Mar 15, 2022 City Council Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

IT'S MARCH 15TH, 5 P.M.

AND IT'S OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING WITH THAT COULD THE CLERK PLEASE TAKE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER NORBY, HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA, HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BHAT-PATEL, HERE.

MAYOR PRO TEM BLACKBURN, PRESENT.

MAYOR HALL, PRESENT.

LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL FIVE OF US ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND WITH THAT, WE'LL RISE AND MAYOR PRO TEM BLACKBURN LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR FLAG.

TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[PRESENTATIONS]

WHEN WE SET OUT TO START THIS PROCESS LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL MADE TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS. WE VOTED TO TURN OVER THE DECISION MAKING RESPONSIBILITIES TO AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION. THIS WAY WE COULD AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

MEMBERS WERE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING FROM APPLICATIONS THAT HAD TO MEET STRICT STRICT CRITERIA.

THE SECOND THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNEW THIS PROCESS WAS HAPPENING AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

BY THE WAY, WE RECEIVED OVER 75 DRAFT MAPS CREATED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH SHOCKED EVEN THE CONSULTANT WHO DOES THIS ALL THE TIME.

BY THE WAY, THE MAPS ARE NOT SOMETHING YOU THROW TOGETHER IN 5 MINUTES, IT TAKES A LOT OF THOUGHT. IN ALL, JUST OVER SIX MONTHS, OUR INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION HELD TEN PUBLIC MEETINGS, FOUR OF WHICH WERE PUBLIC HEARINGS, REVIEWED HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND POURED OVER DETAILED CONSENSUS DATA.

ANYONE WATCHING THEIR DELIBERATIONS COULD CLEARLY SEE THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY THIS DECISION OF THIS DECISION WEIGHED HEAVILY ON EACH COMMISSIONER.

THEY HAD SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS.

DOES THAT MEAN ARGUING? [LAUGHTER] SOMETIMES NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE.

WHEN MAKING A DECISION LIKE THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES.

LIKE ANY DECISION, THERE ARE TRADEOFFS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO WORK THROUGH THAT IS TO TALK ABOUT IT, ASK QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS. THE COMMISSION DID JUST THAT AND MORE, MAKING ITS FINAL DECISION ON FEBRUARY 17TH. ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL OF THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT INTO CHOOSING THE FINAL MAP.

WE COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A MORE THOUGHTFUL GROUP OF RESIDENTS TO TAKE ON THIS IMPORTANT TASK.

AS I READ THE NAMES OF THE COMMISSIONERS, I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND [INAUDIBLE] WHERE IS SHE? OH, THERE SHE IS. SHE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR CERTIFICATE OF THANK YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE NAMES, BUT I'M GOING TO CALL THE CHAIR FINALLY SO HE CAN SAY A FEW WORDS. SO I'M GOING TO START WITH MARY STANLEY.

NANCY ARNDT.

AARON HARRIS.

GAYLE CADWALLADER.

GRETCHEN ASHTON.

TERESE SARDINA.

DULCE MIRANDA.

THOMAS PILCHER.

AND OUR CHAIR, MICHAEL FABIANO.

AND MICHAEL IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO WERE JUST RECOGNIZED.

[00:05:02]

IT'S ON, IT'S ON.

DO I JUST NEED TO STAND CLOSER TO IT.

YES, SIR. THERE YOU GO AGAIN.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO WERE JUST RECOGNIZED.

WE ALL WE ALL WORKED HARD.

MAYBE I'LL STAND BACK A LITTLE FURTHER.

[LAUGHTER] WE ALL WORKED HARD.

WE CONSIDERED AS THE MAYOR PRO TEM, MENTIONED 75 MAPS AND WENT THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND EVERYONE GAVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO IT.

THE COMMUNITY INPUT WAS HELPFUL.

THE THE MAPS WE RECEIVED WERE HELPFUL.

AND AGAIN, THERE WAS A LOT OF SPIRITED DISCUSSION BECAUSE THERE ARE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT IT.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD EXCHANGES BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS, I THINK.

I THINK THE PROCESS IS A GOOD ONE.

I THINK IT WILL SERVE IT SERVED THE CITY WELL.

IT WILL SERVE THE CITY WELL AGAIN IN TEN YEARS WHEN A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES COMES TOGETHER TO DO IT.

AND AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD PROCESS.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF WHO HELPED US OUT AND THE NATIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC CORPORATION FOR THEIR WORK IN HELPING US GO THROUGH THE MAPS AS WELL.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND THE WHOLE GROUP.

THAT WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.

[APPLAUSE] MS. BREWER CLOSED SESSION.

WE HAVE NO REPORTABLE ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

PLEASE TREAT OTHERS WITH COURTESY, CIVILITY AND RESPECT.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY PROVIDING COMMENTS AS PROVIDED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THIS AGENDA.

THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE COMMENTS AS REQUESTED UP TO A TOTAL OF 15 MINUTES IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.

ALL OTHER NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT.

NO ACTION CAN OCCUR ON THESE ITEMS. WE WELCOME CLAPPING DURING THE CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. HOWEVER, WE ASK YOU TO REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING DURING BUSINESS SECTION OF THE MEETING, STARTING WITH NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S BUSINESS CAN BE CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND THAT THIS CHAMBER IS A PLACE WHERE ALL POINTS OF VIEW ARE WELCOMED AND RESPECTED.

CITY CLERK. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS RUBY, FOLLOWED BY MAYA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS RUBY AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND ATTEND SCHOOL IN DISTRICT THREE.

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO LIVE HERE IN CARLSBAD AND I'M CONSTANTLY REMINDED OF HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE GROWN UP HERE.

BUT LIKE ANY COMMUNITY, CARLSBAD IS NOT IMMUNE TO THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THAT FACE US TODAY. MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS A PROBLEM FACING EVERYONE IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO SOCIALIZE, NEED SOCIALIZATION, TO GROW INTO MATURE AND AWARE CITIZENS.

SO ISOLATION BECAME A BURDEN.

NOT TO MENTION THAT SEEING OUR FRIENDS AT SCHOOL AND BEING ABLE TO GO TO RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS KEEPS US HAPPY AND BRINGS JOY TO OUR LIVES, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THIS PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH DECLINED.

I BELIEVE CARLSBAD NEEDS TO BRING AWARENESS TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ITS CITIZENS. THE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, BY PROMOTING MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES AND WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE CITY WOULD BE HELPING THEIR STUDENTS AND CITIZENS STAY AWARE AND ON TOP OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

BESIDES THIS, THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS NOT ONLY TO MAKE MENTAL HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT ALSO TO DECREASE THE STIGMA AND PREJUDICE SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL STIGMAS AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH CONTRIBUTE TO THE LACK OF PEOPLE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

I PROPOSE A CITYWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH.

THIS WOULD BE A MULTIFACETED CAMPAIGN TARGETED AT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, USING EXISTING CITY RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THE CARLSBAD COMMUNITY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE CITY COULD USE THE LIBRARY TO SCREEN MOVIES ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, HAVE INFORMATION BOOTHS AT THE FARMERS MARKET IN CARLSBAD VILLAGE, OR EVEN HOST SPEAKERS TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA.

THIS INITIATIVE COULD ALSO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY TRAINING THROUGH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH, SO THAT MORE CITIZENS OF CARLSBAD ARE EDUCATED ON MENTAL

[00:10:05]

THE CITY COULD ALSO DONATE MONEY TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

I BELIEVE WE AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD DO MORE TO BRING AWARENESS, TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF CARLSBAD CITIZENS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF CARLSBAD COULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BY STEPPING UP TO DO MORE AND MAKE OUR ALREADY AMAZING COMMUNITY EVEN BETTER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS PRESSING ISSUE.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MAYA, FOLLOWED BY EMILY GUTIERREZ.

HI MY NAME IS MAYA.

I'M A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND A RESIDENT HERE AT CARLSBAD.

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING REGARDING E-BIKE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

E-BIKE SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I SEE ALMOST ACCIDENTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS JUST ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL.

AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, THERE ARE PLENTY OF E-BIKE GROUPS, TYPICALLY TEENAGERS, WHO BEHAVE INAPPROPRIATELY AND DANGEROUSLY TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

I URGE THE CITY TO TAKE GREATER ACTION TOWARDS E-BIKE SAFETY AND BEHAVIOR.

MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN E-BIKERS BREAK PIVOTAL SAFETY LAWS WITH LITTLE REGARD OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.

I'VE SEEN MANY TEENAGERS SHOW NO AWARENESS OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS, WHETHER THEY'RE IGNORANT OR OBLIVIOUS.

THIS POSES A DANGER NOT ONLY TO THEMSELVES, BUT DRIVERS, BIKERS AND PEDESTRIANS.

VIOLATION OF SAFETY LAWS INCREASES THE POTENTIAL OF ACCIDENTS.

ALTHOUGH I'VE HEARD THAT THERE ARE E-BIKE SAFETY COURSES HELD LAST YEAR, WE NEED MORE.

FROM CHRISTMAS TO BIRTHDAYS THE AMOUNT OF TEENS WHO HAVE RECEIVED E-BIKES HAS DRASTICALLY RISEN. I BELIEVE THE CITY COULD DO MORE TO HELP KEEP OUR STREETS SAFER FOR EVERYONE.

E-BIKE SAFETY SHOULD BE PROMINENT IN OUR CITY.

I BELIEVE THAT MANY COULD BENEFIT FROM MORE SAFETY COURSES, SUCH AS THE ONES PREVIOUSLY HELD, ALONG WITH REINFORCEMENT FROM SAFETY OFFICERS GIVING WARNINGS AND FURTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION IF NEEDED.

THE CITY COULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM WELL MARKED SAFETY SIGNS AND ROAD SIGNS, ALONG WITH PARTNERING WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT ALL E-BIKERS ARE BEING SAFE AND CAUTIOUS.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION REGARDING COMMUNITY SAFETY.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, THIS GENTLEMAN OVER HERE TO THE TO YOUR RIGHT, I BELIEVE, IS CHIEF WILLIAMS, AND HE'D BE GLAD TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALSO ON THIS THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS EMILY GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY TARA CRUDEN.

HELLO. MY NAME IS EMILY GUTIERREZ.

I'M AN 18 YEAR OLD AND A CARLSBAD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CURRENTLY ATTENDING MIRA COSTA COLLEGE. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CARLSBAD AND ISSUES REGARDING MY FAMILY, MY COMMUNITY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE TO MY HEART.

RECENTLY, THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE CAME OUT WITH A REPORT SAYING THAT SEA SEA LEVELS COULD RISE BY A FOOT OR MORE BY 2050.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY OF CARLSBAD? OUR ENTIRE SAN DIEGO REGION COULD BE SEEING DISAPPEARING BEACHES AND WETLANDS.

THIS WILL BRING OUR MAJOR EFFECT ON CARLSBAD BEING A BEACH TOWN.

THIS WILL HURT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND DISPLACE PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES AND JEOPARDIZE FOOD AND WATER SUPPLY.

AND IT'S TIME FOR US NOW AS A COMMUNITY TO FURTHER REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

TO DO SO, I BELIEVE WE MUST SERIOUSLY RETHINK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

ACCORDING TO AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION.

ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSIT CONTRIBUTE TO AN ANNUAL SAVING OF 4.2 BILLION GALLONS OF FUEL ANNUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ANNUAL SAVINGS IS $10,605 FOR A PERSON WHO SWITCHES HIS OR HER DAILY COMMUTE BY CAR OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

CITIES MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAVE ALREADY REDUCED OUR COUNTRY'S CARBON EMISSIONS BY 37 METRIC TONS METRIC TONS A YEAR.

CALIFORNIA IS THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO SAY IT WILL BAN SALES OF NEW INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OR GAS POWERED VEHICLES BY 2035.

IF THIS BAN HOLDS, MANY PEOPLE MAY PREFER TO RELY ON ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RATHER THAN SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON ELECTRIC CARS.

MANY LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND STUDENTS LIKE ME MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A NEW ELECTRIC CAR REGARDLESS OF SUBSIDIES THAT MAY BE OFFERED.

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, LIVING IN CARLSBAD, I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELY MUCH ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THERE IS A LACK OF BUS STOPS THROUGHOUT THE CITIES, AND MANY OF THE STOPS AND STATIONS ARE LOCATED FAR AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER IN ISOLATED, INCONVENIENT AREAS.

THE TRAINS HAVE VERY LIMITED STOPS AND DIFFICULT TIMES TO ACCOMMODATE TO EVERYONE'S SCHEDULE. CARLSBAD SHOULD BRING BACK THE CARLSBAD COMMUTER THAT WAS STOPPED DUE TO COVID 19. EFFORTS LIKE BRINGING BACK THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO USE DIFFERENT WAYS OF ECO FRIENDLY COMMUTING.

CARLSBAD COMMUTER PROGRAM STATES.

[00:15:01]

THIS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP TO PROMOTING USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONS.

CARLSBAD NEEDS TO PARTNER WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO IMPROVE OUR BUS SHUTTLES AND TRAINS. SUCH IMPROVEMENTS WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE A HUGE INVESTMENT, BUT WELL WORTH IT.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SHOULDN'T BE VIEWED AS A LAST OPTION OF TRANSPORTATION.

RATHER, IT SHOULD BE A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING A CAR.

IT IS CLEAR THAT WE MUST ACT NOW ON LOWERING GREENHOUSE GASES AND CARBON EMISSIONS OR THE DAMAGE WILL BE IRREVOCABLE.

THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO MY PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TARA CRUDEN, FOLLOWED BY KATHERINE PARKER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TARA CRUDEN.

I LIVE IN CARLSBAD, DISTRICT TWO AND I'M A STUDENT AT SAGE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

GROWING UP, THERE WAS A LARGE POPULATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

BECAUSE OF THIS, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS WITH ME ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO BE HOMELESS. AND I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO TREAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND COMPASSION. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I BEGAN VOLUNTEERING AT A SOUP KITCHEN WHERE I WAS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH.

THIS IS WHY IT SADDENS ME WHEN I SEE HOMELESS PEOPLE BEING TREATED AS LESS THAN HUMAN, WHEN THEY ARE CALLED DEROGATORY NAMES OR WHEN THEIR STRUGGLES ARE DISREGARDED.

IT'S A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE DRUG ADDICTS OR MENTALLY ILL.

IN REALITY, ONLY 12-15% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHILE 25 -40% STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION.

ALTHOUGH THE PERCENTAGE IS STRUGGLING WITH THESE ISSUES STILL NEED OUR SUPPORT.

THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF REASONS A PERSON CAN BE HOMELESS, AND IT WOULD BE UNTRUE TO SAY THAT THEY MAKE UP THE ENTIRE POPULATION.

THESE MISCONCEPTIONS CAN CREATE HARMFUL STEREOTYPES THAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO TREAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH DISRESPECT OR JUDGMENT.

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME THINGS WE MAY STRUGGLE WITH. THE MAJORITY OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION ARE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO GET AN EDUCATION. THESE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES AND THEY ARE DESERVING OF OUR COMPASSION AND OUR SUPPORT.

YET HOMELESSNESS IS A BROAD ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MISCONCEPTIONS SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS CANNOT BE FIXED IN ONE DAY.

SO THIS IS ALL I ASK OF YOU.

PLEASE HAVE EMPATHY WHEN CONSIDERING SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS.

AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THE POWER TO PUT LAWS INTO PLACE THAT AFFECT THE HOMELESS POPULATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE EDUCATION THAT EDUCATING VOTERS ON THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS IS VITAL TO ENSURING THAT THE LAWS WE PUT INTO PLACE ARE HUMANE AND SHOW OUR CONCERN FOR THIS ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

EACH HOMELESS PERSON IS SOMEBODY'S PARENT, SOMEBODY'S SIBLING, OR SOMEBODY'S CHILD.

THEY ARE NOT POLITICAL ISSUES OR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OFF THE STREETS.

THEY'RE HUMANS JUST LIKE US.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHERINE PARKER.

GOING TO HAVE QUITE A SHIFT IN AGE HERE.

VERY ENCOURAGING TO ME TO HEAR ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALL THEIR GOOD CAUSES.

AND I AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM.

I LIVE ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM.

COULD YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC OR RAISE THE MIC UP.

I DIDN'T WANT IT TO MAKE ALL THOSE BAD NOISES.

I LIVE ABOUT THREE BLOCKS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I WANT TO SHARE VERY BRIEFLY WITH YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS.

IF YOU AREN'T PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

MEANING, IF YOU DON'T TAKE DIRECT ACTION TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, YOU'RE AN OBSTACLE TO CHANGE. I WOULD BE PROUD IF THE CITY I'VE LIVED IN AND RAISED CHILDREN IN FOR THE LAST 47 YEARS WAS PART OF THE SOLUTION.

ALL REPORTS POINT TO FACTS.

WE ARE NOT ON TRACK TO REACH OUR TARGETS FOR REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS.

BUILDINGS ACCOUNT FOR 30% OF CARBON EMISSIONS, SO ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE ALL ELECTRIC. I REALIZE OUR ELECTRIC GRID IS NOT 100% RENEWABLE, BUT IT'S GETTING MORE RENEWABLE EVERY YEAR.

ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS COST LESS TO BUILD, ARE HEALTHIER FOR OCCUPANTS, AND IN THE LONG RUN WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR HOMEOWNERS.

IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO DIRECT STAFF TO GENERATE BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION ORDINANCES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY.

THANKS. THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF NON AGENDA PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

THE REST WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

[00:20:01]

ANYONE WISH TO PULL A CONSENT ITEM? MOTION. PLEASE MOVE APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 1-4, SECOND.

PLEASE CALL ROLL. CONSENT CALENDAR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[5. NEW CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ]

MR. CHADWICK, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE INTRODUCTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR AND MAKING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS OUR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, CINDIE MCMAHON, ALONG WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES DIRECTOR SHEILA COBIAN. LADIES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE MR. CHADWICK SAID. I'M SHEILA COBIAN AND WITH ME IS ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY CINDY MCMAHON AND UP ON THE DAIS IS FABIOLA MEDINA, WHO ALSO CONTRIBUTED IN THIS EFFORT FOR THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION AND SELECTING A NEW MAP.

THIS EVENING THE ACTION BEFORE YOU IS TO ACTUALLY INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL CODIFY THE NEW MAP INTO OUR MUNICIPAL CODE.

[INAUDIBLE] BACKGROUND ABOUT EVERY TEN YEARS.

WELL, EVERY TEN YEARS AFTER THE FEDERAL CENSUS, THE CITY MUST REDRAW ITS DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. THE DISTRICTS MUST HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL POPULATIONS, COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE CONSTITUTIONS, AND COMPLY WITH FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 AND THE STATE FAIR MAPS ACT.

I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE CENSUS DATA CAME OUT VERY LATE DUE TO COVID 19, AND ALSO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAD TO ADJUST THE POPULATION DATA BASED ON THE PRISON POPULATION.

SO THE COMMISSION REALLY HAD THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

SO THE COUNCIL FORMED THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION LAST SUMMER AND IT WAS SELECTED BY RANDOM DRAW ON JULY 13TH.

AND AS MAYOR PRO TEM BLACKBURN MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY HELD SIX MEETINGS AND FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. AT ITS FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 17TH, THE COMMISSION ADOPTED A NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARY MAP.

AND I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT OF THE FOUR FINAL MAPS THAT THEY CHOSE, THE ONE THAT THEY SELECTED BASICALLY DISPLACED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF VOTERS SO THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEIR VOTING DISTRICTS.

AND THE NEW DISTRICT MAP DID BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION.

HERE'S THE NEW MAP.

AND IT WAS. SO IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT MAP IN THAT EACH DISTRICT DOES TOUCH A PIECE OF THE COAST.

SO THE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT WILL APPLY TO DISTRICT ONE AND THREE IN THE NOVEMBER 2022 ELECTION AND DISTRICTS TWO AND FOUR BEGINNING WITH THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION. AND IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE CURRENT TERMS OF INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO WITH THIS ACTION, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE MAP IN OUR MUNICIPAL CODE.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. [INAUDIBLE] OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.

NO COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. DR.

BHAT-PATEL. YES, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK OUR STAFF AND THE COMMISSION FOR THE HARD WORK.

I KNOW IT WAS A LONG PROCESS.

IT REQUIRED A LOT OF SPIRITED DISCUSSION.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT WAS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

AND I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM US REMOVING OURSELVES FROM THE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS FOR A MORE FAIR AND JUST OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WAY TO JUST MOVE, MOVE THIS ALONG.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR STAFF FOR GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE MEETINGS.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.

THANK YOU. LIKEWISE.

I WANTED TO THANK STAFF AND THANK THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL ABOUT WHETHER WE OUGHT TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THE COUNCIL FROM MAKING ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OR OR FINALLY APPROVING THE MAPS. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE DID REMOVE OURSELVES FROM THE LOOP.

I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY FAIR AND VERY INDEPENDENT, SO I WAS REALLY PLEASED AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON IT TO STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY. MOTION.

IT. I'M SORRY. YES AN INTRODUCTION.

THANK YOU IS THE COUNCIL READY? THANK YOU. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA.

AMENDING CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.070.

SUBDIVISION A TO INCLUDE THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BOUNDARY MAP APPROVED BY THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

MOVE INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE CONTAINED IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.

AND THE ITEM PASSAGE UNANIMOUSLY.

ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION ITEM SIX ORDINANCE CS-416 POLITICAL NONCOMMERCIAL SIGNS IN THE

[6. ORDINANCE NO. CS-416 – POLITICAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL SIGNS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ]

[00:25:04]

THANK YOU THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 11.44.070.

TEMPORARY, POLITICAL AND OTHER NONCOMMERCIAL SIGNS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

ANY SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.

MOVE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE CONTAINED IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.

SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.

AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[7. ORDINANCE NO. CS-417 – POSITION OF THE CITY CLERK ]

THANK YOU THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF AND ADDING A SECTION TO THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE POSITION OF CITY CLERK TO TAKE EFFECT ONLY IF THE VOTERS AT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON JUNE 7TH, 2022, APPROVE MAKING THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK APPOINTED.

SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.

NO SPEAKERS OKAY.

MOVE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE CONTAINED IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

SECOND. PLEASE VOTE.

ITEM SEVEN PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER

[8. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK PLAN ]

MR. CHADWICK INTRODUCTIONS.

GREAT. THANK YOU, SIR. AND AS OUR TEAM IS MAKING THEIR WAY UP TO THE MIC, JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT THIS WHEN WE PARTICIPATE IN THE GOAL SETTING PROCESS LAST YEAR COUNCIL ENDED UP ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WANT TO SEE IS A DEI COMPONENT THAT WAS BASICALLY FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND CONSISTENTLY SO THAT WE WERE KIND OF FRONT AND CENTER IN OUR MINDS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS COUNCIL DID DO IS AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF A POSITION WHICH ACTUALLY WE HAVE STANDING BEFORE US TODAY.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND KICK THAT OFF AND INTRODUCE OUR SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, NANCY [INABUDBILE] BURKE, AS WELL AS OUR MANAGEMENT ANALYST ESTHER LAN, AND OUR PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN, ANDREA HILLIARD.

AND I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THESE ARE THREE OF OUR MEMBERS, THAT OF OUR DEI TEAM.

AND WE ENDED UP DOING A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A WORK PLAN. BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL THAT THIS IS MORE OF A INTERNAL FACING OR A FOCUSED EFFORT. AND AGAIN, WE WANTED TO BRING THAT BEFORE COUNCIL AND ULTIMATELY HAVE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU NANCY.

THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM NANCY [INAUDIBLE] BURKE, I HAVE SHE/HER PRONOUNS AND I AM THE SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

THIS EVENING, PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN OF LIBRARY AND CULTURAL ARTS, ANDREW HILLIARD, TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ANALYST OF PUBLIC WORKS ESTHER LAN AND I ARE INTRODUCING ACTION FOR CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK PLAN.

AN OVERVIEW OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION INCLUDES BACKGROUND, SOME CONTEXT SETTING HOW WE GOT HERE SUMMARY OF THE WORK PLAN AND RECOMMENDED ACTION.

HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A DEI WORKPLAN WHICH SUPPORTS AN ENGAGED, BEST PERFORMING WORKPLACE AND SUPPORTS HOW WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

A DIVERSE WORKPLACE CAN GENERATE INNOVATIVE THINKING OR STRATEGIES, REACH DIFFERENT MARKETS AND CLIENTELE, INCREASE CULTURAL AWARENESS, AND PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING OR RELATABILITY. LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIED THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK PLAN IS TO FURTHER ACTIVATE THESE BENEFITS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.

OUR RECOMMENDED ACTION IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE TWO YEAR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORKPLAN.

NOW WE PRESENT A BRIEF TWO MINUTE VIDEO OF CITY EMPLOYEES VIEWS WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF OUR DEI COMMITTEE.

[VIDEO] WHEN I THINK OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, I THINK OF ACCESS.

I THINK OF ACCESS TO A SENSE OF BELONGING.

IT'S ABOUT GROWING. IT'S BASICALLY ABOUT EXPANDING.

AND THAT'S NOT THAT REPRESENTS EVERYONE AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST A PARTICULAR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT FIT INTO SPECIAL GROUP.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS A VOICE AND IDENTITY.

I THINK THAT DEI ALLOWS THE ABILITY FOR EVERYBODY TO BE RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED WHEN IT COMES. I JUST FEEL LIKE IT BRINGS [INAUDIBLE] EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS TO

[00:30:02]

ALL DIFFERENT RACES AND CREEDS AND IDEAS COMING TOGETHER TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN AN ETHICAL AND MORAL MATTER.

IT'S WHEN TEAM MEMBERS FEEL VALUED AND ACCEPTED AND THEY'LL FEEL HAPPIER IN OUR WORKPLACE . A DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT INVITES EVERYONE TO BELONG IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PLACE THAT WE ALL WANT TO BE LIVE IN, IN CARLSBAD.

BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO BREAK DOWN THOSE SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS AND IT HELPS US STRIVE TO DO BETTER AS HUMANS.

ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO SHOW UP FOR WORK AS THEIR TRUE SELVES BECAUSE EMPLOYEE EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT WORK WE DO INSTEAD OF THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US.

IT HELPS GIVE EVERYBODY A VOICE AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN HAVE SHARED EXPERIENCES AND SHARED CULTURES.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION CENTERS IN ON THE INDIVIDUALITY OF EVERYBODY AND ACKNOWLEDGES AND AMPLIFIES AND APPRECIATES.

YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS LIFE TOGETHER. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE FACES SHOWN IN THE VIDEO HERE.

OUR DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION COMMITTEE MEMBERS WENT THROUGH AN APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS.

THE COMMITTEE CREATED A CHARTER WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN MARCH 2021.

THE COMMITTEE THEN COLLECTIVELY ORGANIZED THE WORKPLAN, INCORPORATING INPUT GATHERED FROM CITY EMPLOYEES.

NEXT, I'LL LIST WAYS.

DIVERSITY. EQUITY.

NEXT, I'LL LIST WAYS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION EFFORTS SHOW UP IN COMMITTEES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE REGION.

IN TERMS OF STAFFING THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED AND FILLED.

THEY ARE CHIEF RACE AND EQUITY OFFICER, DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY AND EQUITY DIRECTOR.

ORGANIZATIONALLY, THEY'RE EQUITY MINDED COMMITTEES IN LOCAL CITIES AS WELL AS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND OR SOCIAL JUSTICE OFFICES.

EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION INCLUDE POLICE PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS AROUND DE-ESCALATION POLICIES.

THERE'S A DEI REGIONAL CONSORTIUM WHICH COMPRISES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ALSO PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EQUITY OR GARE.

NOW I WILL HIGHLIGHT DEI MILESTONES AT A GLANCE.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH MARCH 2020, WHICH WAS A TUMULTUOUS YEAR.

WE HAD THE PANDEMIC, THE QUARANTINE.

THIS IS, OF COURSE, COMPOUNDED WITH LOSSES OF JOBS, LIVES, AN UPTICK OF XENOPHOBIA.

THERE'S ALSO RACIAL TENSIONS AND AGGRESSIONS IN COMMUNITY AND POLICE RELATIONS.

IN SEPTEMBER 2020, THE DEI SURVEY IS LAUNCHED CITYWIDE.

SOME OF THE SURVEY DATA WAS USED TO INFORM THE DEI WORK PLAN.

IN FEBRUARY 2021, THE DEI COMMITTEE IS FORMALLY ANNOUNCED AND INTRODUCED.

JUNE 2021 CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE POSITION AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.

AND FROM JANUARY 11TH THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2022, EMPLOYMENT ENGAGEMENT SURVEY WAS OPENED.

WE GOT A 76% RESPONSE RATE WHICH EXCEEDS THE TWO THIRDS BENCHMARK.

ALSO WITH DEI ELEMENTS ADDED.

LET ME BACK UP HERE FOR A MOMENT.

IN DECEMBER 2021, THE DEI PROPOSED WORKPLAN WAS FINALIZED, AND THIS INCLUDED FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEE.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE PRESENT AS WE PREPARE TO IMPLEMENT ACTIONS OUTLINED IN OUR WORKPLAN. THIS GRAPH OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA IN WHICH CITY EMPLOYEES RACIAL IDENTITIES ARE REPRESENTED IN GRAY IN RELATION TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY, REPRESENTED IN BLUE AND THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IN ORANGE.

THE NUMBERS ARE PERCENTAGES AND THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE RACIAL GROUPS ARE LISTED ON THE BOTTOM. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE THAT WE KNOW THAT RACIAL IDENTITY IS ONLY ONE DIMENSION OF DIVERSITY.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS IT ON TO ESTHER AT THIS TIME.

THE WORK PLAN PURPOSE IS INTENTIONAL IN CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND AMPLIFYING MARGINALIZED VOICES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

IT IS ONGOING IN NATURE, SCALABLE AND SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.

WITH VARIABLE RESOURCES AND AIMS TO DISMANTLE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS.

[00:35:01]

SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS WORK PLAN WILL ENSURE THAT DEI REMAINS AN UNDERLYING VALUE THAT GUIDES EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE IN THE CITY, FROM BUDGETING TO STAFFING, TO PROGRAMING. NEXT SLIDE.

GOAL ONE FOCUSES ON ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND READINESS IT ASSESSES THE CURRENT STATE OF DEI, COLLECTS RESEARCH ON BEST PRACTICES AND BUILDS INTERNAL CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT DEI INITIATIVES. NOW, THIS COULD LOOK LIKE THE IDENTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITIES TO INCORPORATE DEI CONCEPTS INTO EXISTING MANDATORY TRAININGS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHEN FEASIBLE AND ESTABLISHING DEFINED DEFINING ROLES FOR DEI CHAMPIONS AND CHANGE TEAMS WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT. NEXT SLIDE.

NOW GOAL TWO FOCUS IS INITIATIVES SURROUNDING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

IT LOOKS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN A WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS VALUES OF DEI AND DEVELOP SKILL SETS FOR WORKING IN AN INCLUSIVE AND RESPECTFUL MANNER WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE TO EXTEND OUR MULTILINGUAL OR BILINGUAL PAY TO ALL EMPLOYEES. NEXT SLIDE.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL HAND THE PRESENTATION TO ANDREA.

THANK YOU. GOAL THREE EQUITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY WILL APPLY AN EQUITY LENS APPROACH TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY BOTH BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

APPLYING A DEI OR EQUITY LENS TO KEY DECISIONS CONFIRMS DEI IS CONSIDERED IN ALL AREAS OF CITY OPERATIONS.

THIS GOAL ENSURES ACCESSIBILITY TO CITY SERVICES FOR ALL AND DIVERSIFIES PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING TO DIRECT SYSTEMATIC INCORPORATION OF DEI IN EXISTING POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

ONE WORK PLAN ACTION BY THIS GOAL IS TO RECOMMEND WAYS FOR CITYWIDE FORMS AND MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC TO BE WRITTEN IN OTHER LANGUAGES.

NEXT SLIDE. GOAL FOUR AN ENVIRONMENT OF INCLUSION THAT WELCOMES AND RESPECTS EVERYONE WILL BE ACHIEVED BY THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES THAT REINFORCE DEI AS A VALUE AND ENCOURAGE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

AN ENVIRONMENT OF INCLUSION CREATES A WELCOMING, NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND GOAL FOUR INCLUDES RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING DEI SUCCESSES.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS GOAL IS TO HOST LISTENING CIRCLES AND AFFINITY GROUPS, WHICH BOTH OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS.

WE CAN OFFER THESE ON A REGULAR BASIS IN VARIOUS FORMATS FOR EMPLOYEES TO RESPECTFULLY SHARE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT ALL LEVELS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. NEXT SLIDE.

IN THIS PRESENTATION, FOUR SHORT TERM ACTIONS WILL BE DESCRIBED.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS FOR STAFF.

THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HOLIDAYS WITH CULTURAL RELEVANCE.

THE AFFIRMATION AND OPTIONAL USE OF GENDER PRONOUNS.

AND NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS RELATIONS AND LAND.

NEXT, WE WILL SHARE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE FOUR ACTIONS.

NEXT SLIDE. EMPLOYEE TRAININGS ARE A SHORT TERM ACTION THAT CAN BE DELIVERED WITHIN A DIVERSE, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE FRAMEWORK.

TRAININGS WILL FACILITATE ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BY PROVIDING CLOSED CAPTIONING ON POSTED VIDEO RECORDINGS AND TRAINING HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO HAVE MORE DETAILED NUANCED TOPIC PRESENTATION TO PROMOTE DIALOG.

RECENT TRAININGS INCLUDE ELLIE KRUG'S, GRAY AREA THINKING AND DR.

EDWINA WELCH'S DON'T BE AFRAID OF RACE, TALK, POWER AND DIALOG AT THE INTERSECTIONS.

TRAINING SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS DEVELOPED AND CHOSEN FOR DEI THEMES CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND INCLUSIVITY, WHILE CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG CITY EMPLOYEES. NEXT SLIDE.

THE SHORT TERM GOAL ACTION REGARDING HOLIDAYS IS PART OF THE WORK PLAN'S GOAL FOR ACTION TO PROMOTE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THIS SHORT TERM ACTION EVALUATES ALL CURRENT CITY HOLIDAYS SUCH AS COLUMBUS DAY AND APPLIES A DEI LENS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CITY RECOGNIZED HOLIDAYS ARE RESPECTFUL, INCLUSIVE, SUCH AS THE HOLIDAYS UP ON THE SLIDE AND ALSO OTHER FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED HOLIDAYS.

NEXT SLIDE. ANOTHER SHORT TERM ACTION CONCERNS GENDER PRONOUNS.

GENDER IDENTITY IS SELF DETERMINING AND IS ONE'S INTERNAL SENSE OF THEIR GENDER SORRY, ONE'S INTERNAL SENSE OF SELF AND THEIR GENDER.

THIS ACTION INCLUDES AN INVITATION FOR EMPLOYEES TO OPTIONALLY SHARE PRONOUNS IF THEY CHOOSE ON EMAIL SIGNATURES IN PERSON, ON BUSINESS CARDS AND ON NAME BADGES.

THIS ACTION ALIGNS WITH CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 179, THE GENDER RECOGNITION ACT, WHICH WAS ENACTED IN JANUARY 2019 AND WHOSE LEAD AUTHORS INCLUDE LOCAL SENATOR TONI ATKINS.

[00:40:05]

NEXT SLIDE. OUR FOURTH SHORT TERM ACTION IS TO PROMOTE NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS, RELATIONS AND LAND.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS HOME TO THE MOST FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED RESERVATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, TOTALING 18.

CARLSBAD IS ON LAND OF LUIS SANO [INAUDIBLE] KUMEYAAY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP CULTURAL AND LAND AWARENESS, WHICH ALIGNS WITH CARLSBAD'S COMMUNITY VALUES OF HISTORY, ARTS, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION. WE CAN DO THIS BY MODELING RESPECTFUL RELATIONS WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND INDIVIDUALS. REGIONAL EXAMPLES OF NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS OF RELATIONS AND LAND AND I'LL BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND AGENCIES INCLUDE SACRAMENTO, THE CAPITAL OF OUR STATE, WHICH HAS A RESOLUTION OF LAND RELATIONS AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

ALSO SANDAG SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS WORKS WITH TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

THEY HAVE AN INTERAGENCY TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON TRIBAL TRANSPORTATION.

SO THEY COME TOGETHER.

THEY ROTATE THEIR MEETINGS AND THEY MEET ON SEVERAL RESERVATIONS.

ALSO, SAN DIEGO ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE, SAN DIEGO NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRACTICES, LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, COLLEGES AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND THEATERS SUCH AS NEW VILLAGE ARTS IN CARLSBAD.

REGARDING THE WORK PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.

THE TIME FRAME IS APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS FOR MOST ACTIVITIES, UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS ONGOING ITERATIVE WORK.

REGARDING BUDGET AND RESOURCES.

BUDGET RESOURCES WILL BE REQUESTED DURING THE CITY'S REGULAR BUDGET CYCLE OR AS PRIORITIZED WITH DEI STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

REGARDING MEASUREMENT PERFORMANCE METRICS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND NOTED IN THE DEI ANNUAL REPORT. THE DEI COMMITTEE THANKS MEMBERS OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEE WHO PROVIDED DIRECTION, FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE FOR DEI INITIATIVES.

THEY ARE SCOTT CHADWICK CITY MANAGER.

PAZ GOMEZ, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, PUBLIC WORKS.

MICHAEL CALDERWOOD, CHIEF FIRE DEPARTMENT.

LAURA ROCHA, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND JUDY VAN KALINOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE DEI COMMITTEE, WE RECOMMEND ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE TWO YEAR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORKPLAN.

THANK YOU THAT CONCLUDES THIS PRESENTATION AND WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? DO WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS.

THE FIRST SPEAKER, KATIE TAYLOR, FOLLOWED BY TAMARA DIXON.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO HOLD MY ANGER RIGHT NOW.

YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF CARLSBAD AND KEEP THIS CITY SAFE.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU LADIES HAVE DONE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF CRAP TO ME.

WE HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED EACH OTHER IN CARLSBAD AND THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO DO NOTHING TO PROTECT MY DAUGHTER, WHOSE HOME WAS JUST BROKEN, TRIED TO BE BROKEN INTO IN DISTRICT ONE BY A HOMELESS PERSON.

SO HERE WE ARE CALIFORNIA IS BURNING DOWN.

CARLSBAD IS BURNING DOWN WITH HOMELESS CRIME.

$6 GAS ANYBODY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? EVEN ELON MUSK PETER NORBY SAID WE SHOULD GET OUR FOSSIL FUELS GOING AND SAVE THIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMY.

I CAN'T EVEN EXPRESS HOW ANGRY I AM AT THE CITY COUNCIL RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE THAT THINK PRONOUNS ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR CITY ANY BETTER.

SO KATIE KATIE.

WHAT? I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.

I AM SO MAD I CAN'T EVEN TALK. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO LET'S HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON.

I'LL EVEN START YOUR TIME OVER.

THANK YOU. PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO ME.

I WILL. AND WE WILL LISTEN VERY CLOSELY.

I PROMISE YOU THAT.

THANK YOU. LAST WEEK WE ALREADY KNOW BECAUSE I CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY GRANDSON WAS STALKED BY A HOMELESS PERSON.

MY GRANDSON.

THIS WAS VERY TRAUMATIC FOR HIM.

NOW, JUST LAST FIVE DAYS, MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES ACROSS FROM PINE STREET PARK, A HOMELESS PERSON, WAS TRYING TO BREAK INTO THEIR HOUSE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS SHOULD BE CONCERNING YOURSELF WITH, NOT STRAWS.

TERESA ACOSTA NOT CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT'S OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.

AND ARE YOU SENDING A REPRESENTATIVE UP TO SACRAMENTO TO PUSH BACK ON ALL THIS?

[00:45:01]

COUNTY? WE'RE THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SECTION THAT WE'RE STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAVE.

AND WE'RE LISTENING TO THIS DRIVEL ABOUT DEI.

AND PETER NORBY, YOU CONGRATULATED CHURCHILL.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND LISTEN TO THE CRT JUNK THEY'RE PROMOTING? AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE YOUNG WOMEN THAT CAME IN AND SPOKE.

THEY HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE ABOUT WHAT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS DOING, AND NEITHER DOES THIS CITY COUNCIL.

AND I'M SICK OF COMING IN HERE AND TELLING YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY FAMILY IN DISTRICT ONE AND NOTHING GETS ANY BETTER.

AND YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO MAKE IT ANY BETTER? SHE HE HER.

IF YOU DO. YOU'VE ALL LOST SIGHT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO LET CARLSBAD BE DESTROYED AS CALIFORNIA IS BEING DESTROYED.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WAKE YOU PEOPLE UP.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMARA DIXON.

HELLO. MAYOR MATT.

DON'T SMILE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO BE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT.

OKAY, I AM TALKING ABOUT CRT AND DEI, AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PARENTS REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS.

I'M THINKING, OKAY, I WATCH A LOT OF PARENTS GOING TO SCHOOL BOARDS, JUST SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILD OR THEIR CHILDREN BEING TAUGHT THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT INCLUDING EVERYONE.

IT'S BEING SEPARATED.

THESE PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, BUT IT'S NOT.

IT'S PUTTING WHITE PEOPLE, WHITE KIDS AGAINST THE BLACK KIDS.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE HOMEWORK THAT YOU THAT YOU GIVE TO THE KIDS AND THAT THAT'S REFUSED TO BE TAKEN HOME.

I'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF THAT.

IT'S. IT'S CRAP.

I'VE SEEN BOOKS.

IT SHOWS BOYS HOW TO GIVE OTHER BOYS HOW TO GIVE BLOWJOBS.

LET'S BE FAIR HERE.

HOW AM I GOING TO BE FAIR? I UNDERSTAND.

NO DO YOU WANT.

DO YOU WANT ME TO SHOW YOU THE BOOK? I'VE SEEN THE BOOKS.

GOOD. SO YOU CAN TELL ME THAT IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A SCHOOL AGED KID.

CORRECT. YOU WOULD NOT WANT YOUR GRANDCHILD LOOKING AT THAT CRAP.

RIGHT. AND MS. PATEL. THIS IS THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE OKAY WITH.

AND I'M SHOCKED.

I'M REALLY SHOCKED.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOU WOULD TEACH MY BLACK AMERICAN SON.

MY WHITE AMERICAN SON.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TEACH HIM? WHAT PART OF HIM IS GOING TO BE AN OPPRESSOR? AND WHAT PART IS GOING TO BE OPPRESSED.

I'D LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

WE'RE HALF AND HALF.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS.

OKAY. BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DAIS.

QUESTIONS. MR. BLACKBURN. THESE TWO WOMEN WHO JUST SPOKE ARE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TALKING WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT I ALSO GOT OTHER PHONE CALLS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED SOME VERY, VERY BLUNT QUESTIONS. SO I'LL JUST ASK THE BLUNT QUESTION AND PLEASE GIVE ME BLUNT ANSWERS BACK.

SOME PEOPLE VIEW THIS AS 30 YEARS LATER, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION JUST UNDER A DIFFERENT BOOK COVER.

CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THAT AND MAKE US UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION JUST IN THE 27TH OR 21ST CENTURY? THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM BLACKBURN THE GOAL OF DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION IS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK THAT IS WELCOMING, IT'S RESPECTFUL, RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLES IDENTITIES AND

[00:50:01]

SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT QUOTAS.

IT'S NOT ABOUT TOKENISM IN ANY WAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT, AS I MENTIONED IN MY INITIAL COMMENTS, THIS IS AN INTERNAL FOCUS.

THIS IS FOCUSED ON OUR EMPLOYEES.

THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TERMS THAT CONTINUE TO BE LINKED WITH DEI INITIATIVES. CARLSBAD USED TO HAVE WHAT WAS CALLED KIND OF THE CARLSBAD CARES COMMITTEE.

AND SO EFFECTIVELY THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION.

WE'RE TRYING TO SAY THAT WE VALUE ALL EMPLOYEES, THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROMOTED IF THEY WANT TO BE PROMOTED.

WHETHER YOU'RE BLACK OR ASIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TREATING EVERYONE AS WHO'S THE BEST CANDIDATE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IS FIND OUT WHAT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

WE ENDED UP DOING SOME SURVEYING OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN ON OUR STAFF THAT DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY'VE HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHERS.

SO AGAIN, THIS WAS OUR EFFORT AND YES, IT WAS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POSITION.

BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR IS OUR EMPLOYEES.

SO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE INCREDIBLY MOTIVATED, INCREDIBLY DEDICATED, AND THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THE MISSION. BUT IN THE FOCUS OF YOUR MISSION, YOU SHOULD STILL EXPECT THAT YOU CAN BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

AND I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT ACCEPT BULLYING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM FOR OUR EMPLOYEE OR OUR WORKFORCE. AND SO I'M SORRY THAT IF ANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE WERE OFFENSIVE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO WANT TO DO IS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE APPRECIATED.

NOW THEY CAN BE APPRECIATED, BUT THE THING THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE DONE IS WE SHOULDN'T BELITTLE OR MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY TAKE A POSITION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.

PLEASE, PLEASE, COME ON.

SO THIS PLATFORM AND THIS EFFORT AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO HAVE SOME OF THE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS.

AND SO THIS EFFORT REALLY IS IS JUST THAT GIVING EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS OR THEIR THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE 100% CLEAR THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION REAL BLUNTLY AS BLUNTLY, AS I'LL ASK THE QUESTION, AND I DON'T MEAN IT TO BE OFFENSIVE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT MISUNDERSTOOD.

I GOT FOUR PHONE CALLS FROM FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO TALKED ABOUT THEIR CONCERN OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DAYS AND THE DAYS OF, GOSH, IT WAS PROBABLY 30 PLUS YEARS AGO WHERE WE HAD QUOTAS.

AND AGAIN, PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST TRYING TO BE BLUNT SO I CAN GET THE QUESTION AND RELAY WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME. IN THE DAYS OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AT LEAST WITH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, THERE WERE WHITE MALES WHO WERE PROMOTED AND THEN QUICKLY DEMOTED BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MINORITIES OR WOMEN.

SO THEY HAD TO GO LOWER DOWN ON THE LIST OF QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO MEET THESE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MANDATES.

THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO ME WERE, IS THIS GOING TO BE JUST LIKE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? SO I'M ASKING ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT WAY THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT SINCE 1996, CALIFORNIA HAS PROHIBITED THE USE OF GENDER OR RACE IN HIRING PRACTICES THAT WAS REVISITED IN 2020 AND AGAIN REJECTED BY THE VOTERS. SO THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE INTENT OF THIS COMMITTEE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT AS WELL.

YES. AND IN THE HIRING PRACTICES WHERE ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE WORKPLAN IS THERE CAN BE SOME FOCUSED ATTENTION ON AREAS OR REACHING INTO COMMUNITIES THAT MAYBE WE HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT REACHED TO TRY AND TALK ABOUT HIRING HALLS OR TRYING TO BRING FOLKS INTO THIS INCREDIBLE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID SHOW WAS THE KIND OF DIVERSITY MAKE UP, OR AT LEAST THE BAR CHART THAT SHOWED KIND OF OUR MAKEUP.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE MATCH OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO JUST

[00:55:02]

I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THE EXPLANATION AND I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THE EXPLANATION PUBLICLY SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR IT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOLIDAYS.

DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE QUESTION OF HOLIDAYS.

ARE WE SUGGESTING WE HAVE MORE HOLIDAYS, CHANGE HOLIDAYS? WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT HOLIDAYS? I CAN START US OFF.

SO THE ASK HERE IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE HOLIDAYS CESAR CHAVEZ, JUNETEENTH, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.

AND AT THE MINIMUM, IT WOULD BE A PROCLAMATION ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOLIDAYS AND PERHAPS ALSO COINCIDE WITH CULTURAL AWARENESS AROUND THOSE CULTURALLY RELEVANT HOLIDAYS.

OKAY. AND AGAIN, I OFTEN LOOK AT THINGS JUST FROM A NUMBERS PERSPECTIVE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT A HOLIDAY IS WORTH, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

SO THE OTHER THING IS IN GOAL FOUR.

WHERE IS IT? WE GET INTO THE CONVERSATION ON 4.2.

WE START TO TALK ABOUT FLAGS.

DO WE HAVE A FLAG POLICY? IT'S ON 10 OF 34.

A FLAG POLICY.

YES. WHAT KIND OF FLAG POLICY? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING.

WELL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO FLY A FLAG IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMERICAN FLAG, IS WHAT I TAKE IT IS IT'S SAYING HERE.

OH, I THAT IS NOT THE MESSAGE I GOT.

ANDREA, DID YOU WANT TO.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE DO NOT HAVE A A FLAG POLICY OR A COUNCIL POLICY RELATED TO THE FLYING OF FLAGS. THEN UNDER 4.2, I WOULD SUGGEST WE REMOVE BULLET POINT THREE.

YOU'RE REFERRING TO GOAL FOUR? I'M SORRY. ARE YOU REFERRING TO GOAL FOUR? YES. 4.2.

THIRD BULLET POINT.

YEAH. THERE'S NO MENTION IN THERE ABOUT A FLAG AT ALL.

MAYOR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE RAINBOW FLAG DURING PRIDE MONTH? YES. YEAH.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED AS A CITY COUNCIL ALREADY.

AND THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FLAG.

BUT WE HAD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE HAD APPROVED THAT STAFF WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE DESIGN OF THAT FLAG DURING PRIDE MONTH.

I DON'T REMEMBER IT THAT WAY.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE APPROVED THAT OR I THINK THAT WOULD BE A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

AND THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS WHEN YOU START TO PICK ONE FLAG, THE AMERICAN FLAG STANDS FOR 1,000 FLAGS.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO FLY THAT FLAG, THEN WHAT OTHER FLAGS ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO FLY DURING WHAT MONTHS? YEAH, WE SHOULD GO BACK AND LOOK INTO THAT AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT THEN, IF THAT'S A QUESTION, BECAUSE I REMEMBER THAT THAT CAME TO COUNCIL AND WE DISCUSSED IT AND WE VOTED ON IT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STAFF COME BACK TO US WITH THE DESIGN OF THAT FLAG.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WAS A MINUTE ORDER WHERE COUNCIL DIRECTED TO RETURN TO END UP HAVING A FUTURE DISCUSSION. AND LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THE EXACT LANGUAGE TO RAISE THE INTERSECTIONAL PRIDE FLAG FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JUNE IN HONOR OF PRIDE MONTH, BEGINNING JUNE OF 22.

BUT WE WOULD BE BRINGING THAT BACK.

COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE DISCUSSION, BUT NOT THE ACTION.

SO THAT'S STILL A TO DO.

OKAY. SO IF WE CAN WE CAN MODIFY THAT LANGUAGE TO REFLECT THE ACTION, WHICH IS TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL.

SO I THINK IT TAKES FURTHER DISCUSSION BECAUSE AFTER ALL, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT ANY ONE FLAG, IF YOU WILL, IF WE WANT TO FLY FLAGS AND WE SHOULD BE AND IF IT'S BY A MONTHLY BASIS, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO FLY 12.

AND MY COMMENT IS, IS THE AMERICAN FLAG STANDS FOR 1,000 FLAGS, NOT JUST ONE FLAG.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART.

HAPPY TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

I JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD AND THE COUNCIL ACTION THAT WE ALREADY TOOK.

MR. BLACKBURN, I'M SORRY I MISSED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

I KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE AGENDIZED.

DID YOU SAY THAT IT WAS AN ACTION THAT WAS ALREADY TAKEN OR THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO BE TAKEN? WE ASKED STAFF TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FLAG SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND APPROVE IT.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED YET.

IT WAS JUST AGENDIZED.

THANK YOU. THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHEN I READ THIS, THIS IS ALREADY BEEN PAST TENSE.

NOT FUTURE TENSE IS MY POINT HERE.

[01:00:07]

OKAY. OKAY. SO FIRST, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF CARLSBAD IS NOT A SMALL ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 900 AND 1,000 EMPLOYEES.

AND I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR JUSTICE AND WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR FAIRNESS.

I WANT TO RELAY TO YOU THAT MY WIFE IS IN AN INDUSTRY THAT WHEN SHE STARTED IN THAT INDUSTRY, IT WAS 85% MALE ADMINISTRATORS.

HOWEVER, THE INDUSTRY WAS ONLY 85% WOMEN IN EMPLOYMENT, AND THAT WASN'T FAIR.

AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF 10 OR 20 YEARS THAT PROGRESSED WHERE WOMEN IN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS WERE EQUAL TO MEN, HOWEVER, THEIR PAY WAS 20 OR 30% LESS.

AND THEN THAT HAS PROGRESSED TO A POINT WHERE TODAY IT'S EQUAL.

ALTHOUGH THE EMPLOYMENT RATIO IS NOT EQUAL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE RANKS ARE EQUAL AND PAY IS EQUAL. THAT HAPPENED OVER 30 OR 40 YEARS.

I'M GLAD IT HAPPENED.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION HERE.

AND WHAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN IS KIND OF STANDING UP OUR PRACTICES IN TERMS OF HIRING AND STANDING UP OUR PRACTICES IN TERMS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION AND SENIOR LEVEL MANAGEMENT.

AND HOW DOES THAT MIRROR HOW DOES OUR ACTIONS REFLECT WHEN COMPARED TO OUR COMMUNITY? AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO THAT.

I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOOK AT OUR PROCUREMENT PRACTICES, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROCUREMENT PRACTICES, TO THE EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS US, THAT WE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE PROCURING AND WHOM WE ARE PROCURING FROM TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ALSO REFLECTS OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR BRINGING THE DEI POSITION FORWARD, AND I WANT TO THANK THIS GROUP FOR WORKING ON IT.

I'M NOT PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING.

I REALIZE IT'S A WORKPLAN AND THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WHAT YOU ALL BRING BACK IN A YEAR OR TWO AND YOUR PLAN.

I DO WANT TO FOCUS PRIMARILY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MY 20% ON THE COUNCIL IS TO TAKE A LOOK INTERNALLY IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.

AND WITH THAT, WE CAN STRIVE TO DO BETTER AND WE CAN STRIVE TO MOVE THAT BALL FORWARD OVER THE YEARS TO COME.

ANYTHING THAT IS MAYBE OUTWARD LOOKING, ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING BY PROCLAMATION THAT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT IS A MUCH BROADER DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF RECOGNITIONS OR SOMETHING THAT GOES ON.

SO I HOPE THAT THE GROUP TAKES A LOOK AT THAT.

SO IF IT'S OUTWARD FACING OR OUTWARD LOOKING OR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE CITY, IT NEEDS TO BE A VERY BIG CONVERSATION BEFORE I'M READY TO CAST A VOTE ON ANYTHING. I WON'T BE HERE, BUT THAT'S MY FEELING.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THANK YOU.

YES. COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND.

AND FOR THE HARD WORK.

THANK YOU. AND THE ENTIRE TEAM.

I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE THE FACES AND THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN APPLICATION PROCESS TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMITTEE.

I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND I LIKE THE CROSS SECTION, THE BROAD CROSS SECTION OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS AND EVERY EVERY DEPARTMENT REPRESENTED FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

I THINK THAT THE TOPIC CAN SEEM A LITTLE VAGUE AND AMORPHOUS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONCRETE WORK THAT WAS PUT INTO KIND OF PINNING DOWN SOME ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN UNDERTAKE AS A STAFF, AS A CITY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS THAT SENSE OF OF INCLUSIVITY.

AND THE WORD THAT I REALLY LIKED WAS BELONGING BECAUSE I HEARD ANOTHER ORGANIZATION USE THAT THAT WORD.

THEY EVEN HAD A DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING.

THEY ADDED THAT VERY LONG NAME.

BUT THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE, THAT PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, THAT PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED IN THE CIRCLE AND NOT EXCLUDED, NOT UNCOMFORTABLE AND NOT OTHER.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WE'RE LOOKING CLOSELY AT WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DO FEEL INCLUDED.

I SUPPORTED THE POSITION.

I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS, AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THE WORKPLAN.

THANK YOU. DR.

BHAT-PATEL. SURE.

THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE.

I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH EFFORT HAS GONE INTO

[01:05:06]

GLAD THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT PERSONALLY I'VE RECEIVED MANY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S EMAILS, CONVERSATIONS FROM FOLKS SAYING THAT THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT REALLY MAKES ME EXCITED ABOUT THIS, IS THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING A SENSE OF BELONGING.

AND I DO THINK THAT FROM A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STANDPOINT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU ARE AT A JOB, YOU FEEL WELCOME, YOU WILL YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND YOU DO FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG AT THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, JUST HEARING THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, I DO THINK THAT THIS HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

AND I DO WANT TO AT LEAST STAND UP FOR IT AND SAY THAT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. AND I KNOW IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO MOVE ALONG WITH REGARDS TO THE WORK PLAN. REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT AND REALLY EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL DELIVER ON IT AND OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT OVERALL ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I JUST WANTED TO SHARE IS THAT JUST SEEING HOW QUICKLY THIS HAS COME TO FRUITION, YOU KNOW, AFTER AFTER IT BEING APPROVED IS REALLY EXCITING AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY COUNCIL, AT LEAST FROM MY 20%.

LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EFFORT AND DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS MUCH NEEDED.

SO THANK YOU. COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER BLACKBURN.

I'M THE SECOND OLDEST ON THE COUNCIL, SO I COME FROM A DIFFERENT TIME IN ORGANIZATIONS.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME, AND I'LL DISCLOSE THAT.

THIS GROUP ALSO MET WITH ME YESTERDAY VIA ZOOM TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME.

AND AND I DID PREP THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTION.

I DIDN'T JUST BRING IT ON HIM THAT I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT IN YESTERYEAR.

BUT I APPRECIATE MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME BRINGING ME INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

AND I APPRECIATE OUR STAFF HELPING ME.

YES, I AM BEING PULLED, KICKING AND SCREAMING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, BUT I'M LEARNING AND I'M WORKING MY WAY THERE.

SO I THANK YOU FOR FOR HAVING THE PATIENCE WITH ME.

BUT I ALSO WANTED JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AGREEABLE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WHEN I MAKE THE MOTION, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT, ADDING THE EXCEPTION OF GOAL 4.2 BULLET POINT NUMBER THREE, PENDING ANY MODIFICATION DURING FUTURE AGENDA DISCUSSIONS.

IS THAT SATISFACTORY WITH COUNCIL? OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I WOULD JUST ECHO MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER NORBY AND HIS THOUGHTS.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS WELL SAID SO.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR MOTION.

OH, OKAY. SORRY.

I JUST LOOKED AT MY NOTES.

COMMUNITY OF MANY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TRIBES THAT ARE HAVE POPULATED SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN THE PAST. AND WE'RE ALSO AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF MILITARY BASES HERE.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY IS WELL REPRESENTED AS WELL AND THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY WERE REALLY THE ONES THAT BUILT THIS COMMUNITY.

SO THAT SHOULDN'T GO UNNOTICED.

SO YOUR MOTION, PLEASE.

THE MOTION IS MOVE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GOAL NUMBER 4.2.

BULLET POINT NUMBER THREE, PENDING ANY MODIFICATION DURING A FUTURE AGENDA DISCUSSION ON AGENDA NUMBER EIGHT.

SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.

OKAY. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[9. MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM]

GREAT. AND AS OUR TEAM IS MAKING THEIR WAY UP, MAKING THE PRESENTATION TODAY WILL BE LIEUTENANT RYAN OPEKA AND DR.

MEGAN PATRICK THOMPSON, WHO'S THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FROM EXODUS RECOVERY.

ALL RIGHT. YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YEAH. THERE WE GO.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL STAFF.

MR. MAYOR MY NAME IS RYAN OPEKA.

I'M A LIEUTENANT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE.

AND THIS IS MY FRIEND, DR.

MEGAN PATRICK THOMPSON.

[01:10:01]

TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO INTRODUCE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, WHICH ARE SET TO OPERATE WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO INCLUDE CARLSBAD. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THOSE TEAMS, I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SNAPSHOT OF MENTAL HEALTH CALLS THAT WE DEAL WITH HERE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOW WE RESPOND AND DEAL WITH THOSE CALLS. AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AT WHICH POINT DR.

PATRICK THOMPSON WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE VOLUME OF CALLS THAT WE HANDLE HERE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT RELATE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR CRISIS RELATED IN THE YEAR OF 2021, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS GRAPHIC TO THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE RESPONDED TO 4902 CRISIS RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE.

OF THOSE 4902, 4320 OF THEM DID NOT RESULT IN THE ARREST OR DETENTION OF A PERSON UNDER 5150 WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE.

SO THAT LEAVES ABOUT 650 OR SO CALLS THAT DID RESULT IN AN ARREST.

THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE GRAPHIC ON THE LEFT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT 2021 WASN'T AN OUTLIER, BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY TRENDING UP IF YOU LOOK BACK FIVE YEARS.

SO AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOW ARE WE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THESE? WELL, EVERY OFFICER IN CARLSBAD RECEIVES A BASE LEVEL OF TRAINING WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM THERE, THEY GO ON AND THEY RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AS AN OFFICER IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN THEY GET TO CARLSBAD PD, THEY RECEIVE EVEN MORE TRAINING, WHICH IS REITERATED YEAR AFTER YEAR THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE EMPLOYMENT HERE.

SO CARLSBAD PD IS THE HIGHEST TRAINED IN THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IS THE HIGHEST TRAINED IN THE STATE AND THE STATE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TRAINED IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

LOOKING INWARD WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM OR UNIT. THESE ARE OFFICERS THAT HAVE EVEN ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT GOES BEYOND WHAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED AS A MINIMUM OFFICER HERE AT CARLSBAD.

THESE OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED TO WHAT WE CALL WELFARE CAR.

EACH SHIFT WE HAVE FOUR SHIFTS, THEY DEPLOY A UNIT THAT IS DEDICATED TO CRISIS RELATED CALLS. AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT ACTIVELY RESPONDING TO THESE TYPES OF CALLS, THEY'RE DOING FOLLOW UP AND GOING TO TRAINING AND PROVIDING TRAINING TO OTHERS.

WITHIN THAT UNIT WE HAVE A TEAM THIS IS AN OFFICER PAIRED WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN.

THIS IS A COUNTY PROGRAM THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION OR I'M SORRY, CONTRACTED THROUGH.

AND WE HAVE ONE CLINICIAN ASSIGNED TO CARLSBAD.

THEY WORK A 40 HOUR SHIFT AND THEY'RE ASSIGNED WITH THESE OFFICERS AND RESPOND TO THESE TYPES OF CALLS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE MONTHLY PERT ROUNDTABLE.

THIS IS GETTING TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCING AND SHARING AND COLLABORATING.

THROUGH EXODUS THEY HAVE A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT THAT WE WORK WITH.

IT HAS BEEN A GODSEND TO US, GIVEN HOW OVERWHELMED OUR HOSPITALS ARE AT THE MOMENT.

WITH OUR HOT TEAM.

WE'VE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH ENTITIES THAT WORK FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RELATED CALLS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE MCRT, WHICH I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MEGAN AND SHE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. HIT THE THERE YOU GO. THERE WE GO.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF OUR MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM. JUST A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

THERE WE GO. OKAY.

SO THE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM WAS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT LAUNCHED IN JANUARY OF 2021.

AND SINCE THEN, WE'RE EXCITED TO SAY WITH THE EARLY SUCCESS EXPANDED COUNTYWIDE AND OUR SERVICES EXPANDED, WE STARTED WITH SERVING 18 AND OVER AND WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND CHILDREN TOO.

SO NOW WE SERVE ALL AGES.

AND AS I KIND OF GO THROUGH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE OTHER EXPANSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE PILOT PROGRAM.

SO THE NORTH COAST REGION WE COVER FROM THE TOP OF CAMP PENDLETON.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE DOWN TO THE COAST, DOWN THE COAST OF DEL MAR AND INTO THE CITY OF VISTA. THUS FAR, WE'VE RESPONDED TO 236 CALLS FOR SERVICE AND 51 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN CARLSBAD CITY.

AND ALTHOUGH CRT IS NEW TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THESE PROGRAMS ARE NATIONWIDE.

[01:15:02]

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SERVICES IN SAN DIEGO WHERE WE STARTED THE ACCESS AND CRISIS LINE, WHICH PROVIDES TELEPHONIC CRISIS SUPPORT AND REFERRALS ALL THE WAY TO PERT, WHICH IS MORE OF THAT PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

AND THEN MCRT IS DESIGNED TO KIND OF FOLLOW IN THE GRAY AREAS OF THAT.

SO NOT NECESSARILY A 911 EMERGENCY, BUT THE PERSON IS NEEDING URGENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE. AND SO EXODUS, WE ARE DOING THE NORTH COAST REGION AND THEN TELECARE HAS EXPANDED TO THE REMAINING REGION.

SO AS OF DECEMBER 8TH OF 2021, CRT IS COUNTYWIDE AND ALTHOUGH TWO LEGAL ENTITIES ARE RUNNING THE CONTRACTS, WE WORK VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

SO IF YOU'RE RECEIVING A SERVICE IN NORTH COASTAL, IT'S GOING TO LOOK THE SAME AS SOUTH BAY. SO THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT UNIQUE.

IT'S A STANDARD BASED PRACTICE THAT WE DO DO.

SO REALLY WE'RE WE'RE OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THAT RAPID SUPPORT AND RESPONSE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS HAVE IT BE A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND SUPPORT ALL AGES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND ALL RESIDENTS.

REALLY, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED IN THAT MOMENT.

SO WE'RE IN A DIVERSION PROGRAM AND PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT SERVICES AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT LEVEL.

SO WHAT OUR TEAMS ARE DOING, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS ON OUR TEAM.

WE HAVE A LICENSED CLINICIAN SO THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST, AN LPCC, A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER.

WE ALSO HAVE A MASTER'S LEVEL CASE MANAGER SO THAT SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING TOWARDS THEIR LICENSURE AND THEN WE HAVE A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST.

SO THAT'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS LIVED EXPERIENCE EITHER THROUGH THEMSELVES OR THROUGH A FAMILY MEMBER. AND WHAT WE REALLY FOUND IS THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A KEY PART OF OUR TEAM, THEY REALLY OFFER THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE HOPE THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.

OFTEN THEY CAN SHARE THEIR STORIES OF HOW THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN A SIMILAR POSITION AND THE STEPS THAT THEY TOOK IN ORDER TO KIND OF GAIN WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.

THEY ALSO HAVE JUST CHANGED THE TONE OF A CALL SOMETIMES.

SO AS WE WORK CLOSELY AS A TEAM, OUR TEAM IS TRAINED TO APPROACH THE PERSON.

AND WHOEVER THAT PERSON'S RESPONDING BEST IS THE PERSON WHO TAKES THE LEAD ON THAT CALL.

OUR REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHEN WE GO OUT, WE'RE DOING A EVALUATION CRISIS INTERVENTION WORK, DE-ESCALATION AND ONCE AGAIN IS REALLY TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THAT RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE.

I KNOW LIEUTENANT OPEKA MENTIONED THE CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT.

SO MCRT SERVICES, WE CAN TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO THE NEXT LOCATION THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO STABILIZE THEIR CRISIS.

AND THAT MIGHT INCLUDE A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT, A CRISIS RESIDENTIAL A EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, IF NEEDED.

AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE THAT WARM HANDOFF.

ANOTHER GREAT THING ABOUT OUR PROGRAM IS THAT OUR CASE MANAGERS AND OUR PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, WE FOLLOW PEOPLE UP TO 30 DAYS POST INTERVENTION.

SO WE'RE NOT A ONE TIME CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE.

REALLY, THE GOAL OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO CONNECTION TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND FOLLOW THAT INDIVIDUAL OVER TIME TO SEE HOW WE CAN BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE WANTING THOSE CONNECTIONS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR TEAMS RESPOND IN DODGE DURANGOS'.

THEY'RE OUTFITTED FOR A SAFE TRANSPORT.

OUR TEAMS ARE ABLE TO INITIATE A 5150 HOLD IF WE COME INTO A SITUATION WHERE THAT MIGHT BE WARRANTED. SO THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE PURPOSE OF OUR PROGRAM IS NOT TO GO OUT AND TO RESPOND TO 5150 CALLS.

BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS THAT CRISIS CAN CHANGE AND THINGS CAN GET WORSE OVER TIME.

AND WHEN WE RESPOND, IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN THOSE SITUATIONS, OUR TEAMS ARE ABLE TO INITIATE THOSE HOLDS AND DO A SAFE TRANSPORT TO CRISIS STABILIZATION UNITS.

WE ALSO HAVE A CALL CENTER THAT STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY BY CLINICIANS.

THEY'RE TRAINED TO SCREEN AND IDENTIFY THE BEST RESPONSE, AND MCRT CALL CENTER WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CALLS EVENTUALLY FROM 911 AS SOON AS THE MOA IS SIGNED AND WE WILL GO LIVE WITH THAT. AND RIGHT NOW, ALL CALLS COME IN THROUGH THE ACCESS AND CRISIS LINE.

SO WHEN TO CALL MCRT.

SO I THINK THIS KIND OF HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERT AND MCRT WHEN YOU CAN KIND OF GET WHAT OUR CASE LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF CALLS THAT WE WOULD TAKE? SO REALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS FIRST.

WE'RE LOOKING AT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT THE PERSON'S NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED OR TRIED TO HARM THEMSELVES OR ANOTHER PERSON.

SO REALLY, SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN FOR NOT ONLY OUR TEAMS BUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T PUT THEM IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS, SO SOMEONE'S THREATENING SUICIDE, BUT THEY HAVE NO IMMEDIATE RISK TO HARM SELF.

THAT'S A CALL THAT MCRT RESPONDS TO.

SOMEBODY SEVERELY DEPRESSED.

THEY MIGHT BE REPORTING THEY'RE HOPELESS, THEY'RE NOT SLEEPING, THEY'RE NOT EATING, THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTIES GETTING OUT OF BED.

THOSE ARE CALLS THAT WE OFTEN RESPOND TO IN OUR COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE VERBALLY THREATENING

[01:20:03]

SO SOMEONE'S LOUD IF THEY'RE RESPONDING TO VOICES, PACING OR ANXIOUS.

THOSE ARE CALLS THAT OUR TEAM DOES REALLY WELL WITH DE-ESCALATING THOSE SITUATIONS AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTING WITH THE CLIENT WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THEM AND WHY THEY'RE IN AN AGITATED STATE.

THREATENING TO RUN AWAY.

SO THIS APPLIES A LOT OF TIMES TO OUR YOUTH, SO MAKING THREATS TO RUN AWAY.

COULD BECOME A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS IF AN INTERVENTION IS NOT DONE.

SO WE WANT TO TARGET THAT.

AND ALWAYS WE TELL EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S A MCRT CALL, ALWAYS CALL THE ACCIDENT CRISIS LINE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE CLINICIANS THERE THAT ARE TRAINED TO SCREEN FOR APPROPRIATENESS.

AND THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO DO IS WHAT IS OUR REFERRAL CRITERIA? SO WE HAVE SIX SAFETY QUESTIONS THAT WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO DEVELOP.

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD EXCLUDE PEOPLE FROM MCRT SERVICES.

SO NO INJURIES REQUIRING A MEDICAL RESPONSE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAKEUP OF OUR TEAM DOESN'T ALLOW FOR AN EMS TO BE ON THAT.

SO WE DEFER THOSE CALLS.

NO WEAPONS INVOLVED OR KNOWN TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A WEAPON.

SO THE PERSON THAT WE'RE SERVICING, THE PERSON IS NOT INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE CALL.

BUT WEREN'T THAT MORE WARRANTS LAW ENFORCEMENT? SO A LOT OF TIMES I GIVE THE EXAMPLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SO THAT THERE CAN BE AN EXAMPLE. THERE CAN BE A SITUATION WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THERE MIGHT BE ALSO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS GOING ON.

BUT IN THOSE INSTANCES, WE WOULD DEFER TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS BECAUSE OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION.

THE PERSON IS NOT KNOWN TO BE WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN ONGOING LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD BE MORE APPLICABLE TO REFERRALS THAT ARE COMING OVER FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS RATHER THAN THE ACCESS CRISIS LINE.

AND THEN NO THREAT OR IMMEDIATE THREAT OF VIOLENCE OR REASON, A REASONABLE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE. SO WE WOULD SCREEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEN LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY ASKED.

SO THOSE ARE OUR SIX SCREENING QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK.

AND THEN WHAT I LIKE TO JUST MENTION IS THERE'S A LOT OF NEED WHERE THE COMMUNITY WANTS OUR TEAMS TO GO OUT AND RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO APPEAR TO BE HAVING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS.

THEY MIGHT BE SCREAMING ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

AND THIS PROGRAM ISN'T NECESSARILY SET TO DO THOSE WELFARE CHECKS.

AND PART OF THE REASON IS WE HAVE TO CLEAR THESE SAFETY QUESTIONS.

AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED CITIZENS DON'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR AND KNOW THAT IT'S SAFE FOR OUR TEAMS TO RESPOND.

SO. AND THEN OUR HOURS OF OPERATION.

SO CURRENTLY WE'RE RUNNING FROM MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 365 FROM 7 A.M.

TO MIDNIGHT WITH OUR LAST CALL AT BEING AT 9:00 PM.

WE'RE EXCITED TO REPORT IN APRIL THAT OUR SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SO THAT AND OPEN TO ALL AGES.

AND THEN, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE HAVE A PHONE TRIAGE THROUGH OUR CALL CENTER ON A 24 HOUR BASIS TOO.

AND THEN HOW TO MAKE A REFERRALS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS TO CALL THE ACCESS AND CRISIS LINE. THAT NUMBER IS THERE.

IT'S 888-724-7240.

I'M EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT I WAS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS A HELPFUL TIP ON HOW TO REMEMBER THE ACCESS AND CRISIS LINE.

ALL RIGHT. AND WE'RE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME SLIDES JUST TO SHOW WE ARE DOING A BIG MEDIA CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE ANY NEW SERVICE.

WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE AND HOW TO ACCESS US.

SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 80 BILLBOARDS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THIS IS THE FIRST ROLLOUT OF THEM.

THE SECOND ROLLOUT THE IMAGES WILL BE CHANGED BASED ON FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE MASKS, PEOPLE WANTING TO SEE PEOPLE'S FACES AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING MORE WELCOMING.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE SECOND. WE ALSO HAVE MOBILE DIGITAL ADS.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE GOOGLING CERTAIN THINGS ON THEIR PHONES, AN AD WILL POP UP.

AND WE KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE CALL WHERE THAT WAS THE CASE, WHERE A SUICIDAL INDIVIDUAL DID REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE AN AD POPPED UP ON THEIR CELL PHONE.

AND WE HAD AN OUR TEAM HAD A REALLY GREAT OUTCOME WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL AND THEY NEEDED SERVICES PRETTY IMMEDIATE BY THE TIME WE HAD GOTTEN THERE.

SO IT'S NICE FOR US TO KNOW THAT THOSE THE WORD IS GETTING OUT AND THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES.

SO AS MEGAN MENTIONED, MCRT IS ALREADY OPERATIONAL WITHIN THE COUNTY.

IT'S BEING BROUGHT IN IN DIFFERENT PHASES AND THEY ARE RESPONDING DIRECTLY TO CALLS, I THINK SHE SAID 51 ALREADY IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD.

AND THEN WE LOOK TO EXPAND THAT.

WE'RE WAITING ON A FEW SIGNATURES FOR THAT MOA TO BE FINALIZED, AT WHICH POINT WE WILL START DISPATCHING DIRECTLY FROM OUR DISPATCH CENTER.

ALL OF OUR OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAINED.

THEY'VE BEEN INTRODUCED.

MEGAN'S SHOWED UP TO ALL OUR PATROL BRIEFINGS AND HAVE HAS PROVIDED A SIMILAR TRAINING

[01:25:06]

WE'VE DISCUSSED HOW TO DO A HANDOFF WITH MCRT AND THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. STARTING TODAY, ACTUALLY, MEGAN CAME IN TO DO TRAINING WITH ALL OF OUR DISPATCHERS, AND THAT WILL BE COMPLETED THIS WEEK BEFORE THE MOA IS SIGNED AND WE CAN START DISPATCHING DIRECTLY TO THEM.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION MEGAN TALKS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS, BUT ALSO THERE IS A CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CLINICIANS THAT ARE RESPONDING.

AND WE DO HAVE A PROTOCOL IN PLACE WHERE THEY ARE NOTIFYING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOCATIONS THAT THEY ARE ATTENDING.

THAT WAY, IN THE EVENT THE SITUATION IS ESCALATED, WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO PROVIDE THEM AND THEIR PATIENTS WITH A LEVEL OF SAFETY AND SECURITY SHOULD THE SITUATION ARISE.

THAT'S IT.

WE'LL OPEN FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS.

AND WE HAVE NO SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? CORRECT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.

QUESTIONS? DR.

BHAT-PATEL. SURE.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AND JUST A FEW DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE'RE SERVING ALL DIFFERENT AGES.

CURIOUS IF THERE IS A DIFFERENT PROTOCOL FOR THOSE THAT ARE MINORS AND THEN HOW WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THEM? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO OUR FIRST ROLLOUT HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT INTEGRATION.

THE SECOND ROLL OUT WILL BE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.

THEY'RE STARTING THOSE EARLY TALKS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS TRYING TO GAUGE THE NEED OF WHICH WE UNDERSTAND IS HIGH IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SO THAT IS KIND OF THE SECOND PLAN, IS WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE DO SCHOOL RESPONSES? SO FOR NOW, WHEN REFERRALS COME IN FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAYBE THE SCHOOL CALLS TO DO THE REFERRAL, WE DO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILD TO MEET IN AN ADDITIONAL LOCATION LIKE THEIR HOME OR ANOTHER PARK OR SOMEWHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL.

AND THEN CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE I KNOW YOU MENTIONED DIVERSION PROGRAMS. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT A MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM IS WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WHEN INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GO INTO AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM TO START WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DO AN ASSESSMENT AND REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL AT THAT TIME.

AND OUR TEAM THEN PROPOSES TO THE INDIVIDUAL, THESE ARE YOUR OPTIONS, THIS IS WHERE OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, AND TRY TO DIVERT THOSE CALLS FROM GOING TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT'S NOT NEEDED.

SO WITH THE EXPANSION OF OUR CSU, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE IN VISTA, WE HAVE ONE IN ESCONDIDO, AND WE'RE SET TO OPEN ANOTHER ONE IN OCEANSIDE IN APRIL.

SO WITH THAT EXPANDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CSU TO BUILD LIKE AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SO INDIVIDUALS CAN BE SEEN AND EVALUATED BY A PSYCHIATRIST AND DETERMINE WHAT'S THE BEST ROUTE FOR THEM TO GO FROM THERE.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND CSU, JUST TO ELABORATE, IS A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW.

YEAH, NO, IT'S OKAY. I'M IN PUBLIC HEALTH, SO.

I KNOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT.

AND THEN CAN YOU ALSO I KNOW 5150 IS A TERM THAT'S UTILIZED A LOT, AND MANY FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT NECESSARILY MEANS.

SO IF YOU COULD ALSO ELABORATE ON THAT AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY. SO IN TERMS OF OUR TEAM, WHEN WE GO OUT IN THE FIELD, OUR CLINICIANS ARE ABLE TO INITIATE A 5150.

SOMETIMES IT'S VERY PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED.

THEY THINK THAT A 72 HOUR HOLD IS DONE AT THAT POINT.

AND WHAT A 5150 MEANS FOR OUR TEAMS IS THEY ARE INITIATING THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO GO TO A FACILITY THAT IS AN LPS DESIGNATED FACILITY FOR THAT FURTHER EVALUATION.

SO THEY NEED TO BE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES, A DANGER TO OTHERS OR GRAVELY DISABLED.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND THEN JUST TWO OTHER QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR AN MCRT SERVICE THAT IF REQUESTED? GREAT. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE UNDER AN HOUR, EXCEPT FOR WE'VE HAD ABOUT 25 OF OUR CALLS WHERE IT'S GONE OVER AN HOUR.

SOME OF THOSE ARE BECAUSE FAMILY MEMBERS MIGHT ASK FOR A DELAYED RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR CALLS ARE GENERATED BY THIRD PARTY.

SO FAMILY MEMBERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, FRIENDS.

SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE ASKING US TO COME LATER.

OTHER THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE TO GO DOWN TO DEL MAR AND WE ARE LOCATED IN VISTA.

SO SOMETIMES WITH TRAFFIC THAT CAN PUT US AT AN HOUR AND 8 MINUTES.

SO TYPICALLY WE'RE UNDER AN HOUR.

OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN THE LAST PIECE WAS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VEHICLES ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE IF THERE IS AN ESCALATED SITUATION THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE, ALLOWING FOR SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL.

[01:30:03]

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. BLACKBURN. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.

AND THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR EXODUS LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY VISTA, BECAUSE I KNOW CARLSBAD USES VISTA.

BUT MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE TO BOTH OF YOU.

LIEUTENANT, YOU SAID THAT THERE'S MAYBE JUST A FEW LESS THAN TWO 5150 ARRESTS PER DAY.

DO ALL OF THOSE ARRESTS END UP GOING TO ONE OF THE HOSPITALS OR DO SOME OF THOSE END UP GOING TO EXODUS? AND IF SO, CAN YOU GIVE ME KIND OF AN IDEA HOW MANY GO TO EXODUS? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NOT ALL OF THEM GO TO THE SAME PLACE.

THE LONG ANSWER I COULDN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY TO GO TO EXODUS.

I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE UTILIZED THAT SERVICE A LOT SINCE ITS INCEPTION BECAUSE THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

SOMETIMES WE ENCOUNTER WAIT TIMES AT VARIOUS HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS, WHETHER IT'S COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH, PALOMAR, PREVIOUSLY TRI-CITY.

THOSE ARE ALL THE LPS FACILITIES THAT WE UTILIZE.

LPS, MEANING THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT A 5150.

WE'VE HAD WAIT TIMES AS HIGH AS 9 HOURS.

SO WITH EXODUS THEY STRIVE TO, TO, TO GET US DONE IN 15 MINUTES.

THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE, BUT IT IS THE CASE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

SO SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WE PRIMARILY USE EXODUS WHEN AVAILABLE.

AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT WAIT TIMES COULD BE AS MUCH AS 9 HOURS, IT'S PROBABLY NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE TO TAKE A POLICE OFFICER OUT OF SERVICE FOR AS MUCH AS 4 HOURS ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THEY TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL UNDER A 5150 HOLD.

CORRECT. AND SOMETIMES BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIOR, IT MIGHT REQUIRE MULTIPLE OFFICERS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE FIELD.

OKAY. SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND THIS, SO EXODUS ISN'T TAKING THE WORST OF THE WORST.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLENT AND NEEDING TO BE RESTRAINED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, YOU'RE YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY REACH THAT LEVEL.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT, YEAH. I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY ESCALATE.

THERE WE GO. BEFORE THEY ESCALATE TO THAT LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IF WE DO HAPPEN TO COME ACROSS THAT SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE NOT VIOLENT, BUT THEY'RE NEEDING THAT 5150 AND THEY'RE NOT SEEKING TREATMENT VOLUNTARILY, OUR TEAMS CAN ENACT THOSE.

AND THUS FAR, WE HAVE TRANSPORTED ALL THE 5150S THAT WE'VE DONE.

WE HAVEN'T HAD TO CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THOSE.

OKAY. IS IT A FAIR STATEMENT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE TAKE OUR MOST VIOLENT, WHERE THEY HAD TO BE RESTRAINED, TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT THEY'RE RELEASED WITHIN A DAY OR TWO AND POSSIBLY A REPEAT VISIT BACK TO THE HOSPITAL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT OFTENTIMES? WELL, WE'RE NOT PRIVY TO WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED.

WE'RE NOT NOTIFIED NECESSARILY ABSENT EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT OFTENTIMES WE ENCOUNTER THE SAME INDIVIDUAL THE NEXT DAY OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

SO WHEN THEY GO WHEN THE MOST EXTREME CASES END UP, WHO HAVE TO BE RESTRAINED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.

DOES THE HOSPITAL HAVE LIKE A 30 DAY FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS LIKE EXODUS DOES, OR DO THEY JUST EVALUATE THEM AND THEN RELEASE THEM.

NOT ALWAYS. IF THEY ARE ENTERED INTO A PROGRAM.

I COULD SEE THAT HAPPENING.

BUT I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOCAL HOSPITALS AND EXODUS WHERE IF A HOSPITAL DOES TAKE SOMEBODY WHO AND I UNDERSTAND IF THEY'RE VIOLENT AND NEED TO BE RESTRAINED AND THEY NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND NOT TO EXODUS, BUT DOES EXODUS WORK WITH THEM AFTER THEY'RE RELEASED AND MAYBE ON MEDICATIONS OR WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED TO TO GET THEIR LIFE BACK STRAIGHT? DOES EXODUS STEP IN OR HOW DO YOU GUYS HAVE THAT OVERLAP? YEAH. SO IF WE WERE THE IF WE INITIATED AND HAD THAT INITIAL CALL AND THEN MAYBE HAD TO DIVERT THE CALL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD STILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL TO ASSURE CONNECTION. SO OUR CONNECTIONS LOOK DIFFERENT.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR OUTPATIENT CONNECTIONS BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, A CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT IS 23 HOURS AND 59 MINUTES AND THEN SOMEONE IS POTENTIALLY DISCHARGED OR TRANSFERRED TO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT.

SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT FOLLOWING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN OUTPATIENT.

OKAY. IT'S IT'S SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM IN NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.

THE WHOLE CITY APPRECIATES IT.

THANK YOU. ANY FINAL COMMENTS?

[01:35:01]

IT'S A REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOB.

YOU YOU DO IT AMAZINGLY WELL, YOUR WHOLE TEAM.

AND I JUST LOVE THE FACT THAT WE WERE TRAINING SO HARD ON THIS ISSUE AND FORMING EVERYBODY. AND I LOVE THE COMMENT ABOUT KIND OF BEING THE MOST ON TOP, THE BEST IN THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY IS THE BEST IN THE STATE AND THE STATE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION. SO THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.

THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND MY THANKS.

AND JUST IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER FROM ONE OF THE YOUNG STUDENTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SEE.

WE ALSO GET PUBLIC COMMENT IN OUR EMAILS AND PEOPLE CALLING US AND SAYING, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE? SO I'M SO PLEASED TO SEE NOT JUST CARLSBAD, BUT ALL THE COUNTY WORKING WITH THIS MODEL.

THIS THIS PROGRAM SOUNDS REALLY GREAT.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAPTURE A LOT OF A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE HELPED.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? DOCTOR. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL.

AND I KNOW THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THIS PARTICULAR RESOURCE, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL. I'VE BEEN HEARING, YOU KNOW, SUCCESS STORIES FROM WHETHER I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS OR JUST IN GENERAL TALKING TO OTHER FOLKS IN THE REGION.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO INCORPORATE AND I DON'T KNOW IF EXODUS DOES THIS, BUT INCORPORATING MORE PREVENTION TACTICS FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY AT A CRISIS POINT OR SOMEBODY THAT'S ALREADY STRUGGLING, BUT SOMEBODY THAT MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING.

IF THERE'S A WAY TO INCORPORATE THAT.

I KNOW SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA MENTIONED, THERE WAS THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS HERE TALKING ABOUT JUST AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS.

AND I THINK WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE.

AND I LOVE THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING THAT OUTREACH WITH THE ADVERTISEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF PEOPLE DO NEED THE HELP, THAT THEY CAN SEE THOSE VISIBLE AND CAN REACH OUT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK.

OKAY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION.

THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[10. APPOINT ONE MEMBER TO THE CARLSBAD TOURISM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD]

AND I THINK THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO NAME RANDY SZYMANSKI, SECOND.

HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT FOR OMNI LA COSTA RESORTS.

FOR THE RECORD, THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

OKAY. PLEASE VOTE.

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[11. MAYORAL APPOINTMENT OF ONE MEMBER TO THE BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION]

THEN FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

OKAY. KEEP ME ON MY TOES.

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

[12. MAYORAL APPOINTMENT OF ONE MEMBER TO THE TRAFFIC & MOBILITY COMMISSION]

I'M SORRY. THERE IS A PUBLIC SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM.

OKAY. AND THE SPEAKER IS ED NEWLAND.

HELLO, CITY COUNCIL.

WELL, NOW THAT I JUST WATCHED THE OTHER TWO, JUST GET I DON'T WANT TO BLOW IT, BUT I AM THE NOMINEE.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR, FOR NOMINATING [INABDUILE].

AND I WOULDN'T SAY I'M PASSIONATE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT TRAFFIC, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I GREW UP IN LOS ANGELES, AND I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN AND DO THINGS. BUT I THINK THE TWO THE FIRST TWO, THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD TALKED ABOUT E-BIKE SAFETY AND MOBILITY.

IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND I'VE BEEN ON THE GRAND JURY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

I WAS THE LONGEST SERVING FOREMAN.

AND OBVIOUSLY, I CAN'T SAY WHAT WE WORKED ON, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC THINGS INVOLVED AROUND SANDAG AND AROUND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE WITH AUTOMATED CARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO ANYWAYS, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FUN IF YOU BELIEVE ME.

I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE HAD FUN AND I ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT.

SO AND I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR ME AND MY RETIREMENT AND GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD NOMINATE EDWARD NEWLAND IN THAT'S DISTRICT FOUR, SECOND. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO I AM GOING TO LET MR. BLACKBURN DO THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE I HAVE A FINANCIAL CONFLICT ON DISTRICT ONE.

SO I'LL STEP DOWN FOR A MOMENT.

[13. DISTRICT 1 APPOINTMENT OF ONE MEMBER TO THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR A TERM ENDING IN MARCH 2023, OR UPON COMPLETION OF THE COMMITTEE’S WORK]

[01:40:09]

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE OF THE SELECTIONS FROM MR. NORBY IS NOT ABLE TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION.

SO MR. NORBY ARE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A REPLACEMENT.

I AM I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE REPLACE WITH GINGER RABB OR RABB, SECOND.

VOTE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY.

DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY.

OK THANK YOU. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH MAYOR HALL RECUSED.

OKAY. I THINK WE'RE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS AND COMMISSIONER NORBY CAN WE START WITH YOU?

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE STILL HAVE SPEAKERS. YES.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS TAMARA DIXON, FOLLOWED BY HOPE NELSON.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM FOR GOING AFTER PEOPLE IN NEED.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

YEAH, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS REALLY NEED HELP.

OKAY MR. CHADWICK, I WOULD REALLY LIKE AN APOLOGY FOR SAYING THAT I'M A BULLY BECAUSE I AM NOT.

I'M ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MY SON WHO IS HALF BLACK AND HALF WHITE.

SO I THINK YOUR COMMENTS WERE REALLY UNNECESSARY.

I ALSO HAVE A HISPANIC CHILD.

AND SO IF IF YOU THINK AT ALL THAT I AM NOT INCLUSIVE ABOUT MY CHILDREN, I AM I JUST AM NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT THE PEOPLE HAD TO SAY HERE.

OKAY. SO NOW THAT THAT'S FINISHED AND I HOPE YOU HEARD ME, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS HAVE CHOSEN TO FAST TRACK ALL THESE BILLS THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM PARENTS RIGHTS CONCERNING THE VACCINE.

THE THESE BILLS ALLOW MINOR CHILDREN 14 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER, TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION WHETHER TO TAKE THE VACCINATION WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD FORCE COVID 19 VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN ENROLLING INTO SCHOOL.

AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY GIVEN ANY CHOICE FOR THAT.

ESPECIALLY THE WAY WITH THE WAY THAT THE BILLS ARE BEING POSTED AND VOTED IN.

REMEMBER, MOST CHILDREN AREN'T AFFECTED BY COVID 19 AND RECOVER VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHY COVID IS NO LONGER MENTIONED IN THE NEWS, BUT THE FOCUS IS NOW ON UKRAINE AND ITS FIGHT AGAINST COMMUNIST RUSSIA.

NOW, THAT SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE MANDATES AND BILLS THAT ARE BEING REQUIRED AND ARE BEING PASSED IN THE SENATE.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE ANYMORE IF THESE BILLS ARE PASSED AND MADE INTO LAW.

IS IT RIGHT TO REQUIRE EVERYONE WHO ENTERS A PUBLIC PLACE AND TO HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION. THANKS.

I THINK I'M DONE.

NO, NO. YOU STILL KEEP.

I'M SORRY. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER 15 SECONDS OR SO.

OH, OKAY.

I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION IS, IS CARLSBAD GOING TO REMOVE THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR NEW HIRES? I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE CALIFORNIA IS JUST GOING BY THE WAYSIDE ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE LAST SPEAKER IS HOPE NELSON.

I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE.

[01:45:02]

OKAY, COMMISSIONER NORBY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE THIS TIME AND THANK OUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY

[COUNCIL COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS:]

AND THEN WE GO OUT AND WE LOOK TO AUGMENT OUR FUNDS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL OR AT THE STATE LEVEL OR AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK WITH THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, NO MATTER OUR PERSONAL OPINION OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, TO DO THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO IN CARLSBAD. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR JASON AND HIS STAFF, OUR CITY STAFF, FOR THE WORK THEY DID. AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY WILL BE ANNOUNCING SHORTLY, BUT IT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE CONGRESSMAN AS WELL AS OTHERS, THAT THE CITY OF CARLSBAD HAS RECEIVED $5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO ASSIST US IN TRAFFIC CALMING, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN LIGHTINGS IN THE BARRIO. AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT SO THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF.

COUNCIL MEMBER ACOSTA.

YES. THANK YOU.

ALONG THOSE LINES, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE PRAISE TO MR. HABER, BECAUSE THIS MORNING WE HAD OUR LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING.

AND JUST TO UPDATE YOU BRIEFLY.

IT WAS OUR SECOND MEETING OF THE YEAR.

WE HAD IT HERE IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO ALSO SEE THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE OFFICES HERE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR BILL PACKAGES AND AND OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT THIS COUNCIL APPROVED.

AND AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR, YOU MAY KNOW IN JANUARY, THE LEGISLATORS IN SACRAMENTO ARE KIND OF PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR PACKAGES, BUT BY NOW, BY MARCH, THEY HAVE A STRONG IDEA OF THEIR THEIR BILLS.

THEY HAVE THEM WRITTEN, EVEN IF THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO MOVE THROUGH COMMITTEES.

AND NOW IT'S THE TIME WE GET TO START TAKING POSITIONS AND CALLING PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING AND OPPOSING THINGS.

SO YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE CAL CITY SAN DIEGO COUNTY DIVISION MEETING, ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER BHAT-PATEL, WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE DIVISION.

AND WE WE ALSO HEARD FROM CAL CITIES ABOUT THEIR OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT BILLS.

SO I WAS ABLE TO BRING THOSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING.

THOSE WERE KIND OF MY TWO BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS OF OF THE WEEK JUST TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON MY REGIONAL APPOINTMENTS.

I'M ALSO WEARING GREEN BECAUSE I LOVE TO CELEBRATE DIFFERENT SEASONS AND BREAK UP THE YEAR BY WEARING PINK AND RED ON VALENTINE'S WEEK AND GREEN ST PATRICK'S WEEK.

NOT THAT IT'S A SERIOUS HOLIDAY, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK AND I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP.

AND MAYBE MANY PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WILL BE ATTENDING THAT AS WELL AT FARADAY, THANKS.

DR. BHAT-PATEL.

SURE. THANK YOU.

YEAH, I KNOW. WE ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE CITIZENS ACADEMY LAST THURSDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE, AND IT WAS COOL TO SEE EVERYONE IN PERSON RETURNING BACK AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT.

I KNOW MANY OF US SITTING ON THE DAIS HAVE TAKEN THE CITIZENS ACADEMY AND HAVE ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT HOW THE CITY WORKS AND HOPING THAT FOLKS THAT GO THROUGH THAT WILL ENJOY THE SAME. AND YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR AND I HAD OUR FIRST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HERE IN PERSON AS WELL.

AND WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MANY DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, ITEMS THAT ARE MOVING THAT WILL BE BRINGING BACK, HOPEFULLY TO THE COUNCIL, WHETHER IT'S WITH REGARDS TO THE ACTUAL STRATEGIC DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR IF IT'S REGARDING RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE.

WE TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT, AND I THINK WE HAD A REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE THAT ALONG.

AND I DO I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO, OF COURSE, THE STRATEGIC PLANNING.

I DO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] BOARD MEETING AND THEN A SANDAG TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK AS WELL. THANKS.

COMMISSIONER BLACKBURN. NOTHING.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

JUST TO CARRY ON A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR MEETING THIS MORNING AND PERHAPS CAN HELP ME BECAUSE I'M NOT AS GOOD WITH NUMBERS AS YOU ARE ON SOME OF THE NUMBERS ON THESE BILLS.

BUT I WOULD THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT WE TOOK A STRONG STANCE ON SAFETY, IN SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR NEEDS AND THOSE NEEDS TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS.

WE ALSO TOOK A VERY STRONG STANCE ON LOCAL CONTROL IN MAKING SURE THAT THE STATE DOES NOT TAKE AWAY ANY MORE OF OUR LOCAL CONTROL AND PERHAPS EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SUPPORT A

[01:50:07]

ON TAKING THAT STANCE ON LOCAL CONTROL AND PERHAPS WE WILL SEE A INITIATIVE THIS YEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON RETAINING LOCAL CONTROL.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS THAT'S FAIR TO SAY.

DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YES, I JUST REMEMBER THERE WAS ONE OTHER OTHER THING THAT WE ADDED. A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE WHERE THEY FORCE US TO DO THINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE EITHER MORE HOUSING OR TRYING TO ACHIEVE A GOAL. THEY THEY PUT REQUIREMENTS AND FORCE RESTRICTIONS ON US, BUT DON'T FUND THEM. BUT ONE OF THE BILLS THAT IS OUT BY AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER THIS YEAR IS, OH, GOSH, THE NUMBER ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW.

BUT I REMEMBER IT WAS A STERN BILL AND I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK IT.

BUT IT ACTUALLY CREATES A POT OF MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR CITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SO WE TOOK A SUPPORT POSITION ON THAT.

SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW GOOD, GOOD BILLS THAT WE SAW ALREADY COMING OUT, THAT IT ALREADY HAD A POSITIVE, POSITIVE SPIN ON THE SAME KIND OF THING.

AND IF YOU GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND, I'LL PULL UP THE NUMBER SO THAT WE HAVE IT.

GOT IT. IT IS SB 1466 STERN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM, AND IT WOULD PROVIDE MONEY FOR CITIES TO ACCESS TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO ACTUALLY MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS.

SO THAT WAS A POSITIVE ONE.

THANKS. OKAY.

THE OTHER IS IS OFTEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THEIR LEGISLATIVE ACTS TRIES TO PAINT THE WHOLE STATE WITH A BROAD BRUSH.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, ESPECIALLY I CAN SPEAK FOR CARLSBAD WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'VE HAD A 15% INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE SINCE THE EARLY 90S, WHICH MEANS EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN BUILT 15% OF IT IS DEDICATED, DEED, RESTRICTED, AFFORDABLE. AND NOT MANY CITIES DO THAT IN.

MOST RECENTLY, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP CLOSER TO 20% ON SOME OF OUR PROJECTS.

SO IF SOMEBODY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WANT TO BE MORE HEAVY HANDED. BUT FOR CITIES THAT I THINK HAVE BEEN ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN SOME SORT OF CONSIDERATION.

SO WE ALSO HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN MY NAME IN REGARDS TO SANDAG AND WHAT IS HAPPENING AT SANDAG.

I THINK THAT CONVERSATION HAS NOT ENDED.

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S UNACCOUNTED FOR, WE NEED TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION ON THAT AND PERHAPS HOW WE GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK TO THE RATEPAYER OR THE TAXPAYER.

BECAUSE I MEAN, SANDAG, AFTER ALL, IS FUNDED BY PEOPLE'S TAXATION.

SO I THINK THERE'S MORE TO COME ON THAT.

AND IT'S JUST MENTIONED EARLIER TOMORROW, MARCH 16TH AT 9 A.M., WE WILL BE AT IT'S A CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP AND THAT'LL BE AT THE FARADAY CENTER.

AND THAT'S 1635 FARADAY AVE.

MR. CHADWICK. NOTHING TO REPORT.

MAYOR YOU'VE STOLEN THE THUNDER TOMORROW 9 A.M.

YES, MS. BREWER, CITY ATTORNEY. NOTHING THANK YOU.

CITY CLERK.

NOTHING THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK TONIGHT.

WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.