[00:00:01]
AND ALSO OUR LED LIGHTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. BUT THAT'S THE COMPANY. ARE WE ON? OKAY. GOOD
[Call to Order]
EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY OF COACHELLA ON JANUARY 27TH, 2025. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE RECEIVED EITHER IN PERSON, VIA EMAIL, TELEPHONICALLY, OR ZOOM, WITH A LIMIT OF 250 WORDS OR THREE MINUTES. THE LIVE STREAM OF THE MEETING MAY BE VIEWED ONLINE BY ACCESSING THE CITY'S WEBSITE AT WW.COACHELLA.ORG. I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING AT 6 P.M. CLERK CAN YOU HAVE TAKE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER PEREZ. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. DOCTOR. FIGUEROA. PRESENT. MAYOR. PRO TEM DELGADO.[Approval of Agenda]
HERE. THANK YOU. IS THERE A APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? AS IS A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.I SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. SAY I. I. DOCTOR, CAN YOU LEAD US TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? YES.
PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY? BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DID WE RECEIVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THROUGH
[Public Comments (Closed Session Items)]
EMAIL OR. OR IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ONLINE ON ZOOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON OUR CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THERE ARE NONE. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE RECEIVED 1112 1314 PUBLIC COMMENTS WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT I WILL READ. OKAY. I'LL START WITH ANDREW CAMPOS, DEAR MEMBER OF THE COACHELLA CITY COUNCIL. I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR GABRIEL MARTIN'S EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AS CITY MANAGER. UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, COACHELLA HAS SEEN A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN ITS VISIBILITY AND APPEAL TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. GABRIEL'S DEDICATION TO ENHANCE THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF COLLABORATION AND PROSPERITY. WHAT SETS GABRIEL APART, HOWEVER, IS HIS COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING STRONG AND OPEN CONNECTIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS OF COACHELLA. HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PROVIDING THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND OFFERING VALUABLE GUIDANCE ON CITY PROJECTS AND SERVICES.HIS APPROACHABILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS ARE A TESTAMENT TO HIS DEDICATION TO SERVE BOTH THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND THE CITIZENS OF COACHELLA. GABRIEL'S LEADERSHIP STRIKES THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN ADVANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURING THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY ARE HEARD AND VALUED. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT COACHELLA WAS IN CAPABLE HANDS WITH GABRIEL MARTIN AT THE HELM, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT HIS CONTINUED WORK AS CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY INPUT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM ART GARNACHA. DEAR COUNCIL, DEAR COACHELLA CITY COUNCIL, I AM WRITING TO SUPPORT DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN, WHOM I HAVE KNOWN FOR OVER 20 YEARS AS A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE. DOCTOR MARTIN HAS STRONG CHARACTER, INTEGRITY AND A PASSION FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY. IN A RECENT MEETING WITH DOCTOR MARTIN, HE EXPRESSED EXCITEMENT ABOUT HIS WORK IN COACHELLA, UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND A PASSION FOR THE WORK HE WAS DOING AS A RESEARCHER. I COLLABORATE ACADEMICALLY WITH COLLEAGUES FROM THE COACHELLA VALLEY. MANY ALSO SPEAK HIGHLY OF DOCTOR MARTIN. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN OF HIS DISCONTINUED CONTRACT, AND I HOPE THAT COACHELLA CITY COUNCIL CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO SUPPORT DOCTOR MARTIN AND HIS FAMILY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JAVIER OSHIKI. DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONGEST SUPPORT FOR DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF COACHELLA. AS A PUBLIC SERVANT MYSELF FOR THE CITY OF BELL. I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT DOCTOR MARTIN HAS HAD ON THE CITY OF COACHELLA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE HAS SHARED WITH ME SUCCESS STORIES AND STRATEGIES WITH REGARDS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I HAVE IMPLEMENTED THOSE SAME STRATEGIES IN OUR CITY, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL. UNDER DOCTOR MARTIN'S GUIDANCE, THE CITY OF COACHELLA HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OVERALL CITY GOVERNMENT. HIS ABILITY TO BALANCE COMPETING PRIORITIES, FOSTER COLLABORATION AND DRIVE INNOVATION HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE.
HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY TRANSPARENCY, INCLUSIVITY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. I URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT DOCTOR MARTIN'S OUTSTANDING WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM CARLOS MARTINEZ. DEAR CLERK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MY EMAIL AND MY SUPPORT FOR DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN. I HAVE KNOWN DOCTOR MARTIN FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND IN THOSE YEARS I HAVE SEEN THE MATURE MATURATION, GROWTH, INTELLECTUAL, CARING, GREAT
[00:05:06]
DECISION MAKING, AND THE GOOD AND THE GOOD HE BRINGS TO THE WORLD. WHEN I HEARD THAT THE COACHELLA CITY COUNCIL WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DISMISSING DOCTOR MARTIN AS THE CITY MANAGER WITHOUT PROVIDING A PUBLIC JUSTIFICATION, I WAS APPALLED. WITHOUT TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC AND OPTING TO GO IN AT CITY IN A NEW CITY MANAGER DIRECTION, THERE IS A BAD TASTE IN THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE COUNCIL AND AN AUTOMATIC MISTRUST IN THEIR DECISION MAKING. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER HOW THINGS ARE HANDLED HANDLED GOING FORWARD. ELECTED OFFICIALS WORK FOR THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT PLACED THEM IN THOSE POSITIONS, AND IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO HAVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE MISINTERPRET THE DECISION THAT WAS TAKEN TO MOVE TO REMOVE THE CITY MANAGER WITHOUT CAUSE. AS A PROFESSIONAL THAT WORKS WITH THE CORPORATIONS, I SEE THIS PROCESS AS A VENDETTA TO OUST A GOOD LEADER, AS IT WAS OBVIOUS DURING THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING HELD AT 10 A.M. ON A TUESDAY AND ALL THE POSITIVE SUPPORT DOCTOR MARTIN RECEIVED, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. MAYBE THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE CITY MANAGER IS DONE. COMING TO AN AMICABLE SEPARATION SETTLEMENT SHOULD BE A LESSON LEARNED FROM PAST MISTAKES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM RAQUEL PARKER TO THE CITY OF COACHELLA, AND THE DISGRACED COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO PERSONALLY SOUGHT TO INJURE DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN. I AM WRITING TO YOU AS A CONCERNED MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, TO ADDRESS THE RECENT DECISION TO TERMINATE MR. MARTIN FROM HIS POSITION AS CITY MANAGER. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT LEADERSHIP DECISIONS ARE OFTEN COMPLEX, I MUST EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE IMPACT THIS ACTION WILL HAVE NOT JUST ON MR. MARTIN'S CAREER, BUT ON HIS LIVELIHOOD.REGARDLESS OF ANY DIFFERENCES OR JUSTIFICATIONS PROVIDED FOR THIS TERMINATION, IT IS CRUCIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON MR. MARTIN, HIS FAMILY AND THE TRUST OUR COMMUNITY PLACES IN ITS ELECTED LEADERS AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE, YOU HOLD GREATLY GREAT RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY IN YOUR ACTIONS BUT IN THE IN THEIR CONSEQUENCES. DECISIONS MADE IN POSITIONS OF POWER HAVE LASTING EFFECTS, BOTH ON THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED AND ON THE MORAL STANDING OF THE COUNCIL ITSELF. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE WEIGHT OF THIS MATTER AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. WHILE MR. MARTIN'S CAREER AND REPUTATION HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS DECISION, HIS LIVELIHOOD REMAINS WITH YOU WITHIN YOUR POWER TO SAFEGUARD AT LEAST SOME DEGREE, AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE, OFFERING HIM SUPPORT OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOLUTION WOULD BE A STEP TOWARD MITIGATING THE HARM CAUSED AND DEMONSTRATING THE INTEGRITY OF THIS COUNCIL.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE CHOICES MADE TODAY. LEAVE A LEGACY THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT ONLY BY THOSE DIRECTLY, DIRECTLY AFFECTED, BUT BY THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. JUST AS COMPASSION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE VALUES THAT SHOULD GUIDE EVERY DECISION. I TRUST YOU WILL TAKE THIS PERSPECTIVE INTO ACCOUNT AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT JUST FOR MR. MARTIN, BUT FOR THE ETHICAL FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. CONSIDERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE COUNCIL ACT IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE HIGHEST VALUES OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM MIGUEL MANCERA, DEAR COUNCIL.
DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE EVERYTHING GABRIEL HAS DONE FOR THE CITY OF COACHELLA. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEDICATED TO THIS COMMUNITY, GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. HIS PASSION FOR THE CITY IS CLEAR, AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE COACHELLA WITHOUT THE IMPACT HE'S HAD. THE CITY HAS CHANGED SO MUCH DURING HIS TIME HERE, AND A LOT THAT IS THANKS TO HIS HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN APPROACHABLE, OUTGOING, AND WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HIS LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED SHAPE COACHELLA INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND I TRULY HOPE THAT THAT'S CONSIDERED IN THE DISCUSSION MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM BERENICE MONSALVE. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. GABRIEL MARTIN WAS A GREAT CITY MANAGER WHO BROUGHT MANY NEW PROJECTS TO COACHELLA, LIKE A NEW PARK, BROUGHT JOBS AND BUSINESSES, DID A LIBRARY EXPANSION, AND DEDICATED ALL HIS THREE YEARS ON AN ON NOT ONLY BRINGING BUSINESSES AND REVENUE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE COACHELLA BECAME AN UP AND COMING CITY. CITY PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY VISITING AND RELOCATING TO. IT'S A GREAT LOSS FOR THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM CARLOS LIGON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVE IN COACHELLA. FOR MANY YEARS NOW. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH DOCTOR MARTIN'S CITY MANAGER POSITION. I HAVE BEEN VERY SATISFIED WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE IN COACHELLA C SINCE HE HAS BEEN CITY MANAGER. OUR CITY HAS GROWN FOR THE BETTER. I AM DISMAYED THAT THE CITY IS TAKING THIS DRASTIC CHANGE FOR NO REASON, AND WE HAVE NOT, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED PROPER EXPLANATION OF WHY. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JUAN GARCIA. GOOD MORNING, DISTINGUISHED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JUAN GARCIA, AND I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. I REGRET THAT I AM UNABLE TO JOIN IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I AM
[00:10:04]
WRITING TO EXPRESS MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR DOCTOR MARTIN AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS ACCOMPLISHED UNDER HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF COACHELLA TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TWO NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND INITIATED INITIATED TWO ADDITIONAL PROJECTS, ONE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ANOTHER IN THE PLANNING STAGES. TOGETHER, THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL DELIVER A TOTAL OF 421 MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, REPRESENTING A SUBSTANTIAL $254 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. BEYOND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS THROUGH THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND HOME REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. TOGETHER, WE HAVE HELPED 26 HOME BUYERS ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP, EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO BUILD STABILITY AND EQUITY. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE PROVIDED REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE TO 21 HOUSEHOLDS, ENSURING THAT RESIDENTS CAN REMAIN IN SAFE, LIVABLE HOMES AND PRESERVING THE CITY'S EXISTING HOUSING STOCK. THESE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF DOCTOR MARTIN'S LEADERSHIP, VISION AND DEDICATION. HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE PARTNERS, DEMONSTRATING A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED SOLUTIONS. THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, INNOVATION AND DRIVE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DELIVERING IMPACTFUL OUTCOMES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF COACHELLA. THE WORK GABRIEL MARTIN HAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING HIS TENURE CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN PIVOTAL TO THE SUCCESSES WE'VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER, AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF COACHELLA. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE RESPECT THE CITY'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES, GOALS AND PRIORITIES, AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR SHARED MISSION OF EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND PRESERVING EXISTING, EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF COACHELLA, AND TO BUILD ON THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS WE'VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM DOCTOR MONICA DELGADILLO. I AM SUBMITTING THIS LETTER TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF DOCTOR GABE MARTIN. I HAVE KNOWN DOCTOR MARTIN SINCE 2007 AS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DOCTORAL PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT HE DEMONSTRATED AN ABILITY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED WHILE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO BRING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SOLUTIONS TO PRESENT DAY CHALLENGES. WE WERE CHALLENGED IN BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PROJECTS TO IDENTIFY AND SHOW HOW VARIOUS POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AFFECTED OUR PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS. I RECALL THAT GABE ALWAYS PROVIDED A WELL CONSTRUCTED, THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS ALONG WITH THE CHALLENGES AND PITFALLS AND SOLUTIONS. HAVING WORKED IN THE PAST FOR A FORMER CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND A FORMER CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, I AM WELL AWARE THAT STAFF CAN BECOME A TARGET. THIS IS ONE WAY TO CLEAR A PATH FOR OTHER AGENDAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. AGAIN, THE INTENT OF THIS LETTER IS TO BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD OF THE MINUTES OF THE CITY OF COACHELLA CITY COUNCIL. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM JESUS FERNANDEZ. DEAR COUNCIL, I AM SORRY YOU CAME TO THE CONSENSUS TO PART WAYS WITH SUCH A GREAT LEADER IN GABRIEL MARTIN HEBREW TO BE AN EXEMPLARY EXAMPLE OF WHAT A GREAT CITY MANAGER CAN BE. HIS WORK ETHIC AND AUTHENTIC SELF INSPIRED HIS STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO BE GREAT, AND WE ALL REALLY APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE AND TIME HE SPENT IN THE CITY. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE SEPARATION WITH THE CITY, PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE HELPED THE CITY ACCOMPLISH IN HIS TENURE. JESUS.
FERNANDEZ. THE NEXT ONE IS FROM DOLLY MEDLOCK, DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DOCTOR DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN HAS PROVEN TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIVE CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF COACHELLA, EXEMPLIFYING VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT, HE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED AN UNPARALLELED COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. DOCTOR MARTIN'S APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS LED TO SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND FOSTERING JOB CREATION, WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING A FOCUS ON SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY AND INCLUSIVITY. HIS ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS AND LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS HAS FOSTERED A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY, TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, COACHELLA HAS BEEN HAS SEEN VAST IMPROVEMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING UPGRADED PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES, MAKING THE CITY SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. DOCTOR MARTIN'S COLLABORATIVE STYLE HAS ALSO HELPED BUILD STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITY, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES, ENSURING A UNIFIED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING REGIONAL CHALLENGES.
[00:15:01]
HIS FOCUS ON EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS FURTHER ELEVATED THE CITY, MAKING IT A MORE VIBRANT AND COHESIVE PLACE TO LIVE. DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN'S LEGACY AS CITY MANAGER WILL BE DEFINED BY HIS FORWARD THINKING INITIATIVES AND GENUINE CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF COACHELLA, MARKING HIS TENURE AS A TIME OF TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND POSITIVE CHANGE. HIS LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. DOCTOR MARTIN IS A TRUE VISIONARY. THE LAST ONE IS FROM MARIA RUIZ, DOCTOR GABRIEL MARTIN HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING AND TRANSFORMATIVE CITY MANAGER FOR COACHELLA, LEADING WITH INTEGRITY, VISION AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. HIS TENURE BROUGHT ABOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, ALL WHILE MAINTAINING A FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, COACHELLA FLOURISHED, SEEING A JOB CREATION, ENHANCED CITY PROGRAMS, AND A MORE CONNECTED AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. DOCTOR MARTIN'S APPROACH WAS ALWAYS ROOTED IN LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. HOWEVER, HIS RECENT REMOVAL ALONGSIDE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S DEPARTURE RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR REPLACEMENTS. BOTH DOCTOR MARTIN AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WERE REPLACED WITH INDIVIDUALS OF CAUCASIAN DESCENT, A MOVE THAT STARKLY CONTRASTS WITH THE CITY'S DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY LATINO. THIS SHIFT HAS BEEN SEEN BY MANY AS NOT ONLY UNJUST, BUT ALSO REFLECTIVE OF A PATTERN OF RACIAL INEQUITY AND UNDERMINES THE VALUES OF FAIRNESS AND REPRESENTATION. THE DECISION SURROUNDING THEIR REMOVAL HAVE PROMPTED STRONG REACTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, MANY OF WHOM FEEL THAT THEIR VOICES ARE BEING SILENCED, SILENCED, AND THEIR INTERESTS OVERLOOKED. COACHELLA DESERVES LEADERSHIP THAT MIRRORS ITS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE POPULATION, AND THE ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST DOCTOR MARTIN AND THE CITY ATTORNEY CONTRADICTS THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION THAT THE CITY SHOULD CHAMPION. IT'S APPALLING THAT DOCTOR MARTIN WAS REPLACED BY BILL P, THE OLD CITY MANAGER WHO HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH AN EMPLOYEE WHILE HE WAS THE CITY MANAGER. HOW DARE THE CITY COUNCIL MAKE BUSINESS WITH THAT MAN. HE IS TOXIC AND HOSTILE TO BE AROUND. SHAME ON YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'LL NOTE FOR THE ATTENDANCE THAT MAYOR HERNANDEZ HAS JOINED THE MEETING AT 615.614. YES. 614. HOW MANY LETTERS IS THAT WE HAD? 14, 13, 14 MORE LETTERS. ALL RIGHT.
[Adjourn to Closed Session]
[Reports and Requests]
SO WE'RE COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND RETURN AT 646 TO OUR OPEN SESSION MEETING. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COUNCIL MET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO THE ITEMS LISTED ON THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA. AND THERE IS NO REPORTABLE ACTION. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.