City Council Meeting — December 18, 2024

Thank you.

I'm just going to be honored. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, 635.

We'll start with the land acknowledgement. We would like to acknowledge that the land we inhibit today was once known as the Taubengar, the home of the Gabalino Taubengar people. We show respect to the Gabalino Taubengar people as well as all indigenous people, past, present, and the future, and honor their labor as original caretakers of this land. We commit to the uplifting, the Gabalino Taubengar people, invite you to acknowledge the history, and join us in caring for this land.

Call to order.

Let's start with our My Park Police Explorers who will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

face. Present. Colors.

With your right hand over your heart, please join 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.

Order.

Colors. Outward. Face. Forward, march.

Hold, forward.

About third. It's fifth.

You may be seated. Roll call, please. Thank you, Mayor. Council Member Wong?

Present.

Council Member Sanchez? Present. Council Member Lo? Present. Mayor Po Tem Yang?

Present.

Mayor Ngo?

Present. All present. Thank you.

Thank you. Agenda additions, deletions.

Yes, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Council.

We'd like to suggest, if possible, to move two items after the presentation item before old business.

For your consideration, item 5A, our business license tax item, and also item 5D. with council authorization we have presenters in the audience

for item 5D

and for item 5A we have a presenter joining us throughout the country and so there it's like 2.30 in the morning and so we'd like to hear that item earlier in the agenda if that's okay

everyone okay I see head nods so yes that will be fine

let's go with public communications

do we have speakers tonight there are none

None. There are none.

None. Okay. Wow. Good. Let's move forward.

Presentation.

Yeah. Okay. Presentation 1A, I have a Unified School District Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Denise Haramillo.

Come on up.

We have something for you.

it's a key

not to the city but to one of the schools that you guys

manage

the key here would be to find which school so congratulations on behalf of the city

why don't we come up here for a quick picture applause applause

applause

oh my gosh that is beautiful

I will try all of them.

Congratulations.

Did you want to say something?

You know, over the last several years, I've had many occasions to come in this room. And I always have this moment of nostalgia because, see, I'm a native of Monterey Park. I grew up in Monterey Park, and I'm old enough to remember when this building was built. I remember the old city hall. And when I first, my colleagues are nodding, and when I first came in this room as a child,

I remember it was state-of-the-art, and it was brand new, and it was so exciting. And today I like to use the term, it's vintage, maybe a little bit like me, right? But I am so, so honored. This means more to me than anything I could say. The names and faces up here might have changed over the years, but the care and commitment our community has to our students and one another hasn't. So thank you for years of partnership with the Alhambra School District, and I take every opportunity to embarrass my colleagues, and they know that this belongs not to me but to all of them, so I'm going to ask all of you to come up and join in our photo. Thank you. All of you. Thank you.

Thank you.

We got lots of cameras so I'm gonna pretend I know what I'm doing. I'm gonna pretend I know what I'm doing.

It's the button. Yeah. Alright, well, I'm dead.

I hope that did that. Let's try another one.

Okay, I'm in trouble if I don't do it.

Thank you.

I want to also acknowledge

two of our Hamburg Unified School Board members, Bob Jin and Ken Tang, who are here tonight to join us in celebration of the superintendent. We were just there, was it last night? Just last night for their installation.

So congratulations.

We're a great partner,

or you guys are a great partner.

I think the majority of the Monterey Park residents or children go to Hamburg Unified. So thank you for being a proud product. And I think many of us sitting in this council are products of AUSD.

Moving on to, where am I?

Oh, we're going to go 5A. Where is 5A, 5A, 5A?

Adopt an ordinance establishing a business license tax schedule.

So who's presenting?

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor, Pro Tem, and Council.

Laura Bourgeon, Finance Manager.

On November 5th, 2024, voters adopted Measure BE, which updated the structure of the city's business license tax to be based on a business's gross receipts.

The measure passed with a 70.46% voter approval, and on December 10th, council certified the election results. the city has approximately 4 700 businesses of which seven are estimated to gross over 25 million in gross revenue annually the next highest revenue grossing business earns less than 10 million annually city staff studied other cities with gross revenues as their basis to collect blt and found that cities using gross revenues include a scaled schedule capping the tax

Therefore, in order to continue to be an attractive place for larger businesses to operate, the city staff is recommended a scaled business license tax schedule for businesses earning over $25 million annually.

City staff is proposing to adopt an ordinance allowing for a scaled BLT schedule that would allow or ensure fairness while remaining business friendly to the seven highest grossing businesses. It is estimated that 43% of businesses make under $500,000 annually, and another 21% of businesses make between $500,000 to $1 million. A large majority of the remaining 46% of businesses make between $1 million and $10 million.

There are seven outliers.

One business makes between $30 to $35 million.

One business makes between $40 to $45.

Two businesses make between $45 and $50. Another two businesses between $60 and $65. And one business makes over $70 million. Furthermore, the attached ordinance permits an automatic annual increase based on the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, for all urban consumers and would be applied and effective on January 1st of each year, beginning January 1st, 2026. Section 9 of Measure BE authorizes City Council to implement the BLT via regulations adopted by ordinance.

With the passing of Measure BE and the adoption of the recommended BLT schedule,

we are estimating revenues to increase about $400,000 annually from $800,000 to approximately $1.2 million. To ensure the city may collect the BLT on schedule, it is recommended that this is the draft urgency ordinance that will take effect immediately. This will allow the city to begin collecting the BLT on January 1st, 2025.

Furthermore, Municipal Code Subsection 5.08.210 states annual business license tax shall be due and payable in advance on the first day of January each year.

To allow businesses to adjust to the new BLT structure, the city is seeking approval for a one-time extension for renewal of business license tax due and payable by April 1st, 2025.

This concludes my presentation. I and Martha Garcia, our finance director, she's available remotely to answer any questions.

Mr. Mayor, if I could just tag team, there are two ordinances.

One's an urgency ordinance and one's a regular ordinance.

As you know, we typically do this belt and suspenders provision so that the recommended action is to adopt the urgency tonight and then introduce and waive first reading of the regular, and a second reading would come back to you in January.

I'm sorry. One more thing.

I do want to note that there are two instances on the staff report, page two of the staff report, that state resolution, and it should be ordinance.

So just a little typographical error. Thank you. Comments, questions?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate staff bringing this to us and appreciate the thought that went into this structure. I know that we looked at other cities to come up with this. Totally agree with moving forward with this to make sure that I think when the council put this ballot measure for approval by voters on the ballot, the intent was always to match up with what other cities are doing. and I know just about all the cities that have adopted gross receipts-based business license tax have these kind of tiers, so I appreciate that we're doing that work and that we left it out of the measure language itself so that council has the flexibility to adopt and change the tiers in this structure and that authority remains with the council

as opposed to having to go to the ballot

every time to make some of these more administrative adjustments. So thank you for the staff work on this. I don't know off so my hope is also to propose would ask the other counselors as well I'm ready to support this but to also add in some additional potential changes to the Structure for the BLT what I'd like for us to I'd like to explore and I would support a first-year free program for small businesses So those as defined here five hundred thousand dollars or less in revenue I don't know if you know offhand how many businesses new businesses opened in the last year last two years that are under the five hundred thousand dollar threshold i'm just curious what the potential revenue impact might be for if we

were to explore that that potential program we do not have that information currently um because our structure we currently um don't uh get that information from our businesses um but we will

we can look into that and get you a number do you know how many businesses in general opened new uh in the city over the last year or last two years i do not have that information on me but

i can get that information as well i'm just curious but i don't know if you i think we have

uh our economic development manager i don't know if you have a an estimate of new businesses that

open this last calendar year.

So in 24, even if it's around 500, more than 500 opened? From January through?

Correct. About 500 businesses opened.

Not insubstantial amount of potential revenue for calculating $75,

but it's probably a more conservative estimate.

But essentially, I'd like to propose a first year free program that first year.

Should separate that into a other language to come back potentially implement if there's support among the other council members to do so

Development opportunity to promote hey, this is a small wave that the city's gonna wave So on the whole not a whole lot of money for small business

But it's a small thing that the city can do anything a great way for the city to promote itself as being business friendly for especially for smaller businesses

I know some other jurisdictions have adopted something similar along these lines for first-year free programs for for businesses where the city can yield fees for small businesses

and entrepreneurs that are trying to start up in the city.

So that's one thing to put out there. The other thing is, I don't know if,

are they subject to the Business License Act 2 or they don't have to register businesses if they're not for-profit?

They are fee-exempt.

They only have to pay the state $4 fee. And then for special events, just for a day or a couple of days, They currently have to pay under the same program and same structure that businesses they're operating year-round in the city have to pay, right?

That's correct.

So if there's support from the council, I would like to ask the staff to start working on the outlines of a program for a first-year free waiver for small businesses,

and then also some sort of structure or framework for special events where

there have been days for the Lunar New Year Festival, for example, and they're not planning to operate for the whole year in the city to see some of those businesses.

I would imagine most of those to have a million dollars a year in revenue if they're only

coming in for a day or two.

But if they aren't, figure out how we can do a special permit or some other special

events like that in the city under a different kind of framework than businesses that are operating year-round here in the city.

comments from council yes um i i agree as well um i think that's a good idea uh to do i would also um and another i might need to be reminded um for businesses that are struggling um that might potentially close down um i would assume that having to pay um might potentially be a burden so potentially doing a waiver for businesses that might be potentially struggling or um joe if

you might know in terms of if we have anything support i know that we share instances we've

shared um programs and grants that are available for businesses to apply to if they are struggling

and need extra cash influx but but but if we're talking about waivers welcome them in welcome

new businesses in for businesses that are struggling to make sure that the businesses

that are already here uh stay in monterey park and don't close down so And again, I realize the fee is not, does that cause a large part of the sunk fees, but elimination of single-use plastics or reduce and prove that they will stop using stuff. No one's ever done it.

But again, I only brought it up because, again, it's where we keep hearing all the time that, you know, restaurants, one of the biggest sources of landfill. support businesses as well as still bring in profit for the city. I think the waiver for the first year is a good idea to support small businesses. I thought about maybe proposing calculating based on net profits. The ones that are basing it off of receipts are basing it off of grounding businesses are doing. So it makes sense to calculate using gross receipts.

and actually surround much higher than this proposal here.

So it is pretty low compared to surrounding cities. To bring up is, you know, a lot of residents want to see more diversity.

So if there's any way...

We can give some kind of incentive to a French restaurant, Italian restaurant, something that the city doesn't currently have, even more of a waiver to incentivize them to want to come into the city. Okay, thank you for those comments. There's a couple of things. There's the, there's the, the ordinance and then there's a couple of suggestions here. So let me kind of give my thoughts on, uh, do promote business. Uh, the nonprofit discussion, that's okay. Um, I also agree with waiving the Lunar

New Year, it's really a one-time use. They're not really in here for

we can waive that because they're part of the overall group with World Journal that does the Lunar New Year.

I mean, they come

and ask for help and might ask until it's too late. And then again,

this is, we're talking about $75.

I mean, the first year waiving it

and then after that, it's you know, your business is doing

take that space in terms of diversity of new businesses how do we we can have that discussion maybe we talk to the to Joe and the group to figure out that those are my thoughts support

grant program of business license tax as well to explore although I am very curious about how maybe

how we can at this rate most of the business and playing with there's not much room to plan it for I think businesses especially those that are struggling I think it's more through uh the

business grant program that we funded but we haven't worked working on finally away but what left uh I totally echo those sentiments and support those and I think it makes more sense

to go through I like the idea but I think that's probably the same I would put that under the same Joel's team and figure out this ordinance because this ordinance is a blanket or not yeah okay so

We have a motion to adopt this with the addition to basically doing a one-year free.

And the second thing is to also waive the Lunar New Year festivity booths.

Mr. Mayor, members, did I clarify?

Heard, can you bring back the item about waiving the small business first year? That way it gives the staff time to consensus.

We will also work back on a potential program for struggling. Some other funding available by those. Joe and his team definitely are in a place where we feel like they're struggling.

We try to offer them resources. I know judging on what kind of help they're looking for, whether that's labor assistance,

education around how to use social media.

We will, it's noted. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how we... So just to be clear, I'm happy to make the motion on adopting the structure as the regular ordinance.

So I'll make that motion. But just to be clear, so staff will bring back sometime in the first quarter a new structure for all that.

I don't know. I know the Lunar New Year Festival's coming up really quick.

I don't know if by then. I don't know if that's something. I'm just curious, are thinking around.

You can have more for the next year.

Did they really pay because the event's coming up? No, first usually, so it would be after that.

Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, Council Member, this is Martha Garcia, Finance Director.

These events, they currently normally in the past, they were paying half of what the minimum was. So they were paying about $30 or $35. Bring a quick one back on $35. I mean the other option is to go ahead and because we're so close to it

Have them pay the 35 this year and then starting next year we waive it

Whatever we I think the intent of the council is that To the extent possible we can give a break to vendors that are coming in just for a day or a weekend for an event for a special event

And as soon as possible as soon as we can get something going. I think we'd like to do that

Okay, so I think councilmember Wong has made the motion do I hear a second? I'll second. Pro Tem Yang.

Let's take a vote.

Approved unanimously. All right. Thank you. So let's move on to 5D, right?

5D. Okay, 5D.

Do we have speakers? Do you want to call up the speakers first or staff report?

It might be helpful. Let's hear the presentation and then we'll have the speakers.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members. My name is Christina Alatorre.

I'm the Recreation Manager for the Community Services and Recreation Department. So here we have the Women's Club.

They are a 501c3 nonprofit volunteer service organization, which has provided a community service to the residents of Monterey Park for over 100 years.

They provide a multitude of services to the community. And just to mention a few, they provide educational grants to youth,

domestic violence awareness, and they support city programs and events. That includes National Night Out, Monster Mash, the Fire and Police Department Explorer Programs, and not only those departments, they also partner with the Library and as well as the Recreation and Community Services Department.

The Women's Club typically meets once a month for three hours during the months of September through June for a total of 30 hours a year.

During the fiscal year of 23-24, the in-town nonprofit rate for the service club was $8.50 an hour.

For 30 hours of use, the women's club paid $255 annually.

The city council adopted a new fee schedule on June 18th of 2024, based off the Wilden Fee Study, to increase the in-town nonprofit rate to $39.50 per hour.

And that's an 81% subsidy by the city.

Currently, the increases to the Monterey Park Women's Club annual cost for 30 hours annually is $1,185.

The Monterey Park Women's Club has stated a financial hardship over the increased fees. Staff is recommending that city council consider in providing direction regarding reservation fees for the usage of the service clubhouse.

and that concludes my report

we'll be happy to answer any questions that council may have

we have speakers so we'll let the speakers go in and we'll have a discussion thank you mayor

first speaker

Sulika Prasad

hi good evening mayor and council members

my name is Sulika Prasad and I am the treasurer of the Monterey Park Women's Club

I did prepare a little bit of a presentation.

I hope it was passed out.

For those that don't know, the Monterey Park Women's Club was founded in 1920,

so the organization is over 100 years old.

I've been told, and I obviously cannot verify this,

that we also helped Monterey Park become a city at that time.

But it's a very old organization, and the mission is to serve the community.

We are a completely volunteer organization. Nobody is paid for any of the work that we do.

Today, not only do you have myself, but you have our president, Catherine Torres, and other members of the women's group here. Currently, we have 73 members in our group, and we've been growing the membership.

And I know many of you on the council are part of the group also.

So what this is all about, as was mentioned, is the rate increases for the service room and the large service room in the service club and the smaller room that we use for board meetings. I know there were numbers given, and I can tell you what we actually did pay for last year and the year before. Before I get into that, if you have my presentation, you can see the various programs within the city that we support monetarily. We also provide, for instance, last week we provided toys for the toys for tots for the firemen. And we provide food that they do at Thanksgiving for the, I believe it was the Lions Club.

We support the Monster Bash and the Night Out and all those things.

And many members within the club itself support other organizations within Monterey Park,

like for the Library Council and whatnot.

So our sources of fundraising are mainly our monthly restaurant fundraisers.

We have sales in our monthly meetings.

and our big fundraiser is our yearly fashion show that brings in the bulk of our money that we use for donations.

The majority of that fashion show is done, not the majority,

all of it is done by the volunteers,

including all the baskets that we auction off. They're all donations either by companies or by members providing items that we put together for baskets

and people bid on them. so we had budgeted about six hundred dollars for the room rentals for both rooms we used the larger

service club area between two and three hours a month and the large smaller one from about an

hour and a half to two hours a month last year for the one for the board meetings which is the

smaller one we paid six dollars an hour in the large board room we paid seventeen dollars an hour

Apparently there was some kind of staging fee that we got charged twice, $50 each, so $100.

For the total of the year, last year, we paid $572. That's on table two on the second page. This year, as was indicated, the proposal is for the large area to be charged $39.50 an hour and the smaller room to be charged $31.50 an hour, which would represent almost $1,539 just for the year for room rentals for us,

which represents a $967 increase or a 169% increase from last year. We're a completely fully funded volunteer organization.

We don't have sponsors. We raise all the money ourself, and that is a big chunk of our budget. If I look at how much we spend, this new one, last year it represented about 15% of our overall budget of our operational expense, or about 2% of our entire overall budget.

This year would represent 38% of our overall budget, or about 6%.

For reference, the donations that we provide, I put 40%, and I realize there's a mistake. It's more like 31% to 32%. Oh, I have 59 seconds. Okay.

anyways on the last page you can see the rate increases for the board meeting was 435 percent increase in the clubhouse was 132 percent so as a club we're just asking for relief on the room

rentals to get closer to either what we budgeted of around 600 a year because no one anticipated this increase or even just to do a flat rate for the rooms maybe 30 a room for per meeting whichever one we only meet 10 months out of the year two months we are dark we're even up for even

if we

We do a refundable deposit that can be as long as we maintain the condition of it that we get the money back or leave it as a standing deposit. We can even provide additional information as to what we support, how we raise our money, how our money is given out by coming to the Council meetings every few months, whichever you prefer. We're up for any other suggestions. And I've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. So I don't see ours as being too outlandish to ask for what we're asking for. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot about decreasing permit costs. We've heard a lot of efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts efforts

in the grand scheme of things. Do you have any questions?

Thank you for that.

Do we have another speaker?

Yes, we do. Thank you.

Thanks, Speaker.

We have Catherine George.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members. So Salika did a good job of explaining where we're at. We are the oldest service club in Monterey Park. We did petition for the city to become a city, and our members are very committed to community service and giving back. She mentioned that we do fundraisers at restaurants. That's just to support the club for our debts, but all our money goes out back to the community. So we just want to stay at the service club. We don't want to move, but we don't have that in our budget.

So we're just asking to follow Salika's direction

and give us the price that we used to pay or maybe no charge at all, and we just have a deposit. We don't use the kitchen area.

We just use the room.

And the smaller room is just for our board members, which is about 10 of us.

And we really don't use any other part of the facility.

And so just I don't know if you're going to decide tonight, but we would like to have a decision soon.

Thank you. Thank you, Catherine.

Any other speakers?

Yes, Mayor.

Next speaker, Nancy Omihala.

Good evening, Council members. Anyway, so I thought I'd bring a visual. I know you have your thing in front of you, but we do do a lot. What do we do for Monterey Park? Look, for the American Legion, like for this Thanksgiving, we collected all this food and brought it over there, and then that was to help the veterans. And then for the boys and girls across the street, we collect books every month. We collect people bringing books that they have, gently used books, new books, for these kids to have at their after-school program. And for the Children's Court in Monterey Park, we also bring books to them because they are going through a tough time going through court processes. so they can read a book or they have people, volunteers, read books to them. For the fire department in Monterey Park, we donate money towards the Explorer Program and also the Explorer Program for the police department. I believe we donated like $500 each for each of those programs. And then we donate money for Tech Trek. That's for girls to go to camp, to science camp. It's a math and science camp. They go for about a week, and it's about $1,700 per person. So we sent two people. This year, it was two girls from Brightwood that went. So that's a really good experience for them. So our monies go out.

Then we have fundraisers, like she said, for the local restaurants, Shakey's, Chipotle. And that's part of where I am. I'm on the board of Ways and Means and Restaurant Fundraising. And we support the community by going to all those booths, Monster Night, et cetera, Night Out.

And what you don't know is like because the fees for the small boardroom has gone up so much Like we have people if it's in the club like Carol Sullivan who's offered her home so we can meet at her home for these board meetings, but it's really not fair

I mean you can't just count on one person to have a board meeting at their house So we really need those numbers to go down in rent because if you take a look at these numbers

The big room was $17, and now it's $39.50 an hour.

And the small room was $6, which is where we have our board meetings, and it's now $31.50 per hour, and we usually are there for two hours.

And the total was $572 last year. Now it's $1,539 for those two rooms.

That's like about 10% of what we have in our account. So we give money to the community.

We do volunteer work for everybody. So I'm hoping that you can decide to help our nonprofit organization stay afloat.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Hara. Thank you.

And we have another speaker.

One more?

Actually, we have a written communication from Carol Sullivan, and she writes, the Monterey Park Women's Club will be talking to the City Council regarding the rate increase in renting the service center for our meetings. As a member for over 12 years, I want to say I also hope the city and the City Council will consider the change in the price increase request.

As you all know,

we have our fashion show each year to raise money. All the funds are given out to support many causes. A few is Ronna McDonald House, which houses family when their children are in the hospital with cancer, battered women. Family Promise with supports families with children that have lost their living apartment due to loss of jobs, et cetera. Our club also gives back to our city, a couple being the fire and police. Please consider the Women's Club's request and put on your calendar. The next fashion show will be on May 3rd. Thank you for your consideration, Carol Sullivan.

That's all the speakers.

Great, thank you. Well, May 3rd is now on my calendar.

So first off, thank you, Women's Club representatives, members, for presenting here. Full disclosure, I believe every council member is, was, or currently are current members of the Women's Club.

So I just want to throw that out there.

But we're not on the executive board, so we can decision here. I'm going to open up for discussions.

Any thoughts, feedback? Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Well, first, I want to just emphasize how much we appreciate all that the Women's Club does for Mallory Park and surrounding communities. appreciate your investments and your commitment to so many other groups and all the service that you provide and thank you for being here tonight as well I think that's evidenced by our willingness and the city's staffs willingness to negotiate this agreement my question to staff is one just to clarify for everyone's sake the adjustment to the rate that we charge not just for this organization for every organization that uses any city facility we've done that across the board for all our facilities based on a calculation of what the cost is to the city so that we can ensure at least and there are still places where we the city subsidizes non-profits and other community organizations utilize their facilities but that user free study which is up on the screen was based on analysis showcasing what the actual cost is to the city which was really not the city but the residents of the city that are taxpayers what the cost is of operating those facilities on an hour by hour basis that's correct and so we've done that analysis and that's why the adjustment was made after many many years

i understand the price the sticker price shock right for some organizations and others uh who

are paying more but to be frank that's also that's what it costs the city and the city's taxpayers to

operate and maintain those facilities.

So that's the baseline that we're starting off with. There is a reduction for nonprofits, right, that the city council approved. So the city is subsidizing for nonprofits. Even this rate that is provided for every nonprofit organization that seeks rent facilities from the city.

And then I wasn't quite hearing.

I have a question kind of directed to the women's club members.

I just want to be clear

I assume that we've already had this conversation staff had this conversation with the women's club leadership about the license agreement that we're talking about tonight

or is this news to them?

So on the agenda right now

is an agreement for the city to essentially waive the fees for

rental facilities

in exchange for the women's club continuing to provide service?

What are we...

The agenda item

for tonight

that the Recreation Department, yes, so we

have met with the Women's Club. They shared their concerns that they shared with many council members. So

the staff report is written asking council to consider a potential license agreement with the Women's Club. And yes, we're asking for the City Council's

direction on what the fee

potentially could be per hour for the women's club to continue to utilize that.

That's an option.

The other option is the council always has the option to reduce fees in general. And so you can do that for that whole line item if that's what you're looking to do. So we're asking for direction back from city council. I do want to point out, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, so on the slide tonight, yes, the full cost to the city per hour is $203 for the service club specific. This is the larger room. And yes, this is based on an analysis. So even the private rental rate is subsidized by 22%. For nonprofit groups, the fee at $39.50, which we do understand is a large increase for the women's club, just wanted to point out that it is being subsidized by the city by 81% to try to reduce that fee. So you can see the line item just below that for nonprofit youth organizations is subsidized by 92%. So we try to be mindful. And the fees usually will increase annually by the CPI increase. But correct, every so many years, a fee study is done to ensure that we're keeping up with costs to do service. And even still, you can still see that city is subsidizing uses for these facilities.

And Mr. Mayor, members of the council, if I could just follow up on the city manager's observations.

If the council decides to do an across-the-board reduction in a particular category, it's certainly able to do that. Keep in mind, that means across-the-board reduction in fees for every single nonprofit that meets the qualifications within that fee schedule. The reason that there's a license agreement proposed for this particular nonprofit is to avoid the issue of every single nonprofit paying the same fee. So it is a workaround, if that's what the council wants to do, for this particular nonprofit. If the council believes that this particular nonprofit should have a license agreement for this particular location at a particular price

So I appreciate the staffs work to get to this approach for a license agreement. I don't think I'm not in support of Across the board adjusting the fees for rental of our facilities I do appreciate the women's club being open to negotiating this I have support the general direction that seems like we're supportive of and the staff are supportive of in terms of negotiating the

specifics of this license agreement I for one would well one might kind of

broader concern is making sure we if we are going to set precedent here right as other nonprofits seek to potentially negotiate a license agreement as well to adjust their their fees I think we need to put some card rails around when when we're going to apply this and so that it doesn't become an across-the-board thing that we have to process and add more costs for staff and time for staff to have to process license agreements with all these nonprofits that are going to want to adjust their their hourly rates for rental facilities one kind of broader from than this specific item and carl's going to stop me if i get too broad uh but i would always support this because one the women's club is a c3 105 1 c3 as opposed to another type of non-profit group uh i would I support this because Monterey Park Women's Club is based here and has residents that, has members that are residents of Monterey Park

in its leadership.

I support this because the Monterey Park Women's Club has a long, long history of supporting the community here in Monterey Park and other community organizations

here in Monterey Park.

So with kind of those general kind of caveats,

with support moving forward on a license agreement, I'd also ask if that sounds like we will direct staff to negotiate the specific license agreement.

Are you looking for direction?

So I would suggest that as part of the license agreement, whatever hourly, I'm happy to go provide some sort of additional subsidy given this license agreement we enter into with the Women's Club to make sure that they're paying below what we're even charging for.

local nonprofits.

they provide at least they can show that they provide at least 30 hours of community service in monterey park to the community to offset those costs and if that's the case i'm okay i don't know what rate we go at but i'm okay figuring out what that Lor rate should be

do we let me let me ask that do we have a recommended number an estimate number by chance

i i have a thought but i want to hear what staff has to recommend yeah i think if if we look at the

nonprofit youth organizations rate, I think that's a rate that would be, it's half, actually half,

I mean, that's, because I think going Lor than that, then we're going Lor than a youth

organization. So I think that that number is, I wouldn't want to go Lor than that 1580.

That amounts to how much, and just do the quick math.

So I did some quick math. If you do the 1580, based on their 2025 calculations,

if you did the 1580 times the three-hour meetings, nine meetings, or I'm sorry, so 30 hours, it's $474.

And then if you included the annex room, the youth rate there is $12.60, and you're looking at $189.

So the total is $663 for the year for what their proposed usage would be.

And that's at the youth nonprofit rate.

Okay, let me throw something out here because I think we generally are supportive of this.

And thank you for the recommendation.

First of all, I believe and I know the Women's Club has been instrumental in the community service. So part of the agreement would be to document the continuation of quarterly helps. And you can figure out which quarter, but we'll track that. I think the request here was somewhere around 600. I think my view is maybe 500, which is roughly, I did some quick math, about 1660 a year, which is a little bit more than last year. But remember, we're changing that. you're still getting about a 93% boost for being part of the community serving the community and then we'll we'll have staff document the usage of the hours that's just my general thought I don't know comments from the rest of the

council it still would be okay no actually I yeah it's a little high but then I think what Robert was proposing would actually be Lor than what they

were paying before right no Robert was saying 670 I'm saying five yeah the the the numbers the

calculated numbers based on the use nonprofit rate it would come to about based on their proposed usage for 2025 come to about 663 dollars roughly now that that could fluctuate right depending on if they have shorter meetings or longer meetings in either of the rooms that that number could change. So if they went to, I noticed in their proposal in 2024, they were doing two-hour meetings for the board meeting and then also two-hour meetings for the general meeting, that could change that because the $15 in the other room is only $12, $12.60. So we tend to do three-hour

meetings for our general meeting, which is the second Wednesday of the month, and then the board meeting tends to go around one and a half to two hours. Yeah so based off the proposal you shared

it looked like you were at if we did the 1580 times three hours and it looks like you're going to have nine meetings in 2025 that would be 42660 the annex room at an hour and a half correct you put an hour and a half for 10 meetings, that's $189. So that total is actually $1650.60. So $615.00. So that puts you real close to that $600.00.

Yeah. To me it's doable. Mr. Mayor, members of the

council, what we can do is if the city council is interested with the mayor's suggestion of if it's $600 for the year or $500 for the year, whatever the the yearly cost is for the hours that the women's club used, you know, their standard hours, 45 hours, that's broken up with the main room and the annex room. Staff could work back with the women's club, figure that out and put it into the license agreement.

So we can, yeah, figure that part out with them.

With the other information that was provided of ensuring that the women's club provides community service back for the hours that the city is subsidizing those hours.

And Mr. Mayor, members of the council, along those lines,

I would encourage you not to try to establish policy for all future nonprofits with license agreements. For example, it was mentioned 501c3.

Well, what about 501c6s, which are Chamber of Commerce? What about the resiliency? I mean, I can keep on going down a whole line of lists,

and pretty soon we've driven a truck through your fee schedule because you've created so many exceptions that the fee schedule doesn't mean anything at that point. So if there's something that the council would like us to bring back for a future agenda to talk about, okay, well, for licensing for 501c3s that meets certain categories, let's do that to have an informed decision-making process

rather than doing it from the dais.

My suggestion would be to concentrate on this particular applicant for this particular use within the parameters that you're suggesting as opposed to creating a general policy decision for all future 501c3s

that may happen to be in the city?

Yeah, I don't think we're intending to broaden it for all 501c3s. This is very specific for the Monterey Park Women's Club because of their over 100 years of history. They're essentially like a partner with the city, so it's a very specific case.

and that's actually I think life would be a lot easier if we just follow Robert's suggestion which

is in line with what the women's club had presented and it keeps us within the balance of what a fee schedule is I think we can let staff kind of go back and document that with the women's club

we need direction so do we have so I support your license plate I don't know if you need a formal

motion on that. And my other question will be, does this license agreement, it sounds

like the motion or the staff recommendation is to authorize the city manager to negotiate the license

agreement, so that doesn't have to come back to council, or does the language have to

come back to council? Well, can we just set the number?

Like, Vin mentioned $500. No, we're going to go with

his number, which is a little bit more, but it's consistent to the fee schedule. So the

recommendation I'm hearing from Robert is to

to be able to discount it to as low as the nonprofit youth organization rate.

Correct.

And that would go for the main room and then also the same for the annex room, which is not up there on that chart, but it's $12.60 for the annex room.

So it's about $615 a year.

Approximate, based on what we're doing. Based on the numbers that we're providing. Yes. But we, again, Nick said you may have a meeting that goes a little longer, or you may decide to cancel me or something like that. Exactly. Yeah.

And if you need any additional data, by all means, I can provide anything that you need. You talked about providing community service, like so many hours. I mean, just even the monster mash, I think there were 10 or 15, 12 people there, yeah, for three hours. It was 36 hours in one evening. And that didn't include all the candy that we donated. We all bought it individually. The club did not buy the candy that day.

So I think it's clear. We're clear with staff. Is there a motion needed? We need a motion. A motion staff recommendation in terms of authorizing the city manager and staff to negotiate the final license agreement with the women's club.

and in terms of adjusting the rate for the facility rentals for this specific club to go as low as the nonprofit youth organization rate.

So I have a motion. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

Second by Council Member Lo. I'll take a vote.

Approved unanimously.

Thank you, Women's Club.

I think Robert will get back to you, but I believe this is something that we love your partnership.

We're members. We look forward to all your events, especially the fashion show

and many, many other events that you're involved in with the city.

So thank you so much for coming tonight.

Thank you. Thank you for listening to us.

We really appreciate it.

And we do want to continue working with the city. So thank you.

Yes, thank you to all of you. I just want to say one thing. We are a part of, we are the city,

but we are part of a district and we're part of a state and we're part of a federation. So we do keep track for the state all of our hours. So that is part of our commitment to our federation.

So we are happy. We already have that for you.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, before we go on,

there was discussion about potentially establishing an overall policy for this.

Is that something that you'd like to discuss at a future agenda? and if so just wink and a nod and a nudge and we'll do that for a future agenda.

I don't know that we need a formal policy. I think if we start to get requests from other organizations,

maybe we can bring that up for discussion.

Very good, thank you.

But I would say I think it's clear, I hope we make clear to staff what guardrails we're putting around if other organizations are interested in this,

generally how we approach this one.

although although the guard I mean is that the rubric then like

like how many years they've been in the city or if they're

I'm just curious I mean what are those guard roles then

why don't we cross that road when we get there our understanding

is it has to look kind of like the woman's clip

yeah I get that and I think one

of the things we're putting in the license agreement is their

hours of service that they're going to give to the city so any other contract will have to be consistent

Okay. Thank you. Let's move on. Item 2A.

Yes, Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, this item is being brought forward, and we also have John Turner, who's on, he's joining us virtually tonight, who's been part of this project from the staff side, helping to process this project forward. So this project, Saladon Project, was approved by the council in 2021.

We recognize that four out of the five council members are no longer on this council, and so we wanted to put together a staff report just summarizing the project

and what has transpired over the time. Vincent Tsang with Rikudin, he intended to be here tonight. He apologized. He had an urgent matter to attend to, and so he was not able to be here tonight. In conversation with him, he did want me to share that he apologizes for his absence, but he did read the staff report. He understands that the staff report is intended to provide a background, and he understands that the next steps for Raikkonen to move this project forward would be to file an application with the city with the proposed changes that they brought to council on November 20th that is attached to the staff report. Also, our city attorney, Carl, is available for any additional questions, and myself and John Turner if there's more specific details that you need about the staff report.

And I believe I need to recuse myself from item 2A, correct?

Yes.

Okay. Yeah, because- And just for the record, the Mayor

Pro Tem has a property related conflict. She's within 500 feet of the project area.

Thank you.

Questions, comments, discussion?

Are we going with the...

If you'd like a more detailed report, we did put the project history into the staff report.

Like I said, this project came in front of us, in front of the previous council in 2021.

This is the Celadon project.

We were providing this update to council. The intention of this update is just a receive-and-file item,

but we wanted to respond to the comments from Mr. Vincent saying and

right could in that were brought to the council on November 20th so at that meeting they provided council with some information about potential amendments

to the project and you can recall some of the comments made by right could in about the struggles that they've had with trying to move this project forward

So as I said, that was our report.

If there's any more details that we can answer, we're available.

I was under the impression, I don't know if the applicant here or available.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I mentioned, sorry, you stepped away.

Vincent's saying with Rikoden, he's probably listening online. He did say he was going to join us just streaming the meeting. but he did indicate that he had an urgent matter to attend to. He was going to, he needed to fly out and so he was not available to be here tonight.

In our discussion today though,

he did assure me that he read the staff report,

he understands the next steps

and we're available for questions.

So if the applicant understands the next steps, are we expecting a revised proposal or where are we in terms of staff?

from staff the project manager which is mr. Turner which is part of the city team that has processed this entire project has been consistent which is any alterations to the previously approved project must be applied for and processed just like any other project application the issue that has been confronted both the city manager myself and mr. Turner is that Riken in which is the developer for this particular project and its representatives continue to push, as you've seen from the public comment in November, for the city council to simply approve whatever they are bringing across the table, and that simply is not in conformance with California law or the city's municipal code. So rather than continue going back and forth with representatives from the developer, both the city manager and I thought it would be best for us to provide you with a comprehensive background in a staff report in response to public comments as a receive and file item and then simply answer any questions that the council might have but we await an application and have been waiting an application for almost two years now from from Rikudin with regard to any amendments to its project

proposal appreciate that and I hope they are listening I am also looking forward to some sort of application or plans revised plans something I will say in and note to them if they are listening, but also to staff. I have not seen this project, I was not on the council when this was approved, and so I would appreciate a more detailed presentation from the applicant at some point when they have something to show.

I'll be clear, I was born and raised in the city,

that lot has, that assembled lot has been underutilized and in that shape for a long time. I would love more than, I think all of us would love more than anything to see that parcel developed into something that's actually generating value for the community, for the city, and for the region. The general kind of prospect of something being able to be developed there is exciting to me. I want to see what we can do to help that along, but would also encourage and urge the applicant to get serious about if they want to get something done, they need to get serious. We have not seen, I have not seen anything. I have not had a conversation about this project at all.

I don't know where it's at. I don't know what the specifics are of this project are.

And I would urge the applicant to take note

that there are council members here

that have never seen this project in terms of the details and have not voted on this project and that they have a lot of work to do if they want to be genuine, real partners with the city on moving forward on anything in that plot. But I would again emphasize that I would love

to see something there.

I'd love to see something high quality and something that really serves the community in terms of development, meeting our housing needs and our retail needs and all that for not only our city

but the region.

I would love nothing more than be able to do some groundbreaking and cut a ribbon there on site, but we're not gonna, there's literally nothing to talk about at this point from what I understand. And I think we're a long ways off from anything serious. And I'd love to get us further along and hope that the applicant will get to a stage where they're serious and ready to go as opposed to not being here.

I'm of the same mindset, and I'd like to direct the city manager's office and our city attorney's office to try to find some type of way to meet with the developer and try to see what we can do to help expedite this process and get their application in sooner than later. And to Council Member Wong's point, I think all of us are very excited to see some development in that corner and to see whatever project comes there. We'd also like to invite the developer to come and share what this project looks like and what their plans are and just make sure that we're being proactive as a city to try to ensure that a lot of the businesses and developers are filling these lots and are moving forward with these projects so whatever we can do from our end from our end to help expedite these love to see us be on our end proactive as well and if i could just before council member low

provides comments. I don't know what more we can do.

So until there's an application

in front of our team that we can actually process

and bring something to the city council for consideration, really the

ball is completely in the developer's court in terms of trying to move this

forward. I think

the staff report has been fairly comprehensive

in all of the efforts that

both the city manager and I have taken and Mr. Turner have taken. not just this city manager but the previous city manager the previous city manager bent over backwards to try to make this happen and we're simply not there yet so we will continue that particular effort and the messaging however remains the same we need an application to process

thank you mr. mayor yes please thank you well as the council member who was um there two years ago

on this development item.

And to refresh my memory,

I actually abstained.

I abstained even though that location is in my district, and I, of all people,

want quality development for housing and retail. But if I recall, the reason why I abstained

was because at the time

I had asked a question about whether or not

they would do set-asides for affordable housing,

only to be lectured.

I forgot the name of who lectured me, but it was lectured about what I was asking was unreasonable.

But again, instead of voting no, because I know my council colleagues at the time, again, agreed that we needed something there at the corner, so they went and voted yes, but I did abstain because of my concerns. And I will say I am very deeply disappointed that, for the record, that even with the city council approving it, that we have not seen any plans, we've seen nothing but a developer essentially giving excuses upon excuses upon excuses of why it can't be done, even though we approved the plan that they

submitted. And frankly, you know, I think that maybe looking back, maybe

I think that perhaps my vote was justified because, you know, frankly I am very disappointed and at this point I have no confidence in this developer and maybe if you're listening you'll prove me wrong

but I would just remind you and any

developer that, you know, when you come to a community, you're not here to make a fast buck

or to reward your investors

because we as a city council, we have a responsibility to provide housing, not just for those who can afford a million-dollar home, but for all income levels. And when you, you know, are dismissive of our concerns, then that just makes some of us think that, you know,

you don't really care about our community.

And at this point, I don't think you care about our community. And so I'd like you to prove me wrong.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, well, no other comments from me.

So thank you.

I think we have John on the line.

Yes. Yeah. One last comment, Mr. Mayor, members of the council.

Staff has shared with Raikkonen on several occasions. John has been also on those calls when we've met. There is absolutely no reason why the city, the staff, would delay this project. I think we could all agree Garvey and Garfield is one of the most recognizable intersections in our city, if not the most recognizable. And so development in that corner in our bid area

would be absolutely astonishing for us to see.

So staff has reiterated that message over and over again to the applicant. We understand that this is a big development. We encourage them also to expand their project team

with other expert management that could help them along.

that as the city attorney stated,

we feel like we're at a roadblock. We don't know what else to do.

So the applicant is probably listening. We hope that we see an application soon.

Actually, if I can add to that,

because again, I want, again, for the public to know that yes, city staff bent over backwards to help this developer making recommendations, making suggestions about how they can move it along, about recommending a type of consultant. And again, I think that their silence shows that they don't know what they're doing or maybe they're trying to cut corners and if they're going to cut corners then maybe that speaks to the quality

or lack of quality of their proposal.

And again, as you're listening,

you know what, you just proved to me

why I abstained. Maybe I should have voted no because frankly this project

seemed like a scam and a sham.

why don't we bring pro tem back

do we need a vote

it's just a receive and file no other direction we'll receive and file it and we'll continue on

and thank Mr. Turner for jumping on Zoom

just a general point

to make and maybe staff

we mentioned how

Garvey Garfield is one of our key corners or key intersections in the city, also Atlantic and Garvey. Whatever we can do, not just on this project, but generally maybe we can ask for staff to come back with some, or figure out how we can do some thinking around how we can become more proactive and continue to become more aggressive in making sure all eight of those corners, which need some additional help, what else the city can do in helping to incentivize and encourage and push redevelopment on both those intersections. If we start to think about what else we can do on our end.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you.

Now we're going to jump back to staff communication, community development.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor.

Members of the council, welcome Mayor Pro Tem.

This is Joe Torres, your economic development manager.

I am pleased to provide an update on the taste of downtown NPK.

Next slide, please.

Since its launch in November, the program has generated significant activity and positive results, generating more than $8,000 in total purchases and 603 users who have downloaded the app. With 170 transactions, we've distributed $821 in total rewards and reward redemptions of $305. There are 37 downtown businesses enrolled in the program. These figures demonstrate the program's effectiveness in driving traffic and stimulating economic activity within our downtown district. Furthermore, a survey of program users reveals encouraging feedback. 95% of respondents indicated that the program influenced their decision to dine downtown, highlighting its role in attracting customers. While 87% of users are from Monterey Park, 13% came from neighboring cities, demonstrating the program's potential to draw visitors and expand our customer base. Based on this positive response and the program's promising direction, we have extended the program through January 31, 2025. This extension will allow more time for our residents and visitors to continue reaping the rewards and for our downtown businesses to continue benefiting. fitting. We will continue to monitor the program's progress and provide further updates in the future.

Thank you. I'm open for questions. Thank you, Joe. Comments, questions from the Council? Thank you,

Joe. Appreciate the update on the case of Nantone and BK. Can you remind us what budget we set aside

for the rewards portion? The funds are from the bid budget. We have $7,200.

Allotted for so a lot of words we still give out we still have a lot. Yeah, we still have a lot more room

Only 300 bucks

Great no look forward to whatever else we can do to continue to promote the program I know we're posting on social media and I saw in the business connect newsletter. This was a newsletter page If there are other opportunities for us to continue to promote this, obviously.

Let's do that.

See what else we can do to help promote businesses in the downtown area and the Business Alliance as well. If there are other opportunities to support and redirect funding from the BID

or even the Economic Development

or the Business Grant Program,

once those are launched, to see how they can all kind of coordinate and help each other continue to promote. It's doing well and glad that it's being extended to January 31st. I've seen a lot of the downtown Monterey Park businesses have the flyer in front of the front door,

so it looks like they are publicizing it, and I would encourage the city to continue publicizing it, too. I've seen it in the Cascades on social media, so we just continue getting the word out. And again, also, thanks for extending it. Since we haven't used all of our money, there's a way to extend it even further to make sure that we...

chance to look at the data more specifically. And if you have, if you can share which particular restaurants are ones that people are going to and using, just out of curiosity.

Well, funny you ask. I happen to have restaurants that are actually benefiting from the program.

Number one, with 28 transactions so far, is Banh Mi Hua Fat.

Transactions is Hong Kong Cafe, the new one by Atlantic Times Square.

Long 10 Mama Loo's Dumpling. They're all up there.

And I think one thing that's... Is they have a lot of younger gen media.

And they're also doing their best shows in their numbers. Sharing that data now, it's giving me a list to...

I still haven't been to the new... Hong Kong Cafe was outside of...

It is the Hong Kong Cafe in downtown.

Yes. I believe. The Long Carvey, right? The Long Carvey. The Long Carvey, yeah. Because this is only applicable for downtown. Correct. Yes. I stand corrected.

I was here today, so.

And I was impressed with their restaurant. Mr. Mayor? Yes. Again, thank you for, again, just bringing in these.

I think the question by Graham in terms of even how, what is, are they present on, also

by inferring who's not in it further or find new funding to create, to replicate a similar

program. Absolutely. We're going to work with our platform provider to see if we can extract more data in terms

of demographics of our users.

But that's also for us to know, that's I think that will be useful for us to know who is

in the director of strategy for marketing.

You know, we'll let you decide when it comes to January 31st, if we expand the rest of and you tune it up and make it better the second time around.

So thank you so much for that. All right. Next up is Public Works.

Sean? All right. I don't have a plan related to trash and recycling, so here and at home. So for services related to, keep that in mind that if your trash service is on those days,

it gets pushed one full day. The other thing is holiday trees. So for those time between December 26th and January window,

You have to cut up your tree and put that in your green waste

Owners responsibility to cut up and put into because I'm sure we've all got a test. I

bring up I think that that's Possibility you know, so just something to keep in mind. So yeah, oh

Mr. Mayor members of the council. We will also share this information on social media reminders

Definitely extreme fire danger. So we weeks I guess the question I have is if we encourage people to discard them ahead of time

But it become on the sidewalk is this actually it could yes, but that will eat away at the set up for a different day

hopefully that means agenda items anyone Well, is there anything up for pool discussion? House pro tem yang 3c?

Okay Given previous guidance I can participate in all these items. I'm I I'm happy to make a motion grant agreements to the current mayor

I'll second. All right. We take a vote.

Moving on to hearings. We did 5A with 5B.

The city's municipal code related to our employee-employer relations procedures. So these procedures are kind of foundational for union. The last revision was in 19, a little dated.

But recently we had a basically said that our procedures were not. Note that the last revision, the last questions or comments that was here earlier, I think,

to update a lot of our agreed to these changes as well. So House Member Sanchez, let's take a vote.

As Chief mentioned, my name is Rebecca Pujorquez, and I am the Principal Management Analyst in the Fire Department, or SCBAs for short.

December 16th, 2024, with NIOSH, the National Institute of Occupational Safety,

City Manager Alvarez declared a local emergency on December of the Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant pertaining funding. The funding for replacement SCBA's waiving bidding requirements to purchasing sooner rather than later.

Because of the end of the calendar year quickly approaching, the manufacturer

and the price would roughly increase about $200,000.

Equipment for fire suppression staff, toxic and life-threatening situations. with the city manager's proclamation of a local emergency dated on December to execute necessary

agreements that to exceed $635,000 with our contract includes our presentation and I'll be

happy to questions comments for fire department appreciate the fire department's diligence on this

this issue sounds around that in terms of the timing of this and the equipment and all that or how are we addressing that? So currently our staff is for most part there and working in good condition. So if we move quickly, we're looking at like a 30 to 60 day time

currently to ensure that we are. Have the equipment they need. Appreciate the city manager, quickly appreciate the cost.

No other comments? Do I have a motion? I'll move. Moved by Council Member Sanchez.

Second. Second. Second. Take a vote.

Thank you, Fire Department.

We did 5D already.

So we're at, let's jump to future agenda items.

Any requests for future agenda items? that then we'll go to city communications

closing comments I note everyone wish everyone a happy holidays I know this is our last meeting of the year I really appreciate all the city hall staff all the staff's hard work and commitment

over this year I know the residents appreciate it and businesses and everyone else that comes

and just want to congratulate again our new mayor

go for beginning his term and our new council member colleague mayor pro tem for joining us and appreciate the quick nature of getting through this meeting

as well but no thank you so much to the staff for all your amazing work over the last year look forward to hope everyone has a restful holidays

and comes back ready to get back to work in the new year as well because I know there's a lot on the agenda, a lot to do, and a lot of exciting things on tap for the city.

So I really look forward to working together, continuing to work together in the year ahead as well.

I think that's all I have. Thank you. We'll echo the same sentiments. Thank you to staff and want to wish you and your families a happy holidays and happy new year as well. And same thing for our community, if you're listening in, I wanted to wish you guys a Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and also a Happy New Year. Prospero Año Nuevo. And also I wanted to thank Robert for the Snow Village.

Just wanted to do a quick, my daughters had a lot of fun.

So thank you so much for all the effort. I saw a lot of community members out.

And I know it's the festive season. I saw Santa out there as well.

So I just wanted to do a quick shout out for all of the effort that went to putting that together because it was very well done. And then my daughters just yesterday got letters from Santa as well. So I wanted to thank you. They haven't opened them yet. In fact, I just got a text from my wife saying that their kids are waiting for me so we can open them together.

So thank you. So if you can relate to Santa and thank him for the letters, we appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, and I will continue the sentiment of good cheer. I think, well, for me, though, I also want to just thank all the staff for being so diligent in this community, not just past year, but at least since I've been on City Council now since 2020. These are probably the most dedicated people who give all their effort and energy to this community. And to the community who is here tonight and listening, again, thank you very much for just believing in our community of Monterey Park and for supporting civic life and for supporting each other through the many challenges we've had.

But again, if I were to be thinking back to when I started my term in 2020 and we had a pandemic, all the way through the many challenges during that pandemic to mass shooting to this past year.

Again, your faith in each other, but also your faith in your municipal government is something that's very heartwarming.

And again,

Monterey Park. And we are looking forward to another year of the community. So thank you very much. Um, thank you staff for everything that you do. Happy holidays. I hope you guys enjoy your vacation. I always knew you guys put in a lot of work into the city, but after just being here a week, I, you know, it really blew my mind how much work you guys put in just starting with a 430 page agenda for tonight's short meeting. So that's,

Considered a shorter agenda. Right.

So really appreciate all your work and efforts to contribute to our city and enjoy the time off. Thank you for putting on an amazing swear-in ceremony for all of us a week ago. And great to be here serving our city with amazing colleagues. And a happy early birthday to our Mayor, Vin Ngo, whose birthday is this Saturday.

Thank you.

You turned 18, right?

Times two times three.

All right, well, I'll just echo the sentiments of fellow colleagues here, wishing everyone a wonderful holiday. Just a couple of things that we did in the past two weeks, starting with Santa's village, or actually Snow Village, which Santa came one of four times to the city. I think I saw him four times with the sleigh ride, the fire trucks, and then the delivery of food baskets to some of the families around the city. You know, last two weeks we had, the election's now done, we had a number of installations, so our colleagues visited a number of our neighboring cities, Arcadia, Alhambra, St. Gabriel, the school districts, Hambra Unified, as well as Garvey, so we pay our visit.

And the city of West Hollywood.

So we did that because they came to our installation,

which was last week.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday, especially to staff. I know the city is closed for a couple of days next week, as well as the new year, so that we can allow our staff to spend time with the family. And if our residents have any issues, either come earlier or come afterwards. But we'll be here because it's a great city.

We love it.

We're blessed to have great people working for this city and making the city a wonderful place to live. So thank you. Good night. Happy holidays. This meeting's adjourned at 8 21.

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