* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:03:58] 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. UH, PLEASE. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? LET'S SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN ANA? HERE. COUNCILMAN KERR? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. COUNCIL MEMBER IRANO. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. HERE WE HAVE A QUORUM. GREAT. 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. THANK YOU. UH, PLEASE RISE, EMBODY YOUR OWN SPIRIT, UH, WHILE WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OKAY. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. YEAH. I GUESS AT SOME POINT LATER IN THE MEETING, WE, WE WILL TALK ABOUT SEPTEMBER 3RD AND, AND YOUR MEMORIES FROM THAT. OKAY. 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. COME ON UP. WHO DO WE HAVE? ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ERIC WINTERSET. 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. WOW. 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. ALRIGHT. 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, , UH, I WAS A MEMBER OF PUBLIC WORKS IN MY YOUTH A LONG TIME AGO IN MY CAREER WITH THE CITY, AND I WAS NEVER EVER A MEMBER OF A NUMBER ONE PLEA. SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU. UH, WELL DONE. LONG TIME COMING. CONGRATULATIONS TEAM. YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE PICTURES OF YOU ON THE WALL STILL . ALRIGHT, THANK, COME ON BACK. SO LET'S, LET'S, UH, LET'S JOIN THE, THE TEAM FOR, FOR PHOTO COUNCIL. WE CAN DO THAT. COME ON UP. I DUNNO. DO WE JUST PIN THESE OTHER SIDE? GOOD TURN. I'M GUESSING IT'S, THEY GAVE US SIZE. PROBABLY ONE MORE. ONE MORE. MY BAD. TAKE A COUPLE. UM, NO, THAT'S OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU [00:10:02] JULIE. HERE. I KNOW. IT'S ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE, TAKE ONE. YEAH, SURE. PUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, AND THREE. I'LL TAKE ONE MORE. 1, 2, 3. YOU DID IT. YOU DID IT . THAT WAS AMAZING. NUMBER 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. UM, [ 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. YEAH, THANK YOU. ACTING MAYOR AUSTIN. 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. GOOD EVENING ACTING MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF. 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. THANK YOU. [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 SO MUCH. 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. OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOVING ALONG, WE GO TO OUR THIRD PRESENTATION, WHICH IS PRESENTATION BY OUR VERY OWN ARTS COUNCIL. UH, WE HAVE [ 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. ANOTHER MEMORIAL PIECE. 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. WE HAD MEET THE ARTIST 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. AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD. 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. AND I NOW INTRODUCE TREND MA. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I'D FIRST LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE OFFICE OF COUNT COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, SEAN BROTHER ORANGA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 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. IT IS A DREAM. UM, I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE 'CAUSE I'M A CRIER. SO , UM, SHOULD THAT HAPPEN? SORRY. UH, SO IN DEVELOPING THIS WORK, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I LOVED LEARNING THE PROCESS. 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. SORRY. YEAH. I PAINT THINGS. TECH IS NOT. 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. THERE'S TWO OF 'EM ACTUALLY. 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. UM, SOME OF THE PROCESS. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THE MURALS, THEY DON'T SEE THE DIRTY WORK , RIGHT? UM, WE SHOW UP THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE AND, UM, THERE'S, UH, IT'S SELDOM THAT PEOPLE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BACKGROUND. 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. , UM, HERE I'M JUST SHOWING SOME OF THE PROCESS. 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 , I GUESS. 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. UM, HERE'S . 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 . UM, AND THEN I HIDE. 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. , I LIKE THIS SHOT TOO. SO WALKING FROM VETERANS PARK, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO THE POOL. THEY WERE SO ENCOURAGING. 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 , YOU'RE SO SWEET. 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. AND AS I'M [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. , I HEARD, WHO ARE YOU SERVING? AND IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE THAT. 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. I'M SO SORRY. 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. LIKE, I LOVE BIRDS. I PAINT A LOT OF BIRDS. THEY COME TO ME TO GIVE ME MESSAGES. , UM, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HERE, . 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 , I DON'T KNOW. 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. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. I KNOW THAT WAS A LITTLE LONG. BLESS Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STORY. 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. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S THE WORD WE'RE LOOKING FOR. TO SEE THE PERSON IS AMAZING. 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. SEVEN FOR SEVEN. 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. DR. RICK. 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. YES. UM, LAST YEAR. 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. THANK YOU TO ENJOY. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PHOTO COME ON UP WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL AS WELL. YEAH, I RIGHT THERE. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR DOG. OKAY. COULDN'T HARD. 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. OTHERWISE, [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. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY. 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. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. 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. THE RECUSAL FROM CD NINE. BEFORE I PROCEED. OH, I'M SORRY. IT'S OKAY. 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. THANK YOU. SO, WHO PULLED IT? NOT ME. 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. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY. 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. SO THIS LOOKS LIKE GOOD NEWS. UH, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. I JUST WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT IS GOOD NEWS. STAFF REPORT, PLEASE. GREAT. 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. TOM. I'M GONNA GET, UH, START, GET STARTED FOR US. SORRY. RECOVERY ACT STAFF. MY, MY MISTAKE. . 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. GOOD EVENING. 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. GREAT. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. THANK YOU. 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. THANK YOU. AND, AND IF I COULD ADD, I JUST THINK THIS IS, THE TIMING OF THIS IS REALLY GOOD. UM, WE ARE IN BUDGET SEASON. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBERS. 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. OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION PASSES. UM, AND SO NOW WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, NO, NO, NO. ITEM 15. 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. OKAY. 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. THERE'S NO OBJECTION. GOOD EVENING. I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ACTING MAYOR AL AUSTIN. GOOD EVENING. COUNCILMAN CHAIR. WILL DO, CHAIR WILL DO . 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. THAT'S IT. OKAY. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. YOU CAN, THANK YOU. 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, UH, . UM, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 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. THAT GETS ME PAUSE. 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. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. JUST A SECOND ON THIS. 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. OKAY. 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. SORRY. 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. IT WOULD NOT BE IN ALIGNMENT. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. YEAH. 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. SO MAKING [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. NO ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER. SUPER. OKAY. 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%. YOU CAN APPROVE NOTHING. 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. SO, THANK YOU. 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. MEMBERS CAST YOUR VOTES. 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. I'M SORRY. UM, SO MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES ON THE MOTION. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. [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. LET'S DO THAT. OKAY. 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. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAIN. MY NAME IS JULIE. 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 HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES. 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. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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. GET INTO NO TROUBLE. 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. WE WANT RECOGNITION. THAT'S NOT TRUE. 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. BLACK LIVES MATTER. BLACK LIVES MATTER. BLACK LIVES MATTER. Y'ALL HAVE A NICE DAY. 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. ITEM NUMBER 26. I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT FIRST. OKAY. I'M, I'M SORRY, . I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR. ABSOLUTELY. 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. THANK YOU. 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. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT. 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. THAT'S REALLY BIG. 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. THEY GOT TO [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 TRADES. 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. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY BIG. 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. AND GOING FORWARD. 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. BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA [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. AND IT'S HAPPENING TODAY. 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. WE ARE LONG BEACH. WE ARE NOT VENICE BEACH. IT'S OUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 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. UM, SO ONE WAS ON PAGE THREE. 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. OKAY. GREAT. 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. THANK YOU. 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. GREAT. AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER. 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. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 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. THANK YOU. 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. RIGHT. YEAH. 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. FANTASTIC. 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. YEAH. 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. OKAY. 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. OKAY. 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. YEAH. THEY HAVE NAVIGATED THAT ALREADY. YES. 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. OKAY. GREAT. 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. OKAY. 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. OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER, DUGGAN, SECOND DUGGAN. YES. YES. THANK YOU . 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. THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 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. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT FOR 25. CORRECT. 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. YEAH. 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GREAT. NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DEJAS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN. 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. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 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. IT'S THE SAME STAFF. 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 YOU. 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. AWESOME. 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. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. 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. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. 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. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. OH, NEXT. OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. THANK YOU. THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. THANK YOU. UM, YOU'RE DOING GREAT. CHAIR AUSTIN. UM, SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR MARTINEZ AND THE WHOLE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. IT'S A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM. I I DEFINITELY KNOW, UM, YOU ALL ARE VERY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE BECOME THE NEXT, UM, INTERNATIONAL GREAT INTERNATIONAL CITY. RIGHT. 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. YEAH. 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. AND [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. MM-HMM. . 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. THANK YOU. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. SURE. THANK YOU. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. 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. PART OF THAT. 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. GREAT, THANK YOU. 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. YEAH. 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. GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. 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. OKAY. YEAH. 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. UM, 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. FANTASTIC, THANK YOU. 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. THE FY 24 BUDGET WAS [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. OKAY. 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. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. WE, WE, UH, TEND TO TAKE, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT ITEMS, UH, AS AD HOC ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THOSE GRANTS ARE RECEIVED. FANTASTIC. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION. 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. SURE. 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. THANK YOU, JOHNNY. 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. ALRIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR COMMUNITY DAY WAS FANTASTIC. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO COUNCIL MEMBER, SUPERVISOR ASKED FOR, UH, THE FINAL QUESTION. I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT SIMPLE. 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. OKAY, THANK YOU. 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. YES. SO THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, LOCALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND NOT BE PART OF A LARGER CORPORATION. ALRIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES, UH, OUR QUESTIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NEXT UP IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. ALL RIGHT. 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. SOME OF THAT TODAY. 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. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. 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. THERE WE GO. 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. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE PROVIDE [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. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHTY. ONE. THANK YOU. OH, THERE IT'S YOU. 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. STAFFING LEVELS WERE AT 317. 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. THESE EVENTS. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. 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, THAT'S NOW GOING AWAY. 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. IN THE BACK. OKAY. OH, WE HAVE A COUPLE ON. THAT'S AWESOME. 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. OKAY. IF YOU'RE WONDERING IF THAT NUMBER 26, 600 GOT MY ATTENTION. IT DID, IT DID. 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. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JUDITH LUNG. 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. OKAY. 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. OKAY. THANK YOU. 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. THANKS A LOT. WE SO MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. 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. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. THANK YOU. 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. 20, RIGHT. SLIDE 14 QUESTION IS, WHAT IS SLIDE 14? THIS ONE? OKAY. RIGHT. OKAY. SLIDE 30. IT'S SLIDE 30. YEAH. SO WE HAVE THE PACKET OF THEM COMBINED. THEY ONLY HAVE THEIRS BY THEMSELVES. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT NOW. I THINK IT'S THIS SLIDE, SLIDE 30. OH, OKAY. GOTCHA. THE QUESTION. OKAY. I'M SORRY. 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. SAFE PASSAGE. IS THAT ALL IT IS? MM-HMM, TWO MONTHS. YES. UH, THIS, THIS REFERENCES A PERIOD OF TIME FOR APRIL TO JUNE OF 2024. YES. BUT IS THAT THE FUNDING THAT IT HAS CURRENTLY IS JUST FOR TWO MONTHS? YES. NO, THERE'S AN ISSUE THERE. THAT'S JUST THE DATA. THE CURRENT, UH, THE CURRENT PROGRAM FOR SAFE PASSAGE IS SLATED TO END, AND THE FUNDING IS SLATED TO END. OH, THANK YOU. 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 IT'S A LIMITED POINT. 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. THAT'S [02:45:01] ALL. GO AHEAD. 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. OKAY. AS A WHOLE. AS A WHOLE. SO I, SO YEAH, I'M SORRY. 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. BUT THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED. 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. YEAH. 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. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY CORRECT. 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. YES. 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. DATA, DATA DRIVEN. 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. ABSOLUTELY. YOU CATCH MY DRIFT. 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. BUT I ALSO WANNA, [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. I WANNA SEE THE DATA. 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. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHY THE CONTRACT STARTED LATE COUNCIL. OKAY. 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. I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX NOW. 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. OKAY. 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 IT'S GOING TO, UM, INCREASE FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS AS WE DISCUSS. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT UP IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HI. 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. THAT'S HUGE. 59%. 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. YEP. 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. OH, THANK YOU. I WILL QUEUE UP AGAIN, DR. SORROW. THANK YOU. 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%. OKAY. 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. OKAY, THANK YOU. 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 [03:05:01] 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. YEAH, I DO. 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. IN FY 21 IT WAS 4.9 MILLION. 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. AND THANKS FOR ADDING THAT. TOM. 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. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 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 WHAT MADE IT POSITIVE. LET'S SEE. 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. UM, IN 2023. 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 [03:10:01] POINT IN TIME COUNTS AND CLARIFY HOW THAT QUESTION IS ASKED, BECAUSE IT WILL BE MORE CONSISTENT GOING FORWARD. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. 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 JUST LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD. 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. BUT IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM. 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. IT'S NEW. 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. OKAY, I I SEE YOU 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 SOME SUPPORT. AND BY THE TIME CCR IS OUT THERE, THAT PERSON'S NO LONGER AT THAT LOCATION BECAUSE THAT CALLER DIDN'T STAY TO SEE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE GOING OR IF THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE MOVING. UM, AND SO THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THAT DISCREPANCY IN CALLS, UH, COME FROM. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THERE WAS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN AUGUST. YOU HAD 237 CALLS, WHICH IS DRAMATIC INCREASE, WHICH SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH, WITH DISPATCH. [03:15:03] UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I HAVE, UH, ONE FINAL QUESTION. SO GOING BACK TO SIDEWALK VENDORS, UM, THE BUDGET SAYS THERE WAS 170 COMPLAINTS THAT RESULTED IN 36 INVESTIGATIONS. CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THERE WERE ONLY 36 INVESTIGATIONS, UM, MADE BECA WITH THESE SIDEWALK FENDERS? WHAT WE FIND IS THAT PEOPLE MAKE, UM, REPEAT CALLS. NOT EVERY INCIDENT OF A COMPLAINT IS UNIQUE. MM-HMM, , UM, THEY FOLLOW UP ON A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEM, BUT WE DO GET MULTIPLE CALLS FOR EACH SITE AND, UH, THAT RESULTS IN A HIGHER NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, BUT NOT UNIQUE ONES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. OKAY. THAT LOOKS LIKE, UH, THE END OF, UH, COMMENTS FROM BEHIND THE RAIL. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, DUE TO THE VOLUME OF FOLKS THAT WE HAVE, UM, I'M GOING TO LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENT TO 60 SECONDS EACH. ONE MINUTE PER PERSON. LISTEN, WE, WE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TIME, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE TONIGHT. UH, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL FEEDBACK FROM ANYBODY HERE. YOU CAN EMAIL THE COUNCIL, THE CLERK, UM, UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T GET TO, TO, TO STATE. I'M GONNA CALL THE FIRST 10 NAMES. UH, UM, I'M GONNA CALL THE, THE FIRST NAMES OF MR. CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON. HELP ME OUT. DID YOU READ THAT? YEAH. NEXT IS ALAN, AND THEN JORDAN. AND THEN MALIKA. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, IS IT NEVE? THERE'S CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON, THERE'S ALAN JORDAN, LASSETER, MALIKA LASSETER, NEVA, NEVAEH, G SAI CHAPMAN, CARLA POLITO, JORDAN SASHI, M NATE, KIM, AND MICHELLE ORTIZ. PLEASE LINE UP. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, EARLIER TODAY I SENT, UH, YOU ALL AN EMAIL ON A SPECIFIC ITEM SO YOU CAN, UM, LOOK AT MORE INFORMATION THERE. UH, IN REGARDS TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION, UH, MANY FOLKS ARE GONNA BE SPEAKING TOWARDS IT TODAY. VIOLENCE PREVENTION DOES WORK. THE IMPACTS ARE THERE. UH, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN STARTED LATER IN THE YEAR, SO THE DATA DOESN'T NECESSARILY REFLECT THAT. HOWEVER, IT IS LIFESAVING PROGRAMS AND IT DOES NEED TO BE INVESTED AT A HIGHER RATE. WE'VE DONE A COST SAVE, UH, A COST ANALYSIS, AND TO HAVE A ROBUST VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT COST $15 MILLION. UH, TODAY WE'RE REQUESTING 900,000 TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN, BUT TO GROW THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS IN ACTIVATING SAFE COMMUNITIES AND SAFE PASSAGES. WE KNOW WHEN VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS DECREASED FUNDING AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS DECREASED VIOLENCE RISES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S SPENDING TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED THIS YEAR. THE NUMBER HAS DECREASED, UH, IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET. SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THAT NUMBER BE INCREASED AND THAT WE, UH, WORK IN PARTNERSHIP. WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDING ISN'T THERE. WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN UNHEALTHY, UH, FOOD AND SODA TAX THAT IS A REVENUE GENERATING TAX. SIR, YOUR MINUTES UP. WE WANNA WORK WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME, ALAN? OH, GO AHEAD. PLEASE SUPPORT THE 1.1 MILLION ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND AND GO BEYOND TO INCORPORATE IT INTO STRUCTURAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. UH, LIKE THESE CANNOT BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS BY BEING FUNDED MOSTLY THROUGH ONE-TIME ALLOCATIONS. UM, AND THIS BEING A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS LEGAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS, UH, WILL BE BE WORKING ON CASES THAT MAY SOMETIMES DRAG ON YEARS. OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, UM, YOU AND YOUR STAKEHOLDERS COMPLETELY DEPEND ON THEIR LABOR AS WELL AS THEIR INTRINSIC VALUE AS HUMAN BEINGS. UH, TO HAVE INSTABILITY FOR 30,000 WORKERS AND STUDENTS IN YOUR CITY WILL CREATE INSTABILITY ACROSS EVERY INDUSTRY. UH, AND, AND LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, UM, CREATING MORE STRAIN ON SOME OF OUR OTHER RESOURCES. UM, UH, WHEN YOU'RE GONE, WE STILL NEED TO HAVE THIS FUNDING IN PLACE BECAUSE IMMIGRANTS [03:20:01] WILL BE HERE AFTER YOUR TENURE ENDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS JORDAN. HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN A SIXTH DISTRICT AND I'M CURRENTLY 22 YEARS OLD AND I ATTEND LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE. I'M REQUESTING 900 K TO THE VIOLENCE PROVINCIAL PROGRAM IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 300 K FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND 600 K FOR SAFE PASSAGES. I'M REQUESTING THESE FUNDS BECAUSE ALL OF MY LIFE GROWING UP, ME AND MY SISTERS LOVED GOING OUTSIDE, PLAYING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND INTERACTING WITH ONE ANOTHER. BUT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN FEARED WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OR JUST DOING SIMPLE THINGS, IT'S GOING TO THE STORE. ME AND MY OLDEST SISTER ATTENDED LONG BEACH POLY AND IT WAS FEARFUL TO WALK DOWN THOSE STREETS DUE TO PROS, PROSTITUTION AND PIMPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. GANG, GANG VIOLENCE AND ALSO GUNSHOTS OR FIREWORKS, WHATEVER SOUND THAT WE HEARD. THESE ARE STILL PROBLEMS TODAY AND I THINK THAT THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE FUNDED. THANK YOU. HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MALIKA LASSETER. UM, I AM A SOPHOMORE AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR THE ORGANIZATION, LOVE BEYOND LIMITS. UM, I'M HERE TODAY REQUESTING $900,000 TO GO TO OUR VERY OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, TO FUND, UH, COMMUNITY ACTIVATION SAFE PASSAGES, UM, OUR COMMUNITY IS IN NEED. UH, GROWING UP IN THIS CITY, NOT ONLY HAVE I SEEN VIOLENCE WITNESSED IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE THE MOST. UM, SO YEAH, I'M AGAIN, REQUESTING $900,000 TO GO TO OUR CITY COUNT, UH, TO OUR HUB DEPARTMENT. HI. HI CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NAVE AND I RESIDE IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT. I AM A 11TH GRADER AT RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL. I AM REQUESTING AN ALLOCATION OF 900,000 TO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SPECIFICALLY, I PROPOSED THAT 300,000 BE ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND 600 K TO THE SAFE PASSAGES. UH, I REQUEST THIS BECAUSE, UM, IT'S, THESE FUNDS ARE BEING REQUESTED BECAUSE THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN LAST YEAR SPENDING, WHILE LIVING IN PACIFIC HIGHWAY OF COAST AGE OF AT THE AGE EIGHT. IT WAS REALLY HARD 'CAUSE UM, YOU WOULD LIKE LOOK AROUND DURING VIOLENCE AND IT'S NOT SAFE FOR LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE. OVER TIME, YOU GROW TO THIS VIOLENCE AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOUTH SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO. UM, ONCE AGAIN, I REQUEST AN ALLOCATION OF 900,000 TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS SO THAT BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS CAN BE SAFE AND LIVE RATHER IN PEACE AND FEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. HELLO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SUNNA CHAPMAN AND I'M A 2024 GRADUATE OF LONG BEACH POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL. AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M REQUESTING $900,000 TO GO TO THE VINES PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 300,000 FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND 600,000 FOR SAFE PASSAGES. I'M REQUESTING THESE FUNDS BECAUSE MY COMMUNITY DESERVES TO BE SAFE. ON MARCH 26TH, BREONNA SOTO, A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO ATTENDED POLLY HIGH SCHOOL, WAS SHOT WHILE WALKING HOME. I LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO POLLY NOT HAVING A SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM. ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THAT, MY COUSIN WAS SHOT IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FROM BEING IN THE CROSSFIRE OF A SHOOTING HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN. BEFORE THAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SHOT UP, PUTTING INNOCENT PEOPLE AT RISK, THE LIFE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH AND HARDWORKING ADULTS MATTER JUST AS MUCH AS THOSE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO LIVE IN PARTS OF LONG BEACH THAT AREN'T AT HIGH RISK FOR VIOLENCE. I BELIEVE IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR CITY TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME, TO DELIVER JUSTICE AFTER THE CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, AFTER LIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST. FAMILIES MOURN THEIR LOVED ONES. HOWEVER, IT IS A CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BEFORE IT OCCURS, WHICH CAN BE DONE THROUGH FUNDING COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT HAS PROVEN THAT SUPPORTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOST VIOLENCE RATES DECREASE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SASHI MORDA. I'M A BUSINESS REP WITH THE MACHINIST UNION THAT REPRESENTS THE LARGEST SECTOR OF EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY. I'M SPEAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 73, UH, THAT ARE POTENTIALLY LOSING THEIR POSITIONS TO THE LOSS OF FUNDING. THE NUMBER IS DOWN TO 31 THAT ARE STILL AT JEOPARDY, AND I AM GOING TO BE QUOTING ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WHO IS A PERSON LIVING WITH DISABILITIES THAT'S CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED, UM, UH, BE, UH, RELATED TO HER DISABILITY, HER CHRONIC DISABILITY. SO AGAIN, THIS IS QUOTING KIM WON V-U-O-N-G. [03:25:01] UH, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M NOT ABLE TO BE IN PERSON. MY NAME IS KIM WONG AND I AM ONE OF THE DISABILITY ADVOCATES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION AND HOW IT MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCIES. DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, MY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING LONG BEACH, DID NOT INITIALLY EMPHASIZE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, OF WHICH I'M ONE. THIS VOID HURTS OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE WERE LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT. HOWEVER, PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WERE EVENTUALLY BROUGHT ON TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN SERVICES FOR THIS POPULATION. RESIDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. IN MY ROLE AS THE DISABILITY ADVOCATE FOR DISABILITY ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS, I HAVE HELPED MANY WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH BASIC NEEDS. THESE NEEDS DON'T DISSIPATE. WITH FUNDING CUTS, THESE NEEDS REMAIN. WITH MY POSITION FACING CUTS, THIS POPULATION IS PUT BACK AT RISK. SIR, PEOPLE WITH LIVING WITH DISABILITIES HAVE LIVED, LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT ARE NEEDED IN PUBLIC HEALTH TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH THESE DISABILITIES CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET. I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO FIND FUNDING TO KEEP MIND AND OTHER IMPORTANT POSITIONS AND THANK YOU. AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THAT LETTER TO THE COUNSEL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HELLO EVERYBODY. HONORABLE ACTING CHAIR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER. MY NAME IS CARLITO JORDAN. I'M A CITY OF LONG BEACH AND A UNION STEWARD FOR THE LONG BEACH HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR, ASK FOR YOU TO SAVE THESE PI PIVOTAL POSITIONS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, A CITY OF LONG BEACH HEALTHY. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CITY'S OPERATIONS CANNOT CONTINUE WITHOUT STABLE FUNDING. WE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY. WE SAW THE, THE SLIDES THAT ALLISON KING PRESENTED. OUR, OUR FUNDING IS NOT STABLE. THE GRANTS ARE REALLY HARD. THEY'RE VERY METICULOUS ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO, WHICH IS A VERY PIVOTAL ISSUE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GOT ALL THIS FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS ON THE LOF LIST, IT IS A TEMPORARY FIX. SOME OF THEM ARE GONNA BE ENDING IN DECEMBER, SOME OF THEM ARE GONNA BE ENDING IN JUNE OF NEXT YEAR, AND I WILL PROBABLY BE BACK HERE WITH THEM. UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER. I ASK, CAN YOU FINALLY PUT THE HEALTH OF THE CITY IN LONG BEACH COMMUNITY FIRST HELP FUND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. JUST LIKE YOU FUND A PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THE MANAGERS DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET GRANTS EVERY DAY THIS TIME. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UM, I'M HERE TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS REFERRED, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FACING LOSS OF FUNDING BUT ALSO PERSONAL TO ME. UH, MY NAME IS NATE KEM AND I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. I AM A DISTRICT SIX LONG BEACH RESIDENT AS WELL. UH, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE REMAINING STAFF MEMBERS WHO CONTINUE TO FACE LAYOFFS DUE TO LOSS OF FUNDING, BUT PARTICULARLY OUR FOREIGN LANGUAGE ACCESS. OUR CLIENT TAGALOG FOREIGN LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF HAVE NOT FOUND FUNDING. LONG BEACH HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF KAMAI OUTSIDE OF LONG OF CAMBODIA. I'M THE ONLY CAMBODIAN NURSE PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. THERE ARE FAR AND FEW CAMBODIAN STAFF EMPLOYED BY THE CITY WHO CAN CONVERSE WITH OUR KAMAI SPEAKING POPULATION. NOW WE'RE IN DANGER OF LOSING AN ESSENTIAL POSITION THAT HELPS BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN OUR KAMAI SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND THE CITY. FOREIGN LANGUAGE ACCESS NOT ONLY PROVIDES ORAL LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO PROVIDES FLUENTLY TRANSLATED LANGUAGE MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IS COMPREHENSIBLE AND DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF GOOGLE TRANSLATE. THE KAMAI FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE STAFF IS THE ONLY KAMAI SPEAKING STAFF IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR OUR KAMAI COMMUNITY WHEN EMERGENCIES OCCUR CERTAIN TIMES, CONCLUDING HOW BE EQUITABLE. IF WE CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION EFFECTIVELY, I PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MICHELLE ORTIZ AND I AM A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. I, I ALSO AM A GRADUATE FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH WITH A DEGREE IN HEALTH SCIENCE. I AM A HEALTH A LONG BEACH, UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE WHO'S FACING LOSS OF FUNDING. UH, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL DIVISION. I AM ONE OF TWO COMMUNICABLE DISEASE INVESTIGATORS, UM, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF INVESTIGATING DISEASES, OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, RESTAURANTS, AND, UH, WITH THE LOSS OF FUNDING, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE IMPACT THIS, WHAT THE IMPACT WILL HAVE ON MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE LEFT UNDERSTAFFED AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE IN THE, FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THE COMMUNITY TODAY, I AM ASKING FOR FUNDING TO KEEP MY POSITION AND FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT THE FUTURE OF THESE JOBS ARE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO NEXT FIVE WE HAVE JOLENE EVANGELISTA, DAVE SHUKLA, [03:30:01] MARK HALL, NINA GOLDSTON, NICOLE PENNINGTON, DAVE, JOHN HICKSON, CHERYL BROWN, KEITH LILLY, BILLY BROWN, AND AYA VEY. PLEASE LINE UP, PLEASE PROCEED. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOLENE EVANGELISTA. I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE WITH THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL DIVISION IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE LOSS OF FUNDING THAT'S AFFECTING OUR DEPARTMENT. MY POSITION IS NOT BEING CUT, BUT I AM WORRIED THAT THE LACK OF FUNDING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO FUTURE CRISES. OUR TEAM STRIVES DAILY TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY FROM DISEASES SUCH AS COVID-19 AND PS, NOROVIRUS AND OTHER FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, AVIAN, INFLUENZA, ET CETERA, AND SAVE LIVES AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN. IN 2023 CDSC, UM, TRIAGED MORE THAN 30,000 DISEASE REPORTS AND INVESTIGATED MORE THAN 6,000 CASES OF NON COVID DISEASES. OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS LIKE CHILDREN AND OLDER ADULTS, RELY ON OUR SERVICES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, SUPPORT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND ANALYZE DISEASE DATA. LACK OF FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND DANGER OF SUPPORT STRUCTURE WE'VE BUILT, LEAVING US UNABLE TO MEET THE DEMAND TO RESPOND TO OUTBREAKS AND FUTURE PANDEMICS AND PREPARE FOR MAJOR EVENTS LIKE THE 2028 OLYMPICS. HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THRIVE WITH STABLE FUNDING. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE MANY TIMES CONCLUDED, INCREASE, AND SUSTAINED INVESTMENT IN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO PRESERVE THESE CRUCIAL PROGRAMS. NOW MA'AM, YOUR TAX CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. WE ARE EXPERIENCING, UH, DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR TIMER AT THIS MOMENT, SO WE'LL BE KEEPING TRACK AND WE'RE GONNA TRY AND RESET IT. SO I'LL, I'LL CUE YOU WHEN THE TIMER IS UP TO 60 SECONDS. I'M PRETTY SURE THE TIMER'S NOT A BROWN ACT VIOLATION. THANK YOU. EU CLIFF THIRD DISTRICT, UH, WITH RESPECTS TO SLIDES EIGHT AND 14 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S PRESENTATION. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF, UH, BUILDING A CLIMATE FORWARD ECONOMY IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY, UH, THROUGH ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WANTS TO ACHIEVE. SB 1137 HAS BEEN PASSED. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY IN BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT THE CITY AS WELL AS THE STATE KNOW THEY CANNOT USE THE OIL MONEY AS AN ATM ANYMORE. THEY KNOW THAT THE LIABILITIES ARE COMING AND THEY'RE COMING FAST. IT'S SOMETHING YOU STILL HAVE THE SPACE TO GET AHEAD OF, BUT FRANKLY, IF ONE VOTE HAD CHANGED FOUR YEARS AGO AND WE RAN OUR OWN CCA, THIS IS SOMETHING, INSTEAD OF BEING A CASE OF AN SY CONTROL BY EDISON, THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER OURSELVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS NICOLE AND I'M A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOCUS AS WELL AS A POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLOCATING FUNDS TO THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND YOUTH. THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR CONTINUAL ALLOCATION OF GENERAL FUNDS FOR ROBUST VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES SUCH AS SAFE PASSAGE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR TEENS AND ADULTS IN THE PARKS OF HIGH NEED AREAS LIKE SILVERADO, HOUGHTON, ADMIRAL KIDD, KING MCBRIDE, ET CETERA, AND ENHANCED NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS TO FOSTER A GREATER SENSE OF SAFETY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOCUSING ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION, SELF-DEFENSE AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, COLLABORATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE A PROACTIVE PRESENCE OF VULNERABLE AREAS, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND REDUCE THE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE. YOUTH MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE THAT PAIR ADOLESCENTS WITH POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FROM THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND PROMOTE UNITY, HELPING TO BUILD STRONG, SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS. BY INVESTING IN THESE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES, THE COMMUNITY AIMS TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AND MY NAME IS MARK ANTHONY AND, UH, I CAN RELATE TO ALL THESE YOUNGSTERS RIGHT HERE THAT WENT TO POLY HIGH. THEY TELLING THE TRUTH. I'M FROM DISTRICT SIX. I JUST DID OVER 40 YEARS AND I'M BACK TO SQUARE ONE. MOST OF THESE, UH, GRASSROOTS LIKE FOCUS SOUTH PA UH, SAFE PASSAGE AND ALL THAT, THEY THE UNSUNG HEROES, BUT THEY DON'T EVER GET THE CREDIT OR THE RESOURCES. SO LET ME READ THIS. I DON'T READ FAST. UH, THE COMMUNITY REQUEST QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR, CITY MAYOR, MANAGER, A BODIES PREVENTION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THESE MEETINGS OF ROUND TABLES SHOULD INCLUDE AND BE LED BY A MULTICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY LIKE FOCUS [03:35:01] AND THE COMMUNITY PEACE AND WELLNESS COLLECTIVE HAVE AGREED TO, TO BE UPON THE IDEA OF CONDUCTIVE CONDUCTED THESE MEETINGS. IN THESE MEETINGS, ALL WILL WILL COMPARE DATA, ENSURE THE QUALITY OF RESOURCE IT, EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS FOR THEIR MEASURE. SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. BASICALLY IT JUST COME DOWN TO RESOURCES. SHARE YOUR WITNESS COMMENTS. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE CLERK TOO. OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, NEXT UP. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS DAWAN HICKSON. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND IS ALSO A SINGLE FATHER. IN MY MANY YEARS OF LIVING IN LONG BEACH, I'VE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND GANG VIOLENCE, WHICH LEADS ME TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO ME, BUT ALSO TO MY KIDS BECAUSE MY KIDS ARE NOW ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN LONG BEACH. SO IT IS, IT'S MORE OF, UM, IT'S MORE, IT'S MORE HEARTFELT TO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ACTIVITY. UM, IT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE COMMUNITY COHESION AND PROVIDE INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO RESIDENTS. EACH PROGRAM OFFERS UNIQUE BENEFITS. URBAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE URBAN RESET FOUNDATION, WHICH PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVING AND GREEN SPACES FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY PRIDE. WE ALSO HAVE FOCUS, WHICH, UH, SPECIALIZES IN STUDENTS SAFETY THROUGH SAFE PASSION. CVI PRACTICES, CULTURAL EXCHANGES AND GANG EXPERTS HELPING THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE ALSO HAVE HOOP HOOPS AFTER DARK USES, UM, BASKETBALL AS A TOOL TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND ADULTS, TEACHING TEAMWORK AND DISCIPLINE AND PROVIDING A SAFE, UH, SPACE FOR RECREATION. SIR, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MR. HI. NEXT UP. GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS CHERYL BROWN. AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COS AFTER DARK, DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS AND FOCUS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY IN LONG BEACH, ESPECIALLY WHEN ADDRESSING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DEEP TIES TO THE COMMUNITY, ALLOWING THEM TO BUILD TRUST AND CREDIBILITY THAT TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFTEN CAN'T ACHIEVE ALONE. THEY CAN ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH. AT-RISK, INDIVIDUALS MEDIATE CONFLICTS BEFORE THEY ESCALATE AND PROVIDE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SUPPORT. BY INTEGRATING THESE ORGANIZATIONS INTO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGY, WE CAN CREATE A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT ADDRESSES THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, ULTIMATELY REDUCING CRIME, FOSTERING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND SAVING RESOURCES IN FOR LONG TERM, PUT THE PUBLIC BACK IN PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHEN I SAY PUBLIC, I'M REFERRING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, NIGHT. AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KEITH LILLY. I'M BOARD MEMBER OF HOOPS AFTER DARK AND, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, ACTIVISTS. UH, I GREW UP IN LONG BEACH AND, UH, EVERY MONDAY WHEN I WOULD COME BACK TO WORK, WHETHER IT WAS PARK AND RECREATION BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, I FOUND SOMEBODY HAD BEEN SHOT OR KILLED THAT I KNEW AND MANY KIDS UNDER MY WATCH THAT I KNEW LEFT THIS PLANET. SO WE NEED MORE VIOLENT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE NEED THIS FUNDING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE IT'S REAL. I'M LIVING PROOF. I'M 71 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN TO MANY FUNERALS OF YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG LADIES WHO COULD HAVE LIVED LONGER IF WE HAD PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS. AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GREETING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS, UH, BILLY BROWN, AND I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A STUDENT, A PARENT, AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. I AM THE FOUNDER OF FOCUS, WHICH STANDS FOR FAMILIES OBSERVING CULTURES ANDING STUDENTS FOCUS MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE FOR STUDENTS GOING TO AND RETURNING FROM SCHOOL. WE ARE THE FIRST COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION TO CREATE SAFE PASSAGE FOR STUDENTS IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. IN, UM, ESTABLISHED IN 2001 AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT A SUCCESSFUL, SUSTAINABLE, AND ROBUST SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE. LONG BEACH HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE BAR TO WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD, UH, WILL TRY TO MEASURE UP TO. AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, THE AL AUSTIN'S, UM, OFFICE AND TEAM. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY 12-YEAR-OLD SON WAS ATTACKED ON THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE. NOT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, BUT LONG BEACH STATE, UH, TRANSIT, LONG BEACH TRANSIT BUS, AND, UM, AL AUSTIN OUTTA ALL, UM, UM, HIS OFFICE REACHED OUT TO MY FAMILY FOR [03:40:01] SUPPORT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, BRO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UH, I APOLOGIZE. UH, MADAM CLERK, UM, SON, I CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. SORRY, BO, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GIVE YOU PROPS, BUT YOUR TEAM'S GREAT. COURTNEY'S TEAM IS GREAT. I JUST GOTTA GET TO IT. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN URANGA, UH, RESPECTFULLY, SIR, UH, WE CANNOT TOLERATE OR ALLOW YOU TO COME AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO LITERALLY HAS, UH, PENNIES THAT THEY'RE STRETCHING TO DO SO MUCH IMPACT IN THIS CITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S UNFATHOMABLE. IT'S, IT'S A GRANT. IT'S NOT EVEN A STRUCTURALLY FUNDED DEPARTMENT. AND SO FOR YOU TO, UH, HEIGHTEN IN THIS IS A $3.6 BILLION BUDGET AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $300,000, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I JUST WANNA SAY RELATIVITY GOT $30 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT PAYING $30 MILLION. FAIRMONT GOT $13 MILLION FOR FREE OUT OF US AND YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT $300,000. WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP. WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP GETTING INTO THIS TRIBAL WARFARE THING WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, LOOK, LOOK FOR $300,000, TWO RACIST, TWO ETHNIC BASE ORGANIZATION, SORRY, TIMES CONCLUDED, PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER. YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO GIVE US DOLLARS. THANK YOU, SIR PENN. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MINISTER MS. KELLY CLIFF. I'M A CHRISTIAN MINISTER AND I WORK IN LONG BEACH. I DON'T LIVE IN LONG BEACH, BUT I CALLED, UH, REGARDING THE HOMELESS, UH, PEOPLE AT A LONG BEACH CITY PARKING LOT ON, ON THIRD STREET AT WEST OF PINE. AND I ALSO SITTING HERE PRIOR TO ME SPEAKING, A NUMBER OF 2,371 CALLS WERE GIVEN AND THE PEOPLE DID NOT STAY AT THE LOCATION. WELL, IT WAS NOT A DISTRESS CALL. I JUST CALLED TO INFORM THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HOMELESS SITUATION IN, IN FRONT OF THE PARKING. IT'S A CITY PARKING LOT. YOU CAN PARK FOR TWO HOURS. AND AS FAR AS BREAKING IN CRIME, THE CRIME RATE IS VERY BAD. AND THE HOMELESS PEOPLE GO INSIDE THE BUSINESSES AND THEY FRIGHTEN EMPLOYEES. AND THESE ARE GOOD EMPLOYEES THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN THE AREA. THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET, UH, CITY COUNCIL KNOW MY CALL WAS NOT DISTRESSED. IT WAS JUST SIMPLY, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE, UH, FRONT PARKING LOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SO I'M GONNA CALL UP THE NEXT 10, ISAIAH DYE. JOANNA. UH, THERE'S CARRIE CHAI, SATAN SAMBO, KIMBERLY LYNN, EMMA SANTANA, LUIS ORTIZ, SOCHI PERERA, AND DENISE TAPIA. AND PLEASE, UH, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE ARE COMMENTING ON THE BUDGET HEARING STICK. STAY ON SUBJECT. THANK YOU. HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ISAIAH DIE AND I LIVE IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, COMING OUT THE FIRST DISTRICT AND I'M CURRENTLY IN THE 12TH GRADE ATTENDING PATHWAYS ACADEMY. THEY HOOKED UP WITH PACIFIC GATEWAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. AND I'M REQUESTING $900 TO GO TO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. $900,000. I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO ASK, BUT IT FEELS LIKE I ASKED US TO PUT A PRICE ON HAPPINESS AND SAFETYNESS. SO IT JUST, IT'S A LOT TO ASK, BUT IT'S A, IT IS A SMALL STEP IN A, IN A BIG PAVEMENT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT ORIGINALLY FROM LONG BEACH. I'M COMING OUTTA KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, THE NUMBER ONE, THE EIGHTH RANKED MURDER RATE IN UNITED STATES. SO I KNOW WHAT VIOLENCE IS AND I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LIVE AROUND IT AND WHAT IT IS TO BE IN IT. SO WE MOVED TO LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 'CAUSE WE FEEL LIKE IT WAS A SAFER AREA. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION OR PA A GOOD PASSAGE WAYS. THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON HAVING BETTER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE WAYS TO GET CHILDREN OUTTA THESE COMMUNITIES SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE SHALLOW OR LEVEL HEADED. THEY CAN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. YOU KNOW, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT AND THE SPACE IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TODAY AND THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING, ACTING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARRIE CHAI, UH, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX, AND I'M REPRESENTING THE LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION. UH, THIS AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY AS A SON OF MY REFUGEES. MY PARENTS STRUGGLES WITH NAVIGATING THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE SEE RESOURCES. UH, MY LATE ANTI PASSED AWAY TO, UM, CANCER FOR A [03:45:01] FEW DAYS. UH, SHE STRUGGLED BECAUSE WE HAD TO WAIT FOR A MEDICAL INTERPRETER. I SUPPORT THE BUDGET FOR EXPANDING, UH, THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PRIMARY STAFF TO FULLY IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR, ENFORCE THE CITY'S LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY. I WISH TO SEE A FULL-TIME KAMAI, UM, LANGUAGE SPECIALIST. AND I TALK ALL, UH, FULL-TIME LANGUAGE SPECIALIST. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING, ACTING MAYOR MEMBER, THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SATAN. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO REPRESENTING CAMBODIA TOWN AND PACIFIC ASIAN COUNSELING SERVICES. TO SUPPORT THE LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE CITY COUNCIL OF LONG BEACH TO DEDICATE AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUMBER OF PERMANENT STAFF, FULLY IMPLEMENT, MONITOR, AND ENFORCE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY. I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO ACCESS SERVICES AND PARTICIPATE IN ANY CITY MEETING WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR HOW TO SPEAK, YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 IN FUNDING, WHICH INCLUDE THE LONG RECOVERY ACT FUNDING AND SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR. PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO HIRE FULL-TIME TAGAL COMMAND LANGUAGE SPECIALIST, FULL-TIME LANGUAGE, UH, ACCESS STAFF FOR CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENTAL LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOANNA AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE LONG BEACH LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION. OUR COALITION HAS ADVOCATED FOR LANGUAGE JUSTICE WITH AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 11 YEARS, AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ON THE GROUND. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND. WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY HEAVILY RELIES ON TEMPORARY ONE-TIME FUNDS AND FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT. WITH ACCESS TO LIBRA FUND, SUN SETTING, AT THE END OF THE YEAR NECESSARY CITY STAFF POSITIONS AND RESOURCES ARE AGAIN AT RISK. WE ARE HERE TO PUSH FOR AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 IN STRUCTURAL FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS LANGUAGE JUSTICE FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE DEMANDS. ONE IS TO ADD A FULL-TIME, TAGALOG AND FILIPINO LANGUAGE SPECIALIST. TWO IS ADD A FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF TO OVERSEE THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENTAL LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS FOR ALL PUBLIC FACING CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND THREE, ADD A FULL-TIME LANGUAGE ACCESS STAFF TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY RELATED TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING CITY OF LONG BEACH PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND SERVICES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EMMA SANTANA. I LIVE IN THE NINTH DISTRICT. I AM IN THE 11TH GRADE AT LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. I'M REQUESTING 900,000 TO GO TO THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 300,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS AND 600,000 FOR SAFE PASSAGES. I'M REQUESTING THESE FUNDS BECAUSE IN THE NINTH DISTRICT, NOT ONLY MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO NEIGHBORS ARE TERRIFIED TO GO OUT AT NIGHT IN CASE OF SHOOTINGS. THERE HAVE BEEN BULLETS THAT HAVE ENTERED PEOPLE'S HOMES. WE LIVE IN FEAR WHENEVER WE HEAR A GUNSHOT PRAYING THAT IT NEVER REACHES OUR HOUSE. I AM TIRED OF LIVING IN FEAR THAT A BULLET WILL REACH MY HOUSE AND MY NEIGHBORS. SO I AM ASKING YOU TO, TO PLEASE INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO 900,000. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME'S EMMA SANTANA, SERGEANT OF ARMS FROM LOVE BEYOND LIMITS YOUTH BOARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. HELLO COUNSEL. MY NAME IS LUIS ORTIZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M ALSO A STUDENT AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE JUSTICE FUND. I'M HERE BECAUSE MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDPARENTS CAME HERE FROM MEXICO, UH, 20, 30 YEARS AGO. AND THEY CAME HERE TO LOOK FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES, NOT FOR JUST THEMSELVES, BUT FOR ME AS WELL. UM, ALTHOUGH MY PARENTS TURNED OUT FINE, MANY OF MY PEERS WERE NOT SO LUCKY WITH THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY BEING LOST, HOUSING ACCESS, ACCESS BEING UNSTABLE AND FACING TRAUMATIC REALITY OF LOSING A LOVED ONE. THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHERE WE DO NOT OFFER LEGITIMATE AND TANGIBLE RESOURCES TO OUR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS ONE OF THOSE TANGIBLE RESOURCES THAT I APPLAUD THE CITY FOR HAVING. IT'S A LIFELINE FOR SO MANY LONG BEACH FOLKS WHO NEED LEGAL DEFENSE DURING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS TO PURSUE, UH, PERMANENT RE RESIDENCY STATUSES OR HELP OBTAIN, UH, VISAS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I ASK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE MAYOR REGISTER'S LEAD AND SUPPORT HIS RECOMMENDED $1.1 MILLION FOR FUNDING, UH, TO, TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE JUDGE TOWARDS JUSTICE FUND, BUT ALSO ONLY $300,000 OF THOSE, OF THOSE $1 MILLION [03:50:01] IS STRUCTURAL. SO WE NEED ALL THIS FUNDING TO BE STRUCTURAL, TO BE, UM, SO FOLKS CAN DEPEND ON IT. 'CAUSE HOW DO WE EXPECT FOLKS, SO YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED TO BE GIVEN CONSISTENT FUNDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY LAMB AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AT LONG BEACH FORD AND A PART OF THE LONG BEACH LANGUAGE JUSTICE COALITION. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR INCREASING CITY FUNDING FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS BY AN ADDITIONAL 400,000. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE ENSURE ALL RESIDENTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO VITAL CITY SERVICES REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK. LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL TO PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. MANY RESIDENTS HERE, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS FACE SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE BEARERS WITH ACCESSING ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SO WE URGE THE CITY TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PERMANENT STAFF TO FULLY IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THE CITY'S LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY. OUR DEMANDS INCLUDE ADDING A FULL-TIME TECHNOLOGY LANGUAGE SPECIALISTS, DEDICATING APPROPRIATE RESOURCES WITHIN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN, AND TO ALSO DEDICATE STAFF TO IMPLEMENT AND CREATE AN EFFECTIVE PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY RELATED TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO THE DEMANDS OF STRUCTURAL FUNDING TO THE JUSTICE FUND AND RIGHT TO COUNCIL. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN MA'AM, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED HOW BEAUTIFUL WAS TO SEE A QUEEN IN SPANISH. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW LANGUAGE AND, UM, IS SO QUIET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HELLO, MY NAME IS SOCHI PEREIRA. I'M A FORMER LONG BEACH, UH, UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT AND A LIFELONG NEIGHBOR, WILMINGTON CARSON. ASIDE FROM PERSONAL SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND HEALTH SERVICES, I'M HERE AS A FRIEND OF THE JUSTICE FUND. LONG BEACH IS HOME TO 30,000 UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS AS WELL AS OTHER NON-CITIZENS. THE JUSTICE FUND PROVIDES AFFIRMATIVE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES FOR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. WE ASK ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TELL, UH, TO TAKE MAYOR RICHARDSON'S LEAD AND SUPPORT HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR $1.1 MILLION, UM, TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. ADDITIONALLY, WE ASK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE THE JUSTICE FUND A STRUCTURAL ITEM IN THE CITY BUDGET. THE JUSTICE FUND HAS MORE THAN PROVEN ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT NEED WILL ONLY GROW AS THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LANDSCAPE BECOMES MORE HOSTILE. BOTH LONG BEACH'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. KNOWING THAT THESE CRUCIAL LEGAL SERVICES ARE SECURE, WE CANNOT KEEP PATCHING TOGETHER THE SAFETY NET THAT KEEPS OUR CITY WHOLE. IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LONG BEACH AND ITS GROWTH, YOU NEED TO INVEST IN YOUR IMMIGRANTS. THANK YOU. YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS DENISE TAPIA. I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE. I'VE COME, EXCUSE ME, DISTRICT EIGHT. I'VE COME HERE TODAY TO ASK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE $1.2 MILLION STRUCTURAL BUDGET FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. LONG BEACH HAS A NEED TO GET A, UH, SET UP, A STRUCTURAL FUNDING SO THAT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS IS WHAT HELPED MY FAMILY IN OAKLAND GET A U VISA AND EVENTUALLY GAIN CITIZENSHIP. OAKLAND, A CITY OF SIMILAR SIZE TO LONG BEACH HAS OVER A DOZEN IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, WHEREAS LONG BEACH HAS NONE. HAD MY FAMILY LIVED IN LONG BEACH, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DO TODAY. IF THE 1.2, 1.1 MILLION, UM, DOLLARS STRUCTURAL BUDGET FOR THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND JUSTICE FUND IS APPROVED, WE COULD CREATE A SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS WITH THE LEGAL HELP THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. SO OUR FINAL GROUP OF SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE EDITH. UM, SHE'S SPEAKING IN SPANISH, UM, MARIA LOPEZ, GABRIEL PEREZ, IRMA, WHO'S ALSO, UH, SPEAKING IN SPANISH AS WELL. MARIBEL CRUZ, ALANA, ANGELA ADE, ERIC GARCIA, MARIA LOZA, AND AUSTIN MATOYA. PLEASE LINE UP AND PLEASE BEGIN TO SPEAK. SO FIRST UP, WE HAVE EDITH. [03:55:52] GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EDITH AND I'M IN LONG, UH, LONG BEACH CITY, UH, RESIDENT. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND TO ASK YOU TO ALLOCATE THE 1.1 MILLION BUDGET FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO ALL THE COMMUNITY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME SINCE I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THAT ARE PART OF THE LIFE OF MY DAUGHTERS AND IT WOULD HAVE A, A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN THEIR LIVES IF THEY ARE DEPORTED. I'M INTERESTED AND I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE IN FAVOR OF THE JUSTICE FUND FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE DEPORTATION PROCESS, TO HAVE THE RIGHT, UH, TO LAWYER SERVICES LOCALLY SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, TO TRAVEL TO OTHER CITIES SUCH AS LA AND SEARCH AS CIVIL PROTECTION IN ORDER FOR THEM NOT TO BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH RESULTS IN UNCERTAINTY, ANXIETY, AMONG OTHER THINGS. I HOPE THAT THEY CAN, UH, THEY CONTINUE TO GATHER SINCE THE BEING SEPARATED CAN IMPACT THEIR LIVES OF THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS RESULTING IN TRAUMATIC RESULTS FOR LIFE. NONETHELESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THE IMMIGRANT, UH, COMMUNITY HAS, HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE AN INTRICATE PART OF THE ECONOMY GROWTH HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL, UH, LONG BEACH. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR AND HIS RECOMMENDATION TO COME FORTH WITH A $1.1 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU FOR ORIENTATION IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS IRMA GALLO AND I'M RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS. AND I LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT ONE. I'M VERY AFRAID THAT THEY SEPARATE ME FROM MY, UH, KIDS. MY CHILDREN, UH, THEY ARE GOOD, UH, CITIZENS AND I LIVE WITH THEM. UH, I'M ALWAYS IN FEAR THAT THEY SEPARATE US, UH, 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE IN MY, UH, IN MY LIFE. AND I'M A A SINGLE MOTHER, AND JUST KNOWING THAT THE CITY IS ABLE TO SUPPORT ME, UH, WILL MAKE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND SECURE. THEREFORE, I ASKED, UH, FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE, UH, $1.2 MILLION IN INSTRUCTIONAL FUNDS SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO EXPAND AND, UH, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO FOCUS IN EXPANDING THE FUND AND NOT JUST TO SUSTAIN IT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. LONG BEACH. [04:00:49] GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANGEL ANDRA AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I'M PART OF THIS ASSOCIATION, OR I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE JUSTICE FUND SO THAT IT'S STRUCTURAL. THIS PAST, UH, 17TH OF AUGUST, AN IMMIGRATION FAIR TOOK PLACE AT CITY COLLEGE ORGANIZED BY ORLE AND THE JUSTICE FUND COALITION. MANY OF US BENEFITED FROM IT, UH, GAVE US HOPE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE CONSULTATIONS WITH IMMIGRATION LAWYERS AT NO COST. WITH THE JUSTICE FUND, MANY PEOPLE WILL BENEFIT. THEREFORE, WE ASK FOR $1.2 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE FUND AND THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE STRUCTURAL. THANK YOU. GOOD AS YES, PERSONAS. NUN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIA LOA AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LONG BEACH FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT SIS SIX, UH, THIS EVENING. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR $1.2 MILLION TO BE ALLOTTED TOWARDS THE JUSTICE FUND, UH, SO THAT THEY ARE STRUCTURAL SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE, UH, COMING EVERY YEAR, UM, THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, FOCUS IN EXPANDING THIS FUND. I BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY. UH, THIS FUND IS NECESSARY THAT, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT, UH, HAVE, UH, QUESTIONABLE, UH, MIGRATORY STARS. UH, THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES WITH KIDS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED. AND IF THEY ARE SEPARATED, THERE ARE MANY, UH, YOUNG KIDS, UH, THAT THEIR PARENTS, UH, BY NOT HAVING, UH, LAWYER SERVICES WOULD BE, UH, SUBMITTED TO, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE, UH, WOULD BE TROUBLED FOR NOT HAVING LEGAL, UH, REPRESENTATION BECAUSE OF, UH, LOSS OF FUNDING, PERHAPS. UH, FOR MANY PEOPLE THERE WOULD BE NO JUSTICE. BUT IF THE CITY IS ABLE TO SUPPORT, UH, THE JUSTICE FUND, THE CITY WOULD, UH, HELP ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE JUSTICE AND, UH, FAMILIES WOULD BE TOGETHER IN UNISON. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARI CRUZ. I AM THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR . MY FAMILY AND I HAVE CALLED THE CITY HOME FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, WE'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION FRAUD ON OUR COMMUNITY. OUR CITY, SADLY, IS A LEGAL DESERT. MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESPERATE FOR HELP FALL FOR FALL PREY TO UNSCRUPULOUS NOTARIES OR INDIVIDUALS FALSELY CLAIMING TO BE ATTORNEYS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE [04:05:01] DIRE. FAMILIES LOSE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OR EVEN FACE DEPORTATION DUE TO INADEQUATE LEGAL PRESENTATION. BUT THERE IS HOPE. THROUGH THE TIRELESS COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, OUR CITY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FEW TO OFFER CRITICAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND IS A VITAL SERVICE PROVIDING CREDIBLE AND FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, O AND OUR PARTNERS HOSTED A JUSTICE FUND LEGAL CLINIC WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OVER 50 FAMILIES. THE FUND HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE LIVES AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. I URGE YOU ALL TO INVEST IN THE WELLBEING OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH BY APPROVING THE MAYOR'S ALLOCATION OF 1.1 MILLION TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GABRIEL PEREZ. I'M A SENIOR ORGANIZER WITH LANE'S LONG BEACH FOR A JUSTICE ECONOMY CAMPAIGN AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE JUSTICE FUNDS PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF $1.1 MILLION AND REAFFIRMED THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO LONG BEACH'S UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO BROADENING ITS REACH AND SCOPE. THIS PAST YEAR'S EXPANSION OF THE JUSTICE FUND PRESENTED EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE CHANCE TO HOST A LEGAL CLINIC JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. THE FIRST MAJOR COLLABORATION OF ITS KIND BETWEEN COMMUNITY CONNECTORS AND LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2018, OVER 50 RESIDENTS RECEIVED CONSULTATIONS AT THE CLINIC. I WAS MOVED TO SEE AND HEAR FROM SO MANY FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE CITY, TAKING STEPS TO GET THE CLARITY THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE AN IMPOSSIBLY COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEM. AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HERE IN LONG BEACH, LIKE MY OWN, THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS ISSUE. THE NEED IS CLEAR. DESPITE THE 30,000 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN OUR CITY, LONG BEACH REMAINS A LEGAL DESERT. THERE ARE NO LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS BASED HERE FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES CREATIVE SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS LIKE LEGAL CLINICS NECESSARY. BUT PUBLICLY FUNDED PROGRAMS LIKE THE JUSTICE FUND AND TENANT'S RIGHT TO COUNCIL ARE CRUCIAL TO GIVING WORKING FAMILIES A FIGHTING CHANCE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND WITH THEIR LOVED ONES. WE NEED STRUCTURAL FUNDING TO ENSURE STABILITY AND INVITE LONG-TERM COMMITMENT FROM LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AUSTIN MONTOYA, PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION AND EXTENSION INTO DOWNTOWN, UH, THE CCR TEAM HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE TO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS. OUR OPERATIONS TEAM HAS PARTNERED WITH CCR AND HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE SERVICES HAVE PROVIDED. I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, EXTEND AN APPRECIATION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH COMPRISES THE 11 BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS IN THE CITY. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER, AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE ONE TIME FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT ENHANCED SERVICES THROUGHOUT OUR MANY DISTRICTS. UM, AND LASTLY, WHILE IT IS NOT, UH, A HAPPY THOUGHT THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE ON THE VISUAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT, THE VAP PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A LIFETIME FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL BROKEN WINDOWS OR DAMAGES TO THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO, UH, PAY FOR IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES. SO WE APPRECIATE THE, THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO BOTH DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, UH, THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT ALL 40 FOLKS, THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT, YOUR TRUTHS WITH US MEMBERS. UH, SEEING NOBODY BODY QUEUED UP. PLEASE CAST YOUR BULLET VOTES. I'M SORRY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN ACTUALLY HAD ONE THING I WANTED TO TALK. OH, OF COURSE. . Y'ALL SEE HOW THEY TREAT ME? BUDGET OVERSIGHT CHAIR. I DON'T GET NO RESPECT. UM, I I HAD A QUESTION AROUND ON ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS I WANTED TO CALL UP, UM, DIRECTOR LOPEZ. DON'T WORRY. I'VE, I'VE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, YOU ARE WONDERFUL. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. I'M MAKE THIS SHORT. I'M MAKE THIS SHORT AND SWEET. UM, UH, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, I KNOW IS PART OF YOUR BUDGET. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS ORIGINALLY, BUT PART OF YOUR BUDGET. THIS IS ON PAGE 5 21 FOR WHO, WHO, WHOMEVER MAY BE FOLLOWING ALONG. UM, YOU ARE PLANNING TO BRING OUR BIKE SHARE PROGRAM IN HOUSE. I WAS JUST HOPING THAT YOU COULD KIND OF GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW, KIND OF DISCUSSING YOUR PROPOSAL, WHY YOU THINK THIS IS IN BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY, AND THEN KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRANSITION PLAN, UM, FROM OUR CURRENT OPERATOR TO BRINGING THIS IN-HOUSE. SURE. COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. UH, SO, UH, WITHIN OUR, UH, PUBLIC, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS YEAR, UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, BRINGING IN SOME OF OUR BA BIKE SHARE OPERATION IN-HOUSE. UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ADDING, UH, SOME IN-HOUSE POSITIONS, INCLUDING AN OFFICER, AN ANALYST, UH, SOME INTERNS, UM, A SECRETARY, UM, AND [04:10:01] SOME MAINTENANCE ASSISTANTS THAT CAN HELP, UH, WITH, WITH THE PROGRAM. UM, UH, TOTAL OVERALL, UH, PERSONNEL COSTS AROUND $850,000. AND THEN WE HAD A, UH, BUDGET, UH, ASK OF ABOUT 1.75 MILLION TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS. SO REALLY IT'S MORE LIKE A HYBRID MODEL WHERE WE WOULD HAVE A CORE CITY STAFF, UH, UM, HANDLING KEY OPERATIONAL ITEMS OF BIKE SHARE, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, UH, SUPPORT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE PO THE, THE PROGRAM AND EXPAND IT. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE, THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM AND BE ABLE TO, UH, CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE THE BIKES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ESPECIALLY SOME OF OUR MORE DISADVANTAGED AREAS TO BETTER CONNECT, UH, OUR CITY, UM, AND, UH, AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, UH, THAT MODE OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION. UM, THE, THE PLAN WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD HAVE, UH, UP TO A YEAR, UH, TO, UM, TO IMPLEMENT, UH, THE, UM, THE, THE PROPOSAL. UH, WE, OUR CURRENT PARTNER, UH, PEDAL MOVEMENT WILL STILL BE HERE. UM, WE ARE LOOKING ACTUALLY TO BRING AN ITEM TO COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT UP TO A YEAR TO ALLOW A TRANSITION, UH, TO HAPPEN. UM, I DO FORESEE A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, COMPANIES LIKE PEDAL MOVEMENT, UH, TO, UH, TAKE ON KEY ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE DEFINED. UM, I, I, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A PATH THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WOULD SUPPORT. AND THEN WE WOULD WORK OUT SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL TE UH, DETAILS OF HOW THAT, UM, HOW THAT THE PROGRAM WOULD ULTIMATELY FUNCTION. UH, BUT IT WOULD HAVE A CORE STAFF THAT THAT IS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. OKAY. THAT SOUNDS, UH, I THINK THAT THAT SOUNDS REALLY REASONABLE TO ME. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. WE'D HAD SOME, UM, SOME INQUIRIES AND SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE PROGRAM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS ON THE SAME PAGE. AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT, IT'S, IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE TERMS OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND STILL KEEPING UP THE SAME LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, UM, THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH OUR PROGRAM, I END UP, I THINK IT'S A, IT ENDS UP BEING A KIND OF A WIN-WIN. SO, UM, THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS ALL I HAD. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YEP. SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AS WELL. UM, SO I APPRECIATE AS, AS COUNCILWOMAN RICK TI TALKED ABOUT, UH, CREATING EFFICIENCIES AND BEING ABLE TO MAXIMIZE, UM, THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM. I DO KNOW THAT OUR CURRENT PARTNER DOES A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK. UM, THEY SHOW UP AT THINGS LIKE CRITICAL MASS. THEY DO BIKE MAINTENANCE THAT THEY DON'T CHARGE US FOR. THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT THEY DO AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE. SO WHILE I APPLAUD THE IDEA OF THE EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO MAXIMIZE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE USE THOSE DOLLARS, I THINK PART OF OUR VISION AROUND SUSTAINABILITY IS HAVING BIKE EVANGELISTS OUT THERE WHO ARE TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE, PEOPLE TO BE SAFE ON BIKES, UM, TO BE EXCITED ABOUT COMMUNITY BIKE RIDES AND REALLY GROWING, NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO GET ON THEIR BIKES, BUT THE AVAILABILITY AND THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO USE BIKES INSTEAD OF CARS. AND SO FOR ME, AGAIN, APPRECIATING THE EFFICIENCIES, I HAVE THE CONCERNS THAT WHEN WE BRING EVERYTHING IN HOUSE AND WE MAKE IT VERY TECHNICAL, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT, THAT KIND OF GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ORGANIZED WAY OF WANTING PEOPLE TO LOVE RIDING BIKES IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO I APPRECIATE THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD EXTEND THIS AND HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE BEING EFFICIENT, BUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK ARE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITE PEOPLE AND GROW THE POSSIBILITY OF CYCLING AROUND OUR CITY FOR FUN, BUT ALSO FOR COMMUTING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND, AND I WORRY THAT WHEN WE GET SUPER HYPER-FOCUSED ON THE EFFICIENCY PART, WE'RE GONNA LOSE THE PASSION FROM OUR GRASSROOTS FOLKS AND FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO JUST SHOW UP TO SUPPORT THOSE EVENTS. SO I, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION MORE IN DEPTH, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE CAN'T MEET THE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND ALL OF THE THINGS AND ADD MORE BIKES TO THE SYSTEM IF WE'RE NOT HAVING THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE BEING EXCITED AND, AND INSPIRING OTHER PEOPLE TO GET ON THEIR BIKES AS WELL. SO I'M ANXIOUS TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. AND, UH, SOMEONE WHO HAS A LITTLE BIT OF PASSION, UH, FOR, UH, WHAT I DO, INCLUDING BIKE SHARE. UM, I, I REALLY THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR BOTH. UH, BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT. UH, ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY EARLIER TODAY TO TALK WITH PEDAL MOVEMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, THERE'S, THERE ARE A LOT OF BIKE SHOPS IN LONG BEACH, UM, THAT I THINK, UH, ARE, UH, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND, AND DEVELOP THESE RELATIONSHIPS, UH, TO REALLY, UM, BE ABLE TO GROW THE PROGRAM WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I DON'T THINK WE DO ENOUGH, UH, WITH OUR SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING A CORE STAFF, AN ANALYST, UM, SOME, AN OFFICER THAT [04:15:01] HAS THIS PASSION AND SHARES THAT DESIRE TO, TO GROW THE PROGRAM AND CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY, I THINK WOULD ONLY HELP THAT. SO, I, I, I, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S ROOM TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR, UH, PRIVATE CONTRACTORS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY BRING IN A, A TEAM IN-HOUSE THAT CAN REALLY HELP WITH THAT VISION. 'CAUSE UH, I, THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY HERE WITH THIS PROGRAM, AND IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND, UH, FUNDED PROGRAM. THIS IS OUR METRO PROP A AND PROP C DOLLARS. UH, BUT IT IS A PROGRAM THAT REALLY HAS AN IMPACT. AND WE KNOW, WE KNOW THE INTEREST IS OUT THERE, AND AS, AS MORE BIKES ARE PUT INTO THE SYSTEM, WE GET MORE RIDERSHIP, UH, UH, NUMBERS THAT ARE INCREASED. SO I, I REALLY THINK WE CAN DO BOTH, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI FOR BRINGING THAT UP. AND, UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR LOPEZ FOR YOUR INSIGHT ON THAT. AND COUNCIL MEMBER KU, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. I THINK THAT THIS IS, UM, SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE AS A CITY, UM, ARE VERY PARKING IMPACTED. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK TO PROGRAMS LIKE THESE, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH PEDAL MOVEMENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SO WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE, BEFORE US, I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE, AND I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THIS, I THINK WE ALL KNOW, UH, WHAT A GREAT PARTNER PEDAL MOVEMENT IS, UH, FOR THE CITY, WITH THE CITY, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE NEEDED THEM THE MOST, UM, TO BE OUT THERE AND HELPING US MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY RIDE BIKES AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR US. UM, THEY'VE DONE EXTRAORDINARY WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE VERY WELL KNOWN, UM, NOT ONLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT OF COURSE I AM JUST SO VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. UM, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, I THINK THAT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WHEN SAYING THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR BOTH. SO I AM VERY ENCOURAGED BY THOSE WORDS, AND I'M ENCOURAGED, UM, BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO EXTEND THEM THEIR, UM, CONTRACT WITH US FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AS LONG AS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THIS. 'CAUSE I THINK, YES, WE HAVE, UM, THINGS WE CAN IMPROVE, AND YES, WE, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, SO THAT I THINK CONCLUDES COMMENTS, EXCEPT I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, HARD ASK QUESTION. WELL, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, ON THE, THE QUESTION REGARDING THE, THE, UH, BIKE SHARE PROGRAM. UH, HOW MUCH IS THE CURRENT CONTRACT TODAY? SO THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS ABOUT 2.8 MILLION A YEAR WITH PEDAL MOVEMENT. OKAY. AND INSOURCING IT, YOU CAN DO IT FOR LESS. UH, MY PROPOSAL, UM, I, I HAVE THE, HAVING THE HYBRID, THE CORE STAFF AT 851,000 WITH, UH, CONTRACTOR AND CONSULTING SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT SUPPORT, UH, OF AN ADDITIONAL 1.75 MILLION. I CAN, UM, MY, IN MY PROPOSAL, WE CAN RUN THE PROGRAM FOR 2.6 MILLION. SO AT A SAVINGS OF $200,000, THAT CAN THEN, THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS CAN THEN BE PUT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE IT. UH, MEMBERS PLEASE VOTE ON RECEIVING, FILING. THE BUDGET HEARING MOTION IS CARRIED. SO CAN WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER 27? PLEASE READ THE ITEM YES. REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION CERTIFYING AND ADOPTING THE 59 10 CHERRY AVENUE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING PROJECT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, MAKING [27. 24-54601 Recommendation to adopt resolution certifying and adopting the 5910 Cherry Avenue Industrial Building Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR-03-23, SCH# 2023100342), making Findings of Fact related thereto and approving a Statement of Overriding Considerations and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP); and       Office or Department:         Suggested Action: ] FINDINGS OF FACT RELATED THERETO AND IMPROVING A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM, AND DECLARE ORDINANCE AND FINDINGS APPROVING THE ZONE CHANGE GENERAL INDUSTRIAL TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IN ORDER TO FACILITATE BETTER CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT NI PLACE TYPE DESIGNATION. READ THE FIRST TIME AND LATER THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL. FINAL READING, DISTRICT NINE. THIS WILL REQUIRE AN OATH. IF I CAN GET THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARING [04:20:01] TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. WILL THOSE TESTIFYING IN THIS ITEM, UM, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU, DO YOU AND EACH OF YOU SOLEMNLY STATE THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU MAY GIVE AND THE CAUSE NOW AND PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW THAT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN SWORN IN. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. UM, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, TAKE IT. WAIT. CITY MANAGER, GRACE YOUNG, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. GREAT, THANK YOU. WE HAVE CHRISTOPHER KOONS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HIS TEAM TO HANDLE THIS ITEM. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, CHAIR AUSTIN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UH, THIS EVENING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 59 10 CHERRY. SO AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLASS, A INDUSTRIAL SPACE IN AN EXISTING INDUSTRIAL PART OF THE CITY. UM, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN CONTEXT? UM, OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE, UH, MAJOR PROJECTS AS WELL AS OTHER SMALLER MINOR PROJECTS IN, UM, WHAT WE'VE REFERRED TO AS NORTH LONG BEACH OR UPTOWN LONG BEACH, UM, THAT HAVE REPLACED OLDER INDUSTRIAL USES WITH NEWER, CLEANER INDUSTRIAL USES. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, THIS AREA, ROUGHLY BOUND BY, UM, CHERRY PARAMOUNT SOUTH, AND ARTESIA, UM, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DATING BACK ALL THE WAY TO 1900, UM, WITH A BIG BOOM IN THE 1920S, BUT BUILD OUT, CONTINUING ALL THE WAY INTO THE EIGHTIES, VARIETY OF INDUSTRIAL, EVERYTHING FROM OIL SERVICES, MANUFACTURING, UM, A LOT OF JOBS, BUT A LOT OF IMPACTS. SO, UM, MORE RECENTLY WE'VE SEEN THOSE, UH, LEGACY BUSINESSES, UM, TRANSITION OUT AND NEW DEVELOPMENT COME IN ITS PLACE. UM, IT'S NEWER, IT'S CLEANER, IT'S STILL JOB RICH AND IT'S POSITIVE FOR THE OVERALL COMMUNITY. UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT FITS INTO THAT LARGER CONTEXT. UM, SO THE CURRENT, UH, ZONING, WHICH IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT TO TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION, IS THE IG ZONE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE GENERAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE. UM, AND THAT'S OUR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE WOULD, UM, PLACE HERE TODAY. UM, BUT THAT IS THE, UM, ZONING HISTORICALLY. UM, SO WHEN WE UPDATED THE GENERAL PLAN ADOPTED THAT IN 2019, UM, IT SET INTO MOTION THIS IDEA OF NEO INDUSTRIAL. NEO INDUSTRIAL MEANS CLEANER. IT MEANS THINGS LIKE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO WAREHOUSING AND, UH, USES THAT, UM, ARE INSIDE AND DON'T HAVE, UM, SMOKE STACKS. IT'S STILL INDUSTRIAL. IT DOESN'T MEAN PARK, IT DOESN'T MEAN OPEN SPACE. IT'S STILL AN OPEN SPACE DESIGNATION, WHICH, UH, WILL BE IMPORTANT TO TONIGHT'S, UH, DISCUSSION. AND THIS SITE IS CLOSE TO, UM, UH, CHERRY AVENUE, WHICH IS A TRUCK ROUTE, WHICH YOU TAKE UP TO ARTESIA TO GET TO THE FREEWAY. UH, SO THIS IS THE EXISTING SITE. UM, TODAY, UH, IT INCLUDED OFFICE SPACE FOR A COMPANY CALLED ATLANTIC RICHFIELD, WHICH WE KNOW TODAY AS ARCO, UH, THE OIL SERVICES COMPANY, UM, AND HAS HAD DIFFERENT USERS OVER THE YEARS. UM, IT ALSO HAD OUTDOOR STORAGE, UM, INCLUDING OF OIL SERVICE EQUIPMENT, UH, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. IT'S ABOUT 14 ACRES. IT'S ON A MAJOR CORRIDOR. AND, UH, ALL EXISTING, UM, USES WILL BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW BUILDING. SO THIS IS THE PROJECT PROPOSAL. THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED A CONCRETE, UH, TILT UP BUILDING, MEANING BIG CONCRETE WALLS ARE MADE OFFSITE AND THEN THEY COME TO THE SITE AND THEN THEY'RE TILTED UP UNTIL THEY'RE UPRIGHT. UM, AND THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION TYPE. UM, IT INCLUDES A, UM, MEZZANINE OFFICE SPACE, UM, AS WELL AS TRUCK DOORS. UM, THIS IS THE SAME QUALITY INDUSTRIAL THAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A PLACE, UM, LIKE DOUGLAS PARK. UM, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS, IS COMING HERE TO, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH. THERE'LL BE LANDSCAPING ALONG THE CORRIDORS AS WELL AS ATTRACTIVE FENCING. UM, HERE'S THE PROJECT VISUALS. UM, AND AGAIN, IT'LL LOOK LIKE, UH, HIGH QUALITY CLASS A INDUSTRIAL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE. UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY ACTED ON THIS PROJECT. SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AESTHETICS, THE DETAILS. IS IT THE RIGHT KIND OF FENCING? IS IT THE WRONG KIND OF FENCING, THE EXACT PLACEMENT OF THE BUILDING. UM, THE CITY COUNCIL IS TASKED WITH THE ZONING CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST, UM, AND THOSE HIGHER LEVEL POLICY ISSUES. SO THE ZONING PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD RESTRICT THE ZONING DOWN FROM THE GENERAL INDUSTRIAL TODAY TO THE MORE RESTRICTIVE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL NON-POLLUTING INDUSTRIAL. IT'S THE ZONE THAT IS AVAILABLE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE ELEMENT, [04:25:01] NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE. UM, AS LAID OUT IN THAT PLAN, IT'S A FLEXIBLE INDUSTRIAL ZONE. SO THIS MAY BE A WAREHOUSE USE. IT COULD ALSO BE A FULFILLMENT USE, WHICH IS A USE BASICALLY WHERE THINGS COME IN ON BIG TRUCKS, BUT GO OUT ON, UM, VANS AND CARS AND COME TO ALL OF OUR HOMES, UH, TO DELIVER THOSE THINGS WE, WE ORDER ONLINE. UM, IT COULD BE, UH, OTHER TYPES OF OFFICE INCLUDING, UM, FINISHING, UM, OR LIGHT MANUFACTURING. WHEN A BUILDING LIKE THIS IS APPROVED, IT THEN TAKES THEM SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR TO GET THROUGH PLAN CHECK, AND THEN ANOTHER YEAR TO TWO YEARS TO BUILD IT. SO THE END USER IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME. UH, THEY'LL GO THROUGH LEASING AND THEY'LL GET AN END USER WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT ALLOWED USES ARE ON THE SITE. SO, UH, THERE'S DIFFERENT FINDINGS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE TO EFFECTUATE THE ZONE CHANGE. UM, THE FIRST IS THAT IT WILL NOT ALY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CHARACTER LIVABILITY OR APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING AREA. UM, IN THIS, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO MAKE THE FINDING BECAUSE THE NEW ZONE IL IS MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE OUTGOING IG ZONE. UM, AND LOOKING NOT JUST AT WHAT'S ON SITE TODAY, BUT WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN ALLOWED UNDER THE PREVIOUS ZONING, UM, THIS IS A MUCH BETTER FIT FOR THE CONTEXT. THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL AREA, BUT THERE ARE RESIDENCES ACROSS THE STREET. UM, IS IT CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE GENERAL PLAN? IT IS, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOUND IT TO BE, AND THIS HELPS, UM, CONTINUE THE PROGRESSION I TALKED ABOUT WITH REPLACING OLDER, MORE POLLUTING USES IN THE AREA WITH NEWER, CLEANER USES. UM, AND IT'S NOT RELATED TO A MOBILE HOME PARK. SO THAT PLANNING DOES NOT APPLY. AN EIR WAS PREPARED FOR THIS PROJECT. A NOTICE OF PREPARATION WENT OUT IN OCTOBER OF 2023. UH, THERE WERE CORRESPONDENCE BOTH ON THE NOP AND LATER IN THE PUBLIC REVIEW. UM, THE CITY DID NOT RECEIVE A TON OF COMMENTS ON THIS PROJECT, BUT WE DID, UH, RESPOND TO, UM, EVERY COMMENT THAT WAS RECEIVED. AND THOSE ARE IN DETAIL ON, IN THE EIR AS WELL AS ON OUR WEBSITE. UM, THERE IS ONE SIGNIFICANT AND UNAVOIDABLE IMPACT RELATED TO THIS PROJECT, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT'S CALLED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED. SO UNDER THE VMT RULES, THE CITY AND THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE COULD HAVE DECLINED TO, UM, QUANTIFY THE TRUCK TRIP RELATED VMT, BECAUSE THAT'S AN OPTIONAL, BUT WE DID IT. WE IFIED THE LENGTH OF THE TRUCK TRIPS. UM, AND THAT DID COME OUT AS SIGNIFICANT. UM, THERE'S NO WAY TO MOVE, YOU KNOW, LOGISTIC CENTERS AND THE MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT CONTROL THAT AS A CITY. UM, SO THAT REMAINS, UH, SIGNIFICANT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MITIGATIONS REDUCED EMPLOYEE TRIPS AND CAR TRIPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT. SO BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, PROCEDURALLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS, PART OF WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO, UH, UH, CONCUR IN THE STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS THAT, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALSO LOOKED AT. SO THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT INVOLVES REPLACING UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS WITH NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDINGS, UM, REDEVELOPS, AN UNDERUTILIZED PARCEL WITH NEW INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, UM, THAT WILL INCREASE EMPLOYMENT, ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S TAX BASE THROUGH PROPERTY TAX AND UTILITY TAX. UM, IT'S A HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT ON A TRUCK ROUTE. IT ALIGNS WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, AND IT WILL, UM, HAVE SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH ARE, UM, $370 MILLION INJECTED INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. UM, 120 CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND A TOTAL PROJECT, UM, VALUE, UM, THROUGH LATER YEARS EXCEEDING $400 MILLION. THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, CURB AND GUTTER WORK, AS WELL AS STREET IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO INTERSECTIONS AND TURN LANES. THERE IS A MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM THIS ASSURES THAT EVERY COMMITMENT MADE TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, EVERY CONDITION OF THE PROJECT IS NOT JUST A COMMITMENT THAT'S MADE ON PAPER, BUT THAT IS FOLLOWED THROUGH, UM, BY ALLISON AND AMY AND THE STAFF, UM, THAT ASSURE, UM, THESE PROJECTS. UH, THROUGH COMPLETION, THE, UM, PROJECT WAS NOTICED TO A THOUSAND FOOT RADIUS AS WELL AS ANYONE THAT HAD ASKED US FOR NOTICE. UM, WE HAD AN INTERESTED PARTY LIST OF OVER 90 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE, UM, CONTACTED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID APPROVE THE ITEM, BUT TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE. THIS PROJECT HAS HAD A LONG AND WINDING ROAD AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT, UH, SOME, UH, COMMUNITY CONCERN AND COMMENTS. SO I WANT TO TALK JUST ABOUT SOME OF THOSE KEY COMMENTS. UM, SO THERE'S BEEN COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROJECTS AND THE LARGER [04:30:01] AREAS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TRUCK TRIPS. SO NO INDUSTRIAL OR REALLY EVEN COMMERCIAL USE EXISTS WITHOUT SOME AMOUNT OF TRUCKING. GOODS CAN'T COME AND GO WITHOUT BEING LOADED ON A TRUCK. UM, AND THE PROPOSED USE WILL BE CLEANER THAN LEGACY INDUSTRIAL USES. AND IT'S SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATE MITIGATIONS AND CONTROLS AT THE COMMUNITY'S REQUEST, A FULL EIR WAS DONE ON THIS PROJECT, UH, ONE SINGLE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES NET BENEFITS, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RESOLVING ALL THE LEGACY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE BROADER AREA. BUT THIS ONE PROJECT WILL INDIVIDUALLY BE BENEFICIAL. UH, THERE HAVE BEEN REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS ON THE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS, EIR DISCUSSIONS, I LEADING THIS DEPARTMENT. I'D LIKE TO GRANT EVERY MEETING REQUEST. I'D LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND WE DID HAVE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS AND WE DID HAVE EIR MEETINGS AND WE DID HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS. BUT LATE IN THE PROJECT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO DO THAT. AND THERE WERE REQUESTS VERY LATE IN THE PROJECT THAT WEREN'T GRANTED. THERE WERE ALSO REQUESTS TO QUOTE UNQUOTE TRANSLATE THE EIR INTO LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE. UM, THERE IS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, WHICH IS A SUMMARY AND IS WRITTEN IN, IN PLAIN ENGLISH. I WISH WE DIDN'T LIVE IN A LITIGIOUS UH, SOCIETY, BUT WE DO. AND I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO AT THE END OF THE PROCESS, UM, WITHOUT CREATING RISK EXPOSURE TO THE CITY, WHICH I WOULD NOT BE DOING MY JOB IF I LET THAT HAPPEN. SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF COMMENTS ON AIR QUALITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS. WE GAVE NOT JUST THE INFORMATION, BUT THE MODEL TO THE A QMD. THEY DID NOT OBJECT. WE USED ACCEPTED METHODS AND PROCESS. THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO MODEL AIR QUALITY. UM, BUT THE EIR USED A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. UM, AND THEN WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VMT ISSUE. UM, THIS WILL BE, UH, SERVICED BY TRUCKS AS ANY, UH, COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USE WOULD BE. SO BASED ON THAT AND THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT AND ITS CONTEXT WITHIN, UH, LARGER, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH LONG BEACH, UM, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT A RESOLUTION, UH, CERTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL, AND THEN ALSO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AND ASSOCIATED FINDINGS TO CHANGE THE ZONE FROM THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, GENERAL INDUSTRIAL TO THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IL ZONE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE PROJECT AND TO CREATE BETTER CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT DOC, YOU WANNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? YEAH, LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH. UH, LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE, UH, ALEX ZAMORA, DANIEL OSBORNE. RAY LAWSON, ZACH. OH, DID YOU WANNA ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FIRST OR, I'M SORRY. DID YOU WANNA ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FIRST OR JUST HAVE THEM BE PART OF OH, THE APPLICANT IS GONNA SPEAK. MY BAD. NO WORRIES. THE PLANNING COMM, THE FORMER PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMES OUT. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THAT. GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS EMMI ALAD. I AM WITH LINK. I'M THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE PROJECT AND A PROUD LONG BEACH RESIDENT. AND I QUICKLY WANNA EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF OUR PROJECT ZONE CHANGE AMENDMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. WITH THIS ZONE CHANGE, WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT WE'LL BRING. I PROVEN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO LIFE. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AND WE SEE THIS PROJECT AS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. WE STRONG, STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND INVESTMENT WILL PRO, WILL BRING TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE BY JUST SAYING THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF, AS WELL AS THE GREAT COMMUNITY OF NORTH LONG BEACH FOR LETTING US PRESENT OUR PROJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANK YOU. AND SO NOW, I GUESS I DON'T, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. THANK YOU. SO NOW PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL, UH, CALL UP. UH, YOU GET THREE MINUTES. YOU DON'T NEED ALL OF YOUR THREE MINUTES. I DON'T NEED IT. YOU OKAY? IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. ALEX ZAMORA, I'M GONNA DO EVERY, EVERYONE A FAVOR THERE. YOU O OSBORNE, RAY LAWSON, UH, ZACH, RADERS RASTER, VERONICA VASQUEZ, JUAN DELARA, AND BRENDA COMPOST. [04:35:01] THERE'S SEVEN PEOPLE LINED UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME IS ALEX. I'M A MEMBER OF LAUNA, THE LABOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA. UM, IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE'RE HERE, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPER. UM, THESE JOBS EQUATE TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR UNION. UH, MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE ON JOBS RIGHT NOW WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE. UM, MEN AND WOMEN ON THE OUTER WORK LIST, HOPING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP, HOPEFULLY CLOSE TO HOME FOR THEM TO GO TO WORK. UM, OUR, OUR MEMBERS ARE TRAINED IN STATE ACCREDITED TRAINING FACILITIES, WHICH ENSURE THAT, UH, ALL THE BUILDING IS DONE AT THE VERY TOP SAFETY STANDARDS. UM, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD. A LOT OF THINGS THAT I HEARD HERE WAS CLEAN SEVERAL TIMES, MET THE REQUIREMENTS, MET THE STANDARDS. SO I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND WE CAN GET TO WORK, WORK, UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME. GOT IT. ONE MINUTE. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS RAY LAWSON. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE, UH, CARPENTERS UNION, UH, RIGHT HERE LOCALLY IN, UH, LONG BEACH. UM, WE JUST BEEN ON THIS, UH, UH, MARATHON WITH, UH, LINK LOGISTICS. UH, WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS WITH 'EM FOR, UH, ALMOST 18 MONTHS. SO, UH, TO WAIT THIS LONG IS, IS IT'S NO BIG DEAL. WE CAN WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO, TO GET THIS APPROVED. UM, WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UH, THE DEVELOPER HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE. THEY'VE BEEN, UH, CONSIDERATE IN WITH THE E-I-E-I-R, UM, HOW THEY EVEN SUBMITTED IT AND HOW THEY EVEN SENT IT OUT AND LET EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT IT, ABOUT THE ENV ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, REPORT AND EVERYTHING. SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND WE RESPECT THAT. AND ALSO WITH, UM, JUST WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY WITH THEM ALSO GETTING THIS ALL PREPARED AND APPROVED. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THE CARPENTERS DO. WE HAD A LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, BUT THEY HAD TO, UM, GO TO WORK. A LOT OF 'EM LIVE HERE LOCALLY, AND THEY GET OFF WORK AND THEY COME HERE JUST TO SHOW, UM, THAT, AS MY BROTHER SAID BEFORE ME, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WORK. THEY WANT TO HAVE WORK RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. SO, UM, WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT, UM, THE ZONING, GETTING THE ZONING CHANGE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A WAREHOUSE IN THAT AREA. UM, ONCE AGAIN, THE DEVELOPER IS THINKING ABOUT THAT AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THAT'S ALSO AN ADVANTAGE FOR US. TALK ABOUT TRUCK TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH. UM, HAVING THE PEOPLE LIVE RIGHT HERE AND WORK RIGHT HERE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT, THAT'LL CUT DOWN ON POLLUTION ALSO. SO THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN, UH, AS MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD. SO WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE GOT A RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPER THAT WILL HIRE A RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTOR AND BE ABLE TO KEEP JOBS RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. UH, WE RESPECT THAT AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UH, SO WE CAN SUPPORT THE DEVELOPER IN THIS PROJECT. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK JOB. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE A TRANSLATOR. OKAY. I'M SORRY. HOLD ON. THE OTHER INTERPRETER WAS HERE AND LEFT. WE WERE INTERPRETING IN THE MEDIA ROOM. OKAY. MY NAME IS VERONICA VASQUEZ. HI EVERYONE. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND SEEKING YOUR YES, BUT TO SUPPORT IT TOO. I THINK BRINGING MORE GOOD PAYING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWTH TO LONG BEACH IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I WANT TO SEE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN LONG BEACH AND THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. [04:40:01] AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF EXACTLY THAT. I HOPE THAT MORE GREAT PROJECTS COME TO THE AREA AND BOOST OUR ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY. PLEASE VOTE YESTERDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GRACIA. HELLO, MY NAME IS, UH, JUAN DE LARA AND I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW SUPPORT OF THE 59 CHERRY PROJECT AND ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT IT. IT IS WITH A YES VOTE TONIGHT. LONG BEACH NEEDS MORE PROJECTS THAT WILL BRING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM. THIS PROJECT WILL DO JUST THAT, WHICH WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY AND HELP THE CITY GROW. I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL BE A POSITIVE ADDITION TO THE CITY. I HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. I WANNA TRY TO DO IT IN ENGLISH BECAUSE THAT HARD TO HER TO RUN . OKAY. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRENDA CAMPOS AND I CAME TODAY TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT, UH, 15 900 AND CHERRY. UH, AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO PROJECT IN THE SUPPORT. I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF, BUT I HEAR A LOT OF STUFF TOO. I THINK THIS IS THE GOOD PROJECT FOR THIS CITY. THIS CITY IS SO PRETTY BY CHERRY AND ARTISIA ALL THIS PLACE BEFORE THEY HAVE HORSES AND EVERYTHING. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S THE TIME TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT AND THE GROW BECAUSE IT, THE WAY THAT WE SHOW, UH, THE LITTLE PEOPLE WHO'S GROWING THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE CITY CHANGE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. THEY NEED SUPPORT. WE NEED SUPPORT. THE PEOPLE WHO'S LOOKING FOR JOB NEED SUPPORT IN THIS PROJECT TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED ABOUT THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW, WE THINKING IN HOUSING, WE THINKING IN JOBS, WE THINKING IN THE LITTLES, THE GOOD PLACE TO, TO WORK, TO WALK. I THINK THIS IS, UM, MY NIGHT TO ASK YOU, PLEASE TO BOTH JUST, AND THIS PROJECT 59 CHERRY. AND, UH, I THINK IT'S, UM, LIKE A PRESENT FOR US IN CHRISTMAS. IF YOU SAY YES, WE'LL SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED IT. PLEASE VOTE YES. IF NOT, I COME BACK TO ASK YOU AGAIN. , THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND GOODNIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LIKE TO DITCH MY TALKING POINTS SOMETIMES TOO, MAN. I DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THAT. WHAT CAN I SAY? IT'S LIKE A PRESENT CHRISTMAS MAN. HOLD ON. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, ACTING MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PASTOR ZACH. I'M WITH CREED LA. WE REPRESENT SOME TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF LOCAL LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE'RE HERE TO DO THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. SO I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. WE'RE SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. UM, WE WANNA ASK SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU APPROVE THE ZONE CHANGE THAT YOU CERTIFY THE EIR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE CONCUR WITH CITY STAFF, UH, AND THAT YOU FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO APPROVE. UH, ESSENTIALLY JUST IRONICALLY, EVERYTHING THAT BRENDA SAID, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY NEEDS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE ASK IS 100% IN LINE WITH WHAT CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS. SO FOR THAT REASON, UH, I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO DRIVE HOME SAFE AFTER YOU APPROVE THIS PROJECT TONIGHT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR DILIGENCE. GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, WE'LL BRING IT BACK AND TURN IT OVER TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OTI, RICK OTI. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. UM, UH, AUSTIN. UM, YEAH, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK, UM, OUR CITY STAFF, UM, PUT IT WELL, UM, AND PUT THE PROJECT IN ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND IN THE CONTEXT THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN NORTH LONG BEACH, PARTICULARLY TALKING ABOUT THE ZONING. UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU, UM, WHO MAY NOT BE KNOWLEDGEABLE YEARS AGO, WAS IT SIX YEARS AGO NOW? UM, UH, DIRECTOR KUNTZ AND MY, MY SON WERE BABIES AT AN UP. WHAT THESE, WHAT WE USED TO DO WERE THESE UP PLAN MEETINGS, UM, WHICH WERE ALL THE REZONING INITIATIVES UP IN NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, THIS, UM, WHAT WE'RE BRINGING THIS, THIS ITEM IS CONNECTED TO WHAT EVENTUALLY WILL BE, UM, A PLAN PHASE TWO, WHICH IS ALL AROUND REZONING OUR, UM, INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS TO MAKE THOSE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE EXPECT, UH, IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND WHAT WE DESERVE IN NORTH LONG BEACH AROUND CLEANER, UM, TECHNOLOGY, CLEANER INDUSTRIAL USES, TYPES OF, OF, UM, INDUSTRIAL USES, RIGHT? THAT, THAT, THAT DON'T, THAT DON'T HARM OUR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? AND THAT IS THE GOAL OF WHERE WE'RE GOING, UM, FOR, AND SO AT THAT, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER. UM, AND I KNOW THE FOLKS WHO CAME AND SPOKE, UM, TONIGHT OR IN FAVOR, I WAS LIKE, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS FOLKS OUT THERE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE THAT. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IS ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. UM, ONE THING I WANNA LIFT UP AND, UH, UM, DIRECTOR KUN TO MENTION THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE DI AT THE COMMUNITY'S REQUEST, THE [04:45:01] APPLICANT DID A FULL EIR, UM, AND THAT EIR INCLUDED THAT VMT ASSESSMENT, WHICH WAS STILL OPTIONAL, RIGHT? AND SO, AGAIN, UM, THEY CHOSE THE, THE APPLICANT AND CITY STAFF CHOSE TO DO THAT VMT STUDY, UM, THAT SHOWED THAT THERE WERE, THERE WERE IMPACTS, RIGHT? AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULDN'T POTENTIALLY MITIGATE, RIGHT? BUT WE NOW KNOW THAT, UM, AS PART OF THE PROJECT, AND SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH DETERMINING, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY. UM, AND AS THE, AS DIRECTOR K**T MENTIONED, THERE ARE POTENTIAL TYPES OF MITIGATIONS AND THINGS, AND DEPENDING ON WHO THE APPLICANT, UM, IS, UM, SOME OF THOSE VMT, UM, SOME OF THOSE, THOSE IMPACTS MAY NOT EVEN BE REALIZED, RIGHT? SO I THINK WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS PART OF THE PROJECT. UM, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SO THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME YEARS, RIGHT? AND SO OVER THE DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THE PROJECT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THERE'S BEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK AT, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION, RIGHT? SO I WANT PEOPLE TO ALSO TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT THERE HAS BEEN THE ABILITY FOR, UM, RESIDENTS TO COME AND ENGAGE WITH CITY STAFF PLANNING COMMISSION, COUNCIL OFFICE, UM, AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ET CETERA. A COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO, TO TO CLARIFY WITH YOU, UM, DIRECTOR KUNZ, AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO SOME EMAILS THAT WE GOT TODAY. UM, AND SO PART OF OUR, UH, AS PART OF THE POTENTIAL ACTION TONIGHT, UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A ZONE CHANGE FROM, UM, THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES TO THE LIGHTER INDUSTRIAL. AND SO I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING WITH PEOPLE, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE, UM, MOVING, WHILE WE'RE POTENTIALLY MOVING FORWARD, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE'RE ALSO NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? GONNA BE COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THE NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE THAT IS COMING AS PART OF YOU PLAN PHASE TWO. AND SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE, RIGHT? AS TO WHY WE'RE NOT APPLYING THE NEW PLACE TYPE TO THIS EXISTING PROJECT, RIGHT? YEAH. AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF GIVE PEOPLE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMELINE THERE, I THINK IT'S IN TWO WEEKS, BUT LIKE YOU, I FEEL LIKE I'M HERE EVERY WEEK, SO THEY ALL RUN TOGETHER. UM, SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, LIKE YOU ALLUDED TO FOR SIX YEARS, UH, ON UPDATING ALL THE ZONING IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR RESIDENTS, UM, CAN EXPECT THE, THE PROTECTIONS AND THE STANDARDS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, FIND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND REALLY UPGRADING THE STANDARDS. UM, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT WITH AVAILABLE TOOLS IN THE MEANTIME, RIGHT? LIKE, WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR ALL OF THAT ZONING WORK TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO UPHOLD HIGHER STANDARDS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR APPLICANTS. UM, AND THIS PROJECT, UH, CAME IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. UM, AND EVEN THOUGH ON THE GROUND THE ZONING IS IG, WHICH THEY COULD HAVE DONE, YOU KNOW, A PROJECT WITH A SMOKESTACK, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THE BEST PROJECT THAT THAT COULD BE. AND THAT PROJECT, UM, WOULD EXIST UNDER THE IL RESTRICTED ZONE, WHICH IS A ZONE CHANGE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. UM, WE'VE HEARD SOME DIFFERENT, UM, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC MAY NOT TONIGHT, BUT IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS THAT IT SHOULD WAIT. UM, THE NEW ZONES SHOULD APPLY. WELL, THOSE ZONES HAVEN'T BEEN APPROVED BY THIS BODY, SO WE CAN'T APPLY THEM TO A PROJECT THAT WAS FILED THREE YEARS AGO. BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TAKE A LOOK. SO WE DID TAKE A LOOK. THIS PROJECT WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER THOSE PENDING ZONES. UH, THE YOU PLAN NEO INDUSTRIAL ZONES, IT DOES FURTHER THE INTENT OF ALL OF THOSE PLANS, BUT WE ALSO, AARON MAKES SURE THAT I FOLLOW THE RULES. WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, APPLY THE LAWS THAT EXISTED ON THE DAY THAT THE PROJECT WAS FILED. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE USING THE IL ZONE IN THIS INSTANCE. UM, BUT IT DOES ACTUALLY MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE NEW ZONES THAT WE'VE WRITTEN THAT WE'RE COMING BACK IN A COUPLE WEEKS TO PRESENT TO YOU. SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY HERE, THERE WAS NO, UH, CLOAK AND DAGGER HERE. THERE WAS NO, UH, INTENT ON THE CITY SIDE, RIGHT? TO DELAY THE PROJECT SO THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO FALL UNDER THE KNEE INDUSTRIAL, WHETHER IT DID OR DIDN'T RIGHT. FALL UNDER THOSE NEW ZONE TYPES. IT STILL FITS THE NEO, NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE AND IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR, WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN NINTH, IN THE NINTH DISTRICT AND NORTH LONG BEACH HAS SAID THAT THEY WANT, UM, IN THOSE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS. YES. OKAY. THAT WAS ALL MY COMMENTS. MEMBER SORROW. YES. UH, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT, BUT I HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO, UM, WHAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE, AND DOES THAT INCLUDE INCREASING GREEN, WHILE THAT AREA COULDN'T BE ZONED FOR OPEN SPACE, ARE THERE ANY, UM, COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WOULD IN THE SURROUNDING AREA TO MITIGATE THE AIR QUALITY? SO THERE WERE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE DEVELOPERS. SO THOSE DON'T, UH, FLOW DIRECTLY TO THE CITY, BUT I KNOW THERE'S, UM, SOME CONTRIBUTIONS AND DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENING THERE ON THE CITY SIDE. UM, THIS [04:50:01] PROJECT, UM, IS MAKING, UM, STREET IMPROVEMENTS. SO THAT'S THE DIRECT KIND OF IMPROVEMENT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO PAYING IMPACT FEES, LIKE ALL DEVELOPMENTS. SO THAT DOES INCLUDE, UM, IMPACT FEES THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS FUTURE OPEN SPACE PROJECTS, AS WELL AS IMPACT FEES, UM, TOWARDS POLICE AND FIRE, WHERE WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL NEED FOR, UM, UPGRADING OUR FIRE FACILITIES OVER TIME. SO THIS PROJECT, UM, WILL BE ABLE TO FORWARD THOSE GOALS, ALTHOUGH NOT DIRECTLY, UM, CREATING OPEN SPACE. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THIS IS A, THIS IS A, WE CREATE GREAT COMMUNITIES NO MATTER WHAT SORT OF BLIND TO THE FISCAL IMPACTS, BUT THIS IS A FISCAL POSITIVE, VERY POSITIVE PROJECT. SO INDUSTRIAL USERS, NOT ONLY IS IT NEW, UM, PROPERTY TAX, AND THIS IS A, A PROJECT WITH A PRETTY HIGH VALUATION, UM, BUT THEY USE A LOT OF, UM, ENERGY AND THEY USE WATER, AND THERE ARE UTILITY USER TAXES ON ALL OF THOSE. SO THIS IS A PRETTY BENEFICIAL PROJECT, UM, TO THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE. AND THOSE, THOSE FUNDS WILL BE REINVESTED IN MEETING, UM, THE NEEDS OF THE, THE NINTH DISTRICT. AND IF I COULD ADD ONE THING TO THAT, UM, ONSITE, WE'RE ALSO GETTING OVER A HUNDRED NEW TREES, 24 INCH BOX TREES, UH, PRIMARILY ALONG THE FRONT FACADE, ALONG CHERRY AS WELL AS ON THE NORTHERN PROPERTY LINE. UM, AND THAT WAS DONE IN PART THANKS TO THE DRAFT ZONES, UM, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DRAFT NEW NEO INDUSTRIAL ZONES AND THE, UM, LANDSCAPING, ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING SUGGESTIONS MADE. AND ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED ON THIS PROJECT, THE APPLICANT WORKED WITH US TO ADD THOSE, UM, ADDITIONAL ONSITE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP, UM, ADDRESS THAT ONSITE, UH, SORT OF OPEN SPACE AND GREENERY TO BE ADDED TO WHAT'S THERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SO I, I HAVE, UH, I GUESS A FINAL QUESTION. UM, SO IF WE DID NOT APPROVE, UH, ZONING CHANGE, RIGHT? UM, WHAT TYPE OF USES WOULD, COULD, COULD, COULD BE THERE CURRENTLY? YEAH, SO THIS USE WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED UNDER THE IG ZONE, BUT WE WANTED TO BE MORE RESTRICTIVE AND, AND MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS. BUT IF IT REMAINED IG, UM, YOU COULD DO WAREHOUSING USES, BUT YOU COULD ALSO DO OUTDOOR STORAGE, YOU COULD DO OIL SERVICE EQUIPMENT, UH, YOU COULD DO HEAVY MANUFACTURING. UM, NOT THIS PROJECT, BUT A DIFFERENT PROJECT THAT WE DID AT ATLANTIC IN ARTESIA. IT WAS AN ASPHALT PLANT, WHICH IS VERY SMELLY AND NOXIOUS AND WAS WAY TOO CLOSE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES FOR A USE LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE AWAY FROM THOSE USES TOWARDS CLEANER USES. GOOD. AND I, I, I JUST WANTED YOU TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE, THE LIGHT USE NEO INDUSTRIAL IS, IS THE, THE FUTURE, RIGHT? THANK YOU. UH, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, MEMBERS, ANYONE ELSE? WE'VE DONE PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. LET'S VOTE CHAIR. WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS VOTE IN TWO PARTS OVER HERE. HI. OKAY. SO IF WE CAN DO, UM, THE FIRST VOTE, WHICH IS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL, DID MY NOTES SAY THAT FIRST VOTE MOTION IS CARRIED, AND THEN THE SECOND VOTE IS THAT ORDINANCE FOR THE ZONE CHANGE. OKAY. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY. SO WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY DONE TONIGHT. WE HAVEN'T STARTED THE MEETING YET. HALFWAY THROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCIL MEETING. SO NOW WE'LL START THE COUNCIL MEETING. ALL THE HEARINGS ARE OUT OF THE WAY. UM, ITEM NUMBER 28, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FOR MAYOR RICHARDSON. RECOMMENDATION REQUEST CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING EVERY 8TH OF SEPTEMBER AS 9 0 8 DAY, A CITYWIDE [28. 24-54678 Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution officially recognizing every 8th of September as “908 Day,” a citywide day of celebration of pride in the City of Long Beach.       Office or Department: Rex Richardson, Mayor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] DAY OF CELEBRATION OF PRIDE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO THANK YOU. UM, I'M GOING TO, UM, JUST, JUST KICK THINGS OFF. SINCE 2014, LONG BEACH, UH, NATIVE JOHN GRASSI HAS, UH, HAD A LOCAL PUBLICATION CALLED THE LONG BEACH 9 0 8 MAGAZINE. THEY'VE CHAMPION. SEPTEMBER 8TH IS THE DAY OF PRIDE FOR OUR CITY. THIS DATE HOLDS A SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE ALL OF LONG BEACH ZIP ZIP CODES START WITH 9 0 8. UM, THE LONG BEACH 9 0 8 MAGAZINE [04:55:01] ITSELF IS DEDICATED TO HIGHLIGHTING ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, TEAMS, AND RESIDENTS. THIS REQUEST SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THAT INFORMAL RECOGNI RECOGNITION TO A FORMAL RESOLUTION WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, SOLIDIFYING SEPTEMBER 8TH AS A DAY TO CELEBRATE OUR UNIQUE IDENTITY AND COLLECTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE HOPE THIS DAY WILL BECOME A STANDING TRADITION THAT MOTIVATES RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO SHOW THEIR PRIDE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH BY SHOPPING AND DINING AT THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL LONG BEACH BUSINESSES, WEARING LONG BEACH THEMED ATTIRE TO SCHOOL AND WORK AS A SYMBOL OF THEIR CITY SPIRIT, AND PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO SHOWCASE THEIR LONG BEACH PRIDE. UH, THIS IS A NOTE FROM MAYOR, BY THE WAY. THIS IS A, A ITEM THAT IS BROUGHT FORTH BY MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, I'LL NOTE NOW, TURN IT OVER TO STAFF FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. AND I THANK YOU, SUMMARIZED THAT WELL. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS WAS AN IDEA BROUGHT BY THE GROUP AND, UH, I THINK IT'S A NOVEL IDEA, SO IT'S A, A CHANCE TO KIND OF BRAND OURSELVES AS 9 0 8. AND, AND, AND REMEMBER, UH, SEPTEMBER 8TH IS 9 0 8 DAY, AND, UH, THEY'D PROBABLY HAVE, WELL, UM, DO A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING IT THEMSELVES AND, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. ALRIGHT, SO, UH, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME GUESTS. PLEASE, UH, COME FORWARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, AMAZING. WHAT THREE ITEMS CAN DO TO, UH, PUSH YOU BACK, YOU KNOW, , UH, BIG HOUSE HERE. UM, I'M GONNA KIND OF JUST SHORTEN THIS 'CAUSE YOU KIND OF SUMMARIZED MY SPEECH A LITTLE BIT. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT OUR MOTTO HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UH, LIFE IS GREAT IN THE 9 0 8. OVER THE YEARS, UH, WE'VE BEEN PUBLISHING OUR MAGAZINE FOR, UH, 13 YEARS NOW. WE'VE ASKED THOUSANDS OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS, WHY IS LIFE GREAT IN THE 9 0 8 FOR YOU? WITH NO CONTEST? A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAY ONE OF TWO THINGS. THEIR ANSWER IS EITHER AND CAN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR CITY'S AMAZING DIVERSITY OR THEIR DRAW TOWARDS LONG BEACH'S SMALL TOWN FEEL WITHIN A BIG CITY. I BELIEVE 9 0 8 DAY REPRESENTS ALL OF THAT. VERY FEW CITIES IN AMERICA ARE BIG ENOUGH TO SHARE THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF A ZIP CODE. WE ALL SHARE 9 0 8 IN THIS BIG CITY. YET IT'S THE CHARACTER, SMALL TOWN FEEL AND DIVERSITY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ZIP CODE THAT TRULY MAKES THE CITY GREAT. 9 0 8 DAYS A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE THOSE UNDENIABLE TRUTHS FOR EVERY RESIDENT IN THE CITY. BY SHOWING PRIDE IN LIVING, LEARNING, AND WORKING IN THE 9 0 8 BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO WEAR LONG BEACH THEMED TIRE EACH SEPTEMBER 8TH, WE CAN SHOWCASE THE CITYWIDE CONNECTION THAT WE ALL SHARED TO LONG BEACH CULTURE. AND BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SHOP AND DINE WITHIN THEIR OWN ZIP CODE ON, ON EACH 9 0 8 DAY, WE CAN CELEBRATE THE, THE DIVERSITY AND SMALL TOWN FEEL THAT MAKES OUR BIG CITY UNIQUE. I'M EXCITED FOR THE CHANCE THAT OUR MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL 9 0 8 DAY CELEBRATION TO GROW TO EACH CORNER OF THE CITY, TAKE ON NEW HEIGHTS, AND CONTINUE TO REMIND ALL PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH THAT TRULY LIFE IS GREAT IN THE 9 0 8. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, TAKE IT BACK. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THANK YOU JOHN FOR COMING OUT. UM, I COULD HAVE GUESSED WHAT THOSE TWO THINGS WERE. WE KNOW THAT FOLKS LIKE ME WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE HAVE THAT DEEP SENSE OF PRIDE IN OUR CITY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO COME HERE TO GO TO LONG BEACH STATE OR WHO MOVE HERE OR IMMIGRATE HERE ALSO SHARE THAT SAME SENSE OF HOME THAT WE HAVE. UM, WHENEVER I TRAVEL, I SEE SOMEONE WITH LONG BEACH GEAR, WHETHER IT WAS IN IRELAND, A LITTLE KID WITH A DIRT BAGS JERSEY ON. UM, I WAS DRESSED UP IN WASHINGTON STATE ON VACATION. I SAW BOTH A LONG BEACH STATE AND A JOJO'S T-SHIRT. UM, SO WE KNOW THAT THAT BIG TOWN, SMALL TOWN FEEL IS HERE AND WE'RE EVERYWHERE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WAYS THAT OUR COUNCIL OFFICES AND MY COUNCIL OFFICE ESPECIALLY, I WILL EXTEND THE INVITATION, CAN SUPPORT THE WORK TO UPLIFT, UM, THE 9 0 8 DAY. UM, AND FROM THINGS LIKE THE MONDAY TRIVIA TO THE, TO THE MAGAZINE AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO TO, UH, GIVE US A LAUGH AND GIVE US A CHUCKLE AND REMIND US WHY WE LOVE IT HERE, EVEN ON THE HARD DAYS. UM, I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YES, THANK YOU FOR, UM, WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THIS ITEM TO COME FORWARD IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FORMALLY RECOGNIZE 9 0 8 DAY, YOU KNOW, WONDER WHY IT DIDN'T END UP BEING OUR ZIP CODE AS WELL. I MEAN, OUR AREA CODE, BUT I GUESS MAYBE THERE'S A, IS THERE A 5 6 2 GROUP? WELL, WELL THERE, THERE ARE, BUT ALSO THERE'S NOT A MAY 62ND. AND ALSO, UH, , UM, THANK ALSO 5 62 IS SHARED WITH OTHER CITIES BESIDES LONG BEACH. I'VE ALWAYS FELT 9 0 8 WAS SPECIAL 'CAUSE NO ONE ELSE BESIDES LONG BEACH HAS THAT 9 0 8. SEE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. THAT'S WHY I HAD TO ASK. UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR REPRESENTING THE 9 0 8 AND I THINK IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE TAIL END IS [05:00:01] REALLY THE STORY ABOUT WHO LONG BEACH IS, IS THAT YOU COULD BE, YOU KNOW, WHICH REPRESENTS THE DIVERSITY OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY. I MEAN, FROM THE BEACH TOWN TO MIDTOWN TO UPTOWN, RIGHT? I MEAN, I THINK THAT EVERY TIME I MEET SOMEBODY FROM LONG BEACH WHEN I AM, YOU KNOW, TRAVELING, UM, THERE IS THIS KIND OF SENSE OF PRIDE IN WHO WE ARE. I MEAN, BECAUSE OF HOW AMAZING OUR AIRPORT IS, THAT'S THE FIRST KIND OF ENCOUNTER PEOPLE HAVE SOMETIMES WHEN THEY COME INTO OUR CITY TO, I THINK ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO REALLY GET OUT THERE. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS, UH, AWESOME. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER? SUPER. UH, THANK YOU. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT, UH, JOHN IS A FOREST DISTRICT RESIDENT, I THINK LIKE MYSELF, LIFELONG FOURTH DISTRICT RESIDENT. AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR STAYING LATE TONIGHT, JOHN, UH, WELCOME TO MY WORLD. UM, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU ALL A KUDOS JUST FOR YOUR PUBLICATION ITSELF. IT WAS UNIQUE AT THE TIME YOU CREATED IT, AND THE LONGEVITY IS, IS JUST OUTSTANDING. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. I LOVE THE, THE GENERIC QUALITY OF THE 9 0 8. IT'S KINDA LIKE GO FORTH. IT DOESN'T MENTION MY NAME OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT JUST CELEBRATES THE CITY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND JOHN, PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AS A CRESCENDO ON THE EVENING. THIS IS THE HIGH POINT . THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE, UH, CAST YOUR VOTES. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. KEEP, KEEP IT DOWN OUT THERE. KEEP IT DOWN. WE STILL HAVE BUSINESS TO DO. . UH, ITEM NUMBER 29, REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH OCEAN BLUE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR PROVIDING AS [29. 24-54613 Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc., of Long Beach, CA, for providing as-needed hazardous waste removal services, on the same terms and conditions afforded to the City of Pasadena, CA, in an annual amount of $2,945,000, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $589,000, for a total annual contract amount not to exceed $3,534,000, until the City of Pasadena, CA contract expires on September 28, 2026, with the option to renew for as long as the City of Pasadena, CA contract is in effect, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NEEDED HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL SERVICE FOR A TOTAL ANNUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3,534,000 CITYWIDE. OKAY, WE HAD A MOTION A SECOND. UM, I WANNA TAKE IT TO STAFF THOUGH. STAFF REPORT. SURE. UH, THIS IS A COMPETITIVELY BID CONTRACT WITH OCEAN BLUE. UH, WE CAN GIVE A, A QUICK UPDATE ON THE CONTRACT IF YOU'D LIKE. CAN I JUST SAY GO BEACH AND THEN NO, I THOUGHT WE WERE ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE WITH LONG BEACH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, MAYOR FOR THE NIGHT AND CITY COUNCIL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A REQUEST TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY NECESSARY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS WITH OCEAN BLUE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PROCUREMENT DIVISION RESEARCH PROCUREMENT OPTIONS FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES AND DISCOVERED OTHER AGENCIES HAS HAD COM COMPLETED AN OPEN, FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. THE CITY REVIEWED THE CITY OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA OPTIONS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PASADENA AND OCEAN BLUE, UM, FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES PROVIDED THE BEST, BEST VALUE TO THE CITY. UM, I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. UH, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER OTI. UH, ONLY COMMENT IS, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NEED HAZARDOUS WASTE SERVICES IN THE PAST, UH, THANK YOU. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME. ANY COMMENT? COUNCIL MEMBER KERR? HEARING NONE, UH, WE, WE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO, TO SIT ALL NIGHT AND NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WEIGH IN, RIGHT? SO PLEASE CA UH, ANY PUBLIC, BUT YOU COMMENT ON THIS. DIDN'T THINK YOU FOR MY PATIENCE. , ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, PLEASE GO VOTE MEMBERS. MOTION IS CARRIED. OKAY, OUR, IS THIS OUR LAST ITEM? ITEM NUMBER 30, YES. REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR [30. 24-54608 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, including any necessary amendments, with the Federal Aviation Administration, to accept the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Airports Fiscal Year 2023 Supplemental Discretionary Grant funds, for the acquisition of two electric maintenance vehicles, two free-standing Level 2 solar-tree chargers, and one stationary Level 3 charger in an amount not to exceed $1,969,355. (Districts 4, 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THE ACQUISITION OF TWO ELECTRIC MAINTENANCE VEHICLES. TWO FREESTANDING LEVEL TWO SOLAR TREE CHARGERS AND ONE STATIONARY LEVEL THREE CHARGER IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,969,355 DISTRICT'S FOUR AND FIVE. OKAY. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NONE. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTES. SORRY, JUAN . MOTION [05:05:01] IS CARRIED. OKAY. THAT ENDS OUR BUSINESS FOR THE EVENING. UM, WE WILL GO TO NOW GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE. THERE IS, ARE THREE SPEAKERS [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] SIGNED UP? I ONLY SEE ONE IN THE AUDIENCE. DAVE SHUKLA. GOOD EVENING. UM, I, OH, PASSING SOLAR CHARGERS. UH, CUTTING THINGS UP BY ZIP CODE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE MY WORK HERE'S BEING DONE FOR ME. UM, SINCE IT'S NOT BEEN AGENDA, I GUESS I CAN TALK ABOUT IT. UH, MY NAME'S DAVE CHULO. I'M FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT. AND, UH, UM, WHAT AM I GONNA SAY? I HAVE ALL THIS TIME. I, UH, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO START BY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, UH, A WEEK AGO THERE WAS THIS, UH, PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM, UH, IN TONGA WHERE A LOT OF COUNTRIES ARE DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIELD OLYMPIC TEAMS IN 2028 BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. SO I, YOU KNOW, BEING WHO I AM, ALL THE THINGS I'VE SAID OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, SUPPOSE IT'S INCUMBENT ON ME TO START THERE NOW, IN AS MUCH AS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THIS CITY IS IN A POSITION AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO APPROVE A BUDGET. UH, THAT KIND OF STARTS, UH, FULFILLING THE KIND OF FIVE YEAR PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THE OLYMPICS. UH, I'D LIKE YOU TO AT LEAST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE LEFT WITH AFTERWARDS. UH, IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE BEING OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BEING THE MOST BUSINESS FRIENDLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH NOW THAT WE ARE, WE'VE GOT 9 0 8 DAY, WE CAN, WE CAN LITERALLY TRACK, UH, THROUGH ZIP CODES. UM, I MEAN, WE COULD ANYWAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN NOW THAT'S THE, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR DAY, RIGHT? ON THAT DAY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY. SO, UM, YEAH. UH, GIVEN NOT ONLY YOUR HISTORICAL LEGACY, BUT, AND I SAY YOURS BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT DEGREE IS IT MY CITY? BUT, UH, TO THE DEGREE THAT, UH, YOU HAVE AN ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING NOT ONLY ABOUT YOUR HISTORICAL LEGACY, BUT ALSO, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY KIND OF TURN THE CORNER ON THE GROWTH AND EMISSIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING. UH, I, I REALLY DO, UH, IMPLORE THIS CITY COUNCIL TO THINK LONG AND HARD NOW BEFORE EVENTS CAN OVERTAKE YOU, UH, ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPLEMENT SB 1137 AND START CLOSING DOWN EVERY OIL. WELL, THAT'S NOT PROFITABLE, EVERYONE. THAT'S GONNA BE A LIABILITY FOR THE CITY. START THINKING ABOUT HOW OVERALL TO START PUSHING THAT OUT OF THE CITY'S BUDGETARY LANDSCAPE. UM, I WISH THERE WAS A PLACE TYPE SPECIFICALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC CONVERSION, UH, THAT WE WERE PO IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DO. I MEAN, WE NEVER REALLY GOT A PIECE DIVIDEND OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, BUT NOW THAT IT, WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE YEARS LEFT, I, I IMPLORE YOU TO, UH, NOT ONLY TALK TO THE CITY STAFF, BUT YOUR OWN STAFF AND YOUR OWN RESIDENTS AND, UH, NOT JUST, UH, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA GONNA COME AND MAKE US SOME MONEY FOR A LITTLE, LITTLE WHILE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE HERE AFTERWARDS. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THAT ENDS PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, NOW WE WILL TAKE IT BACK FOR ANY CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL. [ANNOUNCEMENTS] NO. SEEING NONE. NO. THERE WE ARE ADJOURNED. GOODNIGHT . FIRST FRIDAY ON FRIDAY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.