Transcript

Event transcript
Welcome to the City Council regular meeting. I am calling this meeting. 00:01:48
To order at 6:30. 00:01:52
Please stand and join me for the flag salute. 00:01:56
Ready. Begin. 00:02:02
I pledge allegiance to the flag. 00:02:04
Of the United States of America. 00:02:06
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:02:08
One nation under God. 00:02:10
Madam Clerk, please take role. 00:02:21
Councilmember Gama. 00:02:23
Here. Councilmember Hernandez here. Councilmember Perez here. 00:02:25
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez. 00:02:29
Here. Mayor McQueen Lejeune here. 00:02:31
We're going to begin with our inspiration. Councilmember Comma. I'm excited. I love inspiration. 00:02:34
By the end of this short little presentation, I hope that you're all inspired. OK, so here we go. 00:02:39
So there's two. 00:02:46
My inspiration is about water. 00:02:47
There's two sources of water in California. There's the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River. 00:02:50
This is a picture of the California Aqueduct, a man by the name of Mulholland. 00:02:55
Engineered this in like 1937 and he did it with a piece of paper and a. 00:03:00
What do you call it? Surveying equipment and a pencil writing down and so it's gravity fed. 00:03:05
And it comes down. 00:03:09
And then this is the other source of water for California. This is the. 00:03:11
This is the color. 00:03:14
Rado River and it's. 00:03:16
Held up at the Boulder Dam. 00:03:18
That's what the Boulder Dam looks like. 00:03:20
This was constructed in 1937. There's a hydroelectric power plant there. 00:03:22
It goes. 00:03:29
Down this way towards. 00:03:31
California because it starts off in Arizona and Nevada. 00:03:34
And this is Lake Havasu. And if you ever been to Lake Havasu, if you've been there multiple times, you'll notice that the. 00:03:39
The level of the lake never changes. 00:03:45
And there's a reason for that. 00:03:47
Because it's an open pipe. 00:03:48
So this is the the way the water comes down. 00:03:50
To Southern California, and it passes through Lake Havasu, which is always at the same level because it's an open pipe. 00:03:54
So what happens when you hit a mountain? You have to have. 00:04:01
A lift station, so to speak, to lift the water up and over the mountain. 00:04:05
These are the pipes that do it, and this is what it looks like. 00:04:09
And then it lifts it up to another lake that catches the water and then it'll. 00:04:13
Start working its way down. 00:04:18
This is another view of a lift station. 00:04:20
There at the end of the Lake Havasu. 00:04:24
And then this is the aqueduct. 00:04:27
After the lift station for the Colorado, Colorado River and this heads all the way down to San Diego eventually and it by contract 00:04:29
it has to deliver 1.4 million acre feet of water to the Mexico. 00:04:35
Here's another lift station in the desert. 00:04:43
This particular one is interesting because it lifts the water up into a tunnel and it. 00:04:45
Travels through somewhere and it comes out and again it's gravity fed to its destination. 00:04:50
This is at the five. 00:04:54
In the. 00:04:56
Freeway 5 and the 405 come to go back together I think. 00:04:58
What's interesting here is. 00:05:02
You can see the water cascading down the open side. 00:05:04
Which doesn't happen all the time and and. 00:05:07
Sometimes it's also taken by a pipe. 00:05:10
And then they. 00:05:13
Process it here at this facility, which I forget the name and I think it's called Riverside Processing Plant. 00:05:15
And here in Winemi, you may have noticed there's been a lot of projects going on here on this end of town. 00:05:21
And it's really interesting because we have great workers in our. 00:05:27
Public Works Department and there was an abandoned pipe. 00:05:32
And This is why institutional knowledge is very important. There's an abandoned pipe. 00:05:36
And they're redoing our water. 00:05:40
Outflow system. 00:05:43
And nowadays if. 00:05:45
They could take this. 00:05:47
Big pipe that they connect by fusing it together. 00:05:49
And they could. 00:05:53
Drag 505 hundred foot sections of pipe underground. 00:05:54
So it's quite a remarkable thing that. 00:05:58
Brian Flamenco and Charles Cable and Fred. 00:06:01
Camarillo are heading up. 00:06:05
And so this is what it looks like when they're dragging it through the old clay pipe which has been abandoned. 00:06:07
And like I said, they do it in 500 foot sections. 00:06:12
So if you think about our community and any community. 00:06:16
When you turn the water on. 00:06:19
It's connected. It's a little pipe that's connected to a bigger pipe that's connected to a bigger pipe that's connected to a 00:06:21
bigger pipe that's connected to a processing plant that's probably connected to either the California Aqueduct or the Colorado 00:06:25
River. 00:06:29
So every time you turn your water on every morning, it's an opportunity to be inspired. If you're having a bad day, bad night, 00:06:34
wake up, you turn that water on and it's like, it should make you feel good, so. 00:06:39
Hopefully from here on out, every time you brush your teeth in the morning, you'll start your day off. 00:06:45
Inspired by water? 00:06:50
Great. Thank you. 00:06:54
That deserves a hand clap, thank you. 00:06:56
Thank you, Councilmember Gama. 00:07:01
We will now hear public comments not pertaining to the items on the agenda. 00:07:03
Comments are limited to three minutes. This process will be the same same for comments pertaining to each agenda item. 00:07:07
Madam, Madam Clerk, does anyone have any public comments? Yes, First up, we'll have Ned Branch and then followed by Greg Ross. 00:07:14
Good evening, Mayor, Deputy Mayor. 00:07:25
Council members and the city manager. 00:07:28
My name is Ned Branch. I'm the Deputy Director for the Ventura County Library System. 00:07:31
And I came tonight to just give you an update on what's going on with your library and its reconstruction. 00:07:35
Things are moving along very well now at this point in time since. 00:07:41
Over a year ago we had to close and we had a lot of battles with insurance companies and. 00:07:45
One thing and another, but things are going much better now. 00:07:52
We've completely replaced the sprinkler system that was in the library. 00:07:55
The ceiling has been completely replaced, the flooring has been completely replaced. It's all been painted. 00:07:59
By the end of the week, the bathrooms will be done. 00:08:05
So we are looking at. 00:08:08
Getting pretty close to reopening the library. There is a remodeling project going on for which. 00:08:10
I think the city building department and. 00:08:17
City Manager for getting our building permits for us to be able to commence that work. 00:08:19
Demo started this week. 00:08:24
And we're anticipating about a month's. 00:08:26
Reconstruction. Turning the old children's space into an innovation lab. 00:08:29
So we're getting close. We will be asking to work with you folks. 00:08:33
Soon to plan a grand reopening sometime in the spring. 00:08:38
And we'll start off by talking with the city manager and. 00:08:42
Then we'll be soliciting ideas from you. 00:08:46
I have one more announcement, one more update. You all know that in November. 00:08:48
Tim Fergal left to take a new position in New York. 00:08:54
We have just now appointed a new. 00:08:59
Regional Librarian for the East Region. 00:09:02
Who will be headquartered here at the Port Wayne ME Library. 00:09:05
Her name is Anne Hoja. She's currently the library manager for our Oak Park branch. 00:09:09
I shall be assuming her new duties on I believe it's March the 2nd. 00:09:14
So just in time to help with reopening the new library. 00:09:19
So just wanted to let you know and thank you for your patience and thank the community for their patience. 00:09:22
Every time I've been at the library it seems like people are always stopping by to ask when are you going to open? When are you 00:09:27
going to open? Well, pretty soon we'll be able to give them an exact date. 00:09:31
So if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. Otherwise I just wanted to let you know that. 00:09:36
Pretty soon we're going to have a library again. 00:09:41
Thank you so much. I'm excited about it. 00:09:45
Good evening, council members, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem. 00:10:00
And City Manager Mr. Vega. 00:10:04
My name is Greg Ross. I've lived in. 00:10:07
Ventura County for 55 years. 00:10:10
South Oxnard for 10 years. 00:10:13
Over in. 00:10:16
The other side of the. 00:10:18
Silver Strand and then now here in. 00:10:20
Fort Wayne, Amy since 2000. 00:10:24
I'm I'm really. 00:10:28
Starting to take my gloves off. 00:10:30
I'm very proud of this city. 00:10:32
But yet. 00:10:35
I have this really strong feeling. 00:10:36
That for a lot of reasons. 00:10:39
Because I go to a lot of the Harbor Commission meetings. 00:10:41
That portway Nemi is the red headed stepchild to the port. 00:10:45
And Oxnard. 00:10:50
The wind doesn't blow that way. 00:10:53
Have proof from a website? 00:10:55
Right here, Leo Korea. Poemagoo. 00:10:58
The winds always going from the north. 00:11:00
West. 00:11:03
To the South. 00:11:04
East to our town. 00:11:05
So what do we get? We get pollution. 00:11:07
We get noise. 00:11:09
We get truckers. 00:11:11
That are constantly running through our neighborhood, not through Oxnard. 00:11:13
Through our neighborhood. 00:11:17
We get all. 00:11:18
The bad stuff. Now I know the port does. 00:11:20
Finance the city. 00:11:23
To some degree. 00:11:25
But I got to tell you these these photos are recent. 00:11:26
December. November. 00:11:30
And the smoke's always blowing our way. 00:11:32
When I lived in Silverstrand, I never had any black soot on my screen. 00:11:36
Here I have set. 00:11:40
So we have. 00:11:43
Pollution, uh. 00:11:44
And so. 00:11:46
I'm going to finalize my comments here. 00:11:48
This is a letter I sent on January 17th. 00:11:50
I copied Mr. Vega on it. 00:11:53
It went to every single harbor commissioner. 00:11:56
Went to all the powers that be. 00:11:59
At the port. So Christina Beard, see. 00:12:02
Christian Dicus and so Mike Morrison. 00:12:05
The crickets that I heard after I sent this. 00:12:09
I hand delivered. 00:12:12
Are deafening. 00:12:14
The port doesn't care. 00:12:16
And it makes me angry. 00:12:18
So maybe once. Once. 00:12:20
Once in my lifetime, they'll respond. 00:12:23
But they don't. 00:12:26
They just don't respond. 00:12:27
So I don't really think the port is our friend. 00:12:28
And for any of you who might feel like they are because of all the money. 00:12:31
This involved? OK, that's fine. 00:12:35
But uh. 00:12:38
They're still not our friend, The noise. 00:12:39
The trucks, the pollution. 00:12:41
It's not good for our city. 00:12:44
So thank you. 00:12:46
Thank you so much. 00:12:48
Marisela Hernandez. 00:12:51
Hello. Good evening everybody. 00:13:04
Hello, my name is Marisa Lyonnais. 00:13:07
And I want to be brief. I have a lot of things to say, but I know it's short. 00:13:09
Umm, I have my son who his name is Carlos Hernandez. He's seven years old. He attends 1 Amy Elementary School. He's autistic and 00:13:13
nonverbal. Who has an IEP. 00:13:18
I'm here today because my rights were violated. 00:13:24
My concerns are not taken seriously. 00:13:26
My son requires the support of one-on-one. 00:13:29
Umm, he has. 00:13:32
Been eloping, he has health and having severe allergies. 00:13:36
He has increase of sensory behaviors and aggression. 00:13:40
There has no there hasn't been been any detailed documentation of reports at school. 00:13:43
I presented a letter of. 00:13:51
To the principal, Brandon and the Director, Special Education, Stephanie Barnes on January 28th. 00:13:53
To request a letter. 00:13:58
And to meet my concerns. 00:14:01
On January 10, I also requested another IEP. 00:14:04
I have not heard from anybody. 00:14:07
It's already. 00:14:09
February they have denied my rights. 00:14:11
Actually on this Friday past Friday during dismissal when I picked up my son. 00:14:14
I was able to absurd bruises on his forehead. 00:14:19
Starting from the hairline down to his eyebrows. 00:14:23
There was obviously a. 00:14:26
An injury. 00:14:29
Even on the right side of his cheek. 00:14:31
I question the. 00:14:34
Umm, the personnel from school. 00:14:35
They deny that anything happen. 00:14:38
They are currently investigating. 00:14:41
From today's conversation over the phone with Stephanie. 00:14:44
I have not heard anything. 00:14:47
I believe that they're ignoring my son's. 00:14:50
Disability. 00:14:54
I feel. 00:14:56
Being discriminated. 00:14:57
This is negligence of the school due to my son's disability. 00:14:59
I reported this to the Winnie me. 00:15:04
Police Department. 00:15:06
To the Child Protective Services as well. 00:15:08
I have done my part. 00:15:13
I've been requesting services for my son, they have been denied. 00:15:15
And I'm still waiting. 00:15:22
I'm here to advocate for my son and I feel that I'm not taking. 00:15:24
Anything. All my concerns are not. 00:15:28
Taking seriously? 00:15:31
He has been doing self injury, he has been getting hurt and something has to. 00:15:32
Happen in order for them to. 00:15:39
Give him the support that he needs. 00:15:42
OK. Thank you, Miss Hernandez. 00:15:45
Just one note up front, the school board does meet in this room, but they meet on February 24th. 00:15:47
And so this is the city of Port Weyenne. He's. 00:15:53
Meeting with obj jurisdiction over the school district so. 00:15:56
Our recommendation would be to. 00:15:59
Attend the school board meeting on February 24th if you're intending to talk to the school board representatives. Thank you. Thank 00:16:01
you. 00:16:04
Thank you. 00:16:09
And then we have 1 written public comment. 00:16:11
And this is from Lewis Kelly. 00:16:14
Good evening, Members of the Council. I am here today to discuss the economic impact and public access implications of the recent 00:16:16
decision by the Surfside 3 HOA. 00:16:21
To impose a 30 day minimum rental policy, effectively eliminating short term rentals at properties like mine in Port Wine Amy. 00:16:26
This policy shift is of significant concern not only to property owners, but also to the cities economy. 00:16:33
Tourism sector and long standing public access principles protected under the California Coastal Act. 00:16:40
Short term rentals have played an important role in supporting local businesses and generating tax revenue. 00:16:46
Over the past several years, short term rental income from properties in Port Hueneme. 00:16:52
Has contributed steady transient occupancy tax TOT payments. 00:16:57
Averaging between 500 and $600.00 per month per rental unit. 00:17:01
These funds directly benefit the city and its services while supporting economic growth. 00:17:05
Visitors staying in short term rentals, frequent local restaurants, shops and attractions bringing consistent revenue to the 00:17:11
community. 00:17:14
This model of coastal access is more than an economic advantage. It aligns with the intent of the California Coastal Act to ensure 00:17:18
that the public can enjoy the state's natural resources. 00:17:23
Families and tourists who stay in short term rentals often create lasting memories during their visits, whether they are enjoying 00:17:29
the beach, celebrating milestones or exploring the local culture. 00:17:34
Restricting this access undermines a 40 year precedent of supporting tourism and community well-being. 00:17:39
The recent decision by the HOA is based on legal advice suggesting that buildings with CCNR is recorded before January 1st. 00:17:45
1977 may be exempt from the Coastal Act short term rental provisions. 00:17:52
However, I see clarification on whether this interpretation is accurate and whether there is a path. 00:17:57
To petition for an exemption that could restore short term rental rights. 00:18:02
Maintaining flexibility and rental policies is essential for both property owners and the city's economic health. 00:18:07
Without the option for short term rentals, property owners may face financial challenges that could affect property maintenance 00:18:13
and even lead to decrease contributions. 00:18:18
To city revenue. 00:18:23
Meanwhile, the local tourism economy could see a decline in visitor spending, affecting businesses that rely on seasonal and 00:18:24
weekend travelers. 00:18:28
I kindly request the Councils guidance on how to proceed with the formal petition for exemption and any insights on potential 00:18:32
solutions that balance public access, economic sustainability and the needs of the Community. 00:18:38
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your support and preserving a vibrant, accessible and economically 00:18:44
sustainable coastal community in Port Hueneme. 00:18:49
Thanks, Louise Kelly. 00:18:53
And that will conclude public comment. 00:18:55
Thank you, Mayor. If I could just note we'll respond to. 00:18:57
Miss Kelly to let her know we are currently planning to bring. 00:19:02
The item requested by Council to. 00:19:04
Discuss short term rentals. 00:19:07
To our next meeting, February 18th. 00:19:09
We are working on that report and that was the request was essentially a survey of what other. 00:19:12
Coastal communities. 00:19:18
Particularly near us have done and and what. 00:19:20
Some of the benefits and drawbacks to short term rentals so. 00:19:24
We'll let Miss Kelly know that that will be discussed at that time and I think. 00:19:28
In general. 00:19:34
That topic, since it's not on the agenda tonight, my recommendation is we we do discuss. 00:19:36
The short term rental topic. 00:19:40
At that February 18th meeting. So thank you. 00:19:42
Thank you so much. 00:19:45
We'll move on to the agenda approval. May I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? So moved. 00:19:46
2nd. 00:19:53
All in favor. 00:19:55
Aye, all opposed. 00:19:56
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:19:58
Thank you. We'll move to the conflict of interest. Does any member of the Council have any conflicts of interest? 00:20:01
To disclose for any of the items on the agenda. 00:20:07
We'll move on to the presentation. 00:20:15
We will now move to the presentation, starting with the recognition. 00:20:18
I'm sorry. 00:20:23
Recognizing Jr. Lesser. 00:20:24
I I think we'll go to. 00:20:27
The city manager first. 00:20:29
So actually I have a presentation, I have a certificate, but I believe Councilmember Gama had requested the item, so I believe 00:20:36
he's planning to speak. 00:20:40
Thank you. 00:20:45
You know a principal. Bravo. 00:20:48
Constantly reminds me that it's at. 00:20:50
Academics first at Winnemi High School. 00:20:52
So before we get into junior's amazing accomplishment and athletics, I want to talk about. 00:20:55
The fact that Junior is a standout student. 00:20:59
And a great community member. 00:21:02
Teachers and coaches alike describe him as a pleasure to work with. 00:21:05
Because of his eagerness to learn. 00:21:08
He possesses a 4.0 GPA and he is excelling in multiple AP courses. Is that true? 00:21:10
He demonstrates the drive and determination in the classroom as he does on the cross country. 00:21:19
Court filled course. 00:21:25
So Jr. Lesser. 00:21:28
Is arguably one of the. 00:21:30
Fastest distance runners to ever come out of the Oxnard plane. 00:21:31
He lives on the Navy base in the city of Port Hueneme. His father is in the Navy. 00:21:36
And he moved here from Missouri. 00:21:40
And as you know. 00:21:43
For young teenager to move across country to a crazy place called California. 00:21:44
Could be quite dramatic and sometimes it's not met with success, but Jr. has embraced our community. 00:21:49
And he embraced Winemi High School. 00:21:55
And he continues his work ethic that he did out there in the cold of Missouri. 00:21:59
A natural leader, Junior sets the standard through his actions. From the moment he joined Winimi cross country team in the summer 00:22:04
of 2023, he elevated the team with his unwavering commitment and discipline. 00:22:09
Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, Junior never cuts corners or settles for less than his best. 00:22:15
This relentless work ethic propelled him to the extraordinary success during the 2024 season. 00:22:21
Of being the state champion. 00:22:27
Some of his highlights are he set the record for the fastest 3 mile race, 14 minutes and 14 seconds. 00:22:31
Tied the course record at Lake Casitas cross country course. 00:22:37
Set Winnemie High in Ventura County record at the Mount San Antonio College cross country course. 00:22:40
2024 Sister Citrus League. 00:22:45
Cross country champion. First team all Citrus. 00:22:49
Coast League 2024 Ventura County cross country champion. 00:22:52
First team all Ventura County honors 3rd place CIF Southern Section. 00:22:57
Division 2 Championship First team All CIF. 00:23:01
Southern Section cross Country Division 2. 00:23:06
CIF Division. 00:23:09
To state cross country champion. 00:23:11
First team all CIF. 00:23:15
Recorded the 17th fastest time in high school history. 00:23:17
Nike cross country national qualifier. 00:23:21
So it's a great honor for our City Council to present you with the certificate of. 00:23:25
Recognition. 00:23:31
And we really love the fact that you've come to our community. 00:23:32
And impressed our community and coach Petrie and athletic director Gallegos come on up with. 00:23:35
And his family as well. And we just, we were so. 00:23:41
Pleased to have you in our community. 00:23:45
So pleased to have you working hard and so pleased to be making Principal Bravo proud. 00:23:47
Of your academic success. 00:23:53
Thank you. 00:23:55
Have a couple of words if you would like also. 00:24:02
Yeah, thank you for the recognition and. 00:24:10
Meaning this means a lot. 00:24:13
Thank you. 00:24:16
Yeah. Thank you again. 00:24:21
Councilman. 00:24:23
And the, you know, the council and. 00:24:24
Everyone here. 00:24:26
It's been an honor, you know, coaching here at Winnie Me High. 00:24:28
And seeing how far both. 00:24:31
Junior's come in, the teams come. 00:24:32
And uh. 00:24:34
I love to say it's a great place to run here in Port Miami. We love running down here. 00:24:36
So thank you all again. 00:24:40
All right, City Council want to say thank you for this honor bestowed on Jr. He's definitely. 00:24:48
A pleasure to work with. I said this at our school council actually or. 00:24:54
When we're our board meetings. 00:24:59
He's that person that only looks down on a student only to pick him up. 00:25:00
So he definitely leads by example and we are blessed to have in our community. 00:25:03
And he can probably tell you how many miles he's logged up and down the beaches at pointing me. 00:25:07
Open up here. 00:25:11
Many times he's been running for a lot of miles and so he's definitely. 00:25:12
Everything, all the accolades that I was mentioned by Councilman Gamma, he's definitely earned it. 00:25:16
Thank you very much. 00:25:20
Thank you. 00:25:21
Council, I would just like to add that. 00:25:34
You know as. 00:25:36
Councilman Gama said that so often that when you know these, especially teens come to a new community like this from such a big 00:25:38
change. 00:25:42
They don't excel. 00:25:47
They don't really succeed the way they could. 00:25:49
Coach Petrie one point said that this school in this community has a small town vibe. 00:25:52
For a big city, and I just want to say I've always felt. 00:25:56
Really welcome. 00:25:59
As far as how they did it? 00:26:01
You know, Director Gallegos, Coach Petrie, the whole team is really kind of. 00:26:03
Made us part of the Viking family to the extent they could. 00:26:08
Come on, family. 00:26:18
Shoulder, shoulder, yeah. 00:26:26
Congratulations. 00:26:41
Thank you. 00:26:43
USC. 00:26:56
Try to draft him at UCLA. 00:26:59
Thank you all. 00:27:03
For our next presentation, I'd like to. 00:27:08
Called Desiree Tehran. 00:27:10
Is there a Desiree Tehran OK? 00:27:13
On behalf of the coastal keepers while she is making her way up. 00:27:18
I will, Councilmember Hernandez read the problem. 00:27:23
Absolutely. Thank you, Mayor. 00:27:28
This proclamation is about World Wetlands Day. 00:27:30
February 2nd, 2025. 00:27:34
And it goes like this. Whereas World Wetlands Day is a global awareness campaign that gives voice to wetlands around the globe. 00:27:37
And WHEREAS on February 2nd, 1971, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted as an international treaty and was the first of the 00:27:44
modern global multilateral environmental agreements that the only one devoted to a. 00:27:51
Devoted to a specific ecosystem, wetlands and. 00:28:00
Whereas today the Convention has a global membership of 172 countries, officially known has contracting parties. 00:28:04
And whereas World Wetlands Day is celebrated every February 2nd. 00:28:12
Since it was established in 1997. 00:28:16
And whereas World Wetlands Day is supported by the United Nations, where the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution. 00:28:19
In 2021, establishing February 2nd. 00:28:25
Has World Wetlands Day inviting all? 00:28:28
193 UN Member States to observe the day. 00:28:31
And whereas the wetlands theme for 2025 is Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future, spotlighting how all aspects of human 00:28:35
well-being are tied to the health of the world's wetlands, physically, mentally and environmentally. 00:28:42
Elucidates how interconnected wetlands and human life have been throughout history. 00:28:50
And underscores the critical need for human. 00:28:55
Stewardship of the world's wetlands. 00:28:58
And whereas wetlands sustained life and are central to human well-being by providing clean water, food security and nutritional 00:29:00
variety clean air. 00:29:04
Medicines, climate stabilization, protection against extreme weather, recreational opportunities, jobs, and positively. 00:29:09
Impacts mental well-being and whereas wetlands are the Earth's most threatened ecosystem and world Wetlands day increases. 00:29:16
Global understanding of how much wetlands do for humanity and that we must care. 00:29:24
Nurture and support them for a sustainable future. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of the city of Port 00:29:30
Hueneme. 00:29:34
Does hereby recognize February 2nd, 2025 has World Wetlands Day and encourages all to value and steward our wetlands. Proclaim 00:29:37
this third day of February 2025. 00:29:44
And I want to put in a special thank you for being here today representing Coastal Keepers. Coastal Keepers has done. 00:29:50
A wonderful job in our community. 00:29:56
Working on our wetlands, keeping our. 00:29:59
Our coasts clean, and I understand that you were out. 00:30:02
On Sunday, doing some cleanup along with Assemblyman Bennett's office. 00:30:05
Yes. 00:30:10
Do you want to step up to the mic, please? Yes. 00:30:13
First of all, I just want to say on behalf of Coastal Keepers, thank you for presenting us. 00:30:16
With his proclamation. 00:30:21
And I also want to thank the community and. 00:30:23
All the volunteers that support. 00:30:26
What we're trying to do, without them, we wouldn't be able to do all that we're doing. 00:30:30
And we're excited to do even more. 00:30:35
For the wetlands, for the environment. 00:30:38
For the generations to come, so just. 00:30:41
Thank you for. 00:30:43
This proclamation. 00:30:45
Thank you and we appreciate all the work you do. 00:30:47
Would you like to come up for a picture here? And do you have anybody with you from Coastal Keepers? 00:30:50
Come on up. 00:30:55
Yeah, right here, Here. I'll just hand this over to. 00:30:59
Thank you so much. 00:31:23
Thank you so much. 00:31:24
We will now recess from the City Council meeting and call to order the Housing Authority regular meeting. It is now 7:00. 00:31:37
Madam Clerk. 00:31:47
Please take. 00:31:48
Member Blackwell. 00:31:50
Member Brown present. 00:31:52
Member. 00:31:54
Here Member Hernandez. 00:31:55
Member Perez here. 00:31:57
Vice Chair Lopez. 00:31:59
Here and Chair McQueen Lejeune here. 00:32:00
We will now hear public comments. Madam Clerk, are there any public comments? 00:32:04
No public comments for Housing Authority. 00:32:09
Rate We will now consider items on the Housing Authority Consent Calendar, which will be enacted in one motion unless an Authority 00:32:11
member has a request to remove an item for discussion. 00:32:16
May I have a motion and a second? 00:32:23
Move to approve. 00:32:26
2nd. 00:32:28
Thank you, Madam Clerk, please take a vote. 00:32:29
All in favor. 00:32:31
Aye, all opposed. 00:32:33
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:32:35
Great. Thank you. 00:32:38
OK. We have no business items. Any authority members have a report or comments they'd like to make? 00:32:43
Great. Thank you. 00:32:57
The Port Hueneme Housing Authority will adjourn to its next regular meeting scheduled for March 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 PM and we will 00:32:59
now reconvene to the City Council Regular meeting. 00:33:05
The time is now. 00:33:11
701. 00:33:12
We will now consider the items on the Consent calendar. 00:33:16
Which will be enacted in one motion unless a council member has the request to remove an item for discussion. 00:33:20
Move approval of consent agenda. 00:33:28
Second, all in favor? 00:33:31
Aye, all opposed. 00:33:34
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:33:36
Great. 00:33:39
OK, business item Preliminary 3 year budget forecasts a city manager. 00:33:42
Thank you. 00:33:52
We. 00:33:54
We scheduled this preliminary 3 year budget forecast fairly early in the year and early in the process. 00:33:56
Really with the idea and the intent being. 00:34:02
To start. 00:34:06
Thinking proactively about our upcoming budget. 00:34:08
Our budget, typically we adopt our budget sometime in June to start in July for the fiscal year that then runs July 1st to June 00:34:11
30th. 00:34:16
And so. 00:34:21
This year we want to try to. 00:34:23
Have a. 00:34:26
Longer transparent process where we plan to have multiple conversations about the budget. 00:34:28
And we plan to, really. 00:34:35
Look at the priorities of the city and try to build that into the budget. 00:34:37
So today with. 00:34:41
Starting with looking ahead at the next three years and the forecast for what we see over those three years. 00:34:43
And essentially what we see if we. 00:34:48
If we adopt A sort of status quo budget. 00:34:52
And sort of starting with. 00:34:55
What that looks like and then from there. 00:34:57
Over the next few months, working to. 00:35:00
Build in the. 00:35:03
The modifications or the adjustments that that we. 00:35:05
We'll need to work through over the next 5 months. 00:35:10
And so I think for us the thought is. 00:35:14
When we start talking about budget. 00:35:17
It's important to start by looking at our long term financial health. 00:35:20
To help guide us on the decisions we need to make now and into the future so. 00:35:24
So we want to start today with this preliminary 3 year budget forecast. 00:35:30
Something we had been working on for a while was trying to do a longer term forecast. 00:35:34
And so we want to walk through. 00:35:39
What that looks like. 00:35:41
Just one caveat to keep in mind is. 00:35:44
You know, things change a lot in a year, 2 years, three years or even six months. So this is right now our forecast of what we 00:35:48
expect the next three years. 00:35:52
But umm. 00:35:57
That is going to be something that we continue to. 00:35:58
Adjust or. 00:36:02
That we may get new data on in a few months as we get some of our sales tax, property tax, other receipts back. 00:36:04
But it's our forecast at this time for the next three years. 00:36:10
Of what our budget would look like as a starting point. 00:36:14
And we'll go from there. 00:36:18
With that, I'm going to turn it over to our Finance Director, Lupe Acero, to walk us through that forecast. 00:36:20
Thank you and good evening, Mayor. Mayor Pro Tem. 00:36:25
Council members, members of the public. 00:36:29
Staff, this evening, as City Manager noted, I want to share with you our forecast. It's a three-year forecast. 00:36:32
The city has not in the past. 00:36:39
Generated a forecast. We typically do the two year budget. We update the budget. 00:36:43
Forecast is very important. A lot of cities are doing them now. Some of them have always done it. I think a lot of cities with 00:36:48
everything that's going on with the economy are starting to generate longer term forecasts. 00:36:53
So the forecast is different than the budget. 00:36:59
The budget is very static, is done in more detail. We sit with the departments, we present it to council. This is a. 00:37:02
In the estimate based on what we know, based on what we've seen, based on what we expect is going to happen. And I'm going to go 00:37:09
through those inputs and I'm going to go through what is really impacting this forecast that that I'm going to present to you. 00:37:16
And then going forward, we're going to start working on represent to you the mid year budget. 00:37:22
Which is this year's mid year, any updates to that and then we'll start working on the actual budget which is going to be? 00:37:28
Presented to council in May and so we'll have a lot of different meetings coming up. 00:37:35
But as City Manager pointed out, this is a forecast. So the purpose of the forecast? 00:37:40
Is to really take a look at. 00:37:46
Long term and see where we would be if nothing we didn't do anything about. 00:37:48
Any of the inputs? 00:37:54
As City Manager noted, and we did, the two year budget which was the physical year 23242425, presented that to council. 00:37:56
And that was a balanced budget at the time. In order to balance that budget, we went back a couple times with department heads and 00:38:05
made some adjustments. 00:38:09
And we brought forth a balanced budget to City Council. 00:38:13
This forecast is preparing us to identify longer term challenges which. 00:38:17
Which we're going to have to address. 00:38:23
In order to maintain financially viable as the city. 00:38:25
It is going to help evaluate current and future fiscal condition of the city and really set us up to start planning for the 00:38:29
budget. 00:38:34
I'm going to go through some of the local and economic conditions that are really impacting this forecast and the numbers that I'm 00:38:41
going to present to you. So. 00:38:46
Interest rates have continued to go up, so that's putting a lot of pressure on the consumer. 00:38:50
Umm, consumer confidence is down. We get reports from HDL, our consultant, on historical reports on what has. 00:38:56
Transpired in the last quarter versus the same quarter of the prior year and we really see consumer confidence just being 00:39:03
declining people the credit card. 00:39:08
Interest rates are high, so people are not charging as much on their credit card. 00:39:13
People are looking for value or restaurant prices have increased, menu prices have increased because minimum wage has gone up. 00:39:17
A lot of restaurants are offering. 00:39:24
Happy hours or discounted hours and people are going to those, but at the same time. 00:39:26
It's generating a lower average check, which in turn impacts city taxes because we get the city gets less lower taxes on from 00:39:31
that. 00:39:36
Consumers are really focusing on what's essential, so some of the non essential goods like even vehicles, now we're seeing auto 00:39:42
and transportation decline. 00:39:47
And I'll talk a little bit about a little bit about how that impacts the city with transaction taxes. 00:39:52
And then locally, the the big one is the cannabis revenue. We've mentioned that in other meetings. 00:39:57
We are seeing a huge impact from when it's back in 2022 to where we are now. 00:40:03
And even now when we look at the quarterly. 00:40:09
Gross sales receipts from the businesses. 00:40:12
Businesses are down. So that's really I think market saturation competition. 00:40:14
And that is impacting the city in two different ways. So it's the 5%. 00:40:20
Tax that they pay towards the general fund revenue and it's also the sales tax. So we're not not. 00:40:26
City's not collecting sales taxes on on those revenues. 00:40:32
And those are the the large. 00:40:37
For now, in a city manager mentioned we're going to continue to have meetings with HDL in the next couple months. 00:40:40
And update the forecast and bring you updates as we find more information and more more updated information. 00:40:46
So we look at the sales taxes. Sales taxes make up 24%. 00:40:55
Of the general fund revenue. 00:41:02
If the first so this has three components because I wanted to highlight the city receives. 00:41:04
2 1/2 percent. 00:41:10
For every sales tax dollar from sales taxes. 00:41:12
The 1% is what we call the Bradley Burns tax. 00:41:16
And then the city has. 00:41:19
To transaction taxes 1 is the measure W which is half a percent. 00:41:21
And the other one is Measure U which is the 1%. 00:41:25
And so that's 2 1/2 percent. 00:41:28
As you can see the measure U is 1%, same as the sales tax. 00:41:31
But the measure you dollars are more cases are transaction taxes. So when people are buying goods outside of the city, but they 00:41:37
reside in the city, the city still gets that tax. 00:41:41
In 2024. 00:41:47
These are actual. 00:41:49
Unaudited, but they're they're pretty accurate at this point. 00:41:50
The total taxes were $6.9 million, so almost hovering $7,000,000. 00:41:54
And the budget, we have 6.6. 00:42:00
And then in the forecast that was decreased. 00:42:04
By 4% in 2026. 00:42:07
And then 2%. 00:42:10
Thereafter, so we're looking at 6.3 million and then 6.2. 00:42:12
And again, these are very likely going to change based on. 00:42:17
Once we look at the actual trends. 00:42:22
We might have to adjust these up or down. 00:42:25
Lupe on that point real quick. 00:42:28
I just wanted to note that. So we do contract with HDL sales tax consultants which. 00:42:32
Most cities in the county, and probably at this point most of the state do. They're sort of the experts on. 00:42:38
Sales taxes. And then because they work for so many cities, they really do sort of see the big picture and what's happening across 00:42:43
the. 00:42:47
The state. 00:42:51
And so. 00:42:52
At first glance, if you look at this chart, it may look like we're being conservative because we're sort of reducing our 00:42:54
expectations for. 00:42:57
Sales tax compared to what last year looked like. 00:43:01
But it's also because we've had. 00:43:05
Regular meetings with HDL, including last week I believe was one. 00:43:07
Where HDL is telling us that they are seeing this. 00:43:11
Trend play out already. They're seeing reductions across the state, but even more so locally. 00:43:14
So I want to note that I don't know if you yes. And to that point, when we bring the mid year for 2025 S, this is based on the 00:43:20
adopted budget. 00:43:24
We will if we need to, we will might reduce that number based on the most recent information. 00:43:29
May I ask a question? 00:43:38
So I remember I was at a budget meeting with the county recently. 00:43:41
And I think. 00:43:44
They showed the revenues. 00:43:46
On a decline as well. 00:43:48
Do they get the same information from the same consultants basically? 00:43:50
And it's not just us, it's that the state as a whole and county government and municipal. 00:43:55
Without knowing if the county is specifically one of their customers, most agencies seem to be at this point. They're probably 00:44:01
getting the same data and a lot of. 00:44:05
Cities right now. 00:44:10
Have gone back to council, their councils. 00:44:11
Or the county to their board in the last few months to kind of revise their budgets to be more. 00:44:15
Pessimistic, I guess, would be the word. It's it's the trend happening. 00:44:22
I think for us, I think the update we just got from HDL last week showed like a 2% decline. 00:44:26
Around us, but. 00:44:31
The challenge for us is our decline actually is a little more severe than. 00:44:33
All the other agencies, I think we're at 10% decline. 00:44:37
And again. 00:44:41
We mentioned it in that last slide, but it's because of the cannabis tax. Yeah, the food and drugs. So they provide for those 00:44:42
municipalities that contract with HDL. They provide us information in different by groups. So Food and Drug is 1 segment. That one 00:44:49
poor Wayne, is down significantly because cannabis is in there. Other cities may be down in like autos and transportations because 00:44:56
they have a lot of dealerships, for example, but they're seeing the impact in different categories. 00:45:02
And to different extent depending on the city, the volume. 00:45:09
We certainly are seeing it in a little bit in restaurants in some areas. 00:45:13
Like I said, people are going to the discounted the the fast foods and trying to get out more value. 00:45:19
But certainly the cannabis has been the big one for us. 00:45:26
Question. Go ahead. 00:45:31
So in 2023 when we were forecasting 2024. 00:45:34
And then? 00:45:39
Were we off? 00:45:40
Our forecast. 00:45:42
When with the actual that actually happened in 2024. 00:45:44
In 2023 when we're forecasting, no, not in 24, but I think we are going to be off in 2025. 00:45:48
I can based on what I have and then we'll have to do one more meeting before we bring the mid year, but. 00:45:56
Things that really soften up. 00:46:01
More recently. 00:46:03
I think simple way of saying is I think we budgeted conservatively expecting some drop and then in the first year. 00:46:04
We had about that drop. 00:46:12
Where what was what felt conservative a year earlier ended up being realistic the next year. 00:46:15
And then unfortunately, I think with the cannabis market in particular, it's it dropped even more than a conservative estimate 00:46:20
would have been so. 00:46:24
Over the 2025, we expect it will be a little lower than even what we had conservatively budgeted. 00:46:28
And I think one thing to remember in 2023, we're just coming out of Covad. 00:46:35
I mean, we things were really. 00:46:39
People were spending money, people got a lot, you know, the the stimulus checks and we still hadn't seen that dip. So when we. 00:46:41
Did the budget and that's why we do the mid years and the revised budget and yeah, but that's that it was a lot of there were a 00:46:48
lot of unknowns and. 00:46:52
A lot of, if you will, artificial. 00:46:56
Spikes in certain areas, yeah. 00:46:58
Thank you. 00:47:02
And then the other. 00:47:04
Slide I have here and just to illustrate. 00:47:06
The cannabis revenue so you can see in 2022. 00:47:09
The city received almost $3,000,000 in revenue, and that's the 5%. 00:47:12
So that does not include the sales tax because the sales tax associated with cannabis revenue was in the other slide with the 00:47:17
sales. So this is just a 5%. 00:47:22
We did start seeing. 00:47:27
You know 2324. 00:47:29
With competition. 00:47:31
Competitors opening up in the neighboring cities. Some impact. 00:47:33
Part of it is it's a combination market saturation. 00:47:37
And then also the economy. 00:47:41
But we're seeing significant decreases. This is one where in our revised budget we have 1.9 million. 00:47:43
And it is very likely that when we come back with a mid year update, that's going to be decreased. 00:47:50
We're projecting 1.5 and that's pretty much when. 00:47:57
We annualize what we're seeing. 00:48:01
From the different businesses. 00:48:03
It's going to be somewhere around there, 1.51 point, 4 million. 00:48:06
And the one area that is. 00:48:15
Continues to grow a little bit. Not as significant as in the past as property taxes. 00:48:18
Because of Prop 13. 00:48:23
So that we have an 8 hour 2%. 00:48:26
Increase in the forecast for property taxes. 00:48:30
And this one came vary depending on if there's a change of ownership for a big commercial property, for example in Port Miami and 00:48:33
we've seen that. 00:48:38
And that was in 2024. So you really spikes up the property taxes when a large property exchanges hands. 00:48:43
But umm. 00:48:50
There has been a slowdown in also in home sales. 00:48:50
Because. 00:48:54
Again, interest rates. 00:48:55
So that, but still we get the 2%. So that's the property tax. So that one in the projection there's a 2% increase. 00:48:57
And again, we'll revisit that. 00:49:05
Because we also contract with HDL for property tax and they provide us all of the information. This one's a little bit harder 00:49:06
because it's based on who's gonna sell their house and for how much, right? 00:49:12
But but this. 00:49:19
This one is still has an increase of 2%. 00:49:21
Yes, yes. 00:49:25
I'm just curious as to there appears to be a 700,000. 00:49:27
Close to a 700,000 different. 00:49:31
Difference in property taxes from 23 to 24. 00:49:34
Yeah, we had a large, I can't disclose the identify the property, but there was a large commercial property that that exchange. 00:49:38
Hands, so changes of ownership. 00:49:46
If because they reassess the property. 00:49:48
So that will create spikes like that, like one time spikes. 00:49:51
Yeah. So property tax typically, this chart actually shows kind of exactly. 00:49:55
How property tax works is. 00:50:00
If there's a lot of sales of property, there can be a big bigger spike because all the properties that are being sold get 00:50:02
reassessed. But in years where there aren't a lot of sales, you're only seeing like that 2% Max increase, which is almost exactly 00:50:08
what what we. 00:50:14
Sort of expect to see. 00:50:20
But umm. 00:50:22
I think people see it right now is we're in a weird spot with the housing market where I think houses. 00:50:24
The value is there, but nobody. 00:50:29
Is selling them so you know you're not going to get. 00:50:31
The new value of a property, you're just going to get the little percentage increase. 00:50:35
Where do the property taxes go in our budget? 00:50:40
The property taxes are a general fund revenue, so it's just general fund. 00:50:43
Thank you. 00:50:50
Mr. Sarah, what do we attribute the increase in the forecast to? 00:50:51
So we see it increase, begin to increase. 00:50:56
For 2025. 00:51:00
627, that's the Prop 1313. So there's always that, that every year your property taxes go up. 00:51:01
Not more than 2%, so 2%, yeah. 00:51:11
And so this really highlights the changes that are the major changes that are in the projection right now are in the forecast. 00:51:23
No changes were made to any other revenue line items. We will make changes as we generate the budget. 00:51:30
But right now these were the ones that clearly stand out that where we needed to adjust for this forecast. 00:51:36
And on the expenditure side, again, this is general fund expenditures, we are seeing increases. 00:51:45
Cost of living of inflation and so 3% is what's in the in the forecast for fiscal year 26. 00:51:54
And then the following two years, 2%. 00:52:01
And. 00:52:04
That's for operating cost. 00:52:06
And again. 00:52:08
Once we go through budget, we'll go through each line item and identify if. 00:52:10
We believe that those are going to increase in which line items. 00:52:14
Salaries and benefits, that's a tough one, but we do have some dollars in there. 00:52:17
For cost increases. 00:52:23
It's medical. 00:52:26
Pension, I have a separate line from pit for pension because pension right now as it's a it's a significant cost to the city. 00:52:28
And we don't have the actual aerial reports just yet. 00:52:37
And so the dollars, I just want to mention that the dollars that are in the forecast are the same as what we're paying now. 00:52:40
So it's almost $5,000,000 is what the city pays right now for pension costs for all the employees. 00:52:47
And that's made-up of two different components as the normal cost. So that is the percentage of payroll. 00:52:52
So that one S payroll increases that. 00:52:58
Cost goes up. 00:53:01
And then there's the unfunded liability, an annual payment. 00:53:03
The city prepays that every year and we make that minimum payment every year. 00:53:07
For the unfunded liability. 00:53:14
And I hope the next. 00:53:17
Yeah, Councilmember. 00:53:20
Perez, thank you, Mayor. 00:53:22
You said in the beginning of your presentation that we've never done a forecast. 00:53:24
Before, was that correct? 00:53:28
This in the last five years, we have not. 00:53:30
So my recollection. 00:53:34
I would, I would expect that a forecast is pretty important, especially around the time where there's going to be significant 00:53:37
increase in expenditures. 00:53:41
For instance, around contract negotiations where we're giving raises to employees and our budget goes up significantly. 00:53:44
Why was there not a forecast done? 00:53:50
Around the time that we were. 00:53:53
Determining contract negotiations. 00:53:55
That's a great question. And I think we're in a different state of the economy right now. 00:53:57
The last negotiations were in 2022. 00:54:04
So we did what we did at the time was calculate the dollars. Yes, there was a lot of detail that was done behind the scenes to 00:54:09
calculate the impact and what if scenarios. 00:54:13
But no. 00:54:18
Long term forecast was done at that time. 00:54:19
But wouldn't that be important when we're looking at? 00:54:22
Employment employee costs are going up. They get a percentage every year of cost of living raises. 00:54:26
New employees come in, they get bigger benefits. 00:54:32
Wouldn't that be important? 00:54:35
I forecast every time I go out and make a big purchase. For instance, I'm about to make a car purchase, so I'm looking at whether 00:54:37
I'm going to be able to afford this car in the next 5 years. My husband's going to retiring. Can we afford this on his fixed 00:54:42
budget? Would it be important to forecast? 00:54:47
Long term. 00:54:52
When we're doing significant raises like that. 00:54:53
Yeah, I think it's important to forecast at any time really. Even in the good times or bad times, you always want to forecast and 00:54:56
have. 00:54:59
A long term range plan of. 00:55:03
What it what if scenarios? 00:55:07
That would have been helpful around the time that we were making decisions on whether. 00:55:09
We're getting, we're giving raises to employees. 00:55:14
What it's going to look like in the next 5 years if we can afford that. 00:55:17
If it's if, our city is going to be able to maintain that. 00:55:20
Yeah, that's that's the thought process. 00:55:24
Today, and I understand. 00:55:27
You know the question about the past, but the thought process. 00:55:30
That we're trying to work towards is. 00:55:33
We are. 00:55:36
Seeing economic headwinds, we are about to. 00:55:37
Go through a two year budget process. We are about to go through labor negotiations, all of those things so. 00:55:42
It's important for us to see the whole. 00:55:48
And when I say us, all of us, including the council and the staff and everybody. 00:55:51
The public. 00:55:56
To see the whole picture and to know. 00:55:57
The whole. 00:55:59
Situation. 00:56:00
So we don't. We can't make decisions in a vacuum. 00:56:03
You know. 00:56:05
So that is the the. 00:56:06
Process that we're going to work towards leading up to that June. 00:56:09
May June budget adoption period. 00:56:13
Great. OK, go ahead, Councilmember Gama. 00:56:16
So I recall. 00:56:20
A couple years ago, I know that we had a. 00:56:22
Actuarial study for the unfunded liability and I recall seeing. 00:56:25
Projection. 00:56:30
Of the. 00:56:32
The payments and. 00:56:33
I think after 11 years they would start to go down. 00:56:34
So I know we're still in the increase right now. 00:56:37
So have and and I know that interest rates, umm. 00:56:40
Play and rate of return. 00:56:45
Plays a really big. 00:56:48
Yeah, portion of that evaluation. 00:56:50
So, umm. 00:56:53
Have we looked at the prior study? 00:56:55
And then have we conservatively loaded it and do we have any idea? 00:56:58
The current interest rate struggles and the rate of return from CalPERS. 00:57:03
You know is is our. 00:57:07
Unfunded liability payment due to. 00:57:09
Not explode, but go up. More so than we anticipate. 00:57:12
That's that's another thing that's important to look at long term because. 00:57:16
One of the. 00:57:21
Points you made is. 00:57:22
That it. 00:57:25
Changes year to year based on how the stock market does how their investments do. 00:57:27
And so, you know, one of the jokes for us that have to figure this out is. 00:57:33
Is if you have a Goodyear and the costs actually go down in a year. 00:57:38
It just you just wait for the next year to be equally bad to offset the good. You know, it's almost like, OK, we had a Goodyear, 00:57:42
so expect next year to be bad and vice versa. 00:57:46
So year to year. 00:57:51
It's almost like. 00:57:53
It's one of those things where. 00:57:54
You don't look at that year to year, you look at that as long term and over the next 10 years, what's the trend look like and 00:57:56
every year it might go like. 00:58:00
You know, it might go up or down, but what's the the trend line on that, right. So, so it is something that we. 00:58:04
Need to keep a focus on we have our govern vest program and I'll let loop base speak to that and that. 00:58:12
Does provide us updated information. 00:58:18
But I think my I guess my long winded explanation is to say. 00:58:21
That's really one of those things you look at long term versus just sit where cities get into trouble I think is they have a year 00:58:25
where they say, oh, the returns were really good so we can. 00:58:30
You know we can. 00:58:34
We had tribute less had this two years ago. Yeah, in the next next year. It's bad. And then you have to contribute more and then 00:58:36
you're back. You're kind of back, you know, in a hole. So. 00:58:41
So first it's looking at those long term trends. 00:58:46
Do you want to say anything about Gov investor, any of that? Sure. So that kind of takes me to this slide and I'll talk about 00:58:49
govern best so. 00:58:53
This is what we know right now. 00:58:57
Is that our unfunded liability is roughly $40 million. 00:59:00
We know our annual costs are almost $5,000,000 a year and we're 70% funded. 00:59:04
And so now that was this is based on the last actual aerial report and what the new challenges and the unknown is investment 00:59:10
returns. So if returns continue to do good. 00:59:15
Where it's going to help our funding. 00:59:21
Percentage. The normal cost will go up as a percentage of payroll. That's pretty much a given because if payroll goes up, 00:59:23
percentage goes up. 00:59:28
And the employer contributions are expected to continue to rise through about 20-30 one 2032 and that's where. 00:59:33
A lot of the classic employees retire the pepper employees who pay contribute towards their. 00:59:42
Pension kind of cross lines, so then we start seeing that decrease. 00:59:48
Which is what Councilmember Comma was. 00:59:52
Explaining so that's and then as far as Gov Invest, we do contract with Gov Invest who get the information before the actuarial. 00:59:55
Reports are published and they help us. 01:00:04
They basically have a formula and they'll plug in all the information, especially the returns. The returns are really what's going 01:00:07
to impact a lot of. 01:00:10
The unfunded liability because if we're. 01:00:14
Our funding percentage. 01:00:17
Goes up, then our unfunded is less than our contribution is less. 01:00:19
And so that is also. 01:00:23
Actually just got an e-mail today asking for a meeting date, so we're going to be meeting with them in the near future. 01:00:26
I do have a question and. 01:00:33
And it's, I think it's for you, James, City manager. 01:00:36
Have we? 01:00:40
Thought about our pensions like stabilization policy where? 01:00:42
In the good years where anything over 15%. 01:00:46
In any of the funds that we could actually invest into a pen, like pension obligations, yeah. 01:00:51
Just so that. 01:00:57
We can get a jump start on some of these unfunded. 01:00:59
Liabilities, yeah. 01:01:04
It's a that's a goal and a really good idea and a really good practice. 01:01:05
On our next item. 01:01:11
The council goals, there's an one of our goals in particular is to update our financial policies and look at our. 01:01:13
Ensure we're following best practices on financial policies. 01:01:20
And that's something that we definitely. 01:01:23
Should work towards and strive for. 01:01:25
We uh. 01:01:28
Last year for the first time we started a CIP reserve fund. So it's, you know, we, we knew we had a few needs that we needed and 01:01:30
we knew. 01:01:34
As we saw the cannabis revenues dropping, we we knew we needed to kind of. 01:01:40
Focus on addressing at least as many as much as we could have the needs. 01:01:44
So we prioritize the CIP reserve fund. 01:01:48
The next thing we wanted to look at was. 01:01:52
Pension related policies and potentially a pension stabilization fund or a. 01:01:55
Pre funding, trust, those are things we should. 01:02:01
Talk about and. 01:02:03
I think the challenge for us is going to be. 01:02:06
That as you'll see in this presentation. 01:02:08
The current forecast doesn't show extra money the next three years, which makes it a challenge. 01:02:12
But I think it's something still. 01:02:17
And this is one of my philosophies is if we should be adopting these policies now and like. 01:02:19
Exactly as you described as. 01:02:25
And then the first year you have where you do have. 01:02:27
You know, any sort of surplus, you're prioritizing putting it towards the things that, that we, we need to do so. 01:02:30
So I think that's on our our list and we'll mention that when we get to the next item too. May I ask one more little question? 01:02:36
One more. 01:02:43
One more question. 01:02:44
So those are good alternatives, but I just want to make sure because I do believe I know what. 01:02:47
Stances on pension obligation bonds. 01:02:52
And I don't think that's part of the mix that we're going to look at. Is that correct? 01:02:55
It's not something we have looked at at this time. 01:03:00
OK. 01:03:06
Back to you. 01:03:06
So this slide really is very telling because it really tells the forecast based on the inputs that I just covered. 01:03:12
The revenues for general fund going forward in the next three years. 01:03:23
Are not sufficient to cover the operating expenses. There would be an operating. 01:03:27
Deficit each year. 01:03:33
Starting with fiscal year 2526, the deficit would be $1,000,000. 01:03:35
And growing into one point almost 1.9 in fiscal year 27 and 2.5. 01:03:40
In fiscal year 28 and then? 01:03:47
Layered on that would be the CIP and I just want to make a note here this this. 01:03:50
Capital improvement project dollars that are reflected here. 01:03:55
Are based on the projects that were approved when the. 01:03:59
Five year CP was approved. So those are just taken from there. 01:04:02
We've already started having meetings with staff city manager to really look at those projects and reprioritize and really take a 01:04:05
look at which ones. 01:04:10
We really think they're going to be completed or we can afford to complete in the next couple years. 01:04:15
But with. 01:04:21
Putting in what was approved, we after CIP, you can see that that deficit just gross. 01:04:22
Substantially. 01:04:29
In fiscal year 2526 will be 2.3 million. 01:04:30
3.6 the following year, and then almost $4 million in 2028. 01:04:35
If I can. 01:04:42
Just add to this to one of the. 01:04:43
Statistics in the. 01:04:47
Staff report that I thought is sort of important to highlight here is that. 01:04:48
Our personnel costs are about 70% of. 01:04:54
Total operating expenditures. 01:04:57
Line item there where it's 28. 01:04:59
Point 7 million. 01:05:02
And 2526. 01:05:04
29.3 million in. 01:05:05
Fiscal year 27 and 29 point. 01:05:07
9 Almost 30 million in fiscal year 28. 01:05:10
70% of those costs are personnel costs. 01:05:13
So when you're starting with that. 01:05:17
And realizing that. 01:05:19
That that's personnel. 01:05:21
It doesn't leave a lot of. 01:05:22
Other things. And so when you start looking at the other things and trying to see where you could reduce a couple $1,000,000, it 01:05:24
becomes very difficult. 01:05:28
And uh. 01:05:33
I think. 01:05:34
Mr. Sarah just just said it, but one of the first things we looked at is that capital improvement project. 01:05:36
Category. 01:05:42
And we've already had a couple of meetings. 01:05:44
Really trying to look at that. 01:05:46
And it is one of those conversations now where? 01:05:48
You know, uh. 01:05:51
When you start out, it's what do we want? 01:05:52
And then I think up till now, we. 01:05:55
We had that CIP review last year and we said, OK, let's take it back to what do we need because we can't afford everything we 01:05:58
want. And I think. 01:06:02
This next conversation coming up. 01:06:06
As the next step, the CIP review, it's going to shift to what can we afford? 01:06:09
It's not what we want. 01:06:13
It's not what we need, it's it's what we can afford. So. 01:06:15
So that's going to be. 01:06:19
The next step in the process is looking closely at the capital improvement projects and. 01:06:21
Really narrowing those down South. 01:06:26
Uh, sorry. 01:06:30
At the risk of sounding negative. 01:06:32
What if we just. 01:06:35
Froze the CIP projects. 01:06:36
Yeah, we. 01:06:41
So there's some CIP projects that are funded by other funds, so those. 01:06:43
Those. 01:06:47
I don't want to make a general statement, but generally. 01:06:49
That means that those some of those projects can continue without. 01:06:51
Those projects can continue without impacting the general fund. 01:06:55
But and then there's a couple of projects I think as we did our first. 01:06:58
Read through it, there's a few projects where we're. 01:07:03
Our recommendation is going to be. 01:07:05
That we sort of shift to let's, if we can apply for some grants and we can get this grant funded, then let's do it. But if not. 01:07:07
We might have to postpone it. 01:07:15
So. 01:07:17
So I guess the good news is I don't think it will have to be just a full freeze of all CIP, but I think it's going to be looking 01:07:18
at it very closely and really deciding which ones are the priorities. 01:07:24
So. 01:07:30
Could we get a? 01:07:32
Just the valuation of general fund CIP versus the enterprise funds. 01:07:33
That would be really helpful. Yeah. Yeah, we'll do that. Well, we'll provide that. I think we were looking at doing like a CIP 01:07:38
review about a month from now and and digging into that so. 01:07:42
Great. Back to you miss our sale. Let's let's try to make it through the slides and then we'll we're going to go back to questions 01:07:47
so. 01:07:50
Alrighty. So with this next slide is really showing is what the estimated unassigned fund balance is projected to be at the end of 01:07:53
this? 01:07:58
This fiscal year based on the adopted budget. 01:08:02
We're projecting unassigned fund balance to be just under seven and a half million dollars. 01:08:05
And if the scenarios that I presented. 01:08:11
With those deficits came to reality in the next three years. 01:08:16
It would basically. 01:08:20
Be funded by the unassigned fund balance and it would not. 01:08:23
Be enough, it will deplete the. 01:08:27
The unassigned fund balance by or before we've. 01:08:29
The end of the fiscal year 2728. 01:08:32
And again, these are. 01:08:36
Assumptions, I think some of the assumptions as you guys probably would agree is a lot of the sales impacts and all those are a 01:08:40
reality, but we'll have to go through line item by line item. 01:08:45
When we look at the budget as far as operating expenses, salaries and benefits, operating. 01:08:50
We don't have in the budget right now in this forecast, I should say. 01:08:56
It's all positions are fully funded, so we typically do have. 01:09:00
A vacancy factor, we haven't built a vacancy factor. We might have to go that route and say, OK, what positions are we not going 01:09:04
to feel for the entire year? 01:09:08
Do we build a vacancy factor for a couple months? And so those are the conversations that we're going to have. 01:09:12
With the department, city manager and bring back to council. 01:09:16
And again, we'll be working with the DEP. 01:09:24
And making adjustments. 01:09:28
And. 01:09:30
We're going to have workshops, certainly before we bring you the final budget for adoption. 01:09:31
And then as City Manager mentioned, the CIP will be a significant component of really taking a look at that and looking at. 01:09:39
What projects could potentially be funded by grants and or delayed at this point? 01:09:46
That is my presentation, I'll take any other questions. 01:09:54
Great. Thank you. Any more questions? 01:09:57
Council members? No, I do, Councilman Hernandez. So thank you for the presentation and I'm. 01:09:59
Looking forward to hearing what staff will bring back to council. 01:10:07
When we start discussing our future budget. 01:10:11
Besides capital improvement and. 01:10:14
Looking at vacancies, what other methods? 01:10:18
And grants what other methods or cost saving measures? Cost cutting measures? 01:10:22
Will you be looking at? 01:10:28
Are we gonna be caught talking about? 01:10:29
Hiring freezes? Are we going to talk about attrition? 01:10:31
We're going to focus on. 01:10:36
At least the first round in my perspective, and I'll let city manager provide his perspective, is looking at. 01:10:38
Areas where we may not even this is CIP but can't just capital in general. 01:10:45
We're going to buy a piece of equipment. Do we really need it? Can we repair it? 01:10:50
That would be an area contract services. 01:10:55
And really asking and we have before in that departments have really looked at their departments and resources, but really 01:10:58
optimizing resources. 01:11:03
And what can? How can we be more efficient? 01:11:08
With the resources that we have. 01:11:11
So that would be my. 01:11:14
My perspective and what I would do first is just go through and do that. 01:11:15
Before we take any other measures. 01:11:22
Yeah. And I, I would just add a couple of points. One is, yeah, I think we're looking at all those operational type expenses and 01:11:25
and that's something. 01:11:29
We plan to bring back. 01:11:33
This is. 01:11:35
Sort of. 01:11:37
A preliminary early look ahead at the next three years. So one of the things and we met with our. 01:11:38
With our staff we had an all hands meeting to sort of talk about this. 01:11:45
One of the things is this isn't a final budget. This is the first draft of the budget. 01:11:49
It's the first draft if we. 01:11:54
Don't change anything and we just keep doing things the way we do them. Where do we? 01:11:55
Land in three years. 01:11:59
And I think what we see is we need to start making some adjustments, but it's. 01:12:01
It's, you know, the intent of doing these is to be able to have the time to make those adjustments and to be able to work 01:12:07
together. 01:12:11
And we? 01:12:14
Talk to our staff today about, you know. 01:12:15
Any ideas welcome, No ideas too small. 01:12:18
If you know staff member has an idea about well, we've we had it in the books to buy this new piece of equipment, but now. 01:12:22
You know. 01:12:29
Knowing that, you know the budget. 01:12:30
Is a challenge we can. 01:12:32
Get three more years out of it, then it's time to have some of those conversations. 01:12:34
And then I think the other big one that I think we're going to have some conversations coming up at council is. 01:12:39
Looking at some revenue generation, umm. 01:12:46
Ideas. 01:12:51
And proposals. 01:12:53
Things like we have not we and we talked about this recently at council but we haven't raised our. 01:12:56
Um, wastewater rates in. 01:13:03
Believe it was 12 years. Our trash rates in over 12 years. 01:13:06
And those you know, it's great that we were able to keep our costs. 01:13:10
Low and not raise those rates for longer than most of the cities around us, but those are things that. 01:13:14
There's a reason why every other city has raised their rates in that period. It's because the costs went up. 01:13:19
And at some point, those rates have to go up or else we're not recovering those costs. 01:13:24
And we have to look at things like user fees and those types of things too, so. 01:13:29
So I think at this point. 01:13:33
The idea with today is really just framing the issue because over the next 5 or 6 months, we're going to probably bring back 01:13:35
several. 01:13:39
Items to discuss and. 01:13:43
We want everybody to know the full big picture. 01:13:45
As we bring those back, because it may have been something where in the past. 01:13:48
It was, you know, well, we don't need to do that yet. 01:13:51
And so we want to show what the next three years like look. 01:13:54
Look like so we know what we need to start working on now. 01:13:56
So just one more question. 01:14:00
The 2.292 million. 01:14:03
That we estimate. 01:14:06
Being deficit and. 01:14:08
For 25 and 26, what's the percentage of that? 01:14:10
From the overall budget, I didn't want to bring out my phone and do the calculations. 01:14:14
Probably about I'm doing it off the top of my head, so maybe 8%. 01:14:18
Something along those lines. 01:14:24
So, yeah, and that year. 01:14:27
That, percentage wise, is not. 01:14:29
Too bad the. 01:14:32
Years following it start getting over. 01:14:34
10%. 01:14:36
So long term, it's a challenge. I just, I think you my experience with with budget cuts over the years it's been. 01:14:37
Putting the departments through an exercise, If you're gonna have to cut your budget by 10%, what would you cut? Yeah, yeah. 01:14:44
And letting letting them really think through that process. 01:14:50
Councilmember Gama, I think there's a lot of nuance here and. 01:14:55
I don't know if it's possible, but when we talk about. 01:14:59
Not buying a piece of equipment. 01:15:03
Well, if it's in the enterprise funds. 01:15:04
Right. 01:15:07
Correct. Doesn't matter. Yeah. 01:15:08
Because the enterprise funds are doing better, the general fund, so I think. 01:15:10
Moving forward, I think what we need to do is be able to. 01:15:14
Talk about the general fund. 01:15:18
As it is by itself. 01:15:20
And. 01:15:22
Categorize expenditures as they hit the general fund. So when we talk about labor costs. 01:15:23
The say that. 01:15:32
The enterprise fund for. 01:15:33
Solid waste, right? 01:15:36
So labor costs. 01:15:38
Are paid for out of the enterprise fund, correct? 01:15:41
So there are some that are charged to enterprise funds we're talking. 01:15:44
Today, we're trying to focus on the general fund today, so we aren't. 01:15:48
Talking about the enterprise funds. 01:15:52
So that 70% of personnel cost is 70% of our general fund budget, right. But when we say? 01:15:54
Let's not buy a piece of equipment. 01:16:01
If it's part of if it's a new trash truck. 01:16:04
Right. That would be a part of the enterprise fund, right. And I think for those City Manager mentioned that for enterprise funds. 01:16:07
The exercise still needs to happen because of the rates that haven't increased. I understand that. But but the general fund is 01:16:15
what we're trying to focus on, right, Correct. There's general fund equipment and there's enterprise equipment. So when we just 01:16:19
said. 01:16:24
You know, we're going through the. 01:16:29
Exercise of. 01:16:31
Asking every department to look at these. 01:16:32
Right now we're talking about general funds, so we're asking them to look at those. 01:16:35
But uh. 01:16:38
Yes, we're also doing the same exercise with the enterprise funds. 01:16:40
And because the enterprise funds haven't been increased for a very long time. 01:16:44
We, we will, we are going to need to talk about some adjustments there as well, whether that's the rate increase which has to go 01:16:50
to the voters and takes a period of time that that's some of the new ones I'm talking. 01:16:55
So if we do pass a rate increase on water or trash. 01:17:01
Does it benefit the general fund? 01:17:05
Yes, In what way? Because if the general, if the enterprise fund can't support itself. 01:17:06
Then it the general fund has to subsidize the enterprise fund. 01:17:12
And I would say we're not. We're not. 01:17:16
But we're not at that point right now. 01:17:18
I would say we aren't doing it today. 01:17:20
But part of why we're doing this outlook is because we're not far from it. I don't think we've done it in the time that I've been 01:17:24
on council. 01:17:27
I don't know. 01:17:31
And so that's really what needs to happen with the enterprise funds because they're self funded. They they, they receive their. 01:17:41
Their cost recovery, right, So it in a rate study they take those type of items into consideration, any capital going forward. 01:17:47
Cost of operating, the operating costs and then it's the third party who does the analysis and recommends. 01:17:55
The rates so that the those enterprise funds also. 01:18:02
Maintain viable because they're. 01:18:05
Have a fund balance as well and those fund balances have been depleting in the last couple years. 01:18:08
Great. Any other questions? 01:18:15
I just had one more the. 01:18:16
The general fund. 01:18:18
2526 to 2627. 01:18:21
Had a big drop. 01:18:25
I don't know if this is a slide I saw it on, but. 01:18:28
Like what was it one of the? 01:18:34
Revenues specifically, yeah, I was just wondering is there a? 01:18:37
A specific reason for that, or is it just the way the numbers? 01:18:40
The drop from 2526 to 2627 specifically like the expenditures is because those are it builds on that. 01:18:44
So if we assume a 2% increase in the first year, then the next year it's 2% on top of that, oops, sorry, the new base. 01:18:52
So that's why it's it looks worse in 27. 01:19:01
So if costs go up next year by 2%, then if we were assuming they're going to go up the following year another 2%, it's compounding 01:19:05
it's yeah. 01:19:10
Question. Yeah. 01:19:17
So when we have. 01:19:19
Have we discussed like when we have new hires? 01:19:21
Maybe have a different blended system where? 01:19:24
You know their contribution arms are a little higher so that we. 01:19:28
Kind of offset some of the. 01:19:32
The pension cost. 01:19:35
Have that been discussed? 01:19:37
So for cities. 01:19:40
We that is essentially in place. It's a. 01:19:43
There was pension reform in January, on January 1st, 2013 I think it was. 01:19:49
And essentially any new employee hired after that. 01:19:54
Contributes more to their pension. 01:20:00
And the employee pays 50% and those are the Pepper employees. And then the classic employees is where the city pays 100%. And 01:20:03
that's the reason that with the pension cost. 01:20:08
Are expected or projected that they'll go down in 20 the year 2031 because. 01:20:13
There'll be more new employees new under the new, yeah. 01:20:18
Yeah. So that's where the long term outlook is a little different from the short term with. 01:20:22
Pensions because it should. 01:20:27
There should be a tipping point. 01:20:29
Coming up in a few years. 01:20:31
Questions. 01:20:34
If not, Madam Clerk, are there any public comments? 01:20:36
We do have a public comment written. 01:20:39
From Dulce Sutter Field. 01:20:42
Agenda Item 8 features a preliminary forecast. Previewing it on the city website, I felt curious about the sales tax content. 01:20:45
Please embrace a more granular look at tax revenue drivers and influencers going forward. 01:20:54
Shortly after the COVID Stay Safe at Home commencement almost five years ago. 01:21:00
Wine Me Family Pharmacy was shuttered. 01:21:05
Owners abruptly relocated to Oxnard. I did not loyally follow, but other customers may have opted for Oxnard. 01:21:07
The wooden building on Winimi Road did not attract a new tenant. 01:21:15
Also vacant for years after an early Covic closure. A neighborhood 97 cent store at the Beachport Center. 01:21:18
Prolonged vacancies can erode expected sales tax revenues. 01:21:25
Decreased revenue from 2 retail closures is tiny compared to a loss of a larger business a couple blocks eastbound on Wine Amy Rd. 01:21:29
Corner of Surfside Drive. 01:21:37
Port Hueneme Marine Supply left our city during the pandemic. 01:21:39
Industrial customers across the Socal region rely on that family owned business year round. 01:21:42
A sizable chunk of annual sales tax revenue shifted from our city coffers to Oxnard's. 01:21:48
Our city sports a still empty building on a high visibility corner. 01:21:53
My guess about that relocation to Oxnard was wrong. 01:21:58
A city employee explained the move out happened when the property owner figured leasing to a cannabis business would prove 01:22:01
lucrative. 01:22:05
Years later, no cannabis player or other commercial interests has yet occupied that building. 01:22:09
Question How large of a cumulative? 01:22:14
Revenue dent might be attributed to cannabis mirage. 01:22:17
Nearby retail offerings on the naval base attract eligible folks. 01:22:21
A municipal revenue forecast may benefit from learning if the quantity of base shopping is. 01:22:26
Expanding. 01:22:31
Questions are increasing numbers of base eligible shoppers settling in our city and vicinity? 01:22:32
Or is a base shopper headcount plus the total amount of base spending trending downward? 01:22:38
The item eight pillar ends with financial excellence. 01:22:43
I don't know what measurable inputs can add up to an excellent determination as opposed to lesser thresholds such as mediocrity or 01:22:46
an economic clift. 01:22:51
Examples I've shared regarding vacated properties illustrate tax revenue shrinkage within a single three block stretch. 01:22:56
In just one neighborhood. 01:23:03
Not a Cliff, but far from excellence I reckon. 01:23:04
I'm not calling for hyper focus on locations. I've highlighted examples are meant to spur inclusion of optimal levels of 01:23:07
granularity within ongoing fact finding, analysis and next steps. 01:23:13
There's much more to discover before that elusive pillar of economic excellence can become believable as an achievable reality, 01:23:19
Not overreach, mirage or vague rhetoric. 01:23:24
Let's not forget how unlicensed food and beverage vendors swarmed public sidewalks on certain occasions last year. 01:23:30
Also, it seems prudent to probe existing inequities between long established lodging owners who pay licensing fees. 01:23:36
And taxes and short term rental operations popping up without facing similar requirements. 01:23:44
Operators dodge parameters, their local lodging competitor. 01:23:49
Competitors abide by it. 01:23:53
Mockery of the general plan arises with insidious growth of under the radar lodgings. 01:23:55
Steadfast and robust municipal revenue streams are bypassed with physical leakage. 01:24:00
Let's stop predatory profiteers from seizing the market share as rogue shapers of our community. 01:24:05
They can hurt us far more than dips in tax revenue streams. 01:24:11
And once again there was from Dulce Satterfield. 01:24:14
Thank you. That concludes. 01:24:17
Thank you. 01:24:19
We have before us a recommendation to receive a presentation regarding the preliminary 3 year budget forecast for fiscal year. 01:24:20
2026 in fiscal year 2028 through fiscal year 2028 as a kickoff to the budget process. 01:24:27
And in advance of the capital improvement project plan. 01:24:34
Review at the. 01:24:37
Future meeting, may I have a motion in a second? 01:24:39
Motion to approve. 01:24:42
2nd. 01:24:43
Great. Any discussion? 01:24:46
Or the discussion. 01:24:48
Madam Clerk, please take role. 01:24:50
All in favor. 01:24:52
Aye, all opposed. 01:24:53
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 01:24:55
Great. Thank you. Miss our sale and our city manager. Thank you so much. 01:24:58
Move on to City Council goals and strategic plan status. 01:25:03
Will the staff please present the report? 01:25:07
Yes, thank you. 01:25:09
As we move on, I did want to note. 01:25:12
Because it was. 01:25:15
Related to the comment the public comment. 01:25:16
To. I just wanted to highlight though that the. 01:25:19
The Council has taken. 01:25:22
Several actions that we didn't highlight with that last. 01:25:24
Budget forecast. 01:25:29
Proactively to. 01:25:30
Already start making adjustments either to the. 01:25:33
4K that that have positively impacted the forecasted budget or and or some of the items that were mentioned by the public comment. 01:25:37
And such as the Council had already proactively adjusted the budget in late 2023 to with an eye on balancing the budget. 01:25:45
And. 01:25:54
That had positive results that have better positioned us for the future. 01:25:55
And then second, specifically regarding the comments regarding sort of economic development and? 01:26:00
Trying to support businesses. 01:26:07
The city has. 01:26:09
Recently adopted several code amendments that are specifically focused on doing that and trying to make. 01:26:11
Things easier for businesses or letting businesses advertise easier or? 01:26:17
Allowing businesses to have additional uses. 01:26:22
Prior to or more than what they had had previously. 01:26:26
So. 01:26:29
Those are all things that we are going to continue to work on, but I do want to highlight that we've also taken several steps on 01:26:30
those recently to. 01:26:35
Those are. 01:26:39
You know it's a marathon, not a Sprint. When you're looking at community development, there's usually not one magic bullet. But if 01:26:41
you set up. 01:26:45
The city code to support local businesses, then you'll start to see that. 01:26:49
That growth happened so. 01:26:54
So those are things that. 01:26:55
Are in progress and have. 01:26:58
Been put in place and we have ordinances in in place going into effect and and probably some future ones that will be recommended 01:27:00
with those same thoughts in mind. 01:27:05
And it does tie into the council goals and. 01:27:10
And strategic plan because it does tie into several of our. 01:27:13
Goals in strategic areas. 01:27:18
We have this item on the agenda to do our. 01:27:21
Update and review of our Council goals and strategic plan. 01:27:24
As quick background, in 2022 the City Council adopted A10 year plan to guide the city's priorities. 01:27:29
Ensuring alignment among the council staff in the community. 01:27:36
The four goals are, I'm sorry, five goals are identified on this slide and we'll get into a little bit more detail, but. 01:27:40
Essentially five goals, Goal one provide best levels of service for residents and businesses. 01:27:47
Goal to develop fiscal and economic excellence. 01:27:52
Goal 3 Promote innovation and opportunity. Goal 4 Ensure a safe, secure, inclusive and beautiful community. 01:27:56
And go 5 to develop strategic partnerships. 01:28:03
And so we wanted to go through. 01:28:06
Knowing that we adopted A10 year plan a few years ago. 01:28:10
We wanted to essentially start with a brief update of some of the. 01:28:15
Items. 01:28:20
Are working on. 01:28:21
Have implemented. 01:28:22
And or are continuing to implement. 01:28:24
In these categories. 01:28:27
And so we'll go through those. I'll try to go through those quickly. 01:28:29
And we can talk in more detail about any items that the Council wants to discuss, but. 01:28:33
Just. 01:28:38
For example, for best levels of services for residents and businesses, we had four. 01:28:40
Areas, uh. 01:28:45
First was become an employer of choice and we've. 01:28:46
Sort of revamped our HR department with a focus on. 01:28:50
These these items like employee recruitment, retention, recognition and Wellness projects and we are have those things. 01:28:55
Those items are ongoing. 01:29:02
Second, use customer focused technology improvements. We are. 01:29:05
Getting to the finish line on implementing a new enterprise software system, the Tyler Enterprise System. 01:29:09
Which includes customer focused tech. 01:29:16
Technology improvements like utility bill payment improvements and work order system improvements. 01:29:18
And so we are. 01:29:24
Nearing the finish line on implementing that. 01:29:26
And that'll be a major technology enhancement. 01:29:29
3rd on. 01:29:35
Under goal one is improving online services, information, public outreach tools, and customer service. 01:29:36
We've really put a focus on. 01:29:41
Building our public outreach. 01:29:44
Program utilizing social media and our city websites more effectively and then launching things like our monthly newsletter. 01:29:46
To try to provide better outreach. 01:29:54
4th is improved processes, including efficiency and quality. 01:29:58
And a lot of those improvements. 01:30:02
We're focused on. 01:30:05
The implementation of the Tyler. 01:30:06
Tyler Enterprise System and the. 01:30:09
Workflow enhancements that that would bring. So we again are nearing the finish line on the Tyler system. 01:30:11
Goal 2 is to develop fiscal and economic excellence. 01:30:18
There are 4 sub goals there a create fiscal and debt management policies. I think this ties into. 01:30:22
The last item and the note that we created and implemented a capital improvement project funding policy. 01:30:28
And then? 01:30:33
We plan to work on some of those pension related policies. 01:30:34
And and. 01:30:40
Some other conservative budgeting focused policies. 01:30:44
That we'll be preparing and bringing forward to the Council. 01:30:49
Second, prepare economic development road map. 01:30:54
We have prepared that. 01:30:57
We are now at a point where we're ready to start implementation. One of the challenges is going to be several of the items that 01:30:58
need to be implemented. 01:31:02
Require funding to be implemented, so that's also. 01:31:07
Something we'll have to build into the budget and keep in mind as we work. 01:31:10
Through the budget. 01:31:14
3rd Explore revenue improvement options, including city property options. 01:31:16
We have. 01:31:21
We are exploring both. 01:31:23
Of those things, revenue improvement options like some of the ones we mentioned. 01:31:25
During the prior item. 01:31:29
And also. 01:31:30
There's a couple of properties that myself and. 01:31:32
Community Economic Development Director Tony Stewart. 01:31:36
Are looking for options that we will bring forward to the Council. 01:31:39
To to further that goal. 01:31:44
Then 4th, and this is really the one change that I recommend, is we had a specific focus of expanding cannabis business 01:31:47
opportunities. 01:31:51
I think in light of. 01:31:56
Everything we just talked about. 01:31:58
And uh. 01:32:00
And sort of our thought process moving forward, we were. 01:32:01
Really talking about long term. 01:32:04
Really changing this to just expanding business opportunities. 01:32:06
And not focusing on cannabis. 01:32:10
I think we, we can honestly say we did. We have focused on cannabis. We actually. 01:32:13
Even in the last 18 months have done several code. 01:32:18
Amendments. 01:32:21
And adjustments to support some of the cannabis businesses and and make it easier for them to operate as well. 01:32:23
But I think we're really looking big picture. 01:32:30
And realizing that. 01:32:33
I think it's time to shift. 01:32:35
Our recommendation will be to start shifting to. 01:32:36
Looking at. 01:32:40
All of our businesses and not. 01:32:41
Necessarily just focusing on cannabis at this point. 01:32:43
Goal 3. Promote innovation and opportunity. 01:32:48
1st is the implementation of the IT master plan. We have That master plan is adopted and we are now. 01:32:51
Implementing it. It's in progress and we'll do it. We'll do an update to Council in coming months with the status of that 01:32:58
implementation. 01:33:02
Second was implement the finance system Tyler which I've mentioned is in process. 01:33:07
Third was implement and better utilize social media and outreach tools. 01:33:12
Again, we are in progress on that with significant growth. I think at one point we had. 01:33:16
Something we had a couple week period where we had something like 250% growth on our social media and. 01:33:22
And that isn't all the time, but we've we've really. 01:33:27
Focused on that and. 01:33:31
Have grown that. 01:33:33
And then 4th is the preparing the broadband master plan. 01:33:36
And. 01:33:41
That actually was on our lap. We had an item on our last City Council agenda to. 01:33:42
Approve, Receive reception of a grant. 01:33:50
To start with. 01:33:52
One of the projects on the Broadband Master Plan, specifically improving broadband access near the beach to. 01:33:55
Both public facilities and but also to. 01:34:03
To the communities there. 01:34:06
So we we have that grant moving forward. 01:34:08
And then we'll be looking at. 01:34:11
That's a grant to design. 01:34:12
Broadband and then we'd be looking at a grant to implement. So we're working actively on that as well and have made progress in 01:34:14
recent months. 01:34:17
And fourth goal. 01:34:22
There was 55. 01:34:25
Sections First was public safety. 01:34:27
And at the time it was identified as Traffic Safety, crime prevention, Emergency Management and response. 01:34:30
And so those are areas that we have focused on. 01:34:37
Such as implementing the traffic division. 01:34:42
Which we did about a year ago and then. 01:34:46
We have. 01:34:50
Launched and held emergency preparedness trainings with. 01:34:51
Our different city department representatives. 01:34:55
Which was something. 01:34:58
That we really had a need to start doing, so we've been putting a focus on those. 01:34:59
Also I didn't list it on this, but the. 01:35:07
Police Department has been working with some of our shopping center. 01:35:09
Owners and operators to try to focus on. 01:35:13
Crime prevention at some of the major shopping centers. 01:35:16
Second, parking improvements. All right. Sorry, park improvements and community service programs. 01:35:21
Think the main 1 identified at the time was the Bubbling Springs project, and that's been a major project for the city as a whole. 01:35:26
Across departments and then the the good news with that is it's coming along well and we expect to be able to announce the grand 01:35:33
opening. 01:35:37
And we'll expect to announce the date of the grand opening in coming weeks, so. 01:35:41
That is moving forward significantly. We've also done some things like. 01:35:46
Think at the time, one of the projects that was identified was getting the teen center open at the Community Center. 01:35:51
And also some of the recreation program that we've. 01:35:58
Open. So those have also been. 01:36:01
Launched in in progress in this. 01:36:05
Period. 01:36:08
3rd Beach preservation and A Rosen Erosion Prevention. 01:36:10
I think the main one is the one that's ongoing now and that's that we've we. 01:36:15
Have advocated and continued to advocate and continued to engage on. 01:36:19
Ensuring that our sand restoration dredge project. 01:36:23
Is proceeding and so they're working as we speak. 01:36:27
4th tree management and updated landscaping standards. 01:36:32
We had a tree committee or a landscaping standard committee. Who? 01:36:36
Proposed. 01:36:41
Updated standards for landscaping and tree maintenance. 01:36:42
Those have now been adopted and we're now implementing those standards, so we're making good progress on those. 01:36:46
And then last on under this goal is infrastructure, including water, wastewater, streets, etcetera. 01:36:52
We've completed several projects such as the Water Master Plan. 01:36:58
And also we're ongoing with the largest main. 01:37:02
Wastewater sewer line. 01:37:06
Project that we've. 01:37:08
That we've had in many years replacing 60 year old pipe. 01:37:10
And then we have several other. 01:37:15
Additional projects in process. 01:37:17
And then go 5 and we, we spent some time talking about this last year. It was sort of a focus area. 01:37:21
With the logic that the first four goals are really staff. 01:37:27
Focused, you know, the council identifies the goal in the project area and and staff implements. 01:37:33
The strategic partnerships is really an area. 01:37:38
That also includes more. 01:37:41
Council involvement to develop these. 01:37:44
From this point still to implement some of these. 01:37:49
Goals. 01:37:53
So some of the strategic partnerships that the City Council has identified as part of the strategic plan is. 01:37:55
1st the port. 01:38:01
We always identify both Port Oxnard Harbor district. 01:38:06
But it's it's one in the same. 01:38:09
I will report on along those lines that at the staff level. 01:38:12
The city and the port have recently taken several steps to enhance the collaboration, including. 01:38:16
For the first time we had I believe it was. 01:38:22
Two weeks ago now. 01:38:25
For the first time we had a staff to staff. 01:38:27
Level. 01:38:29
Collaboration. 01:38:30
Where we brought in. 01:38:32
Sort of cross departmental groups from each. 01:38:35
Agency. Sort of. 01:38:41
You know our like our person and then their counterpart at the port and we really. 01:38:42
Had. 01:38:48
Long collaborative discussion about some of the projects we're working on. 01:38:51
And so that was a positive step forward. 01:38:56
So we're continuing to work on. 01:38:59
That partnership? 01:39:01
Second Naval Base, Ventura County. 01:39:03
We've built that relationship with the naval base liaison and representation at the base and we've. 01:39:06
In the last. 01:39:15
18 months or so we that's resulted in coordination on San Pedro St. 01:39:16
Parking. 01:39:20
But also the guardrail fixes on Channel Islands and and and. 01:39:21
And we? 01:39:25
Are continuing to work on that. 01:39:27
We had, I think when we talked about this last year, we said that we expected a change of command soon and now? 01:39:28
We can look back and say we've had a recent change of command, so I think that one's a. 01:39:34
Struggle just in that every. 01:39:39
Four years, you kind of have to rebuild that. 01:39:41
That connection. So that's something on the. 01:39:44
On the goals list for this year. 01:39:47
3rd Community Services. 01:39:50
Slash programming schools, libraries, boys and Girls Club, etc. 01:39:52
That was what was identified in the document. 01:39:56
And so we. 01:39:59
Can report that we've been working with the library on a reopening plan as. 01:40:02
As Ned said earlier, and we're coordinating together on that and hoping to announce more soon. 01:40:07
And then we worked successfully with the Boys and Girls Club on reopening the Teen Center after the storms and coordinating with 01:40:14
them to. 01:40:18
To make sure everything was able to reopen as quickly as possible and as smoothly as possible. 01:40:22
And then we. 01:40:27
Also have been working with them on. 01:40:29
The grant that we have in place. 01:40:34
That, uh. 01:40:37
Is a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. 01:40:39
And then we recently. 01:40:43
Was presented to the Council. We recently received a grant. 01:40:45
Separate from. 01:40:49
These entities, but we did receive a grant for our own recreational after school programming as well, so. 01:40:50
So we're continuing to work on community services and programming and especially partnerships with those agencies. 01:40:56
Sand Collaborative, we worked with our partners regarding the dredge and I think that's something we'll need to continue to work 01:41:04
on this year. 01:41:08
To to move forward. 01:41:12
School District. 01:41:14
Myself and our chief have met with the school Superintendent. 01:41:17
To start talking about some of the projects that we could develop long term. 01:41:21
And that's something we continue to, we plan to continue to do. 01:41:26
And then homelessness was the other one. Homelessness partners. 01:41:30
Identified in the plan was the Ventura County Continuum of Care Mercy Housing. 01:41:34
City of Oxnard, etc. 01:41:39
And, umm. 01:41:41
We have continued to. 01:41:42
Try to develop those partnerships. 01:41:45
And we work with our partners on projects such as the Backpack medicine and some other programs. So those are ongoing as well. 01:41:48
And so those are the five goal areas with. 01:41:56
The priority projects are. 01:41:59
Areas identified by the. 01:42:02
Council as part of that. 01:42:04
Strategic planning. 01:42:07
And so. 01:42:08
We wanted to provide the update on what we're working on, on what things are in progress. 01:42:11
And at this time we're presenting it for consideration by the Council. 01:42:17
With the ability for Council to provide feedback and direction regarding. 01:42:22
Any umm. 01:42:27
Changes or any? 01:42:29
Specific projects or? 01:42:32
Or things along that line, so. 01:42:34
With that, we're happy to answer any questions. 01:42:38
Does Council have any questions at this time? We're going to have discussions later, yes. 01:42:40
I do. 01:42:44
Regarding goal #2. 01:42:45
Going back to. 01:42:49
Economic development. 01:42:50
Has there been, is there currently or will there be any type of plan working group collaboration with property managers of all 01:42:52
these different? 01:42:56
Shopping centers that we have to try to focus on how to bring in businesses. 01:43:01
What they can do to help maintain businesses. We just lost another business to Oxnard. 01:43:05
Every time I turn around, another business is leaving a shopping center. 01:43:10
But is there any discussion or hopefully future discussion regarding that one? 01:43:13
Yeah. And I think. 01:43:18
I think one of the 1st. 01:43:19
Projects. I don't remember exactly how it was worded, but I think it was something along the lines of like. 01:43:23
Sort of restart. 01:43:28
The Chamber of Commerce. 01:43:30
And I think that's definitely. 01:43:32
An area of need. 01:43:36
I think. 01:43:38
Initially we our first thought was if we have a chamber, let's try to see if we can kind of restart it, reboot it and get that 01:43:39
moving. 01:43:44
But I think if we aren't able to, that's going to be something we're going to have to. 01:43:49
Look at and come up with an alternative because. 01:43:53
I do think that's uh, uh. 01:43:56
That's a weak spot we have is right now there's not really. 01:43:57
Like a. 01:44:01
A voice for the business community or a place for the businesses to go and. 01:44:02
And have those types of conversations. 01:44:07
As a city, we can and should try to have those conversations, but it's always a little different because people. 01:44:11
People are sometimes afraid to tell the city if there is a problem or if you know there is, or if they have a question and they 01:44:19
think if they ask the city, that the city will be alerted to what, you know, a problem going on on their property or. 01:44:25
Things like that. 01:44:31
I do think that those are. 01:44:33
Those are things we will need to do. 01:44:35
As we get going on our economic development. 01:44:38
Plan moving forward. 01:44:41
So thank you. 01:44:43
Councilmember Hernandez. 01:44:45
No question, but I do want to have. 01:44:47
Have an opportunity, I hope that we'll have an opportunity to discuss. 01:44:49
Future goals. 01:44:53
Councilmember Comma. 01:44:55
How do we collaborate with? 01:44:57
How do we collaborate with the base? 01:45:00
I mean change of commands. 01:45:02
I hear San Diego comes up all the time. 01:45:05
Point Magoo, but. 01:45:08
You know, I know it's all about national security, but they also run a pretty effective business out there moving cars off the 01:45:10
base, so. 01:45:14
How do we talk to him? 01:45:17
Who do we talk to? 01:45:19
For collaboration and partnerships. 01:45:20
I think it depends on. 01:45:23
Exactly what area we're. 01:45:27
We're focusing on and I think. 01:45:30
We talked a little bit about, you know, we. 01:45:32
Connected with the. 01:45:35
Naval Navy Base liaison and we worked with them on specific projects. 01:45:37
But that's not really a like a big picture. 01:45:41
Long term goal discussion. And that's not necessarily. 01:45:44
I don't think that's necessarily the. 01:45:47
The way you'd want to have that conversation. 01:45:51
So I think it just it depends on what our specific. 01:45:54
Goal is, yeah. 01:45:57
And if it is something that sort of falls into the wheelhouse of the liaison, I think we're building that connection where we've 01:45:58
been working with them. 01:46:02
But some of the. 01:46:06
The things that I've heard discussed are bigger conversations where we. 01:46:08
May need to. 01:46:14
Have that conversation with. 01:46:16
The commanding officer or like you said. 01:46:17
I think one of the conversations we did have with the base. 01:46:21
About a year ago. 01:46:24
Sort of. The end result was we needed to talk to. 01:46:25
San Diego, not necessarily our people. 01:46:29
At stationed at our base. So it just depends. 01:46:33
It seems like longer term, bigger picture goals are more San Diego discussions. 01:46:37
Yes. Any other questions? 01:46:42
Yes, so. 01:46:47
Few, few meetings ago we talked about rezoning. 01:46:50
Some of these areas. 01:46:54
Have what? 01:46:56
Some of these ownerships of these buildings that are, you know, not. 01:46:58
You know the story. You know the storefronts are not actually full. 01:47:03
Have we had any positive feedback with that from from those owners? 01:47:07
We've had a couple of. 01:47:14
Property owners who have reached out to us. 01:47:17
Basically wanting to understand exactly what that. 01:47:20
Means umm. 01:47:24
You know, essentially along the lines of, you know, I have an idea for this and in the past I couldn't do that. Is that something 01:47:25
that? 01:47:29
You guys are open to now, Is that something that would be allowed now? 01:47:33
So we've had a couple conversations along those lines, mostly resulting in. 01:47:36
You know, at this point, because it hasn't been very long. So mostly it was, you know, we gave them some information on. 01:47:41
What the changes were. And then they said they'll come back to us then, like kind of. 01:47:46
Wrap their heads around that and come back to us with some. 01:47:50
Some proposals. 01:47:53
So, so there's a, there's been a couple. 01:47:55
One challenge for us is. 01:47:57
We're sort of a. 01:48:00
You know, generally referred to as a built out city and so. 01:48:01
We have a couple of opportunities areas where. 01:48:06
You know, somebody was thinking about maybe redeveloping or you know, kind of expanding or adding on. 01:48:09
But we don't have a whole lot of property, you know, other cities. If you make that change and you have, you know, acres and acres 01:48:15
of vacant property, somebody can come. 01:48:19
And really take advantage of that. 01:48:23
For us, it's it's always a challenge because. 01:48:25
Like what we're hearing so far is people who already have. 01:48:29
Businesses and buildings, but there may be interested in adding a use to it or something like that. 01:48:32
So I was just curious. We're starting to hear it. 01:48:37
Yeah, because like, you know, you look at Wagon Wheel. 01:48:39
And you know you have mixed zoning where? 01:48:42
You have. 01:48:44
Commercial. 01:48:46
Then residents on top. 01:48:47
So, you know, there's a couple areas that would be primed, yeah. 01:48:48
We saw. 01:48:51
We were targeting for rezoning. 01:48:53
We've had a couple of. 01:48:56
Property owners in some of those. 01:48:59
I think the areas that we're all thinking who have said they want to come talk to us. 01:49:00
Thanks. 01:49:06
You know, trying to use a surfer mentality. Look ahead, Look ahead and. 01:49:10
How do you define? 01:49:14
Success with. 01:49:16
Guards to the dredge because my understanding is they're going to come up way short. 01:49:18
This cycle. 01:49:23
And we had a hard time getting it started. 01:49:25
So when it comes to strategic plans and goals, it's like. 01:49:27
You know. 01:49:31
Looking ahead and thinking we might see a repeat of 20. 01:49:32
13. 01:49:36
When you lived here in. 01:49:38
Saw what happened. 01:49:40
Yeah, the positive is I think the. 01:49:42
Well then you tell me if I'm wrong, but the challenge there is I don't think we got any sand today. 01:49:45
Here isn't that. 01:49:49
600,000 cubic yards and my understanding is we're looking at 1,000,000. 01:49:53
Cubic Yards. 01:49:58
We have a sort of regular check insurance with the team. 01:50:00
Doing the project. 01:50:05
Mostly because we actually coordinate with them and we make sure, you know, they have access to the promenade and all those types 01:50:07
of things and. 01:50:10
And the latest estimate we got was about a million. 01:50:14
So it's it's not what? 01:50:17
The goal should be. 01:50:20
2.4 million, yeah, yeah, so that's way short. Yeah. So it's not what? 01:50:22
They had planned to do. 01:50:28
Previously. 01:50:32
There's a couple of things that. 01:50:33
That. 01:50:36
We should focus on and that we're preparing to focus on and that we're going to recommend that the Council focus on and, for 01:50:37
example. 01:50:41
You know, one of the things is we've still talked to them and. 01:50:45
And talk to the port who have. 01:50:48
Sort of been one of our key partners and advocating with on the dredge. 01:50:50
About. 01:50:54
Advocating for them to. 01:50:56
Come back. 01:50:58
At potentially at like a mid year to to do additional work it's. 01:51:00
I don't know. 01:51:06
I think we're too early to really talk through the details of that, but you know, we've talked about. 01:51:07
We've stressed to them the need for the sand. 01:51:14
And we've talked to them already about if it can't get done to the level we need. 01:51:17
You know, we'd like to keep talking and keep. 01:51:22
Keep pushing for them to come back. 01:51:26
Sooner or whatever it ends up being. So that's that's a conversation that. 01:51:28
I think will be ongoing for. 01:51:32
For this year. 01:51:34
May I have a follow up question? 01:51:37
To Mayor Pro Tem's comment or question about zoning rezoning, did we not? 01:51:39
In our general plan years ago. 01:51:44
Rezone certain areas shopping centers to mixed-use. 01:51:46
I thought we designated certain areas already. 01:51:50
I remember that conversation. 01:51:54
I guess I don't know when they change, but I. 01:51:58
But some are and I. 01:52:00
I'm guessing they were rezoned when when you were. 01:52:03
In that time period you mentioned, yeah. 01:52:06
That's what I remember. 01:52:08
And would mix use use mean what mixed-use means today? 01:52:11
If it were done. 01:52:17
So mixed-use is literally. 01:52:18
That and it can be for example. 01:52:21
And cities define it differently and I have a few city codes in my head, but it could be, you know, an example would be, you know, 01:52:23
a residential use. 01:52:28
And one portion with retail use in another portion. 01:52:32
Right. Yeah, something like that. 01:52:35
That's our definition. 01:52:37
I don't know our definition off hand, but we can. 01:52:39
We can get that and send it to the calendar. 01:52:42
Madam Clerk, do we have any public comments? 01:52:48
No public comments. Thank you. 01:52:52
The recommendation is to. 01:52:54
Discussion. No, we'll do this first. The recommendation is to receive the report on the current City Council goals and strategic 01:52:56
plan. 01:52:59
Status and provide feedback and direction. Is there a motion and a second? 01:53:03
I'd like to make a motion to. 01:53:12
Receive the report. 01:53:16
But with some amendments. 01:53:18
Which we need to discuss. 01:53:20
OK, through discussion. So I'm not sure how we'll do that because. 01:53:23
My expectation was that we were going to have spend most of our time. 01:53:27
Talking about our future goals and setting goals. 01:53:31
And now that we've seen the status. 01:53:34
Umm, I'd like to be able to somehow incorporate. 01:53:37
Our goal, so I'm not sure how we'll. 01:53:41
How we're supposed to do that? 01:53:43
Our goals for. 01:53:44
The next year. 01:53:46
We don't know. 01:53:47
Can you give a motion that? 01:53:49
Says that. 01:53:51
I thought we were going to have discussion after we do the motion, but that's well, OK. All right. So. 01:53:52
We'll just do it that way. I just see things, a couple of things in here that may have been. 01:54:01
Missed, but I don't think the intent was to. 01:54:07
Detail everything that. 01:54:12
You accomplished, correct? So let's not do that. Let's just go ahead. 01:54:14
I'll just go ahead and recommend approval of the report. 01:54:19
And. 01:54:22
Will can then discuss goals. OK, OK. 01:54:24
So I'll make you the motion to approve the report. Is there a second? 01:54:28
2nd. 01:54:33
Great. Thank you. Is there any discussion? 01:54:35
Yes. 01:54:39
Lots. Umm. 01:54:40
So. 01:54:42
So let's go ahead. 01:54:44
Councilmember Gamma. 01:54:46
Well, it sounds like staff. 01:54:49
Is on top of. 01:54:51
Everything that we expect them to do. 01:54:53
Maybe, maybe it's time for US elected officials to. 01:54:58
Get in on the conversation. 01:55:03
With our strategic partners. 01:55:06
Like the port? The Navy. 01:55:09
Again, the Navy's. 01:55:13
The Navy, the port, at least we do know that there are the elected body that perhaps that we could. 01:55:14
Come together. 01:55:21
Elected or elected and have. 01:55:22
The conversations. 01:55:25
That affect our community. 01:55:26
You know, both good and bad. 01:55:30
I mean, we all know there's. 01:55:32
You know, it's a really good relationship. 01:55:34
But there are. 01:55:36
Conversations that we need to have, conversations that matter. So. 01:55:37
I just think that. 01:55:43
It would be a really good exercise. 01:55:45
For the bodies that come together and have a public discussion. 01:55:47
On the strategic partnership. 01:55:51
OK, so. 01:55:59
My my thinking in this is that what I'd like to go through is I've got comments on goals one through 5. 01:56:00
And I think I can be brief on them if. 01:56:06
The council allows. 01:56:09
With goal one, provide the best levels of service for residents and businesses. 01:56:11
I thought of a couple of goals I would like to see included in there. 01:56:16
I know we talked it about code changes. 01:56:21
Can we do more to improve the permitting process and the permit timeline? 01:56:25
That's one of my. 01:56:33
Suggestions in order to better attract businesses because. 01:56:34
And I hear it all over the city. Is that the permit process, whether it's. 01:56:39
Building. Building a home. 01:56:43
Remodeling. 01:56:45
Or setting up a new business that the permit process is onerous and it's time consuming it takes. 01:56:48
It takes a lot of time. 01:56:54
If there's something we could do in that area, and I also would like to see us in terms of information and outreach. 01:56:56
Is improve our website. 01:57:03
And I think this also speaks to. 01:57:06
Employee retention because if somebody is looking for a job. 01:57:09
That's probably the first place somebody is going to go. 01:57:12
And I think. 01:57:16
That are. 01:57:18
Website has been neglected over the years and. 01:57:19
If there's anything we could do in that area to improve it, I would. 01:57:22
Like to see that? 01:57:26
The economic development plan. 01:57:28
You know, I think we. 01:57:32
That needs to be a key focus for the next year. 01:57:33
And I have some suggestions as we get down into strategic partnerships, how we might do that. 01:57:37
So I don't really have more on the goal two, goal 3. 01:57:43
I'm glad to see broadband in there. I think that's going to be a great economic development measure for our community. 01:57:49
Is if we can get that project. 01:57:56
Implemented for the beach area and other other areas that don't have broadband. 01:57:59
Ensure a safe, secure, inclusive and beautiful community I. 01:58:04
I know that the city that you've been doing some training and emergency preparedness with. 01:58:08
With staff, I don't know that it's reached the level of emergency operations center training. 01:58:14
But I hope that that continues if it is that. 01:58:21
I'd like what they've done. 01:58:24
What everybody's done with the outreach to the community, but I'm concerned that our staff. 01:58:26
Need to be. 01:58:33
Need to receive continued training and I would also like to see. 01:58:35
The Council. 01:58:40
Receive training on the role of elected officials during disasters. 01:58:42
Because that was obviously. 01:58:47
An issue. 01:58:50
During the January storms, and I don't think that everybody understands. 01:58:51
What our role can be and what it should be, and I think we need to have a discussion on that. 01:58:56
So if the Council agrees, I'd like to. 01:59:01
Have some training on that. 01:59:04
One thing that was overlooked in Goal 4 was the. 01:59:07
Public art program that we. 01:59:10
And the mural that we launched. 01:59:12
In 2012, we started in 2020, but. 01:59:14
Actually was completed in 2024. 01:59:18
And that was a part of a beautification effort. 01:59:21
For the city, and not only was it a beautification effort, but it was a highly collaborative effort. 01:59:24
We had the port. 01:59:31
The city at local nonprofit. 01:59:32
The county. 01:59:35
Involved. 01:59:37
And even the school so highly collaborative and I'd like to see us continue. 01:59:38
Pursuing more public art. 01:59:43
For our city has also has an economic development measure. 01:59:46
Umm, the strategic partnerships. 01:59:51
Umm, I would. 01:59:56
I agree with Councilman Gama that we need to improve our communications and what I was going to with our. 01:59:57
With our partners and. 02:00:04
What I'd like to see is maybe at least once a year, do a. 02:00:07
Partnership Roundtable. 02:00:12
Invite the Superintendent of schools. 02:00:14
Invite the leadership from the port, the leadership from the Navy base. 02:00:16
The VFW all. 02:00:21
Entities and others that I may have not mentioned. 02:00:23
To sit down and have a discussion about. 02:00:27
Emergency preparedness about homelessness. 02:00:31
About economic development. 02:00:34
And just have a broad agenda where we can just. 02:00:36
Discuss these issues. 02:00:39
And hear from our partners about. 02:00:41
Their concerns, things that. 02:00:44
That ways that we can have better relationships, ways that we can deliver better services. 02:00:46
Whatever is on their mind. 02:00:52
And. 02:00:54
I'd like to see us. 02:00:55
Strengthen. 02:00:57
Strategic partnerships. 02:00:58
Through through some sort of roundtable. 02:01:01
With that, that's. 02:01:04
Really all I have. Thank you. 02:01:05
Councilmember. 02:01:09
Yeah. 02:01:11
I think those are all great suggestions. 02:01:12
However, at this point in time. 02:01:15
Given our. 02:01:18
Budget. 02:01:19
Concerns. 02:01:21
I would hope that. 02:01:23
We could hyper focus on economic fiscal. 02:01:24
And our strategic partners. 02:01:29
I do think we need to focus on. 02:01:32
The revenue side of the jet. 02:01:34
The Ledger. 02:01:36
And. 02:01:37
I think. 02:01:40
Hopefully that we could. 02:01:41
Bring the partnerships together and really have a have some really good conversations that matter. 02:01:44
All the things that Councilmember Hernandez mentioned, those are all. 02:01:49
Great. And they're kind of they feel good and I get it, but. 02:01:53
I feel that. 02:01:58
Our focus should be on our budget. 02:02:00
Revenue streams. Economic development. 02:02:03
And. 02:02:06
And maybe we could. 02:02:07
Focus on those in the short term right now as we lead up to our. 02:02:09
Our budget. 02:02:13
You know 'cause it. 02:02:15
I don't know if I said it good enough earlier, but. 02:02:16
There's a big swing in our. 02:02:19
General fund balance. 02:02:21
3.5 million, 3.9 million projected. 02:02:23
You know, and and though that's a pretty. 02:02:27
Big hurdle. 02:02:30
To be looking at. 02:02:31
So. 02:02:32
Like I said, I agree with all the. 02:02:34
All the other stuff, but I hope that we could focus on our. 02:02:36
Our our strategic partnerships revenues and how we could have. 02:02:40
Bring more rent revenues into the city of Portland. He, me. 02:02:47
And. 02:02:50
Just one other thing. 02:02:52
The. 02:02:54
You know I. 02:02:56
Last time, I think it cost the city $6 billion. 02:02:59
And if we just get a million? 02:03:03
And we don't get them back for two years. 02:03:05
We better prepare for. 02:03:08
Anywhere from 3 to $6 million in damages. I mean, it's that simple and we know this. 02:03:10
And this is what really just. 02:03:16
I don't get it man. 02:03:18
We know what our needs are, we know we need to mimic Mother Nature, and we keep falling short. 02:03:19
Thank you. Any other any other comments? 02:03:27
Just a quick question to our city Manager. 02:03:31
So based on what our council members have said. 02:03:34
What does an action look like? 02:03:37
Like what does an action? 02:03:42
Look like regarding this item. 02:03:44
So let me go through. 02:03:46
Some of those comments and then I guess. 02:03:50
I have suggested. 02:03:53
Yeah, path forward, I think. Yeah. 02:03:58
So. 02:04:02
So I was keeping a tally of. 02:04:03
Of the items, so for example. 02:04:07
Improving our permitting process and timelines. 02:04:09
I think that does fit under gold D or 1D. 02:04:14
Improved processes, including efficiency and quality. So it's sort of that same category to the. 02:04:18
The original strategic plan was. 02:04:27
I'm estimating, but I think it was 15 to 20 pages of very complex charts. 02:04:33
With a with a lot of. 02:04:39
Data and. 02:04:41
We had gone back and we had looked at a couple of the previous discussions and for me one of the goals of this item was. 02:04:44
I don't want us to lose the forest for the trees. 02:04:50
You know when we're looking at 15 pages of charts? 02:04:54
And, you know, talk about the ranking of each item versus the other and. 02:05:00
We really wanted this discussion to be bigger picture. 02:05:03
Here's the goals that we that we have that you know, we understand from the council and the goals that we're working on and tell 02:05:06
us if we're on the right path on the. 02:05:10
You know, on the wrong path or. 02:05:14
Other or if we want to add, you know, remove, modify, any of those things. 02:05:16
So this. 02:05:21
It doesn't have the full level of detail, but. 02:05:22
I have a feeling that the permitting processes and timelines is included in the improved processes including efficiency and 02:05:26
quality. 02:05:29
And so we can confirm that, but. 02:05:33
But I think that would be included in that one. I don't know that we need to add another subsection at this time. 02:05:37
Improving the website. 02:05:43
I think the reason that's not included here is because I think. 02:05:46
That we adopted a. 02:05:50
I'm sorry we implemented a new website. 02:05:52
Right around the time of the adoption and implementation of this plan, and I think the idea was. 02:05:55
To start building that website. 02:06:00
And so I think the the terminology from the. 02:06:02
From the original plan was utilized the social media and website. 02:06:06
So, umm. 02:06:10
So we can look at that as a starting point is look at kind of building it out and. 02:06:12
Looking at some of those areas that we can add. 02:06:20
More information to or clean up some of the areas for example. 02:06:23
So that the website is included in that goal 1C. 02:06:27
OK. 02:06:31
I think. 02:06:34
Economic development road map was the note was just that should be a key focus. So I don't think we need to change anything there 02:06:35
unless. 02:06:38
I guess one idea would be if somebody wanted to bump that up to a priority level, but it's not really priority ranked, so I don't 02:06:41
think that's necessary. 02:06:46
You know, and I just wanted to if I may. 02:06:50
Just interrupt for a second. 02:06:53
I do like. 02:06:54
City Council Member Perez's idea about. 02:06:57
Putting together. 02:07:00
Working group to look at. 02:07:02
Economic development. 02:07:04
Ideas. And Yeah. 02:07:06
That would be and that would be part of. 02:07:08
You know, not only economic development, but strategic partnerships as well. Yeah. And that could be that could be a direction at 02:07:10
this point would be to do that the other. 02:07:14
The only reason I. 02:07:19
Didn't suggest that is because we are going to bring forward at some point in the next couple months. 02:07:20
The economic development plan with sort of an implementation. 02:07:25
Plans so we can also talk like it's part of that item as well. 02:07:29
Yeah, I think goal three we just. 02:07:35
Highlighted the reports of the broadband Master plan, so I don't think there was any change to that. Go 4. 02:07:38
City Manager Vega, I have a question about the broadband, if you don't mind, Mayor. 02:07:44
The grant that we got does that cover. 02:07:49
What we're planning on it covers the design. 02:07:52
So, so far, we haven't done any design work. We haven't. 02:07:55
We we highlighted, we adopted a plan that highlighted like 3 areas in the city. 02:07:59
That, umm. 02:08:04
We know. 02:08:05
Needs better. 02:08:06
Broadband infrastructure. 02:08:08
And that was that's the plan at this point. And so this is the first step now to actually say we're going to focus on one of those 02:08:10
areas and actually come up with. 02:08:14
With a design for that area. 02:08:18
So the grant that we got. 02:08:20
I think I'm off the top of my head so I might be wrong. I think was something like. 02:08:22
Around 270 or $300,000 of funding to design it. 02:08:26
And then I think the grant was through SCAG. 02:08:31
Southern California Association of Governments. 02:08:34
And SCAG. 02:08:37
When we were meeting with them said that the typical path is cities. 02:08:40
Get the design grant. 02:08:44
Do the design and then that makes them eligible for. 02:08:45
Construction grants? Yeah, implementation grants. 02:08:48
So that's the. 02:08:51
Sort of the fingers crossed the process that we want to. 02:08:53
That we're hoping for right now. 02:08:57
And so that. 02:08:59
Was approved last council meeting, so we're still kind of early in that design phase, but. 02:09:00
The hope is that was like a. 02:09:04
Concrete step forward to getting a design and hopefully implementation funding. 02:09:06
And I think that's probably, you know, that's a. 02:09:12
Even that project on its own is probably a couple year long projects. I think that's the focus of. 02:09:15
For us right now in the broadband master plan. 02:09:21
With the broadband master plan is that, and I can't remember what it's called, is it going to connect at all with what's happening 02:09:23
in the county area with the? 02:09:28
The main line of broadband that's supposed to go. 02:09:33
You know what I'm talking about. The EDC is a part of that's supposed to fork down into each city area. 02:09:35
Yeah, it's, it's been a little. 02:09:42
Hard. 02:09:44
Figure that out yet I think that the. 02:09:46
The final word we got on that is that. 02:09:49
That project is going to be focused on areas that meet the qualifications of being considered. 02:09:52
A low income, I think they're using a different word. I think it's. 02:09:59
In need, I think you know so. 02:10:02
But you get the. 02:10:04
The the general and. 02:10:06
For us. 02:10:08
None of our areas. 02:10:09
Are in that category. 02:10:13
And I think I thought I had heard that like. 02:10:14
Essentially, most of the county isn't. 02:10:18
In that category now, I think there might be like a couple areas. 02:10:20
On the on the East End of the county that that. 02:10:25
Are going to potentially be impacted by that project. So I think when that project started, I think we all got the presentations, 02:10:28
you know. 02:10:31
6-7 years ago at this point. 02:10:35
I think the idea like that was the idea and then it's really just. 02:10:36
Developed into being for those areas. 02:10:40
That are. 02:10:44
Not in port wine. 02:10:45
So and then. 02:10:46
So emergency preparedness, we have the goal and we have the. 02:10:50
The uh. 02:10:55
Focus area of emergency preparedness I think the request was more for. 02:10:57
Elect its for the county? Yeah, the council elected official. 02:11:02
Training. 02:11:07
And that's. 02:11:08
I think that could be like a. 02:11:09
A council presentation, Yeah, that could just be a simple presentation. 02:11:10
So I think that, yeah, it doesn't have to change our goals. It can just be something we bring back. 02:11:15
And then probably, well, that and the partnership roundtable would be the two that I think the Council. 02:11:21
Should they don't need to change the goals, but it's basically a question for the councils of. 02:11:28
Is that the? 02:11:34
Approach you want to take to implement it and if so, that can be the discussion. Well, it's kind of like to further define the 02:11:35
goals. I mean it's. 02:11:39
It's a work plan. It's kind of like you take a goal. 02:11:43
And then you figure out what Kate the objective is, so. 02:11:46
So over here like. 02:11:50
When we look at the five. 02:11:51
D Sand. Collaborative. 02:11:53
Well, great, we're successful the dredges out there, but. 02:11:56
We need to define the goal. What does success look like to me? 02:12:00
Getting the full. 02:12:04
Allotment of sand that we need to. 02:12:06
To prevent. 02:12:09
Yeah. But yeah, that that may not be. That's our personal goal. 02:12:11
No, no, no, no. I disagree. You could, you could smile all you want, but the bottom line is the beach, the beach goal, it may not 02:12:15
be realistic. So that's yeah, No, I disagree. It has to be. It has to be. 02:12:22
Up to us. I mean, we have to go to Congress every two years. 02:12:30
And we need to be more effective in going to Congress and getting that money and getting them to understand. 02:12:34
All doing the best we can. 02:12:40
And through advocacy, it's not working. 02:12:41
Sometimes it's not going to work. 02:12:44
I don't accept that. 02:12:47
Did you have anything else that? 02:12:49
I think so. There's those two items. The emergence are the council. 02:12:50
The elected officials. 02:12:56
Emergency preparedness role training. 02:12:58
And then the. 02:13:01
Partnership Roundtable. 02:13:04
And the only other comment I'll make is just as regards to that last discussion. That's where that fifth goal is sort of the area. 02:13:06
That, uh. 02:13:14
We said that's the one that. 02:13:15
Sort of anticipate. 02:13:17
That it may need to be. 02:13:18
Sort of discussed annually by the Council. 02:13:21
Of sort of. 02:13:24
You know, kind of re establishing or re identifying or. 02:13:27
Updating like what the goals are for each of those partnerships? 02:13:31
And last year we did have an item. 02:13:36
As one idea there. 02:13:39
Last year we did have a item kind of a separate standalone discussion where it was just the discussion. 02:13:41
The goals for each of those partnerships? 02:13:48
And we did have the. 02:13:50
We did. The council ended up adopting goals for the port. 02:13:52
The naval base. 02:13:57
Ventura County and. 02:13:59
Feel like there was a. 02:14:02
I think there was a third but I'm blanking right now so. 02:14:05
One idea could be to just review those annually. 02:14:07
As well. 02:14:11
You know, we, we adopted like goals for each of those and we could bring those back each year and just say, yes, these are the 02:14:12
same goals or. 02:14:16
You know, or we want to add, remove, modify goals, so. 02:14:21
So I think those are the three. 02:14:24
Sort of options that the Council can discuss. 02:14:26
Anything. Anything else? 02:14:32
Any other discussion? 02:14:34
And are you OK with your motion? Well, I'm not sure. 02:14:36
Are you saying that you recommend we review the goals versus? 02:14:41
Having a round table. 02:14:46
A partnership roundtable. 02:14:48
I think. 02:14:50
Sort of as we're discussing. 02:14:52
That, uh. 02:14:54
Goal 5 area and potentially partnership roundtable. 02:14:55
We could just. 02:14:58
I think my thought is. 02:14:59
Why don't we? 02:15:01
Schedule an item at an upcoming council meeting just focused on Goal 5. 02:15:02
And then whether you know it can list some options, we can review the goals of each agency, we can discuss a partnership 02:15:07
roundtable or any other approach. So. 02:15:12
Defining partnership roundtable is that elected to electeds? 02:15:18
It's good councils could define it, yeah. 02:15:22
So the idea would be the council would say. 02:15:25
How they want to do that? 02:15:28
At this on this next agenda item. 02:15:30
Yeah. And so it would probably be, I think our next agenda is looking pretty full. So it'd probably be that first meeting in 02:15:32
March. 02:15:35
But we can bring. 02:15:39
Yeah, March 3rd so we can bring back the. 02:15:40
Strategic partnerships. 02:15:43
Section and. 02:15:45
Have recommendations? 02:15:47
OK. So are you OK with your current motion And so we'll go ahead and should we come back around and add that as an agenda item 02:15:50
when we do? 02:15:54
The agenda. 02:15:59
I think we could items or do you wanna do that right now? I think right now maybe a motion. 02:16:00
To assuming that. 02:16:05
It's the will of the council to schedule a. 02:16:08
Elected official. 02:16:11
Emergency preparedness training and into. 02:16:13
Return with an item. 02:16:15
At a future meeting regarding the strategic partnerships and potentially holding a partnership around. OK, so let's go ahead and 02:16:18
amend the motion. 02:16:22
Or this? How about a new emotion? 02:16:27
Would be. 02:16:32
To ask staff to. 02:16:34
Consider the. 02:16:36
To come back with training at. 02:16:38
Date to be determined on. 02:16:41
The role of elected officials during disasters. 02:16:44
And to agendize an. 02:16:47
Discussion item on. 02:16:51
A strategic. 02:16:53
Strategic partnerships. 02:16:54
And to receive the brief. 02:16:56
And receive the brief. 02:16:57
2nd, 2nd. 02:17:00
This is the motion, so let's go ahead and finish the motion first. 02:17:03
Do we have a second I second, second. OK, now go ahead, let's do the discussion. 02:17:07
I just recall that I attended a. 02:17:12
I think 2 of them at Cal Cities. 02:17:14
Workshop training on elected officials and disaster preparedness. 02:17:17
So I think that would be a really good resource and. 02:17:21
Our newest council member will probably be heading up there soon. 02:17:25
But I think that would be a really great resource for us. 02:17:28
Cal Cities, yeah. 02:17:32
Yeah, Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you take a vote, please? 02:17:35
All in favor. 02:17:38
Aye, all opposed. 02:17:39
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 02:17:42
Great. We'll move to our. 02:17:45
Final agenda item out of state travel request for Regional Defense Partnership lobbying trip. 02:17:48
To Washington, DC. 02:17:53
Thank you. Yeah, this item. 02:17:56
I think started simple and got complicated, so bear with me. 02:17:58
So initially we were we have this item on the agenda to. 02:18:03
Allow the Council to. 02:18:08
Designate either the primary representative or the alternate representative to attend the Regional Defense Partnership lobbying 02:18:11
trip to Washington, DC. 02:18:15
And then but to also provide direction regarding desired goals or talking points for those meetings. 02:18:20
I believe the current status is. 02:18:27
I believe both the primary representative and the. 02:18:31
Alternate representative are unable to attend. 02:18:35
Is my understanding. 02:18:38
And so the Council. 02:18:39
Could discuss, if desired, whether to send another representative. 02:18:42
We haven't. 02:18:47
We haven't. 02:18:49
Checked with RDP to see if they have any concern about that yet, but I would say. 02:18:51
You know the items on the agenda. 02:18:54
If the Council. 02:18:57
Determines whether they want to send somebody. Then we can then reach out to our DP and sort of coordinate that and make sure 02:18:58
everything works. 02:19:01
But. 02:19:06
That's the item I think. 02:19:07
One note, we sent out an e-mail. 02:19:09
Just before the meeting. 02:19:13
That uh, uh. 02:19:15
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez has notified us that. 02:19:16
He needs to recuse from the our. 02:19:20
Step down from the RDP board due to just conflict with his. 02:19:25
His day job I guess for for. 02:19:29
To keep it simple. 02:19:31
So. 02:19:33
We don't have. 02:19:35
This item is not. We didn't write this item to allow for a. 02:19:36
Discussion of the RDP appointments. It's only for the designation for the trip. 02:19:40
And so we'll schedule a meeting at a. 02:19:46
Or an item for a future meeting to have allow the council to discuss the RDP appointments. 02:19:49
At this point. 02:19:54
That would leave the alternate member as our sort of. 02:19:56
Loan representative right now for RDP. 02:20:00
As I mentioned. 02:20:02
Earlier, my understanding is neither could attend the DC trip. 02:20:04
At this point so. 02:20:09
It's up to council. 02:20:11
Whether to discuss? 02:20:12
And appointing somebody to attend this meeting. 02:20:15
And then there will be a future meeting, a future item. 02:20:18
At an upcoming meeting to discuss the RDP appointments as a whole. 02:20:21
This is related to the trip. 02:20:26
And a motion. 02:20:29
Councilmember, thank you, James, for that. 02:20:30
Summary Yeah, I unfortunately can't go because I. 02:20:34
Scheduled another trip last week. 02:20:38
Of March, but I would like to make a motion that we send our mayor. 02:20:41
Who has been serving on RDP? 02:20:45
For several years now and knows the topic areas pretty well. 02:20:48
I think. 02:20:52
She she'd be a good fit with the team. Everybody knows her and. 02:20:54
She knows the. 02:20:59
She knows the ropes and what's involved in in those trips, so I'd like to make a motion to nominate her to go. 02:21:00
I second. 02:21:09
Just for the record, there are no public comments. 02:21:12
OK, great. Thank you. 02:21:18
OK. 02:21:21
Discussion. Any discussion? 02:21:23
I don't understand what. 02:21:26
Our goal is talking about. 02:21:29
Goals and objectives. 02:21:32
What is our goal? 02:21:33
Of going to Washington on this. 02:21:35
Lobbying trip for, I guess the Navy. 02:21:38
I mean, the only way I could support us sending anyone of us to Washington if we're going to go and. 02:21:40
And focus on. 02:21:45
Our dredge issues and getting our sand from the Army Corps engineers so. 02:21:48
We need to focus on revenue generation. We need to focus on our. 02:21:53
Our budget. 02:21:57
And I just don't see what. 02:21:58
This expense is going to. 02:22:01
Provide. 02:22:04
On that. 02:22:05
Matter so. 02:22:07
I don't. I'm not too excited about going. 02:22:08
Yeah, I'll just have a couple of words if I can. 02:22:12
So. 02:22:15
Just for history, RDP was created. 02:22:17
To. 02:22:21
Really push back on Brax if you know what base realignment and closures, base closures. 02:22:24
So that's why they were established. 02:22:29
And so. 02:22:31
How I see? 02:22:33
Umm, the importance of. 02:22:36
Participation is looking at. 02:22:38
The other side. 02:22:42
And So what if we? 02:22:43
What if the base closed right? 02:22:45
We lose the military, we lose revenue. 02:22:47
We lose, you know, a population of folks that that supports our city. 02:22:50
And so I think there is. 02:22:56
Last time we were there. 02:22:58
Learned that there were grants. 02:23:00
When you live outside of a military base. 02:23:02
You can actually get grant support. 02:23:06
In support of the Navy, we share. 02:23:09
I think we share water. 02:23:12
We share maybe our electrical. 02:23:14
Structure. So there are some things that because we're outside the gate, we could actually. 02:23:18
Request. 02:23:25
Funding from the government. 02:23:27
We haven't done that. 02:23:28
But that does. But it doesn't mean that we can't do it. 02:23:30
Last time, last year was the first year. 02:23:33
I think we learned a lot about some of the things that are available to us. 02:23:35
Right. And I think we can leverage that. 02:23:39
Well, that that's kind of my point. Like do we have a list? What are we going for? What, what do we have a list of objectives that 02:23:42
we're trying to bring back to the city that benefits the city? Well, I think we're talking about two things. One is that's for the 02:23:48
council to do and I think that's part of what our city manager mentioned to us earlier that we had to talk about that. 02:23:54
But the other thing is. 02:24:00
You know we haven't sent. 02:24:02
Other than learning about these grants are available to us. 02:24:04
We have instructed ourselves or prepared ourselves for such. 02:24:08
Visits. So I think that's something that we as a council must do. Now, I will tell you this is a this is a organization that 02:24:13
supports the military. 02:24:17
So we can't. 02:24:22
Think about going and not connecting ourselves to the military because that is what the group is all about. So we have to do. 02:24:24
Our due diligence to make sure we can do that. 02:24:31
Just are you done? Yeah, I'm done. All right. If I could just comment. 02:24:34
Umm, we actually, this is actually one very good opportunity for us to. 02:24:38
To meet with Julia Brownlee's office and talk about. 02:24:45
The dredging project. 02:24:48
The counties represented there were represented there. The Navy's represented there. 02:24:51
And we form. We are a coalition. 02:24:56
That advocates for the monies that support the dredging project. 02:24:59
So every year we go, we sit in Julia's office and we have that discussion. 02:25:04
So that's one really I think you should be happy to hear one benefit that we have when we go to DC Talk about that, but it's not 02:25:09
effective. 02:25:14
We're in a quandary. 02:25:19
Right now. 02:25:21
But that's no reason not to go. 02:25:22
That's not a reason not to have a comment. 02:25:25
So a. 02:25:27
Every council member is assigned $4000. 02:25:29
For our which we can use. 02:25:32
Towards whatever trips we would like to do. 02:25:35
If that is the trip she wants to do. 02:25:38
She is allowed to do so. 02:25:40
And B, we can have a meeting, it's up until March, right? The end of March. 02:25:43
We can have a meeting to set up our strategic plan and outline goals that we would like. 02:25:47
30%. 02:25:52
And talk about. 02:25:54
I have a comment. 02:25:57
So during working through RDP. 02:25:59
As we progress. 02:26:03
Going towards DC. 02:26:05
You hit every umm uh. 02:26:07
Department within the Navy. 02:26:09
Coast Guard. 02:26:11
Air National Guard, Navy. 02:26:12
And each. 02:26:14
Division within. 02:26:15
Within those areas. 02:26:17
And they discuss areas where what they need help with. 02:26:20
To lobby because. 02:26:25
They can't lobby for themselves. 02:26:27
And this is where you you start forming your strategic partnership. 02:26:29
And you got everybody in the room, you get to hear what the roadblocks. 02:26:33
What the issues are? 02:26:36
Because, you know, those things bring revenue to the base. 02:26:38
And they bring contractors in. 02:26:42
And you know someone will come fill. 02:26:45
From Port Hueneme, we just don't know where these these entities are coming from. 02:26:48
But uh. 02:26:52
That's it's a work up to RDP to the trip. 02:26:54
So right now there is an agenda. 02:26:58
As it progresses, each week you're going to another meeting. 02:27:00
Hitting a different organization? 02:27:05
Identifying what their goals are. 02:27:08
That's my comment. 02:27:11
I could just add also, yeah, OK. So the installation, the meetings with the installations begin. 02:27:13
I think this week. 02:27:20
And so it's a. 02:27:22
Hopefully. 02:27:24
The mayor would be able to attend those and get. 02:27:25
More information on the. 02:27:28
White papers that are going to be written and taken. 02:27:31
To DC. 02:27:34
But the other thing I wanted to add was that as I sit on the strategic committee for RDP. 02:27:36
My main job there has been to report on the status of the dredging project. 02:27:42
They have just a much concern about coastal erosion. 02:27:48
And sea level rise as we do. 02:27:52
Just like the port. 02:27:54
So. 02:27:56
That's where we find our strength is. 02:27:57
With that coalition and going to DC. 02:28:00
Having that opportunity to be in Julia's office and have that sit down and talk to her. 02:28:02
We have to keep trying. To not try would be to give up. 02:28:08
And be. 02:28:12
Counterproductive to our our. 02:28:13
Our whole efforts here. 02:28:14
So. 02:28:15
You know, I agree with all that you said. I'm just trying to emphasize the point that I thought we were golden two years ago. We 02:28:17
went through a long, hard process. 02:28:22
We got the dredge on, they came and delivered 100,000 cubic yards more than. 02:28:28
Mother Nature would have. 02:28:35
And then here we are two years later, falling away short and and if not for City Manager Vega. 02:28:37
Who called? 02:28:44
Attention to it. 02:28:45
I communicated it to the coastal cities in. 02:28:46
Cal Cities. Hey, this new water thing, the Army Corps engineers decided that they can't do dredging because they're going to have 02:28:50
to clean the material. 02:28:53
You know, that was a major thing and and you know. 02:28:58
Thanks to City Manager Vega. 02:29:01
Not the county, not Julia Brownlee, not the Army Corps engineers. But. 02:29:04
You know our city manager looking out for us so. 02:29:09
I just want effectiveness. If we're going to go, let's be effective. 02:29:12
And you're right, there's a lot out of our control. 02:29:16
And you know, when I first came on council I said I was going to be the. 02:29:20
Do frame of letter writing to get the dredge process. Andy Dufresne. 02:29:24
You laugh, but why not? 02:29:30
Why not do that? It's counterproductive. Is it counterproductive? But we're we're not being successful. 02:29:32
We're not successful. They have a lobbyist. They're using their lobbyists. Let's go through it hasn't been successful. 02:29:38
Here we are again. So just let's just watch and see what happens. 02:29:44
I don't want to go. 02:29:48
OK, let's vote. 02:29:49
OK, so. 02:29:53
Yeah, great, great, great. 02:29:54
Did I go public comments? You said no public Yes, there's no publicly. Thank you. 02:29:57
The recommendation is to consider the request. 02:30:00
For out of state. 02:30:05
I'm sorry. 02:30:07
Consideration. 02:30:07
Consider the request for out-of-state travel. 02:30:09
From Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 through Thursday, March 27, 2025. 02:30:12
Umm, for? 02:30:18
The mayor to represent, if needed, to attend the Regional Defense Partnership lobbying trip. 02:30:21
To Washington, DC in support of the Naval Base Ventura County, Point Magoo, Port Wine Neme used an individual council member 02:30:27
budget funds. 02:30:30
Provide directions to the city RDP representatives. 02:30:34
Regarding any desired goals or talking points. 02:30:38
For their meeting. 02:30:41
May I have a motion? 02:30:44
And a second we did. We have a motion. We have a second. So we need a vote. OK, Madam Clerk. 02:30:45
Please take a vote. 02:30:51
OK, I'm just gonna do a roll call vote. 02:30:52
Council Member Hernandez. 02:30:57
Councilmember Gama? Yes, Councilmember Perez. 02:30:59
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez and Mayor McQueen Lejeune. Yes. Motion passes unanimously. 02:31:02
Thank you. So the first meeting in March will bring back the RDP appointment. 02:31:06
With uh. 02:31:12
I think what I heard was that at that same time we can also include an item or a recommendation, so we talk. 02:31:14
About any talking points. 02:31:20
Goals and then. 02:31:23
I think we'll. 02:31:25
Do our best to schedule that the same day as the strategic partnerships discussion, which also ties right into it. So we'll 02:31:26
probably be that first meeting in March so that there's time to prepare for the March 23rd trip. So. 02:31:32
OK, great. Thank you. 02:31:39
So we'll move on to the city manager. Comments and reports. 02:31:40
Yes, thank you and. 02:31:44
Just a couple of things. 02:31:46
This week. 02:31:48
We actually. 02:31:50
Have a. 02:31:52
Big. 02:31:53
Opening to announce which is we are planning to do our ribbon cutting and our opening. 02:31:56
Oh. 02:32:05
Of the. 02:32:10
Wyoming beach swing set. 02:32:11
After a long wait, it is scheduled to open on Wednesday, February 5th at 3:30 PM, about 10 minutes after we set that. 02:32:13
The forecast changed to rain. 02:32:22
As it always does. 02:32:26
But I bet, I think it will change before then. And if not, I think I think some kids will enjoy still going out on the swings in 02:32:28
the rain. So, so we're going to we're going to open it. 02:32:33
One way or another, if nothing else, they can get out there when the rain stops. So. 02:32:39
But we're particularly, yeah. 02:32:43
Proud of it. It's accessible. That was sort of the challenge that we had to work through is. 02:32:45
Making an accessible swing set on the beach and we were out there earlier today and it looks great and we're excited to. 02:32:51
Cut the ribbon and. 02:32:58
Invite the community to start using the One Amy beach swing set. 02:33:00
Mr. City Manager, I thought it was going to be. 02:33:05
The padded material all the way underneath. But no, that's the the one section is enough for Ada. Yes, it's. 02:33:08
There's a. 02:33:15
It's. 02:33:17
It's not there. There's additional swings to the left of the padded area. 02:33:19
Yeah, nice. 02:33:23
Beautiful. 02:33:24
So we have the beach swing set. 02:33:28
Ribbon cutting. And it's just going to be a quick ribbon cutting, sort of. 02:33:31
The goal is to get people out in the swing set as quick as possible, so it won't be any elaborate ceremony, but we'll do that on. 02:33:35
February 5th we also just wanted to give a reminder because the new dates of the Beach Festival are sneaking up on us. So it's a 02:33:41
reminder to the public to mark their calendars and for us to mark our calendars for July 12th and 13th. 02:33:48
The idea this year is kick off the summer with the Beach Festival and then that allows us to end the summer with the Banana 02:33:55
Festival. 02:33:59
And so we'll have. 02:34:03
Kind of the kickoff and the ending of summer. 02:34:04
So mark your calendars for July 12th through 13th. 02:34:08
Then one more item to mark calendars with is. 02:34:12
The umm. 02:34:16
Community Benefit fund. 02:34:17
Which is the partnership between the city and the port? 02:34:20
Is has. 02:34:23
Officially set the date for the C Splash Color Dash 5K. 02:34:25
And kids 1K and then a free health and Wellness fair post race. 02:34:29
For Saturday, March 22nd. 02:34:35
Ridge We will open online registration on February 10th. 02:34:38
And last year this did sell out quickly. We've opened it up to more people this year, but we. 02:34:43
We're recommending everybody set their. 02:34:50
Calendar reminder for February 10th to register for the event. 02:34:53
I it's in the morning I think. 02:35:01
I think it was 9:00. Yeah, I think it's 9:00 and then. 02:35:04
I know we have to be there early, so I think we're going to be there doing some things earlier before that, but the races I 02:35:08
believe 9:00. 02:35:12
So and then. 02:35:16
As far as February 18th agenda, these are the items we currently have scheduled. That's why we mentioned earlier that the next 02:35:19
agenda. 02:35:23
As a more full 1, so some of those other items will come back in March. 02:35:26
But we have presentations for the. 02:35:32
Per the council's approved list of presentation items, we have the Mother's Day. 02:35:36
Sorry, Mother Day language. 02:35:41
No, it's Mother language. I think we flipped that. I think it's the Mother Language Day proclamation. 02:35:43
So I have a typo there. 02:35:48
And then the proclamation for Black History Month as well. 02:35:50
And then? 02:35:54
And we we're going to do that today, but we. 02:35:56
Postponed it to the 18th because we were trying to. 02:35:59
Include some representatives who helped put together the Martin Luther King Junior. 02:36:02
Events this year we wanted to invite them to the meeting so. 02:36:08
And then for business items? 02:36:12
We have a few traffic related items that we had said we'd come back. 02:36:14
To review some of the adjustments we made, we were going to do a like sort of a six month review. 02:36:18
Of you know the impact of installing some of the stop signs, we installed and. 02:36:23
Changing some of the. 02:36:29
Traffic speed limits and things like that. 02:36:32
And then we also. 02:36:35
Want to report back on the end of our pilot project report for. 02:36:37
I think it's the Market Street Panoma stop signs and. 02:36:43
We're hoping to also be able to provide the. 02:36:45
Status update of our. 02:36:48
Traffic Doughnut. 02:36:50
Demonstration project as well. Anti traffic donut. 02:36:53
Vehicle Doughnut. 02:36:58
Demonstration project. 02:37:00
Yeah, yeah. 02:37:01
So that and then we. 02:37:05
Had the request from Councilmember Martinez at his last meeting that the council approved. 02:37:08
Are approved to bring back, which is the request for. 02:37:13
Or to to reach requests or requests for use of storage. 02:37:18
At Miranda park and request. 02:37:22
For a utility box art project. 02:37:25
So those requests will be brought to the Council. 02:37:28
And then? 02:37:31
Probably the the main one, and we got some public comments on that this week, is short term rental related. So we plan to bring 02:37:32
the overview and a survey of options from local cities. 02:37:37
I did forget on the I meant to have. I have a visual aid that's not on the PowerPoint and I. 02:37:43
Missed it? Councilmember Gama mentioned in the inspiration today the pipe project we're doing. 02:37:49
And uh. 02:37:56
I happen to run into our team out there before the meeting. 02:37:57
And uh. 02:38:01
They gave me this section of pipe. 02:38:02
HDPE, high density polyethylene. 02:38:04
And, umm. 02:38:10
And so just if anybody ever wondered, when we say pipes, we're not talking about, you know, the little pipes we have at home. 02:38:11
We're talking about pipes this wide. 02:38:15
That run under the city. 02:38:20
And this. 02:38:22
Pipe material goes through. 02:38:23
The 60 year old clay pipe and you know a big section of this goes through that. 02:38:26
And now we have new pipe under. 02:38:32
Our city instead of 60 year old failing clay pipe. 02:38:36
And they said. 02:38:39
Interesting statistic is 6000 gallons a minute go through these pipes which is hard to even fathom so. 02:38:40
So thank you to Brian Fumiko and his team. 02:38:48
Who are out there actively working on it and so far, knock on wood ahead of schedule and. 02:38:52
And working to get that project done to serve the city for the next 60 years, hopefully. 02:38:58
Yeah. 02:39:05
City Manager. 02:39:08
I just want to add one thing about that pipe. 02:39:11
So I'm always interested in if you look. 02:39:14
They'll take 90 foot sections. 02:39:16
Combine them to be over 500 foot length, right? And So what they do is they take that. 02:39:19
End of the. 02:39:24
And they bring the other end of the pipe, they bring it together. 02:39:26
And they heat it up to 450°. 02:39:29
And then what happens is. 02:39:32
Composite material. It goes like this. 02:39:33
And when they bring it together. 02:39:36
And it cools. It's as strong as extruded pipe, so that's why you can see him jumping around, dumping it and pulling it through. 02:39:38
500 feet to the other side and. 02:39:46
It's so remarkable and and then the engine, you know, the the fact that. 02:39:48
We have someone on staff or a whole bunch of staff members that know, hey, there's an abandoned pipe under there and we could do 02:39:53
this is just remarkable. And again, it's. 02:39:58
You know, be inspired by your water system in and out of your house. It's amazing, truly. 02:40:02
Yeah, a lot of money. 02:40:09
They've just money. And then the other thing, the reason I had originally wanted to highlight it was because. 02:40:11
If everybody remembers, when we first started the project, we were worried about having to shut down access to businesses and 02:40:18
shutting down access to residents and. 02:40:22
You know, having to run pipe. 02:40:26
Along the streets and and really impacting traffic and everything like that. 02:40:28
And uh. 02:40:33
There's always some impact, but they've really managed to. 02:40:34
Do it in a way now where we didn't have to shut down access to any businesses, any. 02:40:37
Really any residents, I think we detoured around One St. 02:40:42
Really. And maybe a lane reduction in other areas? 02:40:46
But they've been able to do it without all those impacts and we talk about being business friendly and everything and those are 02:40:50
little things that. 02:40:53
We take for granted, but if you look around. 02:40:57
You know, you see those things happen in other cities where a business gets shut down because. 02:41:00
They're doing a construction project and we try to make sure that. 02:41:05
We are being as considered as we can of all those things, so. 02:41:09
Great. Thank you. 02:41:16
We'll move to councilmember reports. We'll start with. 02:41:17
Councilmember Perez. 02:41:21
I have a EDC executive meeting this week and I'll miss the. 02:41:24
Ribbon cutting. 02:41:29
For the spring, for the swing sets, unfortunately, but it sounds like it's gonna rain anyway, so. 02:41:30
And I had a Boys and Girls Club board meeting. They were just talking about the. 02:41:36
They're rebuilding the whole. 02:41:41
Porto wini me. 02:41:43
Building. 02:41:44
So they're going to be out of classes and looking for space. 02:41:45
I don't know. That's who I was asking for the Baptist Church contact. 02:41:48
They're trying to contact to see if anybody has any space so they can keep classes going so that nothing gets interrupted for the 02:41:51
kids because otherwise it'll. 02:41:54
There's a lot of children, a lot of need. 02:41:58
That go to that. 02:42:01
That center, so they're hoping not to disrupt anything. 02:42:02
And that's all I have. 02:42:05
Nothing else coming up. 02:42:08
So when Amy Beach cleanup is phenomenal, we're doing so good and you know all the hard work that we've done over the last. 02:42:12
Eight years, maybe even longer. 02:42:19
You can really see it come together. You see the the county clearing out their flood control ditches. 02:42:21
We even actually see the city of Oxnard stepping up a little bit. 02:42:27
And what that means for the Lagoon and the Alpha we're out there this weekend is that there's less trash. I mean, like. 02:42:31
Measurably less trash than what we dealt with eight years ago when it was a deluge of trash, however. 02:42:38
With the incoming rains. 02:42:46
We estimate that. 02:42:48
We may need to organize volunteers not to the effort that we've done. 02:42:50
In the past for placement of dumpsters out there. 02:42:55
We were out there this weekend. 02:42:59
And we all. 02:43:00
Filled our buckets up with plastic bags, like to the point, but there is bulky stuff out there. 02:43:02
We feel like after this rain event, that's. 02:43:08
I mean they're. 02:43:11
We may have a need for. 02:43:13
Things that we've done in the past in a. 02:43:16
Yeah, there's going to be some cost involved and I think we would dust off our agreement with the city of Oxnard. 02:43:21
Since we're going into. 02:43:29
I learned a new word tonight. 02:43:33
Granularity. Thank you, Dulce. 02:43:35
The scale or level of detail present. 02:43:39
In a set of data or other phenomenon, an example is the build data doesn't provide sufficient granularity to answer the questions. 02:43:42
There's a lot to. 02:43:51
Get out of that. 02:43:52
Public comment. 02:43:53
Granularity is a word that we all could relate to, particularly when we look at our budgets and stuff like that. 02:43:56
Ventral Animal Services. 02:44:04
Remarkable event happened. I don't know if any of you caught it. 02:44:07
So we have a new director. 02:44:12
He came out and visited our city not too long ago. 02:44:16
Esteban Rodriguez, I believe. 02:44:19
Really good guy and I took him around and showed him a whole area and you know. 02:44:22
Here's a guy that brings outside the box thinking because the the the. 02:44:27
Animal service has been overwhelmed with too many animals over capacity over capacity and I don't know how. 02:44:31
Or where it came from. 02:44:37
But they flew 42 dogs to. 02:44:39
To another state that had the capacity to accept the dogs, and some of the dogs were. 02:44:42
Were housed there for over a year. 02:44:47
Or longer and so just want to. 02:44:51
We got some great people over there and support local support your local Animal Services. Don't send your money to these national 02:44:53
organizations. 02:44:57
That's it. 02:45:02
All right, so busy week. This week I'll be attending the veterans staff. 02:45:06
Tomorrow, just kind of. 02:45:11
To observe, I used to follow the. 02:45:13
I'm really curious to see how it's evolved. 02:45:16
We have our first installation meeting under RDP with the US Coast Guard. 02:45:19
Tomorrow at 1:00, I'll be attending that. 02:45:23
And I've actually been asked to do a couple of fire presentations on the. 02:45:26
Buyers, LA fire. So I'll be going to do one for our HOA tomorrow night. 02:45:31
Thank you for the newsletters, Mr. City Manager. I'll make sure those get distributed. 02:45:37
To our residents. 02:45:42
We have an RDP strategic meeting on Wednesday. I'll be participating in that and then I'll be going through my first orientation 02:45:44
with the Clean Power Alliance. 02:45:48
On Wednesday at 1:30, it'll be a Zoom call. 02:45:53
Unfortunately, I won't be. 02:45:57
Able to attend the. 02:45:58
Ribbon cutting for the swing set either. 02:46:01
Of Navy League on Thursday. 02:46:03
And. 02:46:06
Got something else on there? I'm not sure what that is. 02:46:09
Umm. 02:46:12
And then that's it. 02:46:15
That's it for this week and I don't have any. 02:46:17
Reports on past meetings so. 02:46:19
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. 02:46:22
Yes, so I did attend the Mayor's Academy. 02:46:23
Last week in Anaheim. 02:46:28
Hosted by Cal Cities and. 02:46:31
Got a lot of good information, a lot of learning. 02:46:33
So that was a very good, good event. 02:46:36
I will be at the swing set ribbon cutting. 02:46:42
Wednesday, yeah. 02:46:45
I I would like to hear. 02:46:49
Something on the master water plan? 02:46:50
Just with water pressure. 02:46:53
I've, I've, you know, I've heard residents from Harbor lights. 02:46:57
Areas saying that they have weak water pressure. 02:47:01
And want to see if we have a. 02:47:04
You know what? What are we tracking as far as? 02:47:06
Pipe replacement for water. 02:47:10
Also on South side. 02:47:12
About 40 PSI. 02:47:15
Birdie, meaning their minimum thresholds. 02:47:17
So I was just kind of curious where we sit with the Matt Wasp, the master. 02:47:19
Water Plant. 02:47:23
And then a shout out to Michael Ella Perez for Oxnard District 6. She's been working hard. 02:47:25
With coastal cleanup as well. 02:47:31
That's all I got. 02:47:35
Thank you. Thank you. 02:47:36
So I'll be returning to my monthly meetings, GCD, VRSD, VCC and then next week. 02:47:38
Air pollution control district. 02:47:45
Board, currently the chair. 02:47:48
Of Gold Coast Transit expect it to be named the chair of Air Pollution Control Board next week. 02:47:52
I did also attend the Mayor and Council member Academy, Cal Cities last week. 02:48:00
Umm, I did attend the Alaska and I think most of us did attended the Alaska 261 Memorial. 02:48:06
It was it was really a nice. 02:48:13
A nice event. 02:48:15
Got a chance to then run over to Orvin Carpenters, 100th. 02:48:17
Birthday celebration, which was also really nice. 02:48:21
I participated in the county city selection committee. 02:48:24
Last week where we, you know. 02:48:28
We're able to feel. 02:48:30
Positions on for county. 02:48:32
Committee, board and boards. 02:48:35
And then for GCTD tomorrow? 02:48:37
Is a ride free transit equity day? 02:48:40
And it's also the birthday of Rosa Parks, which is. 02:48:44
Being celebrated tomorrow so. 02:48:49
And do plan. 02:48:52
To attend the swing ribbon. 02:48:54
Cutting as well. 02:48:57
That's what I have. 02:48:59
Anything else? 02:49:01
OK. 02:49:03
Requests for future agenda items. We'll start with Councilmember Perez. 02:49:04
I don't have anything. Thank you. 02:49:08
Councilmember. 02:49:11
Mayor Pro Tem. Well, I I. 02:49:13
I said it already, but the master. 02:49:16
Water plan would like a brief on. 02:49:18
Uh, actual water delivery into the. 02:49:20
Into the residence. 02:49:23
Great if there. 02:49:26
Is nothing else tech just to follow the process technically? 02:49:28
Can I get a motion in a second? 02:49:34
The master water plan. 02:49:42
On the. 02:49:49
Piping umm. 02:49:50
Of like the South side harbor lights area. I just want to see. 02:49:52
Where we're at? 02:49:55
In in terms of. 02:49:56
That infrastructure. 02:49:58
Where Umm. 02:50:00
Because it seems like we can't. 02:50:03
Turn the pressure up without. 02:50:05
Water leakage. 02:50:09
So I'm kind of curious. So the the. 02:50:10
I guess what I'm what I'm asking for is. 02:50:12
A brief. 02:50:15
On the master water plan. 02:50:16
I have a side question. 02:50:19
A side question related to that, do you sit on the water agency? 02:50:21
The Whitening Water Agency. 02:50:25
Figured they could probably give it to you like you. 02:50:30
Really quickly, without needing to wait for us to an agenda item. 02:50:32
Well, I want to see what OK, I mean, if that's the case too, because I what I'm curious is. 02:50:35
We have an aging infrastructure, these water mains, if we if we actually. 02:50:43
Turn the pressure up. 02:50:47
Over 45 PSI will blow a water. 02:50:48
So it sounds like to me you're making a request. 02:50:51
To have a presentation on. 02:50:57
Water pressure and or leaky pipes. 02:51:00
Yes. 02:51:02
And then that's what I was going to suggest. And then I think. 02:51:03
I was going to say, I'm not sure if we would bring that to PHWA or the Council. So can it just be to take it to the appropriate? 02:51:08
We'll figure it out. 02:51:17
It's just the pH, Washington and Council split sometimes is not. 02:51:18
Crystal clear which you know which. 02:51:22
Items go to which ones, so sometimes we'll take it to both. That's another thing too, but. 02:51:24
But umm. 02:51:28
I think that would be. 02:51:29
The motion would be to get a briefing on that at the appropriate. 02:51:31
Board meeting. 02:51:36
And they do. 02:51:37
Yeah, we're discussing. Sorry. 02:51:39
All in favor. 02:51:41
All opposed. 02:51:43
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 02:51:44
Great. And I don't have anything. 02:51:47
OK, our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18th. 02:51:52
2025 at 6:30 PM. 02:51:57
The meeting is now adjourned. The time is 9:20. 02:52:00
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Transcript

Event transcript
Welcome to the City Council regular meeting. I am calling this meeting. 00:01:48
To order at 6:30. 00:01:52
Please stand and join me for the flag salute. 00:01:56
Ready. Begin. 00:02:02
I pledge allegiance to the flag. 00:02:04
Of the United States of America. 00:02:06
And to the Republic for which it stands. 00:02:08
One nation under God. 00:02:10
Madam Clerk, please take role. 00:02:21
Councilmember Gama. 00:02:23
Here. Councilmember Hernandez here. Councilmember Perez here. 00:02:25
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez. 00:02:29
Here. Mayor McQueen Lejeune here. 00:02:31
We're going to begin with our inspiration. Councilmember Comma. I'm excited. I love inspiration. 00:02:34
By the end of this short little presentation, I hope that you're all inspired. OK, so here we go. 00:02:39
So there's two. 00:02:46
My inspiration is about water. 00:02:47
There's two sources of water in California. There's the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River. 00:02:50
This is a picture of the California Aqueduct, a man by the name of Mulholland. 00:02:55
Engineered this in like 1937 and he did it with a piece of paper and a. 00:03:00
What do you call it? Surveying equipment and a pencil writing down and so it's gravity fed. 00:03:05
And it comes down. 00:03:09
And then this is the other source of water for California. This is the. 00:03:11
This is the color. 00:03:14
Rado River and it's. 00:03:16
Held up at the Boulder Dam. 00:03:18
That's what the Boulder Dam looks like. 00:03:20
This was constructed in 1937. There's a hydroelectric power plant there. 00:03:22
It goes. 00:03:29
Down this way towards. 00:03:31
California because it starts off in Arizona and Nevada. 00:03:34
And this is Lake Havasu. And if you ever been to Lake Havasu, if you've been there multiple times, you'll notice that the. 00:03:39
The level of the lake never changes. 00:03:45
And there's a reason for that. 00:03:47
Because it's an open pipe. 00:03:48
So this is the the way the water comes down. 00:03:50
To Southern California, and it passes through Lake Havasu, which is always at the same level because it's an open pipe. 00:03:54
So what happens when you hit a mountain? You have to have. 00:04:01
A lift station, so to speak, to lift the water up and over the mountain. 00:04:05
These are the pipes that do it, and this is what it looks like. 00:04:09
And then it lifts it up to another lake that catches the water and then it'll. 00:04:13
Start working its way down. 00:04:18
This is another view of a lift station. 00:04:20
There at the end of the Lake Havasu. 00:04:24
And then this is the aqueduct. 00:04:27
After the lift station for the Colorado, Colorado River and this heads all the way down to San Diego eventually and it by contract 00:04:29
it has to deliver 1.4 million acre feet of water to the Mexico. 00:04:35
Here's another lift station in the desert. 00:04:43
This particular one is interesting because it lifts the water up into a tunnel and it. 00:04:45
Travels through somewhere and it comes out and again it's gravity fed to its destination. 00:04:50
This is at the five. 00:04:54
In the. 00:04:56
Freeway 5 and the 405 come to go back together I think. 00:04:58
What's interesting here is. 00:05:02
You can see the water cascading down the open side. 00:05:04
Which doesn't happen all the time and and. 00:05:07
Sometimes it's also taken by a pipe. 00:05:10
And then they. 00:05:13
Process it here at this facility, which I forget the name and I think it's called Riverside Processing Plant. 00:05:15
And here in Winemi, you may have noticed there's been a lot of projects going on here on this end of town. 00:05:21
And it's really interesting because we have great workers in our. 00:05:27
Public Works Department and there was an abandoned pipe. 00:05:32
And This is why institutional knowledge is very important. There's an abandoned pipe. 00:05:36
And they're redoing our water. 00:05:40
Outflow system. 00:05:43
And nowadays if. 00:05:45
They could take this. 00:05:47
Big pipe that they connect by fusing it together. 00:05:49
And they could. 00:05:53
Drag 505 hundred foot sections of pipe underground. 00:05:54
So it's quite a remarkable thing that. 00:05:58
Brian Flamenco and Charles Cable and Fred. 00:06:01
Camarillo are heading up. 00:06:05
And so this is what it looks like when they're dragging it through the old clay pipe which has been abandoned. 00:06:07
And like I said, they do it in 500 foot sections. 00:06:12
So if you think about our community and any community. 00:06:16
When you turn the water on. 00:06:19
It's connected. It's a little pipe that's connected to a bigger pipe that's connected to a bigger pipe that's connected to a 00:06:21
bigger pipe that's connected to a processing plant that's probably connected to either the California Aqueduct or the Colorado 00:06:25
River. 00:06:29
So every time you turn your water on every morning, it's an opportunity to be inspired. If you're having a bad day, bad night, 00:06:34
wake up, you turn that water on and it's like, it should make you feel good, so. 00:06:39
Hopefully from here on out, every time you brush your teeth in the morning, you'll start your day off. 00:06:45
Inspired by water? 00:06:50
Great. Thank you. 00:06:54
That deserves a hand clap, thank you. 00:06:56
Thank you, Councilmember Gama. 00:07:01
We will now hear public comments not pertaining to the items on the agenda. 00:07:03
Comments are limited to three minutes. This process will be the same same for comments pertaining to each agenda item. 00:07:07
Madam, Madam Clerk, does anyone have any public comments? Yes, First up, we'll have Ned Branch and then followed by Greg Ross. 00:07:14
Good evening, Mayor, Deputy Mayor. 00:07:25
Council members and the city manager. 00:07:28
My name is Ned Branch. I'm the Deputy Director for the Ventura County Library System. 00:07:31
And I came tonight to just give you an update on what's going on with your library and its reconstruction. 00:07:35
Things are moving along very well now at this point in time since. 00:07:41
Over a year ago we had to close and we had a lot of battles with insurance companies and. 00:07:45
One thing and another, but things are going much better now. 00:07:52
We've completely replaced the sprinkler system that was in the library. 00:07:55
The ceiling has been completely replaced, the flooring has been completely replaced. It's all been painted. 00:07:59
By the end of the week, the bathrooms will be done. 00:08:05
So we are looking at. 00:08:08
Getting pretty close to reopening the library. There is a remodeling project going on for which. 00:08:10
I think the city building department and. 00:08:17
City Manager for getting our building permits for us to be able to commence that work. 00:08:19
Demo started this week. 00:08:24
And we're anticipating about a month's. 00:08:26
Reconstruction. Turning the old children's space into an innovation lab. 00:08:29
So we're getting close. We will be asking to work with you folks. 00:08:33
Soon to plan a grand reopening sometime in the spring. 00:08:38
And we'll start off by talking with the city manager and. 00:08:42
Then we'll be soliciting ideas from you. 00:08:46
I have one more announcement, one more update. You all know that in November. 00:08:48
Tim Fergal left to take a new position in New York. 00:08:54
We have just now appointed a new. 00:08:59
Regional Librarian for the East Region. 00:09:02
Who will be headquartered here at the Port Wayne ME Library. 00:09:05
Her name is Anne Hoja. She's currently the library manager for our Oak Park branch. 00:09:09
I shall be assuming her new duties on I believe it's March the 2nd. 00:09:14
So just in time to help with reopening the new library. 00:09:19
So just wanted to let you know and thank you for your patience and thank the community for their patience. 00:09:22
Every time I've been at the library it seems like people are always stopping by to ask when are you going to open? When are you 00:09:27
going to open? Well, pretty soon we'll be able to give them an exact date. 00:09:31
So if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. Otherwise I just wanted to let you know that. 00:09:36
Pretty soon we're going to have a library again. 00:09:41
Thank you so much. I'm excited about it. 00:09:45
Good evening, council members, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem. 00:10:00
And City Manager Mr. Vega. 00:10:04
My name is Greg Ross. I've lived in. 00:10:07
Ventura County for 55 years. 00:10:10
South Oxnard for 10 years. 00:10:13
Over in. 00:10:16
The other side of the. 00:10:18
Silver Strand and then now here in. 00:10:20
Fort Wayne, Amy since 2000. 00:10:24
I'm I'm really. 00:10:28
Starting to take my gloves off. 00:10:30
I'm very proud of this city. 00:10:32
But yet. 00:10:35
I have this really strong feeling. 00:10:36
That for a lot of reasons. 00:10:39
Because I go to a lot of the Harbor Commission meetings. 00:10:41
That portway Nemi is the red headed stepchild to the port. 00:10:45
And Oxnard. 00:10:50
The wind doesn't blow that way. 00:10:53
Have proof from a website? 00:10:55
Right here, Leo Korea. Poemagoo. 00:10:58
The winds always going from the north. 00:11:00
West. 00:11:03
To the South. 00:11:04
East to our town. 00:11:05
So what do we get? We get pollution. 00:11:07
We get noise. 00:11:09
We get truckers. 00:11:11
That are constantly running through our neighborhood, not through Oxnard. 00:11:13
Through our neighborhood. 00:11:17
We get all. 00:11:18
The bad stuff. Now I know the port does. 00:11:20
Finance the city. 00:11:23
To some degree. 00:11:25
But I got to tell you these these photos are recent. 00:11:26
December. November. 00:11:30
And the smoke's always blowing our way. 00:11:32
When I lived in Silverstrand, I never had any black soot on my screen. 00:11:36
Here I have set. 00:11:40
So we have. 00:11:43
Pollution, uh. 00:11:44
And so. 00:11:46
I'm going to finalize my comments here. 00:11:48
This is a letter I sent on January 17th. 00:11:50
I copied Mr. Vega on it. 00:11:53
It went to every single harbor commissioner. 00:11:56
Went to all the powers that be. 00:11:59
At the port. So Christina Beard, see. 00:12:02
Christian Dicus and so Mike Morrison. 00:12:05
The crickets that I heard after I sent this. 00:12:09
I hand delivered. 00:12:12
Are deafening. 00:12:14
The port doesn't care. 00:12:16
And it makes me angry. 00:12:18
So maybe once. Once. 00:12:20
Once in my lifetime, they'll respond. 00:12:23
But they don't. 00:12:26
They just don't respond. 00:12:27
So I don't really think the port is our friend. 00:12:28
And for any of you who might feel like they are because of all the money. 00:12:31
This involved? OK, that's fine. 00:12:35
But uh. 00:12:38
They're still not our friend, The noise. 00:12:39
The trucks, the pollution. 00:12:41
It's not good for our city. 00:12:44
So thank you. 00:12:46
Thank you so much. 00:12:48
Marisela Hernandez. 00:12:51
Hello. Good evening everybody. 00:13:04
Hello, my name is Marisa Lyonnais. 00:13:07
And I want to be brief. I have a lot of things to say, but I know it's short. 00:13:09
Umm, I have my son who his name is Carlos Hernandez. He's seven years old. He attends 1 Amy Elementary School. He's autistic and 00:13:13
nonverbal. Who has an IEP. 00:13:18
I'm here today because my rights were violated. 00:13:24
My concerns are not taken seriously. 00:13:26
My son requires the support of one-on-one. 00:13:29
Umm, he has. 00:13:32
Been eloping, he has health and having severe allergies. 00:13:36
He has increase of sensory behaviors and aggression. 00:13:40
There has no there hasn't been been any detailed documentation of reports at school. 00:13:43
I presented a letter of. 00:13:51
To the principal, Brandon and the Director, Special Education, Stephanie Barnes on January 28th. 00:13:53
To request a letter. 00:13:58
And to meet my concerns. 00:14:01
On January 10, I also requested another IEP. 00:14:04
I have not heard from anybody. 00:14:07
It's already. 00:14:09
February they have denied my rights. 00:14:11
Actually on this Friday past Friday during dismissal when I picked up my son. 00:14:14
I was able to absurd bruises on his forehead. 00:14:19
Starting from the hairline down to his eyebrows. 00:14:23
There was obviously a. 00:14:26
An injury. 00:14:29
Even on the right side of his cheek. 00:14:31
I question the. 00:14:34
Umm, the personnel from school. 00:14:35
They deny that anything happen. 00:14:38
They are currently investigating. 00:14:41
From today's conversation over the phone with Stephanie. 00:14:44
I have not heard anything. 00:14:47
I believe that they're ignoring my son's. 00:14:50
Disability. 00:14:54
I feel. 00:14:56
Being discriminated. 00:14:57
This is negligence of the school due to my son's disability. 00:14:59
I reported this to the Winnie me. 00:15:04
Police Department. 00:15:06
To the Child Protective Services as well. 00:15:08
I have done my part. 00:15:13
I've been requesting services for my son, they have been denied. 00:15:15
And I'm still waiting. 00:15:22
I'm here to advocate for my son and I feel that I'm not taking. 00:15:24
Anything. All my concerns are not. 00:15:28
Taking seriously? 00:15:31
He has been doing self injury, he has been getting hurt and something has to. 00:15:32
Happen in order for them to. 00:15:39
Give him the support that he needs. 00:15:42
OK. Thank you, Miss Hernandez. 00:15:45
Just one note up front, the school board does meet in this room, but they meet on February 24th. 00:15:47
And so this is the city of Port Weyenne. He's. 00:15:53
Meeting with obj jurisdiction over the school district so. 00:15:56
Our recommendation would be to. 00:15:59
Attend the school board meeting on February 24th if you're intending to talk to the school board representatives. Thank you. Thank 00:16:01
you. 00:16:04
Thank you. 00:16:09
And then we have 1 written public comment. 00:16:11
And this is from Lewis Kelly. 00:16:14
Good evening, Members of the Council. I am here today to discuss the economic impact and public access implications of the recent 00:16:16
decision by the Surfside 3 HOA. 00:16:21
To impose a 30 day minimum rental policy, effectively eliminating short term rentals at properties like mine in Port Wine Amy. 00:16:26
This policy shift is of significant concern not only to property owners, but also to the cities economy. 00:16:33
Tourism sector and long standing public access principles protected under the California Coastal Act. 00:16:40
Short term rentals have played an important role in supporting local businesses and generating tax revenue. 00:16:46
Over the past several years, short term rental income from properties in Port Hueneme. 00:16:52
Has contributed steady transient occupancy tax TOT payments. 00:16:57
Averaging between 500 and $600.00 per month per rental unit. 00:17:01
These funds directly benefit the city and its services while supporting economic growth. 00:17:05
Visitors staying in short term rentals, frequent local restaurants, shops and attractions bringing consistent revenue to the 00:17:11
community. 00:17:14
This model of coastal access is more than an economic advantage. It aligns with the intent of the California Coastal Act to ensure 00:17:18
that the public can enjoy the state's natural resources. 00:17:23
Families and tourists who stay in short term rentals often create lasting memories during their visits, whether they are enjoying 00:17:29
the beach, celebrating milestones or exploring the local culture. 00:17:34
Restricting this access undermines a 40 year precedent of supporting tourism and community well-being. 00:17:39
The recent decision by the HOA is based on legal advice suggesting that buildings with CCNR is recorded before January 1st. 00:17:45
1977 may be exempt from the Coastal Act short term rental provisions. 00:17:52
However, I see clarification on whether this interpretation is accurate and whether there is a path. 00:17:57
To petition for an exemption that could restore short term rental rights. 00:18:02
Maintaining flexibility and rental policies is essential for both property owners and the city's economic health. 00:18:07
Without the option for short term rentals, property owners may face financial challenges that could affect property maintenance 00:18:13
and even lead to decrease contributions. 00:18:18
To city revenue. 00:18:23
Meanwhile, the local tourism economy could see a decline in visitor spending, affecting businesses that rely on seasonal and 00:18:24
weekend travelers. 00:18:28
I kindly request the Councils guidance on how to proceed with the formal petition for exemption and any insights on potential 00:18:32
solutions that balance public access, economic sustainability and the needs of the Community. 00:18:38
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your support and preserving a vibrant, accessible and economically 00:18:44
sustainable coastal community in Port Hueneme. 00:18:49
Thanks, Louise Kelly. 00:18:53
And that will conclude public comment. 00:18:55
Thank you, Mayor. If I could just note we'll respond to. 00:18:57
Miss Kelly to let her know we are currently planning to bring. 00:19:02
The item requested by Council to. 00:19:04
Discuss short term rentals. 00:19:07
To our next meeting, February 18th. 00:19:09
We are working on that report and that was the request was essentially a survey of what other. 00:19:12
Coastal communities. 00:19:18
Particularly near us have done and and what. 00:19:20
Some of the benefits and drawbacks to short term rentals so. 00:19:24
We'll let Miss Kelly know that that will be discussed at that time and I think. 00:19:28
In general. 00:19:34
That topic, since it's not on the agenda tonight, my recommendation is we we do discuss. 00:19:36
The short term rental topic. 00:19:40
At that February 18th meeting. So thank you. 00:19:42
Thank you so much. 00:19:45
We'll move on to the agenda approval. May I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda? So moved. 00:19:46
2nd. 00:19:53
All in favor. 00:19:55
Aye, all opposed. 00:19:56
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:19:58
Thank you. We'll move to the conflict of interest. Does any member of the Council have any conflicts of interest? 00:20:01
To disclose for any of the items on the agenda. 00:20:07
We'll move on to the presentation. 00:20:15
We will now move to the presentation, starting with the recognition. 00:20:18
I'm sorry. 00:20:23
Recognizing Jr. Lesser. 00:20:24
I I think we'll go to. 00:20:27
The city manager first. 00:20:29
So actually I have a presentation, I have a certificate, but I believe Councilmember Gama had requested the item, so I believe 00:20:36
he's planning to speak. 00:20:40
Thank you. 00:20:45
You know a principal. Bravo. 00:20:48
Constantly reminds me that it's at. 00:20:50
Academics first at Winnemi High School. 00:20:52
So before we get into junior's amazing accomplishment and athletics, I want to talk about. 00:20:55
The fact that Junior is a standout student. 00:20:59
And a great community member. 00:21:02
Teachers and coaches alike describe him as a pleasure to work with. 00:21:05
Because of his eagerness to learn. 00:21:08
He possesses a 4.0 GPA and he is excelling in multiple AP courses. Is that true? 00:21:10
He demonstrates the drive and determination in the classroom as he does on the cross country. 00:21:19
Court filled course. 00:21:25
So Jr. Lesser. 00:21:28
Is arguably one of the. 00:21:30
Fastest distance runners to ever come out of the Oxnard plane. 00:21:31
He lives on the Navy base in the city of Port Hueneme. His father is in the Navy. 00:21:36
And he moved here from Missouri. 00:21:40
And as you know. 00:21:43
For young teenager to move across country to a crazy place called California. 00:21:44
Could be quite dramatic and sometimes it's not met with success, but Jr. has embraced our community. 00:21:49
And he embraced Winemi High School. 00:21:55
And he continues his work ethic that he did out there in the cold of Missouri. 00:21:59
A natural leader, Junior sets the standard through his actions. From the moment he joined Winimi cross country team in the summer 00:22:04
of 2023, he elevated the team with his unwavering commitment and discipline. 00:22:09
Always the first to arrive and the last to leave, Junior never cuts corners or settles for less than his best. 00:22:15
This relentless work ethic propelled him to the extraordinary success during the 2024 season. 00:22:21
Of being the state champion. 00:22:27
Some of his highlights are he set the record for the fastest 3 mile race, 14 minutes and 14 seconds. 00:22:31
Tied the course record at Lake Casitas cross country course. 00:22:37
Set Winnemie High in Ventura County record at the Mount San Antonio College cross country course. 00:22:40
2024 Sister Citrus League. 00:22:45
Cross country champion. First team all Citrus. 00:22:49
Coast League 2024 Ventura County cross country champion. 00:22:52
First team all Ventura County honors 3rd place CIF Southern Section. 00:22:57
Division 2 Championship First team All CIF. 00:23:01
Southern Section cross Country Division 2. 00:23:06
CIF Division. 00:23:09
To state cross country champion. 00:23:11
First team all CIF. 00:23:15
Recorded the 17th fastest time in high school history. 00:23:17
Nike cross country national qualifier. 00:23:21
So it's a great honor for our City Council to present you with the certificate of. 00:23:25
Recognition. 00:23:31
And we really love the fact that you've come to our community. 00:23:32
And impressed our community and coach Petrie and athletic director Gallegos come on up with. 00:23:35
And his family as well. And we just, we were so. 00:23:41
Pleased to have you in our community. 00:23:45
So pleased to have you working hard and so pleased to be making Principal Bravo proud. 00:23:47
Of your academic success. 00:23:53
Thank you. 00:23:55
Have a couple of words if you would like also. 00:24:02
Yeah, thank you for the recognition and. 00:24:10
Meaning this means a lot. 00:24:13
Thank you. 00:24:16
Yeah. Thank you again. 00:24:21
Councilman. 00:24:23
And the, you know, the council and. 00:24:24
Everyone here. 00:24:26
It's been an honor, you know, coaching here at Winnie Me High. 00:24:28
And seeing how far both. 00:24:31
Junior's come in, the teams come. 00:24:32
And uh. 00:24:34
I love to say it's a great place to run here in Port Miami. We love running down here. 00:24:36
So thank you all again. 00:24:40
All right, City Council want to say thank you for this honor bestowed on Jr. He's definitely. 00:24:48
A pleasure to work with. I said this at our school council actually or. 00:24:54
When we're our board meetings. 00:24:59
He's that person that only looks down on a student only to pick him up. 00:25:00
So he definitely leads by example and we are blessed to have in our community. 00:25:03
And he can probably tell you how many miles he's logged up and down the beaches at pointing me. 00:25:07
Open up here. 00:25:11
Many times he's been running for a lot of miles and so he's definitely. 00:25:12
Everything, all the accolades that I was mentioned by Councilman Gamma, he's definitely earned it. 00:25:16
Thank you very much. 00:25:20
Thank you. 00:25:21
Council, I would just like to add that. 00:25:34
You know as. 00:25:36
Councilman Gama said that so often that when you know these, especially teens come to a new community like this from such a big 00:25:38
change. 00:25:42
They don't excel. 00:25:47
They don't really succeed the way they could. 00:25:49
Coach Petrie one point said that this school in this community has a small town vibe. 00:25:52
For a big city, and I just want to say I've always felt. 00:25:56
Really welcome. 00:25:59
As far as how they did it? 00:26:01
You know, Director Gallegos, Coach Petrie, the whole team is really kind of. 00:26:03
Made us part of the Viking family to the extent they could. 00:26:08
Come on, family. 00:26:18
Shoulder, shoulder, yeah. 00:26:26
Congratulations. 00:26:41
Thank you. 00:26:43
USC. 00:26:56
Try to draft him at UCLA. 00:26:59
Thank you all. 00:27:03
For our next presentation, I'd like to. 00:27:08
Called Desiree Tehran. 00:27:10
Is there a Desiree Tehran OK? 00:27:13
On behalf of the coastal keepers while she is making her way up. 00:27:18
I will, Councilmember Hernandez read the problem. 00:27:23
Absolutely. Thank you, Mayor. 00:27:28
This proclamation is about World Wetlands Day. 00:27:30
February 2nd, 2025. 00:27:34
And it goes like this. Whereas World Wetlands Day is a global awareness campaign that gives voice to wetlands around the globe. 00:27:37
And WHEREAS on February 2nd, 1971, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted as an international treaty and was the first of the 00:27:44
modern global multilateral environmental agreements that the only one devoted to a. 00:27:51
Devoted to a specific ecosystem, wetlands and. 00:28:00
Whereas today the Convention has a global membership of 172 countries, officially known has contracting parties. 00:28:04
And whereas World Wetlands Day is celebrated every February 2nd. 00:28:12
Since it was established in 1997. 00:28:16
And whereas World Wetlands Day is supported by the United Nations, where the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution. 00:28:19
In 2021, establishing February 2nd. 00:28:25
Has World Wetlands Day inviting all? 00:28:28
193 UN Member States to observe the day. 00:28:31
And whereas the wetlands theme for 2025 is Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future, spotlighting how all aspects of human 00:28:35
well-being are tied to the health of the world's wetlands, physically, mentally and environmentally. 00:28:42
Elucidates how interconnected wetlands and human life have been throughout history. 00:28:50
And underscores the critical need for human. 00:28:55
Stewardship of the world's wetlands. 00:28:58
And whereas wetlands sustained life and are central to human well-being by providing clean water, food security and nutritional 00:29:00
variety clean air. 00:29:04
Medicines, climate stabilization, protection against extreme weather, recreational opportunities, jobs, and positively. 00:29:09
Impacts mental well-being and whereas wetlands are the Earth's most threatened ecosystem and world Wetlands day increases. 00:29:16
Global understanding of how much wetlands do for humanity and that we must care. 00:29:24
Nurture and support them for a sustainable future. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the City Council of the city of Port 00:29:30
Hueneme. 00:29:34
Does hereby recognize February 2nd, 2025 has World Wetlands Day and encourages all to value and steward our wetlands. Proclaim 00:29:37
this third day of February 2025. 00:29:44
And I want to put in a special thank you for being here today representing Coastal Keepers. Coastal Keepers has done. 00:29:50
A wonderful job in our community. 00:29:56
Working on our wetlands, keeping our. 00:29:59
Our coasts clean, and I understand that you were out. 00:30:02
On Sunday, doing some cleanup along with Assemblyman Bennett's office. 00:30:05
Yes. 00:30:10
Do you want to step up to the mic, please? Yes. 00:30:13
First of all, I just want to say on behalf of Coastal Keepers, thank you for presenting us. 00:30:16
With his proclamation. 00:30:21
And I also want to thank the community and. 00:30:23
All the volunteers that support. 00:30:26
What we're trying to do, without them, we wouldn't be able to do all that we're doing. 00:30:30
And we're excited to do even more. 00:30:35
For the wetlands, for the environment. 00:30:38
For the generations to come, so just. 00:30:41
Thank you for. 00:30:43
This proclamation. 00:30:45
Thank you and we appreciate all the work you do. 00:30:47
Would you like to come up for a picture here? And do you have anybody with you from Coastal Keepers? 00:30:50
Come on up. 00:30:55
Yeah, right here, Here. I'll just hand this over to. 00:30:59
Thank you so much. 00:31:23
Thank you so much. 00:31:24
We will now recess from the City Council meeting and call to order the Housing Authority regular meeting. It is now 7:00. 00:31:37
Madam Clerk. 00:31:47
Please take. 00:31:48
Member Blackwell. 00:31:50
Member Brown present. 00:31:52
Member. 00:31:54
Here Member Hernandez. 00:31:55
Member Perez here. 00:31:57
Vice Chair Lopez. 00:31:59
Here and Chair McQueen Lejeune here. 00:32:00
We will now hear public comments. Madam Clerk, are there any public comments? 00:32:04
No public comments for Housing Authority. 00:32:09
Rate We will now consider items on the Housing Authority Consent Calendar, which will be enacted in one motion unless an Authority 00:32:11
member has a request to remove an item for discussion. 00:32:16
May I have a motion and a second? 00:32:23
Move to approve. 00:32:26
2nd. 00:32:28
Thank you, Madam Clerk, please take a vote. 00:32:29
All in favor. 00:32:31
Aye, all opposed. 00:32:33
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:32:35
Great. Thank you. 00:32:38
OK. We have no business items. Any authority members have a report or comments they'd like to make? 00:32:43
Great. Thank you. 00:32:57
The Port Hueneme Housing Authority will adjourn to its next regular meeting scheduled for March 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 PM and we will 00:32:59
now reconvene to the City Council Regular meeting. 00:33:05
The time is now. 00:33:11
701. 00:33:12
We will now consider the items on the Consent calendar. 00:33:16
Which will be enacted in one motion unless a council member has the request to remove an item for discussion. 00:33:20
Move approval of consent agenda. 00:33:28
Second, all in favor? 00:33:31
Aye, all opposed. 00:33:34
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 00:33:36
Great. 00:33:39
OK, business item Preliminary 3 year budget forecasts a city manager. 00:33:42
Thank you. 00:33:52
We. 00:33:54
We scheduled this preliminary 3 year budget forecast fairly early in the year and early in the process. 00:33:56
Really with the idea and the intent being. 00:34:02
To start. 00:34:06
Thinking proactively about our upcoming budget. 00:34:08
Our budget, typically we adopt our budget sometime in June to start in July for the fiscal year that then runs July 1st to June 00:34:11
30th. 00:34:16
And so. 00:34:21
This year we want to try to. 00:34:23
Have a. 00:34:26
Longer transparent process where we plan to have multiple conversations about the budget. 00:34:28
And we plan to, really. 00:34:35
Look at the priorities of the city and try to build that into the budget. 00:34:37
So today with. 00:34:41
Starting with looking ahead at the next three years and the forecast for what we see over those three years. 00:34:43
And essentially what we see if we. 00:34:48
If we adopt A sort of status quo budget. 00:34:52
And sort of starting with. 00:34:55
What that looks like and then from there. 00:34:57
Over the next few months, working to. 00:35:00
Build in the. 00:35:03
The modifications or the adjustments that that we. 00:35:05
We'll need to work through over the next 5 months. 00:35:10
And so I think for us the thought is. 00:35:14
When we start talking about budget. 00:35:17
It's important to start by looking at our long term financial health. 00:35:20
To help guide us on the decisions we need to make now and into the future so. 00:35:24
So we want to start today with this preliminary 3 year budget forecast. 00:35:30
Something we had been working on for a while was trying to do a longer term forecast. 00:35:34
And so we want to walk through. 00:35:39
What that looks like. 00:35:41
Just one caveat to keep in mind is. 00:35:44
You know, things change a lot in a year, 2 years, three years or even six months. So this is right now our forecast of what we 00:35:48
expect the next three years. 00:35:52
But umm. 00:35:57
That is going to be something that we continue to. 00:35:58
Adjust or. 00:36:02
That we may get new data on in a few months as we get some of our sales tax, property tax, other receipts back. 00:36:04
But it's our forecast at this time for the next three years. 00:36:10
Of what our budget would look like as a starting point. 00:36:14
And we'll go from there. 00:36:18
With that, I'm going to turn it over to our Finance Director, Lupe Acero, to walk us through that forecast. 00:36:20
Thank you and good evening, Mayor. Mayor Pro Tem. 00:36:25
Council members, members of the public. 00:36:29
Staff, this evening, as City Manager noted, I want to share with you our forecast. It's a three-year forecast. 00:36:32
The city has not in the past. 00:36:39
Generated a forecast. We typically do the two year budget. We update the budget. 00:36:43
Forecast is very important. A lot of cities are doing them now. Some of them have always done it. I think a lot of cities with 00:36:48
everything that's going on with the economy are starting to generate longer term forecasts. 00:36:53
So the forecast is different than the budget. 00:36:59
The budget is very static, is done in more detail. We sit with the departments, we present it to council. This is a. 00:37:02
In the estimate based on what we know, based on what we've seen, based on what we expect is going to happen. And I'm going to go 00:37:09
through those inputs and I'm going to go through what is really impacting this forecast that that I'm going to present to you. 00:37:16
And then going forward, we're going to start working on represent to you the mid year budget. 00:37:22
Which is this year's mid year, any updates to that and then we'll start working on the actual budget which is going to be? 00:37:28
Presented to council in May and so we'll have a lot of different meetings coming up. 00:37:35
But as City Manager pointed out, this is a forecast. So the purpose of the forecast? 00:37:40
Is to really take a look at. 00:37:46
Long term and see where we would be if nothing we didn't do anything about. 00:37:48
Any of the inputs? 00:37:54
As City Manager noted, and we did, the two year budget which was the physical year 23242425, presented that to council. 00:37:56
And that was a balanced budget at the time. In order to balance that budget, we went back a couple times with department heads and 00:38:05
made some adjustments. 00:38:09
And we brought forth a balanced budget to City Council. 00:38:13
This forecast is preparing us to identify longer term challenges which. 00:38:17
Which we're going to have to address. 00:38:23
In order to maintain financially viable as the city. 00:38:25
It is going to help evaluate current and future fiscal condition of the city and really set us up to start planning for the 00:38:29
budget. 00:38:34
I'm going to go through some of the local and economic conditions that are really impacting this forecast and the numbers that I'm 00:38:41
going to present to you. So. 00:38:46
Interest rates have continued to go up, so that's putting a lot of pressure on the consumer. 00:38:50
Umm, consumer confidence is down. We get reports from HDL, our consultant, on historical reports on what has. 00:38:56
Transpired in the last quarter versus the same quarter of the prior year and we really see consumer confidence just being 00:39:03
declining people the credit card. 00:39:08
Interest rates are high, so people are not charging as much on their credit card. 00:39:13
People are looking for value or restaurant prices have increased, menu prices have increased because minimum wage has gone up. 00:39:17
A lot of restaurants are offering. 00:39:24
Happy hours or discounted hours and people are going to those, but at the same time. 00:39:26
It's generating a lower average check, which in turn impacts city taxes because we get the city gets less lower taxes on from 00:39:31
that. 00:39:36
Consumers are really focusing on what's essential, so some of the non essential goods like even vehicles, now we're seeing auto 00:39:42
and transportation decline. 00:39:47
And I'll talk a little bit about a little bit about how that impacts the city with transaction taxes. 00:39:52
And then locally, the the big one is the cannabis revenue. We've mentioned that in other meetings. 00:39:57
We are seeing a huge impact from when it's back in 2022 to where we are now. 00:40:03
And even now when we look at the quarterly. 00:40:09
Gross sales receipts from the businesses. 00:40:12
Businesses are down. So that's really I think market saturation competition. 00:40:14
And that is impacting the city in two different ways. So it's the 5%. 00:40:20
Tax that they pay towards the general fund revenue and it's also the sales tax. So we're not not. 00:40:26
City's not collecting sales taxes on on those revenues. 00:40:32
And those are the the large. 00:40:37
For now, in a city manager mentioned we're going to continue to have meetings with HDL in the next couple months. 00:40:40
And update the forecast and bring you updates as we find more information and more more updated information. 00:40:46
So we look at the sales taxes. Sales taxes make up 24%. 00:40:55
Of the general fund revenue. 00:41:02
If the first so this has three components because I wanted to highlight the city receives. 00:41:04
2 1/2 percent. 00:41:10
For every sales tax dollar from sales taxes. 00:41:12
The 1% is what we call the Bradley Burns tax. 00:41:16
And then the city has. 00:41:19
To transaction taxes 1 is the measure W which is half a percent. 00:41:21
And the other one is Measure U which is the 1%. 00:41:25
And so that's 2 1/2 percent. 00:41:28
As you can see the measure U is 1%, same as the sales tax. 00:41:31
But the measure you dollars are more cases are transaction taxes. So when people are buying goods outside of the city, but they 00:41:37
reside in the city, the city still gets that tax. 00:41:41
In 2024. 00:41:47
These are actual. 00:41:49
Unaudited, but they're they're pretty accurate at this point. 00:41:50
The total taxes were $6.9 million, so almost hovering $7,000,000. 00:41:54
And the budget, we have 6.6. 00:42:00
And then in the forecast that was decreased. 00:42:04
By 4% in 2026. 00:42:07
And then 2%. 00:42:10
Thereafter, so we're looking at 6.3 million and then 6.2. 00:42:12
And again, these are very likely going to change based on. 00:42:17
Once we look at the actual trends. 00:42:22
We might have to adjust these up or down. 00:42:25
Lupe on that point real quick. 00:42:28
I just wanted to note that. So we do contract with HDL sales tax consultants which. 00:42:32
Most cities in the county, and probably at this point most of the state do. They're sort of the experts on. 00:42:38
Sales taxes. And then because they work for so many cities, they really do sort of see the big picture and what's happening across 00:42:43
the. 00:42:47
The state. 00:42:51
And so. 00:42:52
At first glance, if you look at this chart, it may look like we're being conservative because we're sort of reducing our 00:42:54
expectations for. 00:42:57
Sales tax compared to what last year looked like. 00:43:01
But it's also because we've had. 00:43:05
Regular meetings with HDL, including last week I believe was one. 00:43:07
Where HDL is telling us that they are seeing this. 00:43:11
Trend play out already. They're seeing reductions across the state, but even more so locally. 00:43:14
So I want to note that I don't know if you yes. And to that point, when we bring the mid year for 2025 S, this is based on the 00:43:20
adopted budget. 00:43:24
We will if we need to, we will might reduce that number based on the most recent information. 00:43:29
May I ask a question? 00:43:38
So I remember I was at a budget meeting with the county recently. 00:43:41
And I think. 00:43:44
They showed the revenues. 00:43:46
On a decline as well. 00:43:48
Do they get the same information from the same consultants basically? 00:43:50
And it's not just us, it's that the state as a whole and county government and municipal. 00:43:55
Without knowing if the county is specifically one of their customers, most agencies seem to be at this point. They're probably 00:44:01
getting the same data and a lot of. 00:44:05
Cities right now. 00:44:10
Have gone back to council, their councils. 00:44:11
Or the county to their board in the last few months to kind of revise their budgets to be more. 00:44:15
Pessimistic, I guess, would be the word. It's it's the trend happening. 00:44:22
I think for us, I think the update we just got from HDL last week showed like a 2% decline. 00:44:26
Around us, but. 00:44:31
The challenge for us is our decline actually is a little more severe than. 00:44:33
All the other agencies, I think we're at 10% decline. 00:44:37
And again. 00:44:41
We mentioned it in that last slide, but it's because of the cannabis tax. Yeah, the food and drugs. So they provide for those 00:44:42
municipalities that contract with HDL. They provide us information in different by groups. So Food and Drug is 1 segment. That one 00:44:49
poor Wayne, is down significantly because cannabis is in there. Other cities may be down in like autos and transportations because 00:44:56
they have a lot of dealerships, for example, but they're seeing the impact in different categories. 00:45:02
And to different extent depending on the city, the volume. 00:45:09
We certainly are seeing it in a little bit in restaurants in some areas. 00:45:13
Like I said, people are going to the discounted the the fast foods and trying to get out more value. 00:45:19
But certainly the cannabis has been the big one for us. 00:45:26
Question. Go ahead. 00:45:31
So in 2023 when we were forecasting 2024. 00:45:34
And then? 00:45:39
Were we off? 00:45:40
Our forecast. 00:45:42
When with the actual that actually happened in 2024. 00:45:44
In 2023 when we're forecasting, no, not in 24, but I think we are going to be off in 2025. 00:45:48
I can based on what I have and then we'll have to do one more meeting before we bring the mid year, but. 00:45:56
Things that really soften up. 00:46:01
More recently. 00:46:03
I think simple way of saying is I think we budgeted conservatively expecting some drop and then in the first year. 00:46:04
We had about that drop. 00:46:12
Where what was what felt conservative a year earlier ended up being realistic the next year. 00:46:15
And then unfortunately, I think with the cannabis market in particular, it's it dropped even more than a conservative estimate 00:46:20
would have been so. 00:46:24
Over the 2025, we expect it will be a little lower than even what we had conservatively budgeted. 00:46:28
And I think one thing to remember in 2023, we're just coming out of Covad. 00:46:35
I mean, we things were really. 00:46:39
People were spending money, people got a lot, you know, the the stimulus checks and we still hadn't seen that dip. So when we. 00:46:41
Did the budget and that's why we do the mid years and the revised budget and yeah, but that's that it was a lot of there were a 00:46:48
lot of unknowns and. 00:46:52
A lot of, if you will, artificial. 00:46:56
Spikes in certain areas, yeah. 00:46:58
Thank you. 00:47:02
And then the other. 00:47:04
Slide I have here and just to illustrate. 00:47:06
The cannabis revenue so you can see in 2022. 00:47:09
The city received almost $3,000,000 in revenue, and that's the 5%. 00:47:12
So that does not include the sales tax because the sales tax associated with cannabis revenue was in the other slide with the 00:47:17
sales. So this is just a 5%. 00:47:22
We did start seeing. 00:47:27
You know 2324. 00:47:29
With competition. 00:47:31
Competitors opening up in the neighboring cities. Some impact. 00:47:33
Part of it is it's a combination market saturation. 00:47:37
And then also the economy. 00:47:41
But we're seeing significant decreases. This is one where in our revised budget we have 1.9 million. 00:47:43
And it is very likely that when we come back with a mid year update, that's going to be decreased. 00:47:50
We're projecting 1.5 and that's pretty much when. 00:47:57
We annualize what we're seeing. 00:48:01
From the different businesses. 00:48:03
It's going to be somewhere around there, 1.51 point, 4 million. 00:48:06
And the one area that is. 00:48:15
Continues to grow a little bit. Not as significant as in the past as property taxes. 00:48:18
Because of Prop 13. 00:48:23
So that we have an 8 hour 2%. 00:48:26
Increase in the forecast for property taxes. 00:48:30
And this one came vary depending on if there's a change of ownership for a big commercial property, for example in Port Miami and 00:48:33
we've seen that. 00:48:38
And that was in 2024. So you really spikes up the property taxes when a large property exchanges hands. 00:48:43
But umm. 00:48:50
There has been a slowdown in also in home sales. 00:48:50
Because. 00:48:54
Again, interest rates. 00:48:55
So that, but still we get the 2%. So that's the property tax. So that one in the projection there's a 2% increase. 00:48:57
And again, we'll revisit that. 00:49:05
Because we also contract with HDL for property tax and they provide us all of the information. This one's a little bit harder 00:49:06
because it's based on who's gonna sell their house and for how much, right? 00:49:12
But but this. 00:49:19
This one is still has an increase of 2%. 00:49:21
Yes, yes. 00:49:25
I'm just curious as to there appears to be a 700,000. 00:49:27
Close to a 700,000 different. 00:49:31
Difference in property taxes from 23 to 24. 00:49:34
Yeah, we had a large, I can't disclose the identify the property, but there was a large commercial property that that exchange. 00:49:38
Hands, so changes of ownership. 00:49:46
If because they reassess the property. 00:49:48
So that will create spikes like that, like one time spikes. 00:49:51
Yeah. So property tax typically, this chart actually shows kind of exactly. 00:49:55
How property tax works is. 00:50:00
If there's a lot of sales of property, there can be a big bigger spike because all the properties that are being sold get 00:50:02
reassessed. But in years where there aren't a lot of sales, you're only seeing like that 2% Max increase, which is almost exactly 00:50:08
what what we. 00:50:14
Sort of expect to see. 00:50:20
But umm. 00:50:22
I think people see it right now is we're in a weird spot with the housing market where I think houses. 00:50:24
The value is there, but nobody. 00:50:29
Is selling them so you know you're not going to get. 00:50:31
The new value of a property, you're just going to get the little percentage increase. 00:50:35
Where do the property taxes go in our budget? 00:50:40
The property taxes are a general fund revenue, so it's just general fund. 00:50:43
Thank you. 00:50:50
Mr. Sarah, what do we attribute the increase in the forecast to? 00:50:51
So we see it increase, begin to increase. 00:50:56
For 2025. 00:51:00
627, that's the Prop 1313. So there's always that, that every year your property taxes go up. 00:51:01
Not more than 2%, so 2%, yeah. 00:51:11
And so this really highlights the changes that are the major changes that are in the projection right now are in the forecast. 00:51:23
No changes were made to any other revenue line items. We will make changes as we generate the budget. 00:51:30
But right now these were the ones that clearly stand out that where we needed to adjust for this forecast. 00:51:36
And on the expenditure side, again, this is general fund expenditures, we are seeing increases. 00:51:45
Cost of living of inflation and so 3% is what's in the in the forecast for fiscal year 26. 00:51:54
And then the following two years, 2%. 00:52:01
And. 00:52:04
That's for operating cost. 00:52:06
And again. 00:52:08
Once we go through budget, we'll go through each line item and identify if. 00:52:10
We believe that those are going to increase in which line items. 00:52:14
Salaries and benefits, that's a tough one, but we do have some dollars in there. 00:52:17
For cost increases. 00:52:23
It's medical. 00:52:26
Pension, I have a separate line from pit for pension because pension right now as it's a it's a significant cost to the city. 00:52:28
And we don't have the actual aerial reports just yet. 00:52:37
And so the dollars, I just want to mention that the dollars that are in the forecast are the same as what we're paying now. 00:52:40
So it's almost $5,000,000 is what the city pays right now for pension costs for all the employees. 00:52:47
And that's made-up of two different components as the normal cost. So that is the percentage of payroll. 00:52:52
So that one S payroll increases that. 00:52:58
Cost goes up. 00:53:01
And then there's the unfunded liability, an annual payment. 00:53:03
The city prepays that every year and we make that minimum payment every year. 00:53:07
For the unfunded liability. 00:53:14
And I hope the next. 00:53:17
Yeah, Councilmember. 00:53:20
Perez, thank you, Mayor. 00:53:22
You said in the beginning of your presentation that we've never done a forecast. 00:53:24
Before, was that correct? 00:53:28
This in the last five years, we have not. 00:53:30
So my recollection. 00:53:34
I would, I would expect that a forecast is pretty important, especially around the time where there's going to be significant 00:53:37
increase in expenditures. 00:53:41
For instance, around contract negotiations where we're giving raises to employees and our budget goes up significantly. 00:53:44
Why was there not a forecast done? 00:53:50
Around the time that we were. 00:53:53
Determining contract negotiations. 00:53:55
That's a great question. And I think we're in a different state of the economy right now. 00:53:57
The last negotiations were in 2022. 00:54:04
So we did what we did at the time was calculate the dollars. Yes, there was a lot of detail that was done behind the scenes to 00:54:09
calculate the impact and what if scenarios. 00:54:13
But no. 00:54:18
Long term forecast was done at that time. 00:54:19
But wouldn't that be important when we're looking at? 00:54:22
Employment employee costs are going up. They get a percentage every year of cost of living raises. 00:54:26
New employees come in, they get bigger benefits. 00:54:32
Wouldn't that be important? 00:54:35
I forecast every time I go out and make a big purchase. For instance, I'm about to make a car purchase, so I'm looking at whether 00:54:37
I'm going to be able to afford this car in the next 5 years. My husband's going to retiring. Can we afford this on his fixed 00:54:42
budget? Would it be important to forecast? 00:54:47
Long term. 00:54:52
When we're doing significant raises like that. 00:54:53
Yeah, I think it's important to forecast at any time really. Even in the good times or bad times, you always want to forecast and 00:54:56
have. 00:54:59
A long term range plan of. 00:55:03
What it what if scenarios? 00:55:07
That would have been helpful around the time that we were making decisions on whether. 00:55:09
We're getting, we're giving raises to employees. 00:55:14
What it's going to look like in the next 5 years if we can afford that. 00:55:17
If it's if, our city is going to be able to maintain that. 00:55:20
Yeah, that's that's the thought process. 00:55:24
Today, and I understand. 00:55:27
You know the question about the past, but the thought process. 00:55:30
That we're trying to work towards is. 00:55:33
We are. 00:55:36
Seeing economic headwinds, we are about to. 00:55:37
Go through a two year budget process. We are about to go through labor negotiations, all of those things so. 00:55:42
It's important for us to see the whole. 00:55:48
And when I say us, all of us, including the council and the staff and everybody. 00:55:51
The public. 00:55:56
To see the whole picture and to know. 00:55:57
The whole. 00:55:59
Situation. 00:56:00
So we don't. We can't make decisions in a vacuum. 00:56:03
You know. 00:56:05
So that is the the. 00:56:06
Process that we're going to work towards leading up to that June. 00:56:09
May June budget adoption period. 00:56:13
Great. OK, go ahead, Councilmember Gama. 00:56:16
So I recall. 00:56:20
A couple years ago, I know that we had a. 00:56:22
Actuarial study for the unfunded liability and I recall seeing. 00:56:25
Projection. 00:56:30
Of the. 00:56:32
The payments and. 00:56:33
I think after 11 years they would start to go down. 00:56:34
So I know we're still in the increase right now. 00:56:37
So have and and I know that interest rates, umm. 00:56:40
Play and rate of return. 00:56:45
Plays a really big. 00:56:48
Yeah, portion of that evaluation. 00:56:50
So, umm. 00:56:53
Have we looked at the prior study? 00:56:55
And then have we conservatively loaded it and do we have any idea? 00:56:58
The current interest rate struggles and the rate of return from CalPERS. 00:57:03
You know is is our. 00:57:07
Unfunded liability payment due to. 00:57:09
Not explode, but go up. More so than we anticipate. 00:57:12
That's that's another thing that's important to look at long term because. 00:57:16
One of the. 00:57:21
Points you made is. 00:57:22
That it. 00:57:25
Changes year to year based on how the stock market does how their investments do. 00:57:27
And so, you know, one of the jokes for us that have to figure this out is. 00:57:33
Is if you have a Goodyear and the costs actually go down in a year. 00:57:38
It just you just wait for the next year to be equally bad to offset the good. You know, it's almost like, OK, we had a Goodyear, 00:57:42
so expect next year to be bad and vice versa. 00:57:46
So year to year. 00:57:51
It's almost like. 00:57:53
It's one of those things where. 00:57:54
You don't look at that year to year, you look at that as long term and over the next 10 years, what's the trend look like and 00:57:56
every year it might go like. 00:58:00
You know, it might go up or down, but what's the the trend line on that, right. So, so it is something that we. 00:58:04
Need to keep a focus on we have our govern vest program and I'll let loop base speak to that and that. 00:58:12
Does provide us updated information. 00:58:18
But I think my I guess my long winded explanation is to say. 00:58:21
That's really one of those things you look at long term versus just sit where cities get into trouble I think is they have a year 00:58:25
where they say, oh, the returns were really good so we can. 00:58:30
You know we can. 00:58:34
We had tribute less had this two years ago. Yeah, in the next next year. It's bad. And then you have to contribute more and then 00:58:36
you're back. You're kind of back, you know, in a hole. So. 00:58:41
So first it's looking at those long term trends. 00:58:46
Do you want to say anything about Gov investor, any of that? Sure. So that kind of takes me to this slide and I'll talk about 00:58:49
govern best so. 00:58:53
This is what we know right now. 00:58:57
Is that our unfunded liability is roughly $40 million. 00:59:00
We know our annual costs are almost $5,000,000 a year and we're 70% funded. 00:59:04
And so now that was this is based on the last actual aerial report and what the new challenges and the unknown is investment 00:59:10
returns. So if returns continue to do good. 00:59:15
Where it's going to help our funding. 00:59:21
Percentage. The normal cost will go up as a percentage of payroll. That's pretty much a given because if payroll goes up, 00:59:23
percentage goes up. 00:59:28
And the employer contributions are expected to continue to rise through about 20-30 one 2032 and that's where. 00:59:33
A lot of the classic employees retire the pepper employees who pay contribute towards their. 00:59:42
Pension kind of cross lines, so then we start seeing that decrease. 00:59:48
Which is what Councilmember Comma was. 00:59:52
Explaining so that's and then as far as Gov Invest, we do contract with Gov Invest who get the information before the actuarial. 00:59:55
Reports are published and they help us. 01:00:04
They basically have a formula and they'll plug in all the information, especially the returns. The returns are really what's going 01:00:07
to impact a lot of. 01:00:10
The unfunded liability because if we're. 01:00:14
Our funding percentage. 01:00:17
Goes up, then our unfunded is less than our contribution is less. 01:00:19
And so that is also. 01:00:23
Actually just got an e-mail today asking for a meeting date, so we're going to be meeting with them in the near future. 01:00:26
I do have a question and. 01:00:33
And it's, I think it's for you, James, City manager. 01:00:36
Have we? 01:00:40
Thought about our pensions like stabilization policy where? 01:00:42
In the good years where anything over 15%. 01:00:46
In any of the funds that we could actually invest into a pen, like pension obligations, yeah. 01:00:51
Just so that. 01:00:57
We can get a jump start on some of these unfunded. 01:00:59
Liabilities, yeah. 01:01:04
It's a that's a goal and a really good idea and a really good practice. 01:01:05
On our next item. 01:01:11
The council goals, there's an one of our goals in particular is to update our financial policies and look at our. 01:01:13
Ensure we're following best practices on financial policies. 01:01:20
And that's something that we definitely. 01:01:23
Should work towards and strive for. 01:01:25
We uh. 01:01:28
Last year for the first time we started a CIP reserve fund. So it's, you know, we, we knew we had a few needs that we needed and 01:01:30
we knew. 01:01:34
As we saw the cannabis revenues dropping, we we knew we needed to kind of. 01:01:40
Focus on addressing at least as many as much as we could have the needs. 01:01:44
So we prioritize the CIP reserve fund. 01:01:48
The next thing we wanted to look at was. 01:01:52
Pension related policies and potentially a pension stabilization fund or a. 01:01:55
Pre funding, trust, those are things we should. 01:02:01
Talk about and. 01:02:03
I think the challenge for us is going to be. 01:02:06
That as you'll see in this presentation. 01:02:08
The current forecast doesn't show extra money the next three years, which makes it a challenge. 01:02:12
But I think it's something still. 01:02:17
And this is one of my philosophies is if we should be adopting these policies now and like. 01:02:19
Exactly as you described as. 01:02:25
And then the first year you have where you do have. 01:02:27
You know, any sort of surplus, you're prioritizing putting it towards the things that, that we, we need to do so. 01:02:30
So I think that's on our our list and we'll mention that when we get to the next item too. May I ask one more little question? 01:02:36
One more. 01:02:43
One more question. 01:02:44
So those are good alternatives, but I just want to make sure because I do believe I know what. 01:02:47
Stances on pension obligation bonds. 01:02:52
And I don't think that's part of the mix that we're going to look at. Is that correct? 01:02:55
It's not something we have looked at at this time. 01:03:00
OK. 01:03:06
Back to you. 01:03:06
So this slide really is very telling because it really tells the forecast based on the inputs that I just covered. 01:03:12
The revenues for general fund going forward in the next three years. 01:03:23
Are not sufficient to cover the operating expenses. There would be an operating. 01:03:27
Deficit each year. 01:03:33
Starting with fiscal year 2526, the deficit would be $1,000,000. 01:03:35
And growing into one point almost 1.9 in fiscal year 27 and 2.5. 01:03:40
In fiscal year 28 and then? 01:03:47
Layered on that would be the CIP and I just want to make a note here this this. 01:03:50
Capital improvement project dollars that are reflected here. 01:03:55
Are based on the projects that were approved when the. 01:03:59
Five year CP was approved. So those are just taken from there. 01:04:02
We've already started having meetings with staff city manager to really look at those projects and reprioritize and really take a 01:04:05
look at which ones. 01:04:10
We really think they're going to be completed or we can afford to complete in the next couple years. 01:04:15
But with. 01:04:21
Putting in what was approved, we after CIP, you can see that that deficit just gross. 01:04:22
Substantially. 01:04:29
In fiscal year 2526 will be 2.3 million. 01:04:30
3.6 the following year, and then almost $4 million in 2028. 01:04:35
If I can. 01:04:42
Just add to this to one of the. 01:04:43
Statistics in the. 01:04:47
Staff report that I thought is sort of important to highlight here is that. 01:04:48
Our personnel costs are about 70% of. 01:04:54
Total operating expenditures. 01:04:57
Line item there where it's 28. 01:04:59
Point 7 million. 01:05:02
And 2526. 01:05:04
29.3 million in. 01:05:05
Fiscal year 27 and 29 point. 01:05:07
9 Almost 30 million in fiscal year 28. 01:05:10
70% of those costs are personnel costs. 01:05:13
So when you're starting with that. 01:05:17
And realizing that. 01:05:19
That that's personnel. 01:05:21
It doesn't leave a lot of. 01:05:22
Other things. And so when you start looking at the other things and trying to see where you could reduce a couple $1,000,000, it 01:05:24
becomes very difficult. 01:05:28
And uh. 01:05:33
I think. 01:05:34
Mr. Sarah just just said it, but one of the first things we looked at is that capital improvement project. 01:05:36
Category. 01:05:42
And we've already had a couple of meetings. 01:05:44
Really trying to look at that. 01:05:46
And it is one of those conversations now where? 01:05:48
You know, uh. 01:05:51
When you start out, it's what do we want? 01:05:52
And then I think up till now, we. 01:05:55
We had that CIP review last year and we said, OK, let's take it back to what do we need because we can't afford everything we 01:05:58
want. And I think. 01:06:02
This next conversation coming up. 01:06:06
As the next step, the CIP review, it's going to shift to what can we afford? 01:06:09
It's not what we want. 01:06:13
It's not what we need, it's it's what we can afford. So. 01:06:15
So that's going to be. 01:06:19
The next step in the process is looking closely at the capital improvement projects and. 01:06:21
Really narrowing those down South. 01:06:26
Uh, sorry. 01:06:30
At the risk of sounding negative. 01:06:32
What if we just. 01:06:35
Froze the CIP projects. 01:06:36
Yeah, we. 01:06:41
So there's some CIP projects that are funded by other funds, so those. 01:06:43
Those. 01:06:47
I don't want to make a general statement, but generally. 01:06:49
That means that those some of those projects can continue without. 01:06:51
Those projects can continue without impacting the general fund. 01:06:55
But and then there's a couple of projects I think as we did our first. 01:06:58
Read through it, there's a few projects where we're. 01:07:03
Our recommendation is going to be. 01:07:05
That we sort of shift to let's, if we can apply for some grants and we can get this grant funded, then let's do it. But if not. 01:07:07
We might have to postpone it. 01:07:15
So. 01:07:17
So I guess the good news is I don't think it will have to be just a full freeze of all CIP, but I think it's going to be looking 01:07:18
at it very closely and really deciding which ones are the priorities. 01:07:24
So. 01:07:30
Could we get a? 01:07:32
Just the valuation of general fund CIP versus the enterprise funds. 01:07:33
That would be really helpful. Yeah. Yeah, we'll do that. Well, we'll provide that. I think we were looking at doing like a CIP 01:07:38
review about a month from now and and digging into that so. 01:07:42
Great. Back to you miss our sale. Let's let's try to make it through the slides and then we'll we're going to go back to questions 01:07:47
so. 01:07:50
Alrighty. So with this next slide is really showing is what the estimated unassigned fund balance is projected to be at the end of 01:07:53
this? 01:07:58
This fiscal year based on the adopted budget. 01:08:02
We're projecting unassigned fund balance to be just under seven and a half million dollars. 01:08:05
And if the scenarios that I presented. 01:08:11
With those deficits came to reality in the next three years. 01:08:16
It would basically. 01:08:20
Be funded by the unassigned fund balance and it would not. 01:08:23
Be enough, it will deplete the. 01:08:27
The unassigned fund balance by or before we've. 01:08:29
The end of the fiscal year 2728. 01:08:32
And again, these are. 01:08:36
Assumptions, I think some of the assumptions as you guys probably would agree is a lot of the sales impacts and all those are a 01:08:40
reality, but we'll have to go through line item by line item. 01:08:45
When we look at the budget as far as operating expenses, salaries and benefits, operating. 01:08:50
We don't have in the budget right now in this forecast, I should say. 01:08:56
It's all positions are fully funded, so we typically do have. 01:09:00
A vacancy factor, we haven't built a vacancy factor. We might have to go that route and say, OK, what positions are we not going 01:09:04
to feel for the entire year? 01:09:08
Do we build a vacancy factor for a couple months? And so those are the conversations that we're going to have. 01:09:12
With the department, city manager and bring back to council. 01:09:16
And again, we'll be working with the DEP. 01:09:24
And making adjustments. 01:09:28
And. 01:09:30
We're going to have workshops, certainly before we bring you the final budget for adoption. 01:09:31
And then as City Manager mentioned, the CIP will be a significant component of really taking a look at that and looking at. 01:09:39
What projects could potentially be funded by grants and or delayed at this point? 01:09:46
That is my presentation, I'll take any other questions. 01:09:54
Great. Thank you. Any more questions? 01:09:57
Council members? No, I do, Councilman Hernandez. So thank you for the presentation and I'm. 01:09:59
Looking forward to hearing what staff will bring back to council. 01:10:07
When we start discussing our future budget. 01:10:11
Besides capital improvement and. 01:10:14
Looking at vacancies, what other methods? 01:10:18
And grants what other methods or cost saving measures? Cost cutting measures? 01:10:22
Will you be looking at? 01:10:28
Are we gonna be caught talking about? 01:10:29
Hiring freezes? Are we going to talk about attrition? 01:10:31
We're going to focus on. 01:10:36
At least the first round in my perspective, and I'll let city manager provide his perspective, is looking at. 01:10:38
Areas where we may not even this is CIP but can't just capital in general. 01:10:45
We're going to buy a piece of equipment. Do we really need it? Can we repair it? 01:10:50
That would be an area contract services. 01:10:55
And really asking and we have before in that departments have really looked at their departments and resources, but really 01:10:58
optimizing resources. 01:11:03
And what can? How can we be more efficient? 01:11:08
With the resources that we have. 01:11:11
So that would be my. 01:11:14
My perspective and what I would do first is just go through and do that. 01:11:15
Before we take any other measures. 01:11:22
Yeah. And I, I would just add a couple of points. One is, yeah, I think we're looking at all those operational type expenses and 01:11:25
and that's something. 01:11:29
We plan to bring back. 01:11:33
This is. 01:11:35
Sort of. 01:11:37
A preliminary early look ahead at the next three years. So one of the things and we met with our. 01:11:38
With our staff we had an all hands meeting to sort of talk about this. 01:11:45
One of the things is this isn't a final budget. This is the first draft of the budget. 01:11:49
It's the first draft if we. 01:11:54
Don't change anything and we just keep doing things the way we do them. Where do we? 01:11:55
Land in three years. 01:11:59
And I think what we see is we need to start making some adjustments, but it's. 01:12:01
It's, you know, the intent of doing these is to be able to have the time to make those adjustments and to be able to work 01:12:07
together. 01:12:11
And we? 01:12:14
Talk to our staff today about, you know. 01:12:15
Any ideas welcome, No ideas too small. 01:12:18
If you know staff member has an idea about well, we've we had it in the books to buy this new piece of equipment, but now. 01:12:22
You know. 01:12:29
Knowing that, you know the budget. 01:12:30
Is a challenge we can. 01:12:32
Get three more years out of it, then it's time to have some of those conversations. 01:12:34
And then I think the other big one that I think we're going to have some conversations coming up at council is. 01:12:39
Looking at some revenue generation, umm. 01:12:46
Ideas. 01:12:51
And proposals. 01:12:53
Things like we have not we and we talked about this recently at council but we haven't raised our. 01:12:56
Um, wastewater rates in. 01:13:03
Believe it was 12 years. Our trash rates in over 12 years. 01:13:06
And those you know, it's great that we were able to keep our costs. 01:13:10
Low and not raise those rates for longer than most of the cities around us, but those are things that. 01:13:14
There's a reason why every other city has raised their rates in that period. It's because the costs went up. 01:13:19
And at some point, those rates have to go up or else we're not recovering those costs. 01:13:24
And we have to look at things like user fees and those types of things too, so. 01:13:29
So I think at this point. 01:13:33
The idea with today is really just framing the issue because over the next 5 or 6 months, we're going to probably bring back 01:13:35
several. 01:13:39
Items to discuss and. 01:13:43
We want everybody to know the full big picture. 01:13:45
As we bring those back, because it may have been something where in the past. 01:13:48
It was, you know, well, we don't need to do that yet. 01:13:51
And so we want to show what the next three years like look. 01:13:54
Look like so we know what we need to start working on now. 01:13:56
So just one more question. 01:14:00
The 2.292 million. 01:14:03
That we estimate. 01:14:06
Being deficit and. 01:14:08
For 25 and 26, what's the percentage of that? 01:14:10
From the overall budget, I didn't want to bring out my phone and do the calculations. 01:14:14
Probably about I'm doing it off the top of my head, so maybe 8%. 01:14:18
Something along those lines. 01:14:24
So, yeah, and that year. 01:14:27
That, percentage wise, is not. 01:14:29
Too bad the. 01:14:32
Years following it start getting over. 01:14:34
10%. 01:14:36
So long term, it's a challenge. I just, I think you my experience with with budget cuts over the years it's been. 01:14:37
Putting the departments through an exercise, If you're gonna have to cut your budget by 10%, what would you cut? Yeah, yeah. 01:14:44
And letting letting them really think through that process. 01:14:50
Councilmember Gama, I think there's a lot of nuance here and. 01:14:55
I don't know if it's possible, but when we talk about. 01:14:59
Not buying a piece of equipment. 01:15:03
Well, if it's in the enterprise funds. 01:15:04
Right. 01:15:07
Correct. Doesn't matter. Yeah. 01:15:08
Because the enterprise funds are doing better, the general fund, so I think. 01:15:10
Moving forward, I think what we need to do is be able to. 01:15:14
Talk about the general fund. 01:15:18
As it is by itself. 01:15:20
And. 01:15:22
Categorize expenditures as they hit the general fund. So when we talk about labor costs. 01:15:23
The say that. 01:15:32
The enterprise fund for. 01:15:33
Solid waste, right? 01:15:36
So labor costs. 01:15:38
Are paid for out of the enterprise fund, correct? 01:15:41
So there are some that are charged to enterprise funds we're talking. 01:15:44
Today, we're trying to focus on the general fund today, so we aren't. 01:15:48
Talking about the enterprise funds. 01:15:52
So that 70% of personnel cost is 70% of our general fund budget, right. But when we say? 01:15:54
Let's not buy a piece of equipment. 01:16:01
If it's part of if it's a new trash truck. 01:16:04
Right. That would be a part of the enterprise fund, right. And I think for those City Manager mentioned that for enterprise funds. 01:16:07
The exercise still needs to happen because of the rates that haven't increased. I understand that. But but the general fund is 01:16:15
what we're trying to focus on, right, Correct. There's general fund equipment and there's enterprise equipment. So when we just 01:16:19
said. 01:16:24
You know, we're going through the. 01:16:29
Exercise of. 01:16:31
Asking every department to look at these. 01:16:32
Right now we're talking about general funds, so we're asking them to look at those. 01:16:35
But uh. 01:16:38
Yes, we're also doing the same exercise with the enterprise funds. 01:16:40
And because the enterprise funds haven't been increased for a very long time. 01:16:44
We, we will, we are going to need to talk about some adjustments there as well, whether that's the rate increase which has to go 01:16:50
to the voters and takes a period of time that that's some of the new ones I'm talking. 01:16:55
So if we do pass a rate increase on water or trash. 01:17:01
Does it benefit the general fund? 01:17:05
Yes, In what way? Because if the general, if the enterprise fund can't support itself. 01:17:06
Then it the general fund has to subsidize the enterprise fund. 01:17:12
And I would say we're not. We're not. 01:17:16
But we're not at that point right now. 01:17:18
I would say we aren't doing it today. 01:17:20
But part of why we're doing this outlook is because we're not far from it. I don't think we've done it in the time that I've been 01:17:24
on council. 01:17:27
I don't know. 01:17:31
And so that's really what needs to happen with the enterprise funds because they're self funded. They they, they receive their. 01:17:41
Their cost recovery, right, So it in a rate study they take those type of items into consideration, any capital going forward. 01:17:47
Cost of operating, the operating costs and then it's the third party who does the analysis and recommends. 01:17:55
The rates so that the those enterprise funds also. 01:18:02
Maintain viable because they're. 01:18:05
Have a fund balance as well and those fund balances have been depleting in the last couple years. 01:18:08
Great. Any other questions? 01:18:15
I just had one more the. 01:18:16
The general fund. 01:18:18
2526 to 2627. 01:18:21
Had a big drop. 01:18:25
I don't know if this is a slide I saw it on, but. 01:18:28
Like what was it one of the? 01:18:34
Revenues specifically, yeah, I was just wondering is there a? 01:18:37
A specific reason for that, or is it just the way the numbers? 01:18:40
The drop from 2526 to 2627 specifically like the expenditures is because those are it builds on that. 01:18:44
So if we assume a 2% increase in the first year, then the next year it's 2% on top of that, oops, sorry, the new base. 01:18:52
So that's why it's it looks worse in 27. 01:19:01
So if costs go up next year by 2%, then if we were assuming they're going to go up the following year another 2%, it's compounding 01:19:05
it's yeah. 01:19:10
Question. Yeah. 01:19:17
So when we have. 01:19:19
Have we discussed like when we have new hires? 01:19:21
Maybe have a different blended system where? 01:19:24
You know their contribution arms are a little higher so that we. 01:19:28
Kind of offset some of the. 01:19:32
The pension cost. 01:19:35
Have that been discussed? 01:19:37
So for cities. 01:19:40
We that is essentially in place. It's a. 01:19:43
There was pension reform in January, on January 1st, 2013 I think it was. 01:19:49
And essentially any new employee hired after that. 01:19:54
Contributes more to their pension. 01:20:00
And the employee pays 50% and those are the Pepper employees. And then the classic employees is where the city pays 100%. And 01:20:03
that's the reason that with the pension cost. 01:20:08
Are expected or projected that they'll go down in 20 the year 2031 because. 01:20:13
There'll be more new employees new under the new, yeah. 01:20:18
Yeah. So that's where the long term outlook is a little different from the short term with. 01:20:22
Pensions because it should. 01:20:27
There should be a tipping point. 01:20:29
Coming up in a few years. 01:20:31
Questions. 01:20:34
If not, Madam Clerk, are there any public comments? 01:20:36
We do have a public comment written. 01:20:39
From Dulce Sutter Field. 01:20:42
Agenda Item 8 features a preliminary forecast. Previewing it on the city website, I felt curious about the sales tax content. 01:20:45
Please embrace a more granular look at tax revenue drivers and influencers going forward. 01:20:54
Shortly after the COVID Stay Safe at Home commencement almost five years ago. 01:21:00
Wine Me Family Pharmacy was shuttered. 01:21:05
Owners abruptly relocated to Oxnard. I did not loyally follow, but other customers may have opted for Oxnard. 01:21:07
The wooden building on Winimi Road did not attract a new tenant. 01:21:15
Also vacant for years after an early Covic closure. A neighborhood 97 cent store at the Beachport Center. 01:21:18
Prolonged vacancies can erode expected sales tax revenues. 01:21:25
Decreased revenue from 2 retail closures is tiny compared to a loss of a larger business a couple blocks eastbound on Wine Amy Rd. 01:21:29
Corner of Surfside Drive. 01:21:37
Port Hueneme Marine Supply left our city during the pandemic. 01:21:39
Industrial customers across the Socal region rely on that family owned business year round. 01:21:42
A sizable chunk of annual sales tax revenue shifted from our city coffers to Oxnard's. 01:21:48
Our city sports a still empty building on a high visibility corner. 01:21:53
My guess about that relocation to Oxnard was wrong. 01:21:58
A city employee explained the move out happened when the property owner figured leasing to a cannabis business would prove 01:22:01
lucrative. 01:22:05
Years later, no cannabis player or other commercial interests has yet occupied that building. 01:22:09
Question How large of a cumulative? 01:22:14
Revenue dent might be attributed to cannabis mirage. 01:22:17
Nearby retail offerings on the naval base attract eligible folks. 01:22:21
A municipal revenue forecast may benefit from learning if the quantity of base shopping is. 01:22:26
Expanding. 01:22:31
Questions are increasing numbers of base eligible shoppers settling in our city and vicinity? 01:22:32
Or is a base shopper headcount plus the total amount of base spending trending downward? 01:22:38
The item eight pillar ends with financial excellence. 01:22:43
I don't know what measurable inputs can add up to an excellent determination as opposed to lesser thresholds such as mediocrity or 01:22:46
an economic clift. 01:22:51
Examples I've shared regarding vacated properties illustrate tax revenue shrinkage within a single three block stretch. 01:22:56
In just one neighborhood. 01:23:03
Not a Cliff, but far from excellence I reckon. 01:23:04
I'm not calling for hyper focus on locations. I've highlighted examples are meant to spur inclusion of optimal levels of 01:23:07
granularity within ongoing fact finding, analysis and next steps. 01:23:13
There's much more to discover before that elusive pillar of economic excellence can become believable as an achievable reality, 01:23:19
Not overreach, mirage or vague rhetoric. 01:23:24
Let's not forget how unlicensed food and beverage vendors swarmed public sidewalks on certain occasions last year. 01:23:30
Also, it seems prudent to probe existing inequities between long established lodging owners who pay licensing fees. 01:23:36
And taxes and short term rental operations popping up without facing similar requirements. 01:23:44
Operators dodge parameters, their local lodging competitor. 01:23:49
Competitors abide by it. 01:23:53
Mockery of the general plan arises with insidious growth of under the radar lodgings. 01:23:55
Steadfast and robust municipal revenue streams are bypassed with physical leakage. 01:24:00
Let's stop predatory profiteers from seizing the market share as rogue shapers of our community. 01:24:05
They can hurt us far more than dips in tax revenue streams. 01:24:11
And once again there was from Dulce Satterfield. 01:24:14
Thank you. That concludes. 01:24:17
Thank you. 01:24:19
We have before us a recommendation to receive a presentation regarding the preliminary 3 year budget forecast for fiscal year. 01:24:20
2026 in fiscal year 2028 through fiscal year 2028 as a kickoff to the budget process. 01:24:27
And in advance of the capital improvement project plan. 01:24:34
Review at the. 01:24:37
Future meeting, may I have a motion in a second? 01:24:39
Motion to approve. 01:24:42
2nd. 01:24:43
Great. Any discussion? 01:24:46
Or the discussion. 01:24:48
Madam Clerk, please take role. 01:24:50
All in favor. 01:24:52
Aye, all opposed. 01:24:53
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 01:24:55
Great. Thank you. Miss our sale and our city manager. Thank you so much. 01:24:58
Move on to City Council goals and strategic plan status. 01:25:03
Will the staff please present the report? 01:25:07
Yes, thank you. 01:25:09
As we move on, I did want to note. 01:25:12
Because it was. 01:25:15
Related to the comment the public comment. 01:25:16
To. I just wanted to highlight though that the. 01:25:19
The Council has taken. 01:25:22
Several actions that we didn't highlight with that last. 01:25:24
Budget forecast. 01:25:29
Proactively to. 01:25:30
Already start making adjustments either to the. 01:25:33
4K that that have positively impacted the forecasted budget or and or some of the items that were mentioned by the public comment. 01:25:37
And such as the Council had already proactively adjusted the budget in late 2023 to with an eye on balancing the budget. 01:25:45
And. 01:25:54
That had positive results that have better positioned us for the future. 01:25:55
And then second, specifically regarding the comments regarding sort of economic development and? 01:26:00
Trying to support businesses. 01:26:07
The city has. 01:26:09
Recently adopted several code amendments that are specifically focused on doing that and trying to make. 01:26:11
Things easier for businesses or letting businesses advertise easier or? 01:26:17
Allowing businesses to have additional uses. 01:26:22
Prior to or more than what they had had previously. 01:26:26
So. 01:26:29
Those are all things that we are going to continue to work on, but I do want to highlight that we've also taken several steps on 01:26:30
those recently to. 01:26:35
Those are. 01:26:39
You know it's a marathon, not a Sprint. When you're looking at community development, there's usually not one magic bullet. But if 01:26:41
you set up. 01:26:45
The city code to support local businesses, then you'll start to see that. 01:26:49
That growth happened so. 01:26:54
So those are things that. 01:26:55
Are in progress and have. 01:26:58
Been put in place and we have ordinances in in place going into effect and and probably some future ones that will be recommended 01:27:00
with those same thoughts in mind. 01:27:05
And it does tie into the council goals and. 01:27:10
And strategic plan because it does tie into several of our. 01:27:13
Goals in strategic areas. 01:27:18
We have this item on the agenda to do our. 01:27:21
Update and review of our Council goals and strategic plan. 01:27:24
As quick background, in 2022 the City Council adopted A10 year plan to guide the city's priorities. 01:27:29
Ensuring alignment among the council staff in the community. 01:27:36
The four goals are, I'm sorry, five goals are identified on this slide and we'll get into a little bit more detail, but. 01:27:40
Essentially five goals, Goal one provide best levels of service for residents and businesses. 01:27:47
Goal to develop fiscal and economic excellence. 01:27:52
Goal 3 Promote innovation and opportunity. Goal 4 Ensure a safe, secure, inclusive and beautiful community. 01:27:56
And go 5 to develop strategic partnerships. 01:28:03
And so we wanted to go through. 01:28:06
Knowing that we adopted A10 year plan a few years ago. 01:28:10
We wanted to essentially start with a brief update of some of the. 01:28:15
Items. 01:28:20
Are working on. 01:28:21
Have implemented. 01:28:22
And or are continuing to implement. 01:28:24
In these categories. 01:28:27
And so we'll go through those. I'll try to go through those quickly. 01:28:29
And we can talk in more detail about any items that the Council wants to discuss, but. 01:28:33
Just. 01:28:38
For example, for best levels of services for residents and businesses, we had four. 01:28:40
Areas, uh. 01:28:45
First was become an employer of choice and we've. 01:28:46
Sort of revamped our HR department with a focus on. 01:28:50
These these items like employee recruitment, retention, recognition and Wellness projects and we are have those things. 01:28:55
Those items are ongoing. 01:29:02
Second, use customer focused technology improvements. We are. 01:29:05
Getting to the finish line on implementing a new enterprise software system, the Tyler Enterprise System. 01:29:09
Which includes customer focused tech. 01:29:16
Technology improvements like utility bill payment improvements and work order system improvements. 01:29:18
And so we are. 01:29:24
Nearing the finish line on implementing that. 01:29:26
And that'll be a major technology enhancement. 01:29:29
3rd on. 01:29:35
Under goal one is improving online services, information, public outreach tools, and customer service. 01:29:36
We've really put a focus on. 01:29:41
Building our public outreach. 01:29:44
Program utilizing social media and our city websites more effectively and then launching things like our monthly newsletter. 01:29:46
To try to provide better outreach. 01:29:54
4th is improved processes, including efficiency and quality. 01:29:58
And a lot of those improvements. 01:30:02
We're focused on. 01:30:05
The implementation of the Tyler. 01:30:06
Tyler Enterprise System and the. 01:30:09
Workflow enhancements that that would bring. So we again are nearing the finish line on the Tyler system. 01:30:11
Goal 2 is to develop fiscal and economic excellence. 01:30:18
There are 4 sub goals there a create fiscal and debt management policies. I think this ties into. 01:30:22
The last item and the note that we created and implemented a capital improvement project funding policy. 01:30:28
And then? 01:30:33
We plan to work on some of those pension related policies. 01:30:34
And and. 01:30:40
Some other conservative budgeting focused policies. 01:30:44
That we'll be preparing and bringing forward to the Council. 01:30:49
Second, prepare economic development road map. 01:30:54
We have prepared that. 01:30:57
We are now at a point where we're ready to start implementation. One of the challenges is going to be several of the items that 01:30:58
need to be implemented. 01:31:02
Require funding to be implemented, so that's also. 01:31:07
Something we'll have to build into the budget and keep in mind as we work. 01:31:10
Through the budget. 01:31:14
3rd Explore revenue improvement options, including city property options. 01:31:16
We have. 01:31:21
We are exploring both. 01:31:23
Of those things, revenue improvement options like some of the ones we mentioned. 01:31:25
During the prior item. 01:31:29
And also. 01:31:30
There's a couple of properties that myself and. 01:31:32
Community Economic Development Director Tony Stewart. 01:31:36
Are looking for options that we will bring forward to the Council. 01:31:39
To to further that goal. 01:31:44
Then 4th, and this is really the one change that I recommend, is we had a specific focus of expanding cannabis business 01:31:47
opportunities. 01:31:51
I think in light of. 01:31:56
Everything we just talked about. 01:31:58
And uh. 01:32:00
And sort of our thought process moving forward, we were. 01:32:01
Really talking about long term. 01:32:04
Really changing this to just expanding business opportunities. 01:32:06
And not focusing on cannabis. 01:32:10
I think we, we can honestly say we did. We have focused on cannabis. We actually. 01:32:13
Even in the last 18 months have done several code. 01:32:18
Amendments. 01:32:21
And adjustments to support some of the cannabis businesses and and make it easier for them to operate as well. 01:32:23
But I think we're really looking big picture. 01:32:30
And realizing that. 01:32:33
I think it's time to shift. 01:32:35
Our recommendation will be to start shifting to. 01:32:36
Looking at. 01:32:40
All of our businesses and not. 01:32:41
Necessarily just focusing on cannabis at this point. 01:32:43
Goal 3. Promote innovation and opportunity. 01:32:48
1st is the implementation of the IT master plan. We have That master plan is adopted and we are now. 01:32:51
Implementing it. It's in progress and we'll do it. We'll do an update to Council in coming months with the status of that 01:32:58
implementation. 01:33:02
Second was implement the finance system Tyler which I've mentioned is in process. 01:33:07
Third was implement and better utilize social media and outreach tools. 01:33:12
Again, we are in progress on that with significant growth. I think at one point we had. 01:33:16
Something we had a couple week period where we had something like 250% growth on our social media and. 01:33:22
And that isn't all the time, but we've we've really. 01:33:27
Focused on that and. 01:33:31
Have grown that. 01:33:33
And then 4th is the preparing the broadband master plan. 01:33:36
And. 01:33:41
That actually was on our lap. We had an item on our last City Council agenda to. 01:33:42
Approve, Receive reception of a grant. 01:33:50
To start with. 01:33:52
One of the projects on the Broadband Master Plan, specifically improving broadband access near the beach to. 01:33:55
Both public facilities and but also to. 01:34:03
To the communities there. 01:34:06
So we we have that grant moving forward. 01:34:08
And then we'll be looking at. 01:34:11
That's a grant to design. 01:34:12
Broadband and then we'd be looking at a grant to implement. So we're working actively on that as well and have made progress in 01:34:14
recent months. 01:34:17
And fourth goal. 01:34:22
There was 55. 01:34:25
Sections First was public safety. 01:34:27
And at the time it was identified as Traffic Safety, crime prevention, Emergency Management and response. 01:34:30
And so those are areas that we have focused on. 01:34:37
Such as implementing the traffic division. 01:34:42
Which we did about a year ago and then. 01:34:46
We have. 01:34:50
Launched and held emergency preparedness trainings with. 01:34:51
Our different city department representatives. 01:34:55
Which was something. 01:34:58
That we really had a need to start doing, so we've been putting a focus on those. 01:34:59
Also I didn't list it on this, but the. 01:35:07
Police Department has been working with some of our shopping center. 01:35:09
Owners and operators to try to focus on. 01:35:13
Crime prevention at some of the major shopping centers. 01:35:16
Second, parking improvements. All right. Sorry, park improvements and community service programs. 01:35:21
Think the main 1 identified at the time was the Bubbling Springs project, and that's been a major project for the city as a whole. 01:35:26
Across departments and then the the good news with that is it's coming along well and we expect to be able to announce the grand 01:35:33
opening. 01:35:37
And we'll expect to announce the date of the grand opening in coming weeks, so. 01:35:41
That is moving forward significantly. We've also done some things like. 01:35:46
Think at the time, one of the projects that was identified was getting the teen center open at the Community Center. 01:35:51
And also some of the recreation program that we've. 01:35:58
Open. So those have also been. 01:36:01
Launched in in progress in this. 01:36:05
Period. 01:36:08
3rd Beach preservation and A Rosen Erosion Prevention. 01:36:10
I think the main one is the one that's ongoing now and that's that we've we. 01:36:15
Have advocated and continued to advocate and continued to engage on. 01:36:19
Ensuring that our sand restoration dredge project. 01:36:23
Is proceeding and so they're working as we speak. 01:36:27
4th tree management and updated landscaping standards. 01:36:32
We had a tree committee or a landscaping standard committee. Who? 01:36:36
Proposed. 01:36:41
Updated standards for landscaping and tree maintenance. 01:36:42
Those have now been adopted and we're now implementing those standards, so we're making good progress on those. 01:36:46
And then last on under this goal is infrastructure, including water, wastewater, streets, etcetera. 01:36:52
We've completed several projects such as the Water Master Plan. 01:36:58
And also we're ongoing with the largest main. 01:37:02
Wastewater sewer line. 01:37:06
Project that we've. 01:37:08
That we've had in many years replacing 60 year old pipe. 01:37:10
And then we have several other. 01:37:15
Additional projects in process. 01:37:17
And then go 5 and we, we spent some time talking about this last year. It was sort of a focus area. 01:37:21
With the logic that the first four goals are really staff. 01:37:27
Focused, you know, the council identifies the goal in the project area and and staff implements. 01:37:33
The strategic partnerships is really an area. 01:37:38
That also includes more. 01:37:41
Council involvement to develop these. 01:37:44
From this point still to implement some of these. 01:37:49
Goals. 01:37:53
So some of the strategic partnerships that the City Council has identified as part of the strategic plan is. 01:37:55
1st the port. 01:38:01
We always identify both Port Oxnard Harbor district. 01:38:06
But it's it's one in the same. 01:38:09
I will report on along those lines that at the staff level. 01:38:12
The city and the port have recently taken several steps to enhance the collaboration, including. 01:38:16
For the first time we had I believe it was. 01:38:22
Two weeks ago now. 01:38:25
For the first time we had a staff to staff. 01:38:27
Level. 01:38:29
Collaboration. 01:38:30
Where we brought in. 01:38:32
Sort of cross departmental groups from each. 01:38:35
Agency. Sort of. 01:38:41
You know our like our person and then their counterpart at the port and we really. 01:38:42
Had. 01:38:48
Long collaborative discussion about some of the projects we're working on. 01:38:51
And so that was a positive step forward. 01:38:56
So we're continuing to work on. 01:38:59
That partnership? 01:39:01
Second Naval Base, Ventura County. 01:39:03
We've built that relationship with the naval base liaison and representation at the base and we've. 01:39:06
In the last. 01:39:15
18 months or so we that's resulted in coordination on San Pedro St. 01:39:16
Parking. 01:39:20
But also the guardrail fixes on Channel Islands and and and. 01:39:21
And we? 01:39:25
Are continuing to work on that. 01:39:27
We had, I think when we talked about this last year, we said that we expected a change of command soon and now? 01:39:28
We can look back and say we've had a recent change of command, so I think that one's a. 01:39:34
Struggle just in that every. 01:39:39
Four years, you kind of have to rebuild that. 01:39:41
That connection. So that's something on the. 01:39:44
On the goals list for this year. 01:39:47
3rd Community Services. 01:39:50
Slash programming schools, libraries, boys and Girls Club, etc. 01:39:52
That was what was identified in the document. 01:39:56
And so we. 01:39:59
Can report that we've been working with the library on a reopening plan as. 01:40:02
As Ned said earlier, and we're coordinating together on that and hoping to announce more soon. 01:40:07
And then we worked successfully with the Boys and Girls Club on reopening the Teen Center after the storms and coordinating with 01:40:14
them to. 01:40:18
To make sure everything was able to reopen as quickly as possible and as smoothly as possible. 01:40:22
And then we. 01:40:27
Also have been working with them on. 01:40:29
The grant that we have in place. 01:40:34
That, uh. 01:40:37
Is a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. 01:40:39
And then we recently. 01:40:43
Was presented to the Council. We recently received a grant. 01:40:45
Separate from. 01:40:49
These entities, but we did receive a grant for our own recreational after school programming as well, so. 01:40:50
So we're continuing to work on community services and programming and especially partnerships with those agencies. 01:40:56
Sand Collaborative, we worked with our partners regarding the dredge and I think that's something we'll need to continue to work 01:41:04
on this year. 01:41:08
To to move forward. 01:41:12
School District. 01:41:14
Myself and our chief have met with the school Superintendent. 01:41:17
To start talking about some of the projects that we could develop long term. 01:41:21
And that's something we continue to, we plan to continue to do. 01:41:26
And then homelessness was the other one. Homelessness partners. 01:41:30
Identified in the plan was the Ventura County Continuum of Care Mercy Housing. 01:41:34
City of Oxnard, etc. 01:41:39
And, umm. 01:41:41
We have continued to. 01:41:42
Try to develop those partnerships. 01:41:45
And we work with our partners on projects such as the Backpack medicine and some other programs. So those are ongoing as well. 01:41:48
And so those are the five goal areas with. 01:41:56
The priority projects are. 01:41:59
Areas identified by the. 01:42:02
Council as part of that. 01:42:04
Strategic planning. 01:42:07
And so. 01:42:08
We wanted to provide the update on what we're working on, on what things are in progress. 01:42:11
And at this time we're presenting it for consideration by the Council. 01:42:17
With the ability for Council to provide feedback and direction regarding. 01:42:22
Any umm. 01:42:27
Changes or any? 01:42:29
Specific projects or? 01:42:32
Or things along that line, so. 01:42:34
With that, we're happy to answer any questions. 01:42:38
Does Council have any questions at this time? We're going to have discussions later, yes. 01:42:40
I do. 01:42:44
Regarding goal #2. 01:42:45
Going back to. 01:42:49
Economic development. 01:42:50
Has there been, is there currently or will there be any type of plan working group collaboration with property managers of all 01:42:52
these different? 01:42:56
Shopping centers that we have to try to focus on how to bring in businesses. 01:43:01
What they can do to help maintain businesses. We just lost another business to Oxnard. 01:43:05
Every time I turn around, another business is leaving a shopping center. 01:43:10
But is there any discussion or hopefully future discussion regarding that one? 01:43:13
Yeah. And I think. 01:43:18
I think one of the 1st. 01:43:19
Projects. I don't remember exactly how it was worded, but I think it was something along the lines of like. 01:43:23
Sort of restart. 01:43:28
The Chamber of Commerce. 01:43:30
And I think that's definitely. 01:43:32
An area of need. 01:43:36
I think. 01:43:38
Initially we our first thought was if we have a chamber, let's try to see if we can kind of restart it, reboot it and get that 01:43:39
moving. 01:43:44
But I think if we aren't able to, that's going to be something we're going to have to. 01:43:49
Look at and come up with an alternative because. 01:43:53
I do think that's uh, uh. 01:43:56
That's a weak spot we have is right now there's not really. 01:43:57
Like a. 01:44:01
A voice for the business community or a place for the businesses to go and. 01:44:02
And have those types of conversations. 01:44:07
As a city, we can and should try to have those conversations, but it's always a little different because people. 01:44:11
People are sometimes afraid to tell the city if there is a problem or if you know there is, or if they have a question and they 01:44:19
think if they ask the city, that the city will be alerted to what, you know, a problem going on on their property or. 01:44:25
Things like that. 01:44:31
I do think that those are. 01:44:33
Those are things we will need to do. 01:44:35
As we get going on our economic development. 01:44:38
Plan moving forward. 01:44:41
So thank you. 01:44:43
Councilmember Hernandez. 01:44:45
No question, but I do want to have. 01:44:47
Have an opportunity, I hope that we'll have an opportunity to discuss. 01:44:49
Future goals. 01:44:53
Councilmember Comma. 01:44:55
How do we collaborate with? 01:44:57
How do we collaborate with the base? 01:45:00
I mean change of commands. 01:45:02
I hear San Diego comes up all the time. 01:45:05
Point Magoo, but. 01:45:08
You know, I know it's all about national security, but they also run a pretty effective business out there moving cars off the 01:45:10
base, so. 01:45:14
How do we talk to him? 01:45:17
Who do we talk to? 01:45:19
For collaboration and partnerships. 01:45:20
I think it depends on. 01:45:23
Exactly what area we're. 01:45:27
We're focusing on and I think. 01:45:30
We talked a little bit about, you know, we. 01:45:32
Connected with the. 01:45:35
Naval Navy Base liaison and we worked with them on specific projects. 01:45:37
But that's not really a like a big picture. 01:45:41
Long term goal discussion. And that's not necessarily. 01:45:44
I don't think that's necessarily the. 01:45:47
The way you'd want to have that conversation. 01:45:51
So I think it just it depends on what our specific. 01:45:54
Goal is, yeah. 01:45:57
And if it is something that sort of falls into the wheelhouse of the liaison, I think we're building that connection where we've 01:45:58
been working with them. 01:46:02
But some of the. 01:46:06
The things that I've heard discussed are bigger conversations where we. 01:46:08
May need to. 01:46:14
Have that conversation with. 01:46:16
The commanding officer or like you said. 01:46:17
I think one of the conversations we did have with the base. 01:46:21
About a year ago. 01:46:24
Sort of. The end result was we needed to talk to. 01:46:25
San Diego, not necessarily our people. 01:46:29
At stationed at our base. So it just depends. 01:46:33
It seems like longer term, bigger picture goals are more San Diego discussions. 01:46:37
Yes. Any other questions? 01:46:42
Yes, so. 01:46:47
Few, few meetings ago we talked about rezoning. 01:46:50
Some of these areas. 01:46:54
Have what? 01:46:56
Some of these ownerships of these buildings that are, you know, not. 01:46:58
You know the story. You know the storefronts are not actually full. 01:47:03
Have we had any positive feedback with that from from those owners? 01:47:07
We've had a couple of. 01:47:14
Property owners who have reached out to us. 01:47:17
Basically wanting to understand exactly what that. 01:47:20
Means umm. 01:47:24
You know, essentially along the lines of, you know, I have an idea for this and in the past I couldn't do that. Is that something 01:47:25
that? 01:47:29
You guys are open to now, Is that something that would be allowed now? 01:47:33
So we've had a couple conversations along those lines, mostly resulting in. 01:47:36
You know, at this point, because it hasn't been very long. So mostly it was, you know, we gave them some information on. 01:47:41
What the changes were. And then they said they'll come back to us then, like kind of. 01:47:46
Wrap their heads around that and come back to us with some. 01:47:50
Some proposals. 01:47:53
So, so there's a, there's been a couple. 01:47:55
One challenge for us is. 01:47:57
We're sort of a. 01:48:00
You know, generally referred to as a built out city and so. 01:48:01
We have a couple of opportunities areas where. 01:48:06
You know, somebody was thinking about maybe redeveloping or you know, kind of expanding or adding on. 01:48:09
But we don't have a whole lot of property, you know, other cities. If you make that change and you have, you know, acres and acres 01:48:15
of vacant property, somebody can come. 01:48:19
And really take advantage of that. 01:48:23
For us, it's it's always a challenge because. 01:48:25
Like what we're hearing so far is people who already have. 01:48:29
Businesses and buildings, but there may be interested in adding a use to it or something like that. 01:48:32
So I was just curious. We're starting to hear it. 01:48:37
Yeah, because like, you know, you look at Wagon Wheel. 01:48:39
And you know you have mixed zoning where? 01:48:42
You have. 01:48:44
Commercial. 01:48:46
Then residents on top. 01:48:47
So, you know, there's a couple areas that would be primed, yeah. 01:48:48
We saw. 01:48:51
We were targeting for rezoning. 01:48:53
We've had a couple of. 01:48:56
Property owners in some of those. 01:48:59
I think the areas that we're all thinking who have said they want to come talk to us. 01:49:00
Thanks. 01:49:06
You know, trying to use a surfer mentality. Look ahead, Look ahead and. 01:49:10
How do you define? 01:49:14
Success with. 01:49:16
Guards to the dredge because my understanding is they're going to come up way short. 01:49:18
This cycle. 01:49:23
And we had a hard time getting it started. 01:49:25
So when it comes to strategic plans and goals, it's like. 01:49:27
You know. 01:49:31
Looking ahead and thinking we might see a repeat of 20. 01:49:32
13. 01:49:36
When you lived here in. 01:49:38
Saw what happened. 01:49:40
Yeah, the positive is I think the. 01:49:42
Well then you tell me if I'm wrong, but the challenge there is I don't think we got any sand today. 01:49:45
Here isn't that. 01:49:49
600,000 cubic yards and my understanding is we're looking at 1,000,000. 01:49:53
Cubic Yards. 01:49:58
We have a sort of regular check insurance with the team. 01:50:00
Doing the project. 01:50:05
Mostly because we actually coordinate with them and we make sure, you know, they have access to the promenade and all those types 01:50:07
of things and. 01:50:10
And the latest estimate we got was about a million. 01:50:14
So it's it's not what? 01:50:17
The goal should be. 01:50:20
2.4 million, yeah, yeah, so that's way short. Yeah. So it's not what? 01:50:22
They had planned to do. 01:50:28
Previously. 01:50:32
There's a couple of things that. 01:50:33
That. 01:50:36
We should focus on and that we're preparing to focus on and that we're going to recommend that the Council focus on and, for 01:50:37
example. 01:50:41
You know, one of the things is we've still talked to them and. 01:50:45
And talk to the port who have. 01:50:48
Sort of been one of our key partners and advocating with on the dredge. 01:50:50
About. 01:50:54
Advocating for them to. 01:50:56
Come back. 01:50:58
At potentially at like a mid year to to do additional work it's. 01:51:00
I don't know. 01:51:06
I think we're too early to really talk through the details of that, but you know, we've talked about. 01:51:07
We've stressed to them the need for the sand. 01:51:14
And we've talked to them already about if it can't get done to the level we need. 01:51:17
You know, we'd like to keep talking and keep. 01:51:22
Keep pushing for them to come back. 01:51:26
Sooner or whatever it ends up being. So that's that's a conversation that. 01:51:28
I think will be ongoing for. 01:51:32
For this year. 01:51:34
May I have a follow up question? 01:51:37
To Mayor Pro Tem's comment or question about zoning rezoning, did we not? 01:51:39
In our general plan years ago. 01:51:44
Rezone certain areas shopping centers to mixed-use. 01:51:46
I thought we designated certain areas already. 01:51:50
I remember that conversation. 01:51:54
I guess I don't know when they change, but I. 01:51:58
But some are and I. 01:52:00
I'm guessing they were rezoned when when you were. 01:52:03
In that time period you mentioned, yeah. 01:52:06
That's what I remember. 01:52:08
And would mix use use mean what mixed-use means today? 01:52:11
If it were done. 01:52:17
So mixed-use is literally. 01:52:18
That and it can be for example. 01:52:21
And cities define it differently and I have a few city codes in my head, but it could be, you know, an example would be, you know, 01:52:23
a residential use. 01:52:28
And one portion with retail use in another portion. 01:52:32
Right. Yeah, something like that. 01:52:35
That's our definition. 01:52:37
I don't know our definition off hand, but we can. 01:52:39
We can get that and send it to the calendar. 01:52:42
Madam Clerk, do we have any public comments? 01:52:48
No public comments. Thank you. 01:52:52
The recommendation is to. 01:52:54
Discussion. No, we'll do this first. The recommendation is to receive the report on the current City Council goals and strategic 01:52:56
plan. 01:52:59
Status and provide feedback and direction. Is there a motion and a second? 01:53:03
I'd like to make a motion to. 01:53:12
Receive the report. 01:53:16
But with some amendments. 01:53:18
Which we need to discuss. 01:53:20
OK, through discussion. So I'm not sure how we'll do that because. 01:53:23
My expectation was that we were going to have spend most of our time. 01:53:27
Talking about our future goals and setting goals. 01:53:31
And now that we've seen the status. 01:53:34
Umm, I'd like to be able to somehow incorporate. 01:53:37
Our goal, so I'm not sure how we'll. 01:53:41
How we're supposed to do that? 01:53:43
Our goals for. 01:53:44
The next year. 01:53:46
We don't know. 01:53:47
Can you give a motion that? 01:53:49
Says that. 01:53:51
I thought we were going to have discussion after we do the motion, but that's well, OK. All right. So. 01:53:52
We'll just do it that way. I just see things, a couple of things in here that may have been. 01:54:01
Missed, but I don't think the intent was to. 01:54:07
Detail everything that. 01:54:12
You accomplished, correct? So let's not do that. Let's just go ahead. 01:54:14
I'll just go ahead and recommend approval of the report. 01:54:19
And. 01:54:22
Will can then discuss goals. OK, OK. 01:54:24
So I'll make you the motion to approve the report. Is there a second? 01:54:28
2nd. 01:54:33
Great. Thank you. Is there any discussion? 01:54:35
Yes. 01:54:39
Lots. Umm. 01:54:40
So. 01:54:42
So let's go ahead. 01:54:44
Councilmember Gamma. 01:54:46
Well, it sounds like staff. 01:54:49
Is on top of. 01:54:51
Everything that we expect them to do. 01:54:53
Maybe, maybe it's time for US elected officials to. 01:54:58
Get in on the conversation. 01:55:03
With our strategic partners. 01:55:06
Like the port? The Navy. 01:55:09
Again, the Navy's. 01:55:13
The Navy, the port, at least we do know that there are the elected body that perhaps that we could. 01:55:14
Come together. 01:55:21
Elected or elected and have. 01:55:22
The conversations. 01:55:25
That affect our community. 01:55:26
You know, both good and bad. 01:55:30
I mean, we all know there's. 01:55:32
You know, it's a really good relationship. 01:55:34
But there are. 01:55:36
Conversations that we need to have, conversations that matter. So. 01:55:37
I just think that. 01:55:43
It would be a really good exercise. 01:55:45
For the bodies that come together and have a public discussion. 01:55:47
On the strategic partnership. 01:55:51
OK, so. 01:55:59
My my thinking in this is that what I'd like to go through is I've got comments on goals one through 5. 01:56:00
And I think I can be brief on them if. 01:56:06
The council allows. 01:56:09
With goal one, provide the best levels of service for residents and businesses. 01:56:11
I thought of a couple of goals I would like to see included in there. 01:56:16
I know we talked it about code changes. 01:56:21
Can we do more to improve the permitting process and the permit timeline? 01:56:25
That's one of my. 01:56:33
Suggestions in order to better attract businesses because. 01:56:34
And I hear it all over the city. Is that the permit process, whether it's. 01:56:39
Building. Building a home. 01:56:43
Remodeling. 01:56:45
Or setting up a new business that the permit process is onerous and it's time consuming it takes. 01:56:48
It takes a lot of time. 01:56:54
If there's something we could do in that area, and I also would like to see us in terms of information and outreach. 01:56:56
Is improve our website. 01:57:03
And I think this also speaks to. 01:57:06
Employee retention because if somebody is looking for a job. 01:57:09
That's probably the first place somebody is going to go. 01:57:12
And I think. 01:57:16
That are. 01:57:18
Website has been neglected over the years and. 01:57:19
If there's anything we could do in that area to improve it, I would. 01:57:22
Like to see that? 01:57:26
The economic development plan. 01:57:28
You know, I think we. 01:57:32
That needs to be a key focus for the next year. 01:57:33
And I have some suggestions as we get down into strategic partnerships, how we might do that. 01:57:37
So I don't really have more on the goal two, goal 3. 01:57:43
I'm glad to see broadband in there. I think that's going to be a great economic development measure for our community. 01:57:49
Is if we can get that project. 01:57:56
Implemented for the beach area and other other areas that don't have broadband. 01:57:59
Ensure a safe, secure, inclusive and beautiful community I. 01:58:04
I know that the city that you've been doing some training and emergency preparedness with. 01:58:08
With staff, I don't know that it's reached the level of emergency operations center training. 01:58:14
But I hope that that continues if it is that. 01:58:21
I'd like what they've done. 01:58:24
What everybody's done with the outreach to the community, but I'm concerned that our staff. 01:58:26
Need to be. 01:58:33
Need to receive continued training and I would also like to see. 01:58:35
The Council. 01:58:40
Receive training on the role of elected officials during disasters. 01:58:42
Because that was obviously. 01:58:47
An issue. 01:58:50
During the January storms, and I don't think that everybody understands. 01:58:51
What our role can be and what it should be, and I think we need to have a discussion on that. 01:58:56
So if the Council agrees, I'd like to. 01:59:01
Have some training on that. 01:59:04
One thing that was overlooked in Goal 4 was the. 01:59:07
Public art program that we. 01:59:10
And the mural that we launched. 01:59:12
In 2012, we started in 2020, but. 01:59:14
Actually was completed in 2024. 01:59:18
And that was a part of a beautification effort. 01:59:21
For the city, and not only was it a beautification effort, but it was a highly collaborative effort. 01:59:24
We had the port. 01:59:31
The city at local nonprofit. 01:59:32
The county. 01:59:35
Involved. 01:59:37
And even the school so highly collaborative and I'd like to see us continue. 01:59:38
Pursuing more public art. 01:59:43
For our city has also has an economic development measure. 01:59:46
Umm, the strategic partnerships. 01:59:51
Umm, I would. 01:59:56
I agree with Councilman Gama that we need to improve our communications and what I was going to with our. 01:59:57
With our partners and. 02:00:04
What I'd like to see is maybe at least once a year, do a. 02:00:07
Partnership Roundtable. 02:00:12
Invite the Superintendent of schools. 02:00:14
Invite the leadership from the port, the leadership from the Navy base. 02:00:16
The VFW all. 02:00:21
Entities and others that I may have not mentioned. 02:00:23
To sit down and have a discussion about. 02:00:27
Emergency preparedness about homelessness. 02:00:31
About economic development. 02:00:34
And just have a broad agenda where we can just. 02:00:36
Discuss these issues. 02:00:39
And hear from our partners about. 02:00:41
Their concerns, things that. 02:00:44
That ways that we can have better relationships, ways that we can deliver better services. 02:00:46
Whatever is on their mind. 02:00:52
And. 02:00:54
I'd like to see us. 02:00:55
Strengthen. 02:00:57
Strategic partnerships. 02:00:58
Through through some sort of roundtable. 02:01:01
With that, that's. 02:01:04
Really all I have. Thank you. 02:01:05
Councilmember. 02:01:09
Yeah. 02:01:11
I think those are all great suggestions. 02:01:12
However, at this point in time. 02:01:15
Given our. 02:01:18
Budget. 02:01:19
Concerns. 02:01:21
I would hope that. 02:01:23
We could hyper focus on economic fiscal. 02:01:24
And our strategic partners. 02:01:29
I do think we need to focus on. 02:01:32
The revenue side of the jet. 02:01:34
The Ledger. 02:01:36
And. 02:01:37
I think. 02:01:40
Hopefully that we could. 02:01:41
Bring the partnerships together and really have a have some really good conversations that matter. 02:01:44
All the things that Councilmember Hernandez mentioned, those are all. 02:01:49
Great. And they're kind of they feel good and I get it, but. 02:01:53
I feel that. 02:01:58
Our focus should be on our budget. 02:02:00
Revenue streams. Economic development. 02:02:03
And. 02:02:06
And maybe we could. 02:02:07
Focus on those in the short term right now as we lead up to our. 02:02:09
Our budget. 02:02:13
You know 'cause it. 02:02:15
I don't know if I said it good enough earlier, but. 02:02:16
There's a big swing in our. 02:02:19
General fund balance. 02:02:21
3.5 million, 3.9 million projected. 02:02:23
You know, and and though that's a pretty. 02:02:27
Big hurdle. 02:02:30
To be looking at. 02:02:31
So. 02:02:32
Like I said, I agree with all the. 02:02:34
All the other stuff, but I hope that we could focus on our. 02:02:36
Our our strategic partnerships revenues and how we could have. 02:02:40
Bring more rent revenues into the city of Portland. He, me. 02:02:47
And. 02:02:50
Just one other thing. 02:02:52
The. 02:02:54
You know I. 02:02:56
Last time, I think it cost the city $6 billion. 02:02:59
And if we just get a million? 02:03:03
And we don't get them back for two years. 02:03:05
We better prepare for. 02:03:08
Anywhere from 3 to $6 million in damages. I mean, it's that simple and we know this. 02:03:10
And this is what really just. 02:03:16
I don't get it man. 02:03:18
We know what our needs are, we know we need to mimic Mother Nature, and we keep falling short. 02:03:19
Thank you. Any other any other comments? 02:03:27
Just a quick question to our city Manager. 02:03:31
So based on what our council members have said. 02:03:34
What does an action look like? 02:03:37
Like what does an action? 02:03:42
Look like regarding this item. 02:03:44
So let me go through. 02:03:46
Some of those comments and then I guess. 02:03:50
I have suggested. 02:03:53
Yeah, path forward, I think. Yeah. 02:03:58
So. 02:04:02
So I was keeping a tally of. 02:04:03
Of the items, so for example. 02:04:07
Improving our permitting process and timelines. 02:04:09
I think that does fit under gold D or 1D. 02:04:14
Improved processes, including efficiency and quality. So it's sort of that same category to the. 02:04:18
The original strategic plan was. 02:04:27
I'm estimating, but I think it was 15 to 20 pages of very complex charts. 02:04:33
With a with a lot of. 02:04:39
Data and. 02:04:41
We had gone back and we had looked at a couple of the previous discussions and for me one of the goals of this item was. 02:04:44
I don't want us to lose the forest for the trees. 02:04:50
You know when we're looking at 15 pages of charts? 02:04:54
And, you know, talk about the ranking of each item versus the other and. 02:05:00
We really wanted this discussion to be bigger picture. 02:05:03
Here's the goals that we that we have that you know, we understand from the council and the goals that we're working on and tell 02:05:06
us if we're on the right path on the. 02:05:10
You know, on the wrong path or. 02:05:14
Other or if we want to add, you know, remove, modify, any of those things. 02:05:16
So this. 02:05:21
It doesn't have the full level of detail, but. 02:05:22
I have a feeling that the permitting processes and timelines is included in the improved processes including efficiency and 02:05:26
quality. 02:05:29
And so we can confirm that, but. 02:05:33
But I think that would be included in that one. I don't know that we need to add another subsection at this time. 02:05:37
Improving the website. 02:05:43
I think the reason that's not included here is because I think. 02:05:46
That we adopted a. 02:05:50
I'm sorry we implemented a new website. 02:05:52
Right around the time of the adoption and implementation of this plan, and I think the idea was. 02:05:55
To start building that website. 02:06:00
And so I think the the terminology from the. 02:06:02
From the original plan was utilized the social media and website. 02:06:06
So, umm. 02:06:10
So we can look at that as a starting point is look at kind of building it out and. 02:06:12
Looking at some of those areas that we can add. 02:06:20
More information to or clean up some of the areas for example. 02:06:23
So that the website is included in that goal 1C. 02:06:27
OK. 02:06:31
I think. 02:06:34
Economic development road map was the note was just that should be a key focus. So I don't think we need to change anything there 02:06:35
unless. 02:06:38
I guess one idea would be if somebody wanted to bump that up to a priority level, but it's not really priority ranked, so I don't 02:06:41
think that's necessary. 02:06:46
You know, and I just wanted to if I may. 02:06:50
Just interrupt for a second. 02:06:53
I do like. 02:06:54
City Council Member Perez's idea about. 02:06:57
Putting together. 02:07:00
Working group to look at. 02:07:02
Economic development. 02:07:04
Ideas. And Yeah. 02:07:06
That would be and that would be part of. 02:07:08
You know, not only economic development, but strategic partnerships as well. Yeah. And that could be that could be a direction at 02:07:10
this point would be to do that the other. 02:07:14
The only reason I. 02:07:19
Didn't suggest that is because we are going to bring forward at some point in the next couple months. 02:07:20
The economic development plan with sort of an implementation. 02:07:25
Plans so we can also talk like it's part of that item as well. 02:07:29
Yeah, I think goal three we just. 02:07:35
Highlighted the reports of the broadband Master plan, so I don't think there was any change to that. Go 4. 02:07:38
City Manager Vega, I have a question about the broadband, if you don't mind, Mayor. 02:07:44
The grant that we got does that cover. 02:07:49
What we're planning on it covers the design. 02:07:52
So, so far, we haven't done any design work. We haven't. 02:07:55
We we highlighted, we adopted a plan that highlighted like 3 areas in the city. 02:07:59
That, umm. 02:08:04
We know. 02:08:05
Needs better. 02:08:06
Broadband infrastructure. 02:08:08
And that was that's the plan at this point. And so this is the first step now to actually say we're going to focus on one of those 02:08:10
areas and actually come up with. 02:08:14
With a design for that area. 02:08:18
So the grant that we got. 02:08:20
I think I'm off the top of my head so I might be wrong. I think was something like. 02:08:22
Around 270 or $300,000 of funding to design it. 02:08:26
And then I think the grant was through SCAG. 02:08:31
Southern California Association of Governments. 02:08:34
And SCAG. 02:08:37
When we were meeting with them said that the typical path is cities. 02:08:40
Get the design grant. 02:08:44
Do the design and then that makes them eligible for. 02:08:45
Construction grants? Yeah, implementation grants. 02:08:48
So that's the. 02:08:51
Sort of the fingers crossed the process that we want to. 02:08:53
That we're hoping for right now. 02:08:57
And so that. 02:08:59
Was approved last council meeting, so we're still kind of early in that design phase, but. 02:09:00
The hope is that was like a. 02:09:04
Concrete step forward to getting a design and hopefully implementation funding. 02:09:06
And I think that's probably, you know, that's a. 02:09:12
Even that project on its own is probably a couple year long projects. I think that's the focus of. 02:09:15
For us right now in the broadband master plan. 02:09:21
With the broadband master plan is that, and I can't remember what it's called, is it going to connect at all with what's happening 02:09:23
in the county area with the? 02:09:28
The main line of broadband that's supposed to go. 02:09:33
You know what I'm talking about. The EDC is a part of that's supposed to fork down into each city area. 02:09:35
Yeah, it's, it's been a little. 02:09:42
Hard. 02:09:44
Figure that out yet I think that the. 02:09:46
The final word we got on that is that. 02:09:49
That project is going to be focused on areas that meet the qualifications of being considered. 02:09:52
A low income, I think they're using a different word. I think it's. 02:09:59
In need, I think you know so. 02:10:02
But you get the. 02:10:04
The the general and. 02:10:06
For us. 02:10:08
None of our areas. 02:10:09
Are in that category. 02:10:13
And I think I thought I had heard that like. 02:10:14
Essentially, most of the county isn't. 02:10:18
In that category now, I think there might be like a couple areas. 02:10:20
On the on the East End of the county that that. 02:10:25
Are going to potentially be impacted by that project. So I think when that project started, I think we all got the presentations, 02:10:28
you know. 02:10:31
6-7 years ago at this point. 02:10:35
I think the idea like that was the idea and then it's really just. 02:10:36
Developed into being for those areas. 02:10:40
That are. 02:10:44
Not in port wine. 02:10:45
So and then. 02:10:46
So emergency preparedness, we have the goal and we have the. 02:10:50
The uh. 02:10:55
Focus area of emergency preparedness I think the request was more for. 02:10:57
Elect its for the county? Yeah, the council elected official. 02:11:02
Training. 02:11:07
And that's. 02:11:08
I think that could be like a. 02:11:09
A council presentation, Yeah, that could just be a simple presentation. 02:11:10
So I think that, yeah, it doesn't have to change our goals. It can just be something we bring back. 02:11:15
And then probably, well, that and the partnership roundtable would be the two that I think the Council. 02:11:21
Should they don't need to change the goals, but it's basically a question for the councils of. 02:11:28
Is that the? 02:11:34
Approach you want to take to implement it and if so, that can be the discussion. Well, it's kind of like to further define the 02:11:35
goals. I mean it's. 02:11:39
It's a work plan. It's kind of like you take a goal. 02:11:43
And then you figure out what Kate the objective is, so. 02:11:46
So over here like. 02:11:50
When we look at the five. 02:11:51
D Sand. Collaborative. 02:11:53
Well, great, we're successful the dredges out there, but. 02:11:56
We need to define the goal. What does success look like to me? 02:12:00
Getting the full. 02:12:04
Allotment of sand that we need to. 02:12:06
To prevent. 02:12:09
Yeah. But yeah, that that may not be. That's our personal goal. 02:12:11
No, no, no, no. I disagree. You could, you could smile all you want, but the bottom line is the beach, the beach goal, it may not 02:12:15
be realistic. So that's yeah, No, I disagree. It has to be. It has to be. 02:12:22
Up to us. I mean, we have to go to Congress every two years. 02:12:30
And we need to be more effective in going to Congress and getting that money and getting them to understand. 02:12:34
All doing the best we can. 02:12:40
And through advocacy, it's not working. 02:12:41
Sometimes it's not going to work. 02:12:44
I don't accept that. 02:12:47
Did you have anything else that? 02:12:49
I think so. There's those two items. The emergence are the council. 02:12:50
The elected officials. 02:12:56
Emergency preparedness role training. 02:12:58
And then the. 02:13:01
Partnership Roundtable. 02:13:04
And the only other comment I'll make is just as regards to that last discussion. That's where that fifth goal is sort of the area. 02:13:06
That, uh. 02:13:14
We said that's the one that. 02:13:15
Sort of anticipate. 02:13:17
That it may need to be. 02:13:18
Sort of discussed annually by the Council. 02:13:21
Of sort of. 02:13:24
You know, kind of re establishing or re identifying or. 02:13:27
Updating like what the goals are for each of those partnerships? 02:13:31
And last year we did have an item. 02:13:36
As one idea there. 02:13:39
Last year we did have a item kind of a separate standalone discussion where it was just the discussion. 02:13:41
The goals for each of those partnerships? 02:13:48
And we did have the. 02:13:50
We did. The council ended up adopting goals for the port. 02:13:52
The naval base. 02:13:57
Ventura County and. 02:13:59
Feel like there was a. 02:14:02
I think there was a third but I'm blanking right now so. 02:14:05
One idea could be to just review those annually. 02:14:07
As well. 02:14:11
You know, we, we adopted like goals for each of those and we could bring those back each year and just say, yes, these are the 02:14:12
same goals or. 02:14:16
You know, or we want to add, remove, modify goals, so. 02:14:21
So I think those are the three. 02:14:24
Sort of options that the Council can discuss. 02:14:26
Anything. Anything else? 02:14:32
Any other discussion? 02:14:34
And are you OK with your motion? Well, I'm not sure. 02:14:36
Are you saying that you recommend we review the goals versus? 02:14:41
Having a round table. 02:14:46
A partnership roundtable. 02:14:48
I think. 02:14:50
Sort of as we're discussing. 02:14:52
That, uh. 02:14:54
Goal 5 area and potentially partnership roundtable. 02:14:55
We could just. 02:14:58
I think my thought is. 02:14:59
Why don't we? 02:15:01
Schedule an item at an upcoming council meeting just focused on Goal 5. 02:15:02
And then whether you know it can list some options, we can review the goals of each agency, we can discuss a partnership 02:15:07
roundtable or any other approach. So. 02:15:12
Defining partnership roundtable is that elected to electeds? 02:15:18
It's good councils could define it, yeah. 02:15:22
So the idea would be the council would say. 02:15:25
How they want to do that? 02:15:28
At this on this next agenda item. 02:15:30
Yeah. And so it would probably be, I think our next agenda is looking pretty full. So it'd probably be that first meeting in 02:15:32
March. 02:15:35
But we can bring. 02:15:39
Yeah, March 3rd so we can bring back the. 02:15:40
Strategic partnerships. 02:15:43
Section and. 02:15:45
Have recommendations? 02:15:47
OK. So are you OK with your current motion And so we'll go ahead and should we come back around and add that as an agenda item 02:15:50
when we do? 02:15:54
The agenda. 02:15:59
I think we could items or do you wanna do that right now? I think right now maybe a motion. 02:16:00
To assuming that. 02:16:05
It's the will of the council to schedule a. 02:16:08
Elected official. 02:16:11
Emergency preparedness training and into. 02:16:13
Return with an item. 02:16:15
At a future meeting regarding the strategic partnerships and potentially holding a partnership around. OK, so let's go ahead and 02:16:18
amend the motion. 02:16:22
Or this? How about a new emotion? 02:16:27
Would be. 02:16:32
To ask staff to. 02:16:34
Consider the. 02:16:36
To come back with training at. 02:16:38
Date to be determined on. 02:16:41
The role of elected officials during disasters. 02:16:44
And to agendize an. 02:16:47
Discussion item on. 02:16:51
A strategic. 02:16:53
Strategic partnerships. 02:16:54
And to receive the brief. 02:16:56
And receive the brief. 02:16:57
2nd, 2nd. 02:17:00
This is the motion, so let's go ahead and finish the motion first. 02:17:03
Do we have a second I second, second. OK, now go ahead, let's do the discussion. 02:17:07
I just recall that I attended a. 02:17:12
I think 2 of them at Cal Cities. 02:17:14
Workshop training on elected officials and disaster preparedness. 02:17:17
So I think that would be a really good resource and. 02:17:21
Our newest council member will probably be heading up there soon. 02:17:25
But I think that would be a really great resource for us. 02:17:28
Cal Cities, yeah. 02:17:32
Yeah, Thank you. Madam Clerk, can you take a vote, please? 02:17:35
All in favor. 02:17:38
Aye, all opposed. 02:17:39
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 02:17:42
Great. We'll move to our. 02:17:45
Final agenda item out of state travel request for Regional Defense Partnership lobbying trip. 02:17:48
To Washington, DC. 02:17:53
Thank you. Yeah, this item. 02:17:56
I think started simple and got complicated, so bear with me. 02:17:58
So initially we were we have this item on the agenda to. 02:18:03
Allow the Council to. 02:18:08
Designate either the primary representative or the alternate representative to attend the Regional Defense Partnership lobbying 02:18:11
trip to Washington, DC. 02:18:15
And then but to also provide direction regarding desired goals or talking points for those meetings. 02:18:20
I believe the current status is. 02:18:27
I believe both the primary representative and the. 02:18:31
Alternate representative are unable to attend. 02:18:35
Is my understanding. 02:18:38
And so the Council. 02:18:39
Could discuss, if desired, whether to send another representative. 02:18:42
We haven't. 02:18:47
We haven't. 02:18:49
Checked with RDP to see if they have any concern about that yet, but I would say. 02:18:51
You know the items on the agenda. 02:18:54
If the Council. 02:18:57
Determines whether they want to send somebody. Then we can then reach out to our DP and sort of coordinate that and make sure 02:18:58
everything works. 02:19:01
But. 02:19:06
That's the item I think. 02:19:07
One note, we sent out an e-mail. 02:19:09
Just before the meeting. 02:19:13
That uh, uh. 02:19:15
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez has notified us that. 02:19:16
He needs to recuse from the our. 02:19:20
Step down from the RDP board due to just conflict with his. 02:19:25
His day job I guess for for. 02:19:29
To keep it simple. 02:19:31
So. 02:19:33
We don't have. 02:19:35
This item is not. We didn't write this item to allow for a. 02:19:36
Discussion of the RDP appointments. It's only for the designation for the trip. 02:19:40
And so we'll schedule a meeting at a. 02:19:46
Or an item for a future meeting to have allow the council to discuss the RDP appointments. 02:19:49
At this point. 02:19:54
That would leave the alternate member as our sort of. 02:19:56
Loan representative right now for RDP. 02:20:00
As I mentioned. 02:20:02
Earlier, my understanding is neither could attend the DC trip. 02:20:04
At this point so. 02:20:09
It's up to council. 02:20:11
Whether to discuss? 02:20:12
And appointing somebody to attend this meeting. 02:20:15
And then there will be a future meeting, a future item. 02:20:18
At an upcoming meeting to discuss the RDP appointments as a whole. 02:20:21
This is related to the trip. 02:20:26
And a motion. 02:20:29
Councilmember, thank you, James, for that. 02:20:30
Summary Yeah, I unfortunately can't go because I. 02:20:34
Scheduled another trip last week. 02:20:38
Of March, but I would like to make a motion that we send our mayor. 02:20:41
Who has been serving on RDP? 02:20:45
For several years now and knows the topic areas pretty well. 02:20:48
I think. 02:20:52
She she'd be a good fit with the team. Everybody knows her and. 02:20:54
She knows the. 02:20:59
She knows the ropes and what's involved in in those trips, so I'd like to make a motion to nominate her to go. 02:21:00
I second. 02:21:09
Just for the record, there are no public comments. 02:21:12
OK, great. Thank you. 02:21:18
OK. 02:21:21
Discussion. Any discussion? 02:21:23
I don't understand what. 02:21:26
Our goal is talking about. 02:21:29
Goals and objectives. 02:21:32
What is our goal? 02:21:33
Of going to Washington on this. 02:21:35
Lobbying trip for, I guess the Navy. 02:21:38
I mean, the only way I could support us sending anyone of us to Washington if we're going to go and. 02:21:40
And focus on. 02:21:45
Our dredge issues and getting our sand from the Army Corps engineers so. 02:21:48
We need to focus on revenue generation. We need to focus on our. 02:21:53
Our budget. 02:21:57
And I just don't see what. 02:21:58
This expense is going to. 02:22:01
Provide. 02:22:04
On that. 02:22:05
Matter so. 02:22:07
I don't. I'm not too excited about going. 02:22:08
Yeah, I'll just have a couple of words if I can. 02:22:12
So. 02:22:15
Just for history, RDP was created. 02:22:17
To. 02:22:21
Really push back on Brax if you know what base realignment and closures, base closures. 02:22:24
So that's why they were established. 02:22:29
And so. 02:22:31
How I see? 02:22:33
Umm, the importance of. 02:22:36
Participation is looking at. 02:22:38
The other side. 02:22:42
And So what if we? 02:22:43
What if the base closed right? 02:22:45
We lose the military, we lose revenue. 02:22:47
We lose, you know, a population of folks that that supports our city. 02:22:50
And so I think there is. 02:22:56
Last time we were there. 02:22:58
Learned that there were grants. 02:23:00
When you live outside of a military base. 02:23:02
You can actually get grant support. 02:23:06
In support of the Navy, we share. 02:23:09
I think we share water. 02:23:12
We share maybe our electrical. 02:23:14
Structure. So there are some things that because we're outside the gate, we could actually. 02:23:18
Request. 02:23:25
Funding from the government. 02:23:27
We haven't done that. 02:23:28
But that does. But it doesn't mean that we can't do it. 02:23:30
Last time, last year was the first year. 02:23:33
I think we learned a lot about some of the things that are available to us. 02:23:35
Right. And I think we can leverage that. 02:23:39
Well, that that's kind of my point. Like do we have a list? What are we going for? What, what do we have a list of objectives that 02:23:42
we're trying to bring back to the city that benefits the city? Well, I think we're talking about two things. One is that's for the 02:23:48
council to do and I think that's part of what our city manager mentioned to us earlier that we had to talk about that. 02:23:54
But the other thing is. 02:24:00
You know we haven't sent. 02:24:02
Other than learning about these grants are available to us. 02:24:04
We have instructed ourselves or prepared ourselves for such. 02:24:08
Visits. So I think that's something that we as a council must do. Now, I will tell you this is a this is a organization that 02:24:13
supports the military. 02:24:17
So we can't. 02:24:22
Think about going and not connecting ourselves to the military because that is what the group is all about. So we have to do. 02:24:24
Our due diligence to make sure we can do that. 02:24:31
Just are you done? Yeah, I'm done. All right. If I could just comment. 02:24:34
Umm, we actually, this is actually one very good opportunity for us to. 02:24:38
To meet with Julia Brownlee's office and talk about. 02:24:45
The dredging project. 02:24:48
The counties represented there were represented there. The Navy's represented there. 02:24:51
And we form. We are a coalition. 02:24:56
That advocates for the monies that support the dredging project. 02:24:59
So every year we go, we sit in Julia's office and we have that discussion. 02:25:04
So that's one really I think you should be happy to hear one benefit that we have when we go to DC Talk about that, but it's not 02:25:09
effective. 02:25:14
We're in a quandary. 02:25:19
Right now. 02:25:21
But that's no reason not to go. 02:25:22
That's not a reason not to have a comment. 02:25:25
So a. 02:25:27
Every council member is assigned $4000. 02:25:29
For our which we can use. 02:25:32
Towards whatever trips we would like to do. 02:25:35
If that is the trip she wants to do. 02:25:38
She is allowed to do so. 02:25:40
And B, we can have a meeting, it's up until March, right? The end of March. 02:25:43
We can have a meeting to set up our strategic plan and outline goals that we would like. 02:25:47
30%. 02:25:52
And talk about. 02:25:54
I have a comment. 02:25:57
So during working through RDP. 02:25:59
As we progress. 02:26:03
Going towards DC. 02:26:05
You hit every umm uh. 02:26:07
Department within the Navy. 02:26:09
Coast Guard. 02:26:11
Air National Guard, Navy. 02:26:12
And each. 02:26:14
Division within. 02:26:15
Within those areas. 02:26:17
And they discuss areas where what they need help with. 02:26:20
To lobby because. 02:26:25
They can't lobby for themselves. 02:26:27
And this is where you you start forming your strategic partnership. 02:26:29
And you got everybody in the room, you get to hear what the roadblocks. 02:26:33
What the issues are? 02:26:36
Because, you know, those things bring revenue to the base. 02:26:38
And they bring contractors in. 02:26:42
And you know someone will come fill. 02:26:45
From Port Hueneme, we just don't know where these these entities are coming from. 02:26:48
But uh. 02:26:52
That's it's a work up to RDP to the trip. 02:26:54
So right now there is an agenda. 02:26:58
As it progresses, each week you're going to another meeting. 02:27:00
Hitting a different organization? 02:27:05
Identifying what their goals are. 02:27:08
That's my comment. 02:27:11
I could just add also, yeah, OK. So the installation, the meetings with the installations begin. 02:27:13
I think this week. 02:27:20
And so it's a. 02:27:22
Hopefully. 02:27:24
The mayor would be able to attend those and get. 02:27:25
More information on the. 02:27:28
White papers that are going to be written and taken. 02:27:31
To DC. 02:27:34
But the other thing I wanted to add was that as I sit on the strategic committee for RDP. 02:27:36
My main job there has been to report on the status of the dredging project. 02:27:42
They have just a much concern about coastal erosion. 02:27:48
And sea level rise as we do. 02:27:52
Just like the port. 02:27:54
So. 02:27:56
That's where we find our strength is. 02:27:57
With that coalition and going to DC. 02:28:00
Having that opportunity to be in Julia's office and have that sit down and talk to her. 02:28:02
We have to keep trying. To not try would be to give up. 02:28:08
And be. 02:28:12
Counterproductive to our our. 02:28:13
Our whole efforts here. 02:28:14
So. 02:28:15
You know, I agree with all that you said. I'm just trying to emphasize the point that I thought we were golden two years ago. We 02:28:17
went through a long, hard process. 02:28:22
We got the dredge on, they came and delivered 100,000 cubic yards more than. 02:28:28
Mother Nature would have. 02:28:35
And then here we are two years later, falling away short and and if not for City Manager Vega. 02:28:37
Who called? 02:28:44
Attention to it. 02:28:45
I communicated it to the coastal cities in. 02:28:46
Cal Cities. Hey, this new water thing, the Army Corps engineers decided that they can't do dredging because they're going to have 02:28:50
to clean the material. 02:28:53
You know, that was a major thing and and you know. 02:28:58
Thanks to City Manager Vega. 02:29:01
Not the county, not Julia Brownlee, not the Army Corps engineers. But. 02:29:04
You know our city manager looking out for us so. 02:29:09
I just want effectiveness. If we're going to go, let's be effective. 02:29:12
And you're right, there's a lot out of our control. 02:29:16
And you know, when I first came on council I said I was going to be the. 02:29:20
Do frame of letter writing to get the dredge process. Andy Dufresne. 02:29:24
You laugh, but why not? 02:29:30
Why not do that? It's counterproductive. Is it counterproductive? But we're we're not being successful. 02:29:32
We're not successful. They have a lobbyist. They're using their lobbyists. Let's go through it hasn't been successful. 02:29:38
Here we are again. So just let's just watch and see what happens. 02:29:44
I don't want to go. 02:29:48
OK, let's vote. 02:29:49
OK, so. 02:29:53
Yeah, great, great, great. 02:29:54
Did I go public comments? You said no public Yes, there's no publicly. Thank you. 02:29:57
The recommendation is to consider the request. 02:30:00
For out of state. 02:30:05
I'm sorry. 02:30:07
Consideration. 02:30:07
Consider the request for out-of-state travel. 02:30:09
From Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 through Thursday, March 27, 2025. 02:30:12
Umm, for? 02:30:18
The mayor to represent, if needed, to attend the Regional Defense Partnership lobbying trip. 02:30:21
To Washington, DC in support of the Naval Base Ventura County, Point Magoo, Port Wine Neme used an individual council member 02:30:27
budget funds. 02:30:30
Provide directions to the city RDP representatives. 02:30:34
Regarding any desired goals or talking points. 02:30:38
For their meeting. 02:30:41
May I have a motion? 02:30:44
And a second we did. We have a motion. We have a second. So we need a vote. OK, Madam Clerk. 02:30:45
Please take a vote. 02:30:51
OK, I'm just gonna do a roll call vote. 02:30:52
Council Member Hernandez. 02:30:57
Councilmember Gama? Yes, Councilmember Perez. 02:30:59
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez and Mayor McQueen Lejeune. Yes. Motion passes unanimously. 02:31:02
Thank you. So the first meeting in March will bring back the RDP appointment. 02:31:06
With uh. 02:31:12
I think what I heard was that at that same time we can also include an item or a recommendation, so we talk. 02:31:14
About any talking points. 02:31:20
Goals and then. 02:31:23
I think we'll. 02:31:25
Do our best to schedule that the same day as the strategic partnerships discussion, which also ties right into it. So we'll 02:31:26
probably be that first meeting in March so that there's time to prepare for the March 23rd trip. So. 02:31:32
OK, great. Thank you. 02:31:39
So we'll move on to the city manager. Comments and reports. 02:31:40
Yes, thank you and. 02:31:44
Just a couple of things. 02:31:46
This week. 02:31:48
We actually. 02:31:50
Have a. 02:31:52
Big. 02:31:53
Opening to announce which is we are planning to do our ribbon cutting and our opening. 02:31:56
Oh. 02:32:05
Of the. 02:32:10
Wyoming beach swing set. 02:32:11
After a long wait, it is scheduled to open on Wednesday, February 5th at 3:30 PM, about 10 minutes after we set that. 02:32:13
The forecast changed to rain. 02:32:22
As it always does. 02:32:26
But I bet, I think it will change before then. And if not, I think I think some kids will enjoy still going out on the swings in 02:32:28
the rain. So, so we're going to we're going to open it. 02:32:33
One way or another, if nothing else, they can get out there when the rain stops. So. 02:32:39
But we're particularly, yeah. 02:32:43
Proud of it. It's accessible. That was sort of the challenge that we had to work through is. 02:32:45
Making an accessible swing set on the beach and we were out there earlier today and it looks great and we're excited to. 02:32:51
Cut the ribbon and. 02:32:58
Invite the community to start using the One Amy beach swing set. 02:33:00
Mr. City Manager, I thought it was going to be. 02:33:05
The padded material all the way underneath. But no, that's the the one section is enough for Ada. Yes, it's. 02:33:08
There's a. 02:33:15
It's. 02:33:17
It's not there. There's additional swings to the left of the padded area. 02:33:19
Yeah, nice. 02:33:23
Beautiful. 02:33:24
So we have the beach swing set. 02:33:28
Ribbon cutting. And it's just going to be a quick ribbon cutting, sort of. 02:33:31
The goal is to get people out in the swing set as quick as possible, so it won't be any elaborate ceremony, but we'll do that on. 02:33:35
February 5th we also just wanted to give a reminder because the new dates of the Beach Festival are sneaking up on us. So it's a 02:33:41
reminder to the public to mark their calendars and for us to mark our calendars for July 12th and 13th. 02:33:48
The idea this year is kick off the summer with the Beach Festival and then that allows us to end the summer with the Banana 02:33:55
Festival. 02:33:59
And so we'll have. 02:34:03
Kind of the kickoff and the ending of summer. 02:34:04
So mark your calendars for July 12th through 13th. 02:34:08
Then one more item to mark calendars with is. 02:34:12
The umm. 02:34:16
Community Benefit fund. 02:34:17
Which is the partnership between the city and the port? 02:34:20
Is has. 02:34:23
Officially set the date for the C Splash Color Dash 5K. 02:34:25
And kids 1K and then a free health and Wellness fair post race. 02:34:29
For Saturday, March 22nd. 02:34:35
Ridge We will open online registration on February 10th. 02:34:38
And last year this did sell out quickly. We've opened it up to more people this year, but we. 02:34:43
We're recommending everybody set their. 02:34:50
Calendar reminder for February 10th to register for the event. 02:34:53
I it's in the morning I think. 02:35:01
I think it was 9:00. Yeah, I think it's 9:00 and then. 02:35:04
I know we have to be there early, so I think we're going to be there doing some things earlier before that, but the races I 02:35:08
believe 9:00. 02:35:12
So and then. 02:35:16
As far as February 18th agenda, these are the items we currently have scheduled. That's why we mentioned earlier that the next 02:35:19
agenda. 02:35:23
As a more full 1, so some of those other items will come back in March. 02:35:26
But we have presentations for the. 02:35:32
Per the council's approved list of presentation items, we have the Mother's Day. 02:35:36
Sorry, Mother Day language. 02:35:41
No, it's Mother language. I think we flipped that. I think it's the Mother Language Day proclamation. 02:35:43
So I have a typo there. 02:35:48
And then the proclamation for Black History Month as well. 02:35:50
And then? 02:35:54
And we we're going to do that today, but we. 02:35:56
Postponed it to the 18th because we were trying to. 02:35:59
Include some representatives who helped put together the Martin Luther King Junior. 02:36:02
Events this year we wanted to invite them to the meeting so. 02:36:08
And then for business items? 02:36:12
We have a few traffic related items that we had said we'd come back. 02:36:14
To review some of the adjustments we made, we were going to do a like sort of a six month review. 02:36:18
Of you know the impact of installing some of the stop signs, we installed and. 02:36:23
Changing some of the. 02:36:29
Traffic speed limits and things like that. 02:36:32
And then we also. 02:36:35
Want to report back on the end of our pilot project report for. 02:36:37
I think it's the Market Street Panoma stop signs and. 02:36:43
We're hoping to also be able to provide the. 02:36:45
Status update of our. 02:36:48
Traffic Doughnut. 02:36:50
Demonstration project as well. Anti traffic donut. 02:36:53
Vehicle Doughnut. 02:36:58
Demonstration project. 02:37:00
Yeah, yeah. 02:37:01
So that and then we. 02:37:05
Had the request from Councilmember Martinez at his last meeting that the council approved. 02:37:08
Are approved to bring back, which is the request for. 02:37:13
Or to to reach requests or requests for use of storage. 02:37:18
At Miranda park and request. 02:37:22
For a utility box art project. 02:37:25
So those requests will be brought to the Council. 02:37:28
And then? 02:37:31
Probably the the main one, and we got some public comments on that this week, is short term rental related. So we plan to bring 02:37:32
the overview and a survey of options from local cities. 02:37:37
I did forget on the I meant to have. I have a visual aid that's not on the PowerPoint and I. 02:37:43
Missed it? Councilmember Gama mentioned in the inspiration today the pipe project we're doing. 02:37:49
And uh. 02:37:56
I happen to run into our team out there before the meeting. 02:37:57
And uh. 02:38:01
They gave me this section of pipe. 02:38:02
HDPE, high density polyethylene. 02:38:04
And, umm. 02:38:10
And so just if anybody ever wondered, when we say pipes, we're not talking about, you know, the little pipes we have at home. 02:38:11
We're talking about pipes this wide. 02:38:15
That run under the city. 02:38:20
And this. 02:38:22
Pipe material goes through. 02:38:23
The 60 year old clay pipe and you know a big section of this goes through that. 02:38:26
And now we have new pipe under. 02:38:32
Our city instead of 60 year old failing clay pipe. 02:38:36
And they said. 02:38:39
Interesting statistic is 6000 gallons a minute go through these pipes which is hard to even fathom so. 02:38:40
So thank you to Brian Fumiko and his team. 02:38:48
Who are out there actively working on it and so far, knock on wood ahead of schedule and. 02:38:52
And working to get that project done to serve the city for the next 60 years, hopefully. 02:38:58
Yeah. 02:39:05
City Manager. 02:39:08
I just want to add one thing about that pipe. 02:39:11
So I'm always interested in if you look. 02:39:14
They'll take 90 foot sections. 02:39:16
Combine them to be over 500 foot length, right? And So what they do is they take that. 02:39:19
End of the. 02:39:24
And they bring the other end of the pipe, they bring it together. 02:39:26
And they heat it up to 450°. 02:39:29
And then what happens is. 02:39:32
Composite material. It goes like this. 02:39:33
And when they bring it together. 02:39:36
And it cools. It's as strong as extruded pipe, so that's why you can see him jumping around, dumping it and pulling it through. 02:39:38
500 feet to the other side and. 02:39:46
It's so remarkable and and then the engine, you know, the the fact that. 02:39:48
We have someone on staff or a whole bunch of staff members that know, hey, there's an abandoned pipe under there and we could do 02:39:53
this is just remarkable. And again, it's. 02:39:58
You know, be inspired by your water system in and out of your house. It's amazing, truly. 02:40:02
Yeah, a lot of money. 02:40:09
They've just money. And then the other thing, the reason I had originally wanted to highlight it was because. 02:40:11
If everybody remembers, when we first started the project, we were worried about having to shut down access to businesses and 02:40:18
shutting down access to residents and. 02:40:22
You know, having to run pipe. 02:40:26
Along the streets and and really impacting traffic and everything like that. 02:40:28
And uh. 02:40:33
There's always some impact, but they've really managed to. 02:40:34
Do it in a way now where we didn't have to shut down access to any businesses, any. 02:40:37
Really any residents, I think we detoured around One St. 02:40:42
Really. And maybe a lane reduction in other areas? 02:40:46
But they've been able to do it without all those impacts and we talk about being business friendly and everything and those are 02:40:50
little things that. 02:40:53
We take for granted, but if you look around. 02:40:57
You know, you see those things happen in other cities where a business gets shut down because. 02:41:00
They're doing a construction project and we try to make sure that. 02:41:05
We are being as considered as we can of all those things, so. 02:41:09
Great. Thank you. 02:41:16
We'll move to councilmember reports. We'll start with. 02:41:17
Councilmember Perez. 02:41:21
I have a EDC executive meeting this week and I'll miss the. 02:41:24
Ribbon cutting. 02:41:29
For the spring, for the swing sets, unfortunately, but it sounds like it's gonna rain anyway, so. 02:41:30
And I had a Boys and Girls Club board meeting. They were just talking about the. 02:41:36
They're rebuilding the whole. 02:41:41
Porto wini me. 02:41:43
Building. 02:41:44
So they're going to be out of classes and looking for space. 02:41:45
I don't know. That's who I was asking for the Baptist Church contact. 02:41:48
They're trying to contact to see if anybody has any space so they can keep classes going so that nothing gets interrupted for the 02:41:51
kids because otherwise it'll. 02:41:54
There's a lot of children, a lot of need. 02:41:58
That go to that. 02:42:01
That center, so they're hoping not to disrupt anything. 02:42:02
And that's all I have. 02:42:05
Nothing else coming up. 02:42:08
So when Amy Beach cleanup is phenomenal, we're doing so good and you know all the hard work that we've done over the last. 02:42:12
Eight years, maybe even longer. 02:42:19
You can really see it come together. You see the the county clearing out their flood control ditches. 02:42:21
We even actually see the city of Oxnard stepping up a little bit. 02:42:27
And what that means for the Lagoon and the Alpha we're out there this weekend is that there's less trash. I mean, like. 02:42:31
Measurably less trash than what we dealt with eight years ago when it was a deluge of trash, however. 02:42:38
With the incoming rains. 02:42:46
We estimate that. 02:42:48
We may need to organize volunteers not to the effort that we've done. 02:42:50
In the past for placement of dumpsters out there. 02:42:55
We were out there this weekend. 02:42:59
And we all. 02:43:00
Filled our buckets up with plastic bags, like to the point, but there is bulky stuff out there. 02:43:02
We feel like after this rain event, that's. 02:43:08
I mean they're. 02:43:11
We may have a need for. 02:43:13
Things that we've done in the past in a. 02:43:16
Yeah, there's going to be some cost involved and I think we would dust off our agreement with the city of Oxnard. 02:43:21
Since we're going into. 02:43:29
I learned a new word tonight. 02:43:33
Granularity. Thank you, Dulce. 02:43:35
The scale or level of detail present. 02:43:39
In a set of data or other phenomenon, an example is the build data doesn't provide sufficient granularity to answer the questions. 02:43:42
There's a lot to. 02:43:51
Get out of that. 02:43:52
Public comment. 02:43:53
Granularity is a word that we all could relate to, particularly when we look at our budgets and stuff like that. 02:43:56
Ventral Animal Services. 02:44:04
Remarkable event happened. I don't know if any of you caught it. 02:44:07
So we have a new director. 02:44:12
He came out and visited our city not too long ago. 02:44:16
Esteban Rodriguez, I believe. 02:44:19
Really good guy and I took him around and showed him a whole area and you know. 02:44:22
Here's a guy that brings outside the box thinking because the the the. 02:44:27
Animal service has been overwhelmed with too many animals over capacity over capacity and I don't know how. 02:44:31
Or where it came from. 02:44:37
But they flew 42 dogs to. 02:44:39
To another state that had the capacity to accept the dogs, and some of the dogs were. 02:44:42
Were housed there for over a year. 02:44:47
Or longer and so just want to. 02:44:51
We got some great people over there and support local support your local Animal Services. Don't send your money to these national 02:44:53
organizations. 02:44:57
That's it. 02:45:02
All right, so busy week. This week I'll be attending the veterans staff. 02:45:06
Tomorrow, just kind of. 02:45:11
To observe, I used to follow the. 02:45:13
I'm really curious to see how it's evolved. 02:45:16
We have our first installation meeting under RDP with the US Coast Guard. 02:45:19
Tomorrow at 1:00, I'll be attending that. 02:45:23
And I've actually been asked to do a couple of fire presentations on the. 02:45:26
Buyers, LA fire. So I'll be going to do one for our HOA tomorrow night. 02:45:31
Thank you for the newsletters, Mr. City Manager. I'll make sure those get distributed. 02:45:37
To our residents. 02:45:42
We have an RDP strategic meeting on Wednesday. I'll be participating in that and then I'll be going through my first orientation 02:45:44
with the Clean Power Alliance. 02:45:48
On Wednesday at 1:30, it'll be a Zoom call. 02:45:53
Unfortunately, I won't be. 02:45:57
Able to attend the. 02:45:58
Ribbon cutting for the swing set either. 02:46:01
Of Navy League on Thursday. 02:46:03
And. 02:46:06
Got something else on there? I'm not sure what that is. 02:46:09
Umm. 02:46:12
And then that's it. 02:46:15
That's it for this week and I don't have any. 02:46:17
Reports on past meetings so. 02:46:19
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. 02:46:22
Yes, so I did attend the Mayor's Academy. 02:46:23
Last week in Anaheim. 02:46:28
Hosted by Cal Cities and. 02:46:31
Got a lot of good information, a lot of learning. 02:46:33
So that was a very good, good event. 02:46:36
I will be at the swing set ribbon cutting. 02:46:42
Wednesday, yeah. 02:46:45
I I would like to hear. 02:46:49
Something on the master water plan? 02:46:50
Just with water pressure. 02:46:53
I've, I've, you know, I've heard residents from Harbor lights. 02:46:57
Areas saying that they have weak water pressure. 02:47:01
And want to see if we have a. 02:47:04
You know what? What are we tracking as far as? 02:47:06
Pipe replacement for water. 02:47:10
Also on South side. 02:47:12
About 40 PSI. 02:47:15
Birdie, meaning their minimum thresholds. 02:47:17
So I was just kind of curious where we sit with the Matt Wasp, the master. 02:47:19
Water Plant. 02:47:23
And then a shout out to Michael Ella Perez for Oxnard District 6. She's been working hard. 02:47:25
With coastal cleanup as well. 02:47:31
That's all I got. 02:47:35
Thank you. Thank you. 02:47:36
So I'll be returning to my monthly meetings, GCD, VRSD, VCC and then next week. 02:47:38
Air pollution control district. 02:47:45
Board, currently the chair. 02:47:48
Of Gold Coast Transit expect it to be named the chair of Air Pollution Control Board next week. 02:47:52
I did also attend the Mayor and Council member Academy, Cal Cities last week. 02:48:00
Umm, I did attend the Alaska and I think most of us did attended the Alaska 261 Memorial. 02:48:06
It was it was really a nice. 02:48:13
A nice event. 02:48:15
Got a chance to then run over to Orvin Carpenters, 100th. 02:48:17
Birthday celebration, which was also really nice. 02:48:21
I participated in the county city selection committee. 02:48:24
Last week where we, you know. 02:48:28
We're able to feel. 02:48:30
Positions on for county. 02:48:32
Committee, board and boards. 02:48:35
And then for GCTD tomorrow? 02:48:37
Is a ride free transit equity day? 02:48:40
And it's also the birthday of Rosa Parks, which is. 02:48:44
Being celebrated tomorrow so. 02:48:49
And do plan. 02:48:52
To attend the swing ribbon. 02:48:54
Cutting as well. 02:48:57
That's what I have. 02:48:59
Anything else? 02:49:01
OK. 02:49:03
Requests for future agenda items. We'll start with Councilmember Perez. 02:49:04
I don't have anything. Thank you. 02:49:08
Councilmember. 02:49:11
Mayor Pro Tem. Well, I I. 02:49:13
I said it already, but the master. 02:49:16
Water plan would like a brief on. 02:49:18
Uh, actual water delivery into the. 02:49:20
Into the residence. 02:49:23
Great if there. 02:49:26
Is nothing else tech just to follow the process technically? 02:49:28
Can I get a motion in a second? 02:49:34
The master water plan. 02:49:42
On the. 02:49:49
Piping umm. 02:49:50
Of like the South side harbor lights area. I just want to see. 02:49:52
Where we're at? 02:49:55
In in terms of. 02:49:56
That infrastructure. 02:49:58
Where Umm. 02:50:00
Because it seems like we can't. 02:50:03
Turn the pressure up without. 02:50:05
Water leakage. 02:50:09
So I'm kind of curious. So the the. 02:50:10
I guess what I'm what I'm asking for is. 02:50:12
A brief. 02:50:15
On the master water plan. 02:50:16
I have a side question. 02:50:19
A side question related to that, do you sit on the water agency? 02:50:21
The Whitening Water Agency. 02:50:25
Figured they could probably give it to you like you. 02:50:30
Really quickly, without needing to wait for us to an agenda item. 02:50:32
Well, I want to see what OK, I mean, if that's the case too, because I what I'm curious is. 02:50:35
We have an aging infrastructure, these water mains, if we if we actually. 02:50:43
Turn the pressure up. 02:50:47
Over 45 PSI will blow a water. 02:50:48
So it sounds like to me you're making a request. 02:50:51
To have a presentation on. 02:50:57
Water pressure and or leaky pipes. 02:51:00
Yes. 02:51:02
And then that's what I was going to suggest. And then I think. 02:51:03
I was going to say, I'm not sure if we would bring that to PHWA or the Council. So can it just be to take it to the appropriate? 02:51:08
We'll figure it out. 02:51:17
It's just the pH, Washington and Council split sometimes is not. 02:51:18
Crystal clear which you know which. 02:51:22
Items go to which ones, so sometimes we'll take it to both. That's another thing too, but. 02:51:24
But umm. 02:51:28
I think that would be. 02:51:29
The motion would be to get a briefing on that at the appropriate. 02:51:31
Board meeting. 02:51:36
And they do. 02:51:37
Yeah, we're discussing. Sorry. 02:51:39
All in favor. 02:51:41
All opposed. 02:51:43
Hearing none, motion passes unanimously. 02:51:44
Great. And I don't have anything. 02:51:47
OK, our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18th. 02:51:52
2025 at 6:30 PM. 02:51:57
The meeting is now adjourned. The time is 9:20. 02:52:00