[00:03:58]
OKAY, IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS[CALL TO ORDER]
MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? LET'S SEE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO, UH, ASK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OV TO, UH, GIVE US A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
OKAY.THANK YOU, CHAIR AUSTIN FOR, UH, THAT INVITATION ON THIS MOMENTOUS DATE OF SEPTEMBER 3RD, UH, MADE FAMOUS BY THE TEMPTATIONS IN 1971 WITH THEIR HIT WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS THE 3RD OF SEPTEMBER A DAY I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER.
SO, WITH THAT, LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[00:05:09]
OKAY.UH, PLEASE RISE, EMBODY YOUR OWN SPIRIT, UH, WHILE WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I GUESS AT SOME POINT LATER IN THE MEETING, WE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT SEPTEMBER 3RD AND, AND YOUR MEMORIES FROM THAT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T MAKE TOO MANY MEMORIES TONIGHT 'CAUSE WE WANT LOW DRAMA TO GET OUTTA HERE.
UM, SO I'LL BE CHAIRING THE MEETING TONIGHT.
OUR MAYOR, MAYOR IS, UH, ATTENDING A SPECIAL OLYMPICS PARA OLYMPICS, UM, REPRESENTING THE CITY AND OUR VICE MAYOR, UM, IS NOT AVAILABLE THIS EVENING.
SO YOU HAVE YOURS TRULY BEAR WITH ME.
UM, WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AGENDA.
WE WILL FIRST, UH, START WITH PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST IS, UH, REGARDING LONG BEACH FLEET SERVICES, THE NUMBER ONE AWARD, THE CITY OF, UH, LONG BEACH.
OUR FLEET SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS, UH, NAMED NUMBER ONE FLEET IN THE US AND CANADA
[ FLEET #1 AWARD]
AMONG LEADING FLEETS.AND SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE SOMEONE UP FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE FLEET SERVICES, TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THEIR REWARD.
I BROUGHT MOST OF MY TEAM HERE TODAY.
UM, EVERYBODY COULD RAISE THEIR HAND STAND UP,
SO, THE GOVERNMENT FLEET AWARD IS AN AWARD THAT WE'VE BEEN CHASING FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, AND IT, IT EMBODIES, UH, FLEET LEADERSHIP, COMPETITIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES.
WE ACTUALLY FINISHED TOP 10 THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND FINALLY BROKE THROUGH AND GOT THE NUMBER ONE FLEET.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO SHARE IN OUR CELEBRATION WITH YOU, WE ACTUALLY HAVE T-SHIRTS, UM, FOR EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
ROBERT'S GONNA HAND THOSE OUT, OR WE CAN GIVE 'EM TO THE SIDE.
IT'S A REFLECTION OF, UH, FINISHING FIRST HAS SOME PICTURES OF SOME TRUCKS, REALLY COOL T-SHIRTS THAT YOU CAN WEAR OR SHARE WITH FAMILY, WHATNOT.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, WE'D LIKE TO JUST GET A QUICK PICTURE WITH OUR STAFF AND IF THAT'S OKAY.
WELL, LET ME JUST, UH, START BY, BY CONGRATULATING YOU ALL FOR, FOR YOUR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THIS RECOGNITION.
IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A, A, A BIG CITY ON THE MOVE AND WE, UH, HAVE, UH, EXCELLENT STAFF AND SERVICES, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND, AND, UH, DOES ANY OTHER, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SAY ANYTHING? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL? YES, MR. FLEET HIMSELF,
AND WE HAVE PICTURES OF YOU ON THE WALL STILL
SO LET'S, LET'S, UH, LET'S JOIN THE, THE TEAM FOR, FOR PHOTO COUNCIL.
DO WE JUST PIN THESE OTHER SIDE? GOOD TURN.
I'M GUESSING IT'S, THEY GAVE US SIZE.
[00:10:02]
JULIE.WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE, TAKE ONE.
THERE'S NO, YOU CAN'T DO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.
LET'S KEEP WORKING AT AT IT THOUGH.
UM, SO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION AS THEY THEY EXIT, UM, IS REGARDING MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES.
[ MOVIES IN THE PARK]
WE HAVE A FAMILY THEORY FRIENDLY MOVIE SERIES, UH, THAT'S BEING SCREENED AT VARIOUS PARTS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, UM, AND, UM, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM.UM, AND, UH, TODAY THEY'RE HERE TO PRESENT WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, OUR 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER HAD A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS AND ONE OF 'EM WERE GONNA BE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING THIS EVENING.
UH, BUT MOVIES IN THE PARKS HAVE HAVE PROVEN TO BE A REALLY FUN ELEMENT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, SIGNAL HILL FOR THE 18TH YEAR HAS COME FORWARD AND SPONSORED OUR MOVIES IN THE PARK FOR THE SUMMER.
UH, WE HAD 10 MOVIES THAT WERE SHOWN AT 30 UNIQUE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UH, MOVIES KICKED OFF AT SILVERADO PARK, UH, ON JUNE 17TH WITH A MOVIE OF GREAT LOCAL RENOWNED MOVIE WAS WISH, WHICH FEATURED A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE FROM OUR OWN JENNIFER KUMA, WHO VOICED DAHLIA IN THE FILM.
AND, UH, WE HAD NEW LOCATIONS THIS YEAR THAT INCLUDED MOTHER'S BEACH WHERE MOVIE GOERS ENJOYED GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY AND MOVIES.
WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO HEARTWELL PARK AS WELL AS AN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES LOCATION.
WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF CIGNA HILL WITH THREE MOVIES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER THAT INCLUDED WISH WONKA AND KUNG FU PANDA.
FOUR AND NEARLY 6,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENJOYED THE MOVIES, JUMPERS AND POPCORN OVER THE 10 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM.
UH, PARKS RECREATION MARINE HAS ALREADY PLANNING THE MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES FOR 2025 TO BRING EXCITING MOVIES AND ACTIVITIES TO RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THAT, UH, EXEMPLIFY THE PARTNERSHIP.
SO WE HAVE MELISSA LYNCH WITH SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM AND ALSO MARK ARTISAN, OR REPRESENTING, UH, HE'S OUR LEADER OF PARTNERS OF THE PARKS, AND THEY'LL BE MAKING A FEW PRESENTATIONS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELISSA AND MARK.
MY NAME IS MELISSA LYNCH AND I'M THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST AT SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM IS A FAMILY OWNED ENERGY COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING IN LONG BEACH AND SIGNAL HILL FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
WE'RE DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE WORK, AND WE'RE PROUD TO PARTNER, PARTNER WITH LOCAL PROGRAMS AND BENEFIT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
THIS SUMMER, WE MARK THE 18TH YEAR OF SPONSORING THE MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES WITH PARTNERS OF PARK.
BY THE END OF THE SEASON, WE HAD 30 MOVIES SHOWING IN 30 PARKS MOVIES IN THE PARK.
BROUGHT FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOGETHER FOR ENJOYABLE EVENINGS WITH FREE MOVIES AND POPCORN.
THIS YEAR WE ADDED SOME FUN THEMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WIN PRIZES.
WE KICKED THINGS OFF WITH A BIKE RAFFLE AND PRIZES FOR THE MOVIE WISH AT SIGNAL HILL PARK ON JUNE 21ST.
WE BELIEVE THAT RECREATION PROGRAMS, LIKE MOVIES IN THE PARK PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN FOSTERING A STRONG CONNECTED COMMUNITY.
THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES TO COME TOGETHER, AND THEY ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS OUR CITIES.
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ASHLEY JONES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS OF PARKS, AS WELL AS THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK LONG BEACH PARKS AND RECREATION MAYOR, MARINE DIRECTOR BRETT DENNIS AND HIS TEAM WHO HANDLED THE ORGANIZATION SET UP AND TEAR DOWN EACH NIGHT WITHOUT THEIR HARD WORK, THIS PROGRAM WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE ON BEHALF OF SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON OR AL AUSTIN FOR TONIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU.
TONIGHT, WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT THE $45,000 CHECK TO THE PARTNERS OF PARKS FOR THE 2024 MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES.
[00:15:02]
HI.AS BRENT, AS BRENT, UH, MENTIONED, I'M MARK ARTISAN.
I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT WITH PARTNERS OF PARKS.
UH, SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND, UH, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
18 YEARS WITH SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM PARKS, REC AND MARINE.
UH, I'M A FORMER PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR IN HAWTHORNE, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THIS STUFF THAT GOES ON, UH, IN THE CITY HERE.
BOO IN THE PARK IS A GREAT EVENT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT WARMS MY HEART TO DRIVE AROUND THE CITY IN THE SUMMER, DIFFERENT PARKS AND SEEING BEING USED CORRECTLY AND A LOT OF FAMILIES THERE.
SO WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND YOUR INSIGHT, UH, TO PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE WANTED TO CONTINUE FROM, UH, HERE ON FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE'LL COME, WE'LL JOIN YOU FOR A PICTURE WITH THE COUNCIL.
UH, I'LL JUST, UH, NOTE THAT, THAT OUR PARKS ARE AMAZINGLY PROGRAMMED DURING THE SUMMER.
UM, WE WANT TO THANK PARTNERS OF PARKS, UM, BUT WE ONLY WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK SIGNAL HILL PETROLEUM FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF, UH, PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER THAT, THAT VERY SPECIAL, UM, AMENITY.
THE, UH, MOVIES IN THE PARKS IS SOMETHING THAT MANY FAMILIES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SO, UH, LET'S JOIN THEM FOR PHOTO COUNSEL.
MOVING ALONG, WE GO TO OUR THIRD PRESENTATION, WHICH IS PRESENTATION BY OUR VERY OWN ARTS COUNCIL.
[ ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH 7 FOR 7 MURAL PROJECT AT VETERANS PARK]
GRISELDA, UH, HERE SUAREZ.UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, REPRESENTING THE ARCH COUNCIL.
SHE'S GONNA PRESENT ON LONG BEACH 7 4 7 MURAL PROJECTS AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN.
AND, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT IS A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT FOR US.
WE GET TO, UM, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RGA FOR INVESTING IN THE ARTS IN HIS DISTRICT.
UM, AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT, UM, IS, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTED BY COUNCILMAN BORANGA AND ALSO THE, UH, PARKS REC, MARINE AND ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, WITH BRENT HERE AND OH, HIS AMAZING STAFF.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITH EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER.
AND THEY GOT US THROUGH COVID.
THIS PRO THIS PROJECT WAS PAUSED AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SAY THAT NOW, UM, WE'RE SO CLOSE TO COMPLETION.
UM, THE 7 7 4 7 PROJECT, UM, IS SERVES AS A TOOL TO BEAUTIFY, UM, PARK LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
AND, UM, WE HAVE SIX OF SEVEN PROJECTS.
THE LAST PROJECT WILL BE A COMMUNITY PROJECT AND A MEMORIAL.
UM, THE PROJECT IS ON OUR WEBSITE AND, UM, OUR PUBLIC ART MAP, AS YOU CAN SEE, SHOWS THE LOCATIONS OF THE THOSE, UM, PARKS.
AND WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THIS IS THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER R RANA'S INVESTMENT WAS THE IMPETUS TO WORK WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A MURAL TOOLKIT.
AND THIS MURAL TOOL TOOLKIT IS INSPIRING MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO DO THE SAME.
UM, AND SO WHEN WE INSTALL A MURAL, WE, UM, FOLLOW VERY SPECIAL, UM, STEPS.
AND WE ALSO PROTECT THEM WITH ANTI GRAFFITI COATING SO THAT THEY CAN LAST A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, WE HAVE SILVERADO PARK, UM, AND VETERANS PARK, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM TREND MAI TODAY.
UM, ARTISTS LIKE NANCY CHU, JAMES BROOKS, LAJAN MILLER OTTO, MUR YOUNG.
UM, THESE ARE ARTISTS WHO, UM, HAVE B HAVE LIVED IN THE SEVEN OR HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR LIFE HERE VERY CLOSELY TO THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
[00:20:01]
AND I THINK IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO STATE THAT, UM, UM, WE HAD REDISTRICTING HAPPENING AS WELL.SO WE HAD COVID AND RE REDISTRICTING, BUT WE STILL INVESTED IN MANY OF THE FAMILIES, FOR EXAMPLE, AT, UM, LOS CERRITOS PARK AS A, IT HAS A MEMORIAL MURAL, UM, FOR THE, UM, TATA FAMILY.
AND THE NEXT MEMORIAL MURAL WILL BE ON WILLOW AT NITAS FOR, UM, UM, FOR KATIE PHILLIPS WHO PASSED AWAY AND WAS A HUGE SUPPORTER IN THE SEVENTH WITH MURALS.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE WEBSITE SHOWS, UM, NOT ONLY THE ARTISTS, BUT ALL THE ACTIVATIONS WE DID THROUGH THIS PROJECT.
WE, WE HAD, UM, COMMUNITY PAINTING DAY.
UM, WE FED, UM, CHILDREN WHO WERE AT THE, UM, PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER AT VETERANS PARK.
WE HAD LUNCH WITH THEM, WE HAD ACTIVITIES WITH THEM.
UM, WE HAD ART, UM, FOLKS COMING ALL THE WAY FROM THE VALLEY TO MEET RIN MAI, WHO'S ONE OF THE FEW, UH, VIETNAMESE AMERICAN ARTISTS TO HAVE A MURAL IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO IT MADE, IT HAS MADE A COUNTYWIDE IMPACT.
UM, AND IT IS NOW OFFICIALLY WE, THE PROPAGATORS IS ON OUR PUBLIC ART MAP.
AND THERE YOU'LL SEE WHO SPONSORED, WHO THE ARTIST IS, UM, THE LOCATION, THE, THE GPS LOCATION, EVERYTHING IS THERE.
AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
SO AGAIN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MURANGA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION ON THIS AND, AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE ON THIS.
AND IT HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT, NOT ONLY IN LONG BEACH, BUT FOR MANY PEOPLE AROUND, UM, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UM, I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE OFFICE OF COUNT COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, SEAN BROTHER ORANGA.
UM, LONG BEACH PARKS REC AND MARINE.
BRENT, MY FELLOW ARTIST, UH, THANK YOU ARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH, WHO HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.
UM, SINCE WE MOVED HERE JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.
UM, THESE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE JUST DONE WORLDS FOR MY CALLING AS AN ARTIST.
UM, TO BE ABLE TO USE MY GIFT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I'M A CRIER.
SO
UH, SO IN DEVELOPING THIS WORK, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
UM, MURAL WORK HAS BEEN FAIRLY NEW TO ME.
I KIND OF JUST THROW PAINT AROUND AND SOMETIMES IT STICKS TO THE WALL.
AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE WRIGLEY, UM, ASSOCIATION, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, GATHER IDEAS AND INSPIRATION.
UM, AND A LOT OF THEM HAD SPOKEN ABOUT, UM, NATURE AND THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF NATURE.
SO I BEGAN, AS I BEGAN RESEARCHING, UM, I WAS THINKING, HOW DO WE, THE PARK IS, UM, HONORING THE VETERANS, UM, ALREADY, UM, I AM, UH, THE DAUGHTER AND THE WIFE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
UM, AND SO THE SUBJECT OF WAR, UM, AND HEALING HAS BEEN VERY PREVALENT IN MY WORK AND STORY IS THE DRIVING FORCE OF IT.
UM, AND WHILE RESEARCHING, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE PROPAGATORS, UM, WHAT IT IS THAT WE WANT TO PROPAGATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR WORLD, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DEVASTATION.
SO, UM, IN RESEARCHING, I FOUND AN ARMYWORM MOTH AND AN ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY, WHICH WAS SO PERFECT FOR VETERANS PARK.
UM, WE HAVE HUMMINGBIRD, SAGE, AND MILKWEED THAT BRINGS THESE, UM, POLLINATORS, UM, INTO OUR LANDSCAPE.
UM, AND IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO WORK ON THIS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LOVED ABOUT PUBLIC ART IS IT TRULY IS PUBLIC.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AT THIS SITE WHEN THERE WAS CENTER SUMMER CAMP GOING ON, AND I GOT TO MEET, UM, THE PARK STAFF, UM, ALL THE CHILDREN.
I MEAN, CHILDREN HAVE SO MUCH TO LAUGH AND SCREAM ABOUT.
IT WAS CONSTANT AND IT WOULD ECHO THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND, UM, THEY WERE ALWAYS SO SUPPORTIVE.
UM, CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE? OH, I HAVE A THING.
UM, SO, UH, HERE IS, UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT, UM, DURING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW IS THIS PIECE GOING TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE SUN? AND WHAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, UM, IS
[00:25:01]
THAT THERE'S THIS BEAUTIFUL ASH TREE.AND THIS GUY JUST SHADED ME ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS WORKING IN THE HOT SUN.
SO THIS IS FROM JUNE THROUGH JULY.
AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE MURALS, THEY DON'T SEE THE DIRTY WORK
SO HERE'S, UH, ANTHONY, ME AND LAURA, UM, BOTH FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL AND WE'RE TRAINING ON THE SCISSOR LIFT AND ON THE BOOM LIFT TO PREPARE.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, ACTUALLY.
UH, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A REALLY INTERESTING PHOTO.
UM, I WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING CERTIFIED 'CAUSE IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE A PROFESSIONAL
SO I ORDERED THIS, UM, THIS CUSTOMIZED, UH, HI VIS BEST WITH ALL THE POCKETS.
AND, UM, IT SAYS SPEAK LIFE IN THE BACK OF IT.
I JUST, I FELT REALLY GUILTY ABOUT, UM, HAVING MY BACK TURNED TOWARD PEOPLE AS I'M WORKING.
UM, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN INTERESTING PHOTO.
'CAUSE THE BUCKET SAYS, LET'S DO THIS.
AND THEN THE VEST SAYS, SPEAK LIFE.
SO, AND THE WORK WAS ABOUT LIFE, PROPAGATING LIFE.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
UH, HERE THERE WAS SOME INSECT NESS THAT WERE ALL ALONG THE TOP.
I LEFT ONE OF 'EM BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE'RE LIKE PAYING HOMAGE TO THESE POLLINATORS.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE MAKEOVER
I LIKE, UM, HIDING DETAILS IN MY WORK, UM, AS KIND OF LIKE A QUIET MOMENT OR REMINDER THAT MIGHT BE OVERSEEN, BUT STILL HOLDS THE INTENTION FOR THE PIECE.
UM, SO IN PENCIL RIGHT ABOVE THAT HONEYBEES ANTENNA, UM, IT SAYS A PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO SET THEIR EYES UPON THE WORK.
AND, UM, VETERANS PARK HAS, UM, A PRETTY LARGE POPULATION OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE LIVING AT THE PARK.
AND IT WAS SUCH, UM, A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO MEET SOME OF THEM, TO SPEAK TO THEM AND TO CONNECT TO THESE PEOPLE, UM, AND TO OFFER THEM SOMETHING.
HERE'S SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH.
SO WALKING FROM VETERANS PARK, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO THE POOL.
HERE'S THEM COMING BACK, UM, FROM THE POOL AND THEY WERE ACROSS THE STREET ABOUT TO PARK.
AND IN UNISON, I HEAR THEM SAY, GOOD JOB MISS TRIN
THE BIRDS WERE LEAVING ME GIFTS.
SO I WAS COLLECTING A LOT OF FEATHERS FOR OTHER WORK,
UM, AND THEN WE HAD THE BARBECUE, LIKE GRISELDA WAS MENTIONING.
UM, IT WAS SUCH A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.
UM, THERE'S MY DEAR FRIEND JANIE, WHO WAS COOKING UP THE HOT DOGS.
UH, JUDY AND JENNIFER, THE ARTS COUNCIL.
AND CODY, MY FELLOW ARTIST UNDER THAT BEAUTIFUL ASH TREE.
UM, YEAH, WE WERE JUST OFFERING FOOD TO ALL WHO WANTED TO BE SERVED.
THERE'S LITTLE JADA IN THE BACK, SHE'S VERY FUNNY.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I, I HAVE A, A A SHORT STORY IF WE HAVE TIME, UM, A STORY.
UM, AND I, I JUST WANNA SHARE THIS STORY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE GATHER AND WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIX THINGS, UM, TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.
AND THEN OUR ATTENTION GETS SET ON THE WHAT.
AND SOMETIMES IT SHADES US FROM THE WHY AND EVEN THE WHO.
'CAUSE WE'RE FO SO FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND.
'CAUSE WE'RE AMBITIOUS PEOPLE AND WE OUGHT TO BE.
UM, AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A STORY SLASH CONFESSION.
I HAD HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR A POSSIBLE MURAL THAT I WAS GOING TO DO.
AND, UM, IT'S IN A REALLY ROUGH AREA.
UM, AND I THOUGHT I'D GO CHECK OUT THE SITE BEFORE I PUT IN A PROPOSAL.
AND AS I'M DRIVING AROUND THIS SITE, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY LOST PEOPLE IN THAT BLOCK.
IT WAS THIS, IT'S IN A CORNER OF A CORNER OF A CORNER OF LONG BEACH.
LIKE, IT JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS SO OUT OF THE WAY.
AND FOR SOME REASON THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THIS BLOCK, A LOT OF THEM BAREFOOT.
AND FOR SOME REASON THIS ONE DAY IT WAS MOSTLY WOMEN.
AND, UM, I COULDN'T GET INTO THE GATE TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE SITE.
[00:30:01]
DRIVING OUT MY FIRST, AND I HAD TO GO OVER, UM, THE RIVER, SO I'M GOING OVER THE BRIDGE TO GET OVER THERE AND OVER THEIR BRIDGE TO GET BACK.AND AS I'M DRIVING BACK OVER THE BRIDGE TO GET HOME, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, IT MIGHT NOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO WORK HERE.
AND MY SECOND THOUGHT WAS, WHO'S GONNA SEE THIS MURAL ANYWAY? AND AS I MID THOUGHT, I'M NOT GONNA SAY GOD SAID, BUT IT WAS VERY STRONG IN MY HEART.
IT WAS VERY STERN AND IT WAS VERY AUTHORITATIVE, AND IT WASN'T ANGRY, BUT IT REALLY CONVICTED MY HEART.
AND WHILE I, AS I HEARD THAT, I STARTED FEELING SO SHAMEFUL THAT I WOULD THINK THAT BECAUSE MY JOY IS TO SERVE.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, I JUST KIND OF, I LOOKED UP AT THE SKY AND I WAS LIKE, I'M SO SORRY.
THESE ARE EXACTLY THE PEOPLE I SHOULD BE SERVING.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD, THAT NEED COLOR AND BEAUTY IN THE WORLD.
AND IMMEDIATELY AS I'M APOLOGIZING, ALL OF THE GUILT JUST DISSIPATED.
AND I LOOK UP AND I'M GOING OVER THE BRIDGE.
SO ONE STREETLIGHT OVER MY HEAD, TWO.
AND ON THAT THIRD ONE WAS A HAWK.
AND I AM, I HAVE TURNED INTO THE CRAZY BIRD LADY.
THEY COME TO ME TO GIVE ME MESSAGES.
AND THERE WAS A HAWK JUST PERCHED THERE LOOKING AT ME.
AND IMMEDIATELY MY HEART WAS JUST SO EXCITED TO PUT IN THIS PROPOSAL FOR JUST THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I CAME HOME, I WORKED ON THE RENDERING, FINISHED IT, AND THE STATEMENT IN TWO DAYS, WHICH NEVER HAPPENS.
LIKE THE RESEARCH, EVERYTHING HAPPENED IN JUST THOSE TWO DAYS.
AND SO THE NEXT DAY I HAD IT DONE, AND NOW I'M REALLY INSPIRED.
I'M LIKE, OH GOSH, I REALLY LOVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WHOEVER IT BELONGS TO, IT NEEDS TO BELONG TO.
BUT THAT WOULD BE AMAZING IF I GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'M DRIVING BACK OVER THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THE GATES WERE CLOSED.
I HAD COME AFTER HOURS THE DAY BEFORE.
I'M DRIVING BACK OVER THE BRIDGE AND I'M ON THE PHONE WITH MY HUSBAND AND I'M TELLING HIM ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE.
AND AS I'M DRIVING BACK OVER ON THAT SAME LIGHT POLE, WAS THAT HAWK THAT SAME? IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN THE SAME HAWK.
MIGHT AS WELL BE
BUT IT WAS THAT SAME HAWK AND IT WAS SUCH A CONFIRMATION.
AND SO I'M TELLING THIS STORY, UM, TO CONFESS, BUT ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO THESE GOOD THINGS AND SOMETIMES THE TASK IS SO GREAT OR IT'S SO COMPLICATED THAT IT TAKES OUR EYES AWAY FROM WHY WE'RE DOING IT AND WHO WE'RE SERVING.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S JUST SUCH A, IT WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND A MEANINGFUL REMINDER FOR ME.
AND SO, AS SERVANTS OF THE CITY, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND, UM, AND FOR THE HEART TO SERVE IN THIS SHARED HOPE TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LITTLE LONG.
UM, I, I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO GET UP HERE AND TELL THAT STORY, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR, YOUR TALENT, YOUR HEART, AND THAT BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE WITH US TO HERE THIS THIS EVENING.
UH, I THINK A COUPLE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO SPEAK AS WELL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, UH, THANK YOUR ACTING MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU TRENT FOR MEETING HERE TONIGHT.
YOU CAN TELL BY THE SILENCE IN THE CROWD THAT YOUR STORY WAS VERY MEANINGFUL, VERY TOUCHING, WHERE WE ALL CONTEMPLATE AND WE THINK ABOUT WHO DO WE SERVE.
WE SERVE THE PEOPLE, WE SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO GET US HERE.
AND THAT'S A GOOD REMINDER OF IT.
THESE PICTURES THAT YOU JUST SAW, DON'T DO THE MURAL PROJECT JUSTICE FOR WHAT IT REALLY MEANS AND FOR HOW REALLY IMPACTFUL IT REALLY IS.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, IF YOU CAN, TO GO TO 28TH AND PACIFIC AT VETERANS PARK TO SEE THIS BUREAU IS BEAUTIFUL.
SEE IT LIVE OR DEAD, I GUESS, BUT TO SEE IT ACTUALLY IN PERSON.
THAT'S THE WORD WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO PLEASE VISIT BENJAMIN PARK, LOOK AT THIS MURAL.
YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE INSPIRED.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IT DOES
[00:35:01]
FOR YOU PERSONALLY.WELL, THANK GRISELDA FOR HER STEPPING UP.
AND THEN WE PUT A CHALLENGE TO HER WHEN WE SAID, WE WANNA DO SEVEN EUROS FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
AND SHE STEPPED UP AND SHE MADE IT HAPPEN.
SO THANK GRISELDA FOR YOUR EFFORT AND DREAD FOR BEING WITH US ARTISTS THAT STEPPED UP WITH A WONDERFUL MURAL AND A WONDERFUL PROJECT.
I HAVE A SIGNIFICANCE HERE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.
SO I THANK YOU TO STEP UP SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO AND EVERYBODY FROM THE SAID COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO, I THINK, UH, RICK ODE.
YEAH, I, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT.
THANK YOU TO ARTS COUNCIL OF LONG BEACH FOR PARTNERING WITH DISTRICT SEVEN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TREND THAT I, WHEN YOU WALKED UP HERE, I REMEMBERED YOU BECAUSE YOU DID THE CULTURE CHAT AT MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY.
UM, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, CULTURE CHATS WERE AN INITIATIVE BY OUR WONDERFUL LIBRARY, UM, TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT ARTS CULTURE, HISTORY OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
UM, THEY DID ONES FOR ETHIOPIA AND VIETNAM.
AND SO YOU CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR HISTORY AND HOW THAT INFORMS YOU.
AND I REMEMBERED ALL OF YOUR ART ABOUT THE BIRDS, RIGHT? WOW.
THAT WAS THE THING THAT ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOUR PRESENT, YOUR PASSION TRANSCENDS WHAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TRANSCENDS ANY, ANY DEFICIENCIES OR THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE STORY YOU TOLD.
RIGHT? YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I SAT THERE AND WAS IMPRESSED WITH HOW YOU BROUGHT RICHNESS AND YOUR HISTORY AND YOUR TALENT AND YOUR CULTURE, RIGHT? AND THAT, THAT, THAT IMPRESSES UPON PEOPLE, RIGHT? THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S A REASON AND A MISSION FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND SO I THANK YOU AND SO MANY OTHER ARTISTS IN OUR CITY FOR BEING WILLING TO SHARE THEIR TALENTS.
UM, AND AGAIN, WHAT YOU SHARED RESONATED WITH ME, WHICH IS WHY I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED YOU, UH, WHEN YOU WALKED UP HERE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO SHARE YOUR SKILLS, UM, AND YOUR, YOUR TALENT AND YOUR PASSION WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PHOTO COME ON UP WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE EVENING.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO PULL ITEM ONE 14 AND 15 FROM THE AGENDA.
UM, UH, I THINK A MOTION IS IN ORDER TO, UH, TO, TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT.
[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 25.)]
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.I DON'T ALLOW, IT DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO, OR I'M NOT GOING.
UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR OTHER THAN ITEMS ONE 14 OR 15? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
CAN WE GO TO NUMBER ITEM NUMBER ONE? CLERK COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN INDE HAS RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS BY 12,000 TO PROVIDE A DONATION TO THE FOLLOWING
[1. 24-54467 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $12,000, offset by the First Council District One-Time District Priority Funds, transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide a donation to the following: Downtown Long Beach Alliance, in support of the closure of Pine Avenue, in the amount of $10,000; Centro CHA Inc., in support of the community events, in the amount of $2,000; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $12,000 to offset transfers to the City Manager Department. Levine Act: Yes Office or Department: Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, First District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE IN SUPPORT OF CLOSURE OF PINE AVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF 10,000 AND CENTRAL CHA IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 2000.[00:40:03]
OKAY.I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ZENDEJAS, IF WE CAN GET THE RECUSAL FROM, I'M SORRY, CD NINE AS A RECUSED.
UH, IN ACCORD WITH LEVI ACT, I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE ITEM BECAUSE I ACCEPTED A CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN TWO 50 FROM AN ENTITY WHO WAS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SUBJECT PROCEEDING SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM.
COUNCIL, SHOULD I HAVE? OH, SO THE ITEM WAS PULLED FOR THE RECUSAL.
UM, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, UM, LET'S VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.
SO NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 14.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ IT? REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH AN MOU BETWEEN THE CITY AND
[14. 24-54675 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Long Beach (City) and Community Partners dba the Mayor’s Fund of Long Beach (MFLB) in support of MFLB’s grant application to the U.S. Department of Education Promise (PN) Program for the Long Beach Westside Promise Collective Impact Project (Project); and Authorize City Manager, or designee, to obligate $400,000 of City funds to serve as match in the MFLB grant application to the U.S. Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods (PN) Program for the Project, contingent upon City Council’s adoption of the fiscal year 2025 budget. (District 7) Office or Department: City Manager; Health and Human Services Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.DBA, THE MAYOR'S FUND OF LONG BEACH FOR THE LONG BEACH WEST SIDE PROMISE COLLECTIVE IMPACT PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO OBLIGATE 400,000 FOR THE PROJECT CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL'S ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, BUDGET DISTRICT SEVEN.
UH, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
I JUST WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS.
UM, SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT IS IN THE PROPOSED FY 25 BUDGET, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MATCH A GRANT OPPORTUNITY, UH, WITH SOME DOLLARS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU'LL VOTE ON NEXT WEEK.
UH, BUT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND THE FOCUS.
UH, I WILL TURN IT TO OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TALK THAT THROUGH.
I'M GONNA GET, UH, START, GET STARTED FOR US.
UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, ACTING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, UH, TO ERICA FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, WE DO FROM TIME TO TIME GET REQUESTS FROM, UH, OUTSIDE GROUPS TO PARTNER WITH US ON GRANTS.
UH, AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE CITY IS NOT DIRECTLY ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDS, UH, BUT A PARTNER AGENCY IS AND, UH, HAS REQUESTED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY, UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AND SO THE MAYOR'S FUND OF LONG BEACH, UH, IS THE, UH, GRANT SUBMITTER AND THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT.
AND THE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE SOME FUNDS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION TYPE OF PROGRAMS. I WILL TURN THIS OVER, UH, TO ERICA AND SHE CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT.
UH, WE WOULD JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THIS GRANT WILL INCLUDE.
AND SO, UH, AS MEREDITH MENTIONED, WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS BECAUSE THE GRANT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN.
HOWEVER, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY SUPPORT AND SERVICES IN WEST LONG BEACH, WEST SIDE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GRANTS, THE REINVIGORATION OF MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, WHICH SERVES BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, INCREASING KINDERGARTEN READINESS AMONG LOCAL CHILDREN, AND INCREASING ACCESS TO AND AFFORDABILITY OF CH QUALITY CHILDCARE.
AND SO AT SUCH TIME, IF THE, UH, GRANT IS AWARDED TO THE MAYOR'S FUND AND THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE, THE, SOME OF THIS FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT ERICA OUTLINED, UH, WE WILL BE BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, FOR AN ACTION TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE ANY FUNDS THAT COME TO THE CITY.
UH, SO THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S REPORT.
WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR SUBMITTING THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL AND FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE, UH, WITH I PROMISE.
AND, AND IF I COULD ADD, I JUST THINK THIS IS, THE TIMING OF THIS IS REALLY GOOD.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS, UH, THE, AND FUNDING, UM, FOR, UH, PROGRAMS PARTICULARLY, UM, DEDICATED TO YOUTH FUNDING IN OUR CITY.
UM, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND, UM, EVEN MY BROTHER'S KEEPER.
AND SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS FORTUITOUS AND TIMELY.
UM, GLAD TO SEE IT COMING BEFORE US AND, UM, WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED ON, ON GETTING THE GRANT AWARD.
UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
HEARING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES.
[00:45:03]
MOTION IS CARRIED.IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION PASSES.
UM, AND SO NOW WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
ITEM 15, WE'RE GONNA REPORT FROM CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE UNREPRESENTED MANAGEMENT, NON-SWORN
[15. 24-54642 Recommendation to amend the City of Long Beach Unrepresented Management (Non-Sworn) Employee Terms and create a salary range for the Executive Director of Civil Service in the annual amount of $220,001.559 - $265,000.360, effective the pay period beginning December 30, 2023. Office or Department: Civil Service Commission Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
EMPLOYEE TERMS AND CREATE A SALARY RANGE FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL SERVICE AND AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $220,001 AND 56 CENTS THROUGH 265036 CENTS.EFFECTIVE THE PAY PERIOD BEGINNING DECEMBER 30TH, 2023.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT CLEARLY.
SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ACTING MAYOR AL AUSTIN.
MY NAME IS ROBIN GORDON PETERSON.
I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
AND WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, TONIGHT FOR YOU TO GIVE US A RANGE FOR THAT POSITION.
AND THAT'S ALL THAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS A RANGE.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR COMMENTS AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE, THE COMMISSION, UM, AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, I WILL TAKE IT TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ODI, WHO IS RICK ODI, WHO HAS, UM, MADE A MOTION, UH, THANK YOU, UH, ACTING CHAIR
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO IN LIGHT OF THE, THE, UM, THE ITEM BEFORE US AND THE MOTION BEFORE US, OUR CITY MANAGER PUT OUT A TFF THAT I THINK MANY OF YOU SAW, UM, SHARING SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE PROPOSED, UM, SALARY RANGE.
AND, UH, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT HE PUTS IN THERE, IF YOU'VE READ THROUGH IT, IT COMPLETELY, UM, IS THAT THE COMPENSATION PROPOSED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SALARY RANGES OF OTHER COMPARABLE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS, UM, WE GET MORE INFORMATION AROUND MAYBE A FUTURE PROPOSAL THAT CIVIL SERVICES WOULD LIKE TO BRING, UNLESS THE THAT'S MY MOTION.
SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION.
UH, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA SPEAK? NO, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF ORDER IF WE, IF IT REQUIRES A VOTE THAT ROBIN GORDON PIECE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN.
I I'D LIKE TO ALLOW THAT IT, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
UM, THAT, UM, ROBIN GORDON PETERSON WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT REQUIRES A VOTE OF COUNSEL TO ALLOW THAT, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE ALLOW HER TO CONTINUE SPEAKING.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO HEARING FROM THE COMMISSIONER, PLEASE? I, I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM, UH, MR. MOCA AND THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION AND, UH, I DID SPEAK TO OUR MAYOR REGARDING THIS ITEM, AND I ASSURED BOTH OF THEM THAT WE HAVE NO INTENT TO GIVE A, AN INCREASE THAT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR AGREEMENT.
AND I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR.
I DON'T THINK MY, UH, REQUEST IS UNREASONABLE.
AND I'VE GIVEN MY WORD THAT I WOULD NOT GO BEYOND THE SALARIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PREVAILING.
WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP THINGS, UH, UM, UH, SIMILAR.
AND, UH, WE DON'T INTEND FOR THE, THIS POSITION TO OUTWEIGH ANY OTHER POSITION.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASSURE MR. MOCA THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON IS STILL IN EFFECT, THE, THIS IS MERELY A RANGE.
IT IS NOT FOR THE COMMISSION TO GIVE OUT INCREASES THAT NOT, WOULD NOT BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH, UM, MR. MOCA AND THE RANGES THAT HE CURRENTLY HAS.
AND I SENT HIM AN EMAIL, UM, EXPLAINING THAT TODAY.
UM, IS THERE ANY MORE COMMENT FROM COUNCIL ON THIS? UH, OH, UH, CAN I JUST ASK POINT OF CLARIFICATION PLEASE? SO, UM, CITY ATTORNEY, CAN I ASK A QUESTION, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I MADE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE 'CAUSE I, I, I, UM, DON'T AGREE WITH THE, THE MOTION THAT'S CURRENTLY ON THE, THE, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR.
[00:50:01]
A RECEIVE, UH, A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE DOES THAT, UM, AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE TO THAT WOULD MEAN WHAT? THAT MEANS THAT THIS ITEM WOULD BE RECEIVED AND FILED AND NO OTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN ON IT.I, I THINK THAT, UH, PERHAPS CITY STAFF OR THE CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO, UH, IF WE COULD HAVE, UM, HIM WEIGH IN ON WHERE WE ARE ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, HAS THE MEMO BEEN AFFECTED BY WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT? I THINK WE'D LIKE TO, AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, AND I'M SPEAKING TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTIS MOTION, THANK YOU CHAIR.
IF IT COUNTS, WOULD LIKE, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND.
SO, UH, UNDER THE CITY CHARTER, THE, UM, UH, THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY SETS THE SALARY OF POSITIONS UP TO THE AMOUNT THAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO CITY COUNCIL, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THIS COMMISSION, IT'S FOR OTHERS, SETS A MAXIMUM SALARY RANGE.
AND THEN YOU ALSO SAY WHAT, UM, PERCENT INCREASES UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT CAN BE GIVEN.
UH, THE MAX, UH, IS, UH, 7% FOR CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND MOST OTHER COMMISSIONS.
AND SO, UM, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY VOTED TO DO A 7% INCREASE AND THEN ASK FOR AN ITEM TO COME TO YOU TO, UH, INCREASE THE SALARY RANGE TO ALLOW FOR THAT 7% INCREASE.
THAT 7% INCREASE COMES ON THE HEELS OF SUBSEQUENT 7% INCREASES.
SO OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, IT WAS ABOUT 42%, UM, UH, OF SALARY INCREASE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I FELT NEEDED TO BE EXPLAINED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
I, UM, AT THAT, AT THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL, IT WAS GOING TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID NON-PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IN THE CITY.
WE SENT A LETTER BACK IN JULY AND EXPLAINED SOME OF THIS AND PROVIDED SOME OF THE COMPS AND RECOMMENDED NO MORE THAN A 2%, UM, TO WHICH WOULD BE THE MEDIAN OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
UH, AND SO THAT WAS RECONSIDERED.
UM, AND THE PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY SETS THE MAXIMUM SALARY RANGE UP TO 5.1%.
SO IF THEY WERE TO GIVE THE MAXIMUM, IT WOULD BASICALLY, UM, MATCH, UH, THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR THAT'S NON-PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, UH, I PROVIDED YOU, UH, WITH MY RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WOULD BE UP NO MORE THAN 2% THAT WOULD, UM, UH, CAP THE MAXIMUM RANGE AT THAT, UM, AT THE MEDIAN OF DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
SO SOME WOULD BE ABOVE AND SOME WOULD BE BELOW THAT.
UM, AND TONIGHT IS YOUR DECISION.
YOU CAN ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE AND FILE, YOU CAN DELIBERATE IT LATER.
YOU CAN, UM, APPROVE THE 5.1%.
UH, IT REALLY IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO, UH, TO DO THAT, UH, TYPE OF COMPENSATION, UH, DECISION.
SO, SO I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A POINT OF JUST CLARIFICATION WITH THE RECEIVING FILE MOTION.
DOES THAT END NEGOTIATION FOR SALARY WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE? SO YOU ARE ACTUALLY NOT AS YOU'RE APPOINTING THE SALARY, YOU WERE APPOINTING THE, THE RANGE WITHIN WHICH THE SALARY CAN GO.
AND SO IT WOULD BE UP TO THE COMMISSION TO SET THE ACTUAL SALARY.
UM, I AM POINTING OUT AND UH, THAT HISTORY SHOWS THAT EVERY TIME THE MAXIMUM WAS ALLOWED, THEY APPOINTED AT THE MAXIMUM.
AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU PICK WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE MAXIMUM MOST COMPARABLE ONE AND MAKE THAT YOUR SALARY, UM, DETERMINATION.
AND, AND I, I'LL JUST TELL YOU FROM SOMEBODY THAT WORKS IN A KIND OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS FIELD, I DON'T LIKE, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT SALARIES AND NEGOTIATING IN OPEN SESSION LIKE THIS.
UM, TO ME THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE BEHIND THE SCENES AND I, I WILL MERIT THAT 42% OVER THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS, OVER FIVE YEARS IS, IS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.
UM, IN TERMS OF SALARY INCREASES FOR ANY EMPLOYEE, UM, I, I PERSONALLY WILL, WILL VOTE FOR THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, AND, UH, ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT WE WOULD DONE? PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE.
AND ACTUALLY, SIR, CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING? YES.
I KNOW IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, UM, UH, UH, WHAT WAS, UM, RESPONDED TO IN THE EMAIL TODAY? SO WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, UH, ASKING NOT TO DO THE 2%, BUT TO DO A 4%.
AND SO THAT WAS WHAT WAS REFERRED TO.
SO THAT WOULD PUT THIS POSITION ABOVE THE MEDIAN.
2% IS THE MEDIAN, A 4% WOULD STILL BE THE SECOND HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
SO THAT WOULD BE JUST UNDER, UH, THE VERY TOP.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD STICK WITH MY RECOMMENDATION OF THE 2%.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD THAT RECOMMENDATION SINCE WE DID EMAIL EARLIER TODAY.
UH, AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH MAYOR RICHARDSON.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, MR. YOU'RE OUTTA ORDER AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES ON THE MOTION.
[00:55:06]
OKAY.NOW THAT TAKES US TO THE REGULAR AGENDA, PLEASE.
ITEM CLERK, CAN YOU LET US READ THE NEXT ITEM? WE HAVE A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT COMING UP NEXT.
SHOULD WE LIKE TO TAKE THAT OR WE CAN GO TO ITEM 28? I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE ARE TWO SPEAKERS WHO'VE SIGNED UP
[ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ]
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.IF I CAN GET JULIE HYEN AND ANTHONY HOLMES POP KOHLS COST MORE THAN HER.
HI, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? LAST TIME THIS TIMER WENT OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS TALKING.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAIN.
UM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU GUYS AND ASK FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO A PRESENTATION OR A WAY TO PRESENT IT.
SO I'M JUST GONNA SPILL IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
UM, I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE A CAMPAIGN TO HELP WITH UNHOUSED CITIZENS BEING OUT.
UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE SWEEPING, NOTICEABLE CHANGES.
I LIKE IT TO BE SAFE AND NOT A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE, LIKE EACH STUDENT TO HAVE, UM, I'M SORRY, EACH DISTRICT TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES, UM, TO HAVE AN AREA THAT HAS FREE CAMPING SO PEOPLE CAN BE ASSIGNED TO CERTAIN AREAS IN EACH DISTRICT, OR AT LEAST EACH REGION LIKE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
UM, RESOURCE RESOURCES SHOULD GO TO THOSE LOCATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD, DRUG TREATMENTS, HOUSING REFERRALS, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, LIKE PERSONS CAMPING ON NON ON PUBLIC, NON-DESIGNATED AREAS TO BE OFFERED DRUG TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES OR FREE CAMPING OPTIONS.
CITIZENS THAT ARE LOITERING OR CAMPING MORE THAN FOUR HOURS THAT DO NOT MOVE OR DO NOT COMPLY WITH CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE FORCIBLY MOVED TO A LOCATION BASED ON THE ASSESSED NEED.
I THINK MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS TO BE INCREASED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THAT ARE UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODILY FUNCTIONS AND THEY'RE ROAMING AND WE'RE NEGLECTING THEM.
UH, WE HAVE CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE THAT ARE NOT FROM THE GREATER LONG BEACH AREA THAT SHOULD BE SERVICED BY THEIR OWN AREA AND SENT BACK TO WHERE THEY'RE FROM OR FOR THE CITY TO BILL THE SERVICES TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH THEY CAME FROM, WHICH THEIR LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT HERE AND SHIPPED HERE TO LIVE ON OUR STREETS.
CITIZENS THAT REFUSE SERVICES SHALL BE REQUIRED TO GO TO FREE CAMP SITES IN ANY DISTRICT OF LONG BEACH AND PROVIDE A FREE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM LIKE THE LAST SHIFT OF A BUS OR THE OTHER TRANSPORTATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN LONG BEACH.
THEY COULD BE SHUTTLED AND AND PROVIDE THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THEM TO GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE.
CITIZENS, UM, OH, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF TRAINED ADULTS AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SHALL SUPPORT TRANSITION FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER POLICE CALLED IF 24 HOURS PASSED AND A CITIZEN IS NOT COMPLIANT.
DISTRICTS, UH, CAN VOTE TO CHANGE THOSE YEARLY.
IF YOU CLOSE ONE SITE, ANOTHER ONE SHOULD OPEN.
IN THAT SAME DISTRICT ALTERNATES, UH, SITES HAVE TO BE OPENED.
PEOPLE, IT, WE CAN'T WORRY ABOUT IF SOMEBODY HAS MONEY.
WE ALL GET WORRIED IF A POLICE IS BEHIND US, PULLING US OVER.
IF WE PARK OUR CAR AND STREET SWEEPING, WE NEED TO BE GET FINING PEOPLE GIVING 'EM TICKETS, COMMUNITY SERVICE OR IMPOUND OF CAMPING ITEMS IF THEY DO NOT MOVE, UM, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMELESS ADVOCATES, DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, CITY OF LONG BEACH PARKS AND REC, LONG BEACH TRANSIT AND, UH, LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES SO WE CAN ALL CREATE A BETTER PLAN AND CREATE BETTER SOLUTIONS THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
MY NAME IS ANTHONY HOLMES, REFUGE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF LONG BEACH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TELL ME? DON'T GO DOWN TO THE CITY HALL.
WHAT I TELL THEM, WE CALL THAT GOOD TROUBLE.
I USED TO BE SCARED TO TALK TO CITY ATTORNEYS, CITY MANAGERS, DOCTORS, JUDGES, BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT Y'ALL HAD ONE UP ON ME.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THE IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITIES THAT Y'ALL WENT TO.
BUT I TOLD MYSELF I CAN RUMBLE WITH THE BEST OF THEM.
UM, IT'S A CIRCUS GOING ON RIGHT UNDER Y'ALL NOSE IN CITY DEPARTMENTS.
PEOPLE TELL ME, TOM IKA, THAT CITY WORKERS DON'T WANT MORE MONEY.
I WANT REPARATION FOR ALL MY DESCENDANTS PAST AND PRESENT.
UM, WE NEED AC WE NEED CAREER ACCESS AND PATHWAY
[01:00:01]
FOR BLACK WORKERS.WE NEED PROTECTION AT WORK EX ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES, ESPECIALLY AGAINST HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION BY MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORS.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO TALK PUBLICLY ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THESE DEPARTMENTS.
I WANT SUPERVISORS AND MANAGEMENT TO BE HELD ON A HIGH STANDARD AND NOT A SLAP ON A WRIST.
THE ONLY PRESSURE I EVER DEALT WITH WAS BEING BLACK IN AMERICA.
I GOT SO MUCH MORE TO SAY, BUT I MAY END IT LIKE THIS.
OKAY, THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, LET'S GO TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
CAN YOU PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER 16? IS IT, I THINK, UH, THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE UP IS ITEM 28 OR, OKAY, WELL LET'S GO TO OUR BUDGET.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT FIRST.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR.
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 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH AND HUMAN
[26. 24-54600 Recommendation to conduct a Budget Hearing to receive and discuss an overview of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the departments of Economic Development and Health and Human Services. (Citywide) Office or Department: Financial Management Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
SERVICES CITYWIDE.OKAY, MR. UH, CHAIR, WE HAVE, UH, TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND THIS IS ALSO A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THIS IS OUR LAST KIND OF, UH, BIG MEETING BEFORE WE GET INTO ADOPTION NEXT WEEK, UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND GIVE A BIG PRESENTATION ON THAT AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
UH, AND THEN, UH, WE'LL DO HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
AND, UH, THEN, UH, UH, TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT OR HOWEVER THE CHAIR WANTS TO DO THAT, UH, AND THEN, UH, BE READY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS WELL.
SO, UH, I WILL TURN IT OVER NOW TO BEAU MARTINEZ AND HIS TEAM TO GO THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AS CITY MANAGER MOCA MAYOR OF ACTING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I'M GONNA START THE PRESENTATION BY OVERVIEWING OUR, UH, KEY SERVICES AND OUR FIVE BUREAUS THAT OVERSEE, UH, THE DIFFERENT, UH, PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO I'M GONNA START WITH, UH, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, UH, WHICH HOLD OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICE, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, PERSONNEL AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THEY MANAGE OUR BUDGET, OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
NEXT IS OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU.
THEY MANAGE BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION ATTRACTION, BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT, LEVERAGE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, BUSINESS EDUCATION, ADVOCACY RESOURCES, AND OVERSEE THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM TO BUSINESS.
WALKS TO CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES.
THE NEXT BUREAU'S REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT.
THEY OVERSEE OUR CITYWIDE ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITION CONCESSION AGREEMENTS AND PRI AND AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
THEY ALSO DO A LOT AROUND SITE SELECTION AND CITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUREAU FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FROM YOUTH, WHICH PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKFORCE, ADULTS, NEW SKILLS, RE-SKILLING AND UPSKILLING TO BUSINESS SERVICES FROM RECRUITMENTS, HIRING EVENTS WORK, EX WORK EXPERIENCES ON THE JOB TRAINING, AS WELL AS PROVIDING RAPID RESPONSE TO, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO'VE BEEN LAID OFF BY COMPANIES.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES CAREER SERVICES FROM CAREER DEVELOPMENT, JOB SERVICES, ASSISTANCE TRAINING, JOB FAIRS, AND RECRUITMENT TO RECRUITMENT WORKSHOPS.
ANOTHER ONE OF, UH, BUT NOW I'M GONNA JUMP INTO OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND THIS IS ALL PART OF THE OVERALL GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR KEY FIVE TO SIX TARGET INDUSTRY SECTORS, ONE OF THOSE IS GROWING LONG BEACH TOGETHER.
THAT'S REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH THIS PAST APRIL.
WE ALSO, UH, WORKED ON, UH, BEING PROACTIVE AS IT RELATES TO BUSINESS REDEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION, AND EXPANSION.
WE HOSTED AND SHOWCASED LONG BEACH TO FIVE NATIONAL SITE SELECTORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO REPRESENT FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AND FRASCO COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN LONG BEACH AND WHY LONG BEACH.
WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE WANTED TO FOCUS IN ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET AND OUT THE RED TAPE WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO THIS PAST YEAR WE RECOGNIZED THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY BY LADC.
WE ALSO WORKED IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, WHO HAS WORKED WITH US TO, UH, DO THE SITE SELECTION CONFERENCES PAST APRIL.
BUT THEY ALSO FOCUSED ON MARKETING, BRANDING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND REALLY TELLING THE LONG, LONG BEACH STORY AND CONNECTING OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO, UH, GROW INVESTMENT JOBS AS WELL AS COMPANIES IN LONG BEACH.
I'M GONNA CONTINUE WITH OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SO THE, UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR THE BIZ CARE TEAM ASSISTED OVER 2200 BUSINESSES
[01:05:01]
FROM POPUPS, ONE-ON-ONE VISITS BUSINESS WALKS TO CITY COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES.WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY PROPERTY AND VANDALISM THROUGH OUR VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED TO WORK WITH OUR BUSINESSES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
WE ALSO PROVIDED, UM, COACHING TO OVER 320 LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ALSO 38 WORKSHOPS BY, UH, PLUS 400 ATTENDEES THROUGH OUR INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES CENTRAL CHA, APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION, UM, SALES, UH, ALSO, UH, THE UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY AND OTHER PARTNERS TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING NOT ONLY ON SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO ENTREPRENEUR AND UNDERSERVED BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED SHOP ALB, WHERE 800 LOCAL BUSINESSES WERE SPOTLIGHT IN A HUNDRED, WHERE WE'RE ENROLLED IN THE REWARDS PROGRAM.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WITH SHOP LOCAL PROGRAMS, THESE ARE TOUGH PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN AND GROW.
AND SO IT'S GOING INTO SECOND YEAR.
AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE MUCH MORE SUCCESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND WHAT'S UNIQUE TO LONG BEACH IS WE ALSO HAVE A REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS TO WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GROW, PROSPER, AND SCALE UP THEIR BUSINESS.
IT COULD BE USED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, I MEAN WORKFORCE, UM, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THEIR BUSINESS.
IT COULD BE, UH, LOOKED, UH, LOOKED FOR, INCREASE IN THEIR JOB OPPORTUNITIES, INVESTMENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES.
AND THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE'VE MANAGED OVER 120 SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TOTALING OVER THREE POINT MILLION, $3.4 MILLION IN, IN, UH, LOANS TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND WE ALSO REFER SEVEN BUSINESSES TO GROW AMERICAN FUND TOTALING OVER $1.3 MILLION.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE AND SPECIAL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH IS BIG BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND THEN I'M GONNA GO OVER TO OUR CANNABIS, CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM.
WE PROVIDED OVER $805,000 IN DEBT IN DIRECT GRANTS AND $13,000 IN WAIVERS.
WE ALSO ASSISTED 204 SMALL BUSINESSES CERTIFIED FOR THE CITY'S SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM AND OVERSAW 119 PREVAILING WAGE PROB PROJECTS VALUED OVER 200 MILLION ON BUSINESS AND TR EXPANSION RELOCATIONS.
WE WORKED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES FROM SPACE BEACH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.
AND THIS INCLUDES VAST SPACE BUILDING UP THE NEXT GENERATION, THE NEW GENERATION OF SPACE LIVING SPACE STATIONS, AVIAN X LABS, ROCKET LAB, JET ZERO, WHO'S BUILDING THE NEXT, UH, UH, GENERATION OF BLENDED BREWING AIRCRAFT FROM FIGHTER JETS TO COMMERCIAL AIRLINES.
WE ALSO DID A GROUNDBREAKING IN ON THE HARD ROCK HOTEL, WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE OPEN BY THE 2020 OLYMPICS.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE A 34 STORY HOTEL WITH 400 PLUS ROOMS. AND WE ALSO WELCOMED OTHER COMPANIES SUCH AS SWING SET PRODUCTIONS TO NAME A FEW.
WE ALSO ENROLLED OVER 1300 RESIDENTS AND CAREER SERVICES PROVIDING HIGHER ASSISTANCE TO OVER 160 EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT 'CAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO OUR, TO OUR BUS, OUR BUSINESSES WHERE THERE'S SMALL, OUR BIG BUSINESS, IT'S THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN TALENT AS WELL AS BUSINESS.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA REALLY MAKE US A SUCCESSFUL CITY NOW AND GOING FORWARD.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH 20 COMPANIES TO PROVIDE RAPID RESPONSE SESSIONS TO OVER 300 EMPLOYEES WHO WERE AFFECTED BY LAYOFFS.
IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THIS, UH, PAST YEAR, UM, VIRGIN ORBIT ACTUALLY CLOSED THEIR DOORS AND WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST OVER 160 WORKERS THAT WERE IMPACTED AND PUT THEM INTO OTHER POSITIONS WITH OUR SPACE SPEECH COMPANIES HERE IN LONG BEACH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, THIS PAST JUNE FORD ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE BUILDING A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITY IN LONG BEACH FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
AND THE BIG REASON WHY YOU ASK ANY OF OUR, UH, COMPANIES HERE IN LONG BEACH, WHY LONG BEACH, WHETHER IT'S A SPACE COMPANY, WHETHER IT'S FORD, WHETHER IT'S THE SUPPLY CHAIN, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TALENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS THEM HERE TO LONG BEACH.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY, WE HAVE A VERY FRIENDLY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET AND NOT THE RED TAPE.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED FUTURE LB, WHICH IS A YOUTH WORKFORCE CENTER WHERE WE PROVIDED OVER 768 YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND OVER $110,000 IN PAID INTERNSHIP HOURS.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC, UH, SERVICE PATHWAY CORP FELLOWSHIP.
AND WE HAD AN INAUGURAL CLASS OF 50 STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED IN JULY AND WENT TO THE GRADUATION TO HEAR SOME OF THE AMAZING STORIES THAT CAME FROM THE FELLOWS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM WITH DEATHLY PULL, ATCHER HARVESTINGS.
WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO WAS HOMELESS BEFORE THEY CAME INTO THE PROGRAM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THIS JOB EXPERIENCE AND LEVERAGE IT TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE FIFTH, FIRST 50 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS GREAT PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE THEM TO PUBLIC SECTOR CAREERS.
WE'RE GONNA BE READY TO DO A SECOND COHORT THIS FALL, WHICH WILL HAVE A NEW CLASS OF 50 FELLOWS THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE LONG BEACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIBERATION PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARL RAD FOUNDATION, ENGAGING 25 INGRAM OPPORTUNITIES, WHO ARE LOOKING TO EITHER START OUR GROW BUSINESS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED LEVEL ALB, EXTREME SMALL BUSINESS MAKEOVER PROGRAM AND GRANT PROGRAM, AND WE SELECTED 25 BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOOTCAMP.
THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CITY AND STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
[01:10:01]
LEARN ABOUT, SO, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING AND REALLY LEVERAGING THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR BUSINESS.AND AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THESE 25 BUSINESSES ARE GONNA HAVE AN ACTION PLAN, A BUSINESS ACTION PLAN, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO INVEST OVER $10,000 INTO THEIR BUSINESS.
AND I REALLY SEE THIS PROGRAM BEING A NATIONAL, UH, BEST PRACTICE.
UH, AND IT'S ALL STARTING HERE IN LONG BEACH 'CAUSE WE DELIVER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE, UH, BUILD THE NEXT GREAT INTERNATIONAL CITY.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GROW LONG BEACH NICHES, IT'S REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW WE EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE FIVE TARGETED, EMERGING AND GROWING INDUSTRY SECTORS FROM SPACE BEACH TO THE WEST SIDE, TO THE EAST SIDE, TO THE NORTH SIDE, TO DOWNTOWN, AND TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.
AND HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS WE'RE GONNA, WE, THIS PAST MARCH, WE, WE CAME BACK TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE CREATED OVER 52 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AS PART OF THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CONTINUE TO FILL OUR AEROSPACE AND AVIATION SECTORS.
HOW WE BUILD TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS, AND SUPPLY CHAIN FOR THE FUTURE IN LONG BEACH.
NOT ONLY FOCUSING ON HOW WE PARTNER WITH THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, BUT LOOKING AT IT FROM A GATEWAY TO ASIA AND BEYOND.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MUSIC, ATHLETICS, TOURISM, HOSPITALITY, HOTEL ROOMS, REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE CREATE THESE UNIQUE, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES.
AND WE WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE HEALTHCARE, WHETHER IT'S LIFE SCIENCE, IT'S BIOTECHNOLOGY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING HOSPITALS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST NOT ONLY THEIR FACILITIES, BUT ADD NEW JOBS AND, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, UH, HERE IN LONG BEACH.
WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE WILL WORK ON WITH ALL OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S C-S-U-L-B AT LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WORKING WITH OUR TRADES, WORKING WITH OUR UNIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY JOB OPPORTUNITY IS NOT ONLY GIVEN TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO NOT ONLY TO GET A JOB, BUT BUILD A CAREER WITH HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LEVERAGE A CLIMATE FORWARD ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S A GREEN ECONOMY, MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT MITIGATION AT ADAPTATION, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW, UH, JOBS HERE IN LONG BEACH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE, YOU KNOW, I, I LOOK AT SUCCESSFUL CITIES OF THE FUTURE.
SUCCESSFUL CITIES OF THE FUTURE ARE GONNA FOCUS ON TALENT, TALENT AND TALENT.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, I THINK WE'RE WELL POSITIONED TO BE A MAGNET FOR 21ST CENTURY TALENT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO RECREATE AND RECRUIT TALENT.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW OUR OWN.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY JOBS WHERE YOU CAN BUILD A CAREER.
WE'RE GONNA ALSO BE ONE OF THE CITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO REALLY FOCUS ON HOW DO WE GROW OUR OWN MAKING, MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THE K THROUGH 12.
WE WORK WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES, WE'RE WORKING OUR SCHOOLS.
WE WORK WITH THE UNIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING EVERY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY, EVERY CERTIFICATION, EVERY PERSON SHOULD BE GETTING A GRAD, UH, GRADUATE WITH A DIPLOMA.
EVERY PERSON SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN LONG BEACH TO REALLY GET A JOB.
NOT ONLY THAT SUPPORTS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THEIR FUTURE FAMILIES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, UM, OTHER THINGS AS WE THINK ABOUT BUSINESSES.
AND, AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IS LIVING UP LONG BEACH BUSINESSES.
AND ONE OF THE BIG, BIG BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE CONTINUATION OF OUR SMALL, UH, BUSINESS CARE PROGRAM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IS WHEN I MENTIONED EARLIER, ONE OF THE TOP THREE THINGS THAT A BUSINESS WILL TELL YOU, WHETHER THEY'RE SMALL OR BIG, BUT MOSTLY SMALL BUSINESSES IN LONG BEACH.
AS WE GO OUT THERE AND CANVAS THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, WORK WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVING THESE BUSINESS ROUND TABLES, YOU ASK WHAT'S MOST IMPACTFUL FOR YOU.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU TALENT RETENTION, TALENT RECRUITMENT.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU THAT WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT WAY WE CAN NOT ONLY INCREASE TRAFFIC AT OUR BRICKS AND MORTAR BUSINESS, BUT ALSO HOW WE INTEGRATE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD OUR INTERNET PRESENCE AS WELL.
UM, JUST GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR BIZ PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS SMALL BUSINESSES TO PORT RESOURCES SUCH AS GRANTS, LOANS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH PROACTIVE COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH TO ECONOMIC AND DIGITAL INCLUSION.
BIZ CARE PROVIDES DIRECT IN PERSON ON THE PHONE, VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE TO DIVERSE SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS.
THEY ALSO IMPLEMENTED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BIZ CARE EVOLVED BECAME A CORE SERVICE OF OUR, UH, NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC OF BURG BUT ALSO OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS IN ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SINCE INCEPTION, THEY HAVE SERVED OVER 7,500 BUSINESSES.
THE ACTIVITIES OF BIG CARE BIZ CARE TEAM ARE CRITICAL TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AND AREAS OF BUSINESS ATTRACTION, RETENTION JOBS BY PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHARING ALL THE GREAT RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL LOOK TO, UH, STRUGGLE SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM THAT MEETS AN EXPLICIT GOAL OF THE 2030 STRATEGIC FAN, UH, VISION PLAN, SPECIFICALLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MUNICIPAL SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT TEAM.
AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS BIZ CARE PROGRAM HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
[01:15:01]
WE WITH A DEDICATED STAFF TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EVERY SMALL BUSINESS IN THE CITY.OUR FISCAL 25 YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET AS A COMMUNITY, UH, PROGRAM SPECIALIST, A PROGRAM TECHNICIAN, AND TWO COMMUNITY PROGRAM TECHNICIANS WITH, FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR POSITIONS.
UM, THAT'S THE, THE BIZ CARE PROGRAM.
ANOTHER, UM, AREA THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO FOCUS IN ON IS OUR VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED 'CAUSE WE HEARD BACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE FACING A LOT OF ISSUES AROUND PROPERTY DAMAGE AND VANDALISM.
AND SO WE CREATED THIS PROGRAM USING LBRA FUNDING AND IT'S BEEN A SUCCESS.
UM, THESE ARE ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HOPE THAT WOULD NOT BE A SUCCESS BECAUSE IF IT WEREN'T A SUCCESS, AND THAT MEANS A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE NOT FACING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND BISM THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO THE, THE FUNDING IS STARTING TO GET REALLY LOW.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FUND THE CONTINUED DURATION OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S ANOTHER CITY HERE ON THE WEST COAST, I THINK IT WAS THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT ACTUALLY TOOK OUR VISION PROGRAM AND STARTED ONE IN THEIR CITY.
AND SO THIS IS GONNA BE A, A CONTINUING OF THAT, THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, UH, A DISBURSEMENT OF UP TO 66 ADDITIONAL GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES IN NEED NOW.
WE ALSO WILL WORK IN IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS.
SO WE'RE SEEKING 200,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE LONG BEACH COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, HELP US PUT ON THE SITE SELECTOR CONFERENCE.
WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH THEM TO FOCUS ON BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION AND ATTRACTION, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONALLY.
WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH THEM TO CONTINUE TO TELL OUR STORY AROUND MARKETING AND BRANDING.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AS THEY COULD BE THAT LINK BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND BE THAT BUSINESS ADVOCACY WITHOUT WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS THOSE BUSINESSES YET TO COME.
ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON IS MAX, MAXIMIZING OUR WATERFRONT ASSETS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAXIMIZE OUR WATERFRONT ASSETS BY FOCUSING LEASING OPPORTUNITIES, REVENUE GROWTH, INVESTMENTS, JOBS, LEVERAGING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE VIBRANT, COOL, UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES ALONG OUR WORLD CLASS WATERFRONT FOR DECADES TO COME.
THIS INCLUDES BUILDING A WORLD CLASS OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER TO CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXPANSION IN LONG BEACH.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR AWARD-WINNING LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THIS PAST YEAR.
WE PLANNED AND COMPLETED PROJECTS TOLLING OVER $57 MILLION.
AND THAT IS TO DO UPGRADES TO OUR CONVENTION CENTER FROM AC TO A NEW ROOF, TO REPLACING THE 1960 SEATING IN OUR ARENA TO NEW LIGHTING, WHICH IS GONNA BRING NEW ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WHICH IN RETURN IS GONNA PAY BIG DIVIDENDS AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO COMMITTED TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS AT OUR RETAIL, OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR HOTELS, AND KEEPING THOSE DOLLARS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY WORLD CLASS COMMUNITY SERVICES AND AMENITIES TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO POSITION THE QUEEN MARY FOR SUCCESS AND NOW INTO THE FUTURE FROM A UNIQUE HOTEL AND ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC EXPERIENCES TO A FUTURE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PORT OF LONG BEACH ON PROACTIVE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
GREENING THE PORT FROM WIND, HYDROGEN TO ELECTRIC TO INVESTING BILLIONS IN DOLLARS OF EV OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS FOR NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS ON PARALLEL.
WE ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF IT ALL BETWEEN ORANGE COUNTY AND LOS ANGELES.
WE ARE THE GATEWAY TO ASIA, THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, AND THE METAVERSE, WHICH IS SPACE BEACH.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, FOCUS ON QUEEN MARY NOW AND GOING FORWARD IN THE FISCAL 25 YEAR BUDGET.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT STEWARDSHIP OF HISTORIC QUEEN MARY AND ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND PARTNERSHIP WITH EVOLUTION HOSPITALITY.
WE ALSO WILL DELIVER WORLD CLASS ACCOMMODATION, EXHIBIT EXHIBITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
WE WILL FOCUS ON SEVERAL KEY PROJ, UH, PROJECTS IN IN 25, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE DEMOLITION OF THE DETERIORATED ENGLISH VILLAGE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE SHIP'S GRAND SUN DECK.
WE WILL, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, NOT ONLY PROPOSE, BUT BUILD A WORLD CLASS OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER THAT WILL OVERLOOK OUR AMAZING DOWNTOWN AND BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT.
WE'LL ALSO FOCUS ON HOW WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AND AROUND THE QUEEN MARY.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE PARTNER WITH CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES.
IT'S MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE QUEEN MARY'S SUCCESSFUL AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD.
AND ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN POSITION THE ADJACENT LAND FOR FUTURE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MEANS MORE REVENUE GROWTH AND JOBS AND INVESTMENT TO THE CITY.
OUR FY UH, 25 FOLKS AND PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS ALSO INCLUDE A FISCAL YEAR 25 MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, IT'S GONNA BE A JOBS FIRST STRATEGY WITH WRAP.
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE JOBS FIRST, STRATEGY AND INVESTMENTS, NEW JOBS, AS WELL AS NEW USES, UM, ALONG
[01:20:01]
OUR, UM, ALONG THE WATERFRONT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.AND SO ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS GONNA BE THAT THE MAYORS HAS PROPOSED AS A NEW DIVISION TO ENHANCE THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO LEVERAGE ASSETS PRIMARILY ALONG THE SHORELINE.
PURE ALAMEDO BAY WATERFRONTS TO PURSUE NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT REVENUE GENERATOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD BETTER WELCOME BUSINESSES AND VISITORS TO LONG BEACH, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING AMENITIES THAT WELCOME AND SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS.
THE ENHANCED DIVISION WILL EXPAND THE FOCUS OF THE CURRENT PIER H BUREAU TO MORE BROADLY FOCUSED ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, PLACEMAKING ENTERTAINMENT, WITH THE FOCUSING ON ON MAXIMIZING THE IMPACT OF QUEEN MARY, THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, OUR WATERFRONT OF MARINAS, THE PROPOSED LONG BEACH AMPHITHEATER, OUR STRONG REPUTATION AS A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR, UH, CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TEAM WILL FOCUS ON INNOVATIVE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES LEVERAGING THE CITY OWNED ASSETS THROUGH THROUGH LONG BEACH.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AGAIN, JOBS AND INVESTMENTS.
IF APPROVED, THE PROPOSED FUND FOR FOUR FTDS WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE SURPLUS REVENUE FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED OPERATIONS STAFF WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH ITS PARTNERS IN THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, RECREATION ARENA, THE PORTS OF LONG BEACH TO PLAN AND DELIVER INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES GOING NOW AND GOING FORWARD.
AND PART OF THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO TO MODERNIZE THE PACIFIC GATEWAY WIN WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK.
AS THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK ALB WIN AND TO RESTRUCTURE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S LEADERSHIP AND COMPOSITION TO BETTER ALIGN THE AGENCY'S MISSION AND PROGRAMS WITH THE CITY'S GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE AND BETTER CONNECT OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LONG BEACH GROWTH INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC SECTOR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SUCCESSFUL CITIES OF THE FUTURE WILL FOCUS ON TALENT, TALENT AND TALENT.
WE'VE ALSO REQUEST THAT THE CITY MANAGERS TO PARTNER WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CALIFORNIA JOBS FIRST COUNCIL AND THE LOS ANGELES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO HELP INFORM AND DEVELOP LA'S REGIONAL JOB FOR STRATEGY, WHICH WILL DIRECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS THAT CREATE MORE HIGH PAYING JOBS, LIVABLE WAGES THAT CAN SUPPORT FAMILIES AND UNION JOBS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND GROWTH INDUSTRIES.
A FOURTH AREA THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSED ON IS PROVIDING 250,000 GENERAL FUND SUPPORT TO THE CITY'S BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS WHO ARE GREAT PARTNERS IN EXTENSION OF ALL THE GREAT WORK WE THREW OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACHWOOD MAKES OUR UNIQUE COMMERCIAL QUARTER AUTHENTIC, COOL AND SPECIAL.
AND THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO CLEAN AND SAFETY, SPECIAL ACTIVATIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, GREEN SPACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STREET SICK ENHANCEMENTS.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD BE TREE WATERING, IT COULD BE MAINTENANCE, IT CAN BE PROVIDING BUSINESS SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT AND REALLY MARKETING OUR AND BRANDING OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $250,000 GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION.
THE LEVEL OF LB PROGRAM WON'T GO INTO ALL THAT INFORMATION SINCE I SHARED THAT EARLIER ON, BUT WE REALLY THINK THAT'LL BE REALLY GREAT TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT 25 BUSINESS IN THE COHORT TO MOVE THEM FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GROW AND PROSPER HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
WE WILL ALSO BE ASKING FOR $150,000, UM, THROUGH 75,000 THROUGH THE SAP FUND AND 75,000 TITLES OPERATING FUND TO DEVELOP AN ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT COORDINATES PLANNING DESIGN, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR ANTICIPATED PUBLIC AMPHITHEATER, THE LONG BEACH TERRACE THEATER AND OTHER KEY MUSIC AND PERFORMING ART VENUES TO EXPAND THE CITY'S CAPACITY FOR HO HOSTING LARGE SCALE CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC EVENTS.
WE ALSO BE ASKING FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN A GENERAL FUND TOWARDS PROGRAM EFFORTS THROUGH THE LONG BEACH, UH, CENTER FOR ECONOMIC CONCLUSION INCLUSION TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION ACTION PLAN AND SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE GROWTH CITY LONG BEACH INITIATIVE TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW ECONOMY.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, IT'S ALSO PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP EVERY PERSON THAT WE CONNECT TO JOBS TO SUCCEED.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THINK ABOUT IT FROM THIS WAY SO WE CAN GET A PERSON INTO A JOB, BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE QUALITY HOUSING, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, THEN THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES THEM A STEP BACK RATHER THAN TWO STEPS FORWARD.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON AS WE MOVE INTO THE FISCAL 2025 YEAR BUDGET AND BEYOND.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, THERE'S GONNA BE CHALLENGES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT CHALLENGES, YOU THINK ABOUT THE ON ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES THAT WE HAVE FACED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE HAD HIGHER INTEREST RATES, WE HAD A INFLATION.
WE HAVE A GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT BOTH DOMESTICALLY, INTERNATIONALLY.
WE HAVE PATHWAYS TO OFFSETTING OUR OIL PRODUCTION REVENUES.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND LABOR AND MARKET SHORTAGES.
'CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO OVERCOME OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE DECADES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUCCEED.
[01:25:01]
RETAIN AND GROW BUSINESSES IN THE HERE, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THAT MEANS THAT WE HAD TO FOCUS ON TALENT, TALENT AND TALENT.WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
'CAUSE WE'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE REMOTE WORK, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A MIXED PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING FROM HOME, PEOPLE ARE STILL WORKING OFF SITE.
WHAT THAT MEANS TO OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR COMMERCIAL QUARTERS, ESPECIALLY OUR REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT HUBS, IS THAT MEANS LESS PEOPLE ARE IN THE OFFICE.
THAT MEANS LESS PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THE VERDICT'S STILL OUT WHEN IT COMES TO WORK, UH, REMOTE WORK.
I KNOW THAT'S HERE TO STAY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND LEARN FROM AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY.
WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ATTAINABLE AND AFFORD HOUSING PRODUCTION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR FOCUS FOR US NOW AND GOING FORWARD FOR MANY DECADES TO COME.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TEAM BUILDING, TEAM COLLABORATION THAT REALLY CAN'T HAPPEN OVER ZOOM MEETINGS, THAT CAN'T REALLY HAPPEN OVER A COFFEE MEETING REALLY MAKES IT REALLY HAPPENS IN THE OFFICE.
IT HAPPENS IN A REALLY COOL AND UNIQUE SETTING.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH REALLY COMES INTO PLAY.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SECURE LONG BEACH FU UH, LONG BEACH'S FUTURE FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL FUTURE.
IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN FOCUS ON PROACTIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING HOSTING AN ANNUAL SITE SELECTION CONFERENCE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WHICH WILL BRING FIVE NEW NATIONAL SITE SELECTORS, AGAIN, WHO REPRESENTS GAZELLES AND FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE ALSO LOOK TO BRING, UH, NEW COMPANIES AND RETAIN AND EXPAND EXISTING COMPANIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE JOBS AND GROWTH AND INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA, UH, CONTINUE TO MENTION, BUT TALENT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT NOW AND GOING FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE AND BECOME RAPIDLY BECOME A MAGNET FOR 21ST CENTURY TALENT.
WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COOL, UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC.
WE WILL BE WELCOMING THE 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES TO THE LONG BEACH AS A MAJOR VENUE CITY.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AROUND OUR MARKETING AND BRANDING AND TELLING OUR GREAT STORY FROM EVERY SINGLE ROOFTOP ACROSS LONG BEACH.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE GOING OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10, TO 15 TO 20 YEARS, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT US HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE, IT'S ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS.
WE'RE BUILDING THIS CITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AND IT FALLS ON AT ALL US TODAY.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE ARE RIDING THIS BIG WAVE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW BY THAT WAVE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET BIGGER AND BIGGER AS THE ECONOMY IMPROVES AND PEOPLE DISCOVER ALL THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT LONG BEACH FROM A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, LEARN, AND INVEST.
AND IN CLOSING, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT HAVING A DIS DISTINGUISHED AND TALENTED TEAM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS.
AND I WOULD LIKE MY TEAM TO KIND OF STAND UP WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, BECAUSE NONE OF THIS WORKS HAPPENS WITHOUT THEM.
SO I JUST WANNA SEND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THEM.
AND ALSO, NONE OF THIS WORKS WITHOUT HAVING A GREAT CITY TEAM.
ALL THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
OUR CITY MANAGER OFFICE HELPS TO LEAD ALL THE VISIONS AND PLANS AND EXECUTION THAT HAPPENS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT HAVING GREAT PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS AND PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT HAVING A VISIONARY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I BELIEVE ALL THE STARS ARE ALIGNED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET, NOT THE RED TAPE.
WE ARE NOT ONLY RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY IN ALLY COUNTY, BUT I DON'T WANNA STOP THERE.
I THINK THE GOAL SHOULD BE THAT WE BE BECOME THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
SO LET'S NOT THINK BIG, LET'S THINK BIG.
LET'S NOT THINK SMALL, LET'S THINK BIG.
WE HAVE A BIG AND AUDATION VISION PLANS AND GOALS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AMERICA'S NEXT GREAT INTERNATIONAL CITY.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD A CITY AND AN ECONOMY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES.
AND IN CLOSING, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, IT REM REMINDS ME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES, OF THE CLOSING CEREMONIES.
UM, I WANT TO GO BEHIND THE RAIL QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
UM, WE'LL START WITH OUR BUDGET CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ODI.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN.
UM, AND THANK YOU BO ANOTHER FANTASTIC, UM, PRESENTATION ON JUST ALL THE WORK THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN DOING, UM, OVER THE YEAR.
I MEAN, FROM THE SITE SELECTOR CONFERENCE, WE, WE HOSTED TO ALL THE LEVEL OF LONG BEACH, ALL THE SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENTS, BUS, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WORK, ALL THE WORK ON OUR, OUR SHORELINE.
JUST YOU ALL HAVE KEPT YOURSELVES BUSY, CLEARLY THIS YEAR.
UM, THE ONE THING I, UH, I'M SURE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TALK ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS.
THE THING I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS, UH, SLIDE 10 WHEN YOU HAD, UH, LEVELING UP LONG BEACH BUSINESSES AND TALKING ABOUT JUST THE INVESTMENT IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THE POPUPS, THE VISUAL IMPROVEMENT
[01:30:01]
PROGRAM, THE LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT? UM, THE LEVEL OF LONG BEACH PROGRAM WITH INVESTING IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND REALLY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE, IN THE CURRENT ECONOMY.UM, I THINK ARE A LOT OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE, ARE, ARE LEVERAGING, UM, SUPPORT IN OUR BUDGET, UM, IN WAYS THAT MAKE SURE THAT OUR ECONOMY IS INCLUSIVE, UM, AND THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE ECONOMIC DRIVERS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SUPPORTED AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TRANSITION INTO WHAT OUR ECONOMY IS BECOMING.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR FOR LEADING THAT.
UH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
SO THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THIS IS ALL GONNA BE IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
SO ON PAGE 3 0 7, UM, THE BUDGET BOOK, UM, YOU REFERENCED THE CITY'S BIZ CARE PROGRAM.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD BREAK DOWN LIKE, THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT THE BIZ CARE TEAM, UM, UH, ENGAGES WITH.
IS IT MOSTLY, IS IT RESTAURANTS, IS IT RETAIL? LIKE, I WANTED AN IDEA OF WHO, WHO ARE WE ENGAGING, UM, IN BIZ CARE? SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT VARIES BETWEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
BUT THEY CAN BE A RETAIL OPERATION, THEY CAN BE A RESTAURANT, THEY CAN BE A ENTREPRENEUR WHO'S LOOKING TO START AND GROW BUSINESS AND MAY NEED ACCESS TO CAPITAL OR BUSINESS PLANNING.
AND SO IT READILY REPRESENTS, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE TYPICALLY OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE DON'T HAVE THE MAN, UH, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE POWER TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
NOT LIKE YOU SEE WITH A, A LARGER COMPANY.
AND SO, UM, THEY'RE GONNA WORK WITH BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES.
UH, AND SO IT COULD BE A BUSINESS THAT HAS ONE EMPLOYEE, IT CAN BE A BUSINESS THAT HAS 10 OR 50 OR 100 BUS, UH, 100 EMPLOYEES.
AND SO WE REALLY DON'T LIKE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE BUSINESSES, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE A PRIORITY FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UM, LEMME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, FUTURE LB.
SO THAT WAS MENTIONED ON, UM, PAGE 3 0 8.
SO LET ME TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THAT SAID.
AND SO WHEN, UH, WHEN REGARDS TO FUTURE LB, I KNOW, UM, A LOT OF OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS GOING ON.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY FOR FUTURE LB ARE THE TOP PROGRAMS, UM, THAT OUR YOUTH ARE ENROLLING IN OR INTERESTED IN? YEAH.
COULD I HAVE A STAFF PERSON, UH, COME UP AND SURE.
SHARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM A FUTURE LB PERSPECTIVE AS THEY COME UP IS, YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK ABOUT, UM, THE LONG BEACH, UH, PATHWAYS TO PUBLIC FIRST, UH, SERVICES A GREAT PROGRAM.
OUR WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM IS REALLY ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM THAT WHERE YOU CONNECT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO COMPANIES AND HELP PAY A STIPEND SO THAT THEY GET THAT WORK EXPERIENCE WITH THE HOPE OF THEM BEING ABLE TO TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE AND GET A PERMANENT JOB EITHER WITH THE COMPANY THEY'RE WITH ARE FOR FUTURE, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND ANOTHER AREA THAT, UM, WE, WE, WE FOCUS ON AS FAR AS THE, THE TOP THREE WOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT, UH, YOUTH TO, TO SERVICES SUCH AS WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UM, NOT ONLY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
AND THAT CAN BE FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET ON THE JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING SURE THEY GET CERTIFICATION, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING SURE THEY, THEY CAN WORK WITH OUR TRADES AND UNIONS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT, UM, THEY LOOK AT.
BUT, UH, HUT WITH, UM, OUR FUTURE ALB WHO OVERSEES AND MANAGES THE OPERATIONS CAN EVEN SHARE MORE.
SO TO ANSWER AND ADDRESS YOUR, YOUR QUESTION, UM, IS THE TOP PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IS THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, UH, PROGRAM.
UM, AND THAT IS FOR AGES, UH, 16 ALL THE WAY TO 24 WHO ARE DISCONNECTED YOUTH.
UM, SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT, UM, EXPERIENCE, UH, BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, UM, SUCH AS PARENTING YOUTH, FOSTER YOUTH PROBATION, UM, ET CETERA.
UM, THE OTHER PROGRAM IS OUR LA COUNTY YOUTH AT WORK PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES 14 ALL THE WAY TO 24.
UM, AGAIN, PART OF THAT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS THOSE THAT ARE RECEIVING, UH, CALWORKS OR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
UM, IT IS THOSE THAT, UM, ARE LOW INCOME, UH, THOSE THAT ARE FOSTER PROBATION, UM, UH, OR JUSTICE INVOLVED.
UM, AND SO THOSE ARE OUR TOP TWO PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, UM, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FOR THE GENERAL SORT OF, YOU KNOW, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, UH, IN COLLEGE IS A LONG BEACH PUBLIC SERVICE CORE PROGRAM, UM, THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH, UH, CALIFORNIA'S VOLUNTEER.
BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD A COUPLE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO LONG BEACH TOO, IS THE, UM, WE ALSO HAVE A CITY PRO PROSECUTOR'S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
[01:35:01]
AND A POLICE DEPARTMENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.AND TO THIS, THIS SUMMER WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED SPACE SPEECH, WHICH WORKS WITH OUR, UH, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, 16 TO 24 WHO ARE UNDERSERVED, WHO ARE ON THE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ON THE FRINGES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE STUDENTS THAT ARE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL OR LOOKING TO VACATION OR GET THEIR GED OR LOOKING TO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AND IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND WE LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT NOW AND GOING FORWARD.
UM, AND THEN, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE QUEEN MARY, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL OF THE QUEEN MARY IS TO HAVE A, UH, BUY FINANCIALLY HEALTHY, BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE A PROFIT, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC.
I THINK WE'RE MOVING TO, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY ALREADY ON OUR WAY TO THAT.
UM, COULD YOU PROVIDE ME IN YOUR VISION SOME OF THE KIND OF METRICS AROUND THE, THE CITY'S GOALS REGARDING THE QUEEN MARY? SO AS IT PERTAINS TO, TO VISITORS ACTIVITIES, LIKE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT, SAY, THREE TO FIVE YEARS RELATED TO THE QUEEN MARY? WELL, WE'RE REALLY DOING SOME REALLY COOL, UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES AROUND THE QUEEN MARY AND, UH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UM, JOHNNY VALLEJO WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, WELL, I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS METRICS IS GETTING MORE PEOPLE AND VISITORS ON, ON THE SHIP.
SO, UH, FY 24, UM, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA END THE YEAR JUST OVER 360, 300 70,000 VISITORS AND HOPING TO INCREASE THAT INTO THE, THE LOW FOUR HUNDREDS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
WHAT MAKES IT A LITTLE DIFFICULT IS BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE PRETTY AMBITIOUS PLANS, UH, OUT AT THE QUEEN MARY.
SO, UM, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE TEAM TO FORECAST INTO THE FUTURE TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS OF AN, UH, AN AMPHITHEATER WILL BE.
IT MAY JUST CHANGE THE, THE MIX.
UH, WE MAY GET MORE PEOPLE STAYING ON THE SHIP BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE THERE FOR, UH, AN EVENT AT THE AMPHITHEATER.
SO WE THINK WE MAY INCREASE, UM, THOSE TYPES OF STAYS, WHICH ACTUALLY, UM, UH, THERE'S A, A A PER CAPITA SPEND THAT INCREASES, UH, WITH THOSE TYPES OF VISITORS.
SO WE THINK THAT COULD HAVE A VERY, UH, A, A VERY POSITIVE EFFECT ON OUR NET REVENUE, BUT IT MAY IMPACT OUR, OUR, OUR VISITOR COUNT.
SO, UM, UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO, TO, TO SHOOT FOR THAT GOAL OF, OF 400,000, UH, MAYBE SLIGHTLY LESS WITH THE IMPACT OF THE, THE AMPHITHEATER.
UH, REALLY WHAT WE REALLY WANNA DO IS MAKE IT FINANCIALLY HEALTHY.
SO, UM, WE ARE GONNA END THE END THE YEAR POSITIVE ABOUT 2.75 NET.
UM, SO SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE $3 MILLION WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
UM, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S OUR FIRST YEAR, WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR, OUR HANDS AROUND THE NUMBERS.
UM, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY AND VERY POSITIVE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE QUEEN MARY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE ON THAT QUESTION TOO, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIKE IN OUR REALLY FIRST YEAR OPERATIONS POST, UH, COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE ESTABLISHING A LOT OF NEW MATRIX AND NUMBERS AND THAT WE CAN COME BACK TO EVERY YEAR AND SAY, THIS IS HOW IT'S BEEN YEAR OVER YEAR GOING FORWARD.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS.
AND SO I SAW THAT, UM, I THINK THIS, I THINK BUDGET IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND GOING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I KNOW THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO GIVE ANOTHER KIND OF TRANCHE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO OUR BUSINESS APPROVED DISTRICTS, WHICH I THINK THEY USE FOR, FOR PROGRAMMING, ET CETERA, STAFFING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, NOW I KNOW I HEARD FROM, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT ALSO MAY BE A QUESTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, UM, BUT I KNOW I HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF THOSE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT DIRECTORS THAT THE FUNDING THEY RECEIVED THIS YEAR WAS DELAYED, WHICH AFFECTED THEIR ABILITY TO DO SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.
UM, AND SO I WANTED TO KNOW IF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT KNEW THE REASON WHY THAT THAT FUNDING WAS DELAYED.
'CAUSE AS WE POTENTIALLY FUND, UM, THAT SECOND KIND OF TRAN OF FUNDING AND FISCAL YEAR 25, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS GET THAT IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO I'LL START, UM, WITH THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION THEN.
COURTNEY TERSON, UM, ON OUR TEAM IS GONNA FOLLOW UP ON, ON ON SOME OF THE QUESTION.
BUT, UH, SOME OF IT WAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WERE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY.
UM, SOME OF IT WAS THAT THEY NEEDED TO PROVIDE US, UH, THEIR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.
AND THEN A THIRD OPTION WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAD THEM LOOK AT, UH, COMMERCIAL CRIMINAL INSURANCE, UH, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT WAVE THIS YEAR 'CAUSE I'M SURE THEY CALLED YOU UP ON THAT.
AND SO WE REALLY MOVED THIS FORWARD REALLY FAST WITH G THROUGH THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, AND THEY'RE ALL WORKING AT A DIFFERENT PACE.
BUT, UM, SINCE THAT TIME, EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FUNDING.
AND AS WE THINK ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING, WE, WE CAN CHECK A LOT OF BOXES AND SAY THEY'LL BE READY TO RECEIVE IT MUCH FASTER NOW THAT THEY KNOW, KNOW THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND WITH THAT, COURTNEY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD? UM, YEAH, I THINK YOU, YOU COVERED THE MAIN POINTS AND IT REALLY WAS AN INSURANCE HOLDUP FOR THE MOST PART, AND, UM, NAVIGATING AN ADDITIONAL INSURANCE THAT WAS ASSESSED THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THIS TYPE OF CONTRACT BY OUR RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM.
BUT ONCE WE ARE AWARE OF THAT, WE MADE SURE THAT WE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RISK MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS THE, THAT CHALLENGE.
AND SO I IMAGINE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS WILL BE FOR THIS NEXT COMING FISCAL YEAR.
SO MOST OF OUR BIDS, IF NOT ALL OF THEM NOW, SHOULD HAVE THE, HAVE THOSE, UM, HAVE THAT INSURANCE IN PLACE, SO THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE THE MONEY.
THEY HAVE NAVIGATED THAT ALREADY.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY.
AND THE OTHER CHALLENGE TOO IS A COUPLE OF OUR BIDS ACTUALLY HAVE SOME STAFF
[01:40:01]
TURNOVER, SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET, BRING THEM UP TO SPEED AS WELL.COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, I'M GONNA GO TO ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE AT LEAST A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS LINED UP TO SPEAK.
AND THEN WE DO, UH, HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, UH, ABOUT 40 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LINED UP TO COMMENT.
I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, UH, I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS, SO I'LL JUST, UH, I'LL, UM, QUEUE BACK UP, QUEUE UP LATER.
NEXT UP WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER, DUGGAN, SECOND DUGGAN.
UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR MARTINEZ FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT, UM, WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION AS WE GO INTO DEFICIT YEARS.
WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT REVENUE SOURCES.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE PUTTING, UH, WE'RE INVESTING IN BIZ CARE TOO.
BIZ CARE HAS BEEN TO TWO OF MY BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES.
UM, THEY REALLY ARE RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES, UH, FROM THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MY BUSINESSES IN THE THIRD DISTRICT ARE REALLY, UM, ASKING QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU, UM, SPECIFY AND SHARE THE TYPES OF SERVICES SPECIFICALLY OFFERED BY THE BIZ CARE TEAM AND WHAT KIND OF METRICS YOU HAVE ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE BIZ CARE TEAM? YEAH.
UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DUG AND, UM, FOR, FOR YOUR, UM, SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAM.
AND, UM, COURTNEY PATTERSON'S GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, RESOURCES, PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS ADVOCACY THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, SO I'M JUST GONNA PULL UP THE CURRENT YEAR'S METRICS, EXCUSE ME, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAVE ASSISTED OVER 1300 BUSINESSES THROUGH OUR HOTLINE AND VISITED OVER 960 BUSINESSES, UH, DOOR TO DOOR.
SO WE ARE WALKING ALL OF THE CORRIDORS, WE'RE SPEAKING WITH THE BUSINESSES, WE'RE PROVIDING PACKETS OF ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION ON LOCAL SERVICES THAT THEY CAN ACCESS.
UM, THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE SAFETY TIPS, UM, NUMBERS TO CALL IF THEY NEED ANYTHING FROM THE CITY IN, IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THEY CAN ACCESS FOR FREE THROUGH US OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, IN TERMS OF THE OUTCOMES, UH, FOR WHEN WE MAKE THESE REFERRALS, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE GREAT METRICS, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO IMPLEMENT A CRM SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN TRACK WHEN WE MAKE A REFERRAL SOMEWHERE ELSE, UM, IF IT'S WITHIN ONE OF OUR CITY PROGRAMS, WE CAN SEE POTENTIALLY THE RESULTS.
DID THEY ENROLL IN THAT? DID THEY GET THE GRANT THAT WE HELPED THEM WITH? DID THEY, UM, JOIN THE, THE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM WITH WORKFORCE, UH, PACIFIC GATEWAY? UM, SO WE ARE HOPING TO GET, HAVE BETTER ANSWERS FOR THAT QUESTION NEXT YEAR.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO IS CONNECTING THEM TO OUR RESOURCE PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS FROM THE APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION TO CENTRAL CHA.
AND THEY PROVIDE WORKSHOPS, ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING, BUSINESS PLANNING, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, ME, COMING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, I ACTUALLY OWN MY OWN SMALL BUSINESS.
AND IF I WOULD KNOWN ONE I'VE KNOWN BACK THEN, I PROBABLY WOULD EVEN BEEN MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT, AT THAT TIME AND PLACE.
AND SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT'S IS TO, UH, DELIVER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
YOUR TEAM WAS FIVE AND IT WASN'T STRUCTURALLY FUNDED.
DID YOU HAVE FIVE PEOPLE WORKING THIS PAST YEAR IN BIZ CARE? UM, WE HAD SIX, UH, PART-TIME FOLKS WITH ONE FULL-TIME, UH, COORDINATOR.
AND NOW WE'VE RESTRUCTURED TO BE FULL-TIME STAFF AS PART-TIME SCHEDULES AND, AND MAINTAINING RETAINING STAFF THAT HAVE THE PROGRAM KNOWLEDGE AND THE SKILLSET, UM, JUST WASN'T FEASIBLE WITH PART-TIME.
SO WE MOVED TO THE, THE FULL-TIME STAFF IS FOUR TOTAL.
I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO REALLY USE THESE FULL-TIME, UM, EMPLOYEES IN A STRUCTURED WAY THAT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OR EXCEED THE EFFICIENCIES OF YOUR 2200 BUSINESSES THAT YOU'VE CONTACTED.
I THINK HAVING FULL-TIME PEOPLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A SMALL BUSINESS.
UH, WELL, I LOOK AT IT AS A SMALL BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S A, A DEPARTMENT.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING, NOT ONLY PROACTIVELY, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE DOING BUT MANY MORE BUSINESS WALKS, WE'RE GONNA CONNECT WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS ROUND TABLES, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OUR OTHER PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, SO THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S GREAT RESOURCES OUT THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO DOING A BUSINESS WALK SURVEY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CAPTURE MORE INFORMATION FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT WAY WE CAN PIVOT WHEN NEEDED, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LEVERAGING EVERY SINGLE RESOURCE THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, TO,
[01:45:01]
FOR THEM TO GROW, PROSPER, AND SUCCEED.NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS.
UM, I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, IT, IT JUST GIVES US SO MUCH HOPE.
I THINK THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN SAID IT, UM, PERFECTLY WHEN SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE IS BIZ CARE BEST CARE IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT'S REALLY, REALLY MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE OUT THERE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SEE IS THAT YOU PROVIDE, UM, SERVICES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES LIKE ENGLISH, SPANISH, KAMAI, UM, AND ALSO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DO OUTREACH.
ARE THOSE, UH, OUTREACH EFFORTS ALSO DONE IN VARIOUS, UM, LANGUAGES AS WELL? UH, YES, THEY ARE.
UM, WE HAVE MULTILINGUAL STAFF ON THE BIZ CARE TEAM THAT PROVIDE ALL OF THE SERVICES, AND WE ALSO MAKE SURE WE TRANSLATE ALL OF OUR MATERIALS.
THANK, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE THAT.
UM, ALSO YOUR FISCAL YEAR 24 HIGHLIGHTS, UM, SHOW THAT THE CITY MANAGES OVER $3 BILLION, UM, THROUGH 120 LOANS.
MAY YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT, UM, ON THE LOANS THAT ARE GOING OUT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOW, HOW THE, THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN WORKING.
THE, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN REALLY WORKING OUT GREAT.
AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM, THE, IT'S SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT'S ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCING TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO TYPICALLY MAY NOT HAVE THOSE BANKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LARGE COMPANIES DO.
AND SO, SAY FOR INSTANCE, A SMALL BUSINESS COMES INTO OUR REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, 50% OF THE FUNDS IS COMING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A FAMILY INVESTMENT OR INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT, THEY GO TO THE BANK AND THE BANK SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN GET YOU 20%.
THAT GIVES THEM 70% LOAN TO VALUE.
AND IN ORDER TO CLOSE THAT FINAL 30% OF THAT LOAN, THAT'S WHERE THEY COME TO US AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THIS LOAN FOR MAYBE TO CLOSE THE GAP SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND OUR BUSINESS.
SO WE NEED FUNDING FOR WORKING CAPITAL, OR WE NEED FUNDING TO PROVIDE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND GROW OUR BUSINESS.
AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE THE GROW LONG BEACH, UH, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GROW LONG BEACH, UH, GROW AMERICA AND THE REVOLVING LOAN PHONE PROGRAMS, UH, WORKS AT.
AND SO ONE OF THE MATRIX WE LOOK AT IS WE LOOK AT NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, NUMBER OF JOBS RETAINED, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE LEVERAGE OUR INVESTMENT FROM A REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM FROM AN INVESTMENT THEY'RE MAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY, AND THEN ALSO WITH A BANK.
AND SO THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT MATRIX THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN IT COMES TO THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM.
AND, AND I GOTTA SAY, IT'S REALLY UNIQUE ON AUTHENTIC TO THE CITY LONG BEACH.
THERE'S NOT MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT DO DO WHAT WE DO.
UM, ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY THAT IS VERY UNIQUE TO LONG BEACH IS OUR MICRO BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE, UM, VERY DISTINCTIVE, VERY UNIQUE.
UM, HOW, HOW ARE THEY IMPLEMENTED IN THIS? IS IT, UM, IS IT THE SAME AS ANY REGULAR BUSINESSES OR HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS? THERE'S, UH, SEVERAL WAYS THAT WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED.
WE WANNA MAKE, WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR BIZ CARE TEAM UNDERSTANDS ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE, SO THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE ENGAGING OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURS THAT THEY KNOW THE RESOURCE THERE.
TWO, WE WORK WITH OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS FROM THE APRIL PARKER FOUNDATION TO RIGHTSOURCE TO CENTRAL CHINA, THE UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY.
WE WORK WITH THE SBDC, WE WORK WITH ALL OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR, UH, A A A SMALL UNDERSERVED BUSINESS THAT'S LOOKING FOR ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
AND SO WE REALLY TRY TO HARD WORK, HARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LEVERAGING EVERY SINGLE RESOURCE OUT THERE, INCLUDING WORKING WITH, UH, THE, THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT ALL THESE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
ONE THING THAT WASN'T MENTIONED AND THAT I REALLY, REALLY WOULD LIKE US TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC IS, UM, THE EFFORTS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS HAD ON THE SMALL BUSINESSES DURING VIOLENT CRIMES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND VANDALISM.
UM, YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HIGHLIGHT THAT ENOUGH IN, IN THAT ASPECT.
AND SO CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AS A PARTNER, ESPECIALLY WITH MY DISTRICT, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, VANDALIZED
[01:50:01]
THANK YOU.COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS, AND WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE CALL THE RAPID RESPONSE TEAM.
AND THAT RAPID RESPONSE TEAM IS MADE OF EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE IN OUR DEPARTMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR ON DOWN TO THE BIZ CARE TEAM.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEND US AN EMAIL OR WE HEAR FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR WE HEAR DIRECTLY FROM A BUSINESS, WE'RE GONNA BE OUT THERE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THEM BEING IMPACTED, SHARE NOT ONLY THE VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY BECOME MUCH MORE EDUCATED AS IT RELATES TO CRIME AND VANDALISM AND JUST REALLY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN OUT THERE ON THE WEEKENDS, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, UH, FIRST THING ON MONDAY MORNING TO WORK WITH THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND WHEN YOU GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, WHETHER IT'S PROPERTY DAMAGE OR VANS, THEY APPRECIATE AND KNOW THAT YOU CARE.
AND THAT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THAT SMALL BUSINESS, BIG BUSINESS, YOU ALL MATTER HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS.
JUST ONE COMMENT REAL QUICK, JUST ONE COMMENT, UM, TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR JOHNNY.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY YOU'VE BEEN DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AT THE QUEEN MARY.
UM, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT THERE.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED ALSO THAT I THINK THAT, UM, HAS TO BE MENTIONED IS DISTRICT NIGHTS.
I THINK THAT THAT IS FABULOUS THAT WE, UM, GET TO INVITE OUR CONSTITUENTS, OUR RESIDENTS, ON A DISTRICT NIGHT TO COME AND VISIT THE QUEEN MARY.
THE QUEEN MARY BELONGS TO ALL OF US HERE IN LONG BEACH.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S AMAZING THAT WE DO THAT.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO SEE, SAY THAT I WAS, UM, VERY IMPRESSED THIS WEEKEND WHEN I WAS ON THE QUEEN MARY AND I OVERHEARD A TOUR BEING GIVEN IN COMPLETE SPANISH, AND I WAS JUST SO THRILLED TO HAVE THAT, THAT WE KEPT BUMPING INTO THEM.
AND, UM, I WAS JUST SO EXCITED TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY PUT EMPHASIS INTO MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INCLUDED AND THAT EVERYBODY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BEAUTIFUL GEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR.
UM, SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR MARTINEZ AND THE WHOLE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I I DEFINITELY KNOW, UM, YOU ALL ARE VERY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE BECOME THE NEXT, UM, INTERNATIONAL GREAT INTERNATIONAL CITY.
I'M FULLY ON BOARD ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE DEFINITELY, I THINK TAKEN IT ANOTHER LEVEL AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD HOW MUCH I DO LOVE THE NEXT LEVEL UP PROGRAM THAT YOU STARTED THIS PAST YEAR AND EXCITED TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 2, 6, 5 OF MY, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT ARE GETTING TO BE THE INAUGURAL COHORT FOR THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND ALSO ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S, UM, ONGOING INVESTMENT IN OUR BIDS AND OUR P BITS JUST BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE CORRIDORS I THINK HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GROW OR ON THEIR WAY TO BEING TO, TO GROWING.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN MANY THINGS ON ALL YOUR PLATES FROM SCALING OUR INDUSTRY FOR GROWTH, HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESS THRIVE AND UPLIFTING THOSE WHO ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, ECONOMICALLY, UM, BEHIND, ACTUALLY.
SO, AND THAT'S THE AREA WHERE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THIS E ECONOMIC INCLUSION ACTION PLANS, UH, IS GOING TO, TO LOOK LIKE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, TO, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.
BUT I DON'T WANNA MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION.
IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
UM, YEAH, SO I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD AN ECONOMY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, LBC IS GONNA BE A PARTNERSHIP ON HOW WE FOCUS ON TALENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG PUSH FOR US IN FISCAL YEAR 25 AND BEYOND.
AND SO IT'S REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT OUR RESIDENTS TO, UH, CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING SURE OUR BUSINESSES KNOW ALL THE GREAT RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT AND JUST CONTINUE TO GROW OUR, UH, ECONOMY AROUND JOBS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE BIG PUSH FOR, FOR THAT INITIAL A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SEED MONEY.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW PLAN, IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND PACKAGING THEM GOING FORWARD.
AND THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TALKING ABOUT GRANTS AND PROGRAMMING IS, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THIS GUARANTEE, UH, IN PILOT PROGRAM THAT THAT WAS A LAUNCH.
[01:55:01]
JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW, HOW DO WE SEE THIS CONTINUING? I DON'T KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH DATA YET TO ANALYZE, BUT IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON ITS STATUS AND ITS POTENTIAL CONTINUATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE EITHER WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING, YOU KNOW, THEIR MAYBE COLLEGE DEGREE OR, OR GETTING, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR WAY TO GETTING, UM, MAYBE BETTER JOBS.IF, IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.
YEAH, SO THE FIRST AND SECOND COHORTS, WE, YOU KNOW, UM, WELCOME OVER, I MEAN, 500 FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, OR FOUR 50, I'M SORRY, 450, 250 THE FIRST TIME AND 202ND TIME.
AND JUST OUR INITIAL FINDINGS SO FAR IS THAT WE KNOW THAT, UM, THEY'RE USING THAT MONEY TO MAYBE START A SMALL BUSINESS.
THEY'RE USING IT FOR CHILDCARE, THEY'RE USING IT FOR HOUSING, THEY'RE USING IT FOR FOOD, THEY'RE USING IT FOR BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND SO EACH ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, ARE USING THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS INVESTING NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY.
AND TWO, UM, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH TWO US SHALL BE TO ESTABLISH NOT ONLY THAT BASELINE DATA, BUT ALSO A REPORT THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND AS WE THINK ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING, UH, BOTH OF THESE COHORTS WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE LBRA FUNDING.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT MONEY'S GOING AWAY ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE LIFTED UP TO ASSIST OUR BUSINESSES AND, AND, AND INDIVIDUALS AND RESIDENTS, UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO, UM, RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO PLAN TO, UH, CONTINUE THE PROGRAM FOR GOING FORWARD.
UM, I'LL JUST ADD THAT WE DO HAVE MIDTERM DATA FROM THE FIRST COHORT AND IT SHOWS VERY POSITIVE IMPACTS WHILE FOLKS ARE IN THE PROGRAM, REDUCING THEIR STRESS, REDUCING THEIR, UM, FINANCIAL STRAINS, UH, INCLUDING IMPROVING THEIR HOUSING SECURITY, INCLUDING IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY, IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR THEIR KIDS.
SO, UM, WE SEE A REALLY POSITIVE IMPACT THERE.
WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR NOW IS THE RESULT FROM THE END TERMS SURVEY.
SO THAT WAS DONE OVER THE SUMMER, UH, A FEW MONTHS AFTER PAYMENTS STOPPED TO SEE DOES THE BENEFIT CONTINUE AFTER THE PAYMENTS END? UM, AND WHAT IS MORE OF THE LONGER TERM IMPACT OF PARTICIPATING IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS.
UH, WE STILL HAVE THE SECOND COHORT RECEIVING PAYMENTS THROUGH, UM, FEBRUARY, 2025.
AND SO THAT STUDY IS ALSO CONTINUING INTO 2025 TO GET MORE ROBUST DATA FROM, TO BE ABLE TO COMBINE BOTH COHORTS AND UNDERSTAND ACROSS BOTH OF THEM WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE.
AND I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE TOUCH OF THEM.
I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE COULDN'T PROVIDE STIPEND AS THE, AS THE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES, IF THERE'S SERVICES AND WAYS THAT, UM, THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THEIR, THEIR, UM, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN, IN THEIR PATHWAY.
SO ONE MORE THING I JUST WANNA ADD IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF THINGS NEEDS TO BE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP JUST BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITED IN RESOURCES.
BUT I THINK JUST BUILDING OFF OF THE ECONOMIC INCLUSION ACTION PLAN, I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT CREATING ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY NEW, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO NOT NEW TO HAVE, UH, INTERDEPARTMENTAL PARTNERSHIP.
AND I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE THAT THERE'S MORE ONGOING WORK IT TO DO INTERSECTIONAL WORK BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU ALL KIND OF HOLD THE SOCIAL DEPENDENT OF HEALTH AND HOW PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO THRIVE, UM, IN, IN OUR CITY.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CON CONTINUE TO AT LEAST CON THAT ONGOING CONVERSATION AND THINKING THROUGH HOW DO WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM AND MANY OTHERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING AS THESE BENEFITS ARE GOING AWAY FROM THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT.
I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING UP MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, AND KUDOS ABOUT, UM, INCLUDING THE SUPPORT FOR OUR BIDS, THE BIZ CARE TEAM, VISUAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
UM, AND SO I WON'T BELABOR ALL OF THAT AGAIN, BUT REALLY GRATEFUL.
AND I THINK THE RECURRING THING THEME THAT I KEEP HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND FROM BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT IS THAT REALLY HYPER-LOCAL SUPPORT TO OUR SMALLER AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES.
UM, AND HOW CRITICAL THAT IS FOR, UM, FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN THOSE BUSINESSES MAYBE OVER A COUPLE OF DECADES AND NOT GETTING LOST IN THE SHUFFLE BETWEEN STARTUPS AND, YOU KNOW, GIANT COMPANIES THAT ARE MOVING INTO THE CITY.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION TO THAT DETAIL.
UM, ON SLIDE 10, YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIZ CARE PROGRAM, UM, FOR PROPOSED, UH, BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE VISUAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT, WHICH WE KNOW HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE.
AGAIN, NOT THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT, BUT IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE, UM, FOR SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP? I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT SITE SELECTS, UM, BUT $200,000 IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE GET WITH PARTNERING WITH THEM AND THE WAYS THAT YOU SEE THAT, UH, CONTINUING TO BENEFIT SOME OF OUR SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES AS IF THAT IS THE CASE OR IF IT'S REALLY DRIVEN TO, TO
[02:00:01]
BRING IN BIGGER BUSINESSES.SO IF I HAD TO, UM, TELL YOU THE PRIORITIES OF THE LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, IT'S REALLY FOCUSING ON BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION AND INTERACTION AND HOSTING A, THE SITE SELECTION, SITE SELECTION CONFERENCE NOW AND GOING FORWARD, IT'S ALSO WORKING WITH US ON MARKETING AND BRANDING AROUND THE FIVE TARGETED INDUSTRY SECTORS AND CREATING, UH, MARKETPLACE, UM, UH, UH, INDUSTRY SECTOR PROFILES.
IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE A BUSINESS ADVOCATE, NOT ONLY, UH, BETWEEN BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, BUT ALSO RECRUIT NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING, UH, TO CITY OF LONG BEACH.
UM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT A, THE SMALL BUSINESS TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE THAT COVERED, YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HERE IN THE CITY AND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS WITH OUR PARTNERS SUCH AS THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
SO GIVEN THAT IT'S A $200,000 INVESTMENT, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING TO LEVERAGE THAT, NOT ONLY LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS, BUT ALSO LEVERAGE THEM TWO TO ONE.
SO THE $200,000 THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN, YOU KNOW, THE HOPE IS THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT WITH A PRIVATE SECTOR ON A TWO TO ONE MATCH.
AND SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE LONG BEACH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, BUT THAT'S THE TOP THREE OR FOUR THINGS THAT WE'RE PUSHING THEM TO DO, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AS WELL AS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, LONG BEACH AND THE PORT OF LONG BEACH.
AND SO, AND ALSO WORKING WITH LOS ANGELES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE BOTH REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.
UM, AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER MORE TECHNICAL QUESTION.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TONIGHT, BUT I AM CURIOUS, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, WHETHER IT'S WITH NONPROFITS OR COMMUNITY GROUPS, OR L-B-E-C-E, WHICH YOU JUST MENTIONED, DO WE HAVE, UM, A SPECIFIC WAY THAT WE MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS? SO IF WE'RE WORKING WITH A, WITH A NONPROFIT, UM, DO WE HAVE GOING INTO IT SOME EXPECTATIONS OR SOME WAY THAT WE'LL MEASURE SUCCESS? I JUST, I'M THINKING AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST, UM, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY TARGETED WITH OUR DOLLARS.
AND IF, UM, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT KIND OF REFLECTION AFTER THE FACT AS WE CONTINUE, UH, TO RE-UP YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH FOLKS.
ANYTIME WE ENTER INTO ANY CONTRACT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SET OF PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS AS WELL AS KPIS, UH, KEY PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS.
AND SO EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS IS GOING TO OUTLINE THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE OUTCOMES THAT WE DESIRE AS PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE MEASURE ON EVERY SINGLE AGREEMENT THAT WE DO AND MAKING SURE WE'RE STAYING ALIGNED.
UH, WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR, UH, BUDGET CHAIR, UH, DR.
RICK ODI AS WELL, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, UH, CHRISTINA DUGGAN QUEUED UP, AND THEN I THINK WE'LL GO TO THE PRESENTATION FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, JUST TWO POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.
SO ON, UM, PAGE THREE 17 OF THE BUDGET BOOK, UNDER THE, UM, LICENSE PERMITS AND FEES, I JUST NOTICED THAT THE, UM, FISCAL YEAR 24 AMOUNT IS THE EXACT SAME AS THE FISCAL YEAR 25 AMOUNT.
WAS THAT INTENTIONAL? GOOD EVENING.
UH, SO, UH, REGARDING, UH, PAGE THREE 17 LICENSE PERMITS AND FEES, UH, THAT'S A CHARACTER CODE DESCRIPTION THAT'S USED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DESCRIBE THE ANNUAL BUDGETED SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUES THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE QUEEN MARY AND HARRY BRIDGES, UH, MEMORIAL PARK.
THE BUDGET REVENUES FOR THIS CHARACTER REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE FY 23 BECAUSE THIS IS A RELATIVELY, UH, NEW REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE CITY.
PRIOR TO THE CITY TAKING OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE QUEEN MARY SHIP AND ADJACENT ASSETS, ALL SPECIAL EVENTS REVENUES WENT DIRECTLY TO THE PRIVATE OPERATOR.
IN 2023, THE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED BUDGETED REVENUES IN AN AMOUNT OF 3 58, 3 37, BASED IT ON PROJECTED SPECIAL EVENTS ACTIVITY AT THE PROPERTIES.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE FULL YEAR OF ACTIVITY AT THE PROPERTIES POST COVID, WE'VE INTENTIONALLY, UH, LET THAT BUDGET REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR PLACE 24 AND 25.
UM, AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION.
UM, THERE'S A SECTION IN HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT FUNDING.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S HERE, BUT THERE'S A SECTION IN HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT FUNDING FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
I THINK IT'S ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT IT JUST SAYS, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, UM, WHAT DOES FUNDING FROM OTHER AGENCIES ENTAIL? SO WHAT ARE THE, WHAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY BE THE OTHER AGENCIES? OKAY, SO THE, UH, I THINK YOU'RE, UH, REFERRING TO THE 1 48, I'M SORRY, 1 45 8 60, THAT REFLECTS THE BUDGETED, UH, BASELINE REVENUES ANTICIPATED FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FUND GROUP USED TO OFFSET A PORTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS BUREAU.
SO THAT'S AN OFFSET FOR BUDGETED FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES IN THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS BUREAU.
[02:05:01]
ADOPTED AT THE SAME LEVEL.UM, THE ADJUSTED AMOUNT INCLUDED, UH, A SERIES OF ACTIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR TO REFLECT THE ADDITION OF ONE TIMES THROUGHOUT FY 24.
SO THERE'S A BUNCH, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ONE TIMES, SO THAT'S WHY THAT AMOUNT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BUDGETED.
WE, WE, UH, TEND TO TAKE, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ITEMS, UH, AS AD HOC ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THOSE GRANTS ARE RECEIVED.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UM, I WANNA LOOK INTO PEER H AND JUST UNDERSTAND MORE OF THE DETAILS, UH, ABOUT THE INVESTMENT PLAN FOR PEER H AND HOW THE NEW POSITIONS ARE GOING TO HELP TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO PLAN THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I, I CAN TELL YOU WHILE WE ARE, HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN, UH, IN MANAGING THE, THE QUEEN MARY AND THAT OPERATOR, UM, IT, IT IS MYSELF AND ONE STAFF MEMBER, SO IT IS MYSELF AND ONE STAFF MEMBER.
WE ALSO MANAGE, UM, THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, WE ALSO MANAGE THE CARNIVAL LEASES, AND WE ALSO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING FORWARD THE, UH, THE AMBITIOUS AMPHITHEATER PROJECT.
SO, UH, REALLY IN, IN ORDER FOR US TO CAPITALIZE ON THOSE PROJECTS AND BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE QUEEN MARY, WE JUST NEED MORE STAFF.
SO, UM, HOW WE DEPLOY THAT STAFF AND HOW WE, WE, WE ASSIGN THEM, UH, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO, TO, TO FLUSH THOSE SPECIFIC OUTS, BUT REALLY, UM, I'VE REACHED CAPACITY WITH, WITH MYSELF AND THE, THE ONE STAFF MEMBER.
BUT, UH, WE, WE, WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY WE CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE'VE BEEN, UH, ON THE QUEEN MARY AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GROW AND, UH, REALLY FOCUS ON BOTH THE SHORELINE SIDE OF THE WATER AND THE QUEEN MARY SIDE OF THE WATER AND MAKING THOSE TWO, UH, PIECES OF PROPERTY WORK REALLY WELL WITH EACH OTHER.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATE FOR THIS, THIS, UH, ENHANCEMENT.
UM, BUT YOU DO HAVE, FOR THE PEER AGE BUREAU, THREE FULL-TIME POSITIONS, FTES IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, RIGHT? YOU JUST HAVE TWO RIGHT NOW? YEAH, SO THERE'S, UM, MYSELF ONE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND A, UH, BUREAU SECRETARY.
OUR COMMUNITY DAY WAS FANTASTIC.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, SUPERVISOR ASKED FOR, UH, THE FINAL QUESTION.
UM, AND I HOPE FOR A SIMPLE EXPLANATION.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW, WHO QUALIFIES TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE TO A STOREFRONT OR HOW A CORPORATE ENTITY MAY NOT QUALIFY VERSUS A FRANCHISEE.
UM, SO FOR THE, THE VISUAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? YES.
SO THAT, THAT PROGRAM WAS PART OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAMS. SO IT WAS GEARED TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HARDEST HIT BY THOSE FINANCIAL IMPACTS, RATHER THAN LARGER CORPORATIONS THAT, UM, HAVE INSURANCE THAT CAN COVER THESE THINGS.
SO WE DID RESTRICT IT TO SMALL BUSINESSES BASED ON, UM, THE SIZE OF THEIR REVENUE, ANNUAL REVENUE, AND WE DID ALLOW FRANCHISES BECAUSE THOSE ARE LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THAT'S SORT OF MANAGED THROUGH OUR COUNCIL OFFICE.
WHEN SOMEONE CONTACTS US, UH, PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, UM, WHY, WHY DOES A CERTAIN GROCERY STORE GET THIS ACCOMMODATION? BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE AN OWNER OPERATED, UM, ENTITY, UH, OF A FRANCHISEE SO THAT, UH, A LARGE GROCERY STORE, DEPENDING ON THAT SALES VOLUME WOULD QUALIFY.
I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE SAID.
SO THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, LOCALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND NOT BE PART OF A LARGER CORPORATION.
THAT CONCLUDES, UH, OUR QUESTIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
NEXT UP IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
SO AS THE TEAM IS COMING UP, WE'RE PREPARED TO GIVE, UH, A PRETTY IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION ON HEALTH.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM ALL THE COUNCIL ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT, UH, WORK THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN TRANSITION AS WELL AS THEY'VE, UH, RECEIVED A BUNCH OF, UH, DOLLARS.
THEY'VE ALSO, UM, BEEN ABLE TO, UM, TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON SOME OF THEIR GOALS.
BUT, UM, THEY, THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF GROW AND SHRINK AS, AS WE BRING IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
UH, THEY'LL BE TALKING THROUGH THAT.
ALSO BE TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK THAT THEY DO AS WELL.
UH, AND A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THEIR BUDGET.
[02:10:01]
THIS IS OUR BRAND NEW DIRECTOR'S FIRST BUDGET PRESENTATION.SO I WILL NOW TURN IT TO HER, ALISON KING, UH, AND HER TEAM TO WALK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
I'M DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET OVERVIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME AS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL ILLUSTRATE THE BREADTH OF WHAT WE DO HERE IN HEALTH, AND I'LL PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, BUT WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED DETAILED INFORMATION IN THE SLIDES FOR YOUR REVIEW.
I WANTED TO GROUND OUR DISCUSSION BY HIGHLIGHTING THE WAYS HEALTH IS INTEGRAL TO THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF OUR CITY.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE PROVIDED PUBLIC HEALTH SUPPORT WITH COVID-19, WE'VE ALSO OVERSEEN THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION RELATED TO THE TB OUTBREAK AND LED THE HOMELESSNESS EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
WE'VE PROVIDED SUPPORT INCLUDING SETTING UP A TEMPORARY SHELTER DURING TROPICAL STORM.
HILLARY AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS OFTEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AT MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS THE GRAND PRIX.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ENGAGED IN CRITICAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK.
WE OFFER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN ALL STAGES OF THEIR LIVES, BEGINNING WITH EXPECTED PARENTS.
WE STRIVE TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY THROUGH OUR NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE VISIT EXPECTING MOTHERS IN THEIR HOMES.
AND THROUGH OUR BLACK INFANT HEALTH PROGRAM, WE SUPPORT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH APPROXIMATELY $17.5 MILLION IN FUNDING ACROSS YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGH A MIX OF FUNDING SOURCES, WALK AND ROLL LONG BEACH, PROMOTE STREET SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS THROUGH FREE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AIMED AT PREVENTING INJURIES IN OUR WORK.
ANY OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE YOUTH IS A PREVENTION MEASURE.
IT REDUCES THE RISK OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS AND INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS FUNDING HELPS EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR LIVES BY PROMOTING LEADERSHIP, PROVIDING MENTORING, AND FOCUSING ON HEALTHY CHOICES AND DRUG AWARENESS.
WE'VE ALSO INCREASED SUPPORT IN RECENT YEARS FOR VETERANS AND OLDER ADULTS.
I'M SO PROUD OF THIS TEAM AND THE GREAT WORK THAT WE HAVE ALL DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR, WE INTRODUCED THE HEALTH EQUITY INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT POLICY BY INCREASING COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO FUND STATE PRO YOUTH PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR WE WITNESSED THE FIRST YOUTH STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ONE OF OUR AMAZING YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOWED US WITH THEIR AGENDA FOR THE YEAR WHILE 832 YOUTH AND LONG BEACH VOTED TO ALLOCATE $300,000 FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS, GIVING THEM A VOICE IN CITY DECISIONS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY WE HAVE WITH US MALIKA LASSETER, WHO DELIVERED OUR STATE OF THE CITY FOR YOUTH.
AND KAYLA BROOKS WAVE YOUR HANDS.
LADIES, UH, WHO WAS IN THE FIRST COHORT OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS, SHE IS NOW REPRESENTING LONG BEACH IN A REGIONAL EFFORT TO REVIEW AND IMPROVE POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A HUD GRANT.
MANY OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALSO CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS.
WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE FOCUSED ATTENTION ON HOMELESSNESS AFFORDED BY THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS, WE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 9,349 PEOPLE EX EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS A 59% INCREASE.
OVER THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY RECEIVED AN INCREASED ALLOCATION IN MEASURE H FUNDING WITH JUST UNDER 13 MILLION TO PROVIDE HOMELESS PREVENTION, OUTREACH, AND ACCESS RELATED SERVICES, SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
THE CITY ALSO RECEIVED ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS TO PURCHASE AND REHABILITATE THE SHELTER AT 7 0 2 WEST ANAHEIM IN A TOTAL OF 6.5 MILLION.
AND THE COUNTY HAS DIRECTLY FUNDED ENCAMPMENT RELATED PROJECTS, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 100 BEDS OF SUPPORT.
[02:15:02]
EARLIER THIS YEAR, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DEPUTY CITY MANAGER THERESA CHANDLER, THE OFFICE OF HOMELESS STRATEGY AND PARTNERSHIPS WAS LAUNCHED TO STREAMLINE THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE AND INCREASE COORDINATION EFFORTS ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS, EXTERNAL AGENCIES, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR CITY'S HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE ARE STILL CONDUCTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH OUR NEXT EVENT BEING THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC OPEN HOUSE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH FROM FOUR TO 6:00 PM AT THE RON ARIA HEALTH EQUITY CENTER, THE NEXT PHASE IS ANALYSIS OF OUR DATA AND BEST PRACTICES, WHICH IS COMING IN 2025.
WE'VE ALSO STEPPED UP SERVICES BY LAUNCHING THE SECOND MOBILE ACCESS CENTER, AND WE HAVE WORKED ON GETTING MORE PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS, STABILITY VOUCHERS, AND NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
NOTABLY, WE REACHED A HUNDRED PERCENT UTILIZATION OF EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS AND RECEIVED ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS FROM THE STATE AND $10.3 MILLION IN THE NEW ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION PROGRAM THAT IS FOCUSED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND 15 MILLION IN HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. ROUND FIVE, THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SHELTER BEDS, INTERIM HOUSING VOUCHERS, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
WE WILL ALSO WORK TOWARD ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS BY INCREASING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE UPCOMING YOUTH NAVIGATION CENTER AND A NEW INTERIM HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 59 50 LONG BEACH BOULEVARD.
ONE VERY EXCITING PROJECT ON THE HORIZON IS TINY HOMES.
THE CITY AND LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE ARE DISCUSSING POSSIBLE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE NEEDED SHELTER FOR SOME LBCC STUDENTS.
THE POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WOULD HELP THE CITY LOCATE A VIABLE SPACE FOR TINY HOMES ASSIST LBCC IN PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL PATHWAY TO HOUSING STABILITY FOR STUDENTS AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF LBCC STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
PROPOSITION ONE IS ANOTHER TOOL IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE BOND ACT OF 2024, WHICH ENHANCES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN CALIFORNIA TO ADDRESS CRITICAL SERVICE GAPS.
IN ADDITION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT FUNDING, PROP ONE CREATED A $6.4 BILLION BOND, ALLOCATING 4.4 BILLION FOR NEW CARE FACILITIES, AND 2 BILLION FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
ROUND ONE FOCUSES ON EXPANDING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
THE REPORT SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM BY INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
STAFF ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING VIABLE PROJECT SITES AND POTENTIAL COLLABORATIONS.
AS PROP ONE IS EARLY IN IMPLEMENTATION, FISCAL IMPACTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND LIABILITIES ARE NOT YET FULLY DETERMINED.
AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, MEASURE H PROVIDES FUNDING FOR A NUMBER OF OUR KEY SERVICES IN OUR RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS.
THIS SLIDE DEMONSTRATES THE ACTUAL IMPACT THIS HAS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THIS YEAR, VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO RAISE SALES TAX BY ONE FOURTH OF A PERCENT TO EXPAND SERVICES TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THIS ITEM COUNTY MEASURE A WOULD REPLACE COUNTY MEASURE H.
AND I DO WANNA NOTE HERE THAT COUNTY MEASURE H IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM CITY MEASURE A.
IF COUNTY MEASURE A PASSES, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICES WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO INCLUDE EMERGENCY HOUSING, JOB COUNSELING, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, TREATMENT, RENTAL SUBSIDIES, AND CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IF IT DOES NOT PASS, WE WILL STILL RECEIVE MEASURE H FUNDING, BUT ONLY UNTIL IT EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.
THREE INTERCONNECTED AREAS OF IMPORTANCE ARE PHYSICAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND WELLNESS.
[02:20:01]
COORDINATION AND ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS THROUGH THE HEALTHY AGING CENTER, WE SUPPORT NOT ONLY THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS.WE ALSO FOSTER COMMUNITY WELLNESS BY ADDRESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THROUGH OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS AND PEACE BUILDING.
WE WANT TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ACROSS THE CITY.
AND THE RECENTLY COMPLETED MENTAL HEALTH REPORT AS OUR GUIDE TO BUILD MENTAL HEALTH CAPACITY.
SOME OF THIS WORK IS ALREADY UNDERWAY.
ONE EXAMPLE BEING THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE PILOT, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE SEEKING SUPPORT TO CREATE A HEALTH EQUITY DIVISION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE $196,000 IN FUNDING FOR A RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY OFFICER AND 131,000 IN FUNDING FOR A LATINX HEALTH EQUITY COORDINATOR.
THE HEALTH EQUITY DIVISION, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S HOUSE OFFICE OF EQUITY WOULD PLAY A KEY ROLE IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH OF HEALTH DATA FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION GROUPS.
THIS WOULD IN TURN INFORM THE DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES.
THIS WORK IS ALREADY HAPPENING THROUGH OUR HEALTH EQUITY COORDINATORS.
THE OFFICE WILL BRING THE WORK TOGETHER TO ALLOW FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND COLLABORATION.
WE'RE ALSO SEEKING GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FOR ONE LATINX HEALTH EQUITY COORDINATOR.
WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, THIS POSITION BE, WILL BE LOST WHEN GRANT FUNDING ENDS.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO INITIATIVES TO FOCUS ON REDUCING VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
THE LONG BEACH VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE IS A CITYWIDE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL APPROACH TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND WELLBEING FOR EVERYONE IN LONG BEACH.
IT FOCUSES ON ENGAGING AND UPLIFTING COMMUNITY VOICES, FOSTERING TRUST, BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY, AND COORDINATING RESOURCES.
OUR ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE OVERSEES SAFE PASSAGE, WHICH REDUCES THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, AND UNSAFE SITUATIONS ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL.
L-B-U-S-D SCHOOL SAFETY HAS REPORTED A DECREASE IN INCIDENT INCIDENTS SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFE PASSAGE AT JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL.
THE LONG BEACH ACTIVATING SAFE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM SEEKS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
IT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE, INCLUDING YOUTH AND FAMILIES PROVIDING OUTREACH AND CONNECTION TO SERVICES.
THE COMMUNITY HAS STRONGLY VOICED THEIR DESIRE FOR GREATER INVESTMENT IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. IN FISCAL YEAR 24, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES RESULTED IN 13 PROGRAMS THIS YEAR RISING TO 16 PROGRAMS IN FISCAL YEAR 25, 1 FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET HIGHLIGHT IS AN ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF 200,000 PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
THIS WOULD ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO TRAIN COMMUNITY INTERVENTION WORKERS TO SUCCESSFULLY DEESCALATE SITUATIONS AND BUILD COMMUNITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE WITH HEALING CIRCLES, THERAPY, AND TANGIBLE GOODS TO MEET BASIC NEEDS.
FINALLY, IT WOULD INVEST $140,000 IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS MENTORSHIP, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, PROGRAMMING, AND TRAINING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
THESE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE, WHICH ARE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND AFTERCARE, ARE ALL EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND MUST WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE NINE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS ASSIGNED TO INSPECT OVER 3,100 FOOD FACILITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FOOD FACILITY, AN INSPECTION CAN TAKE ONE TO THREE HOURS FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION, FOODBORNE ILLNESS INVESTIGATIONS, OR COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS.
ON FEBRUARY 26TH, THE CITY PASSED THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE PROVIDING NEW PATHS FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS TO OPERATE LEGALLY AND SAFELY.
THE SIDEWALK VENDING PROGRAM, WHICH REQUIRES A BUSINESS LICENSE AND IF SELLING FOOD A HEALTH PERMIT.
WHILE WE'RE EXCITED TO SUPPORT MICRO BUSINESSES AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DINING OPTIONS OFFERED IN OUR CITY, THE NEW PROGRAM TAXES AN ALREADY OVERWORKED TEAM.
THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING THE ADDITION OF TWO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS AND ONE TRUCK FOR THE SIDEWALK VENDING PROGRAM.
THIS AD WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FOOD FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST HAS TO COVER
[02:25:01]
FROM 388 PER PERSON TO 258 PER PERSON.THIS WILL ALSO HELP ADDRESS THE INCREASING NUMBER OF OUTREACH INVESTIGATION AND COMPLAINTS.
489 COMPLAINTS WERE REPORTED IN LAST 12 MONTHS, WHICH IS A 225% INCREASE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
IF APPROVED, THIS WILL ALLOW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS TO RESPOND WITHIN ONE TO FIVE DAYS.
CURRENTLY, COMPLAINTS ARE ADDRESSED WITHIN THREE TO 10 WORKING DAYS, AND IT WILL ALLOW FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY SO WE CAN SEND TEAMS OF TWO IF THERE ARE UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
AND IN ADDRESSING LARGER UNPERMITTED FOOD VENDING OPERATIONS.
THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN JULY, 2023, AND INITIALLY SERVED ONLY WEST DIVISION.
IN JANUARY, WE EXPANDED TO SOUTH DIVISION.
THE CCR PROGRAM OPERATES ON WEEKDAYS FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AND RESPONDS TO NON-EMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE WHERE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS APPROPRIATE.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CCR IS ONE PIECE OF LONG BEACH'S EFFORT TO IMPROVE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT MEET RESIDENCES NEEDS THROUGH HEALTH-BASED APPROACHES.
THE CCR IS PILOT IS PART OF THE CITY'S RACIAL EQUITY AND RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE, GROUNDED IN A VISION WHERE RACE AND ETHNICITY ALONE DO NOT DETERMINE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN LONG BEACH.
SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, 95% OF CALLS RESULTED IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECEIVING DIRECT RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES.
38% RESULTED IN REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES.
47% OF REFERRALS MADE WERE FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
ONLY 10% OF CALLS REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, SUCH AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
IN MAY, 2024, WE DEBUT THE CCR DASHBOARD, WHICH PROVIDES MONTHLY DATA TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THE DASHBOARD ALLOWS USERS TO VIEW DATA RELATED TO CALL TIMES RESPONSE, TIMES DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE TEAM AND CALL OUTCOMES.
THIS IMAGE TAKEN FROM OUR CCR DASHBOARD IDENTIFIES RESPONSE DEMOGRAPHICS.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS TEAM HAS RESULTED IN REQUEST FOR EXPANSION TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY AND EXPANDED HOURS BEYOND THE STANDARD WORKDAY AND WEEK.
EACH ADDITIONAL CCR TEAM WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
CITYWIDE CCR WOULD REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF THREE TEAMS TO PROVIDE CITYWIDE COVERAGE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
CCR WOULD REQUIRE A MINIMUM OF NINE TEAMS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR GREAT PROGRAMS, AND NOW I'D LIKE TO SWITCH OVER TO ADDRESS SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES.
AS YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUNDING HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT UNSTABLE HISTORICALLY, WHICH MAKES MAINTAINING A HIGH STANDARD OF SERVICE.
CHALLENGING SALARIES ARE INCREASING WHILE OUR FUNDING IS DECREASING.
THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE'LL SEE THE END OF LBRA AND COVID FUNDING, AND WE'RE ALSO FACING CUTS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
MEANWHILE, THE COMMUNITY HAS GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO NEW SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WHICH ARE AT RISK OF BEING DISCONTINUED.
AND NOTABLY, MUCH OF THE HEALTH GRANT FUNDING WE RECEIVE IS RESTRICTED.
WE CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES HIRING AND RETAINING STAFF.
THE HIRING PROCESS IS SLOW DUE TO THE SPECIALIZED NATURE OF MANY OF OUR POSITIONS.
ADDED TO THAT, THE PRIVATE MARKET PAYS A HIGHER WAGE.
MEANWHILE, THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO INCREASE AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC DEPARTMENT.
AT ITS PEAK, THE DEPARTMENT REACHED 675 AND IS CURRENTLY AT 575.
THE GREATEST VARIANCE IS THAT OF NON-CAREER STAFF SPECIFICALLY HIRED ON TO ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY.
NOW WE'RE FACING THE SUN SETTING OF SHORT-TERM COVID-19 FUNDS.
$52.2 MILLION ENDED AS OF 6 30 24, AND THE CITY IS EXTENDING UNTIL 9 30 24.
INITIALLY, 73 STAFF WERE AT RISK AND 29 CURRENTLY REMAIN UNFUNDED AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EITHER FIND FUNDING OR PLACE OTHERS.
14 OF THOSE ARE FULL-TIME STAFF.
[02:30:05]
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STAFF TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES AND FIND FUNDING.UM, WE ARE CONDUCTING CITYWIDE CAREER EXPLORATION EVENTS, HIRING FAIRS, AND WORKING WITH HR AND CIVIL SERVICE TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO RETAIN THESE EMPLOYEES OR ASSIST THEM IN LANDING SAFELY.
THIS YEAR ALSO BRINGS OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO INCREASE RETENTION THROUGH STAFF ENGAGEMENT, RECOGNITION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND WE'RE UNDERTAKING A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS PART OF OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
FINALLY, WE ARE WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW OUR SERVICES AND CURRENT USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THIS WILL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR GRANTS, AND IF ALL AVAILABLE HEALTH FUND GROUP RESOURCES ARE MAXIMIZED PRIOR TO A GENERAL FUND SUBSIDY, THE OFFICE OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INFORMED BY THE LONG BEACH YOUTH AND EMERGING ADULT STRATEGIC PLAN LED VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGH THIS YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE TO HELP INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY AND FOR THEM TO POUR INTO US WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN FORMING THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
UM, MANY WERE CREATED AND CENTERED AROUND YOUTH ADVOCACY, YOUTH HEALTH, WORKFORCE, HOUSING, AND COMMUNITY CARE ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF AGE GROUPS WITHIN THE CITY.
THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, IS A BODY OF 11 YOUNG PEOPLE SPLIT INTO VARIOUS ACTION TEAMS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING SPECIFIC GOALS OUTLINED IN THE YOUTH STRATEGIC PLAN.
THEY HELP ENSURE AUTHENTIC YOUTH-LED ENGAGEMENT IN THE DESIGN, OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM WHO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WOULD, ARE A PART OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I ASK THAT YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THEM FOR HELPING TO ONBOARD ME, UH, ON A LONG RUNWAY, AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR HELP IN PREPARING THIS AND PREPARING ME FOR THIS MOMENT.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, I I'M GONNA TAKE, UH, THE PRIVILEGE TO ASK THE FIRST QUESTION IF I THINK SO I CAN GET ONE IN.
UH, UH, AND I WANNA THANK THE, THE AUDIENCE FOR, FOR BEARING WITH US THIS EVENING.
THIS IS, THIS IS THE BUDGET PROCESS, SO, UM, HOPEFULLY YOU'RE ALL GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF IT AS WELL.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I JUST WANTED, JUST SAY, I THINK LIFTING UP THE, THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, YOU DO SO MUCH, UH, AND IMPACTS SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, WE'RE TALKING FISCAL ISSUES HERE, UM, AND THE FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST.
WE KNOW THERE WAS SOME, THERE WAS, UH, SOME STIMULUS RECENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE RECOVERY ACT.
UM, IT'S CREATING SOME, SOME GROWING PAINS FOR OUR CITY.
UM, AS MANY OF US WERE BEGAN TO, I'D SAY, DEPEND ON SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT MAY NOT BE AS ROBUST AS THEY WERE PRIOR TO.
UM, SO YOU MENTIONED PROP ONE, UM, AND THERE'S EXPECTED RESOURCES COMING FROM, FROM THAT, UM, SPECIFIED FOR, FOR, FOR SERVICES.
YOU MENTIONED, UH, MEASURE A POTENTIALLY BRINGING ANOTHER WINDFALL FOR THE DEPARTMENT, UH, IN THE CITY.
UH, MY QUESTION IS, COULD THOSE DOLLARS POTENTIALLY, ONCE THEY'RE REALIZED OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO, UH, POTENTIALLY REALLOCATE RESOURCES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO, UM, PROGRAMS LIKE THE ADVANCING PEACE PROGRAM AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION? DO YOU FORESEE ANY OF THAT OR THAT THAT POSSIBILITY HAPPENING? UH, I NOTICED OBVIOUSLY THE ADVANCING PEACE PRO PROGRAM IS, UH, WHAT FUNDED AT 200,000 FOR FY 25, UM, AND THAT'S UNDER THE BRAND OF STRONG BEACH INITIATIVE.
THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A, A STRONG INVESTMENT IN, IN, IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND, AND PEACE.
CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? UH, SURE.
[02:35:01]
SO, UM, THE MEASURE A IS, IS ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER.SO WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL BRING, RIGHT? UM, MEASURE H HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND, YOU KNOW, HELPING US GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
PROP ONE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING TO APPLY FOR AND DON'T YET HAVE DETAILS ON EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL GET AND OR TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW THOSE SERVICES OR WHAT WILL BE FUNDED TO DELIVER SERVICES.
BUT THEY ARE ALL WITHIN THE REALM OF, YOU KNOW, HOUSING, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND LARGELY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMITMENTS FOR FUNDS THAT WILL COME TO US FROM PROP ONE.
UM, BUT WE HOPE TO GET THOSE, UM, ASK IN AND GET FUNDED FOR THE AREAS IN WHICH WE KNOW WE NEED TO MAKE MORE ROBUST.
DO DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THOSE, WHEN WE'LL KNOW HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND WHAT LONG BEACH WILL ACTUALLY GET? YEAH, AND I'LL ADD A LITTLE BIT HERE.
SO, UH, MOST OF THOSE REVENUE SOURCES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE ACTUALLY RESTRICTED FOR OTHER USES.
AND SO, UM, UH, WHILE THEY'LL BE VERY HELPFUL, MEASURE A, THE COUNTYWIDE ONE WILL BE FOR HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS ONLY.
SO THAT ONE LIKELY WILL NOT HAVE A BIG VIOLENCE, UH, PREVENTION COMPONENT.
BUT OF COURSE, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALWAYS LOOKS IN ON HOW TO DO THINGS HOLISTICALLY WHEREVER THEY CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
BUT THAT PRIMARILY WILL BE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THEN, UM, UH, PROP ONE IS PRIMARILY MENTAL HEALTH, UH, TYPE SERVICES.
SO WHEREVER WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND, AND IT HAS A DUAL PURPOSE WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
BUT A LOT OF THAT IS GONNA BE MENTAL HEALTH.
THOSE PROP $1 WILL BE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE EXPECT TO HEAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY APPLYING NOW AND THEN, UH, I THINK THAT CLOSES THE END OF 2024.
SO HEARING IN 2025, AND THEN WE WON'T KNOW ABOUT MEASURE RAY UNTIL, UH, VOTERS APPROVE IT OR, OR REJECT IT, UH, WHICH IS GONNA BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
AND THEN I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT EARLIER TODAY.
SO WHILE WE IN THE BUDGET, WE OFTEN LOOK INCREMENTALLY ABOUT THE NEW THINGS THAT ARE BEING ADDED.
UH, WE DID, UH, PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION TODAY WHERE WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
UH, LAST YEAR IT WAS ABOUT $26 MILLION.
THIS YEAR IT WAS, UH, $37 MILLION.
SO WE'VE BEEN GOING UP IN THAT, UH, AREA, BUT WE WANNA CONTINUE SOME OF THE GREAT WORK.
WE'VE GOTTEN MORE GRANT PROGRAMS THAN I CAN EVER REMEMBER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION RECENTLY.
AND SO PART OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE BUDGET IS TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, EXTEND THOSE AND CONTINUE TO, TO INVEST IN THOSE NEW PROGRAMS. YEAH.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, TOM.
UH, I THINK MY QUESTION WAS MORE RELATED TO PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE ALREADY PROVIDING THAT THAT COULD BE BOLSTERED BY THOSE FUNDS THAT, THAT ARE COMING IN AND THEN PERHAPS ALLOCATING MORE RESOURCES TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND ADVANCING PEACE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, THE, UH, ANSWERING THAT QUICK QUESTION FOR ME.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SUB UH, THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANKS FOR ALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE, UH, A FOOD INSPECTOR, IF WE HAVE ANY HERE TODAY? OKAY, THERE WE GO.
OKAY, SO THAT'S GONNA BE MY TOPIC, MY QUESTION.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO REFERENCE A, A DOCUMENT, UH, DATED LAST UPDATED JULY 25TH, UH, 2020 FOUR'S TITLED SIDEWALK FENDING ENFORCEMENT, UH, RELATED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
ITEM NUMBER TWO SAYS THAT, UM, WE HAVE, UM, UH, A TOTAL OF NINE BUDGETED DISTRICT HEALTH INSPECTORS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 2,600 FOOD FACILITY INSPECTIONS.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING IF THAT NUMBER 26, 600 GOT MY ATTENTION.
UH, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WORKLOAD.
NOW, TONIGHT, ON PAGE 32 OF THE PRESENTATION, I LEARNED THAT THAT NUMBER OF FOOD FACILITIES WENT TO 3,100.
SO IN 40 DAYS IT INCREASED BY 500.
SO NOW YOU, IF IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEFORE, YEAH, YOU ALREADY HAVE MY ATTENTION NOW YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE IT.
SO I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE THE, THE WORKFORCE TO ADDRESS ALL THESE FOOD FACILITIES.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT, PLEASE DO.
I'M THE MANAGER FOR THE BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
THE NUMBER OF FOOD FACILITIES THAT ARE ANNUALLY PERMITTED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO FLUCTUATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE CLOSING OR ENTERING FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR IF THERE'S A CHANGE OF BUSINESS OWNERSHIP OR IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FOOD FACILITIES THAT NEW OWNERS OR CURRENT OWNERS ARE WANTING TO, TO OPEN.
UM, WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, I BELIEVE THAT 3,100 NUMBERS WERE PROVIDED TO THE TEAM
[02:40:01]
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CURRENT RATE, WE ARE AT ABOUT 2,600 FOOD FACILITIES.
AND THEN, UM, IN THE SAME DOCUMENT WITH A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, IT'S, IT'S NOT IF, IF ACTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN ENFORCEMENT ACTION, THAT THAT INVOLVES A TEAM FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT FOR A SECOND, WHAT THAT ENTAILS? YES.
SO WE ARE FOR, WE HAVE FORMED THAT AS OUR CO, UM, COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM, WHICH INVOLVES AN ELEVATED RESPONSE FOR, UM, HIGH LARGE LEVEL OF UNPERMITTED, UM, FOOD OPERATIONS, LIKE YOUR POP-UP RESTAURANTS THAT YOU SEE IN THE CORNER.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAVING ONE OR TWO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, HEALTH INSPECTORS ADDRESS THAT TYPE OF COMPLAINT OR INVESTIGATE THAT TYPE OF COMPLAINT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
AND, UM, IN, AND THERE ARE, UM, NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER CITY STAFF TEAM MEMBERS.
WELL, I GUESS I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT, UM, I'M, I'M ON RECORD FOR BEING VERY CONCERNED OVER FOOD SAFETY, AND I, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS YOU IN WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE IN THAT AREA.
SO PLEASE COMMUNICATE THAT TO US.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, WE AGREE, UH, THAT'S PART OF WHY IN THIS BUDGET, WE'RE ACTUALLY INCREASING FOOD INSPECTORS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY COMING OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF OUT OF, UH, HEALTH.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU, UH, VOTED ON EARLIER THIS YEAR, WAS TO GIVE US A NEW ORDINANCE.
AND WITH THAT ORDINANCE, IT REQUIRES, UM, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHERWISE WE'D BE RELYING ON THE EXISTING INSPECTORS TO ADD ALL OF THAT TO THEIR WORKLOAD.
SO, UH, YOU'LL SEE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET THAT HELP US DO THAT AND GET US CLOSER TO, TO OUR GOAL.
UM, THAT'S ON, UM, SLIDE 30 TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THAT ADVANCING PEACE INITIATIVE.
TODAY AT THE BOC, WE HEARD A REQUEST FOR A CONCERN THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR THE ST PASSAGE PROGRAM HERE.
I SEE THAT FROM TWO FOUR TH FROM 4 24 20 24 TO 6 20 24, THERE WERE 150 CONTACTS AND 20 INCIDENTS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED FOR THIS PROGRAM? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EITHER WE'RE NOT PAYING ENOUGH, WE NEED MORE MONEY, OR WE'RE PAYING TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MAKING THE CONTACTS ON THE COMMUNITY.
SO, WHICH IS IT? IF YOU COULD ANSWER THAT, HOW MANY PEOPLE? 14.
YOU SAID SLIDE 30? SLIDE 30, YEAH, SLIDE 30.
OH, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE HUNDRED 15, UH, INDIVIDUALS? YEAH.
SLIDE 14 QUESTION IS, WHAT IS SLIDE 14? THIS ONE? OKAY.
SO WE HAVE THE PACKET OF THEM COMBINED.
THEY ONLY HAVE THEIRS BY THEMSELVES.
I THINK IT'S THIS SLIDE, SLIDE 30.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION FOR US? 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD IT.
I THINK WE WERE, WELL, THERE'S A, A TWO MONTH PERIOD, TWO MONTH PERIOD, UH, FROM, OKAY, MAYBE, MAYBE I SHOULD BE MORE, MORE, UH, EXPLICIT.
IT'S A TWO MONTH PERIOD FOR THE PASSAGE.
IS THAT ALL IT IS? MM-HMM,
UH, THIS, THIS REFERENCES A PERIOD OF TIME FOR APRIL TO JUNE OF 2024.
BUT IS THAT THE FUNDING THAT IT HAS CURRENTLY IS JUST FOR TWO MONTHS? YES.
THE CURRENT, UH, THE CURRENT PROGRAM FOR SAFE PASSAGE IS SLATED TO END, AND THE FUNDING IS SLATED TO END.
IT'S ALSO SLATED TO END DECEMBER, 2024.
SO THE TWO MONTH, THE, THE FUNDING IS FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, BUT THIS DATA IN PARTICULAR IS FOR THAT TWO MONTH PERIOD.
SO WHAT DOES IT COVER? I'M SORRY, I CUT YOU OFF.
I JUST WANNA BE, MAKE SURE THAT MY TIME DOESN'T RUN OUT.
[02:45:01]
ALL.SO WHAT DOES THAT FUNDING COVER FOR THAT PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS? AT $300, $300,000 COMING FROM, WHAT DOES IT COVER? WHAT DO THEY PAY FOR? ARE YOU REFERENCING THE 2000, $200,000 PLUS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE MAYOR'S FUND FOR I BELIEVE HE'S JUST A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM.
THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM COST $200,000 APPROXIMATELY FOR ONE YEAR.
THE DATA SET ON THAT SLIDE IS ONLY FOR TWO MONTHS WORTH OF DATA.
IT'S FUNDED FROM APRIL TO DECEMBER, BUT THE DATA POINT OF THE 115 CONTACTS IS JUST FOR THOSE TWO MONTHS.
WELL, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR IF YOU, UH, IF YOU WERE TO PUT THAT HERE, THAT IT, THE TOTAL PERIOD OF TIME, OTHERWISE THAT'S MISLEADING.
I TOLD THIS I SEE IT'S MISLEADING IS WHAT HE SAID.
I'M NOT CLEAR WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON.
TO ME, WHAT THIS TELLS ME IS A WASTE OF MONEY WHERE YOU HAVE $300 DOLLARS GOING FOR 150 INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY PER INDIVIDUAL FOR THAT PROGRAM.
BUT IF IT GOES THE EXTENT OF THAT, YOU SAY THAT THIS DATA HAS TO BE UPDATED SO THAT I CAN GET A, A BETTER PICTURE AS TO WHAT THE PROGRAM REALLY IS AND WHAT A BENEFIT IT BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THEN I CAN EVALUATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER MORE FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM.
OTHERWISE, MAYBE IT'S THE OPPOSITE.
MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER THIS FUNDING OR DEFUNDING THE PROGRAM.
CAN I HOP IN HERE FOR A SECOND? GO AHEAD.
UM, SO YOU SAID THE, THE AMOUNT THAT IT COSTS TO FUND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM FROM APRIL TO DECEMBER IS $200,000, CORRECT.
FOR SAFE PASSAGES? WELL, THAT'S A MAYOR'S FUND.
I DON'T HAVE THE DIRECT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THAT IS APPROXIMATELY CORRECT.
UM, TO ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER ARANDAS QUESTION, COULD YOU THEN EITHER NOW OR LATER GET US HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE DATA ACTUALLY COVERS? RIGHT? YES.
BECAUSE I THINK RIGHT NOW HE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE POTENTIALLY CONTINUING THE FUNDING.
SO I THINK FOR HIM, HE SPECIFICALLY NEEDS, HOW MUCH DID YOU, HOW MUCH WAS THE COST OF THE PROGRAM FOR THE MONTHS IN WHICH YOU HAVE, UM, GIVEN US DATA FOR, SO THEN HE CAN DO THAT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT SO WE UNDERSTAND WE SHOULD UPDATE THAT DATA.
THAT'S A GREAT OBSERVATION, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM AND THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN JUST ANECDOTALLY, WE'VE HAD A, WE RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEY'VE REPORTED SEEING A DECREASE IN VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY IN NORTH LONG BEACH.
AND TO US, THAT IS THE TRUE INVESTMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, IS ENSURING THAT OUR YOUTH ARE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE AT SCHOOL.
UM, WE'D ALSO ARE HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY ENJOY THIS PROGRAM, THEY NEED THIS PROGRAM, THEY WANT THIS PROGRAM.
AND SO THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OUR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN DOING A REALLY TREMENDOUS JOB IN GARNERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT, ENSURING THAT, UM, STUDENTS HAVE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS.
AND, UM, WE, I, I CONTINUE THAT.
THAT'S ONLY IS GREAT, BUT I LOVE, I LOVE THE TESTIMONY, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE DATA SHOWS GOTTA BE.
THAT'S THE ONE WE CAN MAKE ON FAIR AND JUDGMENTAL JUDGMENT AND ASSESSMENT AS DOING THE EFFECT OF THE PROGRAM.
OTHERWISE, IT'S JUST PERCEPTION.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I, I THINK I HEARD FROM BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS IS COME BACK WITH THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR THE TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED THIS DATA? I'M HOPING WE CAN EVEN GET YOU MONTHS, UM, FROM JULY AS WELL, AND MAYBE JULY AND AUGUST SO WE CAN SHOW FOUR MONTHS OF DATA.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM, AND WE'LL RESPOND TO THAT IN WRITING AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ANECDOTAL THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE DATA.
WELL, THE, THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN TIGHT BUDGET AND WE NEED, WE, WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY WISELY, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING IT WISELY.
[02:50:01]
WANNA BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT NEED TO BE BOLSTERED, I WANNA MOL 'EM.I WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS PROGRAM NEEDS MORE MONEY BECAUSE OF X, Y, AND Z.
NOT BECAUSE THERE'S CONJECTURE OR TESTIMONY.
I WANNA SEE, I DON'T WANNA SEE THE FACTS.
SO THE WHAT IS HERE TODAY IS INSUFFICIENT, IS NOT PROVIDING ME WITH A, A BETTER PICTURE AS TO WHAT'S BEEN YOU PLACE ON THE COMMUNITY.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHY THE CONTRACT STARTED LATE COUNCIL.
WE'LL HAVE THAT BEFORE OUR NEXT BUDGET HEARING ON THE 10TH.
YOU REMEMBER URANGA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI? UH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ORRAN, UH, IT MAKES MY STATISTICIAN HEART, UH, FEEL GOOD WHENEVER MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT DATA AND METRICS.
UM, AND I THINK THE ADDITIONAL THING THAT I WOULD ASK OF, UM, OF STAFF ON THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM AS WELL IS, I MEAN, ASSUMING, AND I, I, I, I BELIEVE THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS IMPACTFUL, ASSUMING THAT IS WHAT IS SHOWN IN THE DATA.
I HATE THE IDEA OF ENDING A PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL YEAR, RIGHT? LIKE, I THINK, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY WHO WANTS THAT.
SO I WOULD ALSO REQUEST, UM, AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE, AT MINIMUM THROUGH THE END OF THE, UM, THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THAT WOULD BE THROUGH, THROUGH JUNE.
UM, AND THEN I WILL A COUPLE OF, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED IT, BUT I'LL ADMIT, I, AS A COUNCIL OFFICE, LIKE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN REALLY ANY COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM, LIKE WHEN IT'S IMPLEMENTED, LIKE WHO PE WHO PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, HOW WE WOULD IDENTIFY THEM ON THE STREET.
LIKE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE, UH, ALONG CORRIDORS, RIGHT? UM, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, TALKED TO OUR COMMANDER WHO SAYS THE SAME THING, RIGHT? OUR PD COMMANDER.
SO WE DO NEED MORE COMMUNICATION AS A COUNCIL OFFICE, PARTICULARLY THE ONE THAT, UM, HAS THIS PROGRAM OPERATING.
I, MY ASK FOR YOU ALL TOO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH MY OFFICE AS WELL, RIGHT? SO WE CAN BE IN COORDINATION AND ALSO TELL OUR COMMUNITY THE STORY, RIGHT? OF WHAT WE'RE OFFERING AS A CITY, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE GREAT PROGRAMS, AND THIS IS NOT JUST YOU, I'M GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT ON THIS SOAPBOX FOR A SECOND, BUT IT'S NOT JUST YOU ALL, BUT IN GENERAL, WE AS A CITY PUT OUT A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS OR EXISTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE DON'T DO OUR JOB OF TELLING THAT STORY, RIGHT? AND PART OF THAT COMES WITH COMMUNICATING WITH US AS COUNCIL OFFICE, COMMUNICATING WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ALL THE ROBUST SERVICES THAT WE ARE OFFERING AS A CITY.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK SO MANY OF OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND SO MANY PROGRAMS IN GENERAL IN THE CITY ARE SO VALUABLE, BUT NOBODY ONE KNOWS ABOUT THEM.
UM, AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS NOT RELATED TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
UM, I'M GONNA CO-SIGN COUNCIL NUMBER, SUPER NAS, UH, COMMENTS AROUND THE FOOD INSPECTIONS.
MY BRAIN HURT WHEN YOU SAID THE NUMBERS OF HOW MANY FACILITIES, UM, EACH OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO, TO VISIT.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE, UM, STAFFING UP.
UM, BUT YEAH, MY BRAIN BROKE JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, AROUND JUST THE, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AROUND OUR FOOD INSPECTORS, OUR STREET FOOD VENDORS, RIGHT? I THINK I'LL SAY THIS FOR MYSELF AND BEING A SOMEBODY WHO'S A PUBLIC IN PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL, RIGHT? LIKE, I SEE YOU ALL, I SEE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WE TASK OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK RIGHT? YEAR AFTER YEAR, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, WHICH IS THE CONCERNS AROUND FUNDING FOR OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL AREN'T KIND OF, UM, WHAT'S THE LACK OF BETTER TERM KIND OF STEALING FROM PETER TO PAY PAUL, RIGHT? LIKE PULLING FROM THESE RESOURCES TO, TO, TO BACKFILL SOMETHING.
UM, AND SO IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE CONTINUAL CONVERSATION AROUND AND TAKE SERIOUSLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, AROUND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE VALUE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE WAYS THAT WE VALUE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS AROUND, UM, YOU KNOW, BUDGETS, OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUR CITY, RIGHT? THEY'RE CON, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IT'S HOW YOU KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT, UM, TO A CITY IS WHAT THEY FUND AND HOW THEY FUND IT, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE, OR AT LEAST I RECOGNIZE.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST HAD, OH, THERE WAS A COMMENT IN THE PAGE IN THE BUDGET BOOK ON PAGE 3 95 THAT SAID, UM, TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF FOOD FACILITY INSPECTIONS WERE PROJECTED ACTUALLY TO DECREASE NEXT YEAR, UM, VERSUS WHAT THE FOOD INSPECTIONS FOR FOR THIS YEAR.
AND I KNOW PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW DATA SYSTEM.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW DATA SYSTEM? UM, JUDITH IS GONNA COME UP TO A ADDRESS THAT, UM, WE, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT
[02:55:01]
THE MIGRATION TO THIS NEW DATA SYSTEM IS GOING TO PREVENT SOME OF THE INSPECTIONS FROM BEING DONE.UM, THAT ALONG WITH A DIMINISHED NUMBER OF STAFF AND AN INCREASED NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IS GOING TO MAKE THAT NUMBER COME IN LOWER THIS YEAR THAN NEXT.
BUT I WILL LET HER ADDRESS THE DETAIL ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.
SO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH USES OUR, UM, OWN DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS OLD AND ANTIQUATED.
AND SO WE HAVE WORKED THIS LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS TO, UM, SELECT A NEW VENDOR.
AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CURRENTLY MIGRATING.
WE'RE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE, AND SO WE HOPE TO GO LIVE SOMETIME, UM, SPRING OR SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR IN THIS NEW SYSTEM.
WE HOPE THAT IT WILL FIX A LOT OF THE DATA QUERIES AND ANALYTICAL, UM, CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR OLD SYSTEM.
UM, WE DO PROJECT A, THE, THE WORKLOAD IS THERE
AND SO WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ALL THE ROUTINE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCORDING TO STATE LAW.
WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE FOODBORNE ILLNESS INVESTIGATIONS, AND THOSE COME SOMETIMES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME AS WELL.
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS DOES TAKE UP A LOT OF RESOURCES AS WELL.
AND SO OUR PROJECTIONS FOR EIGHTH FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS ACTUALLY THE SAME AS WHAT WE PROJECTED IT FOR THIS YEAR.
AND SO WITH THIS INCREASED STAFFING AND YOUR APPROVAL OF THE TWO ADDITIONAL, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN IT OR AT LEAST PROVIDE THAT SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE OR INCREASED SERVICES WHERE WE CAN IN TERMS OF, UM, FOODBORNE INVESTIGATIONS OR COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS.
UH, NEXT UP IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
I WANNA THANK, UH, DIRECTOR KING FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION.
IT'S SO MUCH TO HAVE TAKEN ON THIS PAST YEAR, UM, BUT I ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU AND I THINK YOUR PASSION AND PRAGMATISM SHOWS IN IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, I AM GOING TO FOCUS JUST ON, UM, A COUPLE OF AREAS.
THERE ARE BIG AREAS, SO HOMELESSNESS, UH, IN THE BUDGET IT TALKS ABOUT OVER 9,400 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS RECEIVING SERVICES, OR ACTUALLY IN THE BUDGET BOOK IT SAYS ASSISTANCE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS UP BY 59% FROM LAST YEAR.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED AND AT WHAT RATE THEY'RE BEING ACCEPTED, JUST BECAUSE TO ME, UH, ACCEPTING A MEAL VERSUS ACCEPTING A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM IS VERY DIFFERENT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE METRICS THAT ARE SHOWING THAT GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.
UM, SO THIS NUMBER IS COMING OUT OF OUR HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM WHERE WE COLLECT DATA AND SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO PEOPLE.
UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SERVING ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HOUSED IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO NOT THAT FULL 9,000 PEOPLE IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THIS YEAR.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN THAT ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING AND MIGHT, UH, EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE FUTURE.
UH, AS WELL AS IT INCLUDES SOME PEOPLE THAT WE ONLY ENCOUNTER ONE TIME EVER, AND THEY EITHER OUTREACH, UH, SEES THEM OR THEY COME INTO THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTER AND WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THEM.
WE JUST SAW THEM AT ONE POINT IN THEIR JOURNEY.
UM, AND THEN FOR MANY PEOPLE, WE HAVE A ROBUST HISTORY OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED.
WHAT THEY'VE ACCEPTED, UH, WE DO HAVE OUR DAY TO DASHBOARD ONLINE WHERE WE TRY TO KIND OF GIVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN, WHETHER THAT BE SHELTER, WHETHER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ENGAGING WITH OUR INITIAL ACCESS SERVICES, UH, OR LINKING WITH OUR PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCES.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A EXACT NUMBER ON LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE ACCEPT SERVICES OR NOT.
UM, AS FAR AS THAT OVERALL 9,000.
UM, BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ENROLLED IN SHELTER, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ENROLLED IN OUR PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES
[03:00:01]
ARE.UM, SO I DON'T HAVE THOSE RIGHT OFF HAND.
UH, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR DATA DASHBOARD WHERE PEOPLE CAN LOOK AND SEE WHAT THE OUTCOMES ARE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN SERVICES, SAYS, UH, THANKS PAUL.
UH, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THOUGH? AND DO WE KEEP TRACK OF A PERSON GETTING A MEAL, A SANDWICH, AND SOME WATER VERSUS GETTING, UH, INTO A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM OR, OR HAVING A BED FOR THE NIGHT.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, I WANNA MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, 9,000, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE INCREASING SERVICES, SO I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE NEGATIVE.
YEAH, THERE, WE TRY TO ENCAPTURE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
SOME THINGS LIKE WATER AND FOOD, UH, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
THE OTHER THINGS WE TRACK, IF YOU COME INTO OUR SERVICES OR ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, UH, WE MAKE SURE TO TRACK THOSE.
WE TRACK HOW MANY SHOWERS PEOPLE, UH, ARE BEING PROVIDED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT HOW MANY MEALS OR LIKE WATERS WERE HANDED OUT, UH, THAT GETS A LITTLE MORE, UH, QUESTIONABLE.
THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS GET CAPTURED IN, IN EVERY SINGLE NOTE.
SO THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE 9,400 PLUS THEN THAT WOULD BE CAPTURED IN THE 9,400.
WE WOULD SAY THAT WE ENGAGED 'EM IN SERVICES, BUT WE PROBABLY HAVE NOT HAVE CAPTURED EVERY TIME THAT SOMEBODY RECEIVED A WATER.
UH, I THINK THAT JUST UNDERSTANDING THE OVER, YOU KNOW, SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE IS A HUGE CATEGORY TO INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE A MEAL VERSUS SHELTER.
I THINK THAT THERE COULD BE MORE DEFINITION WITH THE METRICS ON THAT.
I MEAN, I DON'T NEED IT SPECIFIC, WAS IT WATER? WAS IT A, BUT I, I, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE METRICS ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO KEEP BETTER CAPTURE WHAT OUR DIFFERENT SERVICE TYPES ARE AND WHEN WE SAY WHEN SOMEBODY ENGAGED IN SERVICES, WHAT THAT ACTUALLY BREAKS DOWN TO.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING, UH, TO OUR COMMITTEES WITH GREATER BREAKDOWN OF WHAT ARE, WHAT, WHAT IS THE SERVICE CATEGORIES, AND WHEN WE SAY THAT WE PROVIDED X AMOUNT OF SERVICES, WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN WITHIN THAT? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
TH THIS LEADS TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
HOW MUCH TIME AM I OUT OF TIME? ALL RIGHT.
UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR KING FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M SURE THERE IS A LOT THAT YOU COULD HAVE GONE OVER AS FAR AS DIFFERENT FOCUS AREA THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING, UM, AND SO MANY PRIORITIES TO FOCUS ON.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS, WE, WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY BUDGET CYCLE AROUND THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINING FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM THAT WE DO HAVE.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A SENSE ON WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE HAVE THAT IS STRUCTURAL VERSUS GRANT-BASED FUNDING? JUST A BALLPARK.
I I, I KNOW YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET A SENSE 60%, UM, OF OUR FUNDING IS, IS GRANTS.
UM, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE MUCH STRUCTURAL FUNDING, BUT UM, I WANNA SAY THAT WAS ABOUT 6%, UM, SIX, WE DON'T HAVE 6%.
SO GRANT FUNDING, UM, MAKES UP ABOUT 60% OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH.
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH ACTUALLY MAKES UP 66% OF THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
UM, AND STRUCTURAL FUNDING IS LARGELY PROVIDED TO OUR HUMAN SERVICES AREA BY WAY OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND OUR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE PERCENTAGE FOR STRUCTURAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IS ONLY THROUGH OUR HEALTH FUND AND REALIGNMENT AND FEES.
I MEAN, JUST SEARING 60% ALREADY DEMONSTRATES THAT A LOT OF WORK AND TIME IS SPENT, UM, FINDING FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT WE SUSTAIN ALL THE PROGRAMMING.
YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN PREVENTION, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH WORK, I BELIEVE ALL THOSE PROGRAMMING WORK, I THINK THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN TO CONSISTENTLY, UM, BE ABLE TO SEE IT THROUGH VER MORE THAN ONE CYCLE, AND THEN PEOPLE HAVE TO REGROUP AGAIN AFTER MAYBE IT'S A FEDERAL OR COUNTY PRIORITY, AND
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THEN THERE'S A FLUX OF FUNDING.SO THE PROGRAM STARTS AND RESTARTS, AND SOMETIMES THERE'S A TEAM THERE AND NOT, SO I JUST, I MEAN, I'M STATING THE OBVIOUS FOR THOSE WHO WORK IN THIS FIELD THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT IS REALLY MAKING SURE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE, UM, ONE TIME OR JUST MULTI-YEAR.
SO I, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT I WANNA THANK ALL THE TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THEY DO, IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY DELIVER ON THE GRANT DELIVERABLES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY AND RESIDENTS ARE SERVED.
SO I, I, AND I RECOGNIZE TOO, WE'RE HEADING INTO A DEFICIT AND THAT IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE FOR US TO FIGURE OUT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE, BUT I THINK AS WE ARE GOING INTO FIGURING OUT WHAT REVENUE SOURCE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO, UM, I JUST, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTION JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS REALLY TIED TO THAT CORE ISSUE.
SO, BUT IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT YOU HAVE, TOM, UM, GLADLY HEAR IT.
SO I THINK YOU, YOU'VE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD AND WE HEAR THAT FROM ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR SUSTAINED FUNDING.
UM, SO A GOOD PORTION OF THEIR SUSTAINED FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE, THE HEALTH GENERAL FUND, UH, IT'S CALLED HEALTH FUND.
UM, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN GROWING.
SO AS MUCH AS OUR STATE TALKS ABOUT NEEDING TO INVEST IN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT IS THEIR FLEXIBLE FUNDING SOURCE.
AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN GROWING.
IT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN SHRINKING, UH, IN TERMS OF REAL VALUE OF WHAT YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN PURCHASE.
UH, THE, THE COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, INVESTED MORE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAN ANY TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
IN OUR HISTORY, WE USED TO HAVE ABOUT 2 MILLION OR SO IN THE GENERAL FUND, JUST IN HOMELESSNESS.
AND OVER THE PAST, UH, FOUR YEARS, IT'S GROWN TO 12.5 MILLION.
SO THAT'S 156% INCREASE, WHERE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS GREW ABOUT 34% DURING THAT TIME.
SO IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT RELATIVELY THE, A LOT OF OUR INVESTMENT HAS BEEN IN SUPPORTING THOSE, THOSE, UH, PROGRAMS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN IN THE AREA OF HOMELESSNESS, BUT ALSO IN THE AREA OF SENIORS AND OLDER ADULTS AND NOW THINGS LIKE, LIKE FOOD.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING MORE INVESTMENTS.
UH, BUT I, I, I THINK YOUR POINTS WILL TAKEN, UH, WE NEED FUNDING SOURCES FROM GRANTS.
WE ALSO NEED FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE STATE ITSELF, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK, UH, AT GENERAL FUND SUPPORT AS WELL AS WE CAN.
I'LL JUST ADD ONE FOLLOW UP IS THAT'S WHY I THINK ALL THOSE WHO WORK IN RELATIONS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ENGAGE, YOU JUST SAY, SAW HERE A LOT OF THESE PROPS, UH, WE NEED PEOPLE TO VOTE ON IT WHO PROBABLY HAVE, UM, NEEDS THE MOST SERVICES, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHERE I ALWAYS SEE THIS HAND IN HAND IN ADVOCACY, UH, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR PATIENTS OR CLIENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THIS IS THAT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE THE ONES THAT TELL THOSE STORIES.
SO JUST WANNA CIRCLE BACK ON THAT IN THAT WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCACY ON THE STATE AND AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO ENSURE CONTINUOUS FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAM.
WE'LL GO BACK TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.
ALRIGHT, SOMEONE RELATED TO WHAT I WAS ASKING ABOUT BEFORE.
I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE USE OF THE DATA THAT WE HAVE STARTED COLLECTING OVER THE YEARS.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE POINT IN TIME COUNT FOR 2324, WE SAW REDUCED NUMBERS IN SOME POPULATIONS, BUT THERE WERE INCREASES IN OTHERS.
WE LAUNCHED SO MANY PROGRAMS, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IS WORKING SO WE CAN LEARN FROM IT AND FOCUS ON THOSE PROGRAMS WHEN WE CAN.
UM, I THINK WHEN WE SEE A POSITIVE TREND, ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT POSITIVE TREND AND HOW THAT HAPPENED.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD BE UNDER, UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE NEW OFFICE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CHANGES IN THE POPULATIONS, UM, FROM THE POINT IN TIME COUNT.
AND THIS WILL SEGUE INTO, UNLESS YOU, YOU HAVE COMMENT ON THAT.
WE CHANGED THE WAY THAT THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED IN TERMS OF LATINX, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SAW THE GREATEST, I THINK, VARIANCE.
THE WAY IN WHICH WE ASKED ABOUT RACE AND ETHNICITY WITH PEOPLE, UM, BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY AS LATIN X, WE SAW A LARGE INCREASE LOCALLY, UM, AS WELL AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND THEY ALSO HAD A SIGNIFICANT VARIANCE.
UM, THIS YEAR WE SAW A DIP THAT SOMETHING WAS SEEN WITHIN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE LOOKED AT OUR DATA AND WE'RE SEEING LESS FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS AMONG PEOPLE THAT IDENTIFY AS LATINX.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRILL DOWN ON THOSE IN SUBSEQUENT
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POINT IN TIME COUNTS AND CLARIFY HOW THAT QUESTION IS ASKED, BECAUSE IT WILL BE MORE CONSISTENT GOING FORWARD.AND, UM, I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN PROVIDING MORE ALTERNATIVES TO HOW PD SHOWS UP TO CALLS FOR PEOPLE IN MENTAL DISTRESS.
AND I'VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING AT THE CCR PROGRAM.
I WANNA SEE ITS SUCCESS, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING A FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE INVESTMENT IN THIS PROGRAM.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THE NUMBERS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF 'EM.
YOU RESPONDED TO THREE 30 FOR 13 MONTHS AND THE, THE CCR TEAM MADE CONTACT BETWEEN 40 AND 80% OF THE TIME, DEPENDING ON THE MONTH.
SO WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, JUST OVER 120 CALLS WE'RE BASICALLY RESOLVED BY THE CCR TEAM.
I KNOW THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S SUCCESSFUL, IT'S SHOWING STATISTICALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRESS.
UM, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU'RE SEEING WITH THE CCR WITH NOT HANDLING MORE CALLS? FIRST OF ALL, AS, AS WE IDENTIFIED INITIALLY WE WERE IN WEST DIVISION AND THERE WAS NOT A LARGE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY.
WE DIDN'T EXPAND INTO SOUTH UNTIL JANUARY.
AND SO THOSE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, HAVE INCREASED.
UM, WHERE THEY ARE WORKING FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 AM UM, AND THEY ARE DISPATCHED FROM 9 1 1 WHEN THEY ARE OUT HANDLING A CALL AND SEE SOMEONE IN DISTRESS THAT APPEARS TO, YOU KNOW, BE AN APPROPRIATE ACTION TO TAKE.
THEY, THEY TAKE THAT ACTION ALSO.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THERE IS IS MORE OUT THERE.
UM, BUT AT THIS POINT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE CALLS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING.
UM, WE BELIEVE ALSO RIGHT NOW THAT MANY OF THAT ACTIVITY IS HEIGHTENED DURING THE DAY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS THAT WE'RE NOT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE WOULD BE IF WE WERE COVERING THEM.
UM, AND, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WEEKENDS, UM, AND EVENINGS KIND OF DO PRESENT, UM, MORE NEED.
CAN WE ADD THAT IN THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE? I DID ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, HOW MANY CALLS TO DISPATCH WOULD'VE QUALIFIED FOR CCR? AND I KNOW, I THINK SARAH'S GETTING SOME OF THAT DATA FOR US, BUT I THINK THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT TO SEE WHERE THIS PROGRAM IS GOING, BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU DON'T, WHEN IT'S NOT IMPLEMENTED FULLY.
I JUST WANT TO, I I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
YEAH, AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT, UM, AS WE SEE, UM, REGIONALLY, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF IMPLEMENTATION THAT REGIONALLY WITHIN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND EVEN NATIONALLY, WE SEE KIND OF A SLOW, SLOW TRACTION THAT HAPPENS AT FIRST.
AND A PART OF IT IS AROUND CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS KNOW OUR TEAM.
SO GETTING OUT THERE AND MEETING EVERYONE IN PATROL, GOING OUT TO THE, THE DISPATCH AND MEETING THOSE FOLKS, UH, AND MANAGING THE CHANGE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY, UH, PROUD OF DOING HERE IN LONG BEACH IS THAT PD, FIRE DISPATCH, EMERGENCY COMMS, EVERYONE'S REALLY, UM, SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM AND REALLY LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY AS WE MOVE OUT OF THE FIRST YEAR.
UM, AND ONE OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS HAS HAPPENED IS HAVING CCR DISPATCH IN THE MORNING FROM EMERGENCY COMMS, SO THAT DISPATCHERS ARE LIKE, OH, THAT'S WHO YOU ARE NOW.
WE CAN SEND YOU OUT BECAUSE WE KNOW EXACTLY THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO MANAGE, UM, WHILE YOU'RE OUT IN THE FIELD.
AND I'LL ALSO ADD THAT WHAT WE DO SEE, KIND OF, UM, THE NUMBER OF THE CALLS WE GET AND THE PEOPLE WE'RE INTERACTING WITH IS THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
UM, PART OF THAT IS THAT COMMUNITY CALLS ON BEHALF OF OTHERS, AND SO THEY MAY SEE SOMEBODY, UM, AS THEY'RE DRIVING INTO WORK THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY NEED