Good evening, everyone.

We're going to go ahead and get started.

Thank you for joining our city council meeting of September 14th, 2026.

We hold meetings in a hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation.

And the city welcomes public comment on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction.

And members of the public may provide comments as follows.

Speaker cards are located at the back table in the council chambers and must be turned in to the city clerk here at the dais.

Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number you wish to speak on.

Attendees who have joined us by Zoom will be given will be called to speak after the in-person comments have been given.

Good evening.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Chu.

Councilmember Chu, I see you've joined us online.

Councilmember G.

Councilmember Howard.

Here.

Councilmember Padilla.

Present, Councilmember Stirkin.

Here.

Vice Mayor Aiken.

Mayor Martinez Saballos.

Here.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

With that, we'll go into the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilmember Howard, could you lead us, please?

Please join me in honoring our flag and our country.

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Councilmember Howard.

And with that, we'll go to item number four.

And we do have a council member who is uh participating in tonight's evening through this item, and I will pass things over to Councilmember Chuck.

Hi, Councilmember.

Sorry, I couldn't hear you there.

No, no worries.

We're on item four.

Um, just wondering if you could, yeah, share your I I am uh um participating remotely due to travel for official city business.

Thank you, Councilmember Chu.

Can you also confirm that you'll have audio and video on throughout the meeting?

And also please disclose if there are any individuals over the age of 18 present in your room and what their relation to you is.

There is no one over there's no one here with me.

Uh and um I will have audio and visual on all the time.

Wonderful, thank you.

And for the record, I will state that we do have at least a quorum of the other city council members present in the meeting tonight.

And Councilmember Chu has not used her just cause remote participation more than the allowed times per year.

And also I'm confirming that the city will be providing a two-way audio visual platform so that the public can remotely hear and visually observe the meeting.

That's it, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you, Councilmember Chu for joining us virtually.

With that, I will move into item five, our presentations and acknowledgments.

Our first recognition this evening is to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time that is near and dear to Redwood City to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

And I'll read a few excerpts from our proclamation.

Whereas September 15th through October 15th is nationally recognized as Hispan National Hispanic Heritage Month, and the City of Redwood City recognizes that Hispanic heritage is American heritage, and we see that influence in almost every aspect of our lives.

Whereas the people who identify as Hispanic or Latino represent over 35% of Redwood City's population, making it the second largest demographic in our community.

Whereas the Latino Community Council of Redwood City has organized an annual Fiesas Patrias events held on the third Sunday of September since 2008 to celebrate the independence of Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Elmer Martina Saballos, Mayor of Redwood City, on behalf of the City Council and the people of Redwood City to hereby proclaim September 15, 2026 through October 15, 2026, National Hispanic Heritage Month in honor of the rich culture that Hispanic Americans have brought to the Redwood City community, and in recognition of the in double footprints of Hispanic Heritage in our daily lives.

Be it further resolved that in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Mexican national flag was raised on September 13th, 2026 for the Fiesas Patria celebration, and the national flags of Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, where my dad is from, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, where my mom is from, Panamá, Paraguay, and Peru will be displayed here in the Council Chambers at City Hall in celebration of the National Hispanic Heritage Month.

I'd now like to welcome members of the Latino Community Council of Redwood City to the podium for their remarks and to share some highlights from yesterday's Fiestas Patrias events.

Welcome.