[Call To Order] [00:00:07] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE. TODAY'S APRIL 2ND AND IT'S 5 P.M. COMMENTS CAN BE EITHER IN PERSON, EMAIL OR TELEPHONICALLY OR THROUGH ZOOM WITH 250 WORDS OR LESS. I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING AT 5 P.M. AND SELENA, CAN YOU LEAD US INTO. PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY? BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE. IS GIVEN AND TO HIM FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. WE CAN HAVE ROLL CALL. CHAIR DELGADO HERE. VICE CHAIR PRESENT. AND THEN IS THERE A [Approval of Agenda] MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY [Presentations] AYE. I APPROVE OF THE MINUTES. THERE AREN'T ANY. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION. YOU SEE OUR EXTENSION BUSINESS STABILITY AND RETENTION PROGRAM. HI, MARY. HI. IT'S OKAY. SHE IS ONLINE. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER DELGADO. COUNCIL MEMBER MARY RODRIGUEZ, GRANTS MANAGER. AND FOR THE FIRST PRESENTATION, WE HAVE DAISY INIGUEZ FROM UC RIVERSIDE. AND SHE IS A CORPORATE EDUCATION AND CUSTOM PROGRAMS MANAGER. AND I SEE DAISY. CAN YOU HEAR US? LET'S SEE. HI, YES I CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU. DAISY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. HI, DAISY. HI. VERY NICE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A PRESENTATION. IS THAT GOING TO BE SHOWN OR SHOULD I SHOULD I SHARE THAT? YES, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW IT IN JUST A SECOND. CAN YOU SEE IT, DAISY? YES I CAN. OH, GREAT. OKAY. AND I AM HAVING SOME BANDWIDTH ISSUES, SO I'M GOING TO KEEP MY CAMERA OFF JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESENTATION GOES WELL. BUT LET ME KNOW IF YOU CANNOT HEAR ME AT ANY MOMENT OR IF I DO. FREEZE. SURE THING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. WELL, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO A QUICK PRESENTATION, A VERY BRIEF. I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE LAUNCHING AT UCR UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, WHICH IS CALLED THE BUSINESS STABILITY AND RETENTION PROGRAM. AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH UCR UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, WE ARE THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE. SO WE FOCUS ON CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OR COURSES THAT MIGHT HELP AN INDIVIDUAL UPSKILL, MAYBE PROMOTE WITHIN THEIR JOB OR MOVE ON TO A NEW CAREER. ALL OF OUR CURRICULUM IS UC GOLD STANDARD CURRICULUM THAT'S APPROVED BY THE UCR ACADEMIC SENATE, AND IT IS TAUGHT BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS, ENSURING THAT WE DO PROVIDE THE SAME QUALITY THAT THE THAT OUR UNIVERSITY PROVIDES. AND OF COURSE, ALL OF OUR COURSES ALSO PROVIDE ACADEMIC RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTED UNITS. AND WE DO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE LEARNING FORMATS AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. SO THE BUSINESS STABILITY AND RETENTION PROGRAM IS ESSENTIALLY A PROGRAM THAT'S DESIGNED FOR LAYOFF AVERSION SUPPORT FOR COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE BUSINESSES. SO THE BUSINESS THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BUSINESSES WITH DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO STABILIZE THEIR OPERATIONS, STRAIGHTEN THEIR WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND RETAIN JOBS AS WELL. AND THIS IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY HOUSING AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT. SO THIS IS FUNDED BY A GRANT AND IT'S COMPLETELY FREE. THERE'S NO COST TO PARTICIPATE FOR ANY BUSINESS THAT DOES QUALIFY. SOME OF THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT THE COUNTY DOES HAVE TO BE IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY. THEY MUST HAVE TEN OR MORE TEAM MEMBERS OR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY MIGHT BE AT RISK OF LAYING OFF SOME EMPLOYEES AS WELL, WHETHER THEY'RE EXPERIENCING OPERATIONAL OR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. NOW, THERE IS A DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. IT IS JUNE 15TH, ESSENTIALLY TO APPLY, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY AN APPLICATION. IT'S REALLY JUST A, YOU KNOW, EXPRESSING INTEREST. AND FROM THERE WE GO FROM THERE. JUST [00:05:04] MAKING SURE THAT YOU DO MEET THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. AND SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE OFFERED ARE BUSINESS ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND SPECIALIZED ACTION PLANS FOR EVERY BUSINESS AND WHAT THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS ARE. WE'LL ALSO PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING IN DIFFERENT AREAS, FROM PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO MARKETING, AI LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RESOURCES, ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE, AND OTHERS AS WELL. AND THE BUSINESSES WILL ALSO RECEIVE CONSULTING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. SO WE WILL PAIR THEM WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ALREADY WORK WITH US, INSTRUCTORS WHO ALREADY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CONSULTING IN THE CONSULTING FIELD TO REALLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT ONCE AGAIN, TO THESE BUSINESSES AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY MIGHT NEED. WITH THAT, REALLY, THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO TO GET STARTED IS CONTACT ME OR MY COLLEAGUE DJ. YOU'LL SEE MY INFORMATION HERE ON THE SCREEN, MY EMAIL PHONE NUMBER AS WELL. SO MY EMAIL WILL BE DAISY@UCR.EDU. THAT'S MY FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOU CAN ALSO JUST REACH OUT TO OUR MAIN OFFICE AND ASK TO BE DIRECTED TO US OR, YOU KNOW, JUST MENTION THE PROGRAM AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST AS WELL. SO ONCE AGAIN, VERY BRIEF, BUT WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. NOW, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. DAISY, THIS IS VERY EXCITING. IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN YOU GO BACK TO WHERE THE WORKSHOP PAGES? SORRY, THE THE ONE AFTER. THANK YOU. YEAH. OF COURSE. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE REACHED OUT TO CITY OF COACHELLA IS WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE WORD OUT, THAT WE DO SUPPORT AS MANY BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE. AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW THE COACHELLA VALLEY CAN ALSO BE CAN ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY SINCE YOU ARE IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY. SO ONCE AGAIN, JUST FEEL FREE TO REFER THEM OVER TO US AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP. AND REALLY PUTTING OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK AS WELL. WITH THIS GRANT FUNDED BY THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE. SO IS THIS IS THIS APPLIED TO SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES NOW, OR IS IT FOR PEOPLE COMING IN? IT'S FOR BUSINESSES THAT COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH RETAINING THEIR THEIR WORKFORCE. AND SO, DAISY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? YES. OF COURSE. SO THIS IS FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES. THIS IS FOR A BUSINESS WHO HAS AT LEAST TEN EMPLOYEES. SO IT DOES HAVE TO BE LIKE MORE MID MID SIZE. AND THIS AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, THEY WILL QUALIFY FOR THESE SERVICES. AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE EXPERIENCING WHETHER IT'S OPERATIONAL FINANCIAL ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP THEM AND REALLY HELP GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE CONSULTING AND MAYBE SOME TRAINING, SOME ENROLLING THEM IN SOME COURSES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING BUSINESS ASSESSMENTS AND REALLY ACTION PLANS FOR THEM TO GO FORWARD. AND THEN FORGIVE ME, DAISY, IF YOU'VE ALREADY COVERED THIS IS, IS THERE IS THERE A CAP? IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MANY BUSINESSES CAN PARTICIPATE? THERE IS A LIMIT FOR THIS CONTRACT CYCLE. SO THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE PROVIDED A GRANT. SO CURRENTLY THERE'S FIVE BUSINESSES THAT CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. HOWEVER, WE DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AFTER THIS CONTRACT CYCLE ENDS AFTER JUNE. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, I THINK. AND THEN SO FOR US TO GET THE THE WORD OUT, I GUESS WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT BUSINESSES ARE EVEN ELIGIBLE. RIGHT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TEN EMPLOYEES. YEAH. WE WILL SEND A FLIER OUT AND ALSO POST IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE. AND THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN TELL A FRIEND OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY. AND I THINK THIS, THIS IS GOING TO BE MUCH APPRECIATED. DAISY, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SO IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL HELP OFFERED? JUST A RANDOM QUESTION ASKING FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE EVENT THAT PERHAPS THERE IS A, A SOME FUNDING SUPPORT AT THE END OF THE TRAINING OR GUIDANCE? UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH THE GRANT, HOWEVER, WE ARE ABLE TO POINT THEM IN THE DIRECTION OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST OR EVEN FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL. HOWEVER, THIS GRANT WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY FUNDING. IT IS FREE, RIGHT? SO IT'S FREE FOR ANYONE. SO IT'S FREE TO PARTICIPATE AND THE CONSULTING WILL BE FREE. THE WE MIGHT ENROLL THEM IN CLASSES OR MAYBE DO WORKSHOPS. IT'S ALL GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALIZED. IT'S GOING TO BE TAILORED TO WHAT THE COMPANY NEEDS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY NEED A WORKSHOP IN FINANCE, THEN THEY MIGHT, YOU KNOW, WILL DO A WORKSHOP FOR THEM IF THEY NEED [00:10:02] TO BE ENROLLED IN A FULL CLASS IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'LL ENROLL THEM IN A FULL CLASS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDED AT NO COST, BUT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE TAILORED DEPENDING ON WHAT SPECIFICALLY THEY NEED, RIGHT? IF THEY NEED MARKETING SUPPORT, THEN THAT'S THE TYPES OF CLASSES OR WORKSHOPS THAT WE'LL PLACE THEM INTO. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN PROBABLY EVEN THINK OF SOME OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE KNOW HAVE TEN EMPLOYEES OR MORE, BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY BUSINESSES WITH TEN EMPLOYEES OR MORE. I THINK MANY OF THEM ARE KIND OF FAMILY OWNED. AND SO I'M THINKING THAT PERHAPS EVEN SOME OF US CAN THROW SOME NAMES AND FORWARD THEM TO YOU GUYS. YES, PLEASE. THANK SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAISY. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE? WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NOPE. THAT WOULD BE IT. I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND SPREADING THE WORD. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE JUST REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SERVICE AS MANY BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE AND REALLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT IT'S NO COST AND THAT THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE HAS PROVIDED THE FUNDING AND THE GRANT FOR THIS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SO I DID SHARE A FLIER WITH SELENA AND HER TEAM. SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK AND REACH OUT IF YOU DO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. WONDERFUL. DAISY. IS IT ALSO, I GUESS THE THEN THE THEN THE WORKSHOPS WOULD ONLY BE PROBABLY IN ENGLISH, RIGHT? WE WOULD EVALUATE EVERY BUSINESS INDIVIDUALLY. SO IF THERE IS A BUSINESS WHO POTENTIALLY NEEDS THE WORKSHOPS IN SPANISH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT'S JUST IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. WONDERFUL. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US, STACEY. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR EVENING. HAVE A WONDERFUL THURSDAY. THANK YOU DAISY. THANK YOU. BYE. THANK YOU AMANDA. THANK YOU DAVID. OUR SECOND PRESENTATION FOR THE CIVIC FELLOWSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CDC AND IVAN. AND THAT WILL BE REBECCA SHEPHERD, OUR MANAGEMENT ANALYST. HELLO, REBECCA. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN OR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. MY NAME IS REBECCA SHEPHERD. AS MARY SAID, I AM THE MANAGEMENT ANALYST FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD TONIGHT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO HOST FELLOWS. AND WE'D LIKE TO BRING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS PROGRAM? THIS IS A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE INLAND REGIONAL ENERGY NETWORK, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS. AND I RAN IN CVAG, BOTH WORK SPECIFICALLY IN PARTNER WITH CIVIC SPARK, WHICH IS A FELLOWSHIP THAT BUILDS LOCAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY CHALLENGES. CIVIC SPARK IS A PART OF AMERICORPS, AND THE FELLOWS FOCUS ON AREAS AND PROJECTS SUCH AS ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR SUPPORT. WHO EXACTLY ARE THESE FELLOWS? IRAN DOES GUARANTEE THAT ALL OF THEIR FELLOWS ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES AND EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS. THEY ARE SKILLED IN AREAS OF RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYZES, AND THEY ARE EMERGING LEADERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES. AND THEY CAN BRING NEW ENERGY AND IDEAS. THE FELLOWS ARE PREPARING FOR EXCITING CAREERS IN AREAS SUCH AS ENERGY AUDITING, ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TECHNICIAN, SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORS, AND SPECIFICALLY IRAN. FUNDING IS SUPPORTED BY THE SPECIFIC PLACEMENT OF FELLOWS IN DEPARTMENTS WITH ENERGY RELATED PROJECTS. SO WHAT EXACTLY CAN AN INTERN DO FOR OUR CITY? FIRST OF ALL, THEY WILL PROVIDE A FRESH PERSPECTIVE. THEY CAN HELP INNOVATE AND IMPROVE EXISTING PROCESSES. THEY ALSO CAN HELP WITH SUPPORTING CURRENT PROJECTS THROUGH DATA ANALYSIS, EVENT PLANNING, EVEN DATA ENTRY. AND THEY CAN ASSIST ONGOING PROJECTS AND HELP FILL IN THE GAPS WHERE WE MIGHT SEE ANY ANY GAPS IN CAPACITY IN OUR ORGANIZATION. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO THIS FELLOWSHIP FOR THE CITY. AND SO IT ALSO IS A VERY COST EFFECTIVE RESOURCE FOR US. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY? [00:15:04] THIS FELLOWSHIP WOULD BE AN 11 MONTH FULL TIME PLACEMENT. SO THAT'S 40 HOURS A WEEK STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2026 AND ENDING IN AUGUST OF 2027. AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO HOST A FELLOW, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, RIGHT? AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY WITHOUT RISKING ANY BUDGET OVER EXPENDITURE. SO WHAT WOULD THE CITY NEED TO COMMIT? THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE VERY BASIC COMMITMENTS THAT ARE ALL RELATED TO OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. THINGS LIKE PROVIDING A WORKSPACE, PROVIDING COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE FOR THE INTERN, SOME TRAINING OF COURSE, STAFF SUPERVISION AND INTEGRATION, TRAINING THEM INTO INTEGRATION, WORKFLOW AND REPORTING WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATIONS. OVERALL, THE BENEFITS TO COACHELLA, TO HOSTING A FELLOW ARE UNDOUBTEDLY WONDERFUL. IT WOULD INCREASE OUR CAPACITY, IT WOULD IMPROVE REPORTING TIMELINES, IT WOULD SUPPORT DEADLINES, AND ULTIMATELY THAT WOULD FREE US UP TO MAXIMIZE OUR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, ALL THE WHILE PROVIDING THIS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE TO FUTURE LEADERS. AND SO TODAY, STAFF IS JUST SEEKING DIRECTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO CIVIC SPARK FOR TWO FELLOWS, ONE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY OUR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROJECTS AND ONE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLANNING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, REBECCA, AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF COACHELLA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST JUST ONE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. HOW DO YOU FIND THE CANDIDATES? LIKE WHAT'S THE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO FIND THEM TO APPLY? SURE. SO THAT'S ALL THROUGH CIVIC SPARK. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE THE FELLOWS, THE FELLOWS DO APPLY. THEY'RE PROJECTING ABOUT 150 FELLOWS FOR THIS YEAR, BUT THEY DO SERVICE CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON AND COLORADO. SO THAT'S 150 SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE THREE STATES. SO THE FELLOWS DO APPLY, BUT THEY'RE THEY GO INTO VARIOUS DIFFERENT SECTORS. THEY DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ENERGY. SO DEPENDING ON THE THE NEED OF THE DEPARTMENT OR THE ORGANIZATION. BUT THEY DO GO THROUGH A PRETTY RIGOROUS APPLICATION PROCESS. AND LIKE I SAID, I RAN SPECIFICALLY GUARANTEES THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING THIS FELLOW THAT THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH CIVIC SPARK TO FIND THAT THEY WILL BE COLLEGE GRADUATES, THEY WILL HAVE SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE IN THESE THESE AREAS THAT THEY'RE PLACING THEM. THAT'S WONDERFUL. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PLACE THEM WHEN IN PLANNING. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WITH, I FORGOT WHICH OTHER ONE YOU HAD. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PERFECT. YEAH, I THINK IT'S GREAT. AND THEN IT'S AWESE. I LOVE THE IDEA, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WHERE THE CITY IS AT WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY AND POWER AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE A LITTLE BIT MORE. I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND IF IF YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, WANT TO, BUT ARE THE CITY, YOU KNOW, SITS ON A FEW COMMITTEES WITH CVAG THAT ARE RELATED TO ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY. SO HAVING THEM ATTEND BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM RATHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KIND OF BEING IN THEIR OFFICE SPACE, BUT ALSO ALLOWING THEM TO GO TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS SO THEY CAN PICK UP ON STUFF. IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. SO I THINK THIS IS AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE HAD TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KIND OF JUST CHECK WITH OUR CHAIRS. IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL MIGHT SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE WERE GUARANTEED BY CVAG STAFF THAT IF WE APPLY NOW, WE, YOU KNOW, WE STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING THE FULLY FUNDED FELLOWS. AND I WAS TOLD THAT WE KIND OF HOLD A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY, BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW THAT ACTUALLY HAVE CLIMATE RESILIENCY WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. BUT ALSO THERE'S THIS ENERGY, OTHER, OTHER PROJECTS WITH RELATED TO ENERGY. SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY THRILLED. YOU KNOW, WE THINK THIS IS GREAT TO GET THESE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO COME JOIN US FOR THE 11 MONTH PERIOD. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY AMAZING. THAT WOULD GIVE US A LOT OF CAPACITY. SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BEFORE, NOT ASKING IF THIS WAS OKAY. SO THE VALUE IS 37,500 PER PERSON. AND OF COURSE THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR SHARE. BUT BECAUSE I RAN AN CVAG ARE COVERING IT, WE DON'T NEED TO COME UP WITH A 37,500 PER FELLOW. SO THEY DO GET PAID. [00:20:05] THEY DO. YES. SO AMERICORPS AND THE OTHER AGENCY, THEY HAVE FUNDING TO TO PAY FOR THEIR SALARIES. WE JUST HAVE TO LIKE REBECCA INDICATED, JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM A DECENT WORKSPACE, ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, MENTORSHIP GUIDANCE SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO BUILD THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY. I THINK IN THE, IN THE, IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE FACILITY WHERE YOU'RE AT, THERE'S A LOT OF CUBICLES THERE, UNUSED CUBICLES THERE. YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HELP US A GREAT DEAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE FROZEN. I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ASSISTANCE IN YOU KNOW LIKE REBECCA HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, MEETING THE DEADLINE, IT'S A LOT OF WORK. IT REALLY IS. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE INDIVIDUALS COME IN AND THEY REALLY DO HELP OUT AND SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT. THEY REALLY DO. AND THE CITY AS AN ORGANIZATION, ONE OF THE BENEFITS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES ALREADY, IS, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY OF COACHELLA. MOST OF THEM, YOU KNOW, ARE GEARED TOWARDS SOME TYPE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY. SO I THINK AUTOMATICALLY WE ALREADY MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SUPPORT AND HELP THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS NEED, YOU KNOW? ABSOLUTELY. SO I'M, I'M THANKFUL TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HIGHEST CHANCES OF GETTING THE TWO INTERNS UNDERSTANDING WHAT, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY IS GOING THROUGH. SO I THANKFUL TO SEE THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. I THINK YOU GOT YOUR DIRECTIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU. THERE ISN'T ANY NEW BUSINESS. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? DO WE HAVE ANY NO ONE ONLINE. THANK YOU. THANK [Reports and Requests] YOU SO MUCH. AND ANY REPORTS OR REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OR FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? NOPE. NO REQUESTS. NOT RIGHT NOW. AND THEN. STAFF. THINKING. YOU KNOW WHAT? ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE A REQUEST IS THAT THAT WE BRING BACK THE THE CHAMBER SO THAT WE CAN DO THEY CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE STUFF THAT HOPEFULLY THEY'RE INTEGRATING AND INCORPORATING TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES GROW AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM THE TRAINING AS MUCH AS, AS MUCH AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE. YEAH. WITH [Staff Comments] THAT. YES. THEN IS THERE ANY STAFF COMMENTS? NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION THAT THAT WE ARE OUR CONTRACT IS UP FOR RENEWAL FOR THE GREATER COACHELLA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND SO THIS PRESENTS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT JUST, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTS IN THEIR CONTRACT AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING US WITH SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES. AND THEN ALSO THE TACOS TEQUILA EVENT AND THEN STATE OF THE CITY. AND SO THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH, I THINK WITH STATE OF THE CITY ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE WE ALL KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS TO MAKE THE TABLE ASSIGNMENTS AND RECEIVE LIKE PAYMENTS AND ALL THAT FOR, FOR SUPPORT, RIGHT? SO THEY DO DO A GOOD JOB, I THINK, WITH STATE OF THE CITY. AND SO WE CAN KIND OF BRING THAT BACK AND KIND OF DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE WAY FORWARD AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO OR SEE BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN THEY COME FORWARD, I THINK IT'S MAYBE GOOD FOR US TO IDENTIFY MAYBE SOME ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES THAT CAN ALSO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW SBDC DOES A WONDERFUL JOB IN THE TRAINING. THEY REALLY, REALLY DO. AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT A BIT MORE. YES, I THINK WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM PROBABLY IN MAY OR JUNE, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO TALK ABOUT ACTUALLY TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDA, THE COUNTY EDA. SO JAIME, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING THAT RESOURCE IN AND MAYBE THEY CAN BE RIGHT THERE. YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, JUST TO OFFER, I'M NOT SAYING EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, BUT AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD IF THEY WERE THERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S SPACE, A LARGE SPACE. PEOPLE CAN SIT IN THE LITTLE LOBBY AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE IF THEY NEED IT. AND I THINK THEY'LL COME IF THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, OR I DON'T KNOW, I I'LL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS, BUT WE'LL BRING THE OPTIONS AND THEN YOU GUYS CAN TELL US WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE. THAT'S A BIG SPACE. IT'S A BIG SPACE THAT THEY HAVE THERE. WHEN I COME IN, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S JUST ONE [00:25:01] INDIVIDUAL THERE. AND IT'S NOT TO TO BE CRITICAL WITH HER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT PERFORMING, BUT RATHER IS THE SIZE OF THE SPACE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF SPACE AND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD SPACE TO, TO HAVE WORKSHOPS THERE TOO. SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT UTILIZING THE MONDAY THAT THEY DON'T USE TO BRING IN THE INLAND HOUSING, THE INLAND HOUSING. OH MY GOSH, IT'S A HUGE NAME, BUT BASICALLY THEY'RE GOING TO OFFER TENANT SUPPORT SERVICES. SO LIKE THEY'LL BE HERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE THAT PEOPLE CAN TALK TO IF THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR LANDLORD OR SOME OTHER EVICTION SITUATION OR, YOU KNOW, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN, KDE IS BRINGING THEM IN AS PART OF OUR WORK WITH THE DISPLACEMENT AVOIDANCE PLAN WITH TCC. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOSTING OFFICE HOURS THERE ON MONDAYS TO KIND OF BRING THAT IN FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS. SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE THE BEST OR THE MOST OF THAT SPACE. SO I SAW THAT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ON MONDAYS. SO I THOUGHT, OKAY, MONDAY, HOW ABOUT WE PUT THEM THERE? AND THAT WAY THE PUBLIC KNOWS THEY CAN COME AND AND TALK TO THEM THERE ON MONDAYS. YEAH. AND KATIE IS AN OUTSTANDING WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I MEAN THEY REALLY, REALLY ARE. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THEM. YES. OKAY. WELL I GUESS THAT'S IT. AND WE'LL * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.