Jan 09, 2024 City Council Meeting

[00:00:04]

[ 6:00 P.M. - CONVENE MEETING / ROLL CALL]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

AND LYNE, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE ROLL? SURE.

ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

THANK YOU.

AT

[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG]

AFTER THE PLEDGE, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN, GIVEN BY CHAPLAIN ADAM HOOD FROM THE CHINO VALLEY INDEPENDENT FIRE DISTRICT.

PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.

READY TO BEGIN, I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[ INVOCATION: Chaplain Adam Houde, Chino Valley Independent Fire District]

DEAR FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US.

LORD, I PRAY FOR THE FIRST MEETING FOR THE YEAR OF 2024.

FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD GET WHOEVER MIGHT BE COMING HERE, UH, THEY MIGHT BE RUNNING LATE.

FATHER, YOU WOULD GET THEM HERE SAFELY.

LORD, I PRAY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CHINO HILLS AND EVERYBODY HERE IN THIS ROOM, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD PUT A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.

FATHER AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID IN 2023, AND I LOOK FORWARD AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IN 20 20 24.

FATHER, I JUST THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

IN JESUS NAME I PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN.

OKAY,

[1. RECOGNITION - Recognition of City's Annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest winners]

CAN THE TWO FAMILIES, THE, OUR AREA, AND THE HIGH FAMILY, PLEASE JOIN THE MAYOR AT THE PODIUM.

YES, PLEASE COME JOIN ME UP.

HERE'S HAVE A ROUND OF EARLY APPLAUSE FOR THESE WINNERS OF OUR HOLIDAY HOME CONTEST, THE LEFT OF THE PODIUM, SO YOU CAN WATCH YOURSELF ON TV WHEN THIS IS REPLAYED ON THE CITY CHANNEL.

OKAY.

WOW.

THE CITY OF CHINO HILLS HOSTS AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY HOME DECORATING CONTEST WHERE HOUSEHOLDS ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY DISPLAY THEIR HOLIDAY SPIRIT AND HELP LIGHT UP THE SEASON.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE RECOGNIZING WINNERS IN THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, MARY AND BRIGHT HOLIDAY SPIRIT AND BEST THEME.

EACH WINNING HOUSEHOLD WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD TO A RESTAURANT IN CHINO HILLS, ALONG WITH A YARD SIGN TO DISPLAY.

THEY ARE WINNERS.

A FEW OF THE WINNERS ARE WITH US IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AND NAV CALLED THEM UP.

THE WINNER OF THE MARY AND BRIGHT CATEGORY, UM, IS THE TRAN FAMILY, AND THEY'RE NOT PRESENT TONIGHT.

AND AM I STEALING YOUR THUNDER? DO YOU NEED TO COME UP HERE? ARE YOU SURE? WHY DON'T COME UP? I CAN'T WAIT.

OH, OKAY.

I JUST REALIZED.

OKAY.

UM, FOR THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT CATEGORY, THE JUDGES SELECTED THE HI FAMILY.

THAT'S US.

THAT'S YOU.

SO WE HAVE A CITY CERTIFICATE ALONG WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FROM OUR SUPERVISOR, KURT HAGMAN.

AND, UM, FROM OUR, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN NORMA TORRES, FOR EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND ALSO FROM, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN YOUNG KIM AND SENATOR KELLY STO AND SENATOR JOSH NEWMAN.

YOU HAVE A LOT TO DISPLAY.

AND ALSO FROM OUR ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL CHEN.

SO THESE ARE ALL FOR YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND THIS IS YOUR SIZE.

AND HANG TIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PHOTOS.

SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND, UM, THE NEXT CATEGORY, UM, FOR THE BEST THEME WAS THE AIRY FAMILY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SO HERE I HAVE, SO I HAVE THE SAME GROUP OF CERTIFICATES TO YOU GUYS CITY, THE BEST ONES ON TOP OF CITY COUNCIL ONE.

THERE YOU GO.

AND THEN HERE IS YOUR, UH, THING.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING AND THANK YOU FOR JUST HAVING CIVIC PRIDE IN YOUR HOME TO DECORATE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SPREADING THE SPIRIT THIS SEASON.

THANKS AGAIN.

AND LET'S TAKE, LET'S TAKE A PHOTO FOR IT WITH YOU GUYS.

UM, GIRL, HER IN THE MIDDLE.

NICOLE WILL GUIDE US, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS LIKE, AND THEN FOR THE PHOTO, EXCUSE ME, JUST FOR A SECOND.

THE FRIEND OF MINE, SO I'LL GIVE THIS TO YOU SINCE THE CHAN FAMILY'S NOT HERE.

[00:05:03]

[2. PROCLAMATION - Proclaiming January 11, 2024, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day]

WILL COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR, PATINO, I'M SORRY, THIS WAS IN THE WRONG ORDER.

WOULD THE CHIEF OR POLICE CHIEF, SORRY.

GERARD, PLEASE JOIN THE MAYOR AT THE PODIUM.

DR.

THANK YOU.

AND SO ON.

A MORE SOMBER NOTE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRA HUMAN TRAFFICKING SADLY, CONTINUES TO BE A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

AND TONIGHT WE'RE DOING A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING JANUARY 11TH, 2024 IS NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY.

THIS MODERN DAY EXPLOITATION DEPRIVES AN UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS, CIVIL RIGHTS AND PERSONAL DIGNITY.

AS A SOCIETY, WE MUST SUPPORT ALL LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BY REPORTING SUCH CRIMES AND WORK TO STRENGTHEN LAWS THAT SENDS AN UNWAVERING MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO ATTEMPTS TO PROFIT.

FROM THIS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS TO HELP STOP THIS HIGHNESS CRIME.

TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, WE HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF CAPTAIN GERARD, AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND I'LL HAND THIS OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

UH, I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I RECOGNIZE THE COUNCIL'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS, UH, TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

UH, EARLIER IN MY CAREER, I WAS ACTUALLY ASSIGNED AS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE COUNTY'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE.

SO I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW DEVASTATING IT CAN BE FOR ITS VICTIMS. MOST OF US THINK OF PROSTITUTION WHEN WE HEAR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT THE REALITY IS LABOR TRAFFICKING AND DEBT BONDAGE ARE JUST AS PREVALENT.

DEBT BONDAGE OCCURS WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE FORCED TO WORK WITHOUT COMPENSATION TO PAY OFF, NEVER ENDING BET DEBTS USUALLY INCURRED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MIGRATE TO AMERICA, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

MANY TIMES, THE ONLY HOPE FOR THESE VICTIMS IS FOR SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SITUATION AND CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PUBLIC AWARENESS IS OFTEN THE KEY TO RESCUING THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SO AGAIN, I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO RAISE AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE.

IF YOU WITNESS WHAT YOU SUSPECT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING, YOU CAN REPORT IT TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE AT 8 8 8 3 7 3 7 8 8 8.

YOU CAN ALSO REPORT IT ANONYMOUSLY@WETIP.COM OR CALL 9 1 1 FOR IMMEDIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

AND TO WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[ PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER REPORT]

THANK YOU, .

JUST A FEW QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT, SINCE IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR, WE JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY'S LOW INCOME RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS.

QUALIFYING APPLICANTS CAN RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT ON THEIR MONTHLY WATER METER CHARGE FOR ONE YEAR.

ONCE APPROVED, THE DISCOUNT IS APPLIED ONTO THE NEXT 12 BILLS.

SO APPLICANTS NEED TO QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.

YEARLY APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND AT THE UTILITY BILLING COUNTER AND ONLINE AT THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND IN RECREATION AND CITY NEWS.

10 MORE UTILITY BOXES HAVE BEEN WRAPPED THROUGHOUT CHINO HILLS.

YOU CAN SEE THE NEW PHOTOS ON BOXES NEAR SOCAL CANYON PARKWAY, CHINO HILLS PARKWAY, AND GRAND AVENUE TO NAME.

A FEW RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT THEIR BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE PHOTOS TO BE DISPLAYED ON REMAINING UTILITY BOXES THROUGH JANUARY 31ST.

ONLINE@CHINOHILLS.ORG SLASH UTILITY BOX HART.

AND LASTLY, JUST A A REMINDER THAT CITY FACILITIES AND THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 15TH.

AN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

DAY TRASH SERVICE IS NOT AFFECTED.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PIO REPORT, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, NICOLE.

UH, NEXT

[3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: At this time members of the public may address the City Council regarding any items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council, whether or not the item appears on the agenda, except testimony on Public Hearing items must be provided during those hearings. Please complete and submit to the City Clerk a "Request to Speak" card. Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker.]

UM, AND REMIND THE COUNCIL, WHILE PEOPLE DO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, IT NEEDS TO BE RELATED TO CITY BUSINESS AND THINGS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS JURISDICTION OVER.

UM, THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER WARS OCCURRING ACROSS THE PLANET.

SO THAT IS NOT CITY BUSINESS.

SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE ABOUT CITY BUSINESS.

IF YOU COME UP AND TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, YOU'LL BE CUT OFF, AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO TALK, YOU SPEAKER WILL

[00:10:01]

SO WE'D ASK THAT YOU ADHERE TO THIS ADMONITION AND KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO CITY BUSINESS.

SO, ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE.

ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MARK LYNE.

OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING ANY ITEMS WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL.

WHETHER OR NOT THE ITEM APPEARS ON THE AGENDA, ACCEPT TESTIMONY ON PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS MUST BE PROVIDED DURING THOSE HEARINGS.

PLEASE COMPLETE AND SUBMIT TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK, WENDY, OVER HERE.

UM, A REQUEST TO SPEAK CARD COMMENTS ARE TO BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.

PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS YELLOW.

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT TO SPEAK, AND PLEASE CONCLUDE COMMENTS WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS RED.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS JOHN BRUNER, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL STAFF, UH, BEFORE I START, I JUST WANT TO SAY MY OBSERVATION IS THAT THE SIX O'CLOCK MEETING RESTRICTS A LOT OF BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT WORK OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY FROM MAKING IT HERE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S SEVEN O'CLOCK WAS BETTER.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MADE A DECISION, SO, SO BE IT.

BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW IN CASE YOU HEAR IT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

TONIGHT, WE PLAN TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT TERM LIMITS.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATION WILL BE ENTIRELY ONE-SIDED FOR GOOD REASON YOU WON'T OFFER A REPLY.

MAYOR, THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE RECEIVED MANY LETTERS FROM OUR RESIDENTS ASKING THAT YOU PUT THE ISSUE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA DURING THE FEBRUARY MEETING.

WE HOPE YOU CONSIDER THE CONVERSATION IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GRANT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF CHINO HILLS.

TONIGHT, OUR MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO A FEW OF THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE REALIZED THROUGH THE CITY ADOPTION OF TERM LIMITS.

WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT NO MEMBER OF OUR GROUP IS HERE TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.

RATHER, OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A DISCUSSION BY WHICH WE CAN DETERMINE THE IMPORTANCE OF TERM LIMITS AS A WAY TO PRESERVE AND THE, AND INVIGORATE THE GOVERNMENTS IN OUR CITY.

WE UNDERSTAND WHY BY YOUR OWN INITIATIVE, THE COUNCIL MAY NOT BRING THIS SUBJECT TO THE FLOOR, BUT FOR MANY REASONS, TI THE TIME HAS COME TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THIS CHANGE GIVEN THE SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUE.

THE ONLY WAY THE CITY CAN REACH A CONSENSUS IS TO LET RESIDENTS VOTE THIS NOVEMBER ON THE ISSUE.

RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW THAT RESIDENTS KNOW THAT YOU CAN PUT ANYTHING ON THE BALLOT THAT YOU CHOOSE TO, TO GET INPUT FROM ALL SIDES.

WE HAVE SELECTED THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS AS A TOOL TO BRING SUNLIGHT AND CREDIBILITY TO THIS IDEA.

MAYOR THE COUNCIL WILL OFFER THEIR INPUT, BUT THE DECISION IS 100% YOURS.

YOU, YOU MAKE IT AND YOU LIVE WITH IT USING WHATEVER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE IS APPROPRIATE.

WE SINCERELY HOPE YOU ADD THIS ISSUE TO FEBRUARY'S AGENDA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELAINE RAY ANDERSON.

THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING.

THIS EVENING, YOU'LL HEAR RESIDENTS PREVENT DIVERSE, PRE PREVENT, PRESENT DIVERSE REASONS WHY TERM LIMITS ARE SOMETHING WE BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND DISCUSSED.

AS A PROUD RESIDENT OF CHIN CHINO HILLS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO REFLECT ON HOW ON OUR CITY AND HOW WE CAN, CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE ESSENCE OF WHAT HAS LED US TO CALL CHINO HILLS.

OUR HOME TERM LIMITS CAN IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY TO RESIDENTS BY ENCOURAGING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC INPUT.

THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED USING A VARIETY OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL METHODS DESIGNED TO CREATE A MORE THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO PUBLIC INPUT.

MAYOR, I KNOW YOU HAVE ENCOURAGED RESIDENTS TO CALL YOU AND BRING ISSUES AND CONCERNS TO YOU WHERE YOU APPRECIATE THAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

WE'D BE GRATEFUL IF YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER AN OPEN DISCUSSION REGARDING TERM LIMITS.

SO WE MAY ALL LOOK AT THE PERCEIVED BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS ANY PERCEIVED DOWNSIDES TO SUCH A PROPOSAL.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, UM, AND CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BON STEGEL.

[00:15:08]

SOME OF YOU I DO KNOW AND OTHER ONES WE HAVEN'T MET BEFORE.

UH, MY NAME IS VON STEGO.

I LIVE IN CHINO HILLS SINCE 1987.

CURRENTLY LIVE AT 3 9 6 4 ALDER PLACE.

I WORKED AS A CONTRACTOR, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, MASON, I CONTRACTOR FOR 18 YEARS IN THE CITY.

AND I'VE SPOKE IN THE PAST ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN, IN, IN MY LIFE AND ALLOWING ME TO LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CHINLE HILLS.

UH, I DO WANT TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE, THOUGH.

I'M HERE TO DISCUSS TERM LIMITS AND IT CAN IMPROVE THE CITY'S POSITION IN GENERAL, GENERALLY.

AND WHY, UH, IT SHOULD BE INSTITUTED KNOWING THAT IT'S KIND OF LIKE A ONE-SIDED THING COMING FROM YOU.

IF I WAS SITTING ON YOUR SIDE, I'D BE GOING, REALLY.

BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KEEP OPEN MIND ABOUT TERM LIMITS AT THIS TIME.

UM, THE CHINO HILLS DISTRICTS OF CITIZENS CAN BE PROTECTED BY, BY TERM LIMITS TO ELIMINATE DECADES OF COUNCIL MEMBER TENURE AND ELECT ELECTION COFFERS.

THIS MAKING IT EASIER FOR NEW CANDIDATES WITH NEW, NEWER IDEAS TO INCORPORATE INTO COUNCIL POSITIONS.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE DIVERSITY AND NEW THOUGHT DIRECTION.

MANY CITIZENS HAVE INCORPORATED, MANY CITIES HAVE INCORPORATED TERM LIMITS AND ARE FUNCTIONING QUITE WELL.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT TERM LIMITS CAN BE ENORMOUSLY UNHEALTHY.

I POINT TO OUR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

LET'S BE HONEST, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE THOUGHT TO YOURSELF, WHY CAN'T WE GET RID OF THESE PEOPLE? THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK WITH THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS.

WE ALL KNOW.

THE REASON WHY WE WE HAVE THAT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE INTERIM LIMITS EITHER.

I ALSO TRULY FEEL THAT BY ADDING TERM LIMITS, WE MIGHT ADD SOME VOTER EXCITEMENT TO THE CITY.

SO MANY CHINO HILL CITIZENS THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS DIDN'T COME TO THIS MEETING.

AS YOU CAN LOOK AROUND AND SEE, I ASKED THEM, WHY DON'T YOU COME? WHY ARE YOU NOT INTERESTED? WHY DON'T YOU VOTE THE ANSWER 90% OF THE TIME IS IT DON'T, IT DON'T MATTER.

VAUGHN, NOTHING EVER CHANGES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, UM, FOR LISTENING TO ME AND I UNDERSTAND BEING ON YOUR SIDE WHAT TOURNAMENTS, TURIN'S ALL ABOUT.

PLEASE JUST KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND THINK ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG MCCORMICK.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO ADD THE ISSUE OF TERM LIMITS FOR CITY COUNCIL SEATS AS AN AGENDA ITEM IN A FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

SO THERE COULD BE AN OPEN AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT LEAD TO A BALLOT INITIATIVE SUPPORTING THE TERM LIMITS PROPOSAL.

WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE TONIGHT WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE REMOVAL OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER BOB GOODWIN BY A BLOCK OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM HIS POSITION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO FOR EXERCISING HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT BY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WASTEFUL SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY THIS BLOCK OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I WERE OUTRAGED THAT THIS BLOCK, THIS COUNCIL, THE BLOCK OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD DO SUCH A THING DESPITE THE PUBLIC OUTCRY IN THE FORM OF NUMEROUS PUBLIC COMMENTS, EMAILS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, LOCAL PAPERS, UH, MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS IN SUPPORT OF MR. GOODWIN'S POSITION.

WHILE I'VE LOVED LIVING IN THE CITY OF CHINO HILLS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VARIOUS CITY COUNCILS HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY SINCE IT'S A CORPORATION, I THINK THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR CURRENT AND PAST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HELD ONTO THEIR OFFICES FOR NUMEROUS TERMS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF A SYSTEM THAT STIFLES AN INTRODUCTION OF FRESH IDEAS AND CHANGE, BE IT CAMPAIGN FINANCE, POLITICAL INFLUENCE, DISTRICT GERRYMANDERING NAME RECOGNITION.

THE SYSTEM FAVORS INCUMBENTS.

IT PER PERPETUATES THE STATUS QUO.

ONE WAY TO COMPAT COMBAT THIS POLITICAL MALAISE IS TERM LIMITS.

THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS FOR THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATION BRANCH.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY VOTED FOR TERM LIMITS FOR COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND VOTERS OF VARIOUS NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS FOR THEIR CITY COUNCILS.

I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE CITY, CITY OF CHINO HILLS TO HAVE AN OPEN AND HONEST DISCUSSION OF THE PROS AND CONS

[00:20:01]

PERSONALLY, I HOPE THIS DECISION WOULD LEAD TO A BALLOT MEASURE SO THAT VOICES OF THE PUBLIC CAN BE HEARD AND NOT IGNORED.

I THINK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE THE LEAD BY DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY TO OPEN THIS DISCUSSION IN THE FORM OF A COUNCIL MEETING.

AGENDA ITEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHERRY ANDERSON.

HI, I AM SHERRY ANDERSON.

BEFORE MANY, MANY YEARS AS A LO COLA EDUCATOR, I WORKED WITH LOCAL DEVELOPERS AND HAVE WATCHED CHINO HILLS GROW, CHANGE AND FLOURISH.

I ALSO RAISED MY KIDS HERE AND THEY ATTENDED CHINO VALLEY SCHOOLS.

SINCE I NO PICTURES, NO, I'M SORRY.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO PICTURES OF .

SINCE I BELIEVE MANY RESIDENTS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CHINO HILLS COMMUNITY ARE APATHETIC.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE WHAT I BELIEVE THE REAL REASON IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, AND I THINK THAT IS THE CASE HERE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR THAT MATTER, THIS MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T.

AND THEY'RE BUSY LIVING LIFE, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, ALONG WITH THE MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES THEY MAY HAVE.

I'M SURE FOR MANY IT IS OVERWHELMING AND THEREFORE THEY PROBABLY THINK VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE RULE.

EVERY RESIDENCE HAS TO MAINTAIN A CITY CONGRUENT TO THEIR BELIEFS.

I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REGULARLY MEET WITH THEIR DISTRICT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING THOSE OF OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.

OUR CITY IS QUITE LARGE AND SPREAD OUT WITH THE DIVERSE BASE WHOSE IDEAS AND BELIEFS MAY NOT BE REPRESENTED.

JUST REACHING OUT TO OUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER DOES NOT ADEQUATELY CONVEY WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS MAY HAVE CONCERNS OR IDEAS ABOUT.

TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY TO GREAT GOVERNANCE, AS IS THE PROCESS FOR TERM LIMITS SO THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A CHANCE FOR NEW LEADERSHIP ON A REGULAR BASIS AFTER 32 YEARS LIVING IN CHINO HILLS.

I LOVE WHERE I LIVE AND I HOPE TO ALWAYS FEEL THAT WAY, AND I'D LIKE OTHERS TO FEEL THAT WAY AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

HERE NEXT SPEAKER IS SELENA LINA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CHINO HILLS COMMUNITY.

MY NAME IS SELENA HARRIGAN.

UH, TONIGHT I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A RESIDENT OF CHINO HILLS, AN EDUCATOR, UH, A TAXPAYER, A MOTHER, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO IS RAISED WITH CHRISTIAN VALUES AND AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY BELIEVES IN FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

UM, TODAY I AM WAS PLANNING TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, IT'S BEEN SAID KIND OF THE, THE QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO THE CITY OF CHINO HILLS? UM, SO I THINK FIRST OF ALL, IT RELATES TO US, UM, BECAUSE $900,000 OF OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT, UM, TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, BEING SENT TO ISRAEL.

SO I THINK AS A TAXPAYER, THAT'S WHERE I'M ASKING YOU TO MAYOR, TO PLEASE, YES, LISTEN TO.

I DO UNDERSTAND.

CAN WE CUT THE MIC? THANK YOU.

MIC.

I'D RECOMMEND.

OH, HE JUST NEEDS TO COMMENT.

MARK, MARK, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE EFFECTIVELY GOING DOWN THE SAME PATH OF THE, YOU KNOW, NO.

GREAT TO TALK.

OKAY.

WHAT SHE SAYING? I GIVE HER, LET'S, LET'S, YOU NEED COUNCIL PASS.

RE I NEED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EXPRESS SOMETHING TO ME.

SO I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO PAUSE.

CAN YOU PAUSE? THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WE'RE EFFECTIVELY HEADING DOWN THE SAME PATH HERE.

I MEAN, IF, IF IN FACT THIS IS CITY BUSINESS, THEN EVERYTHING IS CITY BUSINESS.

'CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S GOVERNMENT DOLLARS SPENT ON EVERYTHING.

AND THE FACT FACT, THIS, THIS, THIS ISN'T CITY BUSINESS.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE PERSON'S POINT AND IT'S COUNCIL'S DECISION WHETHER YOU WANNA LET, I THINK THERE'S HOW MANY? 20, ABOUT 25.

ABOUT 25 PEOPLE HUMAN TRAFFIC.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, AT THE SAME TIME, IF ANYONE IS SPEAKING, IF ANYONE IS SPEAKING OUT OF ORDER AND IS NOT SITTING AT THE DICE OR IS NOT AT THE PUBLIC SPEAKER PODIUM, AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO SHOUT OUT

[00:25:01]

OKAY.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE GROUND RULES HERE.

SO, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, YOUR ADVISEMENT IS THAT THE CURRENT SPEAKER IS NOT SPEAKING TO CITY BUSINESS? CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE ON THIS SUBJECT? ABOUT 25.

PARDON ME? 25.

OKAY.

SO, SO AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARD THE STATEMENT FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I'M GOING NEED TO RESPECTFULLY LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK VIOLATION OF OUR FIRST RIGHT.

THE TRUTH IS NOT WHAT WE ONLY WANT TO BE HEARD.

SO AT THIS POINT, MARK AND I DESERVE TO BE HERE.

OKAY? SO AT THIS POINT, AT THIS POINT, MARK, MARK AND OUR, SO AT THIS POINT, SHE HAS TO SAY TO OUR, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND TO, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, WE ARE TAKING A FIVE MINUTE HI, CHINO HILLS.

I'M JENNIFER DAVIS WITH THE CHINO HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIEVES CONTINUE TO USE DIFFERENT METHODS TO COMMIT THEFT, INCLUDING MAIL THEFT.

UNFORTUNATELY, MAIL THIEVES CAN ACCESS SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS BANKS.

WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO YOU.

IF IT VEERS FROM WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP YOUR COMMENTS AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER FORM FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AT OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID, YOU NEED TO STICK TO THAT.

BUT WE WANT TO HEAR YOU.

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A TIME TO COME UP AND TO TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT HE SAID ARE OFF LIMITS.

SO PLEASE, IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE OUT HERE TODAY WILL CON CONVEY TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING THAT IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THESE RULES, OKAY? AND WE NEED TO EXERCISE DECORUM BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GONNA BE A CIRCUS.

AND IF WE CAN'T, IF WE CAN'T KEEP THE OUTBURST TO NOT EVEN A MINIMAL NOT AT ALL, THEN I'LL RECESS THE MEETING.

SO PLEASE CONTINUE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WAS ON HER.

UH, CLOCK LYNE.

UM, SHE'S GOT A MINUTE 45 LEFT.

PARDON ME? 45 SECONDS LEFT.

OKAY.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

SO LET'S DO, LET'S DO THIS.

MA'AM.

MA'AM, START OVER.

LET'S GO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR, I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE DID NOT COME HERE TO START TROUBLE TONIGHT.

WE CAME HERE TO JUST AS CITIZENS OF CHINO HILLS, WE ARE JUST ASKING TO BE HEARD.

HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY IN THIS, IN, IN A CITY, RIGHT? AS TAXPAYERS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ALL OF US, NO MATTER WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT OUR TAXES ARE GOING TO, UM, THINGS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, FEEL GOOD ABOUT, RIGHT? THAT WE SUPPORT.

SO, UM, I'M, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU AS A TAXPAYER WHO CARES ABOUT OUR TAX MONEY, UM, SUPPORTING A GENOCIDE, OKAY? UM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS, CAN BE A VERY POLITICAL ISSUE.

LOOK, I'M NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE, OKAY? THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HERE TRYING TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

WE'RE JUST HERE BECAUSE WE CARE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY WE'VE SEEN NATIONAL LEADERSHIP, UM, HANDLE THINGS, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE TURNING TO THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND JUST ASKING FOR HELP, RIGHT? WE'RE BEING PERSONALLY AFFECTED.

MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY HAVE PERSONAL STORIES THAT THEY JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU.

UM, I THINK SAN FRANCISCO JUST TODAY PASSED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, OKAY? I'M SORRY IF THIS WASN'T THE BEST WAY TO BRING THIS UP TODAY.

UM, I WILL BE CONTACT CONTACTING YOU ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, AFTER TODAY TO HAVE, UM, DISCUSSIONS, OPEN UP DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PASSED IN OTHER CITIES AS WELL.

BUT FOR TODAY, I'M JUST PLEADING WITH YOU TO PLEASE JUST HEAR US OUT, OKAY? I PROMISE THAT WE WILL, UM, RESPECT THE DECORUM OF TODAY JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE JUST HEARD OUT.

UM,

[00:30:02]

AND, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD AND SEEING SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, DEATH AND, AND INNOCENT LIVES BEING TAKEN, UM, WE ARE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT OUR TAX MONEY IS FUNDING GENOCIDE.

OKAY? UM, TO, TO THINK THAT OUR MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS THIS, SENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS THIS, WE'RE JUST HERE TO VOICE THAT.

WE DON'T WANT OUR TAX MONEY BEING SPENT THIS WAY, OKAY? AND I THINK WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOICE THAT CONCERN, JUST LIKE WE WOULD ABOUT ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT WE DIDN'T, UH, YOU KNOW, AGREE WITH.

SO WE WE'RE JUST TURNING TO YOU, OUR LOCAL LEADERS, UM, AND WE ARE JUST ASKING YOU TO HELP RAISE OUR VOICES.

JUST LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.

UM, WE ARE CALLING FOR THE FULL LIBERATION, UM, AND FREEDOM OF ANY OPPRESSED PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, PALESTINIANS.

UM, AND THE FIRST STEP IS A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA START THINKING ABOUT AND WORKING TOWARDS, AND, UM, DRAWING CONNECTION AS TO WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AS A CITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LYNE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMMY.

I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT, SAMMY? AND CAN YOU PUT THE SPEAKER, UH, AFTER THAT SO THAT PERSON IS PREPARED TO COME UP AND SPEAK SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THIS? 'CAUSE SINCE THERE'S SO MANY SPEAKERS.

JESSICA IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHINO HILLS COMMUNITY.

HELLO, I AM SAMMY, AND I WAS BORN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND RAISED IN CHINO HILLS.

MY PARENTS PLANTED OUR ROOTS HERE IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES BEFORE CHINO HILLS EXISTED.

IT WAS CHINO THEN, AND MY BROTHER AND I HAVE BOTH ATTENDED EAGLE, CAL EAGLE CANYON ELEMENTARY, UM, CANYON HILLS JUNIOR HIGH, AS WELL AS AYALA HIGH SCHOOL.

MY FAMILY, INCLUDING SOME OF MY EXTENDED FAMILY, AND MANY OF MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO STILL LIVE HERE TODAY ATTEND MASS NEXT DOOR AND ARE STILL ACTIVE AT ST.

PAUL, THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

AS A DEVOUT CATHOLIC, MY FAITH COMMUNITY PRAYS AND WORKS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE.

GOD GAVE US MANY TALENTS AND ABILITIES TO HELP ONE ANOTHER, TO BRING HIS LIGHT INTO THE WORLD.

AND WE HAD JUST PRAYED FOR THIS TOGETHER AT THE START OF THIS MEETING.

MY FAITH COMMUNITY WORK LED ME.

MY FAITH HAD LED ME TO DO COMMUNITY WORK WORKING WITH SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF TRAUMA, WHICH ALSO LED ME TO WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH IS WHAT I CURRENTLY DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

THERE'S AN UNDER IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THINGS LIKE ONE'S EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ITS SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ET CETERA, GREATLY AFFECTS A PERSON'S HEALTH BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED.

EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE TODAY, AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, INCLUDING FOLKS HERE IN CHINO HILLS.

AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR TAX DOLLARS.

INSTEAD OF THIS BEING DIRECTED INTO INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, IT INSTEAD GOES TO OPPRESS AND KILL OTHERS ABROAD.

WE HAVE PALESTINIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE PA PALESTINIAN FRIENDS HERE.

AND SO THIS IS WHY I'M SPEAKING FOR ALONGSIDE THEM BECAUSE MY FAITH, WE BELIEVE IN SOLIDARITY AND WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING JUSTICE.

AND GOD GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO BE HERE TO SPEAK TO THOSE IN POWER, YOU, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO CONSIDER NO, TO PLEASE PUT AS A PART OF THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING, A RESOLUTION SO THAT CHINO HILLS CAN DEMONSTRATE TO OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE ARE A MORAL CITY AND WE CARE ABOUT OTHERS.

IF WE PRAY TO GOD AND IN GOD WE TRUST IN EVERY MEETING, HOW ARE WE DEMONSTRATING THESE ACTIONS TO OTHERS? THEREFORE, I'M ASKING CHINO HILLS A BEAUTIFUL CITY WITH A RICH HISTORY TO BE LIKE CITIES LIKE OAKLAND AND RICHMOND, LONG BEACH AND KUDA HIGH, WHO HAVE ALL PASSED THEIR OWN RESOLUTIONS AS PEOPLE OF FAITH IN THIS ROOM.

IT IS NOT OKAY THAT AT LEAST 22,313 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE GAZA'S TRIP.

AND ABOUT 70% OF THOSE KILLED ARE REPORTED TO BE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THEY ARE STILL A PART OF MY COMMUNITY, THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

AND I, I SINCERELY PLEASE ASK YOU ALL IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF FAITH TO PROVE THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT YOU ARE ONE, AND THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT, THE NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU, JESSICA LYNNE, WHO'S AFTER JESSICA.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

I NEED TO TAKE JESSICA, IF YOU PAUSE A MOMENT, PLEASE.

SO THIS IS CLEARLY NOT CITY BUSINESS.

IS THIS THE COUNCIL WISH TO CONTINUE? I'LL, I WILL TAKE A, UM, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, AI, YEAH, AND JUST LET ME REITERATE, MAKE THIS POINT,

[00:35:01]

SO THAT'S PART OF THE, THE REASON FOR THE CITY BUSINESS RESTRICTION IS SO THAT YOU GET CITY BUSINESS DONE.

BUT THE, AND A LOT OF THE CITIES THAT WERE MENTIONED, AND I I RESPECT THOSE CITIES IN, IN SOME WAYS, BUT THEY HAVE MEETINGS THAT GO TILL TWO O'CLOCK, THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEY TACKLE A LOT OF NATIONAL ISSUES OR INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT DECISION YOU'RE MAKING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OPENING THIS FORUM TO A MUCH BROADER GROUP OF TOPICS THAN WHAT YOU NORMALLY CONSIDER.

ONE SECOND.

SO IT'S NOT ENTIRELY UP TO ME, IT'S UP TO ALL FIVE OF US.

SO THAT'S, I'D LET 'EM SPEAK.

OKAY, ARE PLEASE, PLEASE, NONE QUALIFICATION, WHAT'S THE TAX DOLLARS? KEEP BEING, UH, MENTIONED, CITY MANAGER.

ARE WE SPENDING ANY TAX DOLLARS FROM THE CITY OF CHINO HILLS ON ANY ISSUE DEALING WITH PALESTINE OR CEASEFIRE OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH GENOCIDE? VICE MAYOR BENNETT, UH, THAT'S, UH, AN ITEM THAT THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND I HAD A SIDEBAR ON.

I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT IS, THAT'S NOT WHERE TAX DOLLARS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL GOES.

AND I THINK WHAT, UH, YOU KNOW, INTERPRETING FROM THE COMMENTS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL DOLLARS.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMENTING ON, UH, FEDERAL POLICY THAT'S NOT WITHIN THE PURVIEW.

BUT, UH, IF THEY WERE SAYING THAT WE HAD A PROGRAM, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD COME CLOSE TO BEING INVOLVED IN THIS INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT.

BUT THE COUNCIL IS NOW CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT THEY'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR MORE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR TYPICAL SCOPE.

RYAN? YEAH, I'M FINE WITH YOU SPEAKING, BUT PLEASE KEEP IT TO THREE MINUTES.

BE CLEAR, BE CONCISE, GET TO YOUR POINT.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, BUT THERE'S, BUT AT THE SAME POINT, PLEASE, PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS SAYING, THAT IF IT'S NOT UNDER OUR PURVIEW AND YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT.

SO YES, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK TO US RIGHT NOW, BUT PLEASE KEEP IT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE PAUSE, JESSICA.

GO AHEAD AND, UH, WHO'S AFTER JESSICA? EXCUSE ME.

I'M SORRY.

DID YOU ASK ME? NO, I'M SORRY, RAY.

OKAY, , UM, SINCE THE PEOPLE HERE AT CHINO HILLS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANNA SAY.

ALL I PLEASE ASK YOU, JUST BE RESPECTFUL.

WE WILL BE RESPECTFUL BACK TO YOU.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, THANK YOU.

WHO'S AFTER? UM, LENNY, WHO'S AFTER JESSICA, SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED.

KENNETH T OKAY.

THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD JESSICA.

THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DR. JESSICA SPENCE MOSS, AND I'M HERE AS A MOTHER, A FRIEND, A CHRISTIAN, AND A HUMAN TO ASK THE CHINO HILLS CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO SUPPORT US.

AND I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL FIVE OF YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO HEAR US.

UM, AND I WANT TO ALSO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT TERM LIMITS.

UM, THIS IS CITY BUSINESS BECAUSE THE CHOICES THAT YOU MAKE ON MORAL ISSUES IMPACT THE WAY YOUR CITY SEES YOU AND IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE.

AND BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN IGNORE LOCAL VOTING AND WAIT FOR BIG NATIONAL VOTING, I'M CALLING ON EVERYONE TO BE AWARE OF LOCAL VOTING AND BE AWARE OF THE MORAL CHOICES THAT THEIR LOCAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE MAKING.

UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'M HERE AS A FRIEND.

I'M HERE NOT AS A PALESTINIAN OR AN ISRAELI AS A MUSLIM OR A JEWISH PERSON.

UM, BUT I AM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE, I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THIS CITY AND NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

AND THAT MAKES IT CITY BUSINESS.

LOCAL PEOPLE ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

AND PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY WANT TO, YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THEM.

I'M LOOKING AT THIS PANEL AND I DON'T SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED IN PALESTINE RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE PEOPLE IN PALESTINE THE WAY THAT WE AS THEIR FRIENDS ARE SEEING THEM, AS THEIR FAMILIES ARE SEEING THEM, THEY ARE BEING KILLED.

THERE IS A GENOCIDE HAPPENING THAT IS AN, ACCORDING TO THE UN, A GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING.

COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT IS BEING USED TO IMPLEMENT THAT GENOCIDE.

UM, PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SOLUTION'S COMPLICATED, THAT WE AS A CITY DON'T WANNA DEAL WITH IT.

UM, BUT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE IF WE DEAL WITH IT, OUR STATE CAN DEAL WITH IT AND HOPEFULLY OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CAN ALSO DEAL WITH IT.

UM, SO I'M ASKING YOU TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO, TO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, TO THE CI THE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION BY STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LIFE, EMPATHY AND COMPASSION

[00:40:01]

ANTISEMITISM IS REAL, ISLAMOPHOBIA IS REAL, AND PEOPLE ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THOSE THINGS IN THIS CITY.

AND YOU NOT TAKING A STAND AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA, AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE MEANS THAT PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY DON'T FEEL HEARD.

UM, AND WE CAN'T HEAR PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM US IF WE, IF WE REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THEM.

SO I SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AFTER KEN, IT'S SIMA AHMED MID.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS KENNETH T I'M AN ATTORNEY AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CHINO AND CHINO HILLS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO PUT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

NOW, SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH CITY BUSINESS? WELL, THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE PALESTINIANS WHO LIVE IN CHINO HILLS, PEOPLE WHO ARE MY CLOSE, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN GAZA.

AND THESE PEOPLE WAKE UP EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, JUST ANXIOUS AND SCARED OF HEARING THE NEWS THAT ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAS BEEN KILLED AS PART OF THIS ONGOING WAR AND GENOCIDE.

AND JUST THIS WEEK, THERE WAS A STORY OF A MAN WHO LEFT TO GET FOOD FOR HIS SON AND HIS WIFE IN GAZA WHEN HE, HE MADE SURE TO GET THE BISCUITS THAT HIS SON LIKED.

THEY'RE HIS FAVORITE BISCUITS.

WHEN HE RETURNED HOME, HIS WIFE AND SON WERE KILLED IN AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE.

THERE WAS A VIDEO OF THIS MAN STANDING OVER THE BODY OF HIS SON SAYING THAT I GOT THE BISCUITS THAT YOU LIKED, AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN TAKE THEM WITH YOU TO HEAVEN.

AND THIS SORT OF STORY IS FAR TOO COMMON.

IN THE YEAR 2000, A PALESTINIAN CHILD IN GAZA HID BEHIND HIS FATHER AS ISRAELI SOLDIERS WERE SHOOTING AT PALESTINIAN PROTESTORS.

THIS BOY WAS SHOT ON CAMERA BY AN ISRAELI SOLDIER, AND THIS FOOTAGE MADE IT ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.

HIS NAME WAS MOHAMED DORA.

THIS WAS IN THE YEAR 2000, 23 YEARS LATER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT IN WHICH A PALESTINIAN CHILD WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON CAMERA BY AN ISRAELI SOLDIER.

WE STILL HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPENING.

MOHAMED'S FATHER IS STILL ALIVE IN GAZA, AND HE'S LOST OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN THIS RECENT WAR, INCLUDING TWO OF HIS BROTHERS, HIS SISTER-IN-LAW AND HIS NIECE.

THERE'S ONE DOCTOR WHO WORKED AT ASH SHEFA HOSPITAL.

HIS NAME WAS HAMAM ALO.

HE WAS ASKED ON DEMOCRACY, NOW, WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE AND EVACUATE THE HOSPITALS? HE SAID, IF I LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, WHO'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY PATIENTS? I DIDN'T GO TO MED SCHOOL TO THINK OF MY LIFE AND NOT THE LIFE OF MY PATIENTS.

AND THIS SORT OF BRAVERY IS PART OF WHAT SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CHINO HILLS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES IN PALESTINE.

AND I ASK YOU TO SEE PALESTINIANS AS HUMAN BEINGS WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION AND TO CALL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AFTER MR. AHMED IS ZURAH MU RAF, UH, GOOD EVENING.

AND, UM, I HAVEN'T WRITTEN ANYTHING DOWN.

I, WHATEVER I'M GOING TO SPEAK IS GOING TO BE FROM MY HEART.

UM, ALL OF US, WE ARE HERE TO ASK FOR HELP.

WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO, WHO TO BE, GO TO.

UH, YOU ALL HOLD A PO GOOD POSITION.

I JUST WANT, UH, YOU GUYS TO HELP US CEASEFIRE THIS RESOLUTION.

AND, UH, ONE QUICK ADVICE.

MAYBE YOU GUYS, UH, DON'T WATCH THE NEWS.

PLEASE WATCH THE NEWS AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AFTER MR. MUS, RAFA IS SALLY.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I ALSO DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC PLANNED.

UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION I'M A PHYSICIAN HERE.

I I LIVE IN CHINO HILLS.

MY HUSBAND'S A PHYSICIAN.

WE'RE

[00:45:01]

AND OUR TAX MONEY IS GOING TO, IT'S FUNDING GENOCIDE.

IT'S RAINING BOMBS ON INNOCENT PEOPLE, UM, THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THE ATROCITIES THAT HAPPEN ON OCTOBER 7TH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING AS A PHYSICIAN IS I HAVE PATIENTS, UM, THAT CANNOT AFFORD, THEY CANNOT AFFORD THEIR INHALERS, THEIR ASTHMATICS.

THEY CANNOT AFFORD INHALERS THAT CAUSE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, UM, BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BUYING FOOD OR PAYING FOR MEDICATION.

OKAY? WE ARE SENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO A COUNTRY WHERE IT CITIZENS GET FREE HEALTHCARE HOUSING.

CAN YOU PAUSE FOR A MOMENT? PREDICATION, CAN I HAVE YOU PAUSE FOR A MOMENT, MA'AM? YES.

FOR CLARIFICATION.

SO YET AGAIN, WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND I'M TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION.

SO WE HAVE ALREADY SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT THAT IT'S FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO THIS.

SO, WELL, WE CAN, I CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ALL UP HERE KNOW THAT, AND KNOW THAT FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO, THAT IT IS NOT UNDER THE, THE CITY TAX DOLLARS OR NOT.

SO I, I WANNA HEAR YOUR MESSAGE, BUT IF A LOT OF YOUR MESSAGE IS GONNA BE FOCUSED ON THAT, THAT'S WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS SAID.

IT IS NOT OKAY.

PART, I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY IT.

I'M JUST TRYING, I UNDERSTAND FEDERAL DOLLARS, BUT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN CHINO HILLS, BEING A PART OF A CITY, UM, IT'S REALLY DISHEARTENING, YOU KNOW, THE MORALE OF THE FOLKS THAT, THAT LIVE HERE AND MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIMS THAT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE DYING IN, IN THIS GENOCIDE, IT'S NOT GONNA TURN OUT WELL IN, IN THE LONG RUN.

OKAY, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN WE, WHEN WE'RE MARGINALIZING AND, AND, UM, DEHUMANIZING A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND AS A PHYSICIAN, I SEE THIS PROBLEM IN MY PATIENTS.

I SEE IT AFFECTS THE WAY THEY WORK.

THEY CALL OUT SICK.

THEY, THEY DON'T SHOW UP TO WORK.

THE, THE KIDS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL.

SO IT DOES, IT DOES AFFECT IT.

WE'RE ALL CONNECTED.

THE CITY'S AFFECTED.

UM, THE, THE COUNTY'S AFFECTED, THEN IT GOES UP TO THE STATE, THEN TO THE, TO THE COUNTRY, AND THEN INTERNATIONALLY.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN SOME WAY.

UM, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT TYPICAL OF WHAT YOU NORMALLY HEAR IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO I I, WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE.