[00:00:01]
HERE.[CALL TO ORDER]
COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.WHAT IS THAT? COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? HERE.
[ROLL CALL]
WITH A PLEDGE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.ELECT FOR US TO GO INTO A MOMENT OF SILENT, TO PRAY FOR OUR, EXCUSE ME, UH, TO CONSIDER WAYS THAT WE CAN BE MORE UNDERSTANDING
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
AND COMPASSIONATE OF EACH OTHER, AS WE ALL DON'T OFTEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR, IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY.SO LET'S, UH, HAVE A MOMENT IN SILENCE OF UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION.
AND IF ALL THOSE THAT ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE AND SALUTING OUR FLAG.
PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT FOLKS, WELL, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL.
UH, WE ARE MISSING ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
OUR VICE MAYOR IS AWAY WITH HER RESPONSIBILITIES AS SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF SCAG, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS.
SO SHE'S IN SACRAMENTO ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR REGION.
WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
ONE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, ONE, UH, ANIMAL C CARE, ADOPTION PET ADOPTION BY OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
PRESENTATION BY COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.
AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO OUR AGENDA, UH, WHICH IS FAIRLY LIGHT.
SO, UH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
WE'RE PASS IT ON TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE GET TO DO EVERY QUARTER AND EVERY QUARTER IT SEEMS WE HAVE MORE AND MORE EMPLOYEES THAT COME OUT AND BRING THEIR FAMILIES AND, AND BRING THEIR COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT 'EM.
[ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH]
UH, EXCITED ABOUT THAT.THAT'S BECOMING A GREAT TRADITION FOR US.
SO I HAVE, UM, ABOUT SIX, UH, ACTUALLY WE MIGHT EVEN HAVE SEVEN.
'CAUSE ONE IS, UH, FROM, UH, LAST, UH, TIME.
WE DID THIS, IT WASN'T ABLE TO COME.
SO OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH ARE FROM DECEMBER, 2023.
JANUARY 24, FEBRUARY 24, AND MARCH 24.
SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH JUAN RODRIGUEZ, GARDNER, TWO PARKS, REC AND MARINE.
JUAN HAS BEEN WITH, YEAH, JUAN HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR FOUR YEARS AND HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS AN INNOVATIVE AND DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER, EAGER TO SERVE HIS FELLOW STAFF MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
RECENTLY, A COMMUNITY SERVICE SUPERVISOR RELAYED TO JUAN, A COMMENT MADE BY A TEEN PATRON REGARDING THE LACK OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS IN FRONT OF ONE OF OUR TEEN CENTERS.
JUAN QUICKLY SPRUNG TO ACTION AND WORKED WITH HIS TEAM TO PLANT FLOWERS AND PLANTS, UH, TO MAKE THE FRONT MORE APPEALING.
JUAN IS QUICK TO TAKE INITIATIVE DURING SPECIAL EVENTS AND IS OFTEN OBSERVED ASSISTING WITHOUT ANY, WITH SETUP, WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING.
HE CHECKS IN OFTEN TO ENSURE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE NEEDS ARE MET AND OFTEN PROVIDES ASSISTANCE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.
HE HAS A FANTASTIC ATTITUDE, TAKES PRIDE IN HIS WORK, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND PROUD TO CALL HIM A PART OF OUR PRM FAMILY.
UH, AND, UH, OUR EM, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER, 2023.
ONE NEXT UP IS FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, MICHAEL QUINN.
UH, MICHAEL QUINN IS OUR PERSONNEL ANALYST AND OUR, UM, AND OUR, UH, UM, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY.
SO MIKE STARTED AS A PART-TIME NON-CAREER INTERN, AND WAS PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS TO ANALYSTS TOO.
HE'S ALWAYS VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND DIVISIONS WHEN THE NEED ARISES.
HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS REGULAR DUTIES AND TRAINS OTHER LINE STAFF ON HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY, HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH.
HE ALSO VOLUNTEERS TO CONDUCT LIVE SCANS ON A WALK-IN BASIS WHEN THE MACHINE AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IS DOWN.
MIKE WORKS DURING THE WEEKENDS WHEN SPECIAL PROJECTS AND RECRUITMENTS HAVE SHORT TIMELINES AS HE LIKES TO ENSURE THAT DEADLINES ARE MET.
MIKE HAS PAUSED HIS PROJECTS AT THE END OF THE DAY TO GIVE STAFF WITHOUT VEHICLES A RIDE HOME AFTER WORK HOURS, AND THEN RETURNS TO THE OFFICE TO
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COMPLETE HIS ASSIGNMENTS.UH, ESPECIALLY ON RAINY DAYS, HE HAS TAKEN UPON HIMSELF TO TAKE, UH, PROCESS IMPROVEMENT COURSES, SIX SIGMA AND CERTIFICATIONS, WHICH HE THEN APPLIES TO HIS PROJECTS AND OPERATIONS.
HE'S TRULY A GREAT EMPLOYEE AND A GREAT HUMAN BEING.
NEXT UP IS FROM THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT AIRPORT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST TO MARIA RODRIGUEZ.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, MARIA COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT I, I DO WANNA READ HER BIO SO WE ALL GET TO KNOW THE GREAT WORK SHE'S DONE.
UH, MARIA IS AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT TEAM, CONSTANTLY DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS AND COMMITMENT.
UH, SHE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AIRPORT'S BADGING AND ACCESS CONTROL OFFICE.
UH, HER DEDICATION TO ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS WHILE PROVIDING AN UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE FOR HER CUSTOMERS IS VITAL TO THE ONGOING SUCCESS, UH, OF THE OFFICE.
UH, MARIA DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF HER WORK, CONSTANTLY GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO GET THE JOB DONE.
SHE'S A TEAM PLAYER AND IS ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO COWORKERS.
SHE SETS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE FOR OTHER TEAM MEMBERS AND IS RESPECTED BY EVERYONE SHE WORKS WITH.
SO, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MARIA.
NEXT UP, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
VOLUNTEER AND RESOURCE COORDINATOR, MARIAH MOWRY.
SO MARIAH BEGAN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION, WHICH WE CALL FEM.
UH, DURING THE PEAK OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SHE TOOK ON THE ROLE OF COORDINATING HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S MEDICAL RE RESERVE CORPS, AND SCHEDULING ALL THE TRAVEL NURSES AND LIFEGUARDS ASSIGNED TO OUR COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINE SITES.
THE MRC IS COMPRISED OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH BOTH MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL BACKGROUNDS.
IN HER ROLE AS THE M-S-C-M-R-C COORDINATOR, SHE HAS DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE PROGRAM AND RECRUITED OVER 900 NEW MEMBERS.
CURRENTLY, MRC HAS 1,897 MEMBERS WITH 502 OF THEM BEING LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
UH, SHE SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR SEVERAL NEW GRANTS TO EXPAND THE CAPABILITY OF THE MRC PROGRAM.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, MARIAH HAS PROVIDED SEVERAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MRC VOLUNTEER GROUP.
THEY INCLUDE STOP THE BLEED SIDEWALK, CPR AND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.
UH, MARIAH'S, UH, POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ADMIRABLE WORK ETHIC ARE EVIDENT IN THE SUCCESS OF HER PROGRAM.
SHE'S CONSTANTLY DEMONSTRATING, UH, AMAZING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND WHICH HAVE KEPT HER MRC MEMBERS INTERESTED AND REMAINING ACTIVE WITH THE PROGRAM.
MARIAH'S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND RECRUIT MORE VOLUNTEERS.
UH, SHE'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AN EMPLOYEE WHO PUTS HER HEART CREATIVITY AND EFFORT INTO EVERYTHING SHE DOES.
TOM, HOW YOU DOING, MAN? ALRIGHT.
NEXT UP FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST ERNESTO IBARRA.
ERNESTO BEGAN HIS CAREER AT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN 2011 AND WAS PROMOTED THROUGH THE RANKS TO A BUSINESS BUSINESS SYSTEM SPECIALIST SIX.
IN HIS CURRENT ROLE, HE LEADS THE CITY'S DATA SERVICE OR DATA NETWORK SERVICES TEAM WITHIN THE TECHNOLOGY, OR THE, EXCUSE ME, THE DATA NETWORK SERVICES TEAM WITHIN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION WHERE HE APPLIES HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN DATA NETWORKING AND NETWORK SECURITY TO ENSURE A CONTINUOUS AND SECURE NETWORK FOR CITY OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS.
HE'S BEING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR EMBODYING THE TID VALUE OF EXCELLENCE.
HE TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN HIS WORK DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING DEDICATION, NOT ONLY IN MANAGING OUR NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO AS A COLLABORATIVE TEAM PLAYER.
UH, ALWAYS READY TO ASSIST OTHER TEAMS WITH DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS PROJECT SUPPORT AND CRITICAL SITUATIONS, ERNESTO CAN BE RELIED UPON IN THE FACE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES.
HE REMAINS ENGAGED UNTIL RESOLUTIONS ARE ACHIEVED.
DURING THE RECENT NETWORK SECURITY INCIDENT, ERNESTO EXHIBITED STEADFAST
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DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, COMMITMENT, AND PROFESSIONALISM, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN THE REMEDIATION EFFORTS AND SERVICE RESTORATION.HE'S AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR HIS CONTINUED SERVICE, ACKNOWLEDGING HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
NEXT UP IS, UH, THE MARCH EMPLOYEE, UH, OF THE MONTH, UM, FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, OUR EQUITY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM FOR HOST.
ALRIGHT, TONY ES TONY JOINED OUR LONG BEACH TEAM IN 2022 AS THE EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY.
IN HIS POSITION, TONY HELPS ADVANCE, UH, EQUITY FOR HISTORICALLY UNREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN LONG BEACH BY SUPPORTING INITIATIVES SUCH AS LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, WHICH PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACING OR AT RISK OF DEPORTATION.
TONY IS ALSO OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON TO THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING COMMUNITY EFFORT OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH THE CITY'S FIRST EVER COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
HE'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS FOR THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY AND RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE AND DESIGNS TOOLS TO SUPPORT, UH, CITY STAFF IN DELIVERING EMPATHETIC COMMUNITY CENTERED AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE SERVICE.
TONY'S AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH TEAM AS HIS CURIOSITY AND CARE FOR PEOPLE RADIATES THROUGH HIS SYSTEMS CHANGE LEADERSHIP.
AND OUR LAST ONE IS, UH, OUR MARCH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, HELICOPTER MECHANIC DAVID UNA.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, DAVID HAS MANAGED THE OVERHAULING OF BOTH POLICE DEPARTMENT HELICOPTER ENGINES TO MEET STRINGENT GRANT DEADLINES.
HIS EFFORTS TO COMPLETE, UH, TO COMPLETE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINES INSURED.
THE $1.5 MILLION COST COULD BE GRANT FUNDED BY MEETING REALLY TIGHT GRANT DEADLINES.
PD HELICOPTERS ARE 20 YEARS OLD, SO PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REBUILD ARE DIFFICULT TO SECURE AND SOME OF THE PARTS NEEDED WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO THE VENDOR.
DAVID WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PARTS FROM HIS STOCK, ALSO REACHING OUT TO VENDORS ALL OVER AMERICA AND CANADA TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ITEMS TO COMPLETE THESE UNITS BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
DUE TO THIS COMPLEX ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH HELICOPTERS, PD HAS, UM, ONLY HAD ONE OPERATING HELICOPTER TO MEET THEIR DAILY OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR MANY MONTHS.
DAVID WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK, WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS TO MAKE SURE PD ALWAYS HAD AN OPERATIONAL HELICOPTER AVAILABLE EVERY DAY DURING THIS TIMEFRAME.
HE'S A AVAIL VALUABLE ASSET, NOT ONLY FOR FLEET SERVICES, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US SHARE THE STORIES OF THE REALLY HARD WORK THAT, UH, OUR 6,000 EMPLOYEE TEAM GETS TO DO ON YOUR BEHALF AND ON ON MANAGEMENT'S BEHALF.
THEY'RE REALLY THE ONES OUT THERE DOING THE WORK.
YOU CAN TELL THEY HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR COWORKERS ARE REALLY PROUD OF THEM AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS, UH, IMPORTANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU TOM, AND LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES PET ADOPTION.
[ ACS PET ADOPTION]
WE GOT A REALLY CUTE PUPPY COMING.ALL RIGHT, DON'T TURN YOUR BACKS ON REGINA
WHERE'S THE CLICKER? ALRIGHT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UM, WHERE'S THE CLICKER? SORRY.
[00:15:01]
OKAY.HELLO CITY, UM, ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR.
MY NAME IS MAY VILLANOVA FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR VOLUNTEER LISA ZANG AND SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH.
SO TODAY WE ARE INTRODUCING REGINA.
SHE IS A SPUNKY AND AFFECTIONATE ONE-YEAR-OLD SPADE, UH, FEMALE AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG, WHO HAS BEEN WHAT BEEN AT THE SHELTER SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
AND AS A PUPPY, ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS PLAY LOVE YOU AND BRING SUNSHINE TO YOUR LIFE.
UM, SOME QUALITIES ABOUT HER, SHE IS FOOD MO MOTIVATED, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE.
SO SHE'S, SHE'LL BE A PERFECT FIT IN YOUR HOME.
UM, SHE'S ALSO GREAT WITH OTHER DOGS AND SHE'S A PERFECT COMPANION, UM, IN THE CAR, VERY QUIET AND CALM AND SHE'S JUST SUPER LOVABLE AND JUST WANTS TO HAVE A FOREVER HOME LOOK LIKE REX GOT HER
OKAY, I'LL JUST KEEP ON GOING.
SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, VACCINES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE, PROTECTING OUR FURRY FRIENDS FROM VARIOUS DISEASES.
UH, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CAMP CLINICS AT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER TO HOST A LOW COST VACCINE CLINIC.
UM, EVERY MONDAY HERE WE HAVE IT ON MON MARCH 25TH, APRIL 8TH, 15TH, AND 22ND FROM 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM.
UM, AND, UM, THE CLINIC OFFERS A VARIETY OF VACCINES, INCLUDING THOSE AGAINST RABIES AS WELL AS MICROCHIPPING YOUR ANIMAL.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME ADOPTION EVENTS.
UH, SO WE HAVE THREE EVENTS HOSTED BY DISTRICT SEVEN'S, COUNCIL MEMBER YOKA FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
UM, AND ALL ADOPTION FEES WILL BE WAIVED AT THIS EVENT AND INFORMATION ON SPAY, NEUTER, VOUCHERS, PET LICENSING AND PET LAWS WILL BE PROVIDED AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE A MONTHLY ADOPTION EVENT AT PET SUPPLIES PLUS, UM, AT THE BELL BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD LOCATION IN LONG BEACH ON APRIL 20TH.
UM, THESE ARE ALL GREAT EVENTS AND OUR FURRY FRIENDS AT THE SHELTER ARE SO EXCITED TO MEET THEIR FOREVER FAMILY.
UM, AND THEN HERE WE HAVE JUST A, A RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS THAT WE WANNA SHARE.
SO WE ARE OFFERING SPAY NEUTER VOUCHERS.
UM, YOU, WE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE A CITY RESIDENT.
SORRY, THAT'S A TYPO RIGHT THERE.
UM, YOU CAN BE A CITY RESIDENT, UM, OF LONG BEACH, SIGNAL HILL AND, UM, LOS ALAMITOS AND CERRITOS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW YOUR PROOF OF ADDRESS.
UM, YOU GET $60 AND 95 CENTS FOR DOGS AND A HUNDRED CAT A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR CATS.
AND THIS APPLIES TO YOUR PET OR A COMMUNITY CAT, WHICH IS A NEIGHBORHOOD CAT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS APPLY ONLINE@LONGBEACH.GOV SLASH ACS.
AND THEN LASTLY, HERE'S OUR LOCATION AND ALL OF OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
UH, IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT VOLUNTEER, FOSTER, OR DONATE, UH, WE SINCERELY REQUEST THE PUBLIC'S HELP AS WE ARE AT FULL CAPACITY AT OUR SHELTER.
UH, THIS MEANS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OPEN KENNELS AVAILABLE, UM, MAKING IT A CHALLENGE FOR INCOMING ANIMALS WHO MAY NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION OR HOMES.
SO, UM, OUR SHELTER IS OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 10:00 AM TO 5:30 PM AND THEN SATURDAYS THROUGH SUNDAY, 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, TAKE IT AWAY.
WELL, UH, WE HAVE THIS, THIS STREAK WE HAVE GOING.
EVERY PET THAT WE BROUGHT HERE IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL TO BE ADOPTED HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
SO WE'RE BATTING A THOUSAND RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND I DON'T SAY THIS BY EVERY DOG, BUT THIS ONE'S SPECIAL.
OKAY? WE'RE NOT GONNA LET REGINA DOWN.
HOW OLD IS REGINA ONE? SHE'S A PUPPY.
I MEAN, SHE'S GOT A LONG LIFE COMING, RIGHT? SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE STREAK GOING, RIGHT? YEP.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AND TAKING REGINA HOME, GO AHEAD AND TALK TO THESE GOOD PEOPLE HERE.
UH, OR YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND VISIT LONG BEACH.GOV/ACS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN.
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ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR FINAL PRESENTATION, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
UH, ON BEHALF OF VICE MAYOR ALLEN, UM, I WILL PRESENT THE THEME FOR THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY
[ WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH PRESENTATION]
MONTH IN OF 2024, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN'S ADVOCATING FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.IT HONORS WOMEN NATIONWIDE WHO CHAMPIONED THE ELIMINATION OF BIAS DIS AND DISCRIMINATION FROM OUR LIVES AND INSTITUTION, RECOGNIZING THEIR CRUCIAL ROLE IN SHAPING A POSITIVE FUTURE THIS YEAR.
TO HONOR THAT THEME, VICE MAYOR CINDY ALLEN HAS INVITED LONG BEACH EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONER ROBBIE BUTLER TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER BUTLER CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, AND HAS ALSO SERVED MULTIPLE TERMS ON THE LA URBAN LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, U-C-D-U-C-S-D, BLACK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP COUNCIL, AND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ATHLETES LOS ANGELES CHAPTER PLANNING COMMITTEE.
COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS A DIVORCE MOTHER OF THREE, WHOSE CAREER BACKGROUND INCLUDES PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR, BUSINESS PROGRAMMER ANALYST, SENIOR BUSINESS SYSTEM ANALYST, CORPORATE TRAINER, CORPORATE EXECUTIVE, AND PUBLISHED AUTHOR.
AFTER FINDING SUCCESS AS AN AUTHOR, SHE WENT ON TO START THE SPEAK UP EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION, WHERE SHE ADVOCATES FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR ALL WOMEN.
SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF SPEAK UP EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION AND IS THE, UH, CREATOR OF THE ANNUAL MISS SINGLE MOM ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORM.
AND THE SINGLE MOM EMPOWERMENT FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE HEADED BY SINGLE MOMS IN GREATER LA LONG BEACH, LA, AND SURROUNDING AREA.
THEY FOLLOW A THREE PART MISSION EMPHASIZING EDUCATION, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND EMPOWERMENT TO UPLIFT SINGLE PARENTS, REMINDING THEM THAT THEY OVERCOME CHALLENGES.
SO VICE MAYOR SENDS THIS MESSAGE FROM SACRAMENTO ABOUT TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE INVITED COMMISSIONER ROBBIE BUTLER TO SHARE HER INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES WITH US TODAY.
HER COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND INCLUSION ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE SPIRIT OF NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT HER WORDS WILL INSPIRE US ALL TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS CREATING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.
AND VICE MAYOR ALLEN IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN OF COLOR IN LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLE.
AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER PURPOSELY EMPOWERS THE UNDER UNDERSERVED TO CE TO SUCCESS AND IS FREQUENTLY INVOLVING COMMUNITY, CIVIC, AND CORPORATE AFFILIATION THAT EMPOWERS SUCCESS.
FINALLY, AFTER COMMISSIONER BUTLER SPEAK, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL THE WOMEN, STAFF AND MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER.
I'M JUST READING WHAT IT SAYS HERE.
GREETINGS AND HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SORROW FOR THAT VERY GENEROUS INTRODUCTION.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ALLEN IN HER ABSENCE AND ALL THE COUNSEL FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT.
WELL, MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND I FIND THAT DURING THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE AND IN THE SECOND WAVE OF FEMINISM, WOMEN OF COLOR WERE OFTEN COMPLETELY OBLITERATED, ERADICATED, ABOLISHED, AND TOTALLY LEFT OUT OF THE PICTURE OF HISTORY.
ALRIGHT, WHEN I STUDIED THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF HISTORY IN OUR COUNTRY, I COULD SEE HOW THAT SITUATION LAID A FOUNDATION WHICH EXCLUDES MANY WOMEN OF COLOR, EVEN TO THIS DAY.
NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MANY STRUGGLES FOR WOMEN OF COLOR JUST TO GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR AND HOPEFULLY A SEAT SOMEWHERE AT THE TABLE.
IT'S BEEN A VERY SHARP DOUBLE EDGED SWORD FOR US BECAUSE WE BATTLE THE INTERSECTIONALITY, THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF RACE AND GENDER.
I BEGAN TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO HELP PREVENT THE REPRESSIVE AND REGRESSIVE PARTS OF HISTORY FROM BEING REPEATED.
IN OTHER WORDS, STUDY A HISTORY SO THAT YOU DON'T REPEAT THE NEGATIVE PARTS OF IT.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO, TO DETERMINE HOW I COULD HELP, ENCOURAGE AND REPLICATE THE PROGRESSIVE AND PRODUCTIVE
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PARTS OF HISTORY TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD.AS SUCH, I STARTED MY SEARCH RIGHT HERE IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF LONG BEACH.
I LOOKED AND WAS AMAZED, ENCOURAGED, AND INSPIRED BY THE MANY STRONG WOMEN LEADERS OF COLOR WHO REPRESENT OUR CITY.
AND THAT LEADS ME TO THIS WOMEN, THIS YEAR'S WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH THEME, WOMEN WHO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION.
NOT JUST SOMETIME, NOT IN THE MEANTIME, IN BETWEEN TIME, BUT ON THE REGULAR.
I FOUND SOME IMPRESSIVE HISTORY MAKING TRENDSETTING STRONG WOMEN OF COLOR RIGHT HERE.
NOW THE LIST I'M ABOUT TO READ IS A VERY SMALL SAMPLING OF THEIR NAMES.
FORMER VICE PRE, I'M SORRY, FORMER VICE MAYOR.
AND MY SOAR, THE HONORABLE DO DORIS TOPSY LOR, OUR LEGENDARY MS. EVELYN KNIGHT, MS. IVY OR LINDA GOOLSBY.
MS. CAROLYN SMITH WATTS, MS. ART MESS.
ART TRULIA SCOTT, DR. RUTH HAYES.
MS. BARBARA SULLIVAN, GEORGE MS. MS. JUANITA MATTHEWS.
MS. MARIE DEARIE, CHIEF DEMO CHICK ROBIN THORN.
MS. SHARON DIGGS JACKSON, MS. SANDY CAJAS.
MS. MAXVILLE ATTORNEY MICHELLE DOBSON.
MS. BOBBY SMITH, COUNCILWOMAN DR.
JOANI RICKS ATI COUNCILWOMAN MARRIES IN DEJAS COUNCILWOMAN.
I GET A LITTLE EX A LITTLE EXCITED SOMETIMES.
AND, AND THIS LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
EVEN INCLUDING MYSELF, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE WAY TO PROPEL OUR MOVEMENT FORWARD IS WITH WOMEN OF COLOR STATIONED AT THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE THE WORLD OF LEADERSHIP SHOULD REFLECT A PICTURE AS BEAUTIFULLY INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE, AND DIVERSE AS THE MANY HUES FOUND IN THE COLORFUL RAINBOW.
AS STATED EARLIER, I'M COMMISSIONER ROBBIE BUTLER, PRESIDENT OF THE SPEAK UP EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION AND HOST OF THE ANNUAL MISS SINGLE MOM EMPOWERMENT FORUM, WHICH IS HELD EACH SPRING HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL.
THESE TWO ENTITIES EXIST TO ELEVATE THE SUCCESS OF SINGLE MOMS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, ALL AT NO COST THANKS TO INTENTIONAL SPONSOR SUPPORT.
AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ELABORATE ON THE BACKSTORY OF EVERYONE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY NAMED, I WILL BRIEFLY SHARE THAT MY WORK IN LONG BEACH, AS IS THE SAME CASE WITH ALL OF THE WOMEN LEADERS HERE, IS SIMPLY THE RESULT OF A STRONG DESIRE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE AND LEAVE A POSITIVE FOOTPRINT.
SO I PERSONALLY THINK THE MAYOR AND THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO FINANCIALLY SUP SUPPORT OUR ANNUAL INITIATIVE AND ENCOURAGE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO JOIN US WITH YOUR FINANCIAL DONATIONS AS WELL.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER THIS, IT'S YOUR SUPPORT THAT HELPS PROMOTE THE SUCCESS OF ALL WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS IN OUR CITY.
IN CLOSING AND IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE WOMEN LEADERS WHO ARE PRESENT IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT TO PLEASE STAND UP AND JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM FOR A QUICK GROUP PHOTO TO SHOW THE WORLD HOW LONG BEACH WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP BRIGHTENS THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
ARE YOU GONNA LEAD, LEAD FOLKS DOWN FOR THE PHOTO? LET, LET'S JOIN IN THE PHOTO.
THANK YOU ALL THINGS DECENTLY AND IN ORDER, THANK
[00:30:01]
YOU SO MUCH.THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
LET'S QUEUE UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE.
IS I SEE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP, UH, TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ELIZABETH LAMB, IS ELIZABETH HERE?
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 16.)]
OH, HERE SHE IS.UM, UH, SO, UM, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH LAMB.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS LAND TRUST.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.
I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THIS PROJECT, THIS PROPOSAL INTRUDES BY ONE QUARTER INTO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NON-DISCRETIONARY A HUNDRED FOOT BUFFER AND WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE HABITAT.
IT WAS ONLY ALLOWED BY THE COASTAL COMMISSION BECAUSE THE COASTAL COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT HENCE FORWARD MOVING FORWARD, THE CITY WON'T BE, UM, MOVING PROJECTS THAT DON'T COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS AND THE ZONING THAT WERE VOTED ON.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER, WILL BE NOISY AND DISRUPTIVE TO WILDLIFE FOR THE THREE TO FOUR YEARS THAT WILL BE IN USE.
WE BELIEVE IF THE COUNCIL IS TO APPROVE THIS PROJECT, IT SHOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL MITIGATION AS RECOMMENDED BY A QUALIFIED BIOLOGIST.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE HEIGHT AND DENSITY OF THIS PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS WITHIN THE CIP AREA, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS AND INCLUDES LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS, IS A RESULT OF STATE DENSITY AND HEIGHT OVERRIDES THAT, UM, IMPACTED THE LOCAL ZONING FOR THE AREA.
THUS, THE IMPACTS OF THIS MORE DENSE AND TALL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHERS IN THE AREA WERE NEVER ANALYZED COMPLETELY FOR THEIR IMPACTS.
THUS MAKING IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE ERR ON THE SIDE OF PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE WHEN REVIEWING OR APPROVING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CSIP ZONING AREA.
[00:35:01]
ME SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WE'LL NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE.
I SEE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
KAREN REZO? NOPE, ACTUALLY THERE'S MORE.
[ 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. ]
SEVEN.COME ON DOWN AFTER KAREN IS DONNA YOUNG.
LINDA THOMAS, LESLIE SANDERS, BEVERLY WALKER, LINDA ORR, AND DOUGLAS CHAMPION.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH CREEK PANTHERS AND I'M ONE OF THE AREA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING AND DISABILITIES.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THIS AFTERNOON THAT, UM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUPPORTED A 180 DAY, UM, REPORT ON THE SENIOR SAFE HOME AND WANNA THANK MARY ZENDEJAS AND CINDY ALLEN FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIPS AND FOR EVERYONE THAT WROTE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
UH, IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY SO WIN FOR SENIORS.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, LET EVERYBODY KNOWBODY KNOW WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL HEARING FOR THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT.
OUT OF THE 211 PEOPLE THAT ATTENDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITHIN THE COUNTY, LONG BEACH HAD 42.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION BY, UM, THE ANALYZE THE EVALUATOR WAS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD DO ALL THEIR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AFTER THE LONG BEACH MODEL, WE HAD 42 VERY VOCAL SENIORS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED IN THE PLAN.
SO WE WANNA THANK THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE HEARING, AND WE WANNA SEE A LOT MORE HEARINGS IN LONG BEACH.
AND, UH, CONNOR LOCKE SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THAT TODAY AT THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH BEHIND LONG BEACH POLY.
MY CONCERN IS, UM, WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO REPAVE THAT STREET? UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, I GOT A BAG OF ASPHALT.
THE STREET IS COMING UP AND IT'S SOON TO BE A SINKHOLE.
UM, I LIVE DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK.
THERE'S ONLY TWO STORM DRAIN SYSTEMS ON THAT ENTIRE BLOCK.
SO WHEN IT RAINS, THE WATER IS UP LIKE AN OCEAN OUT THERE.
I'M LIKE A PRISONER IN MY HOME.
I DRIVE A LOW PROFILE CAR, WHICH MEANS I CAN'T GET OUTTA MY DRIVEWAY AND NO ONE CAN GET INTO THE DRIVEWAY.
SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING STUCK IF SOMETHING WERE REALLY SERIOUS TO HAPPEN.
SO I'M HERE TO FIND OUT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE, UM, THAT SITUATION I MET, UM, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD A DISTRICT SIX, UH, ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING US.
AND I CAME DOWN HERE, I SPOKE WITH ENGINEERS AND THEY MADE THESE ELABORATE PROMISES.
BUT NOTHING HAS YET, UH, BEEN RESOLVED OR HAS HAPPENED.
AND I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO MY COUNCIL WOMAN'S ATTENTION SEVERAL TIMES.
AND TO THIS AVAIL I HAVE GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE.
SO I'M HERE TO FIND OUT WHEN WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING.
ALRIGHT, SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, YOUR STREET GETS CONNECTED TO STAFF SO THEY CAN GO OUT, TELL YOU WHEN IT'S IN QUEUE AND FIX WHATEVER POTHOLES ARE OUT THERE AFTER RAIN.
THEY'RE ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY.
IT TAKES US A COUPLE MONTHS TO GET 'EM FILLED.
BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THERESA'S OVER HERE, I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT WITH HER AND GET YOUR ADDRESS AND SUBMIT YOUR ADDRESS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTH LONG BEACH.
I'M JUST HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 2019 WITH THE FLOODING, WHICH YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW, MAYOR AND JODY, JOANIE, EXCUSE ME, WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET A RESOLVE? THIS HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING NOW.
I SEE THAT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ARE GETTING DONE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND I FEEL WE'RE IN THE CITY DIVIDED THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE TOWN.
SO I THINK IT'S BASED ON YOUR ZIP CODE.
YOU ACTUALLY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR, UH, DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH, I THINK EARLY JANUARY FOR THE FLOODING THAT HAPPENED THERE.
WE WANT THE SAME TYPE OF RESPONSE ACTION SO WE CAN FEEL LIKE WE'RE A PART OF, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M COMPLETELY LIVING IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY AND IT SHOULDN'T BE DIVIDED.
[00:40:01]
AND WE'RE IN THE CITY DIVIDED AND THAT'S NOT FAIR.SO I WANNA KNOW, WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET THIS PUMP FIXED THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR FIVE YEARS NOW? SO ANY THOUGHTS, ANY COMMENTS? 'CAUSE WE'VE JUST BEEN GETTING EMPTY PROMISES ABOUT THIS, SO HAS THERE BEEN ANY UPDATES? I GUESS JONIE, I CAN ADDRESS YOU WITH THAT.
HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANYTHING? WE, I THINK WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING WE'VE BEEN GOING UP TO SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, IS THERE GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SO WE CAN GET RESOLVED? BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
SO CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? THANK YOU.
WE VOTED FOR YOU AND I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS BEVERLY WALKER.
AFTER BEVERLY IS LINDA, THEN DOUGLAS.
THIS SCREEN, ONCE YOU SCROLL BY FOR A MINUTE, DISMISS IT.
LESLIE, THEN BEVERLY, THEN LINDA.
I'M GONNA WANNA REITERATE ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, I FOUND OUT ONE OF MY FRIENDS GO TO ANOTHER CONFERENCE MEETING DOWNTOWN SOMEWHERE AND SHE WAS SAYING THAT THEY'RE GONNA EXPAND THE, UH, THE 91 FROM THE OFF RAMP FROM THE LONG BEACH FREEWAY, UH, WHERE YOU, UM, WHERE ATLANTIC AND ARTESIAN GET ON THE FREEWAY, THAT, THAT ACCESS.
SO WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO IS THEY'RE GONNA BE ENCROACHING MORE, UH, LAND.
SO WHERE RIGHT NOW IT'S A LEVY WHERE YOU CAN GO DOWN AND IT HAS GRASS THERE, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE PUTTING IT, EXTENDING THE FREEWAY, MAKING ANOTHER LANE.
THEY ALREADY PROVED LIKE ABOUT I THINK 40 MILLION FOR THE CITY OF LA TRANSPORTATION.
BUT NOW WE GONNA NEED TO KNOW IS THESE, WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF NOISE FROM THE CARS.
YOU KNOW, THE, IF YOU GO OUTSIDE YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE.
SO WE WANNA KNOW, I WAS GOING TO, UH, TRY TO COME TO THE COUNCIL, BUT WITHOUT MENTIONING NOW, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF MORE INSULATED WINDOW MONEY WITH THAT BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE BRINGING THE FREEWAY CLOSER TO OUR RESIDENCE AND NOW IT'S GONNA BE MUCH LOUDER.
SO I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT THEY DID SOME KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT PRIVY TO, BUT WE NEED TO GET THAT ADJUSTED.
I AM ENCOURAGED ABOUT ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING ON LONG BEACH.
I THINK IN THE OBAMA LIBRARY THEY JUST BROKE FROM KAUFMAN ABROAD.
SEEMS LIKE ABOUT 80 TOWN HOMES GONNA BE THERE.
SO THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'RE BRINGING MORE DEVELOPMENT IN THERE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE ALL THAT.
SO THAT'S JUST WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PUMPS UP TO DATE.
LIKE I SAID, THIS PROBLEM WAS STARTED IN 1938.
THEY WERE BUILT, THEY HAD A 50 YEAR EXPECTANCY.
SO NOW YOU, BY 88 THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPI NEW, BIGGER PIPES OF THAT.
SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS CONTINUAL FLOODING IN THAT AREA.
PEOPLE COME OUT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
'CAUSE AFTER THE FLOOD I HAVE 'EM CHECKED EVERY YEAR.
NOW YOU HAVE, ANYTIME YOU HAVE OVER 5,000 SPORES IN A A 10 BY 10 AREA, IT'S AUTOMATIC FOR RE UH, UH, EXCUSE ME, MEDIATION AND MY, AND TO GET ALL THAT OUT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT REMOVAL AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO AFTER THE FLOOD, WE WERE AT 250,000 PER THAT SECTION.
NOW I JUST TOOK SOME PICTURES TODAY IN THE AREA OF THE GARAGE.
'CAUSE THE GARAGE IS THE AREA THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LIGHT IN.
SO EACH YEAR WE'RE IN THE HOUSE AND MY GRANDKIDS, ALL FOUR OF 'EM ARE HYPERALLERGENIC.
SO THEY CAN'T REALLY COME IN MY HOUSE BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET EVERY SPRING YOU GET THE SPORES 'CAUSE THEY DRY UP AND THEY START GOING AROUND THE HOUSE.
AND IF YOU LOOK WHERE, SO THE SUNLIGHT'S COMING IN, YOU CAN SEE ALL THESE LITTLE PARTICLES GOING IN THERE.
I AM A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AND I KNOW THAT THOSE THINGS CAN LODGE IN YOUR LUNGS AND THEN AS YOU GET OLDER AND YOU STOP MOVING, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GONNA START HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
SO WE NEED TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND JUST LIKE I, UH, I THINK IT'S, UM, I HOPE I DON'T MOUNT YOUR NAME ABOUT YOUR NAME UP.
SORROW SAID COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING AND EVERYBODY BEING ON THE SAME PAGE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND A COUNCIL IF YOU, IF SOMETHING COMES AHEAD, IF THEY GET IT, THEY GOTTA EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY.
SO THAT WAY I'M A MANAGER OF, OF ALMOST 60,000 PEOPLE, FIVE FACILITIES.
AND THEN THEY TOOK ME TO REGIONAL MANAGER, MORE PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY WAS ON THE SAME ACCORD.
THAT'S WHY WE WAS MORE, WE WERE EFFECTIVE.
NEXT IS BEVERLY, THEN LINDA, THEN DOUGLAS.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BEVERLY WALKER.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.
I LIVE, UH, ON 16TH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM POLLY HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, I COME TO YOU WITH A REQUEST TO FIND OUT IF MAYBE LONG BEACH COULD ADOPT THE SAME THING THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE CALLED.
IT'S CALLED SAFE PASSAGE FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF HOMELESS THAT'S SET UP AROUND POLY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IN ORDER, AT LEAST ON MY STREET, IN ORDER FOR THE KIDS TO GET TO SCHOOL, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO WALK INTO THE STREET TO WALK AROUND THE HOMELESS TO GET INTO SCHOOL.
AND I KNOW WITH THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM THAT POSSIBLY THAT WOULD ELIMINATE SOME OF THAT.
[00:45:01]
AND, UH, THAT'S MY REQUEST TODAY.THERE'S A PRESENTATION TONIGHT, I BELIEVE.
CORRECT? THERE'S A PRESENTATION TONIGHT ON THE SAFE.
WE HAVE A, A PROGRAM IN LONG BEACH.
PARDON ME? THERE'S A PRESENTATION TONIGHT ON THAT VERY TOP.
DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE SPEAK.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE LINDA AND THEN, UH, DOUGLAS.
UM, THIS IS THE POSTER SO YOU CAN SEE.
UM, RESPECTED
WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN REMOVING THE FRAY BRAVO, WHICH IN CAMBODIA, IT'S BEEN JAIL FROM THE CAMBODIAN TOWN FLYER.
WHILE BRAVO ALONE, THE WORD BRAVO ALONE IS FINE.
WHAT WE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THIS WORD MEAN PEACE.
SO WHEN THIS TWO WORD PAIR, UM, IT'S ALIGNED WITH AN AUDITORIUM REGIME, WHICH IS CONTRADICTING OUR VALUE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.
THIS TERM HAS A HIDDEN AGENDA ALSO.
IT TIED TO THE CAMBODIA OPPRESSIVE REGIME, WHICH CAMBODIA TOWN LEADERSHIP WERE AWARE OF AND EVIDENT IN THEIR PAST ACTIONS LIKE INVITING THE REGIME TOP LEADER TO LOCAL EVENTS LIKE LONG BEACH PARADE.
ALLOW ME TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A TRAVELING PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR BY CAMBODIA TOWN.
IN 2007, CAMBODIA TOWN EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO SOAN.
WHO IS HAN? HAN IS THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF CAMBODIA TO PARTICIPATE IN LONG BEACH PARADE IN 2008.
AS EXPECTED, THIS DECISION WAS MET WITH PROTEST OF LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND NEIGHBOR CITY.
FAST FORWARD TO 2017, WHERE CAMBODIA COORDINATING COUNCIL UNDER THE SAME LEADERSHIP AS CAMBODIA TOWN APPROVE MR. HUN KNIGHT, WHO IS THE SON OF MR. STEIN, A MAN THAT RULE CAMBODIA WITH AN IRON FIST FOR THE ALMOST 40 YEARS.
AND WITH A RECORD WITH HUMAN RIGHT WATCH, HE IS ASKED, HAVE A RECORD OF ELIMINATING HIS OPPOSITION BY JAIL OR EXCEL.
SO IN 2000 2017, HUN KNIGHT WAS INVITED TO THE PARADE.
ONCE AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY WORE ITS STRONG OPPOSITION.
I'M NOT SURE YOU ANY OF YOU REMEMBER.
DESPITE CLAIM TO PROMOTE PEACE, CAMBODIA TOWN ACTION HAS THIRD CONTROVERSY AND OPPOSITION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CANNOT TOLERATE OUR SPACE BEING USED TO PERPETRATE OPPRESSIONS.
ONE OF THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR CAMBODIA TOWN IS TO FOSTER A THRIVING AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, CAMBODIA TOWN HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF CHAOS.
AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SPEAKER, MR. CHAMPION, TAKE YOUR TIME.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A MIDNIGHT GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT IT'S OKAY.
I'M, I'M RECOVERING FROM MULTIPLE MYELOMA, SO MY GOD IS STILL GOOD.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY ABOUT, UH, LONG BEACH POLY AREA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM.
ONE THING IS, IS ABOUT THE STREETS AND FLOODING BECAUSE UH, NOW I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO BUY FLOOD INSURANCE.
'CAUSE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE WHEN IT RAINS, LIKE DONNA WAS SAYING, IT'S OVER THE CURB.
IT, THEN THE TRE WAS RAIN THAT WE HAD THAT WAS BACK TO BACK.
IT WAS DONE BY THE LAKE OVER THERE, YOU KNOW.
AND SO WE FOR AND VOTED FOR ME TO GET, UH, FLOOD INSURANCE.
I HAD TO GIVE 'EM $8,000 UP FRONT AND DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE IF I GET FLOODED OUT, EARTHQUAKE AND THE HOMEOWNERS DON'T COVER IT.
[00:50:01]
'CAUSE A DIFFERENT ENTITY.INSURANCE COMPANIES GOT THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN LAWS AND THEIR OWN RULES WHEN I TALK TO 'EM, YEAH, I GOTTA HAVE THE FLOW OF INSURANCE.
SO I'M ASKING THE CITY, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THAT.
ALSO, WITH THE HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE THING, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN EVENING TIME.
WE NEED TO GET THE LIGHTS TURNED UP BECAUSE I KNOW THE LIGHTS DIDN GET TURNED UP.
WE GOT THE TREES DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL DARK.
WE HAD BIG FICUS TREES AND WE COULDN'T EVEN SEE NOW THE FCUS TREES ARE GONE AND IT'S STILL DARK OVER THERE.
SO CAN WE GET SOME BRIGHTER LIGHTS OVER THERE? BECAUSE IT DON'T MAKE THOSE SENSE WHEN PEOPLE GET OFF, EVERYBODY OVER THERE IS AROUND, HEY, YOU GET OFF WORK YOU WANT, JUST WANT JUST RUN IN THE HOUSE.
YOU WANNA TAKE YOUR WIFE AND JUST WALK AROUND THE BLOCK.
THE HOMELESS PEOPLE COMING ON ONE END AND IT'S TOO DARK AND TOO SAFE TO GO OUT ON THE OTHER HAND.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU GUYS, I MEAN, THE MONEY'S THERE.
YOU'VE DONE IT WHEN YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THEY GOT THE FIGHT, THE STREETS TAKEN OUT, HAD TO GO TO DISABILITY, THEY DIDN'T EVEN PLAY WITH IT.
I ASKED YOU GUYS NOT TO PLAY WITH THIS, SEE ABOUT OUR STREET POLICE, YOU KNOW, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT FLOOD OR, OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DID THE LAST THING IN 2010 WHEN THEY STRIPPED THE WHOLE STREET, EVIDENTLY THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ELEVATION RIGHT, BECAUSE ELEVATIONS, IT WAS WORSE.
THAT'S BEFORE THEY PUT THE, THE PARKING WHERE THE, THE PARKING LOT USED TO BE AT, AT MCBRIDE PARK.
SO I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE A LONG TIME, A REAL LONG TIME.
SO WE JUST NEED TO GET THE ELEVATIONS FIXED.
ALRIGHT, MR. CHAMPION, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT.
WELL THAT SATISFIES PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, NOW WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE, UH, WITH THE AGENDA.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 17, PLEASE.
ITEM 17, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR.
RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO BEGIN DEVELOPING A SPEED SAFETY SYSTEM.
USE POLICY IMPACT REPORT AND PROPOSAL FOR AN
[17. 24-52574 Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Public Works Department and relevant departments to begin the process in developing a Speed Safety System Use Policy, a Speed Safety System Impact Report, and proposal for an automated Speed Safety System Pilot Program pursuant to AB 645 to City Council within 45 days. Office or Department: Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District; Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AUTOMATED PILOT PRO PROGRAM.UH, FIRST I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK MAYOR RICHARDSON FOR TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THIS BILL, UM, THAT THIS PILOT PROGRAM IS A PART OF AND WORKING TO ENSURE THAT LONG BEACH COULD BE A PART OF IT.
UM, HE WROTE OP-EDS, HE, HE LOBBIED APPROPRIATE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BIG CITY, UM, THAT IS PRETTY MANAGEABLE.
COULD BE, UM, AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER CITIES.
UH, AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THE RECENT PASSING OF ASSEMBLY BILL 6 4 5 AUTHORIZED THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AMONG OTHERS TO ESTABLISH A SPEED SAFETY PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP MITIGATE UNSAFE DRIVING PRACTICES AND LIMIT SPEED RELATED ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES PER AB 6 45.
WE KNOW STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IMPLEMENTING SUCH PROGRAMS IN OTHER STATES AND CITIES OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING SPEEDING AND ADDRESSING SAFETY TRAFFIC TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS ALSO PER AB 6 45 WERE REQUIRED AS A CITY TO ADOPT A SPEED SAFETY SYSTEM USE POLICY AND A SPEED SAFETY SYSTEM IMPACT REPORT BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROGRAM.
THIS ITEM TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROCESS, ALLOWING OUR CITY STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE USE POLICY AND IMPACT REPORT.
THIS IS A REQUIRED STEP IN THE PROCESS THAT WILL ENSURE THE EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM ACROSS A LAR OUR LARGE AND DIVERSE CITY.
SORROW FOR IZING THIS ITEM IN THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE WHERE WE HEARD A REPORT FROM OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER, UM, ON WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR LONG BEACH.
SO IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION, THERE IS THAT, UH, VIDEO AVAILABLE TO WATCH BEFORE THIS REPORT COMES BACK.
BUT WITH THESE FINDINGS, THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF GREATEST NEED AND FIND OUT WHERE IMPLEMENTING THE LIMITED NUMBER OF SYSTEMS ALLOWED THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASSEMBLY BILL.
FURTHER, THE USE POLICY AND IMPACT REPORT WILL ALLOW FOR US TO START ON THE FOOT OF FULL TRANSPARENCY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT INTENDED TO TRAP ANYONE, NOR WILL THEY BE STORING PERSONAL DATA.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CARE TAKEN AGAIN AT MAYOR RICHARDSON'S URGING AND WORKED DONE ON THIS BILL TO ENSURE INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY WHILE IMPLEMENTING CAMERA SYSTEMS AS OUTLINED IN AB 6 45.
THE CAMERAS WILL CAPTURE ONLY THE LICENSE PLATE IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLES.
NO PHOTOS OF INDIVIDUALS WILL BE TAKEN FURTHER, THOSE IMAGES CAPTURED WILL BE RETAINED BY THE SYSTEM FOR ONLY 60 DAYS.
IT IS NOT OUR HOPE TO ISSUE ENDLESS CITATIONS THROUGH THESE SYSTEMS, BUT TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR CITATIONS BY ENCOURAGING SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES IN OUR STREETS.
SUCCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE SAFE DRIVING AND NO CITATIONS.
THIS IS NOT A TOTAL SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE, BUT HOPEFULLY A WAY TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR IN SOME OF OUR MOST DANGEROUS CORRIDORS.
THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM AND ALONG WITH THE
[00:55:01]
OTHER CITIES, WE WILL LOOK AT THE IMPACTS IT WILL HAVE OVER THE LIFE OF ITS PROGRAM AND HOPEFULLY GET INSIGHTS ON WAYS TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFER FOR ALL.AFTER AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS MERELY A STEP IN ALLOWING OUR CITY STAFF MEMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PILOT PROGRAM.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE POTENTIALLY POSITIVE BENEFITS THIS PROGRAM WILL BRING TO OUR CITY AS WE CONTINUE ON A PATH TOWARDS LIMITING TRAFFIC RELATED FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES IN LONG BEACH.
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT.
UH, NEXT IS COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS.
CAN I, OH, I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.
I JUST WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN KERR, UH, FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
I, AS THE CHAIR OF MOBILITY PARTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, UH, WE HAVE HAD ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, ABOUT MEETING VISION ZERO, BUT CONTINUOUSLY JUST FIGURING OUT WAYS, ANYTHING WE CAN AS OPTION TO JUST REDUCE, UM, FATALITIES ON THE ROAD.
AND SO I'M JUST SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A PILOT AS WELL AS, AS, AS COUNCILMAN KER SAID, IT'S NOT A SOLUTION, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE AVENUES WE WANNA TAKE TO TAKE EVERY APPROACH WE CAN TO REDUCING, UM, TRAFFIC FATALITY, INCREASING THE SAFETY FOR VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIAN.
AS A COUNCIL, WE'VE EMBRACED A VISION ZERO PHILOSOPHY WITH OUR SAFE STREETS INITIATIVE.
THIS OPPORTUNITY FROM THE STATE BRINGS US CLOSER TO THIS GOAL, AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, FOR BEING QUICK TO JUMP ON THIS.
I SUPPORT EFFORTS PARTICULARLY AIMED AT TARGETING HIGH FOOT TRAFFIC CORRIDORS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND OF COURSE OUR SCHOOLS NEAR THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE HAD MANY INSTANCES, UM, AND INCIDENTS CONCERN CONCERNING ALONG, UH, PACIFIC AVENUE WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, SPEEDING.
THIS CORRIDOR HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY RAISED AS A HIGH CONCERN BY PARENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AS WE PRIORITIZE THIS ITEM, I STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR THIS CORRIDOR TO BE CONSIDERED AND ALIGNED WITH OUR EQUITY GOALS.
I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD THAT WE'RE, UM, INVESTING IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO RESEARCH AND BE ABLE TO DEVELOP MORE, UM, AROUND SPEEDING AND AROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL IN OUR CITIES.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, OCEAN BOULEVARD, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS, UM, CORRIDOR AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I, UM, I HEAR FROM MY RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA THAT, UM, OCEAN SEEMS TO BE USED AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR FREEWAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UH, BIG NOISY CARS THAT, UM, THAT ARE COMING THROUGH OUR CITY, NOT NECESSARILY TO OUR CITY, BUT USUALLY USING THAT AVENUE AS A WAY TO COME THROUGH OUR CITY.
SO I APPLAUD YOU, UM, COUNCILWOMAN KERR, UM, ALSO IN UNDERSTANDING AND, UM, BEING ACKNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT, UM, THE BALANCE THAT IS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN, UM, TAKING PHOTOS OF, OF THE RESIDENTS WHEN THEY'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.
THANK YOU FOR FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AND FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE BALANCE, UM, WITH OUR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS AS WELL.
UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, JUST TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER EZ FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO, TO LIFT UP SOMETHING COMPLIMENTARY TO WHAT WE WERE JUST SAYING, WHICH IS I THINK, YOU KNOW, EARLY ON LAST YEAR WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE LEADER, LICENSE PLATE READERS, RIGHT? AND JUST CONCERNS AROUND THE COLLECTION OF DATA RIGHT WHEN IT CAME TO OUR LICENSE PLATES.
AND SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT AS WE BRING, WE THINK ABOUT THIS, WE CONTEMPLATE THIS POLICY AND WHERE, UH, KIND OF CODIFYING IT AND, AND DRAFTING IT, THAT WE REALLY JUST KIND OF THINK ABOUT BALANCING THE DECREASE IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES, UH, WITH MAKING SURE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
UM, AND THEN JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT HOW THE DATA'S GONNA BE COLLECTED, USED, STORED, PROTECTED, UM, AS PART OF THAT POLICY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR MENTIONED, SOME OF THIS IS CODIFIED IN THE ACTUAL ASSEMBLY, UH, BILL ITSELF, BUT JUST REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR AND THAT WE'RE EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY AROUND THAT.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
I ALSO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KERR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW I HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS FROM MY RESIDENTS ABOUT SPEEDING.
I THINK EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED FOR A TRAFFIC STUDY
[01:00:01]
OR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES AND, UM, IT'S HARD TO USE STAFF TO CONTINUALLY DO THIS.SO I AM REALLY GLAD THAT LONG BEACH IS A PILOT, UM, PILOT CITY FOR THIS PROGRAM.
'CAUSE PEOPLE WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CORRIDORS, UM, THAT REALLY THERE, THERE IS INDICATED HIGH SPEEDS OFTEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS, UH, PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS THE END ALL ANSWER, BUT I KNOW THAT FOR US, UH, IN THE THIRD DISTRICT WHEN THERE IS A FOCUS ON TICKETING IN CERTAIN CORRIDORS, UM, I KNOW WE GET LESS COMPLAINTS AFTER THAT.
SO THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES CAMERAS TO BE THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WITH DIFFERENT RESOURCES, DIVERSE LOCATIONS, AND I THINK EVERYONE WILL GET A SHOT AT HAVING THESE SPEED CAMERAS.
I KNOW MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, UH, WERE VERY HAPPY WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS ANNOUNCED.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE PILOT PROGRAM MOVES FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, I'LL JUST CHIME IN HERE.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, UH, FOR PICKING THIS UP AND, AND RUNNING WITH IT.
I REMEMBER WHEN I, WHEN I, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UM, MY CONVERSATION WITH WAS AMONGST MAYORS, UH, PARTICULARLY SAN JOSE MAYOR, UH, WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO THE BIG CITY MAYORS, UH, AROUND, YOU KNOW, GETTING SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION TO PASS.
AND WE WANTED, UH, OUR CITIES TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PILOT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A COMMITMENT TO VISION ZERO FOR MANY YEARS.
YOU SEE IT INVEST, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO REDESIGN OUR STREETS BECAUSE WE'RE DESIGNING THEM DIFFERENTLY NOW.
WE'RE DESIGNING THEM WITH, YOU KNOW, SHORTER PERIODS ACROSS THE STREET THROUGH BULB OUTS AND MORE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MEASURES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, UH, ENFORCEMENT IS, IS A CHALLENGE AND PUBLIC BUDGETS ARE, ARE SCRUTINIZED.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO UTILIZE, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TO DRIVE, UH, BETTER OUTCOMES AND SAFER, UH, SAFER BEHAVIOR AS IT RELATES TO TRAFFIC.
AND SO THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE CAMERAS, UH, THE TICKET CAMERAS THAT WE'VE, WE REMEMBER FROM BACK IN THE DAY AND THOSE GOT OUTLAWED.
THIS IS ALL BASED ON DATA AND BEHAVIOR AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME CITIES, UM, NEW YORK AND, AND OTHERS WHO, WHO HA WHO USE MODELS MORE SIMILAR TO THIS.
AND, AND IT'S GONE THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE IT'S BEEN REFINED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
I THINK IT'S BEEN MAYBE SEVEN TIMES OR SO THAT IT'S ATTEMPTED TO GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND IT HASN'T GOTTEN THROUGH.
THIS TIME IS A BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE FOCUS ON EQUITY, UH, THE FOCUS ON PROTECTIONS AND, AND DATA AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND BECAUSE THOSE PROTECTIONS WERE IN PLACE, WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT IT MADE IT THROUGH AND WE'RE IN A GREAT PLACE THAT LONG BEACH IS ONE OF JUST A FEW CITIES TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS PILOT.
SO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR FOR STEPPING UP.
WHAT I, THE WAY I SEE THIS, TOM, IS HEY, THIS HAPPENED, RIGHT? THIS OPPORTUNITY IS HERE, BUT WE REALLY WANNA BE PROACTIVE.
I KNOW 45 DAYS MAY BE, MAY BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO YOUR BEST TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET BACK TO US AS YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS YOU CAN IN PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THEN THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, UM, INTEREST ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL ON HOW THESE ARE DEPLOYED.
SO I THINK INFORMATION IS REALLY WHAT, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE.
WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UM, I WANNA JUST THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT EQUITY IS A PRIORITY IN THIS EFFORT, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHARE THE SAME CONCERN ABOUT THE USE OF AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SAID A COUPLE TIMES THAT THE INTENT IS NOT TO COLLECT DATA, BUT A LOT OF COMM COMMUNITY MEMBERS REALLY DON'T TRUST THE CITY, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY THAT LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS OF COLLECTING DATA AND SHARING THAT DATA WITH ICE, DESPITE THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE DONE.
UM, AND ALSO THAT THAT DATA WAS USED TO TRACK PROTESTORS IN TWO, IN 2020 AS WELL.
UM, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, JUST A LOT OF COMMUNI COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FEARFUL THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE USED AS A TACTIC TO OVER POLICE, UH, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
AND AS COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAY HAS SAID, ALSO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, I JUST HOPE THAT THAT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND I AGAIN, THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.
UM, AND ALSO ANOTHER CONCERN FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THAT IF BY ANY CHANCE ANY INFORMATION IS COLLECTED OR ANYTHING IS VIOLATED, UM, IS THERE GOING TO BE A CONSEQUENCE IF INFORMATION HAPPENS TO BE EXPLOITED
[01:05:01]
OR USED IN ANY WAY? I THINK THAT MIGHT ALSO, UM, HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUILD THAT TRUST.UM, AND ALSO IF MAYBE IN THIS REPORT, TO CLARIFY, WHAT ARE OTHER EFFORTS BEYOND POLICING THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED? I KNOW, UM, COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN ALSO MENTIONED LIKE TRA TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
SO IF MAYBE THAT COULD ALSO BE CLARIFIED, UH, IF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN KNOW, LIKE WHAT ARE THE OTHER EFFORTS BEYOND JUST AUTOMATIC TECHNOLOGY? THANK YOU.
UM, C NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, UH, THANKS TO THE SPEAKER HERE.
UH, I SUPPORT THE CONCEPT, UH, TOTALLY.
UH, I'M A LITTLE UNCLEAR ON ON IF THERE'S A TIERED SYSTEM ON, UM, AND FINES THAT WOULD, UH, UH, BE, UH, LEVIED AGAINST VIOLATORS.
SO I, I JUST DON'T KNOW ALL THOSE DETAILS, BUT I DID, UH, WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF LILY GOSSAGE WHO LOST HER, UM, 17-YEAR-OLD SON AIDEN, UH, TO A, A SPEEDING VEHICLE ON LAS COUNTY'S DIAGONAL.
AND, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IS IMPLEMENTED.
AND, AND THESE ARE LILY'S WORDS THAT, UM, THE, THE EQUITIES IS THAT IN ANYONE WHO'S SPEEDING, UH, SHOULD BE FINED AND BE TREATED.
UH, ALL, ALL SPEEDERS SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZA, THE MOTION IS CARRIED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, CAN WE REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR, THERE IS NO REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT.
OKAY, NEXT WE'LL GO ITEM 18 PLEASE.
ITEM 18, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN SORROW.
COUNCIL MEMBER ODI, RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS TO EXPLORE THE VISIBILITY OF EXPANDING ECONOMIC
[18. 24-52575 Recommendation to direct City Manager to work with the Economic Development Department and relevant City Departments to explore the feasibility of expanding economic opportunities, including but not limited to, sidewalk vending. The report should include an action plan the City could consider, and report back to the City Council by December 2024. Office or Department: Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District; Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SIDEWALK VENDING.YES, CAN WE PLEASE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, KEVIN LEE, SUSIE RICHMOND, SANDY KIM, CHAD WONG, AND ANDRE DONATO.
IS ANDRE HERE OR, UH, KEMP? KEVIN, KEVIN'S FIRST.
SO KEVIN, AFTER KEVIN IS SUSIE, AND THEN, UH, SANDY, YOU GOT THE FLOOR.
UH, MY NAME IS KEVIN LEE WELLINGTON.
I'M THE RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'M ALSO AN ENTREPRENEUR OF FLUFFY SNOWBALLS IN DISTRICT SIX.
I, UH, FULLY SUPPORT, UH, THIS MOVEMENT, UM, THIS, THIS AGENDA ITEM, EXCUSE ME, UM, PUT FORWARD BY DR.
AND, UM, I KNOW AS A ENTREPRENEUR WITHIN MY DISTRICT THAT, UH, WHEN I THINK OF ZONING FOR, UH, FOOD VENDORS, I LIKE TO, UH, SAY THAT AREA'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE AREAS I THINK PROBABLY BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT BY THE TRAIN STATION.
I THINK THAT, UH, A LOT OF THOSE PATRONS WILL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SERVICES WHEN THEY GET OFF OF THE TRAIN.
ALSO, THERE'S BEEN SOME ENCAMPMENTS, ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAS POPPED UP AND I THINK THAT WOULD INCREASE POLICE PRESENCE IN THAT AREA, PROBABLY REDUCE THAT AS WELL AS MALES MAKE THE, UH, AREA BY THE, UM, TRAIN STATION A LOT MORE SAFER.
AND, UM, HONORABLE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, UH, URGE THAT YOU GUYS PASS THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
AND THEN AFTER SUSIE IS CHAD? NO, SANDY, THEN CHAD.
HI, MY NAME IS SUSIE RICHMOND AND I AM A WOMAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS FAB METAL SHOP WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY SON LOCATED ON 2, 2 3 1 EAST CURRY STREET.
WE ARE LOCATED BETWEEN CHERRY AVENUE AND TERMINAL WHERE THE TRAIN TRACKS ARE.
THEY'RE RIGHT NOW, THE CITY IS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO PUT SIDEWALKS DOWN THAT STREET.
BY DOING THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND HAVE NO OTHER LOCATIONS.
ONCE SIDEWALKS ARE PUT IN, THERE WILL BE NO PARKING FOR ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF AN IMPACT REPORT OR SOMETHING DONE OF THAT STREET, BECAUSE ONCE SIDEWALKS ARE PUT IN, THERE'S NO PARALLEL PARKING.
WE HAVE NOTHING BUT SEMIS COMING DOWN OUR STREET EVERY SINGLE DAY BETWEEN 4:00 AM AND ROUGHLY AROUND SIX TO 7:00 PM.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY WENT THROUGH IT WITH THE SURVEYORS.
THEY HAVE SHOWED US WHERE THE SIDEWALKS ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN.
[01:10:01]
NO PARKING FOR US.WE WOULD HAVE TO BE PARKING OUT ON CHERRY.
I HAVE SENT EMAILS TO EVERYONE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A PETITION THAT WAS HANDED OUT WHERE EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS OWNER AND RENTER ON THE STREET HAS SIGNED.
MA'AM, I THINK THIS SO MA'AM, SO MA'AM, JUST QUICKLY, YOUR COMMENT IS NOT RELATED TO THIS ITEM, BUT WHAT I WILL DO, THE, THE COUNCILWOMAN GOT YOUR EMAIL TODAY AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO CONNECT WITH HER ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I DON'T LIVE VERY FAR FROM HERE.
UH, SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OR, OR YOUR TEAM HERE.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS REGARDING SIDEWALKS AND INSTALLATIONS AND YEAH, THIS IS ABOUT A VENDING ITEM, SO IT, IT HAS TO BE ON TOPIC, BUT WE WANT HELP YOU OUT, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE CONNECT YOU WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHILE YOU'RE HERE.
AND YOU DID ALL RECEIVE OUR PETITION WITH OUR SIGNATURES? YES.
SO, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE MEET YOU OVER HERE TO THE SIDE.
NEXT IS, UH, CHAD OR SUE, ACTUALLY.
UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SANDY KIM, AND I'M AN MSW GRADUATE INTERN WITH UNITED CAMBODIA COMMUNITY.
I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORTIVE OF ITEM 18.
IT'S CRUCIAL TO NOTE THAT THE ITEM DOES NOT SPEAK TO ALTER AND THE RECENTLY ADOPTED ORDINANCE REGARDING STREET VENDING, BUT RATHER AIMS TO EXPLORE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EXISTING ORDINANCES.
UTILIZING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND INTER INTERSECTIONALITY FRAMEWORK.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT ECONOMIC DISPARITIES OFTEN AFFECT DISPROPORTIONATELY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND THEREFORE IT'S IMPERATIVE TO TAKE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
BY EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VENDING WITHIN EXISTING REGULATIONS, THE CITY CAN TAKE STEPS TOWARDS FOSTERING ECONOMIC EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
IN LINE WITH CC'S EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH BUSINESSES.
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THREE ADDITIONAL POINTS.
ONE IS ANALYZING CURRENT PERMITTING COSTS, VENDOR COSTS, AND PERMITTING PROCESS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND RESEARCHING EQUITABLE PERMITTING MODELS IN CITIES LIKE LA TWO IS HIGHLIGHTING THE HIGH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OBTAINING PERMITS ON LONG BEACH, SUCH AS A $200 PER DAY FOR A DAY DI DAY BUSINESS PERMIT AND HEALTH PERMIT TO SELL FOODS, AND THE NEED FOR AGENCIES TO REQUEST A CITY PERMIT FROM SPECIAL EVENTS AT LEAST TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE FOR HOSTING EVENTS WITH FOOD VENDORS AND RESEARCHING CAPACITY BUILDING MODELS LIKE INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS IN THE CITY TO ASSIST ENTREPRENEURS AND VENDORS IN PERMITTING THE VENDOR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
LEVERAGING CRTI REMINDS US THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFYING BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES BY ENCOURAGE MICRO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
LONG BEACH CAN PROMOTE ECONOMIC ACTIVATION AND BE REVITALIZATION.
COMMUNITIES THAT HISTORICALLY FACED BEARS TO PROSPERITY UCC ENCOURAGES STRATEGIES THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIMITED WITH ENGLISH SPEAKING ABILITIES.
AND THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPING LOW COST AND ALTERNATIVE VENDOR RESOURCES, SUCH AS COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND ECON EQUIPMENT RENTALS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT VENDORS FACE OPERATIONAL COSTS BEYOND PERMIT FEES, INCLUDING THAT NEED FOR ACCESS TO KITCHEN, UH, THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, WHICH CAN SERVE AS A BARRIER TO, UM, HEALTH PERMITS AND PASSING INSPECTION.
SO I URGE YOU TO APPROVE ITEM 18 TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH ECONOMY AND PROMOTE A MORE DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
THAT WAS GETTING ON MY NERVES.
GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M THE OWNER OF BATON BARBECUE, AND I WAS ONCE A STREET VENDOR DURING COVID WHEN I LOST MY JOB.
IT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME, BUT I UTILIZED, YOU KNOW, MY FRIENDS, UH, BRICK AND MORTAR TO USE THAT AS AN UMBRELLA TO NOT BE A FOOD VENDOR, TO GET THE PROPER LICENSING.
AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF, OF WORKING WITH THE CITY, WORKING WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, DR.
SULI, SORO, UH, UH, MAYOR, UH, RICHARDSON, AND EVEN, UH, UM, COUNCIL SUPERMAN THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DISTRICT BECAUSE WHEN YOU BECOME A FOOD VENDOR, LIKE ON THE STREET, YOU WANNA, YOU KNOW, KNOW YOUR, YOUR PATRONS AND KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
BUT ALSO YOU WANT TO GET LICENSING FOR THE PROTECTION OF PATRONS THAT DO GO TO YOUR STALL.
AND YOU WANT TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHT PERMITS TO PROTECT YOURSELF, NOT JUST YOURSELF, BUT THE PATRONS THAT GO THERE.
AND SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU'RE SELLING.
AND SO YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY GET INTO A FARMER'S MARKET WORKING ALONG WITH DIFFERENT, UH,
[01:15:01]
PARTS OF THE, THE, THE CITY AND ALSO WORKING WITH BRICK AND MORTAR TO UTILIZE THEIR KITCHEN OR THEIR SINK APARTMENT, THEIR RESTROOM.SO WITH A, UM, NOBODY WANTS A, UM, FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND STUFF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO WASH YOUR HANDS, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO, UM, TO, TO USE THE RESTROOM.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS YOU USING DIFFERENT MODELS, UH, FROM OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE DROVE ACROSS CALIFORNIA, SUCH AS THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
THEY HAVE A DESIGNATED LIKE AREA FOR FOOD TRUCKS, A DESIGNATED AREA FOR LIKE A, UM, UM, PEOPLE WHO SELL FRUIT SO THAT EVERYBODY IS ALL IN ONE AREA, AND THEN PATRONS CAN GO VISIT ON A CERTAIN HOUR.
THEY'RE THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SO I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL AND, AND, UH, FOOD VENDORS DO WILL EXPLORE AND MEET EACH OTHER HALFWAY.
AND I'M HERE TO, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU COULD SUCCEED TOO, BY NOT JUST BEING A STREET VENDOR, UH, BY WORKING WITH THE CITY, BY WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESS SUCH AS ALL THE BREWERIES THAT I'VE, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH, UH, THROUGH THE YEARS.
I'VE JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORKING REALLY HARD.
I WANT TO GET A BRICK AND MORTAR WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, TRY TO ELEVATE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOOD IN LONG BEACH, YOU KNOW, WITH A 10 TRADEMARK BREWERY WITH 10 MILE BREWERY WORKING BIG DONUTS, FARMER'S MARKET.
SO I CAN CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I, I JUST WANNA BE, YOU KNOW, UPLIFTING, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE STREET VENDOR THAT THEY CAN GET TO MY LEVEL BY HAVING A CHANCE TO BE AT THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX BY NOW, BEING INVITED TO COACHELLA NOW BY BEING, UH, AT STAGE COACH NOW, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING LONG BEACH, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, BEING A STREET VENDOR.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE.
YOU CAN GET YOUR PERMIT STUFF AND, AND I THINK CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY IS THERE TO HELP, UH, VENDORS TO, TO GET WHAT THEY NEED, UH, TO BE LEGAL AND TO, AND OVERALL TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND PROTECT THEM, YOU KNOW, DURING THESE LONG HOURS THAT YOU SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY GET ROBBED OR, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY GET THEIR STUFF THROWN AWAY BY, YOU KNOW, DRUNK PEOPLE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN EXPLORE ALL THOSE THINGS, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
CHAD, DID YOU HAPPEN TO BRING ANY OF THAT BRISKET WITH YOU? OH,
ALL RIGHT, NEXT, ANDRE, YOU'RE UP.
GOOD EVENING, MAJOR RICHARDSON AND CONSUMER MEMBERS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, EMPOWERED OR KNOWN AS LIBERTY.
UH, WE SUPPORT THE FEASIBILITY STATE AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR BENDING, BECAUSE AS HOUSING JUSTICE ORGANIZATION, WE PRIORITIZE ADDRESSING THE ECONOMIC DISPARITIES EXACERBATED BY THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON STREET WALK.
BENDING OUR MISSION UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ECONOMIC DISPARITIES OFTEN LEAD TO COMMUNITIES, TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO FACE DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.
THIS ITEM SEEK TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE INTEREST OF BECOME MORTAR BUSINESS.
I URGE YOU, I URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED ITEM TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH ECONOMY AND FOSTER A MORE DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
INVESTED IN THIS INITIATIVE WILL EVENTUALLY CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AL ENSURING A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FUTURE FOR OUR OUR CITY.
ALRIGHT, THAT SATISFIES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
AND, UM, THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO CAME, MADE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, AND I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMEN WOMEN, DR.
RICKS OTI FOR HER PARTNERSHIP ON THIS ITEM, I JUST WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, EVEN SOME OF OUR COMMENTER MADE IT IS THAT THIS IS TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VENDING, NOT LIMITED TO SIDEWALK VENDING WITHIN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.
THERE IS, THIS ITEM IS NOT TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, BUT TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE EDUCATION OF IT AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE WAS VIEWED FROM A SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, PERSPECTIVE.
UM, BUT I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WE NEEDED TO END THE CONVERSATION ON THE ORDINANCE IN THAT THERE ARE MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE HAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS, IS THAT, UM, IT'S REALLY THE INTENTION IS TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR VENDING, AND PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICTS SUCH AS DISTRICT SIX AND NINE AND AND AND OTHER SEVEN, UM, ONE, AND EVEN PARTS OF OTHER PARTS WHERE THERE ARE VACANT PROPERTY WHERE WE CAN CONSIDER ACTIVATING IT, BUT ALSO UPLIFTING AND EMPOWERING VENDORS IN GENERAL, BUT CREATING IT WITHIN A WAY WHERE THERE ARE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES SET UP SO THAT IT'S NOT DIFFICULT FOR REDUCING BARRIERS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO ALSO STATE THAT
[01:20:01]
THIS IS REALLY BEING ABLE TO FACILITATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-TRADITIONAL MICRO BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE SIDEWALK VENDOR VENDING, AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING THE FLOW OF BUSINESSES TO ETE OF ESTABLISHED BRICK AND MORTAR, UH, RESTAURANT.IT'S REALLY WANTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE EXPLORE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BRICK AND MORTAR, WITH OUR VENDORS.
UM, CHAT FUNS JUST SHARED A PERFECT EXAMPLE WHERE THERE ARE BREWERIES THAT JUST DON'T SERVE FOOD.
SO HE BRINGS IN HIS DELICIOUS BARBECUE, UH, WHILE THEY ENJOY THEIR BEER.
I JUST, AND THEN LIFTING THAT UP AS WELL AS HAVING WICKED WOLF WHO PROVIDES COCKTAIL.
SHE BRINGS IN VENDORS THAT SHE INTRODUCED TO HER CUSTOMER ON A REGULAR BASIS SO THAT IT'S HELPING TO INCREASE EXPOSURE TO THEIR BUSINESS.
THE OTHER IS TO ENCOURAGE A MICRO BUSINESS CONCEPT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVATION.
AND SO IT'S REALLY BEING ABLE TO CREATE A PROCESS.
UM, AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATION IN A SOLUTION ORIENTED SETTING WHERE, YES, I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF CONCERN, BUT THAT'S WHY I WANNA, UH, ENCOURAGE, UH, FROM OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE CHAMBER, FROM PARTAKE COLLABORATIVE, FROM WICKED WOLF, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, THE LONG BEACH CENTER FOR ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND LIBRE, UM, IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR ENCOURAGING THAT WE HAVE A LISTENING SESSION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE DO IT IN EACH DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE HEARING FROM BRICK AND MORTARS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, VENDORS, SO THAT IT'S BEING INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE CONSIDERATION TO CREATING A PLAN, YES.
SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN, BUT WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT IN A WAY THAT IT CREATES A PLAN THAT WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, MICRO BUSINESSES AND UPCOMING ENTREPRENEURS TO BE ABLE TO FLOURISH AND BECOME A BRICK AND MORTAR.
WE WANNA FILL THOSE VACANT BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN OUR QUARTERS, BUT THEY CAN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY GO FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED FROM BEING A NEW IDEA TO A BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANNA TEST OUT THEIR IDEAS.
SO THERE'S SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT WAY AND WHERE WE CAN FIGURE ON HOW IT WILL ALSO, MEANWHILE DO EDUCATION OF THE ORDINANCE AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST WANT TO, UH, CHIME IN.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR, FOR CLARIFYING.
WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT, UH, HERE ISN'T REWORKING THE ORDINANCE, BUT RATHER LOOKING AT IT FROM A FRAME THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT FROM AN ASSET FRAME.
HOW CAN OPPORTUNITIES BE CREATED TO CREATE SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS THAT YOU NEED IT? AND I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
I CAN REMEMBER WE HAD A BIG VACANT LOT ON ATLANTIC AND ARTESIA FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE WORKED HARD TO GET A FARMER'S MARKET GOING.
AND WE DID ACTIVATIONS WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET.
WE DID CONCERTS THERE, PUT UP STAGES AND DID CONCERTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS REMEMBER WE HAD TALE QUALI AND THE FAR SIDE IT WAS, WAS A GREAT FAR SIDE.
IT WAS THE FAR SIDE, QUA, MERS, MC, SUPERNATURALS, ALL IT WAS GREAT, UH, ON A VACANT LOT.
IT'S BECAUSE MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE JUST THAT UNDERUTILIZED SPACE AND RESIDENTS, THEY WANT A PLACE TO GO, GO MEET AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE OR, OR GET, YOU KNOW, GET SOME FOOD AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, UH, WHAT I SEE THIS AS IS, IS WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITY? ARE THERE NEW OPPORTUNITIES CREATED? BECAUSE WE'RE BEGINNING ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THIS STREET VENDOR PROGRAM, AND, AND BECAUSE YOU'RE REFERENCING VACANT LOTS, WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE OUTSIDE OF JUST STREET VENDING? ARE THERE VACANT LOT OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT? HAVE WE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE OR SOME SUCCESS IN THAT WAY? SO I SEE THIS AS A, THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE WAY TO FRAME AND LOOK AT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE CREATED.
AND LET'S SAY THAT STREET VENDORS DO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, UH, OF GETTING PERMITTED.
WELL, MAYBE IT CREATES SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM ONCE THEY ARE TO, TO, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY ARE PERMITTED TO COME AND LOCATE IN THE AREA, THAT THAT'S VERY WELCOMING, RIGHT? WHERE PEOPLE WILL SAY, COME ON IN.
YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOME TACOS OR SOME, SOME BRISKET, RIGHT? SO, SO I SEE THIS AS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.
UH, YEAH, SO I THINK, UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER DR.
UM, I, I, I JUST THINK THIS, THE REASON WHY SHE AND I PARTNER ON THIS ITEM IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE, AGAIN, UM, I THINK YOU CAN THINK OF, YOU KNOW, SIDEWALK VENDING, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE, SOMETIMES IT'S A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE, RIGHT? BUT WE AS A, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, RIGHT, WE REALLY TALKED ABOUT LIKE, THINKING OF IT THIS AS AN ASSET, RIGHT? LIKE, HOW DO WE FRAME THIS IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS OUR BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES AND ALSO SUPPORTS VENDING IN A VARIETY OF, UH, OF STANDPOINTS, RIGHT? IN A VARIETY OF TYPES.
UH, AND WE ALREADY SEE THOSE THINGS REFLECTED IN OUR CITY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY HERE IT'S ABOUT PROMOTING SMALL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, THOSE MOM AND POP SHOPS THAT WE ALL LIKE TO GO TO.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENGINE OF THAT BEING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT? AND SO HOW ARE WE
[01:25:01]
BENEFITING AND PROMOTING A VARIETY OF TYPES OF SMALL BUSINESSES? AND SO THE REQUEST HERE REALLY FOR STAFF HAS DETERMINED HOW WE CAN FIND WAYS TO FORMALIZE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN VENDORS AND BRICK AND MORTARS AND ALLOW THEM TO WORK IN CONCERT.UM, AND I THINK OF THAT AS A, AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW AND I, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT THIS FROM A LOT OF FRAMINGS.
AND SO I, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, I THINK OF, YOU KNOW, THINK OF IT FIRST AS A WAY TO NURTURE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN BRICK AND MORTAR AND POP BUSINESSES.
WE SAW SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT AS WELL, RIGHT? THESE PARTNERSHIPS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE SO, AND THE THING IS, I THINK SOMETIMES THINK LIKE, OH, THIS IS A NEW THING.
UM, BUT WHAT YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING IS THAT THESE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS ALREADY EXIST, UM, IN OUR CITY.
WE JUST DON'T NECESSARILY TALK ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? UM, SO FOR AN EXAMPLE, THINKING ABOUT NORTH LONG BEACH, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY MY COUNCIL MEMBER TO MY RIGHT HAS A GREAT COFFEE SHOP, BLACK GREEN COFFEE, RIGHT? THEY REGULARLY HOST POPUPS WITH LOCAL VENDORS.
UM, THEY, IF YOU GO INTO THEIR COFFEE SHOP RIGHT NOW, THEY, UM, THEY PARTNER WITH A LOCAL BAKER WHO BRINGS IN ITEMS THAT THEY DON'T SERVE AND MAKE THEMSELVES RIGHT? AND SO THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO GET THEIR PRODUCT OUT TO A, TO, YOU KNOW, TO A NEW MARKET.
UM, WE HAVE A, UH, ALONG OUR BUSINESS CORRIDOR, WE HAVE A OPERATOR, UH, MARISSA, WHO OWNS A BOUTIQUE COMPANY OR A BOUTIQUE, UH, UM, BUSINESS CALLED DAINTY DISCO, UM, THAT OWN A REGULARLY HOSTS POP-UPS, UM, WITH A VARIETY OF VENDORS, UH, AND CREATIVES, RIGHT? SO THERE ARE FOLKS, THEY'RE SELLING COFFEE, JEWELRY, FLOWERS, CLOTHING ITEMS THAT YOU CAN'T COMMONLY FIND IN MANY PLACES IN NORTH LONG BEACH, RIGHT? SO THEY ARE EXPANDING THE BUSINESS MIX THAT WE HAVE, UM, ON, ON OUR CORRIDORS, AND IT PROMOTES SMALL BUSINESSES, IT DIVERSIFIES THE BUSINESS TYPES.
UM, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE WROTE A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE'S ALREADY DOING.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, MY, UM, MY, MY CHIEF OF STAFF BROUGHT UP SAM'S, UH, SONS AND WOLVES.
VEGAN FILIPINO BAKERY IS AN EXAMPLE OF A POP-UP BAKERY WHO IS GOOD SOLD AT LOCAL SHOPS, UM, LIKE WOODS COFFEE SALUTE, UH, JUICE BAR, RIGHT? SO AGAIN, AND THEY DO PRE-ORDERS, RIGHT? SO AGAIN, THESE EXAMPLES ALREADY EXIST IN OUR CITY.
HOW DO WE, UM, INVEST IN THEM, EXPAND THAT AND, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE? UH, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, AS OUR, OUR, OUR MAYOR MENTIONED TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? REALLY, UM, ENHANCING OUR CORRIDORS.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CORRIDORS THAT HAVE ISSUES OF BLIGHT.
WE HAVE VACANT LOTS, RIGHT? WE HAVE EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
SO HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THOSE MOM AND POP THOSE LOCALLY GROWN, UH, VENDORS TO ACTIVATE THOSE LOTS? UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS SHARING EARLIER THAT I DROVE DOWN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, AND WE HAD A, WE HAD A VACANT LOT THAT WAS DARK, RIGHT? UNINVITING FELT UNSAFE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I SAW A VENDOR HAD DONE A POPUP THERE.
THEY HAD, THEY STRUNG UP LIGHTS THEY PUT IN, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT TABLES UP, THEY PUT, AND THEY ACTIVATED AN AREA THAT NORMALLY YOU WOULDN'T WANNA GO INTO AND MADE IT SOMETHING INVITING, RIGHT? SO THERE ARE WAYS TO LEVERAGE THIS IN WAYS THAT SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES AND ACTIVATE OUR CORRIDORS.
AND SO REALLY, AGAIN, CREATING SOMETHING THAT WELCOMES OUR RESIDENTS, DIVERSIFIES OUR BUSINESSES, AND ALLOWS FOR MICRO ENTREPRENEURS.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE ENGAGED WITH, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY WHO DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO EVER GRADUATE TO A BRICK AND MORTAR.
SO THEY LIKE THE IDEA, RIGHT? WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SAW A, A, A SUPPORT LETTER FROM, UH, PARTAKE COLLECTIVE, RIGHT? WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH GHOST KITCHENS.
THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY WANT A BRICK AND MORTAR, THEY WANT TO BE A MICRO BUSINESS.
HOW DO WE CULTIVATE THOSE TYPES OF BUSINESS TYPES IN OUR CITY TO DIVERSIFY AGAIN, THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A COMMUNITY AND AN ECONOMIC WELLBEING TO THRIVE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, AND SO ULTIMATELY THE, MY GOAL, AND I, I, MY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER'S GOAL REALLY IS TO LIFT UP AND ENHANCE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF VENDING WITHIN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, MANY OF THESE ALTERNATIVES, AGAIN, ALREADY ARE HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND IN THE STATE.
UH, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THINK CREATIVELY IN HOW WE PROMOTE SMALL BUSINESSES OF ALL TYPES IN ALL AREAS OF OUR CITY.
UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA LIFT UP THAT WE HAVE, UM, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REACH OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, AND SO WE HAD A BROAD RANGE OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ALL AREAS OF OUR CITY.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LIBRE, WE HAD NORTH LONG BEACH BRICK AND BOARD BUSINESSES LIKE BLACK GREEN COFFEE, DAINTY DISCO, YOU KNOW, WICKED WOLF IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH.
THE BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER LA PARTAKE COLLECTIVE, THE UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY, OUR UPTOWN PROPERTY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, AND A LONG BEACH CENTER OF ECONOMIC INCLUSION.
RIGHT? SO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FROM A D DIVERSE, A DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES, BUT RECOGNIZE, AGAIN, THIS IS AN ASSET, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY ABSOLUTELY.
AND SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY SHOULD EXPLORE.
UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
WELL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, IT'S A CREATIVE WAY OF ACTIVATING SPACES
[01:30:01]
THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF BEFORE, AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.UM, AND I APPRECIATED HEARING CHAD'S STORY ABOUT HOW HE HAS WORKED AS A, A VENDOR.
IT REALLY SAVED HIM DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN HE'S OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO MOVE TO SOME DIFFERENT EVENTS AND IT'S ENCOURAGING TO OTHERS.
UM, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY BUSINESSES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, HOW MANY SIDEWALK VENDING BUSINESSES DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE REGISTERED AND FULLY COMPLIANT RIGHT NOW? I THINK I JUST SENT THAT, UM, UM, IF I REMEMBER THE NUMBER, I THINK IT'S AROUND 12 THAT HAVE, UH, GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS SO FAR.
I CAN, WELL, WE JUST OPENED IT SPEAK, RIGHT? LET'S PUT SOME CONTEXT TO THAT.
IT JUST, THE PROGRAM, IT JUST OPENED UP.
WE JUST OPENED IT UP AND SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT 12 THAT ARE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
12 BUSINESSES WITH BUSINESS LICENSES.
UM, AND WE PROBABLY HAVE MANY MORE BECAUSE THERE'S THE PROGRAM IN PLACE.
UM, WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT SOMETIMES WE CAN'T GET TO REGISTER.
OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THAT BUSINESS LICENSES AND HEALTH PERMITS HAVEN'T BEEN APPLIED FOR.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING 250,000 SUBSIDIZING BUSINESS LICENSE FEES, HEALTH PERMITS, INSURANCE, UH, SUBSIDIES.
AND I BELIEVE WHEN WE TALKED YESTERDAY ABOUT LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, THERE WAS A 50,000, $50,000 CONSULTING FEE FOR PUSHING THIS PROGRAM OUT.
IS THAT RIGHT? TOM? SHOULD, I THINK TYLER'S COMING OUT RIGHT NOW FROM THE BACK AND HE CAN ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO WE HAVE, UM, SOME FUNDING SET ASIDE.
AFTER THE ORDINANCE WAS DEVELOPED, THE MOTION WAS TO, UH, SUPPORT VENDORS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FEE COSTS, UH, FOR BUSINESS LICENSING, THE HEALTH PERMIT, AS WELL AS THE INSURANCE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE WAS FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS TO HELP WITH THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THE EDUCATION.
SO THAT, UM, WAS REALLY TO WORK WITH THE CITY, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRUSTED PARTNERS, UH, WITH THE VENDOR COMMUNITY TO GET INFORMATION OUT THERE AROUND THE ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS, UM, SUPPORTING, UH, THE ACQUISITION OF CARTS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UH, FOOD VENDORS THAT NEED, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE HEALTH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
AND THE $50,000 WAS PART OF THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT 250 THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET ASIDE.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR WAS THAT OUTSIDE OF THE LBRA? NO, THOSE WOULD ALL BE THE RECOVERY ACT FUNDING.
AND THEN WE HAVE 40 CARTS THAT WE WILL BE SETTING ASIDE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS FOR $475,000 AT $12,000 PER CART.
IS THAT RIGHT? THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING TO THOSE WHO WANT A, WHO APPLY FOR A CART AND KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM? SO THE FUNDING IS SET ASIDE, BUT AT THE MOMENT, UH, THE PROGRAM IS IN DEVELOPMENT AND PART OF THAT IS IN THE OUTREACH TO THE VENDOR COMMUNITY, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE NEED IS IN TERMS OF THE VENDOR EQUIPMENT AND CARTS.
UM, SO YEAH, THE, THE CART COST VARIES JUST DEPENDING ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE, UH, OPERATION.
AND THEN, UH, THE FUNDING THAT'S SET ASIDE AS MENTIONED IN THE PRESS RELEASE, WAS, WOULD ACCOMMODATE UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
BUT ULTIMATELY IT'LL JUST DEPEND ON, UH, UTILIZATION OF THAT PROGRAM AS WE DO THE OUTREACH.
UM, SO WE HAVE $725,000 TOTAL FROM THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT MONEY ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM JUST APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
UM, OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, INCLUDING DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE ALLOCATED $1.1 MILLION OF LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT MONEY FOR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE 10 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS THAT REALLY GENERATE A LOT OF MONEY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, THAT 1.1 IS USED TO CLEAN UP THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE COMMUNITY, UM, EVENTS, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
SO FOR FOUR YEARS WE ALLOCATED 1.1 MILLION TO OUR 10 BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
UM, AND NOW WE ARE ALLOCATING ALMOST
[01:35:01]
THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION, UM, TO THAT, TO BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE BUILDING THIS UP.WE HAVE 12 FULLY REGISTERED, UM, SIDEWALK VENDORS.
I THINK THIS IS GOOD FOR ACTIVATING CORRIDORS.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS A WAY TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY AND ACTIVATION, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALLOCATING THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, THERE'S PLANNING COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ALL WANT TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.
WHAT I WOULD ASK, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, CAN WE INCORPORATE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THIS INITIATIVE TO BE PART OF THE 725,000? I THINK THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF LBRA MONEY THAT'S BEING SET ASIDE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE, THAT'S TIME AND TWO, THERE'S NO FUNDING REQUEST WITH THIS REQUEST.
SO THERE'S ASKING 'EM TO DO RESEARCH ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.
NO, AND ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER KEEPING IT WITHIN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SET ASIDE AND ALLOCATED FOR THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THIS O OKAY, HERE'S WHAT I, COUNCIL MEMBER IF YOU WANT TO WANNA TRY.
SHE WANTS, UM, SO AGAIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, AND JUST TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYONE, AGAIN, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S NO FUNDING REQUEST FOR THIS.
RIGHT? AND I THINK TOO, THE REASON WHY WE SAID VENDING IS JUST THAT, RIGHT? LIKE SIDEWALK VENDING IS A TYPE OF MICRO BUSINESS.
IT IS NOT THE TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, ONLY TYPE OF MICRO BUSINESS, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE ARE DIRECTING CITY STAFF AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO DO IS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REDUCE BARRIERS FOR ALL TYPES OF MICRO BUSINESSES, RIGHT? IN THE CITY.
SO THIS MIGHT BE, THIS COULD BE SIDEWALK VENDING BEING ONE TYPE, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF TYPES OF VENDINGS, THERE'S LOTS OF TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT COULD HAPPEN, RIGHT? SO THERE'S NO FUNDING REQUESTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHAT'S, WHAT'S ABLE, RIGHT? SOME OF THIS MIGHT BE DOING AN INVENTORY OF OUR VACANT STOREFRONTS DOING AN INVENTORY OF SOME OF OUR VACANT STORE, OUR VACANT LOTS, RIGHT? DOING A, WHAT WE'RE ASKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS PART OF THIS PIECE IS TO GO OUT AND SAY LIKE, LOOK, WE MAY NEED YOU, WE NEED YOU TO DO SOME FOCUS GROUPS ON, UH, BRICK AND BORDER BUSINESSES, EXISTING VENDORS, RIGHT? GET AN IDEA.
LIKE WE GAVE AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT? OF TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE HAPPENING, BUT THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THERE'S PROBABLY TONS OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES AND MODELS OUT THERE.
AND SO BEFORE WE ATTACH ANY TYPE OF FUNDING TO THIS, IT'S SAYING LIKE, HEY, LET'S GO DO DATA COLLECTION, RIGHT? SO THE STATISTICIAN HERE IS TALKING ABOUT DATA COLLECTION, RIGHT? GATHER THAT INFORMATION AROUND THE, THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE MIGHT POTENTIALLY WANT AS A PROGRAM.
HAVE THAT COME BACK AND THEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THEN HOW WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD.
HOPEFULLY THAT, THAT CLARIFIES SOME THINGS.
UH, WE HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE QUEUED UP TO SPEAK.
I WILL ALSO JUST SAY, UM, THE NUMBERS CITED FOR THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
WE ALSO DID ABOUT $4 MILLION TO RESTAURANTS.
IT WAS FOUR TO FIVE, I THINK IT ENDED UP BEING FOUR.
AND WE DID ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR BARBERS AND SORT OF HEALTHCARE FOLKS.
AND THEN WE DID ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS IN THE LAST BUDGET.
SO THOSE AREN'T APPLES TO APPLES, UH, COMPARISON.
IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WENT INTO, AND THEN IF YOU ACT, CARES, ACT, IT WAS EVEN EVEN MORE.
SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THERE FOR, FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
I WAS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT LBRA FUNDING, BUT YEAH.
YEAH, THAT, THAT, THAT WAS ALL RECOVERY FUNDING.
UM, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN.
UM, AND THANK YOU CHAD FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.
UH, AS YOU SPOKE, I THOUGHT THE IRONY WAS FOR ALL THE YEARS I REPRESENTED CAMBODIA TOWN, IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER I LEFT THAT WE CONNECTED, AND, UH, YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON, ON THAT, UH, ON THE MEAL THAT YOU PREPARED FOR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WALKING, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, MY, UH, CONCERN HERE, AND ACTUALLY THANK YOU CHAD, FOR ALSO MENTIONING, AS GREAT AS HIS FOOD IS, WHAT DID HE MENTION TONIGHT? UH, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AND FOOD SAFETY.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THAT WAS ALL I EVER TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THE ENTIRE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE CREATION.
AND WHEN WE LEFT IT, WHEN WE PUT IT THROUGH, AND IT, AND AS, AS CITY MANAGER, UM, STATED, THIS IS JUST GETTING STARTED LESS THAN A MONTH THAT IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
AND WHAT I ASK IS THAT WE WAIT TILL IT GETS DIALED IN, LET'S GET SOME FEEDBACK, LET'S MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT STAFF REQUIREMENTS ARE IF WE HAVE THE INSPECTORS TO GET OUT THERE.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS IDEA TO, TO MY VIEW, IS A LITTLE PREMATURE.
I THINK A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR ENERGY RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE GOING TO THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TILL WE GET IT
[01:40:01]
DIALED IN.AND SO FOR TONIGHT, UM, I WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.
UM, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, CITY STAFF, UM, I, I KNOW THAT THIS, THIS ITEM BEFORE US IS KIND OF, UM, KIND OF INTERTWINED WITH OUR VENDOR ITEM, BUT NOT REALLY.
IT'S ACTUALLY A SEPARATE, COMPLETELY SEPARATE ITEM, UM, UNDER MY UNDERSTANDING.
CAN YOU KIND OF ELABORATE ON THAT, PLEASE? SURE.
SO I THINK SOME OF THE CONCEPTS WERE DISCUSSED AS PART OF THE TWO YEAR LONG PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH IS IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE STREET VENDORS, HOW DO WE ALSO THEN FIGURE OUT EVENTUALLY WHERE THEY'RE ENCOURAGED AND HOW TO MAKE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
UH, BUT A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN MORE ON THE REG, ON THE REGULATION FOCUS, AND THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN US DIRECTION ON THAT.
UH, YOU'VE PASSED AN ORDINANCE AND WE'RE READY TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND THIS MOTION NOW, IT'S, UH, GIVING US TIME THROUGH DECEMBER TO THEN FIGURE OUT AS IT GETS BROUGHT UP, AS IT GETS CREATED, HOW DO YOU THEN, UM, UH, UH, ENCOURAGE IT FOR THE AREAS THAT, UM, THAT THERE IS A DEMAND AND THERE, AND THERE IS INTEREST IN PARTNERING BETWEEN RESTAURANTS, UH, AND, UM, AND VENDORS.
AND I THINK AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, IT'S NOT ONLY SIDEWALK VENDORS, UH, THAT'S CLEARLY ONE WE HAVE IN OUR MIND, BUT THERE ARE OTHER, UH, TYPES OF VENDING THAT THAT COULD BE PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
UM, AND A AS YOU KNOW, I'VE AL I'VE BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, UM, SIDEWALK VENDORS ON ALL ASPECTS.
AND SO, UM, THAT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN SEEING WHERE WE COULD WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE SIDEWALK VENDING OF ALL, NOT JUST FOOD SIDEWALK VENDING, BUT ALL FOOD, UM, VENDING.
UM, SO I'M VERY, VERY, UM, MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE OUTCOME OF THIS.
AND JUST TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN'S POINT, UM, REGARDING THE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH FUNDING REQUEST IS DONE HERE, IF A CLARIFYING POINT ALSO, UM, I KNOW THAT THE, THE ITEM ITSELF RIGHT NOW IS NOT REQUESTING ANY, ANY FUNDS AT THE MOMENT, BUT, UM, I'M SURE THAT, UM, STAFF TIME IS INCORPORATED INTO THIS.
UM, HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK WHEN IT COMES TO NOT REQUESTING FUNDS? HOW ARE WE GONNA BE ALLOCATING, UM, STAFF TIME TO DO THIS PROJECT? YEAH, SO, UM, I, I THINK WE DO HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESOURCES RIGHT NOW IN OUR SIDEWALK VENDOR PROGRAM AS WE'RE ROLLING THAT OUT.
SO THERE ARE SOME STAFF ALREADY DEDICATED TO THAT.
UM, I THINK WE LABEL LABELED THIS ONE AS A MODERATE, UM, IMPACT ON STAFF, AND THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME OUTREACH THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ON.
UM, WE'D ALSO HAVE TO BE DOING SOME OF THE RESEARCH.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACTUAL, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THOSE ARE SET ASIDE, I THINK WITH ADDITIONAL TIME THAT, THAT, UM, STAFFING MAKES IT EASIER AS WE, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S COMING BACK IN 30 OR 60 DAYS.
I BELIEVE THE ITEM TALKED ABOUT DECEMBER, 2024.
UH, SO THERE WOULD BE SOME TIME TO STAFF THAT.
SO WE'D GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE IT OUT.
IF, IF WE COME BACK AND AFTER WE LOOKED AT THIS, WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I BRING TO THE COUNCIL AND SAY, NOW KNOWING ALL THIS, WE EITHER WANNA DO THIS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO WITH, WITH AN EXISTING RESOURCES.
AND ALSO FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE WILL BE COMING BACK SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS, UH, STARTED IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH IS BEFORE DECEMBER.
UM, WHICH WILL, I HOPE GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, UM, EVALUATE IT AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING AND MAYBE, UM, WALK IN PARALLEL TO THIS ITEM.
UM, AND I THINK WHICH WILL BE HELPFUL, UM, IN THE LONG RUN.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I FEEL THAT SIDEWALK VENDING, AS WE KNOW IT HELPS ACTIVATE SPACES BY INCREASING FOOT TRAFFIC AND DETERRING VANDALISM.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT E EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN OUR SIDEWALK VENDING AND BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES.
I, UM, IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE A TRADEMARK, WHICH DOES EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, SORROW AND COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SHARING WITH US, UM, TRADEMARK, UH, WHEN I'VE VISITED THERE BEFORE, I'VE HAD THE BEST SMASH BURGERS EVER, UH, ALONG WITH KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE AWESOME ICE CREAM FROM ONE OF THEIR VENDORS THAT COMES THERE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT, UM, THEY WOULD BE GIVEN THAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IF IT WASN'T FOR TRADEMARKS, OPEN ARMS AND WILLINGNESS TO
[01:45:01]
COLLABORATE WITH THEM AND, UM, AND HELP THEM IN THEIR BUSINESS.AND IN TURN, IT HELPS THEIR BUSINESS AS WELL.
SO, UH, I REALLY, UM, ADMIRE THE SENTIMENT OF BUSINESS OWNERS HELPING OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE, UH, THE REQUEST FOR THIS STUDY TO BE INCORPORATING LISTENING SESSIONS, WHICH I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU WE'RE REQUESTING THEM TO BE DONE IN ALL DISTRICTS, BECAUSE I THINK EVEN THOUGH WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF COMMONALITIES IN OUR DISTRICTS, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, THIS WILL HELP US ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE INTENTIONAL ON INCLUDING VOICES OF ALL OUR SIDE SIDEWALK VENDORS, UM, WHETHER THEY'RE FOOD VENDORS OR RETAIL VENDORS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN EXPLORING THESE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW AND, AND RICK TI THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY, I I SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF, UH, THIS ITEM.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK SUPPORTING EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENTS, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE, UH, CHALLENGES WITH VACANT STOREFRONTS.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT.
UM, WHAT I THINK IS ACTUALLY MISSING IS, IS THE, THE MAYBE SOME LANGUAGE THAT WOULD INCENTIVIZE, UH, THESE BUSINESSES, THESE MICRO BUSINESSES THAT BECOME BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI MENTIONED THAT, WELL, SOME DON'T, DON'T EVER WANNA BE A BRICK AND MORTAR.
WE, WE HAVE CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
UH, PEOPLE LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY ARE PRESSURING THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO DO MORE, TO, TO UPLIFT THE VITALITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS MORE LIVABLE AND MORE WALKABLE.
AND NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WITH, YOU KNOW, BLOCKS OF VACANT STOREFRONTS.
AND WE HAVE THESE CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY AND NORTH LONG BEACH, WEST SIDE, EAST LONG BEACH.
I, I, I THINK WE MIGHT BE SENDING A CONFLICTING MESSAGE, UM, IF WE, WE SAY, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING INTO SIDEWALK VENDING, RIGHT? AND OF COURSE, THIS IS, THIS IS, AND, AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR YOUR POINT IS NOT LIMITED TO, UH, FOOD OR, OR, OR ANY SPECIFIC TYPE OF SIDEWALK VENDING, BUT TO ME, I THINK IT SENDS A CONFLICTING MESSAGE WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A CHALLENGE WITH GETTING OUR STOREFRONTS POPULATED.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS UNTIL WE, WE FIX THAT, IN MY OPINION.
UM, BECAUSE, AND THEN WE DO HAVE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, AND I HEAR A LOT, I HAVE TWO BIDS IN MY, MY DISTRICT.
I HEAR A LOT FROM THE BUSINESSES, I HEAR A LOT FROM THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EVEN FOOD TRUCKS AND THE, THE COMPETITION AND THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY, THEY, THEY, UM, THEY CREATE FOR, FOR SOME OF THE BUSINESSES NOW, SOMETIMES IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD, UM, MARRIAGE.
IT'S A GOOD, UH, THEY'VE GOT, WE'VE GOTTEN A GOOD BALANCE, I THINK IN, IN, IN MOST CASES.
BUT I, I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME WITH THIS.
AND FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE VETTED OUT AND, AND IF I COULD JUST MAKE A FRIENDLY RECOMMENDATION, OR IF NOT, I CAN MAKE A SUBSTITUTE THAT WILL MAYBE BRING COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA ON BOARD AND, UH, DUG IN TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF ITEM THAT TO ME SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A COMMISSION AND A COMMITTEE TO VET IT OUT AND TO STUDY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DEAL WITH THE DETAILS OF IT, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR, UM, FOR, FOR RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE DONE THINGS IN THE PAST, PARTICULARLY ON THESE BIG ITEMS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WE ARE SEEKING TO, UH, ACCOMPLISH HERE IN THE SPIRIT.
I, I SUPPORT IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT, THAT, UH, WE NEED TO HEAR MORE STAKEHOLDER INPUT TO, TO, TO BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO UNLESS WE, WE CAN, SO I'LL MAKE A, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO REFER THIS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITHIN 90 DAYS.
IF I CAN GET A SECOND ON THAT.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THAT? SECOND? SECOND, SUPERMAN.
UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
AND I'M GONNA SPEAK TO THE ORIGINAL
[01:50:01]
MOTION, NOT THE SUBSTITUTE AT THIS POINT.UM, I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHERE YOU WERE GOING, SO I APPRECIATE THE, UM, CLARIFICATIONS AND WHAT THE VISION OF THIS ITEM IS.
I THINK WHAT I, IMMEDIATELY AFTER HEARING THAT, WHAT I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF HIS EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD IN OTHER CITIES LIKE AUSTIN AND PORTLAND AND EVEN IN WASHINGTON DC UM, LAST WEEK, THAT HAVE AREAS SET UP WITH DESIGNATED TIMES AND PLACES FOR VENDORS TO BE FOOD TRUCKS, COFFEE VENDORS, JEWELRY VENDORS, FARMER'S MARKET.
SO KIND OF OUR TRADITIONAL FARMER'S MARKET.
AND LOOKING AT, SO I TOOK IT AS THIS IS, THIS IS A CHANCE FOR US TO LOOK AT OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THOSE SAME KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
NOT NECESSARILY UNDER THE GUISE OF A PURE FARMER'S MARKET, BUT SOME COALESCING OF LICENSED VENDING TO HAPPEN IN A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHOW UP AND GO.
I STAYED IN A HOTEL IN PORTLAND DOWNTOWN.
I WALKED A BLOCK OVER TO A PUBLIC SQUARE AND THERE WERE SEVEN BREAKFAST FOOD TRUCKS THERE.
IT WAS COFFEE AND JEWELRY AND FARMERS AND, UM, OTHER LOCAL VENDORS.
SO I READ THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS, UM, POTENTIALLY LIKE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE SAID, THAT ARE EITHER UNDERUTILIZED, THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT, UM, THAT CAN BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE ARE LEERY OF GOING, BUT ACTIVATING IN A WAY THAT HAS A REALLY POSITIVE WAY.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THE SPIRIT IN WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE, AND I AM, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US FINDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR ALL SORTS OF VENDORS, UM, TO COALESCE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN CAN ACCESS NEW THINGS.
SO, UM, IF THAT IS THE INTENT, WHICH I THINK IT IS, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUE.
REALLY, THAT IS THE ITEM IS THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR VENDORS.
SO THE COMMENTS SHARED REALLY ARE ABOUT, THAT'S, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS IT WOULD BE GREAT.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT TO BE INNOVATIVE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT TO STRATEGIZE.
HOW DO WE AS THE ORDINANCE MOVE FORWARD TO DO WHAT IT'S ALREADY DOING, IS TO ALSO CAPTURE IDEAS ABOUT, THERE ARE PLACES WHERE VENDORS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VENT ANYMORE.
WHERE WOULD THEY GO? THEY'LL BE COMING KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR ASKING, WELL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE VENDORS THAT DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAN GO OR NEEDS A PLACE THAT THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY? BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A WAY WHERE WE CAN CREATE PATHWAY AND GUIDANCE AND THERE IS ROOM TO DISCUSS IN THIS PLAN.
HOW DO WE GIVE PEOPLE A GUIDE TO BEING WHAT CHAD SHARE AS A SUCCESS STORY, RIGHT? AND MAYBE NOT WANNA BE A BRICK AND MORTAR, BUT A PATHWAY TO BEING A SUCCESSFUL VENDOR.
IT'S HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE, WE NEED TO DO TO GET PEOPLE TO THE BRICK AND MORTAR, OR IF THEY WANNA CONTINUE TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR.
THIS IS AN OPEN PLAN ABOUT EXPLORING IDEAS THAT IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST SIDEWALK VENDING.
AND THAT IS WHERE, UH, THE SPIRIT OF THIS ITEM IS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SHARE THAT NEW YORK ACTUALLY HAS A GREAT MODEL IN WHERE THEY TOOK THIS VENDING OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A COMMUNITY VENDING AREA AT CORONA PLAZA, UM, WHERE THERE WAS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALL OF THE STUFF WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT VENDORS THAT, WELL, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SET UP A PROCESS WHERE THEY'RE HAVING AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE VENDING AND FOLLOWING THE RULES AROUND HEALTH AND SAFETY, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO KNOW THAT, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO SELL THINGS.
SO I THINK LONG BEACH DOESN'T NEED TO WAIT BECAUSE I SHARED EARLIER THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE, I'M ASKING FOR REPORT BACK OF SOME SORT WITH A PLAN AND PROPOSED ACTION PLAN BY DECEMBER.
AND THAT IS TO CAPTURE THE INFORMATION SHARED ABOUT SIDEWALK VENDING.
AND IT'S BEEN REITERATED THAT THIS ISN'T ONLY LIMITED TO SIDEWALK VENDING, IT'S ABOUT OTHER VENDING AND MICRO-BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
AND THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW TRUE TO THE GROW LONG BEACH ABOUT GIVING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE AND SUPPORTING THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, IS ABOUT, IS CREATING A PLAN TO DO SO.
SO THE PLAN TO GETTING TO A BRICK AND MORTAR SHOULD BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION AND ANY OTHER IDEA THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE OR CONCERNS.
SO THAT IS WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS ITEM WILL DO.
AND IT ACTUALLY ASSET FOR IT TO GO TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THE COMMISSION, RIGHT? SO THIS IS ASKING THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SIDEWALK VENDING.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS.
I, UM, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS SORROW.
UM, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, UM, CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK THAT IT'S A CRUCIAL TIME FOR US TO DO IT.
I THINK NOW IS GOOD THAT I, WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS ITEM IS THAT, UM, WE ARE REALLY NOT RUSHING
[01:55:01]
THROUGH IT.IT'S NOT, YOU'RE, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A 30 DAY TURNAROUND OR EVEN A 60 DAY TURNAROUND, OR EVEN A 90 DAY TURNAROUND.
I THINK THAT, UM, BECAUSE IN THE ITEM IT DOES SAY THAT, UM, THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD WORK WITH, WITH, UM, THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA GIVE US ENOUGH TIME.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE ENVISIONING WITH THE EL MERCADO, WHICH WAS ALREADY APPROVED.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE VENDING, BUT IT'S BY PROVIDING ZONES WHERE, UM, PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE AND WHERE THERE CAN BE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
UM, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THE EQUITY LENS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, UM, ALWAYS WHAT WE INTEND TO DO ON COUNCIL IS MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION, UH, AT THE TABLE, BUT, UM, HOPE YES.
WELL, UH, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE FUTILE TO, TO, TO ARGUE MY POINT FURTHER.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, TOO FAR UNALIGNED, RIGHT? I THINK IN SPIRIT, WE, WE SUPPORT THIS, MY, MY FRIEND, MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION REQUIRES IT TO GO TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO FURTHER VET IT OUT, UH, TO GET THE DETAILS THAT, THAT AREN'T HERE, TO MAYBE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE PUBLIC INPUT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, FEEL GOOD ABOUT A POLICY MOVING FORWARD.
THIS IS NOT A SMALL POLICY, RIGHT? THIS IS, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT IN MY OPINION.
UH, AND COULD BE, YOU KNOW, VIEWED AS A, OH, THE MM-HMM, STOP ME.
I KNOW YOU HAVE THAT KILL SWEAT, BUT MR. MR. MAYOR
I THINK THE LIGHT GOES OUT, BUT THE MIC WAS STILL ON.
SEE THE LIGHT'S OFF OR THE MIC? GOOD.
SO, UM, BACK TO MY POINT, I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE FAR THAT FAR ALIGNED.
UM, UNALIGNED, UH, STUDYING IT THROUGH THE COMMISSION ALLOWS THERE TO BE PUBLIC INPUT AS IT'S PRESENTED ON THE FLOOR.
IT SAYS IT GOES TO DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S AN INTERNAL PROCESS, RIGHT? IF WE WERE TO DO IT ON A COMMISSION LEVEL, WE WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE PUBLIC INPUT INTO THE, THE PROCESS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK OUR DIFFERENCE IS IN TERMS OF APPROACH.
AND SO, AND, AND TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS POINT, IF WE'RE NOT RUSHING THIS, THEN I SEE NO PROBLEM IN GOING FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION MODEL TO TO, TO FURTHER STUDY THIS.
WE'RE STILL QUOTE, MOVING IT FORWARD, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT KILLING IT HERE.
IF I COULD, MAYBE I'LL JUST CHIME IN.
I THINK WE CAN MOVE THIS ALONG TONIGHT, UH, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU TWO ARE SAYING THINGS THAT ARE VERY DISSIMILAR.
UH, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFF DOING WORK BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER, YOU CAN DO COMMITTEE WORK CONCURRENTLY.
HAVE STAFF DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM, FROM THE COMMITTEES.
ONE, THOSE ARE SOME GOOD EXAMPLES THAT I HEARD TONIGHT.
UH, AUSTIN HAS A STREET CALLED RAINY STREET.
IT, IT, IT HAS SMALL POCKETS OF VACANT LOTS AND IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST, MOST ACTIVE, UH, CORRIDORS.
PEOPLE TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO GET TO THIS SPOT.
SECONDLY, I THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING WHEN, WHEN COUNCILMAN RICKS OTE WAS TALKING.
REMEMBER WE DID POP UPTOWN FOR LIKE THREE YEARS AT THE OBAMA LIBRARY AT A VACANT LOT.
IT WAS A FOOD TRUCK AND A BAND.
AND WE HAD A HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT THERE, ONE, YOU KNOW, ONCE A MONTH, RIGHT? IT WAS AN ACTIVATION ALSO.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, THE, UH, WHERE WAS I GOING WITH THIS? SO CONCURRENTLY WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T HURT.
THAT'S THE THING THAT HASN'T COME UP.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS MOTION, I DON'T SEE IT AS A POLICY COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOU SAID THIS POLICY, I DON'T SEE THIS AS A POLICY.
I THINK THEY'RE SAYING LOOK AT THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE AND SEE IF AN ACTION PLAN CAN COME OUT OF THAT.
SO THIS ACTION PLAN, IT SOUNDS INTERESTING TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU ALIGN THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE? LIKE LET'S GET SOME OF THESE FOLKS IN PARTAKE COLLECTIVE TO GET, START FILLING IN SOME OF THESE VACANT STOREFRONTS.
THEY'RE ALREADY IN AN INCUBATOR.
HOW DO WE ALIGN THE INCUBATOR? HOW DO WE GET STREET VENDORS INTO THOSE INCUBATORS? I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF THE PIECES AND THEY'RE NOT ALIGNED IN OUR CITY TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES WE NEED.
SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE A LOT OF OUR GOALS, LIKE THE VACANT STOREFRONTS, THE VACANT LOTS, THE INCUBATORS, AND THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THESE PERMANENT OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKE AN ACTION PLAN, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.
SO I'M JUST GONNA OFFER TO YOU TWO.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A SPLIT VOTE ON THIS.
[02:00:01]
POSITIVE STUFF TONIGHT.IT'S NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT IT.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST COUNCILMAN MASSA SORROW, INCLUDE SOME COMMITTEE WORK INTO YOUR MOTION TO ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME MORE PROCESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, AS THE VICE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC, UH, DEV OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE.
I'M HAPPY TO ADD THAT IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, RIGHT? YES.
WELL, IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF WE CAN GET A COMMITMENT FOR IT TO GO TO THE COMMISSION, UM, IN ADDITION TO PASSING THE ORDER COM AND THE COMMISSION, RIGHT? UM, THE COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION, I, I WILL WITHDRAW MY, MY FRIENDLY OR MEAN MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE SECONDER.
CAN, CAN WE JUST GET A STATEMENT BECAUSE, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN WAS OBJECTING TO IMMEDIATELY GOING TO STAFF TIME AND IMPACTING, AND THAT WAS MY OBJECTION TOO.
I THINK WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FOCUS HERE THAT IS, UH, MORE IMPORTANT.
SO, UH, CAN, CAN WE HAVE THE, THE MOTION REREAD AS IT STANDS? UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY CAN RESTATE WHERE WE ARE.
IF I UNDERSTAND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW'S, UH, MOTION IS THE RECOMMENDATION AS IT STANDS IN THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION THAT IT WILL COME BACK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE COMMITTEE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BUT I WAS NOT CLEAR ON THE TIMING OF THAT.
IF THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN CONCURRENTLY, SOONER, CON CONCURRENTLY, CONCURRENTLY.
BUT THE OTHER ONE ASKS FOR IT TO HAPPEN BY DECEMBER.
SO YEAH, I THINK THE IDEA IS IF WE COULD GET A LITTLE HERE, HERE'S WHAT I THINK.
I THINK, UH, CITY MANAGERS SAID THE LONG RUNWAY OF NOW TO DECEMBER, HE CAN WORK IT INTO THEIR EXISTING OUTREACH.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ADDING IS SOME COUNCIL COMMITTEE WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO BEFORE ANYTHING COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL, YOU'VE DONE SOME COMMITTEE WORK, RIGHT? YOU'VE DONE GOT SOME MORE VETTING AND WHAT COME, WHAT COULD COME BACK COULD BE, HEY, HERE'S WHAT AN ACTION PLAN COULD LOOK LIKE.
SO NOT THE FINAL ACTION PLAN, BUT HERE'S WHAT WE HEARD.
WE HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES IN STOREFRONTS.
HERE'S WHAT YOU COULD DO IN LONG BEACH.
AND I'M JUST ADDING IN AT THE INCUBATORS IN THERE.
ADD THAT INTO THE CONVERSATION.
SO WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, SORRY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
UM, IT WOULD READ RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH RELEVANT CITY DEPARTMENTS TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING LIMITED SIDEWALK VENDING.
THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE AN ACTION PLAN CITY WOULD CONSIDER AND REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY DECEMBER, 2024.
WHAT ABOUT DUGGAN MEMBERS, PLEASE? WELL, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN SAID, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO GO BACK AND FORTH THE CROWD, BUT I THINK HER CONCERN WAS ABOUT SPENDING, I THINK WE CLARIFIED WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY EXPENDITURES HERE OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S ALREADY PUT FORWARD.
SO THIS IS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH WHEN IT COMES BACK, WE'LL TAKE EXTRA STEPS.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THIS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THIS.
ONE MORE POINT OF, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER.
ONE MORE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
OKAY, ONE MORE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
THIS BEGINS NOW AND IT WORKS TILL DECEMBER.
UH, THE ORIGINAL MOTION I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO START IN DECEMBER.
SO FOR THAT REASON, AS I ARTICULATED PREVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FOCUS RIGHT NOW.
SO IF IT STARTS NOW AND WORKS TILL DECEMBER, THEN I'M OPPOSED.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
AND THE, THE MAIN MOTION, THE SECOND MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 19, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN AL, CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE SAVE PASSAGE PROGRAM.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF FOR PRESENTATION
[19. 24-52320-01 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services with updates on the Safe Passage Program. Office or Department: Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District, Chair; Public Safety Committee Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
FIRST.AND BY THE WAY, THIS PRESENTATION WAS, UH, I WANT TO JUST THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, VICE CHAIR DUGGAN AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER.
THIS CAME BEFORE THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
UM, THIS IS COMMITTEE WORK AND NOW WE'RE BRINGING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION AND, UH, WOULD ASK, UH, STAFF TO GIVE THEIR REPORT.
GREAT, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
THIS IS GOOD WORK WE'VE DONE IN COMMITTEES.
SO WE'RE READY TO DO IT TONIGHT.
AND I'LL TURN IT TO THERESA CHANDLER AND HER TEAM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TO GO THROUGH SAFE PASSAGE.
I WILL, UH, MENTION THAT THIS WAS A, A BIG PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL.
IF YOU REMEMBER, IN 2021, UH, WE WERE
[02:05:01]
FACED WITH A LOT OF, OF GUN VIOLENCE ON OUR STREETS.AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES, UH, BOTH ON, UH, WORKING WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH NONPROFITS AND WORKING, UH, WITH SAFE PASSAGE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THAT TODAY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR WHO IS ON HER WAY TO SACRAMENTO.
SO I AM PRESENTING WITH OUR WONDERFUL TEAM HERE.
UM, REALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ABOUT SAFE PASSAGES THIS EVENING.
UM, I'M HERE WITH ERICA VALENCIA ACI, SHE'S OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT BUREAU MANAGER AND T SAMUELS, WHO IS OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION MANAGER.
SO TODAY WE PLAN TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SAFE PASSAGES, BUT WE WANNA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO THE WORK.
SO TO DO THAT, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE AND OUR LONG BEACH ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE.
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE AND ADVANCING PEACE IS A ROOTED IN COLLECTIVE IMPACT.
EVERYONE, EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY SECTOR HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN.
TAKING A COMMUNITY FOCUSED APPROACH AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND SECTORS IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT PREVENTION INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE, WE FOCUS ON COORDINATING AND COLLABORATING TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND INVESTMENTS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OTHERS.
WE CREATE CLEAR COMMUNICATION FOR ALL ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK AND WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE ACTIVITIES LIKE SAFE PASSAGES THAT CREATE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND FOCUS ON UPSTREAM APPROACHES TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT.
PREVENTION ACTIVITIES INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STABLE SOCIO SOCIOECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO INCREASE INCREASE PATHWAYS OVER THE LIFE.
COURSE PREVENTION SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN EVERY LIFE STAGE.
INTERVENTION AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION ACTIVITIES REDIRECT AND INVEST IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE.
THESE ACTIVITIES SHOULD CREATE SUPPORT FOR AND INVEST IN THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF BEING VICTIMIZED BY VIOLENCE AND SHOULD INTERRUPT MULTIPLE FORMS OF VIOLENCE.
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION MODELS ALSO RESPOND TO INCIDENTS TO PREVENT OR LESSEN FURTHER VIOLENCE FROM OCCURRING.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE ACTIVATION OF SPACES IS ALSO IMPORTANT.
AND SO REMOVING GRAFFITI AND OTHER SYMBOLS THAT ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE OR DETERS SOCIAL ACTIVITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION ARE WORKING TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND WHEN WE INVEST IN THESE EFFORTS, WE BRING ACCOUNTABILITY AND HEALING.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND HEALING IS COLLECTIVE WORK ROOTED IN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, PROMOTING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES, AND ALSO LEADS TO CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND VICARIOUS TRAUMA.
I'M NOW GONNA HAND IT OVER TO ERICA TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE LONG BEACH ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE, WHICH ADDRESSES MULTIPLE COMPONENTS ARE OF OUR ADVANCING PEACE MODEL.
OUR LONG BEACH ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING FOR EVERYONE IN LONG BEACH.
THE INITIATIVE ADDRESSES VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO ADDRESSING VIOLENCE WITH FOUR GOALS, INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, SUPPORT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, BUILD SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND USE TRAUMA-INFORMED SYSTEMS. WITHIN OUR ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE, WE HAVE A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT SERVES AS AN ADVISORY GROUP, COMPRISED OF 16 COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO SET THE AGENDA FOR A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK THAT DIRECTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK MEMBERS INCLUDE NONPROFIT LEADERS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, RESIDENT LEADERS, CITY STAFF, WHO ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY IN LONG BEACH.
AND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK IS TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT CAN HELP INTERRUPT COMMUNITY VIOLENCE THROUGH PLACE-BASED NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS AND SERVICES.
SOME OF THESE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY SPARK PROJECTS LIKE BACKPACK AND GROCERY GIVEAWAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSIST ASSOCIATION EVENTS, AND RESOURCE FAIRS.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, ONE OF THE PLACE-BASED EFFORTS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS SAFE PASSAGE.
SAFE PASSAGE IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY THAT CAN LEAD TO DECREASES IN PEDESTRIAN INJURY, VIOLENT INCIDENCES AND ABSENTEEISM.
THIS IS ACHIEVED BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ADULT MONITORS NEAR VIOLENT AND PEDESTRIAN INJURY HOTSPOTS.
THE LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ADOPTED THIS MODEL TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE MODEL IN ITS CURRENT ITERATION WAS DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE WHO HELPED INFORM THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND SERVED ON THE SELECTION PANEL TO IDENTIFY PROVIDERS.
NOW I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO TEAL TO TALK ABOUT OUR, THE CURRENT SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM, WHICH
[02:10:01]
IS FUNDED BY THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT.UM, I'M TEAL SAMUELS, AND I'M THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION MANAGER.
UH, IN THIS SLIDE, WE DELVE INTO THE CITY FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN SAFE PASSAGE AND THE DISTINCT MODELS THEY EMPLOY TO ENSURE COMMUNITY SAFETY ALONG DESIGNATED ROUTES.
PLEASE NOTE, EACH AWARDED AGENCY PROPOSED THEIR RESPECTIVE MODEL BASED ON THE AREA OF EXPERTISE.
THEY WERE SELECTED TO ALIGN WITH OUR ACTIVATING SAFE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, AND ARE BASED OFF OF CRIME RATES AND STREET AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY CONCERNS IN NOR IN NORTH LONG BEACH.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH SECOND CALL A USER OF THE MODEL IN OTHER PARTS OF LA COUNTY, TO WHICH THEIR SAFE PASSAGE INITIATIVES ADOPTS THE PRO, PROFESSIONAL OR PARAPROFESSIONAL MODEL.
THIS APPROACH FOCUSES ON EMPLOYING TRAINED PROFESSIONALS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MONITOR SAFETY ALONG DESIGNATED WALKING ROUTES, PARTICULARLY IN HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH CRIME, UM, HIGH OR HIGH CRIME AREAS.
THE DESIGNATED WALKING ROUTE INCLUDE JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL AND HOUGHTON PARK.
THE PROFESSIONAL OR POWER PROFESSIONAL MODEL IS TYPICALLY IMPLEMENTED IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES IN URBAN AREAS WHERE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE PREVALENT.
IT BRINGS TOGETHER VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AGENCIES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO IMPLEMENT A MULTIFACETED PROGRAM AIMED AT ENSURING THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS DURING THEIR COMMUTE, UH, TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN, IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH, THE SAFE PASSAGE INITIATIVE OPERATES UNDER THE VOLUNTEER MODEL WITH DAYS LONG BEACH ACTING AS OUR PROVIDER.
THIS MODEL IS OFTEN ADMINISTERED BY COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES OR SCHOOLS, ENLISTING THE HELP OF PARENTS, RESIDENTS, OR BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, STATIONED ALONG HIGHLY TRAVELED SCHOOL ROUTES.
THESE VOLUNTEERS ACT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, MONITORING AND REPORTING POTENTIALLY UNSAFE INCIDENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL.
THE DESIGNATED WALKING ROUTES IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH INCLUDE FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, LINCOLN ELEMENTARY, AND WHITTIER ELEMENTARY.
UH, EACH PROVIDER WILL BE HOSTING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PEACE DAYS, WHICH WILL SPEAK TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SAFE PASSAGE WORK, AS WELL AS SURVEY, UH, AS WELL AS SURVEY COMMUNITIES AROUND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR SAFE PASSAGE EFFORTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE MODELS ALIGN WITH OUR, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PLACE-BASED STRATEGY, WHICH FOCUSES ON NORTH AND CENTRAL EAST LONG BEACH.
BY TAILORING OUR APPROACH TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE AREAS, WE CAN EFFECTIVELY ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PROMOTE PEACE WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
OUR INTI OUR ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY, REDUCING THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH, YOUTH AND GANGS, OR, OR, UH, VIOLENCE, INCREASING PERCEPTION OF SAFETY FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND INCREASING SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND EN AND ENGAGEMENT AMONG PARTICIPATING SCHOOL SITE VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS AS A EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY.
SAFE PASSAGE HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN LONG BEACH.
THE STRATEGY CONTINUES TO BE USED BY COMMUNITY BASED AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.
OTHER PRESENT USERS OF THE SAFE PASSAGE MODEL THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO CENTRAL CHA FUNDED BY L-B-U-S-D, A PRESENT USER ALONG THE SANTA FE CORRIDOR, WHICH INCLUDES STEVENS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAPRIO HIGH SCHOOL, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
ANOTHER PRESENT USER OF THE MODEL WITH FOCUS ON WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, IN BOTH OF THEIR STRATEGIES, THEY UTILIZE A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EVIDENCE-BASED AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION MODEL.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND LEADERS WHO HAVE USED ELEMENTS OF THE SAFE PASSAGE MODEL AS A VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY TO VARYING DEGREES.
THE USE OF THE MODEL HAS LARGELY BEEN DICTATED BY, UH, CAPACITY, UH, SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
I BELIEVE ITS USE AND IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT ITS LONGSTANDING HISTORY IN LONG BEACH BY BOTH CITY AND NON-CITY ENTITIES HIGHLIGHT THE ADAPTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MODEL AGENCIES, SUCH AS FOCUS, LOVE BEYOND LIMITS, AND THE SAFER L-B-U-S-D CAMPAIGN TO NAME A FEW, REPRESENT SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES AND GRASSROOTS EFFORTS THAT HAVE, UH, USED ELEMENTS OF SAFE PASSAGE FOR NEXT STEPS WE'RE SET TO LAUNCH
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THE PROGRAM IN THE, IN THE COMING WEEKS.ADDITIONALLY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN HOSTING MONTHLY CONVENINGS FOR ALL SAFE PASSAGE PROVIDERS AND USERS OF THE MODEL.
AS CITY STAFF, WE CONTINUE TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND STAKEHOLDERS TO ALIGN RESOURCES, COLLABORATION, AND SUPPORT FOR THE SAFE PASSAGE MODEL.
MOREOVER, WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS TO BEST ALIGN AS PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS.
UH, AND LASTLY, WILL WE, WE WILL COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA TO INFORM FUTURE PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES IN LONG BEACH.
SOME OF THE DATA COLLECTION WILL INCLUDE TRACKING VIOLENT INCIDENTS AT THE SITE, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED AND GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE SPACE TO PRESENT AND WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
I THINK I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, I I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR YOUR, YOUR WORK ON, ON THIS.
WE BROUGHT THIS, UH, ITEM FORWARD, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE OVER, DEFINITELY OVER A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I WANNA COMMEND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT, THAT HAVE STEPPED UP AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS KIND OF ON THEIR OWN.
I GUESS WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR CREATING A SAFE PASSAGE MOTTO AS WELL.
UH, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THAT, THAT, UM, THAT COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CITY, ARE ALL KIND OF THINKING, UM, IN, WELL IN SYNC AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO, TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN ARE, ARE GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND HOME SAFELY.
BUT, UM, I, I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I WANNA WITHHOLD THOSE AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES DO.
BUT, UM, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO GET PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST BEFORE WE GO BEHIND THE RAIL.
I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST, UH, ADD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS, I WAS LOOKING AT IT FROM THE BACK, THE PRESENTATION.
I GET THE QUESTION ALL THE TIME.
WHEN IS LONG BEACH GONNA DO A SAFE PASSAGES PROGRAM? AND I TELL 'EM THERE'S A NUMBER OF SAFE PASSAGES, PROGRAMS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AND IN DEVELOPMENT, SO IS, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL IN ONE PLACE.
AND I THINK THIS IS VERY HELPFUL AND WE SHOULD SHARE THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A REAL INTEREST IN DEMAND FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
CINDY GON UH, BILLY BROWN AND CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON.
MY NAME IS CINDY SAGO AND I AM THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST AT CENTRO CHA.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'VE EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND IN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE.
HOWEVER, I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEN, UM, AL AUSTIN FOR BEING A LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION EFFORTS SUCH AS SAFE PASSAGES AND HER FOR HIS STAFF FOR THE CON, THEIR CONTINUOUS PARTICIPATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONG BEACH C-V-I-P-I COLLABORATIVE.
UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK A BIT ON ROHAN AND THEIR HISTORY IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, UM, INITIATIVES, AND ONE BEING THE SAFE PASSAGE.
BETWEEN 2015 TO 2018, RO CHA LED A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM IN WEST LONG BEACH THAT WAS FOUND FUNDED BY THE LA COUNTY PROBATION TRANSPIRATION GRANT AND THE, THE DESOTO FOUNDATION.
AND GOING INTO THIS YEAR AS WE SAW THAT RO CHA IS LEADING EFFORTS, SAFE PASSAGE, SAFE PASSAGE EFFORTS IN WEST LONG BEACH ONCE AGAIN, BUT IT WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND INTERVENTION PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE AND INITIATIVE THAT'S FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT SEEKS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME IN COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING A COMPREHENSIVE EVIDENCE-BASED IN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS BASED ON PARTNERSHIPS AMONG COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOSPITALS, RESEARCH SCHOOL, AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND COM, OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
THROUGH THE ADVOCACY OF THE LONG BEACH CBI COLLABORATIVE, WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FUNDING A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM IN WEST LONG BEACH.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE SAFE PASSAGE TEAM FROM CENTRAL CHA, WHO IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR SAFE PASSAGE EFFORTS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND BUSINESSES ON THE SANTA FE CORRIDOR, ALREADY DEESCALATING INCIDENTS AND CREATING THOSE MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
[02:20:01]
UTILIZING A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE YEAH, CALLING TO THAT, UTILIZING A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EVIDENCE-BASED AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN INTERVENTION MODEL.THE WEST LONG BEACH, UM, SAFE PASSAGE, UM, STRATEGY IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE DANGERS TO, TO, AND WALKING FROM SCHOOL OF LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC, CONGESTIONS AND A VARI, A VARIETY OF EXTERNAL HISTORICAL BARRIERS THAT STUDENTS MAY ENCOUNTER ON THEIR WAY AND FROM SCHOOL.
WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, SAFE PASSAGE SHOULD NOT BE A ONE-TIME FUNDING.
UM, THERE IS A CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR, UM, PARTNERS, CITIES, SCHOOLS, CBOS, TO WORK IN THE CBI ECOSYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO FUND SAFE PASSAGE AS WE SAW THAT IT IS A NEED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WEST SIDE PROGRAM, BEEN HEARING GOOD THINGS ABOUT THAT, SO LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH THAT.
ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
UH, BILLY
MY NAME IS BILLY BROWN AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF FOCUS.
FOCUS STANDS FOR FAMILIES OBSERVING CULTURES AND UNITING STUDENTS.
FOCUS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE FOR STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL AND RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL WITHOUT THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE OF ANY SORT.
UM, HOW DID FOCUS GET STARTED? WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH, THE PRINCIPAL FROM FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, MR. LUDA LOCA, CAME TO MY CLASSROOM AND ASKED ME COULD I HELP STOP HIS RACIAL AND GANG PROBLEM THAT HE WAS HAVING AT FRANKLIN.
THE PROBLEM AT FRANKLIN BASICALLY WAS THAT THE STUDENTS WAS GETTING TERRORIZED GOING TO, TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
ASSAULTS, BULLIED, HARASSED, JUMP SUSPENSIONS, EXPULSION, FIGHTS, AND STUDENTS GOING TO JAIL WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
I AGREED TO HELP MY COMMUNITY BY FUNDING.
UM, FOUNDING FOCUS FOCUS IS A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT IS MADE UP OF MULTICULTURAL ETHNIC GROUPS, UM, THAT INCLUDE BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN, WHITE, AND OTHER RESIDENTS FROM THE CITY OF LONE BEACH, INCLUDING LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE STUDENTS, CAL STATE STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY VIOLENT EXPERTS.
ONCE WE STARTED SAFE PASSAGE AT FRANKLIN, PRETTY MUCH, UM, ALL OF THE VIOLENCE STOPPED AS A RESULT FOR THE SUCCESS OF SAFE PASSAGE AT FRANKLIN, I RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD FROM LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
NOW LET'S FAST FORWARD TO 2024.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER SCHOOLS IN, UM, LONG BEACH THAT ARE NEAT.
UM, SAFE PASSAGE, CABRILLO STEVENS, JORDAN LINBERG, HAMILTON, POLLY WASHINGTON.
AND JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, I GOT A, A CALL FROM PRINCIPAL REED FROM NELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO CONCLUDE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND RESOURCES.
MOST DEFINITELY NEEDED TO PERFORM SAFE PASSAGE.
HOWEVER, THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH SOME OF THE FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO WORKERS AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE EXPERTS.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE, THE CONTRACT EXPLAINS THAT IT WANTS THE WORKERS TO LIVE IN LONG BEACH.
HOWEVER, THE GRANTS, UM, PAY 17 TO $24.
LET'S SAY THE AVERAGE TWO BEDROOM AND 20 IS 2,500 TO RENT PER MONTH IN LONG BEACH.
ANYONE THAT HAS DID, UM, APARTMENT SEARCHING KNOWS THAT THESE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ASK FOR THREE TIMES THE RENT, UM, JUST TO MOVE IN.
SO IF THE RENT IS 2,500 A MONTH, HE MUST MAKE 7,500.
THIS IS AN OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF HOW WORKERS PAY DOES NOT ALLOW THE WORKERS TO AFFORD RENT IN LONG BEACH.
I ASK THAT IN THE FUTURE, UM, FUNDING THAT THIS FUNDING DISCRETION IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE INFLUENCED BY LONG BEACH CULTURE.
THEY LOVE OUR HISTORY, ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS, MOVIE STARS, AND OF COURSE, OUR MUSIC.
THE COPY, THE, THEY COPY OUR CULTURE, LONG BEACH, UM, AND OTHER CITIES AND OTHER STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND ALL OVER THE CONTINENT.
BUT THE STUFF THEY ARE DOING NOW, WE DID 30 YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE GOING TO NEED SAFE PASSAGE TWO.
ALRIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER, CHRIS COVINGTON.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON.
UH, I'M COMING TO YOU AS A RESIDENT, BUT I'M ALSO COMING TO YOU AS YOUR CHAIR OF THE LONG BEACH ADVANCING PEACE STEERING COMMITTEE.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD, UH, WITH MY CO-CHAIR, MALIKA LONG MALIKA CHRIS, UH, TO WORK WITH YOU ALL IN DEVELOPING OUR STRATEGIES, PROTOCOLS, AND POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE CITY.
UH, SO AS A RESIDENT, I THINK IT'S TIME TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, TRUTH, UH, AND FOR US TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION.
UH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES ARE ALWAYS ONE TIME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES,
[02:25:01]
SHORT TERM FUNDING GOALS, UH, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS PROJECTS.UH, THE SUSTAINABILITY OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS ALWAYS AN AFTERTHOUGHT WHEN SOMEONE IS MURDERED.
LAST JANUARY, WE LOST, UH, KHAL, UH, SALI IN JUNE, WE LOST ERIC BROWN, AND WE KNOW WE'RE IN SPRING AND SUMMERS COMING, AND THE VIOLENCE IS GOING TO INCREASE IF WE CONTINUE TO, UH, INVEST IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES LIKE SAFE PASSAGES, UH, WITH SHORT-TERM FUNDING, WE'RE ONLY GONNA GET BANDAIDS.
I WANNA APPRECIATE OUT AUSTIN FOR ACTUALLY GENDERIZING SAFE PASSAGES AND HAVING IT BE PASSED WITH THE FUNDING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE RECOVERY ACT, AS WELL AS THE, UM, THE RACIAL, UH, AND RECONCILIATION FUND.
UH, THOSE FUNDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THEY'RE RUNNING OUT THE MONEY FOR THESE SAFE PASSES PROGRAMS. THEY'RE GONNA END IN DECEMBER, THEY'RE JUST NOW GETTING FUNDED, AND THEY'RE GONNA START THIS MONTH, AND THEY'RE GONNA GO INTO SUMMER, AND THEN IT'S GONNA START BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
THE MONEY THAT IS, UH, PROVIDED FOR CENTRAL TRIAL THAT ENDS IN JUNE.
SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN, UH, OUR SUMMER, UH, SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE INACTIVE? UH, IN THE SAFETY COMMITTEE, DARRELL, UH, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE PRESCHOOLS AND HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE, UH, INTERACTING WITH VIOLENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO MY ASK TO YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY DURING THE NEXT DISCUSSION, IS TO MOVE THIS ITEM FROM AN ACTUAL RECEIVING FILE AND ACTUALLY MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO SEARCH FOR LONG, LONG-TERM FUNDING, UH, TO SPECIFICALLY, UH, PROTECT THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUNDING THAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A DEFICIT IS COMING, SO WE NEED Y'ALL TO CHAMPION THIS AND PROTECT IT.
UH, THE SECOND ONE IS EXPAND FUNDING FOR, UH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, BECAUSE SUMMER'S APPROACHING.
UH, THE THIRD ONE IS IDENTIFY A NEW AND SUSTAINABLE, UH, LONGSTANDING FUNDING STREAMS FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTIONS, AND THEN, UH, ESTABLISH AN OFFICE FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
SO ALL OF OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES CAN BE UNDER ONE HOUSE.
UM, AND SO WITH THE TIME LEFT, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO THINK THROUGH, CHAMPION THIS INITIATIVE AND REALLY PUT FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN SEE LONG-TERM FUNDING FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
BECAUSE SUMMER'S APPROACHING AND VIOLENCE IS GOING TO INCREASE.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN, YOU WANNA SPEAK AGAIN? HANG ON.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.
UH, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE, THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK ON THIS.
THEY ALSO SPOKE DURING THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.
UM, THERE, THIS IS, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA LA OUR SUCCESS.
WE, WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME MODELS OF SAFE PASSAGES THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT ARE KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE, UM, GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOLS.
UM, DO WE HAVE THE COORDINATION THAT WE NEED? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
UM, AND SO HOPEFULLY TONIGHT WE WALK AWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT BETTER DIRECTION ON COORDINATION, BUT ALSO DIRECTION ON POTENTIAL FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE PROGRAM.
THAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND BRINGING IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UM, BEFORE US RIGHT NOW IS A, A, A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
AND, UH, I WILL BE AMENDING THAT MOTION, UM, TO, TO, UH, TO REFER TO THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT, OR I AM AMENDING THE MOTION, IF I CAN GET A SECOND TO REFER THIS MATTER TO THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO, UH, LOOK AT, UH, FUNDING SOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FY 25, UM, AND WITH THE GOAL TO SUSTAIN FUNDING FOR SAFE PASSAGES.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO REFER THIS TO THE, UH, JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH WOULD, UH, BETTER COORDINATE THE CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMS TOGETHER.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT IS AN AGENDA ITEM, UM, MADAM CHAIR FOR, FOR THAT PARTICULAR COMMITTEE.
UM, AND SO IS THERE A SECOND ON AMENDING THE MOTION? I, I, I CAN CONCLUDE THAT IN MY SECOND.
AND SO I, I ALSO, WE ALSO HEARD AND SAW MAPS THAT IF WE CAN PULL THE MAPS UP, THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF MORE CLARIFICATION ON, ON, UH, GEOGRAPHY.
WHEN, WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT THIS ITEM FORWARD, THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS ASSAULTED IN THE COOLIDGE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, ON OUR WAY FROM JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL TO CULLEN POWELL ACADEMY.
[02:30:01]
UM, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT THERE ARE MANY DANGERS AND ADVENTURES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL ALONG LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.AND SO I'D LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION IN LOOKING AT THIS MAP THAT LONG BEACH BOULEVARD IS INCLUDED.
UM, MARKET STREET IS INCLUDED, UH, FOR, FOR KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO, TO LINDBERGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND COLIN POWELL ACADEMY.
RIGHT NOW, IT JUST SAYS THE WALKING ROUTES FOR JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL AND HOWDEN PARK.
IS THAT CORRECT OR IS, ARE WE MISSING SOME, SOME INFORMATION HERE? THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE INCLUDED ARE THE ONES LISTED HERE.
SO FRANKLIN MIDDLE LINCOLN, WHITTIER, AND THEN THE WALKING ROUTES WOULD ALSO INCLUDE JORDAN AND HOUGHTON.
WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE SECOND CALL, UH, FOCUS AREA, CORRECT.
THE MAP, I KNOW THAT BEYOND JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, ALONG MARKET STREET IS LINDBERGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH COULD AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED THERE.
UH, IF THIS IS THE, THE ACTUAL MAP FOR THE SERVICE AREA AND THEN LONG BEACH BOULEVARD IS IN, IN, IN, UH, PART OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE A WALKING PATH FOR CHILDREN GOING TO AND FROM COL, UM, COLIN POWELL ACADEMY.
SO THE, UM, FOCUS AREAS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, NORTH AND CENTRAL, THOSE ARE FOCUS AREAS THAT ARE INC, ARE INCLUSIVE OF OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY.
SO ONE LARGE COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAM IS, WHICH WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT, UM, IN DEPTH TODAY, IS OUR LA LONG BEACH ACTIVATING SAFE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM WHERE WE RESPOND TO INCIDENCES OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS.
AND THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
BUT YOU'RE CORRECT COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THOSE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE NOT INCLUDED CURRENTLY IN THIS ITERATION OF SAFE PASSAGE.
WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I, AGAIN, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SCHOOLS THAT WERE DIRECTLY INTENDED TO BE PART OF THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
SO IF, IF, IF I COULD JUST CHIME IN.
SO THIS WAS IN MOTION BEFORE THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED, 'CAUSE THIS WAS A PART OF THE RECOVERY ACT FUNDING, AND WHEN YOUR MOTION BROUGHT FORWARD, WE TALKED ABOUT INCLUDING ADDITIONAL CORRIDORS INTO THE NORTH LONG BEACH SAFE PASSAGES CORRIDOR.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS SURE, JORDAN HIGH IS THERE, BUT THE PATH TO JORDAN HIGH THAT FOLKS WALK FROM COOLIDGE TRIANGLE WAS INCLUDED IN THIS PATH.
IS THAT CORRECT? THE PATH SORT OF, 'CAUSE KIDS WALK ACROSS ARTESIA BOULEVARD, SO THAT IS INCLUDED FROM THE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD CORRIDOR.
IS THAT RIGHT? SO IT IS INCLUSIVE OF LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, I THINK, I THINK MAYBE THE ANSWER WASN'T GETTING TO WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
WELL, I, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, TO MAKE THIS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST AND MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE TO ABSOLUTELY.
TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAXPAYERS IN OUR CITY WHO ARE, WHO ARE FUNDING THIS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING COOLIDGE, UH, I MEAN, UH, COLIN POWELL AND, AND LINDBERGH, BECAUSE THEY ARE WITHIN THIS SERVICE AREA, WOULD REALLY, UH, HELP.
I'M NOT SURE YOU KNOW EXACTLY THE, THE SPECIFICS ON HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY STATIONED, IF IT'S A, ARE THEY STATIONED AT A CERTAIN PLACE EVERY DAY OR DO THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE AROUND? MAYBE THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS FOR US TO, TO, TO GET ANSWERS TO.
BUT, UH, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE THAT NOW EITHER.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION NOW, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO REPORT BACK.
AND SO I, I, I DID HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UH, OF COURSE, UH, MR. COVINGTON AND THE ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, WE DO WANT TO, AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE, THE, THAT INSIGHT, UH, THE FUNDING IS, IS COMPLETELY NECESSARY.
UM, DURING THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WE DID BREAK DOWN THE FUNDING AND WHEN THE PROGRAM WOULD START, CAN YOU TELL US, UM, ARE THESE PROGRAMS UP AND RUNNING RIGHT NOW? THE THE CITY FUNDED PROGRAMS? WE'VE STARTED TO CONVENE OUR PARTNERS AROUND THIS AND IT'S ANTICIPATED TO LAUNCH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO, SO WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT TOWARD THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL HAVE A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM IN PLACE.
AND I, I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMETIME IN, IN MAY.
SO THAT WOULD GIVE US MAYBE A MONTH OF, OF, UH, OF, OF SAFE PASSAGE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THEN, AND THEN AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO NEED FOR SAFE PASSAGE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
WE ARE PROVIDING, UM, ACTIVATION EVENTS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS AS WELL AS PART OF THE PROGRAM AND AS PART OF THIS FUNDING SOURCE.
AND THEN THE, THE, THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR, HOW MUCH DO WE, WHAT IS, HOW FAR WILL THIS, THE FUNDING EXTEND US? THIS CURRENT FUNDING IS LBRA FUNDED, AND SO IT SUNSETS DECEMBER OF 2024, SO TOWARD THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MM-HMM.
[02:35:01]
BY OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.UM, USUALLY A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THAT, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT, THAT THESE FUNDS ARE GONNA RUN OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND FY 25, THERE WILL NOT BE A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM FUNDED, UM, AS WE CURRENTLY STAND.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THE MOTION TO REFER.
AND THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE BETTER COORDINATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UH, I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM.
I DON'T THINK MANY OF US WERE, WERE CONSULTED ON THAT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE CAN PULL OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS AND OUR CITY TOGETHER, ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER COORDINATE, COLLABORATE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, THAT, THAT WE ALL WIN.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION.
UH, JUST TO ADD SOME CONTEXT AND THANK YOU, UH, TO THE SPEAKER FOR REMEMBERING I MENTIONED, UH, PRESCHOOLS.
UM, WE HAD AN INCIDENT THE VERY DAY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING.
I BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC SEPARATELY, BUT, UM, NOT TO EXPAND ON THIS.
I KNOW WE HAVE A FINITE, UM, PARAMETERS ON, ON THIS MOTION HERE TONIGHT.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AT EVERYWHERE WHERE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH SAFE PASSAGE.
UH, AS I STATED BEFORE, I CAN THINK OF NO MORE VULNERABLE POSITION THAN A PARENT OR A CAREGIVER TRANSPORTING, UM, A PRESCHOOLER TO CLASS.
AND, UM, THAT'S WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT SAME SAFETY IS NEEDED.
I ALSO ADD THAT, UM, BACK IN THE DAY, I ALWAYS SAY THAT LET'S SAY 20, 25 YEARS AGO WHEN YOU HAD FEDERAL FUNDING, IT INCLUDED A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
SO SAFETY HAD A VERY BROAD DEFINITION OF, UH, KIDS GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
UH, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, RICK ODI.
UH, YEAH, AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS A RESIDENT OF, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH WITH SOMEONE WITH SMALL CHILDREN, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE.
SO I HAD JUST HAD A SERIES OF JUST QUESTIONS THAT I WANT, UM, BASED ON THE PRESENTATION SO THAT I CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND THE GOALS.
UM, SO I THINK YOU ANSWERED THE FIRST, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE WHY WAS THIS PARTICULAR SET OF CORRIDORS, UH, CHOSEN? UM, AND NOW I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, THE TWO DIFFERENT MODELS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S CURRENTLY A VOLUNTEER MODEL AND THEN WE'RE CHOOSING THIS KIND OF PROFESSIONAL PARAPROFESSIONAL MODEL.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY THAT PARTICULAR MODEL IS CHOSEN HERE? UH, YES.
UM, SO ESSENTIALLY THE PROVIDERS CHOSE THE MODELS BASED ON THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, PARA, JUST TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE, THE PARAPROFESSIONAL MODEL THAT WE USE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, EMPLOYS THE USE OF INTERVENTIONISTS, UH, WHO ARE MONITORING TO MONITORING, UH, THESE PARTICULAR WALKING ROUTES AND CORRIDORS.
UH, SECOND CALL, THE AGENCY THAT WE WORK WITH SPECIALIZES IN WORKING, UH, WITH INTERVENTIONISTS IN COMMUNITIES.
AND WE HAVE DAYS LONG BEACH, OUR OTHER PROVIDER WHO, UH, VERY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, UH, WHO, UH, WORKS WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS.
UH, AND THE GOAL OF USING THE VOLUNTEER MODEL IS TO ACTIVATE THE COMMUNITIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE PARENTS AND GET THEM INVOLVED.
SO BECAUSE THE PROVIDER THAT WE HAVE A SECOND CALL AND THE GOAL HERE IS THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC, THE AGE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN FOR THE SCHOOL IS HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE DEEMED THE MORE APPROPRIATE MODEL BASED ON THE PROVIDER THAT WE'VE CHOSEN IS THAT WE SHOULD BE USING A PROFESSIONAL OR PARAPROFESSIONAL MODEL.
IS THAT, AM I UNDERSTANDING? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND ALSO, UH, TO ADD TO WHAT TEAL HAD COMMENTED, SO WE, UM, THIS, THE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES KNOW THE AREAS BEST AND SO THEY PROVIDED A MODEL, THEY PROPOSED THE MODEL IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL THAT THEY FELT WAS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR AREA.
UH, SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS, UM, I KNOW IN THE SLIDE DECK THAT TALKED ABOUT THE, THE PREVIOUS MODEL OR THE PREVIOUS EXAMPLE WE HAD USING DATA OF LONG BEACH IN THE VOLUNTEER MODEL, DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY KIND OF DATA OR KIND OF SUCCESS METRICS.
IS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A VOLUNTEER MODEL AND THERE WEREN'T ANY? OR COULD YOU KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHY THAT WAS? WE ARE COLLECTING DATA WHEN THE PROGRAM LAUNCHES, AND SOME OF THE METRICS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED ARE THE ONES THAT WE, WE SPOKE ON TODAY.
IT, IT, UM, IN OUR SPEAKING NOTES MM-HMM.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND HALFWAY THROUGH, EXCUSE ME, AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM'S,
[02:40:02]
UH, PROGRAM TERM AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL THAT WE'RE GONNA USE THAT DATA TO IN INFORM FUTURE ITERATIONS OF THE MODEL.SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT THOSE METRICS ARE GOING TO BE? YES, OF COURSE.
SO SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE ARE GONNA BE COLLECTING, UM, ARE GOING TO BE REPORTED INCIDENCES.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE GATHERING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, TALKING TO THE SCHOOL SITES TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE NOTICED.
UM, A LOT OF THIS WILL BE QUALITATIVE DATA THAT WE WILL BE COLLECTING AND THE NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENTS AND INTERACTIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO, IF I CAN, I'D LIKE TO ADD ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE.
SO ONE WOULD BE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED ABOUT, UM, RECEIVING FEEDBACK FROM THE FAMILY SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL OFFICIALS AROUND ABOUT, ABOUT THEIR PERCEIVED IMPACT.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOME, LIKE, SAY SOME SAFETY DATA FROM LIKE, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH PD, SO CALLS FOR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, ALTERCATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE REPORTED, UM, DURING THE TIMES THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING FOLKS, UM, OUT THERE DOING THE, UM, SUPERVISING THE SAFE PASSAGE.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE THINGS LIKE, UM, ANECDOTAL THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE SEEING A REPORTED, UM, INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE, RIGHT? ARE STUDENTS FEELING SAFER DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF, OF THE DAY TO BE ABLE TO GO, YOU KNOW, EGRESS AND INGRESS FROM SCHOOL? UM, AND THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE THESE TWO MODELS AND SO I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE MOTION THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN PUT TOGETHER ABOUT REFERRING THAT TO THE BOC, I'D ALSO LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE END THIS KIND OF THINK ABOUT COST MODELS, RIGHT? LIKE, WHICH ONE MAKES THE MOST SENSE? YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THOSE METRICS, DO WE WANNA GO WITH A PARAPROFESSIONAL? DO YOU, IS RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS, THAT'S MORE OF A VOLUNTEER MODEL IS A, IS A BETTER APPROACH? UM, AND THEN, UM, OH, AND THEN I GUESS JUST A, A CLARIFICATION QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, DO WE KNOW AS OF RIGHT NOW, LIKE HOW MANY MONITORS ARE GONNA BE IN PLACE? LIKE WHAT TIMES THEY'RE GONNA BE IN PLACE? IS THAT, I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE, IN THE REPORT.
UM, BUT I'M ASSUMING YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF, UM, PARAMETER INFORMATION FOR THE PROGRAM.
UM, EACH PROVIDER IS CURRENTLY ONBOARDING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
UM, SO ONCE WE HAVE THAT SOLIDIFIED, WE CAN GET THAT, GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
UH, AND THEN THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO, TO UPLIFT ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS, UM, I WOULD IMAGINE, I THINK A COUPLE OF THE, THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT THIS IS REALLY UPLIFTING.
KIND OF LIKE WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR DISSEMINATION AND KIND OF MARKETING OF LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LIKE HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS STARTING WHERE THESE MONITOR, WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE GONNA BE, WHAT THE STAFFING MODEL IS, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN LIKE, KIND OF CONTINUAL COMMUNICATION, RIGHT? WITH OUR PARENTS AND, AND FAMILIES AND STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE PROGRAM, THE INTENDED OUTCOME, ALL OF THAT.
SO THEY'RE ALSO PREPARED TO BE WATCHFUL AND LOOKING AND, AND, AND OBSERVING THIS PROGRAM SO THEY CAN GIVE US PROPER FEEDBACK.
'CAUSE I WAS GONNA SAY, Y'ALL WENT 10 MINUTES EACH.
NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS, I'LL BE SHORT, IT'LL ONLY BE NINE MINUTES.
UM, THANK YOU STAFF AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND IN THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I AM REALLY, UM, ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE THINGS THAT I SAW IN THE REPORT.
UM, THANK YOU CITY STAFF FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THIS, UM, AND CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU RECOMMEND THIS GO TO THE, UM, TO THE BOC COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK HAVING STRUCTURAL FUNDING IS, UM, THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE, UM, I, I KNOW THAT WE WANT OUR, UH, STUDENTS TO HAVE A SAFE PASSAGE AND THAT WE, UM, WANT THESE PROGRAMS TO WORK.
AND I, I KNOW THAT THEY WILL AND THAT THEY ARE, UM, REALITY IS THAT WE WILL BE CONTINUING TO NEED THESE PROGRAMS. SO HAVING STRUCTURAL FUNDING WILL BE IMPORTANT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE, UM, PARENTS ESPECIALLY WHO ADVOCATE FOR SAFE PASSAGES.
UM, THEY WANNA FEEL THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE GOING AND COMING FROM SCHOOL.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP THEM.
I KNOW MY RESIDENTS, UM, ARE ALWAYS ASKING FOR THAT AND ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
AND SO I, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THIS ITEM VERY CLOSELY AND SEEING HOW WE CAN HELP OUR RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY AROUND THE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND, UM, I REALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW IT WILL HELP OUT THE FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT IN MY DISTRICT, MOST OF THE STUDENTS THAT DO GO TO FRANKLIN ARE IN MY DISTRICT.
[02:45:01]
I'M VERY, UM, HAPPY ABOUT THAT.I REALLY WANNA COMMEND ALL OF OUR, UM, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS THAT THEY PUT INTO SAFE PASSAGES, ESPECIALLY RO CHA WHO HAS BEEN YES, WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.
AND, UM, AND KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE, PA SAFE PASSAGES AND NOT ONLY KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE, BUT ALSO KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT CAN MAKE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON THIS.
UM, SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AS YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, UH, COMMITTEE TO DO SOME WORK, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I KNOW, UH, FROM EXPERIENCE THAT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS TERM SAFE PASSAGE, BUT, UM, THEY MAY HAVE THEIR OWN UNOFFICIAL PROGRAM THAT THEY DO BASED ON WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE TRUE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION AND COME UP, UM, WITH SOME KIND OF MAPPING OF WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THAT WORK, UH, BOTH ON A PAID MODEL AND ON A VOLUNTEER MODEL, WHICH IS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BECAUSE THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE, UM, AS WE KNOW FOR OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS IS FUNDING, UM, AND DECREASED FUNDING AND SET BUDGETS AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PUTTING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TOWARDS INSTRUCTION.
BUT KNOWING THAT'S SAFETY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST INSTRUCTION AND IT ALL WRAPS TOGETHER ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE, UM, AT COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY TONIGHT, INCLUDING SPEED CAMERAS ARE ABOUT SAFE PASSAGE.
THEY ARE, DO FAMILIES FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO WALK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE CARS ARE ZOOMING BY A MAJOR CORRIDOR AT 50 OR 60 OR 70 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE THEY CAN.
UM, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS, IT ISN'T, IT IS A BOTH AND IT IS MAKING SURE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION ARE ALL PART OF IT, BUT THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR PROGRAMMING ALSO SUPPORTS PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
UM, SO I ABSOLUTELY, UH, MADE A NOTE THAT OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS MEETING, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REQUEST OF OUR PARTNERS BEFORE.
I'M NOT GONNA, I DON'T WANNA CATCH ANYBODY OFF GUARD, SO WE'LL REACH OUT TO OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS AHEAD OF TIME, UM, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH AS WE CONTINUE TO BETTER COORDINATE FOR, UH, THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE CITY.
SO I WANNA ASK, ADD TO MY GRATITUDE FOR, UM, THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD WITH THE SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH DAYS LONG BEACH, 'CAUSE ONE, THEIR FOCUS AREA IS CENTRAL AND IT'S WITH THE, ACTUALLY ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT MY DAUGHTER ATTENDS.
AND AS A PARENT, UM, LOOKING AT THIS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, AS THEY HAVE, WE'VE DISCUSSED, IT'S REALLY A WRAPAROUND, UM, PRETTY MUCH, UM, PROCESS AND WHERE WE WANNA DO ALL LEVELS ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD.
I KNOW THAT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO FIND FUNDING, UM, TO SUPPORT THIS.
SO I THINK THAT IF WE CAN DRAW OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PARENTS, OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHO, UH, OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTES TO THE SAFETY BY MAKING SURE WE KEEP IT CLEAN AND OTHER WAYS TO ACTIVATE IS CONSIDERING HOW DO WE ENGAGE, UH, THE PARENTS, UM, THE PTAS OBVIOUSLY, AS WELL AS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS SO THAT THEY ARE ALSO THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR CHILDREN AS THEY WALK HOME, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA RIGHT WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT.
SO I, I THINK IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE, UM, OUR EXISTING STAKEHOLDERS IN WAYS THAT IF WE COULDN'T CONTINUE, WHICH I HOPE WE CAN FIND FUNDING TO KEEP IT GOING, IS IF WE COULDN'T, WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES WE COULD HAVE SO THAT IT ALSO EMPOWERS, UH, FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS IN THE AREA.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN AUSTIN'S, UM, BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION THERE AND THEN HERE TO COUNCIL AND MOVING IT FORWARD AS A, AS A PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND FOR ALL THE INPUT FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM 20, ITEM TWENTY'S REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE WITH TOLENTINO PROPERTIES FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY AT 39 17 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FIRE STATION NINE IN THE AMOUNT OF 700
[20. 24-52462 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute any and all documents, including the Standard Offer, Agreement and Escrow Instructions for the Purchase of Real Estate with Tolentino Properties, LLC, or assignee(s), for the sale of surplus City-owned property at 3917 Long Beach Boulevard, formerly known as Fire Station 9, in the amount of $750,000; and accept Categorical Exemption CE-24-029. (District 5) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
$750,000 DISTRICT FIVE.[02:50:01]
ALRIGHT, AND WE HAVE, UH, A BRIEF STAFF REPORT REQUESTED TOM TURNING TO BO FOR THE BRIEF STAFF REPORT.UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UH, MARY TORRES REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT BUREAU WHO CAME TO THE BRIEF UPDATE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY, UH, CITY OWNED SURPLUS PROPERTY AT 39 17 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.
UM, JUST A BRIEF BACKGROUND, I WON'T READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT I'LL JUST, UM, SORT OF RUN THROUGH IT.
UM, BACK IN JULY OF 2019, MOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN FORMER FIRE STATION NINE AND, UM, THIS CAUSED ENGINE NINE AND RESCUE NINE TO BE MOVED TO OTHER STATIONS AND FOR US TO SEARCH FOR A NEW TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HOME.
UM, AN EIR WAS PREPARED TO DETERMINE REUSE OF THE SITE, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERED THE A R, BUT ASKED THAT THE PROPERTY BE OFFERED FOR SALE FIRST BEFORE THEY CERTIFY THE EIR.
SO THE CITY DECLARED THE PROPERTY SURPLUS ISSUED THE WRITTEN NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY ISSUED AN RFP.
UM, WE DID CONDUCT SITE VISITS.
UM, WE EXTENDED THE, THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT, UM, BUT NO PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED.
UM, ONCE THAT PROCESS WAS COMPLETE, WE LISTED THE PROPERTY FOR SALE FOR 445 THOU, $445,000.
UM, ALSO WITHIN THAT TIME, A LANDMARK APPLICATION WAS FILED.
UM, IN SEPTEMBER, THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THAT APPLICATION, UM, ASKED STAFF TO BRING BACK OPTIONS FOR DESIGNATING PARTICULAR INTERIOR ELEMENTS, BUT ALSO DID DESIGNATE THE EXTERIOR OR, UH, RECOMMENDED DESIGNATING THE EXTERIOR.
UM, ALSO CONCURRENT TO THAT TIME, WE STARTED COMMENCING, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BUYER.
UH, IN NOVEMBER, CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE INTERIOR ELEMENTS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONSIDER THREE INTERNAL FEATURES.
THE RECEPTION ROOM FIREPLACE, THE BUILT AND BUILT-INS APPARATUS AND ENGINE ROOM WOOD TRUSTS, CEILING AND FIRE HOSE TOWER, UM, BUT ALSO ADAPTIVE REUSE OR PHOTOGRAPHY OF REMAINING FEATURES AND REPLACEMENT OF THE MISSING WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION PLAQUE THAT WAS ON THE FRONT ELEVATION.
UM, IN JANUARY, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT THE LANDMARK ORDINANCE AND THAT WAS ADOPTED IN, UH, MY, MY APOLOGIES, UM, THE LANDMARK ORDINANCE TO DESIGNATE THE EXTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE AND MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND REUSE ALL INTERIOR FEATURES.
UM, AND ALSO IF PRESERVATION OR REUSE IS NOT FEASIBLE, THEN DOCUMENTATION THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS SHOULD OCCUR PRIOR TO MODIFICATION, UM, IN FEBRUARY OF 24, THAT ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED AND 39 17 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD WAS DESIGNATED.
UM, SO THAT BRINGS US TO TONIGHT, UM, THE SALE IN TERMS OF CON UH, SALE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
UH, THE BUYER IS TOLENTINO PROPERTIES.
UH, THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS A SECOND BAKERY LOCATION.
THEY ARE A CURRENT WEST SIDE BUSINESS JAMAY BAKE SHOP, UM, THEIR LONG BEACH LEGACY BUSINESS.
THE PURCHASE PRICE IS $750,000 WITH A DEPOSIT OF 22,500 THAT'LL BE DUE AT THE OPENING OF ESCROW.
UH, THE BUYER WILL HAVE 60 DAYS FROM THE OPENING OF ESCROW WITH ADDITIONAL TIME NEEDED TO ENSURE SUITABILITY OF THE PROJECT.
UM, THE CONDITIONS ON THE SALE.
THE BUYER WILL ACCEPT PROPERTY AND AS IS CONDITION AND RELEASE THE CITY FROM ALL LIABILITY.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS DOES NOT CONTAIN A DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTION ON THE BUYER TO SOLELY DEVELOP AS A BAKERY.
UM, AND THE CLOSE OF ESCROW WOULD OCCUR 15 DAYS FOLLOWING, UH, THAT, THAT DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD.
THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE USED TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO TEXT QUEUE ALL DOCUMENTS FOR AN AGREEMENT WITH TE PROPERTIES FOR THE SALE, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000, AND TO ACCEPT CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION, CE 24 0 29.
THIS CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, SUPER EXCITED TO VISIT THE NEW BAKERY.
WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION NOT LONG AGO ABOUT THE ADAPTIVE REUSE.
SUPER, SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, AND MANY PEOPLE WERE STILL WERE HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.
SO THIS IS A, THIS IS A A, A GOOD MOMENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, YOU'RE UP.
I WANNA BEGIN BY EXTENDING MY WARM CONGRATULATIONS HOPEFULLY TO THE TOLENTINO FAMILY ON THE ACQUISITION OF THIS SITE FOR USES ANOTHER STOREFRONT AND EXPANDING YOUR FAMILY BUSINESS.
WE'RE SO PROUD TO SEE A THRIVING LOCAL BUSINESS ACT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, TO REACH EVEN MORE OF OUR CITY AND TO CONNECT WITH NEW AREAS AND COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU AS WELL TO OUR CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS BEEN INTO THIS SALE.
AND AGAIN, TO COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, UH, WHO WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF ALL OF THIS, UM, AND HAS HELPED SHEPHERD THIS ENTIRE PROCESS THROUGH.
UM, IT'S NICE TO SEE ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES FALL INTO PLACE.
UH, WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING AND THROUGHOUT THIS TIME THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY CONCERNS REGARDING WHAT WOULD BECOME OF THE SITE.
UM, AND I COULDN'T THINK OF A MORE APPROPRIATE USE.
[02:55:01]
WE KNOW THAT ADAPTIVE REUSE OF PROPERTY IS SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING WORK THAT CITIES CAN DO.PRESERVING AND HONORING THE PAST, WHILE ADAPTING TO NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS GO SMOOTHLY.
AND RARELY DO WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS GREAT EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
SO FINALIZING THIS SALE ALLOWS US AS A COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NECESSARY PROGRESS WHILE STILL HONORING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE THE BUILDING HAS PROVIDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.
AGAIN, TO THE TOLENTINO FAMILY, CONGRATULATIONS.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS ON THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE ADAPTIVE REUSE, REACT, REACTIVATION, REVITALIZATION OF WHAT WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS FIRE STATION NINE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK THOUGHTFULNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO BE PARTNERS WITH US HERE IN THE CITY AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
AND I URGE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES.
GOING TO PUBLIC COMMENT, ALANA AND COUNCIL.
OH, I DIDN'T SEE YOU QUEUED UP.
UH, IT, IT HAS BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY.
UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE JMA BAKERY AND TOTINO FAMILY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WELCOM THEM, WELCOMING THEM TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M SURE THE NEIGHBORS, UH, WILL AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR FOR, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND CITY STAFF.
IT'S BEEN A, BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY.
MY SON WAS GETTING READY FOR PROM AND GRADUATION FOR MY SON.
HE HAS NOW GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF HIS CAREER IN THE NFL.
SO, UM, BEEN QUITE SOME TIME
WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF GREAT PROGRESS IN FIVE YEARS.
UH, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I AM A STUDENT AT LBCC AND I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT FIVE, WHERE I LIVE IN A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH MY MOTHER, MY GRANDMOTHER, MY AUNT AND HER TWO KIDS, AND WE RENT.
UM, I APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT ALL SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, OF COURSE.
UM, AND I DO KNOW THAT LIKE THIS DECISION WAS VERY MUCH OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND VERY MUCH ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT IN THE PAST, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE, UM, UPLIFTING THAT WHEN THERE IS SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY, UM, NO PROBLEM WITH SMALL BUSINESS, BUT AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT IN A SMALL BUSINESS CRISIS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO UPLIFT THE IDEA THAT MOVING FORWARD, AS I SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO AGENDA ITEMS WITH SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY, UM, TO REALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A HOUSING CRISIS, WHAT IT MEANS TO ALLOCATE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO HOMELESS, UM, INITIATIVES, UH, AND HOW WE ARE PAYING TAXES, UH, INTO INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALIGNING THE POCKETS OF, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
INSTEAD OF ALSO REALIZING THAT THERE'S PREVENTION THAT CAN HAPPEN IN TERMS OF, UM, BUILDING PUBLIC HOUSING, UM, BUILDING, YOU KNOW, UH, MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, UM, AND PROPERLY FUNDING THEM.
UH, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS PROBABLY PUT A LOT INTO LIKE COMING TO THAT DECISION.
UM, BUT JUST TO UPLIFT THAT AS WELL AS SAYING THAT IF IT'S A ZONING ISSUE, UM, PLEASE CONSIDER, UH, MIXED ZONE, MIXED USE ZONING.
UM, AND IF IT'S LIKE A MONEY ISSUE, I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE GONNA BE OVER $200 MILLION ALLOCATED TO CITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OLYMPICS, UH, IN 2028.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE AGAIN, UH, BUILDING UP OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND HELPING BUSINESS OWNERS, UM, A LOT OF YOUR, UH, TAXPAYERS AND VOTERS DON'T OWN BUSINESSES AND WE DON'T SEE THOSE PROFITS BECAUSE OUR WAGES DON'T GO UP AS THE COST OF LIVING GOES UP OR AS, UM, SMALL BUSINESS AND CORPORATIONS ALIKE WILL PROFIT OFF OF THE OLYMPICS.
SO THAT DEVELOPMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PAYING INTO IT, WE'RE NOT REALLY GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
UM, AS LIKE RENTS GO UP A HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SO YEAH, I WANTED TO UPLIFT, PLEASE, UM, CONSIDER MORE PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS AND MORE SHELTER PROJECTS, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM 21 IS REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS FOR A FOURTH AMENDMENT WITH CENTURY AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS IN CONNECTION
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WITH THE DISPOSITION AND[21. 24-52461 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary for a Fourth Amendment to Agreement to Negotiate Exclusively (ENA) No. 36420 with Century Affordable Development, Inc., for continued negotiations in connection with the disposition and development of City-owned Exempt Surplus property at 6845 Atlantic Avenue (Subject Property). (District 9) Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Economic Development Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY AT 6 8 45 ATLANTIC AVENUE, DISTRICT NINE.I KNOW THERE'S NO, UH, STAFF PRESENTATION REQUESTED HERE, BUT IF WE COULD JUST GIVE A FEW LINES ON ON WHAT THIS IS AND WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? IF YOU CAN, MARY TORRES MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THIS ITEM IS, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO A CURRENT EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE A CENTURY HOUSING, UH, TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY AROUND THE SHELTER.
AND, UM, THIS IS JUST EXTENDING THE TIME PERIOD FOR A YEAR WITH 1 6, 6 MONTH OPTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE, UH, VETTING THE DESIGN AND NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF THE SALE.
ALRIGHT, BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T SAY FOR THE PUBLIC IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE,
I'LL SAY IT, I'LL SAY IT MY WAY.
WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING PUBLIC LAND THAT RIGHT NOW SERVES AS THE CITY'S FIRST MUNICIPAL HOMELESS SHELTER, THE ATLANTIC BRIDGE COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS A LOT MORE ADDITIONAL LAND AND WE'RE NOW, UH, PARTNERING WITH THE SAME OPERATORS FROM CENTURY VILLAGES, CABRIO ON THE WEST SIDE TO DO A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SERVICES AND ALL OF THESE THINGS IN THIS SPACE TO REALLY BE AN ASSET IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS A, A REALLY GREAT PROJECT, BUT ALL WE'RE DOING IS EX EXTENDING THE EXCLUSIVE PERIOD TO NEGOTIATE BEF UH, AS A PART OF DEVELOPING OUT THE PRO PROJECT COUNCIL.
UM, UM, I THINK THE MAYOR'S STOLE MY THUNDER.
SO, UH, EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID
THEY, UH, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPER, UM, WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT SERVES.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO EVENTUALLY WELCOME A, UM, AN OPERATOR INTO OUR DISTRICT THAT IS GONNA BE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK, ADD MY COMMENTS AND MY SUPPORT TO THIS ITEM.
UH, HOUSING IS A PRIORITY, UH, FOR THIS COUNCIL MEMBER OR THIS COUNCIL AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
UH, IT'S A HIGH PRIORITY AND WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO, TO, TO BUILD AND, AND ENCOURAGE, UH, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN, IN THE CITY.
UM, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT, AS I UNDERSTAND, WILL BE A NEW BUILD.
IT WON'T HAVE ANY MOLD WHICH WOULD PREVENT ANYBODY FROM HABITATING IN, IN THAT SPACE.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ON THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
UM, AS WELL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE HAVE THRIVING, LIVABLE, UH, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES, UH, AND, AND HEALTHY PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
REST OF THESE ITEMS HAVE NO PRESENTATION, UH, REQUESTED, SO WE'LL MOVE A LITTLE QUICKER HERE.
LET'S HEAR HAVE ITEM 22 PLEASE.
ITEM ITEM 22 IS REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO WHAT VARIES CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT IN A TOTAL A ANNUAL AGGREGATED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.9 MILLION
[22. 24-52464 Recommendation to adopt Specification No. ITB FM-24-378 and award contracts to Professional Police Supply, Inc., dba Adamson Police Products, of Los Alamitos, CA, Innovative Design and Sheet Metal Products, Inc., dba Innovative Emergency Equipment, of Riverside, CA, Troy Sheet Metal Works, Inc., dba Troy Products, of Montebello, CA, Stommel Inc., dba Lehr, of Sacramento, CA, and Magic Auto Sound & Security, Inc., of Signal Hill, CA, for the purchase of emergency vehicle auxiliary equipment, in an annual aggregate amount of $1,800,000, and authorize a ten percent contingency of $180,000, for a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $1,980,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contracts, including any necessary subsequent amendments; and Increase appropriation in the Fleet Services Fund Group in the Department of Financial Management by $713,660, offset by funds available generated by revenue collected from user departments through the Fleet Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
CITY Y.ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
ITEM 20 THREE'S REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FY 2024 DESIGNATION OF ONETIME FUNDS FOR CANCER DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT AND EXISTING PROGRAMS AND APPROVE RELATED BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR FY 2024 CDY.
[23. 24-52465 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 designation of one-time District Priority Funds for City Council District infrastructure projects and existing programs; and Approve related budget appropriation adjustments for Fiscal Year 2024 in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THANK YOU.ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
24 RECOMMENDATION, UH, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FY 2024 FIRST DEPARTMENTAL AND FUND BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT CITYWIDE.
[24. 24-52466 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 first departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ANNUAL AND FIVE YEAR REPORTS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES, FIRE FACILITIES, IMPACT POLICE FACILITY IMPACT AND SENSITIVE
[25. 24-52467 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving the Annual and Five-Year Reports for the Transportation Improvement, Parks and Recreation Facilities, Fire Facilities Impact, Police Facilities Impact, and Sensitive Coastal Resource Impact Fees. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COASTAL RESOURCE IMPACT FEES.ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
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YOU.[26. 24-52468 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary agreements, and any subsequent amendments including changing the terms, extending the grant period, or increasing grant amounts, with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Branch (STDCB), to receive and expend grant funding in the amount of $859,512 for the provision of STD management and prevention, for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026; and Increase appropriation in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $859,512, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide) Office or Department: Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
ITEM 26.REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SEX SEXUALITIES TRANSMITTED DISEASE CONTROL BRANCH TO RECEIVE AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $859,512.
CITYWIDE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
REPORT FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO RECEIVE AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING FOR THE 2023 PORT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.2 MILLION CITYWIDE.
[27. 24-52469 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and all necessary amendments including term extensions, with the Department of Homeland Security to receive and expend grant funding for the 2023 Port Security Grant Program, in an amount of $900,000, with a Port of Long Beach cost match of $300,000, for a total amount not to exceed $1,200,000, for a period ending August 31, 2026; and Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Police Department by $1,200,000, offset by federal grant funds and Port of Long Beach cost match funds. (Citywide) Office or Department: Police Department; Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
THANK YOU.ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[28. 24-52470 Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7209 and award a contract to Bitech Construction Company Inc., of Buena Park, CA, for construction of the Crest Alley Improvement Project, in an amount of $1,676,185, authorize a fifteen percent contingency in the amount of $251,428, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,927,613; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $750,000, offset by Measure W funds available from the Los Angeles County Flood Control District’s (District) Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP); and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $750,000, offset by transfer of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District’s Safe Clean Water Program Measure W funds from the Capital Projects Fund. (Districts 6) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
PUB REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO WATER CONTRACT TO BIOTECH CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE CREST ALLEY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.FOR TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 9.1 0.9 MILLION.
ALL MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[29. 24-52582 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Title 9 in the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 9.33 relating to City Library Rules, and adding Sections 9.33.010, 9.33.020, 9.33.030, all relating to the City Library Rules, read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading. (Citywide) Office or Department: City Attorney Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
29 PLEASE.COMMUNICATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A CHAPTER AND SECTIONS RELATING TO CITY LIBRARY ROOFS.
READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE REGULAR MEETING FOR FINAL READING CITY.
DO I ALL RIGHT, I SEE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ALANA AND DAQUAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE, COMMENT AND ALSO POSSIBLY REQUEST CLARIFICATION AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
THE CURRENT, UM, THE CURRENT WAY THAT THE LIBRARY HANDLES LIKE, UM, BREAKING THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS THAT THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS A LOT OR LIKE IS SAID, WHAT IT IS AND THERE'S THREE TIERS.
UM, THE LEVEL OF VIOLATION, UH, DEPENDS ON IF YOU CAN BE BANNED FOR THREE MONTHS OR UP TO A YEAR.
UH, IF YOU STAY AFTER BEING ASKED TO LEAVE BECAUSE YOU BROKE, UH, ONE OF THE CODES OF CONDUCT, UH, YOU'RE CONSIDERED TRESPASSING, UH, UNDER STATE LAW.
AND IF YOU, YOU KNOW, DECIDE TO TRESPASS, YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR.
AND IN THE NEW ORDINANCE AND THEN THE NEW AMENDMENT TO TITLE IX, IT WOULD BE THAT, UM, UPON VIOLATING, UH, ONE OF THE CODES OF CONDUCT THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL REMAIN THE SAME ONES THAT ARE LISTED OR IF THEY'LL CHANGE, UM, UPON BREAKING THOSE, YOU CAN BE BANNED FOR UP TO A YEAR, UH, IMMEDIATELY.
AND, UM, YOU, INSTEAD OF BEING CHARGED WITH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL BE CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING ADDITIONALLY TO BREAKING THE ORDINANCE, BUT IF YOU VIOLATE THE ORDINANCE, UM, WHICH IS TO RETURN AFTER YOU'VE BEEN BANNED, UH, YOU AREN'T CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING AS A MISDEMEANOR.
YOU'RE CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE AS A MISDEMEANOR, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
UM, TO BE CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING, THE PROSECUTION HAS TO PROVE LIKE THREE VERY SPECIFIC THINGS.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO, HARDER TO LA LIKE LAND THAT CHARGE THAN BREAKING THE ORDINANCE AS A MISDEMEANOR.
UM, I OPPOSE THIS, UH, NEW ORDINANCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT MAKES IT EASIER TO CRIMINALIZE, UM, HOMELESSNESS.
AND IT MAKES IT EASIER TO BAN, UH, A HOMELESS PERSON FROM RETURNING TO USE THE LIBRARY.
UM, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE LISTED WERE EXTREMELY TROUBLING, UM, AS POSSIBLE RULES, UH, REGULATING FILE, SMELLY ODORS, PERSONAL HYGIENE, UM, BRINGING IN, UH, VERY VAGUE BRINGING ITEMS THAT WOULD DISRUPT LIKE LIBRARY USAGE.
I CAN PRETTY MUCH ASSUME THAT THAT WILL BE APPLIED TO HOMELESS PEOPLE BRINGING IN THEIR ITEMS, WHICH THEY QUITE LITERALLY CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT.
THEY CANNOT LEAVE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY'LL BE STOLEN.
UH, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CRIMINALIZE THE HOMELESS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AN INSTITUTION THAT CAN ONLY BE USED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT POOR.
POVERTY IS NOT, UM, A MORAL FAILING.
POVERTY IS NOT VIOLENCE, AND POVERTY DOES NOT THREATEN ME.
I LOVE MY HOMELESS, UH, PEEPS.
THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME TO THE LIBRARY AND USE THE RESTROOM.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, PLEASE OPEN PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN LONG BEACH AND MAINTAIN THEM.
I MIGHT BE INCORRECT WITH THAT.
[03:10:01]
COULD PLEASE PROVIDE MORE CLARIFICATION, UH, AND ALSO JUST KNOW THAT I OPPOSE THE ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE.UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO'S AN IMMIGRANT FROM PERU, AND I TOOK HIM TO A PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND HE WAS SO EXCITED.
I HAD TO KEEP REMINDING HIM THAT HE HAD TO BE QUIET.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO LIKE, UPLIFT HOW UNIQUE IT IS THAT AMERICA HAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES THAT ARE A RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE IN MOST PLACES OF THE WORLD THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY AND ALSO LONG BEACH HAS SOME OF THE BEST LIBRARIES I'VE BEEN TO, UM, MAKES US EXCEPTIONAL.
AND SO I OPPOSE THIS, UM, THESE AMENDMENTS, UM, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BAR THE ENTRY TO THE LIBRARY FOR MANY PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY HOMELESS FOLKS WHO RELY ON IT AS A RESOURCE.
UM, I ALSO OPPOSE SPECIFICALLY, UM, AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REGULATE OFFENSIVE ODORS, HEALTH AND SANITATION HAZARDS.
AND AGAIN, BRINGING IN POSSESSIONS AND MATERIALS.
UM, THOSE LIKE REGULATIONS ARE VERY VAGUE AS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW.
AND I SEEM SPECIFICALLY TARGETING HOMELESS PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM USING THE LIBRARY.
SO I DEFINITELY OPPOSE THOSE AMENDMENTS.
YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL, I'M GONNA ASK STAFF TO GIVE A FEW, JUST WALK US THROUGH QUICKLY WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.
YES, OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR, UH, KATHY DE LEON, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS HAD A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DECADES.
UM, IT IS BEST PRACTICE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO UTILIZE A CODE OF CONDUCT TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
THE MOST RECENT VERSION, UM, OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT'S POSTED TO OUR WEB WEBSITE WAS DRAFTED IN 2019 WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF OUR LIBRARY STAFF USE ON A DAILY BASIS, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES, UH, EGREGIOUS AND EXCESSIVE RULES INFRACTIONS DO RESULT IN LIBRARY STAFF SUSPENDING VISITATION PRIVILEGES FOR SOME PATRONS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO OFTEN.
I ACTUALLY RAN SOME STATISTICS BEFORE I CAME HERE.
UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE HAD A TOTAL VISITA, LIKE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH OUR GATES, UH, FOR THE YEAR, 656,513 VISITORS.
UM, OF THOSE TOTAL VISITS, ONLY 446 RESULTED IN AN INCIDENT.
AND OF THOSE ONLY, WE DID, UH, ISSUE BANS FOR IN 131 CASES.
SO THAT'S LIKE LESS THAN A 10TH OF A PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION THAT COMES TO VISIT US ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO SUSPENDING, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SUSPENDING PRIVILEGES IN TERMS OF VISITATION, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT WE ONLY DO AS A LAST RESORT.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO POLICE BEHAVIOR.
UH, BELIEVE ME, STAFF ARE NOT TRAINED TO STAND BY THE DOOR AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVALUATE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT COMES IN.
THAT'S NOT THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR PATRONS AND OUR STAFF.
AND SO SUSPENDING A PATRON FROM VISITING THE LIBRARY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY.
IT INVOLVES RIGOROUS STAFF TRAINING, THOROUGH DOCUMENTATION, AND A MULTI-LEVEL REVIEW PROCESS.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CODIFIES AN EXISTING PROCESS AND ADDS TO IT A FORMAL APPEALS MECHANISM.
I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WITH THE ORDINANCE, UM, THE VIOLATION OF A CODE OF CONDUCT RULE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT ILLEGAL.
PEOPLE BREAK THE RULES AND WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.
AND ISSUES ARE RESOLVED WITHOUT INCIDENT VERY FREQUENTLY ON A DAILY BASIS, THE ORDINANCES PERTAIN SPECIFICALLY TO THE VERY RARE CASES WHEN SOMEONE RETURNS TO THE LIBRARY WHILE THEY'RE BAN IS IN EFFECT AND THEN REFUSES TO COMPLY.
UM, THE DRAFT ORDINANCE YOU SEE BEFORE YOU WAS MODELED OFF OF SIMILAR ORDINANCES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, UM, IN CITIES LIKE SANTA MONICA AND REDONDO BEACH.
SO, AND I DO WANNA ADD A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
I THINK IT WAS REPORTED THAT SOMEHOW THIS ORDINANCE APPLIES THAT WE WOULD SUSPEND VISITATION PRIVILEGES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN EXCESS OF FINES.
UM, THAT'S A COMPLETELY SEPARATE PROCESS THAT FALLS WITHIN LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION ONLY.
UM, AND REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU OWE OVER $20 ON YOUR LIBRARY CARD, WE SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T CHECK OUT ANYTHING EL OUT ANYTHING ELSE UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR STUFF BACK.
UM, OR YOU PAY YOUR FEES BELOW $20.
AND SO REALLY YOU CAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO OUR PROGRAMS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO OUR LIBRARIES.
[03:15:01]
JUST CAN'T CHECK ANYTHING ELSE OUT.SO THAT'S MY SENSE OF THE ORDINANCE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, UH, UH, FOR OUTLINING AND CLARIFYING SOME OF THOSE POINTS.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT SUPPORT THESE, I WELCOME THESE, THESE CHANGES.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO, UH, REGULARLY, UH, UPDATE OUR POLICIES TO MAKE SURE THEY, THEY KEEP OUR PATRONS AND OUR, UH, OUR ENVIRONMENT SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR PEOPLE TO USE FOR STUDENTS, FOR SENIORS, FOR FOLKS LOOKING FOR A JOB, EVEN FOR OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
WHO, WHO WHO NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, GET ACCESS TO CONNECT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER ON, ON THE LINE OR, OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I THINK, UH, IT'S, TO ME, THIS IS NOT ABOUT LIMITING, UH, FOLKS FROM BEING ABLE TO GO TO OUR LIBRARIES.
I THINK THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT ANYONE CAN HAVE FREE ACCESS IN OUR LIBRARIES IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE.
SO I WELCOME THESE PROPOSED RULES.
I THINK THEY WERE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED, UM, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO DEPEND ON OUR LIBRARIES.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR LIBRARIES, BILLIE JEAN AND KING MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARIES ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
I THINK, UH, HAVING CLEAR THERE'S A TERM GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS, HAVING GOOD RULES OF THE ROAD MAKES IT CLEAR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT THE CONDUCT CODE OF CONDUCT IS.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ALSO, UH, WELL BALANCED.
SO IT PRESERVES THE NEEDS OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE USING OUR SERVICES, UH, WHO MAY FALL OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOW HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE.
UH, CLEAR RULES CUT BOTH WAYS.
UH, SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I JUST ULTIMATELY FEEL THAT, UH, THESE ARE REASONABLE RULES AND, UH, EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL WELCOME IN OUR LIBRARIES.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT, UH, FOR EVERYONE WHO'S USING OUR VI LIBRARIES, BUT ALSO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR LIBRARIES AND SERVE OUR LIBRARIES, UH, SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN WORLD CLASS PUBLIC LIBRARIES, WHICH IS, WHICH WE'RE KNOWN FOR HAVING WORLD CLASS PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN OUR CITY.
AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE MAINTAIN WORLD-CLASS LIBRARIES THAT ARE SAFE, UH, AND ACCESSIBLE.
SO THAT'S HOW I FEEL IN THE MATTER.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR DE LEON.
UM, I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, REGARDING THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE WITH, WITH THE MINOR CLARIFICATIONS THAT ARE COMING ALONG.
UM, IT GIVES, UM, SOME ENFORCEABLE CONSEQUENCES IN THE MOST EGREGIOUS CASES, AS THE MAYOR SAID.
UM, WE KNOW I HAVE A TON OF NOTES AND I'M GONNA AMEND THEM BASED ON WHAT'S BEEN SAID.
UM, AGAIN, THIS CODE OF CONDUCT WAS 2019.
THERE'S SOME MINOR CHANGES IN SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, UM, BUT WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN EGREGIOUS ACTS AND WORSE CASE SCENARIOS THAT HAVE ENDANGERED NOT ONLY OUR PATRONS, BUT OUR LIBRARY STAFF AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACCESS AND WANTING EVERYONE TO HAVE ACCESS, WE'VE HAD TO CLOSE OUR LIBRARIES, SEVERAL OF THEM, UH, FOR A WEEK OR WEEKS AT A TIME TO ENSURE SAFETY.
AND SO HAVING A MECHANISM, UM, OF ENFORCEMENT IN THOSE REALLY DIFFICULT CASES ALLOWS US TO KEEP OUR LIBRARIES OPEN FOR EVERYBODY MORE.
UM, SO IT WILL EXPAND, UM, ACCESS, UM, AS A WAY TO, AGAIN, DEAL WITH THOSE EGREGIOUS CASES.
UM, I'VE TALKED WITH LIBRARIANS.
I GO TO THE LIBRARY AND I KNOW THAT NOBODY WANTS PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY MORE THAN OUR LIBRARIANS AND OUR LIBRARY STAFF.
UM, THEY ARE INCREDIBLY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE AND CARING WORKERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY.
THEY ARE WELCOMING, THEY ARE HELPFUL.
THEY LOVE SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
UM, THAT'S WHY THEY GOT INTO THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE, ESPECIALLY OF YOU DIRECTOR.
UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR LIBRARIES HAVE TAKEN ON NEW CHALLENGES OVER THE YEARS THAT WEREN'T A PART OF TRADITIONAL LIBRARY TRAINING.
UH, WE KNOW WE HAVE CASEWORKERS TO WORK WITH OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME DAYS A GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PATRONS WHO SPEND MOST OF THE TIME IN THE LIBRARY ARE OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
THEY ARE OUR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS WHO THEY THEMSELVES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED, ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT IN MAKING SURE, UM, THAT THEY ARE SAFE.
SO IT ISN'T ABOUT OTHERIZING ANYONE.
IT IS ABOUT OUR LIBRARY COMMUNITY AND THE PATRONS COLLECTIVELY, UH, NEED THE ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE.
AND THAT'S ALL OF OUR PATRONS, INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF UNHOUSED FOLKS ACROSS MULTIPLE LIBRARIES.
UM, SO I JUST A COUPLE CLARIFICATIONS ON THAT NOTE, UM, THIS FORMALIZES AND APPEALS PROCESS, BUT I KNOW THAT THE PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW ARE ABOUT, UM, HAVING CONVERSATIONS PROBABLY WITH PATRONS THAT YOUR STAFF
[03:20:01]
KNOW WELL IN SOME SITUATIONS.SO, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? YOU, YOU SAID YOU DEAL WITH, UM, SOME INCIDENCES, UM, AND BEHAVIORS WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT, UM, CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH JUST A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE AN EXAMPLE OR WHAT YOUR STAFF DOES TO WORK THROUGH SOMEONE WHO MAY BE HAVING A TOUGH TIME BEING IN THE LIBRARY THAT DAY? SURE.
UH, SO PRETTY RECENTLY, WITHIN MAYBE ABOUT A, A MONTH AGO AT THE BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY, UH, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT ON THE TERRACE WHERE WE OBSERVED THROUGH SECURITY FOOTAGE THAT A PATRON WAS, UH, WAVING KIND OF MELY, MENACINGLY, LIKE A BROOMSTICK, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FIGHTING.
IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ACTING IN A VIOLENT WAY.
AND OUR FIRST REACTION WAS TO GO, WAIT A SECOND.
WHAT IF SOMEONE'S WALKING BY THEM ON THE TERRACE? THEY'RE GONNA HURT SOMEBODY.
SO WE, UM, HAD OUR SECURITY SORT OF ENGAGED THEM.
WE TALKED TO THEM AS LIBRARY STAFF, AND WE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE FOR? THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE, UM, YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE BREACHING OUR CODE OF CONDUCT.
UM, AND SO THE PATRON, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR SECURITY OFFICERS THAT HE HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP WITH AND, AND WITH OUR STAFF.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, COULD YOU RECONSIDER, COULD I, COULD I TALK TO LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION? AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN MY OFFICE, ONE OF OUR MANAGERS, OUR MANAGER OF MAIN LIBRARIES, UM, WAS ALSO IN HER OFFICE.
SO THE BOTH OF US WENT OUTSIDE OF LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION.
WE MET WITH THE PATRON UPSTAIRS, AND HE EXPLAINED THE SITUATION.
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT THAT WHAT I DID WAS WRONG.
I KNOW IT LOOKED VIOLENT, BUT THE SITUATION WAS WITH SOMEONE TRIED TO ATTACK ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND IN OUR TENT.
AND SO I WAS DEFENDING MYSELF, AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO COME BACK BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON MY LAW SCHOOL DEGREE.
I'M IN LAW SCHOOL, AND SO I NEED ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE MY COURSEWORK.
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE RECONSIDER? I PROMISE IF IT HAPPENS, AGAIN, BY ALL MEANS SUSPEND ME, BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE, YOU KNOW, I PLEASE RECONSIDER.
WE, YOU KNOW, HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION AND WE ENDED UP REINSTATING HIS PRIVILEGES THAT DAY.
HE WAS BANNED ALL OF TWO HOURS MAYBE.
UM, AND SO IT'S CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT THAT HAPPEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WISH ALL INCIDENTS ENDED THAT WAY.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL TO TAKE THE RESOURCE AWAY FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, TO BASICALLY SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM FROM US RIGHT NOW.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE DO LIGHTLY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STAFF WHO REQUEST BANS.
UM, WE HAVE AN INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM THAT WE DOCUMENT EVERYTHING IN.
UH, YOU KNOW, LINE STAFF WILL MAKE THAT REQUEST.
THAT REQUEST THROUGH THE SYSTEM GOES UP THROUGH ADMINISTRATION.
EACH OF US MANAGERS TAKES A LOOK AT IT.
WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE INVOLVED PARTIES, WE LOOK AT THE WITNESS STATEMENTS, WE READ THE STAFF NARRATIVES.
WE CALL THE STAFF FOR CLARIFICATION.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED, REALLY? WHAT WERE THE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES? AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL SUPPORT WHAT THE STAFF WANTS TO DO.
SOMETIMES WE'LL GO, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU SHOULD PROBABLY ASK FOR MORE.
AND, AND THE STAFF AND THE, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WERE KIDS IN THE AREA OR WHATEVER, IT COULD HAVE GONE REALLY BAD.
OR SOMETIMES WE'LL DO THE REVERSE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PERSON MAYBE WAS JUST OFF HIS MEDICATION, OR, YOU KNOW, LET'S TRY TO CONNECT THEM WITH, UM, A RESOURCE WORKER FIRST, OR AN OUTREACH WORKER FIRST BEFORE WE TAKE THIS ACTION.
AND SO THERE'S ALL THOSE NUANCES THAT HAPPEN.
UM, THE RULES ARE JUST A GUIDELINE, AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE ALSO JUST A GUIDELINE.
AND SO WE TAKE EVERY CASE SORT OF CASE BY CASE.
UM, WE'RE NOT JUST STANDING BY THE DOOR HANDING OUT BANS LEFT AND RIGHT.
THAT'S NOT AT ALL THE INTENT OF THIS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PIECE, THAT EVERY, EVERYTHING IS A CONVERSATION.
EVERY INCIDENT IS A CONVERSATION.
IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATED PROCESS.
IT DOESN'T GET KICKED THROUGH A COMPUTER.
UM, IT HAPPENS THROUGH CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIP OFTENTIMES WITH FOLKS YOU ALREADY KNEW.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THE WORK OF YOUR STAFF.
UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT LIBRARIES, WELL, YOU KNOW, I, 'CAUSE I SAY THIS A LOT, HOW IMPORTANT LIBRARIES ARE TO ME.
UM, I'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF LIBRARIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I WAS ALSO A VOLUNTEER FOR, UM, THE LIBRARY BEFORE I WAS THE BILLIE JEAN KING
[03:25:01]
LIBRARY.AND, UM, FOR MY RESIDENTS, WE WENT FROM A DISTRICT OF HAVING NO LIBRARIES IN OUR DISTRICT TO A DISTRICT THAT HAD THE MAIN LIBRARY, WHICH IS BILLIE JEAN KING.
AND, UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UM, FEEL THAT OUR LIBRARIES ARE MEANT TO BE, UM, SAFE SPACES FOR OUR KIDS, TEENS, SENIORS, AND ADULTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO RE RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN THRIVE IN LIFE.
UM, THE CITY'S, UH, LIBRARY RULES ARE IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR ALSO ENSURING THAT OUR LIBRARIANS, OUR LIBRARY STAFF, HAVE A SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO OUR, THEIR PATRONS.
I AM IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, WE AT THE LIBRARIES, UM, ARE VERY, VERY MUCH LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KER SAID, UM, EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IT, YOU ARE ENGAGING WITH THOSE FOLKS AND IT'S NOT LIKE, UH, EVERYBODY IS MEASURED BY THE SAME.
UM, IT, EVERY INSTANCE IS DIFFERENT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO FEEL THAT MY RESIDENTS CAN COME AND ENJOY THE LIBRARY AND NOT BE DISTRACTED BY, UM, BY OTHER BEHAVIORS, UM, BAD BEHAVIOR.
UM, I REMEMBER REALLY QUICKLY, I WANNA SHARE A QUICK STORY THAT MY NIECE, NEPHEW AND GODSON CAME OVER.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I WANTED TO DO WAS TAKE THEM TO, UM, THE BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY.
UM, AND WE ENJOYED THAT LIBRARY SO MUCH, AND WE EVEN GOT A LITTLE TOUR AND WERE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER.
AND, UM, THEY WERE VERY UPSET AT ME BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANNA GO TO DINNER WITH ME.
THEY WANTED TO STAY IN THE LIBRARY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR, FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO, UM, TO REALLY WANT TO BE IN THE LIBRARY AND FEEL SAFE IN THE LIBRARY.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
YES, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM.
I JUST WANNA UPLIFT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KER SAID ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS GREAT THAT, UM, YOU ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS AND WALK THROUGH HOW WE ADDRESS THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
AND I JUST WANNA LIFT UP THAT I REALLY DO THINK, UM, OUR LIBRARY AND STAFF GO THROUGH ALL THE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT, I MEAN, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO OUR LIBRARY.
AND I THINK IN THE END, FOR ME, WE'VE HAD TO CLOSE MARK TWAIN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS FOR OUR STAFF.
AND, AND THIS IS NOT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT THAT THEY HAD TO CLOSE IT, BUT IT'S BEEN OVER TIME, UM, NOT JUST FOR THE SAFETY, BUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WELLBEING, WHICH HAS, UM, REALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE AS THEY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH SOME OF THE SAME PATRONS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH THAT ARE IN THE MINORITY.
I THINK ALSO, I'M JUST REALLY SAD THAT YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE'VE LOST REALLY GOOD LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY STAFF DUE THESE, UM, INCIDENT.
AND I JUST FEEL THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, IS THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE STAFF AND OUR PATRONS ARE SAFE, UM, IN A PLACE WHERE IT'S OPEN TO ALL.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, TO YOUR TEAM.
AND WE KNOW THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES HAS BEEN EVOLVING.
WE, WE DO PROGRAMS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WORKFORCE CENTERS AND 3D PRINTERS AND ALL THESE THINGS WE DO WITH LIBRARIES.
AND WE'RE EXPLORING, UH, INTEGRATING CULTURAL AFFAIRS AS WELL.
LAST WEEK I WAS ABLE TO, WHEN I WAS IN NEW YORK SUPPORTING JORDAN AND DOING SOME OF THE BLOOMBERG STUFF, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE, UH, THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY.
NO, IT WAS CULTURAL AFFAIRS, RIGHT? AND I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING IN LONG BEACH, AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION EVERYONE'S GOING.
LOOK AT THE, LIKE, EMBRACE THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LIBRARIES AS, AS CULTURAL CENTERS, AS WORKFORCE CENTERS, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT ALSO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS IT AS THAT HAPPENS, WE ALIGN OUR, OUR, OUR RULES AND OUR CODE OF CONDUCT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE NO MATTER EDUCATION LEVEL, YOUR INCOME STATUS OR, OR YOUR HOUSING STATUS, THAT IS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR PATRONS ACCOUNTABLE TO A STANDARD IN OUR LIBRARIES.
AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CLA YOU, YOU, ARE YOU NOT PUSHING THE BUTTON? IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME.
SO, SEE, I'M TRYING TO GET THE LAST WORD HERE.
I KNOW, BUT ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.
BUT THIS, THIS IS A REAL GOOD MESSAGE.
AND THIS IS TO OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
I'D JUST LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR INCREASING, UM, TWO LIBRARIES, ONE OF 'EM IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT, COLORADO TO HAVE, UH, MONDAY HOURS.
[03:30:01]
YOU FOR THAT.PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE EXPANDING SERVICE AND LIKE, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE NOW? ONE, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE FIVE LIBRARIES GOING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
THAT'S NO SIX, SIX DAYS A WEEK.
CAN GIMME A HARD ATTACK? I THINK ATTACK.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP THE LIBRARIES OPEN.
WE DON'T WANT A SITUATION LIKE MARK TWAIN ANYMORE, RIGHT? WE WANT TO, WE, WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE VALUE AND PROTECT OUR LIBRARIES.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
MAYOR, THAT WAS, THAT WAS A BETTER LAST ONE.
COMMUNICATION FROM VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATION IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP BY 4,300.
TO PROVIDE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $2,000 TO THE NEW IMAGE EMERGENCY SHELTER, $300 TO
[30. 24-52621 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $4,300 by Second Council District One-Time District Priority Funds, transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide contributions of: $2,000 to the New Image Emergency Shelter to support their ongoing efforts of providing comprehensive services and referrals to homeless and low-income individuals and families, focusing on rapid housing, employment, and improving quality of life; $300 to Derrick Lemel Stewart for DJ services at the Black History Month Resource Fair held on February 25, 2024; $1,000 to Partners of Parks to support the Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration on June 17, 2024; $500 to Love Beyond Limits for their Juneteenth Celebration at MLK Park on June 15, 2024; $500 to United Cambodian Community for Long Beach Sankranta at Long Beach City College on April 6, 2024; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $4,300 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department. Office or Department: Cindy Allen, Vice Mayor, Second District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
DEREK LEMO STEWART.$500 TO LOVE BEYOND LIMIT, AND $500 TO UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
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. ]
OKAY, I SEE.I SEE 11 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, MALIN, LET'S KAI CHAN, DAVY RUM PO UH, RAHA, MEESE KIA, HIM, SOAK LING MOOK, MICHAEL COLE, AUSTIN MATOYER, DENISE CARTER HAWK.
SHE AND JULES SMITH, IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UH, I SEE 11 SPEAKERS, RIGHT? MM-HMM,
ALRIGHT, SO THESE ARE 90 SECONDS.
SOME OF THESE REQUIRE INTERPRETATION, SO THAT WILL BE A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES.
IS LIN HERE? YEAH, I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, LET HER, UH, SPEAK FOR ME, PLEASE.
[03:36:03]
OKAY, PLEASE.PLEASE, PLEASE LET HER KNOW THAT THAT WAS TIME.
AND MY NAME IS JOHN DWE, UH, HONORABLE MAYORS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT ALL CAMBODIAN, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT SEEM TO BE SO LATE.
AND I WOULD LIKE HERE, UH, TO COME.
I DON'T LIKE THE WORDS, UH, WHICH IS THE CAMBODIAN TOWNS, THE ORGANIZATION THEY PUT INTO THE FLYERS, THEY PUT US TO BRAVO, UH, CAMBODIA, ACTUALLY, BRAVO.
IT MEAN THAT, UH, IT, HAPPY OR SOME THINGS, BUT IT PENETRATES THE, UH, POLITICAL AGENDAS.
BRAVO IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CELEBRATE, BUT THEY PUT IN THE FLYER AS, UH, BRAVO, UH, PEACEFUL.
AND ACTUALLY THIS ONE IS, UH, REALLY THE AGENDAS THAT FALSIES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES AND THE LONG BEACH CITY MAYOR, AND ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
BECAUSE CAMBODIA IS ALWAYS IN THE, THE WAR COUNTRY, THE WAR 10 COUNTRIES.
AND ALSO, UH, IT SEEMED TO BE, IT IS VERY GOOD WORDS.
IT IS VERY GOOD WORDS, UH, IN TERM OF, UH, WHEN YOU SEE IT.
BUT ACTUALLY IT IS NOT A GOOD WORD, BECAUSE THEY ALSO PENETRATE, OR THEY PUT THE, THE WHITE WORD IN THAT AS THE POLITICAL ARENAS.
AND, AND IN THE NEW YEARS THAT THEY PLAN TO CELEBRATE OR HOST, UH, IN THIS YEARS, THE TERM IS, UH, BRAVO, UH, PEACE, WHICH IS THEY PUT US A SLOGAN OF THE CAMBODIAN TOWNS PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATIONS.
THEY FEEL, THEY DON'T FEEL ANYTHING BUT THE WORD ITSELF, WHICH I AM NOT AGREES WITH THE, UH, WORD PROVEL, BECAUSE WE REQUEST THEM NOT TO PUT THE BRAVO ON THAT.
OH, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, YEAH.
PLEASE WAIT JUST A MOMENT BECAUSE IT IS TOO LONG.
CAN HELP TRANSLATE OR NO? TRANSLATE? YEAH, SHE HELPED TRANSLATE.
UM, WHAT HE MEANT TO SAY IS, LIKE I SAID, UM, IN, YOU CAN COME TO THE MICROPHONE, OKAY? WHAT SHE MEANT IS THIS WORD J IT'S MEAN BRAVO.
IN CAMBODIA, THEY TRANSLATE TO CELEBRA.
IT'S NOT TRANSLATE TO CELEBRATIONS.
SO THIS WORD AND THIS WORD MEAN BRAVO.
PEACE, THAT WORD ALONE, THIS TWO WORDS TOGETHER, IT'S POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY, THAT WE DON'T, WE, WE WANT CAMBODIA TOWN TO ERASE THE WORD BRAVO.
THIS IS THE WORD THAT THEY TRANSLATE IN ENGLISH.
CELEBRATE A CULTURE OF PEACE AND UNITY.
BUT WHEN THEY TRANSLATE THIS WORD, BRAVO IN CAMBODIA, THE REGIME, UM, THEY USED THE WORD BRAVO.
AND THAT'S A SLOGAN FOR THE REGIME.
SO THIS IS POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT SHE WANT, WHAT THEY WANNA SAY TODAY.
THAT CAME ACROSS VERY CLEARLY.
ACTUALLY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THEIR WORD PVO ALSO.
UH, IT IS CELEBRATE, BUT BECAUSE THEY, UH, TRANSLATE WORD BY WORD, IT IS PVO PIECE.
BUT ACTUALLY THEY MENTIONS ABOUT, UH, CELEBRATE PIECE.
IT IS THE POLITICAL ARENA, RIGHT? AND THE AGENDA IN CAMBODIA.
AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSLATION, INTERPRETATION.
[03:40:01]
NOW, QUESTION, DID YOU MENTION, 'CAUSE I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THIS, THAT, THAT COMMENTARY REPRESENTED EVERYONE.ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA SKIP DOWN THEN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UP HERE.
I'VE BEEN A, A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH FOR, UH, 20 PLUS YEARS.
UM, I LIVE IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, BUT I'VE LIVED IN, UH, BELMONT SHORE AND I'VE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN.
I'VE LIVED ALL OVER LONG BEACH.
UM, I CURRENTLY RAISE A FAMILY, UH, TWO KIDS GOING TO UNIFIED, UH, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
AND, UM, I'M A HUGE PROMOTER OF, OF LONG BEACH.
AND, UH, AS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, BY EVIDENCE, BY SITTING HERE FOR ALL THESE, ALL THIS TIME, I'M EVEN MORE, UM, AMAZED AT, AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
UM, IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT, I, UM, I RUN A BUSINESS IN LONG BEACH.
IT'S CALLED, UH, GRAND WELCOME OF LONG BEACH.
AND WE, UH, MANAGE SHORT TERM RENTALS, UH, VACATION RENTALS IN THE CITY.
AND I ONLY MANAGE, UH, VACATION RENTALS IN LONG BEACH.
I, UH, RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, OF, UM, OF, OF NEGATIVE AND, UM, HYPERBOLIC THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT CERTAIN, UM, VACATION RENTALS.
AND, UM, I, I WANT TO, UH, DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REPRESENTED HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL BECAUSE THEY EITHER DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY OR, UM, OR, UH, OR ARE NOT AROUND.
BUT THOSE ARE THE OWNERS AND, AND, UH, AND PEOPLE WHO, UM, OWN PROPERTY HERE IN, IN LONG BEACH WHO, WHO LIKE TO DO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY HERE TONIGHT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY GETS A BAD RAP BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED HERE.
FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED RECENTLY ON SECOND STREET.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK GETS OVERLOOKED IS ALL OF THE, UM, THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT, THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS BRING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY POSITIVE REVIEWS THE PROPERTIES THAT I MANAGE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE, OVER THE YEAR THIS LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE, THE, UM, THE GRADUATION, UH, EVENTS THAT, THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE HERE, THE WEDDING EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE HERE, THE, UH, UM, FAMILY REUNIONS, THE SIMPLE VACATION TO THE BEACH.
UM, THESE, THESE, UH, PEOPLE WHO COME HERE IN THE THOUSANDS, THEY GO HOME WITH A VERY POSITIVE, UM, UH, FEELING ABOUT LONG BEACH AND NOT, AND, AND THIS IS, I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF SECONDARY TO THE REAL PURPOSE, WHICH IS THEY SPEND MONEY WHILE THEY'RE HERE TOO.
SORRY, I REMIND YOU YOUR CLOCK IS OUT.
IF YOU WANNA SUMMARIZE, I'M SORRY.
UM, I JUST, MY MY REAL ASK IS I KNOW THAT NEXT MONTH THERE'S SOME, UH, SOME CHANGES COMING TO, UH, THE COUNCIL THAT YOU, UM, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AND LISTEN TO FOLKS LIKE ME WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL OPERATORS IN THIS BUSINESS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT ARE POSITIVE.
CAN WE SWITCH AND HAVE DENISE CARTER GO FIRST? DENISE CARTER.
THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS DENISE CARTER AND I'M A DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH RESIDENT IN THE EAST VILLAGE.
UM, AND I'M ALSO CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
LIKE EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE LONG BEACH, LIKE EVERY MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, DLBA IS SADDENED AND DISTRESSED ABOUT THE CONTINUED ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF INDIVIDUALS CHOOSING TO ENGAGE IN OR ESCALATE DISAGREEMENTS INTO VIOLENCE.
AS YOU KNOW, DLBA IS A COLLECTIVE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND RESIDENTS WHO LIVE, WORK, AND INVEST IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
WE ENHANCE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE, ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE, AND MAINTAIN OUR BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN FOR ITS PEOPLE, PUBLIC SPACES AND BUSINESSES.
WE BENEFIT THE DOWNTOWN BY WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES, AS WELL AS PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE INITIATIVES, BENEFITING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO OR CHARGE WITH ADDRESSING ALL THE AREAS OUR STAKEHOLDERS WOULD LIKE US TO FOCUS ON REGARDING WHAT AIL SOCIETY, BECAUSE THOSE ILLS IMPACT DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE CAN, HOWEVER, AND OFTEN DO ADVOCATE FOR SOLUTIONS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE TAKE ACTIVE MEASURES TO EMPLOY THOSE SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS OFFERING REPAIR GRANTS TO BUSINESSES DAMAGED BY VANDALISM,
[03:45:01]
CONDUCTING AUDITS OF THE LIGHTING AND TERRAIN OF OUR STREETS, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE CITY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.WE EVEN RECENTLY HIRED A HOMELESS OUTREACH PROFESSIONAL TO REACH OUT TO AND ASSIST OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHILE COORDINATING WITH THE MANY CITY AND COUNTY SERVICES.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
YOU JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE YOUR, CONCLUDE YOUR THOUGHT.
UH, WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO FIND NEW SOLUTIONS TO THE CONCERNS HIGHLIGHTED BY THIS PAST WEEKEND'S ACTIVITY.
WE LIVE, WORK, AND OWN HERE, WE'RE, WE ARE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY IN EVERY WAY, AND WE CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO USING OUR PLATFORM RESOURCES TO UPLIFT DLB.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THESE CONCERNS.
GOOD EVENING, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AUSTIN MONTOYA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE.
AS YOU HEARD FROM DENISE CARTER, OUR BOARD CHAIR, UH, THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE IS A NONPROFIT THAT REPRESENTS 1400 BUSINESSES, 5,000 COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND AS DENISE MENTIONED, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, BUT HAVE ALSO BEEN A TREND THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST, UH, YEAR OR SO.
SO I KNOW THE COUNCIL AND STAFF WERE AWARE, BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNAWARE OVER THE PAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE SEVERAL SAFETY INCIDENCES IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT HIGHLIGHTED WHAT OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER.
IT NEEDS TO BE A TOP ISSUE FOR THE COUNCIL TO WORK TO ADDRESS FROM THEFT AGGREGATED JUVENILES TO GUN VIOLENCE AND ASSAULTS.
OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE INCIDENTS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN.
IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS AND MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST LONG BEACH, BUT SOMETHING, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY IS TALKING ABOUT AND NEEDS MORE ATTENTION FROM OUR LEADERS.
WE DO WANNA RECOGNIZE LONG BEACH PD FOR THEIR SWIFT AND PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED ON SATURDAY DAY.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN MARY ZENDEJAS, AS WELL AS THE, UH, MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH US ON THE DOWNTOWN RECOVERY PLAN AND THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THAT.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE AND WE ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE BOTH OUR DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS OUR OTHER DISTRICTS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
ALRIGHT, NEXT I HAVE JEWEL SMITH.
OH, I GOT JEWEL SMITH AND I GOT SOME KNIGHT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LAST ONE.
UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND LONG BEACH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY CONCERNS, I CAME WITH THE, UM, THE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO, UM, WERE LIVING, WHO LIVES ON 16TH STREET ON MARTIN LUTHER KING AND 16TH, AND THEY ADDRESSED THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS.
UM, MY CONCERNS IS WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE, BUT I ALSO HAVE AN, UH, ADDITIONAL CONCERN ON 1698 MARTIN, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR AVENUE, THE FRONTIER COMMUNICATION BUILDING.
UM, THAT BUILDING IS, IS, IS A EYESORE.
UM, GRASS IS NOT BEING CUT, BUSHES ARE NOT BEING MAINTAINED.
UM, THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH LIVING IN FRONT OF THAT BUILDING ON THE SIDE ON 16TH STREET.
AND I THINK THE, THE FACT THAT THAT BUILDING IS NOT BEING KEPT, IT'S LIKE A WELCOMING TO THEM TO, TO LIVE ON THE SIDEWALK.
UM, NOT ONLY THAT, THE, UM, WHEN THEY'RE LIVING ON A SIDEWALK, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CHILDREN AT POLY HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL AT ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY.
UM, THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT HAS BEEN CLEARED OUT, BUT I DO SEE IT COMING BACK.
UM, IS IT GONNA TAKE ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TO CLEAR IT BACK OUT AGAIN? 'CAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR AN AWFUL LONG TIME.
UM, IN THE BUSHES, THERE ARE SMALL, SMALL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE THAT'S THROWN IN THE BUSHES, SHOES, CLOTHES, ALL KIND OF ITEMS. UM, THAT FRONTIER IS NOT, I DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE NOT KEEPING THE PROPERTY UP.
UM, I HAVE WALKED UP AND DOWN THIS STREET.
I HAVE DRIVEN UP AND DOWN THE STREET, AND I, AND THE FIRST BUILDING I SEE IS THE FRONTIER BUILDING.
AND IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE.
YOU AND IT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, IS THERE A SPEAKER BEHIND ME? YOU'RE WELCOME.
MADAM ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, I'M A GRADUATE.
L-B-U-S-D, UH, WHAT NUMBER AM I, NUMBER SIX OF THE SPEAKERS OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERAL LAW EDITION WAS, IS UNDER 10.
[03:50:01]
SECONDS IN ORDER TO MAKE MY PUBLIC COMMENT.I SIGNED UP FOR THE FIRST ONE.
YOU GUYS MADE ME WAIT FOR THE SECOND.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.
THERE'S NOT 10 SPEAKERS, SO I SHOULD GET THE FULL AMOUNT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 10 SPEAKERS YET,
BUT SINCE YOU WASTED THAT 30, WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT 30.
BUT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO, MY NAME IS SONAI, KEN FA, I'M A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
UH, I'M SPEAKING WITH RESPECT TO, UM, THE LACK OF MEDIA LITERACY.
WE, UNFORTUNATELY HAVE OUR, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CIRCUS LEAVE EARLY, BUT THE MEDIA LEFT, UH, OR IS DEPICTING BLACK DYSFUNCTION, UH, AS PER USUAL BECAUSE IT'S THE GREATEST CURRENCY KNOWN TO MAN.
IT GETS YOU ALL THE LIKES AND ALL THE TRACTION ONLINE.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE HERE ANYMORE, BUT THEY USE BLACK YOUTH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
WE'VE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS TODAY ABOUT HOMELESS PEOPLE, RIGHT? ADULTS, AND WE, WE REFERENCE THEM AS AN EXAMPLE, A VISIBLE EXAMPLE OF SOCIETAL DECLINE, RIGHT? BUT WHEN WE SEE YOUTH ENGAGING IN BEHAVIOR THAT WE DON'T THINK IS APPROPRIATE, NOBODY REFERENCES THAT AS A, AS A VISIBLE EXAMPLE OF OUR SOCIETY AT DECLINE, WE USED THEM TO MARKET, UH, ARCH TYPES AND STEREOTYPES ABOUT COMMUNITIES AND THE FAILINGS OF PARENTS, UH, AS IF OUR SOCIETY ISN'T FAILING AS A WHOLE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE TO SPEAK WITH RELATIONSHIP TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING.
AND I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S CRAZY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT 18% MATH PROFICIENCY, L-B-U-S-D, WE'RE AT LIKE 30, 28% ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
LIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE KIDS ARE? WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE? YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, GIG ECONOMY WORKERS, LIKE HALF THESE JOBS ARE GONNA BE AUTOMATED OUT OF EXISTENCE.
WE'RE, I JUST WANT TO, I'M F I'LL WRAP IT UP.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY LIKE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE IN A DEFICIT YEAR WHERE WE'RE CUTTING OUT, UH, MOST OF THESE PRO PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE USED LBRA FUNDING TO TRY TO FACILITATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUTH.
WE'RE, THEY'RE NOT, NONE OF THEM ARE STRUCTURAL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T LIKE THIS IDEA THAT THE MEDIA, UH, AND THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE FAILING.
YOU KNOW, UH, THE MEDIA IS USING THESE EXAMPLES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE TRAFFIC FOR THEM, BUT NOBODY ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT THESE KIDS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY COME FROM.
AND SO, I JUST HAD A PROBLEM WHEN I SAW THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND I JUST WANNA SPEAK THAT I HOPE, YOU KNOW, AS AN ADULT, THAT I CAN, WITH THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT I DO AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT I'M A PART OF, THAT WE CAN HELP FACILITATE, FACILITATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE KIDS INSTEAD OF BLAMING THEM WHENEVER IT'S CONVENIENT FOR US.
YOU, YOU USED THAT 30 SECONDS VERY WELL.
ALRIGHT, SO I THOUGHT, WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD WAS THAT THAT SPEAKER WAS SPEAKING FOR THE GROUP, BUT IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT STILL WERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, THAT DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD.
UM, THERE WERE STILL A, A NUMBER LIST OF NAMES.
IF YOU'RE STILL PREPARING TO SPEAK, COME FORWARD.
SO THAT WAS NAAM, UH, RAHA KEY AND SOC NAAM.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS HAI.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? BUT THAT'S IT.
DO YOU NEED INTERPRETATION? NO, YOUR HONOR.
GOOD EVENING, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND, UH, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX
I'M HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZENS.
THE WORD
AS A DEMOCRATIC PERSON, I LOVE THE MEANING OF THE WORD PEACE AND UNITY.
AND IN MY LANGUAGE, SMILE THEYAND.
BUT WHEN IT USED TOGETHER
[03:55:01]
TOWN IS AN ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE UNITY AND PEACE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY ARE MAKING A MISTAKE IF THEY ARE USING THE WORDS AND THE RESULTS WILL BE THE OPPOSITE.WE HAVE MADE A REQUEST TO THEM TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AND PLEAD ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP US TO TALK TO CAMBODIAN TOWN TO CHANGE OR REMOVE THE WORD J FROM THE SLOGAN.
UH, J SON P IS A SLOGAN THAT CAME OUT FROM A DICTATOR THAT'S BEEN IN POWER FOR 40 YEARS.
AND THE SLOGAN IS A DEMOCRACY KILLING SLOGAN.
NOW THE SLOGAN IS HERE AND IT'S BEEN PROMOTED BY THE CAMBODIAN TOWN.
AND WHEN THE PARADE HAPPENED HAPPENED ON APRIL 6TH, YOU WILL SEE THE SIGN.
YOUR TIME, MR. YOU SIGN THE PEOPLE IN THERE.
SO SOME OF YOU WILL BE RECEIVING CERTIFICATE CAMBODIAN TOWNS ON IT.
REMEMBER THAT, THAT IS THE BLOOD SLOGAN.
ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER NICK COULD OUT.
I ACTUALLY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST HUN SANS, UH, AND ALSO THE CAMBODIAN TOWN TO CHANGE, UH, THE WORD OF BRAVOS PEACE.
AND, UH, HUN SAN IS, UH, DICTATORS WORKING IN CAMBODIA AND CONTROL CAMBODIA FOR 40 YEARS AND SANG RIGHT NOW TRANSFERRED POWER TO HIS SONS.
AND, UH, I AM HERE LIVING IN THE US I'M LIVING IN THE DEMOCRACY WORLD.
I HATE COMMUNIST, WHICH IS, UH, HUN SANS, UH, CONTROL FOR 40 YEARS.
AND CAMBODIAN, WHICH IS LIVING IN THE US RIGHT NOW.
WE VOTE FOR RICHARD SANDS TO BE THE HEAD OF THE, UH, CAMBODIAN TOWNS.
AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO PROMOTE THE PROPAGANDA AGENDA FOR HUN SANS IN THE CAMBODIAN TOWN RIGHT NOW.
AND CAMBODIAN, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF HUN SENSE, THEY ARE USING THE SUPPRESSIONS, THE THEY OPPRESS THE COUNTRIES AND THE MEMBER AND THE PEOPLE BY ITS OWNS.
AND THEN I JUST WANT THEM TO CHANGE THE WORD BRAVOS AND TO ARREST THE WORD BRAVO FROM THE SLOGAN.
OKAY, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
[04:00:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.WE WILL NOW GO TO OUR CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS,
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
AND I'LL JUST START WITH, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO LONG BEACH STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.THEY WON THE BIG WEST TOURNAMENT OVER UC, DAVIS, AND ARE GOING TO MARCH MADNESS.
THEY'RE GOING TO THE DANCE, SO MAKE SURE YOU PAY ATTENTION.
IT'S THURSDAY, 11:00 AM UH, AS THEY TAKE ON NUMBER TWO, SEED ARIZONA.
UH, WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHERS LINED UP TOO.
SO I SEE KERR AND I SEASON DAYJA.
UM, I THINK BY THIS TIME YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE LONG BEACH EXCHANGE, LBX HAS REALLY GREAT PROGRAMMING ALMOST EVERY WEEK.
SO, UH, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD, THEY'RE CELEBRATING NATIONAL PUPPY DAY WITH A PET FRIENDLY MARKET FROM 11 TO FIVE, BRING YOUR FURRY FRIEND ALONG FOR A PHOTO BOOTH, ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE, AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THEN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 24TH, YOU CAN JOIN NEIGHBORS AND BIXBY K KNOWLES FOR CRITICAL MASS, A MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE RIDE.
IT IS OPEN TO ALL AGES AND IT TAKES OFF AT 11:00 AM BEHIND PIXIE TOYS ON ATLANTIC.
AGAIN, NEWCOMERS OF ALL AGES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET.
LASTLY, THIS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
UH, WE CAN INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN.
I ENCOURAGE ALL WHO ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNI UNIVERSITY WOMEN BY DONATING TO OR ATTENDING THE LONG BEACH BRANCH'S UPCOMING FUNDRAISER, A LUNCHEON TO DIE FOR.
UH, WE HAVE A WEBSITE, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY CALL OUR OFFICE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THAT EVENT.
UM, AND ON SATURDAY, MARCH 30TH AT LBCC AT 12:00 PM THERE WILL BE AN EVENT THAT IS A SILENT AUCTION, LUNCH AND PRESENTATION FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND SCREENWRITER IRIS YAMASHITA.
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE FUNDRAISER ARE USED TO PAY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, AND CAL STATE LONG BEACH.
UH, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THOSE ITEMS AND NEED MORE INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE WALMART CITY HERITAGE COMMUNITY MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20TH AT 7:00 PM TO 8:30 PM THE LOCATION OF THIS EVENT IS AT 9 53 NORTH PARK CIRCLE HERE IN LONG BEACH.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO A FREE COMMUNITY ARTS WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD FROM 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM IN ADDITION, UM, THERE WILL BE A CESA CHAVEZ CELEBRATION HOSTED BY RO CHA, UH, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD AT 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE EVERYBODY THERE.
IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION ON THESE EVENTS, PLEASE DO CALL OUR OFFICE.
UH, YES, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT TO OUR NEXT SET OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.
SO, UH, THE DEFOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WILL MEETING THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST, UM, AT THE DEFOREST PARK CLUBHOUSE AT 6 2 5 5 DEFOREST AVENUE, UM, FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM UH, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE THE COLLINS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THEY WILL BE MEETING ON MONDAY, MARCH 25TH.
THAT MEETING WILL BE VIRTUAL FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM UM, IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ON THE ZOOM LINK AND HOW TO, UM, UH, ATTEND THAT MEETING, PLEASE EMAIL OUR OFFICE AT DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV.
UH, AND THEN LASTLY, UH, ON TU NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 26TH WILL BE THE COLLEGE SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, THEY WILL BE, UH, MEETING FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM UH, AGAIN, IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV, OR CALL 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7.
I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
UH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS IN PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, REFERENCE THE SUPERAL RULE THAT WE WOULD GO TO A MINUTE AND A HALF.
IT'S OFTEN, UH, MISCONSTRUED AS, UH, THE RULE CUTTING PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME, WHEN IN FACT, WHAT IT DID WAS IT HELD IT AT A MINUTE AND A HALF, OUR CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU THAT CALIFORNIA CASE LAW IS THAT WE COULD LEGALLY CUT IT TO ONE MINUTE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BAD IDEA BECAUSE ONE MINUTE IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF.
SO THE NU RULE, AS STATED, UH, FREEZES, IT HOLDS THAT TIME TO YOU, AND IT'LL NEVER GIVE BE GIVEN LESS THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.
UM, SO OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, ARE, WE HAVE A FREE TENNIS DAY ON SATURDAY, AND THAT IS FROM 12 TO TWO AT, UH, EL DORADO PARK TENNIS CENTER.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF EVENTS, UM, FOR EASTER.
WE HAVE THE EASTER BUNNY AT, UM, LONG BEACH TOWN CENTER ON, UH, SATURDAY, UH, ON MARCH 24TH, SORRY, FROM A 12 TO TWO.
AND THEN THE EAST SUBURBAN'S GONNA HOP ON OVER TO LOS ALTOS AND BE AT PET SUPPLIES PLUS, UM, THAT'S NEXT TO
[04:05:01]
LAZY ACRES FOR A, UM, UH, PHOTO OPS FOR THE KIDS.AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING, UH, COMMANDER MIKE PANINO WITH US TONIGHT.
COMMANDER, THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
AND, UM, AND YOUR REWARD FOR BEING HERE IS WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A FREE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE COMMANDER'S FORUM NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THAT IS, UH, UH, ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT AT FIVE O'CLOCK AT THE SOUNDHOUSE CHURCH.
COME AND, UH, VISIT US THERE AND, UH, COMMANDER PANINA WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION.
OKAY, WELL THAT, IS THERE ANY, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, THAT, THAT, I'M SORRY.
THE, THE MEETING IS NOW ACTUALLY ADJOURNED.
UH, BUT I'M SURE WHOEVER IT IS HERE, THEY CAN PROBABLY HANG, HANG BACK AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
TURK'S GONNA COME OUT AND TALK TO YOU.