Sep 17, 2024 City Council - Revised (trimmed)

IF WE CAN, UM, TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENT OF THOSE, UM, WHO WE BELIEVE NEED AN EXTRA ENERGY OF LOVE OUT THERE.

AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE RISE TO SALUTE OUR FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

ALRIGHT, SO TONIGHT WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS, UH, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP AN ITEM, WHICH IS KIND OF A PRESENTATION ON NATIONAL BAND BOOKS WEEK.

THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

WE'LL HEAR A REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

SO LET'S START OFF WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTATION, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, LED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS YANGA AND ZAJA.

[ HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION]

ITS SECOND ANNUAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WITH OVER 40 EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING MANAGERS, UM, OFFICERS, ANALYSTS AND INTERNS.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER ANG FOR, UH, ALWAYS BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND INVITING ME TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

VERY PROUD TO BRING TO, TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

FEL, UM, FROM LEO LATINO EMPLOYEES ORGANIZATION HERE FROM THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, WILL BE DOING A PRESENTATION FOR US IF THEY'RE HERE.

AND THEN PARK, UH, UH, I FORGOT THE NAME OF IT ALREADY.

UH, HISPANIC FTA.

THERE YOU GO.

IN SANTA FE, UH, IN SANTA FE, UH, SILVERADO PARK ON SANTA FE, UH, ON SEPTEMBER 28TH.

SO PLEASE, YOU'RE WILLING TO JOIN US THERE.

AND I WANTED TO EXTEND THE APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO COME ON EARLIER.

WE DID HAVE SOME ENTERTAIN PLAN FOR YOU BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING, BUT WE TOOK TOO LONG, SO I APOLOGIES FOR THAT.

BUT LEO, GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT.

HELLO AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SUSIE GONZALEZ AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH LATINO EMPLOYEES ORGANIZATION, ALSO KNOWN AS LEO.

I ALSO SERVE AS A HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIVISION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

ON BEHALF OF LEO, WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL ON NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND HIGHLIGHT THE EXCITING WORK THAT LEO HAS DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE.

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS OBSERVED EVERY YEAR FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH TO MARK THE INDEPENDENCE OF SEVERAL LATIN AMERICAN

[00:05:01]

COUNTRIES.

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH ALSO HIGHLIGHTS COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE NAME OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, HISTORY, PRESERVATION, POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP, ARTS AND CULTURE AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

THIS YEAR WE WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE THIS MONTH IS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED, HISPANIC AND LATINO ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.

AS OUR IDENTITIES ARE SO DIVERSE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, SO IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LATINO.

LEO ACKNOWLEDGES, EMBRACES HOW PEOPLE CHOOSE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT IS HISPANIC, LATINO, LATINA, LATINO OR LATINX.

NONE OF IT IS WRONG AS THIS MONTH IS REALLY DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, SUCH AS OUR FELLOW AFRO-LATINOS, LATINOS, AND OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICAN ORIGIN AND DESCENT MAKE UP 43.9% OF LONG BEACH.

AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LEO IS ONE WAY ON HOW WE CAN BEST REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL FROM ITS FOUNDING IN 2010 TO NOW, LEO EMBRACES CHANGE AND WELCOMES ALL COM, ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO JOIN NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND.

WE HAVE A DEDICATED AVIS ADVISORY BOARD MADE UP OF SUPPORTIVE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

LEO REGULARLY PARTNERS WITH OUR AFFINITY GROUPS, AND YOU'LL SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION.

LEO IS MADE UP OF 16 BOARD MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING CENTER CITY MANAGER'S, OFFICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

JUST TO NAME A FEW, LEO PRIORITIZES LEO PRIORITIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP, FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THESE CORE PRIORITIES HAVE HELPED US ACCOMPLISH MANY GOALS THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING NEW HEIGHTS AGAIN THIS YEAR.

NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR VICE PRESIDENT JOY RA, TO SHARE SOME OF OUR NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

GOOD JOB, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JOY CONTRERAS AND I SERVE AS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AT LONG BEACH UTILITIES.

SINCE WE LAST PRESENTED HERE AT THE CIVIC CHAMBERS, LEO HAS BEEN BUSY.

WE KICKED OFF THE FALL SEASON WITH OUR ANNUAL VIA LOS AT CITY HALL, WHICH IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION TO HONOR OUR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED LAST NOVEMBER.

THANKS TO CASTLE WOMAN, MARY ZHA AND HER TEAM, LEO SERVED AS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY GRAND MARSHALS FOR THE DIA DE LOS MARTOS PARADE.

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 2ND.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE, AND WE DIDN'T STOP THERE.

WE HOSTED OUR THIRD ANNUAL CRIO 5K TO RAISE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR LONG BEACH STUDENTS AND SURPASS OUR 10,000 GOAL, $10,000 GOAL BY HITTING $13,000.

AND I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

YOURS TRULY DRESSED UP AS A CHURRO IN ORDER TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THANK YOU, SUSIE, FOR NOT PUTTING THOSE PICTURES UP THERE.

, WE LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ, MARIO AND GLORIA, UH, GLORIA CORDERO FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

THERE'S SUPPORT, IN ADDITION TO OUR HUNDREDS OF DONORS, ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUR LONG BEACH YOUTH.

THIS YEAR WE MADE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN AT THE 2024 MANAGEMENT RETREAT AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE CELEBRATION WEEK BY RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS SO EMPLOYEES CAN BE PART OF A SUPPORTIVE AND MAY I ADD FUN NETWORK.

LASTLY, WE RECENTLY HELD AN AFFINITY MIXER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLACK EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, NATIVE AMERICAN EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, AND THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AT ROXANNE'S.

IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT OF 70 PLUS EMPLOYEES.

AND SHOUT OUT TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER JORGE GODINES, FOR ORGANIZING SUCH A FUN EVENT.

NOW, JORGE WILL SPEAK TO OUR REMAINING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THANK YOU, JOY.

UH, MY NAME IS JORGE GODES AND I SERVE AS THE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER, UM, AS WELL AS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CO-CHAIR WITH LEO.

UM, AS WE MENTIONED, UH, WE PROVIDED, UH, SCHOLARSHIPS TO EIGHT IMPRESSIVE LONG BEACH YOUTH WHO ENROLLED AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED AS WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT CHECKS AND RECOGNIZE OUR YOUTH WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ATTENDANCE AT THE PORTS.

UH, LONG BEACH HARBOR VIEW TERRACE, THANK YOU TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THIS SUMMER IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE OFFICE, UH, OFFICE OF MAYOR REX RICHARDSON.

THE CITY HOSTED A DODGERS NIGHT.

WE HAD OVER 300 EMPLOYEES CHEERING ON THE DODGERS, AND WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR LONG BEACH TRANSIT FOR THE SUPPORT IN GETTING US TO THE GAME SAFELY.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO MISS THE GAME.

I'M A HUGE DODGER FAN.

UM, I WAS AWAY, BUT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GAME NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW THEY WON, SO HOPEFULLY THEY WIN AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

UM, LEO ALSO KICKED OFF

[00:10:01]

LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME UPCOMING EVENTS.

YOU CAN CATCH US AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC FOR ARTS WITH OUR ARTS AND CRAFTS TABLE THIS SATURDAY.

UM, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME UPCOMING LUNCH AND LEARNS AS WELL.

UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE.

OUR ANNUAL TRUDEAU 5K RUN IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 16TH, AND WE HOPE TO SURPASS OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR A THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

UH, WE ENCOURAGE ALL TO SIGN UP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OF OUR CONTINUED EVENTS.

AND I'D LIKE TO END WITH A QUOTE BY CESA CHAVEZ.

PRESERVATION OF ONE'S OWN CULTURE DOES NOT REQUIRE CONTEMPT OR DISRESPECT FOR OTHER CULTURES.

THAT BEING SAID, LEO IS HERE TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK THAT CAME BEFORE US AND IS HERE TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITIES TO REACH EVEN NEWER HEIGHTS.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRE OUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU ALL.

ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU JORGE AND, AND THE ENTIRE LEO GROUP.

UH, SINCE YOU ALL HAVE FORMED, YOU'VE MADE A REAL IMPACT ON THE CITY ALREADY AND THE CHURRO 5K AND, UH, DODGER NIGHT.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE BIG SUCCESSES.

I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO TO PARTNER WITH YOU, UH, IN THE, IN THESE, YOU KNOW, UPCOMING YEARS, YEARS AHEAD ON MORE GREAT PROGRAMMING.

UH, UH, AND, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL THE AFFINITY GROUPS PARTNERING.

UH, HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

WE'RE NOW GONNA TAKE A PHOTO.

SO WE TOOK THE ROPE DOWN.

FEEL FREE TO COME JOIN US.

WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO.

IF YOU ARE LATINO EMPLOYEE, IF YOU'RE A LATINO, YOU WANT TO COME UP.

IF YOU ARE MARRIED FOR LATINO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP.

THAT'S ME.

REX.

THAT'S YOU.

THAT'S WHY HE IS GOING ALREADY.

ALREADY.

THE PRESIDENT IS SUSIE.

SHE'S ROBERTO.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE THING TO ADD BEFORE WE MOVE ON? YES.

BE BEFORE I, UH, WE CLOSE THIS UP FOR THIS YEAR.

TWO POINTS.

FIRST, I WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE IN 2010, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO NOTE THAT I WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE, AT THAT POINT WAS HISPANIC LEADERS ASSOCIATION AND ANYMORE INTO NOW WHAT IS CALLED NEO.

SECONDLY, WHEN YOU MET, WHEN, UH, WHEN THE MENTION WAS ABOUT, UH, LATINX, LATINO, HISPANIC, NOT ONE WORD, WHICH I DID GRAB MYSELF, CHICANO CHICANO POWER.

I JUST THOUGHT I MENTIONED THAT.

BUT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR MEETING TODAY.

THANK FOR CELEBRATION AND LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE ALL THE CELEBRATIONS COMING UP, UH, THIS MONTH, NOT ONLY IN SEVEN, BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE.

UH, POLICE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US.

GREAT FOOD, GREAT FOOD OUT THERE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

GOT A WE FOR THE GREAT SENATOR ROBERTO BINA GONZALEZ.

[00:15:01]

OH, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, OKAY.

SO NOW WE'LL PROCEED TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.

KIARI MALFORMATION AWARENESS MONTH.

COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN.

I JUST WANNA GIVE MY SALUTE TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

AND, UH,

[ CHIARI MALFORMATION AWARENESS MONTH]

UH, THIS IS NOT A CELEBRATION, BUT THIS IS AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

ALL I'M A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT OCCASION AS WE RECOGNIZE AND OBSERVE KIARI MALFORMATION AWARENESS MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UH, RAISING AWARENESS, AWARENESS ABOUT KIARI MALFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT THOSE AFFECTED RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DESERVE.

LAST MONTH, UH, THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE DESIGNATED SEPTEMBER, 2024 AS CHIARI MALFORMATION AWARENESS MONTH THROUGHOUT, UM, THROUGH SENATE CONCURRENCE RESOLUTION NUMBER 15, AND THE SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY, UM, AND OUR STATE LEGISLATORS UNDERSCORES OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO, UH, ARE DEALING WITH THIS CONDITION BOTH AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

TODAY, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE, UH, CAROLYN CALDWELL, PRESIDENT OF AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DIGNITY HEALTH, OVERSEEING ST.

MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER HERE, WHO SHED SOME LIGHT ON KIARI MALFORMATION.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM, UH, MY GOOD FRIEND NIKA MONTE, WHO WILL BRAVELY SHARE HER PERSONAL JOURNEY LIVING WITH THIS DREADFUL NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION.

UH, LET'S, UM, LET'S, UH, TURN IT OVER TO, TO CAROLYN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

PLEASE SHED SOME LIGHT EVENING, AND FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, AND GOOD EVENING TO THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN FOR THIS INVITATION TO BE HERE AND TO BRING THIS PROCLAMATION BEFORE THIS CITY TONIGHT.

AS THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, I AM CAROLYN CALDWELL, HOSPITAL PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ST.

MARY MEDICAL CENTER.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

I THINK I'M CONTROLLING THE SLIDES HERE.

SO, CARING MALFORMATION IS A SERIOUS NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER.

MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE AFFECTED, CHARACTERIZED BY THE LOWER PART OF THE BRAIN BEING TOO BIG FOR THE SKULL, CAUSING IT TO SQUEEZE DOWN INTO THE OPENING AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE SEVERE HEAD AND NECK PAIN, VERTA MUSCLE WEAKNESS, BALANCE PROBLEMS, BLURRED VISION, AND MORE COMPARED TO MORE WELL-KNOWN NEUROLOGICAL, NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

CARING MALFORMATION IS LESS UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND SOME HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

I INTERVIEWED FOUR OF OUR PHYSICIANS AT ST.

MARY MEDICAL CENTER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CARRY MALE FORMATION.

I INTERVIEWED ONE OF OUR PEDIATRICIANS, OUR NEURO, ONE OF OUR NEUROLOGIST, A NEUROSURGEON, AND ONE OF OUR INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS.

EACH PHYSICIAN SAID THAT ON AVERAGE THEY DO SEE ONE TO TWO PATIENTS PER MONTH, AND THEY PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS.

LUCKILY, IT'S NOT SEEN AS MUCH AS IT USED TO BE SINCE FOLATE PERINATAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY.

I WAS TALKING TO DOCTORS, SO I EXCUSE THE, UH, MEDICAL TERMS SYMPTOMS ARE USUALLY HEADACHES.

SOME CASES ARE FOUND BY PERFORMING IN AN MRI ON THE BRAIN FOR SOME OTHER REASON.

SOME OF THE COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE HEADACHES, NECK PAIN, DIZZINESS, BALANCE PROBLEMS, AND COORDINATION ISSUES.

THE EXACT CAUSE IS SOMETIMES, OFTEN UNKNOWN, BUT CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH GENETIC FACTORS AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES.

UNFORTUNATELY, DIAGNOSIS TYPICALLY INVOLVES IMAGING STUDIES SUCH AS AN MRI TO VISUALIZE THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD.

IT IS CAN BOTH BE FOUND IN CHILDREN'S AND ADULTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE SYMPTOMS CAN VARY WIDELY AMONG INDIVIDUALS AND THEY MAY WORSEN OVER TIME.

TREATMENT MAY INCLUDE MEDICATIONS FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT OR SURGERY TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE IT IS STILL MISUNDERSTOOD IN A LOT OF CASES WHEN PATIENTS ARE PRESENTING WITH HEADACHES, NECK PAINS, BY DOING SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS

[00:20:01]

SNEEZING OR COUGHING, THEY'RE OFTEN BEING TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT'S AN INCIDENTAL FINDING, USUALLY BY PERFORMING AN MRI.

SO THEREFORE, INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF S MALFORMATION CAN HELP IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT.

ALSO, SUPPORT GROUPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC SYMPTOMS CAN IMPACT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPREHENSIVE CARE, THAT ALSO INCLUDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT SHOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT A NORMAL BRAIN AND SKULL LOOK LIKE VERSUS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THISFOR.

THIS MALFORMATION SERUM MALFORMATION MAY BE LESS RECOGNIZED IN OTHER NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, BUT ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS PROFOUND BY RAISING AWARENESS TODAY.

AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN, FOR DOING THIS.

WE TAKE A CRUCIAL STEP FORWARD ENSURING THAT THOSE AFFECTED RECEIVE THE RESEARCH, THE SUPPORT, AND THE TREATMENT THAT THEY DESERVE.

SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU NIKIA MONTEZ SO THAT SHE CAN SHARE HER STORY.

WELCOME.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS UNIKA MONTEZ, BUT I ALSO GO BY NIKA.

I WAS BORN WITH ARNOLD CHIARI MALFORMATION TYPE ONE, I HAVE TO PUT MY GLASSES ON, SORRY.

IN 2017, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CM AFTER I EXPERIENCED LOSS FEELING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY, AND I HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY BRAIN SURGERY.

YES, I AM A TWO TIME BRAIN SURGERY SURVIVOR.

GROWING UP, I HAD ALWAYS KNOWN SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME.

I WOULD EXPRESS MY CONCERNS TO MY DOCTORS, BUT I WAS DISMISSED AND TOLD IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO LAUGH, COUGH, SNEEZE, YELL OR BEND OVER AND EXPERIENCE THE TYPE OF HEADACHE I WAS DESCRIBING.

BUT I DID, AND I WOULD LEAVE MY APPOINTMENT FRUSTRATED.

AND UNRELIEVED PEOPLE WITH CHIARI ARE OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED BECAUSE MOST PEDIATRICIANS AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS NEVER HEARD OF CHIARI MALFORMATION BEFORE.

I AM HERE TODAY TO GIVE A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS OUT THERE AND TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT MATCHES THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIPTION BE CHECKED.

THE NEXT SLIDE HAS MANY RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARNOLD CHIARI MALFORMATION, TYPE ONE.

I AM ALSO THE PROUD AUTHOR OF A CHILDREN'S BOOK TITLED CHIARI PRINCESS WARRIOR, FORWARD BY DR.

AARON R CUTLER, MD.

THIS IS MY BOOK.

WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AL AUSTIN AND MY FRIEND FOR INTRODUCING THE PROCLAMATION TONIGHT TO RECEIVE, TO RECOGNIZE CHIARI MALFORMATION AWARENESS MONTH ON THIS DAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024.

I WROTE MY BOOK BASED ON MY LIFE AND TO HELP PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND DOCTORS RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS SO A CHILD MAY SEEK ADEQUATE CARE.

MY BOOK HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED IN NUMEROUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON GETTING MY BOOK IN ALL THE DISTRICTS AND LIBRARY, ON AND ON LIBRARY SHELVES ACROSS THE STATE TO SPREAD AWARENESS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, I

[00:25:01]

YOUR COMMITMENT TO BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS CONDITION IS TRULY APPRECIATED AND I, AND WILL HELP SHINE LIGHT ON THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THOSE LIVING WITH ARNOLD CHIARI MALFORMATION.

TYPE ONE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MAYOR REX RICHARDSON AND THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN SPREADING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS CONDITION.

ALRIGHT, REX, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU IKA FOR, UM, SHARING YOUR, HAVING THE COURAGE TO SHARE YOUR JOURNEY, YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, UH, DREADFUL CONDITION.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK CAROLYN FOR, UM, SHARING YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WISDOM, UH, ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND TODAY'S PROCLAMATION, I BELIEVE IS A, AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD, UH, TOWARD ENSURING THAT, UH, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, UH, IMPACTED WHAT CARY ME MALFORMATION FEEL, SEEN, HEARD, AND SUPPORTED.

SO BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING UP MS. MONTES AND HER FAMILY, AS WELL AS ALLOW THE MAYOR AND AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UH, TAKE A PHOTO, UM, PRO PROCLAIMING THIS DAY.

AND THIS MONTH IS KERRY MALFORMATION MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WE'LL NOW SET UP FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, LED BY CITY MANAGER MOCA.

IN A DEPARTMENT WHERE EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP, AND COLLABORATION ARE ALL CORE VALUES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UH, SO TODAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

SO I GET TO READ THEIR BIOS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE TIME TO HONOR OUR AMAZING EMPLOYEES.

UH, A LOT OF THEM BRING FRIENDS AND FAMILY, UH, AND WE ENCOURAGE THAT.

AND SO, UH, WE'LL READ THE BIOS, WE'LL BRING THEM UP, AND IF THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WANTS TO COME JOIN FOR A PHOTO, WE WOULD ENJOY THAT.

SO THE FIRST IS FROM OUR CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, MEGAN KING, DEPUTY CITY AUDITOR.

[00:30:07]

MEGAN NOT ONLY EMBODIES THESE VALUES, BUT HELPS OUR OFFICE COMMUNICATE SUCH VALUES THROUGH AUDIT REPORTS, ENSURING LONG BEACH RESIDENTS ARE WELL-INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

HER ABILITIES AND PROFESSIONALISM ARE CRITICAL TO TURNING DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX AUDIT ISSUES INTO CLEAR AND CONCISE INTELLIGIBLE, UH, UM, COMMUNICATION.

AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION, MEGAN IS TASKED WITH COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIVERSE AUDIENCE, ALL WHILE BALANCING THE MESSAGING WITH THE UNDERLYING AUDIT PROCESS AND RESULTS.

WHETHER IT'S DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS LIBRARY OR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, EXPLAINING COMPLEX FINANCIAL AND FISCAL POLICIES, OR FOSTERING MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH RESIDENTS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, MEGAN HAS ALWAYS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP BROADEN, UH, THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE REACH, UH, MEGAN ASSIST THE OFFICE IN, UH, IN MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY,

[ EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH]

ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC, UH, TO WHOM WE SERVE.

UH, HER DEDICATION, PASSION, AND COMMITMENT, UH, TO THE CITY.

AUDITOR'S OFFICE MISSION AND CORE VALUE VALUES HAS ENHANCED THE REPUTATION OF THE OFFICE WHILE MAKING THE CITY BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MEGAN AS A PART OF OUR TEAM.

WELCOME UP MEGAN, AND WE'LL BRING UP OUR CITY AUDITOR.

THANKS FOR NEXT UP, UH, FROM OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT IS RICHARD SALAS, OUR WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR.

RICHARD SALAS IS AN EXEMPLARY EMPLOYEE WITH ALMOST 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, HE HAS EARNED THE VERY HIGHEST CERTIFICATION LEVEL FIVE FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD IN BOTH WATER TREATMENT AND AS A WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR REQUIRING BOTH EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.

RICHARD IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH WHEN IT COMES TO PROPER WATER TREATMENT, AND CONTINUES HIS MISSION, UH, TO BE, UH, AND CONSIDERS HIS MISSION TO BE MOTIVATING AND TRAINING UPCOMING TREATMENT OPERATORS BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS HE'S LEARNED DURING HIS LONG CAREER.

RICHARD IS VERY FLEXIBLE, CONSIDERING NO TASK TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL FOR HIM TO UNDERTAKE AND WILLING TO EXPERTLY HANDLE WHATEVER IS ASSIGNED TO HIM.

HE COMPLETES ALL OF HIS WORK WITH GREAT CARE AND DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY END PRODUCT, THE SAFE AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER ENJOYED BY EVERY RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH.

WELCOME UP, RICHARD, PLEASE.

THERE YOU GO.

1, 2, 3.

NEXT UP, UH, FOR THE JULY EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH, WE HAVE OUR, UH, PUBLIC, OR WE HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE, UH, RICHARD MEJIA, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

SO RICHARD MEJIA GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND IN SERVICE TO THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.

IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, HE'S TAKEN ON AN INFORMAL LEADERSHIP ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, HELPING TO LEAD SIGNIFICANT DEPARTMENT PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES SUCH AS ACADEMY GRADUATION, THE JOIN LBPD, RECRUITMENT, COMMERCIAL AND ONGOING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, SEVERAL PROJECTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND IDENTIFYING AREAS FOR GROWTH.

IN OUR FORTHCOMING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, HE HAS HELPED TRAIN OUR COLLATERAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS, AS WELL AS THREE PUBLIC, UH, AFFAIRS ASSISTANCE.

HE CONSTANTLY MAKES HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO BE A RESOURCE TO HIS PEERS AND SUPERVISOR.

HE ALWAYS HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR PERSONNEL AND OUR COMMUNITY IN MIND, AND IS EXTREMELY THOUGHTFUL IN HIS APPROACH.

HE CONSTANTLY BRINGS NEW IDEAS FOR CONSIDERATION AND IS WELL RESPECTED BY LBPD LITER LEADERSHIP.

SO PLEASE, UH, WELCOME UP RICHARD MEJIA HERE.

I LOVE THE COMMERCIAL.

OKAY, ALSO FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

LET'S HONOR KEVIN MATTER.

POLICE OFFICER OFFICER MATTER JOINED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A RECRUIT IN 2015 AND HAS SERVED THE CITY FOR OVER NINE YEARS IN HIS CURRENT ROLE AS FINANCE AND FACILITIES DIVISION, FLEET AND FIELD TECHNOLOGY DETAIL.

OFFICER MATTER IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FLEET COORDINATOR AND IS TASKED WITH ENSURING THAT OVER

[00:35:01]

600 VEHICLE FLEET IS MANAGED EFFICIENTLY.

THIS JOB REQUIRES HIM TO MAINTAIN INVENTORY, LIAISE WITH FLEET SERVICES BUREAU TO TRIAGE VEHICLE ISSUES, AND TO RECOMMEND PATROL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, CONFIGURATIONS FOR NEW VEHICLE DEPLOYMENTS, HIS EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO HIS WORK, COUPLED WITH HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH AND WILLINGNESS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS TRULY SETS HIM APART.

HE ALSO SUPPORTS PATROL OFFICERS WITH TRAINING AND TECH SUPPORT FOR FIELD TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BODY-WORN CAMERAS, RADIOS, INVESTIGATE, UM, INVESTIGATIVE EQUIPMENT AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY DATABASE ACCESS COORDINATION OFFICER MATTER'S.

PRIMARY DUTY IN THIS ROLE IS TO PROVIDE INTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE TO POLICE OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES.

AND IN DOING SO, HE ENSURES THAT OFFICERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHETHER IT'S TACKLING CHALLENGING PROJECTS WITH ENTHUSIASM OR SUPPORTING HIS TEAM MEMBERS WITH PATIENCE AND EXPERTISE.

OFFICER MATTER CONSTANTLY DEMONSTRATES OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT, HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ABILITY TO INSPIRE OTHERS, MAKE HIM A VALUE ASSET TO OUR TEAM.

LET'S WELCOME UP OFFICER MATTER.

1, 2, 3.

SO TODAY WE GET TO HONOR FOR AUGUST OUR OFFICE OF OUR CITY CLERK, MATTHEW BNA.

MATTHEW, ALSO KNOWN AS MATT, WAS SELECTED BY HIS COWORKERS.

FOR THIS RECOGNITION, HIS COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE HIM AS RELIABLE A PROBLEM SOLVER, AND AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP.

MATT STARTED HIS PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY WITH THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK IN 2017 AS AN ELECTION INTERN.

HIS RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED RESEARCHING AND PROCESSING BALLOTS AND RESOLVING VOTER REGISTRATION ISSUES IN THE COUNTY'S VOTER DATABASE.

MATT CONTINUED WITH THE DEPARTMENT AFTER THE ELECTION AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE GAINING EXPERIENCE AND EX UNDERSTANDING OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WHILE COMPLETING HIS BACHELOR DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE.

HIS INTELLIGENCE AND INTEGRITY PROMPTED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO OFFER HIM A FULL-TIME POSITION IN DECEMBER OF 2022 AS A CITY CLERK ASSISTANT IN MAY OF 2023, HE SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST IN THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

ONE MEETING WHERE HE PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SYSTEM USERS, TROUBLESHOOTS TECHNICAL GLITCHES, AND IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE TRAINING TEAM.

MOREOVER, DUE TO HIS INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF ONE MEETING, HE WAS WELL DESERVING OF HIS PROMOTION TO CITY CLERK SPECIALIST IN 2023.

MATT HAS THE BEST COMBINATION OF TALENT, SKILLS, AND ATTITUDE MAKING HIM A VALUABLE MEMBER OF A SMALL BUT MIGHTY CITY CLERK TEAM.

THANK OUR LAST TWO ARE FROM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

WELCOME UP, MATT.

WE'LL GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO STOP WORKING FOR TWO MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, CONGRATS ALSO FOR AUGUST.

WE HAVE DIANA LANG FROM OUR ENERGY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

SO DIANA IS A PRODUCTION OPERATIONS COORDINATOR IN THE OIL OPERATIONS BUREAU OF ENERGY RESOURCES.

IN HER ROLE, DIANE ENSURES THE ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED AND NO ADVERSE CONDITIONS ARE CAUSED BY THE CITY'S OIL OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS MANAGING SUBSIDENCE TO ENSURE STABLE SURFACE ELEVATIONS.

UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, SHE'S ALSO ONE OF THE KEY PUBLIC FACES, PUBLIC FACING REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CITY'S OIL OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE PUBLIC.

DIANA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACTS ON OIL OPERATIONS DURING THE TWO YEARS SHE'S WORKED FOR THE CITY.

SHE'S BROUGHT A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, UH, WORKING IN VARIOUS ROLES DURING HER EXTENSIVE CAREER AND HAS EFFECTIVELY UTILIZED THOSE SKILLS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY AREAS THAT SHE MANAGES.

SOME OF DIANA'S MORE NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN ASSISTING THE CITY'S FIELD CONTRACTOR WITH NEW EMPLOYEE TRAINING, SPEARHEADING THE PRG AVENUE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION, UPDATING CRITICAL PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES, EVALUATION OF SYNERGISTIC FUTURE LAND TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, AND ASSISTING WITH PORT OF LONG BEACH PROJECT MEETINGS.

HER RECENT WORK, WHICH BROUGHT CLARITY AND RESOLUTION TO A DECADES OLD ISSUE PLAGUING THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION'S AGING INVENTORY PROCESS WAS PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY.

DIANA'S ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AND NOT ONLY A GREAT ASSET FOR OPERATIONS DIVISION, BUT ALSO FOR THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS BUREAU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO DIANA FOR BEING A SLIGHT SELECTED AS AUGUST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR ENERGY RESOURCES.

[00:40:04]

SO, UH, LET'S WELCOME UP FROM CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, OSIRIS LUGO.

OSIRIS JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE TEAM IN JUNE OF 2022 TO SUPPORT RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES FOR CLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE IN THE RECRUITMENT OUTREACH DIVISION, SHE COORDINATES THE BILINGUAL SKILL PAY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, CREATES AND DISTRIBUTES RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSISTS WITH VARIOUS PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS.

OSIRUS IS AN INVALUABLE TEAM MEMBER WHO SUPPORTS THE FRONT DESK OPERATIONS WHEN NEEDED.

SHE'S ALSO SUPPORTED THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES DIVISION IN FINDING RAIDERS WITH AND WITH EXAMS. SHE HAS A PASSION FOR ASSISTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND CONSTANTLY PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE, MAKING SURE SHE INTERACTS WITH EVERYONE THAT SHE INTERACTS IS FEELING VALUED AND APPRECIATED.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

OSIRIS, RIGHT? TWO, BY THE WAY, BY THE WAY, TOM.

THAT'S OO OH, OKAY.

SHE TURNED AROUND.

NEXT UP, UM, IS, UH, FROM PUBLIC WORKS.

UH, WE HAVE SEAN ASFORD EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.

SEAN EFFORD SERVES AS AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND IS CURRENTLY ACTING AS SUPERVISOR FOR A POTHOLE CREW FROM JULY 15TH, 2024 TO AUGUST 15TH, 2024.

UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE CREW WORKED SIX DAYS A WEEK AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 3063 POTHOLE REPAIRS.

WOO.

THERE TO GO, MAN.

LOVE IT.

THAT IS A NEW BUREAU RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POTHOLES FILLED BY A SINGLE CREW.

WITHIN A FOUR WEEK PERIOD, SEAN'S DEDICATION, HARD WORK, AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF GREATLY INFLUENCED HIS COLLEAGUES AND MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DRIVERS ON THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH.

LET'S THANKS JOHN.

SMILE, MAN.

BEST WORK.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO SHOWCASE THE AMAZING WORK THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES DO ON YOUR BEHALF.

SO THANKS SO MUCH AND, UH, WE'LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH, OUR DEDICATED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

WELL, THERE GOES HALF THE ROOM, .

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA JUST GET, GET INTO A MOMENT BEFORE WE PULL THE NEXT ITEM SO WE CAN RESET.

MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION? I KNOW YOU'VE WAITING.

I WAS HOPING YOU'D ASK.

I'M WAITING.

UH, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT.

THERE IS NO REPORT TONIGHT.

NO REPORT.

RIVETING, RIVETING.

JUST GONNA GIVE IT A MOMENT.

RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 23 NATIONAL BAND BOOKS WEEK.

UH, LET'S READ ITEM 23, PLEASE.

ITEM 23 IS COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

[23. 24-54881 Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution recognizing September 22-28, 2024, as National Banned Books Week in the City of Long Beach and proclaim every National Banned Books Week as organized by the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library in the City of Long Beach thereafter. Office or Department: Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

ATTORNEY TO DRAFT RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 22ND THROUGH 28, 20 24, AS NATIONAL BANDED BOOKS WEEK IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND PROCLAIM EVERY NATIONAL BANDIT BOOKS WEEK AS ORGANIZED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

ALRIGHT, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A PRESENTATION.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCILWOMAN KERR.

SEEK AND EXPRESS IDEAS, EVEN WHEN THOSE IDEAS MAY BE CHALLENGING.

UM, I WANNA START BY THANKING THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH LIBRARY FOR PARTNERING WITH MY OFFICE AGAIN, TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL AND TO HAVE LONG BEACH RECOGNIZE BAND BOOK WEEK IN PERPETUITY, AS NOTED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

NEXT WEEK, SEPTEMBER 22ND THROUGH 28TH IS NATIONAL BAND BOOKS WEEKS AS DESIGNATED BY THE FRIENDS IN THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AS STATED IN THE ITEM.

AND AS MANY KNOW, BAND BOOKS WEEK IS AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE HARMS OF CENSORSHIP AND THE LIMITING OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

IT BEGAN IN 1982 IN RESPONSE TO A SUDDEN SURGE OF CHALLENGES BROUGHT AGAINST BOOKS IN LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, AND BOOKSTORES FOR THE LAST FOUR DECADES.

THIS WEEK HAS UNITED MEMBERS OF THE BOOK COMMUNITY IN SHARED SUPPORT OF THE FREEDOM TO

[00:45:01]

OUR OWN LOCAL NONPROFIT, THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY, WERE FOUNDED WITH A CORE GOAL OF GUARDING AGAINST CENSORSHIP.

THE FRIENDS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING LAST YEAR'S RECOGNITION OF BAND BOOKS WEEKS TO LONG BEACH, AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR ADVOCACY AND EVERGREEN DEDICATION TO THE FREEDOM TO ACCESS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND IDEAS THROUGH THIS RECOGNITION.

THOUGH, THIS RECOGNITION STARTED OVER 40 YEARS AGO, IT IS TRULY JUST AS RELEVANT TODAY, IF NOT MORE SO.

LIBRARY STAFF ACROSS THE NATION ARE FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS TO BAN BOOKS.

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S OFFICE FOR THE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 4,000 UNIQUE TITLES WERE TARGETED FOR REMOVAL FROM SCHOOLS IN LIBRARIES IN 2023.

THIS RECORD BREAKING NUMBER BEATS THE PREVIOUS HIGH FROM 2022, WHEN AROUND 2,500 BOOKS WERE TARGETED.

47% OF THE TITLES TARGETED REPRESENT THE VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE L-G-B-T-Q AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN LONG BEACH.

WE TAKE PRIDE IN BEING A WELCOMING, ACCEPTING PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, SEXUALITIES, AND LIFESTYLES PARTICIPATING IN NATIONAL BAND BOOK WEEKS REAFFIRMS TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE STAND FOR ACCEPTANCE, DIVERSITY, AND FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

UH, THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY HAVE ORGANIZED THIS YEAR'S BAND BOOK WEEK IN LONG BEACH UNDER THE THEME, FREE TO READ AND FREE TO THINK.

AND I'D ASK IF THE STAFF COULD PUT THAT FLYER UP ON THE SCREEN.

UM, TO HIGHLIGHT THESE EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL'S FREEDOM TO READ AS THEY CHOOSE, AND ENCOURAGE OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL OR CHALLENGING TOPICS.

PASSING THIS ITEM WILL NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE BAND BOOK WEEK'S 2024, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE EVERY BAND BOOK WEEK'S MOVING FORWARD AS ORGANIZED BY THE FRIENDS AND THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, THE FRIENDS OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY HEREAFTER.

SO AS WE CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE, WE CAN INCREASINGLY, INCREASINGLY SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE CURRENT ISSUES WE FACE AROUND CENSORSHIP AND BOOK BANNING, WHILE FOSTERING AN INCLUSIVE AND INTELLECTUALLY DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT.

UM, AND I WILL SAY IT ISN'T ALWAYS JUST ABOUT BANNING BOOKS EITHER.

THERE ARE, UM, CITIES AND ENTITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE TRYING TO PRIVATIZE LIBRARIES SO THAT CORPORATIONS CAN DECIDE WHAT BOOKS STAY IN THEM.

SO IT IS A BROAD AND DIVERSE, UH, COALITION OF FOLKS HERE TONIGHT.

AND I WOULD INVITE, UH, BARBARA SOSA TO COME UP AND GIVE SOME REMARKS, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE IT BEHIND THE RAIL.

GOOD EVENING, MEGAN JUST ABOUT GAVE MY WHOLE SPEECH .

I AM BARBARA SOSA, PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BAND BOOKS WEEK 2024 TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK WITH A THEME FREED BETWEEN THE LINES.

AS YOU KNOW, PREVENTING CENSORSHIP IS THE REASON THE FRIENDS HAVE EXISTED IN LONG BEACH SINCE 1963.

BAND BOOKS WEEK ITSELF WAS LAUNCHED IN 1982 IN RESPONSE TO A SUDDEN SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF CHALLENGES TO BOOKS AND LIBRARIES, BOOKSTORES AND SCHOOLS, BY FOCUSING ON EFFORTS TO REMOVE OR RESTRICT ACCESS TO BOOKS.

BAN BOOKS WEEK DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE HARMS OF CENS CENSORSHIP.

AND I WON'T QUOTE THE STATISTICS AGAIN THAT MEGAN JUST DID BECAUSE I JUST DID .

THE NUMBERS THAT SHE QUOTED ARE FRIGHTENING.

WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE IN A TOLERANT AND LOVING COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR STANDING WITH THE FRIENDS IN OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT BOOK BANS AND CENSORSHIP THAT THREATEN OUR FREEDOMS. THE FRIENDS ARE STILL ACTIVELY SPREADING THE WORD AGAINST CENSORSHIP TO EDUCATE OUR NEIGHBORS AND SHARE THE MESSAGE THAT ANY KIND OF CENSORSHIP IS WRONG, EVEN IN LONG BEACH, THAT THREAT COULD BE SIMMERING JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.

WE HOPE THAT YOU, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US AT ONE OF OUR FOUR EVENTS, THE FLYER'S GONE, UM, IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FREEDOM TO READ.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

UM, I JUST WANNA THANK, UH, THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY, TWO BRANCHES, DANA AND BACH, WHO HELPED ME AUGMENT MY ALREADY BAND OF A COLLECTION OFF MY OWN SHELVES AT HOME.

UM, AND THANK MY KIDS AND FAMILY FOR LETTING ME TAKE 'EM OFF THE SHELF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

UH, SO I THANK AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES CONSIDERATION ON THE I VOTE.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR ALLEN.

UM, YES, THANK YOU MEGAN KERR FOR, UH, FOR THIS ITEM AND ALSO FOR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

UM, I ACTUALLY WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN 82 HERE IN LONG BEACH POLY, AND I DO REMEMBER, UM, THAT YEAR WHEN THIS THIS STARTED HAPPENING, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

SO IT'S JUST SO GREAT TO SEE, UM, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AND, AND WHAT MEGAN KERR IS DOING.

AND I TELL YOU, THE ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE IS THAT, UM, THESE BAND BOOKS WILL, YOU KNOW, UNITE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I ALSO LIKE THAT THE PROCLAMATION WILL ALSO, IT HELPS OUR LIBRARIES, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, REMAIN A HUB FOR CREATIVITY AND

[00:50:01]

A HUB WHERE PEOPLE JUST HAVE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS THEIRSELVES.

SO KEEP IT UP.

LADIES.

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER, MEMBER KERR FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.

UM, THANK YOU TO THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY FOR PRESENTING TODAY AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ACROSS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH BY BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND READ AND JUST LEARN.

THIS NEXT QUOTE THAT I'M GONNA SHARE IS A VERY FAMOUS ONE.

IT READS, THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW.

THE MORE THINGS YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU WILL GO BY.

DR.

SEUSS.

I KNOW THAT THAT'S VERY FAMOUS, BUT IT READS VERY, VERY TRUE FOR TONIGHT.

UM, WHEN WE READ, WE LEARN NEW THINGS, NEW LESSONS, NEW IDEAS, NEW INFORMATION.

READING TAKES US PLACES OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES.

THAT IS WHY WHENEVER THERE ARE EFFORTS TO LIMIT BOOKS OR KNOWLEDGE, WE MUST ALWAYS ASK WHY.

OFTENTIMES THESE EFFORTS ARE ATTEMPTS TO ERASE SOMETHING, OUR HISTORY, OUR VOICES, ESPECIALLY THE VOICES OF THOSE MOST MARGINALIZED TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO.

LONG BEACH DOES NOT STAND FOR THAT.

THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT, UM, THIS ITEM AND ALSO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL BAND BOOKS WEEK, UM, HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND I'LL JUST ADD SOME COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA COME DOWN AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE COUNCIL VOTES, WE'LL, UH, TAKE A QUICK PHOTO WITH A PROCLAMATION.

BUT, UH, AS A DAD OF A SEVEN AND A 9-YEAR-OLD, WHO HAS TIME TO BAN BOOKS, I'M TRYING TO GET MY KIDS TO READ THE BOOKS.

, YOU KNOW, I WANT BOOKS TO BE EXCITING SO I CAN TELL THEM, UH, YOU KNOW, TIME TO GO TO BED, PUT DOWN THE BOOK.

IT'S, IT'S THE OPPOSITE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO FORCE THEM, HEY, TURN OFF THE TV, PUT DOWN THE GAME.

LET'S FOCUS ON READING.

SO WHO HAS TIME FOR BANNING BOOKS? THIS IS SO FOREIGN TO ME.

UM, BUT I, AND WHEN I LOOK UP HERE, I HAD NO IDEA.

AND I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS IN MOVIES ARE BANNED.

WHO WOULD BAN CHRONICLES OF NARNIA? AND LORD OF THE RINGS.

GIMME A BREAK.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

THEN WE'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PHOTO.

WE'LL NOW, UH, TAKE A QUICK FIVE OF A PROCLAMATION.

SO IF THE FRIENDS COULD JOIN US, UH, AT THE PODIUM.

I, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, CAN WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? COMMENT? OH, OKAY.

THE ONLY PERSON SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WAS, WAS BARBARA.

BARBARA ON THE ITEM? I ONLY HAD ONE PERSON SIGNED UP.

WHERE'S THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? 'CAUSE I ONLY SAW ONE PERSON.

BARBARA SOSA, THE BAR.

IT WAS BARBARA.

OKAY, SO WE DID PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY, SO WE'LL ACCEPT A MOTION.

ON THIS ITEM, THERE WAS ONE PERSON SIGNED UP.

WE WILL NOW GO TO CONSENT CALENDAR.

THERE'S A REQUEST TO PULL NUMBER 19.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S ME.

[CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 19.)]

LET'S SEE.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND ON CONSENT.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT?

[00:55:01]

SEEING NONE, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

OKAY, NOW WE'LL GO TO 19 PLEASE.

ITEM NINETEEN'S REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS.

RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECIFICATION AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO PARES AIR INC.

FOR THE MARK TWAIN LIBRARIES, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADE PROJECT FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 662,400 DISTRICT SIX.

ALRIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN

[19. 24-54780 Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7238 and award a contract to Pardess Air, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, for the Mark Twain Library Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project, in the amount of $552,000, authorize a 20 percent contingency in the amount of $110,400, for a total contract amount not to exceed $662,400; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (District 6) Office or Department: Public Works Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

SORA.

YEAH, I, I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM OUT BECAUSE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SHOW, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN YEARS AND I'M SO GLAD TO FINALLY SEE THIS CONTRACT COMING BEFORE US IS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA REPLACE A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC AND LATER ON, I BELIEVE, CHARGING STATION, RIGHT? AND SO I GET A, SO I GET A NOTICE ALMOST REGULARLY, LIKE EVERY MONTH THAT THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED 'CAUSE THE HVAC SYSTEM IS BROKEN OR THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH IT.

SO IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING, ONCE WE HAVE A NEW ONE, IT'S NOT GONNA INTERRUPT CITY SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON, UM, INTERNET ACCESS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

BUT THAT THIS IS ALSO AN ELEVATE 28 PLAN, ONE OF 80 PROJECTS.

AND IT'S CURRENTLY FUNDED MOSTLY BY AB 32, WHICH IS A BILL THAT WAS CREATED IN ORDER TO, THERE'S BASICALLY THE FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE GOING TO FIX THE HVAC AND CREATE CHARGING STATION IS BY FEES PAID BY THOSE EMIT GET GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION.

AND I SHARE THIS BECAUSE IT'S COMING BACK TO A COMMUNITY WHO REALLY NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE, GREENING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GONNA HELP US REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND CENTRAL GENERALLY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH GREEN SPACE, WHICH IS MAKING IT MORE, ALL THE MORE MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT.

SO THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO GET A TOTAL OF 1,000,047, UH, AB 32 FUNDS IN 300 MEASURE A.

SO I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK, UH, MR. LOPEZ AND HIS TEAM FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS MOVES FORWARD AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE GRANT, UM, TO DO THIS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST RE VOTE.

COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

NOW GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE.

I'M JUST QUEUING IT UP ON MY SYSTEM.

RESIDE AND MICHELLE HURLER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

KAREN

[ 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. ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I AM KAREN .

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS AND I AM A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR OLDER ADULTS.

UM, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT TODAY IS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, AND TODAY WE HAD EIGHT VOLUNTEERS GO AND ASSIST THE NEW RESIDENTS OF HERITAGE GARDENS.

A NEW ASSIST, A NEW SENIOR, UM, BUILDING THAT HAS JUST OPENED AND MOVED IN RESIDENCE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

UM, IT'S, UH, WAS CREATED BY MERCY HOUSING.

WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

WE REP, WE REGISTERED TO VOTE 11 SENIORS AND VERIFIED REGISTRATION FOR TH THREE ADDITIONAL SENIORS.

AND, UH, THE CITY CLERK HAS, UM, INFORMED ME THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE SURE THAT THEIR REGISTRATION IS IN ORDER.

THEY CAN GO TO LA VOTE.GOV AND CHECK THEIR REGISTRATION.

AND IF YOUR HANDWRITING HAS CHANGED, THERE'S STARTING TO BE MORE CRACKDOWNS ON VERIFYING SIGNATURES.

SO IF YOUR SIGNATURE HAS CHANGED AT ALL, YOU NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW REGISTRATION FORM.

UM, WE ALSO HELPED WITH 100 PEOPLE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NEW SENIOR CENTER THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE BUDGET INCLUDES $4 MILLION FOR, UH, IT'S A START.

THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS, UM, MOVE.

THERE WAS NOT A, THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, NOT A LOT OF ANSWERS.

UM, AS I WENT BACK TO THE SENIOR CENTER TODAY AND HAD TO STEP AROUND THREE PEOPLE SMOKING CRACK COCAINE, UH, NEAR THE HANDICAP WRAP AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND LISTEN TO, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON A PHONE CALL, COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY AREAS AROUND THE SENIOR CENTER.

THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS INCLUDED AS A TOPIC AS, UH, EVERYBODY GOT

[01:00:01]

THEIR NEW BUDGET MONEY.

UM, I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HAD TO STEP OVER PEOPLE SMOKING CRACK COCAINE OUT IN THE OPEN ON THE HANDICAP WRAP AT THE SENIOR CENTER.

UM, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN MAKING THEM MOVE ALONG, BUT SENIORS DO NOT FEEL SAFE GOING TO THE SENIOR CENTER.

AND WE HAVE ISSUES WITH, UM, SENIOR BUILDINGS BEING TARGETED FOR CRIME.

SO WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, I'LL BE BACK SOON.

THANKS KAREN.

ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE.

MICHELLE.

HI, UM, I'M MICHELLE.

I'M PROPERTY MANAGER AT DELMA MOBILE HOME PARK.

WE'RE LOCATED AT 4 8 9 5 OREGON AVENUE.

OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF 300 TAX PAYING SENIORS WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES ADJACENT TO MOLINA PARK.

MOLINA HAS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND MOST USED SOCCER FIELDS IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

MOLINA PARK WAS OPEN EIGHT YEARS AGO WITHOUT A SOCCER BARRIER NET SYSTEM INSTALLED TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM ROGUE SOCCER BALLS.

OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF IT.

MANY OF THESE SENIORS ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND HAD TO REPLACE MULTIPLE BROKEN WINDOWS.

THE BALLS HAVE BROKE WINDOWS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON CARS, DENTED AND DAMAGED THE MOBILE HOMES.

THEIR SKIRTINGS, THEIR AWNINGS.

THE BALLS HAVE HIT TWO INDIVIDUALS IN THE HEAD.

IT'S NOT FUNNY, BUT IT HAS HIT TWO LADIES ON THE HEAD.

UM, THERE ARE OTHER ATHLETIC FIELD PARKS IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT THAT HAVE OPENED.

THE MOST RECENT IS DAVENPORT PARK ON 55TH AND PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD.

THE BARRIER NETTING INSTALLED THERE IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED, BUT WE NEED LESS OF IT.

THEIRS ACTUALLY PROTECTS THE BALLS GOING INTO PARAMOUNT FOR THE CARS TRAFFIC, THE KIDS RUNNING AFTER THE BALLS.

IT ALSO HAS A, A NET TO PROTECT FRIENDLY VILLAGE MOBILE HOME PARK, JUST LIKE WE ARE ADJACENT TO THE PARK.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR EIGHT YEARS SINCE THE PARK OPENED TO GET THIS NET INSTALLED.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH AL AUSTIN'S OFFICE.

FIRST.

WE MET WITH MELODY GLADYS, KAISER AND PUBLIC WORKS AT THE PARK ON SITE TO SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

WE STILL HAVE HAD NO RESULTS.

UM, WE HAVE OFFERED, OUR OWNER HAS OFFERED TO FINANCIALLY FACILITATE THIS.

WE STILL HAVE HAD NO RESULTS.

UM, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, SORRY.

WE HAVE JUST BROUGHT IN A NEW HOME AND PLACED IT IN A LOT ALONG THE WALL THAT SEPARATES THE PARKS.

IT NOW HAS A BROKEN WINDOW.

SO NOW DO WE FIX IT AND LET IT JUST KEEP GETTING BROKEN? OR DO WE WAIT FOR THE NET TO GET PUT IN AND SO IT NEVER GETS BROKEN AGAIN? IT'S, IT'S NOW INTERFERING WITH OUR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS.

THIS HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED.

UM, WE NEED 220 FEET OF NET, 15 FEET HIGH.

JUDGE NETTING DID THE NET FOR DAVENPORT PARK.

I HAVE AN ESTIMATE FROM THEM FOR THE INSTALLATION.

IT'S ABOUT $35,000.

WE'RE WILLING TO FINANCIALLY WORK WITH YOU.

WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.

RECOMMENDATION TO REQUEST CITY

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY KID PLAYS SOCCER THERE.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'LL, I'LL COORDINATE WITH COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

ALRIGHT, THAT, THAT SATISFIES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

ITEM 24 PLEASE.

ITEM 24, COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA, CHAIR OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

[24. 24-54882 Recommendation to request City Council approve a support position on Proposition 36. Office or Department: Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District, Chair; Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

COUNCIL APPROVE A SUPPORT POSITION ON PROPOSITION 36.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF, THEN WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

SO LET'S START OFF WITH A PRESENTATION FROM, FROM, SO THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

UH, WE'LL START WITH, UH, OUR STAFF REPORT.

COULD WE REQUEST FOR A MOVER AND SECONDER FOR THIS ITEM? THANK YOU.

OKAY, LET'S PROCEED.

TO WITHDRAW SO SHE CAN MAKE THE MAIN MOTION.

THANK YOU VERY, UH, VERY MUCH MR. MAYOR.

SO, UM, THIS IS A PROPOSITION THAT COMES IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AS IT'S A PROPOSITION THAT GOES IN FRONT OF VOTERS.

WE DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF, UH, IT'S JUST NOT AN ITEM COMING FORWARD FROM A STAFF PRESENTATION, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT BY THE COUNCIL DOWN, UH, AND ASKED THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW IT.

UH, AND SO WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE SOME, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS OR SOME, I'M SORRY, SOME INFORMATION ON PROP 36.

UH, AND, UH, I WILL TURN IT NOW TO OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER, UH, SARAH PATTERSON TO GO THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT.

YOU JUST MOVED TO REC TO RECOMMEND IT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR OR EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS SARAH PATTERSON AND I'M THE MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP.

SUPPORT IT.

DO.

NEXT SLIDE.

THAT'S WHAT THE MAIN MOTION IS.

SO, ROBERTO, YOU NEED

[01:05:01]

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UM, BACK IN JUNE, THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM CITY COUNCIL TO COME FORWARD WITH A, UH, TFFA REPORT ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION RELATED TO RETAIL THEFT, DRUG USE, AND SMASH AND GRAB CRIMES.

THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE AUGUST 6TH INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

UM, WHAT, UM, MY TEAM IS ABLE TO DO AS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THE AUTHORITY THAT'S GIVEN TO THAT IS, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE POSITIONS ON LEGISLATION GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

UM, IN ORDER TO ACT QUICKLY, UH, ON THESE CRITICAL BILLS, UH, PROPOSITIONS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UH, BECAUSE THEY GO IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS.

I DO NOT AS STAFF PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT, UH, AND REALLY MY, UM, AUTHORITY AND ABLE TO ACT COMES FROM THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

UH, SO AT THE TIME OF THE COMMITTEE, WE, UH, GAVE AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE TWO, UM, THE TWO LEGISLATIVE PACKAGES THAT WERE, UH, BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE WAS FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND ONE WAS FROM THE SENATE.

WE WENT AHEAD AND MOVED FOR THE SAFER CALIFORNIA PLAN, WHICH WAS THE SENATE'S, UH, BILL PACKAGE.

AND WENT AHEAD AND, UH, SET LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THAT.

AND AT THE TIME, UM, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HEARING PROPOSITION 36, UH, WHICH WE'RE NOW BRINGING TO YOU TO THE COUNCIL, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION.

UH, A LITTLE BIT OF OVERVIEW ABOUT PROPOSITION 47, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IT, IS THIS WAS PASSED IN 2014, UH, AND RECLASSIFIED, UM, DRUG POSSESSIONS INCLUDING COCAINE, HEROIN, FENTANYL, METHAMPHETAMINE, UH, AND ALONG WITH THEFT OFFENSES UNDER $950 IS MISDEMEANORS PROPOSITION 47.

ALSO CREATED THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS FUNDS, WHICH HELPS SUPPORTS, UH, REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND FUNDS, UH, DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

UH, THE CALIFORNIA REALISTIC ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, UH, ALONG WITH THE COALITION, COLLECTED OVER 900,000 SIGNATURES AND PUT A MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 24TH OR 2024 BALLOT, UH, WHICH IS PROPOSITION 36.

A QUICK LITTLE OVERVIEW OF PROPOSITION 36.

THERE ARE THREE BIG THINGS THAT THIS PROPOSITION WILL DO.

UM, FIRSTLY TO TURN SOME MISDEMEANORS INTO FELONIES.

UH, THAT INCLUDES THAT $950 LEVEL THAT, UM, WAS, UM, AMENDED IN PROPOSITION, UH, 47.

IT ALSO CAN INCREASE SOME OF THOSE FELONY SENTENCES.

SO INSTEAD OF ONE YEAR, THEY CAN GO UP TO THREE YEARS, PARTICULARLY IF THOSE CRIMES ARE COMMITTED WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND LASTLY, IT DOES REQUIRE SOME OF THOSE FELONIES TO BE SERVED IN PRISON, PARTICULARLY IF THEY INVOLVE CERTAIN DRUGS, UM, LIKE FENTANYL, HEROIN, COCAINE, AND METHAMPHETAMINE.

ONE NEW ASPECT THAT PROPOSITION 36, UH, WILL INTRODUCE TO THE COURT SYSTEM IS IT WOULD, UH, IT WOULD OFFER A TREATMENT MANDATED FELONY INSTEAD OF A MISDEMEANOR.

UH, THIS IS IF THERE WAS POSSESSION OF CERTAIN DRUGS.

UM, AND IF THERE ARE TWO OR MORE PAST CONVICTIONS FOR SUB DRUG CRIMES, SUCH AS POSSESSION AND SELLING, UM, IF, UH, SOMEONE CHOSE THIS OPTION AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, UM, AND FINISHED IT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED.

UM, IF THEY DID NOT, THEN THEIR TREATMENT WOULD BE UP TO THREE YEARS IN STATE PRISON.

THE LAST THING, UM, THAT I WOULD MENTION IS THAT, UM, IT WOULD REQUIRE COURTS TO WARN, UH, PEOPLE WHO, THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE CHARGED WITH MURDER IF THEY SELL OR PROVIDE ILLEGAL DRUGS THAT KILL SOMEONE.

NOW ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO MENTION, UM, ABOUT THE SUPPORT AND THE OPPOSITION AROUND THIS PROPOSITION THAT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING IS, UM, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN A HIGH NUMBER OF CITIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THIS.

UH, THE LIST HERE ON THIS SCREEN IS THE LAST LIST, UH, THAT WAS POSTED TO, UM, THE, THE CAMPAIGN, THE SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS WEBSITE.

A LOT OF THESE CITIES, UM, I WOULD SAY ARE NOT SIMILAR IN SIZE, DEMOGRAPHIC TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

I THINK HUNTINGTON BEACH IS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST.

UM, THEN THERE'S ALSO TWO COUNTIES, UM, THAT ARE LISTED HERE.

AND I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IN JUST A SECOND.

UH, THE SUPPORT SIDE, UM, AGAIN, IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHO HELPED PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES LEAGUE, CALIFORNIA CITIES AND CONTRACT CITIES, UM, BUT IS FUNDED HEAVILY FROM TARGET, WALGREENS, WALMART, HOME DEPOT, UM, AND, UH, SOME OF THE BIGGER STORES.

THE OPPOSITION WAS A LITTLE BIT SLOWER TO MOBILIZE.

UM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, THERE WAS SOME ACTION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNOR TO, UM, UH, TO IMPACT, UH, THESE, THESE ISSUES IN HOPES THAT THE ITEM OR THE BALLOT MEASURE MIGHT BE PULLED.

UM, SO, UH, OF COURSE WE'VE GOT, UH, STATE LEADERSHIP GOVERN GOVERNOR GAVIN ANCE, SPEAKER RE, BUT ALSO, UM, A FEW, UH, GROUPS AND THE RECIDIVISM COALITION, CIVIL RIGHTS COURT, DISABILITY RIGHTS, AND LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA WOMEN VOTERS.

UH, I WANNA FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON, UH, THE

[01:10:01]

LOCAL IMPACT.

UH, THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS OFFICE, UM, COMPILED AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT COUNTY JAILS, UM, AS WELL AS FROM THE STATE.

UH, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE, UH, WHY I WANTED TO MENTION THE COUNTIES.

THERE'S ONLY TWO COUNTIES IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE.

THIS WOULD HAVE AN INCREASE, UM, ON THE WORKLOAD AND THE COST, UM, UH, PUT ON THE COUNTY.

UM, SO WE WOULD, UH, POTENTIALLY SEE A NET INCREASE IN COUNTY JAIL.

OF COURSE, THAT WOULD, UH, COST MORE MONEY, UM, AND AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN COUNTY, UH, WORK RELATE WORKLOAD.

UM, AND THERE WASN'T A EXACT NUMBER ESTIMATION GIVEN BY THE LAO'S OFFICE, BUT THEY ARE, UM, CONSIDERING A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE AND IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY CAME OUT WITH THEIR OWN ANALYSIS OF PROPOSITION 36.

UH, AGAIN, NOT GIVING SPECIFIC INFORMATION, UM, BUT THEY, UM, SURVEYED HEALTH SERVICES, JUSTICE, CARE AND OPPORTUNITY SHERIFF, PUBLIC DEFENDER, UM, COUNTY COUNSEL, AND, UM, CAME UP WITH SIMILAR LINES THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE, UH, THE JAIL POPULATION AND INCREASE COSTS AND INCREASE WORKLOAD.

THE STATE, UM, AGAIN, FROM THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE FOUND SIMILAR IMPACTS AN INCREASE IN STATE PRISON.

AND THIS IS MOSTLY BECAUSE WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS BECAUSE MISDEMEANORS WILL NOW BE RECLASSIFIED AS FELONIES.

YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS MOVING FROM THE COUNTY UP TO THE STATE, AS WELL AS FOLKS WHO ARE NOW STAYING LONGER WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHIER SENTENCES.

UM, SO AGAIN, INCREASE IN WORKLOAD, INCREASE IN POPULATION, AND INCREASE IN FUNDING.

NOW NEXT STEPS THAT I'VE LISTED HERE.

UM, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN VOTE TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE OR MAY REMAIN WITHOUT A POSITION.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT THOSE LIST OF 16 CITIES THAT I FOUND QUITE INTERESTING IS THAT WHILE THERE WAS ONLY 16 CITIES LISTED ON THAT LIST, THERE WAS OVER 120, PROBABLY EVEN MORE AS OF TODAY, INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS WHO CAN TAKE THEIR OWN POSITION.

UM, YOU ARE ALL FREE TO DO SO.

UM, WE'RE SEEING AN INTERESTING KIND OF PATTERN WHERE YOU HAVE LARGER CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO, UH, SANTA MONICA, EVEN, WHERE THEIR MAYORS HAVE INDIVIDUALLY TAKEN A POSITION, BUT THE CITY HAS NOT FALLEN, UH, THAT IN THAT SAME PATTERN.

SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR ALL OF YOU.

UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

I THINK OUR CITY PROSECUTOR WANTS TO ADD A FEW WORDS.

PEOPLE INTO LIVE-IN DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE LEAD PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION, LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION, ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF A SOCIAL WORKER FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT DID NOT EXIST 10 YEARS AGO.

HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DOUG HALBERT.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CITY PROSECUTOR FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

UH, SECTION 7 0 3 OF THE LONG BEACH CITY CHARTER PROVIDES, UH, THAT ONE OF THE DUTIES THAT THE CITY PROSECUTOR IS TO RENDER OPINIONS RELATIVE TO PENAL ORDINANCES.

UH, SO I, I DO WANNA BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, BUT ALSO TO SHARE WITH YOU THE BACKGROUND THAT SHOWS HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UH, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT PROPOSITION 47, BUT BEFORE PROPOSITION 47 IN 2011, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A REFORM MEASURE THAT IT REFERRED TO AS REALIGNMENT, REALIGNMENT, REALIGNED, WHERE SOMEONE CONVICTED OF A FELONY WOULD SERVE THEIR SENTENCE REALIGNMENT, PROVIDED MOST FELONIES WOULD NO LONGER RESULT IN TIME IN STATE PRISON.

INSTEAD, THAT PERSON THAT COMMITS A FELONY WILL SERVE THEIR TIME IN THE LOCAL COUNTY JAIL, WHICHEVER COUNTY IN WHICH THE CRIME OCCURRED, THAT PERSON WOULD SERVE THEIR TIME IN THE LOCAL COUNTY JAIL.

AT THAT TIME, ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE FELONIES COMMITTED IN CALIFORNIA WAS COMMITTED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

SO IN 2011, THE STATE CHANGED THE RULES ON WHERE PEOPLE SERVED THEIR SENTENCE, MOVING THEM FROM STATE PRISON TO THE LOCAL COUNTY JAIL.

THAT RESULTED IN THE LA COUNTY JAIL AND EVERY JAIL IN CALIFORNIA BECOMING MORE FULL THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

IF THEY WERE FULL BEFORE NOW THEY'RE MORE FULL.

UH, THAT WAS REALIGNMENT A FEW YEARS LATER.

IN 2014, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PASSED PROPOSITION 47, PROPOSITION 47, AS WAS MENTIONED, REDEFINED CERTAIN THEFT OFFENSES.

ANY THEFT OF ANY ITEM, UH, OR THE VALUE OF ANY ITEM, UH, $950 OR LESS WILL ALWAYS BE A MISDEMEANOR.

IT WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER BECOME A FELONY.

UNDER PROP 47, THE SAME THING WITH DRUG POSSESSION.

THE POSSESSION OF DRUGS, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES A PERSON POSSESSES DRUGS, WILL

[01:15:01]

ALWAYS BE A MISDEMEANOR.

THE RESULT OF REALIGNMENT AND THE RESULT OF PROPOSITION 47 IS THAT THOSE CONVICTED OF MISDEMEANORS ARE NO LONGER SERVING ANY TIME IN LOCAL COUNTY JAIL.

LET ME BE VERY SPECIFIC.

THE LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS A RULE ON THE EARLY RELEASE OF INMATES FROM THE LA COUNTY JAIL.

A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR IN LA COUNTY.

UH, THE LAST I SAW WAS 180 DAYS, SO I'M GONNA USE THAT NUMBER.

I THINK IT'S GONE UP SINCE THEN.

BUT A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR AND SENTENCED TO 180 DAYS JAIL WILL BE RELEASED THE SAME DAY.

SO A CONVICTION AND A SENTENCE OF 180 DAYS GETS RELEASED THE SAME DAY.

THE MAXIMUM JAIL SENTENCE THAT A JUDGE CAN IMPOSE ON A MISDEMEANOR THEFT CASE AND A MISDEMEANOR DRUG CASE IS 180 DAYS.

SO JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM FOR DRUG POSSESSION OR FOR THEFT AT THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THE SHERIFF RELEASES THEM THE SAME DAY UNDER THE SHERIFF'S POLICY.

THE SHERIFF DOESN'T WANNA RELEASE THEM THE SAME DAY, BUT THE SHERIFF'S JAIL, THE SHERIFF RUNS THE COUNTY JAIL.

THE SHERIFF'S JAIL IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH LONGER SENTENCES AND PEOPLE SERVING FELONY SENTENCES.

THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

AFTER 10 YEARS OF PROPOSITION 47, AND AFTER 10 YEARS OF DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT OF PROPOSITION 47, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PUT, UH, ANOTHER MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.

UH, BY THE WAY, PROPOSITION 47 CAN ONLY BE AMENDED BY ANOTHER VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE RULES IN THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION IS THAT ONCE THE PEOPLE SPEAK AND THE PEOPLE PASS LEGISLATION, THAT LEGISLATION CANNOT BE AMENDED EXCEPT BY A SUBSEQUENT VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

SO THE ONLY WAY TO AMEND PROPOSITION 47 IS WITH A SUBSEQUENT MEASURE.

THAT SUBSEQUENT MEASURE COULD BE PUT ON THE BALLOT BY THE LEGISLATURE, OR IT COULD BE PUT ON THE BALLOT VIA A, UH, SIG, UH, PETITION SIGNED BY 900,000, UH, VOTERS.

IN THE CASE OF PROPOSITION 36, IT WAS THE RESULT OF A PETITION THAT WAS CIRCULATED, UM, TRYING TO CHANGE THE EFFECT OF, OF PROPOSITION 47.

I WANNA BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IT CHANGES THOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS AND THEFT CHARGES.

A PERSON WHO COMMITS A PETTY THEFT UNDER PROP 36 AND UNDER PROPOSITION 47 WILL STILL ONLY FACE A MISDEMEANOR.

AND EVEN THE SECOND TIME, A PERSON WILL STILL ONLY FACE A MISDEMEANOR.

IT'S ONLY ON THE, THE THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT THEFT OFFENSE THAT THE CHARGE CAN BE ELEVATED TO FELONY LEVEL.

THE SAME THING IS TRUE WITH POSSESSION OF DRUGS.

A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF POSSESSION OF DRUGS THE FIRST TIME AND THE SECOND TIME, IT REMAINS A MISDEMEANOR.

A PERSON WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED TWICE AND IS CHARGED WITH DRUG POSSESSION NOW CAN GET THE TREATMENT MANDATED FELONY THAT WAS REFERRED TO BEFORE.

BY THE WAY, THE, THE FIRST TIME A PERSON IS CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR DRUG POSSESSION CASE, THAT PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR CASE DISMISSED IF THEY SIMPLY GO TO TREATMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER HAVE A CONVICTION, A FIRST OFFENSE, A SECOND OFFENSE, OR A THIRD OFFENSE IF THEY AGREE TO IN COMPLETE TREATMENT UNDER, UH, UNDER PROPOSITION 36 OR UNDER PROPOSITION, UH, 47.

THE THIRD POINT THAT WAS RAISED HAS TO DO WITH FENTANYL.

WHEN PROPOSITION 47 IN 2014 WAS CONSIDERED BY THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA, FENTANYL WAS NOT ON THE RADAR OF ANYONE IN OUR STATE.

I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE MIDWEST AND IN WEST VIRGINIA.

IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE IN CALIFORNIA IN 2014 WHEN WE PASSED THIS LAW.

FENTANYL IS A SYNTHETIC OPIOID 50 TIMES MORE POTENT AND DEADLY THAN HEROIN.

FENTANYL IS KILLING, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE LOS ANGELES, UH, COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE, IN A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, LOS ANGELES COUNTY ALONE SAW A 3100% INCREASE IN FENTANYL RELATED OVERDOSE DEATHS AND POISONINGS.

ALL OF THIS IS ACCUMULATED IN A NEED, UH, AND NEED TO CHANGE, UH, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S UP TO THIS COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF CHANGE IS NEEDED.

I'LL ALSO TELL YOU THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

IN THE 10 YEARS SINCE PROPOSITION 47 WAS PASSED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, PROSECUTOR LED DIVERSION, LIKE THE PATH PROGRAM, HAS HELPED PEOPLE GET INTO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

THOSE DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.

THE PAD PROGRAM PLACES

[01:20:01]

WE NOW HAVE A HOMELESS COURT IN LONG BEACH.

WE HAVE REENTRY SERVICES IN LONG BEACH THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE.

THERE IS MEDI-CAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE DRUG TREATMENT, PROSECUTOR OFFICES, EVEN HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS LIKE MINE DOES.

UH, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO CONSIDER A CHANGE IN THE LAW THAN RIGHT NOW.

UH, I WANNA THANK THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, FOR LISTENING TO ME, UH, I THINK IT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAS.

SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT BEFORE WE DO, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF MOTION.

I SEE WE HAVE A MOTION.

A SECOND.

GREAT.

WELL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE HAVE 22 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

UH, I WILL READ THEM 10 AT A TIME.

JAMES SCHWAZO, DEANNA KNOWLES, UH, LINDA GARY HOLBROOK, UH, KAREN RE, NAFE, TATIANA TURNER.

ALEXIS, UH, KATHLEEN ADAMS, AND YVONNE FIGUEROA.

IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

JAMES, YOU ARE FIRST.

ARE WE DOING THREE MINUTES, OR, UH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 90 SECONDS.

THERE WE GO.

THERE IT'S, I WAS LIKE, WHOA.

AFTER 10 IS 90 SECONDS.

NOT MY RULES.

IT'S SUPER NOT RULES.

NO WORRIES.

GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, AND, UH, ADDRESS YOU ALL.

UH, MY NAME IS JAMES SUSO.

UH, MY PRONOUNS ARE HE AND HIM.

I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH LONG BEACH FORWARD.

UM, OUR ORGANIZATION IS TAKING A FIRM STANCE IN OPPOSING PROPOSITION 36, UM, ON THE LINES OF BELIEVING IN RACIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR NOT.

UM, EARLIER OUR ORGANIZATION SENT IN A LETTER, UM, IN SOLIDARITY AND SIGNED BY BLACK LIVES MATTER, LONG BEACH CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE, LA VOICE, , UH, CALIFORNIANS, UNITED FOR RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, MY GIRLS IN ACTION, AND OF COURSE, OUR ORGANIZATION LONG BEACH FORWARD, ASKING FOR YOU ALL TO, UH, RECEIVE AND FILE THIS ITEM AND NOT ENDORSE PROPOSITION.

36, 10 YEARS AGO, OUR ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND WORK ON CHANGE.

WE KNOW CHANGE IS, IS HARD.

CHANGE IS NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE PERFECT, BUT WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE CANNOT GO BACKWARDS, UM, AND GO BACK ON OUR PROGRESS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE GIVEN PEOPLE, OUR CHANGES TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM AND NOT ENDORSE PROPOSITION 36.

NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.

DEANNA DE DEANNA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DEANNA KNOWLES AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

I ALSO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH LONG BEACH FOR ADJUST ECONOMY, A PROJECT OF LANE.

TONIGHT, I AM HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG OPPOSITION TO PRO POSITION 36.

THE CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITIES FACE ARE UNDENIABLY COMPLEX.

WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GRAPPLING WITH SERIOUS ISSUES, PROP 36 IS NOT THE SOLUTION.

IN FACT, IT WOULD ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE.

THIS MEASURE IS NOTHING MORE HAS BEEN A THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO PREY ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

THE VERY PEOPLE I WORK ALONGSIDE, THROUGH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING EFFORTS.

PROP 36 WILL DRAIN RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COSTING CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS DO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

THESE ARE FUNDS THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT, IMPROVING OUR SCHOOLS, EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND INVESTING IN JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. INSTEAD, THIS PROPOSITIONS DIVERSE THOSE RESOURCES INTO THE PRISON AND JAIL SYSTEMS PERPETUATING A CYCLE OF HARM RATHER THAN ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE.

WE URGE THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TO STAND WITH US AND PROPOSING AND OPPOSING PROP 36, PLEASE NO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, LINDA.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. S FOR TAKING, PLEASE BRING THE MIC, BRING THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

LEAN ON, UM, MOBILE OUTREACH.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. EZ FOR TAKING MY CALL AND SPEAKING WITH ME.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. SORROW'S OFFICE FOR FINALLY REACHING OUT TO ME AND LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS.

MS. DURGA, I WISH YOUR OFFICE WAS MORE RESPONSIVE.

NOW, THESE HAVE PROS AND CONS, BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST CON THAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

'CAUSE IT'S GROWN INTO A FEVER THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AN END.

UH, SOMEHOW THE TRULY MENTALLY ILL AND SOCIO SOCIOECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED HAVE BEEN BLENDED IN WITH FOLKS THAT COULD CARE LESS ABOUT MAINTAINING CIVIL SOCIETY.

SO WE HAVE TOOLS IN PLACE ALREADY.

I ASK THAT WE USE THEM.

SO I, I'D ALSO LIKE NOT TO JUST

[01:25:01]

I THINK WE NEED TO ACTUALLY BE MORE ASSERTIVE WITH THE TOOLS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HANDS ARE TIED AND, UH, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THE IDEA OF FIRES NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HOMELESSNESS AND WITH THE DRUG USE, JUST HAD A FIRE IN LA CHINATOWN LAST FRIDAY, THURSDAY NIGHT.

SO I'D LIKE NOT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN HERE AS WELL.

NEXT IS, NEXT IS JENNY HOLBROOK.

JENNY, ARE YOU JENNY? OH, OKAY.

I GO AFTER JENNY IS KAREN , MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILPERSONS.

UH, MY NAME IS JENNY HALLBROOK.

I'M A LONG BEACH PRESIDENT.

I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

LET'S SHOW THAT LONG BEACH SUPPORTS PROPOSITION 36.

LET'S ALL VOTE TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR ADDICTS TO BE CHOOSING DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT INSTEAD OF A RETURN TO THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS OF OUR CITY.

LET'S SUPPORT HARSHER PENALTIES FOR DEALERS WHO ARE TRAFFICKING AND DEATH ILLNESS AND CRI CRIPPLING DISABILITY.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, IT JUST ISN'T WORKING.

JUST GO OUT ON THE STREETS RIGHT AROUND HERE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S NOT WORKING.

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS AS A COMMUNITY, AS A CITY.

SO LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED.

NEXT IS KAREN.

AFTER KAREN , KAREN RE SIDE PRESIDENT OF LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS.

UM, WE ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO HELP OUR MOST IN NEED RESIDENTS.

UM, WE DO AGREE THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDS REFORM.

I EVERY DAY THERE ARE PEOPLE HANGING OUT IN FRONT OF THE SENIOR CENTER THAT ARE DOING DRUGS, AND SOMEBODY ODS USUALLY ONCE A WEEK.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED BY PENALTY, PENALIZING THEM.

THE RESTORATIVE PROGRAMS ARE HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS.

WE SUPPORT THAT MODEL.

WE SUPPORT THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND DOUG HOBERT, YOU'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB IN IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS AND HELPING OUR RESIDENTS.

WE WANNA SEE MORE IN THAT DIRECTION, NOT IN THIS DIRECTION THAT WOULD INCREASE COST AND PENALIZE PEOPLE.

NEXT IS SONAI, THEN TATIANA.

UH, SONAI CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT.

I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE STAFF PRESENTATION, WHICH IS VERY RARE.

'CAUSE USUALLY CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, TRIES TO BE NEUTRAL.

UM, YES, WITH RELATION TO LA COUNTY, $57 MILLION, UH, HAS COME INTO PAYING FOR, UH, RECIDIVISM PROGRAMS. BUT $817 MILLION HAS COME OUT OF PROP 47, UH, COMING INTO FRUITION.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M A, I'M BIG ON THE NUMBERS.

UH, 2014 WE HAD 132,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE INCARCERATED.

UH, TODAY WE HAVE 90,000.

UH, SO WE'VE HAD A OVER 28% DECREASE IN THE PRISON POPULATION.

AND YET WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE THESE, UM, UH, I I CALL IT THE PRISON STIMULUS PLAN.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS LITERALLY FINANCING A, A, A SYSTEM THAT IS ON ITS WAY OUT OF EXISTENCE.

AND SOMEHOW WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, UM, PRAISE THE FACT THAT WALMART TARGET THE PRIVATE PRISONS, THE, THE, THE PEACE OFFICER ASSOCIATIONS WHO JUST GOT THE BIGGEST OF ALL PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS.

THEY JUST GOT THE BIGGEST, UH, UH, FINANCIAL PACKAGE OF, OF EVER.

IT'S COSTING THE STATE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.

AND SOMEHOW THEY'RE SAYING, YES, WE SEE LESS PRISONERS, BUT WE WANT MORE MONEY FOR DOING LESS WORK.

, YOU KNOW, I AM, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO GET THAT UNION IN ORDER 'CAUSE THEY MIGHT GIVE YOU GUYS A GOOD DEAL.

YOU KNOW, I, I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

UM, WELL, HOW CAN WE TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE SAME PROGRAM THAT'S FINANCING, UH, HELPING REHABILITATE PEOPLE, UH, AND THEN TELLING THEM, WE WILL REHABILITATE YOU BY, UH, INCARCERATING YOU AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN YOU ARE TODAY.

IT DOESN'T, THE MATH'S, NOT MATH.

I'M AGAINST PROP, UH, 36 AND MASS INCARCERATION.

47 AND PROP 36 DOES LITTLE TO OFFER REAL SOLUTIONS.

NEXT IS TATIANA, THEN LEXUS.

UM, HELLO EVERYBODY.

IF YOU GUYS WANNA TALK TO ME AFTER REX CAN FIND ME.

UM, PROPOSITION 36 IS BEING PRESENTED AS A WAY TO BE TOUGHER ON CRIME.

BUT THIS IS A MISLEADING NARRATIVE.

UH, THE PUSH FOR THIS REFORM CLAIMS TO ADDRESS A RISING CRIME.

YET MANY OF THESE ISSUES WERE PRESENT LONG BEFORE PROPOSITION

[01:30:01]

INSTEAD, IT DIVERTS ATTENTION FROM MEANINGFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND FOCUSES ON REDIRECTING FUNDS BACK INTO THE SAME DEPARTMENTS THAT PREVIOUSLY FAILED TO USE THEM EFFECTIVELY.

PRIOR TO PROP 47, LOCAL AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE TASKED WITH ADDRESSING CRIME, BUT THEY OFTEN EMPHASIZED INCARCERATION OVER REHABILITATION.

THIS APPROACH DID LITTLE TO CURB RECIDIVISM OR ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HOMELESSNESS.

WHEN PROP 47 PASSED, IT AIMED TO CHANGE THIS BY REDUCING PENALTIES FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENSES AND REDIRECTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT TACKLE THESE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. LONG BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE, USED THE FUNDS TO ESTABLISH, UH, SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS LIKE PROJECT IMPACT, WHICH HAS REDUCED RECIDIVISM AND PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT FOR THOSE RE REENTERING SOCIETY.

HOWEVER, WITH PROP 36, THERE'S A CLEAR ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE FOCUS BACK TO PUNITIVE MEASURE MEASURES OF THE PAST.

THE REAL INTENTION SEEMS TO BE TO FUNNEL MONEY BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS, RATHER THAN TO INTO PROGRAMS PROVEN TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUPPORT REHABILITATION.

INSTEAD OF BUILDING ON THE PROGRESS MADE UNDER PROP 47, PROP THREE SIX PUSHES FOR POLICIES THAT HAVE ALREADY THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS UP TO NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

ALEXIS LEXUS.

GOOD EVENING, UH, CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LEXI AND I AM HERE AS A LONG BEACH RESIDENT.

TODAY I AM HERE AS A CHILD OF A SUBSTANCE ABUSE USER, AS A CERTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR AS WELL, AND, AND AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL WELLNESS AND HEALTH.

UH, THIS PROP DOES NOT DO JUSTICE TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE SUFFERING OUT HERE.

WHAT PROP 47 WILL DO, AS ALREADY STATED BEFORE, IS DIVERT FUNDS FROM, I'M SORRY, PROP 36.

WHAT PROP 36 WILL DO IS DIVERT FUNDS THAT ARE, UH, FUNDING THESE PROGRAMS THAT DOUG TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT ARE HELPING SO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS OUT HERE.

IT WILL TAKE FUNDS AWAY FROM THAT AND THOSE PROGRAMS WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THEIR ADDICTION OR THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

THE BEHAVIOR THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING AND THAT THEY'RE SHOWING IS A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL OF ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.

THAT CARE NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE, THE FAMILIES, TO SEE WHAT THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS.

SO I AM NO ON PROP 36 BECAUSE WE NEED CARE AND NOT CAGES TO SEND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM THE LOCAL JAILS TO PRISON TIME, WHICH THEN THEY HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN COMING HOME AND TRYING TO BE REHABILITATED IN THE CITY THAT THEY JUST LEFT, WHICH IS LONG BEACH.

NEXT IS KATHLEEN ADAMS, THEN YVONNE FIRO.

MY NAME IS KATHLEEN ADAMS. I AM PART OF DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND I AM A PARTNER WITH LA VOICE IN LA COUNTY.

UM, MY, UH, I MET DEAR FRIENDS AS A STUDENT AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH WHEN AT THE TIME WE WERE POOR AND LIVING ON TOP RAMEN AND KETCHUP PACKETS, OR DEL TACO PACKETS AND THE 50 CENT BEAN BURRITOS.

AND, UH, WE MADE FRIENDS AND WHAT I LEARNED IS PART OF THE WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR SCHOOL WAS, UH, SELLING DRUGS AND, UM, BURGLARIZING.

BUT, UM, THEY FIRST PART OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THEY RAN IN A PACK WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

AND THE PEER PRESSURE IS VERY STRONG.

AND AS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT YOUR BRAIN'S NOT FULLY FORMED BETWEEN THE AGE OF 18 AND 25.

HOWEVER, THE DUE TO THE, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REHAB, THEY HAD, UH, PAROLE OFFICERS WHO TAUGHT THEM COMPASSION, GAVE 'EM A SECOND CHANCE, JOB SKILLS, AND POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I HAPPILY WOULD SAY THEY BECAME SUCCESSFUL ENGINEERS AND, AND CORPORATIONS, THEIR, UH, FELONIES WERE REMOVED AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR.

SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND NO VOTE.

NO, NO, NO, BECAUSE THERE'S PROOF THAT THIS WORKS AND THE FELONIES FELONY DIDN'T WORK FOR THESE GUYS AND THEY HAD FELONIES.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE.

UM, THAT IS WHY I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ENDORSING ON ENDORSING PROP 36.

UH, NEXT IS YVONNE AND I'M JUST BEFORE YOU START, YVONNE, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT, UH, NEXT GROUP.

DAWN LOU, CHAR HART, UH, OLI GLEASON R PERIOD I, PERIOD.

UH, DYLAN SLATON.

JOSH LAURA SELMER ZIYAD RACK.

ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD.

PROCEED.

AWESOME.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS IVAN FIGUEROA.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AT LA VOICE PART OF PICO, CALIFORNIA.

UM, WE REPRESENT A COALITION OF CONGREGATIONS IN LONG BEACH AND LA COUNTY, UM, THAT BELIEVE IN EQUITY AND ABUNDANCE FOR ALL.

[01:35:01]

PROP 36 FAILS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH ADDICTION AND INCOME AND EQUALITY.

I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SPENDS 132,000 TO SEND ONE PERSON TO PRISON AS OPPOSED TO 32,000 TO SEND ONE STUDENT THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT OUR VALUES AS A STATE? UM, WE'VE DONE MASS INCARCERATION BEFORE.

IT DIDN'T WORK.

UM, WE CAN'T GO BACK TO POLICIES THAT DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE US SAFER.

WE MUST MOVE FORWARD IN FINDING REAL SOLUTIONS FOR REAL PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN WE ASK OURSELVES WHAT REALLY MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, IT'S NOT SENDING MORE PEOPLE TO PRISON.

IT'S ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ITS CHILDREN'S HAVING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. ITS PEOPLE, UM, COMING HOME FROM PRISON FINDING WELL-PAID JOBS.

UM, REVEREND UH, DR.

SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK SAYS A VOTE IS A KIND OF PRAYER, A KIND OF PRAYER FOR WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

MY PRAYER IS FOR COMPASSION.

MY PRAYER IS FOR SECOND CHANCES.

MY PRAYER IS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THANK YOU.

YOUR TIME IS, IS FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DAWN, THEN LOU.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

UM, MY NAME IS DAWN.

I AM WITH THE LA AND LONG BEACH, UH, CHAPTER FOR ALL OF US OR NONE.

I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DEEP OPPOSITION AGAINST PROPOSITION 36, A PROPOSED MEASURE THAT WOULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE INCARCERATION RATES IN CALIFORNIA WHILE STRIPPING VITAL FUNDING FROM COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. PROPOSITION SIX MASQUERADES AS A SOLUTION TO RETAIL THEFT, BUT ITS TRUE INTENT IS TO IMPOSE HARSH PRISON SENTENCES FOR LOW LEVEL DRUG OFFENSES.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STEP BACKWARD TOWARDS THE FAILED POLICIES OF MASS INCARCERATION THAT HAVE DEVASTATED OUR COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING PRISON SENTENCES.

PROP SIX OR 36 WILL COST CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY, IT'S ABOUT OUR VALUES AND PRIORITIES.

EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON THE PRISON SYSTEM IS A DOLLAR TAKEN AWAY FROM SCHOOLS, CRIME, SURVIVOR SERVICES, ADDICTION TREATMENT, AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER.

THIS MEASURE WOULD ROLL BACK THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE WITH PROPOSITION 47, WHICH WISELY REDIRECTED FUNDS FROM PRISONS TO WHAT SERVICES LIKE DRUG TREATMENT, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROPOSITION 36 WOULD UNDO THESE REFORMS AND SEND US BACK DOWN A PATH THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE COSTLY AND INEFFECTIVE.

AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF PROP 36, RATHER THAN SUPPORTING A MEASURE THAT WILL INCREASE INCARCERATION AND UNDERMINE COMMUNITY SAFETY.

LET'S CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME AND HELP OUR NEIGHBORS.

YOUR CHINESE UP REBUILD OUR LIVES.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS LOU, THEN SHAW.

OH, HELLO, MY NAME IS LOU ROSEN.

I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH DISTRICT SIX.

I'M HERE TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO NOT ONLY VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, BUT TO TAKE A DECISIVE STANCE TO OPPOSE PROP 36.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS PROPOSITION WILL BE.

WE CAN LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OUR COUNTRY'S PAST AND THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF RONALD REAGAN'S WAR ON DRUGS.

WE KNOW NOW IN 2024 THAT CRIMINALIZATION DOESN'T WORK AND THAT THIS MEASURE WILL ONLY SERVE TO DISPROPORTIONATELY SEND MORE OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PRISON FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENSES JUST LIKE IT DID BACK IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES.

Y'ALL KNOW THE SAYING, THOSE WHO DON'T LEARN FROM THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT.

I SEE THOSE BOOKS UP ON THE PODIUM.

I SEE THAT Y'ALL ARE FANS OF LEARNING AND THAT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO SHY AWAY FROM THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT OR CONTROVERSIAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WE HAVE TO READ INTO THE LESSONS OF THE PAST AND LOOK FOR NEW SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE THAT WILL TRULY MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

I URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS SUCH AS GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, SENIOR SENATOR ALEX PADILLA, AND OUR LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON, AS WELL AS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSO ASSOCIATION, AND THE CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION TO VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM AND TAKE A STANCE AGAINST PROPOSITION 36.

ON THE THIRD ENCOUNTER WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS HAD A DRUG DIFFICULTY, THE OFFICER COULD SAY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SORRY.

LEMME, I'M CHAR BACK TOGETHER.

OKAY, SHAR, YOU'RE UP AFTER SHAR IS OLIVIA, THEN RI I HAVE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IN FACT, A COUPLE THAT LEAD ME TO SAY, WHAT IF, WHAT IF

[01:40:01]

WHAT IF WHEN WE HAVE A $950 OR LESS MISDEMEANOR EVENT, AND THE OFFICER COULD SAY, HERE'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, AND THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE PROPOSITION 47 HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY PROPOSITION 36 TO HELP THE PERSON WHO REALLY NEEDS THE CARE THAT THE SYSTEM COULD PROVIDE.

SEE THAT THERE IS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO SAYS, WE KNOW THAT YOUR SELF-CONTROL ISN'T MAYBE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, OR MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.

MAYBE YOU DO HAVE THAT AND YOU JUST MAKE THE CHOICE.

BUT WE AS A COMMUNITY, SAY ON THE THIRD ENCOUNTER WITH YOU, WE'VE GOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR BEHAVIOR.

THAT'S IT.

I HAVE SAT IN MY VOLUNTEER WORK WITH PARENTS WHOSE CHILD HAD REPEATEDLY FACED THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM AND THE JURISPRUDENCE SYSTEM AND THEIR ADDICTION COULD NOT BE MANAGED BY PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THE FAMILY WAS AS, AS DISTRAUGHT AS COULD BE BECAUSE THEY ALSO COULDN'T INFLUENCE THAT.

I'VE BEEN WITH PEOPLE WHO OWN BUSINESSES AFFECTED REPEATEDLY BY LESS THAN $950 MISDEMEANORS GOING, WHAT? NOW WHAT I ASK YOU IS, WHAT IF PROPOSITION 36 COULD HELP? THANK YOU.

NEXT IS OLIVIA.

HELLO.

UM, MY NAME'S OLIVIA GLI AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT THREE IN LONG BEACH.

I'M A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE WITH CALIFORNIANS UNITED FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET.

AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO STRONGLY OPPOSE PROP 36.

PROP 36 IS AN INITIATIVE AS WE HEARD TODAY BEING FUNDED BY MEGA CORPORATIONS LIKE WALMART, TARGET, AND HOME DEPOT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT TRUE SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, THERE ARE MULTIPLE ESTIMATES FOR HOW MUCH PROP 36 COULD COST, BUT HISTORY TELLS US THAT SUCH MEASURES ALMOST ALWAYS END UP COSTING FAR MORE THAN PROJECTED.

WHILE SOME OFFICIAL ESTIMATES SUGGEST PROP 36 COULD INCREASE STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE COSTS BY TENS TO HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AN ANNUALLY ANALYSES BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CALIFORNIANS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE WARNED, THE TOTAL COST COULD REACH 26 BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

PROP 36 WILL CUT GUT AND DEFUND SUCCESSFUL HARM PREVENTION THAT IS UP AND RUNNING.

DESPITE THE INITIATIVE BEING SOLD AS NEW TREATMENT.

IT DOESN'T CREATE A SINGLE STREAM OF FUNDING, WHICH WE KNOW WILL INEV INEVITABLY IMPACT VITAL PROGRAMS PROVEN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

IT IS ALSO PROVEN THAT FORCED TREATMENT WITH THE THREAT OF PUNISHMENT IS NOT ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT.

PROP 36 WILL ALSO UNDO PROGRESS MADE BY PROP 30 47, AN INITIATIVE APPROVED BY CALIFORNIA VOTERS THAT HAS SAVED NEARLY $1 BILLION.

SOME OF THE SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER PROP 47 WE'RE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UM, AND APPROVING PROP 36 WILL INEVITABLY THREATEN THESE PROGRAMS. PLEASE OPPOSE.

ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER.

RI MY NAME IS RICK.

I'M A I RESIDENT OF THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.

I WENT TO, UH, HARBOR FREIGHT AND I WAS STANDING THERE AND SOMEBODY WALKED OUT, HIGH SCHOOL KID, WALKED OUT WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF.

I WAS STANDING THERE WITH THE MANAGER AND I WAS WENT OVER TO HOME DEPOT AND THERE WAS ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON, HIGH SCHOOL KID WALKED OUT.

AND, UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD KIDS THAT, UH, COULD BE HELPED.

AND I THINK IF YOU HAVE NO CONSEQUENCES, UM, AND IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE DOING IT, IT BECOMES A STEPPING STONE FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO, UM, FOLLOW ALONG AND ALSO TO USE IT AS A STEPPING STONE TO BIGGER CRIME.

I THINK SINCE WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY, UM, NO BACKBONE IN THE SYSTEM, I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT WOULD TAKE US BACK TO THE FAILED WAR ON DRUGS ERA.

NEXT IS THE NEXT IS DYLAN.

AFTER DYLAN IS JOSH, THEN LAURA, THEN YAD RACK, THEN RAY GLE.

JOSH BROUGHT BY COMPUTER.

HEY EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS JOSH DE LEON.

I'M BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH.

I'M A PRODUCT LONG BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'M A BRAND NEW COMMISSIONER, SUPER NEW.

I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET FOR EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE.

AND I'M HERE IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY CALLING A YOU TO OPPOSE PROP 36.

PROP 36 IS SOLD AS A PUBLIC SAFETY BILL, BUT IT IS A TROJAN HORSE.

[01:45:01]

AND THE REASON WHY I HAVE DATA PROP 36 WOULD INCREASE PUBLIC SPENDING ON JAILS AND PRISONS BY $49 BILLION.

IT WOULD BE THE LARGEST ONE-TIME INVESTMENT IN CALIFORNIA'S PRISON SYSTEM EVER.

AND WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.

IT WOULD CUT SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF CRIME BY $300 MILLION.

IT WOULD DECREASE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION BY $10 MILLION.

IT WOULD CUT $750 MILLION IN THE NEXT DECADE FROM MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, YOUTH AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. IT CUTS AND IT CUTS AND IT CUTS FROM CARE AND INVESTED IN CAGES.

MEANWHILE, THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE CREATED BY PROP 30, BY BY PROP 47, UH, ACTUALLY HAVE LARGELY WORKED WHEN THEY'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH PROP 47 PROGRAMS WERE 60% LESS LIKELY TO BECOME UNHOUSED, 182% MORE LIKELY TO GET EMPLOYED AND HAD A LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE THAN PEOPLE WHO DID NOT GO THROUGH IT.

WE SHOULD BE FUNDING PROP 47 PROGRAMS MORE, NOT LESS.

AND AS ANGELA DAVIS SAYS, PRISONS DON'T DISAPPEAR SOCIAL PROBLEMS, THEY DISAPPEAR HUMAN BEINGS.

WE SHOULD BE INVESTING PREVENTION IN ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES IN CARE.

SO WE HAVE LAURA SELMER AND ZID LAURA, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS LAURA SIL.

MY ADDRESS IS ON FILE.

I'M ASKING THAT YOU SUPPORT, UH, THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM TO VOTE YES.

ON PROPOSITION 36.

UH, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, THE DECREASE IN, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS TELLING US THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WON'T EVEN BOTHER BECAUSE THE GUYS WILL BE OUT OF JAIL.

YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE OUTTA JAIL IN THE MORNING.

THEY WON'T EVEN GO TO JAIL.

SO WE SEE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY SEEMINGLY DISHEARTENED THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LIKE ALL OF US.

WE WERE YOUNG AT ONE POINT, AND I REMEMBER LEARNING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE CHOICES AND WE HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND I, I BELIEVE THAT I, I RAISED MY DAUGHTER THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW, CHOICE IS CONSEQUENCES.

AND I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG PERSON, I GREW UP IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES AND THERE WERE DRUGS ALL OVER, AND I DIDN'T LIKE THE CONSEQUENCES.

DRUGS WOULD GET YOU IN JAIL.

UM, AND ONE THING THAT, UM, CITY PROSECUTOR HALBERT BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE 3000% INCREASE OF FENTANYL DEATHS IN OUR COUNTY MORGUE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S TOO HIGH OF A NUMBER.

AND FENTANYL IS ONE OF THE DRUGS THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED WITH PROPOSITION 36.

MY SOBRIETY DATE IS NOVEMBER 23RD, 2015.

NEXT IS YA.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ZIYAD ZAREK.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.

MY BALCONY OVERLOOKS BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY.

I'VE SEEN OVERDOSES REGULARLY, AND THE REASON THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF PROP 36 IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I'M ALSO A RECOVERING ADDICT.

AND TREATMENT SAVED MY LIFE.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NEEDED WAS PROTECTION FROM MYSELF.

AND THAT'S WHAT I FEEL PROP 36 DOES.

PROP 47 DOESN'T WORK.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS OPEN YOUR EYES.

YOU COULD SEE THE ENCAMPMENTS, YOU CAN SEE THE SUFFERING.

YOU CAN SEE THE ADDICTION, YOU CAN SEE THE DEATHS.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR REGULARLY FROM THIS COUNSEL IS EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.

WELL, THAT'S NOT EMPATHETIC, AND IT'S NOT COMPASSIONATE TO LET ADDICTS DIE ON OUR STREETS EVERY DAY.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT AND ENDORSE PROP 36.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN G.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE YOU ON THE LIST, BUT ANY MEMBER OF THIS BODY, UH, YOU SPENT EIGHT YEARS, I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

HE WENT AND TRIED TO BREAK INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE YESTERDAY IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

YOU MAYOR, BUT YOU STILL GET 90 SECONDS.

OKAY, THEN NEXT TIME I'LL REMEMBER I HAVE TO SIGN UP.

WELL, I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 36 IN 19, IN 40, EXCUSE ME, PROP 47, 10 YEARS OLD.

UH, HARD DRUGS WERE A FELONY, BUT FENTANYL DID NOT EXIST.

PROP 47 MADE HARD DRUGS A MISDEMEANOR ONLY TODAY, IT'S A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE.

I SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU EARLIER TODAY VIA EMAIL, THE STORY THAT I EXPERIENCED ON MY FRONT PORCH.

THREE DAYS, THREE NIGHTS IN ONE WEEK, WHERE THE GENTLEMAN DECIDED THAT HE COULD SMOKE HIS CIGARETTES, DRINK HIS ALCOHOL, AND FLIP ME OFF.

WHEN I ASKED HIM TO LEAVE, I HAD TO WAIT 30 MINUTES FOR THE POLICE WHILE MY SON WAS ASLEEP IN HIS ROOM ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE.

AND YES, HE WAS LOADED.

HE'S STILL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE'S APPROACHED A 3-YEAR-OLD.

[01:50:01]

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WHEN IT TOUCHES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

DRUGS ARE THAT REALLY FENTANYL IS WHAT'S KILLING PEOPLE THE VERY MOST.

IT'S RAMPANT.

IT'S KILLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THEIR HOMES WITH THEIR FAMILIES, TO THOSE THAT LIVE ON THE STREET TODAY.

IT'S COMMON TO SEE A HOMELESS PERSON SLEEPING ACROSS A SIDEWALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

AND YOU DON'T, NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM.

ARE THEY DEAD? ARE THEY ALIVE? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? IT'S COMMON TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN THAT STANDS ON THE CORNER RANTING TO NOBODY.

HE'S GOT A PROBLEM.

HE NEEDS HELP.

IF, I HOPE TO GOD THAT PROP 36 WILL MAKE IT.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT IT.

A I KNOW.

VOTE WOULD BE GREAT.

ALRIGHT, SO NORMALLY WE DON'T DO THIS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

IF NOT, OKAY.

YOU'LL GET THE FINAL WORD AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BEHIND THE RAIL.

GO FOR IT.

UH, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER, UH, CRIME STATISTICS AND I, I REMEMBER CRIME STATISTICS.

CAN YOU MAKE SURE YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? OH, I'M SORRY.

JOE SOPA, FOURTH DISTRICT.

CRIME STATISTICS.

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE GOING DOWN AND, UH, EVERY MONTH AFTER MONTH, YEAR AFTER YEAR, QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY, IT WAS BORING TO HEAR ABOUT CRIME STATISTICS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THAT ANYMORE, YOU KNOW? AND WHAT'S HAPPENED, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS PROPOSITION 46, NOW, THIS PROPOSITION 36 WILL MODIFY THE DIFFICULT PARTS OF 40 47.

AND, AND THE MODIFICATION HAS TO DO WITH, UH, PROVIDING DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO HARD DRUGS, SUCH AS FENTANYL, COCAINE, HEROIN, HEROIN AND METHAMPHETAMINES.

ALSO ADDING, UH, FENTANYL TO EXISTING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OF HARD DRUGS WHILE ARMED WITH, WITH A, A FIREARM.

WE, UH, AND ADDING FENTANYL TO EXISTING LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE TRAFFICKING OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF HARD DRUGS.

THAT, THAT'S UNFATHOMABLE THAT, BECAUSE I HEAR ABOUT THE STATISTICS ABOUT FENTANYL KILLING SO MANY YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 TO 40.

AND THEN, UH, WARNING CON, CONVICTED HARD DRUG DEALERS IN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.

UH, I THINK THERE'S ONE, ONE FINAL.

LET'S KNOCK IT OUT.

90 SECONDS.

MY NAME IS DAVE SCHULE FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT.

I WAS COMPELLED TO SPEAK BECAUSE IF WE COULD GET THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY AROUND, UH, DOING SOMETHING AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE, I'D BE, UH, PRETTY EXCITED.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS, UH, REPEAL OF CERTAIN PARTS OF PROP 36, UH, SORRY, PROP 47 THROUGH PROP 36, UM, IS A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR STATE PRISONS AS WELL AS LOCAL PRISONS THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE CLOSING AND WE SHOULD BE AMENDING THE SYSTEM.

UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, UH, FENTANYL IS USED AS THE, THE IMPETUS FOR THE BILL.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, BETTER TARGETED JUST TO DEAL WITH THAT SPECIFIC NEW PROBLEM IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE.

BUT AS USUAL, UH, IF ONE LOOKS AT THE RECENT HISTORY SINCE THE 96 CRIME BILL, THEY, THESE ARE ALWAYS GRABS FOR MORE POWER, MORE CONTROL, MORE ABILITY, FRANKLY, TO WAREHOUSE PEOPLE.

AND, UH, THERE'S ALWAYS A CERTAIN KIND OF PERSON AND THERE ALWAYS A CERTAIN KIND OF, UH, TARGETED NESS THAT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT OCCURS.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TRACK.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MEASURE.

AND YOU'VE HEARD, UH, A LOT OF DATA ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT.

PLEASE VOTE.

NO.

BUT NOT UNDER THE OFFICIAL CITY BANNER.

OKAY, WE'LL NOW TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, THE SECONDER, AND THEN GO THROUGH THE LIST OF SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE VOTING PROCESS.

SO, UH, JUST QUICKLY, JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR AND MADAM ATTORNEY, FEEL FREE TO BACK ME UP HERE.

THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CANNOT ADVOCATE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

YOU CAN TAKE A VOTE AND THAT LIMITS IT.

SO YOU CAN'T HAVE MEETINGS UNDER OFFICIAL BANNER.

YOU CAN'T HAVE TOWN HALLS, ANY OF THAT UNDER AN OFFICIAL CITY BANNER.

AND THE MEASURES THAT WE'VE TAKEN POSITIONS ON, WE'VE PUT THREE FORWARD IN FRONT OF VOTERS, AND WE TOOK A POSITION ON A REGIONAL MEASURE AND A STATEWIDE CLIMATE BOND.

WE MADE THE CASE, CITY COUNCIL MADE THEIR VOTES, BUT BEYOND THAT, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT WADE INTO OR TAKEN A POSITION, UH, OR ADVOCATED RATHER ON ANY OF THOSE.

THE SAME APPLIES HERE.

SO BEYOND THIS DISCUSSION TONIGHT, THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS.

INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN GO OUT UNDER THEIR, UNDER THEIR OWN RESIDENT BANNER,

[01:55:01]

AND ADVOCATE HOW THEY CHOOSE.

UH, I THINK THE PRESENTATION SHOWED SOME, UH, MANY ARE TAKING THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING POSITIONS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND PLAYING VERY ACTIVE ROLES ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS THING.

AND SO WE JUST NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR, UH, WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE TONIGHT, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT'S JUST A DECISION HERE, BUT IT DOES NOT, UH, PERMIT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH OR ANYONE TO GO OUT AND CAMPAIGN ONE WAY OR OR THE OTHER.

SO I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO STATE.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? UH, UH, MADAM ATTORNEY? UH, NO.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THE CITY CAN'T TAKE A POSITION OTHER THAN THE COUNCIL ACTING TONIGHT.

UM, BUT INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS OR IN ANY INDIVIDUAL CAN IN THEIR PERSONAL CAPACITY, TAKE ANY POSITION THEY'D LIKE.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA NOW GO THROUGH THE PRO.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT IN THE COMMUNITIES LAST FEW DAYS ABOUT WHAT CAN OR CAN'T TAKE PLACE.

SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE COUNCIL PROCESS.

UH, WE'LL START WITH THE MAKER OF THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

UM, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND ON PROP 36.

I ENDORSED PROP 36 BACK IN MARCH WHEN IT WAS HOMELESSNESS, DRUG ADDICTION, AND THE THEFT REDUCTION ACT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS ITEM, THIS MEASURE, WHICH WILL MAKE REAL CHANGE IN OUR SYSTEM TO ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT AND DRUG CRIMES.

AND DRUG USE ISN'T GOING DOWN.

CITY PROSECUTOR, UH, DOUG HALBERT.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING THE CURRENT CHALLENGES OF OUR SYSTEM AND WHAT PROP 36 WILL DO.

I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF MISLEADING TALKING POINTS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE OPPOSING PROP 36, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION GROUNDED BY FACTS.

FIRST, PROP 36 WILL TAKE US BACK TO THE LAWS OF THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS MIS MISCHARACTERIZATION THAT IS MINIMIZING THE HARMFUL NATURE OF, OF OUR PAST LAWS.

IN THE NINETIES, LAWS LIKE PROP 180 4 STATED THAT PEOPLE WITH THREE OR MORE FELONY CHARGES, VIOLENT OR NOT, COULD FACE 25 YEARS TO LIFE.

IN PRISON, PEOPLE COULD FACE 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR CRIMES THAT WE NOW GIVE A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

PROP 36 MAKES A BALANCE CHANGE THAT SAYS, PEOPLE WHO REPEATEDLY BREAK THE LAW AND REPEATEDLY REFUSE TREATMENT MAY SERVE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS IN JAIL.

IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO COMPARE PROP 36 TO THESE PAST LAWS TO TRY AND GAIN POLITICAL ADVANTAGE, AND I BELIEVE IT MINIMIZES THE HARM THESE PAST LAWS HAVE HAD ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

SECOND, I'M HEARING THAT PROP 47 GENERATED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE POSITIVE BENEFITS.

AND PASSING PROP 36 WILL ELIMINATE THIS FUNDING.

IT'S TRUE.

PROP 47 DID GENERATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WORKED.

BUT ONCE THESE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRICKLED DOWN, IT AMOUNTED TO $8 MILLION FOR LA COUNTY.

THIS IS LESS THAN A DOLLAR PER YEAR PER PERSON IN LA COUNTY.

TO PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS SPENDING A DOLLAR, $1 AND 10 CENTS PER PERSON PER YEAR TO HIRE SECURITY AT TWO LIBRARIES.

AND WITHIN OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, THE FUNDING WE RECEIVE FROM PROP 47 FOR TREATMENT IS LIKE BRINGING A GARDEN HOSE TO A WILDFIRE AND SAYING, OH, THE GARDEN HOSE IS PROVEN TO PUT OUT FIRES.

SURE IT IS, BUT IT'S DANGEROUSLY INSUFFICIENT.

THE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY PROP 47 ARE PROVEN TO WORK, BUT THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY PROP 47 ARE PENNIES COMPARED TO THE COST THE CITY IS SPENDING ON THE IMPACTS.

THIRD, THE, THROUGH THE, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THAT THE LAWS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE ARE STARTING TO WORK BECAUSE CRIME IS GOING DOWN, CRIME ISN'T GOING DOWN, IT'S GOING UNREPORTED.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING FATIGUED AFTER YEARS OF REPORTING CRIMES FOR NOTHING TO HAPPEN.

IN FACT, THE STATE HAD TO PASS AB 29 43 RECENTLY TO PROTECT RETAILERS FROM BEING CITED FOR REPEATEDLY REPORTING RETAIL THEFT BECAUSE BUSINESSES WERE BEING DISCOURAGED TO REPORT CRIMES.

RETAIL THEFT

[02:00:01]

PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF REPORTING THESE CRIMES AND HAVING NOTHING HAPPEN.

AND LASTLY, YOU'LL HEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY PASSED LAWS GIVING US THE TOOLS NEEDED TO ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT.

THE STATE DID PASS A LAW SAYING THAT PROSECUTORS CAN AGGREGATE MULTIPLE DIS MISDEMEANORS INTO A FELONY PROSECUTOR HALBERT, COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THAT WOULD WORK? I'M AWARE OF A LAW THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED THAT PURPORTEDLY GAVE PROSECUTORS THE ABILITY TO AGGREGATE MISDEMEANORS TO MAKE IT A FELONY.

UM, THAT WOULD VIOLATE PROPOSITION 47, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THE CASE HAS NOT BEEN LITIGATED YET, BUT I CAN SAY WITH SOME CERTAINTY THAT IF ANYONE WHO WAS SUBJECT TO TWO MISDEMEANORS UNDER PROP 47 HAD THOSE AGGREGATED INTO A FELONY, THAT THAT PERSON WOULD CHALLENGE THAT LAW.

I WOULD WANT TO BE ON THE SIDE CHALLENGING THAT PROSECUTOR'S DECISION.

I WOULD NOT WANNA BE ON THE SIDE SAYING THAT IT DOES NOT VIOLATE PROP 47.

THE, THE VOTER SPOKE WITH PROP 47.

THE ONLY WAY TO AMEND PROP 47 IS WITH A SUBSEQUENT MEASURE.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION WORKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR TIME.

FEEL FREE TO QUEUE BACK UP.

NEXT IS VICE MAYOR ALLEN.

UM, SO, UM, PROSECUTOR HALBERT, I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

UM, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M READING THIS AND I WANT YOUR OPINION ON THIS.

UM, PROVIDING DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO HARD DRUGS, SUCH AS FENTANYL, COCAINE, HEROIN, AND METHAMPHETAMINE.

IS THAT A GOOD THING? IS THAT A RHETORICAL QUESTION? MM-HMM.

YEAH.

I, I I THINK TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT SUFFER FROM ADDICTION TO METHAMPHETAMINE, HEROIN, UH, FENTANYL AND COCAINE IS A GOOD THING.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST, JUST QUICKLY, EVERYONE IN THAT BOX HAS TO BE, HAS TO NOT GIVE OPINIONS.

THEY HAVE TO GIVE FACTS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

RIGHT.

WELL, I, TONIGHT LET'S JUST NOT PUT IN THAT POSITION.

IF, IF YOU WERE THERE AS A RESIDENT, YOU CAN, I THINK YOU CAN ASK THOSE.

WELL, I KIND OF QUESTION, I DID CLARIFY THAT.

SO I NEED, UM, SOMEONE, I GUESS IF I'M NOT ALLOWED TO ASK, UM, WHAT, BECAUSE HE'S THE PROSECUTOR, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT PENAL STATUTE UNDER 7 0 3 OF THE, UH, THE CODE, I'M SORRY.

THE CITY CHARTER, I, I'M IS ONE OF MY DUTIES IS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND TO RENDER OPINIONS ABOUT PENAL STATUTES LIKE PROPOSITION 47.

AND WHAT HAS, UM, IN THE PAST, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT LIKE WHAT YOUR OFFICE, OR YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR OFFICE HAS DONE WITH REGARDS TO, UM, ANY, UH, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR ANY OUTREACH, UM, OR PEOPLE ADDICTED TO DRUGS? YEAH.

AND HOW WOULD THAT CHANGE MAYBE I WAS INARTFUL IN HOW I EXPLAINED WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND IN LONG BEACH, UH, PARTICULARLY, I, I THINK THE PEOPLE ON THE DIOCESE KNOW THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO TRY TO ALIGN RESOURCES IN MY OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH RESOURCES, WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, WITH THE LONG BEACH CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, UH, WHO HAVE ADDICTION, WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESSES.

AND SO WE, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND MAKE A LOT OF EFFORTS ONLY WHEN PEOPLE INTERSECT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BECAUSE MY OFFICE IS NOT INVOLVED IN HOMELESSNESS UNLESS A HOMELESS PERSON IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME.

AND THEN WE GET INVOLVED AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE UNDERLYING CONDITION SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE THIS PERSON OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IF WE CAN ADDRESS THAT ADDICTION, ADDRESS, THAT MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM, WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE THEM.

SO, YES, THAT, THAT'S BEEN A BIG CHANGE, I WOULD SAY, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IN THE LAST DECADE.

KEEP GOING DOWN THE LIST.

COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

ALL RIGHTY.

I WANNA DEFER TO, UM, THE, UH, CHAIR OF THE, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMISSION COMMITTEE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER , I'LL DE DEFER MY TIME.

WELL, HE'S, YOU GOT TWO MORE SPEAKERS AND WE GET TO HIM.

SO YOU WANNA GIVE COMMENTS YOU WANTED TO PASS AND COME BACK AFTER COUNCILMAN? WELL, I'LL START WITH A QUESTION.

TWO CONVICTIONS FOR THEFT, THAT FOR MISDEMEANOR THEFT OR ANY TYPE OF THEFT, THAT THIRD TIME THAT THEY COMMIT A THEFT CRIME, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS THE DISCRETION TO FILE FELONY CHARGES.

SO, SO MR. UM, PROSECUTOR MR. HOBERT, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THAT PROP 36 WOULD CHANGE, UM, THE, THE, THE FORMULA IN TERMS OF HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE, ARE PROSECUTED.

THEY'LL BE PROSECUTED FOR TWO MISDEMEANORS, AND THEN IT WOULD BE ELEVATED TO A FELONY AND A THIRD OFFENSE.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

SO UNDER, UNDER PROPOSITION 36, IF A PERSON HAS

[02:05:01]

IT'S CALLED A WOBBLER.

THAT THIRD ONE IS A MISDEMEANOR FELONY WOBBLER.

IT'LL BE UP TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO FILE IT AS A FELONY OR TO FILE IT AS, AS A MISDEMEANOR.

AND THAT INCLUDES DRUGS, UM, POSSESSION, AND IT INCLUDES, UH, THEFT.

UH, THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE A MISDEMEANOR.

IT CAN BE ELEVATED TO A WOBBLER ON THE THIRD ONE.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

NOW, UM, HYPOTHETICALLY, SHOULD PROP 36 PASS, HOW WILL PRIOR OFFENSES BE CONSIDERED? SO, UH, THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPLIT ON THIS.

IS THERE GONNA BE A BLANK SLATE FROM THAT DAY FORWARD? NO, THE, THE WAY THE, THE WAY PROPOSITION 36 IS WRITTEN, THE INTENT IS TO COUNT ANY TWO PRIOR CONVICTIONS, WHICH COULD PREDATE THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 36.

THERE, THERE'S A PREVIOUS MEASURE THAT WAS CHALLENGED AND THROWN OUT BECAUSE A PERSON MAY HAVE PLED GUILTY TO A MISDEMEANOR TODAY NOT KNOWING THAT IT COULD RESULT IN A FELONY A MONTH FROM NOW.

AND SO, UH, IT IS POSSIBLE, UH, I'M NOT THE SUPREME COURT, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW IF I GO AS FAR AS TO SAY PROBABLE THAT THE CLOCK WILL START ALL OVER ONCE PROP 36, UM, IS PASSED IF IT IS PASSED.

LET ME ALSO ADD ANOTHER THING THAT'S CHANGED IN 10 YEARS IS THAT JUDGES CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO WITHDRAW THEIR PLEAS TO A MISDEMEANOR AND HAVE IT DISMISSED.

SO IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT SOMEBODY THAT HAS TWO MISDEMEANOR CONVICTIONS CAN HAVE IT WITHDRAWN AND DISMISSED SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TWO PRIORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROPOSITION 36, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

UH, I, I WILL QUEUE UP LATER AFTER THIS.

COUNCILMAN SUPERMAN.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THAT POINT ABOUT WHAT OUR BEHAVIOR IS MOVING FORWARD.

SO I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION ON THAT FROM, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY.

UM, SO IF WE HAD AT, AT ONE, LET'S SAY ONE OF MY, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS HELD AT A, AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, AND WE JUST HAD AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING AND SAID, SAY THE CITY PROSECUTOR WAS THERE TO, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS HE IS RIGHT NOW, UM, WOULD THAT BE, UH, ACCEPTABLE? UM, SO IF AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING IS FINE, AS LONG AS THERE'S NO ADVOCACY INVOLVED, THERE'S ANY CITY RESOURCES INVOLVED IN ANY WAY, WHETHER THAT BE ON SOMEONE'S, UH, WORK TIME, ANY CITY EMPLOYEE ON THEIR WORK TIME USING CITY COMPUTERS TO SET UP THE MEETINGS, IF THERE'S ANY CITY RESOURCES INVOLVED AT ALL, UM, THEN IT HAS TO BE INFORMATIONAL ONLY.

THERE CAN'T BE ANY ADVOCACY AT ALL.

GOT IT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

AND TO THE CITY PROSECUTOR, UM, I, I KNOW IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE YOU, UH, FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT EXISTING CASES OR SOME CASES ON AN APPEAL.

SO DON'T THINK I'M REFERENCING ANY, ANY SPECIFIC, UH, UM, ISSUE OR, OR CRIME.

BUT IF WE HAD A CASE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, HAD REPEATED, UH, THEFTS, UH, FROM A RETAILER, UH, ON, UH, $900, LET'S SAY, UM, LET'S SAY A DOZEN CASES, IS THERE ANY GUARANTEE THAT THAT WILL GO TO A FELONY CHARGE ON THAT PERSON? NO.

AND UNDER PROPOSITION 36, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD HAVE DISCRETION IF A PERSON HAS TWO PRIOR THEFT CASES TO FILE THE THIRD CASE AS A FELONY.

IT IS NOT AUTOMATIC.

IT IS UP TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO FILE IT.

AND AGAIN, IF A JUDGE DOESN'T DISMISS PRIOR ONES, THEN IT WOULD STILL BE THE THIRD ONE.

SO IT REQUIRES REALLY A JUDGE AND A DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO AGREE FOR THAT PARTICULAR CASE.

AS TO WHETHER FROM 36 IS, IS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED OR NOT SUPPORTED.

ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALL FOR RECOGNIZING MY LEADERSHIP ON THE, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, UH, COMMITTEE.

UH, WE DID HAVE A MEETING REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS OTHERS, UH, DURING THAT TIME.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL SUGGESTION THAT WE RECEIVE A FILE AND THE, UH, THERE WERE PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE MADE AT THE IGA, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

I WHAT WAS TAKEN TO SUPPORT PROMP 36.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW.

THAT'S WHAT MEAN FOR YOU.

HOWEVER, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT IS UP TO THE MOTORS TO DECIDE WHETHER PROPOSITION 36 PASSES OR NOT.

IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THIS CITY COUNCIL TO DO, TO DO THAT.

HOWEVER, IT IS NOT, UH, PRECLUDED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO INDIVIDUALLY DECIDE WHICH WAY THEY WANNA GO WITH A PROPOSITION.

SO, WE'VE HEARD A LOT IN DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE FOR YOUR COMING OUT AND STATING YOUR OPINIONS

[02:10:01]

WHAT I WANT TO APPROVE DO AT THIS POINT IS TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO RECEIVE A FILE THE, UH, THE ITEM AND HAVE NO, I TAKE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION AND HAVE NO FURTHER POSITION ON THIS ITEM FOR TODAY.

FOR THIS TIME.

THAT IS MY MOTION TO RECEIVE A FILE.

MOTION IS THERE'S A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE? I SECOND.

UH, UH, NEXT IS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR SECOND BEFORE WE KEEP GOING DOWN THE LIST? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, YOU'RE UP.

UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUB SUB, UH, I'D LIKE TO APP, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, BUT ADD THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ADOPT BEST PRACTICES FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SO THAT THE DISCRETION TO FILE FELONY CHARGES IS NOT ABUSED BY DAS.

THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE MAIN MOTION, SO ANY TURNS, NODS.

AND CAN I FINISH WITH MY SPEAKING POINTS? SURE.

UH, LET'S GET A SECOND.

REAL QUICK, WHO'S YOUR SECONDER? IS THERE A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE? SUBSTITUTE? YEAH, I'LL SECOND.

SECONDED BY SUPER.

PLEASE, PLEASE PROCEED.

SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHY PROP 36 IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS NEEDED EVERY DAY WE SEE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES AGAINST ADDICTION, AND THIS ADDICTION IS BEING FUELED BY A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO STEAL WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.

A SERIES OF CHANGES IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS LEFT THE CITY MERELY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STOP THEIR DESTRUCTIVE HABITS WITH WITHOUT THE MOTIVATION OF CONSEQUENCES.

THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

COMPASSION.

TO ME, COMPASSION ISN'T LETTING A BUSINESS OWNER GET ROBBED OVER AND OVER AND OVER BY THE SAME PERSON WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.

COMPASSION ISN'T LETTING SOMEONE CONTINUE THEIR DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF ADDICTION, HOPING THAT THEY WAKE UP AND DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TREATMENT.

COMPASSION WORKS IN ALL DIRECTIONS, AND OUR JOB IS TO SERVE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S A GROWING NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO NOT FEEL SERVED.

PROP 36 IS A BALANCED APPROACH THAT MAKES REAL CHANGES TO ADDRESS RETAIL THEFT AND DRUG USE.

OUR CURRENT SYSTEM OF ASKING PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION WHO ARE REPEATEDLY COMMITTING CRIMES, IF THEY WANNA FIGHT THE INTENSE BATTLE TO RECOVERY OR LET IT GO TO CONTINUE FEEDING THEIR ADDICTION, IT'S JUST NOT WORKING.

PLEASE SUPPORT PROP 36 TONIGHT AND VOTE FOR PROP 36 THIS NOVEMBER.

WE, UM, DO I STILL HAVE TIME? UH, I WANNA, I WANNA SHARE THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM, UM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF LONG BEACH VISIT LONG BEACH, THE LE, THE LONG BEACH RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF EMAILS OF SUPPORT AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE ON RECORD WITH THE CITY CLERK ALSO.

ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.

FILE FELONY CHARGES IS NOT ABUSED BY DAS.

UM, CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION THAT IS ON THE FLOOR, ADAM ATTORNEY? MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION 36 AND SEND A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UH, ASKING THAT PROSECUTORS HAVE DISCRETION.

IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN DISCRETION.

WELL, IF YOU CAN GIMME A LITTLE CLARITY ON WHAT DA'S TO

[02:15:01]

DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT AGAIN? YES, PLEASE ADD THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SEND A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ADOPT BEST PRACTICES FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SO THAT THE DISCRETION TO FILE FELONY CHARGES IS NOT ABUSED BY DAS.

UM, ARE YOU CLEAR? COUNCILMAN ZENDEJAS? OKAY.

WILL BE BE IMPACTED AS WELL.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX, UM, PROPOSITION.

I KNOW THAT, UM, AS A CITY, UM, IT IS, IT IS VERY COMPLEX TO COME OUT ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

BUT ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, UM, THE, THIS PROPOSITION IS ON THE BALLOT FOR A REASON.

I THINK THAT US TAKING A, A STANCE AS A CITY, YES, CAN BE SIGNIFICANT, BUT WHAT'S MORE SIGNIFICANT IS WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE TO SAY.

AND THAT'S WHY I AM ENCOURAGING THE VOTERS, WHETHER YOU ARE FOR, UM, THIS PROPOSITION OR WHETHER YOU ARE AGAINST THIS PROPOSITION, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ORGANIZE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET OUT THERE AND VOTE.

UM, WHICHEVER WAY THIS GOES, I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPACT CAN BE DONE BY OUR VOTERS.

SO I, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DO THAT BECAUSE YES, WE COULD SUPPORT IT, WE COULD NOT SUPPORT IT TODAY, BUT WHAT'S REALLY GONNA MATTER IS THAT WHEN YOU CAST YOUR VOTE.

THANK, THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN AUSTIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE COUNCIL AND YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO, UH, ALSO, UM, SHARED THEIR, THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE.

UM, I KNOW THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE FOR, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, AND ACTUALLY, UM, IT'S BEEN UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS THAT I KNOW OF.

UM, PRIOR TO, UM, EVEN GOVERNOR NEWSOM TAKING OFFICE, THERE WAS CONVERSATION ABOUT REPEALING PROP 47.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIR, WE, WE'VE DEALT WITH THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT WE'VE ALSO DEALT WITH THE, THE CHALLENGES OF THE ISSUES.

UM, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS, HAS DELIBERATED ISSUES.

I MEAN, VARIOUS COMMITTEES.

WE'VE HAD TOWN HALLS, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WHERE THESE ISSUES HAVE COME UP REGARDING PROP 47.

UH, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, UH, BUSINESS MEETINGS, UH, WHERE, WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE, UH, SHARED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.

I THINK, UM, ANY REASONABLE MINDED INDIVIDUAL WILL LOOK IN, ASK THE QUESTION, ARE WE BETTER OFF TODAY THAN WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME? UM, AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR THE QUESTION, BUT THAT'S AN INTROSPECTIVE QUESTION THAT VOTERS IN THE CITY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO, TO, AND, AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

UM, HOW AND HOW HAS PROPS 47 IMPACTED, UM, CRIME AND, AND AND THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND CITY? I CAN TELL YOU IN MY DISTRICT, UM, I LOST WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF TO PHARMACIES, LARGE PHARMACIES, CVS AND RITE AID BOTH CLOSED, RIGHT? THEY'RE VACANT BILITIES IN MY DISTRICT TODAY.

UH, AND THE REASON CITED WAS BECAUSE OF OUR OUTTA CONTROL RETAIL CRIME, RIGHT? I WILL GIVE, UH, OUR FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE SOME CREDIT BECAUSE I KNOW THIS, THIS ISSUE WAS FEROCIOUSLY DEBATED, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS, THIS LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.

UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN'T COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AND SO THEY KICKED IT BACK TO THE VOTERS.

THEY'VE COME UP WITH A, I WANNA SAY, A HALF A DOZEN BILLS OR SO, WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK.

UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE STILL HAVE, UH, THIS, THIS ITEM BEFORE THE, THE VOTERS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO WEIGH IN AND, AND MOVE ANYBODY ON THIS.

I THINK FOR MOST, FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE, THEIR MINDS ARE MADE UP ON THIS ITEM.

UH, I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY FISCAL IMPACTS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

UM, IN TERMS OF STATE FUNDING, OUR STATE IS IN A DE DEFICIT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS DEFICIT.

UM, YES, PRISON POPULATION IS DECREASING.

UM, AND THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET.

AND SO WHATEVER IS HA UH, DECIDED HERE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT.

UM, AND PRIORITIES

[02:20:01]

UM, SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PRIORITIES MAY BE IMPACTED.

UH, AND SO I WILL JUST SAY THAT THAT, UM, I, UM, I, I HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH, UM, THE, THE, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT? UM, I WON'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, A NO RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS COUNCIL.

UH, AND THAT'S NOT SKIRTING THE, THE, THE ISSUE.

I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE AT LEAST 10 PROPOSITIONS ON THE, ON THE BALLOT RIGHT NOW.

ARE WE GONNA BRING EVERY ONE OF THEM BEFORE US TO TAKE A POSITION ON? I DON'T THINK SO.

UH, I THINK, UM, PROP 47, AND I, I WILL TELL YOU, ME PERSONALLY, I'M LEANING TOWARDS SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE I DON'T, UH, FEEL LIKE I, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED A COURSE CORRECTION IN, IN, IN, IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN OUR STATE.

AND I THINK, UM, SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK MOST OF OUR LEGISLATIVE, UM, LEADERS HAVE, HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT AND ARE, ARE MAKING SOME CORRECTIONS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT, UM, A, A REPEAL IS, IS, IS 100%.

I'M NOT THERE YET.

I STILL WANT SOME TIME TO, TO, TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.

I WANT, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON, ON THE LEGISLATIVE, UH, WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AND, AND HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW TO DETERMINE HOW THOSE, THOSE BILLS ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR CITY.

AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT.

WE WE'RE COMING STRAIGHT FROM, LET'S GO TO, TO THE, TO THE ISSUE AT HAND ON THE BALLOT, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PASSED, UH, TO, TO, TO REALLY DEAL WITH, WITH THESE ISSUES.

THE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY OF RE RETAIL CRIME ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HOW WE DEAL WITH TREATMENT, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

AND SO FOR THAT, I WON'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM BEFORE US, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO, UH, THE, UM, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA.

UM, AGAIN, WE ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY CALLING FOR THE THIRD DISTRICT.

YOU'RE JUST CAMPAIGNED RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A MOTION.

I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A, A BIG ISSUE OUT OF THAT.

YOU DID SAY FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOTE A CERTAIN WAY, AND THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE, AND THAT IS NOT MY ORIGINAL MOTION.

MY MOTION IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE ITEM.

I TAKE NO FURTHER POSITION ON THIS ITEM HERE.

IF YOU WANNA VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, INDI AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU WALK UP TO IT.

I THINK OUR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY JUST SAID THAT, THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN VOTE HOWEVER WE WANT AND THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE, UH, SUPPORT THE MO NO SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

NOT THE SUBSTITUTE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

UH, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SIGN UP FOR COMMENT.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

JUST GONNA ADD A COMMENT.

I'M NOT GONNA TIP THE SCALE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THIS IS A COUNCIL DECISION.

THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE CAN RECOMMEND DIFFERENT THINGS TO TAKE POSITIONS ON FOR OR AGAINST.

AND WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE ARE, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE AND THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS WHATSOEVER.

UH, I AM ENCOURAGED BY, UH, ACTIONS THAT I'VE SEEN REGIONALLY AND STATEWIDE ON ADDRESSING SOME OF THE REAL CHALLENGES OF MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE, FENTANYL.

UH, I THINK, UH, WE'VE SEEN SOME REAL PROGRESS PROPOSITION ONE, THIS PAST MARCH, UH, WAS A BIG STEP IN UNLOCKING DOLLARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT REFORM.

UH, WE HAVE, WE'RE WORKING ON APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW TO BRING MORE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO LONG BEACH FROM PROPOSITION ONE.

UH, LONG BEACH SUPPORTED THAT LONG BEACH ENGAGED WITH CONSERVATORSHIP REFORM, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, UND, UH, SENATOR EDMAN AND WITH THE BIG CITY MAYORS.

AND THAT'S A NEW TOOL TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO'S IN ADDICTION, MORE TOOLS TO GO IN AND ENGAGE AND PULL THEM IN OFF THE STREETS.

UH, I THINK THAT'S HAPPENED.

THERE'S CERTAINLY MORE WORK TO DO.

UH, WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW WE'VE PUT FORWARD MEASURES IN LONG BEACH.

WE KNOW THAT.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH HAS A CLIFF AT THE END OF 2026.

ALL THAT FUNDING GOES AWAY.

HOW ARE WE GONNA SUPPORT OUR SHELTERS? HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND OUR OUTREACH WORKERS WHEN THAT MONEY GOES AWAY IN 2026? SO WE HAVE SOME BIG PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS ON.

UH, AND WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AND TO COUNCILMAN AUSTIN'S POINT, A LOT OF WORK JUST TOOK, IT WAS A HEAVY DEBATE ON THIS AND A WHOLE HOST OF MEASURES IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND WE NEED TO GET TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION

[02:25:01]

WAS NOT OVER.

I THINK THERE WERE, THERE WERE A, A LOT OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES THAT STILL NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AROUND RETAIL THEFT, UH, AROUND FENTANYL, AROUND SUBSTANCE USE.

UH, BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WE HAVE TODAY IS IMPERFECT.

THE BALLOT MEASURE PROCESS IS SUCH A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

I WOULD LOVE IF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO MADE DECISIONS THE WAY PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH DO, BECAUSE WE GET INTO A, A ROOM AND WE FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE WAY THAT IT'S SET UP.

THESE MEASURES WERE BALLOTS AND THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE BALLOT TO CHANGE.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY A COUN, UH, A COUNCIL DECISION.

AGAIN, I WANNA, YOU KNOW, CAUTION PEOPLE, BECAUSE THIS IS A PASSIONATE ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES.

WE CANNOT CROSS A LINE.

THERE IS A LINE YOU CANNOT CROSS AFTER THIS VOTE.

IT IS DONE.

YOU CAN'T DISCUSS IT, YOU CAN'T BRING IT UP A COMMITTEE, YOU CAN'T ADVOCATE ANYTHING ELSE AFTER THIS MOMENT THAT SAID, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON, LET'S RESTATE WHAT THE MOTION IS BEFORE YOU CAST OUR VOTE.

I THINK I'VE GOT IT THIS TIME.

SO THE SUBSTITUTE SUBSTITUTE IS TO SUPPORT PROP 36.

SEND A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ADOPT BEST PRACTICES.

SO THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS ARE NOT ABUSED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN I IMPLEMENTING THIS LAW.

OKAY, IF THIS MOTION PASSES, THAT'S IT.

IF IT FAILS, IT GOES TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MOTION FAIL.

PLEASE READ THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE THIS MATTER AND TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION.

AND WITH RECEIV AND FILE, AGAIN, INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING, UH, ELECTEDS ON THAT SIDE, ELECTEDS ON THIS BODY ARE FREE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED, WHATEVER THEY WANNA DO POLITICALLY, BUT NOT UNDER THE CITY.

BANNER UNDER THIS MOTION MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MOTION, CARRIE.

OKAY, SO THAT'S IT.

NO MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE.

UM, AND I WANNA NOTE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN KERR HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY AND SHE, SHE'S, UH, CHECKING IN ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

SHE WON'T BE RETURNING FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.

UM, SO WE WISH HER, CERTAINLY WISH HER THE BEST.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON.

ITEM 21 IS REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INTO THE RECORD AND CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NEXT.

ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ITEM 21 PLEASE.

[21. 24-54868 Recommendation to receive the supporting documentation into the record, and conclude the public hearing; Adopt resolution reapproving and recertifying an Addendum (EIRA-01-23) to the Program Environmental Impact Report prepared for the General Plan Land Use Element Update and Urban Design Element (PEIR) (EIR 03-16) relating to the implementation of the General Plan Land Use Element through the repeal and replacement of Title 22 and the rezoning of designated corridors in North Long Beach, Green Leaf Boulevard to the north, West Arbor Street to the south, Susana Road to the west, and Downey Avenue to the east (Project), in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15164 of the CEQA Guidelines and making certain findings and determinations that the adopted PEIR Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) mitigates, to the extent reasonably feasible, impacts associated with the Project and that no new or different mitigation measures are required; Office or Department: Suggested Action: ]

ONE, ADOPT RESOLUTION APPRO REAPP APPROVING AND RECERTIFYING AN ADDENDUM RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL PLAN.

USE ELEMENT THROUGH THE REPO AND REPLACEMENT OF TITLE 22 AND THE REZONING OF DESIGNATED CORRIDORS IN NORTH LONG BEACH TO DECLARE ORDINANCE TO REPO AND REPLACE THE TRANSIT ZONING CODE IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ESTABLISH NEW ZONING DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT THE NEO INDUSTRIAL, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOW AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, MODERATE PLACE TYPES OF THE LONG BEACH GENERAL PLAN, USE ELEMENT AND OTHER IMPLEMENT AND OTHER IMPLEMENTING CHANGES.

READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING AND DECLARE ORDINANCE TO IMPLEMENT CITY INITIATED REZONING OF SELECT PROPERTIES ON MAJOR QUARTERS IN NORTH LONG BEACH TO INCLUDE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, LOW MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, MODERATE NEO INDUSTRIAL ONE AND NEO INDUSTRIAL TWO.

READ THE FIRST TIME AND LAID OVER TO THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL READING AND RECEIVE THE FILE, THE UPPER LAND NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN FOR NORTH LONG BEACH CITYWIDE.

THIS DOES REQUIRE THREE SEPARATE VOTES.

ALRIGHT, SO THIS, UH, I SEE FOUR SEPARATE VOTES.

IS IT THREE OR IS IT FOUR? IT'S FOUR.

WE HAVE FOUR SEPARATE VOTES ON THIS.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL, NO, NO OATH REQUIRED.

UH, CITY MANAGER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

YES, UH, WE HAVE ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ LOPEZ, ADVANCED PLANNING OFFICER FOR STAFF PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

THE ADAM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A REZONING PROPOSAL FOR UPDATES TO ZONING REGULATIONS, NEW ZONING DISTRICTS, AND ZONING MAP CHANGES IN NORTH LONG BEACH AS THE END PRODUCT OF THE UP A N INITIATIVE THAT BEGAN OVER SIX YEARS AGO.

THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU TODAY CONSISTS OF FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS, FIRST AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING REGULATIONS IN TITLE 22.

SECONDLY, THE ADOPTION OF FOUR NEW ZONING DISTRICTS WITHIN TITLE 22 TO IMPLEMENT THREE GENERAL PLAN PLACE TYPES.

THIRDLY, THE REZONING OF SELECT PROPERTIES ALONG MAJOR CORRIDORS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF GREENLEAF FORT BOULEVARD TO THE NORTH DEL LAMO BOULEVARD TO THE SOUTH SUSANNA ROAD TO THE WEST, AND DOWNEY AVENUE TO THE EAST, ALSO COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS A 9 0 8 0 5 ZIP CODE.

AND FOURTH AND FINALLY TO RECEIVE AND

[02:30:01]

FILE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN, ALSO KNOWN AS THE NMEP FOR NORTH LAWN BEACH.

BEFORE GOING INTO THE DETAILS OF EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL CONTEXTUALIZE A PROJECT AND NEXT INTENDED IMPACT IN NORTH LAWN BEACH AND THE CITY OVERALL.

FIRSTLY, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, LONG RANGE URBAN PLANNING IN CALIFORNIA IS GUIDED BY A CITY'S GENERAL PLAN.

THE GENERAL PLAN IS FUNCTIONALLY A BIG PICTURE CONSTITUTION THAT LAYS OUT THE VISION, POLICIES AND GOALS FOR A GIVEN PLACE.

WHILE THE GENERAL PLAN LAYS OUT THE VISION AND HIGH LEVEL GUIDELINES FOR A CITY, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CHAPTER IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE IS THE MAIN TOOL TO CARRY OUT THE GENERAL PLAN TO THROUGH CLEAR AND DETAILED REGULATIONS.

IT IS THE LAW DESCRIBING HOW LAND CAN BE USED, WHICH PLAN IS REFERRED TO IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

A ZONE INCLUDES REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITTED USES, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, PARKING AND INCENTIVES FOR DESIRABLE USES.

EVERY GENERAL PLAN IS MADE UP OF A CITY, A SERIES OF INTERRELATED ELEMENTS OR CHAPTERS, EACH OF WHICH FOCUSES ON A CORE ASPECT OF CITY LIFE.

THESE ELEMENTS INCLUDE LAND USE, HOUSING, SAFETY, MOBILITY, OPEN SPACE, NOISE, AND CONSERVATION.

THE FOUR ELEMENTS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE HAVE ALL RECENTLY BEEN UP, BEEN UPDATED, AND THAT IT'S A RESULT THE ZONING CODE MUST BE UPDATED IN TURN TO REFLECT AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES ESTABLISHED IN EACH OF THEM.

MOST NOTABLY, THE LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATED IN 2019 AFTER A 15 YEAR UPDATE PERIOD AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATED IN 2022 AND REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO BE UPDATED EVERY EIGHT YEARS HAVE IMMEDIATE AND SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES ON THE ZONING CODE AND REQUIRE THAT THE CITY ZONING MAP AND REGULATIONS BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH BOTH.

ULTIMATELY, THE UPDATE TO THESE ELEMENTS HAVE PRECIPITATED THE NEED FOR CITYWIDE REZONING PROCESS.

NOW, WHILE ZONING IS A CRITICAL TOOL TO REGULATE LAND USE, IT IS NOT A SILVER BULLET OR ALL POWERFUL ZONING CAN AND DOES INCENTIVIZE OR RESTRICT ANY GIVEN LAND USE, PROMOTE OR LIMIT HOUSING PRODUCTION, ESTABLISH PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR A GIVEN USE, AND IN THE BEST CASE, ESTABLISH A COHESIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SET OF REGULATIONS TO FOSTER GROWTH AND EVOLUTION IN A GIVEN PLACE.

HOWEVER, ZONING BY ITSELF CANNOT GUARANTEE NEW CONSTRUCTION OR FORCE A SPECIFIC PROJECT SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GROCERY STORES OR PARKS TO BE BUILT IN A GIVEN PLACE.

ADDITIONALLY, WHILE IT CAN DESIGNATE A GIVEN USES PERMITTED IN A ZONING ZONE IN A CERTAIN ZONE AND CANNOT IMMEDIATELY FORCE SAID USE TO SHUT DOWN AS THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL NON-CONFORMING OR GRANDFATHERED RIGHTS FOR SAID USES.

THE LIMITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ZONING ARE BOTH CRUCIAL TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE REVIEWING ZONING PROPOSALS LIKE YOU PLAN.

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS YOU PLAN? THIS PROJECT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE A NEW VISION, ECONOMIC STRATEGIES, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS TO GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH LONG BEACH, ALSO KNOWN AS UPTOWN.

THE MAIN DELIVERABLES FOR THE PROJECT ARE THE NEW ZONING DISTRICTS AND REZONING MAP FOR NORTH LONG BEACH, ALONG WITH THE TECHNICAL STUDIES MOBILITY ANALYSIS AND REPORTS THAT INFORMED SAID RECOMMENDATIONS.

HOWEVER, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DELIVERABLE AND OUTCOME FOR THE PROJECT WHILE THE PROJECT DELIVERABLES ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

THE OUTCOME THAT WE SEEK FROM THIS PROCESS DOES NOT HAVE AN END DATE AS OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUOUSLY FOSTER AN EVOLVED, ENGAGED, AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY WHERE EXISTING RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM NEW INVESTMENT AND CHANGES.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE GENERAL PLAN PROVIDES GUIDELINES AND DIRECTION FOR ZONING REGULATIONS.

AS A REMINDER, THE LAND USE SETTLEMENT ADOPTED IN 2019 AND THE CORRESPONDING PLACE TYPES MAP SHOWN HERE, CITYWIDE ON THE LEFT AND FOR NORTH LAWN BEACH ON THE RIGHT SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEW U PLAN ZONES IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

THE ZONING PROPOSAL TIP BEFORE YOU TODAY IMPLEMENTS THESE PLACE TYPES AND DOES NOT PROPOSE AT THIS TIME ANY CHANGES TO THEM.

HOWEVER, THE MAP SHOWN HERE WITH SOME FOLKS MAY HAVE SEEN BEFORE ALSO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE CITY AND ITS CURRENT CONDITIONS.

HISTORICALLY, IN THE 1930S, AS THE US WAS COMING OUT OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE NEW DEAL OFFERED A PATHWAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LAUNCHING THEM SOLIDLY INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS.

BUT TO DETERMINE WHO WAS WORTHY OF RECEIVING GOVERNMENT BACKED MORTGAGES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AGENCIES USED COLOR CODED MAPS TO MARK WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVED, LIVED SHADING THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IN RED AND DEEMING THEM TOO RISKY FOR MORTGAGES.

THIS GAVE RIOT TO THE TERM REDLINING A PRACTICE THAT HAPPENED IN ALL MAJOR US CITIES, INCLUDING LONG BEACH.

AS YOU SEE ON OUR VERY OWN MAP SHOWN HERE, THE MAP ON THE LEFT SHOWS RED LANDING IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH WITH, WITH MUCH OF IT DEEMED BREAD AS ONE OF THE RISKY NEIGHBORHOODS, MEANING THAT PEOPLE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS COULD NOT ACCESS MORTGAGES TO BUY, MAINTAIN, AND MODERNIZE BUILDINGS, MANY OF WHICH FELL INTO DISREPAIR.

THIS ALSO LOWERED PROPERTY VALUES AND REDUCED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE GENERATIONAL STABILITY AND INVESTMENT TO MEET THEIR CODE NEEDS.

THE MIDDLE MAP SHOWED NORTH LONG BEACH, WHICH IS MOSTLY YELLOW, INDICATING THAT IT WAS ALSO A RISKIER AREA GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF PEOPLE LIVING THERE AT THE TIME.

CONVERSELY, THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS BELMONT SHORE SHADED AND BLUE, MEANING IT WAS MOSTLY WHITE HOUSEHOLDS AND WORTHY OF INVESTMENT.

THESE MAPS SHOWED GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN POWER NOT ONLY INSTITUTIONALIZED SEGREGATION AND DISINVESTMENT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT ADDED BARRIERS TO PREVENT HOME OWNERSHIP TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

[02:35:01]

OVERALL, ULTIMATELY THROW OVER A PRACTICE OF DENY MORTGAGES BASED ON RACE AND ETHNICITY AND SPATIALLY SEGREGATING AREAS FOR FEDERALLY BACKED INVESTMENT.

THE FHA AND HOLC PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE LEGALIZATION AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RACISM AND SEGREGATION.

EVEN THOUGH THESE MAPS ARE FROM 1939, REDLINING AND OTHER FORMS OF SEGREGATION AND DISINVESTMENT THAT WERE EITHER PERMITTED OR DIRECTLY PERPETUATED BY PAST GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONTINUED TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT IN THE CONDITIONS OF EACH OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

TODAY FOR NORTH LAWN BEACH, MANY OF THE ISSUES FACED BY HIS RESIDENTS TODAY AROUND HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES CAN BE TRACED BACK TO POLICY DECISIONS MADE IN THE PRE AND POST-WAR PERIODS.

THESE IMAGES SHOW THE CARLITOS HOUSING PROJECTS AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1939 WHEN THEY BECAME THE FIRST EVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH THE NEWLY CREATED LA HOUSING AUTHORITY AS A SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING CRISIS OF THAT TIME WHEN EVICTIONS WERE RAMPANT AND ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF ALL HOUSING IN LA COUNTY WAS CONSIDERED UNFIT FOR HUMANS.

AND THE DECADE SINCE ITS ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT, CARLITOS NOW AT HOME TO OVER 2000 RESIDENTS, HAS EVOLVED TO BE MORE THAN 97% PEOPLE OF COLOR TO BRING US TO OUR CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS.

WHILE BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP ABOUT 12% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION, THERE ARE OVER ONE THIRD OF OUR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS AND ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF NORTH LONG BEACH'S POPULATION REFLECTING THE CHANGE OVER TIME OF PUBLIC HOUSING AT LARGE IN THE COUNTRY.

CARLITOS IS NOW THE CENSUS TRACK WITH THE LARGEST BLACK POPULATION IN THE CITY AND ONE OF ONLY TWO TRACKS, BOTH NORTH LOCATED IN NORTH LONG BEACH THAT ARE MAJORITY BLACK.

AS A RESULT, THE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF BLACK RESIDENTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS OF COLOR HAVE OUTSIZED IMPORTANCE IN THIS AREA.

THUS, CARLITO'S EXEMPLIFIES BOTH PAST SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS AS WELL AS THE ONGOING IMPACTS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM AND SEGREGATION, AND THE RECOGNITION THAT MAJOR CRISES REQUIRE MAJOR INTERVENTIONS.

TO FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF NORTH LAWN BEACH, THE MAP HERE SHOWS THAT CAL AND VIRAL SCREEN RESULTS AT THE CENSUS TRACK LEVEL FOR THE REGION WITH NORTH LAWN BEACH HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BLUE OUTLINE.

CAL AND VIRUS SCREEN IS A SCREENING TOOL TO HELP IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDENED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND WITH POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE THEM MORE SENSITIVE TO POLLUTION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF THE TRACKS IN THE PROJECT AREA ARE IN THE TOP 10%, MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED TRACKS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

WHILE THE REST OF NORTH LAWN BEACH IS IN THE TOP 20%, NORTH LAWN BEACH IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, WHICH IS IN PART A RESULT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED HISTORIC PATTERNS OF SEGREGATION IN IT INVESTMENT.

AS A RESULT OF THESE DYNAMICS OVER TIME, NORTH LONG BEACH, LIKE MANY OTHER LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, HAS HAD HEAVILY IMPACT IMPACTING POLLUTING USES CONCENTRATED IN THE AREAS OVER THE YEARS.

HOWEVER, WHILE THE AREA FACED MANY HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES, IT IS ALSO VERY MUCH HOME TO THE VIBRANT AND RESEALING COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN RECENT YEARS.

FOLKS MAY RECOGNIZE THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY ON THE LEFT AND THE NEWLY OPENING CHRISTIAN DOORS TO THE ELBERT COMMUNITY CENTER AT HOWDEN PARK ON THE RIGHT.

THESE AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS REFLECT THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT AND EFFORT THAT MANY NORTH LAWN BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE MADE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH RUDIN IS IN PLACE AND STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC SPACES LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN SHOWN HERE ON THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT, AND ADVOCACY FOR POLICIES AND PROJECTS TO ENSURE THE AREA CAN THRIVE AND THAT NEW INVESTMENTS ARE ABLE TO BE ENJOY, ABLE TO BE ENJOYED BY EXISTING RESIDENTS.

INDEED, THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH LAWN BEACH ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN AND CENTRAL TWO, ENSURING THE AREA IS ONE WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE.

THIS ADVOCACY AND STEWARDSHIP WAS A CORE ASPECT TO THE U PLAN APPROACH AS CITY STAFF WORK TO HONOR AND UPLIFT PRIORITIES FROM STAKEHOLDERS WHILE CENTERING THE MOST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES SUCH AS BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH, SENIORS AND RENTERS.

THE U PLAN COMMUNITY VISION DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DURING PHASE ONE EMPHASIZE RESIDENTS FREEDOM DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE OF NORTH LONG BEACH BY HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND STABILITY, MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE, AND REVITALIZING EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.

MOVING ALONG, THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE U PLAN PROJECT TIMELINE, WHICH WAS DIVIDED UP INTO TWO PHASES, NOT SHOWN ON THE SLIDE, BUT STILL PART OF THE PROJECT'S EVOLUTION, THE INCEPTION OF U PLAN ITSELF IN 2015.

THEN COUNCIL MEMBER REX RICHARDSON UNVEILED THE ROADMAP TO RENAISSANCE PLAN, ESTABLISHING A GOAL OF IMPROVING PARKS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, RETHINKING MAJOR ROADWAYS AND CORRIDORS, AND REINVIGORATING COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS THROUGH NEW VENDORS AND BUSINESSES.

BY 2016, THE CITY HAD PARTNERED WITH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS, ALSO KNOWN AS SCAG, WHICH AWARDED AN INITIAL GRANT TO THE CITY IN 2017 TO UPDATE ZONING REGULATIONS IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AN EFFORT THAT LATER BECAME KNOWN AS THE UPTOWN PLANNING LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOOD STRATEGY, OR YOU PLAN THE FORMAL EFFORT FOR YOU.

PLAN BEGAN IN 2018 WITH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONVENED AT AT THE INCEPTION OF PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO STARTED IN 2019.

PHASE TWO HAD HIS KICKOFF OPEN

[02:40:01]

HOUSE AT THE OBAMA LIBRARY IN OCTOBER OF 2019 AND TRANSITION TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT IN 2020 AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

CONCURRENTLY THE DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR YOU PLAN PHASE ONE WERE FURTHER REFINED AND PUBLISHED IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR ADOPTION.

PHASE ONE THEN FORMALLY CONCLUDED WITH THE ADOPTION OF TITLE 22 ZONING REGULATIONS FOR THE ATLANTIC AND ARTESIA CORRIDORS IN NOVEMBER OF 2020.

PHASE TWO, CONTINUED WORK THROUGH EARLY 2021 WHEN ITS GRAND FUNDED ACTIVITIES ENDED AFTER HOSTING A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE IN APRIL, 2023.

THE FIRST FULL DRAFT OF THE PHASE TWO ZONING REGULATIONS WAS PUBLISHED, AND HALF STAFF HELD THE FINAL IN-PERSON COMMUNITY WORKSHOP IN MAY OF 2023 TO REVIEW THE DRAFT REGULATIONS AND PROVIDE A FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.

REVISED REGULATIONS WERE SUB SUBSEQUENTLY PUBLISHED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR THAT INCORPORATED FINDINGS AND INPUT FROM ZONING AND CITY CORPS, WHICH YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT IN THE NEXT HEARING LATER THIS EVENING.

THE MANY ACTIVITIES IN PHASE TWO, WHICH INCLUDED NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT AND EMERGING LEADER WORKSHOP SERIES IN COLLABORATION WITH JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS PROVIDED A WEALTH OF INPUT FOR STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND ELEVATE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.

THESE INCLUDED BETTER AIR QUALITY COMMUNITY GARDENS AND THE CONTINUATION OF GREAT PARKS, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND HOUSING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, MORE PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE SAFE PLACES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH RECREATION, AND A VARIETY OF OPINIONS ON BIKE LANES AND PARKING.

THE TABLE SHOWN HERE PROVIDES A CROSSWALK BETWEEN THE ADOPTED PLACE TYPES OF THE LAND USE ELEMENT AND THE CORRESPONDING ZONES OR ZONES THAT IT CAN BE APPLIED TO.

SAID PLACE TYPE.

THE MIXED USE ZONES KNOWN AS MU ONE A, MU TWO A AND THE RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE ZONE KNOWN AS RMU THREE A ARE ALREADY ADOPTED AND APPLICABLE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING CENTER OR CORRIDOR LOW PLACE TYPE.

THE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOW, ALSO KNOWN AS MFRL AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM OR MODERATE KNOWN AS MFRM.

ZONES ARE EACH PROPOSED AS A SINGLE ZONE APPLICABLE TO THE CORRESPONDING PLACE TYPE AND WILL PROPOSED FOR ADOPTION THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

FINALLY, THE NEO INDUSTRIAL ONE AND NEO INDUSTRIAL TWO ZONES ARE PROPOSED TO BOTH BE APPLICABLE TO THE NI OR NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE, DEPENDING ON SITE CONDITIONS AND CONTEXT.

IN THE NEARLY FOUR YEARS SINCE TITLE 22 WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONTEXT THAT INFORMED SAID REGULATIONS INFORMED BY BOTH U PLAN PHASE TWO AND OTHER ZONE IN INITIATIVES SUCH AS ZONE IN CITY CORPS AND RELATED CITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE.

THE FOLLOWING SLIDES SUMMARIZES THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT TITLE 22.

THESE ARE GENERALLY CATEGORIZED AS BEING INFORMED BY COMMUNITY PRIORITIES SUCH AS THE PROHIBITION OF UNDESIRABLE OVER CONCENTRATED OR NUISANCE USES AND MODERNIZING CODE REGULATIONS TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL PRIORITIES.

SOME ASPECTS OF TITLE 22 ARE NOT BEING CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2020, INCLUDING PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE USE FOR CERTAIN USES AND ZONES ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE PHASE ONE ADOPTION PACKET.

THE MAP BEFORE YOU DETAILS ARE PROPOSED MIXED USE ZONES MADE UP OF NU 1:00 AM U2 A AND MU THREE A.

AS A REMINDER, THE A SERIES SUFFIX WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED THROUGH U PLAN AND PHASE ONE AS A VARIATION ON THE BASE ZONING DISTRICTS SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND ISSUES OF NORTH LAWN BEACH AND HAS SINCE BEEN EXPANDED TO BE APPLICABLE IN SIMILAR, SIMILAR AREAS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN AFFECTED BY SEGREGATION AND DISINVESTMENT, INCLUDING WEST AND CENTRAL LONG BEACH.

THESE ZONES ARE INTENDED TO ACTIVATE MAJOR CORRIDORS WITH A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW BUSINESSES TO LOCATE AND BUSINESSES TO EXPAND FOR MORE ACTIVE AND COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS MAP SHOWS A PROPOSED RESIDENTIALLY FOCUSED MIXED USE ZONES RB THREE A AND RB FOUR A.

THEY ALLOW FOR SMALLER INFILL PROJECTS TO BECOME A REALITY AND WHILE STILL ALIGN FOR ANY COMBINATION OF A COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXISTING MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL.

THE FOLLOWING, MULTI-FAMILY ZONES ARE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE HIGHLY DESIRABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR A VARIETY OF NEEDS AND ENCOURAGE A WIDE VARIETY OF MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PRODUCTS.

THERE ARE TWO NEW MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONES PROPOSED LOW AND MODERATE RESPECTIVELY, EACH CORRESPOND TO THE CORRESPONDING PLACE TYPE.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE ZONES IS TO PROVIDE HIGHLY DESIRABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR A RANGE OF LIFESTYLES AND INCOME LEVELS THAT ENCOURAGE A WIDE VARIETY OF MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING TYPES DESIGNED TO FACILITATE BOTH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOUSING AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS.

UPDATED PARKING REQUIREMENTS COMPARED TO TITLE 21, MULTI-FAMILY ZONES ALSO MAKE IT EASIER TO MEET MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

[02:45:01]

REZONED TO ONE OF THESE TWO NEW ZONES.

DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY CONTEXT.

NI ZONES ARE INTENDED TO ALLOW INNOVATIVE STARTUP BUSINESSES LIKE INDUSTRIAL, SMALL INCUBATORS AND COWORKING SPACES, COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING, CLEAN NON NUISANCE INDUSTRIES AND OFFICE USES THAT SUPPORT THESE INDUSTRIES.

THEY'RE ALSO INTENDED TO SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL USES BY ALLOWING COMMERCIAL USES LIKE RETAIL STORES, EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS.

THE PURPOSE OF UPDATING THESE ZONES IS TO ALLOW USES TO FOCUS ON PROMOTING CLEAN INDUSTRIES.

THOUGH EXISTING INDUSTRIES WILL PORTRAY NON-CONFORMING RIGHTS PROVIDED UNDER THE NON-CONFORMING USES SECTION OF TITLE 21.

THE NI ONE ZONE IS INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR LIGHT MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES WHILE PRIORITIZING A TRANSITION TO GREENER AND LESS POLLUTING INDUSTRIES OVER TIME.

WHILE SOME HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES MAY BE PERMITTED, THAT WOULD GENERALLY REQUIRE AN ENTITLEMENT TO ALLOW FOR COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT OF NEW BUSINESS PROPOSALS.

CONVERSELY, THE NI TWO ZONE IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A BUFFER BETWEEN EXISTING INDUSTRIAL CORE AND ADJACENT MIXED USE OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

IT ALLOWS A GREATER VARIETY OF COMMERCIAL USES AND HAS GREATER ENTITLEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL USES.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH COM COMMUNITY, COUPLED WITH IN-DEPTH TECHNICAL ANALYSIS.

THIS PLAN IS DESIGNED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF PHOTO EXAMPLES TO DEMONSTRATE POSSIBILITIES IN EXISTING PLACE-BASED NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

THE NMEP PROVIDES DIRECTION FOR MOBILITY ENHANCEMENTS AND FOCUSES ON MAKING IT SAFER, EASIER, AND MORE PLEASANT TO GET AROUND NORTH LONG BEACH, INCLUDING FOR THOSE BIKING, WALKING, OR TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THIS INCLUDES CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN MAJOR CORRIDORS, ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, LOCAL JOBS, AND ACCESS TO GOODS AND SERVICES IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

THE NMEP HAS ALREADY PROVED INSTRUMENTAL IN GUIDING PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS SERVING AS A RESOURCE FOR APPLYING FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECT GRANTS TO FURTHER INVEST IN AND IMPROVE THE AREA.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD BEYOND TODAY'S ADOPTION HEARING, IT IS CRUCIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE ZONING PROVIDES ONE IMPORTANT TOOL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NORTH LAWN BEACH, IT DOES NOT IN AND OF ITSELF CREATE NEW HOUSING PROJECTS, GOODS SERVICES, OR AMENITIES TO MAKE THE U PLAN VISION A REALITY.

CONTINUED STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND RESOURCES ARE NEEDED.

ADDITIONALLY, THE NORTH LAWN BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED BY PUBLIC WORK STAFF AND PROJECT DESIGN, AND WILL HELP GUIDE CIP PROJECTS IN THE AREA, ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENTITLEMENT PROJECTS ALONG MAJOR CORRIDORS.

FURTHERMORE, THE SCALE OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS CRISIS MEANS THAT ADDITIONAL EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE LOCAL CRISIS UNDERWAY, INCLUDING MORE ZONING AND RELATED HOUSING POLICY UPDATES.

U PLAN DOES NOT END WITH ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION STEPS INCLUDE SUPPORTING EXISTING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WORKING TO ASSURE THAT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT OR CHANGE IS CONSISTENT WITH COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND NEEDS, AND CONTINUING TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL HOUSING AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE STRATEGIES OVER TIME TO REDRESS AND RECTIFY CURRENT AND HISTORICAL INJUSTICES GOING FORWARD.

ZONING REZONING WORK IS ALSO UNDERWAY IN OTHER PORTIONS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE NEXT HEARING ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA FOR CENTRAL LONG BEACH.

ALSO, OTHER PROJECTS ALSO INCLUDE BIXBY RIGLEY, THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR, AND ADDITIONAL CITYWIDE OVERLAYS.

AS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW TO PROJECT THE CITY PREPARED AN ADDENDUM TO THE PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED PROGRAMMATIC EIR PREPARED FOR THE 2019 LAND SETTLEMENT UPDATE.

THE ADDENDUM DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY NEW SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS EXCEPT THOSE ANALYZED IN THE PEIR IN THE TIME SINCE THE ADDENDUM WAS ORIGINALLY CERTIFIED, ADDITIONAL MINOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN MAY TO THE DRAFT ZONING REGULATIONS AND ZONING MAP CHANGES FOR THE PROJECT REFLECTED IN THE MEMORANDUM TO THE ADDENDUM.

NO SUBSTANTIAL NEW INFORMATION INDICATING THAT THERE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO ANY ISSUE AREA ANALYZED IN THE ADDENDUM.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 6 0 0 6, 1 OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE, A PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LONG BEACH PRESS TELEGRAM.

THE PUBLIC NOTICE WAS ALSO PUBLISHED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AND SHARED VIA LINK LB IN THE U PLAN MAILING LIST WITH RESIDENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, ALTHOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY CODE THREE POSTERS WERE ALSO DISPLAYED A PROMINENT LOCATIONS WITHIN THE PROPOSED REZONING PROJECT, AND NOTICES WERE POSTED AT CITY HALL AND ALL LIBRARIES LIBRARIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 21.2, ONE OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE.

WITH THAT, AND I WON, WON'T READ THE WHOLE SLIDE.

STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR TODAY'S HEARING IS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT AND CERTIFY THE PEIR ADDENDUM FOR THE PROJECT.

APPROVE ZONING CODE UPDATES TO TITLE 22, ADOPT THE FOUR PROPOSED NEW ZONES FOR THE M-F-R-L-M-F-R-M AND A NI PLACE, TYPE AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED ZONING MAP CHANGES.

AND FINALLY, TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE NORTH LONG BEACH NMEP.

[02:50:01]

THIS CONCLUDES STAFF PRESENTATION AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, UH, WE'LL DO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.

UH, WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, DAVE SHUKLA, KURT CANFIELD, AND KAWAN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

DAVE, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UH, MY NAME'S DAVE SHUKLA, I'M THIRD DISTRICT.

UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK ON SOME, UH, I'D LIKE TO VOICE SOME CONCERNS, UH, ABOUT, UH, SOME POTENTIAL CITYWIDE IMPACTS FROM THE FOUR NEW ZONING CHANGES AS WELL AS THE, UH, REZONING OF CERTAIN, UH, SELECT PROPERTIES.

UH, BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D JUST LIKE TO STATE THAT, UH, I WISH SLIDE 10, UH, WAS DONE AT THE CENSUS BLOCK LEVEL.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CENSUS BLOCKS AS THERE ARE CENSUS TRACKS IN NORTH LONG BEACH THAT HAVE A POPULATION OF ONE, INCLUDING, UH, MANY OF THOSE PROPOSED IN SLIDE 23 ON THE NEO INDUSTRIAL USES.

UM, MY CONCERN IS THAT THE, THE NEW, NEW INDUSTRIAL, UH, SPECIFICALLY NI TWO, THE BROADER, UH, ONE, THE ONE THAT'S, UH, MORE CONSONANT WITH, UH, GRANDFATHERING IN UNDER TITLE 21, UH, SOME OF THE HEAVIER, UH, HARDER TO, UH, MORE RECALCITRANT, HARDER TO, TO CLEAN INDUSTRIES, UH, INDUSTRIAL USES, UM, THESE PROPERTIES WILL, UH, ATTRACT, UH, AND THESE SITES WILL ATTRACT, UH, UH, UH, USES THAT WILL STILL BE POLLUTING AND ENERGY INTENSIVE AND, UH, NEED NOT SUPPORT OTHER PARTS OF THE GENERAL PLAN, INCLUDING, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, AS PASSED THROUGH THE LUE, THE CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION PLAN.

UM, I BELIEVE, UH, AS THE CITY'S BUILDING AND, UH, TRYING TO MODERNIZE TOWARDS THE OLYMPICS AS IT SHOULD, UM, UH, A LOT OF THESE, UH, FORMER INDUSTRIAL LANDS THAT CAN BE CONVERTED TO OTHER USES, UH, THERE WILL BE PRESSURES, UM, INCLUDING FOR THE NI TWO AND EVEN THE NI ONE TO, TO JUST TAKE, UH, THE BEST DEAL AVAILABLE RATHER THAN THINKING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL THAT PROPERTY BE IN 20, 30, 50, 80, HOWEVER LONG THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY WAS KIND OF ON THE, THE, THE CITY'S JURISDICTION AND CONTROL.

UM, WHAT WILL IT BE? BUT MOREOVER, SPECIFICALLY WITH SOME OF THE, THE MIXED USE PROPERTIES THAT ARE PROPOSED, UM, HOW DOES THE CITY OF LONG BEACH PROPOSE TO, TO MEET ITS STATUTORY EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH NEW HOUSING, EVEN AFFORDABLE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE TIED TO THE COMMERCIAL KIND OF CONVERSION OF FORMERLY GENERAL INDUSTRIAL, AND THERE THEREBY LAND THAT NEEDS TO BE MITIGATED.

UM, I DON'T THINK THE CITY GETS MANY BITES AT THE APPLE BEFORE, UH, EVENTS OVERTAKE IT.

UM, REZONE UP ZONE AND INCREASE OUR FLEXIBILITY FOR NORTH LONG BEACH AS WE BRING MORE INVESTMENT INTO IT FOR A LONG, LONG, UH, UNDERSERVED AREA.

NEXT IS KURT.

HEY, UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, UM, HAVING THAT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION FROM ALEJANDRO.

UM, I DON'T KNOW A TON ABOUT NORTH LONG BEACH AND, UH, BUT I HAVE SOME FRIENDS WHO DO LIVE THERE.

UM, IN GENERAL, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN OF THIS PLAN.

I THINK THAT, UH, IN GENERAL, PROVIDING MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR BUSINESSES TO OPERATE IS A GOOD THING.

UH, PROVIDING MORE HOUSING OPTIONS IS ALSO A GOOD THING.

UH, AND I AM HAPPY TO HOPEFULLY SEE, UH, NORTH LONG BEACH, UH, STEP INTO A NEW ERA UNDER THIS NEW ZONING PLAN AND MAKE HOUSING MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO BUILD AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO GET AROUND AS WELL.

UM, I'M A MEMBER OF CARLITE LONG BEACH.

I'M A MEMBER OF EVERYBODY'S LONG BEACH.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS ARE IN SUPPORT OF THESE ZONING CHANGES AND, AND THE ONE WE'LL TALK ABOUT WITH CITY CORE IN A SECOND.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M, I'M, I HOPE TO SEE, UM, MORE INVESTMENT IN, UH, OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S AN UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT GET MADE, UM, UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

AND, UH, CAR LIGHT'S GONNA BE DOING A BIKE LANE CLEANUP ON SOUTH STREET IN ORANGE, UM, ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.

UM, LONG NIGHT, ISN'T IT? UH, THANK YOU ALEJANDRO, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UH, MY NAME IS KAY GU.

I AM A MEMBER OF COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX CAMBODIA TOWN PRIMARILY, AND SIMILAR TO I'M IN BROAD AGREEMENT WITH MOST OF WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE U PLAN N AND THE SIMILARLY, UH, LONG OVERDUE CITY CORPS.

UM, I HAVE A COUPLE CONCERNS MOSTLY ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, BUT BY AND LARGE, I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT WE DO NEED TO,

[02:55:01]

THE THINGS I SEE IN NORTH LONG BEACH ARE SIMILAR TO THE LACK OF INVESTMENT THAT I SAW IN MY OLD HOMETOWN.

I USED TO GROW UP IN CHINATOWN, LOS ANGELES, AND WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CITY, IT'S NOT PUT IN AS MUCH EFFORT AS IT NEEDS TO, TO BRING THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS INTO THE ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF WHERE THEY WORK AND LIVE.

UM, I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF CARLITE LONG BEACH, ALSO EVERYBODY'S LONG BEACH, AND BOTH OF US ARE IN AGREEMENT AND APPROVE OF U PLAN, AND I HOPE THAT THE, UH, ADOPTION OF U PLAN MAKES IT EASIER TO STREAMLINE AND CARRY OVER ZONING CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE, UH, DISTRICTS.

WELL, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

CAN I JUST SAY ONE MORE QUICKLY? WELL, THIS IS A HEARING.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY ON HEARINGS, BUT I'M GONNA ALLOW IT.

GO AHEAD.

I'M TATIANA WILLIAMS IN DISTRICT SIX WITH DR.

SULI SOROS DISTRICT, AND I'M FOLLOWING UP ON AN EMAIL THAT I SENT TO CITY CLERK LAST WEEK.

OH, THIS IS PUBLIC.

THIS IS NOT THAT PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS ON THIS SPECIFIC PLAN, SO, OH, THE SPECIFIC PRESENTATION? YEAH.

SO AT LATER AT THE END, AT THE END, YOU, I'LL WAIT.

SO WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

UM, UH, AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S GONNA HAVE A LOT TO SAY, BUT I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

SO FIRST, UH, UH, MR. KUNZ AND ALEJANDRO, UH, ALLISON, UH, GREAT WORK.

WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WORKING ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST MODERN, UH, LAND, UH, ZONING UPDATES AND ZONING PLANS OUTSIDE OF OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR SEATED AREA THAT'S OUT IN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

IS THAT CORRECT? OUR FIRST MODERN UPDATE? YEAH.

SO THIS IS, UH, PHASE TWO.

WE'VE DONE SOME WORK IN, UM, COUNCILMAN ONGS DISTRICT AS WELL, BUT IT ALL STARTED UP IN THE NINTH DISTRICT.

SO, UM, WHEN YOU WERE A, A STAFF MEMBER TO, UM, PASTOR NEIL, UM, I REMEMBER WORKING ON THE, THE GRANT THAT WE GOT FROM SCAG, WHICH IS WHAT STARTED, UM, THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS WORK, UH, MANY YEARS AGO.

UM, AND, AND HERE WE ARE, UH, BASICALLY FINISHING THE JOB TODAY, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THAT THIS IS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND THIS, AND THIS, AND IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

YOU KNOW, NORTH LONG BEACH IS A GREAT COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, JUST THAT 9 0 8 0 5 AREA IS THE SIZE OF MOST CITIES ROUNDED COMPTON CARSON IN AND OF ITSELF UNDER ONE ZIP CODE, UNDER ONE, UH, PLANNING AREA.

AND WHEN WE GOT STARTED UP THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

AND IT WAS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE ASSET THAT NORTH LONG BEACH IS A GREAT HIGH SCHOOL WITH JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL, GREAT WORKING FAMILIES, UH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? BUT IT, BUT FOR SOME REASON, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT NORTH LONG BEACH, IT WAS, WAS ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LIBRARIES, THE BANKS, THE, THE COFFEE SHOPS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND TO SEE WHERE WE'VE COME, UM, PHASE ONE, HAVING SOME REAL SUCCESS ARTESIA BOULEVARD.

I MEAN, AS SOON AS PHASE ONE WAS DONE, WE SAW FIVE UNITS POP UP AND A LOT THAT WAS VACANT FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS UNDER THE NEW ZONING ON ARTESIA.

AND THEN TODAY YOU GO DOWN ARTESIA AND I DRIVE IT ALL THE TIME, AND I CALL OUR COUNCILWOMAN ALL THE TIME.

I'M DRIVING DOWN ARTESIA WITH LITTLE, LITTLE NOTES, RIGHT? I MEAN, THIS IS A REAL TRANSFORMATION.

AND BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT'S POSSIBLE WITH ARTESIA, THIS GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE ABOUT WHAT'S, HOPE, WHAT'S POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF NORTH LONG BEACH, ALL OF THE 9 0 8 0 5 ZIP CODE, ALL OF THAT AREA.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY, UH, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT NEO INDUSTRIAL PLACE TYPE AND THE LAND USE ELEMENT.

AND TO SEE, UH, THAT BE EMPHASIZED HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY WITH THE INDUSTRIAL SPACE UP IN NORTH LAWN BEACH.

I DON'T LIVE VERY FAR FROM THERE.

UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, THERE'S A REAL DEMAND ON INDUSTRIAL SPACE IN OUR REGION RIGHT NOW.

AND WHEN WE HAVE FINITE SPACE, WE HAVE TO BE VERY SELECTIVE ABOUT WHAT WE PUT IN THAT SPACE TO THROW UP A WAREHOUSE WITH VERY FEW JOBS IN $20 AN HOUR, UH, JOBS.

IT'S NOT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THAT FINITE SPACE, INDUSTRIAL SPACE THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE CLUSTERS LIKE, YOU KNOW, AEROSPACE AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, FORD, THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENING.

WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY COME FORWARD.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST STEPS WE HAVE IS MAKING SURE OUR ZONING IS IN ORDER, PARTICULARLY INDUSTRIAL SPACE.

'CAUSE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MORE SPACE AND MORE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING OUTSIDE OF JUST THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE GROWING, BUT UP IN NORTH LAWN BEACH AND ON THE WEST SIDE WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THIS WORK TAKE PLACE.

SO I JUST, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO NOTE THAT THIS JUST PREPARES THE CANVAS FOR THE FUTURE OF WHAT, WHAT NORTH LONG BEACH CAN

[03:00:01]

BE.

SO OBVIOUSLY, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN NORTH LONG BEACH AND, AND WORKED ON THIS MANY YEARS AS A, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, AND WORKED TOGETHER WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, WE BOTH SERVED ON THE COUNCIL TOGETHER AND COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI WHEN SHE WAS ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, AND ALL OF US RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH LONG BEACH AREA.

THIS, THIS IS VERY SPECIAL, AND I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO JOANIE AND TO AL FOR SEEING THIS THROUGH, BECAUSE THE COMPLETION OF PHASE TWO IS A BIG DEAL CITYWIDE, AND THAT, AND I'M PROUD TO BE A MAYOR FROM NORTH LONG BEACH, BUT I'M PROUD TO ALSO SAY THIS IS INCREDIBLE WORK, AND I THINK IT WILL BE AWARD-WINNING, AND I CAN'T WAIT, WAIT TO SEE, UH, THE, THE FRUITS OF THAT WORK.

AND ALEJANDRO, GET READY.

WE GOT BIGGER STUFF PLANNED FOR YOU.

THANKS A LOT.

NOW WE'LL, UH, GO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU ARE MY MOST DIFFICULT, I MEAN, ENGAGED RESIDENT .

UH, I JUST WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION AS ALWAYS, AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE'VE REACHED THIS MILESTONE.

UH, TODAY WE'RE CONSIDERING THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION THAT WILL REZONE KEY CORRIDORS IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

UM, THE PROJECT INTRODUCES FOUR NEW ZONING DISTRICTS, SO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY, THIS IS THE MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOW, THE MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL MODERATE, AND THEN THE TWO NEW ONES, WHICH ARE THE NEO INDUSTRIAL AND THE NEO INDUSTRIAL TWO.

UM, AND THESE CHANGES MARK SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS OF REZONING OF MAJOR CORRIDORS, NORTH LONG BEACH, TO ALIGN WITH THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT REZONING IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LAND USE.

IT REPRESENTS A BROADER VISION TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, CREATE JOBS, AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

I KNOW, UM, WHEN THE MAYOR WAS COUNCIL MEMBER AND I WAS A RESIDENT, WE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE WITH PLANNING OF ZONING IN THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT AND ZONING OUT THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T, RIGHT? UM, AND FOR SO LONG, UM, WE HAD HAD ZONING THAT JUST DID NOT REFLECT THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVED.

UM, AND THIS IS OUR EFFORTS AS A CITY TO RECTIFY THOSE LONGSTANDING, UM, ISSUES THAT HAVE REALLY PLAGUED NORTH LONG BEACH.

UM, BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THE EFFORT IS THE RESULT OF COLLABORATION, UH, UP PLAN OR YOU PLAN STRATEGIES BUILT ON A VALUABLE INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, CITY LEADERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS ALIKE.

UM, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INVOLVED IN UP PLAN SINCE ITS INCEPTION, ENGAGING AS A RESIDENT LEADER, A PLANNING COMMISSION, OR NOW AS A, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, AND SO REALLY I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A BRIGHTER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR LONG BEACH.

UM, SO I'M GONNA SAY GO UPTOWN.

COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? YES.

UH, I CAN'T SEE IT EVEN BE ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

UM, I WANT JUST THANK, UM, OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, MR. KUNS AND, UM, ALLISON, THE ENTIRE TEAM.

YOU ALL HAVE BEEN, UM, REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH.

UH, I HAVE, UH, WITNESSED THIS BEEN A PART OF, YOU KNOW, MORE MEETINGS THAN I CAN COUNT.

UM, I'M AWARE OF MORE MEETINGS THAN I CAN EVEN COUNT AS WELL.

UM, CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH, UH, BUSINESSES, WITH COMMUNITY, UM, WALK AUDITS IN THE, IN THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICTS.

UH, IT, IT HAS, IT HAS BEEN A, UM, A REAL LABOR OF LOVE, BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN A, A LABOR, RIGHT? AND ONE THAT HAS LASTED, UH, SEVERAL YEARS.

UH, I WANNA COMMEND, UH, OUR MAYOR FOR HAVING VISION, YOU KNOW, AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ON SCAG TO, TO, TO GO AFTER THE GRANTS AND TO, TO PUT THIS INTO MOTION.

UH, THIS WILL WILL HAVE A, I WOULD SAY, GENERATIONAL IMPACT ON OUR, OUR CITY, UM, ON NORTH LONG BEACH.

I BEGIN, I KNOW WHEN WE STARTED, UM, THIS JOURNEY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE, THE GOAL WAS TO, TO MAKE NORTH LONG BEACH RELEVANT, RIGHT? TO, TO GIVE NORTH, NORTH LONG BEACH A, A, A BETTER IDENTITY.

UH, AND I THINK, UH, THE WORK ON THIS, UM, UP PLAN, UH, CERTAINLY HELPS US ACHIEVE THAT AND MOVES THIS, MOVES THE NEEDLE IN A, IN A BIG WAY.

UM, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN REGARDING NEO INDUSTRIAL USES AND, AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL USES IN NORTH LONG BEACH.

UH, I'M ASSUMING THAT MOST OF WHAT IS ZONED AS IN ONE AND IN TWO, UH, IS, IS, IS IN THOSE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL USES, RIGHT? UM, AND MUCH OF THE MULTIFAMILY OR, OR THE MIXED USE AND MULTIFAMILY ZONING, I SAY THE MIXED USE, UM, MIXED USE, UH, DESIGNATION, UM, DOES GIVE FLEXIBILITY FOR, UM, EXISTING USES TO, TO, TO MAINTAIN, UM, AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

FOR, FOR ANOTHER AREA OF THE CITY, SO .

AND SO THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, A, A, I THINK A, A GREAT PLAN OF, UH, UH, AN AMAZING DOCUMENT.

ONE THAT I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT AND, UH, YES HAS MY VOTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ON SAME PRESENTATION NEXT

[03:05:01]

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU BOTH, AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AUSTIN AND RICK SOTE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA BREAK THIS VOTE UP.

YEAH, WE GOT A BUNCH OF VOTES.

YOU GOT, YOU SEE 'EM ALL? BRILLIANT.

THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE.

THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW.

SORRY.

ALL RIGHT, LET QUEUE UP THE SECOND VOTE.

MOTION A SECOND.

WE NEED A, WE NEED A SECOND.

AL, YOU GONNA SECOND? ALL RIGHT.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.

MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE, ESPECIALLY YOU, COUNCILMAN SORROW.