[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
I WILL CALL THE JULY 7TH, 2026, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COUNCILMEMBER DEHOFF HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PICKUS HERE.
DEPUTY MAYOR MAYEDA HERE AND MAYOR VOSS HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR MAYEDA, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. OF ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU'D NOW JOIN US FOR OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN REORDERED JUST
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
A LITTLE BIT. HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT TOO CONFUSING FOR US OR YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX. FOR THOSE JOINING ONLINE. THIS IS A FIRST.TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS IN A WAY WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND NOW. IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE, PRESS STAR NINE. NOW SPEAKERS WILL BE PROMPTED TO UNMUTE WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? WE HAVE IN PERSON YURI BOHLEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I THOUGHT FIRST IT WAS GOING TO BE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I GUESS THAT'LL BE AFTERWARDS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, MISS EDMONDSON IS STILL SITTING OVER HERE AND NOT ON THE DAIS. BUT I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HER AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOMETHING POWAY'S LONG LOCAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER. THE CONSTITUTION WORKS. THE PEOPLE RULE MORE THAN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PEOPLE OF POWAY RECALLED A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WAS UNFIT.
WHO WAS HORRIBLE AND WE HAD, A FEW MONTHS LATER, AN ELECTION WITH TWO GREAT CANDIDATES. AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE MISS EDMONDSON. WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS. I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX THE CONSENT CALENDAR. LOOKING FOR A SECOND MR. DE HOFF? SOMEONE WANTED TO SPEAK. OH, DID WE HAVE. I THINK YOU'RE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAYOR, A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DE HOFF. THIS IS A ROLL CALL. VOTE WITH THE CITY CLERK. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER. DULL. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PIKUS A DEPUTY MAYOR MAYEDA I AND MAYOR VOSS. ITEM PASSES. AND NOW WE WILL HAVE THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION TO NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER ANITA EDMONDSON.
DO YOU WANT TO DO. THIS UP HERE? IF YOU WERE TO SPEAK INTO THIS MICROPHONE.
YES. AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK INTO THIS MICROPHONE. OKAY. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, ANITA EDMONDSON, I, ANITA EDMONDSON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND, THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF CALIFORNIA. STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. THAT I BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE. THAT I BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
[00:05:03]
UNITED STATES, TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION. AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY, AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. DISCHARGE THE DUTIES UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, UPON WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER. CONGRATULATIONS.THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. LET ME GET THE MONEY SHOW. YAY! OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE TAKE SOME PHOTOS WITH YOUR FAMILY? OH, YES. FAMILY. FAMILY, FAMILY. GET YOUR MOM UP HERE.
OKAY. YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, FIRST OF ALL, AND MY FRIENDS AND EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT EVERYTHING THAT MAKES POWAY SO SPECIAL. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT ALL OF YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I LOOK FORWARD TO. I'M HONORED TO BE BACK IN THE SEAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS. SO LET'S GO HAVE SOME COOKIES AND CELEBRATE. THANK YOU. AND AS ANITA SAID, WE'RE NOW GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK FOR CAKE OR COOKIES OR WHATEVER WE HAVE.
AND THEN WE'RE TAKING ATTENDANCE HERE, ALL EXPECTED TO COME BACK IN AND SEE THE REST OF THE MEETING, WHICH WILL BE VERY BRIEF BUT VERY ENTERTAINING.
WE WILL NOW RECONE THE JULY 7TH, 2026 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER DEHOFF HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER PICUS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDSON HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR MAITA HERE. AND MAYOR VOSS HERE. NEXT UP, WE
[PRESENTATION]
HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE POWAY VALLEY SENIOR CENTERS CORPORATION. DBE DOING BUSINESS AS FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THAT GANG FORWARD. OH, IT'S A LARGE GANG, I LOVE IT. WHEN THE MICKEY CAFAGNA COMMUNITY CENTER OPENED IN 2021, THE CITY TOOK OVER, PROVIDING OLDER ADULT PROGRAMING. PARTNERING WITH THE FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS WAS ONE OF OUR BEST DECISIONS. FOR FIVE YEARS, THE FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS HAVE BEEN FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT THE OLDER ADULT MEAL PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. THIS EVENING, THE FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS ARE HERE TO PRESENT A CHECK TO THE CITY. SO WITH THEM FRONT AND CENTER, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK? I'LL SPEAK. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE NEAREST COUNCIL MEMBER. MY NAME IS MANPREET, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS. FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIORS HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SUPPORTING POWAY SENIOR COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND NONE OF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT INCREDIBLE WITHOUT OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF POWAY, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS WE SUPPORT THAT PARTNERSHIP IS THROUGH OUR BINGO PROGRAM HERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE REVENUE OUR VOLUNTEERS HELP RAISE EACH WEEK GOES DIRECTLY INTO SUPPLEMENTING THE INVOICES FOR THE CITY'S SENIOR PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SOME RECENT BUS EXCURSIONS AND MEAL ENTERTAINMENT, HELPING ENSURE THE MEAL COSTS ARE COVERED AND THAT NO SENIOR IN OUR COMMUNITY GOES WITHOUT A NUTRITIOUS MEAL, LITERALLY AVERAGING $1,800 A MONTH. MEALS GIVEN 1800 MEALS PER MONTH. BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT DOLLARS IN INVOICES. IT'S ABOUT[00:10:05]
WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR SENIORS. ONE OF OUR REGULAR ATTENDEES SHARED THIS WITH US BEFORE BEFORE THESE EVENTS, SHE SAID. I STAYED HOME A LOT. NOW I'VE MADE NEW FRIENDS, I DANCE, I LAUGH, AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOMETHING TO DRESS UP FOR AGAIN. IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ABOUT. NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS, WITH WHOM SOME ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU TO EACH ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR COUNTLESS HOURS YOU GIVE AT BINGO EACH WEEK. THIS REALLY IS YOUR NIGHT AS MUCH AS OURS. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR AMAZING BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF FROM OUR OTHER PROGRAMS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, OUR RERUN SHOP, OUR TAX COUNSELING FOR THE ELDERLY PROGRAM. WHILE THEIR WORK DOESN'T FUND THE MEAL PROGRAM DIRECTLY, IT'S JUST AS VITAL TO ALL TO OUR OVERALL MISSION OF SERVING POWAY SENIORS. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US TODAY. WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE THAT THANKS TO THIS COMMUNITY'S GENEROSITY, FRIENDS OF POWAY SENIOR CONTRIBUTED $186,710 BACK TO THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU.JUST THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, MAYOR, WOULD YOU JOIN US UP HERE SO WE CAN PRESENT THIS CHECK TO THE CITY AND GRAB A QUICK PHOTO TOGETHER? WOW. YEAH. I'LL SLIDE. TWO. ALL THE WAY. I REALLY WANT THESE PHOTOS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME. SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS. PICKY, PICKY, PICKY. PICTURES ON PHOTO. READY? GOOD SMILE. BIG SMILE. GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS. I HAVE A QUESTION. THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY, IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE SENIOR PROGRAMING, THE LUNCH PROGRAM IS AMAZING. THE FOOD QUALITY, YOU'LL BE JUST BLOWN AWAY. AND THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT THEY BRING IN. THEY HOOKED ME AND MY DAUGHTER IN AT CHRISTMAS TIME TO SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU HAD TO STOOP SO LOW FOR ENTERTAINMENT LIKE THAT, BUT. YEAH, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE CHECK. AND THIS AIN'T IT. THEY DOWNPLAY THE THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY, BUT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE RAISED AND GIVEN TO THE CITY OVER $850,000. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE TOUCHING LIVES AND MAKING THIS CITY EVEN MORE SPECIAL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. TAKE IT.
THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, AN
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
ITEM NOT SCHEDULED ON THE AGENDA MAY BE BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR 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. FOR THOSE JOINING ONLINE WHO WISH TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND NOW. IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE, PRESS STAR NINE NOW. SPEAKERS WILL BE PROMPTED TO UNMUTE WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK IN PERSON. WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS NANCY BRAGG. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF CHRIS AND THE CODE COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE ADDRESSING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES THAT WE WERE HAVING IN THE GARDEN ROAD AREA. I WAS REALLY PLEASED. I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED. I'VE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY OF REACHING OUT AS MUCH BECAUSE I REALLY NEVER NEEDED TO BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS. BUT THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED AND THINGS NEED TO BE ENFORCED. ON THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES OF HAVING VEHICLES PARKED IN FRONT
[00:15:04]
YARDS OF HOMES NOT BEING MAINTAINED, FIRE ISSUES AND OWNERS NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY AND PROPERTIES, BEING IN DISTRESS, AND ESPECIALLY RENTAL PROPERTIES. THAT'S THE MAIN ISSUE OF THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR INVESTMENT. NEIGHBORS ARE TRYING TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY. BUT WE REALLY AM PLEASED WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'VE REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE. THE BUZZ IS GETTING IN OUR GARDEN ROAD AREA. THE CITY IS COMING. THE CITY IS HERE TO HELP. THE CITY IS NO LONGER GOING TO TOLERATE WITH PARKED CARS AND FRONT YARDS AND FIRE HAZARDS IN RATS INFESTED AREAS. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. BUT I ALSO SAY THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS HOW DO I GO ABOUT GIVING SUGGESTIONS? I THINK THE CITY COULD SAVE TIME AND MONEY IF THEY DID A SURVEY IN THE GARDEN ROAD AREA. I WALK THE COMMUNITY, BUT I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY.BUT I WANT TO KEEP MY CITY CLEAN. I WANT TO KEEP MY COMMUNITY JUST TO KEEP IMPROVING. SO IF YOU COULD HELP ME, SOMEONE HERE, WHO DO I GIVE THOSE SUGGESTIONS WITH? HOW TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY FOR THE CITY AND HOW TO IMPROVE GARDEN ROAD BECAUSE IT IS A VITAL COMMUNITY. NEW FAMILIES ARE MOVING IN. WE'RE GETTING NEW BABIES. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. I WOULDN'T HAVE STAYED IF IT WASN'T. AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE ENFORCING AND FINDING IF THEY NEED TO. BUT NOT JUST WORDS, BUT ACTUALLY ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE THAT GETS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET THEM IN THE POCKET THAT REALLY GETS THEIR ATTENTION. SO SOMEONE COULD HELP ME OUT IN THAT AREA. WHO DO I SPEAK WITH? BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOLUTIONS.
I'VE SEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER AND IMPROVE THEIR CITY, AND WE'RE NOT A LITTLE POOR COUNTRY ANYMORE. WE'RE A CITY AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THINGS IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.
AND I THINK A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CONTINUE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NANCY.
AND WE'LL HAVE A STAFF MEMBER GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS. YURI BOLIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT YEAR, POWAY HAS HAD TWO WONDERFUL FIREWORKS SHOWS.
I KNOW LAST YEAR I HAD MADE A JOKE BECAUSE OF THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR GREAT NATION, THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE THREE FIREWORKS SHOWS, BUT MAYOR VOSS DID ONE THING EVEN BETTER THAN THREE SHOWS THE RED, WHITE AND WOW FESTIVITIES ON MIDLAND. IT WAS A WONDERFUL OCCASION, LOTS OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN BE AN ANNUAL EVENT FROM HERE ON OUT. JUST SAYING. SIX YEARS AGO, DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID, MORALE WAS VERY LOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THE COUNTRY, EVEN THE WORLD. A LOT OF SHOWS, FIREWORKS SHOWS WERE CANCELED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. BUT MAYOR VOSS DID SOMETHING THAT WAS WONDERFUL. AND IT'S A TRADITION FROM HERE ON OUT. TWO FIRE SHOWS TO BOOST MORALE THEN AND EVEN TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR VOSS, JOHN MULLEN. MAYOR VOSS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. SUSIE AND I WANTED TO COME HERE TONIGHT TO HELP COMMEMORATE THE END OF TWO YEARS OF UNIMAGINABLE TURMOIL AND CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF STABLE, RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP. WITH THE ADDITION OF ANITA EDMONDSON TO THE COUNCIL. BUT BEFORE I GO TOO FAR DOWN THAT ROAD, I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BUDGET DISCUSSION FROM THE LAST MEETING. I WAS ONE OF THE 50,000 OR SO RESIDENTS THAT DID NOT ATTEND, BUT I WAS ALSO THE ONE THAT WATCHED IT. THE UNBRIDLED SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS WELL PRESENTED BY STAFF, AND THEN VERY WELL COVERED BY THE COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS THE MAYOR NOTED, THE BUDGET IS A STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES AND IN OUR CASE, EVIDENCE OF OUR LONG STANDING LASER FOCUS ON THE CORE REASONS WE EXIST AS A CITY, AND THE COUNCIL'S DEEPLY HELD COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLY SERVE THE CITIZENS OF POWAY. WHAT I NOTED WAS MISSING FROM THE DISCUSSION, HOWEVER, WAS THE CHORUS OF COMPLAINTS AND OBJECTIONS FROM THE ONLINE ECHO CHAMBER THAT PREDICTABLY OPPOSE EVERY ACTION TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL, GIVEN THEIR HISTORY OF ALMOST UNFOUNDED, ALWAYS UNFOUNDED AND FREQUENTLY NASTY DISSENT. THEIR SILENCE WAS DEAFENING. MY POINT IS THIS THIS BUDGET WAS THE CULMINATION AND A DIRECT RESULT OF ALMOST EVERY PRIOR DECISION MADE BY THIS COUNCIL AND OTHERS,
[00:20:02]
VIRTUALLY ALL OF WHICH THEY OPPOSED, CITING EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE DECISION TO REJUVENATE POWAY ROAD AND PUT THE FARM TO A PUBLIC VOTE. I DOUBT THEY WILL EVER BE WILLING OR ABLE, FOR THAT MATTER, TO CONNECT THE DOTS. BUT A PORTION OF THE REVENUE, THE REVENUE STABILITY WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND ENJOYING IS THE RESULT OF THOSE DECISIONS. ONE COULD ARGUE THAT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF INTELLECTUAL HONESTY, THE ECHO CHAMBER WOULD HAVE OBJECTED TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THEY OBJECTED TO VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE DECISIONS FROM WHICH IT EVOLVED. IF THAT'S A BRIDGE TOO FAR, A SIMPLE GOOD JOB POST WOULD AT LEAST HAVE GIVEN THEM THE APPEARANCE OF OBJECTIVITY. BUT NO, LIKE PETULANT CHILDREN, THEY SAT THIS ONE OUT BECAUSE TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE UNDERMINED THE BASIS FOR THE CONSISTENT AND OFTEN IRRATIONAL DISSENT. IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR, I THINK IT SHOULD. WHAT I THINK WE HAVE IS OUR OWN VERSION OF A TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME. I'LL CALL IT CDS FOR COUNCIL DERANGEMENT SYSTEM.THERE A HANDFUL OF SELF-APPOINTED, THOUGHTLESS CRITICS ARMED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND A KEYBOARD, AND AN AIR OF UNEARNED SIGNIFICANCE, I WOULD SAY, THAT ARE SIMPLY UNABLE TO EVEN A WHISPER OF ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT POWAY OR POWAY LEADERSHIP. BUT THANKFULLY, THEY ARE NOT THE POLICY MAKERS. YOU GUYS ARE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP, YOUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, YOUR RECENT JUDGMENT. I WANT TO THANK ANITA, WHO SET HER LIFE ON HOLD TO HOLD A CAMPAIGN AND WILL BE A WELCOMED ADDITION TO THIS ALREADY HIGHLY FUNCTIONING LEADERSHIP TEAM. THANK YOU. VANESSA SPRINGETT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CONGRATULATE ANITA ON HER ELECTION TO REPRESENT D2. ANITA IS SOMEONE I'VE LONG ADMIRED AND RESPECTED FOR HER COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WISH HER EVERY SUCCESS AS SHE SERVES D2 IN ALL OF POWAY. AS THIS COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD, I STILL HOPE THAT YOU'LL SERIOUSLY CONSIDER REVISITING THE POWAY ROAD SPECIFIC PLAN TO INCLUDE MEANINGFUL SETBACKS, QUALITY LANDSCAPING, AND ADEQUATE PARKING IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. THOUGHTFUL DESIGN STANDARDS SUCH AS THOSE WE HAVE ALONG MIDLAND ROAD, OR LIKE OUR LIBRARY AND OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, COULD HELP PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY AND THE COUNTY WHILE CREATING ATTRACTIVE, FUNCTIONAL SPACES THAT BENEFIT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS ALIKE.
I ALSO ASK, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK. I HOPE THAT YOU PRIORITIZE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU SERVE. SPECIFICALLY, I REALLY WILL HOPE AND URGE YOU NOT TO APPROVE ANY OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL FACILITIES ADJACENT TO OR WITHIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. I WILL REMAIN CONCERNED THAT THESE NOISE GENERATED BY THESE FACILITIES CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATED IN THESE LOCATIONS. AND FINALLY, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO VALUE THE RESIDENTS WHO DO TAKE THE TIME TO READ REPORTS AND ATTEND MEETINGS AND SHARE THOUGHTFUL INPUT. THEIR PARTICIPATION CAN STRENGTHEN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND HELPS TO ENSURE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT LASTLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION, AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF POWAY. I, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING THE STEWARDS OF OUR CITY. SO GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES. BYE BYE.
[7. 2025 Weed and Nuisance Abatement Charges to be Collected on the County of San Diego Tax Assessor's Roll for Fiscal Year 2026-2]
THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM SEVEN 2025 WEED AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT CHARGES TO BE COLLECTED ON THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TAX ASSESSOR'S ROLL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2627. FOR THOSE JOINING ONLINE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM SEVEN, RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND NOW. IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING BY PHONE, PRESS STAR NINE. NOW, SPEAKERS WILL BE PROMPTED TO UNMUTE. WHEN YOUR TURN TO SPEAK COMES. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST DARIAN DEMIRJIAN WILL PRESENT THE ITEM ALONG WITH A POWERPOINT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.THIS ITEM REQUESTS YOUR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE 2025 WEED AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT CHARGES TO BE COLLECTED ON THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TAX ASSESSOR'S ROLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE ABATEMENT OF VEGETATIVE FUELS AND OR NUISANCE VEGETATION ON CITY AND PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTIES, AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 8.7, 6.035 OF THE POWAY MUNICIPAL CODE, THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES
[00:25:07]
WILDFIRE, DEFENSIBLE SPACE AND WEED ABATEMENT. THE PROPERTIES INCLUDED WITHIN THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED TO CONTAIN AN ANNUAL REGROWTH OF VEGETATIVE FUELS AND OR NUISANCE VEGETATION IDENTIFIED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL AND CODE COMPLIANCE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS TWO EXAMPLES OF BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS. ON THE LEFT IS BEFORE, AND ON THE RIGHT IS AFTER. THIS COMPARISON SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVEMENT ONCE THE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN ABATED. ANNUALLY. PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS UNDER THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RECEIVE A NOTICE REMINDING THEM OF THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND TO SUBMIT THEIR SELF-CERTIFICATION FORM, PROPERTY OWNERS CAN CHOOSE TO PERFORM THE ABATEMENT THEMSELVES OR AUTHORIZE THE CITY'S CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE WORK ON THEIR BEHALF. IF THEY ELECT TO HAVE THE CITY'S CONTRACTOR PERFORM THE ABATEMENT, THEY CAN EITHER PAY THE COST OF THE WORK COMPLETED, PLUS $175 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO THE CITY DIRECTLY VIA INVOICE, OR THEY CAN HAVE THE AMOUNT ASSESSED ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL AS A FIXED CHARGE ASSESSMENT. IN 2025, 221 PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS RECEIVED NOTICES THE CITY'S CONTRACTOR ABATED EIGHT PRIVATE PROPERTIES. OF THOSE EIGHT PROPERTIES, THREE PAID THE CITY DIRECTLY VIA INVOICE AND FIVE ELECTED TO HAVE THE COST ADDED TO THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL. TOTAL COST TO BE ASSESSED ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2627. TAX ROLL IS $22,520.43. THESE PROPERTIES AND THE FIXED CHARGE AMOUNTS ARE LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION ATTACHED IN THE AGENDA REPORT. THERE'S BEEN A RECENT UPDATE TO THE FIRST PARCEL LISTED ON THE RESOLUTION. SINCE THE PROPERTY WAS ABATED, THE APN HAS CHANGED AND THE APN IS NOW (317) 520-7100. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2025 WEED ABATEMENT CHARGES TO BE COLLECTED ON THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TAX ROLL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2627. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU TERRY. AND WE HAVE NEITHER ANYONE IN HOUSE OR ONLINE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. COUNCIL. ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR A SECOND MISS COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDSON. I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE WE SEEING ANY TRENDS WITH PREVIOUS YEARS OF HOW THIS COMPARES TO WHAT HAS BEEN THE NUMBERS IN THE PAST? WE GENERALLY HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER EACH YEAR. USUALLY IT'S ABOUT FIVE OR SO THAT ELECT TO HAVE AND IT TYPICALLY IT'S THE SAME PROPERTIES THAT ELECT TO HAVE IT ADDED TO THE THE TAX ROLLS EACH YEAR. THIS IS MAYBE A A FEW LESS THAN LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S RIGHT ON PAR. I THINK LAST YEAR WE MIGHT HAVE HAD WAS IT LIKE. YEAH, 8 OR 9 LAST YEAR. SO IT'S PRETTY CLOSE. IT'S GENERALLY VERY LOW. LOOKING FOR A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM THE MAYOR AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDSON. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE. WILL THE CITY CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER? DEHOFF. AYE.COUNCIL MEMBER PIKAS. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER. EDMONDSON. HI. DEPUTY MAYOR AND MAYOR VOSS I
[Additional Item]
ITEM PASSES. NEXT UP IS COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ALL THAT STUFF. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO GO TO ERIC HEIDEMANN FOR A MINUTE. WE KIND OF REACHED A CRITICAL AND MOMENTOUS MILESTONE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE ERIC TALK ABOUT FOR A MINUTE. YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I DO WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE, A QUICK UPDATE ON THE CLEARWELL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND THEN PROVIDE A FEW COMMENTS, IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME. SO LAST WEEK, AFTER COMPLETING ALL OF OUR REQUIRED WATER QUALITY TESTING AND RECEIVING AUTHORIZATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER, WE PLACED BOTH OF OUR CLEARWELL TANKS INTO SERVICE. SO THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR A WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING OUR TEMPORARY BYPASS SYSTEM WAITING IN THE WINGS. IT'S BEEN ISOLATED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE TANKS ARE WORKING AS THEY'VE BEEN DESIGNED. SO IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR US. AND AS OF YESTERDAY, WE STARTED TO DISASSEMBLE THE TEMPORARY TANKS ON THE BALL FIELD SO WE CAN MOVE TO OUR NEXT SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE, WHICH IS COMPLETION AND RENOVATION OF THE SOFTBALL FIELD AT LAKE POWAY. SO THAT'S THE UPDATE AND THAT'S A HUGE UPDATE. AND JUST TO PROVIDE YOU SOME CONTEXT, YOU KNOW, THE THE TEMPORARY BYPASS SYSTEM ISN'T SOMETHING YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, BUY OUT OF A CATALOG AND ASSEMBLE IT AT YOUR TREATMENT PLAN. AND YOU OPERATE FOR A[00:30:02]
COUPLE OF YEARS. IT'S A VERY SOPHISTICATED, COMPLICATED SYSTEM THAT WHILE WE WERE DESIGNING, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF HEATED CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN OUR OPERATORS AND OUR DESIGN ENGINEERS. SO HAVING OPERATED THE SYSTEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITHOUT ISSUE, WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT ISSUES, IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH AND THE QUALITY OF YOUR STAFF, YOUR OPERATORS. WE HAVE POWAY HAS SOME OF THE FINEST STAFF, A COUPLE OF THEM HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I'M GOING TO THANK THEM IN A MOMENT. BUT FIRST, I WANT TO GET TO YOU BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN YOU HEAP PRAISE ON STAFF. AND WE SIT HERE BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE JUST KIND OF PUT OUR HEAD DOWN BECAUSE ALL WE KNOW IS TO DO GOOD WORK. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT FEELS GOOD. SO IT IS NICE WHEN YOUR BOSS IS BOSS RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT WORK AND IT'S MOSTLY FROM MY STAFF. THESE GUYS WORK HARD. THEY'RE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND THEY, THEY, THEY LOVE HEARING THAT. SO THE FACT THAT YOU, YOU RECOGNIZE THAT AND YOU PRAISE OUR STAFF. THAT FEELS REALLY GOOD. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO THIS PROJECT. THIS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROJECT, SO IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE FOR THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS. I KNOW JOHN MULLIN IS IN THE AUDIENCE. BARRY LEONARD, DAVE GRUSH, THE LIST GOES ON. KAYLIN FRANK. SO, SO TO AUTHORIZE, ENGAGE THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES THIS TYPE OF REDUNDANCY AND RESILIENCY. AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAD THE, THE COURAGE TO, TO INITIATE THIS MEANS A LOT TO US AND THIS COMMUNITY. SO I ALSO LIKE TO THANK CHRIS. SO CHRIS IS THE BOSS THAT OPERATES UNDER THIS MANTRA THAT IT'S YOUR SHOP, YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS, BUT YOU OWN THOSE DECISIONS. AND THAT GIVES US TREMENDOUS FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO BE NIMBLE AND MANEUVER. WE OWN THOSE FAULTS.HE WILL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE, BUT IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT TO BE VERY, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTFUL OF THE WORK WE DO BUT BE VERY NIMBLE. AND SO, CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR TEAM TO DO THIS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM. SO I KNOW THAT WHEN WE STARTED THESE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, SHODDY SAMMY DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT. SHE STARTED THIS OFF. SHE HAS TAKEN HER TALENTS TO A DIFFERENT AGENCY.
BUT WE HAVE LEVELED UP AND WE'VE GOT ROB WEBER, WHO'S OUR PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, WHO IS SUPER TALENTED, SMARTER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. AND SO HIM COUPLED WITH THE OPERATORS.
AARON HUFF AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, THESE OPERATORS AND OPERATING THE SYSTEM FOR THE LAST I'LL SAY SEVERAL YEARS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. SO THE WORK THAT THEY DO HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. AND THEN LASTLY, TROY DUPRIEST. SO TROY HAS BEEN MY RIGHT HAND GUY FOR A WHILE, AND HE'S RETIRING IN NOVEMBER, I THINK DECEMBER, NOVEMBER. SO I WANT TO THANK THESE GUYS FOR THE WORK THEY DO. THEY ARE VERY PROUD TO WORK HERE. I'M PROUD TO WORK HERE.
AND I JUST WANTED YOU TO HEAR THAT FROM US. INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING OUR HEAD DOWN AND GETTING TO THE TO THE NEXT PROJECT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE. THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WELL, I'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS AND
[COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANNOUNCEMENTS. MR. DEHOFF. THANK YOU. I QUITE A BIT, BUT I'LL JUST FOCUS ON ONE THING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE FOREVER. ACTUALLY, ERIC, REAL QUICK, I JUST WILL SAY THE STAFF MAKES IT REALLY EASY FOR US TO TO PASS ALONG COMMENTS. YOU GUYS DO A FANTASTIC JOB.YOU REALLY DO. I APPRECIATE IT AND I SEE A LOT OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, IN FROM MY ROLE IN THE WASTEWATER JPA OF HOW OTHER PLACES WORK. AND WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD HERE ACTUALLY.
SPEAKING OF THE WASTEWATER JPA, I WANT TO REPORT OUT AN ACTION THAT HAPPENED FAIRLY RECENTLY, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK. SO THE WASTEWATER JPA IS LIKE THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY, BUT IT'S ON THE OTHER END. AND WE WE HAVE A SEAT THERE ON THAT ON THAT BOARD. OKAY. AND SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT MANAGES AND OVERSEES A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO DOES, INCLUDING THE PURE WATER PROGRAM. SO AND THE PURE WATER PROGRAM, FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS WHO DON'T KNOW, IS SOMETHING THAT IS ABOUT RECYCLED WATER AND IS IMPROVES OUR OWN WATER RESILIENCY BY PROVIDING AN ALTERNATE SOURCE OF WATER FOR ANOTHER AGENCY, IT FREES UP A BUNCH OF WATER FOR US TO TO HAVE IF WE EVER NEED IT. BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS SOMETHING CALLED SARA, WHICH IS THIS LONG ACRONYM OF A, OF A, OF A DOCUMENT. IT'S BASICALLY THE AGREEMENT THAT THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN US AND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL THE PARTICIPATING AGENCIES OF THE WASTEWATER JPA HAD TO
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PUT TOGETHER. AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME COMING TO GET THIS THIS NEW DOCUMENT, WHICH IS GOING TO REDUCE OUR LIABILITY AND GET US A SEAT AT A BUNCH OF TABLES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. AND THIS BOARD PASSED A VERSION OF THAT DOCUMENT A LITTLE WHILE AGO, BUT THERE WAS ONE AGENCY THAT WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE WITH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME HOLDOUT ITEMS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE. AND IT WAS A. AND SO WE HAD TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE TO THAT. AND IT WAS A MINOR UPDATE, AND CHRIS HAZELTINE WAS ABLE TO SIGN THAT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT MINISTERIALLY LAST WEEK. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A TAKE EFFECT ACTUALLY RETROACTIVE TO THE BEGINNING OF JULY. AND IT'S GOING TO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD, GOOD THING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PAYING FAIR, YOU KNOW, THE FAIR RATES FOR, FOR THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE. WHEREAS BEFORE IT WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DICEY. SO I'D LIKE TO THANK ERIC'S TEAM AND TROY ALSO AND CARLOS FOR THEIR EFFORTS, BECAUSE THEY SIT ON THE WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THEY LET ME KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY TECHNICALLY INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, OPERATION, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO REPORT THAT OUT, THAT WE'RE ON BOARD WITH THAT NEW DOCUMENT AND THAT WILL BE IT. THANK YOU. THANKS, PETER.COUNCILMEMBER PIKUS REALLY SHORT ONE, OBVIOUSLY, LAST WEEKEND WAS 4TH OF JULY. I, I WAS DOWN AT THE OLD POWAY PARK. IT WAS QUITE AN EVENT. AND THE CITY STAFF DID A SUPERB JOB SETTING THAT UP. SO THANKS TO ALL OF THEM. AND THANKS FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME AND PARTICIPATED. SECOND IS PETER REMINDED ME IT WAS SO LONG AGO, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO WAS THE AMATEUR RADIO FIELD DAY, WHERE THE HAM RADIO GUYS GET TOGETHER AND THEY PRACTICE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE WORKING IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY AND CELL PHONES AND STUFF. SO THEY SET UP SHOP UP IN THE KOHL'S PARKING LOT BY THE IN-N-OUT BURGER, AND THE GOAL IS FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD. YOU TRY TO CONTACT AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN WORLDWIDE, AND IT WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. THE I REALLY DO DO A SERVICE TO FOR US, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY WON'T NOTICE THAT UNTIL THERE'S AN EMERGENCY. BUT THERE YOU GO.
IT'S PART OF OUR BACKUP PLAN. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS. COUNCILMEMBER EDMONDSON, I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY ADD ON TO MY COMMENTS AFTER THIS HEARING IN. IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN, AND NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT JUST KNOWING THAT I'M PART OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN ME. IT'S ABOUT THIS CITY AND THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED AND MAKE THIS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY. I KNOW I KEEP SAYING THAT PHRASE, BUT IT TRULY IS SPECIAL. AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN POWAY AND DON'T LIVE IN POWAY KNOW IT'S SPECIAL. AND SO I LOVE THAT. AND I LIKE BEING PART OF THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT STAYS THAT WAY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO I DID A LOT OF MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT TWO, AND I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS AND A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THOSE FORWARD AND SEEING HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE. SO THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR. I THINK. WELL, FIRST, I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED THAT OUR TWO YEAR LONG NIGHTMARE IS OVER, AND TO HAVE SOMEONE AS QUALIFIED AS ANITA SITTING BACK HERE, IT CAN ONLY MEAN GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY. SECONDLY, JULY 4TH, THE TEAM, SARAH BECKER. BECKER AND HER TEAM AT OLD POWAY PARK REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. I MEAN, WE HAD GEORGE WASHINGTON THERE STRAIGHT FROM MOUNT VERNON. RETIREMENT OR INTERNMENT, ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IT WAS GREAT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE SPIRIT ON THE 4TH OF JULY AT OLD POWAY PARK THAN THIS YEAR. THE BAND WAS INCREDIBLE. THE, I THINK RETIRED MARINE WHO THEY HAD SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. HE WAS AMAZING. THERE WAS JUST A SPIRIT THAT WAS PURE POWAY AND I LOVED IT. SO PLEASE PASS ALONG THIS COMMUNITY'S APPRECIATION TO THE TEAM. AND ONE MORE THING, ERIC, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SPECIAL EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY. EVERY CITY HAS ITS QUIET PLACES. ONE OF OURS IS IN SILVERSMITH PARK. A BENCH UNDER A TREE THAT WAS DEDICATED IN 2017 IN MEMORY OF MADISON TAYLOR, A 14 YEAR OLD WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT BY PEDIATRIC CANCER. HER MOM, GEORGINA TAYLOR, WROTE TO US ABOUT THAT BENCH A FEW DAYS AGO. SHE'D
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GONE TO THE PARK EARLY ONE MORNING TO SPEND SOME TIME AT THE BENCH TO SEE IF SHE COULD FIND A WAY TO REFRESH THE PLAQUE BEFORE MADDIE'S BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS COMING UP IN EIGHT DAYS. THAT'S WHEN SHE HAPPENED TO BUMP INTO RUSSELL FROM PUBLIC WORKS. THEY GOT TO TALKING, RUSSELL REMEMBERED THE BENCH HE REMEMBERED WHEN IT WENT IN, AND WHEN GEORGINA EXPLAINED WHY SHE WAS THERE TO DEAL WITH THE PLAQUE AND CLEAN UP THE BENCH, HE DIDN'T JUST WISH HER WELL AND GO ON HIS WAY. HE WENT AND GOT CLEANING SUPPLIES. HE KNELT DOWN NEXT TO HER AND THEY CLEANED THAT BENCH. HE TOLD HER. HE CHECKS ON IT REGULARLY. HE KEEPS THE GRASS TRIMMED AROUND IT, KEEPS IT CLEAN. NOT BECAUSE ANYBODY TOLD HIM TO, BUT BECAUSE HE KNEW IT MATTERED. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'LL FIND IN RUSSELL'S JOB DESCRIPTION. THAT'S JUST A MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT A CITY IS ACTUALLY FOR, TO SERVE ITS PEOPLE. GEORGINA ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE RUSSELL WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SERVICE AND HIS KINDNESS. SO IN FRONT OF EVERYONE TONIGHT, RUSSELL. THANK YOU. YOU MAKE POWAY PROUD. THE STORY DOESN'T END THERE.MADDIE'S BIRTHDAY WAS A FEW DAYS AGO. THANKS TO RUSSELL AND TO NATE AND BRIAN AT SAN DIEGO ENGRAVING, WHO ACCEPTED THE JOB ON A TIGHT DEADLINE. MADISON'S NEW PLAQUE WAS INSTALLED IN TIME FOR HER BIRTHDAY. THIS IS WHAT POWAY LOOKS LIKE WHEN NO ONE'S WATCHING THE CITY EMPLOYEE WITH A RAG, A BUCKET, AND A BIG HEART. TWO ENGRAVERS RACING TO A DEADLINE FOR A FAMILY THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. AND A MOTHER MAKING SURE HER DAUGHTER'S MEMORY ENDURES.
GEORGENE WANTED US TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANT TO HER. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHE'S REMINDED US THAT THE CHARACTER OF A CITY ISN'T MEASURED BY ITS BUILDINGS AND ITS BUDGETS. IT'S MEASURED BY THE WAY PEOPLE CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. SO IF YOU'RE LISTENING, GEORGENE, THANK YOU. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADISON. CHRIS. ELLEN. YEAH, WE'VE GOT FOUR ITEMS ON OR SORRY, FIVE ITEMS ON FOR
[CLOSED SESSION]
CLOSED SESSION AS REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA. AND WE WILL RETIRE TO CLOSED SESSION.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.