[00:00:01]
GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND INDIO WATER AUTHORITY AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO ORDER.THEY WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO BE A PART OF THE INVOCATION, WE WELCOME YOU.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THERE WILL BE SOMEONE THAT WILL BUILD BE PROVIDING THE INVOCATION FOR THE CITY OF INDIO CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> WE HAVE PASTOR KATHY FROM DESTINY CHURCH.
WOULD EVERYBODY LIKE TO STAND?
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US BREATH WITH IN US AND WE ASKED THE NIGHT AS HIS MANY GOES FORTH THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE WISDOM TO THOSE AND WE ASK FOR A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER THEM AS WELL AND WE GIVE YOU THANKS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME, AMEN.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I HAVE NOTHING ON MY SCREEN BUT I AM ON THEIR.
NEXT ITEM, PRESENTATION APPROXIMATION FOR DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL
[4.a. Proclamation for Desert Sands Unified School District’s “Food Nutrition Heroes” of Indio (Mayor Holmes)]
DISTRICT FOOD, NUTRITION HEROES.GOSH, MAYOR PRO TEM FERMON , YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UP HERE.
>>WAYMOND FERMON: I AM THERE IN SPIRIT.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: AND MY FRAME OF REFERENCE IS Â" ALL RIGHT.
I WANT TO TAKE A STAB AT THIS POINT CITY OF AN VIDEO PROCLAMATION BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION HEROES FOR DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING OR AS THE SCHOOL NUTRITION HEROES HAVE DROPPED, WARMED, PACKAGED AND SERVED OVER 3 MILLION MEALS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING 1.9 MILLION ALONE IN THE CITY OF INDIO THE 18 SCHOOL SITES, INCLUDING ONE APARTMENT COMPLEX WITHIN THE CITY BUT WHEREAS THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY DO DAILY IS MORE THAN A JOB.
THEY DO THIS BECAUSE OF LOVE FOR THE STUDENTS OF INDIO, UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR MANY OF THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE EVEN OUTSIDE THE PANDEMIC WAS SCHOOL PROVIDES THE ONLY MEAL THEY CAN COUNT ON.
WHEREAS A LUNCH BUNCH EXPANDED THEIR USUAL ROLE FROM THE CONFINES OF CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT CAFETERIAS TO THE EXTREME OUTDOOR CONDITIONS AND FRIGID DESERT COLD AND SCORCHING DESERT HEAT.
THEY'VE SHOWN RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY IS COUNTING ON THEM.
THEIR FOCUS ENTIRELY ON PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO STUDENTS AND HAVE A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF HUNGER AND LACK OF FOOD PLATE AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS THEY NOW PROVIDE TO GRAB AND GO MEALS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SERVED TWICE A WEEK TO STUDENTS AND SOMETIMES ENTIRE FAMILIES IF THEY ARE THANKED WITH PHOTOS, DRAWINGS AND OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
THEY TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING A SENSE OF NORMALCY TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN OUR CITY AND ARE REWARDED WITH THE SMILES THEY RECEIVED FROM THE STUDENTS GOING THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH LINE.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT I ELAINE HOLMES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF INDIO ALONG WITH THE INDIO CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING FAMILIES FED WITH HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
I HAVE HERE TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSES IT WITH THE CITY INDIO TO BE FIXED ON THIS 19TH DAY OF JANUARY 2021.
WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAM THIS WAS.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD, IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY.
IS ABOUT HOPE WOOD AND THE DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THERE SCHOOL
[00:05:04]
NUTRITION HEROES HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB NOT JUST IN INDIO BUT IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY.AND SO WE THANK THEM VERY, VERY MUCH.
>>WAYMOND FERMON: GOOD EVENING INDIO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR HOLMES.
MY NAME IS DANIEL CAPELLO, OF THE NUTRITION SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR DESERT SANDS.
I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED HERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF INDIO.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.
I HAVE TO SAY OUR TEAM HAS DONE AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB.
I HAVE BEEN SICK IN SCHOOL NUTRITION FOR 15 OR 16 YEARS NOW.
AND I'VE SEEN FIRES AND EARTHQUAKES AND MAY BE A FLOOD OR TO.
BUT CERTAINLY NEVER ANYTHING ON THIS SCALE.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND SORTED GO OVER WHAT IT IS WE HAVE BEEN DOING, HOW MANY MEALS WE HAVE BEEN SERVING.
AND AT THE END I WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ME QUESTIONS HERE JUST IN CASE I FORGET AT THE END, IF YOU EVER WANT TO COME OUT AND SEE US IN ACTION THE SCHOOL SITE WHEN WE RETURNED AND PRESENT LEARNING WERE TO COME OUT WHILE WE ARE DOING DRIVE UP SERVICE AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN INDIO, I WOULD BE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT IT IS WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING.
WE HAVE A DISTRICT FACILITY HERE IN LA QUINTA OR WE HAVE A CENTRAL KITCHEN.
NORMALLY UNDER THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES IN A REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR WE DO PROBABLY ABOUT 13,000 MEALS THAT COME OUT OF OUR CENTRAL REGION FACILITY.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE GOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THEY DO THEIR OWN THING AND THEY'VE SORT OF BEEN DOING THE SAME THING DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING THE PACKAGE THE MEALS, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO AND LOOK GOOD TO THE BEST OUR ABILITY.
WE ARE SERVING TWO MEALS A DAY.
WE HAVE SEVEN DAYS A DISTRIBUTION.
WE DISTRIBUTE ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
BUT BETWEEN THE TWO DAYS WE ARE DOING SEVEN DAYS A MEALS, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW ON INCREASING THAT TO A DINNER MEAL, BUT WE ARE HAVING SOME STAFFING GROWTH ISSUES.
I THINK THE RECORD RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS WAS 80,000 MEALS IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK.
NORMALLY WHEN WE ARE INSIDE THE CAFETERIAS WHERE THEY ARE BUILT TO SERVE THAT MANY KIDS IN A VERY QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME, THE 80,000 MEALS A WEEK IS A CHALLENGE.
IMAGINE HAVING TO DO THAT OUTSIDE AND THE CHALLENGE BECOMES MAGNIFIED.
AND THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN PACK OUR STAFF ON THE BACK ABOUT WAS JUST HOW QUICK THEY ADAPTED TO ALL OF THIS.
EVERY MEMBER IS FRIDAY, MARCH 13 WHERE WE GOT THE CALL.
IT KIND OF CAME OUT OF THE BLUE.
AND THINK I HAD HEARD WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY WE MAY BE CLOSING.
AND FIGURED WE WOULD BE CLOSING FOR TWO WEEKS AND THIS THING WOULD BE OVER VERY QUICKLY AND IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT A CHANGE OF PACE FOR US.
BUT I HAD NO IDEA THIS WOULD HAVE GONE ON AS LONG AS IT HAS.
AND OUR STAFF HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF ADAPTING.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT INDIO.
I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF IS THE EXTREMES IN TEMPERATURE.
OR POOR PEOPLE WERE OUT IN THE RAIN THIS MORNING AND JUST ABOUT A MONTH AND HALF AGO OR TWO MONTHS AGO IT WAS 117 DEGREES.
AND THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
INITIALLY WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER AT OUR SITES AND THAT WAS GREAT.
INITIALLY IT WAS A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH FOOD AND TEMPERATURES IN ALL OF THAT STUFF, BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS REALLY GOOD WITH US AND MADE SURE THEY HELPED US MAKE SURE OUR PROCESSES ARE RIGHT AND THEY MADE SURE EVERYBODY, THAT THE FOOD TEMPERATURES WERE RIGHT AND THAT WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING THE WAY IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
SO THAT HELPED US GET STARTED.
10 MONTHS NOW AND DELIVERY DRIVE UP PICKUPS.
LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST IT IS GONE.
WE ARE UP TO 3 MILLION MEALS NO AND 1.9 MILLION ARE FROM INDIO.
ANY CHILD FROM ANY CITY CAN SHOW BUT ARE SCHOOL SITES AND GET MEALS, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
I THINK WE HAVE EIGHT OR NINE SCHOOLS IN INDIO THAT WE ARE IN SCHOOL THOUGH SCHOOLS ARE 100 PERCENT FREE.
SO NOBODY HAS TO PAY FOR MEALS, WHICH IS OUTSTANDING FOR THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS ROW STUDENTS.
WE ARE WORKING ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING IN THE BEGINNING WAS I IN PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FARMS TO BUY THE PRODUCE FROM THEM.
[00:10:03]
WE HAD A FARMER TYPING FALLS.ABLE TO SERVE DATES, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER DONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE HERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT HERE AT DESERT SANDS.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A DATE FORM, BUT WE HAVE NEVER SERVED THEM.
HE EMPLOYED PARENTS A DESERT SAND STUDENTS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP WORKING THROUGHOUT THIS COMING WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOR US.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A CHALLENGE WHERE WE ARE ASKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS PUT TOGETHER RECIPES WITH THE FOOD WE ARE SERVING SO WE CAN GET DATE RECIPES OUT OR DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO.
ZUCCHINI ARE KAREN'S TO GET THEIR INPUT INTO HOW THEY ARE PREPARING THE MEALS.
AT SOME POINT WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO IN PERSON LEARNING HOPEFULLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
ON WHAT'S GOING DOWN WAS A GREAT DEAL AS WE PLANNED MENUS AND MOVE FORWARD.
ONE THING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO POINT OUT TO HIS FIVE FOOD BANK.
THEY APPROACHED US ABOUT USING OUR SCHOOL SITES.
WE HAVE THEIR SCHEDULE AND DISTRIBUTION SITES POINTS ON THE WEBSITE.
INDIO HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION POINTS.
THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB OF PICKING UP THE SLACK OF OR REWORK.
80,000 MEALS CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
BUT WE LIKE THE FACT THAT FINE FOOD BANK IS ALSO PROVIDING MEALS TO THE COMMUNITY TOO.
BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR THE STUDENTS, PARENTS NEED NUTRITION AS WELL.
HERE'S SOME HAPPY KIDS WE GOT SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF.
REALLY THE OUTPOURING FROM THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.
WE ARE GETTING HANDWRITTEN LETTERS AND THEY ARE DECORATING THEIR CARS.
INDIO HIGH SCHOOL MADE THEM A POSTER WITH A MASK FOR ALL OF THEM TO HELP KEEP THEM SAFE.
WE'VE GOT SOME BAGS THAT YOU CAN SEE.
THE LUNCH LADIES ARE HANDING OUT SOME DECORATIONS TO KIDS.
DOES TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS FUN AS YOU CAN MAKE IT.
IT REALLY IS HEARTWARMING WHEN THE KIDS SHOW UP AND THEY ARE SO JAZZED TO SEE THEIR LUNCH LADIES.
THEY JUST NEED A SENSE OF NORMALCY.
SCHOOL LUNCH CERTAINLY SEEMS TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.
AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY ABOUT IT FOR ME.
AND THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING THAT YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE DESERT SANDS EMPLOYEES LIKE THIS.
IF YOU GREW UP IN INDIO, I THINK MR. FURMAN, YOU DID.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW MAGGIE AND MANY OF THE GANG AT INDIO HIGH.
MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN LONG-TERM EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS AND AGAIN, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: THIS IS PHENOMENAL PARIS 3 MILLION MEALS.
YOU ARE TRULY A MIRACLE WORKER.
AND THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT RELATIONSHIPS GOING TO REDO THE FACE.
YOU WERE WARMTH BEHIND THE MASK FOR MANY OF THESE KIDS.
DID EITHER ONE OF YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> I WILL JUST REITERATE WHAT DAN SAID.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE VERY BLESSED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CITY OF INDIO AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE STAFF OF THE CITY OF INDIO HAVE ALWAYS RESPONDED.
WHENEVER WE REACHED OUT, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE TEACHING THE CHILDREN A INDIO.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: SEAN, ANY COMMENT.
>> I TOO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
IT IS GREAT WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AND HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU MAKES THINGS A LOT EASIER.
SPEAKING OF RELATIONSHIPS, I WANT TO TOUCH UPON WHAT DAN WAS SAYING EARLIER.
I WAS A INDIO HIGH SCHOOL THIS MORNING OR ENDED A LIVE PRESENTATION AND SPEAKING WITH MAGGIE AND HAVING HER WALK BEHIND ME IN THE BACKGROUND OF PEOPLE COMMENTING SAYING HEY MAGGIE ON THE COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK LIFE SPECIAL.
JUST ANOTHER NUTRITIONAL STAFF, THEY HAVE MADE SOME AMAZING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THIS UP TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND THANK YOU AS WELL.
>> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DESERT SAND STAFF.
[00:15:02]
YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS.WHEN YOU REALLY STOP TO THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU FEEL THE MAGNITUDE A HOW MANY FAMILIES LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED IN THE CITY OF INDIO.
ALL THE STUFF ESPECIALLY THE NUTRITIONAL STAFF.
THEY ARE THE FRIENDLY FACES THE KIDS SEE EVERY DAY.
THEY ASSOCIATE THE FRIENDLY FACE WITH SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THEM.
SO THIS IS A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT, OR YOUR INSTITUTION AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
>>GLEN MILLER: I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
IN A SEAN AND MARY AND ALL OF YOU FOR MANY YEARS, YOU DO MORE THAN EDUCATE.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE FOOD BANKS, AND SEE WHAT YOU DO.
I JUST THINK ALL OF YOUR STAFF AND THE PARENTS TOO.
IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE AND THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE.
NOT ONLY TO GET A NUTRITIOUS MEAL.
HOPEFULLY GET BACK IN THE CLASSROOM SOON.
I KNOW YOU ARE ALL WORKING HARD AND WE DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
IS DIFFICULT THESE TIMES FOR EVERYONE.
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR HOMES IN THE CITY RECOGNIZING YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE UNSUNG HEROES WE TAKE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: COUNCILMEMBER ORTIZ, DID I SEE YOU?
>>OSCAR ORTIZ : I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBERS WERE SAYING.
IS JUST REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO HEAR HOW WELL HE ADJUSTED TO THE SITUATION AND TO BE ABLE TO SERVE 3 MILLION MEALS DURING SUCH TROUBLING TIMES IS SO AMAZING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THAT WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED HER MAKING IT EASY FOR THE FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
YOU GUYS REALLY WENT OVER THE TOP TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST WANT TO SAY WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: AND MAYOR PRO TEM FERMON?
>>WAYMOND FERMON: GOOD EVENING.
HELLO HOW ARE YOU DOING? FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AND ARE SUPERINTENDENT ALL THE WAY DOWN, OR DOES IT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TOP-NOTCH.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND GET MEALS INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHILDREN.
THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO TAKE THEM HOME.
SOME PARENTS ARE OUT OF WORK FOR THE PANDEMIC.
SO THIS IS CRUCIAL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY THAT, RECENTLY HAD MY SON WHO GRADUATED I ASKED HIM DID YOU GUYS HAVE A TACO BELL AND PIZZAS AND HE SAID NO, DAD, WE WENT TO A STRAIGHT HEALTHY DIET.
WHEN I WAS THERE IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THE LONG TERM GREAT THINGS HAPPENING WITH OUR YOUTH AND I ALSO WANT TO THINK THERE ARE YOU THE DATES AND THE HEALTHIER FOODS, LOCAL FOODS.
LOCALLY GROWN FOODS TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I REMEMBER CHATTING WITH HIM EARLY ON THE PROCESS HE WAS SO DETERMINED AND I COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPIER TO SEE THAT.
I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM JUST FROM THE DATE INDUSTRY.
TO CONCLUDE, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS OUR FUTURE WE WANT TO SEE OUR YOUTH GO OUT AND SEE THE WORLD AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM COMEBACKS AND YOU PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THAT.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: AND Q EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
[4.b. Tobacco Retail Permitting for the City of Indio (Scott Trujillo, Deputy City Manager)]
THE MOST GO ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION AND THAT PRESENTATION IS THE TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING FOR THE CITY OF INDIO.>> GOOD EVENING MATT AMIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE SHADOW HILLS INTERNET CLUBS TOBACCO TASK FORCE THAT IS A MOUTHFUL.
THEY ARE HERE TO PRESENT ON TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING OR TRP FOR SHORT.
IF YOU RECALL, THIS IS THE GROUP OF SEVEN STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING FOR THE CITY OF INDIO SINCE OCTOBER 2019.
SO TONIGHT THEY WISH TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SPECIFICS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, KENDRA AND BARB, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
[00:20:02]
>> HELLO EVERYONE AND GOOD EVENING TO INDIO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF AND COMMITTEE RESIDENTS, MANY OF ITS KENDRA MODELL, THE INDIRECT PRESIDENT.
>> MY NAME IS ALYSSA ORTEGA, A MEMBER OF INTERACT.
>> MY NAME IS STEPHANIE LOPEZ AND I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF INTERACT.
>> WE ARE THE INDIO HILLS Â" INDIA SHADOW HILLS INTERACT CLUB TASK FORCE AND TODAY WE ARE PRESENTING THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING ORDINANCE.
THE WHAT DO YOU EXPECT DURING THIS PRESENTATION? FIRST WE WILL GO THROUGH AN INTRODUCTION AND RECAP OF THE FIRST PRESENTATION.
SECOND, CITY OF INDIO GENERAL PLAN TO RETURN TO BUCKLE RETAIL PERMITTING PROGRAM, THE FOURTH CURRENT DISCUSSIONS IN TOBACCO PREVENTION AND LASTLY CALL TO ACTION.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY THANK CITY OF INDIO UNDER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR INVITING US BACK PEDDLING MASK LAST-MINUTE OCTOBER 7, 2020 WE SPOKE TO ALL ABOUT WHY TOBACCO ADVOCACY MATTERS.
MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY NURSING TOBACCO TOBACCO MINORS AND WHAT THE CITY OF INDIO CAN DO TO REDUCE YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON TOBACCO PREVENTION WITHIN OUR CITY AND HAVE COLLECTED FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM LOCAL SURVEY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE WERE DIRECTED TO ABOUT RIVERSIDE COUNTY TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN PARIS TO LISTEN THE COMMUTE OF THE THE CITY OF INDIO WERE TO JOIN THE 22 OTHER COUNTY LOCALITIES IN ADOPTING A TIER 3 ORDINANCE.
>> LET'S DIG AND WHY IT IS NEEDED.
TOBACCO RETAIL PERMITTING INTENDED TO BRING LOCAL ENFORCEMENT TO AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED STATE LAW.
IN ORDER TO REDUCE ILLEGAL SALES OF TOBACCO TO MINOR.
AND WITH OVER 35 TOBACCO RETAILERS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ONLY ENFORCING THE LAW TO LESS THAN SEVEN PERCENT RETAIL OR STATEWIDE.
WHICH RESULTED IN RETAILERS PAYING STATE FEES BUT NOT ABIDING BY THE STATE LAW IMPORTANT IN ORDER FOR CALIFORNIA TO SEE TRUE CHANGE IN REDUCING ILLEGAL SALES TO MINORS, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE LOCALLY AND THAT IS WHAT IMPLEMENTING TRP LOCALLY IS SO IMPORTANT.
OTHER MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITIES IN CALIFORNIA ADOPTED STRONG LOCAL TOBACCO RETAILER LICENSING AND ORDINANCES.
THERE IS NO DOUBT LOCAL ENFORCEMENT DOES DECREASE UNDERAGE SALES FOR NEXT WE WILL DISCUSS HOW TRP PLAYS A ROLE IN THE CITY OF AND USE PLAN.
>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT INDIA'S GENERAL PLAN FOR 2014.
IT'S A TOOL TO PROACTIVELY ESTABLISH A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR INDIO SO WE WANT TO FORMALLY THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR INCLUDING TOBACCO PREVENTION AND THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER 2019.
WILL WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY IN ACHIEVING HEALTH AND EQUITY GOALS OUTLINED IN THE UPDATE.
ONE WAY TO DO SO IS IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP CREATING HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.
LET'S GET INTO HOW THE ADOPTION OF THE TOBACCO RETAILER PROGRAM WILL DO EXACTLY THAT.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WILL HELP WITH THE AGE, FORCES THE TRP ORDINANCE COUNTYWIDE.
ONCE A CITY ADOPTS AN ORDINANCE, THE PROGRAM GOES INTO EFFECT AFTER 60 DAYS BUT EACH RETAILER RECEIVES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AROUND HELP TO ENSURE THEY ARE COMMITTED WITH COMFORT A STATE LAW FOR SELLING TOBACCO, WHICH INCLUDES CHECKING IDENTIFICATION PRIOR TO SALE, ELIMINATING ALSO SERVICE PRODUCT DISPLAYS, ELIMINATING SINGLE CIGARETTE SALES AND POSTING NECESSARY SIGNAGE TO LET CONSUMERS KNOW THIS RETAILER ABIDES BY STATE LAW.
RETAILERS ARE EDUCATED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE INFORMING RETAILERS ON VIOLATION PROTOCOLS, LICENSED RENEWALS AND PROCEDURES.
THE COURT PROCEDURES ARE WHEN DH PARTNERS WITH TRAINED YOUTH TO ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
EACH RETAILER IS REQUIRED TO GO UNDERGO ONE INITIAL PROCEDURE.
AFTER ONE YEAR OF THE CITY ADOPTING THE TRP, OR RETAILERS SUBMIT TO AN ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE IN ANY PROCEDURE CONDUCTED IN ADDITION TO THOSE REQUIRED ARE BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS.
NOW LET'S PAINT A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT THE PERMITTING FEES COVER.
>> TOBACCO RETAILERS PAY $457 PER YEAR TO DH, WHICH COVERS THE SERVICES MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IN THE TIME SPENT MONITORING THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, TIME IS SPENT OF THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO FACILITIES, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING FOR
[00:25:03]
FACILITIES WAS ALONG WITH ADMINISTRATIVE TIME FOR DATA INPUT AND ETC. LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE RIGHT ON TIME SPENT FOR TWO CITIES ENVIRONMENT HELP BASED ON PERMITTING FEE OFTEN TIME SPENT EMBEDDED IN THE LUGER VISITED WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE IN PROVIDING TRP SERVICES.IN THE IMAGE ABOVE ARE TWO CITIES WHO HAVE ADOPTED THE TRP PROGRAM.
WAS 69 TOBACCO RETAILERS REMEMBER, TIME IS SPENT IN EACH CITY VARIES DEPENDING ON HOW MANY RETAILERS ARE IN THE PARTICULAR CITY REVIEW.
OF THE 2019, THE CITY OF INDIO HAS TOBACCO RETAILERS AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT CAN INCREASE OVER TIME.
EACH SERVES AS HIS RETAILER EDUCATION RECITATION ETC. IS BROKEN DOWN BY HOW MANY HOURS SPENT IN PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO A RETAILER.
IN TOTAL, THEY SPENT 31 HOURS IN CATHEDRAL CITY AND 45 HOURS LIKE ELSINORE AND PLUMMETING TRP THE SIX MONTH TIME PERIOD.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW DH TRACKS THEIR OPERATIONS HOURS ARE RECORDED TO VERIFY TIME IS SPENT APPROPRIATELY.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ANTICIPATE.
>> HOW DOES THE CITY BENEFIT FROM ADOPTING A TRP.
WITH THE AGENT FOR RESPONSE WILL FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CITIES DO NOT HAVE TO UTILIZE A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF TO ENSURE THE RETAILERS INCLINED TO THE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT THE ORDINANCE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR CITY AGENCIES SUCH AS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH ULTIMATELY PRESERVES THE CITIES RESOURCES.
CITIES WHO CONSIDER THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS APPEALED OTHER LOCALITIES SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR INCREASED SAFETY AND IT PROTECTS THE HEALTHY USE AND RESIDENTS.
BY ADOPTING POLICIES THAT REDUCE TOBACCO.
CITIES CAN HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON CREATING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES TO LIVE A HEALTHY TOBACCO FREE LIFE.
>> WHAT HAPPENED? ! WE SPOKE TO CITY STAFF AND DESERT HOT SPRINGS IN PALM SPRINGS REGARDING HOW TMP HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESSES AS WELL AS IF THEY RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS FROM RETAILERS SINCE THEIR ADOPTION.
BOTH CITIES MORE THAN SUCCESSFUL THE CITY IS NOT COMPLAINTS OR RETAILERS BUT RETAILERS HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE INQUIRING DAILY ABOUT PERMIT FEE REMOVALS, WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF NORMAN HOLT QUITE KINDLY ADDRESSES.
USE DATA PULL FOR THE CENTER FOR TOBACCO POLICY AND ORGANIZING TO SHOW THE PERCENTAGE OF SALES RATES BEFORE PEER PETE WAS IN CURRENT DATA FROM THE RIVERSIDE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HIGHLIGHT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGE ONCE THE CITY DID ADOPT WAS CITIES TRP.
>> HERE ARE SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS QUESTION ONE, IS IT LEGAL TO REQUIRE A RETAILER TO PAY FOR TOBACCO LICENSE FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE CITY OR COUNTY? THE TWO LICENSED FEES PAY FOR TWO DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS. FROM THE STATE THE SMUGGLING AND BLACK-MARKET CIGARETTES BY ENFORCING TOBACCO TAXES, WHILE FUNDS FROM THE LOCAL TRP PERMITS PAY TO PREVENT ILLEGAL TOBACCO SALES TO USE.
THESE FEES COVER THE COST TO ENFORCE AND REGULATE TOBACCO SALES.
QUESTION TWO, WON'T A NEW TOBACCO RETAILERS? THIS IS A 2013 STATE OF INDUSTRY REPORT SHOWS CIGARETTES ACCOUNTED FOR 36.7 PERCENT OF ALL IN-STORE SALES AND GENERATE AN AVERAGE SALES OF 622 TO 40 $800,000 PER CONVENIENCE STORES.
WE KNOW SALES OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS GENERATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
RETAILERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSS OF SALES IF THEIR LICENSES PROVOKED, NOT AFFORDING THE ANNUAL FEE LICENSE FEE.
THIS IS WHY LICENSING ORDINANCES WITH FEES AND STRONG ENFORCEMENT ARE EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING SALES YOU'RE THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF A RETAILER DOES NOT SELL TO YOUTH, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
WHEN IT DOES REQUIRE THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE LAW TO GET LICENSES? THE FINES AND SUSPENSIONS FOR SELLING TOBACCO TO MINORS IS THE PUNISHMENT WHICH ARE ONLY APPLIED TO VIOLATORS.
[00:30:01]
RETAILERS REAP SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM SELLING TOBACCO AND IT IS FAIR TO REQUIRE THEM TO PAY A SMALL AMOUNT TO ENFORCE REGULATIONS.>> LASTLY, WE WANTED TO BRING AN INSIGHT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TOBACCO CONVENTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND COUNTY PRETTY GROWING NUMBER OF CITIES ARE ADOPTING MORE COMPREHENSIVE POLICIES, WHICH INCLUDE BANNING THE SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, CREATING BUFFER ZONES BETWEEN TOBACCO RESELLERS USE ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS SCHOOLS.
THIS PAST SUMMER AVENUE SOME SIGNED SENATE BILL 793 INTO LAW, WHICH BANS THE SALE OF FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THIS BILL IS STILL BEING CONSIDERED AS THE BIG TOBACCO INDUSTRY CHALLENGES AS WELL.
OF CALIFORNIA INFLUENCE SB 793, CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENFORCE THE NEW LAW.
THANKFULLY IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, WE ARE A STEP AHEAD TOWARD CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS CAN WORK IN THE PRE-EXISTING COUNTY TRP ORDINANCE TO SATISFY THE STATES NEW STANDARD FOR TOBACCO CONTROL.
>> CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A TOBACCO RETAIL PERMIT PROGRAM GO INDIO AS AN INTERACT CLUB TABASCO TASK FORCE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF TO BRING FORWARD THE BEST SOLUTION IN REDUCING ILLEGAL TOBACCO SALES BUT WE APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF INDIO COUNSEL FOR YOUR ATTENTION TODAY WE THANK CITY STAFF FOR PROVIDING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND ON THAT NOTE I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP.
ICIE COUNCILMEMBER RAMOS AMITH HAS A COMMENT OR A QUESTION.
>>LUPE RAMOS AMITH: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE INTERACT CLUB FOR THEIR VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION AND FOR DEDICATING THE TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO THEIR ATTENTION THE TOBACCO RETAILERS DO NOT ONLY PAY LICENSE FEE TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WERE PERMIT FEE.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A 59 PERCENT TAX CHARGED ON EVERY PACK OF CIGARETTES TO THE CONSUMER, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA TO PAY FOR THE EXACT SERVICES THEY ARE PROPOSING THAT THIS ADDITIONAL FEE IN THE COUNTY WOULD PAY FOR.
AND SO ALTHOUGH THEIR INTENTIONS ARE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I FEEL WHAT THEY NEED TO DIRECT THEIR FOCUS TO IS MAKING SURE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS SPENDING THAT 59 PERCENT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS APPROVED FOR, WHICH IS FOR EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS, DETERRING MINORS FROM PURCHASING CIGARETTES.
THE VOTERS HAVE PASSED TAX AFTER TAX AFTER TAX ON CIGARETTES.
TO THE POINT WHERE YOU PAY 50 PERCENT FOR THE CIGARETTES AND THE OTHER 59 PERCENT IS FOR TAXES TO PAY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE INTERACT GROUP GO BACK AND RESEARCH THE HISTORY OF THOSE TAXES AND HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING UTILIZED TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROPOSE THIS NEW FEE PAID FOR.
AND FILL IT IS A DUPLICATION OF TAXATION ON BUSINESSES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND AT THIS POINT IN THEIR LIFE.
AS THEY EVOLVED TO BECOME POLICYMAKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FAIR NOT ONLY TO THE CONSUMERS AND TO THE BUSINESS PEOPLE, THAT THEY STAY TRUE TO THE LAW AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LAW IS BEING FOLLOWED.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY GREAT PRESENTATION.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB IN EXPLAINING TO US WHAT THE TRP IS.
WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTING THE LICENSING PROCESS HERE.
AND EXPLAIN WHAT THE PRICE COVERS AND THE DATA.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.
THE DATA SHOWS HOW WELL THIS IS WORKING WHEN IT IS ENFORCED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
AND SO DO HEAR THE COUNCILMEMBERS CONCERN AT THE TAXES, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD STILL LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS TO READ WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THE STATE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT EFFECTIVE.
[00:35:01]
AND SO IF WE CAN LOWER THOSE NUMBERS BY THOSE HIGH AMOUNTS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH IT.AND THINK THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE AND A SOLUTION MORE EFFECTIVE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK INTO PASSING SOMETHING WITH THE COUNTY.
>>GLEN MILLER: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
VERY WELL DONE, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.
I DID HAVE CONCERNS AND HOW THE TAXATION IS DONE MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE COLLECTING ON HERE LIKE IT NEEDS TO PARIS BUT ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU BRING FORWARD TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP UTILIZE IT TO LOWER ANY USE BY PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 20 ONE THAT SHOULDN'T BE RECEIVING THAT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE WILL SEE WHAT COMES FORWARD FROM STAFF.
>>WAYMOND FERMON: I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION AND BRING THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE ATTENTION WHILE WE WORK ON A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT TO TAKE SOME OF THE FEEDBACK, IT IS OKAY TO ALWAYS GO BACK AND TIGHTEN UP YOUR NUTS AND BOLTS ON SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE WORKING ON.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UP AS FAST TAXATION WAS IN OUR BUSINESSES, THAT IS A CONCERN.
BUT IT IS OKAY TO GO BACK AND MAKE THINGS BETTER.
THIS IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO STRESS AND A PORTION OF THIS SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON OUTREACH AND WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG FOLKS TO ENSURE THEY KNOW THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO AND SMOKING., OUR INDUSTRIES ARE GROWING IN THESE AREAS.
IT WILL BE CRUCIAL MOVING FORWARD WE FOCUS ON THESE THINGS WITH OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION FOR IT BUT LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE LAWS ALREADY IN PLACE AND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME.
DATA COLLECTION IS FLAWLESS, IT'S EXCELLENT YOU REALLY THINK BEFORE WE TAKE THE NEXT STEP, WE NEED JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND AND WORK AND DATA.
I FEEL YOUR PASSION, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO LOOK INTO DUPLICATING EFFORTS.
THESE ARE BUSINESSES AND WE NEED RESPECTFULLY TO ENSURE WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING THOSE EFFORTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU BACK WHEN YOU HAVE CAPTURED MORE OF THAT INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION.
BUT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN ORDER FOR THE MAJORITY OF US TO MOVE FORWARD.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? OR INFORMATION?
>> SCOTT, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT.
BUT DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PERCENTAGE OF ILLEGAL SALES, LIKE A SOCKET CELLO WAS 60 SOMETHING PERCENT DOWN TO ZERO.
DO THEY HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT ILLEGAL SALES ARE IN THE CITY OH OF INDIO.
>> THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH EXACT NUMBER.
BUT WHEN THEY DID THEIR PULMONARY STUDY, IT WAS IN THE TEENS BUT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT WAS 16 PERCENT OR EVEN 13 PERCENT.
WE WERE RELATIVELY LOW, BUT THOSE ILLEGAL SALES DID EXIST.
>>ELAINE HOLMES: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THESE INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL STUDENTS? OKAY.
ON THAT NOTE LET ME THANK YOU.
KEEP GOING WITH THIS, HELP US GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AND OR THROUGH MR. TRUJILLO TO BRING IT BACK TO US.
ONTO THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 5/3 REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL INTERNAL
[5. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL/INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(d)]
BOARDS COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS.WE WILL START WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MILLER.
>>GLEN MILLER: THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS OFFER ONCE SO I CAN TALK.
THE ONLY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS I HAD WAS EASY A SEAT WHERE I DID INFORM THEM MR. SCOTT WILL BE APPOINTED TO OUR BOARD.
IT HAS TO GO BEFORE THEIR BOARD TO BE ELECTED SO HE CAN BE APPROVED SO HE CAN BE ABLE TO SERVE.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW NEW MEMBERS FROM THE OTHER AREA OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND A FEW FROM HERE.
SO IT'S STILL HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY DONE AND APPROVED YET.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE DOING WAS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE.
THEY HAVE A LITTLE OVER $20-$30 MILLION WITH THE ACCOUNTS PAST DUE AND THEY WANTED TO DO LIENS AND FORECLOSURES ON INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T
[00:40:04]
PAY THEIR BILLS.WE PUSHED BACK ON IT AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A NEW POLICY, WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE ECAC, WHICH IS THE ADVISORY BOARD ON EIGHT AND 12 MONTH PAYMENT PROGRAM THAT WOULD COME UP WITH AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $30 PER MONTH.
WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO PAY SOMETHING ON THE BILL SO IT DOESN'T GET BEHIND.
PLUS TIME WE TALKED IT WAS ABOUT $10 MILLION AND NOW IT IS BETWEEN 30 AND $40 MILLION BETWEEN DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS.
AND WE WILL TALK LATER ABOUT TRYING TO HELP WITH OUR AGENCY ON WATER BILLS AND OTHER STUFF.
I KNOW CAP FROM THE COUNTY AS A PROGRAM TO AND THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS. THEY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU START RAISING THE RATES FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO PAY THAT.
AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A BALANCE.
I APPRECIATE ECAC AND EVERYBODY LOOKING AT THAT.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO WANT TO IMPERIAL DISTRICT BOARD FOR THEM TO LOOK AT OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE ABLE TO DO.
THEY COULD TWEAK IT, BUT WAS EIGHT AND 12 MONTH PROGRAM THAT THEY DID.
AND THE OTHER THING, WAS ON A CALL WITH THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR PEREZ AND HIS GROUP AND THEY TALKED ABOUT VACCINES AND HOW THE DIFFICULTY IS.
YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL IF IT IS A ROLLOUT.
I WON'T BLAME ANYBODY ON THIS.
OBVIOUSLY IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED AND DUNFORD VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY AGENCIES WORKING ON IT.
AND A LOT THAT CAME OUT OF IT IS THEY HAVE ABOUT 166,000 DOSES SO FAR THAT WERE APPROVED GIVEN TO THE COUNTY.
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN TO THE COUNTY.
OUT OF THAT THE COUNTY ONLY RUNS ABOUT 24,000 DOSES.
90,000 GOES TO PROVIDERS LIKE ALBERTSON'S AND OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO WHEN THEY OPENED THIS UP, THEY HAD QUITE A FEW INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST TIER THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.
WHEN THEY OPENED IT UP TO 65 AND OLDER WITHOUT LOOKING AT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE ALREADY VACCINATED, AND ONE FROM 343,000 SENIORS THAT ARE OVER 65 ELIGIBLE FOR NOW 700,000 PEOPLE ELIGIBLE THE FIRST TIER WITH ONLY 114,000 MILES.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE COUNTY ONLY 24.
AS QUICK AS THEY OPENED THEM UP IN ANOTHER COUNTY OPENED UP AND DISCUSSED ABOUT HAVING A COUPLE OF THE ONES.
THREE MAJOR SITES THAT THEY DO IT.
IF YOU LIKE SEEING IT AND DOING IT.
LIKE A SAID, THE SUPERVISOR AND THE COUNTY IS DOING BEST ACCOUNTS PUBLIC HEALTH.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE 114,000 MILES AND 700,000 PEOPLE ELIGIBLE, YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE.
IF THEY NEED TO GET THE VACCINE, IF THEY NEED IT GET IT.
TO BECAUSE THEY ARE ELIGIBLE DOESN'T MEAN THEY WANTED.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET MORE VACCINES COMING IN.
UNDER THE NEW PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT 100 MILLION MILES IN MADERA SAID SOMETHING ABOUT PRAYING THAT AND.
COMPLETE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE VACCINE TO GIVE TO THE PEOPLE IN NEED.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING.
THE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT AND THERE IS NOT MUCH THE COUNTY OR ANYONE ELSE CAN DO.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE YOU CAN'T GET IT OUT AND DISTRIBUTED.
>>> FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS 211, THEY CAN CALL IFTHY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65.
I WAS THERE LAST WEEKEND BECAUSE WE HAD TRAFFIC ISSUES AND WE HAVE MITIGATED THOSE AND BY AFTERNOON SUNDAY WE GOT THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WERE THERE FOR THE VACCINE IN AND OUT WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER BUT I DID NOTICE THERE WAS SOME PAR IS PELES OVER THE AGE OF 65 EITHER SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WERE CONFUSED AND GOT TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COMPLETE THE ONLINE PROCESS CORRECTLY.
CALL 211 TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE VACCINATED PROMPTLY.
THESE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WEBSITE AGAIN IS RUHEALTH.ORG/COVID-19-VACCIN E, FOR 65 AND OLDER, OR FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
[00:46:06]
THERE'S A LIMITED SUPPLY OF VACCINES BUT WE'LL KEEP ROLLING THEM OUT EVERY WEEKEND AND HOPE TO GET TO THE 65 AND OLDER IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.IN ADDITION TO THE VACCINATIONS AND TESTING AT THE COUNTY FAIR WE HAVE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL EACH MONTH FOR THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR BOARD TO DISCUSS THE MIGRATION OF OUR ENTITY STRUCTURE MOVING AWAY FROM THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE AND MAYBE A NONPROFIT, OUR SPECIAL DISTRICT WHICH WE FEEL WE WOULD HAVE MORE BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND US TO MINIMIZE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING THE FAIR AND TO OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL FOR US TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING, SO AS THE DISCUSSIONS PROGRESS AND DEVELOP I'LL STAY INFORMED WITH THE COUNCIL AND LET THEM KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING BUT AT THIS TIME WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE VACCINE AND TESTING AND WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE INFORMATION TO GET INVOLVED AND GET THEIR VACCINE IF THEY QUALIFY.
I HAD A MEETING WITH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, SOUTH COAST, THE PRESENTATION ON AB617, A COMMUNITY PROGRAM UPDATE AND THAT WAS ASSIGNED IN 2017 AND INCLUDES SIX COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE VALLEY AND THEY ARE WORKING ON DETAILS FOR A DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND SIX ISSUES THEY'RE FOCUS ON ARE THE SALT AND SEA -- PESTICIDES, TO NAME ONE.
THEY MENTIONED UPPER OF THESE CASES ARE ON TRIBAL LAND WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE MUCH REGULATION.
WE DISCUSSED THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN, LONG-TERM GOALS REDUCING PM2.5.
THEY ARE HAVING ISSUES IN MAYOR RA LOMA, ONE AREA, THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OZONE LAYER AND THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT.
THIS IS OZONE AT THE GROUND LEVEL CAUSED BY POLLUTION.
IT'S A 15-YEAR PLAN THAT INCLUDES REGULATORY MEASURES AND ISSUE SENSITIVE PROGRAMS SEEKING NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING AND REDUCES THE USE OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
SHORT TERM GOALS, REDUCING THE ACTION SIDE LEVELS FROM 269 TONS PER DAY TO 141 ATTORNEYS PER DAY BY 2023 TO REACH OZONE LEVELS OF 80 PARTS BURR BILLION.
THIS IS UNLIKELY WITHOUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTION -- AND THE CLEAN POWER APPLY ON THE THE POLITICAL SUPPORT IS GROWING TO TACKLE THE ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WEATHER-RELATED POWER OUTAGES ARE GROWING AND REGULATIONS AND PLANNING TOOLS ARE PROGRESSING SLOWLY COMPARED TO THE ISSUES.
IN 2021 WE MAY SEE THE REASSUMPTION OF POWER DISCONNECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STOPPED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE EXPECTING NEW ENGAGEMENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND MORE.
ENERGY PROVIDERS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE MOST RELIABLE OUTSIDE TO
[00:50:06]
DECARBONIZATION AND THE PROS AND CONS TO CENTRALIZE VERSUS DECENTRALIZE DECARBONIZATION.WE'RE SEEING THE EXPANSION OF C A THROUGH CALIFORNIA AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT USING ELECTRICAL VEHICLE BATTERIES FOR POWER STORAGE AFTER THE USE ON THE ROAD.
GENERAL CONCERNS THAT COME YOU ARE THE COST ADDED TO SERVICES OF ACTION.
WHEN WE TAKE ACTION VERSUS INACTION, RIGHT.
FOR EXAMPLE THE COST OF ACTION MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE POWER BILLS OR MORE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES BUT THE COST OF INACTION IS LIKE WILDFIRES, HAVING TO REBUILD ON THE COAST AND IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE.
WE'RE ASKING TO SEE THE COSTS SIDE BY SIDE.
HAD ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AND WENT THROUGH THE OZONE PRESENTATION AND TWO PLACES THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW RESTRICTIONS 62 BE HIGHSEN POWER HOSPITAL AND ARMTECH DEFENSE PRODUCTION.
THEY MENTION SANCTIONS COULD COME IF WE DON'T REACH OUR TARGET BUT I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH LA'S EFFECT ON THE LOCAL OZONE.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OASIS AND -- GATHERING FUNDING FOR ENTREPRENEURS.
ONE SPEAKER MENTIONED THAT MANUFACTURERS OF ANTONYMOUS TRUCKS AND RENEWABLE -- BETWEEN LA AND PHOENIX.
I PUT THEM IN SONG TACT WITH THE STAFF SO WE CAN PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE READY FOR WHEN THE VEHICLES BECOME MORE PROMINENT ON THE MARKET.
THIS MORNING I HAD A MEETING WITH SEA VETERAN AND THEY HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESS COME BACK ONLINE WORKSHOP SERIES BEGINNING IN BABY TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES ADJUST TO THE CHANGING MARKET.
THEY HAVE COMPLETED DISTRIBUTION OF PPE TO CITIES AND NONPROFITS WITH THE MILLION MASK GIVE AWAY.
AND THEY ARE FINISHING EDITS TO THE ECONOMIC REPORT AND ASSISTING BUSINESSES WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE NEW PPE LOANS AND THE CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS.
IF YOU NEED HELP VISIT CVEP.COM.
I DID HAVE ONE MEETING AND I WAS RIVERSIDE [INAUDIBLE] AND WE HAD TWO ITEMS THAT WE PASSED.
ONE WAS THE APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2020-'21, REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND WE DISCUSSED RCT STAFF PROJECTORRED DECREASES IN MEASURE A AND [INAUDIBLE] HOWEVER, AUDIT OF 2019 AND 2020 REVEALED THERE WAS A 10 PERCENT INCREASE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE VALLEY? MEASURE EIGHT, AN HISTORIES OF AND REGIONAL ARTERIES.
2.6 MILLION FOR LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS AND 1 MILLION FOR TRANSIT.
THERE'S AN INCREASE FOR APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION, SO WE WOULD ALSO APPOINTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, LISA MIDDLETON AND THIS IS HER SECOND TERM AS SOME OF THE COMMISSIONS -- YOU NEED CONTINUITY AS THINGS TAKE A LONG TIME AND WITH COVID, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ARE DRUG OUT AND WE FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO KEEP HER IN PLACE ON THAT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
THAT COMPLETES MY BOARDS AND COMMUNICATIONS BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK SOME OF THE REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER.
FOLLOW THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK BECAUSE WE POST REGULARITY THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO I KNOW WE HAVE LINKS TO OUR COUNTY RESOURCES AND I REALLY URGE OUR FOLKS TO WATCH THOSE DAILY.
SOMETIMES EVEN HOURLY AS COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER ALLUDED TO, IT'S EVER CHANGING SOMETIMES BY THE MINUTE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE VACCINES -- THE COUNTY DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THE VACCINES COME IN BUT WHEN THEY DO THE PROCESS GOES INTO PLACE, COMMENCES, SO I'M PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND HELP THE SENIORS OUT AND PAY ATTENTION TO SUPERVISOR PEREZ.
HE HAS A LOT OF STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DOING UPDATES, ALSO ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HE HAS SOME THINGS AND I WANT TO ALSO SENT SOME GOOD WILL, WISHES AND PRAYERS TO CONGRESSMAN LOUISE WHO TOASTED POS R POSITIVE FOR COVID.
[00:55:05]
I HOPE HE'S DOING WELL AND -- A IN THE HOSPITAL BATTLING COVID.I WANT TO SEND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILIES AND ALL THE FAMILIES DEALING WITH THIS ILLNESS AND I WANT TO ASK THE MAYOR TO CONCLUDE OUR COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT IN THE MEMORY OF CAPITAL POLICE OFFICER BRIAN WHO LOST HIS LIFE AND SOME OF THE VETERANS AT OUR CAPITOL LAST WEEK SO I WOULD LIKE TO END THE COUNCIL MEETING IN HIS MEMORY.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MAYOR.
COUNCIL IS INVOLVED AND ENGAGED.
A COUPLED OF MEETINGS, A COUPLE OF COMMISSION MEETINGS.
ONE IS CONSERVESY, A LOT GOING ON THERE.
ONE HAS TO DO WITH SOME VIRGINIA DAMAGED WHITE WATER CANYON ROAD AND CHALLENGES THERE THAT IS PREVENTING PUBLIC ACCESS AND CLOSING THE PRESERVE.
IT'S REALLY SORT OF NOT AN OPTION SO WE'RE LOOKING TO APPLY DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE ROAD SO IT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE.
HERE IS SOME INTERESTING -- AN EITHERREN EMBANKMENT COVERED BY A SOIL CEMENT LAYER AND IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1930S SO THERE'S SOME VERY OLD THINGS OUT THERE AT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SO THAT ARE OPEN LAND REMAINS ON FOR MANY YEARS FOR FAMILIES AND OUR ENJOYMENT.
THEMWAY RANCH, A FAVORITE LOCATION FOR FAMILIES AND GATHERINGS AND WHAT NOT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CONSERVATION AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING IN SHADE STRUCTURE AND RESTROOM STRUCTURES AND THE COSTS ARE ESCALATING BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT REMIND ACCESSIBLE.
THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SPECIFICALLY WITH DESERT HOT SPRINGS.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH THAT PLACE AND ALL OF THE OPEN LANDS THAT'S OUT THERE AND I'M LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR SOME NOTES THAT I HAVE ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE UPPING THEIR ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR OPEN LANDS.
THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH LITTER AND SOME ENCAMPMENTS AND WHATNOT SO THEY'VE ENGAGED WITH DESERT VALLEY DISPOSAL AND OTHER ENTITIES TO ENSURE THAT THOSE AREAS ARE SAFE, THAT THEY'RE MAINTAINED, THAT THEY'RE CLEANED AND IN FACT IN JANUARY 23RD THERE'S AN CLEANUP AREA.
CHECK THE WEBSITE AND IT SHOULD BE THERE, JANUARY 23, INDIO HILLS LINEUP.
THE CALIFORNIA DESERT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, A PRESENTATION, AND THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS EMBRACED OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY AND THEY WERE JUST VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE CITY, EVERYTHING FROM THE NEW HOUSING TO RESTAURANTS AND THE GROWTH IN OUR CITY.
WE ARE GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS AND AS WE EVOLVE AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE DESERT ASSOCIATION IS THERE TO WORK WITH US AND TO SUPPORT.
FOUR SEASONS, TERRA LOGO, I THANK THE CHIEF AND OTHERS FOR MEETING US SETTING EXPECTATIONS AND WORKING WITH THE CHALLENGES IN THE OPEN SPACE, SO PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN FOR THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE IT SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE.
IT'S A CHALLENGING ROLL-OUT, SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND IT'S BOUND TO HIT A FEW SNAGS BUT THE COUNTY IS WORK, VERY HARD WHENEVER THEY RECEIVE THEM, TO GET THEM OUT.
I KNOW MANY FOLKS JUMP ON THE SITE THE SECOND THEY HEAR THAT THERE ARE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WATCH OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS THE COUNTY RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEM TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T END UP ON THE AGENDA AND THAT'S CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS.
>> IT WAS THE CHOICED SESSION REPORT BUT THAT'S THE SAME THING.
>> THE CITY COUNCIL MET IN CLOSED SESSION FOR THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND
[01:00:03]
THERE'S NO REPORTABLE ACTIONS.CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS, JUST LIKE I SAID.
NEXT ITEM, STILL MANAGER REPORTS AND INFORMATION.
[6.a. Business Assistance Grant Program Application and Eligibility Criteria]
THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRAYERS, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A POSITIVE UPDATE ON OUR EXCELLENT BUILDING INSPECTOR IN FAVOR OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR WHO YESTERDAY HAD SURGERY TO DONATE A KIDNEY TO HIS FATHER AND, OR SAVE ERIC.
THEY ARE BOTH DOING WELL BY THE REPORTS WE'VE RECEIVED.
IT TAKES A WHILE TO RECOVER FROM WE WON'T SEE HIM FOR A WHILE.
LEAVE IT TO HIM TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING SO GENEROUS AS THIS SO WE'LL ALL GIVE HIM OUR PRAYERS FOR A QUICK RECOVERY.
MY OTHER ITEM, MUCH MORE MUNDANE BUT AN IMPORTANT ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO COME BACK WITH WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT I SUGGESTED AND YOU ACCEPTED A PROPOSAL THAT WE ALLOCATE ROUGHLY $645,000 FROM OUR GENERAL FUND FOR THIS PURPOSE.
WE HAVE PROVIDED THE CITY COUNCIL WITH SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT.
KEVIN SCHNEIDER AND JESUS GOMEZ SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING RESEARCH AND THINKING THROUGH WHAT ARE PRETTY DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON HOW TO STRUCTURE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER CITIES IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, A SUBJECT OF THE CITY MANAGER WEEKLY CALL TODAY, THIS KIND OF BUSINESS SUPPORT AND WHAT TENDS TO BE THE INDICATION IS MANY CITIES HAVE -- MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE ADDITIONAL INCOME THAN WE DO, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, RESERVES, AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ALLOCATE MORE MONEY WITH FEWER BUSINESSES, SO IT HAS ALLOWED THEM TO LET THEIR MONEY GO A LITTLE FURTHER.
I WOULD SAY THE TYPICAL PROGRAM, IN FACT I ONLY CAN FIND A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF LESS, MOST OF THE PROGRAMS START AT $5,000 AND GO UP FROM THERE.
I'VE SEEN IT AS HIGH AS $25,000.
OBVIOUSLY IN OUR CASE WHERE WE HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICANTS IT WON'T COVER AS MANY BUSINESSES IF WE SET A HIGH NUMBER.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PROGRAM WE HAVE THE DILEMMA OF TRYING TO DECIDE SEVERAL THINGS.
ONE IS WHO IS GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE? WHAT BUSINESSES ARE WE GOING TO ESTABLISH THAT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE GRANTS? SECONDLY, THE SIZE OF THE GRANTS.
HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO ALLOCATE PER BUSINESS OR UP TO WHAT AMOUNT AT LEAST.
AND THEN WHAT BASIS UPON WHICH SHOULD IT BE GRANTED.
CITIES -- A WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES THE CITIES HAVE TAKEN.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF CITIES THAT HAVE DONE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, SO THEY ESTABLISH A GRANT PERIOD AND WHOEVER GETS THERE FIRST GETS IT.
A FEW CITIES HAVE DONE EVERYONE WHO WAS FOUND TO BE ELIGIBLE WENT INTO A LOTTERY AND THEY CHOSE OUT OF THE LOTTERY AND THEN SOME CITIES TOOK A MORE SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF WHICH OF THE BUSINESSES WERE THE GREATEST NEED AND SOME CITIES IN FACTOR PRIORITIZE CERTAIN KIND OF USES LIKE RESTAURANTS AS A HIGHER NEED CATEGORY.
SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF WAYS TO DO IT AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS FREE TO CHOOSE WHICH WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM OTHER CITIES.
MOST OF THE CITIES ARE NOT USING CDBG MONEY BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATIONS OF DOING IT.
YOU MAY HAVE READ TODAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO A PROGRAM FOR 400 AND SOME DOLLARS USING THE MONEY.
THEY HAVE HAD TO GO OUT AND FIRE A FIRM TO COME IN ANDED A MITCH ENTER THE PROGRAM
[01:05:05]
WHICH TAKES A FAIR AMOUNT OFF OF THE TOP OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO ALLOCATE BUT THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S CDBG MONEY.AT THAT POINT I GUESS I'M INTERESTED IN THE COUNCIL'S INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE THREE QUESTIONS AND PERHAPS THE FIRST ONE IS WHAT BUSINESSES DO WE WANT TO BECOME ELIGIBLE? SOME CITIES, MANY CITIES HAVE NOT ALLOCATED TO HOME-BASED BUSINESSES.
MANY CITIES HAVE STARTED WITH CRITERIA THAT HOME-BASED BUSINESSES WERE NOT ELIGIBLE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE FOUND.
SOME CITIES HAVE GONE BY A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, PRIORITIZING SMALLER BUSINESSES WITH FEWER EMPLOYEES.
OTHER CITIES AS I SAID, HAVE PRIORITIZED RESTAURANTS.
IT JUST VARIES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FEEDBACK ON THE THREE QUESTIONS, WHO IS ELIGIBLE, WHAT SIZE OF GRANTS WE WANT TO TO PROVIDE AND THEN HOW DO WE ALLOCATE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO APPLY.
PERHAPS THE BEGINNING QUESTION IS HOW DO WE DEFINE ELIGIBILITY.
I GUESS THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU IN DEPTH AS TO HOW WE ROLL THIS PROGRAM OUT, ELIGIBILITY, HOW MUCH, WHO IS ELIGIBLE, HOW WE DO THIS SO WE CAN DO THIS AND HELP SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES QUICKLY.
WHO'S UP FOR THE FIRST THOUGHTS ON THIS? GO AHEAD AMIK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US CHIME IN ON THIS PROGRAM ALTHOUGH OUR FUNDS ARE VERY LIMITED, I SEE THE NEED FOR US TO TRY TO FIGURE A WAY TO DO SOMETHING GIVEN THAT CROWD LOOK FOE THE EARNED OF THE PANDEMICS IS NOT IN SIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US OPEN THE GRANT INITIALLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SHUTDOWN WHICH MEANS RESTAURANTS, RETAIL AND WAXING SALONS, NAILED SALONS, MASSAGE SALONS, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN VERSUS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MODIFY AND CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
THE SECOND QUESTION IS I WOULD LIKE CAP IT AT 5,000.
I FEEL 5,000 CAN AT LEAST HELP FOR A MONTH AND WE CAN REACH MORE BUSINESSES WITH THAT CAP AND THE THIRD QUESTION ISIC WE SHOULD OPEN IT IN TIERS, LIKE THE COUNTY DID, FIRST TO BUSINESSES WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FUNDING.
SECOND TO BUSINESSES WHO HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING AND CAN SHY AN ECONOMIC IMPACT BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR AND THEN ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE FUNDING, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING, OPEN IT UP TO ANY BUSINESS THAT HAS RECEIVED FUNDING IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DO IT GIVEN THE LIMITED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE OTHER THAN TO JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT THIS PROGRAM OFF UNTIL WE CAN GET MORE MONEY PUT TOGETHER BUT I SEE THAT AS A SECOND PHASE.
LET'S TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITH BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW AND THEN HEATER SEE IF WE CAN'T GET MORE FUNDING FOR SOME MORE BUSINESS PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MORE.
IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH NEED AND THERE ISN'T ENOUGH DOLLAR AMOUNT BUT TO ME I THINK IT HAS TO BE SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT ONES THAT ARE AFFECTED, RESTAURANTS AND FAST FOOD SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CLOSED DOWN.
IT SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT HAVE IN SERVICE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE PATIO, THE SALONS, THE OTHER DIFFERENT ONES.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IN-HOUSE BUSINESSES, IF THEY ARE LIKE DAYCARE CENTERS OR THAT.
IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND THEY ARE AFFECTED IN SOME WAY THEY CAN SHOW IT, BUT IT SHOULD BE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED OVERALL BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN.
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, AMID, PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THE MONEY INTO IT AND HAVE CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND NOT FIGURE ELSE BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE FRANCHISES THAT ARE OUT THERE UNLESS THEY ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED.
[01:10:05]
I DON'T THINK THE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT IF THEY'RE NOT CLOSED DOWN.FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS ARE AT A HIGH AND GAS STATIONS ARE OUT AND CONVENIENT STORES ARE OPEN.
THERE'S NOBODY STOPPING THEM FROM GOING IN THERE.
IF THEY DON'T, IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE BUSINESS.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE 10,000.
I 2,000, OR 5,000, WHATEVER IT IS.
IT SHOULD BE SET AMOUNTS SO THAT IT'S NOT SUBJECTIVE WHERE ANYBODY CAN COME BACK TO OUR STAFF OR THE COUNCIL AND SAY, IT'S EITHER 2500, 5,000, OR 10,000 AND WE DO THAT AND IT SHOULD BE BASED ON HOW MUCH THEIR BUSINESS HAS BEEN AFFECTED AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THEY'RE KEEPING ON TOO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT I SEE IT IN THAT FASHION.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY SURE MECHANISM AWAY TO DO THIS WITHOUT -- SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO GET COVERED OR SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO GET A GRANT OR ENOUGH HAVE ENOUGH TO DO AND WE NEED AUTO COMMUNICATE THAT UP FRONT THAT NOT EVERYBODY WHO APPLIES WILL GET IT.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, BECAUSE WHEN WE PICK THEM, IT'S SUBJECTIVE.
I DON'T WANT TO STAY DID YOU GET YOUR PAPERWORK IN, DID YOU QUALIFY, THIS IS THE AMOUNT YOU ASKED FOR, BASED ON CRITERIA, AND I KNOW THAT'S DIFFICULT BUT I HATE TO PUT OUR STAFF IN A POSITION OF DECIDING HOW MUCH ONE GETS BASED ON ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S GOODING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT BUT THERE'S A GREAT NEED.
>> I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD ONLY LIMIT TO PEOPLE WHO CAN SHOW THAT IMPACT EVEN IF THEY'RE STILL OPEN BUT IF THEY CAN SHOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWNS THEN WE SHOULD INCLUDE THEM.
I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULDN'T OPEN IT UP TO FRANCHISES, ONLY INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR PHYSICAL BUSINESS LOCATIONS, SENTENCE THOUSAND, AND THEN HOME, 5,000.
>> SO IF IT'S 10,000 THAT'S 65 BUSINESSES.
>> I THINK ALL THE SUGGESTIONS ARE SPOT ON.
CALCULATIONS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED TOWARDS THE END OF HOW MANY BUSINESSES WE CAN ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE TEN TO FIVE METRICS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ SUGGESTED.
I SUPPORT THAT BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN DO THAT BUT I THINK WE ARE IN AGREEMENT OF NO FRANCHISES AND SHOWING THAT THE BUSINESS WAS SEVERE IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWN AND THE BUSINESSES WHO WILL CONCLUDE THE SHUTDOWN, I'M AGREEING WITH THAT.
AS FAR HAS HOW DO WE ALLOCATE, COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER SAID IT PERFECTLY, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, SO THAT TAKES US OUT OF THE REALM OF DECIDING WHO'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE APPLICATION, SO I SAY FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, NO FRANCHISES AND FOR THE MOSTLY -- THAT WAS MOST IMPACTED.
IF WE CAN DO 10,000, YOU KNOW, FIVE FOR IN-HOME BUSINESSES I DO SUPPORT THAT BUT THAT'S DEPENDING ON HOW MANY BUSINESSES ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR THE PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO REITERATE WHAT ALMOST EVERYBODY SAID, REALLY FOCUSING ON THE SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN EITHE DOWN OR SEVERE IMPACTED THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE SMALL RESTAURANTS AND NAIL SALONS AND HAIR AND THE SMALL RETAIL SHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR ARE CLOSE TO BEING CLOSED AND ARE REALLY CHALLENGED.
THAT WOULD BE MY INITIAL FOCUS AND I'M GOING TO SAY 5,000.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO GIVE $5,000 TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, OTHER LOANS AND GRANTS OUT THERE.
I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE HARD TO GET.
MANY HAVE GOTTEN THEM AND MANY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THEM AND THEY NEED MORE.
[01:15:02]
I GET IT.I GET IT AT MORE LEVELS THEN YOU REALIZE, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT, FOR ME, $5,000 LOANS AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME LEVEL OF CRITERIA THAT SAYS THIS IS THE BUSINESS.
I HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR SOME WAY OF SAYING I LOST X PERCENT OR 50 PERCENT OF MY BUSINESS OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY FUNDING, WITH ALL THE FUNDING MECHANISMS OUT THERE IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE THAT HASN'T RECEIVED ANY FUNDING WHATSOEVER BUT THERE MAY BE.
SO LET'S OPEN THE DOOR TO THOSE THAT PERHAPS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FUNDING, ANY PPE, ANY GRANT, ANY EMERGENCY DISASTER LOANS.
LET'S OPEN IT YOU ARE THERE AND THEN BEYOND THOSE-A INDICATIONS WE CAN CONSIDER OTHERS AGAIN.
10,000, TO ME, DOESN'T QUITE GO FAR ENOUGH.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF US WANTED 10,000.
HOW MANY WANTED -- I THINK THREE WANTED 10,000? IS THAT CORRECT.
>> I THINK LIKE FOR BIG BUSINESSES, AND IF THEY GET PPE AND OTHER STUFF, IT THROWS IT ON THE STAFF TO CHECK AND VERIFY.
IF THEY QUALIFY, THEY QUALIFY, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY GOT THE PPE FORGIVEN AND THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE LOANS AND HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.
THIS IS NOT A THREE-MONTH THING.
I'LL USE SLOAN'S FOR A MINUTE.
EVEN IF HE GOT $25,000, HE'S ABOUT TO CLOSE HIS DOORS AT LEAST IN HIS OPINION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE GOT BEFORE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING NOW AND HE MIGHT HAVE KEPT ALL OF HIS EMPLOYEES AND WORKING AND EVERYTHING.
PART OF PP OWE IS YOU HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE WORKING.
IT GOES IN THE EMPLOYEE'S POCKET.
OURS SHOULD BE BASED ON IF THEY ARE IN NEED FOR PROGRAMS HERE AND LIKE OUR DAYCARE CENTERS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GOT IT, THEY'VE CALLED US AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE OUT.
IF THEY GOT ANY MONEY FROM THE COUNTY TOO TOO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT PUTS OUR STAFF IN ANOTHER POSITION OF DECIDING IF THEY GOT ANYTHING OR NOT SO I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO.
I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO PUT HOME BASED BUSINESSES INITIALLY AS WELL.
I THINK THE CONCEPT OF RETAIL IN SOME FORM OR FASHION ESTABLISHMENTS ARE IMPORTANT.
>> MAYBE IF YOU CAN START WITH YOU NEED A PHYSICAL STOREFRONT OR HOME-BASED BECAUSE I HEARD A COUPLE INCLUDED THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS WHICH WOULD BY THE DAYCARE WHICH YOU CAN EITHER CALL THAT OUT SPECIFICALLY AS A BUSINESS OR IF THERE'S -- IF IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE A PHYSICAL STOREFRONT.
>> WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL ON THAT QUESTION, A VERY VALID ONE? I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS STOREFRONTS WITH THE HIGHER OPERATING COSTS THAT ARE AT RISK OF SHUTTING DOWN.
>> I WOULD CONCUR BUT I WOULD ADD DAYCARE SENSES BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE TAKING A BLUNT HIT.
I WOULD CALL THEM OUT, PERSONALLY, IN-HOME.
>> DAYCARE CENTERS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE OTHER PROGRAMS.
>> BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE OVERHEAD OF THE RENT AND UTILITIES AND ALL OF THAT SO THEY DON'T HAVE A FACILITY THAT IS AT RISK OF SHUTTING DOWN.
>> WOULD THAT BE A HOME-BASED DAYCARE OR A DAYCARE FACILITY, A BUSINESS THAT ACTUALLY HAS A STOREFRONT.
OUR LAWYER JUST GOT MY HEAD MIXED UP BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HOME-BASED DAYCARE AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HELPING WITH SOME OF THAT, HOME-BASED DAYCARE, SO IF WE CAN CONTINUE THAT PROCESS AS FAR AS PPE AND FOCUS ON THE OTHER THAT HAVE THE MORE OVERHEAD EXPENSES, STOREFRONT, BUT I'M OKAY WITH EITHER/OR.
[01:20:05]
AS LONG AS WE GET SOMETHING OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING OUT THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE RIGHT MATRIX FOR THIS AND UNFORTUNATELY WE MAY NOT REACH EVERYONE BUT WE'RE GOING TO REACH SOME SO I'M OKAY WITH EITHER ONE.
>> I THINK FOR ME THE REASON I WANT TO INCLUDE DAYCARES IS BECAUSE THEY ARE INCURRING MORE COSTS THAN USUAL FOR HOME-BASED, SO CLEANING AND EXTRA STAFF AND PERSONNEL BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL AND THEY'RE ALL ON ZOOM SO NOW THEY'RE SAYING THEY NEED TEACHER AIDES TO HELP.
THOSE ARE BIG COSTS, ADDING PERSONNEL TO THE EXISTING COSTS OF RUNNING THE DAYCARE, EXTRA CLEANING FOR THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE THE ONES DEALING WITH THE HIGHER POPULATIONS OF PEOPLE ALL IN ONE PLACE.
I THINK MY FOCUS IS ON THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE OVERHEAD OF RENT AND UTILITIES AND WHATNOT SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.
>> WE'RE TALKING BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE IN THE CITY, TOO.
AND THAT WILL BE A CRITERIA THAT WHOEVER IT IS HAS TO MEET THAT CRITERIA.
I DIDN'T READ THE REST OF WHAT'S IN THAT MEMO BUT WE'RE ASSUMING THE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN THE MEMO ARE PART OF THIS UNLESS THE COUNCIL.
>> ARE PAID UP AND MEET IT ALL.
WITH HOME-BASED DAYCARE HOMES, HOME-BASED DAYCARE, THEY DON'T HAVE BUSINESS LICENSES.
I THINK IT'S 8 AND UNDER THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED.
>> THAT FALLS UNDER STATE LAW.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER BUSINESSES.
ANYBODY THAT QUALIFIES THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT IF WE HAVE A BUSINESS THAT COMES IN AND WE FIND OUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE AND THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
>> I AGREE, TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AGREE.
AS I LOOK AT THIS, A LICENSE, A HARDSHIP, A LOSS IN REVENUE, COMPLY WITH STATE OF CALIFORNIA, NONDISCRIMINATION, BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS AND IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE CITY.
>> IF I MIGHT, WE DID NOT PUT INTO OUR RETIREMENT INCOME STATEMENT, FORMAL INCOME STATEMENT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
FIRST OF ALL I THINK FOR A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT'S MORE OF A CHALLENGE, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
SECONDLY IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT POTENTIALLY IS AVAILABLE THROUGH PRA S, BUT WHAT WE DO NEED IS -- ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE, BECAUSE SOME DAY IF WE'RE AUDITED ONLY HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE PUBLIC MONEY WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING FAIRLY CLEAR, DEMONSTRATION OF NEED, SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE THINKING OF, AN APPLICATION THAT REQUIRES SOME DETAIL, AND WE'LL FLUSH IT OUT IN THE AFTER INDICATION FORM BUT WE WERE NOT -- UNLESS THE COUNCIL ASKS FOR IT WE WERE NOT GOING TO ASK FOR FORMAL INCOME STATEMENTS SHOWING HOW THE INCOME FELL FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
A LOT OF CITIES HAS DONE THAT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF INFORMATION FOR US TO HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW THAT IS NOT NECESSARY AND WE'RE ALREADY BURDENING THE BUSINESSES WITHOUT HAVING THEM CREATE INCOME STATEMENTS IN ORDER TO GET IN IN TIME TO BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN THAT OUT TO THE REST OF MY COMMENTS.
INCOME STATEMENTS FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
>> I'M OPEN TO OTHER THOUGHTS.
>> I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT I WAS NOT ADVOCATING FOR INCOME STATEMENTS BUT THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR THE STATE, THE COUNTY, THEY ALL REQUIRE THAT THE BUSINESS INDICATE WHAT THEIR SALES O WAS FROM QUARTERS TWO AND THREE, OF 2020 COMPARED TO '19.
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN AN INCOME STATEMENT.
[01:25:04]
THAT'S AN ESTIMATION OF WHAT YOU MADE IN THE SIX MONTHS -- IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO COVID AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY EASY ESTIMATION THAT ANY GOOD BUSINESS PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE EVEN IF THEY JUST TAKE 50 PERCENT OF THEIR SALES.WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR INCOME STATEMENTS.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THEM TO MAKE A DECLARATION.
>> I'M TOTALLY GOOD WITH THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER OR TEASE AND [INAUDIBLE] ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT.
>> WHAT ARE THE LEVELS THEN, THE 5,000, 10,000? WHERE DID WE END UP? FIVE AND TEN?
WE HAVE THREE THAT WANT TEN AND TWO THAT WANT FIVE.
>> THREE WANTED TEN ON PHYSICAL BUSINESSES AND THEN I HEARD TWO ON HOME-BASED BUSINESS BUT IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE THE HOME DAYCARE BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY HOME-BASED BUSINESS THAT WOULD QUALIFY.
SHE'S ASKING THE QUESTION FOR HOME.
>> AND THE FIVE IS HOME-BASED.
>> THE FIVE, WE'RE LIMITING THAT TO THE DAYCARE PROVIDERS BASED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOOD WITH THE 10,000, AND THEN 5,000 FOR THE DAYCARE?
>> I STILL OBJECT TO THE 10,000.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO BAIL PEOPLE OUT.
WE'RE HERE TO BUY THEM ANOTHER MONTH UNTIL THEY CAN GET BACK INTO ANOTHER PROGRAM OR THERE'S ANOTHER FEDERAL PROGRAM SO I OBJECT TO THE 10,000.
>> I SUPPORT 5,000 BUT THERE'S THREE OF US THAT WANT 10,000, AND FIVE AND -- I THINK 5,000 WILL GO A LOT FURTHER BUT THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US THAT WILL AGREE ON THAT.
>> I'M NOT OBJECTING TO 5,000 FOR BUSINESSES.
I JUST THINK THERE'S CERTAIN BUSINESSES THAT DESERVE 10,000 AND THAT'S WHERE RESTAURANTS AND THE OTHER ONES, 5,000 -- I JUST KEEP GOING BACK TO SLOANS.
I DON'T THINK 5,000 -- IT'S GOING TO HELP BUT NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HIM.
BUSINESSES OF CERTAIN SIZE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY DEPENDING ON THE STOREFRONT.
I WOULD NOT GIVE A NAIL SALON 10,000 DOLLARS BUT I WOULD GIVE A BIG RESTAURANT $10,000 THAT IS AFFECTED.
THINK OF THE RESTAURANTS OUT HERE, MEXICALI? AND THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> I UNDERSTAND BUT WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN AND.
SO I'LL GO WITH THE TEN AND THE FIVE THEN.
>> AS FAR AS THE -- HOW TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE LOTTERY, MAYBE OPEN IT UP FOR ONE WEEK AND THEN DO A LOTTERY AND THEN FROM THERE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEFT OVER, THEN DO FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
I WOULD SUGGEST IT BE AT LEAST TWO WEEKS THOUSAND.
I THINK IT MIGHT TAKE US DAYS TO RETURN PEOPLE'S PHONE CALLS.
>> IF WE GET 500 APPLICATIONS WE MAY BE RETURNING PHONE CALLS FOR A WEEK.
>> HOW ARE YOU DESCRIBING A LOTTERY?
>> WELL, YOU WOULD JUST TAKE ALL THOSE WHO QUALIFIED AND YOU WOULD PUT THEM INTO A BIN AND YOU WOULD DRAW.
THE ONES WHO GOT IT QUALIFIED AND THE ONES WHO DIDN'T MISSED OUT.
NOT A LOT BUT SOME HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE THEY JUST FEAR THAT FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BENEFITS THOSE THAT CAN VERY QUICKLY RESPOND AND IF SOMEBODY'S OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE NOTICE COMES OUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE RESPONDED.
>> OR, A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE RUNNING ON A THIN, THIN -- THEY HAVE LAID THEIR EMPLOYEES OFF AND RUNNING 20-HOUR DAYS AND IT'S NOT UNTIL LEARN AT NIGHT BEFORE THEY GET TO FILL OUT THE FORMS.
OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO HELP AS MANY AS WE CAN AND TO TRY TO KEEP IT AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE.
WHO KNEW IT WOULD BE THIS DIFFICULT.
>> LEAVE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, I THINK.
B IN AND THEY'VE DONE THE STUFF AND THEN YOU PICK IT OUT OF THE HAT.
THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG METHOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WORK.
[01:30:03]
EITHER WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET IT.IF SOMEBODY WAITS TWO WEEKS AND PUT IT IN HOPING TO GET IT AND THEY GET IT, YOU KNOW.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS AND SALONS.
>> I'M USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE AND.
>> I WANT TO JUST ADD THAT, I MEAN, OUR BUSINESSES ARE WATCHING US RIGHT NOW.
THEY KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY MAKE THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE AND ME PERSONALLY, BY DOING A LOTTERY, YOU START TO GET THE SPECULATION, THAT'S THIS BUSINESS OR THEY'RE TIED TO THESE FOLKS.
WE GET AN APPLICATION THAT COMES IN AT 9:00, WE SCAN IT AND IT'S APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED AND WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE -- WHAT WOULD WORK.
A LOTTERY, OKAY, ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS IN FRONTS OF PUBLIC AND IT STARTS TO OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS AND FOR STAFF I THINK THAT WOULD BE HARDER.
I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER, AS THE APPLICATIONS COME IN, APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE.
>> AND TWO WEEKS [INAUDIBLE] A COMMUNICATION OUTREACH AND WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? WE SENDS IT TO THE BUSINESSES.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A RIGHT OR WRONG BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO -- IF WE OPEN IT UP AND HAVE 100 APPLICATIONS ON THE FIRS DAY, WE AREN'T GOING TO GETS THROUGH THOSE IN A FEW DAYS.
MEANWHILE OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE GETTING IN AND TIME STAMPED SOMEHOW OR SOME WAY SO WE KNOW WHO CAME IN FIRST AND WHO DIDN'T.
THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO PEOPLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T GIVE US ENOUGH INFORMATION TO EVALUATE YOU.
DOES THAT PERSON THEN QUALIFY UNDER THE INITIAL TIME STAMP OR WHEN THEIR COMPLETED APPLICATION COMES IN.
AN ISSUE OF SUBJECTIVITY NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO.
IF WE'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE TURN IN LATE INFORMATION LATER UNDER THE ORIGINAL TIME STAMP THEN EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SEND IN AN APPLICATION THAT IS VERY QUICK AND DIRTY JUST TO GET THE TIME STAMP.
WE SAY, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING OUT, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, AT 11:00, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESTAURANTS -- THEY WON'T HAVE TIME UNTIL LATER TO FILLING IT OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ HAS A GREAT IDEA WITH THE LOTTERY CONCEPT SO WE CAN TRY TO EQUALIZE THIS AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FAIR SUPPORT T IF SOMEONE HAS THE TIME TO FILL IT OUT IMMEDIATELY BUT THE NEXT PERSON WHO HAS TO GET THROUGH LUNCH HOUR DOES, OR THEY DO IT QUICKLY AND WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
>> LIKE THE BIDS, IF THEY'RE NOT ACCURATE, YOU THROW THEM OUT.
IF YOU -- I AGREE TO AN EXTENT, ABOUT YOU IF YOU REALLY WANT THE GRANT.
WE CAN PUT THIS OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND SAY IN TWO WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO START WITHOUT DOING THIS.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO THROW A MONKEY WRENCH INTO THIS BUT HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING PRIORITY TO RESTAURANTS WHO SEEM TO BE MORE TROUBLED RIGHT NOW THAN A LOT OF OUR OTHER BUSINESSES.
>> SEE, I KNOW YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I SHOULD BE OPENING IT UP SOME AND THE REST OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN.
WHAT ABOUT THE NAIL SALONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN FOREVER.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS EQUITABLE.
THE PAIN IS FELT BY SOME OF THE PERSONAL CARE THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY RENT AND THEY'RE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.
THEY CAN'T EVEN DO TAKE-OUT, ANYTHING, SO I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO PRIORITIZE.
I KNOW THE TENDENCY IS TO WANT TO HELP OUR RESTAURANTS BUT I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES THAT ARE ALSO HAVING TO PAY RENT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
>> THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, CITY MANAGER, TO USE THE TERM, OR COUNCIL MEMBER, SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
I WANT TO USE THE MAYOR'S TERM.
I DON'T WEREN'T TO OPEN A CAN OF WORMS BUT I THINK THAT FINANCIAL STATEMENT IS GOING TO TELL US WHO HAS REALLY BEEN AFFECTED AND IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWNS MORE SO THAN OTHERS.
>> I'M NOT FEELING LIKE I CAN PRESENT A SOLUTION TO STAFF AT THIS POINT.
>> THERE'S NO PERFECT SOLUTION.
I'M OKAY WITH DOING THE BEST WE CAN DO.
I'M A PROFESSIONAL BUREAUCRAT, RIGHT, AND I IMAGINE THE SCENARIO WHERE WE GET APPLICATIONS ON DAY ONE AND DAY TWO.
WE GO BACK TO PEOPLE AND WE SAY, YOUR DESCRIPTION OF YOUR IMPACT IS INCOMPLETE.
AND ON DAY THREE SOMEBODY ELSE BEAT THEM IN WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS COMPLETE AND WE GET BLAMED FOR HAVING TAKEN THREE DAYS TO GET BACK TO THEM TO TELL THEM THEIR APPLICATION WAS INCOMPLETE.
THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS IS TOO DIFFICULT AND THERE'S TOO LITTLE MONEY TO MAKE IT A PERFECT SYSTEM.
I'M OKAY WITH IT BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN A SCENARIO LIKE THIS.
WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN DO AND IF THE COUNCIL'S PREFERENCE IS TO DO BASED ON FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, WE'LL SET IT UP AS QUICKLY AS -- TURN IT AROUND AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND IF NOT WE'LL DO A LOTTERY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO DO A QUICK, YOU KNOW.
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? MARK, YOU SAID MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T DO A LOTTERY.
WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND IT? > FIRST SERVE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WE'LL GET.
I THINK MOST OF THE CITIES DIDN'T HAVE SUCH AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
[01:35:05]
BECAUSE THEY HAD MORE MONEY AND FEWER BUSINESSES, SEE THEY DIDN'T ENDS UP HAVING, LA QUINTA DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BUSINESSES TO USE UP THE MONEY SO THEY DIDN'T RUN INTO THOSE PROBLEMS. I'M JUST ANTICIPATING THAT IN A CITY OUR SIZE THAT HASN'T DONE A PROGRAM UP TO THIS POINT WITH AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE PUTTING UP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIGGER DEMAND AND THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE QUICKLY RESPONDING ON APPLICATIONS TO SAY WHETHER THEY ARE COMPLETE OR NOT.>> I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO DO A POLICY TO SEE FIRST COME, SERVE, OR A LOTTERY, BUT THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS WHETHER IT'S A LOTTERY OR FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DEAL WITH AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION.
IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE WHEN WE ROLL THIS OUT SO CLEAR, SO CLEAR THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER SAYS, IF YOU DON'T FILL IT OUT CORRECTLY YOU'RE NOT IN THE SYSTEM.
SO CAN I SEE A SHOW OF HANDS AS IT WERE, VIRTUAL SHOW OF HANDS.
>> I ACTUAL THERE WANTS TO NARRATE.
I'M USING THAT TERM VIRTUALLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO START, GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER AMID.
>> I THINK THE APPLICATION CAN BE SIMPLE ENOUGH THAT THERE'S NO CHANCE FOR SOMEONE TO SUBMIT AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION.
WHAT WAS YOUR ESTIMATED SALES FOR 200019.
WHAT WAS YOUR SALES FOR SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER 2020.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF A LOTTERY.
I STILL THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A TIERED APPROACH AND OPEN IT UP TO THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FUNDING AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S ON THE HONOR SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY TO CHECK IT, MAKE THOSE THE PRIORITY BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP THE 65 GRANTS THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROPOSING WE'RE GOING TO GET.
COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
>> I'M STILL OKAY WITH THE LOTTERY SYSTEM AND I WOULD SAY WE PULL ENOUGH NUMBERS, WHEN YOU HAVE THE NUMBER YOU'LL KNOW IF IT'S 10,000 OR 5,000.
YOU JUST KEEP PULLING UNTIL YOU REACH OUR LIMIT AND THEN FOLLOW UP WITH ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES AND, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYTHING INCOMPLETE YOU FOLLOW THROUGH.
IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT GETS DISQUALIFIED, THEN YOU PULL ANOTHER NUMBER AND THAT WAY WE CAN IMAGINE THAT EASIER, I THINK.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT AS THEY COME IN AND ALSO WHAT IS THE -- I CAN'T SAY EASY BUT I'M GOING TO SAY EASY.
WHAT'S THE EASIEST WAY FOR STAFF TO HANDLE WITH OTHER THINGS GOING ON? GOING BACK AND CALLING FOLKS AND DOING THIS.
I THINK WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT CAN MAKE THIS APPLICATION STREAMLINING AND ELEMENTARY FOR OUR BUSINESSES TO DO CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME SO WE CAN GET THE FUNDS OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AS THEY COME IN I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.
IF THE APPLICATION IS FILLED OUT CORRECTLY WE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT ONE AND WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
THERE IS NO SURE WAY OF MAKING THIS FAIR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PROS SIT EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY'S IS TRYING TO -- WE'RE TRYING TO MIX THIS THING TOGETHER TO WORK AND THAT'S WHAT DIFFICULT ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A PASSION TO HELP THE BUSINESSES AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
IF WE DO A LOTTERY, IT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO 5,000 SO EVERYBODY'S EQUAL AND WE'RE JUST DONE WITH IT.
IF NOT, FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, HOW THEY FILL IT WILL OUT BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF AN EASY APPLICATION AND THEN BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE FUNDING THAT COMES IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE WHERE WE CAN BE ABLE TO THEN MAYBE UTILIZE SOME OF OUR OTHER CASH, COVER SOME OTHER EXPENSES.
THIS IS THE -- THIS IS WHY THEY PAY THE MAYOR THE BIG BUCKS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TIERED APPROACH, WE HAVE THE LOTTERY APPROACH AND WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT SAY FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, AND IF I SUGGEST THE LOTTERY THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND I KNOW THAT WE AND STAFF ARE GOING TO DO THEIR ABSOLUTE BEST SO I'LL SUPPORT FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
>> I THINK I HEARD AS WELL THAT IT'S BASED ON A COMPLETED APPLICATION SO THAT FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, YOU PICK UP THAT APPLICATION AND IT'S COMPLETED.
>> I WANT TO REITERATE THE CERTAIN CRITERIA OF THE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED DOWN, YOU KNOW, IF -- NO FRANCHISES, ET CETERA, AND FOCUSING ON THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED GRATEFULLY.
>> WITH RESPECT TO THAT WILL THEN IT'S A LIST OF THE ONES THAT HAVE -- I FORGOT ONE OF THE SAMPLES, A LIST OF THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE SHUTDOWN INCLUDING RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS.
>> ONE OTHER QUESTION, CITY MANAGER, WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE YOU TO COMMUNICATE -- OBVIOUSLY WE CAN USE OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND -- WE DON'T WANT TO BURDEN A LOT BUT I DO WANT TO COMMUNICATE SO NOBODY CAN COME COME BACK LATER AND SAY YOU DID IT SO QUICKLY.
WHAT KIND OF TIME FRAME DO YOU NEED TO GET THE COMMUNICATION OUT TO THE BUSINESSES AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE PROGRA TO BE ROLLED OUT?
>> WE NEED TWO WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO PUBLICIZE THE OPENING DATE FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS AND THEN IF IT'S FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, IT WILL ONLY BE HOPE AS LONG AS WE STILL HAVE MONEY SO THERE'S NOT AN END DEADLINE ON FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
WE NEED A COUPLE OF WEEKS SO WE CAN THOROUGHLY COVER IT.
>> WHERE TO LOOK AND WHO TO SEND IT TO.
I THINK THAT'S EQUAL, WITH EVERYBODY ON THE SAGE PAGE.
>> I APPLAUD EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL FOR THE HEART AND THE SOUL AND CARING SO MUCH ABOUT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE JUST GONE OVER AND OVER THIS TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE CITY.
AND THANK YOU TO STAFF IN ADVANCE FOR WORKING SO HARD TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND I KNOW OUR STAFF, YOU ARE GREAT.
>> JUST ONE QUESTION ON THE DECLARATION OF INCOME.
DOES THAT ALSO APPLY TO THE HOME-BASED DAYCARE AS WELL? I WASN'T SURE IF IT'S A NEED -- THEY HAVE TO SHOW A NEED BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IF THAT APPLIES.
>> DAYCARE, HOW DO THEY SHOW A NEED.
>> I THINK YOU ASK THEM MORE THAN JUST THE INCOME BUT YOU ASK FOR EXPENSES THAT ARE COVID-RELATED EXPENSES SO THEY HAVE TO DOCUMENT ONE OR THE OTHER.
IF THEY DOCUMENT EXPENSES OF $2,000, THAT DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO ALLOCATE THEM A $5,000 PAYMENT SO WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING RATHER SUBSTANTIAL IN ORDER TO QUALIFY BUT WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT CLEAR IN THE APPLICATION.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS THE TIME SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF EMOTION HAVE CALLED IN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE EMAILED PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EMAILED THEIR COMMENTS.
CITY CLERK, ARE THERE A CALL IN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE ERIC EEMIS ON THE LINER.
I REMIND EVERYONE THAT EVERYONE GETS THREE MINUTES.
I WANT TO REFER BACK TO THE [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL MEETING ON THE HOUSING ELEMENT.
THE [INAUDIBLE] CITY OF INDIO AND MANY NEIGHBORS SAY WE'RE FACING A DIFFICULT SITUATION, AND THE COUNCIL TO PUT ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL STATUS.
WE ARE LIVING WITH HIGH RENTS, IN THE CITY, AND I FEEL THERE WAS A WONDERFUL CONVERSATION FOR A PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT IS VERY LENGTHY AND IT'S GOING TO NEED ALL PARTICIPATION, MOST OF ALL RESIDENTS AND THE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS TOO, AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBERS.
[01:40:01]
SO PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WHY WE'RE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH AREAS OF HIGHER RENT.I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL THAT WE SHOULD RELY NECESSARILY ON THE MARKET WHEN MAKING THESE CONSIDERATIONS.
THE HOUSING ELEMENT, IF WE LOOK BACK IN 2008 AND THE RECESSION THAT WE HAD, I CHANGES DRAMATICALLY, SO THEREFORE I THINK THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE BASED ON THE [INAUDIBLE] HOUSING ELEMENT.
I WOULD BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH MANY RESIDENTS ALL OVER THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING -- WE'RE FACING A SHORTAGE ALL OVER CALIFORNIA WITH HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO IT'S SOMETHING I PROPOSE FOR MAKING SURE WE HAVE NAVIGATION, AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE AND AN IMPORTANT PIECE, BUT THERE'S MANY CONTRIBUTIONS ALSO AS WELL AS RENT CAPS, TOO, SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP.
WITH THAT BEING SAID THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT AND I ENJOYED EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS.
I THINK EVERYBODY HAD REALLY GREAT OPINIONS IN STARTING THIS CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
>> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER 8, THE CONSULT CALENDAR.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO PULL ANYTHING OR DO I HEAR A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT A CONSENT CALENDAR WITH ITEMS A THROUGH D.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> THAT WAS BAD FORM ON MY PART.
I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WILBERT WHO IS BACK HERE AND WAS SITTING HERE FOR THAT CONSENT CALENDAR THAT JUST GOT DONE, YOU KNOW, AND IN THE TIME I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY THIS IS ONE OF OUR UNSUNG HEROES BACK HERE AND HE DOESN'T GETS A LOT OF COUNCIL ATTENTION TIME.
[APPLAUSE] >> IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED DONE IN THE CITY THIS MAN GETS IT DONE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HIM.
I THINK MOST OF US KNOW DENNIS.
YOU ARE SO APPRECIATED AND SO VALUED.
LITERALLY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ITEM NUMBER 9, RESOLUTION NUMBER 10190, ADOPTING THE TRANSFORM CLIMATE COMMUNITIES TCC PLAN.
>> IT'S MY HONOR TO BRING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, THE [INAUDIBLE] PLAN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR ADOPTION.
ON DECEMBER 16, 2020 YOU HEARD A PRESENTATION ON THIS PLAN.
THIS HAS BEEN A PLANNING EFFORT GOING ON FOR TEN AND A HALF MONTHS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE $200,000 GRANT THE CITY RECEIVED FROM THE CALIFORNIA STRATEGIC GROWT POSSIBLE, AND THANKING C BANK.
I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND HIS TEAM.
THANK YOU TO ASSISTANT PLANNER, GOMEZ.
TWO OTHER THANK-YOUS, TO THE [INAUDIBLE] THEY DID AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK IN A SHORT TIME.
THANK YOU TO BROOK AND MATTHEW WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND MARCH COATING.
THEY MADE THE PUBLIC PROCESS BY INTRODUCING US TO FACEBOOK LIVE.
DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON A TOPIC LIKE THIS DURING A PANDEMIC WAS A NEW EXERCISE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED AND WE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE.
[01:45:44]
WE WEREN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE FACE TO FACE WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA BUT FOLKS DID REACH OUT AND PARTICIPATED AND GAVE FEEDBACK.THIS IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PLAN.
IT'S INTENDED TO SET THE STAGE FOR HOPEFULLY FUTURE GRANT POSSIBILITIES FROM REGIONAL OR STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING ENTITIES AND ASSIST THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE WITH MAKING POTENTIAL DECISIONS ON FUNDING PROJECTS IN THE
[7. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
AREAS OF HOUSING, IN THE AREAS OFINFRASTRUCTURE, URBAN GREENING AND TRANSPORTATION.THIS IMPORTANT PLAN GIVES A GUIDE BOOK, IF YOU WILL, TO THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE COUNCILS AND THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO PLAN FOR TWO AREAS, DOWNTOWN AND THE JEWEL COMMUNITY, NORTH OF AVENUE 45 AND EAST OF JACKSON STREET.
SO WITH THAT I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. SCHNEIDER? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, DO I HEAR A MOTION?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION.
>> A SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ.
MR. SCHNEIDER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR TONIGHT.
MAYBE WE NEEDED TO GET YOU AN ACADEMY AWARD.
KEVIN SCHNEIDER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE ASSISTANT PLANNER TO PROVIDE A BRIEF STAFF REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOU DO HAVE A MEMO IN YOUR PACKET REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION OF CONTINUANCE, SUPPLYING ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND.
NIKKI, CAN YOU PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT?
MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME.
THIS ITEM IS THE DESERT [INAUDIBLE] SECOND AMENDMENT WHICH ENTAILS ESTABLISHING [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL AS TO ADD MODIFICATION PROVISION UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION.
THE PROJECT AREA IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF [INAUDIBLE] REQUESTING FOR THE ITEM TO BE CERTAIN OF MARCH 3, 2021.
THIS WILL ALLOW STAFF IN THE DESERT SHORES MOTOR COACH RESORT, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, TO DISCUSS ELEMENTS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC DOCUMENT.
SINCE THIS ITEM WAS ALSO, A HEARING NOTICE WAS SENT OUT FOR THIS ITEM STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OPEN THE PUSH LICK HEARING AND ASK FOR PUBLIC -- PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS BUT TAKE NO ACTION AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF?
>> MISS GOMEZ WE RECENTLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR ACCESSORY DWELLINGS AND JUNIOR DWELLINGS CHANGING SETBACKS.
IS THIS PROJECT ASKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT OR TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT?
>> THIS IS SIMPLY TO ALLOW EXISTING KASEETTA IN THE DEVELOPMENT ALREADY TO
[8. CONSENT CALENDAR]
ESTABLISH A FRONT YARD SET BACK THAT IS TEN FEET.SO IT WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE SO THEY'RE ALREADY EXISTENT.
IN THIS COMMUNITY THEIR MOTOR COACH ITSELF IS THE LIVING FACILITY.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OCCUPYING [INAUDIBLE] A LIVING FACILITY ON ITS OWN.
SO IT'S AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE LIKE I WOULD SAY A PATIO COVER OF SOME SORT.
[9.a. Resolution No. 10190, adopting the Indio Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Plan (Kevin H. Snyder, Community Development Director) Recommendation: Approve]
IF I CAN JUMP IN, IF MR. SCHNEIDER CAN CORRECT ME, CURRENTLY THERE IS NO SPECIFIC FRONT SETBACK BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CODE WHAT WE DO AND WHAT IT REFERS TO IS THAT WE AVERAGE THE SETBACK AND SO THAT IS CURRENTLY 15 FEET.
THE HOA AND SOME OF THEY MEMBERS ARE REQUESTING THAT THAT BE CHANGED TO TEN FEET
[01:50:02]
AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT.THIS CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF APPLICATIONS WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE YEAR.
WE'VE APPLIED THIS PROCESS ADMINISTRATIVELY BUT UPON FURTHER REVIEW DETERMINED WE NEEDED TO MODIFY THE SPECIFIC PLAN IN ORDER TO FORMALLY ALLOW THE SITUATIONS TO HAPPEN AS DESCRIBED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>> KEVIN, IF THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ACCESSORY DWELLING, IS THAT UNDER NEW LAW LEGAL CONSIDERING SOMEBODY ELSE CAN BILLED IT.
AND I'M [INAUDIBLE] I'M CURIOUS.
IF SOMEBODY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BUILD ONE AND HAVE SOMEBODY LIVE IN IT, WHY CAN'T SOMEBODY THERE DO THE SAME THING BECAUSE MY RULES AT MY HOA SAYS WE CAN'T DO IT NOW BUT THE NEW STATE LAW SAYS WE CAN.
WHY WOULD THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DWELLING NEXT TO IT.
WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE DWELLING.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TERMINOLOGY IS CORRECT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE].
>> AND [INAUDIBLE] STATE LAW IS PREEMPTIVE BASED ON THE LEGISLATION PASSED THAT THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE REFERRING TO.
>> THIS SPECIFIC PLAN EMOTION TO DO WITH CASITAS.
>> ON THAT NOTE I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE NO REQUESTS.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME, DAN CROSS OF DESSERT SHORES.
AND -- WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN PARTICULAR WITH THE INDEMNIFYING LETTER THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE H A AND THE HOMEOWNER WHICH WOULD MAKE US THE ONLY DEVELOPMENT IN ALL OF INDIO WITH THE LETTERS AND AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE ATTORNEYS THEY ARE TELLING US IF SOMEONE SOLD THE PROPERTY IT WOULD HAVE TO COME PART OF THE DEED AND WE'RE CONCERNED IT MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROPERTY VALUE GOING FORWARD OF THAT UNIT IF THEY HAVE THE LETTER THERE AND WE'RE HOPING OUR ATTORNEY CAN DISCUSS THIS MORE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND SEE IF IF WE CAN'T COME COME UP WITH LANGUAGE THAT WOULD WORK FOR BOTH PARTIES.
>> MAYOR, IF I COULD, MR. CROSS IS REFERRING TO A CONDITION OF APPROVAL THAT WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF THIS, DEVELOPED BETWEEN STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND AS HE INDICATED THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION ON THIS BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE ATTORNEYS AND STAFF AND HOA REPRESENTATIVES SO THAT IS IN LARGE PART THE REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CONTINUANCE.
>> THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN STARTED.
SINCE WE'VE ASKED TO CONTINUE IT, I DON'T NEED TO TAKE.
>> IF YOU CAN REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL CONTINUE IT TO MARCH 3RD, I BELIEVE.
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS REOPENED AND THIS IS CONTINUED TO THE MEETING FOR MARCH 3.
>> IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
>> I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO MARCH 3, 2021 AND LEAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY MILLER AND A SECOND BY FERMAN.
>> THAT IS TO CONTINUE THIS TO MARCH 3.
>> THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING, ITEM 10B.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNTY MEMBERS.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LAST DISCUSSION ON THIS COUNCIL GAVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS.
THE PROCESS REQUIRES THAT WE ACTUALLY AMEND THE PLANS, THAT THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED TO EFFECT YOUR REACTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER TO PROVIDE A BRIEF STAFF REPORT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION OF ACTION.
>> COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? MR. GOMEZ?
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE SO -- EVERYTHING IS CONTAINED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT HAS HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL USE OF THE FUNDS AND ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN PUBLIC AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE FUNDING AGENCY IN THIS CASE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT LIKES TO SEE WHENEVER WE WORK WITH [INAUDIBLE] OR CDBG FUND, VERY PROCESS ORIENTED AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ORIENTED.
THIS HEARING PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE PUBLIC TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS OR COMMENTS IF THEY HAVE ANY REGARDING THE PROPOSED USE OF THE FUNDS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTION WE'VE RECEIVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OVER THE LAST FEW MEETINGS INCLUDING THE LAST ONE THAT WE HELD EARLY IN JANUARY.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND WE PROCEED WITH THE FUNDING OF TWO AGENCIES.
I WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT HAS BEEN STATED IN THE PAST THAT THESE FUNDS HAVE TO BE USED TO EITHER ADDRESS IMPACTS OF COVID OR PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID AND SO THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE END GOALS.
THE FIRST PROGRAM IS THE INTERWIRE AUTHORITY PROGRAM, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO ELIGIBLE WATER CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE PAST DUE WATER BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $110,000.
THE INTENT, TO ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED WAY OF DESERT.
THE OTHER PROGRAM IS THE ANNUAL RENTAL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THAT ONE WE HOPE TO PARTNER WITH [INAUDIBLE] WHICH IS EXPERIENCING THE VALLEY IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER AND LAST FALL.
THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM WITH THE COUNTY THAT WE WANT TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH AND HAVE IT WILL IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR TO THAT.
THE PROGRAMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HUD GUIDELINES.
SO AT THIS POINT WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST [INAUDIBLE] PRESENTED AND WE ALSO HAVE A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE RECEIPT OF THOSE FUNDS.
DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. GOMEZ? WITH THAT IN MIND I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO THIS? NO COMMENTS.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I CALL THE MOTION TO APPROVER THE AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 PLAN AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO [INAUDIBLE] AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER THE LATEST ROUND OF FUNDS AND DIRECT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, JUST THE BUDGET, AS REFLECTED IN THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.
>> I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MILLER.
>> MAY I MAKE A QUICK THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW THAT CRYSTAL GRANADDOA FROM UNITED WAY OF THE DESERT WAS MONITORING IT AND PROBABLY STILL ONLINE.
[10.a. Waive full reading, read by title only and introduce Ordinance No. 1759, approving the Second Amendment for the Desert Shores Specific Plan (Kevin H. Snyder, Community Development Director) Recommendation: Waive full reading]
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.WE WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THOSE WOMEN AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOU WILL A THE SUPPORT THEY'VE GIVEN US.
MAYOR FERMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEETING?
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF BRIAN SICKNICK.
MAY WE SEE BRIGHTER DAYS FOR THE COUNTRY AND CITY AND FOR THE HARD TIME WITH COVID AND THE FAMILIES, WE ARE STANDING BEHIND YOU IN THESE TRYING TIMES.
IT'S TEN MINUTES AFTER SEVEN ON THE 21ST OF JANUARY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 3 FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
[01:58:44]
WE ADJOURN.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.