[*This meeting was joined in progress* 4. CITY BEAUTIFICATION AND LITTER ABATEMENT ]
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>> MALE SPEAKER: OTHER COMMUNITIES, THERE'S A NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT USED TO BE MUCH MORE POPULAR, LITTLE AGE WHERE WE REMEMBER THE NATIVE AMERICAN OF COMMERCIALS OF KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AND THEY WOULD COME ON REGULARLY AND HE WOULD HAVE A TEAR IN HIS EYE IS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY THAT HIS ANCESTORS LEFT TO US OR WE TOOK FROM THEM AND HAVE NOT MAY BE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS WE SHOULD.
SIR, AS WE MOVE ON MAYBE AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS, BUT AFFILIATING WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFU IS ONE WAY FORMALIZING A PROGRAM.
SO THIS WEBSITE, AND IT GOES TO ALL THE ISSUES RELATED TO WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR PURPOSE AND MISSION.
AGAIN, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS THEY STAYED HERE ON THEIR WEBSITE, WE BELIEVE IN A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN CLEAN, GREEN, AND BEAUTIFUL SPACES.
THERE MAY NOT BE AN EXACT OR PERFECT CONNECTION TO ALL THE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, BUT CERTAINLY THERE WAS A CONNECTION TO SOME SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LETTER CONTROL, BEAUTIFICATION, LANDSCAPING, PARTICULARLY IF WE USE WISE IMPROVEMENT IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES WITH THE LANDSCAPING THAT IS INSTALLED.
QUICKLY, THE AFFILIATION PROCESS, THERE IS SOME RIGIDITY TO IT AND THAT THERE IS A FORMAL PROGRAM AND THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN QUALITY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL TOP LINE SO ALMOST ALL COMMUNITIES CALL IT KEEP INDIO BEAUTIFUL, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE STARTED OUR PROGRAM.
IT IS REQUIRED THAT THERE BE A TEAM OR A COMMITTEE FORM.
AND WHEN I SHARED THIS WITH MR. WALSALL AS WELL AS SARAH, THE THOUGHT IS, WELL, WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE, IF WE HAD THE FORMULA TO AFFILIATE, THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION COULD CONSIDER BEING THAT COMMITTEE, SINCE YOU ALREADY FORMED, AND I BELIEVE AGAIN THERE IS SOME LINKAGE TO THAT, WE WOULD NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE OR VOICE SUPPORT, AND THERE IS A FEE, BUT THE FEE COVERS SOME TRAINING.
I SHOULD ALSO ECHO THAT THEY RECOMMEND OR REQUIRE AN APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PROGRAM.
OF COURSE THAT COULD BE SARAH IF WE UTILIZE THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AS OUR GOVERNING BODY FOR THE EFFORT.
I KNOW THE TYPEFACE IS SMALL HERE, BUT THERE WAS A ONE-TIME FEE OF $4500, BUT THAT DOES PROVIDE TRAINING MATERIALS.
IT ALSO PAYS FOR AT LEAST ONE AFFILIATE NUMBER TO GO BACK TO CONNECTICUT FOR A DAY AND A HALF TRAINING ON WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, AND THEN THERE WAS AN ANNUAL FEE OF $345.
SO THE COST OF THE PROGRAM, THE AFFILIATION, RATHER, IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT.
WHAT PROGRAMS, IDEAS, EFFORTS THAT THE COMMITTEE COMES UP WITH IS CERTAINLY A COST TO THAT.
WE NEED TO ALLOCATE A BUDGET FOR IT.
BUT THERE IS GREAT FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST AS WELL AND OTHER PARTNERS.
JERRY MENTIONED HOA'S CAN BE A PARTNER IN THAT, OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M INVOLVED IN THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF INDIO.
DO ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO ON THE ROTARY CLUB.
THOSE ARE THE GROUPS THAT TYPICALLY BECOME PART OF THE PROGRAM.
MANY PROGRAMS DEVELOP AMBASSADORS, SO IT'S A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO PAINT WALLS, PICK UP TRASH, HELP COORDINATE CHURCHES AND SCOUT TROOPS AND SERVICE CLUBS FOR CLEANUP DAYS AND OTHER BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS.
ONE PROGRAM I WAS A PART OF WAS IN NEW MEXICO CALLED CAPE TOWN THE BOAT A BEAUTIFUL.
I WANT TO SHARE -- WHAT DO I DO WITH THAT, HOW DO I SHARE ANOTHER -- I WILL HAVE TO SHARE ANOTHER SCREEN HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE YOU TO THEIR WEBSITE.
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IF I CAN FIND IT.[INAUDIBLE] ANYWAY, IT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA, LET ME LOAD UP HERE.
BUT AS I DO THAT, THEN I MIGHT HAVE, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> MALE SPEAKER: JUST AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, IRONICALLY WITH THE CLIMATE SIMILAR TO OURS.
A LOT OF SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS WHEN IT COMES TO LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION.
I'M JUST SCROLLING DOWN TO SHOW THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO DONATE AND VOLUNTEER.
BUT HERE IS THE LINKS, THEY HAVE A FOUR PRONG EFFORT: ENDING LITTERING, IMPROVED RECYCLING, COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION, THEN SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS.
HERE PAST PROJECTS WERE THEY DID SOME TURF CONVERSION, DID SOME ENTRY LANDSCAPING, SOME GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAMS AS WELL.
I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 5000 AFFILIATES.
I MIGHT BE WRONG AND THAT NUMBER OF KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.
SO IF WE WANTED TO HAVE A CONCERTED, ORGANIZED BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM, THIS IS ONE AVENUE TO DO IT.
KEEP AFFILIATING WITH KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.
IF WE DO SO, WE NEED A COMMITTEE AND WE NEED A DESIGNATED DIRECTOR OR MANAGER SO THE IDEA WAS TO SUGGEST TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN SUCH A CAPACITY, IF THE DECISION IS THAT WE SHOULD AFFILIATES.
IF NOT, WE WOULD SOLICIT VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY GET FIVE TO SEVEN THAT WOULD WANT TO SERVE AS OUR PROJECT COMMITTEE.
MAYBE FOR BOTH OF YOU, MORGAN AND JERRY, INITIAL THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, IS IT A WORTHY EFFORT? DO YOU THINK IT FALLS UNDER THE SCOPE OF THE COMMISSION?
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN THREE WELL-DEVELOPED.
SO WE ACTUALLY COULD INSERT INDIO IN THERE AND BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: CUT AND PASTE AND COPY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: YES, RIGHT.
NO USE REINVENTING IT UP IT ALREADY EXISTED.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: THE THE WHEEL IS ALREADY AROUND, RIGHT? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TOO.
I THINK WE COULD DEFINITELY, EVERY CITY CAN MAKE THEMSELVES MORE BEAUTIFUL, OURS INCLUDED.
THIS COMMISSION BEING A PART OF IT, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT IF THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO GO THAT WAY.
QUICK QUESTION: TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WITH CITY COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO APPROVE THIS, CORRECT?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: YES THAT'S PART OF THE REQUIREMENT.
AND WE WOULD WANT TO ALLOCATE A BUDGET AS WELL.
THERE IS MONEY THERE THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO IT.
YES, IF THE COMMISSION WERE INTERESTED, AND WE CAN RELY ON THE TWO OF YOU, NOT THAT THERE'S FORMAL ACTION TAKEN, AND ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE A RESOLUTION AND ASKED THE COMMISSION TO BE THE COMMITTEE.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: BEAUTIFUL TRAINING AND AFFILIATION WITH THEM.
LIKE, HOW MUCH OF THE TEMPLATE DO THEY GIVE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO ADHERE TO, IS THERE A LOT OF PLAY FOR LOCALIZATION, OR IS IT VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD OF CERTAIN THINGS YOU DO AND WHAT KIND OF, HEAVY THOUGHT OF? DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHAT INDIO, KEEP INDIO BEAUTIFUL WOULD ENTAIL?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THERE IS SOME RIGIDITY WITH REGARD TO THE NAME AND THE COMMITTEE.
AND THEY WANT SOME REGULAR REPORTS.
I BELIEVE ITS ANNUAL, WE SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT.
IF YOU'RE AN AFFILIATE, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING, USING THEIR NAME SO THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE TO THEM.
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BUT OTHER THAN THAT, TO YOUR QUESTION, IT IS LOCALLY CUSTOMIZED.YOU WILL SEE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT CLEARLY, OR ONLY IT'S A LITTER PICKUP PROGRAM.
OTHERS LIKE THIS ONE KIND OF BROUGHT IN AND OUT TO MANY OTHER PROJECTS.
THIS ONE THAT I WAS A PART OF, LITERALLY, THIS WAS ALMOST 26 YEARS AGO, A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT WE USED OUR COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS DURING BUDGET TIME.
SO THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW CUSTOM IT CAN BE.
IF WE USE NONSUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES AND PLANTINGS, I THINK WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE OFF-TRACK FROM WHAT THEY REQUIRE OF US.
I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY POLICE THAT.
BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE WOULD WANT TO DO ANYWAY AS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE IN THE BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS ANYWAY.
BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF SHOWERS -- FLYERS AND BROCHURES.
THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS, WHICH WE COULD, AND YOU HANDOUT PENCILS AND, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEY WANT THEIR TAGLINE ON ALL OF THOSE MATERIALS.
THAT'S ABOUT ALL THAT'S REALLY REQUIRED AND THE REST IS TESTIMONY.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: WHA IDEAS, DO YOU HAVE IDEAS OF PROJECTS YOU WOULD WANT TO DO OR THINGS YOU WANT TO TALK AND TACKLE OFF OF THE BAT WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ONE OF YOUR IDEAS.
ONE OF THEM IS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTY PROGRAM HAS COME INTO PLAY THAT SARAH CAN SPEAK TO, BUT IT WOULD BE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO TAKE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, FIND SOME LEADERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DO SOME LOCALIZED BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE OTHER SELECTS MAIN THOROUGHFARES, SO MONROE IS ONE OF THOSE THAT THAT JERRY SPOKE TO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE INTERSTATE, FINDING WHERE AS WE DRIVE DOWN THE ENTRYWAY, MONROE, JEFFERSON, JACKSON, WHERE CAN WE IDENTIFY BUSINESSES, PROPERTIES, LANDSCAPE AREAS TO MAKE IT A MORE ATTRACTIVE ENTRY FOR THE COMMUNITY? HIGHWAY 111 WOULD BE ANOTHER FOCUS.
THE OTHERS WOULD BE A REGULAR LITTER PICKUP PROGRAM, TRYING TO ADOPT AND FIND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD ADOPT SEGMENTS OF, SAY, HIGHWAY 111.
SO THE ROTARY CLUB TAKES JEFFERSON TO MADISON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH OUT THERE SUPPLEMENTING WITH THE CITY DOES, BUT ONCE A MONTH THEY ARE OUT THERE PICKING UP TRASH ON THAT SEGMENT.
THE NEXT SEGMENT MAY BE A QANTAS CLUB OR A HIGH SCHOOL BAND.
FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK THOSE HAVE COME TO MY MIND.
WHO ELSE HAVE WE SPOKEN TO? EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL IS PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.
WE WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PROPERTY AND DO A BETTER JOB.
SO WE CAN WORK WITH GROUPS, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, WE CAN GIVE AWARDS FOR THE MOST ATTRACTIVE YARD MONTHLY, THE MOST IMPROVED YARD, SHOW BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS.
WE GET VOLUNTEERS AND BUSINESSES THAT CAN DONATE OR MAYBE GET AN OLDER LADY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF HELPFUL RESOURCES AND A LOCAL BANK PROVIDES US $3000 TO HELP PAINTER HOUSE, VOLUNTEERS GO OUT AND DO IT.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE, BECAUSE OF WHEN YOU STARTED WITH THIS, TALKING ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICANS BEING PART OF THIS, WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY HERE, BECAUSE I THINK WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS AND WE DO IT UNDERNEATH THE UMBRELLA OF A SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, WE'VE ALREADY GOT PROTECT, DESERT ARC, AND WE HAVE THREE TRIBES THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
I THINK WE CAN GET THEM TO GET ON BOARD.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: BRYAN, WHAT KIND OF BUDGET WOULD YOU THINK WE WOULD NEED ON TOP OF OBVIOUSLY THE $4500 IN THE $300 A YEAR?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: GOO QUESTION.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME AB 939 MONEY, SOME RESOURCES THERE.
THE SUPPLEMENT THAT, PERHAPS SOMETHING LIKE A $30-$50,000 OPERATIONAL BUDGET, AND THEN THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS WOULD BE PART OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN THEORY LOGICALLY.
ENTRYWAY, GATEWAY MONUMENTS, SOME COULD BE $100,000, PROCREATION.
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BUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF MAY BE BETWEEN 30 AND 50,000.AS YOU MENTIONED, VERTEX, THE RACE DOLLARS ARE USUALLY GOOD FOR MAYBE $10,000 A YEAR FOR A GRANT, DONATION.
SO IT CAN SUPPLEMENT WHATEVER THE CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO SET ASIDE WHEN WE GET DONATIONS.
>> SARA: WE DO HAVE THE AB 393 FUNDS AND WOULD FALL UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.
WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY FOR THAT AS WELL.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: PICKUP EFFORTS, SARAH?
HOW COULD A 930 9B -- >> SARA: I THINK THE LITTER PICKUP IS SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY USE THAT FOR.
IT IS PART OF THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
I KNOW THAT IT FALLS UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: DID WE TALK ABOUT TAKING SOME OF THAT MONEY IN DOING THOSE TRASH CANS IN THE WATER, MOUNTAINS ON CEILING?
WAS THAT A DIFFERENT -- >> SARA TOYODA: THAT IS DIFFERENT.
THAT IS A DIFFERENT FUND AND WE ARE STILL PURSUING THAT.
AB 939 IS A BIT BROADER AND COVERS A FEW MORE THINGS AND CAN CERTAINLY BE USED FOR THIS.
IT WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE BOTTLE FILLERS IN THE WATER FOUNTAINS AND ALL OF THAT.
IT WOULD NOT TAKE AWAY AT ALL.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: COPY THAT.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S GENERAL INTEREST.
THERE ARE A FEW MORE STEPS TO TAKE.
I WOULD ASSUME THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE.
THE REST OF YOUR COMMISSION, WE SHOULD PROBABLY ENGAGE AS WELL, EVEN IF IT'S INFORMAL ONE ON ONE.
THERE'S NO REAL ACTION ITEM THAT WE ARE ASKING NECESSARILY BE TAKEN.
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AFTER THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL.
WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A VOTE.
IF COUNCIL SAID YES, DOES THE COMMISSION WANT TO BE THE COMMITTEE OR NOT? THAT'S PROBABLY A VOTE THAT WILL COME BACK.
WHEN IS THE NEXT MEETING? YOU WANT TO SCHEDULE ONE MAYBE? 30, 45 DAYS?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: THE NEXT SCHEDULE IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 26.
SO MAYBE, SARAH, FOR RELIEF, EVEN TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF WHAT THE COUNTY IS PROPOSING.
IT IS SIMILAR TO THIS, MAYBE NOT AS EXPANDED.
>> SARA TOYODA: IT IS SIMILAR.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY HAS A LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM.
AND SO, IT IS FOCUSED MORE ON LITTER PICKUP AND BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO CLEAN UP THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT IS VERY FOCUSED ON BEING A LETTER PICKUP PROGRAM.
IT DOES NOT REALLY BROADEN OUT TOO MUCH FROM THAT, BUT IT IS FAIRLY TURNKEY AND THERE IS A MAP ONCE IT IS BROUGHT OUT TO AN AREA, PEOPLE CAN JUST SIGN ON OR SIGN UP EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR WITH A FAMILY AND CLEAN UP AN AREA, BIG, SMALL.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY COULD USE, PICK UP THINGS, THEY ARE ALL KIND OF BRANDED IN THE SAME WAY: KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL.
IT HAS THE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BRANDING.
AND THEN IF THE FOLKS WANTED TO, THEY COULD PUT A PIN ON THE MAP AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE MAPS OF WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DONE CLEANUPS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
THERE IS ALSO A BACK END TO THE WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH LITTER IS BEING PICKED UP AND HAVE SOME TANGIBLE NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO USE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND THEY ARE WORKING ON BRINGING IT OUT TO THE DESERT CITIES THROUGH OUR STORMWATER PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, IT IS TAKING A BIT OF TIME AND I HAVE TALKED TO THEM RECENTLY.
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW HANGUPS TO BRINGING IT OUT.
I THINK IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN IF WE JUST DECIDED TO JOIN KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AND I THINK HAVE A LITTLE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL BESIDES LITTER CLEANUPS.
BUT IT IS ANOTHER OPTION, OR IT COULD BE A WAY TO START OR WE COULD DO BOTH.
IT WILL EVENTUALLY COME OUT TO THE VALLEY.
IT'S JUST TAKING A LITTLE LONGER THAN ANYONE WANTED IT TO.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: WE HAVE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY ON THAT LITTER FREE EVENTS TO TIE THAT INTO THE FESTIVALS.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: I THINK SO.
I THINK TYING EVEN THE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THIS EFFORT, YOU SEE ON THIS EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR PROJECTS POINT MALLARD PROJECT, ADOPT
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THE SPOT, WE COULD HAVE A LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMPONENT.BUT SOME OF THE EFFORT I KNOW IS TO TRY WHAT THE COUNTY IS THINKING WISELY IS NOT TO DO IT FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT INSPIRE THE COMMUNITY TO DO IT THEMSELVES, STARTING WITH KIDS, EDUCATION.
THE TEXAS PROGRAM, NOW, THEY ARE ONE OF THE FIRST AFFILIATIONS.
THEY DON'T CALL IT KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL, THEY CALL IT TOSS, NO LOSS.
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THAT BEFORE.
IT TAKES YEARS TO INDOCTRINATE EVERYBODY, BUT THEY BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT, INSPIRING PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PROPERTIES.
TYPICALLY WHEN SOMEBODY REALLY MAKES A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN HER PROPERTY IN A RUNDOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, IT IS CONTAGIOUS.
IT'S CONTAGIOUS IN A NEGATIVE WAY IF THERE IS THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY, OR IF YOU IMPROVE IT, SOMETIMES OTHERS FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO DO THE SAME THING.
AGAIN, THAT IS THE EFFORT I THINK THE COUNTY WANTS, IS TO TAKE SOME PRIDE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: SARA AND BRYAN, DO YOU THINK LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD NOT HAVE AN ISSUE OF THAT COMING UNDERNEATH KEEP INDIO BEAUTIFUL, OR DO THEY NEED TO BE SEPARATE? CAN THEY BE COMBINED? IS THAT GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC TO DO IT TOGETHER?
>> SARA TOYODA: I DON'T FEEL IT WILL BE PROBLEMATIC AT ALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF BORING OUT OF THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL EFFORTS TO BEGIN WITH.
WE COULD START OUT REACHING TWO PEOPLE.
THAT IS SO TURNKEY, YOU KNOW, TAKE SOME PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM, AND AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN DO, AS JERRY WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND BRYAN, MAYBE BRINGING ON SOME OTHER SPONSORS ARE LOOKING MORE AT COMMERCIAL TO SEE IF THEY CAN, ARE WILLING TO KIND OF BROADEN THAT OUT TO HIGHWAY 111 WHERE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A NEIGHBORHOOD BUT WE STILL HAVE ISSUES.
THEY CAN DEFINITELY RUN A CONTENTION.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION, AND MAYBE IT IS A LITTLE OFF TOPIC, BUT SINCE THE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS A COUNTY BASED PROGRAM, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO -- WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING THE COUNTY PUT IN HH W LOCATION IN INDIO, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO THROUGH THAT OR IS IT COMPLETELY SEPARATE?
>> SARA TOYODA: THAT WOULD -- WE COULD BRING UP THE TOPIC THROUGH IT, BUT IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE PROCESS.
THAT HAS TO DO WITH LAND-USE DESIGNATIONS AND WHETHER WE HAVE AN AREA.
AND IT WOULD BE A WAY TO REACH THAT SUBJECT BUT IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE A PART OF IT.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: W CANNOT USE IT AS A SHORTCUT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, NO WORRIES.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: HERE IS AN INTERESTING COMPONENT: ASKED TWO MULTIFACETED PROGRAM IS TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES.
SO YOU PAY $25 FOR THIS CLUB CARD, AND IF YOU SEE, YOU GET DISCOUNTS AT AREA BUSINESSES.
SO THIS CARD ONLY COSTS THE PRINTING OF THE CARD.
BUSINESSES, YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THEM INTO THEIR STORES AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM AND THEN THAT RAISES MONEY FOR THE PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT A NOVEL IDEA, BUT IT'S ALSO HOPING THE BUSINESSES ARE GETTING BUSINESSES ENGAGED.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: YOU ARE SAYING TO SUPPORT A PROGRAM, THESE BUSINESSES TAKE SOME OF THAT, TODAY MAKE DONATIONS TO THE PROGRAM?
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: THE MIGHT, BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS THEY ARE AGREEING TO GIVE 10 PERCENT OFF TO ANYONE WHO BUYS ONE OF THESE CARDS.
WELL, IF YOU SELL 600 OF THESE CARDS, WHAT IS THAT, $10,000 THAT DID NOT COST THE PROGRAM ANYTHING? AND IF YOU ARE APPLEBEE'S, YOU KNOW YOU PROBABLY JUST BROUGHT SOMEONE IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT MAY BE WILL NOT COME AS OFTEN AND YOU WILL MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY WITH THE 10 PERCENT YOU GAVE UP.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: I THINK THAT'S KIND OF NEAT.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS, NOT DISCOUNTING IT IN ANY WAY, BUT CONCERNING THAT I WOULD HAVE IS PEOPLE BUY THIS CARD AND THEY FIND OUT THAT THE BUSINESS, THE BUSINESSES ON THE LIST DO NOT ADHERE TO A SUSTAINABILITY MANTRA, FOR
[00:25:02]
LACK OF A BETTER TERM.THEY DON'T REALLY DO ANYTHING.
THEY ARE TOSSING THEIR FOOD, TOSSING THE TRASH, NOT RECYCLING.
SO I WOULD WORRY THAT THERE COULD BE -- IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD TODAY.
PEOPLE TO RESEARCH AND THEY KNOW STUFF.
SOCIAL MEDIA, THINGS CAN TAKE OFF, AND I WOULD HATE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BE UNDERMINED BECAUSE JOE'S SANDWICH SHOP IS, YOU KNOW, THERE TRASH IS ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY ARE ON THIS LIST.
IF THAT WERE EVEN A PROGRAM WHERE THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO DO, YOU ARE RIGHT, WE PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO VET THOSE BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE.
BUT IT'S JUST A WAY TO RAISE MONEY.
SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME THAT IF YOU HAD LIKE A CHURCH SOCIAL AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP, YOU ASK SOMEWHAT EACH OF THEM TO BRING COOKIES FOR BRING THE SALAD.
SO NOW YOU FEEL OBLIGATED TO GO BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE ASKED TO BRING SOMETHING.
SO THE THEORY HERE WITH HARVEST IS LET'S GET PEOPLE INVOLVED.
SO NOW ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE SPONSORS OF THE PROGRAM AND PEOPLE THAT CARRY THOSE CARDS ARE LIKE, HEY, I HAVE COMMITTED THE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS.
I AM A CARD HOLDING MEMBER, YOU KNOW? SO THE ANALOGY IS YOU ARE GETTING PEOPLE, YOU ARE BRINGING THEM IN BY HAVING THEM COMMIT TO SOMETHING.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT.
ANOTHER THING TO DO, BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, COMMUNITY CLEANUPS.
WHILE WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THOSE, A PROGRAM LIKE THIS CAN ORGANIZE THOSE GEOGRAPHICALLY.
VERTEX COULD HELP US WITH ROLLUP CONTAINERS AND WE COULD JUST TARGET CERTAIN AREAS TO TRY TO CLEAN UP AND HAVE, WHETHER IT'S HOUSEHOLD WASTE OR JUST BULKY FURNITURE, SPRING CLEANING, GREEN WASTE TO HELP CLEAN UP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: THE WHOLE THING IS GREAT.
IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO PUSH OUT THE BULKY ITEM PROGRAM.
I COULD DEFINITELY BE PART OF THIS AND THE OUTREACH.
I'M SO NEW HERE, WHAT THEY ALLOW BY WAY OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SCHOOLS AND ASSEMBLIES AND SO FORTH, BUT WE WANT TO GET INFORMATION, SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION FOR THESE KIDS AND THIS IS ONE VENUE OR ONE FUN WAY TO DO IT.
IF WE ARE GIVING THEM COLORING BOOKS AND PENCILS AND BALLOONS OR HATS OR T-SHIRTS THAT CARRY THE LOGO.
I ALSO TOLD THE STORY TO MY TEAM, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY PARENTS, ONE WAY THEY GOT ME TO BEHAVE IS THEY SAID MONTGOMERYS DON'T DO THAT, WHATEVER THAT WAS, RIGHT? SO I THOUGHT, I'M A MONTGOMERY, I CAN'T DO THAT, I CAN'T THROW TRASH.
BUT WHEN YOU ARE LIKE, NO, I WANT TO KEEP INDIO BEAUTIFUL.
I DON'T LET MY PROPERTY GO APART.
I DON'T THROW CRAP, OIL AND WASTE DOWN THE SEWER.
THERE IS A PRIDE ELEMENT I THINK OF KEEP AMERICA, KEEP INDIO BEAUTIFUL THAT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL AS A MODEL ELSEWHERE, BUT IT COULD WORK HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO EDUCATE ADULTS TOO, RIGHT? I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THROWING TRASH OUT OF THE MOVING CAR WAS NOT A BIG DEAL UNTIL THE CRYING, YOU KNOW, SPOKESPERSON.
YOU KNOW, THOSE PSA'S AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON TOP OF THAT AND BILLBOARDS AND THE FINES THAT PEOPLE WOULD GET FOR TOSSING TRASH OUT.
AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE SIDES OF THE FREEWAYS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT TODAY THAN THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, 40, 50 YEARS AGO.
BUT WE DO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS DEFINITELY WORK TO DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
WORK WITH BUSINESSES FROM THEIR LOCATIONS IN OTHER LOCATIONS AND GET THE KIDS, THEIR PARENTS, GET THEIR PARENTS TO SAY WE DON'T DO THAT, THAT IS A BIG MOTIVATOR BECAUSE, YEAH, YOU LEARN THAT AS MANY WAYS WE CAN GET IT OUT THERE AND IT WILL STICK.
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: I'M GLAD YOU ARE BOTH INTERESTED.
THERE ARE HANDFUL OF MORE STEPS TO TAKE.
AND MAYBE WE CAN TRY AGAIN, SARA, ON 26 OCTOBER?
[00:30:02]
>> BRYAN MONTGOMERY: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE TO CHAT ABOUT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: THANK YOU, BRIAN.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: APPRECIATED BEFORE THANK YOU.
>> SARA TOYODA: SO I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE CAN WAIT UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OR TALK ABOUT?
>> COMMISIONER TACK: DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE 26 OR CAN YOU GET THE THREE OF US TOGETHER ON A ZOOM CALL IN BETWEEN? BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
>> SARA TOYODA: WELL, NOW, BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: OH, YEAH.
IT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING AND HAS TO BE POSTED IN ALL THAT CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, RIGHT? WHAT IS IT, 30 DAYS OR FOUR DAYS?
THERE IS QUITE A BIT TO TALK ABOUT.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: IF CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION, AND IT TIES INTO SOMETHING WANT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, WHICH IS MY NEW JOB STARTING NEXT TUESDAY, I WILL BE UNAVAILABLE IN THE EVENINGS MOVING FORWARD EXCEPT FOR MONDAYS.
SO PERHAPS, IF I MAY SUGGEST, WE CAN HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING ON A MONDAY NIGHT IF IT'S POSSIBLE, AND THEN TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE MAKE UP FOR THIS MEETING, IF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE STAFF, WE CAN MOVE MONDAY MEETINGS TO MONDAYS IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE ON OTHERWISE WE CANNOT CONTINUE ON AS A COMMISSIONER.
UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE DAYTIME.
I WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FROM 3:00 ON.
AND WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT.
SEE IF WE CAN OBVIOUSLY BRING IN CHAIR PATTERSON.
BUT MONDAYS ARE PRETTY OPEN IN GENERAL.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AT 24 HOURS.
IT'S A SHORTER NOTICING PERIOD.
SO THE 11TH COULD WORK AT, SAY -- >> COMMISIONER TACK: EVEN THOUGH IT HAS COLUMBUS DAY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS A BIG ISSUE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WHETHER IT'S DAY OR NIGHT, I THINK WE WERE ORIGINALLY DOING THIS AT NIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO SHOW UP AT THE CITY HALL UNTIL THE ZOOM, WE CAN DO IT DURING THE DAY.
I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH MONDAYS.
ARE YOU OFF COLUMBUS DAY, SARA?
WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND QUICKLY AND TRY THE FOURTH.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: I'M OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON THE FOURTH.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: OR THE 12TH DURING THE DAY? BEFORE I CAN DO THE 12TH DURING THE DAY BUT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN AN IT PERSON IS AVAILABLE, WHICH THERE IS SOME TIME.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: S WHY DON'T WE PENCIL IN THE 12TH AT 1:00 P.M.? IF NOT, THEN WE WILL DO THE 18TH AT 5:00 P.M.
>> SARA TOYODA: THERE WAS ANOTHER MEETING AT 3:30, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT -- ON THE 12, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.
THE 18TH SEEMS REASONABLE AS WELL.
I WILL SEE IF I CAN GET THE 12TH AT 1:00.
I WILL SEND OUT A CONFIRMATION EMAIL, IF I CAN SET THAT UP.
AND I WILL SEND OUT THE NOTICING.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: AND THEN YOU LIVE STREAM THIS, SO MAYBE YOU CAN IN THE LIVE STREAM TO PATTERSON SO HE CAN, TO SPEED.
>> SARA TOYODA: HE CAN WATCH IT BEFORE ON THE WEBSITE.
SO IF YOU COULD CONTACT HIM AND TELL HIM TO WATCH IT, BE PREPARED TO -- >> SARA TOYODA: I WILL.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: TELL HIM WE HAVE A WARM SEAT ON THE BUS FOR HIM WE WANT HIM ON.
[LAUGHTER] >> COMMISIONER TACK: TELL HIM WE WILL CHIP IN AND BUY HIM A WATCH.
>> SARA TOYODA: YES, FOR SURE.
HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON THE 12TH AT 1:00 AND WE WILL JUST GO AHEAD
[00:35:07]
AND GET THIS VOTED ON.>> COMMISIONER TACK: IF HE'S NICE, WE WILL THROW IN A CALENDAR TOO.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: GET ME A WATCH TOO ON THAT.
>> SARA TOYODA: ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS.
>> VICE CHAIR BENTSEN: THANK YOU, I GUESS.
>> SARA TOYODA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COMMISIONER TACK: SOUNDS GOOD.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.