* 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. [00:03:25] CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR SEATS? IF YOU'RE STANDING, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT SO WE CAN GET STARTED. PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT SO WE CAN GET STARTED. WE NEED TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WAITING TO COME IN. HI. HELLO. HELLO. ALRIGHT. HELLO. HELLO. IF THE AUDIENCE CAN PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. IF WE CAN GET AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. THANK YOU. [00:05:08] SPEAK FROM HERE. IS IT ON? YES. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD. ALRIGHT. UH, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE. UH, WE'RE STARTING OFF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE STILL NEED TO DO ROLL CALL. SO LET'S CALL THE MEETING IN ORDER AND DO ROLL CALL PLEASE. [CALL TO ORDER] COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS. PRESENT VICE MAYOR ALLEN. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN SUPERMAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN KERR. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN SORROW. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA PRESENTING. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? I'M HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. IF YOU ARE ABLE, PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND JOIN ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. LET'S GET STARTED. WHAT A GREAT TURNOUT WE HAVE TODAY FOR A CITY COUNCIL MEETING. LET'S HEAR FOR ALL OF YOU. STEPPING UP FOR OUR CIVIC DUTY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UH, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY AT CITY HALL. WE HAVE A GREAT CITY HALL, UH, BUT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE KEY TO THE CITY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT, UH, CEREMONY, UH, LED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS HERE IN OUR LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. UH, I WANT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS MY FIRST ROUND OF KEYS TO THE CITY AS A NEW MAYOR IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UH, AND IS CERTAINLY AN HONOR, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THESE. AND I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE KID OF THE CITY MEANS. I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT A FEW WEEKS AGO. UH, HOW CAN WE UTILIZE THIS CEREMONY TO REALLY FURTHER THE CONCEPT OF SERVICE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE OTHERS? AND HOW CAN WE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF, OF THE KEY TO THE CITY TO LIFT UP PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREER CAREERS LIFTING UP OTHERS. AND SO, UH, THE KEY TO THE CITY IS REALLY MEANT AS, AS A CEREMONY THAT SYMBOLICALLY MEANS TAKE THIS KEY AND PASS IT ON TO OTHERS BECAUSE WE WANT THE KEY OF SERVICE TO BE, UH, GIVEN AWAY TO OTHERS. UH, DR. MARTIN [ KEY TO THE CITY] LUTHER KING'S ONCE SAID IN A SPEECH CALLED THE DRUM MAJOR INSTINCT. UH, HE SAID, ANYONE CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE ANYONE CAN SERVE. AND TO ME THAT MEANS ANYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE NO MATTER, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE WEALTHY. UH, IT DOESN'T MATTER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, HOW YOU PRAY, WHO YOU LOVE. EVERYONE HAS VALUE AND EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ANYONE CAN BE OF SERVICE PERSONALLY. WHEN I THINK OF SERVICE, I THINK OF MY GRANDMOTHER DOWN IN ALABAMA, THE JIM CROW SOUTH, WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE BY PROTESTING GOVERNOR WALLACE WHO SAID THAT BLACK STUDENTS COULDN'T ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DURING THE DAYS OF SEGREGATION. I THINK OF MY MOTHER WHO SERVED AS A WELDER AT GENERAL MOTORS ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, AND LATER AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER HERE IN CALIFORNIA TO HELP PUT HER KIDS THROUGH SCHOOL. I THINK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT, I THINK OF THESE ORANGE VESTS. I THINK OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. I THINK OF OUR HONOREES AND I THINK OF ALL THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO ARE HERE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OUR HONOREES TONIGHT. THAT'S WHO I THINK OF. THE PEOPLE THAT I'M, I AM, UH, RECOGNIZING WITH THE KEY OF THE CITY. UH, THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN RECOGNIZED ENOUGH FOR IT. AND THAT'S THE THROUGH LINE. YOU'LL SEE WITH ALL OF THESE RECOGNI, THESE, UH, HONOREES. THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES, UH, SUPPORTING THEIR NEIGHBORS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY, THROUGH SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT ROLE MODELS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE CHANGE AGENTS WHO STEP UP FOR LONG BEACH WHEN TIMES GET HARD AND THEY WORK TO UPLIFT THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. THEY'RE THE LEADERS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR DUE RECOGNITION. AND WE'RE ISSUING THREE KEYS. UH, WE, WE GAVE OUT THE FIRST ONE LAST LAST MONTH TO GABRIEL FLUFFY IGLESIAS, WHO REPRESENTS ALL OF THE VALUES THAT I MENTIONED. WE PRESENTED HIM THE KEY AT THE TERRACE THEATER IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS. ALL RIGHT, COME ON IN. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND SO TONIGHT WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING TWO FAMILIES, UH, WHO HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THEY'VE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO UPLIFTING THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE. UH, DR. LEON AND, AND PAULA WOODS AND WOOD. AND, UH, AND BETH KE SAW FOUR INDIVIDUALS, UH, THAT WE HAVE DIVINED AS SUCH. COME ON IN. SKIP BETH. LET'S MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOME, SOME SEATS. WE HAD A LITTLE RECEPTION ACROSS THE [00:10:01] WAY. THEY'RE NIGHT LATE. DON'T WORRY. THEY WERE DOING WHAT THEY DO. SHAKING HANDS, GLAD HANDING RIGHT. SO THESE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO SERVICE. THEY REPRESENT THE BEST OF LONG BEACH, UH, AND THEY'VE IMPACTED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES TOGETHER. WE'RE GONNA, UH, GO AHEAD AND GET, GET STARTED WITH OUR PRESENTATION BY HONORING DR. LEON AND PAULA WOOD. I'M GONNA START JUST WITH SOME COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, LET'S HEAR FROM DR. LEON AND PAULA WOOD. SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, DR. WOOD AND ABOUT PAULA WOOD. UH, DR. WOOD HAS SPENT DECADES UPLIFTING, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH AND YOUTH IN LONG BEACH. HE SPENT HIS CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR AND AS A PASTOR, AND HAS UPLIFTED THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE HOPEFULNESS OF BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR IN THE NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND ALL ACROSS OUR CITY. MOST NOTABLY, DR. WOOD HELPED BRING IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PHILANTHROPY, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE CLAREMONT COLLEGES TO HELP CHAMPION THE CREATION OF THE JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL MATH COLLABORATIVE, WHICH HELPS PROVIDE A DIRECT PIPELINE FOR YOUNG MEN AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL TO LONG BEACH STATE. UH, HE'S ALSO SERVED AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SECOND CHANCES IN PEACE BUILDING ACROSS FAITHS, ACROSS RACE, AND ACROSS GANG CULTURE. UH, IN MANY WAYS, DR. WOODS WORK AND NORTH LONG BEACH HAS HELPED TO CLEAR THE PATH OF MUCH OF OUR CURRENT APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK WE HAVE IN LONG BEACH, BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR WORK WE HAVE IN LONG BEACH AND INTERSECTIONAL GANG INTERVENTION IN LONG BEACH. DR. WOOD WAS DOING IT FIRST. DR. WOOD ALSO NEVER FORMALLY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. INSTEAD, TAKING A TEST, UH, TAKING A GED IN HIS ADULT YEARS. AND HE WOULD OFTEN TELL HIS CHILDREN TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TO AFFORD THE LIFESTYLE YOU WANT. YOU NEED TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION. AND HIS CHILDREN OFTEN SERVE AS MOTIVATOR MOTIVATORS FOR DR. WOOD IN HIS ATTAINMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION. HE IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF HIS NEVER TOO LATE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. MR. WOOD WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND AT TURNED ATTAINED HIS PHD IN HIS SEVENTIES. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WOOD. PAULA WOOD. PAULA WOOD IS A TRUE QUEEN MOTHER TO THE NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. IN 2005, PAULA BECAME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES. UH, AND THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION, DR. WOOD, UH, AND PAULA WOOD TOGETHER HAVE LED A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPPORT INITIALLY FROM MAYOR O'NEILL ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALL THE MAYORS UNTIL NOW, UH, WITH MYSELF TO BRING AND SHE CHAMPION BRINGING THE FIRST FREEDOM SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO LONG BEACH FREEDOM SCHOOLS WERE CREATED IN 1973. FREEDOM SCHOOLS. GREAT PROGRAM FREEDOM SCHOOLS IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM, UH, FOUND, CREATED IN 1973 BY MARIAN EDELMAN WRIGHT, A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND. AND THEY'RE DEDICATED TO GIVING EVERY CHILD A SUCCESSFUL SAFE AND FAIR HEAD START AND PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD. UH, PAULA CALLS THE FREEDOM SCHOOLS, UH, CAUSES FREEDOM SCHOOLS MORE THAN JUST READING, BUT A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE COMBINING EDUCATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS. SHE HAS IMPACTED HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF YOUTH IN NORTH LONG BEACH OVER THE PAST, UH, 20 YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM. AND PERSONALLY, I WILL JUST SAY, AS A LEADER COMING UP IN, IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON A PHONE CALL FROM, UH, DR. WOOD AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING, 'CAUSE THE EARLY RISER TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT OR WHATEVER HE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT. AND DR. WOOD IS JUST, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, A SHINING EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, STEPPING UP, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE SPACE. SO THEY'RE TRUE INSPIRATIONS TO COMMUNITY. BUT IN THE WORDS OF, UH, READING RAINBOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. LET'S HEAR FROM SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS. THAT'S LAVAR BURTON. Y'ALL TOO YOUNG FOR THAT. THE WOODS HAVE BEEN A STALWART, NOT ONLY IN THIS CITY, BUT IN THIS REGION FOR DECADES. PASTOR WOOD, HE'S A MAN OF PRINCIPLE, OF MORAL CHARACTER. THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE THE PASTOR IS HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADER, REALLY SUBSCRIBING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF, OF SCRIPTURE. LIKE THEY SAY, BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN IS A WONDERFUL WOMAN. AND THAT COULDN'T RING ANY TRUER THAN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. SHE IS THE BACKBONE OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW. AND EVERYWHERE HE GOES, SHE'S NOT TOO FAR BEHIND HIM. MY FATHER-IN-LAW, WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, AND ALSO AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE, REALLY GREW UP DURING A VERY TURBULENT TIME, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA, A RURAL AREA OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES. HE REALLY PURSUED TWO MASTER'S DEGREES. HE ALSO WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS PHD FROM [00:15:01] CLAREMONT IN PHILOSOPHY AT THE RIFLE HOLD AGE OF 72. PASTOR WOOD HIMSELF HAS A LONG HISTORY IN EDUCATION AND HE'S TAUGHT AT LOS ANGELES TRADE TECH COLLEGE, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, CLAREMONT COLLEGE, AND NOT JUST TAUGHT, BUT HELD DEAN POSITIONS. IN TWO OF THOSE. PAULA ELIZABETH BOONE WOOD GREW UP IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA IN THE EARLY SIXTIES WHERE SHE ENDED UP SETTING ROOTS IN ALTADENA. SHE WORKED EXTENSIVELY FOR 30 YEARS IN SOCIAL SERVICES AS WELL AS WITH NONPROFIT WORK, PARTICULARLY THROUGH UNITED WAY AND THE YMCA WITH THE COM COMBINATION OF BOTH MY IN-LAWS. AFTER MARRYING, THEY REALLY HAD THIS, A UNIQUE BACKGROUND THAT THEY BROUGHT TO NOT ONLY THEIR CHILDREN, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY. PAULA AND LEON HAVE BEEN MOVERS AND SHAKERS IN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. 40 YEARS. MY IN-LAWS FORGED, UH, THE SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES, UH, ORGANIZATION IN 2001. IT SERVES MANY FOLKS AND MANY DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ALSO HAD A HAND THROUGH SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES AND JOB PLACEMENT FOR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ROOM AND BOARD AND HOUSING FOR MANY ADULTS WHO ARE EITHER ENTERING FROM REHAB OR JUST AS ANOTHER OUTLET OR AVENUE. LEON AND PAULA HAVE STARTED, THEY'VE STARTED WHAT'S CALLED A FREEDOM SCHOOL. NOW THERE ARE FREEDOM SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THIS STATE, BUT THE FIRST ONE IN CALIFORNIA WAS RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. AND WHAT IT IS, IS A EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, RIGHT, THAT ENHANCES, UM, READING COMPREHENSION. PASTOR WOOD HIMSELF HAS A REALLY GREAT COMPASSION FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE. HE HAS REALLY HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON A LOT OF MARGINAL GROUPS IN OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY OUR GANG MEMBERS. HE STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THOSE HE HAS MENTORED AND LEFT A HUGE IMPACT ON. AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH PRAYING WITH THEM DURING A TIME OF NEED OR WHEN THEY REALLY NEED IT, OR SHOWING UP TO COURT. AND AGAIN, I CAN SAY THAT JUST SHOWS AND THEY'RE JUST SO EXEMPLARY OF THEIR KINDNESS IN THEIR HEART. THEIR GENUINE WANT TO DO THIS OUT OF JUST, NOT THE RECOGNITION, BUT JUST THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART. THEIR LEGACY WOULD BE A LEGACY OF SERVICE. IT WOULD BE A, A LEGACY OF UPLIFTING COMMUNITY AND A LEGACY IN REALLY SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND WORKPLACE JUSTICE. THIS IS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE SEEDS THAT YOU PLANTED WILL PRODUCE EVEN MORE. SO I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DEPOSITED INTO ME, AND I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DEPOSITED INTO LONG BEACH. WE'RE SO PROUD OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARE, THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS THAT YOU ARE, AND ALSO THE AMAZING AND IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT YOU ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US AND FOR OUR GREAT CITY OF LONG BEACH. WE LOVE YOU. OH, ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO LIST, WELCOME UP DR. LEON WOOD AND PAULA WOOD TO RECEIVE THEIR HONOR. THAT'S RIGHT, KEITH, COME ON OVER. HERE COME. YEAH, LET'S OPEN THAT UP. ALRIGHT. SO I WILL SAY, FIRST OF ALL, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, RIGHT? THIS IS THE OFFICIAL KEY TO THE CITY. UH, SURE IT CAN HANG ON YOUR WALL, BUT THE INTENTION IS TO PAY IT FORWARD, PAY THIS FORWARD, UH, AND CONTINUE TO OPEN DOORS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. UH, CONTINUE TO BE GREAT ROLE MODELS. YOU STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CONTRIBUTION LEFT, UH, IN THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S NOT JUST, UH, THIS KEY TO THE CITY. EVERYBODY SHOWED UP FOR YOU. WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE SUPERVISOR SOON. UH, LET'S HOLD UP THE STACK. SHOW EVERYTHING THAT CAME IN FOR, LOOK AT ALL THOSE CERTIFICATES AND PLAQUES THAT CAME IN WHEN PEOPLE HEARD THAT THE WOODS ARE BEING RECOGNIZED. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANNA GIVE SOME COMMENTS? OH, BOY. WELL, MAYOR RICHARD, I WANNA SAY ONE THING THAT THIS HONOR THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME IS AN HONOR THAT YOU'VE ALSO GIVEN TWO SHARECROPPERS FROM BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA. AND THAT WAS MY MOTHER AND FATHER. [00:20:02] YOU HAVE REALLY GIVEN OUR FAMILY A BLESSING, AND WE BE, WE'VE THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. AND AS LONG AS I'M ABLE, I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE GREAT. AND AS LONG AS I'M ABLE, I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON BECAUSE I KNOW THAT EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING GOOD INSIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM-HMM, . I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR. I'M SO FULL OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION TONIGHT. I AM GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UM, ESPECIALLY MY FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. WE HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE. WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR ALMOST BE 40 YEARS. AND THEN MY, MY FAMILY PART OF MY CHILDREN ARE HERE AND MY BROTHER. AND IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE. UM, I DO BELIEVE I HAVE A COUPLE OF MAYBE FREEDOM SCHOOL STOOK SCHOLARS IN THE AUDIENCE AND FREEDOM SCHOOL STAFF. SO, WELCOME. I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU TO BE HERE. UH, IT IT, I JUST SAY IT'S BEEN HARD TO DECIDE ON WHEN TO KIND OF RETIRE. 'CAUSE I'VE RETIRED AND LEON HAS RETIRED BEFORE. AND IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT, IT, THE WORK IS NOT REALLY WORK. IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S A PASSION AND IT'S A LOVE FOR PEOPLE AND PARTICULARLY CHILDREN. UM, YOU LEARN SO MUCH BY WATCHING AND WORKING WITH, WITH YOUNG FOLK. AND MY STAFF ARE ALL YOUNG AND THE CALLERS WE SERVE ARE YOUNG. AND I CONTINUE TO GROW BY BEING AROUND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. AND SO WHATEVER I CAN SHARE WITH THEM TO HELP PASS ON, TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT EASIER, WE DO, WE DO THAT. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE ON OUR BEHALF FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING THIS TIME WITH US. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS LONG AS GOD LEAVES US BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK, ALL RIGHT. DON'T GO TOO FAR. 'CAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT MORE STUFF HERE. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SKIPPING BETH KEEL WITH THIS WHILE THIS DOOR PROP THIS UP. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO, UM, WHERE ARE WE? OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. UH, WE'LL NOW CONTINUE ON. LET'S TALK ABOUT SKIP AND BETH KEEL, UH, AND THEIR INCREDIBLE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD DURING THEIR LIFETIMES HERE IN LONG BEACH. I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, SKIP AND BETH HAVE MADE AN IMPACT, ALMOST AN IMMEASURABLE IMPACT ON THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UH, AND FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, THE KEELS HAVE BEEN A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF LONG BEACH'S COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR LONG BEACH TRADITIONS. I WILL TELL YOU, THEIR FOUNDATIONS HAS GIVEN, UH, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GROUPS AND CAUSES INVOLVED, UH, IN ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, HEALTH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SERVICES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND MUCH MORE. UH, SKIP HAS BEEN, UH, A DEDICATED, UH, SORT OF HISTORIAN PRESERVING OUR CITY'S HISTORY, HAVING WORKED WITH MAYORS, INCLUDING MAYOR O'NEILL AND MAYOR FOSTER AND MAYOR GARCIA AND MYSELF. UH, THEY TO JUST PRESERVE HISTORY. AND HE, IT'S NOTABLE THAT, UH, HE WORKED TO COMMEMORATE THE NAVAL BASE SHIPYARD AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT PART OF LONG BEACH'S HISTORY. TOGETHER, UH, THEY'VE MADE A REAL IMPACT ON NONPROFITS IN LONG BEACH AND ORGANIZATIONS BY OPENING THEIR DOORS. NOW, CHECK OUT THIS IMPACT. UH, OVER THE LAST 12 TO 13 YEARS, THE KEELS HAVE HOSTED ABOUT 2200 EVENTS SUPPORTING NONPROFITS. IN FACT, MANY OF THE THAT'S RIGHT. IN FACT, MANY OF THE PHOTOS THAT YOU SAW FROM SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES WERE IN THAT ROOM WITH THAT GREEN CARPET, RIGHT AT SKIP KEELS. SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT WORKS HERE IN LONG BEACH. WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND, AND, AND SKIP AND BETH REALLY EXEMPLIFY THOSE VALUES. NOW, I WILL TELL YOU, UH, ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST SKILLS IS PICKING INCREDIBLE STAFF. UH, RICHARD KELLY, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM HAVE JUST BEEN, UH, GREAT ADVOCATES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL STAY PLUGGED IN. YOU'VE GOT A GREAT GROUP OF ATTORNEYS WHO ARE ALSO VERY CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN LONG BEACH, AND YOU BOTH ARE CIVIC CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN BOARDS AND NONPROFIT NONPROFITS ACROSS THE CITY. NOW, THEY RECENTLY ANO ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE CLOSING THEIR OFFICE, RIGHT? AND SO THAT, THAT SPACE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TO, UH, THEY HOSTED THEIR, THEIR LAST EVENT RECENTLY. BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SKIP BETH. IN THEIR NEW FACILITY, THEY MADE SURE THEY HAD COMMUNITY SPACE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO TRADITION OF LIFTING UP AND SUPPORTING NONPROFITS. SO LET'S HEAR FOR THEM FOR MAINTAINING THEIR COMMITMENT, EVEN THERE, THEY'RE MOVING OUT OF THEIR FACILITY. [00:25:02] SO, UH, NO QUESTION. UH, THERE'S NO OTHER COUPLE, UH, THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED MORE, MORE TO OUR SERVICE-BASED ORGANIZATION, OUR, OUR NONPROFIT SECTOR IN LONG BEACH THAN SKIPPING BETH KEEL. NOW, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THEY ARE TRUE AMBASSADORS FOR LONG BEACH. THEY'VE REPRESENTED OUR CITY TO THE WORLD. UH, THEY HAVE WELCOMED PRESIDENTS, WORLD LEADERS, UH, SENATORS, EVEN MAYORS TO THEIR OFFICE TO HELP REPRESENT OUR CITY. UH, AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, JUST LOOK ON THEIR WALL. YOU SEE GENERATIONS OF LEADERSHIP HERE IN LONG BEACH LEARNING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. UH, AND SO THEY'RE SORT OF THE, THE WELCOME COMMITTEE, A PART OF THE WELCOME COMMITTEE, UH, TO LONG BEACH. I WILL SAY, ON A PERSONAL PERSONAL NOTE, UH, THEY HAVE NEVER CLOSED THE DOOR TO A CIVIL SERVANT. SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO OPEN, WANTS TO PURSUE PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, ASK ABOUT SERVICE. THEY, THEY ALWAYS ARE WORD OF ADVICE. IT'S POSITIVE, IT'S, IT'S CONSTRUCTIVE. UH, AND IT HELPS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND CONNECTING WITH OTHER GOOD PEOPLE. AND FOR THAT, I PERSONALLY AM GRATEFUL, UH, BECAUSE THEY'VE, THEY'VE, UH, ALWAYS TAKEN MY PHONE CALLS, UH, EVEN SINCE I WAS A 26-YEAR-OLD STAFFORD, RUNNING AROUND THE OLD CITY HALL. UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT SKIP STARTED FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. AND HE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP. WHEN ASKED THE WHY THEY SERVE, SKIP SAID, BECAUSE SOMEONE SHOULD STEP UP TO DO THESE THINGS. SO IF NOT ME, THEN WHO? RIGHT? UH, AND SO AGAIN, UH, IN THE WORDS OF LAVAR BURTON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, LET'S HEAR IT FROM THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. SKIP AND BETH KEEL ARE MY PARENTS. I HAVE TWO OLDER SISTERS, CATHERINE AND CAROLYN. I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING HAD BETTER EXAMPLES OF THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES THAN THE EXAMPLES THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY DAD. AND BETH, SKIP AND BETH ARE GAIL AND MY, UH, CLOSEST FRIENDS . THEY, THEY ARE THE MOST GENEROUS, GENEROUS PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. WHAT, UH, REALLY, UH, HAS ATTRACTED, UH, BOTH OF US TO THE TWO OF THEM IS THE FACT THEIR GENEROSITY OVERSHADOWS MOST EVERYTHING ELSE. THEY'VE DONE IT ALL BASICALLY IN LONG BEACH. THEY'VE ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THIS TOWN. THEY'VE ALWAYS HOSTED ABSOLUTELY EVERY CHARITABLE EVENT YOU CAN IMAGINE. THEY'VE HOSTED, I THINK EVERY NONPROFIT IN LONG BEACH AT THEIR OFFICES. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED EVERY NONPROFIT AT LONG BEACH. THEY, IT'S NOT JUST A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, IT'S THE YMCA, IT'S THE CAMPFIRE AND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE. THEY HAVE ALWAYS, UH, OPENED THEIR DOORS AND THEIR HEARTS AND, AND THEIR WALLETS TO, UH, TO HELP EVERY ORGANIZATION. WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT, THAT HAVE, HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO THE WHOLE NONPROFIT MEETING, THE WHOLE CITY OF LONG BEACH, SKIP . HE'S HAD WORLD LEADERS COME TO LONG BEACH, UH, TO SHOW OFF LONG BEACH IS A SHOW, WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY WE ARE, AND WHAT CITY WE ARE. AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO PART OF HIS LEGACY, IS THAT HE'S BROUGHT, UM, THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO LONG BEACH TO REALLY SEE WHAT WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE ARE PART OF THE, THE MIX OF CALIFORNIA TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. HE'S A GIFT TO THIS COMMUNITY. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT. I'VE SEEN BETH IN A LOT OF FUNCTIONS. SHE'S VERY INVOLVED. SHE'S ENGAGED, SHE'S PARTICIPATES, AND SHE'S, UM, A REALLY WARM HUMAN BEING TO EVERYONE I'VE EVER SEEN HER INTERACT WITH. THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND, UH, UH, AND THEY DON'T STEP BACK AWAY FROM THAT. AND YOU, YOU, YOU GIVE IT FORWARD. I DON'T THINK EITHER ONE OF 'EM WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY IF THEY STOPPED. THEY'RE HUMBLE IN THE ABSOLUTE HIGHEST DEGREE. I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO HAS THEIR ABILITY TO DOWNPLAY THEIR OWN WORTH IN SOMETHING AND EDIFY OTHER PEOPLE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE. IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM AFTER PUTTING YEARS OF THEIR LIVES INTO CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE INTO CARING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, RECEIVE THE KEY TO THE CITY. CONGRATULATIONS, BECAUSE YOU, YOU MORE THAN DESERVE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU DESERVE THIS AS MUCH AS ANYBODY I CAN THINK OF IN THE CITY. SKIP THE BETH, CONGRATULATIONS FROM, UH, TOKYO. [00:30:01] I WISH I COULD BE THERE WITH YOU FOR THIS GREAT HONOR. I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. CAROLYN AND KATHY ARE PROUD OF YOU, JACK AND HOPE ARE PROUD OF YOU. ALL OF THE FOLKS AT KILEY YOUNG AND LOGAN ARE PROUD OF YOU. ALL OF OUR FRIENDS IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE PROUD OF YOU. YOU ARE GREAT PEOPLE. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY DESERVING OF THIS HONOR, AND THIS IS WONDERFUL TO BE A PART OF CONGRATULATING YOU. I LOVE YOU, DAD. I LOVE YOU, BETH. ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S BRING ON UP OUR HONOREES, THE NEWEST RECIPIENTS OF THE LONG BEACH KEY TO THE CITY, SKIP AND BETH KEEL. ALRIGHT, UH, UH, AS MAYOR OF LONG BEACH, IT'S MY HONOR TO BESTOW THE KEY TO OUR FAIR CITY, UH, TO TWO INCREDIBLE BENEFACTORS OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS, UH, UH, ASSEMBLE OF CONTINUING TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR OTHERS AS YOU HAVE DONE FOR 40 YEARS. AND WE WISH THAT, UH, YOU THE BEST OF LUCK CONTINUING TO DO THIS FOR MANY MORE YEARS. CONGRATULATIONS. I CAN HOLD IT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT. DO YOU GUYS WANNA SAY ANYTHING? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WHAT A, WHAT A WONDERFUL NIGHT. I HOPE IT'S AS WONDERFUL FOR YOU AS IT IS FOR US, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, AND SPECIFICALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS CITY, THIS COMMUNITY, THE GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE REX TAKING THE REINS HERE A YEAR OR SO AGO AND MOVING RIGHT TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASS. HE'S A CLASS ACT. HE'S A NICE PERSON. HE GETS THINGS DONE. AND HE'S MY DEAR FRIEND. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO, THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE. AND I'LL JUST COMMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT ANYTHING LIKE THIS SHOULD BE FORTHCOMING TO US, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A HUNDRED OR SO PEOPLE IN OUR LAW FIRM, ALL OF WHOM JOIN IN THE SAME KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT. THEY DO IT WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE PART OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THEY WANNA DO THINGS, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THIS POINT, LESS FORTUNATE, BUT, UH, AS WE KNOW, CAN BE MADE MORE FORTUNATE WITH HARD WORK AND MAY BE A LITTLE PLACE TO HAVE A GET TOGETHER. AND I THINK THAT, UH, IF THIS HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID, WE, UH, WERE CONCERNED THAT WHEN WE LEFT, WE HAD SOLD THAT BUILDING WITH THAT WE WOULD, UH, NOT HAVE A PLACE TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR A WHILE. AND SO WE SPECIFICALLY MADE SURE THAT WE GOT NOT ONLY A, A A BIG DINING ROOM, BUT ONE THAT'S BIGGER THAN THE ONE THAT WE'RE ALL USED TO. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE EXPRESSION? GO BIG OR GO HOME. , ALL OF YOU FOLKS ARE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HONEY. DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, ? THAT WAS A YES. I, I'M HONORED. I'M GRATEFUL AND I'M SPEECHLESS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU GOT SOME PICTURES? OKAY, GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK. ALRIGHT. IF WE CAN HAVE, UH, OUR SUPERVISOR HAN, JOIN US IN BOTH GROUPS OF THE HONOREES. ACTUALLY, DON'T SIT DOWN. BRING YOUR PICK. BRING THAT UP. COME ON UP. LET'S GET BOTH GROUPS OF THE HONOREES. LET'S GET OUR SUPERVISOR UP HERE. UH, LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE WAS A LOT OF RECOGNITION, UH, FROM ACROSS THE REGION FOR THESE TWO INCREDIBLE, UH, INDIVIDUALS. OUR SUPERVISOR IS HERE TO, TO ALSO RECOGNIZE YOU. UH, WELL THANK YOU MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ONE OF THE MANY, MANY, MANY ADMIRERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE SENT THANKS TO HONOR BOTH OF YOU FOR LETTING ME BE THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY GETS TO SAY A FEW WORDS. UM, AND LET ME JUST SAY HOW APPROPRIATE IT IS, UH, MAYOR RICHARDSON, THAT YOU ARE BEGINNING THESE GIVING THE KEYS TO THE CITY RECOGNITION. BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THOSE OF US, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS IN GOVERNMENT TAKE THE TIME TO HONOR PEOPLE. AND EVEN THE BIBLE TELLS US, GIVE HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. AND WE KNOW THAT BOTH OF YOU, ALL [00:35:01] FOUR OF YOU, YOU DON'T DO THE WORK YOU DO FOR THIS HONOR. THESE HONOR PROGRAMS ARE AS MUCH FOR THE REST OF US BECAUSE WE GET TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU. AND TO PASTOR WOOD AND PAULA, THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THE LIVES THAT YOU HAVE TOUCHED, THE LIVES THAT YOU HAVE SAVED, UM, IS WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE ON EARTH. UH, WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LIVES YOU'VE TOUCHED. AND YOU'RE IMPORTANT. AND YOUR SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES IS SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM. I THINK MY OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED, UH, THAT PROGRAM. BUT, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT ALL. I KNOW I'M SAYING THAT IN THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT HERE IN LONG BEACH, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALL. WE NEED GOOD PARTNERS IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD TO REALLY FILL IN THE GAPS, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF HUMANITY SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TOKEN. I HOPE IT'S NOT BIGGER THAN THE, IT'S KIND OF BIG. I KNOW, I, I SAW THAT. I FELT KIND OF BAD. SO IT'S NOT A KEY AND THERE PROBABLY WON'T GET YOU ANYTHING. UH, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, I WANTED TO, UM, GIVE YOU THIS TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION. THE 10 MILLION RESIDENTS OF LA COUNTY. ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, THANK, AND TO, TO SKIP. AND BETH, I JUST HAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I JUST HAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. UM, LISTENING TO SO MANY OF THE ACCOLADES AND KNOWING FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH YOU TWO HAVE DONE, UH, FOR SO MANY WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS IN LONG BEACH, I HAD TO BE HERE. AND ON JUST A PERSONAL NOTE, SKIP AND BETH, YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH DEAR FRIENDS, DEAR FRIENDS OF THE HANS, FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. AND YOUR SUPPORT OF, YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER AND ME, UH, FOR OUR ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREERS HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE PARTIES YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR OFFICE FOR SO MANY GOOD CAUSES. UM, BUT IT'S THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT THE TWO OF YOU HAVE THAT SOMETIMES IS LACKING, UM, OUT THERE IN THIS WORLD TODAY. YOU ARE SO THOUGHTFUL, WHETHER IT'S A, A NOTE TO SOMEONE OR A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS THAT SUDDENLY APPEARS ON YOUR PORCH BECAUSE YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT US. I UNDERSTAND YOU SENT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS TO JEANETTE WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT SHE WORKED FOR ME. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS FOR SYMPATHY OR CONGRATULATIONS, . UM, AND, AND YOU HAVE EVEN THANKED ME FOR THANKING YOU. I, I, I, YOU KNOW, SO I'M HOPING TONIGHT AFTER I'VE ABLE TO THANK YOU AND HONOR YOU, YOU WILL NOT SEND ME A THANK YOU NOTE FOR THIS . YOU WILL NOT SEND ME A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. LET ME BE THE ONE THAT JUST GETS TO HAVE THE LAST WORD TONIGHT. THANKING YOU AND HONORING YOU ON BEHALF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S NOT THE KEY TO THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, HON. NO, I'M SORRY. . IT DOESN'T GET THIS ANYTHING. I WANNA INVITE UP OUR LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. WE WANT TO TAKE A, A, A GROUP PHOTO WITH OUR ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND OUR HONOREES. SO IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD, NOW WILL BE THE TIME FOR THAT. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE, UH, WHERE IS, UH, CONGRESSMAN GARCIA'S REPRESENTATIVE, THEY BROUGHT SOME REALLY NICE PLAQUES. COME FORWARD AND GET SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO REALLY NICE PLAQUES AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO GET YOU IN THIS RIGHT AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL PHOTO. OKAY. BARRY IS LUNCH. SHE'S HERE. SHE, SHE, OKAY. MY BROTHER. MAYOR, DO YOU WANT ME IN THIS PICTURE OR YOU WANT ME TO WAIT? UH, YOU CAN BE IN THIS PICTURE. GET IN THIS ONE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. BETWEEN THE FLAGS. ALRIGHT, LET'S GET YOU GUYS IN THE MIDDLE. [00:40:15] YEAH, LET'S KEEP IT, LET'S KEEP IT BETWEEN THE FLAGS. WHICH FLAGS THE OUTER ONES AND THE OTHER ONES. OUTER ONE. OUTER ONES. OKAY. COOL. LOVE THE HEAT ROCKS. I KNOW, RIGHT? IT MAKES IT SO EASIER. . I'M GONNA YEAH, GO RIGHT THERE. RIGHT NEXT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE FIND THE WINDOW, UH, BEHIND. RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR WIFE. YOU'RE GOOD. WE'LL WALK AROUND. JOAN. DR. JOANIE, CAN WE COME HAVE YOU COME OUT HERE THIS WAY TO THE EDGE? YEAH. THERE YOU GO. COME OVER HERE NEXT TO COUNCIL MEMBER BARGA, PLEASE. THERE YOU GO. BARELY SEE YOU. LEMME SEE IF WE CAN, SUPERVISOR. H CAN WE HAVE YOU STAND OVER HERE BEHIND, UH, MR. RONDA? YOU'RE CUT OFF. YOU'RE CUT OFF. YEAH. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE CAN SETTLE IN. I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST HAVE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS OF CONGRATULATIONS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT EVERYONE SAID, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO OPENING DOORS WITH THOSE KEYS, IT'S REALLY KEYS TO OUR HEART IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO JUST WANNA THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION TO OUR CITY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO, UH, MS. PAULA AND REVEREND WOOD. IT WAS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND MAKING FREEDOM SCHOOL MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE OF OUR STUDENTS. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO BE A READER WITH YOUR YOUNG SCHOLARS. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE YEAR. UM, AND TO SKIP AND BETH FOR CONTINUING TO BELIEVE IN GOOD PEOPLE AND UPLIFT GOOD PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND GOOD CAUSES. UM, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR, UH, THE QUIET LEADERSHIP, UH, AND SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN OVER ALL OF THE DECADES. SO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI, UH, TO, UH, PAULA AND DR. WOODS. UM, YOU BOTH ARE AN INSTITUTION, I THINK, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT PARTICULARLY IN NORTH LONG BEACH. YOU KNOW, WHEN I BECAME REALLY ACTIVE IN MY COMMUNITY OVER A DECADE AGO, YOU WERE SOME OF THE FIRST FOLKS I MET. UM, AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME, UM, OR INSPIRE ME. UM, AND I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE FLOWERS WHEN THEIR FLOWERS ARE DUE AND WHEN THEY'RE HERE WITH US. AND SO I'M JUST ELATED THAT OUR, UM, THAT OUR MAYOR CHOSE YOU ALL TO, UH, RECEIVE THE KEY TO THE CITY. UM, AND THEN TO SKIP AND BETH KEEL, UM, I THINK MY MAYOR, MY MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IT BEST, UM, AS INCLUDING YOUR FAMILY IN THE VIDEO. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE THING, WHICH WAS, UM, YOU DON'T OFTEN MEET PEOPLE WHO VALUE RELATIONSHIPS THE WAY YOU ALL DO. UM, AND NOT [00:45:01] RELATIONSHIPS FOR SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT, BUT RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE SAKE OF THEMSELVES DOING LIFE WITH PEOPLE. AND IN THAT WAY, USING YOUR PLATFORM TO SUPPORT THEM AND THE WAYS THEY NEED TO BE SUPPORTED, I THINK IS WHAT REALLY STICKS WITH ME. UM, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING. AND I THINK THAT YOU AS THE KEELS, YOU ALL DO THAT AND LIVE THAT OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY. UH, AND SO THAT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, AND LASTLY, SKIP. I HOPE THAT THE BACON IS A GOOD IN THE NEW BUILDING AS IT WAS IN THE OLD . THAT'S RIGHT. HE LIKES THAT. WELL DONE BACON COUNCILMAN AUSTIN . THAT'S FUNNY. UH, YES. I'D LIKE TO JUST, UH, THANK THE MAYOR FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING THESE TWO AMAZING COUPLES FOR THEIR, THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO OUR CITY. UM, BOTH, UH, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE MY ADORATION, MY APPRECIATION, MY RESPECT. THESE TWO COUPLES REPRESENT THE BEST OF DOWNTOWN AND THE BEST OF UPTOWN, UH, TODAY. AND I THINK THAT IT WAS JUST FITTING TO, TO, TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UH, FIRST, UH, TO, TO THE, TO THE WOODS. UH, YOU ALL, I'VE HAD THE, THE, THE STINK SIN AND, AND, UH, PRIVILEGE TO, TO WATCH AND WITNESS THE WORK FOR, UH, THE LAST, WELL, TWO DECADES IN, IN UPTOWN, UH, THE WORK AT THE LONG BEACH PRAISE CENTER, UH, RIGHT THERE ON ATLANTIC, UH, LOCATED IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, UM, THE WORK AT NORTH, UH, NORTH POINT THROUGH SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES, UM, WORKING WITH, UH, THE YOUTH IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. UH, MY DISTRICT HAS BENEFITED FROM YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SERVICE, UH, YOUR PASSION, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, I THINK MORE SO THAN ANY OF, UH, ANYONE IN THE CITY. AND SO I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A PARTNERSHIP, UM, AND, AND, AND A AND AN AWESOME THING TO WITNESS IN, IN TERMS OF YOUR CONSISTENCY, YOUR PASSION AND, AND, UH, THE INDELIBLE IMPRESSION AND IMPACT THAT YOU ARE HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND PLEASE KEEP IT UP. WE'LL, KEEP CARRYING THE TORCH, UH, TO SKIP. AND BETH, UM, YOU ALL, UH, ARE, ARE, ARE QUIET INFLUENCERS IN OUR CITY. I JOKED WITH SKIP MANY YEARS AGO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE REMEMBERED THIS. I SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM, WHEN, WHEN YOU GET INVOLVED IN, IN CIVIC LIFE, YOU, YOU GET TO UNDERSTAND WHO, WHO THE, WHO THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE CITY WHO ARE MAKING, MAKING A DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? AND IT WAS ALWAYS SAID, I SAID, I GO TO SKIP'S OFFICE, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS, THIS IS THE OTHER PLACE OF POWER, RIGHT? AND, AND I SAY POWER RESPECTFULLY. UM, BECAUSE HE DOES WIELD POWER. HE DOES HAVE INFLUENCE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. UM, AND, AND I SAID, THIS IS, THIS IS ALMOST LIKE THE REAL LIFE WIZARD OF OZ . YOU KNOW, YOU PULL BACK THE CURTAIN AND YOU MEET SKIP AND, AND SKIP'S JUST A GREAT GUY. UH, AND BETH IS EVEN BETTER, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE'S, YOU CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY HE'S SO KIND AND, AND COMPASSIONATE AND, AND, AND WHAT, WHAT DRIVES HIM AND MOTORS HIM IS HIS, HIS BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL WIFE. UM, AND WE, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME THINGS IN COMMON. YOU KNOW, WE, WE LIKE TO, TO DRINK, FIND DRINKS AND , UH, AND, AND, AND DRESS. UM, HE'S A, HE'S AN IMPECCABLE DRESSER. UH, SKIP, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER COUPLE, UH, BETH, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER COUPLE TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH THE KEY TO THE CITY. UH, NOT LIKE YOU DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE IT, BUT IT'S OFFICIAL TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU CONTINUE TO DO. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TWO POWER COUPLES. MM-HMM, , TWO POWER COUPLES THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR OVER 40 YEARS. MY WIFE FIRST MET, UH, THE REVEREND BACK AT UCLA BACK IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES, SO THAT IS LIKE GO CLOSE TO 50 YEARS FOR HER AS LIKE A FATHER. HE SAW ME WITH HER AND HE WENT LIKE, WHO ARE YOU ? I LOOKED ME UP AND DOWN. THEN HE SAID, OKAY, YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU ALL RIGHT? SO I WANNA THANK YOU, REVEREND, FOR YOUR BLESSING TO ALLOW ME TO BE WITH MY WIFE AND PAUL. PAUL, YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE. UH, I'VE, I'VE, UH, PARTICIPATED IN THE FREEDOM SCHOOL AS A READER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND YOU, THE WORK YOU DO WITH KIDS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. UH, I KNOW SOME THOSE KIDS AND NOW GROWN UP TO BE GREAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS COMMUNITY. SKIP AND BETH, WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT YOU TWO? YOU TWO ARE LIKE ICONS FOR LONG BEACH. YOU STAND OUT, YOU AS A POWER COUPLE, YOU HOW TO GET THINGS DONE. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEW FACILITY, BY THE WAY. [00:50:01] AND ESPECIALLY AT GRAND PRIX, AS ALWAYS, YOU GET THE BEST PARTIES AROUND, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO DO AFTER MANY YEARS, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR SPILLING A GLASS OF WINE ONTO YOUR SALMON, MISTAKENLY PUT THE GLASS ON AND SPILLED, AND I RUINED THE SALMON FOR THE REST OF MY, FOR EVERYBODY. BUT THE GYM THAT YOU ARE, YOU SAID, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. WE'LL CLEAN IT UP AND MOVE ON. SO, SKIP AND BETH, LEON, EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. I HAVE ISSUES MYSELF, MY OWN CHALLENGES, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN I SEE YOU TWO, YOU'RE FOUR, YOU TWO COUPLES, YOU'RE FOUR , IT'S, UH, IT'S UPLIFTING TO SEE THAT YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT AND THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING A WONDERFUL RECOGNITION AS A KEY TO THE CITY. PAUL LEON, HERE I GO AGAIN. , UH, SKIP AND BETH, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UH, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'D LIKE ALSO JUST LIKE TO THANK MAYOR RICHARDSON FOR THESE GREAT CHOICES. AND IT'S JUST A, A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE THESE GREAT COUPLES. UM, REVEREND WOOD AND I, UH, ORIGINALLY MET, I THINK IN 2006 WHEN WE WERE AFFILIATED WITH A GROUP CALLED RETHINKING GREATER LONG BEACH. I DIDN'T THINK OF THE TIMEFRAME UNTIL TODAY, BUT THAT WAS, UM, LIKE 16 TO 18 YEARS AGO. AND IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE TO THINK THAT YOU WERE WORKING SO HARD SO FAR BEFORE THEN . AND, UM, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR LONG BEACH AND TO SKIP. AND BETH, UM, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT YOU, UH, THAT SKIP GOT THIS, UM, THIS AWARD THE SAME YEAR FLUFFY DID, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH CONSUMMATE LONG BEACH STORYTELLERS. AND, UH, I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T GET TO HEAR SOME TONIGHT, BUT, UH, SKIP, THAT'S ONE OF YOUR MANY, MANY TALENTS. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY I WAS VERY PROUD TO HAVE MY PICTURE IN THIS SLIDE SHOW, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, AND I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THAT PHOTO HANGS IN YOUR, UH, OFFICES, OR IT DID. SO MY GREATEST WISH IS THAT THAT PHOTO MAKES IT TO THE NEW BUILDING. THANK YOU, . ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA, THAT, UM, WHAT GREAT CHOICES MAYOR, UH, IN PRESENTING THE KEY TO THE CITY, TO THE WOODS. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE, THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE POURED INTO LONG BEACH AND TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND BEYOND ALL THE LIVES THAT YOU HAVE IMPACTED AND CHANGED FOR THE BETTER AND THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE OPEN FOR SO MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE, UM, AND THROUGHOUT THE DECADES. SO JUST AN HONOR, IT IS TODAY TO HONOR YOU. UM, BETH AND SKIP, OH, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOU TOO. UM, UH, YOU ARE JUST SUCH GREAT PEOPLE. YOU WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE AND WHAT DRIVES YOU IS YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR LOVE FOR MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I KNOW THAT SKIP AND I, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, A COMMON FRIEND IN MINE. I MEAN, WE HAVE A COMMON FRIEND, UNCLE BOB, WHO WAS JUST THE SWEETEST MAN I HAD EVER SEEN. VERY EFFICIENT, VERY PRODUCTIVE, VERY PHILANTHROPIST. AND WHEN I MET YOU AFTER MEETING HIM, I WAS LIKE, IS THIS HIS TWIN ? AND, UM, YOU HAVE JUST STOLEN MY HEART AND THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, THE HEART OF LONG BEACH, BOTH YOU AND BETH. LIKE I, IT'S JUST REINVIGORATING SEEING YOU TOGETHER. UM, AND JUST BEING SO, SO GIVING OF YOURSELVES ON TOP OF BEING A REALLY GREAT FIRM, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE NATION. LIKE YOU'RE VERY EFFICIENT. AND, UM, AND I'M JUST SO VERY PROUD. AND SO TONIGHT, I WANNA WISH ALL FOUR OF YOU THE BEST NIGHT EVER AND MANY, MANY, MANY MORE, UM, NIGHTS LIKE THIS. BUT TONIGHT IS YOUR NIGHT. AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU APPRECIATED AND, AND KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE LOVED. AND I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THE LOVE, BECAUSE ALL THIS ROOM IS, I CAN FEEL IT. SO I FEEL THE THE VIBE IN THIS ROOM. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. SO VERY PROUD OF BOTH COUPLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. WELL, UM, [00:55:01] I'M JUST SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS CELEBRATION FOR YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR CHOOSING THESE GREAT COUPLES, UM, WHO REPRESENT LONG BEACH, UH, DR. REVEREND AND MRS. WOODS. I DON'T KNOW YOU WELL, BUT I DO WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU. I'VE HEARD WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND CONGRATULATIONS, WELL DESERVED. AND MR. AND MRS. KIESEL, AMAZING COMMUNITY WORK, FUN, LAUGHTER, AND PROVIDING SO MUCH TO OUR NONPROFITS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK TO, TO BOTH COUPLES. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT BIG STACK OF PLAQUES, UH, WERE SUBMITTED BY ALL THE NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE GIBSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWENTHAL, SENATOR GONZALEZ, CONGRESSWOMAN BARRAGAN, AND CONGRESSMAN GARCIA. SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT MORE STUFF, UH, MORE HARDWARE FOR YOU WALLS. CONGRATULATIONS. THAT CONCLUDES, UH, THE CEREMONY FOR THE KEY TO THE CITY. AND WE'LL NOW COMMENCE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. UH, LET'S START WITH THE REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE. THERE'S NOTHING TO REPORT OUT. THANK YOU. GREAT. ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW TAKE UP THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE. ITEMS ONE THROUGH 48, AND NOW WOULD BE THE TIME IF ANYBODY IS GONNA BE EXCUSED FROM THAT CEREMONY, JUST FEEL FREE TO LEAVE QUIETLY WHILE WE HANDLE SOME, HANDLE THIS CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS. ALRIGHT, CONSENT, WE HAVE A, WE, WE NEED A MOTION AND [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 48.)] A SECOND ON CONSENT POINT. I PULLED 29 AND 30. I DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT WE'LL, SO, UH, CONSENT CALENDAR MINUS 29 AND 30. UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT SAYING NONE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE UP 29. ITEM 29 IS A REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THE LOCAL EMERGENCY REGARDING AN OUTBREAK OF TUBERCULOSIS CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT, UH, DO WE HAVE A BRIEF, UH, UPDATE? THIS IS JUST CONTINUING. [29. 24-54038 Recommendation to continue the local emergency regarding an outbreak of Tuberculosis (TB) pursuant to Section 2.69.060 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UM, LET'S, LET'S HEAR FROM, UH, OUR HEALTH HEALTH OFFICER. YES, WE HAVE, UH, DR. NEA DAVIS HERE FOR A BRIEF UPDATE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE. UM, SO JUST A BRIEF UPDATE. UM, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY CONTINUES AND, UM, WE ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS. SO, UM, WE HAVE EVALUATED 84 INDIVIDUALS FULLY EVALUATED, WHICH IS A, A MULTI-STEP PROCESS AND NUMEROUS THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN. AND SO IT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH, THROUGH, UM, A BLOOD TEST, A CHEST X-RAY, A SYMPTOM SCREEN, AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS WITH HAVE A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT WE ALSO NEED TO OVERCOME. SO HELPING WITH TRANSPORTATION AND INCENTIVES AND FOOD AND HOUSING AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. UM, SINCE NOVEMBER WE HAVE A DIAGNOSED, UM, 16 ACTIVE CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS DISEASE. AND THAT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN TO THOSE FOLKS EARLY. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM ON TREATMENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND THEN ALSO HELP THEM, UM, WITH THINGS LIKE HOUSING AND FOOD AND WHAT HAVE YOU. WE'VE ALSO DIAGNOSED 20 PEOPLE WITH LATENT TB INFECTION, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS AND THEIR DISEASE IS NOT ACTIVE, IT'S JUST DORMANT. AND, UH, THAT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT THEM FOR A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THEN THAT WOULD PREVENT THEIR TRANSMISSION FROM, UH, PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ON TO HAVE ACTIVE TB DISEASE. SO, UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY A TESTAMENT TO ALL OF OUR, UH, STAFF WHO ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY. UM, MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN REASSIGNED OR THEY HAVE THIS ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE USUALLY DOING. UM, AND WE ARE REALLY WORKING TOGETHER, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL HANDS ON DECK TO, UH, HELP WITH THIS, THIS OUTBREAK, UH, THE OUTBREAK REMAINS CONTAINED, SO IT'S IN THE SAME, UH, POPULATION CONCERN, UH, THAT IT HAS BEEN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, UH, I PULLED THIS FROM CONSENT. THANK YOU DR. DAVIS FOR THAT UPDATE. I PULLED THIS FROM CONSENT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW YOU'RE SHORT STAFFED IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO CONTAIN THIS. AND WE'RE IN EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF [01:00:01] THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, HEAR A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT, AND, UM, I KNOW, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MORAR, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I SUPPORT THE ITEM. ALRIGHT, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 30 REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION WITH HEALTHY OR HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES FOR CONDUCTING A FUNDING STUDY OF THE LONG BEACH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF 140,500. [30. 24-54037 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents, including any necessary subsequent subcontracts or amendments, with Health Management Associates, Inc., of Lansing, MI, for conducting a funding study of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, in the amount of $140,500; authorize a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $14,050, for a total amount not to exceed $154,550, for a period of six months, with the option to renew for one additional six-month period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Department of Health and Human Services by $54,550. (Citywide)  Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Health and Human Services; Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AUTHORIZE A 10% CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 154,550 FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR ONE ADDITIONAL SIX MONTH PERIOD. CITYWIDE BRIEF STAFF REPORT. YES, WE HAVE, UM, AN ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE BUREAU MANAGER URISA MOJICA HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS UNDERTAKING A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH FUND STUDY TO ASSESS AND OPTIMIZE THE DEPARTMENT'S SERVICES AND FUNDING UTILIZATION. THE STUDY WILL CRITICALLY REVIEW THE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR GRANTS AND MAXIMIZATION OF HEALTH FUND GROUP RESOURCES BEFORE SEEKING GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIES. THE STUDY WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT SERVICES, UTILIZATION OF THE HEALTH FUND GROUP IN ALIGNMENT WITH ACCREDITED PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS, CITY STRATEGIC GOALS AND BENCHMARKS FROM PEER AGENCIES. THIS INCLUDES A REVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED, FUNDING SOURCES, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD STANDARDS AND STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH COMP COMPETENCIES. A KEY COMPONENT OF THE STUDY IS TO ANALYZE WHETHER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAXIMIZES GRANTS AND STATE REALIGNMENT FUNDING BEFORE TAPPING INTO GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIES. THIS WILL INVOLVE SCRUTINIZING CURRENT DECISION MAKING PRACTICES, INCLUDING THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF GRANTS, AND ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL UNFUNDED IMPACTS OF THE HEALTH OPERATING DUE TO GENERAL, OR THE GENERAL FUND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE FOR BEST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, ENCOMPASSING REVENUE SOURCES, RESERVE LEVELS, OVERHEAD ALLOCATION, STAFFING, AND OTHER FINANCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE HEALTH FUND GROUP. THE STUDY DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT WITH ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION AND PRESENTATION FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE STUDY IS TO BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY, 2025 WITH REGULAR PROGRESS UPDATES. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT KEY CONTACTS AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WILL LEAD THIS PROJECT AND THE DEPARTMENT, UM, CANNOT BE SUSTAINED ENTIRELY FROM GRANT FUNDS AND SEEK TO IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL RESOURCE MIX TO ENSURE THAT ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE EFFECTIVELY UTILIZED TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH NEEDS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH ISSA FOR, FOR THAT OVERVIEW. I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT, LEARNING ABOUT. UM, AND BECAUSE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S BEEN IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY ALMOST SINCE THE DAY I WAS, UH, IN OFFICE, I WANTED, I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE, AND I WANT, I WANT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET BACK IN THE RHYTHM, UM, UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR KING BY SEEING THIS AND MOVING FORWARD WITH PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SEE WHAT PROGRAMMING AND WHAT FUNDING IS BEING USED IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND, UM, THE FACT THAT IT'S, IT'S BEEN AS YEARS HAVE PROGRESSED, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A MORE OF A NEED FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO RELY ON GENERAL FUNDS. SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT WAY TO GET A REPORT BACK. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND THANK YOU AGAIN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 49, COMMUNICATION FOR MAYOR RICHARDSON. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS FOR NON-CHARTER COMMISSIONS. [49. 24-54151 Recommendation to receive and approve Commission appointments and reappointments for Non-Charter Commissions.       Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, UH, I, UH, HAVE A NEW COHORT OF CITY COMMISSIONERS THAT WE'RE GONNA APPOINT TODAY. UH, IN THIS, UH, COHORT, YOU HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATION ALL ACROSS OUR CITY, ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, VERY DIVERSE. UH, THEY REPRESENT SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST, MOST DEDICATED, CAPABLE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND FUTURE PUBLIC SERVICES, OUR CITY. UH, AND SO WE ALSO ARE DOING, WE HAVE MORE THAN 50 RETURNING COMMISSIONERS, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA READ ALL 50 RETURNERS, RETURNERS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YOU GOT REAPPOINTED, THE 23. WE WILL INTRODUCE TO THE CITY. SOME OF 'EM ARE NEW, UH, SO, UH, I'LL JUST READ THROUGH AND INTRODUCE SOME OF THEM. BOARD OF EXAMINERS APPEALS AND CONDEMNATION COMMISSION. AARON HOOPS, [01:05:01] UH, UH, IS, UH, DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT BS IN ENGINEERING APPLIED SCIENCES, MA IN NEUROSCIENCE. UH, CURRENTLY A SOFTWARE ENGINEER FOR A NONPROFIT, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE'S A SAFE STREETS ENTHUSIAST. UH, AND THIS COMMISSION DEALS WITH PEOPLE HAVE CHALLENGES WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF OUR STREETS AND, AND SOME OF THE, THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH OUR CITY PROCESSES. AND SO WE THINK THAT SHE'S A GOOD FIT ON THE BELMONT SHORE PARKING AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA ADVISORY COMMISSION. DEBORAH CASTRO, DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER, UH, THIS COMMISSION PLACES IS REALLY CENTERED IN THE BELMONT SHORE AREA. SO, UH, THIS, UH, BRINGS SOME REPRESENTATION OF A, A BUSINESS OWNER TO THAT, UH, COMMISSION. SHE'S CURRENTLY THE CEO OF CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS, AND SHE IS HAS A BUSINESS AND A MPP AND LED TO MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF MARKETING MEDIA AND ADVERTISING EXPERIENCE. AND SO WE CERTAINLY, UH, WELCOME HER LEADERSHIP. SHE SERVES AS VICE CHAIR OF THE RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS FOUNDATION. UH, AND SO SHE BRINGS, UH, UH, EXPERIENCE AS A BOARD MEMBER AND A LEADER. WE ALSO HAVE ON THE SAME COMMISSION, DAVID LINK IN THE RESIDENT AT LARGE POSITION. AND THIS IS A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT WITH A BA IN ENGINEERING THEATER, UH, A MASTER'S IN ENGLISH AND A JURIS DOCTOR THAT LED TO NEARLY 30 YEARS OF GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND, UH, NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. AND DAVID'S A RETIRED ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZE IN GOVERNMENT WORK, AND SO WE'RE PROUD TO APPOINT HIM TO THIS COMMISSION. NEXT IS THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION. WE HAVE ONE NEW COMMISSIONER, JACQUELINE PADILLA PEREZ. UH, WELCOME JACQUELINE, A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT WITH A BA IN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND A MASTER'S IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION THAT HAS LED HER TO NEARLY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN. AND SHE'S CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF HISTORIA CONSULTING, A LONG BEACH BASED FIRM. UH, SO SHE'S AN EXPERT ON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION JOINING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION. WELCOME NEXT IS THE CLIMATE RESILIENT, CLIMATE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CITY COMMISSION. UH, WE'RE WELCOMING CLAYTON HERD. MANY OF US KNOW CLAYTON. HE'S A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT WITH A BS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLICY AND THE NM PA THAT'S LED TO MANY YEARS IN LOCAL POLICY SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL, TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY HOUSING, UH, AND BROADBAND, A ACCESS. AND HE'S CURRENTLY A SENIOR FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION. NEXT IS PETE MARSH, DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, UH, WITH A BS AND MARINE SCIENCE MS AND TELECOM SYSTEM MANAGEMENT. 25 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER IN THE US COAST, COAST GUARD, 10 YEARS IN DEFENSE CONTRACTING, CURRENTLY THE CEO OF VECTOR GREEN POWER. UH, HIS WORK IS CENTERED ON GLOBAL WARMING, LEADING HIM TO EARN HIS CALIFORNIA SOLAR CONTRACTS LICENSE AND BECOME FOUNDER OF, OF VECTOR GREEN POWER. AND SO HE'S CERTAINLY AN ADVOCATE FOR GREEN, GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND ON BOARD WITH THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF LONG BEACH. UH, NEXT IS YVETTE ELLIS. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YVETTE. YVETTE, UH, IS A, THAT'S RIGHT. WHERE'S YVETTE? THERE SHE IS. SHE'S, THAT'S A UPTOWN RESIDENT RIGHT THERE. UM, YVETTE IS A DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT WHO'S A ALUMNI OF THE HISTORIC OF, OF THE PRESTIGIOUS HARVARD BUSINESS BUSINESS SCHOOL PROGRAM OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SHE IS A STARTUP MINDED TECH ENTREPRENEUR. THE CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER AT CHARGER HELP INC. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COMPANY. PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP IS IN LONG BEACH. UH, AND THIS IS A PIONEERING COMPANY RECOGNIZES OF ONE OF, AS ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S, AMERICA'S TOP GREEN TECH COMPANIES, AND 2024. AND, UH, AND YVETTE IS THE FOUNDER AND LIVES IN BIGBY KNOWLES. AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE OUR CITY. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, DR. ERICA JACQUES. UH, I, SORRY IF I SAID THAT WRONG, BUT ERICA IS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT WITH A BA IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND NPA IN POLITICAL MANAGEMENT AND DOCTORATE IN IN POLICY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT LED TO 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN VARIOUS ROLES OF ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, LA COUNTY, AND CITY AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPOINTEE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR VERIZON, AND IS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT USCS, UH, SOLE PRICE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. CERTAINLY WELCOME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. WE WELCOME YOUR EXPERTISE ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. WE HAVE SOME NEW COMMISSIONERS, JOSHUA DE LEON IN DISTRICT ONE, JOSHUA. ALL RIGHT, WELCOME. JOSHUA'S A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT WITH A BA IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, UH, MA IN MODERN FAULT IN LITERATURE. HE'S CURRENTLY A SENIOR CONSULTANT, DEIB AT PEOPLE. HIS WORK, HIS PREVIOUS WORK INCLUDES, INCLUDES HELP, UH, HOSTING FREE HEALTH CLINICS IN HISTORIC FILIPINO TOWN, UH, ORGANIZING WORKERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS AND COLLABORATING ON MUTUAL AID PROGRAMS FOR MIGRANT AND ELDERLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19, UH, PANDEMIC, HE SERVES ON NOR NUMEROUS BOARDS AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING NONPROFIT RISING ORGANIZER. WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION. NEXT IS NOLAN ROSS, SAM WHEEL FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT. NOLAN [01:10:01] WELCOME. NOLAN, UH, IS THE DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT WITH THE MA IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, WITH MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ADDICTION, MEDICINE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. UH, HE CURRENT IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT LA UH, LOS ANGELES CENTERS FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE. UH, HIS PREVIOUS WORK INCLUDES SERVING ON VARIOUS NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CALIFORNIA FAMILIES AND FOCUS, IMPERIAL COURT OF LONG BEACH, GAY FOR GOOD, THE L-G-B-T-Q CENTER OF LONG BEACH, SOUTH COR, SOUTH COAST CORAL, UH, UH, AIDS FOOD STORE AND ATLANTIC ALANO CLUB, AND SO WE CERTAINLY WELCOME NOLAN TO THE COMMISSION. NEXT IN DISTRICT FOUR IS BONITA SHAW MALONE. BONITA IS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT WITH A BA IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I MEAN IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY AND MA IN COUNSELING, PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION. UH, SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER OF JOHN SWEAT SCHOOL DISTRICT. WELCOME BONITA TO THE COMMISSION AND REPRESENT THE REPRESENTING THE NINTH DISTRICT, NUBIA FLORES NUBIA, UH, IS A NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENT WITH A BA IN POLITIC, BA IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES, MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNICATIONS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. SHE'S CURRENTLY THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT LONG BEACH FORWARD. HER, HER PREVIOUS WORK INCLUDES PARENT ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN SCHOOLS. UH, AND I WILL TELL YOU, SHE IS CERTAINLY A GREAT BOARD MEMBER COMMISSIONER. SHE HAS PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER AND HELPING SUPPORT, UH, UH, KCO HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO WE WELCOME YOUR EXPERTISE AT THIS COMMISSION. NEXT IS JAY NYLA MCNEIL. UH, THIS, UH, UH, JAY NYLA IS A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, BA IN PSYCHOLOGY AND PHD IN LIBERAL AND LIBERATION PSYCHOLOGY AND SELF-STUDY WITH 13 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO EDUCATION, UH, TO EDUCATING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, MEDIA LITERACY AND EQUITY IN SCHOOLS. UH, THEY ARE CURRENTLY A PROFESSIONAL POLYMATH, A CONSULTANT AND BUSINESS OWNER WHO'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CASTILLO CONSULTING PARTNERS ON SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES. AND, AND WE MET JAY NYLA AS A PART OF, UH, OUR YOUTH ADVISORY, UH, COUNCIL HERE IN LONG BEACH. NEXT IS HOMELESS SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE ARE, UH, ANOTHER WOOD IS STEPPING UP, UH, TO LEAD TODAY. SO WE, WE HEARD FROM TWO WOODS AND WE'RE GONNA, WE GOT ANOTHER WOOD HERE. STEPHEN WOOD, UH, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT, UH, WITH A BA IN THEATER, MA IN TEACHER EDUCATION. MANY YEARS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. UH, CURRENTLY AN ADMINISTRATOR AT SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES. UH, AND HE IS, UH, HE SERVES YOUTH, ADULTS AND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS DRUG ADDICTION, PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS BY NAVIGATING INCOMING CLIENTS AND DESIGNING GOAL ORIENTED PLANS TO MOVE, UH, TO IMPROVE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE. WE WELCOME STEVEN WOOD TO THE HOMELESS ADVISORY COMMISSION AND DISTRICT SIX, ANGELA RUSSELL, UH, BS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 15 YEARS OF VETERANS, HOMELESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, UH, EXPERIENCE, AND A PROUD ARMY VETERAN WHO WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1982. UH, CERTAINLY. WELCOME, UH, WELCOME TO OUR, TO THE COMMISSION AND THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT COMPANY, AN IMPORTANT BOARD HERE. WE HAVE ONE NEW COMMISSIONER, RUBEN MINHA, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT. RUBEN IS A DISTRICT. THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN CLAP FOR RUBEN. MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION. HE'S A MARINE CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT AT A, AT MARINE CO AT AMERICAN MARINE CORPORATION. UH, HIS PREVIOUS WORK INCLUDES BEING APPRENTICE IN THE CARPENTERS UNION FOR, TO A PROJECT SUPERINTENDENT. UH, HE CURRENTLY WORKS IN THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH, REPAIRING OLD INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDING NEW ADDITIONS. SO CERTAINLY WELCOME RUBEN. UH, WE, WE, WE LOVE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. NEXT ON PACIFIC GATEWAY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, THERE'S ONE. THERE'S KAREN KUO, DISTRICT FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENT, UH, BS IN ECONOMICS MANAGEMENT CURRENTLY AT VAST SPACE. SO WELCOME VAST SPACE HAS BEEN A BIG, UH, NEW PLAYER TO THE, TO THE SCENE AND HIRING LOTS OF PEOPLE AND HELPING IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY. AND SO WE CERTAINLY WANNA WELCOME, UH, KAREN. SHE'S TAKEN ON NUMEROUS, UH, PEOPLE, EXECUTIVE ROLES AT RELATIVITY SPACE ON ANNIKA, UH, GRINDR, AND A PRE AND A PREVIOUS STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING EXPERIENCE WITH DELOITTE, SAMSUNG, AND LUMINARY LABS. AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, WELCOME TO LONG BEACH ON THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMMISSION. ASHER BACA. ASHER IS A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT WITH A BA IN ENGLISH, AND MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN EDUCATION, UH, WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY, IT OPERATIONS AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. AND CURRENTLY THE HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AT SYNC SOLUTIONS. WELCOME TO THE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COMMISSION. NEXT IS WILLIAM PATTERSON, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, UH, WITH A BA IN COMMU COMPUTER SCIENCE MPA IN GOVERNMENT AND POLICY AND DOCTORATE IN, UH, COMMUNITIES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CYBERSECURITY. IMPORTANT ISSUE LEADING TO MORE THAN 27 YEARS OF CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORK EXPERIENCE. SO CERTAINLY WELCOME. UH, HE'S CURRENTLY THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER AT THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. NEXT ON THE MEASURE A TRANSACTIONS AND [01:15:01] USE, UH, CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION. WE WELCOME DAVID OCHOA, DISTRICT FOUR, RESIDENT BA IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, MA IN POLITICAL IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, 10 YEARS OF HISTORY, 10 YEARS OF RESEARCH, OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. CURRENTLY A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR STATE SENATOR TOM BERG. WELCOME ON THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION. JAMES SHOTTER, DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT, UH, WITH AN AS AND HORTICULTURE, A BA IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. CURRENTLY A SQUAD LEADER AT BATTLESHIP, IOWA FOR LA COUNTY VETERAN PEER ACCESS NETWORK. UH, HE SUPERVISES AND LEAD VETERAN AND MIL AND MILITARY FAMILIES, UH, CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AS THEY ASSIST THE VETERAN COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH BAY. WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION. NEXT ON THE VETERANS COMMISSION IS ANTOINETTE, UH, ATKINS BLADE IN DISTRICT SIX. UH, A BA IN MANAGERIAL SCIENCE, A DEDICATED US NAVY VETERAN, HAVING SERVED ON AN ACTIVE DUTY FROM 2003 TO 2008. SHE'S CURRENTLY A RATINGS VETERAN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS. UH, AND IN THE COMMUNITY SHE VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT UNHOUSED, THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, AND COLLABORATES WITH THE LONG BEACH OFFICE OF VETERAN SUPPORT. CERTAINLY, WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION AND NICK CERAMIC. NICHOLAS CERAMIC FROM DISTRICT SEVEN IS A, NICK IS A DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT, UH, BS AND MA AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING THAT'S LED TO MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, MILITARY SATELLITE SYSTEMS, UH, AND AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS. HE'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE AMERICAN GOLD STAR MANNER AS CHAIR AND A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION THAT HAS SUPPORTED NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING VETERANS, UH, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME NICK, UH, BACK TO CITY SERVICE. UH, HE'S A VERY EXPERIENCED, UH, CITY COMMISSIONER THAT THOSE ARE THE NEW APPOINTEES, AND AGAIN, THEY'RE ABOUT 50 REAPPOINTMENTS. WE DO THIS PROBABLY EVERY SIX MONTHS, UH, BUT WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE APPOINTEES. WE WILL NOW. UH, WE HAVE. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE, LET'S TAKE, UH, COUNCIL COMMENTS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. YES, MANY CURRENT AND PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS STARTED IN PUBLIC SERVICE ON A COMMISSION, SO I WANNA WANNA WELCOME YOU TO YOUR NEW POSITIONS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES. UH, THANK YOU FOR STAYING, SAYING YES AND STEPPING UP TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. UH, FOR SOME OF YOU WHO ARE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, THIS IS ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CONTINUE, UH, TO SUPPORT, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GOOD POLICY WORK IN THE CITY. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD FOR, UM, DISTRICT FIVE APPOINTEES, NEW APPOINTEES, AND REAPPOINTMENTS, ESPECIALLY TO YVETTE AND WILLIAM, WELCOME. UM, THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING INTEREST IN FINDING ME THAT DAY AT RELATIVITY TO SAY THIS WAS SOMETHING YOU WERE INTERESTED IN. UH, APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WHO CONTINUE, UH, TO WANT TO SERVE TOGETHER WITH US FOR OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW AND REAPPOINTED, UH, COMMISSIONER, I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK ANTOINETTE, UH, ATKIN BLADE AND AS WELL AS, UH, ANGELA RUSSELL FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE. UM, I KNOW YOU'RE BOTH SO EXCITED TO GET BACK AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, MAKING SURE TO, UM, REACH OUT AND GET INVOLVED AS WE'VE HAD ONGOING DISCUSSIONS IN WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIES TOGETHER. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ETHEL POWERS AND CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON FOR THEIR REAPPOINTMENT. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR STEPPING UP AND SERVING. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE THAT WERE MENTIONED, THAT WERE APPOINTED AND REAPPOINTED, ESPECIALLY TO JOSHUA FROM DISTRICT ONE. SO, VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WELCOME ALL TO THE CITY FAMILY, BUT I AM JUST SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR FA CITY FAMILY. UM, IT'S YOUR, YOUR COMMITMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, UM, TOWARDS THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY OF LONG BEACH IS COMMENDED. UM, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND DEMOCRACY NEEDS YOU TO SERVE, TO SURVIVE, CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS YOUR MISSION. A SPECIAL, UH, THANKS AGAIN TO OUR CITY DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE IN THESE POSITIONS. AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RGA SAID A LOT OF US UP HERE ON COUNCIL, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED IN OUR, IN COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY. AND THAT JUST PROVES YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY, UM, NOT ONLY, UM, IS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT ALSO, UM, IS A PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, TO BETTER THE COMMUNITY. SO I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE GONNA DO TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UM, I'M JUST GONNA ECHO WHAT ALL MY, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAID, WHICH IS CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO GIVE OF YOUR TIME, UM, AND TALENTS, UM, [01:20:01] IN SUPPORT OF OUR CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING, UH, THE MOST INFORMED DECISIONS WE POSSIBLY CAN. UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, NUBIA FLORES FOR HER APPOINTMENT ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. UH, SHE'S NOT ONLY A NINTH DISTRICT RESIDENT, BUT SHE LIVES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DE FORESTS PARK. WOO WHOOP, UH, DE FORESTS PARK. PEOPLE GOTTA STICK TOGETHER. SO CONGRATULATIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT WORK, UM, ON THAT COMMISSION. UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THOSE GETTING REAPPOINTED, INCLUDING JEREMY HILL, UH, HILDALE GDO AND SABRINA SANDERS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS, DARRYL SUP, COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. AS SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON A COMMISSION FOR SEVEN YEARS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT YOU'RE MAKING. UM, ALSO I'M VERY PROUD THAT, UH, FOURTH DISTRICT IS, UH, REPRESENTED BY SO MANY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, WE HAVE LOS ALTOS, UH, ART CRAFT MANOR X 100 AND, UH, I'LL SAY PARK ESTATE'S ADJACENT. AND, UM, LA MARINA. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THE TWO REAPPOINTMENTS THAT IS, UH, KATIE LARSON, THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION, AND BRUCE DD MCCRAY FOR THE, UM, MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THE VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE DOZENS, TENS OF DOZENS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE DERIVING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING TO US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANNA THANK THE NEW APPOINTEES AND PARTICULARLY, UM, DAVID LINK AND DEBORAH CASTRO FOR BEING ON THE PARKING COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. ALRIGHT, AND COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? YES, I'D LIKE TO JUST JOIN IN THE CONGRATULATIONS, UH, AND THANK YOU AN APPRECIATION TO THE NEW APPOINTEES AND THOSE WHO ARE BEING REAPPOINTED. UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR SHARING YOUR TIME, YOUR KNOWLEDGE, YOUR PERSPECTIVES, UM, TO THE COMMISSIONS THAT YOU WILL BE SERVING ON. AND, UH, YES, WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STEPPING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, WELL CONGRAT, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE APPOINTEES AND REAPP APPOINTEES. WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 21 PEOPLE, 22 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT DOWN TO 90 SECONDS ON PUBLIC COMMENT, LOTS OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WELCOME. WE WELCOME IT. UH, UH, THE FIRST THREE SPEAKERS, BLAIR TUCKMAN, SHANNON PASCH AND PALESTINE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. NO, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE YOU VOTE. YEAH. OKAY. AND AFTER PALESTINE IS RICK, THEN AMIR, THEN MOHAM MINCY IMAM TAR MUHAMMAD, SCOTT V. ROY HERRERA AND PALESTINE AGAIN. ALRIGHT, BLAIR? YES. THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BLAIR TUCKMAN. I AM A JEWISH RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND I HAVE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF CEASEFIRE RELU, UH, RESOLUTION AS I AM APPALLED AT THE GENOCIDE BEING PERPETRATED AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BY ISRAEL. I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH PASSED THAT RESOLUTION. I KNOW THAT ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT RESOLUTION PASSED. I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT VICE MAYOR ALLEN HAS DECIDED NOT TO REAPPOINT ALYSSA TO THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION DUE TO HER EFFORTS LEADING THE, UH, CITY TO PASS THE CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION REGARDING THE WAR IN GAZA. ALYSSA HAS BEEN SERVING AS COMMISSIONER FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND SHE WAS CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION FOR THREE OF THOSE YEARS. ALYSSA, WHO IS JEWISH, HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR PALESTINIAN FREEDOM AND USED HER PLATFORM TO CALL OUT THE INJUSTICE THAT AMERICA AND ISRAEL ARE COMMITTING IN PALESTINE. I BELIEVE THAT ALYSSA NOT BEING REAPPOINTED IS WRONG AND COMPLETELY UNFAIR, AND FRANKLY, IN RETALIATION FOR HER EFFORTS AT PURSUING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT PEOPLE LIKE ALYSSA WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE SHOULDN'T LOSE THEIR COMMISSION SEATS. SO I AM HERE TO SAY, PLEASE, VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND MAYOR RICHARDSON, PLEASE RECONSIDER AND REAPPOINT ALYSSA GUTIERREZ TO THE EQUITY COMMISSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS SHANNON. MM-HMM, . ALRIGHT. AFTER SHANNON IS PALESTINE. ALRIGHT, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE DECISION BY VICE MAYOR ALLEN, NOT TO REAPPOINT ALYSSA GUTIERREZ TO THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. MS. GUTIERREZ, WHO HAPPENS TO BE JEWISH, IS KNOWN FOR HER WORK ON BEHALF OF ALL MARGINALIZED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS PART OF THIS WORK, ALYSSA HAS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF A CEASEFIRE AND GAZA. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMISSION'S [01:25:01] MISSION AND VISION, WHICH IS QUOTE, TO INSPIRE AND SUPPORT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND FOSTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR ALL LONG BEACH IS A JUST AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY FREE OF DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE VALUED AND HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL UNQUOTE. LONG BEACH IS KNOWN TO BE A DIVERSE AND PROGRESSIVE CITY WITH MANY CITIZENS AFFECTED BY THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA, AS WELL AS THE VIOLENCE ENACTED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH. MANY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING FOR MONTHS, FOR MONTHS TO END THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FUNDED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS. OUR CITY OFFICIALS, THOUGH OUR CITY OFFICIALS, THOUGH THEY, THAT YOU YOURSELVES PASS THE CEASEFIRE MOTION IN THE MEANTIME ARE RETALIATING AGAINST MS. GUTIERREZ FOR HER ADVOCACY. AS A FELLOW JEW, I AM ESPECIALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT JEWISH OFFICIALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE ONES USING THEIR POWER AND INFLUENCE TO SUPPRESS HER VOICE. ON JULY 8TH, THE LETTER TO THE MAYOR, MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS PALESTINE. I'M HERE TO SHOW COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE REINSTATEMENT REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. I ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY UNDERSTAND WHY PALESTINIAN RELATED AGENDA ITEMS TURN OUT SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA WASTES OUR TAX DOLLARS AND IT FOSTERS UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR JEWISH AND MUSLIM PEOPLE ALL OVER LA COUNTY AND ESPECIALLY IN LONG BEACH. UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONER HAS WORKED HARD FOR YEARS FOR THIS CITY AND WITH HER WORK ON THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, SHE SPOKE FOR ME AND SHE SPOKE FOR, UH, MANY RESIDENTS IN LONG BEACH WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MUSLIM SAFETY, WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JEWISH SAFETY, AND WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS. UH, I WORRY ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF LONG BEACH WHO WILL GROW UP IN, YOU KNOW, UNDERFUNDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO WILL GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE AIR QUALITY IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS GETTING WORSE BECAUSE OF THE GENOCIDE AND GAZA, WHICH OUR TAX DOLLARS SUPPORT THAT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION WAS A CRITICAL PIECE OF, UM, TEXT TO BE PASSED AND LIKE TO BE SUPPORTED BY THIS COUNCIL AND ALYSSA GUTIERREZ'S WORK ON IT. FOR ME, AS A VOTER AND AS A WORKER AND A TENANT AND A STUDENT IN LONG BEACH, UM, I, I SUPPORTED EVERYTHING SHE DID ABOUT IT AND FOR IT TO BE WATERED DOWN. THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS RICK. AFTER RICK IS AMIR, THEN MUHAMMAD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAY PEACE. SOME BLESSINGS BE UPON ALL OF YOU. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNFAIR AND OVERALL MORALLY WRONG FOR OUR DEAR SISTER TO BE THREATENED WITH HER LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT DUE TO SUPPORT TO THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN GAZA. WE ARE HERE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY FOR HIM, BRAVE, AND TO REMINDER THAT SHE IS NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT. WE STAND WITH YOU JUST AS YOU TO STAND WITH US IN SHA LAW. MAY HER APPOINTMENT BE REUNITED, REINSTATED AND SHE NO LONGER BE THREATENED FOR HER OVERALL MORALLY SUPPORT FOR HUMANS THAT DON'T DESERVE TO BE MURDERED. MAY PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS NEXT IS AMIR. AFTER AMIR IS MOHAMED MINCY, THEN I IMAM HAM. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS AMIR. I'M AN ARAB IMMIGRANT AND A RENTER THAT'S BEEN LIVING IN LONG BEACH FOR THREE YEARS AT A TIME WHEN ALL WRECKS CAN DO IS DEFLECT. SURPRISE, HE IS NOT IN THE BATHROOM RIGHT NOW. COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE ALYSSA STEPPED UP AFTER THE EXTREMELY WATERED DOWN MILK TOAST RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED THAT MY COUNCIL PERSON AGAIN, NOT HERE TODAY, COINCIDENTALLY MISSED THAT TOO. SHE AVOIDED HER MAKING HER STANCE KNOWN. I WONDER WHY BEFORE MOVING OUT OF D TWO, THAT WAS STILL THE CASE. I HAD TO HOUND HER DOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I HAD TO CALL HER OFFICE FOR WEEKS BEFORE I CAN GET A STANCE. SHE CONDESCEND DEFLECTED ME TO HER STAFFER WHO FINALLY SENT ME AN EMAIL. CINDY, UH, I HAD THIS PART DIRECTED AT HER, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW SHE WEASEL HER WAY OUT OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO ANYBODY BUT SLUMLORDS BUSINESSES, RACIST, HOMOPHOBES, AND OTHER PIGS THAT LINE HER POCKETS. PART OF THAT WEASELING INCLUDES RETALIATING TO THE ONLY PERSON WITH THE GULF TO MAKE YOU GUYS EVEN UTTER THE WORD PALESTINE. THAT'S STILL SO DIFFICULT FOR YOU. WHETHER IT'S OPPRESSING OUR HOUSE AND UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS HERE, OR TAKING APART IN THE COMPLICITY THAT ENABLES THE GENOCIDE ABROAD. [01:30:01] THAT ENABLES ME TO SEE CHILDREN WITH THEIR LIMBS DISMEMBERED EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE PAY FOR. I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY. WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, I'LL BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING WITH PEOPLE, ORGANIZING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT UNDERSTAND HOW USELESS YOU GUYS ARE DOING THE WORK TO CHAMPION EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. WE ARE THE KEY TO THE CITY, NOT SOME SLIMY SLUMLORD. YOU ALL SUCK. STOP SILENCING US AND FREE PALESTINE. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MOHAMED MINCY AND THEN IMAM TALK MOHAMMED, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND ESTEEMED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, A DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY WHO HAS TIRELESSLY SERVED ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATION COMMISSIONS. THE CITY COUNCIL DECISION NOT TO RE REAPPOINT HER IS A GRAVE MISTAKE AND A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS DECISION APPEARS TO BE A DIRECT RESPONSE TO ALYSSA'S COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP IN PASSING A CEASE FIRE PROCLAMATION REGARDING THE WAR IN GAZA, ALYSSA HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE INTEGRITY AND MORAL FORTITUDE IN STANDING UP FOR PALESTINIAN FREEDOM. SHE HAS USED HER POSITION TO CALL OUT THE INJUSTICE PER PERPETRATED BY BOTH AMERICA AND ISRAEL AND PALESTINE ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHT AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE. HER ACTION HAVE EXEMPLIFIED THE VERY PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS THAT THIS COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO UPHOLD. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND THE SILENCING VOICES, LIKE ALI SAYS, ONLY PERPETUATES THE CYCLE OF INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION. RETALIATING AGAINST SOMEONE FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER UNDERMINES THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF DCRA DEMOCRACY AND FREE SPEECH. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN IN OUR CITY. WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO DEMAND THAT FI VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND MAYOR RICHARDSON AND THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION. UH, ALYSSA ARIA'S COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, HER EMPATHY AND OUR YIELDING PURSUIT OF EQUAL EQUALITY MAKE HER AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE EQU EQUITY COMMISSION. HER REMOVAL SENDS A CHILLING MESS THAT THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. CLOSING DEPOSITION IMAM AFTER IMAM, MS. SCOTT V THEN RORY HERRERA, THEN FREE PALESTINE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. OUR CHAMPION, UH, CITY OF LONG BEACH MAKE REMARKABLE CEASEFIRE DECISION AND WE ALL BROWED FOR THE FIVE CHAMPION THE VOTE FOR IT. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. EVEN THE CEASEFIRE DOESN'T TAKE PLACE. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CEASEFIRE, IT'S ABOUT THE MORAL SENTENCE AND, AND SITUATIONS PEOPLE TAKE IN TO EXPOSE THE FAIR AND JUSTICE IN THE, UH, PALESTINIAN ISSUES. REGARDING MELISSA, ALICIA, ALICIA. SHE TAKE HER POSITION, SHE LOST HER. I DON'T WANNA SAY SHE LOST HER CHAIR, BUT SHE TAKE IN THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE. VERY BEAUTIFUL HIGH POSITIONS, MISSION OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTING PALESTINE AND THE CONFLICT. UH, WE NEED TO REALLY DO NOT SEND. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE NEW APPOINT, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A WRONG MESSAGE TELLING YOU IF YOU DO NOT, IF YOU ONE DAY STAND FOR THE TRUTH OR TAKE THE PEOPLE'S SIDE, YOU'RE GONNA OBEY BIG PRICES, WHICH IS YOUR POSITION AND YOUR CHAIRS. I THINK, DEAR MAYOR RICK, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND I RESPECT THE DECISION, BUT I THINK ALICIA DESERVE TO RECONSIDER HER DECISION AGAIN, UH, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS SCOTT V. SCOTT, DISTRICT TWO. I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR COMMISSIONER ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, IN OPPOSITION TO THE CONCERTED ATTEMPT BY VICE MAYOR CINDY ALLEN. TO FORCE OUT A POPULAR POLITICAL ADVOCATE UNDER THE FALSE PRETENSIVE TERM LIMITS. EVEN THOUGH THE COMMISSIONER HAS NOT ACTUALLY MET THE FORMAL EIGHT YEAR MAXIMUM, IT IS A NA IT IS NAKEDLY OBVIOUS THAT THIS DECISION IS NONE OTHER THAN AN ACT OF RETALIATION FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S SUCCESS. LAST YEAR, ORGANIZING TO PASS A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT POSITIVELY DISTINGUISHED LONG BEACH FROM NEARLY EVERY OTHER CITY IN CALIFORNIA IN WHICH GARNERED NATIONAL RECOGNITION. CURRENTLY THE DEATH TOLL, THE DEATH TOLL OF ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE AND PALESTINE STANDS AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000. PURELY PEOPLE, NEARLY HALF OF THEM CHILDREN, ALTHOUGH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RECENTLY ESTIMATED THAT WELL OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE KNOWN COMMISSIONER GUTIERREZ FOR NINE MONTHS AND HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH HER IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD. INVARIABLY, SHE HAS BEEN A DEEPLY PRINCIPLED, [01:35:01] COMPASSIONATE, AND COMMITTED ADVOCATE IN THE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY, WHICH IS THE MANDATE OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. SHE'S AN EMINENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TYPE OF ADVOCATE THAT SHOULD BE SERVING IN THIS ROLE, AND IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO CUT HER SERVICE SHORT FOR THESE AND MANY OTHER REASONS. THE UNDEMOCRATIC ATTEMPT TO TERMINATE HER TENURE IS OBJECTIONABLE ON MORAL, POLITICAL, AND PROCEDURAL GROUNDS. IT WOULD MARK A. BLACK MARK ON THE RECORD OF THIS CITY, AND I'LL REMIND YOU THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY DOESN'T STOP, BUT THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF LONG BEACH, IT EXTENDS. THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. NEXT IS RORY HERRERA. AFTER RORY, I'M GONNA READ, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW. RORY, UH, PALESTINE FREE PALESTINE. TRACY L DIANE, B MIKE FP DR. SARAH ZADY, ZOE MALISON, JULIAN RICHARD, JAY MAHA AFRA, CME AND LAMBERT. ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD RORY. I SUPPORT REINSTATING ALYSSA GUTIERREZ TO THE HR COMMISSION. REMOVING HER IS AN ACT OF SUPPRESSION AS A RESULT OF ALYSSA'S COURAGE IN USING HER INFLUENCE ON THE, AS A COMMISSIONER TO PUSH FOR THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION. WITHOUT HER, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. THERE HAS BEEN NO TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHY SHE WAS NOT REAPPOINTED OR WHY THE PERSON, UH, REPLACING HER WAS CHOSEN. THEY GAVE ALYSSA THE EXCUSE OF BEING IN THE POSITION FOR TOO LONG, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. SHE HAS ONLY BEEN HERE FOR FOUR OUT OF EIGHT YEARS. UH, AND THAT IS IRONIC GIVEN THAT THE MAIN PERSON WHO DECIDED THIS DECISION WAS CINDY ALLEN, WHO ALSO JUST WON HER REELECTION AND HAS BEEN IN THAT POSITION JUST AS LONG. FINALLY, I IMPLORE THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE LEFT AND THIS NEW COMMISSIONER DO NOT TAKE THIS AS A SIGN TO STAY SILENT. THIS IS YOUR JOB TO ENSURE EQUITY IN LONG BEACH. IF YOU ARE STAYING SILENT, WHEN OTHERS ARE BEING SUPPRESSED. ARE YOU HERE FOR POWER OR FOR STANDING UP? WHAT'S FOR WHAT'S RIGHT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU R THANK YOU RORY. NEXT IS FREE PALESTINE, THEN TRACY L GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, SORRY. I SUPPORT REINSTATING ALYSSA GUTIERREZ TO THE EQUALITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. ALYSSA'S BEEN EXEMPLARY COMMISSIONER STANDING UP FOR THE MANDATE OF THE COMMISSION. SHE HAS ENGAGED RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND HAS DONE PRECISELY WHAT ALL YOU HAVE, ALL HAVE. NOT NINE MONTHS AGO, SOME OF YOU, INCLUDING MAYOR RICHARDSON, SAID THAT LONG BEACH STANDS WITH ISRAEL IGNORING OVER 80 YEARS OF TERRORISM AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. AND IGNORING THAT HISTORY DID NOT BEGIN. ON OCTOBER 7TH, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSED A RESOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT ACKNOWLEDGED HISTORY. WHEN AFTER WEEKS OF PROTEST AND THE COUNCIL FINALLY AGREED TO BRING A WATERED DOWN CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, IT WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY MS. GUTIERREZ. IN FACT, IT WAS A TROJAN HORSE OF A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTED ISRAEL'S MISSION TO GENOCIDE. YOU MAY HA YOU MAY HAVE YOUR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION REASONS, BUT WE KNOW WHY YOU WANT HER OUT. YOU ARE HYPOCRITICAL, TRAITORS TO THE JUSTICE AND THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH. AND THE NEED, THE VOICE OF MES GUTIERREZ TO STAND FOR EQUALITY AND FOR HUMAN RELATIONS AND THE DEFENSE OF THE VICTIMS OF US IMPERIALISM. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE THE FLAG AND FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS TRACY L THEN DIANE B THEN MIKE FP. HELLO, UM, MY NAME IS TRACY. I'M A DISTRICT TO RESIDENT RENTER AND, AND I WORK IN LONG BEACH AND I'VE BEEN A PAST BUSINESS OWNER. UM, AND NOW I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND I SUPPORT THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HAS REPRESENTED OUR VOICES AND TAKES ACTION TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. SHE ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND POLITICS. AND REMOVING COMMISSIONER ALYSSA MAKES ME LOSE HOPE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. PLEASE SUPPORT HER REAPPOINTMENT AND FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DIANE. B HELLO AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE I'M HERE EVERY FEW MONTHS. UM, I LIVE IN MY NAME'S DIANE BI, UM, LIVE IN THE SECOND COUNCIL. I AM A EQUITY AND INCLUSION, UM, CONSULTANT. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER AND, UM, I RECENTLY JOINED THE BLACK HEALTH EQUITY COMMISSION. SO I'M EXCITED TO DO THAT WORK, UM, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS CONSIDERED LONG BEACH HOME AND I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT THIS CITY. UH, REX I'M GONNA SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU 'CAUSE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, LIKE, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN AND I AM HERE AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ [01:40:01] HAS NOT BEEN REAPPOINTED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. I'M JUST GONNA READ THE DEFINITION OF BULLYING BY THE NATIONAL, UM, PREVENTION, UH, BULLYING PREVENTION CENTERS. WHEN SOMEONE IS AGGRESSIVELY USES THEIR POWER TO TARGET ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH REPEATED AND UNWANTED WORDS OR ACTIONS, THOSE TARGETED OR HURT EITHER PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY AND HAVE A HARD TIME STOPPING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM. THIS IS BULLYING PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE ARE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY PEOPLE THAT ARE MAD UPSET THAT PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, WE HAVE SEEN THESE VERY SAME TACTICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY THE TAKEN OUT, REPRESENTED JAMAL BOWMAN BOWEN OF NEW YORK, UM, BY APAC MONEY, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SCARED THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME AFTER YOU AND BE WORRIED ABOUT MONEY. DON'T SET THIS PRECEDENT. DON'T LET BULLIES BULLY YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS MIKE FP AND THEN SARAH ZIDE. SO MY COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED AT VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND BIG SURPRISE, SHE'S NOT HERE AGAIN. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, WHO WHILE PALESTINIANS WE'RE BEING SLAUGHTERED AND STILL ARE, WORK TO ADVANCE A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS, NOT WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS, NOT IN OUR NAME, NOT LONG BEACH, A CITY THAT HOUSES THOUSANDS OF CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVORS. WE DON'T SUPPORT GENOCIDE FOR THOSE OF US IN THE KNOW VICE. MAYOR ALLEN NOT ONLY PUNISHED ALYSSA FOR HER STANCE, BUT HAS EXTENDED THAT TO ALL OF US BECAUSE WITHOUT COMMISSIONERS LIKE HER WHO ADVANCE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS MAKING ALL OF LONG BEACH A BETTER PLACE, WE ALL LOSE. BUT IN DOING SO, VICE MAYOR ALLEN ANSWERED A QUESTION THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS. WE NOW UNDERSTAND THAT LIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS DUG IN SUPER NA ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL AND CONGRESSMAN GARCIA, THAT THE LIVES OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS ARE NO VALUE TO HER. THAT THE VOICES OF YOUR CONSTITUENCY, ALMOST HALF OF WHOM VOTED AGAINST YOU FOR A PRO PEACE CANDIDATE, ARE NOT HEARD, AND THAT YOU FIRMLY STAND WITH THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE. UM, BEFORE I END TONIGHT, I THINK IT WOULD BE ONLY FITTING SINCE WE'RE HERE ON, UH, KEY TO THE CITY NIGHT, UM, I WANT TO TAKE THE HONOR WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO OFFER WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE PEOPLE'S KEY TO THE CITY. AND IT'S RIGHT HERE FOR ALYSSA GUTIERREZ, THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU, DR. SARAH ZADY. HI, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, I'M DR. SARZA, AND WHILE I DON'T SPEAK FOR MY COMMISSION, UM, I, I AM CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON YOUTH AND FAMILIES. SO AS WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE NEW COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR, UM, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO CONCERN, UH, TO VOICE MY CONCERN, MY DISAPPROVAL, MY, UM, I CAN'T SAY SHOCK BECAUSE I'M NOT SHOCKED ANYMORE. UM, DECISION BY VICE MAYOR ALLEN TO NOT, UH, REAPPOINT ALYSSA, WHICH IS CLEARLY A, A, A FORM OF RETALIATION. I CAN SAY AS A COMMISSIONER, IT CAN FEEL REALLY OVERWHELMING. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING PERSONALLY, JUST SPEAKING, I'M NOT GONNA READ FROM ANYTHING, YOU KNOW. UM, ALYSSA IS SOMEONE WHO, ASIDE FROM PALESTINE, ASIDE FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH PALESTINE, WHO WHEN I HAD A QUESTION, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HER. SHE WAS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WAS VERY OPEN TO HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THE RULES, TO HELPING ME NAVIGATE. I GUESS I'M HERE TO ASK LIKE, WHAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT'S BEING SENT TO NEW COMMISSIONERS BY THIS DECISION TO NOT REAPPOINT ALYSSA. BECAUSE IF YOU DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WHAT YOU'RE TASKED TO DO, WHICH IS WHAT ALYSSA DID, SHE WENT FAR BEYOND WHAT MOST COMMISSIONERS DO, WHO REALLY OFTEN JUST USE IT AS A WAY TO PAD THEIR CVS. ALYSSA, THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS ZOE. AFTER ZOE IS JAY, THEN MAHA, THEN CME, THEN LAMBERT. MS. ALLEN, YOU'RE NOT HERE. GO FIGURE. YOU AREN'T JUST PUNISHING ALYSSA, YOU'RE PUNISHING US BECAUSE YOU'RE A MORALLY BANKRUPT RACIST BULLY. YOU ARE ALL MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION, AMPLIFYING YOUR PRO PROGRESSIVE FACADE IN YOUR FAVOR. AND THEN YOU TOOK AWAY THE ONE PERSON THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD RESPECT FOR AND MADE IT HAPPEN AND [01:45:01] PUNISHED HER FOR TAKING A MORALLY INCLINED STANCE. YOU'VE UTTERLY FAILED US AS A COMMUNITY. YOU'VE LOST WHAT LITTLE FAITH WE HAD IN YOU. ONLY AFTER THE CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION WAS ANNOUNCED AND RETALIATING AGAINST A JEWISH WOMAN. RIGHT NOW, THE HYPOCRISY, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, YOU KEPT IMPLEMENTING NO ANTISEMITISM. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS. SHAME TO ANYONE WHO ALSO AGREES WITH MS. ALLEN AND YOU SEVERELY UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF COMMUNITY HERE IN OUR CITY. WE VOTE YOU IN. WE CAN VOTE YOU OUT. YOU DID THE ONE THING YOU ASKED US NOT TO DO. SO YOU'RE HYPOCRITES, ESPECIALLY YOU. REX RICHARDSON. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JULIAN. HI, MY NAME IS JULIAN ERT. I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, PALESTINIAN AMERICAN, PROUD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN. VERY DISAPPOINTED PALESTINIAN AMERICAN. UH, I FEEL I HAVE VIRTUALLY NO AGENCY IN MY CITY THESE DAYS OTHER THAN BEING WHITE PASSING. SO THEREFORE, UM, I JUST, YEAH. HAD TO LET MY VOICE BE HEARD. I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU HERE. SOME OF YOU'RE LISTENING MORE INTENTLY THAN OTHERS. THE ISSUE AS TO WHETHER, UH, A COMMISSIONER'S TERM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S WRITTEN. ONE OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS MENTIONED SERVING ON A COMMISSION FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS OR SEVEN YEARS, I BELIEVE WAS THE NUMBER. AND ALYSSA GUTIERREZ HAS BEEN ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR FOUR YEARS. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. I I'M NOT THAT GREAT AT MATH, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT SEVEN YEARS AS LONGER THAN FOUR YEARS. ANYWAY, UM, KIND OF RAMBLING HERE, BUT AS LONG AS I STILL HAVE OVER 30 SECONDS, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW MORE THOUGHTS. YOU KNOW, THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT A FREE PALESTINE MEANS. IT'S THE RIGHT FOR HUMAN BEINGS TO JUST LIVE, TO JUST EXIST IN THEIR NATIVE LANDS REGARDLESS OF WHERE THAT MAY BE. UM, THE AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS INSANE RIGHT NOW. UM, IT REALLY MAKES ME SCARED AS A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN LIVING UNDER THESE CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND MY TIME'S UP. UM, FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JAY. AFTER JAY IS MAHA, I AM HERE TO DEMAND THAT YOU STOP YOUR SHAME FOR RETALIATION AGAINST ELISA GUTIERREZ AND REAPPOINT HER TO HER POSITION. WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS BECAUSE SHE IS A JEWISH PERSON STANDING AGAINST THE GENOCIDE. MAYOR, WE HAVE WITNESSED YOU AND YOUR VICE MAYOR AND SOME OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SIDE FOR SURE EXHIBIT HEINOUS ISLAMOPHOBIA AND FAILED AT PROTECTING ARABS, PALESTINIANS, AND MUSLIMS IN LONG BEACH. I DON'T SEE US IN YOUR NEW APPOINTMENT. YEAH. WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW IS SILENCING A JEWISH VOICE THAT, THAT REPRESENTS SO MANY PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR, SO MANY JEWS WHO ARE NOT ZIONISTS, WHICH MAKES YOU ANTI-JEWISH. YOU SUCCUMB TO THE ZIONIST PRESSURE TO KEEP S VOICE SILENCING VOICES OTHER THAN THEIR VOICES. THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH. HOWEVER, IT IS YOUR JOB TO HONOR ALL TRUTH, INCLUDING JEWISH TRUTH THAT ARE NOT ZIONISTS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. REAPPOINT ELISSA GUTIERREZ, FREE PALESTINE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS MAHA AFRA. THAT WAS MAHA. OKAY. NEXT IS CME. GOOD EVENING. I AM ASKING YOU TO REINSTATE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. I AM HERE TO DEFEND ALYSSA'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF EVERYONE TO PUNISH SOMEONE FOR THEIR PERSONAL OPINION IS UNCONSCIONABLE. THIS SILENCING OF OUR VOICES IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE SUPPRESSION OF PRO-PALESTINIAN VOICES. AND I, AGAIN, URGE YOU DESPERATELY TO REINSTATE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ AS COMMISSIONER OF EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS SO THAT SHE CONTINUE, SHE CAN CON CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK THAT SHE HAD BEEN DOING BEFORE SHE WAS UNFAIRLY FIRED. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LAMBERT. I HAD A SPEAKER CARD, BUT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK. RICK, LET ME JUST GET THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HERE. UH, I HEARD I CALLED YOU EARLIER, RICK, SO I'LL LET YOU SPEAK, BUT LET ME GET, HANG ON, HANG ON. UH, LET ME CALL THESE INDIVIDUALS. UH, THERE'S TWO MORE. IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, THEN YOU GO NEXT. OKAY. OMAR CARDENAS AND AHAD AWADI. [01:50:05] GOOD EVENING MAYOR. RICKS MAYOR RICKS RICHARDSON CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS OMAR CARDENA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT AND YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER ALICIA GUTES AND TO CALL ON THE MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN ALLEN AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO REAPPOINT COMMISSIONER GUTIEREZ FOR ANOTHER TERM ON THE COMMISSION ON EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS. AND TO CELEBRATE ALYSSA RECEIVING THE PEOPLE'S KEY TO THE CITY. WOO. UH, I HAVE KNOWN AND WORKED ALONGSIDE COMMISSIONER GUTIERREZ FOR OVER A DECADE. AND IN THAT TIME, UH, COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE VALUES AND QUALIFICATIONS WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM CITY LEADERS. UH, SHE HAS LED WITH INTEGRITY, FEARLESSNESS, AND THE COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION ARE BEING FRAMED AS A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY NATIONALLY AND HERE ON THIS, ON OUR SOIL. UM, SO WHEN WE HAVE A LEADER LIKE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ WHO'S NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK ON ISSUES THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, THAT ARE ROOTED IN, IN REAL EQUITY IN HUMAN RELATIONS, IT IS OUR DUTY TO HOLD THOSE FOLKS TO SUPPORT 'EM AND UPLIFT THEM, NOT TO SILENCE THEM AND TO TAKE AWAY THEIR SEATS, UM, ON THESE COMMISSIONS. UM, I OVERESTIMATED MY TIME. SO, UH, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE, UH, ALYSSA AND HAVE WITNESSED HOW SHE HAS SHOWN UP IN SOLIDARITY WITH BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS TO FIGHT FOR A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION SYSTEM. SHE CONTINUES TO DO THAT AND SHE'S SOMEONE WHO IS NOT WILLING TO JUST STAND FOR THE STATUS QUO. AND SO FOR THAT, SHE IS MORE THAN DESERVING FOR THIS POSITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU RICK. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. SURE. WE'RE A NATION THAT WAS FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES. KEY AMONG THEM IS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. CURRENTLY, PALESTINIANS ARE BEING KILLED IN GAZA BY THE HUNDREDS PER DAY. THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE BEING KILLED ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THIS IS WRONG. WHAT KIND OF ORWELLIAN WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN THOSE WHO STAND UP TO THE FOR THE OPPRESSED ARE PUNISHED? AND THOSE COMMISSIONING MASS MURDER ARE WELCOME TO ADDRESS A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS? IT'S WRONG TO NOT REINSTATE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ FOR ADVOCATING FOR PALESTINIANS. AND SHE DESERVES AN APOLOGY AND TO BE REINSTATED IMMEDIATELY IN A JUST WORLD, SHE WOULD BE DON'T BOW TO PRESSURE. DO THE RIGHT THING. REINSTATE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA CALL THESE LAST TWO NAMES JUST IN CASE. WILL THIS LAST NAME ONE MORE TIME JUST IN CASE. AHAD AWADI AIDA AHAD. RIGHT HERE. OKAY, GO FOR IT. YOU'RE OUR FINAL SPEAKER. UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY, JUST, UH, IMAGINE THAT SHE'S LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR OWN CATS AND FREE PALESTINE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO THAT SATISFIES PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL JUST SAY, JUST REMIND FOLKS OF TWO, TWO THINGS. ONE TONIGHT WAS, UH, YEAH, THAT WAS THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT. THE, WHAT I'LL SAY IS TONIGHT WE APPOINTED 23 NEW COMMISSIONERS REAPPOINTED 50 COMMISSIONERS. THIS PROCESS, WE DO IT IN CONSULTATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. SOMETIMES COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BEFORE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ELECTED. WHEN I WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I DIDN'T REAPPOINT EVERY COMMISSIONER THAT WAS APPOINTED BY MY PREDECESSOR. I CHANGED SOME, SOME APPOINTMENTS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO. UH, THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE ANYBODY FROM IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE RECOMMENDATION. 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME GOOD COMMISSIONERS HERE KNEW, AND THERE'S SOME GOOD COMMISSIONERS BEING APPOINTED TO EVERY COMMISSION, INCLUDING EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS. AND THERE WERE PEOPLE ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION THAT WAS VERY, YOU KNOW, REAL ADVOCATES ON THE RESOLUTION. I REMEMBER ONE COMMISSIONER SAY, PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT TO THEY PASS IT. THAT PERSON'S BEING REAPPOINTED TONIGHT. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE ENGAGED, GET ENGAGED, AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN APPOINT, UH, EVERY FOUR YEARS, YOU KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONERS WHEN NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS COME IN AND, UH, THIS APPOINT THIS PARTICULAR APPOINTMENT WAS TAKING PLACE BEFORE THE VICE MAYOR WAS ON THAT, IN THAT COMMISSION. AND SO THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT 'EM FORWARD. UH, BUT I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU STAY ENGAGED. THE CITY COUNCIL WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS. IT WAS HARD. YOU ALL SPOKE UP. THEY GOT THERE, THEY PASSED THE RESOLUTION, UH, AND PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS DAAS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE BECAME THE BIGGEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA TO BE THE FIRST ONES TO PASS THAT RESOLUTION. IT WASN'T NECESSARILY EASY, IT WASN'T HARD, BUT THEY WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE 50 PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING REAPPOINTED TONIGHT, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND THE 20, THE 23 NEW MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. [01:55:01] CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON, UH, TO ITEM 50, PLEASE. I 50 COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN SORROW. COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ODI. RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR MODERNIZING EXISTING WAGES RATES FOR LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER CONCESSION WORKERS AND REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER WORKER WAGE ORDINANCE. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A MOMENT, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL TO, UH, FOR THE ROOM TO SETTLE. [50. 24-54138 Recommendation to request City Manager to evaluate options for modernizing existing wage rates for Long Beach Airport and Convention Center concession workers, and request City Attorney to prepare ordinance amending the Long Beach Airport and Convention Center Worker Wage Ordinance (LBMC Chapter 16.60) to authorize a market pay adjustment that ensures fair and competitive wages for concession workers at the Long Beach Airport and Convention Center.       Office or Department: Suely Saro, Councilwoman, Sixth District; Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District; Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE NEW ROOM IN THE AUDIENCE. IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE OVERFLOW, COME ON IN FOR THE DIS DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET, GET GOING. OKAY. SO, UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UH, AS YOU KNOW, IN, UH, BACK IN MARCH, UH, THE, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH ADOPTED MEASURE, RW, UH, IT WAS, UH, I THINK IT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP, PARTICULARLY AS LONG BEACH, UH, PREPARES FOR 2028 AND WELCOMING THE WORLD TO LONG BEACH IS IMPORTANT THAT, UH, WE INCLUDE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THAT THEY ARE NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. THAT THE OLYMPICS AND ALL THIS ATTENTION ISN'T ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS, BUT RATHER THEY ARE CENTRAL TO THESE EFFORTS AND ARE LIFTED UP THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO WE'RE PROUD THAT LONG BEACH VOTERS WERE THE FIRST CITY TO ESTABLISH AN OLYMPICS WAGE, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. UH, PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A DISCUSSION, UH, DISCUSS WITH, UH, WHEN, WHEN THIS WAGE WAS SET, UH, 10 YEARS AGO, UH, WITH MEASURE N THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT, UH, THE STATUS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND AIRPORT. THOSE QUESTIONS ARE, ARE STILL UNRESOLVED HERE. AND SO I WANNA THANK, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR, UH, BRINGING FORTH THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT HELPS RESOLVE, UH, THESE ISSUES HERE. SO THAT SAID, I'LL PASS IT ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER. SORROW, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DR. RICKS OIE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THEY HAS FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS ITEM. AND I JUST, UH, WANNA THANK ALSO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE, UM, BEEN, YOU KNOW, MEETING AND SPEAKING WITH ME ON THIS ITEM. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS ITEM BEING BROUGHT FORWARD IS TO REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE THE OPTION TO MODERNIZE THE EXISTING WAGE RATE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND TO REQUEST THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER WORKER'S WAGE ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE A MARKET PAY ADJUSTMENT. UM, SO I KNOW THAT OUR CITY CLERK READ IT, BUT I'M JUST REITERATING IT BECAUSE THIS IS A OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE, UH, HEAR BACK FROM STAFF ONCE WE REQUEST EXACTLY WHAT IS GONNA BE THE FISCAL IMPACT, BUT ALSO TO HEAR BACK ON THEIR ANALYSIS AND FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE DECISION BASED ON, UM, INFORMATION SHARED WITH US, UH, WHEN IT COMES BACK. AND I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH VOTERS HAVE SHOWN THEIR COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC JUSTICE BY APPROVING MEASURE RW BACK IN MARCH, 2024 DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION. AND THIS MEASURE HAD RAISED THE REQUIRED MARKET RAGE FOR WAGE FOR HOTEL WORKERS TO $23 AN HOUR WITH AN ESCALATOR TO 29 50 BY 2028. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT ADDRESSING FOR WAGES FOR HOTEL WORKERS, AND ALSO ENSURING THAT WE EXTEND THESE STANDARDS TO OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY. AND PARTICULARLY THIS IS ABOUT CONCESSION WORKER AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER THAT DID BENEFIT FROM A 2014 MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE. AND THESE WAGE HAVE NOT SUFFICIENTLY KEPT UP, UM, WITH THE COST OF LIVING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE PROACTIVELY CULTIVATE A STRONG AND SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE [02:00:01] WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY TOURISM AND CONVENTION TO RETAIN A CRITICAL WORKFORCE AND PREVENT FUTURE SHORTAGE. SO I'M ASKING THAT OUR, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND THE EXISTING AIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER WORKER WAGE ORDINANCE TO ENSURE THAT CONCESSION WORKERS ARE COVERED ON THIS POLICY THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF, UH, USING, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT RW AS A MODEL TO, UM, MODERNIZE IT. SO WITH THAT, I ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DR. SORROW. UM, I'M VERY HAPPY TO CO-SIGN THIS ITEM. UM, KIND OF REITERATE WHAT YOU SAID IN MARCH OF 2024, LONG BEACH VOTERS APPROVED MEASURE RW RAISING THE MARKET RATE FOR HOTEL WORKERS TO $23 AN HOUR, UH, WITH AN ESCALATOR UP TO THE 29 50 BY 2028. UM, I BELIEVE THIS STEP REFLECTED OUR SHARED COMMITMENT, UH, TO FAIRNESS AND RESPECT FOR ALL WORKERS. UM, BUT OUR, OUR WORK ISN'T DONE YET. UM, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD EXTEND THOSE WAGE, UH, STANDARDS TO OUR VITAL TO VITAL SEGMENTS OF OUR WORKFORCE, UH, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY. UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR CITY'S ECONOMY, ENSURING THE VISITORS HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR CITY'S SUCCESS. UH, DESPITE THE RECOVERY OF OUR TOURISM INDUSTRIES, MANY OF THESE HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS FACE SEVERE CHALLENGES. RAISING HOUSING COSTS, LIVING EXPENSES, PUTS IMMENSE PRESSURE ON THEM. THESE INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO OUR CITY'S PROSPERITY, UH, AND STRUGGLE WITH HOUSING, AND STRUGGLE WITH HOUSING INSECURITY. UH, THIS DISPARITY HIGHLIGHTS A CRITICAL ISSUE. UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE OUR TOURISM SECTOR THRIVES, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THAT SUCCESS POSSIBLE FIND IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ENDS MEET. UM, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS ON THE VERGE OF HOSTING THE SUMMER OLYMPICS GAMES IN 2028. THIS PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY AND A CALL TO ACTION TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT. WE NEED TO FOSTER A STRONG, RELIABLE, AND COMMITTED WORKFORCE. OUR ABILITY TO HOST A SUCCESSFUL EVENT DEPENDS ON RETAINING, UH, AND ATTRACTING TALENTED WORKERS WHO ARE ESSENTIAL FOR DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES TO VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE PROACTIVE IN IMPROVING OUR TOURISM WORKER WAGES, UM, AND TO SUPPORT THEIR WELLBEING AND INVEST IN OUR CITY'S FUTURE, ENSURING THAT THESE WORKERS RECEIVE FAIR AND COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION. WE'LL HELP THEM THRIVE IN LONG BEACH, CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE VIBRANT AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE. UH, WE HAVE A CITY HAVE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED OUR COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND ECONOMY AND, UM, AND, AND OUR ECONOMY, UM, BY ADDRESSING WAGE DISPARITIES. AND I BELIEVE WE CAN UPLIFT OUR WORKFORCE AND ENHANCE OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. UH, TOGETHER. I THINK WE HAVE THE POWER TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR LONG BEACH AND A CITY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS WORKERS CAN THRIVE. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS SORROW AND RICK OTI FOR INVITING ME TO CO-AUTHOR ON THIS ITEM. MUCH WORK HAS GONE INTO INTERNAL DISCUSSION AND MY OWN CONSIDERATION OF WAGE ORDINANCES, ITEMS LIKE THIS. AS THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS CULTURE AND TOURISM COMMITTEE AND THE DOWNTOWN AND CONVENTION CENTER DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE, I AM PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THESE ISSUES. THE SECTOR IMPACTED MATTERS IN DISCUSSIONS OF WAGE ORDINANCES. SECTORS LIKE TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, AND HEALTHCARE ARE REALLY PART OF A UNIQUE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT DEMAND SUCH MANDATES AND SUPPORT. BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19, SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE PROVIDED PAYROLL PROTECTION OR RECOVERY ACT FUNDS, WORKERS ALSO DESERVE INVESTMENTS, ESPECIALLY AS THESE INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS. AT A TIME WHEN INFLATION IS HIGH AND RENTS ARE SOARING, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS FAIR AND FAMILIES HAVE A BETTER SHOT OF LIVING IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY THEY WORK IN, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE WORKFORCE RETENTION. AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE OLYMPICS, THIS ITEM BUILDS ON THE WORK OF, OF PRIOR CITY COUNCIL, BUT WITH A RETOOLED APPROACH THAT LOOKS AT SERVICE CHANGE LANGUAGES AND OTHER WAYS TO MODERNIZE THIS CURRENT ORDINANCE, THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER, OUR IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND PARTNERS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE DATA, AND PARTICULARLY HEARING FROM PUBLIC INPUT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. UM, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL [02:05:01] AND MEASURED WITH THIS, WITH THIS ITEM. I THINK EACH PARTY CAN SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE THE DETAILS AT A MUCH CLOSER LEVEL THAN CITY COUNCIL CAN. AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE STAFF THE MEDIATORS OF THE PARTIES THAT HAVE PROPOSED, UH, THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS GOING TO IMPACT. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE WANNA APPLY THE MEASURE RW STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES HAVE DIFFERENT REVENUE MODELS THAN THE LARGER HOTELS. UM, AIRPORT CONCESSIONAIRES PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR GROSS REVENUE TO THE CITY. I BELIEVE WE CAP OUR, WE CAP THEIR PRICES, SO WE'RE PUTTING BUSINESSES IN A POSITION THANK YOU, WHERE THEY HAVE TO CUT COSTS. UM, YOUR MIC IS ON. I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS WHEN OPTIONS COME BACK, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. UM, I WAS IN A DIFFERENT AIRPORT LAST WEEK LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO, TO BUY SOME WATER AND THERE WAS A KIOSK, IT WASN'T A VENDING MACHINE, IT WAS A KIOSK THAT WAS AUTOMATED. UM, I DON'T WANT THAT FOR THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT. SOME JOBS LIKE IN HOSPITALITY CANNOT BE AUTOMATED, BUT WE ARE SEEING THAT GROWING TREND OF AUTOMATION. SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THIS, UM, ELEMENT AS WE APPLY THIS STANDARD TO A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY WHERE, UM, EMPLOYEES ARE REPRESENTED AND THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO NEGOTIATE ON THEIR OWN BEHALF WITHOUT US HAVING TO, UM, CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE AND PASS A NEW LAW. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO. OH, DO WE HAVE MORE? OKAY. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. UH, MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS SUE LEE SORROW, UM, JONI RICK SODI, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENDEJAS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. UM, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM MOVING FORWARD. UM, TODAY I WAS, UH, FORTUNATE TO BE ON THIS COUNCIL IN 2014 TO VOTE ON THE ITEM TO, TO CREATE THIS PATHWAY. UM, I THINK THE VOTERS SPOKE IN MARCH, LOUD AND CLEAR, AND IT CREATES A, A, UM, GIVES US THE MORAL, UH, COMPASS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM. UM, BECAUSE OUR VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN ALREADY, UH, ON THIS, UH, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT 2028 BEING PREPARED FOR 2028. WE DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUR WORKFORCE BEHIND, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE FACE OF OUR CITY, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE THE FIRST IMPRESSION ABOUT OUR CITY. UH, THE, THE HOSPITALITY OF OUR CITY IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION, UM, CONCESSIONS. AND SO, UM, WITH THAT SAID, UM, I'LL BE CONSISTENT AS I HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. UM, STANDING UP FOR WORKING FAMILIES, PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE. THIS IS A GOOD MOTION AND A GOOD ITEM. I SUPPORT 100%. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BRAN. THANK YOU. I WANNA ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE COMMENTS BY COS MEMBER AUSTIN. 'CAUSE I WAS THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES. THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE AIRPORT, OUR AMBASSADORS TO OUR CITY AND THEY DESERVE RECOGNITION AS GOOD WAGE ORDERS TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND LIVE AND THRIVE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE NINE ME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL READ ALL NINE. PLEASE COME FORWARD. SANDRA SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. READ LINHART, LUPE FRIO, UH, MARIA RU RUIZ, ANDREA ROMERO, EDITH BARRERA, DIAMOND BARR, UH, DANIELLE WILSON, IMAM TOM, UH, TAREK MUHAMMAD. SO FIRST UP IS SANDRA RODRIGUEZ. HELLO AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AND RODRIGUEZ. I HAVE BEEN A RETAIL WORKER AT THE AIRPORT FOR 10 YEARS. I KNOW THAT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO PREPARE THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, INCLUDING LONG BEACH FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS. THE CONVENTION AND AIRPORT WORKERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE GAMES, AND WE DESERVE TO RECEIVE WAGES THAT REFLECT THAT I COMMUTE NEARLY AN HOUR TO GET TO WORK FROM MY APARTMENT THAT I SHARE WITH MY UNCLE. HE HAS HAD MEDICAL ISSUES THIS YEAR AND IN THE PAST, AND [02:10:01] I AM THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER. IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT TWO PEOPLE WITH THE, WITH THE WAGES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING. AND WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING EXORBITANT. WE ARE ONLY ONLY ASKING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILIES WITHOUT CONSTANTLY BEING WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF THE 2028 OLYMPICS IN OUR CITY BY RAISING THE WAGE TO 2350 IMMEDIATELY FOR THOSE OF US THAT WILL MAKE THOSE EVENTS HAPPEN, AND THOSE OF US THAT WILL MAKE THOSE EVENTS A SUCCESS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. REID LINHART, THEN LUPE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS REID LENHART. I'M A PART OF LANE'S LONG BEACH FOR A ADJUST ECONOMY COMMUNITY COALITION AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. UM, IN THE PRIMARY I SUPPORTED AND VOTED FOR MEASURE RW, UH, WHICH WON THE HIGHEST MINIMUM WAGE IN THE COUNTRY FOR HOTEL WORKERS. UM, IN THE RECORD BREAKING PROFIT INDUSTRY OF TOURISM. THE HOTEL WORKERS WERE ONLY MAKING ABOUT $17 AN HOUR ON THE HEELS OF TWO OF THE MOST WATCHED SPORTING EVENTS IN THE WORLD, THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN THE OLYMPICS. UM, NOW THANKS TO RW HOTEL WORKERS ARE MAKING $23 AN HOUR WITH AN ESCALATOR OF 29 50, UM, LEADING UP TO THE OLYMPICS. IT IS TIME TO EXTEND THE NEW WAGE STANDARD TO TOURISM WORKERS AT LONG BEACH'S AIRPORT AND THE CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTERS. CURRENTLY, THESE WORKERS TOO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BY WORKING AT FULL-TIME, AT JUST UNDER $18 AN HOUR. WITH THE RISING COST THAT WE ARE ALL FACING, SOME WORKERS ARE SPENDING UP TO 80% OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME ON RENT. UM, THESE WORKERS, THEY'RE THE BACKBONES OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. THEY MAKE AND BREAK THE EXPERIENCE AT THE HOTELS, AT, AT THE HOTELS, THE AIRPORTS, AND THE CONVENTION CENTERS. AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO RECEIVE, UH, DIGNITY AND PAY THAT REFLECTS THE WORK THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN. UM, EVERY WORKER IN LONG BEACH DESERVES DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK, UM, FOR THE PROSPERITY AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. UM, SINCE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA TIME, UM, THE MONEY THAT THESE WORKERS THAT GET IN THEIR POCKETS, IT'S GONNA BE PUT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. UM, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WHEN WORKERS HAVE TO COMMUTE, UM, MULTIPLE HOURS FROM ANOTHER CITY. UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TIME TO GO OUT AND DO GROCERY SHOPPING IN LONG BEACH. THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, WHEREAS NEAR TO THEM, RIGHT? SO WE'RE LOSING OUT ON, UM, JUST ECONOMIC, UM, GROWTH FOR OUR CITY. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, UH, AND CONSIDERATION, AND I ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS LUPE, THEN MARIA. HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LUPE FRIO AND I HAVE WORKED AS A COOK AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT. FOR TWO YEARS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO PREPARE THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, INCLUDING LONG BEACH FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER. WORKERS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE GAMES, AND WE DESERVE TO RECEIVE WAGES THAT REFLECT THAT OUR RAISES MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE WORKERS CANNOT PRIORITIZE THE SUCCESS OF SUCH AN EVENT WHEN OUR BASIC NEEDS AREN'T MET. I PERSONALLY HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 35 PLUS YEARS AND HAD A FAMILY BUSINESS IN LONG BEACH FOR 40 YEARS. I LOVE LONG BEACH AND WOULD APPRECIATE A LITTLE LOVE BACK FROM THE CITY THAT I LOVE. I LIVE IN LONG BEACH AS WELL, SO THE MAJORITY OF MY CHECK STAYS IN LONG BEACH. SO JUST A LITTLE LOVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS LUPE. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS MARIA. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA RUIZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH DISTRICT ONE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY FOR SIX YEARS. IN MY TIME HERE, I'VE SEEN THE RISE IN COSTS OF EVERYTHING FROM RENT, UTILITIES, TUITION TO GROCERIES, AND HOW AS A WORKER, MY PAY HAS NOT GONE UP WITH INFLATION. THERE HAVE TIMES BEEN TIMES WHERE I'VE BEEN WORKING TWO JOBS AND STILL DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SAVE FOR EMERGENCIES. I WAS A PARTNER AT THE STARBUCKS ON SEVENTH AND REDONDO, AND WHILE I WAS THERE, MY PARTNERS AND I UNIONIZED TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR WAGES AND BENEFITS. I ALSO SUPPORTED MEASURE RW, WHICH HELPS SECURE PAY RAISE FOR HOTEL WORKERS. I'VE SEEN THAT THE BEST WAY FOR WORKERS AND COMMUNITY TO BE HEARD IS BY US BANNING TOGETHER AND USING OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES AND POWER AS LEVERAGE. I SEE HOW THE CITY OF LONG BEACH INVESTS HEAVILY IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY AND THINK THAT IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THEY SHOW THE SAME WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN THEIR WORKERS. SINCE THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THESE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRIES. THE OLYMPICS ARE COMING TO LONG [02:15:01] BEACH AND WE KNOW THAT EVENTS LIKE THOSE DEVASTATE CITIES AND LEAVE RESIDENTS BEHIND TO DEAL WITH THE FALLOUT. WE NEED TO SET OUR COMMUNITY UP FOR SUCCESS NOW BY RAISING WAGES FOR CONCESSION WORKERS SO OUR RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS THAT CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVING AND KEEPING FOR THEMSELVES. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE A GOOD, HARD LOOK AT WHO MAKES THIS CITY RUN AND WHO THEY REPRESENT. WORKERS AND RESIDENTS DESERVE TO BENEFIT FROM THE SUCCESSES OF THE CITY THAT THEY LIVE IN, WORK IN AND VOTE IN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ANDREA ROMERO AND THEN EDITH BARRERA. HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANDREA ROMERO. I HAVE WORKED AS A LEAD COOK AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER FOR 11 YEARS. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THE THE CONVENTION CENTERS HAVE SEEN MORE EVENT BOOKINGS. THESE ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF 11 WORKERS IN THE KITCHEN AND SEVEN OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE COOKS WORKING OUT OF THREE DIFFERENT KITCHENS. WE STRETCH OURSELVES THIN WHENEVER WE HAVE A BACK-TO-BACK. BIG EVENT FOR SO LITTLE PAY TODAY, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO COURSE CORRECT. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MOTION AND RAISE THE WAGE TO $23 IMMEDIATELY TO SUPPORT US. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU EDITH. AND THEN DIAMOND BARR. HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DIAMOND BARR. I HAVE WORKED AT THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER IN LONG BEACH AS A PREP COOK FOR, UH, THREE YEARS. FOR MANY OF US, THE COST OF, UH, HOUSING CAN TAKE UP TO 80% OF OUR INCOME, LEAVING US WITH LITTLE TO PAY FOR THE REST OF OUR BASIC NEEDS. I LOVE LONG BEACH. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS THRIVING COMMUNITY. BUT, BUT WORKERS LIKE ME ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE IN THIS CITY WITH LOW WAGES. WE EARN. I HA I'VE LIVED LONG BEACH IN LONG BEACH, UM, IN THE PAST. UM, I'VE HAD TO MOVE BACK INTO MY PARENTS' HOUSE, UM, A COUPLE OF TIMES BECAUSE THE, UM, RENT OR THE RENT WAS, UM, NOT AFFORDABLE TO ME, UM, ANYMORE. UM, I WOULD LIKE, UM, MORE FOR MY, MY COWORKERS WHO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH ME. UM, AND WE WANT TO BE HAPPY AND WE WANT OUR GUESTS THAT COME TO THE CONVENTION CENTER TO BE HAPPY AS WELL. , UM, SO WE CAN REFLECT THAT BACK ONTO OUR GUESTS. UM, ALSO FOR, UM, OUR SUPPORT, SHOWING SUPPORT TO, UM, OUR UNION, UM, AT THE WESTIN OR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE WESTIN. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY FOR MY OWN BUSINESS WITH MY FUTURE HUSBAND AND, UM, BE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAR. UM, THIS MOTION IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR INDIVIDUAL WORKERS AND OUR FAMILIES, BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO REINVEST INTO OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MOTION TO RAISE OUR WAGES TO $23 AN HOUR IMMEDIATELY AND SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DANIELLE WILSON OR EDITH? BARRERA. EDITH. [02:20:21] ALRIGHT. NEXT. OH YEAH. OH, INTERPRETATION. YES. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EDITH G. RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF LONG BEACH FOR A JUST ECONOMY IN PART AND HAVE BEEN PART, UH, SUPPORTING THE RW MEASURE APPROVED IN MARCH WITH THE INCREASED SALARY FOR HOTEL WORKERS OF $23 AN HOUR WITH A MAX OF 29 50 BY 2028. WE'RE HERE TO PETITION TO PLEASE BE EMPATHETIC AND INCLUDE THE CONVENTION CENTER AND AIRPORT WORKERS OF LONG BEACH. WITHIN THIS MEASURE, WITH A FAIR SALARY IN WHICH THEY AND THEIR FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY THE KIDS CAN BENEFIT, UH, AND IN ORDER TO HAVE A DECENT QUALITY OF LIFE, CITIZENS MEASURE WILL IMPACT THEM AS WELL. AT THE MOMENT, 80% OF THEIR SALARY IS TO COVER THEIR LIVING SITUATION AND MORE SO IN OUR CITY, THERE'S A HIGHER RATE OF HOMELESSNESS DUE TO THE LIVING CRISIS SITUATION. ONCE MORE, PLEASE BE EMPATHETIC AND WORK TOWARDS HIS NEED. SINCERELY, AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALLOWING ME WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DANIELLE, VIN, UH, IMAM TAR MOHAMMED. THEN GABRIEL PEREZ, FINAL THREE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DANIELLE WILSON AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF UNITE HERE, LOCAL 11. WE WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS RO ZENDEJAS AND RICK OTI FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. THIS MONTH, MEASURE RW, WHICH PASSED IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, ESTABLISH AN OLYMPICS MINIMUM WAGE FOR HOTEL WORKERS. TONIGHT, WE URGE YOU TO MATCH THIS WAGE FOR CONCESSION WORKERS. OUR MEMBERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE LONG BEACH HOSPITALITY ECONOMY. IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT HAD THE HIGHEST VOLUME OF PASSENGERS EVER SEEN. CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS HAS INCREASED BY 40%. MEANWHILE, CONCESSION WORKERS ARE MAKING JUST UNDER $18 AN HOUR. AT THIS POVERTY WAGE WORKERS ARE GETTING PUSHED OUT TO THE FURTHEST ENDS OF THE COUNTY AND BEYOND FACING HOURS LONG COMMUTES. THIS IS INHUMANE, UNSUSTAINABLE, AND THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR REGION DEPENDS ON CHANGING COURSE. WE WANNA THANK LONG BEACH FOR CONTINUING TO LEAD THE WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BAN ALL OF YOU. TARIK THE MAAM OF LONG BEACH ISLAMIC CENTER AND MEMBER OF KLO INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION. A SOMETIMES WE HAVE A CONFLICT AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE, BUT ABOUT THAT TOPIC OF THE WORKERS OF LONG BEACH MOTEL, HOTEL, AND MOTEL AND THE AIRPORT, I DO BELIEVE WE ALL SHOULD GET TOGETHER A THIS GROUP OF HARD WORKER PEOPLE. THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR THAT MUCH FROM ISLAMIC AND FROM RELIGION PERSPECTIVE. UH, THE ASKING US RELIGION, ASKING US TO DO NOT KEEP THE WORKER IN A STATE OF NEED. AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU EXAMPLE, DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILS RESPECTFUL, UH, CITY COUNCIL, THAT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE RENT ITEMS ONLY MOVE FROM 25 TO 35 UP. SO I'M ASKING THIS ONE ITEMS FOR THIS VERY HARD WORKER PEOPLE, UH, WE DESERVE TO GET RAISED FOR $23 AND BELIEVE ME, AND IF I'M IN THE POSITION OF YOU GUYS, HONORABLE WORKER, PEOPLE LIKE YOU, I GONNA PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT EVEN MORE. SO I ASK HIM BY THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALLOWED ME TO, UH, SUBMIT THE LETTER IN INTERFAITH CLUE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING THIS REQUEST TO THE CLERK OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, PLEASE. UM, WHO I GONNA, I GONNA LEAVE IT HERE. OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU DEAR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER. MY NAME'S GABRIEL PEREZ. I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH LANE'S LONG BEACH FOR JUST ECONOMY CAMPAIGN AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. WE THANK THE MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS SORROW AND HER COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS ZENECA AND RICK SODI FOR STANDING WITH WORKERS AND LEADING ON THIS ITEM. BOLD LEADERSHIP BOTH BEHIND THE DAYS AND ON THE GROUND, HAS MADE MILESTONES LIKE MEASURE RW POSSIBLE A [02:25:01] HISTORIC VICTORY FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR CITY. WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO UPLIFT THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. WE ARE GRATEFUL THE CITY IS WILLING TO REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR TOURISM WORKERS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THIS INDUSTRY INCLUDES CONCESSION WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT AND CONVENTION CENTER, BOTH OF WHICH ARE SEEING RECORD HIGH ATTENDANCE AND HOSTING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS PAR AND A SM GLOBAL THAT CAN AFFORD TO PAY THEIR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS MODERNIZATION ARE SIMPLE AGENCY AND DIGNITY FOR WORKERS WITH MAJOR WORLD EVENTS ON THE HORIZON. THIS THRIVING INDUSTRY IS GUARANTEED FUTURE GROWTH AND WORKERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT LONG BEACH IS HOSTING THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF OLYMPIC EVENTS IN 20 28, 1 LESS IN LA IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE CITY'S ELEVATE 28 INVESTMENT PLAN HAS SET ASIDE $8 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIRPORT AND 50 MILLION FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER. THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT A LONG-TERM VISION OF DEVELOPMENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. BUT TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE CITY BENEFITS FROM THESE GLOBAL EVENTS, IT'S CRUCIAL TO ALSO INVEST IN THE STABILITY, RETENTION, AND STRENGTH OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE THAT MAKES THEM POSSIBLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BY RAISING WAGES TO KEEP UP WITH A SKYROCKETING UNSUSTAINABLE COST OF LIVING. AS I SAID, THIS IS ALSO ABOUT EQUITY AND AGENCY. IT'S TIME TO FOLLOW THE MANDATE SET BY LONG BEACH VOTERS, TIME AND AGAIN BY EXPANDING THE SAME WEDGE SCHEDULE RECENTLY WON ON THE BALLOT TO AIRPORT WORKERS WHO GREET VISITORS AS THEY ARRIVE IN OUR CITY AND CONVENTION CENTER WORKERS WHO HOST VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE. WE URGE COUNSEL TO ENSURE THAT VITAL WORKERS DO NOT GET LEFT BEHIND. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YES, I, I WANTED TO MENTION EARLIER, UM, TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LENAL FOR AS LETTER OF SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM, AS WELL AS CLUE FOR YOUR LETTER OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, SEEING NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR MIC DOWN, YOU'RE ABOUT TO SPEAK. OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER BRANKA. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE, WE WANT TO GET OUT HERE AT SOME POINT TONIGHT AND WE GOT A WHOLE AGENDA TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH [ 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. ] FOR BEING HERE. THE PROCESS, UH, IS, IS MOVING, AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE YOU BACK WHEN THE STUDY COMES BACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UH, WE'LL NOW GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 10 MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE, UH, THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. KAREN RE RESIDE. LESLIE SANDERS. JOHN JESSE, UH, LET'S SEE. LAURA, LORI HARRIS, FERNANDO GUYTON, UH, ROGER MARTIN HOLMAN, UH, CHRISTIAN, UH, TAPIA. DELGADO FERRELL GOLDEN, UH, AVERY CERVANTES AND FERNANDO DUARTE. SO FIRST UP IS KAREN. HI, KAREN. HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I AM HERE BECAUSE THE LONG I'M KAREN , THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS, [02:30:01] AND WE ARE STARTING A NEW PROGRAM WITH THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY. WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON COLLECTING STORIES FROM SENIORS WITH THE, UM, THOUGHT OF STARTING A COLLECTION HERE LOCALLY AND EVENTUALLY WORKING WITH STORYTELLERS WITH THE NATIONAL, UH, LIBRARY AND, UH, VIDEOTAPING THE STORIES. SENIORS, UM, PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM WITH THE GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLERS WITH, UH, THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. THEY HAD A YOUTH CONFAB. AND WE HAD 20 YOUNG PEOPLE THAT VOLUN VOLUNTARILY INTERVIEWED SENIORS. AND IT SAID IT, THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOST MEANINGFUL THING THAT THEY HAD DONE AS PART OF THE CONFAB. SO WE WANNA DO THIS CITYWIDE. UM, THE STORIES THEY COLLECTED RANGED FROM ENTERTAINERS, A CIRCUS PERFORMER, UM, A CELEBRITY . THEY WERE VERY INCREDIBLE. THESE ARE SENIORS THAT GO TO OUR SENIOR CENTER EVERY DAY. AND, UH, THIS EVENT IS GONNA BE SATURDAY FROM 10 30 TO 1230. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT MONTHLY, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE GUIDED PROMPTS AND, UH, TEACH THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GENEALOGY SO THEY CAN START TO LEARN WHO THEY ARE. AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS WITH THE HELP OF STUDENTS FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH. THE SENIORS ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. UM, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME MUCH LATELY BECAUSE I'VE TAKEN ON A NEW TASK. I'VE BECOME A CAREGIVER, AND I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED ME PERSONALLY. WE HAVE REACHED A TIPPING POINT. I HAVE SOUGHT RESOURCES. THE CITY IS JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE. THERE'S NO ONE PLACE TO GO TO GET RESOURCES. IT'S IMPACTED ME EMOTIONALLY. IT'S IMPACTED ME PHYSICALLY. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT. AND, UH, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL ABOUT SMART PEOPLE. YOU KNOW WHAT A TIPPING POINT IS. MALCOLM GLADWELL MADE IT FAMOUS. IT'S THE POINT AT WHICH THERE'S GONNA BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE. SO, UH, WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT WITH OUR SENIOR POPULATION. UM, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS RECORDING 20 NEW CASES OF SENIOR ABUSE EVERY DAY. WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BEGIN TO HANDLE THESE KINDS OF CASES. WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE AND ONE SOCIAL WORKER FOR 52,000 SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE OVERWHELMED ALMOST EVERY DAY. AND WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? THE SYSTEM IS THE POINT OF COLLAPSING. WE ARE, THIS COUNTY IS HIRING SOCIAL WORKERS AS FAST AS THEY CAN, AND THEY'RE ALSO LOSING THEM ALMOST AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN BE REPLACED. MS. EASTSIDE, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. ATTENTION. THANK YOU. WELL NOTED. WE HAVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT LESLIE SANDERS GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS JOHN JESSE. HELLO, MY NAME'S JOHN JESSE. I LIVE AT 7 3 6 WEST 19TH STREET. I'VE LIVED IN WRIGLEY FOR 35 YEARS NOW. UM, I LOVE IT. IT'S A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, WELL KEPT HOMES, UM, FRIENDLY PEOPLE. I WALK MY DOG FOUR TO FIVE MILES EVERY DAY. I MEET SO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID, AND THEY'RE ALL GREAT PEOPLE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH WRIGLEY IS OUR STREETS. OUR STREETS. WE HAVE POTHOLES. WE HAVE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN DUG UP TO REPLACE SEWERS, TO RE TO DO, UM, INTERNET. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, AND IT'S, IT'S A MESS. AND I, EVERY TIME WE ASK AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN'S, WHEN'S, WHEN'S SOMETHING GONNA HAPPEN? AND WE CALL DOWN TO THE CITY, WE HEAR THAT, WELL, THERE'S NO MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT. OR YOU'RE SCHEDULED, BUT YOU'RE SCHEDULED IN SEVEN YEARS. WELL, THE LAST TIME WE WERE SCHEDULED, THEY GOT DOWN WITHIN TWO, TWO BLOCKS OF PCH COMING, COMING SOUTH, AND THEY STOPPED. IS THERE, IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH PCH? YOU DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIVE WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF PCH? UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD, WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR STREETS ACTUALLY REPAIRED. THEY'VE DONE SLURRY COATS, BUT THAT'S LIKE PUTTING, YOU KNOW, LIPSTICK ON A PIG. IT'S, WE NEED TO DO IT. AND, AND, AND THEN I, AFTER EVERYONE TELLS ME THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, I WENT ONLINE AND I TRIED TO, TO LOOK AT THE LAST AUDIT. [02:35:02] NO, THAT, THAT DOESN'T EXIST. WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE AN AUDIT THAT'S THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THE CITY MONEY IS GOING? UM, UH, UNLESS YOU'VE JUST DONE IT IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO. IT, IT, IT, IT ISN'T THERE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, LIKE I SAID, I LOVE THIS CITY. I LOVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE STREETS FIXED. WE, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU HAVE A STOP SIGN. WE DON'T HAVE THE LINE IN THE STREET. WE DON'T HAVE THE SIGN ON THE STREET. WE DON'T HAVE CROSSWALKS. IT, IT'S FADED. EVEN THE RED CURBS, THEY'RE FADING IT, EVERYTHING'S GOING AWAY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WRIGLEY THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, OR JUST THAT TWO BLOCKS WHERE I HAPPEN TO LIVE. BUT, UM, YEAH, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE UPSET. WE, WE, WE NEED TO SEE SOME CHANGE. WE NEED TO SEE OUR STREETS GET FIXED. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. REAL, REAL QUICK, JOHN. WE LOVE WRIGLEY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, IF HE SIT TO THE SIDE, YOU CAN TALK TO MY, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF. WE'VE DONE THAT ALREADY. WE, WE DO IT THROUGH THE WRIGLEY ASSOCIATION. THERE'S TWO WRIGLEYS. HAVE YOU TALKED TO, YOU'VE, HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM? HMM? HAVE YOU TALKED TO SEAN? WHERE? SEAN? YEAH. YES. MY WIFE KNOWS HIM VERY WELL. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT INTERSECTION IS ON PUBLIC WORKS RADAR. 'CAUSE THE QUESTIONS YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT STRIPING AND ALL THOSE THINGS, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THAT IT'S THERE. ALSO WANT TO WANT YOU TO LOOK AT ELEVATE 20. WE JUST PUT OUT A NEW TRANSPARENT WEBSITE WHERE EVERY STREET YEAH, WE SAW IT. WE'RE NOT ON IT. SO, OKAY, SO YOU'RE NOT, THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT IN THE FIVE YEAR, THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. NO, THAT'S OKAY. THAT MEANS LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE FIND OUT WHERE I, I'M GETTING OLD. I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL BE HERE PAST FIVE YEARS. . I GET IT. I GET IT. BOTTOM LINE. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. OKAY. OKAY. UH, SO THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. TRULY APPRECIATE IT. SEAN, IS SEAN OUT HERE YET? THERE IT IS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU TALK WITH SEAN IN PERSON. UH, AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP AS WELL. WE, WE'VE TALKED TO 'EM AT, AT THE WRIGLEY ASSOCIATION. I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING ON THEIR, THEIR PIECE AS WELL. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THANK YOU TO TALK WITH SEAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. UH, NEXT IS LORI HARRIS. IS LORI HERE GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. NEXT IS FERNANDO GUYTON AFTER FERNANDO IS ROGER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS FERNANDO GATAN. I'M WITH EARTH JUSTICE. UH, IT'S A NONPROFIT, A LEGAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS SEEKING CLEANER OPERATIONS AT OUR PORTS AND OUR RAIL YARDS. WE ER, WE, WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP. UH, AND THE HELP THAT WE NEED IS TO RESIST. HELP US RESIST ATTEMPTS BY POLLUTING INDUSTRIES TO BLOCK CRUCIAL LIFESAVING RULES AT THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR RAIL AND PORTS. WITHOUT A DOUBT, LONG BEACH PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN OUR REGION'S ECONOMY AND ITS CONNECTIONS TO COMMERCE, UH, AND TRADE IS KEY TO THAT SUCCESS. HOWEVER, THOSE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM THE PORTS AND THE RAIL YARDS COME AT A SIGNIFICANT COST TO AIR QUALITY AND MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR MILLIONS OF RESIDENTS TO BREATHE. LONG BEACH RESIDENTS LIVE IN THE COUNTRY'S MOST POLLUTED METRO REGION. UH, REGARDING WITH RESPECT TO OZONE FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, OUR REGION HAS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED A FAILING GRADE WHEN IT COMES TO OZONE ATTAINMENT, UH, AND OTHER POLLUTANTS. EXPOSURE TO PORT RELATED AIR POLLUTION DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. AND OUR PORTS ARE THE SINGLE LARGEST FIXED SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WHILE CARGO LE LEVELS HAVE SURGED, UH, CURRENT REGULATIONS DO NOT ADDRESS THE ASSOCIATED RISE IN POLLUTION LEVELS, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. WE NEED REGULATIONS TO ADDRESS THE POLLUTION FROM FREIGHT HUBS LIKE RAIL YARDS AND PORTS. WE NEED RULES THAT WILL PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PORTS AND THE RAIL YARDS AND HAVE THE, UM, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REDUCE EMISSIONS OVERALL, UH, ACROSS THEIR FACILITIES. UM, INDUSTRY LAW INDUSTRY ALLIED LOBBYISTS HAVE LAUNCHED A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT THESE TWO RULES. UH, AND, UH, THEY'RE CALLED THE INDIRECT SOURCE RULES. ISRS HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS WITH INVESTMENTS IN ZERO EMISSIONS FLEETS AND CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY REDUCING AIR POLLUTION FROM WAREHOUSES. AND MAYOR RICHARDSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE A KMD BOARD HELPS SPUR THAT. THE ISR THAT IS CURRENTLY, UH, HELPING THIS REGION WITH ITS AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS. WE NEED MORE OF THAT LEADERSHIP TODAY. SO WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PLEASE COME, UH, JOIN US IN THE FIGHT FOR CLEAN AIR BY DECLARING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S ADOPTION OF INDIRECT SOURCE RULES FOR RAIL YARDS AND THE BOARDS. THANK YOU. [02:40:02] THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, FERNANDO, THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS ON THE A QMD BOARD WAS VIRTUAL 'CAUSE IT WAS THE PANDEMIC. IT'S MY FIRST TIME ACTUALLY SEEING YOU IN PERSON, SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THIS CHAIR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ROGER, THEN CHRISTIAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, MAYOR, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS ROGER MARTIN HOLMAN AND MY ADDRESS IS ON FILE OF THE CLERK. I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH SINCE 1982 AT FOUR DIFFERENT ADDRESSES BEFORE I MOVED TO THE WEST SIDE WHERE I AM NOW. I LIVED IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND MY LAST COUNCILMAN THERE WAS THE HONORABLE VAL LURCH MAY REST IN PEACE IN AUGUST OF 2004. NOW, ALMOST EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO, COUNCILMAN LURCH ASKED DICK STINKY, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PORT OF LONG BEACH AT THAT TIME, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP EXPANDING THE PORT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE COMMUNITY? STINKY NEVER ANSWERED THAT QUESTION ADEQUATELY. HIS LIMITED AND FRANKLY, BLASE ANSWER WAS SIMPLY, WE WILL EVENTUALLY HIT A SATURATION POINT AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GROW ANYMORE. LONG BEACH CONTINUES TO FAIL MISERABLY AT MEETING SAFE AIR QUALITY LEVELS SET BY THE FEDERAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE SOUTH COAST. A QMD HAS BEEN PROMISING INDIRECT SOURCE RULES SINCE 2016. MAYOR RICHARDSON, YOU, YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT EVERYONE IN WEST CENTRAL AND NORTH LONG BEACH HAVE BEEN BURDENED BY THIS DETRIMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS CAUSED BY PORT AND RAIL POLLUTION. YET YOU HAVE NOT VOCALIZED SUPPORT FOR THESE RULES. TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WHILE THE PORTS OF LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS CLEANING UP THEIR IMPACTS ON OUR LIVES, THEY AND THE RAIL YARDS CONTINUE TO VALUE PROFITS OVER PEOPLE, HEALTH OF THEIR WALLETS, OVER HEALTH OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEY ARE DOING ANYTHING THEY CAN TO STALL AND UNDERMINE THE AQMD'S VIRTUAL, I'M SORRY, VITAL RULEMAKING EFFORTS. THERE ARE LARGE AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ZERO EMISSION PROJECTS. THE PORTS AND RAIL YARDS NEED TO USE THESE FUNDS TO RECTIFY THEIR IMPACTS ON OUR WELLBEING, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. I HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA AND CANCER RATES IN THEIR FAMILIES THAT FAR OUTWEIGH WHAT THE NORM WOULD BE IN OTHER CLEAN CITIES. INDIRECT SOURCE RULES WILL NOT CUT JOBS AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT LONG BEACH'S ECONOMY PROVIDED IS DONE RIGHT. FUNDING FOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES WILL CREATE MORE JOBS WITH HIGHER WAGES. THE IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL ALSO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS AND FUNDING. MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC HEALTH BY URGING THE SOUTH COAST A QMD TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE STRONG INDIRECT SOURCE RULES THAT WILL DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WILDLIFE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. I ASK YOU IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR PAST COLLEAGUE, BELL LURCH, PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP STOP THIS CONTINUING DETRIMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE NAME OF GOODS MOVEMENT FOR BIG BOX SHAREHOLDERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTIAN, AND AFTER CHRISTIAN IS FARRELL. SO CHRISTIAN, YOU'RE, YEAH. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON. UM, LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN DELGADO. I'M A CLIMATE CAMPAIGNER WITH PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT IN A LONG BEACH, UM, DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT FOR OVER 14 YEARS. I AM JOINED TODAY BY FRIENDS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES TO PRESENT A PETITION WITH OVER 100 SIGNATURES. CALLING ON YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON, TO SUPPORT SOUTH COAST A QM D'S PORTS AND RAIL INDIRECT SOURCE RULES. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. MY FAMILY MOVED TO LONG BEACH WHEN I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE. I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY AS A NEW KID AT EDISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE FRIENDS I MADE THAT DAY WHO CONTINUED TO BE PART OF MY LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. I ATTENDED CABRILLO HIGH SCHOOL ON THE WEST SIDE, WHERE I GOT INVOLVED WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT AND LEARNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM FOR THE FIRST TIME. LEARNING ABOUT HOW MY COMMUNITY IS BOXED IN BY POLLUTION, TOXIC REFINERIES, PORTS, FREEWAYS, HAS INSPIRED ME TO ADVOCATE FOR REGULATIONS THAT WILL PROTECT HEALTH OF MY COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE. THIS IS WHY MANY OF US HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO STAND WITH OUR FRONTLINE WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERBURDENED WITH THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC RAIL AND PORT OPERATIONS FOR DECADES. THE SOUTH COAST AQMD'S RAIL IMPORTS IS SR PROVIDE US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDID THESE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES. FOSSIL FUEL SHIPS ARE THE LARGEST, FASTEST GROWING AND MOST UNREGULATED SECTOR OF FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION AT THE SAN PEDRO BAY. PORTS. CARBS ANALYSIS ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIR POLLUTION FROM PORTS AND GOODS, UM, MOVEMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 1,300 PREMATURE DEATHS EVERY YEAR. THAT'S EQUIVALENT [02:45:01] TO THREE PEOPLE DYING PER DAY SIMPLY DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THEIR HOMES IN PROXIMITY TO THESE POLLUTING INDUSTRIES. THERE'S A 17 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY DIFFERENCE FOR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THESE, UM, POLLUTES POLLUTING INDUSTRIES TO THEIR HOMES. UM, AND SO WE NEED LOCALLY, OUR COMMUNITIES NEED THESE REGULATIONS, UM, THAT WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THE DEADLY FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS AND, YOU KNOW, CREATE GREEN JOBS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ZERO EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A STABLE INCOME AND A HEALTHY HOME. GLOBALLY, WE'RE HITTING PLANETARY BOUNDARIES THAT YOU AND CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE WARNED US ABOUT. WE'RE ALREADY EXPERIENCING RECORD HEAT TEMPERATURES, UM, THIS SUMMER, AND IT'S ONLY EXPECTED TO GET WORSE IF WE DON'T ACT SOON. IN A TIME WHERE WE SEE SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AND DIVISIVENESS IN OUR GOVERNMENT, WE NEED COURAGEOUS POLITICAL LIT POLITICAL LEADERSHIP THAT WILL PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. MARY RICHARDSON, CITY OF LONG BEACH, YOUR KNOWLEDGE AS A FORMER A QMD GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER WHO ADVOCATED FOR THE HISTORIC WAREHOUSE ISR AND YOUR COMMITMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS PIVOTAL FOR ENSURING WE PROTECT NOT ONLY LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, BUT ALL, ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, FARRELL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M A DITTO WITH MY PREVIOUS COLLEAGUE. STATED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE WHAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF JIM CROW TYPE POLICIES. WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESIDENTS DEALING WITH THE PORTS, THEY ARE TWO LARGE ROCKS THAT HAVE TO BE CRACKED BECAUSE THE BURDEN NOT TO CRACK THEM IS ON OUR BACKS BY THE PEOPLE OF WEST LONG BEACH AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES OF THE PORT TO CONTINUE TO BEAR AND BLEED TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRODUCTION AT THE PORT. THAT'S THE END RESULTS OF EVERYTHING THEY HAVE SAID IS THAT THE PEOPLE OF THESE COMMUNITIES, WEST LONG BEACH IN PARTICULAR, ARE DYING. THERE IS NO EMPHASIS ON STOPPING THAT DEATH FROM HAPPENING WITH THE CURRENT POLICIES UNLESS YOU FULLY SUPPORT THE A QMD AND THE RULES SHOULD GO TO ATTAINMENT. EVERYTHING THEY DO SHOULD BE ABOUT GETTING US TO ATTAINMENT. THEY WERE GIVEN AN A TASK TO BRING THE OZONE, THE EIGHT HOUR OZONE LEVEL DOWN THREE, FOUR WEEKS AGO, AND THEY FAILED IT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PICTURE OF FAILURE IN TURN FOR THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AT THE PORCH. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO ONE HURTING. AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THE POLLUTION DOWN. WE ARE PROPOSING ANOTHER MAJOR SYSTEM OUT THERE, A MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR WIND AIR. I WOULD LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL TO THINK ABOUT AND DEFINE WHAT DOES DISPROPORTIONATELY AT, AT DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHEN IT COMES TO POLLUTION MEAN? WE ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED ALREADY BY THE POLLUTION AT THE PORT FOR THEM TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN. IT WILL TAKE 50 TO 75 YEARS FOR THIS PORTION OF THE POLLUTION TO SUBSIDE FROM OUR SKIES AND OUR COMMUNITY ADDING MORE POLLUTION TO, IT STARTS GETTING TO THE LEVEL OF IDIOCY. IT IS RISING. ALTHOUGH, HOWEVER ECONOMIC POSSIBLE, HOWEVER ECONOMIC GOOD IT IS, IT IS NOT GOING TO BRING SAFETY AND HEALTH TO WEST LONG BEACH AND OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. IT IS TOTALLY AT A EPIC CONDITION YEAR RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A CITY. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE TO BELIEVE IN JUSTICE AND WHAT'S RIGHT AND APPROPRIATE FOR THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT COMES FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. WE HAVE AVERY, AND THEN FERNANDO. OH, THIS IS TOO HIGH. GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS AVERY CERVANTES. I AM GONNA BE REITERATING A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE ALREADY. UH, BUT LET ME SPEAK MY PIECE HERE. UH, I'M HERE TO CALL ON THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR RICHARDSON TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS ADOPTION [02:50:01] OF STRONG PORTS AND RAIL INDIRECT SOURCE RULES. THIS IS PERSONALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT WITH ASTHMA. I MOVED TO LONG BEACH FROM SOUTHEAST LA IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND I'VE NOTED AN INCREASED NEED TO USE MY RESCUE INHALER. UH, THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE AS YOU MAY WELL KNOW, PORT ADJACENT COMMUNITIES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY EXPERIENCE UP TO EIGHT YEARS SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN, UH, PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY. AND THE NUMBER EIGHT COMES UP AGAIN WHEN RESEARCHING THE EFFECT SUPPORT IN RAIL POLLUTION ON LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. UH, ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OWN DATA, BLACK LONG BEACH RESIDENTS ARE HOSPITALIZED FOR ASTHMA ATTACKS AT EIGHT TIMES THE RATE AS WHITE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. SO REDUCING AND ELIMINATING AIR POLLUTION IS AN URGENT AND NECESSARY STEP IN RECTIFYING DECADES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN 2021. MAYOR RICHARDSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE S-C-A-Q-M-D LED TO THE PASSING OF WAREHOUSE ISR, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REDUCING SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS THAT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS FACE BECAUSE OF POLLUTION. BUT WE DESERVE MORE. I WANT TO STOP USING SO MANY MEDICATIONS TO ALLEVIATE MY ASTHMA SYMPTOMS. OUR LIVES ARE SACRED AND THEY ARE WORTH LIVING IN HEALTH. SO I TRUST THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR RICHARDSON WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S ADOPTION OF STRONG PORT AND RAIL AND DIRECT SOURCE RULES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, I HAVE FERNANDO. HI. I'M A COALITION MEMBER WITH FERNANDO, SO I'LL BE PROVIDING COMMENTS IN HIS PLACE IF THAT'S OKAY. GO FOR IT. OKAY, THANK YOU. WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO THAT THOUGH, BUT IT'S FINE. OKAY. GO FOR IT. SORRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M ALLISON HAM. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNSELS ENVIRONMENT EQUITY AND JUSTICE CENTER. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SIMILAR COMMENTS ON THE PORT AND RAIL AND DIRECT SOURCE RULES. WE'VE KNOWN FOR DECADES THAT POLLUTION FROM THE SOUTH COAST REGIONS RAIL YARDS AND PORTS ARE GRAVELY HARMING FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES. THE PARTICULATE MATTER AND OZONE THAT THESE EMISSION SOURCES CONTRIBUTE TO ARE KNOWN TO LEAD TO MORE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO HEART ATTACKS, AGGRAVATED ASTHMA, DECREASED LUNG FUNCTION, RESTRICTED AIRWAYS, AND EVEN PREMATURE DEATH. ON BEHALF OF IMPACT PROJECT AND NRDC, I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON, FOR ADVANCING AQMD'S WAREHOUSE INDIRECT SOURCE RULE. AS A GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER A FEW YEARS, YEARS AGO, WE'RE CALLING ON YOU TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES, AGAIN, BY PUBLICLY SUPPORTING AQMD'S PORT AND RAIL ISR. AND WE URGE YOU TO ENCOURAGE OTHER SOLID SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DECISION MAKERS TO TAKE THE SAME COURAGEOUS STAND. BOTH RULES OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND ADDITIONAL EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO BRING AIR IN THE SOUTH COAST INTO COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. BOTH, BOTH RULES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR ZERO EMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM THAT WILL POWER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S FREIGHT SECTOR AND LOCK IN A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. WE URGE YOU TO PUSH A QMD TO ADOPT THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE RAIL ISR AND PORT IS SR THIS YEAR TO ELIMINATE FREIGHT POLLUTION AND SAFE LIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THE WAREHOUSE, ISR. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN AND FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. CERTAINLY IMPORTANT ISSUES. EVERYTHING THAT WE HEARD FROM THE, THE, THE STREETS ISSUES, THE PORT AIR QUALITY, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WANNA GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, BUT I DO WANNA SAY FOR THE COUNCIL'S SAKE, UH, THIS IS ABOUT A, A PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSION AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL ON THE A QMD LEVEL. I USED TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME REAL, REAL ISSUES THAT PROMPTED ME TO STEP UP IN TERMS OF, UM, SOME METALS IN THE AIR THAT REALLY PROMPTED ME TO GET INVOLVED. THEN I WILL SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE WAREHOUSE SIT, I CAN'T GET INTO IT A LOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT THE WAREHOUSE ISSUE, I, I SAW THAT AS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NOT REGULATED. THEY'RE A LOT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT COMPANIES. AND THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY WAS THAT. I THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PORTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM BOTH PORTS IN THAT CONVERSATION. THAT WAS MY POSITION ON THE BOARD, AND THAT'S STILL MY POSITION TODAY. BUT WHAT I WANNA TELL YOU IS I, I WANNA MEET WITH YOU ALL. SO I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE PAUL ON MY TEAM TO MEET, UH, SET UP SOME TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IN THE SUMMER THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT FORUM FOR IT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. UM, WE NOW WILL GET TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA. UH, WE HAVE ITEM 51, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. COUNCIL MEMBER YANGA, RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TOWARDS ESTABLISHING AN MOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. [51. 24-54149 Recommendation to request City Manager to work with relevant departments towards establishing a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Long Beach and Union Pacific Railroad.       Office or Department: Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THANK YOU. UH, SO MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND SO WE'RE GLAD TO BRING IT FORTH TONIGHT WITH, UH, [02:55:01] MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERTO URANGA. UH, WE'RE INTRODUCING THIS ITEM THAT WE BELIEVE IS I VITAL TO SAFETY, LIVABILITY, AND WELLBEING OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVING IN PROXIMITY TO UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. NOW BE, TO BE CLEAR, NOT EVERYBODY IN LONG BEACH IS IMPACTED BY THIS, BUT IT DOES IMPACT NORTH LONG BEACH WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES. UH, THIS ITEM REQUESTS THE CITY MANAGER TO COLLABORATE WITH KEY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS LBPD AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AMONG OTHERS, TO ESTABLISH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. SO, WHY, WHAT IS THE IMPACT? THE RAILROAD IS A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS, WHILE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMY. IT ALSO PRESENTS UNIQUE AND PERSISTENT CHALLENGES FOR THOSE LIVING NEARBY. THESE INCLUDE TRESPASSING, ILLEGAL DUMPING, GRAFFITI, ENCAMPMENTS, AND EVEN VIOLENT INCIDENTS. UH, FOR YEARS, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED ALARMING CALLS FROM NEIGHBORS REPORTING TRESPASSING AND ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS AND IN BY INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS, ENCAMPMENTS ALONG THE TRACKS. ADDITIONALLY, UH, FIRES ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY HAVE, UH, ENDANGERED THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF NEARBY RESIDENTS AND THEIR HOMES. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THERE IS A, THERE IS A, A GAS LINE THAT THAT RUNS RIGHT ALONG THAT RAILROAD TRACK THAT EXACERBATES THE DANGER FOR, FOR MANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS. UM, AND WHILE UNION PACIFIC OCCASIONALLY DOES CLEAN UP THE AREA, UM, AND HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CITY, UH, YEARS OF COMMUNICATION HAVE MADE CLEAR FOR A NEED FOR A FORMAL AND LASTING AGREEMENT TO DEAL WITH THE ONGOING ISSUES ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACK. EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY OFFICE LED A WALKTHROUGH ALONG WITH THE, ALONG THE RAILROAD WITH, UH, LONG BEACH PD, OUR HOMELESS SERVICES, THE BUREAU, AND MANY NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM, UM, SUPERVISOR HAN'S OFFICE. THIS ITEM BUILDS ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND SEEKING SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THESE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS. IT FOSTERS A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT APPROACH TO IMPROVING SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO, WHAT ARE THE GOALS? THROUGH THIS MOU, WE CAN WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC. WE HOPE TO, WE'LL WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC TO CREATE A FORMAL PROCESS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES TO DO OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY, CREATE A FORMAL PROCESS FOR LBPD TO ACCESS AND ENFORCE ALONG THE RAILROAD PROPERTY, AND INCREASE THE JOINT CLEANUP AND BEAUTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN THE CITY AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. IN CONCLUSION, BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN ENSURE THE RAILROAD'S OPERATION IN LINE WITH OUR RESIDENTS' NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS. THIS MOU HOPEFULLY WILL, UH, BE A FRAMEWORK FOR ONGOING DIALOGUE, COOPERATION, AND PROBLEM SOLVING. SO, WITH THAT, I URGE MY COL COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO, UM, TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM, UH, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK TOWARD AN, AN AGREEMENT WITH UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL GO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN RICK SOTE. HEY. SINGING. OH, I DIDN'T SEE, OKAY. SORRY. COUNCILMAN BRANKA. IT'S OKAY. I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE AND WE'VE HAD A LONG AGENDA. UM, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ME AND TO THE WESTLAW BEACH AREA, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF ARLINGTON AND, AND, UH, WINMORE MILLAGE, UH, BUT THE, UH, UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY AND I RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRASH, GRAFFITI, AND UNSAFE, UH, ENCAMPMENTS ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY. THIS M OOU WILL HELP US CONDUCT CLEANUPS, GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, AND HELP US PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED, UH, FROM, FROM THE, UH, UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ITEM SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS ALONG THAT, THAT AREA, AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE SEVENTH DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THIS AREA. SO IT'S NOW AGAIN, GOVERNOR AUSTIN FOR BRINGING THIS BOARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TI UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AND I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AUSTIN ARANGO FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. UM, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS. UH, I HAVE SHARED SIMILAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE UNION PACIFIC RIGHT OF WAY WITH STEADY STAFF. UH, THIS MOU COULD POTENTIALLY ADDRESS LONGSTANDING ISSUES FOR RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD. UM, THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AROUND TRESPASSING, GRAFFITI ENCAMPMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AUSTIN AND ORANG [03:00:01] MENTIONED. UM, WE HAVE BEEN LIMITED AS A CITY IN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, UM, DUE TO ISSUES AROUND JURISDICTION AND RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY. UM, AND I KNOW THAT IN 2020, THE CITY OF SAN JOSE ESTABLISHED ITS OWN MOU WITH UNION PACIFIC TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF ITS RESIDENTS. I REALLY DO THINK BY FOLLOWING THIS EXAMPLE, WE CAN CREATE A SAFER, MORE LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT IN LONG BEACH AND REFLECT OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO, AGAIN, HAPPY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AUSTIN AND ORANGA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. AND I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO CLEAN UP THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY. UH, WE HAVE STANDARDS IN LONG BEACH THAT WE EXPECT ENTITIES TO MEET, AND I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO DO WHAT'S IN OUR POWER TO HOLD UNION PACIFIC TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS EVERYONE ELSE IS HELD TO. UM, AND I THINK IT BECOMES EVEN MORE OF A PROBLEM WHEN THERE ARE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED. EXCUSE ME. UH, WE CAN'T LET PEOPLE SLEEP NEAR THE TRAIN. ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP AND YOU WANT THE MOU TO, TO BOTH SAFETY, BEAUTIFICATION, HOMELESS SERVICES, UH, SO MANY THINGS THAT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE UNION PACIFIC FALL IN LINE TO OR, OR WORK WITH US ON. I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND, UM, IT'LL BE A LONG-TERM EFFORT, BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN AND COUNCIL MEMBER IRANA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. UM, FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU STATED, WE KNOW THE RAILROAD TRACKS, UH, AND THE RIGHT OF WAY ARE A SOURCE OF SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UH, DISTRICT FIVE DOES BORDER THE UNION PACIFIC RAIL THERE IN, UH, AT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE EASTERN PART OF THE DISTRICT. UM, AND WE HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS AROUND TRASH AND ENCAMPMENTS AND JURISDICTION. I KNOW WE'RE IN CONVERSATION A LOT, ESPECIALLY WITH HOMELESS SERVICES, UH, ON THE RIGHT OF WAY ALONG CHERRY. UM, AND SO IT'S CLEAR THAT THE ROUTE WE'VE BEEN TAKING HASN'T BEEN AS EFFECTIVE AS IT NEEDS TO BE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO I THINK THIS IS A, A GREAT ITEM, AN IMPORTANT ITEM. UM, AND I WOULD ASK, UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, THAT AS STAFF REPORTS BACK, IF WE COULD, UM, TALK ABOUT A WORKFORCE AND THE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. I KNOW, UM, IN THE ITEM IT TALKS ABOUT, UH, LOOKING AT WAYS FOR POTENTIAL REOR REIMBURSEMENT. UM, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW, LIKE AT OUR CURRENT STAFFING, DO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE ON THAT WORK IF GIVEN THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. SO IF, IF IN THERE YOU COULD ADD THE PLANS OF, UM, OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR US, UM, JUST 'CAUSE WE KNOW, UM, SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN AT THE CURRENT MOMENT AND, AND WHAT WE COULD COMMIT TO IN TERMS OF INCREASED STAFFING, UH, TO GET THE WORK DONE. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. ALRIGHT, UH, WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE, LET'S SEE, THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED TO SPEAK. LUPE VALDEZ, BETTY BELL, AND CARRIE SHAY. IS LUPE HERE SHE IS. ALL RIGHT. COME ON DOWN. LUPE. IS BETTY HERE? DR. BETTY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE NOT UP NEXT, BETTY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME DOWN YET. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MAYOR AND I, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, I'VE WORKED WITH YOUR STAFF A LOT. I WANNA GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF, UM, JUST WHAT UP HAS DONE, BECAUSE I REALIZE SOME OF, I'VE NOT ADDRESSED THIS COUNCIL SINCE YOU MOVED INTO THIS NEW BUILDING. SO I WAS AT YOUR OLD BUILDING ON THIS ISSUE, BUT I KIND OF WANNA GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE DO AND WHERE WE ARE WITH HOMELESS. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS PROBABLY OUR MOST VEXING PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPEN RIGHT OF WAY. I ALSO WANNA EXPLAIN, WE ARE THE OPERATORS AND THE MAINTAINERS. WE ARE NOT THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT ON THE SAN PEDRO SUB, WHICH IS WHAT GOES NORTH AND SOUTH, UH, THAT STARTS UP LIKE LAKEWOOD. UM, YOU KNOW, FROM, UH, CANDLEWOOD AND MARKET WHERE WE HAVE TONS OF ISSUES, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH REGARD TO FOLKS VANDALIZING AND STEALING COPPER, STEALING SIGNS TO TRY TO TAKE THEM IN FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR SCRAP. UM, IN TERMS OF NO TRESPASSING, WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE ON THAT GREEN SOUND WALL THAT'S IN LONG BEACH, FOLKS, WERE INTENTIONALLY LIGHTING FIRES. SO FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD COME OUT, AND I TALKED WITH THIS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CUT THEM A HOLE AND THEN THEY COULD ACCESS THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO WE HAVE SOME CLEAR PROBLEMS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR. AND I JUST WANNA KIND OF GO THROUGH WHAT WE ARE DOING, UH, SO THAT YOU AT LEAST UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE'LL, AND WE ARE VERY OPEN TO TALK TO STAFF. THE MOU THAT WAS DONE WITH SAN JOSE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE STATE WAS DONE BEFORE WE HAD A PROGRAM DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS. SO, UM, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY RAIL, ANY RAIL, COMMUTER RAIL, ET CETERA. IT'S ILLEGAL. THE CITATION IS [03:05:01] A MISDEMEANOR SITE. AND WHILE I DON'T LIKE CITING PEOPLE, MISDEMEANOR SITES ARE NOT PROSECUTED IN LA COUNTY. AND WHILE, AGAIN, THAT'S THE LAST OPTION I WANT, THAT USED TO BE A TOOL THAT WAS A DETERRENT FOR SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE ON PROBATION. I TEND TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEEN HOMELESS AT LEAST FIVE TO 10 YEARS. THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY RECENT FOLKS. AND I GOT THE STATS ALSO FROM, WE ACTUALLY HIRED A NONPROFIT TO DO WHAT I CALL A STREET OUTREACH. IT'S CALLED CITY NET. SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS ORGANIZATION. IT'S WORKED WITH OTHER CITIES IN LA COUNTY. ORANGE, THEY GO EVEN UP TO SANTA BARBARA. I ASKED THEM FOR THE STATS FROM JANUARY. THEY TALKED TO ABOUT 114 PEOPLE. TWO THIRDS WERE MALE, ONE THIRD FEMALE, NO CHILDREN, ALL ADULTS. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ONE PERSON TO TAKE SERVICE TO A HOSPITAL, AND THEY WILL TAKE THEM PERSONALLY TO THE HOSPITAL IF THEY NEED CARE. THEY GOT ONE PERSON TO TAKE SHELTER. THEY REUNIFIED ONE PERSON WITH A FAMILY MEMBER. AND THE FOURTH, UM, UH, FAMILY, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE WAS WILLING TO TAKE SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU FOR WELL, I MEAN, OKAY, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY, RIGHT? THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A, A BIGGER CONVERSATION, RIGHT? UH, AND MAYBE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ISN'T THE RIGHT APPROPRIATE TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT. BUT WE CERTAINLY WELCOME, WELCOME THE ENGAGEMENT, RIGHT? AND BOTTOM LINE IS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE TAKE THESE THINGS VERY SERIOUSLY. ABSOLUTELY. BUT CLEANUPS ALONE AREN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO FORCE THE PEOPLE TO TAKE SERVICE. ABSOLUTELY. AND A HUNDRED PEOPLE DIDN'T TAKE SERVICE. SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE TRYING, UM, SO ANYWAY, I JUST MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE IT IS A WELL NOTED, IT'S A VACCINE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BETTY BELL. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON AND THE COUNCIL ON THE BOARD. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HEARING US AND TAKING OUR CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATION. UM, I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE JACKSON BEHAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE STATE OF UNION, UNION PACIFIC OPERATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH SIDE ON, UH, EIGHTH DISTRICT. NOW, THERE IS ALSO MS. HATTIE HERRING. SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND DR. SHARIFA BASS IS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING OUT MOSTLY EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT ALSO THAT, UM, THERE ARE MAJOR CONCERNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNING THE HOMELESS CONCERNING THE ASSOCIATION, UH, THE, THE RAILROAD. AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT MS. HATTIE SAID. I'M TRYING TO DO THAT REAL FAST. MS. HATTIE HERRON HAS BEEN, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE LONG BEACH, UH, NORTH SIDE LONG BEACH FOR 30 YEARS, AND LAST, THE LAST 24 YEARS, LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE JACKSON PARK. JUST FOR THE RECORD, SHE QUOTES A RESIDENCE OF LONG BEACH SINCE 1960. NOW, BETWEEN MS. HATTIE SHARIFA AND MYSELF, I'LL SAY 87 YEARS IN NORTH LONG BEACH. SO WE ARE NOT NEW TO IT. WE RAISED OUR FAMILIES THERE. UH, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ISSUES. WE ARE. UH, WE KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES. WE TOOK IT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE PUT SOME OF THE MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, AND THEY CAME UP WITH SOME CONCERNS TOO. AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO BRING UP SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS. AND IT WASN'T JUST THE THREE OF US. IT WAS THE COMMUNITY THAT SAW THE CONCERNS. ONE OF THE CONCERNS THEY WANT TO BRING UP, I'M SORRY, REAL QUICK. OH, 53 MINUTES, SECONDS, WHICH YOU HAD ALREADY MENTIONED. TRASH, HOMELESS GRAFFITI AND NOISE POLLUTION. THESE ISSUES ARE VERY, UM, VERY CRITICAL IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE LIVE RIGHT THERE AT THE RAILROAD TRACK. THEIR BACK DOORS ARE RIGHT THERE AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS. AND WE SEE HOMELESS THERE. THERE'S HOMELESS BEING, UH, THEY'RE APPROACHING PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK. ONE APPROACH ME AND THREATEN ME. SO, AND THANK GOD I SAW POLICEMEN OVER AND EYE CONTACT. BUT THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT AND SUPPORT FOR THE MOU AND THE UNION PACIFIC. THERE ARE SOME, DR. UH, BASK SUGGESTED THAT REGULAR [03:10:01] CLEANUP EFFORTS, WHICH YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT IMPLEMENT ROUTINE CLEANUPS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES, UH, ADDRESS, MA'AM, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED. ADDRESS THE ISSUES, SUPPORT THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL. COLLABORATE. BETTY. BETTY, EXCUSE ME. PARDON ME. BETTY. MS. BELL. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS YOUR, YOUR THREE MINUTES, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL NOTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE GOT YOUR, WE, WE GOT IT. NEXT, CARRIE, UH, DEAR AT LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CARRIE CHAI. I AM, UH, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED MOU WITH UNION PACIFIC AND QUIET ZONE FEASIBILITY STUDY. THESE EFFORTS AIM TO ADDRESS AND MITIGATE SEVERAL PERSISTENT ISSUES ALONG UNION PACIFIC RIGHT AWAY, INCLUDING TRESPASSING, ILLEGAL DUMPING, GRAFFITI, VANDALISM, HOMELESS CABINET, AND NOISE POLLUTION. THE CHALLENGES FACED ALONG THE RAILROAD CORRIDOR HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. BY ESTABLISHING THIS MOU, WE CAN LEVERAGE THE COMBINED RESOURCES OF BOTH THE CITY AND UNION PACIFIC TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE AND RESOLVE THESE CONCERNS. THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL NOT ONLY ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT IMPROVE THE AESTHETICS AND OVERALL ENVIRONMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FURTHERMORE, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE FEASIBILITY. SO TO EXPLORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUIET ZONE ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RIGHT OF WAY. IMPLEMENTING A QUIET ZONE WILL GREATLY BENEFIT OUR QUIET LIFE BY REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION FROM TRAIN OPERATIONS, THEREBY ENHANCING THE LIVE LIVABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS STUDY IS A CRUCIAL TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS, COST AND NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. I STRONGLY URGE THE CITY COUNCIL, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MOU, WITH UNION PACIFIC AND INITIATE A FIFTH WAVE STUDY OF THE FOR THE QUIET ZONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO THAT SAT, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCILMAN O YES. I WANNA THANK YOU. UH, THANKS EV EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING, AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMENTS AND, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN KERR FOR, FOR THE, UM, ADDITIONAL, UH, INSTRUCTION. UM, WELL TAKEN. UH, I WOULD, AND THANK YOU FOR UNION SPECIFIC RAILROAD FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. IT, IT MEANS A LOT THAT YOU, YOU SHOWED UP THIS TONIGHT. UH, I WOULD, UH, BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK, UH, NICK, CHIEF OF STAFF AND DISTRICT THREE FOR THE ASSIST. UM, AND, UH, WANT TO JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE IS ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AND ELEVATED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. UH, WE HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM CONGRESSWOMAN, UH, ANNETTE BARAGON, SUPERVISOR JANICE HAN'S OFFICE, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE GIBSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER JOSH LOWENTHAL AND SENATOR LIDO GONZALEZ. THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THESE ARE MUTUAL CONSTITUENCIES, UH, IMPORTANT TO, UM, AND THESE ARE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO, TO US ALL. AND SO, UH, WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE, THE DIALOGUE THIS EVENING AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WHAT COMES FROM, FROM IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. I, I NOTICED THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL, UH, PERSON ADDED. MELISSA. YEAH. ALRIGHT. PLEASE COME FORWARD. SORRY. SOMETIMES IT GET DONE . IT'S OKAY. IT DOESN'T GET TO ME ALL TIME. UM, MY NAME IS MELISSA SANCHEZ. I AM A RESIDENT OF THE EIGHTH DISTRICT, AND I ALSO WORK AS A PROPERTY MANAGER AT A PROPERTY DIRECTLY BEHIND THE RAILROAD. UM, MY PROPERTY IS PROBABLY THE MOST AFFECTED BUILDING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT. UM, THERE'S BEEN SEVEN FIRES, UM, AND THIS YEAR ALONE, UH, THREE OF THEM CAUSED, UH, SEVERE DAMAGE TO OUR STRUCTURE. UM, WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR AVENUES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE RAILROAD TO KIND OF RECTIFY THIS MATTER. UM, BUT THERE SEEMS NOT TO BE ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. UM, SORRY, I'M NERVOUS. , UM, ALL TO SAY, UM, WE HAVE A HIGH RATE OF VACANCIES. EVERYBODY'S MOVING OUT. UM, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR NUMBERS. UH, NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN ANY AREA WHERE THERE'S ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE. WHENEVER THEY DO DO THE CLEANUPS, THEY THROW ALL THEIR STUFF ON TOP OF THE CARPORTS AND THEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DUMP IT BACK. 'CAUSE THEN WE GET FINED. UM, SO WE ARE COMING OUT OF POCKET TO REMOVE THE JUNK FROM THE TOP OF THE CARPORTS. WE HAVE PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PUT, UH, FENCING UP. THE HOMELESS PEOPLE TAKE, TAKE IT DOWN. SO THERE'S JUST, WE'RE LOSING A LOT, A LOT OF MONEY. OUR MY TENANTS ARE VERY IMPATIENT. UH, THEY'RE VERY UPSET WITH THIS WHOLE ENCAMPMENT. IT LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE, UM, A MAD HOUSE BACK THERE. THERE'S RODENT [03:15:01] INFESTATION. IT'S, IT'S JUST REALLY BAD. SO I'M JUST HERE LIKE, PLEASE APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION. IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND FULFILL THEIR DUTIES AS OWNING THIS LAND, THEN JUST LET THE CITY TAKE CARE OF IT. UM, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, I LIKE THIS APPROACH THAT YOU'VE RESEARCHED. THE, THE MOU APPROACH, I THINK IS, IS COLLABORATIVE AND IT, AND IT, AND IT PULLS, IT PULLS, UH, UPN TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD ON WHAT CAN HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S POSSIBLE HERE. I DO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IN THE RIGHTS AWAY, UH, IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT 'CAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THOSE RIGHTS AWAY. WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD CITY THEN YOU'D HAVE LIKE A CALTRANS RIGHT AWAY, RIGHT NEXT TO THE LA RIVER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MANAGED BY LA COUNTY FLOOD. YOU'D HAVE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS RIGHT IN ONE AREA. AND, AND WHEN YOU GO AND DO OUTREACH, SOMETIMES FOLKS WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, PICK UP THEIR ENCAMPMENT AND MOVE IT RIGHT, RIGHT ACROSS THE FENCE TO THE NEXT ENCAMPMENT. AND THEN WE WOULD NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THREE OR FOUR AGENCIES TO GO AND DELIVER SERVICES AND DO OUTREACH TOGETHER. VERY DIFFICULT. I WILL TELL YOU, UH, THERE ARE, UM, CONSISTENT LEVELS OF OUTREACH DOES WORK, UM, AND IT COSTS RESOURCES AND MONEY. AND SO IN ORDER TO SEE SOME LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THERE, THERE WILL NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND UP ABOUT WHERE THOSE RESOURCES WOULD COME FROM FOR MORE CONSISTENT OUTREACH, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING, BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE RESULT RESULTS ACROSS THE REGION WHERE PEOPLE ARE, UH, PAIRING UP RE SORT OF, UH, RESOURCES AND OUTREACH WITH HOUSING. AND THAT COSTS MONEY. AND SO THERE HAS TO BE A REAL CONVERSATION THERE. SO, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, I GOT YOUR BACK ON THIS. SO, UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. UH, 52 WAIT. IS THAT 52 COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A QUIET ZONE ON UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND EXPLORE FUNDING STRATEGIES. ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. UH, THIS IS [52. 24-54150 Recommendation to request City Manager to work with relevant departments to assess the feasibility of a Quiet Zone on Union Pacific Railroad and explore funding strategies.       Office or Department: Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] 2.0. UH, SO THIS IS ALSO RELATED TO OUR RAILROAD, UM, ISSUES, UM, IN NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT, UM, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ANG HAS JOINED ME IN BRINGING FORTH THIS ITEM. UH, WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER, UH, ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A QUIET ZONE ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RIGHT AWAY. THIS WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED RELIEF FROM TRAIN HORN NOISE TO OUR RESIDENTS, BASICALLY NOISE POLLUTION, UM, IN SOME RESPECTS, UH, WHAT IS A QUIET ZONE? THE FEDERAL ROAD RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, UH, DEFINES A QUIET ZONE AS A HALF MILE OR LONGER STRETCH OF A RAIL LINE WHERE TRAIN HORNS ARE NOT ROUTINELY SOUNDED AT CROSSINGS. THIS IS ACHIEVED BY IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES THAT COMPENSATE FOR THE ABSENCE OF A HORN. HOW DOES IT WORK? QUIET ZONES BECOME POSSIBLE BY ADDING SAFETY FEATURES LIKE CROSSING GATES, MEDIANS, AND OTHER WARNING DEVICES. AND THESE, UH, ENSURE THE SAFETY WITHOUT THE NOISE OF A TRAINED HORN. THIS PROPOSAL, UM, PROPOSAL IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY STUDY OF A PARTIAL QUIET ZONE ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RIGHT OF WAY. THIS WAS SILENT TRAIN HORNS BETWEEN 10:00 PM AND 7:00 AM CRUCIAL HOURS FOR SLEEP AND REST. IT'S, UH, ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW, AND ALSO IT'S VERY CONSISTENT. IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR AIRPORT NOISE ORDINANCE. UH, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, TRAIN HORNS ARE FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. HOWEVER, BY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF, UH, THOSE SITUATIONS LIKE TRACKSIDE ENCAMPMENTS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP AND MOU WITHIN UNION PACIFIC, WE CAN WORK TO MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR THESE HORNS AND CREATE MORE PEACEFUL, LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. THIS PARTIAL QUIET ZONE WOULD ALSO COVER TWO PUBLIC CROSSINGS AT THIS POINT. UM, EAST MARKET STREET AND CANDLEWOOD IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND WEST WARDLOW STREET IN DISTRICT SEVEN, THE BENEFITS OF THIS QUIET ZONE, UH, ARE SIGNIFICANT MOST IMMEDIATELY. IT DRASTICALLY REDUCES NOISE POLLUTION, TRAIN HORNS CAN REACH A DEAFENING 110 DECIBELS COMPARABLE TO A LOUD CONCERT. THIS CONSTANT NOISE DISRUPTS SLEEP AND DAILY LIFE FOR RESIDENTS NEAR THE TRACKS. AND A QUIET ZONE WOULD OFFER THEM A MUCH NEEDED BREAK. AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE LIVABILITY IN NORTH LONG BEACH. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM WILL, WILL DO THAT. THIS VISA ABILITY STUDY IS A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP. IT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, COST, AND CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING [03:20:01] A QUIET ZONE. BY INVESTING IN THIS STUDY, WE INVEST IN THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'LL ENGAGE IN STATE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO EXPLORE FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT. WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. AND, UH, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, FOR JOINING ME ON THIS. UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JONI, RICK OTI, IS ALSO DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES AND HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. I WANNA THANK MY STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD AND, AND REALLY BEEN IN GOOD, ENGAGED WITH MY OFFICE, UH, FOR, FOR QUITE A WHILE, UM, FOR US TO GET TO THIS POINT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ASKED YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. YES, THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I WANNA LAND MYSELF WELL IN HIS COMMENTS, AND WE'RE RIGHT ON. AND I TOLD, I AGREE. AND YOU KNOW, ONE THING ABOUT, ABOUT THE, THE NOISE, UH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HORN BETWEEN 10:00 PM AND 7:00 AM IT TRAVELS. IT SEEMS LIKE NOISE IN AT NIGHT TRAVELS FARTHER THAN DURING THE DAY. SO THIS HORN IS, WILL HELP. HOPEFULLY I'LL MAKE SOME OF THAT, THAT, UH, UH, IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT ONLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, BUT BEYOND THAT, I LIVE ABOUT FOUR MILES AWAY FROM THE AREA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I GOING TO HEAR THAT HORN. SO, UH, I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. UM, YES, I HAVE A QUESTION OR, UH, MAYBE CONSIDERATION IF WE COULD LOOK, UH, TO SEE IF, UH, ON THE, THE RAIL TRACK THAT THE TRAIN GOES TO, IF THE NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE SIMILAR ORDINANCE, OR IF THERE IS SUCH, IF THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING OF A QUIET ZONE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING, UM, TO SEE IF THERE, JUST TO MAKE A SPECIFIC REQUEST TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY, UM, ALONG THE TRACKS. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD, I WOULD NOTE, SO SOME OF THIS WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER. IT'S, IT'S FEDERAL, UH, BUT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO LEARN IF THERE WERE DIFFERENT RULES YOU COULD APPLY AT NIGHT. THE, I KNOW THAT JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE PORT, THERE IS AN EFFORT LIKE TO INCREASE RAIL, UH, TO MOVE TRUCKS OFF THE GROUND. SO THE AMOUNT OF RAIL, THE VELOCITY OF RAIL, ALL THAT'S GONNA INCREASE OVER TIME. SO, UM, I THINK AS IT INCREASES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US? AS THEY'RE PULLING MORE TRAINS OUT OF THE PORT, CAN IT BE, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE WAYS TO, TO HAVE DIFFERENT RULES? SO, HMM. OKAY. ANYWAY, ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, COUNCIL, UH, WE LUPE, UM, JUST TO RESPOND TO YOUR, UH, QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S EASIER. 'CAUSE THERE'S A PROCESS SET UP FOR, UM, QUIET ZONES. THE, BY THE FRA, THERE ARE NO PARTIAL QUIET ZONES. IT'S 24 7. SO AS FAR AS I KNOW IN THE COUNTRY, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUIET ZONES. I COVER ARIZONA AND NEVADA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE ARE CITIES THAT HAVE QUIET ZONES. UM, AND THERE ARE 24 7. SO IT'S, YOU, IT, IT GETS TOO CONFUSING FOR THE OPERATORS WHEN YOU TELL THEM THE HOURS BECAUSE IT JUST IS, IS, MAKES IT FOR CONFUSION. SO IT'S 24 7. HOWEVER, AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THERE IS ANYONE ON THE TRACKS OR IF THERE ARE MAINTENANCE WORKERS, IT DOESN'T MATTER. THEY'LL, THEY'LL SOUND THE HORN AS IS A SAFETY DEVICE. THAT'S THE ONLY SAFETY DEVICE THE ENGINEERS HAVE TO PREVENT A CAT, YOU KNOW, A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION IN CALIFORNIA, I HAVE A FATALITY ABOUT EVERY 48 HOURS. IT, IT IS UNFORGIVING. IT PEOPLE ARE ON OUR TRACKS. AND THAT'S ALL OF CALIFORNIA. AND I'M INCLUDING, UM, METROLINK ON THAT RUNS ON UP AS WELL AS AMTRAK. IT IS A VERY, WE ARE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FATALITIES IN CALIFORNIA, AND THAT HORN IS THE ONLY DEVICE THE ENGINEER HAS TO TRY TO AVOID IT. WE CAN'T ALWAYS DO THAT. SO, BUT THE PLAY ZONE IS 24 7. POMONA HAS ONE. THE CITY OF POMONA HAS ONE. AND, UM, THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIES ALONG THIS CORRIDOR. UM, AND YOU'D MENTIONED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN, UM, PUTTING MORE THINGS ON TRAINS. MOST OF THE TRAINS COMING OUTTA THE PORTS DO NOT USE THIS CORRIDOR. THEY USE THE ALAMEDA CORRIDOR BECAUSE OF THE TRENCH. AGAIN, ASSUMING NO EARTHQUAKE, NO OTHER CATASTROPHIC ISSUE. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE COULDN'T [03:25:01] USE THIS IF SOMETHING HAPPENED LIKE THAT, BUT MOST OF THE TRAINS COMING OUTTA THE PARTS GO THROUGH THE ALAMEDA CORRIDOR, IT'S MUCH FASTER FOR THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT THE ALAMEDA CORRIDOR WAS ALL ABOUT. SO AGAIN, BARRING NO EARTHQUAKE OR OTHER THING THAT COULD HAPPEN, UM, MOST OF 'EM USE THE CORRIDOR, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THAT'S 24 7. AND, UH, AND WE WILL SOUND THE HORN IF ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS EXIST. AND THAT'S ALL. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND THE CITY WILL, UM, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THE OTHER THING IS THE PUC IS THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN CALIFORNIA, GIVEN AUTHORITY BY THE FRA TO DEAL WITH WHAT IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE MADE AND HOW MUCH THEY WILL BE BECAUSE THE CITY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE PARTICIPATE IN AS WELL AS SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ALONG THAT, THOSE INTERSECTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE AND PAID FOR BY THE CITY OR BY THE FUNDS THAT YOU BRING IN. OKAY. ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION. YEAH, GO FOR IT. YEAH. SO GLAD WE'RE HAVING THIS DIALOGUE. MM-HMM, . SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THE CITY OF POMONA, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY HAD THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR MITIGATIONS ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS. THAT WOULD, AND AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE ALSO, UM, ASKING OUR, OUR STAFF TO LOOK AT IS, IS OTHER WAYS TO, TO, TO FUND THIS. YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL DOLLARS, STATE DOLLARS AND, AND OTHER, UH, OTHER SUPPORT TO, UH, TO, TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO IT, IT'S NOT JUST, I WANNA BE CLEAR TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT NECESSARILY PULLING THIS, BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD AS A, AS A CITY BURDEN ALONG, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH OUR, OUR, OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS AS WELL, AND COUNTY, RIGHT? AND, AND A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE REALLY AT THE INTERSECTIONS WHERE YOU MAKE THEM AS SAFE AS, YOU KNOW, AS IF THE HORN WAS SOUNDING SO IT, YOU WERE CORRECT MEDIANS, UH, GATE, ARMS, ALL OF THAT. BUT THERE'S ALSO ONGOING SIGNALS TO A QUIET ZONE THAT THE CITY WILL ALSO HAVE TO PAY FOR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A ONE AND DONE. SO I JUST MAKE SURE TO, AGAIN, AS WE FLUSH THAT OUT WITH THE CITY AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, YOU'LL GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THE COST IS. UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE CITY REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. NO PROBLEM. THANKS. GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE FIGURING IT OUT. ALL RIGHT. I ENCOURAGE MORE OF THIS. UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. GOOD. 53 REPORT FROM CITY AUDITOR. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CITY AUDITOR'S REPORT AND PRESENTATION ON THE CLIMATE TRANSITION IMPACT REVIEW TO PREPARE FOR LONG BEACH'S TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL [53. 24-54125 Recommendation to receive and file City Auditor’s report and presentation on the Climate Transition Impact Review to Prepare for Long Beach’s Transition from Fossil Fuel Production and Preserve Critical Infrastructure and City Services.       Office or Department: City Auditor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] PRODUCTION AND PRESERVE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITY SERVICES. ALRIGHT, UH, WHERE IS CITY AUDIT? RIGHT HERE, UH, PAINTING. SO LET ME INTRODUCE, INTRODUCE IT. SO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. LAST YEAR, UH, WHEN WE BEGAN TO ANTICIPATE THE IMPACTS OF SB 1137, UH, WE CAME TOGETHER AND CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED, UH, AN AUDIT, A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THOSE IMPACTS. UH, WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS. OUR CITY AUDITORS STEPPED UP, UH, UH, CONDUCTED THIS AUDIT, UH, RELEASED IT, UH, RECENTLY AND NOW IS HERE. IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE A FULL PRESENTATION TODAY, UH, ON THOSE FINDINGS. SO THAT SAID, UH, MS. AUDITOR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GREAT. IS THERE A SECOND? YEAH, WE'LL GET A MOTION IN A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO, WE, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE OIL EXPERT THAT OUR OFFICE HIRED, UH, TOM WALKER FROM WALKER AND EVANS. HE IS A, UM, A REGISTERED ENGINEER. UH, HE'S A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM EVALUATION ENGINEERS. HE HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN, OVER 25 YEARS OF CONSULTING EXPERIENCE, AND OVER 15 YEARS OF OIL AND GAS CONSULTANTS TO THE, UH, PORT OF LONG BEACH. HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE OIL OPERATIONS TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND HE HAS A REPORT HERE TONIGHT THAT HE'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK UNITE ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION. AND AS MENTIONED, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN OIL AND GAS MATTERS. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK YOU MIGHT UNDER WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAME ABOUT WITH THESE NUMBERS. AND WHEN I DO VALUATION WORK, I BASICALLY START WITH UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE ASSETS ARE THAT I'M LOOKING AT. I THEN FORECAST FUTURE PRODUCTION PRICES, OPERATING EXPENSES, TAXES, AND THEN COME UP WITH A CASH FLOW FORECAST. AND THAT IS THE VERY HIGH LEVEL BASIC PROCESS THAT I UTILIZE TO COME UP WITH THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR REPORT. [03:30:01] AND AFTER LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH COMES FROM OIL AND GAS OWNERSHIP OF MINERAL INTEREST. AND YOU ALSO HAVE REVENUE FROM LAND AND PIPELINE OVERHEAD PAYMENTS, AND YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LIST. ONE OF THE, UM, INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS FORECAST IN FORECASTING PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION DECLINES OVER TIME. AND IN MY FORECAST, I LOOKED AT PRICES. AND IN MY WORK, I DO VALUATION WORK FOR STATE PACS PURPOSES FOR A LOT OF OTHER MEANS. AND I TYPICALLY RELY ON FUTURES PRICES. FUTURES ARE TRADED, UH, PUBLICLY, AND IT'S A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON WHAT BUYERS AND TRADERS SEE FOR OIL PRICES. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUTURES PRICES, AT THE TIME I DID THIS REPORT, THEY WERE GOING DOWN OVER TIME. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN 2023, IT WAS $56 MILLION OF REVENUE TO THE CITY. GOING FORWARD, THAT NUMBER WILL DECLINE. AND THE BIG REASON FOR THAT IS THE DECLINE IN PRODUCTION AND THE DECLINE IN PRICE USED IN THIS FORECAST. A VAST MAJORITY OF THE OWNERSHIP IS IN THE MINERAL AND GAS OWNERSHIP. AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE DECLINING PRODUCTION AND DECLINING PRICE, THE NUMBER WILL DECLINE. SOME OF THE OTHER PIECES AND COMPONENTS LIKE PIPELINES ARE FAIRLY FLAT. UH, REALIZING AGAIN THAT PROP H AND THE GENERAL USE, THE GENERAL PURPOSE TAX, ARE BOTH A PER BARREL TAX. AND THEY WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY PRICE AS MUCH AS THEY WILL BE BY PRODUCTION. AND SOMETHING LIKE THE UTILITY USERS TAX, WHICH IS ELECTRICITY TAX, YOU HAVE TO LIFT OIL AND WATER FROM THE GROUND WHEN YOU PRODUCE OIL AND WATER PRODUCTION IS NOT DECLINING THAT MUCH, THEREFORE THAT TAX REVENUE WILL NOT DECLINE AS MUCH. BUT AGAIN, THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE MINERALS WILL BE THE DRIVER FOR THE DECLINE OVER TIME. AND AGAIN, SB 1137, YOU KNOW, WAS IT'S NOW IMPACT. IT'S NOW IN EFFECT, OPERATORS ARE NOW BEING GIVEN TIMELINES TO COMPLY WITH THAT. AND THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON FUTURE WELL WORK THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT FROM CAL GYM, THE REGULATORY AGENCY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE THE ANNUAL NUMBERS THAT WENT INTO THE PREVIOUSLY SHOWN GRAPH. THE ANNUAL DECREASE IN REVENUE WILL GO FROM 8 MILLION IN 2024, UP TO 35 MILLION IN 2035. THE LAST YEAR THAT WAS ANALYZED IN THE REVIEW AND THE CUMULATIVE NUMBER INCLUDED, THE EFFECT OF SB 1137 WILL BE OVER $301 MILLION. AND FOR YOUR PURPOSES, THIS IS WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES TO. YOU HAVE THAILANDS GOING TO LIFEGUARDS, BEACH MAINTENANCE, PEDESTRIAN PATH FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PLAYGROUNDS, GENERAL FUND, POLICE, FIRE AND SAFETY PARKS AND REC AND LIBRARY SERVICES. THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST POOLS OF MONEY. AND BOTH OF THOSE POOLS OR MONEY ARE PRIMARILY SOURCED FROM THE MINERAL AND GAS OWNERSHIP. AND THEY WILL BOTH DECLINE OVER TIME. AND I'VE TRIED TO KEEP IT REALLY BRIEF 'CAUSE I'M SUSPECTING THAT YOU'LL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I STAND HERE READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M SURE THAT WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS. I'LL JUST SAY WE, WE, WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS DECLINING REVENUE WHEN WE COMPLETED OUR CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION PLAN, UH, IN LONG BEACH. AND WE PROJECTED TO PREPARE FOR 2035. THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ACCELERATED SOME OF THAT. UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT LONG BEACH'S FUNDED CORE SERVICES BASED ON THIS REVENUE FOR A LONG TIME. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO CONTINUE PLANNING FOR THAT WHEN YOU SEE THAT, THAT STEEP CURVE THAT'S COMING. UH, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER HAS A FRIEND HAS A A, A A THING. SHE SAYS, WHEN YOU SEE THE WRECKING BALL COMING, GET OUT THE WAY. RIGHT? AND SO I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, UM, TO PREPARE FOR IT, IDENTIFY NEW REVENUE, PARTICULARLY IN, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL FUND AND TITLES TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGE, THOSE CHALLENGES ARE IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. I THINK SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, DEALS THAT WE'VE CUT, LOOPHOLES THAT WE'VE CREATED FOR PEOPLE, CARVE OUTS, EXEMPTIONS, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT STUFF ANYMORE. I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY HAVE A REAL PLAN TO, UH, TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE REVENUES. ALSO, JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE, IN THE CITY AND THE SUPPORT THEY'RE RECEIVING ABOUT THIS TRANSITION. MOST RECENTLY, UM, I WAS, I WAS, UH, SELECTED TO BE A PART OF A LARGE INTERNATIONAL COHORT OF MAYORS WHO ARE TAKING ON BIG CHALLENGES IN THEIR CITY THROUGH BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES. AND, UH, WE ALL TOOK ON A BIG CHALLENGE. SOME WERE DOING WATER QUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND WE WERE TAKING ON THIS CLIMATE TRANSITION, AND WE PICKED A COLLABORATION TRACK, AND WE WERE ABLE TO [03:35:01] SEND, UH, CITY STAFF FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO NEW YORK TO HELP FIGURE OUT THIS CHALLENGE AND THIS PROBLEM. AND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ARE, ARE BEGINNING TO COME OUT. SO STRATEGIES AROUND GROW LONG BEACH LEGISLATION IN THE STATE ABOUT, UH, SUPERFUND, THE, UH, OIL AND GAS, UH, TRUST FUND, UM, UH, ABANDONMENT FUND AND, AND OTHER STRATEGIES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEPLOY AND EXPLORE IN YEARS TO COME. SO WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS CONTI, THIS SPIRIT OF, UH, OF COLLABORATION, UM, THE, THE LA BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IMPACTS FOLKS. YOU KNOW, YOU WILL HAVE LABOR WHO WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT THE JOB IMPACTS. YOU WILL HAVE RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT SERVICES. YOU'LL HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WHO SAY, HEY, IT, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR TOO LONG ANYWAY, AND WE HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO REALLY SUCCESSFULLY TURN THE CORNER. LAST THING I'LL JUST SAY IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AT EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE UNIQUE. WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW JURISDICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THE BIGGEST OIL FIELD IN NORTH AMERICA, IN THE WILMINGTON, UH, OIL FIELD. AND WE, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE LANDS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MOST, UH, JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN WE SEE THESE IMPACTS, FOLKS MAY ATTRIBUTE IT TO ONE THING OR THE OTHER, BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE, WE WILL HAVE SOME IMPACTS TO OUR SERVICES BASED ON OIL. WE HAVE TO DO MORE EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THIS. AND WHEN WE ASK THEM TO STEP UP HERE OR CHANGE THE WAY WE'VE DONE THINGS THERE, IT MAY BE BECAUSE WE ARE NO LONGER GONNA BE, UH, A OIL PROVIDENCE IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE FOR THE LAST CENTURY. AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CANDID WITH OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT AND THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU. FIRST, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK, UH, AUDITOR AL FOR THIS VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION. UM, AND ALSO, UH, WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR THIS TRANSITION BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY DISTRICT. ONE HOSTS PART OF OUR COASTAL LINE AND OUR THAILAND'S FUND, UM, AND HAS BEEN, AND IT HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN MAINTAINING OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND WATERWAYS. DISTRICT ONE IS ALSO HOME TO THUMBS ISLAND, AND THEREFORE, THE COMPANIES WHO OPERATE OUR OIL SITES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDE UNION WORKERS, WE KNEW THAT THIS TRANSITION WOULD COME WITH GREAT FINANCIAL IMPACTS TO US CITYWIDE, UM, OUR CHALLENGES, OUR CHALLENGES TO CREATE A NEW SYSTEM AND FIND NEW REVENUE SOURCES FOR, UM, THE PROJECT SHORTFALL. IT IS HELPFUL THAT THIS PRESENTATION IDENTIFIES THE IMPACTED AREAS AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE NEED TO FILL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, I SEE NOTED IN THE ITEM THAT IN THE PRESENTATION, UM, THAT STATE'S ABANDONMENT RESERVE CONTRIBUTION IS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER ITS SHARE OF OBLIGATIONS. HAVE WE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THIS? OR WOULD YOU KNOW THAT SO THAT I THINK THAT'S MORE APPROPRIATE FOR STAFF TO ANSWER? TOM, YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? YES, THAT'S BEEN A, UH, VERY SIGNIFICANT TOPIC OF DEBATE. UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING FOR THE PAST, I'M GONNA SAY 5, 6, 7 YEARS TO GET, UM, THE CAP ON HOW MUCH THE STATE WILL PUT ASIDE FOR THEIR ABANDONMENT LIFTED. AND THAT ACTUALLY DID GET LIFTED, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR. UH, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO ASK THE STATE. SO WE'RE ON TRACK TO DO OUR SHARE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ABANDONMENT LIABILITY IS WITH THE STATE OF LONG OR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NOW. AND I'LL, AND I'LL ADD, ONCE YOU LIFT THE CAP, YOU, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT THE MONEY IN. MM-HMM. , RIGHT? SO THE STATE IS SETTING ASIDE ABOUT $2 MILLION A MONTH. SO 24 MILLION A YEAR INTO THAT FUND AT THAT PACE, YOU, IT'S GONNA TAKE US 30, 35 YEARS TO GET TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THE COST IS GONNA BE MUCH HIGHER FOR THE ABANDONMENT LIABILITY BY THEN WHEN YOU FACTOR IN INFLATION AND OTHER THINGS. AND SO THERE'S A BILL RIGHT NOW, SB 1425 THAT THE CITY SPONSORED, AND THIS IS CARRIED BY SENATOR GONZALEZ TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT GOES IN MONTHLY. I THINK WE REQUESTED LIKE $11 MILLION. I THINK IT'S SITTING AT MAYBE 5 MILLION PAUL. MM-HMM. SO THE, THE PROPOSAL IS TO GO FROM 2 MILLION A MONTH TO 5 MILLION A MONTH, WHICH HELPS, BUT IT'S LIKELY A, WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA MAKE IT THROUGH THIS LEGISLATIVE CYCLE IS PROBABLY GONNA BE ON SUSPENSE A TWO YEAR BILL. UH, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS, UH, IMPORTANT TO US. BUT I WILL NOTE THAT'S THE STATE'S LIABILITY. MM-HMM. , WE HAVE OUR LIABILITY TOO. SO TOM, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF IT IS OUR LIABILITY? OH, I DON'T, DIDN'T BRING THE PERCENTAGES, [03:40:01] BUT WE'RE ON TRACK TO BASICALLY PAY IT DOWN, UM, BY 2035. SO THAT HAS BEEN OUR COMMITMENT. WE MADE THAT, UH, TOUGH CHOICE. WE'VE BEEN SETTING ASIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY. UM, BUT IT'S, IF I HAD TO WAGE YOUR GUESS, WHO WERE PROBABLY 20%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, 2030. THEY'RE MORE LIKE 70% OF THE LIABILITY. SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE BIGGER SHARE. THEY'RE NOT ON, ON TRACK TO COVER THEIRS. WE'RE ON TRACK TO COVER OUR, OUR LIABILITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU STAFF AGAIN. ALSO, MAY THIS PROBABLY THIS MOST LIKELY ALSO GOES TO STAFF, UM, AS WE KNOW, UM, THE OIL REVENUE THAT HELPED US A LOT WITH SOME OF OUR PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY THE BEACH MOBILITY MAT, UH, OUR SHORELINE WALKING PATH AND OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS. UM, HOW WILL WE CONSIDER, UM, THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD? YEAH, THAT'S GONNA BE THE CHALLENGE. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GONNA HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO INVEST, 'CAUSE ALMOST ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ENJOYED ON THE BEACH, ALL THE NEW FACILITIES HAVE COME PRIMARILY FROM, FROM OIL REVENUES FOR THE CAPITAL. AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE IS IN THE CA IN THE TIDELANDS FUND, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY, UH, OIL REVENUE, BUT ALSO BY PORT OF LONG BEACH TRANSFER. UM, AND THINGS LIKE PARKING FEES. AND SO, UH, UH, IN MOST CITIES, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, CREATE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE TIDELANDS. IT'S NORMALLY SUBSIDIZED BY THE GENERAL FUND. SO IN MOST CITIES, THE BEACH AREA IS SUBSIDIZED BY THE GENERAL FUND. AND, UH, SO WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO AVOID THAT. UH, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE GROW LONG BEACH STRATEGY AND, AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GROW OUR REVENUES TO CONTINUE THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE AND THE CONTINUED CA CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WE'RE GONNA NEED. THANK YOU. I, I KNOW THAT IT IS A CHALLENGE AND THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON IT, AND THAT WILL BE CONTINUED TO DO ON IT. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION ALSO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SUPER. UH, THANK YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK LAURA DOWN FOR THIS, UM, REPORT. AND, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF ANOTHER TOPIC MORE IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE CITY. IT, IT IS, IS THAT SERIOUS? ABSOLUTELY. SO I, I, I THINK, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE DID THIS IN THE FIRST ROUND, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A REPORT THAT SHOULD BE ONGOING. WE, WE HEAR BACK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INCREMENT IS, BUT LET'S, LET'S BRING THAT BACK SO WE MAKE SURE WE, WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THIS. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. SO, UH, SO THANK YOU, UH, THANK YOU CITY AUDITOR DOW GREAT TEAMWORK. UH, THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SUPER NA THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE, CLOSE EYE ON THIS. THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRANSITION OUR CITY GOES THROUGH OVER THE NEXT DECADE. UH, IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT. MAYOR, ALL SET. OH, I DIDN'T SEE, UM, FORGIVE ME, DID YOU JUST CUE COUNCILMAN DUGGAN? COUPLE MINUTES. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. VERY SUCCINCT, WRAPPING A LOT OF INFORMATION IN, AND THANK YOU AUDITOR DOW FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK IT'S REALLY TIMELY. UM, YOUR QUESTIONING COUNCILWOMAN AND DEJAS WAS, UH, EXCELLENT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS GONNA ASK. AND THIS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR OUR TIDELANDS FUNDS. UM, AND, AND IT, THIS IS CONCERNING, BUT IT DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE. I THINK WE WERE ALL EXPECTING THIS. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN BRIEFLY, UM, ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE REFERENDUM GOT PULLED, THIS IS NOT GOING TO THE BALLOT. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PUBLIC? I'LL DO MY BEST. UM, SO, UH, THERE WAS A GROUP THAT HAD BEEN LOOKING, UH, TO PUT A BALLOT IN FRONT OF VOTERS, UH, TO BASICALLY COMBAT 1137 AND HAVE VOTERS DECIDE. UH, THEY, UH, ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO PULL THAT MEASURE, UH, AND FOCUS ON A LEGAL STRATEGY INSTEAD. UM, SO, UH, THAT HAS BEEN POLLED. IT'S SOMETHING, MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S NOT IN FRONT OF VOTERS IN NOVEMBER. AND, UH, BUT THE LEGAL DEBATE ON 1137, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAKING CLAUSE OF, UM, UH, THAT'S IN THE BILL AND, AND THE, UH, TAKING PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE COMPENSATION, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE LEGAL, UM, UH, DEBATE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN ONE MORE TIME ABOUT, AS THE REVENUE GOES DOWN YEARLY, THAT'S BECAUSE OF LESS PRODUCTION? WHAT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONING? AGAIN, YOU GAVE THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION. IT'S A COMBINATION OF DROPPING PRODUCTION OVER TIME. AND I BELIEVE THAT IN THE, UH, LONG BEACH ENERGY RESOURCES, UH, PUBLICATIONS, I MENTIONED A 6% ANNUAL DECLINE. MM-HMM. . AND WHEN I LOOKED UP THE HISTORICAL DATA, THAT WAS THE SAME NUMBER THAT I DERIVED. AND ALSO WITH, UH, SB 1137, I THINK THE REVIEW INCREASED THAT DECLINE OVER TIME FROM 6% A YEAR TO 12% A YEAR. AND THAT WAS [03:45:01] A BIG PIECE OF IT. ALSO, MY METHODOLOGY AND EMPLOYED THE USE OF, UH, CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE, BRENT NOR SEA FUTURES PRICES. AND IF YOU WERE TO GO IN THE PAPER, WHAT THEY ALL TALK ABOUT IS NEAR MONTH CONTRACT FOR WEST TEXAS, AND IMMEDIATE, BUT DON'T WANNA GET TOO TECHIE. BUT IF YOU LOOK OVER TIME, THE NEAR MONTH WOULD BE IN THE UPPER EIGHT, MID TO UPPER EIGHTIES BY THE END OF THE, UM, TRADED FUTURES. IT'S IN THE UPPER FIFTIES TO LOW SIXTIES. AND SO OVER TIME, THAT HAS A BIG PLAY WITH THE REVENUE DECLINE ALSO. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'LL, NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT TWO SPEAKERS, SONAI, KEN FEY AND ISAAC MARTINEZ. SO SLIDE CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT PRESIDENT, UH, THANK YOU TO THE CITY AUDITOR FOR HER REPORT. AND THE, THE GENTLEMAN THAT DID THE PRESENTATION, UM, I'M, UH, TO BE CONCERNED, COUNCILMAN SUPER NAS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT . WE, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, IT'S NOT EVEN JUST ABOUT THE, THE OIL REVENUE THAT WE'RE LOSING OUT ON, IT'S ABOUT THE ENERGY STORAGE THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN AWARE, AWARE OF. UH, CURRENTLY IN LA COUNTY, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, ENOUGH POWER TO SUSTAIN 680,000 HOMES, UH, FOR FOUR HOURS. SO THERE'S ABOUT 3.3 MILLION HOMES IN LA COUNTY, AND USUALLY THEY NEED TO RUN FOR MORE THAN FOUR HOURS. SO AS WE BUILD OUT THIS ELECTRIFIED GRID, UH, I KNOW WE'RE ALL WITNESSING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HOUSTON, AND I KNOW BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE POLITICAL BINARY, WE'RE LIKE, OH, LOOK AT THOSE REPUBLICANS. THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO, YOU KNOW, THE AC AND DC AND NICOLA TESLA AND THOMAS EDISON, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PLAYING THIS WAR RIGHT NOW. THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT WHEN WE START TO ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING, WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH THE SAME THING, UH, TENFOLD. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE, UH, WE, I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, MR. GARNER, YOU KNOW, HE'S, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU EARN THAT 300 K, 300 PLUS K, BUT YOU KNOW, HE'LL TELL YOU, WE ARE NOT PREPARED. WE'RE NOT READY 2035. I KNOW ABOUT THIS LAWSUIT. UH, I, YOU KNOW, I'M ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. I WANT US TO BE SAFE. I WANT TO LIVE IN, IN A, A WORLD WHERE WE'RE LESS FOSSIL FUEL INTENSIVE, BUT IN THE MIDST OF DECARBONIZING, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT PREPARED WHATSOEVER FOR WHAT'S TO COME. AND, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PAUL OR TYLER TO GO TO DC AND GO GET US THE REAL MONEY. 'CAUSE $2 MILLION, $5 MILLION, WE NEED LIKE $50 MILLION A MONTH FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS EASILY TO COME TO, TO NEED WHAT WE NEED TO, TO DECARBONIZE. I MEAN, FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, COBALT, WHICH IS 70% OF, UH, OF IT COMING OUT THE, THE, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. I MEAN, THEY'RE PAYING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, $10 A DAY. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CHEAP. WHEN WE START TO ELECTRIFY EVERYTHING, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY THOSE PEOPLE LIKE $10,000 A DAY TO, TO DO THE ARTISANAL MINING IN ORDER TO MEET DEMAND. AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED. AND, UH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET, UH, SOME TYPE OF COMMITTEE YOU GUYS CAN ESTABLISH TO GO GET THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, NOT HERE, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS HERE, BUT NATIONWIDE. UM, BUT, UH, GOOD LUCK MR. GARNER. I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF YOUR FIRST TASKS WITH YOUR NEW CHECK. ALRIGHT. WE NEED TO BORROW ABOUT A TRILLION DOLLARS FROM YOU. SO I ALL, UH, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. UH, HELLO. COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, AND MR. MAYOR REX RICHARDSON. MY NAME'S ISAAC MARTINEZ. I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE. UH, SO I APPRECIATE THE CITY STARTING TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION, BUT ALSO, UM, PAGE 18 OF THE 177 PAGE REPORT SAYS THAT THIS AUDIT WAS NOT CONDUCTED WITH THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED GOVERNMENT AUDIT STANDARDS, BUT RATHER A LIMITED SCOPE. SO I STILL APPRECIATE THE, UH, WORK THAT THE AUDITOR HAS DONE, UH, BUT ALSO, LIKE YOU GUYS AT ALL, JUST SAID THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. SO THE CAP WAS PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL, I BELIEVE, IN, UH, 2022. AND TWO YEARS LATER WE'RE GETTING A LIMITED SCOPE AUDIT ON WHAT, UM, WHAT THE, WHAT'S THE CITY RELIES ON WITH OIL. SO, UH, WHY DID I GET NERVOUS RIGHT NOW? UM, SO ANYWAY, UH, WITH ALL EYES IN LONG BEACH IN 2028 FOR THE OLYMPICS, UH, WE'RE MISSING ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE GREEN FUTURE'S POSSIBLE. UM, LIKE REX'S MOM SAYS, IF YOU SEE THE WRECKING BALLS COMING, GET [03:50:01] OUT THE WAY. SO, UM, THE WRECKING BALL'S DUE TO HIT IN 2030, AND WE'RE STILL PLANNING FOR 2035, SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE, UH, YOU KNOW, PUTTING MORE ATTENTION ON THIS. YEAH, I SHOULD JUST STUCK TO THE SCRIPT. THANK YOU. IT'S A TOP PRIORITY FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. FOR THE COUNCIL DIALOGUE MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE PRESENTATION. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 54, PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY AUDITOR RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION RECYCLING PROGRAM, PERFORMANCE AUDIT CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, [54. 24-54113 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Construction & Demolition Recycling Program Performance Audit conducted by the Long Beach City Auditor’s Office. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Auditor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] UH, EXCUSE ME, , UH, UM, CITY AUDITOR DOUBT. I HEAR YOU, YOU FOUND SOME MONEY, . YES. THANK YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE WITH YOU THIS EVENING. WE'LL JUST DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION HERE. ABSOLUTELY. UM, I HAVE A QUICK LITTLE POWERPOINT, BUT, UM, I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT OUR, OUR AUDIT ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION, UM, RECYCLING PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AUDIT. AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THIS AUDIT IDENTIFIED $9.2 MILLION THAT WAS, THAT WAS IN THIS FUND, UM, THAT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BE USED AS REVENUE TO BE, UH, USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD'VE BEEN USED BY THE GENERAL FUND, UM, ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION RECYCLING PROGRAM. UM, IT IS, UM, A COUPLE OF THE PROJECTS THAT I THINK YOU WOULD FIND, UH, INTERESTING THAT SO FAR THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR HAS BEEN THE WRIGLEY GREENBELT PARK PROJECT. UM, IT RESULTED IN AN INCREASE OF AT LEAST 165 TREES ON THE PROJECT SITE. THERE'S ALSO BEEN USED, UM, THE MONEY, UM, THAT WAS FORFEITED THIS, THIS MONEY THAT IS USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE WARDLOW LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED INTO A VALUABLE RECREATIONAL SPACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY PARK, PLAYGROUND, PICNIC AREAS, WALKING TRAILS, ET CETERA, AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PRACTICES, AS WELL AS THE LINCOLN PARK. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, PROJECTS THAT QUALIFY UNDERNEATH THIS PROGRAM. UM, WE ALSO JUST WANTED TO SHOW THIS SLIDE HERE THAT WE IDENTIFIED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION ACCOUNT. AND WE SAW THAT THE FACT THAT THESE DEPOSITS WERE GOING UP AN ACCUMULATION OF THESE DEPOSITS. SO WE LOOKED FURTHER INTO IT AND AS A RESULT, UM, WE FOUND THAT THERE, THERE HADN'T BEEN A RECONCILIATION OF THIS ACCOUNT SINCE THE INITIATION IN 2007. SO THIS, UH, THIS PROGRAM THAT THE CITY ESTABLISHED IN 2007 WAS, UM, BASICALLY TO, UH, ENCOURAGE OF COURSE RECYCLING OF MATERIALS AND DIVERT IT FROM THE LANDFILLS. AND SO THESE, THESE DEVELOPERS WOULD GIVE THE CITY A, A DEPOSIT, AND IF THEY MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DIVERTING AND RECYCLING THIS, UH, THESE MATERIALS, THE CITY WOULD GIVE THEM THEIR DEPOSIT BACK. AND IF THEY DIDN'T, THEN THE CITY WOULD HOLD ONTO IT. AND AFTER 30 DAYS, THE CITY IS, UH, ALLOWED TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. SO OUR OFFICE DID A VERY, VERY INTENSE, UM, RECONCILIATION OF THIS, OF THIS ACCOUNT. AND IT WAS QUITE LABOR INTENSIVE, VERY DETAILED, WENT INTO A VERY DEEP ANALYSIS ACCORDING TO THE PROJECTS AND THE PERMITS AND THE TIMING AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS. AND ANYWAY, UH, THROUGH A VERY LABORIOUS PROCESS, WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT $9.2 MILLION WAS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY. AND AS AN AUDITOR, WE CAN'T BE WRONG. SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS, THIS WAS CONFIRMED AND DOUBLE CONFIRMED THAT IT IS, UH, THE CITY'S MONEY AND CAN BE NOW USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. UM, SO WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT TO YOU THIS EVENING. AND OUR AUDIT RECOMMENDED TO, TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO REVENUE THAT CAN BE USED FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS AND THAT THE CITY DO RECONCILIATIONS ANNUALLY TO KEEP, TO KEEP UP ON THIS. UM, SO THE MONEY CAN BE USED APPROPRIATELY AND TIMELY AND TO UPDATE THE CITY ORDINANCE REGARDING TIMELINES. UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE LEEWAY THAT THE CITY GAVE TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY. AND THAT'S FINE. UM, BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE, WE OUGHT TO STICK WITH THE ORDINANCE. AND IF WE FEEL AS A CITY IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED, WE CAN EXTEND IT AND STICK WITH THAT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUR AUDIT MADE AND, UM, WE'RE VERY PLEASED REPORT THIS THIS EVENING AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, [03:55:01] WELL, WELL, CITY AUDITOR DOW, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, GOVERNMENT DOING WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO. WE ESTABLISHED A CHARTER AND CREATED THE CITY AUDITOR TO HAVE A PUT AN EYE ON THE MONEY AND TO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE BETTER PRACTICES NEED TO BE OUT THERE, HIGHLIGHT AND CALL IT OUT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. UH, YOU ALL ARE COOPERATING AND ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, WE KNOW THAT THEY KNEW THE MONEY WAS THERE, RIGHT? SO THE MONEY'S, THE MONEY'S THERE. THEY KNEW THE MONEY'S THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF US KNEW WHAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW IT COULD BE USED AND THE YEARLY RECONCILIATION AND THESE PRACTICES. SO I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND I, I NEGLECTED TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE COOPERATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CHRIS KONZ AND HIS STAFF FOR ASSISTING. WE HAVE A GREAT AUDITOR AND GREAT CITY TEAM WAS A GREAT COOPERATION TEAM EFFORT. ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BEHIND THE RAIL COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA QUESTIONS? NO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, NO QUESTIONS. UM, CITY MANAGER MOCA, I THINK YOU INDICATED, UH, IN OUR BRIEFING THAT SOME OF THIS FUNDING WAS ALSO USED FOR WILLOW SPRINGS PARK AS WELL. YEAH, SO LAURA HAD TAKEN A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EXAMPLES SHE'D GIVEN YOU. WE'VE ALSO HAD, THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THERE TOO. SO IN THE LAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, UM, HAVE ALSO COME FROM THIS, UH, AS WE INVEST IN SOME OF OUR MOST DEGRADED KIND OF, UM, UH, PARK PROJECTS. GREAT. THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. FANTASTIC. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, CITY AUDITOR, UH, FOR, FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND FOR THIS FINE THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WOW, CHRISTMAS. UM, BUT FOR A LOT OF, UM, THE, THE BUILDINGS AND PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF FUNDING, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS FUNDING BE SPENT EQUITABLE IN AREAS UNDERSERVED IN LONG BEACH AND OUR AGING FACILITIES. SO I AGREE WITH THAT. AND ALSO FILLING IT IN THE GAP FOR CRITICAL PROJECTS THAT ALREADY ARE IN THE PIPELINE. UM, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, OUR SENIOR CENTER AT THE, AT 1 25 ELM AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, PROJECTS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS. FINE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS. AND I LOOK FORWARD, UM, TO STAFF BEING ABLE TO CREATE A PRIORITY OF THE LIST, A LIST OF PRIORITIES, UM, THAT WILL OUTLINE, UM, ALL OF THE BENEFITS THAT WILL COME FROM THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. OH, THANKS FOR ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. MM-HMM. AND ALL THE WORK THAT, UH, HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS AUDIT. UM, I THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN ELECTED, UH, CITY AUDITOR, UM, IS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THESE TYPES OF ACCOUNTS AND SEE THINGS THAT MAYBE OTHERS CANNOT. SO THAT'S GREAT. AND IT'S GREAT THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOU ARE ALL ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER. UM, SO HOW AMAZING YOU AND YOUR STAFF REALLY LOCATED 9.2 THAT WAS THERE SUCH GOOD WORK? 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE DEFICITS AS WE CAN SEE COMING UP. UM, SO HOW IS THIS ACCOUNT DIFFERENT? ARE THERE OTHER ACCOUNTS LIKE THIS? ARE WE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THESE ACCOUNTS MORE CLOSELY? AND ARE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL DO OR YES. WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING. YES. SO, UM, WE HAVE SOME, I HAVE A GREAT STAFF AND WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYE ON, UH, THE, THE, THE CITY'S, UH, FINANCIAL AUDIT AND THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND TRACKING AND MONITORING REVENUES AND, UM, FUNDS. AND SO THIS WAS, THIS WAS A GOOD, A GOOD FIND IN THE FACT THAT THIS, THIS MONEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG, UM, SINCE 2007. UM, SO YES, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THAT. THAT'S GREAT WORK. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. MM-HMM, . ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SAAR. YES. UM, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THE REPORT AND YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT, UH, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY THIS TOTAL AMOUNT OF 9 MILLION IS A, A CULMINATION OF IT NOT BEING SPENT SINCE 2007. HOW MUCH WOULD IT GENERALLY BE MOVING FORWARD ANNUALLY, UM, IN THE AMOUNT ROUGHLY, BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A, WHETHER OR NOT THEY, THEY WHAT IT RECOVER IT BACK, RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO SAY, CHRIS MIGHT BE A BETTER PERSON TO ANSWER THIS NOW, BUT THERE IS, UH, APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION IN THIS FUND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, UH, THE [04:00:01] DEPOSITS ARE AVAILABLE AFTER THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THEY SPENT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE TOTAL, THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO GET THE REFUND BACK. SO IT'S, IT'S A MATTER OF LIKE TIMING WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED AND, UH, AND HOW MUCH THOSE REFUNDS ARE. SO CHRIS MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD SOMETHING TO WHAT I JUST SAID. YEAH, SO IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT THAT COMES IN PER YEAR BASED ON HISTORIC, THAT'S JUST UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS. SO IN THE 900,000 TO A MILLION DOLLARS RANGE. BUT THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE REVENUE SOURCE. THAT'S WHY IT'S SPENT ON A ONE-TIME BASIS, SUBJECT TO ONE-TIME, UM, BUDGETING DECISIONS THROUGH FM AND, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNCIL. SO THE GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE CUSTOMERS HAVE THEIR DEPOSITS FORFEITED. THE GOAL IS FOR THE CUSTOMER TO, UH, COMPLY WITH, UH, THE CITY'S GOAL, WHICH IS ALSO THE STATE'S GOAL, TO DIVERT THEIR CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND RECYCLE IT, IN WHICH CASE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND. UM, ON THE DEPARTMENT SIDE, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, NOT JUST ON THE, THE MANY ISSUES, UM, THE AUDITOR HAS BEEN HELPING US WITH, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT, UM, PROCESS, BUT WE NEED TO DO SOME WORK, UH, WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. 'CAUSE THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND BUT DOES NOT REQUEST IT. UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE PROPERTY OWNERS' MONEY, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S, UH, HANDLED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR MAY NOT BE MOTIVATED TO GO THROUGH THE PAPERWORK AND PROCESS TO REQUEST THAT REFUND BECAUSE THE REFUND WOULD FLOW BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, NOT TO, UM, THE CONTRACTOR. SO IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE CITY AND, AND MY DEPARTMENT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER, NOT JUST THE PERSON WE'RE INTERACTING WITH AT THE COUNTER, IS AWARE THAT THERE'S SORT OF MONEY LEFT ON THE TABLE. SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, FORFEITING THESE FUNDS AND THEY BECOME AVAILABLE FOR ONE TIME, UM, PURPOSES. BUT I WOULD CAUTION THE COUNCIL NOT TO EXPECT THIS TO BE A RELIABLE REVENUE SOURCE IN A GOING FORWARD BASIS. THANK YOU. THAT'S, THAT WAS MY QUESTION AND WHY I ASKED, BECAUSE WE DON'T, IN GENERAL, WE DON'T WANT OUR, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA KEEP THIS MONEY 'CAUSE IT MEANS THAT THINGS ARE NOT BEING, THE LAWS NOT BEING FOLLOWED. THE POINT IS TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE OR OWNERS OR CONTRACTORS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HOW THEY PROPERLY DISPOSE, DISPOSE OF DEMOLITION MATERIALS OR END UP IN OUR ALLEY, RIGHT. UM, OR OTHER PLACES. BUT, BUT THAT'S WHERE I, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AROUND. WELL, IF THERE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THIS THAT, UM, IN HOW WE'RE GETTING THIS FUND, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT AMOUNT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS CONCERNING IF PEOPLE AREN'T PROPERLY INFORMED IN HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR DEPOSITS BACK. UM, AND I, I THINK MY OTHER QUESTION TOO IS I WANTED TO KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT DOES COME UP AND WE CAN DISCUSS THIS DURING BUDGET PERIOD SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHEN DID THIS CUT FUND COME ABOUT? WAS IT, WERE THE OWNERS AWARE THAT THEY COULD HAVE RECEIVED IT? UM, IS THAT THE BEST TIME CITY MANAGER OR, UH, DIRECTOR KONZ? YEAH, SO, UM, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT WORKS. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, SO ANY OF THOSE THINGS COULD BE HELPFUL. BUT THE DOLLARS WE ARE PLANNING TO BRING THAT, UM, IN, UH, IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, C AND D IS NORMALLY ALLOCATED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE'VE HAD PROJECTS WHEN THEY COME, UH, ABOUT, AND SO THAT GETS EITHER IN THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET OR, UH, COULD BE IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO BOC AS WELL, SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PLAN ON HOW TO SPEND, UH, THE, UH, THE 9.2 MILLION. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST ONE COMMENT IN RESPONSE TO THAT IS THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF, THEY HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTORS, UH, IT, THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET THEIR DEPOSIT BACK, BUT THEN AFTER THE 30 DAYS, UH, THE STAFF WOULD SEND THEM A LETTER SAYING, YOU HAVE ANOTHER 30 DAYS, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER 30 DAYS. SO IT WAS AVERAGING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 90 DAYS. SO WE, WE WOULDN'T JUMP RIGHT TO THIS $9.2 MILLION QUICKLY. WE, WE LOOKED AT, THIS IS OLD MONEY, THIS IS OLD, THIS HAS BEEN SITTING HERE FOR A LONG TIME. SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT, I MEAN, IT'S WAY BEYOND THE TIME THAT IT, THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK TO GET THEIR, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT'S FORFEITED AND THAT THEY HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND NOTICES AND LETTERS AND, AND LOTS OF FOLLOW UP FROM STAFF TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO JUST LIKE GRAB IT AND GO, THIS HAS WENT THROUGH A VERY LONG PROCESS. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING, VERIFYING THAT, UM, CITY AUDITOR. YEAH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU. UM, UM, AUDITOR, LORD, DO THIS IS, UM, ACTUALLY A GREAT REPORT AND I GUESS WELCOME NEWS, UH, PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, GOING [04:05:01] INTO THIS BUDGET SEASON, UM, KNOWING THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA. I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, DO AN ANALOGY. THIS IS A, THIS IS A THREE POINTER FROM THE CORNER, UM, FOR THE TEAM, RIGHT? , WE, WE, THIS, THIS, I DON'T THINK WE SAW THIS COMING AND, AND, UH, CERTAINLY THIS IS WELCOME NEWS. UM, BUT IT ALSO IS A, HELPS US UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO, TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES, BUT ALSO GENERATE, UM, REVENUE, UM, OR IDENTIFY REVENUE THAT WE PROBABLY HAD NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO BEFORE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. UM, THIS IS, THIS IS I THINK WELCOME NEWS, UH, PARTICULARLY GOING INTO THE FY 24 25 BUDGET. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST ONE LAST COMMENT, MAYOR, IF I MAY. I WAS AT A PORT EVENT THIS EVENING AND SPOKE WITH, UH, PORT COMMISSIONER BONNIE LOWENTHAL, AND SHE, YOU KNOW, MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS AUDIT BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT WHEN, IN 2007, WHEN SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE, THIS WAS THE ORDINANCE THAT SHE HELPED ESTABLISH BECAUSE THE STATE MANDATED THIS LAW. SO LONG BEACH INSTITUTED A PROGRAM TO REQUIRE DEVELOPERS TO PUT FORTH THIS, UM, DEPOSIT FOR THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, TO LIKE RECYCLE AND DO THE, AND IF NOT THAT IT WOULD BE USED FOR THE CITY TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL GOOD WITH IT. AND SO SHE SAID, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THIS, THIS WORK IS CONTINUING SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN I WAS HERE IN 2007. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE THERE WILL BE FUTURE AUDITORS AND FUTURE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE, THE ORDINANCES THAT YOU ESTABLISHED AND SET TODAY. SO THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? OH, WE HAVE TWO. I WE'RE, NO, I DON'T SEE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. WHAT DO YOU HAVE? I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY. WE HAVE NOBODY. OKAY. DID WE ALREADY DO PUBLIC? OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. IT'S GETTING LATE. YOU KNOW, I GET LOOPY WHEN IT GETS LATE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, 55 ITEM 55. REPORT FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH TO ACCEPT AN EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION, UH, FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACTIVITIES CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? MEMBERS PLEASE CAST OR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. 56 ITEM 56 REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE AMOUNT OF 1.2 MILLION FOR THE RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROJECT CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? THERE'S NONE. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. SORRY. SORRY. LET'S GET A MOTION FIRST. NOPE, . OKAY, WE MOVED AND SECONDED. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES 57 ITEM 57 REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE AND AWARD CONTRACTS TO A VI SYSTEMS, TRITON TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND WESTERN AV FOR AUDIO VISUAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED 1 MILLION CITYWIDE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. 58 SECOND. 58. OKAY. 58 REPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY WITH CDW GOVERNMENT INC. TO INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS IN ADDITION TO, TO COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, PARTS, AND RELATED PRODUCTS FOR REVISED ANNUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.4 MILLION CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST OR VOTE. [04:10:03] MOTION CARRIES. UH, 59 WE GO. ITEM 59, REPORT FROM UTILITIES. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR FISCAL YIELD FISCAL YEAR 24 TO ADD AND ADJUST OFFICES AND POSITIONS AND CORRESPONDING SALARY RANGES AND THE PERMANENT SERVICE OF THE LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. AUTHORIZED THE GENERAL MANAGER TO RETROACTIVELY ESTABLISH UPDATED UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS AND SALARY RANGES. RETROACTIVELY AFFIRM THE BOARD OF UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS FISCAL YEAR 24 AUTHORITY OVER GENERAL MANAGER SALARY AND ADOPT RESOLUTION INCLUSIVE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 UPDATES. ALL RIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES [59. 24-54114 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving Resolution No. UT-1514 amending Resolution No. UT-1483 for Fiscal Year (FY) 24 to add and adjust offices and positions and corresponding salary ranges in the permanent service of the Long Beach Utilities Department for compatibility with unclassified management position descriptions; authorize the General Manager to retroactively establish updated unclassified positions and salary ranges as described to align utility-specific management roles and provide recent retroactive management salaries; retroactively affirm the Board of Utilities Commissioner’s FY 24 authority over General Manager salary; and        Office or Department:         Suggested Action: ] 60. ALL RIGHT, ITEM 60, REPORT FROM UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT [60. 24-1477 Recommendation to authorize a salary for Christopher J. Garner, General Manager, Long Beach Utilities Department, at an amount equal to $334,813.06, effective the pay period inclusive of October 1, 2023, with the subsequent application of economic benefits for all management employees as described by the 2023-2026 Long Beach Management Association (LBMA) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), retroactive to the dates of each economic benefit indicated in the MOU.       Office or Department: Utilities Commission; Utilities         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE A SALARY FOR CHRISTOPHER GARDNER, GENERAL MANAGER LONG BEACH UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AT A AMOUNT EQUAL TO 3 4 334 800 $13 AND 6 CENTS. ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? UM, UH, TOM, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING HERE, EXPLAIN THIS. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. NOPE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE SEVEN SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. [ 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. ] I DON'T SEE SEVEN PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. I'M GONNA READ THE NAMES IF YOU HEAR IT, JUST PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALLISON HAM, KELLY STRODEL. ALEX MARTINEZ, TED ZELMER JR. MRS. COLLINS, ISAAC MARTINEZ. PATRICIA, UH, KAIYA. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. COME ON DOWN. WHAT? YEP, JUST COME ON DOWN. WHOEVER'S YOU CAN GO FIRST. ABSOLUTELY. JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND PROCEED. YOU GET THREE MINUTES. MY NAME IS PATRICIA KAIYA. AM I MOVED HERE OVER 40 YEARS AGO. UH, I WAS HERE WHEN, UH, THIS COUNCIL DID THE LONG BEACH, UH, CABLE STATIONS. UH, I LEARNED, UH, ABOUT TELEVISION AND AT THE LONG BEACH CABLE STATION, I WENT ON TO USC TO WIN AWARDS AROUND THE WORLD. I'M THE ONLY AMERICAN TO EVER WIN THE FELLINI AWARD IN BIMINI, ITALY. SO MY COMMENT IS THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE LONG BEACH HAVE A INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE THEATER AND FILM PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE. UH, THE, UH, MAST THAT I ATTEND, EL SHARIF, THEY APPLIED FOR A GRANT, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE, UH, THEY ASKED FOR, UH, SAMPLES OF WORK. I HAVE MANY SAMPLES OF WORK, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. SO WE NEED, UH, I THINK THE CITY IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY. WE NEED A THEATER COMPANY, FILM COMPANY THAT REPRESENTS THAT. AND I COULD BE A PART OF THAT AND HELP PUT THAT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. SORRY, LET ME JUST GET THIS DOWN TO MY REALLY SMALL SIZE. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND OBVIOUSLY STAYING LATE WITH US. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU STATE YOUR NAME. GO FOR IT. UH, MY NAME'S KELLY STRODEL. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. UM, I AM A MEMBER OF MY BOARD AT MY, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UH, AT OUR BUILDING. AND WE CURRENTLY RESIDE BEHIND THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER. AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I WANNA START A DISCUSSION THAT DOESN'T END HERE. THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDAY HAS BROUGHT THAT UP. THE NEW, UH, SENIOR CENTER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE ALL BATTLING WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CURRENT SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS LEFT UNGATED AND UNGUARDED AT NIGHTS AND ON WEEKENDS HAS BECOME A NEXUS OF ACTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE UNION PACIFIC WAS SO PERTINENT. WE'VE HAD VIOLENCE, FIRES, SWAT, NUMEROUS DRUG USE, PUBLIC SEX, LOT OF LEWDNESS. UM, OUR BUILDING HAS SINGULARLY BEEN BROKEN INTO 15 TO 20 TIMES SINCE JANUARY, 2023. UH, I DID A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, 612 CALLS TO THE LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER SINCE JANUARY 20, 23, 305 TO, OR 3 45 TO OUR BUILDING. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER [04:15:01] BUILDING NEXT TO IT THAT IS A KNOWN SLUM HOUSE, IS FAMILIAR TO POLICE. AND, UM, THE SENIOR CENTER AND I SETTING, I'M SETTING ALL OF THIS UP. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG SETUP BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SENIOR CENTER TO BE GATED. AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CITY SAID NO . AND THAT WAS RELAYED TO US THROUGH, UM, UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN. AND I DID NOT KNOW SHE WASN'T GONNA BE HERE. UM, IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH HER, BUT HAVE BEEN ONLY ABLE TO RECENTLY SPEAK WITH HER BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PASSED OFF TO KNOW LESS THAN FOUR OF HER STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE EMAILED ME. BUT HAVE, I'VE RECEIVED NO UPDATES ON HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, HELP GET, GET US MORE SAFE IN OUR, IN OUR AREA. WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE THERE WATCHING THIS SPACE. SO IT JUST KIND OF BECOMES THIS LIKE EXPOSED AREA. THE HOMELESS ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF IT. WE CALL THE POLICE EACH OF OUR NEIGHBORS ONCE A DAY NOW. UM, I WAS THREATENED THE OTHER DAY, UM, ODDLY ENOUGH, VERY SIMILAR TO SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY, UH, BY THE HOMELESS. UH, MY HUSBAND'S HAD TO CHASE THEM OFF AND THEY'VE BROKEN INTO OUR BUILDING BECAUSE A GARAGE DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN AND THEY STARTED STEALING OUR PACKAGES. UH, SOMEONE ON PCP PUNCHED OUR WINDOW OPEN, PUNCHED THE WINDOW DOOR OPEN, AND, UM, RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, TORE OPEN ALL OF THEIR, UH, ALL OF OUR MAILBOXES WITH THEIR BARE HANDS. THAT IS PROBABLY NOT CONNECTED TO , THE SENIOR CENTER, ALTHOUGH, UM, WE HAVE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE ON VIDEO THAT HAVE BEEN VIDEOTAPED BREAKING INTO OUR BUILDING, STEALING OUR THINGS. I I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. I WOULD LOVE SOME TRANSPARENCY ON WHO'S GONNA MAKE DECISIONS BEHIND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SENIOR CENTER SO WE CAN PROTECT IT NOW. BUT THEN JUST SAY THIS LAST PIECE, THAT WE ARE TERRIFIED, JUST FLAT OUT TERRIFIED WHEN THE SENIOR CENTER MOVES TO DISTRICT ONE BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE 24 7 CRAZY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO PROTECT THE SPACE WHEN NO ONE'S THERE DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR USING THREE MINUTES. THANKS FOR RAISING THAT. WE, WE WILL, LET'S MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT WITH SOMEBODY ON THE TEAM SO THEY CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. GREAT. MAYBE GRACE. I DON'T KNOW. GRACE, YOU'RE ON DUTY TONIGHT. YEAH. ALRIGHT, GOOD. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S ISAAC MARTINEZ. I'M FROM DISTRICT NINE. UH, THIS IS JUST MAINLY TO ADDRESS THE GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY. UH, IT'S IN A STATE OF DISPAIR, UH, SINCE IT'S SINCE THE LIBRARY CAME OUT, THIS IRRIGATION SYSTEM STILL HASN'T BEEN, UM, ACTIVATED. IT'S INSTALLED, BUT THERE'S NO ACCESS TO WATER. UH, SO I'LL JUST SAY EARLIER TODAY, UH, WATERING WITH, UH, WATER GALLONS I HAVE TO BRING FROM MY HOME. UH, 'CAUSE ALSO THE LIBRARY NOW IS NO LONGER ALLOWING US TO USE THE HOSE TO WATER THE PLANTS. SO, UH, THAT'S THE NEW POLICY THAT, UH, THE LIBRARY HAS INSTITUTED. SO WE JUST WANNA FIGURE OUT, UM, WHAT THAT COULD BE DONE, WHAT COULD BE DONE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. UH, WE DO HAVE, UM, THE FOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOODS HAVING THEIR CHILI FEST AT MICHELLE OBAMA. SO YOU CAN ALL SEE THE STATE OF THE GARDEN BEDS ESPECIALLY, UH, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE, UH, THE LIBRARY'S, UH, POPPED UP. SO THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. I'LL HEY ISAAC, I'LL HAVE, UH, ANGELICA COME OUT. 'CAUSE WE HAD THE BID HAS A GREEN TEAM, WHICH HAS BEEN CLEANING IT UP. AND OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LETTING YOU ALL USE THE HOSE, UM, THE WATERING. SO WE HAD TO SET THAT UP. SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY'RE NOT LETTING YOU. SO I'LL HAVE ANGELICA COME OUT AND TALK TO YOU. OKAY. LOVE THAT LIBRARY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, MRS. COLLINS. I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT DISMANTLING THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND HAVING HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ABSORB THEM. CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE STOP THE FOUR O'CLOCK MEETINGS? MYSELF IN MOST CITY RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH, WE CAN'T GET TO A FOUR O'CLOCK MEETING. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH AND THE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FAITHFULLY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THEY NEED THEIR FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY TO MAKE JUST AND FAIR DECISIONS. THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT WHEN THEY GET ABSORBED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. AND IF THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WANTS TO STREAMLINE THE HIRING AND PROCESS AND FILL ALL THE VACANCIES THAT LONG BEACH HAS, YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT DISMANTLING THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONS STILL EXISTS. IT'S NOT BEING, IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. ALL RIGHT. UH, SAY SOMETHING ELSE. I THINK THAT'S IT. I THINK THAT'S THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. WE'LL NOW GO TO CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS. ALL RIGHT. UH, COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS. [ANNOUNCEMENTS] I WANNA INVITE OUR RESIDENTS TO OUR NEXT WILMORE CITY HERITAGE ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 17TH FROM 7:00 PM TO 8:30 PM THE LOCATION IS AT 9 53 [04:20:01] NORTH PARK CIRCLE DRIVE. ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO OUR DISTRICT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL ON THURSDAY, JULY 18TH, 2024 AT SIX 30 TO EIGHT 30 A NIGHT FULL OF LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY. THE LOCATION IS 1 1 4 4 PINE AVENUE LONG BEACH. AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT1@LONGBEACH.GOV. ALSO ON THAT EVENING, UM, DRC WILL BE HOSTING THEIR THURSDAY THURSDAY'S EVENT, UM, ON JULY 18TH FROM 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT MONICA'S ON OCEAN BOULEVARD. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO EVERYONE CITYWIDE TO COME AND CELEBRATE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACTS ANNIVERSARY, 34TH ANNIVERSARY AND SIGNING, UH, AND SIGNING RECEPTION AT, ON JULY 26TH AT 7:30 PM AT TWO THREE OH PINE AVENUE IN LONG BEACH. THERE WILL BE MUSIC, SPECIAL REMARKS AND REFRESHMENTS FOR ALL. ALSO ON, ON MONDAY, JULY 22ND FROM 7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AT OUR ORCA MONTHLY MEETING, UM, AT 5 2 5 EAST SEASIDE WAY FOR MORE INFORMATION. PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT DISTRICT1@LONGBEACH.GOV. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN TARO? YES. I HAVE THREE EVENTS. UH, THIS SATURDAY, GRACE MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH IS HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL AT KING PARK FROM 11 TO 4:00 PM UM, AND THEN THE SATURDAY AT MCBRIDE PARK SKATE POSSE, OH, OH, EXCUSE ME, SUPER SKATE POSSE IS TEAMING UP WITH THE KNEE DICKER GROUP. UM, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE GIVING OUT SKATEBOARDS, A HUNDRED SKATEBOARDS AND OTHER SKATE MATERIALS FROM 12 TO 3:00 PM AT MCBRIDE UH, PARK. AND THEN THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, SEA CHANGE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP ON 1101 EAST 11TH STREET FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE EVENTS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER CARR. YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, THIS WEEKEND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE MONTHLY CRITICAL MASS COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE THROUGH BIXBY KNOWLES THIS SUNDAY, JULY 21ST. THE GROUP TAKES OFF AT 11:00 AM FROM BEHIND PIXIE TOYS AT 39 14 ATLANTIC. ALL ARE WELCOME RETURNERS AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE. JUST DON'T FORGET YOUR HELMET. ON MONDAY, JULY 22ND, I INVITE YOU ALL BACK TO BIXBY KNOWLES FOR THEIR SECOND CONCERT IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE SUMMER AT BIXBY JOE, BEGINNING AT SIX 30. ENJOY A MIX OF MUSICAL STYLINGS BY SEVILLE AND THE OHIO TRIO. LATER THIS MONTH, I HOPE YOU'LL ATTEND THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT'S. UPCOMING HISTORIC TERMINAL OPEN HOUSE FROM 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM ON SATURDAY, JULY 27TH. BE AMONG THE FIRST TO SEE THE HISTORIC TERMINAL'S RETURN TO ITS FORMER GLORY WHILE ENJOYING HISTORY, TOURS, MUSIC, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AND MORE. AND ALSO ON JULY 27TH, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ATTEND LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE'S, SUMMER FEST AND DRONE SHOW FROM 4:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT VET STADIUM. ENJOY AN EVENING OF STEAM FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, INTERACTIVE BOOTHS, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD, AND MORE CAPPED OFF BY A DRONE SHOW AFTER THE SUNSET. LEARN MORE AND BOOK YOUR TICKETS AT LCC.EDU/SUMMERFEST. HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT AT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN RICK SODI. UH, SO I'D LIKE, UH, THE CENSUS ARE OUR ONLY MEETING IN JULY. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE I INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO SAVE, UM, TO SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL. IT IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD. UM, THIS EVENT IS HELD ANNUALLY AT THE, AT HOWTON PARK AT 63 0 1 MYRTLE AVENUE. UM, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT TIME. UH, WE'VE LINED UP SOME REALLY FANTASTIC, UH, ENTERTAINMENT. WE'LL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, WE'LL HAVE A KID ZONE. UM, SO IT'S GONNA BE TONS OF FUN, FREE EVENT OP, UH, FAMILY FRIENDLY, UM, AND IT'S REALLY A SHOW, A SHOWCASE OF UPTOWN. SO I'M VERY EXCITED AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT. UM, PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT MY OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT NINE AT LONG BEACH, UH, DOT GOV. UH, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO THE, UM, DEFOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SEVENTH ANNUAL CHILLY COOKOFF. IT WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY, JULY 20TH FROM 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY. AGAIN, THIS IS A FREE EVENT. COME OUT, VOTE ON THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE FOR 2024 AND ENJOY SOME GREAT, CHILLY. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL BE THERE AT THE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FROM JOINING US. THAT CONCLUDES, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. [04:25:01] WE'LL SEE YOU ON AUGUST 6TH. * 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.