* 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. FOR DUGGAN HERE. [00:00:01] COUNCILMAN ANA? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. [ROLL CALL] COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. LET'S START WITH THE MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILWOMAN AND DEJAS. AT THIS MOMENT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO, [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND WHATEVER IS IN YOUR HEART. UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT CAN PLEASE STAND AND, UM, LET'S DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC S STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. UH, WE HAVE SEVEN OF NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA IS AT COASTAL COMMISSION AND COUNCIL MEMBER SORA WON'T BE WITH US THIS EVENING. WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS AND A FULL AGENDA, UH, THIS EVENING. WE'LL START WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTATION FROM OUR CITY MANAGER EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. ARE THEY READY? I CAN GO TO SOMETHING ELSE IF YOU'RE NOT. YES, IF YOU JUST GO TO SOMETHING ELSE. IF, NOPE, I'M HERE. ARE YOU READY? THANKS. OKAY, LET'S GO. HE WAS BUSY. WE HAD AN EVALUATION, UH, EARLIER IN CLOSED SESSION, SO HE IS RECOVERING. ALL RIGHT. MAYOR. COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. WE LOVE DOING THIS ONCE A QUARTER TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT [ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH] OUR EMPLOYEES DO, UH, AND TO TELL THEIR STORIES. UM, I KNOW YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT PART OF THIS IS BEING ABLE TO TELL THE AUDIENCE AND EVERYONE ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WE, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES DO ON YOUR BEHALF. SO, OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL IS MATTHEW PETERS, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO MATT HAS BEEN A DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY SINCE 2018, PART OF THE LITIGATION DIVISION IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. HE REPRESENTS THE CITY AND CITY EMPLOYEES IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURT. HE PRIMARILY DEFENDS THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS OFFICERS AND CIVIL RIGHT ACTIONS, BUT ALSO HANDLES EMPLOYEE NEGLIGENT CASES AS WELL AS LAWSUITS ALLEGING WRONGFUL DEATH OR SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY. MATT IS A DILIGENT, THOROUGH, AND DEDICATED LAWYER WITH SUPERB LEGAL WRITING AND RESEARCH SKILLS. HE HAS SECURED DEFENSE VERDICTS FROM JURIES, PREVAILED ON NUMEROUS MOTIONS TO DISMISS CASES BEFORE TRIAL, AND HAS ALSO ACHIEVED FAVORABLE SE SETTLEMENTS IN MANY HIGH EXPOSURE CASES. MATT HAS ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED APPEALS AT THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEAL FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT, INCLUDING A RECENT APPEAL THAT RESULTED IN A PUBLISHED OPINION. DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS ARE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LEGAL ACUMEN AND COMPETENCE TO SERVE WITH THE CITY WITH CIVILITY, INTEGRITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM. MATT PETERS EXEMPLIFIES THOSE QUALITIES AND THERE IS NO ONE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MORE DESERVING OF BEING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. IF WE CAN WELCOME UP OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, MATT PETERS. ALRIGHT, CONGRATS. IS THAT YOUR FAMILY BACK THERE? NEXT UP IS OUR EMPLOYEE FOR MAY, AND THAT IS SHERRY SHELDON, OUR CHIEF OF STAFF IN OUR CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. HEY, SHERRY, AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE CITY PROSECUTOR, SHERRY SELDEN IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S DEPARTMENT. NOT ONLY DOES SHE OVERSEE ALL HR PROCUREMENT, CONTRACTING AND OFFICE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS, BUT SHE'S ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OFFICE BUDGET. THIS MEANS SHE HANDLED ALL THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GRANTS THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS SECURED IN RECENT YEARS AND THE DECADE PRIOR TO 2010, THE OFFICE HAS RECEIVED ONLY ONE GRANT FOR APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. SINCE THEN, THE OFFICE HAS SECURED OR PARTICIPATED IN OVER A DOZEN GRANTS WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF $3 MILLION. SHERRY HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS A CITY EMPLOYEE SINCE SHE WAS HIRED BY THEN CITY ATTORNEY JOHN CALHOUN OVER 25 YEARS AGO. SHE THEN WORKED FOR THE CITY MANAGER AS A NUISANCE ABATEMENT COORDINATOR, UH, ASSIGNED TO THE CITY'S STRIKEFORCE TEAM TO ADDRESS THE MOST BLIGHTED PROPERTIES IN THE CITY. SHE'S BEEN WITH THE CITY [00:05:01] PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SINCE 2003. HER DEDICATED AND COM, UH, HER DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE GROWTH AND THE SUCCESS OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. CONGRATULATIONS, SHERRY. THANK YOU. WELCOME UP TO DOUG CALBERT, OUR CITY PROSECUTOR. WELL DONE. APPRECIATE IT. ABSOLUTELY. GOOD JOB. NEXT UP IS THE MAY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, AND THAT'S ALAN KOSOFF, OUR PROJECT MANAGER IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ALAN HAS BEEN A SOLID EMPLOYEE IN THE REAL ESTATE DIVISION IN ECONOMIC DEPLOY, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. PRIOR TO COMING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HE WORKED FOR PARKS, REC AND MARINE FOR 12 YEARS AND SERVES AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON MANY OF THE PRM PROPERTIES AND CONTRACTS. AS A REAL ESTATE PROJECT COORDINATOR, ALAN WORKS ON ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS, LEASING, AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. HE HAS AND CONTINUES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING HIGHER PRIORITY PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE DISPOSITION OF FORMER FIRE STATION NINE, THE LONG BEACH ARMORY, THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE A BC SHELTER IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AND THE PARCELS NORTH OF THE MICHELLE LA OBAMA LIBRARY. ALAN'S WORK ON DISPOSITIONS INCLUDE COMPLIANCE WITH THE SURPLUS LAND ACT, APPRAISALS, NEGOTIATIONS, AND CITY COUNCIL AUTHORITY. IN ADDITION, HIS DUTIES INCLUDE MANAGING LEASE COMPLIANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR A PORTFOLIO OF LEASES, WHICH INCLUDE THE CITY'S, UH, LARGEST LEASE HOLDERS, UH, SUCH AS PIKE OUTLETS AND LONG BEACH TOWN CENTER. ALLEN IS A VITAL TO, UH, IS A VITAL SUPPORT TO MANAGEMENT ON PROJECTS LIKE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, THE REPOSITIONING OF NORTH PARCELS AND CELL PHONE, CELL PHONE TOWER AGREEMENTS THROUGH MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS REQUIRED, UH, TO DO THAT REALLY DELICATE WORK. ALLEN IS A TRUSTWORTHY MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, WHO INDEPENDENTLY MANAGES LEASE NEGOTIATIONS AND TENANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHILE WORKING WELL WITH PARTNER AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS AND DEVELOPERS UNDER VERY CHALLENGING DEADLINES. THE ONE ASPECT THAT WE APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT ALAN IS THAT HE NEVER FAILS TO HELP HIS TEAMMATES WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS AND HAS, UH, A HAND IN TRAINING ANY NEW MEMBER AS THEY JOIN THE TEAM. HE'S VERY WELL LIKED AMONGST, UH, ALL, ALL OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND HIS EXAMPLE OF BEING A PRODUCTIVE AND INTEGRAL EMPLOYEE ON, UH, THE TEAM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WELCOME UP, ALAN. FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. BO, DO YOU WANNA JOIN US? YES. LEMME GET THE PICTURE AND OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, BO MARTINEZ. YAY. OKAY. ONE, TWO. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. GOOD TO GO. AND OUR LAST EMPLOYEE, UH, IS, UH, THE JUNE EMPLOYEE, AND THAT IS FROM THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT, VICKI GORDON, PORT COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST. SO IF YOU WERE TO LOOK UP PERSEVERANCE, LOYALTY TO TEAM, OR CAN DO ATTITUDE, YOU WOULD FIND VICKI IN THE DEFINITION. UH, VICKI IS A TRUSTED PARTNER WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE PORT MEET ITS STRATEGIC GOAL TO ATTRACT, DEVELOP, AND RETAIN A DIVERSE AND HIGH PERFORMING WORKFORCE. VICKI TAKES PRIDE IN FOSTERING TEAM SPIRIT WITH FORMS OF RECOGNITION AND COMRADERY IN VERY CREATIVE WAYS. SHE'S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND MANY PORT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION EVENTS THAT IMPROVE THE OVERALL CULTURE AND MOOD FOR PORT TEAMMATES. FROM A SIMPLE THANK YOU TO COOKIES ON ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL DAY, OR A SHARED LAUGH, VICKI CAN MAKE A PERSON'S DAY. ONE OF HER KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF A SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION WITH CAL STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH FOR DELIVERY OF A CUSTOMIZED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, UH, UH, FOR PORT TEAMMATES RESULTING IN 40 GRADUATES THIS PAST SPRING. DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, VICKI CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR CITY. IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE HER AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR HARBOR. AND WELCOME UP MARIO PERRO. 25 YEARS. THAT'S WONDERFUL. GOOD JOB. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THAT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. ALRIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR DEDICATED LONG BEACH CITY EMPLOYEES. ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, BELMONT SHORE RUGBY CLUB, U 18 GIRLS TEAM, [00:10:01] NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP [ BELMONT SHORE RUGBY CLUB U18 GIRLS TEAM 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RECOGNITION] RECOGNITION. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, ARE THEY COMING UP? ARE THEY HERE? COACHES? COME ON UP. COME ON UP. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THESE CHAMPIONS OF THE RUGBY CLUB, UM, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE WON LONG BEACH, THEY HAVE WON STATES, AND NOW THEY HAVE WON NATIONALLY. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM COME UP. I HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THEM AND I'D LIKE TO GET A PHOTO WITH THEM, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, THE ATHLETIC ABILITY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE A TEAM AND COME ON COACHES, YOU GOTTA COME UP TOO. ALRIGHT. I AM SO PROUD TO HONOR THE BELMONT SHORE RUGBY CLUB U 18 TEAM THAT THE 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ATHLETE TO GO TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? THEY ARE WORKING SCHOLASTICALLY, THEY'RE WORKING EVERY DAY ON THEIR OWN HEALTH, THEIR OWN PHYSICAL WELLBEING, AND THEY'RE MENTALLY JUST PREPARED TO BE ATHLETES AND MOVE FORWARD. SO I WANT EVERYONE TO APPRECIATE, GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND LET'S COME UP AND GET A, A GOOD PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU AND THEN YOU CAN SWITCH THEM AROUND. DOES THAT WORK? COME ON. COME ON. LET'S GET THE MAYOR IN THE MIDDLE WITH US HERE AND SEE WHERE'S MY CUTOFF? LET'S SEE. YOU GUYS NEED TO, OH, MOVE IN. GOOD. OH, I CAN'T SEE THE COACHES. THE LADIES ARE THE CUTOFF RIGHT THERE. THIS SIDE. THINK THINK EVERYONE'S IN. OKAY. OVER HERE. 1, 2, 1 MORE. OKAY. EVERYONE ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. ALRIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE THE ONE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE. I WANNA INVITE UP JESSICA QUINTANA, OUR FEARLESS LEADER, . OOH, WHERE'S MY TROPHY? [ ONE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE] . HERE THEY ARE. YES. THERE, THEY THAT'S YOUR TEAM RIGHT THERE. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS RIGHT THERE. GO FOR IT. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL CHA IN OUR FEARLESS ONE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION COLLABORATIVE, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. UM, WE JUST WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR CITY MANAGER, TOM MOCA, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION. UH, WE GOT SO MUCH, UM, OUR, UH, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UM, AND ALSO LA COUNTY FOR THE INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT, UH, THE ONE LONG BEACH COLLABORATIVE. AND, UM, YOU GUYS MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS, UH, TO ACTIVATE SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY SPACES. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THOSE PROVIDERS SITTING HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS IN OUR CITY, UM, ALSO INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH. AND YOU SEE ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO ARE PART [00:15:01] OF OUR PROGRAMMING. RAISE YOUR HAND GUYS. AND, UM, AND THEN THIS SUMMER YOU'RE GONNA SEE US ACTIVATING THE PARK SPACE. UH, WE'LL BE SPENDING ANOTHER HALF A MILLION IN THAT AREA, UM, TO PROMOTE, UH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, UH, JOB TRAINING, UM, PARENT ENGAGEMENT. UM, NOBODY THROWS A PARTY AT THE PARKS LIKE, LIKE SPENCER CHA. SO AGAIN, I JUST, AND I DON'T SEE, UM, OUR FEARLESS DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, BUT HE'S JUST BEEN A GREAT PARTNER THROUGH, UM, ALL THIS, UM, PROGRAMMING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AT THE PARKS. I'M SURE THEY'RE TIRED OF SEEING OUR PERMITS PUT IN INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT VARIOUS PARKS, BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, PARK IS THE BEST SPACE AND PLACE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO TO. UM, AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS COLLABORATIVE, THIS JOURNEY ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE FIRST FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. NOT THAT OUR COLLABORATIVE MEMBERS DIDN'T HAVE A TIGHT BOND IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF GUN VIOLENCE, GANG VIOLENCE, AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, ALL TOO WELL, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF US LIVE THERE. SO WE'RE NOT WATCHING IT ON TV. WE'RE NOT READING ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER. IT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN THE SPACES AND PLACES WHERE OUR CHILDREN LIVE, WHERE OUR PARENTS LIVE. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN MEETING, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING ANALYZING DATA. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PROBATION, PAROLE, OUR OWN CITY, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT DATA, LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AREAS, JUST REALLY LOOKING AT THE DISPARITIES OF THESE HISTORICAL DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN ALL RECITE, YOU KNOW, BY ZIP CODES, BY CENSUS TRACKS. BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THESE HAVE BEEN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DISINVESTED, WHETHER WE'RE HAVING CHALLENGES OF PARK EQUITY, WHERE WE'RE HAVING CHALLENGES OF, UM, OPEN SPACES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GO TO, UM, LACK OF, OF ACTIVITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UH, LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO HAPPY, MAYOR FOR THE STRONG BEACH, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST REALLY ALIGNING WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES THAT WE ALL NEED, THAT WE ALL ARE LOOKING AT. THAT'S DATA-DRIVEN AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE PUTTING THOSE FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO OUR TEAM IS WORKING VERY HARD. UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH URBAN PEACE INSTITUTE, THAT IS A NATIONALLY KNOWN ORGANIZATION, UH, LED BY CONNIE RICE. UH, WE SOON WILL BE HAVING A DATA REPORT AND A ROADMAP FOR OUR CITY, UM, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE. WE'VE WENT BACK 20 YEARS AND DID A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW WE RESPONDED TO VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT WAS JUST THAT IT WAS RESPONSE. WE HAVE NO SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES OR POLICY THAT'S GONNA HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE ARE ALIGNING, WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE LEADERSHIP NOW IN OUR CITY. UH, WE SEE ALREADY CHANGES HAPPENING, SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP. UM, WE, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS THAT ALSO WANNA SPEAK, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COLLABORATIVE. UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T DO THIS WORK BY OURSELVES. IT'S DONE THROUGH A COALITION, THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE WHO UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, VIOLENCE AND THE IMPACTS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, ASK A FEW OF OUR MEMBERS TO COME UP, UM, ESPECIALLY ONE OF OUR OLD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR, AND I'M NOT JUST SAYING YEARS. I'M TALKING ABOUT DECADES. YOU KNOW, THIS WORK HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR CITY FOR DECADES. UM, I'VE BEEN WITH CENTRAL CHILD 25 YEARS. YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED ON THE POVERTY AND THE, THE, THE VIOLENCE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, IT'S BEEN THOSE ZIP CODES AND DISINVESTED AREAS. SO, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CON CONTINUE TO COLLABORATING. BUT MISS, UM, YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, UM, PASTOR WOODS COME UP AND CALL. AND THEN, UM, I'M NOT OLD, I'M VINTAGE. DID I SAY SHE WAS OLD? ? SHE SAID OLD MEMBERS. I'M A VINTAGE MEMBER. THAT'S SOME MY OLD MEMBERS, SOME OF OUR WISE MEMBERS. , MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I AM DR. LYDIA HOLLY, A LONG BEACH NATIVE. I CO-AUTHORED WITH DR. ALEX NORMAN, THE STATE OF BLACK LONG BEACH. SINCE 2001, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS A CONSISTENT COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND AN INITIATOR OF VARIOUS IMPORTANT WELL-DOCUMENTED EFFORTS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES IN THIS CITY. MY FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED THE TRAGIC LOSS OF GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH LEFT SIX CHILDREN WITHOUT THEIR FATHERS. SO THIS IS NOT AN ACADEMIC ISSUE FOR ME, IT IS A PERSONAL MATTER. PRESENTLY, [00:20:01] I AM AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER OF THE ONE LONG BEACH COLLABORATIVE, ORGANIZED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JESSICA CANTANA, AND FACILITATED BY A COMMITTED, COMPASSIONATE, AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL STAFF. MONTHLY WE BREAK BREAD TOGETHER AND HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR REALITIES, WHERE WE CONVERGE AND DIFFER AND HOW, AND AS WELL AS STRIVE TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON HOW BEST TO ARRIVE AS SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE A COMMUNITY'S PEACE AND PROSPERITY ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE STRENGTH OF ITS COMMUNITIES. THE FAMILY IS SURROUNDED BY FIVE OSCILLATING RINGS TO SUSTAIN ITS STABILITY. THESE RINGS REPRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FAITH, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, AND CIVIC SECTORS. EACH OF THESE SECTORS SHOULD WORK IN CONCERT TO SUPPLEMENT THE FAMILY'S EFFORTS TO REAR CHILDREN, TO BECOME STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THESE SECTORS SHOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT PATHOGENS FROM ENTERING AND DESTROYING THE COMMUNITY, AND BY EXTENSION, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE ONE LONG BEACH COLLABORATIVE IS A BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC OF RINGS SOLIDLY INTERCONNECTED TO PROTECT OUR LONG BEACH FAMILIES. FROM THE SCOURGE OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, THE COLLABORATIVE EARNESTLY SEEKS TO ADDRESS, MITIGATE, AND SOMEDAY REMOVE THOSE PATHOGENS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. IT CONTINUES. INTENTIONAL EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO. THE COLLABORATIVE IS UNITED IN PURPOSE TO ENABLE LONG BEACH TO BE AMONG THE SAFEST AND MOST HUMANE CITIES IN THE NATION. THIS GOAL IS WITHIN OUR REACH IN A DEPOLITICIZED AND WELL-FUNDED ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU PASTOR WOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MRS. CANTANA, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WANNA SAY THAT WHAT'S, WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE RECENTLY WITH THE CENTRAL CHAS EFFORT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. IT'S PROVEN THAT LONG BEACH BEING A MULTI-ETHNIC COMMUNITY CAN THE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BE BROUGHT TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, AND TO REALLY BRING ABOUT SAFETY EXCELLENCE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE POSITIVE THAT MOST CITIES CANNOT, CANNOT EVEN VENTURE TO THINK ABOUT. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE PROGRAMS OR THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL TO DO WONDERS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GROWING UP IN OUR CITIES. WE HAVE A UNIVERSITY, A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FANTASTIC HIGH SCHOOLS DEDICATED PEOPLE, AND WE CAN DO IT. AND THANKS TO JESSICA AND HER TEAM, I THINK IT'S GETTING DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU PASTOR WOOD. UM, WE'D JUST ALSO LIKE TO, UM, ADD THAT WE DID A BIG WIDE COMMUNITY SURVEY. WE WENT OUT AND SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE WE DID OVER A THOUSAND. HOW MANY? CINDY? WHAT'S OUR COUNT? 1 0 7. YES. 1,771 SURVEYS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. RIGHT. SO WE WILL BE DISAGGREGATING THAT DATA. AND I JUST WANNA THANK SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEHIND THE RAIL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND HELPING US, ESPECIALLY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER AL AUSTIN, WHO'S BEEN A BIG CHAMPION THROUGH THIS, UM, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION INITIATIVE. UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DUGAN, UM, A LOT OF THE MEMBERS IN YOUR DISTRICT AREA, YOU KNOW, RESPONDED AND PUT THAT YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SURVEY AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAS POSTED IT IN YOUR NEWSLETTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, COUNCILWOMAN KERR FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND OF COURSE, OUR COUNCILWOMAN SEND HAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THAT WORD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA. WE DID FOCUS GROUPS WITH THOSE WHO WERE PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE, WHO CAME BACK HOME TO OUR COMMUNITY, BEING AWAY FOR 5, 10, 30, 40 YEARS TO FIND OUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS A COMMUNITY TO PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY THAT HAPPENED TO THEM. UH, WE ALSO, UH, SURVEYED VICTIMS OF CRIME. AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR YOUTH. WE DID A LOT OF YOUTH LISTENING SESSIONS WITH OVER 200 YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT'LL BE PART OF OUR, OUR REPORT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. WE GOT A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AND YOUR GROUP. IF WE CAN START BRINGING EVERYBODY OUT, WE'LL TAKE A BIG PICTURE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE WANNA RECOGNIZE THE ONE LONG BEACH WOO. VIOLENCE PREVENTION COALITION. . ALL RIGHT. ARE [00:25:01] WE ALL GOING? EVERYONE HAS TO STAY BETWEEN THESE FLAGS. I BET IF WE STAY HERE AND STAND. OH YEAH. COME ON, . WE COME OVER HERE AND STAND. STAND BEHIND. YEAH. HOW BE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE US. THAT'S STEPS. BUT YOU KNOW. YEAH. . THAT'S, THERE'S SOME VERY TALL PEOPLE, SO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT WAY. I ALWAYS MAKE SMILE CASE ALL. SOMETIMES I'M IN THE BACK. I'M LIKE GAS THE SIDE. LIKE I NEVER END UP . OKAY. THE SIGN IS MY CUT. SO ANYONE ON THE RIGHT OR OR LEFT TO IT, I'M NOT GONNA SEE. SO ANYONE? CHRISTOPHER? YEP. THAT OUT RIGHT? IF YOU CAN'T FIT BEHIND THE SIGN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE IN IT UP. ACTUALLY, YOU'RE ON MY ALL, ALL RIGHT. OVER HERE. 1, 2, 3. ONE MORE. I'M GONNA TRY TO GET EVERYONE OKAY. ALL SHOULD TAKE IT OFF RIGHT NOW. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, UH, TO THE ONE LONG BEACH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE NO REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION. GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT WE'RE GONNA, UH, WE'RE GONNA PULL UP OUR CONSENT CALENDAR. UH, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO, UH, UH, PULL ITEM 13. UH, MADAM ATTORNEY, WERE YOU ALSO PULLING ITEM 26? I HAVE A NOTE HERE. YES, SIR. OKAY. SO WE'RE GONNA PULL UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR, MINUS ITEMS 13 AND 26. [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 26.)] OKAY, I SEE A MOTION. AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY CONSENT, ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT THERE? MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON CONSENT MO MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA ASK FOLKS TO, UM, HOLD DOWN THE, THE CONVERSATION IN THE AUDIENCE WHILE WE CONTINUE THE COUNCIL MEETING. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM 13 NOW. REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HOME VISITING PROGRAM TO RECEIVE AN EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 757,563 FOR THE STATE GENERAL FUND, INNOVATION 2.0 PROGRAM CITYWIDE. OKAY. I THINK THE COUNCIL WANTS A BRIEF UPDATE ON WHAT THIS IS. SURE. I'LL [13. 24-53571 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents, subcontracts, and any subsequent amendments, including any amendments to the award amount and term dates, with the State of California Department of Public Health California Home Visiting Program (CHVP) to receive and expend grant funding in the amount of $757,563 for the CHVP State General Fund Innovation 2.0 program, for a one-year period beginning on July 1, 2023, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $757,563. (Citywide)        Office or Department: Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TURN TO DR. DAVIS FOR THAT. TURN IT TO EVELYN, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH BUREAU MANAGER. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, HONOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR STAFF REPORT. I AM HONORED TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE EN LETTER PROJECT, A HOLISTIC HOME VISITATION PROGRAM FOR BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM GRADUATES. THE TERM RA MEANS TO VISIT, THAT'S IN INGO IGBO NIGERIA. IT SIGNIFIES OUR COMMUNITY TO CULTURAL, OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL RELEVANCE, INCLUSIVITY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ON JANUARY 19TH, 2024, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MATERNAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND THE CALIFORNIA HOME VISITING PROGRAM RELEASED THE INNOVATION 2.0 REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO FUND A SMALL NUMBER OF AWARDS TO LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTIONS. THIS IS TO IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAMS WITH A FOCUS ON MEETING THE NEED OF A LOCALLY IDENTIFIED POPULATION FACING THE GREATEST, THE GREATEST INEQUITIES IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES APPLIED IN C-D-P-H-C-H-V-P, REVIEWED AND AWARDED FUNDING TO THAT INLET PROJECT. SO WHAT IS THE INLET PROJECT? THIS INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE [00:30:01] IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM GRADUATES THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE HOME VISITING PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF BLACK FAMILIES IN LONG BEACH OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE INLET PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE BIH PROGRAM GRADUATES BY IMPLEMENTING A LIFE COURSE, COMPREHENSIVE CLIENT-CENTERED APPROACH, CRAFTED TO BRIDGE GAPS IN CARE, PROMOTE CONSISTENT WELLBEING, AND EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE BLACK AND WHITE BIRTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES. WITH THE IN PROJECT, WE ARE POED TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES TO BLACK FAMILIES, PROMOTING RESILIENCE, FAMILY BONDS, AND A FOUNDATION FOR GENERATIONAL HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. THE PROJECT PRIORITIZES THE ENROLLMENT OF BIH PROGRAM GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES ZERO TO FIVE, FOCUSING ON ADDRESSING THE HIGH RATES OF MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE INLET PROJECT WILL SERVE 50 FAMILIES WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO UP TO 150 FAMILIES ANNUALLY. BY THE SECOND YEAR, THE INLET PROJECT WILL PROVIDE W HOLISTIC LONG-TERM SUPPORT BEYOND THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND FAMILY COUNSELING, TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO ADDRESS MENTAL AND HEALTH CONCERNS. IT WILL ALSO ENHANCE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL WELLBEING. RAISE AWARENESS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO MAKE INFORMED FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND ACCESS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND FINALLY, IT WILL FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY FOR NEW PARENTS AND PARENT AND PARENTS WITH INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN WHO OFTEN FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, THE NEW ROUTINES, AND THE ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE, AND ALSO ADDITIONAL CONCERNS. AS STATED EARLIER, THE ALETTA PROJECT WILL OFFER HOME VISITS BY PROVIDING TAILORED SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED GOAL SETTING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT, FAMILY COUNSELING, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE ALSO REGULAR INPRO ASSESSMENT TO TRACK, TO TRACK PROGRESS. THE ATLANTA PROJECT IS GOING TO BE STAFFED BY A PROGRAM MANAGER, A PROGRAM COORDINATOR, A HEALTH EDUCATOR, A BIH PROGRAM LIAISON, AND A PROGRAM ANALYST. FINALLY, BY IMPLEMENTING THE ALETA PROJECT, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRIDGING THE SERVICE GAP AND MAKING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND GUIDANCE TO HELP FAMILY ACTUALIZE THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS FOR IMPROVED HEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS, AND FINANCE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT IN EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND FOSTERING HEALTHIER AND MORE RESILIENT LONG BEACH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BRI SODI. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. YEAH. SO I ASKED TO HAVE THIS PULLED OFF THE, UM, THE CONSENT CALENDAR ONE 'CAUSE I LOVE MY PUBLIC HEALTH FOLKS, UH, BUT TWO, I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE BLACK HEALTH HEALTH PROGRAM, UM, WITH MY, UH, YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, CHLOE, UM, AND STILL HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH THE WOMEN THAT I WENT THROUGH WHO AS PART OF MY COHORT. UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE RECOGNIZE, RIGHT, IS THE NEED FOR CONTINUAL SUPPORT FOR MANY OF THE WOMEN PASSED THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD. UH, AND SO WHEN I SAW THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF THE LIGHT OF DAY, RIGHT? TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HEARD US, UM, AND OUR FEEDBACK AROUND THAT PROGRAM. UH, WHAT MANY WOMEN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR NEEDS, RIGHT? POSTPARTUM, YOU KNOW, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, RIGHT? REALLY TREATING THIS, THE SUPPORT WE OFFER, UM, WOMEN AFTER THEY GIVE BIRTH IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH, RIGHT? TO, TO THEIR LIFE, RIGHT? AND THEIR TRAJECTORY. AND WE TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT, UM, THAT THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS ARE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. UM, AND THEN ALSO JUST LIFTING UP THE BLACK HEAVEN HEALTH PROGRAM, RIGHT? IS ONE OF THE, THE, THE LONGEST STANDING, I THINK, YOU KNOW, BLACK FOCUS PROGRAM, UM, IN THE CITY. AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU ALL HAVE CREATED, KIND OF REALLY LAUNCHED THAT. TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU'RE INVESTING IN, AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, UH, THE WAYS THAT OUR CITY IS REALLY TRYING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MITIGATE THAT. UM, AT LEAST IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND SO, UM, AGAIN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR, MY COLLEAGUES GOT TO HEAR ABOUT THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT YOU ALL PLANNED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. I SECOND THAT MOTION WITHOUT ANY RESERVATION OR EQUIVOCATION WHATSOEVER. , IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING, NONE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. THANK MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 26 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CITY ENGINEER [00:35:01] KEITH HOEY AS THE BOARD MEMBER OF CIVIL ENGINEERS TAMMY AWA AND DYLAN O'DONOHUE AS ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE LA GATEWAY REGION. INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT, JPA CITYWIDE. THANK YOU MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. JUST WANTED [26. 24-53587 Recommendation to adopt resolution appointing City Engineer Keith Hoey as the authorized Board Member to the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Joint Powers Authority, and appointing Civil Engineers Tammy Takigawa and Dillon O’Donohue as the authorized Alternate Board Members; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to designate, in writing, a representative if neither the Member nor the Alternate Members are available. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO POINT OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT THE STAFF REPORT HAD ORIGINALLY, UM, HAD SOME ERRORS IN THE NAMES OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE BEING, UM, APPOINTED. AND THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED, SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. UM, SO THE STAFF REPORT IS NOW CORRECT. ALRIGHT. UH, SO, WELL, THE RESOLUTION IS CORRECT. YES. IS THE RESOLUTION CORRECT? YES. SO ARE WE GOOD? WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, GREAT. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECONDED. IS ANY PUBLIC COMMENT SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 28, COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE THE 2028 VENUE USE GUARANTEE WITH THE LOS ANGELES ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS ADDS MARINE STADIUM AS A PROPOSED VENUE CITYWIDE. [28. 24-53596 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute the 2028 Venue Use Guarantee with the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which among other things adds Marine Stadium as a proposed Venue. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN FOR RECUSAL. I'M RECUSING MYSELF WITH FROM THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WELL, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, UH, ITEM. WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE RECENTLY, UH, WHEN WE APPROVED THE GAMES AGREEMENT, THAT THE NEXT STEP IS THE VENUE USE GUARANTEE. UH, WE ARE AS A CITY, CONTINUING TO TAKE, UH, MAJOR STRIDES AS WE PREPARE TO HOST SEVERAL OLYMPIC EVENTS FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES. AS THE MAIN WATERFRONT FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE'RE POSED TO SERVE AS A MAJOR AQUATIC CENTER FOR THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS. AND CURRENTLY LONG BEACH IS ON TRACK TO BE THE LARGEST VENUE CITY OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES FOR LA 28. WE'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT PREPARING EVERY FACET OF OUR CITY, UH, TO TAKE PRIDE IN SHOWCASING OUR CITY INTERNATIONALLY, FROM INVESTING IN OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR PARKS, OUR POOLS, OUR YOUTH SPORTS FACILITIES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CITY. WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, ELEVATE 28. UH, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN A WORKFORCE THAT KEEPS OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY THRIVING THROUGH POLICIES LIKE MEASURE RW AND RAISED WAGES FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS. WE'RE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY SEES AND FEELS THE BENEFITS OF OUR CITY'S RIGOROUS PLANNING EFFORTS LEADING UP TO THIS HISTORIC EVENT. UH, OUR THIRD TIME SERVING AS A HOST OF VENUE CITY FOR THE OLYMPICS. FIRST IN 1932, THEN 1984, AND NOW 2028. UH, SO TODAY STAFF'S GONNA WALK US THROUGH THE PROPOSED VENUE USE, UH, AGREEMENT AND VENUE USE AREAS. AND AS WE FINALIZE THE VENUE AGREEMENTS WILL BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO ANNOUNCING THE OFFICIAL GAMES THAT LONG BEACH WILL HOST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LA 28. SO THAT SAID, WE'LL PASS IT TO OUR CITY MANAGER FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, UH, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS HERE. UH, WE, UM, HAVE THEM SPLIT SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, UH, IS GONNA RECUSE YOURSELF ON THIS ONE. SO THIS ONE IS JUST ABOUT MARINE STADIUM. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE WE'RE GONNA GO, UH, WHEN SHE'S ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, A LITTLE BIT LARGER INTO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TERMS THAT ARE IN THE AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS SEEING OUR OTHER THREE VENUES. UH, SO LET'S FOCUS FIRST ON MAUREEN STADIUM. I'LL TURN TO JORGE GODES, WHO IS, UH, ONE OF OUR LEADS IN THE OLYMPICS SPACE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JORGE GODES, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER. UH, TODAY I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE VENUE USE GUARANTEE FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, AS TOM MENTIONED. FIRST WE'RE GONNA START WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MARINE STADIUM AS A VENUE. THEN WE'LL TRANSITION TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM WHERE I'LL GO INTO MORE DEPTH OF THE GUARANTEE SPECIFICS. CLICK. IT'S NOT WORKING. WELL, WE'LL HAVE THE CLICKER READY FOR THE OLYMPICS. . YEAH, LET'S SEE IF IS NOW, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN SLIDE THE ADVANCE THE SLIDES IN THE BACK. THANK YOU. THERE'S, OKAY, I THINK WE GOT IT. IT'S WORKING NOW. OKAY. SO HERE'S, HERE'S A MARINE STADIUM PROPOSED VENUE MAP AND NEW STATES. UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO REINTRODUCE THIS VENUE TO THE GAMES MARKING THE FIRST TIME IT WILL BE USED TO HOST OLYMPIC EVENTS SINCE 1932. THE USE PERIOD PRESENTED IS A BROAD WINDOW OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS. HOWEVER, FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH LA 28 WILL HELP US ESTABLISH A PHASE APPROACH TO VENUE USAGE, SPECIFYING EXACT TIMINGS AND MITIGATING IMPACTS. OUR PRI PRIMARY GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS FOR [00:40:01] RESIDENTS WHILE ENSURING THE SUCCESSFUL HOSTING OF THE GAMES. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL VENUE OPERATIONS WILL BE MANAGED BY LA 28 AND REQUIRE COASTAL, UH, CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION APPROVAL. SO HERE'S JUST SOME VARIOUS VENUE LOGISTICS THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT. UM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER, UM, THAT SHOWS THAT THE SHORTENED COURSE RESTRICTS COMPETITION ACTIVITY TO NORTH OF THE DAVIES BRIDGE. THE AREA SOUTH OF DAVIES BRIDGE ALONGSIDE THE YACHT CLUB, WILL SERVE AS A WARMUP AND TURNAROUND AREA FOR BOATS. LA 28 HAS INDICATED THAT ACCESS THROUGH THIS AREA WILL BE STRICTLY MANAGED ON TRAINING AND COMPETITION DAYS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MARINE VISTA PARK AREA WILL BE UTILIZED FOR BACK OF HOUSE OP, UH, BACK OF HOUSE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING LA 20 EIGHTS EVENT SUPPORT FUNCTIONS SUCH AS OFFICE SPACE, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, SUPPORT OPERATIONS, AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT. UH, AND THEN WE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WILL BE A TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF FLOATING CONCRETE AND THE FLOATING CONCRETE AND DOCKS, UM, THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR TEST AND COMPETITION EVENTS AS WELL. WE ANTICIPATE THAT IMPACTED BOAT OWNERS WILL HAVE ACCESS DURING THE GAMES. HOWEVER, SECURITY AND LOGISTICAL REASONS MAY RESTRICT ACCESS DURING EVENT HOURS. AS LA 28 DEVELOPS ITS EVENT PLANS AND NAVIGATES THE COASTAL PERMITTING PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACES. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO MINIMIZE THESE IMPACTS THROUGH CAREFUL PLANNING AND PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOCUMENT TO HELP ADDRESS INITIAL CONCERNS AND OFFER INSIGHTS INTO WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS COULD BE. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS PORTION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL HAVE THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION ON THE NEXT ITEM. UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING, UM, MAYOR, UM, I DO HAVE, UH, SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS VENUE, WHICH ALSO APPLIES TO THE NEXT ONE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HOLD MY QUESTIONS FOR BOTH? YEAH, LET'S HAVE, WELL, IF IT'S THIS, IT'S ABOUT, WE HAVE TO HAND IF YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THIS VENUE, WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW. OKAY. OKAY. UM, SO MY, MY QUESTION IS, UM, DO WE ANTICIPATE LIKE ANY ISSUES WITH THE COASTAL COMMISSION WITH THIS, WITH THIS VENUE? SO ALL FOUR OF OUR VENUES ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COASTAL COMMISSION PROCESS. SO WE'VE BEEN VERY UPFRONT WITH LA 28. UH, WE'RE VERY EXPERIENCED IN DOING THAT AND WE CAN PROVIDE SOME, SOME ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS. THEY, ANYTIME THAT YOU'RE RESTRICTING ACCESS TO, TO WATER OR, OR ANY OF THE COAST, UM, THE COASTAL COMMISSION HAS TO APPROVE THAT. AND SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE. THE IDEA IS THAT YOU IDENTIFY THE SPACE AND THEN AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE GAMES, THAT'S WHEN MORE OF THE RESTRICTIONS HAPPEN AND TRY TO KEEP IT AS OPEN AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE. WE'VE DESIGNED IT SO THAT YOU CAN, UM, STILL HAVE ACCESS. THE BOATS CAN COME IN AND OUT, UM, UH, AND YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY BLOCKING ON ANYONE IN, BUT OF COURSE, DURING THE GAMES, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION AREAS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE, UM, UH, PHASED AND TIMED AS YOU BUILD UP TEMPORARY FACILITIES AND THEN TAKE THEM ALL BACK DOWN AGAIN. AND THERE WILL BE SOME COASTAL ACCESS, UM, UH, CONCERNS WITH THAT. SO, UH, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH COASTAL, THEY, THEY KNOW THIS IS COMING AND, AND THEN IT'LL BE UP TO 28 TO REALLY, UM, NEGOTIATE THOSE DETAILS AND GET A COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT. AND THEN ONE OTHER QUESTION. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THIS MARINE, MARINE STADIUM AREA, UM, AS, AS THEY DO THE BEACH AREAS AND THE OTHER VENUES. SO WHAT WILL THAT COMMUNITY OUTREACH LOOK LIKE? YEAH, SO, UM, AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER, UH, WE'RE, WE WILL HAVE MORE AND MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHEN THINGS WILL BE OPEN AND WHEN THEY'LL NOT BE, UH, AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS, IS NOT TO TAKE, UH, THE ENTIRE ASSET THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT THEN DO IT IN STAGES SO THAT WE CAN, UH, USE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY DURING THE TWO WEEKS OF THE EVENT IS GONNA BE COMPLETELY EXCLUSIVE USE. AND THEN YOU ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT SECURITY CONCERNS, UM, YOU KNOW, LEADING UP TO THAT AS WELL. AND SO, UM, UH, THOSE REALLY WILL BE BUILT OUT I THINK IN 27. LIKE THE ACTUAL PLANS WILL BE REALLY LAID OUT, VERY DETAILED, UH, BY LA 28 AND, AND WE'LL BE COMMUNICATING WITH RESIDENTS AND BOATERS, UH, ABOUT ALL THOSE DETAILS, UH, AS, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE GAMES, PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CARR, NONE. HAPPY TO SUPPORT. OKAY. UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 29 PLEASE. COMMUNICATION COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, COME, COME BACK IN THE ROOM. COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE THE 2028 VENUE USE GUARANTEE WITH THE LOS ANGELES ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES, WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS CONFIRMS THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, MARINA GREEN AND ALAMEDO BEACH AND WATERFRONT AROUND THE [29. 24-53597 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute the 2028 Venue Use Guarantee with the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which among other things confirms the Convention Center and Entertainment Center, Marina Green and Alamitos Beach, and waterfront around the Belmont Shore Beach area as Venues. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] BELMONT SHORE BEACH AREA AS VENUES CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, LET'S HAVE THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION NOW. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE A MORE DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE VENUE USE GUARANTEE. SO I'LL START BY PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE PURPOSE [00:45:01] BEHIND THE GUARANTEE. UH, SHOW YOU SOME UPDATED MAPS AND USE PERIODS FOR EACH VENUE. AND THE NEXT STEPS WE WILL TAKE AS WE APPROACH THE GAMES. IN 2016, THE CITY SIGNED THE 2024 VENUE USE GUARANTEE WITH THE LOS ANGELES 2024 EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE. SINCE THEN, LA 24 HAS REORGANIZED INTO LA 28. AS LA 28 FINALIZES THE LIST OF SPECIFIC EVENTS FOR EACH LOCATION. THEY REQUIRE THE CITY TO EXECUTE AN UPDATED 2028 VENUE USE GUARANTEE. THIS UPDATED AGREEMENT REAFFIRMS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING VENUES FOR THE GAMES. IT ALSO OUTLINES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE VENUES WILL BE USED, ENSURING THAT ALL PARTIES UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE UPDATED GUARANTEE INCLUDES REVISIONS TO THE PROPOSED VENUE, USE PERIODS AND MAPS, AS WELL AS UPDATED LANGUAGE RELATED TO COST RECOVERY. SO HERE'S A CONVENTION CENTER MAP, UM, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE FACILITY COMPARED TO THE 2016 LETTER. THE FOOTPRINT REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED OTHER THAN THE ADDITION OF THE TERRA STATE AREA. THE NEXT THREE MAPS HIGHLIGHT THE WATERFRONT AREAS. AS WE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE AREAS WILL BE SUBJECT TO COASTAL COMMISSION APPROVAL. SO BOUNDARIES AND USE STATES MAY CHANGE AS LA 28 PROGRESSES THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS. UM, THIS FIRST MAP SHOWS THE ALAMITOS BEACH AREA, WHICH REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED FROM OUR 2016 COMMITMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE COASTAL AREA, THE FOOTPRINT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE MARINA GREEN AND ALAMITOS BEACH PARKING LOTS. WE ARE NOW REFERRING TO THIS MAP AS THE BELMONT SHORE BEACH AREA. IN THE 2016 LETTER, THIS FOOTPRINT INCLUDED BELMONT PIER, UH, BUT LA 28 HAS DECIDED TO MOVE THE BOUNDARIES EAST TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE THEIR EVENT PLANS. UM, THIS CHANGE IS ACTUALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE PEER TO POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVATION DURING THE GAMES, THE USE PERIOD. UH, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PAST PRESENTATION, THE USE PERIODS PRESENTED HERE ARE BROAD WINDOWS, UH, FOR OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS. FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH LA 28 WILL HELP US ESTABLISH A PHASED APPROACH TO VENUE USAGE. DURING THE EXCLUSIVE USE PERIOD, THE CITY WILL GRANT LA 28 EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE VENUES FOR NECESSARY PREPARATIONS AND EVENT DAYS LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE GAMES. FOR THE NON-EXCLUSIVE USE PERIOD, THE CITY WILL ALLOW NON-EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE VENUES FOR PRELIMINARY SETUP PHASE MOVEMENT IN AND MOVE OUT ACTIVITIES, ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION BEFORE AND AFTER THE GAMES. THIS NON-EXCLUSIVE PERIOD IS DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS AND ALLOW REGULAR USE OF THE VENUES TO CONTINUE. IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION TO DETAILING THE VENUES AND USE PERIODS, THE VENUE USE GUARANTEE OUTLINES KEY COST AND REIMBURSEMENT PROVISIONS. LA 28 WILL REIMBURSE ALL OPERATIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE GAMES THAT EXCEED THE NORMAL AND CUSTOMARY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY. AS WE'VE, AS WE'VE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE COMMITTED, UH, TO FULL COST RECOVERY. FURTHERMORE, THE CITY COMMITS TO ACCOMMODATING TEST EVENTS IN THE LEAD UP TO THE GAMES FOLLOWING THE EXECUTION OF THE VENUE'S GUARANTEE. LA 28 IS EXPECTED TO FINALIZE THE GAME SCHEDULE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THIS SUMMER. THE SCHEDULE WILL DETAIL THE SPECIFIC SPORTING EVENTS HOSTED IN LONG BEACH. COST RECOVERY EXPECTATIONS, INCLUDING RENT AND SERVICES AT EACH VENUE WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY OUTLINED IN THE VENUE SERVICES AGREEMENTS. THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE TO BE NEGOTIATED AND FINALIZED BY OCTOBER 1ST, 2027. THE CITY ALSO AGREES TO PARTNER WITH LA 28 TO SE SECURE THE NECESSARY PERMITS FOR THE GAMES THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION. VENUE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY SITE BUILDS AND DECOMMISSIONING WILL BE MANAGED BY LA 28 AND WILL REQUIRE COASTAL APPROVAL. THE REVIEW, THE REVIEW PROCESS MAY RESULT IN CHANGES TO VENUE FOOTPRINTS, PHASING TIMELINES, AND USE PERIODS TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC BEACHES. AS LA 28 DEVELOPS, UH, ITS PLANS FOR EACH VENUE AND NAVIGATES THE COASTAL PERMITTING PROCESS, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACES WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. STAFF WILL CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO DISCUSS THESE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY WELL-INFORMED ABOUT MITIGATION EFFORTS AND TO ENSURE THE GAMES ARE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL. UH, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PAST PRESENTATION, WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOCUMENT TO HELP INITIAL TO HELP ADDRESS THE INITIAL CONCERNS AND OFFER INSIGHTS INTO THE POTENTIAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL IMPACTS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YEAH, SO I DID HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING LIKE NON-REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES, HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, COST RECOVERY AND ALL THAT. BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS ALL PREMATURE. IF I SHOULD JUST WAIT MAYOR AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS ONCE WE GET THE VENUE SERVICE AGREEMENT BACK. IS THAT, WOULD THAT BE PREFERABLE? YEAH, IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION TODAY. OKAY. [00:50:01] WE HAVE MORE. AND MAYBE TOM, WALK US THROUGH WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT. I THINK RIGHT NOW THERE ARE VALUES AND COMMITMENTS, LIKE COST RECOVERY IS A GOAL AS WE GO INTO NEGOTIATION. OKAY. WE'LL HAVE MORE DE DISCUSSIONS ON THE DEALS POINTS WHEN THEY COME ALONG, BUT DO YOU WANNA ADD SOME COLOR TO THAT? SURE. SO THE VENUE USE, UH, GUARANTEE IS SO THAT THEY CAN FINALIZE THEIR GAMES PLAN AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO ALL NON HOSTS, CITY VENUE CITIES TO START THE DISCUSSION REGARDING COST, COST RECOVERY, UM, HOW WE APPROACH THAT. THERE'S, UM, DOCUMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, BUT IT'S LIKE A PROFORMA. SO THAT'S THE, THE METHOD OF HOW THEY WANT US TO PROVIDE THE DATA. BUT THAT WILL, THAT CONVERSATION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE REALLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. WE WILL THEN BRING IT BACK FOR APPROVAL AND OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I'LL DEFER MY QUESTIONS STILL THEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UM, AND WHERE DOES, IT'S 'CAUSE THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL ALSO HAS TO VOTE ON A PAR PART OF THIS. DO THEY VOTE AFTER WE DO THIS? WHEN DO THEY VOTE? CORRECT. SO LA ACTUALLY HAS A, UM, OH MY GOSH, A SEPARATE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HAS TO HEAR ALL OF THE ITEMS RELATED TO THE OLYMPICS BEFORE IT GOES TO CITY COUNCIL. SO THEY NEEDED THIS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE IT TO THEIR AD HOC AND THEN THEIR EVENTUAL, EVENTUAL CITY COUNCIL, UM, TO AGREE TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL GAMES THAT WERE PLANNED FOR THE CITY OF LA. RIGHT. SO THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TIME THIS WILL BE IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO COME. OKAY. UH, LET'S SEE. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW WE'VE TAKEN SEVERAL, UH, PROCEDURAL STEPS IN OUR PREPARATION FOR OLYMPICS 28. SO EXCITING. I KNOW THAT, UM, THE PARIS OLYMPICS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND ABOUT TO KICK OFF THIS, UM, SUMMER. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE CITY STAFF, UM, TO, TO TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, TIE INTO THIS MOMENTUM, UM, AND THIS PRO PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS A CITY SO THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE, UM, THE PARIS OLYMPICS IN OUR CITY AT THE SAME TIME, UM, IN ANTICIPATION FOR WHAT IS COMING IN 2028 TO OUR CITY. ALSO, UM, AS THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS CULTURAL AND TOURISM COMMITTEE, I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY MANY STAKEHOLDERS ASKING FOR INFORMATION, UH, AND TIMELINES AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALSO A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE ON THAT. BUT I LIKE HEARING, UM, THAT WE ARE GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING STEP BY STEP. I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. A MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. WE'RE NOW GONNA TRANSITION TO OUR CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE. UH, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS THERE. SO THIS, UH, SO WHAT I HAVE TO DO IS CALL FOR A RECESS, UH, TO THE MEETING, UH, AND THEN CONVENE THE JOINT CHARTER MIMIC COMMITTEE. UH, AND SO DO I WHAT I NEED TO DO, JUST CALL FOR THE RECESS. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE IN A RECESS. OKAY, GREAT. YEAH, IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE US ONE MINUTE, WE'LL TRANSITION THE AGENDAS. GREAT. WE'RE GONNA PAUSE WHILE WE TRANSITION. OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, WAIT A MINUTE. WHEN ARE THE MOBILITY PEOPLE HERE? YEAH. OKAY. LET'S DO THE METRO REPORT AND GET THEM OUTTA HERE BEFORE WE TRANSITION. OKAY. COUNCIL, LET'S GET THE, LET'S, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THIS. SORRY. LET'S DO, WHAT IS THIS ITEM? ITEM 39, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE LONG BEACH EAST LOS ANGELES CORRIDOR MOBILITY INVESTMENT PLAN. OKAY. AND THIS KIND OF ALIGNS WITH THE PRESENTATION WE JUST HAD ON THE OLYMPICS. [39. 24-53828 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Long Beach-East Los Angeles Corridor Mobility Investment Plan (CMIP).       Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District; Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, I'LL GO TO YOU, THEN I'LL GO OFFICER FROM COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO GO TO MITCH. COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS, ARE YOU READY? THANK YOU. YES. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, THIS IS, THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. UM, THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AND BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM METRO WHAT THE, WHAT THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN METRO AND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, COMING AND DOING THIS PRESENTATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GO, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME [00:55:01] TO COME DOWN AND TALK WITH US AND THE MANY YEARS THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS CORRIDOR MOBILITY INVESTMENT PLAN. UM, WE, WE JUST WANNA LIFT UP AND RECOGNIZE A FEW THINGS. YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SHOEMAKER BRIDGE IS, IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN THE $9 MILLION INVESTMENT AND THAT PLAN AND SHORELINE AND DRIVE REALIGNMENT, WHICH WILL DOUBLE THE SIZE OF, UH, CESAR CHAVEZ PARK AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PARK ITSELF. SO WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF THE NON-FREE ELEMENTS IN THE INVESTMENT PLAN, INCLUDING REFERENCES TO OUR WEST SIDE PROMISE, THE GREEN TERMINAL ISLAND FREEWAY PROJECT, AND OTHER GREENING AND MULTIMODAL PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE WEST PART OF LONG BEACH. UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK BEYOND FREEWAY EXPANSION, AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL TAKINGS, AND PRIORITIZE MULTIMODAL SOLUTIONS. AND WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE A STARTING POINT. THERE'S MUCH MORE INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE, BUT THIS CORRIDOR MOBILITY INVESTMENT PLAN, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRIEF ME. NOW YOU GET A CHANCE TO BRIEF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY SEE LONG BEACH'S INPUT REFLECTED. SO THAT SAID, WE HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE HERE. AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT TO THANK THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND THE MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. UH, NOT JUST COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, SORROW AND ORRAN FOR BEING PART OF OUR TASK FORCE, UH, BUT ALSO INPUT FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH IS PARTICIPATING. SHARON WEISSMAN, COMMISSIONER SHARON WEISSMAN AND THERESA DELANO LONG BEACH TRANSIT IS PARTICIPATING AS WELL, AND AS WELL AS LONG BEACH ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA AND ONE OF THE MANY CBOS WE'VE WORKED WITH TO MAKE THIS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I ALSO DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAD, UH, ABOUT 26 MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE. THREE OF THEM WERE FROM THE LONG BEACH AREA, UH, MARCUS LOPEZ, MARIA REYES, OR MARLENE SANCHEZ. AND AS WELL AS, UH, IN WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT INPUT WE RECEIVED FROM LONG BEACH, WE ADDED IN TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR KAMAYA AND TAGALOG IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES COULD PARTICIPATE AS WELL. SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE ALL THE INPUT WE RECEIVED AND ARE WELCOME, UH, THRILLED TO COME BACK HERE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE. AND I'LL TRY TO TRUNCATE MY PRESENTATION. I DID WANNA POINT OUT I'M ENJOIN BY EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, UH, LILLIAN, THE LOS GOOD THEATERS, SO I APPRECI HER BEING HERE AS WELL. SO THE OVERVIEW, I'M GONNA SKIM THROUGH THIS. YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS A TREMENDOUSLY CENTRAL PART OF THIS CORRIDOR. WE'RE LOOKING AT, ESSENTIALLY EXTENDS FROM THE PORTS, UH, THE SEA FRONT TO EAST LOS ANGELES SURROUNDING THE SEVEN 10 CORRIDOR. AND THIS IS A, THIS IS A CORRIDOR WHERE EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING, WHERE YOU HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UH, POPULATION DENSE POPULATION, YOU HAVE, UH, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE, YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS, UH, AMOUNT OF FREIGHT MOVING ON THE FREEWAY BY 35,000 TRUCKS PER DAY, UH, IN SOME AREAS. AND THAT CARRIES WITH IT, OF COURSE, A LOT OF IMPACTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT PEOPLE IN THE, IN LONG BEACH AND AROUND THE CORRIDOR EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS. AND IT'S ALSO A CRITICAL GATEWAY, A CRITICAL GATEWAY, UH, INTO LONG BEACH AS WELL AS THROUGH THE REST OF THE REGION AND THE NATION IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF GOODS THAT DO MOVE FROM OUR PORTS, UH, THROUGH THE SEVEN 10 THROUGH THE REST OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. UH, WITH ALL THESE BURDENS HERE, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A HISTORY INVOLVED AND THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THIS CORRIDOR HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY, UM, THE FREEWAY AND IN TERMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT, AND THEN THE PLANS TO, TO WIDEN IT. AND I THINK IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT I REALLY GIVE A LOT OF DEFERENCE TO THE COMMUNITIES. UM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SPOKE UP THAT WIDENING THE FREEWAY FOR THE SEVEN 10 WAS NOT THE SOLUTION TO DEALING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE CORRIDOR AND THE PROJECT WAS HALTED. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE WITH THIS PLAN IS TAKING THE FUNDING FROM MEASURES R AND M THAT WERE APPLIED TO THE SEVEN 10 CORRIDOR AND REPURPOSING THEM TO CREATE A MULTIMODAL VISION FOR HOW DO WE MOVE PEOPLE IN GOODS THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER, DO IT IN A ZERO EMISSION FASHION AS BEST AS WE CAN, AND MAKE IT SAFER AS WELL, AND TRY TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BY, UH, THE CONDITIONS ON THE FREEWAY OR TRYING TO CROSS OVER THE FREEWAY. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS. I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THIS IS CALLING THIS OUT, UH, MAYOR, WHEN I MET WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE DISPARITIES IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH AND THE, AND THE LONGEVITY OF LIFE FROM THE, FROM THE SEVEN 10 FREEWAY COMMUNITIES, HOW THAT'S IMPACTED. YOU KNOW, THAT DEFINITELY RANG, UH, TRUE FOR US OR RESONATED IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SAW WITH THE DATA, WITH THE EXPERIENCES, WITH THE INFORMATION RECEIVED WEST LONG BEACH IN PARTICULAR, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND IMPACTS WERE. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHARTS AND INFORMATION IN OUR PLAN THAT DEMONSTRATE ALL OF THOSE IMPACTS AND WAYS THAT WE CAN TRY TO SHAPE THIS PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE IMPACTS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO EMISSIONS, UH, FROM, FROM THE TAILPIPE, AS WELL AS SOME NON TAILPIPE EMISSIONS THAT ARE GENERATED BY ROAD DUST AND OTHER KINDS OF IMPACTS CAUSED BY FREEWAY OPERATION. UH, WE DO THANK, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE IN THE CLC FOR PARTICIPATING. THIS WAS A NOVEL EFFORT FROM METRO TO REALLY BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY INTO OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS [01:00:01] AND PARTNER WITH US AND TAKE AN ADVISORY BODY AND OPEN UP THE DOORS TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WERE OPPOSING THE PRIOR PROJECT THAT WERE COMMUNITY BASED IN NATURE AND TRYING TO GIVE US THAT GROUND TRUTHING OF WHAT WE WERE DOING AND HOW WE CAN BRING TO OUR BOARD THE BEST RECOMMENDATIONS POSSIBLE THAT MET THE MANY NEEDS, SOMETIMES CONFLICTING, UM, BUT REALLY HOW WE FIND CONSENSUS AND WORKING TOGETHER TO COME FORWARD WITH A PLAN ON HOW WE SHOULD INVEST THESE FUNDS WITH A LOT MORE WORK TO COME FOLLOWING. UH, WE STARTED WITH A VISION AND GOALS, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE DID EMANATED FROM THESE VISION AND GOALS AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS. AND IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION, UH, ELEMENTS, THERE'S ALSO FOCUS ON AIR QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY. AND HOW DO WE UPLIFT THE COMMUNITIES WITH THIS INVESTMENT AND LOOK AT THE LOCALIZED BENEFITS AS OPPOSED TO JUST THE REGIONAL BENEFITS THAT COME FROM INVESTING IN THE, THE, UH, SEVEN 10 CORRIDOR, WHICH WE CALL THE LONG BEACH TO EAST LA CORRIDOR. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACTS. YOU KNOW IT VERY WELL, YOU WERE VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE EXPERIENCES WERE AND TURN. AND SO WE TOOK THAT TO HEART AND WE'RE PRESENTING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE EVALUATED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT COULD TRY TO CREATE BENEFITS AND REDUCE IMPACTS CAUSED BY THESE SOURCES OF, OF CONCERN FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES, UH, ALONG THE WAY. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR POINTS WE LOOKED AT HERE. THERE'S A LOT MORE INFORMATION WE CAN PROVIDE THAT'S IN THE PLAN, BUT WE WANT TO CONNECT THE DOTS THOUGH THAT THAT WAS PART OF OUR PROCESS. WE HAD, UH, BASED OFF OF COMMUNITY INPUT. UM, SO OUR PLAN TAKES A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY, SAFETY ACROSS ALL MODES, WHETHER IT'S GETTING ON AND OFF THE FREEWAY. UH, HOW DO YOU ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, GET TO, UH, EDUCATION, UH, JUST GETTING HOME, THEY TAKE ON, ON RAMPS AND OFF RAMPS AND DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES. HOW DO THEY DO THAT EFFECTIVELY? HOW DO PEOPLE TRYING TO CROSS THE FREEWAY BY BICYCLE BY FOOT, HOW DO THEY MOVE SAFELY OR WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES? HOW DO WE HAVE BETTER BUS TRANSIT PROTECTED BICYCLE LANES, DIFFERENT WAYS OF INVESTING TO HELP IMPROVE, UH, MOBILITY, BUT DO IN A WAY THAT, UH, RECOGNIZES THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICTS, UH, WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY TRUCKS IN THIS CORRIDOR. AND AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT THINGS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH IN TERMS OF HOW ZERO EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES WE'RE INVESTING IN. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR ZERO EMISSION TRUCK INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR HELPING MAKE THE ALAMEDA CORRIDOR BECOME ZERO EMISSION, COMPLEMENTING THE WORK DONE AT THE, THE PORT OF LONG BEACH WITH TURNING THAT INTO, UH, A RAIL FOCUSED ZERO EMISSION FACILITY. AND ALSO LOOKING HOW DO WE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT LOCAL CITIES TO DEVELOP ZERO EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THEIR SYSTEMS, WHETHER IT'S AT THE PASSENGER LEVEL OR THE TRANSIT LEVEL. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS WHEN THINGS WE DID HEAR A LOT ABOUT IS URBAN GREENING, UH, THE, THE URBAN HEAT, THE, UH, URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, EXCUSE ME. AND HOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR SHADE FOR BETTER, UH, TRANSIT SERVICES, FOR BUS SHELTERS FOR BETTER ACCESS, A DA IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO WE DON'T, DON'T JUST HAVE FUNDING FOR THE LARGER SCALE PROJECTS LIKE A SHOEMAKER BRIDGE AND OTHERS. WE TRY TO COME DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL AND TRY TO FIND FUNDING AND WAYS TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES AT THEIR CORE TO THE LARGER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, WHETHER YOU'RE ACCESSING A BUS, ACCESSING THE ALINE, UM, OR JUST TRYING TO WALK OR BICYCLE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO WE TRY TO GET TO THAT LEVEL AS WELL AS THE LARGER SYSTEM LEVEL. AND THROUGHOUT US ALL, WE ALSO HAVE HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONNECTED INVESTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE HAPPENING. WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT THROUGH A CATALYST FUND TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT AS WE INVEST FUNDING FROM THIS PLAN INTO THE CORRIDOR, WE CREATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND LINK IT TO THINGS LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PORTS WITH THE, UH, THE GOODS MOVEMENT TRAINING CENTER THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES, UH, WITH OTHER KIND, WITH LABOR, WITH OTHER GROUPS IN THE CORRIDOR TO SEE IF WE CAN CONNECT PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES TO THE JOBS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING. THAT IS SOMETHING WE HEARD CONSISTENTLY. WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT WITH THE CITY AND WITH OTHER PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR. UM, WE ALSO HAVE FOUND THAT THE, UH, THAT THE INVESTMENT IN THE STREETS, THE ROADWAYS, WAS TO BE, NOT TO BE ADDING LANES TO ADD MORE TRAFFIC, BUT TO CREATE COMPLETE STREETS, TO CREATE BETTER AND SAFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRIDORS LIKE ATLANTIC AND LIKE LONG BEACH BOULEVARD, AND TRYING TO CONNECT THAT SO THAT FROM SOUTH TO NORTH WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE IN A BETTER WAY, IN A SAFER WAY, AS WELL AS JUST ADDING CAPACITY, UM, IN THOSE, IN, IN CREATING CONFLICTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, UH, THROUGH THOSE CORRIDORS. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING PRIORITIES HERE. IF YOU GO THROUGH IT, AND IN FACT, WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION AT THE VERY END. I'LL HAVE A WEBSITE, WHICH YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND DEFINITELY PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION YOU NEED, UH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. BUT WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE ARE INVESTING IN, UH, THAT DO RANGE FROM THOSE COMPLETE STREET CORRIDORS TO ELECTRIFICATION, UH, TO DIFFERENT FREEWAY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR SAFETY AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT AS WE DEVELOP THEM, WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE BENEFITS AND DON'T CREATE NEW IMPACTS, UM, THAT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO HAVE VARIOUS DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE M THE A LINE IN TERMS OF FIRST, LAST MILE IMPROVEMENTS, ADDITIONAL QUAD SAFETY GATES, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT AS PEOPLE ARE CROSSING OVER THE TRACKS, THAT THERE'S A SAFER ENVIRONMENT THERE, UH, IN COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THOSE KINDS OF GATES. WE ALSO HAVE CONNECTIVITY, UH, THE RAIL TO RIVER PROJECT, [01:05:01] AS WELL AS CONNECTIVITY TO THE, UH, THE BIKE PATH. THE LA RIVER BIKE PATH IS ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT WE HEARD THAT WE NEED TO CONNECT AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT ALONG THE BRIDGES, ALONG THE ROUTES THAT WE HAVE, UM, ALL THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR. UH, THIS IS KIND OF A MAPPING OF WHERE THE PROJECTS ARE. UH, WE TRY TO HIT AS MANY AS WE CAN, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANNA POINT OUT IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU SEE IN THE PINK THERE, THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL THE EQUITY FOCUS COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE DETERMINED. THOSE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THE MOST NEEDS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE CORRIDOR. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE AREAS IN THE CORRIDOR WHERE SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES MAY NOT HAVE A PROJECT DIRECTLY. AND WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH THEM THROUGH SOME TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE TO FIND WAYS TO CREATE NEW PROJECTS. BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THAT IN SOME AREAS, SOME AREAS DON'T HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE READY TO GO. 'CAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE RESOURCES OR THE ABILITY TO CREATE THOSE PIPELINES OF PROJECTS TO BE READY TO GO. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MANY COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST CITY BY CITY, BUT ALSO WITHIN, UH, LARGER CITIES TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN COLLABORATIVELY AND LISTEN AND, AND REALLY PARTICIPATE, UH, WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT THEM TO THIS LARGER TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN. UM, THIS PLAN, I'LL, I THINK I'LL WRAP IT UP HERE, MAYOR. THE, THE PLAN IS $743 MILLION. UM, IN FACT, I'LL FAST FORWARD TO THIS SLIDE HERE. I'LL, I'LL END ON THIS SLIDE. MAYOR. UH, WE HAVE SEVEN $43 MILLION. WE ARE INVESTING, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO LEVERAGE ABOUT $4 BILLION. IT'S PART OF A LARGER PUZZLE THAT INCLUDES UP TO $20 BILLION INVESTMENT. THINGS LIKE THE SOUTHEAST GATEWAY LINE THAT METRO JUST ANNOUNCED, THE EAST SIDE EXTENSION, WHAT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH IS DOING IN TERMS OF ITS MODERNIZATION EFFORTS AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. AND SO THIS MONEY ISN'T GONNA SOLVE ALL OF OUR ISSUES. IT'S A DOWN PAYMENT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU AND COLLABORATING AND TRYING TO GET MORE FUNDING BECAUSE THE NEXT STEPS ARE TO MAKE SURE THESE PROJECTS ARE READY TO GO GET FUNDING AND BRING IN INVESTMENT. UH, THAT'S BEEN MUCH NEEDED. THAT'S CORRIDOR FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE THAT CONSENSUS GOING FORWARD TO, TO DO THAT UNIFIED VOICE AND BE VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT IT. SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL END MY COMMENTS. I DO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. WELL, WELL, THANK YOU, MICHAEL. I THINK I SAID MITCH EARLIER. FORGIVE ME. THANK YOU, MICHAEL. UH, AND PLEASE SEND OUR REGARDS TO CEO WIGGINS. WE HAD A GREAT MEETING ABOUT THIS AND ABOUT SHOEMAKER, AND, UM, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. THINGS ARE CERTAINLY PROGRESSING AT THE STATE LEVEL, UH, ABOUT, UH, IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDS. AND WE'LL CONTINUE, UH, TO KEEP OUR CONVERSATION GOING. COUNCILWOMAN, ANYTHING ELSE? JUST AGAIN, WHAT A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, MICHAEL. AND THANK YOU FOR THE ONGOING PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH LONG BEACH. SO THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. THANK YOU. PLEASURE. THANK YOU. AND MR. MOKA, LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET, GET THIS PRESENTATION POSTED ON THE CLERK PAGE, OR MADAM MADAME CLERK, LET'S GET THIS UPDATED TO THE CLERK'S PAGE, THIS PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? SEEING NONE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE GONNA CALL FOR A RECESS TO TRANSITION TO THE MEETING OF THE JOINT CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE. SO WE'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT WHILE THEY SET UP. [01:11:43] OKAY. WE'RE GONNA CALL THE ORDER THE MEETING OF THE CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS PRESENT COUNCIL OR VICE MAYOR ALLEN. THAT'S LEAD COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN COUNCILMAN, WE'RE NO ROLL CALL GUYS. COUNCILMAN KERR? HERE. COUNCILMAN ZARO. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. WE HAVE QUORUM. I'M HERE APPOINTED OF ORDER. MAYOR, UH, WE CAN'T HEAR VERY WELL UP HERE, SO IF YOU CAN REPEAT THINGS, THAT WOULD BE YEAH. SPEAKING TO THE MIC. ALRIGHT. I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GOOD. WE HAVE A QUORUM. UM, UH, LET'S CALL UP ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE. ITEM ONE IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST THE MAYOR TO CONVENE THE CHARTER COMMITTEE COMMITTEE, CHARTER AMENDMENT COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT THE FIRST HEARING, RECEIVING FILE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE IN SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND MOVE TO SECOND HEARING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF CITY CHARTER ARTICLE 11, TO CONFINE THE CIVIL SERVICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS INTO ONE UNIFIED HIRING DEPARTMENT CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, OKAY. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PER OUR CHARTER RULES, WE TAKE THREE STEPS TO AMEND OUR CHARTER. THE, UH, IT HAS TO BE HEARD IN THIS COMMITTEE THREE TIMES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, UH, AND THE RULES, UH, THAT WE'RE USING ARE STANDARD COUNCIL RULES, WHICH MEANS FIVE YEAR, FIVE MINUTE LIMITS ON COUNCIL MEMBER SPEAKING TIME, STANDARD PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES. SO ALL OF THAT IS THE SAME LIKE WE DO EVERY OTHER, UH, HEARING. SO THAT SAID, WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, IF YOU RECALL, UM, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE WERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO REFER THIS ITEM OFFICIALLY TO COMMITTEE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE HAD A PRETTY IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION OF THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL AND THE HISTORY AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED. SO, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THAT AS A PART OF THAT. WE THEN HAD A, UM, REQUEST, UH, TO GO FURTHER INTO SOME QUESTIONS. AND SO WE PROVIDED THAT AND THAT'S WHERE SOME OF OUR FOCUS WILL BE. UH, BUT JUST TO, UH, SUMMARIZE, THIS HAS BEEN, UH, A LONG ROAD. THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. UH, THIS ALL STARTED, UH, BACK WHEN THE MAYOR, UH, REALLY, UH, UH, LAUNCHED THIS EFFORT AS PART OF THE STATE OF THE CITY AND, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE IMPROVE OUR HIRING SYSTEM. UH, THERE'S MANY THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON. THIS IS ONE OF 'EM, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HIRE FASTER, HIRE STREAMLINED, UH, TRACK TOP QUALITY TALENT, UH, AND ALSO REDUCE, UH, UM, BUREAUCRACY AND, AND STREAMLINE OUR HIRING PROCESSES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO JOE AMINI, OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. HE'S GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE, UH, BROUGHT, WERE BROUGHT UP LAST TIME. HE'S REALLY GONNA FOCUS ON SOME OF THE, THE MERIT-BASED SYSTEMS AND HOW THOSE WORK. 'CAUSE THAT WAS A FOCUS, UH, OF THE COUNCIL. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE'VE DONE ON THE POLLING AS WELL, UH, AND, UH, ALSO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PREFERENCES AND HOW THOSE WILL ACTUALLY WORK AND GET IMPLEMENTED. UH, SO I WILL TURN TO, UH, JOE AMBROSINI. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, AS AND THANK YOU TOM. AS TOM JUST, UM, INDICATED, UM, AN IN-DEPTH, UH, OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT WAS PROVIDED AT THE MAY SEVEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING. UM, SO TONIGHT, UM, I WILL WORK ON, I WILL FOCUS ON RECAPPING THE PROPOSALS FOUNDATION AND DISCUSS, UM, HOW WE BELIEVE THIS PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT IS A STEP FORWARD TO HELPING MODERNIZE THE CITY'S HIRING STRUCTURE. UM, ADDITIONALLY WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WALK THROUGH, UM, SOME [01:15:01] OF THE CITY'S RESPONSES TO, UH, COUNCIL FEEDBACK FROM THAT MAY 7TH MEETING. UM, AND THAT WAS ALSO DETAILED IN A MEMO, UM, THAT WAS RELEASED PUBLICLY LAST WEEK TO THE COUNCIL. BUT WE'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT FEATURES HERE. UM, WE'LL TALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ON ADDRESSING SOME POTENTIAL CONCERNS WITH THE NEW SYSTEM. UM, AND THEN REALLY SPEND SOME TIME FOCUSING ON THE NEW LOCAL HIRING PREFERENCES. UM, THESE ARE PRETTY GROUNDBREAKING PREFERENCES, UM, ACCORDING TO OUR RESEARCH, UM, FIRST IN THE NATION ON A LOT OF THESE, UM, DIFFERENT PREFERENCES, UM, THAT WE'RE PROPOSING. AND THEN, UM, DISCUSS A LITTLE ON THE VOTER SURVEY AND SOME NEXT STEPS. UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, THIS WAS THE, THE CONCEPT AND THE, IN THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE, UM, WENT, WAS, WENT INTO IN GREAT DETAIL AT THE LAST MEETING. SO I'LL JUST SORT OF RECAP SOME OF THE MAIN PRINCIPLES THAT WE BELIEVE MAKE UP THIS PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT. UH, NUMBER ONE WOULD BE, UM, MERIT SYSTEM HIRING AND EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS, AND ENSURING THAT THOSE REMAIN IN PLACE AND THAT THOSE ARE EVEN STRENGTHENED, UM, DURING THIS PROCESS. UM, SO, UH, MERIT-BASED HIRING, UM, IS NOT, UH, GOING TO CHANGE AS A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL. AND EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO APPEAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR, UM, UM, COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE HIRING PROCESS AND THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS, UM, WILL REMAIN IN PLACE. AND WE'LL, WE'LL TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE. UH, THE NUMBER TWO FOUNDATION IS UN IS, IS UNIFYING, UM, ALL CITYWIDE HIRING TO ONE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT. SO RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT THOSE FUNCTIONS ARE BIFURCATED TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TWO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS. AND THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO UNIFY HIRING TO ONE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT FOR EFFICIENCY. AND NUMBER THREE, IMPLEMENTING NEW HIRING PREFERENCES THAT WILL FOCUS ON CULTIVATING LOCAL TALENT, SUPPORTING OUR CURRENT PART-TIME AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND EMPOWERING INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. NUMBER ONE, ENSURING, UM, AN INDEPENDENT AND AN INDEPENDENT ROLE APART FROM THE CITY MANAGER OR THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. SO, UM, THE, UH, PROPOSAL IS FOR THE COMMISSION TO BE RENAMED THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION AND THAT COMMISSION TO CONTINUE OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CITY MANAGER OR THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT, THAT, UH, COMMISSION WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY A STAFF MEMBER, UM, IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND, UH, NUMBER TWO, REALLY ALIGNING COMMISSION DUTIES SIMILAR TO WHAT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONS OUR PERSONNEL BOARDS FOCUS ON AT OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO THAT COMMISSION WOULD CONTINUE TO HANDLE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE HIRING PROCESS FOR CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES. UM, THEY WOULD HEAR AND REVIEW DISCIPLINARY APPEALS. AND THEN, UM, ONE CAVEAT TO THAT, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A MOMENT ON THE THAT, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES, UM, WOULD NOW HAVE THE OPTION FOR THEIR DISCIPLINARY APPEAL CASES TO BE HEARD BY A HEARING OFFICER OR THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION. UM, CURRENTLY THAT IS, UM, THE LAW, THE STATE LAW FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS UNDER THE FIREFIGHTER BILL OF RIGHTS. AND SO AS PART OF THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO IN A SECOND, WE ARE PROPOSING TO STANDARDIZE ALL PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, GROUPS TO HAVE THE SAME DISCIPLINARY APPEAL PROCESS AND HAVE THAT CHOICE. AND THEN NUMBER THREE, ALIGNING THE STRUCTURE OF HIRING, UH, AND COMMISSION ROLE WITH OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES AS WELL. SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE, UH, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, UM, MEETS REGULARLY. THEY HAVE REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS, AND MANY OF THEIR ITEMS ARE TY ARE, ARE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES IN NATURE, UM, REVIEWING AND APPROVING ROUTINE, UM, ITEMS AS PART OF THE HIRING PROCESS AND THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS. AND SO THIS PROPOSAL WOULD PROPOSE THAT THOSE, UH, DUTIES BE STREAMLINED TO THE HUMAN TO PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AND HAVING THE COMMISSION FOCUS PRIMARILY ON APPEALS AND DISCIPLINARY APPEALS AND APPEALS OF THE HIRING PROCESS. SO, UM, WE RECEIVED GREAT FEEDBACK, UH, FROM COUNCIL AT THE MAY 7TH MEETING. AND, UM, GREAT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AS WELL. AND SO THE MEMO WE, UH, RELEASED LAST WEEK DETAILS, ANSWERS TO THOSE, SOME TO, TO THOSE QUESTIONS. BUT WE DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS. UH, A MAIN TOPIC THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS. UM, WE STARTED THAT PROCESS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH OUR LABOR GROUPS, UM, WHEN THE, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT, UH, WAS RELEASED BY THE, UM, AND WE ENGAGED PROMPTLY IN A PRETTY DETAILED MEET AND CONFER PROCESS. AND SO, UM, I CATEGORIZED THOSE CHANGES IN A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS. UM, ONE, UM, WE DID HAVE SOME INITIAL CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL CHARTER LANGUAGE. UH, THE ORIGINAL CHARTER LANGUAGE WE PROPOSED DID UNDERGO A FEW CHANGES, ONE OF WHICH WAS A CLERICAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE TO NOTE THAT THE CITY CLERK AND THE POLICE OVERSIGHT DEPARTMENTS, UM, SHOULD BE ADDED AS DEPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT FALL UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S PURVIEW, AS THOSE ARE INDEPENDENT, UM, UH, CITY DEPARTMENTS. NUMBER TWO, WE DID ADD THE CHANGE I JUST TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES HAVING THE OPTION TO HAVE THEIR DISCIPLINARY APPEAL CASES HEARD BY EITHER A HEARING OFFICER OR THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION. IT'S [01:20:01] THEIR CHOICE. AND THEN NUMBER THREE, WE DID HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE TO ADD THAT THE NEW LOCAL HIRING PREFERENCES CANNOT BE APPLIED UNDER STATE LAW TO TITLE FUNDED POSITIONS, EVEN IF THEY ARE PARTIALLY FUNDED. UM, THE RESULT OF THE MEET AND CONFER DID RESULT INTO, UH, A LETTERS OF AGREEMENTS WITH THREE UNIONS WITH THE IEM, THE CONFIDENTIAL UNIT AND THE ENGINEERS UNIT. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE LETTERS OF AGREEMENT WITH JUST THOSE THREE UNITS, UM, THE CH THE ITEMS WE AGREE TO WILL APPLY TO ALL EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE CITY. UM, SOME OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE, UH, AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL ENGAGE IN A SECONDARY MEET AND CONFER SHOULD THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PASS PRIOR TO ANY CHANGES BEING, UH, CHANGES OCCURRING. AND THAT, THAT MEET AND CONFER WOULD REALLY TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC IMPACTS TO EMPLOYEES, UM, THE OPTION FOR CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF, UH, NON-MANAGEMENT STAFF TO TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CITY DEPARTMENT WITHOUT LOSS OF PAY, SENIORITY OR BENEFITS IF THEY CHOSE NOT TO WANNA WORK IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. UM, AND A FEW OTHER AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS LIKE THE COMMISSION, CONTINUING TO HAVE JURISDICTION TO ADHERE APPEALS, UM, AGREEING TO A PROCESS, SHOULD THERE BE A NEED TO TRANSFER CERTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED TO UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE AND OUTLINING THAT PROCESS. AND THEN ANY RULES IN GENERAL, UH, CIVIL SERVICE RULES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE PRIOR TO ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES. UM, GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL, THERE WOULD BE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL MEET AND CONFER THAT WOULD OCCUR PRIOR TO THAT. OTHER ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS INCLUDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS IN TERMS OF ENFOR, ENSURING ENFORCEMENT OF RULES. UM, AND THEN AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DESIGNATED STAFF MEMBER BEING IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ASSIST IN THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE WITH THE NEW COMMISSION. AND THEN, UH, LASTLY WOULD BE ROUTINE COMPLIANCE AUDITS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT MERIT SYSTEM PRINCIPLES ARE BEING UPHELD IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS. SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS REALLY STRENGTH STRENGTHENED THE PROPOSAL AND BROUGHT IT TO A BETTER PLACE. UH, OTHER COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT ENSURING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WOULD KEEP INTA KEEP INTACT, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE HIRING PRACTICES. AND SO, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, THE AMENDMENT TO MERGE CITY HIRING INTO ONE UNIFIED HIRING DEPARTMENT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE AND BUILD ON EXISTING, UH, PRACTICES THAT ARE, ARE ALREADY OCCURRING. UM, SO WE BELIEVE THE OPTIONS ARE REALLY ENDLESS ON THIS FRONT. UM, SOME EXAMPLES WE BELIEVE WE DO IS, UH, JUST STREAMLINING HIRING IN GENERAL TO REDUCE DELAYS AND IMPROVE ACCESS FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. UM, UH, LOOK, TAKING A LOOK AT HIRING PANELS AND THE DIVERSITY OF HIRING PANELS, MAYBE PUTTING IN SOME REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THOSE, UM, UH, PANELS ARE, UM, UH, DIVERSE, UM, EXPEDITING APPEALS, ENSURING THAT NOT ONLY FOR DISCIPLINARY APPEALS, BUT APPEALS OF COMPLAINTS IN THE HIRING PROCESS MOVE FORWARD IN AN EXPEDITED, TIMELY MANNER, UM, INTEGRATING, UH, PRACTICES. SO IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HIRING AS OPPOSED TO NOW WITH TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS WORKING ON DIFFERENT HIRING COMPONENTS. UM, IMPROVED TESTING ACCESS, MORE FREQUENT AND FLEXIBLE EXAM SCHEDULING. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THAT, UH, AS THE CITY MANAGER INDICATED AT THE LAST MEETING, IS THAT, UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A JOB AT THE CITY, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, A YEAR, OR SOMETIMES EVEN MORE FOR, UH, A RECRUITMENT TO BE OPEN TO TAKE A TEST FOR A POSITION. SO LOOKING AT, UH, FREQUENCY AND BEING ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE MORE TESTING OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THIS, UM, REGULARLY THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS, UH, DATA PORTAL THAT WE HAVE ON THE CITY'S EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WEBPAGE. THIS IS, UH, LIVE AND IN PLAY AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSTANTLY TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND SEE IF WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE IS WORKING AND HOW WE COULD MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF SAFEGUARDING THE MERIT SYSTEM. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO ENSURE MERIT-BASED SYSTEM. UM, AS MENTIONED, EMPLOYEES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE APPEAL RIGHTS, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING WE, UH, STRONGLY BELIEVE IN AND WANT TO KEEP INTACT AND EVEN STRENGTHEN. SO EMPLOYEES AND APPLICANTS CAN APPEAL EACH AND EVERY STEP OF THE HIRING PROCESS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION, WHO WILL MAKE FINAL DETERMINATIONS ON ACTIONS. UM, COUNCIL OVERSIGHT, UM, THE COUNCIL, UH, THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY FOR, UH, CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS. THOSE COULD ONLY BE AMENDED AGAIN, FOLLOWING A LENGTHY MEET AND CONVERT PROCESS. UH, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS. THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROVISIONS ARE, ARE BEING FOLLOWED. AND THAT REPORT BACK WOULD GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. UM, SINCE THE SYSTEM WAS SET UP, UM, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF, OF NEW FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED TO REALLY HELP STRENGTHEN EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. BUT THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS, ANTI-RETALIATION LAWS, UM, THE CITY ITSELF HAS A JUST ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY. WE HAVE AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROCESS TO REVIEW COM AND RESOLVE COMPLAINTS. THERE'S A NEPOTISM POLICY, UM, ABOUT HIRING OF RELATIVES. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE VERY IMPORTANT ROLE OUR, OUR LABOR PARTNERS PLAY IN UNION REPRESENTATION. UM, THE ABILITY FOR US TO, UH, ENGAGE IN REGULAR, UH, COMPLIANCE AUDITS FROM INDEPENDENT CONSULTING [01:25:01] FIRMS TO ENSURE WE ARE FOLLOWING MERIT SYSTEM PROCESSES, AND THEN OF COURSE, THE COMMISSION AUTHORITY. WE, AS PART OF THAT MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, WE DID AGREE THAT CERTAIN, UH, RULES WOULD REMAIN UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND APPEALS COMMISSION. AND THEN THOSE APPEAL, UH, UH, APPEAL RIGHTS GRANTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR A FINAL DETERMINATION. AND SO THESE OUTLINE VERY IMPORTANT RULES LIKE LAYOFFS, THE LAYOFF PROCESS, SENIORITY, AND THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. AND SO WE ARE WELL AWARE THAT HIRING IS A MAJOR ISSUE AT NEARLY ALL OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE AND EVEN THE COUNTRY. UM, BUT LONG BEACH REALLY IS AT A GREATER DISADVANTAGE DUE TO THE OUTDATED STRUCTURE WE HAVE IN PLACE. UM, SO LONG BEACH AND SAN DIEGO ARE THE ONLY TWO LARGE CITIES IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THERE'S AN HR DEPARTMENT AND A CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY, BOTH IN CHARGE OF DIFFERENT ARMS OF HIRING. AND SO WE'VE, IN OUR RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT LONG BEACH SUFFERS FROM THE SAME CHALLENGES, MANY OF THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT SAN DIEGO DOES. AND JUST AS NOTE, UM, SAN DIEGO HAS CONSIDERED, UM, THIS SIMILAR CHARTER AMENDMENT TO CONSOLIDATE HIRING INTO ONE DEPARTMENT. THEY LOOKED AT THAT TWO YEARS AGO. THE, THEY ULTIMATELY DECIDED AGAINST IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T, UM, NAVIGATE THROUGH AND GET THE SUPPORT OF THEIR LABOR UNION. SO WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE WORKED VERY COLLABORATIVELY AND POSITIVELY WITH OUR GROUPS, UM, ON THESE OUTCOMES. UM, BUT SAN DIEGO IS LOOKING AT THAT AGAIN, AND THEY HAVE REVIVED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT THEIR STRUCTURE. SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT, UM, THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT ALONE, UH, WILL NOT SOLVE THE HIRING CHALLENGES. THESE ARE HUGE CHALLENGES. AND THERE BEING OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE THE STRUCTURE WE ARE ALREADY GOING FOR ARE STILL FACING HIRING CHALLENGES. UM, SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PART OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REALLY LOOK AT THE WHOLE SYSTEM, UM, INCLUDING LOOKING AT, UM, UH, PRACTICES AND PROCESSES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED AND REFLECT A MODERN STRUCTURE, PERHAPS TAKING A LOOK AT CIVIL SERVICE RULES THAT MAY NOT BE SERVING THE CITY OR THE COMMUN OR THE COMMUNITY OR THE APPLICANTS INFUSING TECHNOLOGY IN EACH AND EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOLISTICALLY LOOKING AT PAY AND BENEFITS BECAUSE YOU COULD ATTRACT AND RE IF, IF, IF YOU, UM, HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS QUICKER, UM, YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE A, A A A DECENT PAY AND BENEFITS TO MAKE FOLKS ATTRACTED TO CITY EMPLOYMENT AND TO STAY HERE. AND SO WE BELIEVE, UH, EVEN WITH THE RIGHT STRUCTURE, UM, WE KNOW OTHER AGENCIES ARE, ARE STRUGGLING, BUT WE BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY BIG AND POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO IMPROVING THE CI CITY'S HIRING CHALLENGES. SOME CONCERNS WITH THE NEW SYSTEM. WE KNOW THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE, UH, MOSTLY AS THE CITY MANAGER POINTED OUT AT THE LAST MEETING FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. UM, THE SYSTEM HAS OBVIOUSLY CHANGED DURING THAT TIME, BUT IT LARGELY REMAINS INTACT. AND SO, UH, WE DO KNOW THAT ANYTIME YOU MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THAT, THERE COULD BE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE NEW SYSTEM. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE CONCERNS, UM, ARE, ARE ADDRESSED. UH, MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION CURRENTLY PERFORM THAT THE PROPOSAL IS RECOMMENDING, UM, BE REMOVED FROM A COMMISSION AND GO TO A HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEIR ROUTINE AND ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE, THAT'S WHAT'S DONE AT ANY OTHER PUBLIC AGENCY ACROSS THE STATE AND MOSTLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO WE BELIEVE THESE ARE ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS THAT PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF AND A HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ARE MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE, UM, THAT SAME HR DEPARTMENT. IT'S PRETTY STANDARD FOR THAT, FOR THOSE HR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO TRACK AND TREND CONCERNS, MONITOR ANY UNUSUAL ACTIVITY, AND, UH, ALLOW US TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IN A PROMPT, TIMELY MANNER. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN, AN EFFICIENT, UH, UH, AN APPROPRIATE TRADE OFF FOR EFFICIENCY. IT'S REMOVING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF OVERSIGHT IN SOME AREAS, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT FOREGOING THIS STEP CAN EXPEDITE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, ALLOWING FOR A FASTER RESPONSE TIME TO THE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EMPLOYEE AND THE EMPLOYEES CANDIDATES IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND THEN WE DO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF APPEAL. THE APPEAL PROCESS IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND THE MAINTAINING THAT RIGHT FOR EMPLOYEES TO APPEAL DECISIONS IS A CRUCIAL SAFEGUARD, UM, TO, TO THEIR RIGHTS. SO ARGUABLY THE MOST EXCITING CHANGE IN THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW AND GROUNDBREAKING HIRING PREFERENCES. UM, UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THESE, UM, HIRING PREFERENCES ARE, ARE, ARE PRETTY GROUNDBREAKING. AND, UH, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS LEVEL OF HIRING PREFERENCES IN OUR RESEARCH ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, IN PUBLIC AGENCIES. AND SO, UH, THIS PROPOSAL INTRODUCES, UH, FOR NEW PREFERENCES THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING VETERANS PREFERENCES. ONE IS THAT LOCAL LONG BEACH RESIDENTS RESIDING IN THE LONG BEACH JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES, UM, WOULD RECEIVE A PREFERENCE IN THE PROCESS. THOSE THAT GRADUATED FROM, UH, HIGHER LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH A, WITHIN A 10 MILE RADIUS OF LONG BEACH WOULD RECEIVE A PREFERENCE. CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES, WE CALL THESE NON CAREERS OR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, WOULD GET A PREFERENCE IF THEY MEET A CERTAIN HOUR REQUIREMENT. AND THEN THOSE THAT HAVE APPROVED INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, A PREFERENCE AS WELL. SO HOW WOULD THESE PREFERENCES BE IMPLEMENTED? UM, IN RE THIS, THESE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED REALLY IN THE, IN THE SAME WAY, IN THE SAME MANNER AS VETERAN PREFERENCES ARE, ARE, UM, IMPLEMENTED RIGHT NOW. [01:30:01] SO, UM, APP, UH, THESE PREFERENCES, PREFERENCES ARE POINTS. UM, THEY ARE, EACH FIVE POINTS UP TO A MAX OF 10 POINTS. SO A CANDIDATE COULD GET TWO NEW PREFERENCES, BUT ON TOP OF THAT, THEY COULD ALSO GET THE VETERANS PREFERENCES THAT EXIST. UM, SO THESE PREFERENCES ARE APPLIED AFTER AN APPLICANT HAS COMPLETED THE SCREENING AND SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE EMPLOYMENT EXAMINATION PROCESS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CANDIDATES MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO THEN GET A PREFERENCE ADDED. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THE JOB OR MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AS A RESULT OF PREFERENCES ALONE. AND SO ONCE THEY'VE, UH, APPLIED FOR THE JOB, THEY'VE BEEN DEEMED QUALIFIED AND THEY RECE AND THEY, UH, RECEIVED THEIR EXAMINATION OR ASSESSMENT SCORE, THE ADDITIONAL POINTS ARE ADDED ON TOP OF THAT. GOING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO THE WEEDS ON HOW THIS WORKS, UM, WOULD REALLY BE, UH, APPLIED THROUGH A BANDING PROCESS. SO THIS IS THE CURRENT PROCESS THAT IS USED IN, IN A GREAT NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVICE RECRUITMENTS RIGHT NOW. AND IT'S, IT'S PRETTY COMMONLY COMMON METHOD USED AT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S A METHOD USED TO GROUP CANDIDATES IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OR BANDS. AND SO, UM, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE A RECRUITMENT THAT HAS A HUNDRED QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND IT MAY BREAK DOWN INTO FOUR BANDS, BAND A, BAND B, BAND C, AND BAND D. AND SO, UH, ONCE THE, ONCE THE CANDIDATES ARE BROKEN INTO THE APPROPRIATE BAND, UM, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE HIRING PREFERENCES, UH, NEW PREFERENCES COULD BE ADDED ONTO THEIR SCORE, WHICH WOULD POTENTIALLY BUMP THEM UP INTO A NEW BAND AND MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY, UM, TO RECEIVE CITY EMPLOYMENT. THEY WOULD HAVE PRIORITY FOR INTERVIEWS AND COULD BE, IN THEORY, BE SELECTED FOR POSITIONS MUCH QUICKER THAN OTHERS. SO, UM, WE, UH, BANDING ISN'T USED IN ALL RECRUITMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. IT'S USED IN THE MAJORITY OF THEM, BUT A BANDING MAY NOT BE AN APPROPRIATE TOOL TO BE USED IN CERTAIN RECRUITMENTS WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A LIMITED APPLICANT POOL, SMALL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, MAYBE, UH, BANDING DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, UM, WHERE THERE'S LICENSURE, LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ENGINEER, UM, CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY ROLES IN CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL SKILLS AND PROPOSED QUALIFICATIONS. SO STAFF HAVE COMMITTED THAT EVEN UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, IF BANDING DOESN'T OCCUR, WE WOULD, WE DO WANT TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL ABILITY TO INCORPORATE PREFERENCES EVEN WHEN THERE IS A RECRUITMENT WHERE BANDING IS NOT, IS NOT IN PLACE. PART OF THE RESEARCH FOR THIS PROPOSAL INVOLVED, UM, A SURVEY AS THE CITY MANAGER POINTED OUT A VOTER SURVEY. THIS WAS CONDUCTED LAST FALL, UM, PRETTY, UH, THE CITY REACHED OUT, OR THE CONSULTING FIRM THE CITY USED, REACHED OUT TO OVER 900, UM, LIKELY LONG BEACH, UH, VOTERS, UM, THROUGH TELEPHONE, UM, ONLINE INTERVIEWS, UM, EMAIL AND TEXT NOTIFICATIONS TO TRY TO, UH, GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE SUPPORT, UH, FOR THIS PROPOSAL. INITIAL POLLING RESULTS WERE VERY FAVORABLE. UM, FAVORABILITY WAS OVER 70%. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE NUMBERS HERE, UM, IN TERMS OF IMPROVING AND SPEEDING UP THE HIRING PROCESS, EXPEDITING THE APPEAL PROCESS, UM, PREFERENCES FOR HIRING PART-TIME OR TEMPORARY WORKERS, AND, UM, JUST AN OVERALL FAVORABILITY ABOUT, UM, IMPROVING THE HIRING PROCESS. UM, WERE VERY HIGH. UM, SOME OF THESE OVER 80%, AND SO SPEEDING UP THE HIRING AND EXPEDITED APPEALS, UM, WERE HIGH, WERE HIGHLY FAVORABLE. EVEN ON THE SECONDARY POLLING RESULTS, WHEN MORE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED, UM, TO THE PARTICIPANT, UM, THE, THE NUMBERS DID IMPROVE SLIGHTLY, BUT THEY DID IMPROVE. SO THE DA DATA REALLY SHOWS THAT, UH, MORE THAN SEVEN, OUTTA 10, UH, LIKELY LONG BEACH VOTERS CONTINUE TO FAVOR THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S PROCESS. SO THE DATA, UM, CLEARLY SHOWED TO US THAT THERE IS, UH, AN INDICATION OF A STRONG PUBLIC DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE HIRING SYSTEM. IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS, UM, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, UM, WE'LL HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS MATTER, AT WHICH, UM, COUNCIL MAY TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND WE'RE HERE TO RECEIVE COUNCIL FEEDBACK, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPOSAL MEETS ALL THE PERSPECTIVES AND ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE CONSIDERED. AGAIN, IF PLACED ON THE BALLOT AND ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE VOTER CITY STAFF WILL CONDUCT A SECOND MEET AND CONFER FOR IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES WITH OUR LABOR GROUPS. THAT CONCLUDES A PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. UH, AS THIS IS A HEARING, WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL COMMENT. SO WE'RE GONNA QUEUE UP PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. JUST A MOMENT. MY SYSTEM IS, UH, SETTING UP HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. UH, HENRY CORZO, ERIC FROST, HOLLINS, DANTE WOODS, RICH CHAMBERS, GABRIEL PEREZ, MELISSA ANDINO, AND SNIA MFE. PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, HENRY? YES. ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. UM, MY NAME IS, UH, HENRY CORSO. I'M PRESIDENT OF, UH, L-B-A-E-E, THE LONG BEACH ASSOCIATION [01:35:01] OF ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES. LBAE REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. OUR GROUP'S UNIQUE SKILLS FROM DIVERSE ENGINEERING FIELDS ARE A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS. WE SYMPATHIZE WITH THE INTENT, UM, OF THE CHARTER AMENDMENT TO STREAMLINE THE HIRING SYSTEM AS WE CATCH CAUTIOUSLY WATCH THAT THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF EMPLOYEES AND APPLICANTS ARE MAINTAINED. WE, HOWEVER, CONSIDER THAT, THAT THE AMENDMENT BY ITSELF, IF ANYTHING, WILL HAVE JUST A MINOR INFLUENCE IN ADDRESSING THE STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT THE CITY IS ENDURING. WE ARE SEEING THAT IT'S BECOMING COMMON, THAT AFTER THE LONG HIRING PROCESS, ONCE AN OFFER IS MADE, MANY APPLICANTS ARE NOT ACCEPTING THOSE OFFERS FROM, UH, INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CITY. UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 FOR THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, THERE WERE THREE OFFERS MADE TO, UH, THE ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND ALL OF THEM WERE DECLINED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NINE OFFERS MADE AND ALL OF THEM DECLINED FOR HARBOR DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE SIX OFFERS MADE AND FIVE PEOPLE DECLINED FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE THREE OFFERS MADE, AND THEY ALL DECLINED. THIS IS INDICATIVE THAT THE WAGES, EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, AND BENEFITS, EVEN THOUGH HAVE IMPROVED, ARE STILL NOT COMPETITIVE ENOUGH. AS MAJOR REX RICHARDSON HAS MENTIONED IN THE PAST. WE NEED A BROADER COMMITMENT THAN USE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT TO MAKE CITY PUBLIC SERVICE ATTRACTIVE. L-B-A-E-E THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT THE STREAMLINING OF THE HIRING PROCESS THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT IS PURSUING BE COMBINED WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO MAKE WAGES, EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, AND BENEFITS MORE ATTRACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ERIC. HELLO FRIENDS. HOW MANY OF OUR MANAGERS DISLIKE BANDING? DIDN'T YOU ASK THAT IN THE MANAGEMENT RETREAT YOU HAD YOUR ENTIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM PUT UP THEIR HANDS AND SHOW THAT YOU DISLIKE BANDING? ERIC, HERE, WE, YOU DIRECT COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR. I'LL, I'LL DIRECT IT TO THE CHAIR. THANKS. SO THE PERSON WHO IS SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROTECT THESE PREFERENCES THROUGH BANDING HAS MADE CLEAR HIS DISDAIN FOR BANDING AND HIS ENTIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM DISDAIN FOR BANDING. NOW, I AM A MEMBER OF A GOLD STAR FAMILY. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, YOU SHOULD. IT'S A FAMILY WHO HAS LOST A MEMBER TO COMBAT THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY THESE NEW PREFERENCES, BUT OUR EXISTING VETERANS PREFERENCES COULD BE PUT AT RISK BY TRUSTING ONE MAN WHO HAS SHOWN THAT HE HAS NO CARE FOR BANDING IN CHARGE OF THOSE. THAT'S DISTURBING TO ME. IT'S ALSO DISTURBING TO ME THAT I AM YOUR FRIEND. YOU ALL KNOW ME. ONLY ONE POLITICAL OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME. THANK YOU, MARY. UM, ONLY ONE POLITICAL OFFICE HAS ASKED THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE LAST YEAR, HAVE YOU BEEN CONSULTED? AND WE WEREN'T. NOT REALLY. WE WERE GIVEN A NOTICE. WE WERE TOLD IN FEBRUARY, THIS IS WHAT THE PLAN WILL BE. AND WE SAID, COULD WE CHANGE IT? AND WE SAID THAT WOULD HURT OUR, OUR MEET AND CONFER PROCESS. AND IN FACT, WHEN WE FINALLY PUSHED, WE WERE TOLD, WELL, WE MIGHT TAKE SOME GRAMMATICAL OR CLARIFYING CHANGES. THIS IS YOUR CITIZEN OVERSIGHT GROUP. WE HAVE PUT EIGHT HOURS A WEEK INTO THE HR PROCESS FOR ME FOR THREE YEARS, FOR ONE OF MY MEMBERS FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND THIS IS THE RESPECT WE WERE SHOWN. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION WE WERE GIVEN. SAN DIEGO ACTUALLY DID A LOT MORE WORK THAN WE'RE DOING. WHEN THE MAYOR APPROACHED ME ABOUT HIRING, I SAID, YEAH, LET'S DO THE HARD WORK OF CHANGE. THIS ISN'T THE HARD WORK. SAN DIEGO PUT TOGETHER TASK FORCE. THEY HAD DISCUSSIONS, THEY HAD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THEY ACTUALLY ENGAGED THEIR COMMISSION. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE. THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WAS RECYCLED FROM 20 11 20 10, AND IT WAS MINOR. COUPLE OF TWEAKS TO IT, THROWN BACK OUT AND SAID, HERE'S THE PROPOSAL. IT WAS SHARED WITH THE CITY EMPLOYEES BEFORE IT WAS SHARED WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND I WANNA SAY, ARE YOU GIVING, ARE YOU BEING GIVEN ANY MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK FOR CHANGE? I AM. THANK GOD FOR I AM. I AM PUSHED, [01:40:02] BUT NONE OF THE CHANGES I AM GOT ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CHARTER LANGUAGE. THEY WERE TOLD THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE CHARTER LANGUAGE 'CAUSE THAT WOULD AFFECT MEET AND CONFER, WHICH IS CRAZY 'CAUSE THEY WERE IN MEET AND CONFER. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT A LETTER OF AGREEMENT THANK IN MEET AND CONFER CAN BE UNDONE BY MEET AND CONFER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANTE WOODS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DANTE WOODS FROM THE LOS ANGELES BLACK WORKER CENTER, ALSO A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. I LIVE IN THE AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GRADE EIGHT. LOVE THAT. WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IS IN A BLACK JOBS CRISIS WHERE MORE THAN 50% OF BLACK PEOPLE ARE UNDEREMPLOYED OR UNEMPLOYED. THE BLACK WORKER CENTER SEEKS TO END THIS THROUGH UNIONIZED EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A THOUSAND STRONG CAMPAIGN WHERE WE WANT TO SEE A THOUSAND BLACK WORKERS HAVE ACTION TO PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. WE UNDERSTAND THE LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT OF PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND GENERATIONS THAT PROCEED. THE LONG BEACH, I'M SORRY, THE LOS ANGELES BLACK WORKER CENTER STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT AS IT PROVIDES A EXTREMELY STREAMLINED PATHWAY FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS ORDINANCE MOVING FORWARD AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO GIVE OUR MEMBERS ACCESS TO THESE LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS RICH CHAMBERS, THEN GABRIEL PEREZ. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M RICH CHAMBERS. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. SO I'M HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT CHANGE FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. AND I, I HOPE MY WORDS HERE TONIGHT DO NOT COME ACROSS LIKE I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE PEOPLE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO I KNOW TO BE HARDWORKING AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEES. NOR AM I SPEAKING AGAINST THE COMMISSIONERS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME GENEROUSLY TO BE PART OF THAT BODY. BUT I AM, HOWEVER, SPEAKING AGAINST THE SYSTEM THAT WE MUST RELY UPON TO HIRE NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND THE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO USE TO PROMOTE NEW LEADERS AND HOW THAT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING FOR US. THE POLICE OFFICERS I REPRESENT ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW. THE VACANCIES IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE CRITICALLY HIGH, AND THAT'S BECAUSE YEAR AFTER YEAR THIS CITY CANNOT HIRE ENOUGH NEW OFFICERS TO KEEP UP WITH ATTRITION. WITH THESE HISTORIC VACANCIES, POLICE OFFICERS ARE FORCED TO WORK OVERTIME, OFTEN BEING HELD OVER AT THE END OF THEIR SHIFTS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THIS COUNCIL HAS TAKEN INCREDIBLY HUGE STEPS TO HELP WITH THE HISTORIC SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS. AND THANKS TO YOU, WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED PACKAGE OF HIRING INCENTIVES MEANT TO ATTRACT THE BEST NEW POLICE OFFICERS. THAT PACKAGE INCLUDES VERY COMPETITIVE HIRING BONUSES FOR LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO CAN BE TRAINED AND PUT TO WORK IN A FRACTION OF THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN A BRAND NEW POLICE OFFICER. AND I HOPE WITH TIME THOSE INCENTIVES THAT YOU BROUGHT WILL HELP TO REBUILD OUR DEPARTMENT. BUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'M SEEING IS A GROWING AMOUNT OF VACANCIES. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE HIRING SYSTEM OUR CITY IS FORCED TO USE UNDER OUR CHARTER IS AN OBSTACLE TO QUICKLY FILLING OUR RANKS. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A VERY COMPETITIVE HIRING MARKET, AND WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HIRE EVERY GOOD AND QUALIFIED APPLICANT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. INSTEAD, I'M HEARING DISTURBING REPORTS OF LATERAL POLICE OFFICER APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED THEN WAITED MONTHS WITH NO CONTACT WHATSOEVER. MEANWHILE, OUR PD RECRUITING TEAM DOES NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THESE CANDIDATES EXIST. WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM BECAUSE APPLICANT LISTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED TO THE PD TO START THE LENGTHY HIRING PROCESS UNTIL THEY'RE APPROVED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND THAT IS OFTEN NOT DONE WHILE THE RECRUITING PROCESS IS STILL OPEN. SO THESE APPLICANTS GET TIRED OF WAITING AND THEY GET TIRED OF NOT HEARING FROM ANYBODY, AND THEY MOVE ON TO THE MANY OTHER AGENCIES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SCOOP THEM UP. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'VE LOST TO THESE DELAYS, BUT EVEN ONE IS TOO MANY. WE'RE ALSO DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THE DELAYS WITH THE PROMOTIONAL EXAMS, WHICH ARE ALSO RUN BY CIVIL SERVICE. THESE PROMOTIONAL EXAMS ARE THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN FILL OUR SUPERVISORY RANKS. AND OUR DEPARTMENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE TIMING OF THESE TESTS. THE REALITY WE FACE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE IN A CRISIS AND THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. THE DELAYS IN HIRING AND THE DELAYS IN RUNNING PROMOTIONAL EXAMS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING THE WELLBEING OF OUR OFFICERS. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEY DESERVE TO KNOW THAT ADDRESSING [01:45:01] THESE ISSUES IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN HEARING MY WORDS, AND I HOPE FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN SENDING THIS TO CHARTER AMENDMENT TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GABRIEL PEREZ. THEN, THEN MELISSA ANDINO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GABRIEL PEREZ. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH LANE ON THE LONG BEACH FOR JUST ECONOMY CAMPAIGN AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. UH, WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT. WE RECOGNIZE THE CITY IS FACING A VACANCY CRISIS COMPOUNDED BY OUTDATED AND DRAWN OUT HIRING PRACTICES. WE RECOGNIZE TOO, THAT WORKING FAMILIES ARE ALSO FACING A CRISIS, STAGNANT WAGES THAT HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH A CRIPPLING COST OF LIVING THAT CONTINUES TO SKYROCKET. WE UNDERSTAND, UH, WE'VE UNDERSCORED THIS CRISIS MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO ADMIT IN RECENT YEARS, BUT IT INFORMS OUR APPROACH TO ADVOCACY AS A LABOR POLICY ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE ALONGSIDE OUR UNION SIBLINGS TO OPEN UP PATHWAYS TO STRONG UNION JOBS FOR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. EFFICIENCY IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE PROPOSED HIRING PREFERENCES ALSO WORK TO ENSURE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY, LOCAL RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN CENTRAL WEST AND NORTH LONG BEACH, THAT FACE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC STABILITY, DESERVE TO BE PRIORITIZED AND DESERVE THE CHANCE TO UTILIZE THEIR SKILLS IN THE CITY THAT RAISED THEM. LONG BEACH BY EXTENSION DESERVE THE CHANCE TO KEEP LOCAL TALENT LOCAL BY INCENTIVIZING YOUNG FOLKS TO BRING THEIR PASSION AND ENERGY HOME AND JOIN A VALUED, PROTECTED WORKFORCE. WE'VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT A VISION FOR OUR CITY IN WHICH WORKERS, RENTERS, AND IMMIGRANTS THRIVE WITH REAL AGENCY AND DIGNITY. THIS IS WHAT AGENCY LOOKS LIKE, ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING PUBLIC SECTOR UNION JOBS. WE URGE YOU TO PLACE THIS ON THE BALLOT AND ALLOW VOTERS TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA FINO, AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER WILL BE SAIFE. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY LEADERSHIP, UM, MELISSA AND FINO WITH LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM AS WELL. UM, WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY IN A NUMBER OF WAYS TO SUPPORT BOTH THE CITY'S HIRING NEEDS AND TO HELP OUR STUDENTS TO CONNECT TO WELL-PAYING LOCAL JOBS. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL HELP THE CITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP OUR TALENT LOCAL AND TO FULFILL THE PROMISE, THE THE BENEFITS OF THE COLLEGE PROMISE. I ALSO WANNA SHARE, I JUST CAME FROM THE COLLEGE IN WHICH WE WERE CELEBRATING THE GRADUATING CLASS OF BROWNING HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS OUR FIRST MIDDLE COLLEGE. AND OVER HALF OF THAT GRADUATING CLASS ACTUALLY RECEIVED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE ALONG WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME EVER. UM, AND I HOPE THAT THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO WELL-PAYING JOBS AT THE CITY IF WE'RE ABLE TO REFORM THE BUREAUCRACY THAT STANDS IN THEIR WAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. FINAL SPEAKER, SONAI KIFE, HONORABLE MAYOR, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, SONAI KIN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT, UM, SPEAKING IN CAPACITY. UH, YES, I AM EMPLOYED, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UM, BY THE LOVELY, UH, APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION. UM, WE WROTE A LETTER OF SUPPORT. UM, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, OPPORTUNITY CHANGE TO CITY CHARTER. I THINK THAT, UM, IN MY INTERACTIONS WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS TEAM, I RECOGNIZE THAT THE, UH, VACANCIES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE PROCESS OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS IN THE CITY IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE COMING TOGETHER TO, UM, ELIMINATE. I THINK WHEN YOU'RE, UM, HAVE A A, A RATE OF SEVEN TO NINE MONTHS, I HEARD SOME SIMILAR STORIES. I CAN SPEAK TO MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN 2009. UM, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO BE A RABBLE ROUSER. I DID WANT TO GET EMPLOYED BY A CITY I COME FROM, UH, UH, UM, ALL OF MY MOTHER'S FAMILY, MY MOTHER, INCLUDING MY, MY MOTHER WORKS FOR LA COUNTY, UH, 30 PLUS YEARS WITH THE COUNTY. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET EMPLOYED, UH, WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AT THE TIME. AND, UH, IT WAS OVER A YEAR LATER THAT I GOT A RESPONSE. AND I'VE NEVER, UH, WAITED MORE THAN A MONTH TO EVER BE, UH, EMPLOYED ANYWHERE IN THIS WORLD. SO I THINK A YEAR WAS MUCH TOO LONG. AND I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN WITHIN THE SIXTH DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CHANGE THE RELATIONSHIP COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE WITH THE CITY BECAUSE, UH, A CITY THAT EMPLOYS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY TO THE ISSUES AND DEMANDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE'RE IN FULL SUPPORT, UM, AND I HOPE TO, UH, LEAD OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND COME TOGETHER. I THINK THE MAYOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME CONFLICT IN THE PAST WITH LOCAL PREFERENCES, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A FAIR COMPROMISE, [01:50:01] SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA SAY TOO, YOU GAVE AN EXAMPLE, JOSH SHAPIRO, UH, THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, THEY DID SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, UH, 62% OF ALL NEW APPLICANTS CAME FROM LOW INCOME AREAS AND THEY GOT, UH, THEY GOT HIRED. SO, INTERESTING. GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A HEARING, SO PUBLIC COMMENT GOES FIRST. NOW WE'LL CLOSE THAT, TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, I'LL JUST, I ADD SOME COMMENTS HERE. FIRST OF ALL, UH, THANK YOU JOE FOR THAT PRESENTATION, UH, ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS. WANNA REMIND FOLKS, UH, IF, IF YOU'RE MISSING SOME OF THE CONTEXT, THAT'S BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CITY COUNCIL'S HEARING THIS. THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ONGOING, UH, FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. AND, UM, AND YOU, WE WILL HAVE TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR, UH, PRESENTATION. SO THAT MAYBE NEW INFORMATION BASED ON WHATEVER QUESTIONS WE GET, UH, NEXT TIME. I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, THE, UH, IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, THE MEET AND CONFER. I WANNA THANK ALL THE EMPLOYEE GROUPS, THE ONES THAT SIGNED LETTERS OF AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO LETTERS OF SUPPORT. UM, BECAUSE THEY MADE THE PROPOSAL BETTER, THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS WORKED, AND IT WAS A FORUM TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND ULTIMATELY HAVE A STRONGER, UH, PROPOSAL. UH, SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE THREE GROUPS NAMED EARLIER WITH THE LETTERS OF AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO LONG BEACH FIREFIGHTERS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND, UM, AND IDW AND SEIU 7 2 1. THE REFUSE WORKERS WHO ALSO, UH, WERE A PART OF THAT. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF LETTERS THAT THE COUNCIL WAS DISTRIBUTED. YOU HAVE A NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP. WE WANNA THANK THEM. LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE KA, MY GIRLS IN ACTION, CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION, CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS, GO TOROS, UH, LOS ANGELES ALLIANCE FOR NEW ECONOMY. CAL STATE LONG BEACH, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, LOS ANGELES BACK WORKER CENTER, WHO'S HERE WITH US AND, AND APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION. SO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED LETTERS AT THE LAST MEETING AND THIS FIRST HEARING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC, UH, INPUT. JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT, REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND HOW WE GOT HERE. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE IN A REAL CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT. UH, MORE AND MORE WE'RE SEEING GENERATIONS OPT OUT OF PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT, AND, UH, AND THEY MAY BE MISSING OUT ON, ON REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A JOB WITH A SECURE RETIREMENT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS. UH, HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, A LIVING WAGE ACCESS TO A UNION. HAVING A PUBLIC SECTOR JOB CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE. I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND, I STARTED WITH THE CITY WHEN I WAS 26 YEARS OLD. UH, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THAT CRISIS INTO A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO TRANS HAVE TRANSFORMATIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE, AND REALLY LOOK AT CREATING A NEW SYSTEM, A BETTER COVENANT THAT REALLY PLACES A PRIORITY ON OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS. WHO BETTER TO SERVE OUR CITY THAN THE PEOPLE WHO WENT TO SCHOOL HERE. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES. WE SHOULD BE GIVING A LIFELINE TO OUR EXISTENCE CITY EMPLOYEES BY MAKING PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, SEXY AGAIN. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM, UH, THE PROCESS OF HOW THEY'RE HIRED AND ONBOARDED INTO OUR CITY. HOW WE RECOGNIZE THEM THROUGH THEIR WAGES. UH, HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY, THEY HAVE THINGS THAT ALLOW THEM TO DO THINGS LIKE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE. WE'RE DOING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WANT EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO BUY HOMES IN OUR CITY AND HAVE THAT INTRINSIC VALUE OF LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE. UH, IT WAS NOT, UH, THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED THIS STATE OF THE CITY, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY MY FIRST STATE OF THE CITY WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS. WHAT I SAID WAS, UH, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE MY PUBLIC SERVICE STORY AND HOW WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE DOORS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, CREATE PIPELINES FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN, UH, FROM OUR LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND WORK FOR THE CITY. AND WE TESTED OUT A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT FIRST YEAR. WE STARTED THE, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS FELLOWSHIP, UH, FOR STUDENTS AT CAL STATE, DOMINGUEZ HILLS, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, LONG BEACH STATE. UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, PILOT AND TEST OUT STRATEGIES IN NON-CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO SEE IF WE COULD SPEED UP HIRING. WE SAW STAFFING WAS IMPACTING PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD, UH, WITH OUR, OUR HR DEPARTMENT, OUR CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT TO MAKE AN IMPACT. AND WE SAW, WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY STAFF UP IN OUR REFUSE DEPARTMENT, GET THE TRASH COLLECTED ON TIME, GET AMBULANCE OPERATORS HIRED, FINALLY HIRE MORE PEOPLE IN, IN, IN DISPATCH. WE PLACE THE ROW FOCUS THERE, BUT THERE IS STILL A CHALLENGE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE SOME OF THOSE INNOVATIONS, SOME OF THOSE GOALS TO GET HIRING DOWN FROM SIX MONTHS TO OPEN UP A POSITION AND SEVEN MONTHS TO ACTUALLY FILL THE POSITION. THAT'S TOO LONG FOR ANYBODY TO WAIT. WE NEED TO GET THAT DOWN. WE PILOTED, UH, LAST YEAR. WE PILOTED COULD WE GET HIRING IN UNDER 90 BUSINESS DAYS AND WE BEAT IT THROUGH THE PILOT. WE BEAT, WE HIT 70 BUSINESS DAYS. IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE THAT AND SCALE THAT CITYWIDE. I THINK OUR RESIDENTS [01:55:01] WANT US TO HAVE, UH, A SINGLE HIRING AGENCY THAT'S CUTS RED TAPE AND GETS RID OF REDUNDANCY, UH, AND REALLY EXPANDS OUR EFFORTS TO DO RECRUITMENT, UH, EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO BUILD LOCAL TALENT PIPELINES FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR LOCAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS RIGHT INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT. UH, AND WE NEED TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, FULFILLING THE COMMITMENT TO HIRE OUR LOCAL, HIRE, OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN OUR CITY. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS IS ABOUT MODERNIZING. WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO MODERNIZE, IMPROVE OUR GOVERNMENT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER MORE VALUE FOR OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS AS EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO AS CUSTOMERS, SO WE CAN DELIVER BETTER QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES. AND THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY HERE. SO THOSE, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I WANNA THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS AND WE'LL GO TO BEHIND THE RAIL. WE HAVE A, A MOTION AND SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER, KURT. SURE. THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF. I WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK AND PRESENTATION. I WANNA THANK OUR LABOR PARTNERS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO, UH, WHO HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION ON THIS ITEM WHO HAVE MADE THIS ITEM BETTER. UM, PERSONALLY, AS A FORMER CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER, I DON'T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY AT ALL. IT IS SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT WORK, AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK BY THE COMMISSION AND BY THE DEPARTMENT AND KNOW, UM, THAT THERE ARE, THERE ARE OFTEN TIMES OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL THAT IMPACT THE WORK. UM, SO, UM, DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT I TAKE THIS CONVERSATION LIGHTLY AND APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAVE TAKEN IT REALLY SERIOUSLY. I WANNA THANK THE TEAM. I KNOW LAST TIME WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, UM, THE, I THE AREAS OF CONCERN FOR ME THAT I BROUGHT UP WERE THE AREAS OF INDEPENDENCE, UM, APPEAL RIGHTS, AND ESPECIALLY EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS. AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU HEARD THOSE. AND I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, FOR THAT WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YEAH. UH, THANK YOU. AND, AND I ALSO, UH, APPRECIATE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME OUT TODAY. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SPEAKING AGAINST, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, UH, EMPLOYEES OR THE COMMISSION, BUT, YOU KNOW, I STARTED, UH, IN THE CITY AS A POLICE OFFICER IN 19 89, 35 YEARS AGO. AND, AND IT'S, THIS IS, THIS SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMATIC. I, I FELT EVEN WAY BACK THEN WHEN I WAS WORKING, UH, IN, UH, RECRUITMENT. SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT, BUT I JUST AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID, MAYOR. I MEAN, THE TIME IS NOW TO, UH, AS YOU SAID, MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE. UM, AND SO, I MEAN, WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE SOME CHALLENGES, UM, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES COUNCIL COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM TWO, PLEASE. ITEM TWO IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE FILE COMMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. MOVE TO A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CITY CHARTER ARTICLE FIVE, TO MODIFY THE LENGTH OF TERMS FOR HARBOR AND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS TO FOUR YEARS AND ARTICLE SEVEN TO MODIFY THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE HARBOR COMMISSION AND ANNUAL BUDGET TIMELINE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL GO TO STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION. SO, UH, THIS IS OUR SECOND, UH, CHARTER AMENDMENT CON, UH, UH, PROPOSAL HERE. SO THERE'S TWO, UH, THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR THREE TIMES. SO WE'LL GO TO, WE'LL GO, WE'LL ALLOW THE PORT TO QUEUE UP. THIS ONE'S PROPOSED BY THE PORT OF LONG BEACH. SO COME ON. COME ON IN. ARE THEY COMING OVER THERE OR THEY STANDING OVER HERE? YOU GUYS CAN COME OVER ON THIS SIDE. YEAH, THEY CAN BE HERE. THEY CAN BE THERE. I'LL GIVE 'EM MY SEAT, HOWEVER THEY WANNA DO IT. YOU'RE A CITY DEPARTMENT, LIKE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT. YOU GUYS FORGET THAT SOMETIMES. YEAH, THIS IS THEIR HOUSE TOO. I'M JOKING. COME ON MARIO. YOU CAN COME OVER HERE. . THIS IS A FIRST, RIGHT? THIS IS A FIRST. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHERE DEPARTMENT HEADS SIT. MARIO, RIGHT THERE. . ALRIGHT, TOM. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SO THIS IS THE SECOND PRESENTATION. UH, THIS IS ONE THAT THE HARBOR'S REALLY BEEN TAKING ON, BUT WE'VE BEEN, UH, COORDINATING WITH THEM AS WELL. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THEIR MEET AND CONFER. UH, YOU DIDN'T GET TO HEAR THIS ONE THE FIRST NIGHT. SO, UH, THIS IS YOUR FIRST CHANCE, UH, HEARING THIS PRESENTATION. AND I'LL TURN IT TO, UH, MARIO AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARBOR COMMISSION. HELLO. HELLO, MAYOR. HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UH, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CHARTER REGARDING THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT. UH, [02:00:01] I SUGGESTED THESE CHANGES SO THAT WE COULD ALIGN SOME OF OUR OPERATIONS AT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT WITH THE REST OF THE CITY AND MAKE HIRING MORE EFFICIENT. UM, AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CEO, MARIO CORDERO, WHO WILL PRESENT THE DETAILS TO YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. AND IN THE SPIRIT OF CONTINUING WITH THE MOMENTUM OF HIRING AND EFFICIENCY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THE HARVARD DEPARTMENT WANTS TO DO ITS PART TO MOVE TOWARDS THAT, UH, GO. SO IN THAT, I'LL HAVE 10 QUICK SLIDES REAL QUICK HERE. UH, SO SLIDE NUMBER ONE. BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS, UH, THREE THINGS, THREE TERMS OF COMM, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE HARVARD COMMISSION AND THE HARVARD DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET. THOSE ARE THE THREE MAIN ITEMS WITH REGARD TO ARTICLE FIVE AND ARTICLE 12 THAT WE HOPE THE VOTERS WILL SUPPORT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT. GOING TO SLIDE TWO, THIS GIVES YOU MORE SPECIFICITY WITH REGARD TO THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, UH, AT THE PORT AND AGAIN, THE COMMISSION. UH, BASICALLY THE TERM QUESTION HERE IS TO MOVE MORE IN ALIGNMENT, UH, HARBOR COMMISSION AND OF COURSE, UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS WITH REGARD TO THREE, FOUR YEAR TERMS AS OPPOSED TO THE TWO SIX YEAR TERMS CURRENTLY THAT WE HAVE. SO AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE INTEREST OF COMING MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY, UH, STRUCTURE. UH, NUMBER TWO HERE IS THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE HARVARD COMMISSION. AND AGAIN, AS I, UH, REFERENC IN MY OPENING COMMENTS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO CREATE MORE EFFICIENCIES AT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT AND STREAMLINE THE HIRING PROCESS. SO IN THIS REGARD, UH, YOU'LL SEE ARTICLE 12. NOW IT'S BEING AMENDED OR SUGGESTED TO THE VOTERS, UH, TO, UH, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DELEGATING OF, OF THE, UH, HIRING DECISIONS AND STAFF WITH REGARD TO THE CEO, UH, AS OPPOSED TO SOME LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE THERE, OF COURSE. UH, AND AGAIN, ALL THIS IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING FORWARD TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS VACANCY RATE THAT WE HAVE, AND OF COURSE, THE STREAMLINING OF HIRING. UH, NOW WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, THIRD UH, ASPECT OF THIS, THIS, AGAIN, IS MORE TO GET INTO COMPLIANCE AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR OF OCTOBER, FIRST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH. SO THIS ONE BASICALLY, AGAIN, IS A REPETITION OF BASIC WHAT THE, UH, AMENDMENT INDICATES AGAIN, SIX YEARS, TWO YEAR, UH, EXCUSE ME, TWO APPOINTMENTS AT SIX YEARS. UH, WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE FORWARD TO, UH, UH, UH, THREE, FOUR YEAR APPOINTMENT, UH, UH, FOUR YEAR TERMS. SO AGAIN, COMING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE, UH, OTHER COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY, PARTICULARLY THE ENTERPRISE, UH, COMMISSIONS OR DEPARTMENTS. UH, THIS IS A, ANOTHER CHANGE. UH, FOR MANY YEARS, THE FINES AS IT RELATES TO OR IN VIOLATIONS HAVE BEEN AT $500. THIS HAS BEEN LIKE DECADES AND DECADES INTO THE CHARTER. NOW WE'RE KIND OF MODERNIZE A LITTLE BIT TO BRING IT UP TO A THOUSAND. SO IT CERTAIN CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT BE ANY SEVERE IMPACT WITH REGARD TO THAT. AND OF COURSE, THIS IS AGAIN, UH, THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS THAT'S SO IMPORTANT HERE FOR DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY. WE'RE GONNA COMPLY WITH THAT. UM, NEXT, AGAIN, GIVES YOU A TIMELINE OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH. AND TONIGHT, OF COURSE, BEGINS WITH ONE, THE JUNE 11TH HEARING. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PART OF JULY 16TH AND AUGUST 6TH. AND THAT'S IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED SUPPORT OF THIS QUEST FOR US TO MOVE WITH ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY AND STREAMLINING THE HIRING PROCESS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, TO THE BOTH OF YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND MAKING YOUR PRESENTATION. I FULLY SUPPORT THESE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS. WE'VE TALKED THROUGH THESE. WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEYS. I THINK EACH OF THEM MAKES SENSE. THE ALIGNMENT OF THE TERM LIMITS MAKES SENSE. THE, UH, FISCAL CHANGES TO ALIGN WITH THE CITY, UH, IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE HARBOR HARBOR DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? IT'S A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY AND WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER. UH, AND I THINK, UM, MAKING SURE, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE VERY CLEAR LINES, UH, DEFINING WHOSE JOB IT IS TO HIRE MANAGED STAFF, I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND HELPS OUR HARBOR COMMISSION TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON POLICY AND LEADERSHIP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE GROWING AS IMPORTANT. WE'RE GONNA BE THE BIGGEST PORT IN AMERICA. WE WANNA STAY FOCUSED ON THAT AND LET OUR MANAGERS MANAGE. SO, ABSOLUTELY, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THOSE, UH, CHANGES. IF I MAY, ONE LAST THING. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT THE PORT. SHE'S WORKED VERY HARD ON, ON THESE MATTERS. CHRISTINA, JASON, IF YOU COULD STAND UP. CHRISTINA. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, DAWN MCINTOSH AND HER STAFF, WHO HAS ABSOLUTE WORKED WITH US IN MOVING THIS MATTER FORWARD. ABSOLUTELY. AND I'M HEARING NOTHING BUT POSITIVITY ON THIS CHARTER COMMITMENT [02:05:01] IN THE COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, LET'S SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ODI, UH, NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOVE WHAT YOU SHARED. UM, I THINK THE MAYOR ENCAPSULATED IT, UH, PRETTY WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS. VERY SUPPORTIVE. GREAT. UH, ALRIGHT, UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TO DO ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE COMMITTEE MEETING. BEFORE WE ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. ALRIGHT. THIS COMMITTEE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. WE WILL PAUSE AND RESET BACK UP, UH, THE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING. AND THE FIRST ITEM WE'LL TAKE IS THE HATE CRIMES. ITEM 27 WILL BE WHERE WE'LL GO. SO WE WANNA TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AND RESET. YEAH. OKAY. RESEARCH. OKAY. LET'S RECONVENE THE MEETING. MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS. PRESENT. VICE MAYOR ALLEN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. [02:10:01] HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ANA. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? STILL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. LET'S GO TO ITEM 27, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ALLEN, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF RACISM, RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC BIAS, DISCRIMINATION, INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES, AND AFFIRMING THE CITY'S VALUES OF INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCEPTANCE IN RELATION TO PUBLIC MEETINGS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK PAUL AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WORKING TOGETHER. IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SOME TIME. UM, AND WHAT THIS IS, IS, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WE BELIEVE IN PEACE AND JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND SAFETY AND UNDERSTANDING, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND, AND BELONGING FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UH, LAST WEEK WE, WE CAME TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT THE SUMMER STRONG BEACH, HOW WE'RE ALL STANDING TOGETHER TO REACH OUR NEXT GENERATION, EXPANDING YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES, UH, AND PREVENT VIOLENCE AT ITS SOURCE, ENGAGING IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE ALL SUMMER LONG. UH, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT ENSURING SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF OUR RESIDENTS ALSO REQUIRES A FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE GROWING PREVALENCE OF HATE, HATE INCIDENTS, HATE CRIME, HATE SPEECH, OR HATE INCIDENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. UH, THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS, MOST RECENT HATE CRIME RE REPORT REVEALED THAT HATE CRIMES ROSE ACROSS LA COUNTY BY 18%, WITH AN ALARMING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ANTI-BLACK ANTI-LATINO ANTI-SEMITIC, AND ANTI L-G-B-T-Q, HATE CRIMES COUNTYWIDE SUCH AS ASSAULTS, VANDALISMS, AND VANDALISM, AND ACTS OF INTIMIDATION. UNFORTUNATELY, UH, HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE, WE BELIEVE IN PEACE, BUT OUR, OUR FORUMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WELL, THAT'S NOT UNFORTUNATE. WELL, OUR FORUMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, LIKE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND COMMISSION MEETINGS. UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO HATE MOTIVATED SPEECH AND HATE INCIDENTS. UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE BY PRIVATE CITIZENS SPEAKING IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY MAY SOMETIMES RESULT IN PERPETUATING PREJUDICES AND UNDERMINING THE SAFETY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES AS, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT A VERY DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE AND VIBRANT CITY, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ADDRESS HATE CRIME IN ITS MANY FORMS TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS FEEL SECURE IN PUBLIC MEETING SPACES, UH, WHERE IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES ARE BEING MADE. SO THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CLEAR OUR CITY'S POSITION, CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF RACISM, UH, RE RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC BIAS, DISCRIMINATION, INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE EXPRESSED IN PUBLIC MEETINGS BY CONSISTENTLY AFFIRMING THE CITY'S VALUES OF INCLUSION, INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCEPTANCE. AND WHILE WE CAN'T REGULATE THE SPEECH OF PRIVATE CITIZENS, WHAT WE CAN DO IS MODEL PUBLIC CIVIC DISCOURSE. UH, WE CAN AFFIRM OUR CITY'S SHARED VALUES AT PUBLIC MEETINGS SO THAT EVERY RESIDENT, EVERY BUSINESS OWNER, AND EVERY VISITOR KNOWS WHERE OUR CITY STANDS AND FEELS, UH, SO THAT EVERYONE FEELS SAFE AND WELCOME, UH, IN THESE CHAMBERS AND IN OUR PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC FORUMS AND OUR PUBLIC, UH, COMMISSION MEETINGS. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT, UH, AS CHAIR OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR CHAIR OF ANY OF OUR CITY COMMITTEES, IF, OR OUR CITY COMMISSIONS, IF YOU WERE TO, WERE TO EXPERIENCE, UM, INCIDENTS OF HATE CRIME, THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON. YOU HAVE THE CITY'S, UH, PROCLAMATION OF WHERE YOU STAND AND YOU HAVE TRAINING OR, OR, OR PRACTICE ON HOW WE ADDRESS THAT, UH, AS WE SEE THESE INCIDENTS BECOME MORE, UH, MORE PREVALENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SO THAT IS, UM, WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I'M GOING TO GO TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE HAVE, UH, TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THREE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, KEN SCHLESINGER, UM, DEBORAH GOLDFARB AND CLAYTON HURT. HELLO, COUNSEL AND MAYOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M IN THE SAME PLACE THAT I WAS ON DECEMBER 19TH. I'M PROUD TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS KEN SCHLESINGER. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND ALSO SIT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CHAIR THE ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR JEWISH LONG BEACH. MY OPTIONS AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN AND JEW IN THE CITY CROSS MULTIPLE BOUNDARIES AND TO, UH, BUILD ON WHAT MAYOR SAID EARLIER, IF YOU TALK TO THE A DL, THE TOP TWO, UM, MINORITIES THAT ARE BEING HIT WITH HATE CRIMES NOW ARE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY L-G-B-T-Q. IT'S ONLY UNTIL RECENTLY THAT I, ALONG WITH OTHERS IN MY COMMUNITY, DID NOT FEEL SAFE SPEAKING IN PUBLIC FORUMS. [02:15:02] I'M A SURVIVOR OF THE DECEMBER 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WHILE IT WAS A HATE FEST BEYOND MY WILDEST IMAGINATION, NOTHING WAS MORE DESPICABLE TO ME THAN TO SEE YET A CANE. A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BEING VERBALLY ABUSED, CAJOLED, AND HARASSED WHILE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ESTEEMED GROUP. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER LIKE THAT. IN MY OPINION. THERE'S A VERY THICK LINE BETWEEN HATE SPEECH AND FREE SPEECH. JUST YESTERDAY, A CELL POST ON FACEBOOK THAT READ NAME SOMETHING FROM THE SIXTIES THAT HAS COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. THE REPLIES WERE FLOODED WITH TANGIBLE ITEMS, BUT I QUICKLY REPLIED, COMMON COURTESY, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT. THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL. AND PAUL, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. WHEN THIS RESOLUTION IS COMPLETE AND PASSED, LONG BEACH WILL LEAD THE NATION IN WHAT THE MODEL IS OF PROPER DECORUM IN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC FORUMS. I FULLY SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN DRAFTING THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, AND I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS AGENDA ITEM. SO THE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAN START. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DEB GOHAR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITY OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU THIS EVENING. I'M DEBORAH GOLDBAR, CEO OF JEWISH LONG BEACH AND THE ALBERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER LAST SUMMER AS AN UMBRELLA GROUP REPRESENTING SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GREATER LONG BEACH AREA. WE BEGAN A DIALOGUE WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON AND HIS STAFF REGARDING OUR COMMUNITY'S CONCERN AROUND AN ONGOING RISE IN ANTI-JEWISH HATE, AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE TIED TO RACISM AND RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC BIAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. AT THAT TIME, WE AGREED THAT OUR GOAL TOGETHER WITH THE CITY WAS TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL RESIDENTS, FREE FROM HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BIAS. UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, MAYOR, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY AFFINITY GROUPS HAVE FACED THIS RACISM, BIAS AND HATE SPEECH, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC ACTS OF HATE CRIMES, AS YOU SAID. UM, SO STUDIES DO SHOW THAT THAT TYPE OF ATTITUDE LEADS TO SPECIFIC, UH, HATE INCIDENTS AND CAN LEAD TO SPECIFIC VIOLENCE AGAINST ALL OF OUR DIVERSITY OF GROUPS. TONIGHT, WE WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN BRINGING THIS ISSUE FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO AFFIRM THE CITY'S VALUES OF I INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCEPTANCE. WE AT JEWISH LONG BEACH AND OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE LISTED IN OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT, STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS PROPOSED MEASURE TO FOSTER A SAFER AND MORE HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT IN LONG BEACH. WE'RE PLEASED TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO CREATE THE STANDARDS TO BECOME AN EVEN GREATER MO MODEL OF TOLERANCE AND EQUITY, SO THAT NO ETHNIC RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY OR MINORITY GROUP SHOULD EVER HAVE TO FACE UNFAIR LIES AND RHETORIC IN PUBLIC SPACES. RECENT MONTHS HAVE SHOWN HOW QUICKLY OUR LONG BEACH COMMUNITY CAN BE OVERRUN BY ANGER AND HATE WITH A MINORITY CHANGING THE TENOR OF CONVERSATION AND ACCEPTANCE FOR THE MAJORITY. WHILE WE ARE ALL FREE TO EXPRESS OUR VIEWS, EVEN WHEN VILE, WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE CITY IS MOVING TO SAFEGUARD CIVILITY IN THE NAME OF INCLUSION OF ALL PEOPLE AND OUR DIVERSE CITY, THIS IS A CRITICAL FIRST STEP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS AS THEY EMERGE. THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN MOVING THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE FORWARD. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY MOVES INTO THE HOLIDAY OF VU OUT THIS EVENING, COMMEMORATING THE GIVING OF THE TORAH, OUR HOLY SCRIPTURES ON MOUNT SINAI OVER 3000 YEARS AGO. OUR TRADITION TELLS US THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE ISRAELITES THERE FOR THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION THAT SHAPED HISTORY, BUT THAT EACH OF US WAS THERE AS WELL, [02:20:01] COMPLETING A CHAIN OF MEMORY AND INCLUSIVITY. THIS EVENING, WE INVITE ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE JOY OF COMMUNITY THAT VU BRINGS TO OUR WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, CLAYTON HEARD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL NAME'S CLAYTON HURD. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY BOSS, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER DR. RICK ODI FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD TONIGHT. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IT IS CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS AND CONCERNS WITH DECISION MAKERS. THIS COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC PRODUCES BETTER POLICY AND CREATES A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES. HOWEVER, NO ONE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO HATE SPEECH OR HARASSMENT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. WE MUST CONTINUE TO REJECT ANY FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND CENTER OUR VALUES OF INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND EMBRACE OF THE WHOLE HUMAN. IN THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SEVERAL COLLEAGUES AND I WILL BE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE MEETINGS SUCH AS THIS ARE CONDUCTED WITH DECORUM AND RESPECT FOR ALL IN MIND. SOMETIMES THESE CONVERSATIONS AREN'T EASY TO HEAR, BUT AT, UH, BUT AT NO TIME SHOULD ANYONE FEEL THREATENED OR LIKE THEIR VOICE SHOULDN'T BE HEARD. THIS INCLUDES FAITH GROUPS LIKE WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND IS FURTHER DETAILED IN THE MOST RECENT LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS HATE, UH, HATE CRIME REPORT. I'M PROUD OF AND THANKFUL FOR THE COUNTLESS RESIDENTS WHO COME TO SPEAK IN THIS VERY CHAMBER NEARLY EVERY WEEK, IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO COME UP TO SACRAMENTO TRAVELING HUNDREDS OF MILES JUST TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD. THANK YOU FOR REAFFIRMING YOUR COMMITMENT TO THESE VALUES AND ENSURING EVERYONE FEELS SAFE AND SUPPORTED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. I HOPE WE CONTINUE CREATING SPACES FOR THE EXCHANGING OF IDEAS THAT LEAD TO PRODUCTIVE SOLUTIONS AND HEALED HEARTS EVEN IN THESE TROUBLING TIMES. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED ATTENTION TO THIS TOPIC AND LEARNING FROM YOUR VALUABLE EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE, UH, DIVERSE SET OF LETTERS THAT WE HAVE OF SUPPORT OF ITEM 27 1 FROM, UH, , UH, LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM LONG BEACH PRIDE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM JEWISH LONG BEACH. LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER OF LONG BEACH, AND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE LONG BEACH MINISTER'S ALLIANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER OTTI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, SO, UH, BALANCING OUR COUNTRY'S STRONG FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE IN OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS. SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH ME, UM, AND THIS ITEM HITS HONE FOR ME PERSONALLY FOR A FEW REASONS. UH, SO ONE IS, UM, I'VE SEEN EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS WHERE THOSE ATTENDING OR SPEAKING DID NOT FEEL SAFE. UM, I SHARED AN EXAMPLE WITH STAFF, UH, SOME TIME AGO OF A MEETING IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION THAT WAS A HYBRID MEETING. THE INITIAL SPEAKER SPOKE VIA ZOOM AND FAILED TO MUTE THEIR MICROPHONE. THE NEXT SPEAKER HAPPENED TO BE A BLACK WOMAN SPEAKING IN PERSON. AND ONCE SHE APPROACHED THE PODIUM AND BEGAN SPEAKING, SHE'S MET WITH A BARRAGE OF RACIAL AND XENOPHOBIC EPITHETS SPEWED OVER ZOOM BY THE INITIAL SPEAKER. YOU COULD NOT HEAR THIS WOMAN SPEAKING. AND WHAT'S WORSE, THERE WAS NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM ANY ENTITY PRESIDING OVER THE MEETING TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT HATE SPEECH IS A PROTECTED FORM OF SPEECH, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT SCENARIO WAS NOT OKAY. UM, AND THAT THAT SCENARIO WAS NOT OKAY AS THE SECOND SPEAKER'S, FREE SPEECH RIGHTS WERE INFRINGED UPON. AND THAT INTERACTION CREATED AN UNSAFE MEETING ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT BLACK RESIDENT, AND I'M SURE FOR OTHERS WATCHING. SECOND. THE OTHER REASON THIS ITEM RESONATES WITH ME IS THAT I'M CURRENTLY AUDITING A CLASS AT UC, IRVINE ON FREE SPEECH. CLEARLY, I WOULD BE DOC WOULD NOT BE DR. JOANIE IF I WAS NOT APPROACHING THE ISSUE FROM A FORMAL ACADEMIC LESSON. LE UH, LENS BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER HAS REALLY ELEVATED FOR ME THE NEED TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE AROUND FREE SPEECH, ITS LIMITATIONS, AND THE FACT THAT BEING A CITIZEN AND A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC ASKED A LOT OF ITS CITIZENS, INCLUDING BEING PARTY TO SPEECH IN GENERAL, SETTINGS THAT WE MAY FIND DIFFICULT, OFFENSIVE, OR EVEN HARMFUL. AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS RESOLUTION. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE TO SEE OUR CITY EXPLORE SPECIFIC TRAININGS ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN FREE SPEECH, PARTICULARLY OUR COUNCIL OFFICES, COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS TO EDUCATE US ON WHAT TYPES OF SPEECH ARE AND ARE NOT COVERED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THE WAYS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY LIKE OUR CITY CAN REGULATE SPEECH EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT PERMITTED TO PROHIBIT OR CENSOR THAT SPEECH AND HOW WE RESPOND TO SPEECH THAT WE FIND OFFENSIVE. I THINK THESE MAKE US, UM, A BETTER CITY, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD THAT WE'RE IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YES. UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR, UH, AND PAUL AND, UH, AND DR. UH, JONI, RICK SODI FOR SIGNING ONTO THIS. YOU KNOW, I WAS, UH, I WAS, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO, [02:25:01] TO, UH, SIGN ON AND, UH, AND BE A CHAMPION THIS EFFORT FOR OUR CITY. AND I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM TO SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME, UM, THAT'S ALARMING. WE HAVE SEEN THE HATE CRIMES. YOU KNOW, WE GET ALERTS ON OUR ALL COUNCIL, WE GET ALERTS ON OUR PHONE. AND, UH, THE RISE IN THINGS THAT WE SEE AGAINST THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND AGAINST, UM, OUR BELOVED LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY IS, IS ALARMING. UM, COUNTYWIDE, UH, WE SEE HATE CRIMES THAT HAVE INCREASED BY OVER, UM, 18%. UM, AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN, UM, PUBLIC MEETINGS AS YOU HAVE RABBI, THAT, THAT WERE JUST, UH, JUST THE HATE SPEECH WAS, WAS INCREDIBLE. AND SO HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE'RE NOT IMMUNE FROM SOME OF THOSE THINGS. UM, YOU KNOW, AND WHILE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AS FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED, UM, AND I KNOW THAT'S SACRED, UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME COMMENTS AND, AND VERBIAGE USED BY THE PUBLIC CAN BE VERY CHARGED. UM, IT CAN BE PREJUDICED. AND, UM, AS DR. JONI ART, UH, RICK SODI JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, UH, AND UNSAFE. SO I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO AS AFFIRM OUR CITY VALUES AND STATEMENTS, UM, AT THE, UH, BEGINNING OF, I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA NEED TO HAPPEN IS ON AGENDAS. WE'RE AFFIRMING OUR, OUR CITY VALUES, WHETHER IT'S, UM, UH, ON, UM, COUNCIL ITEMS ON WEBSITES. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO, UM, REMIND FOLKS CONSTANTLY THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WE CONDEMN HATE SPEECH. UM, AND AS CITY LEADERS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, HEAD ON. AND I COMMEND YOU MAYOR, UM, FOR JUST DOING THAT. AND WE HAVE TO, UH, WORK TOGETHER WITH EVERY RESIDENT, WITH EVERY BUSINESS OWNER. UM, AND I DON'T EVEN CARE IF YOU'RE A VISITOR, UM, THAT YOU FEEL SAFE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OR COMMISSION MEETINGS OR ANYTHING THAT'S SANCTIONED, UM, BY THE CITY. SO IT'S, IT IS MY HOPE THAT, UM, OUR BELOVED CITY THAT WE'LL HAVE CIVILITY, UM, IN ALL PUBLIC FORUMS. UM, I KNOW THAT'S, THAT'S A, IT'S A HIGH STANDARD AND THAT'S TOUGH, BUT IT IS MY HOPE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR FOR THIS. AND MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF HISTORIC PREJUDICE AND DISENFRANCHISEMENT. AND SO TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY AND CONDEMN RACISM AND RELIGIOUS, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC BIAS, AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CORE VALUES, WHICH ARE INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. COUNCILMAN SUPER NA. UM, THANK YOU TO, UH, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT ITEM FORWARD. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, THANK THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT. UH, CLAYTON HURD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT MESSAGE. AND THANKS TO, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWENTHAL, UH, FOR SHARING THAT. UM, TO CD FOURS, PAUL MUNGE, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS ITEM. AND TO, UH, OUR SPEAKERS REPRESENTING THE ALBERT JCC AND JEWISH LONG BEACH, BOTH LOCATED IN THE FOURTH COUNCIL DISTRICT. I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, DEBORAH AND KEN FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND ALSO FOR BEING HERE ON DECEMBER 19TH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. UH, THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK THE SPEAKERS, UH, FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CLARIFY OUR VALUES. WE KNOW THAT WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND WHAT IS SAID HERE, BOTH BEHIND THE DAIS AND FROM THE PUBLIC WHO COMES TO SPEAK TO US, CAN OFTEN FILTER OUT AS RECORDINGS ARE SHARED, UM, AS PEOPLE COME TO PUBLIC MEETING. AND WHAT'S SAID HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THAT, UM, IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE LIKE THE COUNTY IN, UM, IN ANTI-JEWISH HATE, ANTI-ISLAMIC HATE, ANTI-BLACK HATE. AND ESPECIALLY, UM, AS SOME HAVE SAID IN OUR L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT IN PRIDE MONTH, UM, I AM COGNIZANT THAT ONLINE POSTS FROM A CITY, FROM FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FROM, FROM PEOPLE CELEBRATING PRIDE CELEBRATIONS HAVE HAD SEEN A VITRIOL AND AN INCREASE, [02:30:01] UM, THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN YEARS. UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT HAS INCREASED INCIDENCES ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, ON OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUSES, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, SO AGAIN, UH, GRATEFUL FOR THIS ITEM TO REINFORCE, UH, AND CLARIFY OUR VALUES. AND MY QUESTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IS JUST WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP HERE? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? SO, AS DRAFTED, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL PREPARE AND BRING BACK A RESOLUTION. UM, WE'VE HAD SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH PAUL, AND I BELIEVE THE AGENDA ITEM IS DRAFTED SO THAT THERE CAN BE DISCUSSION AROUND THE USE OF A STATEMENT AFFIRMING THE VALUES OF THE CITY AND CONDEMNING, UM, ALL FORMS OF RACISM, RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC BIAS, DISCRIMINATION, INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE AND HATE CRIMES. UM, WE CAN HAVE THAT DIS THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU THIS EVENING ABOUT HOW THAT COULD BE USED AND IN A WAY THAT IS COGNIZANT OF AND ALLOWS FOR THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT'S ANTICIPATED AND REQUIRED IN THIS SPACE. SO WE'RE HERE TO KIND OF HAVE THAT DIALOGUE WITH YOU THIS EVENING. UM, AND THEN WE ALSO ARE HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS RESOLUTION OVERLAYS WITH THE OVERHAUL THAT WAS DONE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ON THE PROTOCOLS FOR RESPONDING TO DISRUPTIONS IN MEETINGS, AND THAT YOU HAVE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO RELY ON, UM, RECENTLY. SO WE'RE HERE TO KIND OF DISCUSS HOW THOSE THINGS ARE INTERTWINED AND TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WANNA GO WITH THIS RESOLUTION, WHAT THE CONSIDERATIONS AROUND THE FIRST AMENDMENT MIGHT BE. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK FOR ME, IT'S, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN THIS RESOLUTION COMES BACK TO HAVE THAT DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIAL USES, EITHER ON AN AGENDA OR WHERE IT'S POSTED OR WHERE IT SAID, AS OPPOSED TO TONIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE TALKING A LOT OF WHAT IT COULD SAY. AND UNTIL WE, UNTIL, FOR ME, UNTIL I SEE SOMETHING, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION LATER. SO JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN. UH, ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A, A BETTER CHOICE THAN TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'LL BRING THE RESOLUTION TO YOU AND THEN WE CAN BE TALKING WITH THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE, SO WE CAN ABSOLUTELY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THEN. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ITEM FORWARD. UM, A LITTLE BIT OVER 15 YEARS AGO, I WENT THROUGH A TRAINING WITH CCEJ. UM, AND IT WAS TO TRAIN US ON HOW TO ASSIST THOSE, UM, FROM THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY WHO WERE BEING, UM, WHO WERE BEING VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL HATE CRIME. AND, UM, DURING THAT, THAT, UM, THREE MONTH TRAINING THAT I HAD, I WAS REALLY IMPACTED BY THE LEVEL OF HATE THAT WAS ACTUALLY OUT THERE. AND, UM, IT REALLY SCARRED ME TO SEE THAT AND I BECAME MORE PASSIONATE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE, UM, THAT ARE, UM, THAT WERE IN THOSE SITUATIONS. UM, FAST FORWARD TO NOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO IT ABSOLUTELY BREAKS MY HEART, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I AM SO EXCITED TO, UM, TO SEE THIS ITEM COME FORWARD. SO THANK YOU, UM, TO THOSE THAT BROUGHT IT FORWARD AND ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUES. UM, ALSO, I FEEL THAT THIS ITEM ELEVATES THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYONE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF PASSION WHEN SOMEBODY IS ADVOCATING FOR ONE THING OR ANOTHER. AND SO, UM, WE CAN BE STRONG ADVOCATES WHILE RESPECTING EVERYBODY ELSE. AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE TO, LIKE IT'S BEEN SAID HERE BEFORE, TO ALSO AMPLIFY THE VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US AS A CITY. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ALLEN? UH, YES. UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT SPOKE. UM, AND I ALSO, UM, FOR, UH, ASSEMBLYMAN JOSH AL. UM, I KNOW HE JUST FOUND OUT AND TO SEND YOU TODAY, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO US FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND ALL THE SPEAKERS. UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR, UM, THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY. SO WILL YOU ALSO BE LOOKING, UM, ARE WE THE FIRST CITY TO DO THIS? WILL YOU BE LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE DONE THIS? UM, IF THERE'S BEEN ANY CASE LAW ON, UM, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH REGARDS TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE, UM, BECAUSE I DID ADDRESS THIS, UH, A YEAR AGO, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE THAT TRIED TO ADDRESS, UH, ANYONE FROM THE DAIS WHEN IT COMES [02:35:01] TO SPEAK OR WEARING, YOU KNOW, KKK OUTFITS AND ALL THAT STUFF, THE CITY THAT ALL THESE CITIES WERE LOSING IN COURT. SO WILL YOU ALSO BE ABLE TO ADVISE US ON, ON, ON WHAT'S HAPPENED OUT THERE WITH, WITH REGARDS TO OTHER CITIES AND, UM, WHAT ARE THE DO'S AND THE DON'TS AND THEN, UM, WHAT, WHAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL? UH, ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF THAT RESEARCH. UM, UM, I ACTUALLY REPRESENTED THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN SOME OF THESE EXACT CASES IN DEALING WITH THE FOLKS, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN WEARING THE KKK, UH, OU CAME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING. SO, UM, WE HAVE DEEP DIVED INTO THOSE CASES AND, AND THE LAW IN THIS AREA. UM, I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT ARE TRYING THINGS THAT THE COURTS HAVE FOUND TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UM, BUT THEY'RE PERHAPS DOING THAT ANYWAY. UM, BUT THE COURTS HAVE BEEN, UM, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, UM, HOLDING A TIGHT LINE ON FIRST AMENDMENT SPEECH, UH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE ADDRESSING THEIR PUBLIC BODY, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR, WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS CHAMBERS AS THE COUNCIL, YOU ARE THE DULY ELECTED PUBLIC BODY, AND YOU ARE SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY. AND THE FOLKS THAT COME HERE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THINGS TO YOU THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK ARE HORRIBLE AND DON'T WANNA HEAR. UM, BUT THE COURTS HAVE PROTECTED THEIR RIGHT TO SAY THEM ANYWAY BECAUSE YOU ARE THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. SO IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT AREA. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME LOOKING INTO, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY ADVISE YOU WHEN WE BRING IT BACK AS TO WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. I'M, I'M GONNA JUMP IN AND SAY, UM, A LOT OF CONVERSATION HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OVER THE, OVER THE PAST YEAR, UH, ON THIS DISCUSSION. UH, FRANKLY, WE, WE HAD A TALK ABOUT, UH, PUTTING SOME BETTER STANDARDS IN PLACE PRIOR TO DECEMBER 19TH, BEFORE THAT EVEN, YOU KNOW, TOOK PLACE. UM, THE REALITY IS WE SHOULDN'T LEAVE IT UP THE CHANCE FOR ANY CHAIRPERSON FROM ANY COMMITTEE COMMISSION TO HAVE A NAVIGATED ALONE. SO ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PUT, PUT SOME STANDARDS UP, YOU KNOW, CODIFY WHAT, WHERE WE STAND AND TELL AND, AND HAVE A POLICY ON IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF THESE THINGS HAPPEN, HERE'S HOW YOU, UH, HOW YOU REAFFIRM THE CITY'S VALUES, AND HERE'S WHEN YOU DO IT. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF ADVICE, BUT I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF IT WAS IN WRITING SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? SO WE CAN POINT TO IT AND SAY, HERE'S OUR CITY'S PROTOCOL AS IT RELATES TO ADDRESSING, UM, PROTECTING PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC SPEECH, MAINTAINING ALL OF OUR REQUIREMENTS AS A GOVERNMENT BODY. UH, BUT HERE'S OUR PROTOCOLS IN CASE AN INCIDENT DOES HAPPEN, UH, WITHOUT INFRINGING ON FREE SPEECH. THERE'S A WHOLE CONCEPT ABOUT CHILLING EFFECT. I'VE LEARNED ABOUT IF YOU, IF SO, YOU DON'T AGREE WITH SOMETHING SOMEONE SAYS AND YOU JUMP IN AFTER EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING THAT'S A CHILLING EFFECT, YOU CAN GET SUED FOR THAT BECAUSE SAYING, I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, DISCOURAGES THE NEXT PERSON FOR SPEAKING FREELY. RIGHT? SO THERE ARE PROTOCOLS FOR WHEN AND HOW YOU SPEAK UP. WHAT THIS MOTION DOES IS ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BEGIN TO, TO STRUCTURE THAT SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN POINT TO, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN, IN PUBLIC MEETINGS. UM, SO WE'LL GO, WE'LL KEEP GOING DOWN THE LINE. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS ITEM WHOLLY AND DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT TO SPEAK TONIGHT. UM, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS AND HOW WE'RE INFLUENCED. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO JUST ADD MY, UH, UM, SUPPORT FOR THE ITEM. I THINK IT IS, UH, IT'S SAD THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THIS ITEM. UM, IT SHOWS THAT THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE HAS DEVOLVED TO, UH, A PLACE OF, UH, THAT'S UNRECOGNIZABLE TODAY. UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS HAPPENING, OR AS A RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON 24 HOUR NEWS CYCLES AND THE NATIONAL POLITICAL DISCUSSION, UM, IT, IT'S REALLY IMPACTING US HERE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL, AND HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. AND SO, UM, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE CITY AND, UH, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION I THINK WILL MAKE US A GREAT STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES. AND SO I WANNA THANK THOSE WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD. I WANNA, UM, I WANNA JUST WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTI AND VICE MAYOR ALLEN FOR, FOR SIGNING ON. UH, BUT ALSO JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THESE MEETINGS WEREN'T LIKE THIS, UH, 10 YEARS AGO, 12 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, YOU'D HAVE YOUR GAD FLIES. YOU SURE, SURE SURELY HAVE WILD THINGS THAT ARE SAID. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING THINGS OVER THE YEARS BECOME MORE AND MORE HOSTILE, UM, AND MORE HATE SPEECH THAT'S MORE PREVALENT. AND I WOULD SAY, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, THERE IS A CORRELATION TO [02:40:01] THE NATIONAL RHETORIC AND THE TONE OF PUBLIC DISCORD IN WASHINGTON DC I THINK HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON, UH, ON OUR CITY. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CITY. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THESE THINGS LEGALLY, UH, IN A WAY THAT IS LEGALLY SOUND. AND, UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION DOES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. WELL, NOW JOE, GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ONE. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. DONNA YOUNG AND KAREN REZA, PLEASE COME FORWARD. COUNCIL D DIOCESE. YOU GUYS KNOW ME, DONNA YOUNG DISTRICT SIX. I SEE YOU AL. I'M COMING TO YOUR DISTRICT NEXT X NO, I KNOW YOU ARE. UH, I WANNA SAY I HAVE ONE ITEM I WANNA TALK ABOUT, BUT IT WOULD BE REMORSE IF I DIDN'T MENTION WHAT I'M ABOUT TO MENTION. UH, MR. MAYOR, YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR THE MEETING ON MAY THE 21ST. YOU WERE ON BUSINESS AND IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO OBSERVE A THIRD OF YOUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES WALK OUTTA HERE BEFORE THE CONSTITUENTS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING. AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS HOW YOUR TOWNSHIP MEETINGS ARE [ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ] GOING TO GO OR BE RAN WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE? WE HAD YOUR VICE MAYOR, CINDY ALLEN, YOU HAD YOUR SECOND VICE MAYOR SULI SORROW, AND YOU HAD COUNCILMAN ROBERTO URANGA WALK OUT. AND WE ARE ALL LOOKING LIKE, DO WE NEED TO BE ON THE MOVE TOO? 'CAUSE WE SEE YOU GOING, YOU GOING AND YOU GOING AND MRS. SORROW, SHE GOT OUTTA HERE SO QUICK, SHE FORGOT HER STUFF AND HER AID HAD TO COME BACK IN HERE AND GET THAT. THESE CONSTITUENTS, WE COME IN HERE TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS, HOPEFULLY GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THEY TAKE THE TIME TO COME IN HERE, BUT WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO COME IN HERE TO WATCH OUR REPRESENTATIVES WALK OUTTA HERE BECAUSE THE MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT THAT DAY OR THAT NIGHT WAS LIKE, SCREW YOU. WE DON'T CARE. WE ARE GONNA RECIPROCATE THE SAME MESSAGE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE. SCREW YOU. WE DON'T CARE IF THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THEN MAYBE ALL THE NEW SYNDICATES MIGHT NEED AN INVITATION TO COME UP HERE TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING SO THEY CAN GET THAT ON CAMERA. BECAUSE THAT WAS UNPROFESSIONAL. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EMBARRASSING UP HERE. AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DID STAY, COUNCILWOMAN KERR, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, DR. JOANIE, MARY DARRELL, THANK YOU FOR STAYING. EVEN THOUGH THOSE CONCERNS WERE NOT EVEN IN YOUR DISTRICT, THE CONCERNS WERE BASED ON THE CONSTITUENTS THAT, WELL, THE COUNCIL PERSON THAT WALKED OUTTA HERE, THEIR CONSTITUENTS WERE LOOKING AND SOME LEFT THAT SHOULD NOT BE. SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A, A SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH YOU TO, UH, VOICE SOME OF MY DEEP ROOTED CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT SIX AS WELL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNCIL WOMAN'S PARENTS LIVE OVER IN CAMBODIA TOWN. MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED AND YOUR THREE MINUTES IS CONCLUDED. UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY ON MY TEAM, OKAY? BUT THAT IS YOUR THREE MINUTES, OKAY? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MM-HMM, . ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION. UM, YOU KNOW, I SIT, SOMETIMES I DON'T SAY ANYTHING AND, UH, I HEAR A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON AND PEOPLE ASSUME CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT ME, SO THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND ME. I CAN TELL YOU HATE AND PREJUDICE IS ALIVE AND WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, I TALK ABOUT BEING HOMELESS AND EVERY TIME I HEAR NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HOMELESS PEOPLE, I SAY, I TURN TO PEOPLE AND I SAY, I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS. AND THAT USUALLY STOPS THE CONVERSATION. UM, THESE DIALOGUES ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WE NEED [02:45:01] TO HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY-WIDE DIALOGUES. MARY, A CHEER EVENT LAST NIGHT. I JUST WAS SHOCKED AT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING AT THE RECEPTION. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT EVENT. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOME PRETTY APPALLING OPINIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, THERE OFTEN EXPRESSED SOMETIMES IN THE OFFICE, IN THE AUDIENCE, NOT OUT LOUD. SO, BUT I'M HERE TODAY, UM, AS PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS, AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT WILDER WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY, WHICH IS JUNE 15TH. UM, A LOT OF THIS ABUSE IS, UM, NOT REPORTED, AND, UH, TODAY ACTUALLY MARKS, UM, A DAY. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE US POPULATION IS RAPIDLY AGING. THE YEAR 2024 MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE PEAK 65 ZONE FOR OLDER ADULTS, THE LARGEST SURGE OF OLDER AMERICANS TURNING 65 IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. APPROXIMATELY 4.1 MILLION AMERICANS ARE APPOINTED TO TURN 65 THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2027. THIS MEANS THAT FROM 2024 TO 2027, NEARLY 11,200 ADULTS WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 65TH BIRTHDAY EACH DAY. BY 2034, OLDER ADULTS WILL OUTNUMBER CHILDREN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN US HISTORY. AND BY 2060, NEARLY ONE QUARTER OF THE US POPULATION IS PREDICTED TO BE AGED 65 YEARS OR OLDER. UH, HEARING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THE STRONG LONG BEACH DISCUSSION LAST, UH, WEEK, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MISSING IN THAT PROPOSAL WAS OLDER ADULTS. WE HAVE THIS VAST RESOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND TIME. I, I LISTEN TO THE PASSAGE WAYS. THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO USE OLDER ADULTS TO KEEP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE. SO, UM, WE ARE HAVING A, A WALK TOMORROW AT THE SENIOR CENTER FROM NINE TO 12TH, AND WE ARE HAVING SENIORS WALK AROUND THE BLOCK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ELDER ABUSE. SO, UM, KEEP UPLIFTING OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL NOW GO ON TO ITEM 30, COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION REGARDING RESEARCH ON POTENTIAL REVENUE MEASURES AND RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF REVENUE MEASURES ON THE NOVEMBER 20, 24 BALLOT CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, [30. 24-53721 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation regarding research on potential revenue measures and receive direction from the Mayor and the City Council regarding the placement of revenue measures on the November 2024 ballot. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] I'LL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. UH, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY IN JANUARY, I ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND SHORTFALLS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL REVENUE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. CITY STAFF HAS RESPONDED WITH A THREE PART SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IT BEGAN WITH A COMPREHENSION COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET FORECAST, UH, FOR THE CITY EARLIER THIS YEAR. SECOND WAS A PRES PRESENTATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THE CITY THROUGH THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE. THAT PRESENTATION WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL LAST MONTH, AND TODAY WE'LL BE TAKING ON THE CONVERSATION ON ADDITIONAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY IS EXPLORING THROUGH THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO SET UP ON THE BEST COURSE FOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL FUTURE AND PROTECT THE CITY'S, UH, SERVICES THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, SAFE, CLEAN, AND HEALTHY. UH, LONG BEACH HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. WE'VE SEEN GROWTH IN TOURISM AND GOODS, MOVEMENT AND SPACE AND AVIATION SECTORS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF REASON TO BE REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LONG BEACH'S FUTURE. BUT EVEN WITH THAT IMPORTANT PROGRESS, THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD A STRONG FINANCIAL FUTURE FOR OUR CITY, UH, WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, WHERE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLEAN AND SAFE, AND WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER, DELIVER QUALITY CITY SERVICES. THERE ARE SOME TOUGH REALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO CONFRONT AS A CITY, UH, WITH A BUDGET SHORTFALL ANTICIPATED IN THE YEARS AHEAD, THE END OF ONE TIME, FEDERAL RECOVERY DOLLARS, WHICH ADDS SOME URGENCY BEHIND OUR REVENUE GROWTH, UH, STRATEGIES, UH, TO ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE INVEST INVESTING IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE POLICE AND FIRE AND, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS. NOW WITH A SHIFTING LEGISLATIVE LANDSCAPE AT THE STATE LEVEL, [02:50:01] OUR CITIES AND OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO, UH, HAVING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, IT'S CLEAR THAT, UH, OUR DEPENDENCE ON LOCAL OIL PRODUCTION IS NO LONGER SMART, A SMART WAY, UH, TO INVEST IN OUR CITY AS A MAJOR REVENUE SOURCE TO SUPPORT CORE CITY SERVICES. IT'S NOT FEASIBLE LONG TERM BASED ON, UH, WHAT WE KNOW IS HAPPENING, UH, WITH SB 1137 AND DECLINING REVENUES. AND SO WE HAVE TO, UH, GET AHEAD OF IT THIS YEAR. THERE ARE SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO ANSWER TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, UH, REGARDING THE WAY WE FUND OUR CITY SERVICES. WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT CHOICE TO MAKE REGARDING WHAT TYPE OF CITY WE WANT TO LEAVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE A CITY WITH AN UNCERTAIN FINANCIAL FUTURE THAT STRUGGLES TO HOLD ON TO OUR EVEN, UH, MOST BASIC SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE A CITY THAT TAKES INITIATIVE BY GROWING OUR ECONOMY IN NEW AND MORE SUSTAINABLE DIRECTIONS. AND BY IMPROVING THE CITY, THE SERVICES THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS DEPEND ON. FOR ME, THAT CHOICE IS CLEAR. WE HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF THESE CHALLENGES, UH, THAT ARE FACING LONG BEACH UNIQUELY, UH, AND MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE ARE TAKING, TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME TO ACT. SO, UH, NO VOTE'S GONNA BE TAKEN ON ANY PARTICULAR MEASURE TONIGHT, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR. UH, THIS IS INFORMATIONAL OVERVIEW THAT AIMS TO UPDATE OUR COUNCIL ON THE CITY'S ONGOING RESEARCH EFFORTS AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS DIRECTION, UH, TO STAFF TO EXPLORE, UH, REVENUE OP OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDITION TO, UH, ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT SAID, I WANNA, UH, PASS IT TO CITY STAFF TO BE IN THE PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO YES, WE WILL DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER THAN THAT. THAT WAS A GOOD OVERVIEW. WE WILL, UH, GET INTO OUR FISCAL OUTLOOK. WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE GROW LONG BEACH STRATEGIES. WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, THE CONTEXT OF THE A UH, NOVEMBER, 2024 BALLOT. UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO SOME OF THE MEASURE, UM, POTENTIAL IDEAS. UH, AND THEN WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE. UH, I WANNA JUST REITERATE BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A VOTE TONIGHT. TONIGHT REALLY IS A RECEIVING FILE. THAT'S THE ACTION, UH, UH, IT'S A CHANCE TO GET, SEE SOME OF THE RESEARCH. WE'RE, UH, KIND OF UNVEILING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME. UH, GET SOME INPUT. WE'LL BE TAKING INPUT FOR OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OR ANYONE WANTS TO SHARE ANYTHING. AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK TO YOU, UH, IN AUGUST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT, UH, FURTHER OF A, OF A CONCEPT. AND SO, UH, UH, THIS DIRECTION CAME FROM THE COUNCIL, UH, IN MARCH 19TH ON, UH, A STUDY SESSION ON THE FISCAL OUTLOOK, OR I'M SORRY. UM, UH, THIS IS, UH, UH, WE HAD OUR STUDY SESSION, UM, IN, ON MARCH 20, UM, UH, 24 ABOUT THE FISCAL OUTLOOK. AND, UH, UH, RIGHT NOW THE ADOPTED FY 24 BUDGET IS PROJECTED AT ABOUT AN $8.8 MILLION SHORTFALL, AND THAT WE'RE COVERING WITH LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT, UH, REVENUES, UH, NEXT WEEK, YOU'RE BEGINNING, YOU'RE GONNA BE GETTING A STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, AS WE DO OUR MID-YEAR PERFORMANCE REPORT. AND WE EXPECT THAT TO, UH, ALSO BE ABLE TO BE OUR, OUR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, AS IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE ALL OF OUR LABOR COST AGREEMENTS IN THE FUND AND THE GENERAL FUND. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE PRESENTED IN MARCH, UH, WAS ESSENTIALLY THREE YEARS. WE ALSO LOOKED, UH, OUT FIVE YEARS. AND AT FIVE YEARS IT GETS LARGER. BUT, UH, THAT'S HARDER TO TO ESTIMATE. YOU REALLY LOOK, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO SEE WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING OUR WAY, WHICH IS ABOUT A $44.8 MILLION CUMULATIVE SHORTFALL OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. 23.5 MILLION AND 25, 35 0.9 MILLION AND 26 IF IT'S NOT SOLVED. AND THEN IT GROWS TO 44.8. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DRIVERS? OBVIOUSLY WE DO OUR SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE. UH, THAT IS WHERE ALL, UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR DOLLARS GO. UH, YOU'VE, YOU FUND POLICE OFFICERS, YOU FUND FIREFIGHTERS, YOU FUND OUR MAINTENANCE ASSISTANTS, UH, REFUSE WORKERS. AND SO, UM, THOSE COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH COST, UH, TO, UH, TO LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND TO PROVIDE GOOD PAYING JOBS. UH, WE'VE ALSO SEEN SOME INCREASES IN OUR, UH, IN, IN OUR INVESTMENT RETURN, UH, THAT WE NEED TO, UH, GENERATE FOR PENSION LIABILITIES. UH, THAT, UH, THE MARKET HAD SOME LOSSES IN 21 AND 22 THAT NEED TO BE, UH, RECOUPED. AND THEN YOU, UH, PAY FOR THOSE OVER SEVERAL YEARS. SALES AND USE TAX HAD BEEN REALLY, REALLY STRONG FOR THE CITY, UH, AS WE CAME OUTTA THE PANDEMIC. AND THAT'S STARTING TO GET BACK TO MORE OF A NORMAL GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT 3%. AND THEN, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, OIL IS REALLY NOT IN OUR CITY'S FUTURE, AND WE NEED TO START PLANNING THAT, THAT, UH, UH, VERY VARIABLE, UM, FUNDING SOURCE MAY NOT BE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PUTTING, UH, OUR, OUR HOPES ON FOR OPERATIONS. SO I'LL SHOW THAT IN A SECOND. AND THEN JUST THE GENERAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS, UH, HAVING A FLEET, HAVING TECHNOLOGY DEALING, UH, WITH OUR INSURANCE FUNDS, UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, JUST LIKE OTHER, UH, BUSINESSES ARE DEALING WITH, UH, THOSE ARE INCREASING AS WELL. AND SO, UH, FOR OIL, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT, UM, AN [02:55:01] IMPACT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF EXPECTED, ABOUT $45 MILLION, UH, THAT WE BELIEVE IS GONNA BE KIND OF PHASED OUT. UH, IT STARTS A LITTLE SMALLER IN THE BEGINNING AND GETS LARGER AS WE GO. AND SO THAT WOULD BE NOT RELYING ON THOSE DOLLARS IN OUR OPERATING FUND, UM, TO BE ABLE TO FUND CITY SERVICES, UH, AND THAT, THAT IT WOULD BE PHASED OUT OVER FIVE YEARS. SO IF WE JUST LOOK AT NEXT YEAR, WE SHOWED YOU THIS BACK IN MARCH, BUT IF WE HAD TO SOLVE $23 MILLION, UH, THESE ARE NOT BY ANY MEANS THE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT $23 MILLION COULD TOTAL. UH, AND OUR, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE UNITS. UM, THOSE COST $1.4 MILLION FOR OFFICERS. OUR A FIRE ENGINE COSTS 3.4 MILLION, UH, THREE POTHOLE TRUCKS IS 2.2 MILLION. BRANCH LIBRARY IS 3.6. SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THESE ARE GONNA BE HARD CHOICES, UH, IF WE NEED TO GET INTO, UH, $23 MILLION. AND IT'S GONNA BE ALMOST DOUBLY AS HARD IF YOU'RE UP TOWARDS THE, UH, THE $45 MILLION NUMBER. AND SO, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, UH, THE MAYOR REALLY KICKED OFF THIS CONCEPT, UH, IN, UH, HIS INAUGURAL STATE OF THE ADDRESS IN 2023. AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE COUNCIL GAVE US SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO START WORKING ON STRATEGIES TO THINK AHEAD. UH, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UH, THAT GROW LONG BEACH ITEM TALKED ABOUT, UM, PROPELLING THE GROWTH OF KEY SECTORS IN LONG BEACH, SECURING OUR CITY'S FUTURE SUPPORTING RECRUITMENT GROWTH AND RETENTION, UH, IN THE CITY'S ECONOMY, EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE, UH, AND, AND ALSO BOLSTERING AND GROWING KEY REVENUE SECTORS. AND SO JUST, UH, ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE CAME TO YOU WITH THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE, UH, COMING UP WITH 52 SPECIFIC IDEAS THAT CAN BE WORKED OVER. SOME ARE SHORT TERM, SOME ARE MEDIUM, SOME ARE LONG, UH, TO REALLY HELP GROW, UH, OUR REVENUES THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE, SOME OF THOSE CONCEPTS, UH, HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE FY 24 BUDGET, AND YOU'VE GIVEN US SUPPORT TO DO SOME OF THAT RESEARCH, LIKE LOOKING AT ADVERTISING DISTRICTS, UH, LOOKING AT A PROMOTION CAMPAIGN FOR A VISIT LONG BEACH, UH, LOOKING AT MARKETING AND BRANDING STRATEGIES, AND OF COURSE INVESTING IN THE QUEEN MARY, WHICH IS, UH, BECOMING A, A, A REALLY STRONG REGIONAL, UH, ECONOMIC DRIVER AND GROW LONG BEACH. WHEN IT CAME THAT, UH, TO YOU ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE LOOKED AT FOUR DIFFERENT, UH, UH, INDUSTRY SECTORS, FUEL SIX INDUSTRY SECTORS, SORRY, FUELING OUR AEROSPACE AND INNOVATION, BUILDING TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN, UNLEASHING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, FOCUSING ON MUSIC AND ATHLETES AND, AND TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY, UH, INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION, BUILDING A CLIMATE FOR ME, FORWARD ECONOMY AND A NUMBER OF OTHER IDEAS, INCLUDING A LOT OF OUR, OUR BUSINESS CORRIDORS AND WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES. BUT I, I, I THINK WE WERE VERY CLEAR THAT GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE ALONE THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT GONNA BE SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS OUR, OUR, OUR SHORTFALL. AND SO ONE OF THE OTHER PARTS OF, OF THE ASSIGNMENT YOU GAVE US LAST YEAR WAS TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, UH, THAT COULD, UM, THAT COULD BE, UH, BROUGHT TO YOU. SO I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND. BUT BEFORE I GET TO THAT, THERE'S ANOTHER REALLY SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL MEASURE THAT'S OUT THERE THAT, UM, WOULD HAVE A PRETTY LARGE IMPACT ON, ON LONG BEACH AND HAS SOME UNIQUE IMPACT ON LONG BEACH. AND THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES, UH, ALSO CALLED THE LA CASA MEASURE. AND SO IT IS LOOKING AT, UH, UH, A FUNDING SOURCE FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. IT WOULD BE DEDICATED, BUT IT ALSO REPLACES MEASURE H, IT REPEALS AND REPLACES MEASURE H AND THAT DOES SOME UNIQUE THINGS IN LONG BEACH THAT I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE. AND SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S, UH, IT WOULD FUND ABOUT $1.2 BILLION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, OR I'M SORRY, ENTIRE COUNTY. UH, AND IT WOULD RAISE THE SALES TAX BY, UH, HALF A CENT, AND ABOUT 60% OF THOSE DOLLARS WOULD GO TO HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, UM, WHICH THEN WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMULAS ON HOW THAT WOULD WORK. AND 35%, UH, WOULD GO TOWARDS, UM, UM, HOUSING INVESTMENT. UH, AND SO THAT WOULD BE, UM, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A HOUSING, UH, UH, HOUSING DEDICATED SOLUTION HERE IN, UH, IN THE COUNTY. AND SO THAT WOULD BE A NEW SOURCE TO ACTUALLY WORK ON VERY SIGNIFICANT HOUSING, UM, UM, DEMAND. WE WOULD ALSO GET SOME SIGNIFICANT DIRECT ALLOCATIONS DIRECTLY TO US BECAUSE WE'RE A LARGE CITY AND BECAUSE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN, AND LONG BEACH HAS A DEDICATED SEAT ON THAT BOARD. UH, AND RIGHT NOW THE, UH, VICE MAYOR IS OUR MAYOR, UH, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, THE, UH, THE VICE CHAIR. AND HE WILL BE, BECOME, UH, THE CHAIR, UH, OF, UH, LA CASA NEXT YEAR WHEN ALL THIS IS COMING TOGETHER THIS MONTH. THAT WENT QUICK. . SO I STAND CORRECTED THIS MONTH. UH, HE'LL BECOME THE CHAIR. AND SO, UM, IF IT'S APPROVED, IT WILL PROVIDE A DEDICATED SOURCE, UM, DEDICATED DIRECTLY TO HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR NOT ONLY LONG BEACH, BUT ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AS PART OF OUR HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY, THAT OUR SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS ALSO NEED REVENUES TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THESE SOLUTIONS. BUT IT DOES SOMETHING UNIQUE IN LONG BEACH. UH, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH WHEN MEASURE A WENT INTO EFFECT, WHEN MEASURE H WENT INTO EFFECT. AND SO, UH, TO BE, TO MAKE IT SIMPLE IS, UH, MEASURE A IS GOING TO BE RETURNING TO THE FULL 1%. UH, AND THAT HAPPENS, UH, IN ABOUT TWO YEARS FROM NOW. UH, BUT, UH, WHEN MEASURE H COMES OFF THE [03:00:01] BOOKS, IF UNITED WAY WERE TO PASS, IT COMES OFF THE BOOKS, IT MEANS MEASURE A COMES ON THE BOOKS FASTER. UH, SO THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS CURRENTLY, UH, WE'RE COLLECTING RIGHT NOW GOES TO THE COUNTY THAT WOULD COME TO LONG BEACH FASTER. UH, AND SO IN FY 25, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE $12 MILLION ADDITIONAL FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ANOTHER $24 MILLION IN FY 26, SO HALF THE YEAR IN 25 AND JUMP TO 26. SO IT WOULD DO TWO THINGS FOR US, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, UM, REGIONAL SOLUTION, AND THEN $24 MILLION THAT WE COULD USE IN THAT AREA. WE OFTEN GET ASKED WHERE BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU PROCEED. I'M JUST GONNA, UH, DRAW AN EXCLAMATION POINT THERE QUICKLY. SO THIS ISN'T A LONG BEACH MEASURE. THIS IS A COUNTYWIDE CITIZEN DRIVEN INITIATIVE. SO MORE THAN 400,000 SIGNATURES WE'RE TURNED INTO THE COUNTY, UH, AND, AND IS GOING THROUGH THE VERIFICATION PROCESS NOW, BUT IT'S THE FIRST CITIZEN DRIVEN INITIATIVE IN LA COUNTY HISTORY. THAT'S BIG. UH, I THINK, UH, ONE THING I WILL NOTE IS THAT LA COUNTY PROP H IS WHERE OUR SIGNIFICANT HOMELESS FUNDING COMES FROM. IT IS SET TO SUNSET WHEN THAT SUNSETS, IT WILL LEAVE A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN OUR ABILITY TO MANAGE HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND SO THAT'S THE IMPETUS FOR THIS COUNTYWIDE MEASURE, A BOLD NEW WAY TO ADDRESS, UH, THAT CRISIS IF, UH, IF THAT FUNDING IS NOT CONTINUED, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS ON HOUSING AND, UH, SUPPORT FOR KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES RESOURCES FOR THOSE TWO, UH, ISSUES, WHICH ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE THAT IF THIS CITIZEN DRIVEN INITIATIVE PASSES, WE BENEFIT IN BOTH WAYS. WE RECEIVE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS AND, AND HOUSING PRODUCTION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION AND PERPETUITY. BUT SECONDLY, WE RECEIVE OUR MEASURE A REVENUE, UH, IN FY 25, OUR NEXT YEAR'S, UH, BUDGET, $12 MILLION AND 26 MILLION, UH, 24 MILLION. SO THAT'S 36 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE WOULD NOT BE PROGRAMMING THAT HIT AS THE DEFICIT COMES IN. SO THIS ONE MEASURE HAS THE, HAS THE ABILITY TO OFFSET A MAJOR PART OF THE CITY'S REVENUE CHALLENGES OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE. UM, SO, UH, WE OFTEN GET ASKED, WELL, DOESN'T, UH, MEASURE A FUND PUBLIC SAFETY? AND YES, IT DOES. UH, WE REPORT ON THIS EVERY YEAR. WE GO TO OUR TAX COMMITTEES. UH, AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS. WE'VE USED MEASURE A TO MAINTAIN 151 POSITIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE LOST HAD WE NOT HAD MEASURE A, UH, AND ALSO TO ENHANCE 48 SWORN IN CIVILIANS. SO I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS, BUT WE KNOW YOU GET ASKED, YOU KNOW, UH, WHERE DID SOME OF THESE ISSUES COME FROM? DOESN'T MEASURE A DO THAT. SO, AND WE CALCULATE EXACTLY, UH, EVERY YEAR WHAT MEASURE A DOES FOR SUPPORT. AND SO MOVING ON INTO, UH, WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK AT AND BRING YOU SOME OTHER LOCAL REVENUE OPTIONS THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER. UH, AND SO, UM, WE, UM, UH, THOSE, THOSE OPTIONS COULD REALLY MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL SHORTFALL AND ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, IN, UNDER CERTAIN SCENARIOS TO ENHANCE SOME CRITICAL SERVICE PRIORITIES DEPENDING, UH, ON HOW THIS ALL SHAKES OUT. AND SO, UH, WE'VE STARTED, UM, TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT IN OUR FY 25, UH, PROCESS OF, OF WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CORE SERVICES, UM, IF THE CITY HAD ADDITIONAL REVENUE, BUT ALSO WHAT COULD WE SAVE TOO IF, UM, IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY, UH, TO NOT HAVE TO TAKE SOME CUTS. AND SO PART OF WHAT, UH, I WANT TO GO THROUGH IS SOME RESEARCH THAT WE DID. UM, WE ASKED, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, BACK IN APRIL AND, AND MAY, UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT? AND, UH, UH, THE, THESE ARE IN ORDER FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I THINK, UH, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE ENTIRE STATE, UH, OF CALIFORNIA. AND SO THAT'S AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. COST OF HOUSING IS ABOUT SIX 73%. COST OF LIVING IS 72%. THAT'S ACTUALLY DOWN FROM ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. INFLATION AND RISING PRICES, UH, 71% DOWN FROM 80% TWO YEARS AGO. UH, CONCERNS ABOUT THEFTS AND, AND DRUG USE AND, AND PROPERTY CRIMES IS, UM, FLAT AT 67%. CRIME IN GENERAL, UH, UH, IS ACTUALLY DOWN ABOUT 5% FROM TWO YEARS AGO AT 70% CONDITION OF STREETS AND LOCAL ROADS AT 60% GUN VIOLENCE, UH, IS A NEW QUESTION THAT WE ASK. THAT'S AT 58% WASTE AND MISMANAGEMENT BY LONG BEACH CITY GOVERNMENT, UH, IS DOWN UNDER, UH, 50%. IT'S AT 44%. UH, AND AIR POLLUTION IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 58% TO 48, 40 4% TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT 40% JOBS IN THE ECONOMY DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM TWO YEARS AGO. THE CONDITION OF THE LONG BEACH BUDGET THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS, UH, 40% BELIEVE THAT'S AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT 30% DON'T KNOW. UM, AND SO I, I THINK PART OF THIS NEEDS TO BE, UM, EDUCATING PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS COMING, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS. WATER QUAL WATER POLLUTION IS DOWN 59 TO 42%, [03:05:01] AND RATE OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS AT 26%. AND ONE THING WE'VE ASKED, UM, UH, VOTERS OVER THE YEARS, GOING BACK ABOUT FIVE YEARS, IS DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR FUNDING SERVICES? AND THE ANSWER IS YES. UH, IT GENERALLY HANGS RIGHT AROUND 70%. UH, AND SO WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER. SO THE RESIDENTS REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED, UH, TO FUND ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE ALSO ASKED A QUESTION, AND WE SAID, UH, IF THERE IS NO FUNDING, SPECIFIC FUNDING MEASURE ATTACHED, UM, UH, WOULD YOU, UM, SUPPORT CREATING A NEW SOURCE OF FUNDING, UM, FOR LONG BEACH CITY REVENUES? UH, SO THIS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IS A QUESTION THAT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT QUITE REAL. 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC IMPACT, BUT IT REALLY SHOWS THE, THE MENTALITY AND THE SENTIMENT OF OUR LONG BEACH VOTERS. AND THAT 78% AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT THAT I WOULD SUPPORT A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE, UH, TO HELP FUND, UM, UM, CITY SERVICES. AND, UH, THAT SUPPORT IS THERE IN EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT. SO THE, THE OPTIONS I WANNA TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ARE KIND OF IN THREE AREAS. WE LOOKED AT ONES THAT REALLY RESIDENTS DO NOT PAY. UM, SO, UH, THE OPTIONS WERE REALLY, UH, THERE IS NO VIRTUALLY NO OR NO IMPACT TO RESIDENTS. WE LOOKED AT SOME WHERE RESIDENTS OFTEN WOULD NOT PAY THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME YOU'RE NOT PAYING THAT TAX. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ONES THAT THEN RESIDENTS LIKELY WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT AND THEY WOULD BE PAYING. AND SO, UH, THESE ARE THE VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA KIND OF WALK THROUGH NEXT. SO ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, THERE IS CURRENTLY AN EXEMPTION IN OUR MUNICIPAL CODE, UM, FOR POWER PLANTS THAT PRODUCE POWER USING GAS. UH, THERE'S TWO OF THOSE IN THE CITY. UH, ONE IS THE A ES PLANT. UM, AND THE OTHER IS THE L-E-D-W-P PLANT, UM, BOTH OF WHICH ARE IN THE THIRD DISTRICT, UH, RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH, PAY 5% UUT. ALL OF US DO. WE PAY THAT 5% THAT IS NOT PAID BY THE TWO POWER PLANTS IN LONG BEACH. UH, WE'VE SEEN OTHER EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES, AND OUR CITY AUDITOR HAS DONE A, A LOT OF WORK WITH US IN RESEARCH AND, AND LOOKING AT THIS. AND OTHER CITIES DO CHARGE, UH, POWER PLANTS IN THEIR CITIES, UH, FOR THAT GAS UUT. UH, AND FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER PLANTS IN THE CITY THAT ARE GOVERNMENT RUN. ONE, UH, WAS SURF, UM, WHICH IS OUR WASTE ENERGY PLANT. AND THE OTHER IS A COGEN PLANT, UH, THAT PRODUCES POWER FOR THE OIL ISLANDS, BOTH OF WHICH DO PAY, UH, GAS, UUT. AND SO, BUT THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR BOOKS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, UH, TO EXEMPT IT. AND SO THE CONCEPT IS, IS, UM, THAT, UM, UH, PUTTING THAT UUT BACK IN PLACE, THAT IS THE SAME AS WHAT OTHER RESIDENTS PAY, UH, THAT WOULD BASICALLY GENERATE, WE BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK IN FY 26 AT FULL IMPLEMENTATION, APPROXIMATELY $15 MILLION A YEAR, UH, IN ADDITIONAL SERVICES. AND BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THOSE PROVIDE DIRECT POWER TO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, THAT WOULD BE EITHER NO IMPACT OR VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT. UH, THE COST FOR L-A-D-W-P IS SPREAD PRIMARILY TO, UH, L-A-D-W-P CUSTOMERS, WHICH ARE NOT IN, UH, NOT ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND THE OTHER IS FOR A ES, THAT'S A PLANT THAT HELPS SUPPORT THE GRID DURING TIMES OF PEAK POWER NEEDS. UH, SO THAT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL, UM, CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF CALIFORNIA AND NOT, UH, JUST TO LONG BEACH CUSTOMERS. THAT'S NUMBER TWO. I'M SORRY, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, UH, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED A TRANSFER TAX, A REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX. UH, AND, UH, MOST CITIES CHARGE THIS. LONG BEACH HAS RECEIVED REVENUE FROM THIS AS WELL. BUT THESE ARE BASICALLY NOT A PROPERTY TAX, BUT THEY ARE ON THE, THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. AND SO MOST VOTERS WOULD NOT PAY THIS. MOST OF THE TIME. IF YOU'RE RENTING, IF YOU'RE PAYING, UH, IF YOU'RE LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU WOULDN'T PAY IT. IT'S UPON SALE OF THE SALE OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY, AND IT COMES OUTTA THE PROCEEDS. AND SO, UH, THE TAX PRIMARILY WOULD BE PAID BY INVESTORS WHO ARE PURCHASING AND THEN, UH, SELLING PROPERTIES, OFTEN CALLED FLIPPING PROPERTIES WITH THE TAX COMING FROM THE SALE. PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE SELLING THEIR PROPERTY TO LEAVE LONG BEACH, UM, WHERE THE TAX COMES FROM, THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE, OR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS WHO ARE, UM, SELLING THEIR PROPERTY AND MAY BE INVESTING IN ANOTHER PROPERTY IN LONG BEACH. AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE PAID FROM THE GROWTH IN THE PROPERTY, VALUE FROM THE SALE. LOOKING AT SOME OTHER CITIES, UM, UH, A LOT OF CITIES ARE AT THE ONE 10 AMOUNT, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE, UM, WHERE 55 CENTS GOES TO THE CITY AND 55 CENTS GOES TO THE COUNTY. UH, BUT YOU CAN SEE LOS ANGELES HAS, UH, A HIGHER TAX AT, AT A TOTAL OF FIVE 60. UH, WE ALSO HAVE SACRAMENTO AT 3 85. UH, AND OAKLAND HAS A, A REALLY LARGE ONE THAT IS PROGRESSIVE THROUGH, UH, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, INCOME SCALES. AND SO WE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS. ONE WOULD BE ADOPTING A TWO TIER SYSTEM, UH, WHERE IT'S ESSENTIALLY, UM, UP TO THREE 30 FOR, UH, GOING UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS IN PROPERTY VALUES, AND THEN GOES UP FROM THERE, UH, MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE PROGRESSIVE, UH, GOING TO FIVE 60, ANYTHING OVER A MILLION. UH, AND THE OTHER OPTION IS TO GO JUST WITH THE, UM, UH, UH, MATCHING THE CITY OF LA'S RATE, AND THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $16 MILLION. SO UNDER THE FIRST CONCEPT, UH, AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE A A TWO-TIERED CONCEPT, THE TAX BURDEN REMAINS ON THE SELLER. SO THIS DOES NOT GET INCORPORATED INTO THE COST OF, OF THE BUYER'S, UH, PROPERTY. YOU NEGOTIATE A PRICE, YOU BUY THE PROPERTY, AND THEN IT GETS TRANSFERRED. UH, AND THEN THE SELLER PAYS FOR THAT. WE COULD [03:10:01] ALSO EXPLORE A REBATE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS WHO WOULD TRANSFER THEIR PROPERTY TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY SO THAT YOU WOULDN'T, UH, HAVE THAT, UH, BURDEN IF YOU'RE JUST GIVING THAT OR TRANSFERRING IT TO YOUR, UH, TO YOUR FAMILY. UH, AND, UH, FOR THE AVERAGE HOME, UH, IN LONG BEACH, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $1,800 ON THE, ON THE PRICE OF THE SALE. AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $12 MILLION, UH, OF GENERATED REVENUE. THE SECOND OPTION LOOKS AT, UH, ABOUT, UM, UM, LOOKING, UH, MATCHING THE CITY OF LA'S. UH, AND THAT FOR A 2023 MEDIAN PRICE DETACHED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS WOULD'VE BEEN ABOUT $3,800. THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $16 MILLION. SO THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO. ONE IS, UH, VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT ON, ON RESIDENTS. THE SECOND IS MOST RESIDENTS DON'T PAY MOST OF THE TIME. THE THIRD, UM, CATEGORY WOULD BE ONES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT EITHER OUR BUSINESSES OR OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, UM, WOULD, WOULD FEEL IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, ANNUALLY. AND SO WE CHARGE A PRETTY LOW BUSINESS LICENSE TAX COMPARED TO A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES. UH, WE DON'T DO A GROSS RECEIPTS TAX. WE ALSO DO A FLAT FEE, AND THEN A PER EMPLOYEE CHARGE. AND THAT VARIES BASED ON THE TYPE OF INDUSTRY. BUT FOR ALL BUSINESSES, THE AVERAGE PAID ALL TOGETHER IS ABOUT $321 A YEAR. IF THAT WERE DOUBLED, THAT WOULD BRING IN ABOUT $15 MILLION A YEAR. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE PASSED ON TO CUSTOMERS BOTH WITHIN LONG BEACH AND WITHOUT, UH, OUTSIDE OF LONG BEACH, UH, IF THE BUSINESS WOULD, UH, TRY TO RECOUP THAT. AND THEN THE FOURTH OPTION IS AN ELECTRIC FRANCHISE FEE. UH, MOST CITIES HAVE A FRANCHISE FEE THAT YOU CHARGE YOUR ELECTRIC PROVIDER FOR THE PERMISSION TO, UH, GENERATE AND, AND SUPPLY POWER IN YOUR CITY. UM, WE FOUND THAT MOST CITIES ARE ACTUALLY BETWEEN TWO AND 5%. WERE ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THAT. UH, AT 1.66, IF WE WERE TO GO UP TO, UH, MATCH, UH, UH, AT ABOUT 5%, THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $21 MILLION A YEAR. THIS WOULD BE PAID BY ALL RATE PAYERS. UM, AND THIS FRANCHISE FEE GETS PASSED ON. AND SO IN LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, UH, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $30 A YEAR ADDITIONAL ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, OR ABOUT $2 AND 40 CENTS A MONTH, 47 CENTS A MONTH. JUST TO LOOK AT OUR COMPARATIVE AGENCIES, UH, YOU CAN SEE A NUMBER OF OUR, UM, IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS ARE AT, UH, 2%. UM, FRANCHISE LOS ANGELES IS AT 5.5% FRANCHISE. UH, ANAHEIM'S AT TWO, FRESNO'S AT THREE, BAKERSFIELD'S AT THREE. SO I WANNA WALK THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF OTHER RESEARCH THAT WE DID. UM, WHEN WE ASKED, UH, VOTERS ABOUT, UH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? DO YOU AGREE WITH THESE STATEMENTS? THEY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE EMERGENCY, UM, RESERVE FUNDS. 88% AGREE WITH THAT. THEY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN HOMELESSNESS AND ESPECIALLY, UM, UH, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND DRUG TREATMENT. 79% AGREE WITH THAT, THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS LIKE YOUTH GANG, UH, YOUTH GANG AND DRUG PREVENTION. 79% AGREE THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR TRIMMING TREES AND FIXING POTHOLES. 68% AGREE, AND WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE 66. UH, THAT IS OIL GETS PHASED OUT THAT, UH, LONG BEACH WILL NEED A NEW REVENUE SOURCE. PEOPLE AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. 62% AND 13% DON'T KNOW, UH, THAT WE, UH, OUR PROGRAMS CAN BENEFIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACT BUSINESS INVESTMENTS. 60% AGREE THAT LONG BEACH BUSINESSES PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. ABOUT 57% AGREE WITH THAT, THAT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM, UH, LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACT BUSINESS INVESTMENTS. 60%, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF PEOPLE THINK THAT LONG POWER PLANTS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF, UH, LOCAL TAXES. UH, 28% DON'T KNOW. SO THERE'S, UH, THERE A LOT OF UN UH, MINES THAT AREN'T MADE UP THERE. AND, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, ABOUT 43% THINK THAT WE'VE, UH, UH, REBOUNDED FASTER, UM, FROM THE, FROM COVID. SO WE LOOKED AT THESE FOUR ITEMS THAT I PUT OUT IN FRONT OF YOU, ONE OF WHICH WOULD, UH, THE ONE ON TOP WAS ABOUT POWER PLANTS. IT INITIALLY, UH, WHEN YOU ASK IT AND YOU SAY, UH, WOULD IT RAISE TAXES ON POWER PLANTS WITHOUT, UH, VIRTUALLY NO EFFECT ON LONG BEACH CITIZENS THAT, UH, INITIALLY COMES OUT. ABOUT 59% AGREE WITH THAT AND WOULD SUPPORT IT. REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX IS LOWER AT 36%, INITIALLY 33% FOR BUSINESS LICENSE TAX, AND 23%. THIS IS JUST WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION WITHOUT ANY REAL CONTEXT, AFTER GIVING INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, NATURAL GAS, UM, UH, AND THE GAS U UT AND OR FRANCHISE FEE, HOWEVER YOU'D WANNA ASSESS IT, UH, IT WOULD, UM, IT GOES UP FROM 59% TO 67% AFTER YOU START GIVING SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. SO THAT, UH, UH, SHOWS THAT THERE'S, UH, SOME REAL POTENTIAL SUPPORT THERE. THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX, UH, STARTS AT ABOUT 36%, BUT ONCE YOU GIVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S GOING THROUGH, THAT GOES UP TO AROUND 50. SO, UH, THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME POTENTIAL THERE, BUT IT'S ALL, UH, BUT, UH, NOT NEARLY AS, AS HIGH AS THE OTHERS. BUSINESS LICENSE TAX GOES UP TO ABOUT 44%. AND RAISING THE FRANCHISE FEE GOES UP FROM 23% TO 36%. AFTER SOME INFORMATION, WE ASK VOTERS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, UM, UH, REASONS THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT A NEW SOURCE OF FUNDING? THE NUMBER ONE ANSWER IS COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT THEY WANT AND NEED, UH, TO AVOID PUBLIC SAFETY CUTS COMES IN AT 54%, UH, TO, UH, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE BIG CHALLENGES THAT [03:15:01] THE CITY BUDGET IS HAVING. 62%, UH, IF WE PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SHOW WHERE THE FUNDS ARE GOING, 55% AND TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT 56%. AND SO, JUST TO SUM UP, I JUST WANNA REMIND OURSELVES WHY WE'RE EVEN LOOKING AT THESE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS IS OUR PROJECTED FINANCIAL OUTLOOK, UH, 2330 5.9, AND DOWN TO 44.8. AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF US TO CONTEMPLATE OVER THE NEXT, UH, TWO MONTHS. UH, WHAT KIND OF CITY DO WE DO WE WANT, UH, FOR OUR FUTURE? THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS. WE COULD RESOLVE IT THROUGH CUTS. WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST. WE'VE HAD TO MAKE THOSE REALLY TOUGH CHOICES. THOSE WOULD HAVE SOME DEEP BLASTING IMPACTS. THEY'D RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SERVICE CUTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CAN DO GROW LONG BEACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND UNLEASH OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY. BUT, UH, AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, THAT'S NOT GONNA SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY ITSELF. AND REVENUE MEASURES COULD BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOLUTION, UH, TO MITIGATE CUTS, TRANSITION FROM OIL AND, UH, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT, EVEN ADDRESS SOME OF OUR PRESSING NEEDS. AND SO NEXT STEP IS WE'RE DOING SOME VERY SPECIFIC RESEARCH RIGHT NOW ON THE SPECIFIC WORDING OF SOME OF THOSE, UH, REVENUE MEASURES. UH, WE'VE HAD A SECOND ROUND OF POLLING COMMISSIONED. AND, UH, THAT ANALYSIS I EXPECT TO BE COMPLETE, UH, PRETTY SOON. AND, AND WE'D MAKE THAT THEN AVAILABLE. UH, THE SPECIFIC WORDING OF THE MATTERS MEASURES MATTER. SO, UM, USING THOSE 75 WORDS TO REALLY EXPLAIN WHAT VOTERS, UM, ARE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT MEASURE. 'CAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE COMPLEX, AND SO USING DIFFERENT WORDS CAN GET, UM, UH, VOTERS HAVE DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS IN FRONT OF THEM. UH, WE'LL BE LISTENING TO FEEDBACK FROM VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS. UH, WE'RE GONNA BE CONTINUING IMPLEMENTATION OF GROW LONG BEACH TO GENERATE REVENUE. UH, YOU'LL BE SEEING THE FY 24 BUDGET SOON, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE SECTION IN THERE ABOUT WHAT IS COMING IN THE FUTURE, UM, AFTER THIS YEAR, AND WHAT SOME OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, UM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO START CONTEMPLATING SOME OF THOSE, UM, UM, IMPACTS TO SOLVE A $45 MILLION DEFICIT. AND THEN, UH, I'LL BE BRINGING THIS BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST 6TH, UM, UH, FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, UNLESS WE HEAR ANY, ANY OTHER DIRECTION TONIGHT, UH, FOR YOU TO, UM, UH, HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM US ONCE WE COMPLETE SOME MORE OF THE RESEARCH AND, UH, SHARE ALL THAT INFORMATION AND THEN HAVE THE COUNCIL SEE IF YOU'RE READY TO, TO CONSIDER ANY, ANY OF THESE ITEMS. AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU, TOM, FOR THE PRESENTATION. UH, VERY THOROUGH. JUST WANT TO, UH, REMIND FOLKS WE'RE NOT MAKING A A DECISION TODAY. THIS IS, UH, TOM KEEPING US UP TO SPEED. WE WANTED, WE ASKED FOR OPTIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR CITY MANAGER IS DOING, PRESENTING OPTIONS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, I WILL, I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE WE HAVE TO REALLY GET, GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. SO CONTINUE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH, UH, TO CONTINUE TO INFORM COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE. UH, I WOULD JUST SAY I LIKE THE WAY THAT IT'S BEEN ORGANIZED. WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEFICIT, DID SOME EDUCATION WITH THE COUNCIL ON THAT. UH, CLEARLY BASED ON SOME OF THAT RESEARCH, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THESE IMPACTS, UH, OIL AND SOME OF THESE OTHER CHALLENGES ARE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I THINK SOME FOLKS JUST SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT WE CHOOSE TO HAVE DECLINING REVENUE ON OIL PRODUCTION. AND, BUT THE REALITY IS, IT'S BEEN DECLINING AND SB 1137 WILL ACCELERATE SOME OF THOSE DECLINES. SO WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF IT. SO FINANCIALLY, THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO IS TO PREPARE FOR THAT. UH, THE OTHER THING IS THE WAY YOU'VE ORGANIZED, IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND. SOME OF THESE OPTIONS HAVE VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT ON RESIDENTS. SOME HAVE SELDOM IMPACT ON RESIDENTS, AND SOME ARE BORN BY THE RESIDENTS. I WILL TELL YOU, THE BUSINESS LICENSE, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC GROWTH STRATEGY. THE BUSINESS LICENSE MAY SEEM A LITTLE COUNTERINTUITIVE IF WE WANNA SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO THAT MAY NOT BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT I THINK VIBES WITH A STRATEGY. WHAT WE'RE REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FOR IS A BALANCED STRATEGY THAT REALLY REFLECTS ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS. SO EFFICIENCIES WHERE WE, WE CAN FIND THEM ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHERE WE CAN FIND THEM NEW REVENUE, WE CAN FIND THEM TO PUT OUR CITY ON COURSE TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER QUALITY SERVICES. SO THAT'S MY GENERAL, UH, MY GENERAL FEEDBACK. UH, THE OTHER THING, I WILL JUST, UH, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHT THAT FIRST MEASURE, UM, UH, I THINK IT HAS A NAME. NOW, PROP, PROP A. SO THAT FIRST MEASURE COUNTYWIDE AGAIN, IS NOT A LONG BEACH MEASURE, BUT WE ARE IN BAD SHAPE IF, UH, PROP H EXPIRES HOMELESSNESS IN ALL OF THIS RESEARCH AND HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE ARE MAKING REAL PROGRESS. UH, WE'RE SHOWING THAT THESE STRATEGIES, UH, THAT WE'RE DEPLOYING OUTREACH HOUSING TO OUR MOBILE ACCESS CENTER OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES, A LOT OF THAT WORK IS FUNDED THROUGH PROPOSITION H. IF PROPOSITION H EXPIRES WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR LONG BEACH AND FAR ENTIRE REGION. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT, THAT, UM, THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE, UH, HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING. THAT'S A KEY PRIORITY FOR US. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR A COUNTY MEASURE, WE'D HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR OUR OWN LOCAL SOURCE OF REVENUE TO REPLACE. SO IF THERE ISN'T A COUNTY-WIDE REVENUE SOURCE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE YEARS AND LOOK AT A LOCAL REVENUE SOURCE [03:20:01] TO KEEP FOCUSING ON HOUSING. SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO A REGIONAL PROBLEM THAT ADDRESSES, AND IT'S A BOLD NEW WAY TO REALLY ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, AND HOUSING TOGETHER. INSTEAD OF THREE DISPARATE STRATEGIES. ONE MEASURE COMPREHENSIVELY THAT ADDRESSES THAT. AND THE ADDED BONUS IS THAT WE FINALLY WILL GET THE FULL 1 CENT OF MEASURE. A UH, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CITY AUDITOR, UH, LAURA DOW, WHO RELEASED, UH, THE AUDIT TODAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO ON, UH, MORE INFORMATION ON THE O UH, THE OIL SITUATION IN LONG BEACH. AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN TO OIL PROVIDENCE FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS IN OUR CITY. UH, AND, AND WE KNOW THAT THE REALITIES OF OIL ARE CHANGING. IT MAY BE SCARY FOR SOME, BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF IT. THANK YOU FOR RELEASING THAT AUDIT. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IT'S GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, SHARPENED PENCILS ON THE REVENUE, UH, IMPACT. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TODAY. I HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT IT. UH, THAT SAID, WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, KAREN RE RESIDE. MIKE MURCHISON, THANK YOU FOR THAT COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW. THAT WAS GREAT, TOM. IT MADE IT SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND. UH, KAREN , PRESIDENT OF LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS. UM, I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT OLDER ADULTS. I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT OLDER ADULTS AGAIN, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BUDGET. UM, MAYOR, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN ENCOURAGING US TO BE CREATIVE IN THE SHORELINE VILLAGE AND THE DOWNTOWN PLAN. UM, THAT'S THE MOST ENGAGED PROJECT I'VE SEEN THE CITY EVER DO IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT UNDER CHRISTOPHER TZ IS DOING A FABULOUS JOB. UM, SENIORS EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY FELT HEARD ON THE SURVEYS THAT WE DID, UH, FOR THOSE PROJECTS. UM, SENIORS GENERATE A LOT OF MONEY. SO SOME THINGS I WANNA THROW ON THE TABLE. UH, I LOOK TODAY UNCLAIMED MONEY WITH THE STATE, AND I KNOW THAT'S A POT OF MONEY THAT THE STATE WOULDN'T LIKE TO LET GO OF, BUT IT'S $8 MILLION. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SENIORS. WE'RE WORKING ON A SENIOR STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS IS TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE DO WE WANNA CREATE FOR OUR SENIORS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY AS THEY AGE. MOST SENIORS WANNA AGE IN PLACE. SENIORS HOLD MOST OF THE WILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND NATIONALLY, THEIR TOP 25 COMPANIES THAT PAID NO TAX FOR ALL OIL COMPANIES. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ATTACKING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, UH, FOR FUNDING. I THINK WE NEED TO GET AS MUCH MONEY OUT OF THE OIL COMPANIES, PARTICULARLY AS THE INDUSTRY TRANSITIONS. UM, THEY HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH SO MUCH FOR SO LONG, AND SENIORS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY CANCERS AND CANCER PATIENTS ARE GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS CANCER CARE. UM, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE POISONING THAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. SO SOMEBODY'S GOTTA PAY THE PRICE DOWN THE LINE. AND THEN, UM, ALSO, UM, THE COUNTY IS INVOLVED. THERE'S A, A MEASURE AT STATEWIDE TO REALIGN THE WAY SENIOR SYSTEM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE AAAS AND THE COUNTY. THAT'S ANOTHER MEASURE. AND WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ORGANIZATIONS TO SIGN ON FOR PROP A. AND THE OTHER THING THAT WAS UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT, IT WAS ALLIANCE OF EVERYBODY. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IT, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE EFFORTS LIKE THAT. IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND THEN I ALSO WANNA PUT OUT THERE, UM, MEDICARE IS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO FUND CARES. THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOUSING AS A PIECE AND MEDICARE, MEDI-CAL, THERE'S CHANGES COMING TO OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. WE NEED THAT CALCARE PAST. AND THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT I THINK WE COULD EXTRACT MORE MONEY FROM THE SENIOR POPULATION AND, UM, MAKE GREAT CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WAY SENIOR ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED. UM, SILVER SNEAKERS, MEDICARE FUNDS, SILVERSNEAKERS ARE MOST SENIORS TIMES INCLUDED. SOME STUDENTS ARE GETTING THAT MONEY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS. WE, WE APPRECIATE IT. MIKE MURCHISON. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS MIKE MURCHISON. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF ABOUT 500 RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS, ALONG WITH RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH THAT HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE OPTIONS AND READING ABOUT 'EM AND TRYING TO GET EDUCATED. I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT TONIGHT. IT WAS VERY THOROUGH. I THINK THE OBVIOUS ONE FOR [03:25:01] ALL OF US IN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY THAT HAVE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME IS OPTION ONE. IT'S NO IMPACT ON US THAT MAKES LOGICAL SENSE TO EVERYBODY HERE. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AND ANALYZE OPTIONS, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR, IT'S GONNA BE AN IMPACT. AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS HAVE HAD AN IMPACT IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH TAXES AND OTHER MEASURES FOR A LOT OF YEARS, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN BORN. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL WHEN THEY DO CONSIDER IT, MAYOR, TO FOCUS ON OPTION ONE, STAY AWAY FROM OPTION TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. IF YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN THE OPTIONS OF TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT, YOUR OUTREACH THAT YOU NEED TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST IS SIGNIFICANT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS OF AGENTS AND BROKERS THAT ARE GONNA WANT TO GET EDUCATED ABOUT A TRANSFER TAX. THERE'S 150,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. NO, IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY, BUT IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. SO I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE POLLING THAT WAS CONDUCTED, BUT I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS OUT OF THE 900 PEOPLE THAT WERE POLLED, A SMALL MINORITY, WERE SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNERS, AND PROBABLY EVEN A SMALLER MINORITY OF THAT GROUP WERE AGENTS OR BROKERS IN LONG BEACH. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU MOVE FORWARD. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO A LOT MORE DELIBERATIONS AS WE MOVE AHEAD, BUT AGAIN, I'M IN FAVOR OF OPTION ONE. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OTTI. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, YEAH, I THINK THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT JUST REITERATES I THINK WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW, WHICH IS WE HAVE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD AROUND, LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK I APPRECIATED THE, THE SENTENCE IN THE SLIDE THAT BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DECIDE WHO WE WANNA BE, RIGHT AS A CITY IN THE FUTURE, THINKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE REVENUE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE. UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UH, CITY STAFF HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, UM, EDUCATING US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF OUR, OF OUR BUDGET, UM, BRINGING US LOTS OF BUDGET PROJECTIONS, RIGHT? UM, AND HAVING JUST A COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT OUR STRATEGIES ARE GONNA BE WITH PROGRESSIVE, UM, PRESENTATIONS AND AGENDA ITEMS RELATED TO THAT. SO, UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET MORE INFORMATION, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND THERE'S STILL SOME DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE HAVE TO DO, UM, AS A CITY. BUT, UM, I, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE ALL HAVING AROUND THIS CHALLENGE, UM, AND TRYING TO BE AS PROACTIVE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, UM, TO IDENTIFY THAT AND, AND ADDRESS IT HEAD ON. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT VERY DETAILED AND IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION. UM, AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE HEADED IN A DIRECTION OF DEFICIT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY AROUND TRYING TO FIND WAYS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE REVENUE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU STAFF FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY RESIDENTS, UM, THIS PAST WEEK. AND SO I, I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS. SO REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THESE MEASURES, PRICES FOR GOODS HAVE GONE UP ABOUT 20% SINCE 2022. THIS IS FOR EVERYONE, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WE KNOW, AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE HIGHER PRICES FOR BOTH GOODS AND SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE ENERGY AND FOOD. WE CAN'T IGNORE THAT. LA COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SALES SALES TAXES IN CALIFORNIA, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE CONTINUED RISING PRICES ARE WHY MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE. WELL, I DO KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF THESE PRICE INCREASES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FORCES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL AS A CITY OR LA COUNTY. INFLATION HAS SLOWED, BUT PRICES HAVE NOT DECLINED, AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE. ADDITIONALLY, LONG BEACH IS LOOKING AT YEARS OF BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND LOSS OF REVENUE WITH PROPOSITIONS UNDER, UH, SENATE BILL 1137. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE BURDEN OUR RESIDENTS WHILE THEY ARE STRUGGLING, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AND HAVING ALL THE FACTS OF THE EFFECTS OF 1137. UH, AS THE MAYOR SAID, UM, OUR CITY AUDITOR, LAURA DOWD TIMELY, UM, WE RECEIVED A REPORT TODAY OF IT SPECIFIED THE FORECAST OF OIL REVENUE, WHETHER 1137 PASSES [03:30:01] OR IF IT DOES NOT PASS. THAT INFORMATION, UH, THAT WAS RELEASED PROVIDES IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING THE REVENUE THAT, UM, WE'RE LOOKING WITH ALL OF THESE PROPOSALS. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THESE ARE PART OF THE EARLY DISCUSSIONS, UM, WITH THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR BUDGET AND WHERE WE GET OUR REVENUE. UM, SO I AM GONNA GIVE SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS THOUGH ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS. FIRST, THE DEDICATED REGIONAL SACS TAIL, UH, SALES TAX MEASURE. HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS? SO BEFORE WE MAKE THIS SIGNIFICANT STEP, INCREASING OUR SALES TAX TO 10.75 THE HIGHEST SALES TAX IN THE STATE, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES. I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOMELESS SERVICES. WE NEED TO INCREASE THEM WITH THE PRIORITY BEING MENTAL HEALTH. WE WANNA INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. BUT I OPPOSE THIS PROPOSITION. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND LA COUNTY HAVE ALLOCATED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN LONG BEACH. WE HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING PROJECTS AND A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS SHOWN THROUGH THE POINT IN TIME COUNT. BEFORE WE LOOK AT INCREASING OUR TAXES AND CONTINUE TO SPEND, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING IS BEING USED EFFECTIVELY. I LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE DATA. I UNDERSTAND THAT REDUCING HOMELESSNESS REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, BUT IF WE WANNA BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ENSURE THAT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SPENDING IS WORKING, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR OVERSIGHT THROUGH AUDITS IS DONE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE FISCALLY WITH OUR DECISIONS WHILE THIS TAX IS BEING VIEWED FAVORABLY DUE TO ITS INCREASES IN REVENUE. UNDER MEASURE A, WE NEED TO FIRST TALK ABOUT CURRENT FUNDING UNDER MEASURE A TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS NEEDS ARE BEING PRIORITIZED. I UNDERSTAND THAT MEASURE A IS BEING USED TO FUND THE REPAIRS OF OUR ROADS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT NOT ALL THE FUNDING IS BEING ALLOCATED FOR THESE PRIORITIES. WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT WE ARE USING MEASURE A FOR, AND THAT IT'S ALIGNED WITH WHAT OUR RESIDENTS NEED. IT'S UNFAIR FOR US TO ASK OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE, AGAIN, STRUGGLING WITH INCREASED TAXES FOR A MEASURE THAT IS NOT MEETING THEIR NEEDS. AND WE ARE HEARING THAT WE NEED CURRENT FUNDING TO BE USED TOWARDS PRIORITIES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FUNDING UNDER THIS TAX AND REALIGN OUR PRIORITIES BEFORE EVEN HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT REALIGNING TAX. UM, I, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY A QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS. SO WE'RE HEARING THIS TODAY. THIS IS A RECEIVING FILE, BUT IT'S RECEIVING DIRECTION FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF REVENUE MEASURES ON THE NOVEMBER 20, 24 BALLOT. UM, SO WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE PLACEMENT OF REVENUE MEASURES ON THE BALLOT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT DIRECTION IS BEING TAKEN FROM US. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TONIGHT. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THE PRESENTATION TO THE CITY MANAGER WHO'S GOING TO BE, UM, FURTHER DEVELOPING THESE PROPOSALS TO POTENTIALLY PUT ON THE BALLOT. SO ANY FEEDBACK YOU HAVE, YOU GIVE THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER TONIGHT. OKAY? BUT ARE WE GONNA HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK NEXT? WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE MORE FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY? THE ANSWER IS YES, AND I'LL TURN WHEN TO THE CITY MANAGER. YEAH. SO, UM, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE LISTENING TO ANYTHING ANYONE WANTS TO SHARE WITH US OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AS WE DO THIS, UM, PROPOSAL. MY PROPOSAL THAT I'M LAYING OUT TO YOU IS I'D COME BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST 6TH, AND THAT WOULD BE THE DAY THAT YOU WOULD MAKE A DECISION, UM, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND, AND PART OF THE REASON WE WORDED IT THIS WAY IS TO HELP GIVE US SOME DIRECTION TONIGHT IF YOU, IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT APPROACH. UM, AND SO WE HAVE, UM, A MEETING IN JULY ON JULY 16TH, AND THEN WE, UH, THE NEXT MEETING AFTER THAT WOULD BE, UH, AUGUST 6TH. SO WE CAN HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ON JULY 16. IT'LL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION. OR ARE WE TALKING TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY? INDIVIDUALLY RIGHT NOW. MY PLAN WAS TO DO THIS RESEARCH AND BRING IT BACK TO SOMETHING ON AUGUST 6TH, [03:35:01] UM, UH, UH, UH, TO BRING THAT BACK. AND THEN, UH, I CERTAINLY WELCOME TO SIT DOWN WITH ANY COUNCIL MEMBER AND TALK ABOUT CONCERNS OR THOUGHTS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AN ANALYSIS BEFORE WE BRING BACK, UH, CONCEPTS ON AUGUST 6TH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. YEAH, MY COMMENTS WILL BE SHORT. UH, I DO APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. A VERY SOBERING PRESENTATION TO BE QUITE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, IT SHOWS US, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE, THE, UM, OUTLOOK LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR, OUR FISCAL OUTLOOK LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR, OUR BUDGET, UM, IN, IN TERMS OF, UH, OUR, OUR REVENUE. BUT, BUT, UM, THE POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR, FOR NEW REVENUE. AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. I, I'LL JUST ADD THAT WE HAVE, UH, KIND OF ESCAPED, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH GREAT FISCAL MANAGEMENT BY OUR CITY MANAGEMENT AND, AND THIS COUNCIL FOR YEARS, UM, DEFICITS. UM, THIS ONE PENDING LOOKS, LOOKS TO BE PRETTY SERIOUS. AND IT'S CONSISTENT NOT JUST WITH THIS CITY, BUT ACROSS THE STATE WITH OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES AS WELL. UM, I, I THINK, UM, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO KIND OF KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN, RIGHT? WE, WE MAY BE, AND, AND THIS COUNCIL MAY HAVE TO TAKE, MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS ON THE NEXT BUDGET. UM, AND, AND TO ME THAT IS THAT TAKING THAT KIND OF ACTION WILL SHOW THE VOTERS THAT WE ARE SERIOUS. THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF WE, WE JUST GO BUSINESS AS USUAL AND APPROVE A BUDGET, YOU KNOW, AND PATCH IT UP AND GET THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN HOPE THAT A BALLOT INITIATIVE IS GOING TO GET US OUT OF THIS, UH, I THINK THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A RISKY ENDEAVOR. AND SO, UM, IT'S JUST, MY, MY THOUGHT IS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH PRIORITY DECISIONS, UM, IN THIS NEXT UPCOMING BUDGET. UM, AND IF YOU GUYS CHOOSE TO KICK IT DOWN, THE, THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, I WON'T BE HERE. YOU KNOW, THAT'LL BE A DECISION THAT YOU WALK IN CAN MAKE. UM, BUT, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, THE BUDGET EXERCISE YEAR AFTER YEAR. UM, MY FIRST YEAR WE HAD, UH, WHAT, A $17 MILLION DEFICIT. UM, AND IT WAS, WE, WE MAGICALLY FIXED IT TO, TO GET IT BALANCED. AND THAT, THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE THAT OPTION MOVING FORWARD. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO CONTINUED DISCUSSION AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, UM, AND THEIR INPUT OVER THE NEXT COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THANK YOU AL FOR THAT. I'M, I'M NOT ASKING FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL. I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WITH, UM, I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION ABOUT CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE OIL REVENUE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS? BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOWS, UM, WHERE WE'RE LOSING REVENUE, DECREASED REVENUE, AND IT ALSO, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE, IN FIVE YEARS IN A, IN THE MARCH PRESENTATION, IT SHOWED, UH, ZERO FOR USING OIL REVENUE TOWARDS OUR BUDGET. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S ALLOCATED AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FUNDING WE HAVE AND DON'T HAVE. SO MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO TAX, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO USE SOME OF THESE ITEMS. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THE BUDGET PROCESS IS COMING UP. WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET CONVERSATION. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. SO CAN WE HAVE, LIKE, IN OUR JULY MEETING, CAN WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE OIL REVENUE? WELL, WE CAN COME BACK ON TIMING, BUT I'M HAPPY WITH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A LENS ON THAT, ON OKAY. THAT WOULD BE BUDGET PROCESS WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST TIME I CAN, WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY MEETINGS IN JULY, IF YOU REMEMBER. I DO REMEMBER. YEAH, I DO REMEMBER. UM, THIS IS MY LAST TIME TO SPEAK IN, IN PUBLIC ABOUT THESE ITEMS, UH, SINCE WE'LL BE MAKING DECISIONS ON AUGUST 6TH ABOUT THIS. SO I, I AM, I HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT BUSINESS LICENSE TAX INCREASE IN THE REAL PROPERTY TAX TRANSFER. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK? BECAUSE I'M GONNA GO. ALRIGHT, SO REGARDING THE BUSINESS, UH, [03:40:01] LICENSE TAX INCREASE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HURTING IN OUR CITY. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME. I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING THIS. AND A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN, UM, EXPENSES FOR THEM IS GOING TO LEAD TO MORE FINANCIAL STRAIN FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. BUSINESSES FEEL THAT THE CITY HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THEIR MOST BASIC NEEDS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THEIR SAFETY AND PROTECTION FROM CRIME. WE'VE SEEN THE SMASH AND GRABS, WE'VE SEEN THE WAVES OF CRIME AFFECTING OUR BUSINESSES AND BURGLARIES. WE, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE TAX TO BE INCREASED. UM, HOW MANY OTHER CITIES HAVE HIGHER TAXES? I THINK, I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE VAGUE AND IT SAID A COUPLE OTHER CITIES HAVE HIGHER BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES. BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES IS A LITTLE HARDER TO COMPARE BECAUSE PEOPLE DO IT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. AND SO, UM, IT'S NOT A STANDARD X BUSINESS PAYS THIS. WE LOOK AT ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND THEN PUT THEM INTO CATEGORIES AND TIERS. OURS IS A LITTLE BIT OLDER IN THAT YOU PAY A FLAT AMOUNT AND THEN, UM, BASED ON, BUT MANUFACTURING WILL PAY A DIFFERENT FLAT AMOUNT THAN A SUPERMARKET WILL. UM, WE CAN, UH, COME BACK WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT CITIES, BUT, UH, LA FOR EXAMPLE, CHARGES GROSS RECEIPTS. UH, SO THAT IS A, UH, YOU REPORT AND SAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH MY, MY BUSINESS MADE, AND YOU GIVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE. UM, SO THEIRS IS PROBABLY 10 TIMES HIGHER, IF NOT LARGER THAN EVEN MORE THAN THAN OURS. SO, AND A COUPLE CITIES DO HAVE A GROSS RECEIPTS TAX. SO GOVERNMENT, I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT HIGHER TAXES IS GOING TO DETER. OH, I'LL JUST ASKER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR TOO FOR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. HE CAN HELP ME, UH, WITH SOME OF THOSE. HE'S DONE SOME OF THIS RESEARCH. UM, I JUST THINK HIGHER TAXES COULD, MR. RIPER, CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? I WAS JUST GONNA ADDRESS THE, UH, BUSINESS LICENSE TAX. WHAT WE CAN DO IS COME BACK WITH, UM, SAMPLE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESSES AND WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX IS FOR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES VERSUS LONG BEACH FOR REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESSES. BUT THE CITY MANAGER'S, RIGHT? UH, EVERY CITY HAS A DIFFERENT BUSINESS LICENSE TAX STRUCTURE, SO WE CAN'T DO IT FOR EVERY BUSINESS, BUT WE COULD PICK FOUR AND GIVE YOU GENERAL SENSE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, BOTTOM LINE IS WE WANT BUSINESSES TO COME TO LONG BEACH. THAT'S PART OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THAT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE, UM, OUR REVENUES. AND WE WANNA ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO OUR CITY, NOT DRIVE THEM AWAY. UM, LET'S SEE, FINALLY, UH, REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX. I KNOW THIS IS AIMED AT SELLERS, UM, AND LOCAL PROPERTY, BUT LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WANNA MOVE TO A DIFFERENT HOME IN LONG BEACH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BURDENED BY THIS. AND THIS TAX IS GONNA MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR FAMILIES TO UPGRADE THEIR HOMES, DOWNSIZE THEIR HOMES. SENIORS WHO ARE SELLING THEIR HOUSE, WHO WANT TO DOWNSIZE. THIS IS A, THIS IS A BIG, UM, IT'S A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IF THEY'RE SELLING THEIR HOME. SO I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS RIGHT FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER INCREASING TAXES ON SELLERS. UM, IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE A TAX, IT'S GONNA MAKE IT LESS AFFORDABLE FOR BUYERS. UM, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MAY WANNA SELL IF THEY HAVE A RENTAL HERE OR THEY HAVE AN EMPTY HOUSE. THIS DOESN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SELL THEIR HOUSE. AND WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE CYCLE OF PEOPLE MOVING TO BIGGER HOUSES OR TO SMALLER HOUSES. I DON'T THINK THIS HELPS. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT I'VE RECEIVED MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE, I I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MANY CALLS THAT I GOT AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR TAX. SO I, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHEN WE CAN SCHEDULE MORE INFORMATION SO I CAN UNDERSTAND AND WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND WHERE THE REVENUE IS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS FROM OUR OIL REVENUE AND THE EFFECTS OF 1137, WHETHER IT PASSES OR NOT, AND HOW THAT IS IN OUR PLAN FOR THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT FOR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS. ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, TO BE CLEAR ON JUST A FEW THINGS. UM, ONE COUNCIL'S NOT MAKING ANY DECISIONS TONIGHT. UM, UH, ACTUALLY WE GOT ONE MORE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YES. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TOM. AND, [03:45:01] AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VOTERS, YOU KNOW, READING THE, THIS, UH, FEEDBACK, THE VOTERS CONSISTENTLY BELIEVE THAT THE CITY HAS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND SERVICES JUST TO PROVIDE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED. AND SO I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, UM, JUST AS WE LOOK AT, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE GROW LONG BEACH PLAN. YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO, UH, GENERATE, UH, THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT, UH, ON, ON PEOPLE, UH, FINANCIALLY. SO I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO LAURA DOWD, UH, FOR GETTING THAT REPORT OUT TODAY. UM, YOU'RE AWESOME. SO, UM, APPRECIATE THIS AND, UM, AND APPRECIATE JUST MORE CONVERSATIONS. ALRIGHT, WELL, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL AND, AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR ALLEN FOR, UM, FOR CLOSING ON CLOSING ON A, A PRODUCTIVE NOTE. UH, I WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU, TOM. WE ASKED FOR THIS, RIGHT? WE ASKED FOR OPPORTUNITIES FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. WE ASKED YOU TO BE CANDID WITH US ABOUT, UH, THE FINANCIAL FUTURE. UH, THANK YOU LAURA, FOR, WE ASKED YOU LAST YEAR TO CONDUCT THAT AUDIT COMES IN RIGHT ON TIME, RIGHT? SO ALL THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA IS THERE. THERE ARE NO MAGIC SOLUTIONS. UH, IT'S MONEY. IT'S A MA IT'S A MATH PROBLEM. IF PEOPLE WANT QUALITY SUB PUBLIC SERVICES, IF THEY WANT POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS SHOW UP IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, IF THEY WANT THEIR PARKS TO LOOK GOOD AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, GRASS ON A SOCCER FIELD, IF THEY WANT POTHOLES FILLED AND, AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND STREETS PAVED. THEY WANT PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS, SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, UM, SENIORS. EVERY ONE OF THOSE HAS A COST. AND I THINK, UH, AND I JUST WANNA GO BACK AND REFRAME. THERE'S NO $80 MILLION IN EFFICIENCIES DOESN'T EXIST. IF THERE'S, YOU WILL SEE MAJOR SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. UH, SO THE REALITY IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF IT. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT INCREASING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A STRATEGY. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NEW, NEW REVENUE. UH, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS CAME UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, SAID VERY CLEARLY, UM, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE, WE CAN'T AFFORD EXEMPTIONS RIGHT NOW. THAT'S, THAT'S AN INNOVATIVE IDEA. THANK YOU TO TOM AND TO LAURA FOR BRINGING UP HIGHLIGHTING THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS EXEMPTION. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE. UH, AND WE ALSO, WE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES, BUT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GO ON EXPECTING OIL TO PRODUCE AT THE, AT THE LEVELS IT PRODUCED IN THE PAST. THAT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US. WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF IT. UH, WE CANNOT PASS THIS ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HAVE TO ACT NOW BEFORE IT'S, UH, WHILE WE STILL HAVE TIME. THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT. UH, THE OTHER THING I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION ON A REGIONAL SALES TAX. TO BE CLEAR, THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE REGIONAL MEASURE. THAT IS A REGIONAL MEASURE, CITIZEN DRIVEN. THERE'S A ROLE THAT CITIZENS PLAY WHEN THEY WANT TO HAVE, UH, A SAY IN THE FUTURE. AND WE'RE NOT GONNA GET A GET OUT OUT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET OUT FRONT OF THAT. SO FOUR MORE THAN 400,000 RESIDENTS SIGN SIGNATURES SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY. AND WE ARE OUTLINING TO THE COUNCIL HOW IT BENEFITS LONG BEACH FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT AND HOW IT EQUIPS US, UH, TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON RESOLVING ENCAMPMENTS, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, HOUSING, AND THOSE, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, CHARGES THAT WE HAVE AS GOVERNMENTS. SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY CLEAR. SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO RESEARCH. UM, WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THE CITY, CITY AUDITOR. I'M GONNA TRY TO GET YOU TO GET THAT PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. IF, IF JULY WORKS, WE HAVE ONE MEETING, UH, IF JULY WORKS WE'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. AND THEN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, RICKS OTI WILL MAKE SURE WE PUT A LENS ON, UH, SOME OF THIS AND DO SOME EDUCATION WITH THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE DON'T WANT ANY QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THERE'S A MAGIC SOLUTION OR NOT. WE WANT OUR BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REALITY IS SO THAT WE CAN BE REAL AND LEVEL WITH OUR RESIDENTS. WE DON'T WANT TO IMPLY OR INFER THAT THERE'S $80 MILLION OF WASTE IN THE CITY, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE. UH, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON THESE CHALLENGES, UH, HEAD ON. AND WE OBVIOUSLY ARE COGNIZANT OF, UH, THE, THE, THE COSTS THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING INCREASED COSTS. SO THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE, TOM, THE WAY YOU FRAMED IT. SOME HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON THE COST OF RESIDENTS. SOME HAVE HIGHER IMPACT, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE MAKE A DECISION ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 37. PLEASE [37. 24-53317-02 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2024 second departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FY 2024 SECOND DEPARTMENTAL AND FUND BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, LAST WEEK WE ASKED, UH, FOR SOME AMENDMENTS. [03:50:01] THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE IN FRONT OF US. UH, TOM, ANY COMMENTS HERE? UH, WE RELEASED A, A MEMO ON MONDAY, UH, TO REALLY KIND OF TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. UM, SO WE'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE CHIEF IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER X OTI, A SECOND BY VICE MAYOR ALLEN. UH, ANYTHING COUNCIL MEMBER? NO. OKAY. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MM-HMM. OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST VOTE. WELL HOLD ON. IF YOU'RE MAKING A CHANGE, I THINK YOU NEED TO MAKE SOME SORT OF MOTION, UM, AND DIRECTION TO US. OTHERWISE THE MOTION WOULD JUST BE TO JUST APPROVE IT AS IS. SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE MEMO WE SENT ON FIRE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A MOTION. WELL, YEAH, THAT'S THE INTENT. YOU WANT TO SAY, UH, INCLUDE, SO THE, THE INTENT THAT IS TO, UH, TO ACCEPT THE, UH, PROPOSAL THAT STAFF HAS PUT BEFORE US. OKAY. SO THEN WE WOULD USE CURRENT, UM, SAVINGS OF $352,000, RIGHT. UH, AND USE THAT TO CONTINUE THE UM, UH, RESCUE TWO, UH, PEAK LOAD STAFFING UNTIL OCT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH. AND THEN WE'LL REVISIT THAT IN THE BUDGET. UH, JUST THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATION OF THAT IS, IS THAT'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT LESS FLEXIBILITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO INVEST IN THE FY 25 BUDGET. 'CAUSE WE'LL BE BORROWING IT FROM THAT FOR USING FOR THIS. UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. IT'S, WE MOVED VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING? NO. SO THAT'S, I WAS GONNA, I, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY, TOM. SO, OKAY. VERY. I SECOND THAT. OKAY, GREAT. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. YES. UH, I DON'T HAVE SIGNED UP PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK YOU'RE HERE FOR A DIFFERENT PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, JUST A MO, LET'S QUEUE UP. UH, ITEM 31, PLEASE REPORT FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH, CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING OF UP TO 2,541,924 TO PROVIDE THE [31. 24-53590 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, subcontracts, and subsequent amendments, including amendments to the award amount or agreement term, with the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, CaliforniaVolunteers (CV), to accept and expend grant funding up to $2,541,924 in State of California General Funds, to provide the Economic Development Department, Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network, in the creation of the Long Beach Youth Service Corps, a paid work experience program, for the period of April 17, 2024, through December 31, 2025; and Increase appropriations in the Community Grants Fund Group in the Economic Development Department by $2,541,924, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Economic Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PACIFIC GATEWAY WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK FOR THE CREATION OF THE LONG BEACH YOUTH SERVICE CORPS CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. UH, THERE'S, UM, ARE WE DOING A PRE, YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE YOU WANNA DO A PRESENTATION? EITHER WAY. STAFF ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR, OKAY. UH, THERE'S ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. KAREN REZA. OKAY. SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY. LET'S DO ITEM 32. PLEASE REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH CENTRAL COMMISSARY FOR FUNDRAISING AND DELIVERING COMPACT MOBILE FOOD CARTS FOR FRUIT AND GRILLED FOOD AND OR WITH REVOLUTION CARTS FOR FURNISHING AND DELIVERING COMPACT MOBILE FOOD CARTS FOR TAMALES [32. 24-53591 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute contracts, and any necessary documents, including any necessary subsequent amendments, on an as-needed basis, with Central Commissary, Inc., of Sunland, CA, for furnishing and delivering the following compact mobile food carts: fruit (with cooler) and grilled food (no raw meat); and/or with Revolution Carts, of Culver City, CA, for furnishing and delivering compact mobile food carts for tamales, in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $429,500, through September 30, 2025. (Citywide) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Health & Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 429,500 CITYWIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? UM, VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE A STAFF REPORT? OH, YES, PLEASE. YES. A STAFF REPORT WOULD BE AWESOME. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. WE HAVE A TEAM HERE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU IS ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH TWO CART MANUFACTURERS FOR SIDEWALK BENDING CARTS TO BE UTILIZED AS PART OF THE CITY'S SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT SIDEWALK VENDORS IN THEIR PATH TO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE. THIS PRESENTATION WILL BRIEFLY REVIEW THE BACKGROUND OF THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE, THE LATEST STATUS OF THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM, AND DESCRIBE THE CART PROGRAM AND THE NEXT STEPS. SO BACK IN 2018, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PASSED THE SI SAFE SIDEWALK VENDING ACT OR SENATE BILL 9 46, WHICH TOOK EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2019. THIS BILL DECRIMINALIZED SIDEWALK VENDING SO THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES COULD ISSUE ONLY ADMINISTRATIVE RATHER THAN CRIMINAL CITATIONS. IT ALSO ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO REGULATE SIDEWALK VENDING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE BILL WHERE THE REGULATIONS MUST BE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE REASONS. BACK IN JANUARY 23RD, 2024, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CITY'S SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE THAT WOULD CREATE A CLEAR PATH FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 26TH. THIS ORDINANCE WAS DEVELOPED AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, AS WELL AS COUNCIL FEEDBACK PER CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS OF ENTRY [03:55:01] INTO COMPLIANCE. THE CITY HAS FIRST BEEN FOCUSING ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THE ORDINANCE GOING INTO EFFECT, AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED TO PROVIDE UPDATED LICENSING AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL RULES BEFORE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE RULES TAKE PLACE. SO ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT YET STARTED ON THE ORDINANCE AND IT IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER. AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE AN EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH WHEREVER APPROPRIATE. AND I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THE STATE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE EXISTED PRIOR TO OUR SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE, UNDER WHICH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MUST LEGALLY COMPLY. THESE CODES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENFORCED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. AND I ALSO JUST WANNA MENTION THAT STAFF ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ON A METHOD FOR A COORDINATED ENFORCEMENT APPROACH FOR THOSE SITUATIONS THAT MAY POSE A MORE CHALLENGING ENFORCEMENT CONCERN, SUCH AS LARGER ENTERPRISES LIKE POP-UP RESTAURANTS THAT ARE NOT TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE REALM OF THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE AS THEY ARE NOT SIDEWALK VENDORS BY THE DEFINITION OF THE ORDINANCE. UM, WE'LL ALSO BE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PLAN AROUND ENFORCEMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS AS WE ENTER INTO THIS NEXT PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION. SO, WANTED TO GIVE A RECAP ON THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT UPDATES THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN SO FAR. SINCE MARCH, WE'VE HAD 10 IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WITH A TOTAL OF 85 ATTENDEES. WE'VE CONDUCTED SIX VIRTUAL EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT HAD 115 ATTENDEES SHOW. WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN TWO EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH DOWNTOWN D-T-L-B-A AND CENTRO CHA, WHERE THERE WERE 60 PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF HAVE ENGAGED WITH 81 VENDORS IN THE FIELD. WE'RE ALSO MEETING WITH COBA TOMORROW, THE COUNCIL OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS TOMORROW MORNING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE FOR THOSE BUSINESS, UH, ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL. SINCE THEN, UM, WE'VE START SINCE STARTING THIS EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN, STAFF HAS RECEIVED 63 BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS. 18 OF THOSE ARE MERCHANDISE VENDORS, AND 45 BEING FOOD VENDORS AND CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ISSUE FIVE BUSINESS LICENSES WITH SIDEWALK VENDING PERMITS SO FAR. UM, AND SO FAR ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN MERCHANDISE VENDORS. THROUGHOUT ALL THESE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS, STAFF HAVE FOUND VENDORS TO BE RECEPTIVE OF THE INFORMATION, UM, NOTING THAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY FACE OR ANTICIPATE FACING IS PROCURING THE REQUIRED CARTS AND COMPLETING THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. SO THAT'S SOME FEEDBACK STAFF HAS GOTTEN TO SUPPORT THESE VENDORS. THE CITIES LAUNCHED ITS SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM ON FEBRUARY 26TH. THIS PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL TO HELP REDUCE THE BARRIERS OF ENTRY BY HELPING EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN AND PROVIDE OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT. THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY AND ENTAILS COVERING THE COST OF THE REQUIRED BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH PERMIT FEES IN THE FIRST YEAR. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF INSURANCE COSTS UP TO $450. AND THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT YET LAUNCHED WILL BE TO PROVIDE UP TO 40 FREE FOOD VENDING CARTS TO ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS. AND THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CARTS DISTRIBUTED WILL BE DEPENDENT ON DEMAND AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. SO WHY THIS SECOND PHASE OF THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM IS PART OF THE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED TO UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE OF THE SIDEWALK VENDING IN THE CITY. STAFF LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE HURDLES PROSPECTIVE VENDORS FACE ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE RELATED TO CARTS. FOOD VENDORS CAN SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME AND MONEY IN THE PROCESS OF GAINING THE PLAN APPROVALS NEEDED FOR THEIR SIDEWALK VENDING CARTS TO PASS PLAN CHECK. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO APPROVE CART SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE A MANUFACTURER CAN BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A CART. AND IF THERE ARE REVISIONS REQUIRED TO CART SPECIFICATIONS OR OTHER LOGISTICAL ISSUES, THE PROCESS CAN GO BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES TAKE SIX TO NINE MONTHS. SO THE GOAL OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE IN THIS AREA BY MAKING PRE-APPROVED CARTS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SENSE OF WHAT'S NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. THIS SLIDE IN THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS WHAT'S REQUIRED IN A CART BASED ON DIFFERENT FOODS BEING SOLD. SO FOR EXAMPLE, MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION [04:00:01] IS REQUIRED FOR PREPACKAGED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD, BUT NOT REQUIRED FOR WHOLE PRODUCE. AND THEN THIS SLIDE LISTS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR UNPACKAGED FOOD. AND JUST TO POINT OUT AN EXAMPLE, A HAND SINK IS ALWAYS NEEDED, BUT A WEAR WASHING SINK AND A WATER HEATER IS ALSO REQUIRED IF HANDLING RAW MEATS. ADDITIONALLY, A SIDEWALK VENDOR THAT SELLS FOOD MUST OPERATE OUT OF A COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION, OR WHAT WE CALL CMFO. CFOS ARE DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER VENDING BY ONLY HAVING LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION. THIS SLIDE DEFINES WHAT IS CONSIDERED LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SLICE AND CHOP NON-POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS THAT HAVE BEEN WASHED AT AN APPROVED FACILITY OR REHEAT FOOD THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED AT AN APPROVED FACILITY. HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT HAW OR COOK POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS FOR LATER USE AND STILL BE DEFINED UNDER LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION. WITH THESE CART REGULATIONS, STAFF RESEARCH THE LANDSCAPE FOR MANUFACTURERS THAT CAN PRODUCE THESE CARTS AND FOUND THAT THE INDUSTRY IS YOUNG WITH LIMITED OPTIONS FOR PROCURING READY-MADE CARTS THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. THE TIME TO MANUFACTURE A CART CAN TAKE UP TO TWO MONTHS. AND STAFF DID FIND THAT THERE IS MARKETPLACE COMPETITION WITH OTHER HEALTH JURISDICTIONS LOOKING TO PURCHASE PRE-APPROVED CARTS. ONE HELPFUL ELEMENT HOWEVER, IS THAT SINCE ALL JURISDICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA ARE HELD TO THE SAME STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS, IF A CART HAS BEEN PRE-APPROVED BY ONE JURISDICTION, IT MEANS IT CAN BE APPROVED IN LONG BEACH AS WELL. SO THE CITY DOES NOT DEVELOP CART SPECIFICATIONS. UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MANUFACTURER TO PRODUCE THESE PRE-APPROVED CARTS FOR THE CART PROGRAM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE CITY'S PURCHASING DIVISION. A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RFI WAS ISSUED TO CONFIRM THE CITY'S RESEARCH FOR COMPACT MOBILE FOOD CART LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING THE TYPE OF CARTS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, MARKET RATE PRICING AND STANDING ORDER FULFILLMENT TIMELINES. AND BASED ON THE RFI RESPONSES, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONLY TWO MANUFACTURERS HAVE APPROVED PLAN CHECKS FOR VARIOUS CARTS. THIS COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH CENTRAL COMMISSARY WHO CAN PROVIDE PRE-APPROVED FRUIT WITH KROLLER AND GRILL CARTS, AND ALSO WITH REVOLUTION CARTS WHO CAN PROVIDE PRE-APPROVED TAMALE CARTS. AND AS A SIDE NOTE, IT'S NOT IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, BUT THE CITY CAN ALSO PROCURE PREPACKAGED ICE CREAM CARDS UNDER THE CITY MANAGER ADMINISTRATIVE PURCHASING AUTHORITY. AND THAT IS ALSO PLANNED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. SO ONCE THESE CONTRACTS ARE IN PLACE, THE CITY WILL FINALIZE THE PLANS FOR THIS SECOND PHASE OF THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM, AND OUR STAFF IS LOOKING TO LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM IN THE SUMMER. SO AGAIN, THE PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING CARTS, FRUIT WITH COOLER GRILLED FOODS, NOT RAW MEAT, TAMALE AND ICE CREAM CARTS. SO APPLICANTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN A FREE CART MUST MEET CORE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE BEING LOCATED AND OPERATING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LONG BEACH. BEING A SMALL MICRO BUSINESS WITH NO MORE THAN ONE CART OPERATION, AND ALSO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO TIERS. TIER ONE FOR THOSE LOCATED IN A-C-D-B-G AREA, AND TIER TWO FOR APPLICANTS JUST GENERALLY IN LONG BEACH. SO TIER ONE WILL BE OPEN FOR THREE MONTHS ONCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHES, BEFORE EXPANDING THE APPLICANT POOL TO TIER TWO. THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE APPLICATION MADE AVAILABLE ONCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHES THAT NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED AND COMPLETED. APPLICATIONS WILL DETERMINE THE ORDER OF ORDERING CARTS BASED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS WHILE FUNDING AND SUPPLIES LAST. SO I WANNA JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR APPROACH FOR ACTUALLY ORDERING THE CARTS, THE CART PROCUREMENT. UM, APPLICANTS WILL NEED TO BE NEARLY COMPLETE WITH A HEALTH PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CART. UM, AND THIS WILL BE DOCUMENTED AS PART OF THE SIDEWALK APPLICATION. AND ONCE STAFF CONFIRMS THAT AN APPLICANT IS, UM, NEARLY COMPLETE WITH THE REQUIRED PERMITTING AND, UH, IS ABLE TO, THE APPLICANT REFLECTS THAT AN APPLICANT IS NEARLY, UM, HAS HIGH READINESS TO COMPLETE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, THE CITY WILL ORDER A CART. AND SO THESE CARTS ARE BEING ORDERED BEFORE THE BUSINESS LICENSE AND [04:05:01] HEALTH PERMITS ARE FULLY COMPLETE. UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHICKEN AND THE EGG HAPPENING HERE IS THAT, UM, A CART IS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FINAL ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION. AND SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE, UH, MID PROCESS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF THE CARTS. UM, SO THIS APPROACH WILL RESULT IN A LONGER WAIT TIME FOR POTENTIAL VENDORS TO RECEIVE A CART BECAUSE THE CITY IS PURCHASING THEM. ONCE STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED THAT APPLICANTS HAVE MET THE CRITERIA AND REACHED A CERTAIN STAGE OF THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS VERSUS ANOTHER MODEL THAT STAFF DID CONSIDER, WHICH WAS PRE-PURCHASING CARTS IN ADVANCE, AND THEN STORING THEM TO BE READY TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS SOON AS A VENDOR WAS DEEMED READY, HOWEVER, WE DID NOT GO WITH THAT APPROACH. AND THE RECOMMENDED APPROACH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RISK OF PROCURING CARTS FOR VENDORS WHO MAY NOT COMPLETE THE NECESSARY STEPS OR PROCURING CART TYPES THAT VENDORS DO NOT WANT. SO THERE STILL IS SOME RISK THAT REMAIN THAT WE MAY HAVE A VENDOR WHO FAILS TO FINALIZE THE PAPERWORK THAT'S NEEDED ONCE A CART HAS ARRIVED. HOWEVER, THIS APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE THAT RISK. SO THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS COMING FROM THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT. THE INITIAL FUNDING WAS ABOUT 250,000 AND WAS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE COVERING THE COST FOR THE FEES AND THE PURCHASE OF HEALTH APPROVED FOOD CARTS. THE FUNDING ORIGINALLY CAME FROM THE PROGRAM IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANT SUPPORT SERVICES AND STREET VENDOR SUPPORT WITHIN THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS LATER RENAMED TO SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS STREET VENDOR SUPPORT. UM, THIS INITIAL FUNDING WAS NOTED IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2023 MEMO ON THE POTENTIAL SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE, AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT DURING THE ORDINANCE HEARING THAT CAME TO CITY COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023 AND JANUARY 16TH, 2024. UM, IT'S ALSO LISTED IN OUR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT LETTER ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023, WHICH BROKE DOWN THE AMOUNT, 174,000 FOR FEES AND OTHER SUPPORT, AND 73,000 FOR THE CART PORTION OF THE PROGRAM. THEN AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 475,000 WAS IDENTIFIED AND ADDED TO THE CART PROGRAM, UM, REPORTED IN THE MARCH 15TH, 2024 LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT MEMO, UM, THAT TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS. SO IN TOTAL, WE HAVE ABOUT 722,000 ALLOCATED TO THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM THROUGH LBRA AND 170, WHICH IS MADE UP OF 174,000 TO COVER THE FEES INSURANCE AND BUSINESS NAVIGATOR SUPPORT, AND 548,000 FOR HEALTH APPROVED FOOD CART PHASE OF THE PROGRAM. THIS FUNDING AND PROGRAM ARE PART OF THE LARGER EFFORT THE CITY HAS ENGAGED IN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY. 6.2 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED 719 BUSINESSES, INCLUDING FUNDING TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS TO STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESS AND ATTRACT CUSTOMERS, OUTDOOR DINING GRANTS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT, AND OVER 19.7 MILLION. SO ALMOST 20 MILLION OF LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 20 12 MILLION IN DIRECT BUSINESS GRANTS, 450,000 FOR CUSTOMER ACTIVATION PROGRAMS, 600,000 FOR INCLUSIVE BUSINESS SUPPORT, AND ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TO SUPPORT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS. IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS WITH THE CONTRACT APPROVAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT INCLUDED IN THIS COUNCIL ACTION, STAFF WILL FINALIZE THE DETAILS OF THE CART PHASE TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE SUMMER. STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH VENDORS AND BUSINESSES TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND THE PROGRAM. UM, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE WILL BE STARTING ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE SOON AND AS REQUESTED, WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED, STAFF WILL RETURN TO CITY COUNCIL IN THE FALL TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE ORDINANCE AND SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. AND AT THAT TIME, WE'LL BE, UM, COMING BACK WITH VARIOUS STATS AND UM, UH, GRAPHS AND CHARTS TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION ON THE DETAILS OF OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH VENDORS AND APPLICATION AND ALSO ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION. SO AS I CLOSE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. IT'S A MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL EFFORT. THIS, UM, THIS ENTIRE SIDEWALK BENDING PROJECT. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS AND WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS IMPLEMENTATION. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. AND I, ALONG WITH SEVERAL DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES, ARE HERE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. [04:10:01] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, LET'S SEE. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THIS UPDATE CAME THROUGH AS PART OF OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING AN EQUITABLE STREET VENDOR ORDINANCE. THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION AND IT SHOWED HOW MUCH WORK HAS BEEN GOING INTO THIS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, TO, TO THE WHOLE TEAM THAT WORKED ON THIS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM, ECONOMIES EVOLVE AND CHANGE AS WE ALL SAW FROM THE IMPACTS THAT COVID HAD, UH, ON US. ALSO, INNOVATION OCCURS AND, AND TECHNOLOGY CHANGES. SO I'M REALLY, UM, GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I WAS CONCERNED WITH, UM, WHEN I SAW THE, UM, THE BILL COME FORWARD, THE SENATE BILL COME FORWARD, WHICH, UM, DECRIMINALIZE, DECRIMINALIZING STREET VENDING IS, I DIDN'T SEE A PATH FORWARD, UM, TO THOSE STREET VENDORS BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN GET STARTED AND BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE A CART BECAUSE IT SEEMED SO, UM, SO UNTANGIBLE. SO I REALLY AM HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'VE COME OUT WITH WAYS THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO BE HELPFUL, UM, AND ALSO USING SOME OF THE RECOVERY MONEY. UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR, UM, POINTING OUT ALL OF THE, UM, OR THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONIES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, GIVE THE, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL. I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A SMALL PORTION, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT PORTION. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON THIS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER OTTI. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT THE, THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE USING FOR THE CARTS ARE FRAUD OR THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT. UM, AND THOSE FUNDS, UM, HAVE, WE'VE BEEN TOLD HAVE TO BE SPENT, UH, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE CARTS GOES AWAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR? DOES THAT MEAN, UH, CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FUNDING AND AVAILABILITY OF THE CARTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. OVERALL FOR THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT PROGRAMMING AS IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED, I THINK IN OTHER REPORTING, THE PROGRAMS ARE CLOSING AND ENDING IN A FEW MONTHS. HOWEVER, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY SOME OF THAT FUNDING OVER. UM, IT WOULDN'T BE TRACKED AS LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDING. UM, TECHNICALLY THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE, HOW WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ESSENTIALLY, UM, USE OTHER THINGS TO REPORT TO THE STATE. AND THEN ESSENTIALLY USING GENERAL FUND AS ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE TO FUND A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE WOULD BE USING THAT ABILITY TO CARRY FUNDING OVER AS JUST GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, UM, AND, AND BE ABLE TO TRACK IT THAT WAY THROUGH THE NORMAL TYPICAL BUDGET PROCESS THAT TRACKS ONE TIMES. UM, THROUGH OUR TYPICAL ONE TIME PROCESS, UM, WE WOULD WANT IT NOT TO BE SORT OF AN INDEFINITE CARRYOVER OF FUNDS. AND SO THIS CONTRACT THAT'S BEFORE YOU DOES HAVE A TERM THAT ENDS AT THE END OF FY 25. UM, AND ALSO THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD WE CAN BE REPORTING BACK TO COUNCIL ON HOW THE PROGRAM IS DOING. WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME WHAT THE RESPONSE WILL BE IF WE'LL HAVE MANY APPLICANTS IF WE'LL RUN OUT OF FUNDING VERY QUICKLY OR IF IT'LL TAKE A WHILE. SO WE'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL WHAT THE STATUS OF THE FUNDING IS, IF WHETHER WE'RE FULLY UTILIZING IT. UM, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, WE WILL HAVE TIME BEYOND THE CLOSER OF THE LBRA PROGRAM. OKAY, GREAT. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE FULFILLED OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELATED TO THE FUNDING WE'VE RECEIVED, AND THAT ALLOWS US SOME FLEXIBILITY. YES, EXACTLY. OKAY, THANK YOU. GREAT. UH, AND THEN A SECOND SET OF QUESTIONS IS, UM, I THINK THIS WAS SLIDE 12. UM, IT SAYS, APPLICANTS MUST MEET ALL CORE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BEFORE RECEIVING A CARD, INCLUDING MUST BE LOCATED OPERATING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LONG BEACH. MUST BE A SMALL MICRO BUSINESS WITH NO MORE THAN ONE CARD OPERATION. AND THEN IT SAYS APPLICANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO TIERS ONCE THE PRO PROGRAM LAUNCHES. SO TIER ONE ARE APPLICANTS LOCATED IN CDBG AREAS AND TIER TWO FOR APPLICANTS IN LONG BEACH. SO MY QUESTION IS, BY DEFINITION, RIGHT, THESE ARE CARTS, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE VENDORS THAT ARE GONNA KIND OF BE ROVING AND ROAMING, RIGHT? SO HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A, WELL, I GUESS, WELL, YOU CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE CART. 'CAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE, I'M ASSUMING THEY WOULD, WELL, [04:15:01] THAT ACTUALLY IS A QUESTION. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE CART? RIGHT? UM, 'CAUSE POTENTIALLY THEY COULD MAYBE PER JUST BUY ONE FROM THE CITY AND HAVE ONE. UM, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THEY'RE ROAMING, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT THE APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN CD IN A-C-D-B-G AREA? YEAH, SO THE CRITERIA WOULD BE BASED ON THE BUSINESS LICENSE ADDRESS THAT'S LISTED. SO THAT'S A, UM, A COMMON PRACTICE FOR, UM, BUSINESS SORT OF APPLYING WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOCATED. SO WE WOULD USE THE BUSINESS LICENSE INFORMATION ADDRESS THAT'S LISTED TO DETERMINE THAT CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY. UM, THEY CAN TAKE THAT CART AND GO AROUND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. IF THEY GO OUTSIDE, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REALLY KNOW IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, BUT WE WOULD START OFF WITH THEIR, UH, STARTING LOCATION. AND THEN IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ONE CART BUSINESS LICENSE DOES HAVE WAYS TO TRACK VENDORS AND CROSS REFERENCE VENDORS IN THE SYSTEM. SO IF THEY'RE ALREADY LISTED AS HAVING A DIFFERENT CART OR DOCUMENTED IN OUR SYSTEM, UM, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AND BE ABLE TO, UM, TRACK AT LEAST ON THE SIDE, ON THE DATA THAT WE'RE COLLECTING, THAT THIS VENDOR THAT'S IN OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE CART BECAUSE EVERY, UH, LEGAL VENDOR NEEDS TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT PROCESS AS WELL, TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE VENDORS THAT ARE NOT PERMITTED AND GETTING THEM PERMITTED, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO TRACK THEM IN OUR SYSTEM. UNDERSTOOD. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE REGISTERING, GETTING A BUSINESS LICENSE RELATED TO THEIR CART. THAT'S HOW WE WOULD TRACK THEM FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THIS LEGALLY. UM, AND THEN IT'S, AND THEN FOR THE TIER ONE AND TIER TWO, WE'RE BASING THAT OFF OF THE LO LIKE THE ADDRESS THAT THEY'RE USING, UH, FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE, RIGHT? WHICH OBVIOUSLY FOR TIER ONE AND TIER TWO IS NOW PRIORITIZING, UH, WE ASSUME RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO, UH, THERE'S SO MANY DEPARTMENTS, BUT THIS IS A BIG PROJECT AND, UH, I DO APPRECIATE, I KNOW YOU GUYS CAME OUT, WE HAD A LOT OF VENDORS SHOW UP AT BIXBY PARK, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS. AND I TELL YOU, I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU GUYS. THEY, THEY'RE, UM, I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB WITH THEM AND JUST UNDERSTANDING THE RULES FROM THE STATE AND THE RULES FROM THE CITY. UM, THERE WERE A LOT, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE. AND SO I WAS GREAT. UH, I'M GLAD THAT I WENT JUST TO SIT AND WATCH YOU GUYS DO YOUR GREAT WORK AND UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, UH, JUST SOME OF THE CONCERNS. AND SO I REALLY DO APPLAUD YOU GUYS AND YOUR PATIENTS AND, UM, AND JUST HOW YOU, UH, YOU REALLY DID ADDRESS THIS. I THINK I FULLY SUPPORT IT. UM, AND I KNOW IT HELPS TO ENSURE THAT, UM, OUR MOBILE FOOD OF VENDORS, YOU KNOW, COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE CALIFORNIA AND SAFETY CODES, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT IN YOUR, UM, IN THESE MEETINGS. AND BY PROVIDING VENDORS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO OPERATE, UM, BOTH LEGALLY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SAFELY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ONLY SUPPORTING, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT, UM, WE'RE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF OUR, UH, OF OUR FOOD SERVICES. UM, AND IT'S ALSO SUCH A, A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING THEM, UM, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ON THE PRE-APPROVED CARTS. AND I ALSO SAW THERE WERE A LOT OF CONFUSIONS WITH THAT TOO. SO I KNOW THERE'S GONNA BE SOME MORE, THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK OUT THERE. UM, AND I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, SOME OF THE, UM, UH, YOUR APPROACH AND HOW YOU'RE GONNA BUY THESE AND STORM OR NOT, AND ALL OF THAT, I THINK, UM, IS WELL THOUGHT OUT. UM, BUT, UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU REALLY ARE HELPING A LOT OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, OVERCOME, UM, SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, UM, TO ENTERING IN THE BUSINESS. AND SO I THINK YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AT DOING WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO ON, ON, UH, COUNCIL. AND, UM, AND THIS PROGRAM REALLY DOES, UM, FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY AND, UM, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR SIDEWALK VENDORS, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ATTAINABLE. UM, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO COME FROM LOW INCOME, UM, BACKGROUNDS, UH, AND HELPING, YOU KNOW, PROMOTE A, JUST LIKE A DIVERSE, UH, LOCAL ECONOMY HERE IN LONG BEACH. SO, AGAIN, APPLAUD YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS WORK. YOU'RE A ROCKSTAR TOO, ANSWERING ALL THOSE QUESTIONS. AND, UM, I REALLY DO, UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T EVEN HERE. SO PLEASE SEND BACK OUR THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [04:20:07] MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. ITEM 33, PLEASE REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RE I'M SORRY, ITEM 33. REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH A CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO RECEIVE AND EXPEND 15 MILLION [33. 24-53592 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and all necessary documents, subcontracts, and any subsequent amendments, including any amendments to the award amount and term dates, with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), to receive and expend $15,004,433 for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 Program, for the estimated period of June 15, 2024, through June 30, 2028, with the option to renew for one additional five-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $15,004,433. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] FOR THE HOMELESS HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION ROUND FIVE PROGRAMS CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT. I KNOW THERE'S A, A PRESENTATION, BUT IT IT IS, IT IS LATE. SO, MR. CITY MANAGER, UH, ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS, UH, EXPEDITIOUSLY? WE REALLY DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION ON THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT IT. RIGHT? I GOT ONE REQUESTED FROM YOU. SO, UNLESS I HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. WE GET THE FUNDING EVERY YEAR AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS. IT'S NOT NEW FUNDING. WE'RE GOOD TO PASS. OKAY. SO I HAVE A MOTION FROM, UM, LOOKS LIKE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK OTE. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY, GREAT. UH, COUNCILMAN KERR? ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE RIGHT NOW. OH, NOT YET. WE'RE GONNA CALL YOU. COME ON UP. CLOSE. WE'RE ALMOST DONE. COUNCILMAN DUGGAN. COUNCILMAN DUGGAN? COME ON DOWN. WE GOT FOUR MORE ITEMS BEFORE, THREE MORE BEFORE, BEFORE US PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. ITEM 34, PLEASE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ITEM 34, REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 5 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT KEY COMPONENTS OF THE CITY'S BLUEPRINT FOR MEDIUM AND HEAVY DUTY ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICT FOUR. UH, [34. 24-53594 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, including any necessary subsequent amendments, with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $5,000,000 to implement key components of the City’s Blueprint for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Funds Group in the Public Works Department by $5,000,000, offset by CEC grant revenue; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $5,000,000, offset by the transfer of CEC grant revenue from the Capital Grant Fund. (District 4)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST OR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 35 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION, EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE PORT OF LONG BEACH TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2,999,700 TO BE USED ON THE DEL LAMO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECT. DISTRICT EIGHT. GOOD STUFF. ANYTHING, COUNCILMAN? [35. 24-53595 Recommendation to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and any necessary documents including any amendments, with the Port of Long Beach (POLB), to accept and expend grant funding through the Community Grants Program, in an amount not to exceed $2,999,700 to be used on the Del Amo Bicycle and Pedestrian project to build sidewalk-level, curb-separated bikeways and a protected intersection at Atlantic Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard for enhanced safety, and connectivity to Fairfield Family YMCA, Scherer Park, Boys and Girls Club, Dooley and Barton Elementary Schools, and local retail and dining on Long Beach Boulevard;    Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $2,999,700, offset by POLB grant reimbursement revenues; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $2,999,700 for a technical appropriation to allow for the transfer of POLB funds from the Capital Projects Grants Fund. (District 8)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. IT'S FREE MONEY AND IT'S GONNA CONNECT THE KIDS NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARKS AND THE YMCA AS WELL AS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. THIS IS AN AMAZING PROJECT IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. WHAT A FANTASTIC PRESENTATION. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE MOTION IS CARRIED. 36 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND GROUP IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BY 5,036,466. OFFSET BY HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE AND RELIEF. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT. GRANT REVENUES FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DISTRICTS. 1, 2, 3, [36. 24-53593 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $5,036,466, offset by $2,827,170 of State Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) HSIPL-5108(178) and $2,209,296 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) grant revenues from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $5,036,466, offset by a transfer of $2,827,170 HSIP and $2,209,296 CRRSAA funds from the Capital Grant Fund, a fund within the Capital Projects Fund Group. (Districts 1, 2, 3, 6)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND SIX. ALRIGHT, GOOD. FREE MONEY. WE APPRECIATE THAT. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? OKAY, MEMBERS, PLEASE. CASH VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 38 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH PEOPLE SPACE FOR THE CONTINUED PURCHASE OF OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 2 MILLION FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2.3 MILLION CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CASH YOUR VOTE. [38. 24-53481-01 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to amend Contract No. 36492 with PeopleSpace (formerly Interior Office Solutions, Inc.), of Irvine, CA, for the continued purchase of office furniture and equipment layout, design, assembly, and installation services, to increase the contract amount by $2,000,000, for a revised contract amount not to exceed $2,300,000. (Citywide) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO. THAT'S YOU. MY NAME IS FLORENCE ROLANDS. I CAN BE ADDRESS AS MS. FLORENCE ROWLANDSON. UH, I HAVE DOLORES. IS THAT YOU? NO. FLORENCE. MAYBE THEY SPELLED IT WRONG. OKAY. PLEASE. YOU HAVE BEFORE. I'VE HERE BEFORE AND SOMEBODY HERE DIDN'T LIKE MY STATEMENT AND YOU KNOW, I COULD CARE LESS. REALLY, REALLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN LONG BEACH, HOMELESS, THEY REFUSE TO RENT A PLACE TO ME. THEY INSULT ME AND I WANT, AND AND THEY DON'T WANT ME TO SAY, YOU'RE BIGOT. YOU ARE RACIST. BIGOT THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH. MAYBE TO SOME OF YOU 'CAUSE YOU HAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. A BANK ACCOUNT. I WANT, ONE THING I WANNA SAY, I'M GONNA JUMP OFF OF THAT, ABOUT THOSE LITTLE VENDORS. DOES IT APPLY TO EVERY, EVERY GROUP? 'CAUSE I GET SOME OTHER GROUPS TO COME IN AND SELL TO. SHOULDN'T JUST APPLY TO CERTAIN PEOPLE. NOW TODAY, I WALKED OUT OF THE, I WALKED OUT OF THE PLACE I WAS IN. SOMEBODY HAD TAKEN MY, TAKEN SOME LITTLE ARGUMENT AND BUST MY WINDOW, BUST MY, MY SIDE, MY, [04:25:01] UH, RIGHT, UM, BUB. OKAY, SOMEBODY CUTTING MY TWO OF MY, TWO OF MY, UM, CHARGES LAST WEEK. AND I KNOW IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, I'M GONNA NAME THEM. UM, THEY'RE CRIMINALS IN MCDONALD'S. MOST OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, THEY SELL DRUGS. AND WHEN [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] THEY SEE BLACKFACE LIKE ME, THEY THINK EVERYBODY'S A DRUGGIE. I'M NOT A DRUGGIE. AND I WOULDN'T EVEN LU MYSELF TO INTO THAT. AND, UH, THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO SAY TO YOU, WE DON'T HAVE TO SERVE YOU IF YOU CAN'T DO WHAT WE TELL YOU TO DO. WELL YOU MESS WITH THE WRONG GENERATION OF WOMEN. AND THE THING IS, WHO GONNA FIX MY CAR DON'T LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT IT'S MY CAR. AND I KNOW IT'S MEN, TEENAGERS, AND MAYBE SOME FEMALE, BUT MOST BASICALLY MALE LATINOS. I'M, I'M GONNA BREAK IT DOWN THAT, NARROW IT DOWN THAT WAY. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M DEALING WITH. AND LIKE I SAID, I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME, I DON'T REALLY CARE AND HAVE MY RIGHT TO SAY WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. YOU JUST LIKE, YOU SAY THINGS AND SOMEBODY IN HERE, NOT MAN OR WOMAN ENOUGH, I'M GONNA SIMPLIFY IT TO COME AT ME BY ONE ON ONE. I TALKED TO A OFFICER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED. HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS STUPID. ARE YOU CRAZY? NOBODY ELSE IS STANDING THERE. MOST BLACKS ARE AFRAID, MOST OF THEM ARE DRUGGIES. THEY'RE AFRAID TO SAY SOMETHING. AND THEY, I LISTENED TO THE COUPLE, I WOULD, I HAD HOPED THAT THEY WOULD STAY JEWISH. WE, THEY'RE NOT ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS, THE ONLY TIME THE JEWS HAVE PROBLEMS, POLITICS, DEALING WITH THE COUNTRY OVER THERE, WHICH THE UNITED STATES SHOULD STAY OUT OF. AND I DONE TOLD MR. BIDEN OBAMA TOO. MA'AM, YOUR THREE MINUTES IS CONCLUDED. YEAH, BUT I DON'T PUT MINE IN WRITING. I HAVE A LOT TO HAVE TO, I HAVE TO SAY WE, WE LIVE IN A CAR, MY PUPPY, AND THEY PLAY GAMES ON US SOMEPLACE. YEAH. ALRIGHT. SIT UP SOMEPLACE. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE NOTHING FOR, WELL, MS. FLORENCE, MY PUPPY SAVED MY LIFE LAST, LAST YEAR. THANK YOU, MS. FLORENCE. UH, THE, THAT IS PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, WE HEARD WE HEARD YOU OUT. I'M NOT DONE YET. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA, UH, GO TO COUNCIL, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN DEJAS, WHAT WOULD MALCOLM DO? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, PLEASE, PLEASE JOIN US, UH, FOR VITO'S DOGGY PARADE HONORING VETS AND PETS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY JUNE 29TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT LINCOLN PARK IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH. THIS FREE EVENT WILL INCLUDE AN AWARD CEREMONY, UM, HONORING OUR VETS AND PETS AND A DOGGY PARADE. FOR, FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE ALSO. UM, WE HAVE THE SAVOR SUMMER ON PINE AND PROMENADE, CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF TASTE OF DOWNTOWN WITH FOOD, FUN AND FESTIVITIES ON PINE AND THE PROMENADE. THE SECOND, UM, THE, THE, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SECOND IN ITS SERIES. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. PLEASE COME AND JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH AND THURSDAY, JUNE 13TH FROM 5:00 PM TO NINE AND COME AND ENJOY ALL THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING THAT DOWNTOWN HAS TO OFFER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THIS WEEKEND I INVITE ALL TO PART TO ATTEND A CELEBRATION OF PHILIPPINES INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH A FILIPINO FESTIVAL AT THE LONG BEACH EXCHANGE. THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH FROM 12 TO 6:00 PM AT THE FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, YOU CAN ENJOY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCING PERFORMANCES WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL FILIPINO AMERICAN VENDORS OFFERING AUTHENTIC FOOD, DRINKS, CLOTHING, AND HOME DECOR. AND ALSO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE GRAND OPENING OF THE JUMPSTART YOUTH ARTIST GALLERY AT THE LONG BEACH CITY [04:30:01] COLLEGE ART GALLERY THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH FROM 11 TO FOUR. IT'S A FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT. THERE'S A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF ART ACTIVITIES LED BY LOCAL ARTISTS TO VIEW THE WORKS IN THE GALLERY, TO ENJOY LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL TALENT AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL VENDORS. SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, RESIDENTS TO A, ATTEND THE GRADE EIGHTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY MEETING TOMORROW JUNE 12TH AT 6:30 PM AT THE EASTMAN FAIRFIELD BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. UH, WE WILL BE GIVEN A DISTRICT UPDATE. UH, WE'LL HAVE, UH, LONG BEACH PD, THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS ON HAND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. UH, ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ATTEND. UH, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 6 8 5 OR LOOK US UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THERE SHOULD BE A FLYER WITH ALL THE INFORMATION. UH, ALSO, UH, THIS FRIDAY, UH, THE WE'D LIKE TO INVITE FOLKS TO HELP US DEFEAT SICKLE CELL AND SAVE LIVES AT AN IMPORTANT BLOOD DRIVE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LA CARE BLUE SHIELD AND THE RED CROSS AT THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER. AT 55 99 ATLANTIC AVENUE, UH, GIFT CARDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFYING DONORS. AND, UH, YES, THIS IS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SAVE LIVES AND, AND TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 1 3 2 6. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO ATTEND THE NAM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ON THURSDAY, JUNE 13TH FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM UM, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV SO WE CAN GET YOU THE LOCATION INFORMATION ADDITION THAT I CAN INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT TO OUR, OUR ANNUAL FIRE AND ICE EVENT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 22ND FROM 12 TO 2:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE LONG BEACH FIRE STATION, UH, FIRE STATION 12 AT 11 9 9 EAST ARTESIA BOULEVARD. COME OUT AND ENJOY SOME ICE CREAM. UH, TOUR OUR FIRE FACILITIES AND MEET OUR FIRE CHIEF. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT TO A JOINT COMMUNITY MEETING WITH METRO ON TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL AT 6,500 ATLANTIC AVENUE. UM, WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING METRO'S PLANS FOR THE ADDITION OF AN AUXILIARY LANE BETWEEN THE SEVEN 10 FREEWAY, UM, GOING FROM THE ATLANTIC AVENUE RAMP TO EXTENDING TO THE CHERRY AVENUE RAMP. UM, I ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ATTEND AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR INSIGHTS, CONCERNS, AND QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SR 91 EXPANSION PROJECT. AGAIN, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE, 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR EMAIL US AT DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. UH, THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. * 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.