* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:14:10] ALL [00:14:10] RIGHT, [00:14:10] MADAM CLERK, LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. PRESENT VICE MAYOR ALLEN. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. [ROLL CALL] HERE. COUNCILMAN SONO? HERE. COUNCILMAN KERR? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. WHAT IS THAT? COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. MAYOR RICHARDSON. WE HAVE A QUORUM. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN, YOU MIND LEADING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? SURE. PLEASE. UH, WE CAN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. STAND WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. LET'S COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY FOR PEACE. [00:15:10] OKAY. IF YOU, UH, ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND AND PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. LET'S TAKE A PLEDGE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC. THANKS, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. ALL RIGHT. WELL WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 15TH MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. UH, TODAY WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS, UH, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. WE WILL START WITH FILIPINO HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION, COUNCIL MEMBERS SIX AND SEVEN. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, BEFORE I INTRODUCE TODAY'S [ FILIPINO HISTORY MONTH] PRESENTER, I FIRST WANNA THANK JESSICA GILLETTE, AS WELL AS DR. LEE BERNAL FOR THEIR WORK IN ORGANIZING TODAY'S WONDERFUL CELEBRATION. IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE, UM, EVERYONE IN THEIR TRADITIONAL CLOTHES. UH, I ALSO WANNA GIVE THINGS TO CAROLYN ROMANA FOR, FOR HELPING, UM, WITH TODAY'S EVENTS AS WELL. AND SO HERE WE ARE, HERE TODAY, GET DAY TO SHOWCASE AND SHARE THE FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY PRESENTATION, UM, PRESENTED BY JESSICA AS AND DR. BANAL AND MR. PAUL POLANCO. PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JESSICA OBOR GILLETTE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 18 YEARS. GOOD EVENING. I'M DR. ELAINE VILLANUEVA BERNAL. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, AND HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR OVER 10 YEARS, AND ALSO FORMER RESIDENT DISTRICT FOUR. I ALWAYS HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SUPER NA. UM, WE WANNA THANK THE OFFICES OF MAYOR RICHARDSON, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW COUNCIL MEMBER LANGA AND COUNCIL MEMBER DR. RICK OTI FOR COLLABORATING WITH US ON HAVING OUR THIRD ANNUAL CITY LONG BEACH, FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION. WE ARE HERE TO INTRODUCE, UH, PAUL BLANCO, WHO WAS ACTIVE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR MANY DECADES. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 1992 RESOLUTION IN WHICH THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL DECLARED SANTA FE AVENUE FROM 20TH STREET TO SPRING STREET AS FILIPINO NEIGHBORHOOD. BEING IN FRONT OF CITY COUNCIL IS NOTHING NEW FOR MR. BLANCO, AS HE HAD MADE MANY PRESENTATIONS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL IN THE COURSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I'M GOING TO LIST THEM, SO BEAR WITH ME, BUT I WILL GO THROUGH THIS. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WORK THAT MR. PAUL BLANCO HAS DONE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. HE WAS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPER FOR THE FILIPINO CAUCUS, LONG BEACH, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE FILIPINO OUTREACH CENTER IN LONG BEACH, FOUNDER AND FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, INC. FOUNDER AND FIRST CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN OF ASIAN PACIFIC MENTAL HEALTH OF LONG BEACH. FIRST COMMISSIONER OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMISSION OF LONG BEACH. FIRST COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITIZEN POLICE COMPLAINT COMMISSION OF LONG BEACH. FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF LONG BEACH DISTRICT FILIPINO PARISH, COMMISSIONED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE H. BUSH TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO ATTEND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF BEHA EN CLOSURE OF THE US BASIS IN THE PHILIPPINES. IN 1992, HE WAS LISTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP FIFTH EDITION, CONFERRED BY THE AMERICAN BIOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE AND WHO'S WHO AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS. HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS [00:20:01] OF FILIPINO AMERICAN WORLD WAR II, VETERANS COLONEL AND FORMER DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC LIAISON OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICAN VOLUNTEER RESERVE. FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE LONG BEACH COLA. SISTER CITIES ENSHRINED IN THE 2002 COMMUNITY HISTORICAL MURAL IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, CELEBRATING SOME OF THE CONTEMPORARY LEADERS THAT HAVE CREATED DYNAMIC CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITY THAT BROUGHT LONG BEACH INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. HE RECEIVED THE 2002 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. HE WAS THE FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE LONG BEACH WATER DEPARTMENT AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE ADVISORY BOARD OF LONG BEACH. HOLD ON, PLEASE WELCOME MR. PAUL BLANCO. BU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. FOR THE HONORARY I GAVE EVEN ME, MY, MY LIFE WAS HAS COME TO AN FULL CIRCLE KNOWING THAT I HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH MY ANCE HERE WHERE I CALL HOME IN THE DAY IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU, MAYOR CAROL. REX. RICHARD, THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL, MS. JELLY, JESSICA, CAROLYN, MISS. SHE'S JESSICA, GI ELAINE. WERE AND C AND CAROL AND ROMAN ROMANA TO THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION. AND BY ORGANIZING AND HOSTING THE THIRD AND WORLD FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION. IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE THAT I AM STILL THIS, I'M ABLE TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME, SUPPORTED ME. I YOUR TIME IS MY TIME AND EFFORTS WORKING IN THE CITY. CAN I CONTINUE FOR YOU? OH, OKAY. ON BEHALF OF MY DAD, PAUL BLANCO BUHAI AND THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR, MY LIFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE KNOWING THAT I HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE WITH MY FELLOW KABA BAIN HERE WHERE I CALL HOME IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THANK YOU MAYOR REX RICHARDSON, THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. MS. JESSICA GILLETTE, ELAINE VILLA, AND WE BERNAL AND CAROLYN ROMANA FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND FOR ORGANIZING AND HOSTING THIS THIRD ANNUAL FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I'M STILL ABLE TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT MY JOURNEY AND MY CAREER IN MINISTRY. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF MY FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION SUPPORTERS. YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS WORKING ALONGSIDE OF ME HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED. THOSE TIMES SPENT WITH ALL OF YOU WERE [00:25:01] THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME INTO MY LIFE, SO MANY TO NAME, BUT ONE PERSON COMES TO MIND WHEN I THINK OF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION SUPERVISOR DON KBI. HE IMPACTED MY LIFE IN SO MANY WAYS BY SUPPORTING MY FAMILY AND OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY TO THAT I AM VERY GRATEFUL. I WOULD SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME WITH ALL OF MY DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. AND TO MY BELOVED WIFE WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US. SHE WAS MY PILLAR OF STRENGTH AND COURAGE. WE WORKED TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE BEST FOR OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. SHE WAS THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. WE SOARED TOGETHER UP IN THE AIR AND DOWN BELOW. MIRIAM WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALL OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY. MY TIME OF COMMUNITY WORK HAS COME TO AN END. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN LONG BEACH WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS. SALAMA AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND, UH, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE, A PLAQUE FOR YOU RECOGNIZING FILIPINO HISTORY MONTH. WE'LL PULL THE ROPE BACK. COME ON BEHIND THE RAIL. YEAH, LET'S DO GO. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, NEXT WE HAVE OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICE, MONTHLY PET ADOPTION. MM-HMM, . LET'S, LET'S JUST MOVE THESE RAILS OUT THE WAY FOR THE PET. YOU KNOW, THEY GET THE, PAUL YOU WANNA HELP WITH HELP WITH THAT. [ ACS PET ADOPTION] THANKS. OH BOY. SO WHO DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY? HI, BABY. SHE'S SO PRETTY. LET'S ACTIVATE THE MICROPHONE. HELLO. OH, PERFECT. . SO WHO'S THIS? UM, HELLO STEAM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HONORABLE MAYOR. MY NAME IS MAY VILLANUEVA FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER STEPHANIE MOCA [00:30:01] AND OUR SHELTER PET OF THE MONTH. THIS IS MERCEDES. UH, SHE IS A KANE CORSO, MASSIVE MIX, ABOUT 1-YEAR-OLD. UH, SHE'S SHY, BUT A, A PLAYFUL PUP. UM, READY TO FIND HER FOREVER HOME. UM, DEFINITELY A BUNDLE OF JOY AND, UM, FULL OF CURIOSITY. SHE DOES MAY TAKE A, SHE MAY TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO WARM UP, BUT WHEN SHE FEELS SAFE, HER PLAYFUL PERSONALITY SHINES THROUGH. UM, SHE DID COME IN AS A PAIR, SO HER OTHER FRIEND WHO CAME WITH HER TO THE SHELTER IS NAMED CADILLAC AND CASE YOU WANNA ADOPT THEM TOGETHER. SO CADILLAC AND MERCEDES, UH, SHE WOULD, UM, THRIVE IN A LOVING HOME WHERE SHE CAN BUILD CONFIDENCE AND EXPLORE THE WORLD AT HER OWN PACE. UH, HER FAVORITE HOLIDAY IS HALLOWEEN BECAUSE SHE'S DEFINITELY, UM, TREAT MOTIVATED AND SHE CAN DO A FEW TRICKS, UM, SUCH AS SIT AND TOUCH. UM, SO IF YOU'RE INTO A GENTLE COMPANION, UM, SHE'LL DEFINITELY BE THE PUP FOR YOU. UM, ALONG WITH MERCEDES, WE HAVE A LOT OF PETS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION THIS MONTH. UM, WE ARE HOSTING A FIND YOUR BOO, UM, ADOPTION SPECIAL ALL THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. UM, ANIMALS THAT HAVE STAYED WITH US FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS ARE PRICED AT $13. VACCINES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE, UM, PROTECTING OUR FURRY FRIENDS FROM VARIOUS DISEASES. SO WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CAMP EVERY SINGLE WEEK TO HOST LONG, UM, LOW COST VACCINE AND MICROCHIP CLINICS. UM, IT IS EVERY MONDAY, SECOND FRIDAY AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, UH, FROM 10:00 AM TO TWO 2:30 PM WE'RE ALWAYS ADDING MORE EVENTS, SO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, UM, FOR MORE INFORMATION, UM, FOR A FULL SCHEDULE. UM, I DO WANNA MENTION THAT, UM, UH, AT THESE CLINICS, UM, MICROCHIPS, UM, ARE OFFERED. JUST YESTERDAY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MEGAN, KARA HAD FOUND A FRIENDLY UNATTENDED, UM, DOG PLAYING AT THE PARK. UM, SHE WAS ABLE TO APPROACH IT AND HE CAME WILLFULLY, WILLINGLY. UM, JUST VERY FRIENDLY AND, BUT, AND SO SHE BROUGHT HIM TO OUR SHELTER. UM, FOUND OUT, FOUND OUT HE WAS MICROCHIPPED, AND WE, WE WERE ABLE TO REUNITE HIM WITH HIS OWNERS, UM, WHO LIVED DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PARK. SO MICROCHIPS ARE DEFINITELY IMPORTANT FOR, UM, HELPING YOU FIND YOUR LOST PET. SHE'S A GOAT ONE , SHE'S VERY GOOD. AND THEN LESLIE . LESLIE, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ANNUAL LONG BEACH PET FAIR, UM, HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND. OUR LONG BEACH, UM, ANIMAL CARE SERVICE, UM, ADOPTION WAGON WILL BE THERE WITH A VARIETY OF PET RESOURCES, LOCAL VENDORS, AND, UM, IT'LL DEFINITELY BE A FUN TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY AND PETS, UM, TO ENJOY A GREAT DAY AT MARIANA GREEN PARK. SO, FOR MORE INFORMATION, UM, GO TO LONG BEACH PET FAIR.COM AND THEN ALL OF OUR INFORMATION THAT WE DISCUSS HERE IS ON OUR WEBSITE. AND YOU CAN VISIT US WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT OUR SHELTER TOO. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, FOLKS, UH, LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND MERCEDES. SO, MERCEDES IS A GOOD DOG. SHE IS VERY SOCIAL. UH, SHE GETS ALONG REALLY WELL. SHE'S SAID HI TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS RAN. THAT IS NOT HAPPENED EVERY TIME. SOMETIMES THEY SKIP RIGHT PAST SOME DISTRICTS. I WON'T SAY WHICH ONES. . WELL, THEY GREETED ALL NINE COUNCIL DISTRICTS TODAY. UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON A ROLL. EVERY, EVERY, EVERY PET THAT'S COME IN FOR THE PET ADOPTIONS HAS BEEN TAKEN HOME BY A LONG BEACH FAMILY. AND MERCEDES IS UP THERE, ONE OF THE BEST THAT WE'VE SEEN. I WILL TELL YOU. SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PET, THIS IS A GOOD ONE. SO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT OUR INCREDIBLE, UH, UH, SHELTER AND OUR SHELTER STAFF, AND THE INCREDIBLE PETS WE HAVE AT LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. LET'S HEAR FROM THEM ONE MORE TIME, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE, LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN TAKE MERCEDES HOME. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, UH, WE HAVE OUR VETERAN'S DAY PRESENTATION FROM OUR CITY MANAGER. YES. OR GINA? MM-HMM. , THE OFFICE OF VETERAN. OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS. GOOD EVENING. [ VETERANS DAY] THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AGAIN. I'M GINA OVERHOLT, THE VETERAN SUPPORT, I'M, I'M SAYING IT WRONG MYSELF. THE OFFICE OF VETERANS SUPPORT AND VETERANS COMMISSION COORDINATOR. IT IS THAT TIME AGAIN ALREADY. THE LONG BEACH VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH FROM 11 TO FOUR IN HOUGHTON PARK. AND THIS TIME IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF BEACH STREETS UPTOWN. SO WE'RE REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THAT ACTUALLY. AND, UH, THERE ARE THREE [00:35:01] HUBS THAT ARE PART OF BEACH STREETS. YOU SEE THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, UH, THAT THE, THE THREE HUBS ARE THE LIBRARY HUB, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY, THE VETERANS DAY HUB, WHICH IS IN HOWTON PARK AND THE ARTESIA HUB. SO, BEACH STREETS IS A COMBINATION CELEBRATION AND, UH, ATLANTIC AVENUE IS GOING TO BE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, WALKABLE BIKE FRIENDLY, SKATEBOARDING FRIENDLY, ET CETERA. WE CELEBRATE CLEAN AIR AND NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES FOR THE DAY. WE'RE ALSO, UH, IT'S ALSO SHOWCASING THE ARTESIA GREAT BOULEVARD PROJECT WITH, WITH ITS STREET SCAPE IMPROVEMENTS AND, AND, UH, NEW BIKE CORRIDOR. AND IN IT BEING CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON ATLANTIC FROM SOUTH TO ARTESIA, AND THEN ARTESIA FROM ATLANTIC TO CHERRY. I WANTED TO, TO ASSURE YOU THAT FOR THE VETERAN'S DAY HUB, THAT PARKING IS AVAILABLE EAST OF HOUGHTON PARK AND THERE WILL BE A DA ACCESSIBLE PARKING AND A PARATRANSIT DROP OFF ON HARDING STREET BETWEEN ATLANTIC AND MYRTLE. SO AT THESE ENTERTAINMENT HUBS OR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION AND RESOURCES BOOTHS, FOOD, UH, MORE ON THIS IN A MOMENT. SO HERE'S SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CELEBRATION. UH, KNIGHT WRITER IS GONNA BE THE HEADLINER FROM 2 34. THAT'S THE, UH, LOCALLY WORLD FAMOUS EIGHTIES AND NINETIES TRIBUTE BAND. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM, THEY'RE GREAT. UH, THE SATIN DOLLS WITH TWO SETS AT NOON AND ONE 15, WHICH IS LIKE KIND OF A FORTIES ERA TRIBUTE, UH, GREAT SINGING. I JUST SAW THEM AT THE, UH, LONG BEACH LONE SAILOR CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY. UH, WE HAVE DJ MR. QUICK, UH, SO, AND THEN THE KID ZONE AGAIN THIS YEAR. BUT THIS IS THE KID ZONE FOR THE ENTIRE BEACH STREETS EVENT. UH, IT HAS ITS OWN STAGE WITH DJ MIKE PERFORMANCES BY BOB, MAKE BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER, ARTS AND CRAFTS, SKATE ZONE WITH SKATE PARK, ET CETERA. AND LET'S NOT FORGET DELICIOUS FOOD TRUCKS, A BEER GARDEN, THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC'S AQUARIUM ON WHEELS. MANY, MANY THINGS, UH, OFFERED THAT DAY. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE WILL BE FLU IMMUNIZATIONS THERE. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR FLU SHOT, COME ON OUT. IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT MIGHT STING FOR A BIT, BUT IT'S IN A FUN SETTING. AND THEY'LL ALSO BE, UH, THE VETERANS RECOGNITION CEREMONY. AND THAT KICKS OFF WITH FLYOVERS BY HISTORIC AIRCRAFT. AND, UH, RECOGNIZE AND THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS, UH, WILL RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE THE OUTSTANDING VETERAN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN SOME OF THE, UH, THE VETERANS SERVING AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION WHO HAVE DONE EXCELLENT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SERVE VETERANS. AND I WANTED TO ALSO MAKE SURE I POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A, I THINK I MISSED THAT PART. UH, THE, THE RESOURCES FAIR. SO ABOUT 30 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE THERE OFFERING, UH, UH, AN ARRAY OF SERVICES, VETERAN SERVING IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PLUS VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING, UH, FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PARKS, REC, AND MARINE. UH, WE HAVE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE VETERANS PEER ACCESS NETWORK. UM, AND IT'S GONNA BE FANTASTIC. I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME OUT TO BEACH STREETS IN GENERAL AND TO WHAT I THINK IS THE BEST HUB, THE VETERANS HUB. AND, UM, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU AT BEACH STREETS 2024 AND THE VETERANS DAY HUB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, GINA, IS THAT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION OVER THERE WITH YOU? WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM HERE, YES. CAN YOU ALL STAND PLEASE? WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SEE SOME VETERANS WITH YOU WHO, HOW ABOUT ALL THE VETERANS JUST STAND SO WE CAN JUST RECOGNIZE YOU. PLEASE SEE GUS. OUTSTANDING. GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO CELEBRATE, HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S VIBRANT VETERANS COMMUNITY AT OUR VETERANS DAY HUB. RIGHT. AND, AND, AND BEFORE YOU GO, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OIE WANTS TO, WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. THIS IS IN, IN HER COUNCIL DISTRICT. DOES IT GO DOWN TO THE EIGHTH TWO THIS YEAR? IT STOPS AT THE, IT STOPS AT SOUTH STREET, BUT IT'S A UPTOWN THING. IT IS ALL IN UPTOWN THING. IT'S AN UPTOWN THING. WELL, YOU KNOW, BEACH STREETS STARTED IN UPTOWN AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT. A GREAT PARTY, GREAT CELEBRATION. UH, DR. RICK SODI, DID YOU GET DW THREE THIS YEAR? I DON'T KNOW. WHO IS THAT A AGAIN? IS THAT THE MAYOR WILL COME IF DW THREE IS PLAYING? WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE GOT DW THREE AND BISCUITS AND GRAPES. COME ON NOW. OKAY. ALRIGHT. , THAT LIKE, IF YOU EVER ATTENDED AN UPTOWN EVENT, THEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL. UH, WELL CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. COUNCILMAN BRICK SOTE, WHAT YOU GOT? UH, YEAH, SO I JUST WANTED TO FANTASTIC. GINA, YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF PRESENTING IT. [00:40:01] WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. UM, I TEND TO, TO, UM, TELL TIME BY BEFORE AND AFTER MY CHILDREN. SO, UH, THE FOR PREVIOUS BEACH STREETS WAS BEFORE MY SON COHEN WAS BORN. UH, AND SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, BE ABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE ALL THE, THE, UH, WELL I DON'T SEE ERIC LO, DIRECTOR LOPEZ OUT HERE, BUT IF HE WAS HERE, HE WOULD SAY, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ON ARTESIA COUNCIL MEMBER? HE'S LIKE 30, NO, 35. NO. HE'S LIKE, WE SPENT $43 MILLION ON THE ARTESIA BOULEVARD PROJECT AND WE ARE PROUD TO SHOWCASE ALL THE WORK, UM, THAT WE HAVE DONE ON THAT THE WORK FROM, UM, OUR MAYOR WHEN HE WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER STEVE NEIL. RIGHT. JUST THE INVESTMENTS IN UPTOWN BE ABLE TO SHOW OUR WONDERFUL VETERANS DAY FESTIVAL. RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT FANTASTIC. WE'RE DOING ALL OF THESE UPGRADES AND REFRESHES TO, UM, THE VETERANS MEMORIAL AHEAD OF THE VETERANS DAY, UM, FESTIVAL. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE HUB AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY. SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE CITY CAN ENJOY. UM, SO PLEASE COME OUT, PLAN YOUR DAY, NOVEMBER 9TH TO COME AND CHECK OUT UPTOWN, HANG OUT, SEE OUR RESTAURANTS, OUR BUSINESSES, AND CELEBRATE A FANTASTIC, UM, VETERANS DAY WEEKEND. ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS AND, AND CONGRATULATIONS, UH, COUNCILMAN RICK SODE. LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING THE GREAT BOULEVARD. WELL THAT SATISFIES ALL OF OUR PRESENTATIONS. IT WAS A LOT TODAY, BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH. WE'RE NOW GONNA, UH, GO AND REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. I HAVE TWO ITEMS TO REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION. THE MATTER SHEIK VERSUS THE CITY OF LONG BEACH SETTLED IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 AND THE MATTER OF WHERE VERSUS CITY OF LONG BEACH SETTLED IN THE AMOUNT OF $320,000. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW TAKE CONSENT. CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15 PLEASE. OKAY, [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 15.)] I SEE IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT? OKAY, NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT. IIC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. SPEAKERS. I WILL READ YOUR NAMES. WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ILLA MCDONALD, HERMAN LONG, ANTHONY HOLMES. JULIE DEAN MURIEL, BERE ZRICH, KAREN ZA, PAUL VALLEJO, VALLEJO, AND, UH, JOSEPH EDWARDS. SO, B, YOU ARE UP. THANK YOU. BAZ MCDONALD, BORN AND RAISED, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. SO HELLO CITY COUNCIL AND GREETINGS TO THE CONCERNED CITY OF LONG BEACH RESIDENTS. TODAY, ON BEHALF OF SOME CONCERNED RESIDENTS, I AM EXPRESSING TO YOU THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON HOW THIS ELECTION PROCESS FOR MEASURE JB HAS BEEN HANDLED. UH, THE DISAPPOINTMENT IS FELT ACROSS THE CITY, NOT JUST IN ONE COUNCIL DISTRICT. IT IS A DISAPPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DISINGENUOUS AND UNTRUTHS THAT HAD COME OUT OF THE MEASURE JB ELECTION PROCESS. CONCERNING THE MEASURE ON AUGUST 6TH, IT WAS, I WAS MOST CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THE PROCESS. I WAS ACTUALLY PRIVY TO AN EMAIL SENT OUT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, SEEKING TO RALLY FOLKS TO ATTEND THE AUGUST 6TH MEETING. THE RESULT OF THAT RALLYING BROUGHT IN CAL STATE LONG BEACH STUDENTS TO CROWD THE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT ITEM. THOSE STUDENTS ALL READ RELATIVELY THE SAME STATEMENT ON A ITEM THAT THEY WERE, UH, INFORMED BY THE UNINFORMED. THIS ORGANIZED EFFORT GAVE YOU MAYOR, THE PRIVILEGE OF REDUCING COMMUNITY LEADERS' COMMENTS FROM THREE MINUTES AND 90 SECONDS, DISALLOWING THEM TO GET SOME TRUTH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. ALL I COULD THINK OF IS WHY WOULD OUR TRUSTED LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES ALLOW A PROCESS TO BE CORRUPTED? ALL THIS DOES IS BUILD DISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY. ALSO, HOW DISINGENUOUS TO VOTE THE ITEM TO BE PLACED ON A BALLOT IN THE LAST POSSIBLE HOUR, ALLOWING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ACTIVISTS 48 HOURS TO SUBMIT THEIR NAMES TO BE ARGUMENT WRITERS. ONLY DISINGENUOUS POLITICIANS DO STUFF LIKE THAT. WHY DID YOU ALLOW THAT REGULAR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT MAKING A CAREER IN POLITICS WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THIS? THANKFULLY, A CITY EMPLOYEE REACHED OUT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS 90 MINUTES BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THEIR NAMES. NOT EVEN THE CITY ATTORNEY SUPPORTING THE COMMISSION HINTED TO THEM. ALSO ON THAT SUBJECT, IT WAS DISINGENUOUS AND DISRESPECTFUL TO DENY THE CURRENT [00:45:01] CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S PRESIDENT, PAST PRESIDENT OR CURRENT COMMISSIONER, WHO WAS A PAST UNION REPRESENTATIVE AND A WELL-RESPECTED COMMUNITY MEMBER TO SERVE AS AN ARGUMENT WRITER. HOPEFULLY ONE DAY YOU'LL UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WAS MORALLY WRONG THING TO DO. ALSO, THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE SPEAKING WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION ON BEHALF OF LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE SUPPORTING JB. UM, BUT THANKFULLY, UM, ALONG WITH OTHER CONCERNED RESIDENTS, WE WERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN THE LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES VOTED NOT TO SUPPORT MEASURE JB. AND LASTLY, IT WAS DISINGENUOUS AND DISRESPECTFUL. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, BUT ON A ACTUAL BALLOT MEASURE, UM, THE ONLY THE LEAD ARGUMENT WRITER'S TITLE AS FORMER COMMISSIONER WAS PRINTED ON A BALLOT. UM, IF THERE WAS LIMITED SPACE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT TO PRINT MICHAEL MCDONALD, THE RETIRED VETERAN US NAVY, WHO SERVED 20 YEARS FROM THIS, UH, COUNTRY, UM, NOT, UM, A FORMER COMMISSIONER WHO SPENT 20 MONTHS OF A FOUR TO EIGHT YEAR TERM ON A COMMISSION. AND I JUST TIMES CONCLUDED AND WANNA THANK THE BABY BOOMERS, THANK YOU FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS HERMAN LONG GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AND MR. MAYOR, MY NAME IS HERMAN LONG. I'M A RETIRED CITY EMPLOYEE, 33 YEARS WITH THE CITY, UH, RETIRED AS DEPUTY, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE FACT, UH, WITH MEASURE JB UM, CIVIL SERVICE WAS CREATED TO PREVENT CORRUPTION IN THE HIRING AND PROTE AND TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES AGAINST UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES. WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT IT WAS ALSO THERE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY. THE CITIZENS SUCH AS MYSELF AND THE SUCH AS MYSELF MEASURE JB WOULD, UH, SEVERELY DIMINISH THOSE PROTECTIONS BY TRANSFERRING ALL OVERSIGHT RECRUITMENT AND TESTING PROCESSES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CITY MANAGER WHOSE DEPARTMENTS DO MOST OF THE CITY'S HIRING TO ME AND MANY OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS, EMPLOYEES, RETIREES, AND PROSPECTIVE JOB SEEKERS. THIS DEFINITELY QUALIFIES AS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THIS WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR PREFERENTIAL HIRING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORS WHO ARE HIGHLY INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. FURTHER, WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR CAMPAIGN DONORS TO ACCESS EMPLOYMENT THROUGH POLITICAL CONNECTIONS. EITHER SITUATION WOULD BE POTENTIALLY WOULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW FOR THE HIRING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY LACK THE EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OF OUR CRITICAL JOBS. ANY RESULTING LAWSUITS WOULD COST THE CITY SUBSTANTIAL TAXPAYER MONEY. CIVIL SERVICE, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WAS THERE TO INITIALLY ESTABLISH TO PROHIBIT SUCH ACTIONS. CIVIL SERVICE ENSURES POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES HAVE THE NECESSARY MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM THE JOBS THEY'RE HIRED TO SERVE IN OUR CITY. OFFERING HIRING PREFERENCES TO LOCAL GRADUATES AND CITIZENS WILL NOT GUARANTEE CONTINUED LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT WITH THIS CITY SUCH AS MYSELF. WHEN THERE ARE RETENTION ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, THE CITIZENS OF LONG BEACH CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, THAT'S A WORD YOU USE QUITE OFTEN IN YOUR MEETINGS PROVIDED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT. BUT YET THAT TRANSPARENCY IS BEING DIMINISHED IN MY OPINION. UH, AS MOST, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, UH, THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MAYBE MORE EMPLOYEES NOW IN THE CITY. BUT CIVIL SERVICE ONLY HIRES THE 21 THAT WORKS IN THIS DEPARTMENT. SO TO PUT LITERATURE OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, TALKS ABOUT BASICALLY THE SLOW PROCESS OF HIRING IS TOTALLY INCORRECT. IT'S THE EMPLOYEES AND THE MANAGERS OF THOSE DIVISIONS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH THE RULES THAT SAY HIGHER WITHIN, YOU KNOW, 90 WORKING DAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ANTHONY HOLMES, NOAH MEZGER, JB YOU KNOW, THEY SAY I'M BIASED WHEN IT COMES TO YOU AT AUSTIN. I'M NOT BIASED WHEN IT COMES TO AL AUSTIN. AL AUSTIN. HE'S OUTSIDE. WHEN 12-YEAR-OLD, 12-YEAR-OLD BOYS IS GETTING MURDERED ON OUR STREETS, HE'S AT THEM CANDLELIGHT VISUALS. SO AS FAR AS ME COMING UP HERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, AL I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY BAD TOWARDS YOU, BUT I DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO TOM MOCA, YOU KNOW, REX IS CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPERATE WITHOUT CITY MANAGERS. AND THIS GUY [00:50:01] RIGHT HERE, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED A LONG TIME AGO. LET, LET ME PAINT ANOTHER PICTURE FOR Y'ALL. ALL THE STUFF THAT THE REFUSE DEPARTMENT WAS TELLING EACH AND LAST ONE OF YOU GUYS, ALL THE DISCRIMINATION, THE RETALIATION TOWARDS BLACK EMPLOYEES. YOU, YOU TURNED YOUR HEAD FOR TWO YEARS. FOR TWO YEARS, YOU DONE NOTHING. AND I HATE COMING DOWN HERE TALKING TO A BLACK MAN BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO UPLIFT YOU. YOU CAN DIE TODAY AND I'M GONNA STILL BE COMING DOWN HERE FIGHTING FOR YOUR KIDS, MY KIDS, YOUR WIFE AND ALL THAT. SO WITH TOM MOCA AND CITY ATTORNEY IBEL, YOU THE CITY ATTORNEY, RIGHT? SO HOW IS IT THAT THEY HAVE AN OUTSIDE PARTY CALLING PERSONNEL TO TELL THEM NOT TO PROMOTE ME? LIKE THIS IS THE CORRUPTION THAT'S GOING ON AND YOU GUYS WANNA GET RID OF CIVIL SERVICE. SO IT WILL, IT WILL NOT BE NO OVERSIGHT TO LOOK OVER Y'ALL. COME ON, Y'ALL GOTTA MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. UM, IT'S SO MUCH I CAN SAY ABOUT TIME. YOU LET HIM DROP THE BALL MULTIPLE TIMES. IMAGINE THIS, IF IT WAS A MASS SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN A REFUGE DEPARTMENT, WE KEPT KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR, KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR. NOBODY DONE NOTHING. AND WHEN I TOLD DON HENDERSON WHAT WAS GOING ON, OH, IT'S JOKES BEING MADE ABOUT, OH, JOHN DOE IS GONNA COME AND SHOOT THIS DEPARTMENT UP. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE TOLD ME? OH, WE CAN'T DO NOTHING UNTIL SOMETHING ACTUALLY HAPPENED. YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IF SOMEBODY WAS TO GET SHOT AND KILLED BECAUSE WHAT THE SUPERVISORS AND MANAGEMENT WAS DOING, THE EMPLOYEES UP IN THERE, BLACK EMPLOYEES. I STAND FOR EVERY BLACK PERSON UP IN HERE, STRAIGHT UP. THAT'S JUST ME AND I'M GONNA DIE BEHIND IT. AND YOU NEED TO GO HOME AND ASK YOURSELF, TOM, HOW DO YOU GO AGAINST A PERSON THAT DON'T CARE WHETHER HE LIVE OR DIE? AND I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY DEPARTMENT SHOULD ASK THEY SELF THAT TOO. I STAND ON BUSINESS FOR MY PEOPLE AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING. THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO BE. AND THAT'S HOW I COME DOWN AND I PROMOTE IT. UM, I JUST THINK YOU NEED TO DO BETTER. AND I THINK REX SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED YOU A LONG TIME, A A LONG TIME AGO ALONG WITH UM, ERIC LOPEZ. 'CAUSE YOU GUYS DROPPED THE BALL MULTIPLE TIMES. SO IF ANYBODY WOULD'VE GOT SHOT AND KILLED IN THAT DEPARTMENT, THE BLOOD WOULD'VE BEEN ON YOUR HAND. AND WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE IN CIVIL SERVICE, I THINK A LOT OF YOU GUYS WERE COBB. 'CAUSE Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE FIGHTING WITH CAPRICE. SHE'S THE ONLY ONES COMING DOWN HERE REPRESENTING NO MEASURE. JB IT'S PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF CORRUPTION. NOW I TURN MY BACK AND I TALK TO THE, THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE I'M DONE TALKING WITH THEM. I'M A PERSON THAT'S STAND ON BUSINESS. AS I SAID, I NEED EVERYBODY TO VOTE NO ON MEASURE. JB IT'S CORRUPTION AND GIVE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE POWER TO DO WHAT THEY WANT. AND ALSO THE, THE, UH, RAMADAN, UM, BACK IN JUNE, POLICE CHIEF, ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS TALKING TO HIM, HAD A MEETING THE FIRST TIME, THE FIRST, THEY HAVING A COOL CONVERSATION WHEN HE MENTIONED ASH LUNA, THE FIRST THING HE DO WAS WALK AWAY. SIR, YOUR TIME'S INCLUDING THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I TOLD IF GAY, THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT Y'ALL HAVE. NICE. NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIE DEAN. THANKS. THANKS. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, VICE MAYOR ALLEN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JULIE DEAN. UH, OPEN SESAME HAS BEGUN CONSTRUCTION ON THEIR PARK LIP. SEVERAL QUESTIONS REMAIN ANSWERED. I UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC WORKS INTENDS TO LOG ALL COMPLAINTS IN THE PROJECT'S FILE FOLDER AND WILL REVIEW THEM BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE VIOLATIONS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION. WILL THAT DATA BE POSTED ONLINE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AHEAD OF THE ANNUAL PERMIT REVIEW SLASH RENEWAL PROCESS? AND WHEN WILL THIS ALL BE SHARED PUBLICLY? THE DENSE CONCENTRATION OF PARKLETS WITHIN A HALF MILE STRETCH OF THIS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IS CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY AS CRIME CONTEND CONTINUES TO RISE ON SECOND STREET. THIS AREA HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CRIME AND DISORDER, INCLUDING THREE STABBINGS AND A SHOOTING, TWO OF WHICH RESULTED IN FATALITIES ALL WITHIN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. INCIDENTS OF VAN VANDALISM DRUNK DRIVING THAT HAS DAMAGED MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND TREES AND PUBLIC DISTURBANCES SUCH AS VOMIT ON SIDEWALKS. THE HIGH NUMBER OF PARKLETS WILL LIKELY WORSEN AN ALREADY DETERIORATING SITUATION. A BC ENFORCEMENT IS CURRENT, CURRENTLY FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. WE HAD THEM AT OUR BELMONT SHORE RESIDENCE ASSOCIATION MEETING AND THEY ADVISED THAT LARGELY DUE TO OUR CITY THAT APPEARS INTENT ON COMPOUNDING PROBLEMS IN AN ALREADY CRIME RIDDEN AREA, WHICH IS OVER CONCENTRATED, THEY UM, OUR CITY CONTINUES TO PERMIT MORE ALCOHOL OUTLETS. THE VITAL MATTER. THIS VITAL MATTER IS COMMUNITY SAFETY, AN ISSUE THAT OUR CITY REPRESENTATIVES CLAIM TO PRIORITIZE. IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE ADDRESS THE REAL CONCERNS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND WORK TOWARDS SOLUTIONS THAT GENUINELY ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT WEEK, THE COUNCIL WILL REVIEW AN APPLICATION FOR PANAMA JOE'S AND MANY NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET ABOUT THE PROPOSED PARKLET. DESPITE THEIR ATTENDANCE AND VOCAL CONCERNS AT THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR'S HEARING THEIR VOICES WENT UNHEARD. THIS [00:55:01] BUSINESS HAS A HISTORY OF BEING A POOR NEIGHBOR, FAILING TO MANAGE THE CHAOS THAT OFTEN SPILLS OUT FROM ITS BAR, LEAVING THE COMMUNITY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AND WELLBEING. MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO OBTAIN THE CONDITIONS OF USE FOR ALL OF THE PARKLETS IN BELMONT SHORE, BUT WE'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. UNDERSTANDING THESE CONDITIONS IS CRUCIAL FOR CLARIFYING THE PARAMETERS OF EACH PARKLET. AFTER THE ZONING MEETINGS, WE OFTEN STRUGGLE TO ACCESS THE FINAL VERSIONS OF THESE CONDITIONS AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR HAS INTRODUCED NEW CONDITIONS AS PARKLETS CONTINUE TO BE APPROVED ON SECOND STREET, IT SEEMS THESE UPDATES ARE NOT RETROACTIVELY APPLIED TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PARKLETS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NEARLY ALWAYS RELEVANT. HOW WILL THE FUNCTIONAL, AH, HOW WILL THE FUNCTIONAL CLOSURE OF THE PERMANENT PARKLETS BE MANAGED AT SHUTDOWN TIME? WHAT IS THE PROCESS GONNA BE AND WHO'S GOING TO ENFORCE THESE RULES? AS I SAID, THERE ARE NUMEROUS QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN UNANSWERED, YET THE OPEN SESAME PARKLET IS MOVING TOWARD, UH, SORRY, FORWARD TOWARD COMPLETION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS MURIEL, AFTER MURIEL. IS ZIT A GOOD EVENING? MY NAME IS MURIEL BURRELL. I'M GIVING GLORY AND HONOR TO GOD. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I AM A SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANT WITHIN THE SOCIAL EQUITY CANNABIS PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL HAD. UM, A LITTLE WHILE AGO WHEN WE HAD A CITY HALL MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROTEST AND YOU TOLD EVERYONE THAT THEY COULDN'T TALK TO US ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PRO PROTEST PERIOD. NOW WE WENT THROUGH THAT PERIOD AND NOW STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING EQUITY DISPENSARIES ARE NOT ACTUAL EQUITY. ON THE WEBSITE, IT SAYS THAT YOU ALL ARE, UM, AWARDING OPPORTUNITIES TO BLACK PEOPLE FROM BLACK, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES OR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED. THOUGH PEOPLE THAT'S ON THE TOP EIGHT LISTS RIGHT NOW HAVE NEVER BEEN IMPACTED AND ONLY QUALIFIED FOR SOCIAL EQUITY THROUGH THEM BEING ON UNEMPLOYMENT DURING COVID. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT. SECOND, I MET WITH AL AUSTIN'S OFFICE AND DURING THAT TIME WE DISCUSSED THE FOUR NON-OPERATIONAL NON EQUITY DISPENSARIES RIGHT NOW AND GIVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO EQUITY. THE 32 TO EIGHT RATIO IS DEFINITELY NOT EQUITABLE OR EQUAL IN ANY WAY. AND SO WE SAID, OKAY, WELL, INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO WRITE NEW ORDINANCES AND GO THROUGH WHO KNEW PROCESS, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T OPERATING, IF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES CAN GO TO EQUITY. MORE SPECIFICALLY WOMEN, THERE ARE NO WOMEN, NO WOMEN DISPENSARY OWNERS AT ALL WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, THOUGH THERE WERE WOMEN THAT WERE ON THE, ON THE PROCESS. SO IF WE COULD DO THAT AND ALLOCATE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THOUGH YOUR OFFICE SAID YOU'RE TERMING OUT, AND SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THAT ON AT THIS TIME. SO IF ANY OTHER, HOPEFULLY A WOMAN COULD HELP TO LOBBY FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE WOMEN BE DISPENSARY OWNERS WITHIN THE CITY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. UM, NUMBER TWO IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'VE BEEN COMING ASKING FOR HELP FOR SO LONG AND THE CITY OF LONG BEACH GAVE ME MONEY TO ACQUIRE A FACILITY. THEY HAD TO READ THE LEASE FIRST. THEY WANTED A LOI, THEY HELPED ME SO FAR OUT INTO THE OCEAN, ONLY TILL THE POINT WHERE I GOT STUCK AND NOW I AM ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH EVICTION. SO I HAVE THAT. NOT ONLY THAT, I'M FORCED TO WRITE MY OWN MOTIONS AND WRITE MY OWN ANSWERS BECAUSE YOU ALL WILL NOT HELP ME WITH ANY LAWYERS. YOU WON'T HELP ME WITH ANY FUNDING. AND BASICALLY IT'S A BROKEN CYCLE BECAUSE MANY OTHER EQUITY OPERATORS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME THING. SO GIVEN THAT YOU ALL HAVE SO MUCH FUNDS OR SO MANY GRANT FUNDS THAT YOU GET FROM THE STATE, IT'LL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU ACTUALLY HELPED THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GONNA HELP. UM, LASTLY, I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, UM, AS I SAID WITH THE WEBSITE AND YOU ALL JUST MODIFYING THE GRANT TERM, I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY THIS YEAR FROM GO BZ, BUT YOU ALL DO HAVE A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS FROM NON-EQUITY OPERATORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ZIAT. UH, GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MY NAME IS YAD ZARE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A DISTURBING INCIDENT THAT I WITNESSED ON FRIDAY AT 1:30 PM ON THE CORNER OF PINE AND THIRD STREET ON MY WALK TO CHIPOTLE IN SEVEN 11, I WITNESSED THE TRAUMATIZING SIGHT OF A MAN COMPLETELY NAKED, SITTING IN THE STREET AND USING HIS FOOT OF A, USING THE FOOT OF A HOMELESS LADY TO M********E HIMSELF, EXCUSE ME, FOR THE PERVERSE LANGUAGE. IT'S THE ONLY WAY I KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE THIS 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND I'M TIRED OF THINGS LIKE THIS BEING NORMALIZED. THIS WAS ONE 30 IN THE AFTERNOON. IT WAS BROAD DAYLIGHT. [01:00:01] WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE PRESENT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED NON-EMERGENCY AND COINCIDENTALLY A BOARD MEMBER OF THE DTLB ALLIANCE WAS HAVING LUNCH AND HE PHONED COMMISSIONER HALL. WE WERE ABLE TO DETAIN THE INDIVIDUAL AND WAITED 40 MINUTES FOR POLICE TO COME AND ARREST HIM. THE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION I FELT IN THIS MOMENT WAS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS. THIS IS JUST A REPRESENTATION OF THE LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE LACK OF URGENCY TO MAKE OUR WONDERFUL HOME GREAT AGAIN. SOMEONE DRIVING DOWN PINE RECORDED THE INCIDENT AND SENT IT TO AN EX ACCOUNT WITH 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS. THIS EMBARRASSING VIDEO NOW HAS 550,000 VIEWS. IT'S SUCH A POOR REPRESENTATION OF WHAT OUR TRULY CI WHAT OUR CITY TRULY IS WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? WE WERE TOLD IN AUGUST THAT LONG BEACH WOULD CLEAR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND LINCOLN PARK AND BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY ARE ONLY GETTING WORSE AS A 240 POUND MAN, I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT OUR ELDERLY AND FEMALE NEIGHBORS GO THROUGH DAY TO DAY. WHAT IS THE IMMEDIATE PLAN TO CLEAN OUR STREETS UP AND IN PARTICULAR, BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY AND LINCOLN PARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN RE RESIDE. UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M KAREN RE RESIDE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS. I HAVE SOMETHING A LITTLE CHEERIER. UM, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE ARE DOING A PROGRAM WITH THE BILLIE JEAN KING LIBRARY AND WE DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, THE CROWDS AROUND THAT. WE ARE DOING A MONTHLY MEMOIR WRITING CLASS WITH, UM, OLDER ADULTS FROM THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY IN THIS LONG BEACH SENIOR CENTER. OUR NEXT SESSION IS GOING TO BE THE 26TH OF OCTOBER FROM 10 30 TO 1230. AND WE ARE CAPTURING STORIES FROM SENIORS IN LONG BEACH. AND THE STORIES ARE VERY MOVING AND REFLECT A VARIETY OF CULTURES AND A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES. WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO SHARE. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A STORY FROM EACH OF YOU THAT WE HOPE TO INCLUDE IN A LITTLE BOOKLET TALES. THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SENIORS, NOT ALL OF YOU QUALIFY JUST YET. AND, UH, IT IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAM. WE'RE DOING THIS WITH OUR INTERNS FROM CAL STATE LONG BEACH WHO ARE SHARING THEIR STORIES TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, UH, PAUL VIEJO, AND THEN, UH, JOSEPH EDWARDS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PAUL VIEJO. I REPRESENT THE WALLMAN MORES, AN L-G-B-T-Q NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT LA COUNTY. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. I'M HERE TODAY TO BRING UP AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. LONG BEACH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN LA COUNTY AND ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF HATE CRIMES TARGETING THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY IN 2023, THERE WERE 37 VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES HERE IN LONG BEACH, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTY PER THE LATEST AVAILABLE DATA. AND AS WE KNOW, THE REAL NUMBER IS PROBABLY HIGHER. THE TRUTH IS THAT DUE TO THE POLITICAL CLIMATE OF THE PAST DECADE, THIS COMMUNITY IS VULNERABLE TO UNWARRANTED ATTACKS FROM CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE, HOPING TO DIVIDE US AND USE THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AS SCAPEGOAT. THE HATE OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH ALSO HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT ON OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, OUR MENTAL HEALTH, OUR ABILITY TO ENJOY OUR CITY FOR FEAR OF BEING TARGETED AND OUR FREEDOM TO EXIST. THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US ARE AT THE HIGHEST OF RISK. L-G-B-T-Q YOUTH THAT ARE BULLIED IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF SCHOOL, TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH THAT NEED RESOURCES AND SUPPORT AS THEY TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. HOMELESS QUEER FOLKS, FOLKS WITH WHO FACE HIV AND MEDICAL DISCRIMINATION WHEN SEEKING SERVICES AS WELL AS TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL WORK TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND EXPAND SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ PLUS INDIVIDUALS ALL YEAR ROUND, NOT JUST DURING PRIDE MONTH. IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL IS PROACTIVE IN PROTECTING OUR RIGHT TO EXIST AND THRIVE AS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY, STATE AND COUNTRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS JOSEPH EDWARDS. IS JOSEPH HERE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. HEY FOLKS. PUBLIC COMMENT IS THE MOMENT WHERE FOLKS CAN COME AND SAY ANYTHING THEY WANT ON THE MICROPHONE FOR THREE MINUTES. WE TYPICALLY DON'T RESPOND, UH, BUT WE, WE HEAR EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAYS AND A LOT OF IT SPARKS CONVERSATION WITH STAFF. IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT MAY BE NEW, I ENCOURAGE YOU, YOU KNOW, BRING IT TO PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE WE LISTEN AND WE PROCESS MANY OF THESE THINGS EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT HEAR A DIRECT [01:05:01] RESPONSE TO EVERY SINGLE ISSUE THAT'S BROUGHT FORWARD. WE HEAR IT, WE PROCESS IT, WE RESPOND INDIVIDUALLY. UH, BUT THAT IS THE ONE PART IN THE, IN ON THE AGENDA WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND SPEAK ON ANYTHING THEY WANNA SPEAK ON HERE AT THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. SO THAT IS NOW OVER. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER 16. PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE [16. 24-55145 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from the City Manager, Financial Management, and the Health and Human Services Departments providing an update on the implementation of the City’s Sidewalk Vending Ordinance. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager; Financial Management; Health and Human Services         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND FILE A PRESENTATION PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY, SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO TO STAFF FOR THE STAFF REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. SO, UH, WE DO PLAN TO MAKE THIS A FAIRLY LONG STAFF REPORT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WE KNOW AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT. UH, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THIS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THOSE BE FOOD VENDORS THEMSELVES, UH, OR STREET VENDORS OR UM, OR RESIDENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITY. UH, THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR THIS. UH, WE, UH, PASSED OUR ORDINANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR. YOU ASKED US TO DO A LOT OF EDUCATION, WHICH WE'VE DONE. UH, WE'VE STARTED ON SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT, UH, AND YOU ASKED US TO REPORT BACK TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. UH, SO WE'RE PLANNING TO GO PRETTY DEEP TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT OUR TEAM, UH, TO REALLY GO THROUGH IT AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND TAKE ANY FEEDBACK. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO GRACE YUEN, OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TO INTRODUCE THE TEAM AND GET STARTED. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AS TOM MENTIONED, THIS PRESENTATION IS A MIDYEAR UPDATE ON THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION REQUESTED BY CITY COUNCIL WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED THIS PAST FEBRUARY. SO I'LL BE GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND WITH ME, I HAVE TARA MORTENSON, BUREAU MANAGER OF, UH, BUSINESS RELATIONS AND JUDITH LONG BUREAU MANAGER OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN THE ONES WITH THEIR TEAMS TO BE LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS EFFORT. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM HERE TODAY AS WELL. AND THEY'LL BE HERE TO HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM WHO ARE ALSO HERE WITH US TODAY. I'LL BE REVIEWING A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE ORDINANCE AND THEN PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT STATUS, AND NEXT STEPS. SO STARTING OFF WITH THE BACKGROUND ON THE SIDEWALK FENDING ORDINANCE BACK IN 2018, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PASSED THE SAFE SIDEWALK VENDING ACT OR SB 9 46, WHICH TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2019. THIS BILL DECRIMINALIZED SIDEWALK VENDING SO THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ONLY ISSUE ADMINISTRATIVE RATHER THAN CRIMINAL CITATIONS. IT ALSO ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO REGULATE SIDEWALK VENDING WHERE REGULATIONS MUST BE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE REASONS. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE ON JANUARY 23RD, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT FEBRUARY 26TH. THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES A CLEAR PATHWAY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL AND STATE LAWS FOR THOSE SELLING FOOD OR MERCHANDISE ON SIDEWALKS, AIMING TO ENCOURAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE. KEY COMPONENTS OF THE SIDEWALK. VENDING ORDINANCE INCLUDES LICENSING AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS. A BUSINESS LICENSE AND SIDEWALK VENDING PERMIT ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL VENDORS. MOST VENDORS SELLING FOOD ITEMS WILL ALSO NEED A CITY HEALTH PERMIT DEPENDENT ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS, AND VENDORS WILL ALSO NEED TO ACQUIRE INSURANCE WITH A $1 MILLION POLICY LIMIT. THE ORDINANCE ALSO OUTLINES REGULATIONS TO PROTECT THE SIDEWALK RIGHT OF WAY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND ENSURE A DA ACCESSIBILITY REGULATIONS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE MAINTAINING A MINIMUM OF FOUR FEET OF CLEAR SIDEWALK OR PEDESTRIAN PATH AND DISTANCES THAT MUST BE KEPT, SUCH AS NOT OPERATING WITHIN FIVE FEET OF A BUS OR METRO STOP OR WITHIN 15 FEET OF AN A DA CURB. JUST AS EXAMPLES TO ENSURE CONSUMER SAFETY, IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT SIDEWALK VENDORS SELLING FOOD OPERATE IN A HYGIENIC MANNER AND ADHERE TO PROPER FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES. VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, WHICH REGULATES ASPECTS SUCH AS SANITATION AND FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THEIR CARTS. LASTLY, IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS ARE ALLOWED AS WELL AS ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR FOOD SAFETY AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE, SUCH AS DISCARDING FOOD IF IT POSES A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK OR SAFETY CONCERN. NOW I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT STAFF CONDUCTED OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE. SO PER CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, STAFF INITIATED AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO [01:10:01] ENGAGE WITH VENDORS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE NEW ORDINANCE. THE FOCUS DURING THIS PHASE WAS TO EQUIP VENDORS WITH THE RESOURCES AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO OPERATE LEGALLY AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO COMPLIANCE. BY OFFERING THIS ADJUSTMENT PERIOD, WE AIM TO BUILD TRUST AND MINIMIZE CONFUSION BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A FORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION PERIOD. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE REGULATIONS, WHICH WERE ALREADY IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE SIDEWALK VENING ORDINANCE, HAS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. AS PART OF THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN STAFF PUT TOGETHER A SERIES OF TOWN HALLS EVERY THURSDAY FROM APRIL 18TH TO MAY 16TH WITH TWO SESSIONS EACH DAY, ALONG WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL TOWN HALLS, SUCH AS THE RECENT COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION INFORMATION SESSION HELD ON OCTOBER 3RD IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION MONTH. IN TOTAL, WE'VE HAD 11 IN-PERSON CITY HOSTED EDUCATION SESSIONS WITH OVER 105 NON-STAFF, PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE STAFF ALSO HELD SIX VIRTUAL EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT HAS HAD OVER A HUNDRED NON-STAFF ATTENDEES. STAFF HAVE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN SIX EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS HOSTED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH 125 ATTENDEES. WE'VE ALSO HELD SIX ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, INCLUDING VENDORS, BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, REALLY TO HELP ADDRESS CONCERNS, HEAR FEEDBACK, AND PROVIDE CLARIFICATIONS ON QUESTIONS. DURING THIS TIME, STAFF ALSO WENT OUT TO THE FIELD TO ENGAGE WITH VENDORS DIRECTLY WHERE THEY WORK. THERE WERE 92 VENDOR ENGAGEMENT OCCURRENCES THROUGH THIS EFFORT. AND LASTLY, STAFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE AVAILABLE IN PERSON ON THE PHONE AND VIA EMAIL TO DISCUSS WITH VENDORS ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT. UM, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED 833 OCCURRENCES OF THIS TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT, AND THIS IS A MAP THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE PLACES OUT IN THE FIELD WHERE STAFF ENGAGED WITH VENDORS DURING THIS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN PERIOD TO ENSURE THAT VENDORS AND STAKEHOLDERS COULD FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ORDINANCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS. STAFF ALSO DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. DURING THIS PERIOD, WE HAVE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS FROM THE SOUND TOWN HALLS AND WEBINARS THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE NOT ONLY IN ENGLISH, BUT ALSO WITH VOICEOVERS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. A SIDEWALK VENDING OPERATIONS GUIDE WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE ORDINANCE REGULATION HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A VARIETY OF EDUCATION RESOURCES ON THE VARIOUS HEALTH AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS. AN FAQ DOCUMENT WAS CREATED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE FREQUENTLY HEARING ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION. AND THEN WE ALSO CREATED A SEPARATE FAQ DOCUMENT, SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON ENFORCEMENT AS THAT WAS ANOTHER AREA WE WERE RECEIVING MANY QUESTIONS AND WE'VE LEVERAGED THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM TO OFFER THESE MATERIALS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGE AND WORK TO HAVE STAFF ON HAND WHO WERE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AS WELL. WE ALSO CREATED A NEW WEBSITE LANDING PAGE TO SERVE AS THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME A SIDEWALK VENDOR. IT STARTS OFF WITH A PAGE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE FIVE STEPS TO SUCCESSFULLY START AND OPERATE YOUR SIDEWALK VENDING BUSINESS, WHICH THEN BRANCHES OFF TO VARIOUS LINKS AND OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDING ALL OF THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE TEAMS WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR INFORMATION SESSIONS AND OTHER SIDEWALK BENDING RESOURCES. AS OF THE END OF SEPTEMBER, WE'VE SHARED OVER 47 POSTS, GENERATED OVER 77,000 IMPRESSIONS. AND WHILE SIDEWALK VENDING HASN'T EXACTLY REACHED 77 TRILLION IMPRESSIONS, WHICH IS A, A TYPO ON THE SLIDE RIGHT THERE, UM, WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL REACH RESULTING IN OVER 1,327 ENGAGEMENTS ACROSS ALL OF OUR POSTS. WE'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH MEDIA DURING THIS TIME AS A CITY, WE'VE ISSUED FIVE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES. WE'VE ALSO HAD OVER 74 MENTIONS IN NEWSPRINTS AND DIGITAL MEDIA MENTIONS IN OVER A HUNDRED BROZ NEWS SEGMENTS, REACHING MILLIONS OF VIEWERS AND HAVE RESPONDED TO OVER 25 MEDIA INQUIRIES. SO AFTER ALL OF THAT, WHAT HAVE WE OBSERVED, LEARNED, AND HEARD OVER THESE FEW MONTHS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE ENGAGEMENTS? ON THIS SLIDE, WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE VENDOR COMMUNITY. WHILE THIS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, IT [01:15:01] PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM VENDORS ABOUT THE KEY KEY CHALLENGES THEY FACE WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLIANCE. SO ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ISSUES WE'VE OBSERVED IS THAT VENDORS ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT, WHICH TENDS TO CAUSE DELAY IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. MANY VENDORS WILL SUBMIT A BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION, BUT THE INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION IS EITHER INCOMPLETE OR MISSING. SO IN RESPONSE, OUR BUSINESS LICENSED STAFF REACH OUT TO THESE VENDORS TO HELP CLARIFY THE REQUIREMENTS. AND OUR RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM ALSO OFFERS ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. WE'VE ALSO REFERRED VENDORS TO OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS WHO PROVIDE MORE TAILORED ASSISTANCE TO FURTHER SUPPORT VENDORS. THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM CURRENTLY OFFERS REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE COST OF INSURANCE COVERAGE, HELPING TO ALLEVIATE THE COST OF THIS REQUIREMENT. VENDORS HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE HEALTH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO CART SPECIFICATIONS, ARE COMPLEX AND CUMBERSOME. THE PARAMETERS FOR THE CARTS ARE DICTATED BY THE STATE, AND WHILE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE THESE REQUIREMENTS, STAFF CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND HANDS-ON SUPPORT TO HELP VENDORS NAVIGATE THE PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY HAS INTRODUCED A FREE CART PROGRAM OFFERING FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARTS FOR FREE TO ELIGIBLE VENDORS IN HOPES TO FURTHER EASE THE PATH TO COMPLIANCE, WHICH I'LL TALK MORE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. WE'VE HEARD FROM VENDORS THAT THERE'S ALSO CONFUSION AROUND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEALTH PERMITS, SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN TEMPORARY PERMITS FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THE ANNUAL HEALTH PERMITS. SOME VENDORS HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED TEMPORARY FOOD PERMITS FOR EVENTS. SO IT CAN BE CONFUSING WHEN THE SAME SETUP IS NOT APPROVED FOR AN ANNUAL COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION HEALTH PERMIT AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE. AND THE DIFFERENCE LIES IN THE NATURE OF THESE PERMITS. TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES DUE TO THEIR SHORT-TERM DURATION AND CONNECTION TO A SPECIFIC EVENT WITH THE COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSOR, ASSUMING LIABILITY HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS COMPARED TO THE ONGOING ANNUAL PERMITS. SO TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THIS CONFUSION, STAFF HAVE HELD MULTIPLE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH VENDORS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED NEW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO SUPPORT OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN EDUCATION IN EDUCATING VENDORS, WHICH I'LL DISCUSS LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. FOOD VENDORS HAVE ALSO RAISED CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE REQUIREMENT TO REPORT TO A COMMISSARY DAILY FOR FOOD PREPARATION. CLEANING AND STORAGE STAFF ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION ON OPTIONS AVAILABLE UNDER RECENT UPDATES TO THE LAW IN 2023. THESE UPDATES OFFER MORE FLEXIBILITY, ALLOWING PERMANENT FOOD FACILITIES SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, BARS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OR CHURCHES TO SERVE AS COMMISSARIES. SHARED KITCHENS ARE ALSO AN OPTION AND ADDITIONALLY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EX IS EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTING MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS IN LONG BEACH, WHICH COULD SERVE ALSO AS APPROVED COMMISSARIES. TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF CARTS AND HEALTH APPROVED LOCATIONS HAS BEEN ANOTHER CHALLENGE EXPRESSED BY VENDORS, AND WE'RE WORKING TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THIS AREA AS RECENT UPDATES TO THE LAW IN 2023 NOW ALLOW CARTS TO BE STORED AT HOME IF THE STORAGE CONDITIONS MEET HEALTH DEPARTMENT APPROVAL. WE'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OCCURRING FOR VENDORS BEFORE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR ABILITY TO GET INTO COMPLIANCE. WE HAVE SHARED WITH VENDORS THAT EDUCATION FIRST IS THE CURRENT POLICY APPROACH AND THAT OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMON COMPLIANCE COMPLIANCE WILL BE THE FIRST STEP OF ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION. AND LASTLY, SOME VENDORS HAVE RAISED CONCERN ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. IN RESPONSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED SAFETY GUIDELINES SPECIFICALLY FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS, WHICH ARE NOW BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. AND ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS TO START SUPPORTING VENDORS IN TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM CASH-BASED TRANSACTIONS. SO THAT IS THE FEEDBACK FROM THE VENDORS. BUT ALSO OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT FEEDBACK FROM BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS. AND THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THEIR KEY CONCERNS. FIRST, MANY BUSINESSES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOCATION WHERE SIDEWALK VENDORS ARE SET UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE STATIONED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEIR STOREFRONTS. HOWEVER, UNDER SB 9 46 CITIES ARE PROHIBITED FROM RESTRICTING SIDEWALK VENDING UNLESS THERE IS A CLEAR HEALTH OR SAFETY ISSUE. ECONOMIC COMPETITION, WHILE A CONCERN FOR BUSINESSES DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR RESTRICTIONS UNDER THIS STATE LAW BUSINESSES HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS WITH WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS SLOW AND LIMITED ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE. THEY'RE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF PARODY IN ENFORCEMENT COMPARED TO BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANTS WHO MUST MEET VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS TO STAY COMPLIANT. AND WE WILL COVER MORE ABOUT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS MORE THOROUGHLY IN A LATER SECTION OF THIS PRESENTATION. [01:20:01] AND LASTLY, SOME BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES HAVE SHARED THE CONCERN ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF STAYING PERMITTED AND COMPLIANT, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS THE SUPPORT OFFERED TO SIDEWALK VENDORS. THE CITY'S SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM HAS SET ASIDE 722,000 IN THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO SUPPORT SIDEWALK VENDORS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT WHERE OVER 19 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES, INCLUDING OVER 3.5 MILLION INDIRECT GRANTS TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WHILE THE INITIAL CONCENTRATED PHASE OF THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ONGOING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR VENDORS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMING INTO COMPLIANCE. WE WANT TO TAKE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR AND BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO BASED ON WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND AS PART OF OUR CONTINUED EDUCATION EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD, ONE OF THE KEY POINTS THAT WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE AND SHARE WITH YOU ALL HERE TODAY IS THAT THE HEALTH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD VENDORS ARE SET BY THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. THESE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE SPECIFICATIONS FOR CARTS, COMMISSARIES, AND COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION GUIDELINES GUIDE OUR SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATIONS. THESE ARE NOT REGULATIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OR STAFF CAN MODIFY THROUGH OUR POLICY DECISIONS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION WE'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE MORE MOVING FORWARD IS THAT SIDEWALK FOOD VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO OPERATE WITHIN WHAT IS CALLED A COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION OR A-C-M-F-O. CFOS ARE DISTINCT FROM OTHER VENDING SETUPS IN THAT THEY ALLOW ONLY LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY. AS SIDEWALK VENDING LACKS THE FACILITIES LIKE PLUMBING, REFRIGERATION, OR PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES SUCH AS WALLS AND CEILINGS. THIS REQUIREMENT IS DEFINED BY STATE LAW, WHICH OUTLINES WHAT QUALIFIES AS LIMITED PREP. FOR INSTANCE, VENDORS CAN SLICE AND CHOP NON POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS THAT HAVE BEEN WASHED IN AN APPROVED FACILITY OR REHEAT FOOD THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED AND AN APPROVED FACILITY. HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT COOK OR THAW POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS FOR LATER USE. AGAIN, THESE ARE COMPONENTS OF STATE LAW. SOME OF THE VENDING OPERATIONS SEEN IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE'VE INFORMALLY CALLED POP-UP RESTAURANTS, WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR THE REQUIRED CMFO HEALTH PERMIT DUE TO THEIR EXPANSIVE SETUP AND MORE INVOLVED FOOD PREPARATION. MANY TACO STANDS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AND RECEIVE A HEALTH PERMIT. THESE LARGER OPERATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE WILLING TO ADJUST THEIR BUSINESS MODEL SETUP AND STRUCTURE. THESE SETUPS MIGHT BE APPROVED AS A TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITY TIED TO A COMMUNITY EVENT AT A SINGLE LOCATION WITH AN EVENT SPONSOR TAKING ON THE LIABILITY. BUT OTHERWISE, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ONGOING CMFO HEALTH PERMIT REQUIRED FOR SIDEWALK VENDING. SO THOSE ARE TWO IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS WE WANNA EMPHASIZE MORE AS WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING NEW AND IMPROVED RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT VENDORS ARE FULLY INFORMED AND EQUIPPED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK, ONE OF THE KEY RESOURCES WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT IS OUR NEW COMPACT MOBILE FOOD VENDING INFORMATIONAL BOOKLET. YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED HARD COPIES OF THIS, AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR EASY ACCESS. THIS BOOKLET FEATURES, VISUALS AND SIMPLIFIED DESCRIPTIONS DESIGNED TO HELP VENDORS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF CMFO REQUIREMENTS. AND THIS BOOKLET IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. WE ARE ALSO IN THE FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETING OUR NEW SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE INFORMATIONAL BOOKLET. GIVEN THE NUMEROUS LOCATION AND DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE ORDINANCE, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON CREATING VISUAL DIAGRAMS TO ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING AND FACILITATE COMPLIANCE. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS BOOKLET WILL BE FINALIZED SOON AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN DEVELOPING AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT ONCE COMPLETED WILL ALLOW VENDORS TO EASILY IDENTIFY THE AREAS WITHIN THE CITY WHERE THEY ARE PERMITTED TO VEN. AND AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED AN EDUCATIONAL FLYER OFFERING GUIDANCE AND TIPS ON VENDOR SAFETY, WHICH IS NOW INCLUDED IN OUR RESOURCE MATERIALS FOR VENDOR DISTRIBUTION. ADDITIONALLY, OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST VENDORS WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF BUSINESS READINESS AND COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING APPLICATION SUPPORT AND OTHER BUSINESS RELATED INQUIRIES. SO [01:25:01] IN CONCLUSION, THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRIORITIZING EDUCATION, LEARNING AND ARE AND IMPROVING OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS AND PROVIDING HANDS-ON SUPPORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO VENDORS WHO ARE LOOKING TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. NOW I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM. WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED, CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR VENDORS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ORDINANCE IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS TO COMPLIANCE. AND THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE PROVIDED FOR THE ABILITY FOR STAFF TO COVER THE COST OF REQUIRED BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH PERMIT FEES AND TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR INSURANCE COSTS IN THE FIRST YEAR. AND THIS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE THE ORDINANCE HAS GONE INTO EFFECT IN LATE FEBRUARY. THE SECOND PHASE WAS LAUNCHED AT THE END OF AUGUST WITH THE FREE FOOD CART PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE FREE CARTS TO VENDORS WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM, AS I MENTIONED, IS COMING FROM THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT. THE INITIAL FUNDING OF ABOUT 250,000 WAS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT WAIVERS FOR FEES AND THE PURCHASE OF HEALTH APPROVED CARTS. THEN AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 475,000 WAS ADDED TO THE CART PROGRAM, UM, LATER IN THE PROCESS. AND IN TOTAL WE HAVE ABOUT 722,000 ALLOCATED TO THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM THROUGH THE LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT. THIS FUNDING AND PROGRAM ARE PART OF THE LARGER EFFORT THE CITY HAS ENGAGED IN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE CITY'S OVERALL SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES. WE'VE HAD 6.2 MILLION IN CARES ACT FUNDING THAT HAVE SUPPORTED 719 BUSINESSES, INCLUDING FUNDING TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS TO STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND ATTRACT CUSTOMERS, OUTDOOR DINING GRANTS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT. AND OVER 19.4 MILLION OF LBRA LONG BEACH RECOVERY ACT FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 12 MILLION IN DIRECT BUSINESS GRANTS, 450,000 FOR CUSTOMER ACTIVATIONS PROGRAMS SUCH AS SHOP LB, 600,000 FOR INCLUSIVE BUSINESS SUPPORT AND ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION TO SUPPORT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE PERMITTING STATUS AND HOW VENDORS HAVE BEEN UTILIZING THIS CITY'S SUPPORT SYSTEMS. SINCE THE ORDINANCE TOOK EFFECT IN LATE FEBRUARY, WE'VE RECEIVED 164 BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS, 46 WHO ARE WANTING TO BE MERCHANT VENDORS AND 118 FOR FOOD VENDORS. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE HAVE ONE MORE VENDOR THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED THAN WHAT IS SHOWING ON THIS SLIDE. SO NOW WE HAVE 18 BUSINESS LICENSES THAT HAVE BEEN FULLY APPROVED, 16 FOR MERCHANDISE VENDORS AND TWO FOR FOOD VENDORS THAT WERE EXEMPT FROM NEEDING A HEALTH PERMIT. THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEES HAVE BEEN WAIVED FOR ALL APPROVED VENDORS AND SEVEN VENDORS NOW HAVE HAD THEIR INSURANCE COSTS REIMBURSED WITH THE OTHERS IN THE PROCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THEIR INSURANCE PAYMENT SCHEDULES AND THE SUBMISSION OF REIMBURSEMENT FORMS, WE'VE RECEIVED 10 APPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH PERMITS. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE CART PROGRAM, BUT NO HEALTH PERMITS HAVE BEEN APPROVED YET. SO ONE IMPORTANT NOTE OR OBSERVATION IS THE GAP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND THE NUMBER OF PERMITS APPROVED. THIS IS DUE IN PART TO MANY APPLICATIONS BEING INCOMPLETE OR MISSING REQUIRED COMPONENTS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, STAFF ACTIVELY REACH OUT TO COMMUNICATE WITH APPLICANTS MULTIPLE TIMES TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS MISSING AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE NEXT STEPS. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONNECT VENDORS TO THE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR SUPPORT. WERE APPLICABLE. SOME VENDORS ARE RESPONSIVE TO THIS AND TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS, BUT MANY DO NOT RESPOND DESPITE MULTIPLE FOLLOW UP. ADDITIONALLY, SOME VENDORS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE FREE FREE CART PROGRAM BEFORE PURSUING THEIR HEALTH PERMITS, WHICH ARE REQUIRED FINAL, WHICH ARE REQUIRED FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE FOR FOOD VENDORS. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT VENDORS THROUGH THE PROCESS AND STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO HELP VENDORS COME INTO COMPLIANCE. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION WHERE EDUCATION AWARENESS AND ACHIEVING FULL COMPLIANCE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME. THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH A BS CARE PROGRAM AND OUR INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATORS PROGRAM. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, I HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE THAT OUR BIZ CARE HOTLINE HAS RECEIVED 71 CALLS PROVIDING VARIOUS GUIDANCE TO VENDORS AND OUR INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SUPPORTED 85 BUSINESSES OFFERING ASSISTANCE WITH ASSURANCE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE [01:30:01] AND TRAIN VENDORS. SO WHILE THE PERMITTING PROCESS MAY TAKE TIME DUE TO THE LEARNING CURVE WITH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND THE OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS VENDORS NEED TO MAKE, STAFF IS COMMITTED TO GUIDING THEM TOWARDS SUCCESS. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WAYS TO SUPPORT VENDORS COMING INTO COMPLIANCE. AND I DO WANNA SAY AT THE SAME TIME, WE ENCOURAGE VENDORS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION AND RESPONDING TO OUTREACH. WHILE WE CAN OFFER GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES, THEIR PARTICIPATION AND WILLINGNESS TO ADAPT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR MOVING FORWARD. PHASE TWO OF THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 24TH, FOCUSES ON THE FREE FOOD CART PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE CITY PROVIDES ELIGIBLE FOOD VENDORS WITH PRE-APPROVED CARTS AT NO COST. THIS INITIATIVE WAS DEVELOPED FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH IDENTIFIED THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR VENDORS IN OBTAINING A HEALTH PERMIT IS ACQUIRING CARTS THAT MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS. BY PARTNERING WITH MANUFACTURERS WHO OFFER CARTS THAT ALREADY MEET THESE SPECIFICATIONS, THE PROGRAM ELIMINATES THE TIME CONSUMING STEP OF PLAN CHECKS AND CART APPROVAL DEVELOPMENT. SO THE PROGRAM OFFERS PRE-APPROVED CARTS FOR THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FOOD FRUIT WITH COOLERS, GRILLED FOODS, NO RAW MEAT, TAMALES AND ICE CREAM. AND ONE THING WE WANTED TO CLARIFY IS THAT THE LIMITATION TO THESE FOUR TYPES OF CART APPLIES ONLY TO THE FREE CART PROGRAM. VENDORS WHO WISH TO USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CART CAN STILL APPLY FOR PERMITS. THESE FOUR CART TYPES WERE SELECTED BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF MANUFACTURERS WHO HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THE APPROVAL PROCESS AT THE TIME OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. AND SO TO QUALIFY FOR FREE CART APPLICATION, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA, RESIDE IN LONG BEACH AND OPERATE THE CART WITHIN THE CITY, QUALIFY AS A MICRO BUSINESS, OPERATE ONLY ONE CART, AND THEN COMPLETE A BUSINESS LICENSE AND A-C-M-F-O HEALTH PERMIT APPLICATION. AND TO FURTHER SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN LOW AND MODERATE INCOME AREAS. THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM WILL PRIORITIZE APPLICANTS LIVING IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE CDBG FUNDING. VENDORS FROM OTHER AREAS ARE STILL ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AND THEIR APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED WHEN THE PROGRAM OPENS TO ALL APPLICANTS. AND THIS FREE CART PROGRAM OPERATES ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS AND WILL CONTINUE WHILE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A DEDICATED PAGE ON THE CITY'S SIDEWALK VENDING WEBSITE TO PROVIDE VENDORS WITH ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR APPLYING FOR THE FREE CART PROGRAM. THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A FREE CART CONSISTS OF THREE PARTS, AND WE'VE MADE IT USER-FRIENDLY BY ORGANIZING IT UNDER THE HATER. APPLYING FOR A FREE CART IS EASY AS A, B, AND C. SO PART A IS A BUSINESS LICENSE FORM AND READINESS CHECKLIST B IS THE PLAN SUBMITTAL, CHECKLIST AND MENU FORM, AND C IS THE FINAL APPROVAL CHECKLIST. EACH PART BUILDS ON THE PREVIOUS WITH STAFF CONDUCTING CHECKS ALONG THE WAY TO ENSURE BUSINESS READY READINESS AND OFFERS SUPPORT IN MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS. ONCE A VENDOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PART A AND B, THE CITY WILL PLACE AN ORDER FOR THEIR CARTS BASED ON THE PRE-APPROVED APPROVED PLANS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN THE CART ARRIVES, THE VENDOR WILL THEN MOVE ON TO PART C, WHICH INCLUDES FINAL REQUIREMENTS, MANY OF WHICH MAKES SENSE TO COMPLETE ONLY AFTER THE VENDOR HAS THE CART, SUCH AS SECURING AGREEMENTS WITH A COMMISSARY COMPLETION OF PART C MARKS THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OFFICIALLY ALLOWING THE VENDORS TO RECEIVE THEIR CART. SO HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE STEP-BY-STEP SUPPORT IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGE AND MEET WITH VENDORS IN PERSON VIRTUALLY BY PHONE OR EMAIL TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCESS. AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS LICENSE TEAM AND BUSINESS NAVIGATORS TEAM THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUPPORT. SO AS OF OCTOBER 4TH, WE HAVE RECEIVED 22 APPLICATIONS, EIGHT THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PART A NINE THAT ARE IN PART B FOUR THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CDBG AREA AND WILL BE PROCESSED WHEN THE PROGRAM OPENS UP TO THE ENTIRE CITY. AND ONE DID THAT DID NOT MEET THE APPLICATIONS. AND ACTUALLY WE'VE HAD FEW MORE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN SINCE THEN AND AND STAFF HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO REACHING THE STAGE WHERE WE CAN ORDER THE CARTS FOR UM, A HANDFUL OF THE APPLICANTS AS WE GO TO THE NEXT PHASE OF PERMITTING. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP VENDORS COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY'S OFFERING THROUGH THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM. SO WE WILL BE ACTIVELY DISSEMINATING NEW EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AND OUR STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH VENDORS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE COMPLIANCE TO FURTHER SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS ONCE A WEEK WHERE ANYONE CAN WALK IN TO ASK QUESTIONS, NAVIGATE PARTS OF THEIR APPLICATIONS, REVIEW STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND MORE. AND [01:35:01] VIRTUAL MEETINGS FOR THESE OFFICE HOURS CAN ALSO BE ARRANGED TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY. SO WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT AND WE ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE VENDORS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS. ALRIGHT, MOVING TO ENFORCEMENT, I'D LIKE TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE SIDEWALK BENDING PROGRAM, OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ENSURING, ENSURING COMPLIANCE IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE IN THE UPCOMING SLIDES THAT THE TEAM WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, BUT I DID WANNA PREFACE THIS SECTION BY SAYING THAT WHILE WE WILL, WHILE WE WILL PROVIDE BROAD INFORMATION, WE WILL BE STAYING AWAY FROM GOING INTO DETAILED AND CONCRETE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ENFORCEMENT TEAM, THE MAKEUP OF THOSE TEAMS, THE NUMBER OF THOSE TEAMS, THE EXACT TIMING OF OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF STAFF AND NOT INADVERTENTLY COMPROMISE OPERATIONAL SECURITY. THE ENFORCEMENT FOR SIDEWALK VENDING ARE LED BY TWO KEY DEPARTMENTS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S BUSINESS LICENSE DIVISION. THE BUSINESS LICENSE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE. WHILE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVERSEES COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, OTHER DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT. AS YOU CAN SEE LISTED HERE ON THIS SLIDE. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS LONG ENFORCED THE HEALTH STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE FOCUSING ON FOOD SAFETY AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH. HOWEVER, ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY BEGAN AT THE END OF JULY. THIS FOLLOWED THE CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTION TO LEAD WITH AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON THE ORDINANCE BEFORE INITIATING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. SO WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW? AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR SIDEWALK VENDING ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, MUCH LIKE A STARTUP BUSINESS WHERE MANY PROCESSES ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED WITH JUST OVER TWO MONTHS INTO ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE, A NEW ROLE FOR BUSINESS LICENSE. WE ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON RAMPING UP OUR EFFORTS. I'LL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS SHORTLY, BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE ARE OPERATING WITH A COMPLAINT BASED MODEL. STAFF REVIEWS COMPLAINTS, SCHEDULES, VISITS TO VENDORS, AND LEADS WITH AN EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH TO GIVE VENDORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE ISSUES, WARNINGS, AND NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS ARE ISSUED BEFORE TAKING FURTHER ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THIS PHASED APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR MORE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT STEPS. I DO ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE FRUSTRATION WE'VE HEARD FROM THOSE SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS. MANY ARE NOT SEEING THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE THEY EXPECT AS VENDORS THEY ARE SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT OFTEN CONTINUE OPERATING. AN ANALOGY FOR THIS PHASE IS LIKE STARTING TO RIDE A BIKE. WHEN YOU FIRST START PEDALING, IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET MOVING. EARLY ON IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE PUTTING IN A LOT OF ENERGY WITHOUT SEEING IMMEDIATE RESULTS. BUT WITH EACH PEDAL MOMENTUM BUILDS AND YOU START MOVING STEADILY. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THAT EARLY PHASE OF ENFORCEMENT PUSHING DOWN ON THAT PEDAL, BUT NOT YET AT FULL MOMENTUM. WHILE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN, THE IMPACT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE BECAUSE OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO BUILD UP A CASE FOR MORE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE FACE REAL AND SIGNIFICANT HURDLES, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF OUR ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN LIMITED BY EXISTING REGULATIONS AND OTHER COMPLEXITIES AND CAPACITY CHALLENGES. THESE CONSTRAINTS MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION, BUT DESPITE THESE HURDLES, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS NAVIGATING THESE OBSTACLES THE BEST WE CAN AND WORKING TO BUILD MOMENTUM IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION SET BY CITY COUNCIL TO ULTIMATELY HELP OUR SIDEWALK VENDORS COME INTO COMPLIANCE WHILE PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. SB 9 46, THE SAFE SIDEWALK VENDING ACT HAS PROVIDED A DEFINITION FOR WHAT A SIDEWALK VENDOR IS BY STATE LAW, A SIDEWALK VENDOR IS DEFINED AS A PERSON WHO SELLS FOOD OR MERCHANDISE FROM A PUSH CART STAND DISPLAY, PEDAL DRIVEN, WET CART WAGON, SHOW CART, CASE RACK, OR OTHER NON-MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE OR FROM ONE'S PERSON UPON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK OR OTHER PEDESTRIAN PATH. PER THIS LAW, ANYONE WHO MEETS THIS DEFINITION CANNOT BE CRIMINALIZED. WHILE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE AND THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE REMAINS PERMISSIBLE. IT IS LIMITED STRICTLY TO ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES. THIS MEANS THAT A SIDEWALK VENDOR CANNOT RECEIVE CITATIONS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS FROM THE BUSINESS LICENSE DIVISION. FURTHERMORE, CITY PROSECUTORS ARE NOW LIMITED IN TERMS OF THE ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE ON CASES REFERRED TO THEM BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS QUESTIONS REGARDING SIDEWALK BENDING ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS ALLOWABLE, WHAT IS [01:40:01] NOT, AND HOW DO WE HANDLE VARIOUS SITUATIONS. SO IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY FRAMEWORK TO HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE NUANCES AND COMPLEXITIES AND PROVIDE A REFERENCE POINT WHEN DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC. SO THIS SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW, UM, PRESENTS THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THAT FRAMEWORK. AND WHILE IT IS A SIMPLIFICATION, IT SERVES TO STRUCTURE THE VARIOUS TOPICS AND QUESTIONS THAT ARISE IN ENFORCEMENT DISCUSSIONS. IN THIS FRAMEWORK, WE HAVE CATEGORIZED VENDORS SELLING FOOD OR MERCHANDISE INTO THREE BASKETS. THE FIRST BASKET, THIS INCLUDES VENDORS WHO ARE NOT VIOLATING ANY OTHER LAW APART FROM THE SIDEWALK VENDING REGULATIONS AND THEREFORE PROTECTED BY SB 9 46 FROM CRIMINALIZATION. THE SECOND BASKET, THIS GROUP CONSISTS OF VENDORS SELLING FOOD OR MERCHANDISE, BUT MAYBE NOT ON A SIDEWALK. PERHAPS THEY'RE OPERATING ON A MEDIAN OR SPILLING INTO THE STREET. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY PROSECUTOR AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS CATEGORY, AS THESE VENDORS MAY NOT BE PROTECTED BY SB 9 46, AS THE LAW SPECIFICALLY DEFINES SIDEWALK VENDORS AS OPERATING ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK OR OTHER PEDESTRIAN PATH. AND THEN THE THIRD BASKET, THIS ENCOMPASSES VENDORS WHO MAY BE ON THE SIDEWALK OR IN ANOTHER LOCATION, BUT ARE VIOLATING OTHER LAWS AND POTENTIALLY POSING A RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WHILE THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS SIDEWALK VENDORS, THOSE WHO VIOLATE NON ORDINANCE AND HEALTH CODE LAWS ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS THE CONCEPT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WITHIN OUR STRATEGY. WE BEGIN WITH NORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND IF THOSE MEASURES ARE EXHAUSTED, WE CAN ESCALATE TO ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. SO STARTING WITH THE FIRST BASKET VENDORS SELLING ON THE SIDEWALK AND PROTECTED FROM CRIMINALIZATION, LET'S DISCUSS THE CITY'S APPROACH TO ENFORCEMENT IN THIS CATEGORY. AS ILLUSTRATED ON THIS SLIDE, THERE ARE NORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND BUSINESS LICENSE. BOTH DEPARTMENTS PRIORITIZE EDUCATION DURING ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, PROVIDING RESOURCES AND MATERIALS TO HELP VENDORS UNDERSTAND HOW TO CALM INTO COMPLIANCE. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS FOLLOWED BY NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND THEN REQUIRE MANDATORY OFFICE HEARINGS. THESE IN-HOUSE HEARINGS ALLOW FOR DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF AND VENDORS ABOUT THEIR CASE AND OUTLINE NEXT STEPS IF THEY REMAIN OUT OF COMPLIANCE. WHILE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PREVIOUSLY HAD THE OPTION TO REFER CASES TO CITY PROSECUTOR IF BUSINESSES IGNORED THESE EFFORTS, THAT OPTION IS LIMITED NOW FOR THIS BASKET OF VENDORS. ADDITIONALLY, FOR SMALLER OPERATIONS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN DISCARD FOOD IF IT IS DEEMED SAFE FOR STAFF TO DO SO FOR BUSINESS LICENSE. AFTER INITIAL EDUCATION, NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS ARE ISSUED AND AFTER MULTIPLE NOTICES, THEY CAN START TO ISSUE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS. SO I DO WANNA POINT OUT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THESE NORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS DO TEND TO BE LESS VISIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS. IT MAY SEEM AS THOUGH NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN. HOWEVER, THIS PROCESS IS IMPORTANT FOR BUILDING A CASE THAT COULD BE BENEFICIAL IN COURT IF CHALLENGED AND ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE TO SUPPORT VENDORS WHILE REDUCING BARRIERS TO COMPLIANCE. SO NOW LET'S TRANSITION TO THE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTION. IN THIS CATEGORY, THIS BASKET, NO POLICE CITATIONS CAN BE ISSUED, NO BUSINESS LICENSE, MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS OR LIMITED CITY PROSECUTOR REFERRALS, UM, CAN OCCUR. HOWEVER, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE STATE LAW TO DISCARD FOOD AND IMPOUND EQUIPMENT. IF THERE ARE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOOD. WHEN THE FOOD IS DISCARDED AND EQUIPMENT IMPOUNDED, WE UTILIZE AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM APPROACH CALLED THE COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM. THIS INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR IMPOUNDMENT. CURRENTLY CRTS ARE NOT ACTIVE AS THE MODEL IS UNDERGOING A MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, UM, WHICH I WILL ELABORATE LATER ON IN THIS PRESENTATION. NOW LET'S TURN TO THE SECOND BASKET VENDORS WHO ARE SELLING LOCATIONS OTHER THAN A SIDEWALK. OUR ENFORCEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THESE VENDORS GENERALLY MIRROR THAT OF THE FIRST BASKET WITH THE KEY DISTINCTION BEING THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. AS THESE VENDORS MAY NOT BE LEGALLY PROTECTED BY SB 9 46, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR A BROADER RANGE OF ENFORCEMENT MEASURES, BUT THERE IS STILL SOME AMBIGUITY IN THIS AREA SO THAT WE WILL NEED TO NAVIGATE THIS CAREFULLY. ADDITIONALLY, ONE SPECIFIC AVENUE WE ARE DISCUSSING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS POTENTIALLY PURSUING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS FOR PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING CASES WHERE IT'S EVIDENT THAT A [01:45:01] VENDOR HAS NO INTENTION INTO COM COMING INTO COMPLIANCE, UM, THROUGH NUISANCE UH, UH, CIVIL ENFORCEMENT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. WE'VE LISTED THAT PATH HERE UNDER BASKET TWO, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE APPLICABLE TO ALL THE VENDOR BASKET CATEGORIES. IF WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTING THE VENDOR'S NON-COMPLIANCE AND OTHER CONCERNS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CIVIL ENFORCEMENT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM FILING A CIVIL ACTION FOR CONTINUED NUISANCE BEHAVIOR. SO WE WILL ACTIVELY EXPLORE THIS OPTION FOR VENDORS THAT PRESENT THE MOST CONCERN, RISK AND CHALLENGES IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE TIME AS BUILDING A STRONG CASE AND NAVIGATING THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND THOROUGH DOCUMENTATION. FINALLY, LET'S DISCUSS THE THIRD BASKET, WHICH INCLUDES VENDORS ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT POSE A RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR VIOLATING OTHER LAWS. IF RESIDENTS CALL 9 1 1 RELATING TO ORDINANCE RELATED CONCERNS SUCH AS VENDING WITHOUT A BUSINESS LICENSE, DISPATCH WILL REFER THOSE CALLS TO THE BUSINESS SERVICES BUREAU OR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UM, COMPLAINTS CAN ALSO BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE CITY'S GO LONG BEACH APP OR DIRECTLY CONTACTING THE HEALTH OR BUSINESS SERVICES BUREAU. FOR NON-EMERGENCY CALLS THAT AREN'T SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE ORDINANCE, RESIDENTS CAN CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER AND DISPATCHERS WILL RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS BASED ON EXISTING PROCESSES FOR VIOLATIONS SUCH AS SELLING ALCOHOL WITHOUT A PERMIT, CREATING A TRAFFIC HAZARD OR TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE RESPONSE PRIORITY WILL DEPEND ON THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE SITUATION. TYPICALLY, A POLICE RESPONSE MAY INCLUDE EDUCATING THE VENDOR AND REQUESTING THAT THEY MOVE ALONG. CITATIONS MAY BE ISSUED IF THE CRITERIA FOR A VIOLATION OR ELEMENT OF A CRIME IS MET. HOWEVER, FOR MOST SITUATIONS REQUIRING LIKE A PHYSICAL REMOVAL OF A VENDOR OR ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, IF THERE ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERN, IT IS OFTEN MORE LIKELY AND MORE, UM, RECOMMENDED TO ADDRESS THESE CASES THROUGH THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM RATHER THAN SOLELY THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM, THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE A VENDOR IS VIOLATING BOTH THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE AND OTHER LAWS, BUT NOT POSING IMMEDIATE THREAT OF DEATH OR INJURY. AND IN THESE CASES, OUR APPROACH IS TO ENGAGE THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM AS DESCRIBED IN THE FRAMEWORKS FOR BASKET ONE AND TWO TO ENSURE A COORDINATED RESPONSE THAT ALIGN WITH CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION. SO I ALREADY WENT OVER A LOT OF THE THINGS ON THIS SLIDE, SO I'LL KEEP ON GOING, BUT THIS SLIDE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON THE NORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION LEVEL THAT I PREVIOUSLY OUTLINED. UM, AND I DID WANNA SAY THAT SAID, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE ACTION IF THERE IS SIGNIFICANT LIFE AND SAFETY CONCERNS WITH EMINENT THREAT OF DEATH OR INJURY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHILE WE HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT SIDEWALK VENDORS ARE PROTECTED FROM CRIMINALIZATION, THEY'RE NOT IMMUNE TO CONSEQUENCE AND POLICE RESPONSE IF THEY VIOLATE OTHER LAWS OR COMMIT A CRIME. SO AGAIN, IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOLLOWING THEIR ESTABLISHED PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS. SO ELEVATED ACTIONS IN TERMS OF ONE OF OUR OPTION FOR ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. I WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM OR CRT OPERATIONS. THE CRT IS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM THAT COORDINATES ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS INCLUDING DISCARDING FOOD AND IMPOUNDING EQUIPMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR LARGER FOOD OPERATIONS. THIS MODEL WAS DEVELOPED BECAUSE LARGER OPERATIONS WITH EXTENSIVE EQUIPMENT, DIVERSE MENUS AND LARGE CROWDS POST SAFETY HAZARDS DURING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND CITY EMPLOYEES. FROM FEBRUARY TO SEPTEMBER, 2023, CRT WAS DEPLOYED 47 TIMES TO DISCARD FOOD AND 17 TIMES TO UM, WAS DEPLOYED 47 TIMES TO DISCARD FOOD AND 17 TIMES TO IMPOUND EQUIPMENT. HOWEVER, THE LAST OPERATION WAS IN LATE SEPTEMBER OF 2023, WHERE STAFF ENCOUNTERED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES INCLUDING VERBAL HARASSMENTS, AGITATIONS FROM A DRUNK INDIVIDUAL AND THREATS MADE TO AN INSPECTOR BY A CUSTOMER. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT HAD BEEN OCCURRING NOT JUST ON THE STATE. AND AS A RESULT, CRT OPERATIONS WERE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TO ADDRESS STAFF SAFETY CONCERNS. SINCE THEN, STAFF HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS AND WITH THE CITY'S SAFETY OFFICE TO DEFINE ROLES AND DEVELOP STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL CRT PROTOCOL. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DISCUSSED AND DEVELOPED TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BETTER PREPARE STAFF FOR CONDUCTING THESE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. IN APRIL, THE IAM [01:50:01] REQUESTED THAT THE CITY POSTPONE CRT OPERATIONS UNTIL FURTHER DISCUSSION ON STAFF SAFETY COULD TAKE PLACE. CURRENTLY, STAFF ARE ENGAGED IN MEET AND CONFER SESSIONS TO WORK TOWARDS A RESOLUTION. ONCE THIS IS ACHIEVED, STAFF WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, ALLOWING US TO RESUME AND SCHEDULE CRT OPERATIONS AS PART OF OUR ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND SELECT CASES. IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE'VE COMPILED SOME ENFORCEMENT DATA. THIS PARTICULAR SLIDES OUTLINES THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE RECEIVED SINCE THE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT LATE FEBRUARY. COMPLAINTS CAN BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE GO LONG BEACH APP OR AGAIN BY EMAILING AND CALLING BUSINESS LICENSE OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SINCE LATE FEBRUARY, BUSINESS LICENSE HAS LOGGED 200 266 COMPLAINTS AND HEALTH HAS LOGGED 275 COMPLAINTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT A SINGLE COMPLAINANT CAN SUBMIT MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS SO THAT THESE NUMBERS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS. CURRENTLY, EACH DEPARTMENT TRACKS THESE COMPLAINTS SEPARATELY, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON A PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THEM TOGETHER AND PROVIDE A TOTAL CITYWIDE NUMBER. UM, ALSO THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE IDENTIFIED 93 DISTINCT LOCATIONS FOR BUSINESS LICENSE AND 194 DISTINCT LOCATIONS FOR HEALTH. AND AS FOR THE NATURE OF THESE COMPLAINTS, NOT ALL COMPLAINTS SPECIFY A PARTICULAR ISSUE. SOME ARE JUST SIMPLY LOCATION BASED. BUT COMMON CONCERNS MENTIONED IN COMPLAINTS INCLUDE A DA COMPLIANCE BLOCK, PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY, TACO VENDORS, NOISE RELATED DISTURBANCES AND FOOD SAFETY ISSUES. AND THIS MAP IS A HIGH LEVEL SNAPSHOT THAT MARKS THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE DATA. SINCE THE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT, HEALTH HAS ISSUED 53 CEASE AND DESISTS AND NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS AND THEY HAVE HELD TWO OFFICE HEARINGS. BUSINESS LICENSE HAS ISSUED 24 NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS AS OF UM, OCTOBER 4TH WHEN WE PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER. BUT AS OF TODAY HAVE ISSUED 29 NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS FOR THOSE VENDORS WHERE ENOUGH OF A CASE HAS BEEN BUILT WILL START TO BE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER. SO A COUPLE WEEKS AS NOTICE AS NOTED BEFORE, WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ENFORCEMENT IMPLEMENTATION AND THESE CURRENT ACTIONS FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF NORMAL ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE NOT YET BEGUN THE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, WHICH WE DISCUSSED EARLIER IN RELATIONS TO CRT OR OTHER POTENTIAL ELEVATED MEASURES, BUT WE ARE ON OUR PATH TOWARDS THAT ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT LEVEL. HERE'S A HIGH LEVEL SNAPSHOT OF THE MAP OF A MAP THAT MARKS THE LOCATIONS WHERE STAFF HAVE CONDUCTED VARIOUS ENFORCEMENT VISITS. ALRIGHT, SO BEFORE WRAPPING UP THIS SECTION ON ENFORCEMENT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY CHALLENGES IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE. EFFECTIVELY, THESE INCLUDE STAFFING CAPACITIES AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF LEGAL, OF THE LEGAL AND POLICY LANDSCAPE. THIS CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS AS WE DISCUSS FUTURE APPROACHES AND ANY POLICY ADJUSTMENTS. CURRENTLY BOTH THE HEALTH AND BUSINESS LICENSE, UM, TEAM OPERATE UNDER A COMPLAINT BASED ENFORCEMENT MODEL. THIS IS NOT A DISPATCH MODEL WHERE STAFF CAN RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO EVERY COMPLAINT. INSTEAD, STAFF REVIEW ALL COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN AND PRIORITIZE ENFORCEMENT VISITS BASED ON URGENCY, STAFFING CAPACITY AND SCHEDULING. IN OUR BUSINESS LICENSE OPERATIONS IN FY 25, WE HAVE FIVE BUDGETED LICENSE INSPECTORS, INCLUDING THE ONE NEW POSITION ADDED IN FY 25. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE VACANCIES AND THE DEPARTMENT HOPES TO HAVE THESE POSITIONS FILLED AND STAFF STARTING TO ONBOARD AND GET TRAINED BY THIS WINTER. THESE POSITIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIDEWALK VENDING ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, BUT THEY ALSO DO OTHER ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS INCLUDING COMPLAINTS OF ILLEGAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY, DELINQUENT BUSINESS LICENSE, TAX COLLECTION, AND SPECIAL EVENT AND ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT CODE COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE TO ENSURE STAFF SAFETY AND BUSINESS INSPECTORS GENERALLY WORK, UM, EIGHT TO 10 HOUR DAYS, SOME ON A FOUR 10 SCHEDULE, AND WE'LL WORK WEEKENDS SPECIAL EVENTS ON EVENING ON A OVERTIME MODEL SPECIFICALLY FOR SIDEWALK VENDING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. SHIFTS FOR SIDEWALK VENDING OPERATIONS ARE TYPICALLY SCHEDULED EVERY OTHER WEEK, BOTH DURING THE WEEK AND WEEKENDS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MORE FREQUENTLY AS SCHEDULING AND CAPACITY ALLOWS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS 11 BUDGETED INSPECTORS, INCLUDING THE TWO NEW POSITIONS ADDED IN FY 25, BUT CURRENTLY HAVE SIX VACANCIES. THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH CIVIL SERVICE WITH PLANS TO PRESENT THE JOB BULLETIN TO THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL IN NOVEMBER. AND I DO WANNA NOTE THAT THESE POSITIONS MUST BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE AS REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS. SO THAT DOES ADD TIME AND COMPLEXITY TO THE RECRUITMENT. [01:55:01] THESE INSPECTOR POSITIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF MORE THAN 2,600 FOOD FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, THEY CONDUCT INSPECTIONS ON FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, OUTBREAKS COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION, HEALTH SANITATION VISITS, UN PERMITTED FOOD COMPLAINTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THEY, THEIR HOURS ARE GENERALLY EIGHT TO 10 HOUR DAYS, SOME ON A FOUR 10 SCHEDULE, AND THEY UTILIZE AN OVERTIME MODEL FOR WEEKENDS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. EVENING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES WILL START TO BE SCHEDULED ON A OVERTIME MODEL WHEN CRT OPERATIONS ARE REIN INITIATED. LASTLY, IN TERMS OF EVENING AND AFTER HOUR ENFORCEMENTS, RESIDENTS CAN SUBMIT COMPLAINTS ABOUT NON-COMPLIANT VENDORS AT ANY TIME AS ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE IS COMPLAINT BASED. BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL RESPOND ACCORDING TO THEIR STANDARD PROCESSES. AND AVAILABLE CAPACITY ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WILL BE SCHEDULED AT TIMES THAT ALIGN WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF STAFF AND UTILIZE AND OVERTIME MODEL WHERE APPLICABLE AND NECESSARY. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO ADDRESS THE MOST CHALLENGING CASES. APPLYING ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WERE, UH, WERE WHEN AVAILABLE AS OUTLINED IN PREVIOUS SLIDES. ANOTHER CHALLENGE EFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE EFFECTIVELY IS THE LIMITATIONS OF THE ENFORCEMENT TOOLS THEMSELVES. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ENFORCEMENT IS RESTRICTED TO ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES. ONLY THE OPTION TO PURSUE MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS OR OTHER NON-ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS IS NOW NO LONGER AVAILABLE IF SOMEONE IS JUST STRICTLY SIDEWALK FENDING. ONCE THE CRT OPERATIONS ARE REACTIVATED, WE CAN ASSESS WHETHER IMPOUNDMENT PROVES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT TOOL. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. DO WANNA NOTE THAT NAVIGATING THIS LEGAL LANDSCAPE REQUIRES CAUTION AND PRUDENCE AS THERE IS LIMITED COURT PRECEDENT REGARDING THESE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AROUND SIDEWALK VENDING. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES, IT DOES SEEM THAT MOST ENTITIES ARE ADOPTING A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PAST SUMMER, THE CITY OF LA SETTLED THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY STREET VENDORS WHO ARGUED THAT THE CITY'S RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN NO VENDING ZONES VIOLATED NEW STATE LAW. AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, LA AGREED TO LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS, CANCEL ALL CITATIONS ISSUED TO VENDORS AND REFUND FINES THAT HAD TO BE PAID. THIS CASE HIGHLIGHTS THE POTENTIAL FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN POLICY RESTRICTIONS TO BE LEGALLY CHALLENGED IF THEY'RE DEEMED NON-COMPLIANT WITH STATE LEGISLATION. LASTLY, THE COMPLEXITIES SURROUNDING SIDEWALK BENDING ENFORCEMENT ADD TO THE CHALLENGES OF ENFORCEMENT. ONE OF THE COMPLEXITIES WE'VE RECENTLY FLAGGED WITH OUR INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM IS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS INSPECTORS INTERACT WITH MAY NOT BE THE ACTUAL BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT INSTEAD EITHER TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND OR PEOPLE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY VICTIMS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE FURTHER AND DEVELOP A BEST POLICY APPROACH IN THIS. AND OTHER CASES, OB OBTAINING IDENTIFICATION OR VERIFYING OWNERSHIP CAN BE DIFFICULT ADDING TO THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN ENFORCEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS CAN BE EASILY MISUNDERSTOOD BY VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ADDING TO CONFUSION OR FRUSTRATION. FOR INSTANCE, A POLICE OFFICER ISSUING A CITATION FOR A NON SIDEWALK VENDING RELATED VIOLATION TO A SIDEWALK VENDOR COULD CAUSE CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'VE COMMUNICATED THAT POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN SIDEWALK VENDING ENFORCEMENT IS LIMITED TO JUST STAFF SAFETY. ROUTINE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WHICH BUILD UP OVER TIME BEFORE ELEVATED ACTIONS ARE TAKEN CAN BE MISINTERPRETED AS INACTION BY THE CITY. AND THERE ARE GRAY AREAS WHERE EXPECTATIONS AROUND THE SPEED, THE PROCESS AND INTENSITY OF ENFORCEMENT CAN DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY AMONG STAKEHOLDERS. CURRENTLY, CITY STAFF ARE TAKING A MEASURED APPROACH THAT BEGINS WITH EDUCATION AND GRADUALLY ESCALATES TO A MORE SERIOUS ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. WE'RE FOCUSED ON ENSURING DUE PROCESS, BUILDING SOLID CASES, AND ALIGNING WITH CITY COUNCIL'S POLICY DIRECTION. THE GOAL IS NOT JUST IMMEDIATE PUNITIVE MEASURES, BUT ENSURING THAT ENFORCEMENT IS THOUGHTFUL, COORDINATED, AND SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME. AND THIS APPROACH IS GROUNDED IN THE GOAL TO HELP SIDEWALK VENDORS OPERATE AS COMPLIANT BUSINESSES AND AS CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND REMAINING IN LINE WITH STATE LEGISLATION ON ENFORCEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT STRONGER ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY TOWARDS THOSE VENDORS WHO HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO COMPLY OR HAVE NO INTENTION OF CHANGING THEIR OPERATING MODEL TO BECOME COMPLIANT. SO THAT IS OUR CURRENT OVERALL APPROACH AND WE ARE LOOKING TO HEAR FROM CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT ON WHETHER THIS OVERALL APPROACH IS IN LINE WITH YOUR POLICY DIRECTION OR IF CHANGES IN ENFORCEMENT INTENSITY [02:00:01] OR STRATEGY IS DESIRED. WE WOULD NEED THAT POLICY DIRECTION AND CLARITY ON WHAT ACTIONS WOULD BE SUPPORTED WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXISTING LIMITATIONS IN ENFORCEMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES MOVING FORWARD, STAFF REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVING OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, EXPLORING INNOVATION, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY REFINING OUR PROCESSES, COORDINATING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER CITIES TO FIND WAYS THAT WORK BEST FOR LONG BEACH. ALL RIGHT, WE ARE NOW AT THE FINAL SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION. NEXT STEPS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE, ONE AREA OF INCREASED FOCUS WILL BE ON ENHANCING DATA COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP VENDORS, BUSINESSES, THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, INFORMED ABOUT KEY DATA ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE SIDEWALK TO SUCCESS PROGRAM, PERMITTING AND ENFORCEMENT TO ACHIEVE THIS STAFF PLANS TO PUBLISH KEY STATISTICS ON THE SIDEWALK VENDING WEBSITE ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THIS INITIAL STEP IS INTENDED JUST AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE, AS WE'VE RE RECENTLY INITIATED DISCUSSIONS TO REVAMP AND MODERNIZE OUR FIELD INSPECTION AND DATA COLLECTING METHODOLOGIES. THIS MODERNIZATION WILL ENABLE US TO SYNCHRONIZE DATA ACROSS BOTH HEALTH AND BUSINESS LICENSE DEPARTMENTS, PROVIDING QUICKER REAL-TIME ACCESS TO KEY DATA POINTS THAT HAVE BECOME IN MORE INCREASINGLY IN DEMAND IN RECENT YEARS. ONCE THIS REVAMPING IS COMPLETE, WE WILL WORK WITH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TEAMS TO DEVELOP AN AUTOMATED DASHBOARD THAT WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. AND I DO WANNA JUST NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE BEING PURSUED ALONGSIDE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENTS. AND SO WHILE OUR CAPACITY IS LIMITED, WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING PROGRESS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO IMPLEMENT THESE IMPROVEMENTS EFFECT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. WE WILL ALSO BE CONTINUING OUR EDUCATION AND PROMOTION OF COMPLIANCE MOVING FORWARD. WE WILL FINALIZE THE NEW EDUCATION MATERIALS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER AND DISTRIBUTE AND ALSO WORK TO PROMOTE THE FREE CART PROGRAM. AND LASTLY, UNLESS DIRECTED OTHERWISE, WE PLAN TO MAINTAIN AN EDUCATION FIRST APPROACH TO ENFORCEMENT WHILE GRADUALLY BUILDING A CASE FOR ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. WE WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS TO GROW. LAST MARCH, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING SIDEWALK BENDING. SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING EXPLORED HERE ON THIS SLIDE. AND, UH, MORE DETAIL WILL BE PROVIDED BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR, IN THEIR REPORT EXPECTED DECEMBER OR EARLY NEXT YEAR. AS WE CONCLUDE, I WANNA REITERATE THAT THIS IS A YOUNG PROGRAM. WE ARE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES WITH LESS THAN A YEAR OF DATA AND EXPERIENCE TO DRAW UPON. WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, BUT WE RECOGNIZE MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD. THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY TO COORDINATE EFFORTS AND ADDRESS ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES. AND I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE DEDICATION OF THE HEALTH AND BUSINESS LICENSED STAFF ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM. THEIR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO THIS COMPLEX INITIATIVE HAS BEEN VERY EVIDENT WITH COUNTLESS HOURS, LATE NIGHTS, EARLY MORNING, DEVOTED TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THIS IMPLEMENTATION THAT I'VE COVERED. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR RELENTLESS EFFORT AND PROFESSIONALISM, AND I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TOPIC ELICITS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, CAN BE FRUSTRATING OR CONFUSING, AND WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS VERY LONG REPORT AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO LISTENING, ADAPTING BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. SO THIS CONCLUDES PRESENTATION AND WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. DID YOU GET IT ALL? IS IT ALL OUT? IS THAT EVERYTHING? THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. WE HAD AN HOUR LONG PRESENTATION, BUT THANK YOU GRACE. VERY THOROUGH. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THIS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT 'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING. WE HAVE, UH, LET'S SEE, 13 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE COME FORWARD. JAMES ZO. ANGELICA FRANCO ZAINAB. I HAVE A NICKNAME. ZAINAB, UH, UH, SAI ABRAHAM ZAVALA, ERY GONZALEZ. UH, MAYA, MIKE KIANA, MAASS KAT, IAN, ANTONIO, AND JEFFREY. FIRST UP IS JAMES, RIGHT? GOOD. UH, CAN WE DO [02:05:01] HOLD IT? YOU DOING THREE MINUTES? SAYS THREE MINUTES UP THERE. OH, DANG. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. , I THINK YOU CALLED YOURSELF OUT ON THAT ONE. ALL RIGHT. . I WAS LIKE, JUST TO BE CLEAR. OKAY. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JAMES SCHWAZO. I AM THE, I'M A SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH LONG BEACH FORWARD. UM, SINCE LAST YEAR, LONG BEACH FORWARD HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SIDEWALK VENDORS TO SHAPE AN EQUITABLE POLICY THAT DELIVERS UPON THE GOALS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO JUSTICE FOR VENDORS ACROSS THE CITY. WE WHOLE HEART WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE VENDOR JUSTICE COMMITTEE HAD SUBMITTED IN A LETTER TO YOU ALL. UM, AND IT'S, UH, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO ECHOED BY OUR OWN STATE SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ, UM, AS WELL. UM, TONIGHT WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN REVIEWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TAKING A CRITICAL LOOK AT OUR PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION. WHERE MANY CITIES IN CALIFORNIA HAD YEAR LONG IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES IN LONG BEACH. WE STARTED ENFORCEMENT IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS. THE RESULTS OF THAT, I THINK WE SEE IN THIS PRESENTATION WHERE THE TOUGH REALITY, AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE A SERIOUS LACK OF COORDINATED INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, REAL, UH, BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS TOGETHER. THE TOUGH REALITY IS THAT THESE CONDITIONS HAVE RESULTED IN A SLOW PERMITTING PROCESS, FEAR AND CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY ANIMUS TOWARDS VENDORS, UM, BY TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING ILLEGAL CITATIONS FROM THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND GAPS IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS IMPLEMENTING THE ORDINANCE. IF THIS IS OUR REALITY, WE IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT THE HARD NUMBERS, TO LOOK AT THE DATA, TO LISTEN TO THE EXPERIENCES OF VENDORS AND TAKE CUES AND IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY, BY OUR, UH, BY OUR VENDORS, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT CRIMINAL OVER CRIMINALIZING FOLKS AND GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN OUR ECONOMY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, ANGELICA. UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING, SO PLEASE. YOU DOING GREAT. GIMME A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE. UH, MY NAME IS ANGELICA FRANCO. I'M A VENDOR, A TEACHER, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH DEFENDERS JUSTICE COMMITTEE. THE ONE THING THAT I REALLY WANT YOU GUYS TO TAKE AWAY TONIGHT IS THAT CURRENTLY THE WAY THE POLICY IS WRITTEN AND ALL THE QUICK MOVING, UM, NEW INFORMATION THAT'S BEING RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT WE NEED TO HALT ON THE IDEA OF WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT? THERE ARE ZERO FOOD VENDORS THAT HAVE RECEIVED A HEALTH PERMIT. IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HEALTH PERMISSIBLE, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOOPHOLE BEING CREATED THAT'S FORCING US INTO A CART. THE STATE DOES NOT DEFINE A-C-M-F-O AS ONLY A CART. IT IS A CART OPTION. YES. BUT THERE ARE PARAMETERS THAT SAYS STAND DISPLAY, RACK, SO ON AND SO FORTH, RIGHT? IT DOES REQUIRE FOR US TO HAVE CERTAIN TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. MANY OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE STUCK IN THE PROCESS, WHICH IS OVER A HUNDRED OF THEM, HAVE RECEIVED HEALTH PERMITS DOZENS OF TIMES. ALSO SERVING FOOD FROM THE VERY MEMBERS THAT SIT HERE ON THE BOARD TODAY. YOU'VE EATEN WITH THEM DOZENS OF TIMES. YOU'VE BEEN WITH THEM DOZENS OF TIMES. YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS NEVER BEEN IN QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE BENDING THEIR HANDS. I'M ADVOCATING FOR THEM AS FAMILIES. WE LIVE HERE, WE WORK HERE, WE SUPPORT THE, THE COMMUNITY HERE VERY OFTEN, IT'S OFTEN US THAT CREATES THE ENVIRONMENT THAT EVERYONE LOVES. AND IF YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THE WAY THIS ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, YOU ARE ERA, THE CULTURE OF LONG BEACH. AT THE VERY, VERY CORE OF WHO WE ARE. FOOD IS CULTURAL. MA'AM, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ZAP. GOOD, GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING ALSO, SO IF IT DOESN'T, IT'S ALL JUMBLED UP. THAT'S WHY. MY NAME IS ZAY NAB. I LIVE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER. I AM A, UH, ENTREPRENEUR. I'M A COMMUNITY, UM, ORGANIZER, AND I'M ALSO A FOOD VENDOR HERE IN LONG BEACH AND IN LA COUNTY. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE IS THAT I DO ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS IS MOVING TOO QUICKLY INTO ENFORCEMENT. I'VE BEEN AT WITH, UH, ANGELICA, WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE OVER HERE WHO PREPARED THE REPORT. AND NO DISRESPECT TO THEM, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, BUT AS YOU SAW ON OUR STATISTICS, THEY'RE AT LEAST 50% UNDERSTAFFED. AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH EXPECTATIONS THAT VENDORS ARE SUPPOSED TO COMPLETE WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S NOT A SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR US. YOU'RE REQUIRING CARTS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATE LAW BY AS ONE EXAMPLE. BUT WITH THAT, THERE'S OTHER CONVEYANCES THAT ARE ALLOWED WITH THE STATE LAW THAT ARE NOT BEING EXPLORED AT ALL BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND IT'S CRIPPLING MY BUSINESS CANNOT SHRINK TO FIT ON A CART, BUT I SERVE REALLY GOOD FOOD AND I'M VERY SAFE. I'M SERVE, SERVE SAFE CERTIFIED, AND I'VE NEVER FAILED A HEALTH INSPECTION. SO I'M JUST SAYING YOU'RE ELIMINATING A LOT OF PEOPLE BY NOT ALLOWING US [02:10:01] TO EXPLORE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE OUR FOOD FOR SALE IN LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SAI. OKAY. UH, SON CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. UM, JUST SPEAKING WITH REGARDS TO THE PRESENTATION AT THE, IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD ANY REFERENCE TO THE CARTELS RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, ANY VENDOR. SO, UH, APPRECIATE THAT. BUT, UM, I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF, UH, SMALL BUSINESSES. I THINK THAT THE, UM, THE PIPELINING WE SAW WITH COVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL. UM, AND THERE'S KIND OF THIS, UH, ENERGY BETWEEN, UH, OF, UM, ANIMOSITY BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE STOREFRONTS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OUTSIDE. AND, UH, I THINK THAT THAT'S KIND OF UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, UH, BUSINESSES CAN BE OFTEN FOUND AT MULTIPLE STAGES IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW WE COME TOGETHER TO ENGAGE WITH THEM. UM, FAR AS MY DAY JOB WITH A PARKER FOUNDATION, I WORK WITHIN RESPECT TO THE INCLUSIVE BUSINESS AS, AS ONE OF THE INCLUSIVE BUSINESS NAVIGATORS. AND WE ENGAGE WITH ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES AT VARIOUS POINTS OF THEIR, UH, CAREER. AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT ALL TRAJECTORIES OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THIS IS HOW WE PAY FOR, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS TO LIVE HERE. THIS IS HOW WE PAY FOR A LOT OF THE SERVICES, UM, THAT ARE VITAL TO MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE. AND I THINK THAT A COMP, THE COMPLAINT BASED APPROACH, MUCH LIKE THE AIRPORTS, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE, UH, OVERINFLATED, I THINK RESPECTFULLY TO FIFTH DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, UM, 40 PLUS THOUSAND, UH, COMPLAINTS ISN'T NECESSARILY, UH, CONDUCIVE OF 40,000 PEOPLE DOING A COMPLAINT. SO I FEEL LIKE UNTIL WE HAVE APPROPRIATE VACANCIES FILLED THAT WE NEED TO JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MINDFUL WITH THE GRAY AREA OF THE ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS DISPLAYED TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ABRAHAM ZAVALA. I'M WITH WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY. WE CO-SPONSORED SB 9 72 AND SB 9 46, AND WE RECENTLY HAD A SETTLEMENT IN LA REGARDING THE NO VETTING ZONES IN LOS ANGELES. AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M, I'M HUMBLED BY THE EXPERTISE OF FOLKS HERE IN THIS ROOM, VENDORS WHO ARE ORGANIZED, VENDORS WHO ARE BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER, UM, BUILDING OUT RELATIONSHIPS WITH BRICK AND MORTAR AS WELL. THERE ARE BRICK AND MORTAR, UH, SUPPORTERS AS WELL. AND, UH, I FIND VERY HUMBLING. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD RESOURCE AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO, TO TAP INTO THAT. AND WITH THAT SAID, UM, THE CITIES THAT I'VE COME ACROSS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORK WE DO IS TO GO ACROSS THE STATE AND TOUCH BASE WITH STREET VENDORS AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UM, CITIES THAT GET IT RIGHT ARE THE ONES THAT LISTEN TO, TO THE EXPERTS, THE THE STREET VENDORS, STREET VENDORS, SIDEWALK VENDORS WHO TAKE ON THESE POLICIES, RIGHT? AND GIVE IT A, A HUMAN VALUE TO IT, RIGHT? BEYOND THE POLICY AND HOW IT IMPACTS THEM. AND REALLY WOULD ASK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT EFFORT OF SPEAKING TO COMMUNITY, TAKING BACK FEEDBACK, UM, ENCOURAGING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MEET MORE FREQUENTLY WITH VENDORS, UM, AND THE DEFINITION OF STREET VENDING OR SIDEWALK VENDING. CONSIDER WHAT, WHAT VENDORS ARE SAYING. UM, I FIND IT A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION IN GINETTE BUR BEACH WITH THE MARKETPLACE, WITH VENDORS BEING SET UP THERE. UM, THE POPUP VENDOR IDENTITY, I THINK IT'S VERY CRUCIAL. IT'S VERY LONG BEACH. THERE WAS A MERCHANDISE VENDOR WITH LONG BEACH GEAR THERE NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT I MET AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THE STORY THAT THEY HAD, RIGHT? THEY'RE A BRICK AND MORTAR, ALSO DOING SIDEWALK VENDING TO GET OUTREACH TO CLIENTS AS WELL. SO I WOULD ASK THROUGHOUT THE MEETING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE INPUT THAT VENDORS ARE GIVING. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE ERY. ERY, YEAH. UH, GOOD. EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS SUGE GONZALEZ. I'M A STREET BEND HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE. SO I STARTED THE PROCESS FOR STREET BENDING AND I'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING I CAN, EVERYTHING, UH, THEY'VE BEEN ASKING ME, UH, CITY LICENSE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT I'M STUCK IN THE PROCESS, SO I CAN'T CONTINUE THE PROCESS BECAUSE I CANNOT BE ABLE TO BUY A $25,000 CARD. AND, UH, I TRY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE FREE CARDS THAT YOU GUYS ARE GIVING, LIKE THE 40 CARDS. BUT, UH, BECAUSE MY CONCEPT THAT I'M RUNNING DOESN'T APPLY FOR THE FREE CARDS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE ONLY, UH, ABLE TO GIVE THE CARDS FOR FRUIT PEOPLE, UH, TAMALE PEOPLE, BURRITO PEOPLE AND, UH, AND ACTING ICE CREAM. SO I'VE BEEN PUNISHED NOW BECAUSE, UH, THE TYPE OF CONCEPT I'M RUNNING. UH, SO YEAH, SO HERE I AM STUCK IN THE PROCESS. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE. SO, AND THEN THE CITATIONS ARE COMING, SO I'M, I'M SCARED, UH, FOR YOU GUYS TO LIKE, ARE GONNA COME AND TAKE OUR STOPS AWAY. AND EVEN THOUGH LIKE I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN, BUT I CAN'T CONTINUE THE PROCESS, UH, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO, UH, BUY A $25,000 [02:15:01] CARD. UH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MAYA AND THEN MIKE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MAYA. I'M A DISTRICT, UH, OR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M HERE TO UPLIFT THE VENDOR JUSTICE COMMITTEE'S DEMANDS REGARDING THE SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE. AS WE'LL SEE IN THE LETTER THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU, THEY ARE TO ALLOW PROVISIONAL PERMITS, MAKE STANDARDIZED CARTS OPTIONAL, MAKE INSURANCE OPTIONAL, APPROVE MIKO KITCHENS CREATE A MORATORIUM AND CITATIONS AND END UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT. I WANNA FOCUS ON THIS LAST DEMAND TODAY. AS MENTIONED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S, UH, PRESENTATION, SB 9 46 DOES STATE THAT COMMUNITY ANIMUS OR ECONOMIC COMPETITION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN FOR PURPOSES OF LEGISLATING SIDEWALK VENDORS. BUT IN THE CITY'S GO LONG BEACH APP, RESIDENTS CAN REPORT ISSUES AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING STRAY ANIMALS AND TRASH OR OTHER DUMPED ITEMS. SHOCKINGLY SIDEWALK VENDORS WERE RECENTLY ADDED AS A REPORTABLE CATEGORY. THE CITY'S CHOICE TO LUMP SIDEWALK VENDORS IN WITH LITERAL TRASH AND STRAY ANIMALS LAYS BARE ITS MOTIVATIONS AND SUGGESTS THAT THE CITY IS TAKING ACTION AGAINST STREET VENDORS BASED ON COMMUNITY ANIMUS. IN FACT, IT APPEARS THE CITY IS ACTUALLY CREATING ANIMUS AND HARASSING VENDORS THROUGH THIS CHOICE. IT'S ALSO NOTABLE THAT BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES CANNOT BE REPORTED IN THE APP FOR THEIR VIOLATIONS. THIS RAISES A SERIOUS QUESTION OF WHETHER THE CITY IS ACTING AGAINST SIDEWALK VENDORS TO PROTECT THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES. I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW THE LAW AND ADVISE THE CITY OF ITS LIMITATIONS. COUNSEL WORK WITH VENDORS, THEY'RE NOT YOUR ENEMIES, THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBORS. AND COURSE CORRECT ASAP, INCLUDING BY REMOVING THIS REPORTING MECHANISM FROM THE LONG BEACH APP. DON'T LET THE ANIMUS OF A FEW GUIDE YOUR ACTIONS. NOT ONLY IS IT ILLEGAL, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO SO WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN THE CITY LOVE OUR SIDEWALK VENDORS. AND THANK THEM FOR KEEPING OUR BODIES NOURISHED AND OUR PUBLIC SPACES SAFE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MIKE, THEN KIANA. NO, MIKE, NO. MIKE KIANA. HELLO. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR. MY NAME IS KIANA MNI. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. I'M THE PROPRIETOR OF LONG BEACH BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK, THE ORGANIZER OF THE LONG BEACH BARBECUE FESTIVAL AND CO-OWNER OF AXIOM KITCHEN, WHICH IS A POP-UP RESTAURANT HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF OUR STRUGGLES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. UM, WE'VE SINCE HAD TO SUSPEND OUR OPERATIONS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A, UM, PERMIT TO OPERATE. WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE ONE SHARED KITCHEN IN LONG BEACH, UH, ONE OF THE TWO, EXCUSE ME, SHARED KITCHENS IN LONG BEACH THAT ARE PERMITTABLE FOR POP-UP RESTAURANTS TO, UM, NOT RENEW OUR LICENSE BECAUSE WE TOOK UP A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR TIME AND THEY NEEDED, UM, MORE SPACE FOR OTHER VENDORS. UM, SO WE ARE STUCK. WE APPLIED FOR THE, UM, STREET VENDING PERMIT. WE ARE STUCK IN THE PROCESS. UM, WE'VE, I'VE GOTTEN ONE PHONE CALL, UM, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT WE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FREE CART BECAUSE ONE, WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT DOES NOT QUALIFY. TWO, UM, OUR CONCEPT, WHICH IS SMOKE MEATS, DOESN'T, WOULD NOT FIT ON A CART. WE ARE WELCOME TO PURCHASE OUR OWN CART AND HAVE IT CUSTOM MADE, WHICH WOULD COST US CLOSE TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DUE TO THE LEVEL OF, OF FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, PUT TOGETHER. UM, SO BECAUSE OF THIS, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE HAD TO PAUSE OUR OPERATIONS. WE'RE NOT MAKING MONEY. WE ARE, UH, WE DEPEND ON THAT MONEY TO FEED OUR FAMILY. AND, UM, SO, AND WE CAN'T, WE WE'RE UNABLE TO OPERATE OUR BUSINESS HERE IN LONG BEACH, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE, UH, MAKE IT KNOWN THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SHARED KITCHENS COMMISSARIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE CITY TO OPERATE FOR POP-UP VENDORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS KAT, IT'S KAT, THEN IAN, AND THEN ANTONIO. GOOD EVENING. I'M KAT. I'M RENTER AND EATER IN DISTRICT ONE. UH, STOP SIDING STREET VENDORS MAKING GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH YOUR ORDINANCE. UM, VENDORS NEED TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE THE CITY PROCESSES APPLICATIONS, ESPECIALLY, UH, WITH THESE HIGH COSTS. THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE POLICING OR PUNISHING VENDORS BECAUSE OF KAREN'S COMPLAINTS UNRELATED TO HEALTH. UH, SAFETY OR WELFARE. UH, STANDARDIZED. STANDARDIZED CARTS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL, AND THE IDEA THAT THEY CANNOT MEET PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT THEM IS CLASSIST. I BELIEVE AT BEST, UH, IN YOUR EDUCATION, YOU SHOULD INCLUDE MATERIAL ON WHY INSURANCE CAN BE HELPFUL AND PROMOTE IT AS AN OPTION FOR THEM TO PROTECT THEIR ASSETS. UH, LASTLY, I I WANNA EMPLOY YOU, UM, YOU ALL OUR COUNSEL TO CREATE A MINIMUM SIX MONTH MORATORIUM ON CITATIONS FOR SIDEWALK VENDORS AND NOT TO BEGIN CITATIONS UNTIL AT LEAST 75% OF THE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREETINGS COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU, IAN. HONOR, MAYOR. OKAY, YOU GOT IT. CO-OWNER, AXIOM KITCHEN, PIT [02:20:01] MASTER, AXIOM KITCHEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF, UH, NOAH'S ARC FOUNDATION, DIRECTOR OF THE VILLAGE FOUNDATION. UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION YOU GUYS PUT FORWARD. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GO DOWN TO THE BEACH AND POP UP, AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE WE WERE OPEN, WE WERE CONTACTED BY JANICE GARCIA AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO BECAUSE WE WEREN'T PERMITTED, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PREPARED ALL OF OUR FOOD IN A SHARED KITCHEN AND DID ALL THE PROCESS CORRECTLY. WHEN WE ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WENT DOWN TO, UM, OPERATE, WE WERE TOLD WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY WOULD MAKE US THROW AWAY OUR FOOD. SO IT WENT DIRECTLY TO ENFORCEMENT. THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. SO WE TOOK THE HIT, LOST $5,000 THAT DAY AND DECIDED TO KEEP OUR BUSINESS GOING IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE LONG BEACH TO MIRROR LOS ANGELES'S MOVEMENT WITH THE MIKO MICRO ENTERPRISE. HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS IS THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. 90, 90 MEALS A WEEK, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REVENUE, GROSS REVENUE A YEAR. THAT'S WHAT KO'S OFF OFFERING IN LOS ANGELES. I THINK THAT WOULD BENEFIT LONG BEACH, THAT WOULD BENEFIT PEOPLE IN MY POSITION. AND IT WOULD ALSO, UM, IT WOULD ALSO OPEN UP HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE LARGER RESIDENCES TO BE A STORAGE FACILITY FOR THOSE CARTS AND STUFF THAT LONG, WHICH IS BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT. SO I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT MECO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. OUR FINAL TWO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF. I AM ANTONIO, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH LONG BEACH FORWARD. I AM HERE TO UPLIFT THE NEED TO CREATE A JUST SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE. SINCE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL, AS WE'VE SEEN IT PLAY OUT BY HOW MANY VENDORS HAVE ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. I STAYED HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR TO REMIND YOU AND THE CITY STAFF HOW OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND CRIMINALIZING THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE. SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURS ARE STUCK IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING PROPER PERMITS DUE TO EXUBERANT COSTS AND INACCESSIBLE REQUIREMENTS. TO ADDRESS THE OVERLY RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE, AS FOLKS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, MAKE THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT OPTIONAL SENSE OF COSTS ARE UNRELATED TO OBJECTIVE, PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY. SECONDLY, AND HARASSMENT AND POLICING OF BLACK AND BROWN VENDORS BASED ON PESKY RESIDENCE AND E ECHO HURT BRICK AND MORTAR COMPLAINTS AND PROPERLY EDUCATE CITY STAFF AND POLICE TO HALT ILLEGAL CITATIONS GIVEN OUT IN THE RECENT WEEKS. THIRDLY, MAKE STANDARDIZED CARTS OPTIONAL SINCE CARTS, UM, HAVE BEEN RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE, WHICH OF COURSE OF VENDORS CANNOT AFFORD. LASTLY, ENCOURAGE THE FLOURISHING OF, UH, MIKO AS NEW MODELS OF AFFORDABLE AND COMPLIANT RETAIL FOOD FACILITIES, FACILITIES TO ALLOW VENDORS TO COOK THEIR FOOD AND REDUCE THE MISCELLANEOUS FEES ATTACHED WITH THE EQUIPMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER, PLEASE, JEFFREY. UM, MY NAME IS JEFFREY. YOU PROBABLY SEE ME ON CHANNEL FOUR NEWS. I WANT TO THANK YOU, REX, FOR BEING HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. NORMALLY, YOU JUST WALK OUT TO THE BACK AND DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY. HOW YOU DOING UNI? I'VE BEEN TO ALL THE MEETINGS. EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS DON'T WORK. I WENT TO DISTRICT NINE AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE. JUNIE WANTED TO KNOW IF HE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THE MEETING. I SAID, SURE, WHY NOT? YOU'RE GETTING PAID. ANYWAYS, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ASK YOU GUYS TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE INSURANCE OPTIONAL INSTEAD OF RECOMMENDING THE INSURANCE. DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT THE PRICE ON A COMMISSARY IS? IT'S $1,500. SO YOU HAVE TO DECIDE, EVEN IF YOU GET A FREE CART, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE IF YOU'RE GONNA PAY RENT FOR YOUR APARTMENT. OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA PAY RENT FOR YOUR CART, WHICH IS CALLED A COMMISSARY. PEOPLE SOMETIMES NEED A SHARED KITCHEN TO COOK THEIR FOOD. I JUST, UM, WOULD LIKE TO GET MY BUSINESS LICENSE. HOWEVER, I, I REFUSE TO PAY THE INSURANCE. SO IF YOU GUYS MAKE IT OPTIONAL, I'LL GET MY BUSINESS LICENSE TOMORROW. UM, AS FAR AS MONICA WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SHE HAS NO IDEA ON A LOT OF THE ANSWERS. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL MEETING. WE ASKED HER CAN YOU USE MILK OR ALMOND MILK? SHE SAID, NO, IT'S MILK LIKE PRODUCT. AND WE HAD TO CALL THE AGRICULTURE OR EMAIL THEM AND THEY SAID, WE CAN. SHE ACTUALLY ALSO DISCOURAGED ANOTHER COFFEE VENDOR FROM SELLING COFFEE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO USE CREAMER. SO INSTEAD OF USING A LITTLE PRE-PACKAGED CREAMER, SHE SAYS, UH, I RECOMMEND YOU JUST DON'T SELL COFFEE INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING VENDORS TO VEND CERTAIN PRODUCTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. ALRIGHT, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL FOR THE COUNCIL DELIBERATION. FIRST WE HAVE COUNCIL OF ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, LONG BEACH SIDEWALK VENDORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RICH CULTURE AND LOCAL ECONOMY OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE WAS TO CREATE A LEGAL [02:25:01] PATHWAY TO OPERATE LEGALLY AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE HEALTH REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DIGNITY WHILE ENSURING PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, WHICH REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I WANT TO THANK YOU, GRACE, UM, YON, UM, AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THIS PROGRAM. I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE COME A VERY LONG WAY TO HOW WE FIRST SAW THIS ORDINANCE COME BEFORE US, AND YOU CONTINUE TO MEET WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND ACTUALLY, UM, LISTEN TO WHAT WHAT THEY ARE, UM, GOING THROUGH, WHETHER THEY ARE FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE. AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR STAFF AND THE DEDICATION TO THIS ITEM. UM, HOWEVER, THIS IS DEFINITELY, UH, A NEW PROGRAM AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING REMINDING US OF THAT. UM, THIS SIX MONTH REPORT WILL HELP, UM, INFORM US AND HAS HELPED INFORM US AND GUIDE US TO OUR NEXT STEPS AND TO SEE WHAT IS NEEDED, UM, TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL. AS STAFF IS TAKING ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL TONIGHT AND THE PUBLIC, I FIND IT APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY TO MOTION THAT THE CITY, UM, REPORT BACK AGAIN ONCE AGAIN FOR IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS BEING DONE. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT TO MY MOTION FOR TODAY. I THINK THAT, UM, WE STILL HAVE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED YOU IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WE'VE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK ON THIS ORDINANCE, BUT WE STILL, ALSO STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO. AND I THINK THAT A REPORT IN SIX MONTHS WOULD BE HELPFUL, CONTINUING TO BE ABLE TO, UH, WORK WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROVISIONARY LICENSE AND WHAT THAT MIGHT ENTAIL OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. UM, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY, VERY DETAILED REPORT. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY, UM, COLLEAGUES TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS. ALRIGHT, VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, UH, THANK YOU STAFF, UH, FOR, UM, THIS, UH, THOROUGH, UH, PRESENTATION. AND, UH, I KNOW, UM, THAT THIS PROGRAM AND THAT THIS UPDATE, UM, HAS BEEN A MAJOR, UH, UNDERTAKEN. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THAT, UM, THIS PROCESS WASN'T GONNA BE EASY. UM, AND SO I WANNA THANK STAFF AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE VENDOR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, FOR BEING TEAM PLAYERS AND, AND WORKING WITH US. 'CAUSE WE REALLY ARE TRYING, UM, TO GET IT RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT WE HAVE TO BE, UH, GRATEFUL FOR. UM, I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE OUTREACH AND ALL THE EDUCATION. UM, I THINK THROUGH OUR TOWN HALLS AND WEBINARS AND OUR DIRECT OUTREACH, UH, STAFF HAS MADE TO OUR VENDORS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TRIED THEIR BEST TO EQUIP, TO EQUIP THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE. AND I'VE BEEN AT MANY OF THOSE MEETINGS. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY DONE, UM, YOU, YOU DONE A LOT OF WORK, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO, UM, HEALTH AND SAFETY, UM, REGULATIONS. UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE, UM, FUNDING AND, AND, AND GIVING AWAY CARDS AT NO COST AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME ISSUES THERE THAT WE STILL NEED, UM, TO, TO WORK THROUGH. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS, IT IS A WAY TO, UM, IT'S A STEPPING STONE FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO BUSINESSES AT LOW COST. UM, I, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT OUR, UH, SPECIFICATIONS ARE FOR GETTING INTO THAT. AND, AND THERE'S A GENTLEMAN THAT TALKED HERE TODAY ABOUT THEIR CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT, THAT QUALIFY AND DON'T. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THIS VENDOR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY UNDERSTANDING, UM, IF WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPLY CERTAIN CARS FOR CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AND THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY ASSUMPTIONS OF WHAT THEY NEED. UM, I'M ALSO, UH, I ALSO LIKE OUR INTERACTIVE MAP. I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN A, UM, THAT'S BEEN A GREAT TOOL TO, UH, PROMOTE COMPLIANCE. AND, UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, DISTRICT TWO AND THE JUAN APPAREL PEACH LOT AND THE RECREATIONAL AREA IS, IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UH, VENDOR VENDOR AREAS, YOU KNOW, UM, IN OUR CITY. SO I HAVE, UM, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF, UH, RESIDENTS OPERATING THIS AREA AND I KNOW THAT THE PROCESS [02:30:01] HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME. UM, CAN, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF FOLLOW UP IS HELP, WHAT TYPE OF FOLLOW UP YOU'RE DOING, UH, WITH THESE VENDORS DURING THAT, THAT PROCESS? LIKE, WHAT'S HAPPENING, UM, WHEN ARE, ARE YOU COMMUNICATING WITH THEM REGULARLY SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE PROCESS? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THEM HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I CAN MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND, AND TARA AND JUDITH CAN FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN FROM THE OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE. SO WHEN BUSINESS LICENSE OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES AN APPLICATION AND THEY WILL REVIEW IT, IF THERE ARE COMPONENTS THAT ARE MISSING, THEY WILL REACH OUT TO THE VENDOR WHO APPLIED TO WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT COMPONENTS NEED TO BE ADDED TO OR WHAT WAS MISSING. IF THEY NEED THAT SUPPORT IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE, THEY WILL WORK TO PROVIDE THAT CONNECTION VIA DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. WE ALSO HAVE OUR BUSINESS NAVIGATORS PROGRAM SUPPORT, SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REFER VENDORS TO THAT PROGRAM AS WELL THAT COULD PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS COACHING FOR FREE AND PROVIDE THAT DETAILED, UM, SUPPORT AS THEY THINK THROUGH THEIR FINANCES, THEIR CARTS, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO RUNNING A BUSINESS. AND I ALSO MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO DO, UM, MOVING FORWARD IS HAVE THOSE OPEN OFFICE HOURS AS WELL, UM, EVERY WEEK WHERE VENDORS CAN COME IN OR IF THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEY'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO SCHEDULE A PROGRAM. SO THERE IS ACTIVE WORK BEING DONE BY STAFF TO REACH OUT TO THOSE VENDORS TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES. UM, THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH, UH, VENDORS THAT MAY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. AND SO IT'S, IT'S BECOMES AN ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY FEEL LIKE THAT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. BUT STAFF IS DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING UP AND PROVIDING, UM, INFORMATION AS WE GO ALONG. OKAY, GREAT. UM, ALSO, UM, I, I ALSO, UH, I LIKE THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN ZAJA. I THINK THE PROVISIONAL PERMIT WHILE, UH, I WOULD THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, BENEFICIAL TO THEM, UM, WHILE THEIR MATERIALS ARE BEING PROCESSED. I KNOW THAT THE, UH, CITY OF LA OFFERS LIKE A 90 DAY TO A YEAR, UM, TEMPORARY PERMIT. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY, UH, ALSO, UM, UH, LIKE TO SEE, UM, ALSO, SO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, MAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CMFO STATUS, AND I KNOW YOU DID A GOOD JOB AT DEFINING, UM, WHAT THIS CMFO IS, BUT ARE, UM, BUT WHAT KIND OF BUSINESSES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT CATEGORY? AND THEN SECOND, MY SECOND, UH, QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE, IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT THIS IS REGULATED BY THE STATE? DO WE HAVE ANY, A ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT FROM A CITY LEVEL? GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBER ALLEN. UM, TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS, I'LL START WITH THE, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE OR AMEND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE? UNFORTUNATELY, NOT AT THIS LEVEL. THERE IS A, A FOOD POLICY COMMITTEE THAT HAPPENS AT THE CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE OF DIRECTORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY INPUTS ARE GATHERED AND, AND SENT TO THE STATE. AND THERE'S A TEAM OF US THAT WORK WITH ADVOCACY GROUPS TO WORK WITH STATE LEGISLATORS TO SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION OR SOME AGREEMENT TO SEE WHAT'S REASONABLE IN TERMS OF FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES AND PREVENTION OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. UM, SECOND PART IN TERMS OF THE CMFO, THE CMFO AS DESCRIBED BY SB 9 72 DOES PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT DOES ONLY ALLOW FOR LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT DEFINITION, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT IS NOT ALLOWABLE IN THAT DEFINITION, UM, AS LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION IS NOT, UM, HAVING TO WORK WITH RAW MEATS BECAUSE AS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS, THERE ARE MORE RISKS FOR FOODBORNE ILLNESSES AND OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS. UM, IN TERMS OF, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE WE RECEIVED A LOT OF APPLICATIONS FOR A HEALTH PERMIT. IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS MORE CLOSELY, WE DID RECEIVE 164 BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS OF THOSE APPLICATIONS. WE, IT INDICATED THAT MORE THAN A HUNDRED OF THEM WERE INTERESTED IN SELLING FOOD. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION, 72% OF THEM, 78 DID NOT SUBMIT ANY INFORMATION OR DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. MANY OF THEM WERE WAITING FOR THE FREE CARD PROGRAM. MANY OF THEM WERE CALLED LEFT MESSAGES, LEFT VOICEMAILS, WHERE WE HAVE A CITY ISSUED CELL PHONE NOW WHERE WE CAN TEXT BACK BECAUSE [02:35:01] THEIR VOICEMAIL BOXES ARE FULL. AND SO WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME TO US. I MEAN, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR APPLICATIONS TODAY, WE HAVE 25 THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS AND MANY OF THEM ARE GOING THROUGH THE FREE CARD PROGRAM PRO PROCESS, AND SOME ARE GOING THROUGH ON THEIR OWN PLAN CHECK REQUIREMENTS. OKAY. UM, ANNA, YOU HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS, BUT MAYOR, I AM, MY TIME IS UP, SO I'LL QUEUE BACK UP. OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. UH, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE KEEP GOING THROUGH THE LINE, THAT WAS MAKER AND THE SECONDER OF THE MOTION, SO, SO THE MIKO STUFF THAT'S COMING UP. SO ARE WE DOING THAT? YES. , LET ME JUST GATHER MY NOTES. UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR WE DID ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE STATE ABOUT $88,000 THAT'S COMING FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO HELP US STUDY THE VISIBILITY OF A MICRO-ENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS IN LONG BEACH. THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR HOMES TO BE USED AS MANY RESTAURANTS THEY CAN, IF YOU AGREE, IF YOU ADOPT IT, IT COULD ALLOW FOR A COMMISSARY AS WELL. AND, UM, IT DOES HAVE A LOT OF BENEFITS FOR MICRO BUSINESSES. UM, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THIS POINT IS WE'RE TALKING TO OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. THOSE WILL HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MECO PROGRAM AND UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES IT WORK, WHAT'S SUCCESSFUL, WHAT ARE YOUR LESSONS LEARNED. WE ALSO WANNA GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT AND ALSO DEPARTMENTAL INPUT BECAUSE IT WILL IMPACT CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS ZONING, CODE ENFORCEMENT, PARKING, NOISE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, AND I WANNA BE ABLE TO PRESENT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AS YOU MAKE THE DECISION FOR OUR CITY. OKAY. WHEN'S THAT COMING BACK? KO? WE HOPE TO COME BACK LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR. OKAY. I LIKE, I LIKE THAT IDEA. I LIKE THE MIKO. IT, IT JUST MAKES SENSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, HAVE A CART THAT HAS CERTAIN EQUIPMENT BASED ON WHATEVER THE CHALLENGES ARE. IF YOU WANT TO BAKE AT HOME OR WHATEVER IT IS, GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTIONS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT ADD SOME FLEXIBILITY SO PEOPLE CAN GO AND BE ENTREPRENEURS. I LIKE THAT. LET'S, UM, LET, YEAH, LET'S, LET'S CERTAINLY BRING THAT BACK. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL KEEP GOING DOWN THE LIST. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ACTUALLY, RICK OTE. SORRY. POOR COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. YOU ALL RIGHT OVER THERE? ? UH, I SAID A COUPLE OF POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. SO ONE OF THEM WAS FOR THE, AND I I ALSO REALLY LIKED THE MAP THAT YOU ALL PUT IN ON. WAS IT SLIDE NINE? I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, I SAW THERE WERE NUMBERS LIKE ONE THROUGH 60. SO ARE THOSE JUST LIKE, LIKE THE UNIQUE, UM, LOCATIONS FOR THE DIFFERENT FIELD OPERATIONS AND THEN SOME OF THEM, I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE GOTTEN REPEATED CALLS ABOUT? YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. SO WE TOOK, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, THE, THE MAPS THAT YOU'VE SEEN THAT ARE IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE REALLY JUST A SNAPSHOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A VISUAL PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE AREAS IN WHICH WE'VE DONE EDUCATION AND WHERE THE COMPLAINTS ARE COMING AND ALSO ENFORCEMENT. BUT IT IS NOT A LIVE ACTIVE MAP AT THE MOMENT. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR THE PRESENTATION TO GIVE A VISUAL, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING AND JUST STARTING THAT PROJECT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND, UM, BUSINESS LICENSING TO WORK ON A NEW MODERNIZED WAY OF DATA COLLECTING ON A SINGULAR SOFTWARE PLATFORM, IN WHICH CASE THEN THAT DATA WILL BE ABLE TO FEED INTO MORE LIVE INTERACTIVE DASHBOARDS. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, FOR NOW, WE TOOK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS OR THE DIFFERENT DATA POINTS AND THEN PUT THEM INTO A MAP AND THEN TOOK A PICTURE. BUT IT'S NOT LIVE AND ACTIVE, BUT WE WILL BE WORKING TOWARDS THAT. OKAY. EXCELLENT. UM, AND THEN IT'S REPORTS TO, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IN HERE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION THAT UH, MANY OF THE VENDORS ARE SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS WITHOUT INSURANCE PAPERWORK BECAUSE IT MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE, THE INSURANCE PROCESS. SO DOES THAT SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION WITHOUT THE INSURANCE, DOES THAT LIKE STOP THE CLOCK OR CAN THEY CONTINUE ALONG IN OTHER ASPECTS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS? SO I, I GUESS I'M WONDERING CAN THOSE THINGS BE DONE A PARALLEL, RIGHT? LIKE CAN YOU THEY BE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING INSURANCE WHILE CONTINUING THE APPLICATION PROCESS? YES, THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT THERE AREN'T THAT MANY STEPS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS IF THEY'RE ONLY SELLING GOODS AND NOT SELLING FOOD. GOTCHA. SO IF THEY'RE SELLING, UM, ANY TYPE OF GOOD, THEN REALLY THE INSURANCE IS, IS KIND OF THE BIG PIECE OF IT. SO IF THEY'VE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE INSURANCE, WE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THEM ON, ON WHAT'S MISSING. WE PROVIDE THEM THE, UM, RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UH, THROUGH CITY RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, THROUGH ALL THE CITY SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT COMPLETE. BUT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE INSURANCE. IF THEY ARE A FOOD VENDOR THOUGH, AND THEY SUBMIT AND THEY HAVEN'T SUPPLIED THE INSURANCE, THEY [02:40:01] CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE, UH, HEALTH PERMITTING PROCESS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THAT PROCESS WHILE THEY'RE WORKING TO GET THEIR INSURANCE. OKAY. UM, WHAT WAS I GONNA ASK THERE? I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. UM, FOR THE INTERACTIVE MAP, UM, ARE WE, AS COUNCIL OFFICES, CAN WE REVIEW THAT MAP? BECAUSE I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MAP AROUND PLACES THAT, UM, STREET FOOD LIKE VENDORS, UM, CAN OPERATE, UM, THAT WE ARE, WE'RE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE LIKE AREAS AREN'T MISSED OR THERE'S AREAS THAT AREN'T APPROPRIATE THAT AREN'T IN IT. SO I'D LIKE US TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, UH, AHEAD OF IT GOING LIVE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. UH, WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THE DATA IS ACCURATE. SO, UM, ANYTHING THAT HELPS, UH, MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION WE PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC IS ACCURATE AND INFORMATIVE, UM, THAT WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED. UM, FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, UH, I KNOW WE RECEIVED HEALTH 10 HEALTH PERMIT APPLICATIONS, BUT WE HAVEN'T ISSUED ANY, IS THIS RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE ISSUE AROUND THE POP-UP RESTAURANTS VERSUS THE COMPACT MOBILE FOOD CARTS? IS IT, THE ISSUE IS THAT THESE AREN'T, BECAUSE I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT THE MAJORITY, I I DIDN'T SAY MAJORITY. I'D SAY ALL OF THE ACTUAL STREET FOOD VENDORS, NONE OF THEM ACTUALLY HAVE CARTS, RIGHT? THEY ALL HAVE THESE KIND OF POP-UP RESTAURANTS, SO THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH PERMITS. IS THAT THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO? YES, THOSE, WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING CURRENTLY SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE LARGER FOOD OPERATIONS, WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE CMFO REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. WE DO, WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE PERMITTED FRUIT CARTS PRIOR TO SB 9 46, SB 9 72. WE HAVE FRUIT CART VENDORS THAT WERE PERMITTED THROUGH THE HEALTH REGULAR PERMITTING PROCESS. WE HAVE ABOUT 24 OF THEM THAT ARE OPERATING IN THIS CITY. SO IT IS DOABLE. IT IS JUST, IT DOES JUST TAKE TIME AND, YOU KNOW, PLEASE WORK WITH US SO THAT WE CAN HELP YOU GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. GOTCHA. UM, AND THEN FOR, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY FRAMEWORK COMPONENTS, I KNOW ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN MY DISTRICT, SO ONE OF THE, THE HOTSPOTS WE'VE HAD IS IN FRONT OF, ON SOUTH STREET IN FRONT OF OUR, UM, IN FRONT OF OUR WALERS, YOU KNOW, AND SO I'D ARGUE THAT THOSE VENDORS BASICALLY FALL UNDER THAT NUMBER TWO OR THAT KIND OF GRAY AREA. AND THE CHALLENGE WE'VE HAD, UM, IS THAT MOST OF THE SIDEWALKS IN MY DISTRICT, IF NOT ALL, NONE OF THEM ARE MORE THAN FOUR OR FIVE FEET WIDE, RIGHT? SO WE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE SIDEWALK SPACE MOST OF THE TIME FOR VENDORS TO SET UP. AND SO WE, WE END UP AS HAVING THIS DANCE OF LIKE, EITHER THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, UM, RIGHT, OR, AND YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS MYSELF WILL HAVE TO CALL AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL CALL AND SAY LIKE, HEY, SOMEBODY'S TRESPASSING, THEN THEY'LL MOVE. BUT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE SIDEWALK, THEY THEN END UP BLOCKING THE ENTIRE SIDEWALK OR SOMETIMES ACTUALLY LIKE VENDING INTO THE STREET, WHICH IS REALLY DANGEROUS. AND I'LL SEE CARS PULLING UP AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO, I KNOW FOR ME, IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE, AND I'M SURE IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR PD, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'LL CALL PD AND THEN WE DO THIS LIKE DANCE OF THE, THE VENDOR LIKE MOVING BACK AND FORTH AND NOTHING EVER GETS SOLVED AND EVERYONE INTO GETTING FRUSTRATED. SO I KNOW IT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, LIKE THESE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE IDEA OF LIKE EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT, LIKE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF, UM, MEANINGFUL SOLUTION. SO THAT'S ALL. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU GRACE AND TEAM FOR THE EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION. IT GAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION. NOW WE'RE COMING UP ON TWO YEARS SINCE THE MOST RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, LARGELY LEGALIZING SIDEWALK VENDING BUSINESSES. AND FOR THE FIRST YEAR, VENDING BUSINESSES ONLY HAD TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE AND A HEALTH PERMIT. LAST JANUARY, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED OUR SIDEWALK VENDING ORDINANCE AND SAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING A SIDEWALK VENDING EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, BUILDING OUT PROGRAMS TO HELP THESE BUSINESSES BE COMPLIANT. AND FROM THIS PRESENTATION, I UNDERSTAND WE ARE DOING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF OUTREACH. I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE SEEING. AND I SHARE THESE CONCERNS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. SO WE HAVE 17 APPROVED BUSINESS LICENSES AND TWO FOOD VENDORS APPROVED. I COULD DRIVE AROUND THE CITY AND SEE MORE THAN 17 SIDEWALK VENDING BUSINESSES AND MORE THAN TWO FOOD SERVING BUSINESSES, UH, SIDEWALK VENDING. SO I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIDEWALK VENDING BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. PEOPLE ARE ENTREPRENEURS, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, FOLLOW THE RULES, AND RUN A GOOD BUSINESS. AND I KNOW THE CHALLENGES SMALL BUSINESSES FACE TO GET THROUGH A NEW PROGRAM WHERE IT'S BEING SHAPED AS WE GO. AND WE SEE THAT IN THE PARKLET PROGRAM. AND, UM, WE SEE THAT RIGHT NOW. BUT AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER FOR 25 PLUS YEARS, I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE OF NOT UNDERSTANDING GOVERNMENT [02:45:01] PROCESS AND BUREAUCRACY. AND EVERY CITY THAT I'VE DONE BUSINESS IN HAS REQUIRED ME TO FOLLOW CERTAIN RULES. THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST. I JUST THINK I'M HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT THE PROCESS. SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA. UM, THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUSINESS MAKING BUSINESSES, MAKING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM AND OUR LACK OF ENFORCEMENT RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH. UM, WE HEARD A LOT OF DEFINITIONS THROUGH THIS, UH, PRESENTATION, SO WE CAN BE CLEARER IN OUR LANGUAGE. NOW. I HEAR SOME CONCERNS FROM MY COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT, UM, I'M SORRY, I ONLY HEAR A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CM FOS, THE COM COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATIONS, BUT THEY'RE MINOR, MINOR COMPLAINTS. SOMEONE IS STANDING IN FRONT OF A HOUSE, RINGING A BELL FOR HOURS. I THINK OUR PROCESS CAN BUILD A CASE AND WORK WITH THESE, UM, TYPES OF VENDING BUSINESSES. THE MAJOR COMPLAINTS I GET, AND I HEARD SOME OF IT STATED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS ODIE IS THE POP-UP RESIDENCE, UH, RESTAURANTS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE ARE GROUPING IN A SIDEWALK. UM, THE POP-UP RESTAURANTS ARE STORING AND COOKING RAW MEAT, MANY OF WHICH HAVE THE OPEN FLAME UNDER A TENT. THEY HAVE MORE THAN TWO, USUALLY FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THESE TYPES OF POP-UP RESTAURANTS ARE COMPLETELY IGNORING OUR HEALTH CODES, OUR BUSINESS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGE IN STATE LAW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH. UM, OUR GOAL IS HEALTH AND SAFETY. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. ABOVE ALL ELSE, CAN YOU, UM, FIRST CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN A-C-M-F-O AND A POP-UP RESTAURANT? SO SB 9 72 AND THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH SAFETY CODE DEFINES, UM, COMPACT MO MOBILE FOOD OPERATIONS, AGAIN, AS LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION. AND SO THAT MEANS THAT IT'S LIMITED. YOU CAN ONLY DEAL WITH, UM, WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, SLICING NON POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS SUCH AS FRUITS, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN BE A FRUIT CART AND BECOME A-C-M-F-O. YOU CAN SELL PRE-COOK HOT DOGS, TAMALES, BURRITOS, CASILLAS. UM, IT'S, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THERE ARE FRUSTRATIONS BECAUSE A HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE IS VERY COMPLEX DEPENDING ON THE REQUIREMENTS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU SELL, HOW YOU SELL IT, HOW YOU BREAK APART THAT FOOD OR HOW YOU PREPARE THAT MENU, IT IS GOING TO ENTAIL A DIFFERENT TYPE OF REQUIREMENTS. BUT A POP-UP RESTAURANT WITH LARGER OPERATIONS, AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH, WITH, UM, RAW MEATS, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN THERE. CDC INFORMS US THAT THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING, UM, FACTORS, RISK FACTORS TO FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, THAT'S IMPROPER HYGIENE OR FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES FROM AN EMPLOYEE OR AN OPERATOR. IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF, UM, COOKING THE, OF THE FOOD, UM, IMPROPER STORAGE, UNSAFE FOOD SOURCES, AND SAN UH, CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT. BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE THINGS, A POPUP RESTAURANT WILL NE NOT, IS CURRENTLY NOT ALLOWED IN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. A COMPACT MOBILE FOOD OPERATION, AGAIN, WITH LIMITED FOOD PREPARATION, YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH RAW MEAT. YOU'RE DEALING WITH, WITH, UM, NON POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS, WHICH LOWERS YOUR RISK FOR FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. OKAY, THIS LAST QUESTION. WHEN A POP-UP RESTAURANT IS STORING AND COOKING RAW MEAT TO SELL IN PUBLIC, CAN YOU GO INTO WHAT A TYPICAL RESPONSE WOULD BE, UM, FROM THE CITY? AND IF HEALTH INSPECTORS TODAY FIND SOMEONE SERVING FOOD IN VIOLATION OF THE HEALTH CODE, WHAT DO WE DO? ARE WE, ARE WE CONFISCATING THE MEAT? CAN YOU GO THROUGH THAT TODAY? FOR TODAY, YES, WE DO. UNDER HEALTH, HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCARD FOOD AND IMPOUND EQUIPMENT. WE DO HAVE THIS, THIS SAFETY, UM, [02:50:01] PRACTICES THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. AND CURRENTLY WE ARE IN MEET AND CONFER THE ELEVATED ENFORCEMENT ACTION THAT GRACE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, THE COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM. THAT'S AN OPERATION THAT WE USE WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO, TO DEPLOY THE COMPLAINT RESPONSE TEAM, UM, OPERATIONS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, NO ONE HEALTH INSPECTOR WILL BE ABLE TO DISCARD THAT FOOD OR IMPOUND THAT EQUIPMENT ALONE. WE NEED THE SUPPORT FROM THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS LIKE PD, PUBLIC WORKS AND BUSINESS LICENSING TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE AND TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE AS WELL. SO, AND ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, THE THING THAT MAKES THIS CONFUSING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR COLLOQUIAL TERMINOLOGY, POP-UP RESTAURANTS AND THE STATE DEFINED CMFO, THAT'S ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SIDE, BUT SB 9 72, THE LAW THAT THE SAFE SIDEWALK VENDING ACT, THAT DECRIMINALIZED SIDEWALK VENDING, THAT DEFINITION OF A SIDEWALK, VENDING OVERARCHES, ALL OF IT. SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT TRICKY IS THAT ACCORDING TO SB 9 72, WHETHER YOU'RE A POP-UP RESTAURANT, THE WAY THAT WE'RE DEFINING IT OR A-C-M-F-O, YOU ARE PROTECTED FROM CRIMINALIZATION AS A BROAD DEFINITION OF A SIDEWALK VENDOR IF YOU'RE SELLING FOOD OR MERCHANDISE ON A SIDEWALK OR PEDESTRIAN PATH. SO THAT'S BEEN A LIMITATION IN THE ENFORCEMENT. BUT AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR FRAMEWORK, BUILDING UP A CASE THAT COULD BE USED IN POTENTIAL CIVIL LAWSUIT. WE NEED THAT DATA, WE NEED THAT EVIDENCE TO MAKE A CASE IN COURT AND POTENTIALLY ARE PURSUING OTHER PATHS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, UH, THESE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THE VENDORS THAT HAVE NO DESIRE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE, THAT PARTICULAR POPULATION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER. SUPER. UH, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTACTED OUR OFFICE, UM, ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT, AND FOR THE TWO SPEAKERS WHO SAID IT WAS YOUR FIRST TIME, YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB, YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD . UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, STAFF FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION. AND I HAVE, UM, FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THE, THE, THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE, ACTUALLY MY OWN SLIDES. SO I CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. THIS IS A RECEIVE AND FILE ITEM, BUT I CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND MAYBE HAVE INFORMATION COME BACK TO ME. DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT TONIGHT, BUT WE'D LIKE SOMETHING BEFORE DECEMBER OR WHENEVER YOUR, YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS, UH, THE FIRST ONE. AND, AND TO, TO THE TECHNICIANS BACK THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PULL UP THESE PAGES WHEN I, WHEN I NUMBER, I'M JUST DOING IT FOR STAFF REFERENCE. SO PAGE 34, UH, YOU SAID THAT PROSECUTORS ARE LIMITED IN ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE A PROSECUTOR IN THE FRONT ROW RIGHT HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU MR. FUDGE FOR BEING HERE. UM, IS THAT PER STATE LAW THAT PROSECUTORS CANNOT BE INVOLVED? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. SO BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAID SB AND I THINK TARA SAID I SAID IT WRONG, SB 9 46, WHICH DECRIMINALIZED SIDEWALK VENDING FOR ANYONE, THEN THAT DEFINITION IS SO BROAD. ANYONE WHO IS SELLING FOOD OR MERCHANDISE ON A SIDEWALK OR PEDESTRIAN PATH CAN NOT BE CRIMINALIZED. THE TYPICAL TOOL THAT THE CITY HAD IN THE PAST OF REFERRING CASES TO THE PROSECUTOR FOR CRIMINAL ACTION IS NOT AN OPTION IF IT IS TRULY DEFINED AS A SIDEWALK VENDOR AND THEY'RE NOT BREAKING ANY OTHER LAW. OKAY. UM, YEAH. UNDERSTOOD. I GUESS MR. FUDGE, THANK REALLY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 'CAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HERE, EV EVIDENTLY. OKAY. UM, NUMBER TWO IS PAGE 37. UM, THE CRT TEAM, I'M SORRY, CRTT IS THE TEAM, RIGHT? UM, WOULD THEY WORK OVERTIME OR, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE HOW THE OPERATION'S GONNA WORK, BUT THE EXPECTATION IS THEY WOULD WORK OVERTIME HOURS. CORRECT. OKAY. UM, PAGE 43, UM, CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS. YOU HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED WAS IS 53, CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT I REMEMBER? OKAY. OKAY. OF THOSE 53 ORDERS ISSUED, HOW MANY HAVE CEASED AND DEED, THAT'S A DIFFICULT AN, UH, QUESTION TO ANSWER. OKAY. WE CAN MOVE ON THE NEXT ONE THEN. , I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND MY POINT THAT, THAT WE WOULD WANNA KNOW IF THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL AND WORKING. UM, OKAY. PAGE, UM, 45, UM, STAFF CAPACITY AND HOURS. I THINK THAT THOSE CHARTS WERE VERY REVEALING. I ASKED THAT QUESTION DURING THE BUDGET, UH, UH, ITEM FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT [02:55:01] AND I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER, BUT THAT IS VERY DEFINITIVE THAT WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THERE. WE HAVE SOME POSITIONS TO FILL, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO DURING THE BUDGET. WE'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB. UM, AND THEN, UH, WELL, I CAN FA BROUGHT THIS UP, BUT IN A DIFFERENT TERMINOLOGY. SO THE TOPIC OF LABOR TRAFFICKING, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HEARD IT, SO WE'D PROBABLY WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, UH, SUNNE. UM, OKAY. IF WE CAN GO TO MY SLIDES, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SHIFT OVER TO OUR MUNI CODE BECAUSE MY INTEREST IN GIVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE TOOLS THEY NEED. SO IF A RESIDENT CALLS A DISPATCHER AND SAYS THIS, THIS VENDOR IS PLAYING MUSIC TOO LOUD AND IT'S GOING RIGHT INTO MY BEDROOM WINDOW, UM, I BELIEVE THAT EXISTS IN, IN THE CODE, BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING OUR DISPATCHERS, UM, EDUCATED ON THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN TAKE THAT CALL AND THEN DISPATCH IT TO A POLICE OFFICER AND THEN, UM, THE PATROL UNIT KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GUESS. OR IF THIS GUY CAN'T BE WITHIN 50 FEET OF A FREEWAY ON RAMP, DO WE HAVE A PROCEDURE IN PLACE WHERE DISPATCHERS AND POLICE ARE GONNA BE TRAINED ON, ON THE THE NEW RULES? HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, WE DO. AND SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THIS IS REALLY, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE THE STREET VENDOR IN ISSUE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DISTURBING THE PEACE ISSUE. AND SO IF AN OFFICER WAS TO BE DISPATCHED FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE CALL, THEY WOULD RESPOND, IT WOULD BE PRIORITIZED WITH ALL THE OTHER CALLS THAT WE HAVE WAITING. UM, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A NOISE COMPLAINT SPECIFICALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE, THE CALLING PARTY WOULD NEED TO BE A WILLING VICTIM OF THAT BECAUSE A POLICE OFFICER CANNOT HAVE HIS OR HER PEACE DISTURBED. OKAY, THANK, THAT'S A GREAT EXPLANATION AND I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE GET CALLS FROM OUR OFFICE ABOUT SPECIFICS ON THIS AND WE JUST WANNA ADVISE PEOPLE, UM, THE RIGHT WAY. UH, I HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS HERE. UM, ONE OF THE POINTS, UM, WAS THAT, UH, THE SIDEWALK FENDER CANNOT BE WITHIN 18 INCHES OF, OF THE CURB. SO I HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK. OKAY. SO, UM, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR SPOT IS SHUT DOWN, SO I'M NOT EXPOSING SOMEONE FOR VIOLATIONS. SO, UM, SO YOU SEE WHERE THE POLES FOR THE CANOPY ARE, ARE WITHIN THAT 18 INCH, UH, LOCATION. UM, NOW DO THE POLES, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO BE WITHIN THAT 18 INCH SPACE AND WHATNOT? AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TONIGHT, WE JUST WOULD NEED THAT EVENTUALLY BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ON THAT, HEY, HIS, THE POLE EITHER WENT INTO THE GUTTER OR IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE CURB. UM, AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER THING IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OKAY, THAT'S THE SAME CANOPY, IF YOU CAN TELL BY THAT SHOT THAT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CANOPY, THE POLES ARE GOING ONTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY PARKING LOT, ACTUALLY WITHIN THE STOP MARK. SO THOSE, THOSE CARS IN THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY, UM, I HAVE, I'M ASSUMING THAT IS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE PART OF THE CANOPY GO INTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT THESE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WE'VE GOTTEN AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO ADVISE, UH, COMPLAINING PARTIES IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. UM, A AGAIN, UH, THIS IS WITHIN 50 FEET OF A FREEWAY ON RAMP. IF YOU KNOW THAT SECTION OF STERN STREET, ALL OF STERN STREET IS BASICALLY A FREEWAY ON RAMP RIGHT THERE. SO THAT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOT YOU CAN IMAGINE. AND WHEN YOU BLOCK THE SIDEWALK, PEDESTRIANS WILL WALK OUT IN THE STREET TO GET BY. AND THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. YOU DON'T WANNA BE THAT ANYWHERE, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT SPOT. UM, SO I I, I GUESS I, I'M WONDERING, CAN WE HAVE A ROBUST SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WOULD GO OUT BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL JUST BASED ON, ON THE, UM, BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE SPACING THERE. UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OH, THAT, THAT'S JUST KIND OF AN OPEN DOOR WHEN PEOPLE PARK AND THEY GET OUT AND THEY'RE VISITING A, A FOOD VENDOR IF THEY TAKE THE FOOD TO GO, WE ARE JUST ILLUSTRATING THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD POSITION TO BE IN. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY, SO WE'RE BACK TO THE CODE HERE. AND, UM, I THINK, UH, I THINK WE CAN LEAVE THIS IN THE INTERESTING TIME, UH, OF TIME, BUT WE HAVE THERE, THE CITY, UH, TRAFFIC ENGINEER IS GOING TO DETERMINE, UM, WHAT STREETS ARE SAFE AND NOT. UM, HAS THAT PROCESS BEGUN? I REALIZE THAT'S A PUBLIC WORKS QUESTION, BUT DO YOU KNOW IF THE PROCESS HAS BEGUN OR WHEN WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THAT? ANYBODY HAVE AN IDEA? OKAY. BELIEVE YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ON THAT ONE. OKAY. SOUNDS OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. UM, THIS WAS IN PARTICULAR THE, THE NOISE, UH, ISSUE THAT I JUST, UH, DISCUSSED. SO, UM, IT'S ALL IN THERE. UH, BUT I, AS A CHIEF, UH, STATED, I, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT THIS'S GONNA BE A MORE GENERIC DISTURBING THE, UH, UH, PIECE CALL. SO THAT'S A LEGI LEGITIMATE CALL TO [03:00:01] DISPATCH AND THAT, UH, AND A UNIT CAN BE DISPATCHED. OKAY, LAST SLIDE. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS A REPORTING PIECE. SO YOU HAVE 2019, THIS IS A DRIVEWAY OFF OF, UM, UH, WARDLOW, IF YOU KNOW THAT, UH, INTERSECTION AT AT NORWALK. UM, AND WE HAVE A FOOD VENDOR THERE WHO IS, UH, SPILLING, UH, FOG, IT'S FEDS OILS AND GREASE ONTO THE SIDEWALK, HOSING IT DOWN EVERY NIGHT. SO YOU SEE 2019 BEFORE THERE WAS A SIDEWALK VENDOR AND 2023, UM, I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE. I THINK THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A HAZMAT SITUATION AND OCEAN BLUE MIGHT'VE BEEN OUT THERE BECAUSE THE CONCERN WAS FOR THE, THIS NOT GOING INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM OR, OR THE DRAIN SYSTEM. UM, IS THAT, WHERE, WHERE IS THAT CALL MADE, I GUESS IS THE QUESTION? 'CAUSE RESIDENTS WANNA KNOW WHERE DO WE, HOW DO WE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS? I KNOW AFTER HOURS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE, UH, DISPATCH, BUT DO YOU HAVE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR HOW THAT WOULD BE DONE? YEAH, IT WOULD BE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UM, WE DO OVERSEE THE FATS, OIL AND GREASE PROGRAMS FOR FOOD FACILITIES. WE WORK WITH THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND ADMINISTERING THAT PROGRAM. SO A COMBINATION OF, UM, BOTH DEPARTMENTS RESPONDING TO THIS COMPLAINT WOULD PROBABLY BE NEEDED. OKAY. AND DID, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER SIGN COUNCIL MEMBER? UM, GO AHEAD. REGARDING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EASY UPS BEING IN THE STREET, CLOSE TO THE STREET ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEIR SETUP INCLUDES THEIR EASY UP THE LEGS OF THE EASY UP. SO IF THEIR OPERATIONS ARE BLOCKING ANYTHING WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO WALK UNDER THE EASY UP OR THE EASY UP IS ACTUALLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEN THAT'S NOT PERMITTED. OKAY. AND, AND THE, AND THE, UH, DISTANCE THERE IS 18 INCHES AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I, I THINK A DA LAW WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAT. SO IT DEPENDS UPON WHETHER THEY'RE SETTING UP FROM THE CURB AND THEN ALLOWING A DA SPACE ON THE OTHER SIDE. OKAY. SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO USE A SIDEWALK AS A SIDEWALK. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE ABILITY FOR, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THE SIDEWALK, BUT SOME OF THE SIDEWALKS ALLOW YOU TO BE ON EITHER SIDE OF THEM. OKAY. SO JUST DEPENDS. I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THE SIZE. DO WE HAVE ANYMORE? I THINK, I THINK WE DID FINE. UM, THANK YOU TO THE POLICE CHIEF FOR STEPPING IN HERE. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE ON, ON THE TIME. SURE THING. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ALSO WANNA RELAY MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO REALLY DISSECT, UM, THE VARIOUS INFORMATION TO GET IT INTO A VISUAL FORMAT. I, I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING ME. I REALLY REQUESTED VISUAL EXPLANATION, AND THIS IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ITEM WITH MORE VISUALS AS WELL, AND THAT THEY'RE TRANSLATED IN OTHER LANGUAGES. UM, YOU KNOW, I I THINK THAT IT WAS A STEP FORWARD HAVING SB 9 72 TO GUIDE US IN HOW DO WE CREATE OUR ORDINANCE. AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE BEGINNING PROCESS OF GATHERING DATA AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE VERY ANXIOUS FOR RESULTS AND FOR ACTION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANNA SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE DOING SIDEWALK VENDING BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING, RIGHT? THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING. AND, AND, AND WE KNOW THAT ALSO PEOPLE NEED TO BE SAFE, THAT WE DO NEED, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS IN PLACE SO THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE SAFE. SO, YOU KNOW, I DO TRUST THAT IT IS, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A PROCESS AS THAT'S GONNA BE EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD FOR MANY OF THE VENDORS TO FOLLOW THROUGH THEIR INSTRUCTION. SO ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE DO, I, I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE BUSINESS NAVIGATOR, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE ADVICE. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CASES? AND WHERE I DO SEE MANY THAT MAY JUST THROW THEIR HAND UP THE AIR AND SAY, LOOK, I'M NOT GONNA DO IT ANYMORE WITH ALL OF THESE RESTRICTION. AND THIS IS WHERE I'M SEEING IT AS A ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUE IS LIKE, WHERE, WHAT ALTERNATIVES CAN WE GIVE PEOPLE, RIGHT? I THINK WE DO HAVE PACIFIC GATEWAY, WE DO HAVE OTHER SOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE. UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ITEM THAT COUNCILWOMAN RICKS ODI AND I BROUGHT FORWARD. WHAT CAN WE CONSIDER OTHER VENDING ZONES OR, YOU KNOW, MICRO BUSINESS PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. BUT I JUST DO WANNA, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT HOW ARE WE GONNA IMPLEMENT AND FOLLOW THESE RULES AND ENFORCEMENT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ALSO SEE PEOPLE, UM, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT WHO AND MANY WHO WON'T AS WELL. SO MY ASK IS STILL BRINGING IN MORE OF THIS ECONOMIC, UM, OPPORTUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT FOCUS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS AND DELIVERING ON THAT. UM, SO THAT'S [03:05:01] REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SHARE AND, AND YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE TAKING IT SLOWLY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE ANOTHER REPORT BACK AND REALLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH YOU'VE DONE FOR AT THIS POINT OF US PASSING THE ORDINANCE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR, YES. UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR STANDING UP THIS OUT OF KIND OF NOTHING, UM, AND BRINGING IT TOGETHER. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, A VIBRANT DISCUSSION. I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, SO I DON'T WANNA TALK TOO LONG. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR STEALING MY QUESTION. UM, WHICH WAS ABOUT THE MICRO ENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS. I DID NOTE WITH MY HIGHLIGHTER THAT JUNE OF 2024 YOU GOT THE 88,000. AND SO THE TIMELINE QUESTION IS HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR. I THINK THAT'S REALLY, UM, A KEY PIVOT FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH SOME FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP AND I APPRECIATE ALL 54 SLIDES AND I MAY HAVE PULLED SOME THINGS TOGETHER OR MISS SOMETHING, SO APOLOGIES IF YOU ANSWERED THIS AND I DIDN'T HEAR IT. UM, I HEARD ONE OF OUR LONG STANDING VENDORS AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD 24, 28, YOU KNOW, LICENSED FRUIT VENDORS IN THE CITY. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY VENDING IN THE CITY WITH OUR PERMITS WOULD FIND THIS PROCESS EASIER. UM, AND WONDERING HOW MANY FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN LICENSED IN THE PAST ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND WHAT MIGHT BE SOME RUBS IN OUR SYSTEM. UM, BECAUSE THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND SUPPORTED. UM, AND HAVE WE NOTICED WHAT THEY ARE? AND IF WE HAVEN'T, MAYBE LOOKING AT THE DATA OF WHERE THE RUBS MIGHT BE. I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT IF THEY CHANGE THEIR FOOD OPERATION, IF THEY CHANGE THEIR MENU, THEN IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A, A DIFFERENT PARAMETERS FOR THAT, UH, UNDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. AND SO IF YOU WERE APPROVED IN THE PAST AND YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY NEW PROCESS FOR YOU. IT WOULD JUST BE A RENEWAL. YOU WOULD GO THROUGH AN INSPECTION ONE OR TWO TIMES A YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW RISK YOUR BUSINESS OPERATION IS. AND SO WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY OF THEM COMING TO US WITH STRUGGLES RIGHT NOW UNLESS THEY'RE GONNA PLAN A NEW CART BUSINESS WITH A NEW MENU, NEW BUSINESS OPERATION, NEW BUSINESS PLAN, THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND GO THROUGH A PLAN CHECK PROCESS AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SAFETY FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE ARE MET. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. UH, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I HEARD, UM, IS THAT CARTS ARE NOT REQUIRED. AND ARE WE SOMEHOW PUSHING A REQUIREMENT ON FOLKS THAT ISN'T PART OF THE INTENTION OF THE STATE LAW? UM, BECAUSE IF WE ONLY HAVE THESE PARTICULAR FOUR AND SOMEONE DOESN'T PICK THAT, CAN THEY HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT THAT IS STILL APPROVED? YES, I CAN TAKE THIS QUESTION. UM, YES. SO THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AND PROBABLY STILL IS SOME CONFUSION AS WE WERE TALKING TO THE VENDOR COMMUNITY ABOUT BEING LIMITED TO THE FOUR CARTS IN THE FREE CART PROGRAM. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IT WILL BE HARDER FOR VENDORS TO, IT WILL BE EASIER FOR VENDORS TO GET A FREE CART THAT'S ALREADY PRE-APPROVED. THAT WAS THE WHOLE INTENTION OF THE FREE CART PROGRAM, IS TO TRY TO EASE THE, UM, BURDEN OF GETTING COMPLIANCE WITH CARTS. HOWEVER, THAT BEING SAID, WE WERE LIMITED TO THE CART PROGRAM TO ACTUAL MANUFACTURERS THAT HAD PRE-APPROVED CARTS THAT WERE ALREADY, UM, UH, APPROVED BY STATE STANDARDS. AND SO THOSE WERE THE CARTS WE WERE LIMITED TO FOR THE FREE CART PROGRAM. HOWEVER, VENDORS CAN APPLY FOR ANY BUSINESS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS AS NORMAL PRIOR TO THE FREE CART PROGRAM BEING AVAILABLE AND THEY COULD WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SETUP THAT THEY WANNA DO THAT IS APPROVED BY THE STATE, WHETHER IT'S A CART OR A PUSH CART OR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF, UM, MOBILE VEHICLE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW AND IF IT MEETS THE STATE REQUIREMENTS, THEY CAN GET PERMITTED THAT WAY. OKAY. AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER SIX MONTH UPDATE. SO IF SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WE FIND THAT VENDORS ARE STILL NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CARTS AND THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME, BUT WE MIGHT ASSUME THAT ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT THE FOUR THAT WE'VE CHOSEN ARE NOT VARIED ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR VENDORS. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY IF MONEY STILL EXISTS, UM, WITHIN THAT PROGRAM TO SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, SEE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL CARTS THAT MIGHT QUALIFY UNDER THAT SO THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FOUR, BUT WE MIGHT FIND THREE ADDITIONAL DIFFERENT CARTS IF WE STILL HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE? YES, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. UH, THE LANDSCAPE IS ALWAYS EVOLVING, SO WE DID DO AN RFI [03:10:01] TO SEE WHAT INTERESTS THERE WERE OR WHAT AVAILABILITY THERE WAS IN THE MANUFACTURING, UH, COMMUNITY. BUT PEOPLE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, GETTING NEW PERMITS PROCESSED AND EVEN IF THERE ARE CARTS THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY OR OTHER ENTITIES, WE CAN ACCEPT THAT AS WELL SINCE THIS IS A STATE REGULATION. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO. AND, AND I'LL ADD JUST FOR CLARITY THAT THIS IS FUNDING THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO USE ON FOOD CARTS. SO WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO TAKE THIS MONEY IF IT'S NOT USED AND PUT IT BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND. UH, WE WOULD, UH, HOLD THAT MONEY, UM, AND THEN BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THE NEW PLAN WOULD BE IF THERE WERE, IF THE 40 CARTS ARE NOT, UH, ARE NOT PROCURED. OKAY. SO IF I'M HEARING THAT CORRECTLY, SO IF OUTSIDE OF OUR FOUR CARTS, IF SAY IN LA AND I KNOW MY TIME SO I WILL CUE, UM, SO SAY IN ANOTHER CITY, SINCE IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT, THERE IS A CART THAT SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN, CAN THEY COME TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SAY INSTEAD OF THOSE FOUR, CAN WE APPLY AND USE THIS ONE? HAVE WE, HAVE WE TALKED THAT THROUGH OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF SOMEONE FINDS THE THING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE IF WE'RE NOT, UM, ABLE TO MOVE THE CARTS? YEAH. UM, WE DO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH JURISDICTION. SO IF WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAVE APPROVED A CARD, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOOK AS WELL. AND IF, IF THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THAT PLAN CHECK PROCESS, THEN IT'S, THERE'S A HIGHER POSSIBILITY THAT IT WILL BE APPROVED HERE IN LONG BEACH. OKAY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GIVING TO VENDORS AND TALKING ABOUT THAT. IF THESE FOUR DON'T MEET YOUR NEEDS, BUT YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS ONE THAT IS APPROVED ELSEWHERE, LET'S HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT THERE. OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST ONE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TONIGHT, BUT I JUST WANNA THROW OUT THE IDEA. UM, WE TALKED ABOUT INSURANCE, UM, IS REQUIRED AND DID WE SAY THAT IT'S REQUIRED FOR ALL OR DID WE SAY THAT IT'S REQUIRED FOR FOOD? BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMEONE IS VENDING TOYS OR BLANKETS OR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T, UM, UH, AS HIGH OF A RISK FOR INSURANCE AS FOOD POTENTIALLY CAN BE, ESPECIALLY FOOD THAT IS COOKED SOMEWHERE ELSE. UM, AND IF WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THAT, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO ADJUST THAT LIMIT TO POSSIBLY A LOWER, MORE AFFORDABLE LIMIT FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE VENDING THINGS THAT HAVE MUCH LESS RISK THAN FOOD? AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT, THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I CAN ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF THAT QUESTION. UM, YES, INSURANCE APPLIES TO ALL OF THE VENDORS. UM, THERE IS INHERENT RISK IN, IN LOTS OF THINGS. UM, LOTS OF THINGS BEYOND FOOD, BUT LOTS OF THINGS, UM, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE TO PURCHASE SOMETHING AND IT WAS VERY FLAMMABLE AND THEN THERE WAS AN INJURY WITH THAT CHOKING HAZARDS, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. UM, SO WE DO HAVE THAT AND I'M SURE THAT WE CAN, UM, ASSESS THE INSURANCE PART AND, UH, LOOK AT WHAT THE POTENTIAL OPTIONS ARE. UM, ALTHOUGH WE DID ALIGN THE INSURANCE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE DO FOR, UM, MOST OF OUR CONTRACTING AND IN THE RESEARCH THAT WE DID PRIOR TO, UM, COMING UP WITH THAT INSURANCE REQUIREMENT AND THE AMOUNT, UM, IT COST THE SAME AMOUNT PRETTY MUCH FOR, YOU KNOW, AT THAT POINT OR ANYTHING LOWER. SO IT WASN'T AS IF WE, YOU KNOW, HAVED OUR INSURANCE REQUIREMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE COST TO THE VENDOR. UM, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WE CONTACTED AND DID A SURVEY OF THE INSURANCE COST WAS THE SAME. AND I WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL, 'CAUSE WE, WE DID DEBATE A LOT WHETHER WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO INSURANCE AND PART OF IT WAS, UM, NOT ONLY JUST THE, YOU KNOW, THE FOODBORNE ILLNESS, BUT IT WAS BEING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO IF SOMEBODY COMES BY ON A BICYCLE AND SOMEONE HAS SET UP AND ALL THEY'RE DOING IS SELLING TOYS, BUT THEY'VE SET UP IN A WAY THAT CAUSES THAT PERSON TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE A BRAIN, YOU KNOW, BRAIN DAMAGE, UM, THEN THAT INSURANCE WOULD COVER THAT CASE BECAUSE THEY WERE OPERATING IN THE, IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT BOTH PROTECTS THE VENDOR BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, THE VENDOR TO GO BANKRUPT OVER SOMEONE SUING BOTH THE CITY AND THE VENDOR AND OF COURSE THE CITY'S OWN LIABLE, UM, EXPOSURE ON THAT. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND UM, THANK YOU AND I, AGAIN, JUST EVERY SIX MONTHS I THINK WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE UPDATES, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LESSONS LEARNED AND MAYBE SOME ADJUSTMENTS DOWN THE ROAD. SO I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH THE SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANNA, UH, JUST, JUST OFFER THAT WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. THERE'S A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS HERE FOR KING PARK AND, UM, AND HAMILTON LOOP. SO I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE BRIEF IN THE SECOND ROUND. COUNCILWOMAN AND DEJAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, ENFORCEMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT, THIS ITEM MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAVY ON THE ENFORCEMENT AND LESS ON WHAT THE, UM, THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN. SO I JUST WANNA BRING US BACK AND REMIND US THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UM, REALLY INTENDED TO HELP OUR VENDORS BECOME LEGAL AND BE ABLE TO VENT IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, I WANNA [03:15:01] THANK, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW FOR REMINDING US, UM, THAT THESE ARE HARDWORKING FAMILIES THAT, UM, REALLY NEED THESE JOBS TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN THAT, UM, VIEW. UM, I ALSO WANT TO, UM, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A FORM FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A LIVING AND IT IS A, A WAY OF BEING ABLE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND PREVENT FAMILIES FROM BEING HOMELESS OR NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PAY RENT. AND I THINK THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IS THAT, UM, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN A LIAISON WITH CITY STAFF IN INVITING THE ALL OF THE STREET VENDORS TO COME AND MEET, UH, WITH ALL OF YOU AND ALSO, UM, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THIS PROCESS AND THAT WE CONTINUE LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF THE VENDORS AND THAT WE CONTINUE ANALYZING WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM BEING ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN GIVING OUR VENDORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE AND DO THAT LEGALLY. I THINK THAT THE SIX MONTH UPDATE WILL HELP US AND, UM, CONTINUING THE WORK ON THIS WILL ALSO HELP US. UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE VENDORS ARE NOT RESPONDING OR ARE, ARE NOT GETTING BACK TO US. I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A TRUST BUILDING STATE WITH OUR FOOD VENDORS AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T RESPOND, I ENCOURAGE OUR CITY STAFF, UM, TO KEEP AT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THE STREET VENDORS KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM AND HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE INTENT OUR, OUR CITY STAFF. SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE THAT. UM, ALSO, UM, MY OFFICE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TALKING ABOUT, UM, MICRO HOME KITCHENS FOR A, FOR A BIT NOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS ACTUALLY. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO BRING THAT FORWARD, UM, VERY SOON. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT GRANT AND SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD 'CAUSE THAT COULD BE THE ANSWER THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR, SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS, UM, OUR FOOD VENDORS AND THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THEIR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PROGRAM. SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. UM, ALSO I REALLY, UM, WOULD LIKE US TO ALSO, UH, I KNOW THAT, THAT IT WAS INTENTIONAL TO BE ABLE TO, UM, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND HELP, UH, AND CARTS TO THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CCBG UM, AREAS IN OUR, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO, UM, REALIZE THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS FROM THAT AREA THAT OUR, UM, OUR VENDORS ARE AS I'M LEARNING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY, THAT OUR VENDORS ARE VERY DIVERSE. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE, AGAIN, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN SAID ALREADY, BUT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, THE VISUAL MAPS THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED TO US WAS, UH, WAS REALLY GREAT BECAUSE WE COULD SEE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AFFECTING EVERYONE, UM, CITYWIDE. AND I THINK THAT THE VISUAL MAPS WERE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT AND IT ALSO INDICATES HOW DIVERSE OUR, UM, OUR VENDORS ARE. SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO, UM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE SAID TODAY. SO THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ALLEN. YEAH. UM, SO I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. UM, SO I, I THINK THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE, UM, JUST, JUST BE CAREFUL THAT WE'RE NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET LEGAL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, UH, CITING THEM. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HELPING THEM GET THERE AND, UM, AND OF COURSE, UM, THOSE THAT AREN'T, AREN'T GETTING, UH, THOSE THAT AREN'T, YOU KNOW, I, I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THOSE OUT THERE THAT AREN'T TRYING TO DO ANYTHING AND DON'T EVEN CARE. SO LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THOSE THAT ARE, ARE, UH, WORKING WITH US, LET'S, LET'S BE, UM, LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH THEM ALSO. AND ALSO SOME VENDORS INFORM ME THAT, UM, UH, FOR THOSE THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE OR A HELP PERMIT, [03:20:02] UM, WOULD THOSE BE HONORED UNDER THIS NEW PROGRAM OR DO THEY HAVE TO APPLY ALL OVER AGAIN IF SOMEONE PREVIOUSLY HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE OR HEALTH PERMIT? SO FROM THE BUSINESS LICENSE PERSPECTIVE, SIDEWALK VENDING LICENSES WEREN'T PREVIOUSLY, UM, PROVIDED. SO THEY WOULD'VE HAD A BUSINESS LICENSE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN FOR A DIFFERENT USE. AND THE WAY WE ISSUE BUSINESS LICENSES ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO THE USE OF IT. SO, UM, I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT BY A CASE BY CASE. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY SIMILAR OR THEY HAD A MOBILE BUSINESS OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS VERY CLOSE, UM, BUT CERTAINLY THEY COULD REACH OUT TO STAFF AND WE COULD ADDRESS THAT, UM, SPECIFICALLY. OKAY. SO IF ANYONE OUT THERE, UM, AS SOMEONE, UM, FROM, UH, DISTRICT WHO ASKED THAT QUESTION, SO, UH, REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND WE CAN, UH, WE CAN PUT YOU IN CONTACT. UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VENDORS AND, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION? YES, CERTAINLY. WE HAVE OUR EMAIL ADDRESSES, UM, THAT IS POSTED ONLINE AND WEBSITE. UM, PEOPLE CAN CONTACT ANY ONE OF US UP HERE AT THE DAAS. WE'RE ALSO, UM, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBERS Z SAID, WE ARE OPEN AND WILLING TO MEET WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS. AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD, UM, THOSE SESSIONS WHERE WE'RE HAVING THOSE IN-PERSON MEETINGS GOING THROUGH DOCUMENTS AND LINE BY LINE TO REALLY HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ALLOWED, WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED, WHAT DID THE STATE REQUIRE, WHAT ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO, AND WHAT ARE THINGS THAT WE, THAT ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL AND, AND HOW CAN WE BEST HELP IN THE AREAS THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE CONTROL OVER. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY OPEN AND WILLING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AWESOME. OKAY, WELL THAT'S MY QUESTIONS. I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT I THINK THE MICROHOMES KITCHEN, UH, IS GONNA BE A GAME CHANGER. UM, AND I KNOW, UM, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PROGRAM COMING BACK, BUT, UM, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. ALRIGHT. UM, I KNOW COUNCILMAN SUBINA TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT I WANNA TALK MORE ABOUT OUR CURRENT OUTREACH AND ENFORCEMENT AT NIGHT AND ON THE WEEKENDS. IN DISTRICT THREE VENDING BUSINESSES WORK THE PARKS AND THE BEACHES ON THE WEEKENDS, AND THERE ARE VENDING BUSINESSES, POPUPS, UH, OPERATING AFTER HOURS ON SECOND STREET, THE BAR CROWD. UM, WE DON'T SEE VENDING BUSINESSES AT THE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THAT ARE THE HOURS THAT, UM, THE TEAM IS GOING OUT. AND THIS IS MAJOR ISSUE. UM, LAST WEEKEND I DROVE DOWN TO SECOND STREET AT 2:30 AM BECAUSE I WANTED EYES ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS. AND AT TWO 30 IN THE MORNING, I SAW POP-UP RESTAURANTS. THE BARS THAT ARE OPEN LATE WERE CLOSED UP, THEY WERE DARK. UM, POP-UP RESTAURANTS WERE DRAWING CROWDS AND PEOPLE WERE EATING ON SECOND STREET. THEY ARE THRIVING DOWN ON SECOND STREET. UM, WE'RE PERMITTING BUSINESSES TO OPERATE AT HOURS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE STAFF SCHEDULED AND THEY JUST AREN'T FOLLOWING OUR RULES. I REALLY, I, I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT AND REALLY WORK ON THIS. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE BEING SERVED THE FOOD JUST TO KEEP, MAKE SURE THAT THE RULES ARE BEING FOLLOWED. AND I RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AFTER HOURS, UH, FROM THE START OF THIS DISCUSSION. SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS LINE. I REALLY FIND IT IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE DOING ENFORCEMENT AT TIMES WHEN, UM, WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION AND PROTECTING PEOPLE, THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. THAT IS OUR ENFORCEMENT JOB. YES. AND JUST ONE THING THAT I'LL SAY TO THAT IS AS WE ARE A COMPLAINT BASED MODEL, EVEN IF IT'S IN THOSE HOURS, THOSE AFTER HOURS WHERE, UM, ITS STAFF IS NOT, UM, SCHEDULED NECESSARILY IN, IN THE OVERTIME AND IT'S BASED ON OVERTIME, UM, GETTING THOSE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED IS VERY HELPFUL. SO WHENEVER WE DO GET THOSE COMPLAINTS THROUGH GOBI, WE DO APPRECIATE THAT EVEN IF IT FEELS LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE COMPLAINTS, IF THEY FEEL LIKE, LIKE WE SAID, IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE, ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTATIONS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT CASE. AND WHAT STAFF DOES IS THEY LOOK AT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN. IT COULD BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT ONE THING, BUT THAT REALLY DOES HELP BUILD A CASE THAT THERE IS THIS ACTIVITY HAPPENING. WHAT TIME IS THAT ACTIVITY HAPPENING? STAFF WILL GO BACK AND [03:25:01] LOOK AT THAT, AND PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY WILL BE FINDING STRATEGIC TIME, MAYBE ON AN OVERTIME BASIS WHEN CRTS UP. IT COULD BE IN THE EVENING HOURS, LATE EVENING HOURS AS WELL. AND EVEN THINGS LIKE TRYING TO GO WHEN IT'S SET UP VERSUS WHEN IT'S ALREADY UP. SO IT COULD BE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SO THOSE ARE ALL PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY FRAMEWORK. AND I WOULD SAY, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO CONTINUE TO LET STAFF KNOW AND HELP BE EYES AND EARS WHEN THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE EVENINGS AS WELL. THANKS FOR THAT, GRACE. I REMEMBER HEARING THAT PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT STARTS KIND OF WHILE THEY'RE SETTING UP, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR AND I MUST HAVE MISSED IT. WHEN ARE YOU EXPECTING CRT TO BE UP AND RUNNING? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES. WE HOPE OF OUR MEET AND CONFER. SO ONCE THAT IS WRAPPED UP, IF WRAPPED UP IN A POSITIVE WAY, THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TRAINING STAFF ON THOSE INTERDEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED. AND THEN IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF ALL OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL TEAM, UH, PRIORITIZING THOSE KEY CASES, THOSE KEY, UH, VENDORS THAT WE'VE BUILT UP A CASE ON, AND THEN COORDINATING AND SCHEDULING A TIME WHERE WE COULD GO OUT TOGETHER. AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO, UM, UH, REITERATE WHAT GRACE WAS SAYING ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU'RE HEARING COMPLAINTS TONIGHT. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU'RE GETTING THOSE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO BUSINESS LICENSE OR HEALTH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THEM. I THINK SOMETIMES THE COMPLAINTS ARE COMING TO YOUR OFFICES AND YOU MAY THINK THEY'RE ALSO COMPLAINING TO US, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT. SO SUPER IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THAT INFORMATION. SO THE MORE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT THE LOCATIONS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY OF YOU WENT AWAY, I I DO SEE MANY OF YOUR COMPLAINTS. THEY HAVE PICTURES AND THE PICTURES THAT WE SAW TONIGHT AND OTHER PICTURES, THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL ON THE IMPORT ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE. SO IF YOU COULD KEEP DOING THAT, WE'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. AND I SAW ALL THE WAYS TO, UM, YOU HAVE A WHOLE PAGE OF, OF HOW TO COMMUNICATE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK TONIGHT. ALRIGHT. THAT WAS A GOOD LENGTHY DISCUSSION. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT. UH, I THINK SOME PROGRESS WAS, WAS CERTAINLY MADE TONIGHT. UM, WE, WHAT I, YOU KNOW, ONE THEME THAT KEPT COMING UP THAT I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. THE TERM GOOD FAITH WAS USED A LOT TONIGHT. FOLKS WERE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH. WE WANT TO GET THEM, LIKE, ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO GET, SEE A PATH TO LEGAL OPERATION AND PERMITTING. AND THERE WERE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS, AXIOS KITCHEN, SOME OF THE OTHERS BROUGHT UP SOME REALLY GOOD SUGGESTIONS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PURSUE THOSE. BUT ALSO YOU DID HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT SOME, SOME CHALLENGES. UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THE, THE 2:00 AM THE BELMONT SHORE STUFF, UH, SOME OF THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN AFTER THE BARS CLOSE, UH, HAPPENED WHEN THERE'S CROWDS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH A STREET VENDOR OR, OR THE BAR, BUT PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREET FOR A REASON. EITHER THEY'RE COMING OUT OF A BAR OR THEY'RE GETTING SOMETHING TO EAT OR WHATEVER. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOME OF THOSE SAFETY CHALLENGES, UM, THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM JUST THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DEALING WITH. SO I THINK THAT'S, I THINK I'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF THAT. I THINK WE, WE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATA YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE, ARE CHECKING IN AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT SITUATION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COLLABORATION COORDINATION WITH, WITH PD ON THAT, BUT, UM, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT STREET VENDORS ARE OUT THERE COMMITTING VIOLENCE EITHER. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HAD A FEW DRINKS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE ON THE STREET, THINGS ARE HAPPENING. SO WE GOTTA WE GOTTA TIGHTEN THAT UP. UM, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT, WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS POLICY IS WITH THE BARS THAT ARE OPEN TILL 2:00 AM IN THAT AREA, I IS THERE AN IMPACT THAT'S BEING CREATED, UM, BY WHAT WE'RE DOING? UM, BUT SEPARATELY, KEEP WORKING. UH, WE ARE GONNA GET ANOTHER SIX MONTH UPDATE. I LIKE THE, UH, I LIKE THE IDEA, UH, I DIDN'T GET IT FROM YOU, I GOT IT FROM THEM. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WITH THE IN-HOUSE PERMITS, UM, UH, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION. UH, MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. OKAY. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA GET TO KING PARK. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENT. ITEM NUMBER 18, PLEASE REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE RECOMMENDATION. RECEIVE AND FILE THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARK VISION PLAN, [18. 24-55147 Recommendation to receive and file the Martin Luther King, Jr., Park Vision Plan. (District 6)       Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] DISTRICT SIX. ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GO TO THE STAFF REPORT, AND I KNOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO, UH, TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW [03:30:01] WHO'S TALKED FOCUSED ON THE DREAM FOR KING PARK FOR MANY YEARS. UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO JUST REMIND FOLKS THAT, THAT THE, THIS, THIS KING PARK AND THE NEXT ITEM ON HAMILTON LOOP, THEY'RE A PART OF A BIG EFFORT ACROSS OUR CITY. ELEVATE 28 TO GET OUR ENTIRE CITY, UH, AND, AND MAKE INVESTMENTS INTO OUR ENTIRE CITY, UH, AS WE HEAD INTO 2028. THESE AREN'T OLYMPIC VENUES, BUT SO WHAT, LET'S MAKE, LET'S INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR STREETS, OUR PARKS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO GET OUR COMMUNITY FEELING GOOD. KING PARK'S BEEN A BIG FOCUS FOR A LONG TIME, UH, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S CERTAINLY, UM, MORE, MORE WORK TO DO AND MORE FUNDING LOOK TO LOOK FOR. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION. SO THAT SAID, LET'S GO AHEAD AND KICK OFF, UH, THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. THANK YOU, UH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SO WE HAVE BRENT DENNIS, UH, AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. THIS WAS A GREAT EFFORT THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH. I THINK WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO PRESENT THE PARK VISION PLAN. AND AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, WHEN YOU CREATE THOSE PLANS AND YOU CREATE A SHARED COMMUNITY VISION, THAT REALLY PUTS US IN A GOOD POSITION TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUTURE AND GET LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL RESOURCES. SO, BRENT DENNIS, THANK YOU, TOM. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND, AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. SO, UM, I'M GONNA JUST SPEND A MOMENT, UM, TAKING YOU DOWN MEMORY LANE BECAUSE, UM, ALSO IN, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, WE HAVE A BIG PROJECT UNDERWAY AT MACARTHUR PARK THAT, UM, MLK PARK IS KIND OF ON ITS HEELS. SO OUR DEPARTMENT IS REALLY PROUD TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, AND HOLD WORKSHOPS AND INVITE THE NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE JUST THAT A VISION. AND WITHOUT A VISION, UM, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY TEAM TO PURSUE GRANT FUNDING AND MAKE A CASE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, OR IN SOME CASES EVEN FEDERAL AND STATE EARMARKS TO HELP BUILD THE DREAM. SO I WANTED TO CITE THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS I'M GONNA BE SHARING WITH YOU THAT WE ALSO SHARED, UH, TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL OF OUR SEVEN MEMBER APPOINTED PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION BACK ON JUNE 20TH. AND AS I LOOK OUT ACROSS, UH, CIVIC CHAMBERS AND I, I SEE A LOT OF THE, THE SAME NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, AND EVEN SOME OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WERE VERY, VERY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. SO, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH, UH, PRESENTATION ON, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK. SO, UM, MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT IT IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR COMMUNITY PARKS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF OUR CITY. AND IN COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, UH, IT'S COMPRISED OF NEARLY NINE ACRES OF VERY PRECIOUS COMMUNITY PARK LAND IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH. AND IT'S BORDERED BY 19TH AND 20TH STREET, AND ALSO, UH, BORDERED BY ORANGE AND LELE LEMON AVENUE. UM, OUR VISION PLAN WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOT OF GREAT, UH, ENTITIES. SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE RE REMINDED THAT WITHIN KING PARK CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A MULTI SERVICE, UH, UH, CENTER. UH, ALSO WE HAVE A GREAT, REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT THE PETRO LANE CENTER. UM, THEY'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, UH, AND ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UM, THE LONG BEACH ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AND FITNESS, UH, WAS A PARTNER, UH, WITH CITY FABRIC IN TERMS OF THE GRANT RESOURCES, UH, WHICH WERE COMPLIMENTED BY SOME OF THE SUPPORT BY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, I DO WANNA THANK DR. SORO. SHE WAS PARTICIPATING, I THINK NEARLY ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETINGS. UH, WE EVEN HAD, UH, FORMER VICE MAYOR DEE ANDREWS SPEAK VERY ELOQUENTLY ON SEVERAL MEETINGS JUST TO, UH, UNDERSCORE THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF KING PARK. AND AGAIN, ENCOURAGE, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK UP IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ENVISION AND SEE, UH, FOR, UH, THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF KING PARK. UM, WE HAD A LOT OF, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING AMENITIES TO BUILD UPON. UH, OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE HAVE A VERY POPULAR, UM, COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE SHARE IN THIS FOOTPRINT WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, UH, THE SWIMMING POOL. AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE, UH, ERIC LOPEZ WILL GIVE AN UPDATE A BIT LATER ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS, UH, INSIDE THE FACILITY AT, AT THE POOL. UH, BUT I MENTIONED THE HEALTH FACILITY. UH, WE HAVE, UH, THE ICONIC MARTIN LUTHER KING JR STATUE, WHICH WILL COME INTO PLAY IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY IN THE, THE RE-ENVISIONING OF THE PARK. UH, AND THEN IT'S A VERY ACTIVE RECREATIONAL PARK WITH, UH, SOCCER FIELDS, BASEBALL FIELDS. I KNOW THERE'S SOME SENIOR AND LADY SOFTBALL THAT WOULD LIKE TO RETURN SOME OF THEIR REGULAR, UM, HISTORIC ACTIVITY INTO THE PARK, AS WELL AS JUST IMPORTANT OPEN SPACE AND SHADE TREES AND THE LIKE. UM, SO LOOKING AT THE PARK, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXISTING AMENITIES THAT NEED SOME TLC, OBVIOUSLY. UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE [03:35:01] IS OLD AND AGING. UH, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE ON A HOT DROUGHTY PERIOD, YOU'LL SEE SOME BROWN SPOTS. SO OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY, UH, NEEDS SOME UP UPGRADING, AND THERE'S SOME DRAINAGE CHALLENGES. A LOT OF THE STRUCTURES, UM, ARE OLD AND, AND IN NEED OF UPDATE. WE'RE ALL VERY MINDFUL OF A DA IMPROVEMENTS ALSO. BUT ALL THESE WERE REALLY IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS THAT THE COMMUNITY VOICE, THEIR, UH, VIEW OF THINGS THAT, UH, KING PARK WERE REALLY IN, IN NEED OF. THE OTHER THING I THINK WAS IMPORTANT WAS REALLY THE HISTORIC CONTEXT OF THE PARK. UM, THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY IN TERMS OF A LOT OF EVENTS, UH, FESTIVALS, SOCIAL GATHERING, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS TO SEE CONTINUED IN TERMS OF A, A PLACE AND A SPACE FOR SPECIAL, UH, CELEBRATIONS. SO, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT, I THINK HAS A REALLY, UH, EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. AND THIS REALLY KINDA OUTLINES ALL THE STEPS THAT, THAT WE PURSUED. UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THE FORMATION OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE, AND THOSE WERE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT REALLY DID CARE IN A MOST PASSIONATE WAY TO MAKE SURE THE, UH, THE BROADER COMMUNITY WAS AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY. AND THEY REALLY ENCOURAGED A LOT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS. AND AGAIN, WE JUST KINDA SUMMARIZED, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DATA, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, THE NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS, AND IT ULTIMATELY LED TO, UM, I THINK A, A A MASTER PLAN OR A VISION PLAN THAT'S GONNA BE A GREAT ROADMAP INTO THE FUTURE. THERE WERE FOUR MAJOR THEMES THAT EMERGED THROUGH ALL THE, THE, ALL THE, UM, THE WORKSHOPS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE, THE COMMUNITY, UM, FOCUSED IN ON THE, THE ESSENTIAL ONES. SO THE, THE AMENITIES THAT WERE IN THE PARK, OBVIOUSLY, UM, MANY OF THEM DO NEED TO BE UPDATED. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT SPACES LIKE OUR, UM, PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES WITH, YOU KNOW, THERE USED TO BE AN AMPHITHEATER STAGE IN THE PARK. A LOT OF THE, THE FUNCTIONS INSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, THE PROGRAMMING COULD EASILY BE EXTENDED OUT INTO IT, BUT WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE REALLY WAS A VERY STRONG INTEREST IN FOCUSING ON, UM, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. UH, A LOT OF FOCUS ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUNG STUDENTS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, ET CETERA. ALSO, THERE WAS, UH, A HIGHLIGHT OF, OF INTEREST IN THE ACTUAL DESIGN OF THE PARK. YOU KNOW, REPOSITIONING OF SOME OF THE ELEMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE ACTUALLY NEEDED IN THE PARK, AND COULD SOME OF THAT SPACE BE REPURPOSED FOR PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATION AREAS. AND, UM, ALSO IN TERMS OF THE PARK AND ITS FUTURE, UM, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CHANGING RECREATIONAL NEEDS THAT THE COMMUNITIES HAD, UM, SEEING EXPRESSED. SO KINDA GETTING OUR ARMS AROUND THAT AND MAKING SURE THE, THE, THE NEW PARKS DESIGN CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT. AND ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, MULTIPURPOSE SPACES, UH, AND FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF, UH, GIVING PEOPLE SPACE TO AGAIN, ENJOY BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATION. AND THEN MAYBE THE FOURTH AREA THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF, UH, A STRONG VOICE WAS THE CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY, UH, CREATING BETTER SIGHT LINES INTO THE PARK, AND ALSO ENHANCING, UH, LIGHTING IN TERMS OF MAKING THE PARK SAFE AND WELCOMING, EVEN IN, IN THE TWILIGHT HOURS OF THE, OF THE DAY. AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UM, AGAIN, STRATEGIES, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REALLY LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER ACTIVATE THE PARK WITH NEW AMENITIES, UH, THAT WERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF THE NEW, UH, DEVELOPING NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, THE CENTER OF THE PARK WAS REALLY, UM, ENVISIONED TO BE A THRIVING CULTURAL HUB, UH, THAT WOULD SUPPORT LOTS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, UH, CULTURAL PERFORMANCE AND SUCH. AND THEN ALSO IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL DESIGN AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SITE, TO HAVE A SPATIAL HIERARCHY THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY, BUT ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE, YOU KNOW, A GROWING AND FLOURISHING COMMUNITY, UM, ACTIVITY AT, AT LEVELS, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY, UH, REALLY ADVOCATED. UM, SO SOME OF THE NEXT PLANS, OR SOME OF THE NEXT IMAGES ARE REALLY EXCERPTS OR ELEVATED ILLUSTRATIVE, KIND OF AS A BIRD'S EYE, UH, VIEW OF, OF THE PLAN. THIS, THIS ACTUAL AREA IS, UH, ONE OF THE FOCUS, UH, IT'S, IT'S A PLAZA THAT, AGAIN, IF YOU CAN, UM, IMAGINE WHERE THE CURRENT MARTIN LUTHER KING STATUE IS. THEY REALLY WERE ENVISIONING, UM, THE STATUE BEING OF FOCUS MORE ON THE HEART OF THE PARK. UM, RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING OUT OVER AN ASPHALT PARKING LOT AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BEFITTING OF THAT, THAT GREAT LEADER IN TERMS OF HONORING, THAT WAS ONE THING. UH, AND ALSO CREATING A PERFORMANCE SPACE PLAZA. SO THIS PARTICULAR RENDERING SHOWS ALL OF THAT. AND [03:40:01] THE, THE BEAUTY OF THE NEW DESIGN HAS A LOT OF SWEEPING WALKWAYS THAT LINK LINK THE, THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND KIND OF PORTAL OR, OR ENTRY AREAS INTO SOME OF THE KEY DESTINATIONS THAT ARE, ARE VERY, UH, HIGH ACTIVITY, UH, RECREATIONAL NODES. UH, AND THEN AGAIN, LOOKING AT, UH, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THERE WAS A, A STRONG INTEREST IN ADDING, UH, FITNESS EQUIPMENT, UH, THE, THE WALKING LOOP TRAIL THAT WOULD GO AROUND THE ENTIRE PARK WITH SOMETHING OF, OF GREAT INTEREST. AND THEN ALSO JUST EXPANDING SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PICNICKING, UH, AND ENHANCING, YOU KNOW, OUR PART OF THE URBAN FOREST, UH, WITH MORE, UH, UH, NATIVE TREES AND SUCH. AND THEN ON THE ORANGE SIDE OF THE ORANGE AVENUE SIDE OF THE PARK, UH, REPOSITIONING SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL FACILITIES, WHICH WOULD BE THINGS LIKE THE CONCESSION BUILDING, UH, WHICH WOULD'VE SOME STORAGE AND ALSO AN UPGRADED, UH, RESTROOM FACILITY. AND THEN KIND OF HAVING A MARTIN LUTHER GATE, A MARTIN LUTHER KING GATEWAY OR PORTAL ENTRANCE BETWEEN THOSE FACILITIES WAS ANOTHER GREAT SUGGESTION THE COMMUNITY HAVE. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, WITH PLACEMAKING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR MURALS THAT COULD, AGAIN, REFLECT THE VITALITY AND THE VIBRANCY OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. SO, AS AN OVERVIEW, THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN BOTH SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT'S REALLY THE VALUE OF HAVING A VISION PLAN, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PHASED. UH, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, HAVING, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREMENTAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS TO BETTER GUIDE, UH, THE PHASING OF THE, THE VISION PLANS, DEVELOPMENT AND ESSENTIAL FUNDING INTO THE FUTURE. UH, SO WITH THAT, THERE ARE SOME LOGICAL PROJECTS THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, EVOLVE OUT OF THE VISION PLAN. SO THE WEST PARKING AREA AND THE PLAZA THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE EARLIER ILLUSTRATIVE, IT, I THINK WILL BE A KEY, UH, INITIAL, UM, AREA THAT WILL BRING GREAT PRIDE AND ALSO, UH, BE A SPACE THAT CAN, UH, HELP ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF COMMUNITY FESTIVALS, UM, UH, CONCERTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN THE RECONFIGURATION OF THE SPORTS FIELDS WILL BE, AGAIN, A REALLY KEY THING. UH, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT'S, THAT'S VERY, UM, POPULAR. IT'S ALSO VERY SMALL. SO I THINK THE NEW VISION PLAN ALLOWS FOR IT TO BE EXPANDED TO THE NORTH. AND I THINK ONE OF THE VOICES IN ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE LEVEL WAS TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE A BIT DIFFERENTLY ABLED WITH MAYBE SOME RAISED GARDENS, UH, HORTICULTURE THERAPY OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCH. SO HAVING A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN THE PARK, UH, OPENS UP A LOT OF OTHER NEW DIMENSIONS TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE, UM, UH, UH, INVITING AND, AND ALLOW MORE PEOPLE, UH, TO ENJOY. UH, BUT STILL AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE HOBBY, AND THAT'S GARDENING, BUT OUTDOOR FITNESS, THAT'S WHY YOU SAW SOME, UH, PORTRAYALS OF OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT. AND THEN I MENTIONED EARLIER JUST REPURPOSING AND UPGRADING THE, THE CONCESSION BUILDING, WHICH IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF A LOT OF THE, THE YOUTH, UH, SPORTS, UH, ACTIVITIES. AND THEN THE ESSENTIALS FOR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC RESTROOMS. UH, WE DID HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN. SO THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY OF THE NEW FACILITIES, WHEN THEY'RE DESIGNED, THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR EASE OF MAINTENANCE, UH, WANTING, AGAIN, FOR THE PARK IN, IN ALL THE FUTURE PHASES TO CONTINUE TO BE SAFER, CLEANER, MORE WELCOMING, UH, AND, AND A PLACE THAT THEY'LL BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF. ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, WATER CONSERVATION'S ALWAYS GONNA BE KEY. AND I MENTIONED UPGRADING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BUT LOOKING AT THE, THE LANDSCAPE PALLET SO THAT WE HAVE NATIVE TREES AND PLANT MATERIAL THAT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT ALSO SURVIVE DRIER PERIODS OF TIME. UH, AND THEN MAKING IT, UH, VISITOR FRIENDLY WITH APPROPRIATE AMENITIES LIKE, UH, BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES, ALL OF WHICH WOULD BE, UM, UH, A DA ACCESSIBLE. AND THEN ALSO, UH, IN TERMS OF THE INCLUSION OF ART AND, UM, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE THAT CAN AGAIN, UH, CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY. SO, UM, I DO WANNA MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT EVOLVED OUT OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A FRIENDS OF KING PARK. UH, SO I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME SELF-IDENTIFIED LEADERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH US, UH, IN THAT REGARD. I THINK THE WHOLE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE VISION PLAN REALLY AND TRULY HAS CREATED A STRONGER SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND PRIDE IN THE PARK. AND ALSO, I THINK A VERY OPTIMISTIC LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, UH, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE, UH, SOME, SOME NOTABLE AND IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK, UH, THAT WILL, WILL STEM OUT OF THE, THE MASTER PLAN. AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PARK THAT CAN SUSTAIN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARK'S HISTORICALLY BEEN KNOWN FOR, BUT ALSO A LOT OF THE NEW PROGRAMMING THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, PRESENTED OR ACCOMMODATED IN THE PARK [03:45:01] AS WELL AS THE EVENTS. SO NEXT STEPS, AGAIN. UM, I THINK THE, THE, UM, THE BUDGET FOR BUILDING OUT THE ENTIRE, UH, MASTER PLAN OF THE NEW VISION PLAN WAS, UH, NORTH OF $10 MILLION. UH, THAT'S A LOT. I KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES AT PUBLIC WORKS, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON, UH, SOME OF THESE, THESE BUDGET ITEMS, AND I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY, I KNOW BUDGETS HAVE CHANGED A LOT, THE COST OF LABOR AND A LOT OF MATERIALS AND CONTRACT SERVICES SEEM TO GO UP, YOU KNOW, EACH PASSING WEEK. SO, UM, WE PROBABLY WILL WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND IF THERE'S ANY, YOU KNOW, REVISED PROJECTIONS, BUT WE'LL BE FOCUSED ON ONCE, UH, COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PLAN. WE'LL BE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND, AND START TO PUT KING PARK ON A LOT OF OUR GRANT FUNDING LISTS. AND, UM, JUST HOLD GREAT OPTIMISM FOR SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS FOR THIS, UH, WHAT I WOULD ALL, I WOULD CALL A, UM, A MAJOR PARK IN CD SIX. BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, DR. SORROW, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE. AND FOR THE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT THAT HAVE COMMITTED A LOT OF TIME, UH, WITH GREAT APPRECIATION, I HOPE YOU'RE EQUALLY PROUD OF THE NEW MLK VISION PLAN. SO THANK YOU. BE HERE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. THANKS, BRENT. UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GREAT. PLAN THE WORK, WORK THE PLAN. I SAY IT A LOT. YOU AND DR. SORROW, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE GO TO THE COUNCIL. UH, I'M GONNA READ THE NAMES. WE HAVE 11, BUT I DON'T THINK 11 ARE STILL HERE. SO THAT MEANS YOU GET THE FULL, YOU GET THE FULL THREE MINUTES. UH, KAREN REZA, MIN LOU, ANTHONY GUERRERO, SONAI, KEN FAY, ANDY WRATH, C SAN, UH, MICHAEL BATES, MARK HOBSON, SHARON DIGS, JACKSON ROTH PROM, AND LILLIAN PARKER. THANK YOU, KAREN REZA, PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD. UM, BEFORE I RETIRED FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, I WAS SUPERVISING OVER THAT PARK SPACE. I KNOW HOW MUCH THAT PARK MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THAT AREA HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS AT THAT SITE. KEITH LILLY USED TO BRING, UM, WILLIE MCGINNIS AND WARREN G. WE WOULD PICK THEM UP FROM POLY AND MAKE THEM GO WITH HIM TO THAT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB SITE. SNOOP COULDN'T GET SNOOP TO GO BECAUSE SNOOP WAS ALWAYS AT VIP RECORDS. I THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTEREST THERE, AND THEY SHOULD BE SPOKEN TO, TO SEE WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE. I THINK THEY WOULD BE INVESTED IN SEEING THIS PARK BECOME REALLY THE COMMUNITY JEWEL THAT IT CAN BE. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROJECT. AND DR. SORROW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS MUCH NECESSARY PROJECT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MEN. GOOD EVENING, HONOR. MAYOR RICHARDSON, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. UM, MY NAME IS MIN LIU AND I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LONG BEACH. UH, I'M HERE THIS EVENING REPRESENTING OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH PARTS AND RECREATIONS AND MARINES ITEM TO ADOPT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK VISION PROJECT ITEM 18. UH, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS PLAN AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK, OR MANY OF OUR DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS REFER AS KING PARK. THIS PLAN HELPS ENSURE KING PARK TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND SAFE RECREATIONAL SPACE FOR COMMUNITY, YOUTH, AND ADULTS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LONG BEACH TO REMAIN A TRUE, DEDICATED COMMUNITY PARTNER TO SUPPORT AND COLLABORATE THE VISION AND REIMAGINATION OF KING PARK. THANK YOU. THE DREAM FOR KING PARK. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS, UH, ANTHONY. YES. OKAY, I'M GONNA READ, UH, TWO, UH, TWO SPEECHES FOR COMMENTS. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARK VISION PLAN. THIS PARK IS A VITAL SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY [03:50:01] OUR CAMBODIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHO MAKES UP ONE OF THE LARGEST POPULATIONS OUTSIDE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT FROM PARK RECREATIONS AND MARINE, THE KA, MY PARENTS ASSOCIATION, KPA HAS SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED ANNUAL EVENTS AT MCBRIDE PARK, BRINGING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION AND CONNECTION. THE VISION PLAN WILL ENSURE THAT THE PARK CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A VITAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL HUB FOR ALL, INCLUDING CAMBODIANS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THIS CITY. THEREFORE, THIS VISION PLAN WILL ALLOW THOSE VOICES TO CONTINUE SHAPING OUR FUTURE, TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND INCLUSION VALUES THAT HONOR DR. KING'S LEGACY. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS VISION PLAN AND INVEST IN THE PARK THAT TRULY REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY AND UNITY OF OUR CITY. AND I'LL READ A SPEECH FROM ONE OF OUR YOUTH WHO HAD TO GO HOME EARLY FOR, TO STUDY FOR HIS EXAMS. HI, MY NAME IS ANDY ROTH. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND I'M, I'LL BE PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEM 18. HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK, RECREATION AND MARINE ITEMS TO ADOPT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. VISION PLAN. IT HAS BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE THE PARK SAW IMPROVEMENTS, AND THIS PLAN IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT THE PARK CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A VITAL CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE VISION PLAN NOT ONLY HONORS THE LEGACY OF DR. KING, BUT ALSO CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE EQUITY BY BLACK, BY ENGAGING WITH BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOICES IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PARK. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS PLAN AND TO COMMIT TO THE ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MR. ? OKAY. UH, SINAI PHA SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT. UM, I WANT TO THANK, UM, CITY STAFF, PEOPLE LIKE, UM, MS. CONNIE ODIN AND MR. BRUCE THAT WORK AT THE PARK. THESE ARE THE, THE PEOPLE THAT, UM, RESPECT TO PROP 13 AND THE RESOURCES THAT A CITY LIKE LONG BEACH HAS MAKE THE MOST OUT OF WHAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND, UH, PARKS AND REC STAFF PAST AND PRESENT, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. UM, I WANT TO THANK DR. SU'S OFFICE FOR LEADING THIS AND REALLY, UM, COORDINATING WITH CITY FABRIC AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REALLY GET A SAY ON HOW THEY WANT THE PARK TO LOOK. THIS PARK MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF US. UM, YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER GREW UP, UH, GOING TO THIS PARK. MY DAD IMMIGRATED TO, UH, AMERICA IN 1985. HE MET MY MOM AT LBCC ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE PARK TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, I GREW UP THERE EATING THE FREE LUNCHES, AND FOR A LOT OF US, UM, WE FELT LIKE WE'VE BEEN FORGOTTEN IN THE CITY. AND SO IT'S GREAT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE 47 PAGES OF, UH, THE CITY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA REINVEST AND, UM, AND RISE UP. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, $9,608,000 LATER. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. UH, MR. BRENT, MR. MOCA, UM, THIS IS GREAT. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. UH, I PARTICIPATED WITH, UM, UH, MS. SHARON AND MY SISTER SHEBA AND, UH, MANY OTHERS, LI LILLIAN, MS. WANDA MOBLEY, MEMBERS OF CENAC C AND, UH, THE RELIGIOUS FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES, UH, GOSPEL MEMORIAL, UM, AND, AND JUST SHAPING WHAT WE ENVISIONED IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, I, I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE ALL OF, UM, MY ELDERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO, UM, HAVING FAITH IN ME TO BEST, UM, HELP INFLUENCE , UH, THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT THEY WANTED. YOU KNOW, WE GOT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, THE YOUTH. A LOT OF OUR YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY GO TO CIGNA HILL PARK. UH, AND, AND WHILE I APPRECIATE HAVING A NEIGHBOR LIKE CIGNA HILL, I, I'M FIRMLY OF THE BELIEF THAT THOSE CHILDREN SHOULD BE PRESENT IN OUR PARK. AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, PRESUMABLY, THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND SO, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR, UM, GIVING US A VISION PLAN [03:55:01] ON, ON WHAT WE, WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR PARK. AND I WANNA SAY QUICK TOO, TO MS. ALICE ROBINSON, 'CAUSE I KNOW SHE'S WATCHING ON HER TV. UH, WE'VE MADE SURE TO GET THE GARDEN EXPANDED FOR YOU AND FOR THE NE YOU KNOW, NEXT GENERATION OF GARDENERS FROM ALABAMA TO, UH, CAMBODIA AND, AND, AND, AND MORE TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK IN THE, IN THE GARDEN. SO, THANK YOU. OKAY, MR. RAD, ANY RAT? MS. WELL, GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. MY NAME IS SATAN AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF CAMBODIA TOWN. OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED, UH, WITHIN THE VIBRANT SICK DISTRICT. AND THIS EVENING I AM HERE, UH, TO SHARE MY PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 18. I STAND, UH, IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PARK RECREATION AND INITIATIVE TO ADOPT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK VISION PLAN. IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS, AND THIS PARK HAS RECEIVED ANY SIGN, UH, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS. THIS VISION'S PLAN IS CRUCIAL FOR ENSURING THAT THE PARK CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AS A CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL HUB FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FURTHERMORE, AND NOT ONLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO DR. KING, ENDURING LEGACY, BUT ALSO PROVIDES A VITAL OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER EQUITY BY INCORPORATING THE VOICE OF BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN SHAPING THE PARK FUTURE. ON BEHALF OF CAMBODIA TOWN, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS PLAN AND COMMIT TO THE ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARK. AND DR. RO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TAKE LEAD ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. UH, MR. MICHAEL, ME. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MICHAEL BATES. I'M A MEMBER OF, UH, GRACE MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS ABOUT, IT'S LOCATED ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM THE PARK. UM, OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN MANY, MANY EVENTS AT THE PARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. WE HAD OUR KIDS PARTICIPATE IN THE BASKETBALL PROGRAMS AND IN THE FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAMS THROUGH THE PARK, UM, PRO, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH THE PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU KNOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S JUST BEEN A REAL STAPLE FOR THAT COMMUNITY, AS YOU'VE HEARD. UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE ME MENTIONED, UM, EVEN MISS CYNTHIA, WE'VE, UM, WORKED, WORKED WITH THEM IN OUR UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY EVENT, UM, THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND SO TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS PARK TO BE UPGRADED, IT'S JUST GOING TO INCREASE THE, THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE CHANCES FOR THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE, UM, ENRICHMENT EVENTS THERE, THINGS THAT WILL, WILL BUILD, UM, LASTING RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST THOSE THAT ARE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT AND EVEN WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. SO I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE. I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN A, I PERSONALLY WAS A PART OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE IN, UM, HELPING SHAPE THIS DIVISION OF, OF, UM, THIS PARTICULAR NEW PROJECT. UM, THANK YOU DR. SORROW AND, AND FOR YOUR OFFICE AND RAN OVER THERE. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. YOU STILL HAVE A COUPLE TREES I NEED YOU TO REMOVE OVER THERE IN THE AMPHITHEATER AREA, , BUT I, I KNOW YOU WILL BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD. BUT WE STILL WANNA MAKE ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT PARK ACTUALLY, IT FACILITATES SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS, UM, THAT, UM, WE, WE REALLY DO NEED THAT PARK TO HAVE. ITS, UM, TO HAVE THE VISION ACCOMPLISHED [04:00:01] SO THAT THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE IN SOCCER AND BASEBALL AND JUST OPEN AIR EVENTS PLUS, UM, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR SENIORS SO THAT, SO THAT EVERYONE CAN USE THAT PARK IN THE WAY THAT IT'S INTENDED. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS. AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 18. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, MR. MARK HOBSON. OKAY. AND MY NAME IS MARK HOBSON. I'M READING FOR CHAN HOBSON. OKAY. , HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CHAN HOBSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KAMAI PARENTS ASSOCIATION. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND MARINE ITEM TO ADOPT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK VISION PLAN. FOR OVER THREE DECADES, KPA YOUTH, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS EVENTS SUCH AS PLANNING AND VOLUNTEERING IN THE ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. WE CERTAIN WE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT BLACK HISTORY THROUGH THESE CELEBRATIONS, WE MARCHED IN THE ANNUAL MLK JR PRAYED TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE. WE ATTENDED MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WERE HOSTED INSIDE THE PARK. THE VISION PLAN NOT ONLY HONORS DR. KING'S LEGACY, BUT ALSO CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE EQUITY BY ENGAGING AFRICAN AMERICAN VOICES IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THIS PARK. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THIS PLAN AND TO COMMIT TO THE ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SHARON DIGS JACKSON. GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR INTO CITY COUNCIL. UM, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A RESIDENT OF THE FIFTH DISTRICT, BUT SOMEONE WHO HAD THE HONOR AND THE PLEASURE TO BE BORN AND RAISED IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT. UM, AND HAVING SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT KING PARK, I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE, UH, FOR US TO GO THROUGH THIS VISION PLAN. I AM A HISTORIAN BY NATURE. I LOVE TELLING THE STORY OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE HERE, AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WE WERE EXCITED. UM, SO I FULLY SUPPORT THE VISION PLAN. HAVING WORKED THOUGH FOR THE CITY FOR OVER 20 SOME ODD YEARS, I KNOW A PLAN IS NO GOOD UNLESS THERE'S SOME TIMELINES AND SOME DATES ATTACHED TO IT. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPORTS COMING BACK AND UPDATES, I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO COME BACK WITH A TIMELINE OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PUT SOME DATES ON IT, UM, IT COULD GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT MONEY IS GONNA HAVE TO BE RAISED FOR THAT, BUT ALSO THE MORE THAT WE CAN PLAN AND STRATEGIZE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE, THE MORE EFFECTIVE WE'LL BE IN RECEIVING THOSE MONIES. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, BECAUSE THE PARK DOES GET USED SO MUCH, I DON'T WANT THE PARK TO THEN BE PUT ON THE SHELF BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING THERE'S A PLAN COMING. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN THE PARK TODAY. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. 'CAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF EVENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING FOR, FOR ONE, UH, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE AND FESTIVITIES WILL HAPPEN IN JANUARY. THERE'S SOME THINGS WE NEED TO DO BEFORE THAT. SO WHILE I LOVE THE VISION PLAN AND US LOOKING FORWARD, I ALSO DON'T WANT US TO BE NEGLECTED. AND THAT SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE, SOME OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS, THAT WE DO THOSE NOW. AND THEN LASTLY, I WAS IN A CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL VISION FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT. THE SIXTH DISTRICT IS WORTHY OF OUR TIME AND OUR ATTENTION. IT WAS AN AMAZING PLACE TO GROW UP IN. THERE'S AMAZING HOUSING STOCK THERE, THE TALENT, ALL OF THAT THAT HAS COME UP OUT OF THAT DISTRICT, IT WARRANTS A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION. SO I WANT THE SIX DISTRICT, THE CENTRAL AREA, TO BE A FOCUS AREA THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BRING IT BACK OR TO EVEN IMPROVE IT? AND THERE'S A REASON WHY, AND IT'S VALID FOR US TO DO THAT. THAT DISTRICT PROBABLY REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICTS IN THE CITY. IF WE CAN SHOW OUR CITY HOW THE LATINO COMMUNITY, THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, OUR, OUR WHITE POPULATION, HOW WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER IN THAT AREA, THAT BECOMES A MODEL FOR HOW WE OPERATE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THAT WAS THE COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP IN. SO I SAY THIS FOR ME, I DON'T FEEL THAT THERE'S ANY DIVISION. THIS IS NOT A BATTLE BETWEEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE LATINO COMMUNITY. WE ALL WANT TO IMPROVE THIS AREA AND MAKE IT EVERYTHING IT CAN BE. SO THANK YOU DR. SORROW. AND AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DATES AND THOSE TIMELINES AS TO HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS RUTH. [04:06:56] ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. FIND OH, INTERPRETATION. THAT'S RIGHT. SORRY. THANKS. I UNDERSTOOD IT ALL. ALRIGHT, PLEASE CONTINUE. BIG IMPROVEMENT. GOOD EVENING, HONOR B MAYOR RE, RICHARD, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS ROD PRO. I'M, I AM A DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT AND I'M HERE TO, UH, TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT, UM, FOR ITEM EIGHT ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK VISION PLAN. I HAVE CALLED DISTRICT SIX HOME FOR A GOOD 43 YEARS NOW, AND I'M SO PROUD TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENGAGE IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TAKING PLACE AT THE PARK OVER THOSE PAST THREE DECADES. AS A RESIDENT, I ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO SEE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THIS PARK. AND UNDOUBTEDLY, THE PARK VISION PLAN IS NOTHING SHORT OF NECESSITY TO ENSURE THAT THIS PARK REMAINS A CULTURAL CELEBRATION AND COMMUNITY RECREATION SPACE. BLESS YOU. THE VISION PLAN WOULD THEREFORE NOT ONLY HONOR THE LEGACY OF DR. KING, BUT IT HELPS MAKE THE PARK A PLACE WHERE OPPORTUNITY HAS CREATED AND EQUITY IS PROMOTED THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE VOICES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO TOGETHER CHARTER THE FUTURE OF THIS PARTICULAR PARK. WITH THAT, MAY I HUMBLY AND RESPECTFULLY COUNT ON ALL OF YOU TONIGHT TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. AND YOUR VOTE WILL SIGNIFY YOUR TESTAMENT TO THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. FINAL SPEAKER, LILLIAN. HI. PLEASE COME FORWARD, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING AND I PURPOSELY WANTED TO COME HERE TO SAY THANK YOU. BORN AND RAISED IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT. IT MAKES MY HEART FEEL SO OVERWHELMINGLY JOY, UM, TO KNOW THAT, UM, KING PARK IS BEING LOOKED AT TO BE IMPROVED. UM, FOR ME, I GREW UP ON THE ANAHEIM CORRIDOR, SO MACARTHUR PARK WAS THE BEGINNING PORTION, AND I WORKED CLOSELY WITH MACARTHUR PARK, UH, RESIDENTS. AFTER MOVING FROM THERE, UM, IN THE CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY. UM, I BROUGHT THAT UP TO SAY THESE ARE TWO AREAS THAT PEOPLE JOINED TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. THERE'LL BE NO STOPPING US, HONESTLY. THE CITY IS VIBRANT, IT'S DIVERSE, AND IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE FOR ALL OF US. THE THE MLK PARK IS VERY SENSITIVE TO ME. I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT PARK BECAUSE WE BORN AND RAISED IN THIS AREA, UM, REPRESENTING, WE GOT THIS COMMUNITY, UH, ORGANIZATION, UM, THAT WAS FOUNDED BY, UH, CO-FOUNDED BY DARL SMITH. REST IN PEACE. [04:10:01] AND WE WORK HARD INSIDE KING PARK TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, TO ENSURE THE VIBRANT, THE WORKING WITH OTHERS AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE VISION PLAN IS NOTHING BUT GRATITUDE FOR THE CITY. AND ITS, UH, TIME THAT IT, IT TOOK. SO FOR THE TIME THAT IT TOOK FOR IT TO COME TO PASS WOULD JUST MAKE IT THAT MUCH BETTER. IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, ALL OF THE STAFF, UM, PARKS AND REC. DENNIS IS AWESOME. HE'S GREAT, AND HE MAKES THINGS HAPPEN. UM, FOR ME, SITTING ON THE VISION PLAN COMMITTEE WAS AN HONOR. IT WAS THE CITY COMING TOGETHER AT OUR FIRST MEETING. UM, WE HAD MORE THAN 250 PEOPLE THERE AT THAT MEETING. IT SHOWS YOU THAT WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, SOMETHING'S HAPPENING AT KINGS PARK, WE'RE GONNA GET THERE. WE'RE GONNA BE THERE. WE WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, SOME OF US EVEN HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND FAR AWAY TO RIVERSIDE OR OTHER PLACES. THEY CAME BACK TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT A PARK. THIS PARK IS MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF US AND FRIENDS OF MLK PARK. I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. AND IT IS MY HOPE AND DESIRE THAT IT BECOMES A HERITAGE PART. IT'S BEFITTING. UM, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WAY BACK WAS SEGREGATED TO THE ANAHEIM CORRIDOR IN THIS AREA. AND IT'S BEFITTING TO TELL THE STORY OF OUR PEOPLE AND THIS CITY. AND SO I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I THANK, UM, THE LEADERSHIP SHEBA, UH, GILLIS AND SHARON SCOTT LUCAS, AS WELL AS, UM, SHEBAS GRANDMOTHER. UM, MS. SCOTT, WHO DID HER OWN GRANT TO BEAUTIFY KINGS PARK AND BOUGHT THE, THE PLAY AREA FOR THE KIDS. AND SO THE ROOTS GO DEEP. UM, AND SO I THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE US BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOVE OUR PARK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL, THAT WAS OUR FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER. WHERE WERE THESE 11 SPEAKERS WHEN THEY WERE DOING PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER, TEARING US DOWN? THIS IS THE KIND OF PUBLIC COMMENT GETS ME EXCITED ABOUT BEING MAYOR. I WANNA SPEND ALL THE MONEY ON KING PARK . WELL, UH, BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN, SHE'S, I KNOW SHE'S, UH, WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD ON THIS. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO, UH, JUST SAY HOW PLEASED I AM THAT, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU ALL DIDN'T STAY AND THAT THERE WERE FEWER THAN 10 SPEAKERS. ALL Y'ALL STAYED THIS ENTIRE TIME AND ALL SPOKE VERY PERSONALLY. THESE WEREN'T SCRIPTED TALKING POINTS. VERY PERSON, PERSONALLY ABOUT, UH, KING PARK. AND THAT, THAT IS SPECIAL. AND I KNOW KING PARK IS SUPER IMPORTANT, UH, TO, TO TO MANY GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH. AND WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING BY WE BY KING PARK. WE'RE GONNA MAKE REAL INVESTMENTS THERE. I'LL ALSO SAY THANKS. I'LL ALSO SAY, UH, I REMEMBER COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SORROW CAME IN. UM, I WAS, I WAS VICE MAYOR AT THE TIME. SHE WAS ELECTED. AND SHE, RIGHT OUT THE GATE, SAID, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT KING PARK? I REMEMBER WE WERE STRATEGIZING AND WE SAID, UM, LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT SOME PROGRESS FROM HOUGHTON PARK. BUT IT STARTED WITH THE VISION. IT STARTED WHEN WE WENT BACK AND BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER ABOUT THE VISION PLAN. AND THAT'S HOW WE BEGAN TO IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES. AND SHE SAID, WELL, LET'S DO IT. AND SHE, THAT THAT MONIKER YOU CAME UP WITH THAT DREAM FOR KING PARK. WAS THAT YOU OR WAS THAT SHARON? THAT WAS, WAS THAT ME? OKAY. I DON'T REMEMBER. I JUST REMEMBER EARLY ON. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO. SEE, THAT WAS, YOU. SEE, I NORMALLY SAY CREDIT FOR STUFF. I'M TRYING TO GIVE IT AWAY TODAY, . UM, BUT I JUST REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT MODELING. 'CAUSE THE PROGRESS AT, AT HOUGHTON, I MEAN FROM, YOU KNOW, UH, AN AREA WHERE THE ROOF WAS ALWAYS LEAKING AND WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE DIDN'T HAVE, UH, GRASS ON THE TUR, YOU KNOW, ON THE FIELD. AND THEN YOU GO TO THE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL AND YOU COVERED IN DUST AND ALL OF THAT TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, ALL STARTED WITH GETTING THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZED AROUND THE VISION. TODAY IT'S HOME TO RUN S HEALTH EQUITY CENTER, DORIS TOPSY, EL COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU KNOW, UH, IN, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENTS AND ART THROUGHOUT THE PARK. BUT IT STARTED WITH THIS. THAT'S WHY I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT YOU GOT THIS VISION PLAN DONE BECAUSE NOW WE CAN WORK THE PLAN. MM-HMM. . SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THAT SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, YOU GOT THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I AM JUST FILLED WITH JOY AS WELL THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY. IT'S TAKEN MANY YEARS NOT JUST TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK GET A PROCESS GOING, BUT I THINK GETTING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER HAS BEEN REALLY THE JOURNEY IN ITSELF. AND I DEFINITELY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL OF YOU WHO'VE SPOKEN AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU ATTENDED THOSE MEETINGS. BUT ALSO SPECIAL THINGS TO PARK AND REX AND MARINE DEPARTMENT BRAND [04:15:01] FOR, UH, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH CITY FABRIC, UH, WHO LED THE, AND FACILITATED A PROCESS WITH LONG BEACH ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AND FITNESS AND THE CHILDREN'S CLINIC. RIGHT. UM, COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT PARTNERSHIP, BUT ALSO THANKING OUR VOLUNTEER FACILITATOR, DR. SHEBA GILLIS, SHARON DIGS, JACKSON AND SAI, AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE. UM, THAT'S BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE WE KEPT COMING BACK TOGETHER. AND IT HAS REALLY BEEN A PROCESS TO CREATE A DREAM FOR KING PARK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF MY VERY FIRST THING I WANTED TO DO AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO GET FUNDING, EVEN BEFORE WE GOT FUNDING FOR MACARTHUR PARK, WAS WE NEEDED A PLAN SO THAT WE COULD START SECURING FUNDING TO DO RENOVATION. AND I THINK YOU'VE ALL SHARED THE STORY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARK. IT'S BEEN A PLACE WHERE WHEN YOU CAN ONLY GO TO CERTAIN PLACE TO CELEBRATE, TO WORSHIP IN SOME SENSE WITH EACH OTHER, AND ALSO, UM, CELEBRATE AND SHARE, IT BECOMES YOUR HOME AND YOU NEVER FORGET IT. AND I DO KNOW THAT, AND I RECOGNIZE THE DEEP SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK IN THE WAY THAT WE ARE UNITED THROUGH THIS PLANNING PROCESS. AND I THINK EVEN STRONGER IN UNITY AS WE GO THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN. YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GONNA PUT MY MARTHA MACARTHUR VIBE OUT THERE THAT I'M JUST GONNA GET LIKE THE FULL AMOUNT IN THE NEXT LIKE YEAR BECAUSE I WAS EVEN, I, I WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEARD FROM SENATOR GONZALEZ, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN GET YOU SOME FUNDING. NEVER THAT I THOUGHT, EVER WOULD I GET THE FULL AMOUNT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT OUT THERE FOR KING PARK THAT I'M JUST GONNA GET A BAG OF MONEY FOR THIS PARK SO WE COULD START MAKING SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED. SO, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST PROUD. IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AND THE SHARED BELIEF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RESIDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT DESERVE SAFE AND HEALTHY AND VIBRANT PUBLIC SPACES. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO LIFT THAT AND MOVE IT FORWARD TOGETHER AS LONG AS I'M IN OFFICE. UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, WE REALLY ACTUALLY WILL HEAR A LITTLE LATER THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED IMPROVEMENTS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, AND WE'VE ALREADY BEGAN SECURING SOME FUNDING. SO THERE ARE THINGS IN PLACE, AND I HEAR YOU, SHARON. WE WILL HAVE TIMELINES, UH, FOR THINGS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. UM, I WAS JUST GONNA, UM, APPLAUD THE COMMUNITY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THIS VISIONING PLAN. UM, I THINK THE COUNCILMAN, I MEAN THE, THE MAYOR, UH, MENTIONED IT. UM, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN LOTS OF VISIONING PROJECTS, I KNOW YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL ON THIS 'CAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR VISION OF WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S OVER DECADES, RIGHT? OF SEEING PERHAPS SOMETIMES WHAT YOU DIDN'T, THE INVESTMENTS YOU DIDN'T SEE, RIGHT? AND SO THIS IS A, A MARK, YOU KNOW, A PLACEMAKER, RIGHT? FOR US TO SAY, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO BE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE? IT'S ALSO, UH, US AS A CITY SAYING, OKAY, THIS IS OUR VISION, RIGHT? THIS IS NOW OUR BASE, RIGHT? THIS IS OUR FOUNDATION, AND NOW WE CAN GO FROM HERE AND GO FIND THE, THE BAGS OF MONEY. AND I'M ALSO GOING TO WHERE I WAS LIKE, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JOIN MY, MY FELLOW DOCTOR ON COUNCIL HERE. UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET ALL THE MONEY FOR, FOR KING PARK BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. RIGHT? YOU ALL MENTIONED IT, RIGHT? DIVERSE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? NEEDS TO BE INVESTED. WE VALUE AND CELEBRATE CENTRAL LONG BEACH, RIGHT? AND SO, I APPLAUD WITH YOU, UM, AND I'M, I AM PERSONALLY INVESTED AND WANNA SEE A DREAM FOR KING BECOME A REALITY SO THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN CAN ENJOY ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PARK SPACE AND, YOU KNOW, AS AGAIN, US RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN SPACE WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. SO I IT'S A GREAT DAY. ALL RIGHT, ERIC, YOU HEARD THE BUDGET CHAIR, RIGHT? SHE SAID ALL THE MONEY SULI SAID BAGS OF MONEY. ALL RIGHT. GET READY TO BUILD. 'CAUSE SOMEWHERE THE MONEY'S COMING. THE BUDGET CHAIR SAID SO. ALL RIGHT. UH, COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU, COUNCILWOMAN AND SORROW, UH, ON THIS GREAT PROJECT AND THE COMMUNITY FOR WORKING WITH YOU AND STAFF. THANK YOU DIRECTOR DENNIS, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, ON THIS PARK AND ALSO BEING OUTSIDE OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT. I WANTED TO SHARE HOW IMPORTANT THIS PARK IS CITYWIDE. I MEAN, THIS IS A LEGENDARY PARK AND I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO, UM, TO US AS A CITY. AND I APPLAUD YOU AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE FIND THAT BAG OF MONEY FOR YOU. . SOMEBODY'S GOTTA MAKE A MEME OR SOMETHING FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [04:20:04] MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS. ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ITEM IS RELATED ITEM 21, REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO [21. 24-55148 Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7241 and award a contract to National Pools Inc., of Sylmar, CA, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool Improvement Phase II Project, in an amount of $877,165, authorize a 15 percent contingency in the amount of $131,575, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,008,740; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments. (District 6)       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] NATIONAL POOLS INC. FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR PARK POOL IMPROVEMENT PHASE TWO PROJECT FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,008,740. DISTRICT SIX. ALRIGHT, ERIC, YOU GOT A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR US? YES, I DO. SO, UM, THE, UM, THE, THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR TODAY, UM, IS TO FOCUS ON THE POOL AREA. WE HAVE SOME VERY GOOD PICTURES TO SHOW YOU, UH, THAT, UH, DEMONSTRATE THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE NEEDS AND, UH, AND WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO ABOUT THIS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO COORDINATE BE, UH, BETWEEN TWO DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE FINISH, WHERE WE PRESENT THE VISION PLAN, AND WE START IMPLEMENTING A LARGE PART OF THAT VISION PLAN, UM, AND, AND GET, UH, APPROVAL ON, ON THE SAME NIGHT. SO, UM, UH, JUST I THINK IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE POOL NEEDS TO BE RE PLASTERED. THE EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. UH, THE CIRCULATION SYSTEM, THE, THE CHEMICAL, UH, SYSTEM, ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED. AND THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT, UH, WE'RE UH, SEEKING APPROVAL TODAY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR. UH, TO, UH, GET STARTED, UH, WE DO HAVE A TIMELINE. SO I KNOW THERE WAS INTEREST IN TIMELINES IF THEY'RE STILL HERE. UH, THAT SHOWS US GETTING STARTED WITH THIS PHY WITH THESE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, DECEMBER, JANUARY. UM, WHILE THE CON, WHILE THE OVERALL PROJECT WILL TAKE A FEW MONTHS, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN THE FACILITY FOR THREE MONTHS. UH, SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MINIMIZE THAT TIME. THE, THE CURRENT PLASTER ON THE POOLS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND NEW PLASTER WILL GET, UH, UH, PUT PUT IN. UM, AND, UH, WE WERE GONNA BE UPGRADING THE FIXTURES AND DOING ALL THE OTHER GREAT WORK HERE. SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED OVERALL FOR MLK, UH, PARK. WE HAVE ABOUT 3.7 MILLION OUTLINED IN THE ELEVATE 28 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PLAN. UH, THIS, UH, THIS WILL GET JUST A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, TO START THESE IMPROVEMENTS. AND WE HAVE MONEY TO CONTINUE, UH, WITH THE OTHER WORK AS WELL. SO THAT CONCLUDE. THANK YOU. CUSTOMER SORROW. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIC. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM'S WORK ON THIS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE, WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM ABOUT THE POOL, WHICH IS PART OF THE PARK, UM, DURING THAT, UH, VISION PLANNING PROCESS. AND IT'S BEEN REALLY CRUCIAL IN HOW WE'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, RE PRETTY RIGHT TO RENOVATE THE WHOLE POOL AND EVERYTHING IN IT, WHICH IS PART OF THE VISION PLAN. SO I'M JUST SO EXCITED THAT WE'LL HAVE A NEW POOL. IT'S GONNA BE LIGHT, IT'S NOT GONNA LOOK LIKE YOU'RE IN FREDDIE KRUGER 'CAUSE IT'S CREEPY AND DARK ANYMORE. IT'S GONNA BE LIKE BEAUTIFULLY LIT WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, NEW PAINTS. SO I THINK THAT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE STEPS THAT ARE, WE'RE ALREADY TAKING TO INVEST IN. UM, THIS, THE MLK PARK AND, AND IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT A POOL THAT'S JUST USED BY DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS, USED BY EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WHO DO ANY KIND OF PROGRAMMING AT THE POOL. SO IT'S REALLY FOR EVERYONE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M EXCITED TO MAKE SURE WE FINISH THIS SOON. TOM, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD FREDDY KRUEGER REFERENCE IN A CITY COUNCIL ITEM BEFORE ? I MEAN, I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. THAT'S A LONG TIME, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. IT WAS APTLY DONE. WE UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE AND IT'S GONNA LOOK A LOT BETTER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST CHECKING. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GONNA, UM, OKAY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. OH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, YAY. MLK AND POOLS. AND WHILE I'M AT IT, YOU KNOW, AFTER YOU, YOU, YOU DO THEIR POOL, UH, YOU KNOW, ERIC AND, UH, BRENT TALKING ABOUT THAT POOL IN RAMONA PARK. SO I JUST GONNA, YOU KNOW, POKE, POKE, POKE, . SO BASICALLY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. QUIT GLOATING ABOUT YOUR POOL. DON'T GLOAT UNTIL WE VOTE. ALRIGHT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WHOLE PARK PROJECT, DR. SORROW. UM, YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS POOL GETS USED BY LOTS OF FOLKS. MY KIDDO, MY KIDDOS LEARNED TO SWIM IN THAT POOL. UM, I'M JUST WONDERING, DIRECTOR LOPEZ, THE, THE DIVING BOARDS ARE STAYING RIGHT? 'CAUSE I ALSO HAD A KID WHO WAS A DIVER THERE AS WELL, MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. YES. BUT THEY'RE BEING IMPROVED SO THEY'RE BEING REPAINTED. UH, AND WERE, UH, MAKING SOME REPAIRS SO THAT THEY CAN SERVE US FOR ANOTHER 30 PLUS YEARS. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT MEMBERS, PLEASE. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. YOU'RE UP. NEXT HAMILTON LOOP. WE HAD TO WORK THROUGH KING PARK. THEN WE'RE COMING, COMING YOUR WAY. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, HAMILTON LOOP TIME ITEM 19. [04:25:02] REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND GROUP IN THE PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT BY 400,000 OFFSET BY GRANT REVENUE TO [19. 24-55038 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $400,000, offset by grant revenue from the Harbor Department to be used for the planning and design phase of the Hamilton Loop Project; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $400,000, offset by the transfer of Harbor Department grant funds from the Capital Grants Fund; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $6,100,000, offset by grant revenue from the Harbor Department; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $6,100,000, offset by the transfer of Harbor Department grant funds from the Capital Grants Fund. (District 9)       Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine; Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] BE USED FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASE OF THE HAMILTON LOOP PROJECT DISTRICT NINE. ALRIGHT, UH, BEFORE WE GO TO THE STAFF PRESENTATION, UM, UH, THIS IS A LOT OF GREAT WORK. CONGRATULATIONS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR HAMILTON NEIGHBORS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT STARTED WITH THE VISION PLAN THAT YOU ALL WORKED ON, JUST LIKE THE LAST ITEM. SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, LET THIS BE A LESSON. START WITH THE VISION PLAN, THEN GO AFTER THE MONEY. THAT SAID, LET'S, LET'S HAVE THE STEPH PRESENTATION. ABSOLUTELY. VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN A, A WONDERFUL PARK EQUITY PROJECT THAT'S BEEN LONG TIME IN IN THE MAKING. IT'S STARTING TO GET A LOT OF MOMENTUM AND WE, WE'VE GOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THE, UH, PORT OF LONG BEACH THAT WE'RE, UH, TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. AND WE WANT TO WALK THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, KIND OF REMIND EVERYBODY CENTER, WHAT WAS THE VISION, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT? SO TURN TO BRENT. THANK YOU TOM. AND THANK YOU MAYOR. YOU ACTUALLY USED MY FIRST KICKOFF COMMENT, SO I'M GONNA USE THE BAG OF MONEY 'CAUSE I LIKE THAT TONIGHT. IT'S KIND OF THE THEME. SO TOM MENTIONED THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, SO THIS PROJECT WOULDN'T BE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, UM, IF NOT FOR THEIR VERY, VERY GENEROUS LEADERSHIP GIFT. 6.5 MILLION IS REALLY LIKE THE BIG KICKSTART. BIG, THAT'S A BIG BAG, A BIG BAG OF MONEY. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE THIS FAIRLY BRIEF. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY. UM, AND THERE'S ALSO A BIG, UM, ELEMENT THAT HASN'T BEEN QUITE FINALIZED, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE 91 AND HOW MUCH SPACE WITH, YOU KNOW, ITS FINAL DESIGN. SO THAT'S OKAY THOUGH. BUT, UH, THE, THAT CONCEPT, THE HAMILTON LOOP REALLY DEVELOPS A REALLY COOL, LONG LINEAR, UH, PARKWAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 91 WITH, UH, WITH A CONNECTION BENEATH THE, THE, UH, THE FREEWAY. SO, UM, BUT WHAT MAYOR SAID WAS, YEAH, WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE AND WITHOUT THE CREATION OF A VISION, THAT'S THE BEST STARTING POINT TO SEE A REAL BIG THING HAPPEN. SO, UM, SO THE BOUNDARIES, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, THE WHOLE CORRIDOR, UM, WE'RE, I THINK AT, UM, MYRTLE ON THE SOUTHERN END ALL THE WAY UP TO WALNUT. UH, BUT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL PHASES, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE WITH, WITH MORE, UH, FUNDING. BUT THAT'S, UM, ESSENTIAL ELEMENT THERE. SO THESE EXISTING CONDITIONS ARE, ARE PRETTY ROUGH. THERE ARE EMBANKMENT AREAS, UH, BUT THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, SOME BIKEWAY CORRIDORS THAT GIVE US SOME, SOME CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES. I'M GONNA KIND OF HUSTLE THROUGH THIS . UH, BUT IT REALLY WAS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN CONCEPT. UM, AND THESE, I, THESE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. IF YOU KIND OF REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW, AND TO MAKE IT MORE OF A GARDEN ESQUE EDGE BETWEEN THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ESSENTIAL, YOU KNOW, NEED OF THE 91, UM, THESE FUNDS ARE REALLY GONNA ENHANCE THAT. AND IT ALSO, EXCUSE ME, EMBEDS A LOT OF PASSIVE, AND IN SOME CASES ACTIVE RECREATIONAL NODES ALONG THE, ALONG THE CORRIDOR. SO AGAIN, HIGHLIGHTING THE PORT OF LONG BEACH'S GRANT OF 6.5 MILLION, AND THEN ALSO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, UH, WE BENEFITED FROM A $1.2 MILLION GRANT OF SUPPORT IN THAT REGARD. AND NOW THAT COMMENT I MADE EARLIER ABOUT WHAT'S THE AVAILABLE, UM, SPACE. UM, SO THE, THE CONCEPTS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OPTIONS WHERE IF YOU COULD START TO ADD ADDITIONAL WIDTH TO, EXCUSE ME, THE CORRIDOR, UH, AND THE VOICE FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE ACTUALLY SAYING THAT THEY COULD SEE, UH, MAYBE SOME OF THE ROADWAY SURFACE WIDTH, UM, DEVOTED TOWARDS THE BIKEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OR FOR SOME WIDER PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS. UH, THOSE ARE ALL KIND OF SORTED OUT, BUT AGAIN, UNTIL THE 91 DESIGN HAS BEEN COMPLETED, UM, WE REALLY ARE AT KIND OF A HOLD ON THE FINAL DESIGN FOR THIS. UH, AND AGAIN, JUST SOME MORE ILLUSTRATIONS OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL CAN BE ALONG THE, THE, UH, CURRENT EMBANKMENT. UH, THEY'LL LOOK AT PRESERVING AS MANY EXISTING TREES AS POSSIBLE, BUT THEN ALL THE NEW LANDSCAPING, AGAIN, WILL BE DROUGHT TOLERANT NATIVES. AND THAT'S REALLY A FORTE OF A LOT OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH GRANT FUNDING IS ALL ABOUT IS TO ENHANCE, UH, SOME OF THE GREENSCAPE ALONG, UH, THE 91 IN PARTICULAR. AGAIN, SOME OTHER REALLY GREAT IMAGES. UM, I CALL 'EM PRECEDENT IMAGES. IT DOES SUGGEST SOME OF THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, YOU KNOW, PLAY SPACES, PLAYGROUNDS, THE INCORPORATION OF PLACEMAKING WITH ART, ET CETERA. BUT THE COOL THING IS LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVATING THAT CORRIDOR. AND IT IS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY, UH, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS [04:30:01] TO NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, AND NEIGHBORHOOD TO A BEAUTIFUL SPACE. AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. PORT OF LONG BEACH FOR THIS VERY GENEROUS LEADERSHIP GIFT. THE PROJECT BUDGET IS JUST AROUND $10 MILLION, UH, AND IT'S SORTED. UM, AS I MENTIONED, PORT OF LONG BEACH, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT, BUT ALSO PARK IMPACT FEES. A LOT OF DEVELOPERS, UH, DO, UH, ALLOCATE SOME MONIES AS THEY, UH, INCREASE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS, UH, IN AN AREA THAT, THAT NECESSITATE MORE PARK SPACE. SO 1.25 MILLION IN PARK IMPACT FEES. AND THEN OUR, OUR REALLY WONDERFUL ELEVATE 28 BUDGET HAS 700,000. SO THAT'S THE, THE REALLY COOL VISION FOR HAMILTON LOOP. AND, UH, TONIGHT'S ACTION IS ALL ABOUT ACCEPTING ALL THESE BAGS OF MONEY. SO, SO THANK YOU. WE CAME WITH THE BAGS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. UH, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO, UH, WE'LL GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. YEAH, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS A QUICK, SOMEONE HERE FROM OUR, UM, FROM OUR WONDERFUL RESIDENTS. BUT, UH, YEAH, JUST THE HISTORY HERE IS AGAIN, PREDATES MY CHILDREN. UM, BUT WE WENT THROUGH A REASONING PROCESS AND PART OF THAT WAS, SO WE HAVE SOMETHING IN NORTH LONG BEACH CALLED THE NORTH LONG BEACH, UM, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, NO NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. UM, AND A PROJECT THAT THE, THE HAMILTON LEADERS BROUGHT TO US WAS THE IDEA OF THIS HAMILTON, THIS HAMILTON LOOP, RIGHT? UM, AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S A PARK EQUITY ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPEN GREEN SPACE NORTH OF ARTESIA, UM, IN NORTH LONG BEACH. UM, AND THAT IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NORTH OF ARTESIA, RIGHT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COLLEGE SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE STAR KING NEIGHBORHOOD, THE HAMILTON NEIGHBORHOOD, THE MCKINLEY NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN YOU LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS ESSENTIALLY BUILT OUT, UM, WHERE DO YOU FIND CREATIVE PLACES TO PUT OPEN SPACE? AND SO THIS WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT OF WAY AROUND THE 91 FREEWAY WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME TO US. AND WE, AS AN, AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, WE ALL VOTED. SO ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN THE NINTH DISTRICT, WE ALL VOTED TO UPLIFT THIS PROJECT AND MAKE THIS OUR OPEN SPACE PRIORITY. UM, BECAUSE WE, WE VALUED THAT COMMUNITY AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE LIKE THE, THE, THE, THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, NEIGHBORHOODS HAD, INCLUDING DEFOREST, HOUGHTON, AND RAMONA PARK. UM, SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM LABOR OF LOVE. UM, AND SO IT'S WONDERFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A VISION PLAN AND WE HAVE SOME DOLLARS ATTACHED TO IT. UM, AND THEN I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT STARTED LONG BEFORE THIS VISION. UM, AND DISCUSSION AROUND THIS PARTICULAR PARK SPACE STARTED LONG BEFORE THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE SR 91. SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT, THIS IS, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS A REALITY. UM, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS THE NORTH LONG BEACH COMMUNITY WELL. UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE FOR GENERATIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO, I'M JUST, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY WITH OUR BAGS OF BAGS OF MONEY, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DR. SORROW HERE, THE, THE BAGS ARE COMING. UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. JERRY FINK, LINDA CAMPBELL, ISAAC MARTINEZ, WHATEVER ORDER YOU GUYS PREFER, YOU EARNED IT. HI, MY NAME IS JERRY FINK. I'M WITH THE HAMILTON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON. UH, THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF. UM, JUST A LITTLE HISTORY 'CAUSE I WASN'T SURE WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA COVER THE HISTORY OR NOT, BUT 91 FREEWAY WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1967, LONG HISTORY AND RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE HAMILTON NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF ARTESIA BOULEVARD. THE FREEWAY IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO ON BOTH SIDES THERE ARE SOUND WALLS TOWERING 40 FEET ABOVE THE STREETS AND BELOW THEM, THE GROUND SLOPES TO STREET LEVEL, ALL SURROUNDED WITH CHAIN LINK FENCING. CALTRANS MAINTENANCE OF THESE AREAS WAS NON-EXISTENT BEFORE OUR ASSOCIATION JOINED WITH THE ADOPT A HIGHWAY PROGRAM TO GAIN KEYS TO THE GATES AND ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY FOR CLEANUPS. FOR YEARS, CALTRANS HAS BEEN CUTTING DOWN TREES RANDOMLY WITH NO REPLACEMENTS, AND WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF POLLUTION MITIGATION BY THE WAY OF MORE TREE PLANTINGS AND VEGETATION TO HELP FILTER THE PARTICLES COMING FROM THE FREEWAY. OUR AREA OF THE CITY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST POLLUTION RATES, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF OPEN GREEN SPACE PER CAPITA IN THE CITY. THERE IS NO OTHER PUBLIC GREEN SPACE AVAILABLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE BEGAN FIXING UP AND LANDSCAPING THE CORNERS AT STREET INTERSECTIONS AND CREATED MINI PARKS TO HELP DRESS UP THESE NEGLECTED AREAS. OUR GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO GET RID OF SOMEDAY, GET RID OF THAT CHAIN, LINK FENCING ALONG THE FREEWAY, AND REPLACE THE OVERGROWN WEEDS WITH SOME PLANNED LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING AND WALKING AREAS, UH, AND, AND TREES FOR POLLUTION MITIGATION. THESE FENCED OFF [04:35:01] AREAS HAVE LONG BEEN A MAGNET FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, AND WE HAVE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THIS AREA IS DESIGNATED WITH PARK STATUS AND APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE CARE AND LIGHTING. UH, SIX TO SEVEN YEARS AGO, OUR THEN COUNCILMAN REX RICHARDSON, ALONG WITH PARKS AND REC AND CITY FABRIC, ORGANIZED DOZENS OF PUBLIC EVENTS AROUND NORTH LONG BEACH, GATHERING RESIDENTS INPUT ON WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE HAMILTON LOOP AND WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE. OUR, THE FREEWAY IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND THE POLLUTION IS HERE. WE NEED TO TAKE POLLUTION MITIGATION SERIOUSLY NOW BECAUSE WE KEEP LOSING TREES AND VEGETATION AND NONE ARE BEING REPLACED BY CALTRANS. LACK OF IRRIGATION AND WEED CONTROL IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND WE HAVE LOST MORE TREES RECENTLY FROM FIRES. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO NOT ONLY TAKE CONTROL OF OUR HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY, BUT TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A NICER PLACE TO LIVE. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE FINALLY SEEING SOME OF THE NEEDED FINANCING TAKE PLACE AFTER YEARS OF HARD WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO PROGRESSING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO A GREENER FUTURE. AFTER ALMOST 60 YEARS OF THAT FREEWAY BEING THERE IS ABOUT TIME WE INVEST IN UPGRADING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PULL OURSELVES OUT OF THE PAST AND INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING 19 AND IS IT 19 AND 20 ON THE AGENDA? THANK YOU. GOOD JOB, JERRY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LINDA, GOOD JOB. THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. MY NAME IS LINDA CAMPBELL. I'M A 44 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE HAMILTON NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VISION PLAN THAT WE CREATED EIGHT YEARS AGO, THE KIDS THAT I ROUNDED UP AS A FORMER TEACHER, I FIGURED, OKAY, WHO BETTER TO TELL US WHAT THEY WANT IN A PARK AREA THAN THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME OF THOSE KIDS WERE IN SIXTH GRADE, THEY'RE NOW SOPHOMORES IN COLLEGE. , IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME FOR US TO GET TO THIS POINT AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BAGS OF MONEY NOW THERE. I LIKE THAT PHRASE, I'M GONNA USE THAT AS I TALK TO MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE HAMILTON LOOP PROJECT, UM, WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO. AND AS JERRY SAID, WE DESIGNED CORNER PARKS, VOLUNTEERED, ALL THE MATERIALS WERE DONATED, THE HOURS WE SPENT PLANTING WAS DONE BY THE HAMILTON NEIGHBORHOOD. AND NOW WE HAVE CA VISION WHERE WHAT WE DESIGNED AND THOUGHT ABOUT WILL COME TO FRUITION HOPEFULLY SOON. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. THAT'S ALSO TOUGH ACT TO, UH, FOLLOW. YEAH. HELLO? UH, MY NAME'S IS MARTINEZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, HOWDEN PARK IN DISTRICT NINE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE THAT'S STILL HERE. UM, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE HAMILTON LOOP PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM METRO. UM, RICARDO LARO PARK AND LINGWOOD RUTH CARRUTHERS PARK IN BELLFLOWER FOSTER ROAD, NORWALK FERNWOOD AVENUE IN LINGWOOD, AND OUR ION COOLIDGE PARK IN DISTRICT EIGHT. UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE LOCAL PARKS AND GREENBELTS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO A LOCAL FREEWAY. SO WE SHOULD, UH, TAKE NOTE. WE DON'T NEED THE MOON AND THE STARS IN THE DESIGN PHASE FOR THE HAMILTON LOOP. JUST GIVE US THE GREEN SPACE. I BELIEVE WE ALREADY HAD THE VISION PLAN THAT SOLDS ON THE IDEA OF THE WONDERFUL GREEN BELT. AND WHILE IT'S NICE TO AIM HIGH, THE REALITY OF WHAT THE 91 AUXILIARY FREEWAY EXPANSION PROJECT HAS DONE TO THE CREDIBILITY OF LAND DEVELOPMENT AROUND FREEWAYS IS DISAPPOINTING. UH, TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN, SO I HOPE THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CAN REMEDY THIS ISSUE AND USE THIS MONEY TO DEVELOP THE HAMILTON NEW PROJECT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROJECT WAS A CARROT ON A STICK THAT METRO KEPT DANGLING IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE NEIGHBORS TO AGREE TO THEIR EXPANSION PROJECT. UH, WE KNOW WE NEED MORE GREEN SPACES IN DISTRICT NINE. I THINK IT WAS REALLY BRAVE AND ADMIRABLE THAT DR. JONI RICKS ODIE LISTENED TO HER COMMUNITY AND USED HER VOICE TO SPEAK UP AND STOP THE, UH, FREEWAY PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD. IT'S INTERESTING TERRITORY THAT WE'RE IN, UH, REJECTING A HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU DO NORMALLY. SO I HOPE SHE CONTINUES TO LISTEN TO HER COMMUNITY AND ADD MORE GREEN SPACES TO MITIGATE THE AIR POLLUTION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I WISH HER LUCK ON FINDING MORE BAGS OF MONEY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU'RE ONTO SOMETHING WITH THESE BAGS OF MONEY. ALRIGHT, THE LAST SATISFIES PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, BEFORE I TAKE IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UM, SO IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THESE RESOURCES HERE. UH, BUT, BUT LET'S BE CLEAR. YOU GUYS SAID DOING THESE SMALL PARKS, THEY WERE GORILLA PARKS. YOU GUYS WERE OUT THERE MAKING, RIGHT? WE [04:40:01] HAD CALTRANS AND PUBLIC WORKS. LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON? THEY'RE BUILDING PARKS. IT WAS CALTRANS. THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR I KNOW I WAS THE COUNCIL MEMBER. I REMEMBER , THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR . OH, I, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE ME . YOU GUYS WERE OUT THERE GETTING DONATED GOODS AND BUILDING PARKS ON THE BERMS. IT WAS YOU GUYS, IT WAS NETTE, UH, HILDA. UH, AND THEN WE WERE DOING, THIS IS BEFORE HAMILTON LOOP VISION. WE WERE DOING THE NORTH LONG BEACH OPEN SPACE PLAN AND YOU GUYS OUT ORGANIZED ALL THE PROJECTS AND VOTED FOR THE HAMILTON LOOP TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PROJECT OF THE UPTOWN OPEN SPACE PLAN. I GOT THE RECEIPTS. I REMEMBER ALL OF THIS, RIGHT? IT'S, YOU GUYS ARE WELL, REALLY WELL POSITIONED. YOU'VE ORGANIZED THE VISION PLAN. IS THERE? UH, I I THINK, UM, WHAT I DID HERE THAT I WOULD SAY, BRENT, IS YOU'RE WAITING ON SOME FINAL RESOLUTION FROM METRO, ON THE METRO PROJECT. YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA DO WHAT I CAN AND LET'S CIRCLE BACK UP. JUST WHATEVER THE ANSWER IS, LET'S GET TO THAT. BECAUSE IF THERE'S WAYS TO INVEST THE MONEY, IF YOU HAVE CAPITAL RIGHT NOW, SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION, WE SHOULD MOVE, WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD. SO AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN BECAUSE OF METRO? IS THAT, IS THAT THE CASE HERE? YEAH, I'M SEEING HEADS NODDING. SO HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON. UH, SO WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR METRO TO FORMALIZE, UH, THE, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO AND HOW THEY'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. OUR DESIGN, UH, THAT WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD NOW IS NOT DEPENDENT GREAT ON THEM MAKING THE DECISION. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO, WE HAVE OUR RIGHT OF WAY SPACE. WE CAN STILL REQUEST ACCESS TO THEIR RIGHT OF WAY SPACE THROUGH THEIR PROCESS, RIGHT. UH, TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS LIKE PLANT TREES, ADD BENCHES, ADD LIGHTING, RIGHT, ET CETERA. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT IT, IT DOES HELP US TO KNOW HOW THEY'RE GONNA PROCEED, BUT IT DOES NOT IMPACT US IN ANY WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO, SO I, I THINK, I MEAN THESE FOLKS HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME. THERE'S FUNDING THE VISION'S DONE, RIGHT? I CAN'T KEEP SAYING PLAN THE WORK, WORK THE PLAN. IF WE GOT THE BAGS OF MONEY, WE'RE NOT WORKING THE PLAN. I LIKE SAYING IT. SO YOU GUYS NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON JUST GETTING THIS PROJECT DONE. THERE'S STREET STUFF. THERE'S THE, THE GREEN BIKE LANE, THE EXTENSION OF THE SIDEWALK, RIGHT? THE LIGHTING. THERE ARE ELEMENTS WE COULD DO NOW, RIGHT? WHAT YOU GOT THERE IS MAYOR AND, UH, PARKS AND REC AND MY PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAD THE TRANSFER MEETING. SO THE THINKERS AND THE PLANNERS HAVE DONE THEIR PART. OKAY? THEY'VE NOW GIVEN IT OVER TO THE DOERS AND THE HELPERS THE, TO WORK WITH WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FINALIZE THE DESIGN AND MOVE FORWARD. ALRIGHT? THE BAGS OF MONEY AND THE BAGS OF MONEY ARE HERE'S TO ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO TRANSFER THE BAG OF THE MONEY. GOT IT. TRANSFER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DR. RICK ODI AS WELL AS ALL YOUR RESIDENTS, UM, WHO FOUGHT LONG AND HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, MUCH RESPECT TO JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU NEVER GIVE UP WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARR? YES. UM, CONGRATULATIONS. SO I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, UM, DURING THE FORMATION OF THIS PROJECT, AND I REMEMBER LINDA, HOW INTENTIONAL YOU WERE ABOUT TALKING TO YOUNG FOLKS AND TO BRINGING THEM IN THE PROJECT BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA CLIMB ON IT NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS. SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL FIGURE OUT FROM THEM WHAT IT IS SO THAT WE CAN WORK AROUND THEIR CLIMBING PATTERNS. UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UM, AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE AREA TO REALLY MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL. SO CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT, GREAT. UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 20. PLEASE REPORT FROM PARKS, RECREATION AND MAR AND PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT [20. 24-55039 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute agreements and any necessary documents, including subsequent amendments, with the United States Department of Transportation and California Department of Transportation to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $1,200,000 to be used for the planning and design phase of the Hamilton Loop Project; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $120,000, offset by United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant revenue; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $120,000, offset by the transfer of grant revenue from the Capital Grants Fund; Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,080,000, offset by United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant revenue; and Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,080,000 offset by the transfer of grant revenue from the Capital Grants Fund. (District 9)       Office or Department: Parks, Recreation and Marine; Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.2 MILLION TO BE USED FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN PHASE OF THE HAMILTON LOOP PROJECT DISTRICT NINE. UM, UH, MORE BAGS OF MONEY. IT, IT'S MORE BAGS OF MONEY. MORE BAGS OF MONEY. ALRIGHT, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A PRESENTATION ON THIS. UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? ISAAC ISAAC'S GOOD MEMBERS, PLEASE CASH YOUR VOTE. THANKS ISAAC. APPRECIATE IT. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. OKAY. BIG NIGHT FOR HAMILTON LOOP. ALL RIGHT, UH, AND OUR FINAL ITEM IS ITEM 17, REPORT FROM LONG BEACH AIRPORT. RECORD RECOGNITION. WE WANT A LONG REPORT TONIGHT. RECOMMENDATION, AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH R, [17. 24-55146 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary, including any necessary amendments, to enter into a contract with RS&H California, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, for planning and design services for the Pad 11 Reconstruction and Taxiway K Rehabilitation project at the Long Beach Airport, in an amount of $2,093,472, authorize a 15 percent contingency in the amount of $314,021, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,407,493, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and Increase appropriations in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department by $2,407,493, offset by Airport operating revenues. (District 5)       Office or Department: Long Beach Airport         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] S AND H CALIFORNIA INC. FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE PAT 11 RECONSTRUCTION AND TAXIWAY K REHABILITATION PROJECT AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2.4 MILLION DISTRICT FIVE [04:45:02] DIRECTOR GIRI. I KNOW YOU'VE WAITED ALL NIGHT FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO LET YOU DOWN, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE STAFF REPORT ON THIS NIGHT. , UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? SEEING NONE, IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED. MEMBERS, PLEASE CASH YOUR VOTE. , TAKE YOUR BAG OF MONEY. TAKE YOUR BAG OF MONEY AND GO. COULD HAVE TEXTED THAT TO HER. MAKE MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. WELL, THAT SATISFIES THE AGENDA. WE NOW HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO. UH, KIA IS KIA HERE. KIAH [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] KIA IS NOT HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL NOW GO TO CLOSING COMMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW? YES. UM, I HAVE ONE THING, WHICH IS ON OCTOBER 19TH, THIS SATURDAY. IT'S GONNA BE AOC SEVEN'S NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP. UH, AT MAR MEETUP IS AT MARK TWAIN LIBRARY. NO TRICKS. JUST TREATS COME ON DOWN AT 11:00 AM THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS. THANK YOU MAYOR. MAYOR, I'LL BE REALLY QUICK. UM, WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE LONG BEACH HERITAGE DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURE WALK TOUR ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 9:30 AM TO 11:30 AM AT 1 8 5 EAST THIRD STREET IN THE PROMENADE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH ALLIANCE@INFOATDBA.ORG. ALSO, UH, LONG BEACH PET FAIR WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM AT 3 8 6 EAST SHORELINE DRIVE. I'D LOVE TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND AND ALSO LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, OUR DI'S GRAND PARADE WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 2ND AT 11:00 AM TO 12:30 PM ON PINE AVENUE DOWNTOWN. AND WE'LL BE TRAVELING SOUTH ONTO SHORELINE VILLAGE. AFTER THAT, WE WILL HAVE, UM, A FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE THE A LOS MUTOS ALSO, UM, A BC SEVEN WILL BE STREAMING THE PARADE LIVE AND WE'LL BE AIRING IT THE NEXT MORNING ON SUNDAY ON CHANNEL SEVEN. SO THANK YOU. SEE EVERYBODY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. AND SINCE DIRECTOR GUIDRY AND MR. RIO STICK STUCK AROUND, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO ATTEND LONG BEACH AIRPORT'S FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM THE FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WILL FEATURE FOOD TRUCKS, STATIC AIRCRAFT ON DISPLAY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE. WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AS WE CLOSE OUT THE CELEBRATION OF LONG BEACH AIRPORT'S HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY. SO WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE. ALSO, WE KICKED OFF FILIPINO HISTORY MONTH. SO YOU CAN GO TO THE OCTOBER MERCADO AT CUBO ON ATLANTIC AND BIXBY KNOWLES ON SATURDAY FROM 11 TO THREE. SO IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT. YOU COULD DO BOTH. AND THEN ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, I INVITE YOU ALL TO ATTEND THE NEXT EXPERIENCE IN WILLOW SPRINGS PARK MUSIC IN THE PARK FROM THREE TO 5:00 PM JOIN THE INTERACTIVE PROGRAM TO YOUR ANCIENT HOMELANDS, THE INDIGENOUS MUSIC OF NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. AND LASTLY, I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 28TH ANNUAL HISTORICAL CEMETERY TOURS RETURNING TO OUR SUNNYSIDE AND MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES NEXT SATURDAY, THE 26TH FROM EIGHT 30 TO THREE. THANKS. UH, YEAH, I DON'T DO CEMETERIES. UM, ALRIGHT, NEXT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. I ALSO DON'T DO CEMETERIES, UM, BUT IT, BUT ENJOY. UM, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU OUT TO THE DEFOREST PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING. UM, THAT WILL BE THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, UM, FROM SEVEN TO 8:00 PM THIS WILL BE HELD AT THE DEFOREST PARK CLUBHOUSE AT 67 62 55 DEFOREST AVENUE. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE YOU OUT TO OUR DISTRICT NINE VOTER REGISTRATION EVENT. UH, THIS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM WE'LL BE HELD HOLDING THIS AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA LIBRARY AT 58 70 ATLANTIC AVENUE. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR FINAL OF THE YEAR COFFEE WITH A COP FROM NINE TO 11:00 AM THIS WILL BE AT THE STARBUCKS THAT'S LOCATED AT 62 29 DOWNEY AVENUE. SO RIGHT THERE AT ARTESIA AND DOWNEY. UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THESE EVENTS, UM, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 5 6 2 5 7 0 6 1 3 7 OR DISTRICT9@LONGBEACH.GOV. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO OUR QUEEN MARY EVENT. WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE SHOW UP. YEAH. SO, UH, WE GAVE [04:50:01] OUT 250 PLUS GIFT BAGS, SO IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND FOLKS HAD A GREAT TIME. SO YOU DIDN'T INVITE YOUR FAVORITE CONSTITUENT. ARE YOU NOT ON THE NEWSLETTER, SIR? BUSTED. DANG. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOLKS. UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE MEETING'S NOW ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.