City Council Regular Session

>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. TODAY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HYBRID MEETING. MAYOR BRIANNE ZORN WILL BE JOINING US BY ZOOM. THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> BEFORE ROLL CALL WE WILL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER JAYE HOWARD. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER MARK ROSS. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTENDER MOLLY . >> PRESENT. >> VICE MAYOR McKILLOP >> PRESENT. MAYOR BRIANNE ZORN. MAYOR, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU. I WILL MARK MAYOR PRESENT. DOES SHE WANT TO TRY TO JOIN NOW? WE STILL CANNOT HEAR YOU. WE CAN MOVE TO THE PROCLAMATIONS AND HAVE HER JOIN US WHEN SHE CAN UNMUTE. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. WE ARE GOOD. >> RIGHT. OKAY. THAT WAS A ZOOM PROBLEM ON MY END. I APOLOGIZE. >> HELLO, JOSIE. COME ON UP. WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING. THE FIRST ONE IS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATORS WEEK. WHEREAS EMERGENCIES CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME THAT REQUIRE POLICE, FIRE, OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND THE PROMPT RESPONSE OF POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS IS CRITICAL TO THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY. AND WHEREAS THE SAFETY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IS DEPENDENT UPON THE QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CITIZENS WHO CONTACT THE MARTINEZ POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPATCH CENTER AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY, TELE-COMMUNICATORS OF THE FIRST AND MOST CRITICAL CONTACT OUR CITIZENS HAVE WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES AND ARE THE SINGLE VITAL LINK FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS BY MONITORING THEIR DUTIES BY RADIO, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ENSURING THEIR SAFETY. WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELE-COMMUNICATORS MUST REMAIN CALM AND COMPOSED WHILE HANDLING HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS AND MUST POSSESS A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED. WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELE-COMMUNICATORS , THE MARTINEZ POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, SUPPRESSION OF FIRES, TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AND THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR CITY AND EACH DISPATCHER HAS EXHIBITED COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR JOB IN THE PAST YEAR. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BRIANNE ZORN THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MARTINEZ ON BEHALF OF OF THE MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 14 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELE-COMMUNICATORS WEEK IN MARTINEZ. I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TELE-COMMUNICATORS AND TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND SECURE COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LOVE YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THIS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR ME JUST SO WE ALL KNOW. I CAN TALK ALL THE TIME BUT USUALLY ON A HEADSET. THANK YOU. I'M JOSIE LONDON. I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AS A DISPATCH SUPERVISOR. THANK YOU. I AM ALSO A RESIDENT HERE IN MARTINEZ AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF OF THE GREAT DISPATCH CENTER THAT WE HAVE AND THAT IS THANKS TO MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FOR GETTING US THE STAFFING THAT WE NEED TO PROCEED AND SUCCEED . DISPATCHING IS NOT EASY. WE DEAL WITH THE WORST AND LUCKILY WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT FILL US IN ON THE OUTCOME. MOST PEOPLE CALL IN FOR SILLY THINGS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE VERY CRITICAL AND VERY HARD CALLS THAT MAKE OUR JOB AND GOING HOME A LITTLE TOUGHER. I THINK THAT IS ABOUT IT. I THINK THEY HAVE SOMEBODY PRESENTING AND I WILL GIVE IT BACK. >> FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE PROCLAMATION. >> I AM LIEUTENANT SACKETT C. I OVERSEE THE ADMIN SERVICES THAT DISPATCH FALLS UNDER. I AM LOUD ENOUGH. I WANT TO THANK JOSIE FOR HER HARD WORK. DISPATCH IS THE BACKBONE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB. WE COULD NOT DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT THE AMAZING WORK OF JOSIE AND HER STAFF . WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE JOSIE AND HER STAFF AND HONOR EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU, JOSIE, AND YOUR STAFF. [APPLAUSE] >> NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> JOSIE , I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY THAT WORKS WITH YOU FOR KEEPING OUR OFFICERS. IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR EARTH DAY. WHO IS REPRESENTING EARTH DAY. ICY TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT ROW THAT WOULD LOVE TO COME UP AND JOIN ME. I WILL HAVE MARK READ THE EARTH DAY PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. WE HAVE MARK THOMPSON AND CAITLIN BARRY FROM THE PARK DISTRICT HERE TO JOIN US. BIRTHDAY APRIL 22, 2024. WHEREAS APRIL 22, 2024 MARKS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EARTH DAY MOVEMENT WHERE EVENTS ARE HELD WORLDWIDE TO ILLUSTRATE SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MARTINEZ CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH EFFORTS SUCH AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2009 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN . THANK YOU MIKE CHANDLER. THE BUSINESS CERTIFICATION OF CITY HALL. AGAIN, THANK YOU, MIKE CHANDLER AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OPTING ALL-CITY ENERGY ACCOUNTS INTO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION SERVICES THROUGH MARINE CLEAN ENERGY . AND WHEREAS THE CITY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR THE PLANET, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES BY PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND WHEREAS EXPANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CLIMATE LITERACY IS VITAL TO AWARENESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, INFORMED DECISION-MAKING TO PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS. WHEREAS ON APRIL 20, 2024 , THE CITY IS PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL JOHN MIRROR EARTH DAY EVENT 10:00 TO 4:00 IN MARTINEZ TO SHARE SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CAKE AT ABOUT 1:30? AND WHEREAS THE CITY ALSO MAINTAINS ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION, WASTE REDUCTION AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES ON ITS WEBSITE, E-NEWS LETTERS, BILL INSERTS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENSURE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CAN FIND INFORMATION ON HOW THEY CAN TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT YEAR-ROUND. AND WHEREAS EARTH DAY IS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THE NEED OF ACTIVISM, STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR BRIANNE ZORN OF THE CITY OF MARTINEZ ON BEHALF OF OF THE MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL TO PROCLAIM APRIL 22, 2024, AS EARTH DAY IN THE CITY OF MARTINEZ. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS CAITLIN BARRY. IN THE SUPERINTENDENT OF JOHN MIRROR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. HE DID NOT INVENT EARTH DAY BUT I CAN TELL YOU HE WOULD APPROVE AND HE WOULD APPROVE ALSO IF THE CITY WORK IN THIS REGARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> I AM MARK THOMPSON, PRESIDENT OF THE JOHN MUIR ASSOCIATION. BESIDES JOHN MUIR LIKING OR NOT THIS EVENT I THINK YOU WOULD ALL LIKE IT. COME ON OUT ON SATURDAY. WE HAVE A FULL ARRAY OF ENTERTAINMENT. WE HAVE ALREADY 50 BOOTHS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUS GROUPS THERE AND WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF FUN. YOU SHOULD BE PART OF IT SO COME ON DOWN. [APPLAUSE] >> THE THIRD PROCLAMATION IS FOR ARBOR DAY. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE REPRESENTING ARBOR DAY? HELLO. COME ON UP. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? >> AMOS WHITE. >> SATINDER MALHI WILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION. >> ALL RIGHT. ARBOR DAY , WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS A TIME-HONORED TRADITION THAT ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO PLANT AND CARE FOR TREES THEREBY ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY SERVES AS A REMINDER THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND WHEREAS TREES ARE VITAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT PROVIDING CLEAN AIR, SHADE, AND BEAUTY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS 100,000 TREES FOR HUMANITY LED BY ITS FOUNDER AND CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER, AMOS WHITE, IS A BLACK WET ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE URBAN REFORESTATION NONPROFIT WHO ASSISTS URBAN CITIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES FOR TREES, CLIMATE EQUITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WHEREAS ASSISTED IN THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN 600+ BAY AREA COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLYARD TREES GREW MORE THAN 1000 TREES WITH 700 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ADVISED ON A STATEWIDE POLICY AND RAISED $2.5 MILLION IN TREE FUNDING AND DIRECT TREE DONATIONS . AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MARTINEZ WILL CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27 FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 1:00 P.M. AT GOLDEN HILLS PARK TO PLANT UP TO 10 TREES AND WHEREAS 100 K TREES WILL DONATE 50 SEEDLINGS FOR ARBOR DAY TO MARTINEZ RESIDENTS TO ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL PLANTING AT THEIR HOMES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BRIANNE ZORN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MARTINEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 27, 2024, AS ARBOR DAY IN MARTINEZ AND AS A DAY OF THANKS TO 100 K TREES OF HUMANITY FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY AND THE BAY AREA. I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO PROTECT TREES AND WOODLANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PLANT TREES THAT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN ENJOY. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> THINK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY OF MARTINEZ. IT IS EXCITING TO PARTICIPATE HERE IN THE HOME TERRITORY OF JOHN MUIR AND ON WHOSE LAND WE STAND AND INDIGENOUS PERSONS AS WELL . TO REINVIGORATE, IF YOU WILL, NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY BUT THE SOUL OF THE LAND. THAT STARTS WITH TREES WHETHER IT IS TO HELP INCREASE, IF YOU WILL, GROUNDWATER RECHARGE SO THAT IT DOES RETAIN MORE WATER. IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT DROUGHT? WE NEED TO BE PLANTING MORE TREES OR FOR AIR QUALITY FROM A VEGETATIVE HEDGE FOR CLEAN AIR AND FOR PRODUCING MORE OXYGEN AS WELL. MARTINEZ HAS LED THE WAY AND IS A TREE CITY. IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. WE KNOW THAT AS WELL SO WE ARE TICKLED PINK TO BE ABLE TO OFFER TREES AND ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO WORK WITH YOU TO PLANT MARTINEZ. WORK WITH YOU TO PLANT MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE CORRECTION. THERE IS ACTUALLY A DONATION OF 100 SEEDLINGS. THAT WAS A TYPO. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SEEDLINGS. >> THE NEXT >> JUST FOR FOLKS OUT THERE, THE ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION IS APRIL 27 AT 10:00 A.M. AT GOLDEN HILLS PARK. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH. I AM GOING TO INVITE LISA BYINGTON UP TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE ALL THE LOVELY INFORMATION SHE HAS FOR US. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR BRIANNE ZORN. AS ALWAYS IT IS PLEASURE TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MARTINEZ TO AWARD OF FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH WHO ALSO QUALIFIES AS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. TODAY'S RECIPIENT IS BRIX CRAFT COCKTAILS AND ARTISAN PIZZA . THEY ARE LOCATED AT 718 MAIN STREET. I WANT TO GIVE YOU HISTORY. PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING HIS BUSINESS , COREY'S DOUBTED --SCATTERED ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 20 LOCATIONS TO DETERMINE WHERE HE WANTED TO OPEN HIS ESTABLISHMENT. HE ULTIMATELY CHOSE MARTINEZ BECAUSE HE SAW THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY. HE WAS PARTICULARLY ENAMORED WITH THE SPACE AND BUILDING HE SAW LOCATED DOWNTOWN ON MAIN STREET. IT WAS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND SEEMED A PERFECT FIT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING. WITH THE INITIAL FAVORABLE REPLY FROM CANDACE, THE OWNER OF CITRUS SALON WHO SOUGHT AND RESPONDED TO A POST FROM COREY ABOUT POTENTIALLY BRINGING A WINE BAR TO MARTINEZ, RESULTED IN REFERRAL TO LEANNE PETERSON THE FORMER MAINSTREET DIRECTOR. HE ATTRIBUTES THIS OUTREACH AND BELIEF IN BRINGING HIS CONCEPT TO LIFE ALONG WITH THE EMERGING HIP FIVE AND WARM, WELCOMING RESIDENTS TO BE IN THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN CHOOSING MARTINEZ TO MAKE HIS DREAM A REALITY. COREY OFFICIALLY OPENED HIS ESTABLISHMENT DECEMBER 30, 2016. HE HAS SINCE CREATED A LOYAL FOLLOWING FROM HIS CUSTOMERS. AS AN ENTREPRENEUR HE PRIDES HIMSELF ON HIS CREATIVITY AND IS COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIBE THAT IS MARTINEZ AND ALSO EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY. HE HAS SPEARHEADED ORGANIZING EVENTS LIKE THE POLYNESIAN CULTURE EVENT AND ALSO ORGANIZED A LATIN CULTURE EVENT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF MARTINEZ WHERE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ENJOYED THE VIBRANT RHYTHMS OF SALSA DANCING. IS : HOSTING THESE EVENTS IS NOT ONLY TO PROMOTE CULTURAL APPRECIATION, BUT ALSO FOSTER A SENSE OF UNITY AND BELONGING IN THE COMMUNITY. COREY IS AN ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESSES . HIMSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS. HE IS COMMITTED TO SUCCESS AND IS NOT AFRAID TO SHARE OR EXPRESS HIS OPINIONS AND IDEAS. I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE HIS QUICK WIT AND DIRECTNESS AND RESPECT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A BUSINESS OWNER.'S INTENTIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE INTEREST OF CREATING A SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWN AND EXPERIENCE FOR RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND PATRONS ALIKE . WHAT SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT COREY, IN MY OPINION HE'S A BIT OF AN UNSUNG HERO. IT'S AN UNWAVERING BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING AND GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. OVER THE YEARS HE'S WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT COLLECTIVE EFFORTS CAN DO AND IMPROVE ON THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND US. ONE WAY HE HAS CONTRIBUTED IS BY MAKING A PRIORITY TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED BY PROVIDING FOOD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE. HE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, HELPING FAMILIES, THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. HE BELIEVES NOBODY IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD EVER GO HUNGRY AND IT BRINGS GREAT JOY TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN TIMES OF NEED. DURING THE PANDEMIC COREY PROVIDED SANDWICHES AND BURGERS FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED FOOD ON THE TABLE. AS A FORMER SINGLE MOM AND SOMEONE WHO HAS PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY I CAN APPRECIATE AND APPLAUD HIS CONTINUED EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES ARE FED. PARTICULARLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASONS WHEN PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE. RECENTLY A POST WAS MADE ONLINE BY LOVES AND FISHES THAT THEY WERE IN DIRE NEED OF RESTOCKING THE PANTRY. COREY SPRUNG INTO IMMEDIATE ACTION AND COLLECTED AND DELIVERED A LARGE SUPPLY OF FOOD. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024 AND BEYOND, COREY HAS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THESE INITIATIVES HE HAS ESTABLISHED ON HIS OWN AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY WHETHER IT IS COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE CHAMBER, THE CITY, DOWNTOWN MARTINEZ TO HELP THEM THRIVE BY ORGANIZING CULTURAL EVENTS TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND DEDICATED TO MAKING MARTINEZ A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. HE BELIEVES TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS VALUED TO AND SUPPORTED AND CONTINUES TO LOOK FORWARD TO MAKE MARTINEZ A BETTER PLACE TO GO HOME. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING A VITAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY, CONTRIBUTING TO CULTURE DIVERSITY AND CARING FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY, PATRONS AND RESIDENTS OF OUR FAIR CITY. THANK YOU, COREY. [APPLAUSE] I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU UP FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY. >> FOR THE HOME AUDIENCE WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE WILL BE DOING A WHOLE LOT MORE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED AT BRIX AND CRAFT. WE HAVE A WHOLE THANKSGIVING DINNER WE ARE GOING TO DO. I HAVE SUPPLIERS DONATING SOME FOOD AND WE WILL DO THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. MASHED POTATOES, TURKEY, WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THAT IN A FEW MONTHS TO COME. WE HAVE SOME OTHER CULTURAL EVENTS COMING. I WILL BE TURNING IN ALL OF MY STUFF TO EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS TO KNOW. WE ARE GOING TO DO A HAWAIIAN CULTURAL EVENT COMING UP IN JULY HOPEFULLY AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER SALSA EVENT WE ARE GOING TO DO HOPEFULLY IN AUGUST. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> DEBBIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? >> YES. WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR NOW. >> I CAN TALK QUIETER. IF YOU DON'T MIND YOU CAN CONTINUE RUNNING THE MEETING THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT SEE YOU CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE COMING UP AND I WILL TAKE IT FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS FROM THE MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. AN UPDATE TO BE DELIVERED. >> HELLO. >> MY NAME IS STUART McCULLOUGH. AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL, META-MAYOR AND THE FULL COUNCIL. IS THIS BETTER? WE ARE GOING TO DO A VERY QUICK PRESENTATION TODAY. I HOPE THIS WORKS. WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1993 AFTER THE FIRE THAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF A WORKER AND SERIOUS INJURY OF ANOTHER. THERE WAS A FINE AND IN THE CITY WISDOM THEY DECIDED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND THE MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WAS FORMED FROM THAT VERY TERRIBLE INCIDENT. ENDS THEN, BY THE WAY, SEVERAL OF US ON THE BOARD HERE SIT ON THE ECHO SERVICES CAP, CITIZENS ADVISORY PANEL AND THE SAFETY RECORD OF THAT PLANT, THE SULFURIC ACID GENERATION PLANT RIGHT BY THE BRIDGE USED TO BE THE BRIDGE IS IMPECCABLE. WE JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW MARTINEZ IS IN GOOD HANDS AND THAT WAY . OUR MISSION TO IS TO PROMOTE, CHAMPION, AND ENHANCE AN EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THE PEOPLE OF MARTINEZ. WE HAVE FOUR FOCUS AREAS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ARTS AND CULTURE , EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. IN TERMS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE CAMPBELL THEATER, MANY OF THE GROUPS AT THE FRONT AREA SAY THE MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. WE WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THAT PROCESS. THIS IS HOW WE DISTRIBUTE OUR FUNDS. WE'VE DISTRIBUTED OVER THESE MANY YEARS. $624,000. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT RECORD . A LOT OF GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE HERE . DELIVERING PROMISE, FUNDING COMMUNITY INPUT, BRIDGING AND BUILDING BRIDGES . ACCESSIBILITY AND FUNDRAISING. SO THAT IS THE PROMISE WE MAKE TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE DO OUR BEST TO LIVE UP TO IT EVERY DAY. THERE IS OUR BOARD. CAN I HAVE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT ARE HERE STAND UP BRIEFLY SO WE CAN TECHNOLOGY FOLKS? THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE JUST BELOW ME IS PETE. HE IS NOT HERE TODAY BUT HE REALLY IS THE CHAMPION OF THE MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. HE WAS BROUGHT IN TO THE FACTORY THAT WAS HAVING REALLY SERIOUS MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY PROBLEMS. HE INSTITUTED AN EXTREMELY STRONG SAFETY CULTURE AND THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED FORWARD BY THE SUBSEQUENT PLANT MANAGERS OVER THE YEARS. THERE WOULD NOT BE A MARTINEZ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WITHOUT PETE JERICHO. THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW BOARD MEMBERS. TONYA IS A MEMBER OF THE MARTINEZ SCHOOL DISTRICT . MARTA, I HOPE YOU KNOW HER. STEPHEN ANDREWS WHO IS A PROFESSOR AT BERKELEY IN SOILS MANAGEMENT AND IS TAKING THE LEAD IN THE REVAMPING OF OUR WEBSITE AND IS THE SPIRIT BEHIND OUR NEW GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH I WILL GO INTO AN IMMINENT. SUSAN IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY FINE PERSON. LUCINDA IS HERE TONIGHT AND IS ALSO -- TO BE HONEST WITH YOU FOR YEARS I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE GETTING THE KIND OF SUPPORT I WANTED FROM BOARD MEMBERS, BUT THIS GROUP IS WORKERS. I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM. AND LAURA WHO I HOPE MANY OF YOU KNOW. SHE IS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PEOPLE FROM ECHO SERVICES. THE NEW WEBSITE. WE WANT TO THANK ERIC ANDERSON FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL JOB HE'S DONE. IS WORKED CLOSELY WITH STEPHEN. WE HAVE A NEW GRANT METHODOLOGY. WE WILL NOT BE GETTING SMALL LITTLE GRANTS LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PAST. WE WILL EXPERIMENT THIS YEAR WITH A SINGLE GRANT. TRANSPARENCY. THE SINGLE GRANT FOR UP TO $20,000. WE WILL ASK AGENCIES TO BID ON IT . THE SUBJECT WILL BE SOIL. I HAVE A FLYER HERE . IT IS CALLED FROM THE GROUND UP. WE WILL LEAVE A FEW ON THE TABLE HERE. WE ARE ASKING AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENHANCE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SOIL. VERY MUCH LIKE ARBOR DAY, WE PRETTY MUCH UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DO NOT GIVE BACK TO MOTHER EARTH AND TO THE OCEANS, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY TURN ON US. WE ARE DOING THAT VERY WELL RIGHT NOW AND WE WANT TO GET BETTER ABOUT IT AND WE WANT MARTINEZ TO HELP TAKE THE LEAD UNDER STEPHEN'S DIRECTION. WE WANT TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. WE ARE HOPING AGENCIES WILL WORK TOGETHER TO SUBMIT GRANTS FOR JOINT PROJECTS. WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE IMPACT IS CLEAR ON THE CITY OF MARTINEZ . WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND PROMOTE THE LONGEVITY OF THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL . THERE IS THE GRANT ITSELF. ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SOIL, EDIBLE FRUITS, GREEN FOOD THAT WE. VIA DIVERSITY, FIRE SAFETY. AIR, WATER, AND SOIL TESTING METHODS ALL PROMOTING A RICH AND HEALTHY SOIL AND THE PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL WHICH IS THE THINGS THAT GIVE US SHELTER, GIVE US THE WATER TABLE AND FEED US. WE ARE HOPING AGENCIES WILL WORK TOGETHER AND SUBMIT GRANTS. THE GRANT DAY, THE DAY IN WHICH WE WILL HAVE THE BIDDERS COME AND TALK TO US AND LEARN ABOUT HOW WE WILL SCORE THE GRANTS AND WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE WILL BE APRIL 24 AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING FROM 9:30 TO 12:00 . THE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY TO BE THERE. IT IS FREE. IT IS TOMORROW . THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MARTINEZ FOSTERING COLLABORATION. THERE IS THE INFORMATION . WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE. IT IS VASTLY IMPROVED OVER BEFORE. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING RECENTLY WITH MIKE AND JILL AROUND PLACE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS AS AN ASIDE. THIS IS NOT FROM THE FOUNDATION. IT'S FROM ME. I HAVE DEALT WITH A LOT OF CITY STAFF IN THIS TOWN FOR A LONG TIME AND IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO HAVE TWO APPOINTED OFFICIALS WHO OBVIOUSLY LIKE EACH OTHER, SHARE AUTHORITY COMFORTABLY, AND ARE COMMITTED TO REALLY MAKE IN THIS TOWN GROW IN A POSITIVE WAY. I COMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HIRING THESE REALLY FINE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB . SO WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN . WE HOPE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH YOU IN WAYS THAT ARE VERY POSITIVE FOR THE CITY OF MARTINEZ. I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS WILL QUICKLY IF YOU HAVE ANY. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION. I SEE YOU'VE GOT A FIVE STAR BOARD THERE. THAT IS EXCITING. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS? SINCE 92, 93? >> 93. >> SO TO RECAP YOU ARE GOING TO DO A ONE TIME DONATION OR FUND? >> INSTEAD OF DOING TWO SEMIANNUAL GRANTS OF SMALL AMOUNTS FROM $1000-$3000 THIS YEAR WE WILL DO A SINGLE GRANT FOR $20,000 AND WE HOPE THAT WILL SPARK A COUPLE OF AGENCIES , MAYBE SIMILAR AGENCIES TO SUBMIT TOGETHER A BID THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ENHANCE HOW WE ENRICH THE SOIL HERE IN TOWN AND ENRICH THE BOUNTY THAT COMES FROM THE SOIL. IT IS NEW. WE'VE NEVER TRIED THIS BEFORE. IT'S AN EXPERIMENT BUT WE HOPE IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND WE HOPE IT WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM IMPACT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WHEN WAS THAT EVENT? >> THE 24th AT THE YACHT CLUB. IT STARTS AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING. THERE WILL BE LIGHT SNACKS, COFFEE. IT ENDS AT NOON. >> THE CONCEPT OF GIVING ONE GRANT PER YEAR, YOU WILL BE ROTATING EVERY YEAR? >> THAT IS THE PLAN. WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS. WE REALLY HOPE TO GROW THE CORPUS OF THE FOUNDATION SO MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD WE CAN DO TWO A YEAR WITH LARGER AMOUNTS. WE REALLY HOPE THAT THIS WORKS. IT IS NEW BUT WE REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE MUCH MORE MONEY TO SPEND. WE ARE VERY KEEN ON BEING SURE THAT THEY REPORT AT THE END OF THE GRANT WHICH IS ONE YEAR WHAT THE IMPACT OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HAS BEEN. DID THEY SUCCEED? GREAT. IF THEY DIDN'T? WHY NOT. WE HOPE A LOT OF INFORMATION SHARING CAN HAPPEN FROM THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE DECADES. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ONGOING GREAT WORK. >> YOUR MOTHER WAS A CHAMPION FOR US FOR A LONG TIME. >> THANK YOU. SHE WAS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH CARING INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY SHEPHERDING THIS IN PORTION -- IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING EVIDENCE TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR SHARING THE NEW OPPORTUNITY WHICH SORT OF CENTERS ON COLLABORATION. I CANNOT SEE A BETTER WAY TO ENCOURAGE AND DRIVE FORWARD COLLABORATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS TO FUND CREATIVE WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME. IT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH. I AM EAGER TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. I THINK IT IS VERY INTUITIVE . IT IS DEFINITELY DRIVING COLLABORATION. SO THANK YOU. >> YOU SAID THAT BETTER THAN I DID SO THANK YOU. >> OKAY. WE HAVE BREANNE WITH HER HAND UP. >> I WANTED TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS EVENING. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR ABOUT YOUR INTENTION AND THE BOARD'S INTENTION OF HAVING THE FINDER GRANTS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION FOR THE SOIL THEME. I THINK IT IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED. AM REALLY EXCITED. I THINK THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY ON THE RIGHT TRACK THAT A LARGER GRANT TO GROUPS THAT ALL HAVE THE SAME INTENTION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND GIVING THEM MORE MONEY TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. I HOPE THAT THIS WORKS BECAUSE I LOVE TO SEE EVERY YEAR YOU HAVE A NEW THEME AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO HELP PEOPLE BE MORE IMPACTFUL. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH McF MOVING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. ONE LAST THING WE ARE VERY IMPORTUNATE --FORTUNATE TO HAVE DARRELL PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER. HE HAS COVERED IT AT NO EXPENSE TO US. OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE LESS THAN 2% BECAUSE OF THIS FOUNDATION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS A TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. I HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD AND THAT IS FOR MELISSA HELM . >> I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF MARTINEZ FOR A LITTLE OVER 25 YEARS NOW. I JUST WANTED TO COME AND EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES EVERYTHING FOR THIS TOWN . IT MAKES ME FEEL KIND OF BAD THAT I DON'T DO ANY OF IT. I HAVE JUST BEEN NOTICING SOME CHANGES IN OUR TOWN AND HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET INVOLVED IN FINDING OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LEFT AND THAT CONCERNS ME. SO I WAS GOING TO ATTEND THE ECONOMIC MEETING, BUT IT HAS BEEN PUT OFF UNTIL JULY AND IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAKE MILLIONS. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR TOWN. I JUST LOVE MARTINEZ. THE RICH HISTORY AND EVERYTHING . SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND I AM VERY HUMBLED BY IT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE ARNOLD MORELLO SHOPPING CENTER? >> WE WILL NOT BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU STILL HAVE ONE MINUTE 30 SECONDS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY AND THEN COUNCIL WILL CHOOSE TO RESPOND OR NOT AFTER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. MA'AM , IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFO WITH THE CLERK I THINK SOME OF OUR STAFF MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU SOME INFORMATION AS TO WHERE YOU CAN HELP OUT. SOMEBODY WILL CONTACT YOU. >> THANK YOU, MELISSA. IS THERE ANYBODY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING? OKAY. SEEING NONE , WE WILL CHECK THE VIRTUAL AUDIENCE. IS THERE ANYONE WITH A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR A NONAGE AND ICED ITEM? >> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NONAGE AND ICED ITEMS. I WILL CALL FOR A SHOW OF HANDS ONCE. THOSE WITH RAISED HANDS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENT. AT THIS TIME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE NOW. TO START, I DO HAVE TWO HANDS. CRAIG, I WILL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. I WANTED TO USE MY TIME TONIGHT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT AN ISSUE I'VE BROUGHT UP WITH YOU MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE. IT HAS BEEN A THEME OF MY COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND THAT IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO MORE AS A CITY TO ADDRESS YOUTH CONCERNS AND THE ISSUES CONCERNING YOUTH AND MAKE THE CITY A MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY CITY WHERE PARENTS WANT TO AND CAN RAISE THEIR CHILDREN . TO ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT I WILL SHARE SOME DATA WITH YOU THAT I CRUNCHED TODAY FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT SHOWS THAT SINCE THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR, THE MARTINEZ UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SEEN A TOTAL TO -- ENROLLMENT DECLINED BY 9.4%. THAT COMPARES TO A 3.7% DECLINE AT MOUNT DIABLO, 6.2% DECLINE AT PHOENICIA, AND A 6% DECLINE AT PITTSBURG. WE DID DO BETTER THAN JOHN KLINE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS A PLACE MOST FAMILIES ARE LOOKING TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS A REALLY UNINCORPORATED AREA THAT THE DISTRICT SERVES. THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONS FOR THIS. THE PRICE OF HOUSING, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WHICH I KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THROUGH THE HOUSING ELEMENT. HOPEFULLY WE WILL FINALLY AT LONG LAST MAKE SOME MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. BUT I REALLY THINK FROM A PUBLIC POLICY STANDPOINT THAT BOTH YOU AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ARE FACING VERY SIMILAR BUDGET CHALLENGES, BY THE WAY. I PAY ATTENTION TO BOTH OF YOUR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS . THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SIDE ARE VERY SIMILAR. YOU ARE BOTH DEALING WITH STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS. YOU ARE BOTH BEING PINCHED QUITE A BIT BY FLATLINING REVENUES AND RISING EXPENSES . SO, YOU HAVE A LOT OF MUTUAL INTEREST IN WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND MAKING OUR CITY LIKE THE CITY AGAIN WHERE FAMILIES WANT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR WHY A CITY LIKE MARTINEZ WHICH WE PROMOTE AND RIGHTFULLY SO FOR HAVING SO MANY GREAT ATTRIBUTES, I SEE AN EXODUS AT 10% OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS OR SO. I THINK IT WILL BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE A STUDY SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LOOK AT OR A JOINT MEETING TO LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN SEND --STEM THIS PRECIPITOUS DECLINE. IF IT DOES NOT STEM, AND IF IT CONTINUES IT WILL BE A FULL-BLOWN CRISIS FOR THE CITY. YOU KNOW, OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON OUR YOUTH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE OTHER HAND I HAD UP IS NOW DOWN SO I HAVE NO FURTHER HANDS AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU. WITH NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRIANNE, DID YOU WANT TO JUMP IN FROM YOUR ZOOM? >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW BE BEING ON SUBMITTED DIFFICULT TO GIVE THE PRESENTATIONS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH VICE MAYOR McKILLOP . THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WE HAVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS SIX THROUGH 13. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO PULL ANY OF THESE ITEMS? >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 13 JUST FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION. >> OKAY. NO PROBLEM. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. IN THAT CASE, I AM GOING TO OPEN UP CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS SIX THROUGH 12 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. CITY CLERK, WOULD YOU MIND MONITORING FOR ANY RAISED HANDS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ON THE VIRTUAL AUDIENCE. >> ABSOLUTELY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS SIX THROUGH 12 AT THIS TIME? IF SO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY IN CHAMBERS. I AM GOING TO MOVE TO ZOOM PARTICIPANTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR SIX THROUGH 12, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE NOW. I HAVE NO HANDS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL. I GUESS WE CAN -- DEBBIE , WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 13 SEPARATELY AND THEN WE CAN JUST VOTE FOR ALL OF THEM? >> SURE IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. I WAS JUST ASKING FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION AS TO THE MEDALLION REPRESENTING THE MARTINEZ STURGEON'S. I DID READ THE REPORT THAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THAT. MICHAEL? >> ACTUALLY I WILL TURN THIS ONE OVER TO LAURA. >> I CAN PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEAGUE WHERE THE MARTINEZ STURGEON PLAY UNDER THE UMBRELLA HERE AT WATERFRONT FIELD. THERE ARE ELEMENTS IN THE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOW FOR US TO PUT UP SIGNAGE PROMOTING THE STURGEON'S AT THE FACILITY EACH YEAR WHICH THEY DO . STARTING LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT, THEY DID COME TO US AND MAKE A REQUEST TO HAVE PROMOTIONAL SIGNAGE ADDED TO THE ENTRYWAY SIGNS AND TO THE CITY. THERE IS -- IF I GET THIS WRONG -- BRICK MONUMENT AND IT WOULD BE ADDED THERE ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICE ORGANIZATION MEDALLIONS THAT ARE OF THEIR. WE DID NOT FULFILL THIS REQUEST LAST YEAR, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THINGS GOT BUSY. THEY MADE THE REQUEST AGAIN THIS YEAR AND IN CONSULTING THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER WE WANTED TO BRING IT IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TO GET YOUR DIRECTION ON MOVING FORWARD. IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE PLACING THE SIGNAGE UP, OF COURSE IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE PLANNING DIVISION AND GO THROUGH THE NORMAL SIGNAGE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS. OF COURSE, WE WOULD EXPEDITE IT BECAUSE THE SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER . WE ARE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT . SO THIS WOULD BE TEMPORARY. THIS WOULD JUST GO TO THE END OF THE SEASON. OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIG TASKS WE HAVE TO DO STARTING PRETTY SOON IS NEGOTIATING THE FUTURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT THE THIRD YEAR WAS THE END, HOPEFULLY NOT BUT IF THAT WERE THE CASE IT WOULD JUST BE REMOVED . BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE THERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. >> WE ACTUALLY REMOVE THE SIGNAGE AT THE END OF THE SEASON EVERY YEAR. WE WOULD TREAT THIS THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH ALL OF THEIR PROMOTIONAL SIGNAGE AROUND TOWN. IT GOES UP IN APRIL, THE PRESEASON ACTUALLY STARTS IN MAY. IT WOULD COME DOWN IN AUGUST. I THINK WE HAVE A DATE OF AUGUST 31 BY WHEN THEY NEED TO COME DOWN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. PERHAPS HAVING MORE SIGNAGE WOULD BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE BALLFIELD AND TO THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING DON DOWN THERE . THANK YOU. I HAVE NO ARE THE QUESTIONS. >> I ACTUALLY DID WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY, LAUREN, WHY WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING? THIS SEEMS LIKE MORE OF A STAFF LEVEL APPROVAL CONSIDERING YOU HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST AND IT SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH A STANDING AGREEMENT. WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE ALREADY HANGING UP SIGNS AROUND TOWN? >> I WILL TAKE THIS ONE. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE REASON THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO HAVE YOU CONSIDER AND DIRECT STAFF TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND EVEN TO EXPEDITE IT IS BECAUSE THIS IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THE REQUEST IS TO PLACE THE SIGN ON A CITY MONUMENT LOCATION . THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC FORUM. THAT IS A CITY MONUMENT THAT IS THE CITY'S IDENTITY AND THE COUNCIL GETS TO CHOOSE WHAT IF ANYTHING GOES THERE. IT IS NOT A FOR HIM WHERE ANYONE CAN COME ALONG AND SAY I WOULD LIKE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR THIS. SO THAT IS WHY WE BROUGHT IT DIRECTLY TO YOU. IT SEEMS THE STURGEON'S, THE HOME OF THE STURGEON'S SEEMS TO BE REFLECTIVE OF COMMUNITY IDENTITY AND A COMMUNITY ATTRIBUTE SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER FOR THAT LOCATION. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. DOES ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? OKAY. CITY CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK THE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM 13. THOSE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT, SIR. COME ON UP. WE HAVE TO HAVE IT RECORDED . PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM. >> WE HEARD SOME OTHER PEOPLE SITTING OVER THERE ASK THE SAME QUESTION WE HAVE. WHAT IS THE STURGEONS? IS IT A SPORTS TEAM? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS EXISTS SO THEY PROBABLY NEED A LOT OF SIGNAGE AND MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE. >> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT THE STURGEONS IS? >> STURGEON IS OUR BASEBALL TEAM. WE SIGN A CONTRACT FOR THREE YEARS. THEY PLAY AT THE MARINA. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO. IT IS A LOT OF FUN. IT IS MORE LIKE A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME BUT IT IS A HOOT. THEY HAVE AN AN ANNOUNCER DOWN THERE AND SHE GETS THE CROWD ALL HIKED UP . WHEN THEY HIT HOME RUNS THEY GO AROUND WITH A HORN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND COLLECT MONEY FROM THE PATRONS AND THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE BALLPLAYERS. I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT PAID. THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT WRAPS AROUND THEM AND SUPPORTS THEM AND LOVES ON THEM. WE BRING THEM INTO OUR HOMES AND LET THEM STAY WITH US FOR THE SEASON. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL REVIEWS ABOUT THAT. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BRINGING A STURGEON INTO YOUR HOUSE. >> THANK YOU. >> TO CLARIFY ALSO, THE LEAGUE IS A FEEDER LEAGUE FOR THE NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE. THAT IS WHY WE ARE BASICALLY RAISING OUR ALL-STARS OF TOMORROW TODAY HERE IN MARTINEZ. >> IF I CAN QUICKLY ADD, META-MAYOR, I BELIEVE THE HOME OPENER IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ONE OF THEIR GAMES IT IS A GOOD ONE TO COME DOWN AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND CHECK IT OUT. I MYSELF HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A FEW OF THEIR GAMES. IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE THEY ARE USUALLY DONE AT THE FARMERS MARKET AS WELL ON SUNDAYS. I HAVE SEEN THEM DOWN THERE TABLING SO THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF ALL OF THE COUNCIL WAR OUR STURGEON SWAG BEFORE OPENING DAY. SO HEADS UP I MIGHT ASK YOU TO DO THAT. >> FOR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER 13, I AM TURNING TO THE ZOOM ATTENDEES. IF YOU WOULD WISH TO COMMENT PLEASE USE THE RACE AND FUTURE NOW. I HAVE NO HANDS. >> COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. ONCE THE SIGN GETS PUT UP OR THE DECAL GETS PUT UP ON THE MONUMENT SIGN, WE WILL EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT THE SIGN SHOULD JUST STAY UP BECAUSE THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THE SIGN TO BE PUT ON THE MONUMENT. YOU WANT TO PRESERVE THE SPOT FOR FUTURE. AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, AS LAUREN SAID AND TO THE VICE MAYOR'S QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD A RENEWAL. IF WE DID NOT HAVE A RENEWAL OBVIOUSLY WOULD COME DOWN BUT WE WOULD EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD NEED TO BE TREATED AFTER THE SEASON LIKE SOME OF THE SIGNAGE. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER IF WE WERE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE THE ARRANGEMENT THAT IT WOULD JUST STAY UP AND PRESERVE THE SPOT ON THE MONUMENT AS OPPOSED TO DOING THE DRILL AFTER THE SEASON TAKING IT DOWN AND PUTTING IT BACK UP IT WOULD PROBABLY STAY UP THERE LIKE THE OTHER SIGNS THAT ARE THERE WHILE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, SO YOU ARE SAYING IF WE DO NOT HAVE A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THEM AND THEY MOVE ON THEN THAT WOULD COME DOWN. >> IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY COME DOWN. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WILL BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR A MOTION TO REMIND EVERYONE . SINCE I AM REMOTE WE WILL NOT BE USING THE BUTTONS TONIGHT. WE WILL DO VOCAL VOTING. I APOLOGIZE. I MUST THE CONSENT CALENDAR TOGETHER SO WHOEVER MAKES THE MOTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT FOR SIX THROUGH 13 YOU CAN DO SO OR YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION SEPARATELY. >> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS SIX THROUGH 13. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. >> COUNCILMEMBER JAYE HOWARD. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MARK ROSS. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER SATINDER MALHI. >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR DEBBIE McKILLOP. >> YES. >> MAYOR BRIANNE ZORN. >> YES. >> MOTION PASSES. >> LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND TAKE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION PRESCRIBING AN INCREASE TO THE WATER SYSTEM RATES FOR FISCAL YEARS 24-25 THROUGH 28-29. MIKE, WILL YOU BE GIVING THE PRESENTATION? >> THIS WILL BE LAUREN. SHE HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE. SHE HAS A PRESENTATION SHE WILL WALK US THROUGH RIGHT NOW. >> GREAT. >> ONCE YOU PULL UP THE POWERPOINT KENNY PLEASE ALSO PROMOTE TOMMY AS A SPEAKER? >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AM JOINED WITH OUR CONSULTANT WHO HELPED US TO CONDUCT THE WATER COST OF SERVICE WATER RATE STUDY . IT STARTED LATE LAST YEAR AND WHAT INTO EARLY THIS YEAR. TOMMY IS ON THE CALL AND WILL BE AROUND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS HERE TONIGHT TO ALSO CO-PRESENT WITH ME AND TO REMIND YOU, WE WERE HERE IN FEBRUARY TO ASK FOR THE COUNCIL APPROVAL TO SEND OUT A NOTICE TO HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT REGARDING PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WATER RATES. STARTING OFF., ENSURING SAFE RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WATER IS A CORE FUNCTION OF THE CITY. THE CHALLENGES TO MEET CURRENT REGULATIONS AND DEMANDS WHILE PLANNING AHEAD TO ADDRESS AN AGING WATER TREATMENT FACILITY . FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY WAS BUILT IN 1948 AND HAD AN EXPANSION IN 1967. AND OZONE FACILITY WAS BUILT IN 1990 AND OF COURSE WE UPGRADED THAT FACILITY IN 2023. PERIODIC REVIEWS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WATER SERVICE RATES ARE CRITICAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THOSE REGULATIONS, DEMANDS, AND PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE FACILITY. A STUDY WAS COMPLETED THIS YEAR TO EVALUATE THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WATER ENTERPRISE. THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BY TOMMY. HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY WORKING WITH THE CITY OF MARTINEZ AND AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR WATER SYSTEM. PRIOR TO 2024, THE LAST STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED WAS IN 2019, RESULTING IN INCREASES OF APPROXIMATELY 9% EACH YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS. THE LAST INCREASE FROM THIS STUDY WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR. IN ORDER TO MEET REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE ARE PROPOSING ANNUAL INCREASES OF APPROXIMATELY 6% FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEE. WE APOLOGIZE. THERE IS A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION BUT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WE ARE LOOKING TO IN THE FUTURE. >> THIS IS A TABLE FROM THE CIP PLAN THAT IS INCORPORATED IN THE BUDGET. IT AND HAS A WIDE RANGE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATER SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS RANGING FROM MAJOR REPLACEMENT, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PLANT, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM AND WHAT IT SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT I THINK OF ALMOST $35 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS INTO THE SYSTEM. THAT DOES IMPACT THE RATES, BUT IT DOES ALSO --IT HAS BEEN ONGOING AND SHOWS A COMMITMENT THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN A GOOD QUALITY SYSTEM AND RELIABILITY. I THINK THAT SUMMARIZES THAT SLIDE. >> ANOTHER VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR YOU TO SEE. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WAS MAILED OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE. WE WILL GO THROUGH EVERY PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENT HERE TONIGHT. AS YOU MAY RECALL, TOMMY WAS HERE ON FEBRUARY 7 TO GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS WERE. BUT THIS IS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION, ALL OF WHICH YOU SEE HERE, THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE AND WAS ALSO MAILED OUT TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS. THEY SAW EVERY PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENT AND SAW ALSO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT RATE ADJUSTMENT. THIS CHART ILLUSTRATES IF THE NEW WATER RATE WAS ADOPTED WHAT A SINGLE-FAMILY MONTHLY BILL WOULD BE IN COMPARISON WITH PEER AGENCIES THAT WE EVALUATED . DURING THE FEBRUARY 7 MEETING, CONCERNS WERE RAISED REGARDING THE AVALANCHE MONTHLY BILL FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY AND MARTINEZ BEING HIGHER AS YOU CAN SEE THAN NEIGHBORING AGENCIES. TOMMY AND CITY STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY EXPLAINED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE ARE MANY VARIABLES THAT ESTABLISH AN AGENCY'S WATER SERVICE RATES. THOSE VARIABLES DIFFER AMONG EVERY AGENCY HERE MEANING IT IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES. CERTAIN AGENCIES MAY HAVE A LARGER ECONOMY OF SCALE. THAT MEANS THE COST CAN GET SHARED ACROSS A LARGER CUSTOMER BASE. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS EAST BAY AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WHERE THEY CAN SHARE THOSE COSTS ACROSS MANY MORE RATEPAYERS. IN ADDITION, THE SOURCE OF WATER, THE AGE OF THE SYSTEM AND THE TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATIONAL PLANS CAN ALSO VERY ACROSS AGENCIES WHICH FACTOR INTO WHY THE RATES ARE DEFINED AND DETERMINED BY THOSE AGENCIES. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE COUNCIL TO KNOW IS THAT THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS PRESENTED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH A TRANSPARENT STUDY THAT EVALUATED THE TRUE COST ASSOCIATED WITH TREATING AND DISTRIBUTING OUR WATER IN MARTINEZ AND FUNDING CRITICAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE JUST WENT OVER THAT WILL HELP US SUSTAIN SAFE WATER OPERATIONS INTO THE FUTURE. I THINK THE TERM THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY USED ON FEBRUARY 7 IS THERE IS NO FAT IN THESE RATES. IT GOES TO REALLY SERVING THE TRUE COST OF PROVIDING WATER. SO THERE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE LOW INCOME. I WANT TO MENTION THE FIRST ONE IS LIFELINE WORK THIS IS A CITY LED PROGRAM . WE PROVIDE A SERVICE CHARGE REDUCTION OF 50% ON A QUALIFYING INDIVIDUAL'S MONTHLY BILL . THE GENERAL FUND ALLOCATES $28,000 A YEAR FOR THE PROJECT. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023 THERE WERE 94 HOUSEHOLDS THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM. THE OTHER IS THE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY. THIS PROVIDES UP TO $2000 FOR RATEPAYERS WHO ARE PAST DUE ON THEIR BILLS . THERE WERE 16 HOUSEHOLD THAT RECEIVED SUPPORT IN 2023 AND MARTINEZ UNDER THE PROGRAM. THIS PAID FOR 54 BILLS TOTALING $10,000. I WANT TO POINT OUT THE THIRD PROGRAM, ALBEIT NOT OFFERED ANY LONGER BECAUSE IT WAS A PANDEMIC PROGRAM LED BY THE STATE IS THE WATER ARREARAGE PROGRAM WHICH HELPED 274 RATEPAYERS WITH DELINQUENT BILLS WHICH OCCURRED 2021 THROUGH 2022. THE AMOUNT TOTALED $88,000 . AGAIN, THAT PROGRAM IS NO LONGER OFFERED BUT WE ARE JUST WRAPPING UP WORK WITH THE STATE ON THE PROGRAM. BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY PROGRAMS I HAVE INDICATED APPEAR ARE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE WATER COUNTER IF YOU COME VISIT US. PERIODICALLY WE DO SHARE THIS INFORMATION THROUGH THE WATER BILLS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS A CUSTOMER IN NEED WILL CALL US AND STAFF ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT ACCOMMODATING THEM WITH THESE PROGRAMS AND WALKING THEM THROUGH HOW TO APPLY. I DO WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT AT LEAST FOR THE CITY LIFELINE PROGRAM, THE WAY WE MEASURE LOW INCOME IS BASED ON THE U.S. HUD DEFINITION OF THAT. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE. THE PROP 218 PROCESS ADJUSTING WATER SERVICE RATES REQUIRES THAT WE FOLLOW THIS PROCESS. THIS INCLUDES SENDING A WRITTEN NOTICE TO EVERY PROPERTY OWNER . THE NOTICE MUST CONVEY THE PROPOSED FEE ADJUSTMENTS, THE BASIS FOR THE CALCULATION, THE REASON FOR THE FEE ADJUSTMENT AND THE TIME, DATE AND LOCATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WHICH IS TO BE HELD NO SOONER THAN 45 DAYS AFTER NOTICING . IF 50% PLUS ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS , OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR RATEPAYERS SUBMITTED PROTEST, THE RATE INCREASE WOULD NOT BE APPROVED. THAT IS HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. AT THE TIME OF THE STAFF REPORT AND I CAN CONFIRM WITH THE CITY CLERK THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED BUT AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING WE HAD 16 WRITTEN PROTESTS THAT WERE SENT IN AND ACCEPTED BY THE CITY CLERK. I WILL PAUSE THERE. HERE IS THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE SCREEN. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS AS WELL. I HAVE TOMMY AND JOE HERE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP. >> THANK YOU, LAUREN AND TOMMY, I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU BEFORE THE END OF THE EVENING. I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE THAT WE WERE GIVEN IS TO ONLY RAISE RATES 6%. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION YOU MENTIONED THAT WE USED TO HAVE ANNUAL 9% RATE INCREASES SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LOWERING THE RATE INCREASE ANNUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT IN MY OPINION I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANY OF THE UTILITIES OR ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THIS YEAR. I APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE TAKING NO FAT. WE ARE REALLY JUST MAKING ENDS MEET . I'M NOT SURE THAT'S APPROPRIATE PHRASE FOR A RATE ADJUSTMENT BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE WORK EVERYBODY PUT IN FOR ESTABLISHING THESE RATES. DOES ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION? I KNOW WE ASKED MOST OF OUR QUESTIONS AT THE LAST ONE. ARE THERE ANY NEW QUESTIONS? >> YES. IF YOU GO TO THE STAFF REPORT AND GO TO PAGE 2, THIS IS A GREAT REPORT, BY THE WAY. IT IS VERY EASY TO READ. I'M NOT A BIG NUMBERS GUY SO I LIKE IT WHEN YOU LAID OUT AND THIS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU GO TO THE RATEMAKING OBJECTIVES, AND YOU LIST A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT REASONS. A LOT OF THEM ARE VERY COMMONSENSE. ON THE FIRST ONE YOU TALK ABOUT GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO FUND OPERATING COST. THAT IS VERY SIMPLE AND OBVIOUS. THEN YOU TALK ABOUT ON THE THIRD THING, BONDED DEBT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? >> I'M GOING TO LEAN ON TOMMY IF HE CAN JUMP IN WITH THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. YOU ARE ON MUTE, TOMMY. >> THANK YOU. >> CITIES NORMALLY ESTABLISH LOANS. SO YOU HAVE DEBT SERVICE LIKE RESERVE. THE COVERAGE IS CALCULATED . WITH THE DEBT SERVICE TO THE REVENUE AFTER YOU PAY OUT THE COST. SO THE OBJECTIVES ARE RATE BREAKING. [INDISCERNIBLE] THEY CAN KEEP THOSE VERSES FINDING RESERVES. MAKING SURE THAT SATISFYING THE DEBT OBLIGATIONS IS ONE OF THOSE FACTORS. >> OKAY. THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS IT. GO AHEAD. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, TOMMY AND LAUREN FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THESE SUBJECTS. CAN WE GO TO SLIDE FOUR, I BELIEVE. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. TOMMY, AND THE WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT LINE YOU'VE GOT BASICALLY $2 MILLION A YEAR TO REPLACE WATER MAINS. THAT GOES UP A LITTLE BIT , IT LOOKS LIKE 10% IN 2028 AND SO ON AFTER THAT. THOSE ASSUMPTIONS ARE BASED ON INFLATION? PROJECTED INFLATION RATES ? OR JUST THE VOLUME OF WORK THAT WILL BE NEEDED? ASSUMING A BASELINE COST OF REPLACEMENT ? HOW DOES THAT COMPUTE? >> WHEN I PUT TOGETHER THE SOURCE DATA FOR THE REPORT I WILL ASK TO TAKE A FIRST CRACK AT THAT PITCH. >> WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT MOVING FORWARD, FOR A LOT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WE HAVE A CHOICE OF ISSUING BONDS IF WE WANT A REALLY BIG PROJECT AND WE NEED SOME CAPITAL, BUT THIS NEXT FIVE YEARS IS PRIMARILY BASED ON WORKING ON THE FUNDS WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE FUND . THE CIP WAS DEVELOPED, KIND OF EVALUATING A RANGE OF NEEDS . IT WAS DIVVIED UP BETWEEN THE MAIN REPLACEMENT PART OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. IT IS BASED ON ESTIMATED QUANTITIES . WITH A SLIGHT ESCALATION FACTOR THERE IS PUMP STATION WORK AND ALSO PART OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SO THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM AND THEN SOME FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND SELF IMPROVEMENTS . THERE IS FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST EACH OF THOSE ELEMENTS EITHER UP OR DOWN AS NEEDS CHANGE. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOT OF WATER MAIN BREAKS SOME OF IT IS SEASONAL. SOME IS EARTHQUAKE RELATED OR AGE-RELATED. WE DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THE OUT YEARS TO ADJUST BETWEEN MAINS AND RESERVOIRS AND SUBSTATIONS BUT THIS IS BASED ON THE BEST ESTIMATES AT THE TIME. >> FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING OR ARE HERE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT A WATER MAIN IS ? >> THE WATER MAIN IS A PIPE -- THERE IS A WHOLE NETWORK OF PIPELINES THAT RUN FROM OUR WATER PLANT AT HOWE AND PACHECO AND THEY ARE PUMPED FROM THE PLANT TO THE DIFFERENT ELEVATION ZONES IN THE CITY. IT IS PUMPED UP TO RESERVOIRS THAT SERVE. THERE IS A WHOLE SERIES OF ELEVATIONS . IT IS PUMPED INTO THE RESERVOIR, DIVIDES STORAGE AND CONSTANT PRESSURE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF HOMES. BASICALLY IT IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES WATER FROM THE PLANT TO THE CUSTOMER. >> OKAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ESTIMATED TOTALS THAT THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE -- IT IS KIND OF LIKE THE ROADS. WE KNOW THAT WE WILL SPEND X AMOUNT OF MILLIONS FIXING AS YET UNNAMED ROADS IN THE SYSTEM. SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE WE ARE PROJECTING THIS MANY REPAIRS TO THIS MUCH NEED IN THE SYSTEM. IT'S NOT THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL WATER MAIN HAS BEEN PROJECTED THAT IN 2028 WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THAT ONE . >> CORRECTS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME PRIORITY MAINS. SOME ARE SMALL AND OLD . SOME ARE UNDERSIZED. WE KNOW WE HAVE MORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT THAN WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THOSE. >> OKAY. WAS THERE ANY RATE OF INFLATION THAT WAS EMBEDDED IN THERE? >> THERE IS. IT IS BUILT INTO THE RATE MODEL AND REVENUE PROJECTION AND ALSO EXPENDITURES BASED ON PROJECTED CONSTRUCTION COST AND LABOR COST. >> LAST QUESTION, THE OZONE TREATMENT SYSTEM WE JUST UPGRADED AND THE GENERATORS AND BACKUP GENERATORS WE PUT IN, WE ARE KIND OF AT THE FRONT END OF HAVING NEW EQUIPMENT AT THE HEART OF THE SYSTEM . SO WE ARE GOOD IN THAT REGARD FOR A WHILE? >> CORRECT. THAT WAS A MAJOR UPGRADE ON A SYSTEM THAT WAS NEARLY 25 YEARS OLD. IT WAS VERY HIGH-TECH WHEN IT FIRST WENT IN AND HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO PROVIDE A MUCH LONGER SERVICE LIFE AND HIGH-QUALITY CLEAN WATER. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? >> YES, MAYOR ZORN. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ? SORRY. I FORGOT THE NUMBER. THERE WE GO. THAT ONE. SO, MY QUESTION WAS WITH RESPECT TO THE GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION. THE 28,000. IT SAYS 28,000 EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM PICK UP I UNDERSTAND, HOW LONG HAS THAT BASELINE SUPPORT BEEN IN PLACE. >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN HERE, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN CONFIRM IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN THAT IN TERMS OF THE BASELINE NUMBER. >> IT HAS BEEN IN THE BALLPARK OF THAT NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN FIXED AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF JOE HAS ANY IDEA PRIOR TO THAT. THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A BIT. THAT IS A DIRECT SUBSIDY FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. IT HAS TO BE. IT CAN'T BE FROM THE WATERFRONT. >> THAT'S WHAT I SUSPECTED WAS THE CASE. THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS THAT NUMBER HAS STAYED RELATIVELY FIXED WILDLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, IN 2019 I PRESUME THAT THERE WAS A SERIES OF INCREASES PRIOR AS WELL, SO THE AMOUNT OF RATE INCREASES HAS GRADUALLY GONE UP, BUT THE BASELINE NUMBER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HAS MORE OR LESS STAYED THE SAME. IN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY? >> I THINK SO. I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT. >> SO THERE WERE 94 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE SERVED IN 2023 AND THE SERVICE AREA IS ROUGHLY HOW BIG? >> DO YOU HAVE THE REPORT ACCESSIBLE, JOE? >> IN TERMS OF HOUSEHOLD? >> HOUSEHOLD. >> 10,000 SERVICE CONNECTIONS. NOT ALL ARE HOUSEHOLDS BUT THE BULK ARE. >> I THINK THAT IS JUST SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT. I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS I WANT TO SEE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE PROVIDE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS. I THINK THAT IS A LEGITIMATE CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE BECAUSE WITH EVERYTHING WITH INFLATION WE HAVE ALL SEEN OUR BE --BILLS. PEOPLE ARE HURTING. THEY ARE STRUGGLING PICK UP THE NUMBER IS JUST STAYING FLAT THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME. I THINK AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE I KNOW IT WILL BE A DIFFICULT BUDGET CYCLE BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO PRIORITIES --PRIORITIZE HOW WE CAN HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL DEFINITELY BE KEEN ON. LOOKING AHEAD, I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS TODAY. I TOTALLY DO. MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE TRY TO MINIMIZE THESE RATE INCREASES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE? I AM THINKING ABOUT , HAVE WE FULLY TAPPED INTO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT THAT WAS PASSED BY CONGRESS? THERE HAS TO BE SOME MONEY IN THEIR TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES WITH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES . I DON'T KNOW BUT I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. THEY HAVE SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES IN THE FORMS OF LOANS AND GRANTS. DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF WE HAVE EVER TAPPED INTO ANY OF THAT? IF NOT, WE SHOULD BE. THERE IS A BROADER POINT HERE IS THAT FOR ME, JUST KIND OF MOVING FORWARD I DO NOT THINK WE HAVE BEEN --WE NEED TO FULLY EXHAUST. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB FULLY EXHAUSTING ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES ON THE TABLE. I KNOW WE BROUGHT IN A CONTRACT GRANT WRITER TO HELP US ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, BUT AS IT THAT IS THE KIND OF WAY FOR ME THAT I DO NOT WANT TO PUT ANY ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS IF WE ARE ESSENTIALLY LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT IS THE CASE HERE, BUT I DO FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE METHODICAL AND STRATEGIC MOVING FORWARD. I WILL VOTE FOR THIS TODAY, BUT JUST KNOW I WILL DO THAT WITH THE KENAI AT TRYING TO FIND THOSE AVENUES TO TRY TO REDUCE THESE TYPES OF IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW. IT IS HARD OUT THERE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. DESPITE SOME OF THE ROSE ECONOMIC FORECAST WHEN YOU DIG DOWN IT IS STILL TOUGH . THAT IS WHY I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAUREN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PROMOTE THIS EVEN BETTER SO MORE RESIDENTS CAN HOPEFULLY AVAIL THEMSELVES, THOSE THAT QUALIFY CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES . >> CAN I ASK TWO FOLLOW-UP FROM THESE QUESTIONS. THE 28,000 THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR EVERY YEAR, DO WE USE THAT EVERY YEAR? DOES THAT LIMIT THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED THAT SERVICE? >> YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY ONE THING I CAN'T PROVIDE YOU TODAY. I KNOW THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH OF A BUDGET THAT HAS ABSORBED. I APOLOGIZE. I DO NOT HAVE THAT READILY AT MY FINGERTIPS. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU MAYOR ZORN AND COUNCILMEMBER MALHI, MAYBE WE CAN BRING THIS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. THAT WILL GIVE US MORE TIME TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF TREND DATA ON THE LIFELINE PROGRAM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT HAS BEEN USED AND WHAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE CONSIDERATION TO BRING FORWARD FOR THE COUNCIL TO TALK THROUGH . AT THAT TIME I CAN BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION AS WELL ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND ITS HISTORY. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT I WILL WORK WITH THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THIS WHO NOW IS TAKING OVER ALL THINGS WATER BILLING IS WE WILL WORK WITH THE FINANCE TEAM IN THE UPCOMING WATER BILLS TO GET OUT INFORMATION ABOUT BOTH PROGRAMS. OF COURSE, WE WILL HAVE TO CONVEY UPCOMING INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ADJUSTMENTS . THEY WON'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, JANUARY 1, BUT CERTAINLY WE WILL MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GET OUT THE INFORMATION MORE ROUTINELY NOW THAT THIS IS GOING THROUGH. >> JUST TO CLARIFY.'S LIFELINE OPT IN OR AUTOMATIC? >> YOU HAVE TO SEND AN APPLICATION AND IF YOU MEET --I AM TRYING TO THINK. I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. IF IT IS THE LOW INCOME CRITERIA OF HARD, STAFF A LOOK AT CERTAIN DOCUMENTS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE FOR PROOF OF INCOME. WITH YOUR APPLICATION WE HAVE TO REVIEW THAT PROOF. WE WILL THEN MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM . MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM. ONCE YOU ARE IN IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OFFERED AROUND THE REST OF THE YEAR. THEY RENEW IT EACH YEAR. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> IT IS OFTEN . OFTEN TIMES IN THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THE 94 HOUSEHOLDS MIGHT BE RECURRING BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM . IF NEW PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND DON'T APPLY. IF YOU DON'T APPLY YOU DON'T GET IT'S THAT COULD ALSO BE ONE OF THE FACTORS FOR WHY IT HAS BEEN STABLE FOR SO LONG WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CITY HAVE NOT DONE A GREAT JOB COMMUNICATING ON A LOT OF THAT. THAT IS A REASON . IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE SLID UNDER THE RADAR FOR A LOT OF FOLKS. WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER WHO ASKED TO THE STURGEONS ARE . THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVERTISE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS. I THINK IT IS SUPER HELPFUL AND ABSOLUTELY PRE-SPRING THAT INFORMATION BACK. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MALHI 'S CONCERNS ARE VALID. >> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE CORRECT. WHEN I REVIEWED THE LIFELINE PROGRAM, IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDED A MORE VISIBLE PRESENCE . YOU CAN GO TO THE WATER WINDOW AND SEE INFORMATION AND FLYERS. IT WAS NOT VERY USER-FRIENDLY ON THE WEB. I WORKED WITH THE FINANCE TEAM TO CLEAN THAT UP. I THINK THAT THERE IS MORE WORK WE CAN DO. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IS ADDING THAT TO THE NEWSLETTER AS A RESOURCE. I THINK THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT FRONT. IT'S NOT JUST SENDING IT OUT IN THE WATER BILLING. WE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION AND NOW THAT JUNE IS HERE WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE CONVERSATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT. >> THINK YOU. REALLY QUICKLY TO ALSO FOLLOW UP THIS OTHER QUESTION REGARDING FEDERAL EARMARKS AND FUNDING, JOE, HOW MUCH CAN YOU REMIND US OF THE FUNDING DID WE END UP USING ? THAT IS FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FLAGGED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW THAT WE INTENDED ON --I THOUGHT WE SAID $2 MILLION FOR WATERMAN REPAIRS. CAN YOU AFFIRM WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS? >> $1 MILLION WAS ADDED TO THE MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT IS ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY LATER THIS MONTH. >> THINK YOU. >> SORRY, VICE MAYOR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE PROCEED. >> THANK YOU. I DO APPLAUD -- SATINDER MALHI YOUR QUESTION ABOUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PROMOTING THE GRANT WRITER. WE HAVE A GRANT WRITER BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME REVENUES OUT THERE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST FOR THE CITIZENS . I HAVE BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF LOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE READY TO BE