the good evening we're going to call our city council regular meeting to order today is May 13th our meeting is starting is that clock correct six o'clock okay our first order of business will do our invocation and that is going to be led by I I see Tracy out there. So Tracy Johnson with the manual Baptist, welcome Tracy. And then Mayor Prattim Larry McCellum will lead us into our pledge. Thank you. Join me in prayer please. Father in heaven, we come before you. We thank you for our city. Remember that this is the month or we just had the National Day of Prayer all over our nation and millions of people praying for government all over our country. And so we pray for our government and we thank you for them for our council the staff and for our residents God so we pray tonight that you grant wisdom to our for them, for our council, the staff, and for our residents, God. So we pray tonight that you grant wisdom to our elected officials and our staff and that you would give your grace to the city of Highland in Jesus' precious name, Amen. I'm glad me as we salute the flag that represents our republic. I tell the agents to the flag of the United States of America. Thank you Tracy for coming down. Yes he, but it's a consent item, right? Okay, a report from closed session. I'll look to our city attorney. Oh, we'll do the roll call first, me. Sorry, you're right. Roll call. Council Member Hogan. Here. Council Member Lohburn. Here. Council Member McAllen. Here. Council Member Saldana. Here. And Council Member Timmer. Here. Thank you. Now we'll look to our report from closed session. Thank you. The City Council Matt and closed session, conference with legal council existing litigation, pursuant to government code 54956.91 on the people's collective for environmental justice versus inland valley development agency at all. San Bernard County Court case number CIV SB 2510434 where the city was sued as a real party in interest. Direction was given to legal counsel but no reportable action was taken. Thank you very much. Okay this evening we had to have a couple of special presentations and if you if Bob Hitchman were you joining me at the podium out there? So this evening we have a certificate of appreciation and this is to Bob Hitchman. First of all, I just want to say this man is a super human. He's a hero. He, the amount of things that he does for our city is, I don't know, we'd probably need 10 of you to replace you. So I just personally want to say thank you. I've been to many celebrations where they have recognized you for giving blood. And I think that the amount of blood that you have given is just very commendable. So we have a certificate. And it says to Bob Hitchman, the City Council of the City of Highland congratulates you on your than 1500 blood donations. Huge with live stream. The blood-based San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Your selfless contributions have made a lasting impact on your countless lives, on countless lives, and your commitment to helping others as an inspiration to assault. Dated this 13 day and so I wanted I asked the City Council if we could put together something to recognize you. Just to say thank you. Thank you for all the lies that you saved. And I'm glad you're in Highland if I ever need any blood. I admit it's all I'm going to call. So thank you Bob and do you want to say anything? I first met Penny 18 years ago when I hit 100 gallons and I was 18 years ago. She first came down to the blood bank and she really didn't know much about it, never had donated before, but she actually saw what it went to, what it was for, and she sat down and donated. I mean, that's a quant, a accomplishment of her. Then eight years ago, she did the same thing when I hit a thousand donations and did the same thing over there, gave a, you know, and realized, you know, what it goes for, it goes for people that don't have their have their health were blessed with our health so we should all be donating blood, you know Plate let's or something like that because there's so many people that do not have their health and Here I am today at 1500 gallons, but that's 45 years every two weeks, so and it goes to People that have cancer burn victims all kind of stuff. So hopefully all of you donate if you're healthy, right? Right. Bob, just think of all the people in the world that you've helped get through some illness or sickness with your blood. That's amazing. God bless you. That equates to 188 gallons. I think they're waiting for it to be too many left. Yeah, but they're waiting at the blood bank, but that'll be like five more years. 200 will be a world record. But that's five or four fifty gallon and they try to let people know, hey, it goes for injured people, it goes for people that don't have their health. So thank you very much. Bless you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That's what's there. Thank you. We have another proclamation this evening and it's for National Public Works week. So I find that awesome. I'm not sure that we've recognized Public Works Week and so we have with us right now Jim and you kind of oversee the public works and we wanted to recognize that this is Public Works Week and it says whereas the year 2025 marks the 65th annual national public works week sponsored by the American Public Works Association and whereas public works professionals play a crucial role in maintaining the infrastructure, the facilities and services that are essential to creating resilient communities thereby contributing to the public health quality of life and well-being of the Highland residents whereas the provision of these facilities and services relies heavily on the dedication of public works professionals at all levels of government and our our tasks with the responsibilities of rebuilding, enhancing, and safeguarding our public buildings another infrastructure. at all levels of government and our tasks with the responsibilities of rebuilding, enhancing, and safeguarding our public buildings and other infrastructures for the benefits of our citizens. So there's a lot of where-as is, but we know Jim out there what you do is very valuable to our city. You oversee the graffiti and a lot of things that go on with our infrastructure and our roads and just whenever we need something it it appears that we always call on you and hang from hanging our banners to whatever it is and I think the city just wanted to recognize and make sure that you're especially recognized for all that you do in our city and all of our employees to make our public works the great department that it is. So with that I'm going to present this to you and say thank you for all the work that you do for our city that our residents benefit from. Do you want to say anything? Well, thank you. I consider it an honor to be recognized and it's it takes a team. So I'm just one person and a whole group of, you know, staff and the department's not just the, you know, public works that with the but public service is all of them, so. And anyway, so I'll take it for the group. And please tell all of us that. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you for allowing me to do those presentations. Both very important and very engaged in our community. again Bob thank you and congratulations on all that you do for our city. You know you do the trails and I could go on and on but thank you. We'll move on to our public comments and these are public comments are for those that wish to speak to items that are are not on the agenda. They're non-controversial items and hopefully we as council were not allowed to respond and we can respond but we can't take any action to items that are not on the agenda. So with that being said, Bob, I have you on a speaker slip. I know, right? Bob Hitchman, Island Trails, and Dr. Trail, all that. Since I was here last, I told you last year about the motorcycle up there, East, East, and it's still a jungle. Nothing's nothing. Tore down big huge camp up there through the door over the side and within a couple weeks they came back up with a fork lift. On the street up over the curb over the sidewalk went on their trail, picked all the stuff up and rebuilt the camp that I broke down. Twice as big, twice as hard to break down. Called the sheriffs. Nothing happened that night. They're there. Sheriffs can't go off the road. It's just a madhouse up there. They're screaming up there right now. They had last week. They had the sher's helicopters trying to catch them right at 10 o'clock at night going to 12 o'clock it's just a madhouse they scream up Alpin and right where Alpin hits baseline they've already done a bunch of dirt on the street and the gutter so that they can come flying down without having to hit the gutter and fly in the air so it's an even they don't want to break it down. I've told the East Valley water that owns the district that owns it. Something has to happen. They blame the sheriff's department and say we have a sheriff we pay $300,000 a year with benefits and all that that does our properties only. Well, and I said, hey, you got all their properties are fenced. There's Bob wire. They're all water tanks. This is the only one that's not even protected or anything. So they said, we have a guy. And then when you talk with him, he says, he's not allowed to go off road. What good is that? I mean, the camp is maybe 100 yards off Evans right there. I mean, you just see him all the time. So nothing's being done. I went to the sheriff's in there, talked to, we have another new captain. He doesn't know. I talked to the sergeant. He's brand new It's the same same old thing, but just to let you know now they're taking trucks four wheel drives three wheelers All up there where before it was just a motorcycle problem So I've tried to get our where I live East Highlands Ranch to put some of the big fences with the gates that are blocked and some of the Big areas the motorcycle list always get through, but it's the trucks and the four wheelers out there now at midnight. You see them lights and screaming, and then with the sheriffs trying to catch them, I come screaming down, right down to Alpen, but I gave them a list, a list of the motorcycle guys I know since I'm up there, and occasionally on the street street I'll see them come, lift the gates up of their garage, shoot like that. I gave them just like I did Captain Giles, all the other ones for the last 10 years, what houses they are, what guys they are, I showed them the videos, screaming by who they are and nothing's done. So it's the same as what I talked to you about last last year. Well, and I remember that because a couple of things, one, one, one last thing. I told them what Palm Desert is doing. Instead of trying to fight them, you know, Palm Desert PD, whenever they get a call, they send a drone up. Don't have to fight them. Don't have to, they don't have to they just watch them Where they go they can go to there and see it, you know, but their whole thing is well We'll bring a team up from Marongo or it's a real time problem and I know the whole West end is is the problem here You know, and I know that's minor, but how many years, 10 years, 20 years now, I've been, you know, it's, so that's, that's the latest. Okay. Well, we have someone here who can help you with East Valley water. We have our captain here. I wish you guys would get together, figure this out. We have with Dale, Dale's at East Valley water. We talk with him all the time and he just now he can't do anything about it. That's what he says straight out. Phil, I'll take care of it. I know Phil. I know. He just ran his hair. I'll do it. We coach for a Crawford ever. I'll thank you and Adam and I, Phil, for taking this look at Phil hiding He's you know telling a man up and admit it. They need to put a fence around the audience as well. It appears that giving blood makes you grumpy. The more you give, the grumpier. Anyway, I'm only here to kind of officially think some of the members and the staff that were able to attend the facilities tours over there at the SNRC. Quick refresher during the tour, a lot of the focus was on the food waste to energy system, not only because it's pretty cool that we can turn all that junk into energy but because it also fits pretty well with the city's partnership with both Burntech and anyone else that Has combined efforts to try and divert solid waste from landfills and thus Getting rid of some of our greenhouse gases There was a shorter kind of brush over on the actual water treatment process, showing how waste enters the plant and then leaves the plant nice, fully treated, puddle water at a maximum rate of 8 million gallons a day. If you don't know, East Valley's water portfolio, that's the water that we provide to the citizens of Highland, it's made up of probably three major sources. One is surface water, which is San Anna River water. That's about 7%. State water project water is at approximately 13% and the rest of it is underground bunker hill basin water at a whopping 80 percent. So when you think about those figures, you can plainly see that the impact of 8 million gallons of water replenishing our main supply, it's in creating this resilient water supply, it's going to be there for our entire lifetime and that's nothing but good for City of Highland. We live in a state in case no one knows that has been in some sort of level of drought for 12 of the last 16 years and water has become liquid gold. I'm not a cool-aid drinker. So. I think it's been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a great thing to have been a conferences where they made it up and they've been trying to tax it for the entire time I've been on the board It's coming I think one day But if it is liquid gold. I just think it would be nice for all the citizens to know that we own the citizens of Highland own a gold mine. So I thought it would be rude. And on behalf of Michael Moore, our board and the staff at East Valley, we just wanted to go on the record. And thank you guys for putting out that effort and that time because I know it's kind of a pain. And I understand that for those of you that weren't able to make it, if you get with Carlos, he can get with Michael and there's going to be a makeup class. And I'll handle Bob. Thank you. Thank you, Phil. OK. We have Jane and Chris with the chamber. Good evening, Mayor and City Council. I'd like to make some announcements that are coming up. Tomorrow we have a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. at Corkeys Bakery and Kitchen so we'd love to see some of you come out and welcome them. Also on May the 17th we have our evening under the stars event, some of you have purchased tables so we're happy to know that and the theme is red, white and blue. It is at the Sterling Natural Resource Center, doors open at 5.30. It is also tasted the town, so we've gotten a lot of the local restaurants to donate food so that we can indulge in that for our meal. We also have a musician coming, we have music, we have raffles, we have silent auction, we will also have a live auction, and a mod back here is our auction near. He can barely wait last year, he practiced on that. So if you have not bought a ticket at $65 a person, a table of eight is $500, so we still have room for some of you. And again, the theme is red, white and blue. We're going to have first, second, third prize for the men and first, second, third for the women. So make sure you come in a tire that hopefully will applaud you. And that's how we're going to find out who our winners are. Also, on May 27th is our luncheon. And we hope to be back at the East Island Ranch Spring Lake Clubhouse and we have two speakers from Sam and while Sam and well, Yamma Vihaton and that is going to be Alberto Jaso and Marissa Aguilar. So they are going to come and be our speakers. Thank you so much. Okay Chris, do you get to say anything today? He's just to see all of you at the event. He's just eye candy. Yes, thank you guys for coming by. Okay and Nicole, okay. You're right. Okay. So that's all I have for speaker slips. If anyone wishes to speak and address the council, please make sure we get a yellow slip. And so that will move on to our consent calendar. Do we have any items to be pulled? I do not receive any notices, Mayor. Thank you. OK. And I have a speaker slip on item eight on the consent calendar. I do since we have no, can I have a speak first? Or I just I'm going to call Nicole is it Macglant Lance? Mac can'ts Sorry surprise Hello mayor mayor pro tem councilmembers and city city staff were all surprised to see me. My name is Nicole McAnne's and I have been serving on planning commission for the last nine months which has been a very valuable learning experience for me and I have enjoyed every moment of it even the six and a half hour meeting. And I thank you and appreciate the chance to contribute to the future of our community. My C is one of the two vacancies that are now, we're supposed to be announced tonight. And I just wanted to let you know that I plan on reapplying, so I didn't want you to be caught off guard when it was announced and you just thought I up and quit. So I will be reapplying and I look forward to being appointed again and continuing hopefully to serve the full two years. Thank you. Thank you. And I will say that's probably my first time ever seeing someone come in saying they're gonna reapply. So thank you, Nicole. It's very impressive. So we'll move on for any items, any no items to be pulled on the consent calendar. We're concerned. We have a motion for consent. Aye, second. And we have a second with Jimmy and Roll call. Council Member Hogan. Yes. Council Member Lelburn. Yes. Council Member McCann. Yes. Council Member Saldana. Yes. Council Member Timmer. Yes. Yes. Very good. Thank you. All right. We're going to move on. I believe this is a public hearing. We're going to move on to a public hearing right now. So at this time I'm going to go ahead and Open the public hearing move to item number 118 public hearing on the vacancies to comply with assembly bill 2561 and I'll look for staff presentation Carlos actually that'll be Tish thank you Tish okay so good evening mayor and city council this presentation is a result of a new requirement signed into law by Governor Newsom. It's Assembly Bill 2561, which amends the Myers-Millis Brown Act by adding government code section 3502.3, which requires local public agencies to enhance transparency and accountability in public sector staffing. We have to report vacancies, or go back to one, Michelle. Sorry. We have to report on our vacancies, our recruitment and retention efforts, and then we have to report if we have any, if we have bargaining units, we would have an additional requirement, but we don't have any bargaining units. And you can go to the next one. So, let's see. Right now we currently have, as of April 30th, 2025, we had 46 budgeted positions. Zero were represented by bargaining groups. We have two vacant positions, which are the assistant public works director and the maintenance superintendent. We have done outreach to fill these positions. We have posted it on governmentjobs.com. We've put it on deed and various job boards with the American Public Works Association and then we also sent out 2,500 flyers to all the registered civil engineers and San Bernardino and Riverside counties as an effort that Carlos asked to do and we did actually get applicants for the jobs based on those so that was nice. Our next slide. Our Our vacancy right now is 4% overall. We have the two open positions in public works. I think we got it the next one. So our vacancies arise from a range of factors, which includes retirements, internal promotions, resignations. From January 1, 2024, through present, the city's promoted nine employees and hired 12 employees. We can go to the next one. Okay, so this is a report on employee separations that we have to do. So as of January 1st, 2024 through present, we've had 11 full-time equivalent positions separate from the county or from the city of Highland. Two employees left for other municipal positions that offered higher pay or promotional opportunities. One employee transitioned to the private sector for similar reasons. One employee resigned without securing alternative employment. Three employees retired, one employee relocated, and then one employee found remote work. And then we've had two employees who were city council members. One resigned and one didn't run for reelection. So the separation figures reflect broader workforce mobility trends and the highlight and highlight the ongoing need to support alternative work schedules, competitive compensation and benefits and create pathways for internal advancement. And then our retention efforts. So employee retention remains a central focus of the city's workforce strategy. In 2024, the city implemented several initiatives designed to improve employees' satisfaction, promote longevity, and enhance professional growth. These efforts included in a cross-sports salary adjustment in 23, 24, and 24, 25. We give a $1,550 cafeteria plan to help pay for a health dental and vision benefits. Then we have employer paid life insurance. We offer flexible scheduling options, which is our 980 schedule currently. We do offer internal promotional opportunities and then we do employee recognition and appreciation events. And then the conclusion is the city of Highland is committed to maintaining a skilled and resilient workforce and to complying with the requirements of Assembly Bill 2561. So this report fulfills the public hearing requirement for AB 2561 and we're going to bring this back to you every year and let you know what efforts we're doing as far as recruitment in the city. Because the state just can't write too many bills. Yes, we have to be transparent. So this is going to come to you every year and we always have to do it before a budget is prepared or presented. So it will usually be in May if we ever do it. So that concludes my presentation and if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them. I'm going to reserve my comments. Yes. First off, this is to receive and file this report. No reactions to it. Which agency do we send this to? Do you know offhand? I do not send it to any agency. We just have to have. So what's the point? I don't. It's just that you just feel that they do at the state it So we don't report to anybody. I do not report it to anybody But I'm sure someone will be chucking into make sure that we've actually complied with it So we're gonna comply Well my second question it says this is a amendment to the Myers-Millis Brown Act Do you know if the state exempted themselves from the same ordinance as they did the Brown Act when they initiated years ago? I am not aware of it, but maybe our legal council might have. I'm not sure. I don't know that the state has to do the same reporting on vacancies at the state level as the same. I'm sure they didn't, but they require us to do it, but they don't have to do it themselves. Just more of the states in the institute. That's all I have. Okay. Offmuffs my soapbox. Do I need to close the public hearing before we do going to, are we okay? We can go ahead and close the public hearing if there's no public comments, but. I have no speakers just for the record. I have no speakers slips in favor of or an opposition of this public hearing item right now. So I will turn continue on with public comment from the council. Thank you very much Madam Mayor. To answer John's question this was really put forward I believe to organizations that have unions that can comment and on it and we just went through the same thing at AQ&D and there are two unions at AQ&D and they both had relative comments on it and one union had extensive comments on what we were doing so I think that's the purpose of it and thankfully we don't have one because we take good care of our employees. Thank you. Any other comments from our questions on from Council discussion? Great. Then I'm going to so we have no vote on this. So this is a motion to receive and file. I'll make a motion to receive and file this item. Do I need to vote on it? We need a second, and I'll go. Yes. Second. And a second. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Great. Worried to have time. That's pretty much how the state functions these days. Item 19, I'm going to the public hearing still open. Item 19 is resolution fixing the Highland Paramedic Tax Special Tax Rate for the fiscal year 2025-26. Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Staff is recommending the adoption of a resolution fixing the paramedic tax for fiscal year 2526 at 19 for residential and $38 for commercial. We anticipate generating approximately $370,000 in revenue as opposed to the $3.2 million in expenditures that are part of this. The shortfall will be funded by a transfer from the fire department and this concludes my presentation and I would be happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Tisha. At this time I have no speakers, Simpson, favor this item or an opposition. So I will turn it over to the Council for Council comments or any questions of the staff. Some would be doing ever since the city incorporated. I move approval staff recommendation. We have an emotion in a second in the other comments. I will just say and I hope we heard those numbers. Can you repeat those numbers one time? Yes, we will be we're anticipating generating 370,000 in revenue and the expenditures are estimated to be 3.2 million in that fund. So it's only like an 11%. Our city is going to have to take some actions instead of kicking this can down the road at some time. But anyway, we have a motion from John Timmer. We have a second from McClellan all those in favor? Any opposed? Great. Thank you Maybe you will mayor will read the resolution number resolution number 205 014 Thank you Okay Next public hearing um the ordinance designated fire hazard severity zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and fire protection state fire marshal and I'm a liqueur to Larry minus. Correct. Mayor, I remember City Council. The ordinance before you this evening is a result of a recent new state legislation, which amended the government code requiring state fire marshal and to identify areas in a state as moderate, high and very high fire hazard spherid zones. In addition, cities and counties are now required to adopt a state fire marshal map by ordinance. The state fire marshal released his recommended map for the Southern California area on on March 24th of this year Also in accordance with this new legislation the city of hyenas required to make the state fire marshal's map available And for public review and comments within 30 days of the map release And the recommended state fire marshal map was posted on the city's website on April 7th And we have no comment no public comments received as of this evening Finally, the new legislation requires a city to adopt the map by July 24th. Keeping it short to help answer any questions with staff recommends the city council introduces such ordinance. Conduct the second reading. introduce the subject ordinance and conduct the second reading and the excuse me conduct the first reading and direct staff to submit the copy of the ordinance to the state Fire Marshal and posting noticed with the county within 30 days of its adoption and also file a sequence notice of exemption with the county clerk of the board and this concludes staff's presentation and we'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank you Larry any questions of Larry? Okay, please With my background obviously this is now state mandate stand law My background would indicate looking at the zones they're pushing this way too far inside the city Knowing our fire history topography weather and all those things, but neither that nor here We can't change what they're proposing. I understand So I just want to make a comment. I think it's the only reason the The concern I have really is it's an insurance issue insurance, even though the staff report says this is not an insurance issue, we all know the insurance companies use these maps to either cancel insurance or raise the rates. So nothing more needs to be said, it's just something we have to deal with as a city. The one point I'd really like to make to reflect in the minutes, however, in the staff report, it talks about the old fire. And it talks about the fire burned 90,000 acres, which is pretty close. And it burned around near Highland. and it talks about 1,000 homes being burned to the ground or damaged. I want to make sure that reflects in the minute, not one house in Highland was burned during the old fire. So it kind of implies that we lost structures in Highland. I just want to make sure in the minute to reflect that the City of Highlands Fire Department did not lose one structure during the old fire. And additionally, during the line fire we didn't lose any structures either. So I just want to reflect that in the minutes. Thank you. Any other comments? Can we, I have no speaker slips in favor of or an opposition of this item so Can we entertain taking items all one two and three at the same time? Yes, thank you So moved we have a motion second and a second motion from John Timmer and a second from Jimmy Sultana. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Go ahead and read the ordinance. Ornans number 469. And Ornans of the City Council of the City of Highland, California does igniting fire hazard severity zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, state fire marshal pursuant to government code section 511-798 and making a finding of exemption under California Environmental Quality Act, SIKWA, guideline section 15061-B3. Thank you. Okay, and then we'll go to, while the public hearing is still a phone, we're gonna go to staff presentation on item 21, the municipal court amendment, the housing element, implementation ordinance of the city of Highland amending portions of Title V business license and regulations, Title VIII health and safety, and Title 16 land use and development code of the Highland Municipal Court. And that is Angela. Yes, thank you. Honourable Mayor and members of the City Council. Before you is municipal code amendment 24-001, which includes two ordinances reviewed by the Planning Commission for your consideration. These amendments achieve the following three objectives. First, implement the certified 2021-2029, six-cycle housing element, second, ensure compliance with state housing legislation, and third, update several provisions of the municipal code. To provide context, the housing element is one of seven required elements of the general plan and must be updated every eight years. Our current housing element referred to as our six cycle housing element, which was certified by the state includes 33 programs and 11 of which require amendments to the municipal code. Tonight's ordinance, ordinances implement seven of those programs with the remaining programs to be addressed later this year. The first ordinance presented separately for procedural clarity focuses on updating section 16.4.4.180 accessory dwelling units also referred to as ADUs. As Council is aware, the State Legislature has aggressively expanded ADU laws in recent years through a series of bills including AB 671, AB 976, AB 1033, and AB 1332. This ordinance brings our ADU standards into compliance with those requirements. We have included language in the draft ordinance that will continue to prohibit ADUs on properties located in very high fire hazard severity zones and properties not served by public sewer consistent with the past city regulations. However, as required by law, this ordinance will be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for review and those provisions will be subject to state approval. The second ordinance includes broader updates to Titles 5, 8, and 16 of the Highland Municipal Code. Amending definitions, permit processes, zoning and development standards. Key updates include repealing the crime-free rental housing program to comply with AB 1418 and recent California Supreme Court case finding the program unconstitutional. Allowing low barrier navigation centers by right in the mixed use and more effective and more effective and more effective and more effective and and accessory structure standards with recent state legislation. It's very important to emphasize that these ordinances are not discretionary. They are direct result of new state land use laws and failing to adopt compliant regulations could result in legal exposure, financial penalties, or loss of local control, over building permit decisions. Again, these changes are regulatory in nature and do not entitle or authorize any specific project. They simply bring our municipal code into compliance with state law while preserving local discretion where possible. The Planning Commission reviewed and recommends approval of the ordinances. With respect to the ADU ordinance, staff's going to defer to the city attorney at this time to discuss the city's response to a public comment letter received on May 12th. Thank you, Angela. So yesterday the city received a comment letter from the California Housing Defense Fund, which is a nonprofit organization regarding the city's ADU ordinance. So the letter states that the ordinance should be revised to eliminate the requirement that a property owner record a deed restriction as a condition of obtaining a ADU ordinance. Because of rental letter, this is contrary to state law. The ordinance that was included on the agenda packet does require that there be a deed restriction recorded against the property which is basically like a covenant that says a property owner cannot rent an ADU for short-term rentals so less than 30 days would be prohibited. That's elsewhere in the ordinance as well. So that regulation stands in the ordinance. There's also an additional regulation that they record a deed restriction, essentially, confirming that that is a requirement of the city. So the question is whether under state law the city can impose a requirement that a property owner record a deed restriction. So I will start off by saying that state law does not expressly prohibit the city from imposing a deed restriction. It's a matter of how you interpret the government code. So the government code provides that and this is government code section 66315. It states that government code section 66314, which is what says, these are the standards that city can impose on an ADU. It says that 66314 establishes the maximum standards that a local agency shall use to evaluate a proposed ADU on a lot that includes a proposed or existing single-family dwelling. No additional standards other than those provided in section 66314 shall be used or imposed including an owner occupant requirement except that a local agency may require that the property may be used for rentals of terms 30 days or longer. So we're clearly allowed to establish a standard that says no short term rentals. The question is, can we do that by deed restriction also? So what I need to the statute is that this establishes maximum standards. My argument is, well, a deed restriction is a standard. A standard is height limit, setback requirements. Those are standards versus a requirement to impose a deed restriction. So that's one rating in the statute. That being said, the city as Angela just pointed out is required to send its 80 ordinance to HCD for review and essentially for approval. HCD is charged by statute to review the ordinance for compliance with state law and can issue a notice to the city saying there's not compliance. And actually as of last year now has enforcement authority as well. So after receiving this letter, I did some digging and it does seem that H.C.D. has taken the position that a deed restriction cannot be imposed on ADUs. So we can require that there be no short term rentals, but according to HCD at least in one letter that was sent to the City of Berkeley cannot impose a actual deed restriction requirement. So in light of that, I revised the ADU ordinance to eliminate the deed restriction. So you'll have both ordinances before you tonight. You can look at the version that's already in the agenda packet or the revised version. And as was pointed out at the end of the day, once whichever version is adopted, we'll ultimately get sent to HCD for review. The one thing I do wanna also point out is that if the city's ordinance is deemed to be non-compliant by HCD, then the ordinance is considered null and void by law. And until the city has a compliant ordinance, we wouldn't have our restrictions in place. So Angela had mentioned that we have restrictions on needing to have no higher severity zones and the sewer requirement. That would be nullified until a new ordinance is adopted. And that's assuming that H2D somehow finds that the ordinance doesn't comply with state law. So that, I don't know if you have any questions on the letter that was received or my explanation of the matter. Okay, appreciate that. I'll come to the council. I just want to announce that there's no speaker slips in opposition or Or for this Ordinance or this item so I'll move to council constructs. Yeah comments. I have a question on your presentation on the Your proposed changes if we choose to do it As I understood what you're saying and as I looked at this, the proposed ordinance that we have in our package meets the intent of what the law is, kind of what you implied, right? Yes, so we drafted the ordinance with what we, what my office and staff interpreted to be in compliance with state law. HCD is the agency that's charged with actually deterring whether or not it's in compliance. And there is at least some authority on HCD's end for saying that we can't have a deed restriction. However, we talked briefly about what the council knew mentioned. This particular ordinance hasn't even gone to HCD for review at this point. So we're anticipating what they'll say, but we don't know for sure. We don't definitely know it other than after receiving the letter. There are, so on HCD's website, they have what's called an ADU ordinance compliance review. And so there's a whole listing of the letters of other ordinances they have reviewed and commented on. And so one of those letters was with respect to the City of Berkeley's ordinance, which included a deed restriction and ADU's comment, sorry, H City's comment was that that needed to be eliminated. But are absolutely correct. HCities has not seen this version of the ordinance. And another option on the table is we could certainly send our ordinance to HCities to review first before it's adopted. The only kind of caveat to that is that HCities often very slow to respond. And this is a program in our housing element that requires us to move forward with, you know, adoption So there would be potentially some delay if we want to have HCD review it before we the council acts I just think well, let's kind of follow up there We currently have an approved housing element that runs through 2022 29 The HED housing they approved that plan back then since then all these Amendments that we have now in this package have come since We had an adopted housing element that keep adding more and more things. So essentially most of the things we're talking about in the proposal here is to codify the things that they're being telling us to. And we as a council had numerous discussion on all these points on answering housing and densities and all those things and now we're just codifying those. But every time we turn around, the state is adding another thing, even despite us having an approved housing element. So it just makes no sense to me to approve a housing element and they keep changing the rules for an approved plan. And back to the issue of the deed restrictions, we have in our package a plan was based on what we believe is current law, staff and the attorney I don't want to start changing things and anticipating, because I guarantee you, ACD will find something else to go. So let's wait till I get a response from them, and then we can respond to them and make changes or tell them to go, this is just another state requirement that really restricting what cities can do in their land use planning and building housing and all those things. It's just so frustrating and obviously you can tell I'm frustrated. Changing gears just a little bit In the staff report that talks about number. You keep talking about the housing element, number 33, which is on page number three. It talks about that the Planning Commission has met on this particular item, talking about the required increasing of density in what they call the eastern portion of the city. And we're talking about 20 dwelling units to 30 dwelling units per acre. That's unbelievable to me what they're requiring us to do. The Planning Commission has reviewed it and the staff report says they'll come back at some point and designate which properties they think meets that intent. My question really is it talks about what is the state declaring the eastern port of our portion of our city? Because the staff report talks about we're looking at this new density requirement in the eastern portion of the city for for acreage of at least a five acres plus or whatever. What are they considered in eastern? No one in living in Highland knows what East Highland and West Highland is. So what is the state? So where are they limiting what we need to do under this plan? Number 33. Yeah, John, generally the area referring to as modern high resource area, it's a model that's run by the state and everybody has to use it when they go to this process with their housing element. And it's generally, I believe, bolder to the east. I think that's the dominant. I'll give her take a couple streets here and there. That's the high resource area. And if you think of it, and I'll just shorten the definition, it's probably where the affluent live. And so the state believes that we should provide other types of housing where people can live and enjoy those resources, better schools, shopping centers, parks, trails, good infrastructure. And that's the short simple answer. And we, I think we've met that test at the study session. We've identified like you mentioned a site and we're going to start the sequel process. And'll just tell you it's over at run on knots property. He's got a master plan and he's going to try to set aside about five acres which is deep five acres out of his 40 acres or whatever and it's going to be somewhere in there. And we think master planning is the best approach because as you know there's a lot of physical constraints, floods, earthquake faults, things like that. Under this requirement of a minimum of 20 and an optimal maximum of 30 units per acre, do they have bonus densities on top of that? No, this exercise is just looking at five acres, five acres. At 20 to 30 screen area unit per unit per per acre. So this doesn't consider it's not a for we're not we're not promoting affordable housing this is going to be market rate and now is okay with the state they just wanted this another type of opportunity a different housing type. Just hopefully that answers your question. OK. No, but I'll go a little further. Essentially we're saying Boulder East is what they're applying this to. Correct. So being familiar with that portion of our city, it's primarily lower density housing residential kinds of projects. Now we're talking about the state mandating that we spend up to 30 units per acre. To me that's so- Only five acres, just five acres. Only five acres. It does. In this should be dictating to us at all. So that's 15 or 30 times five is a lot of dwelling units going up. Obviously they have to go up to do that. Sure. We don't have the fire protection to mend, even though we have an agreement with Sandman Well to provide a lot of truck and all those things. To me this is so incompatible of what they're requiring for what our city currently is. The state doesn't care, of course. They have all these things that they push through and this whole change that we're talking about is being pushed by the state against the majority of cities, but they have the power, If you don't agree, they can't steal your housing element, which then really eliminates all development from occurring into the city again. Basically, they would put a moratorium on all buildings. So really, they've got the gun pointed out here with six bullets, not just one, six bullets saying, if you don't comply what they're saying here, we won't allow you to develop, or we'll take over development in your city. So it's, I mean, I know I'm in my soapbox, but it's just so unfair. And so to me, in the hour, what the state of California is doing to the housing within cities and how they manage their own cities. That's all. That's all I have to say. And for the record, John, just, there's no, we're not developing. This is just a planning exercise. I understand that. But if there's there's no one in the audience, that people will take that will take advantage of it. Absolutely. If the market's there for that type of housing. Sure. So, sorry, Mayor. No, you know, the problem is, is they've turned their own cities into crop shows and now they want to turn all of our cities into the same thing and dictate to us and then the residents come to us and say you know we don't have enough police we don't have enough fire is because they're piling these homes in and we just can't we don't have the public safety to keep up but they don't care about the public safety you know so in a we Larry I'm sorry. That's all right. Thank you Madam Mayor. John, I agree with you wholeheartedly. They are not property. If we had a fire down there, the send-in world lighter truck would have a long way to go to get there. So, you know, it's definitely an issue that we'll have to deal with. I do disagree with you though on the ordinance. I mean, the 80-year thing. I think we need to go ahead and submit the corrected version if you want to call it that because HCD, I guarantee you, will disapprove it and they've assumed a lot more power I know it. I mean, at SCAG, we had a disagreement with HCD and it didn't resolve itself for many, many months. So I think it's better to go ahead knowing that there's going to disapprove it if we submit it as is. But we don't know that for sure. Yeah. How we do. We do. They will disagree. They will do. They will. It doesn't matter what we submit. That's true. We of something. Historically, that's been proven correct. But I can guarantee you they will disapprove it. Another switching over. Another question, Angela. Could you decode, if you will, for the audience and everybody? I've read the staff for you that is going to be added. So a low barrier navigation center means a housing first, low barrier service enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary shelter. I'll read the definition for you that is going to be added. So a low barrier navigation center means a housing first, low barrier service enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income public benefits health services shelters and housing. A low barrier navigation center may be relocatable, and low barrier means best practices to reduce barriers to entry and may include but is not limited to the following. The presence of partners, so it's saying that these shelters cannot refuse people experience homelessness because they have a presence of a partner. They cannot, if they don't, if they have pets, they can't refuse them. If they have a presence of a partner. They cannot, if they don't, if they have pets, they can't refuse them. If they have storage of possessions and they have to provide privacy such as partitions around beds or in a dormitory setting. So it's really, homeless sheltered used to be able to turn away people for certain reasons. Or, um, so in essence, they're homeless shelters. They're like homeless shelters and they have to be able to take pets and all their storage that the homeless springs with them. And should they have a partner or a family? And they could be mobile. Correct. Kind of reminds, we have the days when we wanted to put the people in the neighborhoods that had these facilities, six units or less, that the group homes. and that we'd put them in our neighborhoods, hoping they would kind of assimilate to the neighborhoods or it wasn't so bad and look where that got us. So I'm curious how our local legislators fill about this and put them in their communities that they represent. It's grossly negligent, I believe. But thanks for your feedback. Any other comments or questions? And is this correct? Just clear up for second Larry saying, and I understand the point of sending this proposed ordinance on AUs to HCD at this point for an evaluation before we adopt. As I read the staff report, there were some timelines that we had to adopt this by. And if we send it to HCD, they're going to say, well, you're out of compliance. Where do we get the The reason I said we should move forward, because there's a short time frame for us to get this adopted. If we don't, we don't have an approved plan at this point or approved ordinances that it's going to jeopardize there. I could see them hammering it where you don't have an approved ordinance because you don't have whatever. It's kind of a catch 22 thing. So the housing element does set forth time frames by which the city has to implement the programs in the housing element. So I think that's your to your point. There is a time frame for by what the city needed to amend its 80-year ordinance consistent with state laws. So yes, there would be a delay if we sent HCD the ordinance to review in advance. However, pursuant to state law, whichever version of the ordinance is adopted has to be sent to HCD within 60 days for their review. We could adopt some of the amended ordinances and this portion sends separately to them, right? Because they're not all on same ordinance. So we specifically separated the ordinances. Thank you for that. HCD would only be sent the ADU ordinance review and not the entire housing element implementation ordinance. So the ADU ordinance is what we are statutorily required to send to HCD. And so that is what will be sent, whichever version is adopted. I think what Larry, I'm sorry, what the Vice Mayor was, Mayor Patel was saying is that the, we know HCD would disapprove the ordinance if the council doesn't adopt the revised version because they've already commented to another jurisdiction that had a deed restriction and said that's invalid. So you're right. They haven't seen Highlands version, but they have certainly seen other versions in other cities. So there's no urgency for us to adopt the amended stuff to our current ordinances and separate this out and send that independently. So we could have the amended portions approved because there's a lot of them that stand on their own. So there's two separate ordinances before you today. One has seven of the programs that are being adopted, and then there's a separate ADU ordinance, which is also within the housing element. What was provided to you tonight for consideration is an amended version of the ADU ordinance. On number three. So that one, you can choose to adopt that version that strikes out the deed restriction requirement or you could choose to adopt the version that was initially in your packet that has the deed restriction. But whichever version is adopted gets sent to HCD. So really we're only adopting one ordinance today, which applies to the AU stuff, and not all the other things are amended out. How ordinance? Because all these others are amendments to existing ordinance. Should we adopt those separately? Yes, we should take an separate motion on both. Yes, one separate. Okay. So,, they went everyone to have a homeless shelter in their backyard as a ADU. Because first, they didn't want us to have parking. They gave us parking. Then they took it away. Now there's no step back. So you guys understand this is what's coming to our cities thanks to the state and our legislators. So. Storing us, we have no choice. Yeah, yeah, so well they do, they extort us. And so let's just take item number one, if there's no money. I'm sorry. Just a point of clarification, you provided us a revised ordinance for the AUs. Does that address the process that's being addressed by the HCD? If we approve this one and consider what's in our packet, you know, packet, do you feel this would go through and get approved? That is the hope I can't, you know, Oh, there's no guess. I'm sure you're not seeing what HCD is going to say, but how they're going to interpret other provisions of ADU law. But yes, this one of men's or changes the ordinance so that it eliminates the deed restriction. So that's the version that was distributed today. So I know you, I'm asking you for a crystal ball, but if we adopt what you proposed and I haven't read it so I assume it's all just fine. We adopted and adopted the other portion also. Then we would now send this to the HCD as approved by the City Council and then they would review it. Yes, so the ordinance, I didn't just, what was just distributed today, wasn't just those specific changes. It's the ADU ordinance as a whole with the changes made to eliminate the deed restrictions. So that is the version of the ordinance. If that is the council's pleasure, that would then be sent to HCD. And that's the third one. That is on item, yeah, it's, yes. Yeah, okay. Okay, so we'll take these, I'm sorry, Larry. Go ahead. Thank you Madam Mayor. I just want to clarify something. Even though we don't have the deed restriction on the ADU, our, we still have the inner the the provision against the short term rentals is still in the ordinance and the city could still enforce it. So it won't be a deed restriction but we still will be enforcing it through other means. Right. If there was a complaint that people saw, you know, people coming in and out from that home and it looked like it was short term. But the deed restriction on the JADUs is still in there and still appropriate. Correct. So the JADU, their under state law, the city is expressly allowed to put a deed restriction on the J still in the ordinance. Correct. I just wanted to clarify that. Okay. Thank you. Again, any more discussion? It sounds like a no-brainer to me. We can adopt both ordinances, which would include be this one, not the one that's in the presentation. At least move this off our desks, staff can then forward it to the appropriate agencies and start the approval process. Well, let's take a vote and figure it out. So at this time, I'll close the public hearing. And I'll move for a vote and we'll take them one one at a time item 21, number one, adopt a notice of exemption and instruct staff to file a notice of exemption with county clerk of the board. So that would be an action that would go with both two or three. So I think we should take action on two. So I'll take action on to introduce and conduct the first reading of ordinance number ordinance to amend chapter for the the various land used of the Highland Municipal Court for the implementation of the 6,000 element programs mandatory state legislation and correct municipal court, ambiguous and inconsistency. So do we have a motion on that one? We have a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. We'll pass that one. and then introduce and conduct the first reading of the ordinance to amend the section for the Highland Municipal Code to implement program 12 of the six-size-six cycle housing element and ensure consistency and Recent state housing legislation including AB 671, AB 1332, AB 976, and AB 1033. The proposed amendment promotes the development of ADUs as it means to increase affordable housing opportunities and ensure the city's regulations remain compliant with state law. And this is the one that's proposed. We'll take a vote on this current proposed one. Well, I was a motion that we include the city attorney's revision. Well, that's fine. We'll come back to that. We're going to take one in case somebody doesn't want to support this action. Then we'll come to that one. Is that correct? That would be it, however you can want to. So I'm just seeing if we have any support on number three, does anyone want to make a motion on this one and if it dies, it dies, but I'm gonna support this one. I'm making a motion on this one. So just to make sure the record is clear, when you're saying this one, you're saying the version of the 80 ordinance that was included in the agenda package that does not include the revision striking out the deed restriction. That is correct. So not here in a second, I'll propose the one that is the amendment that strikes the deed restriction, the one the attorney provided to us. Second. That was an emotion. Well, move it. Okay. With the revised, as the attorney presented here. Thank you. Larry McCownowne motioned and John Timmer's second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Okay. Go ahead and read the ordinances, Penny. Thank you. Ordinance number 470, it's a pretty lengthy title. In the ordinance of the City Council of the City of Highland, California, amending Title V, business licenses and regulations. Title VIII, Health and Safety, and Title 16, Land Use and Development Code of the Highland Municipal Code to update definitions, amend, height standards, revise, design review processes, update regulations for non-conforming parcels, uses and structures, update provisions for accessory structures, dwelling units and accessory dwelling units, and then business park building height standards, modified development density requirements, and established single room occupancy housing standards. And one, add lower barrier navigation centers as permanent uses in the mixed use MU zone, and then the plan development PD zone. Number 2, single room occupancies as a conditionally permanent use in the AEQ, R1, R2, R3, HDS, conditionally permanent use, I'm sorry, HDS and VR zones, 3 residential care facilities serving six or fewer as a permanent use in the AEQ, R1, VR and EHV. Viewer as permanent use in, I'm sorry, zone, it's permanent selling thing. With the staff review permit in R2 and R2C zones, four residential care facilities serving seven or more as it permitted use in the EHV zone and conditionally permitted use in the A, EQ, R1, VR and R2C zones. Five unlicensed group homes as it permitted use in the A, EQ, R1, VR and EHV zones. And as permanent use with a staff review permit in the R2C and R2 zones. And six childcare facility serving 14 or fewer children, as a permanent use in all residential zones. And making a finding of exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act, municipal code amendment MCA 24001. And lastly, ordinance number 471. In ordinance of the City Council of the City of Highland, California, amending section 16.44.190. Accessory dwelling units of Title 16, land use and development code of the Highland Municipal Code to update requirements and accordance with state law and make a finding of exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Municipal Code Amendment MCA-24001. Sorry about that. Thank you. Go ahead. Go ahead. That was you. OK. Madam Chair, if I might comment, we might as well just give up our pretty much. Total land use authority of the state. Yeah, because they're gonna destroy the city's one piece at a time, absolutely. So here's another piece. Anyway, welcome to California. I will move on to our legislative portion, item 22, the First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement between Carlos Simano and the City of Highland. Recommendation that the City Council authorize the mayor to execute the First Amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement between Carlos the mono and the city of island So honorable mayor if I may I am required to public report on this item and essentially walk through what is being proposed in the amendment so the agreement Provides that the annual salary for city manager will be 252,310 effective March 12, 2025. The city manager will continue to receive bilingual pay, which is 5% of the current salary, which amounts to an additional 1051.29 per month or 12,615, 50 annually. However, if the City Council approves revisions to the bilingual pay structure, which is potentially going to be proposed as part of the revised, rather new budget, and if that changes made changes made across the the board then that would also apply to the city manager in which case the base salary would be $200,000,000,000,560, and bilingual pay would be $280 per month rather than 5% of his salary. With the addition of the bilingual pay the the annual salary would be the same amount of 264 and 920. The City Manager would be provided with the same cost of living investment as any other city employee, vehicle allowance of 800 per month. The City Manager would be provided with a combined contribution to the ICMA deferred compensation plan, which is for every $2 of voluntary contributions made the city will attribute a dollar up to the maximum allowed of the limit. Which in 2025 was $31,000. The city manager would be able to keep the same benefits for life insurance per retirement in the cafeteria, and keep any accrued leaf balances. The agreement is also being revised to delete the provision that the city mayor can have a one-time opportunity to buy back 100 hours of accrued vacation leaf because that already happens. So it's no longer on the tape. So that is what is being proposed in this First Amendment for consideration by the Council. Appreciate that. We have a motion by Larry McClellan. I second. And a second by Jimmy Saldana. Others in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none. Thank you. Okay City Manager's report comments. Thank you Mayor. I have a few updates here for the council. The Highland Police Department for the month of April received 3253 calls made 343 reports, 139 arrests, 257 citations, 243 traffic enforcement stops, 60 traffic which which included hidden runs, five-toed vehicles and 30 transient related calls. Highland, the fire department for the month of April responded to 613 calls for service, some of which included 475 medical aids, 32 traffic collisions, 15 structure fires, 26 other fires, eight vehicle fires and three rescues. I'm pleased to announce that a laundromatial is received a prestigious designation certified municipal clerk, CMC credentials, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks grants the CMC designation only to municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements and have a record of significant contributions to their local government community and state. Good job, congratulations. We already knew you were really good. We're very proud of Alandra. Next, a few statistics from administrative services department for the month of April 54 business license applications were received 443 business license renewed or businesses renew their licenses 74 new dog licenses were issued to residents 53 yard sale permits were issued 198 accounts payable checks were issued on Monday the city formally kicked off our non-enterprise ERP software implementation, which will take approximately two years to complete. The system is designed to manage the core functions like financials, human resources, payroll accounts receivable, and payable as well as project accounting for planning and engineering projects. So this is going to be a very good tool for us to have. The city is currently recruiting an assistant public work director in Mainland Superintendent, senior maintenance worker in the public works department. So if anybody knows somebody who might be interested in joining our team, we encourage them to apply on our city website. Public Works has one project construction update. That's the 9th Street sidewalk project. It's scheduled to begin construction this month. It will construct new curves, gutter sidewalks, driveways and a bike lane on the south side of 9th Street between Victorian about 150 feet west of Valeria Drive. This project will complete the last remaining sidewalk and bike lane gaps along 9th Street within Highland. The only Remain in segment missing sidewalk is the southeast corner of 9th Street and Del Rosa Drive. And that's because this is within the City of San Bernardino's jurisdiction. Volunteers public services as the following three upcoming events. The first one is the Highland improvement team will be doing a cleanup on Saturday, May the 17th from 8 to 12 PM. The next blood drive will be held on Monday and we know who will be there. We'll be May the 19th from 12 to 5 PM at the Highland Police Department. On Saturday, June 7th from 9 to 2 PM is an open house at Fire Station number 2. For the month of April, Bertik completed 219 illegal dumping work orders, and then finally the commuting development department has four updates. The first one is on May the 16th, the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit and design review application for the expansion of the Inland Empire Indonesian 7th., the Adventist Church located at 7480 Sterling Avenue across from one spring's elementary school. The expansion includes construction of a 10,000 square foot multi-purpose building, additional parking, landscaping, and new block walls along the property lines. Conditions were added and modified during the hearing to fully address neighbors concerns Just a firmly reminder the community trails committee is finalizing the city's annual trails the event on Saturday June the 7th at 8 a.m This year the event will be staged at the mediterror community park and attendees will be given access to the existing trails going Easter they enter are not archers the archers are. The archers are between Mediterra, residential community, and the historic Iron Bridge and Green Spot Road. Tenders will be informed about the future trails that will connect Mediterra to the historic Iron Bridge and beyond. Trade partners located at the developer of the Green Spot crossings at the northeast corner of Green Spot. Andeyra 210 is making progress on the state and federal take permit, take permit related to the endangered San Bernardino kangaroo red associated with a northerly 8.6 acres in title for for multipurpose housing staff anticipates the SBK are take permit to be completed by October. to allow to allow the flood control district to commence stockpile and rock removal and double escrow can close by January 27th of 2026. And just one final note here that Corkeys will be having their ribbon cutting event tomorrow at 11 a.m. That concludes my report. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Lots of good stuff. Okay. John? On baseline, I see a Greek wash. A baseline on a city-creek wash. They've been doing some heavy digging in the road bed for several weeks now. Is that a utility that's going in and what's going on? Yes, so we've been coordinating an Octavia can confirm my response here, but we've been coordinating with utility companies to do their relocations or work associated with a bridge project that's gonna construct a brand new 600 foot long bridge. So I believe this effort is related to those efforts. I figured but yes a lot of people have asked questions what's going on and Yes, I just blank look on my face. So that is what the utility companies are doing. Thank you for your inquiry Great. Thank you Okay Comments from council members Do you have any comments to me? Thank you mayor I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who came out tonight I also like to give some recognition to our public's works team especially with national public's works week coming up They're behind the scenes work keeps the city running smoothly and I think they deserve some recognition for that I also want to say that I had the chance to attend the 2025 City County Conference last week. As a new council member, it was a great networking experience to help me gain insight and ideas to better serve our city. And that's it for me, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. I'm glad you got to attend that. And how was the keynote speech? He was great. Very inspirational, just like you said. I always find those keynote speakers to be very good and one way with a lot. It really was and I got a chance to meet our county DA, Jason Anderson. And yeah, that was very informative. Good guy. Very good guy. Yeah, thank you. Gregory. No comment. OK. John? I've said enough tonight. No comment. Okay. Larry. Thank you. I just want to thank East Valley Water District for the tour of the, that they gave us and it's an amazing facility. They were generating all the electricity to run the place and maybe they'll have some excess someday that they'll sell off and make some profit on it. I also, since you weren't available out of town for the grocery outlet ribbon cutting, I filled in for you. John was there. I was amazed at all of the people that came out to the grocery outlet. It was just packed. The traffic was a lot. I've always been concerned about the parking for that facility. It was very dense during the opening, but I went back several days later and during normal operations, the parking appears to be okay. So that I enjoyed the ribbon cutting and appreciated that they came into our city. And I was glad to see all of the people that came out because it's So, a text generator for us. That's right. Great. Thank you. So, I'm excited tomorrow they're doing, even though Corquise is open, we're doing the ribbon cutting, but our city has been hard at work in thanks to the extra work from the staffer. I mean, this past year, we've done, you've done, the city's cities done amazing things with the opening of the Costco the tractor supply two weeks ago. The grocery warehouse and the corkies and just it just keeps getting better so I just want to reach out and say things to all the staff I know that when we have one big thing come up but we've just had one after another after another and it's great news for the city and the residents and the taxpayers so that I want to say thank you. I wanted to ask is ours is that side by side has that been delivered to the police department yet the side by side It has and do we use it? We use it for operations. Yeah, we're okay. If you're asking about with the not necessarily okay, I just haven't seen it and I live relatively close. So usually I kind of see everything not that I'm no Zerozio there, but I can't help it. But I didn't know if it was there. I'm excited to see it. So anyway, and I think that's all I have. And Phil, I wanted to say thank you. Thanks for giving the council another tour over there and showing them all the great things that you guys have done over there at East Valley Water. So I have a couple of announcements. And if I can ask a lauder to put on for our next meeting and close in memory of, I'll do it today if we can do a certificate for Charles Roberts. He was our former editor for the Highland Communion News past away on Saturday. So very sad. He was a pillar in the community. And he was a good man. He did a lot of great things for our city. Our condolences to the families of Mike McGinnis. He was an American Legion member who served in the US Air Force in the Vietnam War. And then Shirley Curry, I always call her squarely Shirley. Great lady, she was over at the senior centers up until last week, I was surprised to hear this. And she was an American Legion member, she was proud US Marine and she would tell you every time you talk to her, she was very proud of that, who served her country during the Korean War and she worked at Norton Air Force Base. That's where she worked and retired from. So anyway, we're closing in memory of them and I believe that's all I have and so we're gonna go ahead and adjourn. Thank you. And we have a housing authority.