[6. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL EXTERNAL/INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND REPORT ON MEETINGS ATTENDED PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53232.3(d)]

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED FOR THE GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 52232.

SO LET'S START IT OFF WITH WAYMOND.

[00:10:01]

MR FERMON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START THIS FOR US PLEASE?

>> ACTUALLY, CAN YOU START WITH SOMEONE ELSE, I JUST GOT CONTACTED BY RESIDENTS, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM BEFORE I START.

>> ELAINE? MAYOR PRO TIM HOLMES, WOULD YOU MIND?

>> SO THERE WERE A FEW THINGS HAPPENING THIS MONTH.

ONE IS I ATTENDED THE PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU MEETING, ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM THAT WAS JUST NOT A HAPPY MEETING AT THIS POINT.

THE TOLL THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND THE INDUSTRY IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE.

SOME OF THE STATISTICS OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOB ARE PHENOMENAL, THERE IN THE THOUSANDS.

CBB HAS FURLOUGHED MOST OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, THE HOTELS HAVE FURLOUGHED THOUSANDS, UPON THOUSANDS, UPON THOUSANDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, AS HAS THE RESTAURANTS IN MANY OF THOSE HOTELS.

I'M LOOKING AT MY MY NOTES HERE BECAUSE I TOOK ABOUT THREE PAGES OF NOTES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SIGNIFICANT, IT WAS MIND BOGGLING.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FINANCIALS.

THE FORECAST FOR THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD IN TIME WAS 2.4 MILLION, WHAT IT WAS REVISED DOWN TO WAS $365,000.

THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, FOR JUNE THE FORECAST WOULD HAVE BEEN $8.3 MILLION, IT'S NOW DOWN TO A 178,000.

SO THAT EQUATES TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF WORK, PEOPLE THAT ARE CHALLENGED.

IT EQUATES TO AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

NOW, FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A PLANNING, PERHAPS POSITIVE NEWS.

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN 600,000 JOBS THAT WERE LOST IN THE MONTH OF MAY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

THERE IS NOW A PLAN, WE'RE MOVING FROM STAY AND WAIT TO RESPONSE AND RECOVERY.

I WAS ON A CALL TODAY WITH THE CBB AND THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF VISIT CALIFORNIA.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW THIS COMES BACK, HOW THIS EVOLVES.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CBB IS DOING IN CONJUNCTION WITH VISIT CALIFORNIA ARE THINGS LIKE STAYCATION BEFORE VACATION.

WE UNDERSTAND AS THINGS VERY SLOWLY OVER TIME AS WE ANTICIPATE, THAT THEY MAY OPEN AGAIN VERY SLOWLY OVER TIME.

THAT THE POINT IS PEOPLE MAY NOT BE JUMPING ON A PLANE OR TRAVELING FAR, BUT THEY'LL BE TRAVELING FROM THE LOCAL DRIVE MARKETS.

SO WE WANT TO REALLY LOOK AT AND FOCUS AT THE DRIVE MARKETS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A THREE-PHASED APPROACH.

STAYCATION BEFORE VACATION, AND THEN CALLING ALL CALIFORNIANS.

COME ON DOWN, COME TO PALM SPRINGS, GREATER PALM SPRINGS, COME TO THE TO THE RESTAURANTS, THE HOTELS.

AGAIN, THIS IS A FUTURE PLAN IN ANTICIPATION THAT COME THE FALL AND INTO SPRING NEXT YEAR, THERE WILL BE SOME FORM OF OPENING.

THE ANTICIPATION IS 72 PERCENT OF VISITS FROM A TOURISM PERSPECTIVE ARE EITHER COME TO CALIFORNIA OR ALREADY IN TO CALIFORNIA.

SO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE USED TO DO ABOUT REACHING PEOPLE OUT OF STATE AND OUT OF THE COUNTRY HAS NOW BEEN REFOCUSED, AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE LOCAL DRIVE MARKET.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TOOLKIT.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HAVING CONVERSATIONS AGAIN, WITH A HOSPITALITY.

SO A LOT OF PLANNING GOING ON.

THERE IS ALSO THE COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PROTECTION PLAN AND SUPPORT FUND.

AS WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OSCAR MADE THE COMMENT, PEOPLE THAT MAKE A LIVING ON TIPS.

ABSOLUTELY THAT HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN EVERY SIGNAL FORM HAS BEEN HIT HARD, AND THAT RELATES TO PEOPLE.

SO THE GREATER PALM SPRINGS PUT TOGETHER A SUPPORT FUND FOR THE TOURISM FOUNDATION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY'RE WORKING FOR LIVE TO RISE.

THEY'VE CURRENTLY RAISED $6,000, AND THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE $200 PER PERSON PER WEEK.

THEY'RE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

THERE IS OVER 22,000 PEOPLE SEEKING HELP, AND HENCE THE CONTINUED AND ONGOING DRIVE, YOU CAN GO TO THE CBB WEBSITE TO PROVIDE SOME DOLLARS OR CONTRIBUTE.

THE GOAL IS $200 A WEEK TO THOSE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

AIRPORT CAPACITY LESS THAN HALF.

WE WORKED VERY HARD FOR MANY YEARS TO GET THE AIRLINES HERE TO PALM SPRINGS.

[00:15:03]

THAT WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO DRIVE TOURISM, DRIVE THE LARGER HOTELS, DRIVE THE LARGER COMPANIES TO COME IN AND HAVE MEETINGS.

SO THAT IS ALL BUT DISAPPEARED.

LOOKING REALLY AT 2021, PRETTY FAR INTO THE FUTURE TO THE LEVEL OF WHICH SOME OF THAT MAY COME BACK.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION, SOME COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT BOOKING SMALL MEETINGS.

THERE IS A CONVERSATION, THE IDEA BEING WHEN YOU HAVE A COMPANY THAT IS PUTTING TOGETHER A PRIVATE MEETING, THEY CAN CONTROL THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ETC.

SO THEY'RE STARTING TO BEAT PHONE CALLS AND CONVERSATIONS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT WILL PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

THE NEXT THING I ATTENDED WAS A TRANSPORTATION MEETING.

THINGS ARE STILL GOING ON, THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AND ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, CV LINK, WELL, WHAT BETTER TIME? I WISH MORE OF THE CV LINK WERE OPEN TO PEOPLE BECAUSE THE ONE THING WE CAN DO IS GET OUT THERE AND RIDE OUR BIKES, AND WALK, AND HIKE.

SO ORIGINALLY, THE PLAN FOR CV LINK TO ROLL OUT WAS, IT STARTED OUT WITH ABOUT 10 MILES AND IT HAS NOW GONE UP TO 20 MILES OF CV LINK BEING BUILT, AND IT'S GOING TO START AT THE VISITOR CENTER AT TRENVILLE, TAHQUITS CREEK, OF COURSE, THAT'S THE WEST END.

MOVE DOWN PALM DESERT FROM PORTOLA WITH THE BUMP AND GRIND TRAIL HEAD.

IT'S GOING TO COME INTO LA QUINTA.

IT'S GOING TO COME TO INDIO AVENUE 50 THROUGH 56, AND IT'S GOING TO TOUCH ON COACHELLA.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MILES, BASED ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING, $29 MILLION WAS RELEASED, AND SO THAT IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE END OF THE YEAR.

REQUEST FOR BIDS IS GOING TO GO OUT JUNE OR JULY.

ANTICIPATE AN AWARD DATE VERY SOON AND THAT AUGUST TIME-FRAME, AND THEN WORK TO BEGIN.

I GUESS THERE'S ONE GAP IN INDIO, WHERE INDIO IS CONCERNED, AND THAT IS NEGOTIATING [NOISE] THE RIDE AWAY AT UNION PACIFIC.

SO ANY HELP I THINK THAT WE CAN GIVE, THE CVAG WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

SO THAT WAS THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE TRANSPORTATION MEETING.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR THE COACHELLA VALLEY'S FAIR SHARE IN STATE OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, AND THE FUNDS.

SO MANY OF THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO LARGER CITIES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE ALSO HAD A SELECTION OF THE CVAG, THE SCAG, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I JUST FORGET WHAT THE A IN SCAG STANDS FOR, IT JUST SLIPPED MY MIND.

ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE FOR SCAG, IT WAS SELECTED IN RUSSELL BETTS FROM DESERT HOT SPRINGS WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENTS.

COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID, FIRST OF ALL, OUTSTANDING, WE HAVE SEVEN NEW POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE SWORN IN.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE DAY IN THE CITY OF INDIO.

I DON'T THINK SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE EVER BEEN SWORN IN AT THE SAME TIME IN THE CITY.

I KNOW IN YEARS PAST WE HAVE HAD OUR CHALLENGES.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT, TO PUT THESE FOLKS THROUGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH THE ACADEMY, AND TO REALLY CREATE THE PATH, AND THE PLAN TO BRING SEVEN NEW FOLKS ONBOARD, POLICE OFFICERS IS NOTHING SHORT OF MONUMENTAL.

VERY EXCITED, VERY PROUD, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, CHIEF FOR THAT.

THEN I WANT TO END WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE AS WELL.

I AM A MEMBER AS IS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER LUPE RAMOS AMITH.

WE'RE ALL MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF INDIO, ALL HAVE A TREMENDOUS AND DESIRE TO FIND WAYS TO HELP IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

WE DELIVERED SANDWICHES.

ACTUALLY, THE PRESIDENT, BONNIE, WORKED WITH TKB TO DELIVER SANDWICHES TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON, NOT JUST THE LUNCHTIME CROWD, BUT TO MORNING, NOON IN EVENING SHIFT, A 24-HOUR SHIFT WORTH OF SANDWICHES, WELL OVER 223 SANDWICHES TO JFK.

VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE.

THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING LONG HOURS.

THEY'RE WORKING ERRATIC HOURS AND OFTEN DON'T GET HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES, AND JUST THAT EFFORT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

AFTER THAT, WE THEN WENT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND PROVIDED SANDWICHES

[00:20:01]

TO THE NATIONAL GUARD THAT ARE TAKING CARE OF THINGS AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, AND THAT IS JUST ONE WAY THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB HAS REALLY BEEN REACHING OUT TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO, REALLY PROUD OF THAT ORGANIZATION, AND THAT ENDS MY COMMENTS.

>> MR. FERMON [NOISE]?

>> SURE, I COULD GO NOW.

[NOISE] READY, AND FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

I HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING OKAY OUT THERE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DURING THIS TRYING TIME.

FIRST, I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO WISH ALL OF OUR NURSES OUT THERE A HAPPY NURSES DAY AND WEEK, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF OUR MEDICAL PERSONNEL, FIRST RESPONDERS AND ALL ESSENTIAL WORKERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY A FLOAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND AND THIS HARD TIME.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, OUR VOLUNTEERS, WHO HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLAGUE, AND REALLY TOOK CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS TRYING TIME.

I WANT TO CONTINUE ON THE SAME SPIRIT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES.

I WENT OUT LAST WEEK WITH TRYING TO GROUP USA, AND I WAS CONTACTED AND I ASKED FOR ADVICE FOR, WE COULD SERVE SOME HOT LUNCHES.

SO WE WENT OUT TO YUCCA PARK OUT HERE IN INDIO, AND WE SERVED 250 HOT MEALS TO FOLKS COMING OUT, AND ALSO PPE EQUIPMENT THAT TRYING TO GROUP USA DONATED TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND FROM THERE, WE WENT OVER TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY RESCUE MISSION AND DONATED ANOTHER 250 HOT MEALS TO THE RESCUE MISSIONS.

SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S GOOD THINGS GOING ON, GOOD ACTS OF KINDNESS AND HUMANITY, AND THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF INDIO.

ALSO, BEFORE I COMPLETE MY REPORT, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY MANAGER, MARK SCOTT, OUR CITY ATTORNEY ROXANNE DIAZ, AND OUR CITY STAFF WHO WORKED REALLY HARD DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CITY OF INDIO, YOU'LL STILL SEE THAT OUR CITY IS STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, WE HAVE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS GOING ON.

I SEE OVER HERE DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, SOME OF OUR CITY WORKERS ARE WORKING THIS MORNING.

SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR CITY MANAGER FOR REALLY KEEPING OUR CITY WORKING, AND WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE NOT WORKING, WITH A FULL-STAFF.

CITY STAFF IS CUT IN HALF AT THIS TIME, SO IT'S HARD TO GET ALL THESE TASKS, ALONG WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THINGS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AS A CITY WITH THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO CLOSE BY BRINGING UP AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE HERE IN INDIO, AND IT WENT VIRAL OVER THE INTERNET, AND IT'S TURNING OUT TO BE A GOOD THING.

I LIKE TO FIND POSITIVITY OUT OF THINGS WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND IT WAS INVOLVING SOME PASS BUYERS, PATRIOT AND A STREET VENDOR AND I'D MADE A SMALL LITTLE INTERNET VIDEO AND REACHED OUT TO THIS STREET VENDOR TO LOCATE HIM, TO PROVIDE HIM SOME ASSISTANCE DURING THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF FOLKS LOOKING FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.

SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO SEE SOME OF THE STREET VENDORS OUT THERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT WFERMON@INDIO.ORG.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER, "STAY HOME, STAY SAFE" ORDER.

SO I REALLY LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY TO THESE FOLKS DURING THIS TIME, SO THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE WORKING AT THESE 100 PLUS DEGREES, AND ALSO PROVIDE RESOURCES, SO WHEN THIS, "SAFE HOME", ORDER IS LIFTED, THEY WILL BE WORKING LEGALLY WITHIN OUR CITY WITH THE PROPER PERMITTING.

I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CITY FOOD TRUCKS CEO, ERIC RUSSELL, WHO WAS ALSO A CITY OF INDIO EMPLOYEE AND HE'S WILLING TO ASSIST, WILL GET IT IN THE PROPER PERMITTING.

SO SOMETHING THAT STARTED OUT TO LOOK LIKE A BAD SITUATION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT BE GOOD, AND WHEN THIS STORY WENT OUT, I'D SEEN THAT INDIO WAS LABELED TO IT, I WANT IT TO GO AT BACK OUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE WITH INDIO LABELED TO IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF INDIO, THAT'S THE CITY OF FESTIVALS, AND WHEN THIS PANDEMIC IS OVER, WE ARE GOING TO REBOUND AND WE'RE GOING TO BE STRONGER THAN EVER.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MR. MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MR. FERMON, I CONCUR WITH YOU ON OUR CITY STAFF AND ALL THEY'RE DOING.

[00:25:01]

SO APPRECIATED VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, ALSO ALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR STAFF.

SO MR. ORTIZ?

>> HI. SO YEAH, I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

I JUST WANTED TO ECHO MOSTLY WHAT WAYMOND SAID, ABOUT THANK YOU TO OUR ALL OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, AND OUR MEDICAL WORKERS OUT THERE, OUR NURSES AS WELL, I KNOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WHAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO PROTECT EVERYBODY FINANCIALLY, AND TO PROVIDE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN.

SO PLEASE REACH ON OUT IF ANYBODY NEEDS HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, OR WHETHER IT'S FOOD BANKS, WHATEVER IT IS.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP OUR INDIO CHAMBER, IT'S AVAILABLE AS WELL EVERY DAY FROM, I BELIEVE IT'S 8:00- 4:00 O'CLOCK.

THEY'RE ANSWERING THE PHONES AND TRYING TO DIRECTLY ANYBODY TO ANY RESOURCES THEY NEEDED.

SO YEAH, JUST THANK YOU, AND TO EVERYBODY ELSE, HANG IN THERE.

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AND PLEASE BEAR WITH US, IT'S A VERY TOUGH SITUATION. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DARK SINCE THE PANDEMIC, SO WE'VE NOT MET.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF THEY'RE FACING ANY CRISIS AS FAR AS FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC INCOME, OR BUSINESS INCOME AT THIS TIME, TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO THEIR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER WHO HAS A HOST OF PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN MAKE AVAILABLE TO, WHETHER THEY'D BE RESIDENTS, INDIVIDUALS, OR BUSINESSES.

THEY HAVE ASSISTANCE WITH EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH THE PANDEMIC BENEFITS.

THEY ALSO HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESSES AND LANDLORDS, TO TAKE BENEFIT OF THE ECONOMIC DISASTER INJURY LOANS AND TODAY, THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY STARTUP AND MICRO LOANS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.

SO IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT, A BUSINESS, A LANDLORD, OR ANYBODY IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO ASSIST YOU DURING THIS PANDEMIC CRISIS.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO HAVE TO GO INTO DEFAULT OR NOT HAVE INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY, IF THERE'S SO MANY BOTH FEDERAL STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

THERE'S ONE LOCATED IN INDIO, CALIFORNIA, AND THEY CAN POINT YOU IN THE DIRECTION AND HELP YOU APPLY FOR WHATEVER BENEFITS YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR. THANK YOU MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU, MS. AMITH.

ON MY COMMITTEES THEMSELVES, I HAD TWO THAT WERE ACTIVE.

THE FIRST ONE WAS SUNLINE BOARD.

AS YOU KNOW, SUNLINE IS STILL WORKING AND THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR BUS SYSTEM HERE.

THEY ARE TAKING A HIT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT WORKING AND ALSO THAT ARE UNABLE TO USE THE BUS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO USE IT.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THEIR REVENUE HAS GONE DOWN.

SO THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO GET INTO SOME OF THEIR RESERVE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO SHORE UP THEIR BUDGET.

THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME NEW TRANSPORTATION BUSES, WHICH ARE THE GENERATIONAL BUSES FOR THE HYDROGEN CELL.

THEN ALSO WE HAVE DIPPED INTO OUR RESERVES FOR THE TAXI COMPANIES SO THAT WE COULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TAXI FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY ON THEIR ONE YEARLY ALLOTMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO BE A TAXI CAB COMPANY IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY.

SO WE'VE KNOCKED OFF $20,000 TO EACH ONE OF THE CAB COMPANIES SO THAT WE WOULD HELP WITH THEIR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

THE SECOND ONE WAS THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ALL OUR RESERVE FUND MONEY THAT'S TAKEN OUT.

ROB ROCKWELL, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ALONG WITH OUR TEAM, IS DOING A GREAT JOB OF INVESTING YOUR MONEY, EVEN AS THIS DOWNTURN IS STARTING TO GO.

WE'VE HAD GREAT INVESTMENTS BECAUSE WE'VE PLANNED FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY.

SO A LOT OF OUR FUNDS WERE PUT IN ACCOUNTS THAT WERE CONTINUING TO GET GOOD ASSET DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST ON. SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

THEN A LOT OF ZOOM MEETINGS.

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS SAID IT. OUR MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE SEVEN NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND CONTINUING TO STRUCTURE THAT. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

EVERYTHING IS ON ZOOM NOW.

WE DID WOMEN'S CLUB OF INDIO.

I DID A KESQ OF ALL THE MAYORS IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY, TALKED ABOUT THE COVID-19, CORONAVIRUS.

I'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM CDAR, WHICH IS A REALTORS WEBINAR AND WHAT THEY WERE FACING IN THAT.

SO IT'S A NEW DIFFERENT KIND OF WORLD.

I PUT THE BACK OF MY DROP WAS SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE COUPLE OF TIMES THEY ASKED ME WHY AND THERE'S THE BRIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND, I TELL THEM JUST IN CASE I NEED THE JUMP AND IT WAS ALREADY THERE.

BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD AND SO WE'RE [INAUDIBLE].

BUT AS WAYMOND FERMON, OUR COUNCILMEMBER SAID, THERE IS SO MUCH GENEROSITY GOING ON IN OUR VALLEY, SO MUCH GENEROSITY IN THE CITY OF INDIO.

WE HAVE SUCH GREAT RESIDENTS AND STAFF AND BUSINESSES.

OVER THE LAST MONTH, I WOULD SAY WE'VE DONATED ABOUT 10,000 MEALS,

[00:30:01]

A COMBINATION OF ALL OUR DIFFERENT AGENCIES HERE.

TONY ROMERO FROM THE SAATCHI ENTERPRISES, WHICH IS OUR COMMERCE AREAS FOR OUR FOOD TRUCK.

JOHNNY COMPANY USA HAS DONATED FOOD, DESTINY CHURCH HAS DELIVERED, LOVE OF CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH HAS DELIVERED.

MARIO'S IS FEEDING 500 PEOPLE IN INDIO EVERY MONDAY.

I MEAN, THERE IS JUST AN OUTREACH.

SLICE PIZZA, NOTHING BUNDT CAKES, AND PALM DESERT.

THERE' S JUST AN OUTPOUR OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FROM OUR HOSPITALS AT JFK, TO OUR FAIRGROUNDS, TO OUR FIND FOOD BANK, WHO RIGHT NOW IS DOING OVER 30 PERCENT MORE DELIVERIES.

WE HAVE OUR NATIONAL GUARD OUT ON THE MORNING RUN AND IN THE AFTERNOON RUN, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, INCLUDING MATHIS BROTHERS WE DID THIS SUNDAY, WHERE 500 MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED VERY QUICKLY.

SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY FOR BEING SO GENEROUS DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT STRONGER.

THEN THE LAST PART IS ON WEDNESDAY AT 11 O'CLOCK, WE WILL HAVE CHANDI USA AND A COUPLE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND COUNCILS WELCOME TO COME OUT.

HE IS GOING TO BE DONATING 3,000 MEALS TO INDIVIDUALS.

IT SHOULD BE UP ON OUR CITY WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WHERE WE WILL BE PASSING OUT AND AS CARS GO BY AND WE'LL BE PUTTING IN PRE-PACKAGED MEALS, 3,000 OF THEM, INTO PEOPLE'S VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HOME AND EAT PRE-PREPARED MEALS.

SO I WANT TO THANK KIM AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

BROOKE BEARE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB FOR US AS OUR INFORMATIONAL OFFICER, HAS CONTINUED TO HIGHLIGHT AND UPDATE OUR CORONAVIRUS WEBSITE.

PLEASE, IF YOU NEED ANY KIND OF SUPPORT OR ANY KIND OF INFORMATION, EVERYTHING IS ON INDIO.ORG.

SO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT AND IF YOU NEED SUPPORT, SUPPORT AND HELP IS HERE, INCLUDING FIND FOOD BANK.

LOOK AT WHERE THERE'S LOCATIONS THAT YOU CAN PICK UP FOOD.

IT'S USUALLY STAPLES; FOUR OR FIVE POUNDS OF FRESH MEAT AND USUALLY FRESH MILK.

YOU DON'T NEED TO QUALIFY, YOU JUST NEED TO GO UP, TELL THEM HOW MANY IS IN YOUR PARTY AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU THE STAPLES YOU NEED.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A HELPING HAND.

SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY THAT IS OUT THERE, PLEASE HELP THEM OUT.

THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOTHER OUT THERE.

NOW, OUR NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE MOTHER'S DAY COMING UP HERE VERY SHORTLY.

SO ALL THE MOTHERS OUT THERE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO TO RAISING US AND CONTINUING TO BE OUR ROCKS AND SUPPORT, AND WE WISH YOU A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

SO THAT ENDS MY REPORT AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 7, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE CITY MANAGERS REPORT TO THE VERY END AND MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE WE

[8. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]

HAVE STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME AFTER THE REPORTING SO THAT WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MEMBERS HERE.

SO IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 8, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NOT ON THE AGENDA, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES ON A SUBJECT THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS?

>> I DO HAVE ONE PERSON.

>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO BE READ IN THE RECORD? I'M SORRY.

>> NO MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]

>> HI. THIS IS ERICK LINUS WITH COACHELLA VALLEY IMMIGRANT DIGNITY COALITION.

I'M CALLING TODAY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS WE KNOW WE'RE ENTERING IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

EACH YEAR WE HOLD A MAY DAY RALLY IN THE CITY OF INDIO.

SO I JUST FOREMOST WANTED TO THANK THE CITY OF INDIO FOR HOSTING MAY DAY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY AS YOU KNOW, IN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY DO NOT ALLOW US TO HOLD A RALLY, BUT THIS YEAR WE DID HAVE A DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IN WHICH THE THEME OF OUR CAMPAIGN WAS "WE ARE ESSENTIAL." SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE CITY OF INDIO OF THE LONG RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAD.

ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE INDIO CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALSO BEING ESSENTIAL TO ASSISTING US DURING OUR MAY DAY.

WE DEFINITELY HAD THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND [INAUDIBLE] ASSIST US AND HELPING US TO FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION, BUT ALSO SHOWING THAT THE CITY'S SUPPORT AND ALSO FOR OSCAR, WHO ACTUALLY SPOKE IN OUR LAST MAY DAY.

SO AS WE KNOW, THE HISTORY OF MAY DAY IS REALLY TO RECOGNIZE OUR INDIVIDUALS AND OUR HARD WORKING COMMUNITIES WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY PLACED.

[00:35:02]

A HEAVY MAJORITY OF OUR HARDWORKING COMMUNITY IS BASED ON THE EAST VALLEY INDIO, COACHELLA AND SO FORTH.

SO WE HAVE COACHELLA VALLEY IMMIGRANT DIGNITY COALITION WHICH SEEK TO UPLIFT THE NEEDS OF OUR HARD WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY, WHICH IN THIS TIME HAS CHANGED ESSENTIALLY STILL AT HEALTH PHASE, MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF WITH THEIR HEALTH NEEDS.

BUT ESSENTIALLY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN, AND AS I HEAR SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE MAKING, THERE IS A HARD HIT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT [NOISE] THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN OUR HARDWORKING COMMUNITY ARE TIPPINGS AND OUR ECONOMY HAS GONE DOWN.

WE KNOW SO MORE THAN EVER THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES FACE, AND SO HOUSING IS STILL SOMETHING IN THE MAJORITY.

WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE STORIES AS WE'RE COMING FORTH TOGETHER ARE NECESSARILY SHAPED WITH SO MUCH FEARS OF EVICTION.

BUT ALSO WHAT IS GOING TO BE NEXT AND WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO TAKE TO SEND SOLIDARITY AS A FORM OF SYMBOLISM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF INDIO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY STANDING WITH THEM? SO WITH THAT [INAUDIBLE] , COMING TO THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE AND TO UPLIFT SOME OF THOSE [INAUDIBLE] SOME TALKED ABOUT AS THE PAYMENT TIME PASSES.

SO WE'RE ASKING THE CITY JUST TO PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT, RECOGNIZE OUR INDIVIDUALS, OUR COMMUNITIES [NOISE] AND PUT SOMETHING FORTH THAT WOULD STAND IN SOLIDARITY.

JUST IN RECOGNITION, WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE HAD A STANDING SOLIDARITY WITH MAY DAY.

SO IT HAVE BEEN ASIAN PACIFIC LABOR ALLIANCE AT INLAND EMPIRE, [INAUDIBLE] , CV ART CENTERS, CV VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE, CALIFORNIA PHARMACEUTICAL, [SPANISH] COUNCIL OF MEXICAN FEDERATION, [SPANISH] , [INAUDIBLE] , [SPANISH] , FAMILY JEWISH SERVICES OF THE DESERT, EMOTION HANDS OF HUMANITY, [SPANISH], [INAUDIBLE] FOUNDATION, TODEC LEGAL CENTER, UNITED DOMESTIC WORKERS, SIGMA BETA PHI (PHONETIC) INC, UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 1167, [INAUDIBLE] FREEDOM.

SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STAND IN SOLIDARITY.

WE JUST COMMEND THE CITY AND TO HELP US AND CONTINUE UPLIFTING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR HARDWORKING COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.

CITY CLERK, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT'S IN THE QUEUE?

>> NO. THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL COMMENTS.

>> OKAY. THEN I WILL END THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PERIOD, AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 9,

[9. CONSENT CALENDAR]

WHICH IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEMS A THROUGH F. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY AGENDA ITEM OR WANTS TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION? [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.

>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION.

TAKING HER OFF MUTE, IT TAKES AN EXTRA SECOND.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS NOTED.

>> WE HAVE OUR FIRST FROM MAYOR PRO TEM, HOLMES. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCIL MAYOR FERMON, AND IF WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER RAMOS AMITH.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER FERMON.

>> AYE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER ORTIZ.

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, HOLMES.

>> AYE.

>> MAYOR MILLER.

>> AYE. PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.

WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10,

[a. Presentation for Council Direction regarding the FY 2020/2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Allocation in the amount of $870,977 and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding Allocation in the amount of $512,368 (Kevin H. Snyder, Community Development Director) Recommendation: Provide Input & Direction]

WHICH IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM. WE HAVE ONE OF THEM TODAY.

IT'S THE PRESENTATION FOR THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTIONS REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020, '21 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG, FUNDING ALLOCATION AMOUNT OF $870,977, AND THAT CORONAVIRUS AID RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING ALLOCATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $512,368.

THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE PUT TOGETHER BY OUR CITY MANAGER AND ALSO MR. KEVIN SNYDER, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

SO THEY'RE JUST GETTING THEIR WHITEBOARD HERE PRESENT AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IT UP HERE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE IT.

HE'S GOT SOME NUMBERS, FACTS, AND FIGURES PUT ON IT AND WITH WHAT PROGRAMS AND WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON.

SO BEAR WITH US FOR A SECOND. [NOISE]

>> I NEED TO --

>> YOU NEED A HAND MIC TOO.

CAN WE GET A HAND MIC, PLEASE.

ONE FOR MR. SNYDER TOO SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SHARE.

>> I GUESS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS CAN ANYBODY SEE THE WHITEBOARD?

>> WE CAN NOW. NOW IT'S ON THE SCREEN.

YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT VAGUE.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

>>THERE YOU GO.

>> OKAY. NOW, IF I CAN GET MY HEAD OUT OF THE WAY, WE'RE OKAY.

>> YOUR PERFECT.

>> OKAY. THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT RELATES

[00:40:03]

TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, CDBG.

WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL YEAR IN THAT WE HAVE OUR REGULAR ENTITLEMENT MONEY THAT THE CITY RECEIVES EVERY YEAR.

ON THE BOARD HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT WE GOT $870,977 THIS YEAR IN REGULAR CDBG ENTITLEMENT.

WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THAT MONEY A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, AND I'LL REFERENCE THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.

WE ALSO HAVE $275,000 THAT IS CARRY-OVER MONEY FROM WHAT WE STARTED LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE YET.

THAT INCLUDES THE DR. CARRY-ON PARK PROJECT FOR $200,000 AND $75,000 OF WORK AT THE SENIOR AND TEEN CENTER.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S $305,000 WHICH WE'RE CALLING REPROGRAMMING FUNDING.

THAT IS MONEY THAT WE HAD IN OUR PLAN FOR LAST YEAR THAT HAS NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO ANYTHING YET.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL COULD REPROGRAM THAT FOR BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO SPEND IT ON.

THEN FINALLY, THIS YEAR WE HAVE AN EXTRA ALLOCATION OF CDBG THAT CAME THROUGH THE CARES ACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $512,000.

WE BELIEVE THERE WILL BE MORE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING THAT WILL INCREASE THAT AMOUNT.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS THIS $1.9363 MILLION.

OUT OF THAT, WE HAVE INDICATED HERE USING $174,000 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

THAT'S THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALLOCATED IF THAT WAS THE ONLY NUMBER WE GOT UP THERE AT THE TOP.

SO WE'RE NOT MAKING THAT NUMBER BIGGER BECAUSE WE GOT MORE MONEY, 174,000 IS BASICALLY THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED UNDER THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR FAIR HOUSING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE DONE A $19,000 ALLOCATION TO THE INLAND FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM THAT IS SHOWN HERE.

THE DR. CARREON PARK PROJECT, WHICH RIGHT NOW I'M ASSUMING, COUNCIL CAN CHANGE THIS, BUT I'M ASSUMING THE CITY WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT PROJECT.

WE WORKED ON SPORTS FIELDS AND PICNIC AREAS THERE.

SO WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO WITH THAT PROJECT UNLESS THE COUNCIL PULLS THE FUNDING.

THE 75,000 FOR THE SENIOR AND TEEN CENTER IS MINIMAL COMPARED TO WHAT WE NEED, BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE SPENDING THAT.

THAT LEAVES THE COUNCIL WITH A TOTAL OF $1.495 MILLION THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED TOWARD PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY MAY WISH TO DO IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY HAS QUALIFICATIONS, WHAT IT CAN BE SPENT ON AND WHAT IT CAN'T.

I THINK THE CITY COUNCIL IS PRETTY AWARE OF WHAT THOSE ARE.

THE OPTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO CHOOSE FROM THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED SO FAR INCLUDE FUNDING OF CERTAIN PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS COACHELLA VALLEY RESCUE MISSION, WHICH LAST YEAR WE FUNDED $42,000; FIND FOOD BANK, LAST YEAR WE FUNDED 19,000; MARTHA'S VILLAGE WE DIDN'T FUND AT ALL LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, AND I PUT INLAND FAIR HOUSING.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO ON THESE THREE COLUMNS IS SHOW THE COUNCIL WHERE YOU MAY WANT TO SPEND THE $1.49 MILLION.

SO INLAND FAIR HOUSING IS ANOTHER ENTITY THAT WE COULD FUND.

NOW, COUNCIL MAY HAVE OTHER ENTITIES YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS LIST, BUT THAT'S WHERE I START WITH TODAY.

THE NEXT CATEGORY IS CAPITAL PROJECTS.

IN THE PROGRAM THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE INCLUDED A PROJECT FOR STREET LIGHT REPLACEMENT.

THAT WAS $640,000.

NOW, THAT'S CHANGING OUT TO MORE EFFICIENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS, LIGHTING UP SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE CDBG ELIGIBLE.

WE THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD PROJECT.

[00:45:01]

WHETHER OR NOT, GIVEN ALL THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES, THAT'S WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO SPEND THE MONEY THIS YEAR, THAT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL.

THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET FOR 640,000.

SO A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT WE HAD TO SPEND WAS BEING USED FOR THAT PROJECT IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO APPROVE IT.

THERE'S OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS THE COUNCIL MIGHT PREFER TO PUT UP HERE, AND IF SO, THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU.

THEN FINALLY, THE RIGHT-HAND COLUMN, I LISTED PROGRAMS THAT ARE CDBG ELIGIBLE.

THE FIRST THREE, WE DON'T HAVE THESE PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW, WE JUST PUT THESE ON THE LIST AS ALTERNATIVES THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER.

NOW, I GOT TO TELL YOU, BREATHING THROUGH A MASK, IT'S GETTING HOT. [LAUGHTER].

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT THE NURSES, AND THE DOCTORS, AND THE MEDICAL WORKERS.

I'VE BEEN TALKING FIVE MINUTES AND I'M ABOUT OUT OF IT NOW.

RESIDENTIAL RENT SUBSIDIES OF DIFFERENT SORTS.

WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC PROGRAM DESIGNED, BUT IF THE CITY WANTED TO ALLOCATE A CHUNK OF CDBG MONEY, THAT IS A SOURCE THAT'S POSSIBLE.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED TODAY THAT THE NEW PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY PUT OUT YESTERDAY, THE TWO NEW LOAN PROGRAMS, ONE OF THE TWO CALLED THE MICRO-LOAN PROGRAM, IS ONLY PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY TO CDBG ELIGIBLE CITIES THAT GET THEIR MONEY THROUGH THE COUNTY.

I THINK IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY, THAT INCLUDED COACHELLA, [INAUDIBLE] DESERT HOT SPRINGS, I BELIEVE.

WE DON'T GET OUR MONEY THROUGH THE COUNTY, WE GET A DIRECT ENTITLEMENT.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THAT, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, I SHOULD SAY.

I'M ACTUALLY JUMPING TO SMALL BUSINESS.

OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WEREN'T ELIGIBLE, BUT WE COULD DO OUR OWN PROGRAM.

WE COULD DO OUR OWN SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM AND PROVIDE THIS.

IN FACT, WE COULD COPY THAT PROGRAM EXACTLY IF WE WANTED TO TO OR WE COULD DO OUR OWN, BUT IT IS A CDBG PROGRAM FUNDING SOURCE.

SO THAT'S TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS AN AVAILABLE SOURCE.

BACK ON RESIDENTIAL RENT SUBSIDIES, AGAIN, AS LONG AS PEOPLE QUALIFY UNDER CDBG INCOME LEVELS, WE COULD DO A PROGRAM THAT COULD SUBSIDIZE RENTS FOR RENTERS.

I PUT AN ITEM UP HERE THAT WAS LEGAL AID OR HOUSING COUNSELING.

THE REASON THAT'S UP THERE IS THAT WE ALL HAVE TALKED AT GREAT LENGTH ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE WITH THEIR LEASES WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A PROLONGED PERIOD WHERE THERE ARE RENT DELINQUENCIES BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

GETTING TO THE END OF THE ABATEMENT PERIOD OR MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO NEGOTIATE NEW CONTRACTS OR PAYMENT PLANS, OR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO WITH THEIR LANDLORDS.

DOING THAT IS NOT A SIMPLE TASK, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POSSIBILITY IN SUPPORT FROM LEGAL AID OR HOUSING COUNSELING GROUPS THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO HELP PEOPLE SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL SITUATIONS.

SO WE PUT THAT UP THERE THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD FUND SOME EXTRA STAFF EITHER WITH INLAND FAIR HOUSING OR SOME OTHER GROUP THAT DOES THAT KIND OF WORK.

THEN, TWO PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

THE MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WE JUST STARTED LAST YEAR, WE WERE PUTTING THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO FOR $200,000.

WE'VE HAD THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

WE HAVEN'T SPENT A LOT ON IT YET, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER OPTION.

IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM AND WE'VE JUST BARELY GOTTEN IT STARTED.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION TO PUT MONEY.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, IT'S ONLY $32,000, THE PROGRAM WE'VE DONE WITH THE YAC GROUP, THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.

AGAIN, IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM.

THEY'VE DONE VERY GOOD WORK.

IT DOESN'T COST A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN WORTHWHILE.

THEN FINALLY, THE LAST THING ON THE LIST IS AN EXPANSION REALLY.

I SAID NEW MEALS ON WHEELS, IT'S REALLY AN EXPANSION OF THE MIZELL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MORE MEALS THROUGH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AND PERHAPS SOME DELIVERY OF MEALS AS WELL.

WE ONLY PUT $50,000 ON HERE.

[00:50:03]

IF YOU KNOW MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS, YOU COULD EASILY GO HIGHER THAN $50,000.

AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SIGN UP, YOU NEED MORE AND MORE FUNDING, BUT THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS WE PUT ON THE BOARD.

THE STAFF REPORT ON THIS IS VERY TECHNICAL, VERY DETAILED, AND WHAT IT DID WAS IT IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC OPTIONS FOR FUNDING.

THE FIRST OPTION WAS THE SAME REPORT THAT THE COUNCIL HAD RECEIVED A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, AND THEN THE OTHER OPTIONS WERE VARIATIONS OFF OF THAT.

WE PUT THOSE THINGS TOGETHER LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE STAFF THEN HAS TO TURN AROUND TO FILE THE APPLICATION WITH HUD.

THE COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE THREE OPTIONS, THE COUNCIL CAN MOVE THE MONEY AROUND WHATEVER CATEGORIES YOU WISH, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE THIRD ATTACHMENT TO THAT REPORT IS AN ATTACHMENT.

I THOUGHT [INAUDIBLE] DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS.

THEY ACTUALLY CONTACTED SEVERAL OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR FUNDING AND WORKED WITH THEM ON WHAT PROGRAM ELEMENTS MIGHT BE FUNDED, WHAT KIND OF MEASUREMENTS MIGHT BE DONE TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM, THE KIND OF CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO HUD IN ORDER TO GET OUR FUNDING.

SO THE STAFF HAS JUMPED IN THERE AND DONE SOME WORK AHEAD OF TIME TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHENEVER THE COUNCIL SAYS GO, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO START MOVING ON IT, BUT YOU CAN SEE WITH MUCH MORE DETAIL HOW THAT KIND OF MONEY WOULD BE SPENT.

WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS DETAIL ON HOW RESIDENTIAL RENT SUBSIDY WOULD WORK, HOW SMALL BUSINESS LOANS WOULD WORK.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D NEED THAT DETAIL ON THE LEGAL AID, BUT IF THE COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN THESE CATEGORIES, WE'LL GET BUSY AND COME UP WITH SOME DEFINITION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

SO THAT'S MY REPORT AND I WILL STAND BY FOR COUNCIL INPUT.

>> ALL RIGHT. ONE PERSON WANTS TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, SO LET'S LET THEM SPEAK REAL QUICK, THEN WE'LL JUMP INTO US BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER DISCUSSION.

[BACKGROUND]

>> I DO A LOT OF ZOOM MEETINGS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF INDIO WHICH IS THE CITY MANAGER'S EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION IN THE REPORT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.

I THINK IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER, HOLMES DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES THAT THE SENIOR COMMUNITY IS HAVING.

FOOD BANKS, I'VE SEEN HAVE AMPLE RESOURCES, BUT GETTING RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IS CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY WITH TRANSPORTATION CURRENTLY BEING LIMITED, AND THEY'RE FACING SOME PARTICULAR CHALLENGES, JUST GETTING PEOPLE MOVED AROUND THE VALLEY, THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SOME TYPE OF SAVINGS PROGRAM.

IT'S IMPORTANT OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW TO ADVANCE OUR TOURISM AND CONSUMERISM.

BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT PROMOTING GOOD SAVINGS, AND IF THE CITY COULD LOOK INTO POTENTIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY WOULD DO LIKE A MATCHING GRANT FOR ANYBODY WHO SAVE TOWARDS A PARTICULAR GOAL, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP BETTER PREPARE FOR THE NEXT TIME THAT I THINK THIS MIGHT HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK MANY, MANY MEDICAL HUB EXPERTS ARE SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST WAY THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENED IN PAST OR IT WAS JUST THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN THE SECOND WAVE HIT, AND WILL GET EVEN HARDER.

IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE PREPARED FROM INVESTMENT PERSONAL SAVINGS ARE A GOOD LONG WAY TO GO THERE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS, AND ANY IDEAS AND THOUGHTS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A GOOD THING.

WELL, MR. SNYDER, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE? LET'S GO.

MR. FERMON, WHY DON'T YOU START, AND WE'LL GO OSCAR, LOOPY, AND THEN ELAINE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT FOR THIS EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION.

[00:55:05]

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STICK OUT TO ME, I KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSION FOR COVID ISSUES, BUT SOME OF THE SUBSIDIES THROUGH THE GRANT FUND, I THINK, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK IN THE FUTURE, THERE'S GOING TO BE THESE DIFFICULTIES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE.

SO I THINK WE COULD GET OUR FRONT WITH SOME OF MONIES THAT WE ALREADY HAD ALLOCATED TO US, SUCH AS THE $512,000.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THAT GOES TOWARDS HELPING FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN ACTUALLY SHOW THAT WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE IN THAT EFFORT.

SO I LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THAT HAPPENED.

ALSO, THE DOCTOR CARRY ON PROJECT.

I'M VERY ADAMANT ABOUT THAT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT STILL GO FORWARD, I SEE IT'S STILL ON YOUR WHITEBOARD.

ALSO, AS FAR AS SOME OF THE STREET LIGHTS, I THINK THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT WHAT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS TO SEE SOME OF THOSE GOING ON.

I'M ALSO IN AGREEMENT AND AS SOME OF THE FUNDING INTO THAT MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR OUR SENIORS.

WE KNOW WE DO HAVE A LARGE SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF THIS PANDEMIC, AND WHAT THE FUTURE'S GOING TO HOPE FOR THEM.

ALSO, OUR CV RESCUE MISSION.

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED PROBABLY MORE HELP IN THE FUTURE.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO REALLY HAD TO DIG DEEP AND LOOK AT THOSE ENTITIES ARE NOT PROFIT.

SO WE ARE ASSISTING IN THE FUTURE TO GET OUR FOLKS PASS THIS DIFFICULT TIME NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE.

>> IS THAT IT, MR. FERMON?

>> THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>> MR. ORTIZ?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, CITY MANAGER, I'D LIKE THREE OF THE OPTIONS.

ONE OF THEM, THE RENT SUBSIDIES.

I THINK THAT ONE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH UNITED WAY.

THEY'RE ALREADY DOING MORTGAGE RELIEF FUND, WHERE THEY GIVE $500 OUT TO RESIDENTS, AND MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIO RESIDENTS.

THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THE SCREENING AND ALREADY HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SET UP FOR THAT.

THE SECOND ONE THAT I REALLY LIKE, I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON SOMETHING FOR RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROBABLY SOME OF THE LATEST TO OPEN AS FAR AS INDUSTRIES GO, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MONEY SET UP NOT FOR LOANS, BUT ACTUALLY FOR GRANTS TO GIVE OUT TO OUR FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY.

THE THIRD OPTION THAT I REALLY LIKE IS THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AS WELL.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THE REST OF THE COUNCIL FEELS ABOUT THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER FUNDS, FOR MEASURE X FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AS BACKUP.

BUT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SAVINGS FROM THIS.

I DON'T KNOW MAYBE WOULD COME FROM HERE OR FOR MEASURE X. I'M NOT SURE WHICH IS BE SPENDING ALL OF IT AT ONE TIME IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALLY COMING AHEAD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. ORTIZ. MS. AMITH?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. CITY MANAGER, I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.

ON THE LEGAL AID HOUSING COUNSELING, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? WHAT PRICE TAG MIGHT BE ADDED TO THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DID AN OE, OR WHAT MORE CAN YOU GIVE ME ON THAT PROPOSAL?

>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FACED A SITUATION QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE.

MY THOUGHT ON THAT WAS THAT WE COULD FUND SOME STEP.

CDBG MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT ON INDIO PEOPLE.

IT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT THAT IT HAS TO BE SPENT ON WITHIN THE AREA OF THE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.

SO IF WE WORKED WITH AN ENTITY, A LEGAL AID ENTITY OR A HOUSING COUNSELING ENTITY, THE COMPLICATION OF IT IS YOU HAVE TO DEDICATE STAFF TO THE PURPOSES OF SERVING OUR POPULATION.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO STRICT THAT THEY CAN'T TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

BUT WITHIN THE STAFF, YOU'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT A FULL-TIME POSITION, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU FUNDED A FULL-TIME POSITION AT A LEGAL AID OFFICE, THAT MUCH WORK GOT ALLOCATED TO INDIO RESIDENTS.

BUT WE HAD THOUGHT, THAT WITH ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT RENTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE, WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL RENTERS OR RESIDENTIAL RENTERS, THAT WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE, THESE GROUPS ARE GOING TO NEED MORE ASSISTANCE TO HELP THAT POPULATION.

[01:00:04]

I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF LEGAL AID GROUPS THAT HAVE SAID TO ME, FOR THE MOST PART, THEIR FOCUS HAS BEEN OUTSIDE THE INCORPORATED CITIES.

IT'S BEEN IN THE COUNTY AREAS, TRIBAL AREAS, WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED A LOT OF ASSISTANCE.

WHILE THEY DO OCCASIONALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM INDIO AND OTHER CITIES, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE PRIMARY FOCUS.

SO THE THOUGHT WAS THAT WE COULD MAYBE WITHIN THE FAIR HOUSING OR ONE OF THE OTHER GROUPS, PERHAPS WE COULD ALLOCATE MONEY TO STAFFING TO PROVIDE THAT EXTRA SUPPORT, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGES THAN THERE HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

SO THAT WAS THE HOPE.

>> SO IS THERE A POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAIR HOUSING THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE THAT SERVICE WITHIN THEIR UMBRELLA?

>> I THINK SO, YES.

>> IF WE INCREASE FUNDING?

>> YES, I THINK SO.

>> SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE LISTED IN GREEN ON THE BOARD, I AGREE WITH.

I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE HAVE NEGLECTED OUR SENIOR CENTER IN TEEN CENTER FROM A FAR TOO LONG, AND IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT FUNDING THIS YEAR SO THAT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 75,000 OUT OF YOUR 1.4 PROPOSED BALANCE?

>> RIGHT.

>> THE REMAINING 1.4, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE CDBG AREAS, AND GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE STREETLIGHT REPLACEMENT WHICH DOESN'T LEAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY LEFT.

THAT ONLY LEAVES 1,500,123 MINUS 640,123, $860,000.

THAT'S BEFORE CDRM AND FINE, WHICH IS PROBABLY ANOTHER 60.

SO THAT LEAVES 800,000.

NOW THE MINOR HOME REPAIR, I THINK WE NEED TO LEAVE IT ALONE.

I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE IT ANOTHER CYCLE BEFORE WE ADD ANY MORE FUNDS TO THAT.

I DO BELIEVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP CONTINUING THAT EFFORT WITH THE YAK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REMAINING FUNDS, WHATEVER THEY BE, MAYBE 800,000 OR 750,000 DIVIDED INTO SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL AID HOUSING, EITHER UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ADMINISTRATION OR SOME OTHER PROGRAM THAT SETUP LIKE THE UNITED WAY OR THE LIVE TO RISE.

AS FAR AS SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, I'M A VERY BIG ADVOCATE OF HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES GET STARTED UP.

BUT FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE ONLY HAVE $500,000 LEFT, AND WE DIVIDE THAT BY $10,000 PER BUSINESS, IT'S ONLY 50 BUSINESSES THAT WE CAN HELP.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DO A WHOLE LOT TO HELP BUSINESSES GET STARTED UP.

SO I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A DENT IN WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT'S A LARGER ISSUE THAT WE REALLY CAN'T ADDRESS WITH WHAT LIMITED FUNDS WE HAVE IN CDBG.

THAT'S JUST MY INPUT FOR NOW.

DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO. THANK YOU, MS. AMITH.

[INAUDIBLE] HOLMES?

>> OKAY.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST, JUST A JOKE.

>> THIS IS ME. TRUE.

>> I JUST WANTED TO RECONFIRM MY SUPPORT TO DR. CARREON PARK IN SENIOR AND TEEN CENTER.

GOSH, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS THAT I'VE RAISED THE QUESTION ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THOSE FACILITIES AND I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $75,000.

WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES IN GOOD WORKING VISUAL ORDER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT FREQUENT THEM, OUR KIDS AND OUR SENIORS.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT EVEN A FEW MORE DOLLARS FOR THAT.

I'M LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE.

I GUESS FOR ME, THE STREET LIGHT REPLACEMENT IS PROBABLY FURTHER DOWN ON MY LIST.

I'M LOOKING AT THE SITUATION AS IT EXISTS NOW SO THAT FAIR HOUSING.

OUR NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE THAT RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE VARIOUS ISSUES AND CHALLENGES CONNECTING WITH AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AMITH SAID, LIVE TO RISE WHICH IS AN EXTRAORDINARY ORGANIZATION.

UNITED WAY AND MANY OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NON-PROFIT THAT CAN HAVE FUNDING OR THAT CAN ACCEPT FUNDING AND THAT CAN HELP.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HIGH ON MY LIST.

CERTAINLY, IN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT IS MEALS ON WHEELS.

WE'RE ALL GOING STIR CRAZY HERE BECAUSE WE'RE SOMEWHAT ISOLATED.

[01:05:01]

MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM ARE ISOLATED.

THEY'RE ELDERLY, UNABLE TO GET OUT, AND THE ONLY FACE THEY SEE AND THE ONLY FULL MEAL THEY GET IS MEALS ON WHEELS AND I THINK THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE CAN SUBSIDIZE THAT TO GET AT LEAST ANOTHER DAY PER WEEK OUT TO THESE PEOPLE WOULD REALLY BE IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT.

I THINK THE NEXT THING IS FIND FOOD BANK.

AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR WORLD CURRENTLY, AND AS ALL OF THIS UNFOLDS, AS PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THE FOOD INSECURITY IS HUGE, AND I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO DOUBLE THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE TO FIND FOOD BANK.

THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND, AND THEY ARE AN INCREDIBLE AND EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION THAT CAN HELP DISBURSE NUTRITION.

CERTAINLY, RESCUE MISSION TERRIFIC.

I WOULD EVEN ENTERTAIN MARTHA'S VILLAGE.

BUT REALLY TO ME, THE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING NEEDS TO GO IN THAT CATEGORY TO FIND FOOD BANK, MEALS ON WHEELS, BE ABLE TO THE INLAND FAIR HOUSING OR THE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN BE A RESOURCE THAT CAN CONNECT PEOPLE TO FUNDING LIKE UNITED WAY, ETC., AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE MAY BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WOULD BE MY SELECTION AND MY FOCUS FOR THE CURRENT TIME.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?

>> YES. I THINK MORE OF A COMMENT.

EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS POINT, UNLESS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.

I MEAN, IF WE WERE GOING TO DO A SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM TO TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT'S A $4-$5 MILLION NUMBER.

YOU'RE SPREADING IT ACROSS A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY RESTAURANTS, A MONTH'S RENT OR A MONTH'S SOMETHING JUST IS NOT GOING TO AID OR ASSIST IN THE OVERALL PICTURE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE MAGNITUDE OF FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THIS POINT.

IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SAY THAT AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE REALITY AT THIS POINT.

>> THANK YOU. MYSELF, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT YOU SAID ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS, ESPECIALLY THE MEALS ON WHEELS AND FIND FOOD BANK AND EVEN THE RESCUE MISSION IS WHAT THEY'RE GIVING OUT.

THOSE ARE SUCH STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

FIND FOOD BANK IS OUT DELIVERING IS UP 30 PERCENT.

I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST DOUBLE THAT IF NOT MORE.

THE MEALS ON WHEELS, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM TO OUR SENIORS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT $50,000 GOES IN THERE, THAT IT COMES BACK TO INDIO, THAT IT'S OUR RESIDENTS OUT HERE.

OUR SENIORS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF 55 AND OLDER COMMUNITIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME SENIORS.

ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP.

I'M ABSOLUTELY IN ON IT, AND THEN THE FOUR ITEMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD.

PRE-DONE ADMINISTRATION, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO DO BUT THE FAIR HOUSING, THE DR. CARREON PARK, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM EXPANDING THE MONEY ON THE SENIOR- TEEN CENTER.

I THINK WE DO NEED TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH AND OUR SENIORS.

I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE OPEN UP TO BE ABLE TO BE READY FOR THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THEN I GO ON A LITTLE BIT BACK THE OTHER WAY ON THE, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, BUT GOING BACK ON THE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, ONE THING I DO THINK WE NEED TO DO, AND I THINK I'VE MENTIONED IT TO A FEW PEOPLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS IS THE COUNTY RIVERSIDE GOT $436 MILLION, AND THAT IS TO BE FOR COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS MITIGATIONS.

NOT FOR JUST FOR THEM, BUT FOR ALL OF US.

THEY'RE ADMINISTRATING A SMALL LOAN PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, ASKING THEM FOR A MINIMUM OF $10 MILLION OF THAT OR OUR PORTION OF IT, WHATEVER IT COMES OUT TO BE, TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER TO OUR BUSINESSES INTO ANY RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.

SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING A MILLION DOLLARS INTO THIS AND PUTTING WHATEVER OTHER MONEY WE HAVE SET ASIDE TO A PROGRAM OR RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO COME UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY MANAGER AND GET SOME INPUT FROM JOSH.

I KNOW WE HAVE 100 RESTAURANTS, 99 I THINK OSCAR HAS SAID.

SO I MEAN, EVEN IF WE PUT AN $800,000, THAT'S $8,000.

I MEAN, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS GOOD IN TERMS OF HELPING THEM A LITTLE BIT.

[01:10:01]

BUT IS IT GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE? WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE 20- $30,000 GRANTS, NOT LOANS, GRANTS IN MY OPINION, AND WE NEED TO GET THAT MONEY.

THAT IS RIGHTFULLY, I BELIEVE, OURS IN THE CITY OF INDIO FROM THE COUNTY RIVERSIDE FIRST AND PUT THAT INTO A FUND THAT COULD BE ADMINISTERED BY OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND ALSO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND GET THAT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION.

LOU, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A LETTER OUT.

IF YOU GUYS SUPPORT ME, MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN WRITE THAT UP AND SAY, WE'D LIKE TO ADMINISTER OUR OWN LOAN PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR THE HELP, BUT WE FEEL WE CAN GET IT OUT QUICKER TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MONEY, THAT MAKES SURE IT'S PUT IN THE RIGHT PROPER PLACES AND WE'LL GIVE THE ACCOUNTING FOR THAT.

I'M IN THE CONCURRENCE ON THIS TO PUT THE REST OF THE MONEY EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 200,000 OF IT, INTO SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.

BUT LIKE I SAID, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS. CITY MANAGER?

>> LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I STARTED PUTTING SOME NUMBERS UP HERE, AND YOU CAN CHANGE THE NUMBERS.

I'M JUST LISTENING TO EVERYBODY AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE REALLY BIG STUFF, THE BIG CHUNKS TO LAST, BECAUSE I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S LEFT IF WE DO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS.

IF WE DID CVRM AND IF SOMEBODY SHOUT IT OUT, IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT NUMBER, BUT IF WE DID CVRM INSTEAD OF 42, IF YOU DID 100 AND MAYBE THAT'D BE MORE THAN THAT.

BUT LET'S SAY WE DID 100 AND FIND INSTEAD OF 19, IF WE DID 50.

IN MEALS ON WHEELS, WE HAVE UP HERE FOR 50 UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO BEYOND THAT.

HOME REPAIRS.

LAST YEAR, THE BUDGET WAS 200.

IF WE ROLL THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, WE HAD 32.

SO IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THAT.

>> 432.

>> IS THAT ALL OF THIS? I THOUGHT I HAD A BIGGER NUMBER.

I KNOW, I ALSO WAS PUTTING ANOTHER 75 FOR THE SENIOR AND TEEN CENTER.

[BACKGROUND] YEAH.

SO I DIDN'T PUT THAT UP HERE.

SO WHAT'S THAT COME TO?

>> 507.

>> YEAH. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS LEFT FOR BIG ITEMS. NOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN PUT MORE MONEY INTO SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY UP HERE.

OR WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE COULD SPEND ON STREET LIGHT PROGRAMS, ENHANCING LEGAL AID OR HOUSING SERVICES.

PARDON ME? [BACKGROUND] YEAH.

WE CAN PUT MONEY IN RESIDENTIAL RANK, SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.

I THINK WE GOT THE OTHERS COVERED.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE COUNCIL'S INSTINCTS ON WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE.

>> COUNCIL, ANYBODY WANT TO JUMP IN?

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT IF I MAY.

JUST ONE THOUGHT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP, AS AS PEOPLE THEIR PRIORITY SHIFT WHEN THEIR WORK HOURS ARE CUT DOWN, REDUCE TO NON-EXISTENT.

I THINK WE MAY NEED TO ADD A FEW MORE DOLLARS TO NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP AND I'M JUST, MAYBE IT'S JUST $50,000, BUT I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.

THAT IT'S AN INITIAL THOUGHT OF MINE AND THAT'S THE END OF MY INITIAL THOUGHT.

>> MAYBE GO TO 75,000.

>> YEAH. THERE'S THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION ON SOME OF THESE THINGS TOO, AND THAT'S TO ACTUALLY PUT SOME LOCAL PEOPLE TO WORK DOING SOME OF THAT WORK.

>> AMEN.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURE.

HEAVEN KNOWS WE GOT SOME STUFF THAT COULD BE MADE TO LOOK BETTER.

>> IS THAT IT, MAYOR PRO TEM?

>> YES, THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.

>> MR FERMON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO PUT IN?

>> NOT RIGHT NOW. IT'S JUST WE CAN'T SEE THE ADJUSTMENTS HE'S MAKING ON THE BOARD SO IT'S HARD.

>> I'M SORRY, HE UPPED THE TEEN AND SENIOR CENTER IS STAYING THE SAME AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP WENT TO 75 SO IT'S 550,000, ACTUALLY.

>> CAN WE SHOW THE SCREEN?

>> YEAH, SHOW THE SCREEN. DON'T WORRY ABOUT US.

>> CAN YOU SEE THAT NOW? NO?

>> I HAVE THE SCREEN HERE, THAT'S WHY I APOLOGIZE.

>> BUT THAT'LL BE GOOD FOR ONE TIME.

[01:15:04]

>> SO THERE'S NO WAY FOR THE ZOOM PEOPLE TO WATCH THIS UNLESS THEY'RE STREAMING THE MEETING?

>> I'M WATCHING ROXANNE TAKE THE PICTURE AND SEND IT SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU TURNED THE SCREEN TO FACE ROB AND SABDI IF WE COULD SEE IT.

JUST A RANDOM THOUGHT.

BECAUSE I GUESS IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHERE THERE'S A CAMERA, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE WHOLE DESK AREA THERE.

SEE? NOW WE ALL JUST NEED A MAGNIFYING GLASS BUT AT LEAST WE CAN SEE IT.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I'M SO GLAD THIS IS WORKING SO WELL.

>> PULL IT CLOSER.

>> I JUST SENT THE SCREENSHOT TO ALL OF YOU, OFFLINE COPY, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE IT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IS THAT BETTER?

>> GOSH.

>> NO. [LAUGHTER]

>> GO BACK. [OVERLAPPING] NOW THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN'T SEE IT'S ME.

>> CHECK YOUR EMAILS AS WELL AND HOPEFULLY THAT SCREENSHOT CAME THROUGH.

>> SO MUCH FOR MY WHITEBOARD.

>> SO WITH THAT, IF WE WERE TO TAKE IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM IT WOULD BE 550,000 AWAY FROM THE 1.497 MILLION.

SO WE'D HAVE A LITTLE OVER 947,000.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS.

THERE ISN'T A PROGRAM THAT WE COULDN'T PUT THIS MONEY IN THAT WOULDN'T BENEFIT FROM IT, THAT WOULDN'T BE GOOD.

SO IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE GOT TO LOOK AT AND REALIZE, IS IT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING BASED ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE GREATEST GOOD OF THIS? WE GOT THE ONE-TIME MONEY, THE $500,000, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UTILIZE IT BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOME INPUT FROM US SO WHATEVER YOU GUYS THINK WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME GUIDANCE, AT LEAST GET IT BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER SO WE CAN PUT SOME NUMBERS TO PAPER.

>> MR ORTIZ, YOU WANT SAY SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, SO I WOULD MAYBE LIKE TO SEE IT SPLIT SOMEHOW.

I'M WONDERING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IF WE HAVE 99 RESTAURANT LICENSES IN INDIO, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE FAMILY OWNED? THEN HOW MANY ARE UNDER, LET'S SAY, SOME KIND OF THRESHOLD LIKE A $1 MILLION REVENUE THRESHOLD OR A $2 MILLION REVENUE THRESHOLD? WHERE WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT THE MOST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT THOUGH THAT'S MY FIRST SUGGESTION.

SECONDLY, WHATEVER WE DON'T USE FOR THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT GO TO THE UNITED WAY FUND INTO THE MORTGAGE AND RENT RELIEF AND THAT WAY WE'RE HELPING BOTH.

THE BUSINESSES THAT NEED IT MOST RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE CLOSED DOWN THE LONGEST, IT'S GOING TO BE THE RESTAURANTS, AND ALSO REQUIRE, KIND OF LIKE THE FEDERAL LOANS, MAYBE WE COULD REQUIRE IT BE USED FOR PAYROLL, OR FOR RENT IN ORDER TO BE FORGIVABLE AND THE REST I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT USED FOR THE UNITED WAY FUND FOR THE RENT AND MORTGAGE RELIEF.

>> YET UNITED WAY IS THE FUNDING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOURCE TO GIVE THEM THAT, I THINK IT'S WHAT? $300 OR $500, ISN'T IT?

>> FIVE HUNDRED.

>> YEAH, I REMEMBER IT WAS A AMOUNT. MISS AMITH? [NOISE]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CITY MANAGER PUT BACK THE STREET LIGHT REPLACEMENT, THE 640.

THAT ONLY LEAVES ABOUT, WHAT, THREE HUNDRED?

>> THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED, ABOUT THREE SOMETHING.

>> RIGHT. THE THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED, I STILL FEEL STRONGLY THAT NEEDS TO GO TO LEGAL AID, AND IT'S NOT ONLY HOUSING COUNSELING BUT IT'S RENTERS' COUNSELING BECAUSE IT'S BOTH FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.

I DON'T AGREE WITH PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FOR ONLY ONE SECTOR OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

RESTAURANTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST ONES TO REOPEN, THE LAST ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE REOPENED ARE NAIL SHOPS AND BEAUTY SHOPS.

IT IS UNFAIR FOR US TO PICK ONE SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE THE WINNER OF A GRANT PROGRAM.

SO I'D RATHER FUNNEL ANY REMAINING FUNDS TO WHAT I WOULD CALL A RENTER'S COUNSELING TO HELP ANY TENANT THAT IS FACING EITHER EVICTION OR NEEDS LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN MEDIATING BETWEEN A LANDLORD TENANT, TO RENEGOTIATE ANY PAST DUE RENTS, OR GETTING BACK ON TRACK WITH THEIR LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH THEIR LANDLORDS.

>> SO WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT PUTTING ANYTHING TOWARDS UNITED WAY OR NO?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I WANT LEGAL AID FOR TENANT COUNSELING.

>> YEAH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THE FUNDING FOR THE BUSINESS WINNER OR LOSERS, BUT IF WE OPEN UP THE NAIL SALONS, IF WE JUST OPENED THEM UP, THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES,

[01:20:01]

THEM AND THE HAIR-CUTTING INDIVIDUALS.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO INTO. [OVERLAPPING]

>> NO, THEY HAVE BACK RENT, AND BACK UTILITIES, AND BACK PAYROLL, THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT RESTAURANT HAS.

SO YOU CAN'T SAY THAT BEAUTY SALONS AND NAIL SALONS ARE NOT AT AN ADVANTAGE OVER RESTAURANTS, THEY'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> THEY'RE NOT AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PICKING WINNERS OR LOSERS.

>> BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND A RESTAURANT IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO SIT IN A RESTAURANT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

CHAIRS ARE MOVED OUT, THEY CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND BACK AND FORTH [OVERLAPPING].

>> SAME THING IN NAIL SHOPS IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX-FOOT DISTANCING. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT NAIL SHOPS.

>> BEAUTY SALONS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX-FOOT DISTANCE, IT'S THE SAME THING, IT'S THE SAME PROFIT MARGIN. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT'S GOT TO BE ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION.

OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYHEM IF WE SAY, "OKAY, YOU'RE A RESTAURANT, YOU GET DOLLARS, YOU ARE WHATEVER BUT YOU DON'T GET DOLLARS," THAT'S MY CONCERN.

>> I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE DYNAMIC OF IT RIGHT NOW, SOME OF OUR RESTAURANTS HAVE CURBSIDE AND DELIVERY SO THEY'RE GENERATING A LITTLE BIT BUT EVERYONE HAS BACK RENT, EVERYONE HAS UTILITIES THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY, SO IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD IF WE PICK AND CHOOSE WINNERS WITH THAT.

SO I'M ALL AGREEING WITH PROVIDING SOME FIRST FUNDS TOWARD THE LEGAL AID FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND EVEN WITH THE RESTAURANT.

RESTAURANTS ARE ACTUALLY HARDER BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE PAYROLL, THEY STILL HAVE THEIR PRODUCT THAT THEY HAVE TO SELL, PRODUCT THAT THEY LOST THAT THEY ALREADY SPENT FUNDS ON SO IT'S HARD TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO A WINNER WOULD BE IN THIS SITUATION.

SO I MIGHT SUPPORT GOING WITH THE LEGAL AID ROUTE MYSELF.

>> I'M NOT PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS, ALL I'M TELLING YOU IS FROM TALKING TO THE BARBER SHOPS AND THE NAIL SALONS THAT YES, THEY DO HAVE OVERHEAD, BUT NOT AS THE SAME THING AS A RESTAURANT WHO HAS TO HAVE ALL THEIR ELECTRICITY ON, THEIR STOVES, THEIR OVENS.

THEY'RE USED TO HAVING 40, 50, 60 TABLES TURNED AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING OUT.

I AGREE WITH THE NAIL SALONS, BUT ALL THEY'VE ASKED ME IS IF THEY CAN JUST OPEN AND THEY WILL DO IT.

THEY JUST WANT TO PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK SO THEY'RE GETTING THEIR TIPS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YES, YOU'LL HAVE TO SPREAD OUT.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, MR MAYOR.

I JUST HAD A BEAUTICIAN CONTACT ME.

SHE HAS A BUSINESS RIGHT ON 111 HERE IN INDIO, AND SHE'S ASKING TO OPEN IT AND WE'RE UNDER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND OUR HANDS ARE TIED AND I UNDERSTAND THE TROUBLES THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE THERE SOON IN A SAFE WAY, AND SO IT'S JUST HARD AND IT'S A HARD DECISION TO MAKE.

>> ALSO TOO, AND I KNOW THIS SO WELL, WE'RE GOING INTO SUMMER.

MY GOODNESS, OF ALL TIMES FOR THIS PANDEMIC TO HIT, IT COULDN'T WAIT TILL JUNE, IT HAD TO HIT IN APRIL AND MAY.

SO EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE SELLING, A NAIL SALON, A RESTAURANT, CLOTHING STORE, WHATEVER IT IS, IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE SUMMER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG, HARD ROAD.

IF I MAY, COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE STREET LIGHT REPLACEMENT FOCUS BECAUSE THAT WAS DOWN ON MY LIST BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WITH THE EXISTING STREET LIGHTS, WHICH AREN'T GREAT, FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'M THINKING, THERE'S OTHER PLACES TO PUT $600, BUT YOU'RE VERY ADAMANT.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> CDBG FUNDS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIFIC AREAS OF OUR CITY.

WE NEED TO FOCUS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS ON THOSE AREAS THAT QUALIFY FOR CDBG FUNDS, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS STREET LIGHT PROGRAM IS.

IT FOCUSES ON THOSE QUALIFYING AREAS.

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE OUR CDBG FUNDS, BUT NOT FOCUSING A MAJORITY OF THOSE REVENUES INTO THOSE AREAS THAT QUALIFIED US TO BE AN INDEPENDENT RECIPIENT OF THE CDBG FUNDS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> THEY HAVE TO GO IN ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS

>> NO, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING] BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE PREMISE [OVERLAPPING] BEHIND CDBG.

>> IT DOES HAVE TO BE IN A QUALIFYING NEIGHBORHOOD.

[NOISE] STREET LIGHTS WOULD.

>> GO AHEAD, OSCAR.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO TAKE LONGER IS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WEAR A MASK WHILE YOU'RE EATING.

SO I DO THINK WE CAN HELP THE BARBERSHOPS AND NAIL SALONS BY OPENING FASTER BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO OPEN WITH SAFER GUIDELINES.

ONE OF THE BARBERSHOPS WAS SENDING ME SOME SUGGESTIONS, SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S COMING IN TO CUT THEIR HAIR, YOU HAVE THE NEXT PERSON WAITING IN THE CAR AND THEN YOU WAIT UNTIL THEY LEAVE, YOU CLEAN, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE NEXT PERSON COME IN.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO DO WITH RESTAURANTS SO I THINK THE WAY TO HELP RESTAURANTS IS WITH A GRANT,

[01:25:03]

AND THE WAY TO HELP THE BEAUTY SALONS AND BARBER SHOPS IS BY FINDING SOME GUIDELINES FOR THEM TO REOPEN SOONER.

FOR THE LEGAL AID, I JUST THINK I WOULD PRIORITIZE THE ACTUAL RENT PAYMENT THAN THE LEGAL AID FOR THE RENTALS.

>> WE HAVE TO TAKE UNDER CONSIDERATION ALSO WITH OUR BARBER SERVICES AND SALONS.

THAT'S NOT COMING FROM OUR CITY, THAT'S COMING FROM AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

SO WE HAVE NO SAY AS WHEN THEY OPEN.

NOW, MY VIEW, WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOR ALL OF OUR RESTAURANTS AND OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, SALONS, NAIL PARLORS TO BE PROACTIVE AND TAKE THOSE MEASURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED WHEN THE TIME COMES WHEN WE DO OPEN; HAND SANITIZER STATIONS, MANDATORY CLEANING LOGS, DIFFERENT PROCEDURE SO YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR STAFF ON HOW TO CLEAN, WHEN TO CLEAN, AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO DOCUMENTED.

BE PROACTIVE SO WHEN THE TIME COMES, YOU ARE READY TO OPEN BECAUSE AS WE SPEAK IN OUR MEETING I'M GETTING BUSINESS OWNERS CONTACTING ME NOW, WANTING TO OPEN AND UNDER CERTAIN GUIDELINES AND CAVEATS, I THINK AS SOON WE WILL BE OPENING.

BUT I THINK THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED AND IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE THE [NOISE] FUNDING FOR A SPECIFIC PART OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, SO TO SPEAK. [NOISE]

>> SO WE'VE GOT THAT AND I CONCUR THAT THE COUNTY IS THE ONE THAT'S BEEN FUNNELING THE RULES COMING DOWN FROM THE STATE UNLESS THEY PULL THEM BACK AND THEY FALL UNDER STATE RULES, THEN IT WILL COMPLETELY GO UNDER THE STATE RULES.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM NOT MOVING THAT.

SO TO DO THE HOUSING AID, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TO CONTINUE WITH UNITED WAY, OR ARE YOU TALKING AID STRAIGHT UP WITH THE FAIR HOUSING AND THE LEGAL AID, OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY GIVING UNITED WAY OR OTHER STUFF INFORMATION AND MONEY? [NOISE] MR. FERMON.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LEGAL AID NOW.

AS FAR AS UNITED WAY, THAT'S PART OF OUR GRANT FUNDING MONEY, [NOISE] THE 500,000.

WE CAN GO THAT ROUTE BECAUSE THAT MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT ON COVID-19 ISSUES AND WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE NOW.

SO THAT WOULD BE HIGHEST THAT WE COULD USED TO [NOISE] SPEND THOSE FUNDS.

>> SO WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR THAT?

>> YES.

>> MS. HOLMES, ANY FINAL WORDS? IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT TO DO A LOAN PROGRAM THAT WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE COUNTY FOR THE MONEY THEY HAD THERE.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE REST OF THE FUNDING?

>> I AGREE. WE GOT TO GET SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FROM THE COUNTY.

AT THIS JUNCTURE, I SUPPORT THE LEGAL AID ROUTE RATHER THAN DIRECTLY FUNDING UNITED WAY AT THIS POINT.

I REALLY THINK THE LEGAL AID, AND I'VE SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, HELPING PEOPLE, THE RESOURCES ARE KEY AND IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE STREETLIGHT PROJECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AMITH BROUGHT UP?

>> I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO THOSE THAT HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE.

I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO LOSE OUR FUNDING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T APPLY OUR FUNDING TO THE RIGHT AREA.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN OKAY, I GUESS WE DO THE STREETLIGHT PROGRAM.

IF IT'S NOT AN ISSUE [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE HAVE MONEY.

>> GOT YOU, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE POINTING TO MARK.

THE STREETLIGHT IS PART OF THAT ORIGINAL FISCAL YEAR ENTITLEMENT, GREAT.

I'M HAPPY.

THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MR. ORTIZ ANY FINAL WORDS? WE'LL LET THE CITY MANAGER AND MR. SNYDER SAY A FEW THINGS, TRY AND CORRELATE ALL THIS DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE IN DIFFERENT MODES IN WHERE WE'RE ALL GOING.

WE'VE GOT THE SAME IDEA, BUT NOT THE SAME FUNDING SOURCES.

>> YEAH. I THINK IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ROUTE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS THEN I WOULD GO FOR THE UNITED WAY FUNDING.

>> ANY LAST WORDS MS. AMITH? ARE YOU PRETTY MUCH SET ON WHAT YOU WANTED?

>> I THINK I'VE MADE MY COMMENTS CLEAR.

CITY MANAGER KNOWS WHERE I STAND.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.

BECAUSE WE ARE COMPLETELY ALL OVER THE BOARD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU ALL DIDN'T GIVE ME VERY CLEAR DIRECTION.

[NOISE] I MEAN, THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S WHY IT'S A DEMOCRACY.

[01:30:04]

WE HAVE TO WORK OUT WHAT THE PROGRAMS ARE ON THESE THINGS.

I SAID, LEGAL AID OR HOUSING COUNSELING.

I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO GO OUT AND FIND OUT IF INLAND FAIR HOUSING IS IN A POSITION TO DO IT.

I THINK THEY WOULD BE.

THAT IS AN OPTION.

WE ALSO MAY HEAR FROM SOME OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN IT, AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO BRING THOSE TO THE COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT THEM.

AS FAR AS STREETLIGHTS ARE CONCERNED, IF YOU REALLY GO BACK TO CDBG ROOTS, IT'S DOING PROJECTS LIKE THAT THAT ARE REALLY AT THE HEART OF CDBG.

IT'S JUST THIS IS A DIFFERENT YEAR AND WHETHER THAT'S A PRIORITY, I DON'T KNOW BUT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

IT'S A GREAT PROJECT AND IF WE DON'T DO IT THIS YEAR, THE MONEY IN THIS 870,000 WE CAN CARRY OVER UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR.

WE CAN CARRY IT OVER INTO NEXT YEAR.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT.

THE 512, I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME NEED TO EXPEND THAT FAIRLY SOON.

WE'LL START SPENDING THAT ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WITH THE OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES SO THAT WE HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

WE'LL TALK TO UNITED WAY ABOUT WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE IN JOINING THEIR PROGRAM.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN SYNC WITH THE CDBG REQUIREMENTS IN SPENDING MONEY ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROGRAM THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

BUT THE CONCEPT SOUNDS GREAT.

BEING ABLE TO PLUG INTO SOMETHING WHERE THERE'S ALREADY ADMINISTRATION SOUNDS GREAT.

SO WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT IMMEDIATELY AND WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL ON ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.

I THINK TIME-WISE THAT WORKS OKAY FOR US.

>> CORRECT. JUST TO ADD THAT WE HAVE SOME PROCESS STEPS ONCE THE COUNCIL GETS FINAL DIRECTIVE, WE DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH WE HAVE TO HOLD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION HAS TO BE TAKEN BY COUNCIL FOLLOWING THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GO TO HUD AND JUST PART OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

THEY STIL HAVE TO TO SIGN OFF ON OUR PROGRAMS, AND I BET THEY'RE WILLING TO EXPEDITE THAT, WE UNDERSTAND.

SO HOPEFULLY, ONCE WE GET THE DIRECTION, WE CAN START MOVING THE FUNDS OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL ALSO BE HOPING TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE COUNTY AT SOME POINT ABOUT ALL THAT FUNDING THAT THEY'RE HOLDING.

SO IF THAT'S OKAY, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE END UP ON THIS.

>> YEAH, I'M FINE WITH IT.

IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO HELP WITH RELIEF WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AND THAT IS MUCH OTHER THAN THE LEGAL AID AND THE HOUSING, I WOULD PREFER TO INVEST BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STREETS, AND OUR OVERALL CDBG GOALS THAT WE HAD BEFORE.

SO I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CLEAN UP, TEEN CENTER, NEIGHBORHOOD, THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

MAYBE NOT IN A COVID-19 OR CORONAVIRUS EPIDEMIC PART OF IT, BUT A LOT OF THIS OTHER STUFF WILL HAVE LONG TERM BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THEN THE SHORT-TERM STUFF LIKE FIND FOOD BANK AND THE OTHER NON-PROFITS WILL HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN THE SHORT RUN.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD, WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN.

SO I'M GOOD WITH THE STREETLIGHTS IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO INVEST IT IN ANY OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COVID-19, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND GET FOR THE COUNTY THEN LET'S STAY WITH THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE.

SO ANY FINAL WORDS?

>> I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ANYBODY AT HOME THAT WAS TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS ON STREAM, [LAUGHTER] IT MUST HAVE BEEN A MESS.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> MR. MAYOR JUST BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THERE IS ALSO A BILL BEING INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS NOW FOR FUNDS COMING DIRECTLY TO CITIES.

SO HOPEFULLY, WE SEE SOME OF THAT SOON ALSO.

>> YEAH. I KNOW THAT CONGRESS IS LOOKING AT ANOTHER STIMULUS BILL AND THIS TIME TO ADD INTO CITIES TO IT AND THE COUNTIES IN A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION.

SO I IMAGINE YOU PRETTY MUCH GOT WHAT YOU NEED AND THINKING ABOUT?

>> I THINK I GOT WHAT I'M GOING TO GET.

>> THAT'S GOOD. SO WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE THINGS.

IF YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE FROM US WHERE WE'LL BE FINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.

SO WE'LL WAIT TO A TIME COMING BACK IN THE FUTURE.

SO WE GOT OUR RECOMMENDATION. [OVERLAPPING].

>> VERY SOON.

>> THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THAT.

[a. Public hearing for the acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Account ("SLESA") funds in the amount of $135,498 and approval of the expenditure plan, with budget adjustments (Michael Washburn, Chief of Police) Recommendation: Approve]

THE ITEM NOW AS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT, SLESA FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $135,498 AND APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE PLAN WITH BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.

CHIEF WASHBURN, YOU'VE HAD THIS FLOOR, SIR.

>> WELL, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS A ROUTINE ITEM THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT THE SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF A $135,498.

WE HAVE OUTLINED, WE WANT TO SPEND THAT ON AND SPECIFICALLY,

[01:35:08]

WE'RE LOOKING AT SETTING $67,000 FOR MDC RETROFIT PROJECT, ANOTHER 25,000 FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SUPERVISORS, AND ANOTHER 15,000 FOR POLICE RADIO SUPPLIES.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER APPROVING AND DIRECT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO ADJUST APPROPRIATIONS ACCORDINGLY.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU CHIEF.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO CHIEF BEFORE WE OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING? WELL, THE PUBLIC HEARING.

CITY CLERK, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD WANT TO COMMENT ON IT?

>> NO COMMENTS.