Jan 20, 2026 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCILMEMBER DAYHOFF HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR MAYEDA HERE. MAYOR VOHS HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR. MAYOR, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

AND NOW, IF YOU'D PLEASE JOIN US FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

THANK YOU. FIRST UP IS PUBLIC COMMENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, AN ITEM NOT

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THANK YOU. TONY RUBINO. GOOD EVENING. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO STOP BY AND SAY THANKS FROM, FROM ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND THE STAFF FOR DOING A HECK OF A JOB ON SNOW DAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IT WAS WINDY AS COULD BE. I SPENT THE DAY HOLDING OUR POP UP TENT FROM BLOWING OFF SOMEWHERE, BUT I THINK WE PROBABLY PASSED OUT ABOUT 225 WRISTBANDS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES. IT INCLUDES THE FAMILIES AND THE PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN. BUT WE EVERY YEAR WE GET COMPLIMENTS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THAT COME FROM CARLSBAD, OCEANSIDE, DEL MAR, AND THEY SAY, WE SURE WISH OUR CITY HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO THANKS AGAIN. CARRIE SANCHEZ DID A SUPER JOB WITH ALL OF HER STAFF.

THANKS SO MUCH. THANKS, TONY. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS. I DEPUTY MAYOR MAIDA I AND MAYOR VOSS I. ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU. MOVING

[4. Public Hearing for Proposed Five-Year Water, Recycled Water, and Wastewater Rates]

[00:05:02]

THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE FINANCE WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425. THAT WAS A VERY IN-DEPTH PROCESS INVOLVING EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO UPDATE THIS PLAN. WHAT THAT DOES IS IT BENEFITS RATEPAYERS SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FORM OF SPLITTING OUT COSTS FOR CENTRAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS. AMONGST ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS. AND TONIGHT THAT'S APPLICABLE TO WATER AND SEWER AND RECYCLED WATER SERVICES. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A WATER DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, PAYING FOR ALL OF A FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND IT STAFF, CITY COUNCIL AND SO ON, THEY'RE PAYING FOR PROPORTIONAL SHARE. SO THEY BENEFIT IN THAT WAY. SO THIS WAS CALLED OUT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET TO UTILIZE THE RESULTS OF THE UPDATE FOR THE COST ALLOCATION PLAN. IN THIS COST OF SERVICE STUDY. THE RESULTS OF THAT INCLUDE A DE MINIMIS IMPACT TO THE WATER ENTERPRISE, MEANING NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE FROM OUR CURRENT PRACTICE, AND IT DID RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN COST IN THE SEWER ENTERPRISE, WHICH YOU'LL SEE REFLECTED IN THE RATE RECOMMENDATIONS HERE SHORTLY. AND ONE LAST NOTE WE DID PUBLISH THE COMPLETED COST ALLOCATION PLAN UPDATE ON THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE OR WEB PAGE. EXCUSE ME, ALONG WITH AN ACCOMPANYING MEMO, JUST KIND OF GIVING A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF HOW TO GO THROUGH THAT 100 PLUS PAGE DOCUMENT. SO PASS THROUGH PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED UNDER THE THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SINCE 2009. WHAT THAT ALLOWS IS FOR THE AUTOMATIC PASS THROUGH OF WHOLESALE COSTS OUTSIDE OF AN AGENCY'S CONTROL, WITH 30 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS AS SHOWN. THAT'S THE BEST PRACTICE UTILIZED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF WATER PROVIDERS HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT NOT CURRENTLY POWAY.

HOWEVER, WE ARE INCLUDING THAT IN THIS RECOMMENDED FIVE YEAR RATE STRUCTURE GOING THROUGH YOUR CALENDAR YEAR 2030. WHAT THAT WOULD INCLUDE IS WHOLESALE WATER PURCHASE COSTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF POWAY'S CONTROL FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY, WHOLESALE RECYCLED WATER PURCHASE COSTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF POWAY'S CONTROL FROM THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, AND WHOLESALE WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL COSTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF POWAY'S CONTROL FROM SAN DIEGO METRO JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY. AND THERE IS A REVISION TO THE THE VOLUMETRIC WATER RATE STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. AND THAT'S TIED TO SOME RECENT COURT RULINGS, INCLUDING HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WHICH HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED THE LEGAL VIABILITY OF OUR CURRENT AND WHAT MANY AGENCIES UTILIZE, WHICH IS A TIERED VOLUMETRIC WATER RATE.

AGAIN, SO WHAT THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING IS SHIFTING GEARS FROM THAT UNIFORM WATER RATE STRUCTURE INTO A MORE EQUITABLE AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE UNIFORM VOLUMETRIC RATE ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT WE ALSO AFFIRM THAT OUR CURRENT TIERED STRUCTURE FOLLOWS ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE STATE. PROPOSITION 218 COST OF SERVICE PRINCIPLES AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. SO LOOKING AT

[00:10:04]

THE RESULT OF THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY PROCESS IN YEAR ONE FOR POWAY IS A 0% ADJUSTMENT FOR YEAR ONE, 2026 AND YEAR 0% IN 2027. SO YEAR TWO AND THEN 3% ADJUSTMENTS FOR YEARS THREE THROUGH FIVE. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BRIEFLY AGAIN THAT WHILE THERE IS A 0% ADJUSTMENT FOR YEAR ONE BECAUSE OF THOSE COST OF SERVICE STUDY PROVISIONS IN, WHEN YOU REALIGN THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICE WITH THE RATES, IT ACTUALLY RESULTS IN A NET DECREASE TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF ABOUT 2%, WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE TO COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS BY A LIKE AMOUNT. ALL RIGHT. IN REFLECTED HERE ON THIS, THIS SLIDE IS THE COMBINED HOUSEHOLD IMPACT UNDER DIFFERENT USAGE VOLUMES IN EACH OF THOSE COLUMNS THERE. SO THE THE CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE OF TIERED RATES WAS INDUSTRY STANDARD, WHICH HELPED MEET STATE MANDATES FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS. AS MENTIONED, THERE WAS COURT RULINGS THAT WENT AWAY WITH THE CONSERVATION APPROACH AND IS STEERING AGENCIES TOWARDS A UNIFORM RATE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT POWAY IS DOING. SHOWN HERE IS IN THE SECOND COLUMN. SO KIND OF ONE OVER FROM THE LEFT, SECOND ONE OVER IS THE AVERAGE POWAY CUSTOMER, WHICH USES 29 UNITS OF WATER OVER A BI MONTHLY BILLING PERIOD, WHICH RESULTS IN AN INCREASED COST IMPACT OF 9.6% UNDER THE RECOMMENDED RATES. SO THAT'S THE COMBINED WATER AND SEWER BILL UNDER THOSE UNDER THOSE USAGE VOLUMES IN EACH ONE OF THOSE COLUMNS. SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES. SO CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS PRETTY CLOSE TO US, WANTED TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEIR COSTS WOULD BE UNDER THAT SAME SCENARIO, THAT 29 UNITS.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY SURPRISED BY THIS. THEIR TOTAL BILL WOULD BE $512.83. SO JUST ABOUT A DOLLAR MORE THAN THE PROPOSED RATES FOR CITY OF POWAY. WHAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE IS PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS IN OUTYEARS FOR CITY OF SAN DIEGO AS WELL. SO THAT ANALYSIS WILL PROBABLY CHANGE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. ALL RIGHT. SO LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE, WE'RE

[00:15:02]

AND THEN STAFF RECOMMENDS OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH ALREADY TOOK PLACE, HEARING ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ACCEPTING ALL WRITTEN PROTEST PROVIDED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDING THEM TO THE THE PROTEST WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE. THERE'S ALSO A NEW CATEGORY OF OBJECTIONS, WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IF THERE WERE ANY AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY. UPON CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, STAFF RECOMMENDS ADOPTING ADOPTING THE RESOLUTIONS IF A MAJORITY PROTEST DOES NOT EXIST AND A MAJORITY PROTEST WOULD EXIST.

IF 50% PLUS ONE OF THOSE CUSTOMERS DID FILE A VALID WRITTEN PROTEST, WHICH WOULD BE 7973 ACTIVE ACCOUNTS. SO THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S PRESENTATION. WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CRAIG I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS JIM BUNNER. HOW MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS WAS THAT? 7900. A WRITTEN PROTEST, 50% PLUS ONE WOULD BE 7973. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY HAVE BEEN TURNED IN? I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE. OKAY, GOOD. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS, AND I WISH THERE WERE A BIGGER CROWD. BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE WHERE THIS VOTE WILL GO ANYWAYS, SO THEY DIDN'T BOTHER, BUT I WILL.

HE SPOKE ABOUT CONSERVATION AND MANY OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, TOOK OUT MY ENTIRE LAWN ALL THE WAY AROUND MY HOUSE. WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SAVE WATER, CORRECT? OKAY, WE'RE DOING THAT. THE PUBLIC IS DOING THAT NOW. WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY WITH THAT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR US DOING OUR JOB. ON TRYING TO SAVE WATER. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB CHOPPING DOWN TREES FOR DEVELOPMENTS, AND THAT'S PROBABLY SAVING WATER. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE HERE. ONE OTHER POINT ABOUT FAIRNESS IS I HAVE MY OWN HOME, BUT I FEEL SORRY IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THAT FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE MOBILE HOME PARKS DON'T GET A VOTE. SHOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY THEN THEY SHOULD GET A VOTE FOR THIS. BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR. AND IS IT SACRAMENTO'S FAULT THAT THEY DON'T GET A VOTE? I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK WE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO BE COUNTED, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, AND MANY OF THEM ARE SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES, AND THEY DON'T GET A SAY. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. THEY DON'T GET A SAY THAT IS WRONG. AND I THINK IF YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM TO, YOU WOULDN'T GET YOUR LITTLE CUSHY PAT, LITTLE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ANSWER TO THE TO THE EMAILS AND TO THE LETTERS, YOU'D PROBABLY GET A LOT MORE PEOPLE SPEAKING. I KNOW THAT I WROTE TO EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND OF COURSE ONLY ONE WROTE BACK. AND I THINK MOST OF THE PUBLIC CAN REALIZE PROBABLY WHO WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON THAT COUNCIL TO GIVE A DARN ABOUT WRITING BACK TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE I READ A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSES. AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING HERE. WE'VE DONE OUR JOB AS THE AS RESIDENTS HERE.

WE PAY OUR TAXES, WE TRY TO CONSERVE, FIND THE MONEY ELSEWHERE TO PAY FOR THIS, MAYBE IN COMPENSATION PACKAGES. NOT EVERYBODY MAKES $500,000 A YEAR OR OTHER SALARIES THAT CAN PAY THAT. THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T DO IT. THOSE FOLKS THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER SENIORS THAT ARE COUNTING THEIR PENNIES AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY WATER

[00:20:04]

NOW, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE I ACTUALLY THOUGHT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE HERE TONIGHT. BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA NEXT DOOR AND SOME FACEBOOK GROUPS THAT CLAIM TO BE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY OFTEN BLAME THIS COUNCIL FOR EVERY WATER RATE INCREASE. IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. NOW, I'VE SAID THIS IN THE PAST AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN PROP 218 IS EXTREMELY FLAWED. IT'S INEQUITABLE. IT SHOULD BE REFORMED AND AMENDED ON THE CAPITAL STEPS OF SACRAMENTO TO COME IN THE FORM OF A BALLOT. MORE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO CIRCLE A BUBBLE, DROP IT OFF AT A POLLING STATION. THEN, RATHER THAN PRINT THEIR OWN PDF FILE BY A 78 CENT, STAMP AN ENVELOPE AND MAIL IT TO CITY HALL, LET ALONE DRIVE DOWN HERE. NOW THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IF YOU WANT TO ENACT CHANGE AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, COMPLAIN TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. IN THIS CASE, THAT MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION AND THE TWO AUTHORS OF PROP 218 FROM 1996, JON COUPAL AND JACK COHEN. AND I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION'S PHONE NUMBER FOR ITS PRESIDENT, JOHN COUPAL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL HIM AND LEAVE HIM A MESSAGE. IT'S AREA CODE 91644499 50 AND EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS ON HOW IT SHOULD BE AMENDED AND REFORMED TO BE MORE FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO ALL THE RATEPAYERS. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS AND I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. CITY CLERK, DO WE NEED A CONTINUANCE TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF WRITTEN PROTESTS? NO, WE DO NOT. I'LL NOW ASK THE CITY CLERK TO ANNOUNCE THE NUMBER OF WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED. 7974. VALID PROTESTS ARE NEEDED TO CONSTITUTE A MAJORITY PROTEST. 49 PROTESTS WERE RECEIVED AND VERIFIED AS VALID BY TODAY'S 12 NOON DEADLINE. TEN PROTESTS WERE RECEIVED AFTER TODAY'S DEADLINE AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN VERIFIED. 59 TOTAL PROTESTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A MAJORITY PROTEST. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW ASK THE CITY CLERK TO ANNOUNCE THE NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS RECEIVED. ZERO OBJECTIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS. WE'LL START WITH MR. DAYHOFF. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. YOU'RE YOU'VE JUST REMEMBER ALL THOSE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, ON THE FLY OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. THAT'S REALLY AMAZING. I DON'T THINK I COULD DO THAT. I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OTHER NUMBERS WRITTEN DOWN. I ACTUALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S COME OUT TONIGHT. YOU GUYS REALLY REPRESENT, I THINK, THE FOLKS WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEARNING THE WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON, LEARNING THE THE TRUTH ABOUT THINGS, BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND ESPECIALLY TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF COMPLICATED TO REALLY GET THAT WHOLE STORY, BECAUSE YOU REALLY CAN'T GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WATCH THESE VIDEOS EITHER. AND OTHER PLACES LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AREN'T REALLY THERE FOR FACTS. OKAY.

AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OTHER PLACES LIKE THE WASTEWATER JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY, I SIT ON THE BOARD THERE THAT HAS A CHAMBER JUST LIKE THIS, AND WE HAVE THE POLICYMAKERS HERE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT SLIGHTLY MORE POLICYMAKERS, AND IT'S FILLED NOT WITH THE PUBLIC. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S FILLED WITH STAFF MEMBERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THE SAME THING THAT THEY NEED TO SHOW UP HERE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, YOU KNOW, DO

[00:25:01]

AND I THINK WE NEED TO ASK OUR, OUR, OURSELVES SOME PRETTY HARD QUESTIONS AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON THERE. AND SOME OF THE STUFF IS KNOWN AND AND IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME STUFF THAT PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT. THERE'S A POLITICAL COST OR POLITICAL BURDEN, I'M SORRY, THAT'S SHOWING UP ON THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER SIDE, AND IT'S COMING FROM SAN DIEGO CITY ITSELF. AND AND THE REASON IT'S COMING FROM THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY CONTROL THAT BOARD. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT OUR SEAT ON THE BOARD, AND IT'S A WEIGHTED VOTE BASED PRETTY MUCH BASED ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPEND OR HOW MUCH OR HOW MUCH WATER YOU USE. AND SAN DIEGO CONTROLS, LIKE 40% OF, YOU KNOW, THE VOTE THERE. BUT THERE'S THIS POLITICAL BURDEN COMING FROM SAN DIEGO, AND IT'S BEING SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION, INCLUDING US. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. AND AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE BEFORE. AND THE ISSUE IS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS ARE COMING TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM. AND, YOU KNOW, RAINBOW AND FALLBROOK, YOU KNOW, THEY SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL FOR THIS AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THERE. AND THEY THEY DETACHED FROM THE AGENCY A WHILE AGO. AND THAT ACTUALLY REALLY IMPACTED US. BUT THEY'RE ON THE EDGE. THEY'RE THEY'RE ON THE NORTHERN SIDE. THEY CAN LEAVE. THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THEIR WATER, YOU KNOW, EARLIER IN THE PIPE. BUT WE CAN'T. SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. AND I THINK THEY LEFT IN PART BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE GOING WITH PLA PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT CURRENT COURSE THAT THAT WE'RE ALL ON NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO LIKE SOME PRETTY SEVERE DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'RE SAILING, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY INTO WHAT IS A FINANCIAL STORM OF OUR OWN MAKING. AND IT'S I THINK IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO THIS TIDAL WAVE OF COSTS THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET. BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SWAMP US ALL BECAUSE FUNDAMENTALLY, PLAS, THEY REDUCE COMPETITION. THEY GET RID OF MARKET RATE COMPETITION AND RESULT IN WHAT ARE TRUE BACKROOM DEALS. WHAT ARE SINGLE BIDS EFFECTIVELY SINGLE BIDS IN NAME ONLY OR IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, AND THEY RESULT IN MASSIVE COST OVERRUNS.

AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, I TALKED ABOUT WHERE THERE WAS A SINGLE BIDDER CONTRACT. YOU COULDN'T RESCOPE IT. IT WAS FOR A PROJECT. THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, NO, NO OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. IT WAS A $55 MILLION PROJECT ON THE BOOKS. AND THE SINGLE BID CAME IN AT 100 AND 110, $115 MILLION. SO A $60 MILLION BALLPARK OVER OVERAGE ON THAT.

AND THAT WAS THAT'S LIKE ON THE SCALE OF OUR ENTIRE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT

[00:30:03]

AND AS SOON AS THE PLA CAME IN, THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A $35 MILLION OVERAGE. AND THAT'S A 47% INCREASE IN THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT. AND, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER CONTRACT, H YOU KNOW, 176955 THAT WAS A $45 MILLION COMPETITIVELY BID CONTRACT. AND AS SOON AS THE PLA CAME IN, THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A $40 MILLION OVERAGE ON THAT. SO THAT WAS AN 89% INCREASE IN COSTS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. BUT IT'S REALLY JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL THAT THEY MADE, YOU KNOW, AND THE THE POLITICIAN GUY, YOU KNOW, IS, IS, YOU KNOW, I YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW HIM, BUT I THINK HE'S DOING PRETTY WELL. HE'S GOT A, YOU KNOW, A GREAT SMILE, HIS NAME. LET'S SEE IF I GET THIS RIGHT. MAYBE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD OF HIM. HIS NAME IS TODD. REX. GLORIA. AND SO AND SO HE BROUGHT THOSE COSTS ON. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING IT FROM BOTH WAYS BECAUSE OF THAT. BECAUSE WE PAY INTO THE PURE WATER PROGRAM. AND SO WE PAY DIRECT COSTS THAT ARE HIGHER AND THAT PURE. WHEN THE PURE WATER PROGRAM COSTS MORE MONEY, IT RAISES THE COST. SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS PAY FOR THAT WATER.

AND AND THEN THEY USE LESS WATER. AND THAT MEANS OUR PER UNIT WATER RATES GO UP. SO WE PAY MORE, YOU KNOW, ON THE FRONT END AND MORE ON THE BACK END BY THESE THINGS. AND NOW THEY'RE COMING TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. AND OUR GUY ON THE SAN DIEGO ON ON THE BOARD THERE, YOU KNOW, ERIC, THERE IS, IS BASICALLY YELLING AND SCREAMING ABOUT THIS, BUT HE'S JUST ONE VOICE. AND WE'RE A VERY SMALL VOICE ON THAT, ON THAT COUNCIL. AND SO WE NEED MORE VOICES THERE. AND I THINK A LOT OF THE POLICY MAKERS THERE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S COMING. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE. MOST OF THEM. I THINK A FEW OF THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT BUT MOST OF THEM HAVEN'T. AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INSIDIOUS THERE BECAUSE UNLIKE THE PURE WATER PROGRAM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE'S A BUNCH OF CONTRACTS AND NOW THEY'RE SWITCHING OVER TO PLA. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE STRAIGHT PLA AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE REALLY HIGH. AND SO YOU GUYS NOW KNOW THIS. YOU'VE GOT SOME FACTS SOME NEW STUFF.

AND I'M HOPING WHAT WE CAN DO AND THIS IS INCLUDING EVERYBODY HERE IN THIS ROOM WHO'S FROM POWAY AND OUTSIDE OF POWAY. WHAT I'M ASKING EVERYBODY TO DO IS TRY TO LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORKS, YOUR FOLKS WHO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO, FOLKS WHO LIVE IN CARLSBAD, IN VISTA, IN SAN MARCOS, YOU KNOW, SANTEE NATIONAL CITY, YOU KNOW, EL CAJON, WHATEVER IT IS, AND CALL THEM UP AND TELL THEM THEY NEED TO TALK TO THEIR POLICYMAKERS BECAUSE THEIR ELECTED POLICYMAKERS, YOU KNOW, NEED TO KNOW THIS. AND WHO SIT ON THAT BOARD, AND THEY NEED TO TELL THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY THAT IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN REAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO TELL THEM THAT WATER IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WATER IS DIFFERENT, AS JIM IS SAYING HERE, WATER IS, YOU KNOW, AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF LIFE.

IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S OPTIONAL. YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BUY IT. AND IT

[00:35:02]

AND AND THE STAFF THERE, THEY EXECUTE POLICIES. I ON THE WASTEWATER JPA. I RAISE HELL ABOUT SINGLE BITTER CONTRACTS BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT $60 MILLION OVERAGE. I SEE THEM ON OCCASION AND I ASKED SOME REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS. AND I GET AND THEY'RE SOMETIMES THEY'RE REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, SOME STAFF MEMBERS AREN'T AREN'T USED TO THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PROJECT THAT WAS ON THAT SITE THAT CAME ON THAT AFTER, YOU KNOW, I'M RAISING HELL ABOUT THIS AND OTHER THINGS. THE NEXT PROJECT HAD SEVEN BIDS. THEY WERE ALL COMPETITIVE, AND THERE WAS NOT A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT IN SIGHT. SO SO IT WORKS. YOU KNOW, STAFF DOES LISTEN TO POLICYMAKERS BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR JOB. THE JOB OF STAFF IS TO LISTEN TO POLICYMAKERS. THE JOBS OF THE POLICYMAKERS IS TO LISTEN TO VOTERS AND THE JOBS OF THE VOTERS. YOU KNOW, THE JOB OF THE VOTERS IS REALLY TO SPEAK UP AND AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. SO I'M HOPING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU GUYS CAN CAN HELP TAKE SOME ACTION. I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE TRYING TO ASK OTHER FOLKS TO, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, THERE'S A CHANCE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON OUR FUTURE WATER RATES. YOU KNOW, MOVE THE MOVE THE DIAL A LITTLE BIT. SO WITH THAT, I WILL ACTUALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE YOU GOT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT USEFUL OUT OF THIS. AND I WILL MOVE APPROVAL. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER PIKUS. ALL RIGHT. I THINK I'LL START. WELL, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO ASK, PETER, IF WE USE MORE WATER, WOULD WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE IN THE SAN DIEGO WATER BOARD? YES WE WOULD. WE HAVE TO USE A A LOT MORE WATER, THOUGH. JUST KIDDING. OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR CRAIG. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE, BUT IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU SAID THEY PASS THROUGH HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED BACK IN 2024, WHEN YOU WERE GOING TO PASS THROUGH THE INCREASE, OR IS THAT JUST A ONE TIME THING? YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PIKUS. THAT WAS JUST A ONE TIME ADJUSTMENT TO RATES, BECAUSE THOSE WERE FAR AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD FORECASTED IN THE LAST FOUR YEAR RATE STRUCTURE. SO JUST PASSING ON THE ONE YEAR ADJUSTMENT FOR COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY RATES, THAT WENT UP 13.52%, AND WE FORECAST THEM TO ONLY GO UP 6%. SO FROM NOW ON, WE'LL BE DOING THIS EVERY YEAR. THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE PASS THROUGH, IF APPROVED, IT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO PASS THAT THROUGH WITH A 30 DAY NOTICE. CORRECT. NOW, ALSO IN YOUR PRESENTATION, I GUESS I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WHEN I WAS READING THE MATERIALS. IS THAT THE THE 4% INCREASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE 3% FOR THE SEWER DOES NOT INCLUDE CONSUMER CPI ADJUSTMENTS. I THOUGHT IT DID. OR WAS THAT BROKEN OUT SEPARATE? SO THOSE DO INCLUDE ADJUSTMENTS TO ALL THE RATE CLASSIFICATIONS OUTSIDE OF WHOLESALE COST. SO ON THE WATER SIDE THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE PURCHASE WATER COST FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY ON THE RECYCLED WATER. IT WOULD BE THE RECYCLED WATER PURCHASE COST FROM CITY OF SAN DIEGO. AND ON THE SEWER SIDE, THAT WOULD BE FOR THE SEWER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL COSTS FROM METRO JPA. EVERYTHING ELSE BEYOND THAT, THERE'S NOT A CPI INCLUDED IN THERE OR ANYTHING THAT'S ALL FACTORED INTO THE CITY COMPONENT, THE 4% ON THE WATER SIDE OR THE 3% ON THE SEWER SIDE. SO SO I GUESS I SO THE 4% INCLUDES THE CPI FOR THE STUFF THAT THE 4% INCLUDES. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OR IT INCLUDES ALL ADJUSTMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE WHOLESALE COST.

SO YES, EVERY OTHER COST THAT FACTORS INTO THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICE. SO YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCILMEMBER SAID. OTHERWISE OTHER WAYS IT'S 4%. IT WON'T BE 4% PLUS A CPI. THE 4% IS THE 4%. AND THAT'S TO NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OKAY. SO IF THE CPI IS LESS THAN THAT WILL BE LESS OR SOMETHING. AS CRAIG MENTIONED EARLIER, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL REVENUES OR COST SAVINGS ALONG THE WAY AND THERE'S A THERE'S AN ABILITY TO RECOMMEND A LOWER INCREASE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT STAFF WOULD BE DOING. BUT WE CANNOT EXCEED THAT 4% WITHOUT GOING THROUGH AN ENTIRE PROP 218 PROCESS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THESE ALL, IF WE PASS THIS TONIGHT, THIS ALL TAKES EFFECT TOMORROW MORNING. IS THAT BUT YOU KNOW THE BILL COMES OUT EVERY TWO MONTHS. IS IT GOING TO BE PRORATED OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO WHOEVER GETS IN THE BILLING CYCLE. IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE WITH BILLS MAILED AFTER TODAY. SO BEGINNING TOMORROW WITH BILLS MAILED, IT WOULD INCLUDE USAGE OVER THAT PERIOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LET'S SEE. WELL PETER SAID A LOT AND I'M GOING TO CLIP OUT MOST OF MY NOTES HERE. BUT I'M

[00:40:01]

AND APPARENTLY FOR EVERYBODY IS REEVALUATING WATER RATES. AND WE ARE SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK. THEY'RE JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW THE MEDIAN, AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, A DOLLAR LESS THAN SAN DIEGO. SO PER BILLING CYCLE. SO THAT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD. AND. LET'S SEE, OUR COST ALLOCATION SAID THAT THIS IS THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS. SO UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY. AND THIS IS MUCH MUST PASS RULEMAKING HERE. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PASS IT, THE WATER ENTERPRISE CAN'T REALLY CUT COSTS. I MEAN, CRAIG AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD. AND THE ONLY YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, WE EITHER STOP DOING MAINTENANCE OR WE START REDUCING WATER SERVICE OR DEPLETING OUR RESERVES. AND I THINK PETER SHOWED ME A GRAPH OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION THAT CONSIDERED THAT AND THAT THE YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, CRASH LANDING INTO THE, THE X AXIS THERE. SO NOT A GOOD THING. AND IF WE START CUTTING SERVICE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST TURN OFF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 A.M. EVENTUALLY WE'D BE RUNNING AFOUL OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, NOT TO MENTION FINES AND LITIGATIONS FROM ANY ACCIDENTS. SO. SADLY, I KNOW NO ONE'S HAPPY ABOUT THIS INCREASE. I DON'T LIKE PASSING ON INCREASES, BUT WE GOT TO DO IT.

AND SO I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. AND ONE FINAL POINT. NO.

NEVER MIND. NO FINAL POINTS. I'LL STOP THERE. THANKS SO MUCH. AND I ALSO SECOND THAT WE ADOPT THESE MEASURES. THANKS. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR MAEDA. WHILE SOME LEVEL OF INCREASE IS INEVITABLE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS WILL IMPACT OUR LOW VOLUME AND LOW INCOME USERS.

WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, YOU REFLEXIVELY START CUTTING BACK ON EXPENSIVE

[00:45:03]

IT COULD KIND OF SPIRAL US DOWNWARD AND WE'D HAVE SOME FINANCIAL ISSUES. IS THERE ANY MECHANISM OR WE CAN HELP OUT THOSE OF LOWER INCOME OR HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING THESE PAYING THESE WATER BILLS? WOULD BE ALAN, CHRIS OR CRAIG? I MEAN, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, I'M AWARE OF SOME PROGRAMS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON FORCING COLLECTIONS OF WATER BILLS IF PEOPLE CAN'T PAY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE STATE LAWS. I, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER SORT OF CITY PROGRAMS. CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING REAL? ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

JUST PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT ALAN WAS JUST MENTIONING. THERE WOULD BE CONCERNS USING RATE REVENUE TO OFFSET OTHER USERS COSTS. SO YOU COULDN'T USE RATE REVENUE TO SUBSIDIZE ONE CLASS OF USERS VERSUS THE OTHER? THERE WAS RECENTLY A CASE UP IN LA FOR LA DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER, WHERE THERE WAS A FINDING AGAINST THEM DOING EXACTLY THAT. SO I WOULD I WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT DOING THAT. JUST REALLY QUICK. THERE IS THE SAN DIEGO OR SOMETHING WE PAY INTO, WHICH IS A TWO ON ONE PROGRAM WHICH HAS SERVICES FOR COVERING COSTS FOR UTILITIES. I THINK THERE WERE LIKE A HANDFUL OF, I THINK LIKE 1 OR 2 RESIDENTS IN POWAY WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT. SO THE SERVICES ARE THERE. THEY'RE JUST NOT THEY'RE NOT IN PRACTICE ACTUALLY NEEDED IN OUR IN OUR CITY. HEARING NO SECOND FOR THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I DO WONDER IF. WE'RE DOING ENOUGH GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF PROMOTING THE 211 OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD BE THERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE. IT MIGHT HELP BACKFILL SOME OF THE NEED THAT'S THERE. I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN DO BETTER. MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT'S REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE TO RAISE RATES. WE ALL PAY THEM. YOU ALL PAY THEM. I DON'T LIKE HIGH WATER BILLS ANY MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE. BUT WISHING DOESN'T CHANGE THE MATH OR THE REALITIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. AND TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THOSE REALITIES, OUR NEIGHBOR, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, RECENTLY ALREADY APPROVED NEARLY A 30% INCREASE IN WATER RATES, AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER 44% INCREASE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE JUST TO STAY SOLVENT. THAT'S FRIGHTENING. AGAINST THAT BACKDROP, WHAT'S BEFORE US TONIGHT IS MEASURED. IT'S TRANSPARENT, AND IT'S RESPONSIBLE, DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN SAFE, RELIABLE SERVICE, NOT JUST NOW, BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, WHILE AVOIDING THE KIND OF DRAMATIC SPIKES THAT OTHER CITIES ARE NOW FACING. SO WITH MY COMMENTS REFLECTED, HOPEFULLY ON THE 211 THING I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM

[00:50:03]

[5. General Plan Amendment 25-0001 and Zone Change 25-0001: a Request to Change the General Plan Land Use Designation and Zoning Classification of Parcels, or Portions Thereof, to the Open Space-Resource Management or Natural Open Space Zoning Designation at Various Locations Citywide and Determine the Project is Categorically Exempt from CEQA]

GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JASMINE SANCHEZ, ASSISTANT PLANNER HERE ON STAFF THIS EVENING I'M PRESENTING A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONE CHANGE TO UPDATE THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING LAND USE MAP FOR 32 PARCELS, OR PORTIONS OF A PARCEL THAT CURRENTLY HAVE BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR ARE PRESERVED AS OPEN SPACE. THIS ITEM REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE VISION OF THE POWAY SUBAREA HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HCP. IN 1996, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE HCP. IT IS A LONG TERM PLAN DESIGNED TO PRESERVE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES, AS WELL AS THEIR HABITATS. IT COVERS ABOUT 13,000 ACRES, WHICH IS MORE THAN HALF. THE CITY REQUIRES THAT LAND UNDER A BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE BCE, BE REZONED AS OPEN SPACE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS OSM, TO REFLECT ITS PERMANENT PRESERVATION STATUS. THE 32 PARCELS IDENTIFIED IN THE AGENDA REPORT ARE ALL LOCATED WITHIN THE HCP BOUNDARIES. WITH THIS ACTION, MORE THAN 311 ACRES WOULD BE REZONED FOR PERMANENT PRESERVATION. WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER DEVELOPS LAND WITHIN THE HCP AREA, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MITIGATE ANY LOSS OF NATURAL HABITAT CAUSED BY THAT DEVELOPMENT. IN MOST CASES, THIS IS DONE BY PERMANENTLY PRESERVING A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY AS OPEN SPACE THROUGH A BCE. A BCE ENSURES THAT THE PROTECTED LAND WILL REMAIN UNDEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE. FOR 25 OF THESE 32 PARCELS, ONLY THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY UNDER A BCE WILL BE REZONED TO OSM. AS SHOWN IN THE EXAMPLE ABOVE, YOU CAN SEE INDIVIDUAL HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME IS A GREEN HATCHED AREA SHOWING THE PREVIOUSLY DEDICATED BCE. ONLY THIS GREEN AREA IS PROPOSED TO BE REZONED, AND THE REMAINING PORTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE ZONED RESIDENTIAL. THE PROPOSED REZONE WILL NOT AFFECT THE OWNER'S EXISTING PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. THE REMAINING SEVEN PARCELS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE CITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVATION.

HABITAT. IN LIEU FEES HAVE BEEN USED TO FUND ALL OR A PORTION OF THESE PARCELS. ABOUT 205 ACRES WILL BE REZONED TO OSM FOR PERMANENT PRESERVATION. IN THE EXAMPLE SHOWN ABOVE, ABOUT 165 ACRES OF LAND ON VAN DAM PEAK AND ABOUT 39 ACRES OF LAND ON TWIN PEAKS WILL BE REZONED AND REMAIN AS OPEN SPACE IN ITS NATURAL CONDITION. THE PARCELS TO BE REZONED ARE OUTLINED IN RED. THE BCE AND PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE CITY HAVE ESTABLISHED A LARGE CONTIGUOUS OPEN SPACE AREA. THIS REFLECTS THE CITY'S SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN BUILDING THE PRESERVE AND ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE HCP. THIS ITEM WAS DULY NOTICED AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE POWYS NEWS CHIEFTAIN ON JANUARY 8TH, 2026. A NOTICE WAS ALSO MAILED OUT TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS WITHIN 500FT OF THE 32 PARCELS BEING REZONED. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING.

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING. FIND THAT THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM SEQUA APPROVED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 25 0001 AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE FOR ZONE CHANGE 25 0001 FOR FIRST READING. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION

[00:55:07]

YEAH. YEAH I WOULD SAY SHORT ANSWER IS LIKELY. YES. AND ALL OF THESE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ARE ALREADY RESTRICTED BY EASEMENTS. SO I MEAN AS A AS A FUNCTIONAL MATTER, THEY CAN'T REALLY BE DEVELOPED REGARDLESS. BUT BUT YES OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. I THOUGHT AS MUCH I GUESS MORE OF A TRIVIA THING BECAUSE APPARENTLY THAT DOESN'T MATTER. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THESE BEING DONE AT ONCE. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME ANYTHING IS BROUGHT BEFORE COUNCIL, IT TAKES A REASONABLE CHUNK OF RESOURCES AND STAFF TIME AND MONEY. AND SO BY DOING THESE ALL IN A BLOCK, I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO TO SAVE MONEY AND IMPROVE COST EFFICIENCY. SO I BELIEVE I WILL. AM I THE SECOND TO APPROVE THIS? THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAYOR, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DORFF TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND MAKE THE DETERMINATION. THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT SEQUA AS A CLASS EIGHT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 15308 OF THE SCL GUIDELINES. THIS PROJECT ALSO QUALIFIES UNDER THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION SET FORTH IN CEQA GUIDELINES 1506 ONE B3, BECAUSE IT CAN BE SEEN WITH CERTAINTY THAT IT HAS NO POSSIBILITY OF RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY. WAIVE FURTHER READING AND SCHEDULE THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN. MOTION BY THE MAYOR, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DAYHOFF. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE TITLE THE ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FOLLOW THE ROLL CALL? VOTE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA. CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES TO OPEN SPACE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OS OR NATURAL OPEN SPACE OS, Z 25 0001 COUNCIL MEMBER DAYHOFF.

AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PICUS I. DEPUTY MAYOR MAEDA I AND MAYOR VOSS I. ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU.

[COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS]

[01:00:05]

DEPUTY MAYOR RADER. LAST WEEK WE HAD THE ANNUAL BREAKFAST FOR OUR SENIOR VOLUNTEER PATROL IN POWAY, AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT EVERY YEAR AND SOME STUNNING STATS OUT OF THAT BREAKFAST.

OUR SENIOR VOLUNTEER PATROL LAST YEAR CONDUCTED 9546 PATROLS. 48,000. LET ME GET THIS RIGHT, COVERING A TOTAL OF 48,000 MILES. THEY DID 3672 VACATION CHECKS AND 6067 SECURITY CHECKS AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP. THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO THE CITY. THESE VOLUNTEERS, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AUGMENTING THE WORK OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND HELPING WITH FIRE SITUATIONS, TOO. WE ARE IN THEIR DEBT. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM AND APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO HAVE BREAKFAST WITH THEM. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. CHRIS ALLEN NOTHING FOR ME. WE WILL STAND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.