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DO I PUSH? WHAT DO I PUSH THE CALL TO ORDER THE, UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I CALL TO ORDER THE, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024.
UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS, WOULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL? I SAID WELL, THANK YOU.
UH, COMMISSIONER ALLEN DID, UM, NOTIFY US, SO WE HAVE AN EXCUSE ABSENCE TODAY.
COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, PRESENT.
UM, WOULD YOU PLEASE ALL RISE AND JOIN ME IN TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
I NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT WE STARTED AT 9 0 3.
UM, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, DIRECTOR, DENNIS? UH, YES, WE DO.
I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHO I'M ATTORNEY IT OVER TO, I THINK, ACTUALLY, ARE WE GONNA LEAVE THIS? YEAH.
YOU KNOW, A COUPLE SATURDAYS AGO OVER AT HARTWELL PARK, THERE WERE ABOUT 1400 LITTLE LEAGUERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE DODGER DREAM TEAM SUMMER BASEBALL PROGRAM.
AND, UH, ONE OF OUR, UM, OUTSTANDING TEAM MEMBERS WAS RECOGNIZED AS COACH OF THE YEAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA TURN OVER TO FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
UM, YES, THIS IS OUR, OUR, WE ENJOY THIS AND I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN INAPPROPRIATE COLORS, GIVEN THE TYPE OF PRESENTATION THAT THIS IS TAKING CARE.
UM, SO THIS IS, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE A PARTNER WITH THE DODGERS.
WE OFFER, UH, A SUMMER SEASON OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.
WE'RE MANY YEARS IN NOW WE'RE THE THIRD OF, I HAD A MEETING WITH THEM YESTERDAY, THIRD LARGEST PARTNER.
SO IT'S PRETTY AWESOME, UM, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AS A RESULT, UH, MANY OF OUR COACHES BECOME DODGER DREAM TEAM COACHES IN THE SUMMER, UM, AND BECOME A HUGE PART OF OUR KIDS.
UM, SUMMER SEASON, WE HAVE YOUNG ONES, UM, STARTING, UM, AT, AT THE EARLIEST AGE OF OUR PROGRAMS UP UNTIL LIKE TEEN PROGRAMS. WE'VE KIND OF GROWN OVER THE YEARS.
AND THIS YEAR, EACH YEAR AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SEASON, THEY, UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR COACHES THROUGHOUT, UH, A SAMPLE OF COACHES THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM IN SOCAL.
AND FORTUNATELY FOR US THIS YEAR, ONE OF OUR, OUR FABULOUS COACHES WAS HONORED AND HAD A HUGE, UM, BIG, BIG DAY AT DODGERS STADIUM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, WE WERE JUST CHATTING ABOUT IT.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE REALLY HOT DAYS, AND JACKIE WAS ABLE TO BRING JACKIE RA.
UM, JACKIE ACTUALLY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY EVEN CHAT FURTHER.
JACKIE'S ACTUALLY WAS A PARTICIPANT IN OUR PROGRAMS AND PLAYED IN THE DODGER DREAM TEAM PROGRAM BEFORE SHE BECAME A COACH.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THIS STORY.
UM, JACKIE PLAYED AT CHAVEZ PARK.
SHE'S FROM DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH.
SO I'M LIKE, THERE'S SO MUCH CHAVEZ IN THE ROOM HERE TODAY.
AND, AND IT'S AWESOME BECAUSE AS, AS JACKIE SHARED WITH ME, WE, WE'VE GOT A ROBUST PROGRAM THERE, BUT NOW SHE GETS TO COACH AT WHALEY PARK.
SO JAMIE IS HERE AS HER SUPERVISOR, AND JAMIE HIRED HER, UM, AS A SUMMER COACH, UM, AT WHALEY PARK.
SO JACKIE, UM, HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR PAST SEASON.
SHE'S GONNA BE A BIG PART OF OUR SEASONS TO COME, AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO HONOR HER AS ONE OF THE COACH OF THE YEARS FOR THE DODGERS DREAM TEAM PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE IESS ALSO LEAD STAFFER AT WHALEY HERE.
SO SOME OF HER PEERS AND SOME OF HER WORK BUDS ARE HERE.
BUT, UM, THIS WAS A REALLY BIG DEAL.
SHE GOT HONORED DOWN, UM, AT THE STADIUM.
UM, I THINK ONE OF SIX OR SEVEN I THINK IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
MAYBE A COUPLE FIVE, A FIVE, EVEN BETTER, EVEN BETTER GUYS.
ONE OF FIVE IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
SO I JUST WANT, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE REALLY BRING IT HOME AND, AND SEAL, SEAL KIND OF THE CELEBRATORY EFFORTS WITH A BIG HONOR HERE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO, WE'RE EXCITED THAT SHE'S HERE WITH US.
AND WE ALSO GOT SOME PRETTY BLUE FLOWERS FROM YOU.
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THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT DO.SO, UM, AS ASHLEY MENTIONED, THIS IS BEYOND LONG BEACH.
THIS AS BIG THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOCAL AND THE DODGE ARE IN GREAT PARTNERSHIP, BUT I WANNA, UM, TURN OVER TO JAMIE, UM, SO JAMIE CAN SHARE A FEW WORDS.
UM, AS I SAID, COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMUNITY SERVICE SUPERVISOR FOR MANY YEARS.
JAMIE, WHAT ATTRIBUTES DO YOU, DID YOU SEE AS A PART OF NOMINATION FOR JACKIE BEING, YOU KNOW, THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT? UM, FOR, FOR, AGAIN, HI, I'M JEANIE.
I'M THE SUPERVISOR AT OILY LEAGUE PARK.
UM, BUT FOR JACKIE, IT'S ABOUT HER PASSION FOR THE SPORTS.
UM, LIKE ASHLEY MENTIONED, SHE DID PLAY SPORTS WITH US WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER OVER AT CHAVEZ, AND I DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HIRING HER A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND, UM, JUST HER DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR SPORTS AND WATCHING HER, UM, MENTOR AND SHARE THAT PASSION WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT I ENJOY WATCHING YOUNGER.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT HONOR FOR YOU AND I'M VERY PROUD OF, UM, WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
AS A COACH, AS A MENTOR, WHAT IS THIS? UM, WHAT DOES COACHING MEAN TO YOU? SPORT COACHING MEANS A LOT TO ME.
YOU KNOW, JUST WATCHING THOSE KIDS, THERE'S A LOT OF 'EM THAT LIKE YOU NEED TO HELP GET OUT OF THEIR SHELL.
AND JUST SEEING THAT, SEEING THEM GROW WITHIN THE PROGRAM TOO, THEY COME AS YOUNGER ONES AND JUST TRYING TO MOTIVATE THEM TO KEEP COMING FOR OTHER SPORTS, NOT JUST BASEBALL, NOT JUST VOLLEYBALL.
UM, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.
I JUST LOVE WATCHING THEM GROW AND DEVELOP.
WELL, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THANK YOU FOR, UM, REPRESENTING LONG BEACH IN SUCH A POSITIVE WAY.
UM, AS A HUGE DODGER FAN, I WAS VERY JEALOUS THAT YOU OUT ON THE FIELD THERE, THAT JUST, IT'S A TRIBUTES TO YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND YOUR HARD WORK AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDE, NOT ONLY TO YOUR YOUTH, BUT TO THE STAFF THAT WORK ALONGSIDE YOU.
YEAH, WE ARE, WE'RE GONNA BRING THE WHALEY TEAM UP HERE AFTER YOU GUYS GET SETTLED.
FIRST IN THE FRONT, KIND IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THEN CAN WE GET A COUPLE PEOPLE TO HELP PULL THE SIGN UP? THAT'S AWESOME.
IS EVERYBODY IN? YEAH, EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE IN READY.
YOU, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE, YEAH.
WELL THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, JACKIE.
SO NOW WE SHOULD, UH, GO TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA AND, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 15TH.
UH, DO I HEAR A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RT SMITH.
UH, DI UM, ANY QUESTIONS? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? MM-HMM.
UM, AND NOW WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
UH, RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FEE WAIVER REQUESTS OUTLINED IN ATTACHMENT A IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEE WAIVER POLICY.
AGAIN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
UM, AND, UH, YES, DIRECTOR DENNIS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU, THIS MAY BE YOUR FIRST COMMISSION MEETING.
IT'S COMMON EVERY MONTH THAT GROUPS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION
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AND ASK FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF A FEE WAIVER FOR THEIR EVENT.UM, SO THAT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND I'M GONNA TURN THE ITEM OVER TO OUR COMMUNITY RECREATION SERVICES BUREAU MANAGER.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, UM, THREE FOURTH REQUESTS FOR FEE WAIVERS.
UM, THE FIRST IS THE MOM ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH.
THEY'RE REQUESTING TO HAVE THEIR ANNUAL, UM, UH, EVENT, COMMUNITY EVENT.
THE FIRST AT EL DORADO PARK EAST IN GOLDEN GROVE AREA, AND THEN A SECONDARY EVENT AT RECREATION PARK IN THE SOCIAL HALL ON DECEMBER 14TH AND 15TH, THEY'RE REQUESTING $2,960 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES TO BE WAIVED.
AND THERE'S 900, UM, DOLLARS IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
UM, ONE OF THEIR EVENTS IS AT THE REGIONAL PARK, THEREFORE THERE IS ESTIMATED GATE, UM, REVENUE AND THEY EXPECT ABOUT 1500 DEATHS.
UM, THEN ON BEHALF OF THE BLOCKHEAD REGAIN ADVOCATES, UM, IS THEIR ANNUAL PIT BULL APPRECIATION DAY TO BE HELD AT MARINA VISTA PARK IN THEIR OPEN SPACE FOR COMMUNITY EVENT ON OCTOBER 12TH.
UM, $275 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES REQUESTED TO.
HE WAIVE ZERO APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES ON BEHALF OF THIS CHENAI CULTURAL HERITAGE.
IT'S THEIR ANO, UM, UM, ANNUAL KA, MY CULTURAL HERITAGE SHOW.
THEY'RE REQUESTING USE RECREATION SOCIAL HALL FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT ON OCTOBER 5TH, UM, REQUESTING $290 IN FACILITY FEES TO WAIVE, AND THERE'S $300 IN APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES.
UM, FOLLOWING THE MEETING THAT WE HAD FOR FINANCE AND APPEALS, WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THIS GROUP, UM, ABOUT THIS GROUP.
IT IS NOT, UM, THEIR PERMIT REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVER DOES NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A FEE WAIVER.
IT'S NOT AN EVENT THAT IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR TEAM HAS REACHED OUT TO THE GROUP AND IS WORKING WITH THEM, UM, AND THE EVENT WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD, BUT NOT REQUESTING, UM, A FACILITY, UH, A FEE WAIVER REQUEST.
AND THEN LASTLY, THROUGH FREE TRUE BRAND LLC, THIS IS A NEW GROUP, UM, REQUESTING TO THE USE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK OPEN SPACE FOR A DAY OF WELLNESS COMMUNITY EVENT ON OCTOBER 19TH, $685 IN FACILITY AND PERMIT FEES.
HE'S REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED AND $360 AND APPLICABLE STAFF CHARGES AND COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC? CHRIS? I'M SORRY, CHRIS.
OH, I, I WAS GONNA SAY FOR THE ONE THAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE, UH, FOR A FEE WAIVER, WOULD WE, JUST SPEAKING PROCEDURALLY, HAVE TO MOVE TO APPROVE ALL OF THEM, EXCEPT THAT ONE? OKAY.
WE, WE, WE REMOVING IT FROM THE REQUEST.
SO SHOULD WE AMEND THE MOTION? WE HAVE TO ASK IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND IS, ARE WE OKAY WITH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND? YEAH.
THEN WE WILL AMEND THE MOTION ACCORDINGLY.
AND I THINK WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE GROUPS HERE.
AND DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE GROUPS HERE? WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS SPEAK ON BEHALF THE ONG ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
YEAH, MY NAME IS WANG L SCH, UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR MO SUCCESS OF LONG BEACH'S CURRENT TIME.
UH, WE, WE CELEBRATE OUR HMONG NEW YEARS, UH, HMONG FESTIVAL, NEW YEARS AT THE PARK, UH, FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
SO, UH, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO, UH, USE THE PARK AND TO BE SUPPORT BY THE PARK AND RECREATION.
AND FROM THE, UH, ETTE BRIGADE ADVOCATES.
HI, I'M LAURA VENA AND WE PARTNER WITH LBAS A LOT.
AND WE'RE PROVIDING RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TRYING TO KEEP DOGS IN THEIR HOMES.
I SHOULD LET CHRISTINE, CHRISTINE KNOWS ME REALLY WELL.
SO, UH, WE'RE, WE JUST HAVE A MISSION TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE KEEP THEIR ANIMALS, MOSTLY DOGS.
ARE WE GONNA SPEAK TO THE OTHERS OR NO? YEAH.
WELL, DO WE HAVE, WHICH ONE? ANYBODY ELSE LEFT THE, UH, OH, I'M SORRY.
UH, ITEM THREE, THE KAMA GROUP, RIGHT? NO.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THE KAMAI CULTURAL HERITAGE? SH OKAY.
WE'RE NOT DOING FREE TRUE BRAND.
MY NAME IS ANGEL BURNS AND I AM A NEWER ORGANIZATION.
I'M A, UH, THREE YEAR RESIDENT NOW AT LONG BEACH.
AND, UM, MOVING HERE, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT I SAW IN THE COMMUNITY COMING FROM THE EAST COAST
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TO WEST COAST, AND WHAT I WANT TO REALLY BRING AND ADD VALUE TO LONG BEACH COMMUNITY.AND SO THIS IS OUR, OUR FIRST EVENT THAT WE'LL BE HOSTING AS A WELLNESS EVENT.
AND I CAME ON THE RIGHT DAY WITH THE DODGERS
AND SO SPORTS IS DEFINITELY, UM, MY STORY IF I TALK ABOUT MY LIFE AND HOW IT MADE ME THE FIRST I AM TODAY.
AND SO TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN, FOR FAMILY TO COME AND TO WORK OUT TOGETHER AND MAKE IT FUN AND FULFILLING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC, UH, COMMENTS OR, OKAY.
THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE AN AMENDED MOTION, UH, TO ACCEPT ITEMS, UH, FROM THE WRONG ASSOCIATION.
THE BLOCKHEAD BRIGADE IS ADVOCATES, UH, THE KUAI GROUP AND THE FREE TRUE BRAND GROUP.
UM, UM, A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SHOWN, UH, DO WE HAVE A VOTE? COMMISSIONER CHAVEZ MADE THE MOTION.
CHAVEZ, I WROTE CHRIS THOMAS, IT'S CHAVEZ.
AND NOW, ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT.
WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND THE DIRECTOR'S HIGHLIGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER 24TH.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? SECOND.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES.
I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT I ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
SO I KNOW THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION IS, IS REALLY LIMITED MORE TOWARDS, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION.
BUT OUR DEPARTMENT DOES ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, SEE THE BEACH AND MARINAS.
AND WE HAVE A MARINE ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, AND ALSO LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
AND, UH, THERE IS OCCASION WHEN WE BRING, UH, STELLAR MEMBERS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED AS EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR RECOGNITION.
AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS IN PARKS OR RECREATION.
UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, UM, YESTERDAY WAS A RATHER SAD DAY FOR EVERYONE AT ELBA BECAUSE, UH, WE, UH, MANY OF US ATTENDED A FUNERAL FOR BRIAN WOO WAS A LONG SERVING, REALLY DEDICATED, UH, OFTEN MENTIONED AS A QUIET GIANT.
BUT, UH, HE PASSED AWAY UNFORTUNATELY, UM, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
SO IT WAS A VERY MEANINGFUL, UH, CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE HERE IN LONG BEACH YESTERDAY.
WE DID CLOSE THE SHELTER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO THE STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND SUPPORT, UH, BRIAN'S FAMILY.
SO I DID WANT TO JUST LIFT THAT ONE UP THAT I THINK WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN I KNOW WE GAVE ALL OF YOU, UH, MAYBE, UM, A VERY EXCITED ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT A GREAT RIBBON CUTTING OVER AT THE
AND THERE WERE JUST A LITTLE, UH, FEW COMPLICATIONS WITH SOME OF THE FINISHING TOUCHES BY THE CONTRACTOR.
SO WE JUDGED IT WISE TO RESCHEDULE THAT.
SO THERE WILL BE A DATE PROBABLY IN, UH, THE LATTER PART OF OCTOBER, BUT YOU'LL CERTAINLY BE THE FIRST, UH, BE ALERT TO THAT.
BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT OUT ON THE, ON THE BEACH FRONT.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS HAPPENING, BUT, UH, WE DID HAVE A REALLY GREAT, UH, UM, YOUTH AND FAMILIES COMMISSION MEETING IN THIS VERY ROOM LAST NIGHT.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE A WHOLE YEAR HAD PASSED.
BUT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS LAST YEAR THAT WAS REPEATED LAST EVENING WAS RECOGNIZING OUR YOUTH VOLUNTEERS.
AND, UM, LIKE I SAID, IT SEEMED LIKE WE JUST DID THAT YESTERDAY, BUT THE WHOLE YEAR HAS PASSED.
BUT WE, WE RECOGNIZED A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT DEVOTED, UH, SOME OF THEIR TIME AS VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, SUPPORTING AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND, UM, THEY GOT A REALLY NICE CERTIFICATE AND CHEERED THEM ON AND THANKED THEM.
BUT IT WAS, UH, ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THAT I THINK FROM LAST YEAR'S VOLUNTEERS, I THINK 19 OF THEM, UM, ACTUALLY BECAME, UM, STAFF MEMBERS JOINING OUR TEAM.
SO IT'S, IT IS AN AVENUE, UH, IT'S AN ENTRY LEVEL OPPORTUNITY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AS VOLUNTEERS.
BUT THEN I REFLECT OVER OUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
AND IN THE SAME CASE, A LOT OF THOSE REALLY GREAT LEADERS ON OUR DEPARTMENT STARTED AS VOLUNTEERS TO THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LIFT THAT UP.
AND THEN I THINK IN NOVEMBER, YOU'LL HEAR THIS AGAIN IN OCTOBER, BUT WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT, UH, DOING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE DAVENPORT PARK PROJECT A COUPLE SATURDAYS AGO.
I KNOW IT WAS A REALLY HOT WEEKEND, BUT, UH, A LOT OF US ATTENDED THE UNITY FESTIVAL THAT'S JUST ACROSS THE STREET AT THE NORTH POINT APARTMENTS.
UH, AND THAT, UM, EVENT, UM, WILL HOPEFULLY BE SCHEDULED NEXT YEAR AT DAVENPORT PARK ON THE COOLNESS OF THE GRASS OR CHURCH AREA.
SO IT'S GONNA BE AN EXCITING NEW PARK IN, UH, UH, A VERY HIGH
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PARK KNEE, UM, AREA OF LONG BEACH AND COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT.BUT I KNOW COUNCILMAN AUSTIN AS HE'S LOOKING AT HIS LAST FEW MONTHS OF LEADERSHIP IN HIS THIRD TERM AS COUNCILMAN, UM, HE'S EXCITED ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR, EXCUSE ME, UH, PROJECT BEING CELEBRATED.
AND I KNOW THE OTHER TWO, UH, ITEMS THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL HAVE ALREADY PASSED THROUGH THIS COMMISSION.
BUT, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
PARK, UH, VISION PLAN, UH, SOMETIME IN OCTOBER.
SO NEXT MONTH THAT WILL COME BEFORE COUNCIL.
UH, SO IT HAS ITS OWN SPOTLIGHT.
AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MOST LIKELY IN EARLY NOVEMBER, UH, WE'LL BE PRESENTING THE NEW SHEAR PARK VISION PLAN, UH, FOR CONSULT.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT IT'S BEEN, I THINK, THINK A PRETTY SMOOTH SHIFT OF THE GEARS FROM OUR 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER INTO OUR, UH, SCHOOL YEAR WITH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.
UM, AND IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY A BEAUTIFUL BALL SO FAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THOSE ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO LIFT UP THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF BRIAN WOOTEN.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU MIGHT.
HAVE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC OF THE DIRECTOR? HEARING NONE, UH, UH, THERE WAS A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT FILE FROM, UH, THAT WAS ME.
THANK YOU,
UH, AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE GET ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, WE OFFER A CHANCE FOR ANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, REPRESENTING, UM, THESE GROUPS WITH COMMENTS TO TALK ABOUT YOUR EVENT AND HOW, OH, I'M SORRY.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
NOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONER ARE NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE CHAIR.
I'M THE PROPERTY MANAGER AT ALMO MOBILE HOME PARK.
UM, OUR COMMUNITY'S MADE UP, UH, WE'RE LOCATED AT 4 8 9 5 OREGON AVENUE.
OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE UP OF 300 TAX PAYING SENIORS WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOME ADJACENT TO MOLINA PARK.
MOLINA PARK HAS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND MOST USED SOCCER FIELDS IN NORTH LONG BEACH.
MOLINA WAS OPEN EIGHT YEARS AGO WITHOUT A SOCCER BARRIER NET SYSTEM IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY FROM ROGUE SOCCER BALLS.
OUR RESIDENTS HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF IT.
MANY OF THE SENIORS ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BROKEN WINDOWS MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, THE BALLS HAVE BROKEN MANY WINDOWS CRACKED WINDSHIELDS ON CARS, DENTED THE HOMES, DENTED THEIR SKIRTING, BROKEN THEIR AWNINGS.
THE BALLS HAVE HIT TWO INDIVIDUALS IN THE HEAD.
THERE ARE OTHER ATHLETIC FIELD PARKS IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT THAT HAVE OPENED.
THE MOST RECENT IS DAVENPORT PARK ON 55TH AND PARAMOUNT.
THEY HAVE A BARRIER HEADING INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE BALLS FROM HITTING PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD AND TO PROTECT FRIENDLY VILLAGE MOBILE HOME PARK ADJACENT TO THAT PARK.
WE ARE ADJACENT TO MOLINA PARK, JUST LIKE THAT MOBILE HOME PARK, UM, THE SOCCER BARRIER NET SITTING IN INSTALLED THERE.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED, BUT WE NEED LESS OF IT.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT WE NEED 220 FEET OF THE BARRIER NETTING 15 FEET HIGH.
UM, IN THE PAST, WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH AL AUSTIN'S OFFICE, MELODY NOW, ESTHER.
EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE MET WITH GLADYS PUBLIC WORKS AND MELODY AT THE FIELD TO SHOW THEM EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.
OUR OWNER HAS OFFERED TO FACILITATE FINANCIALLY, WE'VE STILL HAD NO RESULTS.
UM, OUR CITIZENS, OUR RESIDENTS, DESERVE TO BE PROTECTED.
WE'VE JUST BROUGHT IN A NEW MOBILE HOME, PLACED IT AGAINST THAT WALL, AND NOW HAS A BROKEN WINDOW.
SO DO WE REPLACE THAT WINDOW AND JUST LET IT KEEP GETTING BROKEN, OR DO WE JUST BOARD IT UP? OR DO WE REPLACE IT AFTER YOUR SYSTEM IS IN PLACE AND THEN IT WON'T BREAK AGAIN? SO NOW YOU'RE INTERFERING WITH OUR ABILITY TO RUN OUR BUSINESS.
WE CAN'T SELL A HOME WITH A BROKEN WINDOW.
WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE FROM JUDGE NETTING.
IT'S ABOUT $35,000 FOR 220 FEET OF, OF NETTING.
OUR RESIDENTS NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
UH, WE ARE UNABLE TO COMMENT AS COMMISSIONER SINCE IT'S A NON AGENDA ITEM, BUT DIRECTOR DENNIS IS ABLE TO RESPOND.
SO, UM, I DID MEET WITH COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
I THINK IT WAS TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THIS.
UM, I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH YOU, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR HISTORY.
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SORRY THAT IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG.UM, I, I, I DID LEARN FROM YOUR, UH, SHARING THAT THE OWNER WAS WILLING TO POSSIBLY WE ARE, UNTIL WE GOT THE $35,000 ESTIMATE, WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO LIKE DO LIKE 18,000.
BUT I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU.
I THINK IF YOU SHARE, UH, IN PERSON AN ONSITE MEETING WITH OTHERS AND NOT MOVE FORWARD, I THINK I COULD PROBABLY BE, UM, UH, WELL, I WILL BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY.
AND WE WERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY NIGHT ALSO.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU MY BUSINESS CARD AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND I'LL LOOK THROUGH THE PACKET.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE COPIES AND SHARE THIS WITH
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, KAREN.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GREAT PANTHER.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA UPDATE YOU TODAY IS LONG BEACH GIVES, AND WE HAVE A LOVELY ARTICLE ON LAST WEEK'S
SO, UM, WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON A MR CLASS.
MELANIE ANDREWS, WHO IS, UM, WITH AN ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT DOES WONDERFUL WORK THEATRICALLY WITH, UM, YOUTH AND ADULTS.
AND WE ARE WORKING ON A
AND, UM, WE HAVE A SESSION THIS SATURDAY I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO COME CHECK IT OUT.
WE HAVE LOVELY FOOD AND WE HAVE A GROUP OF, UM, OLDER PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THEIR
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, WE JUST WANNA COMPLIMENT PARKS.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL SESSION AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON THE, UM, NEW SENIOR CENTER, HAD OVER A HUNDRED SENIORS ATTEND.
THERE'S A REALLY HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST AND WE ACTIVELY WENT OUT AND RECRUITED PEOPLE TO COME.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AND INPUT AS POSSIBLE AND GOING OUT TO SOME OF THE SENIOR BUILDINGS AND TAKING THE SURVEYS TOO.
I'M OLD AND CREEPY, BUT I'LL SIT DOWN IF THAT'S FINE.
CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? NOT SHE DID MELANIE.
I'M A 18 YEAR RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, AND I AM A ACOLYTE OF PARENTS AND I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, BUT MY LOVE IS INNER CITY PERFORMING ARTS.
WE'RE 18-YEAR-OLD ORGANIZATION THAT IS LOOKING TO DO MORE WORK IN LONG BEACH.
WE DON'T CHARGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OR THE ADULTS TO TAKE PART.
WE WORK WITH THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS, WARNER'S PARAMOUNT.
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDED MENTORSHIP, UH, IN, IN FILM, TELEVISION, ACTING, ET CETERA.
AND WE WERE VERY PROUD TO OPEN THE, UH, CELEBRATION OF, WHAT IS IT CALLED? LONG BEACH GIFTS.
LONG BEACH GIVES AT THE BAND SHELL, WHICH I DIDN'T KNOW WAS HERE.
I'VE LIVED HERE ALL THIS TIME AND WE WERE SO PROUD TO HAVE SOME OF OUR YOUNG ONES DO, UM, OPEN WITH THE OPENING NUMBER FROM HAMILTON.
AND WE HAVE JUST CONTRACTED WITH LYNN MANUEL MIRANDAS HAM TO HAM FOUNDATION.
AND WE WILL SOMEWHERE BE PRODUCING A PRODUCTION OF HAMILTONS, WHICH IS A BUR OF, OF A SING-ALONG OF THE MUSIC FROM HAMILTON.
IT'LL BE OPEN TO LONG BEACH RESIDENT ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
UH, AND I THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR ARMS. I THINK THE, UH, PARK AND REC STAFF IS SO WELCOMING, SO POSITIVE, AND I'M HOPING TO, UM, DO MORE WORK IN THE CITY.
UH, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS OF PARKS.
AND AS KAREN CHAIR TWO, TODAY IS LONG BEACH GIFTS.
UM, I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR SOME DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPEAKING BECAUSE I THINK ONE THING THAT WE JUST NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND LIKE NO JUDGMENT WITH THIS, BUT THAT OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY LIKE ISN'T REALLY A PRIORITY FOR OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
UM, AND I SAY THAT HAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE
[00:30:02]
ON OUR BOARD WORKING DIRECTLY FOR THE MAYOR, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF YOUTH FOCUS AND A LOT OF OTHER GREAT AWESOME THINGS GOING ON.UM, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS PARTNERS OF PARKS IS FOCUSING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN ON SENIORS SERVING THE SENIOR COMMUNITY.
SO OUR FUND THIS YEAR IS GOING, OUR FUND THIS YEAR IS GOING TOWARDS ADDING TO OUR SENIOR FOOD FUND AND THEN STARTING TO BUILD A FUND TO HELP REFURBISH AND RENOVATE SENIOR CENTERS, CREATE NEW EQUIPMENT.
UM, AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, I KIND OF THOUGHT MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET LOOP IN AND HELP WITH.
ESPECIALLY IF LIKE YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THE HALF, LIKE AS A NONPROFIT, WE CAN PROBABLY WORK SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE, BUT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE LIKE HELPING, HELPING SENIORS AND, UM, KNOWING THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME, THE RISING COST OF LIVING, RIGHT? THE RISING PRICE OF WINDOWS
UM, SO WE HAVE A $20,000 GOAL FOR TODAY.
IF YOU KNOW ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN GIVING OR YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO, WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, PLEASE REACH OUT.
UM, IF WE MAKE THIS, I HAVE A MATCH WAITING FOR US.
SO IF WE MEET THE MATCH, THEN WE WOULD HAVE 40 K TO WORK WITH, UM, TO KIND OF START OUR FUND.
SO, UM, HELP US SUPPORT YOU
UH, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE? WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY COME BECAUSE WE HAVE DISPLAYS WE WANTED TO GO.
I'M THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPERVISOR FOR EL DORADO EAST REGIONAL PARK AND THE NATURE CENTER.
I ALSO RUN OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY'S ADOPTIVE BEACH PROGRAM AND AQUATIC HABITAT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF MARINE OPERATIONS FOR THE MARINE BUREAU.
A LITTLE BIT OF FISH OUTTA WATER
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IS, IS NOT JUST MARINE RELATED, BUT YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL FOCUS.
EVERYONE'S USING OUR BEACHES AND WATERWAYS AND THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE PLANET IS VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON HOW WE TREAT THE OCEAN.
SO, UH, FIRST THING WE'D LIKE TO DO IS THIS SATURDAY IS THE 40TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP DAY.
THIS IS RUN BY THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, UM, LONG BEACH AND OUR PARKS, WE PARTICIPATE, WE HAVE FIVE CLEANUP SITES ALL ALONG THE COAST.
UM, SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY COME OUT AND HELP.
THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR EVERYONE TO GIVE BACK, HELP CLEAN OUR BEACHES, GET SERVICE HOURS.
SO I'VE GOT FLYERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS FUN CRITTER YES,
UM, CITY OF MARINAS, UM, IT IS ROBOTIC.
UM, SO IT CAN RUN BOTH, UH, LIKE A RAIL CONTROL CAR OR BOAT.
UH, IT ALSO HAS A AUTONOMOUS FEATURE, SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET INTO THE YOUTH COMMUNITY, UM, PUSH SOME STEM PROGRAMS. UH, THERE'S THE SYMMETRY LIKE SO DEAF 70 AND WATERTOWN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY COOL THINGS AS BOT CAN DO.
UM, WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THE YOUTH COMMUNITY.
SO IN, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION WITH THE, UH, NATURE CENTER, WE ARE KICKING OFF A DESIGN CONTEST AND NAMING CONTEST FOR THE JELLYFISH BOT.
SO WE ARE GONNA WRAP THE PONTOONS, UH, THE SAT TOP AND SIDES, UM, AND THEN PUT A FLAG AND A PER YOU UP THERE WITH THE NAME OF WHATEVER IT'S GONNA BE CALLED.
UM, AND THIS IS GONNA BE OPEN TO, UH, AREA YOUTH 18 AND UNDER, UH, WE'RE GONNA KICK THAT OFF AT OUR BELMONT PIER LOCATION, UH, WITH MEGAN THIS WEEKEND.
YEAH, SO FOR COASTAL CLEANUP DAY, WE'LL BE HAVING THE JELLYFISH BOB.
WE'LL BE TALKING TO THE YOUTH AND EVERYBODY WHO'S ATTENDING.
UH, BUT WE WILL ALSO ACTUALLY BE LAUNCHING THE CONTEST.
THIS IS A YOUTH ART CONTEST AND NAMING CONTEST.
IT WILL GO LIVE ON OUR LONG BEACH PARKS AND REC WEBSITE.
THERE'S AN APPLICATION THAT THE PARENTS AND THE YOUTH CAN FILL OUT ALL OF THE FUN WAIVERS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND THEN SUBMITTING THEIR ARTWORK AND COMING UP WITH A NAME.
BUT WE ALSO IN WANTING TO KEEP WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL, UH, PURPOSES TO HAVING THE KIDS DESCRIBE WHAT CLEAN, HEALTHY OCEAN MEANS TO THEM.
SO ONCE WE PICK THE WINNERS, THIS LOVELY DEVICE WILL GET A VERY COOL WRAP AND WE'LL HAVE A KICKOFF CEREMONY IN DECEMBER DOWN OUR PARTNERS HERE THAT WE HAVE AS AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC.
WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH, UM, PARTNERS WITH PARKS, UM, THE LONG BEACH CONTAINER TERMINAL AND, UH, INTEX RECREATION COURT HAVE BOTH DONATED MONEY.
SO THERE WILL BE A $1,500 SCHOLARSHIP THAT THE WINNER THAT GETS THIS.
YEAH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SO WHAT DOES IT DO? WHAT DOES IT DO? YEAH, WE, IT, IT, IT GOES AROUND THE WATER.
UM, AND AS IT GOES THROUGH, UH, THE TRASH IS COLLECTED IN THIS NET.
SO THERE'S DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT KETCHUP BAGS THAT IT HAS DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF MARINE DEBRIS.
[00:35:01]
PROBABLY OUR MOST COMMONLY USED LIKE MICROPLASTICS, BIGGER PLASTIC ITEMS, BOTTLES, UM, YOU CAN SWITCH OUT, IT'S LIKE MICROPLASTICS AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SMALL PELLETS FROM THE WATER.UM, BUT THEY ACTUALLY CAN PICK UP TO LIKE A HUNDRED POUNDS, YOU KNOW, PER, THEY CALL IT PER MISSION.
SO YOU CAN PULL OUT A HUNDRED POUNDS OF DEBRIS LIKE EVERY TIME THIS THING GOES OUT.
THE BEST DESCRIPTION FOR IT I HEARD IS IT'S A ROOMBA FOR THE SEA
SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'LL LEAVE SOME FLYERS AND EVERYTHING UP THERE.
MEGAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
THIS IS JUST AWESOME AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT COLLABORATION.
IF I COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD JUST ASK MEGAN TO STAY AS A HIGHLIGHT ON SATURDAY ANNUAL POSTAL CLEANUP.
MAYBE IF YOU COULD GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS THE LARGEST CLEANUP IN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S ACTUALLY INTERNATIONAL NOW TOO, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE FOCUS IN CALIFORNIA AND ORIGINALLY IT WAS STARTED JUST ALONG THE COAST, BUT IN, HAS SINCE OVER THE 40 YEARS MOVED INLAND.
'CAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, TRASH DOESN'T JUST START ON THE BEACH.
IT ACTUALLY ALL FLOWS DOWN THE BEACH.
SO THERE WILL BE CLEANUPS ALL OVER LA COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY, ALL OVER HERE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BOTH INLAND AND ON THE COAST.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE FIVE SITES.
UM, OUR SITES ARE LOCATED KIND OF SPREAD OUT ALONG OUR SHORE.
WE DO HAVE SOME MARINA SITES TOO, WHERE WE'VE GOT, UM, SOME OF THE, THE, THE BOATS AND THE DOCKS WE'RE WORKING WITH.
UM, THE CLEANUP STARTS AT 9:00 AM IT GOES UNTIL 12:00 PM OUR MAIN SITE FOR PARKS AND REC, AS WELL AS THE CITY IS GONNA BE THE BELMONT VETERANS PIER.
WE HAVE HAVE ALL OF OUR SPONSORS.
WE'LL HAVE THE JELLYFISH SPOT OUT THERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT GIVEAWAYS.
WE'VE GOT, UM, THE FIRST 200 VOLUNTEERS THAT COME AND BRING TR YOU KNOW, BRING US BACK A BAG OF TRASH.
YOU HAVE TO BRING US BACK A BAG OF TRASH.
UM, WE HAVE KONA ICE IS BEING SPONSORED BY SOME OF OUR SPONSORS FOR FREE SHAVE ICE AFTERWARDS, SO IT'LL JUST BE A REALLY BRIGHT DAY OUT ON BEACH FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PAST.
HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS HAVE YOU DRAWN TO THIS EVENT? AND I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE DEBRIS WE COLLECT? YEAH, SO, UM, WE AVERAGE LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 1400 VOLUNTEERS JUST AT OUR SETS.
AND WE COLLECTED OVER A TON OF TRASH.
NOW THAT IS IN, OBVIOUSLY COLLABORATION WITH OUR MARINE BUREAU BECAUSE THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF OUR B TRADERS.
SO THIS IS JUST ALL THE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE IS PEOPLE SIT DOWN AND JUST GET THOSE MICROPLASTICS TOO.
SO THEY MAY SIT IN ONE SPOT WITH A SIFTER.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS.
UM, WE DID WIN THE STATE COMPETITION, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.
EVERY YEAR THE STATE HAS A COMPETITION WITH ALL OF THE SITE CAPTAINS FOR THE WEIRDEST DEBRIS.
AND WE ACTUALLY FREED AN OCTOPUS THAT WAS LIVING IN A SPEAKER, UM, IN THE GROUND.
SO WE FOUND A SPEAKER THAT HAD WASHED ON THE BEACH, AND AS WE WERE GETTING READY TO THROW IT AWAY, WE SAW A LITTLE TENTACLE COME OUT.
AND SO WE GOT SNIPS, WE CUT OPEN, DISMANTLED SPEAKER AND FREEDOM, OPTIMISM,
BUT, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENTS? UH, PLEASE LET US ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? THANK YOU LADIES.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION, UM, ON THE BOT, UH, HOW MANY DO WE OWN AND WHERE ARE THEY PRODUCED? UH, WE OWN ONE MM-HMM.
UM, THIS TECH, IT'S A LOT OF IT IS OVER IN EUROPE.
SO THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS, IT CAME FROM FRANCE.
UM, YOU WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THE, THE VENDOR ON SITE WITH US ON SATURDAY AT BELMONT HERE, UM, TO ANSWER A LOT MORE IN DETAIL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TECH AND ITS DESIGN AND HOW THEY'VE COME BE.
BRIAN, ARE YOU GONNA BE THE ONE THAT DOESN REMOTE OR WHO'S GONNA, I MEAN, I, IT IS A BLAST.
IT'S GAMIFICATION OF A VERY LIKE, SAD PROBLEM.
UM, BUT I WANT, I WANT EVERYONE ELSE TO TOUCH IT.
SO ON SATURDAY IT'LL JUST ON DISPLAY BECAUSE I WANNA LAUNCH IT OFF THE BEACH.
BUT AS WE DEPLOY IT IN THE MARINAS, UH, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A TON OF YOUTH AND LIKE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGING WITH IT BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO SEE THE PROBLEM FIRSTHAND.
HOW MUCH DOES ONE UNIT COST? UH, IT'S ROUGHLY LIKE 25,000.
WHAT, WELL, IT'S NOW TIME FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE STAT, OH, I'M SORRY.
BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY, THAT'S GREAT.
UM, IT'S NOW TIME FOR, UH, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND STAFF.
UM, I'M VERY PLEASED THAT MEGAN AND BRIAN WERE HERE.
UM, AS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN AND INVITE YOU AS WELL AS TO THE, THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CLEANUP.
AS MEGAN SAID, IT'S OUR FOURTH YEAR.
WE'RE PROUD THAT LONG BEACH IS VERY ACTIVE IN THAT.
UM, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THAT'S FACILITATED OUT OF OUR NATURE CENTER AND OUR NATURE CENTER STAFF.
SO VERY PROUD OF THEM AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A ONE DAY CLEANUP, IT'S ABOUT 365 DAYS OF MAKING SURE, UM, THAT OUR WATERWAYS
[00:40:01]
ARE CLEAN AND HER TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY WITH COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAPPEN ON A REGULAR DAY, UM, ON BEACH CLEANUPS.SO THANK YOU FOR MOVING AND BRIAN BEING HERE.
UM, JUST A HIGHLIGHT AGAIN AS, UH, BRENT CONCLUDED AS WE FALL INTO OUR FALL SEASON OFFERING PROGRAMS, UM, WITH OUR YOUTH, UM, ALL THE WAY TO OUR OLDER ADULTS.
UM, AGAIN, WE'VE HAD THE OUTREACH, UM, FOR THE KICKED OFF, UM, LAST WEEK AND ALL THROUGH THIS WEEK ABOUT GETTING, UM, INFORMATION FROM OUR, OUR OLDER ADULTS ABOUT WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE AT OUR, THE NEWLY PROPOSED, UM, SENIOR CENTER ON, UM, ON ELM STREET IN THE NEAR, UM, COUPLE YEARS.
UM, OUR OLDER ADULTS ARE VERY VITAL TO OUR, OUR PROGRAMS AND VERY IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY.
UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER, UM, WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO BRING IN, ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMS, UM, HIGHLIGHTING AND WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PROGRAM WITHIN OUR LIBRARIES, UM, AND BRING THEIR RESOURCES INTO OUR, UM, CENTERS.
UM, IT STARTS AS, YOU KNOW, AS SIMPLE AS A A BOOK CLUB, UM, AND INVITING THEM, UM, AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT THE, THE LIBRARY HAS AS WELL AS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND ONE OF OUR NEWER ADVENTURES IS PARTNERING WITH OUR COLLEGES.
SO NOT ONLY, UM, LBCC, BUT AS WELL AS COST OF LONG BEACH AND THEIR OLLIE PROGRAM TO ENHANCE OUR, UM, OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS. WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.
SO THAT SHARED USE THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, UM, ABOUT OUR YOUTH.
UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOW HAS 'EM THREE QUARTERS OF THE DAY AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY AS WELL AS CUSTODY ON THE WEEKENDS.
SO ON THE 28TH IS WE'RE KICKING OFF OUR FALL PROGRAMMING AND OUR YOUTH SPORTS.
SO WE'LL TRANSITION AS WE HEARD FROM OUR, OUR DODGER DREAM TEAM PROGRAMS TO FLAG FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL.
SO, UM, REGISTRATION TAKING PLACE, PRACTICES WILL START AND GAMES WILL KICK OFF ON THE 28TH.
SO VERY PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AS WELL AS OUR ADULT SPORTS PROGRAMS. WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT OUR ADULT SPORTS PROGRAMS, BUT VERY PROGRAM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, WE HAVE BASKETBALL, KICKBALL, VOLLEYBALL, UM, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, UM, AND LOOKING TO ADD THAT EVER FAMOUS KEY WORD, BUT ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE GOTTA CHANGE THE HOW, RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, REVENUE IS REVENUE AND
UM, SO AS WE KICK ON FALL AND THE, THE WEATHER, UM, IS CHANGING INTO OUR FALL, UM, IS ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK IN, WE TRANSITION WITH OUR FALL YOUTH, UM, SPORTS LEAGUES.
UM, IT IS NOW, UM, WELL IT'S ALL SPORTS IN LONG BEACH.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT, UH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BRINGS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY IT USED TO BE A DEFINITIVE TIME, BUT NOW IT'S ALL SPORTS ALL THE TIME.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S MORE OF THE SOCCER AND FOOTBALL AND FLAG FOOTBALL SEASON FOR OUR, OUR USER GROUPS.
UM, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BUT VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM AS THEY CONTINUE TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY.
I'LL JUST SHARE, I'VE HAD THE JOY AND THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY THIS PAST WEEK AND WEEKENDS STARTING ON SATURDAY, UM, AT SILVERADO PARK WITH THE SILVERADO SKATE JAM, UM, HOSTED BY THE ASK FOUNDATION.
I WAS THERE WITH A FEW OF OUR OTHER STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WE WERE PUBLICIZING OUR SKATE PARK FEASIBILITY STUDY AND REALLY SEEKING AND TALKING TO THE YOUTH THAT WERE OUT THERE TO GET THEIR INPUT AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUTH VOICE IS HEARD AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO POTENTIAL SITES OR OPPORTUNITIES TO GO SKATE PARKS HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.
AND THEN THIS WEEK, AS IT'S BEEN KIND OF MENTIONED BY KAREN AND THEN GLADYS MENTIONED IT, I'VE BEEN OUT FACILITATING OUR, UM, SENIOR CENTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS.
SO WE HAD THE KICKOFF LAST THURSDAY, AND THEN ALL THIS WEEK I'VE BEEN OUT AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICE SITES, UM, FOR OUR SENIOR PROGRAM.
SO WE ARE HITTING EVERY SENIOR PROGRAM SITE THIS WEEK AND GOING TO THEM AS WELL TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROJECT AND REALLY GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND HAVE, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE AS WE'RE THERE.
AND REALLY JUST A LOT OF INTERACTION.
IT'S BEEN WELL ATTENDED, WELL RECEIVED, WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK THAT I THINK WILL BE VERY HELPFUL AND USEFUL.
IT INFORMED THE DESIGN OF THIS NEW SENIOR CENTER, F1 25 L.
AND, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY NOTHING TO ANSWER? OKAY.
UH, DIRECTOR DENNIS, I DID THINK OF TWO MORE THINGS,
SO THAT IS ACTUALLY MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT BIG NEWS SINCE THIS COMMISSION LAST MET.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU, THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO STEPPED FORWARD AT THE COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS AND ALSO ON THE BUDGET ADOPTION.
I THANK YOU CHAIR
SO, UM, THIS WAS, AGAIN, A YEAR THAT WE WERE VERY THANKFUL WE DIDN'T INCUR ANY
[00:45:01]
BUDGET CUTS AND WE DID RECEIVE SOME IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL FUNDING, MEANING IT'S ONGOING IN A LOT OF KEY STRATEGIC AREAS.AND SOME ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME FUNDING.
UH, THERE WAS ONE ITEM THAT WAS OUR TOP PRIORITY THAT SOMEHOW IN ALL THE REVIEW JUST FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS OR THROUGH THE RADAR SCREEN, BUT WE WERE ABLE, UM, THROUGH THE BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMISSION OR COMMITTEES FINAL REVIEW, UM, HAD, UH, A $300,000 ITEM FOR, UH, MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR A LOT OF THE UNFORTUNATE BUT NECESSARY ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP.
SO WE WERE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THAT ITEM RIGHT AT THE 11TH HOUR, I GUESS.
SO THE BUDGET, UM, REVIEW AND APPROVAL WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
AND THEN, UM, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO MY LEFT.
THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN SERVING IN AN IMPORTANT ACTING BUREAU MANAGER ROLES.
UH, SO, UM, THANK YOU SHERLY FOR PARK PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIPS IN RAUL FOR, UM, THE PARK MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS BUREAU.
SO MONDAY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRST ROUND OF INTERVIEWS, UH, TO FILL, FILL THE ARC MAINTENANCE BUREAU OPERATIONS MANAGER POSITION.
UM, UH, AND I THINK STEVE, I, I'M GOING, I'LL BE OUTTA THE OFFICE NEXT WEEK, UH, BUT STEVE WILL BE IN CHARGE, UH, AS HE ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB JUST COVERING ALL THE HIGH LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.
SO, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO AND, UM, WE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A RETREAT, TO BE HONEST.
I THINK BECAUSE WE RESPECT ALL OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL COMMITMENTS THAT PULL YOU IN ALL DIRECTIONS, IT IS QUITE HONESTLY A CHALLENGE TO FIND A DATE AND A BLOCK OF TIME THAT WE CAN BRING ALL SEVEN OF YOU TOGETHER.
SO I THINK IF YOU, IF YOU'D BE SUPPORTIVE, THIS ISN'T AN ACTION ITEM, BUT THE CONSIDERATION WE'RE HAVING IS THAT MAYBE FOR THE NEXT SERIES OF, UH, COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE ALLOCATE ONE PART OF THE, UM, AGENDA TO SOME OF THOSE KEY THINGS THAT WE WOULD DO A RETREAT SETTING PRESENT TO YOU.
I KNOW THERE WERE TOPICS LIKE THE UPCOMING LA 28 OLYMPICS, UH, THE OVERALL CITY'S ELEVATE 28 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT MENU, UH, AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM YOU THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE, THE CHALLENGE WILL BE, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT, IS JUST GETTING YOU OUT AND KIND OF A PERSONALIZED TOUR TO SEE SOME OF THE PARKS AND FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS A COMMISSIONER.
AND THEN WE COULD HAVE A WORKING LUNCH, YOU KNOW, ON THAT DAY.
AND THIS WOULD ALL BE, AGAIN, IN LIEU OF WHAT, IN RESPECT OF YOUR TIME TO ACCOMPLISH THE RETREAT.
SO OTHER THAN THAT, UM, I'M GLAD AUTUMN'S HERE.
I WORE MY ALL COLOR, UH, AUTUMN TIE, UH, TODAY, UH, JUST TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON.
BUT I SO ENJOY THE COOLER WEATHER COMPARED TO THE A HUNDRED PLUS DEGREE.
BUT OUR, OUR TEAM DID A GREAT JOB STANDING UP COOLING CENTERS.
THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES.
I I DID MENTION THAT IN THERE, UM, THAT WHEN THEY ASK TO ACTIVATE THE POOLING CENTERS, OUR TEAM IS ALWAYS WELL SUITED AND SETS UP AND, UM, IMPORTANT THING THAT WE DO ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, UH, COMMISSION.
UM, YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, TWO THINGS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, AS GLADYS KIND OF ALLUDED TO, THE TOLD OF LONG BEACH ARE BACK IN OUR HANDS NOW SINCE LAST TIME, LAST TIME WE MET, UM, SCHOOL HAS STARTED.
UM, SO I'VE GOT A WHOLE NEW CROP OF KIDS WHOSE NAMES I'M TRYING TO LEARN ALL OF THAT.
UM, I DID HAVE ONE COOL MOMENT.
I ALWAYS START MY CLASS BY ASKING MY STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING INTERESTING HAPPENS SINCE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, THAT SORT OF THING.
AND ONE OF MY NINTH GRADERS MENTIONED, UM, OH, OVER THE WEEKEND I WENT ON A NATURE HIKE AND I SAID, OH, WHERE DID YOU GO? AND I WAS EXPECTING HER TO SAY SHE WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN SOMEWHERE AND SHE SAID, HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE ELDER ON NATURE? AND IT WAS SO GREAT BECAUSE I GREW UP RIGHT OVER HERE AND SHE LIVES, YOU KNOW, I I TEACH AT POLY, SO SHE LIVES IN THE POLY AREA.
BUT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT ON THAT MOMENT ON THIS REALLY WONDERFUL JEWEL THAT WE HAVE IN, IN LONG BEACH MOUNT PARKS, IT WAS, IT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO SHOUT THAT OUT.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT'S COME UP A COUPLE TIMES TODAY ABOUT, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING SENIORS, UM, I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING TOMORROW TO GO BACK TO HAWAII WHERE MY DAD'S FAMILY'S FROM.
MY AUNTIE IS TURNING A HUNDRED YEARS OLD ON.
AND ALL THE SCIENCE AND STUDIES SHOW THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY, UM, FOR THAT LONGEVITY, UM, IS, IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.
SO I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THE PEOPLE WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE SENIOR SUBJECT, KAREN, WHO'S HERE AT ALMOST EVERY MEETING, UM, JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY SHE'S NOT IN LONG BEACH, BUT I LOVE SUPPORT FOR LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AS WELL.
[00:50:01]
SO JUST ACTUALLY ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THIS WEEK ACTUALLY MARKS MY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS A COMMISSIONER WITH, UH, PARKS.AND SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST THANK THE LEADERSHIP, UM, THE COMMUNITY IN THE ROLE YOU PLAY.
YOU KNOW, BEING A COMMISSIONER, UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT'S SUCH A GRATEFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME AND US TO PLAY A, A SMALL PIECE IN THAT PIE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TO ALL OF THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THAT AREN'T HERE AND SITTING HERE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT THEY CARRY IN REALLY EVERYTHING WE DISCUSS AND TALK ABOUT AND TRY AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL PUSHING THAT BOULDER TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT'S NOT IN THIS ROOM.
UM, ALL OF YOUR STAFF AND OF COURSE ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF AT LEAST MY JOURNEY IN THIS TOO.
SO, AND I THINK BOB TOO, WE KIND OF STARTED AROUND THE SAME TIME AS WELL.
SO YES, IT IS LONG BEACH GIVES, UM, IF YOU'VE GOT $5, $10, PICK YOUR FAVORITE NONPROFITS AND PLEASE SUPPORT THEM.
THEY'RE, UM, OUR NONPROFITS ARE REALLY WHAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SHINE.
AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE THAT.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA SHARE THAT I JUST MADE A DONATION TO PARTNERS, TO PARKS AND HONOR OF BRENT AND HIS AMAZING STAFF.
SO, UM, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, EVEN IF YOU CAN ONLY GIVE 10 BUCKS, PICK PICK YOUR FAVORITE ONE, YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, A SMALL AMOUNT OF DOLLARS WILL GO.
SO COMMISSIONER LIVINGSTON, UM, TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, SHE, I'VE BEEN TO, UM, SINCE BECOMING A COMMISSIONER AND A FEW OF 'EM BEFORE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO GET INPUT FROM GROUPS, THE, THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GO INTO THAT, AND THEN DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE VERY DISPARATE OPINIONS ON WHAT AN ULTIMATE PROJECT THAT WE DO.
AND THEN SECOND, OUR OWN BILLIE JEAN KING RECENTLY BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN ATHLETE IN HISTORY TO RECEIVE THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY.
SO, UH, SHE'LL BE GETTING THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER HIGA, WHEN SHE WAS WITH CENTURY CLUB, BILLY PUSHED FOR HAVING THE LIBRARY NAMED AFTER, UH, BILLY.
UH, AND SO JUST A GREAT HONOR FOR HER AND FOR LONG BEACH.
COMMISSIONER CHAVE, NO UPDATES ON.
UM, I DID WANNA ECHO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ON LONG BEACH GIVES AND, UH, THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
I HAPPEN TO BE WITH, UH, LEADERSHIP FROM THAT TEAM THIS MORNING AND THEY HAVE SURPASSED THE FIRST $1 MILLION MARK OH WOW.
THE SECOND I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE OLYMPICS, THAT, UM, UH, WE HAVE, UH, ATHLETES THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED COMING TO LONG BEACH TO, UH, PRACTICE, UH, PARTICULARLY THE SAILING GROUP, ARE ALREADY HERE IN LONG BEACH FOR THE 2028 OLYMPICS, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN LONG BEACH.
WE'VE GOT NINE, IS IT EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE HERE, INCLUDING THE PARALYMPICS? YES.
AND THEN THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE PARALYMPICS.
UM, THE, OUR MAYOR MET WITH THE HEAD OF ALL OF THE PARALYMPICS FOR AMERICA, UM, UH, RECENTLY.
AND APPARENTLY LONG BEACH HAS SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS DEVELOPED MANY YEARS AGO RELATING TO THE PARALYMPICS.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG PUSH TO HAVE.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH A MAN NAMED SEAN DEVEREAUX, WHO WORKED WITH THE PARALYMPICS COMMITTEE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WITH REGARD TO LONG BEACH'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, UH, UM, YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT IT, BUT SISTER CITIES OF LONG BEACH HAS ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO REACH OUT TO ITS FOREIGN CITIES AND INVITE PEOPLE AND THAT HAVE THEM STAY AT LONG BEACH AND, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO LA THEY CAN STAY RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH THE OLYMPICS AND THE PARALYMPICS.
SO, UH, LET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD OUT ABOUT THAT.