[00:00:05]
UH, IT IS 9:03 AM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2024.
UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLE? YES.
AND WELCOME OUR NEW CHAIR OF OUR PARK COMMISSION DIRECTOR FOR GAVEL TO START OUR MEETING.
UM, WE'LL START WITH ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER SHOW PRESENT.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, UH, SPECIAL GUEST JOINING US TODAY TO HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DIRECTOR, DENNIS.
BUT TODAY IS TAKE YOUR CHILD WEEK AND ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS ON OUR PARK PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS, UH, TEAM LORI CRAIG HAS BROUGHT HER TWO SONS, RYAN AND WILLIAM, AND THEY'RE GOING TO, AND THEIR SCOUT UNIFORMS. VERY GREAT.
THEY'RE GONNA LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY.
SO, GENTLEMEN, IT'S ALL UP TO YOU.
IF YOU HOLD THOSE IN UNIFORM, PLEASE
AGAIN, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO, 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.
DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU ALL HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE? YOU TWO.
VERY WONDERFUL THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HELP US THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE NEW TO OUR PERMISSION MEETINGS, UM, IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT HIGHLIGHT EACH MONTH TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR STELLAR TEAM MEMBERS.
AND TODAY, UM, ACTUALLY YESTERDAY MORNING WE HAD A VIRTUAL MEETING FOR OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETING, AND WE KIND OF SLYLY INVITED, UM, OUR HONOREE, UH, TO JOIN US.
UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US CRAFT OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET, AND SHE WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME TUESDAY NIGHT AS WE PRESENTED OUR BUDGET.
SO IT'S REALLY A GREAT HONOR FOR THE MONTH OF JULY FOR THE PARK RECREATION, MARINE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TEAM RECOGNIZED.
DENISE, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHO'S ALSO HER SUPERVISOR, STEVE SCOTT.
ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO
UM, I KNOW EVERY MONTH, AS OUR DIRECTOR ALLUDED, UM, OUR, OUR COMMITTEE RECOGNIZES THE STELLAR EMPLOYEE ROCK STARS, AND WE HAVE A WHOLE SLEW OF 'EM.
OUR COMMITTEE COULD NOT AGREE MORE ON THIS PERSON RIGHT HERE WHO DOES SO MANY THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES.
IF SHE WAS NOT HERE EVEN ONE DAY, WE ALL FEEL IT.
AND I THINK THAT THE TERM GRACE UNDER FIRE, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF BUDGET SEASON.
AND YET, SEE, SHE'S HERE THE EPITOME OF, AND SHE'S FANTASTIC IN, UM, ALL THAT SHE DOES TECHNICALLY.
BUT I THINK WHAT IMPRESSES MOST OF US, ME, IS THAT SHE'S JUST SO KIND AND SHE DOES EVERYTHING, UM, WITH THE THOUGHT OF HOW CAN I MAKE THIS BETTER SO THAT OUR PROGRAMS GO OFF OF THAT PITCH.
SO FOR THAT, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS WELL DESERVED AND CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, IT IS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE, UH, JANICE MCMULLEN AS OUR, UH, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR JULY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING HERE WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH.
TYPICALLY, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROVIDING AMAZING SERVICE
[00:05:01]
DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY.YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE RECREATION PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING GREAT SERVICE TO OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS OR OUR, UH, MAINTENANCE OR MARINE BUREAUS PROVIDING BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY OR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PROVIDING GREAT SERVICE TO OUR FOUR AND TWO-LEGGED FRIENDS.
THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THAT JANICE IS PROVIDING AMAZING SERVICE INTERNALLY TO ALL OF OUR INTERNAL CUSTOMERS.
ALL OF THE, UH, OPERATIONS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FOR THE CITY.
I COULD GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT SHE DOES, UH, IN THE FINANCIAL WORLD AS FINANCIAL SERVICES OFFICER, THAT WOULD TAKE WAY TOO LONG.
SO LET'S JUST AGREE WE HAVE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT IN MY OPINION, THE BEST FINANCIAL SERVICES HERE IN THE, I REALLY THINK THE REASON THAT EVERYBODY AROUND, UH, THE TABLE, THE STAFF AROUND THE TABLE, IN THE AUDIENCE, IN THE FIELD, REALLY VALUE AND APPRECIATE JANICE, IS FOR THE, THE THINGS THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE A FINANCIAL IMPACT.
IT IS THE, THE SERVICE, THE CONSULTING THAT SHE PROVIDES TO ALL OF US IN ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS.
IF THERE'S AN INITIATIVE THAT IS HIGH PROFILE, HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE CITY AND THE DEPARTMENT, JANICE IS ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS WE ALL MAKE.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION OUT THERE ON HOW TO DO SOMETHING AND WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS EVERY DAY, IT'S COMFORTING TO KNOW ONE PHONE CALL AWAY IS AN ANSWER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, I MENTIONED THE INITIATIVES.
WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL PARK AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
JANICE WAS THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO HELP WORK WITH MAINTENANCE TO SET THAT UP.
WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PET LICENSING PROGRAM.
JANICE IS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, PAY ISSUES WITH OUR LIFEGUARDS, IMPORTANT LIFE SAVING POSITIONS.
JANICE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST, ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS.
SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WOULD AGREE.
BUT ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S PROBABLY NOT SEEN, BUT JANICE HAS BUILT ONE OF THE BEST AMAZING TEAMS YEAH.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, GREAT JOB, JANICE.
GREAT JOB TO THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL SERVICES TEAM FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
AND FOR THAT, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THANK YOU THIS TIME, UNLESS LIKE TO BE PUT ON THE SPOT THINGS, WE'RE REALLY HONORED TO, UH, KNOW THIS RECOGNITION UPON YOU.
AND, UH, WE CREATED A NEW TRADITION THIS YEAR TO HAVE OUR ENTIRE COMMISSION HAVE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH.
CAN WE STEP UP RIGHT THERE? STAY RIGHT THERE.
DENNIS, DO WE HAVE A SECOND PRESENTATION? OH, YES, WE DO.
SO, UM, LAST MONTH, IF YOU REMEMBER, IT WAS WHEN LONG BEACH JOINED THE, THE COUNTRY IN CELEBRATING.
JULY IS THE MONTH THAT PARKS MAKE LIFE A BETTER MONTH.
[00:10:01]
A REALLY COOL PRESENTATION CREATED BY OUR STAFF AND WE THOUGHT, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU THIS MORNING.AND OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES, UH, BUREAU MANAGER, GLADYS KAISER'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THIS AND GIVE CREDIT TO OUR CREATOR OF THIS ONE.
UM, AS BRENT MENTIONED LAST MONTH, UH, THE NATION RECOGNIZES THE JULY BIG STARTS, UH, LIKE BETTER MONTH.
WE MAKE, SAY THAT PARKS MAKE LONG BEACH.
UM, WE'VE KIND OF CONVERTED THEIR SAYING TO, UH, MAKE IT PERSONALIZED.
SO WE CREATED, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE HONORED AND RECOGNIZED AT CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SO WE WANT TO SHARE A SHORT VIDEO THAT WAS CREATED, UM, BEHIND THE SCENES WITH RHIANNON THAT OUR WHOLE TEAM AS THEY SUBMITTED PICTURES, UM, WITH THAT.
BUT BEFORE THE VIDEO, UM, I ACTUALLY INVITED OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES TEAM AND NOT ALL OF 'EM CAN MAKE IT.
'CAUSE WE ARE STILL IN OUR NINTH WEEK OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
UM, IT'S NOT, WE'RE NOT QUITE DONE YET.
SO I'D LIKE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES TEAM JUST TO STAND UP AND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
THIS IS THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR TEAM.
UM, AND I'M SO VERY PROUD OF THEM.
UM, ACTUALLY IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PUT WORDS TOGETHER TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THEIR HARD WORK, THEIR DEDICATION AND THEIR SERVICE THEY PUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS IS, AND THIS I THINK LIKE HALF OF 'EM ARE STILL IN THE FIELD.
IF YOU WERE TO TAKE ALL THEIR EXPERIENCE, MAYBE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND.
SOME OF US STARTED IN THE CAREER WHEN WE WERE SIX YEARS OLD.
MANY OF 'EM GREW UP IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AS PARTICIPANTS THEMSELVES, UM, FOUND A PASSION FOR THE CAREER AND TURNED AROUND ARE NOW SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND VERY THANKFUL, UM, FOR THIS TEAM.
SO WE ARE A 364 DAY OPERATION.
WE CLOSED OUR FACILITIES ONE, UM, YEAR AT, WE WENT DOWN WITH THE NATURE CENTER ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
UM, BUT THIS IS THE TEAM, UM, THAT I FILL EVERY MONTH WHEN YOU GUYS GIVE TO THOSE, TO, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY RECREATION, AND I SIT HERE REPRESENTING THEM THAT I WANTED YOU TO MEET THEM AND SEE THEIR FACES, UM, BECAUSE, UH, THEY WORK HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY, UM, FROM EARLY MORNING TO LATE NIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR SERVICES ARE READY TO GO FROM OUR VERY YOUNG.
I THINK WE START PROGRAMMING AT THREE MONTHS, UM, TO OUR OLDER ADULTS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE OUR SERVICE, UM, TO A HUNDRED PLUS.
UM, BUT THIS IS THE TEAM THAT ORGANIZES BEHIND THE SCENES.
THEY'RE THE ORGANIZERS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE IMPLEMENTATION, THEY'RE THE, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY CARRY MANY OTHER TITLES.
THEY'RE MENTORS TO THEIR STAFF, UM, THEY'RE MENTORS TO KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS THE HEART OF LONG BEACH.
SO IF YOU COULD JOIN ME, OUR VIDEO, AND THIS IS JUST A QUICK VIDEO BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL ONLY GIVES US TWO MINUTES.
IF NOT, IT'D BE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD SHOW FOREVER.
BUT IF YOU CAN SEE, IT'S JUST A REFLECTION OF OUR PROGRAMS, UM, AND HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE DO.
[00:15:14]
SO, SO OUR VIDEO WAS REFLECTIVE OF OUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT TAKES THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACT ITSELF, REGARDLESS OF STUFF, OUR INTERNAL BUREAUS OR OUR EXTERNAL BUREAUS, OUR PARTNERSHIP BUREAU AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.BUT TODAY WE TALK ABOUT SUMMER, WE TALK ABOUT THOSE, UM, 10 WEEKS THAT, UM, ARE A VERY LONG AND, UM, VERY LONG.
BUT, UM, OUR TEAM DOESN'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT.
UM, AND, AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU ASK US LIKE, OH, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY? I'M LIKE, OH, THIS IS MY 24TH SUMMER.
SO THAT IS HOW IT'S REFLECTED.
UM, BUT WE, AGAIN, WE ARE IN OUR NINTH WEEK, UM, AND NEXT WEEK WE CONCLUDE SUMMER, UM, ON AUGUST 23RD.
UM, BUT TURN AROUND THE VERY NEXT DAY WE FALL INTO THE NEXT ROLE OF WHAT WE SERVE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED IN 2024 AND EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.
UM, BUT COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, UM, A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE SCENES OF COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES.
GLADYS, GLADYS, MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION? UH, IS THIS ACCESSIBLE ONLINE WHERE WE COULD WATCH IT? UM, ACTUALLY, STEVE, JUST ASK ME THAT QUESTION.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT THIS AFTERNOON TO PUT IT ONLINE.
UM, BUT YEAH, WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD AND I THINK THEY KNOW NOW, LIKE I'M ASKING LIKE, TAKE PICTURES.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK.
YOU GUYS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE COMMISSION.
SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
UM, I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COMMISSIONER, UH, SOLICIT TI SMITH ARRIVED AT 9:14 AM PERFECT.
UM, AND ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARK RE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, JULY 18TH, 2024.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED A SECOND.
WHO IS THAT? KEITH? UH, DO I HAVE A VOTE? ANY QUESTIONS? OH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
THE, UH, UH, MOTION WAS, UH, UH, BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER SHONE.
RECOMMEND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY DIRECTOR DENNIS.
SO EACH MONTH WE, OH, I'M SORRY.
SO, UM, EACH MONTH WE HAVE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZATIONS OR SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY COME BEFORE THE PARKS RECREATION COMMISSION TO SEEK A FEE WAIVER.
AND, UM, AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF THEM, BUT, UM, OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER GLADYS KAISER, WILL LEAD YOU THROUGH THIS ITEM.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE HAVE FIVE REQUESTS FOR A, UM, CONSIDERATION FOR FEE WAIVERS.
THE FIRST IS BELL GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL, UM, NOT IN NEW BEND AT BELL GARDENS CROSS COUNTRY, UM, ON AUGUST, I'M SORRY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2024.
THEY'LL BE USING THE EL DODO PARK EAST AREA THREE IN GOLDEN GROVE.
UM, THEY'RE REQUESTING FOR $1,537 AND 50 CENTS IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED AND APPLICABLE OF ONE 20 IN STAFF CHARGES.
UM, THIS IS AN EVENT THAT'S HELD AT THE REGIONAL PARK, SO THEREFORE THERE WILL BE, UM, GATE REVENUE WITH AN ESTIMATED, UM, ATTENDANCE OF 1,200.
THE NEXT ONE, ON BEHALF OF CENTRAL CHA, THIS IS NOT A NEW EVENT.
THIS IS THEIR ANNUAL, UM, FIESTAS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AT ES CHAVEZ PARK AT THE SOCIAL HALL IN AMPHITHEATER.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, $980 IN FACILITY PERMIT FEE FEES REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED, $540 IN STAFF CHARGES.
AND, UM, 260 EXPECTED TO BE IN TENANTS.
ON BEHALF OF THE LONG BEACH AREA VETERANS COLLABORATIVE, THIS IS A NEW GROUP, A NEW EVENT TO US HERE.
IT'S THEIR VETERAN STAND DOWN EVENT AT VETERANS PARK IN THE OPEN SPACE FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2020 4, 370 $5 IN FACILITY PERMIT FEES WE REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
[00:20:01]
EXPENSIVE.IN ATTENDANCE ON BEHALF OF PARTNERS PARKS, ALDO BAY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IT'S THEIR HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL AT BIXBY PARK IN THE OPEN SPACE ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2024, $375 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES EXPECTED TO BE WAIVED, ZERO APPLICABLE.
STAFF CHARGES ABOUT 400 ATTENDANCE.
AND LASTLY, BUILDING ON THE EXCITEMENT FROM LAST TUESDAY'S, UM, COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH, UH, WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, WE BRING TO YOU THE FRIENDS OF WILLOW PARK SPRINGS.
UM, THEIR REQUEST TO HAVE A VARIETY OF EVENTS THROUGH 9 22 THROUGH 10 27, THE WILLOW SPRINGS EXPERIENCE, UM, IN WILLOW SPRINGS OPEN SPACE, UM, COMMUNITY EVENT, $1,290 IN FACILITY PERMIT FEES, UH, REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED.
ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES, CHARGES IN BETWEEN 22 TO 2045 PER EVENT.
COMMISSIONERS THIS REQUEST FOR THIS MONTH TOTAL OF $4,557 AND 50 CENTS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
UM, I'LL READ, IS IT THE AL BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? NOT ELEMENT.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE PUBLIC IN ANY OF THESE? UH, THE BELL GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL.
MY NAME IS ARIANA SALU, COMMUNITY HEALTH JUSTICE MANAGER AT SANCHA.
AND I'M HERE TO SHARE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR THIRD ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION GIFT THAT'S PARK, YOU'RE YOUR TIME HOSTING IT.
THERE IS A GREAT EVENT FILLED WITH, YOU KNOW, LIVE COATS AND PERFORMANCES FROM PAST TRADITIONAL EVENTS FOR
WE HAVE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUTH, THE FAMILIES.
UM, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, LIKE IN THE SOCIAL HALL.
UH, SO IT'S GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY NICE EVENT CELEBRATING CULTURAL AND HERITAGE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE REALLY GET GREAT ENGAGEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ERS ARE, ARE GREAT SUPPORT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE FREE EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR BACKPACK EVENTS THAT WE'RE HOSTING ACTUALLY TODAY IS OUR
SO IT, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY FOR THOSE FOUR OF YOU GUYS PROVIDE US.
UM, NEXT WOULD BE THE LONG BEACH AREA VETERANS COLLABORATION.
IS ANYONE HERE? SORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, PARTNERS IN THE PARK, ALAMEDAS BAY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE ALAMEDA BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
UM, WE HAVE A HALL, THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTH YEAR OF HAVING OUR HALLOWEEN EVENT.
THESE ARE POSTERS THAT I MADE FROM LAST YEAR, UM, ARE THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE HAVE A 300 KIDS AT, UH,
UM, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REDOING THE BAN SHELL AT THIS TIME, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT PARCEL SET OF OUR BED.
WE HAVE, UM, SIX OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO JOINING US THIS YEAR.
AND IT'S A THREE EVENT, ALL THE KIDS CANDY, UH, GAME.
IT'S ON THE 27TH OF OCTOBER, SO ANYONE'S INVITED TO COME.
SO YOU'RE GONNA BE ON IN THE AREA WHERE ALL THE, UM, EQUIPMENT, THE NO, WE'LL MOVE TO A DIFFERENT PARCEL.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S PARCEL ONE, WHICH HAS THE DOG PARK ON IT, RIGHT? THE PARCEL TWO, WHERE THEY HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET AND THE BAN SHELL.
AND THERE'S PARCEL THREE, WHICH IS JUST GRASS AND A COUPLE PICNIC TABLES.
AND I THINK ACTUALLY THAT'S WHERE THE, THE FITNESS LOOP GOES AROUND THE RIGHT.
THAT'S WHERE IT'LL BE THIS YEAR.
YEAH, BECAUSE, UH, WE USED TO USE THE BAND UP FOR OUR COSTUME CONTEST, BUT I'LL FIGURE OUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
AND IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE FRIENDS OF WILL SPRINGS PARK? I SEE YOU ALL.
SO, OH, STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
OH, MONA NER, FRIENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
AND, UM, FIRST OFF, BEFORE I INTRODUCE MY OTHER, UM, THE COHORT IS, UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN HELPING US GET WILLOW SPRINGS DEDICATED AND WE'RE ON TRACK AND WE'RE SO EXCITED AND AWESOME.
UM, THIS IS CAROL BARTELS AND SHE HELPED PLAN LAST YEAR WE INTRODUCED YOU TO VICTORIA.
SO HER AND VICTORIA ALWAYS PLAN OUR WILLOW SPRINGS EXPERIENCES, AND I'M GONNA LET HER TAKE OVER AND TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
I'M CAROL BARTELS AND I, UM, ALONG WITH MY, MY PARTNER VICTORIA BRYAN.
WE PLAN THESE SERIES OF EXPERIENCES AT WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
AND OUR PURPOSE AND INTENTION IS TO, TO BRING THE COMMUNITY INTO THIS PARK THAT OFTEN GETS OVERLOOKED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BARELY KNOW THAT THIS PARK EXISTS OR HAVEN'T EVEN COME INTO THE PARK.
AND SO WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS PARK BETTER.
AND THESE EXPERIENCES ARE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED SO THAT THEY ARE INTERACTING WITH THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND.
[00:25:01]
IT'S NOT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT IF YOU BROUGHT THESE EXPERIENCES TO A DIFFERENT PARK, THEY'D BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES BECAUSE OUR INTENTION IS TO GET PEOPLE TO REALLY INTERACT WITH THE NEED OF PLANTS AND THE HABITAT THAT'S THERE.SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE, UM, ART IN THE PARK WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE DRAWING AND, AND REALLY OBSERVING THE, THE NATURAL LIFE THERE.
WE HAVE, UM, LARRY RICH FROM THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY, WHO WILL BE DOING A HISTORY TOUR OF THAT PARK SO PEOPLE CAN REALLY GET TO KNOW, UH, ALL THE WAY FROM THE TONGA PEOPLE THROUGH OIL BEING DISCOVERED TO THE RESTORATION THAT'S GOING ON NOW THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THIS PARK.
UM, I HAPPEN TO BE AN ECO THERAPIST, SO I'M DOING AN EVENT CALLED HEALING IN THE PARK WHERE IT GETTING PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO SINK INTO THE, THE ABILITY OF NATURE TO HEAL AND RESTORE US.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THESE EXPERIENCES AND, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO TRY THIS FOR THEM.
SO DID, DOES YOUR GROUP HAVE A WEBSITE? OKAY.
SO WE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, WE HAVE A WEBSITE.
YOU COULD GO TO IT, BUT IT'S NOT ON GOOGLE, SO YOU COULDN'T FIND IT YET.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S A, IT'S OPEN, IT'S THERE AND WE INTEND TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCES ON IT.
SO WE'LL DO SOME SORT OF LAUNCH OF IT.
UM, AND THEN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 22ND
AND IN THE MEANTIME, IS THERE A SOCIAL MEDIA OR, OR HOW WOULD WE
LB IS THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND THIS.
SO EVERYTHING IS WILLOW SPRINGS LB.
OUR EMAIL IS WILL SPRINGS LB AT GMAIL.
AND OUR WEBSITE IS WILLOW SPRINGS LB.ORG.
SO THAT, SO THERE ANY ANSWER QUESTIONS? GREAT WORK IN PROGRESS.
IT IS A WORK IN, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO.
MAY WELL, OKAY, SO PARENTAL WHEEL SCREEN PARK WAS A WHAT? A FACEBOOK PAGE WAY BACK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PARK.
AND THE, IN 2019, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RUNNING IT KIND OF STOPPED DOING IT, BUT THEY TOLD LARRY RIDGE, IF YOU EVER FIND A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE IT OVER, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO IT.
AND SO THAT TOOK PLACE TWO YEARS AGO AND WE STARTED, WE FORMED ONE THAT WE ARE TODAY BECAUSE WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR THE DEDICATION.
AND NOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENED, WE ARE NOW CHANGING GEARS TO BUILD THAT PARK.
I'M NOT GONNA USE THE WORD BUILD.
WE'RE GONNA RESTORE THAT PARK TO ITS FULL 48 ACRES THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TOWARD ADVOCATING FOR THAT AND, AND HELPING HELP, UM, FIND FUNDING AND ALSO GET THE CITY TO FUND AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF.
SO WE'VE CHANGED, WE ARE CHANGING GEARS ONCE THIS GOES THROUGH ORDINANCES AND IS FINALIZED.
AND AGAIN, WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
THANK YOU MONICA AND CAROL AND EVERYONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH, I HAD A QUESTION.
SINCE THE LONG BEACH AREA VETERANS COLLABORATIVE WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN US, I SEE THERE ARE NEW GROUP AND A NEW EVENT.
GLADYS, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EVENT? I'M SURE ON THEIR APPLICATION, IT'S LIKE A TWO FONT
THE LONG BEACH AREA VETERANS COLLABORATIVE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PLAYING A LEAD ROLE IN BRINGING TOGETHER VARIOUS VETERANS SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER THE VER THE VETERANS STAND DOWN ON OCTOBER 16TH.
WHILE THE COLLABORATIVE WILL SEEK, UM, SPONSORSHIP FOR THE EVENT WA THE PARK FEES WILL BRING THEM DOWN TO COST.
SO IT IS A RESOURCE FAIR, UM, AND JOBS BENEFITS FOR THE HOMELESS AND LONG BEACH VETERANS.
HEARING NO MORE, I, UH, THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER ORRIE SMITH, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
UH, AND, UH, UH, ALL SHOULD WE HAVE A VOTE PLEASE? ALL IN FAVOR A AYE.
UH, WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH OH YES.
UM, UH, WE, IT IS ALRIGHT FOR YOU TO STAY AND IT IS ALRIGHT FOR YOU TO LEAVE THE MEETING, UH, AS WE MOVE ON.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY, BUT YOU'RE ALSO WELCOME TO LEAVE.
AND CONGRATULATIONS WILLOW SPRINGS.
UM, SO WE ARE, UH, NOW ABOUT TO OPEN, UH, A PUBLIC MEETING FOR A FEE HEARING AND I WILL NOW BE OPENING THE HEARING BY SAYING I AM NOW OPENING THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS DEPARTMENT FEE UPDATES.
[00:30:01]
NOW I NEED A MOTION FROM A COMMISSIONER.I HAVE TO READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
SECOND SECOND THAT I NEED, AND THEN COREY AND CHRIS.
UM, AND LET'S SEE, WHERE IS THE THING HERE NOW I'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD, RIGHT? YEAH.
WE ARE RECOMMEND, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD, CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING FEE AND CHANGES FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS, AND THE USES OF PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO YES, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN REDFIELD.
UM, SO I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR STEVE SCOTT, AND, UM, I THINK BETWEEN HIMSELF AND JANICE ARE GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THIS ITEM.
UH, SO COMMISSIONERS, UH, AS STATED, THIS IS A, UH, AN OFFICIAL, UH, HEARING FOR THE DISCUSSION OF OUR DEPARTMENTAL FEES.
AND SO ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES PROVIDED TO THE PARK CITY REC COMMISSION FROM THE CITY CHARTER IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT FEES.
A LOT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER COMMISSIONS, UM, THAT DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR APPROVING UH, FEES.
IN THIS CASE, WITH THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH THE FEES, UH, FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND SO, UM, AS WE'VE DONE, UH, OVER THE LAST, UH, NUMBER OF YEARS, A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR, WE WILL BRING TO YOU A LIST OF FEES THAT ARE IN NEED OF UPDATING.
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO IN 2021, WE WERE THE FIRST DEPARTMENT TO GO THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, FEE STUDY WHERE ALL OF OUR OVER 650 FEES WERE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF COST RECOVERY, IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT ARE THE FEES THAT SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES ARE, UH, PROVIDING.
AND THEN ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THOUGH WHAT A FEE THAT IS SET TOO HIGH, GOING TO LIMIT PARTICIPATION.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, IS ENSURING THAT OUR FEES ARE NOT GOING TO BE BARRIERS, UH, TO PARTICIPATION.
AND SO, UH, WHAT WE HAVE TODAY ARE A FEW, HE, UH, FEW FEES THAT WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD FOR UPDATE.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE JANICE GO THROUGH, UH, THAT LIST OF FEES.
UM, SO THE, THERE ARE 14 FEES, UH, FOR YOU IN ATTACHMENT A I BELIEVE.
UM, THEY'RE IN MAINLY THREE AREAS, ADULT COURTS AT RENT PERMITS AND GAIN COURTS.
SO THESE CHANGES ARE, THAT ARE PROPOSED ARE ACTUALLY, UH, CCI CHANGES, WHICH IS THE CITY COST INDEX, WHICH IS CALCULATED CITYWIDE FOR FEES, UM, EACH YEAR.
SO, UM, THE RATE THAT IS APPLIED IS 2.54, I BELIEVE FOR FY 25.
SO OBJECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST.
SO THESE FEES, UM, THAT YOU SEE ON ATTACHMENT A ARE, UH, PROPOSED TO HAVE AN INCREASE OF THAT CCI RATE OF 2.54%.
UM, IF YOU WANT MORE ME TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OR, OKAY.
UM, SO FOR THE ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES, UM, WE'RE PROPOSING INCREASES TO FOUR FEES.
UM, BASKETBALL LEAGUE THREE, M THREE AND FIVE ON FIVE BASKETBALL, AND THEN VOLLEYBALL, A VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE.
UM, UH, FOR, UH, ATHLETIC PERMITS WE HAVE THE
AND THEN WE HAVE GAME COURT FACILITIES.
UM, IT FALLS UNDER ADMIN FEES, BUT IT'S PARKING LOT RENTALS, UM, HALF LOT OR FULL LOT.
SO, OH, AND AT THE VERY BOTTOM THERE'S A DEPOSIT FEE.
SO COMMISSIONERS JUST, UH, IN SUMMARY, THERE REALLY AREN'T THAT MANY THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING THESE FORWARD OCCASIONALLY SO THAT WE DON'T FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND.
UH, MAYBE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT CCI IS VERSUS CPI.
VERY SIMILAR, IT'S JUST SPECIFIC TO OUR CITY WHERE A CPI IS MORE OF A REGIONAL BASED, UM, CALCULATION.
UH, NOT A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HERE.
WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT PROBABLY UNDER $10,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE AS A RESULT OF, UH, THESE FEE CHANGES.
[00:35:01]
JUST TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS EVER, EVER SINCE THAT BIG, UH, COMPREHENSIVE FEE STUDY WHERE WE BROUGHT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS, I THINK OVER 400 FEES TO COMMISSION FOR UPDATE.WE NOW ARE JUST KIND OF IN MAINTENANCE MODE, MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND WITH KEEPING OUR FEES UP TO DATE.
UH, COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, YES.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE, UH, UM, FINANCE AND APPEALS COMMITTEE DID MEET AND REVIEW THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND WE DID APPROVE THEM.
NOW QUESTIONS? UM, I DID AND I JUST, MAYBE I'M NOT READING IT RIGHT OR I AM.
UM, THERE ARE TWO FEES THAT DON'T LOOK TO BE CHANGING.
SO, UM, THE CCI RATE IS APPLIED, BUT WE DO ROUNDING.
SO THEY'RE ON HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE TECHNIC IT WAS LOW.
PROPOSED TO CHANGE, BUT YES, THERE ARE TWO I THINK THAT YEAH, ARE NOT ACTUALLY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS CONFIRMATION.
WE ACTUALLY TAKE CASH IN A NUMBER OF THESE AREAS.
IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, 2.54% ON A DOLLAR MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, GET YOU UP TO A KNOW 37 CENTS AND KIND OF HARD JUST FOR, FOR HANDLING OF CASH.
SO WE DO ROUTE TO THE, UH, YEARS DOWN THERE, WHICH IS ALLOWABLE FOR THE, UH, CITY POLICIES THANK YOU COLUMN THAT SAYS ANNUAL REVENUE CHANGES.
UM, HOW IS THAT? I SEE THAT SOME OF THE FEES HAVE NUMBERS IN THAT COLUMN, SOME OF THEM DON'T.
WHAT IS, I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
UM, PROJECTED, UM, REVENUE CHANGES FROM FY 24 TO FY 25.
SO IN SOME CASES, 'CAUSE I ALSO NOTICED SOME WERE ZERO.
UM, THERE WERE NO INSTANCES IN FY 24, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE IN 25.
AND SO, UM, OR MAYBE WE DON'T ANTICIPATE MUCH.
UM, SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA TO IDENTIFY THAT NUMBER, SO SOME JUST ARE ZERO.
BECAUSE I, I SAW ONE OF THE FEES THAT DIDN'T CHANGE THE PRIVATE USE GAME SLASH TENNIS COURT LIGHTS.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE FEE, BUT THEN IT SAID $800 REVENUE CHANGE THOUGHTS, I THINK WE ANTICIPATED THE INSTANT THE OCCURRENCES WOULD GO IN.
THANK, WE WERE HOPEFUL
UM, SO REALLY QUICKLY, I THINK ONE POINT OF IMPORTANT CONTEXT ADD IS WITH THESE FEE INCREASES, LIKE LOOKING OVER IT, MOST OF 'EM ARE A DOLLAR OR TWO, UH, AND I THINK THE LARGEST $6 IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY.
UM, SO IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, MASSIVE INCREASE AND CERTAINLY WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT.
UM, ONE THING I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES.
YOU MENTIONED LIKE FALLING BEHIND, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, COULD YOU MAYBE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE KIND OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SERVICE, UH, OFFER AND FOR WHAT THEIR FEES, UH, INCLUDE IF THAT'S BEEN LOOKED AT? SO YEAH, I WILL JUST KIND OF START THAT ANSWER.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF GLADYS HAS ANY SPECIFICS REGARDING THESE FEES, BUT JUST A, A GENERAL STATEMENT TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO AS I MENTIONED THREE YEARS AGO, WE WENT THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, FEE STUDY WHERE THEY LOOKED AT ALL 650 PLUS FEES COMPARED TO, UH, AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, AND WE FOUND, AND, AND THIS IS KIND OF JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT WE TYPICALLY WERE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, UM, TWO BEING A LITTLE BIT BELOW SOME OF WHERE OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, UH, FEES WERE FOR THE PARTICULAR SERVICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO KIND OF PAINTING IT WITH A, A BROAD STROKE.
WE WERE GENERALLY, UH, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TO A LITTLE BIT BELOW, UM, SOME OF OUR COMPETING AGENCIES UNDERSTOOD.
I I CAN ALSO ADD A COMMENT BECAUSE I ATTEND OUR QUARTERLY LOS ANGELES COUNTY PARKS DIRECTORS MEETING AND THIS WAS ABOUT THREE MEETINGS AGO, A TOPIC.
AND AS STEVE MENTIONED, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT WHERE LONG BEACH KIND OF SETTLES IN WITH LITTLE GREATER, UH, LA METROPOLITAN AREA PARK SYSTEM.
WHERE'S THE CAMPING YOUTH CAMPING SITE LOCATED? THAT IS LOCATED IN THE REGIONAL PARK.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH REQUESTS FROM THE GENERAL COMMUNITY FOR CAMPING THERE, WE WORK WITH YOUTH GROUPS, UM, SUCH AS THE YMCA'S, BOY SCOUTS, LOCAL CHURCH GROUPS TO OFFER THE CAMP.
SO IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO THE PARK, UM, YOU PROBABLY PASSED IT A FEW TIMES, UM, NOT REALIZING IT, BUT IT'S ON THE, THE RIGHT SIDE ALONG THE, THE FREEWAY.
UM, BUT IF YOU ARE EVER COMING DOWN, UM, ON A SUMMER MONTH AND GOING SOUTHBOUND ON THE 6 0 5 AND YOU SEE LITTLE REFLECTION OF LIGHTS, THOSE ARE OUR CAMPERS.
[00:40:01]
IN THE RECOMMENDED ACTION.THE SECOND LINE ADOPT A RESOLUTION, AMENDING FEES AND CHARGES OR REC AMENDING FEES AND CHANGES.
IS THAT WORDING CORRECT IN THE RECOMMENDED ACTION? THE SECOND LINE CHARGES.
UH, I USED TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING
I SO LIKE, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
UH, WE OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU HOW THESE FEES IMPACT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS ARE PARTNER WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.
YOU GENEROUSLY PROVIDE SPACE FOR US AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
UH, WE TRY TO BE THE BEST PARTNER THAT WE CAN BE.
WE SHARE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND BECAUSE WE'RE A PARTNER WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, WE ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE.
WE HAVE DONATED MONEY TO ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THESE DO, UM, PEOPLE DO EVENTS.
WE'VE DONATED ART SUPPLIES TO WILLOW SPRINGS.
WE TRY TO SUPPORT THE OTHER PARTNERS TOO.
UH, WE PROVIDE OVER LAST, UH, SEMESTER, WELL LAST YEAR, OVER 300 HOURS OF INTERNSHIPS FROM, UM, CAL STATE LONG BEACH, WHICH WE WILL AGAIN DO THIS YEAR PROBABLY BE EVEN MORE OURS THIS YEAR.
AND, UM, WE ARE A SMALL ORGANIZATION.
OUR GOAL IS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON OLDER ADULT ISSUES.
OUR BUDGET IS LESS, IT'S ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR.
WE COULD NOT DO OUR EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
SO FEE WAIVERS ARE REALLY, UM, SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT TO US TO BE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR MISSION.
AND, UH, WE HAVE 72 OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, THAT WE TRY TO BRING IN HERE.
WE REFER TO PARTNERS PARKS, AND WE DO JOINT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
UM, WE PROVIDE, I THINK, WAY MORE IN VALUE THAN WHAT YOU WOULD GET.
AND WE, LAST YEAR WE GAVE OUT OVER $50,000 WORTH OF GROCERY GIFT CARDS TO SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK WE ARE, ARE WORTH THE VALUE.
SO I HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE YES, WE HAVE THE FEE SCHEDULE.
UH, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, NOTABLY LONG BEACH TRANSIT, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THEY GAVE US MATERIALS SO WE COULD DISTRIBUTE TO SENIORS SO THEY COULD HAVE PREPARED TO GO BAGS ALL FOR FREE.
WE DON'T CHARGE THE SENIORS ANYTHING.
AND WE DO FOOD AT EVERY EVENT THAT WE WORK AT.
SO I ATTEMPTED TO DO, UM, EVENTS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE HAVE DONE FOR THIS WOULD'VE BEEN OUR FIFTH YEAR.
AND, UH, UH, ONE WITH THE LONG BEACH TRANSIT, THEY ARE DOING A SIGNIFICANT ROUTE CHANGES TO THE 1 51 BUS, WHICH IS THE MAJOR BUS THAT GOES ALONG FOURTH STREET THAT IS MAJOR ROUTE THAT SENIORS USE.
UM, WANTED TO HOLD, THEY WANTED TO COME OUT AND DO A PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, I HAVE, AND YOU KNOW, NO, I'M USUALLY HERE EVERY MONTH WITH FEE WAIVERS.
UM, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY'VE REALLY BEEN REALLY INVOLVED IN COUNTY.
THE COUNTY REALLY WANTS TO GET MORE ENGAGED WITH THE CITY.
SO, AND UH, THAT'S PARTIALLY BECAUSE I'M ON THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR SENIORS, PARTICULARLY IN SENIOR AREAS.
AND THEY WANNA DO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN LONG BEACH.
UM, WE HOSTED, UH, CO-HOSTED WITH PARKS, A VERY SUCCESSFUL LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ARE GETTING MORE IMPACT ON COUNTY.
AND I DO ALL THIS WORK BECAUSE PARKS YES, KAREN, SO IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $630 TO DO THESE TWO EVENTS.
THERE'S PROCESS AND THE PROCESS IS NOT CLEAR.
THERE'S A SECRET PROCESS, UH, WHERE PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY DON'T APPLY FOR PERMITS AND THEY STILL GET TO DO EVENTS.
SO THAT'S NOT COUNTED ON THE CHARTS.
AND I WANNA BRING THAT TO LIFE BECAUSE WE WERE DENIED TO DO THESE EVENTS, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION EVENTS FOR THE SENIORS.
I DON'T HAVE $630 TO PAY FOR THESE EVENTS, SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING ON AND IT NEEDS TO STOP AND THE PROCESS IS NOT APPLIED FAIRLY.
I'LL MEET WITH KAREN 'CAUSE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL ADDRESS IT.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU, KIM.
UH, STEVE PRUITT WITH, UH, FRIENDS OF REC PARK, BANDSHELL.
UM, KIND OF UNRELATED TO THE FEE CHAIN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEES, UM, ONE, ONE COMMENT I THINK FROM OUR STANDPOINT IS THAT, UM, I THINK BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, RENTING A FACILITY, WE WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE STAFF AND, UH, SO WE GET A FEE WAIVER FROM YOU GUYS FOR THE USE OF THE FACILITY.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT STAFF CAN'T BE, FEES CAN'T BE WAIVED, WHICH WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
UM, I THINK THAT THE ISSUE THAT WE SEE, AND WE HAVE THIS QUESTION FROM EVERY EVENT THAT WE DO FROM THE PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH AS WELL, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO PARKS AND REC STAFF PEOPLE AT EVERY EVENT.
AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.
AND SO THEY SIT AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT THEY SIT, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, UM, NOT ONLY ARE WE BEING CHARGED FOR THE FEES, BUT UH, OUR PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH US, WHETHER IT BE OTHER NONPROFITS OR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HELPING US FUNDRAISE OR OUR SPONSORS HELPING US FUNDRAISE FOR THEIR EVENTS, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR THESE PEOPLE TO SIT AND DO NOTHING? AND I'M, I HAVE NO ANSWER FOR THEM.
IT'S, IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO JUST A COMMENT, UM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE OBVIOUSLY FOR US THAT THERE MAY BE ONE STAFF PERSON INSTEAD OF TWO REQUIRED WHATEVER THE WHATEVER THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT ALSO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR OUR SPONSOR TO TAKE WHY WE NEED THE STAFF BECAUSE IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE YOU MUCH FOR THEM TO DO.
UM, SO A, A, A AGREED, AND SO I'M AMY WHITTEN WITH FRIENDS OF RECREATION PARK, BANDSHELL.
WE, WE, WE ACTUALLY CAME HERE FOR TOTALLY DIFFERENT REASONS THAN THIS, BUT SINCE THIS CAME UP, UM, IT, IT COME, THE ISSUE COMES UP ALL THE TIME AND THE FACT ABOUT WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE DO WHEN THINGS COME UP, LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S AN IRRIGATION LEAK THAT IS FLOODING AN AREA AND WE, WE ASK, CAN YOU PLEASE REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY? THERE IS A RESISTANCE TO DOING THAT.
YOU KNOW, I FIND MYSELF MOVING TRASH CANS WHEN THE TRASH CANS ARE FULL.
UM, THE RESTROOM, THE ONLY RESTROOM IN THE AREA FOR THE WOMEN GETS TOTALLY KNOCKED DOWN.
AND I'M REACHING OUT TO POOR BRENT ON THE WEEKEND ABOUT, HEY, CAN WE PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT TO GET SOMEBODY OVER HERE TO HELP WITH THIS RESTROOM BECAUSE WE'RE THERE WITH PERMIT.
BUT THERE IS ALL KINDS OF UNPERMITTED EVENTS ALL OVER THE PARK THAT IS ALSO IMPACTING THOSE RESTROOMS. AMY, MAY I? YES MA'AM.
UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY HEARING ON JUST THE FEE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THESE COMMENTS DURING THE OPEN DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS.
AND IS THAT RIGHT? AND I'M SORRY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP FOR THAT.
YEAH, I, I THINK JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ALL CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS ABOUT.
SO THIS, AGAIN, AS I'M READING IT, IS PRIMARILY RELATES TO THE ATHLETIC COURTS AND ATHLETIC TEAMS TEAMS, UH, RATHER RATHER THAN ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, AND I THINK THE ONLY ONE THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE PAYING FOR POTENTIALLY WOULD BE THE PARKING LOT FEES.
AM I READING THAT CORRECT? POTENTIALLY, YES.
SO IF THEY'RE RENTING OUT THE PARKING LOT, THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, ENCOUNTER THE INCREASED FEES THERE.
BUT OTHERWISE THESE ARE PRIMARILY ATHLETICS AND TEAM RELATED FEES.
BUT JUST ON THAT NOTE, THAT, UM, SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR OR THE, OR THE PARKING LOT RENTAL FEES PART OF WHAT WE WOULD WAIVE FOR ORGANIZATIONS IF, WHEN, IF THEY CAME FOR A FEE WAIVER OR IS IT SIMPLY JUST, UH, FACILITY FEES? UH, I BELIEVE, UH, STAFF CHARGES IS ONE OF THE FEW, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POLICY.
I DON'T, UH, I DO BELIEVE THE PARKING LOT IS, CAN BE WAIVED, NOT ENTRY INTO THE REGIONAL PARK.
BUT IF AN ORGANIZATION, UM, WERE TO, UH, RENT THE, THE PARKING SPOTS, I BELIEVE THAT IS ONE THAT CAN BE, UH, WAIVED.
UH, WE HAVE A, A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALLEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ.
UM, ANYBODY HAVE A VOTE PLEASE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR.
UH, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT DIRECTOR.
[00:50:02]
UM, SO MAYBE INDICATIVE OF HOW BUSY OUR SUMMER IS, I DO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS BEYOND WHAT WAS DISTRIBUTED IN YOUR PACKET.SO, UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU AS COMMISSIONERS.
I KNOW YOU SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS, YOU HAVE WORK COMMITMENTS, FAMILY COMMITMENTS, VACATIONS, SCHEDULES, AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS.
UM, BUT WE, WE WERE REALLY HOPING THAT WE COULD FIND OR SETTLE IN ON A DATE IN BLOCK OF TIME FOR A RETREAT.
AND WE'VE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT ALL.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, UM, OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM, UH, NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GONNA KIND OF THINK THROUGH SOME OTHER OPTIONS, UM, BECAUSE WE DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR, I WANT TO SAY THREE YEARS PLUS.
I MEAN CODE FOUR YEARS, THANK YOU
UM, BUT, BUT, UM, WE, WE DO THINK THERE'S SOME VALUE IN BRINGING ALL SEVEN OF YOU UP TO A REALLY IMPORTANT LEVEL OF AWARENESS.
AND I'LL JUST CALL IT EDUCATION.
NOT THAT TRAINING IS LACKING, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT AS, AS YOU RUN THROUGH, UH, MECHANICS OF RUNNING A MEETING, THE CITY CLERK INSTITUTE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT REALLY CHANGE THE FLOW OF OUR MEETINGS.
SO, AND AS WE CHANGE LEADERSHIP, I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE GROUP OF SEVEN TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND LET YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO THINK OF ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN, UM, MAKE SURE ALL SEVEN OF YOU MAY NOT BE AS A GROUP.
THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW 'CAUSE I THINK WE ARE SENSITIVE TO EACH OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENTS OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMISSION.
SO, UH, THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
BUT THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND PARTICIPATION IN OUR SURVEYS THAT WE'VE BEEN SENDING OUT.
UM, SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, THIS GENTLEMAN TO MY LEFT, HE'S NOW STARTING LAST SATURDAY, UM, ACTING BUREAU MANAGER FOR PARKS, UM, OPERATIONS.
UM, HE SUCCEEDING MIKE TIERNEY, WHO DID THAT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF.
AND, UM, I THINK PROBABLY SOMETIME MAYBE AFTER THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING WE'LL HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENT NEWS ABOUT, UH, PERMANENT YOUR MANAGER IN THAT REGARD.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
UM, THANK YOU CHAIR
IT WAS ONE OF THE LONGER MEETINGS.
UH, WE HAD SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS I THINK BECAUSE NEXT TUESDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING 'CAUSE OF A LACK OF QUORUM WAS CANCELED.
THEY MOVED US UP FOR OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.
SO AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL THE BUREAU MANAGERS, BUT IN PARTICULAR STEVE AND JANICE WERE REALLY GREAT IN KIND OF PULLING OUR PRESENTATION, UH, TOGETHER AND, UH, REALLY IMPROVING IT, UH, ON RATHER SHORT NOTICE.
SO, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE HAD SOME GOOD QUESTIONS FROM SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, BUT I THINK OVERALL, UM, AND WE'VE, LET'S SEE, TONIGHT IS THE FOURTH OF FIVE COMMUNITY BUDGET ENGAGEMENTS.
UM, SO FAR THEY'VE BEEN, I'LL SAY FAIRLY INNOCENT.
UM, I'M A LITTLE CRITICAL BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, THE CONTEXT OF HOW THE, THE INVITATION TO THE COMMUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON CITY PRIORITIES, PARKS AND RECREATION, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO DOESN'T REALLY JUMP OUT CLEARLY.
MOST OF THE CATEGORIES ARE BROAD AND ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEN YOU KIND OF GET DOWN IN THE WEEDS, YOU SEE SOME SUBTLE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT WE DO.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN, WHEN ALL OF THE INPUTS COMPILE, IT DOESN'T REALLY RESONATE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A SAD REFLECTION.
I'M BEING CRITICAL OBVIOUSLY, OF THE CITY'S PROCESS.
UM, AND ALSO I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NUMBERS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IS, I THINK, EMBARRASSINGLY LOW.
WE GREATLY OUTNUMBER THE STAFF THAT SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS.
PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TO ONE OUTNUMBER THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING.
EVEN THE VIRTUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT, I THINK THERE WERE LIKE 41, WE HAVE HALF A MILLION PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
NOT EVERYONE VOTES AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WORKS.
AND SOME OF THE SECOND SHIFT, YOU KNOW, PARENTS OR ADULTS, THEY, THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE FIVE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, UM, I, I WANTED TO SAY THAT ONLY 'CAUSE I'M VERY PROUD OF HOW WE ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE OFFER, UM, A LOT OF TIMEFRAMES, DAYS OF THE WEEK AND, AND, UH, VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INPUT.
SO I, I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, UH, TONIGHT WE'RE AT, UH, RAMONA PARK, UH, IN THE LITTLE CLUBHOUSE THAT NIGHT I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE KIND OF COMFORTABLE, BUT IF ONLY A COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE SHOW UP, I THINK WE'LL BE FINE.
UH, AND THEN, UM, I'LL ACTUALLY BE DOING TWO THINGS.
AND THEN I WAS INVITED BY DAN BURG TO SPEAK AT THE DEFOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
[00:55:01]
ASSOCIATION MEETING, BUT DEFOREST ISN'T TOO FAR OF A DRIVE FROM REMOTE, SO I THINK I CAN ALMOST BE TWO PLACES ONCE TONIGHT,UH, AND THEN NEXT MONDAY I'LL BE THE FINAL, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THEN THE CITY, UH, STAFF WILL BE COMPILING THE RESULTS AND SUCH.
BUT I THINK THE SECOND MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, IDEALLY, IS WHEN COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO, UH, POSSIBLY THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT CITY BUDGET.
I THINK WE'RE THANKFUL AS A DEPARTMENT THAT WE DID REALLY.
UM, WE WEREN'T REALLY ASKED TO MAKE ANY BUDGET CUTS.
THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS ARE THAT THE LEAD OF THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT MONEY IS GOING AWAY.
WE HAVE SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE CONTINUING 'CAUSE OF OUR GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCES.
SO OUR CREDIT TO GLAD AND HER TEAM FOR SEEING SOME OF THOSE EXTEND A YEAR MORE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED.
UH, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN NEW THINGS THAT WE NEED THAT REALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT WE FACE EVERY DAY.
LIKE ENCAMPMENT, CLEANUPS AND STORM DEBRIS, CLEANUPS, UH, SOME IMPORTANT BUT MAYBE NOT SIGNIFICANT THINGS.
AND I KNOW IT'S KIND OF OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF PARKS AND RECREATION, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S SOME STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS AT ANIMAL CARE.
WE HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A $100,000 BUDGET FOR FOOD.
EVERYONE WONDERED HOW COULD YOU HAVE, UH, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LIVE ANIMALS AND NOT HAVE FOOD BUDGET? WELL, IN THE PAST, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH S-P-C-L-A, THEY HAD PROVIDED THAT AND THEN WHEN THEY, I THINK DURING COVID, THE TIMES CHANGED A LOT.
SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.
AND WE KIND OF JUST DID WHAT WE HAD TO KEEP OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ANIMALS' LIVES.
SO ANYWAY, UM, I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING SOME CONTINUED INVESTMENT, BOTH STRUCTURAL, WHICH MEANS IT'S KIND OF A PERMANENT ONGOING, UM, UH, RESOURCE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND A NUMBER OF ONE TIME, UM, UH, BUDGET ENHANCEMENTS.
SO AS YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR ALL SEVEN OF YOU, FEEL FREE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME OR STEVE OR JANICE ALSO GO THROUGH STEVE.
UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS REALIZING YOU'RE A COMMISSIONER, THEY MAY THINK THAT YOU'RE POSSIBLY AS EQUALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF OUR BUDGET AS OUR STAFF.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE BUDGET IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR BUDGET DOES REFLECT OUR PRIORITIES AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
UM, NOW SOME OF THE FUN STUFF TUESDAY NIGHT, WELL, WAS A LONG NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THE DEDICATION OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARKS AS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF ACREAGES PARKS AND PERPETUITY.
WHAT'S HUGE, UM, IN TERMS OF PATIENCE, WE APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF FRIENDS OF
UH, BUT IT WAS REALLY A GREAT MOMENT.
NORMALLY, UM, THE MAYOR ONLY HAS PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR, I I WON'T SAY CELEBRITY OR SPECIAL OCCASION, BUT THEY INVITED ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF WILL SPRINGS PARK WERE VERY WELL REPRESENTED, AND HE INVITED ALL OF THEM TO COME FORWARD.
AND SUSAN, YOU JOINED THE, THE CELEBRATION.
SO THAT WAS REALLY, UM, A SPECIAL MOMENT, BUT THAT WAS HUGE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES.
WE DO HAVE A $1 MILLION, UM, BUDGET FOR A TRAILHEAD PROJECT.
AND, UH, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'LL BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY FOCUSING ON FOR GRANTS AND MAKING THE CASE FOR NEW PRIORITIES, UH, TO SUPPORT THE PARK FOR THINGS LIKE, UM, RESTROOMS. YES.
UM, SO
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, OH, AS I MENTIONED, THINGS WILL GET LOTS OF YESES,
I THINK THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF OUR, UH, VERY SIGNIFICANT, I CAN'T CALL IT A REGIONAL PARK, BUT A FLAGSHIP PARK.
AND IT HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTER AND I, I'M NEVER, UH, FORGETTING THE ADJACENT PARCELS OF BOTH THE MUNICIPAL CEMETERY AND THE SUNNYSIDE CEMETERY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT BIG FOOTPRINT OF ALL THOSE ACRES THAT ARE VERY GREEN AND, AND FULL OF CULTURE AND HISTORY, UM, IT'S GONNA BE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UM, IN THE PAST.
SO EVERYTHING IS A BLUR RECENTLY, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, FORMER CHAIR LIVINGSTON AND I WERE PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE GOLF FESTIVAL OVER AT EL DORADO GOLF COURSE.
AND, UM, CHAIR LIVINGSTON REALLY DID A GREAT JOB IN BRINGING FORTH AND HONORING THE NEW, UH, HALL OF FAMERS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS REALLY, IT REMINDS YOU HOW IMPORTANT GOLF IS
[01:00:01]
TO LONG BEACH AND THE ATTRACTIVE VALUE THAT OUR FIVE COURSES HAVE.BUT THE COURSE CONDITIONS WERE REALLY GREAT.
IT WAS A, A PLAYOFF, IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT? PLAYOFF.
AND OF THE, THE YOUNG MAN THAT WON, WHEN YOU HEAR HIS LIFE STORY AND YOU JUST SAW ABOUT HOW HIS SKILLS WERE CRAFTED, IT WAS REALLY QUITE MOVING.
UM, LET'S SEE,
WE'VE DOING A LOT OF WORK THERE.
UM, SO NEXT TUESDAY'S MEETING IS CANCELED.
SO SEPTEMBER 3RD, UM, IT'S A LITTLE AWKWARD FOR US, BUT IN JULY WE WERE, UM, PLANNING TO RECOGNIZE SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM FOR THEIR VERY WELCOME AND APPRECIATED SPONSORSHIP OF OUR MOVIES IN THE PARK.
AND BECAUSE THE MONTH OF JULY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO DARK, AND THEY ONLY HAD ONE MEETING, AND THAT WAS FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION BALLOT INITIATIVE AS A FORMALITY, UM, WE NEEDED TO MOVE THE PRESENT OR RECOGNITION OF SIGNAL PETROLEUM TO THE 20TH OF AUGUST, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN CANCELED DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM.
SO I THINK SEPTEMBER 3RD WILL BE THE MEETING THAT, THAT THEY'LL BE RECOGNIZED.
I JUST WANTED, UM, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, SO AGAIN, SHE, I'M SORRY, I ONLY BECAUSE THE SKATE PARK FEASIBILITY STUDY IS SOMETHING HUGE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED US TO EMBARK ON.
BUT I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT ALL OF OUR, OUR OUTREACH, I MEAN, WE MAY HAVE POSSIBLY THE BEST SURVEY RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK.
I MEAN, WE ARE EVERYWHERE, ALL NINE COUNCIL OFFICES, UM, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EASY.
IT'S A QR CODE, YOU CLICK ON IT IN ABOUT THREE MINUTES, YOU PROVIDE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, PROVIDE INVALUABLE INFORMATION FOR US.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THOUSANDS OF INPUTS COMPARED TO SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT ARE PRESENTED AT COUNCIL WHEN THEY PROBABLY SAY, OH, WE HAVE 272 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN OUR SURVEY.
AND I THINK JUST TO USE THE BUDGET COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THEY MAY HAVE 200 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN INPUT ON THE BUDGET AND FOR A HALF A MILLION RESIDENT COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.
SO I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH, WITH THAT.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE AN IMPORTANT ROADMAP IN THE FUTURE, SIMILAR TO WHEN WE HAD A MASTER PLAN PRESENTED TO YOU FOR PICKLEBALL AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'LL BE BRINGING, YOU KNOW, THE SKATE PARK, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALSO.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.
I DON'T HAVE THE DATES ON SOME OF THESE, SO THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
BUT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, PAIR OF WORKSHOPS.
ONE IS FOR THE, THE SENIOR, UH, CENTER.
I THINK IT'S IN SEPTEMBER 19TH.
SO AGAIN, SHERLY PROBABLY HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT BACK, BUT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AND THEN THERE'S AN EARTHQUAKE EXPO THAT'S GONNA BE OVER AT LITTLE REC IN SEPTEMBER 28TH.
WE'LL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE A HOST SITE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY NOW SINCE RECENTLY WE'VE HAD SOME RUMBLINGS, YOU KNOW, HERE IN LONG BEACH WE FELT SOME EFFECTS OF REGIONAL EARTHQUAKES.
SO, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT THING.
I DON'T, I SAY THIS TILL THE END.
I'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE AFTER THIS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, UH, THE ENCAMPMENT IMPACT AT GUM BYER PARK IS FORCING US TO PUT A FENCE UP AROUND THE PARK ONCE AND GO IN AND DO SOME MAJOR, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS.
THE LANDSCAPE THERE IS BASICALLY NON-EXISTENT NOW BECAUSE OF ENCAMPMENT ACTIVITY.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HOMELESS, UH, LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT ADDRESSES A WHOLE ARRAY OF CHALLENGING SITUATIONS AROUND AREAS LIKE VILLAGE, JEAN KING, MAIN LIBRARY AND LINCOLN PARK AND HARVEY MILK PARK AND THE PROMENADE.
DON MINOR PARK IS ONE OF THOSE, AS WELL AS VETERANS PARK AND CHIN FIELD.
UH, AND EVEN THOUGH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION DOES ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO CLEAR ENCAMPMENTS OUT OF PUBLIC AREAS, INCLUDE PARKS, LONG BEACH IS KIND OF STAYING THE COURSE, TO BE HONEST, THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE A SERVICES FIRST OFFERED APPROACH.
YOU KNOW, EMPATHETICALLY HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT SERVICES AND FIND, YOU KNOW, A NEW DIRECTION IN THEIR LIFE TOWARDS HOUSING.
AND, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER THAT DON'T CARE TO ACCEPT SERVICES.
AND THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE FACE.
SO, UM, WE ARE GONNA BE NEXT MONDAY, PUTTING UP
[01:05:01]
A CONSTRUCTION FENCE AROUND THAT SMALL PARK.WE DID HAVE A REQUEST, UM, TO NOT INCLUDE THE SKATE PARK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS DO USE THE SKATE PARK ON THE FAR END.
UM, SO THAT'LL PROBABLY BE IN PLACE FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GONNA BE FIXING THE IRRIGATION, UPGRADING THE LIGHTING THAT'S BEEN DAMAGED.
'CAUSE PEOPLE FEEL THEY CAN CHARGE THEIR PHONES BY JUST PULLING WIRES OUT OF THE, THE, THE LIGHT FIXTURES.
UH, AGAIN, I MENTIONED LANDSCAPING, REPAINTING.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THE NECESSARY ENHANCEMENTS IN REPAIRS TO THAT LITTLE PART.
UM, SO WHAT WE LEARNED THE LAST TWO TIMES WE DID THAT IS IT COMES WITH GREAT REJOICE FROM THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORS IN THE MUSEUMS FOR A WHILE.
AND AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS, PEOPLE WENT THEIR PARK BACK.
AND WE'RE HOPING THIS TIME, ONCE THE FENCE GOES AWAY, THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE TEAM EFFORTS, UM, INCLUDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CAN, UH, START TO INSTITUTE MORE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, WHAT WE'RE FINDING THAT'S A LITTLE ENCOURAGING IS THAT WITH THE CITY'S APPROACH TO ENCAMPMENTS NOW, IS THEY ARE GONNA BE, UH, THEY CALL IT TARGETED ENFORCEMENT.
SO THE THING THAT'S KEY FOR US IS THAT OUR PARKS CLOSE AT 10 O'CLOCK, SO YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THE PARK OVERNIGHT.
SO THAT'S THE BASIS THAT IS, THEY LOOK AT IMPACTED AREAS, GONNA HAVE PEOPLE MOVE OUT AND NOT BE ALLOWED TO CAMP OVERNIGHT.
SO KIND OF COMPLEX, SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THAT'S, I JUST, AS COMMISSIONERS, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PARK AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF HOMELESSNESS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO RESTORE IT TO ITS USEFULNESS.
UH, AND THIS IS ALL, AND THIS QUESTION COMES JUST WITH THE BACKGROUND OF SENSITIVITY, ESPECIALLY KIDS USE THE PARK.
ARE, DO YOU KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA BE IMPLEMENTING AS THE CITY, THE STAY AWAY ORDERS THAT THE, UM, THE CITY, NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT DOUG HALBERT USES? UM, OKAY.
SO I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE BROUGHT FORTH, UM, A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO STATE OF ORDER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR TWO.
WE WENT BEFORE A JUDGE THIS WEEK AND IT WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT, UM, EVIDENCE OF A BODILY HARM OR PHYSICAL DANGER TO OTHERS.
I MEAN THAT PART OF THE CITY IS JUST SO IMPACTED WITH TRAFFIC.
IT'S LIKE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THAT KIDS CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SPACE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE DO, WE DID FIND THAT THE KIDS ZONE ORDINANCE THAT I THINK YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH MM-HMM.
BUT, UM, BY POSTING THE SIGNS, I, I CAN'T SAY THAT WAS THE MAGICAL TOUCH, BUT WE DID SEE A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN ENCAMPMENT ACTIVITY IN OUR PLAYGROUND SPACES.
SO, UH, BUT THERE, THERE HAS BEEN NO ENFORCEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE WOULD REPORT THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY SLEEPING ON THE BENCH, AND THIS WASN'T GO BY HER PARK SLEEPING ON THE BENCH INSIDE THE PLAYGROUND SPACE, AND THERE WAS NO, I MEAN, THE PD IS VERY LIMITED WITH THE STAFF LEVELS AND THEIR CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT ARE ALWAYS PRIORITIZED.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS LIKE CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR PARKS USUALLY DON'T, YOU KNOW, QUITE MEET THAT RESPONSE LEVEL.
BUT THINGS DO SEEM TO BE IMPROVING.
I KNOW THEY, THEY'VE BEEN BRINGING A LOT MORE OFFICERS TO THE ACADEMY AND WE'VE GOT STRATEGIC PLANS TO, TO HELP DO THAT.
SO, UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT GUN BY PARK, BUT I'M GOING TO JUMP ON THE COATTAILS OF EVERYTHING THAT GLADYS SAID.
AND I, I WAS SO PLEASED I GOT TEARY-EYED.
BUT WHEN I SAW OUR GREAT COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES TEACH HERE, I MEAN, THEY DO AMAZING THINGS.
WHEN YOU GO OUT INTO OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR EVENTS AND YOU SEE THE BENEFIT THAT THE KIDS HAVE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP AND THE CARING NATURE OF OUR TEAM, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
SO WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE OLYMPIC FLAG TO LONG BEACH, YOU KNOW, TO CRUISE DID, I GUESS
I WAS REMINDED OF ALL OF THE LITTLE CAMEOS
[01:10:01]
OF THE WORLD CLASS ATHLETES THAT THEY SHOWED, LIKE WHEN THEY WERE A KID AND WHEN THEY GOT LIKE SPARKED AN INTEREST IN THIS.NOW THEY'RE LIKE A GOLD MEDALIST IN THIS ONE SPORT CATEGORY.
THOSE THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR PARKS AND IN OUR RECREATION CENTERS EVERY DAY.
SO WHO KNOWS IN FOUR YEARS THAT WE MAY HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE RUB SHOULDERS WITH, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY SOMEBODY.
I KNOW WHEN COLIN JONES WAS AT KING POOL AND WE HAD ALL OF THE KIDS, SOME OF 'EM HAD NEVER SWAM BEFORE AND HE HAD HIS GOLD MEDAL AND SILVER MEDAL FROM HIS OLYMPIC SWIMMING.
AND I COULD SEE THE SPARK IN THOSE KIDS' EYES THAT SOMEBODY MAY BECOME AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER BECAUSE OF THAT ONE MOMENT.
SO THAT WAS MY POSITIVE THING, THAT
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT YESTERDAY AT SHERIFF IN YOUR SPEECH.
THERE'S PROBABLY MORE STUFF, BUT YEAH, THANK YOU FOR BEING AT SHER PARK.
WE DEDICATED, WE'RE CUTTING, UM, AND THE CLUBHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT WAS FUN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, FROM THE AUDIENCE? I JUST HAVE ONE.
UM, MR. SO ON, ON THE GUM BINDER PIECE.
NOT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SAD PART, BUT
BECAUSE OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS OR BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES.
DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE NOW THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE NOT BACK IN THIS SAME POSITION IN A YEAR FROM NOW WHERE THE ENCAMPMENTS HAVE TAKEN OVER AND WE HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN AGAIN? UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW, YOU KNOW, TO A DEGREE HARVEY REMOTE PARK IS BECOMING THAT AGAIN, IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SUPPORT NOW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN KIND OF, THERE'S A LOT OF ENCAMPMENTS WITH THE, THAT PARK.
SO FOR
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR EXAMPLES WHERE WE'VE INTRODUCED MORE POSITIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE AT BE'S PARK, ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES, UH, THIS IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE PICKLEBALL ACTIVITY AT THE FOREST PARK.
UM, THE MORE WE GET THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE, THE MORE HELPFUL IT IS.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT PUTTING, UM, A HIGHER FENCE AND GATES AT MINER AND HAVE IT VERY SIMILAR TO ROTARY PARK.
WE'RE PARK AMBASSADORS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE PDS HELP TO ENFORCE THE PARK IS CLOSE AT 10.
EVERYBODY OUT HELP US CLEAR IT, AND THEN WE LOCK IT UP ONCE YOU BREAK THAT CYCLE THAT THEY ARE STAYING IN ONE OF OUR PARKS.
THEY DO GO SOMEWHERE I SOME OF ACCEPT SERVICES, BUT THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE PLAN THAT WAS OVER $200,000 TO INVEST IN MORE PERMANENT FENCING.
THAT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS.
BUT I DO THINK ONCE THE PARK'S REOPENED, WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON THE CITY TEAM JUST TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT KEEPING THE PARK CLEAR.
UM, THE DEVELOPER THAT WAS GONNA BE, UH, REPURPOSING ARMORY NEXT TO IT, UM, THEY, THEY HAD A PLAN TO HELP ACTIVATE IT WITH LIKE SCULPTURE AND ARTS ACTIVITIES.
AND THEY, THEY HAD PROPOSED, I THINK ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR PERMIT TO REDEVELOP IT WAS THEY PROVIDE 24 7 SECURITY PRESENCE.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR GO BY PARK.
NOTHING'S ASSURED AND IT ALWAYS COSTS MONEY, BUT FOR US, IT'S SAD THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR PARKS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY 'CAUSE OF, UH, A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST DISRESPECTFUL AND, AND PRESENT.
YOU KNOW, ON THAT POINT ABOUT, UM, UH, TARGETED ENFORCEMENT, UH, I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT PD WILL RESPOND TO, UH, WITH MORE URGENCY THAN OTHERS JUST BY SHE PRIORITIZATION.
UM, BUT ONE OF PERHAPS MAYBE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED IS ALSO LIKE THERE IS A HISTORY OF VANDALISM OR HISTORY OF DAMAGE TO THE PARK.
UH, I MEAN, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT IN THE PARK, THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE OUT WITHIN THE CITY AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION THAT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY COMPLEX.
WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU DO HAVE THAT HISTORY OF THINGS BEING RIPPED OUT, LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRING, WHICH ISN'T JUST A RISK TO PARK GO OR DAMAGE TO THE PARK GOERS, IT'S A RISK TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY CAMPED THERE.
UH, THAT I THINK MIGHT BE SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING IS THAT YOU HAVE THAT SORT OF SITUATION WHERE, WHERE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY IS BEING ACTIVELY OR HAS, YOU KNOW, HAS A, A A HISTORY OF BEING DAMAGED RIGHT.
BEYOND JUST LIKE INCREASED WEAR AND
[01:15:01]
TEAR WHERE YOU ACTUALLY ARE, YOU KNOW, SEEING THAT LIKE BORDERLINE ACT OR ACTUAL AISM.YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD POINT.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE GETTING A LITTLE SMARTER.
WE HAVE HAD SO MANY THINGS OF METALLIC VALUE JUST MINE OR TAKEN OR STOLEN OR, YOU KNOW, STRIPPED FROM OUR PARTS THAT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR.
BUT THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT SOMETIMES IT SHUTS DOWN PARK RESTROOMS OR A WHOLE FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOMETHING OF SUCH A CRITICAL NATURE.
LIKE OUR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS, UM, WHEN THEY WERE STOLEN, UM, OR CUT AT, I THINK IT WAS WHALEY PARK, IT SHUT DOWN THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE PARK RESTROOMS BECAUSE THE WATER SURFACE WAS, YOU KNOW, WAS NOT CONNECTED.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM TRIES TO RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS WE DO OR WE CAN.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME OTHER RECENT, UM, VANDALISM AND, YOU KNOW, WE SENT PORTAGE ONS OUT THERE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN JUST TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY CAN STILL ENJOY THEIR, THEIR PARK AS BEST THEY, IN FACT, WITH REGARD TO GUM BYER, THE, UH, CHARMING AND LOVELY, UH, PACIFIC ISLANDS ARTS AT ETHNIC MUSEUM IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE OPEN IN THE EVENINGS BECAUSE OF GUM BYER PARK.
AND WE TRIED TO HOLD A MEETING THERE THE OTHER NIGHT AND SHE'S NOT ALLOWED TO.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIR IS NOT ALLOWED TO.
AND I KNOW WE HAD ONE OF OUR IMPACTED PARKS, ACTUALLY IT WAS HOMELAND MACARTHUR'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, BUT WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS EVERY DAY JUST GRAFFITI DEFACING.
HER PRESENCE WAS JUST TERRIBLE.
SO WE ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN PUTTING A FENCE AROUND THE WHOLE COURTYARD TO GIVE IT, YOU KNOW, A SAFE PURPOSE.
WE WERE CRITICIZED, OH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A PRISON YARD.
NOT, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, MOST OF THE FENCES, THE COMMUNITY DO HAVE THAT LOOK.
BUT TO FUNCTIONALLY KEEP PEOPLE OUT.
BUT WHEN THAT INDIVIDUAL STARTED A FIRE IN THE PARK, IT WAS FINALLY, THAT WAS A TIPPING POINT TO HAVE HER ARRESTED.
SHE WAS, I THINK IN JAIL FOR JUST, AND THEN SHE WAS BACK OUT.
SO THE SYSTEM DOESN'T HELP US IN SOME CASES EITHER.
THAT'S, I, I, I GIVE OUR TEAM CREDIT.
WE'RE SO VERY EMPATHETIC, BUT IT GETS FRUSTRATING AND, AND CHALLENGING TO, TO GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP REPLACING THINGS AND PEOPLE JUST FOR WHATEVER THEIR REASONS STEAL OR VANDALIZE.
SO, UM, YEAH, I'LL CONTINUE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE MORE.
WELL, IF IT'S ANY CONSOLATION, IT IS A PROBLEM AROUND THE WORLD.
IT'S IN PARIS, IT'S IN LONDON, IT'S ALL OVER THE WORLD, NOT JUST LONG BEACH, BUT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OLYMPICS.
THANK YOU FOR, THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
AND SORRY FOR ALL THE, THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON.
UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING BACK HERE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR I'LL JUST SAY, I, I TOOK THE BUDGET SURVEY AND I, I READ THE OPTIONS TO TRY AND COME UP WITH FIVE THAT I THOUGHT WERE COHERENT, AND THEN I WENT LOOKING FOR PAGE TWO AND IT SAID THANK YOU.
SO IF THEIR GOAL WAS TO HAVE A VERY SHALLOW, NON DEPTH FULL SURVEY, THEY DID A FANTASTIC
I I, I THINK THAT DANNY WOULD THINK PRAISE AWARD SHOULD GO TO, UH, BOB
UM, ONE THING I I WILL SAY, UH, 0.0 THE COMMUNITY, THE LAST BUDGET MONDAY, WHERE IS THAT MEETING BE AT? IS IT EARLY JEAN KING LIBRARY? LIBRARY DOWNTOWN.
YOU HAD A, I'M SORRY, ONE MORE COMMISSIONER, ANOTHER COMMENT ROOM REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, FRED, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE COMMUNITY, UH, THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE AT THESE KIND OF, UM, UH, BUDGET MEETINGS, RIGHT? UH, THAT THERE WAS A LOT MORE STAFF THAN THERE WAS COMMUNITY.
UM, I WAS WONDERING JUST KIND OF AS, AS JUST A THOUGHT, UM, IN TERMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH AND THAT SORT OF THING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS, UM, I JUST CHECKED WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, UM, ON INSTAGRAM, THE LONG BEACH PARKS INSTAGRAM LAST WEEK, THERE WAS A POST THAT HAD ALL OF THE DATES LISTED.
BUT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING MAYBE DAILY WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING, ACTUALLY HAPPENING, HEY, DON'T FORGET THIS HAPPENING TONIGHT.
SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE YEAH.
THAT BRINGS IT UP TO THE, TO THE FOREFRONT SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST A, OH YEAH, I SHOULD DO THAT NEXT WEEK.
[01:20:01]
WELL THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT.SO, SOMETHING THAT KIND OF LOST ON THE HOTELS OF WHAT
THERE'S MAYBE PEOPLE THAT HAVE IN THE PAST, THROUGH THE PARKS PORTAL OF INTEREST PARTICIPATED.
THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED IN, WE REALLY HAVE TO LIKE, DIG HARD TO MAKE A POINT PRIORITY ABOUT WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT IN PARKS.
SO IT'S STRUCTURALLY MAYBE GARBAGE, MAYBE NOT AS ENCOURAGING FOR AGE, BUT MAYBE IT'S DERIVED.
UM, AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS JUST KIND OF ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WITH THE OLYMPICS, UM, THERE SHOULD BE, WHEN THE OLYMPICS ARE IN LA AND LONG BEACH IN FOUR YEARS, THERE SHOULD BE A BIG CONTINGENT OF LONG BEACH ATHLETES.
SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WERE, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 14 LONG BEACH ATHLETES AND COACHES THAT WERE IN PARIS THIS SUMMER.
UM, BUT IT SHOULD BE A BIG CROP, UM, IN FOUR YEARS.
SO DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THINKING ABOUT RUNNING, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS NOW RUNNING AROUND OUR PARKS AND, AND WHERE THEY'LL BE AND HOW THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AND THOSE ATHLETES, UM, WHEN THEY'RE IN TOWN.
WELL, IF YOU SPENT ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WATCHING NBC OR PEACOCK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HARD NOT TO SEE SNOOP DOGG
HE, HE FUNDS A YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM OVER AT KING PARK AND, AND HE'S ONE OF STEVE'S BEST FRIENDS TOO.
SO THEIR HISTORY GOES WAY BACK, SO WAY BACK.
WELL, AND THE SNOOP FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO EAST SIDE AS WELL, SO YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THAT POINT ABOUT THE OLYMPICS IS REALLY RELEVANT.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT AT SOME SOON FUTURE DATE WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY COME AND DESCRIBE WHAT'S GOING ON? YES.
WITH REGARD TO PLANNING YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
FOR THE OLYMPICS AND LONG BEACH.
THERE'S A, A TEAM AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE LEVEL THAT HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND YEAH, IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
SO THEY'VE TALKED TO US ABOUT WATCH PARTIES AND THINGS WE'RE KIND OF WARMING UP, UH, IN 2026 WITH FIFA TO HELP THE WORLD COMING HERE FOR SOCCER.
AND THEY'VE ASKED US ABOUT MAYBE SOME OF OUR BIGGER FLAGSHIP PARKS SETTING UP BIG STUFF SO THE COMMUNITY CAN CELEBRATE AND WATCH THE COMPETITION.
WELL THAT WAS A LONG DISCUSSION, BUT IT'S SUMMER AND SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE.
YEAH, IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT SUMMER.
UH, WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON AND SECOND BY WAS COMMISSIONER SHANE, I THINK.
UH, WE ARE NOW AT THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ, UH, NEITHER COMMISSIONERS NOR STAFF MAY ANSWER OR SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
HOWEVER, A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY MAKE A FACTUAL STATEMENT OR ASK STAFF TO DO THE SAME.
OTHERWISE, A SPECIFIC QUESTION CAN BE DIRECTED TO, CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE DIRECTOR, UH, AND ASK THAT STAFF REACH OUT TO THE SPEAKER.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, COMMENTS, KAREN? UM, PARKS AND RECS CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH GOOD TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE THE MOST UNDERFUNDED RESOURCE ELEMENT IN OUR BUDGET.
SO, UM, WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL THE SENIORS TO, UM, TAKE THE SURVEY ABOUT THE NEW SENIOR CENTER.
UH, BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO COMPUTERS WORKING IN THE COMPUTER LAB.
THERE'S NO PERMANENT PERSON, OUR STAFF PERSON OVERSEEING THAT FACILITY.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A YOUNG MAN WHO'S ONLY 16 WHO COMES IN AND HAS BEEN A VOLUNTEER ON THE WEEKENDS AND, UH, REALLY DESPERATELY NEED SOMEBODY IN THAT COMPUTER LAB AND WE NEED THE COMPUTERS REPLACED.
SO I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THAT ON A BUDGET ITEM.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE BUDGET, JANICE, BEAUTIFUL JOB, UH, THAT I HAD TO LOOK FOR THE $4 MILLION THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR THE NEW SENIOR CENTER, THAT I NEEDED A MAGNIFYING GLASS TO SEE THAT.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A REQUEST THAT AT THE BUDGET, YOU SEPARATE OUT THE SENIOR CENTER ITEMS AND CREATE A SEPARATE SECTION FOR THE SENIOR FACILITIES BECAUSE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAMS. BUT IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET AND CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND STAFF ISN'T REALLY SURE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, I AM PLANNING FOR 2025 AND THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE PERMITTING, I CAN NOW ONLY APPLY FOR EVENTS THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME.
THAT MAKES IT SO I NEED SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS.
I'VE BEEN TOLD ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE WILLING
[01:25:01]
TO GIVE ME MONEY, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK WITH YOUR TIMELINE.UM, WE, UH, HAVE STARTED, WE HAD OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
WE HAD OVER 130 SENIORS DO A CARNIVAL.
THE SENIOR CENTER WAS FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND EXCITEMENT, AND EVERYBODY WENT HOME WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL AND, UH, IT WAS JUST A BLAST.
AND, UH, WE ARE DOING A MORE CLASS.
WE'RE STARTING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON SENIOR CENTER FACILITIES, SO WE'RE STARTING TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE DOING A MORE CLASS WITH THE, THE LIBRARY, BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY.
WE HAD OUR FIRST SESSION, WE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE ATTEND, AND WE HAVE A BUNCH MORE THAT SAY THEY'RE GONNA COME THIS TIME, IT'S GONNA BE ONCE A MONTH.
AND, UH, AT THE END OF IT, THEY'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO STRING TOGETHER THEIR, UH, SESSIONS TO DO A LITTLE BOOK.
AND, UH, WE ARE ALSO, UH, IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO TAKE CLUB SILVER, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY POPULAR WITH SENIORS.
SENIORS WANT MORE EVENING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
SO, UM, THEY'RE GONNA APPROACH THE RESTAURANTS AND THEY'RE EVEN WILLING TO, UM, SUPPLY SOME FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN EVENT THAT'S BEEN FUNDED BY CHASE BANK.
SO WE ARE WORKING HARD TO DO PROGRAMMING AND WE ALWAYS ASK THE SENIORS WHAT THEY WANT AS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.
SO, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO 2025 AND I WILL BE HERE NEXT MONTH WITH REQUESTS.
AND ANYTHING ELSE, STEVE? YEAH, STEVE PRO WITH FRED DIRECT PARK VENT, UH, HERE AS WELL.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE'S SUPPORT FOR THIS SUMMER.
WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR SEVENTH SATURDAY THIS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL.
WE'VE HAD FOUR, 600 PEOPLE EVERY TIME.
UM, SO, BUT WE'RE REALLY HERE TODAY.
I'M WEARING MY BEACH GIFTS, UH, T-SHIRT.
UM, LAST YEAR, UH, SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, WE DID, UH, A KIND OF LIVE LONG BEACH, UH, GIVES EVENT, UH, AT THE BAND SHELL.
WE DID IT ON THE THURSDAY OF LONG BEACH GIFTS DAY, AND WE INVITED ALL THE ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS TO COME.
AND THEY HAD PERFORMANCES FROM THEATER GROUPS AND THE DANCERS AND THE, AND THE BLUE SOCIETY AND, AND THOSE GROUPS.
BUT WE WERE, UH, TALKING WITH THE LONG BEACH GIFTS PEOPLE LAST YEAR, AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THIS YEAR WE GO BIGGER.
AND SO INSTEAD OF DOING A LIVE EVENT ON THURSDAY, WHICH IS HARD FOR THE, THE PUBLIC TO GET OUT TO, WE'RE BACKING IT UP TO THE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH.
AND, UH, THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR CALENDAR THIS YEAR THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS.
BUT, UM, AND THIS TIME, INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING THE ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS, WE'RE INVITING ALL NONPROFITS, ALL THE 240 PLUS NONPROFITS.
AND SO THE IDEA IS TO, THIS WILL BE KIND OF THE, CALL IT THE LIVE EVENT FOR LONG BEACH KIDS.
SO REC PARK,
AND WE'RE DOING IT ON SUNDAY, ONE TO FIVE SO THAT WE CAN INVITE THE PUBLIC.
AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO WALK THROUGH THE BOOZE, MEET THE NONPROFITS, ENGAGE WITH THEM.
ONE-ON-ONE, UM, EVERYONE HAS THEIR QR CODES OUT THERE, SO OKAY.
YOU LIKE THAT GUYS, YOU KNOW, DONATE TO THEM.
WE'RE ALSO STILL GONNA HAVE ALL THE ARTS AND CULTURE, THE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE STAGE.
SO WE'LL HAVE THE THEATER GROUPS AND, AND, AND THE OTHER GROUPS UP THERE, UH, DURING THE DAY TO DO THAT.
UM, AND, UH, WE ARE F AND M BANK JUST CONFIRMED THIS MORNING, THEY'RE GONNA BE OUR PRIME SPONSOR.
SO THAT'S GREAT THAT ALLOW US TO DO PORTA-POTTIES AND SOME OF THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT KIND OF EVENT.
BUT, UH, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO DO THIS, I MEAN, TO BE KIND OF THE LIVE EVENT FOR, FOR LONG BEACH KIDS.
UM, AND WE THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP OUT THE OTHER NON-PROFITS, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET FACE TIME WITH, WITH THE PUBLIC.
SO WE'RE JUST HERE TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GIVE YOU THAT OVERVIEW AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HELPS SUPPORT AND GETS THE WORD OUT SO THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE OUT TO THIS EVENT.
WELL, I, I ASKED JEN TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.
JUST SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WILLOW SPRINGS PARK ARE INCREDIBLY LOFTY GOALS.
WILLOW SPRINGS PARK IN PUBLIC COMMENT ON, I HEAR DEPENDS OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
UM, OCTOBER 6TH IS LARRY RICH'S HAIR HISTORY WALK OF, OF WILLOW SPRINGS PARK.
SO MARK CALENDAR FOR, THERE'S ALL THE OTHER THINGS TOO WHEN WE ANNOUNCING THEM, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO HER AND, AND HEAR LARRY'S WONDERFUL HISTORY OF THE PARK,
[01:30:01]
OCTOBER 6TH AND TODAY.UM, AT THIS TIME IT'S UH, TIME FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, STAFF.
UM, JUST WANNA, UM, HIGHLIGHT, UM, UH, BRETT SAID IT HAS BEEN A FABULOUS SUMMER.
UM, OUR, THE PARKS AND PROGRAMS, UM, ARE VERY, VERY BUSY.
OUR MAINTENANCE CAN ATTEST TO THAT 'CAUSE WE MAY, IT IS, UH, JOB SECURITY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, UM, AS OUR FACILITIES ARE WELL USED.
UM, BUT WE'RE EXCITED AS WE TRANSITION INTO THE FALL, UM, WITH PROGRAMMING IN OUR PROGRAMS. UM, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, UM, THE DEPARTMENT IS IN WINTER AND SPRING OF 2025 AS WE WORK AHEAD FOR PRODUCTIONS.
UM, DO WANNA INVITE YOU TO OUR END OF SUMMER CONCERT, UM, WHICH IS HERE ON AUGUST 23RD HERE AT EL DORADO PARK WEST.
WE HAVE POP GUN RERUN AT, UH, EIGHTIES, NINETIES BAND.
UM, SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN AS WE CONCLUDED, WRAP UP, UH, SUMMER 2024, BUT WE STILL HAVE SEVEN DAYS LEFT, SO, UM, JANICE.
SO THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
SO, AS KIND OF MENTIONED DURING FRIENDS REPORT, WE HAVE OUR SKATE PARK FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT IS OUT THERE AND A SURVEY THAT'S OPEN, UM, END OF AUGUST WHERE WE MIGHT BE, UM, EXTENDING THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO SEPTEMBER, GEARING UP.
AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THAT THE NEW SENIOR CENTER, THERE'S A SURVEY OUT FOR THAT AS WELL, GETTING SOME COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN JUST OUT AND ABOUT, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE THIS PAST WEEK ACTUALLY, TO PARTICIPATE AT A COUPLE COMMUNITY EVENTS.
SO IT WAS NATIONAL PICKLEBALL DAY LAST WEEK.
UM, I GOT TO GO AND REPRESENT OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING OF THE FOREST PARK AND VETERANS PARK, THEIR PICKLEBALL COURTS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN OPEN.
BUT THIS WAS OUR OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING.
UM, IT WAS REALLY COOL 'CAUSE THERE WAS ALSO A YOUTH, UM, WORKSHOP THAT DAY.
SO TO SEE THE YOUTH BEING INTRODUCED TO THE SPORT OF PICKLEBALL.
AND THEN THAT THIS PAST, THIS PAST SATURDAY, UM, I WAS OUT AT 14TH STREET PARK AT THE MURAL KICKOFF EVENT.
SO I, IN JUNE THERE WAS A LOT OF MURALS THAT CAME IN ON 14TH STREET PARK ON THE BASKETBALL COURT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM.
AND ALL THOSE BASKETBALL COURTS ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
THE LB ARTS COUNCIL DID HOST A COMMUNITY EVENT JUST TO ACTIVATE THAT COMMUNITY AROUND, UM, 14TH STREET PARK.
AND SO IT WAS A LOVELY AFTERNOON.
IT WAS WARM, VERY WARM, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS AND THINGS GOING ON.
AND I ALSO GOT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION OVER AT THE 14TH STREET BASKETBALL COURTS, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED, UM, IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR.
SO THEY ARE WORKING TO JUST KIND OF RESURFACE AND PUT NEW EQUIPMENT OUT THERE.
AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GOING ON.
MACARTHUR PARK CONTINUES, THE RESTROOMS HERE AT LL CONTINUE, AND MONDAY THEY START OFF THE KICKOFF OF THE
UH, AS GLADYS, UH, POLITELY SAID, IT'S OUR JOB SECURITY THE NEXT MORNING AFTER, AFTER EVENTS, RIGHT.
BUT, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, ALSO WHILE SUMMER IS ENDING FOR MAINTENANCE, REALLY NEVER ENDS, WE'LL JUST TRANSITION TO THE NEXT THING.
AS LY MENTIONED, THERE'S MORE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COMING, COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE AND WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THOSE.
UM, SO JUST TO GET THROUGH THE SUMMER, IT'S DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT HERE WITH, WITH SIR LAND GLADYS, STEVE'S TEAMS. UM, SO I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE AND, UH, THE NEXT ADVENTURE.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THOUGHTS.
UM, SO WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR IF WE ALLOCATED ON A REGULAR MONTHLY COMMISSION AGENDA BASIS? MAYBE THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT WE WOULD TRY TO DO IN A RETREAT? UM, BECAUSE IT, WE'RE THANKFUL THAT MOST OF YOU ARE ABLE TO BE COMMITTED TO THE THIRD THURSDAY FOR A COUPLE HOURS.
BUT FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PRESENTATION OF THE OLYMPICS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN LONG BEACH FOR THE OLYMPICS WOULD BE INVALUABLE AS COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW THAT.
SECONDLY, I THINK HAVING A FOCUS ON ONE MEETING ABOUT WHAT IS ELEVATE 28 AND WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS NOW.
UM, BUT I THINK, SO YOU'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND THEN, UM, OUR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE KEEP UPDATED AND THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE, YOU KNOW, WELL VERSED IN THIS.
CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION, SINCE WE KNOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO DO A THREE HOUR MEETING SO THAT YOUR TIME IS WELL SPENT OTHER,
[01:35:01]
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? LIKE, WE COULD DO LIKE A NINE TO NOON TO COVER SOME OF THAT STUFF MORE ROBUSTLY AND A LITTLE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE INTENTION AND THOUGHT.YEAH, I, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR ME PERSONALLY TO TAKE MORE TIME OFF ON ONE DAY RATHER THAN TAKE TIME OFF ON TWO'S.
THAT'S GOOD FOR US TO KNOW THAT, THAT'S HELPFUL.
I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE I'M FLEXIBLE TOO, SO, MM-HMM.
AND I THINK WHAT WE DO IS GIVE EACH THE SEVEN OF YOU, UM, LIKE A, A RETREAT BINDER TO HAVE A BETTER TERM.
AND THEN EACH SECTION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COVER, IF IT IS MEETING BY MEETING, YOU CAN BUILD THAT.
AND THEN WE COULD ALSO HAVE LIKE A SEGMENT OF JUST FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S THINGS FROM EACH OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AND SOME OF YOU SERVE MANY YEARS, SOME OF YOUR BRAND NEW.
SO WE COULD AS A TEAM FIELD AND THAT WAY, 'CAUSE THAT WAS THE OTHER THING, WHEN ALL OF YOU ARE TOGETHER, IT'S LIKE A BROWN ACT MEETING AND WE WERE KIND OF STRUGGLING THINKING, DOES THAT MEAN THE PUBLIC CAN GO ON THE TOURS WITH US AND BE INVOLVED IN THE WHOLE RETREAT? SO MAYBE WE CAN HYBRIDIZE THAT.
BUT I, THAT WAS MY ONLY CLOSING THOUGHT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS TOO, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, IF IT'S CONSISTENT, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COMMISSIONERS FOR MULTIPLE.
MAYBE WE DO IT LIKE ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SOMETHING.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
SO THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT TO GET BACK TO US, IS THAT CORRECT? WITH REGARD TO THE RETREAT? AND WE OPEN THE CONVERSATION IF YOU HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THIS MEETING ABOUT JUST HOW GRATEFUL I AM AS BOTH A MOTHER AND AN EDUCATOR FOR THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT ARE DONE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UM, ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS PASSED AWAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.
UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PARK PROGRAMS PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR, FOR KIDS TO BE.
AND SO, UM, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UM, IN THE VIDEO THERE WAS A MENTION MADE ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVING WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
UM, THAT'S A HUGE THING AS WELL.
JUST A LOT OF GRATITUDE BOTH FOR THE, THE PLAY ASPECTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER DAY WE WERE HANGING OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS AND WE WERE, OH, WHICH PARK SHOULD WE GO TO? AND WE HAD ALL SORTS OF OPTIONS OF, WELL, THIS PLAYGROUND'S GOOD FOR THIS PLAYGROUND.
SO THE PLAY ASPECTS, THE FUN ASPECTS, AND THEN ALSO JUST THE, THE SAFETY AND, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE, DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU KNOW, TRY AND PROVIDE.
UM, AND THEN WE PASS THE BATON TO, UH, TO PARK.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND MAINTENANCE AND YOUR TEAM AND THE WHOLE, UM, PARKS, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, SHORT AND SWEET, HAPPY LAST WEEK,
I KNOW IT TRANSITIONS RIGHT INTO, UH, THE NEXT SEASON, BUT, UM, I, YEAH, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER.
SO I ACTUALLY HAVE THREE THINGS.
SO WILLOW SPRINGS PARK, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT SOME OF OUR FOLKS IN THE WILMORE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR, UM, ASSOCIATION ARE SO EXCITED, ESPECIALLY MY GOOD FRIEND CHERYL PERRY.
AND SO I'M TAKING HER THIS MAP.
UM, CHERYL, UM, JUST LOVES LARRY RICH AND SHE LOVES THIS WHOLE IDEA.
I DON'T THINK THE GOALS ARE LOFTY FOR THIS PARK.
I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN LONG BEACH ARE INVESTED IN THIS PARK AND SEEING IT TRUE FRUITION.
SO JUST, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, I KNOW I'M SPEAKING TO EVERYBODY DIRECTLY HERE, UH, TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT, UM, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY REALLY SEE THIS AS SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I DO THINK THERE IS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT TO FRUITION.
SO, UM, MY NEXT THING IS, I HAD SUCH A DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE LAST MONTH.
I WAS IN NAPLES, I WAS DOING AN ERRAND.
I GET OUTTA MY CAR AND, YOU KNOW, I SEE ONE OF OUR BIG RED BUSES AND OUT COME A STREAM OF, UM, KIDS FROM PROBABLY LIKE, MAYBE SEVEN TO MAYBE 12 YEARS OLD WITH TWO OR THREE PARKS AND REC FOLKS FROM THE PROGRAM.
AND THEY WERE ALL IN UNIFORM, ALL WITH THEIR LITTLE BACKPACKS IN THEIR TOWELS, GETTING READY TO HAVE FUN AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE BEACH OR SOMEWHERE IN THE CANALS.
AND THEY JUST WERE ALL LINED UP AND THEY WERE READY TO GO.
AND IT WAS, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET A PICTURE, WHICH I'M REALLY BUMMED ABOUT, BUT IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT BECAUSE ALL THE KIDS DID JUST, THEY WERE JUST READY.
THEY KNEW WHERE THEY WERE GOING,
OUR STAFF KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
AND IT JUST WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT THAT I, I JUST, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING A PICTURE 'CAUSE I WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT OF SUMMER AND SEEING THESE KIDS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HAVING
[01:40:01]
CARRYING ADULTS WITH 'EM AND HAVING AN EXPERIENCE THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD.UM, THE NEXT THING IS LONG BEACH GIVES, I THINK, AND, YOU KNOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK THERE'S 240 SOME NONPROFITS, UH, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING.
AND AS I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, UM, FOR COMING FROM THE NONPROFIT SECTOR FOR THE LAST ALMOST 28 YEARS, UM, THE NONPROFIT SECTOR DOES WHAT, UM, THE GOVERNMENT WON'T DO AND WHAT CORPORATIONS REFUSE TO DO.
SO WE ARE THE SAFETY NET IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
UM, OR WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY IN GOVERNMENT.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WORKING IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE PEOPLE.
AND SO I HOPE EVERYONE CAN THINK ABOUT GIVING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO THEIR FAVORITE NONPROFITS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SUMMER.
I'M ALSO LIVING NEAR PARKS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I SEE FOLKS OUT ALL THE TIME AND GET TO KIND OF PEOPLE WATCH AND SEE ALL THE GREAT PROGRAMMING THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL TO SIT ON THIS SIDE AS A COMMISSIONER AND NOW ALSO GET TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR PARKS.
UM, ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD IN TERMS OF THE, THE RETREAT PIECE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATION PIECES IS OUR PARK EQUITY REPORT.
UM, AND, AND GETTING SOME UPDATES ON THAT AND HOW WE'RE DOING ON THAT, THAT WORK, UM, AND HOW THAT CONTINUES TO INFORM, I THINK ALL THE COLLECTIVE WORK THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING.
UM, SO WHENEVER THAT DAY COMES FOR EITHER A FULL RETREAT OR THE SEVEN MEETING, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE, UH, PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
OTHER THAN THAT, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE LAST WEEK OF SUMMER
CONGRATULATIONS ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL SUMMER.
UH, APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK, DEDICATION, UH, THAT STAFF HAS, UH, PUT INTO MAKING SURE THAT THIS HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.
FIRST I'LL START WITH SOME ALLISON NEGATIVE POINTS, SOME, SOME FLAGS TO, TO RAISE OR, OR, OR MAKE SURE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, ARE UP THERE.
UM, SO I KNOW YOU MENTIONED VETERANS PARK AND THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION ON HOMELESSNESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAD SOME, THE ACTIVATION ON THE SPRING SIDE OF THE PARK, UH, HAS ENCOURAGED THE MOVEMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MOVEMENT HAS DONE TOWARDS THE SCHOOL.
UH, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER AT JACKIE ROBINSON.
UH, SO JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING SOME COMPLICATED SITUATION.
UM, BUT WHEN I WAS AT THE, UH, THE WRIGLEY ASSOCIATION MEETING, UH, LAST MONDAY, UH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY, NO, THERE WERE ABOUT 10, UH, TENS THERE.
SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO FLY THAT.
THERE IS STILL, UH, SOME IMPACTS GOING ON.
UM, OBVIOUSLY IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S NOT MUCH DAMAGE HAPPENING TO THE PARK, CONCERNS LIKE THAT, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER PRIORITY.
UM, BUT JUST WANTED TO, TO AGAIN FLAG THAT.
UH, ALSO, UH, GLAD I WAS OUT FOR A WALK.
UH, CAME ACROSS THE, UH, UH, WRIGLEY AREA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, UH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT, UH, WHICH IS GREAT.
IT WAS RIGHT BY THE KABOOM, UH, PLAYGROUND AREA OVER IN, UH, OVER IN THE LEY AREA RIGHT NEXT TO THE LA RIVER.
UH, ONE THING THAT DID COME UP IS THAT SOME NEIGHBORS SAID SOME OF THE MULCHING MIGHT NEED SOME ATTENTION.
UH, SO JUST WANTED TO, TO FLAG THAT AS WELL, UH, ON MORE POSITIVE NOTES.
UH, AGAIN, JUST, YOU KNOW, THANKING EVERYBODY FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE, UH, WILLOW SPRINGS, UH, PARK, UH, VOTE THAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY.
I THINK IT REALLY DOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH BEING NOT JUST, UH, BEING ENGAGED, BUT ACTUALLY BEING A VERY POSITIVE, UH, FORCE IN BRINGING UP POINTS, BRINGING UP CONSIDERATION, UH, YOU KNOW, BEING, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, BEING COMMUNICATION AND NOT TAKING NECESSARILY AN ADVERSARIAL ROLE, BUT A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE, UH, REALLY, YOU KNOW, YIELDS SOME INCREDIBLE RESULTS.
AND, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO SEE HOW THAT PROCESS, UH, WENT OUT.
UM, BUT ALSO JUST ON THE LAST POINT TIED TO WILLOW SPRINGS IS ALSO, UH, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I KNOW PART OF THE WILLOW SPRINGS SPRINGS PARCEL, UH, PARCEL B IS TIED TO THE LAND BANK FOR THE A TWO FOR ONE REQUIREMENT.
UH, 'CAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT SOME, UH, IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.
UH, THE, THE SHOEMAKER BRIDGE PROJECT, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, MADE INFRINGE ON SOME NON-USABLE OR INACCESSIBLE PARK SPACE.
UH, CURRENTLY, HOWEVER, ONCE THAT PROJECT IS FULLY INTO FRUITION AND THAT THOSE ROADS ARE MOVED CLOSER TO THE LA RIVER, UH, THAT'S GOING TO OPEN UP A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO CESAR CHAVEZ PARK.
UH, AND REALLY THE, THE VISIONS
[01:45:01]
THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED PUBLICLY SHOW THAT AREA WHERE, UH, WEST SHORELINE DRYS CRISSCROSSING ALL OVER THE, THE GREEN SPACE THERE AS BEING FUTURE PARK SPACE.SO NOT ONLY IS THIS GOOD FOR WILLOW SPRINGS, BUT IF FULLY BROUGHT INTO FRUITION AND THOSE PLANS COME TRUE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA SEE INCREASED PARK SPACE INTO DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH AS WELL.
UH, WHICH IS DEFINITELY A PARK CORE NEIGHBORHOOD, A VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN AREA THAT, THAT CAN CERTAINLY USE MORE GREEN SPACE.
SO JUST WANTED TO APPLY TO THAT AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
UM, AS DIRECTOR DENNIS SAID, WE CULMINATED THE LONG BEACH GOLF FESTIVAL WITH THE GOLF HALL OF FAME.
I WANNA THANK LORI AND JEN FOR THEIR HELP IN GETTING PROCLAMATIONS FROM THE MAYOR.
UM, JUST TO COMMENT ON THE CRS PRESENTATION, RESPECT TO SENIORS AND THE KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY THEY BRING TO US.
BUT OUR RECREATION BUREAU IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS CITY, AND YOU GUYS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.
FINALLY, UH, WE LOST SOMEONE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHO SPENT DECADES TRYING TO MAKE LONG BEACH BETTER AS AN EMPLOYEE AND AS A VOLUNTEER.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF JERRY MILLER.
UM, I JUST ECHO EVERYONE ON THE, UH, PRESENTATION ON TUESDAY NIGHT, UH, FOR THE BUDGET WAS TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US LOOK EVEN BETTER.
UM, AND I THOUGHT THAT WILLOW SPRINGS PRESENTATION WAS JUST REMARKABLE.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT WILLOW SPRINGS WAS FIRST INITIALLY IDENTIFIED MANY YEARS AGO, HELP ME, UH, AS THE CENTRAL PARK OF LONG BEACH.
AND IT DID NOT TURN INTO THAT.
WE ARE NOW BUILDING IT BACK UP THAT AT LEAST READ SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.
AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR HELPING ME THROUGH MY FIRST MEETING AND THAT, UH, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, I WILL DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:50 AM.