[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL WITH ROLL CALL PLEASE.
[ROLL CALL]
COUNCILWOMAN SINJA.COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS ODI HERE.
I'M GONNA PASS IT TO COUNCILMAN SUPER LEE, THE PLEDGE AND THE MOMENT OF
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
SILENCE.UH, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL, UH, CEREMONY TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE THE CUB SCOUT PAC NUMBER 88, UH, WITH MANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, STUDENTS, UH, FROM PRS ELEMENTARY.
UH, THESE SCOUTS ARE EARNING THEIR FINAL RANK.
UH, THEY ARE HERE MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND DISCUSSING COMMUNITY ISSUES.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, TO THEIR SCOUT LEADER, MARIELLE SALGADO, LONGTIME ASSOCIATE OF MINE.
AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT SHE ORGANIZED THIS, UH, FLAG SALUTE.
SO MARIELLA, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
START WITH THAT COLO GUARD ATTENTION.
WILL THE AUDIENCE PLEASE RISE? THE NEXT ONE, COLOR GUARD, ADVANCE SCOUT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, COLOR GUARD.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, 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 TO COLOR GUARD POST OR COLOR GUARD RETREAT.
WELL, COUNCILMAN AL, WHAT PACK IS THAT? UM, THIS IS P UH, SCALP PACK 88 FROM, UH, PRISK ELEMENTARY AND THE HEART OF LOS ALTOS.
ALRIGHT, WELL, LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR THESE YOUNG CUB SCOUTS.
SO, SO WHAT RANK, SO HOW MANY, MANY OF YOU ARE, ARE BEARS? HOW ABOUT WOLFS OR WEEBY, LOWES? ANYBODY? CUBS GOT DIFFERENT RANKS.
WHAT, WAIT, WHAT IS YOUR RANK? SOUND IT OUT EVERYONE.
YOU'RE GETTING THE ARROW OF LIGHT BADGE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S LIKE THE TOP BADGE BEFORE YOU CAN CROSS OVER TO BE A, A SCOUT.
YOU GUYS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
WELL, WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE A FEW PRESENTATIONS TO START, UH, AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL GO INTO, UM, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE'LL HAVE, UH, A NUMBER OF, UH, ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
SOME HAVE BEEN PULLED, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN MAYBE, UH, 10 MORE ITEMS BEYOND THAT.
SO, UH, NOT MUCH ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
SO OUR TWO PRESENTATIONS FIRST WILL BE, UH, RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND, UH, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WERE HERE AND SAW THE PRESENTATION IN THE, IN THE, UH, LOBBY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND FOR EVERYONE WHO ORGANIZING IT.
SO, THE FIRST PRESENTATION WILL BE FROM THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, AND THEN WE'LL, UH, WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL, UH, PRESENTATION, RECOGNIZING STORM PREPAREDNESS AND WORKER
[ BLACK EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION BLACK HISTORY MONTH]
RESPONSE.I WANNA INTRODUCE CHRISTIAN CAMBRIDGE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION TO LEAD THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN CAMBRIDGE, BE A PRESIDENT.
[00:05:01]
TODAY REPRESENTING THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH, ALSO KNOWN AS BEA.OUR ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO IN 1995 AS THE BLACK MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, BMA, THE BLACK MANAGERS ASSOCIATION WAS IN PLACE TO ENCOURAGE AND FOSTER THE ADVANCEMENT OF BLACK EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
THE BLACK MANAGERS ASSOCIATION BECAME INACTIVE IN 2010 AND WAS REBRANDED AS THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION IN 2019.
AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE ORGANIZATION MORE INCLUSIVE TO ALL BLACK EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THOSE SUPPORTING OUR MISSION.
TODAY, THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION IS A PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
OUR GOALS TO PROVIDE ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FORMS, WORKSHOPS, AND SPEAKER SERIES TO BEA MEMBERS TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR BEA MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A SCHOLARSHIP TO SENIORS GRADUATING FROM THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL GROUPS TO ENHANCE OUR COMMON INTEREST IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO INFORM THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND WATCHING TODAY THAT THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH BECAME REESTABLISHED AS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IS OFFICIALLY ABLE TO EXTEND MEMBERSHIP TO CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CITYWIDE PROFESSIONALS, AND ANY PROFESSIONAL INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.
IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCIL MEMBER AL AUSTIN II, COUNCIL MEMBER DR.
RICKS OTI, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH AND THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT TO PUT ON THE 2024 CITY OF LONG BEACH BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR THEME THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ARTS AND CULTURE, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MAX VILT, WHO IS THE OWNER OF A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS KNOWN AS VILLAGE TREASURES, LOCATED HERE IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH AT 2 4 7 EAST BROADWAY VILLAGE.
TREASURES IS AN AFRICAN GIFT SHOP BOUTIQUE AND GALLERY, WHICH CARRIES WORLD IMPORTS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AFRICAN IMPORTS, TRIBAL AND CONTEMPORARY MASS STATUES, ARTWORK, FURNITURE, TEXTILES, JEWELRY, CLOTHING, AND OTHER FORMS OF ART.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PRESENT A TRAILER FROM A SHORT FILM CALLED VILLAGE TREASURES, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE ACTUAL STORE.
THE FILM WAS SELECTED TO BE PART OF THE 32ND ANNUAL PAN-AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND WAS SHOT BY DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KEITA DON AZU PLAY VIDEO.
SO AGAIN, THAT IS A TRAILER FROM THE SHORT FILM, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE STORE.
I DO WANT TO THANK MAX VZ, WHO'S WITH US TODAY FOR THE ROLE THAT YOUR BUSINESS HAS PLAYED WITH REGARD TO HIGHLIGHTING AND EMPHASIZING BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE IN LONG BEACH AND THE GREATER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION.
BA LIKES TO WELCOME MAXVILLE FOR BRIEF REMARKS, AND THEN WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
SO ON THAT NOTE, MAX VZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANNA THANK THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, UM, FOR SELECTING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
I WANNA THANK, UM, HONORABLE MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.
IT WAS ABOUT, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN NOW, BUT FOR THIS, UH, EVENT A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT WE WOULD START THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, THE PROJECT FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
SO, UM, SOME OF YOU WERE HERE AT THAT TIME, UM, REX AND AL.
AND, UM, AT THE TIME, DE ANDREWS, I THINK WAS THE THIRD PERSON WHO, UM, ALL DECIDED THAT WE WOULD EMBARK UPON
[00:10:01]
THIS PROJECT.SO, UH, CURRENTLY COUNCILWOMAN MEGAN K IS OUR COUNCIL PERSON FOR THE DISTRICT, WHERE WE HAVE A TEMPORARY LOCATION AT THE EXPO ART CENTER, AND WHERE WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE, UH, WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THE, THE PLAN IS TO ESTABLISH, UM, TO GET OUR OWN BUILDING, TO CREATE A CENTER THAT, UM, HIGHLIGHTS AND, UM, PROMOTES AND, UM, TALKS ABOUT THE PIONEERS FROM OUR CITY, WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT A INSTITUTION ONCE WE BUILD IT, BUILD IT.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A, A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT ARE GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT CURRENTLY LED BY DEREK SIMPSON, WHO IS OUR PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.
ANYWAY, I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR.
AND, UM, I WAS ABLE TO SHARE THIS, UH, SHORT FILM WITH YOU.
AND MAX, MAX, MAX, YOU WANT TO STAY UP THERE FOR, FOR A MOMENT? UM, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATE.
I KNOW MAYBE A COUNCIL MEMBER TOO MIGHT WANT TO, UH, JUST COMMENT, BUT OKAY.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN TO VILLAGE CHURCH MANY, MANY A TIMES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THING, YOU KNOW, WHEN I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING TRADITIONAL, YOU KNOW, I CALL YOU FIRST, RIGHT? YES.
UH, SO LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE, THE DOCUMENTARY.
SO IS IT A DOCUMENTARY OR IS IT, IS IT A FILM? LIKE A IT'S A FILM.
AND WHO'S AND WHO DIRECTED IT WAS, WAS IT DONOVAN? DONOVAN DIRECTED IT.
HE, YES, HE, HE'S DONE SOME GREAT, SOME GREAT WORK.
HE, SO IT WAS SHOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES DOING THE FILM FEST FESTIVAL THAT JUST ENDED YESTERDAY.
AND WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND THE FILM IF THEY WANNA SEE IT? SO, AFTER THE FILM FESTIVAL, AND I'LL HAVE TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION.
UM, BUT AFTER THE FILM FESTIVAL, A LOT OF THE FILMS THAT WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY BE ONLINE TO VIEW, UM, SO THE FILM FESTIVAL SITE IS PFF.ORG.
AND IT'S STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE? YES.
WELL, MM-HMM,
I JUST WANNA RAISE UP LA UH, MAX AND TELL HER, UM, AND LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW, HOW MUCH OF A GYM SHE IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR CITY.
UH, SHE'S A CHAMPION OF CULTURE, UH, IN EVERY, EVERY WAY THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
UH, HER STORE IS A, A GREAT PLACE TO GO TO LEARN, UM, ABOUT AFRICAN STUDIES, BUT, BUT THE ART TO, TO, TO, TO EMBRACE CULTURE.
AND THEN SHE DOES IT WITH SUCH GRACE AND, AND, AND, UM, AND PRIDE.
UH, I WILL SAY THAT, THAT, UM, MAX AND I, WE SHARE A LITTLE SOMETHING IN COMMON THAT WE ARE BOTH FORMER, UH, RETIRED AEROSPACE WORKERS HERE,
UH, AND, AND, UM, BUT WHEN WE COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY, AND I SAY COLLECTIVELY, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN, UH, ESTABLISHING THE, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, WHEN WE BROUGHT THAT ITEM TO THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYBE, WHAT WAS IT, FOUR YEARS AGO? FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY.
UM, I BELIEVE WE WERE IN THE OTHER BUILDING.
UM, I THINK SO, YEAH, WE WERE IN OTHER BUILDINGS.
SO, BUT IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AND PEOPLE FROM EVERY ASPECT OR SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WAS IT HIP HOP, UH, UM, THE, THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, YOU KNOW, BLACK LIVES MATTER, WHEREVER, UM, THE BLACK PEOPLE WERE, THEY WERE COMING TOGETHER TO, TO CELEBRATE THIS.
AND, AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THE, THE POWER OF WHAT WE, WE HAVE GOING WITH THAT CULTURAL CENTER, WITH THE, THE LEADERS LIKE MAX AND DEREK AND, UH, ERROL PARKER AND LAVERNE DUNCAN.
AND, UM, I KNOW I'M GONNA MISS SOME NAMES HERE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATING THEIR, THEIR LIVES AND THEIR TIME TO, UH, TO SOMETHING IMPORTANT, SOMETHING THAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
TASHA HUNTER, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
UH, SOMETHING THAT THEY BELIEVE IN THAT WILL, WILL BE SOMETHING LASTING FOR, FOR THE CITY, UH, AN IMPACTFUL, UM, PROJECT THAT WILL, WILL, UH, LONG LIVE ANY ONE OR INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN, IN THAT PROJECT TODAY.
IT'S, IT'S ABOUT OUR, OUR CULTURE.
IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, AND IT'S ABOUT, UM, DEVELOPING SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR OUR PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND SO, FOR THAT WORK, UH, MAX, I SALUTE YOU.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL, YOU'LL ALWAYS
[00:15:01]
HAVE MY SUPPORT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.UH, I'M GONNA ECHO WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN SAID, AND JUST, UM, I'M PARTICULARLY FASCINATED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THIS WONDERFUL STORE, RIGHT? THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS KIND OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA AND THE, THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THERE, RIGHT? AND REMINDS THOSE OF US WHO MAY, YOU KNOW, FOR MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO AFRICA, RIGHT AROUND THAT HERITAGE, THAT HISTORY, THAT CULTURE, RIGHT? AND THEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FILM ABOUT IT, I THINK IS FANTASTIC, PARTICULARLY AS RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THEME OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
AND I'M, SO, I, I'M ELATED THAT THEY DECIDED TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR PARTICULAR BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANNA UPLIFT YOU AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
UM, I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE EVENT THIS WEEKEND, AND I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED AT THE QUALITY OF THE, OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, UM, THE EVENTS THAT YOU PUT ON, BUT THE CARE THAT YOU PUT INTO CURATING THE EXHIBITS, RIGHT? BRINGING IN DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE, THAT IS THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ALL OF ITS DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, BUT ALSO THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR TIME EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, SWEAT EQUITY INTO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, UM, BECAUSE YOU MAKE US AS A CITY BETTER BY DOING THAT.
WELL, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FROM YOU FOR YOU.
UH, AND I'M GONNA INVITE THE COUNSEL DOWN.
SOMEBODY ELSE? WE GOT TWO MORE BOARD.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
[ RECOGNIZING STORM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE WORKERS]
UH, IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, THE STORM.AND OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE CITY AND THE REGION HAS SEEN UNPRECEDENTED, UH, STORM AND EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, UH, WHICH HAS BECOME MORE COMMON AS WE CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEE THE IMPACTS.
THANKS TO THE HARD WORK AND THE DILIGENCE AND THE COURAGE OF OUR DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES ACROSS A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO SCALE UP OUR PLANNING AND RESPONSE TO EACH OF THESE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS TO HELP ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OUR BUSINESSES.
AND WHILE WE STILL SEE MORE AND MORE WEATHER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE QUALITY SERVICE THAT WE SEE FROM OUR CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEES.
AND THEIR EFFORTS WERE NOTHING SHORT OF HEROIC.
OUR CITY, CITY TEAMS WERE OUT THERE DURING LATE EVENINGS, EARLY MORNINGS, ACROSS WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, CLEARING STREETS AND STORM DRAINS FROM DEBRIS AND TREE BRANCHES, AND, UH, HELPING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WITH SANDBAGS AND ASSISTANT RESIDENT RESIDENTS WITH INTRUSION OF WATER INTO THEIR, UH, HOMES.
AND INSTEAD OF SHELTERING IN PLACE, LIKE MANY OF US GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WITH OUR FAMILY AND OUR CHILDREN.
OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ON DUTY, ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE VERY WORST OF THE STORM, PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK, UH, TO BUILD BEACHES, UH, BUILD BURNS ALONG THE BEACH, CLEARING FLOODED ROADWAYS DURING THE STORM, UH, EXECUTE, UH, A HERRING RESCUE OF BOATERS WHO HAD CRASHED DURING THE STORM, WHATEVER.
ESSENTIALLY, WHATEVER THE RESIDENTS NEEDED US TO DO, THEY STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
UH, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
[00:20:01]
AND EVEN THOUGH THE STORMS ARE NOT, UH, FULLY, UH, BEHIND US, WE, WE, WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, JUST RECOGNIZE AND THANK ALL OF OUR HARDWORKING, UH, EMPLOYEES.AND SO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO, UH, HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
SO WE WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR HARRISON, UH, TO PRO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON A STORM PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
SO, UH, ONE, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND PUTTING THIS ON.
OUR TEAMS, WHEN CRISIS HITS, THEY JUMP INTO, INTO RESPONSE MODE.
WE GO, WE DO THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, OFTEN, WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT, BUT IT REALLY TAKES, UM, A, A SPECIAL MOMENT TO SIT AND THINK OF, OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY DO.
SO, UH, I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE IT.
UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, OUR TEAM IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
UH, A LOT OF THEM ARE, IT'S RAINING AGAIN.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE OUT THERE DOING THAT WORK.
AGAIN, THANKFULLY IT'S NOT QUITE AT THAT SAME LEVEL, UH, BUT IT'S A TESTAMENT TO EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT TO REGGIE.
UH, WE CALL HIM AFFECTIONATELY OUR MASTER OF DISASTER SOMETIME, AND HE'S GETTING REALLY GOOD AT IT, UH, HELPING, UH, TO PULL EVERYONE TOGETHER WHEN WE NEED IT.
SO, UH, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S LIKE A WRESTLING NAME OR SOMETHING.
I WOULD TURN IT TO MR. HARRISON.
WE'RE NOT GONNA WRESTLE TONIGHT, THOUGH,
BUT I DO THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS UPDATE TO YOU ON OUR FEBRUARY, UM, SEVENTH, FOURTH THROUGH SEVEN RAINS.
I'VE NUMBERED THESE STORMS, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE RETURNED RIGHT, UM, OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS.
IN FACT, WE'VE RECEIVED ALREADY ANOTHER INCH AND A QUARTER OF RAIN WITH MORE RAIN TO COME THROUGH, UH, THIS EVENING.
SO OUR STAFF REMAINS DILIGENT, UH, IN OUR EFFORTS THERE.
THE UPDATE THAT I'M GONNA PROVIDE TO YOU SUMMARIZES THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS, HUNDREDS OF CITY STAFF, OUR RESIDENTS AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, PROVIDED TO PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM THESE HISTORIC REIGNS.
AS A CITY, WE WERE PREPARED AND WE MET THE MOMENT.
SO THIS IS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
AND ON FEBRUARY THE FOURTH, WE ACTIVATED OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT LEVEL TWO, WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACTIVATION WITH ONE MISSION IN MIND TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, THE EOC ACTIVATION PROVIDED, UM, SUPPORT TO OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD THEIR, UM, DEPARTMENT OPERATION CENTERS, UH, ACTIVATED, AS WELL AS THE MANY CITY CREWS, UH, THAT WE HAD, UH, ON, UH, THAT WE HAD DEPLOYED OR ACTIVATED.
IN FACT, 25, OVER 25 CITY CREWS FROM ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, WERE A PART OF THAT, UM, ACTIVATION.
AND OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THE EOC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS TO, IS TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS, UH, WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL AS, UH, WITH FEMA.
SO IN THE EOC, WE HAD, UM, STAFF FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT REPORTED THERE, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, HEALTH PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIVISION.
OUR DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, DISASTERS ARE EXPENSIVE, AND SO WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE, UM, HAVING THE, UM, FINANCE STAFF THERE TO ENSURE THAT WE DO OUR PROCUREMENTS, UH, CORRECTLY.
AND OF COURSE, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EOC, UH, WAS PROVIDED BY OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM.
SO WORKING, WORKING IN SILOS IS, UM, NOT EFFECTIVE IN MOST CITY, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AND STRUCTURE, AND IT'S ESPECIALLY SO, UH, NOT EFFECTIVE IN MANAGING A DISASTER.
SO WE DID IMPLEMENT OUR, OUR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM ACROSS, UM, DEPARTMENTAL EFFORT, UH, HOUSE OVER AT OUR RUSH, UH, WAREHOUSE TO PROVIDE URGENTLY NEEDED MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT FIELD OPERATIONS IN A TIMELY AND ORGANIZED MANNER.
THE IMT SET UP OUR FIRST, UH, SAND DISTRIBUTION POINT AT VEST, UH, STADIUM, AND PROCURED OVER 150,000 ADDITIONAL SANDBAGS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS HEALTH AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, ACTIVATED THEIR DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER TO PROVIDE MORE DIRECT AND SPECIFY AND SPECIFIC FIELD SUPPORT TO COORDINATE WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT THEY HAD DEPLOYED TO THE FIELD.
AND WE ACTIVATED MANY CITY CREWS AND TEAMS ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS TO PERFORM THE SPECIFIC WORK REQUIRED FOR OUR RESPONSE EFFORT.
SO IN RESPONSE TO THESE HISTORIC, UH, RANS,
[00:25:01]
WE LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT, EFFORT ACTIVATING MORE THAN 25 CITY CREWS AND TEAMS TO PROVIDE A TRULY UNIFIED RESPONSE.MANY OF THESE TEAMS ARE FAMILIAR TO YOU AND YOUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE YOU SAW THEM AT WORK BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER, UH, THE STORMS. THESE TEAMS COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, WORK SEAMLESSLY TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY IN THE RAN AND THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT CREWS WORK TO MAINTAIN CATCH BASINS AND STORM DRAINS, REMOVE FALLEN TREES, RESCUE, UM, STRANDED SAILORS AT SEA CLEARED FLOODED INTERSECTIONS, UH, REPAIR DAMAGED TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ENSURE EQUITY IN OUR OPERATIONS, KEPT THE PUBLIC INFORMED THROUGH NUMEROUS PRESS RELEASES IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES, AND BUILT AND REBUILT OUR SAND BURNS JUST TO NAME A FEW.
MANY OF THOSE CREWS, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, ARE BACK OUT IN THE FIELD THIS EVENING, RESPONDING TO THE CURRENT STORM SYSTEM.
BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WORKED ON THOSE CREWS OR TEAMS, OR IN OTHER, OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER TO RESPOND TO THOSE RAINS, TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR STORM RESPONSE EFFORTS LED BY THESE CREWS AND OTHER STAFF THAT YOU SAW THAT, THAT STA THAT STOOD.
WE RECEIVED OVER 10 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
UM, THAT'S MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY RECEIVE.
UH, IN FEBRUARY 51, STORM AND SEWER PUMP STATIONS WERE MAINTAINED.
80,000 SANDBAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED.
THIS INDICATES HOW SERIOUSLY OUR RESIDENTS TOOK THE STORM.
19 SAILORS RE WERE RE WERE RESCUES, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, BY OUR, UH, FIRE SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS. 70 ADDITIONAL SHELTER BEDS WERE ADDED FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THE CITY FARED WELL DURING THESE STORMS. THERE WERE NO MAJOR DISRUPTIONS OF CITY SERVICE.
HOWEVER, DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, WE DID INCUR AN ESTIMATED $7.3 MILLION IN DAMAGES, INCLUDING DAMAGES TO PORT FACILITIES.
AND WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN THE PROCESS TO WORK WITH FEMA TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE COSTS.
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL, WHO ALSO INCURRED, UH, DAMAGES DURING THE STORM THAT THE COUNTY HAS OPENED A WEBSITE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GO AND SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING DAMAGES TO THEIR RESIDENTS OR BUSINESSES.
AND IF WE REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD WITHIN THE COUNTY, THOSE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, REIMBURSEMENT.
IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL HAZARDS, NATURAL AND HUMAN MADE.
AND OF COURSE, EARTHQUAKES BEING OUR MOST PROBABLE.
I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT THE HUNDREDS OF DEDICATED STAFF, OUR RESIDENTS, AND VOLUNTEERS WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT THE CITY AND PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO PROTECT LONG BEACH FROM THESE MANY STORMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S HEAR FOR OUR, OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS OFFICE AND ALL OF OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WERE WORKING HARD.
JUST A FEW COMMENTS, AND I'M GONNA INVITE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN TO, UM, UH, TAKE A, A QUICK PHOTO, UM, AND WHATEVER COMMENTS THEY HAVE.
UH, BUT I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE JUST, UH, THAT A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOUR PIOS AND KEVIN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THROWING TOGETHER PRESS CONFERENCES TO GET THE, GET THE INFORMATION OUT, SANDY JUMPING ON THE CAMERA, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON.
JAKE HEFLIN, WHO I ACCIDENTALLY CALLED HIM JEFFLIN, UM, JAKE HEFLIN, UH, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN JUST INCREDIBLE.
UH, I'LL TELL YOU, THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE CERT FOLKS CERT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, AND TIME AFTER TIME, WE COUNT ON OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE CERT TRAINED.
YOU CAN GET TRAINED FOR FREE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ON HOW TO ASSIST IN AN EMERGENCY.
UM, I WANNA ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL DO WEEKEND SESSIONS FOR YOU, UH, GO THROUGH THE TRAINING.
AND, UH, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS THAT WE SAW OUT THERE FILLING UP SANDBAGS, PEOPLE COULD PULL UP, FOLKS WOULD FILL UP THEIR SANDBAG AND TOSS IT IN THE TRUNK.
UH, SO IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT.
I LEARNED A LOT WHEN I WENT OUT, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, CHECKING IN ON THE OPERATIONS.
LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, THESE, THESE FOLKS WERE OUT DOING THE HARD WORK OF JUST MOVING PUMPS FROM ONE LOCATION TO
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THE OTHER.UH, CHECKING AND DOING INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT A PUMP STATION WAS READY IN CA, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE RAIN.
AND, UH, MONITORING THOSE OPERATIONS DURING THE RAIN.
I MEAN, RAINING FOR THREE TO FOUR DAYS IS A LOT.
A LONG TIME FOR A PUMP TO OPERATE.
AND THEY, THEY WEREN'T EQUIPPED FOR THAT ORIGINALLY.
AND SO, UH, JUST INCREDIBLE WORK FROM ALL OF OUR, OUR, UM, OUR CITY TEAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL, AND OUR LIFEGUARDS WHO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GLAD THAT WE HAVE THEM.
UH, WE'RE GLAD THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THEM.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN THEM.
AND, AND I'LL JUST BRING IT UP, MUCH OF THE RESPONSE AND OUR SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAMS, A LOT OF THAT'S FUNDED WITH TITANS FUNDS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S IN JEOPARDY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UH, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TELL THE STORY.
SO THE PUBLIC KIND OF UNDERSTANDS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE TO FUND THESE OPERATIONS IN OUR COASTLINE.
WE'RE A BIG CITY WITH SEVEN AND A HALF MILES OF COASTLINE AT THE BOTTOM END OF TWO RIVERS AND MULTIPLE WATERSHEDS.
AND SO THESE EVENTS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
UM, THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN OUR CLIMATE RESILIENCY MORE THAN EVER.
AND THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THREE PARTS TO THIS.
THERE'S PREPARATION THAT'S NOT JUST ON THE CITY, IT'S ON OUR RESIDENTS TOO.
IT'S THE RESPONSE, WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN, WHEN YOU SEE A, A POWER LINE DOWN, YOU SEE A TREE, RANCH FALL, YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW UNLESS YOU TELL US.
AND THEN THERE'S RECOVERY, WHICH WE'RE IN NOW.
AFTER RAIN, YOU KNOW, COMES POTHOLES.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAY AFTER, YOU KNOW, YEAH, SHOWERS COMES, FLOWERS.
SO WE WILL SPEND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS MAKING SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS CREWS AND ALL OF US ARE OUT THERE, UH, TAKING PART IN THE RECOVERY.
AND WE HAVE TO ALSO DO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THIS, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA GET MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE OVER TIME.
BUT I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS FOR MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A, UH, A, UH, I WOULD SAY A SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE TO THE PRE, TO THESE MOST RECENT STORMS. AND WE SHOULD BUILD ON THIS MOMENTUM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ARE, WE CONTINUE TO BE READY.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU.
UH, UH, REGGIE, I'M NOT GONNA CALL YOU THE NICKNAME.
UM, I, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVERYONE HERE FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO'VE DONE AN EXEMPLARY JOB.
UM, TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ONE INDIVIDUAL.
AND THIS STARTED WHEN I WAS CONTACTED BY A, A RESIDENT OF THE RANCHO NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WHEN I SAY CONTACTED, I WAS TAGGED IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING.
UH, AND WITH THAT, I, UH, SENT AN EMAIL TO, UH, A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, ERIC, YOU CAN WAIT FOR EVERYBODY RIGHT HERE.
AND FROM THAT, UM, HE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED INTO ACTION AND, UH, HAD ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES OUT TO THIS BLOCK DRAIN TO HANDLE IT ON HIS OWN.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A CO THERE, THERE IS SOME PICTURES OF CHRIS RIGHT THERE, AND IMAGINE THAT AMOUNT OF DEBRIS.
AND HE TOOK CARE OF THAT ON HIS OWN.
AND HIS NAME IS CHRIS, UH, KAS AND HIS EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, THREE FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE STREET DIVISION.
AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH RECOGNIZING HE WANTED, IF WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SLIDES THERE, THAT WAS A MESS.
AND HE WENT OUT ON HIS OWN AND TOOK CARE OF THAT IN AN HOUR.
AND I BELIEVE HE FILLED A COUPLE OF POTHOLES ON HIS WAY, UH, OUT
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE ON BEHALF NOT ONLY OF MY DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT, UM, ALL OF OUR CITY TEAM DID DURING THE STORMS AND CONTINUES TO DO WITH A SMILE AND MAYBE TIRED BY THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH THROUGH BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT, AND THE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY, SO MANY, SO MANY, SO MANY GRATEFUL RESIDENTS.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND MY THANKS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET MY KUDOS OUT TO THE MANAGEMENT, TO THE TEAM.
UH, I ALSO RECEIVED A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT, AND, UH, WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT THE PUBLIC STATION SEVEN WAS DOWN, AND SO I CALLED THE CITY MANAGER, SAID, I GOT A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT THAT THE PUBLIC STATION SEVEN WAS DOWN, AND BEFORE I COULD EVEN BLINK, HE GOES, WE WERE ON IT.
SO YOUR RESPONSE IS LIKE, EVEN BEFORE THE CITY DIDN'T EVEN CALL ME, YOU WERE ALREADY THERE ADDRESSING THE, THE PROBLEM.
AND CITY DON LOBBY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF THAT, OF YOUR RESPONSE.
I ALSO WANNA EXPRESS MY THANKS TO, TO ALL OF THE TEAM WHO WAS DOING WORK DURING THE STORMS. I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR PUTTING AN OP CENTER AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, UM, IN DISTRICT FIVE, IT REALLY MADE VISIBLE THE WORK THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR
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THE WHOLE CITY.UM, AND WE DON'T OFTEN GET TO SEE THAT IN STORMS LIKE THIS.
IT'S OFTEN CENTERED IN PLACES THAT HAVE HISTORIC FLOODING, BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTED THIS TIME THAT HAD NEVER BEEN IMPACTED BEFORE.
UM, THE POLICE CADETS WERE OUT THERE FILLING SANDBAGS IN THE POURING RAIN.
UM, I WANT TO THANK JAKE FOR WELCOMING ME.
UM, I STOPPED IN TWICE JUST TO CHECK ON THE TEAM.
UM, MARK WAS OUT THERE, MARK WRIGHT AND WILLIE OWENS, UM, ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND BEING READY WITH THEIR CELL PHONES AND RESPONDING PERSONALLY TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO RESIDENTS WHO HAD REACHED OUT.
UM, I KNOW ON MY STREET THERE WAS A TREE DOWN, SO I WENT DOWN AND TALKED TO JAMES, WHO WAS WORKING WITH A CREW WHO MADE IT A POINT TO TELL ME THAT HIS SUPERVISOR, ELLIE AGUILAR, IS AMAZING
UM, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT DOING WORK IN OUR CITY, AND WHO WORKED ESPECIALLY HARD DURING THE STORM.
WE'RE REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL.
I JUST ALSO HAVE TO GIVE YOU A, A BIG, UH, SHOUT OUT.
UM, I KNOW WHEN, UH, SO MANY OF US ARE TUCKED IN OUR HOMES AND THE RESIDENTS, UM, YOU'RE OUT THERE DOING THE REALLY, REALLY HARD WORK.
UM, AND I TELL YOU, ON BEHALF OF SO MANY OF MY RESIDENTS ON THAT COASTLINE, UM, YOU, YOU SAVED HOMES.
AND, UM, AND I KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST, JUST PERSONALLY OUT THERE SEEING HOW MUCH WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND THEN ONCE THE STORM IS OVER, IT'S NOT DONE, THEN YOU GOTTA GO CLEAN UP.
AND, AND SO I THINK YOU, I THINK YOUR FAMILIES, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU SPEND TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES, AND SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID.
UH, I WANT TO JUST THANK YOU, UH, MR. MASTER DISASTER, UM, THAT YOU, YOUR EXPERIENCE, UH, AND LEADERSHIP IS DEFINITELY APPRECIATED.
BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE, WEATHERING THE WEATHER, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING FORTH THEIR, TO PUTTING THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY AT RISK AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES WITH WORKING IN A STORM.
UH, I, I WANNA JUST SAY THANK YOU.
UH, BUT I ALSO WANNA JUST SAY, I THINK UPLIFT THE CITY, UH, TOM COUNCIL'S, COUNCIL'S PRE PRESENT AND PREVIOUS FOR THEIR FORESIGHT IN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, OUR MEASURE A INVESTMENTS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST, I WOULD SAY FIVE TO 10 YEARS, HAVE REALLY, I THINK, PREVENTED THE WORST FROM HAPPENING.
I, I SPECIFICALLY KNOW OF INTERSECTIONS AND AREAS IN MY DISTRICT THAT PRIOR TO THE STREETS BEING REPAIRED AND STORM DRAINS ACTUALLY BEING, UH, REPLACED, THERE WERE PUDDLING, THERE WERE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE, UM, THERE COULD BE FLOODS.
UM, AND UNDER THE CONDITIONS TODAY AND TODAY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO WEATHER THE STORM AND NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT, UH, FLOODING OR DAMAGE IN THE DISTRICT.
AND I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE FORESIGHT AND PLANNING TO PUT FORTH IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, HERE IN THE CITY.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT, THAT, UH, INVESTMENT, UH, ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR YOUR WORK.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OVER YET, BUT KEEP IT UP.
IT'S NOT OFTEN WE GET THIS MANY, UM, OF OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT RESPOND INTO THE CHAMBERS.
SO YES, WE'RE GONNA BITE THEM ALL DOWN FOR A PHOTO.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME.
I KNOW YOU GOT WORK TO DO, UH, LATER, BUT PLEASE COME ON DOWN.
WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU.
[00:41:02]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, IS ANIMAL CARE A[ ACS PET ADOPTION]
ADOPTION? PET ADOPTION? HAVE A PUP.THERE'S A PUPPY IN THE BUILDING.
CAN THE PUPPY PLEASE COME FORWARD? THE MAYOR'S CALLING THIS WEEK'S PUPPY FORWARD.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S JUST MOVE THAT, GET THAT OUT THE WAY.
OOH, WE GOT A HUSKY THIS WEEK.
HELLO, THIS IS STEAM'S MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS MAY ANOVA FROM THE LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
SO, FIRST QUESTION, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SWEETNESS IN YOUR LIFE? MEAT APPLESAUCE? OH MY GOD, SHE IS A APPLE.
SO BRING APPLE SAUCE AROUND HERE.
10 MONTH OLD, UM, SIBERIAN HUSKY.
UH, SHE CAME IN ON AS A STRAY, UH, ON JANUARY 17TH, AND SHE IS LOOKING FOR A FOREVER HOME.
UM, RIGHT NOW SHE'S A LITTLE SHY, UM, A LITTLE ANXIOUS
UM, I THINK THE RAIN SCARED HER A LITTLE BIT, BUT SHE'S VERY SWEET.
UM, SHE HAS A VERY, UM, UNIQUE COAT, AND SHE SHEDS VERY MINIMALLY, UM, WHICH IS A VERY, VERY RARE FOR A SIBERIAN HUSKY.
AND, UM, HER SMALL SIZE MAKES HER EVEN MORE SPECIAL, SO SHE WON'T GROW, UM, BIGGER THAN THAT.
SO SHE'S LIKE A LITTLE MINI HUSKY.
SO WE HOPE THAT APPLESAUCE GETS A HOME, UM, VERY SOON.
AND THEN OUR, SO WE DO PARTNER WITH, UH, PET SUPPLIES PLUS TO HOST A MONTHLY PET ADOPTION EVENT.
UM, OUR NEXT EVENT IS FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024.
UM, FROM 11 TO 2:00 PM WE HAVE OUR ADOPTION WAGON, UM, ON SITE FOR ANY POTENTIAL ADOPTERS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUR ANIMALS ASK QUESTIONS AND FILL OUT AN ADOPTION APPLICATION.
SO COME ON DOWN TO PET SUPPLIES PLUS TO FIND YOUR NEXT BEST FRIEND.
AND, UM, SO THIS IS JUST MORE INFORMATION ON LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
UH, FEEL FREE TO STOP BY, TO MEET OUR FURRY FRIENDS, LOOKING FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES.
WE HAVE DOGS, CATS, AND ALSO A BUNNY BARN.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, A VOLUNTEER NAMED DAN.
SO WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR, UH, MORE ADOPTERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SMALL LITTLE, UM, FOR THEIR HOME.
AND THEN ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PET, MAKE SURE TO COME BY TO LICENSE THEM, UM, EITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE.
UM, PET LICENSES ENSURES THAT, UM, THEY CAN EASILY BE IDENTIFIED IF THEY EVER GET LOST.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE EVER LOOKING TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALWAYS WELCOME VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT WITH OUR ANIMALS, CLEANING UP WITH, UM, AROUND THE SHELTER AND ASSISTING WITH EVENTS.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST HERE.
OUR, UM, NEW FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.
WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM, UM, TO ENHANCE OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
AND, UH, YEAH, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE, UM, EVERYONE AT THE SHELTER SOON.
YOUR SUPPORT, UM, HELPS US TO PRIDE CARE FOR THE ANIMALS, AND, UM, MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN OUR ANIMAL, IN THESE ANIMALS LIVES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH HERE FOR OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, UH, PROGRAM.
AND DON'T TAKE, DON'T TAKE OUT THE SAUCE OUT YET.
WE GOTTA MAKE A PITCH FOR APPLE SAUCE, BUT COUNCILMAN BRUNO, YOU HAD SOMETHING I, I JUST WANNA MENTION THE LOCATION OF PET SUPPLIES PLUS.
SO THAT'S IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT.
IT'S, UH, RIGHT NEXT TO LAZY ACRES IN THE LOS ALTOS
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SHOPPING CENTER, AND YOU'LL BE THERE FROM NOON TO TWO, UH, THIS COMING 11 TO TWO, BETTER YET.AND, AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE APPLESAUCE HOME TO BE THE NEW MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY, YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND APPLESAUCE IS AVAILABLE.
UH, AND I WILL TELL YOU WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AT THESE CITY COUNCIL PET ADOPTION, UH, PROGRAMS, THESE CEREMONIES.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, WE HAVE A, WE'RE BATTING A THOUSAND RIGHT NOW.
EVERY ANIMAL, EVERY PET THAT HAS COME IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE RESIDENTS OF LONG, OF LONG BEACH HAVE STEPPED UP.
SHE NEEDS, SHE NEEDS NOT THE RIGHT HOME JUST TO SHOW HER SOME LOVE, YOU KNOW, GET HER SOCIALIZED AROUND SOME, SOME FOLKS.
I MEAN, YOU COULD LOOK AT HER.
SO IF YOU, UH, WANT TO INQUIRE ABOUT TAKING THIS, THIS PUPPY HOME, GO TO LONG BEACH.GOV/ACS AND, UH, LIKE THE SLIDE SAYS, YOUR COMPASSION SAVED LIVES.
LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOW.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH ITEM 16 COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS,
[16. 24-51870-01 Recommendation to receive Charter Commission appointments approved by the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee pursuant to Section 509 of the City Charter and Section 2.03.065 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. Office or Department: Daryl Supernaw, Councilman, Fourth District, Chair; Government Operations and Efficiency Committee Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM SIXTEEN'S COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN SANO, CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE.RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE CHARTER COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE.
I'LL OPEN UP WITH SOME COMMENTS AND I'LL PASS IT TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, THESE ARE CHARTER COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, MOST NOTABLY, UH, THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
UH, WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE, OVER THE PAST YEAR IN, UH, ESTABLISHING THIS NEW VOTER APPROVED COMMISSION.
UH, WE IMPORTANT OUR, WE APPOINTED AND WELCOMED OUR NEW DIRECTOR, UH, FRANCINE CARRIAGE, WHO'S DOING, DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB SETTING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE, UH, AND BUILDING KEY RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, SO TODAY WE'RE EXCITED TO APPOINT THE FIRST TRANCHE OF INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHO'VE NOMINATED TO SERVE ON THIS POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
UH, SIX OF THE SEVEN NOMINEES ARE BEING, UH, PRESENTED TONIGHT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THESE, THESE INCREDIBLE, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING A PART OF THIS NEW, UH, THIS NEW MISSION.
AND FOR BEING A VOICE ON OUR CITY'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AS WE WORK TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR OUR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.
UH, WE ALSO ARE GOING TO FILL, UH, AN IMPORTANT VACANCY ON OUR PARKS, REC, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
UH, SO THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING THESE CANDIDATES.
I'M GONNA, UM, JUST READ THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER DO, UH, ON THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION TONIGHT WE HAVE TIFFANY BROWN.
UH, TIFFANY IS IN HER FOURTH YEAR AS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE SHE STARTED 27 YEARS AGO AS A SCHOOL PSY PSYCHOLOGIST.
AND SHE SHARES THAT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL SAFETY IS A PART OF HER EVERYDAY THOUGHTS AND EFFORTS.
BUT POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION IS IMPORTANT EFFORT TO GO DEEPER INTO JOINING IN, IN JOINING THE WAYS IN WHICH SYSTEMS COULD AND SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS.
SO, THANK YOU, UH, DR. BROWN FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING.
UH, O TIANO ATCH, UH, UH, IS THE PRESIDENT, CEO OF PALS, INC.
A SOCIAL SERVICE OR AGENCY WITH OFFICES IN LOS ANGELES AND SANTA BARBARA, SANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA.
HE'S A BEHAVIORIST BY A TRAINING.
UH, HE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM U UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA, AND HOLDS GRADUATE DEGREES FROM UCLA IN PEPPERDINE, AND AN MA IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY.
UH, AND SO WE ARE, ARE, ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME.
HE'S A RESIDENT OF BIXBY KNOWLES, UM, WITH HIS WIFE CHRISTINA, AND WE'RE PROUD TO WELCOME HIM TO THE COMMISSION.
UH, GUS JOINED THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, UH, UNITED STATES ARMY.
UH, AND, AND WELL, AIR FORCE USED TO BE A PART OF THE ARMY BACK IN THE DAY, BUT, UM, GUS JOINED THE ARMY IN 2005 AND RETURNED HOME TO LONG BEACH.
AFTER FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE OVERSEAS.
UH, HE CONTINUES TO SERVE IN THE ARMY RESERVE AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER.
UH, UH, HE, IN 2017, OROZCO GRADUATED FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH GO BEACH WITH A BA IN GEOGRAPHY AND A MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SCIENCES AND POLICY.
HE STAYS INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY AS A FACILITATOR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, HELPING TO BRING ALONG THE NEXT GROUP OF COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND HE'S A DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT AND ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY SERVING ON SEVERAL NONPROFIT BOARDS.
AND HE'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE CHAMPION FOR OUR LONG BEACH VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION.
SO PROUD TO SEE YOU GRADUATE FROM THAT COMMISSION TO THIS ONE.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, THIS A STRANGE MAN.
CHARLES PARKIN
UM, MR. PARKIN RETIRED AFTER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
LASTLY, HOLDING THE POSITION OF CITY ATTORNEY FROM, UH, 2013 TO 2022, BEING ELECTED IN 2014 AND AGAIN IN 2018.
[00:50:01]
WE STOOD FOR ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME.UH, WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL, UM, HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDED REPRESENTING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN, IN GENERAL, CIVIL LITIGATION MATTERS, NEGOTIATION SETTLEMENTS, UH, CONDUCTING JURY TRIALS, BENCH TRIALS, MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, DEPOSITION.
HE GRADUATED C*M LAUDE FROM, UH, PACIFIC COAST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S IN SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH, GO BEACH.
UH, HE ALSO, UH, HAS SERVED AS AN ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LONG BEACH CITY, EMPLOYEE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, AND AS CHAIRMAN, UH, AND HE'S A LONG LIFETIME LONG BEACH RESIDENT.
AND HE'S NOT BEING APPOINTED CITY ATTORNEY TONIGHT.
HE'S BEING APPOINTED TO THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
UH, MICHAEL SOTO IS A CD THREE RESIDENT WHO'S CALLED LONG BEACH HOME FOR 11 YEARS.
HE'S A FORMER CHAIR OF THE CITIZEN POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISSION.
ANNA IS A POLICE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR WITH THE LOS ANGELES OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALS.
PROVIDES OVERSIGHT TO THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF, OF THE LONG BEACH, THE LOS ANGELES POLICE COMMISSION.
HE'S ALSO A LICENSED ATTORNEY IN CALIFORNIA, HAS PRACTICED LAW IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, PRIMARILY AS A DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER IN BOTH LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTIES.
HAS A DEEP AND PERSONAL INTEREST AND STRENGTHENING OF OUR POLICE PRACTICES THROUGH CRITICAL AND TRANSPARENT EVALUATION.
ON BEHALF OF ALL LONG BEACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HE WANTS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PUBLIC SERVICE TO BOTH THE CIVILIAN AND POLICING COMMUNITIES OF LONG BEACH.
AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOME CONTINUITY FROM THE EXISTING CITIZEN POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISSION TO TRANSFER OVER TO THE NEW POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE NADA TUSHNET, UH, AT LARGE APPOINTMENT IN DISTRICT THREE.
UH, NATA IS A RESIDENT WHO RECEIVED A PHD FROM WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST.
UM, PRIOR TO RETIREMENT, SHE SERVED AS A PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR EVALUATION AND RESEARCH AT WEST ED, A NONPROFIT AGENCY.
IN THAT POSITION, SHE LED A VARIETY OF STUDIES OF EDUCATION PRE, PRE-K THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED THREE TO TERMS ON THE COMMISSION ON AGING, INCLUDING SERVING AS CHAIR IN HER LAST TERM.
SINCE RETIREMENT, SHE'S BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AS A LEADER IN NEW, IN A NUMBER OF LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
NATA WAS PART OF THE COALITION THAT WORKED TO ESTABLISH THE CITIZEN POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISSION.
SHE BELIEVES THAT CHANGE, UH, THAT THAT CHANGED MODEL FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY HOLDS PROMISE, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF MAKING IT WORK SO THAT ALL THE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE AND SECURE, WHICH IS A KEY CONCERN FOR OLDER RESIDENTS AND TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS COMMISSION.
WE GOTTA WORK ON THIS NEW ONE.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS CORY ALLEN, APPOINTING TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONS COMMISSIONER.
HE'S A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT, 20 YEARS OF LEGISLATIVE POLITICAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXPERIENCE.
UH, UH, PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, STATE SENATE STATE ASSEMBLY.
AND AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY THEATER, HE BELIEVES THAT PARKS PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING, PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING, UH, IN CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
HE WANTS TO HELP ENSURE THAT PARKS ARE VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE, AND REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF LONG BEACH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR, FOR JOINING THE COMMISSION, COREY.
SO THAT SAID, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN.
AND FIRST, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR STEPPING UP, UH, TO SERVE.
UM, I ACTUALLY SERVED ON A COMMISSION MYSELF FOR SEVEN YEARS AND IS VERY DEMANDING.
SO I DECIDED TO SWITCH OVER TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A MORE RELAXING, UH, POSITION.
UH, AND TO MR. PARKIN, I TOLD YOU YOU COULDN'T STAY AWAY.
UH, GLAD TO SEE WE HAVE OUR FOREST DISTRICT, UH, REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU COREY ALLEN FOR THAT.
AND ALSO, I HAVE A TEXT FROM CHERYL
SO MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
AND NOW ALSO, UH, TIFFANY BROWN IS A FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HER FROM THE FOURTH DISTRICT WHEN YOU HAD YOUR OFFICE AT TUCKER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP YOU PROVIDED THE COMMITTEE THEN.
UM, AND SO I'LL, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS, JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I THINK WE AS A CITY ARE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE SERVING ON OUR COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS.
AND, UM, THIS IS JUST PROVES ME RIGHT ONCE AGAIN.
SO THANK YOU TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH ONE OF YOU.
COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS ODE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW APPOINTEES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
OH, I ALSO MOLESTING MY CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DISTRICT NINE COMMISSIONER, GUS OROZCO.
UM, GUS HAS BEEN A, A FANTASTIC, UH, NEIGHBOR, COMMUNITY MEMBER, UM,
[00:55:01]
SUPER ACTIVE IN THE MCKINLEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, HAS BEEN ON PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS.I KNOW HE'S GONNA BRING A REALLY FANTASTIC PERSPECTIVE TO, UH, THIS BRAND NEW COMMISSION.
AND SO I JUST SAY, CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY.
AND JUST AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SERVED ON TWO COMMISSIONS MYSELF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND TO GIVE YOUR TIME IN SERVICE OF OUR CITY.
YES, I JUST ALSO ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS, ESPECIALLY TO OUR NEW, UM, POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION FOR SAYING YES TO SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA HELP CREATE AND CREATE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AS THIS CAME FROM THEM, THIS WAS THEIR REQUEST.
SO I KNOW SOME OF YOU PERSONALLY AND THRILLED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU EXPRESS SUCH A DEEP CARE AND CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS THE REASON THAT YOU WANTED TO SERVE.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO THE TABLE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
YES, I WANNA ADD MY THANK CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE, UH, FOR CORY, BEING ON THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION AND ALL OF OUR NEW INAUGURAL, UM, COMMISSIONER FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.
YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, UH, IN A ROLE THAT I, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OUT OF IT AND HEARING UPDATES ABOUT THE PROGRESS HAVING BEEN ON THE SYSTEM POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISSION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WAYS THAT IT WILL, UH, SERVE, I THINK, TO WHAT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR OVER THE YEARS.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND FOR YOUR DEDICATED, UM, SERVICE FOR STEPPING UP TO DO THIS.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 14.)]
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
COUNCILWOMAN, THE MOTION IS CARRIED.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW COMMISSIONERS.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH ALL OF YOU.
NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE'RE GONNA PULL ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND 14.
UH, SO LET'S PULL UP ALL THE REST OF THE ITEMS, PLEASE.
AND WHILE YOU DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE WITH THESE COMMISSIONERS.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'RE GONNA PULL ITEM SIX FIRST.
[6. 24-52137 Recommendation to approve the Uptown Property and Business Improvement District Annual Report and Assessment for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, automatically extending the current agreement with the Uptown Property and Community Association for a one-year period; and, authorize payment of $31,894 in City property assessments for the Uptown Property and Business Improvement District from the General Fund Group. (Districts 8, 9) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
SIX, REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE UPTOWN PROPERTY AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT[01:00:01]
ANNUAL REPORT AND ASSESSMENT, EXTENDING THE AGREEMENT WITH THE UPTOWN PROPERTY AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND AUTHORIZED PAYMENT OF $31,894 DISTRICT 8 89.WE'LL GO TO, WE'LL GO TO STAFF FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, STAFF PERSON, UH, JULIAN CDO, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU MANAGER, WILL BE GIVEN THE PRESENTATION.
UH, MY NAME IS JULIAN CNU, AS BEAU MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I HAVE PROVIDE A QUICK PRESENT, UH, QUICK, UM, PRESENTATION HERE, UH, DESCRIPTION.
AND THEN WE WILL HAND IT OVER TO JUSTIN FOR, UM, PULL A COMMENT.
SO THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE UPTOWN PROPERTY AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UH, AND ITS APPROVAL.
THE UP BID WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2013, UH, FOR INITIAL TERM OF FIVE YEARS.
THE UP BID WAS IN RENEWED IN 2018 FOR A TERM OF 10 YEARS.
THE CITY, UH, CONTRACTS WITH THE UP PROPERTY AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION UPCA TO MANAGE THE UP BID.
AND THE UPCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERVES AS THE ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE UP BID.
AS WITH OTHER, UH, BIDS, STATE LAW GOVERNING PROPERTY AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT REQUIRES THAT AN ANNUAL REPORT BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE ADVISORY BOARD DESIGNATED FOR THE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT.
THE UP BID 2023 AND 2024 ANNUAL REPORT ATTACHMENT A DESCRIBES THE BOUNDARIES, PROPOSE ACTIVITIES AND BUDGETARY INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE METHOD AND BASIS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSESSMENT.
DANIEL REPORT PROPOSES NO CHANGE TO THE UP BID BOUNDARIES, BENEFIT ZONES, OR METHOD OF ASSESSMENT.
AND TO CONCLUDE, UM, HERE, THERE IS A, A SHEET, UH, UH, TABLE FOR THE ASSESSMENTS, UM, THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING.
UH, THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER BRITE.
SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UH, LAST YEAR, JUSTIN BLAKELY, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, JOINED US AS OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UPTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UH, SPANNING COUNCIL DISTRICTS EIGHT AND NINE.
UH, THE UPTOWN BID FOCUSES ON FORGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BOOST ECONOMIC VITALITY, UM, IN OUR AREA.
I'M GENERALLY EXCITED ABOUT JUST, UH, JUSTIN'S EXPERTISE AND HIS POSITIVE IMPACT HE'LL HAVE AT THE HELM OF THE BID.
UM, HE'S ALREADY BEEN PROACTIVE IN ENGAGING WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS IN INSTRUMENTAL AND HAS BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING EVERYONE UPTOWN THRIVES.
UH, JUST RECENTLY, UM, UH, HE WORKED WITH, UH, SOME LOCAL, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM THE HOWTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO REVIVE THE GREEN TEAM.
UM, AND THEY WERE OUT, UH, IN FRONT OF THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY PULLING WEEDS AND, AND CLEANING UP AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BEAUTIFYING COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY WELCOME TO JUSTIN BLAKELY.
WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION AND, UM, UM, ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO DO SO.
RICK SODI FOR, FOR PULLING THIS MOTION AND, AND REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UPTOWN BID.
UH, IT IS, UH, YOU NOW IN ITS, GEEZ, 10TH YEAR, 11TH YEAR
UM, A LOT OF POSITIVE HAS COME OUT OF THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BID TO THRIVE.
UH, AND A, UH, REALLY, REALLY, UH, SUPPORT THE, THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, I SEE OUR GOOD FRIEND, TASHA HUNTER, WHO WAS ALSO, SHE PRECEDED JUSTIN AND THE ROLE AS, UH, DIRECTOR FOR THE BID.
UM, AND IT'S, IT REALLY REQUIRES A, A COMMITMENT, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, TO, TO, TO GET THINGS GOING THE WAY WE WANT IT TO MOVE.
AND SO, CONGRATULATIONS JU JUSTIN ON YOUR RECENT APPOINTMENT AND LOOK, DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UM, AS WE DO HAVE SOME, SOME GREAT HORIZONS AHEAD IN NORTH LONG BEACH, PARTICULARLY ON ATLANTIC.
WELL, JUSTIN, WE'RE AT PUBLIC COMMENT.
I GUESS THAT'S YOUR TURN, I GUESS.
SO, UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING.
I AM THE, UH, NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE UPTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST, UH, TO START OFF BY JUST A BRIEF, UH, INTRO OF WHO I AM OVER EIGHT YEARS EXPERIENCE IN DOING, UH, GOVERNMENT AND POLICY, UH, WORK.
UM, ACTUALLY GOT MY FIRST START, UH, WORKING IN THE, THE VICE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT, WAIT, WHICH VICE MAYOR
BUT, UM, BUT REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THAT BECAUSE, UM, WORKING IN THE OFFICE REALLY SHOWED, UH, OR GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DEEP LOVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UM,
[01:05:01]
WORKING FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY NORTH LONG BEACH.AND SO AS A, UH, PERSON WHO, UH, CONSIDERABLY FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, UH, FREQUENTS NORTH LONG BEACH AND ALL OUR BUSINESSES, IT JUST FEELS LIKE ANOTHER DAY, UH, IN, IN NORTH LONG BEACH, UH, AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BID.
UM, JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS REALLY QUICKLY, UM, IN TERMS OF SOME UPDATES.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE BID HAS BEEN AROUND FOR NOW, UH, 11 YEARS.
AND SO, UM, I, I DO WANT TO DO A, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT, ALTHOUGH OUR COUNCIL MEMBER DID IT.
UH, OUR OUR EXECUTIVE, OUR FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TASHA HUNTER, IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CON CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, UH, BUT CONTINUE TO TAKE THINGS TO A NEXT LEVEL, UM, AS WE LOOK AT OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES WITHIN OUR OTHER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.
UM, AND WE LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT WORK, UH, AND AS OUR, OUR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, THERE'S SO MUCH GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY ON THE HORIZON, AND I REALLY SEEK YOUR SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS WORK.
UM, SOME THINGS TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT ARE GOING ON, UM, ONE, UH, WE'RE SUPPORTING, UM, AND TRYING TO GET THE LAST TRANCHE OF THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS OUT, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED, ESPECIALLY AS WE COME BACK FROM RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BE MORE, UH, COGNIZANT OF HOW ARE WE MARKETING THE UPTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO WHEN YOU DRIVE ON THE ATLANTIC CORRIDOR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE UPTOWN BID, JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE DRIVE THROUGHOUT ANY OF OUR OTHER DISTRICTS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE, UH, TRYING TO INVEST MORE MONEY ON IS OUR CLEAN TEAM AS, UH, SOME YOU MAY BE AWARE, MAY NOT.
UH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE CONSERVATION CORPS FOR ABOUT, SINCE 2016, I WOULD SAY.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND, UH, VENDOR, WHICH IS, UH, CLEAN CLOSET.
AND, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO WE HAVE, UH, ABATEMENT, GRAFFITI REMOVAL, UH, 5,000 TO 8,000 POUNDS OF TRASH COLLECTED, UH, MONTHLY.
UM, SO THEY DO TREMENDOUS WORK, RIGHT THERE IN OUR LITTLE SMALL CORRIDOR OF ATLANTIC.
UM, BUT ALSO WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL IS THAT WE'VE INCREASED OUR SECURITY.
UH, WE HAVE A SECURITY TEAM, ALL ACTION SECURITY WHO'S AVAILABLE, UH, ALL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BUT THEY ARE ON CALL 24 HOURS.
UH, WE JUST LAUNCHED THE GREEN TEAM, RELAUNCHED IT, UM, REALLY TRYING TO GET COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
AND, UH, LASTLY, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UM, OUR COUNCIL.
UM, I WANNA SPECIFICALLY THANK OUR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, OUT OF THE EIGHTH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AL AUSTIN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER DR.
JONI RICKS OTI FOR THEIR GREAT SUPPORT.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO HAVE YOU GUYS PUT A FACE TO THE NAME YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BUT JUST WANTED TO SEND MY GREETINGS AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
UH, JUSTIN, I'LL JUST, JUST ADD MY, MY COMMENTS HERE.
UM, I'M, UH, IT'S SO REFRESHING JUST TO HEAR, UH, YOUR COMMENTS.
GREAT POTENTIAL UP THERE, UM, ON UPTOWN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, LIKE THE FIRST 10 YEARS THAT'S SORT OF ESTABLISHING, IT WAS A LOT TO TURN AROUND, RIGHT? RIGHT.
THERE WAS A NARRATIVE UP THERE TO TURN AROUND.
THERE WAS A LACK OF INVESTMENT, BUT A LOT OF THAT'S TURNED AROUND NOW.
ARTESIA BOULEVARD IS, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THAT'S 40 HOW MANY MILLION, UH, JONI, YOU SAID? 43 MILLION.
I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY TO JUST IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE BUSINESSES UP THERE.
YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, FEWER OF THE, YOU KNOW, YOU PLANS ON THOSE VACANT SPOTS AND OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN BUILT ON NOW, SO YOU'VE GOT MORE POTENTIAL NOW THIS NEXT 10 YEARS.
AND SO JUST WISHING YOU THE VERY BEST I REMEMBER, UM, PRIOR TO THE 11 YEARS WHEN WE WERE GATHERING PETITIONS JUST TO LIKE, JUST TO EVEN MAKE THIS REALITY.
I CAN REMEMBER, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN KERR, YOU WERE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, I THINK, RIGHT? WEREN'T YOU ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AT THAT, AT THAT POINT? MM-HMM.
SO A LOT HAS, A LOT HAS HAPPENED TO GET IT TO WHERE IT IS, BUT TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM NORTH LONG BEACH AND UPTOWN.
UH, BUT, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA BE THE ONE TO TIE IT TOGETHER.
WE CAN INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE THAT WELCOME WAGON FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT, THAT TAKE THE CHANCE ON NORTH LONG BEACH.
YOU'VE GOTTA BE THE ONES TO GET THERE, TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER, MAKE 'EM FEEL LIKE WE'RE WRAPPING OUR ARB AROUND THEM AS A FAMILY.
'CAUSE THAT COMMUNITY ISN'T ONE WHERE YOU JUST WALK IN THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, FLIP THE LIGHTS ON, RIGHT.
AND YOU HAVE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
IT TAKES THAT CONNECTION TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO, BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[7. 24-52126 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, subcontracts, and subsequent amendments, including amendments to the award amount or to the agreement term, with Community Partners, to accept and expend grant funding in an amount up to $340,103 as part of the Long Beach Undocumented Entrepreneurship/Microenterprise project, impact-focused collaboration with Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation, and Empowerment (ÓRALE), to uplift Long Beach’s undocumented immigrant community, for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025. (Citywide) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THANK YOU.NEXT IS ITEM SEVEN, REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN NMM NOT TO EX UP TO $340,103 AS PART OF THE LONG BEACH UNDOCUMENTED ENTREPRENEURSHIP MICROENTERPRISE PROJECT IMPACT FOCUS,
[01:10:01]
COLLABORATION WITH ORAL CDY.UH, THIS WAS A PROGRAM WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CITY INCLUSIVE, UM, SORT OF, UH, UH, PROGRAM WITH, WITH OLAY AND LOCAL FOUNDATION.
AND SO LET'S HAVE A STAFF REPORT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, ELI ROMERO WITH OUR, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUREAU, UH, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WILL BE GIVEN A, A PRESENTATION ON THIS IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP.
I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE A TO BE BRANDED PROJECT AND INITIATIVE THAT WILL HELP THE CITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
TAKE SEVERAL STEPS, UH, CLOSER TO EXTENDING A TRULY, UH, ECONOMIC INCLUSIVE VISION FOR LONG BEACHES UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY.
AS OF 2023, IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR EMPLOYERS TO HIRE OR CONTINUE TO EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
FOR MOST UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, SELF-EMPLOYMENT IS THE ONLY PATH TO INCOME GENERATION AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION.
THIS SITUATION CURRENTLY IMPACTS 30,000 UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE THAT CALL LONG BEACH HOME.
A 2019 ECONOMIC REPORT BY LONG BEACH STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS DEMONSTRATES THAT LONG BEACH IMMIGRANTS, SPECIFICALLY LATINO IMMIGRANTS, GENERATE AN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 13.7 BILLION, UH, MILLION, REPRESENTING 15.2 OF THE CITY'S TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT IN LONG BEACH.
11,000 IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, GENERATING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 2.1 BILLION, CREATING AND SUSTAINING AN ADDITIONAL 5,400 JOBS YEARLY.
DESPITE THEIR ECONOMIC IMPACT.
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS ARE LARGELY, LARGELY SHUT OUT OF PUBLICLY FUNDED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH ENCOMPASSES TOOLS THAT CAN IMPROVE JOB QUALITY, EXPAND ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS FOR WORKERS.
NEVERTHELESS, IT IS, UH, IN ITS MOST STRATEGIC PLAN.
MOST RECENT STRATEGIC PLAN, THE STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEED TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY POPULATIONS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
AND THAT THERE MUST BE EQUITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO SYSTEMATICALLY GENERATE GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR CALIFORNIANS WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF MAINSTREAM E ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
LOCAL COMMUNITY AGENCIES, UH, ESPECIALLY IMMIGRANT SERVING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
KAMA GIRLS IN ACTION AND OTHERS TOOK THIS AS A CALL TO ACTION AND REQUESTED CHANGE FROM THEIR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WITH PACIFIC GATEWAY, WHICH IS HOUSED IN THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
FROM OPEN LETTERS TO THE CITY TO TRUST BUILDING INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS AT NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOPS.
THIS FUNDING AND COLLABORATION RESULTS FROM SEVERAL YEARS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND RE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING ACROSS THE WORKFORCE BOARD PACIFIC GATEWAY AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS.
THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDING FROM
FUNDING WILL SUPPORT PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES WHILE COMPLYING WITH FEDERAL POLICY PROHIBITIONS AND THE PLACEMENT OF A DOCUMENT PEOPLE IN OPPORTUNITIES.
THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS WILL FURTHER EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT TRANSLATE INTO VIABLE INCOME GENERATING BUSINESSES.
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE SUPPORT AND CASE MANAGEMENT FROM AN
AND THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE 160 UNDOCUMENTED, UH, IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS LIVING IN LONG BEACH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION,
THIS WORK WILL SERVE AS A CASE STUDY DETAILING AND DEMONSTRATING TO THE OTHER 44 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE, UH, BEST PRACTICES CREATED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT.
UH, THE TIMING FOR THIS WORK IS INCREDIBLY CRITICAL AND IT CAN INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS AS A WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.
REAUTHORIZATION BILL GOES BEFORE CONGRESS, IDEALLY CREATING A NEW SERVICE MODEL THAT WILL INDEED BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL CALIFORNIANS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN JUST, UH, BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL, THIS PROGRAM WILL BE OPEN TO ALL UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH.
ALL UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS ABOUT WORKSHOPS AND, AND, UH, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT THEM, UH, TO BE MORE INCLUDED IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
[01:15:01]
EXPLORATION WORKSHOPS TO OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS STREAMING, UH, GETTING AN ACTUAL, AN ACTUAL INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL AND TAKING THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THEN, UH, TAKE STEPS TOWARDS CREATING A BUSINESS OR GETTING A BUSINESS LICENSE AND ACTUALLY BECOMING ESTABLISHED ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY.AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT, JUST THANK THE, THE JAMES AINE FOUNDATION, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
AND IT WOULDN'T BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CONNECTED TO THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY LIKE OLD LA AND KAMAYA GIRLS IN ACTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING ABLE TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE IRVINE FOUNDATION AND WITH THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS CAN BE SERVED IN THIS WAY.
WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO CITY COUNCIL.
BEFORE WE GO TO, UM, THE PUBLIC, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ODI.
UH, YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S, I THINK, UH, MAYOR, YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY.
THE REASON WHY DO I PULL THIS OFF OF CONSENT WAS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING REALLY AN INCLUSIVE CITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPOWERMENT RATE, THAT MEANS THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE TO BE NIMBLE.
WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE, AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BEING WAYS OF, UM, ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITIES THAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ENGAGING.
RIGHT? AND THAT REQUIRES US PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT INTIMATELY KNOW, UM, THOSE COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN OUTREACH TO THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TRULY INCLUDED IN THE ECONOMY OF OUR CITY.
UM, AND SO I'M ELATED, UM, TO SEE THE WORK THAT OLA IS GOING TO DO, UM, AS LONG AS THE OTHER PARTNERS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND I AM, I'M REALLY, REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THIS PILOT GOES AND FOR US TO BE, ONCE AGAIN, A LEADER AND INNOVATION IN THE STATE, UM, AND BE ABLE TO USE THIS AS AN EXEMPLAR FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO WANNA DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
RICK SODI FOR, UM, FOR PULLING THIS OFF OF CONSENT.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THIS WORK THAT IS BEING DONE HERE.
THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO CREATE THIS KIND OF PARTNERSHIP.
THE WORK BEING DONE BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT FOR PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO OUR UNDOCUMENTED, UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES.
I'M DEEPLY TOUCHED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
I THINK THAT THIS IS SUCH A, A GREAT TIMING FOR THEM TO, UM, PARTNER UP AND DO THIS KIND OF WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO UPLIFT THAT COMMUNITY AND GIVE THEM, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, UM, DR.
SODI, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN BEFORE.
SO I AM EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE AND GLAD WE TOOK A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS INCREDIBLE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
UM, YES, I JUST WANNA ADD TO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE THAT THIS REALLY UPLIFTS OUR VALUE AS CITY OF BEING INCLUSIVE AND CONSIDERING WAYS IN WHERE WE DON'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE LEADERSHIP OF OLE FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE NOT ENSURE, ONLY ENSURE THAT OUR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY RE RECEIVE SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER, UM, SERVICES THAT THEY GET, THEY, THAT THEY GET THROUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR LOCAL AND OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT THEIR SUPPORT AND ENSURING THERE'S ECONOMIC SECURITY AS WELL.
SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS GOES AND HOW WE CAN CONTINUE CONVERSATION AND UPLIFTING OUR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY.
WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GONNA, UH, READ, WE HAVE SIX, SO I'M GONNA READ YOUR NAMES.
GABBY AND HERNANDEZ, BEN CON, CONNO, UH, OUS, UH, GONZALEZ VAZQUEZ, HILDA RADO, ERIC GARLA, AND MARI BELL CRUZ.
UH, MY NAME IS GABBY HERNANDEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR, OR I'M USUALLY HERE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS, ADVOCATING FOR THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
UH, BUT TODAY I'M HERE CELEBRATING, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS INNOVATIVE AND ONE OF A KIND, AND THAT I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT JUST ONE OF A KIND FOR TOO LONG, BECAUSE I HOPE THAT OTHERS REPLICATE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, NOT ONLY IN, UM, LA COUNTY, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE STATE OR LESS.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE WORK IS ROOTED IN CENTER IN UPLIFTING THE DREAMS OF THE UNDOCUMENTED WORKFORCE, DREAMS THAT ARE OFTEN LOST DUE TO INADEQUATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA AND OVER 30,000 THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.
OFTENTIMES, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE EXPLOITED FOR THEIR LABOR.
THEY'RE FORCED TO WORK UNDER UNSAFE
[01:20:01]
CONDITIONS AND OFTEN CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET EVEN WITH TWO TO THREE JOBS.WE'RE HOPING TO HELP CHANGE THAT AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO EXPLORE THEIR TALENTS AND BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE.
UM, THIS WE'RE LAUNCH, WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO LAUNCH URA ECONOMIC LIBERATION PROJECT, A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND ENSURE THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF OWNING THEIR BUSINESSES AND GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS A REALITY.
I STUTTER BECAUSE WE JUST CHANGED OUR NAME,
UH, WE HOPE FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP TO BRING SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND REDUCE BARRIERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ACCESS ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND STABILITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED TO HAVE UCLA JOIN US IN THIS, UM, JOURNEY AND DOCUMENT THE EVALUATION OF THIS PROGRAM SO WE CAN SHOW OTHERS THE IMPACT THAT THIS KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS CAN HAVE.
TOGETHER WE WILL, WE WILL WALK ALONGSIDE UNDOCUMENTED ENTREPRENEURS TO ENSURE THAT FLOURISH AND HAVE THE GUIDANCE THEY NEED AND THAT THEY, THEY DESERVE IN ORDER TO THRIVE.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY THRIVE, LONG BEACH THRIVES AS WELL.
LET'S DO THIS NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS HILDA AGUILA JURADO, AND I'M A RETURNING CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEE, AND I HAVE WORKED FOR PACIFIC GATEWAY FOR OVER, UH, FIVE YEARS, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK AND, UM, PARTICIPATE AND WORK ON THIS, THIS PROJECT.
DURING THAT TIME THAT I'VE BEEN WITH PACIFIC GATEWAY, UM, I HAVE NOTICED THAT, UM, THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY, BY OUR CENTER HAVE BEEN VERY LIMITED DUE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA NEEDED FROM OUR STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. AND ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS MADE UP 9% OF CALIFORNIA'S LABOR FORCE IN 2016, AND IT CONTINUES TO RISE.
A LOT OF THESE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS HAVE WORKED IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS, SUCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION, FOOD SERVICES, MAINTENANCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND MORE.
UNFORTUNATELY, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO WORKPLACE ABUSE AND RETALIATION BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, SUCH AS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TAKE THE REST BREAKS, LUNCH BREAKS, DISCOURAGED AND THREATENED TO BE DEPORTED IF THEY FILED ANY LABOR CLAIMS OR WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS. I'M ABSOLUTELY PROUD AND HONORED TO WORK ON THE ECONOMIC LIBERATION PROJECT AS THE ASSIGNED CAREER SPECIALIST FROM PACIFIC GATEWAY.
THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY THRIVE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE GUIDANCE AND SERVICES NEEDED TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES AND ALLOW THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR TALENTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR, OUR ECONOMY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUED SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED BY OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE THIS GREAT WORK FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
THANK YOU ESTEEM MAYOR AND, UM, ESTEEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS ANNA GONZALEZ VASQUEZ, AND I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE POWER AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AT THE UCLA LABOR CENTER.
THE UCLA LABOR CENTER IS VERY EXCITED TO EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC LIBERATION OR PRO DEA, LIKE MANY SAID, A VERY UNIQUE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OR AND PACIFIC GATEWAY TO INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG BEACH UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
THE EVALUATION IS IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
BROADENING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO REACH IMMIGRANT WORKERS HAS ONLY RECENTLY RECEIVED ATTENTION FROM STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS BY FOCUSING ON VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED WORKERS.
THIS EVALUATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE LESSONS TO A WIDER RANGE OF INDUSTRIES AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT, AND INCREASES THE PROSPECT OF APPLICABILITY WHERE GAPS IN SERVICES HAVE LONG BEEN UNADDRESSED.
FURTHER WORKER PERSPECTIVES ARE NOT OFTEN INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN OR EVALUATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
THIS EVALUATION WILL HELP THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FIELD, THE STATE AND THE NATION LEARN FROM INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MODELS THAT ARE CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
WE'RE GONNA BE SHARING A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE NEW YEAR TO COME.
UH, THANK YOU, HONOR ROLL, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, STEAMED LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BENJAMIN CADELLE AND I'M THE OWNER OF ADVOCACY CHIEFS CONVENER AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE ECONOMIC LIBERATION PROJECT.
UM, WHERE THERE EVERYONE SAID SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS, BUT WHERE THERE ARE GREAT CHALLENGES, THERE ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STRUGGLE TO ADDRESS THE CLEAR NEEDS OF THE SIGNIFICANT YET MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.
UH, INSTEAD, LONG BEACH HAS SHOWN ITS PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT AND APPLAUD THE CITY AND ORDER LAY FOR THESE EFFORTS AND
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JAMES IRVINE FOR, FOR UPLIFTING THEM AND EMPOWERING THEM.THIS IS A TASK AT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC REALITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS WORLD CLASS CITY, AND A CLEAR INTENTION TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY AND ALL OF ITS RESONANCE.
THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE BUSINESSES CREATED AND THE LIVES EMPOWERED.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS MOST IMPORTANT PROJECT A REALITY.
WHAT'S UP Y'ALL? MY NAME'S ERIC.
I'M THE ORGANIZING PROGRAM DIRECTOR WITH
UM, THIS REQUIRES, UH, INVESTMENT INTO PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WHICH HELP REG, UH, RESIDENTS AND, UH, TO THRIVE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
UH, WE'RE SO THRILLED, UH, FOR THE ECONOMIC LIBERATION PROJECT.
WE'LL BE TAKING SUCH A MONUMENTAL STEP TOWARD SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN LONG BEACH.
UH, BY TAKING THE STEP, YOU'RE SUPPORTING FUTURE AND CURRENT ENTREPRENEURS BY HELPING THEM ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, AND GUIDANCE.
THE COMBINATION OF THESE EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN AN INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED PARTNERSHIP THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BUILD ESSENTIAL LIFE, JOB, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS.
OBTAIN WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, WHETHER PERSONAL OR IN RELATION TO THE BUSINESS.
ONE-ON-ONE, CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTORSHIP, UH, BUSINESS AND WORKFORCE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
UM, AND, AND WE AT
MY NAME IS MARIE CRUZ, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR WITH UH, RELE, AND I'M HERE TO READ A SHORT STATEMENT FROM OUR PARTNER, THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF AND ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH PACIFIC GATEWAY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND MENTORSHIP TO FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS IN LONG BEACH AND DEMONSTRATE THAT ANYONE, IRRESPECTIVE OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, CAN START A BUSINESS, CREATE JOBS AND THRIVE WHEN COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE GREATER LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP AND THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THAT THIS COLLABORATION WILL UPLIFT.
AND WE THANK EACH PARTNER OR PACIFIC GATEWAY, UCLA, LABOR CENTER AND ADVOCACY CHIEFS FOR EACH ROLE THEY PLAY IN PRO IN IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES IN LONG BEACH.
JASON GOLA AND CHRISTINA PALONE.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT PROGRAM AND BEST OF LUCK.
LOOK FORWARD TO TRACKING IT AND SEEING WHERE IT GOES SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK HERE IN LONG BEACH.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CATCH A VOTE CATCH.
ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ITEM 14 AND, UH, WE HAVE A RECUSAL, BUT READ THE
[14. 24-52135 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to accept a donation from Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership DBA Verizon Wireless (Verizon) in the amount of $60,000 to bolster the City of Long Beach’s (City) existing Tech-To-Go Program administered by the Long Beach Public Library; and to amend Strategic Joint Development Agreement No. 35310 with Verizon Wireless to replace Smart City Solutions with Digital Inclusion efforts; and Increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Library Services Department by $60,000 for the Tech-to-Go Program, offset by a donation from Verizon. (Citywide) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM.ITEM 14 IS A REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EXHIBIT DONATION FROM VERIZON WIRELESS IN THE AMOUNT OF 60,000 FOR THE CITY'S TECH TO GO PROGRAM AND AMEN AGREEMENT WITH VERIZON WIRELESS.
REPLACE SMART CITY SOLUTIONS WITH DIGITAL INCLUSION EFFORTS CITYWIDE.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEVINE ACT.
I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF IN THIS ITEM BECAUSE I ACCEPTED A CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $250 FROM AN, UM, ONE OF THE PARTY'S AGENTS IN THE SUBJECT PROCEEDING.
UH, WE NEED A MOTION TO SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVING TO SECOND IT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? NO.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
YEAH, I DIDN'T SEE, I DIDN'T SEE YOU SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
UM, I JUST FIRST OF ALL WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE CHANGER IN THE CHAMBER.
THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT HOW IMPORTANT, UM, THIS ACTION IS IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE A CP FOR OLDER ADULTS.
MANY OF THE OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE DEPENDENT UPON THIS PROGRAM FOR THEIR TECHNOLOGY.
AND IF THIS PROGRAM GOES AWAY, ME INCLUDED, WE'LL LOSE OUR PHONES,
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OUR INTERNET.SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS GOING FORWARD.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
WE'LL NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to 5:00 p.m. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.ITEM 15, WHICH IS THE ITEM I THINK YOU WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR, UH, MS. RESIGNED.
SO LET'S READ ITEM 15, PLEASE.
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO DRIVE A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT
[15. 24-52245 Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program to Bridge the Digital Divide. Office or Department: Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.ALRIGHT, WE'LL PASS IT OVER TO STAFF.
UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I'M ACTUALLY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR DIG.
I'M LEAH ERICKSON, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, AND I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY STAFF.
WE HAVE RAUL VASQUEZ, OUR DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY COORDINATOR, AND THEN STEPHANIE ISLA, OUR DIGITAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION OFFICER, AND SHE'LL BE DOING THE STAFF REPORT.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AS LEAH MENTIONED, I AM A STEPHANIE ISLA.
I'M YOUR DIGITAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION OFFICER, AND I'M HERE TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PLAN AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
THE A CP IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT OFFERS ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, A DISCOUNT OF UP TO $30 PER MONTH TOWARD INTERNET SERVICE.
AND IT HAS BEGUN TO WIND DOWN AS FUNDS ARE RUNNING OUT IN LONG BEACH.
47,000 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE INTERNET ACCESS VIA THE A CP, AND THERE ARE 78,000 TOTAL ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN LONG BEACH.
DATA SHOWS THAT FAMILIES USE THE INTERNET TO CONNECT TO REMOTE WORK, DISTANCE LEARNING, HEALTHCARE, AND FOR GREATER CONNECTIONS TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND TO CIVIL SOCIETY.
WITHOUT A RENEWAL, THESE HOUSEHOLDS WILL LOSE THEIR DISCOUNT AND POTENTIALLY BE UNABLE TO AFFORD ACCESS TO THE INTERNET BY THE END OF APRIL, 2024.
AND ALREADY THE FCC HAS FROZEN NEW ENROLLMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKS CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE BIPARTISAN AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY EXTENSION ACT.
THIS RESOLUTION IF PASSED, WILL PROVIDE $7 BILLION TO CONTINUE THE A CP AND ENSURE MILLIONS OF LOW INCOME US HOUSEHOLDS STAY CONNECTED TO RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THROUGHOUT THE END OF THE YEAR.
CONGRESS HAS YET TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS EXTENSION ACT AS OUTLINED IN THE DIGITAL INCLUSION ROADMAP AND THE CITY'S 2030 STRATEGIC VISION, THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY'S PRIORITY IS TO KEEP THE A CP GOING, BUT WE ARE ALSO WORKING HARD TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO HELP MAINTAIN INTERNET ACCESS REGARDLESS OF FUTURE OUTCOMES.
THE OFFICE OF DIGITAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION IS PLANNING FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS AROUND THIS TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE LOW COST INTERNET SOLUTIONS THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
UM, AS MANY PEOPLE MAY RECALL IN 2014 WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, THIS CLOSING THE GAP OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WAS A BIG OBSTACLE.
IT'S TO CONTINUE TO BE, WE'VE GOT THE FUNDING TO ADDRESS IT, AND WE NEED MORE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO PROVIDE THIS BOARD.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GAPS IN THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN WEST LONG BEACH, CENTRAL LONG BEACH, AND, UH, CENTRAL EAST, NORTH, NORTH, NORTH, FOUR POINTS OF THE COMPASS.
UH, BUT WHAT WE NEED IS THAT THIS PROGRAM NEEDS TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A DIGITAL GAP.
AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL GO A LONG WAY IN TRYING TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET OUR CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE TO COOPERATE WITH US IN HELPING LONG BEACH CLOSE THAT GAP THAT WE SO DELY DESERVE NEED.
AND WE KNOW THE ZERO DIVIDE IS A BIG IMPOSITION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ACCESS THE INTERNET TO PAY THEIR BILLS, TO GET MEDICAL SERVICES OR, OR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SO I, I, UH, IMPLORE MY CO MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION SO WE CAN MAKE LONG BEACH WHOLE AGAIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AS YOU SAID, UH, IN STAFF REPORT, 47,000 FAMILIES RELY ON THIS.
AND I KNOW, UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, THIS WAS THE LIFELINE
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THAT MANY FAMILIES HAD, UM, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD ACCESS.UM, AND SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS, UM, AND ENCOURAGING, UH, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY TO EXTEND IT AND, UH, WILL SHOUT LOUDLY FOR THE ROOFTOPS THAT THIS IS NECESSARY FOR ALL, FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY.
SO, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER UGA COUNCILWOMAN, DR.
YES, I, UM, THANK YOU VICE MAYOR.
I THINK THAT, UM, WE SEEN THE NEED FOR, UH, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND, UM, OTHER, UH, DIGITAL ACCESS.
AND I THINK THAT BY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S PART OF OUR FEDERAL AND STATE, UH, LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BECAUSE THE NEED HASN'T CHANGED.
I KNOW THAT OUR FUNDING HAS CHANGED, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE WE FIGURE OUT WHETHER IT'S TO ADVOCATE OR OTHER WAYS TO SUSTAIN THE FUNDING OR THE SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM SO THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA MENTIONED IS STILL, UH, GETTING THE SERVICES AND, UM, UH, AND THE NEEDS MET.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, MARRIES AND DEJA.
NOWADAYS, LACKING A RELIABLE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET IMPEDES UPON PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO APPLY FOR JOBS, TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL, TO DO HOMEWORK, TO REGISTER, TO VOTE, TO LOOK FOR HOUSING, TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE, AND SO, SO, SO MUCH MORE.
THEREFORE, ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET HAS BECOME A DETERMINATE FACTOR FOR THE HOUSEHOLD STANDARD OF LIVING AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND THUS, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AS WE ARE TODAY.
I HOPE AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MEGAN, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE MUST ALSO LEAN ON OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, UM, TO CONTINUE THIS FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS.
UM, I WILL JUST ADD MY VOICE TO THE CHORUS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM.
UH, I THINK THE A CP IS, UH, CRITICAL FOR MANY OF OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND THAT CONTINUED ACCESS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
YOU CAN'T, I MEAN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE TAKING AWAY CABLE TV OR INTERNET FROM EVERYDAY FOLKS AND EXPECTING THEM TO, TO OPERATE THE SAME.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 50,000 HOUSEHOLDS OR FAMILIES IN OUR, IN OUR CITY, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.
I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND I LIKE TO JUST, IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR US TO BE PROACTIVE IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING WITH PROVIDERS, UH, TO, TO MITIGATE LOSSES, I THINK WE NEED TO BE, UH, ON TOP OF THAT AS A CITY COUNCIL AND, AND IN FRONT OF THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO UTILITY USERS TAX.
UH, IS THERE AN IMPACT FROM THIS PROGRAM, UM, ON THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE CITY? UM, AND, AND IF SO, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UM, WOW.
AS A FORMER BUDGET DIRECTOR, YOU'D THINK, I KNOW THAT, THAT QUESTION
YOU WANNA ANSWER THE QUESTION AS STEPHANIE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN IMPACT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK FURTHER INTO IT.
UM, SO, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, SO ERICA, CARMEN SHOEMAKER AND JESS BUTLER, IF YOU GUYS COULD LINE UP.
UM, MADAM MAYOR AND, AND ALSO TO THIS DEAN COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ERICA HAWKES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT VERIZON.
AND WE WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE, WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
AS YOU KNOW, AT DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE AMONGST OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE RESOLUTIONS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER MORONGO FOR THIS IMPORTANT, UM, INITIATIVE.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CARMEN SHOEMAKER AND I'M AN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AREA MANAGER FOR AT TI COVER ALL THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND THE GATEWAY CITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AT T IN SUPPORT OF A RESOLUTION FOR CONGRESS TO REINVEST IN THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM.
THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM HAS BEEN VITAL IN HELPING FAMILIES GAIN ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE INTERNET DURING THE PANDEMIC.
HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET WAS ESSENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE STUDENTS THROUGH ONLINE LEARNING, DELIVER VITAL HEALTHCARE
[01:40:01]
AND THE ABILITY TO WORK REMOTELY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES.AND IT CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT.
THIS IS WHY AT AND T HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVOCATING FOR CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, AND ULTIMATELY THE NEED FOR A SUSTAINABLE, PERMANENT APPROACH TO ENSURE THOSE MOST IN NEED CAN GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ACCESS THE INTERNET.
WE'RE NOT ALONE IN SPEAKING UP.
AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO HELP PROTECT ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE INTERNET CONNECTION.
FOR MORE THAN 23 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ENROLLED IN A CP, WE WERE THE FIRST PROVIDER TO CREATE A $30 PER MONTH PLAN FOR HOME BROADBAND SERVICE AT UP TO 100 MEGABITS PER SECOND THAT WOULD ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO HAVE FREE INTERNET SERVICE.
WHEN COUPLED WITH THE A CP BENEFIT, WE INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY IN MAKING CHANGES TO OUR SYSTEMS, PROCESSES, AND MARKETING TO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE A CP TO ENSURE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE IN A CP IF THEY WISHED WE DID.
ROBUST DIRECT CUSTOMER OUTREACH, GENERATED AWARENESS THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL EVENTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CONNECTING MORE AMERICANS TO RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET IN SEVERAL WAYS, INCLUDING EXPANDING AND UPGRADING OUR NETWORK.
HOWEVER, CONGRESS NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR A CP TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE FAMILIES STAY CONNECTED AND HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL INFORMATION.
AND WE NEED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, TO URGE CONGRESS TO CONTINUE THIS VITAL PROGRAM FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOSH BUTLER, SENIOR POLICY AND ADVOCACY MANAGER FOR HUMAN IT.
WE ARE THE NATION'S LEADING DIGITAL EQUITY NONPROFIT.
IN OUR 12 YEAR HISTORY, WE'VE DISTRIBUTED OVER 400,000 LAPTOPS, PROVIDED DIGITALITY TRAINING FOR OVER 100,000 PEOPLE, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND WORKING TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL EQUITY GAP.
I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE CITI FOR BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE AS A 2023 TRAILBLAZER.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEW DIGITAL EQUITY TEAM, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ANOTHER AWARD IS IN LINE FOR 2024 FOR MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED THOSE DEVICES FOR AND THAT TRAINING TOO.
THEY ARE RELIANT UPON THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THAT FUNDING IN JEOPARDY.
THOUSANDS OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WILL LOSE A VITAL PIECE OF SUPPORT FOR STAYING CONNECTED TO DOCTORS SCHOOLS AND EVEN BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT.
SO ON BEHALF OF HUMAN IT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER IRAN AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR EFFORT IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND SENDING A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO FUND THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM.
UH, WE'RE ALREADY NOT SIGNING NEW PEOPLE UP, UH, AND TELLING PEOPLE TO START LOOKING TO MAKE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE INTERNET ASSISTANCE WE PROVIDE AS AN AGENCY.
IT IS A CRUCIAL PIECE OF THE PIE.
UM, WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE ABOUT ALL THEIR INTERNET OPTIONS, THAT $30 IS, IS CRITICAL FOR THEM, AND IT MAY NOT IMPACT RIGHT AWAY, BUT A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO I PAY MY BILL? DO I PAY MY DOCTOR, DO I PAY MEDICINE OR DO I STAY CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET? AS SOMEONE MENTIONED, I THINK AS COUNCIL MEMBER BRO MENTIONED, IT'S TRAGIC TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE JUST NOT BEING CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET AND HOW FAR PEOPLE WILL FALL BEHIND IN SOCIETY AND HOW QUICKLY THAT WILL HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON THIS EVENING.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ITEM 17, REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF AN
[17. 24-52117 Recommendation to approve the submission of an application to the California State Department of Housing and Community Development for up to $50,000,000 in loan and grant funds available through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents and agreements necessary to apply for and utilize these funds for the construction of a proposed affordable housing project, and surrounding infrastructure and transportation improvements, at 946 Linden Avenue. (District 1) Office or Department: Community Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR UP TO 50 MILLION IN LOAN AND GRANT FUNDS, AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND UTILIZE THIS FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS AT 9 4 6 LINDEN AVENUE DISTRICT ONE.UM, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER KUNTZ FOR AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM.
AND CHEL STRAVA IS GOING TO GIVE TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION AND WE ARE GONNA FIND THE CLICKER RIGHT NOW AND GET STARTED.
GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
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THERE YOU GO.THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT NINE 12 TO 9 46 LINDEN AVENUE WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY AMCAL MULTI-HOUSING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FOR FAMILIES.
THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $71.2 MILLION.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A COMBINATION OF ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS FOR A TOTAL OF 99 AFFORDABLE UNITS.
PLUS ONE MANAGER'S UNIT 11 UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, 11 UNITS WILL BE FOR VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND 77 UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE 125 SUBTERRANEAN PARKING SPACES, A COMMUNITY ROOM, FITNESS AREA, COMPUTER CENTER TOT LOT, AND A COURTYARD AND BARBECUE AREA.
THE CITY THROUGH ITS NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.
THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMPANY HAS COMMITTED UP TO $5 MILLION IN GAP FINANCING, AND THE PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE EXEMPTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF $554,675.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROJECTS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO BOTH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THE PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE AND AML HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CITY APPLY JOINTLY WITH THEM TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF RECEIVING AN AWARD OF FUNDS.
THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGE JOINT APPLICATIONS WITH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.
IF SUCCESSFUL LOAN FUNDS OF UP TO $35 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED TO A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP TO BE FORMED BY AMCAL, WHICH WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN, THE CITY WILL NOT BE A PART OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
IN ADDITION, UP TO $15 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION AMENITIES SURROUNDING THE PROJECT.
LONG BEACH TRANSIT HAS AGREED TO BE A NON APPLICANT PARTNER IN THE A APPLICATION TO COLLABORATE ON THE TRANSPORTATION AMENITIES.
THE RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING IS TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR UP TO $50 MILLION IN LOAN AND GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND UTILIZE THESE FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AT 9 4 6 LINDEN AVENUE.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
COUNCILWOMAN, MARRIES AND DEJAS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I, UM, AS AS YOU KNOW, IT IS NO SECRET THAT WE NEED MORE AND MORE HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I'M EXCITED FOR ALL THAT THIS PROJECT IS BRINGING, INCLUDING ALL THE AMENITIES THAT WILL BE OFFERED, BUT ESPECIALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT, UM, THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BE WELCOMING RESIDENTS OF ALL LOW INCOME LEVELS.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, TO HAVE HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN MY DISTRICT.
I AM EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT, UM, OF, OF US BEING AN APPLI A JOINT APPLICANT WITH AMCAL FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT MOVE FORWARD AND, UM, I I STRONGLY SUPPORT IT.
UM, OKAY, LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
SAI, IS HE HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ENERGY AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE FLOODLIGHTS.
UH, HAPPY THIS SAI CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT, UM, MR. UH, KUNZ AND, UH, MS. UH, SORENSON.
I JUST MET YOU, UH, MR. WAS IT RAFA? RAFTA, MR. R STAAVA.
SEE THE SOUND, AND I KNOW PROBABLY WAS THE SIX FIGURE DEAL FOR THE SOUND, BUT MS. KAREN MIGHT HAVE BETTER EARS THAN ME.
BUT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO 9 4 6 LINDEN, UH, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE LUTHERANS FOR, UH, TRANSFORMING, UH, THIS PROJECT, THIS PROPERTY INTO, UH, DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY WITH
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RESPECT TO, UH, THIS SITUATION WITH AMCO.UM, MR. KUNZ, I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING FINANCING ISSUES.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T AN RDA PROPERTY, SO THIS ISN'T LIKE A, UH, ATLANTIC UPTOWN ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO NO DISRESPECT, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, UM, THIS PROPERTY, UH, I THINK 71 MILLION IS, UH, IS A BIG CONSERVATIVE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2,400 BLOCK OF LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT THERE WITH META HOUSING, UM, THEY ORIGINALLY SAID, AND THAT'S 194 UNITS.
I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE THE DEFENSE.
UH, THEY ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WERE GONNA BE ABOUT $60 MILLION, UH, AND THEN THEY UPDATED IT TO $92 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE OVER 120 MILLION.
UM, I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT.
I'M NEVER IN, UH, UH, UH, DISAGREEMENT WITH ANY OFFLINE OF THESE PROPERTIES.
MY CONCERN IS WITH RESPECT TO THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE PARTICIPATING, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY ALLOWING THEM TO USE OUR NAME AND THE NAME OF THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT IN ORDER TO SECURE FUNDING AND RESPECT TO LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, UM, INVESTMENT, THE $5 MILLION OF LBRA MONEY, UH, THANK YOU MR. UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
UM, BUT THE ISSUE FOR ME IS WITH RESPECT TO WE'RE HELPING, UM, WE DON'T GET TO CONTROL THE MASTER LEASING OF THESE TYPES OF PROPERTIES IN AGREEMENT TO, UH, ATTACHING THESE TYPES OF TA TAX CREDITS.
AND IT'S CONCERNING THAT CONCENTRATION OF, I MEAN, YOU GUYS, ANOTHER PROJECT COMING UP.
SO I'LL JUST SAY THE, THE SAME THING, BUT IT'S CONCERNING.
THAT'S GONNA COST $710,000 A UNIT TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT, UH, AT, AT THE CONSERVATIVE LEVEL.
IT IS NOW AND PROBABLY WILL END UP BEING A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING HOW CAN WE, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT AND SO MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM 18, REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION
[18. 24-52118 Recommendation to approve the submission of an application to the California State Department of Housing and Community Development for up to $50,000,000 in loan and grant funds available through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents and agreements necessary to apply for and utilize these funds for the construction of a proposed affordable housing project, and surrounding infrastructure and transportation improvements, at 1401 Long Beach Boulevard. (District 1) Office or Department: Community Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR UP TO 50 MILLION IN LOAN AND GRANT FUNDS AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND UTILIZE THIS FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS AT 14 0 1 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD DISTRICT ONE.ALRIGHTY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1401 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY CENTURY AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FOR FAMILIES.
THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $84 MILLION.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A COMBINATION OF ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS FOR A TOTAL OF 151 AFFORDABLE UNITS, PLUS TWO MANAGERS UNITS.
38 UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, 60 UNITS WILL BE FOR VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND 53 UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE 82 SECURED PARKING SPACES, A COMMUNITY ROOM, FITNESS AND YOGA ROOM, A COMPUTER CENTER BIKE STORAGE, PLAY STRUCTURE, AND TWO COURTYARDS AND BARBECUE AREA.
THE CITY THROUGH ITS NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.
THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMPANY HAS COMMITTED UP TO $5 MILLION IN GAP FINANCING, AND THE PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE EXEMPTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $846,020.
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND.
THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROJECTS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO BOTH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THE PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE, AND CENTURY HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CITY APPLY JOINTLY WITH THEM TO INCREASE THE CHANCES OF RECEIVING AN AWARD OF FUNDS.
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GUIDELINES ALSO HIGHLY ENCOURAGED JOINT APPLICATIONS WITH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.IF SUCCESSFUL LOAN FUNDS OF UP TO $35 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED TO A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP TO BE FORMED BY CENTURY, WHICH WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN, THE CITY WILL NOT BE A PART OF THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.
IN ADDITION, UP TO $15 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS WILL BE AWARDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION AMENITIES SURROUNDING THE PROJECT.
LONG BEACH TRANSIT HAS AGREED TO BE A NON APPLICANT PARTNER AND THE APPLICATION TO COLLABORATE ON THE TRANSPORTATION AMENITIES.
THE RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING IS TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR UP TO $50 MILLION IN LOAN AND GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND UTILIZE THESE FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AT 1401 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU KINDLY FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN WITH THIS PROJECT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, UM, SEE THIS PROJECT BEING I'M DEVELOPED AT 14TH STREET.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S GOING TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY THERE AND IT'S GOING TO BRING MANY FAMILIES AND REALLY, REALLY, UM, BRING MUCH NEEDED ACTIVATION TO THE AREA.
I AM STRONGLY, UM, STRONGLY, STRONGLY SUPPORT US BECOMING A JOINT APPLICANT WITH CENTURY FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UM, ALSO WANTED TO SEE IF STAFF COULD ANSWER JUST ONE QUESTION.
UM, I SAW THAT THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES THAT WILL BE INCLUDED, AND AS YOU KNOW, PARKING IS ALWAYS, UM, A HOT TOPIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE AMOUNT OF PARKING MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS BY STATE LAW.
AND IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT WITH OUR, UM, AUDIENCE PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND IT'S HARD TO SEE YOU THROUGH THE FLOWERS, BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE THERE.
UM, SO THERE ARE 82 SECURED PARKING SPACES IN THIS PROJECT THAT EXCEEDS STATE REQUIREMENTS BY 82.
SO THIS IS IN A TRANSIT RICH ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE, WHICH MEANS UNDER STATE LAW THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY NO PARKING, UM, REQUIRED.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT NO PARKING SHOULD BE, UH, PROVIDED.
SO WHEN WE WORK WITH AN APPLICANT, IT'S A STATE RAMP THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU NOW, BUT WE'RE ALSO THIS APPLICANT'S LENDER.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTERACTION THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF AND THE DEVELOPER.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO CREATE A GREAT PROJECT, SO THAT MEANS USING THE POWER OF PERSUASION, UH, RATHER THAN A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO ADD, UH, PARKING TO THE PROJECT SO THAT THERE IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PARKING.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT OVER PARKED AND PARKING, UM, CAN ADD BETWEEN 50 AND $60,000 PER SPACE AND COST TO A PROJECT, BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE UNDER PARKED.
SO WE TRY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE CORRECTLY.
WE HOPE THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY, UM, BUS AND RAIL SERVICE, BUT SOME CERTAINLY ARE GOING TO HAVE CARS AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE 82 PARKING SPACES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I NEED A HAT AND SUNSCREENS AND, AND MAYBE SOME SUNBLOCK WITH THESE LIGHTS, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE.
I CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE LONG-WINDED.
UH, MR. KUNZ, I GET, UH, JUST AS, AS EXCITED AS YOU, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE DATA.
I, THE COUNCILWOMAN ASKED A VERY CRUCIAL QUESTION.
THIS PROJECT ONLY NEEDS 82 PARKING SPOTS, CORRECT.
BUT THE PROJECT THAT'S FIVE BLOCKS EAST OF IT NEEDS 125 PARKING, SP PARKING SPOTS.
THIS MAKES A PROJECT GO FROM $549,000 A UNIT TO 1400, UH, LONG BEACH BOULEVARD PROJECT VERSUS THE ONE ON LINDEN, WHICH IS OVER 710,000.
HOW IS IT THAT THE TRANSIT ORIENTED TAX CREDITS THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED ARE APPLICABLE TO THE PROJECT THAT'S THREE BLOCKS WEST, BUT NOT THE PROJECT THAT'S THREE BLOCKS EAST? YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? THESE ARE, I THINK THESE ARE THE TYPE OF, I UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA SAY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S UNDERGROUND PARKING ON ONE AND THE OTHER ONE IS SECURE PARKING.
THE NORTHGATE GROCERY STORE, WHICH
[02:00:01]
IS SITTING THERE CURRENTLY, WHICH THIS IS GONNA SURVIVE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE LABOR AND PRIVATIZATION AND SHRINKAGE AND MARGINS AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.THAT'S 80, THAT'S MORE THAN 80 PARKING SPOTS RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
WHY CAN'T THERE BE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CURRENT DEVELOPER? BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA BREAK GROUND FOR ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS ABOUT SECURING MORE UNITS ON THE PROPERTY AND THEN JUST SECURING THE PARKING SPOT FOR THE, THE BUSINESS THAT INEVITABLY, INEVITABLY IS GOING TO FAIL ANYWAYS BECAUSE OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY OF NORTHGATE, OR SORRY, SORRY, SUPERIOR.
UM, THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA.
LIKE, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT AS A GOVERNMENT WE CAN MANDATE WHAT PEOPLE DO, HOWEVER WE CAN MANDATE THEM USING US IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE STATE WITH THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS PROGRAM PROGRAM IS GONNA GET EXECUTED.
BECAUSE ORIGINALLY THIS SAME PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 65 MARKET RATE CONDOMINIUMS. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE RDA ESQUE PROPERTIES THAT WAS PURPOSELY KEPT TO BLIGHT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LIVE EIGHT BLOCKS UP FROM HERE AND UH, I JUST WANT MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.
YOU KNOW, WE WANTED HOUSE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND WE'RE ALLOWING THESE DEVELOPERS TO BASICALLY SAY, HERE'S THE IOU, CAN YOU LET US HOLD THIS PROPERTY FOR FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS WHILE WE RUN AROUND TOWN AND FINANCE, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, THE PRICE TAG OF TODAY IS GONNA BE TWO, THREE TIMES THE PRICE TAG OF TOMORROW.
I THINK WE SEE WHAT KAREN BASS IS DOING IN LA.
THEY'RE USING PRIVATE MONEY AND THEY GOT 16,000 PROJECTS OFF ONLINE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, SO MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[19. 24-52119 Recommendation to approve the Downtown Long Beach Parking and Business Improvement Area Annual Report continuing the annual business license assessment for the period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to extend the agreement with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance for a one-year term. (District 1) Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
WONDERFUL.ITEM 19, REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO PROVE THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ANNUAL REPORT.
CONTINUING THE ANNUAL BUSINESS LICENSE ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZE YOU TO MANAGER TO EXTEND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH LINES DISTRICT ONE.
UM, VICE MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO OUR DLBA FOR BEING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER, UM, IN OUR, TO OUR BUSINESSES AND HERE TO OUR CITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I APPRECIATE THIS ANNUAL REPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIP IN MAINTAINING A BUSINESS FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO NOW GO TO, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS IN AUSTIN.
GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE VICE MAYOR, ALSO HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICE MAYOR.
UM, BUT MY NAME IS AUSTIN MUTO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UM, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN HAD MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCILWOMAN MAYORS IN DEJAS AS WELL AS WITH YOURSELF, VICE MAYOR AND HELPING TO, UH, THE DOWNTOWN RECOVER, UM, FROM THE COVID TO 19 PANDEMIC AS WELL AS THE, UH, RETURN TO OFFICE, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE COMING BACK IN MARCH ON THE PROPERTY BASED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, BUT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY TO THE MERCHANT BASED DISTRICT.
UM, THE FUNDS FOR THIS DISTRICT REALLY GOES TOWARDS THE MARKETING, THE DOWNTOWN.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN AS A WHOLE, ALL OF ITS CONNECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, HOW DO WE MAKE IT INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM ANY OTHER PART OF DOWNTOWN AND SO, OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CITY.
AND SO WE'VE WORKED A LOT OVER THE LAST YEAR TO COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS LIKE VISIT LB AS WELL WITH OTHER, UH, MEDIA OUTLETS TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN.
THESE FUNDS ALSO GO TO HELP TO SUPPORT THE VARIOUS EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.
SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BROUGHT SOME NEW EVENTS AS WELL AS SOME, SOME GOOD AND TRUE ONES.
SO ACTIVATING LINCOLN PARK WITH VIVA LONG BEACH, WHICH WAS THE CELEBRATION OF LATIN HERITAGE MONTH.
UM, ALSO BRINGING BANJO BALL, WHICH IF YOU'VE BEEN TO A VOING CONTEST OR A VOING BALL, WE HELP BRING THAT OVER AT MOOLA.
AND THEN ALSO DATE NIGHT ON PINE, WHICH WILL RETURN THIS THURSDAY.
BUT REALLY THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE USE SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN, HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND TO REALLY GIVE THEM A SENSE OF PLACE, WHETHER THEY LIVE HERE OR WORK HERE, OR JUST VISITING FOR THE DAY.
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TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.UM, AND WE, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THIS EVENING.
OH, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR, UH, SUPPORTING OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES AT THE OTHER BIDS WHO HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.
SO GLAD MIDTOWN AND UPTOWN WERE ABLE TO BE APPROVED TONIGHT AS WELL.
MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTE, PLEASE.
[20. 24-52134 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all documents necessary, including a Standard Offer, Agreement and Escrow Instructions for Purchase of Real Estate with 4 Redondo Holdings, LLC, a California corporation, for the purchase of certain real property located at 2961 Redondo Avenue, Assessor Parcel Numbers 7149-011-006, in an amount not to exceed $4,100,000; Increase appropriations in the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department by $6,000,000 to fund the purchase of the property, acquisition-related costs, and tenant improvements, offset by future bond proceeds; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,800,000 to fund tenant improvements, offset by a transfer from the General Services Fund Group in the Technology and Innovation Department; and Accept the Categorical Exemption CE-24-013. (District 4) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Economic Development; Public Works; Technology and Innovation Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM 20, ITEM TWENTY'S REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL FOUR DOCUMENTS FOR REDONDO HOLDINGS.
LLCA CALIFORNIA FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 29 61 REDONDO AVENUE.
IT AT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 4.1 MILLION.
OKAY, WE HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.
WE'LL TURN TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN, UH, TID AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WHEN WE GOT A HUGE RENT INCREASE, UH, THEY WENT RIGHT TO WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE USE THE DOLLARS WE HAVE, UH, TO BUY A, UH, A PROPERTY THAT WE WILL OWN FREE AND CLEAR AND, UH, SAVE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME FROM THE, ON A LONG-TERM COST BASIS AND PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE.
SO I WILL TURN IT TO THE TEAM FOR A QUICK OVERVIEW.
SENIOR MANAGER MONICA, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN CITY COUNCIL.
BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, CAN I GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW AND, UH, PRESENTATION? SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE WIRELESS DIVISION IS FORMERLY LOCATED AT 55 80 CHERRY AVENUE.
UH, THEY MANAGE THE CITY'S RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE OFFSITE LOCATION PROVIDED DRIVE UP SERVICES THAT REQUIRED THE USE OF RADIO SYSTEMS. HAVING THESE, UH, SERVICES LOCATED OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL WAS CONVENIENT TO PARTNER FOR OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS TO DRIVE UP AND RESOLVE ISSUES QUICKLY.
IN 2020 SEPTEMBER, 2022, UH, WE WERE ENTERING INTO LEASE NEGOTIATIONS FOR RENEWAL AND DUE TO PROPOSED RENT INCREASES BY THE NEW PROPERTY ON MONTHLY RENT INCREASE FROM 17,000 A MONTH TO OVER $45,000.
CITY DEPARTMENT, UH, CITY DETERMINED THE INCREASE WAS NOT NEITHER FINANCIALLY NOR OPERATIONAL PRUDENT.
AND SO THE WIRELESS DIVISION STAFF INVENTORY WERE RELOCATED TO CITY HALL AND LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE THE PROPERTY WAREHOUSE AT 3229TH STREET SI SEARCH, UH, COMMENCED FOR A SUITABLE PERMIT LOCATION, LOCATION FOR LONG-TERM OPERATIONS WITH THE WIRELESS DIVISION.
UM, AS PART OF THAT SIZE SEARCH, WE LOCATED A PROPERTY AT 29 61 REDONDO AVENUE, WHICH WAS IDEAL TO BRING THE TID WIRELESS COMMUNICATION AS ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISIONS TOGETHER, ALLOWING FOR CENTRALIZED EQUIPMENT INVENTORY, BETTER TRACKING, AND THE ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICES EFFICIENTLY WITHIN A DEDICATED FACILITY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROPERTY, UM, IT'S, UH, FOR, UH, OWNERSHIP IS FOR REDONDO HOLDINGS.
UH, PROPERTY SIZE IS ABOUT 24,000 SQUARE FEET LOT WITHIN, UH, 11,000 SQUARE 606, 11,066 SQUARE FEET OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, INCLUDING 4,600 SQUARE OF OFFICE SPACE.
UH, PROPOSED USE WOULD BE, UH, T-D-T-I-D FACILITY HOUSING, WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
UM, NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE H-V-C-A-D-A FIRE ALARM ROOFING PAINTING, UH, VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF 1.8 MILLION.
TOTAL ANTICIPATED COSTS ARE GONNA BE PURCHASE PRICE OF 4.1 MILLION, DUE DILIGENCE AND ESCROW CLOSING FEES OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND IMPROVEMENTS OF 1.8 MILLION TOTALING, UH, COST TO ACQUIRE AND OCCUPY, UH, OCCUPY THE PROPERTY AT 6 MILLION.
UM, THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSAL, UH, RESTS MOSTLY ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, WHICH IS A BUILDING AND THE LAND THAT IT SITS ON.
AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE VERY LONG LIVE ASSETS.
SO IT'S A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR LONG-TERM DEBT FINANCING FOR ACQUISITION.
AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE, UM, BUNDLE THE DEBT FOR THIS PROPERTY WITH THE NEXT CITY GENERAL BOND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE, WHICH IS SLATED FOR SPRING OF 2025.
AND THAT WAY IT CAN BE FINANCED WITH 30 YEAR DEBT.
'CAUSE LAND HAS AN INFINITE LIFE AND THIS BUILDING HAS A VERY LONG LIFE.
AND THEN THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE MATCHING OF, UM, ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE COSTS WITH THE, UH, USERS, THE, THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE BUILDING'S USE AND OCCUPANCY.
UM, AT THE INTEREST RATES, WE, UM, PRICED OUT THE LONG TERM DEBT IN THE, IN THE FALL, IN THE LATE FALL DEBT SERVICE ON 30, ON THE $6 MILLION WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS THAN $400,000 A YEAR.
AND THAT WOULD COME FROM TWO SOURCES INSIDE THE GENERAL SERVICES FUND THAT THE TECHNOLOGY
[02:10:01]
AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT, UM, MANAGES AND OPERATES.THERE'S ALREADY $200,000, UH, OF LEASE COSTS THAT GO TOWARDS THE CHERRY AVENUE FACILITY.
THAT'LL BE VACATED WHEN TID MOVES INTO THIS BUILDING.
AND THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE WOULD COME FROM IDENTIFIED SAVINGS BY THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT AND ITS ASSET MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO NET COSTS, NET NEW COSTS TO ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, THAT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW TO FINANCE IT.
AND WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH QUICKLY THROUGH THE ACQUISITION TIMELINE.
IF IT'S PROOF TONIGHT, IT'LL BE, UM, OPEN SESSION TO PURCHASE AND THEN ESCROW FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY, OWNERSHIP MAY, 2024 WITH THE OCCUPANCY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025.
AND WITH THAT, WE'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, INCLUDING A STANDARD OFFER AGREEMENT IN ESCROW, UH, FOR REAL ESTATE WITH AT, UH, LOCATED AT FOUR REDONDO HOLDINGS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 4.1 MILLION.
UM, AS, UH, KEVIN STATED, UH, THE, THE GENERAL SERVICES FUND GROUP IN THE TID DEPARTMENT BY SIX $6 MILLION TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION RELATED COSTS, TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, AND BY FUTURE, UH, BOND PROCEEDS AND INCREASE THE, UH, APPROPRIATIONS CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND INTO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BY ONE POINT MILLION DOLLARS FOR TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU,
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DARRYL SUPERAL, UH, THANK YOU.
I'M, I'M, UH, VERY HAPPY TO, UM, MOVE THIS ITEM.
AND, UM, ON KIND OF A SIDE NOTE, I'M JUST SO, UH, HAPPY WITH STAFF AND, AND FINDING BUSINESSES FOR THESE, UH, STOREFRONTS.
UM, I, I THINK OF THE, THE SEARS BUILDING WITH ALL THAT, UH, FOOTAGE, UH, I WASN'T SURE IF WE GET A SINGLE TENANT FOR THAT.
UM, I THINK OF, UH, KEEPING, UM, WHAT WAS CIRCLE PORSCHE AND NOW PORSCHE LONG BEACH IN TOWN, UH, A LOT OF HEAVY, HEAVY LIFTING ON THAT DEAL.
UM, AND WE JUST LEARNED THAT 2211, UM, BELLFLOWER IS GONNA GET A NEW BUSINESS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW, SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE, THE DUN EDWARDS BUILDING.
UM, IT WAS ORIGINALLY BRENTWOOD SAVINGS.
IT'S ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND SO, UM, THESE ARE JUST REALLY GOOD SIGNS TO, UH, ACTIVATE THESE PROPERTIES.
[21. 24-52120 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35805 with Goodwill Southern Los Angeles County (Goodwill SOLAC), of Long Beach, CA, to continue providing required, specialized services for the Fundamentals of Fatherhood Program, to revise the annual contract amount not to exceed $110,000 for the period of May 22, 2024, to September 30, 2025, and extend the term of the contract to September 30, 2025, with the option to renew an additional $110,000 annually for three additional one-year periods; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 35872 with Kristopher McLucas Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Inc. (Kristopher McLucas), of Long Beach, CA, to continue providing required, specialized services for the Fundamentals of Fatherhood Program for a revised annual contract amount not to exceed $60,000, and extend the term of the contract to September 30, 2025, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods; Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36266 with Long Beach Non-Profit Partnership, Inc., dba The Nonprofit Partnership (TNP), of Long Beach, CA, to continue providing organizational and leadership development by engaging the City's youth and emerging adults and youth-serving organizations, to increase the contract amount by $641,375, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $2,250,000, and extend the term of the contract to December 31, 2025, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods; and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36616 with Kristopher McLucas Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Inc. (Kristopher McLucas), of Long Beach, CA, to continue providing required, specialized services for the Futures First Program, and extend the term of the contract to December 31, 2025, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM 21.ITEM 20 ONES REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND VARIOUS CONTRACTS CITYWIDE.
I NEED A MOTION BY KER AND, OKAY.
ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTE, PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY, I'M SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[22. 24-52121 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with VOYA, for healthcare specific stop-loss reinsurance coverage with a $500,000 deductible level, at an estimated cost of $1,921,520 for a twelve-month period retroactively effective January 1, 2024; and, execute any subsequent amendments necessary to maintain current benefit levels and remain in compliance with state and federal laws. (Citywide) Office or Department: Human Resources Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH VOYA FOR HEALTHCARE SPECIFIC STOP-LOSS REINSURANCE COVERAGE AT AN ESTIMATED CAUSE OF 1.9 MILLION.DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DO NOT.
[23. 24-52220-01 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 16.52.2500, relating to the designation of the property located at 3917 Long Beach Boulevard, as a historic landmark, read and adopted as read. Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
MOTIONS CARRIED.ITEM 23, COMMUNICATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY.
RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY.
LOCATED AT 3 9 1 7 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK, RED AND ADOPTED AS RED.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN A LONG CHAPTER FOR OLD FIRE STATION NINE.
SO WANNA THANK STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO WHAT'S NEXT? ALRIGHT.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
UH, WHO, UH, GO AHEAD, AUSTIN.
WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS MOTION.
I WAS HAPPY TO, TO, TO WORK ON THIS WITH STAFF FOR, UH, NOW MANY YEARS.
AND WE ARE NOW AT A, AT A POINT WHERE I THINK, UM, WE HAVE A GOOD, UH,
[02:15:01]
COMPROMISE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THAT WILL, UM, ADD TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND, UH, POPULATE A, A BUILDING THAT, THAT, UH, HAS BEEN, BEEN VACANT AND, YOU KNOW, UNUTILIZED FOR, FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND, AND STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK.
FOR YOUR COMMENTS MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[24. 24-52047-01 Recommendation to declare ordinance finding and determining that a Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) credit is due for the development project located at 2401 East Wardlow Road in the amount of $555,547; and, authorizing City Manager to execute an agreement with GCC Long Beach, LLC, providing for a TIF credit in the amount of $555,547, read and adopted as read. (District 5) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
MOTION IS CARRIED.ITEM 24, REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT A TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FEE CREDIT IS DUE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATED AT 24 0 1 EAST WOODLAND ROAD IN THE AMOUNT OF $555,547.
AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH GCC LONG BEACH PROVIDING FOR CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF 550 50 $5,547.
READ AND ADOPTED AS RED DISTRICT FIVE.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE AT THE POINT IN THE AGENDA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ]
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.NO, NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY, WELL, WE'RE JUST MOVING RIGHT ALONG THEN, AREN'T WE? OKAY, SO, UM, LET'S GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
SO I'M GONNA START, UM, IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA? YES.I THOUGHT EVEN YOU YOU'RE GONNA START, HUH? ME? NO, YOU ARE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE A VERY MONUMENTAL IN, UM, OCCASION THAT HAPPENED IN THE DISTRICT OF OUR, OF OUR CENTENARIAN, UH, MS. RITA ANDERSON, WHO REACHED THE MILESTONE OF 100 THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
MS. RITA ANDERSON WAS BORN IN FEBRUARY 12TH, 2020, 24,
UH, SHE'S FROM COCHO, KUMA, KUMA, TEXAS, SO LIKE THAT, AND WE HAD MY BRANCH TO LONG BEACH BACK THEN.
SHE'S A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE WEST PALM BEACH ASSOCIATION AND REGULARLY ATTENDS SIERRA LUNCHEONS AT SILVERADO PARK.
HER, HER SECRET TO LIFE IS WALKING.
MS. RENA IS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
SHE LIVES ABOUT A MILE TO A MILE AND A HALF FROM
I HAVE THE HONOR OF ATTENDING HER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT THE GRAND THIS PAST SUNDAY.
AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THE LOVE, THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND AFFECTION.
SHE FROM HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AND I CAN SAY ONE THING, SHE STILL KNOWS HOW TO PARTY.
BIRTHDAY ON YOUR 100TH ON YOUR 100 BIRTHDAY.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO COUNCILMAN UH, SUPERAL.
I ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR ITEMS TONIGHT, BUT I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, THE FIRST IS THE EL DORADO PARK ESTATES COMMUNITY FORUM IS THIS THURSDAY, UH, 22ND, UH, AT NEWCOMB ACADEMY AUDITORIUM FROM SIX TO 7:30 PM UH, GUEST SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE, UH, FIRE CHIEF DENNIS BUCHANAN, UH, LONG BEACH UNIFIED, UH, BOARD PRESIDENT DIANA CRAIGHEAD AND MYSELF.
UM, ALSO, UH, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE MEETING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO NOW.
UH, PET SUPPLIES PLUS WILL HAVE A PET ADOPTION ON SATURDAY, UM, BETWEEN 11:00 AM AND 2:00 PM AND THAT IS IN THE LOS ALTO SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT NEXT TO, UH, LAZY ACRES.
UM, AFTER THAT YOU CAN GO OVER TO, UH, LONG BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE AT STERNS PARK WHERE THEY'LL BE HAVING THEIR, UH, 2024 OPENING DAY, UH, WEATHER PERMITTING AT, UH, 10:00 AM IT ACTUALLY STARTS, UH, I'LL BE THERE AT NOON.
AND, UM, I JUST THOUGHT OF THIS NOW THAT
[02:20:01]
THIS WILL BE MY NINTH YEAR, UM, THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH, AND THAT'S TWICE AS LONG AS I PLAYED THERE.WE HAVE, UH, FINALLY, UM, I'D LIKE TO, UH, CLOSE TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING IN MEMORY OF A FOURTH DISTRICT RESIDENT, UH, MR. NEY HORN.
MR. HORN FOUNDED ONE OF THE FIRST CAMBODIAN OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
HE WAS A DEAR FRIEND TO MANY AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.
I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SONO FOR JOINING A MEMORY OF MR. NEY HORN, WHO HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING, UM, CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY LEADER WHO'VE NOT ONLY, UH, STARTED HIS FIRST BUSINESS IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH, BUT HAS ALSO HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CAMBODIA AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO GET ON THEIR FEET AS WELL AS TO START THEIR BUSINESS AS WELL.
AND HE'S DEEPLY RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILY.
AGAIN, I HAD VISIT THEM, UH, LAST WEEK AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I SEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO THE LOSS OF, UM, HUSBAND, A WIFE, I MEAN A HUSBAND, EXCUSE ME, A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, UH, AN UNCLE.
OH, AND I, I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. UH, I HAVE A FEW UPLIFT, THE SIX NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP.
THERE'S TWO HAPPENING ON SATURDAY THE 24TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM THE FIRST IS THE ROTARY CENTENNIAL PARK CLEANUP.
UH, AND AS WELL AS, UH, THE LINDEN, THE ROOSEVELT LYNDON NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT, WE WILL WORK, BE, UH, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO CLEAN UP THE AREA AS WELL.
SO PLEASE JOIN US, UM, MORE INFO ON, UM, THE INTER, UH, ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA.
COUNCILWOMAN MARRIES IN DEJAS.
FIRST I'D, UH, I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY WISH OUR VICE MAYOR A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
THANK YOU VICE MAYOR FOR CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, AND WE KNOW HOW MUCH, UM, HOW MUCH COUNCIL MEANS TO YOU BY YOU BEING HERE TODAY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOB THAT YOU DO, NOT ONLY IN THE SECOND DISTRICT BUT CITYWIDE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND WE HOPE THAT THIS DAY IS FULL OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS FOR YOU.
AND I HAVE JUST A FEW OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND FROM THREE TO FIVE 30.
THIS EVENT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT 1450 CEDAR AVENUE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT1@LONGBEACH.GOV.
ALSO, I WANNA MAKE AN INVITATION TO YOU TO COME JOIN US ON THAT SAME DAY, THURSDAY, UM, FEBRUARY 22ND, SIX TO 9:00 PM FOR DATE, NIGHT ON PINE.
GRAB YOUR DATE, GRAB YOUR SPOUSE, GRAB YOUR SON, YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR GIRLFRIENDS, EVERYONE.
LET'S COME AND HAVE A GREAT DATE.
THIS COMING UP THURSDAY, UM, STREETS WILL BE CLOSED FROM BROADWAY TO THIRD FOR THIS CELEBRATION.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.
ALSO, I WANT, WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO SAVE THE DATE FOR A OC SEVEN'S 10TH ANNUAL LITERACY FAIR.
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON MAY 18TH, 2024 FROM 11 TO 12.
I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS, UH, EVENT COMING BACK HERE, UM, TO OUR CITY OF LONG BEACH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WISHES.
UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO A COMPLIMENTARY DISTRICT NINE AQUARIUM NIGHT ON FEBRUARY 26TH, UM, AT THE AQUARIUM OF PACIFIC.
UM, IT WILL BE HELD FROM SIX 30 TO 8:30 PM SO AGAIN, UM, FEBRUARY 26TH.
SO JUST NEXT WEEK FROM SIX 30 TO 8:30 PM INVITING ALL RESIDENTS OUT TO AN AQUARIUM NIGHT AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC.
UH, ADDITIONALLY I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THEY'LL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH, UM, AT 200 EAST 68TH STREET, AND THAT WILL BE FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO THE HOUT AND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, UM, THAT WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE.
THAT'S THE DORIS TOP SEA OVER COMMUNITY CENTER.
[02:25:01]
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV.COUNCILWOMAN KERR GUEST, MARK, GREAT OF EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.
I INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AT THE LONG BEACH EXCHANGE THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH FROM 11 TO 5:00 PM ENJOY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, SHOP FROM LOCAL VENDORS AND HEAR INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES FROM BLACK OWNED, A BLACK OWNED BUSINESS PANEL.
AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH BY VISITING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF LONG BEACH TO SEE THEIR CURRENT EXHIBIT.
ALEXI STEELE'S LOVE MY NEIGHBOR PROJECT, WHERE HE SHARES THE REMARKABLE STORIES OF HIS INSPIRING NEIGHBORS.
THE EXHIBIT IS OPEN THROUGH THIS SATURDAY, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO STOP BY BEFORE IT ENDS.
I ALSO INVITE ALL INTERESTED RESIDENTS TO ATTEND THE COMMUNITY DAY AT RELATIVITY SPACE HEADQUARTERS AT 2,400 EAST WARDLOW ROAD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AT 10:00 AM SO IN THE OLD C 17 BUILDING, YOU SEE THE NEW RELATIVITY BRANDING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THERE, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, UH, TO GO AND MEET SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WORK THERE AND GET A TASTE OF WHAT THEY DO THERE AT RELATIVITY, THEY ARE VERY PROUD TO CALL LONG BEACH HOME.
FINALLY, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY LOST A LOVED ONE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO ATTEND NEW HOPE GRIEF SUPPORT COMMUNITIES.
SECOND ANNUAL RHYTHMS OF GRIEF EVENT AT GRACE CHURCH AT 36 0 1 LYNDEN AVENUE.
THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, DISCOVER THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC AND COMMUNITY WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS IN AN ALL AGES INTERACTIVE SESSION.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION AT BIXBY PARK.
IT'S THIS SUNDAY FROM ONE 30 TO FOUR 30, AND WE HAVE FREE FOOD FROM ROBERT EARL'S BARBECUE AND FREE SNOW CONES FROM FLUFFY SNOWBALLS.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THOSE, THEY'RE YUMMY MUSIC AND A GREAT SPEAKER.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT DISTRICT TWO.
AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
WE ARE UN ADJOURNING THE MEETING.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THIS MEETING, UM, TODAY, UH, JOHNNY SANTOS, A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE WITH OUR PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT, PASSED AWAY RELATED TO A TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT WHILE HE WAS OFF DUTY.
UM, JOHNNY STARTED WITH, UH, UH, WITH PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT IN 2021.
AND IN A SHORT TIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT, HE HAD ADVANCED HIS JOB ROLES AND WAS KNOWN FOR HIS WILLING ATTITUDE AND STRONG WORK ETHIC.
OUR HEARTS AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS.
WE ARE REMINDING OUR PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE STAFF THAT THE EMPLOYEES, UH, ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.