City Council Meeting — September 3, 2025

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, we're gonna do something to do, we're gonna do something to do, Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, this is Tara Hooks. Perfect, I can hear you. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

This is fine.

All right. Okay. You guys ready? Yes. Let's start with the land acknowledgement, history, and join us.

... ... ... ... ... ... her roll graphical error and the staffer it's on page 100 of and it is not and so we just wanted to make was anticipated to be on the agenda and it was not so that item is not on this agenda that's the only note that we wanted to make thank you and which agenda items

3, 4, there's written communication, and then there's, I think, 3, maybe 4, 5, 6, and written. According to the agenda, that's the case. Start with public communication. Alright. Good morning. So, I'm here. I think several council members talked about it to five minutes for the whole day, for the whole meeting.

I believe that no one force you nobody force you you know better services I will connect with my community and then chase most likely probably or this is our only operators their use of language or maybe you do not believe for the past of 250 years I don't matter if you're a liberal if you are a conservative I know

both part of the community a right to speak and then the community but however

based on that come here for I don't know five six times probably it seems like

going home early celebrate with your family or eat your dinner on priority

not you're not listening to the public comment not community or maybe you do not dictator maybe you call me a way calling me I am here are trying to speak in

front of the council in opposition of the City Council are saying please

reconsider this action please reconsider this motion that is the difference between a few like a city attorney a.k.a. the real one versus the

five hundred thousand dollar people so when you are a CEO attorney see if you

said yes the broad line allows you to cut your maybe you should say that you

are very minimum time limit right why don't you just recommend this city council that's called speaking to eliminate people the right I am a waste

of time I'm a failure I agree with you thank you very much

Can I get the name of the speaker again on record?

I missed it over here.

Next speaker.

...meaning with excellent knowledgeable speakers.

She is totally disappointed with all of you.

The decision to raise our rates twice in one year, clearly our officials are not in touch or couldn't care less about the...

Okay, let's go through staff communication. We'll start with the library.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor. My name is Leonie Jordan, and I'm the CISIS. First, a reminder that September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Complete activities around the library to collect our exclusive trade-offing every week.

Heritage Month at the Library.

Families are invited to join us for Spanish bilingual story time on September 20, songs and learn vocabulary.

Then, on October 4, teens can roll up their sleeves and make handmade arepes.

Moving on from Hispanic Heritage Month, Science Squad is a new monthly program which gives kids aged 7 to 12 the opportunity to learn a hands-on approach to science and STEM.

Registration is required. Detective Academy is a celebration of mystery books for kids of all ages.

There'll be exciting activities like games, decoding secret spy messages and crafts.

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with Asian Youth Centre on September 20. All ages are invited to take part in a lantern making and mooncake tasting workshop

with seniors and their families particularly encouraged to attend. To register, call adult services. Are you a martial arts or movie enthusiast? Of course. Then join us for martial arts movies on Saturday. Cal offers free legal help related to evictions, lease disagreements,

habitability, security deposits, and other disputes between tenants and landlord on the second Monday of each month, and appointments are required.

Teens will meet with young adult author C.B. Lee, who will discuss her new book, Coffee Shop in an Old Universe, and how teens can get published. Teens interested in starting their own businesses can gain insights from Gradient Colours, a local non-profit created by teens for teens.

Participants will have the opportunity to design their own business logos.

Thank you.

Questions, comments?

Well, thank you for the update.

The brown line allows you to cut your policy. Maybe you should say that you have a very minimum time limit, right?

! Why don't you just recommend this city council, let's cut the speaking time to eliminate people the right to speak. ! I am a waste of time. I'm a failure. I agree with you. Thank you very much.

! Can I keep the name of the speaker again on record? ! I missed it over here.

Next speaker.

...excellent and knowledgeable speakers. She is totally disappointed with all of you. The decision to raise our rates twice in one year, clearly our officials are not in touch or couldn't care less about the...

Okay, let's go through staff communication. ...we'll start with the library.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor. My name is Leonie Jordan and I'm the senior. First, a reminder that September is Library Card Sign-up Month.

...complete activities around the library to collect our exclusive trade-off every week. ...hersetage month at the library.

Families are invited to join us for Spanish bilingual storytime on September 20.

...songs and learn vocabulary. Then, on October 4, teens can roll up their sleeves and make handmade arepes.

Moving on from Hispanic Heritage Month, Science Squad is a new monthly program which gives kids aged 7 to 12 the opportunity to get a hands-on approach to science and STEM.

Registration is required. Detective Academy is a celebration of mystery books for kids of all ages. There will be exciting activities like games, decoding secret spy messages and crafts. Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with Asian Youth Centre on September 20. All ages are invited to take part in a lantern making and mooncake tasting workshop with seniors and their families particularly encouraged to attend. To register, call adult services. Are you a martial arts or movie enthusiast? Of course.

Then join us for a good martial arts movie on Saturday.

Our Cal offers free legal help related to evictions, lease disagreements, habitability, security deposits and other disputes between tenants and landlords on the second Monday of each month. And appointments are required. Teens will meet with young adult author, CB Lee, who will discuss her new book, Coffee Shop in an Old Universe, and how teens can get published. Teens interested in starting their own businesses can gain insights from Gradient Colours, a local nonprofit created by teens for teens.

Participants will have the opportunity to design their own business logos.

Thank you.

Questions, comments?

Well, thank you for the update. Just wanted to highlight and very appreciative of the Hispanic heritage.

Just wanted to highlight and very appreciative of the Hispanic Heritage Month. But looking for where was it? On the 20th. Thank you. Thank you. I also want to echo sentiments. You know I probably said up here before that you know my friends who live in neighboring cities who actually like to come to our library because quality programming the range and diversity of programming is something that.

I mean, events, especially the ones in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. I was just wondering how the vision boarding workshop and the one where the team...

The vision boarding one went really well. We actually had one of our recent staff members take that over.

They made beautiful creations.

Yeah, we were really just like flabbergasted at how creative they were.

And, you know, they're... Yeah, I think... Yeah, they were really...

So, yeah, both very popular. Thank you. I want to make sure I get the right date here.

not only our residents but also the surrounding community. So thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the City Council. My name is Manuel Chavez, Recreation Supervisor with the Recreation Hall. Thank you.

I'd like to be able to join us at a few recent events. First, thank you to those who attended on August 23rd.

next slide also things activities including dodger mpk night and a trip to the hollywood bowl featuring cindy lopper we did receive a lot of positive feedback from that trip everyone had a great time next slide looking ahead september 11th as mentioned previously as hispanic heritage month the recreation of september 25th at sierra vista park and a friendly reminder on Thursday's full month of activities planned. Provide free glucose and blood pressure. The event is now currently sold out. Beginning at 1 p.m. Please contact the Langley Center. Saturday, October 11th the city will present Electric Park at Barnes Park. Monster Mash event from 4 to 7 and live entertainment. Thank you and I'll be happy to answer any questions. Questions, comments? Thank you. Just wanted to end enjoyment at the singer valley symphony this is in the community spaces too i really enjoyed the opportunity setting an open setting too i know it was hot at the beginning of a cold off and was a really perfect summer night uh to product last meeting or two meetings ago i'd love to see how we can

explore more mario park night at other sports sporting events and even if there are if we can do more than one dodger night i think uh i'd be open to that uh in the audience but others i know as well, enjoyed City Lopper at the Hollywood Bowl. I think all of our programs typically sell out when we have the field trip opportunities for these entertainment

venues in the region if we're doing more of. Really quick, I know, does

Dial Ride go under you, Memo, or is that someone else? For the Dial Ride, I know we have an item here on kind of a related topic,

but on dial ride we'd love to see how we can

integrate newer kind of technologies as well. I know we're currently going through a pilot with VIA

on microtransit options

in the city. They operate very similar kind of principles. If there are opportunities to start thinking about how we can integrate

operations

like VIA into dial ride or the dial taxi system that we have that's going to be on the agenda as well on consent. would love to encourage us to think about integrating that. I know other cities have been looking at opportunities

to integrate all of the different transportation options in the city with newer technologies and newer ways,

innovative ways to deliver services more efficiently and utilize limited resources for meeting the needs in a more effective way.

So I just want to put that out there. But thank you so much.

We appreciate what the Recreation Community Services team are doing,

and there's so much going on in the community.

and I know we

I don't know if technically summer has ended but summer has ended for everyone going to school

it's still hot but the summer was filled with so many activities

I really appreciate all the work that Recreation keeps put on and the entire city staff

to help to make all these events safe too thanks

I thought the summer was pretty intense

and looking at the schedule now

I'm already looking forward to Monster Mash and my daughters really love that event

and many others

I also wanted to echo the sentiments that we had at the amphitheater. It was truly magical, but very well done. So I would love to see that venue used more often in Cindy Lauper here, Robert, instead of the Hollywood Bowl. But anyhow, I'm in total agreement with Council Member Wong in terms of finding other sporting events that we could do.

They're obviously very well attended.

and if you could remind me, I think there was like about 260 people that went to, from Monterey Park,

that went to the Dodger night. So a lot of attendance. Obviously, there's a lot of residents that are very interested in attending the sporting events.

So whatever we can do to help facilitate that, I think would be great. I know I would attend a lot of the sporting events.

But thank you so much. Looking forward. Yeah, I think you've already, I couldn't move fast enough to type all the events in my calendar.

So I'm hoping that all of these, I'm trusting that all of these will be on social media.

Thank you. Thank you.

Again, just also my compliments to the staffer.

Rich, I'm looking forward to my vertical. Next, September 13th at Garvey available on a first come, first serve.

We additionally have loose material.

It's part of our 710 project funding, and it aims to improve capacity and operations along the Garvey corridor between Atlantic Avenue and improve public transit, bicycle and pedestrian mobility,

replacement of curb ramps and many other items.

We are currently doing several things and part of these evaluations is running a survey. Currently the survey has 200 results that have come in, so we're looking to get additional

improvements and involvement for the rest of September

in hopes to click on the survey, provide their input

and hopefully give us some good ideas for this project. The survey is available

and you can participate. In-person community meetings have also been scheduled. We scheduled those and set those up today. Right now, 15th from 6 to this is at 400 West Emerson. And then we have our second meeting, which will be September 22nd from 6 to 7.30 p.m. at George Elder, which is 1950 Wilcox Avenue. Additionally, we will have a virtual meeting which will be September 25th from 6 to 7. The dedicated website will have all of this information in addition to updated information as the project progresses. The page can be found on the city's website under Public Works, Capital Improvement Program,

so stay tuned for more information on that.

Additionally, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Government, or SGBT, along with it, along it.

I appreciate all the work that's going on.

I know we're scheduling some community meetings as well to somewhere, I don't remember where,

about the name of the project. can find another way to the project and kind of dismiss it because they think street traffic or

car traffic on on the garvey on garvey avenue um so i don't know if there's a way to once we move past the input period and hopefully move on to actually uh designing the project and building it maybe there's uh some something we can do about the more indicative of the fact that we're going to we're trying to integrate complete streets friendly kind of design elements and treescape and it's more than just improving the flow of car traffic on the road.

My two cents on that. I would love to see if we can add,

if we take some time to kind of think through a name

that might help encourage more people to engage in this process because it's really more about,

it's more than just about how we get traffic in the corridor, I guess.

Will do. But I appreciate that. We're kicking it off. I know it's been a long time coming.

We've been talking about this project. Since years before I even gone on council and we're finally at the phase of getting some initial feedback phase

I know this is still not to realize this is a huge huge for everyone here and others process

This is a huge undertaking for the city and to really reimagine what Garvey are

To reimagine what that complete way right and New Year Festival and a whole host of other things

that happen. And even if you just travel along, we want everyone going into this that's going to determine what Garvey Avenue and really much of our city's business core and economic core in the city

is really going to look like for decades and decades to come.

So appreciate that and look forward to this process and moving on to next steps as well. And you mentioned I appreciate you delineating

between the Garvey project that we're talking about here

that's city driven and the BRT proposal that the COG and Metro are talking through.

I think it would make sense at some point down the line when we're ready

to represent kind of their initial thinking about what the BRT could potentially could be for this project.

I know we're working with the team there to make sure we're integrating SO THAT WE DON'T PLAN GARVEY IN A WAY THAT PRECLUDES OR GOES AGAINST WHAT POTENTIAL.

SO I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AT THE STEP LEVEL AND TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO COORDINATE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE THAT, TO START TO DO SOME OUTREACH, TOO, I THINK, ON THEIR PROPOSAL.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE COUNCIL TO REALLY REVISIT. I THINK THEY PRESENTED KIND OF A WHILE AGO, BUT I'VE ALREADY FORGOTTEN WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT. Maybe we can bring them back to talk about the Garvey Avenue design to make sure we're integrating in our minds the concepts they're talking about for the VR class with each other.

We'll do. That's it.

Thank you, Sean, for the presentation.

Again, just for my information, the Garvey Avenue Capacity Project, is that related partially

entirely to our portion of the Metro 710 funds that we have been applying for.

I just want to make sure that that's clear to everyone because I know that the community rightly so had a poll in which this council asked to repurpose a freeway during rush hour traffic and rightly so, So, you know, the council decided that it should be more focused towards pedestrian mobility issues. So, again, so from Metro 470, that is what...

Okay, thank you very much. 200 results already?

What is the last day to submit this...

Where we can extend it out, we can't extend it out further.

But for now, so this is actually being extended already.

We were supposed to end it this... I know this is still not to realize this is a huge huge for everyone here and others process this is a huge undertaking for the city and to really re-imagine what Garvey are to re-imagine what that complete way right and a new year festival and a whole host of other things that happen to re- and economic core in the city is really going to look like for decades and decades to come.

So appreciate that and look forward to this process and moving on to next steps as well.

And you mentioned I appreciate you delineating between the Garvey project that we're talking about here that's city-driven and the BRT proposal that the COG and Metro are talking through. I think it would make sense at some point down the line when we're ready to present kind of their initial thinking about what the BRT could potentially be for this project.

I know we're working with the team there to make sure we're integrating so that we don't plan Garvey in a way that precludes or goes against what potential. So I know we're working on that at the staff level and trying to do our best to coordinate.

I would encourage us to continue that to start to do some outreach too I think on their proposal.

I think it would be helpful for the council to really revisit.

I think they presented kind of a while ago but I've already forgotten what they talked about.

So maybe we can bring them back to talk about we're getting closer to the Garvey Avenue design to make sure we're integrating in our minds the concepts that they're talking about for the BRT clash with each other.

Okay. Okay. We'll do. That's it. Sean.

Thank you, Sean, for the presentation.

Again, just for my information.

So the Garvey Avenue Capacity Project, is that related partially entirely to our portion of the Metro 710 Fund that we have been applying for?

Yes. Okay.

Thank you very much.

200 results already? What is the last day to submit this? Where we can extend it out, we can't extend it out further. But for now, so this is actually being extended already.

We were supposed to end it.

The website to get there is posted and all that information is on our website.

Mr. Mayor, I just had a quick question. Sean, did we share this input and family input as well?

We can do it. City Manager's Office? Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

as Mayor Pro Tem and we'll have the opportunity to thank Vin Ngo

for half months. Please come. Again, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. And with that, I'm going to throw it over to...

As you're familiar, Park, to help us in our interim. So we just want to take a moment to say thank you for helping us out.

We have speakers on 9F, 9G, and 9I. Hold on. 9F, 9G, and... 9I.

All right. So, Nye F.

Mr. Mayor, if I can interrupt, if I can get clarity in terms of public comment for consent

comment period. That's correct. Five minutes for the consent calendar.

Start with 9F Maybe Before I start the F

And maybe the main for the record And my name is communist dictator And then in the event If you do not If you cannot remember

If you cannot hear Feel free to reach out to the city clerk And then she has my permission She has my consent To remind you all day long

24-7 so 9F is about the police department body-worn camera I am in

support of this I'm also as far as I know in other cities right now Covina I'm

aware that they are the subject of a pending lawsuit because the police department refused to release their body-worn camera video footage so if our

Our city is trying to give the best equipment, best body-worn camera. Remember whoever police chief that after 60 days after completing your investigation, then that body-worn camera should be released to the public. Just like the Los Angeles County Sheriff LAPD did, the just major police department did.

So remember especially the subject of your arrest, especially the subject of the body-worn camera video footage when they are trying to request a public record and then I do not see there's a reason that the city of Monterey Park or any city

should deny that kind of public record but I know Covina Pasadena Alhambra

those small cities have a pattern of doing so that's the reason why that they are still they on a yearly basis they are the subject matter of a pending

lawsuit now since I only have five minutes thanks to our council member Wong

let's move on to no she is about a taxi dial a ride yes my comments is similar

just before I started night G let's remind our mayor what is the my name my name is communist dictator so night G I'm here to support of the dial a ride but several problems that our mayor will never think about. Number one, when our seniors or when our disabled community members are using dial-a-ride, became the target of ICE mass arrest? No. Nobody talk about that. Right. Because I'm the only one who talk about that.

Absolutely.

So number two is that who qualify for this dial-a-ride? Because they are illegal immigrants.

and they maybe you know they they do not have a green card to show you or

something or maybe they do not have a citizenship citizenship paper to show you or something but they leave they rent an

apartment in Monterey Park for 20-25 years I do not know what kind of qualified a person that actually qualify for this dial-the-ride because this

program looks so good but also the mayor never talked about the devil the

details so I'm really concerned I want to make sure there will be no discrimination in this specific item. I do not want to hear later on some people

are saying, oh okay I don't have this, you know, I don't qualify for this program, okay I cannot do this, I don't qualify for this program or something. Number three, when we are talking about dial-a-ride we are talking about public transportation. Now for people like me I will never be qualified for dial-a-ride until 50 years later. So for people like me who rely on two months, two Right now, today, I think it's nightfall for any council and also improve the public transit in that way. What is my name, Mayor?

So can somebody explain to me? And now we're grouping all the comments together.

how does that work when the council member is discussing the issue

conversation you've got to stop the clock back and forth so what is that how

does that work so it's not a discussion it's just like open public comments and then you I mean how does this work I'm gonna have the city attorney explain

this but this is the same process they didn't change public communication is you get to speak, we get to listen, and then we will have further discussion. It is the consent calendar. Consent calendar discussion. So just this process has not changed, maybe the city attorney can just explain that.

Walk through that. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, what you said.

Yeah, this is really confusing to me, because then why bother having a public communication?

Why don't you just group them all together?

The process has been like this. There's no change except for the time limit. That's the only difference.

It sounds like you guys are grouping it all together. That's how it's always been. Are you guys turning the clock back on on my item? Oh, that's not a nice thing to do. But anyway, I'm here to talk about something positive. He saved the Barnes Park pool today.

Council Member Henry Lo out of his own pocket to save the Barnes Park Pool campaign. He already gave me.

And this generous act is a reminder that when leaders step forward and others will follow.

And that both private and special for success.

an event for you folks

and to encourage the council member to participate. I just want to say this is not the final copy. The reason for that is that we just had a really successful meeting

with Rose Bowl, and they would like their local to be on our flyer. So they really believe what we're doing, and they're very supportive and accommodating. So I just want you folks to follow Mayor Vince steps. Thank you.

No other comments?

Actually, I have a follow-up question. Yes.

Margaret? Yeah. So this is a Zelle, right? This is a Zelle?

Yes, we love Zelle. Okay. 5-1c3 meaning that anyone making donations is a tax write-off?

Yes. Absolutely. I would make a suggestion that you should put that on there because I think it would probably entice more people.

Oh, actually, you did, actually. Yes, it's here. We are registered 5-1c3.

Maybe just asking that, I guess, donations are tax-provideable. You may want to put a comment like that there.

I'll make that comment to the designer of the flyer. He's done a really good job for it.

So let me continue with this.

And the importance as a community fundraiser is project resources, state and federal investment and advocacy.

That is why tonight a letter requiring amassing for a minimum of five million dollars that Monterey Park is united.

This project happened. Funding strategy is the key to attracting outside investment. That strategy, it takes a village to raise a child and part of that village. and with your leadership, it will be decades to come.

And check that I got from Vin, and you guys are welcome to give me. Thank you. Thank you. I want to make sure for starting this process.

You will see Council Member O'Neill Poole, and you will see sponsorships coming. That's all I'm going to say from the group here. I just have a quick question. This is a swim-a-thon, Margaret. it so okay so it would be so something is someone supposed if they sign to register

is to swim the full two hours is that right or an hour okay but okay

at this event I asked the city manager maybe we actually if the group can write a little blurb and give it to Robert through Parks and Rec,

then we can make that announcement, or you can bring it.

No, but communication, or they can provide us the information, and we can make the announcement. No more comments.

All right, so do I have a motion? Are there any pool items? All right, now moving on.

Good evening, Mayor of the City Council. My name is Eliana Munoz and I am your senior planner. The item before you is a draft ordinance related to the Saturn Park Innovation Technology Zone. The objective for this draft ordinance is to ensure the City's municipal code is

aligned with the city's general plan and to update zoning regulations to reflect the city's

long-term planning goals.

development, also known as or abbreviated as measure JJ. Measure JJ designated Saturn

Park and entertainment. While measure JJ updated the city's long-term land use vision, it also created inconsistencies between the current zoning regulations and the community's updated goals. One aspect of measure JJ is that it gave the city council the regulations needed to bring the voters' visions to life. To help guide this process, the City Council created the Saturn Park Advisor Review Committee, abbreviated as SPARC, to gather input and to provide recommendations. And on October 2024, the SPARC recommended the City Council expand allowable uses within Saturn Park.

Throughout various outreach efforts to involve the community, the city conducted 15 meetings

and hosted a booth at the Cherry Blossom Festival related to land use where the public could

comment. This culminated in the voters designating the Standard Park area as innovation technology in the land use element. Additionally, there were 10 meetings related to the Saturn Park area which resulted in the direction from the City Council to implement the land use element by expanding the allowable uses in the municipal code.

On this screen is the City's map showing the Saturn Park innovation ticket in blue. The

The Saturn Park area is located near the southeast corner of the city north of Potrero Grande

Drive. It is accessed from Atlas Avenue to the south, Saturn Street to the east and South Orange Avenue to the northeast. It is bounded by single family neighborhoods to the north, northwest, and southwest with the Edison electrical substation to the southeast and the 60 freeway

to the south.

The draft ordinance proposes eight new principal uses. The inclusion of each use is based on one or more of the following sources. The SPARCS outreach report, which measure JJ, or on this slide, listed as an alLod use in the consider opening the public hearing and taking testimonial and documentary evidence. After closing the first reading of the ordinance, implant of the Monterey Park Municipal Code is in the Satter Park Innovation Technology Zone and taking such additional related action, staff is available for any questions.

Thank you.

Thank you. Public comments?

First speaker, Charles Stapleton.

Thank you, and good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council. First, let me just say I appreciate the numerous opportunities that members of the public can actually meet you,

confront you, and talk to you about things. I mean, every Thursday night I see most of you down there, and even Michelle bought me a little drink one time.

So we have plenty of opportunity, regardless of what a previous speaker might have said.

I attended several of these meetings. Also, I live nearby. I drive that way on my way to work as a college professor in West L.A., and I come home at night. I cut through there. And as a college professor and an author of a California real estate principal's textbook, I would just highly encourage you to review this, to move forward, and let's get some development down there. And at the same time, be respectful to the immediate neighbors that are on the periphery of this area.

The construction do.

But the vacant, that will eventually, and it is right now, just drive down that street, it's kind of like bumpy. Very closely at the recommendations. take a look at the mixed use, the opportunity to grow in development,

and also to be cognizant of what the state of California has put on us as far as housing requirements.

We're way behind in that area. Anyway, I want to thank you for the opportunity.

Listen to what some of the folks are doing, and I'm sure you'll come to the right conclusion.

But let's move forward and get some development down there and some people moving in. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker.

Hey, neighbors. It's Michelle speaking as your neighbor again.

I debated long and hard whether or not to even bother speaking tonight.

Like so many of you, I also feel so exhausted and helpless. It's even harder for me with all the retaliation against me each and every time. However, I think it would hurt just as much not to say something as it is to say something.

To not say something as it is to say something.

So I figure I might as well speak up so at least I can have it documented.

is in Santa Park, where despite all the law reports, they even stacked the committee, the SPARK committee, with their council minions, including a pretty very, so very state and federal policy to their benefactors' demands.

An unveiling of a monument of my sister until six years ago. because they were coal miners. A lot of people don't know all equipment to buy, build that facility, and bring in pickleball tournament,

fifth annual pickleball tournament in Monterey Park.

Well, if you could put a pickleball court stadium over there,

freeway accessible, and then they could wine and dine over there in that area,

away from the homes, shop at Costco and whatever,

it would be great. Have the visitors come freeway accessible, do your pickleball stuff. But that's vision. Four is for Saturn Park. Bring up about Saturn Park because that was

addition of the Mario Park Marketplace has raised down the street from Hillcrest. It's necessary in order to protect the city on neighboring streets. This is the sentiments

of Ms. Roy Ball. Add additional dwelling units within the Saturn Park Innovation Technology technology zone is not what the public voted for.

Next comment is from Brian Marsh of Stratton. Mr. Marsh states that he understands that that amends the municipal land uses.

He states that Stratton is a major stakeholder in the Saturn Park area and he shares the city's desire to revitalize Saturn Park with smart development that contributes to the fabric of the city

and improves economic development opportunities. Our business focus in Center Park is the development of a data center. We see that the draft ordinance does not modify the NPMC regarding data centers, which are considered permitted uses. He is supportive of the city expanding permitted land uses in Center Park, which can facilitate redevelopment of underutilized parcels and activate compatible uses.

Next speaker is Deborah Shibuyama Simone. Ms. Simone says she lives less than a quarter mile up the hill from Saturn Park and was lucky enough to be a part of at least two Spark public commentary sessions last year.

When she read the report from the Spark outreach sessions last year, she noticed a statistical anomaly.

Wildown Engineering ran a red-yellow-green sticker exercise at the last Spark session,

where attendees were asked to do ranked-choice voting for the preferred use of the Saturn Park properties. The Wildown Report states that the majority of people favored innovation technology for the Saturn Park area, but that's not true.

Innovation technology received 19 green stickers, but the three categories of residential development combined received 34 green stickers. clearly a majority of residents favor more residential development there only the in question I would favor she says she said she would favor development in

the area similar to it already exists just down development which seems to be condominiums she hopes to can oh she states that more space is farther off

the main road including a number of park and recreating to enjoy the

Sarin Park area and praise that the character of her neighborhood which is literally over the worst through over development young families by developing medium no other comments thank you

let me just knock off some of the questions that I have so go I love the sports stadium idea my only we don't the city doesn't own the land the land I don't know that's going to be a let me actually occupancy or vacant area today. Well, just to clarify that point further. There's a use that is listed as a permitted use under entertainment. However, to date it as such as a stadium. Like chicken and pickle or something. Uses like that or bowling alley or something like that. But if someone wanted to do it, right, private tennis where you can rent zoning.

Report, it does to, it does give some examples out there for the last.

That would preclude owner for a property where a use is permitted.

No, we are not.

The draft ordinance does not propose that.

All right. Comments as well.

But one of the other statements, what is proposed from, I don't know if we were in the same meeting, that from our meetings of discussions with this council with previous councils about spark can and should be in kind of engaging with the neighborhood in that

are doing with the Spark, especially the neighborhood spending time with us, hours on this process.

I'm glad one of us, I know there's always a lot of things take longer than all of us.

As soon as we were done with the Spark process to do something, and I think in those that engaged

and others that didn't have time and want to see a more revitalized community residents as well,

potentially future residents in the community and so I and the consultants as well to help put this together I know this has been at this point and I

mean I don't we don't know what the future for the Saturn Park area right

we don't own the land as the mayor pointed out we don't own the properties

there but what we are doing tonight and what I support tonight is you what can be alLod in the Saturn Park area because what the kind of broader envelope of what is alLod

there is clearly not working. We have, as the mayor pointed out,

more than two-thirds, closer to three fair,

vacant, not being utilized. And it didn't get to that state because of the pandemic. We were already trending that way well before the pandemic, and we're not seeing a return

in terms of people wanting to utilize office space in that in the Saturn Park we support what's being proposed and what full community in the city and a pretty substantial portion of the city could be in the future and we look

forward to working with property owners there in in and spark process in the

community process and even really ideal neighborhood can and could be and really having an opportunity and these properties are so big that you can

really plan some of this stuff in a more strategic and intentional way. I'd also

note I know one of the written comments and I think a comment that came up a lot during the SPARC process too was that right the innovation technology zone

that's been designated for this area well one if the city attorney is going to correct me or our community development staffs correct me there's nothing in the

the innovation technology zone that precludes housing being alLod in that's correct and I

just know out during the spark process and since then as well there if you look at where there are

vibrant innovation technology zones throughout California Southern California Los Angeles I

point to the arts districts where you have fiber technology where there's medium density and low density and some high density housing mixed in with office space, commercial space, technology offices and complexes and opportunities. Those things that have been able to that's alLod there.

So in my mind if I'm thinking when I think of innovation technology zones I think of actually

vibrant neighboring and courses that are able to and that have businesses and That is correct council member. Any council colleagues that have comments. I want to thank

I'm actually very excited. I'm a parent as well. A lot of the things that I see potential here. I'm very excited about moving this.

For the process that has brought us in March of 2020,

there was actually a similar land use element ballot measure,

measure II, which failed.

It failed on the ballot. And I think part of it is because those community who felt that

it was not reflective of value, the vision of the community. And so certainly the city council took it back to drawing board. And I think that through careful listening of public input, what was crafted would become Measure JJ that did pass in November of 2020. And again, I think it's important that we acknowledge and thank the residents and voters for essentially supporting what their vision is for the city to move forward. And then moving also forward to more recently with the SPARK committee, you know, we've had a four-part series of community workshops, and I attended all of them, and yes, immense turnout, and certainly it was nation and grassroots democracy, their views, their visions, their ideas.

And I also want to thank those who took time out of your busy schedule to, you know, it reflects that you can.

Meetings, I believe there were, and I know, you know, there's a lot of different opinions. Right.

Can you stand in the park as it is right now?

So what's the leading question, because I think park area, if office days were to come back, the existing uses can happen, right?

Traffic is still going to happen and actually could happen at would be could be much worse than in terms of the office space.

So Council Member Wong, the our land use element includes a regulating that allows 0.60 floor area ratio there.

So development could with those limits.

And I can add to that.

Tim Howell, Community Development Director.

Council Member Wong, just to further elaborate to answer your question

yes, under the existing

zoning codes and development could come forward very similar to what has historically

which has included daily trips and then medium higher density housing

which came up to this point, but current state law would allow some scenario that your whole vision,

our whole process, and buy property, meet the state's requirements

and build very high-density housing there right now.

And so it's critical for us, in my view, and the city to be proactive in helping to shape

potential outcomes and redevelopment outcomes in the Saturn Park area,

which is why I wanted to move, and I think the council wanted to move

with urgency around the SPARK process and then getting to this point in terms of a zoning,

changing the zoning that's alLod there so that we can be a little more productive and control our own future in the Saturn Park area.

The other thing there, too, and I think the mayor touched on this, right,

what I'm very curious, do any of those kind of change with the zoning just to be clear

in terms of heights or FAR and all that other stuff?

We are not touching the FAR or the height.

And I know that the, well, my understanding is that the height, right,

goes back to existing requirements or restrictions in terms of what's alLod there.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. If you look at page 124 of 50, you'll see that the draft ordinance

PROPOSES TO STRIKE OUT A PORTION OF THE EXISTING ZONING RIGHT NOW WHICH IS DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO HEIGHT WITHIN THE SPITS AREA. WHAT YOU CAN ACCESS OF 40 FEET OR THREE STORES WAS IN SYNC WITH THE REST OF THE PROPOSED.

HOW WE CAN HELP GUIDE SOME OF THE BOTTOMS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR IS COMMENT.

I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF SUMMARIZE HERE.

Look, I grew up in the 80s. I remember biking to Saturn Business Park when it was not even 1% vacant.

So times have changed.

And you go back to talk about transparency of these meetings.

I mean, 26 meetings since 2019.

The community has been involved.

And even at the SPARKS meetings, May, June, July of last year, we had over a hundred in the community voice of concern.

And I think the overwhelming, as you can see from the report that was filed in the agenda, is that what it is today, which is nothing at 80 or 77 percent vacant,

they want to see growth, they want to see development, they want to see the potential of what the city has offered.

And I will say it again, I mean, the vision here is we need to do something going forward. What the city went through with Mario Park Marketplace, I know one of the written communication complained about Mario Park Marketplace, But that generates substantially a huge amount of revenue, sales tax revenue for the city that keeps the city afloat.

And you think about Encanto going back 15 years ago when there was a lot of objection to that area as well.

But now there are million dollar homes in who would have thought.

But here we are.

We have an opportunity here to help recreate, let's move forward with something here.

So with that, is there a recommendation?

be ecstatic to make them an additional language I think that the city attorney is out to see this move forward. Council Member Wong in section.

I'm going to close that public session out.

All right, new business.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

I just want to spend with other LGBTQ plus leaders around talking about what's going on in each of our cities

and be able to share lessons. I'll just keep it very brief

the day after

and it was still pretty poppy so I have the bagels

thank you my colleagues mentioned

as well as Park and how we

responded to

the ICE raid participating in the lawsuit

that was filed to put a stop to these

unlawful, unconstitutional raids

and

And I'm going to close by also saying, you know, Mayor, go.

I realize your term as mayor is about to sunset, you know, and I want to just thank you for serving as our mayor because any one of us, back on this side, who has served as mayor

understands that the position carries lots of responsibility.

It's not just ribbon cuttings and being a figurehead, but essentially, you know, you are the voice of the city,

a lot of commitment in addition to the long commitment that we thank you very much for your service again if if anything this is

events that were mentioned yet since the last council meeting, we had the Natchikatsura

sister city meeting. We had two students from Monterey Park travel to Japan and came back with a really informative presentation. And then that same day we also had the Monterey Park Police Department promotional ceremony at Barnes Park amphitheater. So that was really awesome seeing a lot of the police officers be promoted. And then we also had a successful CACA barbecue.

That's the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.

It was a really hot day out at the park.

Bless you.

But it was still a really good turnout. And I also wanted to echo Council Member Lo's juice to fill.

About the follow-up on Beyond the Seats, I think there were. And then I had the pleasure of delivering the State of the City address.

The first was Rebello's USA, which we have two dysos and syrus. Provided with math clinic. Then I want to give a shout out to two.

I think your question is how high can it go? How tall can the buildings be?

Not just the height, but the, right, well, I'm leading, I want to help the community understand, too.

Right now, if someone bought a property in the Saturn Park area, they can build up to whatever, four or five stories and have, right, there are currently three to four thousand parking spaces right now, right, for serving. the existing office spaces. So at some point there were thousands and thousands of people going through every day causing traffic in the center as currently alLod, right, in the zoning, and people were to occupy all the office space there at maximum use. We're talking about, right, literally thousands of people

driving in and out, commuting to work in their offices in that space. That would be alLod, and that's what could happen

if some people who want a completely the same,

And that's still it is now because right now we've got 70, 80 percent vacancy.

So Council Member Wong planned that and up to four stores would be proposed. The standards, yes, have been within the Saturn Park area. Merely office uses, which would, which, you know, during its peak would bring in hundreds, if not thousands, of being generated by, you know, employees coming to the office. one of the other points that came up during the spark process and since as well is around concerns for I think we understood which is why we given current state law I don't know if this is Carl's area more one to repo if they met certain for ability labor criteria they could already build right now even if we don't change the zoning they could build housing very high density at pretty high

density housing in that area right? Conceivably yes. There have been as you

know a multitude of housing laws coming down from Sacramento so SB 6 would be the applicable act for that particular contemplating. So I want to emphasize

this too because I think this is also important to me to take up urgently because we want to be proactive and control our own destiny in terms of

what could and will happen at Saturn Park if there is redevelopment

to help guide that to the extent that we can, as opposed

to having state law supersede, right, potentially our locals here in terms of what we and the community wants to see at Saturn Park potentially, because someone could come. It's important to me and I think curious, what are the existing kind of limited requirements? The logic behind there was the land use element would

control. You could do if you wished is to keep that language and if I can read it. I just had to get

progressives so I'm learning how to do that. In any event, right now it reads

I'm happy to.

Sorry. It's section 2114.090. Currently it reads no building or structure shall be located on any lot,

buildings or structures exceeding the height limits may be permitted upon approval of a conditional

use permit. That was proposed to be struck, but if the council is concerned about that, you could certainly keep that language. Our only recommendation, I think, on that would be to add

in at the end of the sentence or site development plan so that zoning language.

And that makes sense to me and I think offers the city more flexibility in terms of 150 local residents. People support something better. You think about homes across from the cemetery, shape part of Sandring Business Park. Instead of making it, instead of having it vacant at 77%,

let's revitalize it. So I'm in full support of that. And I think the community has kind of come

in terms of voicing their input to basically say there are...

Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I could have a motion to adopt staff recommendation with the mind around some of the limits there.

I'll second.

I have a motion from Pro Tem Yang.

Please take a vote. Not honestly.

How about the city communications?

I want to report out quickly on attendance at the Quality California LGBTQ Plus Leaders Summit in Sacramento that happened last week.

Really was a great time to be able to, from throughout the state, I believe my council colleague,

Councilor Lo, also was able to speak on a panel to talk about our tragic mass shooting

and helping to share lessons with other elected officials from throughout the state around how we manage crisis and how we've been working to bring healing to the community since then as well and address gun violence. So appreciate that, and I always appreciate being able to spend time

with other local elected officials and meeting folks from other cities

to be able to exchange ideas and lessons.

And I'm not above stealing other good ideas from other places.

So that's all.

Mr. Mayor, I wanted to thank our community development team for helping out with the

ribbon cutting of Einstein Bagels which happened in my district. A lot of people came out very excited. Hopefully we can bring a lot more exciting restaurants to our city. So thank you to our staff for helping that happen. I know all of us were there in excitement to try. I still have to take Vin to try some bagels, though. I was there. I know, but I took my bagel.

I took Vin's bagel, so maybe that's what did it. But anyhow, I also wanted to thank the mayor for the State of the City Address at the Holiday Inn,

which we all attended on the 26th. Also on that same day, I went to a recognition ceremony for AUS,

AU, Alhambra Unified School District Board Member Kenneth Tang, who has stepped down as a school board member to pursue being a board member for the California Teachers Association.

So I wanted to thank him for his service, but also wish him well in his new capacity as a board member for CTA, of which I'm a member of. And then lastly, I wanted to thank Robert and all the Parks and Rec staff for, I know you already heard a lot about this,

but the Monterey Park Dodger Night was a success. So, Robert, like we said earlier, if we can get more Dodger Nights.

But next time, also make sure that, you know, we win.

So we can leave with a little bit more of a celebratory spirit.

All right. Thank you, Robert. And that's it for me.

A real beef, you know, I attended many of the events that have participated in the Quality California

the summit in which as my colleague, I mentioned I participated in a panel that consisted of

a representative from CHERLA, Assembly member who represents L.A. County as well as someone represented from San Francisco and then me representing Monterey Park in which we talked about our response to the ICE action and so certainly it was my pleasure and honor to to get the perspective of Monterey Bates and essentially making sure that we are watching out for our community, you know, namely EU lead council meetings and it takes all the

council members to take when we are sworn in.

And so as mayor and just a reflection of your continued commitment to this community.

Thank you, Mayor, for being such an amazing example.

the last nine months. I've learned so much from you, and I've got big... First off, thank you to the rest of my council colleagues for giving me props.

It is an obligation and duty, so I'm blessed to be here. Just kind of report out, August 21st, we had the police department promotions.

We had 20-plus promotions to our police department.

That tells you we grow within, and that's why you look at the surrounding police departments, they want to join our force because we promote within, and it's a great place to be. The inaugural San Gabriel Valley Symphony, that was a huge draw. The hillside, at least 700, 800 people here that day, even though our stadium or amphitheater only seats about 340-ish people,

so double the capacity there. Luckily, we have the grass.

Just a couple of shout-outs here. are the Community Choice Awards. Just to reiterate here, the favorite restaurant, favorite retail was Daiso USA, Japan.

The city here, favorite service, and favorite nonprofit

was CSC Chan Health Service Center.

Monterey Park. And then Robert, props for Dodgers Night. Great event. Again, we'll do more and more. To two members who serve important interim roles. Scott Hibrele, thank you. This is your last meeting here. And then for Phil Lantzapane for coming back one time. You were here for about six months. So thank you for your time. I appreciate it. We'll close out the meeting. We'll come by and say hi. And it is 825. We'll call it.

it tonight.

Thank you.