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ARE YOU, ARE WE ALL SET, MADAM CLERK? I MEAN, ARE YOU READY? YES, I'M READY.
WELL, IT'S CALLED TO ORDER THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
WE'RE CALLING THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FORWARD SO WE CAN ESTABLISH QUORUM AND BEGIN THE MEETING.
CAN SOMEBODY GO FIND THE COUNSELOR? OKAY, WE GOT ONE.
A ROLL CALL AGAIN, REFLECT, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
OKAY, SO THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE'LL START WITH, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE REFLECTING ON GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU TODAY.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE AND WE'LL SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.ALRIGHT, WELL, THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE, WE ARE GOING, WE, UH, HAVE A FEW, IT'S BUDGET SEASON.
WE HAVE A FEW BUDGET, UH, PRESENTATIONS TO HEAR TODAY.
UH, THERE'S ONE PRESENTATION AND, UH, WE NEED TO BE BRIEF, UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SOME COMMITMENTS.
WE MAY LOSE QUORUM AROUND FIVE O'CLOCK.
SO WE WANT TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE BUSINESS WE HAVE TO DO TODAY.
SO THE FIRST PRESENTATION IS AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 2024.
STEP OUT WALK TO STOP DIABETES.
I'M GONNA PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS ODI.
UM, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE, UH, TO GRAHAM AABA, THE DE, UH, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION.
UH, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM WITH, WITH US TODAY TO SHARE INSIGHTS ON THE VITAL INITIATIVE, STEP OUT, WALK TO STOP DIABETES, AND TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE, CONTRIBUTE TO THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, SHEILA BROOKS, THE FRIDGE.
UH, SHE IS, UH, ONE OF OUR LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKS WITH THE CLARISSA MANUEL FOUNDATION IS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE AADA A AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER HERE.
WE RELY A LOT ON OUR VOLUNTEERS.
UH, THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, STEP OUT WALK, UH, IS EXCITED THIS YEAR TO RETURN TO RAINBOW LAGOON PARK.
UH, TO RETURN TO RAINBOW LAGOON PARK FOR OUR 2024 STEP OUT WALK TO STOP DIABETES.
ON OCTOBER 26TH, WE PLAN TO HOST, UH, A THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND A WALK TO END DIABETES IN LONG BEACH.
NEARLY 50% OF RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE LIVING WITH DIABETES OR PRE-DIABETES, AND THESE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
IN FACT, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE COST OF DIABETES AND PRE-DIABETES HAS INCREASED BY 7%.
THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING SOME LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK INCLUDED, UH, DEALING WITH A RISING COST OF INSULIN IN THE PAST DECADE, AND A LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE HAVE FORCED MANY PEOPLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BUYING, UH, LIFE SAVING MEDICATION OR BUYING GROCERIES FOR THEIR FAMILY SLIDE.
THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES IS QUITE SIMPLE.
IT IS TO PREVENT AND CURE DIABETES AND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DIABETES.
THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES AND PREDIABETES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND FAMILIES.
UH, WE DO THIS FOR TYPE ONE DI PEOPLE WITH DIABETES
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TYPE TWO GESTATIONAL AND PRE-DIABETES.THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHO WE WORK WITH AND WE HOW WE WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING THE LIVES, UM, OF THOSE LIVING WITH DIABETES.
AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST BLOOD SUGAR.
IT'S THE CATALYST FOR SO MANY MAJOR HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS KIDNEY DISEASE, AMPUTATIONS, HEART DISEASE, AND OTHER COMORBIDITIES.
AS WE LOOK TO SOME OF THE CURRENT DIABETES STATISTICS NATIONWIDE, AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERYTHING ON THIS SLIDE, DON'T WORRY, UM, UH, WE SEE THAT 96.7, UH, 97.6 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE PRE-DIABETES.
[ AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2024 STEP OUT WALK TO STOP DIABETES]
WHAT'S ALARMING IS THAT 81% OF THOSE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE IT.THIS IS A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH TO TACKLE THIS.
WE STRIVE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE DO THIS THROUGH A NUMBER OF WAYS, AND ONE OF THOSE WAYS IS OUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS, STEP OUT, WALK TO STOP DIABETES.
IT SUPPORTS RESEARCHERS THAT WE FUND.
WE ADVOCATE AT STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATURES.
WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND MORE.
THESE EFFORTS RESULT IN THINGS LIKE THE INSULIN AFFORDABILITY CAP FOR SENIORS ON MEDICARE, UH, AND A, A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT, THAT, UH, WE DO LEGISLATIVELY.
IN THE PAST 83 YEARS, UH, WE HAVE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON DIABETES, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THUS FAR ON THE SCREEN HERE OF SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION, UH, WHICH WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION SINCE 1952.
THE ADA'S RESEARCH PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED BRILLIANT SCIENTISTS FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT TRANSLATE TO DISCOVERIES INTO CLINICAL PRACTICE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN AN INITIATIVE EXIST TO SERVE THE DIABETES COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING LIFESTYLE CHANGES, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS, AND ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY FOR ALL.
WE HAVE A TOP RATING ON CHARITY NAVIGATOR, UH, WITH A FOUR OUT OF FOUR AND 99%.
SO THIS SLIDE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE MONEY THAT WE RAISE GOES TOWARDS, UH, DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE MOST AND VERY LITTLE INTO OVERHEAD.
SO WHAT DO WE DO TO HELP STOP DIABETES? WE WALK.
AND WHAT IS STEP OUT WALK? STEP OUT WALK, UH, IS A COMMUNITY EVENT.
IT'S A FUNDRAISING EVENT, AND MORE THAN THAT, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN AND SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND FORM A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE ALSO LIVING WITH DIABETES.
UH, IT HELPS FUND ALL THE ASPECTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, AND IT REALLY, MORE THAN ANYTHING, AS I SAID, BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
SO OUR STEP OUT WALK THIS YEAR IS OCTOBER 26TH AT RAINBOW LAGOON PARK.
UH, WE DID IT HERE LAST YEAR, UH, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME.
WE HAD, THERE HAD BEEN SOME DISCUSSION.
I JUST AS AN ASIDE, UM, OF MOVING THE EVENT AND EVERYONE HAS SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME HERE.
UM, I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND A HUGE ADVOCATE OF BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE CITY.
SO, UM, I GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME BRAGGING ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS DOWN THERE, AND IT, UH, IT WORKED AND WE'RE RETURNING THIS YEAR.
SO HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED? UH, PEOPLE CAN START, UH, A TEAM WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND FUNDRAISING WIN COOL INCENTIVE PRIZES.
UH, THEY COULD START A CORPORATE TEAM FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UM, WE CAN HELP, UH, PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO EMPLOYEES AND HELP THEM STAY HEALTHY.
UH, THEY CAN BE PART OF OUR WELLNESS VILLAGE AT THE EVENT AND GET IN FRONT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ON WALK DAY, WHO, AS I SAID, COME FROM ALL OVER, UH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT JUST IN LONG BEACH, UM, OR SPONSORSHIP, UH, FOR THE EVENT WHEN WE HAVE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.
SO, IN CLOSING, UH, WE, THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA TEAM OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION AND OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, UM, PROUD TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH TO PARTICIPATE IN STEP OUT WALK AT RAINBOW LAGOON PARK, AND FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, CONNECT WITH OTHERS LIVING WITH DIABETES, AND TO GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO PREVENTION AND WELLNESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'VE, I'VE ATTENDED YOUR DIABETES WALK, UH, SO BEST OF LUCK AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE ALL GET OUT AND SUPPORT THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.
AND, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, CLARISSA MANUEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
OKAY, WE NOW, UH, BEGIN THE COUNCIL MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP CONSENT CALENDAR FIRST.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 14.)]
SECOND.IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR? SEEING NONE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL DO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE, PLEASE.
I SEE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS TRACY AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING IN RESPONSE
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
TO THE AUGUST 12TH MEMO IN, UH, RELATED TO THE GRANTS PASS DECISION.UM, ENCAMPMENT SWEEPS ARE HISTORICALLY KNOWN TO BE CRUEL GIVEN, LIVE IN GIVEN LIVING, GIVEN LITTLE NOTICE AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BELONGINGS, IDS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES,
[00:10:01]
MEDICATIONS, AND MORE.WE FELL SHORT BY 31% OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING SEVEN K UNITS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
UM, TO SHELTER OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, WE NEED AT LEAST 885 BEDS, WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE TODAY.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I WENT TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS IN JULY IN DC.
HEARD STORIES AND TESTIMONIES FROM YOUNG PEOPLE, SENIORS, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, IN TRANSITION OF GETTING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND IF THIS GRANT'S PAST DECISION HAPPENED DURING THEIR TRANSITION, THEY WOULD BE ARRESTED.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA QUOTE OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE HOUSING, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE.
MY NAME'S CAPTAIN TED AND I RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO COUNCILWOMAN DUGGAN, UH, THAT WAS ENCOURAGED BY OUR CONGRESSMAN GARCIA.
HE HAS A COPY OF THE SAME LETTER IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, ISSUES WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY.
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TWO PHOTOGRAPHS.
THE TOP ONE IS WHERE I RECEIVED MY COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD LAST YEAR.
THEY'VE PUT A FENCE AROUND THE BANDSHELL THERE, WARDING OFF THE HOMELESS, THE DRUG COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE CRIME THAT'S GOING WITH IT.
WE IMMEDIATELY NEED TO DO THE SAME THING AT THE BELMONT PIER, WHICH WE'VE PACKAGED UP A NOTION WHICH YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTED.
THAT NOTION WAS PACKAGED BY TODD LELAND, THE MANAGER OF OUR PORTS, OR OUR OUR MARINAS.
I HAVE A MEETING WITH BRIAN, HEAD OF LONG BEACH PORT THIS THURSDAY REGARDING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES NEEDED TO SALVAGE AND CONSERVE MARINE STADIUM FOR THE OLYMPICS.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE, YOU WERE PRESENTED OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY AMBASSADOR, UH, PRESENTATION LAST WEEK.
WE ARE A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, NOT A NONPROFIT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT SAFETY AND PREPARING PROPER FOR THE OLYMPICS.
AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE, WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT THE PYRAMID COMING UP ON THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, MAKING OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF, UH, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY.
THIS BRINGS BACK SPECIAL MEMORIES FOR ME BECAUSE AS THE PREFERRED CONTRACTOR, CAL STATE LONG BEACH, BEFORE I RETIRED AS GENERAL CONTRACTOR, I'M THE CONTRACTOR THAT GOT TO BUILD THE INSIDE OF THE PYRAMID FROM THE TICKET BOOTHS ON IN.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE OUR KIDS TO THINK ABOUT.
LIFE IS SHORT, IT'S BEEN GETTING REALLY DANGEROUS OUT THERE.
WE'RE PREPARING WITH TODD AND BRIAN TO CREATE A NOTION TO SALVAGE THE PIER WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO FOR THIS CITY.
CAPTAIN TED, YOUR SERVICE, I HOPE I DID.
I WAS HIT BY A CAR JUST THE OTHER DAY, RUN OVER IN THE CROSSWALK.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M GONNA KEEP DOING WHAT I DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GONNA BEGIN OUR BUDGET HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA DO ONE AND THEN THE OTHER.
WE'RE NOT GONNA DO 'EM CONSECUTIVELY OR TOGETHER, RATHER, LIKE WE'VE DONE BEFORE.
IF WE GET THROUGH THE FIRST ONE AND WE HAVE TIME, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND ONE.
SO THE GOAL IS TO GET THROUGH TWO DEPARTMENTS TODAY.
[15. 24-54450 Recommendation to conduct a Budget Hearing to receive and discuss an overview of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the departments of Community Development and Library Services. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
UH, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE TIME, WE WILL HAVE TO PUSH LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE NEXT MEETING.UM, BUT WE WILL ATTEMPT TO GET THROUGH BOTH TODAY.
SO LET'S HEAR ITEM 15, PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO CONDUCT A BUDGET HEARING TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIBRARY SERVICES CITYWIDE.
ALRIGHT, UH, TOM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S FLEXIBILITY TO SCHEDULE THIS MEETING AND, UH, BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH TWO DEPARTMENTS TODAY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, HOPING TO BE, UH, HAVE THIS DONE BY FIVE O'CLOCK SO WE CAN HONOR PEOPLE'S COMMITMENTS.
UH, WE WILL GO THROUGH CD AND THEN IF THERE'S TIME, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE'LL GET TO THE LIBRARY.
AND, UH, FEEL FREE TO ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS.
WE CAN DO FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.
ALL OF OUR MEMOS ARE OUT THERE AS WELL.
WE'LL ANSWER THE ONES WE CAN TODAY.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'LL, UM, HELP, UH, ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AS YOU GET READY FOR A BUDGET ADOPTION,
[00:15:01]
UH, IN, IN MID-SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 10TH.SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, UM, CHRISTOPHER TO WALK THROUGH HIS PRESENTATION.
IT'S SO GOOD, UH, TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS SHOULD START AT THREE O'CLOCK.
UM, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE PRESENTING THE BUDGET A YEAR AGO, UM, AND IT WAS FINE, BUT I HAD COME OFF A COLD.
I WAS SNIFFLY, I WAS COUGHING.
I ATE A BAG OF COUGH DROPS BEFORE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, AND I WOULD SAY LIKEWISE FOR THE DEPARTMENT A YEAR AGO, WE WERE ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS, BUT WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES.
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE IMPROVED.
AND THE DEPARTMENT IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS JUST 12 MONTHS AGO.
UM, WE'VE DONE GREAT ON HIRING.
WE'VE DONE GREAT ON RETENTION, AND AS A RESULT, WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND, AND TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BIG AND SMALL.
SO, UM, WHAT DO WE DO IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT? UH, IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING A BETTER LONG BEACH.
UM, SO OUR SERVICES ARE BROAD AND VARIED, UM, BUT IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT WHAT IS BUILT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, UH, WE HAVE A SMALLER ROLE, BUT WHAT'S BUILT IS CLEAN, SAFE, AND BEAUTIFUL.
UM, WE DO EVERYTHING FROM FIRST TIME HOME BUYER GRANTS TO LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
UM, IT SORT OF FALLS INTO TWO BROAD CATEGORIES, UM, REGULATION OF, OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, DIRECT SERVICES THROUGH OUR HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES GROUP.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT WORK THAT'S DONE.
UH, NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR, WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS WORKING ON, UM, COMMUNITY WORK.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, MAINTAINING A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND, UM, UPHOLDING STANDARDS, UH, THAT WE DO THROUGH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTORS EVERY DAY, UM, OF THE YEAR.
SO IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD, MR. MAYOR AND, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AS A LEADING CITY ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, BUT DOING SO WHILE ALWAYS UPHOLDING COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT GROWTH REFLECTS WHAT WE WANT IN LONG BEACH AND IS, UH, WHAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR NEEDS.
UM, SO I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHETHER IT'S, UM, STREAMLINING, UH, AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, REZONING ACROSS ALL, UH, AREAS OF THE CITY, UH, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
A GREAT, UH, A DU PROGRAM THAT WE'RE BUILDING ON THOMPSON TO A-T-F-F-A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
AND THE PROGRAM THAT YOU ASKED FOR MR. MAYOR IS MOVING FORWARD, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO AFFORDABLE A DS ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE NUMBERS BEFORE, BUT IN TERMS OF LAST YEAR, WE ENTITLED A RECORD NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE UNITS AT A RECORD AND A RECORD NUMBER OF ADUS.
THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE'LL SET A RECORD FOR HOUSING STARTS.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY SET THE RECORD, AND THERE'S STILL A FEW MONTHS IN THE YEAR LEFT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY ABOUT, UM, EXCEEDING WHERE WE WERE AND CONTINUING TO BUILD AND GROW.
UM, WE'VE STARTED WORK ON WEST SIDE PROMISE AND WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, DEVELOPMENTS THERE, UH, COMING IN THE COMING WEEKS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
IN TERMS OF LEADING IN DEVELOPMENT, THESE ARE NOT, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT COME FROM STAFF.
WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE STATE, WHETHER IT'S AS A PRO HOUSING JURISDICTION, UM, WHETHER IT'S THE ROSE INSTITUTE, THE AMERICAN PLANNING, UH, ASSOCIATION CALLED US THE ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR.
UM, THEY RECOGNIZED, UM, THE WORK THAT WE DID AS A DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO THE VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS, UH, WE HAVE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S A TALENTED PLANNER, ALEX MULROW, WHO CARRIED OUR VICTORY PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES THROUGH COMPLETION AND WON A MAJOR AWARD REGIONALLY THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS A TALENTED PLANNER, ALEJANDRO PLACENCIA, WHO CARRIED MUCH OF OUR HISTORIC WORK, WHICH WAS AWARD-WINNING THIS YEAR AND LAST.
WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING IDENTIFIED, UH, BOTH IN THE NUMBERS, BUT IN TRUE, YOU KNOW, TRUE STORIES FROM, UH, LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND IN SURVEYS AS THE NUMBER ONE NEED.
UM, WORKING TO REFORM HOW WE MAKE FINANCING AVAILABLE, MAKING THE BEST OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, UM, THAT WE DO HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, AND THAT IS RESULTING IN, UM, REAL MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
SO, UM, 30 FAMILIES WITH, UH, HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE,
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DOZENS MORE IN THE PIPELINE.UH, WHEN WE DESIGNED THAT PROGRAM, WE REALLY DIDN'T HOPE FOR, UM, THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATES IN DECADES AND A DIFFICULT HOUSING MARKET.
AND WE STILL MADE THE PROGRAM WORK AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE FAMILIES INTO HOMES AND CHANGE LIVES.
UM, WE'RE WORKING, UM, TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING ON DENSITY, BONUS PROJECTS, CONVENTIONAL AFFORDABLE PROJECTS, AND NEW TYPES OF PROJECTS.
UM, WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HUD, LEVERAGING MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO OUR STAFF AND, AND MYSELF, WE'RE ALL PROUD OF, UH, THE WORK WE DO IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE DO WORK ON THE PLANNING SIDE AND THE, UM, BROAD SIDE, BUT THE WORK WE DO ON THE GROUND, PERSON TO PERSON, UH, ALSO MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WE'RE ABLE TO DO NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP EVENTS, VOLUNTEER EVENTS.
WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, TRAIN NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, UH, AND WORK WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO, UM, BETTER OUR PARKS AROUND THE CITY.
UM, AND IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS, UH, THIS COUNCIL, UH, SUPPORTED A MICRO GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL, UM, AT HELPING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
INITIALLY IT WAS TO HELP WITH SUMMER EVENTS, AND WHEN SOMETHING WORKS, WE WANT TO DO MORE OF IT.
SO WE EXPANDED THAT TO BE A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM, AND WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, ASSIST, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT IS ABOUT HAVING A CLEAN, SAFE, AND BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S ABOUT THE BUSINESS OWNER THAT SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP THEIR PROPERTY UP, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S MAYBE NOT TAKING THE SAME CARE AND DILIGENCE, UM, IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND SAME THING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, SO, UH, WE DO THOUSANDS OF INSPECTIONS EVERY YEAR.
UM, LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 2000 MULTI-FAMILY INSPECTIONS, AS WELL AS REGULAR CODE INSPECTIONS.
UM, THESE COULD BE MINOR ISSUES LIKE OVERGROWN WEEDS OR TRASH, UM, BUT THESE COULD BE MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUES SUCH AS BALCONY CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT ANY PERMITS OR ENGINEERING OR UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT TENANTS ARE LIVING IN, IN, IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS.
AND WE ADDRESS THOSE THROUGH OUR, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.
WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THIS COUNCIL MAY CHANGES.
SO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM EARLIER THIS YEAR, THIS BUDGET INCREASES, UM, ENFORCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND STAFFING IN THE SHORT TERM, UM, RENTALS PROGRAM.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UM, DO AMAZING THINGS.
AND WE MADE GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST YEAR IN FILLING MANY, MANY VACANT POSITIONS THERE.
WE STILL HAVE A HANDFUL TO GO, AND EVERY POSITION THAT WE FILL ALLOWS US TO, UM, ADDRESS MORE PROPERTIES AND CLOSE MORE CASES TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, WE DON'T JUST DO GOOD WORK, IT'S BASED ON, UH, AN ACTUAL STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, AND IT'S BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD DO FEWER THINGS, BUT DO THEM INCREDIBLY WELL.
SO THE, UH, BUDGET IN FRONT OF YOU FOCUSES ON OUR STRATEGIC AREAS, UM, INCLUDING OUR CORE SERVICES, UPGRADING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY TO, UM, UH, SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES AND TRAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AND RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS ADDING PLANNER POSITIONS TO, UM, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UH, WHAT HAPPENS IN SACRAMENTO, WHICH IS DOZENS OF NEW LAWS EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH, GLAD TO COMPLY WITH, BUT VERY COMPLICATED.
AND, UH, WE DO NEED STAFF IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
UM, DEMYSTIFYING THE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNICATING WELL IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SO I'M INVESTING, UM, IN SOME OUTSIDE COMMUNICATIONS HELP, AS WELL AS ADDING OUR INTERNAL CAPACITY, INCLUDING, UM, A STAFF PERSON, UH, TO BE A CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO HELP ME STAY ORGANIZED WITH ALL OF YOU, FOLLOW UP ON YOUR REQUEST, UH, YOUR CONSTITUENT REQUEST, AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE HANDLED, UH, PROFESSIONALLY AND QUICKLY AND, UH, THAT WE GET ANY ISSUES RESOLVED.
UM, WE'RE ALSO EMPOWERING OUR WORKFORCE, LOOKING AT CRITICAL, UM, POSITIONS AND ADDING A NEW, UH, SUPERVISOR AT THE PERMIT CENTER.
SO AT OUR PERMIT CENTER OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE ADDED POSITIONS, BUT I SPOKE LAST YEAR ABOUT, WE DIDN'T REALLY FEEL ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFICULTY WE WERE HAVING WITH HIRING AND TURNOVER.
BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AT HIRING, BUT THE BIG IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN WITH RETENTION.
AND AT THE MOMENT, UH, AS OF TODAY, TUESDAY, UM, WE ARE FULLY
[00:25:01]
STAFFED AT OUR PERMIT CENTER, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN FOUR YEARS.UM, SO WE FEEL THOSE POSITIONS AND WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, BUT WITH THAT, UM, COMES A NEED FOR, UM, APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION, UM, AND SPAN OF CONTROL THERE.
SO WE ARE ADDING A NEW SUPERVISOR POSITION TO HELP US DO THAT AT THE COUNTER.
UM, INSTITUTIONALIZING EQUITY, UM, WE HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES, UH, IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT UNDERSTANDABLY, THEY ASKED US TO NOT BE ASSIGNED TO DOING THREE JOBS, BUT RATHER TO DO ONE OR TWO JOBS.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING KIND OF A VOLUNTEER EQUITY GROUP, WE WILL HAVE A NEW ANALYST THAT WILL OVERSEE AND SUPPORT OUR OVERALL, UM, EQUITY WORK ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING, UM, UH, THE DELIVERY OF A WHOLE NEW, UM, PERMIT SOFTWARE SYSTEM CALLED LB BUILDS, WHICH IS IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS NOW.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF LA AND THAT IS HOW WE ARE ABLE TO DO TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
UM, WE'VE ASSISTED OVER 1400 INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND ACTUALLY MORE THAN 5,000 INDIVIDUALS WITH SOME FORM OF SUPPORT.
UH, THE COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED, UM, SIGNIFICANT FUNDING OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL 375,000 TO SUPPORT THAT COUNTY RUN PROGRAM.
UM, THERE WAS A LARGE, UM, CONTRIBUTION LAST YEAR.
NOT ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN SPENT, BUT IT IS, THE COUNTY UTILIZES A NUMBER OF FUNDING SOURCES, NOT ONLY FUNDING FROM, UM, THE CITY, UM, AND A PART OF THAT FUNDING SOURCE HAD TO BE SPENT BY A CERTAIN DAY.
SO THEY USED THAT FUNDING SOURCE, UM, THROUGHOUT, UM, THIS, UH, FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE DO HAVE, UM, OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN CARRYOVER.
UH, THOSE NUMBERS ARE, ARE SUBJECT TO SOME CHANGE.
UM, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM WITH A NOT WONDERFUL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER, UM, TO GET YOU THE MOST ACCURATE, UH, NUMBERS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WORKING WITH THE, THE MAYOR AND HIS OFFICE.
I KNOW AS PART OF THE THE LARGER GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE, THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO WHETHER THAT'S AROUND QUEEN MARY, AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER, OR REALLY AROUND ALL OF OUR CITY OWNED ASSETS UP AND DOWN THE COAST LINE, UM, HOW CAN WE, UM, EMBRACE THE FUTURE AND, UM, CAPITALIZE ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES? SO WE WILL BE CREATING A SIGNATURE PROJECTS DIVISION, UH, WITHIN PLANNING THAT WILL MOVE THAT WORK FORWARD.
THE OTHER BENEFIT OF THIS, THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IS CREATE A, UM, NEW POSITION THAT WILL OVERSEE HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL, WHICH HAS BEEN A NEED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND THEN THAT WILL ALLOW AN EXISTING MANAGER TO REALLY CONCENTRATE ON, UM, THESE HIGH VALUE, UH, HIGH IMPORTANCE PROJECTS.
AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT UP THROUGH THE PLANNING BUREAU MANAGER.
UH, SO THIS IS OUR OVERALL, UM, FUNDS.
YOU'LL SEE THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND PAYS FOR MOST OF OUR OPERATIONS, AND THAT IS, UH, NOT, UM, MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S MONEY THAT COMES FROM FEES AND APPLICATIONS AND PERMITS.
AND THEN, UH, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY FUNDS, IF YOU THINK OF IT AS THOSE DOLLARS GO IN AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT BECAUSE THEY COVER SUCCESSOR AGENCY DEBT AND OBLIGATIONS, UM, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND THEN WE RECEIVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF GRANTS.
AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND THAT REALLY REPRESENTS OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES THAT ARE GENERAL FUNDED.
A LITTLE OVER 200 OF THOSE ARE FILLED AT THIS TIME.
UH, SO, UH, RESOURCES AND REVENUES.
UM, OUR, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND, WE DIDN'T RENAME IT, BUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OUR PRIMARY FUND IS HEALTHY.
UM, UH, WE HAVE STRONG RESERVES, BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE AWARE OF SOME CHANGES THAT ARE COMING, UM, DESPITE, UH, THE HOUSING CRISIS, WHICH WE KNOW AS A LOCAL ISSUE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A, A NATIONAL ISSUE.
UM, CDBG AND ESPECIALLY HOME FUNDING, WERE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT WILL TELL YOU THE MOST CHALLENGING THING FOR MYSELF AND OUR STAFF IS NOT JUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
IT'S THAT THESE FUNDS ARE, UH, HIGHLY UNCERTAIN, UM, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT, UM, NOT JUST A BUDGET, BUT TO THINK ABOUT STAFFING.
AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES WITH FAMILIES.
UM, BUT WE DO OUR BEST, UM, TO MANAGE THROUGH THAT.
AND, UM, WE WILL BE, UM, RUNNING THROUGH MOST OF THE REMAINING KIND OF SUCCESSOR AGENCY FUNDS
[00:30:01]
IN THE COMING YEARS.UH, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED INFLATION JUST LIKE CONSUMERS AND EVERYONE ELSE.
UM, AND THAT IS STARTING TO HIT SOME OF OUR FUND BALANCES IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
UM, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET OUR FEES AND CHARGES, AND WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
UM, AND THEN AS WE DO, UM, LB BUILDS OUR SOFTWARE REPLACEMENT.
THAT IS A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INITIATIVE, UM, THAT WILL BE PAID FOR, UH, THROUGH A VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING WHAT'S CALLED OUR TECHNOLOGY SURCHARGE.
SO, UM, SPEAKING ABOUT THAT, UM, SOFTWARE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CUSTOMER, UM, AS WELL AS OUR OWN STAFF, AND TO HAVE BETTER INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING HAPPENING IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT IS GOING TO LEAD TO MORE INVESTMENT ACROSS THE CITY, BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, A TRUE CLOUD PLATFORM WHERE PERMITS AND ENTITLEMENTS CAN BE OBTAINED ONLINE IF THAT'S WHAT THE CUSTOMER DESIRES.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH KEVIN AND LEAH WITH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND TID TO MAKE THIS PROJECT TO REALITY.
UM, SO WITH THAT, THAT'S JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW, BUT I'M, UM, VERY PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
OR IF YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL JUST, UM, HAND IT OVER TO KATHY AT THE LIBRARY.
NO, I THINK WE'RE DOING QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO KATHY AT THE LIBRARY.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.
FIRST, UH, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING YOU'RE IN A, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE FROM LAST YEAR.
AND I KNOW THAT WE ASK A LOT AS WELL BECAUSE YOU INTERACT WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR EPE AND PREDICTABILITY.
I THINK THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE BY STAFFING UP HELPS WITH EPE AND PREDICTABILITY.
LONG BEACH BUILDS THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, SUBMIT, UH, PLANS ONLINE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S E SPEED AND PREDICTABILITY AND, UH, ALL OF THE PLANNING WORK YOU'RE DOING ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY THAT HELPS E SPEED AND PREDICTABILITY IN ALL PARTS OF OUR TOWN, MIDTOWN, UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN, ALL OF THEM.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION AROUND SIGNATURE PROJECTS TEAM ALLOWS FOR YOUR EXISTING PLANNERS TO FOCUS ON ALL THE WORK CITYWIDE AND NOT BE PULLED OFF TO THESE BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE REVENUE GENERATORS THAT HAVE, THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE OFFSET, UH, WE HAVE THE REVENUE TO OFFSET CUTS.
AND SO, UH, A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
BUT YOU'VE, YOU'VE, YOU'VE CERTAINLY DONE A GREAT JOB THIS, THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UM, WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END.
WE'RE GONNA DO COUNCIL, COUNCIL COMMENT.
SO I HAVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RICKS OTI FIRST.
UM, I'M ALWAYS GONNA BE SLIGHTLY BIASED 'CAUSE I WAS FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, SO I LOVE ME SOME COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT THANK YOU, UM, DIRECTOR C***S FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION.
UM, I, I RESONATED WITH THE, UM, THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO THE FOCUS AND PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, I LOVE THE, THE, THE PART ABOUT INSTITUTIONALIZING EQUITY, FOCUSING ON CORE SERVICES.
I THINK THAT'S, THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THOSE.
AND THEN ALSO I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY, RIGHT, LIKE YOU SAID, LIKE IT ENDS UP BEING KIND OF A, A DISPERSED THING THAT'S KIND OF EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IT IS, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY WHO KIND OF OVERSEES THAT AND MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AND WE'RE HAVING THAT LENS.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S A PRIORITY.
HERE ABOUT LONG BEACH BUILDS, RIGHT? UM, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT EAST FEES PREDICTABILITY, RIGHT? SO MOVING US INTO THE, INTO, UH, ARE WE GONNA BE IN THE 21ST? ARE WE, ARE WE MOVING TO THE 20TH OR ARE WE GONNA BE IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH THAT PROGRAM? UM, SO I THINK WE'RE IN THE 1980S, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA CATCH UP NOT ONLY TO TODAY, BUT EMBRACE THE FUTURE AND, AND MEET OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE'RE JUST GONNA, UM, JUMP OVER THE, THE 40 YEARS THAT WE MISSED.
LOOK, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT
UH, AND THEN THE LAST THING WAS JUST A COUPLE OF CLARIFICATIONS FROM SLIDE 15.
UM, I KNOW WE ALWAYS LIKE OUR ACRONYMS, BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE, UH, FOLLOWING ALONG WITH US.
COULD YOU JUST DEFINE OR SAY WHAT CDBG IS, WHAT HOME IS, AND WHAT ESG IS? SURE.
SO, CDBG IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
UM, SO THIS IS OUR PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR SERVING DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
AND WE HAVE USED IT FOR THINGS LIKE HELPING HOMEOWNERS REPLACE ROOFS THAT ARE LOW INCOME SENIORS.
UM, WE'VE USED IT FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS, UM, IN, IN YOUR DISTRICT, DR.
SOROS DISTRICT AND, UM, COUNCILMAN YANG'S, UH, DISTRICT TO DO, UM, STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND IMPROVE SIDEWALKS AND IMPROVE CROSSWALKS IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEN IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE, WE GET
[00:35:01]
FEEDBACK EVERY YEAR AND, UH, RESIDENTS HAVE SAID THEY WANT EVEN THAT FUNDING SOURCE SPENT ON, ON HOUSING.SO WE'VE USED THAT AS, UM, ACQUISITION FUNDING, UH, AS KIND OF THE FIRST DOLLARS INTO SOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UM, HOME, UH, WHICH I EVEN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR, BUT HOME DOLLARS ARE A FEDERAL SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT IS OUR, UH, THAT WE USE TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING TO US THAT THOSE WERE DOWN PRETTY SUBSTANTIALLY IN WHAT CONGRESS PASSED THIS YEAR, BUT WE MAKE THE BEST USE OF, OF WHATEVER WE GET.
AND THEN ESG STANDS FOR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT, UM, AND THEN WE DO, UM, THE ACCOUNTING FOR THOSE DOLLARS, BUT THOSE DOLLARS ARE, ARE SPENT BY ALLISON'S TEAM IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND THOSE ARE, UM, RELATED TO HOMELESS RESPONSE IN THE UNIVERSE OF HOMELESS DOLLARS.
IT'S A VERY SMALL PART OF MANY DIFFERENT DOLLARS WE GET, BUT, UM, IT IS ONE OF THE SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT WE SPEND, UH, TO ADDRESS, UH, OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
AND THANK YOU FOR TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE GREAT WORK.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO HEAR YOU, UH, GIVE YOUR, UM, INFORMATION.
DIRECTOR KUNTZ AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS DOING REALLY GREAT WORK.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU HAVE YOUR ADDITIONAL PERMITTING POSITION FILLED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAD TO CALL YOU TO VERIFY SOME OF THE NUMBERS OF THE THOUSANDS OF INSPECTIONS THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DOES.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I'M GLAD WE ADDED THE COUNCIL LIAISON POSITION.
I END UP TALKING TO YOU AND ONG A LOT, AND I THINK THAT IT'LL BE GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU'RE NOT BURDENED.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN OUR MAJOR PROJECTS.
UM, SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HELPS OTHER DEPARTMENTS GET THEIR PERMITTING AND THEIR APPROVALS.
AND WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOT IF, IF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIDN'T HELP WITH THAT.
SO, UM, OF COURSE I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE ADDED ANOTHER PO POSITION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I, I JUST WANNA ASK ONE QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
ARE THEY GONNA BE WORKING LATE HOURS? YEAH, SO I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN, UH, NIGHT AND WEEKEND COVERAGE, NOT JUST FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT SORT OF IN THE ENFORCEMENT WORLD.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN A, UM, SHORT RUN IN, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT IS WE ARE DOING SOME EVENING WORK ON AN OVERTIME BASIS.
SO THAT KEEPS US, UM, ALL RIGHT IN THE SORT OF LABOR COMPLIANCE WORLD.
AND WE'VE GOT THE SUPERVISION PIECE, UM, FIGURED OUT, UM, THIS NEW INDIVIDUAL WON'T BE WORKING EXCLUSIVELY NIGHTS, UM, BUT THEY WILL BE HIRED KNOWING THAT THERE WILL BE SOME NIGHTTIME WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE I AIM FOR A ZERO VACANCY, WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE ZERO, UM, VACANCY IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO USE SALARY SAVINGS TO COVER SOME OCCASIONAL OVERTIME, UM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE, UM, DEPLOYING STAFF, UH, IN THE EVENINGS AS NEEDED.
UM, I ALSO WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME, UH, WORK THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR HOUSING.
I, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT DISTRICT THREE HAS, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSING ENTITLEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
SO,
UM, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE ADDED POSITION RELATED TO HOUSING POLICY ON YOUR STAFF? YEAH, SO THAT PERSON IS GONNA WORK IN THE LARGER ADVANCE, UH, PLANNING SHOP.
AND THEY, IT IS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US, UH, SERVE THE PUBLIC, BUT THIS PARTICULAR POSITION IS GONNA HELP US STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
UM, SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ALREADY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL POLICY, STAFF POLICY, UM, LIKE NO NET LOSS.
WE DON'T APPROVE PROJECTS WHERE LONG-TERM TENANTS ARE KICKED OUT TO BE DISPLACED WITH HIGHER INCOME TENANTS.
UM, BUT THE STATE, IT CHANGES THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO KEEP UP, AT LEAST ON THE CODE SIDE WITH BEING PERFECTLY IN COMPLIANCE.
UM, WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE PER CAPITA JURISDICTION FOR PRODUCING ADUS.
UM, BUT DESPITE THAT, AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, UH, A STATE AGENCY HCD DECIDES WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, NOT TO BE
[00:40:01]
CONFRONTATIONAL, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS CORRECT.SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND A PLANNER NEEDS TO WORK WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM AND JUST IS A LOT OF COMPLIANCE.
IT'S NOT THE MOST EXCITING THING.
UM, BUT IT'S VERY NECESSARY WORK AND THIS PERSON IS GONNA HELP US DO, UM, ALL OF THAT WORK.
UM, WE ALWAYS WANT TO GET TO A YES, BUT WE HAVE TO BE IN PERFECT COMPLIANCE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS NO.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SAY NO TO BAD PROJECTS OR PROJECTS THAT DON'T MEET OUR STANDARDS, UM, IS FOR US TO BE IN PERFECT COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT STATE LAWS.
SO THIS PLANNER IS GONNA HELP US DO THAT.
THANKS FOR, UH, THE PRESENTATION AND ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER SUBINA, UH, THANK YOU.
AND CHRISTOPHER, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES.
THANKS FOR PUTTING, UH, THE HOUSING PROJECT 26.2 IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S A PROJECT THAT STARTED IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT AND ENDED UP IN THE THIRD THROUGH REDISTRICTING.
UM, I, I, I KNOW YOU WEREN'T CREDITED ON, ON A RECENT, UH, CITY MEMO TALKING ABOUT THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON THAT, BUT I WANTED TO PUBLICLY CREDIT YOU.
NOW I KNOW I DID AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE DEVELOPER RECOGNIZED, UH, YOU, BUT, UM, TO ANY EXTENT THAT I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT PROJECT, IT'S BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO CONSULT WITH CHRISTOPHER KOONS AND GET YOUR OKAY.
AND THAT REALLY, UH, PUSHED ME FORWARD TO WORK AS HARD AS I DID ON IT.
UM, ALSO, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR WORK ON THE SDRS AND, AND NOT ONLY THE ORDINANCE, BUT AN INDIVIDUAL LOCATION THAT WAS VERY HIGH PROFILE.
IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU DID ALL THIS WORK.
THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THAT LOCATION THE MINUTE YOU GOT AHOLD OF IT, AND I KNOW YOU DIDN'T GET CREDIT FOR THAT.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU THAT CREDIT RIGHT NOW.
THANKS SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.
I KNOW HOW MUCH HARD WORK AND ALL JUST THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU AND, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DEPEND ON YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENT IN SO MANY WAYS AND YOU WENT THROUGH THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, SO I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT AGAIN, BUT I DO WANNA JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A THANK YOU TO TRONG AND DAVID ALLISON, UM, MEGAN, UM, CARL, I KNOW WE WORK WITH ALL THOSE FOLKS AND, AND, UM, THEY, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT.
AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, DOING A LOT WITH THE, WITH THE SMALL STAFF.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU GET SOME OF THOSE VACANCIES FILLED, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY PUSH PEOPLE FOR SO LONG AT THAT, THAT LEVEL.
SO, BUT YOU DO HAVE, THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE.
UM, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR STRONG FOCUS ON HOUSING AND ALL THE GREAT WORK, UM, THAT YOU'VE DONE THERE.
AND, UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE WORK ON THE WEST SIDE PROMISE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I SAID THIS, I GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LITTLE LOVE FOR, FOR THE WEST SIDE, AND SO I LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST THE FUNDING AND THE PROJECTS, UM, THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE.
SO I THINK, UH, A SHOUT OUT TO CARL AND THE CO TEAM TOO FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.
AND, UM, I DO HAVE, UH, A QUESTION.
I DO ALSO APPRECIATE, I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF, UM, UH, RESIDENTS IN OUR HOUSE, IN OUR, MY DISTRICT THAT WERE VERY HIGH PROFILE THAT HAD A LOT OF CODE PROBLEMS. AND SO REALLY JUST A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, TO, UH, CARL IN THE CODE TEAM BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT HAD TO GO INTO THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THAT WAS INVESTIGATED AND HOW YOU GUYS HANDLED THAT, UH, SITUATION VERY APPROPRIATELY.
YOU KNOW, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE, UH, OF THIS BUDGET AND DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR, UM, CONCERNS.
HOWEVER, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, UM, ON, UM, FUNDING FOR THE, UH, STAY HOUSED LA ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, RIGHT NOW I SEE THAT THE FUNDING IS AT, UH, 375,000.
SO I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE BUDGET CHAIR AND THE BUDGET TEAM, YOU KNOW, JUST A CONSIDERATION TO INCREASE THAT BUDGET TO 500.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME CARRYOVER THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, BUT I TELL YOU THE, THE, UH, WE HAVE SO MANY TENANTS IN OUR CITY, UM, THAT, UM, THAT REALLY DO DEPEND ON THESE SERVICES.
SO, UM, I'D LIKE, UH, FOR THE, FOR, UM, THAT TO BE A CONSIDERATION AND, UH, 'CAUSE I JUST KNOW EVERY, EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST IN THAT PROGRAM, UM, I MEAN, TO, TO SAY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IS, IS KIND OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
BUT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES COUNCIL COMMENT ON, UH, ON THIS DEPARTMENT.
[00:45:01]
UH, ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD PLAY CAST AN EYE TO, UH, ON THAT LAST TOPIC, A RIGHT TO COUNCIL IS AT LA CASA, THE ORGANIZA, A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WE'RE CHAIR OF.UH, THEY, THEY AREN'T MAKING PLANS TO FULLY FUND RIGHT TO COUNCIL COUNTYWIDE.
SO WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THAT TRANSITION.
THAT SHOULD HAPPEN SOMETIME IN THE NEXT YEAR IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL.
UM, SECONDLY, UH, WE SHOULD JUST BE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT RESOURCES FOR HOUSING WILL COME FROM LA CASA AS WELL, RIGHT? ANYWHERE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, 20 TO $30 MILLION A YEAR, THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME CAPACITY TO MANAGE, UH, DEPLOYING THOSE RESOURCES.
AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF URGENCY TO, TO INVEST THO THAT MONEY FAST, TO BUILD AS MUCH HOUSING YOU CAN IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
SO JUST A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT THAT MAY HAPPEN WITHIN BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT BUDGET.
LOTS OF KUDOS TO THE COUNCIL AND WE'LL NOW, UH, SWITCH OVER TO LIBRARY AND AS WE SET UP, WE'RE DOING GREAT ON TIME COUNCIL, IT'S 3 58.
WE HAVE ABOUT 17 PEOPLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND COUNCIL COMMENT, UH, TO TRY TO GET IT DONE BEFORE WE LOSE QUORUM AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
SO I THINK WE CAN GET THAT DONE IN AN HOUR.
WE'LL TURN IT RIGHT OVER TO OUR LIBRARY TEAM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
I'M KATHY DELEON, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE LIBRARY SERVICES FY 25 BUDGET PRESENTATION WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
SO THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A HUB FOR COMMUNITY GATHERING AND INCLUSION, A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS CAN AND SHOULD FEEL SEEN AND HEARD THEIR EXPERIENCES AND ASPIRATIONS REPRESENTED AMONGST OUR EDUCATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND OUR PRINT AND DIGITAL COLLECTIONS.
NO MATTER YOUR AGE, BACKGROUND, EDUCATION LEVEL, INCOME STATUS, THE LIBRARY IS HERE TO HELP YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
WANNA GET YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, WANNA LEARN HOW TO CROCHET.
WANNA GET YOUR KIDS READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? ARE YOU DIFFERENTLY ABLED AND NEED SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY TO EMAIL YOUR LOVED ONES? LOVE BOOKS AND READING AND CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.
FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS TELLS US THAT LONG BEACH LOVES AND VALUES ITS LIBRARIES AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL, OUR CITY TEAM, AND ALSO WITH THE HELP OF OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND FOUNDATION.
WE ROLLED OUT A SIX DAY OF SERVICE AT FIVE LIBRARIES THE FIRST TIME THAT LVPL HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND REGULAR SERVICE HOURS IN OVER 15 YEARS.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS MORE IN MORE DETAIL ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THIS EXPANSION OF HOURS IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTED, AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE POSITIVE IMPACT.
WE JOINED THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WENT FINES FREE, MEANING WE NO LONGER CHARGE PATRONS FOR OVERDUE BOOKS.
ELIMINATING THIS BARRIER TO ACCESS HAS RESULTED IN AN 8% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MATERIALS BEING CHECKED OUT WITH NOTABLE INCREASES AT OUR WEST, CENTRAL AND NORTH LIBRARIES.
IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OUR FEELING FINE AD CAMPAIGN, WE SAW A STAGGERING 49% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW LIBRARY CARD SIGNUPS.
FACTORING OUT BAYSHORE, DUE TO ITS BEING CLOSED FOR RENOVATION LIBRARY VISITS HAVE INCREASED BY 17% SINCE LAST YEAR.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS TO FURTHER ADDRESS SAFETY BY DEVELOPING AN ORDINANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY'S CODE OF CONDUCT.
AND WE RECENTLY ONBOARDED OUR FIRST EVER LIBRARY SAFETY OFFICER AND HR BASED POSITION, SOLELY DEDICATED TO OVERSEEING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE CELEBRATED THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE STUDIO MAKERSPACE AT BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY.
SO TO DIG DEEPER INTO, UM, SIX DAYS OF SERVICE, THE ADDITION OF THIS HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE AND ADVOCACY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A MIXTURE OF STRUCTURAL AND ONE-TIME FUNDING.
THE COUNCIL MADE AN INVESTMENT THROUGH THE FY 23 BUDGET TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS BY STRUCTURALLY EXPANDING LIBRARY HOURS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2009, LBPL WAS ONLY OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME WITH INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF SUNDAY HOURS.
AS A RESULT, I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT WE'VE SEEN A 15% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS AT THOSE FIVE BRANCHES THAT ARE NOW OPEN ON MONDAYS.
IN APRIL, 2023, WE BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ADD MONDAY HOURS AT FIVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, TAKING A REGIONAL APPROACH.
AS PLANNING PROGRESSED, WE NEEDED TO PIVOT IN A COUPLE OF PLACES BECAUSE OF VARYING FACTORS.
BURNETT LIBRARY REPLACED MARK TWAIN IN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL BECAUSE AT THE TIME WE WERE STRUGGLING WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT SECURITY ISSUES
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THERE.ALAMITOS WAS ADDED TO THE MIX TO TEMPORARILY OFFSET THE CLOSURE OF BAYSHORE FOR RENOVATION.
BAYSHORE LIBRARY CLOSED FOR EXTENSIVE EXTERIOR MODEL REMODELING IN JULY OF 2023, AND ALAMITOS LIBRARY WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FIRST PHASE OF MONDAY HOUR ROLLOUT, ALONG WITH MICHELLE OBAMA AND HART LIBRARIES IN AUGUST OF 2023.
TWO OTHER LIBRARIES, EL DORADO AND BURNETT ADDED MONDAYS IN APRIL OF 2024 WITH THE ANTICIPATED REOPENING OF BAYSHORE LIBRARY IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
OUR PLAN IS TO REOPEN THAT LOCATION ON A SIX DAY SCHEDULE AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND END THE TEMPORARY EDITION OF MONDAYS AT ALAMITOS.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR INCLUDED A REFRESH AND COMMEMORATION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE AREA AT BURNETT LIBRARY, THE LAUNCH OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A MULTICULTURAL FOCUSED STORY TIME SERIES CALLED READ ACROSS THE WORLD.
WE CELEBRATED HANUKKAH AT BJK MAINE LIBRARY AS A PART OF OUR WINTER FEST COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, AND HOSTED SIX WEEKS OF FREE SEED STEAM SUMMER CAMPS, OR WHAT WE CALL THE CREATIVE CITY LAB FOR 150 LONG BEACH SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS.
AND DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN PODCAST BIRTHED FROM THE PANDEMIC? OUR LOCAL HISTORY LIBRARIAN HAS NOW EXHAUSTIVELY RESEARCHED AND PRODUCED A SUPER HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, QUIRKY, AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING PODCAST CALLED DON'T KNOW BEACH, ABOUT HISTORY, SHORT HISTORIES OF LONG BEACH, WHICH RECENTLY WRAPPED ITS SECOND SEASON AND HAS REACHED OVER 5,500 DOWNLOADS.
LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AN INSTITUTION HAS MADE IT ITS MISSION TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT THE DIVERSE VOICES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THOSE THAT CALL LONG BEACH HOME.
WHETHER IT'S BEAUTIFYING OUR BUILDINGS THROUGH VIBRANT MURAL ART IN COLLABORATION WITH LB WALLS, OR HOSTING OVER 300 PUBLIC PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CULTURAL HERITAGE AND WORLD LANGUAGES, WE'VE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO GO BEYOND TRADITIONAL LIBRARY PROGRAMS, AN INTERNAL DIVERSITY AUDIT OF OUR PRINT COLLECTION.
IN RECENT YEARS, MEANING WE USED DATA TO EVALUATE HOW WELL OUR BOOKS REFLECTED THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE, SHOWED US THAT WE HAD A GOOD DEAL OF WORK TO DO.
AND WITH ONE TIME FUNDING, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD OVER 6,000 NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE TITLES AT OUR LIBRARIES.
ARTS IN SOME FORM HAVE ALWAYS FORMED THE BASIS FOR SO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND ARE INCREASINGLY INFLUENCING OUR PHYSICAL SPACES.
THIS IS EVIDENT THROUGH THE MURAL ART ON THE OUTSIDE OF OUR BUILDINGS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, OUR GALLERY SPACE AT BILLIE JEAN KING, MAINE, AND THE WORK THAT OUR STUDIO SPACES DO TO TEACH ART AND SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS.
WE WELCOME CLOSE TO 9,000 ATTENDEES AT LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT INCORPORATED ARTS ELEMENTS.
AND OVER 3,700 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN STUDIO LED PROGRAMS. LASTLY, IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HERE'S A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF SOME KEY METRICS THAT ALSO HELP TO TELL THE STORY OF WHERE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS TODAY.
WE'RE SEEING ATTENDANCE TRENDING UPWARDS AND RETURNING TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS FASTER THAN OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THE 2.9 MILLION RESOURCES ACCESS NUMBER ALSO INCLUDES DIGITAL USE, ALSO INCLUDES DIGITAL USAGE LIKE EBOOK, CHECKOUTS, AND DATABASE USE.
WE'RE SEEING STRONG NUMBERS AT OUR CULTURALLY FOCUSED PROGRAMS, AND WE CONTINUE TO HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH FREE MIFI AND CHROMEBOOK CHECKOUTS.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO FY 25, OUR BUDGET RESPONSE TO THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CURRENT PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES WE'LL BE UNDERTAKING THE MEMORIALIZATION OF THE EXPANSION OF OUR DEPARTMENT MISSION AND CHANGING OUR NAME FROM LIBRARY SERVICES TO LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE.
THIS SHIFT REPRESENTS THE POSITIONING OF LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A TRUE PARTNER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL BASED ENTITIES.
THE HISTORIC STORMS AND EXTREME WEATHER OF THE PAST YEAR MADE EVIDENT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT IN THE AREA OF ADDRESSING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
WHILE WE'LL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE ADDITION OF A GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSISTANCE TO OUR UM, FACILITY STAFF INCREASES OUR CAPACITY TO WORK ON SMALLER, YET STILL CRITICAL ONGOING MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND WILL ALLOW US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN PREPARING OUR AGING BUILDINGS FOR SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND MORE QUICKLY ADDRESSING OUR MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND MITIGATING SERVICE DISRUPTIONS.
LASTLY, THE ADDITION OF STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR A SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER AND MARK TWAIN LIBRARY WILL IMPROVE SAFETY AT THIS LOCATION.
ONE WHICH SERVES THE AREA OF THE CITY THAT IS THE MOST DEADLY POPULATED, SIMILAR TO THE APPROACH THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY AT THE MAIN LIBRARY.
THE ADDITION OF AN SSO ENHANCES THE LEVEL OF SECURITY WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER BY PUTTING US IN MORE DIRECT CONTACT WITH DISPATCH AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
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IN TERMS OF CHALLENGES, OUR ONGOING EFFORTS, UM, THAT BUILD UPON BUDGET INVESTMENTS MADE AS A PART OF THE FY 24 BUDGET, IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AS A PART OF THE FY 25 BUDGET, WILL BETTER PREPARE LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE FORESEE IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.WHILE WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES, STAFF AND PATRON SAFETY CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN AT SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS, WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON FOSTERING CONNECTIONS TO SERVICES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
AND THE LIBRARY RULES ORDINANCE AND SAFETY SUPPORT AT THE OFFICER LEVEL HAVE ADDED TO THE TOOLBOX WE CAN DRAW UPON TO ADDRESS SECURITY ISSUES.
ALSO TIED TO SAFELY SAFETY IS THE URGENT NEED TO MAINTAIN SAFE BUILDINGS DESPITE AGING INFRA INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR FACILITIES WERE BUILT IN THE 1950S AND THOSE BUILDINGS ARE DEFINITELY SHOWING THEIR AGE.
FINALLY, BUDGET CUTS AT THE STATE LEVEL HAVE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO US BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY.
AS A RESULT, WE'VE HAD TO SCALE BACK SOME OF OUR DIGITAL RESOURCES SUCH AS VETS NOW AND JOBS NOW IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL BE REVIEWING OUR MATERIALS BUDGET AND AVAILABLE FOUNDATION RESOURCES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE GAPS RESULTING FROM THIS LOSS OF STATE FUNDING.
FY 25 WILL BE AN EXCITING YEAR FOR US.
AS LBPL CONTINUES TO GROW AND EVOLVE OUR DEPARTMENT NAME CHANGE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXPANSION WILL BE GUIDED BY A STUDY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEKING A CONSULTANT FOR THE STUDY WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MAYOR'S BUDGET ADS FOR FY 24 AT THE HEART LIBRARY.
WE'RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'LL BE DEBUTING A NEW FILIPINO HERITAGE COLLECTION, WHICH WILL HAVE A DEDICATED AREA SIMILAR TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE AREA AT BURNETT AND THE KAMAYA COLLECTION AT MARK TWAIN.
THE STAFF THERE HAS BEEN WORKING, UM, DILIGENTLY WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS OVER THE LAST YEAR TO ENSURE THAT THE COLLECTION MEETS RESIDENT NEEDS AND CELEBRATES THE CON CONTRIBUTIONS OF FILIPINO AMERICANS.
WE'LL BE LAUNCHING A NEW ONLINE CATALOG AND IMPROVED INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM, OR ILSA GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING FOR OUR AUTOMATED SERVICES BUREAU.
TRANSITIONING TO A NEW ILS IS A ONCE IN 10 TO 15 YEAR PROJECT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND WE'RE FINALLY HERE AND HOPE TO SEE THE NEW SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED PATRONS AND CONNECT THEM TO LIFE-CHANGING RESOURCES.
AND LASTLY, WE'LL BE ROLLING OUT A NEW 20 25, 20 30 STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL HELP GUIDE OUR DEPARTMENT AND HELP US TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S 2030 STRATEGIC VISION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES LIBRARY SERVICES FY 25 BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
I THINK MOST OF THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTERS ARE HERE FOR YOU.
UM, SO, SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, KATHY, AND YOUR TEAM ON LEADING, UM, OUR LIBRARY SERVICES, OUR, OUR, UM, WHAT IS IT NOW? THE LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURAL SERVICES, UH, DEPARTMENT INTO THE FUTURE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN BEEN CHALLENGES, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE STILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND GROW AND DIVERSIFY WHAT THE SERVICES YOU'RE ABLE TO OFFER TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
SIX DAY A WEEK LIBRARIES HAS BEEN, UH, A VISION AND A DREAM FOR A LONG TIME.
AND IT'S UP AND IT'S RUNNING AND IT'S WORKING.
YOU'VE HAD TO, YOU'VE HAD TO PIVOT AND BE NIMBLE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I KNOW INITIALLY WHEN WE PROPOSED, YOU KNOW, CHANGING SOME THINGS AND CHANGING SOME NAMES AND EXPANDING SOME FOCUS, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF APPREHENSION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A LEADER ON THAT AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOUR, YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUPPORTERS AND YOUR, YOUR ADVOCATING THROUGH PA YOUR PATRONS, UH, TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND, AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL ACROSS OUR CITY FROM, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, OUR WORKFORCE AGENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS AN AGENCY, WE AS A, A CITY, ARE CONTINUING TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A LEADER THERE.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, JUST YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM'S, UH, COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AS WE WORK THROUGH SOME BIG CHALLENGES.
THE CODE OF CONDUCT WAS DIFF DIFFICULT FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR LIBRARIES TO NAVIGATE.
UH, WE ACKNOWLEDGED SOME OF THE, THE CHALLENGES, UH, SINCE THE PANDEMIC ABOUT PATRON SAFETY.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN A QUALITY EXPERIENCE FOR PATRONS AND PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON OUR LIBRARIES TO USE OUR LIBRARIES, PARENTS AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS.
AND YOUNG PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVING A GOOD TIME AT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE CHILDREN'S READING AREAS AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, THAT PATIENT, THAT PATRON EXPERIENCE AND DOING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AS A CITY TO, TO PROTECT THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND SO, UM, SO THANK YOU FOR, LIKE I FOR HIGHLIGHTING YOUR PRESENTATION,
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THE CONTINUED FOCUS ON SAFETY, THE SSOS AT TWAIN, UH, AND THE WORK.AND YOU, AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR LIBRARY.
SO THAT WILL BE A, A PRIORITY.
UH, IT'S A PRIORITY TODAY AND IT WILL MAINTAIN, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY MOVING FORWARD.
UH, WE'LL NOW GO BACK BEHIND THE RAIL TO THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE.
THE UH, LET ME SCOOT OVER A LITTLE BIT.
I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT THE MAYOR SAID.
UM, AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU STARTED WITH THE SLIDE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES, MOVING TO LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE, RIGHT? AND REALLY, I THINK EVERY SINGLE YEAR HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPANSIVE RESOURCES THAT OUR LIBRARIES OFFER BEYOND WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF AS LIKE, COME IN AND, AND CHECK OUT A BOOK, RIGHT? THE ABILITY TO HELP WITH RESUME WRITING AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR, FOR OUR STUDENTS, RIGHT? THE CULTURAL EVENTS THAT YOU ALL DO, UM, ACCESS TO, TO COMPUTING AND COMPUTING RESOURCES, RIGHT? AND TRAINING.
UM, AND SO I JUST, AGAIN, UH, YOU ALL DO, YOU ALL DO A LOT, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THE BUDGET TIME IS ONE OF THOSE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO UPLIFT ALL THAT OUR LIBRARY, OUR LIBRARIANS, OUR STAFF, UH, DO TO ENRICH OUR, OUR CITY IN SO MANY WAYS.
UM, AND I JUST HAD, MOST OF MY QUESTIONS ARE REALLY JUST KIND OF CLARIFICATION QUESTIONS ARE JUST ALLOW YOU TO KINDA EXPAND ON SOME OF YOUR POINTS.
UM, NONE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE LIBRARY CODE OF CONDUCT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT POSITION, UM, AND DIFFICULT DISCUSSION, BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU KIND OF THE ABILITY, UM, DIRECTOR TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AS THE IMPACT OF THAT CODE OF CONDUCT.
UM, SO THE, UM, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED WAY BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING THE WORK, UH, THE CODE OF CONDUCT HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
AND SO REALLY THE PIECE THAT WE ADDED THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE, THE ORDINANCE IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY RULES, WHICH IS WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.
AND SO THE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL AT THE REALLY KIND OF THE INITIAL STAGES, UM, OF IMPLEMENTING THAT WE'RE, UM, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO KNOW THAT WE CAN TURN THAT WAY IF WE NEED TO.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TO, WHICH IS GREAT THAT I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR SAFETY, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE A SAFETY OFFICER, UM, GOOD WORK THAT OUR STAFF, I THINK HAS BEEN DOING TO DEESCALATE, UH, THE WORK THAT OUR SSOS AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OUR OVERTIME SSOS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING WORK AT MARK TWAIN, REALLY, I, I THINK WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER REALLY WELL.
AND IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT TO HAVE THAT AS A, JUST SORT OF A SAFETY NET TO TURN TOWARDS.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING A DEFINITELY KIND OF A, A STABILITY.
WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT SEEING AN INCREASE.
WE'RE SEEING A DECREASE, I THINK, IN THE SEVERITY OF WHAT WE USED TO SEE BEFORE.
SO I THINK WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS THERE.
AND WHAT'S GREAT IS, AGAIN, WE HAVE ALL THESE TOOLS TO DRAW UPON TO REALLY ADDRESS THEM IN A TIMELY WAY.
SO I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE DOING A LOT BETTER.
THINGS DEFINITELY FEEL BETTER, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UM, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING, WHAT IS AN SSOA SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICER? SO THEY'RE NON-SWORN, UM, OFFICERS THAT ARE EMPLOYED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE, UH, AN MOU, UH, AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE HAVE, UH, THEIR FOLKS STAFFED AT OUR LOCATIONS AT, AT, RIGHT NOW, JUST AT THE MAIN LIBRARY.
UM, AND THEN, UH, STRUCTURALLY MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE THEM AT MARK TWAIN, BUT WE HAVE, UH, WE DID GET SOME ONE-TIME FUNDING LAST BUDGET CYCLE TO HAVE, UM, TO ADDRESS SECURITY ISSUES AT MARK TWAIN.
AND SO WE'VE HAD SSOS THERE ON AN OT BASIS OVER TIME, UH, THE PAST YEAR, AND WE DO THINK THAT IT'S DEFINITELY HELPED.
UM, UNDER THE CHALLENGES, YOU MENTIONED THE LOSS OF THE SHARED DIGITAL RESOURCES FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT LIKE, WHAT WERE THOSE DIGITAL RESOURCES? UH, I DON'T HAVE THE COMPLETE LIST, BUT I DID MENTION, UH, JOBS NOW AND VETS NOW.
THERE WAS ALSO A, UH, TUTORING SERVICE, AN AFTERSCHOOL TUTOR, WELL NOT AFTERSCHOOL, BUT UH, AN ONLINE TUTORING SERVICE CALLED BRAIN FUSE THAT WE'VE HAD TO, UM, KIND OF SCALE BACK ON.
SO WE'VE, UH, KIND OF GONE INTO OUR, UM, EXISTING RESOURCES, KIND OF IDENTIFIED WHICH ONES SORT OF CLOSED THE GAPS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO BETTER ADDRESS THOSE IN THE, IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING AT OUR MATERIALS BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
SO, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY A BIT OF A HIT.
UM, AND SO, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO, UM, CLOSE THOSE GAPS EVENTUALLY.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR US TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL PROVIDE THE, THE SAME TYPE OF SERVICE TO, TO RESIDENTS.
AND ALSO, WE'VE KIND OF GONE AND EVALUATED EXISTING RESOURCES AND SORT OF REALLOCATED WHERE WE NEEDED TO, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME RESOURCES.
YOU, YOU TRY NEW THINGS AND, AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S KIND OF UNDERUTILIZED, SO LET'S SHIFT THAT FUNDING TO ANOTHER THING THAT'S MORE BETTER USED.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT OVER THE LAST PROBABLY SIX MONTHS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THE TRANSITION TO A NEW CATALOG INTERFACE,
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THE ILS UH, SYSTEM.CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? YEAH, SO THAT'S BASICALLY, UM, OUR COMPUTER FRONT END AND OUR BACKEND.
SO IT'S WHAT PEOPLE USE, UM, WHEN YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR BOOKS, IT'S WHAT YOU SEE ON THE WEBSITE WHEN YOU DO ANY KIND OF CATALOG SEARCH.
UH, IT'S WHAT OUR STAFF USES TO CHECK BOOKS IN AND OUT TO MAINTAIN PATRON RECORDS, TO ADD BOOKS TO THE CATALOG.
IT'S REALLY OUR ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND IT'S A REALLY HUGE UNDERTAKING TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION FROM ONE OLD SYSTEM TO A NEW SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED, UM, AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN DOING GREAT, AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL OUR TRAINING SET UP.
WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, ENTERING A PERIOD OF HARDCORE TRAINING PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.
WE'RE CROSSING OUR FINGERS NOVEMBER 6TH
WELL, WELL, UM, IN, IN MY LINE OF WORK, WE ALWAYS SAY, UM, ADD THREE MONTHS AND GO UP A, A MEASURE, A UNIT OF MEASURE.
SO WE'LL JUST SAY IT'S LIKE THREE MONTHS OR SO, MAYBE WE'LL JUST SAY FEBRUARY
UM, AND THEN THE, THE LAST QUESTION IS, IN THAT NEW PROGRAM, UM, ARE THERE FEATURES THAT ALLOW FOR FOLKS THAT PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, ENGLISH ISN'T THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, PERHAPS FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES AND NEEDS SOME ACCESSIBILITY, UM, UH, NEEDS, UH, DOES THAT, UM, DOES THAT SYSTEM ALLOW FOR THAT? YEAH, WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME MULTILINGUAL CAPABILITY IN THERE.
UM, I, I'M NOT SUPER CLEAR ON THE DETAILS ON IT, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY TOP OF MIND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, FOLKS WITHIN OUR CITY THAT NEED, UH, EXTRA LANGUAGE SUPPORT.
AND SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR CATALOG.
NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION DIRECTOR, DA ON.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE GETTING TO KNOW YOU, AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ARE AROUND THE TWO LIBRARIES, BUT MOSTLY BAYSHORE WITH THE RENOVATION, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OPENING IN NOVEMBER.
I'M SURE YOUR STAFF AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT SAFETY'S A PRIMARY CONCERN, UH, WITH REGARD TO LIBRARIES, SO THE SSOS, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT WE'RE ADDING A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
UM, CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW THIS POSITION IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WHAT DEPARTMENT'S GONNA BE PROVIDING DIRECTION? HOW IS THAT GONNA BE HANDLED? I THINK YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO, WELL, THERE WAS A, THE ADDITION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, UM, AS A PART OF THE FY 24 BUDGET.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF ONBOARDING THAT POSITION WITH HEALTH, SO THAT THAT POSITION IS GOING TO REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THEY'RE RUNNING THE RECRUITMENT FOR US, AND WE'LL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
UH, THE VISION FOR THAT POSITION REALLY IS THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES, ALL 12, UH, BUT THEY WOULD BE BASED AT THE MAIN LIBRARY WHERE WE DO HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF NEED.
UH, THE IDEA IS ALSO THAT THAT POSITION WOULD TAKE OVER SUPERVISION OF OUR THREE EXISTING, UH, OUTREACH WORKERS THAT WE HAVE EMBEDDED WITHIN, UH, LIBRARY.
SO, UH, REALLY THE IDEA IS THAT THEY WOULD WORK KIND OF ALL TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT WE'RE, UH, GETTING SERVICE WHERE IT'S NEEDED, YOU KNOW, UM, GETTING ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES THAT, THAT MAY NEED IT, UH, AND BEING RESPONSIVE IN THAT WAY.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT POSITION COMING ONLINE.
THANK YOU, KATHY, FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE THE LIBRARIES AND ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT SUPPORT THE LIBRARIES.
UM, ME PERSONALLY, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE LIBRARIES GROWING UP, SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND IT CREATES THAT SAFE PLACE AND THAT HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
AND SO YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOING, UH, JUST DOING GREAT STUFF.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE THEIR FOCUS ON SAFETY 'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, THAT, UH, THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH AND, UH, SOME OF OUR SENIOR FOLKS.
UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION, UM, BUT I THINK YOU ALREADY ANSWERED THAT ABOUT THE, UH, THE ELIMINATED, UH, GRANT FUNDS.
SO HOPEFULLY WITH THAT BRAIN FUSE AND WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO, TO, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM TOO, SO WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO, UM, TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, UH, SUPPORTING OUR LIBRARIES.
MAYBE I MISSED IT SOMEWHERE, BUT WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET? UH, OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS ROUGHLY, WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 21,000,600, 12,000.
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VACANCIES DO YOU HAVE CURRENTLY AND WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING FOR IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR? YEAR? UH, SO OUR VACANCY RATE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.OUR CURRENT VACANCY RATE IS ABOUT 11%.
WE HAVE ABOUT 190 EMPLOYEES, UH, WHICH EQUATES ABOUT 106, UM, 192 EMPLOYEES.
UM, SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOWN ABOUT A LITTLE, LIKE 10, 11% RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S THAT EQUAL TO? HOW MANY, HOW MANY POSITIONS? OH, I'M, I DIDN'T HEAR HOW MANY POSITIONS? HOW MANY POSITIONS? AT 12.
ARE THEY ACROSS MORE OR IN VERY SPECIFIC AREA? RIGHT NOW? WE DO HAVE VACANCIES AT SORT OF ALL LEVELS, BUT SOME CRITICAL ONES FOR SURE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, I BELIEVE THREE SENIOR LIBRARIAN VACANCIES, TWO GENERAL LIBRARIAN VACANCIES, AND THEN A HANDFUL OF, UH, LIBRARY CLERKS AND PAGES, LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, ET CETERA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SUBINA, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, I, I HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE TWO LIBRARIES IN THE FOREST DISTRICT, UH, LOS ALTOS AND EL DORADO, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, MISS DE TO LOS ALTOS.
UH, MY OLDER GRANDDAUGHTER GOT TO KNOW HER VERY WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH STORY TIME.
AND MY YOUNGER, UH, GRANDDAUGHTER GETS TO VISIT HER LIVE AT THE LIBRARY, SO THAT'S VERY NICE FOR US.
UM, I CAN'T STAY HERE, UM, THE REST OF THE EVENING, UM, TH THIS IS THE DARK TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, AND WE DON'T HAVE COUNT, UH, COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT DAY.
AND, UH, SO I HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING SCHEDULED, UM, AT THE LOS SOUTHWEST LIBRARY.
SO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT VENUE.
WE'VE HAD IT THERE FOR NINE AND A HALF YEARS, AND IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT, UH, SPOT FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO COME OVER AND VISIT THEIR, THEIR COUNCILMEN.
UM, THANKS FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND, UM, AS WE SAY IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT, GO FORTH.
ALRIGHT, THAT SATISFIES COUNCIL'S COMMENTS.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK WE'RE GOING ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING AND FORECASTING THE DEFICIT BETWEEN NOW AND 2030, UH, IN THIS BUDGET.
THERE ARE NO, NO CUTS TO OUR, OUR LIBRARY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PERIOD.
BUT THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, UH, THIS YEAR AND IN YEARS TO COME, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE ADDRESS THIS.
UM, I THINK THE WAY WE ADDRESS THIS DEFICIT IS GONNA TELL US A LOT ABOUT THE CITY THAT WE HAVE.
SO, UH, SO WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE 16 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO THAT'S 90 SECONDS EACH.
UH, ANN BURNETT, DIANA NORMAN, TRACY L UH, UH, CARINA MENDOZA, UM, SHAYLA DIAZ, RIE MARY, REVEREND MARY DW, SHARON BUCKLEY, MYRA GARCIA CORTEZ, JASON MERCADO AND SUSAN REDFIELD ARE THE FIRST 10.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'VE BEEN PARTICULARLY PROUD OF LONG BEACH LATELY.
I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE AND A LONGTIME FRIEND OF THIS COUNCIL.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE VESTRY OF ST.
LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZER WITH CLUE.
I'M HERE TODAY IN ALL THOSE CAPACITIES TO URGE YOU TO VOTE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE STAY HOUSED TENANT'S, RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR RENTERS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE IN CRISIS BECAUSE OF THREATENED OR CURRENT EVICTIONS.
UP TO ONE FIFTH OF THE UNHOUSED.
PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE AT OUR SHOWER PROGRAM CITE EVICTION AS THE REASON FOR THEIR CURRENT HOMELESSNESS.
SCHOOL IS STARTING TODAY AND MANY, UH, PARENTS HAVE THE LUXURY OF JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND CLOTHES.
MANY MOTHERS AND FATHERS ARE WORRYING FIRST ABOUT WHETHER THEIR CHILD WILL HAVE A HOME TO COME HOME TO AFTER SCHOOL.
THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DISRUPTION TO LONG BEACH STUDENTS' LIVES CAUSED BY UNJUST EVICTIONS IS ENORMOUS.
WATCHING THEIR PARENTS STRUGGLE TO DEFEND THEIR FAMILY FROM EVICTION WITHOUT RESOURCES IS DEVASTATING.
I'M A LANDLORD AND I KNOW I HAVE LEGAL RESOURCES, BUT MOST RENTERS DO NOT.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY STATUS IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER CARRIES ANY WEIGHT, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY LIVE OUT MY FAITH TO SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
AND I HOPE YOU WILL TOO, WITH INCREASING THE BUDGET OF THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL TO 1.5.
MA'AM, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED MILLION DOLLARS.
[01:15:01]
THANK YOU.HI, MY NAME IS DIANA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M A MEMBER OF LONG BEACH FOR A JUST ECONOMIES COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING FUNDS TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM IN THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND A RENTER, I ASK YOU TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TO KEEP THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM FUNDED TO GUARANTEE THAT RENTERS IN LONG BEACH STAY IN THEIR HOMES BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
LONG BEACH DE THE SLO LOS ANGELES LONG BEACH IS AT RISK OF FALLING BEHIND IS REGIONAL PARTNERS WHO ARE MAKING STRIDES AND CONNECTING TENANTS FACING EVICTION WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
THE CITY OF LAW, UH, OF LA IS LOOKING TO FUND A YEAR, YEAR-ROUND TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM.
RENTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED LONG BEACH TO KEEP UP WITH THE COUNTY AND ADOPTING CONSISTENT RENTERS PROTECTIONS AND PROGRAMMING.
IT'S EASIER FOR BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS TO UNDERSTAND THESE RESOURCES WHEN THE RULES ARE UNIFORM ACROSS THE REGION.
BY INVESTING IN TENANT PROTECTIONS, FAMILIES STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF STAYING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.
PLEASE ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TO SUSTAIN THE TENANT RIGHT TO CANCEL PROGRAM AND TO ENSURE RENTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THIS CRITICAL SERVICES.
NEXT IS CARINA, KARINA MENDOZA.
HI, MY NAME IS KARINA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M REPRESENT, UH, ALSO REPRESENTATIVE OF LONG BEACH, UH, FOR A JUST ECONOMIES COMMITTEE.
I THANK YOU FOR DESIGNATING FUNDS TOWARDS THE FRONT, UH, TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM IN THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
AS TENANT AND, UH, TENANTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO SUPPORT THE MOST, UH, VULNERABLE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD, UH, ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TOWARDS TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM TO HELP FAMILIES FACING DISPLACEMENT.
[01:20:10]
MANY TENANTS, UH, DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND LANGUAGE SKILLS TO ANSWER AN EVICTION LAWSUIT.AS A RESULT, RENTERS ENTER DEFAULT JUDGEMENTS FOR NOT PROPERLY RESPONDING TO PAPERWORK OR APPEARING IN COURT, AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR RENTAL AGREEMENTS.
WE, AS TENANTS SERVE STRONGER PROTECTIONS, EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO SOLVING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
PLEASE ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TO SUSTAIN THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM AND TO ENSURE RENTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CRITICAL SERVICES.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAYLA DIAZ, AND THEN REVEREND DW.
HELLO, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SHAYLA DIAZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH LONG BEACH FOR JUST ECONOMY, A PROJECT OF LANES.
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING FUNDS TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM IS A VITAL, IS VITAL IN PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT AND HELPING LONG BEACH FAMILIES ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS.
THAT IS WHY I ALSO REQUEST THE CITY TO IDENTIFY $1.2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES, SO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN HAVE MORE ACCESS TO IT.
DURING THE SUMMER, WE CANVASSED AND SPOKE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY.
MANY TENANTS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROTECTIONS, WHICH IS WHY THE FUNDING IS CRUCIAL FOR CONNECTING TENANTS WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE RIGHT TO COUNCIL IS ABOUT RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
A MAJORITY OF TENANTS FACING EVICTION ARE BLACK OR PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE RACIAL JUSTICE OUTCOMES TO IMPROVE RACIAL JUSTICE OUTCOMES OF THE EVICTION SYSTEM.
INFORMING AT-RISK COMMUNITIES ABOUT PROTECTIONS AND RESOURCES THAT HELP KEEP THEM HOUSED PREVENTS EVICTIONS BEFORE THEY OCCUR.
IF OUR CITY, IF OUR CITY IS TRULY COMMITTED TO SOLVING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, PROTECTING TENANTS MUST BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
PLEASE LOOK TO ALLOCATE $1.2 MILLION AND EXPAND THE RATE TO COUNCIL PROGRAM TO BETTER SERVE THE LONG BEACH FAMILIES.
NEXT REVEREND DEWANG, AFTER THAT IS SHARON BUCKLEY.
HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS REVEREND MARY YUNG.
I AM AN ORAIN MINISTER WITH THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES, AND I'M A SENIOR FAITH READER ORGANIZER WITH CLUE, WHICH STANDS FOR CLERGY AND LAITY, UNITED FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
UH, HERE, UM, I AM HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM BY PUTTING MONEY IN THIS PROGRAM IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND I ALSO WANNA JOIN OUR TENANTS COMMUNITY HERE IN ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION, UH, TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY AND THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM TO SERVE MORE HOUSEHOLDS AND MORE TENANTS NEEDING SUPPORT TO NAVIGATE THE COURT SYSTEM.
AND FROM A WORKER JUSTICE PERSPECTIVE AT CREW, MAKING THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM STRONGER SHOWS THE COMMITMENT OF OUR CITY TO SUPPORT WORKERS IN HAVING STABLE HOUSING SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK AND THEY CAN INVEST IN OUR CITY'S LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT STABLE HOUSING IS CRUCIAL TO THE WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND THAT'S WHY HOME IS SACRED AND HOME IS IRREPLACEABLE, AND HOME IS WORTHY OF OUR PROTECTION AT ALL COSTS.
UH, I AM SURE THAT WE ALL CAN HAVE AN IMAGE OF OUR CHILDHOOD HOME THAT MADE US FEEL SAFE AND LOVED, AND GAVE US THE COURAGE TO TAKE RISKS IN LIFE.
AND WE ALL WANT THAT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF NEED FOR FUNDING IN OUR CITY, AND THE CITY BUDGET IS LIMITED, BUT I ASK THAT YOU PRIORITIZE WHAT MATTERS MOST TO OUR CITY, WHICH IS PROTECTING OUR SACRED HOMES AND FAMILIES, AND PROVIDING THAT ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION TO SUPPORT TENANTS IN STAYING SAFE IN THEIR SACRED HOMES.
SHARON, THEN MYRA, FORGIVE ME.
HI, MY NAME IS SHARON BUCKLEY AND I AM PRESIDENT OF THE UNION, THE TENANT UNION, LOCATED IN LONG BEACH AND 21ST STREET IN DISTRICT COUNCIL, COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX.
I'M ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF LIBRE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE YOU FOR ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR TENANT RIGHTS
[01:25:01]
TO COUNCIL PROGRAM IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE REQUESTING THE CITY TO IDENTIFY AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ALLOW THIS PROGRAM TO REACH MORE TENANTS.
RIGHT TO COUNSEL IS ABOUT CREATING ACCESS TO EQUITY IN COURTS.
LANDLORDS ARE NEARLY ALWAYS REPRESENTED WELL.
VERY FEW TENANTS ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN REPRESENTATION OR EVEN AWARE THEY HAVE RIGHTS.
MY BUILDING HOUSES, TENANTS WHO ARE LOW INCOME, DISABLED VETERANS, AND EX HOMELESS, MY BUILDING HAS, MY MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN RAISING THE RENTS EXPONENTIALLY.
AND MANY OF THE TENANTS ARE NOW FACING EVICTION.
MANY OF THEM STRUGGLE FOR JUST OBTAINING THE BARE NECESSITIES.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS.
THEY HAVE NO WAY TO OBTAIN THEIR OWN COUNSEL, OR, AND THEY ARE MANY HAVE NO FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE TERRIFIED OF BEING HOMELESS AND ARE NOW LIVING IN FEAR.
OUR BUILDING HAS MANY LAWYERS THAT ARE ON RETAINERS, SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY UNBALANCED SYSTEM.
SO I'M HERE IN THE HOPES OF ASKING YOU, ALONG WITH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES, TO INVEST IN $1.2 MILLION TO PREVENT HOMELESS LESSNESS AND TO HELP THE TENANTS LEARN TO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MYRA FERNANDA, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M ALSO THE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR LIBRE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT, WHICH IS WHY WE ALSO ARE FURTHER REQUESTING THAT THE CITY IDENTIFY 1.2 ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS, UH, IN FUNDING SOURCES SO THAT THIS PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO READ, UH, FURTHER REACH.
TENANTS, TENANTS WITHOUT LEGAL COUNSEL ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE EVICTED.
AND THIS ISN'T JUST A, A STATISTIC, IT'S A REALITY THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FACING ACROSS THE CITY.
IT
THE LEGAL SYSTEM INHERENTLY FAVORS LANDLORDS WHO OFTEN COME TO COURT WITH ATTORNEYS.
WHILE TENANTS ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX LEGAL PROCESSES ALONE, THIS POWER IMBALANCE NEEDS TO, LEADS TO UNJUST OUTCOMES THAT COULD BE PREVENTED WITH PROPER REPRESENTATION.
ACCORDING TO COURT DATA COMPILED BY STATE HOUSE DELAY, THERE WERE 2,340 UNLAWFUL DETAINERS FILED IN LONG BEACH, UH, ZIP CODES IN 2023.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUST AS MANY RENTERS ARE LIKELY TO RECEIVE JUST AS MANY EVICTION NOTICES THIS YEAR BY INCREASING TENANTS ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION, TENANTS WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE A COMPLEX COURT SYSTEM AND HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AT STAYING HOUSED.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING EVICTED GO BEYOND JUST LOSING YOUR HOME.
IT DISRUPTS OUR COMMUNITIES, DISPLACING LONG STANDING RESIDENTS AND WEAKENING THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT HOLDS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER.
THIS IS WHY ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF FAIRNESS.
IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS JASON AND THEN SUSAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A, UH, RESIDENT OF COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER WITH RE UM, TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK, OF COURSE, AS, UH, THE OTHER FOLKS HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME ON, ON ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE, UH, TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, BEEN, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
IT MAKES ME, UH, VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL ACTIVE CONVERSATION THAT IS GOING ON WITHIN THIS CITY.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN HOW THIS PROGRAM HAS, UH, HELPED THE RESIDENTS OF THIS, OF THIS AMAZING CITY FIRSTHAND.
UM, EVEN FROM ONE PERSON JUST REACHING OUT AND GOING THROUGH THE EVICTION, UH, WE END UP FINDING OUT THAT THEIR WHOLE BUILDING IS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THIS.
AND THAT HELPS, THAT, THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ORGANIZE THOSE FOLKS SO THAT WE CAN LITERALLY KEEP AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR HOME.
UM, SO OF COURSE, JUST AS, JUST AS MY COLLEAGUES AND AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE PRESENT HAVE ASKED, I DO, UH, ASK THAT, UH, WE REQUEST DOES THE CITY IDENTIFY 1.2 ADDITIONAL, UH, 1.2 MILLION, UH, DOLLARS ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES TO ALLOW THIS PROGRAM TO REACH, UH, MORE TENANTS FACING EVICTION.
BEFORE YOU GO, LET ME CALL THE NEXT SIX SPEAKERS.
DAVE SHUKLA, LILY PRA, ANTONIO, JOANNA, JEAN WILLIAMS, SHARON WEISSMAN.
ALRIGHT, IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD.
AND COUNSEL, I'M NOT HERE TO CHASTISE OR COMPLAIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LIBRARIES.
[01:30:01]
LIBRARIES, AS YOU'VE HEARD, ARE INCREDIBLY VITAL TO THIS CITY.I'D LIKE TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO MY OWN CONGRESS, UH, COUNCILMAN ROBERTA YANGA, WHO WAS THE FIRST, I BELIEVE, TO, UH, PROPOSE A FEE OF FREE FINE FOR BOOK SYSTEM, WHICH IS NOW PERMANENT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STAFF, KATHY DELE AND THE OTHERS ON HER TEAM FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AND FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE, UH, AND, UH, UH, EFFORTS WITH REGARD TO SECURITY.
THANK YOU FOR NOT CUTTING THE BUDGET AND GOOD LUCK.
ALRIGHT, DAVE, YOU'RE UP AFTER DAVE IS LILY.
MY NAME'S DAVE SHUKLA OR DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU PLEASE SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LEVELS OF FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT OR LIBRARY ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, EXTENSIVELY FROM PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES THAT TENANTS HAVE IN THIS CITY.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU, UH, HERE THIS AFTERNOON IS THAT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S, UH, FOCUS ON CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THE REALITY OF THE BUILDING STOCK IN THIS CITY.
A LOT OF IT HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. A LOT OF IT, FRANKLY, UH, ISN'T WELL ADAPTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE OR TO REDUCING THE CURRENT EMISSIONS THAT ARE ADDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO ASK AT LEAST ON THE RECORD, UH, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE ADUS THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN LONG BEACH? THE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES, UH, PROCEED INFORMALLY WHEN COMPLIANCE ISSUES OR COSTS BECOME A BARRIER.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, VISITED INSPECTED PROPERTIES HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ASSESSED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY LOAD REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE BEING PUT, UH, OR ADDED TO THE, THE CURRENT SYSTEM? THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER'S, LILY AFTER LILY'S ANTONIO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LILY PIERA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND LEAD THE STATEHOUSE LA WORK, UM, AT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR AL FOR ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS BY HELPING RENTERS STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
THIS IS WHY I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES AND MY COMMUNITY IN ASKING THAT AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION BE ALLOCATED TO RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS BUDGET.
NOT JUST TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM, BUT TO HELP US MEET ACTUAL NEED.
AS IT STANDS, OUR LEGAL PARTNERS HAVE EXCEEDED CAPACITY AND CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE EVICTION CASES.
MANY LONG BEACH TENANTS ARE LEFT WITH NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN COURT.
MY TEAM AND I THEN HAVE TO SEND THESE FAMILIES IN CRISIS ALL THE WAY UP TO LA TO ATTEND SELF REPRESENTATION PREPARATION WORKSHOPS.
THERE'S AN URGENT NEED TO EXPAND RIGHT TO COUNCIL SERVICES ROLLING OVER LAST YEAR'S FUNDING IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE EXPECT OVER 2000 EVICTION CASES TO BE FILED THIS YEAR.
AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, I URGE YOU TO IDENTIFY THOSE 1.2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
PLEASE HELP US INCREASE TENANTS ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION SO THAT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AT STAYING HOUSED AND AVOIDING HOMELESSNESS.
NEXT IS ANTONIO AFTER ANTONIO'S, JOANNA.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I, I'M ANTONIO, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH LONG BEACH FORWARD.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING FUNDING TOWARDS LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM AND RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM.
WHILE THAT'S A START, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO UPLIFT WHAT FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED FIRST.
UM, STARTING OFF BY THANKING YOU AGAIN FOR THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM FUNDING, WE NOW ASK TO HIRE AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PERMANENT STAFF, INCLUDING A FULL-TIME TAGALOG LANGUAGE SPECIALIST, AND A FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS AND FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF TO HAVE RELIABLE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF VALUABLE AND CRITICAL CITY DOCUMENTS.
SO SHOUT OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND INTERPRETERS WHO HAVE HELPED MEET THE TRANSLATION REQUESTS OF CRITICAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE ZONING IN CITY COURT AS PRETTY RECENT.
SECONDLY, I ASKED TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM SO FAMILIES FEEL ASSURED THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE PROGRAM TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AND MITIGATE THE HOUSING BURDEN RESIDENTS LIVE WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING PATHWAYS TO BUILD AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS SEEN THROUGH THE BALLOT, MEASURE A ZONING IN UPDATES AND INCLUSIONARY ZONING TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
OF COURSE, WHILE THE HOUSING CONVERSATION IS VALUED, LET'S REMIND
[01:35:01]
OURSELVES THAT BUILDING HOMES IS NOT THE ONLY APPROACH TO THE HOUSING CRISIS.THE CITY MUST INVENT INVEST IN TENANT PROTECTIONS NOW AS AN ADDITIONAL APPROACH TO MITIGATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF FAMILIES WHO CALL LONG BEACH TO THEIR HOME.
UM, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE CONSIDER FINDING MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, JOANNA, THEN JEAN, THEN SHARON, SHARON WEISSMAN, FINAL THREE SPEAKERS.
MY NAME IS JOANNA AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE LONG BEACH LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION THIS EVENING.
UM, SO AGAIN, AS MY COLLEAGUE SHARED PREVIOUSLY, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE ALLOCATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DEDICATED FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, WE REALLY NEED TO UPLIFT THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING THAT AMOUNT, UM, EVEN BEYOND THE CURRENT FY 25 BUDGET THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED.
UM, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDING IS ALSO SUN, UM, SUN SETTING THIS YEAR.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROPERLY FUNDING THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY IN THE CITY.
AND SO, AS PART OF OUR DEMANDS AS THE LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A FULL-TIME TAGALOG, UM, SLASH FILIPINO LANGUAGE SPECIALIST, INTERPRETER TRANSLATOR, UM, TO BE ADDED AS AN IN-HOUSE, UM, EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.
WE ALSO WANNA ADD A FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF TO OVERSEE THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENTAL LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS FOR ALL PUBLIC FACING CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE ALSO WANNA ADD A FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY RELATED TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING CITY OF LONG BEACH PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES.
UM, PROCESSES SHOULD BE EXPLAINED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES WITH REASONABLE TIMEFRAMES AND CLEAR GUIDELINES, UM, AND MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
UM, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS HERE, ALONG WITH MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE TENANT, RIGHT, UM, TO COUNSEL AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA PUSH THAT WE INCLUDE LANGUAGE JUSTICE WITHIN THAT, UH, FUNDING AS WELL.
JEAN WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE LOS CERRITOS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
I HAVE MY TEACHING BACKGROUND, UH, THAT YEP.
UHHUH, THAT, THAT HOME WAS AT 41 80 CHESTNUT.
IT WAS IN PRISTINE CONDITION, NOT LIKE RATS OR RUNDOWN OR ANYTHING.
THIS IS A TYPICAL HOME IN THE VIRGINIA COUNTRY CLUB AREA.
UM, SO THE OWNERS, YOU KNOW, TO BE HISTORICAL CONSIDERED IT, YOU'VE GOT, UH, I GAVE YOU A QUICK LITTLE BIOGRAPHY ON THAT FIRST PAGE OF THE LUNDGREN FAMILY.
JOHN LUNDGREN, THE PERSONAL PHYSICIAN FOR THE RICHARD NIXON FAMILY.
THEY STAYED THERE LIKE IN THE SIXTIES, YOU KNOW, WHEN, UM, PAT HAD HER STROKE, UM, ALL SORTS OF HISTORY IN THAT DAN LUNDGREN, ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CALIFORNIA GREW UP THERE.
OKAY, SO LET'S SKIP, LET'S SKIP AND GO TO, SO, SO WE'RE SCARED.
WE'RE GETTING DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DEMOLISHING.
AND DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE, THERE IS NO PRESERVATION, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.
IT IS PART OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THEN PLANNING AND THEN ON DOWN THE ROAD.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING BUDGET, THEY GET WHAT'S EVER DEEMED NECESSARY OR AT THE MOMENT, AND WE KNOW YOU'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN LONG BEACH.
WHERE IS HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GOING TO FALL IN ALL THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE IN 1981 COMPLETED THAT I HAVE MENTIONED HERE, MA'AM, MANY TIMES CONCLUDED NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
WHAT WE WANT US AN ASSOCIATION, ACTUALLY LET'S JUST SKIP TO THE LAST PAGE WHAT WE WANT.
JUST, JUST GO AHEAD AND SUMMARIZE.
WHAT WE WANT, UM, A REVIEW OF THE PERMIT TO DEMOLISH GUIDELINES.
ALL YOU NEED IS A BLUEPRINT TO DEMOLISH A HOME.
THAT'S ALL NEIGHBORS DON'T HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED.
THERE'S, UH, YOU, YOU PAY THE MONEY AS FAR AS I COULD READ.
AND I THOUGHT, I'M READING THIS WRONG.
SO I CALLED, I CALLED AND FOUND OUT AND THEY GO, NOPE, THAT'S CORRECT.
IF YOU GET A VARIANCE FOR YOUR HOUSE TO BUILD, YOU'VE GOTTA LET YOUR NEIGHBORS KNOW.
IF ANYBODY HAD COME AND NO GAVE NOTICE THAT THIS HOUSE PROBABLY KNOW WAS GONNA BE DEMOLISHED, THERE WOULD'VE BEEN AN UPROAR.
UM, WELL, I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA LOSE QUORUM SOON.
WE HAVE TO KEEP, WE HAVE TO PROCEED.
SO YOU WANT ME, IN OTHER WORDS, JUST, I'M SORRY, JUST TO MAKE YOU NOTES, DO YOU WANT ME JUST WRAP IT UP? JUST MAKE THE CLERK JUST PASS IT O YEAH, PASS IT ON TO THE CLERK SO SHE CAN SHARE IT WITH US.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SHARON WEISSMAN, A FIFTH DISTRICT RESIDENT, A READER AND A LOVER OF LIBRARIES.
[01:40:01]
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.TWO YEARS AGO I ASKED YOU TO BE BRAVE AND INCREASE OUR LIBRARY'S BUDGET AND YOU WERE AND YOU DID.
ALTHOUGH OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED, WE RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION AND WE ONLY ASK YOU SUPPORT KATHY DA LEON'S REC REQUEST.
OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN A VITAL RESOURCE FOR OUR STUDENTS CHILDREN.
THE UNEMPLOYED, THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE DEAF COMMUNITY, THOSE WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND MANY OTHERS.
IT'S ALSO AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
THE WORLD IS OPEN TO THOSE THOUSANDS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS RESOURCES BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON.
AND THE CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IS A GIFT TO US ALL MAGNIFYING THE DIVERSITY THAT IS LONG BEACH.
WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE REDUCTION OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SURROUNDING THE BILLIE JEAN KING MAIN LIBRARY.
THIS MAKES IT MORE INVITING AND SAFER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO VISIT, PARTICULARLY OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN.
OUR ASK IS THAT YOU ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS INSIDE OUR LIBRARIES.
I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL HERE, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY OF YOU TO DISCUSS THIS IN DETAIL.
WE'RE MEETING WITH CITY MANAGER TOM MOCA LATER THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THE PROBLEMS WILL BE ADDRESSED.
ADDITIONAL SSOS PATROLLING THE LIBRARY WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS SOLVING THE PROBLEMS. AT MARK TWAIN AND THE MAIN LIBRARY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LIBRARIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WELL, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE TO RECEIVING FILE OR CONTINUE THE HEARING, WHATEVER THE MOTION IS.
I THINK IT'S CONTINUE THE HEARING.
I THINK
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO, PLEASE.
UH, WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'M A FORMER POSTAL EMPLOYEE, NOW RETIRED.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE HAVE CONTROL OF THE CONGRESS.
THE CONGRESS HAS PASSED SOME REALLY UGLY LEGISLATION LATELY.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL PASSED THE POSTAL SERVICE REFORM ACT IN 2020 2ND OF APRIL.
I RECEIVED A, A PAMPHLET FROM UPS IN SPRING OF 2023.
THIS IS HOW I WAS NOTIFIED OF IT.
NOTHING BEFORE OR NOTHING SINCE, UH, THE, THE REPUBLICANS AND PASSED LEGISLATION THAT HAVE REDUCED MY SOCIAL SECURITY BY $17,000 NET.
NOW THEREAFTER, HEALTHCARE, I HAD UNITED HEALTHCARE AS AN HMO IN 2000 2019.
THE NEW PO POSTAL SERVICE RE REFORM ACT IS DECIMATING MINE AND OTHER POSTAL EMPLOYEES HEALTHCARE.
I HAVE CALLED OPM WAS IN CHARGE OF MY RETIREMENT TO GET INFO ON THE COMPREHENSIVENESS AND COST OF THE NEW PLAN.
WHY DON'T THEY HAVE, WHAT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE, WHAT THEIR COST IS AND HOW COMPREHENSIVE THEY ARE.
THIS AFFECTS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 1 MILLION PEOPLE.
I HAVE PAID FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS FOR ALMOST 45 YEARS.
I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAID FOR 62 YEARS THAT WITH THE CHANGE TO POSTAL SERVICE HEALTH BENEFITS, WE ARE GETTING, UH, CUT IN HALF.
AND THE, THE COST OF ALL THIS IS WITH, UH, MEDICARE B IS ALMOST $5,200.
I HAVE MY LAST STATEMENT FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.
BLUE CROSS SHIELD PAID NOTHING FOR THIS NASAL SPRAY.
I'M AFRAID TO FIND OUT WHAT BLOOD PRESSURE AND PROSTATE MES CAN COST.
I HAVE PAID $207 A MONTH FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COV COVERAGE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR WHAT THE POSTMASTER GENERAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED WHEN BIDEN TOOK OFFICE.
THE PEOPLE TRUMP APPOINTED HAVE NO EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE NOT EVERYTHING THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS DONE OR NOT DONE HAS BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO RE POISE AND THEIR, UM, THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ]
AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS ANY, UM, UM, SUPPLEMENTAL
[01:45:01]
OR WHATEVER I COULD GET FOR HEALTHCARE.YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT JUST, THIS SMELLS LIKE PROJECT 25 AND, YOU KNOW, UM, TO, TO HAVE CUT, CUT OFF THREE, UM, YOU KNOW, CUT OFF ALREADY, UM, FOR SO YOUR CONCLUDED NASAL SPRAY, YOU KNOW, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, SIR.
ALRIGHT, WELL WITH TWO MINUTES TO SPARE, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.