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>> MAYOR SALEH: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25, 2026.
[Call to Order ]
IS 5:12 P.M., THIS MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION, MADAM CITY CLERK ROLL CALL PLEASE.>> COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA: -- ABSENT
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC?
>> MAYOR SALEH: CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE READ
[Closed Session ]
BY TITLE LISTED ON CLOSED SESSION.>> CITY ATTORNEY: YES MAYOR, COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REAL PROPERTY ITEMS TONIGHT, EACH AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8.
THE PROPERTY ADDRESSES PROPERTY: 6250 ATLANTIC AVENUE, PROPERTY: 7030 ATLANTIC AVENUE, PROPERTY: 4400-4410 GAGE PROPERTY: 6400 ATLANTIC AVENUE, PROPERTY: 6339 ATLANTIC AVENUE, THE CITY WILL BE MEETING WITH ITS NEGOTIATORS, THE CITY MANAGER AND (INDISCERNIBLE) ON THOSE ITEMS. AND THERE IS THE LAST ITEM, CLOSED SECTION ITEM, ANTICIPATED INITIATION OF LITIGATION AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 (D)(3) REGARDING SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION IN ONE CASE.
WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[Reconvene Regular City Council Meeting ]
>> MAYOR SALEH: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, WE WELCOME TO OUR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 25TH, WE WILL RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA: ABSENT
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO: HERE.
>> MAYOR SALEH: NOW MOVE TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY LIEUT. JOSEPH.
>> EVERYBODY PLEASE STAND IN PLACE RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU. NOW
[City Attorney Report ]
MOVE TO CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE DISCLOSE FROM CLOSED SESSION.
>> CITY ATTORNEY: YES MAYOR THE COUNCIL MET ON FIVE SESSIONS TONIGHT, INVOLVING REAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATION AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.8.
THE REAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE DISCUSSED LOCATED AT PROPERTY: 6250 ATLANTIC AVENUE, PROPERTY: 7030 ATLANTIC AVENUE, BELL CA 90201 PROPERTY: 4400-4410 GAGE AVENUE, BELL CA 90201 PROPERTY: 6400 ATLANTIC AVENUE, PROPERTY: 6339 ATLANTIC AVENUE, ON EACH OF THESE, THE STAFF GIVE A STATUS UPDATE. AND DIRECTION WAS GIVEN BY THE COUNCIL, BUT THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION TAKEN.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE 15 SPEAKER CARDS.
ARE THERE ANYMORE BEFORE I ACCEPT ANY MORE SPEAKER CARDS AND CLOSE? ALL RIGHT, NO MORE SPEAKER
[Presentations and Recognitions ]
CARDS? WE NOW MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS. ITEM A: SWEARING-IN AND PINNING CEREMONY FOR CAPTAIN AND LIEUTENANT>> THE FIRST ONE WILL BE CAPT.
NEIL MONGEN (SOUNDS LIKE), ROSE TO THE RANKS OF THE HUNTINGTON PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE POSITION OF THE TENANT WHERE HE COMMANDED THE ADMINISTRATION DIVISION. HE HAS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT, AND MASTERS DEGREE OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S SOLE PRICE SCHOOL.
HE HAS WORKED A PLETHORA OF ASSIGNMENTS AS A POLICE OFFICER OFFICER, AS A SERGEANT AND AS A LIEUT. AFTER HIS RETIREMENT HE CONTINUED SERVING FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR AS AN INTERN POLICE LT. BEFORE JOINING THE EL CAMINO COLLEGE AS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER AND ACADEMY COORDINATOR.
HE IS HERE TONIGHT WITH HIS WIFE MARCY AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH HIM.
CAPT. MONGEN, CAN I HAVE YOU STEP FORWARD?
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RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.>> MAYOR SALEH: WANT TO GET THE MIC?
>> I NEIL MONGEN, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION, OR PURPOSE OF EVASION. AND I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES, UPON WHICH I ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SWEARING-IN IS FOR LIEUT. KAY JOSEPH (SOUNDS LIKE), BEGAN HIS LOVE FOR THE CAREER WITH THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT BEFORE JOINING THE BELL POLICE DEPARTMENT 2018 AND OVER THE COURSE OF HIS 15 YEAR CAREER HE HAS SERVED AS A PATROL OFFICER, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, SGT. AND SGT., ARE PROGRESSING THROUGH THE RANKS HE HAS BEEN FOCUSED IN OFFICER DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONAL READINESS WITHIN THE JOSEPH WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR HIS FAMILY, WHOSE SUPPORT, SACRIFICE, AND UNWAVERING BELIEF IN HIM HAVE BEEN HIS CONSTANT MOTIVATION THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
HERE TONIGHT WITH LIEUT. JOSEPH OR HIS GIRLFRIEND MYRA, AND HIS SON JEREMIAH. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH HIM.
>> I KYLE JOSEPH DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION, OR PURPOSE OF EVASION, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER.
[00:10:11]
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.
WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM B: PRESENTATION BY LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IS HE HERE? ALL RIGHT. WILL CONTINUE THAT ITEM.
ITEM C: PRESENTATION BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
>> MAYOR SALEH: I THINK YOU CAN HIGHER THE -- DON'T BREAK IT.
>> THANK YOU MR. MAYOR SALEH, ESTEEM COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM WITH THE SANITATION DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WE PROVIDE SEWER SERVICE FOR A LARGE PART OF LA COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF LA, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND ANTELOPE VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ VALLEY.
WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED SEWER RATE IN STRICT FOR THIS SANITATION DISTRICT FOR WHAT WE CALL THE (INDISCERNIBLE) DISTRICT WHICH SERVES THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY. ALL THE WAY FROM POMONA AND PASADENA DOWN TO LONG BEACH AND CARSON.
IF YOU ARE A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE CITY OF BELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED BUT RECALL "PROPOSITION 218 NOTICE" WHICH NOTIFIES PARTIAL OWNERS OF OTHER GREAT INCREASE THAT WILL BE ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.
OUR CHARGES GO ON THE PROPERTY TAX. THEY DO NOT GO ON WATER BILLS, OR WITH ANY OTHER UTILITY BILLS. YOU WILL ONLY SEE IT ONCE A YEAR ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.
SO RENTERS DO NOT SEE THIS CORRECTLY. YOUR BUSINESS OWNERS WILL NOT SEE THIS CORRECTLY.
ONLY PARTIAL OWNERS WILL SEE THIS INCREASE.
BUT THE NOTICE WE MAILED AS INFORMATION ABOUT WHY WE NEED TO INCREASE; INFORMATION ABOUT OUR AGENCY, AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHARGE FOR EACH PARCEL.
AND RIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THE NOTICE, IT HAS YOUR PARCEL ADDRESS, AND THE PARCEL NUMBER.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT 1800 EMPLOYEES AND SERVE ABOUT 5 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND OPERATE 24/7. WE HAVE SEVEN TREATMENT PLANS INCLUDING OUR LARGEST PLANT IN THE CITY OF CARSON, 1400 MILES OF SEWER. WE OPERATE THE LARGE SEWERS. WE DON'T OPERATE A SMALL SEWERS LIKE THE CITY OF BELL HAS SEWERS THROUGHOUT THE STREETS FEEDING TO OUR SEWERS.
WE OPERATED CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO OPERATE 24/7 TO PREVENT A SEWER SPILL; AS I MENTIONED WE HAVE 1800 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT COSTS IN TERMS OF CHEMICALS, UTILITIES WE HAVE SOME LARGE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS TO REHABILITATE OUR SEWERS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TREATMENT THAT ALL ROLL-UP REQUIRING FUNDING FOR OUR OPERATIONS.
AND RIGHT NOW IN PARTICULAR WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE NEED AN INCREASE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. ONE IS WE ARE CATCHING UP WITH INFLATION. OUR LAST INCREASE WAS FAIRLY MODEST, OVER LAST FIVE YEARS OUR RATES HAVE GONE UP 10% TOTAL. AND OUR EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP 20%.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THAT.
WE ALSO EXPECT FUTURE COST INCREASE ESPECIALLY WITH UTILITIES AND CHEMICALS AND AS I MENTIONED WE HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS RELATED TO SEWERS AND RELATED TO ADDITIONAL TREATMENT. IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT WILL POTENTIALLY CREATE A NEW SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE REGION.
SO WHAT KIND OF RATE INCREASE WE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? FOR PARCEL OWNERS IN THE CITY OF BELL, PARTICULARLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THE RATE
[00:15:01]
INCREASE EITHER WORKS OUT TO 275 OR 292 PER MONTH FOR FIVE YEARS. THE FIRST IS THIS YEAR AND FOUR MORE YEARS AFTER THAT.EACH YEAR YOUR AVERAGE MONTHLY COST WILL GO UP AGAIN EITHER 2.75 OR 2.92, DEPENDS ON WHICH PART OF THE CITY YOU ARE IN.
WE DON'T TAKE THESE RATE INCREASES LIKELY. THE BOARD SCRUTINIZES OUR PROPOSALS AND WE WORK TO ALWAYS GET THE RATE INCREASES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS WE MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPETITIVE WITH FELLOW AGENCIES.
AND THIS IS AN INDICATION OF NOT JUST-- IT DOES NOT INCLUDE JUST OUR CHARGE INCLUDES LOCAL CHARGES AS WELL. WE ARE ABOUT HALF THE END OF COST OF THE LOCAL AGENCIES. AND WE TAKE THIS AS A CHALLENGE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IMPOSING COSTS ON THE RESIDENCE THAT ARE LESS THAN OTHERS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE DO THINGS LIKE PURSUE NO INTEREST LOANS, GRANTS AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.
WE ARE 24 SEPARATE ENTRIES BUT WE DO COMBINE STAFF TO GET EFFICIENCY, AND BUYING POWER IN TERMS OF BUYING CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS. WE HAVE ONE COMMON ORGANIZATION FOR A FAIRLY LARGE ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO LOOK TO SELL OUR BYPRODUCTS, INCLUDING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BIOSOLIDS AND BIOGAS, WHICH HELPS OFFSET THE CHARGES WE NEED TO PASS ON.
WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE CHARGE IN YOUR TAX BILL, WE CALL IT THE "LOW-WATER REBATE PROGRAM." WHAT IT DOES IF YOU SUBMIT YOUR WATER BILLS TO US, AND IF YOU CAN SHOW YOU HAVE LESS THAN AVERAGE WATER USAGE, THAT REFLECTS LOWER THAN AVERAGE SEWER USAGE. AND YOU CAN GET A REDUCED CHARGE ON YOUR TAX BILL AND REBATE. OUR WEBSITE LAC.ORG/WATER REBATE IS WHERE YOU CAN APPLY.
WE HAVE SIMILAR RATES FOR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES BUT WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING A RATE INCREASE FOR.
IN CONCLUSION WE ARE RECOMMENDING A RATE INCREASE TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE DO HAVE THAT LOW WATER REBATE PROGRAM THAT RESIDENTS MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR. AND IN A SECOND I WILL TALK ABOUT SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE COMMENTS OR LEARN MORE.
WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS. WE HAVE ONE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT HAS BEEN RECORDED. AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO COMING UP THAT ARE BY ZOOM.
AND WE HAVE ONE ON APRIL 25, AT OUR CARSON FACILITY. I DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRY TO ATTEND THAT. THE TOURS ARE IN MY OPINION IMPRESSIVE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MONEY GOES, IT IS VERY LARGE FACILITY AND VERY COMPLEX NOTHING PEOPLE WILL FIND IT OF INTEREST.
FINALLY THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL CONSIDER THE RATE INCREASE WEDNESDAY MAY 13.
AND IN THE PROP 18, THERE IS INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN PROTEST AS WELL. OUR BOARD WILL TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CONSIDERING THE RATE INCREASE.
IF ANYONE NEEDS INFORMATION WE HAVE VERY HELPFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF; HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOW-WATER REBATE AND YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION OR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PARCEL WHICH OUT TO US AT LACS.ORG, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP RESIDENTS INVESTORS WITH HER CHARGE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CITY COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> YOU DO ANNUAL ASSESSMENT INCREASE EVERY YEAR?
>> OUR RATES TYPICALLY GO UP EVERY 4-5 YEARS, AND WE HAVE A LEVELIZED INCREASED EACH YEAR, FIVE-YEAR PACKAGE. THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR PACKAGE IN THE RATES WILL GO UP EACH YEAR OF THE FIVE YEARS.
>> SO IT IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION NOW FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
>> YES, WITH A FINAL DECISION MADE AT THE MAY 13 BOARD.
>> I WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU WERE NOT HERE BEFORE FOR THAT REASON.
EVERY GOVERNMENT ENTITY AS A WHOLE IS ALWAYS IN NEED OF INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ALL OF THAT.
THE QUESTION IS, IS IT IMPERATIVE TO DO THIS NOW? I AM ASKING BECAUSE ... THERE ARE SO MANY INCREASES RIGHT NOW. THE ECONOMY IS BAD.
WORKER-- YOU KNOW, XY AND Z, WE ALL KNOW THIS. EVEN NOW THERE THERE ARE SO MANY BALLOT MEASURES THAT WILL APPEAR, TALKING ABOUT INCREASES, SALES TAX REVENUES, BOND MEASURES. SO MUCH OF IT IS BEING PUSHED ON THE
[00:20:04]
RESIDENCE AND CONSUMERS VERSUS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR EXAMPLE. RIGHT? WHEN CAN WE HOLD OFF ON IT? TO PUT IT BLUNTLY.AND SECONDLY, OTHERS THINGS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE? BECAUSE WE DO, CALIFORNIA ESPECIALLY (VIDEO FROZEN)...
>> (INDISCERNIBLE). TO MAKE THE RATE LOW. ... A LITTLE LONGER (AUDIO INTERRUPTING,) WE NEED TO TAKE FINANCING TO DO OUR PROJECTS AND THAT WAS SOME UNINTENTIONAL BECAUSE BACK DURING COVID IN OUR LAST RATE INCREASE WAS, THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF PRESSURE. WE MADE SOME ASSUMPTIONS. WE SHARPENED OUR PENCILS TO INCREASE RATES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AT THAT TIME.
BUT IT IS CATCHING UP WITH US.
WE HAVE THE SAME COSTS, AND I MENTIONED CHEMICALS AND UTILITIES. THOSE HAVE DOUBLED FOR US IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND WE MAKE A LOT OF EFFORT TO REDUCE THOSE. WE HAVE RESEARCH PROJECTS TO TRY TO USE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. BUT THIS ISN'T THE TYPE OF-- OUR TREATMENT PLANS ARE NOT THE TYPE OF PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN JUST SHUT DOWN PART OF THE DAY, OR NOT TREAT IT. WE WILL QUICKLY GO INTO VIOLATION.
WE ARE KIND OF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE COSTS.
IN TERMS OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WE HAVE ACCELERATED SOME OF OUR PROJECTS AS A RESULT OF SOME SEWER FAILURES.
THOSE SEWER FAILURES ARE VERY IMPACTFUL TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND AGAIN WE ARE NOT BEING OVERLY AGGRESSIVE WITH THOSE REPAIRS. WE ARE REPAIRING SEWERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO FAIL. WE DON'T FEEL THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM THERE EITHER, OR REALLY ALL OF THESE CHARGES ARE GOING VERY MUCH TOWARDS THE 24 OPERATIONS SEWER COSTS. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. WERE NOT PART OF THE BIGGER GOVERNMENT.
ALL WE DO IS TREAT WASTEWATER WITH THESE CHARGES.
AND WE REALLY TIGHTENED OUR PENCILS. AND YOUR MAYOR SALEH IS REALLY PUSHED US DOES WELL.
ULTIMATELY IT IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' DECISION ON MAY 13, WHETHER TO GO FOR IT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> YES. ON THIS PROJECT, IT CONSIDERED A UNIFORM PROJECT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY? OR IS THERE A PRIORITY LIST? HOW DOES IT WORK OUT IN TERMS OF EQUITY OF THE FUNDS?
>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION. IT DOES GO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, OR THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY. BECAUSE WE ONLY OPERATE LARGE SEWERS IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY RUN.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THEM, OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY DO HAVE THEM. ALSO DEPENDENT ON THE AGE OF THE SOURCE OF THE NEWER SEWERS OUT IN POMONA, CLAREMONT, DO NOT NEED ANY REPAIRS NOW. BUT MOST OF THE REPAIR WORK IS MORE IN THE SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEAST LA AREA BUT IT IS MORE DRIVEN BY THE ACTUAL AGE OF THE SEWER.
BUT IT IS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
BUT I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY IS MORE TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
>> AND THEN, MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WOULD BE BASED ON WHAT THESE INCREASES ARE, IS IT ENOUGH TO THE PROJECTS DONE?
>> WE THINK IT IS. WE ARE TACKLING THE MOST CRITICAL ONES. WE ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP.
WE DID FALL BEHIND OVER THE PREVIOUS 5-10 YEARS AND POTENTIALLY CONNECTED LITTLE BIT TO THE RATE INCREASES BEING TOO LOW.
WITH SOME OF THE SEWER FAILURES, WE REFOCUSED AND REEVALUATED OUR PRIORITIZATION METHOD AND WE HAVE WE THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD HANDLE NOW.
OUR LONG-TERM PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE WILL DO SOME CATCH UP. AND AFTER THAT WE DO EXPECT A LOWER RATE INCREASE GOING FORWARD. SO THIS WE DON'T PERCEIVE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE FUTURE. WE MAY JUST RETURN TO JUST KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.
>> THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, NEWER, BETTER TECHNOLOGIES OR BETTER MATERIALS ARE THESE JUST REPAIRS THAT ARE SIMILAR
[00:25:02]
TO THE PAST? OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAY THAT THESE SEWER SYSTEMS ARE BEING UPGRADED?>> ABSOLUTELY WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT NEW WAYS TO MAINTAIN OUR SEWERS. OUR REPAIRS MOSTLY INVOLVE LINING WITH A PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS LINER. THE EXISTING SEWERS ARE MOSTLY CONCRETE OR EVEN IN SOME CASES BRICK OR CLAY. BUT THESE LINERS, WE FORESEE INDEFINITE LIFE OF THOSE LINERS, VERSUS REGULAR CONCRETE SEWER OF ABOUT 50 YEARS.
WE ARE KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGIES THAT COME UP WITH NEW LINER TECHNOLOGIES. WE ARE KEEPING UP WITH THOSE.
>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IT SAYS REBATES AND REDUCE-- MAY BE AVAILABLE DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY TYPE AND WATER USAGE.
HOW CAN PEOPLE APPROACH YOU TO KNOW TO GET A LOWER REBATE OR A LOWER FEE?
>> I WOULD SAY CONTACT US AT THE NUMBER SHOWN IN THE SCREEN.
THE PHONE NUMBER IS GOOD. WE HAVE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS THAT ARE VERY HELPFUL, AND CAN TALK YOU THROUGH IT. YOU CAN ALSO GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIND THE APPLICATION OR EMAIL US AT RATES@LSAC.ORG.
>> FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, AFTER YOUR RATE INCREASES REACH THE FIVE-YEAR GOAL, WHAT HAPPENS? DO YOU WAIT ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME TO GO OVER OTHER INCREASES? DO YOU GO BACK TO THE OLD?
>> AS WE APPROACH THE FIVE-YEAR RATE PACKAGE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION EVERY YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR RATE PACKAGE. WE WILL TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT WHETHER WE NEED A RATE INCREASE AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS. TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE SAME FACTORS. AND HIRE AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT OUR RATES AND REEVALUATE.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION IS ONLY THE POSSIBILITY OF RATE INCREASE? OR ONCE YOUR GOAL IS MET IS EVER A POSSIBILITY OF A DECREASE?
>> WE HAVE HAD DECREASES IT SOME DISTRICT IN THE PAST WHERE WE OVERSHOOT ON THE RATER LEVELIZED. THAT THIS FIVE YEAR RATE PACKAGE, FOUR YEARS INTO IT WE REALIZE WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL WE HAVE THE OPTION TO NOT IMPLEMENT THE FIFTH YEAR INCREASE. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THAT. WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES GIVE GOOD QUESTIONS AND GOT GOOD ANSWERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT HERE GIVING US A PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ITEM D: PROCLAMATION DECLARING FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE RICH CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS BROUGHT OUR NATION HISTORY.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF BELL JOINT COMMITTEES ACROSS THE NATION IN RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO LEARN REFLECT ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT HONOR AND UPLIFT AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CONTRIBUTION.
NOW THEREFORE WE BE RESOLVED THAT ON THIS 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026, THE CITY OF BELL COUNCIL PROCLAIMS FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, IN HONOR OF THE AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE HELD STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS PROCLAMATION WILL BE HUNG IN CITY HALL.
NOW MOVE THE ITEM E: PROCLAMATION DECLARING FEBRUARY 18, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 18, 2026 AS RAMADAN AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION: RAMADAN AWARENESS MONTH, WHEREAS RAMADAN IS A SECOND MONTH OBSERVED BY MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD CHARACTERIZED BY FASTING, PRAYER, REFLECTION AND COMMUNITY; AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF BELL IS A LARGE LEBANESE MUSLIM POPULATION THAT IS VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS RAMADAN SERVES AS A TIME FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND ACTIVE CHARITY PROMOTING VALUES OF COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND GIVING. WHEREAS AN INCREASED AWARENESS OF RAMADAN FOSTERS RESPECT UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION AMONG INDIVIDUALS OF ALL FAITHS AND BACKGROUNDS.
AND THIS MONTH WE ARE REMINDED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY AND OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BONDS THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RESPECT. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ON THIS 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY THE CITY OF BELL COUNCIL PROCLAIMED FEBRUARY 18
[00:30:01]
THROUGH MARCH 18, 2026 AS RAMADAN AWARENESS MONTH. WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO BE MINDFUL AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF RAMADAN, AND ITS ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF BELL. THIS WILL ALSO BE HUNG ON CITY HALL.[Communications from the Public ]
THAT SAID WE MOVED TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.I HAVE 15 SPEAKERS, THREE MINUTES, IF I CALL SOMEBODY'S NAME AND THEY ARE NOT PRESENT I WON'T GO BACK. FIRST SPEAKER -- SANTOS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS (INDISCERNIBLE). I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON TWO POINTS. THE FIRST IS THAT I NOTICED THAT THE CITY OF BELL OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM HAS DISABLED COMMENTS ON THE PAGE AND HAS STOPPED PUBLICLY ANNOUNCING WHEN CITY HALL MEETINGS ARE GOING TO BE HELD. THESE ACTIONS ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE POLICE CHIEF AND HIS OFFICERS STOPPED RESIDENTS FROM ATTENDING A MEETING A MONTH AGO. MAKES IT SEEM LIKELY CITY OF BELL IS ACTUALLY WORKING AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST AND TRYING TO SUPPRESS PUBLIC COMMENT. I ADVISED THAT THESE ARE NOT YOUR INTENTIONS AND THAT YOU ENABLE COMMENTS ON THE BELL PAGE AND A TIME ANNOUNCING THE MEETINGS ON INSTAGRAM AGAIN. A SECOND POINT IS THAT AFTER ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS FOR A WHILE AND HEARING THE PUBLIC'S COMMENTS, IT'S BEEN CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC'S OPINION OF THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF HAS ...
SORRY ... MY SECOND POINT IS, THAT AFTER ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS AND HEARING THE PUBLIC'S OPINIONS ON THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF, IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS THAT THE RESIDENTS OF LOST ALL TRUST AND HOPE IN THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND THAT IS A DANGEROUS THING.
WITHOUT THE PUBLIC'S TRUST, YOU, MAYOR SALEH, CANNOT PROBABLY DO YOUR JOB. IF YOU ALLOW THE PUBLIC TRUST TO KEEP SLIPPING AWAY IT WON'T BE LONG UNTIL WE START CALLING FOR YOUR RECALL AND RECOGNITION JUST LIKE YOU DID FOR OFC. HERNANDEZ AND ROBERT RIZO (SOUNDS LIKE).
THAT IS WHY URGE YOU AGAIN TO STOP HARASSING THE RESIDENTS OF THE BELL MOBILE PARK. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THESE RESIDENTS
>> ... IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THESE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS AS A RESULT OF YOUR THREAT OF EVICTION. AND IT ALSO SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY COULD HAVE A GREAT CASE FOR INFLECTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST THE CITY OF BELL.
I ALSO URGE YOU AGAIN TO STAND UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE REGULAR POLICE CHIEF TO UPHOLD THE CALIFORNIA LAWS THAT PREVENT ICE FROM UNLAWFUL ARRESTS AND SEARCHES, AND TO PROTECT US RESIDENTS FROM ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, JUST LIKE ITS OATH CALLS FOR.
AFTER BREANNA, IS ALFREDO VASQUEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE. I WANT THIS TO BE IN THE IMPACT -- REPORT. SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I HAVE MY SCHOOL CLOTHES, SUPERMARKET CLOTHES, CHURCH CLOTHES AND GAS STATION CLOSE, EVERYTHING TO BELL MOBILE HOMES AVENUE AND VILLAGE. THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS ONE PERSON. IN AFFECT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WHICH IS THE WHOLE RESIDENTS LIVING IN BOTH PARKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ALFREDO VASQUEZ. AFTER IS A ALFREDO MESA.
(INDISCERNIBLE) BELL MOBILE HOME PARK (OFF MIC) ...
[00:35:01]
GLAD TO BE STILL LIVING IN BELL, BUT THE SITUATIONS THAT COME ALONG, HAVE ARISEN AROUND HERE ARE DEVASTATING. I SUFFERED AN ACCIDENT THREE YEARS AGO MORE OR LESS. AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RECOVER FULLY ... (INDISCERNIBLE). NOW I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK ON MY FEET.WITH ALL THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY, WITH ICE AND IT'S LIKE (INDISCERNIBLE)... IT REALLY DOES STRESSES YOU OUT.
YOU GO HOME AND YOU WANT TO BALL UP AND NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE TRUE WORLD IS...
THERE'S NO CHOICE. YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING FORWARD.
SOMEONE BROUGHT UP THE (INDISCERNIBLE) PROGRAM CENTER IN THE CITY. AND THE CITY OF BELL IN PARTICULAR CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, SO THEY CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THEIR (INDISCERNIBLE) UNFORTUNATELY I AM ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT HAS FALLEN TO THE CRACKS.
(INDISCERNIBLE). I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE MEASURES... PARTIAL RENT. AND I'M NOT STEPPING BACK AND SAYING, NO ... BUT IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALLOW THESE PROGRAMS TO BE FRUITFUL, AND MAYBE THAT COULD SAVE ME FROM FALLING INTO THE CRACKS. AND STAYING AS A PERSON WITH A HOME AND NOT A HOMELESS PERSON.
SO I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME EXTENDED TIME TO PUT MUCH BRING MYSELF UP TO PAR WITH WHERE I WAS BEFORE, I HAD MY INJURY.
AND I DO LIVE BY MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN SOBER FOR 35 YEARS. I TRY TO CARRY MYSELF IN THE CITY, RESPECTFULLY AND (INDISCERNIBLE) WHENEVER THERE IS A NEED.
I THINK IT IS THE KIND OF PERSON YOU WANT TO KEEP IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO BRING MYSELF UP TO PAR, GETTING THERE AT THE MOBILE HOMES. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: BUENAS NOCHES.
>> LA RAZN DE ESTA SITUACIN QUE LLEVAMOS AQU DE DISCRIMINACIN A CAUSA DE USTEDES. NO ESTOY DE ACUERDO CON LA DISCRIMINACIN POR NADIE. CUANDO SE PROVOCA POR LAS PERSONAS MENOS INDICADAS...
HAY QUE TENER CUIDADO, USTEDES LO HACEN CON LA INTENCIN DEL PROBLEMA QUE TRAEMOS CON USTEDES DE SACARLE PROVECHO A ESO. AL CONTRARIO, ESO LES VA A TRAER UN COSTO POLTICO. TENGAN SEGURDAD DE ESO.
POR OTRA PARTE EN DAS PASADOS PODARON LOS RBOLES DEL MOBILE HOME.
NO LOS PODARON, LOS TRIMEARON Y HAY RBOLES MUY PELIGROSOS. EL RBOL EN MI CASA, SE HAN CADO TRES RAMAS. TIENEN QUE HACER ALGO. VA ASER DEL DOMINIO PBLICO SI ALGO PASA. LA RESPONSABILIDAD CAE SOBRE USTEDES.
OTRA COSA, EL GAS DE LA LAVANDERA NO LO HAN PUESTO .POR FAVOR LA RECOMENDACIN.
[00:40:02]
UNA VEZ MS HAY QUE TENER CUIDAD CON LA DISCRIMNACIN Y CON LO QUE ESCRIBIMOS.>> MAYOR SALEH: RIGOBERTO, AFTER IS MARLYNN.
>> BUENAS NOCHES, QUIERO FELICITAR AL SEOR ALI, POR RETIRAR SU EJRCITO. ESPERO QUE ESTO SE TENGA EN CONSIDERACIN PORQUE ES MUY PERJUDICIAL PARA TODOS LOS RESIDENTES DE LA CIUDAD DE BELL PARA LOS QUE ESTN HACIENDO BULLYING CIBERNTICO, Y LO QUE LOS ESTAMOS RECIBIENDO.
SEOR MICHAEL YO CREO QUE USTED ES UNO DE LOS CREADORES DE ESOS MENSAJES. Y COMO LO HA DICHO PBLICAMENTE AQU TAMBIN, ACERCA DEL INCIDENTE QUE PAS EL 17 EN LOS PARQUES DE FLORENCE VILLAGE.
SE CANSA Y SE CANSA DE DECIR QUE ESTAMOS EXCEDIENDO LA CAPACIDAD DE ELECTRICIDAD. ME GUSTARA SABER-- Y QUE NOS DIJERA SI ALGUNO DE USTEDES REALMENTE TIENE LA CAPACIDAD DE SABER, CMO TRABAJA LA LUZ PARA SABER DECIR QUE NOS ESTAMOS EXCEDIENDO EN LA CAPACIDAD DE LUZ.
SI USTEDES NO TIENE LA CAPACIDAD, YO SI LA TENGO. YO SE. Y USTED BIEN SABE QUE ESO ES FALTA DE MANTENIMIENTO Y DILIGENCIA DE MANTENIMIENTO.
POR OTRO LADO, NOS GUSTARA SABER Y QUE NOS DIERA LOS REPORTES DEL VIERNES ANTERIOR DEL ACCIDENTE, QU ANDABAN HACIENDO SUS MECNICOS O SUS TCNICOS EN ESE LUGAR DONDE PASO EL INCIDENTE? QUEREMOS ESOS REPORTES. Y SE LO ESTOY PIDIENDO PBLICAMENTE, PORQUE ESO FUE INTENCIONAL. YA NOS QUIT SU GENTE. AHORA NOS ESTN HACIENDO-- Y SABE BIEN QUE TENEMOS TIEMPO PROBLEMAS DE ELECTRICIDAD. Y SI NO TIENE PERSONAS CAPACITADAS POR FAVOR PONGA A ALGUIEN QUE SEPA.
POR QU NOS EST PERJUDICANDO NOSOTROS? USTEDES ESTN SUBIENDO A LAS REDES SOCIALES COSAS QUE NO TIENEN COHERENCIA.
>> MAYOR SALEH: MARLEN. AFTER IS JUDITH MESA.
>> BUENAS NOCHES. MI NOMBRE ES MARLENE YO VENGO DEL PARQUE DE FLORENCE.
BUENAS NOCHES CONCEJALES. YO TENGO EL DA DE HOY PARA EXPRESAR EL BULLY CIBERNTICO POR EL QUE ESTAMOS PASANDO LOS RESIDENTES DE LOS PARQUES MVILES YA QUE USTEDES NOS ESTN EXPONIENDO EN SUS REDES SOCIALES O CAUSANTES DEL INCIDENTE QUE PAS EL 17 DE FEBRERO.
YO FUI UNA DE LAS FAMILIAS AFECTADAS QUE ESTUVIMOS SIN LUZ POR MS DE 19 HORAS. YA QUE ESTO HA SIDO CAUSA DE LA NEGLIGENCIA Y MAL MANTENIMIENTO QUE LA CIUDAD LE HA DADO A LOS PARQUES.
YA QUE YO VENGO VIVIENDO OCHO AOS AQU EN EL PARQUE DE FLORENCE, EN LA CIUDAD DE BELL NUNCA HABA PASADO ALGO SIMILAR A LO QUE PAS ESE DA.
COMO PUEDEN DECIR QUE HUBO UNA SOBRECARGA DE LUZ CUANDO EN ESTOS PARQUES RESIDENTES QUE HAN VIVIDO POR MS DE 30 AOS.
USTEDES NOS ESTN EXPONIENDO ANTE TODO LOS RESIDENTES. NOS ESTN AFECTANDO EMOCIONAL Y MENTALMENTE, A MI, A MI FAMILIA, Y A TODOS LOS RESIDENTES QUE VIVIMOS EN LOS PARQUES YA QUE NO SLO SOMOS AFECTADOS POR EL DESALOJO DE NUESTRAS VIVIENDAS SINO TAMBIN POR EL BULLYING CIBERNTICO QUE ESTAMOS EXPERIMENTANDO A CAUSA DEL MAL MANEJAMIENTO QUE LA CIUDAD EST HACIENDO.
ES JUSTO QUE TOMEN ACCIONES Y SE PONGAN A PENSAR QUE NO SLO SOMOS AFECTADOS EMOCIONAL Y
[00:45:04]
MENTALMENTE POR TODO LO QUE USTEDES ESTAMOS HACIENDO QUE POSEEMOS EN EL TRANSCURSO DE SEIS MESES, DESDE QUE NOS LLEG LA NOTIFICACIN POR EL CUAL NOS QUIEREN DESALOJAR DE NUESTRAS VIVIENDAS.ES JUSTO QUE USTEDES TAMBIN TOMEN EN CUENTA, Y DEN EL MANTENIMIENTO ADECUADO A AMBOS PARQUES PARA QUE NADA DE ESTOS INCIDENTES SIGUEN OCURRIENDO. Y NO SE EXPONGAN COMO UNA SOBRECARGA ANTE TODOS LOS RESIDENTES YA QUE USTEDES SON LOS CAUSANTES DE TODO LO QUE EST PASANDO.
>> MAYOR SALEH: AFTER JUDITH IS NANCY MESA.
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I AM PLACING ON THE RECORD THAT SEVERAL RESIDENTS WERE PLACED ON NOTICE, BY MGR MANAGEMENT AT THE DIRECTION OF BELL'S ASSISTANT MANAGER.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, RESIDENTS WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL BE A NEW -- INCLUDING NEW PLANS AND HONORING INTERESTING AGREEMENTS AND THOSE WERE CLEAR ASSURANCES. INSTEAD OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO PAY ARE BEING SERVED AND EVICTION NOTICES. THE CITY HAS REFUSED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND REJECTED PARTIAL PAYMENTS AND FAILED TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE DOCUMENT AND FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL HARDSHIPS. AT THE SAME TIME THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN TOLD THAT NO ONE IS GETTING EVICTED THOSE TWO REALITIES CANNOT BE TRUE.
REFUSING RENT WHILE ISSUING TERMINATION NOTICES IS NOT A FRESH START. IT IS INTIMIDATION.
THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH, AND TO PROTECT VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. IF FAMILIES ARE DISPLACED UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE GOVERNING BODY AND DEMONSTRATE OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF BELL MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
ADDITIONALLY, ANA MARIA WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE DOCUMENTS YOU REQUESTED MICHAEL TO TRANSLATE FOR US. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEM.
AND WE ARE STILL WAITING ANY UPDATES ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SURVEYS THAT WERE RELEASED, THAT HAVE MADE US TARGET OF CYBER BULLYING, HARASSMENT IN OUR PARKS. AND WE STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY FEEDBACK ON WHAT HAPPENED, IF THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS HARASSING RESIDENCE AT FLORENCE VILLAGE.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT STILL AND THIS IS JUST TO SHOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT OPERATING WITH CLARITY AND ANY GOOD INTENTIONS, BECAUSE YOU GUYS KEEP ON HIDING THINGS FROM US.
AND THIS IS SHOWING THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT TRANSPARENT. THAT IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. AND YOU GUYS ARE STILL LACKING ON A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE ARE STILL REQUESTING FROM YOU GUYS.
AND WE HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN GRANTED ANY MEETINGS WITH ANY OF YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, BUENAS TARDES BROTHER SALEH. MY NAME IT IS NANCY MESA, WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING NETWORK WHERE NATIONAL COALITION OF DAY LIVING CENTERS AND WORKER CENTERS, WITH JORNALEROS -- AND A LEAGUE OF WATCHDOG AND PATROL GROUPS WHOM WE HAVE TRAINED TO BE AT THE VARIOUS CORNERS HERE AT THE -- PARK HOME DEPOT WHICH HAS BEEN A TARGET OF ICE RAIDS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. EVERYDAY I AM FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO GO OUT OF THE WAY TO SIGN UP TO DEFEND AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
BELL HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT Y'ALL, IN THE NEWS A LOT AROUND INVASION, AND I CAN STAND UP HERE, AND THE MAN A LOT OF CLARITY AND WHY YOU HAVE TAKEN POSITIONS LIKE WELCOMING COMMUNITY MEMBERS LAST MONTH WITH A SEA OF BARRICADES AND POLICE EVEN THOUGH WHEN AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING (INDISCERNIBLE), AND AT THE LAST MEETING YOUR POLICE OFFICERS WERE PLAYING WITH THEIR BILLY CLUBS AS CHILDREN AND ELDERS WERE LEAVING THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
BEYOND THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LIP SERVICE, A LOT OF HIGHLY
[00:50:01]
PRODUCED VIDEOS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF Y'ALL'S STAND ON IMMIGRATION WHERE YOU STAND WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. WHAT WE HAVE YET TO SEE IS ACTUAL ANSWERS AND ACTUAL ACTION.UNDERLINING THAT IS THE LA COUNTY COALITION FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HELD SMALLER COMMUNITIES AND ALSO LA TO IMPLEMENT CENTURY POLICIES -- AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE WE ARE ONE OF THE MAIN ARCHITECTS OF THE CALIFORNIA VALUES ACT.
WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK IS AS A COUNCIL WE NEED LESS PROMISES AND NEED MORE ACTION. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF LA, CITY OF HUNTINGTON PARK, CITY OF (INDISCERNIBLE) ANTEDATED CITY OF EL MONTE IS ALSO WORKING ON ITS CENTURY POLICY, AND WILL WORK WITH VARIOUS CITIES ON WHAT TO DO TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO SEE LOSS ON THE BOOKS THAT PROTECT IMMIGRANTS, THAT COULD BE CENTURY POLICY FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
HUNTINGTON PARK HAS DONE THAT.
YOU HAVE BEEN VERY DISCONNECTED FROM REALITY BUT BELL AND THE COMMUNITY ONE THE TOP 10 IN ICE KIDNAPPINGS AND -- IS NUMBER TWO.
THAT CITY POLICY. THERE ARE REPORTS-- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE RAMADAN PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN THE SPEAKER IS CLARISSA.
>> PLEASE STICK TO YOUR VALUES.
>> MAYOR SALEH: AFTER CLARISSA IS BEATRICE GONZALES.
>> THE PEOPLE OF BELL ARE NOT A GAME OF MONOPOLY; ON JANUARY 14 THE CITY PROPOSED TO SELL -- A SHADED CORRUPT STATE COMPANY THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED AND SUED THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY -- FOR VIOLATING HEALTH VIOLATIONS SAFETY LAWS AND TENANT PROTECTION LAWS.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW SHADY AND FUCKED UP YOU HAVE TO BE IN ORDER TO GET THE STATE INVOLVED AT THAT LEVEL AND THE PERSON WHO INFORMED US WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE HPC COUNCILMEMBER NANCY MATISSE (SOUNDS LIKE). THE FIRST NAME THAT CAME OUT. IT IS ONLINE AND YET HERE IS THE CITY OF BELL TRYING TO SCREW OVER FAMILIES LIVING IN THAT PROPERTY, IS A PROPERTY THAT YOUR REALTOR, LUIS VASQUEZ IS A QUOTE FROM THE WEBSITE, TENANTS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE SALE AND NOT TO BE DISTURBED OR TO SHOW THEIR HOMES.
AS NEIGHBORS WE OURSELVES VISIT THE TENANTS ON THESE PROPERTIES. NOT ONE OF THEM KNEW THAT THE CITY WAS SELLING IT. WE TOLD THEM OUT OF GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE THOSE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.
THE RESIDENT OF ANY OF THE CITY-OWNED (INDISCERNIBLE) SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ON ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH PROPERTY EXCHANGE. NONE OF THIS BEHIND THE SCENES AND SHADINESS; ONLY CORRUPT, SHADY PAPER HAVE BROKEN PROMISES AGAINST THEIR OWN RESIDENCE.
CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER HAVE PROVEN TO BE INCOMPETENT AND UNTRUSTWORTHY. HOW CAN WE ACT IN GOOD FAITH WHEN YOU (INDISCERNIBLE).
AGAIN WE SPOKE TO THEM THIS WEEK ONCE WE SAW THE AGENDA.
NONE OF THEM KNEW THEY WERE BUYING THE PROPERTY OR HAD ANY INTEREST IN THEM.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH? MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOT BEING DISPLACED OR BEING EVICTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME REDEVELOPMENT PLAN? AGAIN YOU LACK TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY AND YOU ARE ACTING AS DICTATED, OVER PEOPLE'S LIFE AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. Y'ALL ARE OUT HERE WHEN YOU ARE BROKE AND YET THESE PROPERTIES ARE OVER $1 MILLION.
WE WENT AND SPOKE -- NONE OF THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS FOR SALE.
AND WHENEVER THERE IS INTEREST IN THIS PROPERTY, IN RELATION TO THE CITY, HOW CAN YOU ACT IN GOOD FAITH TO THEM? ARE YOU GOING TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH? NO. NOT JUST AFFECTING THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, BUT AFFECTING ALL THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE HERE AND THROUGH THIS MESS CREATED IT HAS SHOWN THAT YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN THESE TENANTS AT ALL.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER IS BEATRICE GONZALEZ.
[00:55:03]
GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME IS BEATRICE GONZALEZ, I AM A REGISTERED NOTE AND A PROUD MEMBER OF SEAU 721 (SOUNDS LIKE), HERE TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS OF GAY AND FLORENCE MOBILE HOME PARKS AND PLEAD TO RECONSIDER YOUR PLANS TO DISPLACE ALL OF THESE FAMILIES. I CONTINUED TO EMPHASIZE THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS UNFOLDED IN THIS COMMUNITY A DIRECTOR CORRELATED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM SHOCKED AT THE LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE FROM THE CITY AS A PROPERTY MANAGER. I NEED TO EMPHASIZED THAT NOT HAVING ELECTRICITY AND PROPER SEWAGE SYSTEMS ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THEM STRAIGHTEN MORE EFFORTS TO SMEAR AND BLAME THE RESIDENTS OF THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, INSTEAD OF FINDING SOLUTIONS. I ASKED LAST MONTH OF THE CITY CAN INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE LA COUNTY RENTS RELIEF PROGRAM, AND YOU HAVE FAILED TO INFORM THE PROGRAM. NOT ONLY HAVE YOU FAILED TO INFORM YOU OF THE PUBLIC YOU HAVE FAILED TO COMMIT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR SALEH: NEXT SPEAKER IS LUZ MESA.
PRIMERO QUIERO DECIR A ANA MARIA QUE EL DINERO DEL 2020 FUE A PAGAR PAGOS.
PERO MICHAEL DIJO EN EL PARQUE O NO FUE LA PRIMER -- QUE HICIERON PARA NOSOTROS, DIJO QUE ESE DINERO-- ALGUIEN LE PREGUNT-- ESE DINERO LO METIMOS EN EL PARQUE ERNESTO, Y EN LAS CASITAS NO SE DE CULES.
Y SI USTEDES QUIEREN VER SE GRAB TODA LA JUNTA. AUNQUE USTEDES LO HICIERON CON LA INTENCIN DE HACERLA ALL PARA QUE NO SE GRABARA. PERO SE GRAB TODA LA JUNTA. Y ESO CONTEST MICHAEL. QUE ESO HABAN HECHO, METERLO EN EL PARQUE ERNESTO.
YO PREGUNT EN QUE SE HABA GASTADO, Y SI HABAN HECHO ALGO NUEVO. DIJO QUE NI SIQUIERA LA ALFOMBRA MUGROSA HABAN QUITADO DE ESE PARQUE. NO E IDO A MIRAR. NO S SI ES CIERTO DE MICHAEL O NO.
Y NO SE-- USTEDES NO VAN A LAVAR A LA LAVANDERA COMO NOSOTROS-- NO HAY AGUA CALIENTE. USTEDES LA QUITARON.
NO TENEMOS AYUDA NI DE LAS PAISANAS, DE LAS LATINAS QUE ESTN ALL SENTADAS. NO TENEMOS AYUDA. DE ALI MENOS, PROTEGE A SU GENTE QUIZ PERO NOSOTROS NO PORQUE SE VE.
AUNQUE ME VOLTES A VER, PIENSAS QUE QU ESTOY DISCRIMINANDOTE. NO TE ESTOY DISCRIMINANDO, PERO PROTEGES A TU GENTE. NOS ESTS HACIENDO A UN LADO. NOS ESTS ECHANDO NO NADA MS DE LAS CASAS SINO DE LA CIUDAD, PORQUE TE ESTOS VAMOS. QUIZS TU GENTE, TU FAMILIA, ELLOS TIENEN DINERO PARA PAGAR ALGO MS DE LO QUE T NECESITAS. NOSOTROS NO LO TENEMOS.
POR ESO NOS QUIERES ECHAR DE AQU. PORQUE NO TE SERVIMOS MUCHO. T NECESITAS DINERO. Y USTEDES SON LATINAS, IGUAL QUE NOSOTROS. PERO NO TENEMOS NINGUNA PROTECCIN DE USTEDES.
>> ME DUELE DECIR... ESTAMOS DESESPERADAS, ENFERMAS. PERO USTEDES YO SE QUE NO LES IMPORTA. MUCHO MENOS A MICHAEL PORQUE L EST FELIZ QUERIENDO NO SACAR. CADA VEZ QUE HACE UNA JUNTA NOS REFRIEGA, QUE NOS VAMOS A TENER QUE IR. EN CADA VEZ QUE HACE LA JUNTA.
Y USTEDES, VOLTEO Y LAS VEO A TODAS. NADIE HACE NADA POR NOSOTRAS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: GRACIAS POR SU COMENTARIO. NEXT SPEAKER IS GERARDO ZUIGA. AFTER THAT IS KARINA GASLM. (SOUNDS LIKE).
[01:00:06]
GERARDO ZUIGA, ALSO A CITY COMMISSIONER HERE AT BELL. ON FRIDAY I DID A CAREER PRESENTATION TO THE KIDS, RECOMMENDED TO THE KIDS TO GO THERE AND (INDISCERNIBLE) UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GUYS MISSED IT, THE EL BARRIO FOUNDATION, A GREAT THING. NOT EVERYBODY FOLLOWS YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA.THESE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS ARE CRUCIAL THEY PROMOTE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PICKING UP TRASH BY HAND. PLEASE ATTEND THIS.
THESE ARE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES.
SPEAKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL, IF IN BAD FAITH YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR HAVE NOT SEEN AN UPDATE, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THE NEW FORMAT OF THE CITY OF BELL WEBSITE. SOCIAL MEDIA IT IS KING, IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE UPDATES IN GENERAL ABOUT THE RELOCATION PLAN. VOTE NO ON THE RELOCATION PLAN.
THROUGH TALKING WITH THESE RESIDENTS, AND REALIZING WHAT IS GOING ON, THE CAMPAIGN PROMISE WAS TO PROTECT THEM.
ONE RESIDENT RELOCATED IS ONE TOO MANY.
>> MAYOR SALEH: KARINA GASLUM.
>> GOOD EVENING. I REALIZE THE CITY IS TRYING TO BUY -- ALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC USE.
IF THE OWNER DOES NOT WANT TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THE CITY CAN TWIST THEIR HAND. THE REASON THEY WANT TO ACQUIRE THIS. WHY DO YOU WANT TO BUY THESE PARCELS OF LAND? YOU'RE GOING TO USE THEM FOR COMMERCIAL USES? IN ADDITION, WITH THE CITY BE PARTING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THESE PROPERTIES, I BELIEVE THESE PROPERTIES HAVE (INDISCERNIBLE) YOU PLAN ON PROVIDING THEM WITH EVICTION NOTICES, AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE? BECAUSE THESE ARE THE INTENDED PROTECTIONS OF THE LOS ANGELES CONSUMER AFFAIRS. ARE YOU GOING TO PROVIDE THEM THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT STATED IN THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE? THAT IS ALL I WANT TO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT YOU ARE HERE TO PROTECT, SERVE, AND REPRESENT THE RESIDENCE OF BELL, NOT THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR SALEH: NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA FLORES.
SEOR MICHAEL. NO ESTUVO EN LA JUNTA PASADA, LES TRAJE MI BILL PARA QUE SE DIERAN CUENTA DE QUE NO PAGAMOS LO QUE EL SEOR DICE, PAGAMOS MS, PERO ES LO QUE PODEMOS PAGAR. SU REPORTE NOS ESTN AFECTANDO COMO NO
[01:05:01]
TIENEN IDEA. USTEDES ESTN CANSADOS DE ESCUCHARNOS Y USTEDES DE QUE ESTEMOS AQU.YO HE CAMBIADO A MIS HIJOS CUATRO VECES Y AHORA LES VUELVO A DECIR QUE NOS VOLVEMOS A CAMBIAR. ¿OTRA VEZ? VENGO DEL ESTE, VENGO DE DOWNTWON Y AHORA AQU. ¿POR QU? PORQUE LAS RENTAS ESTN POR LOS CIELOS. SI YO LLEGU AQU ES PORQUE ES LO QUE PODA PAGAR. SU REPORTE A MI ME TIENE MAL. NO PUEDO HACER MIS ACTIVIDADES DE MAM, ACUSNDONOS DE QUE SOMOS LOS CAUSANTES DE UN INCENDIO EN LA LAVANDERA.
QU HAGO? ESTOY BIEN DONDE ESTOY. USTEDES SE SIENTEN ATACADOS. NOSOTROS NO SOMOS POLTICOS, SOMOS PADRES NORMALES. IMAGINEN LLEGAR TODOS LOS DAS DEL TRABAJO CANSADO Y CRRELE, A LA JUNTA DEL CONCILIO. LA REUBICACIN A MI ME EST AFECTANDO MUCHO, IMAGNENSE A LAS PERSONAS QUE HAN VIVIDO AQU 30 AOS. YO TRES AOS. ELLOS LOS PUSIERON A USTEDES PARA PROTEGERLOS Y AHORA LOS QUIEREN ECHAR PARA AFUERA.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. LAST NAME BOWERS.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY ADMINISTRATORS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
LAST MEETING WE MISSED YOU ALL.
I AM A RESIDENT AND MY NAME IS CONCHIE BOWERS, I AM A RESIDENT FROM FLORENCE MOBILE PARK AND I AM HERE TO STATE FOR THE RECORD HOW THIS PROPOSED CLOSURE AND RELOCATION PLAN IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED ME AND MY FAMILY. CURRENTLY I AM A WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO BETTER AND SAFE HOUSING AVAILABLE TO ME THAN THE HOME I CURRENTLY LIVE IN, AND I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WHEN THE RELOCATION IMPACT REPORT COMES, AND BECOMES AVAILABLE, I GUARANTEE YOU ALL OF YOU, IT WILL NOT REFLECT THE REAL BARRIERS FAMILIES LIKE MINE, HIGH RENTS, INCOME REQUIREMENTS, FIRST AND LAST MONTH CHECKS, THE STATE SCRUTINIZES PUBLICATION STANDARDS THAT THEY WILL BE FACING AS MYSELF.
EVEN IF I FIND A UNIT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THOSE HIGHER MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
RELOCATION FOR ME DOES NOT MEAN OPPORTUNITY. IT MEETS FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND POSSIBLE HOMELESSNESS, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS FACING HERE.
FROM BOTH (INDISCERNIBLE). I AM ALSO TO DEFINE THE SITUATIONS AFFECTING THE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY. I AM UNDER CONSTANT STRESS AND ANXIETY AS YOU CAN HEAR IN MY VOICE.
MY BELOVED SON FEELS THAT UNCERTAINTY AS WELL AND IS EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL DISTRESS FOR THE FEAR OF LOSING OUR HOME. IT IS NOT 100% BUT 100 TIMES
[01:10:17]
100 IMPACTING OUR HEALTH AND DAILY LIVES. OUR ENTIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM IS HERE.UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS OUR HOME.
ALSO IT IS OUR ESTABLISHED AMAZING ABILITY, THE RELOCATION IMPACT REPORT MAY LIST AVAILABLE UNITS BUT IT DOES NOT MEASURE THE LOSS OF STABILITY, COMMUNITY TIES A MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH IMPACT. I'M ALSO DECLARING THAT MOVING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WILL HARM SURROUNDING SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE ARE NOT JUST RESIDENTS. WE ARE ALSO CUSTOMERS. WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND IF WE ARE FORCED OUT MANY BUSINESSES WILL STRUGGLE OR CLOSE. THE IMPACT GOES BEYOND OUR PARK FOR THOSE REASONS. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE NO TO THE RELOCATION. VOTE NO TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF MOBILE RESIDENCE AND VOTE YES TO PRESERVE OUR MOBILE HOME PARKS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP.
>> MAYOR SALEH:WE NOW MOVE TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE EXPECTATIONS.
[Mayor and City Council Communications ]
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION STARTING ON MY RIGHT COUNCILMAN ALICIA ROMERO.>> COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO: THE QUESTION WAS RAISED EARLIER ON WHAT IS BEING PLANNED TO BE BUILT ON THE --- PROPERTY AND FOR A PROJECT THIS BIG, IT HAS TAKEN OVER A DECADE TO ACQUIRE THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE. IT WILL BE A PROCESS. WE WILL INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE INPUT AS TO WHAT-- BECAUSE IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE CONSUMERS, THE CUSTOMERS TO VISIT THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE, WE REALLY WANT COMMUNITY INPUT AS TO WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE THERE, WHAT KIND OF RESTAURANTS AND WHAT KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE BELL DESERVES TO HAVE A VERY NICE DOWNTOWN.
MANY YEARS AGO I GREW UP HERE SINCE THE 70S, ATLANTIC HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES.
WE HAD THEATERS DOWN GAGE AVE., WE HAVE NONE. WE STILL HAVE ONE THEATER BUILDING BUT WE LOST THEATERS.
SO OVER THE YEARS, THE COMMUNITY CHANGED; BUSINESSES CAME AND WENT AND SO NOW THIS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS AND THE REGION HAVE ANOTHER PLACE TO GO TO AND NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE CITY SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SATURDAY WORKSHOPS WHERE WE WILL INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE WHAT THEY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE...
>> MAYOR SALEH: YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. PLEASE DO NOT INTERRUPT THE COUNCIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO: SO TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, PRIVATE OWNERS CAN SELL THEIR PROPERTY SO WE HAVE BEEN... WE ARE CAUSALLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH BUYING AND SELLING PROPERTY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC DEVELOP END OF THE CITY. SO WE ARE INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR INPUT. BECAUSE IT IS-- WHATEVER BUSINESS DOES COME HERE, IT IS FOR ALL OF US. SO WHEN IS OUR FIRST SATURDAY WORKSHOP?
>> COUNCILWOMAN... THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT WILL BE IN APRIL. I'M NOT CONFIRM THE EXACT DATE. IT WILL BE A SATURDAY IN APRIL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO: THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FLORES: NOTHING TO REPORT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: VICE-MAYOR ARROYO?
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: NOTHING TO REPORT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA?
>> COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA: A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK WE WILL LOOK INTO WHETHER THE COMMENTS WERE DISABLED IN THE WEBSITE.
WE HAVE TO PUT THEM BACK ON BECAUSE IT IS A SEMI-PUBLIC FORUM. IN TERMS OF THE MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD-- THE BELL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS I HAVE BEEN
[01:15:01]
FOR HERE FOR 15 YEARS, ALWAYS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AND THAT IT IS NOT CHANGE AND IF YOU FIND IT HELPFUL TO PUT IT ON INSTAGRAM TO REMIND THEM IT IS HAPPENING, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN.IN TERMS OF THE IMMIGRATION STUFF, AS AN ATTORNEY I AM I AM REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE I AM DISAPPOINTED QUITE HONESTLY WITH THE LAWS WE HAVE IN PLACE.
IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, I AM RESPONDING BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE NEW LAWS, THE VALUES ACT, ETC., AS A COUNCIL. PERSONALLY AS AN ATTORNEY I STRUGGLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WE HAVE. I UPHOLD THE LAWS AND TOOK AN OATH TO PROTECT THE LAWS, YET WE HAVE THE SAME LAWS THAT ARE NOT PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY WAY THEY SHOULD AND TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, DEMOCRACY IS FAILING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS FAILING.
AND WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS SO I HAVE CHOSEN TO DO MORE OF AN EDUCATION COMPONENT IT IS VERY EASY FOR ME TO SAY, "HEY LET'S PASS THIS LAW." BUT IF IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY VALIDITY OR PROTECTION IT DOES NOT HELP ANY.
SO MY DESIRE QUITE HONEST AND THIS IS WHAT I STARTED, I I BELIEVE IN EDUCATION AND ME BELIEVE IN HAVING COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. I STARTED DISTRIBUTING THESE CARDS; I DID A COUPLE OF VIDEOS WHERE WE EDUCATE EACH OTHER SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO. BECAUSE WE CAN'T NECESSARILY RELY ON ...
>> MAYOR SALEH: PLEASE DO NOT INTERRUPT THE COUNCIL.
>> WE HAVE ADJUSTED POSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN, AND THEN HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY PROVIDING THEIR OWN SAFETY AND CREATING SOMEWHAT OF A DEVICE AT THIS POINT IS SUCH CHAOS THAT FOLKS FEEL THERE IS NO PROTECTION AT ALL. AND SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FEEL THE WAY THAT THEY FEEL. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT-- SPEAKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES -- WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP THE CITY OF BELL SAFE.
>> MAYOR SALEH: DO NOT INTERRUPT MY COLLEAGUE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO: IT WILL BETTER SERVICE US BECAUSE THE LAWS ARE THERE. THERE ARE CERTAIN SEIZURE LAWS, FOURTH AND FIFTH AMENDMENTS, WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS NOT THERE. AND THIS-- SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE-- THREE YEARS FROM NOW IT BEHOOVES US TO PROTECT EACH OTHER. I FOR ONE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT SO THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER AS WE GO. BECAUSE I DON'T-- I DON'T IF YOU GUYS SAW THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST NIGHT-- I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO END FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. I DON'T THINK THAT OUR SITUATION IS GOING TO BE ANY BETTER.
UNITY WE CAN DO IS PROTECT EACH OTHER. AND SO I WELCOME YOU TO JOIN ME AND DO THIS ESSENTIALLY EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER SO WE CAN PREDICT EACH OTHER. SO WE WILL BRING FORWARD THE VALUES ACT, AND STUFF ON PAPER FOR ONE AND NOT IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT IF AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS NOT A TOOL THAT WILL PROVIDE SAFETY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
IN TERMS OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE REQUESTED WOULD PUT THIS ON THE WEBSITE, IS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH. WE DO THAT ...
IT IS ACCESSIBLE THERE. FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE DIFFICULT IT IS THERE, FEEL FREE. IN TERMS OF HAVING MEETINGS NO ONE HAS EVER CAN'T BE ABOUT A MEETING.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO I'M HAPPY TO MEET. UP PLEASE GO INTO THAT WEBSITE, AND BECOME INFORMED AS TO WHAT YOU CAN.
SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COMPOSITIONS FORMS ARE, ETC. AND WE ARE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION SO IT WILL BE IN THE RELOCATION. NOW DECISION WOULD BE MADE UNLESS EVERYONE HAS BEEN INFORMED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING. THAT I PROMISE AND THAT I FEEL THAT WE ARE DELIVERING ON.
SECONDLY, IT KIND OF UPSETS ME WHEN I SEE SIGNS WITH "CORRUPTION." AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR 15 YEARS WORKING HARD TO RESTORE GOVERNMENT HERE, I THINK IT IS OKAY TO BE UPSET AT POSITIONS THAT THEY COUNCIL MAKES. I THINK IT IS OKAY TO BE IN DISAGREEMENT. BUT WHEN YOU THROW OUT THE WORD "CORRUPTION" IN LIGHT OF OUR HISTORY I FEEL YOUR CONTINUING TO PERPETUATE A SITUATION THAT IS NOT FAIR FOR THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE. YOU KNOW, OUR WEBSITE IS BRAND-NEW. WE HAVE REVAMPED IT SO IT IS EASIER TO NAVIGATE. IF IT IS NOT DOING ITS JOB, THEN WE CAN WORK ON MAKING IT BETTER.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ALL RIGHT. EACH ONE OF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK. EACH ONE OF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK. NOW, CAN YOU LET HER SPEAK? THERE IS NO Q&A. COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE ... WE HAD Q&A AT
[01:20:02]
THE MOBILE HOME PARKS. YOU GUYS HAD YOUR Q&A.LOS COMENTARIOS ESTN DESACTIVADOS.
(AUDIO LOSS) ... YOU GUYS, PLEASE LET ME SPEAK. I HAVE ADDRESSED YOUR QUESTION. DESACTIVADOS...
PARA PODER ABRIR DURANTE LA PANDEMIA... UN (INDISCERNIBLE) SUFICIENTE PARA CUBRIR...
COMENTANDO LA SITUACIN DE INMIGRACIN, UNA SEORITA DIJO QUE EL CONSEJO NO HA HECHO LEYES PARA PROTEGER A LA COMUNIDAD. COMO ABOGADA YO CREO EN LAS LEYES, PERO ESTAMOS VIVIENDO UNA SITUACIN DONDE HAY MUCHA VIOLENCIA Y CONFUSIN. LO QUE PODEMOS HACER ES PROTEGERNOS UNOS A OTROS Y ESTOY DISTRIBUYENDO CARTELES.
INCLUSO EL IR A LAS CORTES NO NOS GARANTIZAN PROTECCIN. DOS PERSONAS FUERON ASESINADAS BRUTALMENTE POR EL GOBIERNO FEDERAL. NOSOTROS ESTAMOS HACIENDO TODO LO POSIBLE PARA QUE LA CIUDAD E BELL EST SEGURA. ¿DE QU SIRVE QUE LA CIUDAD DE BELL ES SANTUARIO CUANDO NOH HAY PROTECCIN? NO HAY DERECHO DE ENTRAR A UNA CASA SIN PERMISO O VIOLAR LOS DERECHOS DE UNA PERSONA. HASTA DENTRO DE 3 AOS... LA INFORMACIN QUE QUIEREN EST EN ESPAO Y EN INGLS EN LA WEB, EST A SU DISPOSICIN.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ARE YOU DONE COUNCILWOMAN?
>> MAYOR SALEH: MICHAEL, COMEDY STATED THEY DON'T HAVE HOT WATER, CAN YOU LOOK INTO IT FOR PEOPLE?
>> YES MAYOR. I MADE A NOTE ABOUT NO HOT WATER, IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM.
>> MAYOR SALEH: IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO IT FOR MY PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITY CLEANUP, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP. IT IS EVERY LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE MORE OFTEN. I HAD OTHER COMMITMENTS, BUT DEFINITELY WILL SEE YOU AT ANOTHER ONE COMING UP.
>> QUESTION CANONICITY MANAGER GIVES A REPORT ON WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MOBILE HOME PARK? SO THAT THEY KNOW. BECAUSE THE ELECTRICITY IS DOWN.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE NOW MOVE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
[City Manager Report ]
GIVEN THE TIME I WILL TRY TO BE QUICK WITH MY REMARKS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AS COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA SAID, THE SPANISH VERSION OF THE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE MOBILE HOME PARK RELOCATION PLAN. WE HAVE COPIES OF THE PRESENTATION. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT. PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE.
BUT THAT REPORT HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTE IT FOR OVER 30 DAYS NOW.
[01:25:02]
ALSO, THERE ARE COMMENTS ABOUT MONIES OR FUNDS SPENT AS IT RELATES TO THE MOBILE HOME PARKS. WHICH INCLUDED ALL OF THE CITY'S EXPENDITURES FOR THE MOBILE HOME PARK IN OUR LAST SCHOOL YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA ASKED FOR THAT, THAT WAS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE HAD TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND PROVIDED PRESENTATIONS. THE MOBILE HOME PARKS DO NOT GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUE. THE SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENTS IN THE MONEY THE CITY IS SPENDING OUR OWN REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE RELATED ISSUES NOT BEAUTIFICATION AND PREVENTS.THE MOBILE HOME PARKS ARE LEGALLY-OWNED SEPARATELY FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND OWNED BY THE BELL COMMUNITY HOUSING FUND. SO THE CITY HAS TO USE THOSE TO MAKE A PROMISE NOT GENERAL FUND MONIES AND THAT FUND DOES NOT GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUE FOR AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS UNFORTUNATELY. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT-- SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT-- FOR REPAIRS AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE MOBILE HOME PARKS.
THAT INFORMATION IS PUBLIC. IT IS ON OUR WEBSITE... SEVERAL PRESENTATION AND SPEAKING ABOUT THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, I WILL TALK ABOUT THE MOST RECENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, A LARGE MAIN PANEL AT THE MOBILE HOME PARK. THIS WAS DUE BECAUSE THE PANEL SURGED; THERE WAS TOO MUCH POWER GOING TO THOSE PANELS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE MOBILE HOME PARKS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY AT THE MOBILE HOME PARK.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A FIRE COUPLE MONTHS AGO DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE BEING CHARGED, AND ILLEGAL WIRING OCCURRING. AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PARK BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER-- THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HANDLE THE OPERATIONS AND THE CURRENT CAPABILITY AS IT IS TODAY.
THE CURRENT REPAIRS ARE BEING WORKED ON. THEY ARE CURRENTLY TO MY UNDERSTANDING 25 HOMES THAT WE HAVE HAD TEMPORARY POWER ASSIGNED TO. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING EMERGENCY REPAIRS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY EDIFICATION AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL, IS OR EMERGENCY REPAIRS FOR THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $180,000, NOT PROGRAM FANS BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE. AND WE WILL BRING THAT ITEM BACK TO THE COUNCIL TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO IDENTIFY FUNDS WITHOUT.
AS IT RELATES TO ICE, I WANT TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY IS DOING. THE CITY RECENTLY I HAD A FREE WORKSHOP, OUR THIRD FREE WORKSHOP. LAST WORKSHOP WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 20 LAST FRIDAY. WE DID NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION BUT THESE WORKSHOPS ARE ADVERTISED ON SOCIAL...
>> MAYOR SALEH: PLEASE DO NOT INTERRUPT THE SPEAKER.
>> THIS WORKSHOP SEVEN ADVERTISE IN SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH IT IS A HUGE PLATFORM TO REJECT MEDICINE WE HAVE HAD THREE OF THESE WORKSHOPS. IN ADDITION THE CITY HAS BEEN DELIVERING MEALS FREE FROM THE RESIDENTS.
WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOOD TO RESIDENTS DUE TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
RECENTLY WE PUT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT IMMIGRATION RIGHTS AND HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY PROTECT YOURSELF. THE PASSED RED CARD, EVERY POLICE OFFICER HAS RED CARDS, IN EVERY PARKING FACILITY AS WELL AND JUST TODAY WE POSTED ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON REPORTING ICE TO THE BELL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REPORTING IT TO THE CALIFORNIA DIST. ATTY.'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE HOMELAND DEPARTMENT SECURITY.
AND SO WE HAVE THAT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. IF RESIDENTS SEE ICE PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE.
IT IS IMPORTANT. RECENTLY THERE WAS A FALSE SIDING OF ICE IN BELL TWO DAYS AGO. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH ACCURATE
[01:30:01]
INFORMATION, SO THEY CAN REPORT ICE IF THEY SEE ICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE WAS A FALSE REPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. IT WAS COMPLETELY FALSE. WE VERIFIED THAT INFORMATION MULTIPLE TIMES.SO WE POSTED TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, RESIDENTS TO REPORT ICE. I CALL THAT BAD OR POOR TREATMENT OF ICE OF BELL RESIDENTS. AND THAT INFORMATION IT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM. YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AS WELL AND LASTLY MAYOR THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF ERRONEOUS COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PLACEMENT REGARDING PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
I NEED TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND SOME SPEAKERS ON THE PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO ACQUISITION AND/OR DISPOSITION THE SALE OF PROPERTY. THE PRIVATE PROPERTIES THAT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT FOR SALE ARE PRIVATE PROPERTIES. THE CITY CANNOT LEGALLY NOTIFY RESIDENTS A PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY, WHAT THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY INTEND TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY.
THE CITY OF BELL CANNOT DO THAT. THERE IS NO LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BY THE CITY.
PRIVATE OWNERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO NOTIFY RESIDENTS OF ANYTHING.
THE PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN PURCHASED AT THIS TIME.
THEREFORE THERE WILL BE NO NOTIFICATION. SO JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS' EDIFICATION THE CITY CANNOT MAKE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER RESIDENTS INFORM OTHERS WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE PROPERTY.
AS IT RELATES TO CITY-OWNED PROPERTY AND THE CITY'S DISPOSAL OF CITY-OWNED ASSETS, THE CITY NOTIFIES RESIDENTS OF PROPERTIES WE OWN IF A PROPERTY IT IS SOLD. IF A PROPERTY IS NOT SOLD, THEN THERE IS NO NOTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND SO IT IS FALSE AND IT IS UNTRUE TO MAKE A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY DOES NOT NOTIFY OUR OWN TENANTS ONCE A PROPERTY HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO SELL.
WE ARE NOT NOTIFYING RESIDENTS OF A PROPERTY THAT WE OWN TO BE SOLD UNTIL WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO SELL THAT PROPERTY. THAT IS FALSE INFORMATION. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY THAT FOR THE RESIDENTS, SO THERE IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN TOLD.
WITHOUT MAYOR I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE-- TALKING ABOUT THE SURVEY-- THAT WE HAVE THE FIRST IN THIS REGION OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES, RAMADAN NIGHT ON MARCH 3. WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.
WE NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC HEARING.
[1. Public Hearing - Consideration to approve a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) between the City of Bell and Gentefy Holdings, LLC, for the property located at 4410 Gage Avenue. (City Council)]
ITEM 1: PUBLIC HEARING - CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (DDA) BETWEEN THE CITY OF BELL AND GENTEFY HOLDINGS, LLC, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4410 GAGE AVENUE.>> GOOD EVENING HON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS AND TONIGHT. OVER THE PAST YEAR STAFF HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH GENTEFY HOLDINGS LLC, REGARDING A FOOD CONCERT THAT WILL INCORPORATE FOOD RESTAURANT, AND AN OUTER SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR TWO PROGRAM COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE PROJECT WILL BE DEVELOPED ON THE -- CONSISTING OF AN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FOOD HALL FEATURING AN INDOOR BAR, AN INDOOR COFFEE ARTISAN VENDOR, SERVICE RESTAURANTS, AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT, AND AN ALTA RETAIL VENDOR WITH FULL CITY FOR 150-250 PATRONS.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO CREATE VISIBILITY AND SIZE, SO THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND SEE THE ACTION THAT IS GOING ON INSIDE THE BUILDING.
THE DEVELOPER WILL PURCHASE THE BUILDING AND OPEN GRASS AREA, UNDER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DDA. ALSO THE DEVELOPER WILL LEASE THE TESLA PARKING LOT OWNED BY THE CITY.
WITH US TONIGHT IS BARNEY SANTOS, WHO IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: BEFORE I LET HIM COME ON, I WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND THEN WE WILL GO ON WITH THE PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE INTO OUR MEETING.
BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE ARE THREE EMAILS THAT WERE SENT IN AS PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WILL BE PUT INTO THE RECORD.
WE WILL GO BACK TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE DISPOSITION AND DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT-- IF WE COULD KEEP
[01:35:01]
THE NOISE DOWN TO WE COULD RESTART THE MEETING, THANK YOU.IF YOU GUYS WANT TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER, YOU CAN STEP OUTSIDE AND COME BACK IN.
PUBLIC CONSIDERATION CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (DDA) BETWEEN CITY OF BELL AND GENTEFY HOLDING LLC FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4410 GAGE AVE.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WITH US TODAY AS WE HAVE BERNIE SANTOS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> MR. MAYOR AS BARNIE COMES UP AND FROM EXCITED BY THIS PROJECT. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE HAD A SIMILAR TYPE OF PROJECT. WASN'T SUCCESSFUL BUT WE ARE EXTREME EXCITED TO BRING MR. SANTOS HERE TO THE CITY OF BELL. IT WILL BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A PROJECT FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WILL COMPLEMENT THE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON. IN AND OUT, -- CAFE, AND JERSEY MIKE'S AND THE BREWERY. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 YEARS. SOMETIMES AS COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO SAID, DEVELOPMENT TAKES A LONG TIME.
DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVER TIME. IT IS YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS, YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. SANTOS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME HERE. IT'S BEEN REALLY (INDISCERNIBLE) MEETING, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVERYBODY HAS GONE THROUGH THIS. I AM A BIG PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. IT WEIGHS HEAVILY I HAVE TO PRESENT THIS TODAY. I WILL DO MY BEST.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THREE YEARS. MY NAME IS BARNEY SANTOS AS MICHAEL MENTIONED. I AM FROM THE COMMUNITY NOT FROM BELL PASSIVITY BUT RIGHT UP THE BLOCK I LIVED AT 6125 PINE AVE., GROWING UP SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WENT TO ARCHANGELS PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN, BUT ACROSS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A BLESSING THAT THIS PROJECT SORT OF CAME AND FELL IN OUR LAP THREE YEARS AGO. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS COULD BE, TAKING EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT SO WE CAN PRESENT THIS IDEA YOU, AND SEE IF WE CAN TAKE THIS AND MAKE IT INTO AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT AND HELP CATALYZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR COMPANY IS CALLED GENTEFY, WE INVEST IN TRANSFORMATION RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY PROJECT WITHIN LATINO, BLACK/BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR GOAL IS TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES FOR THIS GROUND UP APPROACH, AS EQUITABLE AS INTENTIONAL AS POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE BUILT PROJECT BEFORE. WE HAVE HAD GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH NETFLIX AND BLUE LEMMON AND DC AND ANGEL CITY, WE HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN GREAT MAGAZINES AND ARTICLES.
MOSTLY RELATED TO THIS PROJECT, BOULEVARD MARKET THAT WE OWNED-- MY WIFE AND I WITH SOME INVESTOR PARTNERS AND THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE FIVE YEARS IN AUGUST SINCE WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING. IT HAS BEEN GREAT. WE DO THIS IS A PUBLIC/ PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO AS WELL. WE PURCHASED PROPERTY FROM THE CITY AS WELL AND THANKFULLY WE WON 2022 WITH US OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND RECENTLY THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE LISTED AS BEST LATINO BUSINESS FOR LOS ANGELES, AND BOTH BUSINESSES THAT WE OWNED SEPARATELY OR ON THAT LIST WHICH IS A GREAT HONOR.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO AT 4410 GAGE AVE., WHICH IS RIGHT UP THE STREET HERE ACROSS FROM THE BREWERY, IS BILLED SORT OF THIS ELEVATED, INDOOR/ OUTDOOR COURTYARD. IT IT IS A FOOD HALL BY DEFINITION.
BUT WE DON'T REALLY IDENTIFY IT AS A FOOD HALL. WE ARE NOT A GRAND CENTRAL MARKET. NOT RODEO 72 AND ALL OF THESE BEHEMOTH PLACES ON BY FACELESS CORPORATIONS THAT ARE ENDLESS
[01:40:01]
AMOUNT OF MONEY.THIS IS A MOM-AND-POP ENDEAVOR FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE INVESTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE GREW UP IN AND WE WANT SOMETHING REALLY NICE TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE TOGETHER.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE.
AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO INVEST A LITTLE IN THE PROJECT. FOCUS ON COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING WHICH IS THE THING THAT SEPARATES US FROM ALL THE OTHER PLACES. WILL GET MORE INTO THAT IN DETAIL. FOCUS ON ARTISANAL FOOD AND DRINK OPTIONS, LIMITED SERVICE RESTAURANT BUT NOT TRYING TO PRICE TOO HIGH. A GOAL IN THE CITY OF BELL IS TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY THAT IS COMMUNITY AND WILL NOT TRY TO GENTRIFIED THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH HIGH PRICES OUR GOAL IS TO REPEAT BUSINESS FROM THE COMMUNITY NOT PEOPLE FROM THE WEST SIDE WANT TO COME INTO BELL.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, ALWAYS LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE DO THAT BY ALWAYS HAVING AFFORDABLE PRICES, GREAT FOOD OPTIONS AND QUALITY PROGRAMMING. THAT IS A BUSINESS MODEL OF BOULEVARD MARKET AND WILL CONTINUE THAT IN THE CITY OF BELL.
YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, I DON'T LOVE YOU CAN SEE, IT IS KIND OF FAR AWAY. THIS IS A SITE PLAN THAT WE HAVE ENVISIONED FOR THE SITE.
AND ALSO A BAR INSIDE AT THE BASE OF IT.
ON THE OUTSIDE WE ARE CREATING THIS BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPED COURTYARD WHERE WE WANT TO HAVE TWO CONCEPTS OUTSIDE. AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SEATING. THE WAY WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS SITE PLAN IS WHAT WE WANT TO CRAFT IT FOR PEOPLE'S BABY SHOWERS, PEOPLE'S CELEBRATIONS AND PARTIES. THINK THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND CELEBRATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF BELL IT IS A FAMILY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY THE AVERAGE AGE IS YOUNG 30S.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN EVERY HOUSEHOLD.
NOT JUST 1-2 PEOPLE BUT 3-4 PEOPLE, AND SO THEIR FAMILIES. WE WANT TO DESIGN THAT.
WE WANT TO HAVE COMMUNAL TABLES; POCKETS DESIGNED FOR SPECIAL ACTIVATIONS. AND THE FOOD IS GOING TO BE HONESTLY IMPORTANT.
YOU CAN SEE ELEMENTS OF THE DESIGN LIKE I MENTIONED IN THE PAST, THIS PAST SLIDE. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE TOUCHING ON ELEMENTS THAT ARE SORT OF THIS MODERN CONTEMPORARY MEXICAN-STYLE THAT I PERSONALLY LOVE. IT IS A MIXTURE OF CALIFORNIA COOL MIXED WITH VALLE DE GUADALUPE, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MEXICO CITY AS WELL. WE ARE USING THAT ELEMENT TO INFUSE IN THE DESIGN AS WELL.
WE ARE TAKING EVERYTHING WE LEARNED AT BOULEVARD MARKET IN THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO, AND TRYING TO APPLY THOSE LEARNINGS TO THE CITY OF BELL.
OBVIOUSLY, FOOD IS GOOD TO BE THE ANCHOR, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. SOME OF THE FOOD CONCEPTS WE ARE FLOORING...
>> MAYOR SALEH: CAN YOU GIVE ME A ...
>> MAYOR SALEH: TOME SU TIEMPO.
GO AHEAD. IT'S OKAY. THAT IS WHY I LET THEM LEAVE ON THEIR OWN PACE.
>> MAYOR SALEH: I WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO LEAVE.
>> ALSO, THE SLIDE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD.
FOOD IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS ABOUT CREATING THIS COMMUNAL FOOD AND STUFF THE COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. NOT ONLY THAT THE COMPLEMENT CITY COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WE WANT TO REPRESENT WHAT IS ALREADY HERE, AND WHAT IS MISSING AND MAYBE ADD SOME ELEMENTS OF THAT.
OBVIOUSLY MEXICAN IS IMPORTANT.
ASIAN FOOD WILL BE REALLY GOOD, PIZZA SPECIFICALLY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DETROIT STYLE PIZZA AND POSSIBLY NEAPOLITAN.
FRIED CHICKEN. MIDDLE EASTERN.
A DESSERT/ COFFEE PLACE. THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE PROCESS IT GETS A LOT MORE REFINED AND MOLDED, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON FOR THE PRODUCT AND FOOD MIX THE BOULEVARD MARKET IN BELL.
SPEAKING OF THE THINGS THAT ESSENTIALLY SEPARATE US FROM OTHER DEVELOPERS IS ONE, AS YOU KNOW DEVELOPERS ARE TRADITIONALLY IN AND OUT. THAT IS THE BUSINESS MODEL DEVELOPERS. THE COMMITMENT TO A COMMUNITY DISPENSER LITTLE MONEY, AND THEY FLIP AND LEAVE.
WHATEVER HAPPENS AFTER THEY WASH THEIR HANDS USUALLY.
WE ARE LONG-TERM DEVELOPERS. WE ARE OPERATORS. OUR GOAL IS TO STAY HERE LONG-TERM. WE WANT TO
[01:45:01]
PUT MORE ROOTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE FROM.AND SO THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS LIKELY GOAL OF MONTEBELLO, TO INFUSE EVERY ASPECT OF OURSELVES INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY THAT EXISTS, AND HELP AMPLIFY IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND WORK WITH EXISTING SUBCULTURES AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND BETTER. NOT BETTER, JUST DIFFERENT. SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING REALLY IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN MONTEBELLO IS SORT OF AN EARMARK OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE. WE ARE TRYING TO WORK-- IF YOU CAN SEE OBVIOUSLY IN THIS SLIDE, IT WAS DESIGNED BY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY, IT KIND OF TOLD THE STORY OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BOULEVARD MARKET SPACE AND THE BREWERY ACROSS AS ONE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. IN MY MIND THAT IS HOW YOU CREATE A SYNERGY, A SENSE OF PLACE. THE CITY NEEDS MORE SENSE OF PLACE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS IN THE PAST, WHAT WE'VE DONE AND PROBABLY CONTINUE TO DO MORE, WE'VE DONE MONTHLY MARKETPLACES. LIKE IN MONTEBELLO WE HAD THE AMAZING ANGEL CITY MARKET, IN THE BACK AS WELL.
WE PARTNERED WITH LULULEMON DO BLOCK PARTY ACTIVATION, FIRST TIME THAT LULU WENT INTO THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY, IT WAS GREAT TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH NETFLIX THROUGH A SERIES RELEASE FOR ONE OF THEIR SHOWS CALLED HEAD TO FIVE (SOUNDS LIKE), HAS SOME CELEBRITIES AND STARS THAT WERE THERE AS WELL. THAT WAS REALLY FUN. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. IT PUT THE CITY ON THE MAP FOR GREAT REASONS. NETFLIX AND NEVER COME OUT TO THE EAST SIDE FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD EVER DONE LIKE THAT BEFORE. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THEM STILL TO THIS DAY.
WE DO THINGS LIKE HE EASTSIDE PRIDE AND REACTIVATE THE WHOLE BLOCK AND TRY TO HAVE A 5K, WE DO POP-UP VENDORS WE HAVE QUEENS AND EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY REALLY LOVES IT IS A GREAT EVENT AND WE HOST RUN CLUB COMMUNITIES WE RUN 5KS.
WE TRY TO GIVE A PLATFORM TO EXISTING GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY WANTED A PLATFORM TO JUMP OFF FROM.
IT£S GREAT TO SEE THIS IN MONTEBELLO. BEING THERE FOR FIVE YEARS A LOT HAS HAPPENED FOR FIVE YEARS. WHEN CESAR CHAVEZ CAME IN WE ADVOCATED FOR THEM, HOPEFULLY TRYING TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE BOUGHT THE BLOCK ACROSS THE STREET, 40 OR 50 UNIT, BUILDING A MIXED USE RETAIL AND GIVING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUSINESSES THERE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE LEASING THERE, FOR THEY ARE NOT DISPLACING THEM AS WELL.
FOR US THIS IS PART OF OUR DNA.
THIS IS SORT OF LIKE OUR BUSINESS MODEL. WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS RESPONSIBLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN WE BE GOING TO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESPECT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE, AND HONOR IT.
WE ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR A CROSSWALK ON THE BOULEVARD RIGHT ACROSS FROM US. THEY WILL BE PUTTING IN THIS SIDEWALK SCRAMBLE, , AN EIGHT WAY SCRAMBLE TO SEE PASADENA OR TOKYO, A MURAL DONE BY THE SUMMER.
WE HAVE MORE BUSINESSES OPEN UP ON BOULEVARD, ALL CONNECTED TO US AND WE HELPED THEM FIND STOREFRONTS AND WORD WITH THE CITY TO GET PERMITS.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND BRING ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND IDEAS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE AS WELL; AS FAR AS THE TIME AND IS CONCERNED HONESTLY, DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY MANAGER SAID IT TAKES THREE YEARS IT TAKES ABOUT TWO YEARS TO OPEN THE DOORS. AND WHAT IT IT TAKES THAT LONG NOT TO MUCH ON OUR PART DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION BUT EDISON IS INVOLVED THAT TAKES A LONG TIME AS WELL. IT TAKES ONE YEAR JUST TO GET A SWITCH YEAR TRANSFORMER INSTALLED.
AND SO WE PLAN TO SIGN THE DDA IF THE COUNCIL APPROVED IT AND
[01:50:03]
GO THROUGH FOUR MONTHS OF TESTING -- IN THE HIGH CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT 12 MONTHS. THIS IS LAYERED APPROACH NOT JUST OUR CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS A SHELLED CONSTRUCTION WITH THE TENANTS THEMSELVES, COMING IN AND BUILDING THEIR KITCHENS AS WELL AS WE HAVE A SOFT OPENING IN THE GRAND OPENING WE HOPE TO HAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2028, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE OLYMPICS GET HERE. IT WILL BE GREAT TO COINCIDE WITH THAT AND HAVE SOME ACTIVATIONS WITH THAT AS WELL.WE ACTUALLY DO-- CURRENTLY WE HAVE AN INCUBATOR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF MONTEBELLO THAT HAS BEEN GREAT. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST INCUBATOR OF ITS KIND IN ALL OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THAT IS MY BACKGROUND ENTREPRENEURS EDUCATION MEASURED IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS MONITOR AT AN AND GRADUATES GO AROUND THE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURS IT AT COUNCIL LOS ANGELES.
OUR GOAL WAS TO BUILD AN INCUBATOR. THE KITCHEN IS A SHARED KITCHENS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE CHEFS, WHO ARE AMAZING CREATORS AND IT WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY. NO ONE HAD DONE THIS BEFORE. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS A SHARED KITCHEN AND POP-UP SUMMER DOCUMENT FARMERS MARKET.
THIS IS SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU CAN SELL TO THE PUBLIC.
AND SINCE WE OPENED WE HAVE HAD THREE GREAT SUCCESSES. NO LO (SOUNDS LIKE) HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT, TOP 10 CAJUN RESTAURANT IN LOS ANGELES. SOL RAD (SOUNDS LIKE) HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC FIGURES IN LOS ANGELES IN 2023 AND (INDISCERNIBLE) WERE VOTED THE BEST TACOS IN 2024 BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT OUT OF THE INCUBATOR CALLED BOOTS (INDISCERNIBLE), LAUNCHING A CHURRO BRANCH. HOW DO WE PROVIDE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OWN IN THE COMMUNITY? NOT JUST THIS UNEVEN BALANCE OF POWER AND OWNERSHIP.
THAT IS KIND OF THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE BOULEVARD MARKET PROJECT, AND WHAT WE ENVISION FOR THE CITY.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE KEEP THE COMMENTS SHORT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING SO THOROUGH. IN YOUR INCUBATOR, HOW DO PEOPLE APPLY TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR YOUR INCUBATOR PROGRAM?
>> IN THE MONTEBELLO PROJECT USUALLY SCOUT PEOPLE. WOULD TRY TO FIND THEM THROUGH-- IN THE PAST WE FOUND THEM THROUGH SBDC-- IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE-- A PROGRAM FROM THE SBA. SBDC IS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ARM USUALLY THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. IF SOMEONE HAS A SMALL BUSINESS LIKE A TACO CATERER OR THE (INDISCERNIBLE) PROGRAM PEOPLE COOKING OUT OF THE HOUSE IS TO JUMPSTART. FOR BELL, WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN INCUBATOR PROGRAM, POSSIBLY WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A FOOD TRUCK AND NEEDS TO MOVE TO A RESTAURANT.
THE GOAL IS TO ALWAYS DEEPEN OUR REGION AND FIGURE OUT WHO OTHERS CAN WORK WITH LOCALS. WHO ELSE WE CAN TALK TO, WHO MIGHT BE GOOD RESOURCES. YOUR NETWORKS, THE CITY'S NETWORK AND ALL THAT STUFF IS REALLY HELPFUL.
WE DON'T HAVE PER SE AND APPLICATION PROCESS WE TRY TO VET EVERYBODY BASED ON SOME SORT OF CRITERIA YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. THINGS THAT I KNOW FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BEING ENTREPRENEUR AND TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IS SOMEBODY COACHABLE? SOMEBODY RESILIENT? THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF START UP CAPITAL? DID YOU HAVE A PROVEN CONCEPT OR ENTITY THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH? THOSE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT.
I KNOW I GIVE YOU A LONG ANSWER.
>> YOU ARE THOROUGH, THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING?
[01:55:05]
>> YOU MENTIONED THE TIMELINE, KIND OF FREAKED OUT, TWO YEARS?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND SO DEVELOPMENT TAKES A LONG TIME AND I GET THAT. WE HAVE WORKED-- WILL YOU SET GETTING THIS BEFORE THE OLYMPICS WE ENVISION THIS ORDER DEVELOPERS WE ENVISIONED A FULL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT NEXT 4-5 UNITS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS?
>> MY GOAL IS TO BE FULLY OPEN.
I DON'T WANT TO DO A TIERED APPROACH. MY GOAL IS TO GET IT ALL DONE.
>> MAYOR SALEH: SO YOU'RE GOING TO OPEN IT WITH EVERYTHING COMPLETED. NO TIERS.
>> NOT PHASED. NOT AN INSIDE PHASE AND AN OUTSIDE PHASE. I THINK HAVING A TIERED APPROACH IT HURTS; IF YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THE BUILDING AND THE WHOLE EXTERIOR IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, IT RUINS THE EXPERIENCE. YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE. IT IMPACTS NEGATIVELY.
IF YOU ARE OFF THE GATE WITH A SOLID ROSTER OF TENANTS READY TO GO IT LEAVES A STRONG FOOT FORWARD. I SAY THAT OUT OF EXPERIENCE.
BOULEVARD MARKET, WE OPENED DURING COVID. I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT. IT IS DIFFICULT. WE DID NOT OPEN FULLY AND WE OPEN WITH HALF OF THE TENANTS AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID IT WAS A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE. EXPECTED EVERYONE TO BE OPENED ALREADY. IT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE OPENED FOR IT TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL.
SO I REMEMBER THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND I KNOW HOW NEGATIVELY IT IMPACTED US.
>> FOR TWO YEARS, HOW MANY UNITS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SIX, AS THE PLAN SUGGESTS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE NOT OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM PLEASE COME UP, STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME PLUS YOUR COMMENTS. MIND YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
>> NOT THE ONLY ITEM I WANT TO SPEAK ON BUT I'M GLAD I'M HERE FOR IT.
I AM SUPER EXCITED. I AM GLAD THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIM EXIST WHERE THEY ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY HELP DEVELOP MORE ENTREPRENEURS.
I KNOW HE SAID IT IS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS, AND PEOPLE YOU SAY ARE USUALLY HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A SAINT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY CAN HELP TO SPEED IT UP. I HAVE BEEN TO ONE IN MONTEBELLO. I'M I£M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PROJECT COMING UP HERE I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY, WHEN THE PROJECT IS -- THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION-- BUT WHEN THAT PROJECT IS READY TO FULL EFFECT, EVERY WE CAN HAVE THE OPEN STREET, THE SAME TYPE OF EVENT AROUND THE GRAND OPENING.
THAT WAS IT BUT I'M REALLY, I£M REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT. ANYBODY REFLECTED SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, STAGER FIRST AND LAST NAME PLEASURE COMMENT.
ACTUALLY MY RESEARCH THESIS WAS ON GENTRIFICATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF IRVINE, CALIFORNIA. AND DID RESEARCH AT UCLA, SON AND SON, AND I STUDIED GENTRIFICATION. I STUDIED (INDISCERNIBLE) WHEN HE OPENED HIS BREWERY. I KNOW WE I JUST MET THIS PERSON. I HOPE HE REALIZES THE SITUATION THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
THERE IS A LOT OF DISPLACEMENT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THERE IS ALREADY SHADINESS AS TO HOW THE CITY IS HANDLING IT.
>> MAYOR SALEH: IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
>> IT IS THE RESULT OF THE RELEVANT. GENTRIFICATION IS BASICALLY BROWN GENTRIFICATION.
GENTRIFICATION IS A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT DOES LEAD TO MASS DISPLACEMENT. THAT IS WHAT WE SEE HERE IN BELL.
[02:00:10]
CAPITALISM IN ACTION AND CANNOT HELP HEARING THE PRESENTATION WITHOUT SEEING THESE RAMIFICATIONS WHICH WE SEE NOW.IT SURPRISES ME THAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING THIS HEAVY DEVELOPMENT. JUST BECAUSE IT IS LATINO OWNED IS STILL WITHIN THE LARGEST SCALE OF THE SPACE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WE SEE THE NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS OF DENSIFICATION IS MASS DISPLACEMENT, THE SELLING OF PEOPLE'S HOMES, EVICTIONS AND WE ARE SEEING THAT HAPPENING NOW. SO IT SEEMS TONE-DEAF TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SITUATION AND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE ROOM.
YOU GET SUBMITTED THAT YOU HAVE NO POLICIES IN PLACE TO HOLD THE CITY OF POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
THERE ARE ICE COLLABORATIONS AND NOT ONLY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING FALSE PROMISES TO RESIDENTS WITHIN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY TONE DEAF AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. AND I JUST HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND AND HEAR WHAT PEOPLE SAID TODAY.
>> MAYOR SALEH: IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL WITH YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE -- THIS IS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU TO GO AROUND WITH THE MIC.
PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
>> IF YOU WANT TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY YOU HAVE TO ...
>> MAYOR SALEH: HE CAN HEAR YOU. PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
>> I HOPE YOU KEEP THE RESIDENCE WERE HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CITY...
>> MAYOR SALEH: PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: DO NOT REMOVE THE MIC.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? COME UP, STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME PLUS YOUR COMMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. I AM A CITY OF BELL RESIDENT, HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. MY ONLY CONCERN-- MAJOR CONCERN-- (INDISCERNIBLE), I DID SEE A LOT OF PARKING ISSUES THAT WERE HAPPENING SINCE THEN. THIS WILL COME WITH MORE THINGS, WE WILL NOW BE PAYING FOR PARKING, CONE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY ARE BLOCKING RESIDENTS AS WELL.
IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF TRAFFIC, A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THEIR PEOPLE GATHERING IN THAT AREA AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PROTECTION FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE THERE. SO THAT IS REALLY MY CONCERN.
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS YES IT IS AMAZING WE ARE BRINGING IN LATINO/BROWN/BLACK POSTERIOR INCLUDING BUSINESSES.
BUT MAKING SURE THAT ONCE THEY ARE VETTING FOR THESE VENDORS, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE PRIORITIZING LOCAL VENDORS? THAT IS ONE OF MY CONCERNS OFTENTIMES WE CREATE CONDOS, REAL ESTATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WE SAID THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE. BUT WE HAVE LIMITATIONS. OH, WE WILL HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A SET AMOUNT OF YEARS AND THEN WE CAN UP THE PRICES.
WHAT GUARANTEE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE RESIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO GUARANTEE THESE CHANGES? WILL THERE BE A CONTRACT MADE WITH THESE COMPANIES THAT GUARANTEE AT THE END OF THE DAY THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE SCREWED OVER? WHAT IS A GUARANTEE YOU WILL HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY SO IF THERE IS A PULL OUT, THERE IS A BACKUP. THERE'S A PLAN B FOR RECENT. THAT IS MY CONCERN.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? COME UP, STATE YOUR FIRST NAME LAST NAME PLUS YOUR COMMENTS.
>> MAYOR SALEH: GIVE ME A SECOND. LADIES IN THE BACK, WE CAN HEAR YOU. IF YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CONVERSATION OUTSIDE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE RESTAURANT OR ESTABLISHMENT TO GET ALCOHOL LICENSE FOR THE CITY OF BELL? AND TWO, ALONG FROM THE MOMENT THEY GET STARTED? HOW MONSTER TAKE FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE?
>> MAYOR SALEH: ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, COME UP.
STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR COMMENT. SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
COUNCIL ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION?
>> LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCE, BECAUSE THERE IS A PLAN B. HERE, I WILL TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER SINCE HE IS THE ONE THAT NEGOTIATED HERE.
[02:05:02]
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE (INDISCERNIBLE) (AUDIO CUTOFF)... >> (AUDIO BREAKING UP)
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACT REFLECTS WHAT IT IS WE ARE ACTUALLY APPROVING PRECISELY. BECAUSE...
>> YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SIX BUSINESSES?
>> YES, I DO. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROJECT, I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ARE GIVING. BUT THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE PROPERTY THAT IS NEXT TO BORDER X BREWERY. NO GENTRIFICATION FAMILIES THERE.
THIS HAS BEEN VACANT PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR YEARS.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR THE PROPERTY NEXT TO BORDER X BREWERY; IT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR LONG-TERM. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT ITERATIONS AND PEOPLE HAVE PULLED OUT, AS PEOPLE MENTIONED WE NEED A PLAN B. WE I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN WRITING SO IT COINCIDES. THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO EMBODY HERE. RIGHT? FOR EXAMPLE WE TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT, WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS WITHIN THE SPACE THAT IS IN THE BUILDING, BUT THEN THERE IS THAT GRASS AREA. RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT-- YOU SAID YOU I WANTED TO DO BOTH. I DO NOT SEE HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS HERE FOR LATER ON IT DOES NOT SAY, "HEY WE ARE NOT GOING TO DEVELOP THE GRASS AREA ANYMORE." I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS EMBODIED THERE. SO YOU CAN POINT ME TO IT, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT. AND WE CAN AMEND IT NOW. I DO WANT TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT.
IT HAS TAKEN THREE YEARS TO GET YOU HERE. BUT IT TOOK US THREE YEARS TO GET BORDER X BREWERY.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ONGOING.
I DON'T WANT THIS FOR THE DELAYED WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 57, WHAT I SEE HERE IS THE EXISTING 2800 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING AND THE 1-2 BEVERAGE VENDORS CONSTITUTING APPROXIMATELY-- SQUARE FEET AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INTERIM USE EXPENSIVE THAT IT DOES CAPTURE WHAT WE WANT. NOT JUST FOUR BUSINESSES IN THE RESTAURANT, NOT JUST THE RESTAURANT AND TWO SPACES.
WE ARE ENVISIONING SOMETHING THAT IS VIBRANT. TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, THAT REFLECTS YOUR PRESENTATION. THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW DOES NOT REFLECT THAT PRESENTATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES.
>> YEAH WE CAN REVISE THE DDA.
>> SO LET'S DO IT NOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO APPROVE IT. AND SINCE ONE OF THE POLICIES WE HAVE IS YOUR NEW, IF IT IS NOT HERE I WILL NOT APPROVE IT UNLESS WE HAVE IT IN THE RECORD. WE WILL NOT DEFER IT FOR LATER.
>> WE CAN REVISE THE SCHEDULE PERFORMANCE ATTACHMENT NUMBER 5 TO THE DDA, TO PROVIDE THE COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT, ITEM NUMBER 18.
COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FULL PROJECT.
>> HOW ABOUT EXISTING 2800 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING WILL BE INCLUDED-- CAN WE MAKE REFERENCE TO THE PARCEL ON THE GRASS? I DON'T THINK IT DOES HERE.
>> YES WE CAN MAKE REFERENCE TO THE PARCEL.
>> TO ACCOMMODATE A SHARED RESTAURANT SPACE INCLUDE SPACE
FOR ...UP TO ...>> MAYOR SALEH: CAN YOU TELL HIM WHERE YOU ARE
>> ATTACHMENT 4, SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENT.
TO INCLUDE SPACE FOR A MINIMUM OF FOUR ... RIGHT?
[02:10:02]
CAN WE DO THAT? A MINIMUM OF FOUR AND UP TO SEVEN VENDORS, CONSTITUTING APPROXIMATELY RENOVATION OF THE REMAINING 1400 SQUARE FEET OF THE BACK OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AND THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND PUT THAT THERE, WE HAD THIS PROJECT IN MIND. AND THEN WE HAD SOMEONE SAY, "I COULD NOT GET TENANTS. SO LET'S MAKE ONE BIG RESTAURANT." AND THEN WE FELT-- OUR COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO A CERTAIN PROJECT, TO A CERTAIN VISION BECAUSE WE WANT -- IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED-- WE WANT TO BRING THINGS TO OUR RESIDENTS, FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND HAVING JUST TWO RESTAURANTS WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE IS NOT FAIR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S THERE.SO MOVED THE INCLUSION OF THE AMENDMENT WHICH WILL REQUIRE THAT THE PROJECT BE DEVELOPED WITH THE RESTAURANT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE RESTAURANT WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR UP TO SEVEN VENDOR SPACES.
>> MAYOR SALEH: THERE IS A MOTION IS THERE A SECOND?
>> MAYOR SALEH: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
>> MAYOR SALEH: I DID CLOSE THE HEARING. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, IS THERE A RESOLUTION ON THIS? NO. MADAM CITY CLERK ROLL CALL.
>> MAYOR SALEH: MOTION PASSES.
[2. Consideration of a Letter of Support for AB 1708 (Solache) HHAP Pathways for Cities Act. (City Council)]
WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 2.CONSIDERATION OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR AB 1708 (SOLACHE) HHAP PATHWAYS FOR CITIES ACT.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF WAS TO HAVE MORE PRESENTATIONS.
AS I REMEMBER -- PRESENTED ASSEMBLY BILL 1708, OBVIOUSLY INCLUDED THE CITY OF BELL TO ACCESS STATE HOMELESS FUNDING.
SINCE 2019, THE (INDISCERNIBLE) PROGRAM, HHAP, HAS PROVIDED PROGRAM FOR COUNTIES AND 44 CONSORTIUMS. THE CITY OF BELL BECAUSE IT RECEIVES FUNDING FOR HOMELESS, HAVE TO RELY ON GRANT FUNDS TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE HOMELESS SERVICES HERE IN THE CITY OF BELL WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME GRANT FUNDS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO ASSIST WITH THE BELL -- AND IDENTIFY -- FORTIFY SUPPORT FOR OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION AND ARE STILL ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSISTING WITH SHUTTER RESPONDING TO THE SHELTER. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE SUPPORT.
WE SENT THIS LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE HON. A SUPPLEMENT JOSE CERVANTE (SOUNDS LIKE) FOR THIS BILL BECAUSE IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO CITIES LIKE BELL IN ORDER SMART COMMUNITIES, AND ACCESS TO THOSE HOMELESS FUNDS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
WITH THAT MADAM VICE MAYOR, THAT INCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: ANY QUESTIONS?
>> HE NEEDS OUR VOTE FOR THIS?
>> NOW JUST A LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMAN ROMERO.
>> I INCLUDED THIS LEGISLATION -- MOST OF THESE FINDINGS WE HAVE TO GET THE OTHER COUNTY OR THE STATE. WE END UP LOSING I FEEL RESOURCES. WE ENDED UP GETTING IT MUCH LATER. THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD FACILITATE THE CITIES GETTING DIRECT ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES.
IT IS ONE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE FOR EXAMPLE IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS ISSUES. THAT IS EXPENSIVE. IT'S NOT CHEAP. AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT MONEY OR ANY OF THOSE RESOURCES FROM GLASSO (SOUNDS LIKE) OR THE STATE AT ALL.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GIVE HIM A LETTER OF SUPPORT SO HE CAN SHOW TO THE LEGISLATORS THAT SMALL CITIES ARE IN DIRECT NEED OF THIS.
IT SHOULD BECOME WITH OTHERS STUFF TOO. BECAUSE WE GET SO MUCH (INDISCERNIBLE) AS A WHOLE, GET SO MUCH OF THE FUNDING DIRECTED TO THE COUNTY WE END UP LOSING A LOT OF RESOURCES.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE?
[02:15:01]
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: TO SUPPORT. IS THERE A SECOND?
MADAM CITY CLERK ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[3. Appointment of two Councilmembers to the FY26-27 Budget Ad-Hoc Committee and Approval of the FY 2026-2027 Budget Calendar. (City Council)]
RECOMMENDATION PASSES AND WE MOVED TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE AGENDA.APPOINTMENT OF TWO COUNCILMEMBERS TO THE FY26-27 BUDGET AD-HOC COMMITTEE AND APPROVAL OF THE FY 2026-2027 BUDGET CALENDAR.
HAVE A REPORT BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
>> LEAVING MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. IT'S THAT WONDERFUL TIME. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER YEAR. WE ARE HERE TO KICKOFF OUR FISCAL YEAR 26-27 BUDGET PROCESS.
TONIGHT WE ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT IS USUALLY MADE UP OF TWO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
CURRENTLY IT IS THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR. THOSE ARE THE MEMBERS. SO WE ARE SEEKING TO EITHER RETAIN THOSE TWO MEMBERS OR APPOINT TWO NEW MEMBERS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY LEAD UP TO THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 26-27 BUDGET.
IT WILL START IN FEBRUARY-- MARCH ACTUALLY. WORK ITS WAY THROUGH APRIL, MAY, WITH POTENTIAL ADOPTION BY THE END OF JUNE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE MIDYEAR UPDATE TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT, WITHIN THE MONTH OF MARCH. I AM HAVING SOME CHALLENGES TRYING TO WRAP UP MY AUDITS RIGHT NOW. I AM PREDICTING THAT I WILL HAVE A MIDYEAR UPDATE TO COUNCIL SOMETIME IN MARCH. BY THE SECOND MEETING IN MARCH WERE SHURE. WE ARE STARTING TO MEET WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS WEEK, REVIEWING WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. BUT AT THIS TIME WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR ESTABLISHING OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, AND FOR COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CALENDAR AND MAYBE MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IF THOSE DATES DON'T WORK SO WE CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE AD HOC BUDGET COMMITTEE?
>> IS IT MANDATORY TO INCLUDE THE MAYOR?
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: NO. TWO OF ANYONE.
>> YOU SHOULD MAKE THE DECISION...
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: THE MAYOR HAS BEEN IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN MYSELF. I'M WILLING FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE
>> I HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMITTEE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WHILE. WE ARE HAVING AN ANALYSIS OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD ANALYSIS OF MIDYEAR. YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE DIFFICULT IS WHERE THE AUDIT.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS I AM STILL WORKING ON, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REPORT, CAPITAL ASSET, THINKS OF THOSE THINGS.
NOTHING MAJOR. JUST A MATTER OF TIMING TO GET THESE THINGS OUT.
I JUST SUBMITTED LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO THE GFOA FOR THE AWARD PROCESS. BUT THE AUDITORS ARE LOOKING TO WRAP UP THE AUDIT BY EARLY NEXT WEEK I SHOULD HAVE THE DRAFT OF THE (INDISCERNIBLE), BY THE END OF THE WEEK I'M EXPECTING IT TO BE COMPLETED.
>> HAVE WE IN THE PAST AWAITED FOR THE AUDITS BEFORE DOING A MIDYEAR BUDGET REVIEW?
>> YES WE HAVE. THE REASON WHY IS WHEN THE AUDITS ARE COMPLETED, THAT IS WHEN THE YEAR END FIGURES ARE ROLLED UP INTO THE BUDGET SO WE CAN HAVE AN ACCURATE STARTING POINT SO WE KNOW WE ARE AT IN THE MID-YEAR.
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE FINAL NUMBERS HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED I CANNOT UPDATE THE SYSTEM WITH THE ACCURATE AUDITORS' JOURNAL ENTRY AND REVERSE ENTRIES POSTED. THAT IS WHAT IS HOLDING IT UP.
>> YEAH IT'S VERY COMMON COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA. ONCE WE HAVE ACTUAL CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS AS MR. -- SAID ARE MORE TRUE. IF WE COULD BEFORE
[02:20:04]
HE WE CAN, BUT THEY ARE ESTIMATES AND SO WHILE WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY LARGE VARIANCES, IT IS MORE PRUDENT IF WE HAVE FINAL ACTUALS SO THAT ANY ADJUSTMENTS AND ROLLOVERS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE MIDYEAR REPORT ALONG WITH THOSE REVENUES AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.BUT WE ARE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. NORMALLY WE BRING MIDYEAR IN FEBRUARY; SO WE ARE BRINGING IT IN MARCH THIS YEAR.
NOT A SIGNIFICANT DELAY, BUT THIS IS THE TIMEFRAME. JANUARY/ FEBRUARY WE HAVE THE MIDYEAR READY FOR REVIEW.
>> I THINK ABOUT IT IN JANUARY.
>> YES DEFINITELY -- AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT SINCE DECEMBER. DEFINITELY IT WILL BE READY.
>> SO, IF IT'S NOT A PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMITTEE THIS YEAR.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: ANYONE ELSE?
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: NICE. SO WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA AND COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO PLEASE FOR THE RECORD. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE? MADAM CITY CLERK ROLL CALL PLEASE.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: THE MOTION PASSES AND WE MOVE ON TO ITEM 4.
>> SORRY MDM. VICE MAYOR, IF I CAN I LIKE IF POSSIBLE COUNCIL'S CONSENT TO TAKE ITEM 5 FIRST AND THEN COME BACK ITEM 4. THE REASON IS WE DO HAVE INVENTOR AND SOME STAFF HERE MAKING THE PRESENTATION. I WILL LIKE TO HAVE THE VENDOR AND THIS IS THE ANGEL CITY MARKET ITEM, OUR FARMER'S MARKET ITEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT FIRST IF POSSIBLE IF THE COUNCIL DID NOT MIND HAVING 5 AS NUMBER 4.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: COUNCIL ARE YOU OKAY HAVING ITEM 5 BE ITEM 4?
[5. Approve an Agreement with Angel City Market for Downtown Bell Market Operation Services.]
ONTO ITEM 5.APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ANGEL CITY MARKET FOR DOWNTOWN BELL MARKET OPERATION SERVICES.
>> WE HAVE A REPORT BY (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> GOOD EVENING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH ANGEL CITY MARKET TO BE OUR NEW MARKET OPERATOR. AND WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE ANGEL CITY BE PART OF THIS NEW CONTINUATION IN TERMS OF OUR REVITALIZATION IN OUR DOWNTOWN BELL. IN CONTINUING TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY GATHERING AND HAVING A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY LIVE MARKETS.
WITH OUR CURRENT MARKET OPERATION WE DID NOTICE SOME HICCUPS IN TERMS OF LOW VENDOR PARTICIPATION. AS WELL AS ATTENDEES.
AND BRING IN SOMEONE NEW, SUCH AS ANGEL CITY MARKET LIKE I SAID.
AND BECAUSE IT WAS OCCURRING ...
EVERY SATURDAY, IT BECAME OVERSATURATED. AND IT LOST ITS VALUE FROM THERE.
AND JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF ANGEL CITY MARKET, THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF MARKET EXPERIENCES IN MANY DIFFERENT CITIES SUCH AS DOWNTOWN DOWNEY, MONTEBELLO, LAKEWOOD AND LONG BEACH EXCHANGE MAKING THESE IMPROVEMENTS. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM FOR ONE YEAR APRIL 2026, THROUGH APRIL 2027. WE WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO HELP US ALL STARTING EVENTS DURING THAT YEAR, DURING THE DAYTIME INSTEAD OF PREVIOUS NIGHT THAT WE HAVE DONE PRIVILY WITH THE BELL FAMILY MARKET AT THE SAME SITE (INDISCERNIBLE).
AND JUST FOR FISCAL IMPACT, THERE WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL FISCAL IMPACT. THANK YOU.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN THAT REGARD?
>> YES I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SO ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE NIGHT MARKET ITSELF?
[02:25:01]
>> YES. WE DECIDED WE WOULD HAVE A THEME FOR EVERY NIGHT MARKET WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAPPEN. WITH THE PREVIOUS WONDER WASN'T ANY SORT OF THEME, ANY SORT OF ENTICEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME. AND WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY TO IT, IN TERMS OF OUR PREVIOUS EVENTS, THAT IS WHY THEY WILL BE A LOW TURNOUT.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT MARKETING? IS THERE ANY CHANGE IN THAT? OR CHANGE UP OR INCREASE IN BUDGET?
>> YEAH, ANOTHER REASON WHY WE DID GO WITH ANGEL CITY MARKET, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN TERMS OF THE MARKETING. AND WE WENT OVER THERE DESIGNS, AND WE DO PUT OUR TRUST IN ANGEL CITY MARKET TO HELP US DELIVER THE MARKETING ASPECT.
>> CITY MANAGER: WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANGEL CITY MARKET AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNCIL.
AS (INDISCERNIBLE) SAID, IN ADDITION TO CHANGING TO ONCE A MONTH, VERSUS EVERY WEEK AND IT BEING IN THE DAYTIME VERSUS EVENING, BUT ALSO ANGEL CITY AS YOU HEARD FROM MR. SANTOS, WELL-RESPECTED OPERATOR IN THIS REGION. AND SO THEY ARE BRINGING A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS AND SYNERGY TO EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF BELL.
THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH US ON OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS NOT JUST THE MARKET. AND ALSO I WANT TO BRAG REAL QUICK ON MY TEAM.
(INDISCERNIBLE) AND IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS A PROUD CITY OF BELL RESIDENT, I AM I AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE HER HERE.
SHE SPEARHEADED THIS PROJECT AND ALSO THE RAMADAN PROJECT THAT WILL TALK ABOUT SHORTLY.
SO IF ANGEL CITY -- COULD COME INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KENYA AND THIS IS -- RIVAS. AND TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT YOUR QUESTION, IN ADDRESSED MARKETING WE ARE THE IN-HOUSE MARKETING. THAT IS HOW WE RUN OUR MARKETING STRATEGIES.
CURRENTLY IN THE CITIES OF DOWNEY OF SLOWLY GOING INTO LAKEWOOD/ LONG BEACH, WE DO THINGS FROM BILLBOARD SIGNS TO WORKING WITH LOCAL INFLUENCERS.
AND RIGHT NOW IS TRENDING BEING THE FOODIES, AND OTHER NEW STRATEGIES INTO MARKETING AND INTO A NEW DEMOGRAPHIC.
CURRENTLY, OUR DEMOGRAPHIC HITS PREDOMINANTLY THE AGE GROUP OF 25-54. AND SO WE ARE NATURALLY VERY FAMILY CENTRIC MARKET. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ENVISION HERE FOR BELL.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO MARKETING. IF YOU CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE. AND FOR EVERY LOCATION WE LIKE TO CURATE IT, AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE. AND SO EVENTUALLY WE DO WORK TOWARDS OPENING SEPARATE ENTITIES AND PAGES THAT WILL MARKET AND PROMOTE LOCATIONS SPECIFICALLY.
>> WHEN YOU RUN STATS ON A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, IT TENDS TO BE OUR MAIN TARGET FOCUS.
>> QUESTION. WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS THAT THE MARKET OFFER? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES ...?
>> GOOD QUESTION. EVERY LOCATION LOOKS AND FEELS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE LIKE TO PRIDE WE IN HAVING A VARIETY.
WE DO HAVE AN ELEVATED EXPECTATION FROM EVERYONE.
EVERYONE HAS TO PROVIDE GOOD PRODUCTS. RIGHT? FAMILY-FRIENDLY. WHERE WE DO HAVE THINGS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED AS ANY CBD PRODUCTS OR MARIJUANA, STUFF LIKE THAT. WE ARE VERY FAMILY CENTRIC.
IN REGARD TO WHAT YOU WILL SEE, YOU WILL SEE THINGS FROM ARTISANS AND MAKERS, TO CLOTHING, AND IN A VERY POPULAR LOCATION SUCH AS DOWNEY AND LAKEWOOD, VERY FOOD HEAVY.
PARTICULARLY LAKEWOOD. YOU WILL SEE YUMMY FOOD, RANGING FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN, VEGAN, MEXICAN, ASIAN CUISINE.
[02:30:02]
SEE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY MAKING THIS A DESTINATION FOR ALL FOR FOODIES; FAMILY-FRIENDLY ZONES.WE ENVISION CARNIVAL GAMES. WE ENVISION IT AS A PLACE TO BE AT ON A SUNDAY MORNING OR AFTERNOON.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE. AND BRING MORE FOOD BUSINESS TO THE AREA, WHILE STILL ALWAYS FOCUSING ON LOCAL BUSINESSES. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE LIST OF VENDORS.
BECAUSE WE ARE LOCALS OURSELVES. WE GREW UP IN DOWNEY; CURRENTLY LIVE IN PICO, SOUTHEAST LA PREDOMINANTLY WHERE WE WORK RIGHT NOW. THAT IT IS OUR VISION.
WE WANT TO BRING WHAT WE DO TO SOUTHEAST LA. AND HOPEFULLY BELL WILL BRING US ON.
>> QUESTION. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL VENDORS TO BE PART OF THE MARKET?
>> YEAH. CURRENTLY AT EVERY LOCATION-- DEPENDING ON OUR AGREEMENT-- WE HAVE EITHER DISCOUNTED OR FREE FOOD FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT RESIDE IN THE PARAMETER. AN EXAMPLE: IN DOWNTOWN DOWNEY AND THE ONLY BUSINESS THERE, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SET UP IN OUR VENUE SPACE, YOU ARE GETTING IN CONTACT WITH US AS WELL AS LAKEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE GIVE SPACES TO VENDORS THAT SPENDS, WE COME UP WITH A DISCOUNTED RATE.
>> I PERSONALLY DROPPING NECESSARY, I LOVE TIANGUIS, I I LOVE THE FEELING OF WALKING THROUGH THE HALLS, AND HEAVILY PRODUCE AND THE ARTISANS AND OTHER FOOD THERE. SOUNDS VERY EXCITING. I KNOW IT WILL BE VERY EXCITING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT IS THE EXACT SPREAD OF HOURS?
>> I KNOW THE CHANGES FROM EVERY SATURDAY TO ONCE A MONTH.
IF YOU GUYS ARE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT ONCE A MONTH, WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING IT TWO TIMES A MONTH? OR YOU ARE LIMITED TO ONCE A MONTH?
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. A LOT OF OUR LOCATIONS CURRENTLY WE STARTED ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE EXPANDED TO TWICE A MONTH. IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE ARE OPEN TO. IN THE BEGINNING WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSERVATIVE. BUT I THINK I WOULD BE LYING-- I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT WORDS-- BUT WE LIKE FLEXIBILITY. IF IT'S A SUCCESS IN THE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO HAVE MORE EVENTS, WE ARE OPEN TO INITIATING THAT CONVERSATION.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: ANY QUESTIONS? SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE CONTRACT.
SO THE REPORT... WE ENVISIONING A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH AN OPTION? WHAT ARE WE ENVISIONING? WHO REVIEWED THE CONTRACT?
>> IT IS A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH ONE YEAR OPTION.
>> SORRY, I DON'T HAVE MY THING. SO LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTRACT. I DON'T SEE THE OPTION ANYWHERE.
>> IT DOES NOT HAVE A ONE YEAR OPTION. THE CITY COULD EXTEND WITH AMENDMENT IT SEEKS...
>> TO MISS IT, OR TO NOT REVIEW THE CONTRACT? YOUR SIGNATURE IS ON IT.
>> I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THERE WAS INTENDED TO BE AN ADDITIONAL OPTION. I DID NOT MISS IT.
>> IT IS WITH THE INTENT TO COME WITH AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT. IT IS A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT. IF THE SERVICES GO WELL WE WILL COME BACK FOR AN AMENDMENT.
>> SO ARE WE AGREEING WITH ONE YEAR WITH AN OPTION?
>> TO ONE YEAR. AND THEN THE CITY WILL COME BACK. IF THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO EXTEND THE TERM, AMEND ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT.
>> WHY DON'T WE DO AN OPTION NOW?
>> CITY MANAGER: SO WE WANT TO EVALUATE THE SERVICES. THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOT DOING IT. NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE FAITH; WE KNOW THEY ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL COMPANY.
BUT WE WANT TO START WITH ONE YEAR WITH INTENT THAT WE WILL COME BACK FOR AN AMENDMENT.
>> A LITTLE SIDE HERE. GOING FORWARD THE REPORT SHOULD REFLECT THE WORK WE ARE DOING.
THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT ONE YEAR WITH ONE YEAR EXTENSION. I I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR ONE YEAR, AND ONE YEAR
[02:35:01]
EXTENSION. THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE CITY. THAT IS WHAT IS BEING REPORTED THERE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT WE CAN PUT IT HERE, SO WE CAN COMMIT YOU TO TWO YEARS. IF YOU'RE OPEN TO THAT I WOULD LOVE TO AMEND THE CONTEXT WE CAN HAVE THE OPTION.HAVING THE OPTION, COMMITTED TO TWO YEARS, WOULD YOU AGREE TO THAT?
>> THE MORE WE CAN INVEST, THE MORE WE CAN PROVIDE ALSO.
>> GREAT. INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATION, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR, WITH A ONE-YEAR OPTION.
>> THE CONTRACT DOES HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO EXPAND ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK.
>> THAT IS 50% DISCOUNT FOR THE BELL RESIDENTES AS WELL IN THE CONTRACT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT TOO. ONE THING THAT IS FRUSTRATING IS THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WANTED TO BE PART OF THE VENDOR MARKET, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HAVE THE COORDINATION. SO WE HAVE 40,000 PEOPLE. YOU'RE FROM THE SOUTHEAST AREA AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENT, AND A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURS PAIRED THERE.
WE HAVE APPROVED A CONTRACT THAT AS AN INCUBATOR COMPONENT AND IF YOU CAN DO THAT, WELCOME TO BELL.
>> ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION, WHAT WE ENVISION FOR BELL AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT IS HIGH QUALITY YET AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE FOR ALL. AND THAT DOESN'T COME FROM A PLACE OF THINKING RESIDENTS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF PAYING HIGHER RENTS.
BUT WE ARE LITERALLY GIVING MORE SPACE. WE ARE ABLE TO COVER OUR OPERATIONAL COSTS IN OUR MARKETING COSTS, AND ALL FIXED COSTS EASIER. SO WE ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, AND WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM.
>> THAT IS WHY THE OPTION BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE SPACE. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT IN THAT AREA. IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THE PROPERTY IS DEVELOPED. AGAIN THANK YOU.
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: THERE WAS A MOTION. I APPROVED.
>> I SECOND SORRY. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA: YES.
[4. Ramadan Night Market. (City Council)]
>> VICE-MAYOR ARROYO: MOTION PASSES. AGENDA ITEM 4.
RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET. (CITY COUNCIL) RECOMMENDATION: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE THIS REPORT.
THE REPORT IS READ BY DIANA (INDISCERNIBLE). PLEASE
WE WOULD LOVE TO HOST A RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET, OR PROPOSE TO HOST A RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET ON MARCH 7TH FROM 9 PM TO 3 AM IN DOWNTOWN BELL. THE REASON WHY I WOULD LIKE TO HOST A RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET IS TO SIGNIFICANTLY BRIDGE THE GAP IN TERMS OF CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, IN TERMS OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND OUR ARAB COMMUNITY, AND IN JANUARY, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH IN TERMS OF GETTING THE APPROPRIATE VENDOR TO HELP US HOST THIS RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET. STAFF, INCLUDING MYSELF, DID GO INTO A SERIES OF 3 INTERVIEWS. ONE OF THEM WAS WITH SOCAL SCHOOL FEST. THEY ARE FROM IRVINE. HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SECURE THE HOST FOR A RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO DO IT IN SOCAL JUST BECAUSE THEY ONLY OPERATE IN THE OC AREA. OUR SECOND INTERVIEW WAS WITH COMMUNITY UNIDOS EVENTS, WHO DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THAT MANY CONNECTIONS IN TERMS OF GETTING HALAL CERTIFIED VENDORS, SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IN CASE WE WANTED TO CHOOSE THEM. AND THEN THE LAST COMPANY THAT WE ENDED UP GOING WITH WAS EVENTS BY LAM. THEY ARE A MUSLIM WOMAN-DRIVEN LLC WHO HAVE DONE THESE NIGHT MARKETS IN GREAT PARK IRVINE FOR OVER 5 YEARS, AND WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE AND THE EVENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE THE MOST QUALIFIED IN TERMS OF HELPING US HOST THIS FIRST-EVER LA COUNTY RAMADAN-THEMED NIGHT MARKET. AND, AND ALSO, I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT THEY DO HAVE STRONG COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SECURE OVER 50 VENDORS FOR US, INCLUDING BAZAAR SHOPPING ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO THE COMMUNITY. I KIND OF WISH THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BACK, BUT THAT'S OKAY. SO,
[02:40:01]
WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO BELL ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH.MARK YOUR CALENDARS. I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, DIANA, FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANYTHING IN RELATION TO THE RAMADAN NIGHT MARKET? I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT SOUNDS EXCITING, LIKE INCLUSION, AND IT'S A NEW THING, AND I'M EXCITED. YEAH, WHERE'S THE CONTRACT? ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS JUST A RECEIVE AND FILE. CONTRACT IS UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY FOR JUST BASICALLY USING, LEASING THE SPACE, SO IT DOESN'T REQUIRE COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR THE CONTRACT. SO REALLY, WE JUST BROUGHT THIS ITEM TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY WHAT THIS EVENT IS. IT'S A VERY, VERY EXCITING EVENT THAT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, IS OUR UNDERSTANDING, IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. SO, BELL AGAIN IS A LEADER AND THIS UNIFICATION, THIS, YOU KNOW, BRINGING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. SO VERY, VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IT'S MORE JUST A RECEIVING FILE. THE AGREEMENT IS REALLY JUST AN ACCESS AGREEMENT TO UTILIZE THE SITE. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL IS, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND I GRADUATED IN 1993, AND THERE WERE THE, I JUST AGED MYSELF HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE LEBANESE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME WAS SMALL, YOU KNOW, MUCH, MUCH SMALLER. IT'S MUCH MORE ROBUST NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT IT'S FROM 9 PM TO 3 AM IS, GREAT FOR, YOU KNOW, BELLA'S KNOWN FOR WANTING TO HAVE FESTIVITIES, RIGHT? I MEAN, ACTIVITIES AND WHATNOT.
SO, I THINK, THAT IT'S DEFINITELY AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FOLKS TOGETHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NIGHTLIFE AND COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT'S DEFINITELY WELCOMED. SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? JUST RECEIVE AND FILE.
JUST RECEIVE AND FILE VICE MAYOR. SO, EVERYBODY IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY, MADAM CITY CLERK, WE MOVE ON
[6. Approve of a Global Master Services Agreement and Addendum with ADP, LLC for Payroll Processing, Human Resources Information System (HRIS), Compliance Reporting, and Related Services; and Discontinuation of the Springbrook HR/Payroll Module. (City Council)]
TO ITEM NUMBER 6 OF THE AGENDA. AND ITEM NUMBER 6 IS APPROVE AVE GLOBAL MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT AND ADDENDUM WITH ADP. LLC FOR PAYROLL PROCESSING, HUMAN RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMPLIANCE REPORTING, AND RELATED SERVICES, AND DISCONTINUATION OF THE SPRINGBROOK HR PAYROLL MODULE.IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY APPROVE A GLOBAL MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT AND ADDENDUM WITH ADP LLC TO PROVIDE PAYROLL PROCESSING, HRIS COMPLIANCE REPORTING, TIMEKEEPING, AND RELATED SERVICES. WE HAVE A REPORT BY FINANCE DIRECTOR RICKY MANHABAL. MANBAHAL, SORRY. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, RICKY MANBAHAL. THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND COUNCIL ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALLOWED US TO WORK THROUGH THE AGREEMENT WITH CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH SOME LIMITATIONS THAT WAS WE NEEDED TO GET CLARIFIED. SO, TO REMIND COUNCIL, WE ARE PROPOSING TO CONTRACT WITH ADP FOR THE HR INFORMATION SYSTEMS COMPLIANCE REPORTING AND PAYROLL PROCESSING FOR THE CITY. AND DISCONTINUING THE SPRINGBROOK MODULE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THAT MODULE IS GOING TO EXPIRE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTED ANYMORE. SO, WE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE AN UPGRADE TO THAT MODULE, WHICH IN MY OPINION, IT'S MORE COSTLY FOR THE CITY. SO, PROPOSING THE ADP PROCESS. IT'S VERY MORE, VERY EFFICIENT COST SAVINGS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S GOING TO BRING US, IT'S GOING TO HELP US TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE CHANGING RULES AND REGS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED. SO, WITH THAT, I WANTED TO MAKE MENTION TO ONE, AND I HAVE MIKE FROM ADP HERE IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. BUT BEFORE I MOVE ON, ON THE ADDENDUM TO THE AGREEMENT, THERE IS ONE CHANGE THAT'S NOT IN THE PACKET THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH WE JUST WORKED
[02:45:02]
OUT TODAY, THIS MORNING, AND IT'S LAST PAGE, ITEM 9, SECTION 15.3, JURISDICTION. IN THE VERSION THAT COUNCIL HAS, IT DOESN'T IDENTIFY CALIFORNIA AS THE FEDERAL COURTS STATE. IT JUST, IT'S A GENERIC LANGUAGE.SO, WE'VE, CITY ATTORNEY WORKED WITH ADP THIS MORNING AND INSISTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CALIFORNIA, ALL OF THE LEGAL, IF THERE IS ANY LEGAL CHALLENGES, TO BE PERFORMED HERE IN CALIFORNIA. SO THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE TO THE ADDENDUM. WELL, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. ONE, IS THIS, YOU JUST SAID YOU WANT, YOU WANTED TO WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS TO GET ANOTHER AGREEMENT. I, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE AGREEMENT.
IT IS THE AGREEMENT. OKAY, SO THEN THAT WAS, OKAY, SO WAS THIS REVIEWED BY ANYONE? YEAH, WE REVIEWED IT. IT, THE ONLY CHANGES TO THE ADDENDUM, WHICH IS JUST THE LAST 2 PAGES.
YEAH, I KNOW THAT. THE AGREEMENT WAS FULLY NEGOTIATED PREVIOUSLY, AND THEN THERE WAS, AND THERE WAS AN ADDENDUM, AND THEN THIS MORNING THERE WAS A MINOR CHANGE THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO REPLACE THE GOVERNING LAW WITH CALIFORNIA. OKAY, SO JUST FOR THE CLARIFICATION, SECTION 8 SAYS THAT IT WOULD BE GOVERNED BY CALIFORNIA, SO YOU'RE JUST MAKING IT CLEAR IN SECTION 9 THAT UNDER THE FEDERAL COURTS IT WOULD BE CALIFORNIA AS WELL? CORRECT.
OKAY, COOL. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, SO MOVED. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER FLORES? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTANA? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ROMERO'S ABSENT. VICE MAYOR ARROYO? YES. AND SO, THE MOTION PASSES AND WE MOVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RICKY, AND WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 08, APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BELL AND CHESTER D. LOMAS.
YES, I'M SORRY. 7TH. I'M SORRY. OH, SORRY, BUT I'M SORRY, YOU, YOU GRABBED IT, RIGHT? SO, THIS IS, THIS IS THE AGREEMENT AND IT'S SUBJECT TO THAT INCLUSION? YES. AND COME UP FOR ADP, RIGHT? YEAH. YES, YES, JUST COUNCIL. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S ALL GOOD.
[7. Pritchard Field Improvement Project Phase 2 – Award of Construction Contract Update. (City Council)]
OKAY, SO WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 7, PRITCHARD FIELD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE 2 AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT UPDATE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE THIS REPORT, AND WE HAVE A REPORT BY OUR CITY MANAGER, MICHAEL ANTWINE. WOW. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR. I NEED A LITTLE CIRCULATION TO COME UP HERE AND STAND, STAND AT THE PODIUM. BUT, THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM TONIGHT IS A RECEIVING FILE, BUT REALLY MORE SO TOO JUST TO UPDATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE STATUS OF THE PRITCHARD FIELD PROJECT. WE'VE DONE UPDATES BEFORE, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO OPENING PHASE 1 OF PRITCHARD FIELD AND STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON PHASE 2. I MEAN, THERE WAS EVEN SOME EARLIER, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING UPDATE ON THIS PROJECT. SO HERE IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT JUST FOR COUNCIL'S EDIFICATION AND MAYBE THOSE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE HERE, OR ONLINE VIEWING. BUT THE PRITCHETT FIELD PROJECT, IT'S APPROXIMATELY ABOUT A $7 MILLION PROJECT. $4.4 MILLION CAME FROM A STATE PARKS GRANT FUND THAT THE CITY RECEIVED IN 2018. AND THEN IN MARCH OF 2024, THE CITY WAS AWARDED ANOTHER $1.1 MILLION FROM CONGRESSMAN ROBERT GARCIA'S OFFICE. AND THOSE FUNDS WERE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING PROCESS. AND THEY ARE BEING ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT WAS BROKEN UP INTO TWO PHASES BECAUSE OF SUCH. INITIALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE A ONE-PHASE PROJECT, BUT BECAUSE WE ACCEPTED FEDERAL FUNDS, WHICH ALWAYS MAKES THINGS A LOT MORE INTERESTING ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND A LITTLE BIT MORE COSTLY TOO, HOWEVER, THESE FUNDS WERE CRITICAL AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE IN DOING SO. WE BROKE THE PROJECT UP INTO TWO PHASES. PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT STARTED WITH THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT IN JULY OF 2024. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST AND ACCEPTED IN AUGUST OF 2025. THE PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT WAS $2.6 MILLION OF HARD COST, APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER $300,000 OR SO OF SOFT COST, WHICH INCLUDES STAFF COSTS AS WELL AS PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COSTS. PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT, WHICH IS COMPLETED, WHICH WILL BE OPENING SHORTLY, INCLUDED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDED SHELTERS, PICNIC[02:50:01]
AREAS, AS WELL AS SOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND ALSO SOME PASSIVE RECREATIONAL FEATURES. PHASE 1 ALSO INCLUDES AN OFFICE SPACE AND RESTROOMS AS WELL. IT ALSO INCLUDES A BIKE REPAIR FACILITY AS WELL ON SITE. THE INTENT IS FOR CONNECTIVITY WITH THE LA RIVER, GIVEN THE PROXIMITY OF THIS PROJECT BEING RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE LA RIVER. AND SO, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION REGARDING PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHERE WE ARE AT THAT PROCESS. AND THEN LASTLY, I'LL CONCLUDE WITH OUR TIMELINE FOR OPENING PHASE 1 OF THE PARK AND THEN BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE 2. SO, THE CITY ISSUED AN RFP PROCESS FOR PHASE 2 IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 9 BIDS.THOSE 9 BIDS ARE IDENTIFIED AND LISTED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, EXCUSE ME, IN THE STAFF REPORT AND IN THE AGENDA PACKET ON PAGE 163. WE HAVE NOT FORMALLY ACCEPTED THOSE BIDS AT THIS TIME. WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS WITH THAT AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THESE BIDS COMPLY WITH ALL THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER AND THOSE ACCORDINGLY AND THE NEXT LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER AS WELL. SO, WE'RE EXCITED. THE PROJECT BIDS DO COME A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE $1.1 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS WE RECEIVED FROM CONGRESSMAN GARCIA'S OFFICE. TO BE EXPECTED WITH INFLATION AND ALL OTHER FACTORS REALLY RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND MATERIALS. SO, WE DID ANTICIPATE THAT GIVEN THESE FUNDS WERE AWARDED ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO NOW. SO, WHAT WE WILL BE DOING WHEN WE COME TO COUNCIL IN APRIL TO AWARD PHASE 2 IS REQUESTING MORE THAN LIKELY SOME USE OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL ARE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
CURRENTLY, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA'S FUNDING PROCESS CONCLUDES IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS, SO WE'LL BE ASKING HIS OFFICE FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS, WHETHER THROUGH THE STATE PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR FEDERALLY, THROUGH A COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING PROCESS TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST. AND SO HOPEFULLY THE FULL PROJECT WILL BE FULLY GRANT FUNDED. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO COME TO COUNCIL IN APRIL TO AWARD PHASE 2 OF THE CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED THAT ANALYSIS. AND IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING TO START, EXCUSE ME, OPEN PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS AND REALLY GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO WHY, WHILE PHASE 1 HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW, THE REASON WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN IT AT THAT TIME IS BECAUSE WE WERE COMPLETING COMPLIANCE AND ALSO PREPARING ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE NEPA PROCESS FOR PHASE 2. WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THE FINAL END OF THAT PROCESS, AND SO NOW WE'RE READY TO OPEN PHASE 1. PHASE 1 WILL BE A TIERED APPROACH THAT WILL ALSO, BECAUSE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE 2 HASN'T STARTED, WE'LL HAVE TO SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION AND FENCING FOR PHASE 2 WHILE WE OPEN PHASE 1. SO, SOME OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THERE, WE WILL BE STAFFING THE PARK WITH, WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION SYSTEM SO THAT IT'S READY FOR, FOR OPERATION. IN ADDITION, WE'RE INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SECURITY CAMERAS, AND THEN WE'LL BE INSTALLING SOME TEMPORARY FENCING AS WELL, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO SECURE THE PROJECT FOR SAFETY PURPOSES FOR PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT. ALSO, SOME TEMPORARY LIGHTING SINCE, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, INTENTIONALLY, IT WAS TO, YOU KNOW, OPEN THE WHOLE PARK AT ONE TIME, BUT SINCE WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP IN PHASES, WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHTING ON THE PHASE 1 PORTION OF THE PROJECT JUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY EVEN IN THE EVENING HOURS. AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY FENCING TO SECURE THE PARK AT NIGHT. AND LASTLY, WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY PARKING, PUBLIC PARKING, SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN PARK. THERE WILL BE NO PARKING ON SITE BECAUSE PHASE 2 IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS GOING TO BE BUILT, THE DOG PARK, AND A GAZEBO AS WELL AS PART OF PHASE 2. SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT TEMPORARY PARKING OPTIONS, WHETHER THAT'S ON-STREET AND OFF-STREET PARKING. STAFF HAS IDENTIFYING SOME ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS. WE'LL PRESENT THOSE TO COUNCIL IN APRIL AS WE GET READY TO OPEN UP PHASE 1 OF THE PARK. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THIS PARK. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PARK, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT, YOU KNOW, NO DELAYS FROM THE CITY'S END.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT PROCESSES,
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PRETTY ARDUOUS AND LENGTHY THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH ACCESSING FEDERAL FUNDS.IN FACT, THESE FEDERAL FUNDS WERE FROZEN A YEAR AGO WITH THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION, SO THE CITY COULDN'T EVEN ACCESS THESE FUNDS FOR APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 6 MONTHS. SO THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO DELAY OF BEING ABLE TO START COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION AND START PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT.
BUT WE'VE PASSED THAT HURDLE, AND NOW WE'RE AT THE FINAL END OF COMPLETING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS. ANYTIME YOU, WHEN YOU RECEIVE HUD FUNDS, YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, WHICH IS CALLED A NEPA REVIEW, SIMILAR TO CEQA, BUT NEPA IS A NATIONAL STANDARD. CEQA IS CALIFORNIA, NEPA IS NATIONAL.
SO, WE'RE DOING THAT PROCESS NOW. ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, THEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO SUBMIT SOME FORMS, REGULATORY FORMS, TO ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY.
SO, IT'S PRUDENT FOR US, YOU KNOW, GIVEN SOME OF OUR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND CONDITIONS, NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OR THE AWARD OF PHASE 2, BECAUSE IF WE DID THAT PRIOR TO RECEIVING ALL THE FORMAL APPROVALS FROM HUD, WE POTENTIALLY RISK NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THAT $1.1 MILLION. THAT MEANS THE CITY WOULD BE ON THE HOOK WITH GENERAL FUNDS TO COVER THAT COST. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEING VERY CAREFUL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, DOT ALL OUR I'S AND CROSS OUR T'S AND GET FULL HUD APPROVAL BEFORE WE STICK ONE SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FOR PHASE 2 OF THIS PROJECT.
BUT VERY EXCITED PROJECT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, ABOUT $7 MILLION, IN A NEW PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY. WITH THAT, VICE MAYOR, CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION. HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? QUICK QUESTION.
SO, YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE PARCEL THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET? WHAT'S THAT GOING TO BE? THAT'S THE SITE I'M LOOKING AT, BUT I WANT TO SPEAK ON YET BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. YEAH, SO THAT'S ONE OPTION. YES.
TO DO PARKING, RIGHT? THAT, THAT IS CORRECT. THE CITY OWNS THAT PARCEL. YEAH, I MEAN, WHERE ELSE CAN IT GO? BUT THERE'S SOME, SOME PROCESSES WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. OKAY, AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THE, I SAW THE REPORT AND YOU MENTIONED STAFF INCREASE. DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL INCREASE ON THAT? I GUESS I NEVER SAY NEVER, BUT NO, THE INTENTION IS I WON'T, YOU KNOW, I WON'T CALL UP MY COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR.
NO, BUT WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT TODAY. SO, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFFING LEVELS RIGHT NOW TO STAFF THE PARK WITH PART-TIME STAFF ON A CONCURRENT SCHEDULING BASIS.
SO, THERE WOULDN'T BE A NEED TO ADD ANY NEW HIRES. AT THIS TIME. WE BELIEVE WE CAN STAFF THE PARK WITH THE EXISTING STAFFING WE HAVE IN PLACE. AND THIS IS, THERE'S NO ACTIVE PROGRAMMING AT THE PARK, SO REALLY THE STAFFING THERE IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO VANDALISM. IF THERE'S ANY, GOD FORBID, ANY EMERGENCIES OR ISSUES THAT OCCUR, THERE'S STAFF ON SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN REDRESS THOSE OR CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY. OKAY, GREAT. YEAH, THIS PROJECT IS EXCITING. ONE, BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY LIKE 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING. THIS PROJECT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY, HAS A LOT OF NEGATIVE HISTORY, A LOT OF BAGGAGE. SO, I MEAN, LIABILITIES, QUITE HONESTLY. I MEAN, THIS IS A PART, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WAS USED TO DUPE THE CITY AND TO INCREASE TAXES. A LOT OF DECEPTION AROUND IT.
TO SEE IT COME INTO SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED, WHICH IS PARKS, RIGHT? I MEAN, THE CITY OF BELL HAS 4 PARKS.
THIS WILL BE THE 5TH ONE, IF YOU CALL BIANCHI PARK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, BEGS TO DIFFER. IS IT REALLY A PARK CONSIDERING IT'S SO INCREDIBLY TINY AND JUST NOT POORLY USED? IT WOULD FACILITATE SPACE. I THINK THE FACT THAT IT HAS A DOG PARK AND IT REALLY HAS, AND WE REALLY HAVE INCORPORATED WHAT RESIDENTS WANTED. I MEAN, RESIDENTS WANTED A DOG PARK.
RESIDENTS WANT IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE. SO, I, I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO DO A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR A PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY DID CHOOSE AND HAS BEEN, AGAIN, WAITING FOR IT FOR LIKE 20 YEARS. THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
IT'S JUST A RECEIVE AND FILE, CORRECT? CORRECT. AND I THINK TO YOUR, YOUR POINT, COUNCILMAN QUINTANA, EVEN THE 4 YEARS I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO BE HERE AS A MANAGER, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THIS PARK, HOW IT WAS ACQUIRED. YOU KNOW, THERE WERE BOND FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR THIS PARK AND THE CITY SQUANDERED THAT MONEY. NONE OF THAT'S TRUE. THAT'S ALL FALSE INFORMATION, AS YOUR KIND OF ALLUDED TO. THE RIZZO ADMINISTRATION BONDED THIS PARK, BONDED FUNDS WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PARK WOULD BE BUILT, BUT THAT WAS NOT ACCURATE. SO, I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP AND THE STAFF AT THAT TIME IN 2018 FOR TRYING TO IDENTIFY FUNDS TO MOVE FORWARD TO UTILIZE TO BUILD THIS PARK. SO, IN 2018, YOU KNOW, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL. THEN AGAIN
[03:00:01]
IN 2024, WE GOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE THIS PARK A REALITY. SO IT IS, IT'S A LONG TIME COMING, BUT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY NOW IT'S A GOOD STORY AND A TRUE STORY THAT CAN BE TOLD ABOUT THE PARK AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY. WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT HAS, LIKE YOU SAID, THE PARK HAS SO MUCH BAGGAGE. IT'S SO MUCH, I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S MISINFORMATION. I THINK IT'S ACCURATE THAT PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED, LIKE I STILL AM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS PROMISED VERSUS WHAT, ALL I KNOW IS WHAT I'VE READ, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID, RIGHT? SO, FOR ME, AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T COME FROM I DIDN'T COME FROM POLITICS AND, YOU KNOW, I RAN AND I READ EVERYTHING AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROMISES WERE.I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT WAY TO DO A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ON PAPER. THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS WERE PROMISED AND THIS IS WHAT WE NOW HAVE, SO THAT WE CAN AGAIN FINALLY PUT CLOSURE ON SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY ALL OF US WHO GREW UP IN THIS AREA. IT WENT FROM BEING BASEBALL CAGES, RIGHT? IT WENT FROM BEING RESTAURANTS. AND IT WENT FROM BEING LIKE VACANT. I MEAN, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW CRAZY AND TAINTED THAT PROPERTY IS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. SO, IS THERE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO? YES VICE MAYOR ARROYO? YES. AND SO, THE MOTION PASSES, AND WE MOVE
[8. Approval of a Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Bell and Chester D. Lomax and Rosa A. Lomax, Trustees of the Chet and Rosa Lomax Revocable Trust dated 6/16/05 for acquisition of the real properties located at 6411, 6425 and 6429 Woodward Avenue (APNs. 6326-001-014, 015, 017, 018 and 019). (City Council)]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 8, APPROVAL OF, APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BELL AND CHESTER D. LOMAX AND ROSA A. LOMAX, TRUSTEES OF THE CHET AND ROSA LOMAX REVOCABLE TRUST, DATED 6/16/05 FOR ACQUISITION OF THE REAL PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 6411, 6425, AND 6429 WOODWARD AVENUE.RECOMMENDATION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER, UNDER THREAT OF CONDEMNATION AND JOINT ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS BY RESOLUTION AS FOLLOWS. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL, CALIFORNIA APPROVING A PURCHASE AND SELL AGREEMENT WITH CHESTER D. LOMAX AND ROSA A. LOMAX, TRUSTEES, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 6411, 6425, AND 6429 WOODWARD AVENUE IN THE CITY OF BELL. AND I HAVE A REPORT BY ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER JAVIER OCHIQUI. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR AND HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS ITEM IS RELATED TO THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE PROJECT THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS LOMAX IS PRIVATELY OWNED, AND THE CITY OWNS PROPERTY TO THE EAST, SOUTH, AND NORTH OF THIS PROPERTY. THE DOWNTOWN SQUARE PROJECT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS. THE CITY HAS WORKED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITE PLANS.
THE CITY HAS, EXCUSE ME. THE CITY HAS WORKED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITE PLANS BUT FOUND THAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT WAS VERY LIMITED IF THE LOMAX PROPERTY WAS LEFT OUT. IT WAS THE HOLE IN THE DONUT PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT. FOR OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, STAFF HAS TRIED TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INTERESTED IN THE SALE. IN FACT, OVER A YEAR AGO, ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS WE HAD TALKED TO OFFERED THE OWNERS OF THIS PROPERTY $4 MILLION, AND THE OWNER TURNED THEM DOWN.
SO, TONIGHT I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT CITY STAFF, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND PROPERTY OWNER HAVE NEGOTIATED THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY PURSUANT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT.
THE DETAILS ARE OUTLINED ON PAGE 167 AND 168 OF THE STAFF REPORT. THE ACQUISITION COST OF THIS PROPERTY IS $5.5 MILLION, PLUS ALL CLOSING COSTS WILL BE IMPACTED, WILL IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. COUNCIL QUESTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND. MADAM CITY CLERK, DO I HAVE TO READ THE RESOLUTION? YES. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH CHESTER D. LOMAX AND ROSA A. LOMAX, TRUSTEES, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 6411, 6425, AND 6429 WOODWARD AVENUE IN THE CITY OF BELL. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL. COUNCILMEMBER FLORES.
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YES. COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA? NO. COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO? YES.VICE MAYOR ARROYO? YES. AND SO, THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.
[9. Proposed Resolutions and Ordinance for the submittal to voters of a Measure adopting a Supplemental General Local Transaction and Use Tax (Sales Tax) for the June 2, 2026, Ballot for the purpose of maintaining Local Control of Revenues generated in the City of Bell to directly benefit the Bell Community. (City Council)]
AND WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 09, PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCE FOR THE SUBMITTAL TO VOTERS OF A MEASURE ADOPTING A SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL LOCAL TRANSACTION AND USE TAX SALES TAX OF THE JUNE 2ND, 2026 BALLOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL REVENUES GENERATED IN THE CITY OF BELL TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE BELL COMMUNITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL READ BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVE FURTHER READING, AND ADOPT THE FOLLOWING, RESOLUTION 2026-11 TITLED THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE PLACEMENT OF A GENERAL TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE CONSOLIDATED GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD JUNE 2ND, 2026, FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF AN ORDINANCE TO ENACT A SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX AT A RATE OF THE 1%, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE SUBMISSION OF THE MEASURE AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2ND, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THAT DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE. SO, I HAVE A REPORT BY CITY MANAGER MICHAEL L.ANTWINE, PLEASE. YES, VERY BRIEFLY, VICE MAYOR, GIVEN THE, THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR, BUT I'LL JUST SAY STAFF'S ACTION TONIGHT IN THIS ITEM IS REALLY TO ALLOW THE RESIDENTS OF BELL TO MAKE DECISIONS ON LOCAL CONTROL AND TO KEEP REVENUE IN THEIR CITY AND NOT LET REVENUE LEAVE THEIR CITY AND GO TO THE COUNTY OR OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS OR AGENCIES. THE CITY OF BELL, THE CITY COUNCIL, OR CITY GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER TO INCREASE THESE TAXES.
THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS OF BELL WILL CHOOSE. I WANT TO THANK RESIDENTS WHO RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A SURVEY THAT INDICATED COMMUNITY INTEREST AND HAVING GREATER LOCAL CONTROL OVER THE REVENUES AND LOCAL FUNDS THAT THE CITY USES FOR THE CORE SERVICES. AND RECENTLY, AS THE COUNCIL IS AWARE, AND JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY'S KNOWLEDGE, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES RECENTLY, ON FEBRUARY 10TH, APPROVED PLACING ON THE BALLOT A TAX MEASURE THAT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 50 CENTS FROM CITIES IN LA COUNTY WHICH WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HURT THE CITY OF BELL. THIS MEASURE COULD JUST COUNTYWIDE, EVEN IF BELL RESIDENTS DID NOT VOTE, THEY WERE PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY VERY SURE THERE'S ENOUGH OUTSIDE CITIES OR VOTERS TO APPROVE A MEASURE TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, TAKE THESE, THESE FUNDS FROM THIS CITY. AND SO, THIS MEASURE IS BEING PLACED ON THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION AGAIN TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO, TO TAKE CONTROL OVER THE LOCAL FUNDS FOR, FOR SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, ROADS, ETC. WITH THAT, VICE MAYOR, CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT. OKAY, SO THIS IS ONLY A FILE AND RECEIVE? OH NO, NO, THERE'S, OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS OR DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. DANNY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTIONS? DANNY? YEP, SO THERE'S TWO RESOLUTIONS AND WE'RE CONDUCTING HERE A FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 1297, WHICH I'LL READ INTO THE RECORD. THE RESOLUTION 2026-11. IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE PLACEMENT OF A GENERAL TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE CONSOLIDATED GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2ND, 2026, FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF AN ORDINANCE TO ENACT A SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX AT A RATE OF 1%, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE SUBMISSION OF THE MEASURE AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2ND, 2026, WITH A STATEWIDE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THAT DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE. AND RESOLUTION 2026-12, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE DRAFTING OF DIRECT ARGUMENTS, SETTING PRIORITIES FOR THE FILING OF WRITTEN ARGUMENTS, AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS REGARDING A CITY MEASURE TO BE SUBITTED ON JUNE 2ND, 2026 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION. AND FINALLY, THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION TO ORDINANCE 1297, AN ORDINANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF, OF THE CITY
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OF BELL, CALIFORNIA, ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 3.21 TO THE BELL MUNICIPAL CODE TO ENACT 1% SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX, WHICH SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATION MOTION IS TO WAIVE. SO, MOTION I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.YEAH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES, COUNCIL MEMBER FLORES. YES, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINTANA. YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ROMERO. VICE MAYOR ARROYO. YES. AND SO, THE MOTION PASSES AND WE MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
HIGHLIGHT, WE NEEDED 4/5 VOTES IN ORDER TO GET THIS APPROVED, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE MAYOR IS NOT HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH AN IMPORTANT MEASURE. I DO THANK THE VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR, FOR THAT ACTION.
THANK YOU. OKAY, JUST, I JUST DO WANT TO ELABORATE ON, ON THIS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE.
AT THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF INITIATIVES TOWARDS ASSESSMENT AND INCREASE IN TAX REVENUES. NO ONE LIKES TO BE TAXED EVER. YOU KNOW, I FOR ONE WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF PUTTING THE SALES TAX MEASURE AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE'S A BIGGER SALES TAX MEASURE THAT'S COMING FROM THE COUNTY THAT'S BEING IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. THAT ESSENTIALLY, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ON THE BALLOT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK AND HAVE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THIS ONE. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS ONE, THEN THOSE REVENUES ARE GOING TO GO TO THE COUNTY. SO THAT'S, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A CAP, BUT EVEN MORE SO NOW. IF THIS DOESN'T GET APPROVED, THEN WE CAN FOREVER KISS THOSE SALES TAX REVENUES GOODBYE FROM COMING TO THE CITY OF BELL, AND THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE COUNTY. SO, WE'RE LIVING IN REALLY CRITICAL TIMES RIGHT NOW. I JUST REALLY NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT EVEN JUST IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, IT'S JUST IN THE SPIRIT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTEDS THAT WE NEED TO CONVEY BAD NEWS AS IT COMES ALONG BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BEAR IT. SECOND THING, UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LADIES JUST LEFT. YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF BELL'S LIABILITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT. IF THIS SALES TAX MEASURE FOR THE CITY OF BELL DOESN'T COME THROUGH, THEN WE WILL FIND OURSELVES IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE UPCOMING YEARS BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE REVENUE SOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET OUR COSTS AS WE GO FORWARD. PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE SELLING LAND, WE'RE DEVELOPING LAND, IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR CITY NEEDS. SO DIFFICULT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE RIGHT NOW, AND I DEFINITELY, MOST DEFINITELY APPRECIATE PEOPLE COMING, VOCALIZING THAT, BECAUSE IT'S FRUSTRATING. BUT, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP IS NEVER EASY, AND ALWAYS LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE RESOURCES IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REALLY BEAR IT AND TOGETHER WITHSTAND IT, BUT MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. I THINK OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES IT, AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO FORWARD AND PROMOTE THAT. THANK
[Consent Calendar ]
YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. I'M SORRY, NO, THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ROUTINE AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL. THEY ARE ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND RELATED AUTHORITIES AT ONE TIME WITHOUT DISCUSSION. SO, RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVE AGENDA ITEMS NUMBERS 10 THROUGH 11. COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.MADAM CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILMEMBER FLORES? YES. COUNCILMEMBER QUINTANA? YES. COUNCILMEMBER ROMERO? YES.
VICE MAYOR ARROYO? YES. AND SO, THE MOTION PASSES, AND WE ADJOURN THIS MEETING TONIGHT AT 10:40 PM. AND THERE'S A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MYSELF. WE WANT TO EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OUR HEARTFELT CONCERNS FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN MEXICO THAT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT VIOLENCE. RECENT EVENTS HAVE LED TO INCREASED UNREST AFFECTING MANY FAMILIES AND THEIR ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE. AS WE REFLECT
[03:15:01]
ON THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THOSE AFFECTED AND PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. LET US REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER DURING THESE TRYING TIMES.THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.