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RIGHT.I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE DECEMBER 21ST, 2023 MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AT 9 0 3.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG? 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.
MR. DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL? I WILL.
SO CHAIR LIVINGSTON, PRESENT VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
COMMISSIONER SEAN PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER ATE SMITH HERE, EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
UH, WE WILL START WITH PRESENTATIONS.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR.
UM, SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, UH, THE FIRE MARSHAL WOULD NOT BE PLEASED WITH OUR MEETING THIS MORNING IS WE STANDING, STANDING ROOM ONLY, BUT ONE OF OUR, UH, MONTHLY, UH, REALLY POSITIVE TRADITIONS IS TO RECOGNIZE A DEPARTMENT'S STELLAR EMPLOYEE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
AND, UH, OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE IS IN CHARGE OF THAT.
UH, JOY WARREN, WHO WOULD NORMALLY BE MAKING THIS PRESENTATION.
SO OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER GLADYS KAISER, WILL LEAD US TO THAT.
UM, PLEASURE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR ONE OF OUR STELLAR STAFF MEMBERS.
SO I'M GONNA, SO YESTERDAY, UM, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURPRISE HIM AND I THINK WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB, SURPRISING IN FRONT OF HIS TEAM.
UM, AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE ENTIRE MAINTENANCE TEAM HERE TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND THEN RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK AS WELL.
SO I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD MR. ANTONIO, UH, GUERRERO OFFICER.
SO, UM, ANTONIO IS NOMINATED BY ONE OF HIS FELLOW COWORKERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND IT SAYS ANTONIO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AS A MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT.
THREE FOR JUST OVER SIX YEARS IS ONE OF TWO FULL-TIME MA THREES PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR PARKS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND FREE STRANDING REST RESTROOMS. IN ADDITION TO THESE DUTIES, ANTONIO HAS TAKEN ON THE TASK OF LEARNING HOW TO OPERATE OUR C AND C MACHINE TO FABRICATE PARK AND RETIREMENT SIGNS.
IN THE PAST, OUR DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTRACT THIS REQUEST RESULTING IN LESS FUNDS FOR OTHER NEEDED AREAS.
ANTONIO HAS ASSISTED WITH MAJOR PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT FENCE REPAIRS, INCLUDING MANUFACTURING A MISSING GATE TO ONE OF OUR DOG PARKS AND HAS USED HIS WELDING EXPERIENCE TO MAKE MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS CITYWIDE.
ANTONIO'S DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HIS WORK HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXCEPTIONAL AND HAS MADE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT SINCE HE'S JOINED OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM FROM OUR RECREATION PROGRAM, WHOOPS,
UH, OPERATIONS BUREAU IS GLAD TO PRESENT HIM AS OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
SO WELCOME ABOUT HIS BUREAU MANAGER THAT WOULD ALSO SHARE SOME KIND WORDS ABOUT HIS HARD WORK.
WELL, OBSERVING, AS GLAD ALLUDED TO, ANTONIO CAME OVER TO US FROM THE RECREATION CENTER.
HE CAME OVER AS A MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE ONE, NOT NOT CAREER AND QUICKLY.
UH, WE NOTICED THE SKILLSET THAT HE HAD AND WE PULLED HIM OVER TO THE MAINTENANCE SIDE AND HE QUICKLY SHOWED MORE MAINTENANCE SKILLS THAT HE HAD AS GMAS WERE PROMOTED AND MOVED ON TO BETTER THINGS IN LIFE.
ANTONIO WAS LIKE, HEY, I KNOW HOW TO WELD.
ALL OF A SUDDEN ANTONIO WAS GETTING A FEW, UH, LESSONS AND SHOWING THAT HE'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD WELDER.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S FENCE REPAIRS NEEDED TO BE DONE.
ANTONIO'S LIKE, I'M NOT DEFENSE AND GIVE ANTONIO THE FENCING.
HE SURE ENOUGH, EVERYTHING THAT ANTONIO WAS GETTING, HE WAS GOING OUT ALREADY KNOWING HOW TO DO.
SO, UH, WE HAD A, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSISTANTS, UH, DID A BETTER JOB ELSEWHERE AND ANTONIO WAS LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN THE CNG MACHINE.
IF YOU WANNA LEARN IT, WE'LL GET SOMEONE IN HERE TO TEACH YOU IN SHORT TIMING, WHO'S MAKING ALL THE FLAG SIGNS FOR ALL OUR PARKS AND, AND ALL OF THE RETIREMENT SIGNS.
BUT THAT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT ANTONIO DOES.
I SEE ANTONIO, HE COMES IN EVERY DAY WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.
I VERY HUNGRY, AND THE SKY'S THE LIMIT AND I CAN SEE HIM GOING FOR THE SKY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO INTRODUCE OUR FULL MAINTENANCE TEAM.
THIS IS OUR GROUNDS, OUR FACILITIES, OUR ADMIN.
EVERYBODY'S HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AN ANTONIO ON
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HIS, UH, ACHIEVEMENTS.AND LIKE I SAY, I SEE NOTHING.
THIS MAINTENANCE GROUP THAT I HAVE TODAY IS THE BEST GROUP OF PEOPLE I'VE HAD MY, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH IN MY CAREER.
AND ALL YOU GUYS AND LADIES COULD BE STANDING UP HERE GETTING THIS AWARD.
'CAUSE EVERY DAY YOU GUYS COME IN AND YOU GIVE IT THE VERY BEST.
AND IF, IF YOU DON'T SEE IT NOTICED, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO NOTICE.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WHEN THEY USE THE TERM SURPRISE, THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE, UH, FUN ASPECTS THAT OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, UH, IS KNOWN FOR IS THAT SOMEHOW EVERY MONTH THEY COME UP WITH ANOTHER UNIQUE WAY TO SURPRISE.
SO YESTERDAY EARLY AND HIS TEAM CELEBRATED THE HOLIDAYS WITH A LITTLE LUNCHES, A LITTLE BUFFET, BUFFET THING.
AND ANTONIO HAD NO IDEA THAT WE WERE GONNA PAUSE AND SURPRISE HIM WITH THAT.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, VERY WELL DESERVED.
AND UH, AGAIN, AS HURLEY MENTIONED, OUR, I THINK OUR ENTIRE, UM, MOB IS HERE TODAY, MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS BUREAU, MOB, MOB.
WE'LL DO A PICTURE REAL QUICK.
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU, ANYTHING
I'VE WORKED HERE SO I KNOW WITHOUT YOU GUYS, WE CAN'T DO THE PROGRAMMING.
WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT DOES MAKE LIFE BETTER WITH OUR PARK.
AND I WANT JUST A COUPLE WORDS.
AS I'M A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, I'VE BEEN HERE MAYBE FIVE MONTHS NOW.
UM, SO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW ANTONIO JUST OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK, TALK THROUGH PROBLEMS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WORK.
UH, SO WE'LL GET INTO OUR REGULAR AGENDA, JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES FROM LAST MONTH WHEN WE HAD THE CITY CLERKS REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
UM, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO A MOTION BEFORE WE DO DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN DO THAT IN THE MINUTES.
AND WE WILL TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE RECORDING THAT PEOPLE MAY LISTEN TO LATER, WE IDENTIFY WHO IS SPEAKING.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT.
SO WE WILL GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 16TH, 2023.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS, CORRECTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ALRIGHT, WE HAD A MOTION BY, UH, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHONE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY DIRECTOR DENNIS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY BE NEW TO ONE OF OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS EVERY MONTH, IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE IMPORTANT DUTIES AS OUR COMMISSION HOLDS, AND THAT IS TO CONSIDER WAIVING ANY FEES THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, EVENT OR, OR ANOTHER SPECIAL GATHERING OUT IN OUR PARKS.
AND OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER GLADYS KAISER, WILL LEAD US THROUGH THOSE.
SO, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, GLADYS.
UM, COMMISSIONER ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE, UM, FIVE REQUESTS.
UM, I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE GROUPS AS THEY ARE, UM, RETURNING, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY BAND.
UM, THIS IS A BLANKET REQUEST FOR THE USE OF THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER BALLROOM FOR THEIR BAND REHEARSALS FROM JULY 11TH, 2024 THROUGH JUNE, UH, 26, 20 25.
UH, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE PROGRAMMING FOR 2025 ALREADY.
UM, AGAIN, AT THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER FOR THEIR BAND REHEARSALS, MOUNT WAVED IS $20,280 ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES ON BEHALF OF KAMAI PARENTS ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS THEIR NINTH ANNUAL LEATHER DAUGHTER CONFERENCE, UM, TO BE HELD IN FEBRUARY 24TH IN 2024 AT MCBRIDE IN THE SOCIAL HALL COMMUNITY EVENT.
THESE REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED IN $180 IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES, PARTNERS OF HEARTS ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS ON THE 12 29 20 23, A NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY AT THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER
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COMMUNITY EVENT, $240 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.AND $240 IN STAFF CHARGES ON BEHALF OF THE YMCA, UM, OF GREATER LONG BEACH LOS ALTOS FAMILY CENTER.
UM, THIS IS A BLANKET REQUEST FROM JULY 1ST, 2024 THROUGH AUGUST 30TH, UH, 2024.
THIS IS TO USE THE OPEN SPACE FOR THE YMCA CAMPS, UM, AT WAVE PARK.
$62,134 REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED, ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
AND THEN, UM, ON BEHALF OF COURAGE TO CHANGE AA, ANOTHER BLANKET REQUEST FROM JULY 1ST, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 23RD, 2025, WHERE THERE ARE MEETINGS, UM, AT THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER IN ROOM 2 0 2 2 $2,800 REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
TOTAL FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED THIS MONTH ARE $85,795.
AND COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S REPRESENTATION IN THE AUDIENCE FROM THESE GROUPS.
OKAY, I SCREWED UP ALREADY AND DID NOT GET A MOTION BEFORE THE STAFF REPORT, SO CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
UM, SO, UH, WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS OFFER THE PEOPLE LISTED HERE IN ORDER OF OUR REQUESTS TO, UH, TELL US ABOUT YOUR EVENT, UH, PLEAD YOUR CASE FOR, UM, GETTING THE WAIVER.
SO WE WILL START WITH THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY BAND.
MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND THAT YOU'VE SIGNED IN.
I'M THE CONDUCTOR OF BEACH COMMUNITY BAND AND, UM, WE HAVE, AGAIN, MANY THINGS PLANNED FOR 2024.
UM, THE MOST RECENT THING THAT WE HAVE COMING UP WILL BE A CONCERT ON APRIL 7TH.
I HOPE YOU COULD ALL MAKE IT, ACTUALLY, I HOPE ALL OF YOU COULD MAKE IT.
UM, WE'RE DOING A CONCERT OF ALL AMERICAN MUSIC OVER AT THE, UM, SCOTTISH RITE, UH, EIGHTH STREET.
AND, UM, WE'RE JUST CLOSE TO WHERE WE REHEARSE OVER AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
AND, UM, WE'VE GOTTEN BACK INTO DOING OUR CONCERT SCHEDULE MORE THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE COVID.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING CONCERTS FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.
WE ONCE AGAIN DID VETERANS DAY FOR THE LONG BEACH VA HOSPITAL, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MEMORIAL DAY AND 4TH OF JULY FOR THEM STARTING UP AGAIN, WHICH IS GREAT 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN NOT PLAYING FOR THEM SINCE COVID HAPPENED.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE OUR PARKS, SUMMER MOVIES, CONCERTS THAT ARE COMING UP AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, WE HAVE MANY THINGS HAPPENING, SO THANK YOU.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MISNAMING YOU.
UM, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UP HERE? UM, I DID GO TO THE CONCERT YOU DID AT OUR CHURCH AT BETHANY.
IT WAS THE BEST YOU GUYS HAVE SOUNDED IN A LONG TIME.
SO THE PRACTICE IS PAYING OFF.
UH, THE KAMAI PARENTS ASSOCIATION.
ANYONE HERE FROM THAT? YEAH, MY NAME'S MARK HOBSON.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT CHANCE HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT BECAUSE THE EYE SURGERY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR SO MANY YEARS.
UH, WE, LAST MOTHER DAUGHTER CONFERENCE WAS VIRTUAL, BUT WE HAD, IN OCTOBER WE HAD OUR HEALTH FARM, WHICH WAS LIVE AT THE
AND WE'RE REAL HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RETURN LIVE TO MOTHER DAUGHTER CONFERENCE.
AND THANK YOU FOR ANY SUPPORT YOU CAN OFFER.
YEAH, JUST PLEASE, ALYSSA, PLEASE.
WE NEED HER TO BE HEALTHY, AND SO PLEASE LET HER KNOW THAT SOLICIT, UM, SENDS HER LOVE AND HEALTH AND LIGHT.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE ON THAT ONE? OKAY.
UH, PARTNERS OF PARKS, NEW YEAR'S PARTY, KAREN IN, UM, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU FOR AND TAKE IT FOR REFRESHMENTS.
THIS IS KIND OF A THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME ALL YEAR,
AND, UM, THIS IS OUR, WILL BE OUR THIRD ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY FOR THE SENIORS.
AND WE HAVE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST.
ELVIS IS GOING TO JOIN US, SO I HOPE YOU'LL STOP BY FOR SOME FUN AND SOME FOOD.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT, UM, PARKS HAS DONE FOR US, AND THERE ARE MORE PERMITS TO COME AS WE ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE OUR 50TH YEAR OF SERVICE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR PARKS.
AND I WANNA SAY IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THE BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE GET ACKNOWLEDGED THERE'S BEEN A DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE PARKS.
ANY UP HERE? CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT PANTHERS ON TURNING 50 AND BECOMING A SENIOR, UH, YMCA OF GREATER LONG BEACH LOS ALTOS FAMILY.
GOOD MORNING, JESSE P, EXECUTIVE
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DIRECTOR AT THE LOS ALTOS FAMILY, YMCA.UM, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE FEW WAIVERS FOR THE, UM, OPEN SPACE AT WHALEY PARK BEHIND THE LOS ALTOS YMCA TO SERVE THE KID FOR AFTERSCHOOL CHILDCARE, FOR OUTDOOR SPACE, AND FOR OUR SUMMER CAMPS.
UM, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY ALL AND HAVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE AS A, AS A CHARITY TO HELP SUPPORT.
SO, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THIS PARTNERSHIP CONTINUE IN YOUR SUPPORT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH SOME GREAT OUTDOOR SPACE DIRECT ACTIVITIES OVER FOR THE LANDSCAPE.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THAT ONE? UH, COURAGE TO CHANGE AA.
ANYONE HEAR FROM THAT GROUP? ALRIGHT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS APPEAR? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ORTI SMITH TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, IT'S NOT CONSIDERED RUDE IF YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE AFTER THIS SECTION, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD.
CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING FEE AND CHARGES FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND THE USE OF PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO INCLUDE A FEE FOR THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER'S GUIDED SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM.
BEFORE I GET A MOTION, I WILL OPEN THE HEARING AND I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
ALRIGHT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF DIRECTOR SCOTT.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
AND I THINK FOR THIS ITEM NUMBER THREE, UM, WE MIGHT HAVE A TANDEM PRESENTATION BETWEEN, UH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, C SCOTT AND GLADYS KAISER.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STEVE INITIALLY.
UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, SO YES, THIS IS A FEAR, UH, FEE HIGH, UH, HEARING TO ADDRESS ONE OF OUR 700 PLUS FEES.
I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN THROUGH ONE OF THESE FEAR FEE HEARINGS BEFORE, SO THAT KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
BUT, UH, AS, UH, THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED, UH, ESTABLISHING AND ADJUSTING PARKS AND RECREATION FEES IS ONE OF THE CHARTER RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION CONDITION.
AND SO, UH, WE BRING THIS ITEM TO YOU TODAY.
SO THIS IS TO ADJUST OUR EL DORADO NATURE CENTER GUIDED SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM.
D SO, UH, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE SCHOOLS, UH, PRESCHOOLS COME TO THE NATURE CENTER, TAKE A A TOUR, UM, ANYWHERE.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS PRESCHOOL THROUGH, UH, FIFTH GRADE.
SO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS INCREASE THE RANGE OF THE FEE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED PREVIOUSLY AS FIVE TO $8 PER STUDENT.
UH, ADJUSTING THAT UPWARD TO SEVEN TO $10, UH, PER STUDENT.
THIS IS A RANGE BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY COSTS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UH, DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THE SCHOOL GROUP THAT IS COMING.
SO SOME OF OUR, UH, YOUNGER KIDS, MAYBE PRESCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, ARE COMING FOR A SHORTER DURATION, SHORTER TOUR, UH, THAN SOME OF THE OLDER KIDS.
OBVIOUSLY THE CURRICULUM WOULD ALSO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THIS FEE HAS NOT BEEN ADJUSTED, UH, IN AT LEAST 10 YEARS.
SO OBVIOUSLY COSTS FOR SUPPLIES HAVE GONE UP OVER THAT TIME, AS HAVE THE COST OF OUR STAFFING, UH, THAT PROVIDES, UH, THESE GUIDED TUMORS.
UH, SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS FEE TO YOU TODAY TO INCREASE IT FROM FIVE TO $8 RANGE TO SEVEN TO $10 RANGE.
UM, THIS IS STILL AT OR BELOW SOME OF OUR, UM, NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR, UH, PROGRAMS, BE THEY BOTANICAL GARDENS, UM, OR OTHER NATURE CENTER TOURS.
SO WE FEEL THIS IS A, UH, KIND OF A GOOD SWEET SPOT FOR, UH, WHERE WE SHOULD LAND FOR THIS FEE.
UM, AND ALL TOLD WE SHOULD GENERATE ABOUT $14,000 ADDITIONAL IN REVENUE AS A RESULT OF THIS.
BUT THAT JUST GOES BACK INTO, YOU KNOW, PURCHASING THE SUPPLIES AND COVERING THE STAFF COSTS.
SO, UH, THAT, UH, VERY QUICKLY IS, UH, THE ONE FEE ITEM WE HAVE FOR YOU.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER.
AND GLADYS, WHO CRS TEAM ACTUALLY, UH, MANAGES, UH, THIS PROGRAM CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I SHOULD ALSO MENTION WE DID, UH, DISCUSS THIS AT THE FINANCE AND APPEALS, UH, COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, AND, UH, THEY TOOK ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE FULL COMMISSION TODAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY BEFORE ME? UM, I, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
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THANK YOU.I, UH, I JUST WANTED TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE, UH, SCHOOLS WOULD NOT HAVE TO CANCEL OR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST WITH THIS KIND OF A FEE INCREASE.
UM, ACTUALLY IT'S QUITE THE CONTRARY.
WE HAVE WAITING LISTS, UM, FOR OUR, UM, TOURS, OUR SCHOOL TOURS.
UM, AS I SHARED IN FINANCE, FIELD SCHOOLS IN LONG BEACH HAVE PRIORITY.
UM, BUT IT IS VERY POPULAR FOR THEM TO GO.
UM, THIS FEE WILL NOT DETOUR, UM, THEM FROM NOT BEING ABLE THE AFFORDABILITY TO ATTEND THE TOURS.
WE WILL WORK WITH THEM, UM, IF THEY'RE, THAT COMES UP, UM, WITH, IN, IN PREVIOUS, UH, ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PARTNERS OF PARKS, UM, HAS STEPPED IN AND HELPED.
UM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS USED IN THE SCHOOLS AS AN APPROVED TOUR.
UM, AND AGAIN, VERY POPULAR WITH
AND IF WE DID NOT, UM, ALLOW FOR THIS INCREASE TO HAPPEN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? UM, SO IF YOU DID NOT ALLOW, WHAT WOULD IT DO WOULD BE IMPACT DIRECTLY TO THE PROGRAM? SO WHAT IT DOES IS, AS STEVE MENTIONED, UM, THE DURATION OF THE, UH, TIME DIFFERS FROM PRESCHOOL TO THE OLDER AGE SCHOOLS AND IT HELPS WITH PROGRAM SUPPLIES.
SO IT ACTUALLY, UM, LESSENED, UM, THE, THE, THE CURRICULUM THAT WE HAVE AND THE SUPPLIES THAT WE PROVIDE, UM, TO THE ACTUAL TOURS.
BUT TOURS WOULDN'T BE CANCELED NECESSARILY.
UM, NOT NECESSARILY CANCELED, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE THE DEPTH THAT WE NEED TO MEET THE CURRICULUM STANDARDS.
ANYONE ELSE UP HERE? COMMISSIONER HAGEL? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
OH, NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION AS, AS I GUESS A COMMENT.
UM, I THINK I, I GREW UP NEAR HERE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, TOOK FIELD TRIPS TO THE NATION CENTRAL AND I WAS A STUDENT LONG BEACH.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S JUST, IT'S A REALLY MAGICAL PLACE THAT EXISTS WITHIN OUR, OUR URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
SO I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THESE TOURS CONTINUE AND THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT STUDENTS CAN, UM, CAN PARTICIPATE IN.
UM, I ALSO, I I RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR INCREASED FEES.
I KNOW THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE NOW ALL OVER FROM THE EDUCATOR'S PERSPECTIVE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT FIELD TRIPS ARE, UM, ARE GENERALLY BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE.
UM, MORE OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S NOW SUPPOSED TO BE COMING FROM SCHOOL SITE FUNDS INSTEAD FROM THE DISTRICT.
UM, AND SO IT, IT, IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE SOME OF THESE THINGS BECOME LESS AFFORDABLE.
'CAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW FROM AN EDUCATORS STANDPOINT, THERE ARE SOME, UH, FIELD TRIPS THAT WE USED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT, OH, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT THIS YEAR.
'CAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF TRANSPORTATION ESPECIALLY.
SO, UM, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES AND JUST WANT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, DROP IT IN THE EAR OF EVERYBODY
AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT AS, AS VICE CHAIR SAID, THIS STILL REMAINS SOMETHING THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
YEAH, A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.
UH, SO FOR THE FEE I, IN READING THROUGH THE DOCUMENTATION, I WASN'T COMPLETELY SURE IT, I'M ASSUMING IT'S THE FAMILY THAT PAYS THE FEE RATHER THAN LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PAYS THE FEE? WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT PART.
UM, THIS IS WHERE ON THE, THE SCHOOL SIDE, THEY, UM, HANDLE THE, THE PAYMENT.
SO I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, I WOULD GUESS IT WAS A COMBINATION OF UNDERSTOOD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER A PARENT, A PARENT DOES THE PTA, UM, OR IT'S PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE APPROVED FIELD TRIP THAT THE SCHOOL HAS FOR, UM, KIDS TO ATTEND.
SO IT'S A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PAYS US FOR THE FEE REVENUES, BUT WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY, HOW THEY DO IT IS THEIR BUSINESS THEN.
AND IF THEY COME FORWARD AND THEY, YOU KNOW, ARE LACKING OR CAN'T AFFORD, UM, THAT'S WHEN WE STEP IN AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
I, I CAN JUST, UM, JUST ADD INTO THAT, THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, UM, UH, THE SCHOOL SITE.
SO EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL HAS MONEY ALLOTTED TO THEM, UM, FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THINGS LIKE FIELD TRIPS AND, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THAT SORT OF THING.
ALSO, DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN WHAT'S CALLED FOUNDATIONS, WHICH IS, UM, AN ABILITY TO FUNDRAISE, BUT BEYOND WHAT THE SCHOOL SITE HAS BEEN GIVEN.
UM, AND THAT WILL ALLOW FOR EXTRA ON TOP OF THAT.
SO, UM, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, FIELD TRIPS GENERALLY DO NOT COME OUT OF THE POCKETS OF, UM, OF PARENTS, UM, UNLESS THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE GOING TO A THEME PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY CURRICULUM, CURRICULUM CURRICULUM, YEAH.
AND IT'S NOT A, UH, TICKET, UM, THEN THIS CON COME FROM SCHOOL SAFE FUNDS.
WELL, THAT, AND THAT NEGATES MY SECOND QUESTION, BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO ECHO, UH, COMMISSIONER HUGH'S COMMENTS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, UH, FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS TIED TO THE CURRICULUM, UH, IS PART OF THE STUDENT'S, UH, LEARNING, UH, PROCESS AND LEARNING, UH, MAP.
SO, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE, GLADYS, AND ALSO YOUR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COMMISSIONER.
ANYONE ELSE? GOOD? ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? KAREN
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THE SCHOOL TOUR PROGRAM AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.AND I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHEN YOU CHARGE A PER CHILD FEE, WHO GETS HURT THE MOST ARE THE LOW INCOME CHILDREN WHOSE PARENT CAN, CAN'T AFFORD THE FEES.
SO OUR FEES WERE DONE AS A GROUP FOR THE SCHOOLS.
AND THE SCHOOLS YES, HAD FUNDS, BUT THE LOWER INCOME SCHOOLS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE STRONG PTAS OR FOUNDATION.
SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU END UP HURTING THE LOWER INCOME CHILDREN.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT NATURE DEFICIT IS SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM WITH CHILDREN.
WHEN I GREW UP IN LAKEWOOD, WE USED TO BE ABLE TO CRAWL IN THE BIRD BEDS AND DO PRAW ADS AS THE NATURE CENTER IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO EXPERIENCE.
THE, UM, I WOULD BEG YOU TO RECONSIDER THE FEES, AND I'M GLAD THAT GLADYS MENTIONED PARTNERS OF PARKS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MENTION OF A FORMAL PROGRAM, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PUT TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS OF PARKS TO SUPPORT THOSE LOWER END SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY.
SO I WOULD ASK GLADYS, OR EVEN COMMISSIONER HIA, IT WOULD, WOULD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE A, A WAY OF KNOWING THAT PARTNERS COULD HELP IF, IF THEY CAME AND, AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T DO THIS NOW BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA FEE, WOULD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAY THAT TO US IN BOOKING IT? OR, OR WOULD THERE BE SOME WAY THAT WE COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, LET GROUPS KNOW AS PART OF EVEN THE APPLICATION PROCESS THAT IF THIS FEE IS, IS PROHIBITIVE, THAT THAT PARTNERS COULD HELP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UM, ABSOLUTELY THAT COMMUNICATION ALREADY DOES HAPPEN.
UM, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE THAT AND, AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNICATION WITH WSD COMMISSIONER.
WE SHALL MAKE SURE INCOME MORE PREDICTABLE.
COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ? YEAH, I, UM, I, I THINK CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF, AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THE, THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND THE POLICIES ON, ON THAT END OF IT ARE AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SIDE, WHICH GET OUTTA THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMISSION AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT ONE THING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT IS WHAT SORT OF FLEXIBILITIES GIVEN TO TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE LOW INCOME DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS, UH, THE, OR, UH, ALSO SCHOOLS THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR INCREASED FUNDING UNDER WHAT'S KNOWN AS LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA, WHICH IS CALIFORNIA'S EDUCATIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATION SYSTEM.
UH, I KNOW, AGAIN, THAT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIALTY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, BUT JUST GENERALLY HOW THINGS, HOW, HOW WE WORK WITH THOSE LOW INCOME SCHOOLS TO PAY THOSE FEES, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE COMMISSION.
AND MAY, UM, UH, UH, ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS THAT MAY STILL BE LINGERING.
SO THE LAST I HEARD ABOUT L-V-O-S-D WAS THAT PRINCIPALS, THE PRINCIPALS ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR BUDGETS.
SO IT REALLY DOES, UM, FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S WONDERING, IT DOES REALLY GO TO THE PRINCIPAL AND THEY MAKE THAT, THAT FINANCIAL DECISION FROM WHAT I KNOW.
YEAH, I'LL, I'LL ADMIT THAT A LITTLE BIT TO SAY THAT THERE'S A SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL THAT IS, UM, A COLLECTION OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VOTE ON THE BUDGET.
SO YES, THE, THE PRINCIPAL IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED.
BUT, BUT IT IS ALSO, UM, BASICALLY A COMMISSION THAT THAT IS, THAT IS INVOLVED WITH THAT.
SO IN TERMS OF, UM, L-B-O-S-D KIND OF DISTRIBUTES THE FUNDS AND SOME OF THE FUNDS THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE IT THIS WAY, YOU CAN USE IT THAT WAY.
BUT IT REALLY IS UP TO THE SCHOOL SITE.
SO IF THERE IS A FIELD TRIP THAT THEN IS OUTSIDE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RANGE OF SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD AFFORD, THEN IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL SITE WOULD THEN MAYBE CONTACT, YOU KNOW, THE PARKS AND SAY, HEY, WE'D LOVE TO DO THIS, BUT WE CAN'T.
UM, AND JUST DEPENDING ON THE, SOMETIMES IT'S A SPECIFIC TEACHER, EVEN THAT, UM, RIGHTS, I, I CAN ONLY SPEAK REALLY FOR THAT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE, BUT A TEACHER WOULD BRING IT UP TO THE SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL AND SAY, I WANT TO DO THIS AND LET'S GET THE FUNDS.
I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, ADD THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION IS FEELING THE PINCH OF WHAT THEY SAY IS NOT A RECESSION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU KNOW, I GET WHY WE NEED TO RAISE IT BY THE, THE SMALL $2 BECAUSE OUR COSTS ARE AFFECTED TOO, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES THE LIVING WAGE.
SO, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I SEE IT FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE A STRONG NONPROFIT SYSTEM HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST NONPROFIT SYSTEMS THAT YOU WILL SEE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, IN CALIFORNIA.
AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE PARTNERS TO PARK.
SO I'M PERSONALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE ELSE? ALRIGHT, WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIGA, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SEAN.
ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.WE WILL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECOMMENDATION TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY MANAGER THE APPROVAL OF THE MACARTHUR PARK REHABILITATION PROJECT AS AN IMPROVEMENT FOR PUBLIC RECREATION AT MACARTHUR PARK, WHICH MEETS A RECREATIONAL NEED WITHIN THE CITY DISTRICT SIX.
CAN I GET A MOTION? SO MOVED AND I'LL SECOND.
UH, DIRECTOR? UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
SO ACTUALLY THE NEXT THREE ITEMS ARE GONNA BE, UM, SHARED BY OUR ACTING, UH, PARK PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS BUREAU MANAGER CHARLENE BATES.
GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, SO THIS ONE IS FOR MACARTHUR PARK.
UM, AS WE SAID, IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR APPROVAL, MACARTHUR PARK PROJECT.
THIS, UM, WILL BRING MULTIPLE ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PARK, WHICH INCLUDE AN EXPANDED PLAYGROUND UPGRADE, UPGRADED LAWN AREA FOR MULTI-USE AND PARKING SPACE.
IT'LL BE A WALKING TRAIL, UPGRADED LIGHTING, SECURITY CAMERAS, UPGRADED BASKETBALL COURTS, AND INCLUDING A NEW PICNIC AREA.
SO THIS WAS INFORMED THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
YOU'LL SEE IT, THERE WAS ATTACHMENTS TO THE LETTER THAT SHOWS KIND OF WHAT THE VISION IS, BUT IT WAS INFORMED BY THE MACARTHUR PARK VISION PLAN, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2019 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD LAND TRUST.
UM, THERE WAS VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS CONSULTED AND AS WELL AS TEACHING PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, UM, WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT WAS LED BY OUR DESIGN FIRM, CITY FABRIC.
IT'S AN $8.5 MILLION STATE EARMARK FOR THIS PARK PROJECT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATED MAINTENANCE COST AS OF RIGHT NOW IS A 531,250 ANNUAL.
IT'S CURRENTLY NOT BUDGET, BUT THERE IS A PLAN TO ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ? YEAH.
SO I, I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARK DEPARTMENT WAS REALLY PROUD ABOUT AND UH, ABOUT SOME KUDOS ON WAS THE, UH, ACCESSIBILITY OF THE PLAYGROUND AT, UH, ADMIRAL KID PARK.
UH, IS THE GOAL OR IS THE EFFORT GOING TO, OR IS THERE GOING BE A SIMILAR GOAL OR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAYGROUND IS JUST AS ACCESSIBLE? UH, AT MACARTHUR WE CAN GET INTO CONSIDERATION WITH OUR, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH PUBLIC COURTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED.
I, I THINK JUST TO ADD A COMMENT TO THAT, UM, IT REALLY WAS MAYBE, UM, THE EVE OF GREATLY ENHANCED PLAYGROUNDS FOR LONG BEACH WITH, UH, DESIGN OF ADMIRAL KIDD.
AND I KNOW, UH, PREVIOUS TO THAT THERE WERE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENTS IN THE DESIGN FOR THE RECREATION PARK.
UH, AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE COMING MONTHS.
SEVERAL OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS CONTINUATION.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS THIS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT TO DEVELOP THIS.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? YES, YES.
THERE WAS ABOUT CHRISTINE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, UM, WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE VISION PLAN PROCESS.
SO THAT INCLUDED THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS THAT ARE THERE AS WELL AS, UM, COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, AND THEN OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THEY RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK IN DEVELOPING THE VISION PLAN.
AND, UM, ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY NEW RESTROOMS OR EXISTING RESTROOM? I THINK THEY'RE TEMPORARY NOW OR WHAT? YEAH, MACARTHUR, WHAT IS THE RESTAURANT? T HAS BRAND NEW, UH, SINGLE STALL RESTROOMS RIGHT NOW.
WELL, THIS WAS ONE OF MY TWO PARKS GROWING UP, SO I'M HAPPY TO UH, SEE THIS.
IT WAS CASTLE SLIDE PARK TO ME AT THAT TIME.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUES SORRY, ONE COMMISSIONER.
ONE MORE, ONE MORE, UM, QUESTION.
SO I, I KNOW THAT UM, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
UM, I WAS WONDERING IF, UM, I'M NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE PARK LOOKS LIKE INITIALLY.
I NOTICED THAT IN THE DISCUSSION AND MENTIONED THAT A VOLLEYBALL COURT WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT AND LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN, UM, FOR ATTACHMENT EIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S JUST THE ONE BASKETBALL COURT NOW.
IS THAT, IS THAT ACCURATE FOR WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR KIND OF THAT RECREATION FOR OLDER YOUTH AS OPPOSED TO PLAYGROUND FEATURES? JUST THE ONE BASKETBALL COURT THAT'S THE EXISTING BASKETBALL COURT CORRECT.
DOESN'T THAT THEY'RE GONNA ENHANCE.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD, GOVERNOR NEWSOM, UH, RECENTLY VISITED THAT PARK AND HE TOLD ME, HE SAID, YOU CAN TELL THE WAY A PARK IS MAINTAINED BY THEIR BATHROOMS. AND HE GAVE 'EM A SMILE, BUT IT WASN'T OUR NEWER BATHROOM AND I MADE 'EM TO BELIEVE ALL OF OUR BATHROOMS ARE RIGHT.
SPECIAL BATHROOMS. ARE YOU GONNA PUT A SIGN THAT SAYS GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR
[00:35:01]
GOVERNOR APPROVED.UH, ANY OTHER CUS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A VICE OR A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THAT PASSES.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ISSUE A USE PERMIT TO LBO LOS ANGELES RESPONSIBLE PIT BULL OWNERS, INCORPORATED DBA LBO DOG TRAINING FOR THE CONTINUED PROVISION OF ON LEASH DOG TRAINING AND HANDLING CLASSES AT HARTWELL PARK FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS FROM DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 TO NOVEMBER 30TH, 2025 WITH ONE TWO YEAR RENEWAL OPTION THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2027 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR, UH, OR DESIGNEE.
UM, LARCO IS A NON-PROFIT THAT PROVIDES LOW COST ON LE DOG TRAINING AND HANDLING CLASSES.
UM, SO THEY ADV WHILE THEY ADVOCATE FOR PIT BULL TYPE DOGS.
ALL DOGS ARE WELCOME TO DO THEIR CLASSES, UM, THROUGH THE TRAINING.
THEY HOPE TO KEEP DOGS FROM BEING SURRENDERED TO SHELTERS AND BECOME WELL-BEHAVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO MANY OF THE PROGRAMS GRADUATES GO ON TO RECEIVE THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUBS CANINE KIDS CITIZEN TITLE.
TO RECEIVE THE TITLE, THE DOG MUST HAVE PASSED A 10 SKILL TEST THAT INCLUDES ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER, WALKING THROUGH A CROWD AND REACTING TO ANOTHER DOG.
SO THIS WILL BE AT HARTWELL PARK AGAIN.
IT'S A TWO YEAR TERM FROM DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 TO NOVEMBER 30TH, 2025 WITH ONE TWO YEAR RENEWAL OPTION.
UM, THEY WILL HOLD CLASSES ONE DAY A WEEK IN AN AREA DESIGNATED BY THE OUR DEPARTMENT STAFF.
UM, THERE'LL BE MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE PARK USER AND THEY'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE AREA AND KEEP IT FREE OF TRASH AND DOG WASTE.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN ON LEASH PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, AND LAR PO WILL PAY AN ANNUAL FEE OF $350 PER YEAR IN EXCHANGE FOR OFFERING LOW COST THROUGH TRAINING.
UH, ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS AND YOUR NAME? GOOD MORNING.
UH, WE'VE BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEEN HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS, AT LEAST 12 THAT I AM AWARE OF.
UM, I STARTED WITH THEM AS A CONSUMER, AS A HANDLER, AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE UP INTO TRAINING.
UM, WE ARE HAPPY THAT WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE HAD TO RAISE OUR FEES, UM, A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE REMAIN MINDFUL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE IN AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE INTEND TO SERVE.
UM, WE ARE LOW COST, WE WE'RE, UM, DEDICATED TRADERS AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO REMAIN THE CARBON COMMUNITY HERE.
ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE IN HERE? VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT COMMUNITY INPUT.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S EVER BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROGRAM? NOT GOOD.
THIS ONE STARTED WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND I GOT TO GO OUT WHEN THEY WERE AT STERNS AND OTHER PLACES.
THEY ARE EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH THEIR TRAINING.
IT, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM I CAN SPEAK TO.
ANYONE ELSE UP HERE? COMMISSION.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER II SMITH, A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF FACILITIES AND SERVICES WITH THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FACILITATION OF THE DISTRICT'S WORK-BASED LEARNING COMMUNITY CLASSROOM AT THE CITY AT CITYWIDE SENIOR PROGRAM SITES FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS.
FROM FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 TO JANUARY 31ST, 2029 WITH ONE THREE YEAR RENEWAL OPTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR.
THIS OCCURS IN DISTRICTS 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, AND NINE.
I GUESS THEY DON'T LIKE ODD NUMBERS.
[00:40:01]
SO THIS, UM, PROGRAM HAS BEEN PLACED SINCE 2018.IT'S WORK-BASED LEARNING COMMUNITY CLASSROOM WITH PALM BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT STARTED OUT MAINLY BEING USED AT THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER ON FOURTH STREET.
SO IN THIS NEW REITERATION OF THE PROGRAM, THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND TO ALL OF OUR CITYWIDE SENIOR PROGRAMS. SO THE DISTRICTS THAT YOU GUYS NOTICED THAT THEY LISTED WHERE OUR SENIOR, UM, PROGRAMS ARE HOUSED AT THOSE PARTICULAR PARKS.
UM, THE GOAL OF THIS IS FOR STUDENTS TO VOLUNTEER AT OFFSITE LOCATIONS, UM, THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.
SO IT'S PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGY, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND GER ONCOLOGY AND IT'S WORK-BASED EXPERIENCE, UM, ALONGSIDE WORKING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD.
SO AGAIN, THE L-B-U-S-D STUDENTS WILL BE PLACED AT OUR CITY PROGRAM.
SO IT'LL WORK ALONGSIDE OUR CITY STAFF TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE AND THE WORK.
IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM ASSISTING WITH PROGRAMS AND CLASSES TO ADMINISTRATION OR OTHER DUTIES THAT THEY FIND WOULD WORK.
UM, L-B-S-U-S-D HAS THE OVERALL DIRECTION AND THEY'LL COVER ALL THE COSTS.
SO THIS IS NO COST TO OUR PROGRAM, TO OUR DEPARTMENT FOR THIS.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY A PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM AND THEY HAVE ALL PLACEMENT ON.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ITEM? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? KAREN? OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, UM, OUR OFFICE, WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR, LOCATED AT THE MAIN SENIOR CENTER ON FOURTH STREET.
AND THERE IS A GROUP I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TOLD, THEY'RE NOT LISTED ON ANY OF THE PROGRAM CALENDARS.
AND THEY'RE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE DISABILITIES AND THEY TEACH THEM LIFE SKILLS.
AND I ASSUME THIS IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS AND, AND ONE OF THE ISSUES PROGRAMS I THINK ARE WONDERFUL.
WHEN I WORKED AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE HOSTED ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS. THE ISSUE IS WE HAVE SUCH LIMITED SPACE FOR SENIORS.
EVERY TIME WE ADD SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A SENIOR PROGRAM, IT TAKES AWAY FROM I'VE BEEN DENIED USE OF THE SPACE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE SPACE.
NOT THAT I DON'T WANT THEM THERE, IT'S JUST THAT IT'S LIKE COMPETITION, MORE COMPETITION FOR SPACE.
AND UM, I'VE TRIED TO GET THEM ENGAGED, I HAVE INVITED THEM TO OUR ACTIVITIES.
THEY OPERATE SEPARATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY.
SO I THINK IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE SPACE AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE SPACE AWAY FROM SENIOR, THAT IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED THAT THEY DO SOMETHING WITH THE SENIORS, LIKE HELP WITH THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION.
'CAUSE THAT COULD BE PART OF THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE.
THEY NEED TO BE MORE INTEGRATED AND THE GREAT PANTHERS ARE PUSHING FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT ABOUT BRINGING THESE PROGRAMS IN.
SHE, YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA CLARIFY.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THAN WHAT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS.
SO THIS ONE IS A WORK BASED SHADOWING TYPE PROGRAM AND IT'S STUDENTS WHO HAD ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY.
SO THAT THE PROGRAM THAT KAREN IS REFERRING TO AS COMPLETE SEPARATE FROM THIS ONE, AND THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ABOUT INTER YOUR STAFF, THE RECREATION STAFF WOULD BE WORKING WITH LONG BEACH UNIFIED TO ACTUALLY INTEGRATE THEM WITH THE SENIORS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
OUT ALL OUR SENIOR AND ALL OF THEM.
DID ANYBODY ELSE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
UM, SO THIS IS, UH, MAYBE A SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT IS THIS ALIGNED WITH A SPECIFIC PATHWAY AT A, AT A HIGH SCHOOL? UM, I GUESS I COULD ASK, IS IT FOR A SPECIFIC HIGH SCHOOL? 'CAUSE NOT ALL HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE PATHWAYS THAT WOULD NECESSARILY ALIGN WITH THE HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY, COMMUNITY SERVICE GERONTOLOGY.
AND I APOLOGIZE IF THAT'S TOO IN THE LEADS IN
I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY THAT IT'S A SPECIFIC SCHOOL SITE.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT IT SAYS THAT STUDENTS, UM, HAVE TO COMPLETE THE ADVANCED PLACEMENT PSYCHOLOGY.
UM, SO THE, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS, IS EVERY LBSD STUDENT IS IN A PATHWAY THAT'S ALIGNED WITH A SPECIFIC CAREER.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE PATHWAY THAT I TEACH IN, THEY DO TAKE AP PSYCH, BUT IT, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THEY'RE, WITH THE, THEIR, UM, THEIR INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT.
'CAUSE THEIR CAREERS ARE MORE MARKETING BUSINESS.
WE DO HAVE A, LIKE A MEDICAL PATHWAY.
SO THOSE, SO I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS MAYBE JUST ALIGNED WITH BROWNING BECAUSE THEY'RE IN HOSPITALITY OR WHETHER IT WAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S TOO TECHNICAL A QUESTION.
BUT YES, IT ALIGNS WITH THEIR PATHWAY THAT IS SERVING.
UM, AND AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, IT'S OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS.
IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION FOR US.
IT'S A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON WHAT STUDENTS SAID.
WE DON'T YEAH, I'M, I'M MOSTLY JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE, UM, AGAIN, I, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD APPLY TO MY STUDENTS, BUT I, THERE ARE OTHER STUDENTS THAT I KNOW WHO ARE IN THE MEDICAL PATHWAY, THIS SORT OF THING MIGHT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT ALIGN WITH THEIR, WHAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ALSO SIMPLY CAN FALL UNDER
[00:45:01]
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN EASILY COME IN AND LOOK AT ANY OF OUR SITES.I'D LIKE TO SPREAD THE WORD AROUND IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
UM, UH, I GUESS THIS MIGHT BE A WEEDS QUESTION ALSO, BUT DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS? IS IT LIKE FIVE STUDENTS A YEAR OR DO THEY GO ON FOR THREE MONTHS OR? UM, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
UM, AND I BELIEVE IT, IT'S MORE THAN FIVE STUDENTS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, UM, RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
SO THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ONGOING AND IT'S ALSO ALIGNED WITH THE SAME PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER WITH THE COLLEGES, THE UNIVERSITIES, UM, THAT COME AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION TO ASK.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AND YES, REALLY ENHANCES THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
UM, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, AND THIS IS TO GIVE OUR STAFF CREDIT.
THEY MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT WHEN WE HAVE ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE OUR COMMISSION TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THAT COULD FIELD MM-HMM,
UH, SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BETWEEN GLADYS AND SHERLYNN AND OUR TEAM, WHEN THESE ITEMS COME FORWARD, WE REALLY DO OUR VERY, VERY BEST TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND, REPRESENT THEIR ITEMS. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE, BUT YOU RAISE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A SUGGEST COMMISSIONER R SMITH.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT L-V-U-S-D ALL MORNING, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
AND WE HAVE JOINT AGREEMENTS WITH THEM ACROSS OUR CITY STRUCTURE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING AND REALLY I EDUCATIONAL FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT ACTIVE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, LIKE OUR FABULOUS COMMISSIONER IS, UH, ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS TO GET MORE INFORMED ON OUR LARGER PARTNERSHIPS WITH 'EM BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE SOME SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LIKE A TUTORIAL OR A HEARING, BUT TO LEARN LIKE A SKYPE SESSION.
AND I KNOW, UM, SOME OF US ARE SHARING A BIT OF A FRUSTRATION, UM, WHEN MAYOR RICHARDSON STILL HAS ONE MORE VACANCY TO FILL FOR THIS COMMISSION.
BUT WE HAVE THE BEST OF INTENTIONS FOR A REALLY EXTENSIVE AND BENEFICIAL ORIENTATION AND TRAINING.
AND THIS WILL CERTAINLY BE ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL SEVEN OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGA, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHONE.
NOW TO A FUND ONE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE TO EXTEND RIGHT OF ENTRY, PERMIT NUMBER P DASH 0 0 2 5 6 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SPAWN RANCH.
INCORPORATED A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION FOR A PARK AMENITY IMPROVEMENT AT AN EXISTING SKATE PARK LOCATED AT SILVERADO PARK FOR A SIX MONTH TERM, BEGINNING DECEMBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2024.
UM, SO THIS WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BACK IN SEPTEMBER, 2021 FOR SWAN RANCH DOING A BASE THIS SKATE PARK AT SILVERADO PARK.
UM, SO SWAN RANCH IS A SKATE PARK DESIGN FIRM THAT HAS WORKED VARIOUS SKATE PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING MCR AND CAN COME BY, ET CETERA.
UM, THEY PARTNER WITH THE AS FOUNDATION, UM, WHICH IS THE ACTION SPORTS KIDS FOUNDATION.
AND IT REALLY WORKS TO ENCOURAGE SKATEBOARDING AS THE ENTRY POINTS TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
SO WHEN WE DID THIS, UM, IT WAS 5,000, SORRY,
UM, AND WHAT IT'S DOING IS THEY'RE REMOVING THE WOOD RAMP AND THEY REPLACING IT WITH CONCRETE MAP.
SO MUCH PERMIT, IT'S A SKATE MARK.
AND THIS WAS DONE WITH FEEDBACK FROM 150 COMMENTS, WHICH INCLUDED SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS AND TWO ONSITE MEETINGS WITH YOU WHO UTILIZED THE SKATE PARK AS WELL.
SO THERE WAS COMMUNITY INCLUDED THIS ONE AS WELL.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS DUE TO SOME UNFORESEEN DELAYS, UM, THEY GOT STARTED A LITTLE LATE THIS MONTH ON RENOVATING IT.
SO THEY HAVE BEGUN THE WORK AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING TO EXTEND THEIR RIGHT OF ENTRY TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HAS STARTED TO COMPLETE OUR STATE PARK.
I WILL HAPPILY SECOND OUR DISTRICT SEVEN FOLKS.
UM, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY? YES.
I'M GONNA STAND OVER HERE SO I CAN SEE SHERLY, SHE'S A HERO IN ALL THIS STUFF.
I'LL INTRODUCE MY WINGMAN UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GONNA BOAST AND BRAG ABOUT TELL WHAT YOU DID.
UM, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY ANXIETY, MY IMPATIENCE, MY PANIC ATTACKS, AND I'M SURE COMM COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTONE HAS HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU WHERE THE
[00:50:01]
PAIN IN THE ASS, I CAN BETHE DEMO, THE REMOVAL OF ALL THE EXISTING, UH, ELEMENTS HAVE HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
UPON THAT, UH, HAS REMOVED ALL OF THE CONCRETE FOR THE FOOTINGS IN PREPARATION FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE, UH, THE ELEMENTS, THE STEEL'S BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CONCRETE.
UH, AND WHAT THEY WILL DO NEXT IS THEY WILL BUILD THE FORMS AROUND ALL THE ELEMENTS SO YOU SHOCK CREEK AND BUILD THEM.
UH, PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE IS THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY, BARRING RAIN, AND WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
UH, WE HOPE TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL GRAND REOPENING, UH, FEBRUARY 10TH.
UH, AS FOUNDATION HAS A CONTRACT WITH SPAWN RANCH TO PAY FOR THE PROJECT.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY PAID THREE DRAWS IN TOTAL OF $60,000 OF THE TOTAL CONTRACT IS $155,000 AND WE EXPECT TO MAKE ALL THOSE PROGRESSIVE PAYMENTS, UH, ON SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK AND, UH, THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE HELP OF A REALLY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE NAMED TONY HAWK, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 15 YEARS.
UH, HIS FOUNDATION, UH, HELPED FUND IT.
AND THEN, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT NOUNS, THE, UH, CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPANY THAT, UH, PAID FOR THE REST OF IT.
UH, BUT IT'S, IT IS WELL UNDERWAY.
SHE, YOU THINK I WAS BAD WITH YOU? SHE WAS
I'LL BE BACK IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE? COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ANY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS? UH, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT EVENT.
DID IT RAISE A LOT OF MONEY? A LOT OF WORKING PARTS.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TI SMITH SECOND BY VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR DECEMBER, 2023.
CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION? SECOND, UH, RIGHT, UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT IN ANY OF OUR PARKS THIS PAST FEW WEEKS, YOU'LL YOU'LL REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT, UM, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS.
WINTER FEST, YOU KNOW, WAS AT FOR ZBA ON SATURDAY, UM, WITH A BIG BANK OF SNOW WITH SNOWBALLS FLYING EVERYWHERE,
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS, UM, I THINK MAYBE A NEW RESIDENT, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT INVOLVE, BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO WHAT THAT WHITE STUFF IS.
AND HE WAS PULLING HIS DAUGHTER IN A SLED, YOU KNOW, TO JUST EXPERIENCE A SLED RIDE.
BUT, UM, IT WAS INDICATIVE OF JUST THE JOY THAT A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMMING TRULY BRINGS TO KIDS AND YOUNG FAMILIES.
AND IT REMINDS ME OF HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO REALLY BUILD COMMUNITY.
SEEING NEIGHBORS OUT THERE THAT PROBABLY WALK BY EACH OTHER WHEN THEY'RE BUSY GOING TO WORK OR SCHOOL, BUT WHEN THEY COME OUT IN THE PARK, THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, I KNOW OUR ENTIRE STAFF HAS REALLY, UM, BEEN FACED WITH SOME CHALLENGES, BUT I, I SO APPRECIATE THEIR, THEIR RISING ABOVE THE CHALLENGES, THEIR PERSEVERANCE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND IT'S ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF THEM.
SO I'M NOT GONNA ADD ANYTHING MORE EXCEPT I'M PERSONALLY SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED PICKLEBALL COURTS OPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AT THE FOREST PARK.
UH, WE HAVE EIGHT OF THEM THAT ARE LIGHTED.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY, BUT AS LONG AS THE PARKS AND THE COURTS ARE OPEN AND LIT, UM, THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY'S LOVING IT AND THERE'S MORE TO PUMP.
SO I THINK, UH, NEXT MONTH, UM, SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN AT VETERANS PARK AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, ONE OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AT MARINA VISTA PARK AND ALSO AT RECREATION PARK.
SO, UH, IT'S ALL IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR PICKLEBALL MASTER PLAN.
SO, UM, AND, AND JUST TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ADD A HOLIDAY, UH, TWIST TO THAT UPDATE IS ONE OF THE ORNAMENTS ON MY CHRISTMAS TREE IS ONE THAT SAYS, DECK THE HALLS WITH PICKLE WALLS.
SO THAT WAS A GIFT FROM SOMEONE THAT KNOWS THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE, BUT GOOD THINGS ARE FINALLY HAPPENING TO MEET, TO MEET LONG BEACH'S FASTEST GROWING RECREATIONAL SPORT.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I JUST WANNA, ON THIS FIRST DAY OF WINTER, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WISH YOU JOYFUL HOLIDAYS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A REALLY GREAT 2020 4, 4, 4 YEARS
[00:55:01]
FROM THE OLYMPICS, BY THE WAY.UH, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THE DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS OR THE WHEAT CREEK COMMUNITY? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGA, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SMITH.
THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR.
UH, SO WE'LL GO TO THE, UH, YES.
I'M, UH, MYRON MOLAND, MYRON MEDIA, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAPE HAMPTONS.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE LONG BEACH PARKS RECREATION COMMISSION FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT WE TO SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE DURING 2023.
WE'VE COMPLETED OUR SECOND YEAR WITH THE OFFICE AT THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER.
OUR AVERAGE GENERAL MEETING ATTENDANCE WAS ABOUT 50, SO, SO WE REQUESTED A LARGER MEETING ROOM FOR 2024.
THESE ARE THE, SOME OF THE THINGS WE ADVOCATED FOR.
WE ATTENDED 34 LOBBYING VISITS ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS.
WE ARE A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE ALLIANCE.
AND, AND WITH THE A RP WE LOBBY, UH, ON BILLS, UH, THROUGH THE, OUR PARTNERSHIP.
SOME OF THE BILLS WERE ON HOUSING, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS FOR CLEAN WATER CHEMICALS, CLEAN AIR, SOLAR PANELS, RESTORING WETLANDS, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT HAD TO GO TO ADULTS.
KAREN RESIDE, OUR PRESIDENT, AFTER SERVING ONE YEAR IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING, WAS REAPPOINTED TO A TOOL TO A FULL TWO YEAR TERM.
IN 2023, SHE WAS ELECTED CHAIR OF THE ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ZENDAY AND VICE MAYOR CINDY ALLEN.
THE CITY OF LONG BEACH INITIATED A STUDY OF CREATING A SENIOR SAFE HOME FOR SENIORS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE.
WE MET, ALONG WITH, UH, MEMBERS, A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION WITH THE LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR HAN'S OFFICE.
ON THIS ISSUE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER BARRY MAYOR, VICE MEMBER SENIOR ALLEN, WE INITIATED THE SUCCESSFULLY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 7TH BY THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL AS AGEISM AWARENESS STATE IN LONG BEACH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE GRANTS WE RECEIVED.
WE RECEIVED GRANTS FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT SC TO COLLECT 140 SURVEYS ON PLANNING FOR HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, OPEN SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONNECT PROJECT REPRESENTING SENIORS.
WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE METRO TRANSIT AGENCY TO HELP THEM DESIGN A NEW COMMUNITY OUTREACH DATABASE.
SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED IN JUNE, 2023, WE RECEIVED A CATCH FIRE GRANT FROM THE ARCHSTONE FOUNDATION TO HELP BUILD CAPACITY.
WE RECEIVED A SUBCONTRACT TO CONDUCT OUTREACH WITH OLDER ADULTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN PLAN UPDATE AND THE SHORELINE VILLAGE ZONING REVIEW.
WE CONDUCTED THREE 40 SURVEYS WITH SENIORS AND GAVE OUT $20,000 IN GROCERY GIFT CARDS IN TWO WEEKS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE EDUCATION YOU'RE INVOLVED IN.
WE SUCCESSFULLY HELD 1210 COMMUNITY FORUMS WITH OVER 75 TO 10 NEEDS AT EACH EVENT, WE SUCCESSFULLY HELD AN ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION FAIR IN JUNE WITH WISE AND HEALTHY AGING WITH OVER A HUNDRED ADULT OLDER ADULTS IN ATTENDANCE AND 50, PARTICIPATE IN A WALK TO RAISE ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS.
OKAY, MYRON, CAN WE GET YOU TO JUST REALLY QUICKLY WRAP UP AND, AND, AND HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ELABORATE ON? OKAY.
LAURA TRIO, DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY COMMERCIAL AGING DISABILITIES AND CITY COUNCIL VICE MAYOR.
CINDY OPENED OUR SIXTH ANNUAL SENIOR FEST WITH OVER 200 ATTENDEES.
WE DISTRIBUTED 220 WARM COATS TO SENIORS, MEN AND WOMEN.
WE WERE SELECTED THE BY CALIFORNIA STATE OF CALIFORNIA THROUGH, THROUGH THEIR CAMPUS CORE PROGRAM.
YOU LAUNCH WITH TWO CAMPUS CORE AND COMMUNITY CORE INTERNS.
UH, WE HAVE 35 TO 10 INTERNS IN CAL STATE LONG BEACH, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED INTERNSHIPS EQUAL 118, 1800 HOURS, VIOLATING $8,600.
FINALLY, WE HAD RECOGNITION FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ZEN
[01:00:01]
FOR OUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.YOU GUYS ARE VERY, VERY ACTIVE.
YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS NICE TO HAVE.
SKATEBOARDING WANTS ONE'S GONNA BE THE BEST ONE.
UM, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UH, FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING, BUT A LONG TIME RESIDENT LIVED HERE SINCE NINE TWO, WENT TO LONG BEACH STATE.
AND, UH, I GET THIS DONE IN THREE MINUTES, BUT I WANT TO, UH, UM, START WITH AN APPRECIATION REAL QUICK.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? WAYNE HART.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA START WITH AN APPRECIATION AND PRESENT A PROBLEM AND, UH, THROW OUT A COUPLE SUGGESTIONS AS FAR AS A SOLUTION.
UM, I, UH, TRAVEL A LITTLE BIT TO WORK MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH, AND I BRAG ABOUT THE CITY WHEN I'M, WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD.
UH, IT'S THE BEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA AND I, I FREELY SAY THAT.
AND ONE REASON THOUGH IS THAT YOU CAN'T DRIVE A HALF MILE WITHOUT RUNNING INTO THIS PARK IN THE CITY.
I REALLY NOTICED THAT YOU GET THAT ORANGE COUNTY RIGHT THERE.
SO THIS IS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP, UH, MANAGING THIS GREAT ASSET IN THIS CITY.
IT'S RIGHT HERE AT THIS PARK RIGHT HERE, UH, LDO WEST.
UM, THERE'S CARS ON THE GRASS.
I'M JUST GONNA POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
UH, IT, UM, COMES IN A COUPLE FORMS. THERE'S PARKING ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S CARS PARKED ON THE GRASS.
PEOPLE CAN'T CARRY A NICE CHEST 30 FEET OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS CARS PARKED ON THE GRASS.
NUMBER TWO, AND PROBABLY MORE HARMFUL IS ALL THE OFFROADING.
UM, I'VE COACHED SPORTS OVER HERE.
I'M IN THE PARK AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A PARKING WORST CONDITION.
UM, IT'S, UH, AND I'M SEEING, UH, UH, TRACKS AND PARTS OF THE PARK THAT ARE NEW THAT CARS NEVER DARED GO TO, LIKE BEHIND, UH, BASEBALL FIELDS.
UM, AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.
I THINK THERE'S SOME KIND OF EASY FIXES TOO.
NUMBER ONE, I THINK THE, THE SIGNAGE IS, IS NOT VISIBLE.
UH, YOU DRIVING THE GATE HERE BY THE, UH, THE SOCCER FIELD AND THERE'S ONE INCH LETTERS THAT SAYS NO PARKING ON THE GRASS.
AND THERE'S A, A COUPLE SIGNS AROUND THE PARK.
THEY'RE ABOUT 18 FEET HIGH, I DON'T KNOW, FOOT AND A HALF WIDE, TWO INCH LETTERS.
AND THIS STUFF LOOKS LIKE IT'S FROM THE SEVENTIES.
IT LOOKS QUITE FADE, QUITE A LITTLE.
UH, I THINK THAT'S ONE ISSUE HERE.
UM, I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS EASY ACCESS.
THERE'S A LOT OF GAPS IN THAT CURB THAT GO AROUND THE PARK THAT'S SUPPORT ACCESS FOR GARDENING AND, AND LANDSCAPERS, I KNOW THAT.
BUT JUST ON RAMPS, UH, PEOPLE, PEOPLE JUST DRIVE RIGHT IN.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO OBSTRUCTION.
UM, AND I'VE ACTUALLY SHARED SOMETHING TO, IT WAS, THERE'S SOMETHING POSTED ON NEXT DOOR THAT THE NEXT DOOR APP, MY WIFE'S SAW THIS THING.
AND, UM, IT WAS JUST, IT WAS POINTING TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SEES AS, AT LEAST FROM NOW HOW TO ADDRESS THIS.
UM, IT'S REALLY KIND OF, KIND OF SELF, UH, SELF-REPORTING.
UM, WE HAVE FOUND MOST EFFECT, THIS IS, UM, OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, JUST OUTLINING BEST ACTIONS IS TRAUMATIC.
UH, WE FOUND WAS DEFECTIVE APPROACH IN IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS FOR JUST FOR NEIGHBORS LIKE YOURSELF TO BE AWARE, RECORDED LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS, AND CALL IN AND REPORT CRIMES WHEN YOU SEE THEM.
THIS IS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE OFF RELATED ON THE GRASS OR WHATEVER.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PARK RANGERS GOT GOT CUT FROM, FROM THIS PARK.
THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY TOO BAD.
BUT I, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY IT'S NOT WORKING.
UM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE.
I REALLY NOTICED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WINDOW WAS IN THE, IN THE SUNSET ON THE, ON, ON THE PARK RANGERS SEEN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
I, I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THAT SELF-REPORTING IS NOT WORTH ANYMORE.
AND I'LL LET HIM MEET JUST A COUPLE, COUPLE SUGGESTIONS VERY QUICKLY.
UM, MORE SIGNAGE, MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE, UM, REDUCE ACCESS SOME INSTRUCTIONS SO PEOPLE CAN'T JUST DRIVE ON THE GRASS.
AND I WOULD SAY JUST STARTING, ENFORCING THE RULES.
I JUST DON'T SEE RULES BEING ENFORCED OUT THERE.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THIS WAS, I, I'VE SEEN IT IN, IN, I GO OVER TO THE GOLF COURSE PARKING.
I DRIVE THROUGH AND SEE THERE.
AND IT, IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
WE'VE GOTTEN MORE MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB ON MAINTENANCE AND WE GET CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT JUST DON'T RESPECT THAT.
SO MR. HAR, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUMMARIZING IT AND PRESENTING IT SUCCINCTLY.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN REGULAR CONVERSATION WITH, UM, CURLEY AND SOME OF OUR PARK MAINTENANCE.
THE GOOD NEWS, YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT RESOURCES, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
WE HAD A PLAN TO UPDATE ALL OF THE PARKING AND ROADWAYS FOR THE ENTIRE FOOTPRINT OF BOTH RUDO WEST AND THE REGIONAL PARK.
IT WAS ESTIMATED A YEAR AGO TO BE ABOUT
[01:05:01]
40 MILLION.WE HAVE ABOUT ONE FOURTH OF THAT.
SO THE ATTENTION IS AT IDENTIFYING THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR FAILING ROADWAYS.
UM, RIGHT NOW THEY JUST HAVE, UM, REBAR PIN PARKING BLOCKS THAT ATTEMPT THAT.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, MOST VEHICLES, UH, THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT A STRETCH TO JUST DRIVE RIGHT OVER A LOT OF THAT.
SO WE DO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH, UH, LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO PUT MORE TEETH IN ENFORCEMENT.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, ALSO THEIR STAFFING LEVELS REALLY KINDA CAUSE PARK RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE AS A LOWER PRIORITY, UNFORTUNATELY.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE HAVE, UH, THINGS LIKE ENHANCED SIGNAGE AND WAY FINDING AS PART OF THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS THE PARKING AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S NOT ONE MAGIC WAND THAT'S GONNA CORRECT THIS, BUT, UM, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WHETHER SELF-REPORTING IS HELPFUL OR NOT.
UM, SOME PEOPLE DO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE EFFORT AND IT MAKES A SMALL DIFFERENCE.
BUT I WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, DISCOURAGE THAT.
BUT I REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU KNOW THE COMMISSION OR BRING THINGS TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR STAFF, IT'S ONE THING JUST TO BRING SOMETIMES WHAT WE CALL CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OR COMPLAINTS.
BUT TO MARRY THAT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, OR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS IS REALLY APPRECIATED.
SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO HEAR THAT FROM ME.
WILL YOU SAY ONE SENTENCE? YES, SIR.
I DON'T CARE WHO WE ARE, IT'S JUST NOT FOR CARS, SO LET'S FIX IT.
YES, I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER AND I PHOTOGRAPHED AN EVENT THAT KAREN DID AND SHE HAD 125 PEOPLE IN A ROOM SMALLER THAN THIS.
SHE HAD TO FEED THE PEOPLE AND THEY HAD LARGER ROOMS THERE.
SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO USE THEM.
AND THE PROBLEM IS WITH SOME SENIORS IS THEY HAVE A HARD TIME WALKING, SO THEY USE WALKERS.
OTHER SENIORS HAVE A HARDER TIME WALKING, SO THEY USE WHEELCHAIRS AND SOMETIMES THEY USE ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS AND SOME SENIORS CAN'T WALK AT ALL.
AND THEY USE THESE ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS.
AND WHEN SHE HAD TO FEED THESE PEOPLE A ROOM THAT HOLDS 80 P 83 PEOPLE, SHE HAD 125 PEOPLE IN THERE.
THE WHEELCHAIRS WERE ALL ALONG THE WALL.
PEOPLE WERE SITTING ALL ALONG THE OTHER WALLS.
THE REASON WHY THE WHEELCHAIRS HAD TO BE ON THE WALL IS 'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIT IN WHERE THESE SMALL TABLES WERE.
AND SO I ASKED, WHY CAN'T YOU USE A ROOM DOWNSTAIRS? 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALL EMPTY? AND SHE SAID, THEY SAID WE COULDN'T.
AND SO I WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND TALKED TO SOMEBODY AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND THEY SAID, WELL, IT IS KAREN'S FAULT.
AND SO SHE CAN'T USE THESE ROOMS. AND I SAID, SHE'S USED THE ROOMS BEFORE.
YOU HAVE KEYS, YOU HAVE 125 PEOPLE CRAMMED UP THERE.
AND SO SHE SAID, I, I WANTED TO KNOW WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE.
AND SHE SAID, THE WOMAN I TALKED TO YOU GUYS, SOMEBODY HERE.
SO HERE I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
AND WHAT WAS YOUR, AND AND SINCE AND SINCE YOU WERE HAPPY THAT HE HAD A SOLUTION? I HAVE A SOLUTION.
MAKE IT SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO GET HER NAMES.
AND WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? JUST FOR OUR, OH, MY NAME'S KEN DOUGLAS.
SO WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING THAT ISN'T ON THE AGENDA AS FAR AS US TAKING ACTION.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT, THAT BRENT OR GLADYS WOULD, WOULD HAVE THEIR STAFF COMMUNICATE WITH KAREN.
I KNOW KAREN KNOWS THE PROCESSES, SO, UM, THAT'S ALL WE CAN REALLY DO TODAY UNLESS WE GET AN AGENDA ITEM.
I JUST WANNA FIND OUT WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.
SO WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THAT HERE AFTER THE MEETING.
GLADYS OR BRENT CAN, CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
MR. DOUGLAS, I DID HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION WITH KAREN ON TUESDAY EVENING AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, SO IT WAS CLEARLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
AND WELL, I'LL WORK WITH, UM, LATTICE AND HER STAFF TO, I THINK, FAIRLY ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.
BUT YEAH, WE WANT OUR, OUR EVENTS AND OUR FACILITIES TO BE SAFE, CLEAN, AND WELCOMING AND ACCOMMODATING SO EVERYONE HAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BUMP IN THE ROAD ON THIS ONE, IT SOUNDS LIKE, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL WORK TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE SOLUTIONS.
I'M GONNA GET OVER HERE SO I CAN KIND OF SEE EVERYBODY.
I'M THE FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AS FOUNDATION.
UH, AND I BROUGHT, UH, TWO OF MY WING MEN, JEREMIAH, WHO'S BEEN WITH ME SINCE HE'S 12 AND HE'S NOW 18 YEARS OLD.
HE, UH, DOES OUR WEBSITE, A LOT OF THE INSTAGRAM.
[01:10:01]
TEAM MANAGER.UH, GREAT KID, KNOW HIS FAMILY REAL WELL.
UH, JASON'S BEEN WITH US TWO YEARS OR SO.
UM, HE, THEY'RE BOTH AMBASSADORS.
THEY BOTH ROW IN THE ROSE PARADE WITH US.
WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING THAT I DO IS FOR GUYS LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT INSPIRE ME AND THEY INSPIRE ALL THE OTHER YOUNGER KIDS.
UH, JASON'S LIKE A SCHOLAR, STRAIGHT A STUDENT.
JEREMIAH'S NOT
AND I'VE GOT STORIES ABOUT BOTH OF 'EM.
BUT THEY'RE REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS AND I LOVE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
EVERY YEAR I GET TO COME DOWN HERE AND KIND OF BOAST AND BRAG ABOUT WHAT WE DID ALL YEAR.
UH, 'CAUSE WE DON'T REALLY PUBLICIZE OR ADVERTISE ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WE DO.
WE KIND OF FLY UNDER THE RADAR SCREEN.
BUT IN 1996, WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL, I HAD THIS CRAZY IDEA AS I STARTED A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DEVELOP A LONG BEACH SKATE PLACE.
2022 YEARS AGO, WE OPENED EL DORADO.
AS FOUNDATION HAS BECOME THE OLDEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL GRASSROOTS SKATEBOARDING NONPROFIT IN THE COUNTRY, WE'RE FOLLOWED BY KIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IF YOU, YOU, UH, LOOK AT OUR INSTAGRAM, OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS, NOT ABOUT ME.
UH, IT'S A REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF KEEPING KIDS OFF THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY OUR UNDERSERVED KIDS OFF THE STREETS IN SCHOOL, OUTTA GANGS.
IT'S THESE KIDS THAT, UH, INSPIRE THE OTHERS.
SO I'M JUST GONNA READ REAL QUICKLY.
IT'LL TAKE ME PROBABLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE WERE FEATURED IN THE HUNDRED 34TH, UH, TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE, THANKS TO NOUNS, DOA, WHICH IS A CRYPTO CURRENCY COMPANY THAT FUNDED SILVERADO.
AND WHEN THE CITY ECTS A STATUTE TO ME, IT'S GONNA BE MY ABILITY TO GET SEVEN HIGH ENERGY SKATEBOARDERS UP AT THREE 30 IN THE MORNING IN PASADENA.
IT'S SIX 30 IN THE MORNING, AND IT WAS A FREEZING COLD DAY.
BUT IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT NONE OF US WILL FORGET, AND I NEVER WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.
UH, THAT SHOULD BE OUT HOPEFULLY BY MARCH, WHICH KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS.
THERE'S A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF OUR JOURNEY.
UH, TONY HAWKS IN AT LONG BEACH, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, DIRECTOR, UH, DENNIS CONGRESS, DEAN GARCIA, UH, THESE TWO GUYS, UH, AND SOME OF THE OTHER KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OFS GONNA BE AN INCREDIBLE DOCUMENTARY.
'CAUSE WHENEVER SOMEBODY ASKS ME ABOUT ASK, I I HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM HOME AND KEEP GOING AND GOING.
SO THIS DOCUMENTARY'S GOING TO REALLY CAPTURE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
UH, WE'VE REPOSTED OVER 300 SKATEBOARDING VIDEOS ON OUR INSTAGRAM FROM, UH, GUYS LIKE THIS.
UH, WE'VE COMPLETED THE FUNDRAISING GOAL TO REBUILD SILVERADO SKATE PARK IN WEST LONG BEACH, DESIGNED BY ASEE MEMBERS.
AND WE'VE RAISED $155,000 FOR THAT PROJECT THANKS TO TONY.
UH, WE DO OUR FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT SKATE JAM AT LINCOLN SKATE PARK, WHICH IS A COLLAB WITH, UH,
WE, WE TOOK OVER THE ENTIRE PARK, SKATE PARK, THE BASKETBALL COURT, THE OPEN SPACE.
THERE WERE KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
UH, WE HOSTED A HUGE SKATEBOARDING DEMONSTRATION AT BEAT STREETS LONG BEACH.
UH, WE HOSTED, UH, OUR TEAM JAMS. WE DID, I THINK WE DID EIGHT LAST YEAR WITH OVER 60 TO 70 KIDS ATTENDING.
AGAIN, DIRECTOR DENNIS HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND, UH, SEEING HOW WE DO THINGS.
UM, WE CO-HOSTED BIG BANG ON THE BAY, A CHARITY EVENT BENEFITING OVER 15 NON-PROFITS.
ASKED, RECEIVED $20,000 FROM THAT EVENT.
UH, WE HOSTED A BUNCH OF UNDERSERVED YOUTH TO A PRIVATE SKATE PARK IN SANTA BARBARA.
AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS, THIS SKATE PARK IN SANTA BARBARA IS ON THE OCEAN.
IT'S AN, IT'S AN AMAZING FACILITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN A, NOT PRIVILEGED, BUT, UH, SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER BEEN BY THE OCEAN BEFORE.
SO I SEE THIS, I GOT RID OF, UH, WE HOSTED AS FOUNDATION TEAM MEMBERS AT THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX FORMULA DRIFT, ACCORDING TO PACIFIC ELARA NATURE CENTER.
AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT AN INTERN THAT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, UH, JEREMIAH.
SO, UH, THAT'S OUR YEAR IN REVIEW, AND THAT'S A PARTIAL LIST.
UH, AND WE HOPE FOR GREAT NEXT YEAR.
WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PARTNERS WITH US FOR 27 YEARS.
SOME OF YOU WEREN'T EVEN BORN THEN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND DIRECTOR DENNIS.
JEREMIAH, OR JASON, YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? YOU STICK TO YOUR INSTAGRAM
I KNOW MIKE'S TOUGH TO FOLLOW.
[01:15:01]
UH, COMMISSIONER, ONE THING I JUST DO REALLY WANT TO QUICKLY SAY IS THAT I ALSO WAS NOT A STRAIGHT A STUDENT IN THE ONE SEMESTER.I WAS, I STILL FAILED A CLASS THAT WAS TASK NO PASS.
SO YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A STRAIGHT A STUDENT TO DO GREAT STATE.
SO,
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND ALLOWING US TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR AND, UH, DO WHAT WE DO.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE CITY, UM, WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH US.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, JOHN.
ANYONE ELSE? IYE OH, IN THE BACK WITH PARTNERS OR PARTNERS? OH, OH, GO AHEAD.
HI, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR.
I HAVE SOME NEWSLETTERS TO HAND OUT.
I'LL GIVE 'EM TO JENNY AND SHE CAN PASS THEM AROUND.
UM, WE HAD A VERY FULL YEAR WITH THE OPENING OF ADMIRAL KIT FOR PLAYGROUND.
UM, WE HAD SUCCESSFUL LONG BEACH GIFTS CAMPAIGN AND $20,000, $20,000 OF GIFT CARDS THAT WE'VE, UH, PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED IN TWO WEEKS.
SO, AND NOW WE'RE OUTTA MONEY.
SO,
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I JUST WANNA INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M LINDSAY SMITH, THE CO-FOUNDER OF SEWING SEEDS OF CHANGE.
WE'RE ONE OF THE AMAZING PARTNERS, UM, WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.
WE'RE FRIENDS OF THE BEEKEEPERS CLUB, UM, BUT WE ARE LOCATED IN BETWEEN DRAKE PARK AND CAESAR JVE PARK.
KIND OF TUCKED AWAY IN
AND WE, OUR FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN URBAN AGRICULTURE TO YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF SERVICES AND ALSO SERVING, UM, FOSTER YOUTH.
SO TEACHING THEM EVERYTHING ABOUT GROWING FOOD, CONNECTING THEM TO OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM, UM, JOB TRAINING, SOFT JOB SKILLS, AND, UM, ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN STARTING OUR OWN BUSINESS.
WE'VE GOT SOME AMAZING COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND TONS OF THINGS TO OFFER.
SO WE'RE, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? WE'RE AT SIX 20 SAN FRANCISCO AVENUE.
SO WE'RE, UH, RIGHT BEHIND EDISON ELEMENTARY IN THE BAHATI BUILDING.
OH, IN THE BAHATI BUILDING? IN THE BAHATI BUILDING, YEAH.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOWING SEEDS.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU ALL, UM, BEING THERE IN THE FIRST DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU'VE CREATED, UM, COULD BE THERE.
AND I JUST COMMEND YOU ALL FOR THIS, THIS AMAZING JOB THAT YOU'VE DONE.
IT'S THIS OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF CONCRETE, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED.
I MEAN, IT'S RIGHT THERE BY THE SEVEN 10 FREEWAY, AND IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPACE, AND I'M SO PROUD THAT THAT'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
GLADYS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UM, YES.
AS, UH, UH, BRETT ALLUDED, WE HAVE BEEN BUSY, UM, HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS OR PARTNERING WITH OUR, OUR PARTNERS.
SO THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, UM, WITH, AT MACARTHUR PARK, UM, WITH TITO.
HE DOES THE, THE TOY DISTRIBUTION, VERY POPULAR.
UM, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO, AS THE KIDS GET OUT OF SCHOOL, THAT MEANS IT'S, UH, TIME FOR WINTER FUN DAYS, UM, STARTING ON TUESDAY, UM, FOR TWO WEEKS, MINUS THE HOLIDAYS OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY.
UM, ALL OF OUR PARKS WILL BE OPEN TO OUR, UM, WINTER FUN DAYS AND INVITE ALL THE KIDS TO COME SPEND THE AFTERNOON WITH US, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. THAT'S STILL ALONG OUR, OUR TEENS AND OUR SENIORS.
UM, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AS, WHEN WE RETURN FROM THE HOLIDAYS, NOT ONLY WILL STEVE START US BUDGET DISCUSSIONS FOR FIVE, UM, BUT, UM, WE WILL START, UM, SOLIDIFYING OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE SUMMER.
UM, ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, AS YOU SEE IN THE WE CREATE COMMUNITY, UM, IS THE, UH, THE WORK, UH, RECRUITING OF, UM, STAFF THAT WE'LL BE DOING AT JOB FAIRS.
JOB FAIRS IN THE COMMUNITY POSTED TOO.
UM, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, UH, STRONG, UM, TEAMS, COMMITTEE LEADERS HERE, UM, WITHIN OUR PROGRAMS. SO IT'S ROUTE TO KICK OFF INTO THAT SEASON THAT WE CREATE SUMMER, ALWAYS WORKING.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR SCOTT, NOTHING TO ADD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL YOU DO.
SHERLY, JUST GONNA SAY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND 2024, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE THINGS COMING YOUR WAY.
UH, I DID GET A CHANCE TO VISIT, SO, AND SEE THE CHANGE, AND IT WAS AMAZING WHAT THEY DID ON THAT PIECE OF ASPHALT
[01:20:01]
AND ALONGSIDE THE FENCING.I, I WAS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TASE A PASSION FRUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WHEN IT OPENED UP, IT LOOKED LIKE AN EGG YOLK.
IT TOOK ME ABOUT FIVE MINUTES TO FIND IT, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY DELICIOUS.
I WAS ABLE TO, BUT IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING OVER THERE ON ASPHALT.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THE WINTER.
UH, THE RAINY SEASON IS COMING THIS WEEK.
UH, SURE I CAN SAY OUR STORM DRAINS ARE CLEAR.
UH, AND YEAH, WE'LL BE READY FOR THIS RAINY SEASON AND, AND THE NEXT AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
UM, YEAH, I, I PROBABLY CAN THINK OF SOME MORE THINGS, BUT NOW THAT TRINKA HAS, HAS JOINED US, UM, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE PARTNERS OF PARKS AND, AND, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL ALMOST EVERY LEVEL IN TERMS OF BRINGING THE COMMUNITY FORWARD.
GREAT NEW PARTNERSHIPS, THE FRIENDS OF THE PARKS HAVE BEEN EXPANDING, UH, AND THEN SHE BROUGHT ON SOME REALLY GREAT NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, SO YEAH, IT'S JUST EVERYBODY HERE IS A GREAT CROSS SECTION OF WHY LONG BEACH IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE.
COMMISSIONER HIGA, ANYTHING? UM, YEAH, SURE.
UM,
UM, I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL CONTINUING TO BE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE STAFF, UM, THAT ARE INVOLVED IN AND PROVIDING PROGRAMMING AND KEEPING OUR PARKS OPEN AND EVERYTHING.
I JUST, I LOVE THE CITY SO MUCH.
I LOVE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE AS MY STUDENTS ARE GOING OUT FOR WINTER BREAK.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT WE'VE GOT THE PARKS OPEN FOR, YOU KNOW, NOT ALL STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, I, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE, IT'S NICE THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE THE SAME BREAK AS, AS OUR KIDS DO.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE TEACHERS, SO WE HAD THE SAME BREAK.
BUT, UM, FOR SOME STUDENTS, THEY'RE GOING HOME NOW TO EMPTY HOUSES.
UM, SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE A PLEASANT HOME LIFE THAT'S FULL OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS TREES AND, AND YOU KNOW, FUN AROUND THE FIRE.
SO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE STILL THOSE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND THAT PLACE AWAY FROM HOME WHERE THEY CAN BE SUPPORTED AND, AND SAFE IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO I, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.
UM, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, TO KIND OF, UH, ECHO WHAT BRENT WAS SAYING, EVERY TIME TRINKA AND PARTNERS OF PARTS SPEAKS, I'M ALWAYS SO EXCITED AND I'M ALWAYS JUST SO IMPRESSED BY, UM, HOW YOU SUPPORT, UH, EVERYBODY.
UM, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE PROGRAMS ARE EXPENSIVE OR THEY'RE OUT OF REACH FOR SOME OF OUR FAMILIES, SO THE WAY THE PARTNERS OF PARKS IS THERE TO KIND OF, UM, PROVIDE THAT SAFETY NET IS, IS SO WONDERFUL.
SO JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AGAIN, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY STANDS OUT IS, UH, WHAT IS ON THE FRONT OF TRINKA RECAP IS THANKFUL, SO VERY THANKFUL TO PARTNERS LIKE ALL OF YOU IN THE ROOM, UM, ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR AS WE, WE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, YOU HEAR EVERYONE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
UM, I WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO LONG BEACH BEEKEEPERS.
I HAD A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT JOINED LONG BEACH BEEKEEPERS, AND IT'S JUST RAVED ABOUT THE INTEGRATION OF SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT BEEKEEPING OR HOW TO HANDLE THAT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR KIND OF A, AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE OF THAT.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A MOMENT OF REST BEFORE I KNOW WE, WE JUMPED RIGHT BACK INTO IT, SO THANK YOU.
YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP.
UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS CRAZY WINTRY HOLIDAY SEASON, SO MUCH GOING ON, SO MUCH TO DO.
IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE WHAT AT LEAST 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 NON-PROFIT.
IT'S MAYBE SIX NON-PROFITS IN THE ROOM AS THAT SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR HERSELF.
WE MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER AND WE MAKE IT LIVABLE FOR FOLKS.
SO I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND, UM, TAKE TIME JUST TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY WHO MAY BE LONELY AND WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME SUPPORT SYSTEM AS YOU DO.
UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, I WANTED TO BRING UP FOR THIS MEETING IS THAT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF A TENSION RIGHT NOW BEING PAID TO, UM, THE TINY HOMES PROJECT PROPOSED AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, UH, IN THE UNDEVELOPED PART OF THE PARK, UH, ON THE CORNER OF SPRING AND CALIFORNIA.
UH, AND I KNOW THERE'S, UM, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, INTEREST IN THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, OF THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY COMMENTS ARE NOT COMING FROM A POINT OF OPPOSITION, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK HAS BEEN, UH, WORKING AT IS HOW TO ENGAGE CONSTRUCTIVELY IN THAT PROCESS.
ALSO, NOT COMING FROM A POINT OF OPPOSITION, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THEY DO WANT TO SEE, UH, BE PART OF THAT PROJECT, SHOULD IT MOVE FORWARD OR EVEN REGARDLESS OF IT MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK THERE ARE THREE, YOU KNOW, KEY THINGS THAT RELATES TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ONE,
[01:25:01]
UH, YOU KNOW, FULFILLING THE MOTION THAT THIS OR THAT EARLIER COMMISSIONS MADE IN DEDICATING THE FULL PARK AND PERPETUITY THE FULL 48 ACRES AS PARK SPACE.UH, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, UH, BEEN KIND OF IN THIS LIMBO SITUATION REGARDING A, UH, BOUNDARY ISSUE, UH, PARTICULARLY WHERE THIS, UH, TINY, UH, HOME SPACE IS, IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED TO BE AT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THERE'S CONTINUED INVEST IN THE PARK.
UH, YOU KNOW, HALF OF IT, ROUGHLY HALF OF IT IS, IS STILL UNDEVELOPED, NOT REALLY USABLE PARK SPACE.
UH, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE CITY ACTUALLY PUTTING IN MORE MONEY, MORE EFFORT, MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT PART OF THE PARK, BUILDING IT OUT, UH, AS, AND MAKING IT PARK APPROPRIATE.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE TINY HOMES PROJECT IS ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO REPURPOSE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FUTURE TOWARDS PARK USAGE.
UH, SO THIS ACTUALLY COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMPSTART, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DEPLOYMENT OF PARK INFRASTRUCTURE AND SETTING IT UP AS A PART IN THE FUTURE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UH, ANOTHER THING IS MAKING SURE THAT IT'S LIMITED TO THE 15 YEARS, UH, THAT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THE RISK OF A TEMPORARY SOLUTION BECOMING A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE LIFETIME OF THE PROJECT, UH, RESPECTS WHAT THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THAT SPACE IS, UH, WHILE ALLEVIATING AND HELPING YOU HELPING RESOLVE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, PRESENT NOW.
UH, BUT ALSO ONE THING THAT I THINK IS OF HIGH IMPORTANCE SINCE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE WITH, WE'VE ACTUALLY MET WITH, UH, STATE LEGISLATORS ON, UH, IS THE OIL WELL.
UH, SO THE TINY HOMES PROJECT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED TO BE BUILT RIGHT NEXT TO AN OIL WELL ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET.
AND SO LOOKING AT WAYS HOW TO DECOMMISSION THAT OIL WELL, UH, SO THAT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW MAY BE LIVING THERE ARE NOT EXPOSED TO THE BALTIMORE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND OTHER POLLUTANTS FROM, UH, THAT PARTICULAR WELL.
BUT ALSO, AGAIN, MAKING SURE, THINKING THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A FUTURE PARK SPACE.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THE, THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE LIVING THERE SOON, AS WELL AS ENSURING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF FUTURE PARK VISITORS AS WELL.
UH, SO AGAIN, I KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS.
UH, GROUPS ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONSTRUCTIVELY, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, OPPOSING IT, BUT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS THE BEST POSSIBLE CASE FOR WHAT WE NEED NOW, AS WELL AS FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, SETTING IT UP FOR A FUTURE PARK SPACE, UH, ONCE THIS PROJECT IS DONE WITH.
UM, I AM GOING TO PRETTY MUCH ECHO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID IN TERMS OF APPRECIATION.
UH, I LOOK OUT AT THIS GROUP OF AUDIENCE, UH, PUBLIC WHO HAVE COME TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT FILL MY HEART WITH JOY AND HOPE, AND WE'VE GOT EVERYONE IN BETWEEN.
AND, UH, SOME OF US MY AGE, UH,
AND, UH, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND INTEREST, UH, PRESENTATIONS THAT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AND A POTENTIAL SOLUTION, UH, PARTICULARLY WAYNE AND, UH, UM, AND IT WAS, UH, KEN, RIGHT, WHO SAID, YOU KNOW, HERE'S A WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
AND I'M, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I HAD A GOAL WHEN I STARTED THIS YEAR OF VISITING ALL 162 PARKS.
THAT WAS MY, UH, UH, NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION.
IT DID NOT HAPPEN
ADMIRAL KIDD OPENING UP, UM, I HAD THEM IN MY HEAD.
UM, UH, ANYWAY, A WHOLE LOT OF 'EM.
BUT, UH, I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW IMPRESSED AND THRILLED I AM WITH THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
I NOTICED AS WE HAD THIS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, IS THAT YOUR COMPLETE MAINTENANCE STAFF FOR THAT IS TOTAL ADMIN GROUNDS FACILITIES FOR 162 PARKS FOR 162 PARKS, 32, OR, YEAH.
THAT JUST KIND OF, BUT YEAH, THEY, THEY DO GREAT WORK AND I CALL 'EM THE TRANSMISSION OF A BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AND I CAN'T, UH, LEAVE, UH, MY COMMENTS WITHOUT SAYING THAT SOME OF YOU WERE HERE LAST MAY WHEN WE HAD A NEW LITTLE COUPLE OF VISITORS COME.
UM, MY LITTLE BABY KITTENS WHO WERE RUNNING ACROSS.
AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HELD UP TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SCURRYING.
THEY WAKE ME UP IN THE MORNING.
THEY ARE THE MOST WONDERFUL ELEMENT OF MY LIFE.
AND IN MAY, 2023, THE MOST JOYOUS YEAR
[01:30:01]
FOR ME.UM, I JUST WANT ECHO COMPLIMENTING ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT, THAT CAME OUT.
AND AS, UH, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD SAID, NOT JUST BRINGING PROBLEMS. WE'RE BRINGING IDEAS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
BRING IT TO US, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, LET YOUR CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE KNOW BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHERE THE FUNDING GOES.
AS I SAID AT THE BUDGET MEETING, THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD TO US THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE MORE MONEY IN PARKS.
AND WITH THAT, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 10 34.