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CITY COUNCIL 14 AUGUST 5, 2025 <br />COUNCIL COMMENTS <br />AB1234 DISCLOSURE – If the City paid for travel or other expenses this is the time for <br />members of the Council to provide a brief oral report on attendance of any regional board <br />or commission meeting or any conference, meeting or event attended. <br /> <br />MINUTES: Councilmember Lopez reported her attendance at the Harvard Kennedy <br />School Executive Education Program, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She stated that the <br />total cost for the program was $17,900, and she addressed various topics affecting cities <br />across the nation including homelessness and the use of artificial intelligence. She <br />suggested the City consider demographic analysis to guide budget recommendations, a <br />chat bot on the City’s website, and partnering with the Bloomberg Center for Cities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Phan reported her attendance at the Sister City Partnership Event, in <br />Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico, where she was interviewed by Spanish media for the first <br />time. She hosted her annual Legal Clinic on July 12, 2025, in partnership with the Public <br />Law Center, the Vietnamese Bar Association of Southern California, and Advancing <br />Justice SoCal. She attended National Night Out which was hosted collaboratively by the <br />Parks and Police departments. She invited everyone to participate in the annual Zoofari <br />fundraiser on August 16, 2025, and congratulated Councilmember Lopez for her <br />completion of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bacerra reported his attendance at the 2nd Annual AAPI LEAD Summit, <br />in Atlanta, Georgia. He thanked everyone who attended the unveiling of the digital <br />marquee at Carl Thornton Park and shared he hosted his community office hours on <br />Saturday, August 2, 2025. He inquired about the use of drones to combat illegal firework <br />usage in the City. <br /> <br />Chief Rodriguez reported that the Police Department is currently finalizing an agreement <br />for drone services and is expected to present the agreement for Council’s consideration <br />at the first meeting in September. <br /> <br />Councilmember Bacerra invited everyone to attend the Sandpoint Park playground <br />design meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Taft Elementary. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hernandez thanked staff for their hard work and reported his attendance <br />at the 2025 National Association of Latino Elected Officials Conference, in Atlanta, <br />Georgia, where topics discussed included wildfire assistance, protecting the environment, <br />and immigration. He also attended the Sister City Partnership Event in <br />Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico and announced the first-of-its-kind outdoor library at <br />Jerome Park. He invited everyone to attend the 4th Annual Chicano Heritage Festival on <br />August 24, 2025 at Centennial Park. <br /> <br />Councilmember Penaloza announced that he was scheduled to attend the 2025 National <br />Association of Latino Elected Officials Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia. However, in light <br />of the deficit the City is facing, he could not justify the cost and decided to cancel his trip. <br />He expressed hope that, during the next budget cycle, Council is more mindful of their <br />use of taxpayer monies. He invited everyone to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for