Apr 07, 2026 City Council

MR. PIEKOS MIGHT WANT TO JOIN US UP HERE AT 7:00.

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:11]

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER DAYHOFF.

THE RECORD WILL INDICATE ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS HERE.

DEPUTY MAYOR MAIDA HERE AND MAYOR VOSS HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR.

MAYOR, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

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

THANK YOU. FIRST UP ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISCUSS OR TAKE ACTION ON ANY ISSUE NOT INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA.

YOU MAY SPEAK UP TO THREE MINUTES. SPEAKERS HAVE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS. FIRST UP, DOCTOR BETSY BUSCH, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOCTOR BETSY BUSCH, 17046 GOODEVE DRIVE AT THE FARM IN POWAY.

I'M AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN SPECIALIST ON THE BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND I WANT TO SPEAK THIS EVENING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH RISKS OF DAILY EXPOSURE TO THE NOISE FROM PICKLEBALL COURTS.

LET ME SAY THREE THINGS. FIRST, THE UNIQUE NOISE FROM PICKLEBALL IS MORE NOXIOUS AND MORE DETRIMENTAL TO HUMAN HEALTH THAN THE COMPARABLE NOISE FROM A TENNIS COURT OR FROM TRAFFIC.

OH, EXCUSE ME. PARDON MY WAVING AROUND FROM TRAFFIC NOISE.

SECOND, CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO REPETITIVE IMPULSE NOISE CAUSES HARM TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT SETS OFF OUR FIGHT OR FLIGHT STRESS RESPONSE, AND WITHIN AN HOUR, IT INCREASES YOUR CORTISOL LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS THAT CAN LEAD TO BEHAVIOR YOUR PROBLEMS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, EVEN SUICIDE IN ADULTS.

IT ALSO CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASED INCIDENCE OF DIABETES, HEART ATTACKS, AND STROKE.

AND THIRD, AS THE HANDOUT I GAVE YOU ILLUSTRATES, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR PICKLEBALL COURTS REPORT SIGNIFICANT MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE PARCEL OF LAND AT THE FARM ON WHICH ANY FITNESS CLUB WITH PICKLEBALL COURTS WOULD BE BUILT, IS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR QUIET COMMUNITY. POWAY RESIDENTS TREASURE HEARING THE MELODIC SOUNDS OF BIRDS DURING QUIET WALKS ON THE PUBLIC PATHS AT THE FARM, BUT INSTEAD, WITH 16 OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS OPERATING 12 HOURS A DAY, A NEARBY RESIDENT COULD BE EXPOSED TO THE SOUND OF WELL OVER 150,000 POPS OF A HARD PICKLEBALL AGAINST A PADDLE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT EXPOSES OUR NEIGHBORS TO NEEDLESS HEALTH RISKS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF EXERCISE AND I'M IN FAVOR OF HAVING FUN.

I WELCOME A CLUB ON THE FARM. ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION MIGHT BE TO COMPLETELY ENCLOSE THOSE PICKLEBALL COURTS IN A BUILDING THAT CONTROLS THE NOXIOUS SOUND. BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SAFEGUARD THE COMMUNITY'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

AND LASTLY, PRIOR TO ANY SUBMISSION TO AN APPLICANT OF AN APPLICATION TO THE CITY, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT RESIDENTS OF THE FARM AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD BE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO ALL INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS THAT ANY CITY EMPLOYEE HAS WITH THE DEVELOPER ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SO WE CAN HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT WILL BE BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I THANK YOU. AND OUR NEXT AND FINAL SPEAKER IS SPEAKERS FOR SPRING.

IT.

[00:05:09]

YOUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE.

THAT BEGINS WITH REQUIRING UPDATED SITE SPECIFIC NOISE STUDIES, STUDIES THAT REFLECT NOT ONLY THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PROPOSED PICKLEBALL COURTS, BUT THE ACTUAL TOPOGRAPHY OF THE FITNESS PARCEL.

THE SITE SITS IN A BOWL AND SOUND WILL NOT DISSIPATE.

IT WILL CARRY AND AMPLIFY INTO SURROUNDING HOMES.

THAT IS NOT SPECULATION. IT'S A PREDICTABLE IMPACT.

APPROVING A PROJECT WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THAT IMPACT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE.

OUTDATED OR GENERALIZED STUDIES ARE SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE.

RESIDENTS DESERVE ACCURATE DATA BASED ON REAL CONDITIONS.

BUT THIS ISSUE IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST STUDIES.

IT'S ABOUT RESPECT RESPECTING THE RESIDENTS YOU ARE ELECTED TO SERVE.

IF YOU WOULD NOT LIKE A LARGE COMMERCIAL PICKLEBALL FACILITY IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD, THEN PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE ONE IN OURS.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF DECISIONS THAT MAY PRIORITIZE PROFIT OVER QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND FINALLY, IT'S TIME TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE DEVELOPER.

IN 2020, VOTERS APPROVED A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE FARM A BEAUTIFUL PLAN THAT INCLUDED A SWIM AND TENNIS FACILITY, A FITNESS CLUB FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND GATHERING SPACES WITH RESTAURANTS AND CAFES.

THAT'S WHAT RESIDENTS SUPPORTED AND THAT'S WHAT WAS PROMISED.

SIX YEARS LATER, THOSE PROMISES REMAIN UNFULFILLED.

INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO ENTERTAIN PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT BELONG IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE CITY MUST REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO BUILD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED PLAN.

BUILD THE COMMUNITY AMENITIES. DEMAND THAT HE DELIVER WHAT HE PROMISED.

SEND THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR SO RESIDENTS ARE NOT FORCED TO KEEP FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLES OVER AND OVER.

I FULLY BELIEVE THAT ANY LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL PICKLEBALL FACILITIES BELONG IN BUSINESS PARKS, NOT IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE FARM, WHATEVER PROJECTS COME YOUR WAY FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE MANDATE THAT THE DEVELOPER BUILD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFIC PLAN THAT VOTERS APPROVED IN 2020.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON CONSENT?

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

I MOVE THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS A SECOND BY THE MAYOR.

IT'S A ROLL CALL VOTE. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS A DEPUTY MAYOR. ADA I MAYOR VOS A ITEM PASSES.

THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO STAFF REPORTS. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

[8. Amendment to the Contract between the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Cal PERS) and the City of Poway to Incorporate Language from the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) of 2013]

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT JODY DUNPHY WILL PRESENT THE ITEM.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING. THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH CALPERS, THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS. ON JANUARY 1ST, 2013, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PENSION REFORM ACT, KNOWN AS PEPRAH, TOOK EFFECT. AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT ESTABLISHED A THIRD TIER OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS AS PART OF PENSION REFORM.

AT THE TIME PEPPER WAS IMPLEMENTED, CALPERS DID NOT REQUIRE FORMAL CONTRACT AMENDMENTS TO INCORPORATE THE REDUCED BENEFIT CHANGES MANDATED BY THE NEW LAW.

CALPERS RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO CITY STAFF REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF POWAY'S CONTRACT WITH CALPERS TO REFLECT THE CHANGES MADE WHEN PEPPER WAS ADOPTED. CALPERS STAFF SHARED WITH US THEY ARE WORKING WITH OVER 200 CITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO AMEND THEIR CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE PEPPER LANGUAGE.

THIS IS A CLEANUP ITEM ONLY. IT DOES NOT ENHANCE, REDUCE OR CHANGE CURRENT BENEFITS WITH CALPERS.

STAFF. RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION OF INTENTION.

APPROVING THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE CITY OF POWAY, AND PROCEED WITH THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT.

THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JODEEN DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF INTENTION.

[00:10:04]

AND THAT IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION AND THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND TO PROCEED WITH THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT AS REQUIRED BY THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND GOVERNMENT CODE.

WEI. FURTHER READING AND SCHEDULE THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE MAY 5TH REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE TITLE THE ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FOLLOW WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POWAY AND THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

CALPERS. COUNCILMAN PICUS, A DEPUTY MAYOR. ADA A MAYOR VOS.

AYE. ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE.

[9. Approval of a Three-Year Agreement with Fireworks America to Provide the Annual July 4th Fireworks]

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AUDREY DENHAM WILL INTRODUCE THE ITEM AND THEN RECREATION AREA MANAGER SARAH BECKER WILL PRESENT THE ITEM ALONG WITH A POWERPOINT.

AUDREY. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH FIREWORKS AMERICA, WHICH ALLOWS US TO LOCK IN THE PRICE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THE CITY HAS BEEN CONTRACTING WITH FIREWORKS AMERICA SINCE 1995 FOR OUR ANNUAL JULY 4TH FIREWORKS EVENT.

WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT, BUT SINCE WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

WE WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME, HIGHLIGHT THE OLD FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY AND A NEW PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO RECREATION AREA MANAGER SARAH BECKER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT TONIGHT.

ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES OUR COMMUNITY GATHERS ON JULY 4TH IS OLD POWAY PARK FOR THE OLD FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN ABOUT HONORING OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND THIS FEELS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL AS WE JOIN THE COUNTRY IN CELEBRATING AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY. THIS YEAR, THE OLD FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY WILL FEATURE ALL THE CLASSIC ACTIVITIES FAMILIES LOOK FORWARD TO.

TRAIN RIDES ABOARD THE 1907 STEAM ENGINE, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD VENDORS, PONY RIDES AND OLD FASHIONED FAMILY GAMES.

WE'LL ALSO HAVE HISTORICAL CHARACTERS THE PUBLIC CAN INTERACT WITH AND LEARN FROM THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

FOR EXAMPLE, GUESTS CAN TAKE A PHOTO WITH UNCLE SAM, THEY CAN VOTE WITH SUSAN B ANTHONY, AND THEY CAN MAKE A FLAG ALONGSIDE BETSY ROSS.

TO MARK THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY, WE'RE ADDING SOME SPECIAL SPECIAL TOUCHES THIS YEAR.

THE EVENT WILL BEGIN WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON ARRIVING BY TRAIN.

AS HE ARRIVES. THE TRAIN WILL BLOW ITS WHISTLE 13 TIMES IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES THAT BECAME THE FIRST STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

HE WILL THEN DELIVER A BRIEF SPEECH AND LEAD THE CROWD IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FROM THE GAZEBO.

WE'LL SHARE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY, GUESTS CAN ENJOY LIVING HISTORY.

REENACTORS PORTRAYING PAST U.S. PRESIDENTS ON THE GAZEBO STAGE.

EACH HOUR, A DIFFERENT PRESIDENT WILL SHARE STORIES FROM THEIR ERA, REMINDING US OF THE HISTORY OUR NATION WAS BUILT ON.

RECENTLY, MAYOR VOS BROUGHT FORWARD THE IDEA OF A CITYWIDE PATRIOTIC DECORATING CONTEST TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY.

STAFF TOOK THAT VISION AND DEVELOPED IT INTO WHAT WE'RE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THIS YEAR.

THE RED, WHITE AND WOW PATRIOTIC DECORATING CONTEST.

THIS CONTEST GIVES HOMES AND BUSINESSES ACROSS POWAY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR PATRIOTIC SPIRIT AND CREATIVITY AS WE CELEBRATE THE HISTORIC MILESTONE.

RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT POWAY ARE INVITED TO DECORATE AND FUN, CREATIVE AND PATRIOTIC WAYS.

THERE WILL BE THREE CATEGORIES FOR THIS CONTEST BUSINESSES, OUTDOOR HOME DISPLAYS AND WINDOW DISPLAYS, WHICH ALLOWS APARTMENTS AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY DON'T HAVE A YARD.

A PANEL OF CURRENT AND RETIRED MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS WILL SERVE AS JUDGES, AND THE COMMUNITY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH AN ONLINE VOTING PLATFORM.

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES AND HOMES WILL BE FEATURED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN VIEW A MAP SHOWING THE LOCATIONS OF EACH CONTEST PARTICIPANT.

BROWSE PHOTOS AND ACCESS A DIRECT LINK TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE DISPLAY ONLINE.

WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE AND RECOGNITION, AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LIVE DURING THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE OLD FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY. IT TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COORDINATION BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

BOTH THE EVENT AND THE DECORATING CONTEST ARE A CITY WIDE EFFORT, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

[00:15:01]

THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING TOGETHER AND SEEING POWYS SPIRIT ON FULL DISPLAY THIS 4TH OF JULY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SARAH AND AUDREY BOTH. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT. WE DO NOT. YOU WENT A LITTLE TOO FAR IN GIVING ME CREDIT FOR THIS IDEA.

THIS WAS KIND OF SPITBALLING WITH CHRIS AND THEN AUDREY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

SO IT WAS KIND OF A NATURAL THING, BUT I, I LOVE THIS IDEA OF HAVING A, A DECORATING CONTEST AROUND THE CITY AND, AND REALLY LIVE UP TO THE SPIRIT OF JULY 4TH AND THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA.

SO I LOVE IT. I ALSO LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT WE CONTINUE OUR TWO FIREWORKS SHOWS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT OUTGROWTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHEN WE THOUGHT, ALL RIGHT, WE GOT TO STEP UP WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE WAS CANCELING AND STEP UP, WE DID IN A BIG WAY. AND I LOVE TO SEE US CONTINUING IT.

SO I AM HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE THREE YEAR AGREEMENT AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

DEPUTY MAYOR MAIDA. I THINK IT'S A GREAT DEAL.

I'M GLAD WE LOCKED IN THREE MORE YEARS. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL STILL BE AROUND THREE YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LESS AND LESS CITIES ARE OFFERING FIREWORKS, SO LET'S HOPE.

BUT YEAH, I SECOND APPROVAL. WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAYOR, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS.

THIS IS A ROLL CALL. VOTE WITH THE CITY CLERK.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS. I DEPUTY MAYOR.

MY ADA I AND MAYOR VOS. AYE. ITEM PASSES. AWESOME.

THANK YOU. AND ITEM TEN APPROVING A CALPERS 180 DAY WAITING PERIOD EXCEPTION TO HIRE A RETIRED ANNUITANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT.

[10. Approving a Cal PERS 180-day Waiting Period Exception to Hire a Retired Annuitant]

THANK YOU. STAFF. STAFF IS REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE 180 DAY WAITING PERIOD REQUIRED BY CALPERS BEFORE AN AGENCY CAN HIRE A RETIRED CALPERS EMPLOYEE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

AN URGENT NEED EXISTS TO TEMPORARILY FILL THE POSITION OF CONTRACT SPECIALIST INSPECTOR IN THE FACILITY'S MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHILE THE INCUMBENT IS ON A TEMPORARY LEAVE.

MR. JEFFREY ZAMORA RETIRED FROM THE POSITION ON JANUARY 18TH, 2026, AFTER MORE THAN 23 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF POWAY AND HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO COME BACK AS A RETIRED ANNUITANT AND WORK ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

MR. ZAMORA HAS THE SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES NEEDED BY THE CITY TO ENSURE THE CRITICAL WORK OF THE POSITION CONTINUES.

THE FORMAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WAIVING THE CALPERS 180 DAY WAITING PERIOD SO THAT MR. ZAMORA MAY WORK AS A RETIRED ANNUITANT FOR THE CITY OF POWAY.

THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JODEEN. I'M GUESSING WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS.

WE DO NOT. I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL. I'M LOOKING FOR A SECOND.

SECOND FROM DEPUTY MAYOR MAIDA TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7522.56 AND 21221G.

APPROVING THE WAIVER OF THE 180 DAY WAIT PERIOD FOR THE NEWLY RETIRED CONTRACT SPECIALIST INSPECTOR TO TEMPORARILY WORK AS A RETIRED ANNUITANT UNTIL STAFFING LEVELS ARE RESTORED. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE WHERE THE CITY CLERK.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER PIKIS A DEPUTY MAYOR.

ADA I AND MAYOR VOS. AYE. ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU.

MOVING ON. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS. LET ME MENTION ONE THING BEFORE WE GO TO REPORTS.

[COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS]

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO SEE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT OFF.

WE'RE FAR OUT OF LINE WITH THE MARKET. AND I WELCOME THE STUDY AND THE DISCUSSION IT WILL BRING.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT FOR A REPORT TO CONFIRM WHAT'S ALREADY OBVIOUS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO. AND THE FIRST STEP IN CATCHING UP IS ALWAYS TO STOP STANDING STILL.

SO I'M ASKING FOR COUNCIL CONCURRENCE TO BRING FORWARD WITH THAT RFP IN MAY.

CONSIDERATION OF AN IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENT OF OUR IN LIEU FEE TO BRING IT MORE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS,

[00:20:05]

OKAY, CHRIS, WOULD THIS BE A TEMPORARY THING UNTIL THE STUDY COMES OUT WITH A BETTER NUMBER, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE THE PERMANENT THING? WELL, I WOULD GUESS, AND THIS IS ONLY A GUESS, $10,000, IF THAT'S WHERE WE LAND IN MAY, WOULD PROBABLY BE THE LOW END OF WHAT THE STUDY IS GOING TO SHOW.

SO TEMPORARY IN THAT I SUSPECT IT'S GOING TO GO UP FURTHER.

SO WE HAVE CONCURRENCE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T PRECLUDE A CORRECTION LATER.

THAT'S ALL. NOT AT ALL. ALL RIGHT. I'LL CONCUR.

ALL RIGHTY. MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS]

YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I JUST WANTED TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THE WATER AUTHORITY OVER THE LAST TEN MONTHS. AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GO BACK TO JUNE OF 2025, WHICH REALLY STARTED THIS EFFORT. AND IT'S REALLY THE THE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE WATER AUTHORITY AND METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT. SO THAT WAS A LONG STANDING LITIGATION BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.

I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF IT, BUT THERE'S TWO NOTABLE PROVISIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY PROVED TO BE PRETTY BENEFICIAL TO THE WATER AUTHORITY IN OUR REGION AND OUR RATEPAYERS.

THE FIRST IS THAT THE SETTLEMENT REALLY STEMMED AROUND THE TRANSPORTATION COST.

THE WATER AUTHORITY WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A LOT OF THE METROPOLITAN'S BIG PROJECTS BEING BURDENED ON THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

SO WE WERE CONCERNED WITH THAT. SO WHAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DOES IS IT FIXES THAT TRANSPORTATION COST FOR A TEN YEAR PERIOD.

SO IT CREATES CERTAINTY FOR NOT ONLY THE WATER AUTHORITY BUT FOR METROPOLITAN.

SO METROPOLITAN GETS A GUARANTEED REVENUE SOURCE AND WE GET SOME PREDICTABLE SMOOTH EXPENSES GOING FORWARD FOR AT LEAST A TEN YEAR PERIOD.

BUT THE OTHER NOTABLE THING THAT OCCURRED IS THAT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ALLOWS THE WATER AUTHORITY TO SELL SURPLUS WATER TO EXISTING MET MEMBER AGENCIES. AND SO LAST MONTH, THE WATER AUTHORITY FIRST SOLD 10,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER TO WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER.

AND IT'S A LONG TERM CONTRACT ABOUT 21 YEARS AND IT CREATES SIGNIFICANT MEANINGFUL REVENUE TO THE WATER AUTHORITY. THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE EXECUTED THIS THURSDAY AT THE WATER AUTHORITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 ACRE FEET WITH EASTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT.

AND THERE'S A THIRD PARTY, WHICH I CAN'T REALLY DIVULGE.

BUT ALL IN TOTAL IS ABOUT 30,000 ACRE FEET OF SURPLUS WATER.

AND, AND WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.

THE WATER AUTHORITY ENTERED INTO A LONG TERM AGREEMENT WITH IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT TO BUY ITS WATER.

AND SO THIS AGREEMENT GOES OUT TO 2040, 2047.

AND IT'S A TAKE OR PAY CONTRACT. SO AS OUR DEMANDS HAVE DECLINED, THESE FIXED EXPENSES HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN A BURDEN FOR ALL THE MEMBER AGENCIES.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS THAT IT REALLY BOOSTS AND OFFSETS A LOT OF OUR FIXED COSTS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR RATEPAYERS IS THAT YOU YOU ARE LIKELY NOT GOING TO SEE VERY DRAMATIC INCREASES FROM THE WATER AUTHORITY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT FOR CERTAIN.

BUT IT IS LOOKING LIKE IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR, FOR THE WATER AUTHORITY AND THESE OTHER PARTIES. THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS IS THAT THE AGREEMENT WITH METROPOLITAN ALSO ALLOWS THE WATER AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. SO YOU'VE ALL BEEN READING ABOUT THE DIRE CONDITIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER.

THE UPPER AND LOWER BASIN ARE AT AN IMPASSE. THERE IS THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE COLORADO RIVER THAT ARE EXPIRING IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. SO WE'RE WAITING FOR WHAT THE BUREAU IS GOING TO DO.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE WATER AUTHORITY IS EXPLORING SELLING 50,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER, WHICH WOULD BE OUR DESAL WATER THROUGH AN INTERSTATE TRANSFER, SO OUT OF THE STATE. AND THERE ARE SOME PARTIES IN ARIZONA THAT THE WATER AUTHORITY IS ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH.

SO THESE ARE BIG, BIG DEALS FOR THE WATER AUTHORITY.

[00:25:01]

AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE EFFORTS.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY BECOME VERY FRUITFUL FOR NOT JUST OUR REGION, BUT FOR OUR LOCAL POWAY RATEPAYERS.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, NUMEROUS OTHER PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN THE AGREEMENT, BUT THOSE ARE THE BIG, THE BIG ROCKS THAT WE, THAT WE CALL. SO ANYWAY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO, TO ANSWER THEM. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS THESE EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS TAKE EFFECT.

THANK YOU. ERIC, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERIC BEFORE WE MOVE ON? FIRE AWAY. ACTUALLY. IF YOU COULD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION COSTS, YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SHIPPING IT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IT INTO AN AQUEDUCT OR A DITCH.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO, SO WE BUY OUR WATER FROM IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND METROPOLITAN WHEELS THAT WATER THROUGH THEIR AQUEDUCT SYSTEM AND DELIVERS IT TO TO THE WATER AUTHORITY. OKAY. NOW, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE A TAKE OR PAY CONTRACT WITH IMPERIAL, THAT MEANS WE HAVE. WHEN WE I SAY WE, I GUESS THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IS THAT RIGHT? THEY HAVE TO BUY THE 21,000 SQUARE ACRE FEET OR SOMETHING.

SO THE TAKE OR PAY CONTRACT IS BETWEEN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY AND IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT, AND THE CONTRACT IS FOR 280,000 ACRE FEET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

SO IF OUR REGIONAL DEMANDS GO BELOW THAT, THE WATER AUTHORITY IS A FIXED COST.

THE WATER AUTHORITY IS STILL RESPONSIBLE TO COVER THOSE COSTS.

SO MINIMIZING AS. AND THE OTHER PIECE OF THE EQUATION, COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THAT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, THE REGION HAS SEEN OUR DEMANDS GRADUALLY DROP.

AND ONCE YOU GO BELOW THAT LINE IT'S AN ECONOMIC NIGHTMARE.

SO I GET THAT PART IS THAT WE HAVE TO BUY THIS WATER FROM IMPERIAL COUNTY.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THIS DEAL LETS US SELL IT TO ARIZONA, AND SO WE CAN KIND OF BREAK EVEN ON THIS THING? YES. SO THE TWO DEALS, THE DEAL THAT WAS EXECUTED LAST MONTH, AND THE DEAL THAT IS LIKELY TO BE EXECUTED THIS THIS WEEK ARE WITH MET MEMBER AGENCIES. SO THEY'RE IN OUR SERVICE AREA, RIGHT.

OUR METROPOLITAN SERVICE AREA. SO EASTERN AND WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT THE, THE INTERSTATE TRANSFER IS IN ADDITION TO THAT.

AND THAT'S FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 ACRE FEET.

AND THAT'S FOR THE DESAL WATER, WHICH IS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE WATER THAT WE HOLD.

SO TO, TO, TO GET THAT WATER OFF THE BOOKS WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL SHIFT IN OUR OPERATING COSTS.

AND THANKS FOR ALL THAT. SO THIS WILL MEAN THAT OUR WATER RATES WILL STILL, THERE WILL BE DOWNWARD PRESSURE, IF ANYTHING, OF LESS EXPENSIVE WATER IN THE FUTURE GOING FORWARD.

YEAH, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS YOU ARE LIKELY NOT TO SEE DRAMATIC UPWARD SHIFTS, UPWARD PRESSURE ON, ON, ON RATES FROM THE WATER AUTHORITY.

THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING ME ON THAT. YEAH. THANKS, ERIC.

MOVING ON TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS. OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY SHARE REGIONAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT UPDATES AND OR BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT CITY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. OR THAT YOU'VE ATTENDED, MR. PINCUS.

I'VE BEEN ATTENDING SANDAG MEETINGS RECENTLY AND I JUST GOT AN EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THEIR AUDIT THIS LAST YEAR FOR 2025, WHICH IS A, FOR THEM, A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE BECAUSE BEFORE THEIR AUDITORS GAVE THEM A MODIFIED OPINION AND THIS ONE WAS UNMODIFIED, WHICH BASICALLY MEANT IT WAS CLEAN. SO GOOD ON THEIR PART.

AND I DID GO TO A TWO DAY RETREAT TALKING ABOUT LONG TERM PLANNING FOR SANDAG, WHICH WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

AND THEY WERE AND THEIR NEXT BIG UPCOMING PROJECTS.

AND I HAD A BRIEFING LAST WEEK WITH THE PROJECT ENGINEER FROM HIGHWAY 67.

IT'S MOVING ALONG. IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENING, BUT IT'S A BIG, AMBITIOUS PROJECT.

AND THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO FINISH THEIR DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, WHICH MEANS THEY'VE GOT THE WORK DONE.

AND THEN IT GOES IN THE COMMENT PERIOD THIS SUMMER, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY DONE BY NEXT SUMMER.

AND THEN THE DESIGN, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT SOME DESIGN WORKING, BUT THEN THEY CAN GO FULL BORE ON DESIGNING AND BUILDING.

SO THERE YOU GO. DEPUTY MAYOR ANYTHING? NO. A QUICK COMMENT ON HIGHWAY 67.

WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNING AND PUTTING WORK INTO NOW IS FAR LESS THAN WHAT THEY PROMISED THE VOTERS.

WHEN TRANSNET WAS PASSED BACK IN THE DAY, THEY PROMISED FOUR LANES FROM MAPLE VIEW IN LAKESIDE UP TO DIE ROAD IN RAMONA.

[00:30:04]

SO I'D LOVE TO SEE PROGRESS. I JUST WISH IT WAS WHAT THEY HAD PROMISED THE VOTERS.

AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU ATTENDING SANDAG IN MY STEAD.

I'VE GOT NOTHING. CHRIS, QUICK, QUICK COMMENT FOR ME.

[CITY MANAGER ITEMS]

I DO WANT TO COMMIT THAT ANY APPLICATION THAT COMES FORWARD AND WE ARE NOT IN RECEIPT OF ANY APPLICATIONS ON THE CLUB SITE, ANY APPLICATION THAT COMES FORWARD, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE PUBLIC.

AND OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, JULIE PROCOPIO AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THAT WE WILL CONDITION ANY APPLICANT BRINGING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT THEY WILL NEED TO ENGAGE BOTH THE FARM HOA AND THE GREATER NEIGHBORHOOD. SO JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD.

AGAIN, WE ARE NOT IN RECEIPT OF ANY DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE NOT PROCESSING ANYTHING. WE'RE NOT EVEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ANYBODY AT THIS POINT.

AND IF SOMETHING DOES COME FORWARD, WE WILL DEFINITELY MAKE IT PUBLIC.

THANKS, CHRIS AND ALICIA. ANYTHING? NOTHING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. AT LEAST WE GET SIX WORDS OUT OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. FILLING IN FOR ALLEN.

WITH THAT, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.