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I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER AT 9:02 AM THE THURSDAY, MAY 16TH, 2024.
MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
UH, MR. DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL? YEAH.
PRESENT, UH, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
I'VE GOT A TEXT THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER T SMITH IS OH, SHE IS GOING TO BE HERE.
SHE'S JUST DIRECTING A LITTLE LATE.
ALRIGHT, THEN WE HAVE EVERYBODY.
UH, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ALL, UH, JOIN ME AND STAND AND DO THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS AND OUR FIRST PRESENTATION IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
SOME OF OUR FIRST TIMERS FOR OUR COMMISSION MEETING.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, EVERY MONTH AND WE SHOWCASE IT AT OUR COMMISSION MEETING IS RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR GREAT, UM, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RECOGNIZED BY THEIR COWORKERS AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
SO I'M GONNA TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO ONE OF OUR CO-CHAIRS OF OUR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE.
HERITAGE MONTH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND HAPPY OLDER AMERICANS FUND.
OUR OLDER AMERICAN PROBABLY CHEERING.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU COME ACROSS AN EMPLOYEE WHO HAS THIS INNATE SENSE OF CREATIVITY.
UM, AND, UH, JUST ALL THESE WONDERFUL IDEAS TO ENGAGE WITH YOUTH, TEENS, OLDER AMERICANS, AND THE ALL TO BRIEF 10 OR TIME I'VE SPENT GETTING TO KNOW THIS PERSON AND WORKING WITH 'EM.
THIS PERSON HAS THAT, AND THAT IS SUCH A VALUABLE THING TO HAVE IN RECREATION.
JUST IDEAS AND JUST DIFFERENT WAYS TO JUST MAKE OUR PROGRAM AND EVENTS BETTER.
UM, SO THIS PERSON I'M GONNA BRING UP AND I'M ALSO GONNA INVITE, UM, THEIR SUPERVISOR, SUPERINTENDENT TO COME UP AND TALK, UM, IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
AND I'M, I'M SO SAD BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S TOO BRIEF A MOMENT THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THIS PERSON.
YOU'VE ALREADY MET HER BECAUSE SHE DOES THINGS LIKE SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES, YOU KNOW? AND SO WITH WITH PLEASURE, I WOULD LOVE TO COME AND INTRODUCE OUR APRIL EMPLOYEE HUNT.
SHE'S ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND, UM, OLDER AMERICANS, MEN.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY ASK MS. HEIDI MASIS TO COME AND GUSH MORE ABOUT OUR KELLY.
SO WE SURPRISED KELLY TODAY 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO, UM, SURPRISE HER BEFORE.
SO, UM, I ASKED HER HERE, ALONG WITH OUR, UM, OLDER AMERICAN GROUP, UM, THAT WE WERE GONNA DO A PRESENTATION, SO SHE THINK SUPPORT OUR PRESENTATION.
UM, BUT SHE IS THE PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, SO KELLY IS A HUGE PART OF OUR TEAM.
SHE'S BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE YEARS NOW.
UM, SHE RUNS OUR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM, WHICH WE DO, UM, FOR OUR YOUTH ONE 18.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 23, 24 SITES DEPENDING ON THE YEAR IN, UM, THE SUMMER.
WE RUN A 10 WEEK PROGRAM WHERE WE GIVE OUT THOUSANDS OF LUNCHES TO THE YOUTH.
SO THAT'S HER KIND OF MAIN THING.
BUT, UM, AS THAT'S A SUMMER PROGRAM AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT HER SKILLS ARE MORE VAST THAN THAT.
SO SHE'S COMING TO OUR SENIOR CENTER.
SHE'S HOUSED OUT OF THE SENIOR CENTER ON FOURTH AND ORANGE, AND SHE'S DONE ARTS AND CRAFT.
SHE'S LIKE THE FACE OF THE CENTER.
SO WHEN SHE'S IN THERE, EVERY, SHE KNOWS EVERY PERSON, EVERY PATRON IN OUR CENTER.
AND I'LL BE WALKING DOWN THE HALLS WITH HER AND SHE'LL BE LIKE, THERE'S SO AND SO.
AND I, I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
I'M LIKE, HOW DO YOU KNOW? WELL, THEY COME TO FIND CHI OR THEY DO THIS AND SHE'LL TELL ME EVERY STORY.
SO SHE'S DEFINITELY A PEOPLE PERSON AND, UM, MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE VALUED AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LISTENS TO THEM AND WHICH IS, UM, GREAT AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
SHE'S ALSO A VERY, UM, IMPORTANT PART OF THE TEAM IN REGARDS TO LIKE, SHE PLANS FIELD TRIPS.
WE JUST TOOK A RONALD TRIP TO THE RONALD REAGAN LIBRARY.
UH, WE TOOK 150 SENIORS, UM, TO THE LIBRARY ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO OR SO.
WE GOT TO EAT LIKE A GOME LUNCH UNDER AIR FORCE ONE IN THE MUSEUM.
UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER, WE HAVE A, THE ARBORETUM COMING UP,
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A COUPLE OTHER TROOPS THAT SHE'S KIND OF SPEARHEADED AND PLANNED AS WELL AS OUR OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.SO THIS MAY'S OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.
SO OUR DEPARTMENT HAS 12 EVENTS THIS MONTH.
UM, AND SHE'S BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ALL THE FLYERS, ALL THE MARKETING, AS WELL AS THE SIGNAGE AT THE EVENTS.
AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HER OR CURRENTLY WORK WITH HER KNOW THAT LIKE, WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING, KELLY'S ALWAYS WILLING TO PITCH IN AND HELP OUT.
UM, SO, UM, WE'RE JUST VERY HONORED TO, UM, KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE HER TODAY.
SHE'S MOVING TO TENNESSEE, SO WE'RE VERY SAD IN CLASSES AS WELL.
IT'S KIND OF A MIXED FEELINGS.
UM, BUT, SO SHE'S KIND OF IN HER LAST COUPLE WEEKS WITH US, SO WE'RE VERY SAD AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WE'RE GONNA FIND OR TO REPLACE HER 'CAUSE SHE'S SUCH A VALUABLE TEAM MEMBER TO US.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO TELL HER THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF SHORT TENURE.
SHE'S BEEN HERE BECAUSE SHE'S MADE A DIFFERENCE.
BEER MANAGER, I JUST COULD NOT GO WITHOUT SAYING, IS, UM, YOU KNOW, KELLY WAS HONORED FOR SAVING SOMEONE, LITERALLY SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE.
BUT ON EVERY DAY SHE PUTS LIFE ONE INTO THE CENTER, TWO INTO OUR PARTICIPANTS, AND JUST ENERGIZES.
UM, SHE BRINGS THAT ENERGY AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE AS I WAS WALKING IN THE DOOR THIS MORNING.
UM, AND, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAY GRAY AND IT KIND OF BROUGHT THAT IN.
SHE'S LIKE, CLASS, WE ARE RECREATION.
AND IT JUST BRINGS IN THAT ENTHUSIASM AND REMINDS OF, SHE HAS A SMILE THAT LIGHTS UP A ROOM AND A HEART THAT FEELS MOST.
SO KELLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, BUT WE HOPE TO STAY CONNECTED FOR ALL THOSE IDEAS THAT KEEP RUNNING THROUGH YOUR HEAD THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US.
UM, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR, UH, JUST DIVING 120% INTO YOUR JOB AND ALL THAT YOU DO.
YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING HERE.
I WISH I WOULD'VE STARTED EARLIER.
UM, I LOVED MY JOB BEFORE, BUT I, I CAN'T, UM, EVEN SAY IN WORDS HOW MUCH I HAVE ENJOYED THIS JOB FOR THE CITY.
LIKE WORKING WITH THE SENIORS, WORKING ALONGSIDE HEIDI, LEARNING SO MUCH FROM TONY AND DANA, MY SUPERVISORS, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING TEAM.
UH, THIS IS MY DAUGHTER TAYLOR RAY.
SHE ACTUALLY JUST GOT ON WITH THE CITY TOO, SO JOYCE LOSING TAYLOR ALSO.
UM, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE EXCITED FOR NEW ADVENTURES.
SAD TO BE THIS ADVENTURE, BUT WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING INTO PARKS AND REC IN TENNESSEE, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THOSE ADVENTURES OVER THERE.
SO YOU'LL ALL BE MISSED THOUGH, VERY MUCH.
SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MIXED EMOTION MOMENTS.
SO, UM, YOU CAN TALK BY YOUR COACH, SMILE BY EVERYBODY.
UM, LOVES HANGING AROUND YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR POSITIVITY.
SO, UH, SO I GUESS I CAN SAY CALIFORNIA'S LOSS, TENNESSEE'S GAIN.
SO SAY HI TO ALI AND EVERYONE ELSE,
WE DEFINITELY KEEP A WHOLE BUNCH OF YOU AROUND, BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.
AND WE DO WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST AS YOU HAD EASTWARD.
WE'RE GONNA DO A PHOTO WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS.
THAT PASSION AND THOSE SMILES ARE COMMON IN ALL OF OUR PARK STAFF AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM.
UH, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH, 2024.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CORRECTIONS, ANYONE FROM THE AUDIENCE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
A OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY.
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ITEMS, UH, EVERY MONTH, UM, USUALLY, UM, LISTS A WHOLE ARRAY OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OR EVENT PLANNERS THAT, UH, SEEK AND QUITE OFTEN HAVE, UH, THEIR FEES WAIVED BY THE COMMISSION AS A FORMAL ACTION.UH, SO THIS MORNING, UH, THAT LIST WILL BE SHARED BY OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER.
UM, BEFORE, BEFORE WE START WITH GLADYS'S REPORT, UH, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD IS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE REQUESTS.
THEY ARE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SISTER CITIES, OF WHICH SHE'S PRESIDENT, SO SHE HAS BEEN RECUSE HERSELF.
UH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE FIVE REQUESTS, UM, IN FRONT OF US TO, UM, REVIEW FOR APPROVAL OF FEE WAIVER.
THE FIRST IS ON BEHALF OF PARTNERS OF PARKS.
UM, THIS IS THE FRIENDS OF THE RECREATION BANDSHELL, UM, HAVING A VARIETY OF FUNDRAISER CONCERTS ON A VARIETY OF DATES, UM, AT RECREATION PARK, UM, THROUGH 6 15, 6 29, $9,250 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FOR YOU TO REQUEST IT TO BE WAIVED.
APPLICABLE, $4,680 IN STAFF CHARGES AND THEY EXPECT BETWEEN 354 TO 424, UM, PARTICIPANTS, UM, IN THAT CONCERT.
UM, SECOND, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF PARTNERS OF PARKS, UM, FRIENDS OF RECREATION PARK, THIS IS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DATES.
6 3 9 7 9 15, AND 10 19 CONCERTS IN THE PARK, AGAIN AT RECREATION PARK BANDSHELL IN THE OPEN SPACE.
UM, IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT, 3,500 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
$1,740 IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
AND AT THIS EVENT, THEY EXPECT BETWEEN 335 TO 840, UM, PER EVENT.
AND ON BEHALF OF
IT IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, $920 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
$30 IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
THIS EVENT IS AT EL DORADO PARK EAST, THEREFORE THERE'S APPLICABLE GATE REVENUE.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE IS 300, UM, A LONGSTANDING GROUP WITH US.
UH, ASSOCIATED RADIO AMATEURS OF LONG BEACH.
UM, NOT A NEW GROUP, NOT A NEW EVENT ON 6 21 THROUGH 6 23.
IT'S THEIR A-R-A-L-B FIELD DAY.
THEY HOST THIS AT RECREATION PARK COMMUNITY EVENT, $325 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
STAFF CHARGES 25 IN ATTENDANCE.
AND THE LAST REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH BA LOT ASSOCIATION IS HOSTING A SYMPOSIUM ON JUNE 10TH AT THE RECREATION SOCIAL HALL.
UM, AT THE RECREATION SOCIAL HALL COMMUNITY EVENT, $377 AND 50 CENTS IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVE $270 IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES A HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE.
TOTAL FEES REQUESTED THIS MONTH, $14,372 AND 50 CENTS.
AND IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE RECREATION BAD SHELL AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS GONNA BE HIGHLY USED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UH, SO WHAT WE NORMALLY DO HERE IS WE ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE FROM EACH OF THESE GROUPS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE EVENT.
SO, UH, FOR EITHER OR BOTH OF THE EVENTS AT THE BANDSHELL, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SAY YOUR NAME SO WE CAN HEAR IT AND TALK TO US.
I'M STEVE PRUITT WITH FRIENDS AND RECREATION PARK BANDSHELL.
UH, YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME BEFORE.
UH, SO QUICKLY I'D LIKE TO SHOUT OUT THAT OUR FIRST ANNUAL LONG BEACH BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL WAS AN AMAZING SUCCESS.
THANKS FOR EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT.
UH, I THINK WE ESTIMATED SOMEWHERE AROUND 1200 PEOPLE IN AND OUT DURING THE DAY.
SO IT WAS BY FAR OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
ON T-SHIRT, WE HAVE A LEFTOVER T-SHIRTS.
IF ANYBODY WANTS A T-SHIRT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ARE DISCOUNT DISCOUNTING THE PRICE TO, TO, BUT WE DID.
UM, I DO WANNA MENTION THAT MY VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, HIS COMMENT WAS, I GO TO THE HOLLYWOOD WALL ALL THE TIME, THIS WAS BETTER.
UM, THE, I DO WANT TO PASS OUT REAL QUICK.
THIS WAS MY FAVORITE, UH, EVENT FROM LAST YEAR.
THIS IS THE BATTLE OF BANDS CONTEST.
WE'RE HAVING LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, BANDS FROM, UH, JORDAN PAULY WILSON, AND THEN ONSTAGE MUSIC ACADEMY, WHICH IS A LOCAL MUSIC GROUP.
THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS, UH, LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY COOL.
UH, IF YOU KNOW OTHER BANDS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIT IN, WE GOT LIKE NINE RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING JAZZ ANGELS IS GONNA PUT A BAND IN THERE AS WELL.
UM, BUT COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE KIDS.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY A LOT OF FUN.
UM, BUT THE MAIN EVENT THAT WE GOT COMING UP, UH, I THINK THINK YOU HAVE HEARD IS WE HAVE SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA COMING TO THE VAN SHELL.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A HUGE EFFORT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT, UH, ESPECIALLY FROM PARKS AND REC.
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THERE'S SOME COMBINATIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN, UH, OCCUPY THE VAN SHELL FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS, UH, FOR SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA.AND I HAVE STEPHANIE FROM SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA.
SHE'S, I'D LIKE HER TO COME UP AND JUST TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT EVENT.
UM, AND YOU GUYS CAN ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE.
I'M THE CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA.
WE WILL ALSO BE HERE FOR THE EVENTS IN LONG BEACH.
UM, MOST OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA, THIS WILL BE OUR 27TH YEAR OF ADMISSION FREE SHAKESPEARE.
OUR MISSION IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTION BY TURNING PARKS INTO A THEATER FOR THE DAY, SERVING MULTI-GENERATIONAL AUDIENCES WITHOUT THE BARRIER OF ADMISSION.
SO OUR PERFORMANCES ARE ALL FREE.
AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA WAS ACTUALLY CONCEIVED IN LONG BEACH.
OUR FOUNDER WAS A STUDENT AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH, AND SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA WAS HER, UH, THESIS PROJECT.
SO IT STARTED AS A THESIS PROJECT, DID ONE WEEKEND, AND THEN NOW WE'RE SERVING 16 COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WE'RE THRILLED TO BE BACK IN LONG BEACH.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT, ON EITHER OF THOSE FROM THE AUDIENCE? SUSAN? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, DO YOU HAVE A CALENDAR OF WHICH PERFORMANCES AND WHERE THAT YOU'RE? YES, WE ABSOLUTELY DO.
UM, YES, IT IS ONLINE SHAKESPEARE BY THE U.ORG/LOCATIONS.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA SAY THIS AS WELL AS GLADYS DID, BUT FUNDA, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THAT? UH, OKAY.
SO WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS ONE AT OUR FINANCE AND APPEALS COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A GROUP, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT IS NOT BASED IN LONG BEACH AND IS BASED, I BELIEVE, AND IS GOING TO BE RAISING FUNDS FOR GUATEMALA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE GOT ANY, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
OUR POLICY NORMALLY SAYS THAT WE SHOULD BE WAIVING FEES FOR LONG BEACH BASED GROUPS, BUT WE CAN WAIVE FEES FOR ANY GROUP THAT REQUESTS THEM.
AND OUR, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT.
SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, INPUT ON THAT.
SO ANY QUESTIONS UP HERE? ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
UH, THE ASSOCIATED RADIO, RADIO AMATEUR OF LONG BEACH.
YEAH, MY NAME'S, UH, GILBERT VERNON AND I'M REPRESENTING THE CLUB THIS TIME.
IT GOES BACK TO 1933, UH, AND WE WERE THE START OF THE FIELD DAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR A HAMMER AMATEUR RADIO.
AND, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED US TO, UH, USE THE PARK DURING THOSE THREE DAYS EVERY YEAR AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 1933 AS FAR AS COMMUNICATIONS GETTING OUT OF THIS STATE AND INTO, UH, THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS FOR US.
I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE TO IT AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, AND, AND WHILE THERE'S ONLY 25 PEOPLE WE HAVE, UH, OVER, USUALLY EVERY YEAR OVER 175 PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND VISIT US AND LOOK AT OUR RADIO SETUPS AND, AND GET INVOLVED IN SOME OF OUR LEARNING SESSIONS THAT WE HAVE THERE.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY QUESTIONS UP HERE? OKAY.
LONG BEACH BACK LOT ASSOCIATION.
WELL, GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
HOW ARE YOU? UM, BEFORE I GO ON, I JUST WANTED TO COMPLIMENT STEVE PRUITT.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A TREMENDOUS MASCARA FESTIVAL AT THE BANDSHELL.
AND WITHOUT STEVE, THAT WOULDN'T WORK.
STEVE PROVIDED THE SOUND SYSTEM AND IT WAS FANTASTIC.
WE HAD OVER 4,000 PEOPLE THERE AND, UH, THE FOOD WAS ALL SOLD OUT.
IT WAS A GREAT CULTURAL EVENT.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE DECIDED TO KIND OF MOVE THE EFFORT OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH LONG BEACH MORE UNDER THE TRADE AND INVESTMENT.
UH, WE, WE THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER AND THAT, UH, EXCUSE MY PHONE IS GOING CRAZY.
SO, UH, WHAT IT IS IS THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE A TRADE SYMPOSIUM
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EVENT.AND, UH, WITH THE HELP OF BRENT'S GROUP AND GLADYS, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A VENUE SITE, WHICH IS NOT VERY EASY TO DO.
AND THAT VENUE SITE, THE RECREATION CENTER, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED AT THAT TIME.
AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING ABOUT 150 PEOPLE.
UH, YOU'VE ALL HEARD OF ELON MUSK, I'M SURE, BUT WE HAVE IN ELON MUSK, UH, IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND HE'S LAUNCHING HIS SATELLITE, UH, IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HONOR HIM TO LONG BEACH POLO BECAUSE HIS WIFE IS A FORMER, UH, WIDOW.
HE'S WIDOWED, BUT HIS WIFE CAME FROM
SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE CONNECTION THERE.
SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, OF SPEAKERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE TALKING LIKE FIONA MA AND HER GROUP.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE JUST A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT AS A FORMER BANKER, THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE AN EXPORT OF AMERICAN GOODS TO GET US FINANCING.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR DISCUSSION IS HOW DO YOU EXTRACT MONEY FROM OUR US GOVERNMENT TO FUND A FOREIGN ENTITY GROUP.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THANK YOU.
AND FOR THE RECORD, WOULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AGAIN? OH, I'M SORRY.
AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH EDUCATION.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY QUESTIONS UP HERE? ALRIGHT, WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ORTI SMITH.
THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY WITH ONE RECUSAL.
WE WILL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OR HIS OR HER MANAGEMENT DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE PERSONAL SERVICES AND INSTRUCTION AGREEMENTS AND AMEND ATTACHMENT A OF THE AGREEMENTS AS NEEDED.
SO WE'RE GONNA TURN THIS ITEM OVER TO, UH, THANK YOU CLASS COMMISSIONERS.
THE PARKS OF RECREATION PARTNERS WITH CONTRACT INSTRUCTORS TO PROVIDE OVER 2000 FEE BASED CLASSES TO THE PUBLIC EACH YEAR.
THESE CLASSES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL AGES.
CLASS INSTRUCTORS ARE SELECTED AS A RESULT OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT SOLICITATION, SOLICITATION OF QUOTES OR ADVERTISING BIDS.
SO COMMISSIONER'S APPROVAL IS REQUIRED OF ALL, UM, PSA AGREEMENTS FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
AND I HAVE A SUMMARY AND TO BRING FORTH TO YOU SOME RENEWALS FOR OUR CONTRACT CLASSES.
SO WE HAVE MR. DAVID CROCKETT, WHO TEACHES, UM, MARSHA ARTS HERE AT EL DORADO PARK WEST.
WE HAVE, UM, INSTRUCTOR, UM, RUSS KELLY, WHO TEACHES, UM, MARSHA ARTS AT STERNS PARK AS WELL.
WE HAVE HOWARD RICHNER WHO TEACHES TAI CHI AT BIXBY PARK.
UM, SANDRA ZELIG, WHO TEACHES SEWING INSTRUCTION AT WARDLOW PARK.
AND WE HAVE SHERRY
AND COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR APPROVAL, WE WILL, UM, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THESE, UM, INSTRUCTORS, PROVIDE CLASSES THROUGH OUR RECREATION PROGRAM.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE OR DO WE HAVE ANY OF THESE, UH, INSTRUCTORS HERE? DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION NUMBER 24 DASH 103 FROM RAGTIME ELECTRICAL RAG TRIBE, ELECTRICAL CLOTHING AND PRODUCTIONS, LLC AND ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE TRIBE FEST EVENT THAT WILL NOT INCLUDE THE CONSUMPTION OR SALE OF ALCOHOL AND RECREATION PARK ON JULY 28TH, 2024, WITH PARAMETERS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION MARINE, OR DETERMINE THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT PUBLIC BENEFIT AND DENY THE APPLICATION.
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CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTIONS? YOU HAVE APPROVE? SECOND.SO THIS ITEM WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU BY OUR ACTING BUREAU MANAGER, PARK PARK PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIP.
SO RAG TRIBE ETHICAL CLOTHING AND PRODUCTIONS.
LLC IS A CONSCIOUS LIFESTYLE BRAND THAT OFFERS SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICALLY MADE HOMEMADE HANDMADE CLOTHING, YOGA RETREATS, EVEN PRODUCTION AND ARTIST BOOKINGS.
RAG TRIBE, HOST TRIBE FEST EVENTS IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, INCLUDING DENVER.
RIF FEST MISSION IS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH LOCAL ART, WELLNESS CLASSES AND CULTURAL MUSIC.
SO THE PROPOSED EVENT IS A NEW EVENT FOR LONG BEACH PARKS.
THE EVENT WILL FEATURE YOGA LIVE AND RECORDED MUSIC, WELLNESS CLASSES, VEGAN FOOD AND LOCAL ART VENDORS.
THE PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A FAMILY COMMUNITY EVENT THAT SPREADS POSITIVE FEELINGS AND WELLNESS TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.
NO ALCOHOL WILL BE SOLD, SAMPLED OR CONSUMED AT EVENT.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY SPECIAL EVENTS IN FILMING, TRIBE BEST WILL STILL BE PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THAT EVENT.
THEY'RE ESTIMATING AN ATTENDANCE OF 500, 200 VOLUNTEERS PARTICULAR EVENT.
UM, ALSO NOTICE ON AN IMPACT IS FRIENDS OF RECREATION PARK RANCH.
SHE, THEY'LL HAVE A CONCERT ON SATURDAY, JULY 27TH.
TRI PRESS HAS BEEN ADVISED THEY CANNOT SET UP IN THE GRASS AREA NEAR, THEY CAN SET UP IN THE GRASS AREA NEAR THE STADIUM, BUT NOT ON OR NEAR THE RANCH SHELL.
UM, SO THE RANCHO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TRIP PRESS TO USE ON SUNDAY, JULY 28TH.
SO THE ACTUAL EVENT IS ON SUNDAY, JULY 28TH.
PARTICIPANTS WILL USE STREET PARKING.
THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
THEY'LL HAVE LIVE REGGAE MUSIC WILL BE PLAYED AFTER 2:00 PM AND AMPLIFIED MUSIC WILL BE PLAYED DURING THE EVENT WITHOUT THE EVENT RENDERS WILL PAY A FEE TO HAVE A TABLE AT THE EVENT ALONG WITH STAFF COSTS.
UM, HERE M WILL RECEIVE $650 FOR THE RENTAL OF THE BAND SHOW.
UM, THE EVENT WILL OFFER MEANINGFUL RECREATION PROGRAM AS IT ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS.
AND THIS IS A NEW EVENT AND NEW ORGANIZATION.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM THAT ORGANIZATION? OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UP HERE? COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THOSE PRIOR EVENTS IN THE OTHER CITIES HAVE NOT? I'M NOT AWARE.
THEY'VE HAD ONE IN COLORADO AND THEY'VE HAD ONE IN CHICAGO.
SO THIRD BEEN PRODUCTION COMPANY.
UM, BUT WE CAN CHECK INTO THAT TOO.
THE NEXT HAND I SAW WAS COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH.
DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? ACTUALLY TO, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO, UM, WHEN WE RECEIVED A NEW EVENT, OUR ONGOING EVENT, OUR STAFF, OUR STAFF DOES DO THE BACKGROUND RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES WITH PRIOR EVENTS.
SO I'M CURIOUS IF WE, IF, IF WE KNOW IF THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH ANY GLOBAL LONG BEACH NONPROFITS THAT DO TO MORE WORK OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PRESENCE IN LONG BEACH DOING HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
SO I AM CURIOUS IF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO LOCAL NONPROFITS AND WE CAN GO BACK INTO ASK THAT QUESTION.
IF NOT FOR FUTURE EVENTS, PUT 'EM IN TOUCH WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS SO THEY CAN PARTNER WITH THEM.
I THINK THAT WAS VICE CHAIR RED FIELD'S QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UP HERE? SO WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT AND, UM, WE, OUR FINANCE AND APPEALS COMMITTEE, UH, WAS SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE IT'S TRYING TO BRING WELLNESS AND HEALTH ORIENTED ITEMS TO RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH.
SO WE WERE AT THE SUBCOMMITTEE LEVEL, WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HIA, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, COMING BACK TO US.
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE NEW CONCEPTS SUBMITTED BY HONORING OUR FALLEN A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
AND TO ADD THREE PLAQUES TO THE EXISTING HONORING OUR FALLEN MEMORIAL WALL AND AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE TO AMEND THE RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE THREE NEW PLAQUES WITH HONORING OUR FALLEN.
AND YOU RIGHTFULLY STATED THAT THIS ITEM IS COMING BACK TO OUR COMMISSION.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NICE ABOUT HAVING EDUCATORS ON OUR COMMISSION IS THAT WE CAUGHT SOME GRAMMAR IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, IMAGERY
[00:30:01]
OF THE PROPOSAL, UM, HAS BEEN AMENDED TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO SOME OF THOSE, UH, PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS.SO, UH, AGAIN, I'LL I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, SHE
SO, HONORING OUR FOLLOWING IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT.
IT'S DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF SERVING THESAL OF OUR NATION'S FOLLOW WITH SUPPORT SERVICES AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES.
SO ON MARCH 21ST, 2024, THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION INCLUDED THE DIVIDED ENTRY PERMIT AND CONCEPTS WERE FIVE OF THE EIGHT PLAQUES PROPOSED BY HONORING, HONORING OUR FALLING TO RECOGNIZE FOLLOW THE MILITARY PERSONNEL.
THESE PLAQUES WILL NOT DESIGNED TO HONOR AN INDIVIDUAL.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE INTENDED TO HONOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN AND PROVIDED A SPACE FOR SUPPORTERS AND FAMILIES TO GATHER AND REFLECT.
HONORING OUR BALLIN HAS RETURNED, AS MENTIONED WITH REVISED CONCEPTS FOR THE THREE PLAQUES THAT WERE DEFERRED IN MARCH.
THE CHANGES INCLUDE THE REMOVAL OF THE BLUE LINE ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ON PLAQUE AND GRAMMAR CORRECTIONS.
SO TWO OF THE PLAQUES HONORING THE LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VETERANS WHO GO, WHO GO ON TO JOIN FIRE AND POLICY POLICE AGENCIES AFTER THEIR MILITARY SERVICE.
THE PURPOSE IS TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE FOLLOW POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL WHO ARE VETERANS, BUT TO REMEMBER ALL WHO HAVE DIED DEFENDING THEIR COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY, WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD.
THE THIRD CONCEPT IS DEDICATED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGES THOSE WHO HONORABLY SERVED, BUT WERE LOST TO PTSD OR SUICIDE AFTER THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
THERE'S NO ANTICIPATED IMPACTS ON PARENT PROGRAMMING OR THE PARK USERS.
THIS TERM IS FOR ONE THREE YEAR TERM APRIL 1ST, 2024 TO MARCH 31ST, 2027.
UM, WITH ONE THREE YEAR OPTION TO RENEW THE TERM THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2030 AT DISCRETION.
YOUR OPTION TO RENEW AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE HONORING OUR FALL SHALL ASSUME AND PAY IF FOR ALL ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE MEMORIAL WALL AND HONORING OUR FOLLOWING WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE FALL MATERIAL ON THE PARK LIGHT POLES, MAINTAIN THE PLAQUES, AND ADD ADDITIONAL NAMES OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS TO THE MEMORIAL WALL ON OUR FALLEN, AND ALSO HOLDS A MEMORIAL DAVID AT ROSIE RIVER PARK TO READ ALOUD MORE THAN 7,000 NAMES.
THIS ACTION HELPS DEMONSTRATE P'S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING INNOVATIVE AND LASTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CONNECTING THROUGH AND TRANSPARENT VIEW WITH THE COMMUNITY HAS MAINTAINED A RIGHT OF PERMIT FOR INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THAT.
ROSIE THE RIVER PARK SINCE 15 AND BE HERE.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF BEFORE WE GO TO LAURA? UH, I THINK THAT THE QUESTIONS WE HAD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THIS.
AND SO, UH, LAURA, SO I WANNA BRING SOME HUMOR BECAUSE IT MADE ME
SO I WAS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR A TWO STORE GENERAL AT THE BASE.
AND SO I HAVE SOME FUNNY STAFF STORIES OF ALL OF US SITTING AROUND THE TABLE.
I GOT ONE AT CYPRESS PD THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS.
THE, THE, THE RED RIBBON WEEK WHERE WE HAD THE CAPTAIN, THE LIEUTENANT AND THE SERGEANT AND EVEN MYSELF, ALL LOOK AT THE SHIRT FOR RED RIBBON WEEK.
AND WE GOT THE SHIRTS BACK AND THERE WAS A WORD DOUBLED
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE TEACHER ON HERE WHO CORRECTED.
'CAUSE I AM MY OWN WORST, YOU KNOW, SPELL CHECK IS MY THING.
SO, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING THAT.
I, I THOUGHT THAT THAT CAME RIGHT ALONG WITH FINDING OUT ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I SEE ON THE NEWS THAT THE KOBE BRYANT HAD A TYPO ON THE THING.
I THOUGHT, WELL, I GUESS, I GUESS I SIT IN GOOD COMPANY.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR FIXING THAT.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UM, CHAIR LIVINGSTON, YOU'VE KNOWN ME FOR THE BEGINNING, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HONORING OUR FALL AND UM, OR SHORTLY AFTER, UM, THROUGH, UM, THE GOLF ASSOCIATION AND MY MENTOR CHRIS NEAL AND ALL THESE, UM, CONNECTIONS.
SO, UM, I FOUNDED HONORING OUR PHONE AFTER MY TWO YEAR GOVERNMENT CONTRACT AS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, AS A JOINT FORCES TRAINING BASED IN LOS ALAMITOS.
AND WHETHER THE SERVICE MEMBER DIED BECAUSE THEY DIED IN COMBAT, THEY DIED BECAUSE OF THE BATTLES OF PTSD.
THEY WERE KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH, OR WE EVEN HAD ONE THAT CAME HOME FROM DEPLOYMENT AND WAS KILLED 24 HOURS AFTER BY A DUI DRIVER.
SO HE SURVIVES THE COMBAT, COMES HOME AND GETS KILLED RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY BY A DRUNK DRIVER.
SO THAT FITS RIGHT ALONG WITH THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ADD, ADD, UH, ADD.
UM, AS I SAT OUTSIDE, UM, I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO CRY TO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME.
I'VE TATTOOED IRON LINER ON BECAUSE I CRY ALL THE TIME.
SO I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE WAITING TO COME IN HERE TO THIS MEETING, AND I GOT A CALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY CASUALTY AND MORTUARY AFFAIRS SOUTHWEST NAVY DIVISION IN SAN DIEGO.
AND MR. NARS OFFICE WAS CALLING TO LET ME KNOW THAT WE HAVE A WORLD WAR II REPATRIATE COMING HOME.
UM, HERBERT GEORGE KILLED IN ACTION ON THE 7TH OF DECEMBER, 1941 ON THE USS.
OKLAHOMA WILL BE BROUGHT HOME RIGHT HERE AND LAY TO REST WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
SO THE PLAQUES THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING US TO ADD TO THESE WALLS, UM, OR TO THE WALL, WILL HONOR THOSE LIKE HERBERT AND HERBERT'S EXTENDED FAMILY AND THE FRIENDS.
[00:35:01]
AND OUR GENERATION IS ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM FORGETTING OUR FREEDOM.YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN SUCH A A, A WORLD WHERE WE FORGET, WE FORGET THE FLAG DOESN'T FLY.
IT FLIES BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE.
AND SO IT MEANS THE WORLD TO THOSE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN OR ON VIDEO OR PICTURES IN THE NEWSPAPER OF ARE READING OF THE NAMES ON MEMORIAL DAY, BUT THOSE MARINES THAT ARE STANDING OUT THERE AND DRESSED LOOSE, AND THOSE SOLDIERS THAT ARE STANDING OUT THERE DRESSED BLUES, READING THOSE NAMES, GUESS WHAT? EVERY SINGLE ONE OF 'EM HAS LOST A BROTHER IN ARMS TO SUICIDE.
EVERY ONE OF 'EM MARK MY WORDS.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING US TO ADD THIS PLATE, AND I HAVE A WIDOW WHO GOES OUT THERE TO ACTUALLY TAKE NAMES AND SCRATCH DO RUBBING OF NAMES AND TAKES PICTURES OF NAMES OF FELLOW WIDOWS THAT SHE'S CLOSE WITH THAT LOST THEIR HUSBANDS OVERSEAS.
AND GUESS WHAT? THAT WIDOW, MEGAN LOST HER HUSBAND TO SUICIDE.
SO I CAN'T, I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR MEGAN RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT MEANS THAT WE CAN ADD THAT PLATE.
WE CAN'T ADD ALL THE NAMES BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S DISRESPECTFUL IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIST ALL THEIR NAMES, YOU DON'T LIST ANY OF 'EM, RIGHT? BUT JUST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT PLATE, HONORING THEM IS GOING TO MEAN FAR MORE THAN YOU GUYS CAN I CAN EVER EVEN PUT INTO WORDS.
SO AGAIN, UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD UP HERE HAVE BEEN CLARIFIED ON WHETHER THERE WOULD BE NAMES OR WHETHER IT'S JUST A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND MEDITATE ON ANY OF THESE CONCEPTS OR CATEGORIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD.
SO, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH? I THINK WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO BE INVITED WHEN YOU DO YOUR UNVEILING TO BE A PART OF THAT, TO SUPPORT YOU ALL.
AND, AND, AND THAT, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT I, I, I DIDN'T MENTION.
SO NOW, UM, GOD WILLING THAT I GET YOUR BLESSING, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING, WE WILL BE DOING THE ARTWORK.
UM, IT'S LIKE THE ARTWORK THAT YOU RECEIVED IN THE EMAIL.
SO WE'LL DO BOARDS THAT WILL GO OUT THIS YEAR ON MEMORIAL DAY AS WE'RE DOING THE READING OF THE NAMES.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE WILL, YOU KNOW, LET THOSE THAT WANNA DONATE TO THE ADDITIONAL PLATES.
AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU RECEIVES AN INVITATION TO THE UNVEILING, UM, OF THOSE ADDITIONAL PLATES.
GET THAT INFORMATION TO CHRISTINE OR TO JENNIFER.
AND TO, TO THE VETERANS COMMISSION THAT, THAT I WORK WITH HERE IN LONG BEACH THAT LETS ME KNOW OF OTHER, YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A PERSONAL COMMENT.
TODAY IS, UM, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.
AND THERE'S A NEW PSA, THEY CALL IT ASK A SKA DIFFERENT KIND OF ASK THAT OR USED TO IN ON REACH.
IT STANDS FOR ACKNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT, KEEP IN TOUCH, AND EVERYTHING'S COMING OUT TODAY.
UH, FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
MY FATHER RETURNED FROM WORLD WAR II.
I'M GONNA JOIN YOU IN THAT TOO WITH WHAT IS NOW PTSD WAS THEN CALLED SHELL SHOCK.
AND WE LIVED WITH THAT FOR OUR ENTIRE FAMILY LIVES FOR UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY.
UH, HE WAS ON DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS, ET CETERA, BUT IT WAS ALL PART OF THE PTSD.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I WILL ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THAT PLAN.
ANYONE ELSE UP HERE? OKAY, WE HAD A MOTION, UH, BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY READERS, I, I AM STRUGGLING A LITTLE TODAY, I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT WE GOT A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO.
I READ THE NAMES AND INITIALS.
I'M MAKING THAT UP, UH, UH, FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE.
SO I AM GOING TO ONCE AGAIN ASK FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH F POLICY.
AND NOW WE HAVE A COMMISSION, UH, COMMISSIONER SCHO, SECOND AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER REDFIELD IS NOT VOTING.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THAT RIGHT.
CAN YOU LOOK? YEAH, AND IF YOU WERE HERE FOR ANY OF, ANY OF THOSE OTHER EARLIER STUFF, IT'S NOT CONSIDERED RUDE IF YOU, IF YOU LEAVE, IF WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOUR ITEM.
I, I DIDN'T BRING UP SOMETHING DURING THE FEED WAIVER, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, EVERYONE IS INVITED OF COURSE, BUT THE ONE THING WE WANTED THE PARK TO DO FOR US DURING THOSE THREE DAYS IS TURN OFF THE SPRINKLERS
WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO PUT TRASH HANDS OVER THE TOP AND STUFF.
AND BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, MR. OWENS WILL TAKE A NOTE.
WE ARE NOW ON A COMPUTERIZED, UH, IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
THE SUPERINTENDENT IS STANDING RIGHT BESIDE YOU RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL ASSURE THAT THE IRRIGATION
[00:40:01]
IS SHUT DOWN.IT'S ONE OF OUR, OUR STORIES THAT WE SELL EVERY YEAR IS MAKE SURE, AND I DIDN'T DO THAT.
SO, AND ALSO JUST TO NOTE, UH, COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH GOT HERE, UM, ABOUT NINE 10.
SO SHE WAS HERE FOR, FOR THE, UH, PRESENTATION OF EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR MAY OF 2024.
JUST A FEW ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN SINCE WE PUT THE DIRECTOR S SENIOR, UH, MEETING PACKET, BUT, UM, EARLIER THIS MONTH, MAYOR RICHARDSON ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, THE MONTH OF MAY IS A CITYWIDE SPRING CLEANING, THE SPRING CLEANUP INITIATIVE.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY A POSITIVE THING.
LOTS OF OUR FRIENDS OF, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS PARKS HAVE DONE SOME PARK CLEANUP PROJECTS.
UM, THEY DID A BEACH CLEANUP AT ALAMEDA BEACH ON THE KICKOFF DAY, AND I KNOW MARY RICHARDSON AND, UH, HIS STAFF AND A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WILL BE OUT AT THE WETLANDS THIS WEEKEND.
I THINK SATURDAY, MEGAN O'NEILL WITH OUR NATURE CENTERS, COORDINATING THAT INITIATIVES.
SO LOTS OF REALLY POSITIVE THINGS.
I KNOW, UH, IN TERMS OF DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER.
PUBLIC WORKS HAS ELEVATED OR INCREASED THEIR POTHOLE.
PATCHING CREWS, UH, CONSERVATION CORPS IS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING, UH, SOME MANPOWER FOR THAT, THAT EFFORT, UH, AND DOING A LOT MORE BULK, BULK PICKUP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY A NICE NEW INITIATIVE.
UH, ALSO IN, UH, IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING COUNCIL MEETINGS, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT'S BEEN CHARGED WITH A FEE, A NEW FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR CITYWIDE, UH, MASTER PLAN TO, UH, FOR FUTURE SKATE PARKS.
SO, AGAIN, NO SURPRISE YOU MENTIONED ASK FOUNDATION.
SO MIKE, DON AND HIS GROUP ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WILL BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF CONNECTING, YOU KNOW, OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND INTEREST GROUPS.
UH, AND THEN I WANTED TO MENTION, UH, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES ALREADY, BUT ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF OLDER AMERICAS MONTH, UH, THIS EVENING OVER AT JCC ON WILLOW STREET, WE HAVE A SENIOR TALENT SHOP.
UH, IT RUNS FOR QUITE A FEW HOURS, LIKE FIVE TO EIGHT, I THINK.
AND SO I'LL, I'LL STOP BY THERE TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.
AND THEN, UH, REALLY THE NEXT TO LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION, UH, ACTUALLY THERE'S TWO MORE I READ MY SCREW OF AND THE UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETING.
UH, WE'RE FINALLY GONNA BE PRESENTING TO YOU, UM, THE VISION, THE NEW VISION PLANS FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND I'M SURE THERE'LL BE SOME, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THAT.
THEY'LL PROBABLY BE ATTENDING.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, SHEAR PARK.
WE HAVE A NEW VISION PLAN, UM, THAT WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE COMMISSION.
AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'LL FORWARD THAT, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL FOR PRESENTATIONS.
AND I KNOW, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRACKING THAT EFFORT.
SORO FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
PARK AND, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN FOR SHEAR PARK.
THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT COME FORWARD, UH, AS ARE WE.
AND, UM, TWO STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SO I REGRET TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR, UH, REALLY AMAZING, UH, STAFF MEMBERS ON THE PARK PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS TEAM, LIZ NORMAN, SHE'S ANNOUNCED A CAREER CHANGE DECISIONS.
SHE'S GOING TO BE DEPARTING OUR TEAM AND SHE HAS A NEW OPPORTUNITY IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STILL ALIGNED WITH TRANS WRITING, WHICH SHE'S VERY, VERY GOOD AT.
SO THAT'LL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT POSITION FOR US TO LOOK, UH, TO FILL, AS IS THE BUREAU MANAGER.
AND I DO WANNA GIVE SHE CREDIT.
SHE'S STEPPED UP AND BEEN SERVING IN THE ACTING BUREAU MANAGER CAPACITY FOR QUITE A FEW MONTHS AFTER NANCY THE PARTY.
SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THAT.
AND I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS YOUNG GUY'S
YOU'LL BE, UM, CELEBRATING HIS RETIREMENT, UH, OVER AT RECREATION GOLF COURSE NEXT THURSDAY.
SO SEVEN DAYS COUNTING DOWN FOR THAT EVENT.
AND HIS, HIS FINAL DAY WILL BE WRAPPING UP THE END OF, OF THIS MONTH.
UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR QUESTIONS ON THE WE CREATE COMMUNITY OR THE DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
COMMISSIONER R SMITH, I JUST WANNA SAY HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO YOU.
WHEN I WAS AT THE CITY, YOU WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MY ROLE AS A CHIEF OF STAFF, AND I'VE JUST, YOU'VE BEEN SO INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND WONDERFUL
[00:45:01]
FOR THE CITY, AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH AND REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.I WILL ECHO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER SMITH SAID, UH, AND WE NEEDED THE, UH, JAPANESE HISTORY, CITY CHI GARDEN WOW AND WHOLE, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM, BUT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, I WATCHED YOU AND I'M UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO BE WITH MY CHILDREN IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
UM, BUT I'LL BE THINKING OF YOU IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS NOW RATHER THAN NOW.
AND I STILL REMEMBER, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE IT AT THE PARTY.
THE PICTURE OF YOU ON THE FRONT OF THE PRESS TELEGRAM DOWN AT THE MARINA IS STILL ONE OF THE GREATEST PICTURES EVER AND JUST A, A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND, AND USE MY JOB TO GET SOURCING FROM YOU AT THE STAFFING MOB.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ON.
YEAH, SO I'VE, I'VE ONLY KNOWN YOU HURLEY IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AS PART OF THE, THE COMMISSION, BUT I, I DID WANNA SAY THAT EVERY MONTH I'M ALWAYS STRUCK BY NOT JUST YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, BUT THE DEPTH OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
IT, I FEEL LIKE EVERY SINGLE MEETING, THERE'S SOME STAT YOU PULL OUT OF NOWHERE WHERE YOU SAY, THIS IS HOW EXACTLY HOW MANY TREES ARE IN THIS.
AND I'M, I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
I NEVER WOULD'VE GUESSED YOU WERE OF RETIREMENT AGE, BY THE WAY,
SURELY THERE'S A DIFFERENT HURLEY OWENS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'LL, I'LL CERTAINLY ECHO, UH, COMMISSIONER TI SMITH'S COMMENT AS A FORMER FELLOW CHIEF OF STAFF, UM, AND I ALSO WAS SHARING THE NEWS WITH NOW SAID, A MAJORITY LEADER, LENA GONZALEZ, OUR FORMER, OUR FORMER BOSS, WHO ALSO EXPRESSES HER APPRECIATION.
UM, AND, AND JUST WAS GUSHING ABOUT YOU FOR THE ENTIRETY OF OUR CONVERSATION AND, UM, AND HOW GREAT IT WAS TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN, THE DEDICATION YOU PUT IN, UM, TO THE WORK.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M GONNA TRY TO BE THERE TOO.
UH, JUST AGAIN, WANT ECHO THE APPRECIATION FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TODAY, UH, TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, PARKS COMMISSION, UH, BUT ALSO FOR YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE BEST FOOT FORWARD AND MAKE MAKING SURE THAT THESE PARKS ARE TRULY DRIVEN FROM THE COMMUNITY, REALLY RELIES ON YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE LEADERSHIP AND PASSION OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS.
UH, I ACTUALLY JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WENT FOR A WALK AT SOMERSET PARK BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE THE PARK I USED TO GO TO A LOT AS A KID, LIKE WHEN I WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD.
AND IT WAS SO NICE GETTING TO VISIT AGAIN AND SEEING LIKE HOW WELL MAINTAINED THAT PARK IS AND, UH, AFTER YOU HAVE THESE LAST 25, 30 YEARS.
UH, SO JUST REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORKING TO SEE OTHER PARKS AND, AND REALLY JUST THE, CERTAINLY MY TIME ON THE COMMISSION HAS GIVEN ME A MUCH GREATER APPRECIATION, MUCH DEEPER APPRECIATION OF PARKS, EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THEM.
AND YOUR WORK AND THE WORK OF YOUR TEAM ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.
UM, GOING LAST NIGHT, SO MANY GOOD THINGS WERE SAID, BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT.
UM, THE LEGACY THAT YOU'RE, YOU'VE LEFT OR YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE HERE, UM, I THINK IS, IS SO MONUMENTAL AND IT JUST SHOWS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND REALLY THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE YOUR TEAM.
I THE FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HERE.
I I'VE SEEN THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE OTHERS JUST IN HOW YOU INTERACT WITH US.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UM, SUCH A GREAT LEGACY TO, TO LEAVE.
AND SO I HOPE YOU FEEL VERY PROUD AND WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT YOU HAVE SERVED AND AND WORKED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND THE MENTOR, THE MENTORSHIP YOU'VE GIVEN TO THE FUTURE OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
ALSO AS THE, UH, I GUESS NOW SELF-APPOINTED CO-CHAIR OF THE WRIGLEY CAUCUS, UH, WE WILL END HAVING OUR FELLOW NEIGHBOR ON THE, UH, ON THE PARK.
ANY ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, ON ITEM SIX, WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TI SMITH.
ALRIGHT, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR, ANYBODY.
[00:50:01]
IT MAKES ME SO SAD THAT WE'RE LOSING WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE LEY AND I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS AND TO SEE THE GROWTH AND AS YOU DEVELOP THE STAFF, IT'S BEEN JUST AMAZING, THE DIFFERENCE.I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME.
UM, I HATE TO SEE THE PARKS LOSE GOOD EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE MULTI-GENERATIONAL.
KELLY AND HER DAUGHTER ARE JUST A RAY OF SUNSHINE AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND IT JUST BRIGHTENED UP EVERYBODY'S DAY TO SEE KELLY COME WHEN WE COME IN IN THE MORNING.
AND I'M REALLY GONNA MISS HER.
UM, BUT I WANT TO, UM, TALK ABOUT THE LONG BEACH GREAT PANTHERS.
WE'VE HAD A VERY BUSY MONTH AND WE'RE ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH, BUT WE HAVE 321 ATTENDEES AT OUR SENIOR CLASS.
AND, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION.
AND TWO DAYS BEFORE WE HELD OUR EVENT, THE COUNTY HAD DECLARED MAY SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS MONTH.
SO I LIKE TO THINK WE HAD AN INFLUENCE IN THAT.
AND, UM, IT WAS A VERY MOVING CONVERSATION WHEN ASKED TO EXPERIENCE HAS EXPERIENCED LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION.
THE SENIORS ALL RAISED THEIR HANDS, SO IT'S SOMETHING I REALLY NEED THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS WE PLAN PROGRAMMING.
AND THEN, UM, THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY, THE GREAT PANTHERS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH DR.
MINA SIMI, WHO'S THE HEAD OF THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE, UM, WITH AN ORGANIZATION SAVE OUR CALIFORNIA HEALTH.
UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN, UM, MEDICARE FOR ALL.
CALCARE, WHICH IS, UH, BEING HEARD RIGHT NOW IS THE CALIFORNIA VERSION.
WE WOULD BE THE TRIAL FOR A MEDICARE CARE EXPANSION FOR EVERYONE, UM, IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT WORK, WE WERE INVITED TO BE ON THIS PANEL AND IT WAS WITH THE HEAD OF, UM, THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOR LOS ANGELES, A CARDIOLOGIST FROM UCLA AND WITH THE CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE CONVERSATION.
SHE WAS SO KIND AND SHE REALLY APPRECIATED ALL WE HAD TO SAY, UM, WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THE SENIORS.
AND, UM, WE ARE, WE HAD, UM, SEVERAL GROUPS OF INTERNS GRADUATED AND THEY CONTRIBUTED OVER 2,400 HOURS LAST SEMESTER AT, UM, THE SENIOR CENTER MOSTLY HELPING SUPPORT THE FOOD PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE ANOTHER GROUP AND WE'RE BUILDING AND DEEPENING THAT PARTNERSHIP.
WE WERE AWARDED, UM, WITH THE CERTIFICATE AT THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND WE HAD THREE GROUPS OF, UH, GRADUATE STUDENTS THAT ARE WORKING ON PROJECTS FOR WHICH PARTNERS OF PARKS PROVIDED GIFT CARDS FOR THE SENIORS THAT PARTICIPATED IN SURVEYS FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
AND, UH, SO AGAIN, WE'VE GIVEN OUT ANOTHER $10,000 WORTH OF, UH, GIFT CARDS.
SO, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE STAFF IS SO SUPPORTIVE AND, UM, WE WILL BE, NEED TO, NEED TO WRAP IT UP HERE.
OKAY, WE, ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY IS JUNE 12TH, NINE TO 12TH.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AS WE WALK AROUND THE BLOCK AT THE SENIOR CENTER DEMONSTRATING CASES OF ELDER ABUSE.
AND AS KAREN SAID, THANK YOU TO THE REC STAFF OVER AT THE SENIOR CENTER THAT THAT WORKS WITH THE GRAPE PANTHERS QUITE A BIT.
MY NAME IS KIRSTEN LARSON, ON BEHALF OF LONG BEACH AREA COUNCIL IN SCOUTING AMERICA.
I WANNA THANK THE PARKS TEAM FOR THEIR GENEROUS AND OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF OUR MOST RECENT CAMPING EVENT AT EL DORADO PARK CALLED THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
WE HAVE OVER 250 SCOUTS AND 75 ADULTS THAT ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL PARK OF LANDSCAPING, THE EASY ACCESS OF PARKING, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE AREA THAT WE WERE IN, THE PARK RANGERS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT OUR GROUP.
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO SEE THE FUN AND LOVE SURROUNDING THE SCOUTS AND THE PARK COMING TOGETHER AND REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATING US BEING THERE AND US GIVING BACK TO THE PARKS.
UM, IN, IN THIS USE, IN THIS CAPACITY, THERE WERE OVER 1300 FAMILIES CURRENTLY REGISTERED RIGHT NOW IN LONG BEACH AREA COUNCIL.
SO OUR SCOUTING PROGRAM UTILIZES THE PARKS IN EVERY CAPACITY.
WE BUILD LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THERE, WE DO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND WE JUST HAVE GOOD OLD FASHIONED FUN WITH OUR SCOUTING PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE PARKS.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR BEAUTIFUL OPEN SPACES IN HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AS WELL AS MENTIONED, SEA BASE IS UP AND RUNNING.
WE HAVE OVER 450 SCOUTS CURRENTLY
[00:55:01]
REGISTERED FOR OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM COMING UP NEXT MONTH AND NINE WEEKS OF ABSOLUTE JOY AND FUN OF THE SUMMER BASE.SO WE APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU DO FOR, UH, LONG BEACH SEA BASE AS WELL.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SCOUTING YEAR.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC? OKAY, UH, STAFF GLADYS? UM, YES.
SO, UM, MANY THINGS TO, TO MENTION.
SO, UM, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, ESPECIALLY TEACHERS, I THINK TODAY'S DAY 19 COUNTDOWN
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT JUNE 17 KICKING OFF.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES IS ALL THE HIRING AND PROMOTING THAT WE DO WITH OUR STAFF, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TRAINING.
SO, UM, COMING UP WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL REC U OUR RECREATION UNIVERSITY FOR OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US BRAND NEW OR YEAR UNDER, UM, BRINGING THEM FOR TWO NIGHTS OF TRAINING, UM, AND FILL THEIR BRAINS WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WHAT TO DO, WHAT NOT TO DO, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN JUNE 8TH, WE INVITE OUR ENTIRE TEAM, UM, ALL THAT CAN MAKE IT OF NOT RUNNING PROGRAMS, UM, TO COME AND JUST BE REINSPIRED REINTEGRATED FOR THE DECEMBER TO COME AND KICK OFF.
UM, MANY THINGS MENTIONED ABOUT OLDER ADULTS MONTH.
UM, HEIDI AND THE TEAM THAT YOU THAT WAS HERE SUPPORTING KELLY HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK TO SUPPORT MAY, BUT OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PARTICIPANTS YEAR ROUND, BUT WHAT WE DO IS HIGHLIGHT THEM IS BRINGING THEM TO DIFFERENT SITES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER SEEN AND INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER JUST AS, AS IMPORTANT AS OUR YOUTH TO INTERACT.
IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND THEY'VE DONE SOME FABULOUS THINGS.
AND TONIGHT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM AT THE TALENT SHOW.
KIND OF NERVOUS, BUT, UM, DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS IT IS OUR FIRST.
UM, BUT VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM.
UM, AND IF YOU CAN JUST SEE IN THE RECREATE COMMUNITY ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE HAPPENING.
I, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE 10 WEEKS, BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT THE TWO MONTHS BEFORE SUMMER THAT ACTUALLY, UM, REALLY, UM, IS A LOT, UH, TO PLAN, BUT WE DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
SO I'VE SPENT ALMOST HALF MY LIFE WITH HURLEY, UM, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SPENT MORE TIME WITH HIM HERE AT WORK, OR MY HUSBAND AND MY FAMILY, BUT 25 YEARS.
AND REALLY WE HAVE SOME GREAT STORIES, SOME REALLY, REALLY GREAT STORIES, UM, THAT WE HAVE.
BUT IN THE, UH, BUT IN THE END, WHETHER IT BE A GROUND BREAKING, A GRAND OPENING AN EVENT, A PHONE CALL THAT NEEDS A TOILET, A TOILET BOWL WITH THE PALM FRON, HURLEY, WE HAVE SOME STORIES,
UM, BUT HURLEY, THANK YOU FOR THE, THE DEDICATION.
WE KNOW WE WERE JUST ONE PHONE CALL AWAY, UM, FROM HELPING US AND, AND GETTING YOUR TEAM THERE, UM, IN EVERY ASPECT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOU.
UM, LITTLE JEALOUS OF YOU AND YOUR RETIREMENT AS YOU GO OUT.
IT'S BEEN A, A, A, A WONDERFUL 25 YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT THE OTHER SIDE LOOKS LIKE ON RETIREMENT FROM YOU.
UM, AND CELEBRATING HIM AS THE OLDER AMERICAN
GOT THE REGISTRATION FORM READY, WE GOT VOLUNTEER READY FOR IT.
I'LL UH, JUST KIND OF ECHO EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, HURLEY.
I'M RESERVED MOST OF THEM FOR NEXT WEEK, BUT, UH, IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE, UH, WORKING WITH HIM, LEARNING FROM HIM, UM, AND SEEING THE TEAM THAT HE HAS BUILT.
CHRISTINE, JENNIFER, SHE, HELLO.
MACARTHUR PARK, THE CONSTRUCTION OVER THERE HAS BE DONE AND IT'S BEEN MOBILIZED, SO THAT IS IN THE WORKS.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THE SILVERADO RAMONA PARK, THE BID FOR THEIR PLAYGROUND IS ACTUALLY OUT, SO THAT WILL BE STARTING UP SOON.
WE'LL GET THOSE BIDS IN SOME MOVEMENT THERE.
UM, TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL, I KNOW YOU ALL I CAN GET THE LAST MEETING ASKED, BUT THOSE, UM, AT RFP HAS CLOSED AND THAT WE HAD EIGHT RESPONDENTS, SO THAT D VIEWED RIGHT NOW.
AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE COUPLE MONTHS ABOUT THAT AS WELL FOR ATTENDANCE.
FROM THE TIME I GOT HIRED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A POSITIVE PERSON.
WHEN I SEE HIM, HE'S ALWAYS LAUGHING, ALWAYS SMILING, BUT HE IS ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE ME ALONG MY GROWTH AND DREAMS. THANK YOU, MR. OWENS.
AH, IT HAS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE LONG BEACH CITIZENS FOR 25 PLUS YEARS.
I'VE BEEN SERVING LONG BEACH LONGER THAN I'VE DONE ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE, AND IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR.
I MEAN, THE DIFFERENT ROLES AND, AND LEVELS THAT HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK IN HAS TAUGHT ME
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AN EXTREME AMOUNT ABOUT LONG BEACH.I'M FROM ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, BUT I AM A TRUE, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT A LONG BEACH HERE,
THIS HAS, HAS BEEN A GREAT CAREER.
EVERYBODY AROUND THIS TABLE HAS, HAS HAD A PROFOUND MARK ON MY CAREER GLASS, AND I HAVE STORIES.
I'LL NEVER TELL YOU
I HAVE TREMENDOUS GROWTH THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU GUYS, AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE HAD NO OTHER COLLEAGUES.
I I, I TELL YOU, YOU GUYS REMIND ME OF, OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
I COME FROM A LARGE FAMILY OF 11 AND WE DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG.
WE DON'T ALWAYS, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS GOING IN THAT SAME DIRECTION.
AND IF YOU MESS WITH ONE OF US, YOU MESS 'EM WITH ALL US.
SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE WORKED WITH ALL, ALL YOU.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE, HAVE SERVED UNDER YOU GUYS.
YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN GREAT, AND I LOOK TO GO ON TO MY SECOND CHAPTER OR MY LAST CHAPTER IN MY AND DO GREAT THINGS AND HOPEFULLY ENJOY.
SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
WELL, FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS, MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WHAT MEETING OR SO WHEN WE HAD PAUSE AND FACE THE FLAG AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETING, THAT WAS
AND IT'S REFLECTED IN, I THINK, THE RESPECT HE'S EXHIBITED TO EVERYONE HE WORKS WITH, YOU KNOW, TO HIS STAFF.
AND HE'S BEEN A GREAT MENTOR FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.
SO I ADMIRE THAT PART OF HER WANTS.
UM, YES, I I WANTED TO, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LIED ABOUT SIX DAYS AGO, SEVEN DAYS AGO, UM, A LOCAL LONG BEACH LEGEND PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY SEAN BURROWS, WHO WAS, UM, A HERO FOR LONG BEACH LITTLE LEAGUE, UM, WHEN HE, UH, TOOK LED THE TEAM TO BACK TO BACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 92 AND NINE THREE, UM, HE PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY AFTER COACHING HIS SON'S LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME AT STEARNS CHAMPIONS PARK.
HE AND HIS TEAM PUT THE CHAMPIONS IN CHAMPIONS PARK.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
UM, HE HAD A QUITE A STORY OF, UM, FAME AS A, AS A YOUNG KID.
UM, AND THEN WENT TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES, WON A GOLD MEDAL FOR, UH, THE UNITED STATES IN THE OLYMPICS, DEALT WITH A DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION, AND THEN MANAGED TO MAKE HIS WAY BACK, UM, WAS LEADING THE SECOND CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE AFTER THE MAJOR LEAGUES AND SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY OF A HEART ATTACK, UM, AFTER COACHING HIS SON'S, UH, BASEBALL GAME.
SO, WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY BASEBALL IN THE PARKS IS A, IS A HUGE PART OF, OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PARKS AND REC.
UM, ALSO I DID NOTICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT A WAY THAT MAYBE HE COULD BE HONORED AT STERNS PARK WITH A NAMING OF SOME SORT.
SO JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
UM, IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN AS UNEXPECTED AND VERY SAD TIME.
UM, SO AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
UM, I WILL NOT BE JOINING NEXT MONTH.
I'M TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BIG PRE THANK YOU TO MADISON AND THE FULL TEAM FOR, UM, THE CHAPTER THEY'RE ABOUT TO JUMP INTO.
SO I KNOW, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S A LOT RIGHT NOW AND THEN, ESPECIALLY AS THINGS START GOING, SO A BIG PRE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT IS ABOUT TO BE DONE FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH, GOOD LUCK, GLADYS
REALLY, I MEAN THAT LIKE, I MEAN, GETTING ALL KINDS OF WARM, VIBRANT ENERGY.
AND IN MY, UM, I'M BACK AT COMPOUND LONG BEACH, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND IF WE CAN EVER BE OF SERVICE TO YOU ALL, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
AND WE'RE COMING UP WITH MULTIPLE WAYS TO ENGAGE CHILDREN, UM, FROM A CONTEMPORARY ART AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS PERSPECTIVE.
SO, UM, I'LL BE REACHING OUT, BUT, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, YOU REALLY, REALLY SAVE THE CITY EVERY SUMMER, SO THANK YOU.
YEAH, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I KNOW, UM, TO TOUCH BACK ON STAFF REPORTS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE RFP FOR THE RAMONA PARK PLAYGROUND.
UM, I, I CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY TRUST STAFF'S WORK ON IT, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE A PLUG FOR DISABILITY ACCESS.
UH, I THINK THE ADVOCATE PARK PROJECT REALLY SET, UH, A WHOLE NEW BAR ON
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DISABILITY ACCESS AND NEURO DIVERGENCE ACCESS, UH, FOR, UH, KIDS THAT UTILIZE THAT PARK AND HOPE THAT, UH, PHILOSOPHY MOVES FORWARD WITH THAT.MR. ALLEN? UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE AN EVENT AT HARVEY MILK PARK THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR LONG BEACH PRIDE AND RECOGNITION OF, UH, LGBT LEADERS.
AND I KNOW THAT HARVEY MILK PARK HAS BEEN A, A LITTLE, UH, RANDOM CHILD THAT'S BEEN THROWN AROUND IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND IS NOW LANDED HERE IN PARK.
SO, UM, I DID NOTICE THAT IT DOES NEED A LITTLE TLC.
AND SO I HOPE THAT WE WILL ONCE, NOW THAT IT'S HERE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPRUCE IT UP AND, AND, AND GIVE IT, ITS, ITS FULL GLORY.
SO, UM, BUT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED ATTENDEES, UM, CELEBRATING FOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO, WHO JOINED THAT MOMENT.
I, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CLASS AND HER TEAM AND, UH, AND OF COURSE HURLEY AND THIS SUNDAY I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY, ONE YEAR AGO WAS THE DAY THAT I GOT MY KITTEN.
I TURNED ON MY FAN THE OTHER DAY.
THEY'RE JUST, THEY KEEP MY LIFE SO FULL AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY I, FOR THE ANIMAL CARE WORK WE DO FOR THE CITY OF COLLEGE WHO'S GONNA WATCH THEM WHILE YOU'RE IN VISITING YOUR GRANDFATHER.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET AS HE IS TERRIFIC.
I GAVE HIM A NICE BIG CAKE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIM.
I AND STEVE, YOU REMIND OF IMPORTANT EVENT THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.
IT'S ALL MIXED IN, BUT NEXT FRIDAY OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF OUR SUMMER WHEN WE DO A FRIDAY KICKOFF CONCERT.
AND, UM, JANE AND HER TEAM ARE HELPING US PUBLICIZE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER A CONCERT UNDERCOVER, UH, HIGHLIGHT TRIBUTE EIGHTIES BAND.
UM, WE'LL BE HERE AT EL DORADO PARK WEST, UM, KICKOFF AT 6:00 PM UM, PLEASE COME JOIN US WITH ALL YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS, ABOUT 4,000 TO 5,000 OF 'EM.
UM, WAY TO KICK OFF THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
UM, WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL JUST GOT A FLYER DOWN AND WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU NEXT FRIDAY, THE 24TH, NEXT FRIDAY? YES.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE WILL ADJOURN AT 10 0 9.