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GOOD MORNING.IT IS 9:03 AM I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE JULY 18TH, 2024 MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH PARKS AND RECREATION COMM, UH, COMMISSION.
UH, MR. DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU TAKE THE ROLE? THANK YOU, CHAIR LIVINGSTON, WE'LL START WITH YOU PRESENT.
UH, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD IS ON HER WAY, IS ON THE WAY.
SO IT'S A SLIGHT DELAY ON TRAFFIC.
COMMISSIONER SCHONE HERE AND COMMISSIONER DI SMITH.
UH, DOES ANYBODY, IF UNLESS NOBODY HAS AN OBJECTION, WE WILL, UH, LIST COMMISSIONER HIA AS EXCUSED.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UM, AS FAR AS PRESENTATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT WE DO NOT YEAH.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THIS MAY BE YOUR FIRST MEETING, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH MONTHLY COMMISSION MEETING AS WE GET TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR STELLAR COWORKERS AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NO.
ACTUALLY GOOD NEWS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ONE OF OUR PARK AMBASSADORS, WHICH IS A BRAND NEW PROGRAM THAT'S 1-YEAR-OLD.
SO GEORGE DONATO WAS SURPRISED EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, WITH THE HONOR OF BEING OUR JUNE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
THEIR SHIFT ALWAYS STARTS AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND BECAUSE OF HIS PRIOR PERSONAL COMMITMENTS FOR THIS MORNING, HE WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US.
BUT HOPEFULLY, UM, NEXT MEETING, HE'LL BE ABLE TO JOIN US AND WE'LL HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES WITH ONE.
SO JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT.
BUT WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF GEORGE IS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
CINDY MARK, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER ONE TO THE END OF ACTION ITEMS. OKAY.
ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? MM-HMM.
WE WILL GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, JUNE 20TH, 2024.
UM, I DID TALK TO, UH, CHRISTINE AND JEN, AND WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE IN THE MINUTES WHERE IT SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE IS NOT HERE, THAT THEY ARE ABSENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY IF THEY'RE EXCUSED, JUST SO THAT ALL WILL BE SHOWN IN A MINUTE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.
WE HAD A COM, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SCHONE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY.
SO EACH MONTH, UH, I THINK IS A REFLECTION OF HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY ENJOYS AND LOVES OUR FACILITIES.
UH, THEIR ABILITY, UM, TO REQUEST A FEE WAIVER IS A POSSIBILITY AND WE BRING A LIST OF THOSE FORWARD FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION EACH MONTH.
AND OUR BUREAU MANAGER FOR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES, GLADYS KAISER, WILL LEAD US TO THIS ITEM.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE REQUESTS.
UM, THE FIRST IS GP CARE PACKAGES IN BLANKETS OF LOVE.
THEY WISH TO HAVE, UM, A COMMUNITY EVENT AT 14TH STREET IN THE OPEN SPACE ON DECEMBER 14TH.
THEY'RE REQUESTING $375 IN FACILITY IMPROVEMENT FEES TO BE WAIVED, AND THERE ARE ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
UM, THE NEXT THREE ARE ON BEHALF OF RO CHA.
UM, THEY'RE HAVING A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT IN THE OPEN SPACE, A COMMUNITY EVENT AT SILVERADO PARK ON AUGUST 6TH, $375 IN FACILITY FEE AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
THEIR NEXT EVENT IS ON, UM, AUGUST 15TH, UM, AT ADMIRAL KID PARK AS A COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE OPEN SPACE.
IT'S A BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, $375 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
AND THEIR LAST EVENT IS ON AUGUST 22ND, UM, AT CESAR CHAVEZ PARK IN THE OPEN SPACE FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT, A BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR.
LA IS REQUESTING TO HAVE AN EVENT AT BIXBY PARK, A COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE OPEN SPACE ON AUGUST 4TH, AND THEY'RE REQUESTING $360 IN FACILITY PERMIT FEES TO BE WAIVED.
AND COMMISSIONER TOTAL REQUESTED FEES TO BE WAIVED BY THE COMMUNITY THIS MONTH IS $1,816.
AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, WHICH WE HAVE.
I'M SURE YOU'RE GLAD TO SEE LOTS OF BACK TO SCHOOL THINGS COMING UP AS WE ABSOLUTELY.
AS WE START COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS.
UH, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE FINANCE AND APPEALS COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, COMMISSIONER ARCHIE SMITH.
WAS THERE ANYTHING RAISED THERE? NO.
I MEAN, WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW ALL THESE WONDERFUL
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ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO A LOT FOR LONG BEACH AND OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, SO IT WAS, UH, NO QUESTIONS AT ALL.SO WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS WE GO DOWN THE LIST HERE IN THE ORDER THAT GLADYS PRESENTED THEM AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT AND, UH, WHY WE SHOULD, UH, GRANT THAT WAIVER.
SO FOR GP CARE PACKAGES AND BLANKETS OF LOVE, WOULD YOU, UH, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND THEN JUST TALK ABOUT YOUR EVENT? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I'M ELOISE PARKER, FOUNDER OF GP CARE PACKAGES AND BLANKETS OF LOVE.
WE'RE A 5 0 1 3 C HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH THAT PROVIDES CARE PACKAGES AND BLANKETS, UM, PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS TO THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE WAIVER FOR THE JUNE 15TH FOR OUR VERY FIRST SUMMERTIME EVENT.
UM, THIS PAST JUNE, IT WENT REALLY WELL.
WE REACHED AND WAS ABLE TO BLESS OVER 75 PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO COME TO THE OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS REQUEST FOR THE, UM, SATURDAY DECEMBER 15TH EVENT WILL BE OUR ANNUAL 10TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TIME EVENT FOR THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY AS WELL, PROVIDING CARE PACKAGES, BLANKETS, UM, GIFT CARDS AND OTHER ITEMS TO THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM TO HAVE THEM COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY SHOWING PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE LOVED, THEY'RE NOT FORGOTTEN.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE AT LEAST 200 PEOPLE.
WE NEVER KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA ACTUALLY SHOW UP, BUT OUR TARGET IS AT LEAST 200 THIS YEAR.
UM, IN THE PAST, YOU GUYS HAVE GIVEN US SPEED WAIVERS AND WE DO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, BEING A A A, A NON-PROFIT, YOU KNOW, IS VERY WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO HELP US TO BE ABLE TO PASS OUT THESE CARE PACKAGES.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, CENTRO CHA HAS GOT THREE REQUESTS.
UM, SO I'M HERE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF OUR EVENT FLYERS ARE YET TO BE FINALIZED.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE FOR YOU UP TO DATE.
UM, BUT YES, WE HAVE OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT ON AUGUST 6TH AT SILVERADO PARK.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PLANNING A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT.
UM, SO IT'S GONNA HAVE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR.
WE HAVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 20 PARTNERS THAT ARE GONNA JOIN US, PROVIDE DIFFERENT RESOURCES FROM LIKE HEALTH TO, UM, WELLNESS, NUTRITION, ET CETERA.
YOU KNOW, WE ALSO PROVIDE YOUTH AND OUR DANCE CONTESTS.
THOSE ARE ALWAYS VERY POPULAR AMONG OUR EVENTS.
UM, THE YOUTH COME OUT AND DEPENDING ON THE THEME, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON STATE CAMPAIGNS TO DO EXTREME HEAT AWARENESS AND SAVE OUR WATER, CONSERVATE WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA THEME THAT TO THE ART CONTEST.
UM, WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GREAT EVENT.
WE ALWAYS INVITE, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR NATIONAL EVENTS AND THEY ALWAYS IMPACT.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, GREAT ENGAGEMENT LIKE THAT.
UM, AND OUR BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS, AGAIN, WE HOST THESE EVERY YEAR.
WE LIKE TO HOST TWO, UM, EVERY YEAR.
AGAIN, IT'S MY FOURTH YEAR PLANNING THESE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 200 BACKPACKS, 250 BACKPACKS FOR EACH EVENT THAT WE PROVIDE.
THE, UM, CHILDREN K THROUGH, UM, K THROUGH GATES.
AND THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE DO LIKE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY DRAWINGS THAT WE CAN GIVE GIFT CARDS THAT THEY MAY NEED TO SUPPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR HIGH SCHOOL, UH, NEEDS.
AND SO AGAIN, WE ALSO INVITE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO COME ON AND PROVIDE RESOURCES.
WE LIKE TO POST ENGAGEMENT, ENGAGING ACTIVITIES, AND WE'LL HAVE CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AS WELL AT EXHIBITS.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION FOR FEED WAIVERS.
IT'S VERY HELPFUL SO WE CAN SUPPORT AND PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, FREE RESOURCES, ACTIVITIES, AND FREE FOOD TO COMMUNITY AT EXHIBITS.
THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD EVENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, BACK TO SCHOOL LA HI GUYS, HOW ARE YOU? HI, NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.
UM, LET ME KNOW IF YOU GUYS ALL THESE FLYERS, I HAVE ENOUGH FOR YOU.
I THINK IT'S 15 OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE 15 IN MY HAND IF YOU GUYS WANT.
YOU CAN JUST GIVE 'EM TO CHRISTINE OR, OR, UH, JEN.
SO, UM, I I THINK THAT, I ALWAYS SAY THIS EVERY YEAR MY BACK TO SCHOOL, MY BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE IS A TA BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE AVERAGE.
UM, I LIKE YOU GUYS', I AM A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TYPE OF EVENT.
SO I ALWAYS DEPEND ON THE COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY DONATE A BACKPACK AND THEN THOSE WHO NEED A BACKPACK ALSO PICKS ONE UP.
UM, I ALSO, THIS YEAR WE HAVE INVITED THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE, THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND ALSO THE PARAMEDICS.
I THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLOW TO TELL ALL THE CHILDREN TO SEE WHAT OUR HEROES ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE AND WHAT DO THEY DO WANT FROM A DAY TO DAY.
SO I THINK THAT UM, A LOT OF THE TIMES KIDS DON'T GET TO, I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER RODE IN A POLICE CAR AT ALL.
UM, AND I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN INSIDE OF AN AMBULANCE OR A FIRE TRUCK.
SO I THINK THAT THIS WOULD JUST BE AN OP A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEE IT AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE AND TO ACTUALLY SEE LIKE, HMM, THIS IS A GOOD PERSPECTIVE TO BE ON OPPOSITE SIDES.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS A FLYER AND THAT'S IT.
AND YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, JUST SO THAT MORGAN
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WHITE.DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE WITH, UH, ANY COMMENTS ON YES.
UM, MY ORGANIZATION WASN'T CALLED AND UM, I SUBMITTED THAT.
WHAT'S YOUR, IT'S UH, YEAH, I DID SOMETHING GOOD TODAY, FOUNDATION, AND IT WAS SENT ON, UM, JULY, I'M SORRY, JUNE 17TH.
UM, SO I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU INDEPENDENTLY.
THAT WAY WE CAN, SHOULD COORDINATE ALL THE EFFORTS TO APOLOGIZE TO, IT'S NOT ON MY, WHAT IS THE DATE OF YOUR EVENT? IT'S AUGUST 24TH.
SO WE'LL
SO IF YOU TALK TO GLADYS AFTERWARDS, SHE'LL, SHE'LL CHECK WITH OUR STAFF TO SEE WHERE THE STATUS OF IT IS.
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST, RIGHT NOW, SINCE YOU'RE HERE, IF YOU'D JUST LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE EVENT, I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT.
AND IT'S NICE TO HEAR ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS IN HERE.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF I DID SOMETHING GOOD TODAY, FOUNDATION.
IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS SENIORS.
WE, UH, OUR SOLE PURPOSE IS CREATING PROGRAMS TO HELP FIGHT SOCIAL ISOLATION.
WE HAVE A CHAT LINE CALLED GOLDEN TALK.
WE HAVE OUR OWN RADIO STATION CALLED NOSTALGIC RADIO.
THAT'S FOR SENIORS BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH A COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, PLAYS MUSIC FROM THE FORTIES TO SEVENTIES AND ALL OF THE MYSTERY RADIO SHOWS AT NIGHT.
IT'S AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY, UH, ON EVERY DEVICE.
SO, UH, YOUR APPLE, ANDROID, ALEXA, WE, THE BIGGEST THING WE JUST GOT ON ODYSSEY, SO THAT'S HUGE.
SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUR CAR, YOU CAN LISTEN EVERYWHERE.
SO, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM CALLED GOLDEN NOMADS AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
GOLDEN NOMADS IS OUR FIELD TRIP PROGRAM WHERE WE GET TICKETS TO WHEREVER IT CAN BE A CONCERT.
WE TOOK THEM TO A CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT LAST FEBRUARY.
NOW THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO TO QUE SOLEIL.
AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION FOR THE SENIORS, BUT INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S JUST A, UM, DAY FROM 10 TO FOUR AT UH, CAESAR CHA PARK.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE BANDS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE GAMES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE BINGO.
UM, WE'RE PROVIDING, UH, THERE'S A FOOD TRUCK THAT WILL BE THERE.
WE'RE PAYING, UH, FOR, WE'RE INVITING A HUNDRED SENIORS, BUT THEN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING FOR THE SENIORS.
SO SENIORS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR FOOD.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR FOOD, BUT IT'S JUST A DAY OF FUN.
WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT, SENIORS LIGHT UP WHEN THEY'RE AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND IT'S JUST GONNA BE A DAY OF FUNDING, SO, AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT BLESSING.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WANT TO TABLE 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL ABOUT RESOURCES AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
'CAUSE IT CAN BE HARD TO KNOW ALL THE RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEING AT THE NEXT, AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR THAT ONE IF YOU GET THAT.
I THINK, UH, UM, ALAMEDA BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE FEE WAIVER.
RINKA CALLED ME BEGINNING OF, UH, JULY.
UH, SO FOR THE, OR EVEN JUNE FOR THE, UH, 18TH FOR THIS MEETING HERE AND 10 AND I DON'T KNOW.
AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HEARD ON MAY, BUT IT GOT SOMEHOW DROPPED AND THEN, UM, TIM BEAR QUIT AND SO THEN IT GOT KIND OF FORGOTTEN IN THE NEXT MONTH.
SO IT'S FOR OUR HALLOWEEN EVENT.
UM, I CALLED YESTERDAY TOO TO TALK TO THE OFFICE TO SEE, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER FOR TODAY.
SHE WILL GET BACK TO ME, BUT SHE DIDN'T.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT'S GETTING LATER AND LATER AND IF, DEPENDING ON GETTING THE GRANT FROM THE CITY AND THEY WERE RUNNING OUTTA MONEY AND I REALLY, YEAH.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? CANDACE BEAR THOMPSON.
I'M PRESIDENT OF ALAMEDA BEACH NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION.
IT'S FOR THE UM, UH, OCTOBER 27TH HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL, WHICH HAS, UM, LOVE PARK, PARK.
SO GLADYS IS GONNA CHECK THAT.
WE THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT ONE, BUT WE WILL CHECK ON THAT.
UM, IS, WHO'S THE, I KNOW THIS IS THIS KIND OF SOUND INAPPROPRIATE, BUT WHO'S THE REPLACEMENT FOR APRIL? APRIL.
APRIL, APRIL LEFT YET SHE'S ON VACATION.
I THOUGHT, UH, I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS RETIRING SOON.
THAT SOMEBODY WAS PASSING HER? NO, NO.
I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, UM, COULD YOU GUYS USUALLY GIVE ME SOME FLYERS THAT YOU WANT ME TO PASS OUT TO THE KIDS FOR Y'ALL FREE PROGRAMS? I WAS WONDERING IF THE PERSON WAS HERE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO TAKE THEM FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
IS THAT SOMETHING FROM PARKS OR FROM, IT'S FROM ME.
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OKAY.ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, WE WILL ADDRESS THOSE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UP HERE? ALRIGHT.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
UH, WE HAVE UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT APPLICATION NUMBER 25 DASH ONE NINE FROM THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, THE CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION TO HOST THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS GALA AT LINCOLN PARK ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2024.
THAT WILL INCLUDE THE CONSUMPTION AND SALE OF ALCOHOL WITH PARAMETERS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS IN FILMING.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE THAT'S IN DISTRICT ONE OR DETERMINE THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY DOES NOT PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT OVERALL PUBLIC BENEFIT AND DENY THE APPLICATION.
UM, VICE CHAIR REDFIELD IS, UH, PARTICIPATES IN THAT BOARD, SO SHE'S GOING TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM THIS ITEM, UH, TO OPEN DISCUSSION.
OH, THAT WAS A THREE-WAY TIME, I WILL RESPECTFULLY DEFER TO, OKAY.
SO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH.
SO, YEAH, LAST YEAR THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION HAD A REALLY BEAUTIFUL EVENT AT LINCOLN PARK OR ON THE TERRACE OF THE BILLY JEAN KING, UM, MAIN LIBRARY.
UH, AND UTILIZED A A PORTION OF LINCOLN PARK.
SO THIS ITEM, UM, IS A SEQUEL TO THAT AND SHERLY BE WHO'S OUR ACTING PARK PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS BUREAU MANAGER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
SO, SINCE 1996, THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION HAS FUNDRAISED AND ADVOCATED TO EQUAL ACCESS TO LITERACY, EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND
THIS IS THE 21ST GREAT EXPECTATIONS GALA ORGANIZED BY THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
THE GALA WILL HONOR THE CALIFORNIA RESOURCES CORPORATION FOR THEIR LONGSTANDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDATION.
AND LORI HU FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO THE FOUNDATION, THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO THE PROJECT DETAILS AMENDS TO THE GALA IS BY INVITATION AND ONLY, AND WILL INCLUDE A LIVE AUCTION SPEAKERS AND A VIDEO PRESENTATION.
ATTENDANCE IS ESTIMATED TO BE 450 GUESTS.
DINNER WILL BE SERVED ON THE TERRACE OVERLOOKING LINCOLN PARK.
ALCOHOL WILL BE SOLD AND CONSUMED.
THIS WILL BE A ROAMING ALCOHOL EVENT.
SO GUESTS AT A 21 AND OVER WILL GET WRISTBANDS UPON ARRIVAL.
THE GALA WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH FROM 4:00 PM TO 10:00 PM SET UP WILL BEGIN THE DAY BEFORE ON OCTOBER 5TH.
TEAR DOWN IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE EARLY HOURS OF OCTOBER 7TH.
THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED A SECURITY PLAN AND MAP OF THE PROPOSED EVENTS.
AND THIS EVENT WILL HAVE LIMITED OR NO IMPACT ON THE PROGRAMMING AT THE PARK.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? HI, GOOD MORNING.
I'M PATTY LEE AND I'M REPRESENTING THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION THIS MORNING, UM, AS PART OF THE PRODUCTION TEAM.
AND THE EVENT IS AN IMPORTANT CRITICAL PIECE OF FUNDRAISING FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FOUNDATION.
AND THEY HELP TO SUPPLY, UH, RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY, AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR THE EVENT RAISED OVER $530,000 AND THIS YEAR THEY HAVE AN EVEN HIGHER GOAL TO MEET AND WE'RE ALREADY OVER HALFWAY TOWARDS LEADING THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE? UH, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
INVITATION ONLY IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH OUR POLICY.
UH, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE MOSTLY BECAUSE IT'S AT THE LIBRARY.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING THE PART THAT CLOSE OVER INTO THE PART.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RT SMITH.
WE HAD A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN.
AND VICE CHAIR REDFIELD IS RECUSED.
AND AGAIN, UM, I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS.
IF YOUR ITEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, IT'S NOT CONSIDERED RUDE IF YOU LEAVE
ALRIGHT, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR JULY, 2024.
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ALRIGHT, UH, MR. DIRECTOR.UM, I HAVE SO MUCH EXTRA TO ADD BEYOND MY WRITTEN REPORT, BUT I'LL BE SUCCINCT AND JUST FIRST OF ALL, STATE HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR TEAM OF 1010 RECREATION PARKS, MARINE, UM, AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB JUST KEEPING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ACTIVE AND ENGAGED AND ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS, UM, THROUGH THESE 10 DAYS OF SUMMER, AS WE CALL IT, ONCE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW WEEKS THAT GET US THROUGH LABOR DAY, BUT, UM, IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY BUSY, BUSY SUMMER.
I KNOW WE DO HAVE STEVE CREW HERE WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE RECREATION BAHE.
AND IN TERMS OF ONE GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW POSITIVE ACTIVATION OF A PARK IS SO TRANSFORMATIVE, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO COME OUT TO RECREATION PARK FOR ONE OF THEIR, UM, SATURDAY, THEY HAVE SEVEN SENSATIONAL SA I PROBABLY GOT THE, THE BRAND A LITTLE.
THEY'LL HAVE HANDOUT, UH, BUT REALLY SOME HIGH QUALITY, VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON LOCAL PERFORMANCE TALENT ON THE HISTORIC
SO WE'RE REALLY JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP.
UH, AND THEN GREAT AND SMALL THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL DID, UH, DECIDE TO TAKE THE MONTH OF JULY OFF, ALTHOUGH THEY DID HAVE A MEETING, UH, THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, UM, WHICH WAS IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
THERE'S A VALID INITIATIVE IN NOVEMBER, UH, THAT WILL MOST LIKELY GET APPROVAL AT THEIR AUGUST 6TH MEETING.
BUT IT'S TO DEAL WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND, AND SOME MAJOR CHANGES, WHICH I THINK OUTWARDLY PEOPLE THINK WILL BE HELPFUL TO CITY, UH, DEPLOYMENT TEAM AND ALL THAT.
BUT, UM, SO THIS FRIDAY WE HAVE A SMALL EXAMPLE OF A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
SO IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE, UH, VERY PHILANTHROPIC AND CARING BUSINESS DONATED SOME MONEY TO DO SOME REALLY NICE PARK AMENITIES.
WE HAVE SOME NEW PICNIC TABLES.
WE HAVE A NEW, UM, UH, HYDRATION STATION UPGRADED TO LIGHTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S A SMALL CELEBRATION, BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES OF AMAZING THINGS, BUT ALSO LITTLE THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
UM, THE DUCK POND, WHICH I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AND, AND MAYBE AFTER THE GRAND CELEBRATION GOT TO COME OVER, BUT A COUPLE FRIDAYS AGO, IN FACT IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTER WE DEDICATED IT, I WAS COMING TO WELCOME THE CROWD TO THE EL DORADO WEST MUNICIPAL BANK CONCERT.
AND I THOUGHT, DID THEY RELOCATE THE CONCERT OVER TO THE DUCK POND? 'CAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE JUST ENJOYING WALKING AROUND THE, THE POND AND ENJOYING THE NEW LANDSCAPE, ET CETERA.
UH, IT WAS REALLY HEARTWARMING TO JUST SEE HOW THE COMMUNITIES RESPONDING TO THAT.
UM, WE HAVE CONCERTS STILL OVER AT THE NATURE CENTER.
UH, WE HAVE THIS FRIDAY ALSO, UM, KIND OF TANDEM WITH MOVIES IN THE PARKS.
THE COMMUNITY BAND HAS CONCERTS, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, RAMONA PARK IS FRIDAY.
SO WE HAVE, I THINK WE'RE LIKE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US TRY OUR BEST TO BE, UH, SUPPORTIVE, BUT WE CAN'T BE ALL PLACES AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT IT'S JUST REFLECTIVE OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS PRESENTING TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, MENTION THAT TODAY'S MEETING IS THE FIRST MEETING THAT OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS OF PARKS, ASHLEY JONES, IS ATTENDING THERE IN THE FRONT ROW.
SHE'LL PROBABLY WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY SOME THINGS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT, UH, SHE'S REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
UM, I KNOW ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE YET TO DEAL WITH IS OUR ELECTIONS, BUT ON MONDAY NIGHT, UM, THE PARTNERS OF PARKS BOARD HELD THEIR ELECTIONS AND, UH, MARK HARDISON, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF, OF THE BOARD, UM, HE AGREED TO BE REELECTED SO THAT LEADERSHIP IS, YOU KNOW, GOOD FOR CONTINUITY.
UH, BUT THEY, THEY'RE REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON BEING, UH, EVEN MORE HELPFUL IN THE COMING YEARS.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THAT PARTNERSHIP ALSO.
AND THEN CANDACE, UM, I CAN'T, UH, CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS WITHOUT, SHE ALWAYS SENDS ME REALLY COOL IMAGES.
THE MIRACLE ON FOURTH STREET PARK, UH, THEY HAVE THIS MONARCH GARDEN AND THEY'RE GOING CRAZY THERE.
YEAH, WE GOT A LOTS OF ACTIVITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST AM REALLY PLEASED WITH THE SPARK THAT YOU CREATED.
WE HAVE BUTTERFLY GARDENS POPPING UP ALL AROUND THE CITY NOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE.
SO PARK REALLY HAVING A FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, FOR THE KIDS, I'M ON OUR, UH, CELEBRATION AND ALL THEIR POLLINATORS AND WE'RE HAVING A BEE KEEPER COME.
WE HAVE BEES UNDER GLASS, SO YOU CAN SEE A HIVE.
AND WE HAVE THE LA MAT NEXT DOOR.
THEY'RE GONNA BE BAKING BALLOON ANIMALS AND PAINTING FACES AND THE BOOKSTORE AROUND THE CORNERS AND READING AT THE BED.
AND THEN WE HAVE LIKE, CRAFT FOR THE KIDS TO PAINT AND BE BIG, BE BUTTERFLIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, SO IT IS ONE OF OUR SMALLER PARTS.
IT HAS A POWERFUL PUNCH AND IT REALLY EMBRACES THE NEIGHBORS AND THE BUSINESSES AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY
[00:25:01]
PLEASED WITH THAT.UM, THE, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, AND I KNOW IT'LL BE A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US, BUT I WANNA REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK REALLY, UM, THOUGHTFULLY WITH CHRISTINE AND JEN.
WE'RE FINALLY GONNA TRY TO ORGANIZE, UH, A RETREAT FOR OUR, ALL SEVEN OF YOU.
I KNOW WE'RE MISSING ONE TODAY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE IT A QUALITY EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL AND BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF YOU.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL BUSY, UH, SO WE'RE GONNA SUGGEST SOME POSSIBLE BLOCKS OF TIME AND DATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I THINK WE DO WANT TO KIND OF GET THROUGH SUMMER FOR THE SAKE OF OUR TEAM THAT WILL HELP LEAD IT.
UM, BUT IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, BE AS THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERATE AND IF YOU HAVE TO SCOOT SOME OF YOUR COMMITMENTS AROUND A LITTLE JUST SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET ALL SEVEN OF YOU TOGETHER FOR YOUR RETREAT, UH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UM, YEAH, IT'S JUST BEEN BEEN A REALLY GREAT SUMMARY THIS FAR.
SO, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU MAY HAVE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS ALSO FOR YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE THE PARK, IT USED TO HAVE GLAUCOMA AND NOW BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE LOCKING AT NIGHT OR WHOEVER BLOCKS IT, IT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S JUST REALLY MADE THE PARK MORE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THAT ANOTHER IMPACT PARK AMBASSADORS.
WE LOVE TO HEAR GOOD, GOOD REPORTS ABOUT THE PARK AMBASSADORS.
THE GROUP DOESN'T PUT THE PLANNER BOXES IN THERE.
IT HAS JUST MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE IS THE PARK AMBASSADOR ISSUE.
I KNOW, UH, AT THE LAST SPRING WILL OF SPRINGS PARK GROUP, UH, MEETINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE PARK AMBASSADORS TO CLOSE THE GATE AND TO, UH, ATTEND TO THE PARK.
SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE DEFINITELY GETTING SOME GOOD REVIEWS ON THE PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
UM, I, I KNOW WHEN THE, THE REPRESENTATIVES OR THE LIBRARY, UM, GALA OR THE BIG FOUNDATION MEETING, THEY'VE ALREADY DEPARTED.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, LINCOLN PARK, YOU KNOW, BEING KIND OF OUR NEWEST FLAGSHIP PARK HAS HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, THE BOISE, UM, ITEM REGARDING, UM, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPALITY'S ABILITY TO TAKE MORE ACTION ABOUT, UH, CAMPING OR THE PRESENCE IN PUBLIC AREAS, WHICH INCLUDE OUR PARKS AND OUR SCHOOL SITES AND LIBRARIES.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GET QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WELL, WHY IS THERE STILL AN ENCAMPMENT IN MY PARK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND THE COUNCIL ARE STILL MAINTAINING A SERVICE FIRST, UH, APPROACH, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING WHAT THEY CALLING A MORE TARGETED ENFORCEMENT.
SO WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PARKS THAT HAVE HAD A REALLY CHALLENGING AND COMPLEX HISTORY, BUT, UH, WE'LL STILL BE EMPATHETIC, BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, RETURN OUR PARTS BACK SO THAT THEY'RE SAFER, CLEANER, AND MORE WELCOMING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU THAT YOU AS COMMISSIONERS, YOU MAY HEAR THINGS, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT POSITION THE CITY'S TAKING.
UM, SO NOT A LOT OF HUGE NOTICEABLE CHANGES OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL CONTINUE BEING, YOU KNOW, VERY SERVICE FIRST ORIENTED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES OF CITIES ALREADY PUT IN PLACE WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME TEMPORARY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUCH, UM, ARE, ARE STILL GONNA BE IN PLAY.
SO, UH, AND THEN HOW I FORGOT ABOUT THE OLYMPICS.
SO YEAH, SO IN A COUPLE WEEKS PARIS KICKS OFF THEIR OLYMPICS AND WE KNOW AS SOON AS THE TORCH GOES OUT IN PARIS, THE WORLD'S ATTENTION TURNS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND LONG BEACH'S STOVE, THE LARGEST VENUE HOSTING CITY OUTSIDE OF LA.
UM, I DID LEARN THIS WEEK I ATTENDED THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PARKS DIRECTORS MEETING AND THE CITY OF CARSON IS HOSTING ONE EVENT.
THEY HAVE A VELODROME, SO THAT ONE EVENT WILL BE HELD THERE.
UH, BUT YEAH, THEY'VE ANNOUNCED OUR EIGHT AND COULD BE SOME OTHERS ONCE THEY CLARIFY SOME OF THE PARALYMPICS.
BUT, UH, THE MARINE STADIUM IN PARTICULAR WILL HAVE ROWING.
AND IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A, A IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THAT EVENT.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY ARE SHORTENING THE, UH, LENGTH OF THE ROWING EVENT, SO IT FITS INTO MARINE STADIUM AND THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT AND HUGE CHANGE INTERNATIONALLY FOR HOW ROWING HAS ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZED IN METAL AND TRAINING.
UH, BUT WE HAVE THE TRIATHLON, UH, HANDBALL, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK.
WE HAVE HANDBALL COURTS OUT IN OUR PARKS.
THEY'RE NOT IN THE CONCRETE BUNKER TYPE FACILITIES WILL BE IN AT THE GYMNASIUM SPACE OVER AT, AT THE COL OR THE ARENA COLLEGE.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE SAILING WILL BE ANOTHER REALLY HIGH PROFILE, VERY VISIBLE, UM, EVENT OUT NEAR BELMONT HERE.
WELL PROBABLY IN THE, ALL THE COMING YEARS OF MEETINGS GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFIC UPDATES, BUT IT'S JUST VERY, VERY EXCITING.
AND, UH, YEAH, LONG BEACH WILL HAVE A VERY VISIBLE INTERNATIONAL ROLE IN THAT.
SORRY, I, THAT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A COMPLEX.
[00:30:01]
MIKE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON ABSOLUTELY ADVANCING LITTLE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IF THOSE VERY POPULAR INTENSELY USED AND LOVE PICKLE UP.
ALRIGHT, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
JULY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF, UH, SOME OF OUR APPOINTMENTS.
UH, AND SO THE CITY CLERK HAS GONE TO HAVING JULY B WHEN ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE FOR OFFICERS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
SO, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY A MOTION.
WE WILL HAVE THE ELECTION, SO WE DON'T NEED A MOTION ON THAT.
SO I HAVE A SCRIPT HERE AND I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION CHAIR.
EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR CHAIR, INCLUDING THEMSELVES.
THOSE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
CAN I GET ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE SUSAN REFIELD.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR? ALRIGHT, UH, HEARING NONE THERE.
BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS, I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR CHAIR.
UH, IN THE ORDER NOMINATED, I WOULD INVITE EACH NOMINEE TO BRIEFLY SHARE WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ELECTED CHAIR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
YES, I HAVE THREE COMMENTS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE A HUGE PASSION FOR THE PARKS, UH, AND ALL THAT IS GOING ON THERE.
UH, DESPITE THE LACK OF PARKING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO BUSY THIS SUMMER, UM, UH, MY PASSION INCLUDES THE FACT THAT I HAVE PLAYED TENNIS, AUTO TENNIS COURTS FOR MORE THAN, UH, 25 YEARS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AND I HAVE A WONDERFUL GRANDDAUGHTER.
SO I GET TO EXPERIENCE, UH, THE OPENINGS OF NEW PLAYGROUNDS AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN LOTS OF LITTLE HIDDEN PLAYGROUNDS.
SO, UH, SECOND, I'VE BEEN IN LONG BEACH FOR ABOUT 28 YEARS NOW, AND, UM, I'VE BEEN, I REALLY KNOW THE CITY IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP TODAY, UH, I'M, UH, CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH SISTER CITIES OF LONG BEACH AS WELL AS LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.
AND IN THE PAST I WAS, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF LONG BEACH.
SO, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THIS STRUCTURE WORKS AND WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW I CAN TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, ON THE, AT THE DIOCESE AS WELL AS THE STAFF HERE.
AND, UH, LASTLY, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STAFF.
AND, UH, UH, I FEEL THAT I CAN WORK REALLY WELL WITH THEM.
I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT I, I DO NEED A MOTION.
SO I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO RECOMMEND HOLDING AN ELECTION FOR THE POSITION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
UM, SO THANK YOU VICE CHAIR REDFIELD.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
SO, UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT NOMINATION, PLEASE, UH, SAY AYE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
THOSE WERE WONDERFUL COMMENTS.
WE NOW ASK IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
WELL, I THINK I'VE TALKED ENOUGH.
I WOULD NOW DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION VICE CHAIR.
AGAIN, EACH MEMBER MAY NOMINATE ONE PERSON FOR VICE CHAIR, INCLUDING THEMSELVES.
THESE NOMINATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? YES, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE, SOLICIT OR SMITH.
COMMISSIONER ARTIE SMITH BEEN NOMINATED.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIR? OKAY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS.
I DECLARE THE NOMINATIONS CLOSED FOR VICE CHAIR AS THE NOMINEE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? SURE.
UH, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS OR, OR WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WOULD BE TO SERVE AS VICE CHAIR.
FOR ME, PARKS IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY AND ENSURING THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE, UM, IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER, BUT JUST BEING OUTSIDE MAKES YOU HEALTHIER.
IT MAKES YOU STRONGER, IT MAKES YOU MORE GROUNDED.
SO FOR ME, PARKS ARE A WAY TO STAY HEALTHY AND GET HEALTHY AND PROVIDE THAT RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THAT SPACE IN THEIR HOME.
[00:35:01]
A VERY DENSE ENVIRONMENT, SO OUR PARKS ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT HERE IN A, A BUILT UP CITY.UM, AND COMING FROM DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH AND WILMORE THE OLDEST PART OF THE CITY, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS FOR US TO HAVE THOSE, THAT OPEN SPACE.
UM, I DID NOT DO THIS FOR, UH, THE ELECTION OF THE CHAIR, BUT I I SCREWED THAT UP.
UH, WE HAD A NOMINATION, UH, FOR VICE CHAIR, FOR COMMISSIONER SOLICIT, ORTI SMITH.
ANY OF OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? NO, LET'S JUST SUPPORT OUR, OUR PARK STAFF.
THEY WORK REALLY HARD, SO, UM, AND PROUD OF ALL THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
SO, UM, JUST KNOW THAT I'M GONNA BE YOUR CHEERLEADER.
THE CHAIR ELECT HAS ASKED THAT I CONTINUE, UH, TO FINISH OUT THIS MEETING.
IT'S NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON NON-AG AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? YES.
UH, STEVE PRUITT HERE WITH, UH, FRIENDS OF BRETT PARK GEL.
YOU KNOW ME, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MEETINGS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, SO I'VE HEARD A COMMENT.
JUST, UH, OUR GREAT INTRODUCTION.
UM, AS HE MENTIONED, WE, WE KICKED OFF WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR SEVEN SATURDAYS OF SUMMER PROMOTION.
WE'RE TRYING TO, ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, IN THE ACTIVATION OF THE BANDSHELL, WE REALIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE CITY, WHICH IS GREAT.
UM, SO TO KIND OF GET MORE WELL ON PEOPLE'S RADAR, UM, TRYING TO PUT ON EVENTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, AN EVENT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
SO THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR, OF COURSE WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
AND THEN THE IDEA IS TO DO SEVEN SATURDAYS A SUMMER NEXT YEAR.
UM, I PRINTED A BANNER THAT, UH,
UM, BUT YOU'LL SEE ON, ON THE FRONT, UH, KIND OF ADVERTISE IT BY THE WAY, THERE.
WE, WE DID, WE DID HAVE AN ARTIST WHO KIND OF A COOL CONDITION OF THE VAN SHE HAND ON THERE.
UM, AND THEN ON THE BACK IS THE, UH, THE, SO THE BANDS THAT ARE SIGNED UP, UH, FOR THE SEVEN SATURDAYS, UH, AS BRENT SAID, THESE ARE, WE TRY TO GO LOCAL BANDS, UM, TRYING TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH AND LONG BEACH TALENT.
UM, THE FIRST ONE WAS LAST SATURDAY AND THE LONG BEACH LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION AND ALUM, UH, ALUMNI LIFEGUARDS, UH, SPONSORED THAT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE, UH, LONG BEACH, UH, LIFEGUARD ALUMNI, YOU SHOULD DO IT.
THEY HAVE LIKE 500 PHOTOS GOING BACK, YOU KNOW,
THEY DID CPR TRAINING, THEY DID SOME STUFF THAT WAS REALLY NEAT.
UM, SO WE HAVE SIX MORE, UH, EVENTS.
MANUEL THE BAND WAS A LOCAL BAND.
WE HAVE SOME LATIN JAZZ
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU GUYS SUPPORTING THAT.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE STAFF AGAIN, UH, AT THE PARKS.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE LIKE AN EVENT ON A WEEKEND IN THE SUMMER.
UH, AND WE JUST APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
UH, WE FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ASHLEY AND OUR NEW, UH, PARTNER PARTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UM, AND, UH, WE'LL BE, AND BY THE WAY, WE HAVE NO MORE PERMITS.
WE DID THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYONE'S, UH, WORKING WITH MIKE AND ALL STAFF HERE.
THAT'S A LONG TIME, UH, ASSET OF THE CITY AND WE LOVE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN WORK.
AND WE WILL, UH, STILL BE, WE STILL HAVE OUR NAVY TRUST GRANT TO REDO THE STAGE AND WE'RE KIND OF WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE, UH, THE SUMMER SEASON OF COURSE TO DO THAT.
BUT, UH, THAT'LL BE A FIRST KIND OF RENOVATION PROJECT.
UM, BUT I, I, I SEE THAT'S JUST THE FIRST AMENDMENT, SO GREAT.
SO I'M GOING OUT IN STYLE AS CHAIR.
AND WE, WE HAVE A DANGLING MOTION OH, TO RECOMMENDATION TO HOLD AN ELECTION FOR POSITION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
CAN I HAVE A VOTE TO, I WOULD ASSUME NOW CLOSE THE ELECTION.
[00:40:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I GRATEFUL THAT YOU, YOU WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF LITTLE TEENY MISTAKES.
UH, ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTION? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? ASHLEY? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF 'CAUSE I'VE MET SOME OF YOU AND NOT OTHERS.
UM, I THINK I'VE BEEN AT THE DESK LIKE 14 BUSINESS DAYS,
UM, SO STILL REALLY NEW TO THE POSITION.
UM, I'M COMING INTO THIS WITH KIND OF A VARIED BACKGROUND.
SO I WENT TO, UH, BUSINESS SCHOOL AT SC AND I WORKED IN AEROSPACE AND HAVE KIND OF A SUPPLY CHAIN AND PROCUREMENT TYPE BACKGROUND.
AND THEN I SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS LIKE DANCING PROFESSIONALLY, RUNNING ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR LIKE THE DISABLED AND SENIORS OVER AT
AND THEN ALL THE WHILE DOING ALL THE THINGS.
I'M ACTUALLY ALSO A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST FELLOW THIS YEAR FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL.
UM, AND HAVE TO DELIVER ON THAT PROJECT IN OCTOBER.
SO, UM, I LOVE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE PARKS, BUT I ESPECIALLY LOVE ALL THE ARTS THINGS.
UM, SO WE HAD OUR, I HAD MY FIRST BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY AND THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
TRINKA HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
WE WERE, UM, LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH CLASSMATES LIKE 10 YEARS AGO, UM, IN BUILDING UP THE ORGANIZATION.
BUT WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE'VE BUILT THINGS SO BIG, WE HAVE SO MANY PARTNERS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT.
IT IS KIND OF MY ANALYSIS BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR THINGS.
AND THAT'S PARTIALLY BECAUSE, RIGHT? LIKE MAINTAINING TRINKA PACE AS WELL AS TRYING TO GET TRAINED AND FAMILIAR WITH THINGS IS JUST NOT PLAUSIBLE, UM, IN THE SHORT TERM.
SO THE FIRST 90 DAYS ARE GONNA BE LIKE, A LOT NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED.
SO I HAVE THREE BIG PRIORITIES FOR PARTNERS IN PARKS.
UM, SO ONE IS WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
I MEAN, EVEN WITH LIKE YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP APPS, IT'S LIKE I'M LOOKING IN AN EMAIL AND THEN INPUTTING THIS AND THEN I'M FORWARDING LIKE, THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
THERE SHOULD NOT BE LIKE 17 STEPS TO DO SOMETHING.
SO A BIG PART OF THAT IS TECHNOLOGY.
WE'RE STILL OPERATING ON EARTHLINK AS OUR WEB HOST AND OUR EMAIL PROVIDER.
I'M SORRY, WHICH IS NOT ACCESSIBLE.
SO HOW, HOW COME WE, YOU ALL UNDERSTAND, YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHY LEFT A PROBLEM.
UM, SO WE HAD ANOTHER COLLEAGUE FROM LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH THAT WE HAD COME IN AND DO A WHOLE IT ANALYSIS LAST WEEK.
UM, WE HAD A FIGURE NOT TO EXCEED THAT.
WE, UM, VOTED ON TO APPROVE AND OUR COLLEAGUE CAME IN AND ALMOST LIKE HALF OF WHAT WE WERE PLANNING ON SPENDING.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, LIKE, THAT'S HAPPENING REALLY FAST.
UM, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM, LIKE ADVERTISEMENT WISE, REFERRAL WISE, PUT THEM ON OUR TEE SIGNS OF THE GOLF TOURNAMENT.
I MEAN LIKE, I WAS KIND OF FLOORED HOW CHEAPLY THEY'RE DOING FOR THIS.
ALL NEW COMPUTERS CHANGING OVER EVERYTHING.
LIKE I CAN'T DO THE JOB AND DO IT WELL WITHOUT THAT.
THE SECOND THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS EVALUATING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, RIGHT? WE ARE PARTNERS OF PARKS, BUT A PARTNERSHIP SHOULD BE LIKE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH PARTIES AND THERE ARE CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS THAT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE ASKING ANY OR PARTNERS.
WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT I'M SLOWLY MEETING WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS.
I'M MEETING WITH STEVE ON MONDAY, SUPER PROACTIVE.
UM, AND SO I'VE HAD TO MEET WITH EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, AND NOW I'M STARTING TO WORK THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS AND WE'RE DEVELOPING A LIST OF QUESTIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE OUR PARTNERSHIPS BASED ON THOSE.
SO WE'RE WORKING AT WHAT THOSE ARE.
BUT LIKE SOME EXAMPLE OF THOSE WOULD BE LIKE, DOES THIS PARTNERSHIP ALIGN WITH LIKE OUR MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT? RIGHT? AND GOING DOWN.
SO THERE'S REAL CRITERIA FOR WHETHER OR NOT LIKE WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THESE GROUPS.
SOME OF OUR GROUPS ALSO HAVE GROWN SO LARGE WHERE THEY'RE LIKE COMPETING FOR THE SAME GRANTS AS WE ARE.
IN AN INSTANCE LIKE THAT, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE THEIR OWN 5 0 1 C3, RIGHT? INSTEAD OF US MANAGING LIKE A SECOND BUSINESS, IF YOU WILL.
UM, THE THIRD THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO LIKE BE MORE MARKETABLE.
I MEAN, TRINKA DID EVERYTHING FOR JUNETEENTH AND EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT JUNETEENTH.
PROBABLY 5% OF PEOPLE KNEW THAT PARTNERS AT PARKS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
SO OUR EM ARE GOING TO SHIFT WHERE LIKE IF WE ARE DOING ALL OF YOUR WORK, LIKE YOU'RE BRANDING FOR US, UM, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FOCUSING ON A LOT OF SENIOR INITIATIVES BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM UM, SOME COLLEAGUES ON OUR BOARD WHO DIRECTLY WORK FOR MAYOR RICHARDSON THAT THEY'RE NOT FOCUSING ON THAT EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE GOING TO THE YOUTH.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE MAYOR'S FUND FOR PARKS PROGRAMMING.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON SENIORS THAT LOOKS LIKE ADDING TO OUR FOOD FUND.
UM, WE'VE TALKED WITH BRENT ABOUT REFURBISHING ALL THE SENIOR CENTERS AND MAYBE LIKE NAMING THE FITNESS CENTERS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH PARTNERSHIP PARKS.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
AND THEN ALSO ENHANCING KIND OF LIKE SPECIFIC SENIOR PROGRAMMING, WHETHER IT'S LIKE FITNESS CLASSES, ARTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND AGAIN, LIKE I'VE ACTUALLY BUILT CURRICULUM FOR THOSE CLASSES AND TAUGHT THOSE CLASSES SO I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING OUR LONG BEACH GIVES ON, UM,
[00:45:01]
SEPTEMBER 19TH, SAVE THE DATE.AND THEN OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT IS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.
UM, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM SPONSORING A T SIGN.
WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO TAKE ANYONE'S MONEY.
UM, AND YEAH, JUST IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, UM, SHOOT ME AN EMAIL.
I CAN'T PROMISE HOW QUICKLY, BUT WE EXPECT THAT OVERHAUL TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PARTICULARLY.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE OFF TO A ROARING START.
THE NEXT 40 YEARS COULD BE GREAT.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE? ALRIGHT, UH, WE WILL GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS, GLADYS.
SO, UM, WE ARE ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH SUMMER.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A, UM, IN FOUR WEEKS OF MUNICIPAL BAND, SO ABOUT THREE QUARTERS FROM MUNICIPAL BAND.
UM, BUT AS BRETT MENTIONED, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
UM, SOMETIMES EVEN COMPETING WITHIN OURSELVES WHERE WE HAVE MULTIPLE, UM, CONCERTS OR EVENTS OR MOVIES IN THE PARK.
BUT THE GREATEST PART IS THAT OUR ENTIRE CITY IS ACTIVATED, UM, WHETHER IT BE AT OUR 13 BE SAFE SITES.
SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE 11 SITES THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE CITY AND TWO THAT WERE ADDITIONAL FOR ONE TIME THROUGH GRANTS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO OUR PARKS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY AND OUR STAFF IS EXTREMELY BUSY.
BUT IT, THAT'S WHAT SUMMER'S ABOUT.
UM, VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM, UM, AND VERY PROUD OF THE DEPARTMENT AS WE WORK TOGETHER.
UM, BUT JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, A COUPLE PROGRAMS. SO SUMMER FOOD, UM, SUMMER FOOD IS OUR PROGRAM THAT WE DO YEAR ROUND IN THE 10 WEEKS.
UM, WE PARTNER WITH LONG BEACH UNIFIED AND WE PROVIDE FREE, UM, LUNCH TO ANYONE BETWEEN THE AGES OF, UH, ZERO AND 18.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COME TO THE PARK AND JOIN LUNCH WITH US, UM, ON OUR GROUNDS.
AND ALSO HAVE TWO LIBRARIES THAT HAVE JOINED US THIS YEAR.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE, UM, OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT WE PARTNERED WITH.
UM, AND THE SECOND ONE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE EVER HEARD OF, UM, IT'S CALLED OIC.
UM, OUR YOUTH CAMP THAT WE PARTNER WITH, UM, LA RECREATION AND PARKS.
IT'S KIND, MY BRAIN CAN'T DO THAT 'CAUSE THEY SAY IT BACKWARDS,
UM, BUT IT IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
WE, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME DOING THAT OF COVID.
SO WE TOOK 42 TEAMS AND EIGHT STAFF TO SPEND TWO NIGHTS, UM, OUT AT TIC LAKE AND IT'S A LEADERSHIP CAMP.
SO NOT ONLY DO THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE CAMPING, WHICH IS, UM, ABSOLUTELY, UM, AWESOME FOR THEM, BUT THEY LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
UM, THEY LEARN LIFE SKILLS, UM, THAT THEY, NOT, NOT IN THE WILDERNESS, BUT LIFE SKILLS IN
UM, AND THE BEST PART IS THE 42 TEAMS ARE CHALLENGED TO COME BACK AND DO A PROJECT BASE HERE IN, IN THEIR OWN CITY, IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO, UM, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CHALLENGES WITH TAKING 42 TEENS, UM, FROM THEIR PARENTS AND SOME OF 'EM, THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME AWAY FROM THEIR PARENT.
UM, IT WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN KNOCK ON WOOD, ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES.
UM, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR AND OUR PARTNERSHIP.
AND THIS WAS FUNDED THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR EQUITY GRANT.
UM, OUR GRANT TO EXPOSE, UM, NOT ONLY OUR TEENS BUT OUR OLDER ADULTS, UM, AND OUR YOUTH TO THE OUTDOORS, WHETHER HERE IN LONG BEACH OR OUTSIDE OF OUR, OUR SURROUNDING, UM, COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT FIVE WEEKS AGO, UM, IT'S HOW WE RETURNED, BUT IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SUMMER.
SO KNOCK ON WOOD, KNOCK ON EVERYTHING.
UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME.
UM, CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE, THE TEEN CAMP? WHERE DID YOU GET THE 42 KIDS FROM? SO THE 42 KIDS REPRESENT CAMPERS FROM ALL OVER OR OR PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER LONG BEACH.
SO WE GO THROUGH OUR TEEN CENTERS.
SO WE HAVE 17 CENTERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND UM, SO THEY SIGN UP TO GO AND IT IS FREE TO THEM TO GO.
SO THEY JUST HAVE TO COME TO AN ORIENTATION WITH THEIR PARENT 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T GO WITHOUT PARENT PERMISSION.
UM, BUT THAT'S, IT'S FROM ACROSS THE CITY.
SO IT HAD A REALLY GOOD, YOU KNOW, UM, RETURN AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT IS THROUGH THE, UM, THE LONG STRONG INITIATIVE IS THAT OUR TEEN CENTERS, UM, ARE OPEN TWO ADDITIONAL HOURS THIS YEAR.
UM, SO INSTEAD OF 12 TO SIX, THEY'RE OPEN FROM 12 TO EIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAMS, UM, HAVE A SAFE AND FUN PLACE TO GO, UM, AND INTERACT IN OUR ACTIVITIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BE VENTURED BY OUR TEAM.
ANYBODY ELSE? JANICE? NOTHING FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY JEN, NOTHING TO ADD.
SHELY, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, THOSE PLACES, SOME WORK GOING ON IN ELDORADO PARK HERE ON THE WEST SIDE.
THEY ARE WORKING ON THE FENCING AROUND ALL FIELDS, FIVE AND SIX AND THEN THE LONG WEIGHTED RESTROOM WORK HAS GOTTEN STARTED THIS WEEK AS WELL.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME MOVEMENT WITH, UM, OUR COURT SIDE FOUNDATION THAT CAME PROBABLY BACK IN FEBRUARY WHEN I FIRST STARTED.
[00:50:01]
COMPLETED ONE COURT ALREADY AND THEY ARE MOVING TO WORK ON RESURFACING AKA PARK NEXT WEEK.AND THEN THE COURTS OVER AT
SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS AND THINGS GOING ON IN OUR PARKS AND EXCITING TO SEE SOME PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION.
UH, THERE WAS A, A TOURNAMENT THIS PAST WEEK OVER AT THE TENNIS COURTS IN EL DORADO AND I SAW THAT THEY WERE LINING UP, UH, FOR TELEVISION, UH, BLUE CABLES ALL OVER THE PLACE SO THAT IT COULD BE TELEVISED.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? HOW DID IT WORK OUT? IS THERE TALK ABOUT WANTING TO PUT IN SOMETHING PERMANENTLY LIKE THAT, ET CETERA? GO AHEAD, MIKE.
I DOUBT THEY WOULD BE PERMANENT TELEVISION
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SPECIAL TOURNAMENT OR EVENT, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING DOES DO A LOT OF LIKE TV EPISODES, LIKE ALL OVER THE CITY AND SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT ALWAYS AWARE OF IT, BUT MAYBE THAT WAS, THEY'RE DOING DEXTER IN THE CITY THIS WEEK.
YEAH, IT'S IT'S A, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? A PRAY.
IT'S WHEN THEY FLASH BACK AND DO SOMETHING EARLY.
A PREQUEL AND IT'S HIS FORMER WIFE'S HANGING FROM THE BRIDGE OR SOMETHING.
WE'LL TAKE THEIR MONEY TOURNAMENT.
YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE, UH, POSSIBLY GOING TO BECOME, UM, TENNIS, UH, PARTICIPANTS IN THE OLYMPICS.
OH REALLY? YEAH, BUT NOT THIS OLYMPICS.
BUT THEY WERE, THEY WERE VERY GOOD.
I TALKED TO THE BRIDGES ACADEMY.
YEAH, I KNOW THAT THE TENNIS OPERATORS HAVE WORKED WITH USTA AND, AND DOING SOME PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT'D BE GOOD FOR US TO KNOW THAT.
SHELENE, ANYTHING ELSE? THAT IS IT MIKE? NOTHING ADD DIRECTOR.
WELL I JUST, ON THE COATTAILS OF WHAT STEVE WAS SHARING, THE SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA, I KNOW WE BROUGHT THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THEY HAD TWO FANTASTIC WEEKENDS.
UH, THEN THEY LAUNCHED OFF TO TRAVEL AROUND TO OTHER CITIES.
BUT THAT WAS JUST ANOTHER AMAZING SHOWCASE OF TALENT THAT, UH, I DO WANT TO GIVE STEVE CREDIT.
SO THE QUALITY OF ALL THE PERFORMANCES IS EXCEPTIONAL.
AND UH, I MEAN I'VE GONE TO A LOT OF LIKE UNIVERSAL AND DISNEY TYPE PRODUCTIONS WHERE IT'S OUTSIDE.
SO IT WAS LIKE AT THAT CALIBER.
IT WAS REALLY, SO STEVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, IT'S JUST TOTALLY INVESTED IN MAKING THE QUALITY, QUALITY THING.
AND THEN JANICE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS A TEAM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A FAMILY, SO WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN IMPORTANT THINGS IN EVERYBODY'S FAMILY LIFE OCCURS.
SO STEVE SCOTT, WHO WOULD NORMALLY BE SITTING THERE, UH, BESIDES TODAY BEING HIS BIRTHDAY, SO WE HAD TO CANCEL SOME CUPCAKE PLANS, BUT, SO HE'S TRAVELING TO BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH HIS SON.
HIS SON GOT TAPPED JUST THIS WEEK TO BE ON A TRAVEL TEAM AND HE'S GONNA BE PLAYING 18 GAMES UP IN A REALLY HIGH PROFILE SUMMER LEAGUE.
SO STEVE'S TAKING HIS SON UP THERE TO, TO DO THAT TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT WITH US,
COMMISSIONER CHAVE, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH, ACTUALLY, UH, ONE QUESTION THAT I CAN, YOU KNOW, WAS THINKING OF ON THE WAY OVER HERE THIS MORNING, SINCE WE KNOW WE'RE IN A BIT OF A COVID SPIKE RIGHT NOW, AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW OR SEE LIKE PARTICULARLY AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS, UH, WHAT SORT OF PRECAUTIONS OR PROTECTIONS MIGHT BE TAKING PLACE AS THIS MORE VULNERABLE POPULATION, UH, JUST TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE, YOU COMPROMISE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OLDER PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE ILLNESS.
SO I THINK MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, UH, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE LIKE A DISCUSSION OR SOME, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS TO FEEL PROTECTED A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE AHEAD OF THAT.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW THEIR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON TUBERCULOSIS.
THERE'S BEEN A CASE OR TWO AND AVIAN FLU IS ANOTHER CRAZY THING THAT'S OUT THERE WITH THE POSSIBILITY.
I MEAN, REMOTE POSSIBILITY IT COULD, YOU KNOW, GROW TO BECOME A GREATER CONCERN.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR SENIORS LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THE NUMBER OF YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEY, I THINK KIND OF SELF-MANAGE THEIR OWN, UH, CARE AND, YOU KNOW, WE DO SEE A LOT MORE MASK, UM, STAFF OF ALL AGES AND PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES.
BUT YEAH, IF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD REINTRODUCE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE.
SO ACTUALLY I COULD ADDRESS THAT.
[00:55:01]
ADULTS AS WELL AS OUR YOUTH, OUR, ANYONE, YOU KNOW, COMPROMISED, YOU KNOW, UM, ARE AT RISK FOR CATCHING COVID AGAIN.SO AT OUR SITES AND WORKING WITH MY TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DAY THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE CLEANED THOROUGHLY, UM, START FRESH NEXT WEEK, WE PROVIDE MASKS WHEN ASKED, YOU KNOW, IF NEEDED.
UM, AND ANY TIME THAT SOMEONE HAS ANY SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO OUR BEST.
SO RIGHT NOW, UM, THERE ARE THE PROTOCOLS THAT WERE IN THE PAST WHEN WE WERE THROUGH ARE NOT INTO EFFECT RIGHT NOW, BUT AS OUR OLDER ADULTS OR WHETHER OUR TEENS OR YOUTH OR IN FAMILY, UM, ARE IN NEED OF MASKS, WE PROVIDE THEM.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL THE ANTIBACTERIAL, UM, AT OUR SITES.
UM, BUT IT IS JUST BEING A DUE DILIGENCE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY REQUESTS THAT OUR STAFF THERE.
UM, AND THANKS TO, UM, MIKE'S VERY DILIGENT TEAM THAT COMES IN, UM, RIGHT AFTER WE, WE MENTIONED IT YESTERDAY, THEY LEAVE IT CLEAN AND THEN WE CREATE JOB SECURITY, UM, BECAUSE WE USE IT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE DAY AND THEN THIS TEAM COMES BACK IN AGAIN.
YEAH, I DID THINK OF THREE MORE THINGS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THERE WAS SHOUT OUTS TO MIKE AND HIS TEAM, UM, I'M REMINDED HOW ESSENTIAL OUR RESPONSIVENESS IS.
THERE ARE CONTINUED CRAZIEST THINGS THAT IMPACT OUR FACILITIES, UM, THAT CAN CURTAIL OR SHUT DOWN OR TEMPORARILY DELAY OUR PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, I MEAN, EVERY DAY WE GET, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY CALLS FOR, YOU KNOW, RESTROOMS, YOU KNOW, IN NEED OF SOME SERVICE REPAIRS, THINGS THAT ARE STOLEN, ESPECIALLY THINGS OF A METAL TYPE.
UM, WE GET ELECTRIC SERVICE CABLES CUT, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRYING TO TAP INTO OUR LIGHT POLES TO CHARGE THEIR PHONES.
UM, IT JUST, BUT I, I WANT TO GIVE MIKE AND HIS TEAM A LOT OF CREDIT 'CAUSE THEY TRY TO GET OUT THERE AND RETURN OUR FACILITIES TO, YOU KNOW, SAFE SERVICE.
AND SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WHAT'S TODAY, THE 18TH? WE HAVE ABOUT, UM, 13 MORE DAYS LEFT IN THE MONTH OF JULY IS WHEN PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PART OF THAT NATIONAL CELEBRATION.
SO, UM, I'VE BEEN WEARING MY SHIRTS THAT GLADYS GAVE ME THAT SAY, PARTS MAKE LV AND PARTS MAKE LIFE BETTER AND TRY TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEY GET A LOT OF NODDING HEADS AND SMILES THAT YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, PARTS DO MAKE LIFE BETTER.
AND THEN IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HISTORICALLY WE HAVE DONE, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM FOR SPONSORING OUR MOVIES IN THE PARKS.
AND NORMALLY WE PRESENT, UM, AN APPRECIATION GIFT AND THEY GIVE THE SUPER SIZE CHECK TO THE CITY AND HELP FUND THE MOVIE.
SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT IN JULY BECAUSE THERE WAS VERY ONLY ONE MEETING.
SO I THINK JULY OR AUGUST 20TH, UM, WE'LL BE, UH, KIND OF DOING THAT CEREMONY BEFORE COUNCIL.
AND THEN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF, UM, PLANNED COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS.
SO I KNOW I'VE SEEN MANY OF YOU ATTEND, UH, VARIOUS MEETINGS IN THE PAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR WILL BE RELEASING HIS BUDGET AND CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME REQUIREMENT WILL RELEASE HIS AND THEN COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, MENTIONS THEIR PRIORITIES AND THEN IT ALL GETS MELDED TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC INPUT.
SO I NEVER ORCHESTRATE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT, THAT ALL THOSE MEETINGS, THERE'S ALWAYS AT LEAST THREE MINUTES WHERE YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOUR THOUGHTS KNOWN AND THAT HELPS SHAPE, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT JULY AND AUGUST A LITTLE.
AND THEN MY FINAL REMINDER IS WE WILL REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND HELPING US SCHEDULE YOUR COMMISSION RETREAT.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ? UH, ON MY OWN TIME? YEAH.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID STUFF.
REALLY APPRECIATE, GLAD TO SEE PARK STAFF BEING VERY PROACTIVE, UH, AND CONTINUING ON TO PROVIDE THIS PROTECTIONS.
UH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK THINGS.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO, UH, BE IN CONTACT WITH THE FRANKLIN WILL SPRINGS GROUP ON THE PARK, UH, DEDICATION PROCESS, AND I THINK, UH, PARK PERPETUITY.
I THINK, UH, WE ARE, UH, YOU HOPING FOR SOME GOOD NEWS SOON ON, ON THAT PROCESS.
AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THE DECISIONS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY MADE WILL BE, UH, TO WILL I THINK, SATISFY A LOT OF COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE, UH, I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS OUT THIS PROCESS NOW IS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THE GROUP IS LOOKING AHEAD, NOT JUST AT THE DESTINATION, BUT ALSO WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM VISION AND LONG-TERM GOAL FOR THE PARK.
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS NOW.
UH, SO THIS REALLY GOES TO SHOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE, A ONE AND DONE THING, BUT THERE'S A LONG-TERM INTEREST, LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT.
UH, THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, UH, REGARDING THE PARK.
[01:00:01]
UH, ALSO, I KNOW AFTER, UH, LAST MONTH'S MEETING, UH, WHEN WE PASSED THE, UH, VISION PLAN FOR SHEAR PARK AND DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A WALK THROUGH SHEAR PARK AND SEE, UH, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THERE ARE PARTS OF THE PARK THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, UNDER MAINTENANCE.
UH, BUT DEFINITELY SEE THE NEED FOR, UH, SOME TLC FOR SHEAR PARK.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT PLAN, UH, IS ABLE TO DO AND TRANSFORMING THAT SPACE AND BRINGING IT UP, UH, TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO SERVE, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
SO DEFINITELY MADE ME FEEL GOOD, UH, TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT LONG-TERM VISION FOR THAT PARK, UH, AND ITS CURRENT CONDITIONS, UH, NOW, AND, AND REALLY THE IMPORTANCE IT HAS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UH, YOU'LL HOPEFULLY GET TO DO THE SAME FOR MLK PARK SOON, UH, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST APPRECIATE SEEING SOME OF THE LONG-TERM VISION THAT THIS, UH, COMMISSION IS, UH, PREPARING FOR.
SO, UM, WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY BRIEFINGS WITH EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.
UM, HE WOULD LIKE, AND WE'LL WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO SCHEDULE THE PRESENTATION FOR SHEAR PART DIVISION PLAN AT A SEPTEMBER COMM, UH, COUNCIL MEETING THAT ISN'T SO HEAVILY LAID WITH LOTS OF AGENDA ITEMS SO THAT IT, IT'S KIND OF LOST.
HE REALLY WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT HAS A PROMINENT SPOTLIGHT.
SO WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER, UH, VISION PLAN, MLK JUNIOR, UH, AGAIN, UH, DR.
SORROW, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE MLK PRESENTED ON A SEPARATE NIGHT WITH, YOU KNOW, A SHARED KIND OF PROMINENT SPOTLIGHT.
SO WHAT WE'RE CLOSELY WITH THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY MANAGER TO TRY, AND THEN WE'LL LET, ALL OF YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE REALLY INVESTED IN THE WORKSHOPS AND THE OUTREACH AND SUCH.
THEY'LL WANT TO BE THERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE, THE ITEMS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, YEAH, I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TAKE A MOMENT, ONE TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW, UM, COMMISSION LEADERSHIP, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REALLY THANK YOU, UM, CHAIR LEWISON FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION TOGETHER FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT SERVING AS CHAIR, UM, IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE YOUR PREVIOUS PARK KNOWLEDGE REALLY TIED INTO STILL THE BETTERMENT RIGHT, OF THIS DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMISSION IS SUCH AN ACTIVE PIECE IN THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION, AND I KNOW YOU'RE STILL WITH US, BUT, UM, GOOD.
UM, I FIRST WANNA SAY WELCOME, ASHLEY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, UH, TO THE CHAIR'S, UH, COMMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
SO, UM, GOOD LUCK AND BEST OF BEST WISHES,
UM, UH, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU ALL THIS NEXT UPCOMING YEAR.
UM, AND ALSO EXTEND MY THANKS TO CHAIR LIVINGSTON FOR SUCH A WARM RECEPTION AS THE, AS THE BABY OF THE COMMISSION.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND I'LL LEAVE IT ALL THAT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RT SMITH.
UM, YEAH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU, AND I MEAN THAT I REALLY HAVE.
IT'S BEEN, UM, YOU'RE VERY STEADY AND CONSISTENT LEADER AND THAT YOU PROVIDE A LOT OF CLARITY FOR PEOPLE, AND THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE, PROVIDING, UM, CONSISTENCY, CLARITY AND STEADINESS IS, IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.
SO I JUST REALLY, REALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR THAT AND FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO BE A BETTER LEADER.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SHARE ASHLEY'S SENTIMENT ABOUT LONG BEACH GIVES.
WE HAVE SO MANY AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS HERE IN LONG BEACH WHO REALLY DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO FIND YOUR FAVORITE NONPROFITS AND PUT $25, $50, WHATEVER YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE, BECAUSE THAT ONLY STRENGTHENS WHAT WE DO AS A CITY.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO IT.
UM, I KNOW I'M PROBABLY GONNA GIVE OUT ABOUT $500 THIS GO ROUND, UM, WITHIN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH I SERVE ON, SOME THAT BELONG TO ME.
UM, SO I DO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL SEPTEMBER 19TH, UM, THAT IS THE DAY, BUT WE HAVE THE WEEK OF PRE GIVING, SO REALLY LOOK OUT FOR EVENTS THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE GONNA BE DOING.
NICE CHAIR, CHAIR ELECT, REDFIELD, CHAIR ELECT.
I AM HUMBLED AND EXCITED AND A LITTLE NERVOUS TO FILL THE SHOES OF THIS, UH, AMAZING GENTLEMAN WHO HAS ALSO TAUGHT ME AN,
[01:05:01]
AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT.AND I ECHO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER HUN SAID ABOUT, UM, AND ALSO WHAT COMMISSIONER SMITH SAID ABOUT YOUR STABILITY AND YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS HAVE REALLY MADE US A STRONGER GROUP.
AND I HOPE THAT I CAN KEEP UP WITH THAT
SO, AND, UH, I DO FEEL WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD, STRONG TEAM HERE, UH, LOOKING AROUND THE WHOLE TABLE, BOTH STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS.
UM, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO ENJOY OURSELVES WHILE WE ALSO REFLECT ON WHAT GOES ON AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF, UH, STRENGTHS AND THE AREAS READY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UH, I MEAN, JUST TO HAVE WATCHED THE BAND SHELL GROW IN THE LAST, WHAT, 18 MONTHS? IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU'VE DONE, STEVE AND, UH, SO MANY OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE CITY.
SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP.
IF I SAY ANYTHING, I'LL CRY LIKE I DID IN MY LAST MEETING AS A STAFF MEMBER.
UM, SO JUST, UH, IT'S BEEN A, A GREAT FOUR YEARS, LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
AND OF COURSE, AS, AS WE OFTEN SAY, IT'S THE STAFF, UH, PARKS DO MAKE LIFE BETTER EVERYWHERE.
AND THIS DEPARTMENT IS SO GREAT AND THIS CITY IS SO GREAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 10 0 9.