying that 02:17:49
they're aware of people who haven't come forward and reported issues because of that and we the city doesn't consider that as a 02:17:54
factor and I think to echo your point of you know come talk. 02:18:00
You know, there could be, there could be somebody in your household. 02:18:06
You know that that either there would be questions that we'll ask and we'll find out that there is somebody that's eligible, maybe 02:18:09
not you as an individual, but maybe somebody else is and then they can work at that, work it out that way. 02:18:13
Thank you. 02:18:19
Yes, I think this is more of a comment, not a question, but I would hope that we could double down our efforts to communicate to 02:18:20
residents that you can apply for an SBA loan. 02:18:26
Because small business, you know that it just, I just want to make sure people understand this is available to residents. 02:18:33
Right. Well, we'll keep getting that message out. We've been, we this came together very quickly, which is great. I think it was 02:18:41
over like what Thursday to today where we've been putting out the word and getting the word out. But we'll keep trying to get that 02:18:46
message out because today too that was a question a lot of people had. They're like well I don't have a business you don't know, 02:18:51
but I'm, I'm I'm so glad to hear that you know you're busy. 02:18:56
You have 71 people come in. Oh no. No. We were we were super. We were grateful we you would not that may. I think we're the ones 02:19:01
that are. I mean that is one end we see the the I mean the pictures tell the story. The stories we're hearing complete unexpected. 02:19:09
Tragedy. I mean people losing everything they own, you know, in in some instances, but also at the same time. 02:19:17
You know, we want people to come in and ask questions and they are asking questions and the other thing I want to share with you 02:19:23
today and it took a little while and it came at the same time as the enhanced hours as we were able to get out our. 02:19:29
Robust messaging in. 02:19:35
And so we sent out emails today, not only one in English, but one that really is written in Spanish. And we asked people just to 02:19:38
use that, send that out to the community so they can see we're working with the. 02:19:43
You've got. 02:19:49
The console here, we're going to be reaching out them till we already let them know that we're going to be coming. So we're going 02:19:52
to be working with the consulate, working with Spanish media. And so having those documents in Spanish makes it a lot easier. And 02:19:57
I do want to share with you that Univision and NBC. 02:20:01
In Los Angeles on Saturday was very interested and I sent them pictures and video. 02:20:06
So they wanted to cover the event even though they couldn't send. 02:20:11
We were able to send them some things so they were able to get the word out to the community. So I'll be reaching out the laser 02:20:14
broadcasting tomorrow couple hours. I kind of was hesitant at first because I didn't have that. 02:20:19
That document now I do. 02:20:24
Right. 02:20:28
Anybody else? 02:20:28
OK. Thank you. All right. We do have materials back there and please, are these live streamed or? 02:20:31
OK, good. Anybody out there, please don't hesitate to come to the library. Our staff is ready. We've expanded the staff. We're now 02:20:37
in the computer room at the library, which makes it a lot easier for everybody. Little more room, a little more privacy I think 02:20:41
before. 02:20:45
The first day was. 02:20:50
Siloed, I think people felt a little claustrophobic and the the line and people waiting, we've improved that. So we appreciate 02:20:52
every, We appreciate the community's patience with SBA as we try to gear up and provide the best that we can and certainly lay the 02:20:58
groundwork if there's any opportunity for reconsideration with any other federal help. 02:21:04
So thank you very much. Thank you for coming. 02:21:12
Mr. City Manager, do you have anything else? 02:21:16
I think that's. 02:21:18
Yes, I think that's it at this time. We had a couple meetings with different neighborhood groups today and we try to answer some 02:21:22
questions specific to the different neighborhoods that we were hearing. But I think for the purpose of this item, we appreciate 02:21:29
county OES, our fire representative and SBA for for coming and talking about it. 02:21:35
Think you heard it from each of those people, and for me that right now the biggest challenge we have is we all feel this. You 02:21:42
know, the vacuum of where FEMA normally is. 02:21:48
And that we're trying to each kind of piece. 02:21:53
Together help, but it is hard because we don't have that sort of magic bullet that FEMA usually provides. 02:21:57
So we're still advocating for that. We're still. 02:22:05
Going to keep advocating for different assistance from different places and I think the message we were trying to get through to 02:22:10
residents when we've been having meetings recently is this isn't a case where. 02:22:15
You know, we forgot about people and we're just back to day-to-day. We're all, we're actively working on it. 02:22:21
We know it's to the point Patrick made is is the FEMA challenge. Feels like an uphill battle at this point, but we're going to 02:22:27
keep trying for that. 02:22:32
Thank you. 02:22:36
OK, so I already asked it. I asked if there's public comments on this item. 02:22:39
No, but there are no public comments for this item. 02:22:44
So we have a recommendation to receive an update on the local emergency declared on December 21st, 2023. 02:22:48
And to approve a letter to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services advocating for disaster relief. 02:22:55
Due to recent unprecedented weather events and authorized staff to continue advocating for disaster relief for residents. 02:23:02
And to receive an update on the third party liability claims, May I have a motion and a second? 02:23:09
Were we up? 02:23:19
No. And you know, if there is an emotion on the floor yet, so I can just speak very quickly to it. 02:23:21
And partially it was because we ended up, we went out and met with Whining Bay where some of those liability claims issues are 02:23:27
extremely relevant. And I didn't hear anybody from Wyoming Bay here today. So we weren't going to speak to just that specific 02:23:34
issue. But in a nutshell and I think it says in our report, we're aware of. 02:23:40
Some issues related to to. 02:23:48
Some claims we've received based on one of the emergency response vehicles and the city is working closely with its claims 02:23:54
adjuster right now as we speak. Our risk management team is working with them. 02:24:00
We are getting them all the information that we can get on those claims. To try to expedite that process, we also asked our 02:24:07
insurance providers to contact the residents who right now are waiting. 02:24:13
We've heard that some are waiting to make repairs because they're waiting for the outcome of this claim investigation and we've 02:24:18
asked our insurers to contact them, make sure they have all the information and then get out of the way and let them make the 02:24:23
repairs and then ultimately. 02:24:28
When the city and our insurance provider get together, then we're going to. 02:24:33
Review it and make make the determination. So we're actively working on that, we're aware of. 02:24:38
The questions related to it and we don't want people to know or we don't want people to think that it's something that we're 02:24:45
hiding from or we're ignoring. We're we're not. We're working with our insurance company. 02:24:50
Going through that process. 02:24:55
So we have a motion. Do we have a second? 02:24:58
2nd Thank you. 02:25:01
Any discussion? 02:25:04
Madam Clerk, can I confirm with the motion who made the motion? 02:25:07
Councilmember Martinez, I made the motion. OK, thank you all in favor. 02:25:13
All opposed. 02:25:20
Hearing none motion passes unanimously. 02:25:21
Thank you. 02:25:24
The next business? 02:25:26
The next business item is City Council Liaison Committee appointments for 2024. 02:25:29
Well, staff, please present the report. 02:25:35
Yes. So just at the beginning of each year, we typically go through our committee appointments for the City Council and discuss. 02:25:38
Those appointments and whether there's any desired changes to those appointments. 02:25:48
So today. 02:25:52
We have in your packet. We have the list of the different committees that we have appointments for. 02:25:54
And the current list of who's appointed to each committee. It's a lengthy list, so I'm not going to read it item by item. 02:26:00
But essentially this is the opportunity for the New Year and with and with our reorganization. 02:26:08
And the rotation of the mayor and the mayor Pro Tem positions for us to talk about. 02:26:14
Adjusting those for the coming year. 02:26:19
My suggestion would be essentially opening it up to. 02:26:23
Council to discuss whether any changes are desired and if so, which what? What are those changes? 02:26:27
OK. So I guess I will start with Council Member Martinez. I don't want to keep calling you Hernandez. 02:26:34
I'm not just Martinez, but I'm Brambilla and I'm also Hernandez, so that's probably why. 02:26:41
So seeing as I teach between 8:00. 02:26:47
2:30 PM There's a couple that I'm alternates that if anybody wants me to take over, I can take over, such as the. 02:26:52
Water agency or when you mean water agency. 02:26:59
VCOG or the air pollution, which nobody's assigned to that one yet. That's at 6:30 PM every Tuesday when necessary. 02:27:02
But honestly, like if anybody still wants like for example Gama, if you still want to be called, that's fine and. 02:27:13
Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem McQueen Lejeune, If you still want the water agency, that's that's fine too. 02:27:19
I'm I'm just letting it know that I'm I'm comfortable with my appointments and if anybody wants to rotate that's fine. 02:27:25
I'm. 02:27:32
Those are my comments. 02:27:34
Thank you. Good. 02:27:36
Yeah, I'm comfortable with my appointments. I'm more comfortable with the Beacon and Animal Services. I feel like I'm. 02:27:37
Contributing mightily to those two organizations among among the executive committee with the with Beacon Peacock has been a 02:27:45
challenge for me trying to. 02:27:51
Purpose. And I think I found that purpose in reviewing our priorities last week. 02:27:59
One of the priorities that VCOG has is waterways and beach health. 02:28:05
So I got reinvigorated. 02:28:11
And I really want to try. 02:28:14
To work vcog to help. 02:28:17
Get all the interested parties and and and working to better our ocean environment so. So I'm very comfortable with the three. The 02:28:22
only thing that I'm a little concerned about is that I think I saw that we have a new committee. 02:28:28
OK, I'll dominate. 02:28:36
Mayor for that one, Which Which? Federal outreach and Advisory Council? 02:28:37
But I want to trade you or I want to go to that, but how about do you want to try the water agency? 02:28:44
Mr. Martinez. 02:28:49
Since you're so gung ho, yeah, no. 02:28:51
The water agency, I think. 02:28:54
It's. 02:28:57
Is it? Yes, the three of us. 02:29:00
Yes. 02:29:02
I see your net. Oh, I see. OK, I see. It is. I I wouldn't mind. I mean, I'd be more than happy to take on the role. 02:29:04
To represent us on the Port Wyoming Water Agency. 02:29:10
OK, and just because Councilmember Hernandez asked this at the last meeting if she could send her comments knowing she was going 02:29:12
to be having to leave early? 02:29:18
Umm, so she did send her comments and I'm not sure if we if we got that to everybody, so I guess I. 02:29:24
So just to just because a couple of the committees that were just discussed. 02:29:32
On her list. So just so everybody. 02:29:38
I think, Councilmember Hernandez proposed. 02:29:41
That the Federal Outreach and Advisory Council which is part of the. 02:29:46
Association of Defense Communities. 02:29:51
Essentially it have the same representatives as the regional defense partnership because of the tie in. 02:29:54
And that's that's what was request. 02:30:01
It doesn't necessarily have to be the same, so it's obviously the choice of the council, but I just want to let everybody know 02:30:05
that that was a request. 02:30:08
And. 02:30:12
The other two requests that I see from Councilmember Hernandez. 02:30:14
VR. 02:30:19
Proposing council member McQueen Lejeune and oh, with the alternate being Hernandez. So that's just a switch. 02:30:20
And then VCOG proposing. 02:30:28
Mayor Perez with Councilmember Hernandez as the alternate. 02:30:30
But again, I just want to let her make sure everybody knows that, but it's also ultimately up to the council to decide. 02:30:34
And I I was thinking about be called but it takes. 02:30:40
It causes me to have to leave work early to attend that meeting. So I thought about it over the weekend and elected. It's not good 02:30:45
for my work schedule. Yeah, it's 4:00 PM on a work day in in Camarillo, which means I have to leave at 3:30 or, yeah, 3:30. 02:30:52
Yeah. And I'm reinvigorated. 02:31:00
But she can be the. 02:31:04
I'm the alternate currently. 02:31:09
Yeah, yeah, I mean that'd be switch that, since she's requesting to be an alternate. 02:31:11
So alternate Hernandez for that one, yeah. 02:31:17
For Peacock. 02:31:23
So right now I'm just going to sort of track what what we agreed to and then at the end then we'll obviously need a motion to to 02:31:25
approve all those things. 02:31:29
Ask one more question. 02:31:34
Is it true? 02:31:36
Oh, I'm sure it is the Ventura County air pollution. 02:31:37
Newly added and we don't have any representation on that. 02:31:41
Right. So there's three, there's three committees there. Well, the board and two committees. So I'm on the board and then I'm on a 02:31:45
standing committee, there's a third committee, the advisory committee and that's been vacant. 02:31:52
Port Hueneme has had a spot on that and it has never been. 02:31:59
And what exactly does the advisory committee? Because I might be interested even though my time? 02:32:05
Tough. 02:32:11
I think that's something. Yeah, I'm, I'm just looking forward to Pete. I can tell you what it is. 02:32:13
The meet once a quarter, Yeah, it's it's meet you meet at. I want to say as as needed, but let me let's find it first. 02:32:18
It's on page 5 of 11. 02:32:26
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Advisory Committee is newly added. 02:32:29
It's an appointed body that reviews proposed new or amended rules as part of the public engagement process for rural development. 02:32:34
The Advisory committee makes recommendations to the Air Pollution Control Board. 02:32:42
Regarding adoption of the new or amended rule and the Committee's recommendation is stated at the Board's public hearing 02:32:46
considering the rule action. 02:32:50
The committee occasionally takes up other issues related to air quality and is comprised comprised of 20 members. 02:32:54
Each county supervisor recommends 2 members in each of the 10 cities has one member as one member appointed. 02:33:01
So it sounds like it's sort of like an initial review and then make a recommendation that then the board approves? 02:33:07
Declines. 02:33:14
So maybe, like the vetting, vetting process, our Advisory Council? 02:33:15
Yeah, yeah, exactly like our Citizens Advisory Council. So then does our city have two appointments from ours, 11 from our 02:33:20
supervisor and who is that? Well, each city has one appointment. So that's the appointment we have is is our city appointment. 02:33:28
And then the Super about each supervisor also gets to make appointments. But that's not what we're being asked to do. At this 02:33:36
point, we're just being asked to fill our city spot. 02:33:40
And so at some point, our supervisor will make an appointment, Yeah, and theoretically they could ask us to appoint somebody else, 02:33:45
but they haven't done that yet. 02:33:49
OK, I'll avail myself to that. 02:33:57
So I would like. 02:34:04
Umm. 02:34:06
Council member Martinez Martinez. 02:34:11
I would like to try the water board agency out or the water board agency, the water agency agency. It's almost like being water 02:34:14
borders. 02:34:17
But I I would I'm still interested in doing. 02:34:26
The. 02:34:30
The Federal Outreach and Advisory Council. OK, good. So let me say this so I know there's been. 02:34:33
Request or a proposal that the same person on the RDP does the federal outreach. But I'm on the RDP and I have already a standing 02:34:39
air pollution board meeting on the day of this federal outreach, so I won't be able to do that. 02:34:46
And that's on Zoom, so I don't have to worry about having to drive. 02:34:55
Yeah, it's on Zoom because it's there's representatives all over the country on. 02:34:58
So sounds like maybe a consensus, then, that Mayor Perez. 02:35:02
And then do we want an? 02:35:08
They didn't request. 02:35:12
Sometimes they don't have alternates, for instance, it they you can appoint an alternate, but it's not required. 02:35:14
Design. 02:35:24
Well, that's up. That's up to somebody. If they want to be an alternative, I don't. I wouldn't mind being an alternate. It's early 02:35:27
enough that if needed, I I can participate. 02:35:31
Councilmember Martinez is alternate. 02:35:37
It's for RDP, right? 02:35:40
No, that's for the Federal Outreach and Advisory Council. 02:35:42
2:00 on Tuesday. 02:35:46
Can't do that one. 02:35:50
Your school schedule. 02:35:51
You can put me under as alternate. I'm sure if I can make it. 02:35:53
For whatever reason that we can, we can call someone else. 02:35:57
Alternate. 02:36:00
Anybody else want to make changes? 02:36:02
So so for me the only change would be the. 02:36:05
The switch. 02:36:10
Council member VRSD, right? 02:36:13
And then I'll keep the, I'll keep the other ones that I have. 02:36:19
Councilmember Martinez, what's happening with REACH? 02:36:25
Yeah, that's that's a tough one. 02:36:29
Or suppose, I mean, we're supposed to be meeting up tomorrow. 02:36:32
I the members that are left, I mean, I've been calling. I'm not trying to. 02:36:36
You know, point anybody out, but I've been calling and calling and I haven't really gotten a response. 02:36:40
So the idea is to like. 02:36:47
Light the fire back up and bring it up. 02:36:49
I went to the last meeting too, and I think that exactly what Council Member Martinez. 02:36:52
Just said is I think. 02:36:58
Reaches sort of figuring out how to regroup and kind of restart. 02:36:59
So I think that's going to be a big part of that job this year is helping the reach board figure out how to. 02:37:04
Kick start again. So that's going to need a new board. It's going to need some work. 02:37:11
So everyone else is good with their changes? Do I need to make any changes so I am no longer on the water agency? 02:37:20
I am. I guess I missed that one. Is that one you're you're off of the water? 02:37:30
Mr. Martinez is. 02:37:37
And then we we had an alternate before We need an alternate. That's what I was going to say. 02:37:39
Before, so I don't know if you want to reapers, OK? 02:37:45
I think it's time for you to get educated in water. 02:37:53
What I have as far as changes is. 02:38:00
Federal Outreach and Advisory Council Mayor Perez. 02:38:05
With the alternate Council Member Martinez. 02:38:09
Water agency. 02:38:12
Are. 02:38:14
Where Councilmember Martinez is the appointee and Mayor Perez is the alternate. 02:38:16
VCOG new Alternate Council Member Hernandez. 02:38:24
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Advisory Committee, New appointee, Council Member G. 02:38:29
And Ventura Regional Sanitation District. 02:38:36
Swapping where it's now, Council. 02:38:39
McQueen. Would Mayor Pro Tem McQueen? 02:38:43
As the appointee and Councilmember Hernandez as the alternate. 02:38:46
So if that all sounds good, there could be a motion to approve. 02:38:52
I'd like to make a motion to approve the recommendations second. 02:38:56
All in favor. 02:39:04
All opposed. 02:39:06
Hearing none motion passes unanimously with Councilmember Hernandez being absent. 02:39:07
And the two points are for the federal outreach. 02:39:13
I already said that I'm on the EDC. Oh, we have to change the City Ports Committee. 02:39:16
We have. 02:39:22
Martinez and Add. 02:39:23
McQueen. 02:39:25
Right, OK. 02:39:27
Do we need to vote for that? It's essentially with the rotation. My understanding is that. 02:39:29
OK. So we'll make that change unless there's a motion to do something other than that. 02:39:34
We are done with that. 02:39:48
Oh, sorry, I didn't ask if there were any public comments. 02:39:51
No public comments. 02:39:55
So item number 10, which is the reorganization of specific positions within the city's Parking Enforcement Division and City 02:40:02
Manager's Office. 02:40:06
Will you please present the report? 02:40:11
Yes, thank you. And I'm going to keep this one pretty brief normally. 02:40:14
Doing some of these reorganization, reorganization type things. 02:40:19
Do not require council action and typically when we're talking staffing, those are things that are handled administratively. 02:40:22
But this is on the agenda for two reasons. One is we wanted to sort of let people know that we are looking at making a change. 02:40:31
Umm with our Parking Enforcement Division moving it to the Police Department to work closely with our Police Department. 02:40:39
On identifying priorities and then doing priority based enforcement. 02:40:46
And being able to work with the Police Department in doing that. 02:40:53
So we just wanted to let people know about. 02:40:58
And then second is because the reorganization does include the elimination of one position. It's a position that was created in 02:41:01
2020. 02:41:06
It's the in the city managers. 02:41:11
It's it's bounced around from the city manager's office to the Police Department and back. And I think part of that was just. 02:41:15
Trying to figure out how to make it work, but it was the position that was titled the city's Emergency Preparedness and 02:41:23
communications manager position. So as part of the reorganization and and where we're trying to look to increase. 02:41:30
Some efficiencies and things like that. 02:41:39
We see a need in the City Managers office for more administrative support and analytical support to to help with a variety of 02:41:41
projects and not just focused in one particular area. 02:41:48
So that part of the item requires an approval because we're eliminating a position. 02:41:55
And we're. 02:42:03
Including a layoff of one position within the city. 02:42:06
And and so that item is on the agenda for approval because that has to be approved by the City Council. 02:42:11
So as I said we're we're making those adjustments to try. 02:42:18
Improve some of our service levels, improve the coordination between some of those areas. 02:42:24
And. 02:42:30
Be more efficient with the few amount of employees that we have and try to figure out how to maximize that efficiency. So we 02:42:32
recommend. 02:42:36
Receiving the update on that process that I just provided and then adopting the resolution, approving and adopting the pay 02:42:42
schedule with. 02:42:46
The elimination of a position and the creation of confidential administrative analysts to provide that administrative and 02:42:52
analytical support. 02:42:55
To the to our city as a whole. So we recommend. 02:43:00
Both of those items at this time. 02:43:05
And I'm happy to answer any questions. 02:43:07
Thank you. 02:43:09
Do Council have any questions? 02:43:11
Go ahead, city managers, thank you so much for the report. 02:43:14
You spoke about deficiencies and I don't. You don't have to tell me what the deficiency you're trying to. 02:43:20
Effects are but just for our residents sake, what are some of the? 02:43:26
Changes or Differences or the results of this reorg What will our residents see? 02:43:32
Yeah, yeah. I think one of the things for us is. 02:43:39
You know, our police department's a good example when we're talking about the parking enforcement aspect. 02:43:44
Of our police. 02:43:50
Focuses on priorities. We don't have the resources to police every single issue at all times, everywhere in the city. 02:43:52
So police. 02:43:59
Focus on those priorities. And, you know, some people may see that if you're going a mile under the speed limit or a mile over the 02:44:01
speed limit, you're not. 02:44:06
Our Police Department is probably not pulling you over because there's just other priorities. 02:44:11
You know that we're working on. 02:44:16
And I think an easy way to like sort of summarize that is like the Police Department really enforces the the spirit of the law 02:44:18
versus the letter of the law and hold, you know, holding people to the exact letter of the law. 02:44:24
And for me, one of the key things is the Parking enforcement Team and and where I've seen parking enforcement really be 02:44:31
successful. 02:44:35
And other agencies is when they work with the Police Department and they understand that as well. 02:44:40
That it's about enforcing the spirit of the law and not necessarily not necessarily the letter of the law. 02:44:45
You know, we've all kind of heard and seen things where, you know, people talk about getting rulers out and measuring if we're 02:44:52
exactly 18 inches away or less from the curb. And one of the goals with with having the Police Department work closely with 02:44:57
parking enforcement would be providing sort of that guidance and. 02:45:03
And helping them understand the spirit of law. What are we trying to accomplish? What safety improvement are we trying to reach? 02:45:09
Versus having people feel like it's sort of arbitrary and and you know, the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. 02:45:17
And I just think the Police Department is very good at usually working with other teams on that because the Police Department, 02:45:25
police officers have had to become sort of experts in how to do that well and reasonably. 02:45:31
So that people don't feel like we're just out hassling people. 02:45:37
And so. 02:45:41
One of the things that we have tried to do recently was in the Police Department we. 02:45:43
Sort of creating a traffic division, for lack of a better word with our motorcycle officer and some of the officers focused on 02:45:50
traffic and speeding and those issues. 02:45:54
And so they will be working closely and tying in perfectly with the Parking Enforcement Team. 02:46:00
To actually be able to sort of target like, what are the actual problems we're trying to solve here, you know? 02:46:06
So I think for me. 02:46:12
That item? That's a key. 02:46:14
Key improvement that we're hoping to see is sort of getting the empowering the department. 02:46:16
To have that goal of enforcing the spirit of the law, not just the letter of the law, and where our priorities are and where we, 02:46:27
our community and we want to. 02:46:32
Focusing on. 02:46:40
Priority type issues. 02:46:42
I guess I'll just follow just one more. I'll just follow that up with. 02:46:45
So what do you imagine that the enforcement team will do differently? 02:46:50
So I think now it seems like they're just giving tickets. Yeah, what? What other kind of things? Yeah, maybe doing. 02:46:56
Yeah, actually that'd be great, 'cause I think the chief and I have talked about sort. 02:47:03
The path we want to take and I it will be sort of moving into his camp, so I'd love to comment on this, especially down the path 02:47:08
that you're talking about, understand. 02:47:12
The parking enforcement for decades in the city was under the Police Department and it got moved. 02:47:17
Probably about 20 years ago or so, about the time I left. 02:47:24
When it was under the Police Department, it the talk about the efficiencies and effectiveness. There are things that parking 02:47:29
enforcement used to be able to do in conjunction with police services in the city, Traffic Safety and freeing up your police 02:47:34
officers from minor tasks. 02:47:39
That somehow we got away from, and I've seen that in the six months I've been back, for example. 02:47:46
Parking enforcement handles toes all day long with what we call A180 form. 02:47:51
Toe farm and they stand by for tow trucks, and they tow. 02:47:55
It would be nice when in their free time to keep them on our radio frequency. They're on their own radio frequency now. Put them 02:47:59
on the police radio frequency like they were for decades before, where they could actually come relieve an officer. 02:48:04
Who's on an? 02:48:10
A traffic accident? 02:48:12
To not only help with the traffic control. 02:48:13
But to stand by for maybe the. 02:48:16
To allow the officer to go back out and handle pending radio calls. It's very effective, it's a great use and that is how it's 02:48:20
done. 02:48:23
In the majority of cities surrounding us that have parking enforcement under. 02:48:26
The other thing is, when we talk about enforcement, James's point on with. 02:48:31
Spirit of the law. Letter of the law. 02:48:36
I think so many folks in this awesome community have gotten use. 02:48:38
To the police department's ability to have that compassionate spirit side when we have to. 02:48:43
And when we can and we're kind of more. 02:48:50
Know when we have to and say yes when we can like we can, we can help folks out. 02:48:53
And uh. 02:48:58
There are some parking enforcement rules that yes, when you drive by you see this violation occurring. 02:49:00
But do I need to cite somebody for blocking a residential drive? 02:49:06
When the person did not call us. 02:49:11
And it could be that person who was leaving with. 02:49:14
The to go to work or something and forgot, oh, I forgot my phone in the house, went back right in the house to get it and they're 02:49:17
coming out. Well, it's their driveway, so I don't want to take the initiative unless a resident's calling me. 02:49:22
I shouldn't just observe it and then go take the enforcement action. That's something should probably be generated by the 02:49:28
resident. There's there's moments like that that we would follow. 02:49:32
Under the leadership of the Police Department. So it's it's that that's just one of. 02:49:37
The path that he talked about us taking, but the efficiency and effectiveness. 02:49:43
There are times when even your police chiefs out here during heavy winds helping with traffic control. 02:49:48
But we have somebody in the city out writing parking tickets. We probably reuse that resource to help us with traffic control out 02:49:53
here. So that's that's a good example. 02:49:56
Great. Thank you. And I I appreciate the example as well. 02:50:01
Yeah, I just want to. 02:50:05
Make the comment that. 02:50:07
The letter of the law enforcement with parking has gotten all of. 02:50:09
And I think we've been talking about this for years, five years that I've been on council to. 02:50:14
I know so many stories where somebody forgets their keys, they run inside, they come out and have a $53 ticket and there's no 02:50:21
capacity to. 02:50:25
You know give give a little bit of a understanding that hey, you know. 02:50:30
People have issues like that and so. 02:50:34
When we implement this. 02:50:39
We are trying to improve. 02:50:43
Our interaction with our residents, I think. 02:50:47
What I'm hearing is that correct? 02:50:51
Yes, yes. We're trying to not be so much letter of the law. Oh, it's one minute after nine and you haven't gotten your car yet. 02:50:52
You get a ticket. So we're gonna. 02:50:57
I think that's really good news for our community and I hope. 02:51:02
Yeah, I just hope that our community is aware and and works with us and makes it work. 02:51:07
Then just to sort of answer the question on the second position, I think. 02:51:15
One of the key things, just big picture. 02:51:20
Big cities. 02:51:23
Big cities have a lot of highly specialized positions. A person who does one thing and that's all they do and you know, and in a 02:51:25
big city you can have a luxury of. 02:51:30
Of being able to have one thing that you focus on and that's your thing. And I think people who know my history know I worked in 02:51:36
the city of Oxnard, City of Oxnard's budget at this point, I imagine, because when I left it was 400 million and I'm guessing 02:51:42
they're about half a billion dollars now. 02:51:47
We don't have that half a billion dollar budget. 02:51:54
$30 million budget and maybe getting a little smaller as we as we move along. 02:51:57
So for me, just big picture, some of these positions that we had created over the last couple years that are highly specialized. 02:52:02
What we're looking at. 02:52:09
Just sort of that small city reality that everybody here, and I think all of us can speak to it. Everybody here right now, and our 02:52:11
police chief who's out on bike patrol and everything else. We all have multiple jobs. No one really has the luxury of just saying 02:52:17
this is the one thing I do. 02:52:23
So we're looking at some of the positions that were created in the last couple years where maybe we had more cannabis revenue and 02:52:29
things like that coming in, but and then looking at sort of. 02:52:35
How we can make those? 02:52:41
Broader to help in multiple areas, we need help versus just the highly specialized position. So that second change is essentially 02:52:44
doing that with one of our more specialized positions. 02:52:50
And can you oh, do you have anyone one more? 02:52:58
Yeah. Just for information and for those in the Airways, can you tell us a little bit about, so we're talking about a new position 02:53:01
and then you talked about the reorganis. 02:53:08
You said laying off someone. Can you tell me how this new position, I guess in your office is going to affect our budget, since 02:53:17
budget is something we're all we. 02:53:22
Yeah, and so one of the things. 02:53:27
Nice about having an analyst level position is that they actually are sort of the first round of review of? 02:53:30
Things like the budget and. 02:53:37
Really. Where? You know we have our budget, but. 02:53:40
Anybody who's read our budget. 02:53:43
Knows. 02:53:45
400 pages or whatever it is of line item by line item budget. 02:53:47
And so. 02:53:52
It's not unusual and I've seen in several other cities having an analyst position, who's that person who's able to dig into that 02:53:54
because a lot of the times when some of the some of us are involved in it. 02:54:01
We are having to look at the budget very quickly and bigger picture. 02:54:08
And having somebody who's analyst level who can go in and actually go line item by line item with our finance director working 02:54:13
closely, but it's somebody who knows and that's part of why that positions a confidential position, it's somebody who knows what 02:54:17
our goal. 02:54:22
Is with the budget and knows what we're looking to try to do. That's a key. 02:54:27
Sort of first step in that budget review process. 02:54:34
And so there's the budget analysis. 02:54:38
A lot. 02:54:42
Analyst level work that they can that that position would help with typically it also helps with sort of like job classification 02:54:43
analysis and those types of things. 02:54:47
And that will ultimately. 02:54:52
Take a lot of pressure off of positions like my mine and the finance director and the HR manager. 02:54:56
Because they're going to be sort of that first detailed review. 02:55:03
So that's an area that will really help and then they also can take on. 02:55:08
And we laid out some, like a lot of other duties that they can help with as well. 02:55:13
Great. Thank you. Thank you. 02:55:18
Can you also? 02:55:20
Just note the. 02:55:22
Emergency Management for the public view if there's any concerns about the fact. 02:55:25
Remove the Emergency Management position that will be moved to the Police Department and that will be handled by people with 02:55:30
experience and who have training and education with Emergency Management. 02:55:35
So there's no reason to be concerned about the fact that we're losing that position. Yes, I think the Police Department and my 02:55:42
department. 02:55:46
Have already. 02:55:50
Those roles you look at and remember that position, it was kind of two things, emergency preparedness and communications. 02:55:52
And for example, the Police Department has taken on their own communications and has managed their own Facebook page and those 02:56:00
types of things for several months at this point. 02:56:05
And then our the city Managers department would maintain communications for the rest of the organization. 02:56:10
And then? 02:56:17
In the emergency situations we've had here since I've arrived, unfortunately there's been more than one people who who don't 02:56:19
remember the hurricane, which was sort of the first one. 02:56:25
It's been. 02:56:32
Kind of the. 02:56:35
People that manage the EOC and and operate that are myself in the police chief. 02:56:38
That's what will be occurring moving forward. It's going to be the the city manager and the police chief working closely on 02:56:45
emergencies and that. 02:56:50
What I have seen and what I have done in. 02:56:56
Like I said in really in smaller cities and when I say small, I, you know, I know poor enemy 30,000. 02:57:00
We're not exactly a small town, but compared to the cities that have sort of a standalone specialized position. 02:57:07
You know, it's the Oxnard, it's the county, it's the agencies that. 02:57:15
You know, hundreds of millions of dollars. 02:57:20
10s of millions of dollars. 02:57:22
No further questions. 02:57:26
Are there any public comments? 02:57:29
We have two public comments that were. 02:57:31
First, one City Council members. Per the stated recommendation, the proposed reorganization is intended to result in efficiency 02:57:35
improvements and ultimately allow for better coordination and collaboration across departments. 02:57:42
Resulting in improved service to the Port Wyoming community. 02:57:49
By all accounts that I'm aware of, members of the community have been very supportive of City Manager Vega and Police Chief 02:57:52
Federico as they have settled into their relatively new leadership roles in Port Hueneme. As such, it would be nice to see a 02:57:58
unanimous vote from the Council in favor of this recommendation, allowing them to manage city affairs with the goal of improving 02:58:03
service to our residents. 02:58:09
Thank you, Jeffrey Scarber. 02:58:15
The next one was provided by Laura de Hernandez since she was unable to be here. 02:58:19
Dear Honorable Port Wenemee City Council, I would like to express my concern regarding item number 10 on the City Council agenda 02:58:26
for January 16, 2024. 02:58:30
This item is requesting approval for a reorganization, including the elimination of the PIO and Emergency Preparedness Manager 02:58:35
position. As a former Emergency Manager and Certified Public Information Officer, I clearly understand the importance of these two 02:58:41
functions prior to, during and following a major disaster. 02:58:48
These functions play a very important role in providing for the safety and well-being of our residents, protection of our 02:58:55
environment, as well as critical facilities and life lines. 02:59:00
Each of these functions are responsible for a wide range of duties, each of which could respectively justify a full time position. 02:59:05
To combine these responsibilities into a Management analyst position with additional duties will not increase the efficiencies or 02:59:13
allow this position to be effective in carrying out their many responsibilities. 02:59:19
Instead, the position will be forced to prioritize their list of duties and likely place Emergency Management at the bottom of 02:59:26
the. 02:59:29
Emergency planning, training and preparing will take a backseat to more pressing issues of the day. 02:59:34
This reorganization appears to reduce and diminish the value of the emergency preparedness PIO rather than strengthen it. 02:59:39
In my 40 years as an Emergency Management professional, I have seen this happen in many jurisdictions. 02:59:47
It happens because people gamble with the notion that a major emergency or disaster won't happen to us. Well, it happened to us on 02:59:53
December 21st. So why now, on the hills of one of our worst disasters are we eliminating and dismantling this position? What is 02:59:59
the urgency? 03:00:04
As a result of declaring a local emergency, the state will be legally required to do a thorough After Action report. 03:00:10
AAR. This AAR will identify areas for improvement and will enable the city to be prepared for the next disaster. 03:00:17
Improving our preparedness can only happen if your City Council understands the significance of this function and supports it as a 03:00:25
high priority. 03:00:29
I respectfully ask the City Council to not approve the proposed reorganization as it relates to the Emergency Preparedness Manager 03:00:34
and PIO and instead wait until the completion of the after action report. 03:00:40
Thank you for your consideration, Laura dear. 03:00:46
And that concludes public comment. 03:00:49
Thank you. 03:00:51
I know it was submitted as a public comment, but since it is a statement from a council member, I'd like to just. 03:00:54
Reply a little bit and I. 03:01:00
One thing I would sort of respond to that point is that. 03:01:04
We. 03:01:11
My department working closely with the Police Department, we. 03:01:13
Responded to the storm since 1:30 the morning of the storm to now and continuing on, you know, we were trying to estimate. 03:01:17
Three more weeks, Four more weeks. It might be longer than that at this point and so. 03:01:25
I don't anticipate that any of the changes we're recommending. 03:01:32
Will impact that in. 03:01:37
And. 03:01:40
The reorganization intent is to actually provide us support and to strengthen our reaction and. 03:01:41
Be able to have that support to be able to hand off lower priority things so that we can focus on the high priority things like 03:01:50
emergency recovery. So I don't anticipate that being an issue and. 03:01:57
We recommend moving forward with the with the item. 03:02:04
Thank you. Are there any? 03:02:08
Comment, Yeah. 03:02:09
City manager can you just? 03:02:14
Tell me if is the confidential administ. 03:02:17
Analysts going to do any emergency preparedness. 03:02:21
Work. 03:02:26
So the the. 03:02:28
Any position in the city manager's office is going to be involved with emergency response. 03:02:30
And so the reason I was sort of. 03:02:37
Being fine with what I said. 03:02:40
The preparedness portion is going to be handled by a couple of positions. 03:02:43
But. 03:02:50
This position would be pulled in, for example, into the EOC. To help operate the EOC, the position will be pulled in as. 03:02:53
One of the. 03:03:01
Points of contact for our other staff members to be able to get assistance out and and those types of things, so this position 03:03:04
would be involved. 03:03:08
Emergency. 03:03:13
And every position in the city manager's office is and is expected to be. So, yeah, so, so let me, let me. 03:03:15
Ask it a little further. 03:03:22
So I think I heard you say that the city manager and. 03:03:24
Police chief will lead the effort. 03:03:30
In the emergency services, so this is a support. 03:03:34
Kind of a support kind of staff. Exactly, exactly. And it's someone you know wouldn't. And we saw this in during the storm and 03:03:38
I'll ask you to speak in a minute because I know you some of the same points but. 03:03:44
During the storm, as an example, we had situations where. 03:03:50
Umm, we were making decisions about what response. 03:03:54
Was we were going to go out and implement and at the same time we had media requests coming in that were coming to to us. We had 03:03:59
requests even, you know, just little things like we part of the City Hall was flooding at one point and so then we were also 03:04:04
trying to coordinate, OK, you know. 03:04:10
How do we deal with that while we're also focusing on the community and you know, all these things and so? 03:04:16
The every position in the city manager's office gets pulled into that in the emergency every position, the city manager's office 03:04:23
is part of that response as are multiple police officers and we had police officers who were sick and and came in at 2:00 in the 03:04:30
morning and that we told go home because you're too sick and. 03:04:36
If we really need you, we'll call you back, you know, so. So it is a team effort and I think that's where, you know, kind of my 03:04:43
initial point was just cities of our size. We don't have the luxury of having one person who does one thing and all the positions 03:04:49
that we're creating are. 03:04:54
Provide a variety of support so that. 03:04:59
Support where we need it and when we need it. So if I could just let the chief add a little. So so two things. One if you remember 03:05:02
when I did my intro here. 03:05:07
To the Council when I. 03:05:13
I think one of the reasons I was selected for the city was my extensive background in incident command, system and Emergency 03:05:15
Management. 03:05:19
Not only have I been in government for 30 years and working. 03:05:23
Incidents, including the 90 storms that we're constantly hearing and referring to, was in the city as a young officer. But large 03:05:27
events with 60,000 people planned events the LA Marathon. 03:05:33
And as an ICS instructor, I was tasked with teaching. 03:05:39
A. Numerous agencies in Los Angeles County. 03:05:43
Including police chiefs on running major incidents. So it's an extensive background and I was assigned to the Office of Emergency 03:05:47
Management. 03:05:51
In the city of Santa Monica for some time, working in the city manager's office there. During some critical times, you add the 03:05:56
number. 03:06:00
Earthquakes. I've worked through the 94 earthquake in this city. 03:06:05
And several other natural dis. 03:06:10
Coupled with the fact that you just hired a city manager. 03:06:13
Who just was held to? 03:06:17
With his fire incidents in Ohio. 03:06:20
Which at some points can be in a worse position than our city because you have limited. 03:06:23
Resources. Limited access to your city, so we hired the right person to come in at that role. 03:06:28
Yeah, at least one thing we don't have that they have is they have one way in and out of hand, and if it's closed, you're stuck. 03:06:34
And so why need me? We have some advantages over over that community and it's we've talked a lot about recovery, we've talked a 03:06:40
lot about what's been going on. 03:06:44
I will also say this, your Police Department has more certified Incident Command System Certificate employees than anybody else in 03:06:49
the in the city. We're actually fortunate to have a few people who worked in Emergency Management. 03:06:55
Over there. So everything we set up in the middle of the night in that storm. 03:07:01
Was kind of trading on the go for those that who hadn't had training for years here in the department, but they picked up very 03:07:07
quickly and and we got it together. 03:07:11
We've talked a lot about the incident, a lot about the other stuff going on, but specifically I will tell you this, 30 years in 03:07:16
government, I've worked in Emergency Management. 03:07:20
I've worked for a lot of city managers and I've watched. 03:07:24
People walk into emergency operations centers from the upper management of a city. 03:07:27
With limited decision making abilities and constantly relying on others. 03:07:33
James walked into that, actually was making decisions before he got in there. 03:07:38
On the phone with us, he was on point immediately with the. 03:07:43
And he made some really tough decisions in that emergency operations center, which started your city's recovery immediately the 03:07:47
next morning. We did not wait, but that's because he told us move, go make it happen. And he declared a made the declaration of 03:07:53
emergency right away to allow us to go beyond red tape to get resources and make things happen. So very impressed with him so far. 03:07:59
Your city employees are very impressed with him. If you ask around, you will hear they're ready to have him lead them again in 03:08:05
emergency. So. 03:08:11
Thank you. Thank you. If I could just add quickly, it's sorry I keep doing that to you, but let's say so, but I know the. 03:08:17
I think there are a couple questions and I think maybe I can see the concern of like well, who's going to be responsible for it or 03:08:25
you know and. 03:08:28
Part of the, the reason why I'm saying it's it's sort of that joint effort is because there's different phases of the emergency. 03:08:33
And I just want to make this point because we just had the presentation earlier. 03:08:38
To me and what what is typical in small cities, but even at the county, it's the Sheriff's Department, Office of Emergency 03:08:43
Services. 03:08:48
And the agency that responds to the emergency and that jumps into action is typically your public safety agency. 03:08:52
Your police? 03:09:01
Fire department and and they have the connection and they have the communication locked in and everything. 03:09:03
So moving forward the, you know, the vision maybe to to address any concern about, you know responsibility. 03:09:09
The Police Department. 03:09:17
The agency that should and and would handle the emergency response. 03:09:19
I'm gonna be in the EOC, I'm gonna be operating the EOC and then I think one reason why I'm saying like. 03:09:24
You know that there's sort of the split of duties. 03:09:31
Like right now the recovery phase that we're in on. 03:09:34
To me, that's where. 03:09:38
It's in my hands and I'm the person who has the elected officials phone numbers and emails and I'm the person who's calling people 03:09:40
and trying to get. 03:09:44
Letters of support, and I'm trying to get FEMA declarations and those types of things. 03:09:50
So I I don't want to make it sound like we're like, yeah, we'll figure out how it's split up. 03:09:55
Police will handle the emergency response and emergency. 03:10:01
I will like the storm. 03:10:06
Be part of that recovery process and operating the EOC but. 03:10:09
We we have that kind of areas of responsibility mapped out and. 03:10:14
It's just part of, like I said, you know, when we had the EOC we had. 03:10:21
10 finance people in the room helping out because we're a small city and ultimately everybody could get pulled in and everybody's 03:10:27
going to be an emergency responder or disaster service worker. 03:10:32
Any of those your your city manager can be your incident commander and your operations chief, your logistics section, your 03:10:39
planning can be run by can be headed by your Police Department. 03:10:44
With assistance from all the other. 03:10:50
If I get to the city before him, I can be your incident commander. Until he gets there, it's it's good teamwork. And in any case, 03:10:53
my commander, Bob Alverson, could be the incident commander, My administrative Sergeant Beer, incident commander. 03:10:59
People with experience and training on it so So it doesn't matter if if he's the incident commander as long as he has a strong 03:11:05
operations, logistics, planning. 03:11:09
Team beneath. 03:11:15
The city will be successful in its recovery. 03:11:16
I just want to say I'm really proud of this council for the hires of our police chief and our city manager and at 2:00 PM. 03:11:20
December 21st I was communicating with our city manager because I got called over to the port to deal with our issues and then I 03:11:28
was very impressed to know that you were in communication with him and, you know, by, I don't know, three in the morning. 03:11:36
Things were up and running, maybe even earlier, and so I I I just. I think it worked very well. I think the two of. 03:11:45
Rose to the occasion without any hesitation. 03:11:54
And like I said, it started with myself, communicated with our city manager at 2:00 in the morning because I had to respond to a 03:11:57
situation at the port, so. 03:12:01
I'm just proud of both of you and I'm really looking forward to the future with with you two at the helm for any future emergency 03:12:06
and I know we're well prepared and thank you very much. 03:12:11
Thank you. 03:12:16
And I'm getting a little off topic, but I want to give a little bit of a shout out to you that Fred Camarillo was on the phone 03:12:17
with us at at 1:45 I think was and I think you were here 1st and you and so I want to give some credit there and a couple of our 03:12:26
other department directors were were here shortly after that. So we have a good team and everybody knows. 03:12:34
I think, you know, just going back and I've said it a lot. 03:12:43
In a small city, everybody. 03:12:46
We're all going to get pulled in. We all need to respond. We all have to. 03:12:48
All our weight because we don't have hundreds and hundreds of employees that we can pull in. So and I'll just clean it up, but I 03:12:52
was there that day as well, but I sat in the corner and watched everybody and waited until they needed something for me. 03:12:58
I didn't want to get in the way, but everybody was. It looked like a well, old machine. Everybody doing what they needed to do. 03:13:05
Everybody from finance to public works to community development to just staffing. 03:13:11
Georgiana, everybody was in there doing what they needed to do, so it was a really interesting thing to see. 03:13:17
Had different department heads like Fred, he's running stuff from the failed, but he sends a representative to the EOC and that's 03:13:23
all we need. We need, we need communication, but he's getting us vehicles while he's. 03:13:28
Handling. 03:13:35
Overseeing what's happening to the water flow in the city. The pump.