* 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. [00:00:01] COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON? YES. OH, HERE. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP. COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ. COMMISSIONER LASSETER. HERE. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE. HERE. COMMISSIONER MOSQUERA. PRESENT VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON. HERE. CHAIR MELLINGER. HERE WE HAVE QUORUM. IS ZOOM QUEUED UP? I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER DONATOS SAP IS, UH, OR WAS ATTEMPTING TO SIGN IN. THERE WE GO. YEAH, I NOW SEE COMMISSIONER DON ASAP. SO FOR THE RECORD, SHE IS PRESENT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ IS EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON. WELCOME TO THE SECOND MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE DECIDED TO COME AND PARTICIPATE WITH US TODAY TO ENSURE THE INCLUSION OF ALL MEETING PARTICIPANTS. I WILL PERIODICALLY BE REMINDING THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS EVEN STAFF TO PROJECT YOUR VOICE BY SPEAKING CLOSELY INTO THE MICROPHONE. UM, MADAM CLERK, IN THE INTEREST OF THE FLOW OF DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX TO THE TOP OF THE MEETING AND BEGIN THERE PLEASE. UM, CAN I PLEASE INTERJECT AND JUST, UM, I THINK WE NEED, UH, COMMISSIONER SAPP TO MAKE A STATEMENT. OH, I BELIEVE WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS PORTION OF THE MEETING. NO. OKAY. SO WE CAN GO AHEAD. SO THIS IS FOR AFTER THE ROLL CALL. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SHE CAN MAKE HER STATEMENT, UM, AFTER THE ROLL CALL SO SHE CAN BEGIN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, FOLKS, ARE WE REFERRING TO THE STATEMENT THAT COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IN THE, AS AN ANNOUNCEMENT? OH, NO. THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT SHE IS GONNA MAKE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY TODAY. OH, OKAY. I'M SO SORRY. I MISSED IT ON, ON MY, UM, SCRIPT HERE. SO COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP, WE NEED YOU TO READ A SPECIFIC STATEMENT REGARDING FOLKS. LET'S SEE HERE. REGARDING AB 2 4 4 9 PURSU TO ASSEMBLY BILL 2 4, 4 9. I HAVE JUST CAUSED CIRCUMSTANCES AUTHORIZING MY REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN THIS PUBLIC MEETING. I HAVE A CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS. UM, DR. JEFF SAPP IS IN THE ROOM WITH ME AND HE'S MY DAD. OKAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ALL RIGHT. FOR, SO JUST TO REITERATE, UM, THIS MEETING WILL FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS OF AB 2, 4, 4 9, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND AND ADDRESS THIS BODY VIA A CALL-IN OPTION, AN INTERNET-BASED SERVICE OPTION. AND IN-PERSON AT THIS MEETING AS REFERENCED IN, UM, COMMISSIONER DON'S STATEMENT. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, WE BACK TO THE REGULAR FLOW. OKAY. APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE THE MOST UPDATED SCRIPT IN FRONT OF ME, SO I MISSED, I MISSED THAT PORTION. SO I WOULD AGAIN, UM, MADAM CLERK, IF, IF WE COULD PLEASE IN THE INTEREST OF THE FLOW OF DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX TO THE TOP OF THE MEETING. AND TO BEGIN THERE PLEASE. ITEM NUMBER [6. 24-54254 Recommendation to discuss prospective dates and times for a Commission Retreat.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] SIX IS A RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS PROSPECTIVE DATES AND TIMES FOR A COMMISSION RETREAT. OKAY. CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. AND I'LL SECOND. OKAY, SO WE HAVE MOVED BY COMMISSIONER, UH, JAY PATTERSON, IF I PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY, BY ARCHULETA BY ARCHULETA, AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER J PATTERSON. YEP. THANK YOU. UM, SO REGARDING THIS ITEM, SEVERAL OF OUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE INDIVIDUALLY EXPRESSED TO ME THE DESIRE TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND TO DIALOGUE ABOUT OUR WORK IN, UM, A FREER SETTING. AND IN ADDITION, THERE'S A NEED TO DEVOTE MORE TIME [00:05:01] TO DISCUSSING THE GROUNDWORK OF THIS NEW COMMISSION. IT'S A COMMON PRACTICE FOR CITY COMMISSIONS TO SCHEDULE ANNUAL RETREATS OR, UM, DAY LONG RETREATS IN WHICH THEY BOTH FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR CORE MISSION, BUT ALSO SET GOALS FOR THEIR ANNUAL WORK. I AM SUGGESTING THAT WE DISCUSS DATES AND TIMES FOR COMMISSION RETREAT, WHERE IF, UH, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ARE SUPPORTIVE, WE CAN SPEND TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, STUDYING AND DISCUSSING BYLAWS AS WELL AS POTENTIAL COMMITTEE STRUCTURES, WHICH WERE BOTH, UM, UH, POINTS OF INTEREST EXPRESSED AT THE LAST MEETING. UH, REMEMBER, THIS WOULD ALSO CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC MEETING, AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE WELCOME TO ATTEND. UM, IF, UH, THE MOTION OR, AND THE SECONDER WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM OR ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS, UH, PLEASE DO SO. NOPE, SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS. UH, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM? UH, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX. AND IF THERE'S ANY IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, SEEING NONE, BOTH IN ZOOM AND IN PERSON, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX. OKAY, AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, NO DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. UH, HOW ARE WE CHOOSING THE DATES OR WHO IS GOING TO BE SENDING THE INITIAL DATES OUT? OH, CORRECT. I'M SORRY. I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF. YES. SO, UM, IN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON POTENTIAL DATES FOR A RETREAT? WE CAN DISCUSS THEM NOW. COMMISSIONER NICHOLSON AND VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON. COULD PEOPLE PLEA THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU ON YOUR LEFT? I WAS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE MICROPHONE. COMMISSIONER TONY'S NOT USING THE MICROPHONE. I REALLY AM SAYING, HEY, EVERYBODY USE THE MICROPHONE. UM, COMMISSIONER LEVIT, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS ON A WEEKEND OR DURING A, A WORK WEEK? WHAT, WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS WITH COMMISSIONER RETREATS? I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO CITY STAFF ON WHEN COMMISSIONER RETREATS TYPICALLY OCCUR. BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THE DESIRE? UM, IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION, WOULD WE, WOULD WE LIKE TO HAVE IT DURING THE WEEK? WOULD WE LIKE TO HAVE IT ON A WEEKEND? OR WOULD WE PERHAPS NEED TO DO SOME POLL, A POLL, FOR EXAMPLE, ONLINE TO PROCEED WITH THIS? PROBABLY MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT LET ME HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER LEVIT. WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION. UM, THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL WOMEN THAT I JUST BARELY GOT TO TALK TO, AND I WANNA KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY'S DOING AND HOW WE WORK EFFECTIVELY AS A TEAM. AND SO I THINK A RETREAT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK, UH, WE PROBABLY ARE GOING TO END UP USING A POLL. THERE ARE TOO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY AND DAYS IN THE WEEK, BUT I WILL SAY THIS, WHEN A DOODLE GETS SENT OUT, IF EVERYBODY WOULD ANSWER THAT DOODLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IS THAT DOODLES SEEM TO SIT AROUND WAITING TO BE ANSWERED FOR A WEEK, AND THEN WE TAKE A WEEK TO COLLECT IT, AND THEN WE GET BACK, AND THEN WE TAKE ANOTHER WEEK. AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS, AND, AND LET ME BE A BIT FORTHCOMING ABOUT THIS, WE'RE HOPING TO HARVEST THE SKILLSET, THE INTEREST, THE PASSION, WHY YOU'RE HERE, WHAT YOU WANNA DO. AND, UH, WE WANT TO DISCOVER WHO'S HERE WITH THE IDENTICAL PASSION AND THE IDENTICAL MISSION. AND THAT'S HOW OUR COMMITTEES ARE GONNA BE FORMED. THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING, INTERESTING POSSIBILITY. THIS IS NOT, UH, THIS IS YOUR LIFE AND YOU STAND UP AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU WERE RIGHT. IT'S NONE OF THAT. IT'S REALLY ABOUT DECIDING, LOOKING AT THE SURVEY AND LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE SERVE AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM, AND LEAVE THAT INSPIRED AND PAIRED. AND, AND, UH, I I WANNA SPEAK ENTHUSIASTICALLY, UH, THAT THIS IS A POW WELL, I CAN'T IMPART, PARDON ME, I AM PART NATIVE SO THAT YOU CAN'T ACCUSE ME OF THAT BEING RACIST, BUT ALL THE SAME. I'M SORRY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE USED THAT. IT'S A GATHERING OF US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANNA DO [00:10:01] AND ASAP THE SOONER THE BETTER. SO PLEASE ANSWER YOUR DOODLES AND, UM, BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. I LIKE THOSE. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR, UM, COMMISSIONER JAY PATTERSON. YES. UM, I THINK WE, WHAT WE PROBABLY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, I, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A RETREAT. I THINK WHAT WE WANNA ACCOMPLISH WOULD AT LEAST TAKE FOUR HOURS, YOU KNOW, TO, AND SO THAT LIKELY, UNLESS WE START EARLY DURING THE WORKDAY, WOULD BE ON A WEEKEND. YOU KNOW, SO I'M JUST KIND OF SETTING THE, PLANTING THE SEEDS THAT MAYBE IT'S ON A SATURDAY FROM SAY NINE TO 11:00 AM A LUNCH, AND THEN TWO HOURS AFTERWARDS IF WE WRAP UP EARLY, GREAT. BUT I THINK THAT'S THE AMOUNT, THE TIME AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY FORESEE IN THE DATES. SO I, I AGREE WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A DOODLE DOODLE, BUT I THINK PLANTING THE SEED THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO COVER WHAT WE NEED TO. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. UH, COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. UH, THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK QUESTION, UM, REGARDING THE WEEKEND, UM, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE STAFF, CITY STAFF AVAILABLE AT THE, UH, AT THE RETREAT. AND SO THE QUESTION IS ARE, UH, REGARDING THEIR AVAILABILITY, UH, TO STAFF, OUR RETREATS? I DON'T KNOW, CAN I ASK STAFF, UM, WHAT, WHAT STAFFING IS REQUIRED AND, UM, IS IT DUE TO THOSE STAFFING NEEDS REQUIRED TO BE ON A WEEKDAY OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM ON WEEKENDS? UM, SO HISTORICALLY WE HAVE . PERFECT. YES. I'LL LET, I'LL LET ALANA TAKE IT. THANK YOU, ALANA. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. I, UM, CONFIRMING THAT WE WOULD BE AVAILABLE, UM, TO SUPPORT YOU ALL ON THE WEEKEND. UM, AND NORMALLY WE DO ARRANGE FOR A HALF DAY, UM, RETREAT WITH OUR COMMISSIONS. SO, UM, Y'ALL ARE DEFINITELY IN THE RIGHT FRAME AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STAFFING. WE'LL MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE FOR, UM, THE DATE THAT WORKS BEST FOR, FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOU ALL. UM, SO IF THERE IS LIKE A PREFERENCE AS TO WHEN, LIKE PERHAPS IN AUGUST WORKS, UH, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE GREAT FOR ME TO, FOR OUR TEAM TO COLLECT FROM YOU ALL TONIGHT SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SEND OUT THAT SURVEY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. DID I SEE COMMISSIONER DR. KEL? YES. BEING THAT WE DO HAVE QUORUM TODAY, I PROPOSE, UH, THAT WE SET THREE DATES TO PONDER OR TO REFLECT ON AND THEN THINK ABOUT OR EVEN SET ONE TO THREE DAYS BETWEEN LABOR DAY AND VETERANS DAY THAT WE CAN MEET ON A SATURDAY. DO YOU HAVE THREE DATES IN MIND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE? I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT ON THAT FOR, FOR A MOMENT AND COME BACK TO YOU. OKAY. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ABLE TO REFLECT ON THE SAME THING BETWEEN NOW LABOR DAY AND VETERANS DAY, UH, SATURDAY. AND, UM, THAT IS AVAILABLE. ONE MOMENT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LASTER, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AUGUST 17TH. UM, IT'S THE WEEKEND RIGHT BEFORE MY FALL SEMESTER STARTS, SO THAT WILL BE GREAT. IS THAT A SATURDAY? YES. YES. OKAY. COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON, I BELIEVE FOR FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER DR. ENGEL. UM, WELL, AUGUST 17TH IS MY SON'S BIRTHDAY, SO I CAN'T DO THAT DAY FOR SURE. UM, BUT I WAS THINKING MAYBE SEPTEMBER, LIKE WE JUST LOOK AT SATURDAYS IN SEPTEMBER AND SEE WHICH ONE WORKS. 'CAUSE THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF DISTANCE OUT THAT EVERYONE COULD PLAN THEIR SCHEDULES AROUND IT. UM, AND THEN I FEEL LIKE IF WE GET ANY LATER THAN SEPTEMBER, WE'RE GETTING TO HOLIDAY SEASON AND ALL THE THANKSGIVING AND FRIENDSGIVING PARTIES. SO, UM, I'M OKAY WITH SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER. I'M SORRY, AUGUST IF YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO MEET BEFORE YOU START YOUR SEMESTER, IS THAT WHY YOU'D PREFER YES, AUGUST 24TH WORKS AS WELL. OKAY. COMMISSIONER DR. ENGEL, I HAVE THREE DATES. UH, SEPTEMBER 14TH, OH, OH, SORRY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, NOVEMBER 2ND, AND OCTOBER 2ND. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TE UH, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON, ON THE CALENDAR. THIS DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH ANY, ANY TIME THAT YOU WILL POSSIBLY HAVE A MIDTERM OR A FINAL, I PROMISE, . AND SO, YES, THIS, UM, [00:15:01] THIS, THESE ARE THREE DAYS THAT ARE ON THE SATURDAY. THEY'RE, LOOK, THEY APPEAR TO BE THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH. UM, THEY DO NOT CONFLICT WITH, UH, WITH HOLIDAYS THAT ARE COMING UP OR, OR, UM, FA UH, CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS SEPTEMBER 16TH, INDEPENDENCE DAY OR YOM KIPPUR OR ROSH HASHANAH, COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE. UM, I THINK, UH, SEPTEMBER IS A GOOD MONTH TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT GETS US ON BOARD PRETTY QUICKLY. AND, UM, I THINK AFTER SCHOOL STARTS IS EASIER BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MANY VACATIONS IN THE EARLIER PARTS. SO IT GIVES EVERYBODY TIME TO KIND OF SETTLE IN. SO I LIKE THE, THE 14TH. YOU'VE GOT ONE VOTE THERE, STEPHANIE. I SUPPORT THE 14TH AS WELL. OKAY. I DO AS WELL. AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL YES, PLEASE. IF FOLKS COULD WAIT FOR ME TO CALL, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. BUT I, I LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM. THAT'S GREAT. UM, COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA? YES, I, UH, SEPTEMBER 14TH IS, UM, MY GRANDMOTHER'S HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY PARTY. SO THAT IS A NO GO FOR ME, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO THROW IN AUGUST 10TH AS A POTENTIAL. OKAY. COMMISSIONER DR. KEL? I AM IN QUEBEC AUGUST 10TH. AUGUST 10TH IS MY BIRTHDAY. AND, UH, NOT THAT I COULDN'T BE THERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY QUICK. IT'S, IT'S VERY SOON. SO I, IT'S JUST CONCERNING TO ME THAT IT'S SO SOON. MM. YEAH. COMMISSIONER LASSETER. UM, I WON'T BE PRESENT AUGUST 10TH. I'LL BE ON A RETREAT. ALL COMMISSIONER MOSCA. AND THEN I, I AM GONNA, I'M GONNA TRY TO PULL SOME THOUGHTS TOGETHER HERE. I COMMISSIONER MOSCA, ARE YOU QUEUED UP? YES. OKAY. YOUR THOUGHTS? I, WELL, THERE, THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER SATURDAYS IN AUGUST THE 24TH AND THE 31ST. OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOSS SCADA UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS HERE. I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THE WORK DONE AND GETTING TO BUSINESS SOONER, I THINK THAT IT IS IDEAL TO START SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. I THINK THAT AUGUST IS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE WE WILL BE DOING THAT BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GET A COUPLE MEETINGS OUT WITHOUT HAVING GOTTEN INTO SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE COMMITTEES WE WOULD LIKE TO FORM AND THE BYLAWS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. SO, UM, I SUPPORT, UH, POT PUTTING ON, I, I THINK A, A POTENTIAL MOTION HERE WOULD BE TO, UM, CREATE A POLL SUGGESTING THOSE DATES IN AUGUST, WHICH, IF YOU CAN REMIND ME, COMMISSIONER MOSQUITO, WERE AUGUST, THE DATES IN AUGUST. AUGUST WERE PROPOSED. WERE AUGUST 17TH. OKAY. AUGUST 24TH AND AUGUST 31ST. OKAY. SO I WOULD PROPOSE AND MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, CREATE A POLL THAT WE WILL, THAT ALANA WILL SEND OUT, AND CITY STAFF WILL SEND OUT, UH, ABOUT WHETHER AUGUST 17TH, AUGUST 24TH OR AUGUST 31ST WORK FOR A COMMISSION RETREAT FOR THE LONG BEACH COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. UM, COMMISSION THE THREE DATES ONE MORE TIME. YES. THE THREE DATES WE ARE DISCUSSING FOR THE POLL WOULD BE AUGUST 17TH, AUGUST 24TH, AND AUGUST 31ST. THESE ARE ALL SATURDAYS. UM, SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALSO THROW IN SOME SEPTEMBER DATES BECAUSE OUR STAFF HAVE TO BE THERE WITH YOU, AND THAT'S VERY SOON. UM, AND VERY HARD TO PLAN. IF YOU WANT A RICH RETREAT WHERE YOU CAN DIVE IN, WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP CREATE A BEAUTIFUL AGENDA, BUT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, NOT NECESSARILY IN RUSHING IT. UM, AND THEN ALSO KEEPING IN MIND THAT AUGUST IS OUR BUDGET SEASON. SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE, UH, SUPPORTING BUDGET MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO IT'S JUST A LOT IN AUGUST. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND SOME SEPTEMBER DATES TOO. OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S HELPFUL. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO WE WERE LOOKING, WE ALREADY HAD SOME FOLKS EXPRESS SOME CONCERN ABOUT A FEW SEPTEMBER DATES. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 14TH. WHAT WOULD, OKAY. UH, COMMISSIONER MOSSADA, DO YOU HAVE YES. OH, THERE'S ALSO SEPTEMBER 7TH AND THE 21ST. BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER 21ST, WE WILL HAVE ONLY HAD POTENTIALLY ONE MEETING. THE AUGUST MEETING [00:20:02] COMMISSIONER DR. ENG, WERE YOU QUEUED UP? ONE MOMENT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET. OH, YOUR MIC IS ON. SO I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE QUEUING UP TO SPEAK . OKAY. PERHAPS MAYBE IT WOULD BE PRUDENT AND TIME SAVING FOR THIS DISCUSSION TO SIMPLY SAY, LET'S HAVE A POLL FROM, UM, AUGUST EVERY SATURDAY FROM AUGUST 17TH, OR PERHAPS THE 24TH, UH, TO BE GENEROUS TO CITY STAFF HERE THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER. AND GO FROM THERE COM. UH, VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON, WHEN WE DO THESE POLLS, UM, COULD WE PUT DATES IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE? MAYBE PICK THE TWO BEST OR SOMETHING? UM, WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL OR JUST MAKE IT MORE COMPLICATED? UH, ARE YOU SAYING JUST FOR CLARIFICATION TO, TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS, RATHER COME BACK WITH A COUPLE OF OPTIONS OR HAVE A, MY TWO FAVORITE DATES OF EVERY FORTHCOMING SATURDAY AND THE FOLLOWING NEXT TWO MONTHS? OH, I GET, I WOULD PICK MY A DATE AND MY B DATE AND WHOEVER HAS THE MOST, A DATES OR SOMETHING, UM, OR MAYBE EVERYTHING'S AN A, UM, AND THEN HAVE A KILL DATE. A DATE THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION CAN'T HAPPEN. I SEE THAT ALANA HAS HER HAND RAISED. UM, THANK YOU. ALANA, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK YEAH. AND, UM, FORM THE POLL IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS YOU TO RANK YOUR TOP CHOICES OF THE DATES BETWEEN, UM, AUGUST 24TH AND THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE AGREEMENT HERE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE THIS POLL WITH THE RANKING SYSTEM OF TWO TOP FAVORITE DATES? UM, LOOKING AT THESE DATES AUGUST THROUGH SEPTEMBER, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT POINT OF COMMISSIONER VIOLET. THANK YOU. SO, SINCE THIS IS RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION, IT COULD BE AN AMENDED MOTION. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN ASK THE FIRST ORIGINAL MAKER OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION AND THE SECONDER TO APPROVE THE, UH, FRIENDLY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. . I BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS COMMISSIONER UH, ARCHULETA. YES. AND I ACCEPT THE, OOPS. YES. AND I ACCEPT THE MOTION TO THE FRIENDLY MOTION TO CONDUCT A POLL TO SELECT THE, THE DATES FOR OUR RETREAT. I'LL HAVE A SECOND. THANK YOU. UH, NOW WE WILL HAVE, I, I SEE COMMISSIONER DR. ENGEL IS QUEUED UP, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE SORT OF ROLLED ALONG HERE. UM, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES. COMMISSIONER ANCO? YES. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER, UM, DONATO SAP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MOSQUERA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION CARRIES . ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION ON THAT ITEM. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT TICKLES ME. I'M VERY GLAD EVERYONE IS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO WORK HERE. SO IF WE COULD PLEASE, UM, MADAM CLERK READ THE NEXT ITEM. ITEM NUMBER [1. 24-54249 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Commission for Women and Girls meeting of Wednesday, June 26, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2024. CAN UH, CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET? SO MOVE. CAN I GET A SECOND? I SECOND. COMMISSIONER MODA. THANK YOU. UH, WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM CLERK, UH, CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM? YES. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND IF THERE ARE ANY IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE. NOW. SEEING NONE, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE. COMMISSIONERS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE. SEEING NO, UH, NO DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES. COMMISSIONER ANELL? [00:25:01] YES. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE. ITEM NUMBER TWO [2. 24-54250 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the work of the Los Angeles County Commission for Women.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION ON THE WORK OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SO MOVED. WHY COMMISSIONER SHEA. PAT SHEA PATTERSON A MOTION? UH, YES. WE NEED A MOTION TO, UH, RECEIVE AND FILE THE PRESENT. SO MOVED. AND THEN WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VIOL. LEVI VIOLETTE. I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SHEA PATTERSON. OKAY. UM, TODAY WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME ELIZABETH WARREN, WHO IS THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. AND SHE HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED HER TIME TO PROVIDE US WITH A PRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION'S WORK. WHILE WE ARE A NEW BODY, THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS NOW, AND I'M SURE WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM. SO WHENEVER YOU ARE READY. COMMISSIONER WARREN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, THE WELCOME, THE WARM WELCOME AND GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF YOU. UH, TO MADAM CHAIR MELLINGER AND TO, UH, VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON, UM, AND ALL OF THE ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH WARREN. I'M THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. UH, AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, AND I WANNA THANK, UM, MS. ALANA GRANT, WHO'S NO LONGER ON THE SCREEN, BUT HOPEFULLY SHE'S WATCHING, UH, FOR THE INVITATION TO TALK TO YOU ALL, UH, THIS EVENING AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. BUT BEFORE I, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I HAVE, I WANNA TELL YOU, I WANNA CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, UM, WISH COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLETTE, UM, AN EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. MY BIRTHDAY IS ALSO AUGUST 10TH, SO BIRTHDAY SISTER, HAPPY, HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY. SO, , I'LL BE THINKING OF YOU ON OUR SPECIAL DAY. UM, SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR MAKING HERSTORY. AND YES, I SAID THAT RIGHT, HER STORY. UM, WE'VE HEARD HISTORY LONG ENOUGH, NOW IT'S OUR TURN. UM, YOU ARE EACH EXTRAORDINARY. YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMEN TO SERVE ON THE INAUGURAL CITY OF LONG BEACH COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. YOU HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THAT MOST OF US WILL NEVER HAVE. AS WE CELEBRATE YOUR APPOINTMENT, LET US ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE AHEAD OF YOU. UH, OUR JOURNEY TOWARD A MORE EQUITABLE, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE WORLD IS ONGOING. IT REQUIRES THE DEDICATION AND COLLABORATION OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND US AS WELL. NOT JUST YOU ON THE COMMISSION, BUT FOR ALL OF US AS WELL. THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS CAN SHAPE A FUTURE WHERE EQUALITY IS NOT JUST AN ASPIRATION, BUT A LIVED REALITY FOR US ALL. WE CELEBRATE 104 YEARS SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, IT GRANTED, UH, WOMEN, THE RIGHT TO VOTE ENDED THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE AND THE PROHIBITION OF THE, OF ANY US CITIZEN TO BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE BASED ON THEIR SEX. EACH OF US HERE TODAY STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WOMEN BEFORE US WHO STRUGGLED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE THAT WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN TO COME. SO OUR DEDICATED COMMISSIONERS OF THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION HAVE SELFLESSLY VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO PROMOTE OUR COMMISSION'S MISSION, AS EACH OF YOU WILL DO FOR YOUR COMMISSION. UM, AND OURS IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. YOURS, UH, WILL BE TO PROMOTE THE LIVES OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT YOUR CITY. SO I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS AN APPOINTEE TO THE COMMISSIONER. WARREN, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. IF YOU COULD SPEAK A LITTLE MORE LOUDLY AND LEAN IN. WE, OUR, OUR SOUND SYSTEM'S A LITTLE QUIET. OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, . NO WORRIES. I CAN HEAR MYSELF, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T. SO, YES. SO I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS AN APPOINTEE TO THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, JANICE HAHN, REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR. I AM AND HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE SOLID COMMITMENT OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN'S SOCIAL [00:30:01] AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING. SO, WITH THAT, I'M HONORED TO CALL EACH OF YOU MY SISTER, AND LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU AND SUPPORTING YOUR EFFORTS IN THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVES AND OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN LONG BEACH. SO NOW THE PRESENTATION. SO, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN ESTABLISHED IN 1975. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE OH, A LITTLE TOO FAST. UH, THIS IS THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MANY OF YOU, UH, HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, OUR FIVE EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN REPRESENTING, UH, THE COUNTY. FIRST IN HISTORY THAT WE'VE HAD ALL FIVE SUPERVISORS. UH, OUR CURRENT, I DIDN'T HAVE A PHOTO OF CURRENT WITH, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR LINDSEY HORVATH AS OUR CHAIR. UH, BUT SHE IS THE CURRENT CHAIR REPRESENTING THE THIRD DISTRICT. UH, THIS IS OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT, DR. OF, OF OUR COMMISSION, DR. UH, REGINA SMITH. UH, OUR VICE PRESIDENT IS, UH, COMMISSIONER IRMA ARCHULETA. OUR TREASURER IS, UH, COMMISSIONER JENNIFER BAIRD ANDERSON. AND I AM THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT. I I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYONE'S, UM, BIOS THAT IS ON OUR WEBSITE. AND ALSO YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO REVIEW THIS WITH YOUR, UH, YOU'LL GET A COPY OF THIS PRESENTATION. UH, WE JUST RECENTLY, WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO, GOT A FULL COMMISSION. WE HAVE 15 MEMBERS. WE HAVE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE FIVE DISTRICTS. SO WE DON'T HAVE EVERYONE'S PHOTOS, UM, AT THIS TIME. BUT WE DO HAVE A FULL SLATE. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HAD A FULL SLATE OF ALL 15, UH, UH, POSITIONS FILLED IN, UH, PROBABLY AT LEAST A YEAR, MAYBE, MAYBE EVEN CLOSE TO TWO YEARS. UH, WE HAD SOME ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT CAUSED SOME TURNOVER AND SOME COMMISSIONERS LEFT FOR PERSONAL REASONS. SO IT WAS, UH, QUITE A YEAR, UM, GETTING BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS. PLUS, UH, THE, THE CHANGES WAS A, UH, WAS A CHALLENGE FOR I THINK ALL OF US, UM, GETTING BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS. BUT I THINK WE'RE BACK ON, BACK ON TRACK AND, UH, WITH A, AS WE'RE READY, GETTING READY FOR OUR BOARD RETREAT, UM, IN SEPTEMBER. AND, UH, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY BE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BUSY YEAR AHEAD FOR US AS, AS WELL. UH, SO AS I MENTIONED, WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1975. WE HAVE 15 BOARD MEMBERS, UM, OR 15 COMMISSIONERS, UH, REP APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO NEXT YEAR, 2025 WILL BE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. SO WE'RE PLANNING, UH, A MAJOR CELEBRATION FOR NEXT YEAR. I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. BUT, UH, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A, A GREAT YEAR. SO THE PURPOSE OF OUR COMMISSION IS TO REPRESENT SPECIAL INTEREST AND CONCERNS OF WOMEN OF ALL RACES, RACES, ETHNIC AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS, SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. OUR MISSION IS, UH, VERY SIMILAR TO THAT. UM, JUST REWORD IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. OUR VISION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE LIVES AND WELLBEING OF WOMEN THROUGH OF, THROUGH BUILDING STRONG COLLABORATION, SHARING AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. SO, WHAT WE DO, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ABOUT WHAT WE DO, SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF IT, BUT, UH, JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE KEY POINTS. UM, WE INVESTIGATE BY MEANS OF MEETINGS OR CONFERENCES, PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, ANY CONDITION WHERE THERE'S ALLEGED, UH, UH, DISCRIMINATION OR PREJUDICE BECAUSE OF SEX, MARITAL STATUS, AND OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. UM, WE CO PROVIDE COORDINATION WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIVITIES OF MANY COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, UH, AND ANYTHING, UH, UH, RELATED TO, UH, THE CONCERNS OF WOMEN. WE RESEARCH AND PREPARE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION, UH, IN THE FIELD OF DISCRIMINATION, PREJUDICE, UH, TO ADVISE THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND, AND AGENCIES OF THE COUNTY, UH, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS ON ANY MATTERS INVOLVING THE NEEDS OF WOMEN. WE ALSO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OR INITIATE INVESTIGATIONS AND PRACTICES OF DISCRIMINATION, [00:35:02] UM, OR INSTANCES OF ANY PREJUDICE AGAINST WOMEN BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES. OH, IT WENT A LITTLE TOO FAST. UM, WE ALSO RECOMMEND NECESSARY PROCEDURES, PROGRAMS, LEGISLATION TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE EQUAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL WOMEN. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION, UM, IS THAT OUR COMMISSION IS AN ADVISORY BOARD. WE ARE AN ADVISORY, UH, ORGANIZATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE LEGISLATION OF OUR OWN. HOWEVER, THROUGH OUR COMMITTEES, THROUGH THE WORK OF, UH, OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. UH, WE, EACH, UH, DISTRICT HAS A LIAISON TO FRONT TO THE COMMISSION, UH, TO THE SUPERVISOR. SO WE WORK WITH OUR, UH, DISTRICT LIAISONS. UM, SOMETIME DEPENDING ON OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SUPERVISORS, WE CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE SUPERVISOR OURSELVES. BUT TYPICALLY WE GO THROUGH OUR LIAISONS, UM, ON THOSE ISSUES AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS. I HAVE A, UM, AN, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE DID THAT, UM, IN A COUPLE MORE SLIDES, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW WE MADE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE, TO THE COUNTY, TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE A COORDINATING FUNCTION WITH RESPECT TO, UM, ACTIVITIES OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS INVOLVING WOMEN'S ISSUES. UH, AND WE CAN ALSO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM ANY COUNTY DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE SERVICES, FACILITIES, UM, OR ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE DEED FOR, UH, FURTHERING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. AND THEN HOW WE DO IT, WELL, LIKE YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL RETREAT EVERY YEAR WHERE WE HAVE, UH, AN ALL DAY MEETING AND EACH OF OUR COMMITTEES WILL HAVE, UH, AN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITHIN THEMSELVES AND TO SET OUT THEIR STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. UH, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WITH ALL THE WOMEN WHO SERVE ON OUR COMMITTEES, AND WE'RE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT FOR, UH, THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THEIR EXPERTISE, AND REALLY BUILD ON WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER PAST YEARS, AND THEN HOW WE CAN EXPAND THAT AND TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, UM, THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO WE'VE UTILIZED SOMETHING CALLED THE SMART GOAL STRATEGIES. MAYBE SOME OF OF THESE YOU'VE HEARD OF, UH, BEFORE. SMART STANDS FOR SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT, AND TIME BOUND. SO WE GO THROUGH EACH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE TRY TO FIND, UM, WAYS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEASURE, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ACHIEVABLE GOALS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO IT, WHETHER IT'S RELATIVE, CAN WE DO IT IN THE NEXT YEAR. UH, SO WE WORK VERY HARD ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER, UM, FOR OUR SUPERVISORS AND FOR THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. UH, SO THE, OUR COMMITTEES EACH, UH, WORK ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN, UM, EMPOWER, INFLUENCE, AND HELP WOMEN TO FORGE AHEAD IN ACQUIRING BETTER HEALTHCARE, UH, ENHANCING OUR ECONOMIC POSITION AND TO REACH GENDER EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE. WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR COMMITTEES AND OUR AD HOC COMMITTEES. AND, UH, SO OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS OUR FOUR OFFICERS, THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER, AND IMMEDIATE VICE PRESIDENT, IS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. THEN WE HAVE FIVE STANDING COMMITTEES, EDUCATION, HEALTH POLICY, AND LEGISLATION, UH, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSE WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMITTEE. THOSE ARE STANDING COMMITTEES. THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH. THEY HAVE A CHAIR, A VICE CHAIR, UH, AND, UH, MEMBERS OF, WE TRY TO GET A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH DISTRICT ON, UH, THE COMMITTEES, UH, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE, UH, SO MANY IS THAT WE MAKE A QUORUM OF THE FULL COMMISSION. SO THAT IS, UM, UH, LESS THAN HALF, HALF PLUS ONE IS A QUORUM. SO EACH OF OUR COMMITTEES HAS WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF OUR, UH, SLATE IS. WE HAVE LESS THAN A HALF PLUS ONE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR WOMEN OF THE YEAR AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. THIS IS OUR, UH, ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, WHICH IS EVERY MONTH DURING, UH, WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UH, WHERE WE HAVE, UH, AN A LUNCHEON WHERE, UH, FIVE HUNDRED, SIX HUNDRED, FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY [00:40:02] ATTENDEES THIS PAST YEAR IN 2024. UM, AND WE CELEBRATE WOMEN BY CELEBRATING WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WE HAVE, UH, WOMEN WHO ARE NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS, WOMEN WHO ARE NOMINATED BY THEIR SUPERVISORS, UH, AND THEN A WOMAN WHO IS SELECTED BY THE PRESIDENT AS ARE WOMEN OF THE YEAR. AND THE FUNDS THAT ARE RAISED BY THAT LUNCHEON GO INTO OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. UM, THE FUNDS ALSO PAY FOR THE EVENT, AND THEN LEFTOVER, UH, ANY REMAINING FUNDS GO INTO OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. UH, SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ANNUAL AND ONGOING, UH, ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE. THE COMMISSION HOSTS, UH, A NUMBER OF ANNUAL EVENTS THAT ENHANCE AND ADVANCE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF LA COUNTY. WE HAVE OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. UH, WE GIVE OUT 15 SCHOLARSHIPS PER YEAR. THEY'VE BEEN, UH, A THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, BUT WE'VE RAISED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, INCREASE THE NUMBER TO 20, OR WE'VE GOT NOW WE'RE GIVING OUT 20, AND THE AMOUNT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $1,000 TO 1500. SO RIGHT, 1500. YEAH. SO, UM, WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND, UH, THAT PROGRAM. OUR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, UH, COMMITTEE HAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BRIEFING. WE, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL WOMEN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL RETREAT. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS. THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, UM, OFTEN PUTS ON WEBINARS. UH, OUR, UM, SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSE WOMEN COMMITTEE PUT ON A TRAINING PROGRAM, UH, FOR L-A-U-S-D. WE HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE L-A-U-S-D. ACADE ACADEMIC AND STAFF PARTICIPATE ON A, A, A WEBINAR THAT WAS A COUPLE HOURS LONG ON, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, SEXUAL GENDER DIVERSITY ISSUES WITHIN, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. UH, THAT WAS VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND WE'RE LOOKING, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN REACH OUT AND, UM, INVOLVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND EDUCATE THEM ON ISSUES PERTAINING TO WOMEN. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AS I MENTIONED, OUR WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS CEREMONY, UM, THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS COMMITTEE HAD SEVERAL, UH, CULTURAL RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIVE SERIES. WE HAD ONE ON NATIVE AMERICAN, UH, INDIAN AND, UH, ALASKA NATIVES, UM, SOME ON MAYAN AND WCAN WOMEN, AND, UH, ONE ON ETHIOPIAN WOMEN. WE'VE ALSO HOSTED SEVERAL GROUPS OF WOMEN THAT, UM, FROM INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. SO WE'VE HOSTED WOMEN FROM, UH, THE PACIFIC RIM ISLANDS AND ALSO FROM SOUTH AFRICA. AND IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING TO HOST THESE GROUPS OF WOMEN, UM, THAT MET WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THEY, THEY COME IN FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS. THEY GO FROM MEETINGS FROM EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, AND THEY JUST GO FROM MEETING TO MEETING TO MEETING. AND IT'S REALLY BEEN, UH, AN HONOR TO MEET WITH THEM AND TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND TO SHARE, UM, THE EXPERIENCES. SO WE HAVE, UH, A REALLY GREAT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS OUR, UH, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, UH, COMMITTEE DID IN 2023 WAS TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT COUNCIL FOR THE COUNTY. THIS WAS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. UH, IT WAS A RESPONSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. UM, AND, UH, THAT COUNCIL IS, UH, LIVES UNDER THE WOMEN, UH, THE WOMEN AND GIRLS INITIATIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY, THE WGI, A COUPLE OTHER QUICK, UH, MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS. WE WERE AWARDED, UM, IN 20 22, 20 23 CALENDAR YEAR, WE WERE AWARDED $25,000 FROM THE, UH, CALIFORNIA, UH, COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. AND IN 20 23, 20 24, IN THE FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE, UM, AWARDED $50,000 FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE, UM, THESE FUNDS IN WAYS THAT, UH, WE DID NOT HAVE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY BEFORE. SO THIS WAS A BONUS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO USE AND PUT THE GOOD WORK. UH, SO WE WENT TO, UH, EACH OF THE COMMITTEES AND ASKED THE COMMITTEES WHAT WOULD THEY DO IF [00:45:01] THEY WERE GIVEN A POT OF MONEY, UM, THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LITTLE GIFT THAT THEY RECEIVED. UH, SO EACH OF OUR COMMITTEES CAME UP WITH WAYS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS. SO, UM, IT REALLY WAS, UH, A GREAT BONUS TO GET THAT $75,000 OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE ALSO INFORMED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN THAT DUE TO THE STATE'S BUDGET CRISIS, THERE WOULD BE NO MORE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE. SO IT WAS GREAT WHILE IT LASTED, IT WAS A NICE LITTLE BONUS. UM, BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY THE COUNT, THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. UM, AND THEN I DID MENTION THAT WE HAD A SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSE, UH, WOMEN, UH, COMMITTEE THAT STARTED OFF AS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. UH, WE HAD A, UH, COMMISSIONER THAT JOINED OUR, UH, COMMISSION, UM, UH, PROBABLY IN EARLY 2023. UM, AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED WITH. AND THE FIRST QUESTION THAT SHE HAD FOR OUR COMMISSION WHEN SHE JOINED US WAS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS, UM, ISSUES OF, UH, SEXUAL DI DIVERSITY? AND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH, UH, OR ANYONE ON OUR COMMISSION WHO REALLY WAS ABLE TO TACKLE THAT, UM, SHE VOLUNTEERED. AND WE, UM, I, UNDER MY LEADERSHIP AS PRESIDENT, WE CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, UM, AFTER ONE YEAR, AND WE WANTED TO SEE WHERE THAT COMMITTEE WENT, HOW IT WOULD BE, UM, IMPLEMENTED, AND WOULD WE BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT A SUSTAINING COMMITTEE. SO I'M VERY EXCITED AND PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT A STANDING COMMITTEE IN JANUARY, 2024. UH, SO OUR, UH, COMMITTEE CHAIR IS DR. BOBBY TU. AND, UH, SHE IS A DYNAMO. SHE IS REALLY AMAZING AND DOING SOME FANTASTIC THINGS. AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA. SHE WORKS IN ACADEMIA, UM, AND CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO CREATE THE TEMPLATE FOR TRAINING. UM, SO THAT WAS, UH, A WONDERFUL, UH, ADDITION TO OUR COMMISSION. SO I WANT, I'M TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO ALL THINK ABOUT YOUR TALENTS AND THINK ABOUT YOUR PASSIONS AND LOOK AT AREAS IN YOUR CITY, WHAT'S MISSING, WHERE'S THE NEED, WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COMMISSION TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AND, UH, TO FILL IT AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. ONE OTHER THING THAT IS NOT LISTED THAT, UM, WAS UNDER, ONE OF THE THINGS I WORKED ON THAT I NEED TO ADD UNDER HERE UNDER, UH, MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IS, UH, GETTING C DAW IMPLEMENTED. AND C DAW STANDS FOR THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN. C-E-D-A-W. UH, C DAW IS AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENT ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 1979, AND WENT 45 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR. UM, IT WENT INTO EFFECT IN 1981. CDA IS OFTEN CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN, AND IS A KEY AGREEMENT THAT KEEPS UN, THAT HELPS UN WOMEN ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY. UH, SO WHEN I BECAME CHAIR OF OUR POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, UH, CDO WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST BEING TALKED ABOUT. WE WERE GETTING PRESENTATIONS ON IT, BUT IT WASN'T BEING IMPLEMENTED. SO I REACHED OUT TO THE WOMEN AND GIRLS INITIATIVE OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, FOR THEIR HELP BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES WHO REALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTED. BUT I WANTED TO GET THEIR HELP IN GETTING THIS ORGANIZED WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND I WORKED WITH THEIR, THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME, ABBY, ABBY LAND, UH, TO BRING TOGETHER THE, ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS AND DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I WAS, I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AT THEIR FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY, 2023, THE FIRST MEETING THAT THEY HAD, UM, ALL FIVE WOMEN. UH, SO GETTING SOMETHING, UH, PASSED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS EASY. GETTING IT IMPLEMENTED BY THE COUNTY IS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT, BUT I AM EXCITED TO SAY THAT IT IS CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED WITHIN ALL OF THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. UM, SO THAT'S, UH, ANOTHER REALLY GREAT WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, SOME IMPORTANT POLICIES IN THE COUNTY WORKING TOWARD EQUITY AND, AND, UM, UH, GENDER EQUALITY. UH, LAST ONE IS, [00:50:01] UH, THAT OUR HEALTH COMMITTEE COMPLETED THEIR HEALTH WEALTH GAP REPORT IN 2023. UH, WHICH EXAM EXAMINED THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH AND FINANCES, UH, WITHIN THE WOMEN OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND CHOICES. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE HAVE GIVEN, UH, A LOT OF WORK, UH, A LOT OF EFFORT TO OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. OUR COMMITTEE CHAIR IS GOING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COMMISSIONS OF WOMEN IN BOSTON LATER THIS MONTH. UH, NOT, I'M SORRY, NOT THIS MONTH. I THINK IT'S NEXT MONTH IN AUGUST. AND SHE'S GOING TO BE, UH, SPEAKING AND GIVING A PRESENTATION TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONS FOR WOMEN, UH, UH, ON, ON THAT, UH, REPORT. UH, SO I HAVE, OH, LITTLE TOO FAR. UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS, UH, ON OUR WEBSITE. SO I PROVIDED YOU WITH THE LINKS. UH, THE HEALTH WEALTH GAP REPORT THAT I JUST MENTIONED FROM OUR HEALTH COMMITTEE IS ON, THESE ARE ALL ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT HERE'S THE LINKS THAT CAN TAKE YOU RIGHT THERE. UM, WE ALSO DID A FULL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT ALL OF YOU WOULD BE VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR YOU AND, AND OF INTEREST TO YOU TO LOOK AT THIS AND SEE WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTY. UM, AND YOU KNOW, HOW THAT, UH, ALSO RELATES TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THAT. IT'S CALLED THE HIGHLIGHTS. UM, SO YOU INSTEAD, I THINK THE FULL REPORT IS ABOUT 30 SOME PAGES. UH, THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS JUST FOUR PAGES. SO IT'S A, IT'S A QUICK READ WITH A LOT OF STATISTICS IN THERE. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FEW PICTURES OF, UH, SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES, UM, OUR SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS. UM, IN 2023, OUR PRESIDENT'S AWARDEE FOR WOMEN OF THE YEAR WAS MAYOR KAREN BASS OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, UM, AND THEN SOME OTHER, UH, BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADIES, UM, PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF OUR EVENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY'S COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I CAN ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. THAT WAS SO HELPFUL. UM, I'M JUST PROCEDURALLY HERE, SINCE SOME OF US ARE NEW TO THIS SPACE. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, UM, I WILL GIVE THE MOTION AND THE SECONDER AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL INVITE YOU BACK, COMMISSIONER FOR OUR, OUR SORT OF LARGER DISCUSSION AND, AND QUESTIONS. UM, SO DO DOES THE SECOND COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, UM, THERE ARE, UH, THERE'S CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE, FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING YOURSELF. UH, THERE'S OUR WEB ON, ON THE LAST PAGE IS OUR EMAIL ADDRESS, LA CW@BOS.LA COUNTY.GOV. AND YOU CAN EMAIL OUR AMAZING STAFF, UM, , CESAR HERNANDEZ, ROY SINCLAIR, AND VIOLETA ZAPETA, AND THEY WILL GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF US THAT YOU'D LIKE TO REACH OUT TO. I HAVE MY CARDS, AND I'M HAPPY TO GIVE ANYONE ONE OF MY CARDS, UH, BUT, UH, TO REACH OTHER COMMISSIONERS, YOU CAN GO THROUGH OUR STAFF. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S RIGHT. UH, WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME, IS, IS ANYONE LINED UP FOR COMMENT, UM, ON ZOOM AND, AND CHECK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS SPACE? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER TWO IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND IF THERE'S ANY IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, NO IDEA WHAT SHE'S SAYING. AND I'M SO SORRY, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AND, UM, REPEAT IT A LITTLE MORE LOUDLY, PLEASE? YES. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER TWO IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS IN THE ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, SEEING NONE, BOTH IN PERSON AND ZOOM, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WARREN, THAT WAS INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND I THINK INSPIRING TO US TO SEE, PARDON, COMMISSIONER, WHAT THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION HAS DONE. OH, COMMISSIONER LEVIT, I, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. HOW OFTEN DOES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, UM, RESPOND FAVORABLY [00:55:01] TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS? DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A REAL COOPERATIVE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THERE? WE DO. WE HAVE, UH, HAD A LOT OF VERY POSITIVE, UH, UH, COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION WITH THEM. UM, AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS BY EACH OF US ARE APPOINTED, KNOWING KIND OF WHAT THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. I THINK THERE'S PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OR PER AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE, UM, THAT YOU ARE THERE TO REPRESENT THEIR BEST INTERESTS, BUT ALSO THERE TO REPRESENT, UM, THE, THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF LA OF THE COUNTY. UH, SO I THINK KEEPING THAT IN MIND AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UH, IF I CAN JUST ADD THAT WE DO WORK WITH, UH, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, UM, UH, THEIR CEO'S OFFICE, THE LEGISLATIVE, UH, ANALYST OFFICE, UH, ON, UH, LEGISLATION THAT IS AFFECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE, IN THE COUNTY AND WITHIN THE STATE. UM, OUR DIRECTION IS THAT WE FOLLOW THE COUNTY'S DIRECTION BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS A VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION WITH A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. UM, SO OUR COUNTY STAFF, UM, THEY'RE DIRECTORS OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ARE VERY, VERY, UM, INSIGHTFUL AND ARE ON TOP OF ALL THE LEGISLATION THAT'S OUT THERE. SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE SUPERVISORS. SO IT'S A, IT'S ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND KNOWING WHAT EACH OTHER IS DOING. UM, AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE AN ADVISORY BOARD, SO WE WORK WITH THEM AND WE BRING THINGS TO THEIR ATTENTION, AND THEN THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON. SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION THAT GOES ON. I SEE VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON. I HEARD YOU. OKAY. I'M JUST THINKING, UH, IN A WAY, I WANNA LOOK AT YOU AND TALK TO THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE SAME TIME. UH, THIS IS OUR FAIRY GODMOTHER RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE WOMAN WHO HELD MY HAND THROUGH ALL THE AD HOC AND ALL THE CRAZINESS AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, AND THE VOTES THAT WE ARE SITTING IN THESE CHAIRS RIGHT THIS MINUTE. AND, UH, SHE'S SO CRAFTY THAT ONCE SHE SAT ME AT THE ONE OF, AT THE CELEBRATION, THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION WOMAN OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION, SHE SAT ME NEXT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON PURPOSE. AND, UM, WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS, UH, YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND HERE. YOU HAVE CONTACTS NOW. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THERE ARE PEOPLE ON CITY COMMISSIONS, STATE COMMISSIONS, COUNTY COMMISSIONS. YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AND THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. DURING COVID, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE LAPSE. THERE WERE COMMISSIONS SORT OF IN THE BOILING POT TO HAPPEN, AND THEN COVID HAPPENED AND PEOPLE WEREN'T MEETING, AND THEY KIND OF LOST THEIR THREADS. AND, UM, THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T, OF COURSE, IS BECAUSE I'M VICIOUS ONCE I WANT SOMETHING. SO, UM, WE PUSHED ON. BUT IT IS THE SISTERHOOD OF THESE COMMISSIONS. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE ALONE OUT THERE ON A RAFT, AND THERE IS EXPERTISE BEYOND YOUR WILDEST EXPECTATION THAT THEY HAVE HAD COME IN AND SPEAK AND TALK TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW WHO KNOWS AND THAT I'M TELLING YOU NOW, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS? THAT'S A REALLY LOVELY SENTENCE. AND, UH, SO ELIZABETH WARREN, MY ELIZABETH WARREN R IS NOW OUR ELIZABETH WARREN. AND, UH, I WANT TO OBVIOUSLY THANK HER THROUGH SPEAKING ABOUT THIS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. AND IT'S RECORDED AND IT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. BUT I, I, I ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE, YOU, ALL OF US HERE, NEED TO DO THIS NOW IN TURN. 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME TO US AND SAY, HOW DO I START A COMMISSION? AND WE SAY, I'M HERE TO HELP YOU. I'M, I'M YOUR PARTNER NOW. I'M YOUR SISTER, NOW I'M HERE WITH YOU. WHY DO YOU WANNA DO THIS? HOW CAN I HELP? SO IT REALLY IS ALMOST A DREAM COME TRUE. I'M NOT USED TO IT. UH, THE [01:00:01] CITY WAS, UH, REALLY NOT SO, UH, UH, INVOLVED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, BUT THAT HAS CHANGED NOW, AND WE ARE NOW IN COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE STATE COUNTY COMMISSIONS. SO THANK YOU, ELIZABETH. YOU BRING A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THIS PRESENTATION. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S WONDERFUL, IT'S DAUNTING, IT'S FRIGHTENING. HOW WILL WE EVER DO SUCH A THING? BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, WE CAN ASK YOU WHEN WE HIT A ROAD BUMP AND, UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW GRATEFUL WE ALL ARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS. IF I CAN JUST SAY THAT WHAT WE, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO HOLD HANDS, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, AND WE'RE GONNA JUMP AND WE HAVE EACH OTHER. WE HAVE EACH OTHER. WE'RE GOING TO FLY. YOU'RE GOING TO FLY. SO, YES. YES. THANK YOU. UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY LENGTHY PREAMBLE. I'M JUST VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE. BUT IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, COMMISSIONER ULTA? YES. NO, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UH, UH, PAST PRESIDENT, UH, ELIZABETH WARREN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DID FOR OUR COMMISSION. AND I JUST WANNA SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT IT'S A LOT OF WORK. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DO. IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S INVOLVED. AND OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND THE SUCCESS OF THIS COMMISSION WILL DEPEND ON THE COMMITMENT AND THE WORK THAT WE PUT INTO IT. BECAUSE ALL OF THAT WORK THAT SHE MENTIONED, ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT SHE SPOKE ABOUT, THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME. AND IT'S NOT DONE IN, IN THE GENERAL MEETING, RIGHT? THEY'RE DONE INDEPEND SEPARATELY AND THEN INDEPENDENTLY BY EACH CHAIR OF EACH COMMITTEE. SO WE HAVE TO BE COMMITTED. IF WE WANNA BE AS PRODUCTIVE AND AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE LOS, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND 50 YEARS LONG TIME. BUT NONETHELESS, IF WE WANT TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AND AS SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO PUTTING THE TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND THE WORK THAT IS DONE, IT'S REALLY DONE IN THE COMMITTEES. THERE'S A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE COMMISSION. THE LA COMMISSION IS DONE, UM, BY THE, THE COMMITTEES AND BY THE CHAIRS AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SO AGAIN, OUR SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON OUR TIME COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMISSION. ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA, THE, THE COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE REALLY JUST TO REPORT. YOU COME IN AND YOU REPORT TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHAT YOUR COMMITTEE HAS DONE OVER THE PAST MONTH. UM, THEN YOUR COMMITTEE WILL WORK AND MAKE THE ASSIGNMENTS. WE TYPICALLY HAVE ARGS ON THE SAME DAY. UM, OUR COMMIT COMMISSION MEETS IN THE MORNING FROM NINE 30 TO APPROXIMATELY 1130. AND THEN OUR COMMITTEES START MEETING AT 12. AND AT, UM, WE MEET THE SECOND MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH. WE DO HAVE ONE OR TWO COMMITTEES THAT MEETS EIGHT OR EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING, AND THEN NINE 30 TO 1130 IS THE FULL COMMISSION MEETING. AND THEN 12 1, 2, 3, UM, IS WHEN THE REST OF THE COMMISSION COMMITTEE'S WORK, UH, MEET AND ALL. AS COMMISSIONER ARCHER LETTA SAID, ALL OF THE WORK GETS DONE DURING THOSE, THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO HAPPENS DURING THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND THEN THE ASSIGNMENTS GET MADE, AND THEN YOU DO THE WORK OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. UM, AND THEN YOU COME BACK AND REPORT ON IT THE NEXT MONTH. SO IT'S, IT IS A LOT OF WORK. UM, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL UP FOR IT. I KNOW YOU'RE ALL CAPABLE. UH, UH, YOU'RE, I MENTIONED YOU'RE ALL EXTRAORDINARY, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO. AND I'M IN YOUR CORNER. I'M IN YOUR CORNER. SO ANYTIME. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER LEVIT, I JUST WONDER IF, UM, YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE, UM, ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR A STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION IN LONG BEACH FROM 1977? I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF THAT. . IT'S AN EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE A COPY OF THAT. THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. THAT'S AMAZING. I'M SURE THAT WE HAVE OURS SOMEWHERE. SO THIS IS, UH, IT TOOK 50, TOOK 50 YEARS FOR YOU AS WELL. SO HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO. UM, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN VERY MUCH, AND, UH, WISH YOU ALL MUCH, MUCH SUCCESS AND, UH, ANY, ANY TIME I CAN BE OF, UH, HELP OR THE COMMISSION, THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN, YOU, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK, UM, SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I [01:05:01] WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WISDOM AND, UM, HONESTLY, WE APPRECIATE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GAVE US. UM, I THINK, I HOPE EVERYBODY GOES HOME AND TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE REPORTS AND LOOKS AT THEM AS INSPIRATION FOR SOME OF THE WORK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO WITHIN OUR, WITHIN OUR OWN PARAMETERS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE TO, UH, RECEIVE AND FILE THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER. YES. COMMISSIONER KEL? YES. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA. YES. COMMISSIONER CHAMBER PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER RA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ACTUALLY, YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ OUR NEXT ITEM. ITEM [3. 24-54251 Recommendation to receive and file sample Bylaws, and if needed, continue discussion on the Commission’s Bylaws.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NUMBER THREE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE SAMPLE BYLAWS AND IF NEEDED, CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE COMMISSION'S BYLAWS. CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SO, MOVE. OKAY. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LEVIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS I WHIP MY HEAD AROUND ON THESE VOTES. I APPRECIATE IT. IS THERE A STAFF REPORT ON THIS ITEM? HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. UH, JUST TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS ANITA LANIE, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. UM, SO FOR THIS ITEM, IT IS RELATED TO A REVIEW OF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY. I'M SO SORRY. WOULD YOU MIND SPEAKING UP JUST A BIT AND LEANING IN CLOSER TO YOUR MIC? I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM. ALL RIGHT. IS THIS BETTER? ALRIGHT, SO, UM, YEAH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN AND LET ME KNOW IF I NEED TO ENUNCIATE OR BE LOUDER, . UM, SO THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S ITEM IS TO REVIEW SAMPLE BYLAWS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAFTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. UM, THE PURPOSE OF HAVING COMMISSION BYLAWS IN GENERAL ARE TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT GUIDANCE FOR THE COMMISSION'S OPERATIONS. UM, I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT LINE BY LINE, BUT I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE, UM, IMPORTANT ITEMS. UM, SO AFTER THE COMMISSIONERS REVIEW THE SAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TODAY, UM, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE THOSE CHANGES AND THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN COME BACK AT A LATER DATE, INCORPORATE YOUR CHANGES OR REQUESTS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REVIEW IT AT THE NEXT MEETING. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT. IT'LL START WITH ARTICLE ONE, AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE, THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION. UM, THIS LANGUAGE IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE THAT ESTABLISHED THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. AND GIRLS. THE NEXT ARTICLE, UM, ARE BASIC DEFINITIONS OF COMMISSION LIAISON OFFICER AND PROVI PRESIDING OFFICER. UM, ARTICLE THREE AT THE SECOND HALF OF PAGE TWO WILL GO OVER, UM, THE OPERATIONAL RULES SURROUNDING MEMBERSHIP. SO THESE, UM, MEMBERSHIP RULES HAVE COME DIRECTLY OUT OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AS WELL. SO IT'S BASICALLY JUST A REGURGITATION OF, UM, THE OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND TO PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE CONSISTENT DOCUMENT. UM, IT'LL GO OVER THE MEMBER NUMBERS, UH, THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS, THE TERM DATES, UM, HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED FOR A QUORUM, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, A QUORUM IS REQUIRED TO HAVE, UM, AN OPEN MEETING SUCH AS THIS. AND IT GOES OVER A COUPLE MORE RULES SUCH AS, UM, ADVOCACY AND, UM, THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH STAFF ON CERTAIN ITEMS. SO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE IS ARTICLE FOUR, THAT IS IN RELATION TO ELECTIONS, UM, TERMS OF OFFICERS, WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE'S A VACANCY. UM, ARTICLE FIVE ON PAGE FIVE WILL GO OVER THE OPERATION RULES FOR MEETINGS SUCH AS WHEN ARE THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS, UM, CONSISTENT MEETING DATES RIGHT NOW, FOURTH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 6:30 PM SO THAT'S ALREADY INCORPORATED IN THE SAMPLE HERE. UM, YOU'LL CONTINUE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE [01:10:01] OTHER, UM, DEFINITIONS FOR AD HOC COMMITTEES. UM, THOSE ARE THE, UH, SMALLER COMMITTEES THAT ARE CREATED FOR A LIMITED PURPOSE THAT ARE LESS THAN A QUORUM. SO YOU'LL KIND OF JUST GO THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT AND SEE THE, UM, BASIC OPERATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR CONSISTENCY. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ALWAYS REPORT BACK TO THIS DOCUMENT. UM, GET INFORMATION FOR WHATEVER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BASED ON THE ARTICLE. UM, ARTICLE SIX WILL BE ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MONTH WITH THE BROWN ACT AND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER. UM, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON ARTICLE SEVEN, WE'LL GO OVER RULES FOR THE AGENDA, WHICH IS BASICALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE BROWN ACT, UM, HOW AN AGENDA MUST BE POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF A MEETING, STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST MONTH. ARTICLE EIGHT GOES OVER HOW TO MAKE MOTIONS AND WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR A FRIENDLY MOTION AS WE HAD EARLIER THIS EVENING. UM, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO, UM, ARTICLE 10, WHICH IS JUST THE COMMISSION AUTHORITY, UM, WHERE, UH, NOTWITHSTANDING THESE BYLAWS, THE COMMISSION STILL HAS ITS AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. SO ESSENTIALLY IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES OR COMMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN TAKE THEM AT THIS TIME OR WE CAN BRING THIS ITEM BACK, UM, IN A MONTH AND, UM, ALLOW TIME FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO DIGEST THE ITEM AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS ANY CHANGES. BUT ESSENTIALLY, UM, THEY'RE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE, WHICH IS THE RALPH FM BROWN ACT FOR OPEN MEETING LAWS, THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE THAT ESTABLISHED THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND THEN PARLIAMENTARY RULES UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, UM, THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MONTH, BUT JUST IN A LONGER DOCUMENT FOR YOU TO DIGEST. SO I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONER SHEA PATTERSON? YES. SO I THINK THIS IS, I'M ASKING MY FELLOW COMMISSION MEMBERS, IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS TOGETHER RIGHT AT THE, AT THE RETREAT? OKAY. BECAUSE I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, SO I'LL SAVE THEM FOR LATER. AS MY QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF IS, UNLESS THERE'S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO BEFORE ME, NOPE. OKAY. IS, UM, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DISCUSS OR WORKSHOP THESE BYLAWS AT OUR RETREAT? YES. THIS CAN BE AN AGENDA ITEM AT THE RETREAT. UM, BECAUSE THE RETREAT WILL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STILL BE A BROWN, IT'S STILL A BROWN ACT, UM, OPEN MEETING, UH, AND THERE WILL BE AGENDA ITEMS AND THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SAME MANNER AS TODAY, BUT JUST IN A MORE FAMILIAR SETTING OR MORE COMFORTABLE SETTING. UM, BUT YES, THE BYLAWS CAN BE DISCUSSED AT THAT TIME. SO YOU CAN FULLY DIGEST THIS DRAFT DOCUMENT AND IT CAN BE, UM, REVISED AND ONCE IT'S, UM, FINALIZED, IT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK AT A FOLLOWING MEETING FOR FO FORMAL ADOPTION. THANK YOU. AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF, UM, FOR OTHER COMMISSION, UM, BYLAWS, IF THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU HAVE A SECTION IN HERE ON ADCO AD HOC COMMITTEES ON COMMITTEES, IF THERE ARE ANY COMMISSIONS THAT ACTUALLY OUTLINE THEIR SPECIFIC COMMITTEES THAT, THAT THEY'VE ADOPTED. SOME OF THEM DO HAVE IT IN THE BYLAWS, BUT WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE AN EDIT TO THE BYLAWS, WHAT THE COMMISSION WOULD DO IN THE FUTURE IS JUST BRING, UM, THE ITEM BACK AND THEN AS LONG AS A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS, IT WILL BE ADDED TO THE BYLAWS. THANK YOU. UH, COMMISSIONER ATA? YES. IS IT POSSIBLE TO PERHAPS, UM, ESTABLISH A AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT COULD POSSIBLY REVIEW THE BYLAWS AND THEN, UH, PRESENT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT OUR RETREAT? SO WE JUST DON'T HAVE A BLANK SLATE, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DIGEST? IS THAT POSSIBLE? THE COMMISSION COULD ESTABLISH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE FORMATION OF BYLAWS AS LONG AS IT IS LESS THAN A QUORUM AND, UM, IT'LL BE FOR A LIMITED PURPOSE. COMMISSIONER SHEA PATTERSON? YES. UM, ARE THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF MY, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT REALLY THE PURPOSE IS POSSIBLY WHERE WE MAY HAVE EDITS, BUT ARE THE OTHER SECTIONS THAT YOU WERE SAYING THAT ARE TAKEN OUT OF THE CITY CODE OR WHATNOT, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO BE IN THERE IN TERMS OF THEY'RE NOT PER SE REQUIRED. ANYTHING THAT GOES IN THE BYLAWS, UM, ARE AT [01:15:01] THE COMMISSION'S DISCRETION. THIS IS MERELY JUST A SAMPLE FOR THE COMMISSION TO WORK OFF OF TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY ARTICLE THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO ELIMINATE IT CAN DO SO. UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST KIND OF A GUIDE OPERATIONALLY, UM, THAT THE COMMISSION CAN LOOK TO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT REQUIRED. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ULTA, DID YOU HAVE, YEAH, SO CAN I PROPOSE THAT WE ESTABLISH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE THEN TO, TO REVIEW THE, UH, COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA, CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? OH, YES. CAN, UH, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. KEEP FORGETTING. CAN WE, UM, THEN, UM, LET, LET ME PROPOSE THAT WE ESTABLISH A AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE BYLAWS. WELL, LET ME, WE'VE GONE A BIT OUT OF ORDERS, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR PROCEDURES HERE. SO WE HAVE TO FIRST NOW, UM, IF WE'RE DONE ASKING QUESTIONS OF THE CITY CLERK, WE THEN WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL COME BACK AROUND FOR DISCUSSION AND YOU CAN MAKE THAT PROPOSAL. UH, COMMISSIONER DR. ENGEL? YES, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY CLERK. COULD YOU EXPLAIN, UM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, OR COULD YOU EXPLAIN STUDY SESSIONS IN SECTION IN ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION FOUR? COULD YOU, IS THAT THE SAME AS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OR A SPECIAL GROUP OR SC COMMITTEE? I CAN ANSWER THAT. UM, THIS STUDY SESSION ISN'T AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. IT'S, UM, ESSENTIALLY A DISCUSSION, UM, AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS THAT JUST WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ACTION TAKEN. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR CITY STAFF? NO. OKAY. UM, LET'S SEE. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND IF THERE ARE ANY IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, SEEING NONE, BOTH IN PERSON AND IN ZOOM, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE. OKAY, SO COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM OR PROPOSALS ? UM, OKAY. SO I PROPOSED THAT WE ESTABLISH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW, UH, THE BYLAWS AND TO, UM, COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO BE PRESENTED AT OUR RETREAT. I HEARTFELTLY SECOND THAT. SO PROCEDURALLY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO ENTER THIS AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. YES. SO AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UM, WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. UM, MADAM CLERK, CAN WE, UM, DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. I'M SORRY. FIRST WE NEED TO CONFIRM THAT THE ORIGINAL MAKER AND SECONDER APPROVED THE FRIENDLY TO CREATE THE AD HOC. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS EXCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? OH, I'M SORRY. YOU'RE THE ORIGINAL MAKER AND THEN THE SECONDER WOULD BE, UM, LA VIOLET COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET. OH, THE ORIGINAL, THE ORIGINAL SECONDER WAS THE ORIGINAL COMMISSIONER. LA VIOLET. OH, OKAY. YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. DO YOU ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT COMMISSIONER? I ACCEPT THAT. IRMA, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE. UM, COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES. COMMISSIONER AN YES. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MESRA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. AND CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, AS A POINT OF ORDER, I HAVE A QUESTION NOW FOR CITY STAFF, WE'VE ESTABLISHED THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. HOW CAN WE GO ABOUT, UH, IDENTIFYING THOSE FOLKS? DO WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING? IS THIS PLEASE ADVISE? UM, SO TYPICALLY, UM, BEFORE THE MOTION IS PLEASE, PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC. I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. SO TYPICALLY BEFORE THE MOTION IS VOTED [01:20:01] ON, YOU WOULD, YOU COULD HAVE MADE SPACE TO UM, IDENTIFY, UH, UM, AD HOC MEMBERS AS WELL, AND CAN THEY STILL DO THAT? WE WENT A LITTLE TOO FAST, JUST A LITTLE BIT , SO WE COULDN'T DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION STILL, UM, WHERE WE KEEP THE MOTION AS IT IS AND THEN INCLUDE, UM, WHATEVER AD, WHICHEVER AD HOC MEMBERS YOU IDENTIFY AS. WELL, WE CAN DO THAT NOW AT THIS MEETING. IF THE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK AT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING TO ESTABLISH THE MEMBERS THAT WOULD BE IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, IT CAN DO SO AS WELL. OKAY. I THINK THAT THAT IS, I THINK THAT BRINGING THIS BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING TO ESTABLISH THE MEMBERS OF THE, UM, BYLAWS MAKES THE MOST SENSE. CAN I ASK A QUESTION AT THIS MOMENT OR ARE WE LOST IN THE RULES OF ORDER? OR CAN I ASK A QUESTION RIGHT NOW? OKAY, SURE. UH, I GUESS I'LL ASK THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE BYLAWS WERE GONNA BE READ AND RECEIVED, VILE, RECEIVE. WE AGREED TO HAVE AN AD HOC, WHICH MEANS A SUBSET OF THESE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH IT AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY THINGS WE'D LIKE TO AMEND, ERASE, OR ADD. THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE, I WOULD THINK WOULD BE AN OUTCOME OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE RETREAT ON GIVEN SATURDAY. WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHO'S INTERESTED IN BYLAWS, WHO'S GOOD AT BYLAWS, NOT, UH, JUST PEOPLE STUMBLING INTO IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE WHOLE ISSUE OF WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE TO A RETREAT ISSUE AND, AND REALLY MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THAT. UM, NOW FORGIVE ME, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT FITS AND EVERYTHING, BUT THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I THINK THAT'S WISE AND I THINK THAT FITS IN WITH THE EMOTION THAT WE JUST APPROVED. UM, THAT DOES COUNT AS A PUBLIC MEETING, SO THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT TO BE ON THAT AGENDA. SO AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. [4. 24-54252 Recommendation to discuss and approve the Commission for Women and Girls’ participation in the Second Annual Long Beach Women’s Fair on August 26, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE FOR COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS WHOSE PARTICIPATION IN THE SECOND ANNUAL LONG BEACH WOMEN'S FAIR ON AUGUST 26TH, 2024. THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SHEA PATTERSON. SECOND COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLET, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SECOND. UM, SO AS WE ARE A NEW COMMISSION GROWING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT OUR EXISTENCE SEEMS PRUDENT IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE SOME PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. AND A WONDERFUL FIRST OPPORTUNITY IS THE SECOND ANNUAL LONG BEACH WOMEN'S FAIR, WHICH TAKES PLACE ON NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY ON AUGUST 26TH. THE EVENT COMMEMORATES CONGRESS'S SIGNING OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT IN 1920, AND THE YEARS OF WORK THAT WOMEN AND ALLIES HAVE DONE IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING TO EXPAND WOMEN'S RIGHTS. PARTICIPATION IN THIS FAIR WOULD GRANT US A BOOTH, WHICH IS FREE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS. UH, IT TAKES PLACE IN THE CIVIC, CIVIC PLAZA HERE AT CITY HALL. UM, I ATTENDED LAST YEAR. IT'S A LOVELY CELEBRATION WITH INCREDIBLE SPEECHES AND PERFORMANCES, AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WILL BE 30 SOME TABLES WITH SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. UM, THE EVENT IS BEING HELD BY LONG BEACH SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL 100 AND THE FEMINIST UPRISING WITH ACTUALLY OUR VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON PLANNING IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY OUTSIDE OF HER COMMISSION WORK. IT RUNS FROM 3:00 PM TO 5:00 PM AND IT IS FOLLOWED BY A SCREENING. IF ANY, ANY OF THOSE WHO WHO CHOOSE TO ATTEND ARE INTERESTED IN STILL WORKING NINE TO FIVE AND THE FIERCE WOMEN AWARDS AT THE ART THEATER. AND, UH, I BELIEVE AS LONG AS, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS, IF THERE'S NOT A QUORUM THERE, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE. BUT SO LONG AS WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING, UH, POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS, OPINIONS, OR VOTES, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IS IT IS OKAY FOR US TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PUBLIC EVENT WITHOUT ANY BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS. UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF MY, MY MINI REPORT ON IT. UM, I, AT THIS TIME, WE CAN, UM, TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU, UH, CAN SEE IF ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON [01:25:01] THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME AND IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, SEEING NONE, BOTH IN PERSON AND IN ZOOM, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? AND AGAIN, UH, PLEASE SPEAK CLOSELY INTO THE MICROPHONE IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A STATEMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA, THIS IS EXCITING. IT SOUNDS LIKE A FUN EVENT. I'M WONDERING WHAT THE EXTENT OF OUR PARTICIPATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE. OKAY, SO, UM, IDEALLY OUR PARTICIPATION, THE BOOTHS ARE FREE, SO WE WOULD HAVE A BOOTH, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST, AND, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE EITHER COPIES OR A QR SCAN CODE OF THE LONG BEACH SURVEY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS SINCE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, UM, PART OF WHY WE WERE ESTABLISHED AND IS GUIDING OUR WORK. AND WE CAN ALSO, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PARTICIPATE, UM, OUR UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS. OKAY. COMMISSIONER, UM, SHEA PATTERSON. UM, I THOUGHT IT, UH, I THINK MAYBE IT'LL BE NICE TO HAVE A SUGGESTION BOX OF SORTS ABOUT CONCERNS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT THEY WANT US TO ADD AS AGENDA ITEMS TO FUTURE MEETINGS IN CASE THEY CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON, UM, TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES CAN BE HEARD. LOVELY, THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF, ARE WE REQUIRED TO HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? IF WE JUST NEED TO SUGGEST A SUGGESTION BOX AT THIS? FAIR? CAN WE, WE MOVE ON JUST TO APPROVE THE, UM, THE PARTICIPATION IN THE FAIR? NO, NO, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE AT THE FAIR, UM, THAT WOULD BE WISE AS WELL, AND THEN WE WOULD MAKE A FRIENDLY. OKAY. SO ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN, UM, OUR BOOTH AT THE FAIR? SORRY, CHAIR. UH, CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? THE COMMITMENT IS FROM THREE TO FIVE AND THEN OPTIONAL SIX TO NINE. UM, IT, THERE IS A SCREENING THAT'S OPTIONAL AT SEVEN AFTERWARDS, UM, PARTICIPATING AND IF YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING TO PARTICIPATE, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WILL BIND YOU TO STAY THERE THE WHOLE TIME. WE CAN, UM, PERHAPS OR I CAN SEND OUT A POLL, UM, ABOUT WHO WANTS TO BE THERE DURING WHAT PERIODS OF TIME AND WE CAN WORK IT OUT THAT WAY. UH, VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON, TO CLARIFY, THE TABLES ARE SET UP AT TWO, THEY ARE STAFFED THREE TO FIVE, AND THAT'S THE END OF THE TABLES. AND, UH, SO AT AN EVENING EVENT WITH THE MOVIE, THE AWARDS AND THE PHOTO SHOOT, IT IS NOT A COMMISSION MEETING, A COMMISSION GATHERING. SO EVERYONE CAN COME AND ENJOY THE MOVIE, ENJOY THE AWARDS, ENJOY THE PHOTO SHOOT. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMISSION. UH, THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED REGARDING HOW MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE THERE IS WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY STANDING AT THE TABLE SO YOU CAN ALL ATTEND THE FAIR. UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE TABLE UNDER FIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO ATTEND? COMMISSIONER HARPER? OKAY, I WILL CERTAINLY BE THERE. MYSELF, COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA, AND I BELIEVE, AS YOU KNOW, A FOLLOW UP TO, UM, THE POLL IDEA. I WILL SEND EVERYBODY THE POLL, UM, TO GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THEY'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AND, UM, AT WHAT TIMES THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE THERE. UM, SO, UM, MADAME CLERK, IF WE COULD PLEASE CALL, UM, FOR A VOTE. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DID NOT MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION TO THIS RECOMMENDATION, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. UH, MOVING ON TO THE ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER. I JUST WANT TO OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION. SO THE, THE POLL WOULD NEED TO COME FROM STAFF JUST SO THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE OF BROWN ACT. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, HE SAID THAT THE, THE, THE POLL NEEDS TO COME FROM CITY STAFF RATHER THAN FROM THE CHAIR SO THAT WE DON'T COMPROMISE THE BROWN ACT. UH, BECAUSE ALL OF YOU WOULD BE RESPONDING TO ME, I BELIEVE IS THE CONCERN. YES. OKAY. YOU WON'T COMPROMISE WHAT? THE BROWN ACT. OH, , I KNEW THAT THE BIG BAD, UH, YEAH. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WILL BE PRESENT, UH, BUT THAT'S NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AFFECTING OUR QUORUM NUMBER. SO, OH, SO HE'S HIS, UM, TONY'S, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TONY SAID. WHAT'D HE SAY? TONY SAID, UH, THAT THE [01:30:01] CITY STAFF NEED TO SEND OUT THE POLL REGARDING PARTICIPATION, UM, RATHER THAN IT COMING FROM ME. A POLL? YES. FOR WHAT? TO, JUST TO CONFIRM WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME AND, UH, OR A RESPONSE FORM ON WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME AND WHEN, WHEN THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE FAIR, JUST SO WE KNOW WHO'S COMING. OKAY. DO WE, GREAT. DO WE WE DON'T VOTE ON THAT, DO WE? ? NO, HE WAS JUST, HE WAS JUST CLARIFYING. OKAY, BECAUSE I MADE THE SUGGESTION. WELL, I, WHEN I HEAR POLL, I THINK DATE AND THE DATE SORT OF SET, PERHAPS A RESPONSE FORM IS THE APPROPRIATE, UH, LANGUAGE HERE. RESPONSE FORM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MADAME CLERK, CAN WE PLEASE CALL FOR A ROLL? A ROLL CALL VOTE ON OUR ORIGINAL ITEM. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER. YES. COMMISSIONER KEL? YES. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. COMMISSIONER CHA PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MARA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION. CARRIE. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS [5. 24-54253 Recommendation to approve and submit a letter to the Mayor and City Council recommending the adoption of a proclamation of August 26 as National Women’s Equality Day.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AND SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDING THE ADOPTION OF A PROCLAMATION OF AUGUST 26TH AS NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUITY DAY. IT'S EQUALITY DAY. I APOLOGIZE. NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? SO MOVE. OH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, AT EXACTLY, I'M JUMPING ON IT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. I'M I'M ON IT. OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO SAY MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SHE PATTERSON. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LEVIT. THANK YOU. UM, SO AS A BRIEF REPORT, IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME ON THIS ITEM, UM, WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL LETTER THAT WAS DRAFTED HERE BY VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON FOR THIS ITEM, UM, THIS RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AND SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. AND IF YOU INDULGE ME, I WILL READ, I WILL READ THE LETTER. SO, HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. IT IS WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. THE RECENTLY CONVENED COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IS MAKING HER FIRST APPEAL TO THE CITY OF LONG IS MAKING HER FIRST APPEAL TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COUNCILWOMEN AND COUNCILMEN TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION TO DECLARE AND CELEBRATE AUGUST 26TH, 2024. AS WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY ON AUGUST 26TH, 1920, THE US SECRETARY OF STATE BAINBRIDGE KOLBY SIGNED INTO LAW THE 19TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH GRANTED WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. SORROWFULLY THE 19TH AMENDMENT ONLY GUARANTEED VOTES FOR WHITE WOMEN. IN THE YEARS THAT ENSUED. OVER 12 CONGRESSIONAL BILLS PASSED, EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTS TO INCLUDE NATIVE AMERICANS, THE MAGNUSON ACT, WHICH REPEALED CHINESE EXCLUSION, THE VOTING AGE ACT, THE DISABILITIES ACT, MILITARY ABSENTEE ACT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AMONG OTHERS. THE AUGUST 26TH SUFFRAGE ANNIVERSARY WAS CELEBRATED BY SOME EDUCATORS AND WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS. FINALLY, IN 1973, AT THE URGING OF REPRESENTATIVE BELLA BERG ABZU CONGRESS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AUGUST 26TH TO BE NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. YOU WON'T FIND IT ON MOST RETAIL CALENDARS. AS WOMEN BATTLE AND VISIBILITY, THE BANKS WILL BE OPEN AND MALE DELIVERED. BUT FOR MILLIONS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IS NATIONAL WOMEN'S EQUALITY IS IMPORTANT THOUGH WOMEN ARE STILL AFTER 101 YEARS WORKING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INCLUSION, POLITICIANS KNOW THAT WE VOTE IN THE 2020 ELECTION. MORE WOMEN THAN MEN REGISTERED AND VOTED WOMEN UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WOMEN VOTE, WOMEN WIN AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. YOU KNOW THAT HARVESTING THE WOMEN'S VOTE IS ESSENTIAL AND IT IS DONE BY ADDRESSING AND HONORING THAT EVERY ISSUE IS A WOMAN'S ISSUE. EVER SINCE 1973, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ISSUED PROCLAMATIONS, DESIGNATING AUGUST 26TH TO BE WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY. WE ARE CONFIDENT AND GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL JOIN IN THIS NATIONAL CELEBRATION AND PROCLAIM AUGUST 26TH, 2024 AS WOMEN WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR LETTER AND WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM. [01:35:02] IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. AND IF THERE'S ANY IN THE ZOOM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE. NOW, SEEING NONE, BOTH IN PERSON AND ZOOM, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE. OKAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? AND IF SO, PLEASE SPEAK CLOSELY INTO THE MICROPHONE WHEN PROVIDING YOUR QUESTION OR STATEMENT. COMMISSIONER HARPER? YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK IT'S A LOVELY LETTER, VERY WELL WRITTEN. I THINK IT'S HONORING, UM, ALONG WITH OUR LOGO AND OUR BAGS AND THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED OUR COMMISSION OFF WITH LIKE A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL FOUNDATION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HARPER. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR, UM, QUESTIONS? COMMENT. OKAY. UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ITEM. COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES. COMMISSIONER AN YES. COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA? YES. COMMISSIONER SHEA PATTERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP? YES. COMMISSIONER LASSETER? YES. COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES. COMMISSIONER MOSQUERA? YES. VICE CHAIR NICHOLSON? YES. CHAIR MELLINGER? YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. SO AS WE'VE GONE OUT OF ORDER HERE, WE MOVED AGENDA ITEM SIX TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. NOW IS THE [PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Commission for Women and Girls on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.] TIME WHERE WE WILL TAKE NON-AGENDA, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM. WE WILL TAKE ANY VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT AFTERWARDS. AND AS A REMINDER TO ALL PARTICIPANTS, PLEASE SPEAK CLOSELY INTO THE MICROPHONE WHEN PROVIDING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. UM, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY FOLKS IN ZOOM, UH, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A COMMENT. SEEING NONE IN THE ZOOM. IF THERE ARE ANY IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM AT THIS TIME. SEEING NONE FOR BOTH. THAT CONCLUDES NON AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME [ANNOUNCEMENTS] COMMISSIONERS MAY REPORT ON ANY PREVIOUS OR UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS OR THEY CAN SHARE ANY OTHER INFORMATION. SO ARE DO WE HAVE WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANY OF OUR COMMISSIONERS? AND IF SO, PLEASE SPEAK CLOSELY INTO YOUR MICROPHONE WHEN PROVIDING YOUR QUESTION OR STATEMENT. I SEE COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP HAS HER, UM, HAND RAISED AND THEN WE, UH, SUBSEQUENTLY WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLET. SO COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP, IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FEW WEEKS AFTER OUR FIRST MEETING. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. A FEW WEEKS AFTER OUR FIRST MEETING, I WROTE TO THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND THE CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT HERE TONIGHT THAT GUIDE OUR COMMISSION AND OFFERED THEM THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS. I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH THE COMMISSION TONIGHT. HERE'S WHAT I WROTE BECAUSE JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE AND EMPOWERMENT MONTH IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. AND BECAUSE THE CITY JUST RAISED ITS VERY FIRST DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG AT THE CIVIC CENTER PLAZA ON MONDAY JULY 8TH, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE FIRST RESOLUTION OF THE INAUGURAL COMMISSION ON WOMEN AND GIRLS BE THAT WE WILL COMMIT ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATIONS IN THIS CHAMBER TO MODEL DISABILITY RIGHTS AND INCLUSION. FROM OUR VERY BEGINNING. I HOPE, I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL THE CITY CO THAT ALL CITY COMMISSIONS HAVE EXPLICITLY CO COMMITTED TO THE, TO DISABILITY RIGHTS AND INCLUSION AS PART OF THEIR STANDARDS IN OF CONDUCT. I WAS PROUD TO ATTEND THE DISABILITY PRIDE FLAG RAISING ALONGSIDE COMMISSIONERS ZOE NICHOLSON AND C AND SAMANTHA MELLINGER. I'M THANKFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN MARY ZENDEJAS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. AND I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY THE WORDS OF THE SPEAKERS LIKE DECA MCCLAIN, DISTRICT FOUR, DISTRICT FOUR COMMISSIONER FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSIONS ON DISABILITIES. AND HER REMINDER THAT ALL MEANS ALL AS A GLOBALLY AWARD-WINNING DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST. [01:40:01] I WAS CONCERNED BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HAD TO URGE FOR HER ACCOMMODATIONS DURING OUR FIRST MEETING. I GREW CONCERNED FOR MY OWN ACCESS ON THE COMMISSION SINCE I HAVE FOUR NON APPARENT LEARNING DISABILITIES. SOME, SOME OF MY OWN DISABILITIES ARE ABOUT PROCESSING INFORMATION AND RETAINING INFORMATION. BECAUSE OF A DIAGNOSED WORKING MEMORY DISORDER, I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE I'M NOT SEEN AS CAPABLE BECAUSE I NEED THINKING SPACE AND BREATHING TIME TO PROCESS OR RESPOND QUICKLY. I'M A REFLECTIVE AND ENGAGED PARTICIPANT, WHETHER YOU VIEW ME THAT WAY OR NOT. I VERY MUCH IDENTIFY AS AN INTERSECTIONAL ACTIVIST AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHY I'M SITTING ALONGSIDE YOU IN THESE CHAMBERS TODAY. I KNOW THAT IN OUR WORKING DOCUMENT, THE LONG BEACH WOMEN AND GIRLS SURVEY REPORT THAT INTERSECTIONALITY IS HIGHLIGHTED AS IT RELATES TO RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AGING, HEALTHCARE, LANGUAGE ACCESS AND DISABILITIES. I HAVE SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS IN NEARLY ALL OF THESE AREAS, BUT DISABILITY, RIGHTS AND INCLUSION ARE WHAT I'M NOTED FOR IN MY GLOBAL IMPACT. I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR AND EXPLICIT ABOUT OUR VALUES AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF OUR BELOVED CITY. AS A STUDENT WHO NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONS, I FIGHT EVERY DAY TO GET THEM. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT REQUIRE MY ACCOMMODATIONS TO BE MET, I KNOW THAT ALL OF MY ACCOMMODATIONS ARE ACTUALLY QUITE EASY TO PERFORM. I NEED A TIME AND A HALF ON TESTING. I NEED CLASS NOTES UPFRONT SO THAT I CAN SPEND TIME, SPEND MY ENERGIES ANNOTATING THEM AND DEEPLY UNDERSTANDING THEM INSTEAD OF WASTING MY ENERGIES, DOING THE BUSY WORK OF COPYING NOTES FROM BOARD TO PAPER. AND I NEED ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE MORE DIVERSE THAN MEMORIZATION TESTS. ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATIONS ARE EAS ARE EASY FOR US TO COMMIT TO IN THIS CHAMBER AS WELL. TO BEGIN, WE MUST SEE EVERYONE AS CAPABLE. THIS IS KEY. AND A SIMPLE YET PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT ACCOMMODATION IS TO KINDLY REMEMBER TO LEAN INTO YOUR MICROPHONE AND SPEAK UP SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM CAN HEAR WITHOUT, WITHOUT STRESS. DOING THAT SINGLE ACCOMMODATION MAKES LOVE AND RESPECT THAT THE VERY CORNERSTONE OF OUR WORK AND RELATIONSHIPS. IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE ALL LEARNERS IN THIS ROOM. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE MANY RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A CITY COMMISSIONER, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PROPOSE OR WRITE A, A SOLUTION OR IF THAT, OR IF THAT IS EVEN THE FORMAT FOR WHAT CONCERNS ME HERE. BUT I'VE PAR, I'VE PARENT, I'VE PARENTED TO BE BOLD, TO HAVE AGENCY AND TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER. SO WITH ALL, ALL THE GRACE I CAN MUSTER, I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF OUR FIRST ACTS IN THE FIRST MEETING IN DISABILITY PRIDE AND EMPOWERMENT MONTH IS TO BE CLEAR THAT WE WILL ACT PUB PUBLICLY ON OUR VALUES AND BE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER IS ACCOMMODATED FOR THEIR NEEDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT. AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HERE, SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU COULD HEAR IT, BUT EVERYBODY JUST GAVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU, UM, COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLETTE. I BELIEVE THAT YOU, UM, HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AS WELL. UM, THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS PROFOUND AS COMMISSIONER DON SETS, BUT UM, WHAT I, UH, RAN OFF WAS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR A STATUS OF WOMEN COMMISSION IN LONG BEACH IN 1977. AND, UH, SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND I SPOKE AT THAT MEETING. UH, IT WAS, UH, VERY CONTENTIOUS AND SCARY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, THUS ZOE HAD TO BRING IT UP YEARS LATER FOR IT TO TO HAPPEN. BUT, UM, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED, SO I RAN OFF COPIES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS PIECE OF THIS PIECE OF HISTORY WITH ALL OF US. I, UM, I CANNOT WAIT TO GO HOME AND READ IT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND IT'S JUST A REMINDER IF I MAY, OF HOW LONG THESE EFFORTS HAVE HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND I HOPE WE ALL KIND OF SIT WITH THAT AS WE, UM, AS WE CONCLUDE THIS MEETING. SO ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS? [01:45:01] OKAY, SO IF THERE NO OBJECTION, [ADJOURNMENT] I DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED. AND MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE TIME, TIME IS EIGHT 15. THANK YOU. * 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.