* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. YES. PRESIDENT [00:00:01] FROST HOLLINS HERE. VICE PRESIDENT GORDON PETERSON. HERE. COMMISSIONER LOVE HERE. COMMISSIONER OSUNA HERE. AND JAIME [CALL TO ORDER] GARCIA UTILITIES. I THINK WE'VE VOLUNTEERED YOU FOR FLAGS. LOO. GOOD MORNING. PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING IF YOU'RE ABLE AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I PLEDGE YOU TO LEAD TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [ROLL CALL] AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDI THIS OF LIBERTY AND INJUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ON AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANY REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT? WE HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS WHERE THERE MAY BE MORE DISCUSSION. SO YOU'RE, YOU'LL BE WELCOMED AGAIN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT ITEM IF YOU WISH. ALRIGHT. SEEING NONE, UH, THAT MOVES US INTO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WHICH ARE ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE. COMMISSIONER STAFF, ANY REQUESTS FOR SEPARATE [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Civil Service Commission on agenda items. ] CONSIDERATION? OKAY, THEN I SEE A MOTION, A SECOND. AH, THERE WE GO. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONERS FOR OUR REGULAR AGENDA. IT WON'T APPLY NECESSARILY TO ITEM [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 5.)] SIX, BUT UM, WE DO HAVE A LONG AGENDA AND A COUPLE OF LARGER DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO I WAS HOPING THAT MAYBE WE CAN LIMIT STAFF REPORTS THIS MEETING, UM, TO JUST QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR THESE ITEMS SINCE WE'VE RECEIVED THEM IN WRITING. OKAY. UH, SO IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM SIX, WHICH IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. REGULAR MEETINGS OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, MARCH 13TH, MARCH 27TH, AND APRIL 24TH, 2024. AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 22, MARCH 6TH, APRIL 10, APRIL 17, AND APRIL 24TH, 2024. [6. 24-53282 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Civil Service Commission Regular Meetings of Wednesday, February 28, March 13, March 27 and April 24, 2024; and Civil Service Commission Special Meetings of February 22, March 6, April 10, April 17, and April 24, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] I SEE A MOTION A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR CHANGES? SEEING NONE, I THINK WE'RE READY TO CAST OUR VOTES. I MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN KEEPING YOU BUSY. ALRIGHT, UH, ITEM SEVEN IS RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE BULLETIN ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND? RIGHT? ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR OUR ANALYSTS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, I THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. [7. 24-53283 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Accounting Technician.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ITEM EIGHT, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE BULLETIN PETROLEUM ENGINEER, ASSOCIATE ONE AND TWO. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION. SEEING, SEEING NONE? I THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NINE, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE BULLETIN PORT SECURITY SYSTEMS. OPERATOR ONE THROUGH THREE. WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND. [8. 24-53284 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Petroleum Engineering Associate I-II.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 10, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE BULLETIN. PRINCIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? [9. 24-53285 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Port Security System Operator I-III.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 11, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVAL. ATTEND STREET MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR ONE AND TWO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND. THANK YOU. [10. 24-53286 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Principal Building Inspector.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? RIGHT. SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [00:05:03] MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. RIGHT, [11. 24-53287 Recommendation to approve bulletin – Street Maintenance Supervisor I-II.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] I BELIEVE THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 12, UH, WHICH IS RECOMMENDATION FOR PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT OF PAMELA HALT WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS EXAMINER. SO MOTION AND SECOND, THIS ISN'T A BULLETIN, SO IS THERE ANYTHING WE WANT TO DISCUSS? ASK? OKAY. YOU SEEM SO FAR AWAY OVER THERE. COMMISSIONER. SAY THERE. I'M GOOD. OKAY. UM, ALL RIGHT. UH, IF THERE IS NO QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [12. 24-53288 Recommendation for provisional appointment of Pamela Holt, Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 13 IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN UPDATE ON THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. MEET AND CONFER. UH, CHRISTINA OR GARY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START OFF THE CONVERSATION ON THIS ONE? UM, I JUST, UM, HAVE, AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, OR TWO MEETINGS AGO, THE COMMISSION ASKED THAT I BRING FORWARD THE ACTUAL LETTERS OF AGREEMENT. UM, AND SO I WORKED WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. THEY PROVIDED THE LETTERS OF AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET, AS WELL AS AN UPDATED RED LINE. UM, [13. 24-53289 Recommendation to receive and file an update on the Charter Amendment Meet and Confer.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SO YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THERE BEFORE YOU. ANY OTHER, UM, UM, AGREEMENTS THAT WERE MADE ARE IN THE RED LINE, SO IF THERE'S NOT A, A LEAVE A LETTER OF AGREEMENT AND THERE WAS MAYBE SOME DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENT, IT'S IN THE RED LINE DOCUMENT. SO YOU HAVE THAT THERE. THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE THE RED LINE DOCUMENT. UM, AS I SAID BEFORE, UM, THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT, UH, OUR LABOR UNION LABOR PARTNERS HAVE NEGOTIATED, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THE CHARTER LANGUAGE. IT'S ALL RELIANT ON A MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, WHICH MEANS THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY DOES NOT GET A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THAT LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, NEGOTIATED BY IAM IN PARTICULAR. UM, I THINK THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS, BUT I'M GONNA ACTUALLY LET OTHERS SPEAK BEFORE I DELVE INTO THANK YOU PRESIDENT. UM, I APPRECIATE THE DOCUMENT AND I'M JUST GONNA GO ON THE RECORD WITH A FEW THINGS. UM, THE SKIN THAT I HAVE IN THIS IS VERY LITTLE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. UM, I'M NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO FIGHT AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IT APPEARS THAT, UM, THOSE MOST IMPACTED, UM, WANT TO SEE HAPPEN. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE ACTIONS SAY. UM, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING. UM, BUT, UM, IN MY DAY JOB, I LIVE IN THE REALITIES OF POLITICS AND I KNOW THAT, UM, DEALS ARE CUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT BEHIND THOSE CLOSED DOORS, UH, CONSISTENTLY. SO, UM, I ALSO ACCEPT THAT, RIGHT? UM, THAT GOES FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. UM, I'VE HEARD VERY LITTLE DIRECTLY FROM, UH, CITY STAFF OUTSIDE OF, UH, SPARSE VIEW, UH, A LOT OF THOSE BEING STAFFED FROM CIVIL SERVICE ITSELF. SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, I AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PUT MY ENERGY AND ADVOCACY TOWARDS. UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT WITH THIS. IT IS PERSONALLY DISAPPOINTING, UM, THAT, UH, THIS IS NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE WANT TO FRAME IT. THIS IS THE DECIMATION OF A SYSTEM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, THE AUTHORITY AND THE POWERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL BE DEEPLY IMPACTED. THE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE COMMUNITY WILL BE DEEPLY IMPACTED. AND IF THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT, THAT'S OKAY. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I'VE HAD TO LIVE WITH A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT WE [00:10:01] AS A COMMUNITY HAVE MADE THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH. ULTIMATELY, UM, THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN NOVEMBER BEFORE THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL, UM, WHO IS CLEARLY ALREADY ON A PATH TOWARDS APPROVING THIS. UM, IT'S VERY EVIDENT. UM, I WILL RESPECT WHATEVER DECISION THEY MAKE. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, I'VE SAID WHAT I'VE HAD TO SAY ON THIS SIDE OF IT, PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHERE I STAND. UM, I'M ALSO, UM, A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO USE MY WORDS, UM, AROUND A INACCURATE NARRATIVE. UM, WHEN I SPEAK FROM THIS POSITION AS A COMMISSIONER, I BRING EVERYTHING THAT I THINK IS RELEVANT TO THE ROLE. AND SO, UM, IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO USE MY WORDS IN WAYS THAT ARE INACCURATE, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. UM, ALL I CAN DO IS GO BACK AND POINT OUT THE RECORD. 'CAUSE THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE MEETINGS. THEY'RE A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORDS. SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, I SAID, I CAN GO BACK AND SAY EITHER I DIDN'T SAY THAT OR I DID SAY THAT, BUT YOU PULLED IT OUT OF CONTEXT. AND HERE'S THE ACTUAL CONTEXT THAT IT WAS SAID IN. UM, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS CLEAR. I SAID THIS IN A HEARING THE OTHER DAY, SO I'M GONNA SAY IT HERE IN THIS PUBLIC MEETING. UM, I HOLD MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, IN VERY HIGH REGARD FOR ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T KNOW. UM, MY SON WAS MURDERED HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT RESPONDED TO MY HOME THAT DAY AND WERE THERE FOR MY FAMILY IN A MOMENT WHERE I COULDN'T BE THERE. IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF CONANT, WHO WAS A SERGEANT AT THE TIME AND RESPONDED TO MY HOME AND WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE. UM, I HAVE A VERY REPUTABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND SO I WANT THAT TO BE VERY CLEAR. UM, MY STATEMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING, UM, WE'RE DIRECTED PRECISELY AT OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR MAYOR. OKAY? UM, VERY FRUSTRATED THAT THEY SAID ONCE AGAIN THAT THEY SAID THAT THIS PROCESS WOULD NOT IMPACT ANY TYPE OF DISCIPLINE. AND YET, THAT'S ON THE TABLE. NOW, HAPPENS TO BE WITH THE POAI WOULD'VE BEEN UPSET NO MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT IT WAS WITH, JUST HAPPENED TO BE WITH, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE POA THAT THEY, UH, THAT THEY'RE NEGOTIATING WITH OR NEGOTIATED WITH. UM, SO I WANT THAT TO BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING WAS TWISTED UP. SO I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING MEAN WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE LISTENING, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE LISTENING BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. THAT'S WHY THE MAYOR APPOINTED ME TO THIS ROLE, ALTHOUGH HE MAY REGRET IT NOW, BUT HE TOLD ME YOU'RE GONNA COME AND SHAKE THINGS UP. I DON'T THINK HE MEANT THIS, BUT, UM, I DEFINITELY LET MY POINT OF VIEW BE KNOWN. AND, UM, I COME ALWAYS FROM A PLACE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. UM, I'VE HAD MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET A JOB WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I'VE HAD MY OWN EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE HIRED INTO ROLES AT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I'VE BEEN PART OF HIRING PANELS FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, AND NOW I GET TO BE PART OF THIS, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED THOSE THINGS TO BE VERY CLEAR. UM, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I STAND ON THIS. I THINK THAT THIS IS A DECIMATION OF CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, AND WE'RE GONNA BE JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY THAT'S DONE THAT, THAT'S THAT BOTTOM LINE. IF THAT'S WHO WE WANNA BE, THEN THAT'S WHO WE WILL BE. THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT GORDON PETERSON. WELL, I WILL FOLLOW MY COLLEAGUE. UM, I SAID THIS BEFORE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DISMANTLING CIVIL SERVICE. I KNOW WHAT IT STANDS FOR. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES IN FACILITATING EMPLOYMENT, HIRING FAIR AND EQUITABLE FOR THE CITY. BUT [00:15:01] THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I'M WITH JOSE. I DIDN'T, I'M ON THE BACK END OF THIS. I HAVE NO SKIN IN THIS GAME. THIS ISN'T THIS DECISION. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO AFFECT MY LIFE, BUT IT'S GOING TO AFFECT A LOT OF YOURS. AND I AGREE, UM, IN THAT IT HAS TO BE A COLLECTIVE. IF YOU, IF YOU AGREE, I I, I'M, I'M HAPPY FOR YOU. AND, AND YOU SHOULD BE V SERIOUS ABOUT THAT. UH, IF YOU, IF YOU AGREE, UM, SPEAK LOUDLY IF YOU DISAGREE, THE SAME THING. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT, UM, THIS MEASURE, UH, WILL MORE THAN LIKELY GO ON THE BALLOT AND PEOPLE WILL MAKE THEIR DECISION WITH THEIR VOTE, WHICH IS A PRIVATE MATTER. AND I RESPECT THAT. WE ALL HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART. UM, AND I TOO WAS APPOINTED BY OUR MAYOR, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR HIS APPOINTMENT BECAUSE I AM HERE TO SERVE. THIS IS MY CITY AND MY COMMUNITY. I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 60 YEARS, AND SO I LOVE, I LOVE LONG BEACH. AND, UM, I LOVE THIS CITY, AND I ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO, I DO BELIEVE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE PROCESS. I, I HONESTLY BELIEVE IT WORKS WHEN ALL PARTIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER. IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN ALL PARTIES ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER. AND, UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS ACTION WAS PUT INTO PROCESS LONG BEFORE WE GOT HERE THIS YEAR. UM, AND MY COMMENTS ARE STILL THE SAME. I DON'T WANNA BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BUT YOU CANNOT EXPECT A DEPARTMENT TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY WHEN YOU WON'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH STAFF. YOU, YOU HAVE STAFF DOING THE JOBS OF TWO PEOPLE WHEN YOU CAN CLEARLY GIVE MORE SUPPORT, BUT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO, AND YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO GAIN. YOU WANT TO SEND THE FALSE NARRATIVE INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT CIVIL SERVICE DOESN'T WORK. THAT'S NOT TRUE. AND I RESPECT THAT. YOU MAY NOT WANT CIVIL SERVICE, BUT AT LEAST PROVIDE A CLEAR AND TRUTHFUL NARRATIVE. THAT'S ALL THAT I WANT. I'M OKAY WITH WHATEVER STAND THAT YOU TAKE, BUT TELL EVERYTHING AND TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT TWO STRONG DEPARTMENTS, LET'S BE FRANK, WE'RE NOT WORKING TOGETHER. WHEN YOU HAVE ELIGIBILITY LIST AND ANOTHER DEPARTMENT GOES OUT AND FLOATS AND ADD, WHY, WHY? WHEN YOU CAN SIMPLY PULL UP THE LIST AND HIRE FROM IT, IT'S, THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE, BUT YOU'LL MAKE EVERYONE BELIEVE THAT CIVIL SERVICE IS NOT FILLING THE POSITIONS. AND, AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM. I'M OKAY WITH THE TRUTH. THAT'S ALL I LOOK FOR IS TO BE FAIR IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE FACTS. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE LA TIMES, I WAS GLAD TO SEE IT BECAUSE THE COMMENT WAS, YES, THERE ARE PROBLEMS, BUT IT ISN'T CIVIL SERVICE. YOU WON'T EVEN PAY AN EQUITABLE RATE. SO LONG BEACH IS A TRAINING GROUND. IT WAS IN THE LA TIMES. THIS IS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW. THEY COME HERE TO GET TRAINED BECAUSE WE ARE THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO. WE ARE THE BEST CITY. WE HAVE THE BEST POLICE, THE BEST FIRE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S THE BEST. AND SO THEY COME HERE FOR OUR JOBS. AND ONCE THEY ARE TRAINED, DO YOU KNOW WHAT ANOTHER CITY DOES? THEY GO, OH, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING FROM LONG BEACH. HIRE 'EM, NOT. OH, THEY'RE COMING FROM TORRANCE. NO. OH, THEY CAME OUT OF LONG BEACH. GIVE THEM THE JOB. WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE'RE GOOD AT WHAT WE DO. SO WE TRAIN THE WORKFORCE FOR OTHER CITIES BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY COMPETITIVELY. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S THE FAULT OF THE CITY. I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING, WHAT'S THE REALITY? AND SO YOU WANNA BE COMPETITIVE, THEN DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO BE COMPETITIVE. PAY PEOPLE A LIVING WAGE. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON BECAUSE I'VE SAID ALL THIS BEFORE. AND SO I'M GOING TO SILENCE MYSELF AND SAY THAT THIS IS UP TO YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL. AND, UH, YES, FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING, VOTE YOUR CONSCIOUS. AND WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THIS, REMEMBER, REMEMBER THAT. THAT'S HOW YOU VOTED CITY COUNCIL. [00:20:01] REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO VOTE FOR YOU THAT YOU VOTED THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU FELT THIS WAY, SO THAT WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THE WAY YOU PLANNED, WHEN WE STILL HAVE THE SAME SITUATION WITH HIRING, THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO STAND ON. DON'T GO RUNNING AND SAY, WELL, IT WASN'T MY FAULT THAT WE COULDN'T PAY MORE. YOU'VE MADE A DECISION TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT HELP ALL PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. WILL ALL PEOPLE BENEFIT, NOT JUST A FEW? SO THAT'S MY 2 CENTS. I'M NOT GONNA MAKE MY MY COMMENTS ANYMORE. I'M VERY HAPPY THAT I WAS APPOINTED, UH, TO THIS COMMISSION. UM, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH THE STAFF OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. THESE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE, AND THEY DON'T CRAB, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. YOU DON'T HEAR THEM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LOAD, THEIR WORKLOAD, OR THAT THEY'RE DOING THE JOB, THEIR JOB. AND A PERSON THAT'S NEVER BEEN HIRED TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS FOR THEM. THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T COMPLAIN. THEY JUST GET THE WORK DONE. AND IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT THEM, THEY STILL SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND GET THE WORK OUT. I WOULD'VE FLOWN THIS COOP A LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE. WHEN YOU DENIGRATE CIVIL SERVICE, YOU ARE DENIGRATING PEOPLE. AND THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME, BECAUSE THE NARRATIVE IS CIVIL SERVICE ISN'T GETTING IT DONE. AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. AND SO, FOR THE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. AND I WILL NEVER SPEAK OUT AGAINST YOU. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I SEE THE PRODUCT OF YOUR WORK. AND WHEN YOU GO INTO THAT OFFICE, THERE'S NOT A PARTY UP THERE. THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING. AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE OFF AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE WORKING, THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET IT ALL DONE. SO THEY'RE BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL. AND FOR YOU, THE EMPLOYEES OF CIVIL SERVICE, I SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITY. YOUR WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. AND SO I SAY THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH CIVIL SERVICE, AND I MEAN REALLY WORKING, YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING. BECAUSE AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ONLY HAVE OUR ETHICS AND OUR MORAL. AND, AND, AND THAT'S REALLY IT. SO I, I APPRECIATE CIVIL SERVICE AND I JUST HOPE THAT EVERY, UM, EVERYONE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT YOU GET OUT TO THAT, THAT BOX AND YOU, YOU VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE. COMMISSIONER LEFT. GOOD MORNING. UM, I PROBABLY AM THE NEWEST COMMISSIONER. AND WHEN I WAS APPOINTED, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED. BUT I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL AND HAPPY TO COME ON BOARD BECAUSE I'M A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE. I KNOW THE GOOD WORK THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE DOES AND HAS DONE IN THE PAST. AND IF THIS BALLOT MEASURE GOES AS WHAT I'M SEEING, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE LOST. AND I THINK THAT'S A, A DISSERVICE TO THE EMPLOYEES OF CITY OF LONG BEACH AND ITS RESIDENTS. UM, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THINGS THAT I AGREE WITH, AND I COULD PROBABLY GO FURTHER, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO, BECAUSE WHEN THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT WAS BROUGHT TO ME AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CHANGES THAT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND TO THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES. I DON'T SEE THAT HERE. AND I'M SORRY. I'M REALLY SORRY THAT I DON'T, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M A RESIDENT. I'M GONNA VOTE THE WAY I'M GONNA VOTE, AND SO ARE ALL THE OTHERS, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AND I'M JUST GONNA DO THE IMPARTIAL WORK THAT I'M COMMENDED TO DO UNTIL I CAN'T ANYMORE. UM, I WILL FOLLOW THE RULES REGULATIONS AS THEY ARE, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, CIVIL SERVICE STAFF AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. UH, YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB. UH, I KNOW WHEREVER YOU GO OR WHAT FOLLOWS, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO [00:25:01] DO THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOOD PEOPLE. UM, CIVIL SERVICE TAKES A LOT OF HEAT FOR THINGS THAT THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. UM, AND THEY DO THE BEST THEY CAN WITHIN THE REGULATIONS. AND I FEEL FOR YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I COULD SAY, BUT I'M NOT REALLY A PUBLIC SPEAKER. SO THANK YOU, UH, TO THE STAFF AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M A BIT OF AN OPTIMISTIC REALIST. SO LET'S DO THE TWO SIDES OF THAT. FROM THE OPTIMISTIC SIDE, UH, I THINK THE DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT, UH, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, UH, WAS NOT UNANIMOUS. AND IT WAS NOT, UH, I MEAN, THE VOTE MAY HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS, BUT THE CONCERNS WERE EXPRESSED. I THINK THERE IS INTEREST IN EXPLORING SOME OF THE FAILINGS OF THIS CURRENT CHARTER AMENDMENT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH FOLKS TO DISCUSS THOSE THINGS BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, THAT'S THE LEVEL IT'S AT. IT'S STILL BEING, UH, DISCUSSED AT THE, UH, CITY LEVEL. AS A REALIST, I JOIN MY COLLEAGUES AS LONG AS IT'S ONLY THE COMMISSION AND THE DEPARTMENT, UM, FIGHTING THE FIGHT WE'RE, WE CAN'T DO MUCH. WE HAVE, I MEAN, WE'RE ALL FRIENDS OF, EVERYONE UP HERE IS FRIENDS OF THE MAYOR. AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS TOLD US, SLOW DOWN ON THIS. AND APPARENTLY OUR FRIENDSHIP IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO CONVEY THAT MESSAGE. THAT'S DISAPPOINTING. UM, SO IT NEEDS TO BE THE COMMUNITY. IT NEEDS TO BE LABOR, IT NEEDS TO BE OTHER VOICES. IF THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WE WANT TO SAVE, AND IF THERE IS THAT EFFORT BEING ORGANIZED, I'M HAPPY TO JOIN IT. I WILL ALSO, UM, CONTINUE TO HELP FOLKS SEE WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO. UM, SO THAT'S WHAT MY MEETINGS WITH FOLKS, UM, SUPPORTING THE COUNCIL, UH, IS GOING TO FOCUS ON. SO LET ME TELL YOU WHERE, WHAT I SEE ON THIS, ESSENTIALLY. SO WE HAVE THE POWER OF APPROVAL CURRENTLY ON THE COMMISSION FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS RELATED TO HIRING, PROMOTION, UM, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT. PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT, UM, EXTENSION OF SHORT, UH, YOU KNOW, PART-TIME, HOURLIES, UM, I THINK YOU CALL 'EM NON-CAREER, SORRY, DIFFERENT LINGO, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION. UM, WE HAVE THE POWER OF APPROVAL ON, UH, BULLETINS. CLASSIFICATIONS. UH, WE HAVE THE POWER OF APPROVAL. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO EXTENSION OF PROBATION, PERIOD, THAT POWER OF APPROVAL IS ALL GONE. IT GOES TO HR, WHAT IAM HAS NEGOTIATED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, FRANKLY, YOUR EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE NONE OF THIS. SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE STOOD UP AND MEET AND CONFER AND PUSHED FOR THIS IS THE POWER OF APPEAL, WHICH MEANS WE WON'T GET TO SEE PATTERNS, AND YOU WON'T GET TO SEE PATTERNS UNLESS, AND UNTIL INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES OR YOUR REPRESENTATIVES BRING IT FOR APPEAL. THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO MISS A LOT OF PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS SORT OF THE POINT I THINK OF THE CITY MANAGER IS TO ENSURE WE MISS PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN'T INTERFERE IN THEM. WE CAN'T QUESTION THEM. WE CAN'T ASK WHY CERTAIN THINGS ARE RECURRING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POWER OF APPROVAL AND THE POWER OF APPEAL. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT DISCIPLINE. COMMISSIONER SUNO ALREADY LAID OUT THAT WE WERE TOLD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS THAT DISCIPLINE WOULD NOT BE TOUCHED. EACH OF US WERE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY GUARANTEED THAT DISCIPLINE WOULD NOT BE TOUCHED. THAT WAS NOT TRUE. SO I WILL NOT DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR HEARINGS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT MOST OF OUR HEARINGS ARE POLICE RELATED. IF YOU TAKE AWAY ALL THE POWER OF APPROVAL, TAKE AWAY 90% [00:30:01] OF OUR APPEALS. THIS COMMISSION MAY ONLY MEET A FEW TIMES A YEAR IF THAT. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER THINGS THEY DO IN THIS. THEY CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COMMISSION. WHY WOULD YOU POSSIBLY NEED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY TO MAKE IT LIKE THREE TIMES AS MANY WORDS? WELL, THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE REASON YOU DO THAT. IT'S TO GET RID OF ANYONE WITH EXPERIENCE ON THIS COMMISSION, BECAUSE IT WOULD THEN BE A NEW COMMISSION. SO ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE PATTERNS, KNOWS HOW DISCIPLINE PROCESSES USED TO OPERATE, KNOWS HOW WE'VE ACTED INDEPENDENTLY, WILL BE GONE COMPLETELY TO BE REPLACED ESSENTIALLY BY THE MAYOR. ONE MAYOR. AND I AM STILL, I AM A FRIEND OF, OF OUR CURRENT MAYOR, BUT I AM STILL AN APPOINTEE OF ROBERT GARCIA. STILL SOMETHING OF A LEGACY WITH SOME INDEPENDENCE FROM OUR CURRENT MAYOR, AS IS JOANNE. OKAY? SO WE TAKE AWAY APPROVAL. WE ESSENTIALLY KNOCK DISCIPLINE TO PRACTICALLY NOTHING, AND WE, UH, ELIMINATE ANYONE WITH HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE ON THE COMMISSION. WELL, THEN WHAT ELSE DO WE DO? ESSENTIALLY WE REMOVE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S JOB. THAT'S WHAT THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT DOES. SO THIS COMMISSION WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OR WHATEVER OUR SUCCESSOR CLAIMS TO BE, WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THINGS USED TO WORK. AND THE PERSON WHO CARRIES THAT HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THIS COMMISSION WILL BE GONE. NOW AGAIN, THANKS PRETTY MUCH EXCLUSIVELY TO IAM. UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL TAKE OVER, UM, MANY OF THE ROLES CURRENTLY PRO, UH, PRACTICED BY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT'S BETTER THAN THE CITY MANAGER. UM, UM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO NOT NECESSARILY NEUTRAL IN THESE ARGUMENTS. UM, THEY HAVE A PERSPECTIVE, AND I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE REPRESENTATION WE HAVE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE. BUT IT IS NOT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S PERSPECTIVE. IT'S NOT OUR HISTORY PER SE. SO I, I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING TRUTHFULLY ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES UNTIL ALL OF MY COMMISSIONERS POINT, IF WE SPEAK TRUTHFULLY TO IT AND, UH, THE CHANGE IS MADE ANYWAYS, THEN THAT'S FINE. UM, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR CITY LEADERS RIGHT NOW ARE SPEAKING TRUTHFULLY TO WHAT THIS DOES. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING THAT I AM, DID NOT COVER AND PROBABLY 'CAUSE IT'S NOT WITHIN THEIR SCOPE, AND IT'S, BUT IT IS CLEARLY WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE SCOPE, AND THAT IS THE PREFERENCES. UM, IF YOU REMOVE AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT AND AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FROM THE HIRING PROCESS, WHETHER OR NOT THE PREFERENCES ARE APPLIED WILL BE ENTIRELY OPTIONAL TO HR AND TO DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP. THAT IS FRANKLY THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. SO YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER PREFERENCES FOR VETERANS, FOR SURVIVORS OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED IN, IN COMBAT, UM, FOR THOSE DISABLED, FOR LOCAL EDUCATION AND FOR LOCAL RESIDENCY. THEY ONLY MATTER IF AND WHEN THE CITY MANAGER IS REPRESENTATIVE IN HR OR THE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP, CHOOSE THAT THEY MATTER. AND IF YOU THINK THAT IS AN OVERSTATEMENT, ASK HR WHAT THEY DO WITH OUR CURRENT PREFERENCES FOR UNCLASSIFIED STAFF, FOR UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS, THEY DON'T EVEN ASK THE QUESTION. SO [00:35:02] WE DON'T HAVE PREFERENCES, BUT WE'RE SELLING THIS AS A PREFERENCES. CHARTER AMENDMENT , WE DON'T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT ADVISOR. WE DON'T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION WITH HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE. WE HAVE SEVERELY LIMITED DISCIPLINE CASES, ESSENTIALLY 10%. AND WE HAVE, UM, APPEAL ONLY AND ONLY WHEN YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY DONE THE WORK OF CALLING IT OUT AN ISSUE WITH ALL THE CONSEQUENCE THAT COMES FROM BEING THE ONE WHO HAS TO CALL OUT THE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING US CALL OUT THE ISSUE FOR YOU. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU FACE. THAT IS THE DECISION YOU MAKE. WE HAVE SOME, UH, OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP. I THINK THE DATES ARE ALL IN THE PACKET. IT'S AT THE END OF THE STAFF REPORT, OKAY? UH, AT THE END OF OUR STAFF REPORT, YOU HAVE ALL THE DATES COMING UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO EVEN IF THIS GOES TO THE CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE, WE WILL HAVE THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS. UM, IF EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CHOOSE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST IT, YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND ME . I'M AVAILABLE. I HAVE A CITY EMAIL CA ADDRESS. I'M HAPPY TO JOIN YOU. UM, BUT I WOULD BE JOINING YOU. UM, AT THIS POINT, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO KEEP GOING, I WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN OPTIMIST AND JOIN YOU IN KEEPING THE ARGUMENT GOING. PRESIDENT ROSS HOLLANDS. I THINK THE OPERATIVE, UH, WORD IN YOUR STATEMENT IS THAT I WILL JOIN YOU. AND I THINK THAT'S THE COLLECTIVE STATEMENT OF THE COMMISSION. IT IS. WE WILL JOIN YOU, YOU WILL NOT BE JOINING US, AND I'LL RIDE WITH YOU, BUT I NEED TO SEE THAT YOU'RE THERE. AND I, I, I THINK REALLY THAT'S THE COLLECTIVE STATEMENT OF THE COMMISSION. UM, WE, WE CAN'T DO THIS. WE CAN'T FIGHT THIS FIGHT ALONE. SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT YOUR STATEMENT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES LAY OUT WHAT SOME OF THE, WHAT SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE, AND IT CLARIFIES FOR EVERYONE WHAT'S MISSING. AND I GO BACK TO, UM, THAT ACCOUNTABILITY SLIDE. YOU KNOW, THE ONE WHERE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY. INTERESTING ENOUGH, THERE WAS NONE PRIOR TO DISMANTLING OR TRYING TO DISMANTLE CIVIL SERVICE, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ACCOUNTABILITY GOING FORWARD. THAT'S IT, RIGHT? IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER? ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? NO. MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MORNING, BRANDON NOTTINGHAM, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE I AM, UM, DON'T WANT TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID. WE, WE ALL KNOW WHERE THE I AM STANDS. UH, WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS SINCE THE PRESENTATION OF THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT CHANGE. UM, AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED, AND THOSE CONCERNS AD NAUSEUM THROUGHOUT THE LIMITED TIME OF MEET AND CONFER, WHICH WE WERE GIVEN AND FEEL THAT, UH, OUR LOA, WHICH IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE COMPARED TO THE OTHER AGREEMENTS AND THINGS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH HERE, UM, BEST, UH, PROTECTS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR MEMBERS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. AND, UH, WE DID TRY TO KEEP A FAIR BALANCE OF THAT DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN DECISION MAKING AND THINGS BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COMMISSION. WE DO FEEL THAT SHOULD THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT CHANGE, I I, IF IT IS PASSED THROUGH AND, AND THE CHARTER WILL CHANGE, UH, WE STILL DO HAVE THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, UH, THAT WAS PROMISED TO US. SO WE CAN STILL SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE CHANGES AND STILL DISCUSS HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND STILL HAVE THE CONTROL OR AT LEAST THE, THE VOICE TO [00:40:01] BE ABLE TO CONTROL HOW IT'S GONNA BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE TRANSITION. BUT WE DO SUPPORT YOU GUYS. WE THINK THAT WE'VE DONE THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THANK YOU, SIR. YES. CAN YOU COME BACK TO THE PODIUM PLEASE? UM, YES, YOU HAVE. AND SO, UM, I WANT TO SPEAK INTO EXISTENCE THAT I'VE APPRECIATED THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE READ IN THE NEWSPAPER, THAT LA TIMES ARTICLE, UH, THEY QUOTED IAM THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WERE TWO SIDES AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE, UH, STOOD THE COURSE. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE PROTECTING THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE UNDER YOUR PURVIEW. WHAT SADDENS ME IS THAT NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO RECEIVE THOSE SAME PROTECTIONS THAT YOU OFFER YOUR MEMBERS. AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY SADDENS ME. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT WON'T HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I WANT TO THINK I AM, BECAUSE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU STOOD UP, UH, WHEN OTHERS DIDN'T. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM A PERSONAL, THIS IS FROM A PERSON, FROM A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY. I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU NOW AS A COMMISSIONER. I'M TALKING TO YOU AS A REGISTERED VOTER WHO LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. I THINK OUR VICE PRESIDENT SAID IT AS GOOD AS IT COULD BE SAID. ANYTHING FURTHER? COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. SINCE YOU INVITED US TO SAY SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY CAPRICE, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY WANNA COMMEND THIS BODY HERE. THIS IS THE ONE COMMISSION THAT I KNOW IN A CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THIS POLITICAL INTEREST, THAT YOU REALLY HAVE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND AGAIN, I DON'T FEEL, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BY ACCIDENT THAT YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE, I HOPE YOU DON'T GET OFFENDED, BUT GOD'S IN CONTROL. SO IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT THAT YOU'RE THERE. AND I'M OPTIMISTIC AS WELL. YOU KNOW, I'M BORN AND RAISED ON LONG BEACH, LONG BEACH RESIDENT, AND EVEN AFTER THIS JOB, I DON'T REALLY SEE MYSELF GOING ANYWHERE, BUT I'M STILL GONNA HAVE A CONTINUED INTEREST IN HOW SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M WITHIN MY COMMUNITY. WE TALK THE NEIGHBORS, THEY SEE ME, 9 0 8, 0 6, THEY KNOW WHO I AM. SO , YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. KEEP IT UP AND IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYTHING FURTHER? THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AND FOR LISTENING. AND, UM, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY INDIVIDUAL THOUGHTS. AGAIN, YOU HAVE MY EMAIL AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY PHONE NUMBER AS WELL. UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OSUNA, A SECOND BY GORDON PETERSON TO RECEIVE THIS REPORT, PERHAPS RELUCTANTLY, BUT I THINK WE'RE READY TO VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 14 IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE MANAGERS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? THANK SECOND. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. UM, YES, I'LL DEFER TO, UH, MARIA AND CAPRICE. MARIA, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE. I HAVE NO UPDATE THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ON A HIGH NOTE, I JUST REALLY WANNA LET YOU KNOW, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD AND THEY, THEY JUST BROUGHT [14. 24-53290 Recommendation to receive and file reports from the Civil Service Managers.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IT LAST WEEK, UH, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY, UM, COMPLETED THE PERFORMANCE, UM, PORTION OF THE POLICE SERGEANT EXAM. AND WE'VE HAD 60, NO, SAL GAVE ME THAT NUMBER. 63 POLICE OFFICERS THAT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND TO ME THAT'S A TESTAMENT AND OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE BECAUSE LAST EXAM WE HAD, UH, A REAL SMALL SHOWING. NORMALLY WE TAKE THE TOP 60 MOVING FORWARD, AND LAST TIME WE HAD LIKE IN THE FORTIES. SO I WOULD SAY MAYBE IT'S TO CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP OR [00:45:01] THEIR DESIRE, AND THAT SHOULD BE THAT SELLING POINT OF RECRUITING FOR OFFICERS THAT COME TO LONG BEACH. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE STEPPING UP, PUTTING THEIR HAT IN THE RING, WANTING TO PROMOTE UP, THAT'S REALLY TELLING IS, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO WORK FOR CITY OF LONG BEACH AND SERVE. SO, UM, STAFF CAME TOGETHER, WE, UM, TOOK BACK THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE LAST TWO PROCESSES WE HAD, WE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, OUTSOURCED A VENDOR. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER IN SHORT STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF INSTITUTION KNOWLEDGE IN THE DEPARTMENT. BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS THE STRONGEST STAFF THAT I'VE HAD, AND WE ARE CREATING NEW HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT. AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE SHOWING UP AND THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER. THEY'RE BEING INNOVATIVE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE ON MORE ENDEAVORS WITH, UH, COMING UP POLICE. WE OWE YOU ELSA, WE OWE YOU A, UH, EXAM SCHEDULE FOR POLICE LIEUTENANT. AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING FOR FIRE. WE'VE GOT TWO PROMOTIONALS, UM, IN PROCESS AT THE SAME TIME. NORMALLY IT'S LIKE IN THE PAST IT'S LIKE WE CAN ONLY, THE STAFF CAN ONLY HANDLE ONE PROMOTIONAL AT A TIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND FIRE, YOU KNOW, THE DEMAND IS REALLY HIGH. AND WE DID CHANGE THE STRUCTURE JUST RECENTLY, WHEREAS THE ANALYST ASSIGNED TO POLICE IS ONLY ASSIGNED TO POLICE. YOU KNOW, I HAD, WE HAD TO LOOK AND DECIDE WHAT, WHAT'S DOABLE, WHAT CAN WE HANDLE WITH SUCH A SMALL STAFF RIGHT NOW? AND THE SAME WITH FIRE. UH, TOTALLY ONE FIRE DEDICATED ANALYSTS. UM, AND, AND IT'S STILL A LOT, IT'S, IT'S STILL A LOT 'CAUSE OF THE DEMANDS. AND THEN MYSELF, I AM, UH, ASSIGNED TO ADMIN ANALYST. SO HOPEFULLY MOVING DOWN IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN GET MORE STAFF THAT THE MANAGER WHO'S TRYING TO RUN A DIVISION IS NOT THE PERSON RUNNING THE EXAM. . SO THE LAST TWO RECRUITMENTS WE HAD, THERE WERE 300, UH, JUST 300 PLUS A APPLICANTS CANDIDATE POOL. AND, YOU KNOW, WORD IS OUT CITY OF LONG BEACH TRAINING GROUND BECAUSE THIS TIME WE HAVE 500 AND WE HAD 571 APPLICANTS FOR. SO IT'S A, A HEAVY SCREEN, A PROCESS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW LONG A PROCESS TAKES VERSUS HOW LONG IT TAKES TO HIRE. SO I AM GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST THE SCHEDULE TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME TO SCREEN. BUT I TELL YOU IT'S NOT GONNA BE SEVEN MONTHS. IT'S, UM, WE OPENED IN, UH, APRIL AND EVEN WITH ME EXTENDED IT OUT, THE LATEST IS GONNA BE IN JULY. BUT HOW LONG IT TAKES THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE THAT LIST AND HIRE, THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT I CAN CONTROL. BUT, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. AND I'M GONNA CONCLUDE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING TO TEXAS. ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE A YES. SO I JUST WANNA ECHO I THE HARD WORK OF THE TEAM WORKING ON POLICE SERGEANT LAST WEEK, IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK AND REALLY ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE STAFF. WE WERE ON MANY FLOORS THROUGHOUT CITY HALL, UM, PROCESSING ALL OF THOSE CANDIDATES. UM, THE, THE RESPONSE FROM RAIDERS WAS THAT THIS WAS PRETTY AMAZING. THERE WAS A PUBLIC RESPONSE, UM, BY A RAIDER ON LINKEDIN THAT SAID CIVIL SERVICE TEAM WAS, THEY WERE ROCK STARS. AND I AGREE WITH HER, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY A WELL COORDINATED, UM, PROCESS AND FAIR AND EQUITABLE. AND SO THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT WE DO. THAT IS WHAT MAYBE TAKES TIME, UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PROCESSES, UM, IS THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY. IT SOMETIMES TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO THAT, BUT, UM, VERY PROUD OF THE TEAM AND ALL THAT THEY DID LAST WEEK, AS WELL AS KEEPING UP WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON. UM, SO SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM BECAUSE IT, THAT'S REALLY, UM, APPARENT THAT THEY ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON. UM, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A JOB TO DO AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO IT UP UNTIL WHATEVER TIME THINGS CHANGE. UM, JUST REPORT AS WELL. I DID SIT IN THE AUDIENCE LAST NIGHT, UM, AT THE COUNCIL MEETING. AND SO, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND WILL BE AT, DURING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL BE FULL COUNSEL, UM, WILL BE AT THESE CHARTER AMENDMENT. AND SO THERE, [00:50:01] UM, DEFINITELY I'LL WORK WITH THE COMMISSION IN TERMS OF COMMENTS TO BE MADE, UM, AT THAT TIME. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TODAY. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. ANYTHING FURTHER FROM THE MANAGERS? OKAY, WITH THAT, UH, I THINK WE'RE READY TO CAST OUR VOTE. THOSE REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 15 IS THE ONE I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO. NO KIDDING. UH, ELECTION OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS THERE. MOTION SECOND TO OPEN THE ELECTION OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE CAN BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT. DO WE HAVE NOMINATIONS INCLUDING SELF NOMINATIONS? YES. COMMISSIONER OONA. I AM NOMINATING YOU. OKAY. UM, SO [15. 24-53291 Election of Commission Officers.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] , UH, I WILL POLITELY DECLINE AND FOR THIS ONE REASON, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU SOME, MOST OF YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, UM, I AM ACTUALLY STARTING A NEW JOB AT CAL STATE LA ON MONDAY. UM, THANK YOU. . UH, SO I HAVE A LARGE TEAM AND ALMOST THE ENTIRE LAYER OF THAT TEAM UNDERNEATH ME IS VACANT POSITION. SO I WILL BE, UH, DOING SEVERAL JOBS, UH, FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS WE HIRE THAT MANAGER LEVEL. UM, BUT I, I LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY HELP. YEAH, I MIGHT. UH, , UH, I WILL TRY NOT TO STEAL TOO MANY PEOPLE FROM, UH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, I HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE. I CAN RESPECT THAT. AND I WANTED TO OFFER THE NOMINATION OF OUTTA RESPECT. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, I AM AWARE OF YOUR, UH, GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY YOU'RE STEPPING INTO. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THAT. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT ROBIN GORDON PETERSON, UH, COMMISSIONER UNA. UH, I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT ERIC WAS GOING TO DECLINE, UH, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL WANTED TO RENOMINATE HIM TO SERVE AGAIN. HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB. I DO ACCEPT A NOMINATION, UM, AS LONG AS OUR, UH, PAST PRESIDENT WILL BE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE IN THE AREAS WHERE I DON'T HAVE THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE THAT KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT TO RUNNING THIS POSITION EFFECTIVELY. AND IF I CAN GET HIS SUPPORT, I CAN ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. YOU HAVE MY FOR SUPPORT. AND ACTUALLY, I, UH, WILL OFFICIALLY SECOND THAT, UH, MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OZUNA TO, UH, NOMINATE OR TO, UH, ELECT, UH, ROBIN GORDON PETERSON AS PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. SO I THINK WE CAN VOTE ON THAT INITIAL MOTION. NOW, DO I VOTE? ABSOLUTELY. , ISN'T THAT TACKY TO VOTE FOR YOURSELF? NO, NOT MR. , IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND I THINK I'M GOING TO OFFICIALLY HAND IT OVER TO YOU, UH, TO CALL THE MOTION FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT. YOUR MIC IS NOT ON SO LOUD. I DON'T NEED A MIC. NOW I'M GONNA BE DEMURE AND QUIET, UM, . SO, UM, I NEED A SECOND SO THAT I CAN CALL FOR THE NOMINATION. NO. ARE YOU NOMINATING ANYONE IN PARTICULAR? UH, YES. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER OR SUNA TWO REBELS WITH A CAUSE WE ARE IN DANGEROUS TERRITORY PEOPLE. UH, I'LL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION AND I'M GLAD YOU WILL. [00:55:01] ALL IN FAVOR? IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND THERE? UH, COMMISSIONER LOVE. UH, GOTCHA. MOTION CARRIES. PERFECT. NEXT, NEXT IS PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU MEAN I START NOW? YEAH. NO, NO. SO NOT FAIR. . UM, OKAY. UM, UH, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. AND, UM, JUST TO, TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE GET ALONG VERY WELL. WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE, UH, THE SAME OPINION, BUT WE GET ALONG VERY WELL AND WE [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Civil Service Commission on non-agenda items. ] RESPECT EACH OTHER. UM, SO I, I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT, UH, THAT WHEN WE'RE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WE'RE RUNNING THE BUSINESS THAT YOU INTEND FOR US TO RUN. AND WE'RE ALWAYS RESPECTFUL. UH, SOME OF OUR COMMENTS MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE TERSE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT COMES FROM OUR HEART AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE HONEST AND OPEN WITH YOU. AND, UH, AS LONG AS I'M IN THIS POSITION, I WILL DO MY BEST TO HONOR THE POSITION, POSITION, BUT MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK MY MIND BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB. SO, FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, IS THERE A PUBLIC COMMENT IN OR ANY OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND PLEASE COME FORWARD. OH, I WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY ON NON AGENDA ITEMS, I'M GONNA JACK THIS UP FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, SO BE PREPARED, . NOT A PROBLEM. UH, PRESIDENT. UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, WELL, SORRY, LEMME START OFF WITH INTRODUCING MYSELF AGAIN. MY NAME'S TOMMY GARCIA. TODAY I'M ACTUALLY REPRESENTING ENERGY RESOURCES IN ADDITION TO UTILITIES. I WANTED TO START BY RECOGNIZING LEVI SINKLER. I KNOW HE'S NOT IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, BUT, UM, HE HAS BEEN, UH, FANTASTIC WITH WORKING WITH ENERGY RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A, UH, PETROLEUM ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE, UM, POSITION, OR I'M SORRY, THE RECRUITMENT. UH, WE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, A TIMELINE IN PLACE THAT HE HELPED US DEVELOP BACK IN NOVEMBER. AND THANKFULLY WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POSITION WHERE NOW WE ARE, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THIS, UH, POSITION AFTER TODAY'S, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, APPROVAL OF THE BULLETIN. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, YEAH, UH, CHRISTINA WINING AND CAPRICE FOR, FOR BEING PARTNERS IN THIS. THERE WAS SOME, UH, PRIOR, UM, WORK THAT HAD NEEDED TO BE DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT. AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY PRO PRODUCTIVE AND PROACTIVE IN HELPING US ACHIEVE OUR GOAL. AND THEN MEET A TIMELINE WHERE WE'RE NOW ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE, THE HIRING MANAGERS AND THEN PRODUCE A TIMELINE THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTREACH EFFORTS CONDUCTED BY CIVIL SERVICE ALONG WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AND HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALSO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE PREVIOUS RECRUITMENT THAT HAD BEEN DONE. SO, WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND, AND JUST RECOGNIZE, UH, LEVI. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, HYMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ENDING ON A REALLY POSITIVE NOTE. I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? OH, IT'S YOUR TURN. SORRY, SHOULD I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, UM, JUST A NOTE, UH, THE NATIONAL, UH, FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL SERVICE THAT WAS HELD OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND I KNOW WE HAD A DEDICATION OF A MEMORIAL HERE FOR BOTH FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS HERE IN LONG BEACH. SO WANTED TO NOTE, NOTE BOTH OF THOSE. I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THAT ALSO A COMMISSIONER SUNNA, I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, UH, REGARDING, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] UM, THE ALLOCATES THAT YOU, UH, GAVE TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, ANY TIME THAT I'VE EVER NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, FIRE, UH, MY GRANDSON DROWNED IN MY POOL AND, UH, WITHIN MINUTES, UH, FIRE WAS AT MY DOOR ALONG WITH LONG BEACH POLICE, ALONG WITH THE PARAMEDICS AND, UH, WERE ABLE TO BRING HIM AND, I MEAN, BRING HIM BACK. HE WAS GONE. UH, SO WHEN, WHEN WE SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF, UH, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR FIRE WE DO FROM OUR HEARTS, AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE LOVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY, AND FIRE AND PARAMEDICS, THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THIS COMMUNITY, I ALWAYS SAY IT'S UNSUNG. [01:00:01] SO I, I I WANNA SPEAK FOR THE RECORD. I MIRROR THE COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONER ORONA AND PRESIDENT, UH, FROST HOLLANDS, UH, KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US. AND WHEN CAPRICE SPOKE ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT FOR THE POLICE, I FELT SO GOOD BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHERE TO COME, THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'LL BE RESPECTED, THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'LL BE CARED FOR, COME TO LONG BEACH. SO THAT, THAT'S MY COMMENT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I DID REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY AT OUR MEMORIAL SERVICE. AND IT WAS A, AS ALWAYS, THEY DO A REALLY NICE JOB. AND SO I WAS THERE, MY WIFE WOULD BE VERY UPSET IF IT, I DID NOT MENTION THAT. UM, YESTERDAY WAS TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY AND THIS WEEK IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US HAVE IN COMMON. I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD THAT ONE TEACHER AT LEAST THAT, UM, DID SOMETHING FOR US, RIGHT? SO IF YOUR KID IS, UH, AT SCHOOL, APPRECIATE THAT TEACHER. IF YOU STILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF YOUR TEACHERS, MAYBE REACH OUT, LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU STILL APPRECIATE THEM. UM, AND IF ALL YOU CAN DO IS HAVE SOME POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR TEACHERS WHO ALSO HAVE AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING JOB, JUST KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. 'CAUSE I KNOW FOR MY WIFE WHO TEACHES AT FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, IT'S CONSISTENTLY A BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE FOR HER TO WORK, UH, AT THAT BEAUTIFUL PLACE. SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY THAT. 'CAUSE IF NOT, SHE, UH, SHE'D HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY WHEN I GET HOME. 'CAUSE SOMETIMES SHE WATCHES THE MEETINGS. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. . THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ARE THERE ANY, UH, OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WELL, UH, THE NEXT LINE SAYS ADJOURNMENT. SO WE ARE ADJOURNED. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, MADAM PRESIDENT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.